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Post by The Doctor on Aug 23, 2008 21:23:51 GMT
Enjoyable entry in the Furmanverse with lots going on. He really is much better when writing under tight constraints. Very dense, just how I like my comics. It's cosmic bollocks but it's fun cosmic bollocks and I'll take the charm of the Furmanverse over the AHMverse any day.
Unfortunately, let down in two areas. Firsty the content of Doubledealer's monologue is also on the intro page so I already knew most of his thoughts before the strip started. Whoops. Secondly, the art is rather perfunctionary. It does the job but lacks the flair that Su and Roche brought to the previous 2 instalments of Revelation.
I look forward to the thrilling conclusion, which looks like it will have six million fights in it.
-Ralph
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Post by legios on Aug 24, 2008 19:27:06 GMT
Very enjoyable stuff this. A lot of content in the issue - makes me almost wish that more of IDW's "Transformers" series were four issues long, Furman certainly seems to produce good work when under the gun and faced with tight space restrictions. The pieces of Nova Prime's plan come together and we finally see how all the bits fit with each other, Doubledealer's dangling plot-thread from "Spotlight: Hot Rod" is resolved, and we get a good insight into what makes him tick into the bargain. (As a side benefit this issue actually makes me understand for the first time why IDW Hot Rod actually deserves a fire-team command). It is, as Ralph observes, pulpy nonsense but it is every enjoyable pulpy nonsense.
I didn't actually read the intro-page until after I read the issue - bad habit of mine, I just leap in and start with the first story page usually. But I can see how it would annoy somewhat if you did.
The art, however, is fairly lacking. It is just sort of there on the page, no real life or energy to it at all. Which, considering everything that is going on in the issue is a bit of a pity (there are a couple of downright ugly panels as well - one where Galvatron looks like he has eighty percent of his mass in his torso and Cyclonus's spacething mode looks like it has been flattened by a roadroller springs to mind).
Good, enjoyable stuff. The "Revelation" story has really benefited from being distilled down into a tight four issues and shorn of the dead-space that has afflicted previous TF minis. I look forward to the last part, which does look like being a climactic rumble of epic proportions.
Karl
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2008 23:39:40 GMT
Again I find myself out of kilter with the mainstream of opinion: I liked the art. It was reminiscent of Su and Guido but a little bit different. I nipped over to the IDW boards on Thursday morning to see how the story was received by fandom and folk seemed to be having a moan by and large. So it was a pleasant surprise to read it later that day and find out it was decent.
It works as a nice part two to Spotlight Hotrod while furthering the Rev plot(s) nicely. Mind you I don't know how Furman is going to wrap up all those threads/titanic battles in one issue while doing justice to Sideswipe. I hope we're not disappointed.
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Post by The Doctor on Aug 25, 2008 23:44:06 GMT
I'm not expecting everything to be wrapped up in the next issue, in particular the Earth related story strands as we have Maximum Dinobots still to come in this phase of the Furmanverse, which I imagine is the full stop before the AHMverse.
-Ralph
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Post by andrewbcalculating on Aug 26, 2008 9:08:23 GMT
I think Doubledealer gets a bum deal by having the focus of getting a Spotlight and then being treated like a made up character at the end of it.
I've never really understood why people haven't liked Dan whathisface's art in the past but when I saw his art in this issue I felt there wasn't something right about it that I couldn't put my finger on.
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Post by charlesrocketboy on Aug 26, 2008 10:11:46 GMT
I didn't mind the art most of the time, except for moments like the guard trying to ward off Nemesis Prime with a hand-held fan. And I hope it's just artistic license that the Darkness being charged up looks sort of like Unicron's silhouette...
Otherwise it's a blast, especially the way Hot Rod has clearly figured Dealer out long ago and we can tell this but Dealer still can't due to his smugness over his abilities. And then there's Prime VS Prime, Jetfire taking over Thunderwing, the Dead Universies invading Earth...
The only odd point is... Hot Rod's not on Earth now. He's in space. I hope he goes back to Earth after, or his remaining there to chase the Machination was bloody pointless.
And the Roche cover is excellent!
