iTunes Preview for IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12

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.

Ironhidensh wrote:

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.

Yeah it’s popped up a couple times. Elegant chaos and when tailgate and Getaway used him as a fishing boat

Randomhero wrote:

Ironhidensh wrote:

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.

Yeah it’s popped up a couple times. Elegant chaos and when tailgate and Getaway used him as a fishing boat

Ah, right. That latter one feels like it'll come up again now as well. Thanks to you both!

Atomizer suddenly remembers that he's an Autobot, and not one of the immoral ones who I don't understand why they were Autobots in the first place.

I really don't understand why Roberts went with the whole Getaway is wrong and unredeemable instead of...well the far more interesting way of Getaway having an actual point because up till recently he did have one with Rodimus being a horrible Captain (And just a horrible'y written character who tends to forget about character development) and Megatron just being off the hook basically and becoming one of the captains of the ship. (I like Megatron's story on the Lost Light or at least most of it)

It be nice to have an Antagonist who wasn't just evil with little else going for them (Overlord, Tyrest, Star Saber, DjD, Froid, etc)

At least these last few issues have been better then that bore that was most of Lost Light prior to returning to well the Lost Light.

Deadput wrote:Atomizer suddenly remembers that he's an Autobot, and not one of the immoral ones who I don't understand why they were Autobots in the first place.

I really don't understand why Roberts went with the whole Getaway is wrong and unredeemable instead of...well the far more interesting way of Getaway having an actual point because up till recently he did have one with Rodimus being a horrible Captain (And just a horrible'y written character who tends to forget about character development) and Megatron just being off the hook basically and becoming one of the captains of the ship. (I like Megatron's story on the Lost Light or at least most of it)

It be nice to have an Antagonist who wasn't just evil with little else going for them (Overlord, Tyrest, Star Saber, DjD, Froid, etc)

At least these last few issues have been better then that bore that was most of Lost Light prior to returning to well the Lost Light.

I wouldn’t go as far as to say he’s remembered he’s an autobot. They’re all autobots. IDW autobots are so grey morally ambiguous anymore. He’s just remembered he has a conscience...but he still participated in killing 25 autobots. Safe to assume they were all made up autobots for right now since we’ve seen almost all the famous bots on board

Randomhero wrote:I wouldn’t go as far as to say he’s remembered he’s an autobot. They’re all autobots. IDW autobots are so grey morally ambiguous anymore. He’s just remembered he has a conscience...but he still participated in killing 25 autobots. Safe to assume they were all made up autobots for right now since we’ve seen almost all the famous bots on board

Oh yeah I almost forgot about the biggest flaw of IDW, Almost every Autobot is so bloody emotionally bland with all the moody gray.

It's rare to see Autobots being actual Autobots even Optimus who so happens to be less moral then the Bay films guy. (And I love the Bay films but I know how much Optimus can get)

Anyways their clearly setting up Atomizer to turn on Getaway.

Deadput wrote:

Randomhero wrote:I wouldn’t go as far as to say he’s remembered he’s an autobot. They’re all autobots. IDW autobots are so grey morally ambiguous anymore. He’s just remembered he has a conscience...but he still participated in killing 25 autobots. Safe to assume they were all made up autobots for right now since we’ve seen almost all the famous bots on board

Oh yeah I almost forgot about the biggest flaw of IDW, Almost every Autobot is so bloody emotionally bland with all the moody gray.

It's rare to see Autobots being actual Autobots even Optimus who so happens to be less moral then the Bay films guy. (And I love the Bay films but I know how much Optimus can get)

Anyways their clearly setting up Atomizer to turn on Getaway.

Eh, I kind of like that the Autobots in IDW have their own foibles and gray areas. A lot if that, I think, owes to the writing in IDW where it seems the vast majority of Autobots joined because a) they saw that the Decepticons were going to be a problem, b) benefited under Cybertron's pre-war society and didn't want to see that go up in smoke or knew the Decepticons would be coming for them, or c) were literally born into war like Getaway.

I like that a lot if them don't necessarily agree with Optimus 100 percent of the time and don't have a high opinion of organics because why would they?

If there's one big issue I have with IDW at the moment it's that they didn't fully explore post-war reconciliation before sort of dropping it. Like, there are countless Autobots and Decepticons who, as MTOs, were brought online specifically to fight a war they didn't have a steak in. The idea that most of them are just fine with that and don't have some serious complaints about the ethics of their situation is crazy.

Deadput wrote:Atomizer suddenly remembers that he's an Autobot, and not one of the immoral ones who I don't understand why they were Autobots in the first place.

I really don't understand why Roberts went with the whole Getaway is wrong and unredeemable instead of...well the far more interesting way of Getaway having an actual point because up till recently he did have one with Rodimus being a horrible Captain (And just a horrible'y written character who tends to forget about character development) and Megatron just being off the hook basically and becoming one of the captains of the ship. (I like Megatron's story on the Lost Light or at least most of it)

It be nice to have an Antagonist who wasn't just evil with little else going for them (Overlord, Tyrest, Star Saber, DjD, Froid, etc)

At least these last few issues have been better then that bore that was most of Lost Light prior to returning to well the Lost Light.

Here's the thing, though: Getaway has never been a good guy. He was planning the mutiny since back before Megatron ever got on the ship. He didn't actually care about Megatron not getting punished for his crimes, it just made a useful tool to sway others to his cause.

Daniel Adkins wrote:Here's the thing, though: Getaway has never been a good guy. He was planning the mutiny since back before Megatron ever got on the ship. He didn't actually care about Megatron not getting punished for his crimes, it just made a useful tool to sway others to his cause.

Yeah that's the case now that we have more information but before then we had no idea, the comic did not show how evil Getaway was...why is he even an Autobot in the first place?

