Transformers - ongoing series

[Mako Crab]

I thought he was doing the last issue of Chaos and The Death of OP, and then he's off. Yeah?

[Dominic]

Maybe. But, those are just mop up....

[Dominic]

Issue 30:
And.....yeah. There is some explication about Deceptigod. I am going to assume that the characters were able to piece things together by virtue of being "on the ground". Unfortunately, the explication does not do much more to clear up the story than the art did. Megatron takes sufficient damage that we can probably assume he will be back in his original body, (or something along those lines), by the time of the re-numbering. And, while I am sure that it is not going to stick, it sure as hell looks like everybody except Prime got killed at the end. Costa is given co-writing credit with Robert on this one. But, it reads more like bad Furman than anything the two actual writers have produced.

Grade: D


Dom
-really wanted to give a better grade.

[andersonh1]

Issue 30

I've got the opposite view of Dom. I finally get exactly what's going on in the story, thanks to the exposition at the beginning of the issue. It seems like I should have picked all of the motivations and intentions up earlier, but I hadn't for whatever reason... murky art, unclear plotting, just not paying attention, whatever. In any case, all of the action ties back into Furman's Dead Universe storylines, which is a welcome sight as always, making the IDW universe feel more cohesive. And there's a bit of a G2 vibe with the interaction of Optimus and Megatron, and Megatron fighting for the right cause for once.

After watching Headmasters recently, I enjoyed seeing Hardhead, Brainstorm and Chromedome in the room together.

The ending is up in the air. Was Cybertron destroyed, reformatted, what? We've got hints but no answer yet.

I liked it. I'll have to go back and re-read the whole story in one go and see if it makes more sense to me now.

[BWprowl]

I also take the opposite of Dom's view, and rather liked this issue. They *probably* should have mentioned earlier that thing about Prime and co. knowing that Galvatron's plan would actually destroy Cybertron, and *that's* why they kept telling him to fuck off, or if they were going to hold back on this issue they should have at least made the revelation a bit more dramatic, but whatever, the story makes perfect sense now, and it's over, so I get to like it unconditionally. I'm also glad they took a moment to explain the whole 'controlling Decepticons' angle, with Galvatron's mind-control technically affecting almost *anyone*, just slightly more on those who had been aligned with the 'Cons. More importantly though, this resolution to the story puts a half-interesting spin on the utter blandness of 'Heart of Darkness'. It's not *quite* as Galvatron-is-wrong as I had hoped for back when that series was running, but it does make the whole thing somewhat interesting (I guess there's a 50/50 chance that Abnett himself had this plot in mind when he wrote that schlock). I enjoyed seeing other elements from earlier parts of the story rear their heads too, like the thing about Optimus lacking a 'mystical' connection to the Matrix, and Cyclonus' characterization from as far back as his first appearance coming into play. A solid job by Costa and Roberts, and it actually felt kind of epic at times (the art helped a lot here; I loved that splash page with Megatron facing off against the big pile'o'cons).

Just because you have your characters point out the info-dump at the beginning, it doesn't make it any less half-assed of a literary device...

[Dominic]

I think they learned it between the last two issues, probably from Hardhead. Prime was just being a dingus to start with.


Dom
-is pretty sure of that at least.

[andersonh1]

I've gone back and read all the chapters in the Chaos storyline, and the narrative does make sense, though some of my earlier criticisms remain valid. Chapter by chapter:

TF # 24, Chaos part 1
I'll get my major criticism out of the way: the art. As I've said before, while it's nicely drawn and moody and atmospheric, the artwork by Livio Ramondelli doesn't always succeed when it comes to clear storytelling. If I'm just enjoying the pictures, it's great. If I'm trying to figure out what's happening, I'm often at a loss, and this will continue to be the case throughout this storyline.

"Chaos" opens with Galvatron's army attacking the Autobot weapons facility of Kimia and capturing it. Downshift brags about how secure the location is right before Cyclonus trashes the defenses.There's lots of carnage, and the Sweeps seem almost animalistic at times in the way they fight. Galvatron's army wins the fight and heads for Cybertron. Then we catch up with the Autobots heading for Cybertron in Omega Supreme's rocket mode, and there are some quiet character moments for Optimus, Ironhide and Sunstreaker, among others. Negotiations with Galvatron go badly, and a full scale battle breaks out as the transformed Kimia fires on Cybertron.

TF #26, Chaos part 2
I took some time to really look at the group shots and determine who is in them during the aerial attack. Can't remember them all, but the aerialbots are part of the group, along with Powerglide, Cosmos, and possibly Blades. Can't quite place the helicopter. Rodimus continues to act as Prime's lieutenant and assume a lot of responsibility for directing the opposition to Galvatron, while Trailbreaker actually gets something to do (even though he's unsuccessful). Meanwhile, Wheelie's a pretty ruthless sniper when he has to be, shocking even Cliffjumper (whose Spotlight paints him as an assassin, if we remember). It looks like two of the Technobots die stopping the Kimia cannon from firing on and destroying Cybertron, leaving Galvatron to pursue another option. Meanwhile, Megatron escapes and looks very armored up. It's hard to tell where the armor came from. It looks like he used pieces of Omega Supreme to make it.

So far, so good. Now that I know who's doing what and why they're doing it, I'm finding the story more enjoyable. I'll hit the next two parts next time.

[Dominic]

If I'm trying to figure out what's happening, I'm often at a loss, and this will continue to be the case throughout this storyline.

I would have saved this for the most recent issue, but I do agree in general terms. (It is just worse in the most recent issue.)

Meanwhile, Megatron escapes and looks very armored up. It's hard to tell where the armor came from. It looks like he used pieces of Omega Supreme to make it.

I think that the armour is part of Megatron's new upgraded, (and likely to be downgraded) body. But, yeah, see the above comments about art.


So, it is worth re-reading?


Dom
-new issue out in 2 days.

[andersonh1]

So, it is worth re-reading?

Opinions will vary, but I enjoyed it a lot more the second time through. Trade-pacing strikes again, possibly, but it reads fairly well when you go through all four chapters in one sitting. Still have to work at the art though.

[Dominic]

Tried re-reading "Chaos" last night. I got through chapter 2, and I just could not do it.

The art looks pretty, but fails at telling the story. This is made worse by the use of so many obscure characters who are not wholly or easily identifiable.

And, the plot is "a bunch of stuff what happens with robots". I kind of enjoy the Sunstreaker/Bob irony. But, that ain't enough to carry even a single issue of this type of story.

Just as well that this is a skip week then....


Dom
-debating dropping the series altogether.