‘Cause I Never Felt the Desire, to Let Music Set Me on Fire, and Then I was Saved, Yeah, That’s Why I’m Keeping the Faith, Yeah.
Spotlight Drift. April 8th 2009.
I know all about second chances.
What caused the big gap and sudden rushed catch-up on the Spotlight series, we’re now back on track with the opening salvo in a Drift offensive that will include, next year, his own miniseries. All designed to promote a toy that was not yet available when this first issue came out.
Drift would, eventually, become an extremely popular character and, more importantly for Hasbro, a breakout one who’d enjoy success in both the films and the cartoons. The Drift people remember though, especially that as written by James Roberts and the very different looking but still played in the same way Bay version, tend to treat the character and their very sincere faith with a degree of humour and self-awareness. Not in a way that, in the comics at least where there’s more time to focus on character, doesn’t allow for growth and serious moments, but I suspect the hippy zen Drift is the one people remember best and they don’t completely regard him as a serious character.
So, coming back to an issue that expects you to take him and his situation and his wise little sayings completely seriously does induce a bit of shock. Shane McCarthy is clearly convinced Drift is awesome on every level with complete sincerity.
I know all about second chances.
What caused the big gap and sudden rushed catch-up on the Spotlight series, we’re now back on track with the opening salvo in a Drift offensive that will include, next year, his own miniseries. All designed to promote a toy that was not yet available when this first issue came out.
Drift would, eventually, become an extremely popular character and, more importantly for Hasbro, a breakout one who’d enjoy success in both the films and the cartoons. The Drift people remember though, especially that as written by James Roberts and the very different looking but still played in the same way Bay version, tend to treat the character and their very sincere faith with a degree of humour and self-awareness. Not in a way that, in the comics at least where there’s more time to focus on character, doesn’t allow for growth and serious moments, but I suspect the hippy zen Drift is the one people remember best and they don’t completely regard him as a serious character.
So, coming back to an issue that expects you to take him and his situation and his wise little sayings completely seriously does induce a bit of shock. Shane McCarthy is clearly convinced Drift is awesome on every level with complete sincerity.
The only person in the galaxy who wouldn't fuck a robot.
Though it does take a while to get to that, as we get open on some of the worst padding in a Transformers comic we’ve yet seen, with four pages given over to how Drift finds out where the Decepticon ship he wants to attack is docked at an alien space port. It’s made four pages by him getting the information from some aliens who really hate Transformers, with him dressed up like Moon Knight as a disguise, causing shock when one of them touches his arm and realises he’s “One of them”, before he walks out with a thanks.
This is needless joining the dots stuff. The robophobia isn’t needed for this issue, seeing how Drift got the information he was after could be skipped and you could cut the entire scene out without noticing anything. These characters do not show up at the end to help or learn a lesson, and despite them being introduced as Drift’s regular information suppliers, they never appear again in any other comic.
Worse, the 5th page is a full-page establishing shot of the city and port, meaning the first actual plot page of the issue is the 6th, of Drift landing on the roof of the ship and breaking into a hatch in a pose that makes it look he’s doing a poo down there, but which would still have been a decent opening to the issue and introduction to Drift.
I’ve said this before, but in later years, writers are going to struggle to fit their stories into 20 pages, so how much this pisses about in 22 is actually mildly insulting. Especially as there are going to be some odd story jumps coming up.
This is needless joining the dots stuff. The robophobia isn’t needed for this issue, seeing how Drift got the information he was after could be skipped and you could cut the entire scene out without noticing anything. These characters do not show up at the end to help or learn a lesson, and despite them being introduced as Drift’s regular information suppliers, they never appear again in any other comic.
Worse, the 5th page is a full-page establishing shot of the city and port, meaning the first actual plot page of the issue is the 6th, of Drift landing on the roof of the ship and breaking into a hatch in a pose that makes it look he’s doing a poo down there, but which would still have been a decent opening to the issue and introduction to Drift.
I’ve said this before, but in later years, writers are going to struggle to fit their stories into 20 pages, so how much this pisses about in 22 is actually mildly insulting. Especially as there are going to be some odd story jumps coming up.
Try telling people in 2009 this guy would be in a Michael Bay film.