Prowl's a prick but at the very least he does the things he does because he is trying to make everything better, Getaway is just a scumbag which sucks for me because I really like Getaway years ago...now that I think about it I have no idea why he was just another car Autobot who so happen to die a lot in comics.

ricemazter wrote:
Eh, I kind of like that the Autobots in IDW have their own foibles and gray areas. A lot if that, I think, owes to the writing in IDW where it seems the vast majority of Autobots joined because a) they saw that the Decepticons were going to be a problem, b) benefited under Cybertron's pre-war society and didn't want to see that go up in smoke or knew the Decepticons would be coming for them, or c) were literally born into war like Getaway.

I like that a lot if them don't necessarily agree with Optimus 100 percent of the time and don't have a high opinion of organics because why would they?

If there's one big issue I have with IDW at the moment it's that they didn't fully explore post-war reconciliation before sort of dropping it. Like, there are countless Autobots and Decepticons who, as MTOs, were brought online specifically to fight a war they didn't have a steak in. The idea that most of them are just fine with that and don't have some serious complaints about the ethics of their situation is crazy.

Here is the thing I don't mind grey Autobots at all...when their the few exceptions and not the majority of the entire faction but at the very least people like Jazz and Bumblebee should not be like that at all.

And especially not god damn Optimus Prime who is slowly becoming even more like scum and that really should never be the case, he is a worse Optimus then people think Bayverse Prime is, you also don't need most of the Autobots to be immoral to question Prime there are other ways you can have characters question him.


Transformers does not work as a grey vs grey franchise and it never will, I really wish comics would stop making everything so damn nitty gritty and dark these days because when it's the main thing and not the occasional it becomes depressing and why the hell would I want to feel constantly depressed while reading the comics?

It's like if all I ever ate for snacks was dark chocolate it becomes boring every once in awhile, eventually I'm gonna want skittles or something.

It's why I probably enjoy the Nu Rid show a lot more then I normally would have.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the Autobots having a dark side. In war there’s so such thing as pure good vs pure evil. Hell, during WWII the allied sides tried some weird stuff during the war. Trying to make incendiary bat to bomb japan, trying to paint dogs with glow in the dark paint and releasing them in Japan as a form of psychological warfare etc.

I do however think Roberts does maybe emphasize too much on the bad sides of the Autobots though.

Deadput wrote:And especially not god damn Optimus Prime who is slowly becoming even more like scum and that really should never be the case, he is a worse Optimus then people think Bayverse Prime is, you also don't need most of the Autobots to be immoral to question Prime there are other ways you can have characters question him.

I kinda find it interesting that, as Megatron tries so hard to do good, Optimus Prime is finding his principles more compromised. Their roles are reversing--a little abruptly for Megatron, but far slower and more nuanced, more natural, for Prime.

Randomhero wrote:I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the Autobots having a dark side. In war there’s so such thing as pure good vs pure evil. Hell, during WWII the allied sides tried some weird stuff during the war. Trying to make incendiary bat to bomb japan, trying to paint dogs with glow in the dark paint and releasing them in Japan as a form of psychological warfare etc.

I do however think Roberts does maybe emphasize too much on the bad sides of the Autobots though.

This is not real life though it's a fictional comic meant for entertainment if I wanted a realistic war I would go watch all of the depressing and soul killing documentations about all the human wars

It's bloody boring now just like how unoriginal it is that every other Prime besides Optimus (And in IDW he's just barley better) is evil which kinda makes the Primes a plot whole since their apparently supposed to be the "greatest" of them all.

I loved stories like Last Stand of The Wreckers but in that story the darkness of the story served a purpose and we loved it so much for plenty of reasons one of them being how refreshing it was to see a darker take of the Transformers but IDW has taken that aspect and run it into the ground and made it the only thing the IDW universe is anymore.

The Darkness of a story should only be occasional and not the whole thing, remember how horrifying it was to see Blurr's fate in Transformers Animated even if it was retconned later? That would not have been as effective if the story wasn't so light hearted most of the time before hand.

Dark chocolate is a snack not a whole meal if that makes any sense.

Blozor wrote:

Deadput wrote:And especially not god damn Optimus Prime who is slowly becoming even more like scum and that really should never be the case, he is a worse Optimus then people think Bayverse Prime is, you also don't need most of the Autobots to be immoral to question Prime there are other ways you can have characters question him.

I kinda find it interesting that, as Megatron tries so hard to do good, Optimus Prime is finding his principles more compromised. Their roles are reversing--a little abruptly for Megatron, but far slower and more nuanced, more natural, for Prime.

The concept of the idea is a good one but the execution on the other hand is not that great.

Overall Optimus Prime in idw has been at his best when he's not Optimus Prime but the two times he was Orion Pax.

This may be one of the biggest spoiler previews I've seen to date. Come on guys, you can do better than this. The Riptide moment was the big one of the previous issue, to spoil it like this.....

Ebonyleopard wrote:This may be one of the biggest spoiler previews I've seen to date. Come on guys, you can do better than this. The Riptide moment was the big one of the previous issue, to spoil it like this.....

The previews are indeed a giant spoiler for the trade readers, rather than month-to-month followers, that much is true. However, that has also always been the case.

After the Twincast Podcast Mainframes episode in which we spent over an hour talking about a number of elements present in IDW Publishing's Transformers: Lost Light #11.. the full preview for the final chapter in the Mutineers' Trilogy (LOst Light #12) already negates at least three of our major speculation points!

You can check out the preview below, and let us know what you think of the arc so far in the Energon Pub discussion boards.

Transformers: Lost Light #12—Cover A: Jack Lawrence
James Roberts (w) • Jack Lawrence (a & c)
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.
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:
Variant cover by Livio Ramondelli!

so excited

Synopsis
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.



Story

This week, we return to the Lost Light, and look at the ever-eventful continuations of the horrors contained within the mind, actions and direct respondents of one ship's new self-appointed captain. Welcome back to Getaway, Atomizer, and the Plotters' Club in the conclusion to the Mutineers' Trilogy - Lost Light #12. And, I feel the need to proceed with caution here, as I have yet to make my mind up about the issue. Bear with me.



Looking at the things that work, then: the interlude and the main story, taken as their own beasts, are good frames within which the two threads operate, with a connection (or several, but one in particular) that is as obvious as it is likely to miss with everything else happening. They also both nicely set-up some more world-work that we are bound to see soon. Also, First Aid continues to delight, and the action sequences are, on the whole, placed down nicely.



