We all know that the way the writers portrayed Shockwave was vastly different from media to media.

So, which one is your favorite?

I like the logical one, honestly. He was also not a blind follower of Megatron in the comics and could actually stand up to and hold his own against him.

Note: Psychopathic Shockwave was the one from the IDW comics that were tie-ins for DOTM such as Rising Storm. He used the phrase "logical" and "illogical" a lot less and enjoyed killing.

 

I'm going with logical because it helps make him stand out from the other Decepticons like Starscream and Soundwave and I find that it makes him more interesting as a character as opposed to being just a blind loyalist to Megatron.

That said him being psychopathic like in DOTM isn't too far off from how he's usually portrayed because in a way he doesn't mind killing just as long as it benefits him in the long run.

 

I like the scientist one from prime.

 

Logical Shockwave only kills if it benefits him as you said but DOTM Shockwave kills because he's actually enjoying it, there's a difference.

 

Aren't Animated & TFP a combo of both logical & loyal?

 

Logical. That the only Shockwave I know. Loyal to himself or appears to be loyal to someone for the sake of ultimately benefitting himself as that's the logical thing to do. Kills if there's a logical benefit to doing so without expending more energy than necessary to get the objective(s) completed.

Oh and one more thing, if a Vulcan existed in the Transformers universes, Shockwave would be my Vulcan. Logic before emotion.

 

I don't think Marvel or Aligned Shockwave are really loyal or disloyal. It's a concept they don't need. Both kinda have their own agenda apart from Megatron's. If anything, Marvel's Shockwave is more loyal to the Decepticon cause since he finds it logically necessary to replace Megatron as leader to ensure the Decepticons' success. Aligned Shockwave doesn't seem to care who is leader or which faction is winning so long as he gets to carry out his experiments.

 

Aligned Shockwave is perhaps best described as "amoral" rather than logical, along the lines of TransTech Shockwave. IDW Shockwave fits that description the most, though, with the "logical" part coming from his total inability to even have emotions.

The loyal and psychopathic versions of the character are fine, but both of those take away from what makes Shockwave unique, that is his cold, calculating, often mysterious persona (which went along with his unique, totally emotionless character design). Take that away, and he's basically just another generic Decepticon, albeit with a unique design.

 

I'm open to different versions of characters, so I'm fine with any of these but I prefer a mix of all three leaning towards logical. I like a mad scientist Shockwave.

 

I didn't expect anyone to vote "Psychopathic". Seems I was right, just saying.

 

Letting him have emotions can actually highlight his obsession with reason, though. I really liked that moment in Prime, where Shockwave was furious that Starscream left him behind to die... and then his anger and resentment vanish immediately on being given a logical explanation. Anger and self-preservation are probably the two strongest things we can expect a typical Decepticon to feel, yet his sense of logic nullifies both of them completely.

 

My ideal G1 Shockwave would have the motivations of the Marvel character, but the demeanor and way of speaking of the cartoon character. You have to love his voice.

Just read through any Marvel comic issue with him in, and imagine cartoon Shockwave saying it. Change the words to that of those cartoon Shockwave would use, but keep the same meaning.

You can also play the same game with Soundwave.

 

Eh, a more emotionless voice like Prime Shockwave's would suit Marvel better, imo.

 

I prefer G1 cartoon Shockwave's voice.

 

To each his own then. 

 

The comic version is the most interesting.

 

My favourite Shockwave is whatever best suits the story. I like both logical and loyal Shockwaves, and even don't mind him as a psychopath if done right. Hell, a good character could be all three.

I never bought into the idea that someone who's emotionless would necessarily sound like a monotone robot. Shockwave's David Warner-esque voice not only implied sophistication and intelligence, but the demeanor gave him an air of impartiality and a detached, observer's perspective. Prime Shockwave's voice was far too blanche and lacked nuance. It was totally forgettable. (as in I've actually forgotten exactly what he sounded like. I'm just imagining Beast Wars Depth Charge if he lacked all endearment to his performance) Shockwave may be emotionaless, but he's still alive.

My favourite idea of Shockwave is one who does have emotions, but either buried them or "forgot" them over time as his pursuit of logic and understanding made them more and more unecessary or unreliable. One who could theoretically be coaxed into displays of emotion, but not lightly or with any frequency.

 

Senator Shockwave!  

 

As with many things in Transformers, I think Animated best captured the core essence of the character. Having the coldness and massive power of the comic version, but also being loyal, and not being directly a fighter, introducing the fantastic Longarm shape shifting plot twist.

 

You only listed three? Why you forget the rest?