Spoiler Preview for IDW Transformers: Lost Light #22

*goes and reads the preview*

Well...kudos Roberts...you've certainly exceeded my expectations. Now prove to me that you know what you're doing

Well... that's a thing that's... um... happening

Just learned from another board that the ENTIRE ISSUE is already available for digital download. Already read it, but obviously I'll keep spoilers to myself.

Wait it was released today?

ZeroWolf wrote:Wait it was released today?

It's available on IDW Publishing's own website, but not on Comixology.

I caved and went to IDW publishing and picked it up.

NO SPOILERS!

But as everyone knows I’ve always been critical of this series. This issue actually started to make me cry.
Holy crap a comic has never made me get that emotional....well ultimate Spider-Mans death did but still

Randomhero wrote:I caved and went to IDW publishing and picked it up.

NO SPOILERS!

But as everyone knows I’ve already been critical of this series. This issue actually started to make me cry.
Holy crap a comic has never made me get that emotional....

That sounds like high praise...

This issue is amazing. Words can’t describe it other than amazing. It doesn’t answer everything but man it gets damn close.

I may cave and buy it if it doesn't get released by Amazon/Comixology before Wednesday.

Any issues I had with LL got erased in the past 2 issues, especially with how Getaway reached his end.

I caved and bought the issue.




HOLY. FUCKING. SHIT.!!!!!!!


That last page............. No spoilers because I have no words.

I can't wait to hear Scottyp's take on this.

I am not a frugal or financially responsible person, so keep that in mind, but the spending $4 on the digital version knowing I'll spend $8 on physical copies on Wednesday? No regrets at all.

Knowing I could have waited 24 hours for the digital review copy from IDW? Still, no regrets at all. Besides, those review copies are at a crap DPI and this is probably the best Transformers work Brendan Cahill has ever done.

Randomhero wrote:This issue is amazing. Words can’t describe it other than amazing. It doesn’t answer everything but man it gets damn close.

QFT. Really really super satisfying comic book.

Ironhidensh wrote:I caved and bought the issue.




HOLY. ****. ****.!!!!!!!


That last page............. No spoilers because I have no words.

I can't wait to hear Scottyp's take on this.

I'm honestly still processing it, but I was very pleased and impressed and want to go re-read a lot of MTMTE now!

*reads first page*

...oh.

*reads next page*

.....OH. OH NO.

ScottyP wrote:I am not a frugal or financially responsible person, so keep that in mind, but the spending $4 on the digital version knowing I'll spend $8 on physical copies on Wednesday? No regrets at all.

Knowing I could have waited 24 hours for the digital review copy from IDW? Still, no regrets at all. Besides, those review copies are at a crap DPI and this is probably the best Transformers work Brendan Cahill has ever done.

Randomhero wrote:This issue is amazing. Words can’t describe it other than amazing. It doesn’t answer everything but man it gets damn close.

QFT. Really really super satisfying comic book.

Ironhidensh wrote:I caved and bought the issue.




HOLY. ****. ****.!!!!!!!


That last page............. No spoilers because I have no words.

I can't wait to hear Scottyp's take on this.

I'm honestly still processing it, but I was very pleased and impressed and want to go re-read a lot of MTMTE now!

I was in a similar (but not as bad position) early this morning. But I'm happy to throw IDW an extra $8 at this point!

What a gratifying issue! So many things I have yearned to see resolved plot-wise and said character-wise over MTMTE/LL's entire run all in 22 pages!

Bravo!

It's never too late to achieve your childhood (or bothood) dreams.

Also! I can stan for any comic where the big bad is basically a Turkducken.

Ms. Trebuchette wrote:Also! I can stan for any comic where the big bad is basically a Turkducken.

Just when I had that old Hub Network promo bumper for Prime erased from recollection...

ScottyP wrote:

Ms. Trebuchette wrote:Also! I can stan for any comic where the big bad is basically a Turkducken.

Just when I had that old Hub Network promo bumper for Prime erased from recollection...

