IDW Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers #4 Review #SinsOfTheWreckers
Wednesday, April 27th, 2016 10:27AM CDT
Categories: Comic Book News, Reviews, Site ArticlesPosted by: Va'al Views: 47,159
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(Spoiler free-ish)
Synopsis
WEB OF DECEIT! The search for PROWL leads the WRECKERS deep into enemy territory—and that’s where they’re at their best! Unfortunately, with the lives they’ve lived—the pasts they battle to escape—even their best isn’t enough to save everybody.
Story
After the break in the mini-series, we return to the happy escapades of a bunch of loveable misfits, who just happen to wander through the woods and get caught in the web of a spider. Imagine if Nick Roche approached Sins of the Wreckers in that fashion, and then move several steps opposite - darkness falls. Again.
We move through Tarantulas' web as guilt weaves its tale through the minds and past of Roadbuster, Hubcap, Prowl, Arcee and Springer, with the biggest and the smallest of the lot revealing the beginning of the shared sinful paths, and how they have encountered and become who they are now.
On the other side, the team of Wreckers and the Chimeracons, are still working their way through to Tarantulas and his prey, finding a way through the Noisemaze, finding their way through the mess that Prowl has landed everyone into. And they're fairly straightforward about it. Wrecker style.
There is also - as is to be expected by now - some seriously dark humour in the book, almost a breather in between the even darker actions and dialogue taking place. But be ready for another big, dense, heavy read (in a good way, ultimately, but heavy nonetheless), as issue #4 is where Roche falls into the rabbit hole. More thoughts on this below.
Art
As expected, the darkness in the story crawls and creeps not only into the linework, where the organic and the mechanical blend in a really intriguing fashion - if not grotesquely so - but also into the panel composition, with a lot of blank and black spaces, filled yes with dialogue, but also with ominous pauses...
Josh Burcham and Joana Lafuente's colours are wonderfully attuned to the linework provided, and we get some seriously murky, shadowy, closed and/or trippy, depending on the scene, backgrounds to accompany the story being told - or the plans being set in motion. From the past to the present, via the Noisemaze, we see the colourists' skills at full power.
As for the lettering, this issue allows for some of the most varied and appreciated work from Tom B. Long, given free rein over a number of techniques, from fading, to fonts, to sizing - the result is an integral part of both story and visuals, without which it might not work the same. On he cover front, the main Roadbuster narrative is taken on by Roche and Burcham, with the latter also playing with Prowl playing with lives (Kup in particular), and Jack Lawrence brings us the new, complete team of Wreckers in the thumbnailed variant.
Thoughts
Spoilerish ahead
Other readers have pointed out how, much like Roberts in recent MTMTE issues, there are some parallels here in SOTW with the previous Wrecker-centric volume. While that is undoubtedly true, it is also the case that Roche has taken the issues of guilt and violence very much to their limit, here. The issue may not be an easy read for some, as it is as graphic as it is dense, physically and mentally for the characters, and the latter for the readers too.
The way in which Roche, Burcham, Lafuente, and Long collaborate on the same story shows a level of passion and understanding of the different dynamics, between characters, between creators, between book and readers, that can only end up bringing about a book like this. The one concern, perhaps, is about the pacing - the build-up is so strong, the development so good, that it feels like this could've been the end of the story. How will next month rack up?
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Posted by Genericon #378 on April 27th, 2016 @ 12:11pm CDT
Posted by Randomhero on April 27th, 2016 @ 12:17pm CDT
It's like I've said before, this is not the series everyone really wanted as a sequel to LSOTW. I think it's a good story and I do enjoy it but I find myself asking "is this story relevant in the current era of transformers comics that we're getting because it's a story doesn't matter if it happened or not because other bigger things are happening in James and Johns books"
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on April 27th, 2016 @ 1:56pm CDT
Posted by Optimizzy on April 27th, 2016 @ 5:21pm CDT
Posted by Mindmaster on April 27th, 2016 @ 5:24pm CDT
Posted by Randomhero on April 27th, 2016 @ 7:04pm CDT
Mindmaster wrote:Can't even find it on iBooks so I can read it and share my own thoughts...
For whatever reason it wasn't on iBooks, I just went and picked it up on comixology.
Posted by LE0KING on April 29th, 2016 @ 5:02am CDT
Every character besides tidal wave has the same boring personality and make the same bad jokes. Hi, I'm angry and sarcastic. Me too. Me too.
Im just disappointed to see the wreckers story reduced to this.
