Regeneration One #84

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Regeneration One #84

Post by inflatable dalek » Wed Oct 10, 2012 7:58 pm

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.
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Post by Kaylee » Wed Oct 10, 2012 8:13 pm

Yes, I really liked this one.

Prime et al turning up to face Megs was lovely. I'm also drawn to how maniacal this Megatron is.

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Post by Yaya » Fri Oct 12, 2012 4:10 am

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.
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Post by Best First » Fri Oct 12, 2012 9:39 am

I'm just enjoying this for what it is really - a fun bout of nostalgia.

Frankly that Goeff Senior cover alone justifies the entire endevour.
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Post by Sunyavadin » Fri Oct 12, 2012 9:14 pm

This Megatron is actually managing to be crazier than Galvatron.....
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Post by Sunyavadin » Fri Oct 12, 2012 9:16 pm

....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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Post by Death's Head » Fri Oct 12, 2012 10:24 pm

I was dead chuffed to get hold of yet another Guido cover, and then I saw the thumbnail of the Senior cover... :(
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Post by snarl » Fri Oct 12, 2012 11:38 pm

They have (had?) loads of the senior cover in Forbidden Planet on Shaftsbury Ave.

it really reminded me of this btw

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Post by Yaya » Sat Oct 13, 2012 3:22 am

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.
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Post by inflatable dalek » Sat Oct 13, 2012 7:29 am

Yeah, the Senior cover is just pure sex on toast.
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Post by Sunyavadin » Sat Oct 13, 2012 1:20 pm

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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Post by Shanti418 » Sat Oct 13, 2012 2:43 pm

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?
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Post by Hound » Sat Oct 13, 2012 5:47 pm

Optimus Prime is going to die isn't he. Megatron is going to rinse him. Hot Rod will fulfil his 'destiny' and become Autobot leader.
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Post by inflatable dalek » Sat Oct 13, 2012 6:30 pm

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?
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Post by snarl » Sat Oct 13, 2012 6:40 pm

I think Prime's going to do him.
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Post by Death's Head » Sun Oct 14, 2012 11:41 am

"They have (had?) loads of the senior cover in Forbidden Planet on Shaftsbury Ave"
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...

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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Post by bumblemusprime » Sun Oct 21, 2012 3:04 am

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.
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.
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