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Seibertron.com reviews IDW Transformers: Robots In Disguise issue 2

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Seibertron.com reviews IDW Transformers: Robots In Disguise issue 2

Postby Psychout » Wed Mar 07, 2012 5:26 am

Motto: "This post clearly was meant to offend, and if you are affected by it in any way please close your browser and discuss it with someone who knows not to take the internet seriously."
Weapon: Black Magic
Better late than never eh?

Long live the Senator!!

(SPOILERS!)


For those of you who read our review of the first issue of RID, you’ll know that this is the more serious and in-depth of the two current Transformers stories. This tale of intrigue and political machinations based firmly on Cybertron initially lacked the pace of its sister publication and looked to take itself too seriously for some readers. In this second issue the dark tone of the series remains but the pace has, thankfully, very much increased.

Image
Friends, Cybertronains, countrymen, lend me your horns...


Recapping the final actions of the first book – the death of Horri-Bull – this time from the Decepticons' point of view, this story starts to build its momentum in a glorious 2-page spread which is a rogues gallery of tertiary colours and a great way for Andrew Griffith to showcase his designs, iconic and crisp, and a balance of the more detailed styles that have been prevalent in the comics since the big screen movies forced upon us that 'flexible metal skin' just isn’t acceptable these days. The various Constructicons, and Shockwave especially, stand out as hybrids of the old and new styles that work, but it is a style that doesn’t flatter everyone as Starscream's cluttered design will take some getting used to whilst a pivotal moment at the end is almost spoiled by some inexplicably awful character design on what is an iconic fan-loved character that really hasn't survived the transition to IDW very well.

Image
¿sıɥʇ ǝʞıן ʞooן ǝnboןɐıp s,ʇɐqʇɐɹ ʇ,upןnoɥs


John Barber keeps the intricacies of the story enjoyable, exploring the strain and distrust within the Autobot ranks towards the ‘pacified’ Decepticons, and brings out a side of Bumblebee that we haven’t really seen before, shown in his treatment of Starscream – an interesting role reversal from the days of old - an obvious indication that the pressures of command really do change a man. With this, and the staple internal struggle for power within the Decepticons themselves, one begins to see the depth of the writing within this book and can almost see the countdown to a return to civil war being the biggest enemy here.

Image
Metalhawk, don't be a dick.


Again, this is not a light hearted read. Character banter is minimal and the narration is complicated and twisting, but the slow burning story from last month is definitely beginning to gain momentum. Can the Autobots gain the trust of the Metalhawk and the NAILS, how will the Decepticons respond to Starscream's and Ratbat's power struggle and, as the comic ends in an assassination attempt and another high profile death, how are Barber and Griffith going to top this?

Image
I think we'd all prefer he just shot Metalhawk...


For those who like a more grown up theme to their alien space robots, Robots In Disguise is turning out to be a weighty political thriller with the stage being set for what the Decepticons do best which may not work for the casual fan, but for those looking for a bit of meat in a story, this is a very palatable entrée.

Image
Let's see Metalhawk do that!


I would really not want to be Bumblebee right now.
Last edited by Psychout on Thu Apr 19, 2012 9:21 am, edited 2 times in total.
Reason: Thanks to Va'al for the proof read!
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Re: IDW Transformers: Robots In Disguise issue 2 review.

Postby JazzMusic » Wed Mar 07, 2012 11:34 am

As Bumblebee changes the artist on his ipod mini.
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Re: IDW Transformers: Robots In Disguise issue 2 review.

Postby Fires_Of_Inferno » Wed Mar 07, 2012 6:13 pm

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JazzMusic wrote:As Bumblebee changes the artist on his ipod mini.


Good first post man.

I should get into the comics more. Havn't gotten anything for comics since Last Stand Of The Wreckers.
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Re: IDW Transformers: Robots In Disguise issue 2 review.

Postby #Sideways# » Wed Mar 07, 2012 6:20 pm

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JazzMusic wrote:As Bumblebee changes the artist on his ipod mini.

:APPLAUSE:

Looks good, this and the More Than Meets the Eye are connected, I assume?
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Re: IDW Transformers: Robots In Disguise issue 2 review.

Postby dirtysock47 » Wed Mar 07, 2012 6:55 pm

:CON: :CON:dude this is awesome i would love a copy
Psychout wrote:Better late than never eh?

Long live the Senator!!

(SPOILERS!)


For those of you who read our review of the first issue of RID, you’ll know that this is the more serious and in-depth of the two current Transformers stories. This tale of intrigue and political machinations based firmly on Cybertron initially lacked the pace of its sister publication and looked to take itself too seriously for some readers. In this second issue the dark tone of the series remains but the pace has, thankfully, very much increased.