Posted by Va'al on May 13th, 2016 @ 4:36pm CDT
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on May 16th, 2016 @ 5:37am CDT
Hehehe! That is a good one. I love these stupid little GIFs
Posted by Dagon on May 17th, 2016 @ 9:30am CDT
LE0KING wrote:I got to agree with randomhero here. If this story was given to us before RID and MTMTE it would be great. But we have a higher quality of tf comics out now and this just doesn't make the cut.
Every character besides tidal wave has the same boring personality and make the same bad jokes. Hi, I'm angry and sarcastic. Me too. Me too.
Im just disappointed to see the wreckers story reduced to this.
I haven't read the rest of the content of this thread, but I'm just going to agree with this comment. I was really hoping for something on par with the Last Stand of the Wreckers story, and Sins has been a let down for me. I don't have any investment in the Wreckers, and I generally think they are a really overhyped bunch, but Last Stand was an excellent story, so I was hopeful that there would have been more of that here, and I haven't found it. I'd love to see there be some kind of penalty for Prowl being this really terrible, manipulative guy, but there isn't, and I'm going to go out on a limb here and say there won't be at the end of this series either. Most of the characters in his feel like another round of "hey!! It's that guy!! Cool!" and that is crappy.
I do like Tidal Wave though.
Posted by BATTLEMASTER IIC on May 28th, 2016 @ 12:00pm CDT
We've seen some non-TV Beast Wars characters in this story, so what not?
Posted by Va'al on May 28th, 2016 @ 1:14pm CDT
BATTLEMASTER IIC wrote:Calling it now: What ever Tarantulas did to Verity is going to turn her into an animorph.
We've seen some non-TV Beast Wars characters in this story, so what not?
Why not a HeadTitanmaster..?
Posted by Mindmaster on May 28th, 2016 @ 1:17pm CDT
Dr Va'al wrote:BATTLEMASTER IIC wrote:Calling it now: What ever Tarantulas did to Verity is going to turn her into an animorph.
We've seen some non-TV Beast Wars characters in this story, so what not?
Why not a HeadTitanmaster..?
*mindblown*
I'd be down for that. Who'd it be for if it happens, I wonder? Arcee, maybe?
Posted by BATTLEMASTER IIC on May 28th, 2016 @ 1:38pm CDT
Posted by Va'al on May 28th, 2016 @ 2:09pm CDT
Posted by Mindmaster on May 28th, 2016 @ 2:11pm CDT
BATTLEMASTER IIC wrote:If that were the case, a titanmaster for Roadbuster would make more sense considering he has a need to get ahead in life now.
#toosoon
Posted by ScottyP on May 29th, 2016 @ 10:39am CDT
The Minerva rumors are strong. Not saying Verity would be Minerva's head, but rather, that could make a base mold for a Stakeout which could then have a Verity Titanmaster.Dr Va'al wrote:Who's getting toys, though?
All I really know is that this line is the perfect time for Sunstreaker with Onions.
Posted by BATTLEMASTER IIC on May 29th, 2016 @ 6:45pm CDT
Mindmaster wrote:
#toosoon
I know, I'm sad about Roadbuster too
Posted by Va'al on May 30th, 2016 @ 3:24am CDT
ScottyP wrote:All I really know is that this line is the perfect time for Sunstreaker with Onions.
Kekeke
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on May 30th, 2016 @ 8:30pm CDT
We get a Sunstreaker with Hunter
We get someone with Verity (which could be canon)
All we need is Jimmy to somehow get wrapped up in this (where'd he get to anyway)
And BLAM! We have the original IDW human cast in toy form as titanmasters!!!!
Posted by Va'al on June 6th, 2016 @ 11:50am CDT
THIS IS THE END! Will PROWL get his comeuppance? Will TARANTULAS conquer all? Will any of the WRECKERS survive? It’s wreck and rule one last time, with everything on the line!
Posted by Big Grim on June 6th, 2016 @ 11:52am CDT
Posted by Mr Skram on June 6th, 2016 @ 2:42pm CDT
Big Grim wrote:Man, I frickin' LOVE this design fer Tarantulas!
Me too. It's why I found a Transmetal Tarantulas on ebay. It's the closest thing to it.
Posted by Randomhero on June 6th, 2016 @ 7:34pm CDT
Mr Skram wrote:Big Grim wrote:Man, I frickin' LOVE this design fer Tarantulas!
