Optimus Prime... more caricature than character?

Discussion in 'Transformers Comics Discussion' started by Splendic, Apr 23, 2015.

  1. Faizan

    Faizan 2 of 12

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    Errrr...I think you may have misunderstood the discussion here. We're debating on his current portrayal and personality as opposed to what we would like the writers to do with him.

    Furthermore Optimus is portrayed heavily in the comics. Hell he got 3 series just based on him quite recently.
     
  2. jcchua

    jcchua Well-Known Member

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    I disagree he is a caricature. I think it's just a lot of people might have a hard time identifying with him because he's always stood as a beacon of heroism and integrity. Even at his most flawed, Prime was always a good guy, a great leader, and an action star and only showed some moments of vulnerability. But he is definitely better than the movie and the TFP version (hopefully RID can fix him). Aside from the Supercop Orion which I wholeheartedly agree was awesome, I think his relationship with Megatron including their awkward bromance moments (like in Chaos Theory) that helps make him more relatable. It helps if you think he's a 'Bot that wants to do the right thing, but right now is in a world that getting more grey and he is not always rewarded for his sacrifice and heroism.
     
  3. Tux Chaos X

    Tux Chaos X Spades Slick

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    The problem with this is that, once they do appear... then what? They slink back into the shadows, waiting to be called again for another dramatic moment? Once you've shown your hand, so to speak, it's really difficult to take it back, show it again later, and STILL maintain the element of "oh man it's Prime Time!"
     
  4. Rob

    Rob Prowl Fan

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    I like the way he is betrayed, he is a genuinely good guy who has a really tough time dealing with grey issues. I can see why some people have issues with him (or by extension Prime Optimus), but to be honest I think it's a matter of taste not a fault on the character's development: some people like Bat Man/Iron Man others like Superman/Captain America.
     
  5. Autovolt 127

    Autovolt 127 Get In The Titan, Prime!

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    I don't really like IDW Optimus Prime. He's like that main character that is just there but everyone else overshadows him.

    He's only great when he's Orion Pax, because he's wishy washy otherwise towards everything especially with Prowl until the recent issue.
     
  6. WilyMech

    WilyMech Well-Known Member

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    Almost like they don't know how write Optimus Prime. They want a hero character with flaws where he is somewhat interesting. It is almost right now Optimus does not know where to stand he is just reacting to situations.
     
  7. Haywired

    Haywired Hakunamatatacon

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    I think Prime's out of his element right now. The war has ended, everythig shifts into grayscales and murky moral ground. He's like Cap America trying to deal with situations like the superhuman registration act.
    Those aren't good times for paragons like him.

    Plus, he was kinda derailed as a character in Costa's run.
     
  8. Splendic

    Splendic bleep blorp

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    I think they don't know how to write him because they don't have any real plans for him right now. He's used as much more of a pawn to move other stories instead of having agency over his own.
     
  9. ZeroiaSD

    ZeroiaSD Autobot

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    Well, except where in Combiner Wars where he's been consistently trying to limit Starscream's power by pushing the council solution in forum where Starscream's forced to accept it. Optimus has been framing the discussion on how things are going to work with the colonies very well.
     
  10. Rob

    Rob Prowl Fan

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    Well said
     
  11. Beastwarsfan95

    Beastwarsfan95 Putting the ‘Bi’ in Bionicle.

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    Primes really become a shadow of his past self.
     
  12. ZeroiaSD

    ZeroiaSD Autobot

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    Am I the only one noticing the highly effective politicing he's been doing for the last several issues...?
     
  13. PredaconElder

    PredaconElder Well-Known Member

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    The only times I think OP was written well in IDW was in Death of OP and Chaos Theory and in both he is more Pax than Prime.
     
  14. LordGigaIce

    LordGigaIce A Chair!

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    It's been amazing.

    "Hey Starscream, you really taught me about the need for progress. Wouldn't a fair and equal council just be the most awesomely democratic thing ever?"

    "Erm, yeah....woohoo..."
     
  15. Rob

    Rob Prowl Fan

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    That was pretty great.
     
  16. ZeroiaSD

    ZeroiaSD Autobot

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    Then there's the whole 'emphasize balance,' thing, which of course leads to the subject of tiebreaking on the council-of-currently-2, and then the Camiens of course will suggest him as tiebreak for him... and when Starscream objects, that makes 'Screamer look bad.
     
  17. Autovolt 127

    Autovolt 127 Get In The Titan, Prime!

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    I feel the same.

    That's a good point actually.
     
  18. ZeroiaSD

    ZeroiaSD Autobot

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    My feeling is in Costa's run he was fairly out of his element, and the end of the war made him feel more-so, hence his Orion Pax stint, but nowadays he's getting his feet more under him again, he's starting to grasp the game, and he's getting a better picture of what to do, but still isn't entirely comfortable with the politicing yet vs the fighting.