IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review
Wednesday, April 15th, 2015 4:16AM CDT
Categories: Comic Book News, Reviews, Site ArticlesPosted by: Va'al Views: 45,815
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World on Fire
(Spoiler free-ish)
(Spoiler free-ish)
Synopsis
The COMBINERS have arrived! STARSCREAM wrestles for dominance with OPTIMUS PRIME as surprising reinforcements approach—from the Lost Light!
What, no RodPod?
Story
As we left the Windblade title last time to start dealing with the diplomatic and political aftermath of Menasor's actions on Caminus, and the arrival of Optimus as the Thirteenth (of sorts) - we shift back to The Transformers, with the next chapter in the Combiner Wars event, co-plotted by Mairghread Scott and this issue's writer, John Barber.
No messiah complex here
Barber's writing in #40 is really quite ambitious, given that it's both an aftermath and a cranking up of the perils that the 'discovery' of Caminus and combiner technology can bring to Cybertronian society, including some older friends which had somehow escaped the wider continuity nets.
Canon restored
Also, he manages to use a fair good dose of humour running through the narrative, interspersing media reports of the events taking place as an unreliable device to comment upon the inner workings of whatever the Cybertron-Caminus representatives are actually discussing. Juxtaposed to some moments of clarity and bringing back to focus and otherwise Optimusisms that instead really hit home - or should.
Looking at you, complainers
Meanwhile, in all of this, not just one but a handful of characters, plot away in the background. Not everyone is happy with how things are being handled, of course, we still need to figure out exactly what Starscream's plans are, Prowl may have even more agents around than we thought possible, and I'm sure the Camiens will also have something to say eventually.
Art
Livio Ramondelli takes again the main interiors, and will do so for a couple of chapters now - and in this issue, I had much less to pick out than, say, TF #39. The layouts are really interesting, and some character designs are expected by now (oh hey Leader Starscream). There are some really well executed more organic, or at least not full-on robotic, scenes which makes his art and style shine. Ominously.
That is terrifying
The mediatic perspective that Circuit and Starscream bring to the issue also allow for some more creative layouts, or at least an opportunity for both Ramondelli and letterer Tom B. Long to play around with how different characters speak and interact with each other, in some ways. That said, the first page and a bit can be a little confusing in setting name to character, as the order of the boxes does not appear in sync with the art.
Face-stuff. Heh
I will take a little detour here, as out of the three covers offered with the current issue, one is the regular, Ironhide as Atlas Casey Coller/Joana Lafuente, the secondary is the thumbnailed Livio Ramondelli poster variant - and then we have a lovely take on Menasor from Hasbro's official material, including its games. But no artist credit. The only clue is from the artists themselves, in this case Marcelo Materefor the pencilwork. Hasbro, please credit somehow, somewhere, your artists. Please.
Thoughts
Spoilerish ahead
Overall, the chapter that follows a big reveal and a big fight was bound to be a little slower in pacing, but it does so fairly well in what it stops to explore and expand upon, through the art and the story. Fans of early days of RID will remember the style, with a lot of backstabbing, dry humour and snide comments - and some good continuity games, with the added touch of Barber's heightened characterisation post Dark Cybertron and Ramondelli's more visual plays on multiple screens and panels.
Shut up Prime
Superion and the underlying questions of Gestalt technology are really well done, despite offering no conclusive answer, of course. The Protectobots are introduced neatly, just like the 'new recruits' for the other teams before them, and in a self-aware nod. Ironhide is used a little more, and might play a bigger role again, along with Mirage. It's a good read, and still moving upward in the storyarc.
. 
out of
out of Credit(s): IDW, Va'al
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Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1675492)
Posted by Va'al on April 15th, 2015 @ 4:20am CDT
Posted by Va'al on April 15th, 2015 @ 4:20am CDT
Am I shamelessly capitalising on a current big trend with that review title, like a daredevil?
Definitely maybe.
Definitely maybe.
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1675503)
Posted by ZeroWolf on April 15th, 2015 @ 4:49am CDT
Posted by ZeroWolf on April 15th, 2015 @ 4:49am CDT
A question with those nightmare combiners I can make out menasor, superion, prowlastaor and Defensor...but there is obviously another shadow there. Who is that?
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1675507)
Posted by SW's SilverHammer on April 15th, 2015 @ 5:24am CDT
It's..... the Anti-Spiral from Gurren Lagann!? Of course the enigma of combination is just fighting spirit! Believe in the Senator Shockwave that believes in Optimus Prime! Oh wait that's, that's something else. All jokes aside, I think it's a proxy for the fan built combiner, whom I speculate to consist of characters from Caminus who obtain the enigma at some point. Yes i know it says the fan combiner's going to come from the sea of rust, but windblade was supposed to hail from Kaon, so the claim is not entirely valid.
Posted by SW's SilverHammer on April 15th, 2015 @ 5:24am CDT
ZeroWolf wrote:A question with those nightmare combiners I can make out menasor, superion, prowlastaor and Defensor...but there is obviously another shadow there. Who is that?
It's..... the Anti-Spiral from Gurren Lagann!? Of course the enigma of combination is just fighting spirit! Believe in the Senator Shockwave that believes in Optimus Prime! Oh wait that's, that's something else. All jokes aside, I think it's a proxy for the fan built combiner, whom I speculate to consist of characters from Caminus who obtain the enigma at some point. Yes i know it says the fan combiner's going to come from the sea of rust, but windblade was supposed to hail from Kaon, so the claim is not entirely valid.
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1675511)
Posted by prjkt on April 15th, 2015 @ 6:22am CDT
and who says it has to be the Sea of Rust on Cybertron...?
Posted by prjkt on April 15th, 2015 @ 6:22am CDT
SW's SilverHammer wrote:ZeroWolf wrote:A question with those nightmare combiners I can make out menasor, superion, prowlastaor and Defensor...but there is obviously another shadow there. Who is that?
It's..... the Anti-Spiral from Gurren Lagann!? Of course the enigma of combination is just fighting spirit! Believe in the Senator Shockwave that believes in Optimus Prime! Oh wait that's, that's something else. All jokes aside, I think it's a proxy for the fan built combiner, whom I speculate to consist of characters from Caminus who obtain the enigma at some point. Yes i know it says the fan combiner's going to come from the sea of rust, but windblade was supposed to hail from Kaon, so the claim is not entirely valid.
and who says it has to be the Sea of Rust on Cybertron...?
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1675526)
Posted by ScottyP on April 15th, 2015 @ 7:49am CDT
One of them is clearly Batman, so I guess it's just a matter of "did Defensor or Superion's head get turned into a potato?"
Posted by ScottyP on April 15th, 2015 @ 7:49am CDT
ZeroWolf wrote:A question with those nightmare combiners I can make out menasor, superion, prowlastaor and Defensor...but there is obviously another shadow there. Who is that?
