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Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12

Transformers News: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12

Wednesday, December 27th, 2017 1:31AM CST

Categories: Comic Book News, Reviews, Site Articles
Posted by: Va'al   Views: 47,533

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(Spoiler free-ish)



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.

Transformers News: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12
Self-awareness is good, I guess..?


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.

Transformers News: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12
I'm getting there


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.

Transformers News: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12
well paced; painful, but well paced


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.

Transformers News: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12
...basically


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.

Transformers News: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12
I'm not sure why


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.

Transformers News: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12
it's the little things


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.

Transformers News: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12
Sums it up for me


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.



. :SG-BOTS: :SG-BOTS: ½ out of :SG-BOTS: :SG-BOTS: :SG-BOTS: :SG-BOTS: :SG-BOTS:



Bonus content: Official Music Recommendations


Credit(s): IDW

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Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928353)
Posted by Bounti76 on December 27th, 2017 @ 2:37am CST
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.
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928356)
Posted by Va'al on December 27th, 2017 @ 3:18am CST
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.
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928357)
Posted by Allenspurs on December 27th, 2017 @ 3:58am CST
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.
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928358)
Posted by Bounti76 on December 27th, 2017 @ 4:19am CST
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?
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928360)
Posted by Randomhero on December 27th, 2017 @ 5:00am CST
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
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928361)
Posted by ricemazter on December 27th, 2017 @ 5:32am CST
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?
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928362)
Posted by Va'al on December 27th, 2017 @ 5:37am CST
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.
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928364)
Posted by Ironhidensh on December 27th, 2017 @ 5:50am CST
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.
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928365)
Posted by Randomhero on December 27th, 2017 @ 5:55am CST
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.
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928370)
Posted by Randomhero on December 27th, 2017 @ 7:17am CST
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!
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928374)
Posted by Va'al on December 27th, 2017 @ 8:26am CST
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.
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928375)
Posted by Nexus Knight on December 27th, 2017 @ 8:58am CST
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.
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928378)
Posted by ScottyP on December 27th, 2017 @ 9:11am CST
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!
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928383)
Posted by Randomhero on December 27th, 2017 @ 9:29am CST
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
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928385)
Posted by Va'al on December 27th, 2017 @ 9:36am CST
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. :-?
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928386)
Posted by Randomhero on December 27th, 2017 @ 9:42am CST
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
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928387)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on December 27th, 2017 @ 9:53am CST
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
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928388)
Posted by Va'al on December 27th, 2017 @ 9:59am CST
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!
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928390)
Posted by Va'al on December 27th, 2017 @ 10:03am CST
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.
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928392)
Posted by Nexus Knight on December 27th, 2017 @ 10:26am CST
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.
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928393)
Posted by Va'al on December 27th, 2017 @ 10:29am CST
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.
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928394)
Posted by Randomhero on December 27th, 2017 @ 10:46am CST
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
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928395)
Posted by Nexus Knight on December 27th, 2017 @ 11:11am CST
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.
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928403)
Posted by ArmadaPrime on December 27th, 2017 @ 12:21pm CST
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. :-?
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928404)
Posted by BATTLEMASTER IIC on December 27th, 2017 @ 12:24pm CST
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 :SG-CONS:
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928407)
Posted by Black Bumblebee on December 27th, 2017 @ 12:48pm CST
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?
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928408)
Posted by Randomhero on December 27th, 2017 @ 12:52pm CST
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.
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928435)
Posted by MaverickPrime on December 27th, 2017 @ 4:40pm CST
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.
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928436)
Posted by Deadput on December 27th, 2017 @ 4:49pm CST
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.
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928452)
Posted by Sagitta on December 27th, 2017 @ 7:25pm CST
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 :michaelbay: 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. >:oP
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928453)
Posted by avarathriul on December 27th, 2017 @ 7:48pm CST
I thoroughly enjoyed it, though I imagine we are not getting the whole story as of yet. Still it is exciting and I am glad to know that no one is safe in this story, it makes me feel even more attached to the various characters, and heartbroken when they fall.
Plus well, I would buy entire books about the Scavangers.
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928472)
Posted by Deadput on December 27th, 2017 @ 10:11pm CST
avarathriul wrote:I thoroughly enjoyed it, though I imagine we are not getting the whole story as of yet. Still it is exciting and I am glad to know that no one is safe in this story, it makes me feel even more attached to the various characters, and heartbroken when they fall.
Plus well, I would buy entire books about the Scavangers.
That would make sense...

