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Fellow Seibertronian Bridgemagnet took a bullet for all of us and bought Transformers Platinum Optimus Primal to review it and tell us that it is not worth the price. He goes though the sound effects and a description of the deco and articulation. Note that the robot head in beast mode can be more hidden than it appears in the video, but that would mean that the gorilla head would be facing down.
Bridgemagnet wrote:Here is my Review of
Year of the Monkey Optimus Primal Platinum Edition figure
As always, it is in 4K UHD.
Synopsis
SHUTDOWN! A vengeful god stalks the corridors of the Lost Light, murdering everyone who makes eye contact. The crew must answer two questions: Why have they been singled out for punishment? And how do you stop someone who can kill you just by thinking about it?
..sure, that'll work
Story
We have reached the second part of the final arc before the 50th milestone, and the last chance to see what is going in some of the Lost Light's crew members' heads. Quite literally, with James Roberts' newfound torture instrument for our regular space-opera-meets-horror-meets-sitcom-meets: the Transformers god of death, Mortilus, and its vessel, the biggest mnemosurgeon around, Sunder.
How?
With the horror side of the story (more on the other side below), Roberts actually brings us a lot closer to the initial arcs of this particular ongoing. A lot of the issue, in fact, feeds back into an older vibe for the book, also given Skids' first introduction to MTMTE as an outsider to the situation, and his clearly pivotal role in the grand scheme of things.
Nope
The problems I had with the issue, and I find myself repeating a previous thought, are with the pacing - and with the fact that this is another conclusion that feels rushed, even actually cut short. I understand that the length of the comic can only allow so much. But still, some things feel like they're lacking a part to them, or that more could be said and told.
Oh, and Tailgate's in it too
That is not to say that I don't realise and understand that there are, obviously other developments to be expected, especially with the preview and covers being what they are and featuring who they do. We will be seeing how a lot of what happens in here will affect the rest of the crew, of the series, and probably of the TFverse, without too many doubts on that last part, either.
Art
We've seen what Hayato Sakamoto can do in previous issues, and in his work on the TFCC and Takara Legends comics - what we get here is a shift further into the latter style, and something which feels more his, with some significant manga traits, and some definite horrorific, twisted, Junji Ito/Neon Genesis Evangelion-esque moments that add to the already present early feel of the MTMTE run streaming through this particular issue.
Nightmares on the house
Even with the usual vibrancy of colours that Joana Lafuente brings to the palette, the choice of darker reds, blues, purples and oranges (interesting combination there...) really does add to the space horror elements this time round - though at times perhaps too bright for a ship that is supposedly in dim light to avoid eye contact.
There are oodles of lettering scattered around the book, with Sunder's voice bubbles and the multiple ...noises. And Tom B. Long has the arduous, but surely satisfying given the result, task of capturing them all, each and every time. The two main variant covers are as fitting as you would expect, with Tailgate and Thunderclash taking main stage for Alex Milne and Josh Perez, Rung staring down Sunder in the Nick Roche/Josh Burcham one - and then we have another piece of the gigantically glorious Milne/Perez puzzle in the retailer incentive variant (thumbnailed).
Thoughts Spoilerish ahead
The not entirely new, but slightly modified/shifted visuals in the book are very fitting to the overall themes present in the issue, and offer a good background to the major narrative trajectories for Tarn, Skids, and their enabling link through Sunder - though, obviously, no resolution yet. This is still Roberts we're talking about.
Senpaaaaaai!
On that note... Much like everything else, from solicits to coverage, surrounding this issue, I have steered clear of any of the major turns taking place in the story, other than Skids' own tale, above. I'll take this last paragraph to just point out one little aspect that will lead to very interesting paths, if kept consistent, for The Dying of the Light and everything after issue #50 - Megatron's development, Tailgate's direction. Very interesting paths indeed.
Fellow Seibertronians, fellow user Bridgemagnet has posted a video review of the 'Planet of Junk Clash' Platinum Edition Box Set. The review can be seen below, and a small gallery of the set can be seen here. What are your thoughts on this set? Let us know in the comments below.
Courtesy of fellow Seibertronian chuckdawg1999, we have a full video review of the Takara Tomy Legends Micron Legends Armada Thundercracker Starscream Super Mode! You can check out the video below, plus some thoughts on the figure itself.
When I first got into collecting Armada Thundercracker was the first figure I bought. I later found out that on the show, this toy was just Starscream's powered up mode. When I heard Takara was going to release the new Generations Armada Starscream in it's powered up color scheme, I had to have it. This is the same mold as the Generations version, right down to the pressure launchers. If you're a fan of the series, or have a connection to the original toy, pick this up.
Fellow Seibertronians, we have for you today, a full set of video reviews for the upcoming wave 2 Combiner Wars figure's by Chefatron, including a review of Sky Reign himself. Take a look at the reviews below and let us know what you think of this next set of combining Ark-bots. Will you be getting any of them? Let us know in the comments below.
Following the previous in-hand images and size comparison; fellow Seibertronian King Dork has alerted us to a video transformation of TakaraTomy's MP-28 Hot Rod. The video is not narrated, but a possible issue with ground clearance is pointed out. After you watch the video refresh your memory with our gallery of MP-09 Rodimus Prime.