One of them is clearly Batman, so I guess it's just a matter of "did Defensor or Superion's head get turned into a potato?"
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1675556)
Posted by 1984forever on April 15th, 2015 @ 10:11am CDT
As far as #40 goes... Meh. I can live without it. The book just lacks star power. I need more Mirage, and even more treachery from Starscream. But most of all I need a Prowl that is IN HIS RIGHT MIND. Right now the guy thinks he's Scrapper with roof lights.
Posted by 1984forever on April 15th, 2015 @ 10:11am CDT
I am so tired of Batman being in everything!ScottyP wrote:ZeroWolf wrote:A question with those nightmare combiners I can make out menasor, superion, prowlastaor and Defensor...but there is obviously another shadow there. Who is that?
One of them is clearly Batman, so I guess it's just a matter of "did Defensor or Superion's head get turned into a potato?"
As far as #40 goes... Meh. I can live without it. The book just lacks star power. I need more Mirage, and even more treachery from Starscream. But most of all I need a Prowl that is IN HIS RIGHT MIND. Right now the guy thinks he's Scrapper with roof lights.
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1675576)
Posted by padfoo on April 15th, 2015 @ 11:17am CDT
Posted by padfoo on April 15th, 2015 @ 11:17am CDT
I enjoyed the book it was a good read, but it felt a little rushed and some of the panels were a bit confusing. I wish it was a longer crossover, because once Prowl gets involved in things they tend to escalate fast!
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1675626)
Posted by RevTibe on April 15th, 2015 @ 2:00pm CDT
Posted by RevTibe on April 15th, 2015 @ 2:00pm CDT
I feel like this issue would have been better suited for Milne or Stone's art. While Ramondelli 's style is great for a dark, grungy battlefield, a 'talky' episode like this is really reliant on how expressive its characters are.
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1675992)
Posted by Nemesis Maximo on April 16th, 2015 @ 9:50am CDT
Posted by Nemesis Maximo on April 16th, 2015 @ 9:50am CDT
Man, sometimes Prowl maks you feel as though he really believes that what he does is for the betterment of Cybertron...
And the. There's those times when you need Michael Caine to say "some bots just wanna watch the world burn."
I love his decent into madness; it's so different from anything else going on right now.
And the. There's those times when you need Michael Caine to say "some bots just wanna watch the world burn."
I love his decent into madness; it's so different from anything else going on right now.
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1676545)
Posted by Madeus Prime on April 17th, 2015 @ 8:15pm CDT
Posted by Madeus Prime on April 17th, 2015 @ 8:15pm CDT
iTunes has the free preview of Transformers: Windblade Vol. 2 #2 - Combiner Wars
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/transformers-windblade-vol./id983453961?mt=11
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/book/transformers-windblade-vol./id983453961?mt=11
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1676586)
Posted by King Kuuga on April 18th, 2015 @ 12:52am CDT
Posted by King Kuuga on April 18th, 2015 @ 12:52am CDT
I can't read the text, but I can see that Ramondelli is doing the art on these pages at least. What's Sarah Stone up to?
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1676588)
Posted by SW's SilverHammer on April 18th, 2015 @ 12:57am CDT
I think it's some scheduling conflict or deadline, or mandate, or something that Ramondelli did windblade #2. I think(?) stone's going to do the rest of the windblade series for the foreseeable future after that.
Posted by SW's SilverHammer on April 18th, 2015 @ 12:57am CDT
That Bot wrote:I can't read the text, but I can see that Ramondelli is doing the art on these pages at least. What's Sarah Stone up to?
I think it's some scheduling conflict or deadline, or mandate, or something that Ramondelli did windblade #2. I think(?) stone's going to do the rest of the windblade series for the foreseeable future after that.
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1676606)
Posted by Va'al on April 18th, 2015 @ 4:26am CDT
Posted by Va'al on April 18th, 2015 @ 4:26am CDT
Have a comics preview for a weekend! Coming out this Wednesday, the first three pages of the new chapter in IDW Publishing's Combiner Wars has appeared 'magically' (thank you Mariel) on iTunes - in Windblade #2. Check them out below, mirrored via Seibertronian Madeus Prime, come back on Tuesday for a full preview, and Wednesday for our review!
PROWL makes his move… and the galaxy will never be the same. Can WINDBLADE stand against the threat of the COMBINERS?
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1676607)
Posted by King Kuuga on April 18th, 2015 @ 4:26am CDT
Posted by King Kuuga on April 18th, 2015 @ 4:26am CDT
Sarah Stone should just draw all the IDW comics. They should clone her or something.
I'm kidding of course but I do love her art, especially her faces and her use of color. It's so expressive and vibrant, whereas all of Ramondelli's characters look so gritty and rough and even his daylight scenes are dark. Bah. Whatever, I'll live.
I'm kidding of course but I do love her art, especially her faces and her use of color. It's so expressive and vibrant, whereas all of Ramondelli's characters look so gritty and rough and even his daylight scenes are dark. Bah. Whatever, I'll live.
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1676608)
Posted by Va'al on April 18th, 2015 @ 4:30am CDT
Posted by Va'al on April 18th, 2015 @ 4:30am CDT
As a note: Ramondelli has a very fast output, and the issues are coming out very very quickly if you consider that it's two monthlies for the same story. Creative decisions had to be made by the team, meaning that he took over for this issue of Windblade, while Stone is working on issue #3.
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1676611)
Posted by King Kuuga on April 18th, 2015 @ 4:49am CDT
Posted by King Kuuga on April 18th, 2015 @ 4:49am CDT
I know she'll be back. I know stuff happens. I understand Ramondelli outdid himself drawing two books in one month. He's not a terrible artist as some would insinuate (he draws better than I can, for sure). But I was really looking forward to Stone's art for this issue so I'm a bit disappointed that it'll be another month. Ah well. The story preview is good. Windblade gets more snappy dialog and that's always worthwhile.
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1676613)
Posted by Va'al on April 18th, 2015 @ 4:58am CDT
Posted by Va'al on April 18th, 2015 @ 4:58am CDT
Oh I know, not calling you out on anything! Just making sure we're all aware of why the 'change' happens. 
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1676643)
Posted by Ironhidensh on April 18th, 2015 @ 9:03am CDT
Posted by Ironhidensh on April 18th, 2015 @ 9:03am CDT
I can't help but feel like Starscream is being under used.
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1676654)
Posted by ebonyleopard on April 18th, 2015 @ 9:29am CDT
Posted by ebonyleopard on April 18th, 2015 @ 9:29am CDT
At least he's doing a better job of distinguishing one robot form another. I find, often, that's the primary weakness of his work. It's just hard to tell who's who, especially when he attempts to put cameos or Easter eggs in a scene.
