Review of IDW Optimus Prime #12 #Transformers

Using the same narrative device (talking heads in mockumentary style) twice just confirms how firmly average OP First Strike was compared to this one. I need to go review that, still.

Too bad no one ordered a Royale with cheese.

My real thoughts got assimilated into the review already so I don't have much else to say here.

So after reading this issue, I'm not sure how much I actually like the direction they are going with Prime. I've followed it, and it was already a little questionable, but after this issue I'm much less confident in this Optimus.

And it basically dates back to Combiner Wars and the immediate aftermath. I really wish they would revisit the whole "what does combining do to the individuals" considering there were a few notable instances and some that showed no effect of the experience, and Prime is the big one to show it. He's more ruthless and much more of a prick. Hell, he told Cosmos he wanted Soundwave to bow to him. He punched Prowl down, killed Galvatron brutally and when he was defeated, the whole line in issue 4 or 5 where he said he is using the people who believe him to be divine, the fact that Cosmos is only listed as an ally of the Autobots instead of being an Autobot, Jazz and Windblade among others no longer want to know him, it all feels a bit much. And I don't really like it too much.

Mopey Prime from RG1 was better in that regard because he wasn't really a prick and there was understanding and he sort of redeemed all that (I've been reading the series lately again, really enjoyed it and still do), but this one... He's a Prime/Prowl thing now that I don't like. And it's not like Sunstreaker, Mirage, or Ironhide show symptoms of having combined, it's only Prime from that experience and Prowl, but only because he did it for longer with different teams. Hell, the only thing that happened to the OP Max guys, Sky Reigns, or Galvas were Sunstreaker and TC are now friends.

Long story short: I don't like the direction Optimus as a character is going at the moment, and things like the titan raising keep him looking like a good guy.

On a different note, when do we think we'll get to Springer, Impactor, and Mayhem again. Springer is loose on Earth with Verity, happily at peace, and Impactor and Mayhem were planning to do some stuff. Considering throttlebots, Trypticon, and Unicron are all on the horizon, do we think Wreckers and Mayhem may get involved again?

And has everyone in this book forgotten about Prowl? I want to hear from him again at some point

Just think how much more serious the mass shootings would be with 'space guns' all over the US and beyond! Some examples:

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/201 ... full-data/

This issue is all about gun control, after all.

snavej wrote:Just think how much more serious the mass shootings would be with 'space guns' all over the US and beyond!

Dude, seriously ... wtf?

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:Long story short: I don't like the direction Optimus as a character is going at the moment, and things like the titan raising keep him looking like a good guy.

On a different note, when do we think we'll get to Springer, Impactor, and Mayhem again. Springer is loose on Earth with Verity, happily at peace, and Impactor and Mayhem were planning to do some stuff. Considering throttlebots, Trypticon, and Unicron are all on the horizon, do we think Wreckers and Mayhem may get involved again?

And has everyone in this book forgotten about Prowl? I want to hear from him again at some point

Optimus was a micromanaging war commander, one of his similarities to Megatron as we learn in Chaos Theory. He's also been shown to be more on the side of a conformed, though just, society where enforcement is critical. After "Chaos" and DoOP, dude was tired. Done. Ready to move on. Through one event or mishap or another, he's been put right back in this position of command again, and trying to apply tactics that worked before. The rules have changed now, and he's behind the curve. There's not only too much new for him to process at once, there are voices like the colonists and A3 telling him how great he still is. OP is, to me, completely blind to the growing disdain around him. Phase 2 started with him realizing he was representative of another time, so he left. Now we're finding out the hell that happens when he sticks around, despite his best intentions.

Also, yes, please, the Wreckers/Springer/Prowlspiracy plot is in desparate need of some attention.

ScottyP wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:Long story short: I don't like the direction Optimus as a character is going at the moment, and things like the titan raising keep him looking like a good guy.

