Time for New Leaders?

Discussion in 'Transformers General Discussion' started by Furious Rodimus, May 21, 2010.

  1. Furious Rodimus

    Furious Rodimus Matrix Bearer

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2010
    Posts:
    169
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Likes:
    +2
    Hi all,

    Just lately I've thinking about TF and the leaders and whether or not its time for new leaders to step in for our beloved Optimus and Megatron? Mainly I'm asking this mostly for a story-telling point of view, and if that would open things up for the creators/writers et al or if the backlash would be too great for something like that to happen.

    This mainly stems from having watched Masterforce (and to a lesser extent Victory) and enjoying watching Ginrai and Overlord/Devil Z and the arcs that they went through as leaders.
     
  2. cheetor71

    cheetor71 Autobot

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2009
    Posts:
    5,145
    Trophy Points:
    191
    Likes:
    +16
    Well except for season 3 of G1 the leaders have always been Prime and Megatron one way or another. I don't know about the comics or Japanese continuity. New leaders could open all kinds of new story telling arcs. However I think hasbro looks at it from a financial point of view. they just want to sell toys and those 2 names have always been linked with the leaders. You know what they say. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"
     
  3. aprim

    aprim Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2006
    Posts:
    6,363
    News Credits:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    337
    Likes:
    +1,000
    I would love to see Rodimus Prime get some love, ohh and Galvatron for sure.
     
  4. Aernaroth

    Aernaroth <b><font color=blue>I voted for Super_Megatron and Veteran

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2004
    Posts:
    28,245
    News Credits:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    422
    Likes:
    +10,136
    I think, if anything, Animated showed us that Optimus Prime can still be a powerful character even if he's not "King Autobot", and I really liked how they put a new spin on his place in the hierarchy, as well as how he related to other Autobot "leaders". That being said, I think it could be a great move to have story arcs or an entire series that relegates Optimus Prime to a background role, and focuses on other characters in leadership roles where they haven't been before. IMO, it worked out in the Marvel comics, and it worked out in the Japanese continuity, so why not give it a shot?
     
  5. Leadfoot

    Leadfoot The Strongest.

    Joined:
    May 10, 2010
    Posts:
    1,286
    Trophy Points:
    126
    Likes:
    +3
    No.
     
  6. Pravus Prime

    Pravus Prime Wields Mjolnir!

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2002
    Posts:
    18,850
    News Credits:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    387
    Likes:
    +8,063
    It'll never, ever, ever happen, but slag yeah!

    I've been a big advocate of getting new characters in a series for a very long time, I have been tired for some time of getting a retread of the same select cast time and time again. There are plenty of ways to create a new leader-type without overtly replacing Optimus Prime and Megatron, it's just a matter of Hasbro never will, due to the recognition factor.
     
  7. moreprimeland

    moreprimeland Optimus told me to do it!

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2009
    Posts:
    25,780
    News Credits:
    38
    Trophy Points:
    387
    Location:
    Tennessee
    Likes:
    +2,002
    Nope..just wouldn't feel like Transformers without them!!! Sure, they go down and out every once in awhile..but thankfully they RISE AGAIN!! :D 
     
  8. Rattrap Primal

    Rattrap Primal Geek Overlord, Botbot Collector

    Joined:
    Dec 21, 2006
    Posts:
    9,666
    Trophy Points:
    332
    Location:
    Woodbury, NJ
    Likes:
    +2,309
    They already tried this in the 80's. Sadly, the plan failed after Season 3's so-so writing made Rodimus a joke of a leader
     
  9. Mechafire

    Mechafire Shadow Broker Moderator News Staff

    Joined:
    May 9, 2008
    Posts:
    26,211
    News Credits:
    33
    Trophy Points:
    452
    Likes:
    +2,320
    It would certainly be interesting, although I can't really see it happening anytime soon.
     
    Last edited: May 22, 2010
  10. Matty

    Matty @StayingInTheBox Veteran

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2009
    Posts:
    16,586
    News Credits:
    30
    Trophy Points:
    347
    Likes:
    +5,067
    Twitter:
    Instagram:
    We need not look any further than the history of Rodimus Prime to understand how much of a bad idea new leaders would be. As Transformers fans, as in this fandom, we could accept it, but the general public - probably not.

    I'd be up for it, but it'll never happen pass the extent of what TFA pulled off.
     
  11. Tiller

    Tiller I don't know nothin'

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2009
    Posts:
    5,121
    News Credits:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    287
    Likes:
    +1,227
    Ebay:
    This indeed. Something of this sort is probably the furthest we're going to get anymore since Optimus and Megatron are pretty much the main stays due to brand recognition and $$$. I would really like to see one of these approaches used more.

    Honestly I don't think just for leaders either. If anything new characters and personalities are welcome. We don't need G1 homage #32342342 all the time.
     
