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Post by charlesrocketboy on Aug 23, 2008 19:06:38 GMT
Generation 2 then - one big story, spread over 12 issues (albeit two being extra-sized).
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2008 10:16:33 GMT
The G2 story was about the last great TF story that managed to put 12 issues of story into 12 issues. Dreamwave and now IDW can only seem to put about four or five issues of story into 12 issues.
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Aug 24, 2008 10:24:50 GMT
Part of the reason is probably because it's the last time any Transformers comic has been written solely with the monthly comic in mind, as opposed to one eye on the inevitable trade paperback collection.
Andy
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Post by legios on Aug 24, 2008 10:44:28 GMT
I'd agree there. It alters the way that you pace a story when you are looking at it from the point of view of how it will read when it is eventually collected. It is a bit like the difference between a movie script and a "Lone Ranger" serial or something - the structure that is appropriate for one isn't necessarily appropriate for the other. I do regret the fact that so few comics these days are written with a primary focus on how they work as a serial periodical.
Karl
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Post by The Doctor on Aug 24, 2008 11:25:50 GMT
I would say the originated strip in Titan's Transformers strip is still written for the monthly readership. It feels like it's strutured that way: compare the pacing to the IDW reprints in the same issues (more on a page by page comparison, as the reprints are artificially abbreviated). Also, they've yet to have the same artist on all the parts of a multi-part story, which is something that jars far more in collected format than in single issue format.
-Ralph
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2008 17:15:34 GMT
I'd agree with that also. It seems a shame that the publishers think more about the TPB's than the actual comics as it takes the fun out of reading them as a monthly periodical. Does this mean though that TPB's currently sell more than the comics themselves?
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Aug 24, 2008 17:26:02 GMT
For IDW I'd say they were more profitable as a whole. They've got some good market penetration outwith the DM and the Transformers movie didn't exactly hurt either especially as their books found their way into branches of TRU in the good old US of A.
Andy
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Post by KnightBeat on Aug 24, 2008 22:54:17 GMT
I enjoyed AHM #2, though my undiscerning affection for the monthly series (crossovers excepted) is well known. There are hints of Cloverfield, War of the Worlds and the latest TF movie throughout the first two issues. As mentioned, there is little noticeable plot, merely a set of dramatic scenes intended to demonstrate the Decepticons as a destructive force and the introduction of a few human characters. The latter will inevitably need to join forces to defeat the Decepticons before the end of the book.
The stand out moment for me is the introduction of Frenzy in the IDW universe. Unlike the street punk of the 80s cartoon, this Frenzy is a serious threat that can single-handedly wipe out an entire platoon.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2008 23:30:25 GMT
Yes I also enjoyed this new take on Frenzy. Knightbeat sums up pretty well my feelings after reading the comic. I'd like to see the New York scenes conclude next issue and have the cons get on with the job of conquering Earth. It's then (I hope) that the really interesting stuff can start such as the powerplays/plotting within the Decepticon ranks as - with no Autobots to fight - they turn on each other.
Thinking back to Marvel's The New Order, the Autobots (bar Ratchet) were out of the picture and yet it was still exciting waiting to see how Megatron would attempt to wrestle his command back from Shockwave.
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Aug 26, 2008 9:20:11 GMT
Courtesy of Shane McCarthy from a post here on the TFarchive. "Well I hate to ruin everyone's day but Ryall is on the level here. This isn't spin. Like it or not AHM sold over 20k and was just short (unless we actually have by now) of selling out of the print run (of which we over printed). If we hadn't sold over that, Ryall would have either said as much or, more than likely, said nothing at all. We experienced a big jump in actual numbers from the previous sales figures as hoped. Considering the amount of information and time this guy gives to the fans when just about no other company in the industry offers as much I'm shocked you lot would so quickly suggest he's lying. AHM #1 was a success for IDW, that's not to say the rest of the series will be of course, but we're happy with the first issue. Hate the series as much as you want but give Ryall some credit, he's one of the best in the industry and bends over backwards to keep you guys informed and in the loop." Wonder if the missing 5k is from international orders, in which case bump up almost every other TF title accordingly. Andy |
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Post by grahamthomson on Aug 26, 2008 9:26:54 GMT
I think the sales figures of issue 12 will be the judge of the success of the series. That is, if one judges the quality/impact of a series solely on its sales figures.
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Aug 26, 2008 9:31:26 GMT
In the Direct Market it is pretty much the be all and end all. Only the big two will sustain a series for any length of time if it's not doing too well. None of the other publishers have the pockets to do so.
Andy
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Post by andrewbcalculating on Aug 26, 2008 9:34:25 GMT
I just hope that something else happens between now and the end of this series as I think its boring having the Decepticons just cause damage in a city. What is the point? At least Shockwave had the purpose of trying to get new energy when Shockwave came to Earth, all the Decepticons seem to be doing in this is killing time by causing havoc. Why aren't the Decepticons doing something purposeful?
I think there is also too much focus on the humans, I can understand that with the Autobots off Earth there has to be an adversary for the Decepticons and in the absence of the Autobots its the humans but I'm not interested in the humans.
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Aug 26, 2008 9:38:01 GMT
I've no problems with the humans trying to fight back it's just that two issues in and the story has not advanced AT ALL and you are right Andrew. At the moment it's just KEWL THE DECEPTICONS ARE TOTALLY BLOWING STUFF UP. AWESOME!!! All of this could have been done in eleven pages and just as effectively.
