The Transformers - Soldiers or Super Heros?

Discussion in 'Transformers General Discussion' started by General Magnus, May 29, 2010.

  1. General Magnus

    General Magnus Da Custodes of the Emprah

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2007
    Posts:
    14,675
    Trophy Points:
    362
    Likes:
    +2,310
    This argument came from the movie forum in wich people differ on how to view the nature of the Transformers conflct. There are claims they are more like a superhero team, while others say they are fighting a civil war. So what is the nature of the conflict? A Civil War or a battle between Heros and Villains?
     
  2. SPLIT LIP

    SPLIT LIP Be strong enough to be gentle

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2005
    Posts:
    97,679
    News Credits:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    462
    Location:
    agile house
    Likes:
    +98,699
    Instagram:
    It depends on the fiction and setting.

    But for the most part, they're super-heroes to us, but soldiers to eachother.
     
  3. brr-icy

    brr-icy MP Collector

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2008
    Posts:
    16,206
    News Credits:
    8
    Trophy Points:
    387
    Likes:
    +2,415
    Ebay:
    soldiers i think, unless they were fighting something that originated here (like in some animated episodes)
     
  4. Ash from Carolina

    Ash from Carolina Junior Smeghead

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2007
    Posts:
    15,966
    Trophy Points:
    337
    Likes:
    +3,232
    Super heroes, but most people know that's my argument by now :D 
     
  5. prowl26

    prowl26 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2008
    Posts:
    327
    Trophy Points:
    76
    Likes:
    +0
    Soldiers, in Animated though they are occasionally super-heroes
     
  6. RedWolf

    RedWolf Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2004
    Posts:
    2,824
    Trophy Points:
    292
    Likes:
    +190
    Well in Japanese productions the Autobot/Cybertron leaders tend to be super heroes. Case in point being the Master Force series.

    The '86 Movie, season 3, the comics shows this a real war where the heroes can and will die. This gives subtext to a realism of war.

    The difference is this war is where the faction leaders tend to face off each other.

    The Beast Wars despite the title is a minor conflict between two small groups with high stakes. Both their governments aren't at war.

    Beas Machines is more a the resistance against a totalitarian regime.
     
  7. General Magnus

    General Magnus Da Custodes of the Emprah

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2007
    Posts:
    14,675
    Trophy Points:
    362
    Likes:
    +2,310
    When was the last time heroes had an all out war with casualities on both sides or engagd in a large planetary civil war? Not to mention they have ranks and special units, wich is something heroes lack. We could go even further and say that they have their own political system as the Autobots ruled Cybertron. Unless you want to count the entire cybetronian population as a race of super heroes...

    Only time I know that heroes waged actual war (as in large battles involving several characters, with liberal use of killing) the Sinestro Corps War in DC and that´s debatable if the Green Lanterns are soldiers or super heroes. Even in the comics the characters adress that point a couple of times.
     
  8. AMG

    AMG Old School

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2007
    Posts:
    11,014
    Trophy Points:
    362
    Location:
    NY
    Likes:
    +14,575
    They're soldiers with a military command structure. While Autobots look like heroes to us, to the Decepticons they're nothing more than enemy combatants.
     
  9. Gordon_4

    Gordon_4 The Big Engine

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2007
    Posts:
    18,156
    News Credits:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    382
    Likes:
    +8,255
    Weren't there two very widely reviled long comic series that had just that kind of premise?

    I am referring to DC's Final Crisis and Marvel's (more appropriate for this comparison) Civil War

    And the standard of Super Hero and Solider will vary depending on where you stand. Where I, a mere six foot tall human stands, the mere presence of an alien such as Optimus Prime willing to fight and die for a home that is not his own seems like the actions of a Super Hero.

    However, in the eyes of his own circle of friends, he is simply a brave General who leads from the front.

    It is simply perspective.
     
  10. QmTablit

    QmTablit BotBot in the what, I said BotBot in the what

    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2008
    Posts:
    9,920
    Trophy Points:
    337
    Likes:
    +762
    Soldiers.

    Superheroes make the choice to do what they do. The Autobots are forced to fight a war.
     
