TF Views

An unshaved neck is often the trademark of a nerd who thinks they are Cool.

As a slob who often does not bother to shave, I find that stereotype hurtful. The only statement that my neckbeard makes is that I am too lazy to shave.

...Going from "I don't understand you!" to "KABLAMMO" is just poor storytelling.

Keep in mind the circumstances. "What did you do?" Thundercracker was pretty well out of bounds, what with keeping the Autobots from getting bombed to heck and all. Skywarp is not going to simply want to talk it over.

And don't pull the "Decepticons are EVIL!" card,

I am not. Hell, Ironhide has a pretty foul temper all around in IDW. Oh man, does he ever.

Killing off such a potentially fascinating character immediately sinks that concept.

How else could it have ended? (Putting aside that Costa backpedalled this away in the ongoing.) Killing Thundercracker is the only thing that would make sense. And, it is not like Thundercracker is the only Decepticon with potential.

Skywarp is, contrary to what most people would say about the character, very layered here. He is a big dumb kid who never quite grew up. And, he recognizes that enough for it to bother him, but he cannot really work around it. Look at Starscream wrestling with the possibility of leadership that the Costa/Che story. Reread some of Starscream's and Megatron's interactions.

The whole faction starts to come apart in issue 10.

The point of AHM was never "how does this one guy handle a situation". It was "how bad would it be if the Decepticons won"? And, it was pretty bad for everybody, including the Decepticons. Its not just about Thundercracker any more than it is just about Ironhide and Mirage or Sunstreaker.

...Not when it comes to toy-accuracy.

Toy accuracy means that Devastator cannot ever be looked at from any angle other than directly in front. Stoy accuracy means that Megatron is going to look like crap. You know what, there are plenty of characters that have never looked like the toys, and better for it. It is not even like those third wave Pretenders are good toys to start with.

What I meant was, the Prowl story was quite deep. The Cliffjumper story was VERY shallow. It amazed me that a company could produce both. As you've said, they needed more ruthless editing.

Oh yeah. Night and day. Left and right. 1 and 0.

But, this kind of schizophrenia is not unusual in the industry at all now. Marvel has guys like Bendis along with guys like Kirkman and Loeb. DC has Morrison working for them on a fairly consistent basis, but they are run by Johns and Lee. Paul Cornell and Andy Diggle have both worked for Marvel in the last few years.

Similarly, lax editing, (in every respect), is now an industry standard.

Among Transfans, guess which story is more likely to go over? And, even if the less likely story goes over, it is probably going over for the wrong reasons. (Hint, this is the same fandom that generally looks favourably on "Shattered Glass" because of its slavish adherence to cliche.)


Dom

Ok, so I liked the Thudercracker bit. I thought it was nice to even see that doubt explored in context at all which we really hadn't had before. Ok, yeah, maybe it's a little cliche, but it's there nonetheless and the story is better for it. And Skywarp is also portrayed accurately to his specs as well. "Not too bright" is what it said and that's definitely what is shown. He doesn't get it, but he knows he doesn't get it and his only expression for that is violence. Yes, a more reasonable character would have probably asked Thundy a few questions, but Skywarp isn't a smart enough bot to do that.

Shockwave
-Is also often to lazy to shave the beard consistently.

Violence =/= Murder, gaiz

Ironhide didn't kill Mirage.

Why?

'Cos they're the Good Guys? =/

Dominic wrote:I do not know if you missed it, or are just more forgiving of it, (your history with the old UK comic would likely have desensitized you either way), but character models are one of the few common gripes I agreed with. It is most glaring with the seekers going from their Masterpiece bodies in the early chapters to CHUG/G1 bodies later.

Except I'm pretty sure that doesn't happen?

Gonna have to recheck the books tonight...

What the hell does this word even mean? Legit, I have heard it before, and still do not quite get where it came from. Sorry. Just, it has been bothering me for a while now.

"Derogatory term for slovenly nerdy people who have no sense of hygene or grooming. Often related to hobbies such as card gaming, video gaming, anime, et. al."

Gomess wrote:Violence =/= Murder, gaiz

Ironhide didn't kill Mirage.

Why?

