More than Meets the Eye (IDW ongoing comic)

[Dominic]

Drift went from being a competent soldier to being a clown. And, it is because "Drift am suk lolololololol".

Marvel and DC pulled the same shit with some Liefeld and McFarlane characters in the mide 90s. (And, yes, I do think that Marvel's choice to make Shatterstar gay was a dig at Liefeld, if a bigoted dig.)

I just hope they kill Drift off, because the character really does kind of suck now.

On the other hand, Skids is supposed to be an obnoxious fucktard for the purposes of whatever it is that Roberts is writing. So, that does not bother me.

What *does* feel a little overt is the inclusion of in-story debates about stuff like altmode-prejudice and alternate, non-Primus TF religious theories. This stuff honestly doesn't add anything to the story or characters, and mostly just comes off like Roberts trying to pile even more flavor and fluff into a series that's already too stuffed with it for its own good

Agreed. Roberts is just adding stuff and world building, but not doing anything worthwhile in or with the setting.

I do find it interesting that the Autobots apparently gave Tailgate a very biased view of the war.


Dom
-would want to see more of Cyclonus and Tailgate.

[BWprowl]

Drift went from being a competent soldier to being a clown. And, it is because "Drift am suk lolololololol".

I'm sorry, I'm just not seeing it. Can you cite any specific circumstances? Is Drift acting a *bit* silly here? Maybe, but it's a Roberts book about adventures in space, *everyone* is acting a bit silly. The Lost Light scene opens with Ratchet and Swerve at a bar-party joking about tiny drinks and going on more discussion tangents than *this* place does before they finally get to the point of getting the transmission. I don't think any of this is because Roberts thinks Ratchet and Swerve are losers.

I dunno, it feels like you really want to read it that Roberts hates Drift and is writing him as this doofy loser who trips over everything and breaks everything and everyone goes "Driiii~iiiift!", but like I said, I'm really not seeing it.

I just hope they kill Drift off, because the character really does kind of suck now.

I still find him perfectly inoffensive. Possibly moreso, actually, since now the fandom isn't in an uproar bitching about how annoyed they are by him.

On the other hand, Skids is supposed to be an obnoxious fucktard for the purposes of whatever it is that Roberts is writing. So, that does not bother me.

But man, he's like, got a gun, see, and he never let's go of his gun! Literally! He's always holding his gun, and sometimes he doesn't even notice it's there, because he's just soooo random and crazy awesome! Isn't that high-larious?

Agreed. Roberts is just adding stuff and world building, but not doing anything worthwhile in or with the setting.

Yeah, I don't mind world-building, to a point, as long as it doesn't get in the way of the story itself or get too up its own ass with details that have nothing to do with anything the story will be about. When First Aid stops mid-story-important-journal-entry to discuss TF altmode-based bigotry for a few panels, it feels gratuitous and wasteful.

I do find it interesting that the Autobots apparently gave Tailgate a very biased view of the war.

Me too, I mentioned it in my review. Rewind, Autobot Propoganda Minister! I almost wouldn't mind a new toy of him now, he's been one of the better, more innoffensive characters in this so far.

Dom
-would want to see more of Cyclonus and Tailgate.

You and me both. Cyclonus is the best character in this, and there is TONS of untapped potential for interaction between him and Tailgate. As hackneyed as Tailgate's origin and introduction was, doing it to bring him in next to Cyclonus was one of the better ideas Roberts had here.

[Dominic]

I do not think that Roberts hates Drift. It is likely just a question of Roberts pandering to the Drift haters by making him an obnoxious fuckwit. (This is a factor in early issues as well, such as when Drift is saying "I helped" regarding Rodimus' speech. But, it is very prominent in this issue.) I am less agains the use/change of the character than I am the reasoning behind it (fan pandering).

Skids is less offensive because he was "that way" to start. If this was a better book, I would have faith in Roberts having a good reason to write Skids as a bad 90s character. As it stands now, Skids more or less fits the "wild, wacky and whimsical" tone of the book. Swerve is also pretty obnoxious, but again, he fits the tone of the book.

