IDW Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye #53 Full Preview

HA! They just got friend-zoned!

Awww, Nautica! I guess this means you can have more than one Amica Endura. Otherwise, she would have broken off her friendship with Firestar.

She's, ah, flashing everybody...


Did they leave out an artist credit? "Incentive Cover Artwork by: Priscilla Tramont and"
And who?

Noideaforaname wrote:She's, ah, flashing everybody...

That was my first reaction. I mean, when a girl really likes a bunch of people, isnt that what she does? Maybe?

Not that I'd know...

Did they leave out an artist credit? "Incentive Cover Artwork by: Priscilla Tramont and"
And who?

Ahem...Priscilla Tramontano, I believe. It's an O, not a D.

Did they start drawing Brainstorm like his TR figure this issue or have they been doing it for awhile? I can't remember and my tablet isn't handy.

Mr Skram wrote:Did they start drawing Brainstorm like his TR figure this issue or have they been doing it for awhile? I can't remember and my tablet isn't handy.

Nope, that is the same body he's had for the entirety of MTMTE

D-Maximus_Primal wrote:

Mr Skram wrote:Did they start drawing Brainstorm like his TR figure this issue or have they been doing it for awhile? I can't remember and my tablet isn't handy.

Nope, that is the same body he's had for the entirety of MTMTE

I think his head changed though. This one looks like the TR head. Others seemed much closer to his Generations fig.

Mr Skram wrote:

D-Maximus_Primal wrote:

Mr Skram wrote:Did they start drawing Brainstorm like his TR figure this issue or have they been doing it for awhile? I can't remember and my tablet isn't handy.

Nope, that is the same body he's had for the entirety of MTMTE

I think his head changed though. This one looks like the TR head. Others seemed much closer to his Generations fig.

I just scanned my comics I have here, that is the same head as he has had.

D-Maximus_Primal wrote:

Mr Skram wrote:

D-Maximus_Primal wrote:

Mr Skram wrote:Did they start drawing Brainstorm like his TR figure this issue or have they been doing it for awhile? I can't remember and my tablet isn't handy.

Nope, that is the same body he's had for the entirety of MTMTE

I think his head changed though. This one looks like the TR head. Others seemed much closer to his Generations fig.

I just scanned my comics I have here, that is the same head as he has had.

I guess the TR hype has been getting to me

Mr Skram wrote:

D-Maximus_Primal wrote:

Mr Skram wrote:

D-Maximus_Primal wrote:

Mr Skram wrote:Did they start drawing Brainstorm like his TR figure this issue or have they been doing it for awhile? I can't remember and my tablet isn't handy.

Nope, that is the same body he's had for the entirety of MTMTE

I think his head changed though. This one looks like the TR head. Others seemed much closer to his Generations fig.

I just scanned my comics I have here, that is the same head as he has had.

I guess the TR hype has been getting to me

Not you're fault. Can't blame you either!

Just read it, and well, didn't see that coming! These issues are just way too short. Luckily, MTMTE you can reread plenty and find new details or ways of looking at things.

Synopsis
THE DYING OF THE LIGHT part 4! Twilight’s last gleaming! The end is nigh. No chance of escape. No last-minute reprieve. But nothing loosens the tongue like imminent death, and the crew of the Lost Light use their final hours to say what—until now—was unsayable.



Story

The Light keeps dying, slowly, inexorably, irreparably, and we are witnesses to the events as they unfold, as James Roberts allows them to, and we are left without choice (other than not to read the story, of course) - in a manner very similar to the characters in this issue, faced with choices, the illusion of such, and a lot of emotions.



And with a lot of emotions, come a lot of storylines: we have Nightbeat's intrigue with the hollow planet, and his co-opting of Rung, we have whatever Minimus Ambus and Brainstorm are doing, we have Ratchet and Velocity, Nautica and her group, Chromedome recovering, Megatron being repaired, the DJD just waiting, Whirl and Cyclonus. I could go on.



Don't get me wrong, though, there are some stellar character moments for pretty much all of the cast members in the book. And it also manages to deal quite nicely, and deeply (and on multiple fronts) with big themes such as addiction, the overwhelming fears running through the whole cast of the issue, friendship and love, and the pain that the latter two can bring as side effects.



