IDW Transformers: Lost Light #4 Variant Cover by E.J. Su

Infiltration references; nice!

That is a nice updated look there. The fella seems to have come on leaps and bounds in the god knows how many years IDW TF comics have been on the go now.

His art was pretty great for the time and the sort of book the Furman era was and it's nice to see he's only improved.

Only real problem is how the cover looks without the context of the other ongoing. Prime's arm just coming out of nowhere off-screen with the express intent of choking Megsy

Big Grim wrote:That is a nice updated look there. The fella seems to have come on leaps and bounds in the god knows how many years IDW TF comics have been on the go now.

Over 10 years. It makes me really happy to know that IDW just beats out the movies as the longest ongoing, active fiction the franchise has ever had, even if that does include AHM and the Costa era.

Kurona wrote:Over 10 years. It makes me really happy to know that IDW just beats out the movies as the longest ongoing, active fiction the franchise has ever had, even if that does include AHM and the Costa era.

Over 10 years. Good grief Charlie Brown. I know I'm getting old but that is kinda nuts! (Peanuts?)

I wholeheartedly agree with you on the IDW Vs Movie ongoing record. Not all of it has been great but in my opinion, with the three ongoings we have now, we really are in something of a Golden Age of TF comics.

Big Grim wrote:

Kurona wrote:Over 10 years. It makes me really happy to know that IDW just beats out the movies as the longest ongoing, active fiction the franchise has ever had, even if that does include AHM and the Costa era.

Over 10 years. Good grief Charlie Brown. I know I'm getting old but that is kinda nuts! (Peanuts?)

I wholeheartedly agree with you on the IDW Vs Movie ongoing record. Not all of it has been great but in my opinion, with the three ongoings we have now, we really are in something of a Golden Age of TF comics.

Definitely. I know a lot of people'll disagree; but in my opinion, DOOP-onwards IDW is the apex of Transformers fiction. It's certainly had some bumps - especially the crossovers; dear lord Revolution - but I simply find modern IDW the best Transformers has ever been. And hey, doesn't hurt that Furman gave the continuity a solid foundation for the most part.

Kurona wrote:

Big Grim wrote:

Kurona wrote:Over 10 years. It makes me really happy to know that IDW just beats out the movies as the longest ongoing, active fiction the franchise has ever had, even if that does include AHM and the Costa era.

Over 10 years. Good grief Charlie Brown. I know I'm getting old but that is kinda nuts! (Peanuts?)

I wholeheartedly agree with you on the IDW Vs Movie ongoing record. Not all of it has been great but in my opinion, with the three ongoings we have now, we really are in something of a Golden Age of TF comics.

Definitely. I know a lot of people'll disagree; but in my opinion, DOOP-onwards IDW is the apex of Transformers fiction. It's certainly had some bumps - especially the crossovers; dear lord Revolution - but I simply find modern IDW the best Transformers has ever been. And hey, doesn't hurt that Furman gave the continuity a solid foundation for the most part.

Y'know, I need to get back to that Revisit-ation piece I started years ago..

Kurona wrote:Definitely. I know a lot of people'll disagree; but in my opinion, DOOP-onwards IDW is the apex of Transformers fiction. It's certainly had some bumps - especially the crossovers; dear lord Revolution - but I simply find modern IDW the best Transformers has ever been. And hey, doesn't hurt that Furman gave the continuity a solid foundation for the most part.

Again, 100% agree. Speedbumps would certainly be Revolution (what a mess.) and Dark Cybertron but on average there's even been good bits in those. MTMTE Revolution was a glorious piece of work! So good! I admit MTMTE (now Lost Light) is my fave outta the three ongoings but I'm surprised to say I think that TAAO has edged out RID/OP for second place. It's been great since the Bruticus arc and only been getting better!

I didn't care much for Dark Cybertron either. I only read the part that was included in MTMTE and it put me to sleep. There were some good moments though.

Speaking of movies, it would be amazing if we could have a TF movie based on the comics much like the marvel movies. Dunno how possible that would be without them getting messed up though.

In case anyone wanted to see what the co-captains looked like with their heads on wrong

iBooks is at it again, this time giving us a 3 page sneak peek at Lost Light #4! The issue picks up with Rodimus and company taking a peek at a newly returned Luna-2 that appears to be doing some weird stuff while Megatron plans a Rung rescue mission. Meanwhile, back at Necroworld, Cyclonus and Whirl try desperately to survive the wrath of Killmaster! Check out the preview below!

