MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

More than Meets the Eye, Part 1

2021-02-03T09:56:45Z

Amiga Power: /* Synopsis */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=1
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=1
|next2=More than Meets the Eye, Part 2
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=1
|next3=More than Meets the Eye, Part 2
|image=MTMtE Part1 Prime repair.jpg
|caption=
|title="More than Meets the Eye, Part 1"
|production code=4023
|airdate=[[September 17]], [[1984]]
|written by=[[George Arthur Bloom]]
|animation studio=[[Toei Animation|Toei]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|packaged with=[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Optimus Prime]]
}}
'''In search of energy, the Autobots leave Cybertron and are pursued by the Decepticons.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:MTMtE1 Wheeljack and Bumblebee collect energy.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|"That's not that impressive. I can transform too, y'know."]]
On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], many [[MYA|millions of years ago]], the [[Autobot]]s are on the verge of extinction. Eons of war with the [[Decepticon]]s, their bitter enemies, have drained the planet's once plentiful resources. Autobots [[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] have managed to find a scant few [[Conductor|energy conductors]] and muse that what they've found won't last very long. Bumblebee loads the conductors into Wheeljack and they head back towards [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. However, as they reach the bridge to home base, they run into a Decepticon patrol. Wheeljack's attempt to drive through is cut short by enemy fire, and they're soon literally surrounded by a ring of fire, thanks to the Decepticons' flame throwers. The pair manage to escape the flames and ram their way through the Decepticons, two of whom give chase. The pursuing Decepticons manage to hit Bumblebee with their lasers, and the smaller Autobot is forced to drive aboard Wheeljack. Wheeljack manages to evade the two Decepticons by heading underground and arrives at Iacon. As they enter the fortress, a nearby sensor lamp reveals itself to be [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]], who dispatches [[Laserbeak (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Laserbeak]] to do some spying. Also returning to Iacon is [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]], who reports to [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] that he was unable to find any energy in Cybertron's lower regions. Optimus confers with Jazz, [[Prowl (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Prowl]] and [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] on the plan to leave Cybertron on a mission to search for energy elsewhere. Having heard all they need, Laserbeak and Soundwave depart.

[[File:MTMtE1 Ark and Nemesis over Earth.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Starting a long, long tradition of Transformer ships crashing on Earth.]]
Inside [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Cybertron)|their base]], [[Decepticon leader]] [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] plots to intercept the Autobots, and leaves his [[second-in-command|first lieutenant]] [[Shockwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Shockwave]] in charge of Cybertron. [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] asserts the war would have been won if the Decepticons were under his leadership.

The Autobots blast off aboard [[Ark (G1)|their spaceship]], and the Decepticons give chase in their [[Nemesis (G1)|Decepticon cruiser]]. The Autobots immediately run into trouble when two large asteroids collide in front of them, resulting in a storm of rock that pelts both ships, until [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] uses the ship's weapons to clear a path. The Autobots next detect the pursuing ship, but are unable to outrun the Decepticon cruiser, which locks onto them with [[tractor beam]]s. The Autobot ship's lasers are out of power, so the Autobots are forced to instead engage the Decepticons in combat once they board. With no one at the respective helms, both ships drift into [[Earth]]'s gravity well, and despite Prime's best efforts to right the Autobot ship, both vessels spin out of control and crash. The Autobot ship embeds itself in the side of a volcano.

Four million years pass. It is the year 1984, and volcanic activity stirs the half-buried ship, awakening the computer systems aboard. [[Teletraan I]] sends out a [[Sky Spy]] satellite to reconnoiter this new world, and scans examples of terrestrial machinery in order to reformat the Transformers into new [[Alternate mode|alt modes]]. The Decepticon [[Skywarp (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Skywarp]] happens to be the one who is in the path of the repair beam, and thus is awakened first. He revives Megatron, and the other Decepticons follow. Leaving the Autobot ship, Megatron observes that much time has passed since the crash but declares their mission to find energy is unchanged. An impudent Starscream leaves a parting shot, blasting the rocks over the ship in an attempt to bury it further. However, he unwittingly knocks Optimus Prime into the repair beam and the Autobot leader is revived.

[[File:Cliffgun.JPG|thumb|upright=1.1|left|"You see the size of that gun he fired at us? It was bigger than him!"]]
The Decepticons locate a clearing and Megatron puts Starscream in charge of converting the area for the construction of a [[Victory (G1)|new star cruiser]]. Soundwave, Starscream and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] head for a nearby power station to find the needed raw materials. Meanwhile, the Autobots have all been repaired. Optimus Prime announces that they need to find out what the Decepticons are doing, and dispatches [[Hound (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hound]] and [[Cliffjumper (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cliffjumper]] to scout the area. Starscream and his team arrive at the power station, where Starscream again grouses about wanting to lead the Decepticons, and has Rumble use his pile drivers to level the plant. Some time later, Hound and Cliffjumper find the Decepticons in the middle of work on their ship. Though Cliffjumper's keen to wade in, Hound listens in as the Decepticons plan to take [[energon cube]]s back to Cybertron. Cliffjumper rashly takes a shot at Megatron, but misses, and Soundwave unleashes Laserbeak in pursuit. Though the pair split up, Laserbeak detaches a laser cannon so he can pursue both Autobots. While Cliffjumper manages to deal with the cannon, Laserbeak blasts Hound, sending him off a cliff.

[[File:MTMtE Part1 OilRig battle.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Do yourself a favor, don't smoke at a Cybertronian waterpark.]]
Autobot medic [[Ratchet (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ratchet]] and [[Hauler]] come to fetch Hound. Cliffjumper apologizes for giving away their position as Hound is winched to safety. Meanwhile, Decepticons [[Thundercracker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Thundercracker]] and [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] spot an Earth vehicle approaching. The two human workers find the demolished power station, but while they're puzzling over what happened to it, [[Ravage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ravage]] attacks and frightens them away.