There's ..a lot in here. And not all of it necessarily meshes that well together. We see it in the opening preview, with Nautica's otherwise very touching moment as she sees the end coming - a moment which feels too short taken within the frame of the whole issue, and that is a real shame. But more below.

Art

Alex Milne is the main artist on the book, though the Whirl/Cyclonus sequence is actually the talented hands of Hayato Sakamoto, and it shows. Not just the parallels, but the issues that come across in the script in terms of pacing are visually redeemed (for me at least) by punching the 'meanwhile' technique is a truly spectacular way. And one panel, that one panel, THAT PANEL, is almost painful.



Joana Lafuente's gradual transition in colour palettes, from the arrival on the beautifully lit Necroworld to now



Tom B. Long takes the letters and makes sure we know exactly where to look, what to hear, and how loudly (or softly). In a text that so much unsaid finally spoken, the indication is needed, welcome, and part of the emotional package. The covers, on the other hand, do very little to hint at anything happening inside this book, though great they are! Priscilla Tramontano brings a much happier Swerve memory (thumbnail), as Josh Burcham and Sakamoto show off the threat that awaits, and Milne and Josh Perez look at that thread from our side of the fence.


Thoughts
Spoilerish ahead

Reader, I cried. Much like the issue in this series that provided the template for the culprit image, I felt the same build up on the page, in the characters, and inside my emotional chamber, as I was led to the resolution of that particular arc. It doesn't end there, of course, but if I have to talk about one moment, that is the one that stuck. The art, as I said above, is mostly to blame.



There are, I repeat here, some severe pacing issues, trying to fit in a number of personal narratives that just do not survive the composition, either coming across as rushed, disjointed or even shoehorned in - which the visuals do wonders with. It's a collection of character moments, beautiful, each unique in their own way, and well-done taken separately. But we need the climax. It is time.

Well, I was wrong about Dominus, but not really in an expected way. At least I was fairly close, him actually being there in the DJD. Also, that section with Dome and Rewind, that was the highlight of the issue. That was a great story part.

And oh yes, Maximus Ambus!!

Two thoughts:

Dominus as the first Vos/the Pet provides Tarn with a bit more motivation to do what he did to Kaon. It wasn't just the weakness of emotions a attachment, it was sympathy towards an Autobot.

I guess the last Scavengers story was some sort foreshadowing with the Roboids. I wonder if Demus learned his trade from the DJD?

Also, Skids was awful mopey this issue. Given the awkwardness between him and Rung after the amica endura ritual, do you think Skids proposed to Rung and got shot down?

I'm really not sure what to make of Skids and Rung.

Actually idea:

last issue, Rewind said that on cybertron, Amica endura is only when you cannot get a conjux endura, so it means you accept you will never get that "true love." maybe the implication is that Skids wanted a conjux, but now that Nautica has done the amica, he can no longer get that conjux, hence his displeasure.

D-Maximus_Primal wrote:I'm really not sure what to make of Skids and Rung.

Actually idea:

last issue, Rewind said that on cybertron, Amica endura is only when you cannot get a conjux endura, so it means you accept you will never get that "true love." maybe the implication is that Skids wanted a conjux, but now that Nautica has done the amica, he can no longer get that conjux, hence his displeasure.

Maybe...

I'll need to go panel-by-panel on Skids again, but let's not rule out that he might be sad on account of the whole "dying in an hour" thing :P

True, but the really awkward "see you later" with Rung rang some bells (hehe)

Wow, pacing issues is right.

The whole dominus thing was infuriating. Specifically, rewind nor chromedome consider that reversing the domestication might be the crew's only way offworld?

That whole moment felt really truncated considering it's gravity.

Ok I can understand IDW using fools energon in order to keep Megatons strength in check and even having Megatron renounce violence but he goes from one issue where hes ready to die and surrender himself to the DJD providing that they allow the autobots to go free very courageous if you ask me to the next issue have him repaired even remake his fusion cannon to only turn Megatron into a coward not willing to fight with his crew mates and ready to run with his tail between his legs so to speak honestly idw we finally have overlord and megatron in the same area and we won't get to see them battle it if ids was smart give him regular energon back his fusion cannon and the courage to stand with his shipmates instead of making him a coward megatron has never been a coward and has always faced threats no matter how great they were now idw wants us to believe he is a coward WHY

Now that you mention it, rice, that does irk me. I actually liked this issue a bit more than the previous few but I've been ready for this arc to be over for a long time.