On a different note, when do we think we'll get to Springer, Impactor, and Mayhem again. Springer is loose on Earth with Verity, happily at peace, and Impactor and Mayhem were planning to do some stuff. Considering throttlebots, Trypticon, and Unicron are all on the horizon, do we think Wreckers and Mayhem may get involved again?

And has everyone in this book forgotten about Prowl? I want to hear from him again at some point

Optimus was a micromanaging war commander, one of his similarities to Megatron as we learn in Chaos Theory. He's also been shown to be more on the side of a conformed, though just, society where enforcement is critical. After "Chaos" and DoOP, dude was tired. Done. Ready to move on. Through one event or mishap or another, he's been put right back in this position of command again, and trying to apply tactics that worked before. The rules have changed now, and he's behind the curve. There's not only too much new for him to process at once, there are voices like the colonists and A3 telling him how great he still is. OP is, to me, completely blind to the growing disdain around him. Phase 2 started with him realizing he was representative of another time, so he left. Now we're finding out the hell that happens when he sticks around, despite his best intentions.

And by god, do I also love that from a meta perspective. How a refusal to move on and completely rely on the old will land you in a bit of a mess. But also that that's what this franchise keeps doing; it keeps bringing back and relying on Optimus and Bumblebee and yadda yadda. IDW has to keep Optimus Prime in the spotlight because, well, he's Optimus friggin' Prime; so part of me can't help but think this is Barber being a bit cheeky

iTunes has recently posted a preview of the upcoming 13th issue of the Optimus Prime comic coming out November 22nd, 2017. The preview is relatively small, but hopefully it is enough to whet one's appetite and satisfy one's curiosity for the upcoming issue. Here is a bit of information regarding it below along with some choice screen shots shown by iTunes for it.

Description
As the consequences of the First Strike event reverberate, Optimus Prime ventures into the wilderness of Cybertron to search for the first new Cybertronian life to emerge in four million years!

Category: Graphic Novels
Expected Release: 22 November 2017
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Seller: Idea and Design Works, LLC
Print Length: 31 Pages
Language: English

Here is the screen shot preview for it:

Um, wow. I'll be a bit disappointed if Sixshot really was taken down by four Throttlebots, even if he was already hurting from getting stepped on by Metroplex.

Awwww... Wideload and Freeway didn't even make it off planet?

Really caught off guard by how engaging these three pages are. Very excited for upcoming issues, now I'm impatient to read just the rest of this one.

Additionally, let the speculation commence on whether the Botanica mention is a joke or something more. I'll go with "Regen One Retcon" in a scale from "Joke" to "Botanica becomes the main character".

ScottyP wrote:Really caught off guard by how engaging these three pages are. Very excited for upcoming issues, now I'm impatient to read just the rest of this one.

Additionally, let the speculation commence on whether the Botanica mention is a joke or something more. I'll go with "Regen One Retcon" in a scale from "Joke" to "Botanica becomes the main character".

Or it’s neither and just a reference

I'm sad they are saying 2 of the Throttlebots bit it. I thought they would live.

Speaking of which, where is the 6th throttlebot?

Randomhero wrote:

ScottyP wrote:Really caught off guard by how engaging these three pages are. Very excited for upcoming issues, now I'm impatient to read just the rest of this one.

Additionally, let the speculation commence on whether the Botanica mention is a joke or something more. I'll go with "Regen One Retcon" in a scale from "Joke" to "Botanica becomes the main character".

Or it’s neither and just a reference

I'm giving you a "no fun" on a scale from "literal charisma parasite" to "parties so hard it's guaranteed to be worth the jail time"

Yes though, it probably is just using it for the sake of it. Was hoping that came across but I suppose not.

Aw man, it's super sad (yet super interesting) that the Throttle Bots don't know that the Autobots basically won the war, especially since there are hundreds if not thousands of other stranded Cybertronians that are in the exact same situation.

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:I'm sad they are saying 2 of the Throttlebots bit it. I thought they would live.

Speaking of which, where is the 6th throttlebot?

