I think Dreamwave improved over time. The first mini-series had issues, but was readable and welcome after a long time without any Transformers comics. The second had a better idea behind the story (Ultra Magnus having to make hard decisions) and was overall better written with better characterization. The ongoing series improved on both, and gave us Don Figeroa art at its best. I still hate that it was cut short and wonder where the series would have gone beyond the few solicits and preview art we got.
The first volume focused too harshly on humans and the drawing felt bland, Volume 2 was a massive improvement but still felt lacking. Volume 3 (ongoing) is really where it shines but it Is still a shame that dreamwave was cut short as I believe we were about to go into the beast era of dreamwave when they went bankrupt. At least we got Idw out of it though...
First volume was just preaching, second one was more for fans and a nostalgia trip, the short lived ongoing was fun and really a precursor to IDW phase 2 in many ways.
I loved Dreamwave Transformers. Those were some fun comics. It's a shame the creative talent of the third volume (Patyk, MCDonnough and Figuroa) didn't get the chance to finish their storyline and that none of them are involved with the brand anymore.
The third volume was easily peak best. The characterizations and interactions were good and Figueroa's art rocked. The story was really taking off into a real improvement compared to the first volume, which to me felt like it was trying to be edgy than trying to milk nostalgia.
Second and third were amazing series’. I loved them both! Still bitter we never got to see “Autobot City” realized in the modern day on Earth.
First volume was an intriguing lead-up to disappointment. Second volume was a vast improvement, but I think it was too much for the casual crowd to take in. Volume 3, now THAT is where it's at. I relish any opportunity to have Optimus out of the spotlight (just my opinion, but things always get more interesting without him), and the cast choices were fantastic, with some truly interesting match-ups. In issue 1 alone we had Ratchet teamed up with Brawn, a great unlikely pairing. And it was so nice to see the spotlight shine on some of these characters and interactions we don't usually get to see that much indepth, like Brawn again. Of course, I can't go past the introduction of Bumper (he's a favourite of mine, and I wish IDW had kept that going and utilised his potential instead of just killing him in a cheap cameo death in Megatron: Origin), who was successfully added to the rank-and-file, such that he felt fresh, but also felt that he totally belonged and we had known him from the cartoon etc. Very well done. The stories were engaging enough to be acceptable, and Don's art had you scouring the page to soak in every detail. I think it took me more time to enjoy the art than read the story. It's such a shame we'll never get a super-nice hardcover collection of this series. Lucky there are binders out there for us!
Brawn Ratchet was indeed a good pair. Also liked the combo Prowl Ironhide. The banter between Gears and Bluestreak. Marissa and Jazz.. Good stuff