I think my favorite thing is that Leader Magnus now scales a little better for my purposes.

ricemazter wrote:Wow, pacing issues is right.

The whole dominus thing was infuriating. Specifically, rewind nor chromedome consider that reversing the domestication might be the crew's only way offworld?

That whole moment felt really truncated considering it's gravity.

If the series had been cancelled abruptly, I'd understand this. As it is, with the whole mystery being resolved out of nowhere, I don't understand it.

Also, is Roberts giving Rodimus any redeeming qualities? He just seems to be a 2 dimensional douche bag in MTMTE. Pity.

Can anyone please answer why megatron goes from been courageous in one issue to being a coward in the next issue

Quint wrote:

ricemazter wrote:Wow, pacing issues is right.

The whole dominus thing was infuriating. Specifically, rewind nor chromedome consider that reversing the domestication might be the crew's only way offworld?

That whole moment felt really truncated considering it's gravity.

If the series had been cancelled abruptly, I'd understand this. As it is, with the whole mystery being resolved out of nowhere, I don't understand it.

Also, is Roberts giving Rodimus any redeeming qualities? He just seems to be a 2 dimensional douche bag in MTMTE. Pity.

I actually kind of like MTMTE rodimus. He isn't a squeaky clean kid who wants to do good for good's sake, at least not entirely. He wants to be a hero for all the wrong reasons. At least he's had a bit of development in refusing the list and apologizing to drift. Though I will agree that his making the same kind of mistakes has been going on since before the war ended when he let swindle ofall people get the best of him.

I really want a scene where he royally screws up and has Megatron of all people sit him down and tell him off. Megatron, I think has been a much better captain than rodimus.

I did enjoy the reveal, but I think I would've been more fond of it if it were split by a cliffhanger ending, giving me a month to stew on it, add gravity. (Of course, that wouldn't really work for the trades.) That's assuming Dom's definitely dead, though. It was a reasonably dramatic send-off, so I'll give it 75-25, in favor of him being dead.

I'm getting a vibe that Rod will come into his own after he squeezes through the Lost Light's transwarp mailbox and retakes the ship.

I really like third story, but man is it ever feeling rushed and condensed. Its really starting to ruin the story for me. I like what's going on, but it isn't enough.

The pacing issues were there, but I feel that had we still had the 22 page comics instead of 20, things might be a bit better. Just think about it: since the loss of 2 pages, we have had issues 39-53, which comes to 30 pages lost, more than a whole issue. Roberts even said that was a hindrance and a bother, and I can see why. it's like cutting the running time of a TV show from 22 minutes to 20, or a 45 minutes to 40. It really condenses and needs some sacrifice.

I'm also pretty sure Dom is not dead

I don't think Megatron is afraid of the DJD. I see megatron as being like a reformed Alcoholic. But in this case, it got to the point where he was addicted to the violence, to the killing, he did it because it was the only answer, and it was the only way he could succeed, this is what he pretty much said back in 49. Until eventually, as in back in the Dark Cybertron series, he remembered there were other ways, and he finally, finally, after millions of years and countless deaths, got back on the wagon. The entire galaxy can hate him all it wants, but he's at last at peace with himself and trying to do something worthwhile that doesn't involve murder. And now, the only answer that exists once again is to kill, and It terrifies him to no end. I can see what Roberts was getting at with him Rejecting the Fusion Cannon and opting to stay under the shield. In fact, I'm pretty sure next issue he's going to point out he didn't expect to survive his meeting with Tarn, and it would have been easier if he didn't.

It will be interesting to see how Roberts writes Megatron next issue. Whether Megatron sticks with flight, or goes to fight, it's going to define him.

Also, I'm pretty sure Nightbeat is going to determine something massive underneath the surface of the planet to tip the scales next issue. We know next issue is where it ends, and 55 is the aftermath. So yeah, can't wait. I've enjoyed this arc immensely, I'm just worried about who is, and who isn't, making it out next issue.

