Full Preview of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #11

I hope I can score a copy tomorrow!

Just read it.........



Jesus Christmas........

Lost Light 11 picks up right where we left off, still on the book's namesake ship with a crew collectively known as "The Mutineers". If issue 10 was about First Aid, then this chapter is best described as being about Getaway. The latest captain is the focus this time around, in a very densely plotted, continuity rich installment. The expected James Roberts character work is accompanied by Jack Lawrence, Joana Lafuente, and Tom B. Long on (most) visuals, and series followers anxiously await more detail and resolution to long lingering questions. Does this latest entry of Lost Light deliver the goods? Read on to find out!


Transformers fans have been chomping at the bit to hate Getaway at every turn. While it's a small disappointment to see a direction chosen that really does feed this contempt, there's a commitment to the decision that comes through on the page. Getaway is caught up in his own b.s. in such a complete, deep, hopeless way that the Megatron parallels seen both in word and deed weren't something I found to be a detriment - though as another perspective is valuable, it should be said that some on site staff feel the parallels might be a bit too on the nose.

Lost Light 11 shows Getaway managing a complex plan with constant obstacles tripping things up, with a desperation taking hold informing some less than scrupulous choices. One lie leads to another, with existing personality traits perpetuating a supercilious attitude that steadily gets worse. The emotion of doubling-down on a bad decision comes across as genuine, and while reading the book there's still a feeling that somewhere within the repressed secret agent style exterior is at least a faint tinge of regret with a side dish of remorse. Nothing feels cartoon-like with this villain work, and that's very welcome. Even Getaway's darkest moment in the story (well, a few come to mind) were closer to "James Bond is about to do something very bad that he shouldn't but whatever, he's James Bond" than "Megatron is going to blow up Sherman Dam, oh no!"


Despite the tight focus on Getaway, there are still other central elements to the story that provide satisfying perspective on events while moving the plot forward. Thunderclash provides a warrented presence that feels natural while framing chosen past events through a new set of eyes. This lends an accessibility to the book that I think is effective. Admittedly, I'm so deep into Fanboy Land at times with this series it's also possible that the continuity is so deeply entrenched at this point into my subconscious that this issue could be totally inaccessible and I wouldn't even know it, so bear this in mind. Exposition does occur but isn't too heavy for too long, and literally reprinted pages from a past issue are placed in appropriately to help catch up new or casual readers without taking any space from anything else. In other words, if hearing about reprinted parts worries you, there's no cause for concern because there are still 20 new story pages in the issue.


Thunderclash isn't the only perspective that comes as a welcome part of the story. As many will recall, in More Than Meets The Eye #50 Getaway was the apparent driving force behind a mutiny that left Megatron and "Team Rodimus" stranded and at the mercy of three terrifying villains: Overlord, the Decepticon Justice Division, and an army of 500 other Decepticons commanded by Deathsaurus. The crew of maybe-complicit-maybe-not mutineers was comprised of several Autobots that many fans couldn't bear to see in that position. After all, Hoist has a Rodimus Star! Riptide and Hound seem so nice! Perceptor couldn't have been in on it, he's Perceptor! Blaster!? He's too cool! Grapple lifts things!

Without giving things away, readers waiting for the endless speculation on certain character motivations to end should be pleased with this issue. Not every question gets answered, but there's a lot here to keep fueling, say, your posts here on the Energon Pub Forums about why Hound did nothing wrong for many weeks to come.


It took quite a while to figure out what to critique here, but it's probably fair to say that some subtlety in the book's political commentary would have been welcome. One of the moments in question almost comes across as an unintentional gag, whereas a touch of nuance could have helped convey a more focused message. Then again, perhaps given the situation at hand, the lack of even trying to hide swipes at today's real world attempts at hegemony is exactly what was called for.


Jack Lawrence is once again the main line-work artist for this installment, and this may very well be his best output yet. The considerable cast roster experiences one twist after another turn after another meeting around the furniture, but at no point do the facial expressions feel inappropriate or overdone. The tight environmental focus provided by the setting, that being the interior of the Lost Light itself, might help some readers notice the exemplary body language conveyed more than in earlier installments. Joana Lafuente's colors provide a brightness to the proceedings that help establish tone appropriately in the less than bright moments, with nothing ever coming across as washed out or out of focus. Tom B. Long's letters are indeed swoon-worthy, with no question as to which speech bubble comes next despite the presence of a high word count.

This week brings four covers, with the three order-able versions coming through the stalwart, steady teams of Lawrence and Lafuente, Nick Roche and Josh Burcham, plus fan favorites Alex Milne and Josh Perez. The thumbnail to this story features the Lawrence cover, for the sole reason of it having a "Getaway Star". As always, you can find images of all of those covers and full credits for the issue in our Vector Sigma Database page for Transformers: Lost Light #11, but do note it does contain a character appearance list that will spoil some of this issue's surprises!


Everything comes together in Lost Light #11 to yield a tight package that accomplishes so much in 22 pages that it's astounding. This series is on an upward trajectory and continues to surprise just when everything seems figured out. Only a couple small things are holding me back from assigning our rare, vast, predatory bird known as a perfect score for this installment, one of them being a lingering concern that some readers are unlikely to catch many of the details that make the story magic for me. I don't think anyone should skip this one due to that, just know that it might not have as much impact if your familiarity with the series has slipped or isn't there to begin with.

Between this and last week's Optimus Prime #13, Roberts and franchise co-creator John Barber are hitting a stride not seen in quite some time. As a long time reader, my excitement for the coming months is at a fever pitch once again, and it's an excellent time to get on board with IDW's Transformers comics.