Hound is repaired, and reports what he overheard: that the Decepticons are on the hunt for energy. Prime has Jazz assemble a battle group to go after them and the Autobots roll out. Elsewhere Laserbeak returns to the Decepticon construction site with the news that he's found a new source of energy. The Decepticons attack an off-shore [[oil rig]], where [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] and his son [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike]] work. The humans attempt to resist, but it's futile and they end up jumping or falling overboard. The Decepticons begin filling energon cubes from the [[oil]] pipeline, but as Megatron is telling Starscream that they will need a lot more energy, the Autobots arrive to spoil their party. A battle erupts on the drilling platform until the Decepticons simply grab what they can and take off. Megatron blasts the rig's supports, tipping it into the ocean and taking the Autobots with it. Another shot ignites the oil, turning the surface of the sea into an inferno. Realizing the humans are in danger, Optimus Prime tries to save Spike and Sparkplug while the Decepticons retreat with their energon plunder.

'''[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2|To be continued...]]'''
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] (1)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (2)
*[[Prowl (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Prowl]] (12)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (13)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (14)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (15)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ratchet]] (18)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (19)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sideswipe]] (20)
*[[Teletraan I]] (21)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cliffjumper]] (24)
*[[Hound (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hound]] (25)
*[[Hauler]] (26)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sunstreaker]] (31)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (32)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (33)
*[[Mirage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Mirage]] (34)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (35)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (36)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (37)
|c2=
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (3)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Thundercracker]] (4)
*[[Skywarp (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Skywarp]] (5)
*[[Sunstorm (G1)|Yellow Seeker]] (6)
*[[Hotlink (G1)|Purple Seeker]] (7)
*[[Bitstream (G1)|Light blue Seeker]] (8)
*[[Nacelle (G1)|Dark blue Seeker]] (9)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (10)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Laserbeak]] (11)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (16)
*[[Shockwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Shockwave]] (17)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (22)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (23)
*[[Ravage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ravage]] (27)
|c3=
*[[Joe (MTMTE)|Joe]] and his coworker (28)
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] (29)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (30)
}}

==Quotes==
[[File:MTMTE1-JazzProwlPrimeTrailbreaker.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
"Prime told me there'd be days like this." 
"And you didn't believe him?" 
"I do now!"
:—'''Bumblebee''' and '''Wheeljack''' under fire.

"When do we start the search mission?" 
"Soon as you're ready to launch."
:—'''Prowl''' is told to hurry up by '''Optimus Prime'''.

"Fear not, Megatron. Cybertron shall remain as you leave it."
:—'''Shockwave''', more accurate than he realizes.

"Leakin' lubricant!"
:—'''Ironhide'''

"What about materials?" 
"Use your imagination!"
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Megatron'''

"Here's something to keep you warm."
:—'''Megatron''' as he ignites the oil spill.

==Season 5==
{{note|When this episode was rebroadcast in [[The Transformers (cartoon)#Season 5|the fifth season]] of ''The Transformers'', it contained new bookending segments with original story material.}}

[[File:PrimeTakesTommyIntoSpace.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|"There's no ''air'' in space!" "But there's an Air in Space Museum!"]]

The young human [[Tommy Kennedy]], a resident of [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]], needs help from [[Powermaster]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]. He runs out into the middle of a barren wasteland, calling Prime's name. Prime arrives via rocket-boots and, after lifting Tommy up to his head, asks him what's the trouble. As it turns out, Tommy has a "special project" for school that's due soon and only Prime can help him. Optimus inquires what the project is about, but Tommy dodges the question, simply saying that he needs to know how the Autobots arrived on Earth. Prime concedes, "Okay Tommy, I've handled enough emergencies to know that ''some things'' just can't wait." Prime then launches into the tale of how the Autobots and the Decepticons left Cybertron, crash-landed on Earth and began their war for energy anew...

Prime continues into the next part of his story, about their first encounter with humans and whatnot, but Tommy stops him. Tommy says he's out of time and he ''really'' has to get back to Autobot City. Prime offers to give him the ride on the condition that next time they hang out, he tells him the juicy details of this "special project". Prime then blasts off into space with Tommy clinging to his shoulder (and somehow not dying horribly).

{{--}}

==Notes==
===Production information===
* Script revisions: 13th March 1984
* Returned to the US for telecine: 27th August 1984

