No worries! It was a great review!

 

Optimus Prime and Megatron face a War World of Pain!
TransFormers Generation 2 #11 is live to discuss!
“Dark Shadows”
“Tales of Earth Part 8”
Roll out!

 

Man I just finished the whole series (US, UK, G2, and RegenOne) all a couple months ago for the first time. If I had known I would’ve posted some reviews. I’m definitely enjoying reading these reviews. Idk if this is the place to post this…but as of today I have all of the US Titan trades…and I wanted to brag, lol

 

I've always loved the fact that Furman got one last grand Starscream betrayal into the series, and maybe this is a hot take, but I think this is the best Starscream story in the Marvel continuity. The Underbase Saga was a bigger deal obviously, but once he had the power, he felt sort of like a generic cosmic threat, iirc. Whereas here, the way he uses his power essentially for petty personal satisfaction feels spot-on.

(Of course, the best Starscream story of all time is the election storyline from Roberts' RID run. But that's off-topic.)

 

Wow, there's life out here!

 

Okay, so once again we have a supersized Starscream in the Marvel-verse. The first thing I notice (and I've said this before) he's drawn like an Aerialbot. Superscream has now fashioned the War World to his liking, and he is using it to torment Prime and Megatron. As amusing as this is it feels like the whole "Scott, you just don't get it" scene from Austin Powers. Of course at the time that this was written it didn't feel that way, but 30 years later it sure does. However, (as stated above) it is a very Starscream thing to do.

Jhiaxus losing his mind over the unpredictability of the G1 Transformers is amusing because it is an old trope that has been used since the beginning of the Marvel series. Both Shockwave, Megatron, and Ratbat's plans were constantly being thwarted due to human unpredictability, but this time it's Jhiaxus plans that are constantly being upended due to the unpredictability of the G1 Transformers. It's a nice spin on the angle. If it was Furman's intent who knows for sure. I wouldn't want to ask him these days as he seems to be pretty full of himself when it comes to his work on Transformers. At least that's the impression I get.

San Francisco being completely destroyed was pretty intense, and unexpected. The scene in which Grimlock and Razor claw look on from a distance is nicely drawn. Although, as I look at that picture I can't help but think of the scene from "Gone With the Wind" where Scarlett says "I'll never be hungry again!"

By the end of the issue Starscream is beginning to look like Primus. The matrix is turning him good and he hates it. He has even been subconsciously helping Optimus Prime survive his journey through the War World.

The final few pages are drawn by Geoff Senior, and wow do the look G1 like. If this series was going for gritty Geoff was the guy they should have gone to. The final page of the issue is artistically glorious, and probably one of the best drawn pages throughout the series so far.

This issue was another good issue. I am surprised that I am enjoying these issues. As an adult rereading through the G2 series I think my main problem (as a young teen) was the art. Sure there are a few things that I don't like story wise, and in no way do I consider this a continuation of the original G1 series, but it is not the complete pile of dog poop that I remember.

 

It’s the End of the Road for
“Transformers: Generation 2!”
48 page Final issue!
Consumed by the Swarm!
“A Rage in Heaven”
Book 1: “Judgement”
Book 2: “Twilight”
Book 3: “Siege”
Book 4: “Creation”
For the final time: Roll out!

 

This is it!

Judgement: So, continuing from the last issue Superscream hates that the matrix is turning him good. In order to stop this he gives the matrix back to Prime (Amusingly the container that Megatron put the matrix in looks exactly like the pod that Elroy uses to go to school in the opening of the Jetsons! Look it up I am dead serious). Screamer returns the matrix and he returns to being normal Starscream. Prime than takes a rocket sled and flies through space to Jhiaxus's star ship. This scene makes me think of the movie Flash Gordon when he's "Flying blind on a rocket sled." Or even the movie Ted with Mark Walberg. Anyway, the Swarm arrives and destroys a Cybertronian space cruiser that contained sixteen thousand Cybertronians, and none survived. Jhiaxus is losing his mind as he begins killing his own troops when one of them brings him bad news.

This portion of the story was amusing to me due to the aforementioned movie/ cartoon connections. I'm not sure if they are coincidental or not, but they are amusing nonetheless. Jhiaxus killing of one of his own troops is erilly similar to Megatron's killing of Brawl back in issue 25. Both crushed their victims heads with their bare hands. The evolved consciousness that these Cybertronians say that they have is a fallacy. Also this is the first tome that Jhiaxus refers to himself as a Decepticon. Up until this point he has called himself and his troopers Cybertronians. The destruction of sixteen thousand troops definitely brings to light the enormity of the power of the swarm. The Swarm concept is good. I just don't care for its asexual reproducing origin. It should have been a remnant of the dark matrix creature, but that's just my opinion.

