Preview for IDW Transformers: Lost Light Volume 1 TPB

Bullet points:
2017 promises to be the year of Transformers with the release of Transformers: The Last Knight.

What... does this... mean?

Kurona wrote:

Bullet points:
2017 promises to be the year of Transformers with the release of Transformers: The Last Knight.

What... does this... mean?

Nothing

william-james88 wrote:

Kurona wrote:

Bullet points:
2017 promises to be the year of Transformers with the release of Transformers: The Last Knight.

What... does this... mean?

Nothing

My guess is that at the time, whenever this blurb was written, they were banking on Transformers: the last knight being such a massive cinematic hit that 2017 would forever be known as the year of Transformers. Somehow, I guess, this was meant to also make the comics successful. Maybe? I dunno.

Anyone here collect in this format? Any thoughts on it?

Ugh. Anode. I almost forgot.

Anyway, I haven't read any of the Lost Light issues, for 2 reasons: I learned my lesson with Dying of The Light that Roberts has been exposed as mediocre at best, someone who can't keep a coherent story together from issue to issue, never mind keeping a complex character like Getaway on the same level from issue to issue. Also, Dying of The Light was pretty decent as a TPB, even with the garbage ending, but it has to be read all at once. So I am willing to give Lost Light one chance, by reading the Volume 1 TPB. If I don't like it, I'm done with this crap, and I will never again waste a minute of my time reading or a penny of my money buying anything with Roberts' name on it.

MagicDeath wrote:Anyone here collect in this format? Any thoughts on it?

I like volumes but they can be kinda pricey. I will say that 20 bucks for 6 issues is a good deal. I also really like how volumes fit on a shelf. Kinda hard to collect because I wind up buying the paper issues so its harder to justify buying the same issues over in a collection. So it has its ups and downs, depending if you are patient or not.

WreckerJack wrote:

MagicDeath wrote:Anyone here collect in this format? Any thoughts on it?

I like volumes but they can be kinda pricey. I will say that 20 bucks for 6 issues is a good deal. I also really like how volumes fit on a shelf. Kinda hard to collect because I wind up buying the paper issues so its harder to justify buying the same issues over in a collection. So it has its ups and downs, depending if you are patient or not.

Honestly, I recommend getting the digital versions on Comixology over the trade. Over on comixology, each individual issue drops in price by 50% after a month or so. Right now, you can buy all 6 volume one issues for $12 online rather than $20 in a trade. IDW is also one of the few publishers on Comixology that lets you download a pdf of their comics, so you can have a drm free version if you're so inclined. A much better deal imo.

Rodimus Prime wrote:Ugh. Anode. I almost forgot.

Anyway, I haven't read any of the Lost Light issues, for 2 reasons: I learned my lesson with Dying of The Light that Roberts has been exposed as mediocre at best, someone who can't keep a coherent story together from issue to issue, never mind keeping a complex character like Getaway on the same level from issue to issue. Also, Dying of The Light was pretty decent as a TPB, even with the garbage ending, but it has to be read all at once. So I am willing to give Lost Light one chance, by reading the Volume 1 TPB. If I don't like it, I'm done with this crap, and I will never again waste a minute of my time reading or a penny of my money buying anything with Roberts' name on it.

Good luck with that. The first volume of Lost Light is basically an arc that exists solely to get rid of Megatron, introduce a couple of new characters, and set up a whole ton of plot points that won't be resolved or explored until much later.

The series, as it is now, would have worked so much better if Megatron had died in the explosion, done away with Functionist Universe entirely, and just started with the mutineers plot line.

I'm in a weird position where I stopped reading since issue 7 but am vaguely interested in the mutiny. I want to read about Getaway's shenanigans, yet I won't pick it up because I am dreading the moment when that's over and the story gets mired in everything that was set up in the 1st volume.

WreckerJack wrote:

MagicDeath wrote:Anyone here collect in this format? Any thoughts on it?

