Lunchtime Reading Suggestion: Read IDW's ROBOTS IN DISGUISE #14-- You won't be sorry!
Wednesday, February 27th, 2013 12:03PM CST
Categories: Comic Book News, ReviewsPosted by: Tigertrack Views: 30,411
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“...time to bot up...”
The amount of reveals and surprises in this issue is practically unparalleled. It’s a culmination to about 14 months of build up. The alliances, the backstabbing, the confusion, the rumors, the terrorism...we get a really good sense of what has been going on within the pages of this issue...FINALLY!
And as a fan of the character PROWL in GENERATION ONE TRANSFORMERS lore, I’ve been eyeing this series very carefully, and chiding the writers for PROWL making decisions that while some readers saw them as PROWL being PROWL and it was good character writing, I was in the other camp. I didn’t want ‘my PROWL’ to be like that. So I became less interested in the PROWL piece of the series because every action seemed to lead to something less and less Autobot PROWL like.
Big reveals in this issue to no one’s surprise focus on PROWL simply because last issue he was with a group of DECEPTICONS and working with them which, of course, left that point needing to be explained. And this issue it is. Which is why I had to read it! I had to see if BAD PROWL was going to become WORSE PROWL and why. Is it indeed him, or is there something else going on here? Sure, many people will find the revelations about PROWL’s reasoning for his behaviors obvious, maybe even too predictable, or ‘the easy way out’, but there is a piece of this story involving PROWL that you just... you won’t predict, no, shouldn’t have and couldn’t have ever predicted. It’s that out there of a concept.
Ideas of gestaltism, and the evolution of combination are up front and center, as is Megatron’s return and subsequent new body (spoiled by the cover), and his plans for the Decepticons push to be in control of Cybertron again. The Autobots take a pounding, and one wonders if there is any hope for them at all, until the last page of this issue where some reinforcements arrive.
Not everything that we had questions about in RID has been answered. After reading this though, I did want to go back and re-read everything from the beginning to see if I could pick up the hints, subtle or not, that were there.
I don’t want to spoil too much here, but you SHOULD REALLY GO BUY THIS ISSUE. I feel like it will be one that people look back at and say, “Yeah, you remember when _______ did this in _____________? That was...WOW!” It’s that kind of issue.
It’s also a great lunchtime or break time read. RID Issue #14 came out today, and you should check to go see if your comic store still has it in stock! This is easily a 5 out 5 stars issue. ‘The Fall of the Autobots’ is as bad for the Autobots as it sounds...
The amount of reveals and surprises in this issue is practically unparalleled. It’s a culmination to about 14 months of build up. The alliances, the backstabbing, the confusion, the rumors, the terrorism...we get a really good sense of what has been going on within the pages of this issue...FINALLY!
And as a fan of the character PROWL in GENERATION ONE TRANSFORMERS lore, I’ve been eyeing this series very carefully, and chiding the writers for PROWL making decisions that while some readers saw them as PROWL being PROWL and it was good character writing, I was in the other camp. I didn’t want ‘my PROWL’ to be like that. So I became less interested in the PROWL piece of the series because every action seemed to lead to something less and less Autobot PROWL like.
Big reveals in this issue to no one’s surprise focus on PROWL simply because last issue he was with a group of DECEPTICONS and working with them which, of course, left that point needing to be explained. And this issue it is. Which is why I had to read it! I had to see if BAD PROWL was going to become WORSE PROWL and why. Is it indeed him, or is there something else going on here? Sure, many people will find the revelations about PROWL’s reasoning for his behaviors obvious, maybe even too predictable, or ‘the easy way out’, but there is a piece of this story involving PROWL that you just... you won’t predict, no, shouldn’t have and couldn’t have ever predicted. It’s that out there of a concept.
Ideas of gestaltism, and the evolution of combination are up front and center, as is Megatron’s return and subsequent new body (spoiled by the cover), and his plans for the Decepticons push to be in control of Cybertron again. The Autobots take a pounding, and one wonders if there is any hope for them at all, until the last page of this issue where some reinforcements arrive.
Not everything that we had questions about in RID has been answered. After reading this though, I did want to go back and re-read everything from the beginning to see if I could pick up the hints, subtle or not, that were there.
I don’t want to spoil too much here, but you SHOULD REALLY GO BUY THIS ISSUE. I feel like it will be one that people look back at and say, “Yeah, you remember when _______ did this in _____________? That was...WOW!” It’s that kind of issue.
