Full Version: Reign of Starscream #1
Due out Wednesday, May 7th.
Allright, I'll be first.
Normally I get all new TF comics without question but I was almost reluctant to buy this. Between the awesomeness of TF:Animated and the great Classics stuff comming up my interest in the movie-verse has dwindled very low. Still, almost by reflex alone I ended up picking it up. My thoughts:
It's got some neat bits here and there, but overall a bit less exciting than it could have been. The writting, a long winded narrative by Starscream recapping the IDW prequel and movie from his POV was the main problem I think. It felt clunky and "exposition-y" without enough character or personality to the voice to keep my interest, which made the reading a hard slog through in places.
That aside there was some good stuff in the art (Movie Ark, Movie Cosmos) and I like the fact that this Screamer seems more rational than Megatron (or maybe even Prime, at least from his own POV). Oddly he also seems to show a good bit more concern for the fate of Cybertron and his fellow Decepticons than one would at first expect.
In the end it was good enough that I'll pick up issue 2, but not quite as good as I think IDW should ideally have put out for a book this high profile. If it improves on future reads, Ill drop back by.
Normally I get all new TF comics without question but I was almost reluctant to buy this. Between the awesomeness of TF:Animated and the great Classics stuff comming up my interest in the movie-verse has dwindled very low. Still, almost by reflex alone I ended up picking it up. My thoughts:
It's got some neat bits here and there, but overall a bit less exciting than it could have been. The writting, a long winded narrative by Starscream recapping the IDW prequel and movie from his POV was the main problem I think. It felt clunky and "exposition-y" without enough character or personality to the voice to keep my interest, which made the reading a hard slog through in places.
That aside there was some good stuff in the art (Movie Ark, Movie Cosmos) and I like the fact that this Screamer seems more rational than Megatron (or maybe even Prime, at least from his own POV). Oddly he also seems to show a good bit more concern for the fate of Cybertron and his fellow Decepticons than one would at first expect.
In the end it was good enough that I'll pick up issue 2, but not quite as good as I think IDW should ideally have put out for a book this high profile. If it improves on future reads, Ill drop back by.
Movie Cosmos was my favorite thing in this comic.
And he was an unnamed, unspeaking background character.
And he was an unnamed, unspeaking background character.
Wreckage is dead alright.
*sigh* He's may favorite con too.
*sigh* He's may favorite con too.
I was surprised, I found it to be very enjoyable. Milne's art was still a bit too darkly-colored for its own good, but it wasn't Megatron Origin-levels of indecipherable.
This issue was mostly setup and thus had a bit of recapping to do, I'm down with that. Looking forward to the next one.
This issue was mostly setup and thus had a bit of recapping to do, I'm down with that. Looking forward to the next one.
Perez could go a little easier on coloring them so dark but better than Origins, at least.
Prowl! Cosmos! YAY!
Prowl! Cosmos! YAY!
It was sold out. Can someone post a summary?
QUOTE(Tyson @ May 8 2008, 01:20 AM) 
It was sold out. Can someone post a summary?
All it does is summarize the events of the Movie prequel and the Movie itself from Starscream's POV until the very end. After Sam destroys the Allspark and kills Megatron, Starscream flees and finds the wrecked but still functional Barricade still functional. The two half a talk and Barricade suggests they recover Frenzy, since Frenzy downloaded all the files pertaining to Earth's knowledge of Transformers and the Witwicky family. Starscream then flies off to Hoover Dam to recover Frenzy's remains.
So yeah, at least 80% of it is a recap, which is really boring. I haven't even read the Movie prequel and I found that part dull. I may pick up the prequel, now, since I've decided to get into IDW's supplemental Movie material.
Dosent it have that prequel on cybertron thing?
I thought it was really interesting.
It was a nice change that for the most part, Starscream seemed to be more concerned about Cybertron and the Decepticons than going mad for leadership, and in fact, seemed to feel that Megatron abandoned them. Not once, but twice and failed them multiple times as well.
It was a nice change that for the most part, Starscream seemed to be more concerned about Cybertron and the Decepticons than going mad for leadership, and in fact, seemed to feel that Megatron abandoned them. Not once, but twice and failed them multiple times as well.
QUOTE(Tm_Silverclaw @ May 9 2008, 06:33 AM)
I thought it was really interesting.
It was a nice change that for the most part, Starscream seemed to be more concerned about Cybertron and the Decepticons than going mad for leadership, and in fact, seemed to feel that Megatron abandoned them. Not once, but twice and failed them multiple times as well.