Still, once inside the ship, the story can start with Drift trying to sneak about... only for the Kup led Wreckers (or rather, some Wreckers, as will become apparent) to blast their way in through a wall. Which gives us the first panel of that famous Drift smile, as he muses “So much for quiet”. Which would actually have been a solid, fun opening to the issue.
On the Decepticon ship’s bridge, we’re introduced to another IDW created character they will try to make a thing of (this time, off their own bat rather than because Hasbro have a toy to sell), the evil and all black Commander Turmoil. He won’t really catch on though as he’s largely defined by his former boss relationship with Drift, but most of his appearances will be in comics Drift does not appear in, leaving him adrift and rather a generic villain.
There is a good gag though, of Turmoil’s aide coming in and having to admit there is a small group of Autobots aboard and it wasn’t the internal security sensors that picked them up, it was the Autobots blowing a hole in the side of the ship that gave them away. And apparently that can only mean Kup.
Back with those self-same Autobots, it feels like we’ve skipped a moment as Drift is now fighting alongside them, making it feel like a big joins the fray moment has been missed. Oddly it’s not this that confused Springer and Kup, but that he’s not wearing a faction logo and has a nice old Sword. Though it gets Kup thinking he knows it, so he invites the new guy to come help them on their mission, making Drift say he should lead the way, as he’s there for the same reason and knows where “They” are.
On the Decepticon ship’s bridge, we’re introduced to another IDW created character they will try to make a thing of (this time, off their own bat rather than because Hasbro have a toy to sell), the evil and all black Commander Turmoil. He won’t really catch on though as he’s largely defined by his former boss relationship with Drift, but most of his appearances will be in comics Drift does not appear in, leaving him adrift and rather a generic villain.
There is a good gag though, of Turmoil’s aide coming in and having to admit there is a small group of Autobots aboard and it wasn’t the internal security sensors that picked them up, it was the Autobots blowing a hole in the side of the ship that gave them away. And apparently that can only mean Kup.
Back with those self-same Autobots, it feels like we’ve skipped a moment as Drift is now fighting alongside them, making it feel like a big joins the fray moment has been missed. Oddly it’s not this that confused Springer and Kup, but that he’s not wearing a faction logo and has a nice old Sword. Though it gets Kup thinking he knows it, so he invites the new guy to come help them on their mission, making Drift say he should lead the way, as he’s there for the same reason and knows where “They” are.
Lucky the people they're here to rescue weren't on the other side of that wall.
And over the page, the Wreckers have rescued and reunited with the rest of their team (with a nice visual moment of the Jumpstarters reuniting), and Perceptor is working on keeping a door that has all the Decepticons behind it locked.
What the hell? How did this comic end up with 5 pointless pages to pad it out, so that it then has to skip the rescue part of the rescue mission. It just feels like you’ve accidentally turned two pages at once and makes it quite hard to follow the key detail of what Perceptor (who I should say is old school Perceptor here) is doing. Because as he’s chatting away about the door, he’s suddenly surprised the Decepticons on the other side have stopped doing anything, right before Turmoil blasts through the wall and through Perceptor, mocking him for being an amateur for not having shut up and giving his position away.
Which is an incredibly brutal, if belated, explanation for Perceptor’s extreme change in All Hail Megatron.
There’s a surprise for Turmoil though, as Drift does a dramatic pose at him and declares “I’m here to save lives, if there’s the slightest chance, that’s what I’ll do”. Again, it’s easy to see why James Roberts would largely play this extreme sincerity for laughs.
Turmoil recognises the voice though, realising it’s Deadlock, “DECEPTICON TRAITOR”, making him angry enough to blow a hole in another wall, that Kup and Drift then... somehow fall through.
What the hell? How did this comic end up with 5 pointless pages to pad it out, so that it then has to skip the rescue part of the rescue mission. It just feels like you’ve accidentally turned two pages at once and makes it quite hard to follow the key detail of what Perceptor (who I should say is old school Perceptor here) is doing. Because as he’s chatting away about the door, he’s suddenly surprised the Decepticons on the other side have stopped doing anything, right before Turmoil blasts through the wall and through Perceptor, mocking him for being an amateur for not having shut up and giving his position away.