It’s also a great lunchtime or break time read. RID Issue #14 came out today, and you should check to go see if your comic store still has it in stock! This is easily a 5 out 5 stars issue. ‘The Fall of the Autobots’ is as bad for the Autobots as it sounds...
Credit(s): tigertracks 24
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Re: Lunchtime Reading Suggestion: Read IDW's ROBOTS IN DISGUISE #14-- You won't be sorry! (1467690)
Posted by Va'al on February 27th, 2013 @ 12:38pm CST
Posted by Va'al on February 27th, 2013 @ 12:38pm CST
This issue was insane. And in my mind it's not even the climax!
I mean, those reinforcements will do something (how are they suddenly ok?), and Starscream and Bumblebee both feature on the cover of #15.
This is almost worse than last month, in terms of hanging and cliffs.
Note: Josh Perez pointed out that the cover of issue 4, and the panel where Prowl shoots Bombshell of the same issue, contain clues in the background: the swirly-whirly pattern. Not sure how much of a clue it is, but ok!
I mean, those reinforcements will do something (how are they suddenly ok?), and Starscream and Bumblebee both feature on the cover of #15.
This is almost worse than last month, in terms of hanging and cliffs.
Note: Josh Perez pointed out that the cover of issue 4, and the panel where Prowl shoots Bombshell of the same issue, contain clues in the background: the swirly-whirly pattern. Not sure how much of a clue it is, but ok!
Re: Lunchtime Reading Suggestion: Read IDW's ROBOTS IN DISGUISE #14-- You won't be sorry! (1467696)
Posted by Blurrz on February 27th, 2013 @ 12:49pm CST
Posted by Blurrz on February 27th, 2013 @ 12:49pm CST
Now THIS is going to be the Rage of the Dinobots.
This story is just awesome.
I'm really wondering what side Arcee is truly on... (Poor Sideswipe).
Hats off to Barber. What he put together in these 14 issues is utterly amazing.
This story is just awesome.
I'm really wondering what side Arcee is truly on... (Poor Sideswipe).
Hats off to Barber. What he put together in these 14 issues is utterly amazing.
Re: Lunchtime Reading Suggestion: Read IDW's ROBOTS IN DISGUISE #14-- You won't be sorry! (1467699)
Posted by Va'al on February 27th, 2013 @ 12:56pm CST
I now have to read them all back to back. That's my evening gone.
Posted by Va'al on February 27th, 2013 @ 12:56pm CST
Blurrz wrote:Hats off to Barber. What he put together in these 14 issues is utterly amazing.
I now have to read them all back to back. That's my evening gone.
Re: Lunchtime Reading Suggestion: Read IDW's ROBOTS IN DISGUISE #14-- You won't be sorry! (1467711)
Posted by Blurrz on February 27th, 2013 @ 1:36pm CST
Posted by Blurrz on February 27th, 2013 @ 1:36pm CST
I guess I can't leave you alone in that part xD
Re: Lunchtime Reading Suggestion: Read IDW's ROBOTS IN DISGUISE #14-- You won't be sorry! (1467712)
Posted by Nemesis Maximo on February 27th, 2013 @ 1:37pm CST
Posted by Nemesis Maximo on February 27th, 2013 @ 1:37pm CST
It's like the opposite paralell to the ending of DOTM, where all the 'cons died. I mean, I was in utter disbelief when Prowl shot Wheeljack!. That was nuts! I also called that Prowl wasn't acting like himself. I knew something was just off in the last issue.. And Sideswip too?. Man. Crazy. Somebody tell me something about this issue that wasn't crazy.
Re: Lunchtime Reading Suggestion: Read IDW's ROBOTS IN DISGUISE #14-- You won't be sorry! (1467718)
Posted by Va'al on February 27th, 2013 @ 1:56pm CST
Posted by Va'al on February 27th, 2013 @ 1:56pm CST
Well, Bombshell was his usual crazy. As was Megatron.
And Starscream whined in disbelief for most of it.
But everything else was CRAZY.
And Starscream whined in disbelief for most of it.
But everything else was CRAZY.
Re: Lunchtime Reading Suggestion: Read IDW's ROBOTS IN DISGUISE #14-- You won't be sorry! (1467734)
Posted by Burn on February 27th, 2013 @ 2:50pm CST
Posted by Burn on February 27th, 2013 @ 2:50pm CST
Guess I'm in the minority when I say ... meh.
Probably shouldn't have read Batman Inc. first, such disappointment is enough to jade anyone.
Probably shouldn't have read Batman Inc. first, such disappointment is enough to jade anyone.
