It’s the Only Way to Live, in Cars.
The Transformers Issue 11: International Incident Part 3: “Hawk Among the Sparrows”. September 15th 2010.
But this moping, emo-bot transition period is over now.
I was hoping from the reveal of Thundercracker at the end of the previous issue, that the return to one of Costa’s few successes would see the quality upswing, and things immediately do start promisingly as he and Bumblebee continue their conversation.
This is Bumblebee trying to convince Thundercracker that he can’t just sit around watching TV all the time, they all want to change for the better, but the Decepticon is still a super powerful warrior and hey, maybe he needs some friends.
Thundercracker’s counterargument is it has been four months since he helped out the Autobots previously (which means, unless it took Ultra Magnus a long time to get to Earth, the Wreckers should still be on transit to Garrus 9, based on the length of their journey in that series, rather than having been rescued afterwards), and his “Pal” Bumblebee hasn’t come round once in the meantime. This friendship isn’t going great.
But this moping, emo-bot transition period is over now.
I was hoping from the reveal of Thundercracker at the end of the previous issue, that the return to one of Costa’s few successes would see the quality upswing, and things immediately do start promisingly as he and Bumblebee continue their conversation.
This is Bumblebee trying to convince Thundercracker that he can’t just sit around watching TV all the time, they all want to change for the better, but the Decepticon is still a super powerful warrior and hey, maybe he needs some friends.
Thundercracker’s counterargument is it has been four months since he helped out the Autobots previously (which means, unless it took Ultra Magnus a long time to get to Earth, the Wreckers should still be on transit to Garrus 9, based on the length of their journey in that series, rather than having been rescued afterwards), and his “Pal” Bumblebee hasn’t come round once in the meantime. This friendship isn’t going great.
He be crackin' good.
It's actually a pretty decent back and forth, and after the wobbles of the previous two issues, Guido Guidi is clearly being allowed to do his thing without interference now, a simple scene of characters just talking is far more dynamic and energetic than any of the fighting in the first half of the story. His big titty Thundercracker is especially striking.
The only real shame here is that Bumblebee never actually makes a very convincing argument for Thundercracker giving up his life of watching TV, he just suddenly agrees that Bumblebee must have been a very good saboteur in the old days at the moment the writer decides this scene has gone on long enough.
The real surprise though, is the solid character-based content continues over the page, as back at Skywatch headquarters, three of the Autobots left behind (Red Alert, Bluestreak—or whatever they’re calling him this week—and Brawn) are having a drink. With Brawn deeply pissed he’s not on the mission, he wants to go hit something and surely, he’s better for that than Jazz?
The only real shame here is that Bumblebee never actually makes a very convincing argument for Thundercracker giving up his life of watching TV, he just suddenly agrees that Bumblebee must have been a very good saboteur in the old days at the moment the writer decides this scene has gone on long enough.
The real surprise though, is the solid character-based content continues over the page, as back at Skywatch headquarters, three of the Autobots left behind (Red Alert, Bluestreak—or whatever they’re calling him this week—and Brawn) are having a drink. With Brawn deeply pissed he’s not on the mission, he wants to go hit something and surely, he’s better for that than Jazz?
I mean, Cliffjumper probably could do that.
His mood isn’t helped by Bluestreak pointing out Brawn being a dick is why no one invites him to things; the guy should try being more mellow like he is. Everybody likes Bluestreak, and Brawn pointing out both that he doesn’t like Bluestreak and that he’s been benched as well despite being “Likeable” can’t dent that.
A human Skywatch guy, who looks exactly like every other white Skywatch guy in this arc so I’m not sure if we’re meant to know him or not, telling them to stop squabbling doesn’t help, as Brawn hasn’t forgotten who killed Ironhide, and he isn’t happy about their new Decepticon team member either.
Guy really is a Grinch; this should have been the issue I covered at Christmas.
Also doubtful of the new setup is Sandra, who is both concerned about the volatile nature of the Autobots she’s seeing, and the highly illegal thing they’re about to do to the satellites over Korea, which goes beyond a basic sin of omission as they’ve been doing so far, and into direct breaking of the rules.
To which she’s told by Guy to just stick it, because looking after their boys is more important.
A human Skywatch guy, who looks exactly like every other white Skywatch guy in this arc so I’m not sure if we’re meant to know him or not, telling them to stop squabbling doesn’t help, as Brawn hasn’t forgotten who killed Ironhide, and he isn’t happy about their new Decepticon team member either.
Guy really is a Grinch; this should have been the issue I covered at Christmas.
