The Energon Pub

by **President-prime** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 1:08 am

I'm sitting here contemplating to why I haven't picked up a new Transformers comic book since Dreamwave exited from comic book publicatiions. I mean, I've collected and owned almost every single issue of Transformers comic books since the start of Marvel. I've owned every everything that was Transformers at one time and am still collecting today, less KO toys. I'm every bit if not more passionate about drawn materials than toys and movies, but for the past few years, I have not bought nor enthusiastically read a Transformers comics. Why? Is it my disinterest in the Franchise? It can't be. I still love and collect toys. Occasionally go to conventions. Is the price on the comics too high? Not it either. I mean, I spent hundreds of dollars on toys, whats with a few dollars for a good read. Can I blame the publishing company? How about the artists or the writer? One thing for sure. It seems like there's more of an emphasis on story than art. Isn't this a comic book? Why so many talking bubbles in one panel. I remember the G2 comics. Great story, great art. Perfect read. I still take those out to read. Even the marvel ones. Wow! But sadly...

If anyone have any recommendation for new Transformers comics, please save this soul

by **NineBreaker** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 1:38 am

Yes! If you want to pick up some of the new stuff, there are a few series you should definitely look at. Last Stand of the Wreckers just came out in Hardcover (and there's a soft TBP). It's a short 5 issue series of what TF comics should have been and definitely what people expect of TFs. Lots of action, humor, and some very cool moments in general. Before you poo poo it all, try that series. Fewer word bubbles too

Currently, TF: More than Meets the Eye and TF: Robots in Disguise (2 current series) are quite good and represent a serious improvement over the recent ongoing in both the storytelling and the art. You do need a good story and no matter how great the art is, sometimes the story falls flat as I would say we saw in All Hail Megatron and other series.

Of course, like you said, you like the G1/G2 stuff and well when 81 comes out in May (yes, Furman is writing it), you could be in for a treat.

For awhile, there was definitely an inconsistency with the art between all the IDW artists, but now that things have considerably settled down, the look is getting much better (ie. less like the movie) and they're definitely into a groove. I would say then that you are probably more of a fan of the Guido Guidi style TF rather than the Nick Roche style (more cartoony)?

G2 wasn't that great in my opinion (not much in 90s comics were...), but it sold well relative to today's standards.

Hopefully there's some light for that lost soul!

News Credits: 22 · by **Rodimus Prime** » Wed Mar 21, 2012 3:58 pm

Wow, that OP reads like I had written it. Except for the story/art ratio. I have no problem with a complex story. That's why I don't read IDW. Great stories died with Dreamwave, IMO. I read a few IDW titles when they first started up, but I became very disinterested. Love Marvel, G2, most of DW's stuff (except for Micromasters and the fact that they never finished War Within) and I'm looking forward to Regeneration very much. I just hope IDW doesn't screw it up in editing. (I suspect that's what's been happening to the comics the last 5-6 years.)

by **President-prime** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 11:18 am

Thanks Ninebreaker. That does help. I'll give it a try. And all seriousness, I don't have problems with one particular publishing company. I mean, they must like Transformers to take on the scribe work and the rights to the property. I'm in for any great reads. I'll try picking up the wreckers as you suggested. I do hope Regeneration will be as enjoyable as before and hopefully more. But I'll be happy just with great reads. You know it's funny how some of the mosaic stuff is better than the actual printed stuff. I don't see why idw doesn't contract artists for a 3-4 "episode" run per. That gives artist and fans options and fun reads.

by **President-prime** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 11:26 am

And Rodimus Prime. I do agree that there's his editing problem with the current company. I mean, it's not that hard. Get fun books out. Sometimes books get too serious and it turns out flat. All hail megatron has great potential. It just didn't finish up well and some of the middle stuff didn't mix well. Just pan out a couple of episode storyline each. I don't want to follow a certain story line for 12 to 20 books. That's one of the reason movies most go in trios.

by **NineBreaker** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 11:30 am

Well it's not an editing problem in the sense that the goals in selling the comic books are becoming secondary to selling the TPBs. It makes a lot more sense if you are going to organize the TPBs to make long story arcs that can be divided up this way. There is a new editor for the new books anyways, so it's a moot point.

