Straight from Newsarama comes the five-page preview for IDW Publishing’s Optimus Prime #10, scheduled for release on August 30. As Alpha Trion tells Optimus Prime, Pyra Magna, and Starscream the origin of the Autobot insignia, we take a look back into the brutal, barbaric world of ancient Cybertron, when the 13 Primes began their reign. What relevations will this look into not just Cybertron’s past, but that of Galvatron and Arcee, bring forth? Check out the pages after the break to see a few!
Bravemaximike
Well said, and good points too!
I really like John Barber's stuff, a lot more than Costa's and a few others. And we all have our favorite bots, and SS is definitely one of mine.
But, this was handled well, and with impact.
So….. I guess I better forgive him too. Haha
But, that said, I wouldn't mind if he came back! Sometime. One day. Maybe even in G2 colors. Lol
TargetmasterJoe
Ugh, this is a tricky one to answer, isn't it?
On one hand, I DO want to see Sideswipe come back.
On the other hand, as much as despise John Barber for killing Sideswipe…I begrudgingly admit that the story we ended up with still makes sense.
Earlier on, we are told that the extremely rare Positron Cores are famous for being able to revitalize near-dead Bots. Naturally, we assume "oh, SS is totally coming back." But then, Arcee goes and shoots a surrendering Wreck-Gar, blowing up the Positron Core as well. When we see covers of Optimus Prime #9, we assume "oh it's okay, they're gonna fix the thing that'll bring back SS!" Once we read OP #9 up to the end, we realize that no one fixed the Positron Core and SS dies a peaceful death, leaving Arcee to forge a new friendship with Aileron. The end.
To reiterate my stance, I HATE that Barber killed SS. But at the same time, I can still see what we ended up with is a case of effective storytelling.
During E3 2017, Hideo Kojima gave advice to Jordan Vogt-Roberts on the upcoming Metal Gear Solid movie. The advice? "Betray your audience."
Barber has done just that: betray us for the sake of writing a good story. And for that, I (begrudgingly) commend him for playing us like goddamn fiddles.
(Besides, I may have already made a promise to forgive John Barber about my getting mad at him for offing Sideswipe if IDW goes and hires Ian Flynn to write for Sonic the Hedgehog in 2018. Strangely enough, Barber himself ended up liking the Tweet.)
kmc
Arcee's brother confirmed to be
Prime Wylde
And again my comments were directed toward the random insults not the critiques.
It is true he has some flaws, and I prefer his work on pin ups and prints/covers.
But it is possible to critique an artist without insulting him.
C16
I've stated that he's bad at proportions, faces, and perspective. These are valid critiques. He's definitely below IDW's other artists. You're letting your bad taste blind you. He ruins every issue that he does. Half of Dark Cybertron (already made bad with huge mix of different artists/styles and weak story), those stand alone pre-war stories and the Dinobot stuff. Complete garbage, and he just keeps getting work and ruining series.
Fallout
or that it's time to put trion in a home, lol.
fuck, now i want trion to be abe simpson
General Tekno
Put me down on the list of people who dig Livio's art (mind, I won't lie, it can be uneven at times). Though admittedly the stuff I think he does best is prints/posters or hand-drawn commissions – I've got a couple pieces by him that are gorgeous.
Hooper_X
This is the least I\'ve minded Ramondello\'s art in a long time – limiting it to flashbacks as a way of changing the tone is cool. I liked it better when they did the flashback in a Jack Kirby-colored-by-Nel Yomtov way in MTMTE, but this is acceptably neat.
And I say that as someone who\'s gone ahead and elevated Kei Zama to my top 3 TF artists OAT. (it\'s her, Senior, and Milne)
Prime Wylde
You are correct, we all are allowed our own artistic judgement. But insults aren't critiques.
WilyMech
The preview is interesting at least. I do admit I like Sunstreaker and Optimus Prime dialogue about Sideswipe the last thing the grieving person wants is Platitudes and right now OP is acting like Prowl in some regards by moving his followers like chess pieces.
C16
You're also welcome to like an artist, but that doesn't mean he's good. All the comments and comparisons are spot on. Livio is IDW worst artist, by far.
T-Wrecks
Oh man, it's Liege Maximo, and finally Onyx Prime! Onyx looks ferocious.
Focksbot
Actually, there is something. I think in general you make a fair criticism, but in this specific instance it's a very neat touch how Sunstreaker cuts Prime off. Barber has already highlighted Prime's tendency to go round calling everyone his 'friend' in the first part of his Dinobot trilogy, with Sandstorm rejecting the term. Here, Sunstreaker obviously hears the word, senses a rambling platitude coming, and basically tells Prime: "Stop right there, because I'm in a bad place now and I'm in no mood for your wise old man shtick."
I wonder if Barber's ever going to drive this point about Prime home in the book bearing his name – the guy has no friends. It's already been pointed out to him how people he formally called 'friends' are now his enemies. If you call everyone your friend, the term eventually loses all meaning. Prime is so determined to be everyone's confidante for political reasons that he doesn't have any real buddies at all.
SG Roadbuster
i'd rather have Liefeld at this point. at least he can keep characters on model.
Stryker055
I'm admittedly starting to warm up to Livio's art in these ancient Cybertron flashbacks by interpreting them as artistic depictions of the actual events, like how Alpha Trion (or his audience) imagines these events, not how they actually appeared. That makes me okay with the more simplified character designs, as it reminds me of our (poorly-drawn) medieval-era artwork.
2Sixshot
Maybe a mix because I swear the top of that head screams movie megatron
Prime Wylde
It's not like Livio is Rob Liefeld. I personally enjoy Livios art. You're welcome to dislike an artist but going out of your way for such insults are pretty childish.
The issue at hand:
I've not been really enjoying much of the story to date, this is a turn toward more my flare. i love flashback-reveal stories.
SG Roadbuster
It's a not so subtle parallel to real world religions. Depending on who you ask, the Abrahamic God answers to Yahweh, Christ, Jehovah, or Allah. Same concept here.
SG Roadbuster
I know right?
It's like sitting down for a meal, being presented the most succulent, juicy, still sizzling, and well seasoned steak. Getting to take 2 bites of it, and then the waiter takes it away and shits on your plate, tops it with a spring of parsley and tells you to eat up.
BB Shockwave
Man the artwork in the flashback is atrocious. What is even happening? Are the twins Galvatron or the guy who killed Septimus Prime? Or he even kill him or just grab him by the throat? And this whole gladiator combat cliche… this feels like some 80ies Marvel comic issue.