Sneak Peek: Transformers More Than Meets The Eye Ongoing #19

"I was not the first Ultra Magnus..."

So I take it when we saw UM "die" those times before, the bot under the armor actually did indeed die, and someone else took up the UM name/armor?

James Roberts is systematically destroying one of my all-time favorite Autobots. I mean, first he was just kinda lame in this series. Now he's...something.

I just miss his badass days back in Furman's run.

I guess I feel like he went from a badass during the Expansion crisis to being more of an "Adrien Monk of Comedic Purposes". As Tyrest said: he used to command respect; no he's just ridiculous.

*sigh*. Sorry. I suppose Robert's is succeeding at making me emotional, though. So kudos to that.

Nemesis Maximo wrote:James Roberts is systematically destroying one of my all-time favorite Autobots. I mean, first he was just kinda lame in this series. Now he's...something.

I just miss his badass days back in Furman's run.

I guess I feel like he went from a badass during the Expansion crisis to being more of an "Adrien Monk of Comedic Purposes". As Tyrest said: he used to command respect; no he's just ridiculous.

*sigh*. Sorry. I suppose Robert's is succeeding at making me emotional, though. So kudos to that.

Admittedly I never like UM so I don't really care what he does with him. I hear what you're saying though. I find it funny that Roberts is poking fun at that very fact. It actually makes me somewhat care for UM. then again, if a character makes me laugh I usually like them a lot.

What the hell? I'm not sure if I want to throw my hands up in rage or stir with nervous anticipation for Wednesday!?

And what's with that wacky moustache? Is he on a safari in 1914 Africa?

Nemesis Maximo wrote:James Roberts is systematically destroying one of my all-time favorite Autobots. I mean, first he was just kinda lame in this series. Now he's...something.

"I wasn't the first Ultra Magnus"

My favorite TF character isn't a character but just a name of a power suit that use by different people. Unbelievable and disappointment! Now I can be done reading IDW Comic and save the money for TF figures.

YES! Star Saber! The most kickass Autobot of all time!

"MTMTE" is my favorite TFs comic book series. Roberts has done an exceptional job of weaving creativity, humor, & TFs history.

"RID," OTOH,...

REMINATOR wrote:My favorite TF character isn't a character but just a name of a power suit that use by different people.

Not necessarily... Ultra Magnus has always been reamed for being a poor man's Optimus Prime - what if they go all the way with it? What if he was an attempt by Tyrest to reproduce the idea of the Prime, with the memories of each successive Magnus being accumulated over time?

That would explain his high level of skill (combined repertoire of a line of individuals), and Ultra Magnus would still be an independent, unique character in a way.

I think it's kind of neat.

It also opens another door and a whole new line of 'what next?'

Ambus said he was a criminal right who'd been nailed by Ultra Magnus, right? And then we might presume he assumed the mantle of Ultra Magnus to serve his sentence, like the Arbiter in Halo.

So, with a whole passel of characters that Tyrest considers 'criminals' in his possession, could it be that one of the other regulars is going to assume the mantle of the Magnus?

Could Tailgate get a new lease on life?

Could Chromedome be looking for an opportunity to put his old life behind him, without erasing his memories?

Drift could come bouncing through the door still, to create a very strange Magnus revamp...

But my money is on Skids. He's got the bravado, the intelligence, the combat skills, the foreshadowing paint scheme, and Tyrest has wanted him badly for some time.

As much as I like the anal rententive high-strung, overwhelmed Ultra Magnus, because I kind of empathize with him, Skids could become the sort of Ultra Magnus that you think of when you think of him at his most epic.



My only real complaint here is - how did Ratchet and the other docs not notice this when performing surgery on him????

Can't wait to see how this plays out. Not only are these the best TF comics out there, it's the best COMIC out there and the best TF fiction ever.

I like that Roberts was obviously inspired by the original UM toy being essentially a power up suit for the OP figure. Not sure how I feel about that idea for the character, but it's all in the execution and Roberts and Milne know how to execute.

Evert TF fan worth his/her salt should be supporting this book.

Wears a distinctive mustache, AND uses a powered suit?

Ultra Magnus Mark II, anyone?

But I would like to see Ambus find and redeem himself by the end of this story, so when he dons the armor again, he can say, "I wasn't the first Ultra Magnus, but I AM Ultra Magnus." (cue kicking Tyrest's tailpipe)

The Variable wrote:Wears a distinctive mustache, AND uses a powered suit?

