Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21

Wednesday, July 25th, 2018 3:49AM CDT

Categories: Comic Book News, Reviews
Posted by: Va'al Views: 16,909

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The Grand Architect
(Spoiler free-ish)

Synopsis
Something is coming. It cannot be stalled. It cannot be avoided. It cannot be reasoned with. As the end of everything draws near, a simple instruction rings out across the universe: prepare, confront, repel.

Some people are ready for the fight of their lives. Rodimus and the increasingly shambolic crew of the Lost Light…yeah, they’re really not. Like, at all.

Crusadercons congregate!

Story
We reach the third chapter in this final story arc, Crucible, and some of the answers to the bigger questions (raised since some very early stages not only of Lost Light, but also More than Meets the Eye, and even early days of Phase two of IDW) start coming to the surface, without too much ambiguity to them, but still plenty to unpack. How did it all fare? Read on to get an idea!

series recap from Misfire again

Nothing is created from nothing. You need a beginning, a grounding, a starting point for anything else to develop, and that applies to story matter too. Nothing is entirely new, but new takes on something previously established can work well, and James Roberts has some experience in doing just that. The reception of those elements, of course, will vary, but I was pleased with the majority of what was put out.

spot the hint(s)

What we interestingly, and gloriously, have in the characterisation of the cast is something of a full circle, with some development arcs coming to fruition (see Rodimus and Ultra Magnus, for example), and some true to form points in the plot advancement and pacing that lent themselves well to appreciating just how much these characters have been through since the Death of Optimus Prime at least.

you guise

I have more thoughts on two of the bigger plot points below, but give this some time to air first. The characters have always been the lynchpin for the plot to revolve around in this series, and this issue makes sure to return to that idea even while giving us some direct answers, even while hurtling towards the end, even when those answers were not what we thought we looked for.

Art

Jack Lawrence returns to cover the art side of the book after last issue, and what I was really takne by was the almost lightness, thinner lines that the issue seems to sport, as if the inking brush has gone down by a couple sizes - and you know what? The book is all the better for whatever changed: it's sleek, it's clean, it's pointed, and everything is uniquely itself (even the one possibly repeated panel), and it's what the issue needed most of all.

wot e said

The accomplishment of the art, of course, is also due to Joana Lafuente's work on the colours, which wonderfully complement the panels. Her approach ends up giving us a game of light and shadows leading to the Grand Architect reveal and their ship's crew, as well as highlighting each indivually, painstakingly rendered character on the page.

and then of course, shots like these

The lettering brought in by Tom B Long has some excellent moments in its fontwork, but the captions are probably what you might want to pay attention to more specifically - especially with a script which comes through as surprisingly succinct and direct to the point.

In terms of covers, Lawrence and Lafuente's main version of the shocked cast is repurposed, in its uncoloured lineart as the retail incentive, so you can pick out more details there if sought after - while the series continues its creator spotlight with a Geoff Senior / Josh Burcham B variant, of a very different vision of the Lost Light crew and the Crusadercons. Check the thumbnail, and our database for more!

Thoughts
Spoilerish ahead

There are two major moments in the book. This is the closest we've ever been to the Grand Architect and the major disappearances from the series, and we do get a reveal about their identity - though whether that is final is up to debate, as the Seibertron.com Energon Pub thread is already showing. The second is a nudge closer to the 'Great Threat' against which they were preparing to confront and repel. Something that I am still mulling over, admittedly. But a minor gasp was gasped nonetheless.

oh, Starscream is in here too, yeah

With what is probably the sleekest, lightest Lawrence art in the series so far, the book is a pleasure to get lost in, and there is no actual losing oneself in the story - everything is surprisingly clear and accessible even in its self-referential universe, the editorial touches from Mariotte work in that regard, and almost the entire cast is present for what will be the final Big Bad - be they who you think they are or not, that is entirely yet to determine.

½ out of

Credit(s): IDW

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Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1973867)
Posted by Bounti76 on July 25th, 2018 @ 5:37am CDT

My thoughts:

I think the Grand Architect is actually just using Pharma's body, and isn't actually Pharma.

Scorponok went out too easy.

The Magnificence still confuses me.

Maybe we'll finally find out what Rung turns into.