Image
Friends, Cybertronains, countrymen, lend me your horns...


Recapping the final actions of the first book – the death of Horri-Bull – this time from the Decepticons' point of view, this story starts to build its momentum in a glorious 2-page spread which is a rogues gallery of tertiary colours and a great way for Andrew Griffith to showcase his designs, iconic and crisp, and a balance of the more detailed styles that have been prevalent in the comics since the big screen movies forced upon us that 'flexible metal skin' just isn’t acceptable these days. The various Constructicons, and Shockwave especially, stand out as hybrids of the old and new styles that work, but it is a style that doesn’t flatter everyone as Starscream's cluttered design will take some getting used to whilst a pivotal moment at the end is almost spoiled by some inexplicably awful character design on what is an iconic fan-loved character that really hasn't survived the transition to IDW very well.

Image
¿sıɥʇ ǝʞıן ʞooן ǝnboןɐıp s,ʇɐqʇɐɹ ʇ,upןnoɥs


John Barber keeps the intricacies of the story enjoyable, exploring the strain and distrust within the Autobot ranks towards the ‘pacified’ Decepticons, and brings out a side of Bumblebee that we haven’t really seen before, shown in his treatment of Starscream – an interesting role reversal from the days of old - an obvious indication that the pressures of command really do change a man. With this, and the staple internal struggle for power within the Decepticons themselves, one begins to see the depth of the writing within this book and can almost see the countdown to a return to civil war being the biggest enemy here.

Image
Metalhawk, don't be a dick.


Again, this is not a light hearted read. Character banter is minimal and the narration is complicated and twisting, but the slow burning story from last month is definitely beginning to gain momentum. Can the Autobots gain the trust of the Metalhawk and the NAILS, how will the Decepticons respond to Starscream's and Ratbat's power struggle and, as the comic ends in an assassination attempt and another high profile death, how are Barber and Griffith going to top this?

Image
I think we'd all prefer he just shot Metalhawk...


For those who like a more grown up theme to their alien space robots, Robots In Disguise is turning out to be a weighty political thriller with the stage being set for what the Decepticons do best which may not work for the casual fan, but for those looking for a bit of meat in a story, this is a very palatable entrée.

Image
Let's see Metalhawk do that!


I would really not want to be Bumblebee right now.
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Re: IDW Transformers: Robots In Disguise issue 2 review.

Postby NatsumeRyu » Wed Mar 07, 2012 7:05 pm

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Like. This will get a TPB, right?
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Re: IDW Transformers: Robots In Disguise issue 2 review.

Postby Psychout » Wed Mar 07, 2012 7:11 pm

Motto: "This post clearly was meant to offend, and if you are affected by it in any way please close your browser and discuss it with someone who knows not to take the internet seriously."
Weapon: Black Magic
I would imagine that it's a certainty.

#Sideways# wrote:
JazzMusic wrote:As Bumblebee changes the artist on his ipod mini.

:APPLAUSE:

Looks good, this and the More Than Meets the Eye are connected, I assume?

The two stores run concurrently, RID on Cybertron and MTMTE out amongst the stars looking for some lost heroes of legend, although the RID lot think the MTMTE crew are dead after the end of issue 1.

Also, Jazzmusic - I wish I'd thought of that line, I laughed for a good 10 minutes! :lol:
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Re: IDW Transformers: Robots In Disguise issue 2 review.

Postby Prime Evil » Wed Mar 07, 2012 7:32 pm

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Fires_Of_Inferno wrote:I should get into the comics more. Havn't gotten anything for comics since Last Stand Of The Wreckers.


If you liked LSOTW, you will love MTMTE which is written by James Roberts who co-wrote LSOTW. RID is great as well however, I just really love what is going on over on MTMTE. I'm not sure if you like reading issue by issue or by trade paper back, but for me, when both of these titles come out via trade, I will be getting both.
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Re: IDW Transformers: Robots In Disguise issue 2 review.

Postby TheForgottenTaxi » Thu Mar 08, 2012 12:11 am

You say that this "may not work for the casual fan." But man, when I finished this issue, I told my girlfriend to read it immediately, and despite only recognizing a handful of the characters (Bumblebee, Starscream, and Arcee I believe), she loved it. Mind you, she hadn't read the first issue, or indeed, any Transformers comic except for Roberts' unbelievable Optimus Prime/Megatron flashback two-parter. Still loved it and wanted more.
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Re: IDW Transformers: Robots In Disguise issue 2 review.

Postby El Duque » Thu Mar 08, 2012 9:10 am

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I really need to get to my local comic shop, they've got MTEME and RID 1 and 2 on hold for me.
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