Goldbug mentions that "Searchlight keeps watching the skies," and a panel shows him briefly. It was hard for me to pick him out at first too. He is supposed to be the reclusive one, so it makes sense that he would be keeping lookout alone while the others are talking.

I have been putting off this review thinking it was going to be another meh chapter of Optimus Prime... Bit no,

HOLY HANDLEBARS I wanna read a story about THROTTLEBOTS. Way to go, IDW for making a throwaway gimmick team into (potentially) interesting story.

I am excited about where this could go. Especially whwm the Tjrottlebots find outbthe Autobots won amd just didnt come for them.

Even though I am tiring of Disillusionment Prime.

Fresh from the folders of IDW Publishing, we have for all of you a full preview of the latest comic in their ongoing Transformers series, dealing with the aftermath of First Strike, and the first of a two-part story featuring the Throttlebots again.. and maybe more.

Check out the full works on Optimus Prime #13 below, and join us again after the book is released on Wednesday for a Seibertron.com review, an inevitable discussion, and more, all in the Energon Pub discussion boards.

Optimus Prime #13
John Barber (w) • Livio Ramondelli (a) • Kei Zama (c)
As the consequences of the First Strike event reverberate, Optimus Prime ventures into the wilderness of Cybertron to search for the first new Cybertronian life to emerge in four million years!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:
Optimus Prime deals with the fallout of the First Strike event!
Variant cover by Livio Ramondelli!

BOW BOW BOW

Another one bites the dust
And another one gone, and another one gone
Another one bites the dust

Up and to the right behind Hydra - is that Drancron?

Man, what do IDW have against the Throttlebots?!?

Bob looks so sad!

Oh, and just a heads up, John Barber revealed two other characters who will finally be making their return in this issue on the newest episode of Action and Adventure: The Hasbro Universe Podcast. http://hasbrouniverse.libsyn.com/episod ... -never-die

ScottyP wrote:Up and to the right behind Hydra - is that Drancron?

Update: yep, it's Drancron: https://twitter.com/LivioRamondelli/sta ... 5655490562

Jumping waaaaay ahead here, but if they manage to use beasts as Unicronian heralds like in BW II and Armada that will be awesome

ScottyP wrote:

ScottyP wrote:Up and to the right behind Hydra - is that Drancron?

Update: yep, it's Drancron: https://twitter.com/LivioRamondelli/sta ... 5655490562

Jumping waaaaay ahead here, but if they manage to use beasts as Unicronian heralds like in BW II and Armada that will be awesome

But what if they are the coming of Onyx instead? We know he's coming next year!

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

ScottyP wrote:

ScottyP wrote:Up and to the right behind Hydra - is that Drancron?

Update: yep, it's Drancron: https://twitter.com/LivioRamondelli/sta ... 5655490562

Jumping waaaaay ahead here, but if they manage to use beasts as Unicronian heralds like in BW II and Armada that will be awesome

But what if they are the coming of Onyx instead? We know he's coming next year!

My assumption is those are from the sparks front the hotspot the Dinobots and Trypticon took. Dinobots are building their own Dinobots/army/people

Randomhero wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

ScottyP wrote:

ScottyP wrote:Up and to the right behind Hydra - is that Drancron?

Update: yep, it's Drancron: https://twitter.com/LivioRamondelli/sta ... 5655490562

Jumping waaaaay ahead here, but if they manage to use beasts as Unicronian heralds like in BW II and Armada that will be awesome

But what if they are the coming of Onyx instead? We know he's coming next year!

My assumption is those are from the sparks front the hotspot the Dinobots and Trypticon took. Dinobots are building their own Dinobots/army/people

But that hot spot is inside Trypticon, on Cybertron, and the Throttlebots never made it back to Cybertron.

Also, really hoping they touch more on Sixshot soon

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Randomhero wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

ScottyP wrote:

ScottyP wrote:Up and to the right behind Hydra - is that Drancron?

Update: yep, it's Drancron: https://twitter.com/LivioRamondelli/sta ... 5655490562

Jumping waaaaay ahead here, but if they manage to use beasts as Unicronian heralds like in BW II and Armada that will be awesome

But what if they are the coming of Onyx instead? We know he's coming next year!

