Dark Cybertron #1 Review

[Yaya]

Meh.

First off, if you're going to start off a major event like this, at least have some respectable art. Seriously some of the worst art I've seen in a while. Manny Galan is smiling somewhere.

Regarding the story, it's still very much set-up, but I'm not really excited by what I'm seeing so far. The whole Titan/Crystal City thing has always been confusing to me. I'll reserve judgement for a few issues of course. But most of Barbers stuff I have found quite boring, and it's clear he was responsible for the dialogue in this save but a few MTMTE moments.

What I did like was the bringing of the Dead Universe back into this along with the likes of Galvatron and Nova Prime. But I'm not sure why Shockwave would swear allegiance to a guy whose logic was basically "what's that giant dangerous blob anomaly? Oh, who gives a metal ****, thrusters ahead, Mr. Jhiaxus!" Uh, yeah, reeeeal logical.

Still, it's nice to see things from Simon's Revelations story so it does channel some fond memories. But this thing is going to make Dreamwaves "Shockwave did it" look like "Shockwave never did a damn thing in his life". I mean, seriously, they're saying Shockwave was also responsible for the creation of the Dead Universe portal? Guess it's only a matter of time before we find out how Shockwave provided Mark Twain with that chair when he battled Ravage in Hearts of Steel.

I can pretty much see myself liking every other issue. Basically, the ones Roberts writes.

So yeah. Meh.

[Mr_Tigg]

I found it all quite jarring and odd. I don't know if it's because we've read a lot of RID and MTMTE now, but you can actually tell which bits Barber wrote (the majority) and which bits Robert penned (the few Lost Light scenes). I'm not a fan of switching art styles so regularly either - it disrupts the narrative.

I agree with Yaya that it's all a bit underwhelming - resurrecting plot points (the Dead Universe, Ore-13, titans, etc) and villains (Galvatron and Nemesis Prime) that have already had their moment in the sun. Let's have some fresh ideas rather than recycling old ones hey? That's one reason why MTMTE always stood out as the better comic - Roberts was constantly bringing new, exciting concepts to the table.

On a side note I did like Swerve's line about 'rambling diversions' and 'stretching things out'. Sort of sums up my feelings on the issue!

[snarl]

Bag of wank. I don't think it can ruin MTMTE, but certainly if it sullies it, then that means TF comics will be **** for half a year.

John Barber has maybe a clutch - possibly more than two, but not by many - types of character, that he applies to ALL.

Character one:

Thick, annoying, ***** "blue collar" NYC Docker type TF, who says stuff like "Haw Haw" when he laughs, always calls the leader "Boss / Da boss", likes to think he is a little bit of a geezer but is basically a ****. This is applied to most of the cons.

Character two:

Red neck.

Character three:

Pretentious, self important "Genius", who speaks in a pompous way. They basically speak like English baddies do in ***** afternoon American detective dramas from the 70s 80s, when they writer is trying to give the character a bit of cunning and gravitas, but has no idea.

So they just use long words.

There are others, but I can't be ******.

At any rate, all of barbers TFs come across as thick as **** *****, and they all feel like they could have stepped out of the shittest, most cliched American melodrama and stright into TFs.

[snarl]

I found it all quite jarring and odd. I don't know if it's because we've read a lot of RID and MTMTE now, but you can actually tell which bits Barber wrote (the majority) and which bits Robert penned (the few Lost Light scenes). I'm not a fan of switching art styles so regularly either - it disrupts the narrative.

Yes - Barber's writing stands out so much because it is so ******* gash!

Also don't like this new art switch trend. [composite word including 'f*ck'] "squad rotation", pick the ones good at drawing pictures and tell the rest to [composite word including 'f*ck'] off!

The art in this issue for me was not to my taste at all.

[Mr_Tigg]

Just noticed on the IDW boards - someone points out that Galvatron killed Nova Prime back in Revelations. I'd completely forgotten but looking back, in the build-up to Revelations there was lots of foreshadowing going on about Galvie's plan to stab Nova in the back. Now they're back to BFF!

What gives?

[Metal Vendetta]

Barber's pages

Are the ones where someone self-narrates

Like this

In little boxes

Scattered across the panels.

[snarl]

And it's annoying as [composite word including 'f*ck']

I thought, or had hoped...

We had got past this.

But no.

SHOW DON'T TELL

[Computron]

So in other words I should be happy I saved my money?

[Impactor returns 2.0]

We won't see another dark cybertron issue for a year so not to worry then...

Why is galvatron nova's Bitch?

[Shanti418]

Indeed. Bunch o' Set-Up, although I can't say that it was worse than Random DC/Marvel Crossover Event #1. Zombies are played out, even if they're Titans. Novaman Prime and Earth-2 Galvatron punching holes through continuity is ALSO played out. That being said, there's not enough bad here to quash my optimism and excitement about the overall project. I DO agree with the notion that the obviousness of the Barber/Roberts sections kind of sucks. I was/am hoping to see Roberts do a turn on the Bumble/Scream teams. Hopefully that will happen over the course of the event, and I look forward to everyone piling on Barber when he tries to write Swerve. One point though: I would have paid $3.99 for the Optimus boarding the Lost Light scene alone. That. Was. Priceless.

Wait, so what is the part that's drawing from the Furman run?

Question for the artistically inclined: When they say that Jimenez does layouts and Griffith finishes, what does that mean? Is Jimenez just basically responsible for the composition/layout of the pages/panels, but basically just leaves stick figures and lets Griffith do the rest?

[Yaya]

Wait, so what is the part that's drawing from the Furman run?

Not much except the flashback of Ark 1 and the return of Nova Prime, Galvatron, and the return of the Dead Universe. All part of Revelations, IIRC.

[bumblemusprime]

I agree on meh. We're bringing back Galvatron and the Dead Universe AGAIN? Simon never got to finish his original story so apparently Abnett, Costa, and now Barber and Roberts are trying to finish it. Over and over again.

But the art was quite good; Jiminez has a much better sense of utilizing space and dynamics. Griffith's line work is quite excellent. Pleased all around with the look of the book.

[Best First]

I think if it tells us about the origin's of the Dead Universe then it may be interesting, but overall the reveal as to who the protaganists were - yep, dissapointment.

I think Shockers was a big enough bad on his own - making him a disciple of NP lessens him in my eyes. Plus he sounded like a one eyed Vader when he said "My Master". I am wondering though if they are alive now (via the ore) or if in fact that is a portal to the past?

My main gripe us just that it's 5 months until the conlusion - that's a long time without a more standard dose of MTMTE. I was hoping this issue would be more akin to Death of Optimus where there wasn't such an obvious distinction between each authors voicen - but i guess they have each had their own set of characters for 2 years since then.

Ringtone though - amazing.