OH GOD! I had completely forgotten about that!

Now it's stuck in my head.........nooooooooooo


(still worth it.)

...anyone have the link to purchase this issue?
I tried checking the IDW site (https://www.idwpublishing.com/product/t ... -light-22/) but it's not showing up as available for purchase to me. Maybe they spotted the mistake and fixed it but now I'm gunna have to spend nearly a week trying to dodge spoilers

I too am very annoyed. Now I want to buy it and I can't! I need to know what was so big that every is shitting themselves

ArmadaPrime wrote:...anyone have the link to purchase this issue?
I tried checking the IDW site (https://www.idwpublishing.com/product/t ... -light-22/) but it's not showing up as available for purchase to me. Maybe they spotted the mistake and fixed it but now I'm gunna have to spend nearly a week trying to dodge spoilers

They (idw) confirmed on Twitter this is what happened.

I wonder how many people bought it off them then

Laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaame.

But as for the preview, I have to say, it's about time Roberts finally got back fully on the amazing track that was MTMTE. Simply put, Lost Light 1-12 was pretty much complete shit, with Riptide being the only redeemable quality from that year. Issue 13 was a step in the right direction thanks to Milne and Ten, and then after that things finally got truly on track, and now? This is what I have been waiting and wishing for.

Well done for finally returning to form.

Argh! Gotta wait until the 8th, when all three issues drop on Comixology!

Thank you to all of you who read the books and didn't say anything, I really appreciate it and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

Va'al wrote:Thank you to all of you who read the books and didn't say anything, I really appreciate it and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

I'll agree with this once I read it

Va'al wrote:Thank you to all of you who read the books and didn't say anything, I really appreciate it and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

The urge to share is strong, but the book is so good, would legitimately feel bad if I ruined it for anyone.

Ironhidensh wrote:

Va'al wrote:Thank you to all of you who read the books and didn't say anything, I really appreciate it and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

The urge to share is strong, but the book is so good, would legitimately feel bad if I ruined it for anyone.

I won't ask. I know some other sites have spoiled it, but I'll wait until next week to get it.

I'd wonder if IDW just doesn't say "screw it", and offer it for sale before Wednesday, since there's obviously a demand for it.

Without revealing what the actual big headfuck actually was, has anyone else who read this and is a sci TV fan thinking this is a very similar, if not rip off to a show from the last decade with the reveal.

Totally did not see it coming and adds a little humility to the world views that everyone has making larger than life characters actually appear normal and mortal.

I will certainly be going back and re-reading all issues now I know this info and seeing them in a totally different way now.

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:I'll tell you what though, I think the most controversial character, in a bad way, from IDW was Star Saber though. Squeaky clean to mass murderer in the name of religion. That pissed a ton of people off

And yet...
it happens.
All the time!

Horrible things happen in the name of religion
practically every day
since the dawn of mankind.

Yeah d-max's problem was that starsaber was turned into that kind of character

Ironhidensh wrote:

Va'al wrote:Thank you to all of you who read the books and didn't say anything, I really appreciate it and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

The urge to share is strong, but the book is so good, would legitimately feel bad if I ruined it for anyone.

Wednesday cannot come soon enough!

AlphaBass wrote:

Ironhidensh wrote:

Va'al wrote:Thank you to all of you who read the books and didn't say anything, I really appreciate it and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

The urge to share is strong, but the book is so good, would legitimately feel bad if I ruined it for anyone.

I won't ask. I know some other sites have spoiled it, but I'll wait until next week to get it.

I'd wonder if IDW just doesn't say "screw it", and offer it for sale before Wednesday, since there's obviously a demand for it.

I don't doubt they would if they could, but chances are the Diamond beast wouldn't be happy about that!

ZeroWolf wrote:Yeah d-max's problem was that starsaber was turned into that kind of character

The dude who took down a combiner single-handed got snuffed because he didn't have an airbrake (yes I know that's not what it's for but it gives a Looney Tunes-type visual).

