I've been reading the IDW comics lately and I really love the story behind Shockwave, but TFA's Longarm Prime/Shockwave duality is one of my favorite designs in Transformers as a whole.
Those are two different personalities between the two images you show. Toy bio Shockwave is this: "Cold, brutal, scientific approach to war. Seeks to overthrow Megatron as leader of Decepticons because he believes logic says he would be better." Marvel comic Shockwave is this: "Of all the Decepticons, Shockwave's method of operation is most characterized by the cold, brutal efficiency one would expect of a purely mechanical being. He enters every battle not with the bloodlust of his comrades, but with a scientist's approach to solving a problem. The problem is always the same: How can he use his abilities to most effectively eliminate the greatest number of his enemies, the Autobots? All too often he finds the answer. He seeks Megatron's position of supremacy over the Decepticons not because his ego demands it, but because his logic-circuits dictate it. He feels Megatron's all-consuming passion for conquest only hinders its achievement. With smug certainty Shockwave believes the reins of Decepticon power will inevitably be his - after all, he reasons, it's only logical." Conversely, Sunbow cartoon Shockwave is this: "Caretaker of Cybertron... no greater ambitions. No emotions--undeviating in following Megatron's orders. Self-programmed to destroy any unidentified creature who attempts to penetrate boundaries for which he is responsible."
It’s hard to argue with just how huge and devastatingly effective IDW Shockwave was. Animated Shockwave is my favorite, but IDW was something else entirely. I really love High Moon Shockwave’s design, as well as Bay Shockwave.
IDW got mine because i got the comics before getting G1 on dvd and streaming but I love that in IDW he had a hand in creating the dinobots and how he was still operating in the shadows.
PLEASE DON'T HATE ME ON THIS. I like the Bayverse Shockwave. I get it, he's nothing like the character that uses the name in any other media, he's also a bland character who appeared for like two minutes and then proceeded to die. BUT LOOK AT THAT DESIGN! HE LOOKS AMAZING . oh and also the one from bumblebee looks nice.
Shockwave was one of the few things I really liked in TF3. Shockwave riding that worm thing, was pretty cool. Too bad the character was totally wasted. He does have a really cool design.
I accept his design which is very close to the character, it's just he doesn't have a personality and if you took him out the movie he wouldn't be the missed at all. If they had made Sentinel and silent partner to the Decepticons and Shockwave the brains behind the outfit while keeping Megatron as leader then the movie could have been better.
I like both G1 and Marvel versions of Shockwave. The only one I was disappointed in is the Bayverse version.
