Preview of IDW Beast Wars Sourcebook Issue #2

YIKES!!! They actually used SAND in the layout of this book!

I hope they do a better job of coloring with this book than they did the first issue.

So Gigastorm is just a (~partial~) repaint of Trypticon?

What's with Fractyl's bio being in complete opposition to his story from Botcon? He's supposed to be a maximal protoform who was turned into a Predacon by Megatron, but then he was so useless in combat he was never seen in the TV series. Now he's a Predacon from Cybertron?

Scaleface wrote:What's with Fractyl's bio being in complete opposition to his story from Botcon? He's supposed to be a maximal protoform who was turned into a Predacon by Megatron, but then he was so useless in combat he was never seen in the TV series. Now he's a Predacon from Cybertron?

They never said they would use the BotCon stories, just the characters.

I am loving the cover with Torca. Galvatron doesn't llok that bad but the art, for the most part, is still a little disappointing. Haven't read any of the preview bios yet. I'll just wait til tomorrow and save the eye strain.

Galvatron Primal wrote:

Scaleface wrote:What's with Fractyl's bio being in complete opposition to his story from Botcon? He's supposed to be a maximal protoform who was turned into a Predacon by Megatron, but then he was so useless in combat he was never seen in the TV series. Now he's a Predacon from Cybertron?

They never said they would use the BotCon stories, just the characters.

I am loving the cover with Torca. Galvatron doesn't llok that bad but the art, for the most part, is still a little disappointing. Haven't read any of the preview bios yet. I'll just wait til tomorrow and save the eye strain.

my eyes... i should have waited...

The strain was too much by the time i got through Fractyls weakness and abilities section, (i don't know why i read them from bottom to top) so i'll squint at his Bio tommorrow.

I'm wondering if fuzors will be labeled as there dominant animal doner or as a hybrid. Elephorca, the blendtron repaint of Torca, is labels and elephant but obviously lacks a trunk and looks just like the killer whale/ elephant fuzor featured in the picture above.

I'm not that excited after seeing Galvatron either...

They also label Elephorca as a hulking idiot, while his Japaness bio makes him out to be the smartest of the Blendtrons.

For all the supposed time and effort Yee and Furman put into this book, they sure made alot of "mistakes" and created even more character inconsistencies.

Art looks to be better this time around, hopefully there will be very little Ruffalo art.

Caelus wrote:They also label Elephorca as a hulking idiot, while his Japaness bio makes him out to be the smartest of the Blendtrons.

He's idiot with a 9 out of 10 Intelligence. Sadly I think the writers were only at 4 out of 10 when they wrote his entry.

I might be missing something but how can BW Galvatron be named after the herald of Unicron when the IDW Galvatron is a separate entity not related to ol' horn head and Furman has said that the dead universe is something else entirely ?

Tripredacus agent wrote:I might be missing something but how can BW Galvatron be named after the herald of Unicron when the IDW Galvatron is a separate entity not related to ol' horn head and Furman has said that the dead universe is something else entirely ?

Well, seeing as the Ark from the G1 Cartoon/Comic appears in the IDW Beast Wars comics, I would assume that it is in continuity with that universe rather than in continuity with IDW's ongoing series.

Archanubis wrote:I hope they do a better job of coloring with this book than they did the first issue.

Nope. Ryall pretty much admitted himself that this issue, along with #1, fell through the cracks (though how that's possible given the year long grace period they had continues to amaze me).

i_amtrunks wrote:For all the supposed time and effort Yee and Furman put into this book, they sure made alot of "mistakes" and created even more character inconsistencies.

Indeed. And if there was any real doubt about it, Fractyl's bio pretty much killed it to the point where not even immediate CPR can bring it back.

At least they didn't resort to making BWII Galvatron G1 Galvatron, just doing what they did with Megs. But, in doing so, it's really noting more than derivative and thus a small, small postive against the dark sea of negative.

Tripredacus agent wrote:I might be missing something but how can BW Galvatron be named after the herald of Unicron when the IDW Galvatron is a separate entity not related to ol' horn head and Furman has said that the dead universe is something else entirely ?

Beast Wars doesn't take place in the IDW G1 - as the Ark wasn't stranded on earth 4 million years ago. It's the Marvel/Animated/Dreamwave or Devil's Due G1 - all had a crashed Ark with Optimus and Megatron on it.

Scaleface wrote:

Tripredacus agent wrote:I might be missing something but how can BW Galvatron be named after the herald of Unicron when the IDW Galvatron is a separate entity not related to ol' horn head and Furman has said that the dead universe is something else entirely ?

Beast Wars doesn't take place in the IDW G1 - as the Ark wasn't stranded on earth 4 million years ago. It's the Marvel/Animated/Dreamwave or Devil's Due G1 - all had a crashed Ark with Optimus and Megatron on it.