I like volumes but they can be kinda pricey. I will say that 20 bucks for 6 issues is a good deal. I also really like how volumes fit on a shelf. Kinda hard to collect because I wind up buying the paper issues so its harder to justify buying the same issues over in a collection. So it has its ups and downs, depending if you are patient or not.

I only pick up trades, as Italy does not get single issues of a lot of comics (so I have to ship them from UK shop where I have pull list). But the aesthetic reasons that WJ points out here are good - plus, easier to share with other potential readers as a collected arc!

ricemazter wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:Ugh. Anode. I almost forgot.

Anyway, I haven't read any of the Lost Light issues, for 2 reasons: I learned my lesson with Dying of The Light that Roberts has been exposed as mediocre at best, someone who can't keep a coherent story together from issue to issue, never mind keeping a complex character like Getaway on the same level from issue to issue. Also, Dying of The Light was pretty decent as a TPB, even with the garbage ending, but it has to be read all at once. So I am willing to give Lost Light one chance, by reading the Volume 1 TPB. If I don't like it, I'm done with this crap, and I will never again waste a minute of my time reading or a penny of my money buying anything with Roberts' name on it.

Good luck with that. The first volume of Lost Light is basically an arc that exists solely to get rid of Megatron, introduce a couple of new characters, and set up a whole ton of plot points that won't be resolved or explored until much later.

The series, as it is now, would have worked so much better if Megatron had died in the explosion, done away with Functionist Universe entirely, and just started with the mutineers plot line.

I'm in a weird position where I stopped reading since issue 7 but am vaguely interested in the mutiny. I want to read about Getaway's shenanigans, yet I won't pick it up because I am dreading the moment when that's over and the story gets mired in everything that was set up in the 1st volume.

So they might as well have kept the series named MTMTE because nothing drastically different has happened, it's just a continuation of the same story with mostly the same characters? I guess maybe IDW thought if it was renamed it would renew waning interest in the series. But unless they get a better writer, it's going to stay the same boring and unsatisfactory garbage. I'm still going to give it one shot, maybe I end up being interested in some of the new plot points you mentioned. I do think the mutiny story is interesting, I just hope it doesn't drag out and end with a whimper like Dying of The Light did.

The first 6 (7, really, but they don't do 7 issue TPBs these days) issues of Lost Light read way better in a collected format than they did as a serial. Maybe that will help, maybe it won't though. Sounds like you've made your mind up?

MagicDeath wrote:Anyone here collect in this format? Any thoughts on it?

I collect the TPB. I like it since you get everything all nice and together, but the opening TPB isn't too much to get excited for. The opening story was quite lackluster.

WreckerJack wrote:I like volumes but they can be kinda pricey. I will say that 20 bucks for 6 issues is a good deal. I also really like how volumes fit on a shelf. Kinda hard to collect because I wind up buying the paper issues so its harder to justify buying the same issues over in a collection. So it has its ups and downs, depending if you are patient or not.

The amazing thing is if you wait just a little bit after the release date, Amazon slashes the prices. I usually get the TPBs for $15ish, give or take $2. It also thanks to amazon that I got all the hardbacks to catch up on IDW before Death of Optimus Prime. Only spent around $300 to get all 8, and that was 8 years of comics I believe.

So, yeah, I know that individual issues (not digital) get pricey in the long run, so I’ve gotten some of the larger hardcover collections. Seems that it has basically the same advantages: ~$50 for ~2 smaller collections (Amazon usually lowers that price a bit), plus story organization, and looking good on a shelf.

I got the big compendium (first two hardcover collections), then finished up those arcs digitally.

Seems like you all have similar observations as I did, so I’ll keep my methods the same. Thanks for the help!

ScottyP wrote:The first 6 (7, really, but they don't do 7 issue TPBs these days) issues of Lost Light read way better in a collected format than they did as a serial. Maybe that will help, maybe it won't though. Sounds like you've made your mind up?

Yeah I prefer my comics in TPBs. I have the Marvel Titan TPBs as well as Regeneration One in addition to the individual issues. So I will give LL a shot in TPB format so I can get the whole story at once.

