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Spider5800 wrote:So had a cool moment today. Went to pick up my copy of Transformers #7 from my local comic shop, and the new artist for the book, Jorge Corona, was there giving signatures! Had him sign my copy before I left. Really chill guy.

That is awesome!

Well, Prime has the inside track now. The spirit of Sparkplug is giving him pointers about the nature of life on Earth. He just needs to become more familiar with the visions so that they don't distract him.

So - I went with digital copies of the series so far - but the TPB exclusive covers are starting to be revealed - is anyone else thinking of picking them up? Or does everyone have the individual copies already?

I really like this Stewart McKenny/John Law one from Comics Etc.

https://leagueofcomicgeeks.com/comic/4565487/transformers-vol-1-robots-in-disguise-tp?variant=4971981

What's everyone else doing?

Just read the Free Comic Book Day edition. Megatron's roaming free! More back story. More death. More character introductions. Arooooo!

I am now caught up on the comics, it slipped me by that last week was comic day, time flew.

Issue 8 was good, though it pained me to read the jetfire page. That was good stuff, and really emotional too.

Earthbound wrote:So - I went with digital copies of the series so far - but the TPB exclusive covers are starting to be revealed - is anyone else thinking of picking them up? Or does everyone have the individual copies already?

I really like this Stewart McKenny/John Law one from Comics Etc.

https://leagueofcomicgeeks.com/comic/4565487/transformers-vol-1-robots-in-disguise-tp?variant=4971981

What's everyone else doing?

E-copies are great if you have very limited storage space. Also, you avoid postal costs and/or travel costs. However, there's a chance of occasional drive failure and they're useless without power.

I buy the physical copies since it forces me to get some exercise walking a mile to the nearby comics superstore. When I'm at the superstore, I can browse other material: comics, books, toys, models, videos, etc. I then have to walk another half mile to reach the nearest Underground station for the journey home after work.

I used to buy multiple covers but then realised that this was pointless without a high level of collecting zeal and/or a good resale value. I got rid of my excess multiples and now my Transformers comic collection fits into a single, moderate-size cupboard. I have nearly all G1, Dreamwave, IDW and Skybound.

So, what do you think kicked off the War in this universe? The Decepticons seem really killhappy, Prime said Megatron was the worst, and Megatron seems to be a bit of a religious zealot?
On top of that the Cons seem to hate Megatron, who actually shows mercy and honour towards people other versions would consider lesser lifeforms?

It's not adding up too great with what we usually seem to expect.

It's amazing though.

Dead Metal wrote:So, what do you think kicked off the War in this universe?

Wouldn't it be funny if this was a 'Holy War on Wokeness'?! (They could dunk on IDW, etc.)

More likely it's a straight power grab by the Decepticons, though.

Finally caught up on this and... ugh, I'm going to be the odd one out on this series, aren't I? It's just not working for me. The scratchy art and rough hand lettering are certainly expressive, but not in a way that really lands for me; I find the lettering in particular to be distracting where it needs to be clear. The writing's passable, has some really good moments - particularly the quieter, more introspective ones with Prime or Arcee/Carly - but also enough clunky or ungrammatical lines to keep pulling me out.

And dear God, the edge on the bloodthirsty violence - it's like we're back in G2, but turned up. Humans getting pulped! Robots getting shredded! Major characters being killed off like it's a Bayverse movie! Prime blasting Decepticons with "AW YEEAHHH" plastered across the background! ... sorry, I'm old, it just makes me tired and eye-rolly rather than pumped up.

Overall, it makes for an enjoyable enough what-if or AU miniseries, but as the main continuity? No shade on everyone who is enjoying it, but no thanks, not for me. Oh well, can't win 'em all.

snavej wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:So, what do you think kicked off the War in this universe?

Wouldn't it be funny if this was a 'Holy War on Wokeness'?! (They could dunk on IDW, etc.)

More likely it's a straight power grab by the Decepticons, though.