Unfortunately, Stone's work is too intricate for the amount of time she'd need to doe these (too bad they couldn't get a few months ahead of the schedule).
Not going to lie, it is a disappointment to relaize this is Windblade 2 and not see Stone's work, but at least she'll be back for #3.
My question is though, what happened to the other TF artist? Are there now only 5 main artists for Transformers now?
Unfortunately, Stone's work is too intricate for the amount of time she'd need to doe these (too bad they couldn't get a few months ahead of the schedule).
Not going to lie, it is a disappointment to relaize this is Windblade 2 and not see Stone's work, but at least she'll be back for #3.
My question is though, what happened to the other TF artist? Are there now only 5 main artists for Transformers now?
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1676799)
Posted by Nemesis Maximo on April 18th, 2015 @ 11:23pm CDT
Milne, Stone, Griffith, Ramondeli...
Help me out here Va'al; I know I should know this, but are there any other regular artists working Transformers?
I'm only not counting Raiz because he doesn't appear regularly.
Posted by Nemesis Maximo on April 18th, 2015 @ 11:23pm CDT
Ebonyleopard wrote:At least he's doing a better job of distinguishing one robot form another. I find, often, that's the primary weakness of his work. It's just hard to tell who's who, especially when he attempts to put cameos or Easter eggs in a scene.
Unfortunately, Stone's work is too intricate for the amount of time she'd need to doe these (too bad they couldn't get a few months ahead of the schedule).
Not going to lie, it is a disappointment to relaize this is Windblade 2 and not see Stone's work, but at least she'll be back for #3.
My question is though, what happened to the other TF artist? Are there now only 5 main artists for Transformers now?
Milne, Stone, Griffith, Ramondeli...
Help me out here Va'al; I know I should know this, but are there any other regular artists working Transformers?
I'm only not counting Raiz because he doesn't appear regularly.
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1676834)
Posted by Va'al on April 19th, 2015 @ 4:02am CDT
Current regulars: Milne, Griffith, Stone for the three series, Ramondelli for events and special issues. Scioli for TvJ. Upcoming are Howell and Tramontano (Windblade and RID).
Occasionals, but less than Ramondelli, are Shearer and Cahill, sometimes Rojo and Raiz, and the guest artists like Sakamoto.
Then you have covers: Casey Coller, Nick Roche, plus the rotating artists for the RI variants.
Currently active in the franchise in some form are Guidi, Matere, Santalucia.
Posted by Va'al on April 19th, 2015 @ 4:02am CDT
Nemesis Maximo wrote:Ebonyleopard wrote:At least he's doing a better job of distinguishing one robot form another. I find, often, that's the primary weakness of his work. It's just hard to tell who's who, especially when he attempts to put cameos or Easter eggs in a scene.
Unfortunately, Stone's work is too intricate for the amount of time she'd need to doe these (too bad they couldn't get a few months ahead of the schedule).
Not going to lie, it is a disappointment to relaize this is Windblade 2 and not see Stone's work, but at least she'll be back for #3.
My question is though, what happened to the other TF artist? Are there now only 5 main artists for Transformers now?
Milne, Stone, Griffith, Ramondeli...
Help me out here Va'al; I know I should know this, but are there any other regular artists working Transformers?
I'm only not counting Raiz because he doesn't appear regularly.
Current regulars: Milne, Griffith, Stone for the three series, Ramondelli for events and special issues. Scioli for TvJ. Upcoming are Howell and Tramontano (Windblade and RID).
Occasionals, but less than Ramondelli, are Shearer and Cahill, sometimes Rojo and Raiz, and the guest artists like Sakamoto.
Then you have covers: Casey Coller, Nick Roche, plus the rotating artists for the RI variants.
Currently active in the franchise in some form are Guidi, Matere, Santalucia.
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1676890)
Posted by ZeroWolf on April 19th, 2015 @ 10:53am CDT
Posted by ZeroWolf on April 19th, 2015 @ 10:53am CDT
I love the way this is panning out especially as more colony worlds are found a council will build with all the relationships that will bring with it. Though I can see a rebellion being left against starscream before too long.
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1676910)
Posted by Nemesis Maximo on April 19th, 2015 @ 12:24pm CDT
Well, the seeds are already there; Optimus, Windblade and Ironhide. Bt at the same time, Optimus is torn because he realizes Starscream was chosen by the people of Cybertron democratically. He may not like it, but he can't do anything about it without hard evidence for the same reason they needed to hold Megatron's trial in public. And Windblade already jeopardized her credibility during her first miniseiries. Not to mention, when Prime and the people of Caminus find out what Chromia did, that's gonna drive another different wedge in current affairs.
Posted by Nemesis Maximo on April 19th, 2015 @ 12:24pm CDT
ZeroWolf wrote:I love the way this is panning out especially as more colony worlds are found a council will build with all the relationships that will bring with it. Though I can see a rebellion being left against starscream before too long.
Well, the seeds are already there; Optimus, Windblade and Ironhide. Bt at the same time, Optimus is torn because he realizes Starscream was chosen by the people of Cybertron democratically. He may not like it, but he can't do anything about it without hard evidence for the same reason they needed to hold Megatron's trial in public. And Windblade already jeopardized her credibility during her first miniseiries. Not to mention, when Prime and the people of Caminus find out what Chromia did, that's gonna drive another different wedge in current affairs.
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1677109)
Posted by MrBlack on April 20th, 2015 @ 11:13am CDT
Starscream still needs the spacebridge to contact other colony worlds, so he needs to keep Windblade in his good graces. Letting Chromia's crimes become public won't do that.
I imagine that Chromia's actions are going to be used more thematically than as an actual plot point. Windblade is learning that an effective leader has to compromise sometimes, as she did in agreeing to help Starscream in exchange for protecting her friend. For all her talk, she still had trouble seeing Optimus as a normal bot rather than a demigod, and she's only now learning that he has foibles as well.
I think the real problem is going to be the Mistress of Flame. Windblade seems to accept that a Prime can still be a flawed individual. The Mistress of Flame seems to be having much more trouble with the concept.
Posted by MrBlack on April 20th, 2015 @ 11:13am CDT
Nemesis Maximo wrote:ZeroWolf wrote:I love the way this is panning out especially as more colony worlds are found a council will build with all the relationships that will bring with it. Though I can see a rebellion being left against starscream before too long.
Well, the seeds are already there; Optimus, Windblade and Ironhide. Bt at the same time, Optimus is torn because he realizes Starscream was chosen by the people of Cybertron democratically. He may not like it, but he can't do anything about it without hard evidence for the same reason they needed to hold Megatron's trial in public. And Windblade already jeopardized her credibility during her first miniseiries. Not to mention, when Prime and the people of Caminus find out what Chromia did, that's gonna drive another different wedge in current affairs.
