Revisitation 13: Comics of Massive Destruction.

18/3/2021

This week, things get a bit too much for Bludgeon, Scoop saves the day and the Decepticon Powermasters come up with the best way to deal with an insane death machine (run away).

All this and lots and lots of narration in my look at Stormbringer issue 3!

4 Comments

Llama God

28/3/2021 05:29:44 pm

This is a fairly decent issue which rattles along very nicely, and there's a lot to enjoy about it, as you've covered already. What I really like in particular is Bludgeon's fate here, as it turns out he's no cleverer than Thunderwing after all. Which is a nice subversion of expectations, given the starring role that he took towards the end of Marvel G1 I was expecting he'd have a much bigger role to play. As it is, he falls victim of his own hubris, which is nicely fitting.

The other thing I like about the Pretenders, and which I've not mentioned before, is Don's redesigns. They're wonderful, nicely referencing both the inner robots and the outer shells of the original toys, and coming up with something new and interesting. I'd really like to see toys of these.

What does strike me (and hadn't before) is mention of the shells being biomechanical - I probably noticed it this time given that I'm behind here and read Spotlight Shockwave first. What's interesting is how this could have tied in to the events of that comic, with the Dynobots (sigh) essentially equipping themselves with biomechanical outer skins. It doesn't, of course, but it does feel like something of a missed opportunity, especially given Shockwave's role in things, and the fact that Bludgeon was Shockwave's student - there's something that could've been done there, I'm sure. And yes, it's the Dynobots (sigh) and not Shockwave that come up with the fleshy outer-skins for the former group, but there could have been mention of that being something from Shockwave's old files, or something along those lines. It's not actually necessary to have tied the two together, really, unless maybe you're someone who enjoys reading wikis, but it struck me as something that could've been done, anyway.

And as to the WMD mention, I think that Furman was just, in this instance, using a phrase that had entered the popular vernacular at the time. One of the few times indeed that he may have actually been aware of what was going on in the actual culture of the moment...

Stuart

28/3/2021 05:53:46 pm

The shell thing is odd, and just makes me suspect that Furman hadn't come up with the Dynobot (sigh) explanation yet when he plotted this out.

Mind, it's not the last time biology will be used oddly in his run...

Tigerbread

30/3/2021 06:53:26 pm

I've alway had the head canon that pretender shells helped lead to the bio-organic technology in Beast Wars (puttup!)

Jeremiah Ecks

24/9/2021 05:41:02 pm

"as far as I can recall, the only real moment between these two characters in the original run of IDW."

Sadly Dreadwind and Darkwing get one more moment in IDW. It's finger lickin' good.

And narratively terrible.

Because here you have a golden comedy act who could be used either as comedy foils or serious threats. Neither were mined in IDW continuity.

I do love IDW, I might now even prefer it to Marvel G1, but one of it's weaknesses is it's propensity to kill characters who's potential isn't used up, often (like in the case of Ironhide) for a cheap thrill. I'm still literally angry about... that guy who Star Saber clefts in twain. I'm trying not to spoil for those who haven't got there yet. I'm still angry about that death because it was pointless... which I guess is the point.

That said I also do think IDW is strong because it will kill anybody and anyone at any time and take a risk... although I think Hasbro might have held them back from some deaths. And I think they were restrained enough not to go on an Optimus killing spree like so many continuities oh so lazily revert to.

That said... they also kill Ruckus here, and that is not something I easily forgive. Thrust survives but Ruckus doesn't? This world is not fair. Oh well, as long as they don't punk Thrust out on a terrible death scene we'll be fine.

Why am I thinking of Megatron in Dark of the Moon all of a sudden?

Revisitation 13: Comics of Massive Destruction.

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