Date: Tuesday, February 6th 2007 10:50pm CST
Categories: Site News,
Comic Book News,
Reviews
Posted by: Air Commander Starscream |
Credit(s): Hotrod
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Views: 76,754
Our very own
Hotrod has been able to take a look at the upcoming
Transformers: The Movie Prequel #1, and has been kind enough to write a review for all of us here on Seibertron.com to read. We are very excited to be able to give you a first glance of this amazing prequel to the
Transformers Movie whose release date is creeping ever closer!
Covers for The Transformers: Prime Directive (Live Action Movie Prequel) #1 |
Transformers: The Movie Prequel #1
Story: Chris Ryall
Writers: Simon Furman & Chris Ryall
Artist: Don Figueroa.
Colorist: Josh Burcham.
Letterer: Robbie Robbins.
Editor: Dan Taylor.
Release Date: February 21, 2007
Plot Summary
For only twenty-four pages of story the first issue of the Transformers: The Movie Prequel miniseries is packed from cover to cover. Right away we know we are on the Planet Cybertron. The planet’s life and energy is dependent on an object known as the Allspark. Both Optimus Prime and Megatron once ruled the planet together until Megatron decided he wanted the power of the Allspark for himself and civil war ensued. Megatron was able to secretly build an army that took the planet by storm. Many who stood in his path fell, however, there are those who still offer resistance and will do what ever it takes to stop Megatron from getting his claws on the Allspark.
The story starts off with Bumblebee, who has blasted off into space from Cybertron in his protoform mode, similar to the one that both the Optimus Prime and Starscream Transformers Movie Preview toys have. While in space Bumblebee begins to explain recent events. The story then flashes back to a fierce battle where Bumblebee, a female bot named Arcee, and a hand full of others are fighting against Megatron’s vast army at Tyger Pax. The odds seem long at best but the brave warriors are not trying to defeat Megatron, they are only hoping to hold his attention long enough for Optimus Prime. Prime is leading another force at Simfur whose mission is to make one last attempt to stop Megatron from gaining control of the Allspark. The plan is to launch it into deep space.
While the battle at Tyger Pax rages on; Megatron arrives more determined then ever to get his hands on the Allspark. However, the Autobots continue to resist until the end. Bumblebee has the unfortunate luck of running into Megatron who is furious and wants information about the whereabouts of the Allspark. Bumblebee is able to hold out, but takes a severe beating that leaves him near death and his voice box critically damaged. By holding out as long as he did Bumblebee was able to buy time for Optimus Prime to launch the Allspark into space.
Soon Megatron realizes what has happened and wastes no time and starts out after the Allspark. The Autobots know that they must get to the Allspark before Megatron so a few brave warriors are chosen to go after the Allspark. Bumblebee, who is not completely healed from his near death encounter with Megatron, is one of the first to volunteer. The race for the Allspark is on.
Art Review
I must admit, the designs chosen for the characters for the upcoming Transformers Movie may not have been the best and left me scratching my head from time to time. However, both Don Figueroa and Josh Burcham have done a stellar job trying to make the Movie designs work. The designs do take some getting use too. They are a radical departure from anything we have seen in the past. It is as radical a departure as Beast Wars was from Generation One, if not more so.
Being visually appealing is one thing that all good comic books should be, and Transformers: The Movie Prequel #1 is visually stimulating. The art really tells a compelling story almost on its own. Also the action seems to flow seamlessly with many good visuals panel to panel. An example of this is when Megatron is thrashing Bumblebee. I found myself studying panels long after I read the text.
Some may find this hard to believe because they do not like the Movie designs, but Don Figueroa and Josh Burcham do an excellent job depicting the Autobots and Decepticons. They made good use of the protoforms for the characters who appear in the movie. They also seem to play with a lot of other designs that seemed to be influenced by other Transformers lore. I think this was the right direction to take; otherwise the images of the characters would be very busy and distracting. Overall the duo did a great job bring the designs to life on the pages.
Another aspect of the art that really stands out is Cybertron itself. It seems really familiar. The art for Cybertron seems to drawl on a lot of elements we saw in Strombringer and the flashback scenes in Beast Wars: The Gathering. Personally, I felt this was a nice touch. Don and Josh did a great job of making the reader grasp the fact that the planet Cybertron is ravaged by war by the color pallet used. The artists make great use of dark backgrounds, which depict a battle torn city left in ruin with all of its grittiness. The familiarity helped me connect with the story more.
Plot Review
The writing team of Simon Furman and Chris Ryall out did themselves with this issue. I must admit I did not have high hopes for this miniseries. I thought it would just be another piece of the Movie media blitz that would quickly be forgotten. Boy was I wrong! Ryall and Furman made this a true Transformers story. They used elements from the Transformers mythos we all know and love, but added some slight spin where they could because of the restrictions placed on the story by the Movie. Though it is not exactly Generation One, it does seem better then some of the recent reincarnations Transformers has gone through the last few years.
The story told is full of substance. Ryall and Furman give us an incredible back story for the Transformers Movie that would otherwise be lacking. Not only that, but there is plenty of action to be found on every page. The fast pace action of the story never lets up until the end. There is never a dull moment. Also, the issue has decent character development, which is a pleasant surprise because character development is not always possible with a miniseries that is part of a larger film. Both writers do a good job developing the main character, Bumblebee. Bumblebee has a lot of depth as a character and you want to know what is going to happen to him next. We see a brave warrior who thinks he should have done more to help his comrade’s cause, and questions why he is called a hero. I for one prefer whole characters instead of dull flat ones who serve no real purpose other then furthering along the plot.
