This Town is Coming Like a Ghost Town, All the Clubs Have Been Closed Down.
Ironhide Issue 2: Chapter 2: Iron in the Blood. June 2nd 2010.
Anybody home?
After the pissing about of the first chapter, it’s not the most reassuring sight that issue 2 opens with a full-page spread of Cybertron from orbit. It is trying to work a bit harder at storytelling though, showing Cybertron in its pomp, then a series of panels of the racing stadium that we’ve previously seen Blurr run in his Spotlight be celebrated and adored by everyone, even disgruntled miners, before a slow fade to Ironhide in the present day, wandering through the ruins.
But, despite Casey Coller doing the transition with some style, it didn’t need three pages (certainly, the page of Cybertron is a luxury), and it has narration from some sort of sports commentator excitedly bigging up the next race that doesn’t really have anything to do with the issue as a whole.
It also sets the scene for what will be one of the odder aspects of this issue, making references to previous issues that don’t really very connected to Ironhide.
Anybody home?
After the pissing about of the first chapter, it’s not the most reassuring sight that issue 2 opens with a full-page spread of Cybertron from orbit. It is trying to work a bit harder at storytelling though, showing Cybertron in its pomp, then a series of panels of the racing stadium that we’ve previously seen Blurr run in his Spotlight be celebrated and adored by everyone, even disgruntled miners, before a slow fade to Ironhide in the present day, wandering through the ruins.
But, despite Casey Coller doing the transition with some style, it didn’t need three pages (certainly, the page of Cybertron is a luxury), and it has narration from some sort of sports commentator excitedly bigging up the next race that doesn’t really have anything to do with the issue as a whole.
It also sets the scene for what will be one of the odder aspects of this issue, making references to previous issues that don’t really very connected to Ironhide.
Time passing in a Blurr.
Starting with him remembering when he used to work security at the racetrack, and stopped star of Spotlight: Kup, Outback, from assassinating everyone’s favourite bad boy racer Drag Strip (or as the crowd call him, “Drag,” making him the greatest enemy of the gender critical) because he’s really a Decepticon. Not that Ironhide knows what a Deception or a Megatron is.
Yes, this time, Outback has come well-armed.
If you squint and assume Ironhide didn’t go become a policeman until after issue one of Megatron: Origin, this just about fits in with that issue (though later writers will ignore the idea anyone might not have heard of Megatron even before there are Decepticons hard), but it still feels very strange to see him hanging about with the guy who owns the racetrack from Spotlight: Blurr. Whom, I’m sure we all remember is called…
…errm…
Well, that’s what the Wiki is for.
Outback telling Ironhide he’ll have to wake up one day is the segue back to the present, where ol’Red is getting frustrated at wondering around an abandoned Cybertron and being confused by the place being desolate and full of radiation.
Yes, this time, Outback has come well-armed.
If you squint and assume Ironhide didn’t go become a policeman until after issue one of Megatron: Origin, this just about fits in with that issue (though later writers will ignore the idea anyone might not have heard of Megatron even before there are Decepticons hard), but it still feels very strange to see him hanging about with the guy who owns the racetrack from Spotlight: Blurr. Whom, I’m sure we all remember is called…
…errm…
Well, that’s what the Wiki is for.
Outback telling Ironhide he’ll have to wake up one day is the segue back to the present, where ol’Red is getting frustrated at wondering around an abandoned Cybertron and being confused by the place being desolate and full of radiation.
When you ambush Peter Cullen at the airport with a pile of Funkopops.
Which is a surprisingly low-key way of introducing the fact he doesn’t remember anything that has happened since the Good Old Days.
Luckily, he does spot someone in the shadows.
Unfortunately, it turns out to be the Swarm, which he has to fight out with even more mounting frustration, before driving away… and promptly crashing into a wall.
Leading into a very mysterious dream sequence, where I honestly can’t remember if it will turn out to be just a dream or if it’s being fed to him by the character he’ll meet next issue.
It sees him confronted by a variety of characters from his past, including Ratchet and Wheeljack, who tell him he’s dead, everyone’s at his funeral, he should have stopped Drag Strip because the Stunticons are more dangerous now and he’s ruined everything… but also fixed everything.
Luckily, he does spot someone in the shadows.
Unfortunately, it turns out to be the Swarm, which he has to fight out with even more mounting frustration, before driving away… and promptly crashing into a wall.
Leading into a very mysterious dream sequence, where I honestly can’t remember if it will turn out to be just a dream or if it’s being fed to him by the character he’ll meet next issue.