My assumption is those are from the sparks front the hotspot the Dinobots and Trypticon took. Dinobots are building their own Dinobots/army/people

But that hot spot is inside Trypticon, on Cybertron, and the Throttlebots never made it back to Cybertron.

Also, really hoping they touch more on Sixshot soon

See my assumption was trypticon and the Dino’s left. They space bridged away and maybe they ended up on the planet where the throttlebots are. But maybe it is onyx’s forced but I figured maybe it’s not becuase those guys are all dinosaurs

I wish I could share everyone’s sympathy for sixshot but I don’t. He hasn’t shown up for 8 years and he’s not that important in IDW. Not saying I don’t miss him but he wasnt very pivotal before and he really isn’t now.

I really wish IDW would stop using Livio.

Bring back EJ Su, James Raiz, Guido Guidi or Don Figuerara.

Livio and Andy Wildman are the two worst Transformers artists.

Synopsis
As the consequences of the First Strike event reverberate, Optimus Prime ventures into the wilderness of Cybertron to search for the first new Cybertronian life to emerge in four million years!



Story

We leave First Strike almost entirely behind with this issue of the ongoing Optimus Prime series from IDW Publishing, though there are clear echoes at the start of the comic for sure - some louder than others - but the real accomplishment of the comic overall is just how much story it packs in one single issue.



You will remember the Throttlebots in the IDW universe only if you were with the publisher's output since the Spotlight days, and specifically Spotlight: Metroplex, and we really had heard nothing from them since - the way in which Barber catches everyone up is admirable, and doesn't fall into the expodump traps it could've, still leaving a lot to be inferred or imagined being left out.



On the other side, we also have a continuation of the Dynobot trilogy, or Redemption of the Dinobots, with some additional information as to what went down after that story 'ended' and what may or may not have happened to the new sparks being discovered and activated, yet again leading to more questions answered and other not at all.



And finally, we have some references to both Rom vs Transformers: Shining Armor - which will see its final issue next week - and the First Strike event, which this comic serves as one of the consequences of in terms of the general frame. And it's a frame that makes perfect sense, once you take into account how the stories have crossed paths, and who shows up in the multiple scenes that you will enjoy spending time identifying - or just using our database for (warning, spoilers obviously).

Art

The art by Livio Ramondelli adds a nice touch of continuity with the Redemption of the Dinobots story, as the writing does for First Strike and the others - and it's one of his best efforts yet, with some true standouts when another returning character appears in his machinations, and some seriously eery scenes looming over pretty much the entire book.



Ramondelli obviously also provides his own colours, and much like for the Dinobot one-shots, the choice of palette and tones used in different scenes fit perfectly to the surprisingly very dark issue that Barber's script has laid out. The flames on one side, the cold metal on the other, it does feel like the heart of something is weighing heavy, all the way through.



The lettering is once more in the hands of capable Tom B. Long, and his combinations with Ramondelli's style always stands out a little more than usual - usually thanks to the hues of the backgrounds - but that's never a bad thing. The cover used for the thumbnail is the exercise in empathic emotion, with Casey Coller and John-Paul Bove taking on the surviving Throttlebots at their most vulnerable yet resilient; all others can be found in the Database entry for the issue here.


Thoughts
Spoilerish ahead

If you've read through me trying to highlight a couple of strands present in the issue, you make have one of two takeaways: there is a lot going on - perhaps too much, and it can get overloading or overbearing after a certain point, especially as a newer reader; there is a lot going on, and that's the best thing we could've had from a story like this, merging together threads that had been almost liminal so far. I veer on the latter, but entirely understand the former.



The visual side of the book fits the tone and hits the spot exactly for the issue, and it helps deliver an intricate set-up and build of that merging I just mentioned - what I am concerned about, if anything, at this stage, is the landing. We'll see next issue how Barber and the others conclude this incursion into contemporary Hasbroverse, after such a strong take-off. But if you liked the Spotlight era, the Dinobots, the science experiments, and certain unlikeables - and a lot more about Arcee, which is never turned down as an offer - this book is for you.

