Sneak Peek - IDW Optimus Prime #6

OMG, Frenzy and Rumble are too much cute/badass/awesome/funny.

The story seems fine, the art is still a little heavy and dense for my liking, but I'm warming to it.....

.....but for the love of Primus, can we PLEASE get rid of those damn captions on EVERY. SINGLE. CHARACTER. EVERY. SINGLE. ISSUE?? While Zama's art is growing on me, the captions make her art and the pages look even busier than it already is. Six issues in, I'm pretty sure we're all up to speed on who they all are.

Nexus Knight wrote:OMG, Frenzy and Rumble are too much cute/badass/awesome/funny.

their current operation

Hey woo-hoo issue 4 introduces Olier back in comics and awaiting new character development

Issue 6....dead

I used to be ok with character deaths but i'm just fed up with them now and prefer character development over death

Oh hey, looks like the Sharkticons are using the TR design. Neat.

God I can't wait for this issue to come out already; there's too many good things ahead!

While we had seen Andrew Griffith's designs for the latest incarnation of Galvatron in the IDW Transformers universe, we had not seen the idea of him as the Warrior King Barbarian Conqueror in the flashbacks from Robots in Disguise - and in upcoming issues of Optimus Prime. Thanks to artist Casey Coller, we now do! Check out below the concept design for his in both robot and alt-mode, and join the conversation in the Energon Pub.

It's such a cool design - and thankfully not far off the Titans Return one. People have already made that awesome helm, if only they'd make that gun and axe

Kurona wrote:It's such a cool design - and thankfully not far off the Titans Return one. People have already made that awesome helm, if only they'd make that gun and axe

The gun is his g1 toy gun. I think his axe is on shapeways but im not sure.

Kurona wrote:It's such a cool design - and thankfully not far off the Titans Return one. People have already made that awesome helm, if only they'd make that gun and axe

I have yet to see one that doesn't look like it protects him from seizures. They all look stupid and oversized. Axe however I use Orin's axe that came with a marvel Build-a-figure.

Don't like that dorky helmet/head design at all.

For those of you looking for an axe for him I find the RiD Prime's axe works well. Or at least the version that came with the "Power Surge" Nemesis Prime.

I'm not that big a fan of the helmet design, but he is quite cool looking and the alt mode is pretty sweet too

Burcham having fun.

That's a freakin' gorgeous cover.

Multiversity has become the first site to release the full preview for IDW's Optimus Prime #6! The final story of the opening story arc features some sassy cassetticons, some violent throwdowns, and even some Thundercracker! Check out the preview below, and let us know what you think in the comments section below!

I need sub cover B! How do I get it specifically? Gotta have my sharkies

WreckerJack wrote:I need sub cover B! How do I get it specifically? Gotta have my sharkies

Is cover a homage to something? It looks familiar...

WreckerJack wrote:I need sub cover B! How do I get it specifically? Gotta have my sharkies

I think I answered this elsewhere: ask your comics retailer! If they can't put it aside for you, eBay is probably your best bet.

Synopsis
“NEW CYBERTRON”—CONCLUSION! As the Junkions reveal their ultimate plan, Optimus Prime makes a decision that will define the relationship between Earth and Cybertron for all time... but will Arcee be able to live with the fallout?



Story

The first arc of Optimus Prime, the big core book at the heart of the Hasbro Universe (take that, Crown Jewel), comes to a close in this sixth issue, and we get some closure indeed on the multiple threads dangling through the story - and some more are left to unravel for the future...



We know John Barber's propensity for the caption technique, to aid with the narration and provide some 'behind the scenes' commentary for what is actually happening in the gutters between panels - but this time, despite the very good writing, it's perhaps the very first time I've found it clash a little with the story itself. Having Optimus Prime narrate his own arc just felt ..off, at times.



The other stories, the other faces, the other characters around which the issue and the arc revolve, on the other hand, are still really quite pleasing. There is a lot happening all in one place (if you want a hand in catching up on the roles, our database entry might help!), both in the past and in the present, and it's all satisfyingly tantalising for more story threads from here.



The way in which Optimus is perceived on the many sides of the issues, from the colonist recruits to Aileron and Pyra Magna, to Soundwave and Jetfire's past and present outlook and opinions, to how Earth sees him as coloniser and invader - the story is in no way at its end, if anything we have a new fraught beginning of a much bigger story to be told. And then there's that last page...

Art

Kei Zama is still so much joy to follow through the pages, be it for organic, Cybertronian, Cybertrorganic, landscapes, battles, dialogue or face-offs - be they blasting or verbal, in the present or past - and I'm extremely pleased to see the variations across the Sharkticon ranks as well and variety in humans, who do not obviously have designs as distinctive as the robot protagonists.



The issue also relies a lot on heavy visual cues for resolutions - as well as the trademark time shifts and parallels - allowing for more of Josh Burcham's effective colouring to blend with Zama's linework. The lighter moments, not necessarily in tone, are impressive where the writing may not reach, and any lingering shadow is that much darker for it.



As for the lettering, I am still in awe at how Tom B. Long manages to juggle so many things at once in pages that can be extremely busy, between visuals and text. Never mind some of the fight scenes, the ink work and dynamism - we still follow narration; top marks. And cover wise, while the veteran roster of Zama/Burcham (SkyLynx rider), Coller/Bove (face-off), Griffith/Perez (Sharkpile) is a wonder to behold, I'd like to congratulate Jin Kim on some really solid output with IDW covers this month - see thumbnail for proof.

Thoughts
Spoilerish ahead

I was somehow expecting more from a conclusion, at this stage. Not that what we got wasn't a good one, mind you, but something felt a little underplayed - which might be beneficial for the wider game in the long run, and future stories, but leaves a little anticlimactic here. Soundwave's role, the explanation of his presence by Megatron's side, Jetfire's role in particular, feel well rounded enough to allow it, sure, but Optimus' actions are a bit.. whelming.



Things I am looking forwards to, nonetheless: Jazz and the exploration of his 'getting to know Earth' storyline, so very much. More Thundercracker in an active role. More challenges to Optimus, even - in spite of - apparent changes of heart/mind. Ramifications of his role in the eye of the new recruits. THAT ENDING PAGE.

Va'al wrote:

FLASH (aahhaaa saviouroftheuniverse)

Just a bot, with a bot's courage...
A+ referencing you got there.

I love the colouring in this. It's SO ink-heavy and way saturated and shadowed that it screams vintage comic to me. I can't pin point exactly to What it reminds me of, though. But it's so cool. Very different from the gundam-looking style we normally see.