Which leads me to the main concern: pacing. I've discussed this with staff, and there are wildly differing views, of no help at all, that the sequences are running to fast, too disconnected, and trying to gather together too many yarns and making a big knot out of them than a tapestry. There is undoubtedly a lot going on in the issue, and I feel like you can take that one way or another entirely, without necessarily discrediting the opposite view.



The better comments to reconcile the two parts of my appreciation for the book do not find their place in this review, for the simple reason that they are entirely based on the latter part of the book, and I do not wish to simply discuss plot. My concerns with pacing remain, however, and I will add a couple of extra, more potentially spoilery notes in the section at the end of this piece.


Art

The art on the issue is in the hands of two different artists, for a very specific in-plot reason too: Jack Lawrence on the main frame, and Andrew Griffith on the interlude section featuring the return of a fair number of characters. And where the first has no real criticisms from me, the latter's linework felt oddly out of place, compared to track record: it may have been just an issue of time, it may be the contrast between two very different styles, but it stood out in not the most positive of ways - that said, the layouts are excellent, and the scenes do play out well, the issue is almost entirely with the details.



Lending fuel to the idea that there may have been a time-constraint element to the issue's production, there are three colourists to look at for the art: Joana Lafuente, Priscilla Tramontano, JP Bove. The major contrast is only really to be found in the interlude vs main story, but even there something wasn't entirely in sync between lines and colours, and perhaps a darker palette on the Lost Light scenes may have helped consolidate some of the moments we're witnessing - though the hangar scenes looked really quite apt.



The lettering by Tom B. Long has some really nice moments, scattered through the book, that play with the more humorous moments (dark humour, at that) and the more action-heavy scenes, and never feel out of place - the dialogue is heavy, not helping with the density of the script, but placing flows well in the panels. The cover I thought most worked for this review is the Alex Milne/Josh Perez moment of frustrated anger (nicely cut at the thigh, too), but the other two main variants are definitely worth their presence, and the Ramondelli Megatron companion to the Optimus Prime one in a previous comic is nice enough as an RI. You can, of course, see them all in our database entry here.

Thoughts
Spoilerish ahead

I haven't shied away in previous reviews and general comments on the series (and this arc specifically) from expressing my dislike of how plots are created and made to work - especially with some of the character build-ups (except for First Aid and Atomizer), and the over-the-top rounding off of Getaway after issue #10. That said, and as ScottyP reminded me in the email discussion we had, liking or disliking the story valid criticism is not.



I, personally, cannot say I enjoyed the issue that much at all, but I recognise that point as extremely valid. So here is my critical thought on the issue: it is dense, definitely so, and the pacing is very very rushed but that may be exactly what it is supposed to do - except.. the problems with the visual side of things drag this down further for me, and I really want to know what happened.

The action-packed sequences on the Lost Light mirror the action of the interlude, with two different feelings of horror and frustration, seen from two very different perspectives, but not well executed enough to fully land, for me. As a whole, where this is most definitely not a book for an entry level reader, longtime followers may equally react very well or very poorly to the story, depending on your interest in the wider picture versus the more immediate character and plot work of the arc. Your Mileage May (Very Much) Vary.






Bonus content: Official Music Recommendations

I was MAJORLY disappointed in this story. Mostly for all the grisly murders that took place. I mean, come ON. Mirage is bisected, Rook and nearly all the Protectobots are gunned down and likely dead. So that means Defensor is essentially dead. My favorite combiner shows up for all of two seconds and is taken out like a cheap tin can by mother-effing Star Saber? I have to agree with you somewhat on the story being dense. The thing is, it didn't need to be. I really could have done without the interlude. The art does look rushed, and the entire interlude takes away from what could have been a more dramatic death for Defensor and the Protectobots. They could have fought back, or at least have been seen doing so, but instead, what we get is the Bad News Bears version of the Decepticons (Scavengers) being oh so goofy and hiiiiilaaaaarious. It does a disservice to those killed to make their deaths so quick and cheap.

Honestly, I think this may be my jumping off point for Lost Light. It's going for shock value and plot-driven arcs over actual character development. When Skids died, it meant something. It felt devastating. The deaths in this issue felt cheap, tacky and gory, to a point. Nautica was ruined as a character for me after her actions on Troja Major. Anode's introduction was annoying as hell, and while she has vaguely mellowed as a character and become less annoying, she still grates on my nerves. There's nothing redeeming about this book anymore. I wish IDW had kept TAAO instead of this off-the-rails mess that is being passed off as a "fan-favorite". I'm going to unsubscribe right now.

I don't mind the violence or the gore - that was not my issue, at all.
It's not the first time we see it, for example, and as I say in the review, not liking how violent it is does not mean the story is bad.

On the density, yes. That was not well done, in my opinion.

But the biggest offender, to me, personally? Riptide's 'you're too dumb to be affected by this weapon'. It felt like a cheap shot, and not entirely sure where it fits with the otherwise flawed but empathetic messages of the book.

I stopped reading this title about 6 issues ago and at least the last 10 I read before giving up were a painfu slog at best. Glad I stopped before this rag dumps all over the memory of what a geat comic this once was.

Va'al wrote:I don't mind the violence or the gore - that was not my issue, at all.
It's not the first time we see it, for example, and as I say in the review, not liking how violent it is does not mean the story is bad.

On the density, yes. That was not well done, in my opinion.

But the biggest offender, to me, personally? Riptide's 'you're too dumb to be affected by this weapon'. It felt like a cheap shot, and not entirely sure where it fits with the otherwise flawed but empathetic messages of the book.

While I agree with you on the cheap shot towards Riptide, I feel like the whole "reintroduce the Protectobots/Defensor and Mirage, only to slaughter them two issues later to move the plot forward" was the cheapest of shots. This story (and sadly, now this book) just has soured me on wanting to read Roberts' work again. He cheapens characters' deaths for shock value and plot points.