  12. thewyseone

    thewyseone G.I.Juggernaut

    Joined:
    May 8, 2010
    Posts:
    88
    Trophy Points:
    46
    Likes:
    +0
    Ebay:
    can never diss prime,i might be a decepticon at heart,but o to the p is the most heroic character ever.without op,i cant see 3 the same as transformers.its only go-bots to me without op.
     
  13. WhiteMocha

    WhiteMocha Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2006
    Posts:
    12,498
    Trophy Points:
    392
    Location:
    San Francisco
    Likes:
    +9,875
    I would totally be up for a series that didn't focus on Prime and Megatron, just for some variety. Keep them in the background as powerful, present forces who sometimes come into play, but focus the core story on an ensemble of lower-ranking characters. I've always liked the idea of little "teams" of Transformers, with their own mini-hierarchies. Animated dabbled in that briefly, with Rodimus' unit and Magnus' unit, and though they didn't have time to explore it more I thought it was a nice approach. And heck, isn't the "small independent team" aspect one reason that people like the Wreckers?

    In a real (modern) war you wouldn't have the generals out there leading the charge themselves with guns blazing. The real nitty gritty work (and thus the most captivating stories) would be done by the folks on the front lines.

    Additionally, with Transformers being such a sprawling, long-running franchise at this point, moving the focus off Prime and Megatron could be a very refreshing chance to flesh out some characters who have long been overshadowed and underdeveloped. While from a marketing standpoint I doubt you could ever do a show WITHOUT Prime and Megatron in some capacity, it doesn't mean they have to be the focus.
     
  14. Evil Dead

    Evil Dead Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2010
    Posts:
    120
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Likes:
    +0
    I like the idea of Optimus Prime and Megatron always being the leader-leaders, so to speak. Figure they're too iconic in most cases. And so when I think of either one, I pretty much see them as the personification of Autobot and Decepticon, respectfully.

    I wouldn't, however, mind if they shifted the focus from Opt and Megs and put it on the other bots from time-to-time. Because it'd only make sense that there are moments in which someone else has to step into the role of leader--if nothing else from just the deal where Optimus and Megatron can't be everywhere all at once.

    Also, it'd be interesting if they threw more obscure characters in the mix--Transformers you wouldn't normally think of and/or see in a leadership role. Because since they all have their own kinds of talents and specialties, it kind of leaves the door open for endless possibilities.
     
  15. Infil

    Infil Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2008
    Posts:
    241
    Trophy Points:
    96
    Likes:
    +1
    I think the posters here are onto the right strategy. You can't go against Optimus and Megatron's overwhelming popularity by removing them from leadership. It's too risky, (and let's just overlook that Animated did it successfully. That was a big gamble that paid off).

    Putting some deputy-leaders into the spotlight, with Prime and Megs retaining superiority but taking a backseat, is the best way to develop some fresh blood.
     
  16. rainningstorm

    rainningstorm cheapskate@Cantonment

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2010
    Posts:
    801
    Trophy Points:
    101
    Likes:
    +3
    Technically it could work, like some have said for TFA, more of like an Origins story and how he risen to become that leader.
     
  17. Fit For natalie

    Fit For natalie tfwiki nerd

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2002
    Posts:
    7,219
    News Credits:
    11
    Trophy Points:
    211
    Likes:
    +24
    I thought Season 3's writing in dealing with Rodimus was some of the best of the series. The problem was it didn't appear as though the writers coordinated, so every time Rodimus grew as a character in one episode and became more confident, in the next episode he's unsure of himself again. Obviously this sort of thing can't be dealt with in a single episode (comic stories suggest it takes Optimus Prime a long time to deal with the burden of command), yeah, it's kinda all over the place.

    Unfortunately, this was all because this show was written very, very quickly, often passing only the first draft.



    And then they ruined all the development Rodimus Prime had by bringing back Optimus anyway.
     
  18. Jochimus

    Jochimus Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb!

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2005
    Posts:
    3,475
    Trophy Points:
    312
    Location:
    Shelby, IA USA
    Likes:
    +4,239
    I wouldn't mind new leaders, just to do something different with the mythos for a change, but it won't happen, and that's just strictly for Hasbro's trademark/brand purposes -- outside of that, these days, any time they ever actually kill off Optimus or Megatron, you know they'll be back before the sales numbers on their toys make the slightest dip anyway.
     
  19. Thundershot

    Thundershot Ratchet Fanatic

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2002
    Posts:
    38,137
    News Credits:
    11
    Trophy Points:
    442
    Location:
    Mineral Ridge, OH, USA
    Likes:
    +43,273
    Ebay:
    I can't see them ever replacing them, but I love how TFA did it with multiple Primes and a higher ranking Magnus. Cybertron did that too by having other leaders, with Optimus as the Supreme Commander...
     
  20. RedWolf

    RedWolf Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2004
    Posts:
    2,824
    Trophy Points:
    292
    Likes:
    +190
    In the Takara continuity the titles of Supreme Commander and Emperor of Destruction get passed around.

    But taking cue from Cybertron and TFA I would rather have several subgroup teams or factions with Optimus and Megatron being the overall leaders.

    Marvel comics had a similar setup.