Listing for IDW Transformers: Lost Light Volume 3 TPB

I think I may switch to doing volumes instead at this point. Kinda annoying to have holes in my collection when it comes to the comics. I'll still order the covers I like but volumes are more durable and easier overall. Of course I'll still read my GF's copies to prevent myself from being spoiled between volumes.

We had clearly not brought you enough comics news on Wednesday, so we have some more today in the form of a variant cover from Alex Milne and Josh Perez for the IDW Publishing Transformers: Lost Light issue #16, via IDW Publishing!

The book is due out next month, and already features the main cover with a lot of Are All Dead vibes, but the variant pushes the concept a little differently, showing Rodimus seeing the ghosts? spirits? avatars? traces? of the characters we know have definitely passed away so far: Trailcutter, Ravage, Ambulon, and Pipes. Check it out below, and let us know what you think in the Energon Pub!

ALL GOOD THINGS…! Rodimus and the Crusadercons have reached their final destination. The trouble is, it’s not Cyberutopia. In fact, it’s not ANYWHERE. But they’d better get used to it, because they’re going to be there until the end of Time…

I think you meant Trailcutter and not Skids in the article.

Deadput wrote:I think you meant Trailcutter and not Skids in the article.

They’re both dead doesn’t matter

Randomhero wrote:

Deadput wrote:I think you meant Trailcutter and not Skids in the article.

They’re both dead doesn’t matter

That's not the point Skids is not on the cover while Trialcutter is.

Seriously...

Edit:The hell was that emote doing there I never put it there while typing.

Deadput wrote:[-(

Randomhero wrote:

Deadput wrote:I think you meant Trailcutter and not Skids in the article.

They’re both dead doesn’t matter

That's not the point Skids is not on the cover while Trialcutter is.

Seriously...

Easy tigress.


Gonna be okay? Do you want the cover explained in detail in the article for those who can only see words and no pictures?

Randomhero wrote:
Easy tigress.


Gonna be okay? Do you want the cover explained in detail in the article for those who can only see words and no pictures?

I was just posting that the guy made a mistake so they can correct the article.

What are you going on about?

Deadput wrote:

Randomhero wrote:
Easy tigress.


Gonna be okay? Do you want the cover explained in detail in the article for those who can only see words and no pictures?

I was just posting that the guy made a mistake so they can correct the article.

What are you going on about?

You can also just contact me directly.

Edit made, thanks.

Is there any indication that after the Unicron event, Optimus Prime and Lost Light will be coming to an end? or the Transformers books will again be rebranded by IDW? --It kind of seems like it, but its just speculation by me at this point.

o.supreme wrote:Is there any indication that after the Unicron event, Optimus Prime and Lost Light will be coming to an end? or the Transformers books will again be rebranded by IDW? --It kind of seems like it, but its just speculation by me at this point.

It is just speculation, indeed. There are a lot of things pointing to something happening, and all creators on Twitter are being vague and hinting and just infuriating from a news perspective (I mean that in the best way!), but yes, just speculation.

Good way to drum up some publicity in the fandom, I suppose? Though the ones talking about it are mostly readers already (which is kinda the whole reason to actually have a reboot).

o.supreme wrote:Is there any indication that after the Unicron event, Optimus Prime and Lost Light will be coming to an end? or the Transformers books will again be rebranded by IDW? --It kind of seems like it, but its just speculation by me at this point.

I figured it will either be a soft reboot like it it was with the beginning of MTMTE or a completely new story with new or seldom-used characters. Either way, I'm guessing the new title will be War For Cybertron, in support of the upcoming toy line starting in 2019.

Rodimus Prime wrote:

o.supreme wrote:Is there any indication that after the Unicron event, Optimus Prime and Lost Light will be coming to an end? or the Transformers books will again be rebranded by IDW? --It kind of seems like it, but its just speculation by me at this point.

I figured it will either be a soft reboot like it it was with the beginning of MTMTE or a completely new story with new or seldom-used characters. Either way, I'm guessing the new title will be War For Cybertron, in support of the upcoming toy line starting in 2019.

