In response to the person who doubted my credibility because I didn't read the old comics:

 

I did read summaries of his stories.

 

They all sounded like they abused tired/overdone plot elements, the same ones G1-based stories tend to use today.

 

Therefore, my conclusion is that Furman rehashes to the max.

Well, I don't really "hate" anything or anyone, I try to find the goodness in everyone and everything, but I have to admit his work lately has been pretty sub-par. The only reason I ever got any the comics he has written recently was because of the art.

In response to DM saying that since it's HIS guide, it doesn't have to be about anything but comics...

 

The words "The Ultimate Guide" imply that it covers EVERYTHING about the TF multiverse in agonizing detail. DK's other Ultimate Guides do that quite nicely, especially for comicverses.

 

Furman focuses almost completely on the G1/BW continuity, and even then, mostly stuff he wrote.

 

He doesn't even include a blurb about Alternators (I'm pretty sure at least Sideswipe and Smokescreen were out by the time the guide was published).

 

And the only reason he gives generous coverage to Armada is because he wrote the comics.

 

The  toy sections were a joke, and the measly summaries of the cartoon episodes were sad.

 

I'm not trying to get into an argument, just stating how I feel based on my reading of the Ultimate Guide.

The words "The Ultimate Guide" imply that it covers EVERYTHING about the TF multiverse in agonizing detail. DK's other Ultimate Guides do that quite nicely, especially for comicverses.

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Its an overview not going into agonizing detail on anything. Personally I bought it for the comic information. The TV show is so well known that fans don't really need a guide and the summaries were quite servicable. And most DK books are guides to comics. The book was Dreamwave heavy, but at the time of publishing that was the "official" continuity.

 

He doesn't even include a blurb about Alternators (I'm pretty sure at least Sideswipe and Smokescreen were out by the time the guide was published).

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By the time it was published yes, when it was written, no.

 

And the only reason he gives generous coverage to Armada is because he wrote the comics.

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I thought the Armada section was too short and lacked information. It was why I bought the book, to catch up with what I missed.

DK's other Ultimate Guide's have a Page for almoast every charector, Furman could have at least done that with the Ark-bots, instead of 2 pages of short bios that even leave out the majoraty of the Arc-Bots.

In response to the person who doubted my credibility because I didn't read the old comics:

 

I did read summaries of his stories.

 

They all sounded like they abused tired/overdone plot elements, the same ones G1-based stories tend to use today.

 

Therefore, my conclusion is that Furman rehashes to the max.

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Furman CREATED those Overdone/Tired and Abused Plot Elements. How could be have re-hashed them back then when he was creating them.

 

And in the New stuff...Furman could not change that Hasbro wanted him to Use the Matrix and Unicron in the Armada and Energon comics. He changed as much as he could about them without getting too far from what DW and Hasbro wanted.

 

ALSO...Furman had nothing to do with DW's first 2 6-Issue Mini-Series.

 

DW's War Within only helped setup stuff like Unicron figuring out where Primus is located. That had to be setup so that it was known why Unicron began his trip to Cybertron. It doesn't revolve around Unicron and Primus. And the Matrix is used as a powerful Autobot relic, not the tool to stop Unicron in War Within Volume One.

So, Madhammer...has this answered your question?

In response to DM saying that since it's HIS guide, it doesn't have to be about anything but comics...

 

The words "The Ultimate Guide" imply that it covers EVERYTHING about the TF multiverse in agonizing detail. DK's other Ultimate Guides do that quite nicely, especially for comicverses.

 

Furman focuses almost completely on the G1/BW continuity, and even then, mostly stuff he wrote.

 

He doesn't even include a blurb about Alternators (I'm pretty sure at least Sideswipe and Smokescreen were out by the time the guide was published).

 

And the only reason he gives generous coverage to Armada is because he wrote the comics.

 

The  toy sections were a joke, and the measly summaries of the cartoon episodes were sad.

 

I'm not trying to get into an argument, just stating how I feel based on my reading of the Ultimate Guide.

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Look MG, I agree the book could have had a crapload more info, particularly on the First Year stuff, but it didn't. I just can't understand why you condemn him over one guide that really explains a LOT of info on the TF Comics, Furman's Specialty.

 

You said yoursefl the DK Books service the comicverses really well. Why expect more from this one? And the G1 Cartoon is incredibly well-known and it is easy to get a crapload of info on it.

If one owns the DVD Sets there is no point in reading the Cartoon Section of Furman's Guide. If one does not, then the summaries give just enough info to bring back memories and help fuel a wanting for certain episodes.

 

When the Guide was written Alts had not came out yet. But when it was published they had...that's your explaination.

 

 

Look I don't care if you hate him cause his writing is not your taste or whatever, I just don't get hating him because the ONE Book you own by him doesn't have a bunch of info on the one Continuity (that has nothing to do with him) you like the most, but does well to flush out another Continuity (the one he knows a lot about, since he helped create it).

 

That is my point in all of this, you hate him cause he short-changed the Cartoon and gave a lot of info on the Comics in an little guide book. You hate him cause he re-hashes when he really hasn't rehashed anything major. And the stuff he re-hashed was because of Hasbro's request on the Matrix and Unicron in Armada and Energon.

 

His use of Unicron and Primus in War Within is a small re-hash, sure, but it helps to make one cohesive story and backs up what eventually happens later on in the Continuity.

Great writers can produce wonderful works even under the strictest limitations. Mediocre writers can only produce good works given free reign. 

 

Furman had free reign during his marvel run.  Which was why he pretty much 'created' the comic TF universe.

 

Furman were given boundries/limitations by DW and Hasbro, and in some way, his previous works. 

Did he deliver?  No.  I quit buying DW comics because I was bored to death. 

Were the stories original?  No.  I've seen those stuff many many times before.

Were the stories good?  No.  Too many characters and not enough development.  The bots were there more as cameos than anything else.  With the army of TF characters available, Furman had to introduce new characters (The Darkness comes to mind.  And what's with the name and background story?  Cliche to the max).

I'm also disappointed by how poorly the book summarized the characters, as X-BoB said (wait...I'm agreeing with X-BoB? Someone get me a psychiatrist, quick!). And DM, it's not JUST G1. He also didn't go very in-depth on Beast Wars, which could easily have an entire book written about it. Once again, just brief biographies of each character. And as for the toys, he really only devoted, at the most, two to four pages to each toyline. Diaclone.com is uber-comprehensive in that regard. The least Furman could do is point out some good Transformers fan sites like Diaclone somewhere in the book. Did he? No, of course not, because why should we go to anyone but him for info on TF?