Still, everything else has made up for it, easily.

AlphaBass wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:Yeah d-max's problem was that starsaber was turned into that kind of character

The dude who took down a combiner single-handed got snuffed because he didn't have an airbrake (yes I know that's not what it's for but it gives a Looney Tunes-type visual).

Still, everything else has made up for it, easily.

I've come to be OK with how Star Saber went out, considering what happened to Defensor.

Still not gonna forgive Roberts for that rubbish

AlphaBass wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:Yeah d-max's problem was that starsaber was turned into that kind of character

The dude who took down a combiner single-handed got snuffed because he didn't have an airbrake (yes I know that's not what it's for but it gives a Looney Tunes-type visual).

Still, everything else has made up for it, easily.

True, but remember that Cyclonus has been hinted at being a Badass for a while, even without his Dead Universe Invulnerability Powers. We just never really saw him cut loose.

I agree though, Star Saber shouldnt have taken Defensor down so easily

Flashwave wrote:

AlphaBass wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:Yeah d-max's problem was that starsaber was turned into that kind of character

The dude who took down a combiner single-handed got snuffed because he didn't have an airbrake (yes I know that's not what it's for but it gives a Looney Tunes-type visual).

Still, everything else has made up for it, easily.

True, but remember that Cyclonus has been hinted at being a Badass for a while, even without his Dead Universe Invulnerability Powers. We just never really saw him cut loose.

I agree though, Star Saber shouldnt have taken Defensor down so easily

If the choice is quick fights or awkwardly paced/scripted longer ones, I'll take the quick ones. It's really not an action comic so it's fine by me. Obv some want more action, so at least with Star Saber vs Cyclonus one can pretend there's a whole chunk of it that happens and is unseen.

If I had to choose, I'd rather a longer Getaway/Rodimus fight, even though the one we saw was paced nicely and brought a few things together. If they had more time/issues, I can imagine a more protracted fight.

We know there's a preview out there, but it spoils a lot just like the last preview, so nah - let's just go straight to the review tomorrow.

Can't wait, been looking forward for this and I've managed to control myself and not go looking for spoilers

Silly question - what time does it go on sale tonight/tomorrow? I know I'll be tempted to read the review before the comic.

You guys are hyping this issue up so much, I haven't read LL since Defensor was taken out, and I want to know what happens.

Synopsis
The final battle begins—and when it’s over, nothing will be the same. Everything that Lost Light—and More Than Meets The Eye before it—has thrown at you, from the biggest plot twist to the smallest incidental detail, has been leading to this: all your favorites, arm-in-arm, hand-in-hand, ready to go out in style.




Story
Crucible continues, and we find ourselves following on from precisely where we left off last issue, with its ending leading directly into this opening, meaning that our efforts to keep spoilers to a minimum are taking even more of a toll on the review writing. For this, and for reasons that will become clear, this piece will look different, as Va'al and ScottyP argue over the book instead - unlike what you might see in other places, this process actually has different views and sides!



V - First thing first, from a story perspective: I can see how this issue is technically, as a piece of ongoing serialised comics fiction, a good issue. What I personally took a problem with was how it dealt with some of its implications in light of previous criticisms I've brought into the fabric of MTMTE/LL. Specifically, its tendency to 'redeem' characters with a morally objectionable past and track record. A point which you disagree with.

S - New information, especially when it was not known by dead characters before they died doesn't redeem them, at least not to me. Getaway's methods were still a step too far and Scorponok was being subversive even without knowing what he might have accidentally been helping. One of the themes throughout the series is about knowing when to empathize with a character and their decisions as opposed to sympathizing with them. Understanding and forgiveness are different lanes on the same highway, but one of them can still be a breakdown lane if that's what's called for. This issue of Lost Light hits that point again subtly, but in the wider context of the bigger story the reiteration is enough for it to be effective here.