And another thing, why the HELL would Star Saber help Getaway with ANYTHING, seeing as how Getaway was locked up by Tyrest at one point?

I’m sorry Riptide you’re too stupid for a nudge gun...HOWEVER you are smart enough to wake someone up from a complex memeory looped Induced coma.

This was awful

Bounti76 wrote:

Va'al wrote:I don't mind the violence or the gore - that was not my issue, at all.
It's not the first time we see it, for example, and as I say in the review, not liking how violent it is does not mean the story is bad.

On the density, yes. That was not well done, in my opinion.

But the biggest offender, to me, personally? Riptide's 'you're too dumb to be affected by this weapon'. It felt like a cheap shot, and not entirely sure where it fits with the otherwise flawed but empathetic messages of the book.

While I agree with you on the cheap shot towards Riptide, I feel like the whole "reintroduce the Protectobots/Defensor and Mirage, only to slaughter them two issues later to move the plot forward" was the cheapest of shots. This story (and sadly, now this book) just has soured me on wanting to read Roberts' work again. He cheapens characters' deaths for shock value and plot points.

And another thing, why the HELL would Star Saber help Getaway with ANYTHING, seeing as how Getaway was locked up by Tyrest at one point?

I haven't read the issue yet, and forgive me if someone's already said this, but I'm going to take a stab at where this series was going (I was almost dead on with how the first volume ended, so let's see if I can go two for two).

Are we just going to have the magnificence bring everyone back to life here? I can help but notice since issue 11 that a whole lotta crew members are dead with the only thing left of them being their brains.

Will Rodimus and Co. return to find the crew butchered while Nautica exclaims that she knows of a way to fix things?
Based on what I'm hearing here, mirage and the protectobots probably won't come back, though. If they do, they definitely won't be able to combine. Defender was too big of a writing corner, it seems. Is first aid still alive?

Bounti76 wrote:And another thing, why the HELL would Star Saber help Getaway with ANYTHING, seeing as how Getaway was locked up by Tyrest at one point?

That one has an answer in the panel with the shuttle's arrival, and one I'm happy to accept.

So I may have more thoughts to share later, after more processing and a re-read or two, but as for initial feelings?

This is the worst IDW comic issue I have read to date. The nicest thing I can say is major disappointment.

Ironhidensh wrote:So I may have more thoughts to share later, after more processing and a re-read or two, but as for initial feelings?

This is the worst IDW comic issue I have read to date. The nicest thing I can say is major disappointment.

Yup! Pretty f&$@ing much.

Nothing sickened me more than when someone last month said on the previous issue on here or another site (I think it was tfw2005) “I didn’t like this issue but its James roberts and he can’t do wrong so I’m still giving it a positive review and recommendation.”

Disgusting.

Hey I got a idea: let’s use the corpse of our friend who died 5 years ago who conveniently turns into a leg instead of Mirage who is also a Combiner and can turn to a leg. Yea he lets use Ambulon when though when Devastator used Scrappers corpse they were hindered greatly by using a cadaver as a limb.


CONTINUITY! Who gives a shit!

Randomhero wrote:Hey I got a idea: let’s use the corpse of our friend who died 5 years ago who conveniently turns into a leg instead of Mirage who is also a Combiner and can turn to a leg. Yea he lets use Ambulon when though when Devastator used Scrappers corpse they were hindered greatly by using a cadaver as a limb.


CONTINUITY! Who gives a ****!

Scotty has some really good thoughts on that point, so I'll wait for him to comment to agree.
Again, this is not the first time it has happened, and may be worked into something very interesting about how Combiners work.

Randomhero wrote:CONTINUITY! Who gives a- !

Actually, this feels out of place for Roberts. I'm not going to give my own thoughts about the story, but I want to point out that Roberts really hasn't had a problem with continuity before. He takes obscure stuff and makes them interesting, which is why (up to the Mutineers Trilogy) I respect him as a writer. Which makes the flop in how the dead limb works a bit puzzling to me.

I have some company over so therefore very little time to post, but really quick:

• I really really liked this issue!
• I disagree with all of you that have posted in various ways - see above though.
• The pacing, starting with 10, is like an accelerating train. A few pages into this, it's going full speed. How many folks complained about how slow the series was and how nothing was going on in some of the issues related to the quest? Well, here you go, this is pretty huge to the quest - but now you're complaining about everything else. Temper expectations, enjoy the ride!

Nexus Knight wrote:

Randomhero wrote:CONTINUITY! Who gives a- !

Actually, this feels out of place for Roberts. I'm not going to give my own thoughts about the story, but I want to point out that Roberts really hasn't had a problem with continuity before. He takes obscure stuff and makes them interesting, which is why (up to the Mutineers Trilogy) I respect him as a writer. Which makes the flop in how the dead limb works a bit puzzling to me.

Oh like hell its out of place. Whenever someone catches it he admits and says he’ll fix it for the Trade.

Flywheels Devine search for the Necrobot. That was Misfire

Calling Impactor a point one percenter. Only constructed cold bits were tried by Aquitus

Several interactions with thunderclash that are impossible due to him in a coma.

Hellbat in this very issue part of Liokaiser even though he’s dead.

Mirage being ignored as a Combiner in this issue and using Ambulon

Duplicate Magnus bring inflicted with Nanocons except the same nanocons we’re dead and we’re only resurrected because Metrotitans scream. That lost Light wasn’t near that planet and if it was the other lost light would start to disappear

ScottyP wrote:Well, here you go, this is pretty huge to the quest - but now you're complaining about everything else. Temper expectations, enjoy the ride![/list]

That was my issue: I was unable to enjoy the ride, despite the quest being practically complete, due to everything else happening.

I think, I really do, that a four-parter may have served the intention (mind you, the one I'm reading into the book) of the plots much better than just three.

ScottyP wrote:I have some company over so therefore very little time to post, but really quick:

• I really really liked this issue!
• I disagree with all of you that have posted in various ways - see above though.
• The pacing, starting with 10, is like an accelerating train. A few pages into this, it's going full speed. How many folks complained about how slow the series was and how nothing was going on in some of the issues related to the quest? Well, here you go, this is pretty huge to the quest - but now you're complaining about everything else. Temper expectations, enjoy the ride!