Me too. It's why I found a Transmetal Tarantulas on ebay. It's the closest thing to it.
Same. Ttransmetal Tarantulas was my first beast wars toy and still my favorite. i managed to get a complete one for pennies and its great to have him with my Classics figures next to combiner Wars Prowl.
Posted by Big Grim on June 7th, 2016 @ 6:33am CDT
Posted by Va'al on June 8th, 2016 @ 8:27am CDT
Working on the backmatter for the Sins Of The Wreckers Trade. No new stories, we're busier than we were six years ago, but loads of unseen art, character designs, process notes, excerpts from the original outline and trivia. Sound alright?
Is there anything that you DON'T want as Wrextras in the trade? What annoys you in backmatter terms? What DO you like?
Posted by reVelske on June 8th, 2016 @ 8:54am CDT
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on June 8th, 2016 @ 9:25am CDT
reVelske wrote:What do I like? I'd like you to bring back my beloved Roadbuster you murderous poopooheads!
They're just paving the way for him to become a titanmaster, that's all
but really, I like Twintwist and Topspin and am not happy they died too, same with Stakeout. I really like them
Posted by reVelske on June 8th, 2016 @ 9:46am CDT
D-Maximus_Primal wrote:They're just paving the way for him to become a titanmaster, that's all
but really, I like Twintwist and Topspin and am not happy they died too, same with Stakeout. I really like them
Same, there are so few remaining original Wreckers left to give them authentic Wreckers feel, and I've always been terrified that Whirl or Roadbuster die before the other did, because them apart with no chance of reunion strikes me as intensely wrong.
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on June 8th, 2016 @ 9:49am CDT
reVelske wrote:D-Maximus_Primal wrote:They're just paving the way for him to become a titanmaster, that's all
but really, I like Twintwist and Topspin and am not happy they died too, same with Stakeout. I really like them
Same, there are so few remaining original Wreckers left to give them authentic Wreckers feel, and I've always been terrified that Whirl or Roadbuster die before the other did, because them apart with no chance of reunion strikes me as intensely wrong.
I agree with this. But the strange thing about IDW is that they've barely been seen together at all. and it was Roadbuster that removed Whirl from the wreckers to begin with. But I am hoping they don't kill Whirl either (yeah, he's in another story, but still the threat of death is very evident)
Posted by Brakethrough on June 8th, 2016 @ 10:16am CDT
Posted by Va'al on June 12th, 2016 @ 7:08am CDT
THIS IS THE END! Will PROWL get his comeuppance? Will TARANTULAS conquer all? Will any of the WRECKERS survive? It’s wreck and rule one last time, with everything on the line!
Posted by LE0KING on June 12th, 2016 @ 1:14pm CDT
I kinda thought they cancelled it due to the fact that it stunk so bad.
Posted by RevTibe on June 12th, 2016 @ 8:28pm CDT
:P Wrong on both counts, mate.LE0KING wrote:So this is still going on huh? >:oP
I kinda thought they cancelled it due to the fact that it stunk so bad.
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on June 12th, 2016 @ 8:36pm CDT
Posted by LE0KING on June 13th, 2016 @ 1:07am CDT
RevTibe wrote::P Wrong on both counts, mate.LE0KING wrote:So this is still going on huh?
I kinda thought they cancelled it due to the fact that it stunk so bad.
Yeah, I know most don't share my opinions on this series. And personally I hate it when people just get on here to complain, but I still gotta say; this comic is just disappointing.
I feel like he dumbed down everyone's personality, making them all the same: snarky, sarcastic, angry, and homicidal.
The dialog doesn't flow because no one is building off of what anyone else is saying. It's like they're having a conversation but don't know what the topic is. It's just sarcastic one-liner after sarcastic one-liner.
He just doesn't do the dialog well. There was a whole scene between carnavac and impactor where he explained their motives and I still have no idea why they are on earth or what they want.
Not to mention I hate when he has them start to say something only for them to stop and start the sentence over. I know why he does this but it's annoying.
The art is good though, and some of the basic concepts are cool. It just boils down to not liking the way he makes the characters interact with each other.
Sorry, I didn't mean for that to become a rant.
Posted by CaptainMagic on June 13th, 2016 @ 8:59pm CDT
LE0KING wrote:RevTibe wrote::P Wrong on both counts, mate.LE0KING wrote:So this is still going on huh?
I kinda thought they cancelled it due to the fact that it stunk so bad.
