Transformers - ongoing series

[Dominic]

Issue 23:
Wow, so, uh, "Exodus" is out of context now? At the risk of beating a dead horse, I am pretty sure that fan complaints, (or lack of compaints), about this issue are directly related to the creative team more than any quality to the writing. Similarly, I get the feeling that if not for the particular creative team of this issue, there would be more whining about "the Autobots riding around space for that last 3 issues". Meta-complaints (justifiable as they may be) aside, this issue holds together well. Apparently, the Matrix does have a utilitarian value for its user, even if that value is not commonly recognized by most characters.
Grade: B

[BWprowl]

Issue 23:
Wow, so, uh, "Exodus" is out of context now?

Was Exodus ever in context here? I thought it was just supposed to tie into 'War for Cybertron', and 'Prime' every other Tuesday if Hasbro was feeling like it.

[Mako Crab]

Issue 23:
At the risk of beating a dead horse, I am pretty sure that fan complaints, (or lack of compaints), about this issue are directly related to the creative team more than any quality to the writing. Similarly, I get the feeling that if not for the particular creative team of this issue, there would be more whining about "the Autobots riding around space for that last 3 issues". Meta-complaints (justifiable as they may be) aside, this issue holds together well. Apparently, the Matrix does have a utilitarian value for its user, even if that value is not commonly recognized by most characters.
Grade: B

So I asked the fine folks at TFW if they were giving Roberts a free pass just because he's Roberts and knows how to drop a lot of little references. Got some good responses. Quoted you, but left your quotes anonymous. Check it out.

http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/comic-boo ... ost6404266

[Onslaught Six]

Issue 23:
Wow, so, uh, "Exodus" is out of context now?

Was Exodus ever in context here? I thought it was just supposed to tie into 'War for Cybertron', and 'Prime' every other Tuesday if Hasbro was feeling like it.

It was never in context here. Continuum, bad as it is, came out around the same time as Exodus and the events referred to in it are vague enough that they could apply to Megatron Origin or Exodus. But I'd presume they were using Megatron Origin.

[Dominic]

Actually, somebody at IDW with authority, (maybe Schmidt, but do not quote me on that part), came out and declared "Continuum" to be out.

"Excodus" was billed as the start of a consistent new era for TF. *everything* was supposed to fit with "Exodus". And, apparently, it has a sequel in the pipeline.

So I asked the fine folks at TFW if they were giving Roberts a free pass just because he's Roberts and knows how to drop a lot of little references. Got some good responses. Quoted you, but left your quotes anonymous. Check it out.

Quoting me is fine. But, it might due to format them so it is more clear who is talking and responding. (I know my own words. But, if I did not, those quote boxes would have confused me a bit.)

And, for the record, I really do not hate Roberts. He is a good writer. I am annoyed by the fans. (Still, if Roberts every wins an award, I will probably want to key his car or something.)

If Costa's writing isn't decompressed, then I'd hate to see what is.

Not having big robots blowing shit up every issue does not count as "decompression". The plot moved along, and Costa covered ideas at a reasonable pace. (That needed to be pointed out.)

And, my complaint is that Roberts, (and likely Barber, depending on how the labor is split), are doing much the same things that Costa did. But, fans are praising them because they are working in obscure references.

Are the fanwank references gimmicky? Maybe a little... but let's face it... that's a big part of what a G1 comic NEEDS to be. If it doesn't feel like the Transformers you remember, then why are we here? There are better comics to be reading... but we're here because we're FANS.

That that, right there, is everything wrong with the fandom. G1 needs to have obscure references to 25+ years of a franchise that was second tier at best up until a few years ago. Yup, that is a good way to keep it kind of exclusive for the real fans now that all of those rabble were drawn in by the movie. Gotta keep the hobby as insular as possible! (That is "getting it".)

And, yeah, being a fan apparently means having low standards. (Of course, if that is the case, then people need to shut the fuck up and accept the comics they get.)

There is also a huge difference between spending page time on yet another drawn out fight scene and having Optimus and Megatron talking in a cell. Costa would have shown that.


Dom
-is pretty sure Costa is off TF by the end of the year. Not sure about him being off "Cobra" though.

[Sparky Prime]

"Excodus" was billed as the start of a consistent new era for TF. *everything* was supposed to fit with "Exodus". And, apparently, it has a sequel in the pipeline.

When they said "everything" I believe that only referred to what was currently under development at the time, being the "War for Cybertron" game and Transformers: Prime series. IDW's G1 series doesn't fall under that, having already established a separate history.

[Onslaught Six]

Actually, somebody at IDW with authority, (maybe Schmidt, but do not quote me on that part), came out and declared "Continuum" to be out.

"Excodus" was billed as the start of a consistent new era for TF. *everything* was supposed to fit with "Exodus". And, apparently, it has a sequel in the pipeline.

