Movie II tie-in comics and novels

[Dominic]

I figure we may as well post about all of the upcoming movie-related comics here, in one thread.



Transformers "Alliance" #1: I think I finally came up with a way to list the ever increasing number of "Transformers" titles that I can live with. List the franchise, followed by the title in quotes. As with "Reign of Starscream", Mowry spends the first issue world-building, (or at least world-mapping), building off of and papering over elements of the movie. At a few points, Mowry does an excellent job of evoking movie dialogue. At this stage, it is too early to determine how much of this issue is intended to lead into the movie, and how much is intended to set up for the current arc. And, while I am not 100% sure, I am thinking this series might have a "then/now" style narrative structure, using flashbacks to set up for the "current" story. There are a few Easter-Eggs that need not be understood to appreciate the comic on its own. Normally, I would shrug off non-movie characters as cannon fodder, but given how many non-movie characters survived "Reign of Starscream", (and those killed still advanced the plot), I am assuming these characters will do a bit more than simply show up and die. The picture of Sam on the incentive cover is interesting, as the shading looks to mirror the etching on the Allspark cube. Grade: B A more even start than the first issue of "Reign of Starscream", which is only cause for optimism.

Dom
-thinks the movie is worth it for good comics.

[onslaught86]

I am in favour of anything and everything Wreckage-related.

At a few points, Mowry does an excellent job of evoking movie dialogue.

This is..a good thing? Really?

[Sparky Prime]

And, while I am not 100% sure, I am thinking this series might have a "then/now" style narrative structure, using flashbacks to set up for the "current" story.

I didn't get that impression from this comic. Seemed to me they only started this issue that way to set up for this series and wrap up a few loose ends from the movie. The impression I get is that the rest of the series should continue to be set in the 'present day' though.

At a few points, Mowry does an excellent job of evoking movie dialogue.

This is..a good thing? Really?

Personally, I feel it's more of a characterization thing. It just wouldn't feel like the same characters if they didn't talk like they did in the movie. So to me it's a good thing they evoked movie dialogue.

Overall I enjoyed this issue. Should be interesting where they take this and how it'll tie into the next movie...

[BWprowl]

I liked "Alliance" as well. Seemed to end a little too quickly (Putting Wreckage on the covers is the worst kind of tease), and it follows both the Movie itself and "Reign of Starscream" nicely. Movie Screamer's slowly inching his way up on my favored Movie characters list. Really, the whole issue seemed very well thought-out, which is more than I can say for some of the other comics coming out these days.

[Dominic]

Sparky hit one what I was talking about. For example, when Agent Simmons shows up, I can hear the actor's voice and inflection in the dialogue. I credit Mowry for using the correct types of words.


I think the pacing questions will largely be addressed by the next issue. This first issue mostlly looks to be world-mapping. I get the feeling the Wreckage will play a larger role in upcoming issues. The last comic implies that Wreckage was pretty social with the humans pretty late in the game. And, he is a perfect Decepticon adversary for Starscream. (I am betting there will be flash-backs, showing what Wreckage and the humans discussed.)

Dom
-waiting to see what is up with Landmine and co.

[onslaught86]

I read this, and I liked it. I'm happy just looking at pretty Wreckage art, really, anything else is a bonus. You're right, though, this could lead into something great. I'm glad we have these comics, if nothing else from the movie.

[Dominic]

Yeah. In that sense, the movie is like"Armada". The domininant media, TF in that case, was pretty lackluster. But, there were some nice visuals, and some good toys. The comics were generally good.

We get the same effect here. We get some really fun toys. (I recently dug out Ratchet, Ironhide and the Leader class toys. I have been gleefully fiddling with them since Saturday morning. There is something satisfying about being snowed in with toys.) The movie is fun to look at, if not watch. And, we are getting some fantastic comics out of the deal. Yeah, some of the UK stuff is trash, but even so, there is some good filler there.

Dom
-just sick of hearing how good the movie is.

[onslaught86]

I recently got both Premium Movie Prime and Cybertron's 'Galaxy Force' Optimus Prime redeco. Despite the love the latter mould received at the time of release, it's vastly inferior to the Movie figure on an engineering and sculpting level. It's certainly fair to note that CyberPrime had features removed for budget reasons, and that he's several years older than Super Movie Prime. But both are the figureheads of their respective toylines. The Movie toyline represented a shift from more kid-friendly figures to those aimed squarely at collectors and nostalgia-mongers. It represents a maturing of the franchise, and if nothing else, it deserves praise for that.

[BWprowl]

I recently got both Premium Movie Prime and Cybertron's 'Galaxy Force' Optimus Prime redeco. Despite the love the latter mould received at the time of release, it's vastly inferior to the Movie figure on an engineering and sculpting level. It's certainly fair to note that CyberPrime had features removed for budget reasons, and that he's several years older than Super Movie Prime. But both are the figureheads of their respective toylines. The Movie toyline represented a shift from more kid-friendly figures to those aimed squarely at collectors and nostalgia-mongers. It represents a maturing of the franchise, and if nothing else, it deserves praise for that.

I think that Hasbro created Fast Action Battlers at the same time to fill that kid-friendly void only cements that point. Think we'll see the return of FABs for ROTF?

[Onslaught Six]

Er, yes. We've already seen 'packaged photos' of some FABs, including Volt. Keep up, man!