As I suspected, I didn’t get the Marvel Adventures: Iron Man digest, but to give the store credit, he’s going to try to hunt it down. So maybe next week. However, I still have two comics to review, so review them I shall!
The (mostly) spoiler-free reviews at ComiXology
Transformers: All Hail Megatron #5
Marvel Adventures: Super Heroes #5
And the shiny happy spoilers be danged reviews:
Transformers: All Hail Megatron #5
Writer: Shane McCarthy
Artists: Guido Guidi & Casey Coller
Colorist: Josh Burcham
Letterer: Neil Uyetake
Editor: Denton J. Tipton
Hot Rod tells the former Earth team about how his ship was attacked and they crashlanded on Cybertron. Then comes the big reveal of the new arrivals. No, not IDW original character Drift (soon to become a toy himself). It’s Kup, looking a lot better than he did in his own Spotlight sometime back. Here he’s more like Patton as played by George Peppard. He’s not sure that Autobot security is up to snuff, but Jazz soon shows why he’s the ops specialist around here. Meanwhile, back on Earth, the colonel is joined by his son, Spike (all we need is Buster, and the family’s back together again), who agrees to undertake a mission to invade Decepticon territory and unleash some kind of doomsday device that will wipe the Cons out. Unfortunately, the raiding party is taken out by Ratbat–all but Spike, who makes it on to shore and prepares the next phase on his own.
What they did right: Some may consider this story padding. After the action overload of the earlier issues (which had their own complaints from others–pleasing all Transfans is like trying to get a group of people to agree on one pizza topping), this is a more quiet look as Kup and the gang make their debut. Kup questions Jazz being in Prowl’s position and isn’t convinced security is up to snuff (in some continuities Kup is chief of security) until Jazz takes out three of his guys and reveals that they only got in because Mirage let them pass. It’s interesting to see Kup as a “general” type, kind of like Sherman Potter in M*A*S*H*. It’s a new take, rather than the creaking storyteller he’s usually depicted as.
Also notable are the humans, despite the minor role in this month’s comic. They’re not just sitting on their butts waiting for the Autobots to save them. (In fact, they may not even know about the Autobots.) They have a plan and they’re not afraid to use it. As a Transfan, I find the new version of the Witwicky family interesting. Spike and Sparkplug’s characters are far different from the college kid/auto mechanic of the Marvel comics and the rig workers turned human allies of the cartoon. Dreamwave’s Buster (the Spike of the comics until Marvel were forced to add the unmentioned brother, due to the Fortress Maximus toy) was also in the military, so I’m curious to see if he shows up here as well. The father/son relationship and the commander/soldier relationship both come into play in this story, and works pretty well for a sidebar story.
I also like the “B” covers in this series. I’m not much into the “art” covers usually, but there’s just something about Trevor Hutchinson’s “communist propaganda” inspired covers that make me want to pick them up over the “scene in a comic” cover A’s. The “retailer incentive” cover features Drift, the original character who makes his hyped about debut here.
What they did wrong: For such an important character they had to make a figure of him, Drift doesn’t do anything. A few lines here and that’s pretty much it. Kind of a waste. Also, there’s no explanation of how Kup has his mind back together. When we last saw him, he was in a state of paranoia and delusions due to the planet he crashed on, with a couple other ‘bots scrapped. Here, only five years later, if external data is supposed to be believed, he’s back to action. Just like Prime’s current condition, I hope we get some explanation soon, which may come next issue.
Recommendation: Shane is making me happy to read Transformers again, and avoids much of what Furman drives me nuts on. These are definately worth picking up, and I recommend getting the “B” covers if you can. They’re more interesting.
Marvel Adventures: Super Heroes #5
Writer: Paul Tobin
Penciler: Jacopo Catnagni
Inker: Norman Lee
Colorists: Guru eFx
Cover: Cruz & Quintana
Production: Anthony Dial
Consultants: Mark Paniccia & Ralph Macchio
Editor: Nathan Crosby
Our story begins as Doctor Strange, Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme, is taking his usual tour of the magical realms–with his expresso in hand. When he sees reality is being eaten, he picks up Spider-Man (after magically dispensing with the Vulture) because his unique talents are best suited to seal the holes and help him find the culprits responsible. It all goes insane from there, as Strange almost joyfully goes through his mission like it’s just another day and Spider-Man tries to go with the flow. It’s all crazy, and fun.
What they did right: They’ve got me willingly reading a Doctor Strange story. That in itself is worth high marks. For various reasons I’m just not into the character, but seeing the usually serious Strange go through the day all bright and cheerful, and discussing his job to Spidey the way Peter would show off his darkroom (unless he’s gone digital these days) is just funny. Then there’s the fact that Strange leaves out a few important details, forgetting that Spidey doesn’t exactly know a lot about this. Doc Strange is like a mystical geek. And I’m even amused by the Ancient One and Jason Wong playing video games on the couch.
What they did wrong: Wouldn’t the Ancient One be playing a Wii instead of an X-Box? Ok, if anything is actually wrong, it would be Strange’s portrayal. Continuity isn’t always a match at Marvel Adventures (check Klaw’s country band in a previous issue), but for someone who is a big Doctor Strange fan, I would imagine a bit of “continuity shock” at how he operates here. However, that’s not a bad thing to me, who isn’t a fan and is tired of the super heavy drama in Marvel Proper (it’s like the angst was drained dry from this dimension and poured into 616 like syrup on pancakes). I’m not one of the complainers.
Recommendation: Why are you still reading this article? You should be reading this comic! Seriously, I have to stretch further than Mr. Fantastic to find something bad about the Marvel Adventure titles I read (which actually doesn’t include Fantastic Four), and this is no exception. Go read! Now! Yes, you!
Best scene of the week award:
Transformers: All Hail Megatron #5
Yeah, I thought it would be from Super Heroes #5, too.
Take them down, Jazz! A better scan that I would have done by “killerweasel” of scans_daily. Next week, two or three comics minimum, depending on if he gets the Iron Man digest in.
EDIT: Newsarama just put up a five page preview of Supergirl: Cosmic Adventures in the Eight Grade. I’m going to love this comic.
BW Media Spotlight 