DaRonin wrote:I don't think Megatron is afraid of the DJD. I see megatron as being like a reformed Alcoholic. But in this case, it got to the point where he was addicted to the violence, to the killing, he did it because it was the only answer, and it was the only way he could succeed, this is what he pretty much said back in 49. Until eventually, as in back in the Dark Cybertron series, he remembered there were other ways, and he finally, finally, after millions of years and countless deaths, got back on the wagon. The entire galaxy can hate him all it wants, but he's at last at peace with himself and trying to do something worthwhile that doesn't involve murder. And now, the only answer that exists once again is to kill, and It terrifies him to no end. I can see what Roberts was getting at with him Rejecting the Fusion Cannon and opting to stay under the shield. In fact, I'm pretty sure next issue he's going to point out he didn't expect to survive his meeting with Tarn, and it would have been easier if he didn't.

It will be interesting to see how Roberts writes Megatron next issue. Whether Megatron sticks with flight, or goes to fight, it's going to define him.

Also, I'm pretty sure Nightbeat is going to determine something massive underneath the surface of the planet to tip the scales next issue. We know next issue is where it ends, and 55 is the aftermath. So yeah, can't wait. I've enjoyed this arc immensely, I'm just worried about who is, and who isn't, making it out next issue.

Very well said. I never had thought about it like this, but now I see it, and it makes sense and it is something Roberts would do

megatronpro1 wrote:Can anyone please answer why megatron goes from been courageous in one issue to being a coward in the next issue

He's afraid of who he used to be - that if he starts killing, he won't be able to stop again.

When it was just him facing Tarn, he was happy to let Tarn kill him without fighting back. The fact he's alone is an important part - he thought that by sacrificing himself he could save his comrades' lives without having to fight. That satisfies his desire to protect his comrades without forcing him to kill.

However, now Megatron would be alongside his Autobot comrades, a situation which would force him to fight and kill in their defense (which he is terrified of doing). Mentally, he's stuck between a rock and a hard place, and is choking up.

ricemazter wrote:

Quint wrote:

ricemazter wrote:Wow, pacing issues is right.

The whole dominus thing was infuriating. Specifically, rewind nor chromedome consider that reversing the domestication might be the crew's only way offworld?

That whole moment felt really truncated considering it's gravity.

If the series had been cancelled abruptly, I'd understand this. As it is, with the whole mystery being resolved out of nowhere, I don't understand it.

Also, is Roberts giving Rodimus any redeeming qualities? He just seems to be a 2 dimensional douche bag in MTMTE. Pity.

I actually kind of like MTMTE rodimus. He isn't a squeaky clean kid who wants to do good for good's sake, at least not entirely. He wants to be a hero for all the wrong reasons. At least he's had a bit of development in refusing the list and apologizing to drift. Though I will agree that his making the same kind of mistakes has been going on since before the war ended when he let swindle ofall people get the best of him.

I really want a scene where he royally screws up and has Megatron of all people sit him down and tell him off. Megatron, I think has been a much better captain than rodimus.

I know what you mean about liking his faults, I once thought the same.

Rung working out that Rodimus was only lamenting the fact it wasn't him who saved the day in the aftermath of the Overlord battle was rather complex.

Prime lambasting him for invoking the crisis of command vote for his own ego, rather than morality. That was fascinating too.

Yet the character is caught in something of a flatline. Which makes sense for a "Turbo revvin young punk" who is in fact 4 million years old, I suppose...

Also, apologies if someone has mentioned this already:

Minimus. Dominus. Spark brothers. One is a minesweeper. The other a feline. Hm. Ok.

Quint wrote:

ricemazter wrote:

Quint wrote:

ricemazter wrote:Wow, pacing issues is right.

The whole dominus thing was infuriating. Specifically, rewind nor chromedome consider that reversing the domestication might be the crew's only way offworld?

That whole moment felt really truncated considering it's gravity.

If the series had been cancelled abruptly, I'd understand this. As it is, with the whole mystery being resolved out of nowhere, I don't understand it.

Also, is Roberts giving Rodimus any redeeming qualities? He just seems to be a 2 dimensional douche bag in MTMTE. Pity.

