Everybody do the Dinosaur.
Robots in Disguise issue 8: Dinobot Hunt. August 22nd 2012.
I like this! I like listening to you two! You have issues!
Working on the principal of a year’s run of the only guarantee, but at least hoping for more, John Barber as range editor took a fairly smart decision as we get well into the second half of that run: A promotional gimmick that could give some attention back to the comics if readers was flagging after 8 months and give the whole thing a bounce as it approaches the end game. Effectively equivalent to Russel T Davis saving the Daleks till episode 6 of the first new series of Doctor Who.
In this case, promoting the return of extremely popular characters who haven’t been in the comics properly for a few years now with Dinobot Month. And yes, it is Dinobots and not “Dynobots,” the Wiki points out there’s no explanation for the change, but considering everyone will be speaking Cybertronian anyway, it’s easy to put down to the translation for our human eyes.
One advantage the Barber side of the special month has in terms of getting floating readers back and interested, is his issue is the start of a story rather than, as we’ll see next week with Roberts, the conclusion of a two parter. Suggesting perhaps this wasn’t a carefully organized thing, more someone noticing that the Dinobots were coincidentally back in both books at the same time and that could be made play of.
But happenstance or not, when he came to the writing of the issue, John Barber clearly decided to deliver something that franchises, especially comics, rarely do when promising a story that is a great jumping on point, it actually is a great jumping on point. We’ll see similar moments go much worse in the future.
I like this! I like listening to you two! You have issues!
Working on the principal of a year’s run of the only guarantee, but at least hoping for more, John Barber as range editor took a fairly smart decision as we get well into the second half of that run: A promotional gimmick that could give some attention back to the comics if readers was flagging after 8 months and give the whole thing a bounce as it approaches the end game. Effectively equivalent to Russel T Davis saving the Daleks till episode 6 of the first new series of Doctor Who.
In this case, promoting the return of extremely popular characters who haven’t been in the comics properly for a few years now with Dinobot Month. And yes, it is Dinobots and not “Dynobots,” the Wiki points out there’s no explanation for the change, but considering everyone will be speaking Cybertronian anyway, it’s easy to put down to the translation for our human eyes.
One advantage the Barber side of the special month has in terms of getting floating readers back and interested, is his issue is the start of a story rather than, as we’ll see next week with Roberts, the conclusion of a two parter. Suggesting perhaps this wasn’t a carefully organized thing, more someone noticing that the Dinobots were coincidentally back in both books at the same time and that could be made play of.
But happenstance or not, when he came to the writing of the issue, John Barber clearly decided to deliver something that franchises, especially comics, rarely do when promising a story that is a great jumping on point, it actually is a great jumping on point. We’ll see similar moments go much worse in the future.
Lads.
This involves opening with a visual steal from Patton, as Ironhide paces in front of a massive Autobrand (which, even allowing for it mainly being for the aesthetic, suggests something interesting in that someone has bothered to make one in a shanty town), his dialogue setting out the dangerous mission:
They’ve picked up a signal from a long way outside of Iacon that may be the Aerialbots. Even with them walking out, they’re still Autobots, so he needs a team to attempt a rescue through wild territory that affects people at night in an adverse way. So, does he have volunteers?
His inner monologue, however, makes it clear this is rather a self-inflicted get Ironhide out of the way job, on rather tenuous reasons, because his talk of the future he’s seen is freaking everyone out (with Prowl being blunter than Bumblebee about it).
And of course, who does someone who isn’t fitting in with the people of Iacon go to for volunteers for a Go Away mission?
Other misfits, the returned to Cybertron after years in space Dinobots (minus Grimlock), who as warriors through and through, are not wanted or liked in the new peace. Though, in the same way Ironhide is pretending this is a serious mission, they pretend it’s just something to do to pass the time and avoid boredom.
Oh, and Sky Lynx is coming as well, but he doesn’t care if anyone likes him or not, he’s just providing air transport as far into the interference zone as he can.
They’ve picked up a signal from a long way outside of Iacon that may be the Aerialbots. Even with them walking out, they’re still Autobots, so he needs a team to attempt a rescue through wild territory that affects people at night in an adverse way. So, does he have volunteers?
His inner monologue, however, makes it clear this is rather a self-inflicted get Ironhide out of the way job, on rather tenuous reasons, because his talk of the future he’s seen is freaking everyone out (with Prowl being blunter than Bumblebee about it).