===Continuity notes===
* As the first pilot episode, this episode establishes several iconic aspects of the cartoon and the entire [[Transformers brand]]. The planet Cybertron and its city Iacon both appear in many other media and continuities. The crash of the Ark and the four-million-year slumber of its inhabitants likewise recur in several other versions of the Generation 1 story.
* The orange Seeker from the "welcoming committee", visible for all of about two seconds, was [[Retcon|retroactively established]] to be the neo-G1 character [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]]. Other characters in the same shot were later named [[Hotlink (G1)|Hotlink]] (the purple Seeker with the flamethrower), [[Bitstream (G1)|Bitstream]] (the blue Seeker behind him holding his weapon like a rifle), and [[Nacelle (G1)|Nacelle]] (the dark blue Seeker barely visible between Sunstorm and Hotlink).
[[File:Cybertronlaserbeak.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
* We get a look at Cybertronian alternate modes for Bumblebee, Wheeljack, Skywarp, Thundercracker, Jazz, and Soundwave. Meanwhile, Laserbeak is given a Cybertronian ''robot'' mode. Soundwave's toy can totally be configured into that lamp-post mode.
*Trailbreaker's presence alongside Jazz and Prowl on Cybertron is just about the ''only'' indication of his "defense strategist" [[function]] in the cartoon.
*Three episodes from now, we will see that Shockwave was true to his word, and Cybertron has not changed one iota in four million years.
*The Decepticon vessel is last seen spiraling out of control, unpiloted, toward Earth. It will be rediscovered in the Season 2 episode "[[Microbots]]". The unnamed ship would finally be given a title almost 15 years later, when it was referred to as the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' in the [[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|''Beast Wars'']] episode "[[Nemesis Part 1]]".
*The events of the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' cartoon take place during the 4 million years in which the Autobots and Decepticons lie dormant in the wreckage of the Ark... a time frame covered by about 5 seconds of footage in this episode.
[[File:Sky Spy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*As the satellite-like probe (later dubbed a [[Sky Spy]]) leaves the Ark, we see a city skyline in the distance. While the cartoon's animation could never make up its mind about what was around the crashed ship (oceanside cliffs? desert? forests and rivers?), one might take this city to be [[Central City (Earth)|Central City]], later established to have jurisdiction over the land where the Autobot ship rests.
[[File:MTME1 Reflector camera.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Yep, pretty clearly an SLR.]]
[[File:Ratchetg1cartoon.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Repair bay optional.]]
*Gadgets and powers:
**Wheeljack deploys a pair of tiny spinning blades from his front bumper, which lets him... drive through fire?
**Laserbeak spies with a pair of cylindrical doodads that come out of the side of his head.
**Rumble demonstrates his earth-quake-making power, which consists of banging the ground with a couple of big pile drivers that replace his arms. This will become one of the cartoon's most frequently-seen special powers, to the point that it eventually would carry over to the Marvel comics as well. (This power also seems to exclude Rumble himself from its effects, as the ground under him never cracks open.)
**Hound pops out a little wrist radar dish that lets him hear what the Decepticons are saying from some distance away.
**Soundwave can display graphics — the space cruiser, in this case — on his chest door.
**Cliffjumper somehow stores on his person a gun that's as big as he is. We don't want to know how he does this. Although it does look like it's collapsible.
**He also has a little cannon that pops out of his vehicle mode's backside. In the original script, this was his [[glass gas]] gun, but in the completed episode, it's merely a laser. His line "it's a gas!" hints at this earlier version, but is rendered out-of-place by the new visuals.
**Laserbeak's cannons are shown to be able to disconnect from him, fly on their own and target Autobots independently. Although an ability actively described in his ''[[The Transformers Universe|Universe]]'' profile, this would be the only time Laserbeak would employ his weapons this way.
**Ratchet is shown splitting into his robot form and his repair bay; however, the repair bay is never seen again.
**Reflector, being a super-advanced space robot, can take a photograph and instantly spit out a paper print of the resulting image. Instant photographs?! It must be THE FUTURE!
**Starscream "activates the <s>noal</s> null ray", which freezes the device it's aimed at.
[[File:Hauler01-sm.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Frank Lloyd ''Wrong''.]]
*A [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]]-like crane named [[Hauler]] is seen with Cliffjumper, recovering Hound; he's never seen again, however. Fans have speculated that this was to be an earlier release of Grapple's toy, aborted for reasons unknown.
*[[Energon cube]]s make their first appearance here. They have to be compressed before they convert the fuel they have been filled with into energon, at which point they glow a sort of yellowish-white iridescent-y rainbow-y sort of color. The "compressing a stack" aspect of the cubes was quickly done away with after the pilot mini-series, but the rainbow-glow would stick around for a little while before being phased out in favor of a pink-purple coloration that became the standard representation of energon cubes down through ''Transformers'' history.
*Despite being known for the command "Autobots, transform!", Optimus Prime doesn't actually issue it until two episodes later, in [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 3|part 3]]. Megatron beats him to it with the less-common counterpart "Decepticons, transform!" command to his troops on the oil-rig. They, however, do not actually transform - just Megatron himself.

===Real-world references===
*As with the corresponding [[The Transformers (issue)|first issue of the Marvel comic]], the here-unnamed [[Mount St. Hilary|volcano]] is certainly inspired by the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.
*''The Transformers'' made heavy use of the sound effects library that sprung out of the movie ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]''. Fans have a tendency to make tiresome shocked exclamations that Laserbeak sounds like a [[TIE Fighter]]; it is therefore instructive to catalog these sound effects, which are used ''far'' more extensively than just a couple of TIE engine roars. About half a dozen sound effects tend to appear in nearly every episode, and at least a dozen total are known to have been used on ''The Transformers''. In this episode:
**The sound of the [[Death Star]] firing to destroy Alderaan, and Alderaan's subsequent explosion, is used as Skywarp and Thundercracker strafe Bumblebee and Wheeljack, and again as they abandon their pursuit.
**The sound of the Seeker training sphere aboard the ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'', along with [[Luke Skywalker|Luke]]'s [[lightsaber]] humming and igniting, is used as Soundwave begins making energon cubes.
*We also get the lesser-used ''[[Star Trek]]'' sliding door sound effect as Soundwave sends Laserbeak after Hound and Cliffjumper.
** There are also hints of the Sonic Screwdriver sound effect from ''[[Doctor Who]]'', most notably Wheeljack opening and closing his rear door.