Ultra Magnus Mark II, anyone?

Or if you prefer:

LOVE the focus group one.

...and suddenly the script for my still-seeking-an-artist Ultra Magnus origin "Mosaic" is canon. Whoa.

EDIT: Oooo...hang on...I see something potentially awesome concerning one of my favorite characters in this comic coming out of this revelation...too soon to say, will go back to lurking in the shadows for now...

It's fun to see Roberts poke fun at the criticism that readers have made of the character, and it's not the first time this happens in IDW.

These are also the same pages we saw from BotCon, so not too much spoiled on top of that, and the first panels are unusually silent again, like in Spotlight: Hoist. Hm.


Really surprised at the amount of comments this preview is getting compared to all the other comics news we put out! Good!

Wow... Killing off a character is one thing, but this... Is totally something else.. Good or bad.. Idk..
Mtmte is my favourite transformers series, so i really hope this doesnt ruin that..

I love me some Star Saber!

The optimism is strong with me when I say this, but I really hope they announce a Generations Star Saber at SDCC in a few days.

Mindmaster wrote:I love me some Star Saber!

The optimism is strong with me when I say this, but I really hope they announce a Generations Star Saber at SDCC in a few days.

I'd be surprised if that happens before some of the other running characters. Though, having said that, the Voyagers so far are minor cast members.

Someone on IDW has pointed out how Star Saber might be the new Tyrest enforcer. Ideas?

Va'al wrote:Someone on IDW has pointed out how Star Saber might be the new Tyrest enforcer. Ideas?

Minimums Ambus needs to find redemption. Instead of simply becoming Tyrest's stooge again, he gets a new set of armor and a new lease on life as...

Star Saber!

Just a theory.

I don't think that can work, though.

Star Saber has already appeared while Rodimus and Ambus are talking in the cell.

Va'al wrote:I don't think that can work, though.

Star Saber has already appeared while Rodimus and Ambus are talking in the cell.

Hmm...that'd put a damper on my theory now, eh?

Nemesis Maximo wrote:

Va'al wrote:I don't think that can work, though.

Star Saber has already appeared while Rodimus and Ambus are talking in the cell.

Hmm...that'd put a damper on my theory now, eh?

A little bit, maybe.

Did no one else notice that when they show Ultra Magnus' spark it a green .01% one? So Minimus Ambus, tiny little mustached nobody, the Luigi to his brother Dominus' Mario, has a super spark? Doesn't that seem odd?

The Point One Percenters are supposed to be the large warriors by nature. Your, to quote Prowl, "Optimus, Grimlock, Megatron. Fortress Maximus on a good day." Not your supersoldier serum created Phase Sixers, but your powerful bots. Your leaders. But tiny little Minimus has one? That doesn't add up.

Rung is allegedly a 0.1%, or at least speculatively so.
(If we interpret issue 3's 'brightest spark' in this way.)

I see why people are nervous about where things are going with Magnus, but I don't really see what there is to get mad about. Ultra Magnus is supposed to be a robot in a big armor suit, and it's not like there is no precedent for robots having different names when they wear armor. Granted, I have a weakness for Dread Pirate Roberts-type characters, but I don't think my optimism is at all misplaced when I say I'm sure we're in for a very interesting ride.

As far as the G1 cartoon, Animated, Prime, and RiD (i.e. literally every US cartoon appearance) were concerned, no Ultra Magnus was not a bot in a suit of armor. Not to mention this revelation goes a hell of a lot further than "he's a bot in a suit".

Sooooooo....
Looks like Tyrest's a victim of Gideon's Glue, huh?

Noideaforaname wrote:As far as the G1 cartoon, Animated, Prime, and RiD (i.e. literally every US cartoon appearance) were concerned, no Ultra Magnus was not a bot in a suit of armor. Not to mention this revelation goes a hell of a lot further than "he's a bot in a suit".

Well that's easy - the toys on which the character was based in those series weren't 'bots in a suit of armor.

Me, I don't have any issue with a smaller green bot wearing a suit to get power up armor. In fact, I love that idea since that's his G1 root toy, DW supported that. My biggest beef with IDW UM is that there is no real UM character. It is basically just a bunch of guys who put the armor on and called themselves UM. So far, from the flashback, we saw 3 UM died, and now M.Ambus being the 4th guy. And when he died, another bot will take over.

I uh, hm.

...Can't deal with this right now?

