TFCC comic: Battle Lines part 6, The fate of Dion! Options

[Jackpot]

Heeeeeeee hee hee hee hee. Pete Sinclair, you coy bastard.

Spoilers, HIGHLIGHT to view:
So Dion is clearly getting set up to become Ultra Magnus when Magnus tells him, "Perhaps one solar cycle, you'd make a great Magnum...," and Dion replies, "You know, I like the sound of that!" But when the two of them are gravely injured, Alpha Trion's prognosis is written intentionally vaguely, and then when Ultra Magnus does appear, the most information we get is Optimus calling him "old friend." I think the weight of evidence, such as it is, is on Dion's side, but why would Alpha Trion rebuild him to look so much like Magnum? Maybe he used Magnum's body for raw materials? Kind of gruesome, but I guess this is a robot war we're talking about...
Non-Dion spoilers, HIGHLIGHT to view:
Based on the dialogue in the Paradron-bound ship, I think we're meant to believe Rumbler is one of Sprocket's hallucinations. That's kind of neat - does anyone know if Rumbler's appearances in this storyline have ever contradicted that idea? I'm pretty sure they've only been shown together.

Overall, it seems the purpose of this issue is to fill G1-'toon plot holes and find places for "Wings"-specific characters to go. It came across a little pat to me, but there are clever bits, like the explanation for Kup's conspicuous agedness in the present. I thought it all felt more G1-'toon-y than most of the rest of "Wings", probably because the references suddenly got way more explicit. I liked that, but I'm happy the setting is going to jump to the present. The "Wings" stories never grabbed me, and the idea of filling in plot holes doesn't appeal that strongly to me when it's not actually meant to be the same universe. But G2 is great underexplored territory, and I'm looking forward to seeing where that goes.

This post has been edited by Jackpot: Dec 9 2011, 03:55 PM

[NightViper]

Non-Dion spoilers, HIGHLIGHT to view:
Based on the dialogue in the Paradron-bound ship, I think we're meant to believe Rumbler is one of Sprocket's hallucinations. That's kind of neat - does anyone know if Rumbler's appearances in this storyline have ever contradicted that idea? I'm pretty sure they've only been shown together.

An interesting idea, but not really what happened (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-hotrod.gif)

HIGHLIGHT to view:
Look at the two-page spread in Part 5. And then check out the wounded Autobots in the medical bay that Ratchet et al are working on. Rumbler WAS real...

[Walky]

Rumbler was one of the dudes seen exploded by Shockwave in the big-ass two-page spread in the previous installment. Not that this destroys your hypothesis completely...

Now that folks are getting their copies in earnest, here's what bummed me out about this story:

Apparently this two-year story wasn't about what I thought it was about. It starts out with Dion, thinking all of his friends are dead, joining the Elite Guard with a new body. Meanwhile, Dion's friend, who Dion thinks is dead, is also rebuilt and joins the rival Autobot group. I really thought something was going to happen with that. I really did. There's pathos and angst there, untapped.

The Dion/Magnus thing was clever (if only because we still don't definitively know, thank god), but who Dion is has never been an issue to me. I'd be pretty happy if I got payoff for the Dion/Orion thing instead.

[Powered Convoy]

Apparently this two-year story wasn't about what I thought it was about. It starts out with Dion, thinking all of his friends are dead, joining the Elite Guard with a new body. Meanwhile, Dion's friend, who Dion thinks is dead, is also rebuilt and joins the rival Autobot group. I really thought something was going to happen with that. I really did. There's pathos and angst there, untapped.

The Dion/Magnus thing was clever (if only because we still don't definitively know, thank god), but who Dion is has never been an issue to me. I'd be pretty happy if I got payoff for the Dion/Orion thing instead.

I had similar thoughts about this when it started and then when it was revealed that Optimus was alive (and not that it was some spin on what if Orion died and Dion lived). I have a feeling that the story was originally heading that way but for reasons we're unaware of it had to change for one reason or another.

I really liked Dion too, so I'm hoping some how he made it through it all as himself.

By the way, who is Shattered Glass Slamdance's colors based on? He reminds me of Zarak but that seems like an odd homage.