===Animation and technical errors===
*In the very first shot, stars are shown passing in front of Cybertron.
*Soundwave's mouthplate doesn't move during his "Autobots are set to launch" line.
[[File:Sunstorm Cartoon.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Then again, Thundercracker has ''two'' wings.]]
*The Decepticon "welcoming committee" is a bit confusing:
**The initial shot shows [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], [[Skywarp (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Skywarp]], and [[Thundercracker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Thundercracker]]. None of these characters were in this scene in the original script, which just credited the characters as "Decepticons"; Starscream, in particular, is shown to be at Decepticon headquarters in a minute, and the voice that comes out of his mouth ("Autobots! Stop them!") is intended for a generic character and is provided by [[Dan Gilvezan]] instead of [[Chris Latta]].
**All three are absent from the second shot, which shows four new characters: a purple one with a flamethrower, a golden-yellow one, a rich blue one, and a dark navy one.
**The third shot, as Wheeljack bears down on the group, shows a total of five Seekers, all very small figures with block coloring, one purple, one black, and the other three grey. In the very next shot, Wheeljack is shown barrelling through Starscream, Skywarp, and Thundercracker again.
**The final shot of the group sees Thundercracker and Skywarp transforming to pursue them. Though originally scripted only to be generic Decepticons, the pair subsequently have lines in what will become recognizable as their normal voices ("They've gone underground, we'll never catch 'em now!"/"We'd better report back to Megatron," provided by [[John Stephenson]] and [[Frank Welker]] respectively), indicating the script was reworked with the genuine intention of placing the two characters in the scene.
**Less explicable, though, is the voice heard declaring "After them!" just before Skywarp and Thundercracker take off. No speaker is obvious (nobody's mouth is seen moving on-screen) and the line was not in the original teleplay for the episode. Presumably, it was meant to be another generic Decepticon from the group ordering the two into action, but as the line is provided by Frank Welker, the possibility exists that it's supposed to be Skywarp speaking. If so, though, the voice is way off from his normal one, sounding almost exactly like Megatron.
*Bumblebee steps out of Wheeljack and immediately fires a shot in the completely opposite direction from their attackers. Was he testing his gun??
*Bumblebee is repeatedly shown to be a hovercar... yet somehow he's got wheels and an axle when the Seekers manage to hit him.
*Bumblebee is repeatedly shown to be ''wider'' than Wheeljack in [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]], yet he has no trouble driving right into Wheeljack's cargo compartment. He ''keeps'' driving in until he's completely out of sight, even though we can see at least half of the compartment.
*As Wheeljack opens his cargo compartment to let Bumblebee in, the energy conductors clip through his vehicle mode.
*Coloring errors:
**As Megatron gives Shockwave his orders, Starscream is missing his canopy lines, and Soundwave's eject button is blue, while his backpack is white.[[File:MTMTEProwlstreak.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|TakaraTomy later used this shot as a justification for giving ''Masterpiece'' Prowl his shoulder cannons.]]
**Bluestreak is colored like Prowl as the Autobots stumble around in the wake of the asteroid collision; Trailbreaker, meanwhile, has one white and one gray hand.
**Starscream has a red "collar" around his neck as he prepares the tractor beam.
**When the Autobots and Decepticons fight aboard the ''Ark'', there are two Starscreams - one fighting Prowl, the other fighting Ironhide.
**As Starscream fires on the Autobot ship, the top segment of his canopy is red instead of gray in some frames.
**As the gathered Decepticons gaze at the desert from atop the volcano, Skywarp's arm cannon is colored teal.
**Part of Megatron's fusion cannon is white as he says "we'll set up here".
**Soundwave's eject button is blue instead of white as Megatron orders him to plan the new space cruiser.
**After landing at the power plant, Soundwave's eject button is blue, instead of... y'know what? Let's just say the colorists screwed up this little detail ''all the freaking time'', and leave it at that.
**As Starscream talks about his plans with Soundwave and Rumble standing behind him, the tip of Soundwave's shoulder cannon is colored entirely black.
**When Optimus Prime assigns Hound his mission, the establishing shot has Cliffjumper with Bumblebee's yellow colors.
**In the long shot of the Decepticons building their base, Soundwave appears in Sideswipe's colors.
**Cliffjumper's mirror housings are white instead of red as he delivers his "moonbeam" line.
**Ratchet's Autobot symbol is gray before he jumps off the cliff.
**Prime's running light housings are white instead of red as he orders Jazz to organize a battle unit.
**In the pan across the battle unit, Sideswipe's helm is red instead of black, and the top of Trailbreaker's chest is white instead of black.
**The center segment of Megatron's fusion cannon is white as the wrenches & etc. bounce off of him.
**Soundwave's cheekguards are blue instead of white as he starts making energon cubes.
*The retracting segments of Iacon's dome appear to come out of solid, unbroken metal. The interior shot of the bridge also shows the segments retracting incorrectly. Since the ship is upright at a 90-degree angle, the retracting segments should go from camera-right to camera-left, down the length of the ship.