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Aug 26, 2008 10:37:20 GMT
There's a few panels where the choice of "shot" is pretty iffy, also the overlap from another panel on the image where Dealer is shot by Hot Rod is criminal. That's your money shot and should be clear. Bad page design.
Khanna's art is competent but somehow lacking in energy. You can follow the story well enough but it comes across as functional and not much more. He puts me in mind of a Don Heck during 60's Marvel era. He can do the job but is clearly nowhere near as gifted as his compatriots.
Andy
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Post by Shockprowl on Aug 26, 2008 15:14:22 GMT
I loved this issue! Revelation is really spanking my monkey! The art was good, not as good as Roche or Su, but more than acceptable. The action was none stop. Couldn't take a breath the entire issue! I agree that Furman is doing a great job under preasure, however I do wonder what else he would have told had he had the full number of issues. I did feel the Prime vs Prime section was very rushed, and yeah, he's got ALOT to get through in the final chapter. I also was very impressed with Hot Rod, lovin' Furman's current version of him. They did, however, seem to go from Earth to Whateveritsname Planet awefully quickly, or did I miss something. Anywho, top bannanas from Shockprowl! Wish it wasn't so long 'till the next part!
Ian
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chrisl
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Post by chrisl on Aug 31, 2008 9:55:38 GMT
Possibly my least favourite IDW issue ever. The art was horrid - I don't know if it was the inking or the pencils but it looked worse than a fun publications special. Ten years ago Khana was the dogs dangly bits as a TF fan artist but he seems to have gone backwards dramatically judging by this strip. The story seemed kind of a miss-matched clear up all the plot lines anyway possible mess as well. If they were looking for the next TF fan art superstar for their first IDW fill-in work they should have asked Jack Lawrence whose ultra clean line work would have fitted in MUCH better.
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Post by Mark_Stevenson on Aug 31, 2008 11:05:43 GMT
I'm agreeing with Chris here, particularly about the artist. I have a very nice Khanna print of Megatron that I picked up at BCE '99, and I can barely recognise this as being by the same guy. The story was decent enough, lots squeezed in there, but it was let down by the art.
Mx
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2008 20:22:46 GMT
I'm with shockprowl on this .... the art was acceptable, in fact I kinda liked it.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2008 8:30:25 GMT
Allow me to straddle both sides of the fence in an uncomfortable manner.
The art wasn't up to standard, with the inking seemingly making it look even worse. However this didn't distract me from a thoroughly enjoyable story. Roll on Sideswipe, he's gonna have to have a fat Spotlight to fit everything in...
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Post by grahamthomson on Sept 8, 2008 8:25:08 GMT
Really enjoyed this issue.
As with previous Spotlights I've learned not to read the introduction page until last as whoever at the time puts it together has always seemed to lift text from the strip itself to compile it.
That said, a tightly paced, dense read with a satisfying conclusion. Getting a real feel for Hot Rod now and liking him a lot. Doubledealer too, though not seen as much over the years, has become a character with a fair amount of depth.
The "Magnificence"; heh. Well as plot devices go, it was pretty blatant. One of those devices though that could ruin years and years worth of tension and plot progression if it ever fell into the wrong (or right) hands. Perhaps Hot Rod should have asked his question and shook the Magnificence to get his answer at the time he hid it.
The artwork was almost functional. Panels with close shots worked really well. But wide shots/full body shots looked like the artist didn't really know what body language to give the characters and so drew them as stock poses. I am sure I caught Hot Rod standing there contemplating his fist on a few occasions.
Of course, these last three Revelation issues and the last two years of plot have set up a great deal and (Maximum Dinobots aside) it looks like Spotlight Sideswipe will have a lot to cope with. How it does it remains to be seen.
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Post by charlesrocketboy on Sept 8, 2008 13:10:45 GMT
Ominously, Furman said on his blog "you won't all like how I try and get everything done in 22 pages, sorry".
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Post by legios on Sept 8, 2008 19:18:29 GMT
Ominously, Furman said on his blog "you won't all like how I try and get everything done in 22 pages, sorry". I don't know about ominous, it just reinforces my sense of Furman as a pragmatist. He _knows_ that he can't please all of the people all of the time - and that "some of the people some of the time" is about all you can realistically hope for. Karl |
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Post by grahamthomson on Sept 8, 2008 19:30:01 GMT
To be honest, after the last couple of years and the consequences of the recent IDW cabinet reshuffle, I will certainly give Simon Furman the benefit of the doubt.