RODIMUS, MEGATRON and the exiled crew of the Lost Light realise that there's only one thing they need to do before they can resume their quest. Unfortunately, that thing is "save the world." Can the AUTOBOTS overcome the odds and save the day? To be honest, probably not.

Megatron is suddenly deferring to Rodimus now? Odd choice of character interaction, especially as it's just to explain the plot here.

Or is this too pedantic? I don't know anymore. Finding choices by the author to quibble at, despite him being the very person who reignited my interest in this world, seems to be my primary concern since 'season 2' started.

Is it just me or do the panels with Cybertron look rather Unicron-y? I may just be listening to Scotty too much.

SureShot18 wrote:Is it just me or do the panels with Cybertron look rather Unicron-y? I may just be listening to Scotty too much.

Luna 2 also kinda sorta almost looks like Cybertron Primus albeit without the ten billion guns mounted on him

Comic Vine has updated with the full preview for Transformers: Lost Light! The issue appears to focus in on Whirl and Cyclonus, as well as what the heck is going on with Rung. Check out the full preview below!

I kind of want the next issues title to be the name of another CCR song although looking at the other titles this issue just seems to be named for no other reason than the stuff happening with the moon ( which I kind of want to be unicron)

So far, I'm enjoying this series, but not nearly as much as MTMTE. I think part of it is that every single character has something going wrong with them that isn't related to the current plot. It makes me role my eyes that something else is being introduced in what seems like every other panel.

While the mutiny and main quest are hanging over our heads, we're trapped in the functionist universe. At the same time, there's Anode, who has her dark past exposed by Velocity, which is actually just a cover for her real dark secret. Skids death has caused some of our characters to turn to drugs. But never mind that, Killmaster's back, and he might have killed Swerve and Ten. Except, no, they've just been transported somewhere else entirely. Then, Tailgaite's going nuts somewhere in the background, causing him to mutilate Cyclonus. It's all so exhausting.

Also, I have to wonder, how it is that Killmaster's arm is even able to be cut off by a sword. Aren't the Warriors Elite supposed to have unutrium coated endo-skeletons, making them virtually indestructible? Overlord was exploded from the inside out and later blasted with an asteroid shattering laser. He was left largely intact.

The latest chapter of the massive, sweeping Transformers ongoing comics arrive this week, with two very different stories gracing shelves. One is Till All Are One #8, which judging from sales numbers is the best Transformers comic that Transformers fans don't read and you should feel bad about that. The other is the subject of this review, Lost Light #4. We're in the middle of a story arc that's six issues deep, and now we're past the halfway point. How are things shaping up with our heroes scattered about and in various states of misadventure?


Simultaneously, situations improve and decline across the three main plots of this issue. There's "Team Rodimus", stranded on Functionist Cybertron to take up one of these main plot lines, and with the agonizing cliffhanger of issue 3 get ready for, well, another cliffhanger. It's in the best of ways though if I'm honest about it. Anyone that watches Game of Thrones knows that sometimes an ending that leaves you unsatisfied for now, where you want to know more and see more and figure out what might happen next, can be a good ending. It means that you're wrapped up in something compelling, and when the attention of the book turns to this plot my eyes are glued to the page in anticipation and wonderment.


Back on Necroworld, which may or may not be in the "main" universe of the Transformers and Hasbro Universe books, there are two plot threads running through this issue. One of them is action packed and oozing with plot progression and character moments, and that's the one featuring Cyclonus, Whirl, Tailgate, and a recently awakened nemesis in Killmaster. This also ends on a cliffhanger - a good, effective one that leaves me wanting to read more. While it's not certain, it definitely seems that things aren't going to end well here, but then again, Cyclonus told us so in February of 2012 in the pages of More Than Meets The Eye #2, didn't he?


Then there's the argument in my head over whether or not the argument above really needed to happen here. After taking time and pursuing a more thoughtful analysis, it does. The visual storytelling in surrounding panels justifies the space, not to mention it makes sense for the characters involved. It progresses some long running plots in various ways, and is called back to effectively later in the issue.