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1973869)
Posted by Shockwave 8 on July 25th, 2018 @ 5:50am CDT

Is it just me, or does it seem like, in the first full group shot on the Lost Light, Nickel is just staring at Roller? Probably thinking, "well, he looks familiar…" :lol:

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1973876)
Posted by Ironhidensh on July 25th, 2018 @ 7:59am CDT

I didn't gasp at the end, but I did let out a very happy "about damn time"!

I don't think Megatron is the threat, I think he is there to be the salvation.

I don't buy the Pharma nonsense. Might be his body, but not him.

Also, I really thought rung was going to prove to be a firing pin or something for the planet guns.

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1973882)
Posted by Optimus Prime13th on July 25th, 2018 @ 8:32am CDT

Called it yesterday with the full preview! I knew it was Pharma!... or at least his body. Grant Architect may be in control of his body but that doesn't matter because damnit I called it! And I was right! Feels good to right for once... also its good to see Megatron again

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1973883)
Posted by Optimus Prime13th on July 25th, 2018 @ 8:34am CDT

Double post

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1973886)
Posted by Ironhidensh on July 25th, 2018 @ 8:59am CDT

Optimus Prime13th wrote:Double post

Well, that's that then. We have to take you out back and shoot you. Could take awhile as well, Va'al has terrible aim.

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1973887)
Posted by Va'al on July 25th, 2018 @ 9:04am CDT

My aim was true, I edited the posts in time for most spoilers to be kept intact!

I think.

Anyway, how bout those two returns, huh?

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1973889)
Posted by Ironhidensh on July 25th, 2018 @ 9:16am CDT

Va'al wrote:My aim was true, I edited the posts in time for most spoilers to be kept intact!

I think.

Anyway, how bout those two returns, huh?

like I said, I think Megatron is returning to save the day. Maybe against unicorn, maybe GA's threat. I don't think, or at least I hope, he is the threat.

Pharmacy I'm hoping is just a shell.

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1973890)
Posted by Va'al on July 25th, 2018 @ 9:24am CDT

So can we say that, in a story that has dealt often with mental health issues and addiction, the real enemy is Big Pharma?

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1973897)
Posted by Ms. Trebuchette on July 25th, 2018 @ 10:18am CDT

Va'al wrote:So can we say that, in a story that has dealt often with mental health issues and addiction, the real enemy is Big Pharma?

That is quite the mood right there, sir!

And yes, Big Pharma is *ALWAYS* the enemy.

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1973899)
Posted by ArmadaPrime on July 25th, 2018 @ 10:19am CDT

Va'al wrote:So can we say that, in a story that has dealt often with mental health issues and addiction, the real enemy is Big Pharma?

Wowsers, what an issue. I'm inclined to agree with Ironhidensh on the role of Megatron, though I think it's very very deliberate that his hand was placed to hide the view of his faction symbol. Y'know, "don't change back" and all that.
The other thing that's clearly deliberate but still puzzling me is Rung's lost arm. It's clear based on the forced transformation and the identical colour scheme (how did I not spot that second one before? #-o

) that rung & in particular his alt mode have some link to the magnificence. It looks like perhaps the magnificence could fit into the circle on the end of Rung's alt? (What makes that REAL funky is remembering that the magnificence is/was supposedly a living Cybertronian, who eschewed most of their body Solomus-style.) My thought is, perhaps the lack of arm affects Rung's alt mode, making him unable to properly interface with the magnificence, thus either saving the day or dooming it...
As with all the best of Roberts' work, I'm left with a lot of answers and a lot more questions!

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1973902)
Posted by Randomhero on July 25th, 2018 @ 10:50am CDT

What if it’s the functionalist council? They do combine. What if the Grand architect is the gestalt mind and spark of the funcionalists from the alternate universe that escaped due to megatrons revolution and they ended up spiraling though time and wound up in the IDW-verse(or the functionist council from the IDW-verse), ended up in the past and orchestrated a plan to to create perfect transformers, knew eventually megatron would return and planned an all out assault to stop him from coming back?

It’s not just exposition of Cybertron having a forgotten function of being a weapon and it would give the arc of the functionalist universe more meaning than just getting rid of megatron at the start of LL

What and who would consider megatron a beast and the greatest threat to their point of view of the universe?

Functionalism

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1973903)
Posted by Ms. Trebuchette on July 25th, 2018 @ 10:52am CDT

Fun fact. This is the shape of the Hydrocarbon Benezene.