Bonus! James Roberts' soundtrack suggestions for this issue:

• The Stone Roses - "I Am the Resurrection"
• Longpigs - "Lost Myself"
• The Rolling Stones - "You Can't Always Get What You Want"
• Morrissey - "I'll Never Be Anybody's Hero"

Great review! Thanks Scotty!

Re-read the issue while waiting on a customer, and I'll say it again: Jesus. Christ!

I disagree with a lot of the review, and my disagreements are woven into the review itself - I could see my frown in the asides. But! I want to wait to air my thoughts in case a podcast happens. If not, I'll come back here to discuss.

Va'al wrote:I disagree with a lot of the review, and my disagreements are woven into the review itself - I could see my frown in the asides. But! I want to wait to air my thoughts in case a podcast happens. If not, I'll come back here to discuss.

No, air them, please. Yours are among the very few who's thoughts on a new issue I look forward to reading.

Ironhidensh wrote:

Va'al wrote:I disagree with a lot of the review, and my disagreements are woven into the review itself - I could see my frown in the asides. But! I want to wait to air my thoughts in case a podcast happens. If not, I'll come back here to discuss.

No, air them, please. Yours are among the very few who's thoughts on a new issue I look forward to reading.

Indeed, don't hold back! I obviously took much of your feedback in, and then proceeded to almost immediately counterpoint like, all of it. I shouldn't be allowed to Getaway with that!

Also since it didn't make sense anywhere in the review: the allusion to Death's Head was incredible! I really hope the crazy IP forces of the universe make that happen.

ScottyP wrote:

Ironhidensh wrote:

Va'al wrote:I disagree with a lot of the review, and my disagreements are woven into the review itself - I could see my frown in the asides. But! I want to wait to air my thoughts in case a podcast happens. If not, I'll come back here to discuss.

No, air them, please. Yours are among the very few who's thoughts on a new issue I look forward to reading.

Indeed, don't hold back! I obviously took much of your feedback in, and then proceeded to almost immediately counterpoint like, all of it. I shouldn't be allowed to Getaway with that!

Also since it didn't make sense anywhere in the review: the allusion to Death's Head was incredible! I really hope the crazy IP forces of the universe make that happen.

Give it a couple more days. I'm still working through jetlag.

But the lack of subtlety was my biggest gripe, in all of the parallels and comments thrown around in the issue. From the very opening scene:



If all my previous issues with Getaway and Megatron were being subsumed into the plot, the overt parallels in #11 brought them back raging to the surface, and I'm once again unhappy with the treatment we're getting of the two characters, their similarities, and the readership.

On the other hand, I enjoyed this issue more than #10, despite the urge to go full Mirage on Getaway - who has now lost all traces of any kind of amorality field, and just gone full cartoon villain. That was the major point of the review I really disagree with. The plan is convoluted because of the difficulties that present themselves, and the resolutions are ..too easy. Where are the Scraplets from? Are Getaway and Atomizer really That Good at manipulation (verbal, mental, any other way), or is it just cheap narrative tricks? It just felt too easy. I'm repeating myself.

Ok, so my internet was knocked out over Thanksgiving weekend, and I finally got some time since it was restored. I read the wiki entry this morning while i was in my deer stand, and I read the comic once I got home. And Densh hit it on the head: Jesus. Christ.

Honestly, I really have no idea what to think about Getaway now. From what I gathered, and correct me if I'm wrong, this whole thing is because he believes he should be a Prime, and that has led to a character that has major pride issues, major lying issues, a huge case of narcissism, almost no sense of wrong for what he's doing to achieve that destiny he thinks he has, and ultimately, he sounds a bit like Prime Megatron, who turned evil because Optimus, not him, was chosen.

And now with all the different things he has, I really hate him. Legitimately hate him. He is a wretched character that is worse than most of the antagonists from IDW, and many in Transformers as a whole. He is horrible, and with Sunder now involved, they said that they did kill those crewmembers (or at least implied they would die when eaten down to the life strut or whatever), and memories now altered, how can this really be fixed? and how can next issue make it even worse?

On a plus side, I loved the Rodimus final message, and I also appreciate that Atomizer, while still a piece of crap, is seeing the faults in how far Getaway is going and also how selfish everything he has done is. He may be how things get better.

I wonder which crewmembers were sacrificed, other than Riptide (which sucks, I like him). And my question about how the crew, or at least Riptide, knew about the DJD is answered.

Either way, this was dark, and eye-opening, and holy crap so much more stuff.

As a small side note to end my post, I don't know why, but the political commentary from Roberts this issue made me twitch ever so slightly. I can understand using it sometimes, but with as frequent as it has been and in this case so blatant kinda made me tweak out for a second

Va'al wrote:Are Getaway and Atomizer really That Good at manipulation (verbal, mental, any other way), or is it just cheap narrative tricks? It just felt too easy. I'm repeating myself.

I mean, its amazing what you can get away with ehn youbhave ine of those [s]Men in Black Memory Wiper thingies [/s] Nudge Guns.

"I don't agree with this!" *Flash* "Whatvwas I saying?"
"You were hust agreeing with me."
"I was? Okay..."

Makes me want to go back to the MTMTE book where Ultra Magnus and Tailgate mention Thought Warfare. Just how far had Roberts planned this?

But yes. The implication from way back to Atomizer and Hot Rod (the vote list) is that Atomizer is that good. Maybe it would help if we had a pre established character with a history of being a huckster or a con artist like Hubcap (who is used) or Circuit (also already in use) instead of a new character and a relatively blank slate G1 guy.

