TF Ongoing #5 Review (SPOILERS)

[Yaya]

On the negative, it read very short. The pacing of this series is much akin to Infiltration, as it is now apparent this story could easily be told in four issues. The most frustrating thing about the issue is the wasted page space. It's absolutely glaring. I mean, seriously, why waste an entire first page on a picture of an army base? Why waste half a page on Spike holding a bigass gun out a car window? I'll tell you why. Six issues equal a trade, not four.

A second negative is the predictability of what's unfolding. The cover solicits for future issues certainly don't help. We knew the Stunticons were going to get Breakdown back. We knew Swindle was going to screw over Hot Rod and gestaltify the Stunticons. Yet, those were the 'surprise' features of this issue. With LSOTW, we are pretty much in the dark. Anything can happen. That's how it should be.

There are still some positives that have been consistent throughout the series. Don's art being one. Whereas I complained about the wasted page splashes above, if you're going to use a double-page spread on something, that Menasor combining shot is the way to do it. Awesome. It's nice to see Costa bring back some actual significance to the combiners. They seem to be the threat they were meant to be. (thankfully consistent with what Simon did with Monstructor).

I really like the novel concept that, despite the technical superiority of the TF race, they are far less able to adapt to pressures that have an emotional foundation. Their failure to grasp this offers an intriguing explanation for why a war can actually last for millions of years. They are machines, and as such, have a difficult time 'going against their programming', so to speak. Only after witnessing Earth and it's populace does Prime now fathom this, and like Thundercracker, comes to realize that the TF have much to learn in the ways of true adaptation. Quite ironic, really. I give Costa credit for this take.

In the end though, have to give it a "C+". Pace slow, content lacking, predictable events make it harder for me to enjoy what's positive in it. And as I said with Infiltration before this, it will read much better as a trade.

On the plus side, it looks like the next issue will be a hoot, mainly because the events that will unfold are not so easily predictable.

[Guest]

Six issues equal a trade, not four.

However, that would be a guideline, not a rule.

There have been at least 3 occasions in IDW's TF-verse alone where a trade has consisted of less than 6 issues: Stormbringer with 4, Spotlight: Revelations with 4 and Maximum Dinobots with 5.

I think if anything, it would be more along the lines of 'more issues = more $$$' as the basis for padding.

[Yaya]

I think if anything, it would be more along the lines of 'more issues = more $$$' as the basis for padding.

Yeah, that's what i was trying to infer.

[Jack Cade]

I haven't bought this yet or read beyond the preview, but I think it's safe to say I'm going to feel annoyed.

I think Andy Schmidt is genuinely a conscientious editor. I think Mike Costa is actually a pretty good writer. But this just isn't on. Six pages of static conversation indulging Optimus Prime's reasons for turning himself in!

I'm really sick of IDW's Prime. He was at this best between Escalation and the end of Devastation (excepting his spotlight) where he was pragmatic and believably involved, still with a dash of recklessness. But every time he goes off on one of these jaunts, it strikes me as about as noble and well thought out as a drunken teenager getting a tattoo of a pornstar on his forehead. Then, when he begins these rambling explanations, it's like an interview with a pop musician, where they try and explain how their music is actually, you know, really difficult and deep and stands for something important.

He's a boorish, prissy show-off and I'm fed up with him getting page after page after page of looking imposing and thoughtful and talking crap, while countless other characters get a random appearance in a single panel and (if they're lucky) a name badge but do absolutely eff all else.

Then there's the way this arc is going - it's all going to be a pointless excursion because everyone's going to end up right where they started. Prime comes rolling to the rescue and everyone falls in behind him. The Decepticons are back to being baddies. It's not only been gratuitously slow-paced - it's not even heading anywhere interesting anymore.

And Bumblebee's whole series took place while Ultra Magnus was out for a drive? Rather seems to reinforce the point that the only purpose of the Bumblebee series was to rob the character of any charm and personality he had and replace him with his joyless movie counterpart, go faster stripes and all.

I don't know if I am going to buy this. I might stop here while I still have some good will left and come back when I hear that Costa's writing an arc in which something worthwhile happens.

[Yaya]

I'm really sick of IDW's Prime. He was at this best between Escalation and the end of Devastation (excepting his spotlight) where he was pragmatic and believably involved, still with a dash of recklessness. But every time he goes off on one of these jaunts, it strikes me as about as noble and well thought out as a drunken teenager getting a tattoo of a pornstar on his forehead. Then, when he begins these rambling explanations, it's like an interview with a pop musician, where they try and explain how their music is actually, you know, really difficult and deep and stands for something important.

He's a boorish, prissy show-off and I'm fed up with him getting page after page after page of looking imposing and thoughtful and talking crap, while countless other characters get a random appearance in a single panel and (if they're lucky) a name badge but do absolutely eff all else.