I actually kind of like MTMTE rodimus. He isn't a squeaky clean kid who wants to do good for good's sake, at least not entirely. He wants to be a hero for all the wrong reasons. At least he's had a bit of development in refusing the list and apologizing to drift. Though I will agree that his making the same kind of mistakes has been going on since before the war ended when he let swindle ofall people get the best of him.

I really want a scene where he royally screws up and has Megatron of all people sit him down and tell him off. Megatron, I think has been a much better captain than rodimus.

I know what you mean about liking his faults, I once thought the same.

Rung working out that Rodimus was only lamenting the fact it wasn't him who saved the day in the aftermath of the Overlord battle was rather complex.

Prime lambasting him for invoking the crisis of command vote for his own ego, rather than morality. That was fascinating too.

Yet the character is caught in something of a flatline. Which makes sense for a "Turbo revvin young punk" who is in fact 4 million years old, I suppose...

Also, apologies if someone has mentioned this already:

Minimus. Dominus. Spark brothers. One is a minesweeper. The other a feline. Hm. Ok.

Being spark brothers doesn't necessarily mean that your alt-modes are the same. Needlenose and Tracks are an example of that.

Also, we saw Minimus turn into a minesweeper in the alternate timeline, but that was in his armor. Dominus' armored form looked rather similar, rather than having the turbofox kibble of his "irreducible" form. It's possible that Minimus' smallest form may have a different alt-mode.

RevTibe wrote:

megatronpro1 wrote:Can anyone please answer why megatron goes from been courageous in one issue to being a coward in the next issue

He's afraid of who he used to be - that if he starts killing, he won't be able to stop again.

When it was just him facing Tarn, he was happy to let Tarn kill him without fighting back. The fact he's alone is an important part - he thought that by sacrificing himself he could save his comrades' lives without having to fight. That satisfies his desire to protect his comrades without forcing him to kill.

However, now Megatron would be alongside his Autobot comrades, a situation which would force him to fight and kill in their defense (which he is terrified of doing). Mentally, he's stuck between a rock and a hard place, and is choking up.

This helps me like Megatron in this issue a little more - I'm kind of ready for him to strap on the fusion cannon, chomp on some energon flowers, and beat some ass, but wouldn't be consistent with his development.

Rodimus, now, I think is awesome. I mean, it's awesome how Roberts is developing him. He's kind of a jerk, but not a Getaway jerk, and it's always up in the air just how much he deserves what he gets - he's clearly goodhearted, but it competes with his ego. Not too different from a lot of famous personalities.

So is it safe to say at this point tarn's probably roller?

SW's SilverHammer wrote:So is it safe to say at this point tarn's probably roller?

Randomhero will tell you Proteus, but considering Dom is now out of the running, Roller is the most obvious and (except for Proteus, which I really don't see) probably the only option

D-Maximus_Primal wrote:

SW's SilverHammer wrote:So is it safe to say at this point tarn's probably roller?

Randomhero will tell you Proteus, but considering Dom is now out of the running, Roller is the most obvious and (except for Proteus, which I really don't see) probably the only option

Do Barber and Roberts keep the characters and stories totally separate and independent of each other? It's not possible that it could be any character (Nova Prime?) from the other ongoing series, in a sort-of in-house crossover?

Rodimus Prime wrote:

D-Maximus_Primal wrote:

SW's SilverHammer wrote:So is it safe to say at this point tarn's probably roller?

Randomhero will tell you Proteus, but considering Dom is now out of the running, Roller is the most obvious and (except for Proteus, which I really don't see) probably the only option

Do Barber and Roberts keep the characters and stories totally separate and independent of each other? It's not possible that it could be any character (Nova Prime?) from the other ongoing series, in a sort-of in-house crossover?

They are definitely not independent of each other, though MTMTE tends to be (in-universe) a little behind what happens in The Transformers. Or has been, for Combiner Wars, may be catching up soon.

graham29 wrote:This is looking hopeless and the more I try to figure out how it might play out the less I have any idea of where it might go... And that bring my attention to the organics. "Nautica's checking on the organics." There have been little things here and there in the last few issues mentioning that gear symbol that seems on the back burner. Megatron decided to stay to protect them. We saw other pods recently. Censerre seems to have some connection to the operation. If he interfered with the message to the Lost Light, did he have time to contact anyone else? I'm really starting to wonder who ever they are could be on their way to check in their project and maybe that's the deus ex machina (HA!) this story clearly needs for the heroes to survive. And it seems like maybe it's time after fifty plus issues that the underlying quest start to come more to the forefront.

