Rich
Protoform
Posts: 880
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Post by Rich on May 31, 2015 22:27:47 GMT
I love mtme, but have to say i think this issue was a bit of a misstep. Perhaps I've missed something and I'll change my mind on a re-read but I think that Nautica was right: everybody was just being too silly (this will probably turn out to be a plot point but that alone won't change my mind). There was a lot of 'stuff' and not much narrative and, yes, most of that stuff will probably prove to be cleverly placed, but even so, on its own merits this issue wasn't that great. Despite some great issues recently, the overall tone of the series seems to have been getting more and more exaggerated and I think maybe this issue took it too far and became a, probably knowing, charicture of itself.
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Post by Fortmax2020 on Jun 1, 2015 0:53:44 GMT
I don't expect them to be super-alien robots or something, well used to that by now and it can be enjoyable. It just seemed like it was OTT this month with waaaaay too much space dedicated to showing that and making sure you knew that. The mystery while great seemed very much like a C-plot to he A-plot of goofing around.
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Post by Llama God on Jun 1, 2015 7:35:25 GMT
Agreed, it wasn't the... same sort of super-intense plot that we've seen that before. But I think it was more of a set up for what's to come next. And that's fine. And also I'm enjoying the character stuff - if you want wall-to-wall fighting with little to no characterisation, there's always Combiner Wars...
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Post by Fortmax2020 on Jun 1, 2015 12:28:09 GMT
That's not at all what I'm wanting thanks hence I don't buy it. MTMTE is my only TF title these days and it usually manages good characterisation, intriguing plots and mixes depth and humour well and that's why I buy it. It does 'wobble' along a delicate line of mixing all these elements and I expect some variation but if there was a story point to the OTTness (or frankly poor) way the characters were in this issue it may well pay off in future but as an issue it was too much.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 3, 2015 8:48:45 GMT
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Post by Benn on Jun 5, 2015 18:58:56 GMT
Okay. I have now read #41.
Yeah. This is where I'm going to get a little annoyed at James. He invents new characters like the so far utterly pointless Riptide, (and remember the crap McCarthy got for doing that with Drift?) willy-nilly, and then pretty much kills Countdown in what amounts to little more than a cameo. That's... just wrong to me. Unless something can reverse that in the next issue, I'm gonna be pissed at this.
Not the strongest issue, like others have said, it seems cluttered and rushed. But there's enough good hooks to make me want to know what happens next.
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Post by Fortmax2020 on Jun 6, 2015 0:46:04 GMT
Well as much as I agree there r.e. the point of Riptide, unlike with Drift (and Windblade), Riptide hasn't been proclaimed/praised to shake up the universe/change everything/was crucial to everything ever nor there because character is simply so cool/you the fans demanded it.
At the moment it feels like James is at least trying to establish Riptide a bit. It does annoy me that the character is one of these so called female TFs from that mystery new planet that We Couldn't Live Without that IDW are making a thing off.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 6, 2015 8:19:45 GMT
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Post by Benn on Jun 6, 2015 9:46:05 GMT
Yeah, I'm aware of the difference in introduction and reception. The much lower key Turmoil got a far better reception from the fandom, if I recall right.
Normally I'm fine for James to introduce new characters, it really doesn't bother me, But when it's at the expense of someone like Countdown, whom is an established character, then I get a teensy tad uncomfortable.
Seriously, why couldn't a one shot joke overachieving character have been a made up one?
Especially as Countdown seems pretty interesting. He's a hero, he's decorated and yet... none of it seems to matter to him. He's embarrassed by it all, almost seems to feel like he's not worthy of all the recognition and accolades.
That, to me, is much more interesting than Riptide, who's character seems to be that he's not too bright.
Hopefully this is just a blip in my enjoyment, because for the most part MtMtE continues to be one of the more interesting comics out there.
