And for the Celebration, I Shoot my Gun.
The Transformers Issue 15: Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon. January 5th 2011.
Like any gun, if you handle it properly, these weapons are perfectly safe.
The second part of this issue represents a big shift in the style of 21st century Transformers comics, as the original darling of Dreamwave, Don Figueroa draws his final interiors for the franchise. Though it’s not the first time he’s walked off in the middle of a story (following the second Beast Wars miniseries), this time he is gone for good. At least as of early 2023, it’ll be interesting to see if a new publisher opens up an avenue for a return.
It's not really clear if him going was entirely down to his annoyance as the use of his Megatron design in a technically legal but morally bankrupt way, or if it was just the case of itchy feet hitting hard once more. It is likely that the door remained closed on the IDW side though, you might forgive someone walking out once, but not twice. And the reception to his style on the ongoing had left him a lot less untouchable than he would have been before.
And that’s what needs to be remembered when talking about Don Figueroa, he was the first, real, “Superstar” artist of the revived comics, taking the title from those that otherwise tried to claim it (Pat Lee), setting a standard that we won’t really see IDW move away from till the big reinvention at the end of 2011. If his attempt to refreshen his work for the ongoing is not his best, that does not take away from what he achieved in his half-decade working professionally on the books.
All of which is far more interesting to talk about than the actual comic.
Like any gun, if you handle it properly, these weapons are perfectly safe.
The second part of this issue represents a big shift in the style of 21st century Transformers comics, as the original darling of Dreamwave, Don Figueroa draws his final interiors for the franchise. Though it’s not the first time he’s walked off in the middle of a story (following the second Beast Wars miniseries), this time he is gone for good. At least as of early 2023, it’ll be interesting to see if a new publisher opens up an avenue for a return.
It's not really clear if him going was entirely down to his annoyance as the use of his Megatron design in a technically legal but morally bankrupt way, or if it was just the case of itchy feet hitting hard once more. It is likely that the door remained closed on the IDW side though, you might forgive someone walking out once, but not twice. And the reception to his style on the ongoing had left him a lot less untouchable than he would have been before.
And that’s what needs to be remembered when talking about Don Figueroa, he was the first, real, “Superstar” artist of the revived comics, taking the title from those that otherwise tried to claim it (Pat Lee), setting a standard that we won’t really see IDW move away from till the big reinvention at the end of 2011. If his attempt to refreshen his work for the ongoing is not his best, that does not take away from what he achieved in his half-decade working professionally on the books.
All of which is far more interesting to talk about than the actual comic.
Yeah, you can kinda see why Don didn't get too far on comics without robots.
You can tell how things are going to go here from the opening, which gives over three pages to more of the interview with Ben Simpson, which apparently has not been interrupted for the breaking news of the attack at Skywatch HQ.
I praised this section last issue for being unnervingly prescient, but here it just basically repeats the same material, with the very small new information that his group have been the ones selling these mysterious guns, but he takes no responsibility for Gladki’s actions, even though his family claim he was hearing voices from the radio.
So wait, this means this can’t be the same interview, but one done some time later after at least some investigating has been done. So why are Simpson and the interviewer wearing the same clothes still?
Still, this basically sets the template of an issue that is mostly going to be recapping stuff we already know, with infrequent nuggets of new information thrown in.
I praised this section last issue for being unnervingly prescient, but here it just basically repeats the same material, with the very small new information that his group have been the ones selling these mysterious guns, but he takes no responsibility for Gladki’s actions, even though his family claim he was hearing voices from the radio.
So wait, this means this can’t be the same interview, but one done some time later after at least some investigating has been done. So why are Simpson and the interviewer wearing the same clothes still?
Still, this basically sets the template of an issue that is mostly going to be recapping stuff we already know, with infrequent nuggets of new information thrown in.
That's a tricky image to decipher.
The bulk of this is told via Megatron, sitting out in the vacuum on the surface of the asteroid in a position that can only be called “Squatting” (which his new body isn’t great at, from behind he looks like he’s going a huge phat ass), remembering the events of the last few years.
Of which the actual new information is his original body was written off, discarded and turned into the guns that have been sent to Earth. Something that surprises Starscream (though in a nice touch, he pretends not to be), when he visits Shockwave and Soundwave and finds they’ve been doing this rather than making him a space bridge to get them anywhere else.
Oh, and they’ve totally rebuilt Megatron into a new form as well.
Oh, and built a Space Bridge. Because Shockwave can multitask.
The space bridge is then used to send the guns to where we saw them last issue, where in turn they were smuggled into the States, creating a nationwide mental link of parts of Megatron that allowed to achieve the amazing power of…
Talking to one man and convincing him to shoot Bumblebee.
