Transformers - ongoing series

[Onslaught Six]

I think you're jumping to conclusions--give Chaos and the followup a chance first, I say. And Costa's changes getting reset with the next writer was a given as soon as he said things were going to change. (We even discussed it, in this very topic.)

That said: IDW began in 2005, and soft-rebooted (or at least changed direction) with AHM in 2008. It is now doing so in 2011. This gives us, objectively, a three-year timeline for how often IDW decides the book needs to change direction.

[Shockwave]

Things have to change. If they stay the same for too long it gets old and boring pretty quickly. I'm sad to hear that Costa is leaving so soon but I'm going to give the new team a chance.

Shockwave
-Will probably still read it even if it sucks.

[Dominic]

I am not against things changing so much as I am against things constantly changing back.


Dom
-it was fun while it lasted.

[Shockwave]

The only thing that kind of annoyed me was that it seemed like IDW was deliberately making a point of telling us to "quit calling him Hot Rod. His name is fucking Rodimus now. Deal with it". I can't help but wonder if this was some sort of mandate from Hasbro in an effort to get the fandom to quit calling Hot Rod Hot Rod and start calling him Rodimus.

[BWprowl]

The only thing that kind of annoyed me was that it seemed like IDW was deliberately making a point of telling us to "quit calling him Hot Rod. His name is fucking Rodimus now. Deal with it". I can't help but wonder if this was some sort of mandate from Hasbro in an effort to get the fandom to quit calling Hot Rod Hot Rod and start calling him Rodimus.

I got that feeling too, and frankly was kind of happy about it. It's nice to have a little more of a clear idea of what the dude's name is supposed to be, especially with a character like Rodimus who's been beleaguered with naming issues for years now.

I don't think Thundercracker's going straight back to the Decepticons, he burned a lot of bridges with Starscream a few issues ago. It'll be interesting to see exactly *what* he does, and where he ends up for it all; he's going to be one of the big pieces in this little game on Earth. Of course, I'm not ignoring the fact that he *has* to end up back with the Decepticons *eventually*, I knew that would happen someday down the line. He's going to the part of Costa's run I miss the most, really.

[Shockwave]

Ok, I'll have to give you that on Rodimus. I mean, I'm still annoyed that Hasbro is cramming the name down our throats but at least in context it was done really well by making a distinction that Rodimus earned the name by growing up and maturing. It makes sense and it develops the character in a meaningful way that will have lasting impact on the series to come. I was really happy with those aspects of it.

Shockwave
-Is still calling him Hot Rod though

[Mako Crab]

I found myself actually *liking* the #22 preview. And no, Dom, it's not because they tossed in a bunch of obscure G1 references. The references, if anything, are Roberts establishing his credibility as a Transformers writer. He's saying, "Yes, I know the material and here's the proof." And what's the problem with keeping Megatron: Origin in continuity? If I wrote a story, a good story, but it called back to "Carnage in C Minor", would my story still be bad for it? Or would I have taken a hokey story and made something good come of it? I tend to think the latter. So maybe, just maybe, the lack of fans bitching about the call back to MO is more because the preview shows the promise of an interesting story and less because Roberts is making obscure G1 references. And aside from his MO look, what story-thread from MO is it picking up?

I just find it funny that for the first time in a long time I find myself interested in a TF comic, and you're all down on it. Are we in the Twilight Zone?!

[Dominic]

And what's the problem with keeping Megatron: Origin in continuity?

My gripe is less with Roberts and more with the fan reaction. Roberts being a good writer is less important to many of them than the fact it is Roberts. If most any other writer pulled this, (and not that pulling it is inherently wrong), the bitching and whining would be intolerable.

The references, if anything, are Roberts establishing his credibility as a Transformers writer.

And, this also touches on my gripe. He cannot just be a writer, he has to be a "Transformers writer".

don't think Thundercracker's going straight back to the Decepticons,

By issue 25 of the renumbered series. Probably sooner.


Dom
-really antsy about the direction the series is taking.

[Mako Crab]

My gripe is less with Roberts and more with the fan reaction. Roberts being a good writer is less important to many of them than the fact it is Roberts. If most any other writer pulled this, (and not that pulling it is inherently wrong), the bitching and whining would be intolerable.

So you're bitching that, for a change, the fandom didn't immediately jump all over the guy and rip him apart for referencing MO. Or you're bitching that Roberts has already established himself as a decent writer, and so the fans are taking a "wait and see" approach instead of jumping to conclusions and ripping him apart. . . . I don't get it. You're mad because the fan reaction isn't bad?

And, this also touches on my gripe. He cannot just be a writer, he has to be a "Transformers writer".

Uh. . . . huh? It does help to know your material. I'm not even sure what your complaint here is.

Dom
-really antsy about the direction the series is taking.

Couldn't be any worse than where Costa's decompressed writing style had taken it.

[Dominic]

I am not complaining about the fan reaction so much as I am complaining about the reason for the reaction.

I want to see people happier about a guy who can write at all, more than a guy who can make passing references to the hobby.

Costa's writing was not decompressed. Every issue showed something important. He just did not have TFs on every page, so people got snitty.


Dom
-does not want "Transformers: Capes and Tights Cliche"