Over All
Over all I would say Transformers: The Movie Prequel #1 is a winner for many reasons. First is the writing. This issue contains some super writing from Simon Furman and Chris Ryall. They were able to give us more in this one issue then we sometimes get in several issues in other series. Furman and Ryall did such a good job that I would love to see Ryall do some more work on Transformers outside of the Movie Prequel. I would seriously suggest picking this issue up when it comes out. it is a real page turner. We all read books where we struggle to finish. Trust me, Transformers: The Movie Prequel #1 is no such book. I was actually a little disappointed when I got to the end, because I now have to wait for the second issue to come out in March. Another reason I would recommend this comic, it the art. The art is everything you would expect from talents like Don Figueroa and Josh Burcham. Trust me they do not disappoint. So when February 21st roles around you should seriously consider picking up Transformers: The Movie Prequel #1, you may be surprised.
Date: Sunday, February 4th 2007 12:02pm CST
Categories: Site News,
Movie Related News,
Toy News
Posted by: Hotrod |
Credit(s): Seibertron
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Views: 14,498
There is no stopping Seibertron as of late. He has been on a role bringing us galleries of
Transformers Movie toys before they even hit store shelves, and he has done it yet again. Seibertron has just posted an awesome 65 image gallery of
Transformers Movie toy
Longview. Once you finish checking out
Longview you can check out the rest of
SEIBERTRON.com's Toy Galleries.
Date: Sunday, February 4th 2007 11:43am CST
Categories: Site News,
Toy News
Posted by: Hotrod |
Credit(s): Seibertron
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Views: 16,291
Well Seibertron is continuing to work tirelessly to bring fans the best galleries around. Now Seibertron has posted six more all new galleries! The new galleries are of Classics Mini-con teams. The two teams to get gallery treatment are the Demolition Team and the Clear Skies Team. Here are links to the newest galleries
Demolition Team
Sledge
Broadside
Wideload
Clear Skies Team
Steel Wind
Nightscream
Thunderwing
Date: Sunday, February 4th 2007 3:22am CST
Categories: Site News,
Movie Related News,
Toy News
Posted by: Seibertron Discuss This Topic · Permanent Link
Views: 16,937
Keep checking back throughout today for SEIBERTRON.com's exclusive gallery of
Autobot Ratchet from the upcoming
Transformers Movie. The gallery will feature over 150 photos of this highly anticipated figure. The gallery should be posted before the Super Bowl activities begin later today.
In the meantime, you can check out galleries of Starscream, Longview, Power Up VT6, Spy Shot 6 and Speed Dial 800
here in SEIBERTRON.com's exclusive
Transformers Movie toy galleries section.
Date: Saturday, February 3rd 2007 6:35pm CST
Categories: Site News,
Movie Related News,
Toy News
Posted by: Hotrod |
Credit(s): Seibertron
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Views: 15,118
There seems to be no stopping Seibertron as of late. He has been on a role bringing us galleries of
Transformers Movie toys before they even his store shelves, and he has done it yet again. Seibertron has just posted an awesome 61 image gallery of
Transformers Movie toy
Power Up VT6. Once you finish checking out
Power Up VT6 you can check out the rest of
SEIBERTRON.com's Toy Galleries.
Date: Saturday, February 3rd 2007 5:34pm CST
Categories: Site News,
Toy News
Posted by: Hotrod |
Credit(s): Seibertron
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Views: 15,112
Well Seibertron is back at it in a big way. He has been working tirelessly to bring fans the best galleries around. Now Seibertron has posted six all new galleries! The new galleries are of Classics Mini-con teams. The two teams to get gallery treatment are the Night Rescue Team and the Dirt Digger Team. Here are links to the newest galleries
Night Rescue Team
Divebomb
Firebot
Strongarm
Dirt Digger Team
Dirt Rocket
Grindor
Oil Slick
Date: Saturday, February 3rd 2007 2:35am CST
Category: Site News
Posted by: Air Commander Starscream |
Credit(s): Alex Kingdom
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Views: 11,187
Fellow Seibertronian
Alex kingdom has taken some pictures of his Revoltech
Convoy and Friendship Exclusive
Ultra Magnus for the never ending expansion of the
Seibertron Toy Database. Each figure has over 60 impressive images to show off the vast articulation from the first 2 Transformer figures in the ongoing
Revoltech line. so be sure to check them out and discuss what you think of the figures!
Date: Thursday, February 1st 2007 10:01pm CST
Categories: Site News,
Movie Related News,
Toy News
Posted by: Hotrod |
Credit(s): Seibertron
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Views: 19,264
Seibertron has teased us all for sometime about his next gallery. Many of us have been eagerly awaiting his next endeavor. Well, wait no more! Seiberton has posted his latest gallery and it is of
Transformers Movie toy
Spy Shot 6. There are 70 awsome images of
Spy Shot 6 for your viewing pleasure. When you finish checking out
Spy Shot 6 check out the rest of
Seibertron.com's Toy Galleries.
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