Character Development Issues

Starscreamsghost · Post by **Starscreamsghost** » Sun Jan 06, 2002 3:23 am

This question relates to the Transformers in general, but specifically to Optimus Prime. Which version do you enjoy more, the comic or the cartoon? Would you rather see Prime as the infallible, noble, cartoon super-being, or as the noble but often self-doubting comic leader?

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Post by **Denyer** » Sun Jan 06, 2002 3:26 am

You really have to ask?

I like a shade of realism in my giant robot fantasies, darnit!

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Redstreak · Post by **Redstreak** » Sun Jan 06, 2002 3:31 am

Hmmm, now I know where Rodimus came from...

Both versions have their merits, but I think the comic one sounds more real and maybe feels a little more human than the cartoon.

R.

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Reflector · Post by **Reflector** » Sun Jan 06, 2002 4:10 am

To be fair, Budiansky's Prime is more similar to the cartoon version than to Furman's Prime. I don't think the terms "cartoon Prime" and "comic Prime" are entirely accurate, as the latter was much different under new management.

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The Green Knight · Post by **The Green Knight** » Sun Jan 06, 2002 4:44 am

As a Decepticon, I don't care...

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BlueBlaster · Post by **BlueBlaster** » Sun Jan 06, 2002 8:58 am

Furman's Prime!

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Luda-Chris · Post by **Luda-Chris** » Sun Jan 06, 2002 12:23 pm

Sorry to get a bit sidetracked, but while on the topic of the comic,which ive never read, but ide like to know is it true everyone dies or something, and they never come back (eg- blurr, rodimus, Cyclonus, Galvatron). The only person that i hear lives till the end is Kup. Does he win the war on his own or Something?

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Shrapnel Clone · Post by **Shrapnel Clone** » Sun Jan 06, 2002 12:49 pm

no no no! They're are lot's of guys, some come back, some don't. There are some kill-off issues in the run (some worse than TF:TM), but most of the time they get damaged and repaired.

Post by **Denyer** » Sun Jan 06, 2002 2:36 pm

Originally posted by Luda-Chris:
Sorry to get a bit sidetracked, but while on the topic of the comic,which ive never read, but ide like to know is it true everyone dies or something, and they never come back (eg- blurr, rodimus, Cyclonus, Galvatron). The only person that i hear lives till the end is Kup. Does he win the war on his own or Something?

Someone might be misremembering the UK Annual story "Peace", in which the last Decepticon falls, and the Autobots (who have all gone a bit crazy by this time) start killing each other... however, that was really more of a joke by the author than anything else.

Big events like that in the comics include the Underbase Saga (Starscream acquires a huge power source and goes insane) and the battle against Unicron (which has little to do with the cartoon Movie in the US, slightly more in the UK), and the Swarm in G2. There were 332 G1 UK comics (plus annuals) versus the US 80, therefore Marvel UK added lots of stories to their version.

Back on-track a little, I've always considered the cover of UK 332 a decent encapsulation of Prime (heading into Unicron's maw with the Matrix.) Knowing that he goes to almost certain death, he goes anyway...

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Starscreamsghost · Post by **Starscreamsghost** » Sun Jan 06, 2002 3:30 pm

Originally posted by Reflector:
I don't think the terms "cartoon Prime" and "comic Prime" are entirely accurate, as the latter was much different under new management.

An excellent point, my lanky alter ego. Since I didn't get a hold of the comics whatsoever as a kid, I can't answer for certain, but I don't think I would have accepted Furman's Prime when I was a kid. As unrealistic as it may have been, I really did enjoy Prime as the near-invincible, near-perfect idol; it made his death in the movie that much more crushing. As a (just slightly) more mature viewer now, I suppose I like the Prime of the last 20 issues or so the best, although I sometimes yearn for that Prime to be as fearless and courageous as cartoon Prime when I read through those issues today.

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Quick Switch · Post by **Quick Switch** » Sun Jan 06, 2002 4:48 pm

Cartoon Prime.

I don't know about infallible, either. Certain plans of his did backfire occasionally, and sometimes he did act stupidly. I can't list the episodes, but numerous others have noted Prime's gaffes on many occasions.

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Cliffjumper · Post by **Cliffjumper** » Thu Jan 10, 2002 12:40 am

Hmm, now I'm not really an expert on the UK comics, but wasn't 332's cover a whacky final-cut joke with Bludgeon about to give Wheeljack the snips while a giant Prime shaodw looms up on him?

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Dead Pool · Post by **Dead Pool** » Thu Jan 10, 2002 12:46 am

I liked Cartoon Prime better myself.

Comic Prime did too much brooding for my liking.

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Reflector · Post by **Reflector** » Thu Jan 10, 2002 1:41 am

Originally posted by Cliffjumper:
Hmm, now I'm not really an expert on the UK comics, but wasn't 332's cover a whacky final-cut joke with Bludgeon about to give Wheeljack the snips while a giant Prime shaodw looms up on him?

Think so (same as US #80, yes?). I think Poppa Denyer just got his fingers crossed - the description sounds like ish #322.

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Cliffjumper · Post by **Cliffjumper** » Thu Jan 10, 2002 1:47 am

I tihnk it was the same cover as US #80... it was either 331 or 332, and the other one had the full-page shot of AM Prime on it... I really can't remember which was which...

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Weirdwolf and Monzo · Post by **Weirdwolf and Monzo** » Thu Jan 10, 2002 2:19 am

I liked the cartoon Prime a bit better, although he sounded anal sometimes. The comic Prime seemed too foolhardy at times. The duel to the death in the video game comes to mind. That had trap written all over it, and he didn't see it.

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Baroness · Post by **Baroness** » Thu Jan 10, 2002 2:06 pm

Generation 2 comic Optimus Prime was the best.

He's more realistic and would terminate G1 cartoon and comic Prime.

Jetfire · Post by **Jetfire** » Thu Jan 10, 2002 3:53 pm

Originally posted by Weirdwolf and Monzo:
I liked the cartoon Prime a bit better, although he sounded anal sometimes. The comic Prime seemed too foolhardy at times. The duel to the death in the video game comes to mind. That had trap written all over it, and he didn't see it.

Ah that would be Budiansky's Prime.
Furmans was smarter,made less stupid plans,Had some depth of character but at the same time more self doubting.

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cosmotron · Post by **cosmotron** » Thu Jan 10, 2002 8:20 pm

i prefered cartoon prime.
comic prime at times, got to me.
dying over a videogame, surrendering to scorponak , fully knowing what scorponak would do.
talks should be made from a position of strenght and not in a position of weakness by surrendering.
for such a great leader, comic prime was a bit knive.
his inability to act at times, eg- in g2, when megatron and jhiaxus are beating the tar out of him.
plus he dies way too many times.
yup cartoon prime it is

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Auntie Slag · Post by **Auntie Slag** » Thu Jan 10, 2002 11:25 pm

I would definetely have to go for comic Prime,

If cartoon Prime was N*Sync, then comic Prime was the Manics. Real, effective, stupid at times, but brilliant.

Not one-dimensional. His troops suffered a lot for it, but he did what he believed was right. I particularly love his indecisions covering UK comics numbers 43-45 (then leading to the Dinbot hunt with him againt Sludge and Grimlock), then issues 96-97 against the Predacons and faking his own death to see if the Autobots would turn into shandy drinkers coz he wasn't there.

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