I think that the Beast Wars Comics tie into the Beast Wars show, and thus the G1 Cartoon continuation. IDW G1-verse is no relation.

i_amtrunks wrote:I think that the Beast Wars Comics tie into the Beast Wars show, and thus the G1 Cartoon continuation. IDW G1-verse is no relation.

Yeah, that's the way it's supposed to be. Then again, does it really matter anymore?

Yeah, these sourcebooks are kinda stupid though, since Furman can't seem to make his mind up whether he's talking about a character in the past or present tense.

At least they made the attempt at this sourcebook. Which is more than we can say for Dreamwave as Pat Lee jipped everyone with his "use the money on me and screw the artists and comic fans" mentality

Hitokiri Recca wrote:At least they made the attempt at this sourcebook. Which is more than we can say for Dreamwave as Pat Lee jipped everyone with his "use the money on me and screw the artists and comic fans" mentality

Except that it appears that IDW is using the money for them and screwing the artists and comic fans, albiet in a different way.

Darth Bombshell wrote:

Hitokiri Recca wrote:At least they made the attempt at this sourcebook. Which is more than we can say for Dreamwave as Pat Lee jipped everyone with his "use the money on me and screw the artists and comic fans" mentality

Except that it appears that IDW is using the money for them and screwing the artists and comic fans, albiet in a different way.

Harsh!

As for continuity, I'm not sure it matters. Everything in Transformers can be explained by parallel universes and The Ultimate Guide. Fact. Not scientific fact, mind you, or even actual fact but fact none-the-less.

Leonardo wrote:Harsh!

Yes, it's harsh. But it's also true.

Darth Bombshell wrote:

Leonardo wrote:Harsh!

Yes, it's harsh. But it's also true.

From a certain point of view...

I for one feel, that on the whole, we've been getting a spectacular product.

If there is a problem, it's that the sideline TF comics (Beast Wars, Evolutions) aren't getting the TLC that the Spotlights and Ongoing series are getting, which, realistically, makes sense.

Edit: Given that part of the problem is that IDW spends time and money on other nonTF comic series, I'm now glad Marvel didn't grab the liscence.

Caelus wrote:From a certain point of view...

I for one feel, that on the whole, we've been getting a spectacular product.

If there is a problem, it's that the sideline TF comics (Beast Wars, Evolutions) aren't getting the TLC that the Spotlights and Ongoing series are getting, which, realistically, makes sense.

So basically, what you're saying is that, from a certain point of view, you feel that you're getting a spectacular product, yet in the same breath, claiming that they're not getting enough attention compared to the G1 title and that it could be better than it is.

You can't really have it both ways, dude. In that context, either BW is good or it isn't.

I am a bit disappointed by a lack of consistancy in the writing. Tense, use of common terms (is it Triple Changer? Mode 3? Third Form?) and the ignoring of established TF Tech Specs (Elephadora is dumb? He has a 9 Intelligence! New Mottos for EVERYONE!) Sorta offputting. I could have proofread the book and inproved it, and i have had one college level English class.

Yes, I find that a little bizarre. I thought one of the points of the sourcebook was to make the pre-existing obscure characters a bit more familiar, not rewrite or revamp those obscure characters.

Leonardo wrote:I thought one of the points of the sourcebook was to make the pre-existing obscure characters a bit more familiar, not rewrite or revamp those obscure characters.

Well, I guess Furman and Yee never got that memo. (RE: Fractyl.)

Darth Bombshell wrote:

Caelus wrote:From a certain point of view...

I for one feel, that on the whole, we've been getting a spectacular product.

If there is a problem, it's that the sideline TF comics (Beast Wars, Evolutions) aren't getting the TLC that the Spotlights and Ongoing series are getting, which, realistically, makes sense.

So basically, what you're saying is that, from a certain point of view, you feel that you're getting a spectacular product, yet in the same breath, claiming that they're not getting enough attention compared to the G1 title and that it could be better than it is.

You can't really have it both ways, dude. In that context, either BW is good or it isn't.

I misinterpreted your post as a slam on IDW's work with Transformers altogether, and was arguing that really only the non-mainline stuff has been subpar, while the Spotlight and Ongoing series have been spectacular. My mistake.

---

Anyway, you guys are going to be P.O.ed. I just finished #2 and it's easily worse than #1, in terms of poor artwork for the best characters, and jipping us on artwork for things like Transmetal and Transmetal II forms. There are also a number of grievous typos - partial sentences, number agreement, tense errors, etc.

On many of the characters, such as Grimlock, I wish they had simply copy/pasted pics from the Ascending.

Edit: And Grimlock's entry didn't amount to much at all. The most it really adds beyond what we knew already, is how/why his stasis-pod came up with his Megaraptor or Utahraptor alternate mode.

So let me get this strait. #2 is worse than #1 for the following reasons.

1. grade school grammar
- grievous typos - partial sentences, number agreement, tense errors, etc.

2. non standardized term use
- Triple Changer? Mode 3? Third Form?