Which is an incredibly brutal, if belated, explanation for Perceptor’s extreme change in All Hail Megatron.
There’s a surprise for Turmoil though, as Drift does a dramatic pose at him and declares “I’m here to save lives, if there’s the slightest chance, that’s what I’ll do”. Again, it’s easy to see why James Roberts would largely play this extreme sincerity for laughs.
Turmoil recognises the voice though, realising it’s Deadlock, “DECEPTICON TRAITOR”, making him angry enough to blow a hole in another wall, that Kup and Drift then... somehow fall through.
I wonder why half these guys didn't make Team Kup?
That Deadlock was a famous Decepticon, and Kup has heard of him and points out it’s convenient that Drift no longer goes by the name of the guy who killed lots of Autobots, but not even his old boss recognises him except by his voice, suggests the Deadlock version of the character was supposed to look much more different than he eventually will when we see him in earlier set stories. Something borne out by Perceptor having made a point earlier of saying Drift has clearly been extensively rebuilt in the most amazing way, when in reality most of the differences will be his colour scheme.
As everyone fights upstairs, Kup and Drift have the time for a chat. About how Drift’s sword is exactly like one a near legendary third faction once used, one that refused to take sides and vanished mysteriously. Drift admits he’s met them and that is what changed his life. Kup knows all about second chances, Perceptor saved his own life and has made him even better than ever. Indeed, Perceptor was only there to keep an eye on Kup’s recovery, so that Drift has put such effort into helping him, means he’s willing to give the guy a chance.
Which, as overdue as it is and regardless of how much of a shame it is that Nick Roche didn’t get to tidy off that plot-point, is actually a nice simple way of using Kup having gotten better as a plot point and a way of easing Drift into the Autobot troops.
As everyone fights upstairs, Kup and Drift have the time for a chat. About how Drift’s sword is exactly like one a near legendary third faction once used, one that refused to take sides and vanished mysteriously. Drift admits he’s met them and that is what changed his life. Kup knows all about second chances, Perceptor saved his own life and has made him even better than ever. Indeed, Perceptor was only there to keep an eye on Kup’s recovery, so that Drift has put such effort into helping him, means he’s willing to give the guy a chance.
Which, as overdue as it is and regardless of how much of a shame it is that Nick Roche didn’t get to tidy off that plot-point, is actually a nice simple way of using Kup having gotten better as a plot point and a way of easing Drift into the Autobot troops.
That's some serious black.
Luckily, Drift used to be Turmoil’s second in command, and has a plan...
Which, in another odd scene transition, comes after the Wreckers have all cleared out and Kup and Drift have gotten to a science McGuffin that fiddling with, will blow up the ship. You also have to squint, as he’s in shadow and coloured darkly, to spot the Wreckers did not take Perceptor with them for some reason.
Before things can go bloom though, Turmoil blasts in and Drift knocks Kup out of a window, before confronting his former friend and boss with a speech that’s basically exactly the same “Everything has gone wrong and dark” spiel Sideswipe gave in the last issue of All Hail Megatron, but with the added viewpoint that as the Autobots get worse, the Decepticons get even more so. This coming up in two issues so close together, suggests that McCarthy has one big idea to make it look like these comics had some depth beyond action, and he decided to have characters say this idea repeatedly, however much it doesn’t really match the “Action is cool” attitude of the rest of the comic around them.
Which, in another odd scene transition, comes after the Wreckers have all cleared out and Kup and Drift have gotten to a science McGuffin that fiddling with, will blow up the ship. You also have to squint, as he’s in shadow and coloured darkly, to spot the Wreckers did not take Perceptor with them for some reason.
Before things can go bloom though, Turmoil blasts in and Drift knocks Kup out of a window, before confronting his former friend and boss with a speech that’s basically exactly the same “Everything has gone wrong and dark” spiel Sideswipe gave in the last issue of All Hail Megatron, but with the added viewpoint that as the Autobots get worse, the Decepticons get even more so. This coming up in two issues so close together, suggests that McCarthy has one big idea to make it look like these comics had some depth beyond action, and he decided to have characters say this idea repeatedly, however much it doesn’t really match the “Action is cool” attitude of the rest of the comic around them.
He'll on about his 8th chance by the end of IDW.