Yeah all it took was piss poor writing, ignoring continuity, the crew being brainwashed with others dying and tortured and a captain doing it all to be right.

Yeah great story.

It was nice to see Star saber was also just outside Cyberutopia to get picked up. There’s another for continuity

When the review was being written, I had plenty of thoughts for both Va'al and Scotty as to why this was a bad issue, and I'll share here too, because I really did find this to be very bad.

First up: This story went way too far into showing how horrible a character Roberts has made Getaway, and it is not in a good way. And it's a trend for the trilogy.

Also, really, they kill Rook in his sleep and then kill the rest of Defensor when he forms up almost immediately? And then Atomizer when he decides he's done? This whole story has gone so far that there isn't a realistic way it can be fixed. The memory adjustment thing while killing crew members thing has destroyed the trilogy for me. It's a story that has tried to go too big with not good material.

To add to this: Rook. Roberts has proven to be good at making new or rarely used characters really good characters, and here poor Rook gets killed in his sleep with almost no chance to be developed as a character

And then a 2nd, more detailed sort of thoughts that uses plenty of thoughts from previous comments.

Pacing: I did not like it. The first 5 pages of the issue seen in the full preview had almost nothing to do with the rest of the issue, things progressed so quickly. The part with Rook was really the only place I can say it felt the page used the amount of content it needed to. I don't see your character moments Scotty: some characters went so fast we never got any moments. Atomizer and Riptide were the only ones that we saw anything from, which is really disappointing. And the whole end scene with the Protectobots and Star Saber felt very wrong. The body count was there, but it was poorly set up and poorly done. That may be the thing I hate most about the issue.

the Ambulon thing was surprising, but I felt wholly unnecessary. Mirage was a combiner limb, he should have been able to do that just as well. And how does Getaway know they combine anyway? That part was weird that he would know that.

Star Saber was a surprise, but really though? I thought wherever Tyrest went, he would end up going too. We have to get those 2 and Pharma back for the book to finish, but this didn't feel like the way to bring him in. Also, I was very irritated with the fact he smashed a combiner with almost no effort while cutting Mirage to pieces. That section was one of the most rushed and badly done.

Setup for the Scavengers issue, ok, but it felt like a random addition. And Liokaiser? How?

Density: I feel like issue 12 of LL and issue 13 of OP were opposites: OP13 was how you do lots on content well, LL12 was how you do it badly.

In summary: felt rushed at the wrong moments, very little in the way of characters, very poor choices for events to unfold in my opinion, art was questionable (Lawrence was doing good, but I felt his art slipped this issue, as Griffith's did for a rare once), and it didn't fit with the story so far. Not to mention it is a month behind now? And the actual events going on here: Last issue was in line with ex-RiD 50/51, so the story is still really lagging behind, not to mention now they are jumping back in time with this Warren thing. Oh, and Getaway is not a good character. Roberts has made him awful, and not in a good way in the slightest.

Final Summation thought
I have been very critical of the series, that is true, sometimes excessively so. But I'm not happy with it compared to the mtmte title. It feels less focused, and pieces don't feel as good. The highlight of the series for me so far is the reveal of Scorponok at the end of issue 9. About this time in seasons 1 and 2, we had an amazing story, the shadow play and time travel stories, and this did not live up to those midseason hits. I'm feeling disappointed in the book, and it keeps frustrating me.

I'm also afraid of us reaching a marvel G1 moment where the end of/certain mcguffin from the story revives all the dead, making their deaths meaningless. And with the latest 3 issues and getaways issues killing large numbers of the crew and constantly editing minds, I think the story has started down a rabbit hole it can't dig itself out of without being bad. Which i don't want it to. I love the premise, but lost light has lost they mtmte touch

Randomhero wrote:

ScottyP wrote:I have some company over so therefore very little time to post, but really quick:

• I really really liked this issue!
• I disagree with all of you that have posted in various ways - see above though.
• The pacing, starting with 10, is like an accelerating train. A few pages into this, it's going full speed. How many folks complained about how slow the series was and how nothing was going on in some of the issues related to the quest? Well, here you go, this is pretty huge to the quest - but now you're complaining about everything else. Temper expectations, enjoy the ride!

Yeah all it took was piss poor writing, ignoring continuity, the crew being brainwashed with others dying and tortured and a captain doing it all to be right.

Yeah great story.

It was nice to see Star saber was also just outside Cyberutopia to get picked up. There’s another for continuity

But those things you point out are not necessarily a fault of the writing, just a choice made for the characters that doesn't fit with what you wanted for them, or read into them based on your reading. There is nothing wrong with the story, but I do have issues with the pacing.

Look at Sins of the Wreckers, look at Last Stand, look at Slaughterhouse. The way Pipes and Ambulon were taken out of the scene were brutal, horrible, visceral. They were no better nor worse than what we see here. The difference, as I see it? It was set up with better timing.


Plus, the continuity errors (seriously, once comics worlds stop caring about canons and continuity the better) are not just the writer's fault - where were the editors?




A note: I'd really like the discussion here to remain within civil parameters. I get it that people are annoyed, angry, or upset, but it really puts off having a conversation about a piece of fiction when the negativity is dolloped onto what could be valid criticism of the work. Please!

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:When the review was being written, I had plenty of thoughts for both Va'al and Scotty as to why this was a bad issue, and I'll share here too, because I really did find this to be very bad.

First up: This story went way too far into showing how horrible a character Roberts has made Getaway, and it is not in a good way. And it's a trend for the trilogy.

This one point I want to pick up on, the rest I'm sure we'll come round to again.

I felt that Getaway was perhaps best, and most subtly written in this issue than the previous two.
He's bad. We're meant to hate him. He's horrible. But that is clear now, it's in the open, and it's not in the cartoonish elements I felt in issue #11, or in the out-of-tune parts of issue #10.


He's ready to make deals with anyone to obtain his goal. He's essentially a Prowlified Megatron.