And of course, who does someone who isn’t fitting in with the people of Iacon go to for volunteers for a Go Away mission?
Other misfits, the returned to Cybertron after years in space Dinobots (minus Grimlock), who as warriors through and through, are not wanted or liked in the new peace. Though, in the same way Ironhide is pretending this is a serious mission, they pretend it’s just something to do to pass the time and avoid boredom.
Oh, and Sky Lynx is coming as well, but he doesn’t care if anyone likes him or not, he’s just providing air transport as far into the interference zone as he can.
Considering who is actually talking here, bitching about the Dinobots keeping their earth animal modes is hilarious.
Prowl is very glad to see them go, largely because the Dinobots make him nervous, for things like keeping their Earth modes. It’s probably lucky that, whatever Hunter O’Nion might think, “Dinobots” and “Dynobots” sound identical, he’d probably have a real aneurysm if he realised that change.
This scene is mainly about setting up the Cybertron political situation for anyone new picking this up for the Dinobots: Bumblebee is frustrated with Metalhawk, frustrated with Starscream, frustrated with their demands for elections to happen and especially frustrated with Prowl straight up saying they do need elections to legitimise their government.
With Starscream rather nailing the point that ‘Bee is only going to call the elections when he’s sure he’ll win.
Above a very Dark of the Moon Cybertron looking wilderness, Sky Lynx gradually loses all sense of direction and becomes confused, as the Autobot and Dinobots aboard are getting shirtier in a way that might not be immediately apparent considering the characters involved, even with acknowledging something is getting into their heads.
This scene is mainly about setting up the Cybertron political situation for anyone new picking this up for the Dinobots: Bumblebee is frustrated with Metalhawk, frustrated with Starscream, frustrated with their demands for elections to happen and especially frustrated with Prowl straight up saying they do need elections to legitimise their government.
With Starscream rather nailing the point that ‘Bee is only going to call the elections when he’s sure he’ll win.
Above a very Dark of the Moon Cybertron looking wilderness, Sky Lynx gradually loses all sense of direction and becomes confused, as the Autobot and Dinobots aboard are getting shirtier in a way that might not be immediately apparent considering the characters involved, even with acknowledging something is getting into their heads.
You can't outfox Slag.
So it’s abandon ship, with more snipping, that only gets interrupted by an attack by a monster that let’s both the Dinobots and Andrew Griffith show off, with Ironhide (presumably aware that many more casual fans struggle with which S Dinobot is which), taking the time to sum up each one’s personality and basic fighting style. Including clarifying that Slag is now the leader in the absence of Grimlock because he is the closest to being as nuts as their former boss (possibly a biased opinion from Ironhide there).
The monster turns out to be a Turbofox—finally clarified after all these years as normally being not much more than a walking plant, so no need to feel bad about Mirage hunting them—that something has made bigger and bader and scarier.
Though not scary enough to have ripped off one of Silverbolt’s wings, which is the next thing they find, discarded on the floor.
What to do next with night falling and the headaches getting worse causes an argument between Ironhide and Slag that Swoop is delighted with, but the older Autobot just about manages to downplay it as old pals’ swapping friendly barbs rather than anything more serious before carrying on.
Considering Ironhide can easily fall into being a brash impulsive strongman (or in the worst examples, idiot), him actually being the senior voice of reason able to keep thinking sensibly even under duress is both a nice change and makes his senior position in the Autobot forces feel more likely.
The monster turns out to be a Turbofox—finally clarified after all these years as normally being not much more than a walking plant, so no need to feel bad about Mirage hunting them—that something has made bigger and bader and scarier.
Though not scary enough to have ripped off one of Silverbolt’s wings, which is the next thing they find, discarded on the floor.
What to do next with night falling and the headaches getting worse causes an argument between Ironhide and Slag that Swoop is delighted with, but the older Autobot just about manages to downplay it as old pals’ swapping friendly barbs rather than anything more serious before carrying on.
Considering Ironhide can easily fall into being a brash impulsive strongman (or in the worst examples, idiot), him actually being the senior voice of reason able to keep thinking sensibly even under duress is both a nice change and makes his senior position in the Autobot forces feel more likely.
A true sign this is EVIL Prowl: He counts Autocracy.
Back in Iacon we get what, somewhat ironically considering the theoretical focus of the issue, is the best scene as Prowl (who has lots of giant Dirge wanting posters in front of his desk that feel ready made for a meme) and Bumblebee talk.
