IDW Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye #50 Full Preview

Noideaforaname wrote:Hasn't everyone died, like, twice already? Starting off a series with "they all DIE" is a cheap tactic to begin with, but MtMtE has had so many fake-outs this just doesn't have the slightest effect.

Noideaforaname wrote:Hasn't everyone died, like, twice already? Starting off a series with "they all DIE" is a cheap tactic to begin with, but MtMtE has had so many fake-outs this just doesn't have the slightest effect.

Randomhero wrote: I'm with you there. I don't believe this in the slightest. The DJD don't give out final requests. Not to their own and absolutely not Autobots. The first pages feel like nothing but Tumblr bait anymore.

Squiddy wrote:

Noideaforaname wrote:Hasn't everyone died, like, twice already? Starting off a series with "they all DIE" is a cheap tactic to begin with, but MtMtE has had so many fake-outs this just doesn't have the slightest effect.

The people who boarded the Lost Light in issue #1 were died and was bought back by quantum shenanigans. Everyone at this point is on their last life. I will say that I feel like James has gotten scared of killing off major characters. He's been hyping up #50 on his twitter for a good while but I just think he likes getting people overly excited....

Randomhero wrote: I'm with you there. I don't believe this in the slightest. The DJD don't give out final requests. Not to their own and absolutely not Autobots. The first pages feel like nothing but Tumblr bait anymore.

First: Tarn did. Issue #39, in the beginning, his latest victim requested to take his mask off as a "last words". Think about it, the LL is a huge ship filled with Autobots. Tarn has a big group of Decepticons with him. When will there be a more perfect time to strike fear onto others about the DJD and their ruthless actions?

Second: What the hell do the first pages relate ANYTHING to tumblr? It's a bleak/dark opening so let's blame tumblr for it? Your logic is confusing...

Randomhero wrote:

Squiddy wrote:

Noideaforaname wrote:Hasn't everyone died, like, twice already? Starting off a series with "they all DIE" is a cheap tactic to begin with, but MtMtE has had so many fake-outs this just doesn't have the slightest effect.

The people who boarded the Lost Light in issue #1 were died and was bought back by quantum shenanigans. Everyone at this point is on their last life. I will say that I feel like James has gotten scared of killing off major characters. He's been hyping up #50 on his twitter for a good while but I just think he likes getting people overly excited....

Randomhero wrote: I'm with you there. I don't believe this in the slightest. The DJD don't give out final requests. Not to their own and absolutely not Autobots. The first pages feel like nothing but Tumblr bait anymore.

First: Tarn did. Issue #39, in the beginning, his latest victim requested to take his mask off as a "last words". Think about it, the LL is a huge ship filled with Autobots. Tarn has a big group of Decepticons with him. When will there be a more perfect time to strike fear onto others about the DJD and their ruthless actions?

Second: What the hell do the first pages relate ANYTHING to tumblr? It's a bleak/dark opening so let's blame tumblr for it? Your logic is confusing...

These are nothing but confessions and requests of where to be buried and how their funerals should be. Not how the DJD work, we saw how they handled the duplicate lost light.

This is cheesy found footage confessions like in Blair witch. The DJD are not recording their last words and requests. The crew themselves are making them, and the line from Red Alert is to throw you off like most of what James does in his writing. he puts a little thing in to keep you focused while he's doing something else. Similar to Shockwaves origin. You read the whole thing and go "there were little clues everywhere!" But you're not paying attention to them because you're focusing on the red white and blue color scheme and going "the senator is ultra Magnus!" That's how James writes.

These first pages are meant for you to go "OHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD!!!!" And I not feeling it.

Also, it doesn't matter who dies! They have a time machine brief case with paradox locks! It doesn't matter! Why do you think there's a three week time difference? Everyone can die except a couple people, they use the brief case and can literally change the outcome and and Optimus can jump in and everyone is fine because the biggest "F YOU" mcguffin is in their hands.

