Movie II tie-in comics and novels

[BWprowl]

For what it's worth, I posted that, then checked the front page only HOURS LATER and ended up seeing the pics. What do you want from me? I only checked out Ben's page, like, weekly when we were on the old boards.

[Onslaught Six]

What're you doing, not checking other sites? Do so! There's news out there that we don't report because it's not important!

[Dominic]

The FAB line struck me as a bit too simple. I am not a fan of the overly complex toys like "Alternators". Actually, I loath them. But, there is a line between accessible and too simple.

I really like "Cybertron" Prime. While I normally have no problem comparing older toys to newer ones, (usually to the disadvantage of the older toys), I think the comparison between movie and non-movie toys is unfair, owing to the differeing aesthetics. "Cybertron" Prime has an edge for being more consistent with its on-screen counterpart.

Dom
-waiting for issue 2.

[Dominic]

TF "Alliance" #2: After promising start, and the fact that it follows up on the excellent "Reign of Starscream" comic, this series is taking an unexpected turn for the worst. The second issue more or less reads like an awkward gaming session where the moderator decides that certain characters have to say and do some very strange things in order to be where they need to be for the next adventure. If Walky were still doing the "Dumb-ass Robot" awards, Prime would be a definite contender after this issue. Grade: D

TF "Defiance" #1: After a poor showing in "Alliance", Mowry is back in form. "Defiance" does for the movie what "War Within" did for Generation 1. The art is not as rich, and the story not quite as layered. But, it manages to deliver. Some may complain that Megatron seems to get hit with some kind of evil stick, but the story makes pretty clear that his "turn" is rooted in traits he had before actually being turned. Grade: B


Dom
-also got "Classic Transformers" volume III, and will probably talk about it next week.

[BWprowl]

Funny, my opinions on those comics are almost totally flip-flopped from yours. I really dug the art in 'Defiance', but the story drove me nuts.

[onslaught86]

I enjoyed Alliance #2, Prime's terrible flip-flop aside. But I'm a shameless Wreckage fanboy, and would be happy no matter what, as long as it featured Moar Wreckage kthx.

Defiance, on the other hand.. I enjoyed the dynamics with Megs and Prime, Prime came off as rather a douche, and Megs' standpoint as the more sympathetic. Also a nice touch to have Ironhide as military. Fun note: Watch for Ratchet thwapping Jazz over the head.
The story itself irked, I'm not fond of Sealed Evil In A Can. Assuming that's the cause of Megatron's turn of face, I'll be royally disappointed. But I don't know how much moral ambiguity I should really expect from this. Maybe Reign of Starscream's left us spoiled.
Art flip-flopped from good to bad, and was very inconsistent, which likely came from using two different artists. I'm on the fence on Khanna's movie art, but seeing things like Megatron's face and hands change from panel to panel just bugged me.

[Dominic]

Prime, as shown in "Alliance", is an imbecile. It was like watching a little kid play.


I did not mind the art in "Defiance". I was just comparing it to "War Within", which is setting the bar *very* high.


Prime came off as something of a milk-toast in "Defiance". He and Megatron are supposed to be equals, (as shown in the first prequel from '07), but here he appears to be a subordinate, as in "Animated".

I think Megatron's turn is supposed to be a question of his worst (pre-existing) traits being provoked. In other words, the artifact is not creating or changing Megatron so much as it is playing to traits he already had. Megatron still makes the decision to be evil, but the artifact kind of nudges him. Megatron is not a nice guy to begin with though.

Dom

[Dominic]

Transformers "Alliance" #3: The prequel to the upcoming movie seems to be adrift. There is more "moving the pieces around" this issue, and not much else. To add insult to injury, some of the "moving around" simply undoes events of earlier issues, making some of the stupider elements even more difficult to reconcile. (I could almost forgive some of the bad writing as being necessary.) Mowry's showing on last year's "Reign of Starscream" leads me to believe he is a better writer than this.
Grade: F If you are not reading this series now, do not bother to start.

[Sparky Prime]

Grade: F If you are not reading this series now, do not bother to start.

Sometimes I wonder if we actually read the same comic... An F? Really? Granted, this wasn't the best issue ever but I wouldn't say it was that bad. More filling in the gaps from the first movie although a little back pedaling (such as with BB's voice). We see the Allspark shard finally put in a secured location. Autobots and Humans growing relationship as they work together. And more Decepticons arrive.

[Dominic]

The "filling in" consists moving characters around just ot move them around. As I pointed out, there was no reason for Prime's utterly retarded decision in issue 2, and issue 3 would have been better without it. And, I am pretty sure than few, if any, of the new characters introduced in this story will survive to the end. I also have to wonder how much of what they did, (knocking out bases when they land, that sort of thing), will matter in the movie.

I would not mind deviations from the movie, (as "Reign of Starscream" had), if the story was worth reading. But, "Alliance" is just trash.

Dom
-enjoying "Defiance" thus far.