Spotlight: Megatron discussion

[Dominic]

Due tomorrow.

Here is a link to the preview:

http://www.fullmetalhero.com/content/sp ... view-5826/

This is the first time that I can recall seeing a character bring up some of the obvious practical considerations regarding Megatron's main gun, specifically it linking up to a black hole.

Even if I were not a fan of Barber specifically, I would be looking forward to this.

(edit, the writer is actually Roberts)

Dom

[Sparky Prime]

Shouldn't Starscream have the Matrix around his neck if this is when Megatron got that new body?

"My Lord, how can I pull the trigger... when I have no hands?" That's pretty funny.

[Onslaught Six]

Even if I were not a fan of Barber specifically, I would be looking forward to this.

That's funny!

Because it's written by Nick Roche.

I'm glad I'm not actually buying these (for lack of funds!) because...well, jeez, there's a lot of them to keep track of.

[Dominic]

The story is set not long after Hot Rod stole the Matrix back from the Decepticons.

Roche explicates about Megatron's power set and the dynamics of Megatron's command structure. He takes the relationship between Starscream and Megatron to a really dark place that uncomfortably straddles the line between "reconciling established oddities" and "making fanon-shipping official".

For whatever reason, Roche opted to draw Starscream in his Masterpiece body. Given that this story is set during during the time when IDW was being deliberately inconsistent about character models, Roche had to make a choice one way or another.

Grade: B/C


Dom
-waiting on the next issue of RiD.

[Sparky Prime]

The story is set not long after Hot Rod stole the Matrix back from the Decepticons.

Is it? The impression I got from the preview was that this was shortly after Megatron woke up in his new body, but if it takes place after I guess that explains why so many of the Decepticons are damaged and Starscream is on the floor of his throne room.

[Dominic]

It is the most simple and easy explanation.


late note: I forgot to put this in my post above.

The lettering annoyed me. Megatron's monologue implies that there is no atmosphere (and thus there should be no sound). The lettering did not reflect that. This may seem like a minor point. But, it would have been easy enough to use squared word balloons or a different font to indicate that the TFs present were using radio waves or somesuch to communicate.

If nothing else, even the old Marvel comics (both UK and late US) typically had better than average lettering....30 years ago.


Dom
-lettering is more important than people typically think.

[BWprowl]

Is it? The impression I got from the preview was that this was shortly after Megatron woke up in his new body, but if it takes place after I guess that explains why so many of the Decepticons are damaged and Starscream is on the floor of his throne room.

I had always been under the impression that New Megatron showing up and blasting Hot Rod happened, like, just a few minutes after Megatron had *woken up* in his new body, since dialogue indicates that he hasn't even gone to see Starscream and take back leadership yet.

The lettering annoyed me. Megatron's monologue implies that there is no atmosphere (and thus there should be no sound). The lettering did not reflect that. This may seem like a minor point. But, it would have been easy enough to use squared word balloons or a different font to indicate that the TFs present were using radio waves or somesuch to communicate.

Yeah, this complaint would hold more water had we not seen stories with TFs talking in space approximately a million-bajillion times before.

Anyway, I liked this story! Megatron’s return and his taking the helm back from Starscream was a plot point that was glossed over more than it should have been back during Costa’s run, so giving that little arc the send-off it deserves was nice. It’s yet another pass at the ‘Why does Megatron keep Starscream around?’ yarn, but it’s a good one, tying into the continuous leadership themes and the showing the style thereof that this arc entailed. Roche also dovetails into the ‘change’ themes Costa was working at this point in the story, as Megatron goes to great lengths to get the Decepticon routine running same as it ever was, insinuating that he’s just uncomfortable unless all the characters are playing their archetypical roles, and despite his upgrade in body still can’t think outside the box he’s constructed for himself and his faction (which you’ll recall Prime calls him out on in the story arc that this all sets up for). That Megatron explicitly says at the end of the story that he plans to get different, better results by doing the same thing, following the same routine he has countless times before, tells you everything you need to know.

This issue also really, really drives home just what an utter fuck-up Starscream was as leader. Bumblebee’s doing absolutely magnificently by comparison. Also provides an interesting contrast to RID, where Starscream actually *was* making some decent headway in terms of leadership, and there is actually *is* Megatron coming back that torpedoes the whole thing.

Also, we got to see that bitchin’ ‘Stealth Bomber’ Megatron design again, and I’m all in favor of that. The things I’d do for a toy of that design…

[Sparky Prime]

I had always been under the impression that New Megatron showing up and blasting Hot Rod happened, like, just a few minutes after Megatron had *woken up* in his new body, since dialogue indicates that he hasn't even gone to see Starscream and take back leadership yet.

Issue 15 of the ongoing had a flashback showing Starscream (who still had the Matrix around his neck) bursting into Shockwave's lab demanding to see the results of his work (which at the time was the human sized Megatron gun replicas), and Megatron steps out of the shadows revealing he was back online to Starscream and outlines the plans for the weapons. So Megatron had been awake for a while before Rodimus showed up, but didn't take back leadership from Starscream until the opportunity to be rid of the Matrix came up.

The dialog of this issue makes it seem like he had just woken up though, seeing as it starts with him mentally checking his new form for things like arms, legs and weapons.

[Onslaught Six]

Also, we got to see that bitchin’ ‘Stealth Bomber’ Megatron design again, and I’m all in favor of that. The things I’d do for a toy of that design…

I actually hate this design. Megatron shouldn't be black, the same way Optimus Prime shouldn't be green. Also, he looks like a Gundam.

[BWprowl]

I actually hate this design. Megatron shouldn't be black, the same way Optimus Prime shouldn't be green. Also, he looks like a Gundam.

I guess I just don't get hung up on color the same way you do, I'm not one of those people who were bitching when Universe Powerglide was mostly white. I think the flat black with purple tron-lines looks slick as hell.

Not sure what Gundams you're looking at that look like Megatron though. I thought he was pretty clearly trying to evoke Super Megatron, with elements of Animated and TFPrime thrown in as well.