TF Views

Senior might have the same problem Wildman has had of late, with his art style not quite meshing with modern printing techniques.

Dom

TF Spotlight (Jazz): This outing is as much a faction study as it is a character study. Van Reyk is the guy in charge of IDW's "Mosaic" project. While his work there has not been bad, this is far better. Much of the story is a flash-back, but the framing sequences are clearly set during "All Hail Megatron", before the "big reveal". There are some nice touches to the art during the group-shot, some of which would have been spoilers had this come out before the above mentioned "big reveal". Grade: A

Yes. A really good issue. Bluestreak! Shooting at stuff! Awesome! Which just brings up the question of where the hell he is right 'now.' Also, Minibot cameos.

The only thing I take issue with is the Predacons being referred to as Megatron's Elite Squad. I mean, come on, I thought that was the Seekers? And then the Constructicons? And the Insecticons? Oh well. It 'is' an Autobot telling the story, so why would they know about the inner workings of the 'Cons?

Seeing EJ do Classics Sunstreaker is funny, if odd.

I really can't decide how I feel about Spotlight Jazz. On the one hand, it's totally competently written, with some clever storytelling (within storytelling, as it were), with cool art, featuring characters I like. On the other hand, I keep feeling like it was a bit too shallow, and it could've been a lot more. Consider what we've been given on Jazz in AHM so far: According to Kup, he's done some nebulously-defined bad stuff in his time. The incredibly optimistic, dare-I-say 'too good to be true' portrayal of Jazz The Autobot in this issue had me on edge the entire time. I kept thinking that, right after another glowing description by Tracks of Jazz's great heroic-ness, they were gonna pull a bait-and-switch and show Jazz doing something dirty, underhanded, or otherwise unsavory. Tracks's optics being out didn't help this illusion, as it seemed like the perfect setup for such a maneuver. But then...nothing. Jazz is still just a Great Guy with no Dark Seckrits. Again, this is really just me expecting something completely different, but it still doesn't stop me from being somewhat disappointed anyway.

Another, totally juvinile and stupid thing I need to mention about this issue: Cheezus, as if there weren't already enough jokes about Tracks being gay?! This issue doesn't help at all!

I can only assume O6 is looking forward to the next Spotlight with baited breath.

Senior might have the same problem Wildman has had of late, with his art style not quite meshing with modern printing techniques.

I'd almost agree, but the last DD Joe/TF crossover he had a hand in really pleased me. Dreamwave certainly did Wildman art no favours.

If memory serves, Senior did some UK movie art that came up rather nicely.

You are right sir. How foolish of me to forget.

I was kind of wondering what Jazz did to beat the Predacons.

The thing is that Jazz is a kind of morale officer. He is not a *bad* guy with his own guys, ya know? Kidnapping and extortion, (both of which Jazz actually did in the old comics), are fine as long as they are not committed against one's own.

Dom

BWprowl wrote:Another, totally juvinile and stupid thing I need to mention about this issue: Cheezus, as if there weren't already enough jokes about Tracks being gay?! This issue doesn't help at all!

Oh my God, I didn't even think of that until you mentioned it. 'Rodimus Prime,' that's subtext.

I can only assume O6 is looking forward to the next Spotlight with baited breath.

...Drift? He's the next one, right? Why would I want an issue on Drift? He sucks.

That's the point, you've mentioned Drift's suckiness previously.

I enjoyed the Jazz spotlight. Su's art was somewhat inconsistent, but it was a nice chance since we've not seen much from him lately, and enjoyably gritty. Honestly wasn't a fan of the cybertronian Predacon designs, more's the pity. It's a good one-shot tie-in story, although I'm with you guys on the lack of underhanded tricks. Still, it's refreshing to have a straightforward 'nice' story for once.

When did they call Tracks "Rodimus Prime"?

They called him "Commander Wax 'n Buff", which is still a fan-joke, more than in-context reference.

Dom

Dominic wrote:When did they call Tracks "Rodimus Prime"?

No, that's me using Rodimus/Hot Rod as a Transformers euphemism for Jesus. Originally I'd just written 'Jesus Christ,' and then decided I'd try to be funny.