A circle inside of a hexagon.

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1973920)
Posted by ScottyP on July 25th, 2018 @ 12:26pm CDT

Ms. Trebuchette wrote:

Fun fact. This is the shape of the Hydrocarbon Benezene.

A circle inside of a hexagon.

Son of a...

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1973921)
Posted by ZeroWolf on July 25th, 2018 @ 12:34pm CDT

So many spoilers...

I'm too weak...

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1973926)
Posted by snavej on July 25th, 2018 @ 1:26pm CDT

My guess: Grand Architect = Scrapper? It's a comic. No one has to stay dead. Scrapper was one of the best architects in the Decepticon army.

Edit: Just read LL #21. I guessed wrong. #-o

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1973927)
Posted by Diaboragon on July 25th, 2018 @ 1:32pm CDT

I'm super confused on the state of Tailgate. I thought he exploded in his cell previously and only showed up as a simulation in Mediri because everyone heard he was dead. But then he escapes with everyone out of the fake afterspark and onto the Lost Light?

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1973949)
Posted by ArmadaPrime on July 25th, 2018 @ 2:53pm CDT

Diaboragon wrote:I'm super confused on the state of Tailgate. I thought he exploded in his cell previously and only showed up as a simulation in Mediri because everyone heard he was dead. But then he escapes with everyone out of the fake afterspark and onto the Lost Light?

My guess is that he was teleported out of the coffin/cell and sent to Mederi, which cured him- but he was stuck there unable to "ascend" because Cyclonus wasn't around. Who teleported him, or how, I'm not sure- but the Magnificence listed him as one of the most important bots who should meet the architect, so maybe there's more to be revealed...

Randomhero wrote:What if it’s the functionalist council? [...]
What and who would consider megatron a beast and the greatest threat to their point of view of the universe?
Functionalism

Ooooohhh, that's very very good. I can definitely get behind this theory.

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1973977)
Posted by Ms. Trebuchette on July 25th, 2018 @ 5:29pm CDT

Soooo.

I think I just figured out what the Crusadercons have to do to stop the Grand Architect.

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1973987)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on July 25th, 2018 @ 5:57pm CDT

A well done issue! I believe no doubt that Pharma is a rebuilt shell for the true architect. Can't wait to see who he is.

And yes, they brought back Megatron. That was a good move.

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1973991)
Posted by ArmadaPrime on July 25th, 2018 @ 6:02pm CDT

Ms. Trebuchette wrote:Soooo.

I think I just figured out what the Crusadercons have to do to stop the Grand Architect.

y'know I REALLY THINK YOU MIGHT tho
12 fragments of the primal key: the functioning council is mad dog twelve members who combine into the Key to Vector Sigma
Infinity Gate: possibly the rift through the Warren?
Travel sideways in time: Elegant Chaos was time travel, but sideways in time would point to the Dissolution arc, as that was a parallel universe-hop
Agents of Chaos: could easily point to the Tyrest/Scorponok/Flame/etc squad, but could also point towards Unicron, who's been described as Chaos a few times...

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1974002)
Posted by RobRobRobRobRob on July 25th, 2018 @ 6:59pm CDT

I think we all noticed (as someone stated before) that it looks like Rung can interact in some way with the Magnificence while in his Alternate Mode, and we have been told that (at least according to Shockwave's speculation... and Agonizer) that the Magnificence is a Knight of Cybertron who relinquished their body. So I was thinking... what happened to the body?

My theory: The body is Rung. After the Knight gave up his body and 'became' the Magnificence, perhaps his body was (somehow) given new life, mind-wiped (possibly through mnemosurgy), and was (somehow) returned to Cybertron before the Functionist rose to power. After all, Rung did say that he recognized the Grand Architect's motto from 'a long time ago.' We've seen before that wiped memories can be regained thanks to phrases thanks to Skids (granted, it was a Nudge Gun), so it's not without president for Rung to remember the Motto and nothing else. Perhaps it's a memory from when he was a Knight, or perhaps it's something that the Knight had imprinted on him. In addition, it seems that the Magnificence was able to 'talk' to Rung without anyone else hearing, and even take control of his body to force him to tranform, as if they have some kind of further connection. Robert's doesn't usually bring up legends unless they're important, and his deliberate mentioning of Shockwave's hypothesis is suspicious to say the least. If this isn't right, I see this little bit of dialogue being important later.

