We Built This City on Rock and Roll.
Drift Issue 2. September 22nd 2010.
Trouble in paradise?
We’re into immediate controversy with the second issue of this series, as it opens with a flashback of Wing explaining to Drift how the inhabitants of Crystal City (not actually called The Circle of Light yet, I wonder when that name pops up?) fled Cybertron during the early days of the war. Initially to nearby planets and then further and underground as the war spread, building their perfect home.
It was controversial because, amidst the war flashbacks, Alex Milne draws Armada Hot Shot and Shattered Glass Ravage amongst the dead. Because, apparently at the goading of a friend, those are respectively the favourite character and one created by prominent fan writer Dave Willis.
Now, I’m not sure how much this was a friendly wind up, or a deliberate attempt to annoy someone Milne doesn’t like, but the Wiki (where Willis is an editor) struck back by simply listing these as completely different characters, notably, Ravage is the identical looking Kiss Players Glit (a toy I once had to get through airport security in packaging for a “I just like the toys! Honest” friend in the scariest ten minutes of my life).
Which is basically an extraordinarily immature bit of tit for tat by everyone involved, but then, I’m hardly one to talk. Either way, I’m sure it’ll be the last remotely controversial moment involving Milne we’ll see in this project.
Trouble in paradise?
We’re into immediate controversy with the second issue of this series, as it opens with a flashback of Wing explaining to Drift how the inhabitants of Crystal City (not actually called The Circle of Light yet, I wonder when that name pops up?) fled Cybertron during the early days of the war. Initially to nearby planets and then further and underground as the war spread, building their perfect home.
It was controversial because, amidst the war flashbacks, Alex Milne draws Armada Hot Shot and Shattered Glass Ravage amongst the dead. Because, apparently at the goading of a friend, those are respectively the favourite character and one created by prominent fan writer Dave Willis.
Now, I’m not sure how much this was a friendly wind up, or a deliberate attempt to annoy someone Milne doesn’t like, but the Wiki (where Willis is an editor) struck back by simply listing these as completely different characters, notably, Ravage is the identical looking Kiss Players Glit (a toy I once had to get through airport security in packaging for a “I just like the toys! Honest” friend in the scariest ten minutes of my life).
Which is basically an extraordinarily immature bit of tit for tat by everyone involved, but then, I’m hardly one to talk. Either way, I’m sure it’ll be the last remotely controversial moment involving Milne we’ll see in this project.
Wow, Dai Atlas is a dick. Hope he'll get what's coming to him.
The purpose of the flashback is Wing trying to convince a doubting Drift that the Decepticons were just as wrong as the Autobots, and this paradise is much better than anything the other Cybertronians have achieved, making Drift remember his days as a homeless drifter again.
This does not seem terribly convincing as we cut to a meeting where the leader of Crystal City, Zone character Dai Atlas, who is giving a big speech to council about how Wing has dome something terrible by bringing a Decepticon in and trying to free the slaves. Because it turns out the City is only a paradise if you’re a fascist, as only the “Pure” and right sort are allowed in, and they don’t want any wrong types about “influencing” the right types.
So, whilst they make their decision, Wing is not to leave Drift alone under any circumstances.
Which, for some reason, makes Wing give Drift an offer: If the Decepticon can beat him in unarmed combat, Drift can leave.
Which is odd and seems mainly to be here to pad out the issue with several pages of them sparing, and Drift losing.
This does not seem terribly convincing as we cut to a meeting where the leader of Crystal City, Zone character Dai Atlas, who is giving a big speech to council about how Wing has dome something terrible by bringing a Decepticon in and trying to free the slaves. Because it turns out the City is only a paradise if you’re a fascist, as only the “Pure” and right sort are allowed in, and they don’t want any wrong types about “influencing” the right types.
So, whilst they make their decision, Wing is not to leave Drift alone under any circumstances.
Which, for some reason, makes Wing give Drift an offer: If the Decepticon can beat him in unarmed combat, Drift can leave.
Which is odd and seems mainly to be here to pad out the issue with several pages of them sparing, and Drift losing.
OH NO NOT GASKET
Till Drift snaps and reveals he never signed up for conquest. He signed up because, when he was in the gutter, his best friend Gasket helped him and all the other homeless guys stay alive, until the day they stole the wrong energon and an Autobot police officer killed him.
There are a few odd things about this, starting with a retrospective one where Gasket will never be mentioned again, even when Drift winds up in a place where those present are reunited with the dead people who are important to them.
The other, and in a clear shift from Megatron Origin, someone in either editorial or at Hasbro didn’t want an Autobot cop just killing a guy, so we get a bizarre and possibly redrawn at the last second looking panel where another Transformer causes the gun to fire by grabbing it, and the cop pulls a full Martin Freeman doing dramatic acting face to show it was a mistake.
Still, these guys are so awful, at least we know Optimus Prime will never turn out to have been one.
