Transformers Continuum Preview, 5 pages & cover Options

[Spark]

Transformers Continuum preview at BZZURKK

That's a fugly cover, even if it is painted. Disembodied Head Witwicky and falling over Soundwave for the FAIL.

Definite skip for me, since I think this is kind of pointless anyway.

[The Walky]

I was about to note that Megatron Origin is apparently now the stuff of legend, perhaps even fabricated, but then they treat everything that way, even Stormbringer.

[Weremole]

The cover isn't all that at all. But you can't argue it doesn't do what it's advertised to do.

[ZacWilliam1]

Yeah... they're going over-vague with everything from the look of it. I wonder if this is a buffer against future continuity goofs or if the writter just couldn't figure out how to summarize decently?

On top of that oddness the exposition, (and that's all there is here of course: exposition) is very clunky and poorly phrased in places. As someone very dedicated to aesthetics in writting the narative is NOT smooth flowing writting, it just seems really awkward in places.

I'm curious about this just to see what if any retcons sneek in, but I gotta say this preview doesn't fill me with confidence. Instead of organizing and defining their history and continuity, this looks like it's gonna be a vague, awkwardly written comic-length recap page. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-waspy.gif)

[Spark]

I was about to note that Megatron Origin is apparently now the stuff of legend, perhaps even fabricated, but then they treat everything that way, even Stormbringer.

It's kind of absurd. Basically, everything pre-AHM seems to be vague and the stuff of legend.

[Jeysie]

I like the design on young Optimus in one of the pages.

Other than that, it looks like a big shrug for anyone who's actually read the IDW fiction up until now. I was hoping for something that would be both expository and useful, like a timeline, mini character profiles, something like that. I'd be willing to buy a Guide to the IDWverse that was done well, even now.

[Spark]

I like the design on young Optimus in one of the pages.

I was wondering where exactly that came from, since I don't remember it. It's an interesting deviation, though... In Megatron Origins, we see a guy from the back who looks to be Optimus in what's basically his War Within body with a different head, whereas this one looks to be based on G1 Crosshairs, which is actually a neat idea.

[Shockwave 75]

....it looks like a big shrug for anyone who's actually read the IDW fiction up until now. I was hoping for something that would be both expository and useful, like a timeline, mini character profiles, something like that. I'd be willing to buy a Guide to the IDWverse that was done well, even now.

This.

What's the point of this book exactly? I have all the issues that every image we just saw came from, what is my motivation to get this?

[Shockwave 75]

I like the design on young Optimus in one of the pages.

I was wondering where exactly that came from, since I don't remember it. It's an interesting deviation, though... In Megatron Origins, we see a guy from the back who looks to be Optimus in what's basically his War Within body with a different head, whereas this one looks to be based on G1 Crosshairs, which is actually a neat idea.

I believe it's from the Blurr Spotlight.

[Chris McFeely]

....it looks like a big shrug for anyone who's actually read the IDW fiction up until now. I was hoping for something that would be both expository and useful, like a timeline, mini character profiles, something like that. I'd be willing to buy a Guide to the IDWverse that was done well, even now.

This.

What's the point of this book exactly? I have all the issues that every image we just saw came from, what is my motivation to get this?

YOUR motiviation is probably nil, but the motivation of a new reader whose attention has been attracted by a new number one and the fact that the book is now an ongoing is likely quite high.

This post has been edited by Chris McFeely: Nov 7 2009, 04:15 PM

[Jeysie]

YOUR motiviation is probably nil, but the motivation of a new reader whose attention has been attracted by a new number one and the fact that the book is now an ongoing is likely quite high.

Why not take the time to do it in a format that would be useful to both new and long-time readers, rather than in what looks like a generic summary issue that would be better served as either a special addition in the back of the first ongoing issue or as a cheap giveaway? (Seriously, $3.99 for a plain summary and recycled art? Even if I were a newbie, I'd consider that a waste of money.)

This post has been edited by Jeysie: Nov 7 2009, 04:23 PM

[Chris McFeely]

No argument here, but then, even Marvel do it, for this sort of price, no less! "Sagas", they call 'em. In fact, I'd say IDW's copping the idea off them.

This post has been edited by Chris McFeely: Nov 7 2009, 04:30 PM

[Cattleprod]

On Thunderwing: "What he planned to do remained a mystery."

Um... it was explicitly stated in the story that upon his return he was just a mindless puppet of Bludgeon, and later Jhiaxus.

[Jeysie]

No argument here, but then, even Marvel do it, for this sort of price, no less! "Sagas", they call 'em. In fact, I'd say IDW's copping the idea off them.

*wonders why IDW couldn't have kept doing the things that initially made her read their monthly story, instead of little by little dropping those to emulate the things that made her not read other companies' monthly stories*

[Pigbag]

Is this the comic that's supposed to be the blend between G1 and Movie style designs?

[The Walky]

I like the design on young Optimus in one of the pages.

I was wondering where exactly that came from, since I don't remember it. It's an interesting deviation, though... In Megatron Origins, we see a guy from the back who looks to be Optimus in what's basically his War Within body with a different head, whereas this one looks to be based on G1 Crosshairs, which is actually a neat idea.

I believe it's from the Blurr Spotlight.

It is. http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Optimus_Prime_(G1)#...mics_continuity

[Casey Coller]

I like the design on young Optimus in one of the pages.

I was wondering where exactly that came from, since I don't remember it. It's an interesting deviation, though... In Megatron Origins, we see a guy from the back who looks to be Optimus in what's basically his War Within body with a different head, whereas this one looks to be based on G1 Crosshairs, which is actually a neat idea.

I believe it's from the Blurr Spotlight.

Correctamundo!

Yes, this was Guido's design for a "young" Optimus that I used in Spotlight Blurr.

[Weremole]

Is this the comic that's supposed to be the blend between G1 and Movie style designs?

No, that's still just Don's new approach for the ongoing (wich is simply called "Transformers" I believe). This thing is some sort of summary of the IDW TF storylines so far.

[Solarstorm]

If the comic is 32 pages and no ads, there has to be some kind of new material, bios, or something.

They just covered a bunch of events in six pages. If the rest of the timeline is covered so briefly/quickly, there's no way it can stretch to 32 pages.

[Fenix Twilight]

I was about to note that Megatron Origin is apparently now the stuff of legend, perhaps even fabricated, but then they treat everything that way, even Stormbringer.

It's kind of absurd. Basically, everything pre-AHM seems to be vague and the stuff of legend.

I wouldn't say that until I see the -Ations, Shockwave's page doesn't treat it like legend. I'm curious how it treats the Spotlights and I wonder if pages 2 and 3 cover Nova.

I'll definitely flip through it, but I doubt I'll buy it since I already own the comics.