*Sideswipe's missing his shoulder launcher as he mans an Ark console.
[[File:ArkCartoon1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|If it's supposed to be transparent, then it probably shouldn't be blocking out the scenery behind it.]]
*The Ark's exhaust comes from ''behind'' the thruster ports.
*The Decepticon insignia on the Nemesis is missing its "eyes" as the Ark blasts off.
*Presumably, an impact is supposed to be knocking Jazz out of the pilot's seat; what the animation actually shows, however, is Prime saying "Jazz!", to which Jazz responds by spontaneously flying out of his seat.
*Immediately after a shot of Optimus Prime rallying his troops to prepare to repulse Decepticon boarders ("Prepare for battle!"), the same animation is re-used, but this time with Megatron's voice urging his troops to "Attack! Attack!" When the episode was re-done for the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Generation 2]]'' series, this scene was amended by placing a shot of Megatron sitting on this throne from earlier in the episode over the image, shouting the command. (In the same shot, Prowl's eye is missing.)
*A shot of Soundwave being kicked out of frame by Ironhide is immediately followed by Soundwave sparring with Ratchet.
*After Ratchet is thrown into the console, Optimus Prime and Megatron enter the frame, struggling with each other. Megatron is missing his fusion cannon in this shot, but it reappears when the angle changes to show them grappling as Prime asks for a status report.
*Ratchet is shown being thrown by Soundwave, but after Optimus Prime asks for a status report, Ratchet is seen fighting with Thundercracker on the other side of the room.
*When Soundwave tosses Ratchet into a console aboard the Ark, the Autobot Medic is sporting a Decepticon symbol in the center of his chest windshield, most likely the result of the animator carrying over Soundwave's design.
*As the above shot pans across the bridge to the right, we see Soundwave has teleported from one side of the bridge to the other, slumped against a console.
*In the pan shot on the Ark when the Transformers find out they're going to crash, there are TWO Soundwaves and TWO Starscreams.
*As the Ark rocks and sends the combatants tumbling, the left arm of the second Soundwave turns into an extended smear of gray paint for a couple of frames.
*The voice that reports about g-forces is Prowl's, but he's struggling with Starscream and doesn't seem to have time to read a console or make a report or anything. Although it's hard to tell due to the ship shaking, Jazz's mouth seems to be moving, and he ''does'' seem to be looking at machinery.
*Quite a few generic robots are mixed in among the identifiable inert Transformers in the crashed ship, including [[Hauler]] and a yellow version of Jazz.
*The land around the volcano changes frequently between shots. Sometimes it's rocky desert; other times it's got forests and a river, sometimes both at once. This trend would continue throughout the whole series.
*When Megatron orders Skywarp to revive the other Decepticons, his voice is missing the metallic echo usually applied to it.
*Megatron is missing his barrel as he speaks to his newly revived troops. In a close-up, he has a "five o'clock shadow", as the central segment of his face is a darker shade than the rest of it.
[[File:Mtmte1 prepare the energon cubes.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*Starscream has no transformation sound as he lands at the power plant.
*Hound's voice carries a soundproof-room echo as he comments on how different Earth is.
*Megatron's mouth doesn't move when he asks who is firing after Cliffjumper attempts to assassinate him.
*Hound says that he got shot in the drive train, but Laserbeak shot him topside. Did the shot go straight through him??
*Reflector's three component robots are standing shoulder-to-shoulder as they turn to look at the truck, but are standing in a line in the next shot.
*After Thundercracker informs Soundwave about the approaching vehicle, there's a [[scene transition]]. The final frame of the scene transition is faded into an image of Sparkplug and Wheeljack working on Optimus Prime from "Divide and Conquer".
*In that scene, when Jazz calls out the Autobots' names, Prowl and Cliffjumper both respond to Hound. Mirage is shown, but when his and Ironhide's names are called, they transform off-screen. Also, Ratchet is already transformed. Finally, near the end, Optimus Prime's headlights are red instead of white, but in the next scene this is corrected.
*Rumble isn't a big guy, but he should at ''least'' be a few feet taller than a human. He's shown the same height as Sparkplug.
*Starscream is missing his wing insignia as Megatron returns to his robot form.
*Ironhide and Starscream are shown sparring with poles, while Prowl and Thundercracker have a shootout from cover. In the very next shot, Ironhide is taking on Skywarp and Thundercracker, while Starscream is now busy with Huffer and Gears, and Prowl is grappling with a Reflector. In the shot after that, Prowl is suddenly free from Reflector and charging toward Skywarp.
*A red robot of indeterminate character model is shown retreating with the Decepticons. It looks a bit like an upside-down Sideswipe.
*When Rumble knocks Spike into the water, his father yells "Pike!" instead of "Spike". Perhaps he was meant to be warning his son about carnivorous fish, but ''of course'' pike live in fresh water, not salt.
*Frank Welker is not listed among the voice actors in the credits sequence. This error would be repeated in the other two parts of the miniseries as well.