Of which the actual new information is his original body was written off, discarded and turned into the guns that have been sent to Earth. Something that surprises Starscream (though in a nice touch, he pretends not to be), when he visits Shockwave and Soundwave and finds they’ve been doing this rather than making him a space bridge to get them anywhere else.
Oh, and they’ve totally rebuilt Megatron into a new form as well.
Oh, and built a Space Bridge. Because Shockwave can multitask.
The space bridge is then used to send the guns to where we saw them last issue, where in turn they were smuggled into the States, creating a nationwide mental link of parts of Megatron that allowed to achieve the amazing power of…
Talking to one man and convincing him to shoot Bumblebee.
Friends reunited.
That seems a ridiculous amount of effort for that. Especially considering that Soundwave could have just shot Bumblebee when he raided the complex. I can’t remember what else this plan is leading to, so perhaps we’ll get something that will seem to make it all worthwhile, but so far, it’s a bafflingly hard way of achieving a very simple goal. Megatron’s proxy even needs to be plugged into the cigarette lighter in Joe Gladki’s car to pull of his plan.
The rest of these flashbacks (which confusingly switch between normal panels and distinctive “Flashback” panels) just repeat what we already know, with the only interesting moment being that when Megatron shoots Hot Rod, he’s in his original body, despite that being at odds with the pages around it. Was Don salty about not being the first person to get to draw the design?
Back on Earth, in the present, we finally get some proper progression as, in the immediate aftermath of the attack on Skywatch…
Oh, so no time at all has passed from last issue then? So, when was there time to go interview Gladki’s family about his mental illness?
The rest of these flashbacks (which confusingly switch between normal panels and distinctive “Flashback” panels) just repeat what we already know, with the only interesting moment being that when Megatron shoots Hot Rod, he’s in his original body, despite that being at odds with the pages around it. Was Don salty about not being the first person to get to draw the design?
Back on Earth, in the present, we finally get some proper progression as, in the immediate aftermath of the attack on Skywatch…
Oh, so no time at all has passed from last issue then? So, when was there time to go interview Gladki’s family about his mental illness?
The wrong arm!
Still, as Brawn is deeply confused as to what is going on with the Megatron gun, Ultra Magnus decides things have gotten too messy and they’re too compromised at this base. As such, they’re going to fall back to Omega Supreme. And it’s a nice bit of character that he’s entirely upfront that is a retreat, no sugar-coating at all. But Brawn is to go on a special mission to get some help…
Which is a bit of misdirection as we cut to Thundercracker arriving home, to find waiting for him…
Starscream.
Which at least gives Don a nice page to go out on.
Which is a bit of misdirection as we cut to Thundercracker arriving home, to find waiting for him…
Starscream.
Which at least gives Don a nice page to go out on.
And then, he was Don gone.
In a tough competition for this series, this is the most wasteful issue yet. The small nuggets of new information in the interview could have been in those sections in the first part. What little we learn about the Decepticon situation could have been a running subplot in previous issues. And Ultra Magnus calling for a retreat could also have been easily fitted into the last issue.
Some of the new stuff isn't especially interesting either, surely using the space bridge to "Beam" the guns to Earth was enough information, we don't need an entire segment about them being sent to Earth orbit and having to go into a crash landing unpowered as well?
So, not to start repeating myself as much as Costa does, but this really is a complete drag of absolute nothing and it’s staggering they charged $3.99 for it. That’s basically a dollar for every panel that’s worth reading. Effectively, this will only be remembered for it seeing Don Figueroa leave the series.
Next week, it’s double Revisitation as I look at both the opening of IDW’s first big multi-franchise crossover and its specific Transformers issue. It’s going to get Infested in here.
THE TRANSFORMERS ISSUE 14
2011
COMMENT
KO-FI
Some of the new stuff isn't especially interesting either, surely using the space bridge to "Beam" the guns to Earth was enough information, we don't need an entire segment about them being sent to Earth orbit and having to go into a crash landing unpowered as well?
So, not to start repeating myself as much as Costa does, but this really is a complete drag of absolute nothing and it’s staggering they charged $3.99 for it. That’s basically a dollar for every panel that’s worth reading. Effectively, this will only be remembered for it seeing Don Figueroa leave the series.
Next week, it’s double Revisitation as I look at both the opening of IDW’s first big multi-franchise crossover and its specific Transformers issue. It’s going to get Infested in here.
THE TRANSFORMERS ISSUE 14
2011
COMMENT
KO-FI