Flashwave wrote:

Va'al wrote:Are Getaway and Atomizer really That Good at manipulation (verbal, mental, any other way), or is it just cheap narrative tricks? It just felt too easy. I'm repeating myself.

I mean, its amazing what you can get away with ehn youbhave ine of those [s]Men in Black Memory Wiper thingies [/s] Nudge Guns.

"I don't agree with this!" *Flash* "Whatvwas I saying?"
"You were hust agreeing with me."
"I was? Okay..."

Makes me want to go back to the MTMTE book where Ultra Magnus and Tailgate mention Thought Warfare. Just how far had Roberts planned this?

But yes. The implication from way back to Atomizer and Hot Rod (the vote list) is that Atomizer is that good. Maybe it would help if we had a pre established character with a history of being a huckster or a con artist like Hubcap (who is used) or Circuit (also already in use) instead of a new character and a relatively blank slate G1 guy.

*Nods in agreement

That's what I meant when I mentioned 'narratively lazy'. Did I mention that? Urgh. Sorry.
But essentially, I'm not too on board with a convenient device used to smoothen out a plot that is already too convoluted to the point of it being almost G1 Megatron/Cobra levels of layers.


Also, you make me raise a point I wanted to mention: Atomizer.

Atomizer is a dirtbag. What is his goal. Why is he even.

Meh. I read it because of support for IDW. They kinda need it but I’m just not a fan Roberts writing, never have been. I just don’t think he’s a good writer and personally I think some people just want it to be good because Of a wreckers comic that came out 8 years ago. My opinion don’t shoot me. I’m someone who reads comics. It’s my medium and I’m a continuity whore. I don’t just skim through and say “DERP DERP I DONT LIKE THIS!” Everyone knows by now over the passed few years if I don’t like something I will explain why and go into depth why.

With this comic I was just confused. For me it was all over the place. I couldn’t follow where it was taking place half the time especially with last issue being a time loop. I had to read the tfwiki article this morning to figure out the last quarter of the comic because I was just boggled with when things were happening.

Like I’ve admitted total continuity whore and all I kept thinking when they said it’s been 2 weeks since remain in light was “Jesus Christ this book is still going on during all hail Optimus!” This book is a year behind the rest of the Hasbroverse! revolution hasn’t even happened yet!” And while this book is isolated it just makes me wonder is it gonna catch up? It’s been a year in Optimus Prime and they all still think the lost light is lost again and everyone is dead!

I’m at a point where I hate getaway so much and that the point but I hate him to a point that I don’t want to read it anymore.

I don’t really buy the mind controls thing as something that was the original plan. In #50 they are beat to hell when they’re talking to the lost light and the mutineers present are watching and they don’t care that rodimus and crew are banged up bad. It honestly feels like Roberts saw people pissed that their beloved characters would participate with this mutiny, acting very out of character and saw the negativity and decided to work around that with “oh yeah sunder and froide are still around I can make it that sunder can change everyone’s mind” it feels like bad retcon to me.

I always took it that they dumped Froide and Sunder off somewhere after that story arc before dying ignore the light.



The art is lovely

I have huge problem with this comic and I feel I need to elaborate it. It’s regarding Froide and Sunder. I’m going to try and explain myself and my burning hatred for these two showing up.

1. Sunder

2. SUNDER!!!!! Seriously what the f&$@?!?! Why is he still on that ship! He has the power to use his mind and eyes to make you relive your worst memories, turn you inside out and into a beach ball or even kill you. The beach ball is legitimately worse probably. Why is he there and repaired. rung shot out his eyes- the key to his power- and had a shuttle thrown on him. After he turned a bunch of crew into inside out beach balls and terrorized the ship you’re telling me they repaired him. Nobody, not rodimus, not magnus or anyone didn’t just walk up him flat like a pancake after the rodpod smashed him and just stepped on his brain. He’s a serial killer that just terrorized and tortured the crew of the lost light without even touching them. I find it hard to believe.

3. Hes repaired. Even his eyes. When he’s reintroduced in this issue fully repaired...WITH HIS EYES! That thing that allowed him to torture and kill people and he’s casually walking from the brig to Rungs office with no security on panel. Are you kidding me? HE HAS HIS EYES! HES WALKING AROUND! Even with security we’ve seen that doesn’t matter because he’ll turn anyone he looks at into inside out beach balls!

4. He’s a drug addict. He’s addicted to memeories. He needs them like a crackhead needs crack and he’s once again just casually walking around chit chatting while Getaway is brokering a deal.

5. The deal. Let’s not kid ourselves, the moment Getaway said no deal he would have turned him into a beach ball, then Froide, then atomizer, then riptide and raped and pillaged the ship of memories until they were all dead....BECAUSE THEY LET HIM OUT WITH HIS EYES!

6. Froide. Froide is an interesting dude with his own problems but he was betrayed and turned into a beach ball too and here he is back to normal standing next to monster mash like nothing happened and even joining in on the graveyard smash. Seriously it’s like nothing happened a couple months ago. I don’t care how much of a nut ball you are you wouldn’t be standing next to him WITH HIS EYES INTACT and encouraging him to keep doing it.

Okay I’m done.

Randomhero wrote:I have huge problem with this comic and I feel I need to elaborate it. It’s regarding Froide and Sunder. I’m going to try and explain myself and my burning hatred for these two showing up.