Based on past tie in efforts I'm wondering if they'll take the time to do a war for Cybertron flashback arc, set before the moment thunderwing screwed everything up. The best thing would be if IDW put this out as a miniseries so other stories didn't have to take a break.

ZeroWolf wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:

o.supreme wrote:Is there any indication that after the Unicron event, Optimus Prime and Lost Light will be coming to an end? or the Transformers books will again be rebranded by IDW? --It kind of seems like it, but its just speculation by me at this point.

I figured it will either be a soft reboot like it it was with the beginning of MTMTE or a completely new story with new or seldom-used characters. Either way, I'm guessing the new title will be War For Cybertron, in support of the upcoming toy line starting in 2019.

Based on past tie in efforts I'm wondering if they'll take the time to do a war for Cybertron flashback arc, set before the moment thunderwing screwed everything up. The best thing would be if IDW put this out as a miniseries so other stories didn't have to take a break.

Also I'm curious if the new line (and perhaps the comics) will have any connections to the game. Or if the name is just a lack of imagination.

My feeling is that it's unconnected but they must of known that the name would only invoke the game...guess we'll find out soon enough.

Proof of Lost Light ending at #20?

Targetmaster Kup wrote:

Screenshot_2018-02-25-09-21-53.png

Proof of Lost Light ending at #20?

Eh, at this point, I'm willing to wait for actual news from IDW, to be honest. Also given the fact that LL volume 3 ends with #18 (the one announced in latest solicits for May). '[T]he biggest story in the history of the Lost Light' (see blurb for #18) is probably volume 4. I doubt it'd be two issues only.

(Bumping it back up to 22 pages is interesting though..)

The almost final preview for this coming week's comics (but the last one for Transformers titles) from IDW Publishing features the second part of the Scavengers arc in Transformers: Lost Light #15! The full preview comes to us via fellow Seibertronian Sunstar, who found it on the comics and media website Comic Book Resources - we have mirrored the images below for your viewing convenience.

Make sure to take a read, then join the discussion in the Energon Pub forums! Will you be picking this issue up on Wednesday?

SECRETS AND LIES! As the Scavengers’ journey reaches its ignoble end, the architect of their downfall puts the fate of half the Cybertronian race in their hands. Only one question remains: Are the worst Decepticons prepared to become the ONLY Decepticons?

Love it

Wow! Someone actually remembered the Magnificence actually exists!?

Not bad. I don't want to get my hopes up, because it's only a 3-page preview, but might we finally be getting a decent story in LL?

Rodimus Prime wrote:Not bad. I don't want to get my hopes up, because it's only a 3-page preview, but might we finally be getting a decent story in LL?

Shhhh, there’s still time to rush it completely

15 was glorious. I have to admit, the twist involving an infant with a Decepticon logo face tattoo had me rolling my eyes for a few minutes, but it was literally just that. Once I kept going and Scorponok explained what was going on, I found that to make sense and be consistent with this version of the character especially given past unusual events from the Furman era. Felt a bit, thematically, like elements found in Masterforce. Should be fun to see where it goes!

And that last page, my word, that is a masterpiece. The lines, the lighting, the words - that's how you do a cliffhanger!

Unofficial score (someone else is writing the formal review): 113/Fulcrum; would have Khary Payton voice this Grimlock

15 felt far more back to MtMtE form.

I liked it and I hope it continues along this trajectory.

Read like an episode of Doctor Who.

After being written into an impossible corner, the heroes escape via a tedious scene of heavy exposition.

Terrible stuff.

I read 14 and 15 last night before bed. I'm beginning to get annoyed with LL. (LL Kinda feels like having a bad girlfriend you keep making excuses for over and over and then there's the eventual break up looming in the distance once the bad outweighs the redeeming qualities.) Robots and humans don't mix and especially not like this. Blech. What I like about the comics is less humans. Entertaining human characters are few and far between. Also the whole abortion thing was just cringe. I know that the writers in this series like to be political but this is just rubbed me the wrong way. Most the time I wanna roll my eyes when things get political to the point of feeling off topic, this time I about wanted to gag.