So it seems this book happens after Transformers vs. Visionaries, right?

Nik Hero wrote:So it seems this book happens after Transformers vs. Visionaries, right?

At the same time as the first issue, in fact - directly after First Strike, both stories start to unravel.

I loved this issue. Super wordy and quite an info dump but it was damn good. Kept reading and halfway i said “is this an extra long issue?” No it’s just got a lot going on in it. With Onyx and Liege Maximo coming back in January-something i thought wouldn’t happen till the Power of the Primes event- I’m curious to what power of the primes will be about.

IDW posted on Twitter that the incentive cover for Optimus Prime 14 will be from James Raiz, in an attempt to make the most detailed drawing of Trypticon ever. James Raiz has done a series of videos on his youtube channel, the box office artist, featuring his process in doing the most detailed drawings of Transformers characters. However, all those were not solicited by official channels. But his hard work paid off and his drawing of Trypticon is comissioned by IDW to be the 10 copy retailer incentive cover. Raiz also most recently did the interior pages for the Unicron reveal in First Strike #6, so it is great to see this amazing artist get his due with some really cool paid work.

The actual tweet from IDW reads as follows:

IDW wrote:@boxofficeartist presents The Most Detailed Drawing Ever of Transformers Trypticon! Get a behind-the-scenes look at the incredible skill that went into creating this astounding cover for Optimus Prime #14.

The tweet had a link to the video below which shows his process for drawing the Trypticon cover. We also included an other example of what his youtube channel can offer, which includes courses on drawing Transformers like Grimlock.







As for the claim that this is the most detailed Trypticon drawing out there, Studio Ox may want a word in (if this below is considered a drawing).

Now I love James Raiz art. He doesn’t get enough work but it just looks like an old Dreamwave cover or art piece with all those panels and looks like he’s got leprosy.

Detail is great until you start looking at something and get confused because there’s too much detail and have a hard time deciphering stuff

holy primus

He looks like he's made out of rock.

I like his art as well wasn’t able buy one of his prints to big to put anywhere but trypticon stands out cover he doesn’t blend in with background he looks paste in

Now that is impressive. One of the best covers I've ever seen.

I really dig how Full Tilt is also huge, like a Titan on a bigger Titan!

Honestly not a fan of that cover.

There was definitely a lot going on in the last issue, so holy cows lots to process.

I'm wondering what Prowl has been up to, seeing as how he was last chilling in base Maximus on Luna-1. He found Wheelie and Garnak (yay for bringing them back finally!) and he found Stardrive. And what looks like a vamparc ribbon from the Sentinel Prime days. Man, guy sure is busy.

Also, really interested to see where the Dinobots go. And what kind of an effect Slug will have the story. And Bludgeon is what, a servant of Onyx, Liege, Unicron? who is his master?

Well it looks like Christmas will be coming a little early for fans of IDW's Optimus Prime ongoing comic. Coming to us from iTunes, we have a three page preview of issue #14, which is due just a few days before Christmas, on December 20th! Picking up right where issue #13 left off, we get right into it with Prowl leading a team consisting of Wheelie, Garnak, Stardrive(!) and a HUGE gun, on a mission to save the Throttlebots (who'd been MIA for the better part of a decade, since Spotlight: Metroplex, waaaaaaaay back in 2008) from a horde of beast-mode Transformers.The other plot thread running through the issue is Optimus' team fighting the Dinobots over a cache of sparks that Trypticon is bringing to life. Read on below!

On Cybertron, Optimus Prime battles the Dinobots over the first new Cybertronian life to emerge in four million years! But does he stand a chance when the Dinobots' newest member is two miles tall and eats cities?

So what do you think? Are you planning on picking this issue up when it comes out in a few weeks? Stay tuned to Seibertron.com for a full preview in a week or two, then come back to the Energon Pub Forums to discuss this issue when it's released.