This even works with the Functionist Timeline: If my memory serves me correct, the Knights disembarked long before the Functionists rose to power, and there was more than enough time to get Rung back to Cybertron to be captured.

I could be completely wrong, but I just wanted to throw it out there.

On a slightly more sketchy note, I had a thought that perhaps The Grand Architect's 'vision' was actually the same one as Drift's only in reverse. The idea is that the Architect couldn't see everything behind him, meaning that he didn't know who to trust. All he saw was ahead of him, and he saw Drift standing before something... like maybe the Fleet we see at the end of the issue in front of the portal. Maybe that's why the Grand Architect let Rodimus on the ship - he didn't know Drift was part of the crew and therefore doesn't know if they're in league with the Fleet (unless they were in the vision, which puts a whole in this theory). It's a bit of a messy idea, but I could see there being drama between Drift and the Architect in issues to come.

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1974072)
Posted by Sagitta on July 26th, 2018 @ 12:45am CDT

ArmadaPrime wrote:My guess is that he was teleported out of the coffin/cell and sent to Mederi, which cured him- but he was stuck there unable to "ascend" because Cyclonus wasn't around. Who teleported him, or how, I'm not sure- but the Magnificence listed him as one of the most important bots who should meet the architect, so maybe there's more to be revealed...

I seem to recall Grimlock had been transported out of his cell by random while he had been on Garrus 9 due to certain "tport pockets". (Will have to look up that issue again when Scorp is in his "reveal mode" with Grimlock. But anyway...) Very possible Tailgate experienced pretty much the same thing.

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1974073)
Posted by Sagitta on July 26th, 2018 @ 12:56am CDT

About the Magnificence responding when the Grand Architect instructed Rodimus to choose his delegation...anyone remember the Magnificence has a habit of responding when there is an organic link being used? It did so when Scorp, Grimlock, and Misfire all handled the organic baby.

And, strongly of the belief Pharma isn't truly Pharma. First Aid did manage to shoot his head off before his remains were dragged into Tyrests's makeshift portal to "Cybertopia". The only guy that survived a head shot was Rung...and he still had a tiny portion of his brain remaining. Pharma...not so much. Just a thought.

Also agree with Rung having a special connection to the Magnificence. WIll be interesting to see how this all pans out.

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1974146)
Posted by ZeroWolf on July 26th, 2018 @ 9:26am CDT

Did it ever reveal why the funcionists were so put off by rungs alt in the alternate universe? So put off they were going to kill him?

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1974236)
Posted by Randomhero on July 26th, 2018 @ 2:58pm CDT

ZeroWolf wrote:Did it ever reveal why the funcionists were so put off by rungs alt in the alternate universe? So put off they were going to kill him?

They didn’t know what Rung was. He turned into nothing and therefore opposed their entire way of life: a transformer without function.

They tried to kill him because they discovered he can create photonic crystals. Photonic crystals apparently are only used to store constructed cold sparks, something they deem an abomination and goes against thier beliefs.

It’s all covered in the first arc in LostLight.

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1974238)
Posted by Randomhero on July 26th, 2018 @ 3:01pm CDT

Sagitta wrote:About the Magnificence responding when the Grand Architect instructed Rodimus to choose his delegation...anyone remember the Magnificence has a habit of responding when there is an organic link being used? It did so when Scorp, Grimlock, and Misfire all handled the organic baby.

And, strongly of the belief Pharma isn't truly Pharma. First Aid did manage to shoot his head off before his remains were dragged into Tyrests's makeshift portal to "Cybertopia". The only guy that survived a head shot was Rung...and he still had a tiny portion of his brain remaining. Pharma...not so much. Just a thought.

Also agree with Rung having a special connection to the Magnificence. WIll be interesting to see how this all pans out.

Also remember the big hint about the grand architects just using pharma as a body is pharma died and the grand architect showed up later not long after on Luna one and saved Tyrest

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1974395)
Posted by ZeroWolf on July 27th, 2018 @ 2:09am CDT

Randomhero wrote:
ZeroWolf wrote:Did it ever reveal why the funcionists were so put off by rungs alt in the alternate universe? So put off they were going to kill him?

They didn’t know what Rung was. He turned into nothing and therefore opposed their entire way of life: a transformer without function.

