Twincast / Podcast Episode #68 "ReChrome"

Hmmm, its not in the RSS feed.

Wait, is this being portrayed as a homosexual relationship? Or did I misread what this was about. Before I watch the podcast, just my initial reaction is that this seems ridiculous. I think that any Transformers "relationships" seem utterly ridiculous. Transformers don't exactly have gender, but rather some allusions to gender. So a lot of relationships between Transformers seem ridiculous and superfluous.
Another question I have (not being an IDW reader), are relationships common in IDW canon? If it is I can understand this ReChrome relationship, however if it's not then this seems like a publicity stunt.

Okay, now to actually listen to the podcast. Don't yell at me yet

Regarding the MtMtE 16 discussion...

Just an FYI, there was some hesitation in even having this discussion for fear that no matter how academically or responsibly it was done, someone somewhere would still jump at any one small thing said and take issue with it.

Please listen and differentiate between what is being discussed and what the staff's actual opinions are.

I, and this is just me plain talking it, think this is a great topic and discussion with no one right answer.

Let's see how this goes.

welcometothedarksyde wrote:Wait, is this being portrayed as a homosexual relationship? Or did I misread what this was about. Before I watch the podcast, just my initial reaction is that this seems ridiculous. I think that any Transformers "relationships" seem utterly ridiculous. Transformers don't exactly have gender, but rather some allusions to gender. So a lot of relationships between Transformers seem ridiculous and superfluous.
Another question I have (not being an IDW reader), are relationships common in IDW canon? If it is I can understand this ReChrome relationship, however if it's not then this seems like a publicity stunt.

Okay, now to actually listen to the podcast. Don't yell at me yet

LMAO !!! Just think of it as a "Bert and Ernie" type relationship.

When I heard Counterpunch open the podcast:
I did a fist pump (think breakfast club).

As for Chromedome and Rewind, it's a bromance, always read that way to me. Jumping to them being in a homosexual relationship simply because they cared about eachother is rediculous. Yes they love eachother, no they are not in love with eachother, no they are not males as we humans classify the male sex. They are males in terms of personality and characteristics.

The relationship between them read perfectly as a "best friendship"!

All that being said before listening to the whole podcast... Man I hope you guys discuss the comics in this issue...

I've always been of the mind that Transformers are genderless, and rather just identify better with one gender or another (as gender serves, at is base form, as sexual reproduction which Transformers don't do). So, I've always imagined that they can 'love' each other in many ways, even as bonded partners. I can't say it bothers me, as long as they don't start giving Transformers genitals.

JRFitzpatrick7 wrote:As for Chromedome and Rewind, it's a bromance, always read that way to me. Jumping to them being in a homosexual relationship simply because they cared about eachother is rediculous.

Nope. Chromedome & Rewind are GAY GAY GAY. They're a couple of gay robot lovers. Sure, they can't have robot sex but they love each other & they are gay. No big whoop. And the writer has some pretty big balls to introduce the concept but it seems like he did so with the right amount of ambiguity.

Counterpunch wrote:Regarding the MtMtE 16 discussion...

Just an FYI, there was some hesitation in even having this discussion for fear that no matter how academically or responsibly it was done, someone somewhere would still jump at any one small thing said and take issue with it.

Please listen and differentiate between what is being discussed and what the staff's actual opinions are.

I, and this is just me plain talking it, think this is a great topic and discussion with no one right answer.

Let's see how this goes.

I believe I'm the one who claimed "dirty pool". It probably came across a lot nastier than I had intended, and if so I apolgize. But yes, this is a potentially difficult conversation to have. I appreciate that the crew at least broached the subject as yeah: I did feel that it was purposely left out of the previous podcast due to the tricky nature.

It almost feel like this is a topic specifically taylored for message board conversation. Mostly because (and sorry Ryan) other Transformers boards I participate in have a much more active message board community; of which this topic has already been talked about ad nauseam. Which is good! In fact, I'm pleasantly surpised at the number of fans I've seen be like: "F it. Love is love. Rewind and Chromedome forever". But mainly, typing things out allows time to think, to analyze, and to prepare a more neutral voice.

I certainly don't think anyone should be castigated for their views if they don't agree with this topic. Being able to explain a standpoint logically (in the author's mind) without feeling pressure to be completely PC for fear of stepping on toes is important in furthering both the topic of uh, Transformers comics as well as progressing discussions regarding the LGBT community.

Each one of you brought up what I feel are legitimate problems with Roberts' handling of Rewind and Chromedome's relationship. Mostof them seem to stem from IDW's dictum of 'Transformers have no gender', which is a weird stance anyway.

Personally I felt the Rewind and Chromedome relationship was very well fleshed out. There were enough queues and subtle hints along the way to let readers know that this wasn't just a friendship. The scene in MTME #12 where Chromedome doesn't have any innermost energon is basically where Roberts tips his hat completely by assigning them as 'conjunx endura'.

welcometothedarksyde wrote:I think that any Transformers "relationships" seem utterly ridiculous.