Do you have have MP-28 on pre-order? Did this video change your mind? Is the ground clearance issue a possible mis-transformation? Hit the jump and tell us what you think in the discussion below.
Remember to keep your browsers pointed to Seibertron.com for the latest in Transformer news, the largest Transformers galleries found on the web and the liveliest Transformers discussion this side of a space bridge.
Fellow Seibertronians, hot on the heels of the in-hand images, and the video review of Grimlock vs. Back Mini-con Battle Pack, we have a review of the RID Mini-con Battle Pack Bumblebee vs. Major Mayhem from fellow Seibertronian chuckdawg1999. Check out the review and leave your thought in the comments below.
chuckdawg1999 wrote:Those of us who have been around for awhile know that when Hasbro introduces a new line, the first wave or so really isn't indicative of the overall series. Such is the case with the Minicon Battle Packs. Bumblebee is a smaller, pocket sized version of the Warrior Class figure, with a few additional ball joints. The armor comes together nicely both in the combined weapon mode, and attached to bumblebee. Major Mayhem is a cool name but these new Minicons just don't do it for me.
Fellow Seibertronians, hot on the heels of the in-hand images, we have a review of the RID Mini-con Battle Pack grimlock vs. Back from Peaugh. Check out the review and leave your thought in the comments below.
Fellow Seibertronians, our very own DeathReviews has posted a review of the very colorful G2 Aerialbots and Superion boxset, see what he thinks of these very '90's repaints. And don't forget to leave your thoughts on this in the comments below.
DeathReviews wrote:There's no escape from the 1990s! Death reviews the G2 Aerialbots/Superion box set from Combiner Wars! Get the Reaper's unique take on these day-glow repainted figures, and if you view the whole thing, you'll likely enjoy some funky 90's rappin' about them illin' Aerialbots!
Something naughty this way comes... (Spoiler free-ish)
Synopsis
SECRETS AND SINS! PROWL’s past—shrouded in mystery—begins to come to light… and the revelations aren’t pretty. But to get ahold of the missing AUTOBOT, the WRECKERS will have to face… the NOISEMAZE.
u kno it
Story
Issue three, and we're still untangling a gigantic knot of garbled vines (and lumps in throats, after reading). Surprising no one really, but still executed really well, we find out who and what Mesothulas Tarantulas is - he even gets a catch phrase - what his goal might be, and just about what the Wreckers may have to do with any of this series to start with.
Oh yeah, them
I can see the problem with that last part, of course, as other readers have pointed out: if anything, this book so far is more about Prowl and his past than the Wreckers. And Prowl and the Wreckers haven't really had stellar relations in that past, either. This issue, however, may be leading towards the meeting point of the two pasts.
Hmmmmmm
There is one particular piece of dialogue, shown in the preview, which illustrates just how well Roche can work with words and visuals - as it's a layout within the panel that will show up a number of times in the issue - and speaks to his strengths as a grey-moral-area-lover-of-ambiguity. As we have seen several times before now.
Coloured words
Roche takes a quick dip in established Transformers history, from the IDWverse anyway, as he brings us up to speed with what happened to Mesontulas, which will please some readers. He also unearths some not-yet-established historical connections, as we catch up with what the Wreckers might know about it all, which will intrigue readers. Either way, he's still spinning threads, over halfway in.
Art
What I have said for the verbal part of Roche's appraisal, I have to reiterate in the visual - though with not as many reservations on the complexity of what he's doing. Yes, he is a storyteller, and working with both tracks in sync allows his art and words to bounce off each other, but the art has a smidge over the words at times, especially in character design.
What Josh Burcham brings to the page, in his colouring, is truly remarkable. The emotional side of the story and its characters is played out with tonal contrasts, juxtaposition of bright and positively (negatively?) dark colours, and sprinkled with some seriously heebie-jeebie vibes throughout. Plus, we get the trippy swirl effects of the Noisemaze.
Also, accurate for the story
Tom B. Long has a field day with the number of font variations: each faction, plus Taranmesothulalala, and juiced up Guzzle, the Noisemaze - there is so much going on in the different voices, and he claims them all, pointing them out brilliantly. The covers are pretty much as dark as you would expect, with multi-layered Roche/Burcham main Impactor and Kup art, heart-scrunching incentive variant by Priscilla Tramontano (seen here), and an ominous Pri-- Prowl by guest artists Andy MacDonald and John-Paul Bove (thumbnailed).
Thoughts Spoilerish ahead
Even with the caveats mentioned above, I found a solid balance in Roche's writing: we may get some exposition in spots, but it allows for character fleshing out too; if on one hand there is a lot of Prowl and Tarantulas, on the other there is a big build-up of expectations. And both allow for some excellent visuals, in both layouts and creepiness, and surprising emotional turns. And Obtenteum (really?).
Another image of Nick Roche
We get some additional background and character work, though very brief, on Hubcap, Verity, Carnivac, Stakeout - and some of it will hurt, some of it will enrage, most of it will leave readers wanting for more, that's for sure. Whatever happens at the end, with its 'mild' cliffhanger, will have to wait quite a while for a resolve, unfortunately. So strap in to your spider, and let it crawl.
. ½ out of
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