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Post by Kingoji on Jun 6, 2015 9:52:29 GMT
This is something that's been bugging me for aaages. Compounded somewhat by Alex Milne's commentary for the creation of the five new females, in which it appears that (with the exception of Firestar) James basically told him to make up whatever he wanted as long as they were female. Which is at best pandering and at worst creatively bankrupt. Even if they HAD to be female for a plot point, why make them up? Why not Airrazor, Overide, Nightracer, Strika?
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Post by Benn on Jun 6, 2015 10:19:03 GMT
Well, I understand the sentiment, but I think 'creatively bankrupt' is going a tad too far. And you don't know what Hasbro has to say about all this. Could be that unless there's a toy on the way, they want to keep this as Geewun as possible. Y'know, because bringing in characters from other continuities as anything more than cameos might confuse our poor tiny consumer minds.
Doesn't mean that the other Sunbow Femmes couldn't have gotten a shoutout though, I guess.
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Post by Kingoji on Jun 6, 2015 10:22:17 GMT
Well, it's essentially the creator not caring about the specifics of what they're creating.
Don't get me wrong: I LOVE this book. I just know what would excite me more.
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Post by Kingoji on Jun 6, 2015 10:26:28 GMT
Plus, y'know, Rattrap, Waspinator, Gigatron, Bulkhead, Jhiaxus, Impactor, Tankor, Chromia, Dropshot, Barricade, Hotshot, Dai Atlas, Overlord... these are all technically from 'other continuities'. Audences not only deal with it fine, but tend to love it.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 6, 2015 10:29:41 GMT
This is something that's been bugging me for aaages. Compounded somewhat by Alex Milne's commentary for the creation of the five new females, in which it appears that (with the exception of Firestar) James basically told him to make up whatever he wanted as long as they were female. Which is at best pandering and at worst creatively bankrupt. Even if they HAD to be female for a plot point, why make them up? Why not Airrazor, Overide, Nightracer, Strika? I suspect it's not female for a plot point more female by editorial dictate given that IDW is saying "fembots everywhere! New big thing!! Bigger than Drift!!!" Personally I've got them down as the bad guys in this story but we'll see... |
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 6, 2015 10:32:54 GMT
Yeah, I'm aware of the difference in introduction and reception. The much lower key Turmoil got a far better reception from the fandom, if I recall right. Normally I'm fine for James to introduce new characters, it really doesn't bother me, But when it's at the expense of someone like Countdown, whom is an established character, then I get a teensy tad uncomfortable. Seriously, why couldn't a one shot joke overachieving character have been a made up one? Especially as Countdown seems pretty interesting. He's a hero, he's decorated and yet... none of it seems to matter to him. He's embarrassed by it all, almost seems to feel like he's not worthy of all the recognition and accolades. That, to me, is much more interesting than Riptide, who's character seems to be that he's not too bright. Hopefully this is just a blip in my enjoyment, because for the most part MtMtE continues to be one of the more interesting comics out there. Is Countdown really that much of an established character though? tfwiki.net/wiki/Countdown_%28G1%29His only real appearances before now have been in the god awful Dreamwave series which Ralph needs to buy again soon. This issue was his IDW debut. He's got his fans from his toy and bio yes but beyond that .... |
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 6, 2015 10:37:15 GMT
This is something that's been bugging me for aaages. Compounded somewhat by Alex Milne's commentary for the creation of the five new females, in which it appears that (with the exception of Firestar) James basically told him to make up whatever he wanted as long as they were female. Which is at best pandering and at worst creatively bankrupt. Even if they HAD to be female for a plot point, why make them up? Why not Airrazor, Overide, Nightracer, Strika? Plus, y'know, Rattrap, Waspinator, Gigatron, Bulkhead, Jhiaxus, Impactor, Tankor, Chromia, Dropshot, Barricade, Hotshot, Dai Atlas, Overlord... these are all technically from 'other continuities'. Audences not only deal with it fine, but tend to love it. Don't forget as well that we don't know where the Vis Vitalis fembots thing is going, like I said I've got them down as the bad guys. At least one of the characters Ed suggests above is probably off the board for use due to and up & coming Windblade issue. |
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Post by Benn on Jun 6, 2015 10:39:41 GMT