S - As is typical with Lost Light, the character moments and beats in their journeys take center stage here, though there is a nice amount of progression and revelation to be found in the larger plot to go along with that. A returning character that appeared at the end of LL 21 makes a real impression here, including a short but long-awaited moment with a former ally.

V - I definitely agree with that, given the encounters and beats we have with some of the lesser front characters, but well beloved by readers and integral to the story being told about that character. believe, in the grander scheme of things, my biggest issue is with Tyrest.

S - Tyrest's foundational character trait is that he used to be really wise and good and just but he's super broken now, to the point where Prowl has to send Getaway and Skids to take him out but they nudge-gun him into being even worse. This issue furthers the mental health analogy of his character arc even further - his mind wasn't healthy to the point of corruption, misplaced (though well intentioned) treatment made it worse, and now he's truly forgotten who he ever was. Again, I find no redemption here as we were told from the get-go that he really was a good 'bot at one point.

V - I still don't entirely buy that point, and I do think something better could've been done with the analogy - I find some of it a little questionable, though narratively appealing. He is an ethically questionable character - on par with Prowl, Prime and Megatron - by his and the story's own admission, only now to have received validation with the GA's reveals.



S - One thing that deserves mention is the substantial payoff related to the larger story which occurs in this issue. Years of details, plotting, and planning (and Oxford commas) coalesce in ways that need to be witnessed to appreciate. For possibly the first time, it feels like the amount of questions still to be answered before the series wraps up is truly dwindling. In a way, all but probably one of these revelations was exposed in the past through some contextual clue in dialogue or in a background visual clue or possibly even by Hasbro (and this is possibly a spoiler click if you choose to accept it.)

V - I'll admit that some of the clues left since the beginning of the story, while not appearing to be directly linked until right now, and the reliance on trivia and minutiae and panel-analysing for some major plot points, has at times dampened my enthusiasm for the book. Especially of recent, as I think I've pointed out previously. And I'm sure some readers will also undoubtedly grimace at past references coming to play so many years later

S - I feel like this issue explains itself substantially enough, verbally and visually, that you will be entertained even if you forgot about these supporting details. Even if that weren't the case, leaving a trail of clues and breadcrumbs that build upon one another in fun ways is part of the identity of this series, and without that attention to detail it would be a different series. Were the back catalog some monolithic, inaccessible, and hyper-expensive ordeal this might be a detriment, but as it isn't, to cast all of the self-referential material in a negative light feels like it'd be the equivalent of admitting that you wanted to be smarter than the story, not learn from it.

V - I wouldn't cast it entirely in a negative light, as we've both been doing this sort of work with the books, but I'll stand my ground a little on this one: we had a similar appraisal but opposite reaction for Optimus Prime #21, and I wasn't too willing to let this one slide - story wise - if it weren't for what we said about the characters above.

S - Not how I'd describe my take on OP 21, but we're not here to talk about that issue, are we?

Art

V - Brendan Cahill is at the artistic helm this issue, with what is probably his most successful take on the Transformers characters yet, and for an issue with this sort of impact, we couldn't have asked for more.

S - No disagreement in this part. This is Cahill's best Transformers work ever. There is just a hint of some of the "roundness" that's bugged me about (some of) his earlier work, but he's evolved here to make it much more of a charming, Andrew Wildman-esque robotic round rather than the almost organic kind of round that I felt from some other recent issues.

V - His use of body language in particular, with the specific example of that character we mention earlier, is a testament to the development of both the artist and the character - in spite of any qualms I might personally still have about the latter.



S - SPACE BATTLE! :ahem: Great use of the layout to tell a visual story that frames in and influences the other character and "mytharc" moments that are the focus of the book. There's plenty of room to make your own head-canon side stories. Maybe Riptide can boat himself through space like it's Transformers: Energon.

V - And we have an excellent chromatic guide giving us a hand in Joana Lafuente's take on the lineart, aptly giving the right spotlights and hues to the interior/exterior scenes, both in the literal and figurative sense.



