Regeneration One #84
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Easily the best issue yet, and the first one to feel focused.
The big advantage was that most of the things I really haven't liked about the series to date were kept to a minimum. Prime only got three lines, none of which were to do with how sad he is he's not dead; the rehashing of stories Furman's already sold IDW once was one page on Thunderwing; homages/injokes/rip offs were almost non existent (one line from the film, the suits and how Skywarp's teleporter worked in the ...tions).
The only real negative thing to get a large role was Smasher. And I'm still not sure why he couldn't have been just Spike wearing one of the Robot Buster suits (or if they wanted to give him an edge over the other humans even keep Cerebrus about). Him being so keen to destroy the Ark when its facilities could be useful was annoying as well (though I wouldn't be surprised if Roadbuster is just going to ignore him and use its weapons on the Zombie army).
To counter that though, the Wreckers had a smart well thought out plan with the two tier attack. Actual strategy! The careful planning and fight scenes were all very nicely done (and props for remembering to mention why they don't just get a big jug of water to throw at Kup).
Also, mad bad and dangerous to know Megatron remains a joy. Whilst it might have been nice if his lie about why he's kept Ratchet alive had been seeded earlier rather than right before the truth is revealed this petty, bored psychopath has been great fun. It's a shame he's almost certainly going to die next issue (as I can't see the end of Prime's arc being "I wish I was dead" *DIES*) because he's the best character in the book.
The Ratchet thing, whilst fairly obvious from the off, was nicely done as well. Odds on Starscream being the one to finish him off and thus kill Megatron next month?
Wildman's art... well it was probably always going to suffer even worse than usual after two Annuals with scenes that have shown what this book could have looked like (I'm not suggesting keeping the full on 1984 Yomotov homage, but those books certainly showed IDW can be more imaginative with their colouring than shown here and Guido basically gave the best audition possible to be drawing Reg) but it was very weak again.
I think the absolute nadir was the return of a problem he had in his Devil's Due crossover work- Not bothering to draw the mouth on characters in the background if its going to be too much effort (and we're not even talking about 'bots way off in the distance either). His Motormaster (? I actually found it hard to be sure) was especially poor as well.
Overall though, a very big step in the right direction. I don't think it'll ever be brilliant, but at least there was actual fun to be had this time round.
The big advantage was that most of the things I really haven't liked about the series to date were kept to a minimum. Prime only got three lines, none of which were to do with how sad he is he's not dead; the rehashing of stories Furman's already sold IDW once was one page on Thunderwing; homages/injokes/rip offs were almost non existent (one line from the film, the suits and how Skywarp's teleporter worked in the ...tions).
The only real negative thing to get a large role was Smasher. And I'm still not sure why he couldn't have been just Spike wearing one of the Robot Buster suits (or if they wanted to give him an edge over the other humans even keep Cerebrus about). Him being so keen to destroy the Ark when its facilities could be useful was annoying as well (though I wouldn't be surprised if Roadbuster is just going to ignore him and use its weapons on the Zombie army).
To counter that though, the Wreckers had a smart well thought out plan with the two tier attack. Actual strategy! The careful planning and fight scenes were all very nicely done (and props for remembering to mention why they don't just get a big jug of water to throw at Kup).
Also, mad bad and dangerous to know Megatron remains a joy. Whilst it might have been nice if his lie about why he's kept Ratchet alive had been seeded earlier rather than right before the truth is revealed this petty, bored psychopath has been great fun. It's a shame he's almost certainly going to die next issue (as I can't see the end of Prime's arc being "I wish I was dead" *DIES*) because he's the best character in the book.
The Ratchet thing, whilst fairly obvious from the off, was nicely done as well. Odds on Starscream being the one to finish him off and thus kill Megatron next month?
Wildman's art... well it was probably always going to suffer even worse than usual after two Annuals with scenes that have shown what this book could have looked like (I'm not suggesting keeping the full on 1984 Yomotov homage, but those books certainly showed IDW can be more imaginative with their colouring than shown here and Guido basically gave the best audition possible to be drawing Reg) but it was very weak again.
I think the absolute nadir was the return of a problem he had in his Devil's Due crossover work- Not bothering to draw the mouth on characters in the background if its going to be too much effort (and we're not even talking about 'bots way off in the distance either). His Motormaster (? I actually found it hard to be sure) was especially poor as well.
Overall though, a very big step in the right direction. I don't think it'll ever be brilliant, but at least there was actual fun to be had this time round.
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It was okay, kind of just a filler issue. The Wreckers try to get to the Ark to save Kup. Good to see the Guardians again. Prime shows up at the end, ready to fight Megs. Starscream tries to hint that killing Ratchet would kill Megatron.
Best thing about it was the cover with Megs and Ratchet. Very 80's. Nice.
Give it a "B". Not really as stoked about this issue as the guys above. Seems like next issue will move the story on more.