They tried to kill him because they discovered he can create photonic crystals. Photonic crystals apparently are only used to store constructed cold sparks, something they deem an abomination and goes against thier beliefs.

It’s all covered in the first arc in LostLight.

Ah thanks for the recap random ;)^

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1974410)
Posted by Sagitta on July 27th, 2018 @ 4:11am CDT

Randomhero wrote:
Sagitta wrote:About the Magnificence responding when the Grand Architect instructed Rodimus to choose his delegation...anyone remember the Magnificence has a habit of responding when there is an organic link being used? It did so when Scorp, Grimlock, and Misfire all handled the organic baby.

And, strongly of the belief Pharma isn't truly Pharma. First Aid did manage to shoot his head off before his remains were dragged into Tyrests's makeshift portal to "Cybertopia". The only guy that survived a head shot was Rung...and he still had a tiny portion of his brain remaining. Pharma...not so much. Just a thought.

Also agree with Rung having a special connection to the Magnificence. Will be interesting to see how this all pans out.

Also remember the big hint about the grand architects just using pharma as a body is pharma died and the grand architect showed up later not long after on Luna one and saved Tyrest

Ah, yes. Well, there's that too. :-D

Given Robert's ability of dragging in various characters from across the TF mythos wouldn't be the least bit surprised if the actual villain happened to be a Quintesson of some sort.

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1974419)
Posted by ZeroWolf on July 27th, 2018 @ 4:36am CDT

I'd rather devil z then a quint ;-)

but I do think that randomhero may have been on too something when he said about the functionalist council...after all, they did also sprout off abut 'till all are one'. They could easily be a single gestalt mind now (which in a biblical/red dwarf reference should reveal a true name of Legion)

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1974473)
Posted by Sagitta on July 27th, 2018 @ 6:29am CDT

Interesting thought. Although unsure how the Council would pull off time-travel. Although if they had...more than likely they wouldn't have picked the Suitcase Route.

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1974821)
Posted by Cheesinator on July 28th, 2018 @ 4:06pm CDT

Is anyone else intrigued by Megatron's last line in the issue? He seems to genuinely think the others should be expecting him.

I guess it also works in a "I'm here to ruin/save the day because of course I am" context, and maybe I'm just reading into it too much, but it sounds to me like he thinks the LL crew know more than they actually do...which is odd.

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but he didn't have an armed fleet when we last saw him right?

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1974986)
Posted by Va'al on July 29th, 2018 @ 4:02am CDT

Cheesinator wrote:Is anyone else intrigued by Megatron's last line in the issue? He seems to genuinely think the others should be expecting him.

I guess it also works in a "I'm here to ruin/save the day because of course I am" context, and maybe I'm just reading into it too much, but it sounds to me like he thinks the LL crew know more than they actually do...which is odd.

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but he didn't have an armed fleet when we last saw him right?

He did get into the other universe at the start of full-on revolution though!

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1975349)
Posted by Big Grim on July 30th, 2018 @ 12:33pm CDT

Counterpunch wrote:What Rodimus did in that scene was so refreshing, so much in the vein of the classically heroic "Prime" style that was I genuinely happy to see someone just do the right thing, take the moral/heroic high ground. I think the artistic effort in this scene was a fine way to bring Rodimus back around to the noble hero he was when he came before Optimus in Chaos Theory.

I friggin' adored that! When he emerged in his proper colours again, with Getaway in his arms, I had a huge, doofy grin on my face. Hell yeah Rodimus! You did good!

I also loved the nod to the old G1 Mechaniballs. Silly fun.

Then the next issue hit.

Magnus is intimidating. That was wonderful. Scorponok seems a little wasted.

Where did Pharma come from and how is he the Architect?

So glad to see Megatron return! Should be interesting seeing him meet up with Magnus and Rodimus again!

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1975354)
Posted by ZeroWolf on July 30th, 2018 @ 12:40pm CDT

Big Grim wrote:
Counterpunch wrote:What Rodimus did in that scene was so refreshing, so much in the vein of the classically heroic "Prime" style that was I genuinely happy to see someone just do the right thing, take the moral/heroic high ground. I think the artistic effort in this scene was a fine way to bring Rodimus back around to the noble hero he was when he came before Optimus in Chaos Theory.

I friggin' adored that! When he emerged in his proper colours again, with Getaway in his arms, I had a huge, doofy grin on my face. Hell yeah Rodimus! You did good!