Also when are they gonna stop the OMG those guys are dead oh no they are not thing. Yes Jro we know you like to shock us but it's like crying wolf every other issue now. At first it was shocking but now it's just annoying. It's like they wanna toy with us to see how we will react. At this point I don't even think tailgate is gone forever because of this stuff.

If I had one nice thing to say about these issues it was they had a good smooth flow to the story. I feel like the aforementioned issues take away from it but I was enjoying the scavengers. They are quite relatable and you can't help having a soft spot for 'em. Honestly they are fun characters and I would enjoy more content with them if they didn't ruin the story with unnecessary stuff.

I'll admit that I prefer if they stick with one or two stories per issue. Back in MTMTE sometimes I would get confused because there was so much going on. I know they had to do it to introduce all of the characters but add in the time travel arcs and sometimes I had to re-read to get things all straight in my head. Not a big issue but in the beginning it was a little daunting to get into the series. Either way I don't really have high hopes for future issues. I may be making the switch to another series if this keeps up rather than staying around to let this one sour on me.

I think 14-15 are really tough to hate on like y'all are doing. I want this book to succeed and sell a lot and continue for a long time but if you didn't enjoy these last two I think this might not be the book for you. The Scavengers are one of the best elements of the series and encapsulate so much of it so well in symbolic ways. I really hope we get to see more of them down the line, but this part of their story is pretty satisfyingly concluded at this point.

It's been a polarizing issue that's for sure. I just wish it hadn't rubbed me the wrong way so many times. It's either time for me to find something else to read or perhaps when I settle down I can focus more on the positive aspects of it. I know I want to but this whole thing is leaving a bad taste in my mouth.

If you enjoyed this issue that's totally cool, don't let my grumping spoil it for ya.

ScottyP wrote:I think 14-15 are really tough to hate on like y'all are doing. I want this book to succeed and sell a lot and continue for a long time but if you didn't enjoy these last two I think this might not be the book for you. The Scavengers are one of the best elements of the series and encapsulate so much of it so well in symbolic ways. I really hope we get to see more of them down the line, but this part of their story is pretty satisfyingly concluded at this point.

You wish this apparently struggling book to succeed while simultaneously suggesting we stop buying it? Seriously though there's likely only - what - five or so issues left and we've stuck it this far

The sheer excellence of those first 30 or so issues (sans Dark Cybertron) warrant a decent conclusion. Besides, it's a forum - vive la différence!

Throwing these out there real quick even though I wanted to write a news post and don't have time: Lost Light is going to at least issue 25 and EJ Su is doing line work for issue 19

https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/ ... 57765?s=19

https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/ ... 02754?s=19

ScottyP wrote:15 was glorious. I have to admit, the twist involving an infant with a Decepticon logo face tattoo had me rolling my eyes for a few minutes, but it was literally just that. Once I kept going and Scorponok explained what was going on, I found that to make sense and be consistent with this version of the character especially given past unusual events from the Furman era. Felt a bit, thematically, like elements found in Masterforce. Should be fun to see where it goes!

And that last page, my word, that is a masterpiece. The lines, the lighting, the words - that's how you do a cliffhanger!

Unofficial score (someone else is writing the formal review): 113/Fulcrum; would have Khary Payton voice this Grimlock

Agreed! I thoroughly enjoyed this issue. I've liked the callbacks the last two issues have made. I mean, Scorponok mentioning Dante? Who'da thought it? Loving how Grimlock is developing too, what with him being my fave Dino.

Really ought to try and tough my way through the Japanese shows. I've had em for years but it was tough to get into Headmasters and I kinda stalled.

Quint wrote:

ScottyP wrote:I think 14-15 are really tough to hate on like y'all are doing. I want this book to succeed and sell a lot and continue for a long time but if you didn't enjoy these last two I think this might not be the book for you. The Scavengers are one of the best elements of the series and encapsulate so much of it so well in symbolic ways. I really hope we get to see more of them down the line, but this part of their story is pretty satisfyingly concluded at this point.

