TF Views

Dominic wrote:I wonder if there are any Autobots working with other countries, such as Russia. Or, for that matter, how many Decepticons are "not that bad" in this new status quo. Objectively, the Predacons were the most rational guys this issue. Rampage made a fair request when he said "Go home. Do not come back."

I really liked the fact that the Autobots understood that, and were willing to back down to Rampage's request. Onslaught was the one who screwed everything up. Which is interesting to see, as it implies that he had more loyalty to the country that hired him out than he did to his fellow Decepticons.

BWprowl wrote:

Dominic wrote:I wonder if there are any Autobots working with other countries, such as Russia. Or, for that matter, how many Decepticons are "not that bad" in this new status quo. Objectively, the Predacons were the most rational guys this issue. Rampage made a fair request when he said "Go home. Do not come back."

I really liked the fact that the Autobots understood that, and were willing to back down to Rampage's request. Onslaught was the one who screwed everything up. Which is interesting to see, as it implies that he had more loyalty to the country that hired him out than he did to his fellow Decepticons.

Well that, and it gave him an opportunity, so he hoped, to turn the tables on the Autobots. Notice he didn't try to kill the Predacon he shot, just provoke them into a fight.

I'm wondering how the Predacons were able to hide in those forms for the 2 years that everyone was hunting down and killing TFs on sight.

'America' was doing that. We never saw what other countries were doing.

I thought we had. Hm. Clearly I need to re read the whole series again to this point. And y'know, I think I might just have to re read AHM as well. I mean if that's what I gotta do, that's what I gotta do and I dare me to do it.

AHM is a good, solid, enjoyable storyline. I may have to go back and re-read it myself. I need to go back and re-read the year's worth of ongoing issues and see how that story holds up when read in one go.

The whole point of the current arc is that the Decepticons, and to a lesser degree the Autobots, are fragmented.

I am not sure Onslaught's shooting Rampage was motivated by loyalty to Pyonyang (sp?), as Rampage was no threat to Korea. I am thinking that it was the most "clever" thing he could think of to do.

I get the impression that Russia is supposed to be even more staunchly anti-TF than the US. They were willing to launch nukes to get a handful of TFs. (Keep in mind the geography. The nukes would be in a hemisphere that Russia would have a direct interest in.)


Dom
-wants toys based on Figueroa's Predacons.

Dominic wrote:I am not sure Onslaught's shooting Rampage was motivated by loyalty to Pyonyang (sp?), as Rampage was no threat to Korea. I am thinking that it was the most "clever" thing he could think of to do.

Exactly. He was just trying to stir things up in the hope that the Predacons would either beat the Autobots in a fight and free him, or else that he could get away during the fight. Onslaught's motivation was no more complicated than that.

You might be giving Onslaught too much credit. And, (I forgot to mention earler), that Prime sent Thundercracker to attack facilities in both Korea and China. So, Prime respecting Rampage's request was a touch dishonest.

Issue #13 – November 2010

The ongoing series begins its second year with a very strong issue that features both visual and character continuity with past IDW Transformers storylines.

I love that Hot Rod/Rodimus is reflecting on his attempts to be safe and reasonable back during the “For All Mankind” storyline and deciding that he’s happier doing crazy impulsive things. That’s the Hot Rod we all know and love! So he heads straight for the Decepticon encampment in the ship stolen from Ultra Magnus with the intention of reclaiming the Matrix. His method of surviving being shot down could almost be a homage to Indiana Jones. His improvisation and reliance on luck could also been seen as a homage. And against all odds, he almost pulls it off…

Acid Storm gets some lines! Awesome. Razorclaw gets to be the formidable foe that he is, at least for a minute or two. And who exactly is Starscream referring to when he tells Bombshell to leave “us” alone? Has all that time alone with the Matrix affected him somehow? Really, the only disappointing thing about the issue is that the Decepticons have apparently been content to sit and rot for years while Starscream sat and muttered to himself. Could the Matrix have been secretly influencing him to “lead” the way he has?

Visually, it’s gratifying to see that the “artist chooses character model” method of storytelling isn’t used here. Hot Rod is drawn with Don Figeroa’s design from issues 1-6, in Nick Roche’s artistic style. Ultra Magnus’ ship is the same one we saw during that storyline. That and the characterization really makes the issue feel like part of a cohesive universe to me. But did we have to have the second issue in a row that leaves us with a “is he dead” cliffhanger for a major character? Are they trying to make me come back next month to see what happens or something?

And

Spoiler

Megatron finally reappears, with a new body

. Now there’s going to be trouble…

Overall: This is probably my favorite issue of the ongoing.