In March, we reported here on IDW’s WonderCon Anaheim announcement of an exciting new Transformers/Rom crossover series landing on your favorite comic book shop’s shelves this July. IDW and Previews World treat us to the multiple covers artwork for volumes 1 and 2, after the jump!
Previews World: as of this post, C cover for Volume 2 is pending as “Image Coming Soon”
SMOG
Well, yes. I think the history of Drift kind of demonstrates that rather clearly. However, I won't deny that the apparent backlash against "feminism" and "representation" probably adds a bit of fuel to the fire, even if I think it's entirely misplaced.
Well, it took James Roberts to rescue Drift from mediocrity. On the other hand, it also took James Roberts to write Nautica as so precious and self-consciously quirky-cutesie, that she went from being sort of neutral to annoying people.
Windblade had a pretty terrible design/concept to begin with, so she started on the bad foot. Since her arrival, she's ended up being a pretty dull character, so I guess by that measure, she just ends up being sort of… meh?
So, in other words, I think it just depends on the character, writer, and circumstances in each case. We can't really look at those characters and make a useful blanket statement about all of them, or about Stardrive.
zmog
YoungPrime
Check it out at Tformers(DOT)com, it's there along with their review and so far it's pretty good!
YoungPrime
….well this response wasn't called for.
Perhaps you should drop down to your knees and simply pray.
STARBLAST
Well obviously not, if it was Roberts this entire forum would drop to their knees to blow him because of great and wonderful he is and because he can do no wrong ever.
YoungPrime
….Depends on who the author was.
Boatformer
No, it really doesn't. It sounds like a good way to create a shared Rom/Transformers character. That's about it.
Danny-Boy
All this is assuming that this character from 200 years in the past comes back in the present as a major character, rather than just being a McGuffin created to get Rom and the Transformers together.
Heliblade
Drift and Windblade are… reconstructions of the stereotypical Transformers oc. If the new character does okay she will end up like them. Everybody loves Nautica. Everybody hates Anode.
Omegax80
I suppose that is fair. Just don't get the impulsive rage so quickly.
Agree, it's either something about gender, a new idea, etc… Do readers still hate Drift or Windblade? What about Nautica?
I do hate Anode though, she is annoying. Very whiny.
STARBLAST
It literally took ONE POST for tfw2005 to start raging about how women ruin everything.
This must be a new record…or a low but honestly this site reached the bottom a long time ago but by god some people keep digging.
(on topic the covers are AMAZING, I'm def getting the Roche and the two Milne ones. I'm supporting this series for Milne alone)
SMOG
But I agree in one sense… although I like ROM and I like Transformers, I feel like TFs and Spaceknights don't really go together very well, and this is just IDW trying to flog a few of their properties as much as possible. Who cares if they have to force a few square pegs into round holes, so to speak.
zmog
SMOG
Well, it's obviously not -exactly- the same thing, but they want a flagship female spaceknight with a special origin. And Brandy-Starshine was exactly that. Especially after her power-up, when she became more angry and proactive, and a little bit less ROM's lovesick puppy.
zmog
Danny-Boy
It's not exactly the same thing, since the first Starshine was a Galidorian just like Rom, and we already have a female Space Knight in the form of Livia.
SMOG
I think the definition of "Mary Sue" is getting unnecessarily broad. Not every "destined for greatness" new comic book character is a 'Mary Sue.'
A cliche… yeah, maybe. But then, comics have long been based on "you're secretly special" empowerment fantasies. Maybe they need to grow up a bit, but let's keep some perspective.
Stardrive could just be IDW's attempt to introduce a female Spaceknight character similar to Marvel's Starshine (a human woman who got to inherit a spaceknight's armour, and then got to spontaneously power-up because VENGEANCE!!!!).
On the other hand, yes… Rodimus definitely WAS one of those annoying "chosen one" types, and people have been ragging on him for 30 years. So yeah… what's good for the gander is good for the goose, in this case. Rodimus didn't get a pass for being a guy, and Stardrive doesn't get a pass just because she's a female character.
zmog
Heliblade
Hmm… perhaps, I am being too harsh. I suppose they have to go with this plot just so they can say they tried it at least once. But I'll be ready to nitpick just you wait!
Omegax80
It doesn't sound "edgy" at all. They have come up with a character which can be part of two titles. The point is, how can there be hate for something which hasn't been published?
Heliblade
If the character was male I would be saying the exact same damn thing.
*points at new male character* I don't like him.
-Murmurs of agreement
*points at new female character* I don't like her.
– SEXIST PIG!!!
This new character just sounds so stereotypical that I can't unthink it. I'm willing to give them a chance when their story actually comes out, but I'm jaded when it comes to "edgy new characters".
Omegax80
You've just described a new character with a unique backstory. I don't see an issue with the creation of a new idea. If it were a "male" would this discussion take place?
TF Bumblebee
Gonna have to take off the face plate for that…