Rattrap, Waspinator, Tankor, Chromia, Dropshot... all new toys, and probably Hasbro mandated to appear, lets not forget the pivotal role Rhinox played!  Dai Atlas, Overlord, Hellbat, Deathsaurus, Starsaber, Black Shadow and Bacchus are all still technically from the G1 continuity family. As is Impactor, really. Bulkhead is the breakout character from Animated and has had little more than a cameo, and I think Barricade was just a colouring cameo. Jhiaxus is a carryover from when Furman was writing and Hasbro wasn't so interested in what the comic was doing. Which just leaves Gigatron and Hotshot, and... again, one of them has been little more than a cameo (although I loves me some Hotshot so I hope he gets more) and leaves Gigatron as the odd one out so far. And we've had cameos from Knock Out and some Velocitronians, too... You know my opinion, I would love, and have done since Infiltration, for this to be an Ultimate Transformers, and just pull in characters from all over the history of the franchise and just have them be there. It's just in this case, the particulars have bothered me more than usual. Since Drift was introduced as the totally unique lone wolf ex-Decepticon badass, probably. |
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Post by Benn on Jun 6, 2015 10:44:10 GMT
His only real appearances before now have been in the god awful Dreamwave series which Ralph needs to buy again soon. This issue was his IDW debut. He's got his fans from his toy and bio yes but beyond that .... Of course Ralph does! How can he not? But, yeah. [Redacted] is a prior character. He has a bio, a (damn good) toy, and a previous fictional appearance. Riptide has none of these things, and so far, has done nothing of import except get in a fight in a flashback. And yet, he's been in most of S2's issues, and seems to be ever-present. I dunno. I don't actively dislike Riptide, I'm just using him as the most prominent example I can think of. <edit>Actually, hasn't [Redacted] had more than one toy? Didn't he get a Universe outing too? |
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Post by Benn on Jun 6, 2015 10:47:43 GMT
I begin to wonder if this topic could use its own thread...
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 6, 2015 10:49:49 GMT
Rattrap, Waspinator, Tankor, Chromia, Dropshot... all new toys, and probably Hasbro mandated to appear, lets not forget the pivotal role Rhinox played! When was Dropshot in the comics and when did he get a new toy for Hasbro to mandate his appearance? |
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Post by Benn on Jun 6, 2015 10:58:53 GMT
Was it not at the tail end of All Hail Megatron? One of the bigger Universe toys, If I remember right...
I could be, and am usually, horribly wrong, so please don't take anything I say as gospel!
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 6, 2015 11:03:03 GMT
But, yeah. [Redacted] is a prior character. He has a bio, a (damn good) toy, and a previous fictional appearance. Riptide has none of these things, and so far, has done nothing of import except get in a fight in a flashback. And yet, he's been in most of S2's issues, and seems to be ever-present. I dunno. I don't actively dislike Riptide, I'm just using him as the most prominent example I can think of. He's a pretty good example, but I don't think he's been in as much of S2 as you think. I can remember him at the crewditions, the flashback where he was with Drift buying the ship and remained behind when the original crew was snatched. He went on the time travel trip but was more in the background than the others. We do get to see his vehicle mode at one point though. That's about all I can remember him doing. Anyone else think Riptide's a Decepticon? he does have that look about him? <edit>Actually, hasn't [Redacted] had more than one toy? Didn't he get a Universe outing too? He did: www.tfu.info/2009/Autobot/TFUCountdown/countdown.htmI'd be unhappy if that's his one appearance and done. But I'm still upset at how quickly they wasted Black Shadow! tfwiki.net/wiki/Black_Shadow_%28Victory%29#IDW_Generation_1_continuity |
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 6, 2015 11:09:03 GMT
Rattrap, Waspinator, Tankor, Chromia, Dropshot... all new toys, and probably Hasbro mandated to appear, lets not forget the pivotal role Rhinox played! When was Dropshot in the comics and when did he get a new toy for Hasbro to mandate his appearance? Was it not at the tail end of All Hail Megatron? One of the bigger Universe toys, If I remember right... I could be, and am usually, horribly wrong, so please don't take anything I say as gospel! AH! We're talking at cross purposes! There's TWO IDW Dropshots! MM Dropshot's one IDW appearance is in Spotlight Hardhead tfwiki.net/wiki/Dropshot_%28G1%29#IDW_Generation_1_continuityHis Universe namesake does indeed appear in AHM 11 & 12 tfwiki.net/wiki/Dropshot_%28Universe%29These are May & June 2009 a good 6 months after the toy was released. That looks more like an "I need a grunt, let's drop this in" usage. Not read AHM so can't comment on the background character usages there |
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Post by Kingoji on Jun 6, 2015 11:15:10 GMT
I think I still have those Micromasters issues somewhere if Ralph needs them.