MTMESkids wrote:

Randomhero wrote:

Squiddy wrote:

Noideaforaname wrote:Hasn't everyone died, like, twice already? Starting off a series with "they all DIE" is a cheap tactic to begin with, but MtMtE has had so many fake-outs this just doesn't have the slightest effect.

The people who boarded the Lost Light in issue #1 were died and was bought back by quantum shenanigans. Everyone at this point is on their last life. I will say that I feel like James has gotten scared of killing off major characters. He's been hyping up #50 on his twitter for a good while but I just think he likes getting people overly excited....

Randomhero wrote: I'm with you there. I don't believe this in the slightest. The DJD don't give out final requests. Not to their own and absolutely not Autobots. The first pages feel like nothing but Tumblr bait anymore.

First: Tarn did. Issue #39, in the beginning, his latest victim requested to take his mask off as a "last words". Think about it, the LL is a huge ship filled with Autobots. Tarn has a big group of Decepticons with him. When will there be a more perfect time to strike fear onto others about the DJD and their ruthless actions?

Second: What the hell do the first pages relate ANYTHING to tumblr? It's a bleak/dark opening so let's blame tumblr for it? Your logic is confusing...

These are nothing but confessions and requests of where to be buried and how their funerals should be. Not how the DJD work, we saw how they handled the duplicate lost light.

This is cheesy found footage confessions like in Blair witch. The DJD are not recording their last words and requests. The crew themselves are making them, and the line from Red Alert is to throw you off like most of what James does in his writing. he puts a little thing in to keep you focused while he's doing something else. Similar to Shockwaves origin. You read the whole thing and go "there were little clues everywhere!" But you're not paying attention to them because you're focusing on the red white and blue color scheme and going "the senator is ultra Magnus!" That's how James writes.

These first pages are meant for you to go "OHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD!!!!" And I not feeling it.

Also, it doesn't matter who dies! They have a time machine brief case with paradox locks! It doesn't matter! Why do you think there's a three week time difference? Everyone can die except a couple people, they use the brief case and can literally change the outcome and and Optimus can jump in and everyone is fine because the biggest "F YOU" mcguffin is in their hands.

On the other hand, maybe the DJD feels capturing the lost light with Megatron, and show this kind of fear and hopelessness to the world is a more effective message than destroy them in silence. Don't forget the first time it was just ordinary business. now its about Megatron. But who knows?

For me even that I think/hope that the majority of these guys will stay alive, this few pages give the feeling of hopelessness.

What is also interesting that as I see two or three characters says betrayal...by who?

Randomhero wrote:
These are nothing but confessions and requests of where to be buried and how their funerals should be. Not how the DJD work, we saw how they handled the duplicate lost light.

This is cheesy found footage confessions like in Blair witch. The DJD are not recording their last words and requests. The crew themselves are making them, and the line from Red Alert is to throw you off like most of what James does in his writing. he puts a little thing in to keep you focused while he's doing something else. Similar to Shockwaves origin. You read the whole thing and go "there were little clues everywhere!" But you're not paying attention to them because you're focusing on the red white and blue color scheme and going "the senator is ultra Magnus!" That's how James writes.

These first pages are meant for you to go "OHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD!!!!" And I not feeling it.

Also, it doesn't matter who dies! They have a time machine brief case with paradox locks! It doesn't matter! Why do you think there's a three week time difference? Everyone can die except a couple people, they use the brief case and can literally change the outcome and and Optimus can jump in and everyone is fine because the biggest "F YOU" mcguffin is in their hands.

Mr Skram wrote:Anyone else feel like it was a bit of a letdown? I mean, some cool stuff happened but it's another issue that left me saying "next issue is going to be awesome!" instead of "this issue was awesome!".

ctrlFrequency wrote:

Mr Skram wrote:Anyone else feel like it was a bit of a letdown? I mean, some cool stuff happened but it's another issue that left me saying "next issue is going to be awesome!" instead of "this issue was awesome!".

