last week's comics (8/13)

[Dominic]

Transformers: Reign of Starscream #4
Tranformers Animated: Arrival #1

Reign of Starscream: The series continues. Starscream's motivations are revisited here, and the main character experiences a moment of doubt about what he is doing. Arcee is used as a counterpoint character here. If this is going where I think this is going, Starscream's plan will fail owing to Autobot interference, and all of the characters will wonder if that really was for the best.
There are a few notes of interest to continuity freaks. Wreckage is revealed to have survived, and is shown helping humans develop counters to Transformers. This arguably contradicts Wreckage's only other full appearance. And, Clocker's appearance here may contradict his appearances in the UK comics. (I have yet to read these, so I cannot be certain.)
Grade: A/B The real question is if this can be wrapped up next issue.


TFA Arrival: This first issue is written very much along the lines of "Reign of Starscream" #1, with a recap of the first episdoe of "Animated" being referenced in place of the movie. There is not much new ground covered for people who have been watching the show, and the point of view jumps around enough to be jarring. This is probably the weakest "Animated" offering in terms of story, but the problems here are not necessarily indicative of the future for this series.
Grade: C/D This issue itself is not much, but it might be worth getting if you are curious about the ongoing series.


Dom
-more at my blog.

[BWprowl]

I rather liked Arrival #1, myself. The way it added sort of 'Deleted Scenes' to the pilot was a cool way to do it, as opposed to just retreading the first episode. Between the fact that most people picking this up have probably already seen TARO, and that there's already the celbooks, I'd say that this was probably the best way for them to do a First Issue of a series like this. It may not stand on its own very well, but it suppliments the show quite nicely.

I'm just waiting for Oil Slick to show up, myself.

[Sparky Prime]

I didn't get Arrival myself, although I did look through. Nice that they filled in some gaps the cartoon didn't cover. Although I also noticed a few inconsistencies. Sentinel told Longarm that his generation hid the Allspark but Sentinel is part of a younger generation that had no experience in the Great War. Although knowing Sentinel, I suppose he could have just been exaggerating to make it seem to Longarm that he has more experience than he actually has. Interesting that Blackarachnia can apparently survive in the vacuum of space yet in the cartoon she says her organic half wouldn't survive going under water to get to the Ark. The Autobots and Decepticons detecting the Allspark on Earth isn't exactly how they found them in the cartoon either.

I did get Reign of Starscream #4 and I have to say I've really been enjoying this series. It's interesting to see what they're doing with it at least.

[Dominic]

The problem with "Arrival" is that a comic should not assume you have seen/care about a TV show. Do not make me pay money for somethign that requires I go to a completely differnt medium to get the rest of the story. Of course, if the first issue was just a recap, that is another situation.

As for what Sparky said about inconsistencies, I did not notice them, but I will assume they are actually mistakes more than anything else. Playing fast and loose with a show that has so much established is a poor effort. It is not even the case, as with movie comics, where the original source is such a mess that it does not matter.


Reading RoS, I get the feeling IDW published it using the "old rules" for a limited series, where the whole thing was just about done before the first issue was released.

Dom
-skipping comics for a few weeks.

[Onslaught Six]

Reading RoS, I get the feeling IDW published it using the "old rules" for a limited series, where the whole thing was just about done before the first issue was released.

I know that's the way the Atomic Robo guys do it, so yeah. Out of curiosity, what's the "new rules?"

-skipping comics for a few weeks.

But Atomic Robo And The Dogs Of War is out now!

[Dominic]

The "new rules" are largely informal. But, the current model seems to be finish and publish each issue alone. Companies nowadays never seem to be more than an issue or two ahead of schedule. It is probably cheaper easier to cancel low selling books. But, it leaves little margin for error of illness by the staff. Think of the problems DC had with "Countdown to Mystery" when Steve Gerber died. He died about 2 months before issue 7 was due out, and all DC had was his incomplete notes. (Those would be enough for him to work from of course, thought not anyone else.)

The issue came out, about 2 months later than it should have, with 3 sloppy endings.

Had CtM been completed, or close to it, when issue one came out, the series could have been completed more gracefully.

Dom
-notes that "Countdown" as a whole was terrible for completely different reasons.

[BWprowl]

The problem with "Arrival" is that a comic should not assume you have seen/care about a TV show. Do not make me pay money for somethign that requires I go to a completely differnt medium to get the rest of the story. Of course, if the first issue was just a recap, that is another situation.

I'd say it's just a case of it knowing its audience. Honestly, HOW many people are going to pick up The Arrival who haven't watched the pilot, or at least read the celbooks? I don't fault this comic at all for assuming knowledge of the material beforehand, and thus, avoiding boring the audience to tears with the THIRD retelling of the same story. Frankly, I woulda been PISSED if I'd gotten this comic home and opened it up only to find it was a copypasta'd comic version of the pilot. Hell, I was worried that that's what it WAS as I was reading its opening pages. Instead I wound up pleasantly surprised that they didn't waste my time.

[Sparky Prime]

It is not even the case, as with movie comics, where the original source is such a mess that it does not matter.

Didn't you say you haven't seen an episode of Animated yet? Not that I'm saying Animated is a mess (although IMO I think it could be improved upon), but I wouldn't say the movie is a mess either.

[Decepticon Spike]

I need to make a run to the comic store.Too bad the closest one is an hours drive.
Living in BFE kinda sucks.

[Dominic]

I read the cell-books of the first 8 or so episodes, and seen summaries of other episodes. And, it seems pretty cohesive so far. (I suppose there could be a really nasty suprise coming this way, but I do not know of it.)

TFA books could be used to get new/younger readers into the hobby, rather than skewing towards the already established fan-base. I do not want a retelling of the first episode. But, this first issue was just clumsily done.

Dom