This page contains affiliate links. We may earn commissions when readers interact with or purchase items through these links. For more information, see our affiliate disclosures here.

Seibertron.com Reviews IDW Transformers: Robots in Disguise issue 4

Discuss anything about the Transformers cartoons and comics! You can discuss anything from G1 to Cybertron as well as the comics from Marvel, Dreamwave, IDW and more!

Seibertron.com Reviews IDW Transformers: Robots in Disguise issue 4

Postby Psychout » Tue Apr 24, 2012 6:55 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
Bad Cop/Worse Cop

BIG SPOILERS AHEAD!

So, here is it, Robots in Disguise issue 4, the comic that is currently dividing the Transformers readership.

RiD has some big boots to fill. More than Meets the Eye is a great comic; light hearted, colourful and fast paced and Autocracy is beautifully rendered, focuses on the franchise's most famous characters and has a story that we all know the conclusion to, so it falls to RiD to be the bigger of the three and bring new stories that are grittier, darker and more involving and this is not an easy thing to do when your subject matter is giant shape-changing space robots, especially with such limited scope.

Image
Because that has always worked so well in the past for the 'cons, eh Swindle?


Unfortunately this leaves little room for middle ground, and whilst I already know many will disagree with me on this, it's a good effort but for me it just isn’t working. In the past, Prowl has previously been depicted as a fan favourite’s character, with honour and integrity working from behind the scenes as the manipulator, not afraid to go behind people's backs to do what must to get the job done. Spotlight: Kup and AHM:15 are amongst the best examples of this, even if the aftermath wasn’t quite what everyone expected (See Infestation: Transformers #2). Here, the pressures of securing an entire rebuilt planet seem to have got to him, and in his pursuit of the Autobot philosophy any kind of honour has been stripped away leaving just the oft referred to ‘cold and calculating’ part of his personality which just ceases to make him the same likeable character, and Arcee’s influence throughout just appears to make it worse in her role of 'secret enforcer'.

Image
Born to be a kindergarten teacher


Art wise, my reservations from the last issue continue. Cybertron herself is crisp and clear but character detail once again overwhelms us one minute and is gone the next, and some character updates stand out from their other 80s-looking peers but for all the wrong reasons. Starscream (and his type) is a prime example, but the one thing that confuses me the most is that one section of the Seekers has lost its genre-defining lithe shape that invoked speed and manoeuvrability in favour of this bulkier almost movie-style physique, whilst Dirge – the last remaining Conehead - retains an older-style (possibly due to his early expulsion from Earth) but looks so much better for it, probably up there as one of my favourite Seeker designs. Why the different body types? Where’s the consistency? Adding to the confusion, Bombshell and the Constructicons all look near cartoon-perfect. And then of course there is Arcee... I’ll just let you decide on her amongst yourselves, my opinion is already out there and this does little to change it.

Image
And the voice of Prowl's conscience is a psychotic
pink robot. This can only end well.


Aside from my misgivings about the Prowl/Arcee dynamic and the art, the writing for this issue is still good. Barber has taken a world without the easy options of Prime, Megatron, Magnus and even Rodimus to solve the its ills and woven an involving and complex story and really grasped Prowl as a lead in this (still) dysfunctional government making pre-emptive decisions in the name of Cybertron security, even if it does take him in a very different direction, but it does feel a little heavy handed at times. The premise for this story – Bombshell seeding chaos into the Decepticon ranks as the planet becomes more and more divided - is engrossing, a character with an exceptional skill is finally being put to use in a well thought out and effective way, but the ending is blunt and seems a waste of such potential just to showcase this new 'Prowl' archetype even further.

Image
And cue the Benny Hill theme tune...


This issue had the potential to be great noir-style detective story or a bad cop/good cop action epic and falls short on both, mainly depicting Prowl on a murderous rampage meltdown and for many this will make him a thoroughly unlikeable character. One must wonder where they are planning on taking this, especially with the effective removal of a well-loved Decepticon group, and if there will be any 'bad guys' left in the only comic of the two ongoings that fully involves characters that the purple-badge wearing fans have any interest in as Barber boldly wields the machete of character death with reckless abandon.

Image
Champion bedside manner too. This guy is a true hero!


Fans of the bigger picture will appreciate this comic more than others, but with no clear story mapped out by the 4th issue, RiD is becoming an increasingly difficult read. Pick it up for the well scripted action scenes and enlightening character interactions, but be wary, whilst this is still of a higher standard than some of IDW’s previous runs, it is also still the weakest of the three series available.
Image
“I like to think that my arrogance, impetuosity,
impatience, selfishness and greed are the qualities
that make me the lovable chap I am.”
Psychout
HMW Moderator
Posts: 9687
News Credits: 42
Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2004 7:04 am
Location: Vatican City
Alt Mode: Cassette. The 80s ROCKED
Strength: 1
Intelligence: 1
Speed: 1
Endurance: 1
Rank: 10
Courage: 1
Firepower: 1
Skill: 10

Re: Seibertron.com Reviews IDW Transformers: Robots in Disguise issue 4

Postby Downbeat » Wed Apr 25, 2012 3:45 am

Motto: "Can't think and I'm feeling fine."
Weapon: Electro-Disruptor
I haven't read this issue yet, but "honor and integrity"? Prowl was practically as close to a Decepticon on the Autobot side as they could come under Roche and Roberts' tenure.His usage of Kup for a symbol to boost morale, with an override installed in his body just in case, is there honor or integrity in that? Was there honor in his near-crushing of the data slug from Wreckers? Was there honor in his sabotage of the Lost Light?

