So we're five issues in, looking for some kind of resolution from this first story arc (though I use the term lightly, as it usually requires an actual story) in the next issue. It will be six issues spent covering and dealing with the consequences of Nyx's misadventures -- sorry, misadventure, singular. Such is the glacial pace of what should have been an exciting opening and introduction for the series as a whole. We're yet to see more than a couple of spluttering speech bubbles from Skold thus far. If Nyx got an entire 6-issue arc devoted to her, I'm in two minds about whether it would be a good thing to see a similar amount devoted to the new Predacon -- or indeed any new character. And given Issue #7 looks to introduce Blackarachnia (so soon?) and point the next arc in her direction, it might be a while before we get to see Skold do... anything of interest. Yep, well worth introducing these new characters when the originals are left standing around, scratching themselves out of sheer boredom. Much like the fans reading this series.
ok, im starting to really rally with the complaint of these comics being to talkie and this #6 preview is a prime example. there is not need for him to exposit/narrate every single thought or thing he does or is gonna do. people have brains, we can figure things out ourselves. the 2nd, 4th and 5th panels needed no dialogue, and no meaning or context would have be lost to the story.
Talking to himself like this is something that Tarantulas would do though. Any other character, you would be right with your complaint and I'd agree with you but it falls right in line with Tarantulas' quirkiness that I can't really complain. The only thing I dislike about this page is the twirls at the end of his spider legs.
I do have to agree with this. "Stuff happening" does not make a story either in the Beast Wars comic or the Ongoing. I've criticised Furman's books for being mostly world building with little payoff, but this is even slower. Its like if a single regular length episode of the TV show was spread over six issues over a period of seven months and we are supposed to accept that and pay money for it. And I'm just not a fan of the lineart. The coloring is decent though but I don't like rough sketch aesthetic and exaggerated proportions compared to how they should look.
i see ur point on the legs, though here i think it works with the art style and just for him, because its adds that extra bit of weirdness and unease about him.
There's actually no reason for him to switch to talking to himself at all. Continue to address his comments towards the hiding Rattrap, in order to help draw Rattrap out, as he's entering a restricted area (helpfully spelt out in... English). It's just poor writing. Stasis Pod episodes (or should I say Stasis Pod episodes where Maximals emerged) were tense episodes. There was a lot at stake in The Spark and Fallen Comrades. Hopefully the writer can actually bring some of that tension to this next arc with the arrival of Blackarachnia... but I honestly doubt it. I have less and less trust and interest in their work. Something major has to change. As for the art, it is what it is. Josh is trying something, it's not really working, so be it. Another artist is taking over for a few issues after Issue #6 if I recall correctly. If this train wreck of a series makes it past Issue #12 and Josh returns to the art duties, he can hopefully take the feedback from the fandom on board and try a different style going forward.
It's not so much that Tarantulas is talking to himself, it's how much he's talking to himself, painfully expositing things in detail that's not necessary to either the reader, the character, or the story. The line "After all, the Maximals may be cowards, but they do have a talent for science" is such an odd non-sequitur. We know Tarantulas' opinion on Maximals and we know Maximals are scientifically inclined. The dialogue just seems so weird and unnatural, and it would've been a lot better just to have him see the sign and say something like "well, a short detour couldn't hurt" and then walk into the tech lab giggling. It's like every character is narrating their own life. I wonder if that's where most of the misgivings with the art really lie, because the writing makes any need for visuals almost entirely obsolete.
Josh is a truly masterful colorist tbh. I love his coloring work on other line artists. And I do like his Beast Wars work, it's a style choice I've accepted. Certain panels did need another pass tho.
I'm more concerned with the fact that Spoiler: more like forshadowing? this may be how Protoform X breaks out... I mean, yeah, Tarantulus may still be his first victim on this planet but... jD001
true but the comic might follow the very logical decision that you dont put a pod holding an unkillable monster in the same hold as your would-be crew
What's idiotic about it? He's in stasis lock, basically an induced coma, and not a threat at all. He only became a threat in the original BW because his pod crashed and he came out of stasis. Pretty sure the Maximals couldn't have predicted they'd need to hastily eject their crew into orbit, fight a war on a planet covered in Energon which turns out to be Earth occupied by alien technology which causes a device to activate and make all the pods fall and get exposed to a quantum surge and then have X's pod specifically fall into a pile of Energon where it malfunctions and revives him as a giant crab. I know safety regulations are pretty extensive but I don't think that was in the orientation.
I can only wonder what a Cybertronian OSHA representative would have to say about the whole Protoform X thing.
https://twitter.com/jcburcham/status/1418632151994667009 Confirmation that Razorbeast is indeed the new Maximal we'll be seeing in issue #9. And how he'll look in Josh's style to boot!
