Transformers 2019 (IDW comic series) discussion

[Shockwave]

And possibly turning into Rumble. I kinda hope I'm wrong about that though.

[Dominic]

Issue 4:

This issue is more of the same.

The plot advances, and a few new dynamics (likely to be important for the series) are introduced. Cyclonus' appearance makes we think that either Ruckley or the editors are pushing a little too hard to demonstrate that this a "new" series. But, it has not reached any degree of being offensive. And, based on that same scene, it is getting more obvious that "peaceful Cybertron" is more or less a police state, similar to Monaco or better areas of countries like Dubai. There is a healthy economy, and nobody is likely to freeze or starve. But, if somebody steps out of line, or has the misfortune to fall under state scrutiny, they are going to be unhappy.

The art remains plagued by the sort of inconsistency that has characterized previous issues. IDW needs to use a single artist that can produced an issue's worth of finished art.

[Sparky Prime]

And, based on that same scene, it is getting more obvious that "peaceful Cybertron" is more or less a police state, similar to Monaco or better areas of countries like Dubai. There is a healthy economy, and nobody is likely to freeze or starve. But, if somebody steps out of line, or has the misfortune to fall under state scrutiny, they are going to be unhappy.

I'm not seeing how that's evidence Cybertron is a police state. Cyclonus apparently lives out in the wilds on his own where he seems to mostly be left alone by everyone. The only reason why he's even being questioned is because they believe he may have seen something in relation to Brainstorm's murder (and given what the... ghosts? say, he did indeed see a blue((-ish)) bot) since he apparently lives near the outpost and admits to seeing Brainstorm arrive. But Cyclonus isn't being a very forthcoming witness, and Chromia knows it, wanting him on their turf to get a better account of what he may have seen. Not to mention, she's asking him to come in of his own free will, before they have to force him.

It's interesting Bumblebee says forgings are rare. I mean, it makes sense the population growth would be slow, given it is established how long-lived Transformers are.

Oh and look at here, Megatron says that if Orion wants him to condemn the violence of The Rise, he will do so, insistent violence is not the Ascenticon way. Termagax is also revealed to still be alive, although Megatron explains she's chosen to go into seclusion. Which makes me wonder why, given she's practically worshiped for her ideas and achievements.

[Dominic]

I'm not seeing how that's evidence Cybertron is a police state.

The scenes with Chromia and the other police all seem to have an "or else" vibe to them. Maybe I am misreading it.

(and given what the... ghosts? say, he did indeed see a blue((-ish)) bot) s

I am hoping that those are hallucinations, not ghosts.

Oh and look at here, Megatron says that if Orion wants him to condemn the violence of The Rise, he will do so, insistent violence is not the Ascenticon way.

And, the fact that we cannot be sure of how honest Megatron is being is a credit to how much work has been done with the character over the last decade or so. (I have not been this interested in Megatron in years, if at all.)

Termagax is also revealed to still be alive, although Megatron explains she's chosen to go into seclusion. Which makes me wonder why, given she's practically worshiped for her ideas and achievements.

Cult of personality and/or something she did before the series began.

[Ursus mellifera]

Good to see you again! I hope you'll stick around and keep on giving your opinion on the series.

Thanks! Nice to talk with everyone again!

Right now, the smart money is split between Rubble dying and Rubble joining the Decepticons.

I would love it if he joined the Decepticons; mainly because I would love to see the Decepticon ideals approached from an understandable viewpoint (as opposed to the standard "expansionist dicks" direction they usually take). I worry, though, that in becoming a Decepticon they'd find some way to make him into Rumble, but that might just be because I keep calling him that already. It's ONE LETTER AWAY, PEOPLE.

And possibly turning into Rumble. I kinda hope I'm wrong about that though.

Yeah. Yeah, exactly.

Off to read the 4th issue now.

[Ursus mellifera]

The scenes with Chromia and the other police all seem to have an "or else" vibe to them. Maybe I am misreading it.