IDW's Prowl was best characterized as a cunning bastard that would do anything for what he saw as the Autobot cause.

Still have to pick up MTMTE #4 and this issue, but I definitely disagree with the reviewer.

No slights intended against the reviewer, of course, just a difference of opinion.

Personally, I like this Arcee and her design, and I'm okay with Dirge the conehead having a different body than Starscream in his War for Cybertron design, from what I've read of the first three issues.
User avatar
Downbeat
Minibot
Posts: 145
Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2009 2:42 pm
Location: The Gates of Steel
Strength: 5
Intelligence: 7
Speed: 9
Endurance: 5
Rank: 1
Courage: 4
Firepower: 3
Skill: 9

Re: Seibertron.com Reviews IDW Transformers: Robots in Disguise issue 4

Postby Va'al » Wed Apr 25, 2012 3:06 pm

Motto: "Till All Are Pun!"
So there I was, on my way to Abstract Sprocket, my local comic shop.

..but the supplier, even though they had invoiced and received payment, never supplied. :(

Next week it is.
User avatar
Va'al
God Of Transformers
Posts: 17010
News Credits: 6188
Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2011 11:00 am
Location: Italy
Buy from Va'al on eBay

Re: Seibertron.com Reviews IDW Transformers: Robots in Disguise issue 4

Postby Tigertrack » Thu Apr 26, 2012 7:16 am

Motto: "A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination."
Weapon: Sniper Rifle
Downbeat wrote:I haven't read this issue yet, but "honor and integrity"? Prowl was practically as close to a Decepticon on the Autobot side as they could come under Roche and Roberts' tenure.His usage of Kup for a symbol to boost morale, with an override installed in his body just in case, is there honor or integrity in that? Was there honor in his near-crushing of the data slug from Wreckers? Was there honor in his sabotage of the Lost Light?

IDW's Prowl was best characterized as a cunning bastard that would do anything for what he saw as the Autobot cause.

Still have to pick up MTMTE #4 and this issue, but I definitely disagree with the reviewer.


I know what you mean, but many of us G1 folks have a romanticized version of Prowl that we still hold on to (as we do with many of these characters).

And as things progressed, some of the fiction in IDW did have him working behind the scenes to do whatever to further the Autobot cause, but he did struggle many times with his choices, ultimately choosing the logical support of the Autobot cause over negative consequences involving feelings/relationships.

And of course, no one expects anyone to 'have' to agree with the reviewer, just understand points of view can differ. Afterall, if we all agreed why would we discuss this? Where would the fun in the controversial/pivotal twists and turns and choices that the creators make be?

Enjoy. But Arcee's face looks damn ugly sometimes. :D And her personality ain't any better.
User avatar
Tigertrack
Matrix Keeper
Posts: 9633
News Credits: 1082
Joined: Mon Jun 30, 2003 7:08 am
Strength: 6
Intelligence: 8
Speed: 7
Endurance: 7
Rank: 10+
Courage: 9
Firepower: 8
Skill: 10

Re: Seibertron.com Reviews IDW Transformers: Robots in Disguise issue 4

Postby Chaoslock » Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:17 pm

Weapon: Reciprocating Laser Cannon
Arcee has a Decepticon peronality. But the issue was far too bloody for my tastes, and I feel it was very unneeded. When Furman killed someone, it was during an apocalyptic event, not to show off how bad cops act, and Roberts has style.
Plus, constantly making people remember the possibly worst comic issue in transformers history is a BAD thing.
GENERATION 1: THE EPIC ORIGINS! -Hasbro

"Autobots, Buster Witwicky killed Primus. Kill on sight!" - broadcast from Urban Dead

Image

Psychout wrote:Never, ever take the internet seriously, especially not when its on a website dedicated to giant cartoon robots from outer space.
User avatar
Chaoslock
Faction Commander
Posts: 4294
News Credits: 7
Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2005 2:31 am
Strength: Infinity
Intelligence: Infinity
Speed: 7
Endurance: 8
Rank: 6
Courage: 9
Firepower: 7
Skill: 7

Re: Seibertron.com Reviews IDW Transformers: Robots in Disguise issue 4

Postby cybercat » Wed May 02, 2012 2:06 pm

Chaoslock wrote:Arcee has a Decepticon peronality. But the issue was far too bloody for my tastes, and I feel it was very unneeded. When Furman killed someone, it was during an apocalyptic event, not to show off how bad cops act, and Roberts has style.
Plus, constantly making people remember the possibly worst comic issue in transformers history is a BAD thing.