Then there's the third small plot that's moved along in this issue, involving Anode and Lug. I've been a defender of these characters' inclusion and development for this arc, but their purpose is now fuzzy whereas it didn't feel that way earlier. The additional backstory is nice, and building up new characters is great, but something about the three pages given to these two newer arrivals missed the mark. The point is clear, the event that happened to end the scene is sure to be relevant later, and there is genuine purpose to all the words. None of that's really critical, of course, so what gives? It certainly wasn't the visuals, which were handled wonderfully by Jack Lawrence and Joana Lafuente's always sublime Necroworld color palette.


What it may be is a very purposeful usage of too many words. If you look at the roughly one-third of a page shown above, it doesn't have many words by the end, yet so much is said. The "new" Megatron, defined.

Were Lug's actions supposed to be ours?


Aside from the already mentioned Lawrence and Lafuente, there's the return of Tom B. Long on letter work. As usual, Long's work is fantastic and I don't have enough superlatives to describe it. Nick Roche and Josh Burcham again provide an outstanding cover fitting thematically with their other variant covers from the series so far, but a special mention needs to go to Alex Milne and Josh Perez's cover featuring Megatron and Terminus. This right here is frame-worthy.

As always, you can find full credits and covers in our database entry for Lost Light #4, along with a list of characters that appear in the issue (sometimes pretty early on release day depending on my alarm clock) so do be aware of possible spoilers.


Scores don't feel fair to big multi-part works. The more this goes on, the more it's clearly intended to be read all together as a six issue story. To be fair, Mr. Roberts has more-or-less directly pointed this out, or that's at least how I took it. That element holds this issue back a bit, but only a bit. Be sure to pick this one up and head back here to speculate about the future here on our forums by replying to this post.



Bonus! James Roberts' soundtrack suggestions for this issue:

• Nils Frahm - "You"
• The New Pornographers - "The Bleeding Heart"
• Interpol - "Next Exit (Stay)"

Encore Bonus! Uniclock Update:
I'm going to be reviewing this series for the site for a while, and some of you can guess why this is. I'm moving our Lost Light/Hasbro Comics Universe Doomsday Clock, the Uniclock, ahead one minute. After reading the issue you may think this is a bit over-conservative, but at least for right now, well, in John Barber I'll choose to trust and assume the slow burn will remain slow for awhile longer as stated in the linked Twincast interview with him. We'll see how long though. Another issue with this many signs and it's going to start to look like we'll find out the answer to the question "Where do you go?"

I love the watchmen clock but this is not the series for it. What just happened in TAAO justifies a doomsday clock even more because HOLY SH**!!!

I really enjoyed the issue a lot. It has some positives, some negatives. The art is lovely, I think both stories are very interesting sadly it's waaaaaaay too talky even for Roberts. Especially since some of the conversations have happened in previous issues and entire pages are spent revealing something 1. People have already figured out or 2. Just didn't need an entire page to relay. Seriously the Megatron/Rodimus argument is almost 2 full pages and is something we've already read once or twice.

Again, not all bad but for me the bads are pretty heavy when they come on.

Randomhero wrote:I love the watchmen clock but this is not the series for it. What just happened in TAAO justifies a doomsday clock even more because HOLY SH**!!!

I really enjoyed the issue a lot. It has some positives, some negatives. The art is lovely, I think both stories are very interesting sadly it's waaaaaaay too talky even for Roberts. Especially since some of the conversations have happened in previous issues and entire pages are spent revealing something 1. People have already figured out or 2. Just didn't need an entire page to relay. Seriously the Megatron/Rodimus argument is almost 2 full pages and is something we've already read once or twice.

Again, not all bad but for me the bads are pretty heavy when they come on.

Liege Maximo is one of the big reasons I moved that thing up despite what Barber told me. The stuff in this issue of LL could just be foreshadowing/tongue in cheek, though that also seems unlikely.

I was of the same mind on the Megs/Rodimus scuffle over the weekend (when we get our review copies) but after a couple other slow, careful re-reads I changed my tune. The point, to me, was that they're taking way too much time they don't have for a silly repetitive argument, and the slow build of the blue light around them gives that sense of "hey, HEY dudes, stop!" If you imagine it as a TV scene maybe it works better?

Alternately, I talked myself into liking it.