I think there's something to this thought. There's something bigger, and possibly sinister going on outside of the DJD vs Lost Light/Megatron conflict and Optimus' crew vs. Galvatron's crew and Wreckers vs Anyone and Scott Starscream vs. The World, yet here these Transformers are, fighting among themselves. Like always. In the past, that messed up parts of the galaxy pretty badly, but maybe now, the galaxy's getting ready to fight back. All I can think of is MTMTE 34 where there's a space battle going on above Ofsted, and two of the sides fighting aren't Cybertronian

Dare I dream that this leads to some resolution for Spotlights Cliffjumper and Wheelie?

DaRonin wrote:I don't think Megatron is afraid of the DJD. I see megatron as being like a reformed Alcoholic. But in this case, it got to the point where he was addicted to the violence, to the killing, he did it because it was the only answer, and it was the only way he could succeed, this is what he pretty much said back in 49. Until eventually, as in back in the Dark Cybertron series, he remembered there were other ways, and he finally, finally, after millions of years and countless deaths, got back on the wagon. The entire galaxy can hate him all it wants, but he's at last at peace with himself and trying to do something worthwhile that doesn't involve murder. And now, the only answer that exists once again is to kill, and It terrifies him to no end. I can see what Roberts was getting at with him Rejecting the Fusion Cannon and opting to stay under the shield. In fact, I'm pretty sure next issue he's going to point out he didn't expect to survive his meeting with Tarn, and it would have been easier if he didn't.

It will be interesting to see how Roberts writes Megatron next issue. Whether Megatron sticks with flight, or goes to fight, it's going to define him.

Also, I'm pretty sure Nightbeat is going to determine something massive underneath the surface of the planet to tip the scales next issue. We know next issue is where it ends, and 55 is the aftermath. So yeah, can't wait. I've enjoyed this arc immensely, I'm just worried about who is, and who isn't, making it out next issue.

I accidentally just typed up something like that for Megatron in the Twincast 144 thread before I read this. Completely agreed on both points here. Megatron's decision here, while initially shocking, quickly made sense after giving it some thought. I found it consistent with his increasingly Zeta Gundam era Char Aznable-like nature. That is, he wants to find some absolution and atonement for his previous actions, but isn't quite prepared to actually do anything to get it at this point. He's cleaning up his act but still being selfish, and maybe this leads to him getting the justice that a lot of bots feel he deserves.

And yes, bad things just follow Nightbeat. Something's gonna happen down there. Maybe we could even say heads will roll?

Also copying through my Twincast comment, to echo these posts above:

I don't think the suggestion of 'get off the stuff and fight' is supposed to be the 'good side' of the discussion. As Counterpunch suggests, that is what a lot of people on medication do have to live with and struggle through, and the comics are reflecting that context (and we've seen how Rodimus just does not get sympathy in these cases, just look at MTMTE 53 with Chromedome - Rewind is spot on). Comments on Megatron's cowardice are more out of place, I feel, than using the themes in the story.

Unless, of course, there's a cop-out solution in #54-5-6 - cover for 55 would seem to say no, but y'know.

Dr Va'al wrote:Also copying through my Twincast comment, to echo these posts above:

I don't think the suggestion of 'get off the stuff and fight' is supposed to be the 'good side' of the discussion. As Counterpunch suggests, that is what a lot of people on medication do have to live with and struggle through, and the comics are reflecting that context (and we've seen how Rodimus just does not get sympathy in these cases, just look at MTMTE 53 with Chromedome - Rewind is spot on). Comments on Megatron's cowardice are more out of place, I feel, than using the themes in the story.

Unless, of course, there's a cop-out solution in #54-5-6 - cover for 55 would seem to say no, but y'know.

