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Greetings fellow Decepticons (and Autobots, etc.), I'm new to the site and this is my first post. I pose this question about Shockwave because I recently picked up the IDW republishing of the Marvel comics I had when I was a kid. It occured to me that no other character is such a complete 180 degree difference from one version to the other, then Shockwave.
The cartoon version of Shockwave is incredibly loyal to Megatron (perhaps even more so then Soundwave is), stating numerous times that he serves only Megatron, and has no problem recognizing Megatron as overall leader again after his 4 million year absense from Cybertron. (Personally, if I have been leader for 4 million years, I wouldn't be so willing to turn that leadership back over) This version of Shockwave also is ultra dedicated to his post on Cybertron and is always seen in the Spacebridge control room/Decepticon headquarters, and will readily defend Cybertron against any threat because he is Cybertron's "guardian".
The comic version of Shockwave (the version I prefer) is more sinnister and cunning. He is the total opposite of his cartoon version, in that he wants leadership of the Decepticons, and sees this as the "logical" thing to do. he views Megatron, and later Scorponok, as less then adequate for the task of leadership, and seeks to replace them throughout the series and restore the "glory" to the Decepticon army. He even becomes partners with my favorite air commander in an attempt to achieve this goal. This version also expresses no concern for Cybertron, and remains in hiding during the epic battle with Unicron because he believes the planets days are numbered. He also views Earth as perfect for the conquest of he and Starscream, and steals the Ark, leaving the rest of his race behind on Cybertron to die.
So, which version do you prefer?

The Marvel version, especially since he was a far better leader then Megatron.

After recently watching the majority of seasons one and two, Marvel easily. G1 animated Shockwave is a freakin' joke.

The epic personality of Marvel Shockwave stomps over G1 Cartoon Shockwave's dead body any time of the day.

When I was younger, I hated Marvel Shockwave because of his constant attempts to usurp Megatron but as an adult I do think he's a good villain. I did like taht the cartoon version was loyal. Funny how you change.

I will also admit to liking Dreamwave Shockwave. I liked that he seemed to follow logic to the degree that he ended the war, united the Autobots and Decepticons and restored Cybertron. I also liked that he wasn't a tyrant and could live in harmony with the Autobot council, despite his ulterior motives.

On the subject of characters taking 180 turns between media, look at Cyclonus. Marvel Cyclonus was a thug who wanted to lead while the cartoon version was honourable and loyal. I grew up with the Marvel comics but Cyclonus was one of the few whose cartoon incarnations I preferred.

Prowl was another one. He seemed reasonable and approachable in the cartoon and Budiansky comics, but Furman turned him into a prick. One of the few things Furman did that i disliked.

Windsweeper wrote:When I was younger, I hated Marvel Shockwave because of his constant attempts to usurp Megatron but as an adult I do think he's a good villain. I did like taht the cartoon version was loyal. Funny how you change.

I will also admit to liking Dreamwave Shockwave. I liked that he seemed to follow logic to the degree that he ended the war, united the Autobots and Decepticons and restored Cybertron. I also liked that he wasn't a tyrant and could live in harmony with the Autobot council, despite his ulterior motives.

On the subject of characters taking 180 turns between media, look at Cyclonus. Marvel Cyclonus was a thug who wanted to lead while the cartoon version was honourable and loyal. I grew up with the Marvel comics but Cyclonus was one of the few whose cartoon incarnations I preferred.

Prowl was another one. He seemed reasonable and approachable in the cartoon and Budiansky comics, but Furman turned him into a prick. One of the few things Furman did that i disliked.

Good examples with Cyclonus and Prowl, I agree. I suppose we could even throw Ratbat into that group as well since in the cartoon he was just another one of Soundwave's cassettes, used for spying, etc. but in the comic he was an actual Decepticon commander. Although in Ratbat's case, I feel the same way about him now as I did when I was a kid, which is that I can't take him seriously in the commander role. I mean, any one of the troops under his command could easily whoop his ass, so it just didn't make sense to me. Seeing Soundwave serve under Ratbat and refer to him as "commander" is just not that believable to me. I'm glad Scorponok blasted him in the back the way he did, hahahaha! Back to Shockwave though, I do like his comic version better (as I do with most characters) and he was very believable in that role. That said, his cartoon version does have certain qualities that I like also.

I didn't have access to the comics until much later, so in a lot of ways I preferred the toon, but the marvel Shockwave made more sense to logic. Now having said that I still like the toon version.

My biggest complaint with the Marvel comic version of Shockwave was the constant and almost never-ending battle and trading the leadership role of the Decepticons with Megatron and others (Starscream, Scorponok, Galvatron, Ratbat, Thunderwing, Soundwave, and Bludgeon) which got old to me after the second or third time they did it. I know that they were helping to sell the original G1 toys so it's understandable to me why they changed the leaders around so much. But still.

Personally I always thought they should have a Decepticon leader battle royal to decide who was the real Decepticon leader and settle it once and for all.

This is a tough choice here.

I like how the Marvel Comics version was a fearsome and dangerous Decepticon, but I also liked the G1 cartoon version that was loyal to Megatron.

I'll just say that I like the G1 cartoon version best because that loyalty also shows Megatron to be very powerful and fearsome himself as he inspires the Decepticons to follow his leadership.

Cartoon Shockwave was nothing more than a mambi-pambi babysitter for a half dead planet. Comic Shockwave wanted to blast a stadium full of music lovers.

Its a no-brainer.

Granted, I did slightly like TFA SW.

