The Transformers (IDW, formerly "Robots in Disguise")

[Dominic]

Formally dropped the book Friday. (I remembered and had time. Oddly, I did not pick up any comics on Friday.)

Barber is changing "Transformers: Robots in Disgrace" in to everything that is wrong with comics....and I do not think he is changing it back anytime soon.

[andersonh1]

Just curious: with Dom dropping the series, am I the only one still reading RID/Transformers?

[Shockwave]

Just curious: with Dom dropping the series, am I the only one still reading RID/Transformers?

No, I'm still reading it. But I only get to the shop once a month. Sometimes every other month which is why I'm usually behind on these discussions. But no, you're not alone yet

[andersonh1]

Just curious: with Dom dropping the series, am I the only one still reading RID/Transformers?

No, I'm still reading it. But I only get to the shop once a month. Sometimes every other month which is why I'm usually behind on these discussions. But no, you're not alone yet

That's good to know!

[andersonh1]

I've gone back and re-read RID from issue 28 onward, and like so many other books these days, it reads better as one big story. There's very little resolution from issue to issue. Events from one flow directly into the next. It's typical decompressed storytelling. It's not as if nothing happens... plenty of things happen and the plot keeps moving right along. There just needs to be more of an exclamation point from time to time where Barber says "Okay, that's wrapped up. Take a breath, and then we'll move on with the plot". Even the rescue of Alpha Trion didn't feel like it wrapped up that storyline. It was oddly low-key, in my opinion.

- "Dawn of the Autobots" is nothing more than branding. There's no connecting story or theme in any of the Transformer books that justifies that title, it's just there because we got a "Marvel Now" style relaunch without a renumbering. The group shot on the cover of RID #28 that mimics some of the first issue covers confirms that. I am happy they didn't reset numbering to #1 on RID or MTMTE, since I hate "first" issues that aren't anything of the sort. It makes me wonder if they shouldn't just have dropped the "Robots in Disguise" subtitle with issue 28 just to make it really clear that the book was being completely revamped. I had expected a short plot detour at the time, but that's not what we're getting.
- There are a lot of things I like in the series and a lot of things I don't like. The book clearly attempts to mimic the tone of MTMTE with the way that characters quip and banter and often just babble like idiots. I was tired of it in MTMTE and I don't like it here, but it seems to have been toned down after the first few issues.
- RID/Transformers also adopts MTMTE's habit of grafting a new personality onto an existing character to make them fit the current storyline, with Galvatron "the barbarian" and "I've always wanted peace instead of war" Soundwave being prime examples. Turning Prime into a passive character who let's Prowl do whatever he likes, and writing Prowl as a moustache-twirling antagonist to all also irritates me.
- On the other hand, I'm enjoying a return to Earth a lot more than I did when the story began. I was done with Earth-based storylines and perfectly happy with Cybertron-based political storylines. I'm not sure why they made the choice to change that. Presumably editorial felt the need to shake things up and do something different, just like MTMTE has. And there are plenty of old plot threads from storylines set on Earth that can be picked up and developed further. Regardless, as the storyline has moved forward I've found myself enjoying it more. There's still some drama to be mined from stories set on Earth.
- I think the more open conflict/warfare is a better fit for these characters than the action/sitcom setup in MTMTE. I've said it before, but I think the post-war setting of these books is proving to be a mistake. Transformers is an action/war toyline and property, and in the absence of those two things there are several directions that have been taken. The sitcom treatment makes them look like idiots, honestly. Political intrigue and backstabbing could have worked, but they never really took advantage of that like they should have. Falling back on three different factions fighting over a macguffin is working far better for me. I'd much rather see Jazz sneaking into the enemy base on a rescue mission than playing in Blurr's bar on Cybertron. Yeah, it's cool that he does that on his off-hours, but it doesn't make for an interesting plot. I'd much rather see Optimus Prime leading his crew into a firefight than flying around the galaxy and insisting that he's just Orion Pax. On and on it goes.
- Some of the books humor does work for me. Thundercracker's hilariously bad screenplay is one example. The way the Constructicons love Prowl is another.

