think this month’s installment is much improved over last month’s. There’s some very nice attention to detail and a refreshing use of real-world political situations.

The plot: The issue begins with one of those details that I enjoyed about this issue. Namely a news report that briefly summarizes the world situation since the Decepticon occupation, and then a brief discussion of what Energon is and how difficult it is to produce and store. Megatron might call this stuff a ‘foul local brew’, but it seems to be more than satisfactory for the Combaticons, who are ostensibly working for North Korea. In the story, Kim Jong Il’s son has taken over as dictator, but still it’s refreshing to see actual people and actual countries (other than the US) used in a Transformers storyline. And Guido Guidi draws the guy so that he pretty much looks like Kim Jong Il, bad haircut and all, which is amusing.

In another nice detail, we get to see how Skywatch analyzes just how many Transformers might be involved as they determine what action to take. Spike gets a group of Autobots involved and is all ready to set out when the President makes a live speech addressing the situation in North and South Korea. Rather disappointingly, it’s not Obama but a generi-President, so I guess the use of real world figures only goes so far. The President declares Transformers as ‘weapons of mass destruction’ and that any country collaborating with them is an enemy. I get more of a Bush vibe from that kind of statement, so maybe it just wouldn’t ring true if it came from Obama. Maybe Costa or the editors wanted to avoid domestic political entanglements altogether. That’s probably wise.

And of course, collaborating with Transformers is what Spike has begun to do, so the dilemma for him is readily apparent. In keeping with his characterization up to this point, he decides to buck authority and the chain of command and take the Autobots on the mission anyway.

I want to make a note about the battle scene at the start of the book between the South Korean military and the Combaticons. Let me just note how much I appreciate the absence of dialogue on those pages. Few things in comics irritate me more than a life or death fight going on between opposing forces, while witty ripostes and snide comments come from the combatants non-stop. I think if I were in a life or death struggle, snarky comments and boasts would be the last thing on my mind. The fight between Onslaught, Brawl, Vortex and the human military is conveyed visually, as it should be. Well done.

Overall: A good issue, even though it’s mostly setting up the rest of the story. I have to wonder just how long Spike can keep going rogue without the consequences really catching up with him. Not long, I’ll bet. And it’s good to see the Combaticons get a chance to shine.

 

Yeah I have no problems with this issue other than the what direction their going with the art design with the characters. I was not expecting much from this issue but I got proven wrong! Can't wait for issue 10!

 

Alright, the Ongoing is getting back on track.

Art was good in this issue. I particularily liked the transformations of Onslaught and Brawl during their fight scene. Also liked the lack of dialogue during that scene.

Interesting to see the Combaticons working with the North Koreans. I wonder how that alliance came about. I'm also wondering how the Combaticons are going to use it to their advantage. Also wondering who the 4th energy signature Skywatch was detecting belongs to. Hopefully it is someone more interesting than Swindle or Blastoff.

 

LOL politics in a TF comic. But it's kinda interesting to see where they'll take it from here.

 

Question.... are the < > arrow brackets with the Koren dialogue indicates their speaking in Koren right? Kind of obvious but just want to be sure.

 

I kind of thought it was another fairly weak issue. Better than last issue for sure, but still weak. It almost seems as though Costa's writing has gotten worse since the end of the first 6 issues.

I find it ironic that Onslaught can take a shell from a tank right in the neck, yet "spike" was able to take down a Constructicon with a jar of acid and his bare hands. He also explains how he needs the Autobots help because of how hard it would be for a human to take down the Combaticons. Why doesn't super-spike go handle it all by himself? Wouldn't mind if he got stepped on by Bruticus.

The art was almost a little too simplistic and didn't quite seem up to Guido's usual standards either. I hope IDW really starts to get their act back together soon.

 

Scrapper was depleted of energy which is why he put up no fight. Onslaught and co. were all jacked up on Energon cubes which apparently is a crazy new source of energy in the IDWverse. I guess the amount of Energon you have effects the beating you can take?

 

I decided to stop buying Ongoing after issue 6 , but I manage to read it from a friend and like every Costa comic, this is another weak issue with a lots of decompression. Nothing much happens. A good chunk of the comic is just the Combaticons blowing stuff up. The rest of it is Spike and the Autobots deciding they need to go stop them. Basically, nothing more than an introduction issue for the next plotline.