1. Sunder

2. SUNDER!!!!! Seriously what the f&$@?!?! Why is he still on that ship! He has the power to use his mind and eyes to make you relive your worst memories, turn you inside out and into a beach ball or even kill you. The beach ball is legitimately worse probably. Why is he there and repaired. rung shot out his eyes- the key to his power- and had a shuttle thrown on him. After he turned a bunch of crew into inside out beach balls and terrorized the ship you’re telling me they repaired him. Nobody, not rodimus, not magnus or anyone didn’t just walk up him flat like a pancake after the rodpod smashed him and just stepped on his brain. He’s a serial killer that just terrorized and tortured the crew of the lost light without even touching them. I find it hard to believe.

3. Hes repaired. Even his eyes. When he’s reintroduced in this issue fully repaired...WITH HIS EYES! That thing that allowed him to torture and kill people and he’s casually walking from the brig to Rungs office with no security on panel. Are you kidding me? HE HAS HIS EYES! HES WALKING AROUND! Even with security we’ve seen that doesn’t matter because he’ll turn anyone he looks at into inside out beach balls!

4. He’s a drug addict. He’s addicted to memeories. He needs them like a crackhead needs crack and he’s once again just casually walking around chit chatting while Getaway is brokering a deal.

5. The deal. Let’s not kid ourselves, the moment Getaway said no deal he would have turned him into a beach ball, then Froide, then atomizer, then riptide and raped and pillaged the ship of memories until they were all dead....BECAUSE THEY LET HIM OUT WITH HIS EYES!

6. Froide. Froide is an interesting dude with his own problems but he was betrayed and turned into a beach ball too and here he is back to normal standing next to monster mash like nothing happened and even joining in on the graveyard smash. Seriously it’s like nothing happened a couple months ago. I don’t care how much of a nut ball you are you wouldn’t be standing next to him WITH HIS EYES INTACT and encouraging him to keep doing it.

Okay I’m done.

That's an excellent question. Another question: is there a reason Sunder doesn't just murder everyone? With his eyes intact, he can make people forget or believe virtually anything through eye contact alone. Why does he need to make deals at all?

To me, him being in this already convoluted story at all seems like a hand wave explanation for things that otherwise wouldn't make sense.

EXACTLY!

Just like how killlmaster was conveniently on the Necroworld even though whirl admitted to killing him (a very bland and under whelming death only for that to be a lie in which made no sense because if whirl had lied he would have made it an extravagant kill like he has before like in spotlight trailcutter). A world that was displaced by a weapon he conveniently created and a weapon that also conveniently can get them home except when they get home he was nowhere to be found even though the laws of the wand is transporting to a pocket dimension in their universe but is treated as a dimension hopping device for the sake of plot expediency

Va'al wrote:Are Getaway and Atomizer really That Good at manipulation (verbal, mental, any other way)

Nope, and I think what's being shown is playing on Getaway's secret squirrel side. Getaway is charismatic but has an inflated sense of self worth, and is very reliant on gadgets to the point where I think he's going to forget how far they've gotten him.

Atomizer isn't super great at either, I mean he misses his intended target spot on Thunderclash at really close range. Atomizer strikes me as a weak willed hanger-on that's placed his bet with Getaway. So far it has him punching way above his weight class, the little he even has to do said figurative punching.

ScottyP wrote:

Va'al wrote:Are Getaway and Atomizer really That Good at manipulation (verbal, mental, any other way)

Nope, and I think what's being shown is playing on Getaway's secret squirrel side. Getaway is charismatic but has an inflated sense of self worth, and is very reliant on gadgets to the point where I think he's going to forget how far they've gotten him.

Atomizer isn't super great at either, I mean he misses his intended target spot on Thunderclash at really close range. Atomizer strikes me as a weak willed hanger-on that's placed his bet with Getaway. So far it has him punching way above his weight class, the little he even has to do said figurative punching.

He didn’t miss. Thunderclash’s neck is just that glorious that an arrow can’t decapitate him.

Randomhero wrote:EXACTLY!

Just like how killlmaster was conveniently on the Necroworld even though whirl admitted to killing him (a very bland and under whelming death only for that to be a lie in which made no sense because if whirl had lied he would have made it an extravagant kill like he has before like in spotlight trailcutter). A world that was displaced by a weapon he conveniently created and a weapon that also conveniently can get them home except when they get home he was nowhere to be found even though the laws of the wand is transporting to a pocket dimension in their universe but is treated as a dimension hopping device for the sake of plot expediency

It's weird because despite being hailed as one of the continuity kings in his writing, Roberts keeps bringing back these minor yet interesting plot points and characters that he really should just leave alone to the readers imagination for the most part.

What's the point of having Killmaster around from a plot perspective? In that story's context he's only really there to provide a brief but ultimately pointless action scene and the wand so that Roberts can make narrative gymnastics happen that really didn't need to happen. Megatron already demonstrated the ability to warp things through time and space because of Dark Cybertron. I would've gladly accepted some magical science along that front to explain whatever universe hopping needed to happen so we didn't have to waste time and effort with an unnecessary macguffin.

ricemazter wrote:It's weird because despite being hailed as one of the continuity kings in his writing, Roberts keeps bringing back these minor yet interesting plot points and characters that he really should just leave alone to the readers imagination for the most part.

As someone who is only casually invested in the TF comics, I find it annoying.

I've said it before, and I'll keep saying it.

Bringing back these minor plot points, or even plot points from over five years ago, is just annoying.

It might be okay for folks who stay on top of characters and events, but for someone like me who finds himself sending Va'al a "when did this happen?" message after every issue just to keep track of things, is bloody annoying.