It was a nice change that for the most part, Starscream seemed to be more concerned about Cybertron and the Decepticons than going mad for leadership, and in fact, seemed to feel that Megatron abandoned them. Not once, but twice and failed them multiple times as well.
Nice to hear that Starscream's getting a bit more fleshed out and differentiated from G1 Screamer. Of course, it's also nice that ANY of the Movie 'Cons are getting some personality/motive/whatever. I might pick this one up as a trade, especially if the content from the later issues is actually going to be used as background info for the Movie Sequel next year.
Yeah, my confidence in Movie comics is pretty much shot after the first 2 series, but if the reviews remain on the positive side, I'll buy the trade.
QUOTE(Tm_Silverclaw @ May 9 2008, 06:33 PM)
I thought it was really interesting.
It was a nice change that for the most part, Starscream seemed to be more concerned about Cybertron and the Decepticons than going mad for leadership, and in fact, seemed to feel that Megatron abandoned them. Not once, but twice and failed them multiple times as well.
It was a nice change that for the most part, Starscream seemed to be more concerned about Cybertron and the Decepticons than going mad for leadership, and in fact, seemed to feel that Megatron abandoned them. Not once, but twice and failed them multiple times as well.
Indeed a very Armada-esque Starscream without the girl.
Feels like a single issue spotlight than a mini series.
Oh Barricade is still alive.
QUOTE
Dosent it have that prequel on cybertron thing?
Sort of but in Screammer POV mostly.
A bit verbose, but considering much of the words were either Starscream's (I adore internal monologues; I sorely missed them during the DW days of the comic, as I grew up with thought bubbles.) or Prime giving a lengthy speech, which is, really, very Prime...can't truly complain on that front. Besides, once the action picked up, it read very smoothly.
Megatron really does remind me once again of Thunderwing (G1), obsessed with possessing an arcane artifact at any cost, while the rest of his troops are essentially disposable commodities (Very cold how Megs is utterly unconcerned that a couple of his men have already been taken out of commission.). This mania of his sets him apart from other incarnations rather nicely. I can sympathize with Starscream, considering he was left holding the bag, and then somewhat unfairly accused of "failure" for making the best of the situation he found himself in. All things considered, he did well to mobilize his forces as fast as he did.
The somewhat amoral nature of Prime (By that, I mean in endangering Cybertron to remove the Allspark from reach; I guess, being Prime, he would intend to return it at some point, but clearly simply taking it from its designated area seems to be hazardous) is pretty interesting, too; he's still a heroic character, but it adds an undercurrent of...pragmatism, I guess? (As in, finding the most practical way to end the war, or at least stall it, is to get rid of the thing it's being fought over.)
This is some of Alex's best art; I didn't have any trouble following the action, even in the very complex sections, whereas although I'm a fan of his style, sometimes in previous books his work's looked a bit...cluttered (Granted, this was explained away...somewhat...as partially being because in M:O he was told to draw so many characters in each panel, but still...good to see him handling a similar situation here with few problems.). And thank goodness it printed properly, so it wasn't overly murky. I find him to be a good choice for the extremely intricate movie 'bots, since he tends to emphasize technical details in his art style anyway.
Megatron really does remind me once again of Thunderwing (G1), obsessed with possessing an arcane artifact at any cost, while the rest of his troops are essentially disposable commodities (Very cold how Megs is utterly unconcerned that a couple of his men have already been taken out of commission.). This mania of his sets him apart from other incarnations rather nicely. I can sympathize with Starscream, considering he was left holding the bag, and then somewhat unfairly accused of "failure" for making the best of the situation he found himself in. All things considered, he did well to mobilize his forces as fast as he did.
The somewhat amoral nature of Prime (By that, I mean in endangering Cybertron to remove the Allspark from reach; I guess, being Prime, he would intend to return it at some point, but clearly simply taking it from its designated area seems to be hazardous) is pretty interesting, too; he's still a heroic character, but it adds an undercurrent of...pragmatism, I guess? (As in, finding the most practical way to end the war, or at least stall it, is to get rid of the thing it's being fought over.)
This is some of Alex's best art; I didn't have any trouble following the action, even in the very complex sections, whereas although I'm a fan of his style, sometimes in previous books his work's looked a bit...cluttered (Granted, this was explained away...somewhat...as partially being because in M:O he was told to draw so many characters in each panel, but still...good to see him handling a similar situation here with few problems.). And thank goodness it printed properly, so it wasn't overly murky. I find him to be a good choice for the extremely intricate movie 'bots, since he tends to emphasize technical details in his art style anyway.