The colour scheme of Minimus Ambus is similar to the Dreamwave Ultra Magnus inner bot- green, white, grey. I thought he looked familiar for some reason and I think that may be it. Or not. Maybe my brain will dredge up something else...



I also just noticed something. Is it just me or do Rung and Kaon resemble each other? Also, what does Rung transform in to? He's a psychiatrist so maybe he transforms into a psychiatrist's chair like how Kaon transforms into an electric chair? Or.... what if he turns into something used for shadowplay? He's a psychiatrist so he likes working with minds, he's of a very similar build as Kaon so he could have a similar alt-mode, and he hasn't transformed in Primus knows how long - why? Could he maybe have feelings of guilt about past uses of his alt-mode? Could shadowplay have been used on him and getting into psychiatry was his deep sub-conscious telling him what he used to do for a living?

Dammit! I need to know about this character!

In all this discussion about powered armor, has anyone considered thinking of Ultra Magnus as a form of Pretender?

If Minimus Ambus was integrated into the armor (since he can change into alt-mode and all), could that then explain why Ratchet and the other medics did not realize the truth about his identity?

But yeah, the reveal of Ambus' green spark is quite intriguing, indeed.

WHYYYYY does it have to come out on the 30th!? Its too long a wait! Lol
I guess in the meantime I'll be reading more beast hunters and monstrosity comics..

Ideal outcome: Rodimus finally talks some sense in Minimus and makes him realize that what Tyrest is doing, the position he is in, is too much power for any one bot to wield. This would lead the two of them to sneak in and regain the Magnus armor, give Tyrest a healthy dose of humility in the form of an epic ass-whoopin' and maybe we will finally get an U.M. that doesn't have a trypticon sized stick up his ass.
Despite the obvious twist in the plot, I'm sticking with this series to see how it all plays out. Everything so far, while strange at times, has been really good in terms of story line. Well plotted out and very intricate with things planned 5 steps ahead of what the readers are expecting so I have faith that this new twist is going to actually be something that works out for the best and blows all our minds.

lowman_x wrote:


I also just noticed something. Is it just me or do Rung and Kaon resemble each other? Also, what does Rung transform in to? He's a psychiatrist so maybe he transforms into a psychiatrist's chair like how Kaon transforms into an electric chair? Or.... what if he turns into something used for shadowplay? He's a psychiatrist so he likes working with minds, he's of a very similar build as Kaon so he could have a similar alt-mode, and he hasn't transformed in Primus knows how long - why? Could he maybe have feelings of guilt about past uses of his alt-mode? Could shadowplay have been used on him and getting into psychiatry was his deep sub-conscious telling him what he used to do for a living?

Dammit! I need to know about this character!

I've thought the same thing. They do share a lot of design similarities. I don't think they are the same though. Too many points don't add up just right. Then again this is Roberts at the helm and he's done crazier before. Could be that the event with the Scavengers doesn't run alongside the adventures of the Lost Light at all and actually takes place in the far future. Then again, why would the DJD have a member that's been an Autobot for eons? Only time will tell... hopefully issue 22 will shed some much needed light on mr. 90% secret compartments

Ultra Magnus wrote:I uh, hm.

...Can't deal with this right now?

Well struck, good sir.

Initially seeing the armour burst open to reveal a 'bot that looks like it should be serving in a French restaurant felt like a kick in the nuts as I quite like Ultra Magnus. But I could actually get behind this idea. A single identity that lives for eternity, kicking ass and defying death, it all adds to the legend. It makes me think of Dr. Who, the Avatar, The Phantom. I just hope they reveal that there is/was an original Ultra Magnus that started the legend.

sabrigami wrote:

lowman_x wrote:


I also just noticed something. Is it just me or do Rung and Kaon resemble each other? Also, what does Rung transform in to? He's a psychiatrist so maybe he transforms into a psychiatrist's chair like how Kaon transforms into an electric chair? Or.... what if he turns into something used for shadowplay? He's a psychiatrist so he likes working with minds, he's of a very similar build as Kaon so he could have a similar alt-mode, and he hasn't transformed in Primus knows how long - why? Could he maybe have feelings of guilt about past uses of his alt-mode? Could shadowplay have been used on him and getting into psychiatry was his deep sub-conscious telling him what he used to do for a living?

Dammit! I need to know about this character!