If we actually knew and got attached to these characters, don't tell me your attached to Rook from a toy, a bio and barley any fiction to go with him

Besides Mirage and maybe Atomizer none of the characters that died had any depth in this continuity they were all wasted opportunity, it's like if Roberts did not want to play with some of his toys but wrecked them all so no one else could ever use them.

Roberts can't write a satisfying conclusion in most of his stories most of MTMTE has been building up mysteries and then dropping the ball with the results almost everytime for example Tarn.

Not surprised though Roberts hates combiners so it's not unexpected he would take the first opportunity to slaughter them, pretty similar to his constant disrespect towards the Japanese Transformers such as Star Saber and Deathsaurus.
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928473)
Posted by avarathriul on December 27th, 2017 @ 10:21pm CST
Deadput wrote:
avarathriul wrote:I thoroughly enjoyed it, though I imagine we are not getting the whole story as of yet. Still it is exciting and I am glad to know that no one is safe in this story, it makes me feel even more attached to the various characters, and heartbroken when they fall.
Plus well, I would buy entire books about the Scavangers.
That would make sense...

If we actually knew and got attached to these characters, don't tell me your attached to Rook from a toy, a bio and barley any fiction to go with him

Besides Mirage and maybe Atomizer none of the characters that died had any depth in this continuity they were all wasted opportunity, it's like if Roberts did not want to play with some of his toys but wrecked them all so no one else could ever use them.

Roberts can't write a satisfying conclusion in most of his stories most of MTMTE has been building up mysteries and then dropping the ball with the results almost everytime for example Tarn.

Not surprised though Roberts hates combiners so it's not unexpected he would take the first opportunity to slaughter them, pretty similar to his constant disrespect towards the Japanese Transformers such as Star Saber and Deathsaurus.


Okay what I typed wasn't clear, there are characters you almost expect to have plot armor, like g1 characters, and in a ship filled with red shirts and mary sues, never knowing who is going to make it, is fun.

as for respect for japanese characters, i can get that but at the same time, this isn't really g1 this is something else kinda like Ultimate Marvel to regular Marvel. Not all of the reimaginings worked well (*cough, cough Deadpool) but some became their own characters.
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928481)
Posted by Mr.MicroMaster on December 27th, 2017 @ 11:49pm CST
Spoilers! I literally just read this issue, so I literally just saw my favorite combiner get brutally gun downed by his fellow Autobots. I'm beyond upset and disappointed have no words to describe my anger. For me this was worse then the cast cull of the 86 movie and as bad as the gratuitous violence of the Bay films. I personally expected much better from Roberts. On another note as some who did not personally grow up with G1 when it first aired but grew up with the rhino VHS of the 86 movie, the 25th anniversary season one DVD, and the Hub reruns I love G1 as much as somebody who actually grew up with it. An what happened to Mirage and Rook is worse then what Bay did Ironhide. If a woke up tomorrow and find out this book was canceled after issue twenty I wouldn't be upset which is heartbroken for me because its predecessor More Than Meets the Eyes was one of the first comics I ever read. As said before we all know Roberts can right better stories than this trash. This is the worst comic I have ever read. I'm going to give Roberts till at least issue 20 and if I don't think it has improved I'm dropping the title which truly sad for me to say. Final note if told me five hours ago I would hate this issue I would've laughed and said your crazy and hope Getaway has the worst death in the history of comics he is more Megatron than Optimus. But hey that's just my opinion.
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928482)
Posted by Mr.MicroMaster on December 28th, 2017 @ 12:19am CST
Va'al wrote:
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!

After reading the other posts on this thread I'm not sure what to think. One thing have to about the deaths in Last Stand of the Wreckers for the most part meant something an the story around them was truly wonderful and smart the deaths in this story mean nothing and the story around them is not great but it was at one point. In my opinion the deaths in this issue carry no weight and that is what upsets me most. I can't wait to hear you and ScottyP talk about this issue I'm truly interested to hear your opinion and view and I've a feeling I'll respect it. But hey that just my opinion.You and the Twincasts fan M.Master.
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928483)
Posted by Targetmaster Kup on December 28th, 2017 @ 12:49am CST
Mr.MicroMaster wrote:Spoilers! I literally just read this issue, so I literally just saw my favorite combiner get brutally gun downed by his fellow Autobots. I'm beyond upset and disappointed have no words to describe my anger. For me this was worse then the cast cull of the 86 movie and as bad as the gratuitous violence of the Bay films. I personally expected much better from Roberts. On another note as some who did not personally grow up with G1 when it first aired but grew up with the rhino VHS of the 86 movie, the 25th anniversary season one DVD, and the Hub reruns I love G1 as much as somebody who actually grew up with it. An what happened to Mirage and Rook is worse then what Bay did Ironhide. If a woke up tomorrow and find out this book was canceled after issue twenty I wouldn't be upset which is heartbroken for me because its predecessor More Than Meets the Eyes was one of the first comics I ever read. As said before we all know Roberts can right better stories than this trash. This is the worst comic I have ever read. I'm going to give Roberts till at least issue 20 and if I don't think it has improved I'm dropping the title which truly sad for me to say. Final note if told me five hours ago I would hate this issue I would've laughed and said your crazy and hope Getaway has the worst death in the history of comics he is more Megatron than Optimus. But hey that's just my opinion.