Best thing about it was the cover with Megs and Ratchet. Very 80's. Nice.
Give it a "B". Not really as stoked about this issue as the guys above. Seems like next issue will move the story on more.
"But the Costa story featuring Starscream? Fantastic! This guy is "The One", I just know it, just from these few pages. "--Yaya, who is never wrong.
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This Megatron is actually managing to be crazier than Galvatron.....
bumblemusprime wrote:
When I picture Simon Furman's direct ancestor, squatting in dingy furs, singing songs about the glory of the Saxon tribe, I imagine him as the very first to gather his buddies around the campfire and say "There was this dude named Beowulf..."
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....Except without the cool Time Wars arc to make him awesome. Or anything really being at stake, what with Earth already being destroyed and him not really seeming to be a threat to Cybertron.
bumblemusprime wrote:
When I picture Simon Furman's direct ancestor, squatting in dingy furs, singing songs about the glory of the Saxon tribe, I imagine him as the very first to gather his buddies around the campfire and say "There was this dude named Beowulf..."
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US Marvel fans never really were treated to Megatron victories. In fact, he was always somebody elses bitch. First Prime, then Shockwave, then Ratchet, then some human guy, then Shockwave again who causes him to blow himself up, then Ratchet again who is fused to him, then Shockwave again who's about to kick his ass on the Ark until Galvatron intervenes. The End.
I hope the next issue Megs gets a little payback.
I hope the next issue Megs gets a little payback.
"But the Costa story featuring Starscream? Fantastic! This guy is "The One", I just know it, just from these few pages. "--Yaya, who is never wrong.
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Yeah, the Senior cover is just pure sex on toast.
http://thesolarpool.weebly.com/transformation.html
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An Issue By Issue Look At The Marvel UK Transformers Comic.
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I was a sad girl when I saw that thumbnail, too.
bumblemusprime wrote:
When I picture Simon Furman's direct ancestor, squatting in dingy furs, singing songs about the glory of the Saxon tribe, I imagine him as the very first to gather his buddies around the campfire and say "There was this dude named Beowulf..."
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Continuing an odd trend, I agree with Yaya. This one was OK, but in the context of "this run is ending at 100," I wish more was accomplished here. I mean, the way the story was constructed, I supposed you needed this long battle to get to the Ark or whatever to show just how well defended it was. But if that means that we're going to spend a whole issue spinning our wheels to have "Resistance gets to Ark" and "Starscream says what Optimus and Kup (because they were on the Ark in #70) already know: Megatron & Ratchet are linked," then I wish they would have had some OTHER reason why the humans and a de Fort Maxed Spike can't get to the Ark that wouldn't have taken so much time. Don't get me wrong, the battles were cool and the Wreckers fighting with the classic Seekers was sweet, but I just felt like all of the stuff in this issue could have been accomplished in 10-12 pages. What does everyone make of the Hot Rod vision?
Best First wrote:I thought we could just meander between making well thought out points, being needlessly immature, provocative and generalist, then veer into caring about constructive debate and make a few valid points, act civil for a bit, then lower the tone again, then act offended when we get called on it, then dictate what it is and isn't worth debating, reinterpret a few of my own posts through a less offensive lens, then jaunt down whatever other path our seemingly volatile mood took us in.
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I wonder if the whole "Big Death" thing is going to be a bluff and it'll actually be Hot Rod who dies on Cybertron?
http://thesolarpool.weebly.com/transformation.html
TRANSFORMATION
An Issue By Issue Look At The Marvel UK Transformers Comic.
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An Issue By Issue Look At The Marvel UK Transformers Comic.
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I tend to use Orbital now, after being disappointed by FP too many times - they never have the new MTMTE when I need it, and the last time I went in there the chap behind the counter was looking at me very strangely..."They have (had?) loads of the senior cover in Forbidden Planet on Shaftsbury Ave"
Anyway, in the current climate I can't justify buying two copies of a comic, even if it means I miss that geometric Senior goodness.
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Word. It is nice to see Megatron as a credible threat, which he hasn't been since issue #4 of the original US series, for the Merkins.Yaya wrote:US Marvel fans never really were treated to Megatron victories. In fact, he was always somebody elses bitch. First Prime, then Shockwave, then Ratchet, then some human guy, then Shockwave again who causes him to blow himself up, then Ratchet again who is fused to him, then Shockwave again who's about to kick his ass on the Ark until Galvatron intervenes. The End.
I hope the next issue Megs gets a little payback.
Best First wrote:I didn't like it. They don't have mums, or dads, or children. And they turn into stuff. And they don't eat Monster Munch or watch Xena: Warrior Princess. Or do one big poo in the morning and another one in the afternoon. I bet they weren't even excited by and then subsequently disappointed by Star Wars Prequels. Or have a glass full of spare change near their beds. That they don't have.