ScottyP wrote:

Randomhero wrote:I love the watchmen clock but this is not the series for it. What just happened in TAAO justifies a doomsday clock even more because HOLY SH**!!!

I really enjoyed the issue a lot. It has some positives, some negatives. The art is lovely, I think both stories are very interesting sadly it's waaaaaaay too talky even for Roberts. Especially since some of the conversations have happened in previous issues and entire pages are spent revealing something 1. People have already figured out or 2. Just didn't need an entire page to relay. Seriously the Megatron/Rodimus argument is almost 2 full pages and is something we've already read once or twice.

Again, not all bad but for me the bads are pretty heavy when they come on.

Liege Maximo is one of the big reasons I moved that thing up despite what Barber told me. The stuff in this issue of LL could just be foreshadowing/tongue in cheek, though that also seems unlikely.

I was of the same mind on the Megs/Rodimus scuffle over the weekend (when we get our review copies) but after a couple other slow, careful re-reads I changed my tune. The point, to me, was that they're taking way too much time they don't have for a silly repetitive argument, and the slow build of the blue light around them gives that sense of "hey, HEY dudes, stop!" If you imagine it as a TV scene maybe it works better?

Alternately, I talked myself into liking it.

I get that with the clock. Threw me off with being on here

I didn't hate the conversation, it just went on way too long and just said stuff megs has already been accused of and everything.

Still confused lug

I guess she was the spark that died and Anode created her in her mind out of guilt but man if that's it okay but , it's not very original especially since we have that relationship with starscream and bumblebee in TAAO and it's been done way better in other comic books.

The Megatron/Rodimus did take me out of it a little and I'm glad it was brought up. I wasn't entirely sure if I liked it or not; it did make sense and both of these characters' possible ulterior motives did need to be addressed, but at the same time it kinda feels like Rodimus and Megatron's relationship had progressed past this point. Maybe I shouldn't underestimate 4 million years of war

And I think you also summed up my feelings on Anode and Lug. I love these two to death, but something about their inclusion felt out-of-place and separate compared to everything else going on at the moment.

... god, I feel weird being this critical of my favourite series and an issue I actually liked. Someone give me some cute Chromedome and Rewind art

I don't think Megatron has an ulterior motive in the slightest. I feel rodimus is completely out of line. Megatron did at one point and he admitted it to Ravage that he was delaying his trial, that's why he had the briefcase but after their first visit to the Necroworld he abandoned it. Ravage revealed Megatron admitted he can't delay and hide from the inevitable, he needs to face it.

Megatron is just doing what's right and I like Magnus's line in the comic after the argument when Megatron is laying out strategies.

Kurona wrote: Someone give me some cute Chromedome and Rewind art

I really want to keep talking comics but responsible adult things are calling (work), but I can do this at least:

ScottyP wrote:

Kurona wrote: Someone give me some cute Chromedome and Rewind art

I really want to keep talking comics but responsible adult things are calling (work), but I can do this at least:

Extremely good. Keep this up and Va'al may just have competition for my favourite.

Kurona wrote:

ScottyP wrote:

Kurona wrote: Someone give me some cute Chromedome and Rewind art

I really want to keep talking comics but responsible adult things are calling (work), but I can do this at least:

Extremely good. Keep this up and Va'al may just have competition for my favourite.

TFA Anode.

I love how Anode's alt mode is a Cybertronian biplane.

SureShot18 wrote:I love how Anode's alt mode is a Cybertronian biplane.

As if Minimus Ambus's mustache wasn't hipster enough

Burn can be so sweet some times (him on the left, me on the right).

Just for clarification, because he only said some times.

I still hate you all.
I need to get me a new Whirl.

Burn wrote:I need to get me a new Whirl.

You're replacing me?!

Va'al wrote:

Burn wrote:I need to get me a new Whirl.

You're replacing me?!

Are you made of plastic and smell bad?

Burn wrote:

Va'al wrote:

Burn wrote:I need to get me a new Whirl.

You're replacing me?!

Are you made of plastic and smell bad?

...definitely not.

Va'al wrote:

Burn wrote:

Va'al wrote:

Burn wrote:I need to get me a new Whirl.

You're replacing me?!

Are you made of plastic and smell bad?

...definitely not.

That's... probably up for debate.