This x 100. Thank you!
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928486)
Posted by ebo716 on December 28th, 2017 @ 1:00am CST
My main problem with the story right know is how they changed the Getaway’s motivation. At first, he had a point that you could make a decent argument for, but they changed it so he’s just a poor mans Thunderwing.
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928489)
Posted by Lore Keeper on December 28th, 2017 @ 1:46am CST
This issue continues a trend I noticed some time after the Combiner Wars arc: removing combiners from the story. I understand that many were not fans of Combiner Wars, and IDW seemed content keeping them out of the story before Hasbro forced them to promote their new toy line. However, once the combiners were brought in, they were now a part of the universe, and I was interested in seeing how these talented writers could work them into the bigger picture. Yet, over time, it seems that each combiner is being swept from the board in a way that feels almost spiteful on the writers' part. After Devastator was reworked to more closely resemble his new toy, he was quickly shelved. Optimus Maximus had his components scattered to the wind and now Mirage is dead. Superion must never again be formed because... reasons. The Stunticons and Combaticons are both locked up for life. And now, 5/6 of Defensor is dead. This strong desire to preclude a combiner presence seems to go all the way back to the early days, with the deaths of Technobots, Seacons, and Terrorcons removing their gestalt forms from future stories. They did the same with Hellbat, but Liokaiser has somehow managed to form himself with the power of belief or something...
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928502)
Posted by Burn on December 28th, 2017 @ 4:04am CST
I read this issue.

Don't know what to say about it considering I'm so fucking lost with this book these days. Too much going on, don't care enough to pay attention to all the various plots, made worse by things that happened years ago being brought back and we're expected to remember it.

This book used to be fun, I don't know where or when it lost the fun, but it's definitely not there any more.
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928509)
Posted by ricemazter on December 28th, 2017 @ 6:48am CST
Mr.MicroMaster wrote:
Va'al wrote:
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!

After reading the other posts on this thread I'm not sure what to think. One thing have to about the deaths in Last Stand of the Wreckers for the most part meant something an the story around them was truly wonderful and smart the deaths in this story mean nothing and the story around them is not great but it was at one point. In my opinion the deaths in this issue carry no weight and that is what upsets me most. I can't wait to hear you and ScottyP talk about this issue I'm truly interested to hear your opinion and view and I've a feeling I'll respect it. But hey that just my opinion.You and the Twincasts fan M.Master.


You're spot on with the difference between this story and earlier stories. In the wreckers books the deaths are actually relevant to the subject of the story: the wreckers aren't heroes and war is grotesque. There the deaths matter. In previous MTMTE issues, those single deaths raised the stakes and were based on characters we actually got to know; Pipes and Ambulon were established, albeit minor, parts of the cast. The Protectobots? Up to this point they were background elements given potential for actual development by combined wars. Likely they were killed off because Defensor complicates whatever plans Roberts ultimately has.

The biggest disappointments of the two LL arcs so far are that, rather than have interesting character interactions brought on by all the changes to the formula, Defensor, Megatron, the mutiny, we've spent the last 12 issues jumping through hoops trying to take pieces off the board. Arc 1 was essentially just about getting rid of Megatron and setting up future plot points to be revisited later. Arc 2 so far has been essentially a complicated series of events engineered to get rid of Defensor, make the mutiny make any kind of sense, and, you guessed it, set up plot points to be revisited later.
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928538)
Posted by Tyrannacon on December 28th, 2017 @ 11:00am CST
PreviewsWorld has posted Transformers: Lost Light #13 Cover B. Cover B features the art by Nick Roche for the artist's edition this month. Below is a brief synopsis of what to expect, along with a other information, and what the cover ultimately looks like!

(W) James Roberts (A) Alex Milne (CA) Nick Roche
CABIN FEVER! Crammed into a dead Decepticon astropod that's ten sizes too small, the displaced crew of the Lost Light face their most serious threat yet: each other. As tensions rise and tempers fray, only one Autobot is arrogant enough to think he can save the day. Enter Rodimus, expert mediator.