V - The general dialogue flow is what helps issues like this one to make the landing point of the script, and having clearly demarkated lettering - such as the one by Tom B Long, who also manages to have some font fun in the process - is what ensures something like that to work. And what is particularly appreciated, speaking to our point above, is that editorial assistance from David Mariotte was well signposted, for readers wanting to go back and check the major crumbs leading to this point.

S - I uploaded all the covers and made mention of all the creator credits in our Vector Sigma Database entry for Lost Light #22, so check that out if you'd like but be warned that the character appearance list might spoil some details! The particular cover used for this review's news post's thumbnail image is the "A" cover by Nick Roche and Josh Burcham.


Thoughts
Spoilerish ahead

V - This issue made it out, entirely by accident and par for the course for the IDW schedule, earlier than its supposed release. And what I saw in reaction to it on the internet was an outporing of emotional responses that extremely heightened my anticipation for the issue to be fully available. And I think that got in the way of my more reasoned appreciation of again, what I believe to be an otherwise very good piece of comics work, reminding me of my own difficulties with one of the underlying threads part of the MTMTE/LL narrative thread.

S - Lost Light #22 deserved a huge hype train and it got very little of an official one with the botched release timing. That said, I think the early reactions were entirely justified as countless pieces of a large puzzle suddenly clicked together here in a beautifully illustrated and written piece of science fiction. This review could never hope to properly analyze it all, especially with the attempt at spoiler avoidance, so be sure to experience it for yourself.



Scotty [im]P[erial magistrate]'s Verdict

S - Without hyperbole, for me this was probably the most rewarding payoff in a fictional story that I've ever experienced. I was so close to being right about That One Guy, but at the same time could not have been farther away. Here's to you, eyebrows.



Va'al's Verdict

V - I don't feel like repeating myself once more as to why I find it so hard to distance my personal reading filter on this issue (and the series) from the issue itself. As a book, this chapter does everything it needs to and more, more or less following its plotted path from the start, and that is impressive enough. The fact that it took two very invested people at least four days to put down thoughts on it, I think, speaks to its success as a piece of media. As for a score, however, I cannot honestly give it one. Make do with ScottyP's if you will!

Oh. My. Rung.

I'm at a loss for words with this. I think that's all I can say at this point. I need to go re-read some back issues.

Ironhidensh wrote:It's never too late to achieve your childhood (or bothood) dreams.

Now that the issue is out......



Rung revelations aside, my favorite part was seeing how Megatron took his second chance and became a doctor like he once off hand mentioned.

Megatron!

That is all.

Edit: Actually, you're quite right. His fusion cannon a med kit? His being dissatisfied with saving mere billions? Kinda wish we had more time with this version.

By the way guys, take care with spoiler tags as they don't work when viewing the review from the front page

I think ll was my favourite of today's idw releases, followed by unicron and then op.

I think OP got me more mad at OP than any other issue. "Greater good" my sine function....

Very good point by ZeroWolf- I'll need some time to gather my spoilery thoughts proper anyway!
Naturally, having had my previous theories utterly shot down, I'm already brewing more. The important group mentioned by the Magnificence last issue of Rodimus, Rung, Ratchet, and Tailgate is still left unsolved, and you better believe I've got a couple of Thoughts on that!
As far as the issues actual reveals go though, cripes. Some of that is incredibly obvious in hindsight, some of it is so genius that despite all the perfectly blatant clues I was still shocked, and one in particular was more of a "huh... okay, okay, I can see that... I guess...".
My only other not-completely-spoilerful thought is that this issue really leaves me jonesing for a certain, very expensive repaint to be made...

Ironhidensh wrote:

Ironhidensh wrote:It's never too late to achieve your childhood (or bothood) dreams.

Now that the issue is out......



Rung revelations aside, my favorite part was seeing how Megatron took his second chance and became a doctor like he once off hand mentioned.

The repair kit in there was one of my favourite parts in the pointing out the 'not going back'. That, and how hunched he looks in a lot of the scenes, body language has completely changed.