With Prowl revealing that, whatever the NAILs think, whatever Starscream and Metalhawk say, he knows the Autobots are the good guys, Optimus was a good guy and Bumblebee is a good guy.
Complete with a three-quarter page flashback montage of key IDW moments, with a valiant effort from Prowl to try and claim the death of Zeta in Autocracy was totally 100% what James Roberts had meant by the “Gunshot that killed an empire”, honest ‘guv.
Which leads Bumblebee to the most shocking of revelations: Prowl wants elections because he thinks they’ll win.
To which the reply is, “Bee, I know you’ll win.”
This is a very smart bit of writing from Barber, seeming on the surface to be a reconciliation moment that shows Prowl actually is a decent guy at heart who respects his peers and is doing the right thing.
Of course, in a few months, we’ll discover that “Prowl” is actually completely taking the piss with this seeming sincerity and playing Bumblebee like a piano, giving it a whole other layer of meaning upon a reread when you do know. It’s economic and rewarding and, again, covers a lot of ground quickly for those readers who’ve come in off the mini-promotional event.
With Prowl revealing that, whatever the NAILs think, whatever Starscream and Metalhawk say, he knows the Autobots are the good guys, Optimus was a good guy and Bumblebee is a good guy.
Complete with a three-quarter page flashback montage of key IDW moments, with a valiant effort from Prowl to try and claim the death of Zeta in Autocracy was totally 100% what James Roberts had meant by the “Gunshot that killed an empire”, honest ‘guv.
Which leads Bumblebee to the most shocking of revelations: Prowl wants elections because he thinks they’ll win.
To which the reply is, “Bee, I know you’ll win.”
This is a very smart bit of writing from Barber, seeming on the surface to be a reconciliation moment that shows Prowl actually is a decent guy at heart who respects his peers and is doing the right thing.
Of course, in a few months, we’ll discover that “Prowl” is actually completely taking the piss with this seeming sincerity and playing Bumblebee like a piano, giving it a whole other layer of meaning upon a reread when you do know. It’s economic and rewarding and, again, covers a lot of ground quickly for those readers who’ve come in off the mini-promotional event.
Becoming a dinosaur is a perfectly rational philosophy.
Back in the wilderness, the remnants of the fight show something far nastier and well-armed than wild animals fought the Aerialbots, and Ironhide is pretty convinced one particular old enemy is hiding out here, something the increasingly on edge Slag is not impressed by. Nor is he impressed by his perception of Ironhide having gone “Soft” to be even scared of him in the first place.
Which is where Ironhide brings up his visions, in particular the concerning part for him, that the future he saw had them colonising the galaxy (which I don’t remember being mentioned in the last Costa issue, but I’ve repressed a lot).
He’s actually surprised that Slag is absolutely prepared to take this at face value, but, as the triceratops points out, no one becomes a Dinobot out of a rational philosophy.
The final cutaway of the issue is a perfunctory but still characterful one, to the Decepticon Pen in Iacon, as Swindle brings Dirge to Soundwave and gives the entire story of Prowl’s actions to him, on the grounds Shockwave is the second smartest person in this room bar Swindle himself (which is a nice beat).
This is another scene that takes on another meaning when what’s really going on becomes apparent and we know Shockwave is not being information he doesn’t know (or know a lot more about) than Swindle and Dirge, and gives extra irony to the ending question of what to do with this knowledge…
Which is where Ironhide brings up his visions, in particular the concerning part for him, that the future he saw had them colonising the galaxy (which I don’t remember being mentioned in the last Costa issue, but I’ve repressed a lot).
He’s actually surprised that Slag is absolutely prepared to take this at face value, but, as the triceratops points out, no one becomes a Dinobot out of a rational philosophy.
The final cutaway of the issue is a perfunctory but still characterful one, to the Decepticon Pen in Iacon, as Swindle brings Dirge to Soundwave and gives the entire story of Prowl’s actions to him, on the grounds Shockwave is the second smartest person in this room bar Swindle himself (which is a nice beat).
This is another scene that takes on another meaning when what’s really going on becomes apparent and we know Shockwave is not being information he doesn’t know (or know a lot more about) than Swindle and Dirge, and gives extra irony to the ending question of what to do with this knowledge…
The idea the last Costa issue was actually the bad future is hilarious shade.
In the wilderness, the increasingly frayed team are trying to prepare some defences for the night, with some blunt questions to Ironhide making his disquiet with his vision clearer: The Autobots did win in the end, but went on to do everything Nova Prime had set out to achieve, spreading their robot seed across the galaxy, “Pax Cybertronia” indeed. They fought for four million years to end up right back where they started.