You wish this apparently struggling book to succeed while simultaneously suggesting we stop buying it? Seriously though there's likely only - what - five or so issues left and we've stuck it this far

The sheer excellence of those first 30 or so issues (sans Dark Cybertron) warrant a decent conclusion. Besides, it's a forum - vive la différence!

I typed a post when I didn't have enough time to, so... this is fair. Glad things aren't as doom and gloom as my initial readings of some posts suggested

Thanks to a heads up from the Author of Transformers: Lost Light himself, we have news that, despite the rumors of an IDW reboot coming, Lost Light will be running to at least issue 25. James Roberts himself confirmed this on his Twitter page, saying that Issues 19-25 will be the culmination of the More Than Meets The Eye and Lost Light series. For those keeping track, with issue 15 having come out this past month (February) and the recent Solicitations showing that issue 18 is set to come in May, this means Lost Light will be running till December, when issue 25 will be coming out. What this means for next calendar year and IDW comics we don't yet know, but it appears that no reboot will be happening this calendar year.

Also confirmed from Roberts on Twitter, we have news that Issue 19 of the series, set to come out in June, will feature the original IDW artist, EJ Su, on line work! Since doing the linework for the early -ations era of comics, and with some work in All Hail Megatron, Spotlights Prowl and Jazz, and some recent covers, this will be EJ's first issue of linework since 2010.

Are you excited for Lost Light to be going to issue 25? Thrilled to have EJ Su back on art duties for a Transformers comic? Let us know in the comments section below!

Also, I promise the review will be coming! Paperwork and apartment hunting has taken a lot of time away from me this week!

This is good news indeed. Here's hoping whatever follows is Lost Light 26, MTMTE 83, or something more-or-less equivalent!

I care more to see EJ Su than anything else. I have missed his work for a long time. When he did some cover are during dark Cybertron and last year I was thrilled.

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:For those keeping track, with issue 15 having come out this past month (February) and the recent Solicitations showing that issue 18 is set to come in May, this means Lost Light will be running till December, when issue 25 will be coming out.

That's a nice assumption, thinking IDW will be able to keep to its infamously bad scheduling.

I kinda figured that's where it was going to stop. It's a nice round number, it's the end of the year, and it gives us 82 issues, just about the same as the G1 comics.

I'm guessing that the Unicron arc will go from 19 to 25, making up the final trade. Hopefully after this book is done, Roberts hands it off to someone else, someone who can write comics like comics and not like TV series. Maybe he should go and try to write actual TV series if he likes that style so much.

Nexus Knight wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:For those keeping track, with issue 15 having come out this past month (February) and the recent Solicitations showing that issue 18 is set to come in May, this means Lost Light will be running till December, when issue 25 will be coming out.

That's a nice assumption, thinking IDW will be able to keep to its infamously bad scheduling.

They’re already back in schedule and it’s not just IDWs fault. MTMTE got delayed quite a bit sometimes and Milne took full responsibility. When he found out he wasn’t on LL he fully admitted he couldn’t keep up. A lot of the times it is the artist or the writer.

Rodimus Prime wrote:I kinda figured that's where it was going to stop. It's a nice round number, it's the end of the year, and it gives us 82 issues, just about the same as the G1 comics.

I'm guessing that the Unicron arc will go from 19 to 25, making up the final trade. Hopefully after this book is done, Roberts hands it off to someone else, someone who can write comics like comics and not like TV series. Maybe he should go and try to write actual TV series if he likes that style so much.

I think after the event we'll just have two separate ongoing support with different casts.

Though why do you say he's more of a TV writer? Is it just because his stuff works better when binged?

ZeroWolf wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:I kinda figured that's where it was going to stop. It's a nice round number, it's the end of the year, and it gives us 82 issues, just about the same as the G1 comics.

I'm guessing that the Unicron arc will go from 19 to 25, making up the final trade. Hopefully after this book is done, Roberts hands it off to someone else, someone who can write comics like comics and not like TV series. Maybe he should go and try to write actual TV series if he likes that style so much.

I think after the event we'll just have two separate ongoing support with different casts.

Though why do you say he's more of a TV writer? Is it just because his stuff works better when binged?

