Dragoness Eclectic (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
dragoness_e) wrote2006-10-19 01:02 pm
dragoness_e) wrote2006-10-19 01:02 pm
Entry tags:
I just finished reading G2 and... Wow!
This is a repost of the essay posted on The Padded Cell. Plus the slash annex.
I just finished reading the Marvel G2 run. Wow! Okay, I take back most of the rude things I've said about Simon Furman's writing to date: G2 showed him at his best, I think. Just.. wow.
It's set up more like a manga arc than the usual American comics: one writer, things actually plotted out and adequately foreshadowed beforehand, permanent changes in the story universe and to the characters, actually OMG! character development--just really, really well done. At least by comparison to the Marvel G1 run.
Yes, there are character deaths, however, none of them feel like they were capriciously done for shock value or because someone's toy had been pulled from the shelves. They all contributed to the plot and/or characterization of the bad guys. Every (on-stage) death in G2 mattered.
I must complain about everyone who told me that "Earth is destroyed in G2". No, it wasn't. It wasn't any worse battered than it was in the movie ID4, perhaps less. Let's see, Bludgeon and his clowns trashed a couple of capital cities and some military forces. Jhiaxus nuked San Francisco and other unidentified points on Earth's surface, but was stopped part way through by first Starscream, then the arrival of the Swarm. The final battle with the Swarm took place on the surface of the Earth, so obviously the planet wasn't destroyed. Cthulhu still sleeps in peace. ;-)
G2 is not separate continuity; it is a direct sequel to Marvel's G1 run. Marvel's G1 run, in the later issues, seems to have tossed the entire cartoonverse/TFTM chronology and done its own Battle vs. Unicron, and Roddy never gets to be Prime. No Galvatron in the main timeline, either. Just G2 Megatron.
G2 Megatron... *fangirls* Awesome with a slice of awesome. And for the Decepticon vs. human technology argument: G2 Megatron got his upgrades--note, upgrades from what was already the strongest, toughest single Decepticon out there to just uberness all around--from COBRA. That's right, G2 Megatron was rebuilt with bleeding edge, mad scientist-grade human tech.
The evolving relationship between Megatron and Prime was fascinating--from the hate-hate of early G1 to rivalry and not-so-grudging respect, especially once they started working together against Jhiaxus and the Swarm. Watching the Decepticons (for the most part) follow the lead of Megatron and work with the Autobots, fighting (and dying) side-by-side, was fascinating. Megatron coming through at the end to rescue Grimlock and the other surviving Transformers from the Swarm was great!
And Starscream! What a treat he was--his usual paranoid, back-stabbing self, yet he came through in the end. At Matrix-point, at first, yet even after the Matrix had been removed, he rescued Optimus Prime from the Swarm, and offered rescue the second time (Optimus refused, since his plan required him dying to the Swarm to win.) He also inspired that really great Megatron quote, and it was fun watching Jhiaxus slowly realize that leaving Starscream alone in the Warworld just might have had something to do with it suddenly turning on him... Heh. You don't know him vewwy well, do you, Jhiaxus?
Lesson learned from G1 & G2: When Starscream shows up unexpectedly with a sprightly "Hi, guys!", you've just been screwed. That sharp pain between your shoulder-blades is where he stuck the knife in your back.
Furman likes Grimlock, doesn't he? Grimlock was pretty good in G2--not a psycho, not perfect--he learned a lot about command the hard way, by losing guys from his own bad judgement--but tough and turning into a good leader. Coolness.
It strikes me that cartoon-verse and G2 continuities are mutually incompatible for one reason: the Quintessons. If the Quintessons have their ancient mercantile empire as in S3, the Decepticons that left Cybertron to found the Cybertronian Empire would have been either wiped out by the Quints or re-enslaved. If the Cybertronian Empire of G2 existed, it would have wiped out such an obvious threat as the Quints. You can't have both Quints and the Cybertronian Empire in a sane galaxy.
My one complaint: the art was just terrible! It really didn't do justice to either Simon Furman's writing or the new designs for many of the characters. G2 with IDW's artists, now, that I'd like to see.
I just finished reading the Marvel G2 run. Wow! Okay, I take back most of the rude things I've said about Simon Furman's writing to date: G2 showed him at his best, I think. Just.. wow.
It's set up more like a manga arc than the usual American comics: one writer, things actually plotted out and adequately foreshadowed beforehand, permanent changes in the story universe and to the characters, actually OMG! character development--just really, really well done. At least by comparison to the Marvel G1 run.
Yes, there are character deaths, however, none of them feel like they were capriciously done for shock value or because someone's toy had been pulled from the shelves. They all contributed to the plot and/or characterization of the bad guys. Every (on-stage) death in G2 mattered.