Continuum may be out due to errors, but all it really did was sum up everything that had happened before.

Either way, I think you're taking it out of context. The implications, far and wide, would be that everything "going forward" would adhere to Exodus and this new "unified continuity" and Prime or whatever. IDW's non-Prime comics are obviously an exception to this, given the fact that it's still very much...the same exact thing they were doing before Exodus.

If Exodus applied, then IDW would have hard rebooted, and they haven't done that.

And, for the record, I really do not hate Roberts. He is a good writer. I am annoyed by the fans. (Still, if Roberts every wins an award, I will probably want to key his car or something.)

Dom, do you just sit around looking for reasons to hate things? Seriously man.

Last Stand of the Wreckers comes out, and you're all, "This is great! I love it! I wish Roberts would write the main book."

Roberts writes the main book, and all you do is bitch. Fuck the fans. If it's good, read it. if not, throw it away.

I mean, I understand it. We have the same opinion on BW fans, but that's only because I indirectly encounter them in other places. I'm fairly sure that this place is the only TF board you frequent; the only other one I frequent with any basis is ATT where literally nobody gives a fuck about these comics.

And, my complaint is that Roberts, (and likely Barber, depending on how the labor is split), are doing much the same things that Costa did. But, fans are praising them because they are working in obscure references.

Nobody here is praising Roberts for calling back to things, nor are they claiming that is the only reason he's good, or any degree of what you're saying.

To put it bluntly: We agree with you! Get your panties out the knot and enjoy the book, bro.

That that, right there, is everything wrong with the fandom. G1 needs to have obscure references to 25+ years of a franchise that was second tier at best up until a few years ago. Yup, that is a good way to keep it kind of exclusive for the real fans now that all of those rabble were drawn in by the movie. Gotta keep the hobby as insular as possible! (That is "getting it".)

You know, I'm always hearing you talk about it being insular, but honestly--stuff like this isn't making it any more insular than it already was, and frankly nobody is going to start picking up a Transformers comic that they weren't already buying without a hell of a lot of goading. It took a soft reboot and eight months of you and 86 and several others going "ALL HAIL MEGS IS SO GOOD OH MY GAAAAAAWD" for me to even consider reading it.

If the book is going to be a 'little' insular by actually referencing its continuity and using characters who are, frankly, more interesting to see than the same damn '84 cast all over again, then so be it! I enjoy obscure characters showing up and Doing Things. That's interesting, to me. That's the level I'm at.

This book is too insular? The casual faggots have the live-action movies and Prime and the shitty G1 cartoon to get their rocks off. I'll be over here reading about Skyquake and the Predators.

[Shockwave]

"Excodus" was billed as the start of a consistent new era for TF. *everything* was supposed to fit with "Exodus". And, apparently, it has a sequel in the pipeline.

When they said "everything" I believe that only referred to what was currently under development at the time, being the "War for Cybertron" game and Transformers: Prime series. IDW's G1 series doesn't fall under that, having already established a separate history.

This was the impression I got. In fact, if anything it has felt like the last few issues of Ongoing have been trying to retroactively tie into Exodus.

[Sparky Prime]

In fact, if anything it has felt like the last few issues of Ongoing have been trying to retroactively tie into Exodus.

Yeah, I'd agree with that. These past two issues are the first I've seen in the IDWverse to talk about Cybertron having a caste system. As well as Orion/Optimus becoming dissatisfied with this system, gaining inspiration from Megatron's political outlook and proclamation to the High Council about ideally becoming autonomous robots, and that being the inspiration for the name "Autobot".

[andersonh1]

So, issue 23... why can't we get this level or amount of story/dialogue every month? For the second month in a row, I feel like I'm getting more for my money. All the references thrown in don't make or break the story, the characters do.

Prime as law enforcement makes sense. As much as I like War Within, having him go from data clerk to Autobot leader is a huge leap. The idea that he was already an individual with strongly held views of justice and right and wrong makes a lot more sense. And frankly I prefer the more political indications about how me came to hold the Matrix to the mystical slant we got before. None of this is meant to slight "War Within", which I still enjoy tremendously, it's just that I prefer this version of events. I like seeing character and situation drive the plot.

Whirl is still a bad character, but there's time for him to reform, given that his portion of the story is set in the distant past.

I only have one real qualm, and maybe this was explained last issue and I've forgotten it already. What exactly was the point of Megatron surrendering? Why give himself up after going to all the trouble of building his spiffy new body. The reason has escaped me. Yes, that's what the debate was all about last issue, but I missed the answer.

22 and 23 have been two of the best issues of the series, taking Megatron and Prime and showing how they began as well as how much they have or have not changed. Great character and world building. As much as I generally enjoy Costa's writing, at least during the second year of the ongoing, Roberts has outdone him in my view.