Also doubtful of the new setup is Sandra, who is both concerned about the volatile nature of the Autobots she’s seeing, and the highly illegal thing they’re about to do to the satellites over Korea, which goes beyond a basic sin of omission as they’ve been doing so far, and into direct breaking of the rules.
To which she’s told by Guy to just stick it, because looking after their boys is more important.
What the Tories want to do to the NHS.
In North Korea, in a hanger, we have a nice, if not exactly subtle, parallel as the Combaticons are also hitting the booze, and being very smug about how stupid the Autobot battle plan was, using a weak ass scientist for ariel support and never transforming once.
And on that point actually, as my reader Charles Murphy pointed out, way back in Infiltration, the Autobots were all super kitted out to fight in vehicle mode, so it’s a strange regression that it’s suddenly an issue here.
Still, his smugness is short lived, with a fun gag of Optimus Prime suddenly smashing through the wall and sending Vortex flying.
Straight into Ratchet, who declares “You look like you could use a medic” before starting a “Procedure” of clipping the flyer’s wings.
Holy malpractice, Batman.
And on that point actually, as my reader Charles Murphy pointed out, way back in Infiltration, the Autobots were all super kitted out to fight in vehicle mode, so it’s a strange regression that it’s suddenly an issue here.
Still, his smugness is short lived, with a fun gag of Optimus Prime suddenly smashing through the wall and sending Vortex flying.
Straight into Ratchet, who declares “You look like you could use a medic” before starting a “Procedure” of clipping the flyer’s wings.
Holy malpractice, Batman.
He chonk.
Up in space, Cosmos (with a very fun space helmet design), is messing with a satellite to feed it fake images of what’s going on below, and with that done, the Autobots can finally transform and…
Wait a second, so Ratchet was wandering about in robot mode before they started running the interference on the satellites? The guy just ruined everything. They should have brought Brawn.
Still, Optimus Transforming and laying down some hard punches is nicely done by Guidi. Even if Vortex, having easily beaten off Ratchet, isn’t impressed as the Autobots still don’t have air support…
Which is the point Thundercracker flies in and takes him down.
Wait a second, so Ratchet was wandering about in robot mode before they started running the interference on the satellites? The guy just ruined everything. They should have brought Brawn.
Still, Optimus Transforming and laying down some hard punches is nicely done by Guidi. Even if Vortex, having easily beaten off Ratchet, isn’t impressed as the Autobots still don’t have air support…
Which is the point Thundercracker flies in and takes him down.
He's got the high ground!
Meanwhile, Prime is trying to reason with Onslaught that he can’t do this, and his attempts to counter the “We’re both working for a government in exactly the same way” points the Decepticon makes are so weak, he’s probably glad a dramatic cliff-hanger is coming to distract from this.
Said cliff-hanger being a full-page spread revealing four of the five Predacons (Razorclaw being out in space of course), dramatically declaring that this fight is coming too close to the boarder of the “Republic of China, may her people last one thousand years!”
Now, look, Rampage, mate… At least get the name of the People’s Republic of China right, you’ll cause needless confusion if people think you’re invading Korea on behalf of Taiwan.
And yes, this gives us a real glimpse of the galaxy brain of Mike Costa: What if the red Decepticons became literally Reds?
Said cliff-hanger being a full-page spread revealing four of the five Predacons (Razorclaw being out in space of course), dramatically declaring that this fight is coming too close to the boarder of the “Republic of China, may her people last one thousand years!”
Now, look, Rampage, mate… At least get the name of the People’s Republic of China right, you’ll cause needless confusion if people think you’re invading Korea on behalf of Taiwan.
And yes, this gives us a real glimpse of the galaxy brain of Mike Costa: What if the red Decepticons became literally Reds?
Better red than dead.
Despite the eye-rolling ending, this is actually a pretty solid issue. Largely it ignores the ongoing plot, even arguably needlessly drags it out, to focus on a couple of strong character scenes with Thundercracker and Brawn.
Plus, now Guido is on form, there’s some very nice art here and some good visual, violent, gags, even if his humans are a bit Guess Who?
It is a worry that the story has only really kicked off with an issue that isn’t about the story, but, after the last few, any strong content is a blessing and I’ll take that as a minor win.
Next week, back to Crystal City as Drift goes underground.
DRIFT ISSUE 1
2010
COMMENT
KO-FI
Plus, now Guido is on form, there’s some very nice art here and some good visual, violent, gags, even if his humans are a bit Guess Who?
It is a worry that the story has only really kicked off with an issue that isn’t about the story, but, after the last few, any strong content is a blessing and I’ll take that as a minor win.
Next week, back to Crystal City as Drift goes underground.
DRIFT ISSUE 1
2010
COMMENT
KO-FI