===Continuity errors===
[[File:MTMtE Part1 Cybertron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*Later episodes will go to some length to establish that Cybertron is outside of our galaxy. There's even some implication that it's not inside ''any'' galaxy, but that unlikely notion is put to the lie by the very first shots of this episode, which show its surface illuminated by an unseen sun, and the space around it filled with stars.
*Whether for reasons of cost (unlikely considering how much effort was expended on this episode's artwork) or to avoid confusing the kiddies, hardly any of the Transformers were designed to have Cybertronian [[robot mode]]s (Laserbeak is the sole exception). Thus we get the strange phenomena of, for example, Jazz having a Porsche 911 bumper on his chest, four million years before Porsches were invented. This also leads to some strange transformations, with guys like Bumblebee and Wheeljack not having a single part from their vehicle forms visible in their robot modes.
*Soundwave is in robot mode outside of Iacon, not transforming back to lamppost mode until Jazz is practically on top of him. How could Jazz have failed to notice the big blue Decepticon right in front of him?
[[File:Shockwave Hands.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|''My honey my baby Don't put Shockwave upon no shelf She said don't gimme no lines And keep your hands... hand... whatever... to yourself!'']]
*During the scene in [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Cybertron)|Decepticon Headquarters]], Shockwave is consistently drawn with two hands. This may not be an error ''per se'', as he shows up a couple of other times with two hands, and plenty of characters can retract their hands and replace them with various gadgets and weapons. Not to mention that the 4 million year gap between this episode and his next appearance (when his left hand is replaced with a laser cannon) leaves plenty of time for him to have lost and subsequently replaced the hand offscreen. However, this still goes against his toy design and his established character model.
*Two asteroids in deep space just show up out of nowhere and collide? Right by the passing ship? The cosmic improbability beggars the imagination.
*Oddly enough, nobody opens fire during the scuffle when the Decepticons board the Ark... not even Megatron.
*The Transformers' interplanetary cruise is ''incredibly'' short. At no point do they engage any kind of faster-than-light drive, yet somehow they go from Cybertron to Earth in what seems to be a matter of minutes. The only possible gap that might account for this is the scene cut between the Decepticon launch and the asteroid collision.
*The animation would have us believe that the Autobot spacecraft has just been sticking out of the side of this active volcano for ages, without anybody noticing. The intended gist might have been that the eruption uncovered it, but the animation doesn't show it.
*Cliffjumper somehow stores on his person a cannon that's as big as he is.
*Okay, maybe it's not an actual error. But considering how many ordinary Transformers are shown to have enhanced visual abilities (Hot Rod, Rumble, Arcee, etc.) it seems a tad ridiculous that Thundercracker needs to use Reflector's camera mode to zoom in a little bit on the approaching truck. It's ''insanely'' ridiculous that Reflector produces Polaroid prints. He's not even that kind of camera! (More to the point, he should just be able to see what's visible through his own viewfinder.)
*While he is getting repaired by Ratchet, Hound refers to an Energon cube as "some kind of cube", implying that the Autobots don't know what Energon cubes are. The inference that energon cubes are a Decepticon invention holds true for almost the entirety of the pre-movie cartoon, during which time they are never used by the Autobots (something that is even made a plot point in "[[Traitor (episode)|Traitor]]"). We say "almost" because of a contradictory flashback in "[[War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn]]" that shows what appear to be energon cubes being used by Autobots nine million years in the past. By the time of the movie, the Autobots are shown to have begun using the cubes, and continue to do so throughout the third season. It's possible that Hound is a younger Autobot and was not created until after Autobots stopped using Energon cubes. Optimus would know what they are, since he was there back then in "War Dawn".
*How do the Autobots know where the Decepticons are planning to attack? They organize their battle unit before the Decepticons even learn about the [[oil rig|oil platform]]!
*During Jazz's roll-call of the Autobots, he neglects to call out Cliffjumper's name. The little red guy transforms anyway.
*The large cast frequently gave the animators trouble in remembering which secondary characters should or should not be present, especially concerning the Autobots. Thus, we frequently must catalog appearing/disappearing Autobots:
**Jazz's battle group consists of Prowl, Cliffjumper, Trailbreaker, Wheeljack, Mirage, Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, and Ironhide. Even before they've left headquarters, the problems start, as Ironhide disappears and Ratchet takes his place. Ratchet is still with the group when they arrive.
**Bluestreak joins the group as they fly toward the oil rig.
**Huffer and Brawn are with them as they land on the platform.
**Gears is visible in a wide shot of the battle.
*In what ''universe'' is it legal for a fourteen-year-old American kid to be working on an oil rig, even ''with'' his father?
[[File:MTMtE1 spare seeker.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*Until the oil platform attack, the episode has consistently portrayed the Decepticon forces as Megatron, Soundwave, 3 tapes, 3 jets, and 3 Reflectors. Things start to fall apart here, as a dark blue jet is shown diving alongside Thundercracker. It gets ''much'' worse in the following episodes.
*''The Transformers'' had a tendency to frequently exaggerate the capabilities of humans to survive being dropped, punched, swatted, hit, etc. As a main protagonist, Spike Witwicky was especially susceptible to this treatment; thus we catalog the adventures of ''Superhuman Spike!'':
**Spike punches Rumble in the back without breaking or even seeming to hurt his fist.
**Spike survives being bashed aside by Rumble's metal fist without even bruising a rib.
*When Starscream fires his [[null-ray]], ice appears on the machinery that the ray hits. However, a null ray only stops the flow of electricity; it doesn't cause freezing. (Megatron prompts him with the strange command to "activate the null ray", as if it's some external piece of equipment.)
*Flying Autobots:
**In this and the following two episodes, the Autobots are all shown flying just as easily as the Decepticons. Once the show went into full production, this ability mostly disappeared, with occasional exceptions due to special abilities (Wheeljack, Sideswipe, the Dinobots), and some [[Roll for It|scripting]], [[Attack of the Autobots (episode)|animation]] and [[The Master Builders (episode)|sound]] [[Fire on the Mountain (episode)|effect]] screw-ups. The change was, in part, to help distinguish the two forces (and perhaps because it doesn't make sense for the Autobots to drive places if they can just fly there instead).