Andy
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Post by charlesrocketboy on Aug 26, 2008 10:06:30 GMT
I actually enjoyed this more than last issue - more stuff happens, more Decepticons show characterisation, some stuff gets explained, Frenzy gets to be as dangerous as his tech spec suggests, and there now seems to be a strategy involved. Soundwave seems to have changed personality and way of speaking, but I'll assume this is how he talks to Megatron to stay on his good side. However, a few flaws undermining it: * So the government used the Machination as a scapegoat, covering up the TFs being aliens? That's fine and makes some sense, but then why did the Air Force call them a hoax (implying their very existence was covered up) and why did nobody in NYC go "oh shit the Machination is back!!!"? * More stuff happens but still not enough: we'll still be on New York by issue 3?! It's not over yet?! * The humans don't work. Andy and his survivor mates are bland, and Daniel is... well, he's a tosser. I realise we're meant to go "wahay, what a straight-talking badass!" but no, tosser. Witness him deliberately being a twat to that guy talking about cars, oh but it's all right because he's an "elitest snob"; we've not seen him be one but hey, he talked about hybrid cars, so he MUST be elitist, RAR SUVs GRRR right? And then he has a CIA man beaten because... the Central Intelligence Agency... are big on secrecy! I hope Megatron steps on the guy. Wonder if the missing 5k is from international orders, in which case bump up almost every other TF title accordingly. Only thing that makes sense. |
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Post by Shockprowl on Aug 26, 2008 15:20:42 GMT
Decent episode, ep 2. I'm gunna wait and see how the human characters develop, didn't mind 'em too much so far. I think AHM is suffering from the episodes not being long enough. Not enough happens each issue, even when the story seemed fairly compact to me, and alot of destruction seemed to happen (which was nice), not enough plot can be told. And with such a long wait inbetween episodes, it's all a bit frustrating. Still, enjoyed it. Like the art. Loved Frenzy. Bit of dialog between 'Cons. Astrotrain seems like he's in a ranking position doesn't he? (maybe).
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Post by charlesrocketboy on Aug 26, 2008 15:52:23 GMT
Astrotrain was the person who took charge of the dissenting 'Cons, organised the rebirth of Starscream and appeared to be close to Starscream, so he probably is a high-up; the Earth cell's 2IC, maybe.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2008 15:56:49 GMT
I received my copy of issue 2 from Steve Bax this morning. Haven't read it yet but I have had a flick through it and it doesn't look too promising.
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Post by charlesrocketboy on Aug 26, 2008 16:04:49 GMT
Do Colonel Witwicky's party guests actually do anything showing they're the snobby elite we should cheer him against? We have one guy saying he just got a hybrid car as a conversation-starter, and this apparently makes him a snobby jerk that Daniel wants to kill with a toothpick.
Buying a mass-market car that uses less petrol in the current economic climate with high fuel prices is snobby, I guess. But being a rich guy who deliberately owns a car that wastefully guzzles fuel and being gleeful to people about it isn't being snobby & elitist.
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Post by charlesrocketboy on Aug 26, 2008 17:02:44 GMT
Saw someone say we can't judge #2 as it's an introductory issue.
No, that's ISSUE ONE. That's why it has a #1 on it.
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Aug 26, 2008 17:15:20 GMT
Saw someone say we can't judge #2 as it's an introductory issue. No, that's ISSUE ONE. That's why it has a #1 on it. Heh! I loves the internetz. Andy |
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Post by KnightBeat on Aug 27, 2008 17:54:50 GMT
Saw someone say we can't judge #2 as it's an introductory issue. No, that's ISSUE ONE. That's why it has a #1 on it. How do you judge a #2? |
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Aug 27, 2008 18:13:28 GMT
Personally - colour, smell, volume and consistency.
Andy
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Post by grahamthomson on Aug 29, 2008 7:52:48 GMT
As Ultra Magnus would say; "Consistency is victory".
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Post by grahamthomson on Sept 8, 2008 9:24:41 GMT
Well despite what I said earlier about not buying any more issues after the first one, I did get AHM #2 as a birthday gift at the weekend and, as I am a gentleman foremost I graciously accepted the gift.
As with the first issue, there's nothing to light my fuse as a reader. It's all rather bromide as far as I'm concerned. There just doesn't seem to be anything "new" or unexpected about it.
Still, it is very nice to look at, although I imagine there being a hu-uge human death toll but that jars slightly with the more cartoony and bright artwork.
I think it's trying too hard to be like last year's Transformers film and not enough its own story.
It's like Dreamwave but with robots in better proportions.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2008 22:06:12 GMT
Somebody bought you a £2.50 birthday present? This credit crunch is worse than I thought!
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Post by The Doctor on Sept 16, 2008 9:53:48 GMT
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Sept 16, 2008 10:22:00 GMT
More Decepticons attacking humans!!!?! We're three issues in now FFS let's have some actual story!
Andy
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Post by The Doctor on Sept 16, 2008 10:32:34 GMT
But it's w1ck3d c00l, m@@@@@@@n!!!!!
See the solicitation for #6 BTW. Don't expect the pace to pick up!
-Ralph
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Sept 16, 2008 10:36:37 GMT
I'd already seen that when I posted them in the solicits thread and had forgotten.
What a bag of wank.
Andy
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