Rodimus Prime wrote:

ricemazter wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:Ugh. Anode. I almost forgot.

Anyway, I haven't read any of the Lost Light issues, for 2 reasons: I learned my lesson with Dying of The Light that Roberts has been exposed as mediocre at best, someone who can't keep a coherent story together from issue to issue, never mind keeping a complex character like Getaway on the same level from issue to issue. Also, Dying of The Light was pretty decent as a TPB, even with the garbage ending, but it has to be read all at once. So I am willing to give Lost Light one chance, by reading the Volume 1 TPB. If I don't like it, I'm done with this crap, and I will never again waste a minute of my time reading or a penny of my money buying anything with Roberts' name on it.

Good luck with that. The first volume of Lost Light is basically an arc that exists solely to get rid of Megatron, introduce a couple of new characters, and set up a whole ton of plot points that won't be resolved or explored until much later.

The series, as it is now, would have worked so much better if Megatron had died in the explosion, done away with Functionist Universe entirely, and just started with the mutineers plot line.

I'm in a weird position where I stopped reading since issue 7 but am vaguely interested in the mutiny. I want to read about Getaway's shenanigans, yet I won't pick it up because I am dreading the moment when that's over and the story gets mired in everything that was set up in the 1st volume.

So they might as well have kept the series named MTMTE because nothing drastically different has happened, it's just a continuation of the same story with mostly the same characters? I guess maybe IDW thought if it was renamed it would renew waning interest in the series. But unless they get a better writer, it's going to stay the same boring and unsatisfactory garbage. I'm still going to give it one shot, maybe I end up being interested in some of the new plot points you mentioned. I do think the mutiny story is interesting, I just hope it doesn't drag out and end with a whimper like Dying of The Light did.

It's odd because the series is 10 issues in and only now are we actually getting to the lost light. The new series basically introduces a couple of new recurring characters (Anode, Lug, Roller) and focuses the story and a smaller and obvious core group. So far the list is basically Hot Rod, Ratchet, Velocity, Swerve, Cyclonus, Tailgate, Nightbeat, Anode, Lug, Nautica, Rung, Drift, Chromedome, and Rewind (I'm sure I'm forgetting some), as opposed to having a wider range of characters aboard the eponymous ship. Granted, that could change since we've only just reached the Lost Light, but not having the ship around and the hundreds of crew members was a turn off for me, as well as the general bad taste in my mouth after 7 issues.

I'm pretty sure Jro's said on his Twitter, but yeah, the name change and numbering restart was purely a business decision. It was always intended to just be MTMTE all the way through; so Lost Light #10 is essentially MTMTE #67.

Kurona wrote:I'm pretty sure Jro's said on his Twitter, but yeah, the name change and numbering restart was purely a business decision. It was always intended to just be MTMTE all the way through; so Lost Light #10 is essentially MTMTE #67.

Then why bother? Personally I like Lost
Light better as a title, they should have had that from the beginning.

Rodimus Prime wrote:

Kurona wrote:I'm pretty sure Jro's said on his Twitter, but yeah, the name change and numbering restart was purely a business decision. It was always intended to just be MTMTE all the way through; so Lost Light #10 is essentially MTMTE #67.

Then why bother? Personally I like Lost
Light better as a title, they should have had that from the beginning.

I agree on the latter, and as for the former I think it's generally to do with Revolution. They were hoping for a big huge sales boost and #1s tend to get better sales.

Kurona wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:

Kurona wrote:I'm pretty sure Jro's said on his Twitter, but yeah, the name change and numbering restart was purely a business decision. It was always intended to just be MTMTE all the way through; so Lost Light #10 is essentially MTMTE #67.

Then why bother? Personally I like Lost
Light better as a title, they should have had that from the beginning.

I agree on the latter, and as for the former I think it's generally to do with Revolution. They were hoping for a big huge sales boost and #1s tend to get better sales.

But if it was common knowledge that LL would be a continuation of MTMTE then it wasn't really a #1 issue. Or does IDW think its readers are that stupid?