Starscream still needs the spacebridge to contact other colony worlds, so he needs to keep Windblade in his good graces. Letting Chromia's crimes become public won't do that.
I imagine that Chromia's actions are going to be used more thematically than as an actual plot point. Windblade is learning that an effective leader has to compromise sometimes, as she did in agreeing to help Starscream in exchange for protecting her friend. For all her talk, she still had trouble seeing Optimus as a normal bot rather than a demigod, and she's only now learning that he has foibles as well.
I think the real problem is going to be the Mistress of Flame. Windblade seems to accept that a Prime can still be a flawed individual. The Mistress of Flame seems to be having much more trouble with the concept.
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1677364)
Posted by Va'al on April 21st, 2015 @ 1:51am CDT
Posted by Va'al on April 21st, 2015 @ 1:51am CDT
Looking for your weekly fill of Transformers comics? IDW Publishing has you covered, with the third chapter in the Combiner Wars event taking place in the pages of Windblade #2! Check out a full preview below, and head back here to Seibertron.com on the day of release to keep the discussion going with our own review.
Transformers: Windblade—Combiner Wars #2
Mairghread Scott (w) • Livio Ramondelli (a) • Casey W. Coller (c)
PROWL makes his move… and the galaxy will never be the same. Can WINDBLADE stand against the threat of the COMBINERS?
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
Bullet points:
Combiner Wars Part 3!
The biggest battle on CYBERTRON is about to get bigger!
Variant Hasbro Combiner Wars poster cover!
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1677383)
Posted by prjkt on April 21st, 2015 @ 5:11am CDT
Posted by prjkt on April 21st, 2015 @ 5:11am CDT
lol @ Prowl's description on the Roll Call page.
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1677391)
Posted by Easy Tiger on April 21st, 2015 @ 6:46am CDT
Posted by Easy Tiger on April 21st, 2015 @ 6:46am CDT
"FIXIT AND THE CO-CALLED PROTECTOBOTS"
Is it too late to spot typos? And wonder why a name-check for Fixit is accompanied by a closeup of First Aid?
Not that I'm knocking it - truth is I'm stoked.
Is it too late to spot typos? And wonder why a name-check for Fixit is accompanied by a closeup of First Aid?
Not that I'm knocking it - truth is I'm stoked.
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1677411)
Posted by Shuttershock on April 21st, 2015 @ 9:36am CDT
Posted by Shuttershock on April 21st, 2015 @ 9:36am CDT
Anyone else think it's kind of sketchy how Optimus allows the Camians to perceive him as a god just to take power away from Starscream?
And yet when Astrotrain did it in "The God Gambit" apparently that's a bad guy thing to do.
And yet when Astrotrain did it in "The God Gambit" apparently that's a bad guy thing to do.
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1677412)
Posted by Wheeljack808 on April 21st, 2015 @ 9:41am CDT
I know right?
Prowl is Prowl
Posted by Wheeljack808 on April 21st, 2015 @ 9:41am CDT
prjkt wrote:lol @ Prowl's description on the Roll Call page.
I know right?
Prowl is Prowl
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1677660)
Posted by Flashwave on April 21st, 2015 @ 10:12pm CDT
It's worse than that. He's not just taking Power away from Starscream, but he's using the Camian religion as a way to insert himself into the power structure that he can keep Starscream in check.
Posted by Flashwave on April 21st, 2015 @ 10:12pm CDT
Shuttershock wrote:Anyone else think it's kind of sketchy how Optimus allows the Camians to perceive him as a god just to take power away from Starscream?
And yet when Astrotrain did it in "The God Gambit" apparently that's a bad guy thing to do.
It's worse than that. He's not just taking Power away from Starscream, but he's using the Camian religion as a way to insert himself into the power structure that he can keep Starscream in check.
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1677679)
Posted by Shuttershock on April 21st, 2015 @ 10:58pm CDT
Plus, he's using his authority to enforce his own policy on what should be done regarding leadership, undermining the elected leader. "Former Leader" my aft.
Posted by Shuttershock on April 21st, 2015 @ 10:58pm CDT
Flashwave wrote:Shuttershock wrote:Anyone else think it's kind of sketchy how Optimus allows the Camians to perceive him as a god just to take power away from Starscream?
And yet when Astrotrain did it in "The God Gambit" apparently that's a bad guy thing to do.
It's worse than that. He's not just taking Power away from Starscream, but he's using the Camian religion as a way to insert himself into the power structure that he can keep Starscream in check.
Plus, he's using his authority to enforce his own policy on what should be done regarding leadership, undermining the elected leader. "Former Leader" my aft.
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1677698)
Posted by King Kuuga on April 21st, 2015 @ 11:39pm CDT
Posted by King Kuuga on April 21st, 2015 @ 11:39pm CDT
Rattrap needs to blow the whistle on Starscream's operations and let Optimus or somebody else run for president of Cybertron.
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1677700)
Posted by Shuttershock on April 21st, 2015 @ 11:41pm CDT
To paraphrase Lex Luthor, do you know how much power Optimus would have to GIVE UP to be President?
Posted by Shuttershock on April 21st, 2015 @ 11:41pm CDT
That Bot wrote:Rattrap needs to blow the whistle on Starscream's operations and let Optimus or somebody else run for president of Cybertron.
To paraphrase Lex Luthor, do you know how much power Optimus would have to GIVE UP to be President?
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1677702)
Posted by King Kuuga on April 21st, 2015 @ 11:43pm CDT
Posted by King Kuuga on April 21st, 2015 @ 11:43pm CDT
Optimus is supposed to be the one that bows to the will of the people. That's why he left Cybertron in the first place and why he's trying not to tell Starscream how to do his job.
Of course 4 million years of being in charge makes it hard to stop giving orders.
Of course 4 million years of being in charge makes it hard to stop giving orders.
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1677705)
Posted by Shuttershock on April 21st, 2015 @ 11:47pm CDT
Still, for all intensive purposes he IS still running things, telling the elected officials how to govern. Only Starscream seems willing to call him out on this (albeit for self-interested reasons).
Posted by Shuttershock on April 21st, 2015 @ 11:47pm CDT
That Bot wrote:Optimus is supposed to be the one that bows to the will of the people. That's why he left Cybertron in the first place and why he's trying not to tell Starscream how to do his job.
Of course 4 million years of being in charge makes it hard to stop giving orders.
Still, for all intensive purposes he IS still running things, telling the elected officials how to govern. Only Starscream seems willing to call him out on this (albeit for self-interested reasons).
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1677763)
Posted by Ironhidensh on April 22nd, 2015 @ 6:32am CDT
Posted by Ironhidensh on April 22nd, 2015 @ 6:32am CDT
The new Windblade issue was..... disappointing.