I must complain about everyone who told me that "Earth is destroyed in G2". No, it wasn't. It wasn't any worse battered than it was in the movie ID4, perhaps less. Let's see, Bludgeon and his clowns trashed a couple of capital cities and some military forces. Jhiaxus nuked San Francisco and other unidentified points on Earth's surface, but was stopped part way through by first Starscream, then the arrival of the Swarm. The final battle with the Swarm took place on the surface of the Earth, so obviously the planet wasn't destroyed. Cthulhu still sleeps in peace. ;-)
G2 is not separate continuity; it is a direct sequel to Marvel's G1 run. Marvel's G1 run, in the later issues, seems to have tossed the entire cartoonverse/TFTM chronology and done its own Battle vs. Unicron, and Roddy never gets to be Prime. No Galvatron in the main timeline, either. Just G2 Megatron.
G2 Megatron... *fangirls* Awesome with a slice of awesome. And for the Decepticon vs. human technology argument: G2 Megatron got his upgrades--note, upgrades from what was already the strongest, toughest single Decepticon out there to just uberness all around--from COBRA. That's right, G2 Megatron was rebuilt with bleeding edge, mad scientist-grade human tech.
The evolving relationship between Megatron and Prime was fascinating--from the hate-hate of early G1 to rivalry and not-so-grudging respect, especially once they started working together against Jhiaxus and the Swarm. Watching the Decepticons (for the most part) follow the lead of Megatron and work with the Autobots, fighting (and dying) side-by-side, was fascinating. Megatron coming through at the end to rescue Grimlock and the other surviving Transformers from the Swarm was great!
And Starscream! What a treat he was--his usual paranoid, back-stabbing self, yet he came through in the end. At Matrix-point, at first, yet even after the Matrix had been removed, he rescued Optimus Prime from the Swarm, and offered rescue the second time (Optimus refused, since his plan required him dying to the Swarm to win.) He also inspired that really great Megatron quote, and it was fun watching Jhiaxus slowly realize that leaving Starscream alone in the Warworld just might have had something to do with it suddenly turning on him... Heh. You don't know him vewwy well, do you, Jhiaxus?
Lesson learned from G1 & G2: When Starscream shows up unexpectedly with a sprightly "Hi, guys!", you've just been screwed. That sharp pain between your shoulder-blades is where he stuck the knife in your back.
Furman likes Grimlock, doesn't he? Grimlock was pretty good in G2--not a psycho, not perfect--he learned a lot about command the hard way, by losing guys from his own bad judgement--but tough and turning into a good leader. Coolness.
It strikes me that cartoon-verse and G2 continuities are mutually incompatible for one reason: the Quintessons. If the Quintessons have their ancient mercantile empire as in S3, the Decepticons that left Cybertron to found the Cybertronian Empire would have been either wiped out by the Quints or re-enslaved. If the Cybertronian Empire of G2 existed, it would have wiped out such an obvious threat as the Quints. You can't have both Quints and the Cybertronian Empire in a sane galaxy.
My one complaint: the art was just terrible! It really didn't do justice to either Simon Furman's writing or the new designs for many of the characters. G2 with IDW's artists, now, that I'd like to see.
G2 and Slash...
G2 Megatron/Optimus Prime - Egads, there's so much subtext and vibes there; I swear, Optimus is all but moping over Megatron half the time.
G2 Megatron/Starscream -- yes, Megatron, why did you pick the most treacherous, self-serving, back-stabbing bishie you know to revive out of all the guys who were lying around in pieces on the Ark? Okay, the only other non-Autobot was the alternate Galvatron, and he might have been too much of a rival... There's something about Starscream; even when you know he's going to stab you in the back first chance he gets, you revive him. Repeatedly.
Dirge/Nightbeat - We died heroically together!
Grimlock/Soundwave - We're in the same panel on the same side for once!
Manta Ray/Leadfoot (who?) - I saved your life!
Frenzy/Wheeljack - Weeee-haaa! Crank up the juice on that invention you're plugging into me! (goes out smiling)
G2 Megatron/Grimlock - Megatron comes to the rescue!
Starscream/Optimus Prime - "Prime, help me! I'll do anything!" "Anything?" ...and later on Starscream rescues Prime from the Swarm. And offers him further rescue later. Gee, Screamer, didn't know you were so fond of Optimus. ;-)
..and that's from just the last issue. If I were to go through all the issues, we'd have a lot more interesting possibilities.
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re
Dun.
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Yes, it is a fun quote (http://www.avif13.dsl.pipex.com/tentacle/pics/icon_great.gif).