Though, if he's a smart freelancer, he'll leave the end of "Sideswipe" as a massive 12-plot-point cliffhanger and have readers writing to the publisher asking for a more detailed conclusion.
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Post by charlesrocketboy on Sept 8, 2008 22:40:04 GMT
I don't know about ominous, it just reinforces my sense of Furman as a pragmatist. Generally I get the sense that he's massively enthusiastic about everything he's doing. So when he's being cautious... Though, if he's a smart freelancer, he'll leave the end of "Sideswipe" as a massive 12-plot-point cliffhanger and have readers writing to the publisher asking for a more detailed conclusion. Nah, he does the cliffhanger saying "see Maximum Dinobots for the resolution!" so he can boost sales on it. Then end THAT with a massive 12-plot-point cliffhanger. |
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Post by The Doctor on Sept 12, 2008 15:17:41 GMT
What needs to happen is that on the last page of the last IDW Furman comic, the Liege Maximo turns up in a puff of smoke:
"Hurrah! I'm here at last! Fucking buses! Now...the Universe shall be mi - oh shit, the series has been cancelled. Again. Arsewipes."
-Ralph
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Rich
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Post by Rich on Sept 21, 2008 18:25:26 GMT
In terms of story, another very good issue and, as a result, Revelation stands a fair chance of being my clear favourite IDW TF mini, but then, a few of the other minis have failed at the final hurdle, so we'll see. I'll be sad to see the end when Dinos finishes, which means Furman has done his job.
The art? Well, pencils and inks are fine, at least they don't get in the way. I'm not keen on the colours at all, though.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2008 8:52:22 GMT
He's still got "The 13" to do yet, though it almost certainly won't continue any of the Revelation/Dinobots hanging plot threads.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2008 9:42:33 GMT
Echoing the sentiments above about Rev being potentially the most enjoyable IDW miniseries. I hope Sideswipe ends things on a satisfying note.
IMO Simon's done an amazing job to cram the 'ations saga into four issues, while also working to the constraints (if I can put it that way) of the Spotlights format. It only serves to underline further why IDW would be insane to let him go.
I understand IDW wants to keep the book fresh and sees a new direction is a way to renew interest and attract new readers, but I don't think it should automatically follow that a new writer is needed. Especially as Simon has proven (again) his ability to adapt.
Max Dinos and The Thirteen aside, I'd like to see more G1 from Simon.
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Post by The Doctor on Sept 23, 2008 10:55:17 GMT
It's the way comics should be. I grew up with dense comic strips that were sometimes as short as two pages. Decompression pisses me off intensely: it's a far poorer reading experience and much more expensive to read, ie 1-issue storylines stretched out to six issues etc. And I never understand the 'writing for the trade' mentality. As a trade paperback costs more than a single comic, having a thin story that takes a few minutes to read is an astonishing waste of money! Especially when compared to the price of prose novels.
So I don't find Revelations that amazing in terms of how packed it is: it's as dense as comics should be. More like that please. Tolerance for the likes of AHM which so far has had 66 pages to tell a story that could barely flesh out 11 pages has dropped to zero.
Rant over. I now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.
-Ralph
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Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2008 17:46:52 GMT
To clarify I'm not saying Revelations is amazing because its densely packed (although that is a rareity these days as you ably pointed out): I'm saying Simon's done an amazing job to wrap-up and develop myriad plots that have been bubbling for three years, without the whole thing turning into a confusing mess.
I'm in agreement about comics with dense storyline. My first comics were Amazing Spider-man, Batman, and a host of other superhero comics in the early 80s, where the panel count would put today's comics to shame. It used to take around 15-20 minutes to get through one of those as compared to five minutes (on average) today.
22 pages of Marvel UK Transformers was a meaty read too. Things change but not always for the better. As for AHM, yes it is drawn out, and inexcusable (if par for the course these days) but I have a niggling feeling/blind faith, whatever, that it will come good in the end.
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