Yeah, totally with you. It felt like more set up (it was more set up)

Though I found the commentary on prescription drugs interesting and the idea that Megatron hasn't really changed, but his meds are causing it), if we'really going to have a "Megatron didn’t really change, he's still the same" moment, at least it is a plausible and different sort of approach rather than a tired old "I was always evil and this is all part of my plan!!!!" Momen. Howevrr, it may not be that,it could be "this is the door that opened a new outlook, sucks it had to be happy pills, but hey! Hugs!"

I need more coffee, I"m rambly.

ctrlFrequency wrote:If it's a backdoor, it was one set up a long time ago.

I'm actually inclined to think it leads to no where as they didn't even talk about for a long time. I had completely forgotten about it. If anything I think it is more to explore a social issue than to provide an out.

But that being said, i would like it better than the tired old trope that it could be. At least it wouldn’t be ultimate evil plan, it was a rouse, Macguffin.

io9: What’s the journey for you as a writer been like on More Than Meets The Eye over the last 50 issues?

Roberts: Obviously it’s great to be given an opportunity to tell stories featuring characters that you loved growing up, and to add new layers to the mythos. When I think about MTMTE reaching issue 50, it’s not so much that I’m amazed that I’m writing a Transformers comic that’s lasted that long... it’s more that I’m writing an ongoing comic book that’s racked up that many issues. In 2016, that’s a rarity.

[......]

io9: You’ve said in the past that you’ve written the final line of MTMTE already. Where do you see yourself going as a writer after this comes to a close?

Roberts: After MTMTE, who knows? I don’t think I’d move on to more Transformers stories right away—in fact I may find I’ve used up all my best ideas and it’s time to move on. (All of this presumes, of course, that IDW wants me to stick around!) The Transformers script I’m working on right now is the75th, if you count the issues I co-write with Nick Roche and John Barber, and the last thing I want is to find myself running on empty in a few years’ time.

[.....]

io9: Finally, looking back at your 50 issues so far, what’s been your favorite part of the process working on an ongoing series like this?

Roberts: Watching the MTMTE fandom grow and take shape, I think. No-one knew if the book was going to be successful—the first story arc was tailored to 12 issues just in case the whole thing tanked. But I like to think that pretty early on the book found its voice, and that it was a voice that resonated with people who were ready to get very invested in a bunch of sarcastic, mopey, affable, ridiculous and relatable losers.

Randomhero wrote:I have a feeling this is a story that's gonna need to be completed to really see the grandeur. Issue by issue is probably not going to do this story much justice.

MrBlack wrote:

ctrlFrequency wrote:If it's a backdoor, it was one set up a long time ago.

I'm actually inclined to think it leads to no where as they didn't even talk about for a long time. I had completely forgotten about it. If anything I think it is more to explore a social issue than to provide an out.

But that being said, i would like it better than the tired old trope that it could be. At least it wouldn’t be ultimate evil plan, it was a rouse, Macguffin.

Megatron has shown that he has a fear of his head being messed with because of his encounter with Trepan on Messatine. The fact that the fool's energon may be affecting him is probably being used more to cause him additional angst in the story rather than as an actual plot point. In any case, it's obvious that it isn't making him entirely passive, as his first impulse during times of stress is still to lash out (see Minimus Ambus in this issue and Tailgate in #47.

Randomhero wrote:I don't know what to think of this issue...there's a lot I just didn't understand. ill just wait for the review.

MTMESkids wrote:I have a question in the second story:

In one of the "visits" Chromedome look in the past. BUT At the time when they could use the birefcasepened windows, Rewind was alive...again...I mean why Chromdome went back to pay his respects to his love, when his love is alive, AND they are closer than before?

MTMESkids wrote:I have a question in the second story:

In one of the "visits" Chromedome look in the past. BUT At the time when they could use the birefcasepened windows, Rewind was alive...again...I mean why Chromdome went back to pay his respects to his love, when his love is alive, AND they are closer than before?

They've mentioned a couple of times that Chromedome and Rewind-2 recognize Rewind-1 as a different person - remember that scene where Rewind-2 was uncomfortable with the fact that Chromedome gave him Rewind-1's belongings, for example?

