The full preview for the third issue of IDW Publishing’s Optimus Prime ongoing has been posted by Newsarama, as the Autobots’ investigation into the newcomers to Earth, the Junkions, continues; meanwhile, a flashback to a pre-war Cybertron shows readers Soundwave’s first meeting with Orion Pax. A few characters who had been regular presences in Optimus Prime’s predecessor book, Transformers, return as well. Read the preview after the break, and pick up the full issue on January 25th!
Deductor
It\'s about time we get back to that ship. I remember megatron in monstrosity. Knew they left that blowhole open for return. Took long enough. Funny . Inconsistency from previous idw is bumming me out
QLRformer
It's interesting to see where this will go.
Sockie
Different strokes for different folks, obviously, but I believe Soundwave's friendship with Optimus is just as interesting as if he'd still been blackmailed; I don't think his begrudgingly working alongside Prime would have been something that could have really lasted too long, and his being genuinely supportive of Optimus and palling around with the Autobots does allow for dynamics that we've never seen the character engage in before that I'm not sure his being constantly pissed off would allow for. We saw Soundwave resignedly work with the Autobots before in Dark Cybertron, but his actually coming to believe in what Optimus is doing and regard him as a close friend? Now that's different, and not something I don't think anyone in 1984 or even five years ago could have ever seen happening.
It also makes sense as the next step in his character's development; from the moment that character flaw was introduced in exRiD #43, there was pretty much a countdown until he came to the epiphany that humans and other species aren't that different after all. Also, that whole epiphany played pretty largely into the message of exRiD Season 2's finale that you have to adapt and change like the world around you; it would have fallen pretty flat on its face if Soundwave had been like "btw Galvatron I haven't actually changed my worldviews like Optimus and Arcee and am only here 'cuz of blackmail."
I also don't think Soundwave's new desire to protect humanity takes away Thundercracker's schtick; one just cares about the well being of the species itself, while the other loves its culture (and might even want to be human himself). And given that it's brought up in this preview, I really don't think the blackmail that Optimus still technically has hanging over Soundwave's head is done as a plot point.
Megastar
I love Laserbeak and Buzzsaw's schtick, becusce I never felt like they had any personalities.
Coffee
Anyone else getting a little sick of Laserbeak and Buzzsaw's schtick? I'm not saying they weren't funny before, but their jokes are always hit or miss. And lately they've been pretty miss. It's kind of exhausting to see them in a flashback sequence, followed by a present sequence, with neither case being particularly funny. I feel like I'd be more forgiving if they actually served a purpose to the story, but they don't. At all.
Also why does Barber always try too hard with his humour? Like with Rumble and Frenzy he could have just ended it on "Hey look, it's the Fly-entist." And that would have been funny. But then you have Frenzy with his weirdly botched dialogue that kind of ruins the moment. Also unrelated, but it was kind of strange to go from Frenzy and Rumble greeting them to Ravage leading them into Soundwave's den between panels.
Also, super unpopular opinion, but I really don't like Thundercracker. 90% of everything he talks about is his screenplays (which are not just bad, but so devoid of understanding how living beings communicate that it's literally unbelievable that someone like Thundercracker would have such an inability to comprehend natural speech,) and Buster. And while I liked the fact that he had a pet at the beginning of the series, he is straight up defined by it, because his character is literally "idiot with a dog". Look at Sunstreaker in both Costa's series, as well as Spotlight Hoist. His character is not once reduced to "I love myself. and I love my pet!" His dialogue is actually significant to the content of the issue, with Bob being far from a defining part of his character. In fact in Hoist we are given just the right enough of panels to show he cares about Bob, with the rest of his role in the comic being about his frustration with the mistakes he\'s made and the need to apologize for it constantly. Hell, Skywarp has made far more logical thought-processes over the course of this series, to the point where he's actually the more interesting character over Thundercracker. Which is ridiculous since Thundercracker was for the longest time one of the more morally complex Decepticons in IDW.
Though now that Soundwave has had his "epiphany" about humans that ruins what's really interesting about his character (that being his hypocrisy between his belief in Cybertronian equality and his belief that organic life is substandard), I guess Thundercracker has already lost what was initially interesting about him in the first place. It's funny how the most interesting development in AHO, being Prime's blackmail of Soundwave, was made completely moot by making Soundwave complete devotion to the alliance. It would have been miles interesting if Soundwave was forced into this alliance based on a piece of blackmail, thus creating a tension between the two leaders. Plus then you'd have one of Prime's main confidants a Xenophobe, as WELL as a Decepticon responsible for several atrocities during the war.
I actually really want to love this series, because I really love the art, but ever since the beginning of All Hail Optimus this series has gone really downhill for me.
CrimsonMagnus
Hawaiian shirt? I\'m lookin\' at you, Holomatter Swerve!
Zylly103
I certainly hope it's done, but seeing it brought up here is a reminder it exists. Narrative convention practically demands this isn't just let go.
Omegashark18
I think because him and Optimus are legit friends now, I think the blackmail thing is done.
Good to see Cosmos again, cause he was in bad shape last we saw him.
And regarding Marissa's relation to Flint.
Sockie
She's talking about Chuckles–they have history in IDW.
And Rumble and Frenzy were last seen on Earth, so they could be in Autobot City and thus the Junkions might know about them. I also feel like the fliers alone would be better back-up for a stealth mission than the guys who make tremors and sonic screams, though. =P
Dramatic Spoon
Hawaiian Shirt?
Is she talking about Chuckles, or someone new?
Where's Rumble and Frenzy?
Any of the cassettecons seem like the most likely choice.
Sockie
It's probably going to be Laserbeak and Buzzsaw, as the Junkions also wouldn't know about them and you just know from Cosmos's unenthusiasm it's going to be them. =P
User_93049
Okay, now I gotta know. [\spoiler] tag if you need to.
edit: apparently putting the word spoiler into brackets will automatically spoiler tag your post even if you don't close it. huh.
Soundwave902
I\'m wondering who Cosmos\'s \"backup\" will be: the Mini-Cassettes or new characters
ezim93
They're not even being subtle about Marissa's relation to Flint aren't they?
EDIT: Crap I forgot it was already confirmed via the Revolution trading cards. Pay no attention to this.
Mattymo
Fanbase?! Pfft! That's an RI cover for sure lol
Sockie
Really happy to see Cosmos again. I hadn't realized how much I'd missed him until his reappearance here.
Zylly103
Highly intriguing stuff afoot.
On the one hand, sooner or later, Prime's blackmail on Soundwave is a Chekhov's gun that needs to be fired.
On the other, I find the current alliance to be far more interested than anything that could come of shattering it.
nobleboivin
RobotKnight95
I demand art of TC in a hawaiian shirt for a book cover/movie poster. Dont met me down, fanbase.