1. His role was somewhat unique and integral to the plot (such as it was), at least moreso than a lot of the other characters who have been offed.andersonh1 wrote:That's what I'm wondering. Out of all the casualties of this series so far, why choose Rewind in particular to restore to life?
I like it, sounds good. There are several outs, that's as good as any. I honestly don't know why this is still a conversation a month later, either you buy it or you think it's cheap, but it's done.BWprowl wrote:One easy argument is that when the quantum conundrum 'resolved' itself, and restored everyone, Rewind was able to stick around because his 'other' self was already dead, as opposed to vice-versa like everyone else who was effected. Now granted, that still brings up why it just *happened* to be Rewind who was the sole survivor of the massacre, but then the answer is already as you said: To conveniently allow him to come back after dying previously. It's hard to say how much Roberts intended for this to be the story, though one thing I will give him is that he seems to plan things pretty well in advance (especially if this engine-malfunction thing with Brainstorm plays out), so it's entirely possible this was his plan all along and he's going somewhere further with it.andersonh1 wrote:How did quantum duplicate Rewind survive if everyone else on board died? That seems very convenient.
I think you've entirely missed Megatron's message there, it's not that transformation and altmodes are stupid, it's that predestination is stupid, being born into a class system is stupid. It's akin to saying that it's wrong to pigeonhole a person based on who and what they are, that it's wrong to say a person born black must be a laborer, or a person born ethnically jewish must be a doctor. Roberts is saying that just because a person has the physical attributes of a warrior doesn't mean they couldn't choose to be a musician instead, that all beings are equal and deserve the right to self-determination rather than determination by a system propped up by conventions of political and religious interpretations, the powerful should not decide over the masses.Also wasn't crazy about the excerpt from Megatron's writing in the middle. Yeah, thanks Roberts, I really like being told that transforming and altmodes are stupid and liking them as a key element of my favorite franchise of all time makes me a horrible person, that's really great.
I don't understand how Roberts gets such a pass, he comes across as more vindictive towards TF and its concepts than Costa ever did.
It is kind of stupid and capricious to just bring back Rewing, and some of us are hoping there is more to it rather than just "Rewind is back".I like it, sounds good. There are several outs, that's as good as any. I honestly don't know why this is still a conversation a month later, either you buy it or you think it's cheap, but it's done.
Exactly, they can lawyers, accountants, entertainment executives or bankers.person born ethnically jewish must be a doctor
See, it’d be easier for me to believe that this was all there was to it if Roberts hadn’t already been undermining and spitting in the face of transformation as a concept in Transformers at every turn. As it is, we have stuff like Monoformers, the entire thing with Rung’s altmode (“You shouldn’t care about what a Transformer turns into! It’s not interesting and doesn’t amount to anything!”), Chromedome getting made fun of for wanting to transform, and the fact that *no one ever transforms in this book* (seriously, what the hell is Megatron’s altmode why even give him a new body if you’re only going to show off half its functionality grarghrarghgnashgnash). And now we get this, a solid page of Roberts, via Megatron, going “What Transformers transform into isn’t important and if you DO care about that or question it that makes you a bigoted communist horrible person”.JediTricks wrote:I think you've entirely missed Megatron's message there, it's not that transformation and altmodes are stupid, it's that predestination is stupid, being born into a class system is stupid. It's akin to saying that it's wrong to pigeonhole a person based on who and what they are, that it's wrong to say a person born black must be a laborer, or a person born ethnically jewish must be a doctor. Roberts is saying that just because a person has the physical attributes of a warrior doesn't mean they couldn't choose to be a musician instead, that all beings are equal and deserve the right to self-determination rather than determination by a system propped up by conventions of political and religious interpretations, the powerful should not decide over the masses.
Not since Mike Costa has a writer so failed to understand TF!
how he can claim to be such a ‘fan’ of the franchise in the face of that issue.
