transformer g1 #4

[Noc]

Tranformers G1 #4

artist: Don figerora

writer:Brad mick

This ongoing comic has been on a pretty good run. The art is amazing and the story is solild. This issue has alot of good characther development and I would like this comic to continue with good storylines and good art.

A-

[Cmdr_Y]

I'm a big xfomers fan -- I should say that I'm a big G1 fan. I don't buy any of the other DW xformers titles. I think that might be part of the reason that I'm a bit lost with this series -- maybe it's too long between isses, but it's like I'm not quite sure what all I should consider as "in continuity" for the series. Are both previous mini's supposed to be in the same continuity, but everything else that has come before is not?

[Big Grim]

Originally posted by Cmdr_Y
I'm a big xfomers fan -- I should say that I'm a big G1 fan. I don't buy any of the other DW xformers titles. I think that might be part of the reason that I'm a bit lost with this series -- maybe it's too long between isses, but it's like I'm not quite sure what all I should consider as "in continuity" for the series. Are both previous mini's supposed to be in the same continuity, but everything else that has come before is not?
By everything before, do you mean the Marvel comics and the G1 cartoon. Dreamwave's continuity is brand new, not connected to the G1 cartoon or the Marvel comics. Sure, they borrow elements from both, but this is a totally new continuity. The previous G1 minis are in this continuity, and so are the War Within minis. The first few pages of G1 #4 are a flashback from the War Within era.

[Cmdr_Y]

Thanks for the info.

I guess I'll track down those War Within mini's.

[comicreader666]

Originally posted by Cmdr_Y
Thanks for the info.

I guess I'll track down those War Within mini's.

i would definetly suggest tracking those down, well worth the time, though the second WW mini suffers a bit.

the current continuity of the G1 comic i believe is limited to the two G1 minis, and the two WW minis, along with a few other stories splashed about here and there (the preview issues etc).

there are definite continuity problems already, so if you find yourself confused by something, there is probably good reason.

simon furman himself has talked about some of the things that he didn't think worked in the second WW mini. the story he wanted to tell definetly would have taken more than 6 issues (to truly get into things like the 6 seperate factions and what they were all about). and there were a couple of things thrown in that completly go against the G1 minis (blitzwing being in WW when he supposedly wasn't made by shockwave till after the great shutdown).

G1 ongoing so far - A overall
WW II - B for story, C for art

[SuperginraiX]

It wasn't that Blitzwing was created after the great shutdown but that he was turned into a triple changer after the great shutdown.

The biggest discrepancy is still Blitzwing, however. He appeared as an earthbound decepticon in a "flashback" scene during the first mini while the second mini portrays him as one of Shockwave's cybertronian troops. He's also shown as a triple changer (or at least a jet that turns into a tank) in the first WW mini (and then later as a bot in the second WW mini).

Other big glitches include Skids and Red Alert, who were both first seen in the first mini as earthbound Autobots (not even in flashbacks this time) and then in the second as members of the Cybertronian Council.

The best way to resolve most of these continuity gaps? Pretend the first mini never happened. The Blitzwing glitch in War Within can be resolved by simply saying that the jet turning into a tank was simply another con altogether (we'll call him "Magicbulletcon"). The first mini is usually only referenced when mentioning that Wheeljack pretty much died at the end of it, though he's still walking around. The Aerialbots were also destroyed, but their deaths seem more permanent.

[Big Grim]

Originally posted by SuperginraiX
It wasn't that Blitzwing was created after the great shutdown but that he was turned into a triple changer after the great shutdown.

The biggest discrepancy is still Blitzwing, however. He appeared as an earthbound decepticon in a "flashback" scene during the first mini while the second mini portrays him as one of Shockwave's cybertronian troops. He's also shown as a triple changer (or at least a jet that turns into a tank) in the first WW mini (and then later as a bot in the second WW mini).

Other big glitches include Skids and Red Alert, who were both first seen in the first mini as earthbound Autobots (not even in flashbacks this time) and then in the second as members of the Cybertronian Council.

The best way to resolve most of these continuity gaps? Pretend the first mini never happened. The Blitzwing glitch in War Within can be resolved by simply saying that the jet turning into a tank was simply another con altogether (we'll call him "Magicbulletcon"). The first mini is usually only referenced when mentioning that Wheeljack pretty much died at the end of it, though he's still walking around. The Aerialbots were also destroyed, but their deaths seem more permanent.
Skidz was never in vol 1, and I chalk up things like Red Alert and Blitzwing to the fact that vol 1 had a different writer. Little contradictions like that I just choose to ignore. As for Blitzwing in War Within vol 1, c'mon cut em some slack. Both in G1 vol 1 and War Within vol 1, DW was still attempting to create their own definitive continuity. It was all trial and error at that point. Same thing applies to any comic that's starting out fresh. So I ignore little inconsistencies like that as well. Now that they've succeeded in creating their own continuity, we can be a little more critical with the current events in each story arc.

[SuperginraiX]

Skids appears in Issue 3 page twelve of the first mini. He's the bot strung up between Ironhide and Prowl. He isn't named, but that definitely isn't Bluestreak and it sure isn't Hound.