News Credits: 23 · by **Prime Evil** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 2:06 pm

I would definitely pick up the Hardcover trade of "The Last Stand of the Wreckers". It has humor, great characterization, and a sick and twisted villain that is not Megatron! Written by Nick Roche and James Roberts.

Roberts is currently writing the More Then Meets The Eye ongoing and I find it amazing. What I've been wanting since DW folded. I was a huge DW and loved their ongoing and was crushed when it was cut short. I have been with IDW's TF franchise since the beginning and stopped reading somewhere around #13-15 of their ongoing. I just couldn't take it anymore. But keep up whenever Roberts did the writing (issue #22 + #23).

I suggest picking up the TPB of MTMTE in June that will collect The Death of Optimus Prime as well as issues 1-5 of the series. If you need a synopsis on what is going down, click on the link. The war is FINALLY over and I just love what this title brings.

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/The_Transformers ... ts_the_Eye

by **President-prime** » Sat Mar 24, 2012 3:42 am

I don't know. The art style in more than meets the eye disturbs me. I guess I'm still I'n the blocky stylized of the generation 2 art, as well as marvels and dreamwaves. Also, the site of Bumblebee as a leader of the auto bots kind of prevents me from even opening the book (rid I think). I'm still upset at hot rod for getting in the way of Optimus, resulting in primes death.

News Credits: 23 · by **Prime Evil** » Sat Mar 24, 2012 7:12 am

Oh, this isn't G1 in anyway to me. They have their recognizable faces and colors, but not the same as the old cartoons or comics. I just say that because of your comment about Rodimus getting Prime killed. I like this because its not the norm for any tf stories. I mean if you can look past the differences of what you know, its a pretty fun read. RID has the story with BB leading, that's a pretty good story as well, and def has a more serious tone. I like both considering how the past few story lines have been utter crap. Maybe check out one of the issues before jumping in with a trade.

by **President-prime** » Sun Mar 25, 2012 9:57 am

I just picked up the death of optimus prime which leads to these two new series. It's actually a pretty good story, and I actually understand what's going on. It made sense, I guess. I'll definite want to continue to see what's going on. On another note, the ending of the death of optimus prime brings up a cool if nit another series o be old. We neighter get nor see prime in his Orion pax self, what he would do without the responsibility of being a prime. It would be interesting to read the fun and dangerous universe he gets to experience as Orion pax, kind of like a rod rod per se.

by **President-prime** » Sun Mar 25, 2012 10:03 am

Sorry about all the misspelled words, iPhones autocorrect sometimes bother 'me'. But tracking down last stand of the wreckers is pretty had. Went to toy show, comic book stores (3 yesterday), and no luck. Single back issues no longer exists for some places. I guess online

News Credits: 22 · by **Rodimus Prime** » Sun Mar 25, 2012 10:15 am

My local bookstore has a TPB copy, I can pick it up for you at cost + shipping if you want. PM me if you're interested.

Website · by **RK_Striker_JK_5** » Sun Mar 25, 2012 12:44 pm

I loved what IDW was doing before All Hail Megatron. It was interesting, a fresh take on G1 and had my interest. Then... All Hail Megatron, and for me it just sucked the life out.

by **President-prime** » Sun Mar 25, 2012 8:10 pm

Let 'me' check a few more places. I get 20 percent off at barnes. I remember they carry transformers trades. But thank you rodimus prime. I I'll let you know in a few days if I still have no luck. You guys are awesome

News Credits: 23 · by **Prime Evil** » Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:04 am

Man, I would love a comic mini of the adventures of Orion Pax and see what he has been doing since he left Cybertron. Buuuut it seems like Orion is coming back to RiD in June. I feel like this is definitely fast, but with these writers doing pretty well so far, I'm giving them a chance and show me why they are bringing him back so soon. Maybe we can still spin off to an Orion Pax mini still.