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1677782)
Posted by Va'al on April 22nd, 2015 @ 7:32am CDT
Synopsis
PROWL makes his move… and the galaxy will never be the same. Can WINDBLADE stand against the threat of the COMBINERS?
Enter, stage right
Story
Close in its release to the previous chapter in Combiner Wars, taking place in The Transformers #40, Windblade #2 continues the event, by letting the story by Mairghread Scott and John Barber slide back over the table to Scott for the actual writing of the issue - where does it fare, you might ask? Read on below to find out.
Buckle up!
Scott does her usual dialogue wonders, playing with the different characters' voices throughout the text, and airing some of the hang-ons from previous stories, especially with Ironhide and Chromia (and the Tankors). Starscream seems to shine even more in his machinations, but it's the combiners that get a lot of the scene - and their fights are not just physical.
REKT M8
On the other hand, there are some concerning issues taking place in the book, mostly from either script mistakes or editorial oversights, not only very early on in the book (First Aid becoming Fix-It briefly, for example; a number of typos) - I'm not keen on pointing out minor slips by Scott or Guzman, but there are quite a few scattered throughout, which should be caught by the time the trade comes out.
Someone's mistake?
Nonetheless, even with the rushed feeling of some of the pages of the issue, the dialogue works well and there are some sensationally silly, but fist-pumping moments in the fights between combiners - wth Devastator finally entering the main stage, and the introduction of even more to the mix - that just I mean I just go read them, they're bonkers, fun and twistedly light-hearted.
Art
The artwork duties are still down to Livio Ramondelli, keeping the engine running for yet another issue of Combiner Wars - and there are some really good things being done for it. There are some great facial expression moments, the characters all get their needed gravitas, and Starscream is as pissed off as ever. There are even channellings of Sarah Stone's redeveloped design for some characters.
That there's a noice Ironhide
Much of the problems with this issue, unfortunately, also comes down to what the artwork doesn't do quite right. There are panels in which characters seem to switch for no apparent reason, especially among the Protectobots. Some of the Superion fight scenes have limbs appearing and reappearing without explanation or shown process, and when it's shown (in one panel/sequence) it takes a while to identify.
Your words, Prowl
The lettering, on the third hand, does not present any difficulties or confusing sequences as last issues, and actually, Tom B. Long has a lot of fun with sound effects during the fight scenes - the many fight scenes - and the multiple voices that Scott's script develops for the characters. The covers once again lack the Hasbro Marcelo Matere credit for the (thumbnailed) RI variant, but still deliver on their quality, with the truly menacing Devastator poster variant by Ramondelli, and the Casey Coller/Joana Lafuente Defensor spotlight.
Thoughts
Spoilerish ahead
The smattering of mistakes in script and artwork unfortunately hinder the full enjoyment of this chapter of Combiner Wars, and gives it too much of a rushed feeling to satisfy long-time readers and invested fans. However, while they do distract, they do not take away from what it does really really well, in both writing and visuals, as I hope I've showed above.
lel
What the issue works well with is the interactions, both verbal and physical, both aggressive and positive, and between Camiens and Cybertronians, Autobots and Decepticons and all the various cogs in the machine that is becoming the beginning of a new universe-wide ..well, universe. Glamorous assistant ScottyP aptly comments that this is an almost entry-level comic for people buying the new toys, and it does more than enough to hook people in for the longer ride.
Posted by Va'al on April 22nd, 2015 @ 7:32am CDT
Combiner Quips
(Spoiler free-ish)
(Spoiler free-ish)
Synopsis
PROWL makes his move… and the galaxy will never be the same. Can WINDBLADE stand against the threat of the COMBINERS?
Enter, stage right
Story
Close in its release to the previous chapter in Combiner Wars, taking place in The Transformers #40, Windblade #2 continues the event, by letting the story by Mairghread Scott and John Barber slide back over the table to Scott for the actual writing of the issue - where does it fare, you might ask? Read on below to find out.
Buckle up!
Scott does her usual dialogue wonders, playing with the different characters' voices throughout the text, and airing some of the hang-ons from previous stories, especially with Ironhide and Chromia (and the Tankors). Starscream seems to shine even more in his machinations, but it's the combiners that get a lot of the scene - and their fights are not just physical.
REKT M8
On the other hand, there are some concerning issues taking place in the book, mostly from either script mistakes or editorial oversights, not only very early on in the book (First Aid becoming Fix-It briefly, for example; a number of typos) - I'm not keen on pointing out minor slips by Scott or Guzman, but there are quite a few scattered throughout, which should be caught by the time the trade comes out.
Someone's mistake?
Nonetheless, even with the rushed feeling of some of the pages of the issue, the dialogue works well and there are some sensationally silly, but fist-pumping moments in the fights between combiners - wth Devastator finally entering the main stage, and the introduction of even more to the mix - that just I mean I just go read them, they're bonkers, fun and twistedly light-hearted.
Art
The artwork duties are still down to Livio Ramondelli, keeping the engine running for yet another issue of Combiner Wars - and there are some really good things being done for it. There are some great facial expression moments, the characters all get their needed gravitas, and Starscream is as pissed off as ever. There are even channellings of Sarah Stone's redeveloped design for some characters.
That there's a noice Ironhide
Much of the problems with this issue, unfortunately, also comes down to what the artwork doesn't do quite right. There are panels in which characters seem to switch for no apparent reason, especially among the Protectobots. Some of the Superion fight scenes have limbs appearing and reappearing without explanation or shown process, and when it's shown (in one panel/sequence) it takes a while to identify.
Your words, Prowl
The lettering, on the third hand, does not present any difficulties or confusing sequences as last issues, and actually, Tom B. Long has a lot of fun with sound effects during the fight scenes - the many fight scenes - and the multiple voices that Scott's script develops for the characters. The covers once again lack the Hasbro Marcelo Matere credit for the (thumbnailed) RI variant, but still deliver on their quality, with the truly menacing Devastator poster variant by Ramondelli, and the Casey Coller/Joana Lafuente Defensor spotlight.
Thoughts
Spoilerish ahead
The smattering of mistakes in script and artwork unfortunately hinder the full enjoyment of this chapter of Combiner Wars, and gives it too much of a rushed feeling to satisfy long-time readers and invested fans. However, while they do distract, they do not take away from what it does really really well, in both writing and visuals, as I hope I've showed above.
lel
What the issue works well with is the interactions, both verbal and physical, both aggressive and positive, and between Camiens and Cybertronians, Autobots and Decepticons and all the various cogs in the machine that is becoming the beginning of a new universe-wide ..well, universe. Glamorous assistant ScottyP aptly comments that this is an almost entry-level comic for people buying the new toys, and it does more than enough to hook people in for the longer ride.