D-Maximus_Primal wrote:I can say that I did not see anything of this coming. And now that it all has happened and it has sunk in, here are some thoughts:

1) Velocity was being broad with talking about the fools energon. She doesn't even know the side effects, just general effects. I feel it's more so that Megatron can prove to himself that it is him changing and not something else changing him.

2) Getaway is an utter asshole and so many other bad words. Leads a full blown mutiny and strands all those guys with the DJD with even the thought that only Megs will get hurt. Wow. And then all the crew that stuck with him! Perceptor, Riptide, Hoist (after what the DJD did to TC). Maybe they do not know that Getaway sent those guys to die at the DJD's hands, and when one of them discovers that it will be a lead in to a rescue?

3) I am predicting Ten and Brainstorm will die. Ten due to him being Ten (can't really explain it) and Brainstorm due to his whole con-bot storyline. I never expected any of this, so I have clue as to where this will go.

4) finally, as a thought: what if Getaway was Agent 113? just a thought I had.

ZeroWolf wrote:I could see megs lead a rebellion against starscream's control of cybertron...

However I still hope Roberts doesn't go that route, it's so predictable making him evil again, just keep him morally grey with no intention of picking up arms against the autobots. Since they've started introducing beast wars characters they could always bring in another Megatron or Megaplex if they wanted a clone.

MTMESkids wrote:

They've mentioned a couple of times that Chromedome and Rewind-2 recognize Rewind-1 as a different person - remember that scene where Rewind-2 was uncomfortable with the fact that Chromedome gave him Rewind-1's belongings, for example?

Yeah I get this part. But still for me it was a bit strange....
EXCEPT:
What ifIts about something else? like during the storytime sessions Rewind did find out what happenned with Dominus, but because of some reason Chromedome made him forget? 2nd Rewind doesn't had a story session (no Rung, no FortMax no headshot). It can be ike someting of a confession. Its just speculation

D-Maximus_Primal wrote:See, my comment about Getaway being agent 113 is because yes I knew he was the former vos, but we still don't know who it actually was. And that is still a big mystery. and it may be brought up during this arc, plus Skids and Brainstorm will most likely share their Quark experiences and things will come to light there. And the guys thrown off the ship will be pissed. I really want Skids or Tailgate to live so they can beat up Getaway. I want him to hurt as much as these guys are about to.

ctrlFrequency wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:I could see megs lead a rebellion against starscream's control of cybertron...

However I still hope Roberts doesn't go that route, it's so predictable making him evil again, just keep him morally grey with no intention of picking up arms against the autobots. Since they've started introducing beast wars characters they could always bring in another Megatron or Megaplex if they wanted a clone.

It doesn't have to be against Starscream... rather the Autobots as an ideal- what they stand for.

Optimus doesn't agree with Starscream being leader, but respects that he was elected Optimus (I'm sure in spite of Starscream's wishex) is still seem as a leader, especially to the fanatical Camiens. Besides, Optimus's annexation of Earth came as a surprise to everyone, including Starscream. So it's not Staracream's government that would be target-likely. If it were up to me, I would guess that when Megs finds out what Optimus did, it won't be well received.

ctrlFrequency wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:I could see megs lead a rebellion against starscream's control of cybertron...

However I still hope Roberts doesn't go that route, it's so predictable making him evil again, just keep him morally grey with no intention of picking up arms against the autobots. Since they've started introducing beast wars characters they could always bring in another Megatron or Megaplex if they wanted a clone.

It doesn't have to be against Starscream... rather the Autobots as an ideal- what they stand for.

Optimus doesn't agree with Starscream being leader, but respects that he was elected Optimus (I'm sure in spite of Starscream's wishex) is still seem as a leader, especially to the fanatical Camiens. Besides, Optimus's annexation of Earth came as a surprise to everyone, including Starscream. So it's not Staracream's government that would be target-likely. If it were up to me, I would guess that when Megs finds out what Optimus did, it won't be well received.

ZeroWolf wrote:I think megs would say the cybertronian equivalent to "kettle calling the pot black" . Actually when thinking about it, megs would probably rage more about the religious aspects of the newcomers than Starscream or really the autobots. Though has it ever been said what he thought of the original thirteen primes?

ctrlFrequency wrote:

ctrlFrequency wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:I could see megs lead a rebellion against starscream's control of cybertron...