It sees him confronted by a variety of characters from his past, including Ratchet and Wheeljack, who tell him he’s dead, everyone’s at his funeral, he should have stopped Drag Strip because the Stunticons are more dangerous now and he’s ruined everything… but also fixed everything.
Irohinde has a swarm of fans.
Actually, I guess this must be an outside influence as Ironhide wouldn’t know what the Stunticons are up to on Earth, but the most bizarre thing of all is that amongst his tormentors is Outback. Outback as he appeared in Spotlight: Kup.
Now, even if he’d been aware of what happened to Outback, why would this one guy he apparently only met very briefly a long time ago haunt Ironhide so much he has visions of his death? How many Autobots he must have known better, even argued with in his jobs before they were Autobots, have died horribly as well? It’s not even as if he stopped Outback killing Megatron or some other vital big name, Drag Strip is only a goon. It was not some great pivotal moment in history.
If Outback subsequently became some great and good friend of Ironhide, the story should have at least mentioned it along the way.
And if this is something being done to Ironhide, I can’t think of a good reason for next issue’s special guest star to use Outback either.
Now, even if he’d been aware of what happened to Outback, why would this one guy he apparently only met very briefly a long time ago haunt Ironhide so much he has visions of his death? How many Autobots he must have known better, even argued with in his jobs before they were Autobots, have died horribly as well? It’s not even as if he stopped Outback killing Megatron or some other vital big name, Drag Strip is only a goon. It was not some great pivotal moment in history.
If Outback subsequently became some great and good friend of Ironhide, the story should have at least mentioned it along the way.
And if this is something being done to Ironhide, I can’t think of a good reason for next issue’s special guest star to use Outback either.
The Dark Knight (2008).
It’s also an unlikely call-back for Mike Costa to make. Later, and especially in his most infamous interview, Costa will be obviously salty that his work is considered a long way behind that of James Roberts and Nick Roche. Perhaps this was written before he started to get annoyed by that, but it’s hard to imagine that, a year from now, he would do such a specific homage to a Nick Roche issue for, apparently, no reason other than because he can.
Ironhide is woken from his dream (and I honestly don’t remember if the recurring theme of “Waking up” is going to go anywhere either), to find the Autobot that fans would recognise as Metroplex’s little pal, Scamper, standing over him and declaring “You will come now!”
Which turns out to be one of only two things he can say. The other being “Follow.” Ironhide doesn’t mind too much because it gives him someone to talk too at last, but his conversation is running dry as they arrive at a gleaming perfect city amongst the devastation.
And, again, I’m honestly not sure how quickly you’re supposed to realise this is Metroplex as it’s not a hugely close match to his classic toy look.
Ironhide is woken from his dream (and I honestly don’t remember if the recurring theme of “Waking up” is going to go anywhere either), to find the Autobot that fans would recognise as Metroplex’s little pal, Scamper, standing over him and declaring “You will come now!”
Which turns out to be one of only two things he can say. The other being “Follow.” Ironhide doesn’t mind too much because it gives him someone to talk too at last, but his conversation is running dry as they arrive at a gleaming perfect city amongst the devastation.
And, again, I’m honestly not sure how quickly you’re supposed to realise this is Metroplex as it’s not a hugely close match to his classic toy look.
His sex talk ain't great.
This was an incredibly hard issue to write about because, once again, so little happens in it. You could easily have gotten the essentials down to 11 pages, less if you combine the flashback with the dream. More than ever, I’m convinced this was a subplot that got artificially expanded.
The art is fine, but it’s really going to need to pick up on the backend to not be the dullest comic IDW had yet done. As said a few times, I don’t really remember anything that is coming up, so it very well might.
On the other hand, I might be struggling to remember anything because nothing happens. I don’t know about Ironhide, but Mike Costa certainly needs to wake up.
Next week, whatever else is coming, it’s certainly memorable as one of the key issues of the ongoing arrives as Spike meets Scrapper.
THE TRANSFORMERS ISSUE 7
2010
COMMENT
KO-FI
The art is fine, but it’s really going to need to pick up on the backend to not be the dullest comic IDW had yet done. As said a few times, I don’t really remember anything that is coming up, so it very well might.
On the other hand, I might be struggling to remember anything because nothing happens. I don’t know about Ironhide, but Mike Costa certainly needs to wake up.
Next week, whatever else is coming, it’s certainly memorable as one of the key issues of the ongoing arrives as Spike meets Scrapper.
THE TRANSFORMERS ISSUE 7
2010
COMMENT
KO-FI