No, it's just a fairly common business practise in the comics industry. Go to any sales chart; first issues of anything sell better than issues that come after it. That's why restarts like this happen all the time.

Rodimus Prime wrote:

ScottyP wrote:The first 6 (7, really, but they don't do 7 issue TPBs these days) issues of Lost Light read way better in a collected format than they did as a serial. Maybe that will help, maybe it won't though. Sounds like you've made your mind up?

Yeah I prefer my comics in TPBs. I have the Marvel Titan TPBs as well as Regeneration One in addition to the individual issues. So I will give LL a shot in TPB format so I can get the whole story at once.

Slightly off note here, but I got all 4 issues of RG1 at the same time and i loved it. It was a great run, probably helped by me getting it all at once to read. Still pick it up to read time to time

Also courtesy of Previews World, we have some more variant covers for IDW Publishing Transformers comics, this time for the second part of the Mutineers Trilogy in Lost Light #11! The images mirrored below feature art by Nick Roche and Josh Burcham, Alex Milne and Josh Perez, and Joana Lafuente (as a counterpart to the recently seen Optimus Prime variant cover here). Check them out and browse our database for more, then join the conversation in the Energon Pub!

Transformers Lost Light #11
(W) James Roberts (A) Priscilla Tramontano (CA) Nick Roche
Success? The crew of the Lost Light, led by the mutinous Getaway, is now only weeks away from completing their quest. But such remarkable progress comes at a price. Just how far is their new captain prepared to go to find Cyberutopia? Unfortunately for the likes of Riptide and First Aid, it turns out the answer is "very far indeed."
In Shops: Nov 29, 2017
SRP: $3.99

(W) James Roberts (A) Priscilla Tramontano (CA) Alex Milne
Success? The crew of the Lost Light, led by the mutinous Getaway, is now only weeks away from completing their quest. But such remarkable progress comes at a price. Just how far is their new captain prepared to go to find Cyberutopia? Unfortunately for the likes of Riptide and First Aid, it turns out the answer is "very far indeed."
In Shops: Nov 29, 2017
SRP: $3.99

(W) James Roberts (A) Jack Lawrence (CA) Joana Lafuente
Success? The crew of the Lost Light, led by the mutinous Getaway, is now only weeks away from completing their quest. But such remarkable progress comes at a price. Just how far is their new captain prepared to go to find Cyberutopia? Unfortunately for the likes of Riptide and First Aid, it turns out the answer is "very far indeed."
In Shops: Nov 29, 2017
SRP: PI

So we're getting Cyberverse versions of Shockwave, Thundercracker and Skywarp too! ... I mean, not awfully surprising, but hey.

I love how the synopsis changes by 1 name between what's listed here and what was advertised at the end of issue 10.

Hint: Riptide's name was replaced with Thunderclash's.

Also, that First Aid cover...

Definitely want dat First Aid cover! I really liked issue 10 and am eager to see how this ends for Getaway.

I wish I could be more patient and read the TPBs instead (like I did for MTMTE)....but I like going to the comics store to pick up the latest issue.

Va'al wrote:Oh don't get me wrong: Getaway is a piece of ****. Always has been since introduction in IDWverse.

So was Megatron. A genocidal piece of ****. And he was redeemed, made charismatic, and endeared to the reader.

I am frustrated by how the two are being used by the narrative in almost opposite ways, to condemn one while shrugging away the other. While both being pieces of ****.

But that is one if the joys of fiction. Anyone can be redeemed. Escapism at its finest, no?

I was intrigued by the possibilities with Megatron, and can't wait to see how he returns to the story....but to see him as fully redeemed?
I don't mind Optimus being more ruthless, either -- but I honestly still can't believe he killed Galvatron the way he did. But I will be reading that series in TPB, unlike with this one.

I just love the focus on the random assortment of characters in Lost Light, and you can tell Roberts is having fun, too.

I know this is the wrong thread, but...Optimus killed...Galvatron...?

Anyway...is it a certainty that MTMTE/LL will stop at 100 issues?

Rodimus Prime wrote:I know this is the wrong thread, but...Optimus killed...Galvatron...?

