Earth Force

[Dominic]

This came up in another thread. Rather than derail that thread, I figured it best to start a new thread.

Given that "Earth Force" really does not fit in with anything else, (barring a huge amount of fanfic-ery), i figure the best way to tackle it is as just random stories that kind of derive from the original Marvel UK run, but do not necessarily tie back in.

One thing i did like about "Earth Force", (despite much of what i did not), is that if provided a good official basis for speculation about what might have been if the original comics had not ended so abruptly. Furman apparently intended to reconcile Action Master Devastator while keeping the six members in place. (The Decepticons were shown building a "new" Devastator to replace the one they had lost.)

Another thing that was good about "Earth Force" was that it continued the tradition of "death being an inconvenience for a Transformer", while expanding on the idea. The early issues of the comic showed that it was generally possible, if difficult, to repair most damaged Transformers. "Death" was generally temporary. (And, even then, the capacity to duplicate personalities and memories meant that completely wiping an individual out was even more difficult.) Of course, this raised practical and moral questions about who to repair and how far to go with it. (I recall that the Decepticons seemed to be able to get their men back in service more quickly than the Autobots.)

While Prime and Ratchet worried over practical and ethical details, Grimlock just picked and chose. (Remember the time he tried to keep Tracks off the repair list because he did not like him?)


Dom
-seriously, Grimlock was a jerk.

[Gomess]

Oh yeah, that "new Devastator" story even used that bloody "I lie all the time / I tell the truth all the time" nonsense riddle. Pretty sure Ironhide solved it. Pffft.

As a kid I just figured the Constructicons took some Nucleon while combined, so they stuck that way. And shrunk down, like Prime / Hi-Q did.

[Dominic]

Wait, that "I always lie" bit was in the Devastator story? (I am pretty sure it was Ironhide who solved it though.) Why would the Decepticons even set that kind of trap up. Why not have a gun that popped up and said "I am gonna shoot you full of holes" or something?

Ugh.

That is actually a pretty good example of what i do not like about "Earth Force". Furman just threw cliches, and full-on template stories together, and then added Transformers. "Ohohoh, Grimlock has to keep Slag's personal problems a secret from Prime!"

Oddly, these were written at about the same time that Furman was starting his much hailed run on the US comic....


Dom
-still likes the idea of Grimlock trying to bump Tracks down the list.

[Gomess]

Lolz. Slag was horny. *HORN*Y GEDDIT 'COS HE'S A--

I honestly don't remember many of the Marvel G1 stories, UK or otherwise. Should refresh my memory sometime. =/