Especially since, "military-grade weaponry", while not the correct terminology on account of how broad it is (that it's basically meaningless), isn't really a bad line. In context, it's probably referring to weapons capable of destruction on a massive scale, rather than the more broad definition that basically covers every regular handgun and rifle.
We’ve had similar levels of weaponry in transformers before or does nobody remember ratchet illegally upgrading bumblebees stingers to “military grade” in animated
1) As @Scrapmaker said, "military grade" doesn't really mean what many people think it does, if it means anything at all. Marketing "Military Grade" and what that actually means 2) As the article suggests, "military grade" is a marketing gimmick - a gimmick that the general population regularly "understands" as meaning a certain thing even if it doesn't. 3) Nautica is a diplomat, not a scientist, engineer, military commander, or anything that would require her to know, or suggest that she would know, what "military grade" means or doesn't mean, assuming it means the exact same thing as it does on 21st century Earth. 4) As a result, Nautica using the term "military grade" doesn't mean anything more than she's part of the general population that can't tell that "military grade" doesn't mean anything. So all the comic proves is that Nautica is a slightly ignorant consumer. Because we're all absolute consumer mavens that know what every marketing term, slogan, tactic, and concept is at all times, ever. Well, at least I do because my soul is formed from the distilled essence of the liquefied brain of Steve Jobs. But hey. Why engage in a thought exercise when it's easier to rag on a guy that's trying to write a political drama's knowledge of marketing terminology?
So then she’s just like our modern day politicians that think the ar in ar-15 stands for assault rifle But again, they’re on cybertron, not earth, so maybe the phrase is more than a marketing gimmick there
It could also be read as making a distinction between integrated weaponry (IE, a tank-formers barrel), and weaponry manufactured, as the latter was banned by the Nominus Edict.
Possibly. The comment we're discussing is more a jab towards Ruckley than a discussion of what the term "military grade" means to 65 Million Years BC Cybertron. Specifically, was the use of the term some kind of laughable faux pas? After all, he's a writer drafting a political thriller with military overtones. Theoretically, he should have done his research before using a term like "military grade". That gives us several theories: 1) "Military grade" means something different on Cybertron, so Ruckley's knowledge of what the term means is effectively irrelevant. 2) Ruckley doesn't know what "military grade" actually means to 21st Century Earth, and so improperly applied the term under the erroneous presumption that it means what he thinks it means, which is wrong. 3) Ruckley DOES know what "military grade" means to 21st Century Earth, the same meaning applies to Cybertron, but Nautica is someone that isn't familiar with the actual meaning of the term. So is it a faux pas? Language and terminology is important. There's some basis to discuss whether knowing the term "military grade" is a noteworthy mistake. That said, words are about communication and the concept that the Ascenticons have heavy, high damage weaponry was adequately conveyed in a manner that befit the tone and setting. Certainly, we'd find it a bit jarring if Nautica conveyed this information as "Bad guys have big boom boom much evil badness". Ultimately, if you wanna nitpick over a turn of phrase the majority of people misuse then you're just looking for reasons as opposed to having any legitimate criticism. Looking at it another way, Ruckley isn't Tom Clancy. His writing credits are largely some kind of fantasy novel trilogy. This isn't his baliwick and he's cranking out a science fiction book involving paramilitary fantasy space robots. He's a little outside his wheelhouse and he's been tasked with writing a book about a two story tall robot girl that turns into a goddamn boat that talks to space squid slavers. The fact that we're getting anything close to coherent at all is kind of a miracle, especially since we're swinging back from the other side of the pendulum of "Transformers that don't transform fight psionic "perception based cloaking" aliens that feed on "charisma"." Frankly I find that sort of nonsense far more offensive than misusing a term.
I liked this issue, felt very dense. Love that all the factions are starting to piece together this web of secrets.
This Megatron is starting to grow on me. I was making fun of him for most of the run (he’s so unhinged in some of those issues), but it’s actually a pretty interesting take on the character. So far, he doesn’t seem to want power for himself or even want violence, he legitimately believes in the Ascenticon cause and cares about Cybertron’s future. His desperation to change things is his downfall. And he keeps trying to course correct, but it’s not working. It’s going to be fascinating when he finally snaps. The way he’s written makes it seem like he’ll reach a point where he’s made so many bad decisions and destroyed his career and life forever that he’s just like “screw it.” I hope there’s a scene with him and Orion before it happens where he says “Megatron, you can still fix this” or whatever. Sorry for the rambling. I just have a lot of feelings about this
It's not. It's really not at all. I'm sure Ruckly is a lovely human being. Loves cats and pays taxes. But he's not a good writer. I'm not a good carpenter, mechanic, pilot, or brain surgeon. What's the problem here? Are YOU a good astronaut? What's that you say? No, of course not? Does that also mean you're a terrible human being? No. You're not good at quantum physics, I'm not good at engine repair, and Ruckly is not a good writer. But yet, I'm certain we're all decent human beings. Good trolling there justice
My feeling Nautica is more of a civilian right now to make distinction between the weapons. It would had been more offensive if Ironhide said it since he is a weapon specialist.
Yeah, that's my thought on it. Really the whole discussion was more about turning lemons into lemonade. Personally, I think Ruckley's bringing a solid narrative. It's a little stale in its execution and I feel he's bitten off a little more than he can chew given how dense the TF Mythos is, but he seems to be giving it a good faith effort so I'm not going to lambaste the man for trying something new.
How did people find the artists in this issue? Personally, Anna Malkova and Bethany McGuire-Smith work great together. Their styles work with each other, the characters and the environment have details and the colour is good. I hope they stick around for a while.
I thought they were okay. Very cartoony, which isn't a bad thing per se. I felt like it could have been an animated show as easily as it was a comic. There's some proportion issues from panel to panel which I noticed on a 2nd read-through which of course show up on Elita, the one character that I really feel got shafted in design this go-around. She goes from "Stumpy Cotton Hill" to "Almost Normal Elita 1 Proportions" in a series of three panels back to back.
Those two and Sarah are my favorite artists so far. Their style is great, especially McGuire-Smith. I’m glad they’re attached to future issues.
I’m not sure if you’re being facetious here, but FYI calling someone an imbecile (or implying it through your wording) is a personal attack.