No. Megatron is being a coward. This is no longer a grey issue. It has become as black and white as black and white gets. It is literally a life or death issue and multiple lives are on the line. Megatron has the power to save them, but he is choosing not to because reasons. That is cowardly, and I have no sympathy or tolerance for it, real life or story. Life is a bitch, sometimes you have to rise above your personal issues and struggles, and man the fuck up, no excuses. It sucks, but there you go. Life.

Megatron chose to run from the fight, to let othere die. In this senario, that makes him a coward.


There are times for dealing with your stuff, this isn't one of them.

Ironhidensh wrote:

Dr Va'al wrote:Also copying through my Twincast comment, to echo these posts above:

I don't think the suggestion of 'get off the stuff and fight' is supposed to be the 'good side' of the discussion. As Counterpunch suggests, that is what a lot of people on medication do have to live with and struggle through, and the comics are reflecting that context (and we've seen how Rodimus just does not get sympathy in these cases, just look at MTMTE 53 with Chromedome - Rewind is spot on). Comments on Megatron's cowardice are more out of place, I feel, than using the themes in the story.

Unless, of course, there's a cop-out solution in #54-5-6 - cover for 55 would seem to say no, but y'know.

No. Megatron is being a coward. This is no longer a grey issue. It has become as black and white as black and white gets. It is literally a life or death issue and multiple lives are on the line. Megatron has the power to save them, but he is choosing not to because reasons. That is cowardly, and I have no sympathy or tolerance for it, real life or story. Life is a bitch, sometimes you have to rise above your personal issues and struggles, and man the **** up, no excuses. It sucks, but there you go. Life.

Megatron chose to run from the fight, to let othere die. In this senario, that makes him a coward.


There are times for dealing with your stuff, this isn't one of them.

Maybe, but I'm thinking he knows something they don't. The secret location of this arc's Macguffin.

Ironhidensh wrote:

Dr Va'al wrote:Also copying through my Twincast comment, to echo these posts above:

I don't think the suggestion of 'get off the stuff and fight' is supposed to be the 'good side' of the discussion. As Counterpunch suggests, that is what a lot of people on medication do have to live with and struggle through, and the comics are reflecting that context (and we've seen how Rodimus just does not get sympathy in these cases, just look at MTMTE 53 with Chromedome - Rewind is spot on). Comments on Megatron's cowardice are more out of place, I feel, than using the themes in the story.

Unless, of course, there's a cop-out solution in #54-5-6 - cover for 55 would seem to say no, but y'know.

No. Megatron is being a coward. This is no longer a grey issue. It has become as black and white as black and white gets. It is literally a life or death issue and multiple lives are on the line. Megatron has the power to save them, but he is choosing not to because reasons. That is cowardly, and I have no sympathy or tolerance for it, real life or story. Life is a bitch, sometimes you have to rise above your personal issues and struggles, and man the **** up, no excuses. It sucks, but there you go. Life.

Megatron chose to run from the fight, to let othere die. In this senario, that makes him a coward.


There are times for dealing with your stuff, this isn't one of them.

I could write a lengthy post listing the reasons why I disagree, but it would do nothing. So I'll just say that I disagree, strongly.

Dr Va'al wrote:

Ironhidensh wrote:

Dr Va'al wrote:Also copying through my Twincast comment, to echo these posts above:

I don't think the suggestion of 'get off the stuff and fight' is supposed to be the 'good side' of the discussion. As Counterpunch suggests, that is what a lot of people on medication do have to live with and struggle through, and the comics are reflecting that context (and we've seen how Rodimus just does not get sympathy in these cases, just look at MTMTE 53 with Chromedome - Rewind is spot on). Comments on Megatron's cowardice are more out of place, I feel, than using the themes in the story.

Unless, of course, there's a cop-out solution in #54-5-6 - cover for 55 would seem to say no, but y'know.

No. Megatron is being a coward. This is no longer a grey issue. It has become as black and white as black and white gets. It is literally a life or death issue and multiple lives are on the line. Megatron has the power to save them, but he is choosing not to because reasons. That is cowardly, and I have no sympathy or tolerance for it, real life or story. Life is a bitch, sometimes you have to rise above your personal issues and struggles, and man the **** up, no excuses. It sucks, but there you go. Life.