I'm definitely sticking with the book. It's not stellar, but it's solid, and more in line with what I've decided that I want out of a Transformers series than MTMTE is.

[BWprowl]

I was done with Earth-based storylines and perfectly happy with Cybertron-based political storylines. I'm not sure why they made the choice to change that. Presumably editorial felt the need to shake things up and do something different

I find it pretty funny that "Autobots fighting Decepticons on Earth" can be filed under a 'shake-up' and 'something different'.

[andersonh1]

I was done with Earth-based storylines and perfectly happy with Cybertron-based political storylines. I'm not sure why they made the choice to change that. Presumably editorial felt the need to shake things up and do something different

I find it pretty funny that "Autobots fighting Decepticons on Earth" can be filed under a 'shake-up' and 'something different'.

By "something different" I mean differing from the first 27 issues of RID, not different from the franchise as a whole. Clearly we've gone back to a pretty typical Transformers interacting with humanity scenario.

[andersonh1]

Transformers #37
Despite the fact that I’m enjoying this book, I’ll admit that in general I don’t like storylines where an alien object or secret conspiracy is revealed to have influenced humanity’s development. But that’s what we have here, and we’ve known that for a few issues, but Barber really piles on by having Blackrock describe his family history for thousands of years going back to the time of Gilgamesh. I can detail my family tree back maybe 200 years, and it starts to get patchy well before then. This is just overdoing it big time; to have Blackrock possess such detailed knowledge going so far back.

But, some of the things he reveals about the enigma of combination are admittedly not what I had expected. It may make Transformers into combiners, but the way it affects humans is to cause those in proximity to it to benefit from the combined knowledge of the group. Blackrock claims that this is how so many technological developments through history happened. I guess that would follow logically from the idea that it would allow Transformers minds to merge into a functioning entity along with their bodies, as opposed to the flawed combiners we've seen so far.

And, as predicted, Prowl is lying through his teeth when he says that he forgives Spike. He needs him long enough to get inside Blackrock’s hidden bunker, and then he and the Constructicons form Devastator and attack the place, declaring Spike a target of opportunity. Such admirable Autobot morality there, Prowl. Twirl that moustache some more while you’re at it. Prowl is still having mental problems as well, referring to Scavenger as Scrapper at one point.

Other subplots advance as well. Galvatron and Arcee come to an understanding, Jimmy Pink is captured by the cassettes, and Thundercracker is keeping an eye on Bikini Atoll. And presumably he sees the army of Thrust and Ramjet drones that Blackrock launches to deal with Devastator’s attack on his base.

Overall: once again, a chapter in a larger story rather than a story in and of itself. And someone screwed up the coloring as Galvatron’s head and gun are suddenly dark purple for a few pages. There’s no explanation given, so I assume it’s an error. But I hope we’re finally getting some payoff for so many of these plot threads that have been set up over the past ten issues. I’m ready for some major fireworks.

[BWprowl]

And, as predicted, Prowl is lying through his teeth when he says that he forgives Spike. He needs him long enough to get inside Blackrock’s hidden bunker, and then he and the Constructicons form Devastator and attack the place, declaring Spike a target of opportunity. Such admirable Autobot morality there, Prowl. Twirl that moustache some more while you’re at it.

Given that Spike is a complete dirtbag and was legitimately the villain of the last TF story set on Earth, I'm not sure I see what's amoral about Prowl trying to take him down. If anything it's fair turnabout, Prowl using the same sort of subterfuge against Spike that the latter made a career of in Police Action.

Of course there's also:

Prowl is still having mental problems as well, referring to Scavenger as Scrapper at one point.

Could Barber be setting up to have any 'off' behavior in Prowl explained away by brain-tinkering again? Why I never!

[andersonh1]

After watching Jazz still agonizing about killing a human a few issues back, it's a good reminder of the type of attitude I prefer in Autobots. Spike may well deserve retribution, but I'd rather see Prowl rise above that. But you're right, Prowl's apparent change of heart could be the result of merging with the Constructicons a few too many times. Who knows? As I mentioned, I'm ready for a lot of these subplots to pay off soon. I'd like to know what's going on with him.