I'm going to go against the grain on this one: I actually really liked it. Yes, most of it is a recap, but part of that recap is things we didn't see (such as the events on Cybertron immediately after Megatron's flight for the Allspark, the Autobots leaving, etc) - and it all fit in pretty well too.
I think the reason I liked it so much is that I really dig Starscream's characterization. Yes, he wants to be in charge, but no more than most people would want to be. Like Moroboshi said, Megatron is much like Thunderwing in that he's power-hungry and could care less about his troops, making Starscream an interesting foil. THIS is the characterization I've wanted to see in the main IDW book for Starscream - someone who stands up and rebels against Megatron not merely out of a lust for power, but because he thinks its the Right Thing to Do. And though we're getting it filtered through Screamer's vision, I do like the amoral/pragmatic Prime we've been presented with in the Movie universe so far as well.
Didn't really dig the art, but I think that's just because the Movie designs are terrible for 2D art, not because of anything Milne did wrong. If anything he probably does the Movie designs better than most.
I'm also interested to see what they do with Barricade and Scorponok. The line on Scorponok seems to imply HIGHLIGHT to view:
that he died shortly after the Movie battle scene with the troops but Barricade is obviously still alive... I wonder if they're talking to Dreamworks and Bay to find out what they're planning to do with Barricade?
I think the reason I liked it so much is that I really dig Starscream's characterization. Yes, he wants to be in charge, but no more than most people would want to be. Like Moroboshi said, Megatron is much like Thunderwing in that he's power-hungry and could care less about his troops, making Starscream an interesting foil. THIS is the characterization I've wanted to see in the main IDW book for Starscream - someone who stands up and rebels against Megatron not merely out of a lust for power, but because he thinks its the Right Thing to Do. And though we're getting it filtered through Screamer's vision, I do like the amoral/pragmatic Prime we've been presented with in the Movie universe so far as well.
Didn't really dig the art, but I think that's just because the Movie designs are terrible for 2D art, not because of anything Milne did wrong. If anything he probably does the Movie designs better than most.
I'm also interested to see what they do with Barricade and Scorponok. The line on Scorponok seems to imply HIGHLIGHT to view:
that he died shortly after the Movie battle scene with the troops but Barricade is obviously still alive... I wonder if they're talking to Dreamworks and Bay to find out what they're planning to do with Barricade?
some panels [the decepticon roll call] felt like traced movie stills, and i'm not sure what happened on the page where dreadwing alerted starscream to the ship. or, rather, what the sequence was.
i found Barricade's removal from the fight disappointing.
"i'm here! i'm he-BONK" heh, Latta truck.
interestingly, i find that i still love the movie aesthetic in 2D despite being a little burned out on it in 3D. i rather liked the issue, especially from starscream's point of view. now that the wrap-up and recap are out of the way, i'm looking forward to some actual new stuff in #2.
i found Barricade's removal from the fight disappointing.
"i'm here! i'm he-BONK" heh, Latta truck.interestingly, i find that i still love the movie aesthetic in 2D despite being a little burned out on it in 3D. i rather liked the issue, especially from starscream's point of view. now that the wrap-up and recap are out of the way, i'm looking forward to some actual new stuff in #2.
I asked Roberto Orci about it and he said he was not involved in the comic at all, but honestly regrets that he was not able to contribute and does care as a fan.
http://www.donmurphy.net/board/showpost.ph...postcount=11320
Meanwhile, i find it hilarious how Prime clarly chops off Barricade's head in the Movie Adaption (also drawn by Milne), yet here Barricade is merely "heavily damaged".
http://www.donmurphy.net/board/showpost.ph...postcount=11320
Meanwhile, i find it hilarious how Prime clarly chops off Barricade's head in the Movie Adaption (also drawn by Milne), yet here Barricade is merely "heavily damaged".
QUOTE(lastmaximal @ May 22 2008, 05:26 AM)
some panels [the decepticon roll call] felt like traced movie stills, and i'm not sure what happened on the page where dreadwing alerted starscream to the ship. or, rather, what the sequence was.
The Autobot ship released mines (Those spherical objects) in their wake, damaging Dreadwing and the Decepticon ship.
"Some...barely live to see another cycle" kinda confused me at first, but upon thinking about it, it says to me that he barely escaped with his life (What we understood from the Movie itself). Otherwise, the narration would probably say "Some barely live another cycle".
...Wreckage kinda lives up to his name, doesn't he? Poor guy... ^ ^
WHO HE IS IS WHAT HE IS! [is that how DC's Damage was promoted? i don't remember the exact wording.]
[is that how DC's Damage was promoted? i don't remember the exact wording.]
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