With Drift, it is a radical character shift that is apparently for the sake of fan pandering. At this point, I just want the character to die.

Me too, I mentioned it in my review. Rewind, Autobot Propoganda Minister!

Now, if we can just get Goebbles, erm, Garboil in to RiD I can be truly happy.


Dom
-notes that Howlback would be a good choice for that book as well.

[BWprowl]

I do not think that Roberts hates Drift. It is likely just a question of Roberts pandering to the Drift haters by making him an obnoxious fuckwit. (This is a factor in early issues as well, such as when Drift is saying "I helped" regarding Rodimus' speech. But, it is very prominent in this issue.) I am less agains the use/change of the character than I am the reasoning behind it (fan pandering).
...
With Drift, it is a radical character shift that is apparently for the sake of fan pandering. At this point, I just want the character to die.

Can I please get some actual instances cited on this? What specifically does Drift do or say in this issue that paints him as such a bumbling clown? As I said before, I am flat-out not seeing it. Maybe I'm passing it over somewhere because I'm dense, but that's why I need you to point it out to me, so I can understand.

Now, if we can just get Goebbles, erm, Garboil in to RiD I can be truly happy.

Dom
-notes that Howlback would be a good choice for that book as well.

You're right, the Cobalt Sentries would fit seamlessly into what RID is doing. I really want to seem them in there now (hey, they've got Metalhawk! Japanese characters are apparently not off-limits!).

[Shockwave]

Dom, I have no idea what you're talking about with Drift. I was kind of on board with the character change bit, but "fan pandering"? Are you serious? I honestly think you often read into things that are not there. I have read NOTHING in this book so far to suggest that Roberts has any desire to pander to the fans. This is based largely on the fact that so many of them are so vastly different from their G1 counterparts. If Roberts really were concerned with the fan base at all, we'd see more similarities rather than just referrences.

And where are you guys getting obnoxious and whimsical from Skids? Again I don't find anything about him to whimsical except maybe his interactions with Swerve, but that's more about Swerve than about Skids. I will agree about Cyclonus and Tailgate. That's an interesting thread that I hope will have an equally interesting resolution.

And the world building doesn't bother me either. In fact, I like it. I would be annoyed by it if the book was all world building, but it's usually done in one liner comments which I think is the best way to do it. Yeah, First Aid went on a bit, but he also prefaced the Journal by assuming this was going to be read by someone not familiar with either his terminology or the Cybertronian conflict in general so it's ok.

Shockwave
-Would read this book just for Swerve alone.

[Dominic]

"Uh oh, Drift, try not to kill this one!" (wahwahwahwah)

Skids is just so wacky and goofy!

[Shockwave]

Skids is just so wacky and goofy!

Still not seeing it.

[BWprowl]

"Uh oh, Drift, try not to kill this one!" (wahwahwahwah)

Yeah, but that was immediately after "Pipes, what are you doing? This door is dangerous, can't you read?!" *smash* (wahwahwaaaa~aaah). Hell, the first few pages after the prologue is Ratchet fumbling with a tiny beer.

Anything else?

Skids is just so wacky and goofy!

Still not seeing it.

I already discussed this with Scourge (over in the comics thread, I think?), to the point that I'm starting to think it may just be me.

[Shockwave]

Skids is just so wacky and goofy!

Still not seeing it.

I already discussed this with Scourge (over in the comics thread, I think?), to the point that I'm starting to think it may just be me.

Wait, it's just you that Skids IS wacky and goofy or IS NOT wacky and goofy? Cause Dom and I are apparently on opposit sides of this. Either way, it's you and at least one other person

[BWprowl]

Wait, it's just you that Skids IS wacky and goofy or IS NOT wacky and goofy? Cause Dom and I are apparently on opposit sides of this. Either way, it's you and at least one other person

To me, it comes across like Skids is totally wacky and lolrandumb and his narration boxes are telling you how outrageous and crazy-awesome the things he does are. Very Deadpool-lite. Scourge apparently doesn't see it, and it doesn't annoy Dom on the same level that it does me, so apparently it's just me.