I also loved the nod to the old G1 Mechaniballs. Silly fun.

Then the next issue hit.

Magnus is intimidating. That was wonderful. Scorponok seems a little wasted.

Where did Pharma come from and how is he the Architect?

So glad to see Megatron return! Should be interesting seeing him meet up with Magnus and Rodimus again!

Theory on the street is that whatever was on the other side of the portal that pharma's body went into, is now wearing him like a suit.

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1975363)
Posted by snavej on July 30th, 2018 @ 1:11pm CDT

LL #21: I noticed that Rung was able to transform when his arm had recently been burnt off by a spark-eater. Furthermore, I didn't see a gap in his alt mode where his arm would have been. He's rather talented!

Pharma: maybe he's actually Overlord in disguise, or at least half of Overlord. (See 'Requiem of the Wreckers'.) He has a similar sadistic streak.

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1975577)
Posted by Randomhero on July 31st, 2018 @ 11:05am CDT

I’m set on it’s the Functionalists. That arc hasn’t really left much impact to the over all story and every story except that has served a purpose to the MTMTE/LL except that. Well, other than removing megatron but that’s not enough. The functionalists have been this background thing through out the entire series but haven’t had an ounce of pay off.

It’s way too late in the game to introduce a villain that’s not been really established. Four issues are left. Being the functionalists ties it to the last of mysteries that are left hanging. Rung, Cybertron having a function, why does Luna One have engines and the biggest one. They cog symbol. ITS A COG! The functionalists are walking cogs! They’ve been called Cog face!

Look at the big picture.

The matrix had to be returned to Cybertron. Someone brought it back, members of that clan that used the symbol. They came back, helped restore Cybertron with the primes and ruled Cybertron under functionalism until the senate over threw them and took away most of their power.

The functionalist council were the knights of Cybertron

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1975578)
Posted by ZeroWolf on July 31st, 2018 @ 11:18am CDT

I agree, and they would hold a big grudge against megs, enough to make him their robo-Satan (the beast).

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1975580)
Posted by Randomhero on July 31st, 2018 @ 11:22am CDT

ZeroWolf wrote:I agree, and they would hold a big grudge against megs, enough to make him their robo-Satan (the beast).

EXACTLY!

look back at one constant that keeps coming up through MMTE/LL. It’s the functionalists. They haven’t had a pay off. All the other villains of this series have been paid off except them.

Everything must have a function and every COG in the machine must have a purpose

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1975586)
Posted by ZeroWolf on July 31st, 2018 @ 11:35am CDT

And architects know where to put pieces together...I'll now be very dissatisfied if it isn't, this all fits together very well

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1975596)
Posted by ScottyP on July 31st, 2018 @ 12:18pm CDT

ZeroWolf wrote:And architects know where to put pieces together...I'll now be very dissatisfied if it isn't, this all fits together very well

Functionists would be fine, but careful with that last part! The ink is dry on these books (story-wise) so if things don't happen as you expect, as long as it's good try to remember to enjoy the ride regardless

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1975597)
Posted by DarkEnergon on July 31st, 2018 @ 12:20pm CDT

Were there 12 knights of cybertron and 12 functionist council members?

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1975604)
Posted by Randomhero on July 31st, 2018 @ 12:39pm CDT

It has to be them. There’s no one it can logically be. Anyone else just doesn’t make sense.

Why would megatron come back. He thought he got they left behind to give them a second chance. Even though his chest is cleverly hidden I think that’s just for everyone say “what’s going on there?!” And he’s still sporting the autobot badge. I won’t be surprised if he isn’t

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1975607)
Posted by Randomhero on July 31st, 2018 @ 12:44pm CDT

DarkEnergon wrote:Were there 12 knights of cybertron and 12 functionist council members?

No there were thousands of Knights. We saw them in the recording but I think the crew that made it back to Cybertron with the Matrix were the future functionalist council.

If it is them, are they the functionists from the main universe or the counter universe or both. Megatron returns for a reason and he’s not alone. I just think he drove them off Cybertron and they wound up in this universe in the past. They combined together and formed the super spark that skids saw.

