Transformers - ongoing series

[Shockwave]

Well now wait a minute: I'm given to understand that there will be new (non screen) characters added to the ride so that's a perfectly valid question. Of course it still boils down to "are you doing character X?" which is terribly cliche fandom but...

[Onslaught Six]

No, it's still retarded. We already knew there was only gonna be one guy (Evac) and that's that. The guy who asked for BW character is just a BW fanboy.

[Shockwave]

Oh ok. I didn't know that. But then again I didn't know there was a Transformers ride until a few minutes ago.

[Sparky Prime]

I get the impression that if Costa had written this issue, or even simply been billed as the writer, the fan reaction would have been, "baw baw bitching, why am they referencing Megatron Origins? It was sucky!"

I don't see why you'd say that Dom. From what I've seen from fans reactions, Costa's work seems to be hit or miss, but I've never seen anyone base their reaction of a story just on who the writer was like that. How many fans in general are simply reading it because it's Transformers? How many of them even bother to look at who wrote it?

Anyway, I just picked up #22 today. Great issue.

[Shockwave]

I get the impression that if Costa had written this issue, or even simply been billed as the writer, the fan reaction would have been, "baw baw bitching, why am they referencing Megatron Origins? It was sucky!"

How many fans in general are simply reading it because it's Transformers?

I DO!

How many of them even bother to look at who wrote it?

I don't.

[andersonh1]

I really liked issue 22. Quite apart from the enormous (compared to most issues in the series anyway) amount of reading required, which made me feel like I got more for my money this month, this was a nice character issue for Optimus Prime and Megatron. We learned something new about both, we saw once again how well they both know each other despite being bitter enemies, and both showed plenty of personality and character. They didn't just recite boilerplate Transformers dialogue, they sounded like individuals.

And the tie in with Megatron:Origin is much appreciated. Whirl may be a vicious, sadistic person who sent Megatron down the wrong path, but even back then, Prime was fair and reasonable.

Good stuff. This series continues to be really strong and enjoyable.

[BWprowl]

Somebody at Hasbro's panel asked if the movie-based ride would have Beast Wars characters in it.

Do you really think people are that smart?

I know man! I mean, what precedent could there possibly be for Beast Wars characters interacting with Movie characters? It doesn't make any sense at all!

On the other hand, if, say, Darksteel were to appear in the ride, he's pretty much Quickstrike, so...

Seriously, I know the type of thing you're really talking about, Six, and I'm not defending it. The guy who asked that question is a moron, full-stop.

PS Darksteel is friggin' awesome though.

[Dominic]

Well, why shouldn't they be a little bit chummy? Going by the anecdotes they shared in this issue, they've gotten out quite a bit of aggression on each other over the years.

The interaction made sense. But, in context, it was inbecoming of both of them. In political terms, Prime blew it.

Word is IDW's two books will be subtitled "Robots In Disguise" and "More Than Meets The Eye."

Because they cannot just have one book every two weeks?

Worse than confusing readers, this will screw up ordering for stores. Comics are often listed in abbreviated form, with longer titles being truncated. "Transformers" is a long enough word that any sub-title is likely to be left off of many listings. The fact that both books will have similar (re)numbering and will be published alongside movie tie-ins with similarly cumbersome titles is a recipe for disaster.

Somebody at Hasbro's panel asked if the movie-based ride would have Beast Wars characters in it.

Well, Ravage could be in the.... No. Sorry. Could not resist. But, yeah, they could have BW Ravage as a special treat for long time fans of....

No, sorry. I am going to stop. But, no, seriously, Ravage is awesome and

Okay, really, this time I mean it. Gotta stop.

How many fans in general are simply reading it because it's Transformers? How many of them even bother to look at who wrote it?

Roberts' name is recognized. If a writer other than Roche or Roberts or Furman wrote the courthouse flashback scene, people would have howled and bitched that it contradicted "War for Cybertron" or "Exodus". But, Roberts can get away with it, not because he is a good writer but because he is Roberts. (At this point, if Roberts wins an award, I am going to want to kick him in the balls. Not his fault. And, completely insane of me. But, yeah, right in the ball.)


Dom
-would probably ask for Roberts' autograph right after the nut kick though.

[Onslaught Six]

Somebody at Hasbro's panel asked if the movie-based ride would have Beast Wars characters in it.

Do you really think people are that smart?

I know man! I mean, what precedent could there possibly be for Beast Wars characters interacting with Movie characters? It doesn't make any sense at all!

The Japanese are stupid and can't be trusted with TF.

The first time they nearly killed it (Diaclone) and the second time they did Kiss Players.

Because they cannot just have one book every two weeks?

Worse than confusing readers, this will screw up ordering for stores. Comics are often listed in abbreviated form, with longer titles being truncated. "Transformers" is a long enough word that any sub-title is likely to be left off of many listings. The fact that both books will have similar (re)numbering and will be published alongside movie tie-ins with similarly cumbersome titles is a recipe for disaster.

Very much so.

If they had one book every two weeks, though, they would have to follow concurrently. I get the feeling the two books are going to go in disparate directions; not unlike the GI Joe and Cobra books, or...well, the way TF has been going the entire time. No, really. Every mainline book, be it Furman's -ation run, AHM, or the ongoing, has had a variety of stories that go alongside it but in a different direction. Stormbringer. Maximum Dinobots. Bumblebee/Drift/Ironhide. This is just the same thing.

Roberts' name is recognized. If a writer other than Roche or Roberts or Furman wrote the courthouse flashback scene, people would have howled and bitched that it contradicted "War for Cybertron" or "Exodus". But, Roberts can get away with it, not because he is a good writer but because he is Roberts. (At this point, if Roberts wins an award, I am going to want to kick him in the balls. Not his fault. And, completely insane of me. But, yeah, right in the ball.)

I think you're exaggerating. On the flip side, Sparky is clearly not giving TF fans enough credit.

I still do not understand Shocktrek's refusal to follow or acknowledge writers. When a writer writes, he puts a little bit of himself into the writing. (And I don't mean in the Mary Sue kind of way.) When one writes, they draw on personal experiences. They use their knowledge to create something. (At least, all *good* writers do.) This is why there has never been a non-Neil Gaiman Sandman series since his; because Neil is the only one who can write Sandman and write it as good as he did. (I mean, there's the 30s Sandman revival series, but that's different.)

[Dominic]

It is more a question of him not caring. The brand recognition of the franchise trumps the brand of the writer.

I think you're exaggerating. On the flip side, Sparky is clearly not giving TF fans enough credit.

Roberts and Roche get passes on things that other writers would be lambasted for. I am not blaming them. But, they do get passes.


Dom
-and that 3rd Furman book will not help matters.