Ironhide #4

[s2h6]

Well what did everyone one think of the last issue and the series at a whole?
Got to see Metroplex which I really enjoyed and the scale of him seemed more appropriate than in his (Goldbug's) spotlight. I really enjoyed the first two issues but wasn't keen on where the story went in #3. With all the mystery and feeling of loneliness that they built up I was expecting something more special. Was a bit disappointed with Alpha Trion too, he seems to be a mad scientist which I'm not so sure about.

[Dr Headache Rushing]

Was OK, good to see Ironhide and Sunstreaker back in the land of the living. As for the story.... what story? Something and nothing really.

[Omega Steve]

Let's break it down and see. We got Ironhide resurrected on Cybertron and a mystery about how he came to be there. Some nice flashbacks to pre-war Cybertron, Metroplex reintroduced along with his helper (Scamper?) and Alpha Trion making his IDW debut. We found out that Metroplex is his guardian and between them they've sorted out Cybertron's environmental issues, thereby making it habitable again, and revived Ironhide using a 4 million year old back up. The majority of the swarm is destroyed and Ironhide and Sunstreaker are remaining on Cybertron to deal with the rest.

So quite a bit of significance happened really and the series made a strong start with issues 1 and 2. Where it dipped slightly was the slowness of #3 but i think the pace picked up again in #4. What would have improved things more would have been some explanation about Alpha Trion's plans instead of leaving it hanging, as it makes for the feeling that we've had a four issue miniseries (plus Metroplex spotlight) and are still not much the wiser about what AT and Metroplex are up to.

This is still miles better than the Bumblebee mini, and hopefully Transformers Drift will be good.

[mindsetoverhaul]

I haven't read this series (or BB for that matter) but as a TF comic and toy fiend/collector, feel more than compelled to do so.
I really wish IDW would just contain all of their stories in one book! (where appropriate and/or possible/relevant, of course) i think it would alleviate the duller moments of a book, to cut scene on earth and go to cybertron or nebulos, quintessa, wherever, and back again etc. Also, and perhaps most dominantly because, my pockets and bank accounts are black-holes, if 2 or more g1 stories run consecutively, it's difficult to justify the expense (i subscribe online at IDW and shipping to my area doesn't come cheap!!) after what i'm already spending on toys and kitbashing fodder.
What does any of this ramble have to do with the Ironhide series??
i asked that question so you didn't have to

p.s. steve, the Drift mini should be solid! if they're telling the Deadlock to Drift story. from decepticon to autobot and vice-versa, it'd be hard to screw that up!

[mellowshade]

I didn't like this portrayal of Alpha Trion either. He didn't have any gravitas which as one of the Thirteen, you would expect. Plus he dosn't appear that old, sporting the facial hair he wore at the beginning of the animated rebellion in "Forever is a Long Time Coming".

Also the clean up of Cybertron happened 'off camera' and would have been better used as the main drive of the story with Ironhide's situation being unravelled more slowly. I liked the treacherous apocalyptic Cybertron of Stormbringer and it made for a more exciting backdrop than a closed Cybertron with rampaging Insecti-mutants.

Good to see Sunstreaker back but again there is a character that could be wrestling with a lot of issues who has quickly decided he can make up for it all by doing good deeds. Now would be the perfect oppertunity to make Sunstreaker that dangerous sociopath who looks out for himself first, tortured by what he has done and what was done to him but still with a deep loathing for humans. That would make him as much of a threat to the Autobots and us as much as to the Decepticons. Somthing like that dosn't just disappear and when he learns that the Humans are back and stronger than before you can se him getting miffed.

[Omega Steve]

Good points. I didn't have problem with this portrayal of Trion but I would've liked to have seen the Cybertron restoration stuff be more central to the story (ie on camera). Ironhide could have had a run in with pollution harvester drones or something, and followed them back to Metroplex. Add to that the flashbacks and the Swarm, some Sunstreaker angst and this would have been a pretty rocking mini series. Not that it was bad - I quite enjoyed it - but could have been even better.

[Omegastoopreme]

A very good point is if Metroplex can fly why didn't he just blast the swarm from above? Temp them out with a nice energon titbit them hammer em.

[mellowshade]

Yes we haven't seen them fly. In AHM they climbed over each other like Sharkticons to get over defences.