Which extends to the real thing Drift has done since leaving the Decepticons being to watch Batman Begins, as he does the “I won’t kill you, but I won’t save you” thing, jumping out the ship—luckily remembering to take Perceptor—as it explodes.
Though as Turmoil will turn out to survive and kill lots more people, I guess the real, unintended at the time, message is “Kill the fucker properly”.
The issue then ends on two moments, one that seems significant, but which will be completely ignored going forward, and one that’s throwaway but which will go on to be surprisingly significant.
First, Kup decides he’s making a new team, effectively disbanding the Wreckers, and wants Drift on it. That the Wreckers are no more, and that Kup is senior enough to co-opt some (but not all) of them into his new special team will never be mentioned again as, thanks to them making the leap to the movies, the Wreckers are going to stick around.
Though as Turmoil will turn out to survive and kill lots more people, I guess the real, unintended at the time, message is “Kill the fucker properly”.
The issue then ends on two moments, one that seems significant, but which will be completely ignored going forward, and one that’s throwaway but which will go on to be surprisingly significant.
First, Kup decides he’s making a new team, effectively disbanding the Wreckers, and wants Drift on it. That the Wreckers are no more, and that Kup is senior enough to co-opt some (but not all) of them into his new special team will never be mentioned again as, thanks to them making the leap to the movies, the Wreckers are going to stick around.
Mercy for Percy.
Indeed, this is the first issue after several appearances to make it clear the Team Kup we’ve been following aren’t in fact the Wreckers (I’ve no doubt I’ve been calling them as such), which has likely added to the idea not getting traction.
The other comes from Springer trying to object to taking a famous Decepticon on the team, only for Kup to point out that he should know better than anyone that people deserve second chances. Which seems minor, but many, many years from now we’ll find out what Springer’s second chance was (amusingly, he himself has no idea here what Kup really means).
That is a very frustrating issue. There’s actually lots of nice little moments of action and character in it (though them going off into different series means things like Kup being a mentor to Drift won't really come up again), and though Drift being played completely seriously makes him feel a little off in retrospect without actually being out of character, his movement through the story is actually pretty likeable, if cliché. And as the series starts to look beyond All Hail Megatron, it’s nice to have some threads picked up and laid out for further development for both Kup and Perceptor.
Casey Coller also does some extremely nice art, especially working to make sure Drift looks good at all times, which, for what is one of the first big IDW toy advert comics, is a key thing.
The other comes from Springer trying to object to taking a famous Decepticon on the team, only for Kup to point out that he should know better than anyone that people deserve second chances. Which seems minor, but many, many years from now we’ll find out what Springer’s second chance was (amusingly, he himself has no idea here what Kup really means).
That is a very frustrating issue. There’s actually lots of nice little moments of action and character in it (though them going off into different series means things like Kup being a mentor to Drift won't really come up again), and though Drift being played completely seriously makes him feel a little off in retrospect without actually being out of character, his movement through the story is actually pretty likeable, if cliché. And as the series starts to look beyond All Hail Megatron, it’s nice to have some threads picked up and laid out for further development for both Kup and Perceptor.
Casey Coller also does some extremely nice art, especially working to make sure Drift looks good at all times, which, for what is one of the first big IDW toy advert comics, is a key thing.
Springer: Wait... when did I get a second chance?
But, the overall plot is a mess. It has needless padding whilst skipping over what should be key moments, and Turmoil is about as generic a villain as you can get. The whole thing could easily have been one of the 11-page stories we’re about to get in Coda series with no loss of detail. Indeed, as good as the art is, there's notably a lot of big, sparse panels without much happening in them.
That makes it a bitty, frustrating comic that does not bode well for the coming years when toy adverts and more active mandates from Hasbro are going to become more common.
Less common though, is going to be comics from Simon Furman, as next week sees us hit, finally, the end of Maximum Dinobots.
SPOTLIGHT: JAZZ
2009
COMMENT
KO-FI
That makes it a bitty, frustrating comic that does not bode well for the coming years when toy adverts and more active mandates from Hasbro are going to become more common.
Less common though, is going to be comics from Simon Furman, as next week sees us hit, finally, the end of Maximum Dinobots.
SPOTLIGHT: JAZZ
2009
COMMENT
KO-FI