Anyway...is it a certainty that MTMTE/LL will stop at 100 issues?

No, they hope to at least make that threshold

Hate to be That Guy, but it probably won't get there. I'm gonna bet Lost Light gets canned or rebooted again somehow around the 21-22 mark.

I don't want that to happen, but it would not surprise me to see some major shakeups post-Unicron. In the meantime I'll do what I can buying multiple covers every month in my desperate bid to throw money around trying to prevent the inevitable.

ScottyP wrote:Hate to be That Guy, but it probably won't get there. I'm gonna bet Lost Light gets canned or rebooted again somehow around the 21-22 mark.

I don't want that to happen, but it would not surprise me to see some major shakeups post-Unicron. In the meantime I'll do what I can buying multiple covers every month in my desperate bid to throw money around trying to prevent the inevitable.

Or... maybe it just ends? I mean, let's face it, MTMTE was not going to last forever and Season 3 is pretty clearly going to be the final season. I'm sure they'll give James enough space to wrap everything up while also preparing for the inevitable soft-reboot that happens post-Unicron.

^That's a good re-wording of what I was trying to say I think this is either it, as Roberts has always been clear that the story has an ending that is known to him, or this is the lead up to a stretch that is the end.

Of course, the intended title for the finale is "There is a Light That Never Goes Out" iirc. While yes, that's a song title, I think it's a fun and possibly unintended spin on the old "It never ends!" Furmanism.

Dropping in to say I loved this issue. The twist was well executed, character-driven, and satisfying. First time in a long while I felt a wave of WTF pass over me in a totally didn't-see-it-coming way.

I haven't gone through all the negative posts, but will have to do so later. Very intrigued to read why everyone's crapping all over this issue.

Thanks to iTunes, we have a new preview for the upcoming Transformers: Lost Light #11! Lost Light #11 picks up where #10 left off, serving as the middle chapter of the Mutineers Trilogy. We left off last issue with the reveal that there were many crewmembers who had been reduced to sparks, brains, and spines in engex containers, other crewmembers who were questioning the decision to go with the mutiny, some of those mentioned crewmembers stuck in a brain memory loop including the Protectobots, Thunderclash, and Mirage, and a Getaway that is far more ruthless and more dictatorish than when we previously saw him almost 2 years ago. This chapter starts with the mutiny recruiting story, with Getaway telling someone in Rung's office about how the process went down. While the person may be Rung, it is highly unlikely, and we are left wondering who he is really talking to.

Check out the 3 page preview below, and let us know what you think of these new pages in the comments section below!

Success? The crew of the Lost Light, led by the mutinous Getaway, is now only weeks away from completing their quest. But such remarkable progress comes at a price. Just how far is their new captain prepared to go to find Cyberutopia? Unfortunately for the likes of Riptide and First Aid, it turns out the answer is “very far indeed.”

Hearts? Really? Is this book even trying to pretend to be serious any more?

I don't know; the part where Atomizer has his gun under the table, pointed at Mainframe (just in case), was a nice touch. Not all the little details are bad.

Glarryg

Wow, Getaway really has become just cartoonishly evil at this point, hasn't he? I got the impression when this whole mutiny thing started, that Getaway was at least working from the extreme but not unreasonable perspective of "high command gave the guy responsible for the the deaths of thousands of my friends wrap on the wrist and a position of authority, what a slap in the face to the people who fought and died because of this guy. He's gotta go, it's only fair, our other captain is a moron anyway."

I didn't read the last issue, so the rest of you might not be surprised at this point, but this makes the whole situation a lot less compelling for me. Also, he's gotta be talking to Froid, right?

