Transformers Last Stand of the Wreckers #4- Spoiler Filled Review!
Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 11:38 am
Is this comic series guilty of fanwank? Bringing in characters, and ideas of old to simply make us hardcore fans cryout on message boards how awesome issues are? Many have labeled it as such, which in the text that I have heard the slang fanwank used, likens it to being worse than stealing candy from babies (babies don’t get candy by the way--sad wikitron fan fact). Being talked down upon for being unoriginal, and only liked due to its yank at our gut... is that what this series means to us?
By now you know my feelings about the art, and the much more enjoyable story in this compared to other recent IDW Transformers offerings. Pick any RECENT issue of an IDW Transformers series...got it..good? Wreckers is better in all aspects, any issue of the mini beats any issue you could choose.
So it’s time to start nit-picking Mr. Roche’s story. He’s starting to wrap it up. We have the ‘penultimate’ issue of the series here. Penultimate series issue means--SOME ANSWERS. Unlike ABC’s LOST (in it’s final season), we get SOME answers to our WRECKERS questions, even though they may seem about as satisfying as many of the answers to the mysteries on said show (NOT SATISFYING AT ALL) are.
What do we get answers to?
- -what Wrecker(s) spark is extinguished
-what ‘aequitas’ is
-how Ironfist ‘made’ it on the Wreckers
-how totally ‘bad’ Springer really is
-how many OMG moments can Nick Roche put in one series
-how lame Pyro is/is not
-what the black smoke is (oops, wrong fiction)
-how the Wreckers will probably get out of this whole thing
-what was the choice Overlord offered
!!!!!!!SPOILERS!!!
AEQUITAS
This question bugged me since the beginning. And like the answer to the statue on LOST, this one left me disappointed. We were right that aequitas had to do with judgement (google search definition, it’s there). We were right that it was big. But as far as I know, the rest of our ideas we had were all wrong. The biggest let down of this issue is probably this whole plot point’s revelation. Such a pity. Unless you are happy that it was not the obvious. Seeing this one play out in the final issue will determine my happiness with this answer. Fanwank critics should rejoice though...as in this does not feed our wankiness.
WRECKER DEATH
At least one spark is extinguished on the good guys side in this issue, and it relates to the above disappointment. To be expected with so many cons headhunting them on Overlord’s orders (last issue).
IRONFIST
We find out a whole lot about Ironfist/Fisitron this issue. We knew from last issue that some strings were pulled to get him in, ie he skipped tryouts and was appointed to the team. Who might do this? None other than the high-ranking Autobot subject of our other review this month. On top of this we find out Ironfist is credited with making some of the most memorable weapons in certain Transformers’ arsenals, as well as, countless other WMD’s used in the Cybertronian War. Plus, he seems to get +10 in the brains department based on events in the final few pages of this issue. But he also may be upping his insanity +2. Lots going on with this character.
"A brilliantly designed piece of firepower is a work of art to me."
-SIDE SLIDE- finally we get the return of the Autobot Wiki in this issue’s end, and this entry is none other than our befuddled, hero worshiper, IRONFIST. Great, you guys (IDW) forgot to do this in two other issues. Maybe you’ll put something in the final issue about Overlord that takes three pages or something...
--SIDE SLIDE 2--I love how they use the older looking pages, colors, etc., for the flashback pages. What a nice touch from the artistic side, and I never mentioned it before.
SPRINGER = BAD@$$
While looking a crazed torturer in the face plate, Springer manages to have a conversation with Impactor about his feelings. We get to see part of the reason Springer is the leader of the Wreckers, as the two soldiers wax philosophical about the situation that landed Impactor in Garrus-9. This flashback is why Springer should be everyone’s favorite character. Oh my god, behind enemy lines type stuff here. Gritty, grimy, and so Wrecker like. Wait what about Topspin, aww sh--, no way! Stalker is quite good at his job, but someone seems to be a bit better.
OMG
Umm...so everyone was saying something about fun, and fanwank right? Wrong. This series has turned psychological, brutal, and dramatic. This issue revs it up a notch for some things that you were probably not prepared for. Sure there is fanwank type stuff here, but there is more that is just downright gut-wrenching, unexpected, and mind-boggling. Fun has turned into crazy, we’re talking messed up Joker crazy. Disorders upon disorder. It is somewhat tough to swallow at times, because of the dramatic change. But it seems to work for the story.
Okay, some wankiness... a Legion of Doom version of the Wreckers... really? C’mon...
PYRO
Lame, lame, lame. People are going to want to take their Botcon versions and firecracker them after seeing this coward called out, and how he responds. He needs to be drummed out, assuming he survived. Somewhat predictable...probably with all his he’s Optimus Prime Jr. talk.
THE BLACK SMOKE
It’s bad Locke. It’s the opposite of Jacob, and it wants off the island. And if you cross it, it can kill your @$$.
THE MACGUFFIN
Once again, it is present, and once again, it may just save the day. Obvious, and easy, it better not be the ‘way out’. Boo to you Perceptor for offering it. Did you hate how the Magnificence made everything ‘too convenient’ in the ‘tion’ series wrap up? Perceptor had better have hated it enough to not use the one present here. Unfortunately, he voted YES.
THE CHOICE
“Fight me, or die...” Not much choice. Same result.
What’s old is new again...
Springer and Impactor UK #167
Where are these guys?
Springer, Sandstorm, and Broadside UK #88
No surprise that you will enjoy reading this one, and probably have to read it a few times . Then you will still be saying, “what the slag just happened?”
Obviously, I do not want to spoil everything for you, but our thoughts about Grimlock are addressed to a degree. I tried to review the plot in this issue without giving up exactly what happened. Hard to do with this and the next issue being the series wrap.
No matter what I say, you’ll be first in line tomorrow to buy it. You should. Buy two. One for each eye. It’s that enjoyable. And it has been that long since we have had something to look forward to this much.
Check out the five page LAST STAND OF THE WRECKERS #4 preview to get a taste for yourself!