|
|
Post by grahamthomson on Jun 18, 2008 8:57:13 GMT
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2008 9:12:48 GMT
Bought it, read it, enjoyed it. Felt like a Spotlight/-ation hybrid (which I guess was the intent) - though that does inevitably result in a jack-of-all-TPBs, headmaster-of-none feeling.
Similar to Galvatron's Spotlight in that Cyclonus is barely in half it, with Sideswipe stealing the show the rest of the time, but does get a little more characterisation than Galv did.
Very curious to see what Nemesis Prime's plot is really all about.
Daft moment of Nightbeat talking to himself in the dark (I know he changed local alt mode in his Spotlight, but it totally looks like a MicroMaster or something on the screen, nothing like Nightbeat himself), then addressing a completely unseen (and unheard) Hardhead. Poor desperate last minute linking to the next Spotlight there.
|
|
|
|
Post by legios on Jun 20, 2008 20:42:59 GMT
I have somewhat mixed feelings about this to be honest. On the one hand it was quite pacy and moved along at a nice clip, and it does at least suggest that there is going to be some attempt to tie down some of the loose ends that IDW's various "Transformers" series have left flapping. On the other hand, I'm not sure that it is terribly successful in terms of achieving what the title would suggest it was intended to be.
For a comic subtitled "Spotlight: Cyclonus" you would think that the focus would be squarely on Cyclonus, but in practice that doesn't really feel the case. There are so many characters jostling for panel-time that Cyclonus feels like a supporting character in the comic that bears his name. This is unfortunate, as all the other business going on seems to eat into the space that is available to provide characterisation for Cyclonus, whilst at the same time not really adding much to what we already know about those characters. Which is a shame, as what characterisation we do get of Cyclonus does seem reasonably well done, and to be honest I spent large portions of the issue willing them to get the other business out of the way and cut back to Cyclonus - who actually interested me far more than the almost random-seeming "plot-driven events".
To a certain extent I feel that this issue is somewhat of a victim of IDW's apparent "emergency turn"with the "Transformers" license. It isn't really a "Spotlight" issue, it is really the first issue of a larger mini-series. The end result is a bit of an unsatisfactory hybrid of the two which struggles to really satisfy me on either count. It certainly isn't anywhere near as infuriating as "Spotlight: Galvatron" or "Spotlight: Optimus Prime". But it does suffer to a degree from the structural problems that those had.
Not sure if I will be bothering with the remaining "Spotlight" issues. It may be "Wheelie and out" or me.
Karl
|
|
|
|
Post by charlesrocketboy on Jun 23, 2008 10:54:00 GMT
Enjoyable stuff, but it's not really a Spotlight, is it? (Also: Arcee. Scary.  ) |
|
|
|
Post by The Doctor on Jun 23, 2008 11:08:33 GMT
Read a copy via Other Means. Pretty decent, I thought. Nice to see the pace pick up somewhat.
-Ralph
|
|
|
|
Post by KnightBeat on Jun 23, 2008 20:07:09 GMT
addressing a completely unseen (and unheard) Hardhead. Poor desperate last minute linking to the next Spotlight there. Hardhead is seen on the monitor, isn't he? |
|
|
|
Post by grahamthomson on Jun 25, 2008 10:12:41 GMT
I liked this issue a lot. Lots going on and lots of great characterisation.
Cyclonus reminds me a little of the old Jhiaxus, actually.
|
|
|
|
Post by charlesrocketboy on Jun 25, 2008 14:01:31 GMT
I also like that Sideswipe's defiant hero actions - "go after the villain whatever the cost! Grr!" - actually make the situation worse. Lovely.  |
|
kayevcee
Fusilateral Quintro Combiner
The Weather Wizard
Posts: 5,527
|
Post by kayevcee on Jun 25, 2008 16:06:06 GMT
Furman seems to be working hard to make Sideswipe an unlikeable prick, isn't he?
-Nick
|
|
|
|
Post by grahamthomson on Jun 25, 2008 19:21:02 GMT
Sideswipe clearly has very, very strong and one-tracked feelings for Sunstreaker. He talks of nothing else!
|
|
|
|
Post by The Doctor on Jun 26, 2008 15:04:55 GMT
Sideswipe is the Longtooth of IDW. I've hated him since his first annoying appearance.
-Ralph
|
|
Rich
Protoform
Posts: 880
|
Post by Rich on Jun 30, 2008 18:59:29 GMT
Only read it once, but thought it did a decent job of being a spotlight and having to tie a lot of things together; so, it's a bit jack of all trades and master of none, but every squad needs a John O'Shea.
Cyc was okay as a character, but the deceps have been a bit one paced in the spots and I could really do with one of them being truly surprising.