Randy

[Pete@BotCon]

Overall, it seems the purpose of this issue is to fill G1-'toon plot holes and find places for "Wings"-specific characters to go. It came across a little pat to me, but there are clever bits, like the explanation for Kup's conspicuous agedness in the present. I thought it all felt more G1-'toon-y than most of the rest of "Wings", probably because the references suddenly got way more explicit. I liked that, but I'm happy the setting is going to jump to the present. The "Wings" stories never grabbed me, and the idea of filling in plot holes doesn't appeal that strongly to me when it's not actually meant to be the same universe. But G2 is great underexplored territory, and I'm looking forward to seeing where that goes.

The universe itself does contain all of the G1 episodes, so it was important to wrap some of that up.

Also, I think, this issue was meant not just to tie up loose ends, but to tie it ALL together.
HIGHLIGHT to view:
We see Autobots leaving for Paradron, Kup's age explained, the formation of the Autobot army as we know it in 1984 and the startof the Micromaster initiative (granted, this was outside of the toon)... And of course, taking everything in to consideration, it made perfect sense to leave WHO Ultra Magnus is open-ended. Optimus viewed both as friends.

At the end of the day, this is probably it for the Wings of Honor portion of the Wings universe. I don't see us telling anymore stories from the distant past.

It was extremely fun to write this story though. Getting to do a "Sunbow" version of the distant past was cool. But I gotta tell you, I am really pleased with how the script for "A Flash Forward" turned out and I think everyone will be blown away by the way Matt Frank is bringing it to life! His pages just rock! I think you will enjoy that story...

This post has been edited by Pete@BotCon: Dec 9 2011, 02:16 PM

[Powered Convoy]

Any chance we'll be getting a preview page of "A Flash Foward" before it hits mailboxes Pete?

I thought for a moment Side Burn was going to be quite happy being left behind on a planet that seemingly devoid of any other Autobots other than the Female Autobots. But then I remembered Kup, Thunderclash, and the 1985 guys were all still there.

Randy

[Walky]

It doesn't seem to be explicit on whether Side Burn was one of those who got in a pod or not. I guess it depends on whether you'd want Original Recipe or Dirty Old Man Side Burn to show up in A Flash Forward.

[Pete@BotCon]

It doesn't seem to be explicit on whether Side Burn was one of those who got in a pod or not. I guess it depends on whether you'd want Original Recipe or Dirty Old Man Side Burn to show up in A Flash Forward.

HA!

Well. Not really a spoiler, but Side Burn does hop in a pod. Try's to squeeze in with Flare Up/Firestar's. THAT did not go so well...

This post has been edited by Pete@BotCon: Dec 9 2011, 02:30 PM

[Walky]

I hope when Kup wakes them up four million years later, he remembers what to say.

(IMG:http://weblogs.cw11.com/news/local/morningnews/blogs/images/worldoftomorrow.jpg)

[Powered Convoy]

So who is Slamdance's colors based on? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-hotrod.gif)

Randy

[Walky]

That is a very good question.

I do not know if (or how) I will ever be able to translate this into a four-to-five panel comic, so this is Slamdance's deal:

Grandslam thinks he is half of a real journalist. Raindance thinks he's half of a fake comedy journalist. They combine into someone who sounds, amazingly, just like Stephen Colbert. Evil Stephen Colbert. And, given that G1 Slamdance kind of rules out a patriotic red/white/blue color scheme for SG Slamdance, I had to find some other inspiration for an evil Stephen Colbert.

(IMG:http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20081208185048/harveybirdman/images/1/13/Birdman-reducto.gif)

[Jackpot]

HIGHLIGHT to view:
Look at the two-page spread in Part 5. And then check out the wounded Autobots in the medical bay that Ratchet et al are working on. Rumbler WAS real...

HIGHLIGHT to view:
Huh. Emphasis on "was," I guess. That's actually neater - now Sprocket's got this phantom dead brother in his head. I want to see a Rumbler Durden story. And/or a story about the shock that would happen if Rumbler survived and millenia later met up with Sprocket again.

The universe itself does contain all of the G1 episodes, so it was important to wrap some of that up.

Ah, that's the first time I've heard that. So basically, characters might not be in exactly the same bodies, but the events we saw onscreen are the same?

Also, I think, this issue was meant not just to tie up loose ends, but to tie it ALL together.
HIGHLIGHT to view:
We see Autobots leaving for Paradron, Kup's age explained, the formation of the Autobot army as we know it in 1984 and the startof the Micromaster initiative (granted, this was outside of the toon)... And of course, taking everything in to consideration, it made perfect sense to leave WHO Ultra Magnus is open-ended. Optimus viewed both as friends.

