TF Views

Dominic wrote:Why do you want Dropshot all of a sudden? I happened to have one in my trade/customizing pile. And, yes, I fished him out quickly enough. But, why do you really want one all of a sudden? Dropshot could be replaced with pretty much any land-based Decepticon and nothing would change.

This from the guy who considers all sorts of comics to be justification to buy multiples of many toys and customise them?

Basically, what Prowl said. I assumed the use of the vehicles was a cute little cameo, and it never occurred to me that they'd have one be Dropshot in disguise. Surely, the feeling that a toy suddenly has 'context' is one you're familiar with, Dom. Dropshot went from being a random repaint that I didn't care about to a distinct character from a distinct story that I really love, and aside from Reflector and Springer, the only one I have no toy of. Thus am I driven to own it. Context is everything when I don't want the toy for the toy itself.

Incidentally, I find myself confused at the Devastator design used. Aside from the forearms, it is very clearly based on the G1 toy, but has no chestwing. Why no chestwing, Devastator? Why no chestwing?

I didn't even notice that. More importantly, how long has it been going on? Has he been missing it the entire comic, or did Guido just forget to draw it this issue?

Devastator only shows up in a few panels, including flash-backs. Check issue 2 I think. (I do not have the comics handy.)

As for Dropshot, I still do not get it. I understand wanting a character with context. But, is Dropshot really a "distinctive character"? He shows up....and shoots at the soldiers. He is a random Decepticon soldier. Granted, him showing up fits in nicely with Megatron's "I plan for everything" line during that same scene. But, as I said above, it could have been *any* Decepticon. As good as AHM is, I cannot see it making somebody want Dropshot any more than....say....."War Within" would make somebody want Saltman-Z or any of the GoBots and Diaclones that show up.


And, for the record, most of my comic inspired customs the last few years have been for "GI Joe", not TF.

Dom
-behind in posting picks of figures.

Dominic wrote:As for Dropshot, I still do not get it. I understand wanting a character with context. But, is Dropshot really a "distinctive character"? He shows up....and shoots at the soldiers. He is a random Decepticon soldier. Granted, him showing up fits in nicely with Megatron's "I plan for everything" line during that same scene. But, as I said above, it could have been *any* Decepticon. As good as AHM is, I cannot see it making somebody want Dropshot any more than....say....."War Within" would make somebody want Saltman-Z or any of the GoBots and Diaclones that show up.

Distinctive character or not, he's still got context now. Think about it this way: We all agree that AHM is awesome, and that the Decepticons in AHM are especially awesome. Well now, if '86 wants a full crowd of Awesome AHM Decepticons, one of the guys he's gonna need is Dropshot.

Given how out of scale they would still be, I cannot see wanting Dropshot just for a few panels where he is just "generic Decepticon".

Dom

Dominic wrote:Given how out of scale they would still be, I cannot see wanting Dropshot just for a few panels where he is just "generic Decepticon".

Dom

Scale doesn't necessarily matter if I'm just buying toy representation of everyone in a story. Don't have room for dioramas anyway.
Yes, it could have been any random 'established' Decepticon. Yet they specifically chose one that's out now and has no other context. It's the same reason I liked Wreckage a lot more when he appeared in the comics. Suddenly I have somewhere specific to imagine them being.

Well, thing is, Dropshot's a hell of a cool mold anyhow.

If I didn't already have CDS Scattorshot, I'd want one.

Wreckages only appearances have actually made me like the toy less. (The "Target" pack-in comics, and "Alliance" were....lacking. His brief appearance in "Reign of Starscream" was such a small part of the story that it did not influence me either way.)

Dom
-has Dropshot up on a shelf.

All Hail Megatron #12: And, it ends. One striking thing about this chapter is how heavy the writing is relative to the last 11. There is some very Furman-like explication, with characters bludgeoning each other with the point of the story as much as their fists. Giving Prime and Megatron bloated dialogue may be a stylistic decision on McCarthy's part, (leaders being presented as bombastic), or he may be simply deciding to spell things out for readers who may still not get the story without having it beat into them. Either scenario is possible and reasonable. As has been the case consistently, McCarthy makes good use of established characters to advance the series, rather than just to showcase how "kewl" TFs are.

Grade (for the series): B "All Hail Megatron" is a bit uneven in places. And, given the mixed reaction among fans, McCarthy may have been giving readers a bit too much credit, which is arguably a flaw. But, this is still one of the smartest "Transformers" stories one is going to find, and a damned good read.

Disappointing end to a disappointing series. Basically we got the Transformers fighting for 14 pages, Megatron doesn't understand why Prime fights to free this planet, and then Tankor drops a nuclear bomb as the Decepticons retreat. The highlight of probably the entire series is Thundercracker explaining "These creatures were never worthy adversaries. The Decepticons are forged through combat, not slaughter. Everything we have done here has brought dishonor to the Decepticon name." Bravo Thundercracker, bravo. He is then attacked by Skywarp for being a "traitor". We close with the Autobots offering to help rebuild, although after the Decepticon occupation, humans don't know if they can trust the Autobots. They don't really wrap anything up with the Matrix, but presumably Megatron left it behind. And we're back to status quo.

This series really should have been 6 issues, not 12.