As for Sideswipe, I got the feeling that he was only obsessed with Sunstreaker until something else came along, which I liked.
|
|
|
|
Post by legios on Jun 30, 2008 20:07:12 GMT
so, it's a bit jack of all trades and master of none, but every squad needs a John O'Shea. Silly question, but who is John O'Shea? Agreed - the Decepticon's have been somewhat flat characters so far - we could have done with one of them being distinctly different. I hadn't thought of it that way, but I do quite like that interpretation f IDWswipe - a serial complainer, for whom Sunstreaker is just the latest in a long-line of causes. It is an interpretation that makes sense - and explains why he was detailed to Cybertron, far from the frontlines and where as few 'bots as possible had to put up with him. Karl |
|
Rich
Protoform
Posts: 880
|
Post by Rich on Jun 30, 2008 20:44:53 GMT
John O is a man utd player who has played left back, right back, centre midfield, right midfield, emergency striker and, once, in goal. Despite all that, he's not a big hero of the utd fans (including myself) because he's never really done any of them with great distinction, but as a fan you know that you need him. And he'll always be remembered, not least for scoring the winner against Liverpool.
|
|
|
|
Post by legios on Jun 30, 2008 21:04:47 GMT
Ah - Football, explaining why it meant absolutely nothing to me. I understand the principle though - the solid hitter that you need to hold things together, not a glamourous role but of importance and utility.
Karl
|
|
chrisl
Empty
I still think its the 1990s - when I joined TMUK
Posts: 1,097
|
Post by chrisl on Jul 1, 2008 8:08:43 GMT
Some of the layouts and shots reminded me of Matt Dallas' work on TF CG2, especially the pages with Jetfire, Fortress Maximus, Prowl and Prime on.
The issue seemed to pack in quite a bit and it didn't feel like I'd read a whole spotlight. Much better than some of the other recent spotlights though.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2008 11:55:22 GMT
addressing a completely unseen (and unheard) Hardhead. Poor desperate last minute linking to the next Spotlight there. Hardhead is seen on the monitor, isn't he? It's been a while, but I only recall seeing one monitor, which I thought was showing Nightbeat himself in his tweaked planet-side form during his own Spotlight issue. Having said that, if it was meant to be Hardhead, then that explains why I thought it didn't look much like Nightbeat after all, and I'll crawl back into my box in the corner. |
|
KoshNaranek
Minicon
Friends with the Zog Folk
Posts: 484
|
Post by KoshNaranek on Jul 2, 2008 16:19:17 GMT
I may be in the minority here, but I actually like Sideswipe in the IDWverse. I wouldn't call him a complainer, but I would say he is rather rebellious and challenges authority, and I think that's a good thing as far as the Autobots are concerned. If the Autobots become too militaristic and just adopt a "follow your orders, soldier!" attitude then to me they will have lost sight of their aims. True, order must be maintained in any heirarchy, but I don't believe orders should be followed blindly without question.
I thought the issue struck a nice balance between being spotlight and a continuation of the ...ion saga. Considering that IDW seem much more keen to push their All Hail Megatron storyline it seems that Mr Furman is indeed being rushed in to wrapping up much of his story before he'd planned to.
The only niggle I have is that Fortress Maximus, and Jetfire for that matter, should be MUCH bigger.
Just my two cents.
- Tony
|
|
|
|
Post by Shockprowl on Jul 7, 2008 1:02:14 GMT
I also like IDW Sideswipe. I think this is how the character should be. Just one step away from being a total loose cannon.
Re sizes. I think Jetfire's spot on. But Fort Max is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa *takes a quick breath* aaaaaaaaaaaaaay too small. Looked silly in Spotlight Cyclonus. I still say it shoulda been Red Alert or someone in charge of the prison. It's only a prison! I feel Fort Max is ment for bigger things.
Enjoyed Cyclonus. Good blend of Spotlightness and part one of four -ness. Eager to see Nemesis Prime's plan!
|
|
Hero
Fusilateral Quintro Combiner
King of RULES!
Everything Rules
Posts: 7,498
|
Post by Hero on Jul 7, 2008 5:11:39 GMT
I bought a copy the other day mainly because Nick Roache did the cover. I could not understand what was going on though.
What's up with Cyclonus' mouth btw? It looks like he's been given the Smiling Charlie.
Sideswipe stuff all good. I will be getting that comic too.
|
|
|
|
Post by Andy Turnbull on Jul 8, 2008 22:04:27 GMT
Pretty good spotlight, while not a patch on Wheelie it's definitely a return to form after some of the poorer efforts of late.
The reason for Cyclonus having that weird mouth is to show he's an older, less sophisticated model of Transformer, or at least he was before his stint in the Dead Universe.
Andy
|
|
|
|
Post by grahamthomson on Jul 9, 2008 8:44:22 GMT
I didn't realise that was the reason for Cyclonus's mouth. I just figured they were going for a more zombie-looking unhinging-when-needed jaw.
|
|
)