===Trivia===
*Scenes deleted from the original script to this episode include Ratchet working to repair Bumblebee's damage after he and Wheeljack return to Iacon; Rumble destroying a railroad trestle for more construction materials in addition to the power plant; Skywarp and Thundercracker grumbling about being stuck with grunt work as the Decepticons construct their temporary headquarters; Skywarp finding a frisbee and tossing it back and forth to Starscream before Megatron blasts it to bits; and a scene of Brawn, Huffer and Windcharger trying to fight the oil rig fire, only for the rig to collapse out from under them, setting up the opening scene of the next episode in which Huffer is caught in the wreckage. Other differences include Soundwave being the first Decepticon to be restored by Teletraan I, rather than Skywarp, and Teletraan I bouncing its beams off of human satellites, rather than using a [[Sky Spy]].
*Shockwave's appearance hints that Hasbro was already planning for expansion of the toyline. His toy was not among the initial 28 characters advertised by the 1984 Transformers catalog, yet there he is, making a short appearance that obviously sets up the possibility of future appearances. His toy would be one of the very first 1985 toys to see release, and his character would return in the very first post-pilot episode.
[[File:Cartoon Cybertron Marvel Iacon case 1.jpg|upright=1.95|thumb]]
*The episode ends with a preview of "Part 2". While other multi-part Transformers episodes generally refer to the episode by its title ("Next time, on ''The Transformers'': 'The Ultimate Doom'"), this preview uses the series title, ''The Transformers'', as "More Than Meets the Eye" is a retroactive name for the three-part episode, which began as a mini-series before becoming a regular program.
*Many later episodes would mine this one for recycled footage, particularly the line up of transforming Autobots near the end. Transformation sequences (with and without new backgrounds) from this episode appear in "[[Heavy Metal War]]", "[[Blaster Blues]]", and others. Optimus Prime's transformation sequence from this episode is used in ''dozens'' of episodes.
*Imagery of Cybertron from this episode was used to depict Iacon in the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel story]] "[[And There Shall Come...a Leader!]]". Several buildings are clearly taken from the cartoon, and the most precious comparison has to be the tunnel entrance used by Wheeljack and Bumblebee to get energy conductors to the cartoon's dome-shaped Autobot headquarters, which is exactly the same as the one [[Fusion]] and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] used to get shatter bombs to the [[Great Dome]]. The only difference is that the next piece of road for Fusion and Bluestreak is the same road Wheeljack and Bumblebee drove over before entering the tunnel.
[[File:G2DoubleTargetmasters.jpg|upright=1.95|thumb|The new RCA Colortrak, with Commercial-in-Commercial feature!]]
*The mid-80s [[Family Home Entertainment]] VHS release of "More Than Meets the Eye" was granted the {{w|Film Advisory Board}} Award of Excellence, proudly displayed on the video box cover above. However, this particular "award" does not reflect the ''quality'' of any work submitted, but rather that the work is "family-friendly". Cheeky, that.
*The three parter was released on video in the United Kingdom in 1986 under the title "Arrival from Cybertron".
*Footage from the [[commercial]] featuring the Autobot [[Targetmaster (technology)|Double Targetmaster]] trio was spliced into the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Generation 2]]'' version of this episode by way of the [[Cybernet Space Cube]]. Outside of this, they never actually appeared in the cartoon.
*Footage from this episode was used to represent a historical video in "[[Transform and Roll Out]]", the opening movie for ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]]''.
*In 2016, "Transformers At The Moon" released onto YouTube<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwOQhJ_UA5E</ref> a collection of audio clips from the original Sunbow Productions "unslugged" cassette tapes and included many scenes deleted from the final show. Among the audio is:
** Additional dialogue between Bumblebee and Wheeljack as they approach the Seekers on the bridge to Iacon
** Thundercracker and Sunstorm call out as Wheeljack bears down on them
** A scene in the Autobot base showing Bumblebee being repaired by Ratchet, and Optimus Prime mentioning Jazz is out looking for more energy conductors
** Additional dialogue between Optimus Prime, Jazz, and Prowl regarding the energy situation
** Prowl ordering Gears to give him a countdown
** Megatron telling Starscream his destiny is to be a servant
** Megatron giving the order to blast off
** Trailbreaker mentioning Teletraan-1 can find some sources of energy, and the rest will have to be found via optical sensors; Optimus tells him to use whatever means necessary
** Ironhide and Mirage bemoaning the fact they're on the ''Ark'', away from Cybertron, though for different reasons
** The Decepticons launching a cover protocol to hide their approach on the Autobots; this scene explains why Megatron didn't take Starscream's advice to destroy the ''Ark'': Megatron wanted to follow the Autobots to wherever they could potentially find energy...which doesn't explain why Megatron had the Decepticons board the ''Ark'' a bit later
** Additional dialogue between Optimus and Prowl just before the asteroids collide
** Starscream stating he's glad Rumble is on their side after the latter destroys the substation
** Thundercracker and Skywarp questioning why they're doing grunt work, only to be chewed out by Megatron; Megatron also chews out Starscream for not working
** Starscream rather bluntly refusing to look through Reflector's viewfinder
** Additional dialogue between Cliffjumper and Hound
** When Cliffjumper arrives with Ratchet and Hauler, he calls out "Hang tough, Hound! We're comin'!"
** Hound noting that Earth is beautiful, and wanting to warn the indigenous people of the Decepticons, a notion that Jazz shoots down due to believing that the people wouldn't believe them, a notion Optimus agrees with
** The oil platform workers looking in fear at the approaching Decepticons; Spike asks "Who are they?", which makes his inflection when he says "WHAT are they?" make more sense
** Huffer moaning that the fire started by Megatron is too far gone, only for Brawn and Windcharger to turn on something that douses it; Brawn tells Windcharger to release more of...whatever it is, but that's all it will give, and Brawn tells Huffer to jump as the rig begins breaking up; Huffer gets stuck, and Brawn (in a voice that sounds more like Spike, probably because Corey Burton hadn't figured out a voice to use for when Brawn is screaming) comes to his aid
** Also on this tape is what [[Wally Burr]] terms "Body English", which consists of various Autobots and Decepticons grunting and groaning during the fight on the oil platform; "Body English" was recorded for Optimus Prime, Megatron, Starscream, Wheeljack, Reflector, all of the Decepticon troops, and the workers
{{--}}