Gotta disagree with this summation of Prime. He's been far from a prissy show-off. Annoyingly self-doubting? Yes, but that's always been Prime's way. His compassion and conscious have always hampered his taking initiative at times, but when the chips are down and his comrades are in trouble, he suppresses his vacillating tendencies and becomes the heroic warrior we all know. That's just Prime. Always has been.

But on the six-pages thing, I agree with you. Yet another example of very poor use of space. It was almost too obvious that they were protracting this issue to fill space. Just do what Nick does and add more dialogue per panel.

Then, if you don't know what to do with the three extra pages you have, take us to the Decepticons in space or to Metroplex and his "item". You don't have to stretch the arc, just give us glimpses of a new one! That's what makes an ongoing feel like an ongoing and not a mini. This is not an ongoing. This is a protracted mini, written for trade, like all the rest.

Then there's the way this arc is going - it's all going to be a pointless excursion because everyone's going to end up right where they started. Prime comes rolling to the rescue and everyone falls in behind him. The Decepticons are back to being baddies.

God, I hope you're wrong about this. Prime coming in at the last moment to save the day is one of the most overdone cliche moments in TF comic history. Every once in a while, it's fine. But not every single time. It happened in Stormbringer. It happened in Revelations. Etc, etc. etc.

I am really, really looking forward to next issue. I anticpate the best rendition of a throwdown since Prime vs. Megs in Escalation. Don's battles are so damn beautiful, particulary with gestalts. If it ends up being as predictable as you say, then that will certainly be a bummer.

[Jack Cade]

He's been far from a prissy show-off. Annoyingly self-doubting? Yes, but that's always been Prime's way.

Thing is, what with the culture of misery-cool, it's hard to tell the difference. At what point does someone's self-doubt, introspection and propensity to take rash action due to frustration start looking contrived, like they're actually saying, "Look at me! See how I nobly suffer! Aren't I a trooper?"

For me, IDW's Prime stopped convincing me he was being quietly dignified about it quite a while ago. It feels like he's desperate for attention - perhaps because the writers are desperate to find a reason for him to deserve our attention.

I hope you're right about an unexpected ending, but all of a sudden, this whole arc reeks of long-winded setup to me. Everything is going to be back in its place - Costa just picked a route with some distracting scenery.

[Yaya]

I hope you're right about an unexpected ending, but all of a sudden, this whole arc reeks of long-winded setup to me. Everything is going to be back in its place - Costa just picked a route with some distracting scenery.

Thing is, after just reading Cobra II, it's hard for me to believe the same guy could write so predictable an ending to this arc.

In any case, at least I have the Figueroa-drawn battle to look forward to, whatever the outcome.

[BB Shockwave]

This was easily the worst TF comic I have read since AHM's last issue (12 or what). Let's see the bad points...

- Prime's cheesy speech. SURE, a 5-6 million years old warrior can learn from a wet behind the ears fleshling, who cannot even manage his own team well? If it took this long for Prime to figure out what to do after the war, what did he do in his free time so far? And the uber-cheesy line "It's my sincerest' hope that they will... transform." made me to go Arrrgggh! It's so fan-ficky, idiotic, on the same level like Bayformers' "You are more then meets the eye" bullsh*t.

-Hot Rod, grandiously calling himself Rodimus Prime, has become a pompous stupid jerk akin to Animated's Sentinel Prime... Hard to believe that the capable, matured warrior we have known in Furman's reign, who has just been betrayed by someone he thought was his friend, now places his trust in a Decepticon who is even wanted by his own faction for breaking the war's rules, and is generally known to be a con-man, heck even his name indicates that.

-Swindle's motives also make little sense. He's a businessman, I could see him taking the Bots along the ride and then selling them off to some alien race as reprogrammed slaves, but simply attacking them just so? Where's the profit in that? The ship could get damaged with a Gestalt fighting there, would a clever guy like him not think of this?

-Also, we learn that a normal human being is strong enough to tear off a Transformer car's hood and throw it away. I guess like Trabants, Breakdown is made partially of laminated paper. (I'm not going into how a top-secret goverment installation will let their officier ride a captured alien being around as a car just for fun...)

-Magnus seems to be the only one, who tries to adhere to the old rules and in that way, the old continuity, and everyone ignores him. Bet he breaks down next issue and says he can't deal with this?

And the art - Don actually reached the point in ROTF-redesign that I no longer recognize some of the Bots and Cons. Who was the yellow Autobot standing next to Hot Rod in issue #4 during Magnus' visit with a color scheme and head like BWII Thrust?

I am seriously considering not reading the next issue. I don't even want to see the continuation of butchering that is happening to the IDW universe that started so well...