'Cos they're the Good Guys? =/

He came damn close. Also, didn't the other Autobots stop him...? And if they didn't, Ironhide may have been going for an "I'd rather see you live in shame than kill you now," kind of thing. Ironhide beating up Mirage is the equivalent to backwoods bullies beating up the recently outed gay kid in your class.

Actually I changed my mind, it's a good job they killed off Thundercracker, because the follow-up to Ironhide and Mirage's similar run-in was very dull ("Dnt evun tlak 2 me u fookin prep!!!11") and I'd hate to have seen the same thing happen with the 'Cons. At least Skywarp now has plenty of opportunity for development.

Oh, and hey, I forgot: is Prime actually back, or is he just like, a puppet being controlled by Prowl or something? 'Cos the stink of conspiracy was everywhere when he suddenly reappeared. I mean, there was a lot of build up, there has to be more to it.

No "Read the ongoing!!s" though, please. Ain't gonna happen.

Nah, Prime's just back. Where you getting "conspiracy" from, besides the Autobot traitor and Kup and such?

Thundy actually does come back in the ongoing. He spent months in deserted NYC watching TV. For real.

Well, Prime's recovery is so sudden and unexplained, and conspiracy seemed to be a theme, so. To be honest, I was enjoying the Autobots without Prime much more, but I'm aware that's just my old thing.

I kinda figured Thundercracker's death would be retconned. See, this one of those Inherent Weaknesses of Comics that prevents me buying the ongoing.

Oh hey, this thread is flying now.

Yes, a more reasonable character would have probably asked Thundy a few questions, but Skywarp isn't a smart enough bot to do that.

I grant you that Skywarp ain't that bright. But, shooting Thundercracker was also a question of discipline in the field, which tends to involve shooting more than talking.

Violence =/= Murder, gaiz

Ironhide didn't kill Mirage.

Why?

'Cos they're the Good Guys? =/

Not quite. You seem to want/expect them to write down to that level, but that is not what McCarthy was doing.

Ironhide damn near killed Mirage.

And, again, "discipline in the field". Ironhide was essentially beating the snot out of Mirage at home. Thundercracker broke ranks in the middle of a battle. That is a hugely different thing.

Except I'm pretty sure that doesn't happen?

Gonna have to recheck the books tonight...

It might not be CHUG style, but the art definitely changes.

"Derogatory term for slovenly nerdy people who have no sense of hygene or grooming. Often related to hobbies such as card gaming, video gaming, anime, et. al."

Used by preening assholes.

At least Skywarp now has plenty of opportunity for development.

Never gonna happen.

because the follow-up to Ironhide and Mirage's similar run-in was very dull

I agree that it was weak, but not in the way you thought.

Mirage forgave Ironhide *way* too easily under the circumstances. And, him going out of his way to help Ironhide in the battle was very abrupt. (Even if he is not going to "accidently" shoot Ironhide, saving him seemed out of order.)

Well, Prime's recovery is so sudden and unexplained, and conspiracy seemed to be a theme, so. To be honest, I was enjoying the Autobots without Prime much more, but I'm aware that's just my old thing.

Ratchet got off his lazy depressed ass and did his damned job.

kinda figured Thundercracker's death would be retconned. See, this one of those Inherent Weaknesses of Comics that prevents me buying the ongoing.

In principle, and in practice 90% of the time, I agree with you.

Seriously. I am still pissed at DC for bringing back the Silver Age Flash.

But, Thundercracker coming back was actually really good and worked thematically with the ongoing. Granted, that all gets flushed away now because the ongoing is morphing (transforming?) into the very sort of event driven shit fest that probably drove you away from comics in the first place. But, the first ~2 years of so (I do not feel like counting out the exact number of issues) were really solid.

Dominic wrote:Mirage forgave Ironhide *way* too easily under the circumstances. And, him going out of his way to help Ironhide in the battle was very abrupt. (Even if he is not going to "accidently" shoot Ironhide, saving him seemed out of order.)

I disagree! Putting your ass on the line to save a comrade in battle is the "heroic" thing to do, and Ironhide's whole "You don't *deserve* to wear this emblem" thing probably hit home on him.

Gomess wrote:just poor storytelling.

Yup, that describes AHM quite well I'd say.