Thanks to Previews World, we now have images of two more covers for Transformers: Lost Light #12. The B cover is done by Nick Roche while the 10 incentive cover is done by Livio Ramondelli. Issue 12 is due next month right after Christmas and will feature the third part of the Mutineers Trilogy, which is all about finally getting back to the Lost Light, proper. Hopefully the presence of Megatron on the cover means something.

Here is the solicit for this particular issue:

(W) James Roberts (A) Jack Lawrence (CA) Livio Ramondelli
NO TURNING BACK! Getaway has crossed one too many lines and made one too many enemies. Hunted down on his own ship, the master manipulator has one last trick of his sleeve-something so shocking, so audacious, that it would put the most evil Decepticon to shame. No one is safe as the Mutineers Trilogy reaches its jaw-dropping climax.
In Shops: Dec 27, 2017

Cover B looks awesome. I am guessing that would be Mirage covered in energon 'blood'.

(I need to catch up on my Lost Light, have had a lot of stuff going on lately. Hopefully later in the week I can sneak off and grab them.)

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:As a small side note to end my post, I don't know why, but the political commentary from Roberts this issue made me twitch ever so slightly.

Honestly likewise. I don't disagree with it and have appreciated it before, but the direct quoting of both "fake news" and "strong and stable" was a little too on the nose for my taste, especially as whenever they're used by anyone but Trump/May now it's generally as a joke. Then again as the review says, perhaps in the current climate throwing subtlety to the wind is somewhat appropriate...

Va'al wrote:Are Getaway and Atomizer really That Good at manipulation (verbal, mental, any other way)
...
Also, you make me raise a point I wanted to mention: Atomizer.
Atomizer is a dirtbag. What is his goal. Why is he even.

Atomiser? Nah, but Getaway? Absolutely. The opening scene (featured in the issues preview) makes me feel legit a bit uncomfortable because of how spot on a depiction Getaway is of genuine real-life manipulative people I've know.
As far as what Atomisers role is... we've known he's been unhappy with the captaincy since Dark Cybertron, but beyond that he just seems like a stirrer, I guess? Even from issue 1 Magnus warned not to trust him with a crossbow. Perhaps he's just jealous of rodders having an identical colourscheme, and when purple-rod shows up again they'll be best of friends.

As for the scraplets, I was totslly under the impression that they were Whirl's baby from the Christmas issue? Granted, those weren't red, but I'm pretty sure they ended up in the medbay and it would explain the semi-domestication.


Other brief thougts:
Percy saying "it wouldn't be proper" to use Brainstorms lab warmed my heart
Getaway specifically making riptide forget how to transform, rather than the standard last-5-minutes, seems like it... wouldn't work? Brainstorm seems like the only one who both could and would make that kinda mod to the gun, and he's hardly around. Perhaps this will lead into #12 (or even a later return for boaty mcboatface). Either that or it is just Suddenly A Thing It Can Do, in which case I might finally have to hope on the lazy-plot-device bus.
Scotty, "Grapple lifts things" had me in stitches and earned me a few odd looks on my commute

ArmadaPrime wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:As a small side note to end my post, I don't know why, but the political commentary from Roberts this issue made me twitch ever so slightly.

Honestly likewise. I don't disagree with it and have appreciated it before, but the direct quoting of both "fake news" and "strong and stable" was a little too on the nose for my taste, especially as whenever they're used by anyone but Trump/May now it's generally as a joke. Then again as the review says, perhaps in the current climate throwing subtlety to the wind is somewhat appropriate...

Va'al wrote:Are Getaway and Atomizer really That Good at manipulation (verbal, mental, any other way)
...
Also, you make me raise a point I wanted to mention: Atomizer.
Atomizer is a dirtbag. What is his goal. Why is he even.

Atomiser? Nah, but Getaway? Absolutely. The opening scene (featured in the issues preview) makes me feel legit a bit uncomfortable because of how spot on a depiction Getaway is of genuine real-life manipulative people I've know.
As far as what Atomisers role is... we've known he's been unhappy with the captaincy since Dark Cybertron, but beyond that he just seems like a stirrer, I guess? Even from issue 1 Magnus warned not to trust him with a crossbow. Perhaps he's just jealous of rodders having an identical colourscheme, and when purple-rod shows up again they'll be best of friends.

As for the scraplets, I was totslly under the impression that they were Whirl's baby from the Christmas issue? Granted, those weren't red, but I'm pretty sure they ended up in the medbay and it would explain the semi-domestication.


Other brief thougts:
Percy saying "it wouldn't be proper" to use Brainstorms lab warmed my heart
Getaway specifically making riptide forget how to transform, rather than the standard last-5-minutes, seems like it... wouldn't work? Brainstorm seems like the only one who both could and would make that kinda mod to the gun, and he's hardly around. Perhaps this will lead into #12 (or even a later return for boaty mcboatface). Either that or it is just Suddenly A Thing It Can Do, in which case I might finally have to hope on the lazy-plot-device bus.
Scotty, "Grapple lifts things" had me in stitches and earned me a few odd looks on my commute

Actually the scraplets are not from the Christmas issue and not whirls baby. The scraplets in this issue date back aaaaaaaall the way from the start of MTMTE when it was subtly mentioned that they had a red scraplet infestation on the ship. The scraplets in the Christmas issue weren’t red like you said. Color is a thing. And one was seen in issue sixteen in a single panel of rewinds farewell to chromedome .