Following this, Drift fell into gangs and learnt the true “Corruption” of Cybertron, before winding up joining the Decepticons.
With Megatron telling him he’s heard great things and that Drift is an example to them all. Which is as close to an authorial self-insert the character will ever feel.
Oh, and Drift is going to be renamed Deadlock, because why should cartoon Prime have all the fun in randomly renaming people for no reason?
There are a few odd things about this, starting with a retrospective one where Gasket will never be mentioned again, even when Drift winds up in a place where those present are reunited with the dead people who are important to them.
The other, and in a clear shift from Megatron Origin, someone in either editorial or at Hasbro didn’t want an Autobot cop just killing a guy, so we get a bizarre and possibly redrawn at the last second looking panel where another Transformer causes the gun to fire by grabbing it, and the cop pulls a full Martin Freeman doing dramatic acting face to show it was a mistake.
Still, these guys are so awful, at least we know Optimus Prime will never turn out to have been one.
Following this, Drift fell into gangs and learnt the true “Corruption” of Cybertron, before winding up joining the Decepticons.
With Megatron telling him he’s heard great things and that Drift is an example to them all. Which is as close to an authorial self-insert the character will ever feel.
Oh, and Drift is going to be renamed Deadlock, because why should cartoon Prime have all the fun in randomly renaming people for no reason?
YES
This makes Wing point out that this great cause of Megatron’s got Cybertron nowhere, the Decepticons were just used by him, and Crystal City holds everything Drift could want.
This introspection is interrupted by Dai Atlas calling them in to ask about a mysterious transmission they’re receiving. Which Drift denies all knowledge of…
But he still sneaks out the city at night, because apparently Wing is a heavy sleeper, and they don’t have any guards on the doors.
Outside, he meets the slavers, who are very glad he’s come after their last fight. And they have a surprise for him when he asks how they knew that Decepticon code, as it turns out one of his own is there, Lockdown!
Yes, after all these cameos and padding out of crowd scenes with them, we have our first proper role for a non-G1 character. Which will later become a handy way to promote toys without doing comics for other continuities. Here, the breakout Animated character with a name the franchise isn’t likely to use again for a while post-pandemic is drawn as his Revenge of the Fallen toy. Though remember, he’s not actually appeared in a movie yet.
Megatron isn’t happy with his golden boy, but for now, Lockdown’s one concern is Drift give them the location of his new friends… or he’ll never leave the planet alive.
This introspection is interrupted by Dai Atlas calling them in to ask about a mysterious transmission they’re receiving. Which Drift denies all knowledge of…
But he still sneaks out the city at night, because apparently Wing is a heavy sleeper, and they don’t have any guards on the doors.
Outside, he meets the slavers, who are very glad he’s come after their last fight. And they have a surprise for him when he asks how they knew that Decepticon code, as it turns out one of his own is there, Lockdown!
Yes, after all these cameos and padding out of crowd scenes with them, we have our first proper role for a non-G1 character. Which will later become a handy way to promote toys without doing comics for other continuities. Here, the breakout Animated character with a name the franchise isn’t likely to use again for a while post-pandemic is drawn as his Revenge of the Fallen toy. Though remember, he’s not actually appeared in a movie yet.
Megatron isn’t happy with his golden boy, but for now, Lockdown’s one concern is Drift give them the location of his new friends… or he’ll never leave the planet alive.
10 years early.
After the first issue was pretty solid, this feels like a bloated step back, with the wrestling between Drift and Wing especially feeling like padding.
It also badly fails to sell the perfection, or even the likability, of Crystal City. The leaders are arses, and what we see of the rest is… a shopping mall? And whilst there may be intended to be a degree of hypocrisy in their attitudes, it’s also meant to be so impressive it speaks to Drift and, along with Wing’s speeches, change him.
It also has to be said, the flashbacks just feel like a less impressive knockoff Megatron’s backstory from Origin, all of which basically leaves Milne’s art as the highpoint, fan baiting controversy and all.
Next week, the fortnightly schedule of this comic means that we’re straight into the third issue as we find out whether Drift is going to continue playing both sides, or if his loyalties will Lockdown.
THE TRANSFORMERS ISSUE 11
2010
COMMENT
KO-FI
It also badly fails to sell the perfection, or even the likability, of Crystal City. The leaders are arses, and what we see of the rest is… a shopping mall? And whilst there may be intended to be a degree of hypocrisy in their attitudes, it’s also meant to be so impressive it speaks to Drift and, along with Wing’s speeches, change him.
It also has to be said, the flashbacks just feel like a less impressive knockoff Megatron’s backstory from Origin, all of which basically leaves Milne’s art as the highpoint, fan baiting controversy and all.
Next week, the fortnightly schedule of this comic means that we’re straight into the third issue as we find out whether Drift is going to continue playing both sides, or if his loyalties will Lockdown.
THE TRANSFORMERS ISSUE 11
2010
COMMENT
KO-FI