. out of
out of
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1677792)
Posted by Ironhidensh on April 22nd, 2015 @ 8:00am CDT
Posted by Ironhidensh on April 22nd, 2015 @ 8:00am CDT
I feel Prowlestator went down too easy. I'm not fond of the "magic make you combine" laser. I guess it all just feels too rushed. I have a feeling Hasbro is pulling strings, and the story is suffering for it.
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1677796)
Posted by Va'al on April 22nd, 2015 @ 8:11am CDT
Posted by Va'al on April 22nd, 2015 @ 8:11am CDT
For the so-called lols:
http://chrismcfeely.tumblr.com/post/117 ... ars-out-of
I feel I should now be a fan of Rook, as well as Alpha Bravo.
http://chrismcfeely.tumblr.com/post/117 ... ars-out-of
I feel I should now be a fan of Rook, as well as Alpha Bravo.
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1677926)
Posted by 1984forever on April 22nd, 2015 @ 12:19pm CDT
Posted by 1984forever on April 22nd, 2015 @ 12:19pm CDT
Yes, the art could be better... but this is hands down the BEST Transformers IDW has ever produced! It actually deserves 4 and a half symbols, not 3.
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1677967)
Posted by sneakycheapy on April 22nd, 2015 @ 2:39pm CDT
I wholeheartedly disagree. This was a clumsily written and plotted issue and, as Va'al hints toward, I think its partially because the whole thing is a Hasbro-sponsored advertisement.
Thankfully MTMTE isn't being drawn into the mess...
Props to Scott and Barber for taking the bullet on this one.
PS: I suppose it is entirely possible you're trolling.
Posted by sneakycheapy on April 22nd, 2015 @ 2:39pm CDT
1984forever wrote:Yes, the art could be better... but this is hands down the BEST Transformers IDW has ever produced! It actually deserves 4 and a half symbols, not 3.
I wholeheartedly disagree. This was a clumsily written and plotted issue and, as Va'al hints toward, I think its partially because the whole thing is a Hasbro-sponsored advertisement.
Thankfully MTMTE isn't being drawn into the mess...
Props to Scott and Barber for taking the bullet on this one.
PS: I suppose it is entirely possible you're trolling.
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1677968)
Posted by King Kuuga on April 22nd, 2015 @ 2:45pm CDT
Starscream: "Hey, you guys are a team, right?"
Protectobots: "Not really...."
Starscream: "Are you of one mind?"
Protectobots: "Maybe, We guess...."
Starscream: "GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME!"
*combining happens*
I found that humorous, although I agree I don't want to see it happen too often. Develop the guys as a team and have some combiner growing pains.
So let's see, the combiner wars so far has Devastator, Menasor, Superion, and Defensor. Think Monstructor will show up to cause trouble? Will we see Ultra Prime or anybody else, do you think? Or is this it?
Posted by King Kuuga on April 22nd, 2015 @ 2:45pm CDT
Ironhidensh wrote:I feel Prowlestator went down too easy. I'm not fond of the "magic make you combine" laser. I guess it all just feels too rushed. I have a feeling Hasbro is pulling strings, and the story is suffering for it.
Starscream: "Hey, you guys are a team, right?"
Protectobots: "Not really...."
Starscream: "Are you of one mind?"
Protectobots: "Maybe, We guess...."
Starscream: "GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME!"
*combining happens*
I found that humorous, although I agree I don't want to see it happen too often. Develop the guys as a team and have some combiner growing pains.
So let's see, the combiner wars so far has Devastator, Menasor, Superion, and Defensor. Think Monstructor will show up to cause trouble? Will we see Ultra Prime or anybody else, do you think? Or is this it?
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1677987)
Posted by Nemesis Maximo on April 22nd, 2015 @ 4:19pm CDT
Posted by Nemesis Maximo on April 22nd, 2015 @ 4:19pm CDT
On one hand, I hope Monstructor shows up, because if he 's in the comics his chance of becoming a toy increases.
On the other hand, i feel like that would just bring up the Dead Universe again.
On the other hand, i feel like that would just bring up the Dead Universe again.
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1678111)
Posted by Crosscheck on April 22nd, 2015 @ 11:31pm CDT
Posted by Crosscheck on April 22nd, 2015 @ 11:31pm CDT
I think it is a little weird we hardly ever see the Aerialbots, just Superion. It kinda makes the whole Alpha Bravo issue seem even more silly than it already was since we don't see the individual members. Hopefully that will be changed soon.
I must say that I don't really like that they are just having Starscream just using the Enigma willie-nillie. I would have liked a little more build-up to the Protectobots becoming Defensor. Hopefully the Combaticons will get something a little better than that.
I do like that Superion is demonstrating skills that the toy can actually do, such as transforming a leg into an arm to augment attacks. I bet the combiners all will make superb grapplers as a result of this.
I must say that I don't really like that they are just having Starscream just using the Enigma willie-nillie. I would have liked a little more build-up to the Protectobots becoming Defensor. Hopefully the Combaticons will get something a little better than that.
I do like that Superion is demonstrating skills that the toy can actually do, such as transforming a leg into an arm to augment attacks. I bet the combiners all will make superb grapplers as a result of this.
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1678153)
Posted by Flashwave on April 23rd, 2015 @ 2:25am CDT
Posted by Flashwave on April 23rd, 2015 @ 2:25am CDT
I feel very dissappointed in this.
One, its the art. Reminds me of slate, always has. Not my cup of tea.
Two, it felt rushed. I don't like Starscream's "ZAP! You're a COmbiner, and You're a Combiner, and You're a COmbiner, EVERYONE IS A COMBINER!!! YAY!!! And we've been hinting at this "Devestator is a living personality idea for a while now. And while we have a Mad Prowl, This doesn't feel like "Devastator" yet. I hope that's still coming, but in the meantime, this isn't what I wanted.
Also, I really have no idea what's going on. We have a cool bit of world building within the council. And I like that bit with Optimus, reminds me of the scene from the HBO John Adams series where Adams, as Vice President, was to hold the tiebraker in Congress, only to discover that unless or until there was a tie to break, he had NOTHING to do and NO power. Then what, we have a ouching scene with Ironhide and Chromia, and then I get confused by the Combier Battle, which to me kinda sorta feels like It was thrust into this issue for Hasbro to sell toys, whereas if it were being done at IDW's pacing, which admittedly would not have worked so well with toy releases. I don't get Prowl's reasoning. It's Prowl, no one is supposed to get it. But this feels like Prowl just showed up to punch ReallyBigPeople(tm). And I don't see any strategy, let alone endgame.
I really feel like the Enignma of Combinatoric should have ended up on a planet of Omni-Combinational robots. But that's just me being fanboy. And as I recall, the timelines don't match up for that to work anyway. But was a thought.
Wait, Rook was in this issue?
One, its the art. Reminds me of slate, always has. Not my cup of tea.