Why would that be funny? Do you even know what "woke" means or is woke the new "literally Hitler"?

Glyph wrote:Finally caught up on this and... ugh, I'm going to be the odd one out on this series, aren't I? It's just not working for me. The scratchy art and rough hand lettering are certainly expressive, but not in a way that really lands for me; I find the lettering in particular to be distracting where it needs to be clear. The writing's passable, has some really good moments - particularly the quieter, more introspective ones with Prime or Arcee/Carly - but also enough clunky or ungrammatical lines to keep pulling me out.

And dear God, the edge on the bloodthirsty violence - it's like we're back in G2, but turned up. Humans getting pulped! Robots getting shredded! Major characters being killed off like it's a Bayverse movie! Prime blasting Decepticons with "AW YEEAHHH" plastered across the background! ... sorry, I'm old, it just makes me tired and eye-rolly rather than pumped up.

Overall, it makes for an enjoyable enough what-if or AU miniseries, but as the main continuity? No shade on everyone who is enjoying it, but no thanks, not for me. Oh well, can't win 'em all.

I do hear you, part of me thinks and actually hopes that the current state is just to grab attention and get people into the series, and it will calm down more down the line. The current pacing and tone is just unsustainable. The best bits are Prime's story, he's like an uncensored Sunbow Optimus Prime.
I personally think that both teams will settle down and there's going to be periods of quiet, like in the cartoon. I also wouldn't mind to have cleaner artwork again, because what we have now is full of energy and I do like it, but I miss the clean metallic art we've had since Dreamwave.

Dead Metal wrote:

snavej wrote:Wouldn't it be funny if this was a 'Holy War on Wokeness'?! (They could dunk on IDW, etc.)

Why would that be funny? Do you even know what "woke" means or is woke the new "literally Hitler"?

Interesting idea, to have the Decepticons - who are really obviously the bad guys - launch a 'Holy War on Woke' rather than fighting for power or resources like usual. I suppose the latter is a bit played out, but it could be neat to show explicitly that the killhappy bad guys are fighting against 'Woke', and by extension to show that fighting against 'Woke' is what the bad guys do.

Not sure who the 'IDW' they could dunk on might be, though. Iacon's Dumb Warriors? Interior Dry Wall? Insufficiently Defined Wishes?

Dead Metal wrote:I do hear you, part of me thinks and actually hopes that the current state is just to grab attention and get people into the series, and it will calm down more down the line. ... I also wouldn't mind to have cleaner artwork again, because what we have now is full of energy and I do like it, but I miss the clean metallic art we've had since Dreamwave.

I'd be surprised if it changed much TBH, unless they did a hard stop and tone shift at some point for a new story. There's certainly been a setting of tone and expectations from the start and I'd expect to continue in that vein.

On the art, I miss the clean IDW style too, but it wouldn't fit this story at all IMO. While DWJ's style might not really be to my taste, I can appreciate the evident choices made (the roughness, the energy) to fit the tone he's going for. And I note that when a second artist was brought on, he followed DWJ's style very closely, so I wouldn't expect that to change any time soon without (again) a big tone shift in the story.

'Not sure who the 'IDW' they could dunk on might be, though. Iacon's Dumb Warriors? Interior Dry Wall? Insufficiently Defined Wishes?'

Some kind of comics company, apparently:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvj001E ... onDelArroz

snavej wrote:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvj001E4sUA&ab_channel=JonDelArroz

#takes a look at link
#sees it's a channel I've already blocked from recommendations for being nothing but pissy manbaby rants
#moves on with life

Glyph wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:

snavej wrote:Wouldn't it be funny if this was a 'Holy War on Wokeness'?! (They could dunk on IDW, etc.)

Why would that be funny? Do you even know what "woke" means or is woke the new "literally Hitler"?

Interesting idea, to have the Decepticons - who are really obviously the bad guys - launch a 'Holy War on Woke' rather than fighting for power or resources like usual. I suppose the latter is a bit played out, but it could be neat to show explicitly that the killhappy bad guys are fighting against 'Woke', and by extension to show that fighting against 'Woke' is what the bad guys do.