Honestly, it's the tie-it-ALL-together-ness that made it feel pat to me. For instance, HIGHLIGHT to view:
I liked the "great Magnum" line because it was all we needed to put Dion on that path and still leave some room for uncertainty. So I was a little disappointed that "perhaps one solar cycle" ended up being basically the next day, spelling out for the reader SEE WE MEANT ULTRA MAGNUS without adding any value to the story.

Now, that having been said, I did appreciate stuff like the explanation for where the season-2 'Bots came from and why they don't seem to have four million extra years' worth of war under their belts. I'm not sure if it's meant to account for the cybertonium depletion too, but I can imagine ways in which it could.

It was extremely fun to write this story though. Getting to do a "Sunbow" version of the distant past was cool.

You did a good job capturing the characters' voices. Like I said, this issue in particular really embodied the vibe for me.

This post has been edited by Jackpot: Dec 9 2011, 03:57 PM

[Powered Convoy]

That is a very good question.

I do not know if (or how) I will ever be able to translate this into a four-to-five panel comic, so this is Slamdance's deal:

Grandslam thinks he is half of a real journalist. Raindance thinks he's half of a fake comedy journalist. They combine into someone who sounds, amazingly, just like Stephen Colbert. Evil Stephen Colbert. And, given that G1 Slamdance kind of rules out a patriotic red/white/blue color scheme for SG Slamdance, I had to find some other inspiration for an evil Stephen Colbert.

(IMG:http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20081208185048/harveybirdman/images/1/13/Birdman-reducto.gif)

Brililant! And thank you for the answer.

Randy

[Pete@BotCon]

You did a good job capturing the characters' voices. Like I said, this issue in particular really embodied the vibe for me.

It's funny you say that. Now, Jesse does the majority of the dialogue. I do more of the framing and pacing. So as I was editing, going back and reading the Optimus Prime lines, I totally heard Peter Cullen. Was really kind of weird actually lol. But cool.

[Destron D-69]

ittsy bittsy teeny weeny.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon-fire.gif) Walky, if I haven't said it recently - you sir are awesome.

[Creedence]

Magnum is Magnus because Hasbro said Dion wasn't rebuilt into anybody. Nyeh nyeh.

[LBD "Nytetrayn"]

I hope there will be some way for us non-Club members to be able to get this stuff collected somehow...

--LBD "Nytetrayn"

[Agent X]

I am upset that Dion had to "die" for some form of closure. I was looking forward to seeing him pop up again in stories set in the present/future, as I see Dion to FunPub as Drift to IDW. A character we can learn about through their journies rather than assembling a assumed history about a guy we've seen in cartoon's and comics.

[G.B.Blackrock]

I am upset that Dion had to "die" for some form of closure. I was looking forward to seeing him pop up again in stories set in the present/future, as I see Dion to FunPub as Drift to IDW. A character we can learn about through their journies rather than assembling a assumed history about a guy we've seen in cartoon's and comics.

Yeah. I mean, I'm not sure I'd say "upset," really. It just seemed unnecessary. Could have just let him fade away with no reference to the old "who did he become" argument, and I'd have been just fine.

[Pete@BotCon]

I am upset that Dion had to "die" for some form of closure. I was looking forward to seeing him pop up again in stories set in the present/future, as I see Dion to FunPub as Drift to IDW. A character we can learn about through their journies rather than assembling a assumed history about a guy we've seen in cartoon's and comics.

Yeah. I mean, I'm not sure I'd say "upset," really. It just seemed unnecessary. Could have just let him fade away with no reference to the old "who did he become" argument, and I'd have been just fine.

Well, he didn't "have" to "die"... However, it served a few purposes, one being that it does bring an end to the "old" and ushers in the new. Essentially everyone from the Elite Guard is gone. By the time we get to the present, only Kup is still alive on Cybertron. (Odds are Thunderclash will have died at some point during the 4 million years). Also, since the Dion argument has been going on since fans found their way online, figured it was a nice little nod to that i.e. Who IS Ultra Magnus? Those were just a couple points...

But really, we felt we took Dion as far as he could go. There will be plenty of surprises in "A Flash Forward" though... So excited about this 36 page story!