3. short changed character art, in quantity and quality
- comicbook art superior to soucebook art?

4. short rewrites and revamps rather than refamiliarizing character descriptions and new details.

5. total contradictory of bio to previous established profile history and techspec.

I'm really hoping 3rd times the charm here...

AxiomScion wrote: I'm really hoping 3rd times the charm here...

It better be, the amount of money it's costing readers. £4 a book, how many are there going to be??? 4? 6? Either way, it's quite costly for a college student like myself. The really annoying thing is I know how bad the quality is from what you guys have said, but I still want to buy #2 just so I have it.

I'm seriously considering taking some of the worst written extires in the sourcebooks, scanning the pictures and re-writing them to correct as many mistakes as I can find.

Caelus wrote:I misinterpreted your post as a slam on IDW's work with Transformers altogether, and was arguing that really only the non-mainline stuff has been subpar, while the Spotlight and Ongoing series have been spectacular. My mistake.

I actually do enjoy the G1 title and the Spotlights, considering them better than even the latter run of Marvel G1 and G2. Evolutions and Megatron: Origin, even despite their hiccups, are pretty good. Beast Wars is pretty much the only title, in my opinion, that stumbles.

Caelus wrote:Grimlock's entry didn't amount to much at all. The most it really adds beyond what we knew already, is how/why his stasis-pod came up with his Megaraptor or Utahraptor alternate mode.

Considering Furman himself wrote it, did you really expect any different?

Darth Bombshell wrote:

Caelus wrote:Grimlock's entry didn't amount to much at all. The most it really adds beyond what we knew already, is how/why his stasis-pod came up with his Megaraptor or Utahraptor alternate mode.

Considering Furman himself wrote it, did you really expect any different?

Given his passion for the character I expected it to be two or three pages.

Yeah, imagine how postal he'll go on Starscream. But seriously, this is a very second rate MTMTE. Some of these quotes look like the bios were written, then the quote was just randomly added out of nowhere. Some of the art looks like someone was drawing with their mouth. The good part is though, at least the "Subject has no significant weaknesses" thing hasn't really come up yet.

Damolisher wrote:The good part is though, at least the "Subject has no significant weaknesses" thing hasn't really come up yet.

It came damn close in Issue #1 a couple of times...

I'm not sure whether it is Yee or Furman who write the worse bio's, it seems like both of them decided what previously existed, and what was not shown in the Canadian Beast Wars series, can more or less be forgotten about. Is that them being precocious, or do they really believe they are doing the "better" thing by re-writing everyone?

i_amtrunks wrote:It came damn close in Issue #1 a couple of times...

And it actually happened in this ish, with Ironhide.

Of course, it isn't "no significant weaknesses." It's "nothing of note" or something to that effect.

i_amtrunks wrote:I'm not sure whether it is Yee or Furman who write the worse bio's, it seems like both of them decided what previously existed, and what was not shown in the Canadian Beast Wars series, can more or less be forgotten about. Is that them being precocious, or do they really believe they are doing the "better" thing by re-writing everyone?

If it's the former... it's just bad comedy...

If it's the later I'm hoping they have story plans that work better with the reimagined bios...

and typos

and mixed terms

and missing TM pics w/ miss named fuzor alts

I liked this book much better than the first.

It was a more enjoyable read, the art was better, and the ration of space for character to relevance in the story was improved.

Counterpunch wrote:I liked this book much better than the first.

It was a more enjoyable read, the art was better, and the ration of space for character to relevance in the story was improved.

Glad to hear something positive for it, I have to go pick mine up today.

I seriously do not understand why Furman and Yee decided to give 2 page spread to nobody characters, and pretty much gloss over popular, big players like Cheetor and Depth Charge.

Have to say i enjoyed this far more than book one but this is probably due to the fact there are more characters i know and love...or rather want to know due to their part in the story.

Grimlock's bio was a let down, the art look like someone cut prime's head and glued it on.

Megatron and Magamatron were handled well, nice to explain the crod mode as well.

Moon looks like something from an infants nursery rhyme book..bah..

skyshadowprimus wrote:Grimlock's bio was a let down, the art look like someone cut prime's head and glued it on.

That's what my wife said. Now I'm kind of curious to see a digibash of it as DinoPrime...

Caelus wrote:

skyshadowprimus wrote:Grimlock's bio was a let down, the art look like someone cut prime's head and glued it on.

That's what my wife said. Now I'm kind of curious to see a digibash of it as DinoPrime...

Oh man is that horrible...
And where are Grim's feathers???

However whoever coloured Guido's art need to have a bullet put through their colouring hand, they have made them bland and boring, there is no shading, no depth, just flat colours, like someone used Paint to colour them..

Still far too much empty space they could have filled with more informative text.

Yee's Bio's seem to be the more boring bland ones, the one's you kinda half read to see if there is anything better on later in the page.