The shiny newness of Ongoing has worn off, being "not-AHM" isn't good enough anymore, especially now that it's apparent that many of the problems of AHM are being amplified. The pacing's gotten slower. The character designs are more inconsistent. The breaks with established continuity is more glaring. Character IQs continue their decline. With this kind of comics, it’s not surprising when I read that IDW panel at Botcon was dead, only with people sitting and complaining.

Also is anyone getting annoyed with Prime's constant moping. Shane kinda made Prime into Jesus but it wasn't that bad but sulky Prime here is just a little annoying.He seems so detach from his troops.

 

I read it, it was better than the previous issue, but not interesting in in the long run, the plot was dull and the character designs and personalities are all over the place from issue to issue. So I dropped it from my pull list. I'll keep skimming through them, but ultimately I'm not buying them until improvements are made. Honestly I think they would be better off starting over. Or at least having a full G1 style book(finish the dreamwave storyline) and a IDW modern one or something of that nature. I think they need better writers. I was enjoying Furman's storyline and pacing much more than the current book.

 

totally agree with you about costa's writing and the art. i didn't even realize it was guido until you mentioned it. We all know he can do SOOO much better, i don't mind the constant design changes so much becasue i wasn't really digging the style for 1-6.

But back the writing... while the story seems interesting, the dialogue is terrible... i feel like spike is talking like an anime character with over exaggerated reactions, face palms, and sweat drops. It just felt kinda "goofy" overall, especially for a politic-centric story. What makes it worse for me is that i've been re-reading all the "-ation" books the last few weeks, which all have a much more serious tone.

And cyclonus, i also agree with you. I'm sick of emo-prime, and his self confinement is even more ******ed now that the autobots are sharing space with spike's team. I don't mind that he's feeling the burden of leadership...actually wait i do... he's optimus prime, the ultimate hero, the ultimate leader, who never gives up... but he seems more like cartoon rodimus prime lately. They could at least have him do something more interesting while he's "soul searching" than sit and mope in a cell. If you ask me, Prime should be the character in the Ironhide mini-series, single-handedly saving cybertron would be just the thing to get his mojo back.

 

So Energon is the spinach to the Cybertronian's Popeye........wow.....

 

Even depleted, Scrapper would still be a heavily armored metal monster. Being low on energon shouldn't effect their armor plating.

THIS very much so! I miss Furman's writing in the main Transformers series.

 

The Ultra Energon/Ore 13 greatly increased Megatron's power and durability during Escalation. One assumes that "normal" Energon would have a similar, if lesser effect, so Costa's just being true to what Furman established.

 

I would'n want him on as a writer, but more as the editor, someone who can direct the writer down a story he wants to tell. I find Furman's writing to be overly complicated at times.

 

At least he has proven he can tell a good story. Can't say that for Costa. I was happy with Ironhide until I read #3. Costa's strength is character development. He's horrible at story pacing.

 

First off Thanks for the input on this thread, guys. It looks to me like it's finally getting somewhere but still slow. So I've decided I can wait until the next one while I can catch up on the movieverse and Ironhide series.

Secondly, I'm glad that the views (particularly on this site) have so far been relevant and mature enough. I've just been reading reviews from TF fan sites all over.And I can't believe it, first McArthy and now Costa too?! I can't figure it out. I know there's been some bad parts lately and I have my own share of complaints but honestly?! going all the way to wish harm on a writer just because of a freaking comics!?   Seriously you just lost all credibiltiy....

Say what you will about anything. Let be it a writer, a celebrity or any person but let's not get personal.  
and no I'm not gonna drop the name of the site I saw this from ...

 

I wish they could get McDonough ant Patyk writing the ongoing. I'm tired of super humans in my TF books. the humans built a ship for Springer and his people? Really? And Prime just sitting off by himself. He's so detached from his troops.

 

Skywatch already have battle mecha, with all that Cybertronian technology lay'n around I don't see why not. But yeah CONVOY, get off your ass! LOL!

 

It was nice to see the Combaticons and all, but I found the issue a bit disappointing. This is a build up issue, fair enough, but several of the issues in the ongoing have felt that way already. I think maybe the pacing is a problem, but I'll hold out and see what the next issue brings, it could be awesome for all I know. The art was ok, better for me than 1-6, but really plain.