Megatron chose to run from the fight, to let othere die. In this senario, that makes him a coward.


There are times for dealing with your stuff, this isn't one of them.

I could write a lengthy post listing the reasons why I disagree, but it would do nothing. So I'll just say that I disagree, strongly.

Normaly, I'd agree with your previous statements, but I don't believe it's ever justified risk other lives/let others die because of our personal demons.

Sorry for the double post, hit submit too soon.

The problem is the writers are trying to convey a real world struggle in a very out of context situation. I get your point, I really do, and in 99.9% of situations, you'd be right.

This is that .1% situation. One that I can't see ever happening in the real world, to be sure. The writers choose bad context to convey this metaphor.

Dr Va'al wrote:I could write a lengthy post listing the reasons why I disagree, but it would do nothing. So I'll just say that I disagree, strongly.

So are you saying you have no argument? You're just disagreeing for the sake of disagreeing? Just because your opinion differs from others' that doesn't make it invalid, so you should state it, and not just drop in passive-aggressive statements like you just did. If you truly believe it would do nothing, you shouldn't bring it up in the 1st place.

Rodimus Prime wrote:

Dr Va'al wrote:I could write a lengthy post listing the reasons why I disagree, but it would do nothing. So I'll just say that I disagree, strongly.

So are you saying you have no argument? You're just disagreeing for the sake of disagreeing? Just because your opinion differs from others' that doesn't make it invalid, so you should state it, and not just drop in passive-aggressive statements like you just did. If you truly believe it would do nothing, you shouldn't bring it up in the 1st place.

Not the case at all: we're simply going to keep disagreeing as we have differing opinions on the matter. I don't want to get stuck in loop, so I just state that I disagree. I wasn't trying to be passive aggressive, I apologise if that's how it came across!

Dr Va'al wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:

Dr Va'al wrote:I could write a lengthy post listing the reasons why I disagree, but it would do nothing. So I'll just say that I disagree, strongly.

So are you saying you have no argument? You're just disagreeing for the sake of disagreeing? Just because your opinion differs from others' that doesn't make it invalid, so you should state it, and not just drop in passive-aggressive statements like you just did. If you truly believe it would do nothing, you shouldn't bring it up in the 1st place.

Not the case at all: we're simply going to keep disagreeing as we have differing opinions on the matter. I don't want to get stuck in loop, so I just state that I disagree. I wasn't trying to be passive aggressive, I apologise if that's how it came across!

Yeah, a bit. Kinda like "You're wrong, but I'm not gonna tell you why!" That's why I said at least state some reasons. And maybe I was a bit harsh as well. I made the post at the end of a stressful workday, and I had some steam to blow off. Your post just happened to be the 1st I felt I should respond to. Sorry.

As for the point made by Ironhidensh, I'm kinda split on it. I understand what he's saying, and I have to agree that in certain situations personal conflict should be set aside in order to prevent harm to others, but at the same time I am also trying really hard to view this from Megatron's point of view, and try to apply his reasoning. Taking that into account, along with the aforementioned analogy to alcoholism, I think Megatron faces a damn difficult choice and situation. Does he give up whatever measure of integrity and inner peace he was granted byt his renouncement of violence in order to protect those he is able to protect? Or is this a case where doing nothing is the same as being responsible for the Autobots' deaths? I believe the Autobots are just as responsible for being in this situation as Megatron is, they became responsible the moment they accepted Megatron into their ranks. My interpretation is that the choice Megatron must make is does he destroy his own peace of mind and spark in order to possibly save other lives? I say possibly because even if he picks up the fusion cannon, it doesn't guarantee automatic victory. He can still fail in defeating Tarn, (highly unlikely, but not impossible) and have nothing left at the end, as he sacrifices his minuscule self-respect and dignity to return to being a killer. I think he views what he has now as his 1 big chance at a somewhat normal life, and he can't decide what it is exactly worth to him. Is it worth the lives of others, whether innocent or not? I'm really, REALLY interested in finding out how this end. And of course, WHO THE HELL TARN IS.

P.S. I was really hoping Megatron would become a sort of cranky old uncle/grandpa type to Rodimus. They could have had a fun dynamic. But using Megatron as comic relief is just...weird. He is a mass-murderer after all.