  11. sto_vo_kor_2000

    sto_vo_kor_2000 Banned

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2004
    Posts:
    6,785
    Trophy Points:
    211
    Likes:
    +13
    Dont forget Marvels Civil war, World War Hulk and the recent Siege.

    But as to the topic............I have never seen the TF's as Super-heroes.And I know Animated really tried to push the idea.

    But the TF's are aliens at war that have brought that war to earth.

    And compared to humans they may be "super"....but not to each other
     
  12. General Magnus

    General Magnus Da Custodes of the Emprah

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2007
    Posts:
    14,675
    Trophy Points:
    362
    Likes:
    +2,310
    Final Crisis wasn´t a war. It was more beating the evil new god that took over Earth. Darkseid trying to conquer Earth happens every now and then.

    Marvel´s Civil war eh..didn´t read it, so I won´t comment on it.
     
  13. thenatureboywoo

    thenatureboywoo Veteran

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2008
    Posts:
    8,819
    News Credits:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    347
    Likes:
    +2,232
    With my limited knowledge of the comics and whatnot, I have to side with the are soldiers. It is basically a Civil War. You have one side fighting to take over the universe to be the supreme race. While you have another side fighting for their freedom and the freedom of the universe. And the only reason they are fighting for the freedom of the universe is that that is how far the war has spread. Now the fact that the matrix has special powers and Optimus and Rodimus gained great strength from it makes them Super Heroes, the Transformers as a race are just soldiers. My 2 cents. :) 
     
  14. 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
    Soldiers on Cybertron, Soldiers and Super Heroes on Earth.
     
  15. Lock Cade

    Lock Cade Tarn Fangirl

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2006
    Posts:
    27,199
    Trophy Points:
    392
    Location:
    Michigan
    Likes:
    +415
    I've always thought of them as soldiers who are both fighting for their own ideals, hence why they're locked in a civil war that's lasted for countless millennia.
     
  16. RedWolf

    RedWolf Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2004
    Posts:
    2,824
    Trophy Points:
    292
    Likes:
    +190
    G1 had with with it various gimmicks had the feel the Transformer race itself is one big arms race. You have combiners, city bots, Nebulan masters etc.
     
  17. shibamura_prime

    shibamura_prime Food Truck or BMW Moderator

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2004
    Posts:
    10,620
    News Credits:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    362
    Location:
    Auburn, Alabamy
    Likes:
    +3,008
    It could all be a matter of titles. They're super heroes to us because they can do things we can't. But if you asked Prime or Magnus which one they'd call themselves, they'd say they were soldiers. Yes, they are waging a war with a hostile army but they also answer the call when humans or other third parties are in danger over and over again. So with that they could definitely be called super heroes.
     
  18. Rodimus Major

    Rodimus Major Custom User Title

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2006
    Posts:
    2,959
    News Credits:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    277
    Likes:
    +64
    Ebay:
    I can see a case being made both ways. Sure, they are in a war, but the battles are usually decided with close quarters fighting between beings with special powers (Invisiblity, holograms, mind-control, teleportation, etc.) or magic items (the Matrix, Allspark). I guess it really depends on the writer and the story presented, as I would definitely classify the TFs in the G2 comic as soldiers, but the ones in the various cartoons as super heroes. They even usually have kid sidekicks.
     
  19. jorod74

    jorod74 Psycholagnist (Ret.)

    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2007
    Posts:
    7,553
    News Credits:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    176
    Likes:
    +10
    Ebay:
    they appear heroic and epic to the humans, but that is an illusion.
    The autobots are tired, weary soldiers. they have almost forgotten what peace is and are at the cusp of just going ape-poop nuts on the Decepticons.

    they are not superheroes by any definition to me.
    Optimus Prime's nobility and his Christ-like martyr complex (in literary terms), where he is willing to give his life at the drop of a hat for his autobots or the humans, gives him a heroic presence.

    it is something we all should aspire to; to stand up for one another or face unfair odds, an uncertain future with just the courage of our convictions. these are good traits to have within. but it does not elevate one to superhero status.

    they are soldiers. they can be heroic in nature, but nonetheless, they remain soldiers.
     
  20. Furious Rodimus

    Furious Rodimus Matrix Bearer

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2010
    Posts:
    169
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Likes:
    +2
    I'm going to go with soldiers on this one.