Thunder clash is a war hero not a teen heartthrob.

great looking art

MagicDeath wrote:Anyone here collect in this format? Any thoughts on it?

when i saw the dive in art quality i went trade for lost light (along with the fact that the "No 1" launch gimick meant my retailer didnt get an issue in till no 3) and after issue 6 of OP i did the same for it too.

i havent read it yet as it only arrived in the post yesterday but its a good HALF the price of individual issue for me and its the format i keep up to in titles ive dropped but still have an interest in. currently im a good halfway through hickmans run on FF for instance- with an aim to get to his secret wars "event" where anything worth buying at marvel comics ended

the time lag is a bastard.

it means ya cant come in and have casual posts with fellow seibertronians as you wont be up to speed for months on end. trade 2 of lost light for instance wont be out till march 18 so while i drop in now and again to see previews i cant really discuss something without ruining a story for myself. the flip side of course is you get the whole story at once.

i remember the bitching that was going around back in the furman days and the complaints about how slow "inflitration" and the like was in individual issues. pretty much everyone agreed it read better as a trade. in furmans defense he's admited that "writing for the trade" is the business model now though.

i will say its ALOT easier to store the trades too.

Glarryg wrote:I don't know; the part where Atomizer has his gun under the table, pointed at Mainframe (just in case), was a nice touch. Not all the little details are bad.

Glarryg

A touch and detail from something we were aware of for almost two years now. Maineframe was right upfront when the mutiny was reveled in the very same issue we saw them meeting up with people with the nudge gun under the table. It’s a detail that’s completely irrelevant and pointless to be pointed out.

Randomhero wrote:

Glarryg wrote:I don't know; the part where Atomizer has his gun under the table, pointed at Mainframe (just in case), was a nice touch. Not all the little details are bad.

Glarryg

A touch and detail from something we were aware of for almost two years now. Maineframe was right upfront when the mutiny was reveled in the very same issue we saw them meeting up with people with the nudge gun under the table. It’s a detail that’s completely irrelevant and pointless to be pointed out.

That's a pretty ungenerous posture. If someone appreciates that detail, why take their enjoyment away?

Randomhero wrote:

Glarryg wrote:I don't know; the part where Atomizer has his gun under the table, pointed at Mainframe (just in case), was a nice touch. Not all the little details are bad.

Glarryg

A touch and detail from something we were aware of for almost two years now. Maineframe was right upfront when the mutiny was reveled in the very same issue we saw them meeting up with people with the nudge gun under the table. It’s a detail that’s completely irrelevant and pointless to be pointed out.

Actually it isn't, it explains the difference in the crew that goes to Necroworld the first time vs. the second time. Mainframe, Hound, Atomizer, and Riptide were doing homework, not paling around. This flashback scene occurs during the events of issue 40, so it works out as the first trip to Necroworld is in 44.

If you're looking for something to be negative about, Thunderclash being there is an actual continuity error, unfortunately
https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/ ... 2103428097

Is that a Getaway star in his hand?

News@Rama has a preview of Lost Light #11 at https://www.newsarama.com/37512-thunder ... eview.html

ROM VS. TRANSFORMERS: SHINING ARMOR #5 also has a Preview at https://shar.es/1MvzDh

A couple of Seibertron.com community members have linked to us to the full previews of this week's comics by IDW Publishing featuring our very own Cybertronian favourites, in two separate series, both on entertainment site Newsarama - first up, the second part of the 'Mutineers' Trilogy' on Transformers: Lost Light, going back to the ship itself, and finding out exactly what Getaway is up to after all. It's still not nice.

Take a read below, and come back for a review of the issue later this week, courtesy of Twincaster and IDWverse master (one of five) ScottyP.

Transformers: Lost Light #11
James Roberts (w) • Jack Lawrence (a & c)
Success? The crew of the Lost Light, led by the mutinous Getaway, is now only weeks away from completing their quest. But such remarkable progress comes at a price. Just how far is their new captain prepared to go to find Cyberutopia? Unfortunately for the likes of Riptide and First Aid, it turns out the answer is “very far indeed.”
FC • 32 pages • $3.99
Bullet points:
- Variant cover by Joana Lafuente!

I hope I can score a copy tomorrow!

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



Jesus Christmas........

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


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

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


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


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

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


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


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

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


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

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



Bonus! James Roberts' soundtrack suggestions for this issue:

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

Great review! Thanks Scotty!