i don’t need Transformers to stand around telling jokes but I do require humour to enjoy the stories. That’s why I like MTMTE and Lost Light so much - because they were so entertaining, amongst other reasons.

IDW2 is just so bland and tedious. I am still not entertained at all. Nobody has any personality or substance to them.

There are probably jokes in Rescue Bots but it’s a little kids show so the humor will be aimed for the Pepper Pig audience.

Anyone have any other thoughts?

 

I don't think any franchise should be limited in what kinds of stories it can explore or what tones it can have. I like serious and campy/comedic Transformers equally.

 

Yes. But there’s a giant variety in what humor can be, doesn’t need to be (just) telling jokes. Contextual humor and irony can be fun.  

 

Yeah. Why wouldn't it? Its a natural part of life, a stress reducer and part of bonding with others.

 

I think this series is trying to take a hard break from all the wacky zaniness of MTMTE/LL. That said, I don't think humor is necessary to carry anything - the trend to have quippy jokes and whatnot peppered throughout science fiction and fantasy is something that's increased in frequency over the years, but not necessarily the norm. Classic science fiction such as War of the Worlds, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Terminator, Clockwork Orange, 1984, Logan's Run, Soylent Green, all told compelling interesting stories without having to have any "funny" at all.

I love funny stuff, but I'd also like to see a decent Transformers story that doesn't need it just to show that it can be done. Sadly, I think I'll be waiting a bit.

That said, I do recommend watching Rescue Bots. Yes, it's geared towards kids, but a lot of the humor while kid friendly is well written and delivered with great attention to timing. Rescue Bots is pretty good in showing that just because something is for young kids doesn't mean it can't be clever or funny.

 

 : That's funny stuff.

Anywho, humor doesn't hafta be restricted to extremely cheesy and slapstick just because its a kid show.

The original Transformers had more naturalized humor. My daughter and I worked our way through the whole thing and we had some good laughs. Mostly at the Decepticons taking sly potshots at each other. It just needs the right blend so it doesn't go too far.

 

Yeah. I mean, to use @Bass X0 's example, though, even Peppa Pig gets in some sick burns:

 

Ouch! XD

 

Serious situations and info dumps can tiresome, but contextual humour will be great.

 

The original TV series is full of it tbh. Even Optimus and Megatron are cracking some jokes/having a dry sense of humor.

But it can be a bit much if nearly every character (including villains) seems to be quipping nonstop.

Now, IDW2....oh man. It’s really lacking.

I think Prowl is the only character who comes close to having any sort of humor. The rest of the stuff I find amusing probably wasn’t meant to be (i.e Megatron’s behavior).

 

“Amazing. A booby trap that actually catches boobies.”

 

Astrotrain couldn't lead rats to a garbage can.

 

If you're too serious with your storytelling, you risk losing your audience because if a dark story that goes on entirely without any bit of levity leaves the audience feeling cold. It's a lesson from Berserk.



Take for instance this part of the "Lost Children" arc, taking place right after the darkest part of the manga's history. The comedic style of Puck, always in Chestnut Puck Form when there's a break in the story, but when he gets aggressive like this only to be met with..



A deadpan response. the joke lands and the story continues..

Same thing in Transformers, IDW-verse 1.0's best comedy was between writers and artists who know how to work with it.
Like..



Witty dialogue, clever sight gags, and the story keeps going

 

Transformers can be whatever the creative team wants it to be.

 

Transformers: The Interpretive Morris Dance.
Transformers: Art Exhibit In The Medium Of Cooked Pasta.
Transformers: A Script Reading Of Every Other Marvel UK Comic But In Yodeling Format.
Transformers: An Un-animated Series 1991 Restrospective In Which Action Master Windmill Stares At You For 45 Minutes Chanting The Word "Pudding" In Various Languages.

 

Sure, some. Why not?

 

Of course, but the timing and nature of the humor is important.

MTMTE and Lost Light usually did it pretty well.

Compare with the movies, where a lot of the humor is poorly timed, falls flat, or just isn't funny.

I'll agree, though, IDW2 is sorely lacking, not just in humor but levity in general. I do like the series well enough, it just needs something more to it though. Like, we could have seen Bumblebee having good time around Cybertron, acting as a parent (sorry, "mentor") to Rubble. Seeing them just living life and having fun would have given more impact to what happened. But they jumped right into a murder mystery of "who killed Brainstorm" to set up a whole lot of questions.

 

It’s bothersome to me that IDW2 has to “purposely” be different than MTMTE/LL.
So....it can be similar to RID/OP?
Ugh.

 

I think it just wants to be different. Nothing wrong with that. Everyone wants to make their mark on the franchise. I mean, while I'd jump at the chance to write a TF book if I had my druthers, I think I'd kinda balk if the editor told me "So yeah. Just write like Roberts/Furman/everything and everyone else before you, or at least take a lot of bites from them." Ruckley's probably looking to find his own voice. The thing that I think that makes this all off kilter is that he's just not a fan. At least, I don't get the impression he is.

Sometimes that's a good thing! You can get a whole new fresh take on something. Even if it doesn't fall out perfect, it can add new ideas and concepts to a franchise where we violently heave and scream like babies when someone is the wrong color yellow. Then again sometimes it's terribad.

But the point of the thread is whether Transformers should be "funny". To which I present this:*



*It's a joke, apropos of nothing.

 

Can’t go wrong with a Tick reference lol.
And yeah, I get that Ruckley isn’t held to be like or not be like anyone previous.
I also think he means well and his story must be going somewhere, I’m just having trouble caring. And maybe it’s the art! I mean, you can have a great story ruined by bad art, and a mediocre story lifted by great art.
I miss Milne. And Guido.
I’m just salty.