I'm tempted to agree but TFs are already full of familiar traits & characterizations that we readily accept, so what's wrong with a few more? The idea of siblings is equally outlandish but I think the writers made that one contextual, i.e. Topspin & Twin Twist having a shared spark or whatever. I say kudos to the writers for adding to the mythos.

Spaceship Bruce wrote:

welcometothedarksyde wrote:I think that any Transformers "relationships" seem utterly ridiculous.

I'm tempted to agree but TFs are already full of familiar traits & characterizations that we readily accept, so what's wrong with a few more? The idea of siblings is equally outlandish but I think the writers made that one contextual, i.e. Topspin & Twin Twist having a shared spark or whatever. I say kudos to the writers for adding to the mythos.

Agreed.

Now the real matter at hand is taking the subject matter and making it legitimate by not having this be a one time thing.

The cat is out of the bag, if there is nothing more to the idea of relationships between Transformers, then issue 16 becomes little more than a strange footnote.

Spaceship Bruce wrote:

welcometothedarksyde wrote:I think that any Transformers "relationships" seem utterly ridiculous.

I'm tempted to agree but TFs are already full of familiar traits & characterizations that we readily accept, so what's wrong with a few more? The idea of siblings is equally outlandish but I think the writers made that one contextual, i.e. Topspin & Twin Twist having a shared spark or whatever. I say kudos to the writers for adding to the mythos.

I think a lot of people get hung up on these aspects of the mythos because they have a difficult time grasping what the Transformers are. People see that they are robotic and stop there, call them robots.

About to get REAL nerdy here!

They aren't just robots! They are autonomous robotic beings (from the planet Cybertron). They are an alien race that has a robotic physiology.

Counterpunch wrote:Now the real matter at hand is taking the subject matter and making it legitimate by not having this be a one time thing.

They can just keep it active willy-nilly. "Hey guys, also Tracks & Unicron are gay lovers, no big deal."

Alright this seems to have turned into the "Is Chromedome and Rewind REALLY gay?" Thread...

My two cents/perspective on the subject:
- In a franchise highly populated my male figures, relationships like this are VERY common.
- This isn't wrong in any sense because everyone in the series is used to it.
- They're alien robots, who are we to say that isn't right?
- It is practically a very strong bromance. Love doesn't mean they have to make love, just that they are such good friends that they care deeply for each other.

Regardless of the politics, Chromedome is one of my favorite characters in MTMTE and I think he deserves a new figure.

Gay robots are gay.

Blurrz wrote:Bob, you said "you wanted more issues of Chromedome and Rewind" now that you know about their relationship, and there's nothing wrong with that, but think of it this way, we had a great view of their relationship for 16 issues! It might just seem like a normal relationship, and that's because it is. Those relationships are normal, and that's the beauty of it. It doesn't matter what one's sexuality is, or if Transformers have a sex, or a gender, or a sexuality, the one thing that resonates with me the most is that I'm not going to look at Chromedome any more differently from now on then before.

While I could explain this as the byproduct of Robert's great fleshing out of CD's character or my own personal bringing up of accepting people for who they are, I think the most important factor for me is that a Transformer's relationship or what they like or who they like is as important as their skill, their willpower, their intelligence, their weaknesses and their strengths, or they toy bio - it doesn't really matter all that much

That's why I think I can move on from this with ease and not make such a big deal about it. It's not a big deal at all!

It's not that I'm unaccepting of it, or anything like that. I was mainly disappointed that we had some subtext and hints for 11 issues, a "big reveal" in 12, and then not much, until 15 and 16 for Rewind's sacrifice and eulogy. Roberts teases a relationship, then tells you flat out it is one, and then uses it for a Joss Whedon-esque heart-wrench. I think it would have been great for him to explore the minutae of the relationship more. Does Chromedome leave his torso armor in the cabin? Does Rewind mumble during a recharge cycle?

We never got to see enough of two Cybertronian life forms living together (regardless of gender/sexuality). That's why it felt forced and plot facilitating to me.

Never once did I intend to come across as unaccepting of the human analogue, that's for sure! I apologize if I did.

Wow! Very quick release on the next podcast.

Regarding the Legends game using toy designs for its character art, a good majority of its character art designs are also made up just for the game, like Megatron's.

I've wanted to try the Transformers Legends game for Android since it came out but can't get over all the permissions it requires. It doesn't surprise me that this "game"/personal information mining program heats up your phones and burns through your battery life. The art in this game is incredible, and again, would love to try it out but would definitely prefer a book filled with pictures of the cards... or physical cards!


And that's all I have to say about that.

Still holding out on Springer and Blitzwing somehow. I think Fort Max helps.

Been meaning to get back into the comics. Not sure which series is for me yet. I haven't been in the comics scene pretty much since War Within ended.

Not sure how to wrap this post up.
I popped my Seibertron Podcast cherry. I like it. Would listen again.

Bromance... I agree. It's "I Love You, Man" with Transformers. Haha! And GO GET THAT TRANSFORMERS: LEGENDS GAME! I'm telling you it's kickass! Oh, and hook up your cell to your pc so you can get all that awesome artwork and stuff on your computer too! Changed my Facebook background and profile pic with my epic Shockwave images.