Twilight: Prime boards Jhiaxus star cruiser and gets his butt handed to him. Jhiaxus goes so far as to rip Prime's mouth out rendering Prime mute. As this battle ensues the Swarm begins attacking the star cruiser. The Swarm breaks in and destroys Jhiaxus. Then it turns its attention towards Prime. Meanwhile back on the War World Megatron and Starscream board a smaller craft and Megatron takes a substance called Rheanimum with them.

This portion of the story was brutal. Optimus Prime without a mouth is not a pretty sight. Jhiaxus "fight" with the swarm was interesting as it took on his appearance before it obliterated him. This leads me to believe that the Swarm is looking for an identity. When it dispatches Jhiaxus and turns its sights on Prime it begins to mold itself into a rendering of Prime. I do remember Megatron and his Decepticons plundering Tykos, but I do not remember them specifically taking Rheanimum gas from there...

Seige: The Auto/Decep alliance on Earth is still ongoing. The Swarm arrives and they make a last stand against it. Razorclaw tries to kill one of his own (Manta Ray) because he followed an order from Grimlock. However, he is saved by Ledfoot who kills Razorclaw instead. The swarm attacks and the Auto\Decep alliance fights side by side in a last stand. While Prime is saved by Megatron and Starscream via a tractor beam. Starscream offers Prime some Rheanimum, but Prime turns down the offer. He knows that the only way to stop the Swarm is to bed killed\absorbed by it. Megatron arrives on Earth and hands out Rheanimum to the surviving members of the Auto\Decep alliance.

The defection of the newer Decepticons wasn't too hard to see coming. It's actually a plausible situation. These transformers have only recently come online, and almost immediately they are thrust into the fight for their lives while having to team with their enemies. Logic dictates that very quickly they wouldn't see the Autobots as enemies. Some of the pairings were interesting as Wheeljack and Frenzy seem to form a bond as do Dirge and Nightbeat. All are fighting for their lives and do not wish to perish. Megatron showing up with a miracle gas that makes transformers immune to the effects of the swarm is kind of odd as I do not remember anything about this gas being brought up in earlier issues. I'll have to go back and look.

Creation: Prime dies by being absorbed by the Swarm. Then a bright light engulfs the remaining members of the Autobot\Decep alliance as the Swarm stops attacking and Prime reemerges from the light. He explains that the Swarm has now learned how to bring light to the universe rather than destruction, and it will now operate as a force of good. Meanwhile, in a far corner of the galaxy we meet finally see the Leige Maximo. He is massive, and pure evil.

This final chapter of G2 has some good points and some negative points. First off reading this for only the second time in my life the whole Prime giving himself to the Swarm to save the Universe feels overdone. In G1 he gave himself to Unicron in G1 and was restored by the Last Autobot in order to save the universe. So this feels like a retread. Secondly the Auto\Decep alliance fighting against insurmountable odds also happened at the end of G1 so that also ceels like a retread of what came before. I'm not sure how I would have felt about all of this had I read it in 1994/95 when it originally came out (I read it when the Titan trade came out) I don't know if I had the insight to see the parallels, but I see them now, and it leaves me dissappointed in the lack of originality that the ending of this comic has\had. On a positive note The concept of the Leige Maximo is awesome. He looks ancient, menacing, and pure evil. It would have been awesome to see where his character was headed. I also would have liked to have seen where the Auto\Decep alliance would have headed. Since Maximo mentioned that Megatron was an ancestor, but he also mentioned that when the matrix was created so was the Maximo. That doesn't make much sense, but it was still interesting. I believe that if this story had continued Megatron would have gone back to his evil ways, and somehow would have joined with the Maximo all the while plotting to usurp his power and take over his army. Some of the Decepticons would have followed, but some wouldn't have. Some would have joined immediately, but some would have been slowly pulled away over time. These "defections" or re joining of their kin plot lines would have made for a good read,as they could have been shocking at times.

I'd like to thank everyone who kept reading my posts and to everyone who liked them. Special Thanks to Grimlock 528 for putting this together. I only wish I could have been here from the start. If anyone reads this thread in the future and has any thoughts or insights please feel free to discuss them. I've seen threads pop up on here years after they were forgotten about.

Anyway, thanks everyone for rolling out one last time!

 

Thank you to everyone who participated! It was such a joy to stroll down memory lane here.
Till all are one!

