Bumblebee mini-series

[Dominic]

Ironhide was killed during a bungled mission though. That is much different from a hunting trip. Both the guy who ordered the mission and the guy who blew it have gone missing. A witness to the incident is now in charge, but other troops have taken off. Was Prowl legally obligated to, or barred from, helping a Decepticon? (The treaty mentioned might likely deal with that question....if Costa and Cannon thought of it.)

At the very least, Prime and Hot Rod should be investigated for negligence.

Possible violations of treaties and the involvement of Decepticons are more political justification/need for Magnus to bag *somebody*, even if the Earth based Autobots have not been completely inept.


Dom
-giving this book until April or so.

[Sparky Prime]

Ironhide was killed during a bungled mission though. That is much different from a hunting trip.

I see andersonh1's point here, and I'd say he's exactly right. The two situations are not all that different at all. When you get down to it, all that is being investigated is to essentially double check what the eyewitnesses reported happened actually happened the way they said it did. This isn't a criminal investigation here.

At the very least, Prime and Hot Rod should be investigated for negligence.

When ever you have a group enter hostile territory, there is a possibility someone will get hurt or killed. They knew what weapons the humans, they were just over confident they could get out before the humans countered them. It's hardly negligence on Prime or Hot Rod's part.

Possible violations of treaties and the involvement of Decepticons are more political justification/need for Magnus to bag *somebody*, even if the Earth based Autobots have not been completely inept.

Possible violations on the Decepticons part are the *only* reason Magnus would have to bag anybody here. But then that would really be for separate reasons than why Magnus came to Earth in the first place.

I would not assume that everybody reads and writes reports even when they are supposed to.

I can't imagine the Autobots returning to base with a dead Ironhide and no one (Prime in particular) asks "What happened?" and then put it into a report. At the very least, Ultra Magnus showing up with out being expected and already knowing what happened indicates someone submitted reports on the situation that he read.

[BWprowl]

Well, when you consider that the last time Ultra Magnus came to Earth, he arrested Grimlock for saving everybody, I can see why Hoist and the others might not want to stick around and see what happens.

Honestly I agree that Ultra Magnus probably never intended to arrest anyone. After Hoist and co leave, he doesn't say a thing about them. Rather, the implication to me is that the Autobot ranks were already deteriorating, Hoist's group was on edge, and Ultra Magnus showing up in full MP mode was a catalyst for them to say "Screw this, I'm outta here!". Did they overreact? Yes. Did they have legitimate reason to be afraid of Magnus? Not really, no. But man, even I've been in situations where it seemed easier to throw my hands up and storm out than to sit down and work through why I really had no reason to be pissed off in the first place. I daresay that, had they not been grabbed by Skywatch, the group probably would've calmed down and come back after a few hours.

[andersonh1]

Well, when you consider that the last time Ultra Magnus came to Earth, he arrested Grimlock for saving everybody, I can see why Hoist and the others might not want to stick around and see what happens.

He arrested Grimlock for desertion. Remember that the Dinobots' little trip to get revenge on Shockwave was not sanctioned by Autobot command, something Grimlock deliberately neglected to tell the other Dinobots. There was a warrant out for all five, but extenuating circumstances along with Grimlock taking responsibility for the whole thing led Magnus to drop the charges against the other four.

[Onslaught Six]

When it comes to legalities, yes, but considering that Grimlock just killed Scorponok and ended the Machination shit forever, Magnus could have let Grims off. It's interesting to think about Magnus' position, because this is the first time I can remember seeing a real kind of "police" rule in TF. Who, exactly, is Magnus answering to?

[andersonh1]

When it comes to legalities, yes, but considering that Grimlock just killed Scorponok and ended the Machination shit forever, Magnus could have let Grims off.

Magnus did offer to do what he could to help make things easier, an offer Grimlock refused. If Magnus could have gone further, it's possible that he would have, but either he wasn't in a position to just let Grimlock off, or else he was only willing to go so far and no further. But I can't see Mr. Law and Order letting Grimlock go scot free.

Look at it this way. Grimlock and co. went after Shockwave, without authorization. They deserted. Had they suceeded in killing Shockwave or capturing him and bringing him back as a prisoner, would that have mitigated the offense of desertion? No. At the very least, they went AWOL, and the Autobot military isn't going to look kindly on that in a time of war, whatever the reason.

It's interesting to think about Magnus' position, because this is the first time I can remember seeing a real kind of "police" rule in TF. Who, exactly, is Magnus answering to?

He's autonomous, isn't he? Didn't his spotlight issue establish that the Tyrest Accords gave him his authority, and that he wasn't under anyone's authority? I can't remember exactly, but I think that's close.

[Dominic]

The sensible thing to do in that situation though is to get out of the room/building. I am sure most of us have either gotten into trouble or avoided it by virtue of being in or out of the room when something happened, or even when "the party" ended.

A few years ago, I missed a day of work. Apparently, I picked the right day, as two idiots got into a fight before I got in. (I was way the heck late, but made up most of the hours.) I was one of the few people, (between the employees and students), who was not in the poop-house that day. Mind you, there were only two idiots. But, the boss was kind honked at everyone, if only because they did not stop the problem sooner. (I do not blame any of my colleagues though. I also avoided dealing with the involved parties whenever possible.)

I daresay that, had they not been grabbed by Skywatch, the group probably would've calmed down and come back after a few hours.

I got the feeling they would have gone with Hot Rod. Sometimes, when you throw your hands up and leave, you mean it.

When it comes to legalities, yes, but considering that Grimlock just killed Scorponok and ended the Machination shit forever, Magnus could have let Grims off. It's interesting to think about Magnus' position, because this is the first time I can remember seeing a real kind of "police" rule in TF. Who, exactly, is Magnus answering to?

Given the scale of Grimlock's mischief, Magnus has to grab somebody. No way around it. Frankly, I would have grabbed the other 4, just to make a point.

The higher he is, the more liable he is for something going wrong. And, the more incentive he has to come down harder, (which is more politically viable than risking more trouble later).

He's autonomous, isn't he? Didn't his spotlight issue establish that the Tyrest Accords gave him his authority, and that he wasn't under anyone's authority? I can't remember exactly, but I think that's close.

Even if he is only accountable to an institution or a document, he still has to answer to something. In principle, his responsibilities to a document would be higher than a responsibility to a boss, as the only measure is one of principle.


Dom
-thinking of dropping the city.

[Dominic]

Issue #3:

The Autobots continue to behave woth incredible stpuidity, while the humans act with credible stupidity that they later recover from. Bumblebee gets one of the most tedious "pet the dog" moments I have seen in a long time.

I am fine with the Autobots being less than perfect. But, playing up super-advanced alien robots as naive does not work. Cannon seems to be going for a sort of goofy charm that comes off more like a child's play session.

Grade: C

[andersonh1]

And that's why I gave up on the series after the second issue.

[Dominic]

Damn, my error rate was high the other day.