Either way, very likely they'll be throwaway villains killed in a nice finale.
I think they were given their few scraps of characterisation precisely to have impact bigger than some generics when killed.

They do not show very often, they don't have toys (and I don't think Hasbro intends to make toys with built-in torture devices), something tells me these characters aren't supposed to last.

 

I disagree. 1) If anything based on what Roberts has said he seems imo to have invested in Tarn a large degree of characterization that we have yet to see. More than what you'd expect for a a throwaway villain. 2) The way that the Scavengers story was written, it seems very much like a prologue for the main event to just give us a taste of what they were like.

And I doubt Hasbro's future toy plans will play a part in the season 2 storyline. After all there were never plans for a Tyrest or Pharma toys either. (Though if you want DJD toys, third party company MMC announced Vos and Kaon figures at TFCon. Presumably Tarn and the others will follow.)

 

Nothing's that simple.

 

And that's how anticipated fan hype continues. And then, indeed, there will be much upset when DJD ends dead.  

No, really.
Remember Turmoil. Where he's now?

 

I don't remember there being quite as much fan appeal for Turmoil as the DJD. Though I still agree with your point... The DJD will have a powerful story arc, but it will never be enough for their fandom...

 

I don't remember anyone caring much about Turmoil.

 

I am still convinced Tarn is actually Roller.

 

I think the DJD will be the ones to remind Megatron that he's a Decepticon!

 

The point is, that he was also specifically crafted villain, and despite his rather dull look he was given more exposition than DJD, all this to play his role in a story arc and die.
Sometimes it's better to craft expendable villains in a more detailed way than some generics or D-listers. So their demise actually means anything.

 

Except Roberts has created a whole bunch of original characters who are clearly not expendables. There is nothing there indicating the DJD are any more expendable than Rung, Fulcrum, Nautica or Riptide.

 

There is one indicator.
They're written villains. Not Autobots, not LL crew.  

They are entire level of importance and characterisation below Rung. Slightly below Nautica (because she's quite new, with time she'll gain more characterisation). Roughly on pair with Riptide or Fulcrum.

The whole purpose of villains in comic books is to be expendable punchbags. If they are lucky to be liked enough, they may end in rotation with other villainous punch bags.

 

But Megatron's not a Decepticon.

Noooo way. The DJD are far from expendable punchbags. They were evidently introduced for a future story-arc. We'll get a big story arc where they'll play a pivotal role that could more or less lead to their deaths. But this isn't TFP, they are not hi and die villains.

 

But Megatron is Megatron.

And by expendable I understand characters crafted mostly to get them defeated/killed regardless how much time it takes. My comparison to Turmoil stands. He wasn't a fandom darling, but he was also fleshed out, showed few times as a mildly important player, and then gave Starscream a moment of personal glory.

It's kinda overly optimistic to think about DJD as if they had as big and long standing role to play as Soundwave or Galvatron.

 

I don't think anyone is comparing Tarn to Soundwave or Galvatron, but I just don't think it's worth comparing Roberts work to Barbers when they both have extremely different styles of writing. Using Turmoil doesn't really work as a example in this case.