Unsurprisingly, no one is really going to sleep, but Snarl takes first watch and Ironhide lays awake with his thoughts of Megatron being back and, as violent noises stir him, his determination not “Goin’ out like an Aerialbot!”, an absolutely hilarious burn that would hurt Silverbolt more than losing a wing if he hear it.
As Snarl’s smoking body and, both darkly comedically and gruesomely, Sludge’s Dinobot head get thrown at him, Ironhide is absolutely convinced this is Megatron and calls him out…
Even as Slag approaches him from behind and, in a great concluding full-page spread, Swoop runs him through with a sword whilst telling the Autobot “You talk too much.”
This isn’t the deepest issue, being very firmly an attempt to create something that could be used as a new readers start here moment, focusing on action, tension and clarifying the overall situation so anyone who does carry on with the book from here has all basics like they’re Chris McFeely.
Unsurprisingly, no one is really going to sleep, but Snarl takes first watch and Ironhide lays awake with his thoughts of Megatron being back and, as violent noises stir him, his determination not “Goin’ out like an Aerialbot!”, an absolutely hilarious burn that would hurt Silverbolt more than losing a wing if he hear it.
As Snarl’s smoking body and, both darkly comedically and gruesomely, Sludge’s Dinobot head get thrown at him, Ironhide is absolutely convinced this is Megatron and calls him out…
Even as Slag approaches him from behind and, in a great concluding full-page spread, Swoop runs him through with a sword whilst telling the Autobot “You talk too much.”
This isn’t the deepest issue, being very firmly an attempt to create something that could be used as a new readers start here moment, focusing on action, tension and clarifying the overall situation so anyone who does carry on with the book from here has all basics like they’re Chris McFeely.
He thought it was Megatron, but now he gets the point.
But it’s also an extremely enjoyable issue, that actually manages to keep the growing tension of the Dinobots’s tempers raising even with cutting away from it a couple of times. The character work on Ironhide is long overdue in giving him back his dignity and intelligence after some rough years from the previous writers and has some on form lovely art from Griffith.
It’s orbiting the main plot scenes are also very cleverly done so as to fulfil that giving new readers the Cliffjumper notes on the plot requirement and to work differently on a first read to a after the reveal revisit of this story.
Ironically for a story named after a Marvel UK arc (the sort of thing that’s normally very much James Roberts’ territory), it shows Barber’s big USP in comparison to his fellow writer, the years of experience he already has in the business, especially as an editor. I’d say the corresponding More Than Meets the Eye two parter is bolder in many ways, but this does the required job of giving a “Dinobot Month” that new readers can jump on much better.
Whether this little event worked at that is harder to tell, physical sales were always fairly static, we don’t have any idea of the growing digital market’s impact. But it is a shame this sort of smaller scale event that allows more flexibility (in this case, just do a story with at least one Dinobot in it) and doesn’t clog up the schedule too much. If memory serves, there’s one or two more “Months” as we go along, but it quickly gives way to more tradition big E Events with incredibly variable success.
Next week, it’s the More Than Meets the Eye half of Dinobot Month, with the big G back in play.
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE ISSUE 7
2012
COMMENT
KO-FI
It’s orbiting the main plot scenes are also very cleverly done so as to fulfil that giving new readers the Cliffjumper notes on the plot requirement and to work differently on a first read to a after the reveal revisit of this story.
Ironically for a story named after a Marvel UK arc (the sort of thing that’s normally very much James Roberts’ territory), it shows Barber’s big USP in comparison to his fellow writer, the years of experience he already has in the business, especially as an editor. I’d say the corresponding More Than Meets the Eye two parter is bolder in many ways, but this does the required job of giving a “Dinobot Month” that new readers can jump on much better.
Whether this little event worked at that is harder to tell, physical sales were always fairly static, we don’t have any idea of the growing digital market’s impact. But it is a shame this sort of smaller scale event that allows more flexibility (in this case, just do a story with at least one Dinobot in it) and doesn’t clog up the schedule too much. If memory serves, there’s one or two more “Months” as we go along, but it quickly gives way to more tradition big E Events with incredibly variable success.
Next week, it’s the More Than Meets the Eye half of Dinobot Month, with the big G back in play.
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE ISSUE 7
2012
COMMENT
KO-FI