No it’s because he just does. That’s been a statement by people for years now that Roberts writes like he’s writing a TV show. The two part about charisma aliens? That’s straight out of Red Dwarf. Some(not me) even accused him of ripping off red dwarf and other British shows. Swearth is a straight up episode of a show. Tailgate and Cyclonus are literally hanging out in the “friends” apartment. There’s numerous jokes and references to Community too.

Roberts himself refers to post dark Cybertron to dying of the light as Season Two and LL as season three. No one does that with comics.

He’s always treated his comics as if they’re TV shows and that’s kind of always been a big problem I’ve had with his writing because those are two very different medias. Sometimes it works and other times it just fails like cutting back and forth between Rung and Functionist Rung both explaining and discovering their purpose at the same time. That’s how TV works not comics.

Rodimus Prime wrote:I kinda figured that's where it was going to stop. It's a nice round number, it's the end of the year, and it gives us 82 issues, just about the same as the G1 comics.

I'm guessing that the Unicron arc will go from 19 to 25, making up the final trade. Hopefully after this book is done, Roberts hands it off to someone else, someone who can write comics like comics and not like TV series. Maybe he should go and try to write actual TV series if he likes that style so much.

I’m gonna call it now and say LL will have nothing to do with unicron. 19-25 will be Rodomus, getaway and the scavengers with maybe Fort Max and Red Alert all coming together to Cyberutpia and concluding that story.

I think we’ll go back to one comic. I think we need to at this point but with both John and James. Like Dark Cybertron. John does story and James does the characters. It’s their strengths. Death of Optimus Prime is one the best comics we’ve gotten and it’s beciase it played on both their strengths

Interesting and cautiously optimistic news that LL will be going through #25. I assume then that OP will go through (by the same token) to issue #26. If they both end in December 2018 culminating in the end of the Unicron event I'll be satisfied. January 2019 would be a nice even place to start again, unlike the summer/fall of 2016 when they abruptly ended MTMTE & TF (and cut what could have been a really cool Titans Return story way short...) to start the whole mess that is the Hasbroverse.

Randomhero wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:I kinda figured that's where it was going to stop. It's a nice round number, it's the end of the year, and it gives us 82 issues, just about the same as the G1 comics.

I'm guessing that the Unicron arc will go from 19 to 25, making up the final trade. Hopefully after this book is done, Roberts hands it off to someone else, someone who can write comics like comics and not like TV series. Maybe he should go and try to write actual TV series if he likes that style so much.

I think after the event we'll just have two separate ongoing support with different casts.

Though why do you say he's more of a TV writer? Is it just because his stuff works better when binged?

No it’s because he just does. That’s been a statement by people for years now that Roberts writes like he’s writing a TV show. The two part about charisma aliens? That’s straight out of Red Dwarf. Some(not me) even accused him of ripping off red dwarf and other British shows. Swearth is a straight up episode of a show. Tailgate and Cyclonus are literally hanging out in the “friends” apartment. There’s numerous jokes and references to Community too.

Roberts himself refers to post dark Cybertron to dying of the light as Season Two and LL as season three. No one does that with comics.

He’s always treated his comics as if they’re TV shows and that’s kind of always been a big problem I’ve had with his writing because those are two very different medias. Sometimes it works and other times it just fails like cutting back and forth between Rung and Functionist Rung both explaining and discovering their purpose at the same time. That’s how TV works not comics.

Ah I see, though I'm a little confused as to why that's a bad thing, like the example you give, what's so wrong with that? It's something that plays with visuals (like the scene where night beat and nautica are looking into brainstorms suitcase and time gets a lil weird.) It seems more to me that roberts adopts more of a comedy approach which again, I feel is fine as there shouldn't be anything you can't attempt with comics.

I also don't see the problem with borrowing TV lingo for story arcs as comics have always had things like: whatever event: part 2 of 6. I'd he wants to call a bunch of story arcs a season then that's fine, can't see why it would cause a fuss.

I picked up #14 & #15 today and there is a definite difference in paper quality between the 2 issues. Probably that cost saving move helped extend it.

