Optimus Prime Dies Today . . . Again
I am so cynical that hearing of IDW’s The Death of Optimus Prime (preview at Seibertron) leaves me thinking: “Yeah, right. Dead until it’s time to bring him back.” That’s really unfair to the creative team behind the comic, but history is on my side when it comes to seeing this as a gimmick.
The artwork looks great, yes, but let’s not forget that a couple of years ago IDW killed Ironhide (death mentioned here) only to bring him back in Transformers: Ironhide*.
Comic publishers, death has lost its meaning in comic books and it might just be time to come up with a new story gimmick to attract attention. You want to really shock me? Try one of these:
- Megatron is horribly wounded and saved by Optimus Prime because, as we find out in the story, Megatron is Prime’s father and Optimus senses good in Megatron.
- The Autobots and Decepticons are snatched from around the galaxy and dumped on a strange world that was created solely by an unknown, all-powerful being who wants to be entertained. Factions form and the Transformers fight a “secret” war on this artificial world.
- A new Decepticon suddenly appears and breaks several captured comrades out of an Autobot prison and then orchestrates a series of conflicts that slowly, one by one, wear down Optimus Prime until Prime is so weak that this new evil steps in and defeats Prime, leaving him shattered and barely functioning. Prime passes the Matrix to a young new Autobot — this guy is gonna be awesome so we need to introduce him in his own mini-series before our story starts — who goes on to defeat this unknown new Decepticon.
Or, maybe, what needs to happen is for comic publishers to just allow writers and artists to create fun, deep stories without and gimmicks or tricks. Just solid and enjoyable storytelling.
Nah, that would never sell.
Related articles
- This December Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime (graphicpolicy.com)
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- Affiliate Link – Transformers Prime Voyager Wave 1 (battlegrip.com)
Yes, the death of Optimus Prime… until a different publisher gets the rights to TFs. And that happens what? Every two months these days?
The death of a loved one is so significant because you know they are not coming back. The same goes for comics and story telling. Readers won’t have that emotional impact if they know the character will be brought back later on.
I see what you did there. LOL!
Also, is it just me, or does that fact that they used an image of the vintage toy on the main cover give everything an intentionally mean spirited emotionally manipulative sort of vibe?
Maybe it’s just me.
@Ben – Those IDW photo covers are looking terrible to me. As if someone had an idea and then didn’t even bother to execute it well.
@Black Zarak – Nah. No need to wait for a new publisher. Just wait a month and then announce his return. Maybe we’ll get Powermaster Optimus Prime next.
@Aaron – I think I’m so cynical these days that ANY story could kill a character and I’ll just wait for the undeath event.
Coming soon, the return of Darth Vader!
I say give every comic to Kurt Busiek and tell him to do anything he wants with it. He’s got a gift for reminding us why we loved heroes in the first place, not just trying cheap emotional tricks which will ultimately be unwritten in a year or two’s time.