Nope, that cover with Megatron likely has nothing to do with the story. Probably just random unused art.

william-james88 wrote:Thanks to Previews World, we now have images of two more covers for Transformers: Lost Light #12. The B cover is done by Nick Roche while the 10 incentive cover is done by Livio Ramondelli. Issue 12 is due next month right after Christmas and will feature the third part of the Mutineers Trilogy, which is all about finally getting back to the Lost Light, proper. Hopefully the presence of Megatron on the cover means something.

Here is the solicit for this particular issue:

(W) James Roberts (A) Jack Lawrence (CA) Livio Ramondelli
NO TURNING BACK! Getaway has crossed one too many lines and made one too many enemies. Hunted down on his own ship, the master manipulator has one last trick of his sleeve-something so shocking, so audacious, that it would put the most evil Decepticon to shame. No one is safe as the Mutineers Trilogy reaches its jaw-dropping climax.
In Shops: Dec 27, 2017

Randomhero wrote:Actually the scraplets are not from the Christmas issue and not whirls baby. The scraplets in this issue date back aaaaaaaall the way from the start of MTMTE when it was subtly mentioned that they had a red scraplet infestation on the ship. The scraplets in the Christmas issue weren’t red like you said. Color is a thing. And one was seen in issue sixteen in a single panel of rewinds farewell to chromosome.

Good spot! I'd missed that entirely .

ArmadaPrime wrote:

Randomhero wrote:Actually the scraplets are not from the Christmas issue and not whirls baby. The scraplets in this issue date back aaaaaaaall the way from the start of MTMTE when it was subtly mentioned that they had a red scraplet infestation on the ship. The scraplets in the Christmas issue weren’t red like you said. Color is a thing. And one was seen in issue sixteen in a single panel of rewinds farewell to chromosome.

Good spot! I'd missed that entirely .

I needed that! Thank you from me too!

I've pretty much come around to Va'al's way of thinking on the series. At first I was looking forward to finding out getaways motivations, intentions, and ultimate plans. he has now been made so over-the-top evil, in a very cartoonish way ,that a lot of the enjoyment has been lost for me. What he does doesn't matter, he is just a manipulative bad guy, his moral standing has eroded. Too much work to make him look worse than Megatron.

In hindsight, I do feel as if I was manipulated into liking Megatron. It would have worked much better if we had done some sort of retcon to where he hadn't been a genocidal despot for eons. Robert's excellent writing of the character made you forget the bad, and I feel a bit off on that.

It's hard to put into words. I'm enjoying this new story, but still feel a bit let down.

Ironhidensh wrote:I've pretty much come around to Va'al's way of thinking on the series. At first I was looking forward to finding out getaways motivations, intentions, and ultimate plans. he has now been made so over-the-top evil, in a very cartoonish way ,that a lot of the enjoyment has been lost for me. What he does doesn't matter, he is just a manipulative bad guy, his moral standing has eroded. Too much work to make him look worse than Megatron.

In hindsight, I do feel as if I was manipulated into liking Megatron. It would have worked much better if we had done some sort of retcon to where he hadn't been a genocidal despot for eons. Robert's excellent writing of the character made you forget the bad, and I feel a bit off on that.

It's hard to put into words. I'm enjoying this new story, but still feel a bit let down.

That last line is crucial: I'm still on board with following the story, but I have an extremely bitter aftertaste with everything concerning the current Lost Light (vessel) happenings. To the point where I'm dreading the next issue - I've not always been a fan of Roberts' endings, and I am very worried about what can happen at this point.

(He made LL#6 work, for me, though I recognise a lot of people were mightily annoyed at the lack of any judgement or punishment for Megatron, who essentially gets a get out free card because charisma. But that's really the one ending I found worked, out of a lot of MTMTE and LL plots.)

Va'al wrote:

Ironhidensh wrote:I've pretty much come around to Va'al's way of thinking on the series. At first I was looking forward to finding out getaways motivations, intentions, and ultimate plans. he has now been made so over-the-top evil, in a very cartoonish way ,that a lot of the enjoyment has been lost for me. What he does doesn't matter, he is just a manipulative bad guy, his moral standing has eroded. Too much work to make him look worse than Megatron.

In hindsight, I do feel as if I was manipulated into liking Megatron. It would have worked much better if we had done some sort of retcon to where he hadn't been a genocidal despot for eons. Robert's excellent writing of the character made you forget the bad, and I feel a bit off on that.

It's hard to put into words. I'm enjoying this new story, but still feel a bit let down.

That last line is crucial: I'm still on board with following the story, but I have an extremely bitter aftertaste with everything concerning the current Lost Light (vessel) happenings. To the point where I'm dreading the next issue - I've not always been a fan of Roberts' endings, and I am very worried about what can happen at this point.

(He made LL#6 work, for me, though I recognise a lot of people were mightily annoyed at the lack of any judgement or punishment for Megatron, who essentially gets a get out free card because charisma. But that's really the one ending I found worked, out of a lot of MTMTE and LL plots.)

Speculating a James Roberts books is damn near impossible aside from slaughterhouse. Most people figured out what was going on and how it would end which Roberts was very upset about that it was figured it so easily.

With this story with this story if I had to speculate I’d imagine Atomizer having a change of heart and diving in to save Riptide and maybe sacrificing himself. He did show signs of hesitation and somewhat regret in this issue but he then did go on with helping murder 25 crew members after all.

Maybe he does save riptide and riptide frees the protectobots and we get why everyone wants...defensor smashing through the lost light until he gets to Getaway, saves the crew and they go to find Rodimus.

The end.

HOWEVER...

That won’t happen.

