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6-page preview for Transformers: Continuum has been posted @ bzzurkk.com

At least we're getting IDW art in this preview book...

Whilst I like the idea of Megatron: Origin as told from an unreliable point-of-view, the idea that no records exist of Prime's rise to leadership is pretty daft.

The narrative kind of reads like something from one of those old Ladybird (etc) books.

Originally Posted by Denyer
Whilst I like the idea of Megatron: Origin as told from an unreliable point-of-view, the idea that no records exist of Prime's rise to leadership is pretty daft.

It is, isn't it. Then again, the details are vague overall. I understand its summarizing key points, but I seem to recall what caused Thunderwing to go on a rampage, as well as his second coming, wasn't a "mystery".

Being vague over stuff they haven't covered yet is fairly sensible (compare to the 8th issue of More Than Meets the Eye), though if its meant to bring new readers up to speed it's probably a bit confusing to have various things presented as if they're major teasing mysteries when they're probably not meant to be.

To be honest, they'd probably have been better dropping Origin from it entirely, even this tokenistic effort feels like a half arsed attempt to save some face rather than ditching like the rancid turd it is. Unreliable narrative stories only work if A: They were intended that way and B: If the unreliable narrative isn't complete shit.

zigzagger wrote:The narrative kind of reads like something from one of those old Ladybird (etc) books.

It is, isn't it. Then again, the details are vague overall. I understand its summarizing key points, but I seem to recall what caused Thunderwing to go on a rampage, as well as his second coming, wasn't a "mystery".

It's just a five page preview. It's likely reference on the next page.

Is this written in-universe? What I mean is, is the narrator/historian a character in the story? It sounds like it. "Records from before the Great War are scattered and incomplete."

So if it is in-universe, the historian doesn't know for sure what Thunderwing's motivations were, but we do since we read Stormbringer.

Am I reading that right? I have no idea why they thought it would be helpful to write it as "it may have happened this way".

So... any chance of this resolving every single continuity problem in IDW? I doubt it. Still, at least they gave it an effort...

It seems it's going to resolve the continuity issues by going "Well, who knows what really happened? This is just a rumour sailors in bars told me" every other paragraph.

However, if this means the ongoing gets to start off prior-story-reference free I'm all for it.

Being vague when you're brining new readers up to speed isnt the best thing I could think off but at least a line is being drawn. I suppose the vague approach is so that they dont have to acknowledge all of what happened, just what fits.

Full of meh and huh.

I read Megatron Origin and All Hail Megatron and ain't entirely sure what the ****'s going on anyway... and this is a book that's meant to explain it to people who didn't? By going "who knows"?

Wow. IDW just cemented my decision not to buy the ongoing.

How do you retcon M:O as Unreliable Narrator when it didn't have a narrator? Why does Gunn's sister call him Gunn?

What is it they're charging for this again? In a sane world if it's nothing but old art it should be cheaper than a regular issue. I suspect not though.

I dont think I'll ever know exactly what happened in the Megs v Sentinal Prime fight. Heck, I'm still not sure if Sentinal Prime was killed in that battle. I mean, if he was, wouldnt megatron have taken the matrix as a trophy at least? Oh wait, there was no matrix. But... All hail Megatron... Matrix...


Bugger.

Sixth page up @ comicscontinuum.com



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While I stand corrected (though the Nebulos bit isn't quite accurate), I'm still not all that impressed with the narration.

Oh, they are probably doing something with Ore 13 after ignoring it in AHM then...

inflatable dalek wrote:What is it they're charging for this again? In a sane world if it's nothing but old art it should be cheaper than a regular issue. I suspect not though.

Same with Focus On Decepticons -- it needed to be cheap, plentiful, and aimed at new readers. Otherwise the only market is completists who'll then (justifiably) complain at total rehash.

zigzagger wrote:While I stand corrected (though the Nebulos bit isn't quite accurate)

That's putting it mildly. Obviously the extra sentence "Upon Thunderwing returning to Cybertron..." would have ruined the whole format of the book.

The idea Prime came to Eart as a result of finding out about Ore-13 is complete bollocks as well.

... so events directly experiences by a bunch of dudes who are still running around alive and non-senile are the stuff of legends now? Huh.

EDIT: Holy s***, first review is up.
http://tformers.com/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=1100

Worse, unless I am mistaken, there are meaningful errors and omissions. The most glaring error is the continual confusion of Skywatch, and The Machination. Continuum seems to say they are the same organization. Skywatch plays a role in the new Ongoing Transformers series as well, it seems, in the new Bumblebee mini-series. Combining them with The Machination may leave many new readers deeply confused.

HOW DID THIS BOOK HAPPEN?

But where's the satire?

Christ, Spike's on the front cover?

Nevermore wrote:... so events directly experiences by a bunch of dudes who are still running around alive and non-senile are the stuff of legends now? Huh.

EDIT: Holy s***, first review is up.
http://tformers.com/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=1100

That's a pretty striking review. Sounds like IDW have completely ballsed up an otherwise worthwhile project.