Yeah, I know most don't share my opinions on this series. And personally I hate it when people just get on here to complain, but I still gotta say; this comic is just disappointing.
I feel like he dumbed down everyone's personality, making them all the same: snarky, sarcastic, angry, and homicidal.
The dialog doesn't flow because no one is building off of what anyone else is saying. It's like they're having a conversation but don't know what the topic is. It's just sarcastic one-liner after sarcastic one-liner.
He just doesn't do the dialog well. There was a whole scene between carnavac and impactor where he explained their motives and I still have no idea why they are on earth or what they want.
Not to mention I hate when he has them start to say something only for them to stop and start the sentence over. I know why he does this but it's annoying.
The art is good though, and some of the basic concepts are cool. It just boils down to not liking the way he makes the characters interact with each other.
Sorry, I didn't mean for that to become a rant.
I kind of agree, actually. I don't dislike this series that much, but it isn't the most satisfying story I've ever read. Roche could definitely salvage the story for me right here at the end, but it seems like there's a lot of ground left to cover to wrap everything up in a satisfying way and this would have to be an amazing last issue. And I agree that the dialogue has fallen flat at times.
It's funny how problems in various media tend to show up in groups. I usually notice it with movies, but I'm definitely seeing trends in all of the Transformers comics right now in terms of dialogue seeming wonky, characters not feeling consistent, and lackluster endings to arcs. It just seems baffling when I stop to consider how many people are involved in making these things that they all struggle with the same things. Obviously, I can't demand a perfect product every time, but it seems like there should be a wider range of mistakes to make.
Still, this series has taken Tarantulas and made him an even more uncomfortable, creepy character for me, and I can always be grateful to it for that.
Posted by Va'al on June 24th, 2016 @ 5:03pm CDT
Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers #5 (of 5)
Nick Roche (w & a & c)
THIS IS THE END! Will PROWL get his comeuppance? Will TARANTULAS conquer all? Will any of the WRECKERS survive? It’s wreck and rule one last time, with everything on the line!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
Bullet points:
Variant cover by Guido Guidi!
Posted by Randomhero on June 24th, 2016 @ 8:55pm CDT
Please give EJ more work. He deserves it.
Posted by Prowl4 on June 24th, 2016 @ 9:38pm CDT
I would have went nearly an Armada route, hot shot in with flame throwers keep tidal wave and have sideways be the villain.
The presence of arcee bothers me. It seems in all idw books a fembot is crammed in and down the throat of the reader. Could have really done without her because other than Michael bay nobody is killing a fembot engaged in a war zone.
Posted by BumbleDouche on June 24th, 2016 @ 11:34pm CDT
Posted by ZeroWolf on June 25th, 2016 @ 2:46am CDT
Also Sideways would only really work if Unicron was involved, and IDW are holding back on him.
Posted by Prowl4 on June 25th, 2016 @ 7:26am CDT
ZeroWolf wrote:Prowl4@ Arcee is a strong fighter who can hold her own against Galvatron, if their was someone I wanted in a battlezone then it would be her.
Also Sideways would only really work if Unicron was involved, and IDW are holding back on him.
Holding her own was complete nonsense against galvatron. A writer with courage would have gravely injured or killed her. Galvatron would wipe the floor with her.
Sideways doesn't need to exist with Unicron.
Posted by RevTibe on June 25th, 2016 @ 10:12am CDT
Can't you see how ridiculous that statement is? If one female TF is being "crammed down your throat", you must be absolutely choking on the male TFs.Prowl4 wrote:The presence of arcee bothers me. It seems in all idw books a fembot is crammed in and down the throat of the reader.
Arcee's inclusion is based on her past history with Prowl, the pre-Dark Cybertron Robots In Disguise story. Fitting, since much of SotW is focusing on Prowl's actions/legacy, much of the cast is a mix of Prowl's agents, dupes, and partners.
Posted by Prowl4 on June 25th, 2016 @ 1:55pm CDT
RevTibe wrote:Can't you see how ridiculous that statement is? If one female TF is being "crammed down your throat", you must be absolutely choking on the male TFs.Prowl4 wrote:The presence of arcee bothers me. It seems in all idw books a fembot is crammed in and down the throat of the reader.
Arcee's inclusion is based on her past history with Prowl, the pre-Dark Cybertron Robots In Disguise story. Fitting, since much of SotW is focusing on Prowl's actions/legacy, much of the cast is a mix of Prowl's agents, dupes, and partners.