However I still hope Roberts doesn't go that route, it's so predictable making him evil again, just keep him morally grey with no intention of picking up arms against the autobots. Since they've started introducing beast wars characters they could always bring in another Megatron or Megaplex if they wanted a clone.

It doesn't have to be against Starscream... rather the Autobots as an ideal- what they stand for.

Optimus doesn't agree with Starscream being leader, but respects that he was elected Optimus (I'm sure in spite of Starscream's wishex) is still seem as a leader, especially to the fanatical Camiens. Besides, Optimus's annexation of Earth came as a surprise to everyone, including Starscream. So it's not Staracream's government that would be target-likely. If it were up to me, I would guess that when Megs finds out what Optimus did, it won't be well received.

Though I can't say that I disagree with your morally grey comment. I do prefer my Megatron evil, but I would accept morally grey.

Though splitting into more factions would be pretty interesting, a lot of political maneuvering. We'very kind of got about 4 factions running in the under current as I see it, those who follow Starscream (which is mostly just Starscream), the Autobots, then the Decepticon subfactions, Galvatron's brand of crazy and Soundwave's peace and love. Which is great, it's a more realistic set up,

Dr Va'al wrote:It's very, very good though. Very.

ZeroWolf wrote:

ctrlFrequency wrote:

ctrlFrequency wrote:

ZeroWolf wrote:I could see megs lead a rebellion against starscream's control of cybertron...

However I still hope Roberts doesn't go that route, it's so predictable making him evil again, just keep him morally grey with no intention of picking up arms against the autobots. Since they've started introducing beast wars characters they could always bring in another Megatron or Megaplex if they wanted a clone.

It doesn't have to be against Starscream... rather the Autobots as an ideal- what they stand for.

Optimus doesn't agree with Starscream being leader, but respects that he was elected Optimus (I'm sure in spite of Starscream's wishex) is still seem as a leader, especially to the fanatical Camiens. Besides, Optimus's annexation of Earth came as a surprise to everyone, including Starscream. So it's not Staracream's government that would be target-likely. If it were up to me, I would guess that when Megs finds out what Optimus did, it won't be well received.

Though I can't say that I disagree with your morally grey comment. I do prefer my Megatron evil, but I would accept morally grey.

Though splitting into more factions would be pretty interesting, a lot of political maneuvering. We'very kind of got about 4 factions running in the under current as I see it, those who follow Starscream (which is mostly just Starscream), the Autobots, then the Decepticon subfactions, Galvatron's brand of crazy and Soundwave's peace and love. Which is great, it's a more realistic set up,

I've been hoping for a while now that someone clever within IDW would find a way to introduce the maximals and predacons, things would get very tense and there could be some interesting stories to tell.

You do bring up a good point about the different fractions we do have already though had combiner wars went differently I could of seen Prowl leading his own breakaway faction, laying down the law with no compassion.

As for megs and the primes: thought as much, I may have gotten his anti religion thoughts from a different incarnation of him.

D-Maximus_Primal wrote:Well Scotty, taking into account what happened, I am going to say that your bets may be a bit off. If anything, Drift and Ratchet now seem far more likely, and Defensor not so much. I also think that someone on the actual Lost Light will realize what is happening and will do something, and it is possible that briefcase will come into play, but not used by the outcasts since they most likely do not have it. thought that space hole in Swerve's should play a role too.

ScottyP wrote:Right then, time for spoiler tags!

Place your bets here on who saves the day for our stranded heroes! Well, the ones left to save at least. And we'll go with "lends a helping hand in some capacity even if they fail", in case there's tag team heroism, or at least attempts at it, going on in issue 54 or 55 when this wraps up


*This all somehow plays into Necrobot's mysterious list from years ago - 3:2
Disclaimer: this isn't real and I'm not actually betting on this book's storyline. If you were hoping to gamble on it, please call your state's problem gambling helpline.[/size]