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Post by Benn on Jun 6, 2015 11:21:30 GMT
He's a pretty good example, but I don't think he's been in as much of S2 as you think. I can remember him at the crewditions, the flashback where he was with Drift buying the ship and remained behind when the original crew was snatched. He went on the time travel trip but was more in the background than the others. We do get to see his vehicle mode at one point though. That's about all I can remember him doing. Anyone else think Riptide's a Decepticon? he does have that look about him? <edit>Actually, hasn't [Redacted] had more than one toy? Didn't he get a Universe outing too? He did: www.tfu.info/2009/Autobot/TFUCountdown/countdown.htmI'd be unhappy if that's his one appearance and done. But I'm still upset at how quickly they wasted Black Shadow! tfwiki.net/wiki/Black_Shadow_%28Victory%29#IDW_Generation_1_continuityYeah, BlackShadow needed more... Riptide was also at Brainstorms trial. Pretty much everything that the Autobots have done, he's been there for. I think the only Autobot-centric issue he's not in is the one set on the Ofsted planet. |
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 6, 2015 11:56:24 GMT
A lot of people were unhappy with Star Saber's portrayal in the teens issues of MTMTE. We weren't cos that's how he is in TMUK and that's what we're used. You could argue that bumping Dai Atlas off there is a bit premature.
Personally I think what TCFKARID has done with Scoop is worse. He looked like a decent character which they've turned in a certain direction to effectively use as a Scrapper replacement. why not just bring the original Scrapper back from the dead?
But why kill him to start with? You know at some point you WILL need to use Devastator so killing off a component is a bad idea. Ditto Brawl in US#25/UK#107, though that didn't last long, and all combiner limbs that bought it in the early stages of G2.
There again I'm not really a fan of killing toy characters off in comics full stop <cough>GI Joe 109 I'm looking at YOU!<cough> The minor ones are the only ones that stay dead and the major ones ALWAYS come back. Even now someone at IDW is cooking up a way to bring Bumblebee back somehow.....
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Post by Kingoji on Jun 6, 2015 11:56:22 GMT
Shoulda used Seaspray, Manta Ray, or Seawatch.
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Post by Fortmax2020 on Jun 6, 2015 11:56:46 GMT
All the same things can be said about Nautica as well (I was getting my random new characters mixed).
And Phil, are you seriously suggesting Hasbro/IDW will go down a 'women are not to be trusted people' route??
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 6, 2015 11:58:51 GMT
I'm thinking there's something dodgy about this group of Fembots. They've got history with Nautica that isn't perhaps that good....
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Post by Philip Ayres on Jun 6, 2015 12:02:00 GMT
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Dai Atlas, Overlord, Hellbat, Deathsaurus, Starsaber, Black Shadow and Bacchus are all still technically from the G1 continuity family. As is Impactor, really.