Robots in Disguise #5 Discussion

I've not been too keen on the series by and large, and having now read through the latest issue, I'm still finding it distinctly "meh". Nobody is particularly likeable, the dialogue is wooden at best and where exactly are they going with it anyway?

Considering they had the opportunity to pull an almost Stargate Universe reboot of Cybertron, exploring the nooks and crannies, finding forgotten tech/characters and giving us a really good look at the TF homeworld, they decide instead to flatten it completely and turn the whole thing into bland tales from a refugee camp.

Completely missed opportunity in my opinion. Hopefully the break with Prime will give them time to find something interesting to do with the series.

3/5 from me.
Too much navel gazing, and dower attitudes. If everyone is so anxious and grumpy, why are they returning to cybertron? Show a little happiness in the new situation - not just the focus on the isolation, alienation and political discorse.
Secondly, nothing happened. More reflection of the established plot, examination.... but really nothing happened.
I hope this story line has come to its conclusion. Bring on Prime, Shockwave and the Dinobots.

As an aside, I want to see the equivalent of a chess game between Wheeljack and Shockwave. Conflict and competition beyond brain bombs.

I enjoyed it. Then again I've been enjoying the entire series.

So this is my first real introduction to Skybyte. So far I'm very meh on him. I suspect this isn't the best version of the character but thus far I'm not really interested in him. I also think a flying shark mode is incredibly dumb.

I look forward to the next issue.

Not even close.

This Sky-Byte only barely resembles the original in both personality and appearance. The original Sky-Byte was flamboyant, energetic, dull-witted but endearing in his determination. The central aspect of his character was his almost Wil-E Coyote level of perserv-per... stubborness. He was easily the best part of te eRID cartoon, with Scourge a close second. He was more than comic relief, he was relief from the lackluster characters and boring storylines.

I understand reinventing the character if you feel they can fullfill a role better with alterations, but why exactly did they choose Sky-Byte if he doesn't act anything like Sky-Byte? They're writing this guy like he's some sort of poet and philosipher, but that's not Sky-Byte. Poetry wasn't the focus of Sky-Byte. He would often recite a haiku or lymric in battle, but they were terrible and he only used them to try and make himself seem more sophisticated.

However, like most characters, the writers sometimes fall into the hype built around them. That, or they wrote the part for a poetic character, but could only losely recall Sky-Byte as being the only famously poetic TF, without realising he really wasn't. They bought his sophistication act. Sky-Byte is about as far from sophisticated as possible. He once dressed up his shark mode as a racecar to fool the Autobots. (nevermind it worked on both the Autobots AND Megatron, but he was a freaking shark with wheels and a spoiler) Actually he used to dress up a lot. (Robot in disguise, indeed)

Sky-Byte is my favourite TF toy, and one of my favourite characters. To see him barely reflect that look or character dissapoints me. I mean, gah, that face. Sky-Byte had a long face and pronounced chin. WHY does he have a fat, squished maw and fucking weird-looking pupils? (Though the way the pupils of the eyes on his chest follow his eye movements is humourous)

If this sounds like whiney fan bitching it's because it is. But fuck you I love my shark. I'M ALLOWED TO BE A BUTT ON AT LEAST ONE THING.

Um, I think you have to take into account that EVERY character in RiD was "as far from sophisticated as possible." But yeah, I think Sky-Byte fit into a box that the writers needed (looks like a NAIL, not technically a Decepticon, not established in IDW...) and they just wrote that, rather than really trying to place the RiD character into this universe.

Aww, Dirge didn't have any lines. Oh well, there's always next week.

I've got no previous ties to SkyByte so his reveal was meaningless to me. And I understand that IDW has to build up hype around each issue, but character reveals such as this shouldn't be disclosed ahead of time. That's why the Fort Max reveal was so powerful in MTMTE.

Not a bad issue but I've actually liked most of the other issues better. Hah, kind of unclear about Prowl's relationship with Arcee, that convo seemed clunky. Liked Blurr opening his bar, loved Ironhide's vision in connection with 31. LOVED Casey Coller's pages, even in Griffith's style. I wonder if they'll explain WHY Sky-Byte is a shark. Where did Wheelie go?

Also, very much getting a G1 reluctant-Rodimus feel from Bee. He was never portrayed as "young" in IDW, but now he seems quite grizzled.

Hmnnn... I think that's it for now!

Good eye, thanks for pointing those out. Makes the poet bit that much more interesting.

Ehhhh... I really don't think those two reveals are comparable. Completely different kinds. Fortress Maximus' reveal was a big moment, and Sky-Byte's wasn't.

Also, I really don't think they need to explain Sky-Byte's alt-mode like some think they do. Look at how bizarre some of the other NAILs look--it's not hard to imagine Sky-Byte was on a planet with flying, shark-like creatures. Heck, that's how Griffith imagined it.

"I'm not a psycho-killer." - Arcee

YES, YOU ARE.

One issue after she stabbed a mind-controlled Sunstorm in the face and made a joke about it.

Interesting issue. It does show that the perception of the Autobots by other cybertronians is about in line with the array of nasties we see in the tech-specs. Yes, they are compromised,morally, and now there will be consequences.

- Coeloptera

Originally Posted by ryan.j Coeloptera likes rape.

Originally Posted by optimus_tractor Coeloptera has a sexy brain.