Re: Lunchtime Reading Suggestion: Read IDW's ROBOTS IN DISGUISE #14-- You won't be sorry! (1467741)
Posted by Va'al on February 27th, 2013 @ 3:09pm CST
I don't think it's the most amazing plot ever, and as tigertracks pointed out, some aspects do seem a bit easy-way-out-ish.* But the overall story is quite 'whoah' rather than 'meh'.
In my opinion.
*Shadowplay remains my favourite story so far, of the two ongoings.
Posted by Va'al on February 27th, 2013 @ 3:09pm CST
Burn wrote:Guess I'm in the minority when I say ... meh.
Probably shouldn't have read Batman Inc. first, such disappointment is enough to jade anyone.
I don't think it's the most amazing plot ever, and as tigertracks pointed out, some aspects do seem a bit easy-way-out-ish.* But the overall story is quite 'whoah' rather than 'meh'.
In my opinion.
*Shadowplay remains my favourite story so far, of the two ongoings.
Re: Lunchtime Reading Suggestion: Read IDW's ROBOTS IN DISGUISE #14-- You won't be sorry! (1467747)
Posted by budmaloney on February 27th, 2013 @ 3:46pm CST
Posted by budmaloney on February 27th, 2013 @ 3:46pm CST
Now this is pod racing!
What an issue. This is what transformers is really about. The portrayal of a ruthless decepticon force. We are so privileged to have such good series. With mtme 14 around the corner, it's not going to be an easy ride for the Autobots. And Prowl, just wow. Now we know why the redesign.
But I'm happy to see the Decepticons back where they belong, on top. All three Bay movies kept on hammering them for no reason, it was completely monopole.
I'm curious why Megatron went back to his old body. Didn't idw invest heavily in the new one? We didn't get to see it much, except in chaos and spotlight.
Now another long wait.
What an issue. This is what transformers is really about. The portrayal of a ruthless decepticon force. We are so privileged to have such good series. With mtme 14 around the corner, it's not going to be an easy ride for the Autobots. And Prowl, just wow. Now we know why the redesign.
But I'm happy to see the Decepticons back where they belong, on top. All three Bay movies kept on hammering them for no reason, it was completely monopole.
I'm curious why Megatron went back to his old body. Didn't idw invest heavily in the new one? We didn't get to see it much, except in chaos and spotlight.
Now another long wait.
Re: Lunchtime Reading Suggestion: Read IDW's ROBOTS IN DISGUISE #14-- You won't be sorry! (1467760)
Posted by Va'al on February 27th, 2013 @ 5:14pm CST
Posted by Va'al on February 27th, 2013 @ 5:14pm CST
I went through all of them so far, and this is what I picked up:
1 - I/D chips are disabled by Shockwave and Soundave "for Ratbat".
2 - While Starscream believes Ratbat, Shockwave and Soundwave are a bit more stoic about things.
3 - Wheeljack finds out about the quantum/time travel device.
4 - Bombshell mentions All-Who-Are-One (7); introduction of the cerebro shells; Bombshell's eyes glow yellow when he activates the control, and so do the subjects under control (Dirge and Sunstorm in this case, p.
; Prowl shoots Bombshell, but we don't see the latter's face, and the swirly background (from the cover) shows up (16); Prowl changes, final page is very Megatron-esque.
5 - Dirge's secret. Prowl says he has "tricks" to get "things out of Decepticons" (AHM Bombshell has a similar line with Hunter O'Nion).
8 - Prowl says that the Dinobots make him nervous (4), suggests that Autobots should not be in charge (8). Shockwave is stoic. Again. Dirge has yellow eyes (17) but may be a mistake. The Dinobots definitely have yellow eyes as they attack Ironhide.
9 - Yellow eyes again! Bumblebee says "is something controlling Prowl?", Wheeljack replies that he checked, and there's nothing, or "nothing that isn't usually controlling him anyway" (7). WJ suggests that the planet wants to keep everyone in the same place. Silverbolt's message says that the Aerialbots "started to act like one" (15).
Annual - Omega angrily states that Monstructor is "not when all are one". After Starscream is identified as the chosen one by the Metrotitan, Prowl does the angry face when others find out (34) and scheming face as they move back to Iacon (39).
11 - Prowl tells Bumblebee that he is "not Megatron. Believe me" (2) and adds, ominously, "we will WIN". Prowl sends Arcee to "kill" all Decepticons, and tells her to move them to the black room "with the others".
