Preview Pages for Daniel Warren Johnson's Transformers Issue 2

Optimus stepping on a deer is so entirely unnecessary. Someone needs to check this writer's basement, that's some deranged, twistedly cruel stuff to put on a page. Might not be sticking around for much of this series!

Wow, they're referencing the Matrix already. That's got to be some kind of record.

bluecatcinema wrote:Wow, they're referencing the Matrix already. That's got to be some kind of record.

So I guess this means this story takes place post 1999

ScottyP wrote:Optimus stepping on a deer is so entirely unnecessary. Someone needs to check this writer's basement, that's some deranged, twistedly cruel stuff to put on a page. Might not be sticking around for much of this series!

I can’t help but disagree. Look at the following page, Optimus is clearly suddenly overwhelmed by the weight of the war, his inability to save his own men, his home world. He’s only been online on Earth for probably no more than a couple days. The deer stepping, while admittedly gruesome (let’s not forget who’s in control of this series) serves as a really poignant moment of despair and Optimus’ feelings of despair and helplessness at the situation laid before him. So much is out of his control, or worse, so much is his fault.

Also… He hasn’t been a Prime that long, given what we know about the timeframe of the war. He must be so overwhelmed. This to me, serves as some EXCELLENT character building, and without a single spoken word or marvel-movie quip. It’s one of those things you have to take behind face value.

Can’t wait for issue 2!!!

ScottyP wrote:Optimus stepping on a deer is so entirely unnecessary. Someone needs to check this writer's basement, that's some deranged, twistedly cruel stuff to put on a page. Might not be sticking around for much of this series!

Lol okay dude. I’m sure you’ll be here every month to find something to complain about

I read the first issue of the new TF comics today. Overall, it feels like a fresh take on an old story, so I'm willing to give it a few more issues. I understand going back to basics after IDW1 did something radically different and IDW2 flopped. But I really feel like THIS level of reversion to the original story feels like a step back and mere nostalgia-bating.

The most interesting element is the humans, actually. Sparkplug is a Vietnam vet with PTSD and a strained relationship with Spike, who's basically acting like the parental figure in the relationship. And he dreams of becoming an astronaut.

I do have a... TON of nitpicks though. Art is okay. At this point though I'm starting to resent the Sunbow animation model designs. I feel like they're starting to hold the overall brand back at this point. I'd rather have robots that actually look like they can turn into stuff. Apparently Optimus' trailer is now a TARDIS capable of fitting all the other Autobots inside it. And they all come back online speaking English immediately, no accounting for a language barrier, which is a sci fi pet peeve of mine.

Bumblebee is snuffed out unceremoniously before he even comes online. And while I do believe said character is overexposed, it just feels like a mean-spirited way of doing it. Not "edgelord," but pushing the envelop. At least in Prime when Cliffjumper was brought in just to be killed off, he got a moment to be established for audiences to connect to and feel the weight of his death.

I'd rate it a 5/10.

TulioDude wrote:Even they didn't want to use Bumblebee, they could just not have him appear in the story, feels to unnecessary for me.

Well the comics aren't aimed at children AFAIK and the character has been way overused in the last 15 years anyway. It was alright for the 1st 5 years, but then it got repetitious and annoying.

sol magnus wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:

TulioDude wrote:Even they didn't want to use Bumblebee, they could just not have him appear in the story, feels to unnecessary for me.

Well the comics aren't aimed at children AFAIK and the character has been way overused in the last 15 years anyway. It was alright for the 1st 5 years, but then it got repetitious and annoying.

I don't think too many people are upset with what happened so much as the WAY it happened.

Yep.

SkyFire Prime wrote:

ScottyP wrote:Optimus stepping on a deer is so entirely unnecessary. Someone needs to check this writer's basement, that's some deranged, twistedly cruel stuff to put on a page. Might not be sticking around for much of this series!

Dude your reaction is not connected to reality, I listened to you on the podcast and I rushed to see what was so deranged....

"Optimus taking a moment to appreciate nature, accidently stepping on a deer (as we might accidently step on an ant) but then feeling remorse and triggering PTSD flashback of violence on Cybertron"

This is actually a tender moment where get to see that this Prime appreciates all life, even more so than us. Because that deer amounts to an ant for him.

I might add, did you criticize Micheal Bay when Prime was stealing faces?, now there's a basement that needs checking!

It kinda hearkens back to The Iron Giant, IMO

SkyFire Prime wrote:

ScottyP wrote:Optimus stepping on a deer is so entirely unnecessary. Someone needs to check this writer's basement, that's some deranged, twistedly cruel stuff to put on a page. Might not be sticking around for much of this series!

Dude your reaction is not connected to reality

I found your post in the episode thread entirely fair. This is too, but ouch. This one hurt.

Gonna take a hiatus from this thread. Good or bad, you won't be hearing from me about it.