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1975608)
Posted by ZeroWolf on July 31st, 2018 @ 12:46pm CDT

ScottyP wrote:
ZeroWolf wrote:And architects know where to put pieces together...I'll now be very dissatisfied if it isn't, this all fits together very well
Functionists would be fine, but careful with that last part! The ink is dry on these books (story-wise) so if things don't happen as you expect, as long as it's good try to remember to enjoy the ride regardless

Well I'll enjoy the cast interactions as always, I mean regardless of who the big bad is, Rodimus and co always entertain. I think it's just more that the big bad being the functionalist council, would be the best ending, on the other hand though, I guess, we all thought that about Tarn and Roller and look what happened there.

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1975609)
Posted by Randomhero on July 31st, 2018 @ 12:48pm CDT

ZeroWolf wrote:
ScottyP wrote:
ZeroWolf wrote:And architects know where to put pieces together...I'll now be very dissatisfied if it isn't, this all fits together very well
Functionists would be fine, but careful with that last part! The ink is dry on these books (story-wise) so if things don't happen as you expect, as long as it's good try to remember to enjoy the ride regardless

Well I'll enjoy the cast interactions as always, I mean regardless of who the big bad is, Rodimus and co always entertain. I think it's just more that the big bad being the functionalist council, would be the best ending, on the other hand though, I guess, we all thought that about Tarn and Roller and look what happened there.

Not for one second did I think roller was Tarn. I never thought it was him due to all the blatant clues that were just screaming it’s roller and that’s not how Roberts writes and that’s exactly what they were.

I always thought it was proteus or the original Magnus since we never saw their death. Happy I was wrong but never once did I see Tarn as Roller.

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1975611)
Posted by Randomhero on July 31st, 2018 @ 12:55pm CDT

The thing about Roller and Tarn is becuase some people saw the circled vents on the side of his head and for years bothered Roberts about it. Roberts just went with it for fun but always intended him being Glitch.

With my theory about the functionalist, that just make sense. It’s certainly makes more sense than quintessons who haven't been established at all in MTMTELL or even Overlord retuning but that’s just because people just weren’t happy with his ending in Requiem but what else were you gonna do with him? They made him stupid powerful and unbeatable and had to be clever to get rid of him. Overlord was nothing but a side character in MTMTE and loved him so much they wanted him to be the next megatron or Starscream or Shockwave. He was a powerful thug. It was more fitting to have Nick write his demise than anyone else.

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1975617)
Posted by ZeroWolf on July 31st, 2018 @ 1:14pm CDT

I agree about overlord, there's not a lot more to be done with him and no rivals really to have a confrontation with aboard the LL. As you say much better that Nick got to write his end.

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1975619)
Posted by Randomhero on July 31st, 2018 @ 1:37pm CDT

I don’t want it to sound like I don’t like Overlord I do. Hell I bought Legends m Overlord becuase I wanted the feminine face and I treat him as IDW Overlord but I’m not gonna say he’s one of the best characters in IDW. I hated his origin and I’m really not a fan of how he was portrayed by Roberts. In LSOTW he was a war general and a feared one and you did get a feel that the Wreckers probably could have defeated him. In MTMTE he was made into wolverine and made to be this unstoppable killing machine that was just obsessed with megatron and I didn’t like that. It really became “well how do you beat him?” Same reason I’m not the biggest DJD fan. They were fun in their introduction and then they slaughtered 200 autobots with ease and by their next appearance needed help to find and kill megatron. I just didn’t like it. They were overpowered until the script didn’t want them to be.

With Overlord, his story was told. He’s not making a miraculous return becuase he died. You see him dying from his dialogue as his first half is tossed into the gate with his speech starting to get worse.

Re: Review of IDW Transformers: Lost Light #21 (1975657)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on July 31st, 2018 @ 4:11pm CDT

Just saying, potential spoiler:

Alex Milne is working on Unicron and included in his sketches that he posts that are usually for a book he's working on due out in 2 to 3 months, Autobot Megatron is there, just posted earlier today. So it looks like Autobot Megatron will make an appearance in something Milne inked, even if for a panel

Also, I'm still not so unsure about organics and Quintessons being involved. Afterall, the Magnificence responded to the grand architect, and it has been said that it cannot resist anything tainted with organics. I like the functionist theory, but I'm not on board with it entirely.

Plus, with regards to the final villain, Glitch was someone that only piqued a few peoples suspicions of being Tarn, and had Roberts not had Megatron say his name, his physical self didn't even look like it, so we would never have known.

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