The problem is: the forum admin is right. I can totally see that style of relationship between you 2.

Also Burn: Pretty sure my target still has some Whirls, or at least they still did 2 weeks ago. I can get you a plastic replacement that smells better and doesn't have a sarcastic-laden voice

ScottyP wrote:

Kurona wrote: Someone give me some cute Chromedome and Rewind art

I really want to keep talking comics but responsible adult things are calling (work), but I can do this at least:

LOVE DIS

I'm trying to catch-up to Lost Light as fast as I can to avoid spoilers here....but honestly, I did "read" MTME on tfwiki prior to buying all the TPBs! So now, seeing the great art and the events play out on the page is easier to follow along, even if it has been slightly spoiled.

Speaking of Whirl though, I still only have his G1 incarnation -- I wish I had gone Generations for an update. I'm also considering that Henkei classics set of Tailgate & Swerve....

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:Also Burn: Pretty sure my target still has some Whirls, or at least they still did 2 weeks ago. I can get you a plastic replacement that smells better and doesn't have a sarcastic-laden voice

Found a very good priced one on E-Bay and snapped him up (Thanks though).

What can I say, every time I read Whirl in Lost Light I'm reminded of Stinky times and that I really need to get a Whirl that could be kept inside.

We have discovered Jeff Haas has done an interview with James Roberts about the Lost Light comic. James Roberts talks about his writing process and ideas for the series. The way he speaks about his work really shows how dedicated he is to the series.

"The first few drafts of the script are usually in longhand – I have a tower of notebooks full of my barely legible handwriting. I refine the dialog when typing everything up, and then edit it all again by hand" - James Roberts

The article also touches on the characters and stories along with James Robert's thoughts. It is an interesting read because you get a feel for how deep the story is. He also shares his ideas about some of the characters in both MTMTE and Lost Light.

"Anode, being a totally new character – and someone who was unfamiliar with our regulars and their backstory ... I wanted a driven, funny, independent, ebullient, cheeky new character, with a unique set of skills.” - James Roberts

If you enjoy Transformers: Lost Light, make sure you check out our archive!

"[Anode] was going to cross paths with the crew of the Lost Light under the mutineer Getaway’s command, as opposed to being rescued by the time-traveling Necrobot. I was in a bit of a bind when MTMTE ended, because it ended on the mother of all cliffhangers: the main cast, and the planet on which they’d been left stranded by Getaway, had apparently blown up. So, they were dead, their ship had been stolen, they were falling behind on their quest … I had an obligation with Lost Light to pick up where I’d left off, but it was far from a neat jumping on point for new readers. Anode, being a totally new character – and someone who was unfamiliar with our regulars and their backstory – was my way of re-introducing all the series’ key concepts without it being too clunky."

This is very interesting. I just knew Revolution and the title change had fucked up things somehow and this demonstrates exactly how.


"After the Dissolution arc we’re following a smaller group of characters to a place we’ve mentioned more than once but never actually visited,” according to Roberts. “After that, we catch up with Getaway and his fellow mutineers – the titular Lost Light finally makes an appearance."

Hey D-max~

About damn time too.

Though I don't have any idea what he means by "place we've mentioned multiple times before" at the moment.

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:About damn time too.

Though I don't have any idea what he means by "place we've mentioned multiple times before" at the moment.

It's totally gonna be the Scavengers and Fort Max's crew teaming up to find and destroy the Nightmare Engine. Calling it

Kurona wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:About damn time too.

Though I don't have any idea what he means by "place we've mentioned multiple times before" at the moment.

It's totally gonna be the Scavengers and Fort Max's crew teaming up to find and destroy the Nightmare Engine. Calling it

Hydrus V gets my vote. Did Brainstorm really take out a star with his briefcase? Probably not.

ScottyP wrote:

Kurona wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:About damn time too.

Though I don't have any idea what he means by "place we've mentioned multiple times before" at the moment.

It's totally gonna be the Scavengers and Fort Max's crew teaming up to find and destroy the Nightmare Engine. Calling it

Hydrus V gets my vote. Did Brainstorm really take out a star with his briefcase? Probably not.

Very true... heck, there's a lot of places we've heard of a ton of times. This comic is the perfect setting to be vague about this.