13 - Prowl admits to have been pulling the strings, and to not having been himself or odd at times (8). Megatron gets taken to the black room.
Whew.
1 - I/D chips are disabled by Shockwave and Soundave "for Ratbat".
2 - While Starscream believes Ratbat, Shockwave and Soundwave are a bit more stoic about things.
3 - Wheeljack finds out about the quantum/time travel device.
4 - Bombshell mentions All-Who-Are-One (7); introduction of the cerebro shells; Bombshell's eyes glow yellow when he activates the control, and so do the subjects under control (Dirge and Sunstorm in this case, p.
; Prowl shoots Bombshell, but we don't see the latter's face, and the swirly background (from the cover) shows up (16); Prowl changes, final page is very Megatron-esque.5 - Dirge's secret. Prowl says he has "tricks" to get "things out of Decepticons" (AHM Bombshell has a similar line with Hunter O'Nion).
8 - Prowl says that the Dinobots make him nervous (4), suggests that Autobots should not be in charge (8). Shockwave is stoic. Again. Dirge has yellow eyes (17) but may be a mistake. The Dinobots definitely have yellow eyes as they attack Ironhide.
9 - Yellow eyes again! Bumblebee says "is something controlling Prowl?", Wheeljack replies that he checked, and there's nothing, or "nothing that isn't usually controlling him anyway" (7). WJ suggests that the planet wants to keep everyone in the same place. Silverbolt's message says that the Aerialbots "started to act like one" (15).
Annual - Omega angrily states that Monstructor is "not when all are one". After Starscream is identified as the chosen one by the Metrotitan, Prowl does the angry face when others find out (34) and scheming face as they move back to Iacon (39).
11 - Prowl tells Bumblebee that he is "not Megatron. Believe me" (2) and adds, ominously, "we will WIN". Prowl sends Arcee to "kill" all Decepticons, and tells her to move them to the black room "with the others".
13 - Prowl admits to have been pulling the strings, and to not having been himself or odd at times (8). Megatron gets taken to the black room.
Whew.
Re: Lunchtime Reading Suggestion: Read IDW's ROBOTS IN DISGUISE #14-- You won't be sorry! (1467761)
Posted by Blurrz on February 27th, 2013 @ 5:29pm CST
Posted by Blurrz on February 27th, 2013 @ 5:29pm CST
I just... Barber set this up for all this time. Just. Wow.
Re: Lunchtime Reading Suggestion: Read IDW's ROBOTS IN DISGUISE #14-- You won't be sorry! (1467768)
Posted by Nemesis Maximo on February 27th, 2013 @ 5:49pm CST
Posted by Nemesis Maximo on February 27th, 2013 @ 5:49pm CST
Ww. Just...wow. I mean Prowl...and then...
And Wheeljack...
And Bumblebee?
Wow.
And Wheeljack...
And Bumblebee?
Wow.
Re: Lunchtime Reading Suggestion: Read IDW's ROBOTS IN DISGUISE #14-- You won't be sorry! (1467770)
Posted by Va'al on February 27th, 2013 @ 6:06pm CST
Posted by Va'al on February 27th, 2013 @ 6:06pm CST
I'm a little confused about Bumblebee though.
He's on the cover and in the blurb for the next issue. So what did Megatron actually do to him?
(And the Spotlight will give more information and character development, apparently. But from Earth-based events, prior to all this.)
He's on the cover and in the blurb for the next issue. So what did Megatron actually do to him?
(And the Spotlight will give more information and character development, apparently. But from Earth-based events, prior to all this.)
Re: Lunchtime Reading Suggestion: Read IDW's ROBOTS IN DISGUISE #14-- You won't be sorry! (1467873)
Posted by Henry921 on February 28th, 2013 @ 4:32am CST
That was literally the only thing I didn't like about this issue. Farewell, old friend.
The info about gestalts and how they work in the IDW-verse is also a great explanation. That Barber guy just continues to impress.
Posted by Henry921 on February 28th, 2013 @ 4:32am CST
Nemesis Maximo wrote:It's like the opposite paralell to the ending of DOTM, where all the 'cons died. I mean, I was in utter disbelief when Prowl shot Wheeljack!.
That was literally the only thing I didn't like about this issue. Farewell, old friend.
The info about gestalts and how they work in the IDW-verse is also a great explanation. That Barber guy just continues to impress.