Two, it felt rushed. I don't like Starscream's "ZAP! You're a COmbiner, and You're a Combiner, and You're a COmbiner, EVERYONE IS A COMBINER!!! YAY!!! And we've been hinting at this "Devestator is a living personality idea for a while now. And while we have a Mad Prowl, This doesn't feel like "Devastator" yet. I hope that's still coming, but in the meantime, this isn't what I wanted.
Also, I really have no idea what's going on. We have a cool bit of world building within the council. And I like that bit with Optimus, reminds me of the scene from the HBO John Adams series where Adams, as Vice President, was to hold the tiebraker in Congress, only to discover that unless or until there was a tie to break, he had NOTHING to do and NO power. Then what, we have a ouching scene with Ironhide and Chromia, and then I get confused by the Combier Battle, which to me kinda sorta feels like It was thrust into this issue for Hasbro to sell toys, whereas if it were being done at IDW's pacing, which admittedly would not have worked so well with toy releases. I don't get Prowl's reasoning. It's Prowl, no one is supposed to get it. But this feels like Prowl just showed up to punch ReallyBigPeople(tm). And I don't see any strategy, let alone endgame.
I really feel like the Enignma of Combinatoric should have ended up on a planet of Omni-Combinational robots. But that's just me being fanboy. And as I recall, the timelines don't match up for that to work anyway. But was a thought.
Wait, Rook was in this issue?
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1678180)
Posted by King Kuuga on April 23rd, 2015 @ 5:41am CDT
So far it goes something like this.
Prowl finds out that Starscream is using Superion as a chess piece in the recontact with Caminus. Due to his intense distrust of anything Starscream does, Prowl he KNOWS Starscream will use Superion to try to conquer the colonies, and since Prime isn't doing anything to stop him, Prowl takes matters into his own hands. In his mind, Cybertron allying with the lost colonies will only end in mutually assured destruction, and he'd rather keep the colonies separate than drag them down with a Cybertron that is sure to crumble under Starscream's rule. As Devastator he goes to Caminus and tries to clear out all Cybertronians, and when that doesn't work he goes to Cybertron and starts destroying the space bridge to keep the two worlds from interacting again. That's his angle: he doesn't want Starscream in control of a combiner while in charge of Cybertron because he will use his combiner to conquer the universe and destroy Cybertron.
I'm not sure if that's a legitimate question or a joke about how miniscule his appearances were.
Posted by King Kuuga on April 23rd, 2015 @ 5:41am CDT
Flashwave wrote:Also, I really have no idea what's going on. We have a cool bit of world building within the council. And I like that bit with Optimus, reminds me of the scene from the HBO John Adams series where Adams, as Vice President, was to hold the tiebraker in Congress, only to discover that unless or until there was a tie to break, he had NOTHING to do and NO power. Then what, we have a ouching scene with Ironhide and Chromia, and then I get confused by the Combier Battle, which to me kinda sorta feels like It was thrust into this issue for Hasbro to sell toys, whereas if it were being done at IDW's pacing, which admittedly would not have worked so well with toy releases. I don't get Prowl's reasoning. It's Prowl, no one is supposed to get it. But this feels like Prowl just showed up to punch ReallyBigPeople(tm). And I don't see any strategy, let alone endgame.
So far it goes something like this.
Prowl finds out that Starscream is using Superion as a chess piece in the recontact with Caminus. Due to his intense distrust of anything Starscream does, Prowl he KNOWS Starscream will use Superion to try to conquer the colonies, and since Prime isn't doing anything to stop him, Prowl takes matters into his own hands. In his mind, Cybertron allying with the lost colonies will only end in mutually assured destruction, and he'd rather keep the colonies separate than drag them down with a Cybertron that is sure to crumble under Starscream's rule. As Devastator he goes to Caminus and tries to clear out all Cybertronians, and when that doesn't work he goes to Cybertron and starts destroying the space bridge to keep the two worlds from interacting again. That's his angle: he doesn't want Starscream in control of a combiner while in charge of Cybertron because he will use his combiner to conquer the universe and destroy Cybertron.
Wait, Rook was in this issue?
I'm not sure if that's a legitimate question or a joke about how miniscule his appearances were.
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1678196)
Posted by 1984forever on April 23rd, 2015 @ 7:54am CDT
If I trash the book, I'm trolling. But if I like the book, I'm also trolling. Maybe I should explain why this issue is superior to anything IDW has produced thus far.
Correct use of characters. Prime was spot on in both speech and action. Starscream was at his treacherous best, this is the way he really would act if he ruled Cybertron! The Decepticons were just tools to him. The Constructicons were on the side which could be considered "evil", which is where they are supposed to be. And if you're an Autobot like Prowl who decides to rock with the Constructicons, well then you're a traitor and you get treated as such... which is exactly what happened. Seeing old faces like Mirage and Sunstreaker are a plus. Sunstreaker should have his own book IMO.
Transformers is an ACTION series. And we got plenty in this issue! A 3 way Combiner battle that was better than anything I have seen in G1 in print or on screen
The comic advertised the toys. After you finished reading the book you could buy the characters in physical form. Just like the old days.
Basically what all of you just read was an authentic Transformers product! Different in almost every way than the fanficky trash IDW usually squelches out.
Posted by 1984forever on April 23rd, 2015 @ 7:54am CDT
WOWsneakycheapy wrote:1984forever wrote:Yes, the art could be better... but this is hands down the BEST Transformers IDW has ever produced! It actually deserves 4 and a half symbols, not 3.
I wholeheartedly disagree. This was a clumsily written and plotted issue and, as Va'al hints toward, I think its partially because the whole thing is a Hasbro-sponsored advertisement.
Thankfully MTMTE isn't being drawn into the mess...
Props to Scott and Barber for taking the bullet on this one.
PS: I suppose it is entirely possible you're trolling.
If I trash the book, I'm trolling. But if I like the book, I'm also trolling. Maybe I should explain why this issue is superior to anything IDW has produced thus far.
Correct use of characters. Prime was spot on in both speech and action. Starscream was at his treacherous best, this is the way he really would act if he ruled Cybertron! The Decepticons were just tools to him. The Constructicons were on the side which could be considered "evil", which is where they are supposed to be. And if you're an Autobot like Prowl who decides to rock with the Constructicons, well then you're a traitor and you get treated as such... which is exactly what happened. Seeing old faces like Mirage and Sunstreaker are a plus. Sunstreaker should have his own book IMO.
Transformers is an ACTION series. And we got plenty in this issue! A 3 way Combiner battle that was better than anything I have seen in G1 in print or on screen
The comic advertised the toys. After you finished reading the book you could buy the characters in physical form. Just like the old days.
Basically what all of you just read was an authentic Transformers product! Different in almost every way than the fanficky trash IDW usually squelches out.