Holy slag, that poor thing is part dire wraith.

Sunstar wrote:Holy slag, that poor thing is part dire wraith.

I had hoped that wouldn't be the case with her, but hopefully it's like that G.I. Joe character (Doc?) who's half Wraith and one of the good guys. Seems like Stardrive doesn't let any Wraith part of her take over.

Hmmm. There was a Dire Wraith in a MTMTE issue of Revolution who seemed pretty nice.
I am guessing they're not innately evil any more than humans or Cybertronians.

Maybe it's a Venom type deal: it matters who the host is, and Stardrive is very strong-willed.

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

ScottyP wrote:

ScottyP wrote:Up and to the right behind Hydra - is that Drancron?

Update: yep, it's Drancron: https://twitter.com/LivioRamondelli/sta ... 5655490562

Jumping waaaaay ahead here, but if they manage to use beasts as Unicronian heralds like in BW II and Armada that will be awesome

But what if they are the coming of Onyx instead? We know he's coming next year!

>The Primes return
>Everybody is shaking in their actuators
>Turns out they have returned to prepare Cybertron for something even worse
"The tribes must unite!"
"There aren't really tribes anymore."
"If you say 'unite' do you mean 'combine'?
"This is an outrage! We have fought to rid ourselves of oppressors for millions of years!"
"Wait, what does this mean? Were these guys created by the Guiding Hand?"
"What would Primus do?"
"Is Optimus one of these Primes?"
"Scrap that - is Megatron?"
"You are being deceived!"


Also... still rooting for this to be true.

It doesn't surprise me that Stardrive is now part Dire Wraith based on the conclusion of Shining Armor. I just hope she's able to control that side of her.

I'm wondering why Prowl is missing an eye again. Maybe he had to fight someone for the Vamparc Ribbon? Maybe it's just artistic license or a straight-up goof.

BATTLEMASTER IIC wrote:It doesn't surprise me that Stardrive is now part Dire Wraith based on the conclusion of Shining Armor. I just hope she's able to control that side of her.

I'm wondering why Prowl is missing an eye again. Maybe he had to fight someone for the Vamparc Ribbon? Maybe it's just artistic license or a straight-up goof.

Why can't Prowl get his eye replaced or fixed? He's supposed to be incredibly capable and resourceful.
Come to think of it, why doesn't Elita-1 get her right-side antenna replaced? Is that deliberate, leaving the damage unfixed for many years? This might have been explained but I forgot.

It was a tiny bit. I assume too small to do more than give her an extra ability?

snavej wrote:

BATTLEMASTER IIC wrote:It doesn't surprise me that Stardrive is now part Dire Wraith based on the conclusion of Shining Armor. I just hope she's able to control that side of her.

I'm wondering why Prowl is missing an eye again. Maybe he had to fight someone for the Vamparc Ribbon? Maybe it's just artistic license or a straight-up goof.

Why can't Prowl get his eye replaced or fixed? He's supposed to be incredibly capable and resourceful.
Come to think of it, why doesn't Elita-1 get her right-side antenna replaced? Is that deliberate, leaving the damage unfixed for many years? This might have been explained but I forgot.

Well look at garnak. He’s got an eye patch now he didn’t during dark Cybertron. In fact all his wounds were healed From syndromica. The in-universe excuse is he has a healing factor, barber said that to fix the continuity goof. Real reason is Dark a Cybertron was drawn a year before release and the artists didn’t know he was injured. Same thing here. Livio is just following the last time he drew the characters. Prowls missing eye from the one panel he drew him in titans return even though it was repaired at the end of Sins of the wreckers only for Priscilla to follow and give him his missing eye only for her to have it repaired at the end of Titans Return and now it’s back to being gone again.

Tfwiki just put that maybe he’s missing it as a reminder of his betrayal he feels from a Prime.

Real reason: livio doesn’t bother to read previous book to follow continuity unity or it’s just in the script that it’s gone again.