The Energon Pub

Chaoslock wrote:

tigertracks 24 wrote:

Tirade wrote:

tigertracks 24 wrote:Other theories on the yellow bot appear to be Sandstorm. He's supposed to be in Rod's crew too.

This speaks volumes about the art style. The current form is a muddled mess. At this point, I'd take Wildman over Don's movie-verse style. His alternate covers have looked nice. Look at the Wreckers comic. Why can't IDW stick with that style? That's beautiful work there (both art and writing).

I agree, we should be able to tell which of the characters this is supposed to be without debate. I guess since he is not running in fear, we can assume it's an Autobot. Since Sandstorm was in the list of names of bots in issue #1 (I think), it definitely would make sense to be him, but having it be Dragstrip works too. Dragstrip, however, is moer Mirage like, and has 2 wheels per forearm, so I guess he's out.

My best guess is Scoop (heavy tire on his shoulder), but the picture lacks the orange, and Scoop doesn't have a helmet.

Or maybe Sureshot?

Maybe he's Erector? Is there a full body shot of him or just that one we have here? Cos if there is look at his crotch maybe we can tell it's Erector....

...

This art style still needs the nametags.

And to think we kept making fun of them for using them every two pages, so idw does seem to have some thought left from the pre AHM times.

This series is finally starting to gel. After four issues, i finally feel like i'm beginning to get Costa's style and the angle he's coming from. This issue really laid bare the way he characterizes the transformers and overall i'm really starting to like that. It's definitely a more mature nuanced way of doing it compared to Furman, though i wouldn't go so far as to say better. the one problem i have with this is that compared to Furman's more direct and action based method some of more 'core' characteristics can appear absent when not being shown directly on screen. I'd compare the two styles to a movie vs. television show version. Costa's characters only really reveal themselves over time and more aptly as their motivations become apparant, while Furman's characters are more outwardly recognizable and a bit more static in personality.

The scene with Ultra Magnus showing up was pure gold and was truly telling about everone involved. I must say that i'm actually wondering if Swindle will in some small way show real loyalty to Hod Rod after all of this. Even if it's as little as making sure Hot Rod has a escape route when he sets up the rest of the autobots with skywatch and steals the ship.

I've grown accustomed to the art, but there is still something off about most of the faces. A big improvement over issue 1, but i probably won't be happy with Don's new style till he's had atleast six more months to hone it.

One last note, when i got this issue i sat down and read all four in a row and i can begin to see what kind of writer Costa is and what kind of book this will be. I can't say i find him to be nearly the match to Transformers that Nick Roche is, but as a comic writer in general i'm impressed.

My prediction for the near future of Ongoing: Ultra Magnus vs. Menasor smackdown.

snavej wrote:My prediction for the near future of Ongoing: Ultra Magnus vs. Menasor smackdown.

April solicitations revealed the cover for issue 6 and it shows Optimus Prime facing off against Menasor.

And, according to one of the interviews with Andy Schmidt, Megatron supposedly returns in issue 7.