I think this could go either way. Desperate authorities (which they are, given their first murder in how long?) tend to throw their weight around because they know it's usually the quickest way to get things done. That being said, for all the different ideals and groups and personalities, Cybertron does seem to have an undercurrent of "conformity for the good of all." The Autobots seem to have created an almost communist utopia that only functions because everyone not an Autobot is ostracized into submission. I mean, the Reversionists seem to just be benign religious fanatics and even Orion views them with disdain.

I am hoping that those are hallucinations, not ghosts.

I'm near positive they're hallucinations given that Cyclonus is clearly the grumpy old schizophrenic who lives in the woods. At the same time, this run of Transformers has so far been heavily theological with the repetition of "Primus became Cybertron, and our sparks (ie: souls) are basically created by divine providence and drawn to the bodies we build for them," so Cyclonus could also have isolated himself because he actually does see ghosts, because in this comic all Cybertronians most definitely have souls, and nobody knows where they come from, and nobody knows what happens to them when someone dies.

I'm finding the whole thing really, really interesting.

[Sparky Prime]

The scenes with Chromia and the other police all seem to have an "or else" vibe to them. Maybe I am misreading it.

I'm not getting an "or else" vibe from it. I mean, while she does say that if he doesn't come in on his own she'll bring him in by force, but that's pretty standard for dealing with a witness that doesn't want to answer questions.

I am hoping that those are hallucinations, not ghosts.

Difficult to say. It could be Cyclonus is suffering some some kind of post traumatic stress, and just imagines these "ghosts". Or they could be real manifestations only he can see and hear.

And, the fact that we cannot be sure of how honest Megatron is being is a credit to how much work has been done with the character over the last decade or so. (I have not been this interested in Megatron in years, if at all.)

It's possible he's not being honest, but he's given us no reason to believe that he isn't sincere about condemning the violence of The Rise either so....

Cult of personality and/or something she did before the series began.

I think there's more to it than that.

[Dominic]

I mean, the Reversionists seem to just be benign religious fanatics and even Orion views them with disdain.

They are worth keeping happy though. (I forget the specific line. But, the dialogue indicates that letting one of them run the funeral was a necessary concession to prevent them from lending support to the Rise.)

It's possible he's not being honest, but he's given us no reason to believe that he isn't sincere about condemning the violence of The Rise either so....

I suspect that something will happen to force Megatron in to a choice, and that will result in a Decepticon faction (maybe a combination of Ascenticons, the Rise, and possibly others).

[Sparky Prime]

I suspect that something will happen to force Megatron in to a choice, and that will result in a Decepticon faction (maybe a combination of Ascenticons, the Rise, and possibly others).

I agree. But that doesn't mean he's being dishonest about condemning violence of The Rise here at this point of the story.

[Ursus mellifera]

They are worth keeping happy though. (I forget the specific line. But, the dialogue indicates that letting one of them run the funeral was a necessary concession to prevent them from lending support to the Rise.)

The concession was made not because the Reversionists would otherwise join The Rise, but that they might if not appeased, and I think that's a really important difference. The former makes it a decision based on a known threat, but the latter makes it a decision based on paranoid speculation that seems to be based solely on the Reversionists not being Autobots, and therefore scary. I think this kind of mindset could be what eventually pushes the Ascenticons into the Decepticons.

But that doesn't mean he's being dishonest about condemning violence of The Rise here at this point of the story.

I truly think that he's being honest. In the very first issue he tells Orion that he doesn't care if the upcoming Ascenticon rally incites violence. Megatron is not interested in playing nice; he is interested in cultural and social change, and he is not above inciting riots to facilitate that change, but that is a far cry from the domestic terrorism that seems to be The Rise's M.O. He's definitely not a good guy from any non-Cybertronian mindset; he's a bit of an imperialist, and he's a bit of a brute, but he's a natural response to the stifling conformity that the Autobots seem to be fostering (hence my continued worry in regards to a Hitler analog).