TF Views

Dominic wrote:Something in McCarthy's phrasing, about the intended length (12 issues v/s 6) and context (in or out of continuity) of AHM, makes me wonder exactly *when* the intention to have the series be 12 issues in context was formalized. I do not recall it off-hand, but there was defintely a part where McCarthy could have been telling the truth strictly, yet fibbing idiomatically.

From what I recall, McCarthy claims that it was in the very same conversation as the initial ideas.

"So, what, six issues?"
"No, twelve."
"Oh, right then."

Of course, he could still be lying, but I trust the man's words anyway. After all, even if it was planned as six issues, the beginning issues are so time-decompressed that that wouldn't make sense anyway. And mind, that's the way I like it--reads much better in the trade. After all, like they said--"Six months from now, who's going to care about that?"

Keep in mind, the issues are not written in order, on the fly. McCarthy may have planned for 6, and never quite adjusted to 12, hence the padded feel early issues have.

Dom

Huh. That 'would' partially explain why the ending of the series past Issue 7 has started to feel slightly rushed. I was glad that the Autobots show up in the middle of Issue 11, and it's not put off until Issue 12 like I thought it was going to be.

I'm *really* interested in the ending, and I've been pondering not reading Issue 12 just so I can be surprised when I read it in the trade. It can, really, only go one of two ways--the Autobots win, or they all die.

Or Shockwave shows up and kills everyone.

Dominic wrote:Sunstreaker was less obvious because of two things. One, he was so obvious that people might have thought, "nah, too obvious". And, he is one of the classic Autobot cars. Many fans would reflexively see him as a good Autobot, Dreamwave's sourcebook aside.

I don't agree. They were trying to shift focus of who the traitor was onto Mirage in order to hide who it really was and throw doubt into it. To me, it didn't work at all. Sunstreaker was always the obvious choice, and so it came as no surprise when he was revealed as such.

Dominic wrote:I get the feeling that Pereceptor lost something when he was damaged in "Spotlight: Drift". He either lacked the ability, or possibly the will, to help Ratchet with Prime's repairs.

That isn't what McCarthy said in the interview though. All he said is basically "war changes a person" meaning psychological not physical. So it isn't that Perceptor doesn't have those skills anymore or can't use them, it's that he refuses to use them.

Well just wait for Coda then.

Was n't it implied in one of the Spotlights that Perceptor took physical damage to his brain? Or am I mistaken?

Dom

Sparky Prime wrote:

Dominic wrote:Sunstreaker was less obvious because of two things. One, he was so obvious that people might have thought, "nah, too obvious". And, he is one of the classic Autobot cars. Many fans would reflexively see him as a good Autobot, Dreamwave's sourcebook aside.

I don't agree. They were trying to shift focus of who the traitor was onto Mirage in order to hide who it really was and throw doubt into it. To me, it didn't work at all. Sunstreaker was always the obvious choice, and so it came as no surprise when he was revealed as such.

Dominic wrote:I get the feeling that Pereceptor lost something when he was damaged in "Spotlight: Drift". He either lacked the ability, or possibly the will, to help Ratchet with Prime's repairs.

That isn't what McCarthy said in the interview though. All he said is basically "war changes a person" meaning psychological not physical. So it isn't that Perceptor doesn't have those skills anymore or can't use them, it's that he refuses to use them.

Dominic wrote:Was n't it implied in one of the Spotlights that Perceptor took physical damage to his brain? Or am I mistaken?

He was damaged in Spotlight: Drift, I don't see anything to suggest his 'brain' was damaged to completely change him like that.

Onslaught Six wrote:Well just wait for Coda then.

They should have covered it before Coda.

Sparky Prime wrote:

Onslaught Six wrote:Well just wait for Coda then.

They should have covered it before Coda.

Because totally linear storytelling is AWESOME and PERFECT and everything else can suck it!

Seriously Sparky, how many other comics do you read? This is actually a pretty common ploy. The writers present something in the main series that hasn't yet been explained, but piques the interest of the reader. Then, this other comic comes out (Here it's a Perceptor-focused issue of 'Coda', but were it published by DC it would most certainly be a 'Secret Files') and it gets you to buy that so you can go "Oh, THAT'S what happened!". Frankly, I'm glad they're doing it this way. Perceptor's part in AHM is awesome, but comparitively tiny. Wasting page space explaining exactly why he's the way he is now would be frivilous. All we need to know for the story to work is that he dun not want to do scientificals no more.

BWprowl wrote:Seriously Sparky, how many other comics do you read? This is actually a pretty common ploy.

I read a ton of other comics and it really isn't that common. Once in a while, sure, but I'd hardly call it common. Besides, Coda wasn't even originally part of the plan when they came up with AHM. Coda is more like they said "Oh, maybe we should actually explain some of the stuff going on in this comic" and then added it. If that is indeed what Coda will do. We don't actually know what those stories will give us yet.

BWprowl wrote:Wasting page space explaining exactly why he's the way he is now would be frivilous

They wasted 9 whole issues with the Autobots wallowing in self pity and Decepticons arguing amongst themselves. I don't think actually explaining things would have hurt anything at all.

Perhaps Coda wasn't, but Spotlight: Drift was definitely in the plan, because that's 'right there,' and it explains stuff just fine.

I dunno. I see a guy get his ass beat, nearly die, and then the next time he shows up he's all quiet and good at killing things? Something tells me he's different now.

I dunno. Maybe Sparky's bitter over having spent money on issues where "nothing happens." Except stuff totally did if you're looking for it. The point of the comic was to show what happens when the 'Cons win--they implode on themselves. This in itself was interesting to see because it's 'never been done before.'

I think at this point, you just don't like it and you should stop complaining about it, yeah? McCarthy's gone after Coda, and there's something else in the works then, so you may as well move on--for your own health and ours.