Randomhero wrote:

Nexus Knight wrote:

Randomhero wrote:CONTINUITY! Who gives a- !

Actually, this feels out of place for Roberts. I'm not going to give my own thoughts about the story, but I want to point out that Roberts really hasn't had a problem with continuity before. He takes obscure stuff and makes them interesting, which is why (up to the Mutineers Trilogy) I respect him as a writer. Which makes the flop in how the dead limb works a bit puzzling to me.

Oh like hell its out of place. Whenever someone catches it he admits and says he’ll fix it for the Trade.

Flywheels Devine search for the Necrobot. That was Misfire

Calling Impactor a point one percenter. Only constructed cold bits were tried by Aquitus

Several interactions with thunderclash that are impossible due to him in a coma.

Hellbat in this very issue part of Liokaiser even though he’s dead.

Mirage being ignored as a Combiner in this issue and using Ambulon

Duplicate Magnus bring inflicted with Nanocons except the same nanocons we’re dead and we’re only resurrected because Metrotitans scream. That lost Light wasn’t near that planet and if it was the other lost light would start to disappear

The first two and the last one happened over a scale of fifty-five issues. Connecting to continuity for over the past ten years. I'm not surprised by this, he's human and can make mistakes, even with his own stories (some writers will do this, myself included). The others are mistakes that happened recently, within the span of the last twelve issues.

What I'm trying to say in too many words is this: These slip ups are beginning to become more commonplace for someone who is regarded as an excellent writer. I feel like something else may be up behind Roberts' control or he is starting to suffer writer's fatigue.

Nexus Knight wrote:

Randomhero wrote:

Nexus Knight wrote:

Randomhero wrote:CONTINUITY! Who gives a- !

Actually, this feels out of place for Roberts. I'm not going to give my own thoughts about the story, but I want to point out that Roberts really hasn't had a problem with continuity before. He takes obscure stuff and makes them interesting, which is why (up to the Mutineers Trilogy) I respect him as a writer. Which makes the flop in how the dead limb works a bit puzzling to me.

Oh like hell its out of place. Whenever someone catches it he admits and says he’ll fix it for the Trade.

Flywheels Devine search for the Necrobot. That was Misfire

Calling Impactor a point one percenter. Only constructed cold bits were tried by Aquitus

Several interactions with thunderclash that are impossible due to him in a coma.

Hellbat in this very issue part of Liokaiser even though he’s dead.

Mirage being ignored as a Combiner in this issue and using Ambulon

Duplicate Magnus bring inflicted with Nanocons except the same nanocons we’re dead and we’re only resurrected because Metrotitans scream. That lost Light wasn’t near that planet and if it was the other lost light would start to disappear

The first two and the last one happened over a scale of fifty-five issues. Connecting to continuity for over the past ten years. I'm not surprised by this, he's human and can make mistakes, even with his own stories (some writers will do this, myself included). The others are mistakes that happened recently, within the span of the last twelve issues. I feel like something else may be up behind Roberts' control or he is starting to suffer writer's fatigue.

And. Editors. Should. Be. Helping.

Nexus Knight wrote:

Randomhero wrote:

Nexus Knight wrote:

Randomhero wrote:CONTINUITY! Who gives a- !

Actually, this feels out of place for Roberts. I'm not going to give my own thoughts about the story, but I want to point out that Roberts really hasn't had a problem with continuity before. He takes obscure stuff and makes them interesting, which is why (up to the Mutineers Trilogy) I respect him as a writer. Which makes the flop in how the dead limb works a bit puzzling to me.

Oh like hell its out of place. Whenever someone catches it he admits and says he’ll fix it for the Trade.

Flywheels Devine search for the Necrobot. That was Misfire

Calling Impactor a point one percenter. Only constructed cold bits were tried by Aquitus

Several interactions with thunderclash that are impossible due to him in a coma.

Hellbat in this very issue part of Liokaiser even though he’s dead.

Mirage being ignored as a Combiner in this issue and using Ambulon

Duplicate Magnus bring inflicted with Nanocons except the same nanocons we’re dead and we’re only resurrected because Metrotitans scream. That lost Light wasn’t near that planet and if it was the other lost light would start to disappear

The first two and the last one happened over a scale of fifty-five issues. Connecting to continuity for over the past ten years. I'm not surprised by this, he's human and can make mistakes, even with his own stories (some writers will do this, myself included). The others are mistakes that happened recently, within the span of the last twelve issues.

What I'm trying to say in too many words is this: These slip ups are beginning to become more commonplace for someone who is regarded as an excellent writer. I feel like something else may be up behind Roberts' control or he is starting to suffer writer's fatigue.

No they didnt. The flywheels error happened in issues 7 and 8. Issue 7 revealed Misfire has always been obsessed with the necrobot and in the very Next issue They are standing I’ve ivet flywheels remind with Misfire himself sayibg Flywheels never fulfilled his dream of finding the Necrobot. Literally one issue at another. Cut to 6 months and it’s ommited from the trade.

As for Magnus? Not 50 issues, try less than 20. A year and half later. When asked Roberts skirted around the guff

This is a writer who makes backs to something that happen 5-7 years earlier so yeah make excuse so and blame fatigue

Like I’ve said before. There’s plenty of people that will just ignore blatantt problems and believe Roberts infallible. It’s ridiculous

Randomhero wrote:

Nexus Knight wrote:

Randomhero wrote:

Nexus Knight wrote:

Randomhero wrote:CONTINUITY! Who gives a- !

Actually, this feels out of place for Roberts. I'm not going to give my own thoughts about the story, but I want to point out that Roberts really hasn't had a problem with continuity before. He takes obscure stuff and makes them interesting, which is why (up to the Mutineers Trilogy) I respect him as a writer. Which makes the flop in how the dead limb works a bit puzzling to me.

Oh like hell its out of place. Whenever someone catches it he admits and says he’ll fix it for the Trade.

Flywheels Devine search for the Necrobot. That was Misfire

Calling Impactor a point one percenter. Only constructed cold bits were tried by Aquitus

Several interactions with thunderclash that are impossible due to him in a coma.

