From what I understand this isn’t such an homage to Madman’s Paradise, but rather a variant Madman’s Paradise apparently occurred previously, without Grimlock, and this is definitely a second contact event with Grimlock as the main focus and likely ending with Grimlock either going to learn a lesson about being a leader along the way and returns to Cybertron after making sure someone is left in charge, or him viciously murdering the Golden One and becoming the new ruler of Menonia and dragging the Dinobots from Cybertron, so as to explain why their absent in IDW 2.0…

That or this is a Madman’s Paradise Homage and I’m completely wrong.

Also, predictions I have for this series:

• The Cyclopian Centaur/Wood Robots end up being Transformers created by the former Quintesson prisoner-turned-ruler-turned-prisoner again. Obviously they’ll have been inspired by Optimus to rebel.
• The Menonian Girl will end up as ruler, perhaps with a flash-forward/time difference explanation, as Grimlock returns, and is shown as a benevolent despot.
• The Golden One’s powers will be revealed to actually stem from a Cybertronian-based origin, likely a Solarbot, homaging the Shattered Glass Casseteicon that was an advanced Cybertronian life form that turned Suns into energy and could alter their form at will.
• The Golden One’s aid is also a likely candidate for backstabber/Usurper, and I predict she will have been programmed and/or created by the former Quintesson criminal as a back-up plan.
• Last one (and least likely), Menonia will be revealed to not be in another dimension, but actually in another Galaxy far away from the one Cybertron is inhabiting, perhaps explaining the time differences with methods of transport

 

And so begins Grimlock's Isekai adventure, complete with a truck and being summoned by desperate villagers!

 

Yeah, it's really hard to place where this fits in, or why it exists. But I guess I'm along for the ride.

Also, because I forgot to mention it before: The Mechaniballs are briefly in this. They are illustrated poorly in this continuity.

It's there in the original cartoon design. And if I had to guess why any weird design happened in the mid-80s, it would be "because drugs".

 

I like this D&D sheet they had in the comic, but I think Grimlock's intelligence is a little too high, maybe it should be a 4 or 5.

 

It’s definitely going to be fun, at the very least. Menonia is perhaps the last place I expected to ever be referenced again, though I also love the fact we’re seemingly expanding on the lore of the inhabitants of this fairly unknown place, and apparently there are human-ish characters.

Funnily enough I’ve been plotting out a fanfiction for a TF:Animated variant of Madman’s Paradise, so all the more lore I get out of this, the better it ends up being for me.  

 

The art and story are decent, but I'm not a fan of Grimlock's design or the way he speaks. They didn't quite get him right either to his Marvel or cartoon characterisation.

"Me not want to punch but need to protect precious Autobot leader"

What!? He'd never say that.

 

Those are the stats from Grimlock's original tech specs card, so they're accurate. It was the cartoon, and the cartoon only that made him dumb. Everywhere else it's just a speech impediment. And that appears to be the case here, as he is clearly intelligent.

And I don't get why so many people are trying to "place" this story. It's in its own continuity. Just accept it and move on.

 

Context is key. It’s just helpful to know is this IDW 2.0, or just some one off run? I mean, the story mention’s visitors to Menonia before yet it’s Optimus and not Grimlock, so is this Cartoon backed, or some unseen Comic Book timeline?

We are just naturally curious because we need context to understand and process this comic, which just kind of comes out of left field like it expects us to have read or seen some previous comic or the episode Madman’s Paradise, and yet there are glaringly obvious differences that we need context to understand.

 

For me, it's because I am wanting to make sure I get all the parts that tie into the primary ongoing continuity. I very quickly figured out that this story does not tie in, so if it dips in quality I will have no qualms dropping it. I'm sure there are others who were wondering if it "matters" to the larger story, hence the spelling it out. IDW didn't put on their solicits "this is a stand-alone continuity book", so we the readers are sharing the info for people who may be on the fence about it.

 

People have no patience these days. It's just issue 1. We're not supposed to know everything immediately. I'm sure as the comic goes on more information about its setting will be revealed

 

I think people can't help be feel short changed. 4 or 5 bucks these days for a mere installment just isn't cutting it.

I think if the story resolved itself in 1 issue it would be more satisfying in a cost/ benefit sense

 

Hey what gives with the new IDW comic app. I want to buy all these, but they are not showing up.

Its like they don't want my money.

 

So being new to this particular comic continuity, does Grimlock always have blue Godzilla-style breath attacks now?

Don't get me wrong, it was cool. I'm just familiar with the more typical orange flame-breath from the G1 cartoon era.

 

Hard to take the main villain seriously when he wears an upside down goblet as a crown...   EDIT: Huh so this was a G1 toon episode? Guess like with Face of the Ninjika I tried hard to forget this.
Grimlock acted silly here. Sure nobody commands him, but he is stuck here, why not work with the summoners? Also he knows the villain will try to kill him regardless of whether he helps the rebels or not.
As an AD&D nut the ending character sheet kinda irks me. Firstly... a character who refuses to aid people in need asking for help, hunted by an evil tyrant, because they are not strong, is not Chaotic Good. Frankly Grimlock always struck me as Chaotic Neutral, especially his crazy plans that he twice beat Shockwave with, as he would have killed himself just to stop him. And his cruelty in battle does not work well with a Good alignment.
Also, I expected higher stats. Grimlock is not dumb. 10 intelligence is your dirt average peasant in D&D. I get that they used his tech specs but come oooon! Grimlock should have a 18/00 strength score...

And 1984 XP is a cute nod but barely enough for a few levels...

 

Should have been 1985 IMO - Grimlock's release year.

 

Can honestly say one of the few Transformers comics I don't like. Only thing worse was that horrendous Gi Joe crossover series a few years ago with the godawful dialogue.

 

I found this little tidbit really neat.

 

Grimlock: Can't use proper grammar to save his life.
Also Grimlock: "Great Chronicler of Death."

Also IDW2 really needs its own mythos. It's just repackaged IDW1.

 

He has a speech impediment; he's still intelligent. And this isn't IDW2, it's in its own continuity by itself.

 

Is that what a speech impediment is? Seems he has no trouble speaking, it's his word choice, and even if it is it's still an uncharacteristic eloquence next to his typical foibles. He's compelled to say "me Grimlock" yet hammers out "Great Chronicler of Death" without hiccup. If he had an impediment why does it only sometimes manifest? (TBF Grimlock's manner of speech has always been nonsensical and inconsistent)