Sustain wrote:I didn't have access to the comics until much later, so in a lot of ways I preferred the toon, but the marvel Shockwave made more sense to logic. Now having said that I still like the toon version.

agreed.

Comic version, definitely. Toon version was a button pushing cronie, comic version went toe to toe with the entire line up of Dinobots.

Rodimus Prime wrote:It was insinuated that he was killed by both Megatron and Galvatron, but I think Shockwave can take them both one on one, so maybe he got away from the both of them. We never actually saw him die.

We did in the UK comic. Death's Head killed him.

Comic Shockwave was best at least he had a personality.

Rodimus Prime wrote:

OmnisValidus wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:It was insinuated that he was killed by both Megatron and Galvatron, but I think Shockwave can take them both one on one, so maybe he got away from the both of them. We never actually saw him die.

We did in the UK comic. Death's Head killed him.

I see. I really need to read the UK series. I heard Time Wars, Dinobot Hunt and Target:2006 were really good.

Shockwave was absolutely no match for Galvatron in the UK comics, he pretty much feared having to fight Galvatron. This was most evident in these stories:
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Enemy_Action!
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Salvage!
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Altered_Image!

Megatron is a different story, he seemed evenly matched. Any difference in power would have probably been rather small I suppose.

Rodimus Prime wrote:

OmnisValidus wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:It was insinuated that he was killed by both Megatron and Galvatron, but I think Shockwave can take them both one on one, so maybe he got away from the both of them. We never actually saw him die.

We did in the UK comic. Death's Head killed him.

I see. I really need to read the UK series. I heard Time Wars, Dinobot Hunt and Target:2006 were really good.

Definitely, the UK comic was fantastic. Target 2006 is the stand out story of the entire run. IMO.

Check out the Titan trade paperbacks which reprint most of them. The Legacy of Unicron contains the issue where Shockwave dies.

OmnisValidus wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:It was insinuated that he was killed by both Megatron and Galvatron, but I think Shockwave can take them both one on one, so maybe he got away from the both of them. We never actually saw him die.

We did in the UK comic. Death's Head killed him.

Comic Shockwave was best at least he had a personality.

and the BEST thing about that story ?

it tied into a story that wouldnt be written by furman or read by fans for over a year i.e time wars and ravages advice to him at the end of it.

shockers KNEW in that issue ,even though WE didnt, that there was going to be an assination attempt on him (hence why he dissappeard off the throne) but because cyclonus LIED to him in timewars about him being the one that killed him he never saw deaths heads dealing the killing blow coming (made worse that both cyclonus and scourge were both there too "logically" being the onces based on his info.)

that stuff cemented furman as my favourite writer.

i cant see anyone with the balls to do that these days.

so yeah comic shockwave is tops to me, he's actually DONE stuff and started a long tradition of kick arse decpticon upstarts to keep megs on his feet and the bots wary.

ive a feeling if anything the movie shockwave will be a nod of the head to comic shockwave. that worm thing is definetly the type of experiment he'd do.

partholon wrote:

OmnisValidus wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:It was insinuated that he was killed by both Megatron and Galvatron, but I think Shockwave can take them both one on one, so maybe he got away from the both of them. We never actually saw him die.

We did in the UK comic. Death's Head killed him.

Comic Shockwave was best at least he had a personality.

and the BEST thing about that story ?

it tied into a story that wouldnt be written by furman or read by fans for over a year i.e time wars and ravages advice to him at the end of it.

shockers KNEW in that issue ,even though WE didnt, that there was going to be an assination attempt on him (hence why he dissappeard off the throne) but because cyclonus LIED to him in timewars about him being the one that killed him he never saw deaths heads dealing the killing blow coming (made worse that both cyclonus and scourge were both there too "logically" being the onces based on his info.)

that stuff cemented furman as my favourite writer.

i cant see anyone with the balls to do that these days.

so yeah comic shockwave is tops to me, he's actually DONE stuff and started a long tradition of kick arse decpticon upstarts to keep megs on his feet and the bots wary.

ive a feeling if anything the movie shockwave will be a nod of the head to comic shockwave. that worm thing is definetly the type of experiment he'd do.

Excellent post

Loved the Uk Comics, high point for me in gee wun universe. Shockwave from comics was so kick ass and calculating.

target 2006 was great,a s was the return when Magnus came back and had to face galvatron despite being demorilised and despondent, yet goldbugs bravery inspired him to go out fighting.

Proper characterisation

RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:After recently watching the majority of seasons one and two, Marvel easily. G1 animated Shockwave is a freakin' joke.

i disagree, the toon shockwave kept his word and kept cybertron the way it was when megatron left... 4 million years later and it's exactly the way it was when megatron left. Now THAT's dedication.

Optimus Primevil wrote:

RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:After recently watching the majority of seasons one and two, Marvel easily. G1 animated Shockwave is a freakin' joke.

i disagree, the toon shockwave kept his word and kept cybertron the way it was when megatron left... 4 million years later and it's exactly the way it was when megatron left. Now THAT's dedication.

He only needed to sit in his chair and wait...

Optimus Primevil wrote:

RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:After recently watching the majority of seasons one and two, Marvel easily. G1 animated Shockwave is a freakin' joke.

i disagree, the toon shockwave kept his word and kept cybertron the way it was when megatron left... 4 million years later and it's exactly the way it was when megatron left. Now THAT's dedication.

He should at least have cleaned the place up a bit.

Marvel, all the way. Marvel's Shockwave wasn't just a Decepticon, he was one of the baddest of the Decepticons.

i like how shockwave is in the idw books. but from that list, it has to be marvel shcokwave, he was nails.