Via PreviewsWorld, we have some nice art to tide over the (delayed) wait for the next issue of Transformers: Lost Light #5 - now due on 10th May - in the form of variant covers! Mirrored below, you can find the Nick Roche / Josh Burcham Anode centric cover, and the Alex Milne / Josh Perez Functionist Dredd-esque enforcers. Check them out, along with clean line art from Milne, too!

It's TEAM RODIMUS versus a universe gone wrong! An alternate Cybertron is being torn apart as the malevolent Functionist Council implement a plan that's been millions of years in the making. But with victory within their reach, they find themselves up against someone who really shouldn't exist: MEGATRON.

We have another variant cover for IDW Publishing's Transformers: Lost Light #5, in addition to the Milne/Perez and Roche/Burcham ones, thanks again to PreviewsWorld - take a look below at the Jin Kim art featuring Ultra Magnus, Nautica and Drift, with a floating Rodimus head in the background!

Speaking of comics, I just found combiner wars revised wave 6 on the pegs in Norway with the Idw comics. Last time I looked in the store there was almost no figures left but now there was a ton all on sale with comics

I want to frame this and hang it up somewhere. Beautiful art featuring some of the best characters

Straight from his Twitter account, comic writer James Roberts has tweeted a couple of panels featuring Nightbeat and Rung from the fifth issue of Lost Light, due for release next month. Check out the little snippet of character development below and tell us what you think in the forums!

As it turns out, not long after James Roberts tweeted two panels of the comic, the preview of Lost Light's fifth issue has been put up on itunes! Have a look below and tell us what you think in the forums.

I hate to say it but I've lost so much interest in this series. Mtmte is a series I've always had a love/hate relationship with but with where it's gone and where it's going with this story I've just become "oh yeah we haven't gotten an issue this month" or "well there's an issue coming out. I grab it when I'm free" I wish I could be more excited but I'm just not anymore.

I must admit - and since this is my favourite series and it's had such a big impact on my life, this is hard to admit - the current arc has been a bit weak, unfocused and all over the place imo. Things seem to happen without any lead-in, we jump from point to point without any time devoted to a subject and it's been a little hard to follow. It's not terrible per se, it's still a fine plot and certain things like Anode and the geo-bomb (and Brainstorm squealing!!) shine through to me, but it's not quite up to par as MTMTE was.

However... that said, while this doesn't excuse everything, I'm kinda putting this down to forced editorial mandates. It just so happens that a plot that's... well, as I just described; arguably a drop in quality, happens right when they're forced to restart the numbering, essentially tasked with bringing in new readership and the creative team is reshuffled? I'm not familiar with how everything works, but I don't think this was a good thing for the comic and I think if we'd gotten MTMTE #58 instead of LL #1, things would have been different. That's why I've been a bit easier on this than I really should be; maybe it's me being a bit too optimistic or biased, but I can't look at the negatives of the comic recently, compare it to how incredible MTMTE was and not look towards the editorial mandates.

Also, Nightbeat and Rung. That's reeling me back in as that little talk between them is looking very interesting and Nightbeat's showing his nicer side.

The renumbering and renaming doesn't bother me. I've been reading comics since I was 6 and it's something you have to just get adjusted to. This wasnt batman or Spider-Man getting in the 700s and 800s and going back it issue one, it was issue 56 and then changing. Wasn't that big of a deal.

My biggest issue has always been and will always be unless it changes is that Roberts writes this like a television show and not a comic book and those are two very different medias. The structure is an utter mess at times. The ideas and characterization have always been its strengths where as it's structure has always been something to be desired. I'm not going to go as far as some and accuse James of writing knock off red dwarf fan fiction but it's hard not to see it. I've talked to James, he's a great guy but I wish he'd work on his storytelling and grow from it instead of making tongue and cheek remarks from characters in the book like hes done a bit whenever "community" was referenced.

I used to get furious for so long at this series because it never does anything with the quest and I finally gave up by season 2 because there wasn't a single issue in those 2 and half years that actually had any form of progress with the quest. They got a map halfway but we had to have more deviations. James said with lost light he's making the quest priority. Now we know for the next few months thanks to solicits and probably for the rest of the year we will be in functionalist universe and all I can do is toss my hands in the air and ask "well why did you even say that James?"

He said it a few times in interviews and podcasts by the way.