Hellbat in this very issue part of Liokaiser even though he’s dead.

Mirage being ignored as a Combiner in this issue and using Ambulon

Duplicate Magnus bring inflicted with Nanocons except the same nanocons we’re dead and we’re only resurrected because Metrotitans scream. That lost Light wasn’t near that planet and if it was the other lost light would start to disappear

The first two and the last one happened over a scale of fifty-five issues. Connecting to continuity for over the past ten years. I'm not surprised by this, he's human and can make mistakes, even with his own stories (some writers will do this, myself included). The others are mistakes that happened recently, within the span of the last twelve issues.

What I'm trying to say in too many words is this: These slip ups are beginning to become more commonplace for someone who is regarded as an excellent writer. I feel like something else may be up behind Roberts' control or he is starting to suffer writer's fatigue.

No they didnt. The flywheels error happened in issues 7 and 8. Issue 7 revealed Misfire has always been obsessed with the necrobot and in the very Next issue They are standing I’ve ivet flywheels remind with Misfire himself sayibg Flywheels never fulfilled his dream of finding the Necrobot. Literally one issue at another. Cut to 6 months and it’s ommited from the trade.

As for Magnus? Not 50 issues, try less than 20. A year and half later. When asked Roberts skirted around the guff

This is a writer who makes backs to something that happen 5-7 years earlier so yeah make excuse so and blame fatigue

Like I’ve said before. There’s plenty of people that will just ignore blatant problems and believe Roberts infallible. It’s ridiculous

I'm not calling him infallible. Heck, I feel like Megatron should've been dealt with differently. You missed the point I was trying to make- he's a good writer who seems to making MORE mistakes than normal as of late.

Regarding combiner stuff- didn't Optimus Maximus get de-combiner-itised? I might be totally wrong, but I was decidedly under the impression that the five of them wouldnt be able to just meet up now and casually re-form (otherwise, wouldn't they be suffering some ill effects from being so far apart like the Torchbearers seem to?) I would assume that if they as a team can't combine, none of the individual members retain the ability either.
Defensor did also seem to be down on one knee most of the time. It's entirely possible this was because Ambulon was basically a barely-functional prosthetic limb.
I do agree that the protectobots got picked off a little quick tho. Rookworked (although I'm with First Aid, I'd have loved to get to know him), and Miragehad the kind of gut-punch impact that was needed to show just how far above them Star Saber is. The dude took out Dai Atlas like it was nothing, for crying out loud. I think Defensor, though, could have worked had he just been dismantled and then blasted or taken prisoner- giving the rest of the team a single shared panel to die on seemed a little off.

Va'al wrote: He's essentially a Prowlified Megatron.

Oooh, thats a very good way of describing him. The Getaway we saw in this issue (particularly the medbay scene, and the last page) is the Getaway I've interpreted all along, but re-reading I can understand somewhat people's issues with his portrayal. I do find the whole "fake news", "strong and stable" lines a little jarring. I think you nailed it though, in that now it's out in the open and that's what makes the difference.

What got me though was the interlude. There was nothing wrong with it, and I get that it sets up for the upcoming Scavengers story, but what was it... doing there? The review mentions a few parallels between it's mood and that of the main story which I don't disagree with, but I don't feel they were strong or obvious enough to warrant its inclusion- I figure it could have worked just as well as a "cold open" for the next issue, thus giving this one a little more room to breathe. Unless we're really meant to get hyped for this mysterious portal visitor, which would be fine if I had the feintest idea who it was/could be. Even the wiki has nothing!

Speaking of things seeming out of place: Chekhov's time jump? The only reason I can figure for the whole "left the rabbithole before we arrived" is that maybe it somehow explains Riptide surviving 5 minutes in the pool. I figured he just outran the scraplets in boat form.

If Getaway were smart, he should've brainwashed the Protectobots while they were in the memory loop coma so that he could have his very own combiner.

Getaway probably found out that they were combiners when Sunder placed them in the memory loop. Sunder probably saw it in their heads.

Overall I'm not happy with this issue. I could've been happy with Mirage and Atomizer biting it, but most of the Protectobots? What kind of sendoff is that, especially with Star Saber taking on Defensor the way he did? I really wanted to see Defensor, especially Rook, get more time as crew members of the Lost Light. I don't think even one of the Warriors Elite could take on a combiner like that.

I think I'll be adjusting my headcanon now in pretending this issue went differently

Is it possible that all of this is just a dream in Getaway's head that Sunder is using on him, while slowly killing him?

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:When the review was being written, I had plenty of thoughts for both Va'al and Scotty as to why this was a bad issue, and I'll share here too, because I really did find this to be very bad.

First up: This story went way too far into showing how horrible a character Roberts has made Getaway, and it is not in a good way. And it's a trend for the trilogy.

Also, really, they kill Rook in his sleep and then kill the rest of Defensor when he forms up almost immediately? And then Atomizer when he decides he's done? This whole story has gone so far that there isn't a realistic way it can be fixed. The memory adjustment thing while killing crew members thing has destroyed the trilogy for me. It's a story that has tried to go too big with not good material.

To add to this: Rook. Roberts has proven to be good at making new or rarely used characters really good characters, and here poor Rook gets killed in his sleep with almost no chance to be developed as a character

And then a 2nd, more detailed sort of thoughts that uses plenty of thoughts from previous comments.

Pacing: I did not like it. The first 5 pages of the issue seen in the full preview had almost nothing to do with the rest of the issue, things progressed so quickly. The part with Rook was really the only place I can say it felt the page used the amount of content it needed to. I don't see your character moments Scotty: some characters went so fast we never got any moments. Atomizer and Riptide were the only ones that we saw anything from, which is really disappointing. And the whole end scene with the Protectobots and Star Saber felt very wrong. The body count was there, but it was poorly set up and poorly done. That may be the thing I hate most about the issue.

the Ambulon thing was surprising, but I felt wholly unnecessary. Mirage was a combiner limb, he should have been able to do that just as well. And how does Getaway know they combine anyway? That part was weird that he would know that.