So basically idw, DW and all other versions.

Glyph wrote:Not sure who the 'IDW' they could dunk on might be, though. Iacon's Dumb Warriors? Interior Dry Wall? Insufficiently Defined Wishes?

Glyph wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:I do hear you, part of me thinks and actually hopes that the current state is just to grab attention and get people into the series, and it will calm down more down the line. ... I also wouldn't mind to have cleaner artwork again, because what we have now is full of energy and I do like it, but I miss the clean metallic art we've had since Dreamwave.

I'd be surprised if it changed much TBH, unless they did a hard stop and tone shift at some point for a new story. There's certainly been a setting of tone and expectations from the start and I'd expect to continue in that vein.

On the art, I miss the clean IDW style too, but it wouldn't fit this story at all IMO. While DWJ's style might not really be to my taste, I can appreciate the evident choices made (the roughness, the energy) to fit the tone he's going for. And I note that when a second artist was brought on, he followed DWJ's style very closely, so I wouldn't expect that to change any time soon without (again) a big tone shift in the story.

That's what I'm actually expecting. The current story is desperate high energy setup, both sides will settle down as the current state isn't sustainable both as a product and in universe. To further illustrate that point they'll change the art. I suspect EJ Sue will come back as his style is like a transition between the current and clean.

Same basically happened with Interrior Dry Wall's run.

Plus Void Rivals already does show us TF in a less high octane setting.

Dead Metal wrote:The current story is desperate high energy setup, both sides will settle down as the current state isn't sustainable both as a product and in universe. To further illustrate that point they'll change the art. I suspect EJ Sue will come back as his style is like a transition between the current and clean.

Same basically happened with Interrior Dry Wall's run.

Plus Void Rivals already does show us TF in a less high octane setting.

Fair enough then, I've only actually checked out the TF comic itself and picked up other bits from this thread so wasn't familiar with the sister titles. Didn't feel like reading another two Joe books I don't care about plus whatever Void Rivals is, just to figure out the story in the one title I'm interested in..!

Glyph wrote:

snavej wrote:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvj001E4sUA&ab_channel=JonDelArroz

#takes a look at link
#sees it's a channel I've already blocked from recommendations for being nothing but pissy manbaby rants
#moves on with life

OK

https://comicsgate.org/2023/11/06/idw-p ... ar-babies/

Ooh, comicsgate, really keeping those quality information sources coming! You understand you're showing your entire ass, right?

No more information than the last one though.
You're gonna have to explain how some unnamed jerk executive skimming money off, and being fired from, IDW as reported in November 2023 has anything to do with the direction of the Transformers comics they published from 2005-2022? Or what it has to do with the 'wokeness' you keep banging on about?

Actually, don't bother since (a) I really don't care, and (b) this is the Skybound thread. Maybe you could talk about that?

Glyph wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:The current story is desperate high energy setup, both sides will settle down as the current state isn't sustainable both as a product and in universe. To further illustrate that point they'll change the art. I suspect EJ Sue will come back as his style is like a transition between the current and clean.

Same basically happened with Interrior Dry Wall's run.

Plus Void Rivals already does show us TF in a less high octane setting.

Fair enough then, I've only actually checked out the TF comic itself and picked up other bits from this thread so wasn't familiar with the sister titles. Didn't feel like reading another two Joe books I don't care about plus whatever Void Rivals is, just to figure out the story in the one title I'm interested in..!

I put the entire Energonverse on my pull list just because I was intrigued. So far I haven't regretted it, Void Rivals is excellent and reads like a darker reintroduction to an 80s property. The Joe stuff is excellent, and I have no real interest in GI Joe, but the books here are really good. Everything ties together really well and feels cohesive and natural.
It really feels like a lot of thought was put into these.

Hmm. OK, I might have to take a look just out of curiosity and see how it works as a whole. Cheers.