ZeroWolf wrote:

Randomhero wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:I kinda figured that's where it was going to stop. It's a nice round number, it's the end of the year, and it gives us 82 issues, just about the same as the G1 comics.

I'm guessing that the Unicron arc will go from 19 to 25, making up the final trade. Hopefully after this book is done, Roberts hands it off to someone else, someone who can write comics like comics and not like TV series. Maybe he should go and try to write actual TV series if he likes that style so much.

I think after the event we'll just have two separate ongoing support with different casts.

Though why do you say he's more of a TV writer? Is it just because his stuff works better when binged?

No it’s because he just does. That’s been a statement by people for years now that Roberts writes like he’s writing a TV show. The two part about charisma aliens? That’s straight out of Red Dwarf. Some(not me) even accused him of ripping off red dwarf and other British shows. Swearth is a straight up episode of a show. Tailgate and Cyclonus are literally hanging out in the “friends” apartment. There’s numerous jokes and references to Community too.

Roberts himself refers to post dark Cybertron to dying of the light as Season Two and LL as season three. No one does that with comics.

He’s always treated his comics as if they’re TV shows and that’s kind of always been a big problem I’ve had with his writing because those are two very different medias. Sometimes it works and other times it just fails like cutting back and forth between Rung and Functionist Rung both explaining and discovering their purpose at the same time. That’s how TV works not comics.

Ah I see, though I'm a little confused as to why that's a bad thing, like the example you give, what's so wrong with that? It's something that plays with visuals (like the scene where night beat and nautica are looking into brainstorms suitcase and time gets a lil weird.) It seems more to me that roberts adopts more of a comedy approach which again, I feel is fine as there shouldn't be anything you can't attempt with comics.

I also don't see the problem with borrowing TV lingo for story arcs as comics have always had things like: whatever event: part 2 of 6. I'd he wants to call a bunch of story arcs a season then that's fine, can't see why it would cause a fuss.

The main reason I said that was because Roberts himself practically admitted it, and because the pacing of his writing is like a TV show. The stories wouldn't be so bad if he would keep a steady pace of setting things up and then delivering on them, and not just leave details and story lines seemingly unfinished and then expect us to remember everything when he suddenly comes back to some small detail 6 months later. It's the erratic pacing (or plotting, whichever is more appropriate) that annoys me the most. For this reason, his stories are better when binged. This is why I don't like reading the individual issues, just get the trades when a story arc is over. Most of MTMTE's stories were pretty good reads when I read them as a whole, except the last 2. Dying of the Light was such a disappointment, and it couldn't even be blamed on horrible pacing, it was just a bad ending to what promised to be a great story. I reserve full judgment on LL until it is actually over and I read the whole thing from issue 1 to 25. So far I'm not impressed, but who knows, it could get good. The last 2 issues were an improvement over the previous 6 or 7. So we'll see. Again, that's what I mean about pacing. So uneven. Just exposes the flaws of Roberts' writing even more.

Good, I hope this entire comic series burns in hell, it's been terrible from start to finish.

Then why did you read it for so long? Normally if something doesn't click with me after three-four issues we part ways.

From the usual source of iTunes, the first three pages of Transformers: Lost Light #16 are now available. This quick preview is light on the dialogue, but heavy on the mystery and intrigue. The start of a three part story titled "The Everlasting Voices", the first entry is titled "Metastasis". With the end of #15 teasing with the word "threnody", the signs are there that surely everything will go just fine with a perfectly happy ending for everyone's favorite characters.

This latest chapter of Lost Light is set for release on March 14, 2018, making it the fourth entry of the series in just seven weeks at that point. Who knew Transformers comics had gone bi-weekly? The preview pages are mirrored below, featuring the writing of James Roberts, line art by Jack Lawrence, and colors by (presumably) Joana Lafuente.







Nothing weird about a floating Matrix of Leadership, right? Discuss these latest developments with other Transformers fans on our Energon Pub Forums by replying to this post!

Interesting, now how will this tie into things. My guess is that none of them are actually there physically. Also anyone else get the feeling that Cyclonus is seeing something different?