The ending to part one still hasn’t happened. By the end of this issue atomizer says the protectobots are being pulled in meaning they haven’t been recaptured and their memeory loops haven’t started and the reason they’re throwing riptide in is to kill and strip him to to his life cord and use it as payment so Sunder can put the protectobots in memeory loop which we know by the end of part one happens.

Riptide dies, the protectobots are captured and forced to live in a memory loop and Getaway wins.

Next issue will probably end with the lost light entering The Warren

Nik Hero wrote:Nope, that cover with Megatron likely has nothing to do with the story

You know this for certain? I'm inclined to agree that it's simply unused art, but I can't say for sure. And the way Megatron "left" was kind of unfinished. Like there could have been more, something more final. But then again, this is Roberts writing, so we can't expect high quality story telling.

That's why I said likely. The previous 2 issues' covers had nothing to do with the issue either.

WreckerJack wrote:Cover B looks awesome. I am guessing that would be Mirage covered in energon 'blood'.

(I need to catch up on my Lost Light, have had a lot of stuff going on lately. Hopefully later in the week I can sneak off and grab them.)

Just a little speculation: if cover B shows Mirage, perhaps someone has thrown liquid energon over him in order to locate him and maybe kill him. There is a parallel with the death of Ravage here. Ravage was very elusive but the DJD still found him and killed him. Mirage is also very elusive but not undetectable.

Alternatively, Mirage is killing other bots and gets covered in energon or fuel.

Courtesy of site admin and Twincaster ScottyP, we have been linked to Alex Milne's Twitter account and the image recently uploaded of another variant cover for IDW Publishing's Transformers: Lost Light #12 - the other two can be seen in this previous news story here - in both lineart and colours (by Josh Perez), and featuring the Protectobot combiner Defensor taking it out on Cybertronian punchbag Getaway!

As always, this does not necessarily mean we will see the Gestalt in the issue, but we at least get to take a look at the very Combiner Wars-esque design (including the Groove chest piece), and some neat page layout and interaction with the logo, as Milne also points out. Take a look below!

IDW was kind enough to allow me to show off my cover for #LostLight issue 12. I too wanted in on the combiner action since I don't get to draw them much. I also had fun with the characters interacting with the logo Awesome colours by Josh Perez .

After having the combiner wars story forced on us, I will be very, very passed if Defensor doesn't show up and at least kick Atomizers ass.


Getaway belongs to Hotrod.

Wow! That cover is amazing!

Va'al wrote:Courtesy of site admin and Twincaster ScottyP, we have been linked to Alex Milne's Twitter account and the image recently uploaded of another variant cover for IDW Publishing's Transformers: Lost Light #12 - the other two can be seen in this previous news story here - in both lineart and colours (by Josh Perez), and featuring the Protectobot combiner Defensor taking it out on Cybertronian punchbag Getaway!

As always, this does not necessarily mean we will see the Gestalt in the issue, but we at least get to take a look at the very Combiner Wars-esque design (including the Groove chest piece), and some neat page layout and interaction with the logo, as Milne also points out. Take a look below!

IDW was kind enough to allow me to show off my cover for #LostLight issue 12. I too wanted in on the combiner action since I don't get to draw them much. I also had fun with the characters interacting with the logo Awesome colours by Josh Perez .

Be more interesting if it was Optimus instead of Getaway being the punching bag...

In any case, I wonder if they're going to do the smashed up top left hand corner logo thing like Marvel used to do.

GUISE! LOOK! IT'S THE MOST UNDERRATED COMBINER!!!

Guys, “don’t trust the covers” are for stuff like Megatron being the sole figure on a Sub cover, or a G1 designed being used. Defender has appeared on like 2 or 3 covers for #12 by now. He’s in the issue.

Is this series any good? I’m still working through MTMTE, but the opinions I hear about this series have a different tone.

It's still good--the main issue is that it had to be rebooted to allow for a new #1 as IDW wanted to reboot all their books. This meant that they had to create a new jumping on point for new readers.

Daniel Adkins wrote:Guys, “don’t trust the covers” are for stuff like Megatron being the sole figure on a Sub cover, or a G1 designed being used. Defender has appeared on like 2 or 3 covers for #12 by now. He’s in the issue.

If he doesn't show up, please help me tell of the people commenting on our social media feeds.

That cover became my new phone Wallpaper. My favorite combiner doing what I most want him to do: smashing Assholes!!! I love it!!!

ricemazter wrote:

Randomhero wrote:I have huge problem with this comic and I feel I need to elaborate it. It’s regarding Froide and Sunder. I’m going to try and explain myself and my burning hatred for these two showing up.

1. Sunder

2. SUNDER!!!!! Seriously what the f&$@?!?! Why is he still on that ship! He has the power to use his mind and eyes to make you relive your worst memories, turn you inside out and into a beach ball or even kill you. The beach ball is legitimately worse probably. Why is he there and repaired. rung shot out his eyes- the key to his power- and had a shuttle thrown on him. After he turned a bunch of crew into inside out beach balls and terrorized the ship you’re telling me they repaired him. Nobody, not rodimus, not magnus or anyone didn’t just walk up him flat like a pancake after the rodpod smashed him and just stepped on his brain. He’s a serial killer that just terrorized and tortured the crew of the lost light without even touching them. I find it hard to believe.

3. Hes repaired. Even his eyes. When he’s reintroduced in this issue fully repaired...WITH HIS EYES! That thing that allowed him to torture and kill people and he’s casually walking from the brig to Rungs office with no security on panel. Are you kidding me? HE HAS HIS EYES! HES WALKING AROUND! Even with security we’ve seen that doesn’t matter because he’ll turn anyone he looks at into inside out beach balls!