He's gone again the next issue, but for one bright shining moment, he was in the first G1 mini.

I agree that the fact is that Chris Sarracini wrote that first mini and Brad Mick's done everything since, which is mostly the issue with these glitches (hence the "forget the first one happened" line). The big reason for these glitches is that Dreamwave really didn't know where they were going when they started out. I believe they just wanted to do a good story, and I like the first mini, so they succeeded for me. The problem was, once they decided what they were going to do, scenes that happened in the first mini (and parts of WW) had to be altered, changed or ignored. Still, they DID happen. Look at Magicbulletcon (I'm going to keep using that name until it catches on ;) ).

As far as Brad Mick's take on the Dreamwave Transformers G1 Universe: it's tight continuity-wise and great storytelling besides. Don Figueroa's pencils are top notch and I look forward to every issue. I give it a big fat A.

Still, the continuity dude that is me says that that universe began with the second mini and that the first is to be taken as a great story that quite loosely defines whatever comes after it.

Also, pick up the first War Within series because it IS in continuity and Don Figueroa is the penciller (and he's pretty awesome).

[Big Grim]

Originally posted by SuperginraiX
Skids appears in Issue 3 page twelve of the first mini. He's the bot strung up between Ironhide and Prowl. He isn't named, but that definitely isn't Bluestreak and it sure isn't Hound.

He's gone again the next issue, but for one bright shining moment, he was in the first G1 mini.

I agree that the fact is that Chris Sarracini wrote that first mini and Brad Mick's done everything since, which is mostly the issue with these glitches (hence the "forget the first one happened" line). The big reason for these glitches is that Dreamwave really didn't know where they were going when they started out. I believe they just wanted to do a good story, and I like the first mini, so they succeeded for me. The problem was, once they decided what they were going to do, scenes that happened in the first mini (and parts of WW) had to be altered, changed or ignored. Still, they DID happen. Look at Magicbulletcon (I'm going to keep using that name until it catches on ;) ).

As far as Brad Mick's take on the Dreamwave Transformers G1 Universe: it's tight continuity-wise and great storytelling besides. Don Figueroa's pencils are top notch and I look forward to every issue. I give it a big fat A.

Still, the continuity dude that is me says that that universe began with the second mini and that the first is to be taken as a great story that quite loosely defines whatever comes after it.

Also, pick up the first War Within series because it IS in continuity and Don Figueroa is the penciller (and he's pretty awesome).
the bots strung up are Ironhide, Ratchet, Bluestreak, and Hound. They even list them all by name in the next issue. But you're right that DW didn't know where they were going with this until Mick started writing G1. And I got War Within, I've been getting every TF comic DW's been doing. I love em all.

[jrp001]

I love DW"s take on TF continuity....

that said,

I am wonder at times if it is just me, that the stories seem to drawn out, maybe the pacing is slow, or something

while the stories seem well thought out, i get tired of having to review every single previously written issue, to understand the current iss.

With so many factions;
and stories;
and plots threads;
and characters (in various forms, shapes & allegances)l
and time-shifts,

I feel that its easy to lose new readers, even current readers! Don't get me wrong I am all about highly intelligent stories (years ahead of anything else in the TF universe past or present) but, i feel there is a H U G E pacing problem.

[Big Grim]

the pacing seemd to be a little off in Energon, War Within vol 2, and TF/Joe, but I think G1 is doing fine.

[SuperginraiX]

I know that they list the individuals in the next issue, but just as I said, the character IN THE PICTURE is Skids. Guaranteed. ALSO as I said, it sure isn't Bluestreak, and it definitely isn't Hound. I figure I wrote all that earlier, though.

Bluestreak would have the same shape as Prowl. The character in the picture is more boxy and doesn't have any real "Bluestreak" features. Boxy might describe HOUND pretty well, I'll concede, but hound has unmistakeably round headlights, and SKIDS here (pictured right between Ironhide and Prowl, did I say that as well?) has box headlights.

I admit that they CHANGED it after the fact. DW probably decided around this time that most second series characters would serve an altogether different porpose than they did in the old cartoon. The fact is, however, that when originally DESCRIBING this series, Pat Lee and company pretty much adhered it to a period inbetween season two and three: the "lost years" as it were.

THIS CHANGED LATER when they thought more about how to develop their own continuity.

ANYWAY, give me some credit here. Check the picture and TRY to tell me that it's a picture of Bluestreak or Hound. I'm nitpicking the fact that Skids only appeared in one panel as a background character that was later forgotten about, but that's Skids, and I'm done talking about it.

As far as this actual issue is concerned and pacing... I think things are progressing nicely in the ongoing. You get Jetfire one issue, Omega Supreme the next... Megatron's upcoming recruitment drive... Sunstorm's ongoing threat (for the moment at least), I really can't think of a moment I'd skip over to make the story progress faster. I look at it in the same way directors look at their movies: what is essential to the movie and what is just fluff that can be taken out and have little impact on the whole? So far, the G1 ongoing is packed with essentials... and great characterizations besides.