#transformers timelines

What do you know about streetwise.. cuz I barely know anything about him

EDIT: timelines streetwise* to clarify… I didn’t realize how diff bro looked in timelines

Take the SG design both versions have for Megatron (left IDW right Fun publishing)

There is a difference in designs, it feels IDW kept true to Megatron's G1 design and just inverted his colors, meanwhile Fun publishing gave Megatron a new-ish design with them combining a few parts from previous designs to make this deign with them inverting his color pallet. It feels as though Fun publishing took the time to give SG Megatron a unique design so he may stand out when compared to other versions of Megatron.

Another thing is Fun publishing actually gave Optimus two different designs, one from his time as Orion pax and another when he's Optimus Prime, something IDW did not do. (left is Orion right is Optimus)

While it is a tiny detail and you know Optimus doesn't need two designs to show the difference of when he was Orion Pax it still is something that should be commented on. Fun publishing only had one issue to focus on the SG universe (yes they had another issue with SG but it wasn't set in SG nor did it focus on SG's concept or storyline) and they still put the effort to give Orion and Optimus separate designs and this is something IDW didn't do as said previously.

Now this isn't to say IDW didn't do good with SG, as said I do love IDW and enjoy some aspects from their SG run. They have some pretty good designs for SG characters ex; SG Drift and Shockwave, both are good designs and I love them.

However at the same time they have designs like these;

While not the worst... they aren't exactly the best and much like many of IDW's designs feels as though they just took the G1 design and either inverted the colors or tossed random ones on to the characters.

Now this isn't to say Fun publishing didn't have some awkward designs like IDW did, their SG Wheeljack being one such example. However even than he still has a unique design that isn't fully based off his G1 design.

Another thing is IDW did use Fun publishing's designs as inspiration you can see that with a few of the characters color pallets (Blurr, Goldbug, Starscream, Megatron, Optimus Prime) and that isn't bad, it's just something I noticed. With one character in particular being a stand out when it comes to how similar they are; SG Ultra Magnus.

(IDW to the left Fun publishing to the right)

(Once more this isn't a bad thing it's just something I noticed)

All in all I think Fun publishing did the better job giving a glimpse into the SG universe then IDW did, and Fun publishing only had one comic focusing exclusively on the SG universe. Yes there was another timelines comic that featured SG characters but it didn't focus on the universe, it was just about a few SG Autobots trying to take over a normal universe so I don't count it as one exploring SG which is what this yap is about. I love IDW and its take on SG has good elements but for me the bad out weighs the good and at times feels like a let down, a good chunk of things that are about the plot never get shown, only being explained which sucks given how there were some interesting things regarding the plot.

Another factor is the story itself, yes exploring the universe where SG Autobots win is fascinating but at times for me it to feels like a let down. The story is meant to have you sympathize and root for the SG Decepticons however that is hard to do given how we don't really know them as readers. Yes we 'know' them but its more so in the realm of here is what this character is about and why they're good etc.

This can work however for me it just doesn't, when developing a story its best to develop each character even if its in a small way especially if they're apart of the main cast we the reader should cheer for (SG soundwave *cough cough*). By diving into the character it allows you to you know... develop said character which allows the reader to feel and grow to care for a character. IDW did this in the mainstream comic runs, yes the depictions varied and some times weren't the best but each character got some focus and allowed you to become close with them (the spotlight run).

Now one can argue that IDW only had nine issues to tell their SG story (four from arc 1 and five from arc 2) but that argument can fall short when comparing it to other comic runs which were either 4 or 5 issues long. A good example would be Drift's mini series, it only had 4 issues to tell its story and it did an excellent job, many of the characts in that comic run have become beloved by fans.

One such character is Wing who hasn't ever appeared in any other TF related media since but is still beloved by many fans (he has 581 fic on ao3 he is loved lol). When you compare the Drift mini series which had only 4 issues to SG Transformers which had 9 in total one feels more developed (in my eyes at least) and the characters hold more of a place in people hearts.

Now as I've said many times I am not hating on SG nor saying you shouldn't like it, I do love some parts of it and it has a good take on skystar and many other things. I'm just saying why it holds up poorly to me when I compare it to Fun publishing, I hold no nostalgia for either comics so I'm not being basis I'm just saying the SG story IDW gave us while a great concept to play with but falls short due to the lack of development for some characters and points in the story that could have been expanded on further.

Finally went to GameStop to get the first transformers toys I bought in a while and I found some toys from a toyline called "Transformers Timelines".

The box art looked really cool and since it was a double-feature, they made the inner packaging look like a fancy Japanese box!

Transformers Timelines Samurai Edition Optimus Prime and Starscream

While I am slightly disappointed that we didn't continue to do other characters in the Hearts of Steel style, the Optimus Prime here alone is so intriguing that it sold me on the idea of visiting multiple timelines and doing these four characters over and over. And if you've ever seen my collections of RX-78-2s or Dino Megazords, then the idea of doing extremely different versions of the same character is right up my alley. Heck yeah.

Optimus the Ox: What a fantastic transformation. The fact that the torso alone is the bull, and the the arms and legs form its cart, by description alone, should tell you how interesting this transformation gets. They also have a great level of posability. I frequently tend to put them in a Kabuki-style pose with their naginata behind them, because the wrists have an interesting level of range. This is the figure that sold me on this set.

Starscream the Falcon: At least I think they're a falcon. They might be a hawk... Anyway, a surprisingly better figure than you'd expect. He looks very simple on the surface, but there's a ton of slots and grooves that align the legs, lock the arms, etc, that lead to a very fun transformation. The wings also have just enough joints to allow for a ton of emoting as both an animal or robot. Just because Optimus sells the set doesn't mean Starscream skimps out at all.

I love Megatron's BDSM leather daddy look in the steampunk Hearts of Steel series.

And here is the rest of the Pride Parade!

My thoughts... I tried to buy these before the prices potentially increased lol. Each figure is gorgeously detailed and looks almost exactly like the art, however like most of the transforming figures, they feel fragile and have a lightweight-plasticky appearance and weight. They do have some mobility but not the best range of motion in each joint, I tried recreating their box art poses and I didn't get a high level of similarity. At least they can stand on their own despite their top-heaviness, I was a little worried. I feel like they could have bumped up the metallic sheen especially on Starscream who has no metallic accents at all compared to Bee who at least has a bit of gold and silver here and there. Or gone full steampunk with a bit of weathering or dirt or battle damage, but idk if companies ever do battle damage paint though, I think that just comes naturally from handling the figures over time lol.

Anyway, love this series even though I feel like Bee also being a train engine like Optimus is a bit meh, it would have been cuter if he was maybe a passenger coach car, but I get why he's also an engine. Starscream is so beautiful and diva as a bat bi-plane, he only needs a better paint job. Optimus Prime is peak as usual (I'm biased) and Megatron also great but not as peak.

The plane and choo choo are very good. I love the aesthetic of these designs so much, I’m glad they finally got toys.

Also Screamer is stim approved