Nah I like the male bots seeing as how they're all different and written with personalities. All of the fembots are the same. There's not one book without them.
Arcee is clearly being used to cram a fembot in. Look at the joke of rid that had her as earth autobot leader that was an utter farce.
Posted by ZeroWolf on June 25th, 2016 @ 5:01pm CDT
And Sideways has really only ever existed with unicron, especially if you want to go armada themed. The only sideways I can think of that isn't connected was in Revenge of the Fallen, and I can't remember much about him at all given his lack of screen time.
Sideways in Armada was great as he was trying to screw over both the bots and the cons for his true master. Cut him off from ole big horns, and you got doubledealer or a less interesting version of counterpunch.
Speaking of which, where's counterpunch IDW? I'd love to see your take on him.
Posted by Randomhero on June 25th, 2016 @ 5:57pm CDT
ZeroWolf wrote:You can not be serious. Compare windblade to Nautica, and then Nautica to Arcee, heck look at Nickel! She's the mother hen to the djd! Have you also considered that Arcee is powerful because of her back story? Jihaxus does like messing a lot.
And Sideways has really only ever existed with unicron, especially if you want to go armada themed. The only sideways I can think of that isn't connected was in Revenge of the Fallen, and I can't remember much about him at all given his lack of screen time.
Sideways in Armada was great as he was trying to screw over both the bots and the cons for his true master. Cut him off from ole big horns, and you got doubledealer or a less interesting version of counterpunch.
Speaking of which, where's counterpunch IDW? I'd love to see your take on him.
You're getting close to fan fiction on here with sideway. In armada it's HEAVILY suggested he was part of Unicron. He wasn't exactly an individual but Unicron himself. Without Unicron sideways wouldn't exist and technically ceased to exist by the end of armada when Unicron was "destroyed".
Aside from revenge of he fallen, here was transformers: Cybertron sideways and he was not the same character as in armada. Cybertron was a sloppy dub of galaxy force and Unicron had nothing to do with galaxy force. Sideways along with sound wave were the surviving members of Plant X and we're playing both sides to benefite their goals.
Posted by ZeroWolf on June 25th, 2016 @ 6:35pm CDT
My point still stands though about Armada Sideways, without Unicron he's nothing...After y what you pointed out Randomhero, quite literally.
Posted by Prowl4 on June 25th, 2016 @ 6:36pm CDT
ZeroWolf wrote:You can not be serious. Compare windblade to Nautica, and then Nautica to Arcee, heck look at Nickel! She's the mother hen to the djd! Have you also considered that Arcee is powerful because of her back story? Jihaxus does like messing a lot.
And Sideways has really only ever existed with unicron, especially if you want to go armada themed. The only sideways I can think of that isn't connected was in Revenge of the Fallen, and I can't remember much about him at all given his lack of screen time.
Sideways in Armada was great as he was trying to screw over both the bots and the cons for his true master. Cut him off from ole big horns, and you got doubledealer or a less interesting version of counterpunch.
Speaking of which, where's counterpunch IDW? I'd love to see your take on him.
All fembot are written the same, snarky attitude, lack of respect for authority, over powered and invulnerable. Nickel is a stain on the did tapestry. Started as a gang of creepy psychos and now they've a cutesy female designed character questioning and bitching to tarn. The same traits are in windblade, aileron, mistress of flame, that horror show Victorian and arcee. They're involved in a war and not one fembot has died.
Sideways would have fit in perfectly with the current toyline. Replace the beasts with headmaster tech you still get the same story and a bigger better reveal. If a psychological route was the one to go we could have had an Armada esque sideways and the reveal would have been removing the headmaster disguising him to show Prowl who he was. The story could have been pretty much the same and let into Titans return far better than the sloppy way mairghread Scott will write it.
Posted by ZeroWolf on June 25th, 2016 @ 7:04pm CDT
Arcee has survived fights cause she can fight with the best of them and as Random hero pointed out worked with prowl before Dark Cybertron, being a lethal assassin.
The biggest thing however is that the greatest killer is: plot. If the plot decries someone to die then they will, if not then that's that.
Also they couldn't of used this as a tie in for titans returns. It's only because of delays that it's out now. When the series was planned out Titans Returns and the whoke Revolution event were still being talked about. Sentinel has already been chosen as the poster boy of Titans Return, and he's got more of a claim then Sideways has (he may of been the only headmaster in armada but he wasn't the only one in the toyline) as he was the first non optimus prime seen in IDW within the pages of Megatron Origins.