Star Saber was a surprise, but really though? I thought wherever Tyrest went, he would end up going too. We have to get those 2 and Pharma back for the book to finish, but this didn't feel like the way to bring him in. Also, I was very irritated with the fact he smashed a combiner with almost no effort while cutting Mirage to pieces. That section was one of the most rushed and badly done.

Setup for the Scavengers issue, ok, but it felt like a random addition. And Liokaiser? How?

Density: I feel like issue 12 of LL and issue 13 of OP were opposites: OP13 was how you do lots on content well, LL12 was how you do it badly.

In summary: felt rushed at the wrong moments, very little in the way of characters, very poor choices for events to unfold in my opinion, art was questionable (Lawrence was doing good, but I felt his art slipped this issue, as Griffith's did for a rare once), and it didn't fit with the story so far. Not to mention it is a month behind now? And the actual events going on here: Last issue was in line with ex-RiD 50/51, so the story is still really lagging behind, not to mention now they are jumping back in time with this Warren thing. Oh, and Getaway is not a good character. Roberts has made him awful, and not in a good way in the slightest.

Final Summation thought
I have been very critical of the series, that is true, sometimes excessively so. But I'm not happy with it compared to the mtmte title. It feels less focused, and pieces don't feel as good. The highlight of the series for me so far is the reveal of Scorponok at the end of issue 9. About this time in seasons 1 and 2, we had an amazing story, the shadow play and time travel stories, and this did not live up to those midseason hits. I'm feeling disappointed in the book, and it keeps frustrating me.

I'm also afraid of us reaching a marvel G1 moment where the end of/certain mcguffin from the story revives all the dead, making their deaths meaningless. And with the latest 3 issues and getaways issues killing large numbers of the crew and constantly editing minds, I think the story has started down a rabbit hole it can't dig itself out of without being bad. Which i don't want it to. I love the premise, but lost light has lost they mtmte touch

Oh dude we hit marvel level awhile back. Roberts certainly has dethroned Furman in many ways only difference is when Furman kills a character they stay dead. The Protectobots? mirage? The poor nobodies reduced to a life cord? They’ll be magically brought back to life.

I didn't like this issue at all, I know Roberts is no stranger to killing off characters, but this felt way too much and way too badly done, Defensor taken out so easily??? remeber how hard it was to take down a combiner during Combiner Wars? Here, all it took was f**king Star Saber, who by the way almost got killed by Cyclonus(I wish he had, damn last second teleport), does that mean Cyclonus can kill combiners?
Also, what the hell is wrong with the crew? did they really not see the slaughter caused by their oh so nice captain? the second Star Saber killed Mirage in cold blood when not only was he not attacking but trying to explain SOMEONE should have gone "oh s**t, I think we're on the wrong side"

Black Bumblebee wrote:Is it possible that all of this is just a dream in Getaway's head that Sunder is using on him, while slowly killing him?

I really, really hope that is what's happening, it's the only way this mess can be solved.

This issue is the most pissed off I've ever been for any Transformers fiction ever, I've already voiced my disdain for the decline of IDW and it's continued use of bad writing in the past but holy crap does this issue take the cake.

There are so many things that I can't describe in words but I'm going to talk about one thing the absolute retarded treatment of the Protectobots in this story, throughout all of IDW First Aid has been the only one who has had any meaningful part of the grand story the other Protectobots could of been saved for future stories especially Rook who could really benefit by becoming a character but no everyone dies except the one character who's been in the story long enough that killing him off would of been fine if done right.

I can handle Mirage's and Atomizer's deaths since both have been in IDW for awhile and have been important part's of the story but why the hell did they just not kill First Aid and let everyone else live? So everyone in Rodimus's golden circle is untouchable besides the pathetic death of Skids but anyone else is fair game?

Getaway continues to be written like a moron, I really hate how the Autobots are treated in IDW in general but characters like Getaway should no exist among their ranks in the first place.

Oh and Commander Nickle fucking really now what the hell is this crap? I guess you can use your crappy OC's to disrespect established characters can't you now Roberts?
I hope after this series Roberts touches nothing about this franchise again, I am so unnecessarily and irrationally angry about this but I can't help it Transformers fiction has been very lackluster every where recently to the point where it's no longer my number 1 hobby, it's like all the money and time I invested in this franchise and all the many years of hoping for something truly great is all for nothing because Hasbro can't hire good writers.

God I want to drink some bleach and forget all about this.

Still sorting with how to feel about the issue.

The knock against Riptide by First Aid was a bit out of character. Would have been better if the gentle doctor had just left the explanation as being Riptide had an "immunity" and left it there.

Rook would have been termed a "red shirt" if one were to use the ole "Star Trek" reference. Although it wouldn't explain why the other Protectobots were all but untouched if Getaway was so eager to keep the threat level to a minimum. Could be possible he had been testing Atomizer instead...as.well as insuring: "We're both in this together. I go down...you're coming me"

Speaking of the Protectobots, we saw Rook get blown to kingdom come, sure. How just because the rest of the Protectobots were shot at, and hit, doesn't exactly mean they were down for the count.

Mirage's death doesn't particularly disturb me as much as long as there's good explanation for it and it simply fits with the narrative. However, since it was by the hands of Star Saber, who seemed to appear from nowhere, that's a problem. The only explanation that seems to fit is Getaway was Tyrest's captive for so long his "list" of those to try and call on to try and do his bidding was rather short. Even if Saber happened to be working for the very person who had been keeping him captive. (And as far as we know Tyrest is still out of the picture so Saber -is- presently unemployed...maybe.) Saber may also have his own ideas and plans as too.

Of course, maybe it's as another reader alluded to and the portions with Getaway are from his perspective and something else entirely may be occurring courtesy of the local callous psycho...er...psychiatrist and his comrade-in-crime: Sundar.

Here's to waiting to see if things really are as they seem. Which, as far as the fiasco went within the shuttle bay goes, can either think rather sloppy and incoherent writing or mental manipulation of a certain character who simply wouldn't mind continuously being paid in bot-brains.