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1678212)
Posted by MrBlack on April 23rd, 2015 @ 9:06am CDT
Posted by MrBlack on April 23rd, 2015 @ 9:06am CDT
This may have been the weakest issue of the main Transformers series since the launch of MTMTE and RID. Errors abound, and the entire issue felt rushed. The Protectobots and Defensor felt shoe-horned in. I think Livio Ramondelli gets a bad rap at times, and his artwork has improved immensely over the past couple of years, but the combiner fights in this issue were nigh incomprehensible. The whole issue came off as a muddled mess.
It's clear that this issue was rushed. There were plenty of simple errors that should have been caught by an editor, and it's obvious that Rook (or rather, Rook's head) was drawn in at the last minute on a few pages. Groove completely disappears when the Protectobots combine. It's a shame, because this story has raised some very interesting issues regarding religion and leadership on Cybertron, and has, up to this issue, been a far better series than I expected.
Here's hoping that Barber and Scott have more time to polish things up before the next issues drop.
It's clear that this issue was rushed. There were plenty of simple errors that should have been caught by an editor, and it's obvious that Rook (or rather, Rook's head) was drawn in at the last minute on a few pages. Groove completely disappears when the Protectobots combine. It's a shame, because this story has raised some very interesting issues regarding religion and leadership on Cybertron, and has, up to this issue, been a far better series than I expected.
Here's hoping that Barber and Scott have more time to polish things up before the next issues drop.
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1680654)
Posted by sabrigami on April 29th, 2015 @ 8:00pm CDT
Posted by sabrigami on April 29th, 2015 @ 8:00pm CDT
Wow. Finally caught up on the CW issues so far and WB. I've been holding off on them because I really wasn't interested in combiners. Toys or comic wise. So far, for the first time since RID started, I actually cannot wait until next issue. Stuff is happening! Prime is a manipulative ass who uses his title to literally be "holier than thou". Starscream being his rutheless self. and Prowl finally reaching his breaking point. Now, I will admit, I am biased and will give extra marks because of Prowl (love him so much!).
Can't comment on all the mistakes this issue. Quite frankly I didn't even notice them. Somewhat due to art (Livio has gotten much better with faces, but bots are still hard to identify for me) and mostly because I just don't know a lot of the secondary/bg characters. Story wise, I was immensely satisfied. if there was one thing I could change if I could (Fangirl alert!) is to see how Sarah would do her take on Prowl's demise scene. The one Va'al showed in the review specifically. Okay, Okay, I'll stop now.
I hope that the Protectobots give SS a piece of their mind for what he did to them. I know I would be pissed.
But yeah, loving this so far! I may even start getting some toys in the near future
Can't comment on all the mistakes this issue. Quite frankly I didn't even notice them. Somewhat due to art (Livio has gotten much better with faces, but bots are still hard to identify for me) and mostly because I just don't know a lot of the secondary/bg characters. Story wise, I was immensely satisfied. if there was one thing I could change if I could (Fangirl alert!) is to see how Sarah would do her take on Prowl's demise scene. The one Va'al showed in the review specifically. Okay, Okay, I'll stop now.
I hope that the Protectobots give SS a piece of their mind for what he did to them. I know I would be pissed.
But yeah, loving this so far! I may even start getting some toys in the near future
Re: IDW Transformers: Combiner Wars - The Transformers #40 Review (1681995)
Posted by Syn_13 on May 3rd, 2015 @ 4:06pm CDT
Posted by Syn_13 on May 3rd, 2015 @ 4:06pm CDT
Well, I've just caught up on this. I liked CW: Part 2, but Part 3 felt a little rushed.
I'd have liked more character development within the combiner teams, to be honest. As I said, it was all too rushed. Also, I just feel it's being dragged out a little and is starting to feel a bit like filler.
I really enjoyed the first season of RiD, and I also liked it at the beginning of the 2nd when it shifted back to Earth a little to focus on characters like Thundercracker and Galvatron, and further develop Prowl. I liked that the rest of the old RiD cast like Starscream were still getting some love through the Windblade series.
This Combiner Wars gimmick isn't doing much for me, and my interest is only being held by the political game that has been much the focus of Barber's storytelling. I'm hoping once CW is done it'll go back to the way it felt before. I'd also be happy for them to stretch it to 3 ongoings as I've enjoyed the work of Scott, Barber and Roberts, and that way they can give time to what is such a huge cast right now.
I have to say the art makes it heavy reading too. I really appreciate Ramondelli's talent, but his art style is suited to a much darker series. He suits Autocracy/Monstrosity/Primacy a lot more, as it's heavier/darker storytelling. In the same way I thought he suited the pre-CW issue which had a flashback to Galvatron meeting Nova. He's best used sparingly, IMO, and I reckon once CW has come to a close it'll go back to Griffith being the main artist. Griffith does a lot better a job of portraying emotion, particularly through facial expressions, and that's such an important aid to the way Barber tells his story. Sarah Stone would've been a better choice for this CW series too, her work on Part 1 was brilliant.
Regardless, it is enjoyable, but I'm honestly hoping we soon get back to the proper Barber/Griffith storytelling/art that has made Rid/Transformers ongoing such an enjoyable read. Also, it's nice to see Waspinator back, but it still needs more Sky-Byte!
I'd have liked more character development within the combiner teams, to be honest. As I said, it was all too rushed. Also, I just feel it's being dragged out a little and is starting to feel a bit like filler.
I really enjoyed the first season of RiD, and I also liked it at the beginning of the 2nd when it shifted back to Earth a little to focus on characters like Thundercracker and Galvatron, and further develop Prowl. I liked that the rest of the old RiD cast like Starscream were still getting some love through the Windblade series.
This Combiner Wars gimmick isn't doing much for me, and my interest is only being held by the political game that has been much the focus of Barber's storytelling. I'm hoping once CW is done it'll go back to the way it felt before. I'd also be happy for them to stretch it to 3 ongoings as I've enjoyed the work of Scott, Barber and Roberts, and that way they can give time to what is such a huge cast right now.
I have to say the art makes it heavy reading too. I really appreciate Ramondelli's talent, but his art style is suited to a much darker series. He suits Autocracy/Monstrosity/Primacy a lot more, as it's heavier/darker storytelling. In the same way I thought he suited the pre-CW issue which had a flashback to Galvatron meeting Nova. He's best used sparingly, IMO, and I reckon once CW has come to a close it'll go back to Griffith being the main artist. Griffith does a lot better a job of portraying emotion, particularly through facial expressions, and that's such an important aid to the way Barber tells his story. Sarah Stone would've been a better choice for this CW series too, her work on Part 1 was brilliant.
Regardless, it is enjoyable, but I'm honestly hoping we soon get back to the proper Barber/Griffith storytelling/art that has made Rid/Transformers ongoing such an enjoyable read. Also, it's nice to see Waspinator back, but it still needs more Sky-Byte!