Re: Lunchtime Reading Suggestion: Read IDW's ROBOTS IN DISGUISE #14-- You won't be sorry! (1468021)
Posted by Va'al on February 28th, 2013 @ 3:58pm CST
Posted by Va'al on February 28th, 2013 @ 3:58pm CST
The issue was featured in CBR's The Buy Pile, and even gave the title to this week's installment!
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=43995
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=43995
Transformers: Robots In Disguise #14
(IDW Publishing)
Also? Whoa. Megatron's plan for recapturing the planet Cybertron are revealed, and they are ... wow. Using nothing more than the tools readily at his command, he's orchestrated a symphony of subterfuge that will make you look at this series' 13 previous issues very differently. "Infiltrate -- hide in plain sight -- and conquer," Megatron boasts, "that's the Decepticon way. Your petty politics ... did no more than provide a distraction for us to gain a foothold in high command." John Barber's script is so good it's scary, reimagining the concepts of a decades old toy into science fiction excellence. The artwork of Andrew Griffith, Brian Shearer and Josh Perez showed both riveting detail and evocative emotion. Another fantastic issue.
Re: Lunchtime Reading Suggestion: Read IDW's ROBOTS IN DISGUISE #14-- You won't be sorry! (1468082)
Posted by Nemesis Maximo on February 28th, 2013 @ 7:17pm CST
Posted by Nemesis Maximo on February 28th, 2013 @ 7:17pm CST
I love how Megs is going back to his Infiltration Protocol roots. Simply epic.
Re: Lunchtime Reading Suggestion: Read IDW's ROBOTS IN DISGUISE #14-- You won't be sorry! (1468186)
Posted by sneakycheapy on March 1st, 2013 @ 2:58am CST
I'm with you on this one. I was completely underwhelmed by some of the "revelations" in this issue. I mean, cerebro-shells, really?
IDW could have made a real gamechanger here with Prowl. For an order/control-obsessed schemer, as he's been made out to be in the continuity, switching to the Decepticons would've made total sense as a reaction to the shifting political landscape of Cybertron. I mean, compared to the NAILs, at least the Decepticons would bring unified, ordered leadership. And certainly, Prowl's ambivalence towards the NAILs goes back to the beginning.
Also, why doesn't Bombshell just cerebro-shell every-damn-one if they're so all-powerful? Weak.
Thank Primus there's MTMTE.
Posted by sneakycheapy on March 1st, 2013 @ 2:58am CST
Burn wrote:Guess I'm in the minority when I say ... meh.
Probably shouldn't have read Batman Inc. first, such disappointment is enough to jade anyone.
I'm with you on this one. I was completely underwhelmed by some of the "revelations" in this issue. I mean, cerebro-shells, really?
IDW could have made a real gamechanger here with Prowl. For an order/control-obsessed schemer, as he's been made out to be in the continuity, switching to the Decepticons would've made total sense as a reaction to the shifting political landscape of Cybertron. I mean, compared to the NAILs, at least the Decepticons would bring unified, ordered leadership. And certainly, Prowl's ambivalence towards the NAILs goes back to the beginning.
Also, why doesn't Bombshell just cerebro-shell every-damn-one if they're so all-powerful? Weak.
Thank Primus there's MTMTE.
Re: Lunchtime Reading Suggestion: Read IDW's ROBOTS IN DISGUISE #14-- You won't be sorry! (1468187)
Posted by Va'al on March 1st, 2013 @ 3:03am CST
Posted by Va'al on March 1st, 2013 @ 3:03am CST
We don't really know he hasn't used the same technique on everyone, though.
I have to say, I really wouldn't have minded your suggestion about Prowl. It would make sense. But at the same time, this new Prowl wasn't exactly himself, either. So maybe not.
I keep saying this on various boards: I'm going to wait and see how it develops.
There are flaws, yes, but I enjoyed how Barber is trying to patch up pretty much the whole IDW continuity. All of it.
(Now that I've written it thought down, I believe that a lot of grief for some fans actually comes from that. I've seen comments along the lines of 'How dare you mention Chaos and the previous Ongoing? RUINED FOREVER'. )
I have to say, I really wouldn't have minded your suggestion about Prowl. It would make sense. But at the same time, this new Prowl wasn't exactly himself, either. So maybe not.
I keep saying this on various boards: I'm going to wait and see how it develops.
There are flaws, yes, but I enjoyed how Barber is trying to patch up pretty much the whole IDW continuity. All of it.
(Now that I've written it thought down, I believe that a lot of grief for some fans actually comes from that. I've seen comments along the lines of 'How dare you mention Chaos and the previous Ongoing? RUINED FOREVER'.
)