• Part of IDW's Artist's Edition Cover Month!
In Shops: Jan 24, 2018
SRP: $3.99


Image
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928542)
Posted by o.supreme on December 28th, 2017 @ 11:15am CST
Wow...a lot of comments on issue 12, and I appreciate the mixed opinions. Some here know my general consensus on MTMTE/LL, I'm not a huge fan. But...I try to support IDW, even tough they disappoint me more often than not. I'd rather have something than nothing at all. Now that being said, I usually don't give my 2 cents each time a new issue of LL comes out because admittedly I'm not a fan, and I don't want to mire fan discussion with just negativity..that's not cool.

But...since we got the early advertisements for this, I was especially looking forward to this issue. Combiners are my favorite aspect of the Transformers lore, and the thought that Getaway might be getting his comeuppance via the Protectabots/Defensor sounded neat...

Then a few pages in...That line from Luke Skywalker in The Last Jedi hit me like a ton of bricks. -"This is not going to go the way you think"...

Oh boy...There really isn't anything that can be summarized that hasn't already been said, but seeing an awesome combiner being taken down like a chump yet again doesn't sit well with me, neither does crazy zealot Star Saber. I thought we had seen the last of him, I had to watch at least 3 episodes of Victory to get me back to where I need to be in my mind with that character.

So yeah, I'm back to square one, not really liking this series. But I know its by far the most popular TF book currently, so I hope fans are enjoying it. I have Optimus Prime to keep me going until we see what havoc Unicron wreaks in mid 2018.
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928548)
Posted by Mr.MicroMaster on December 28th, 2017 @ 11:40am CST
That cover is hysterical I give it a :rodimusstar:. I have I feeling I just might enjoy this issue.
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928551)
Posted by o.supreme on December 28th, 2017 @ 11:49am CST
Covers A & C (the one used in the review) are awesome...I'll say that much Too bad Cover C is one of those *things that never happens* covers...
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928564)
Posted by Targetmaster Kup on December 28th, 2017 @ 12:48pm CST
Well here are the sales numbers courtesy of ComiChron for November 2017:

#268 in units, #255 in sales Optimus Prime #12 sold 5,811 units
#270 in units #256 in sales Transformers Lost Light #11 sold 5,786 units
#271 in units #274 in sales Transformers First Strike #1 sold 5,730 units
#274 in units #262 in sales Optimus Prime #13 sold 5,638 units

So Lost Light is not the most popular Transformers comic, if the downward trend of Optimus Prime is matched by Lost Light. Interesting that Transformers First Strike sold so well!
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928566)
Posted by o.supreme on December 28th, 2017 @ 12:52pm CST
That is interesting and all, like I said, I've always preferred RID/TF/Prime and TAAO as opposed to MTMTE/LL. But fans constantly rave about MTMTE/LL, and it is always winning awards...so I naturally just thought it was the most popular because its seemingly all what anybody talks about.
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928570)
Posted by Targetmaster Kup on December 28th, 2017 @ 1:03pm CST
Interestingly, in October, First Strike #5 and #6 outsold Optimus Prime and Lost Light. So from that, it seems like people like the shared universe, and they aren't all Transformers fans!
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928574)
Posted by Deadput on December 28th, 2017 @ 1:20pm CST
o.supreme wrote:Covers A & C (the one used in the review) are awesome...I'll say that much Too bad Cover C is one of those *things that never happens* covers...


It's false advertising which is disgusting, it's not like that cover with Swerve and Anode that was posted today which we can obviously tell is non canon but that cover you mentioned? That's actual lying to make people buy the comics and they don't care if people get disappointed they were lied to since it's too late IDW got their money.
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928579)
Posted by partholon on December 28th, 2017 @ 1:39pm CST
o.supreme wrote:That is interesting and all, like I said, I've always preferred RID/TF/Prime and TAAO as opposed to MTMTE/LL. But fans constantly rave about MTMTE/LL, and it is always winning awards...so I naturally just thought it was the most popular because its seemingly all what anybody talks about.


to put it in perspective both the OP issues in that chart and LL combined are now selling LESS than when furman was kicked off the book for "low sales"

sommats gonna happen man as this cant go on.

Optimus Prime 13 is one copy away from selling the same as "zombie tramp" FFS.
Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #12 (1928582)
Posted by Deadput on December 28th, 2017 @ 1:44pm CST
You know this kinda stuff could be avoided if there was only one or two comics instead of having dozens upon dozens at a time it makes it really confusing for people to understand and/or catch up.

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Transformers Podcast: Twincast / Podcast #349 - Agent of Chaos
Twincast / Podcast #349:
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