NGL: Arcee troubles me. Not her personality now so much (I mean, wow, Spotlight Arcee is just a sinkhole of misogyny so just about ANYTHING is an improvement) but the utter lack of explanation of two things:

1) Why isn't she crazazy anymore? I'm not complaining, because LOLPMSRAGE isn't that funny or engaging to begin with, but, just like Perceptor lapsing back into nerdmode, it's done with NO explanation.

2) She HATES being in her body, if Spotlight Arcee is to be believed, and was only shoved back in when she could be of service to the Autobot cause. So, why the heck she'd work with Autobots to begin with?

and sort of going back to 1--when last we saw her in Ongoing she was scooping up Kimia refugees acting like den mother, and now she's Elektra Assassin again. This is giving me whiplash.

On the whole, though I really like the dynamics of this issue. Starscream's easy manipulation of Bumblebee was fantastic, and Prowl really has no other choice, in light of such baldly incompetent leadership, to take things into his own dirty hands.

The sour note for me was Wheeljack. Wow. Egotist much? Yeah sure, you're the most important word on Cybertron. Not like...Till All Are One or Optimus Forever.

HK, still better than Prime's Drift!Jack I suppose
User avatar
cybercat
Gestalt
Posts: 2039
News Credits: 1
Joined: Mon Feb 02, 2009 12:33 pm
Location: lost in cyborg theory


Return to Transformers Cartoons and Comics Forum

Transformers and More @ The Seibertron Store

Visit our store on eBay
These are affiliate links. We may earn commissions when you purchase items or services through these links.
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "BOULDERCRASH Transformers Legacy United Core Class Hasbro 2024 New"
BOULDERCRASH Trans ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "ARMADA STARSCREAM Transformers Legacy Voyager Class Hasbro 2022 New **IN-STOCK**"
ARMADA STARSCREAM ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "ROAD HAULER Transformers Legacy Velocitron Speedia 500 Voyager Hasbro 2022 New"
ROAD HAULER Transf ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "BWVS-03 CHEETOR + WASPINATOR Transformers Beast Wars Again Kingdom Hasbro 2024"
BWVS-03 CHEETOR + ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "WFC-K23 PREDACON SCORPONOK Transformers War Cybertron Kingdom Deluxe 2021 New"
WFC-K23 PREDACON S ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "GRIMLOCK Transformers Legacy Evolution Core G1 Dinobots Volcanicus 2023 New"
GRIMLOCK Transform ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "DEAD END Transformers Legacy Deluxe Stunticon Menasor Hasbro 2022 New"
DEAD END Transform ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "WFC-K2 RATTRAP Transformers War for Cybertron Kingdom Core Hasbro 2020 New"
WFC-K2 RATTRAP Tra ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "TRANSMETAL II MEGATRON Transformers Legacy Evolution Leader Beast Wars New"
TRANSMETAL II MEGA ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "TARANTULAS Transformers Legacy Deluxe Predacon Spider Hasbro 2022 New"
TARANTULAS Transfo ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "ANTAGONY Transformers Legacy Generations Selects Voyager 2023 New"
ANTAGONY Transform ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "SANDSTORM Transformers Legacy Deluxe Beast Wars Universe Hasbro 2022 New"
SANDSTORM Transfor ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "DK-3 BREAKER Transformers Legacy Deluxe Generations Selects Hasbro 2022 New"
DK-3 BREAKER Trans ...
Visit shop.seibertron.com to buy "WFC-K26 TRACKS Transformers War for Cybertron Kingdom Deluxe 2021 New"
WFC-K26 TRACKS Tra ...
* Price and quantities subject to change. Shipping costs, taxes and other fees not included in cost shown. Refer to listing for current price and availability.
Find the items above and thousands more at the Seibertron Store on eBay
Transformers Podcast: Twincast / Podcast #346 - Gas Station Jamboree
Twincast / Podcast #346:
"Gas Station Jamboree"
MP3 · iTunes · RSS · View · Discuss · Ask
Posted: Saturday, March 23rd, 2024

Featured Products on Amazon.com

These are affiliate links. We may earn commissions when you purchase items or services through these links.
Buy "Transformers Titans Return Arcee Action Figure Set" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Titans Return Titan Class Trypticon" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Studio Series 07 Leader Class Movie 4 Grimlock" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Toys Megatron Cyberverse Ultimate Class Action Figure - Repeatable Fusion Mega Shot Action Attack Move - Toys for Kids 6 and Up, 11.5-inch" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Power of the Primes Punch-Counterpunch and Prima Prime" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers: Generations Power of The Primes Legends Class Autobot Outback" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Studio Series 08 Leader Class Movie 1 Decepticon Blackout" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Power of The Primes Deluxe Terrorcon Rippersnapper" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Beast Hunters Legion Class Smokescreen Stealth Fighter Figure" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers: Generations Power of The Primes Deluxe Class Dreadwind" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers: The Last Knight Premier Edition Leader Dragonstorm Combiner" on AMAZON
Buy "Transformers Generations Titans Return Decepticon Octone and Murk" on AMAZON