I've thought the same thing. They do share a lot of design similarities. I don't think they are the same though. Too many points don't add up just right. Then again this is Roberts at the helm and he's done crazier before. Could be that the event with the Scavengers doesn't run alongside the adventures of the Lost Light at all and actually takes place in the far future. Then again, why would the DJD have a member that's been an Autobot for eons? Only time will tell... hopefully issue 22 will shed some much needed light on mr. 90% secret compartments

Should have clarified: not that they're the same person, but that they're related. There seems to be quite a bit of story about brothers and family members and the like. Rung and Kaon look very similar design-wise. Now, this *could* just be Alex's distinct style coming in to play, but what if it isn't? What if the design cues are intentional? What if the Lost Light crew and the DJD are more intrinsically linked than we thought?

Bear with me:

What if Rung and Kaon are related? What if Tarn is Dominus Ambus - brother to the current (now-demoted) Ultra Magnus/Minimus Ambus? What if the reason Minimus went the Ultra Magnus route was due to a rivalry with his bigger, stronger brother? What if Minimus is on "The List"? What if Tarn is the result of shadowplay conducted on Dominus by Rung millennia ago? What if Tarn (Dominus) finds Overlord and therefore finds Rewind who we find out isn't actually dead?

Knots within knots...

It's not out of the question for Minimus to have some sort of sibling rivalry with his spark brother. Maybe he felt the need to be known as a "someone" to somehow measure up. (Just the primary notifiers offer some hints in that direction.)

If someone else's theory was correct and Minimus is a .01%...wouldn't that mean the same for his brother?

All I can say for Rung (bless his soul) is...whatever he changes into he has 3 wheels. Hopefully not the Transformers' version of an "Eurkel Machine" But who knows.

Anyway, anyone notice the repository displayed the large computer screen Ultra Magnus/Minimus Ambus had taken interest in had a certain code?

Section 19
(80) 4

Considering how we already know there's a strong tie to Skids to "19 (80) 4", not to mention how Tyrest blurted out as it's significance (and what can be defined as his massive abuse of power) as a justice anyone else really, really, REALLY disliking the guy?

And them working with Decepticons and unhinged doctors was bad enough.

Regarding Rung's alt, here's Milne's original sketch/concept. http://markerguru.deviantart.com/art/rung-design-253697485

HK, contributin' the pretty (the art, that is, not me)

Thanks for the link. Communications vehicle. Makes sense.

And explains the thumb.

cybercat wrote:Regarding Rung's alt, here's Milne's original sketch/concept. http://markerguru.deviantart.com/art/rung-design-253697485

HK, contributin' the pretty (the art, that is, not me)

I think it was mentioned somewhere that this might not be the official alt-mode though. I read somewhere in the forum either here or at IDW that Roberts might have other plans in store.

Sagitta wrote:
All I can say for Rung (bless his soul) is...whatever he changes into he has 3 wheels. Hopefully not the Transformers' version of an "Eurkel Machine" But who knows.

Anyway, anyone notice the repository displayed the large computer screen Ultra Magnus/Minimus Ambus had taken interest in had a certain code?

Section 19
(80) 4

Three wheels... could be a communications vehicle OR what about a wheelchair-like device with, say, tools used to physically mess with bots' brain modules? Hmm? HMMMMM?

But seriously, I'm looking forward to the reveals about Rung that will hopefully come soon.

1984. Thought warfare. Is this a direct link to shadowplay? A link to powers that certain characters have like Mindwipe and Soundwave? Time will tell.

That reminds me...Magnus/Minimus likes or at least listens to the Empyrean Suite. (iss. 16) Or, as with Skids, it's a suite stuck in his head. (iss. 6)

Another Shadowplay link?

lowman_x wrote:

cybercat wrote:Regarding Rung's alt, here's Milne's original sketch/concept. http://markerguru.deviantart.com/art/rung-design-253697485

HK, contributin' the pretty (the art, that is, not me)

I think it was mentioned somewhere that this might not be the official alt-mode though. I read somewhere in the forum either here or at IDW that Roberts might have other plans in store.

Yeah, I was about to say that too. Still, good speculative fuel.

personally im not sure what to make of these developments -all i can say is -are they going to save tailgate spark or is he going to go lights out saving everyone. it kinda makes sense since ultra magnus was just a prime figure with a suit of armor -though i don't like the inner bot we will see were this goes. also is everyone on this missing a few bolts -seems to be that way to me

Wasn't the crew of the Lost Light originally advertised to be a band of misfits Rodimus had gotten himself stuck with?

Not that he's much better. But, what the hey.