 

Thanks, Big Grim!

 

Somewhat late back to the party here, but I'll concur with a lot of the points raised over Generation 2- particularly the earlier issues, where the relentless carnage just feels somehow... uninvolving.
I think the big fallacy of the whole GrimDark era of comics is that if life is painted as universal pain and suck and violent death is ubiquitous... then it becomes meaningless and unimpactful.


The biggest flaw I found with the artwork was the bizarre elongated wire necks- the issue with the parasites which infested Optimus and Jhiaxus, in addition to being a rather inferior rip-off of "Distant Thunder" from back in issue #100, is perhaps the worst offender, with Hound appearing to be part giraffe at one point.

Glad I'm not the only one who thought Starscream was being drawn with the proportions and colour palette of an Aerialbot in later issues. The shot in the final issue of him being dragged around by Megatron had me, on first viewing, all those years ago, wonder for a moment just what Fireflight was doing with the Decepticon leader.

For me, I think perhaps Generation 2 remains largely forgettable, and just one potential 'what if' future after #332 - except for the characterisation of Megatron, and his relationship with Optimus.

G2 Megatron is marvellous- bizarrely unlike G1 Megatron, he bears rather more of a similarity to the original Galvatron- the "Target:2006" - "Time Wars" vintage, than to the friable and frustrated lunatic that was typically G1 Megatron. Perhaps this is consistent- in most of G1, Megatron is perpetually on the back foot, with his plans going badly wrong, rarely actually leader of the Decepticons, and generally either undead or about to be. The only time that he gets to be in control of a situation is his first appearance in the Furman era- "Back from the Dead" and its arc, and in the early stages of this, he indeed illustrates the same faux-affability and smug self-confidence toward Ratchet that he would often display as Galvatron, and frequently here; so, perhaps this is what Megatron is like when he's got a handle on a situation and isn't in a hole.

You know, I actually think the alliance with Prime might have stuck. At least, for as long as there were G2 Cybertronians to confront. Megatron isn't incapable of friendship forged in combat- Ravage is proof of that- and it's arguable that from his perspective, the conflict with the Generation 2 Cybertronians actually resolves his issue with the Autobots - they aren't decadent wastrels piddling away the potential of the race any more.

After all, Furman's "Alignment" had him eventually end things... the way he did.

Had the series needed to continue, and a G1 style villain been needed, Galvatron could always have emerged from his lake to do a dodgy deal with the Liege Maximo and present a new threat to the Alliance.

 

As a further note, are we up for doing the UK comic now? I remember it was talked about as a thing, back midway through this, and probably would be rather fun?

 

I would love to follow along! Anyone up for running that?

 

Yeah, I'd actually love to do the UK stuff. I have been reading it lately (for only the second time in my life) and some of it is really exceptional. Perhaps we can have more than one person run it.

 

Much as I talk shit about Barber, Starscream elected President of Cybertron because he killed his friend is one of the best takes in the franchise

Bro I am down. I have something of a full plate, but I would love to contribute and I am sure I could, substantially, as long as as things don’t get too busy. Would we include the general marvel US issues again for context or will we just focus on the UK stories? Either way I am down.

 

I've only read the first 10 to 20 pages of Alignment, and it didn't hold my interest. Is it worth finishing? To me, Furman's writing was REALLY spotty after the original G1 series ended. G2 was kind of pointless, and I loathed what I read of his IDW stuff. However, aside from the first issue of "The War Within" (which I hated) I actually liked some of his Dream Wave stuff.

Also, if anyone wants to do a read along for either the UK Marvel run, or the VERY short Dream Wave run I would be very up for that.

 

Simon Furman fanboy here, it really isn't. If G2 was not to your liking, Alignment definitely isn't for you.

 

Hey, thanks for the quick reply. I've always wanted to read a few G1 Transformer novels- sadly outside of some short stories in the UK Annuals none really exist. So, when I heard about "Alignment" I was excited. Since I am mildly interested in what happens I'll read the summary on TFwiki instead.

 

I think just reading Alignment will still probably give you more bang for your buck. There are some neat little choices that aren't mentioned in the wiki, like how Blaster blasts some music in the spaceship which pisses Grimlock off, and when Grimlock writes a report for Magnus it is actually well written and well put together, showing Grimlock can write intelligently, but after looking over what he writes, he crumples up the data-pad and decides to just put "We flew the ship over here." or something to that effect instead.

It's not the most amazing story ever that ties up every loose end of G2, but it is still a pretty interesting read.

 

Just actually sat down and read Alignment today. BIG recommend!