I’m not necessarily asking for Japanese-fiction-style spotlights on specific features or the like, but I would like to see *the* fundamental element of the franchise and its characters incorporated more effectively into the fiction. Especially since, in my case, that’s one the THE driving elements that I find so compelling about the franchise as a whole. Altmodes and transformation can be incorporated into the storyline without overtly calling attention to them. Worse writers than Roberts have pulled it off. “Sure beats walking”. Have characters incorporate altmodes into combat maneuvers during battle scenes. ‘Beast Wars’ and the movies were able to do that much. Roberts, instead goes out of his way NOT to have characters transform (and have Chromedome point it out, no less), invents characters who can’t transform, or have no reason to transform (Rung and Ambulon with their useless altmodes).Dominic wrote:TF stopped being a "toy book" a while ago. Roberts is a fan and a writer of *comics*, and is probably not going to bother writing a scene where a guy shows off all the cool stuff that a toy can do unless Hasbro specifically mandates it. And, Hasbro seems less interested in showing off what a toy can do so long as the toy/character shows up.
The characters transform as needed (Hoist in the "Spotlight" issue). But, Roberts is not going to write a scene just to show off a character's alternate mode.
If he was a fan of the comics but not for the actual Transformers in them, then what was he a fan of? Simon Furman’s writing? He could be on a ‘Death’s Head’ or ‘StarCraft’ book in that case. At least there it wouldn’t stick out like a sore thumb when he not only just ignores the primary defining feature of the fiction he claims to be a huge fan of, but shows such blatant contempt for it. Transformation IS what makes TFs unique not just as toys, but as a franchise where almost every character can handily switch between forms. Their transformations, their altmodes, those ARE what make them special and unique. And instead of acknowledging that, and incorporating it into his story in a meaningful way, what does he give us? “No, transformation and altmodes have nothing to do with what make TFs interesting and if you think they do you’re a horrible person.” It’s that utter contempt, not just for the concept of Transformation but for the people that are entertained by it (I’m presuming a large portion of ‘Transformers’ readership) that really gets to me.Joking aside, have you considered that Roberts is writing comics, not TF? Maybe he was a fan of TF comics because he liked the comics, not because they had a bunch of characters that shared names with poorly made toys in the late 80s?
The book has, honestly, greatly improved in this ‘Second Season’. It’s actually funny now, it feels like there’s more of a plot moving along at a better clip, there’s some wonderful ideas in there being used for all they’re worth (Autobot Megatron!). My biggest issue thus is just this: This impression that Roberts would be better served writing something entirely of his own instead of superimposing his own fanfic over Transformers names and shapes without actually incorporating the main elements of that fiction and dismissing them with prejudice at every turn.And, for the record, I am not even that give a fan of Roberts. He is kind of foo-foo for my tastes. But, the lack of transforming in the book is the least of my worries about it.
Roberts on "Transformers":Slott on "Spider-Man"Have characters incorporate altmodes into combat maneuvers during battle scenes. ‘Beast Wars’ and the movies were able to do that much. Roberts, instead goes out of his way NOT to have characters transform (and have Chromedome point it out, no less), invents characters who can’t transform, or have no reason to transform (Rung and Ambulon with their useless altmodes).
Because "Transformers" is the book that Roberts is on right now.It goes with my whole problem of conservation of detail: If the characters never transform, they may as well not even HAVE altmodes, and if they don’t have altmodes, why did this story need to be about ‘Transformers’ in the first place?
For all I know, Roberts is reading "Star Craft". But, he is working on TF. And, he was clearly a fan of TF before he got the job. And, yes, maybe he was in it for the comics.Simon Furman’s writing? He could be on a ‘Death’s Head’ or ‘StarCraft’ book in that case
No, see, because Slott still has Spider-Man doin' Spider-Man stuff in the comics. He incorporates Spider-Man's powers and how he uses them as a superhero to fight crime into the stories he tells, instead of dismissively sweeping them under the rug because he...doesn't like those elements for some reason.Dominic wrote:Roberts on "Transformers":Slott on "Spider-Man"
They both love to troll the fans?
Then why isn't he writing 'Transformers', instead giving us 'Firefly' with people in big boxy suits?For all I know, Roberts is reading "Star Craft". But, he is working on TF. And, he was clearly a fan of TF before he got the job. And, yes, maybe he was in it for the comics.