4. He’s a drug addict. He’s addicted to memeories. He needs them like a crackhead needs crack and he’s once again just casually walking around chit chatting while Getaway is brokering a deal.

5. The deal. Let’s not kid ourselves, the moment Getaway said no deal he would have turned him into a beach ball, then Froide, then atomizer, then riptide and raped and pillaged the ship of memories until they were all dead....BECAUSE THEY LET HIM OUT WITH HIS EYES!

6. Froide. Froide is an interesting dude with his own problems but he was betrayed and turned into a beach ball too and here he is back to normal standing next to monster mash like nothing happened and even joining in on the graveyard smash. Seriously it’s like nothing happened a couple months ago. I don’t care how much of a nut ball you are you wouldn’t be standing next to him WITH HIS EYES INTACT and encouraging him to keep doing it.

Okay I’m done.

That's an excellent question. Another question: is there a reason Sunder doesn't just murder everyone? With his eyes intact, he can make people forget or believe virtually anything through eye contact alone. Why does he need to make deals at all?

To me, him being in this already convoluted story at all seems like a hand wave explanation for things that otherwise wouldn't make sense.

There would have to be a way for Getaway to control Sunder and prevent him from taking over / killing everyone. Maybe that'll be explained soon. Simple bargaining won't be enough in the long run.

snavej wrote:

ricemazter wrote:

Randomhero wrote:I have huge problem with this comic and I feel I need to elaborate it. It’s regarding Froide and Sunder. I’m going to try and explain myself and my burning hatred for these two showing up.

1. Sunder

2. SUNDER!!!!! Seriously what the f&$@?!?! Why is he still on that ship! He has the power to use his mind and eyes to make you relive your worst memories, turn you inside out and into a beach ball or even kill you. The beach ball is legitimately worse probably. Why is he there and repaired. rung shot out his eyes- the key to his power- and had a shuttle thrown on him. After he turned a bunch of crew into inside out beach balls and terrorized the ship you’re telling me they repaired him. Nobody, not rodimus, not magnus or anyone didn’t just walk up him flat like a pancake after the rodpod smashed him and just stepped on his brain. He’s a serial killer that just terrorized and tortured the crew of the lost light without even touching them. I find it hard to believe.

3. Hes repaired. Even his eyes. When he’s reintroduced in this issue fully repaired...WITH HIS EYES! That thing that allowed him to torture and kill people and he’s casually walking from the brig to Rungs office with no security on panel. Are you kidding me? HE HAS HIS EYES! HES WALKING AROUND! Even with security we’ve seen that doesn’t matter because he’ll turn anyone he looks at into inside out beach balls!

4. He’s a drug addict. He’s addicted to memeories. He needs them like a crackhead needs crack and he’s once again just casually walking around chit chatting while Getaway is brokering a deal.

5. The deal. Let’s not kid ourselves, the moment Getaway said no deal he would have turned him into a beach ball, then Froide, then atomizer, then riptide and raped and pillaged the ship of memories until they were all dead....BECAUSE THEY LET HIM OUT WITH HIS EYES!

6. Froide. Froide is an interesting dude with his own problems but he was betrayed and turned into a beach ball too and here he is back to normal standing next to monster mash like nothing happened and even joining in on the graveyard smash. Seriously it’s like nothing happened a couple months ago. I don’t care how much of a nut ball you are you wouldn’t be standing next to him WITH HIS EYES INTACT and encouraging him to keep doing it.

Okay I’m done.

That's an excellent question. Another question: is there a reason Sunder doesn't just murder everyone? With his eyes intact, he can make people forget or believe virtually anything through eye contact alone. Why does he need to make deals at all?

To me, him being in this already convoluted story at all seems like a hand wave explanation for things that otherwise wouldn't make sense.

There would have to be a way for Getaway to control Sunder and prevent him from taking over / killing everyone. Maybe that'll be explained soon. Simple bargaining won't be enough in the long run.

We talked about this on the 190 podcast too, and I still have no idea why he doesn't indeed go around tennisballing everyone. ScottyP did make a good point about his eyes though, and how they're not The Eyes, but just his regular optics.

We have a little more comics news for you all this day, courtesy of iTunes once more and Seibertron.com admin-slash-TwincasterPodcaster ScottyP - and despite it being a little early, we get a new look at the opening pages of the next issue of Transformers: Lost Light from IDW Publishing!

The concluding issue to the Mutineers Trilogy, number #12, brings us back to the oil reservoir and Riptide's punishment at the hands of Getaway and Atomizer - what will happen from here? Will we actually see the Protectobots and Defensor turn up again in the story? What is up with Atomizer? Is Sunder still chompign down on brain modules? Find out in a couple weeks' time, and join the discussion - with some added panache from episode 190 of the Twincast / Podcast, if you're so inclined - in the Energon Pub!

NO TURNING BACK! Getaway has crossed one too many lines and made one too many enemies. Hunted down on his own ship, the master manipulator has one last trick of his sleeve—something so shocking, so audacious, that it would put the most evil Decepticon to shame. No one is safe as the Mutineers Trilogy reaches its jaw-dropping climax.

We asked Sunday if we'd ever seen Riptide's boat mode. Well, there it is! Neat

Cover B looks amazing for this one.

ScottyP wrote:We asked Sunday if we'd ever seen Riptide's boat mode. Well, there it is! Neat

I'm pretty sure that we saw it in one of the Brainstorm time chase issues.