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Im Weltraum verschollen'''" (''Generation 2'', "Lost in Space")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[April 30]], [[1994]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Fuga da Cybertron'''" ("Escape from Cybertron")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Molto più di quel che appare - I'''" ("More than Meets the Eye - I")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*The 2008 dub renamed Hauler "Grapple" in order to retcon them as the same character.
::*In the 2008 dub, when Rumble is ejected for the first time, Soundwave [[FIRRIB|calls him Frenzy]].

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Chikyū e no Michi'''" (地球への道, "The Road to Earth")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[July 6]], [[1985]]
::*When [[Hotlink (G1)|the Seeker]] fires the ring of flame around [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] from his flame-thrower, he shouts out the name of his "special attack" in traditional anime-style. It was called the "Fire Attack", by the way.
::*'''Cut:''' Immediately after [[Skywarp (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Skywarp]] says, "Megatron, my leader, we are alive again", a few seconds of the close-up of him and [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] staring at each other and the fade away into the next scene is cut. Megatron's line, "Quickly, we must revive the other Decepticons", followed by him carrying and dropping [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]], was also cut. The sequence resumes right after Megatron sets Reflector down next to [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]].
::*"[[Hauler]]" is not referred to by name in this version and most Japanese fans just presumed him to have been [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]]. Most Japanese fans, [[Hirofumi Ichikawa|but not all]].

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Dìyī Tiān'''" (第一天, "The First Day")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mais do Que Os Olhos Veem Parte 1'''" (Brazil, "More than Meets the Eye part 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Ne vsjo tak prosto (Chast' 1)'''" (Не всё так просто (Часть 1), "Not All Is So Simple (Part 1)")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Serbian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Više nego što se vidi prvi deo'''" (''Generation 2'', Више него што се види први део, "More than Meets the Eye Part 1"), "'''Sile zla prvi deo'''" (''Generation 2'', Силе зла први део, "Forces of Evil Part 1")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

===Toys inspired by this episode===
[[File:G1toy-SunstormeHobby.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|right|WHAT HAVE WE DONE]]
*'''''[[Collector's Edition]]'' 89 [[Sunstorm (G1)#Collector's Edition|Sunstorm]] ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]], 2003/2009)'''
:An [[e-HOBBY]] [[exclusive]] redeco of the original ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]'' [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Generation 1|Starscream]] toy, representing the yellow [[generic]] [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] seen in this episode. In part thanks to being given additional prominence in [[Dreamwave Productions]]' comic books, the character would subsequently spawn a plethora of additional toys, including ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' figures by both Hasbro and Takara. While most "Sunstorm" figures are based on the standard Seeker body-type that transforms into an Earth jet, both the ''[[Titanium Series]]'' "Cybertron Heroes" [[Sunstorm (G1)#Titanium Series|Sunstorm]] figure and the ''[[Legends Class (2005)|Legends]] of [[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' [[Sunstorm (Universe)#Cybertron|Sunstorm]] figure (the latter of which represents the [[Unicron Trilogy]] version of Sunstorm) transform into Cybertronian fighter jets that are heavily inspired by the Seekers' "tetrajet" alternate mode seen in this episode. The original Sunstorm figure was later re-released in 2009, once again exclusive to e-HOBBY.

[[File:MP Prowl.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|right|The shoulder cannons absolutely needed to be justified with an episode screencap… which actually shows an animation error.]]
*'''''[[Collector's Edition]]'' 88 [[Hauler#Collector's Edition|RoadHauler]] (Takara, 2003)'''
:An e-HOBBY exclusive redeco of the original ''Generation 1'' [[Grapple (G1)#Generation 1|Grapple]] toy in a [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]-inspired green color scheme, intended to represent the Grapple lookalike seen in this episode, with the choice for his colors taking inspiration from "[[The Secret of Omega Supreme (episode)|The Secret of Omega Supreme]]" and "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4]]".

*'''''Masterpiece'' MP-13 [[Soundwave (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|Soundwave]] (TakaraTomy, 2013)'''
:One of the accessories included with the figure is a display grid that attaches over his chest door: The last page of the instruction booklet features a pair of cutouts you can place underneath the grid to simulate Soundwave projecting them on his chest, one of them being the space cruiser blueprints from this episode.

*'''''Masterpiece'' MP-17 [[Prowl (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|Prowl]] (TakaraTomy, 2013)'''
:Although they were technically based on the original ''Generation 1'' toy, TakaraTomy specifically used a screencap from this episode to "justify" the inclusion of shoulder cannons with their ''Masterpiece'' toy of Prowl… a screencap that actually depicts an ''animation error'' with ''[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]'' colored like Prowl (see above), hence the shoulder cannons.

*'''''Masterpiece'' MP-29 [[Shockwave (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|Destron Laserwave]] (TakaraTomy, 2016)'''
:Among the other accessories, this figure includes a normal left hand that replaces his laser gun to recreate Shockwave's two-handed appearance in this episode, plus an alternate right hand to recreate the salute he gives to Megatron.

*'''''[[War for Cybertron: Siege]]'' (2019)'''
:Representing Cybertronian forms rather than Earth modes, many of the figures from ''Siege'' are either directly based upon or incorporate features or design elements referencing this episode. Voyager [[Starscream (G1)/toys#War for Cybertron: Siege|Starscream]] transforms into a tetrajet based on thie episode, [[Soundwave (G1)/toys#War for Cybertron: Siege|Soundwave]] has an "easter egg" third mode of "Cybertronian Sensor Lamp", and although ''Siege'' [[Laserbeak (G1)/toys#War for Cybertron: Siege|Laserbeak]] still resembles his more bird-like form, his head design is a direct reference to his cartoon Cybertronian form.

*'''''[[War for Cybertron: Earthrise]]'' [[Cliffjumper (G1)/toys#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Cliffjumper]] (2020)'''
:This figure comes with the giant cannon from this episode as one of its accessories.
{{-}}

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1985 — ''The Transformers'' — Volume 1: "More than Meets the Eye" ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1986 — ''The Transformers'' — Arrival from Cybertron ([[Video Gems|A.M.T. Video Gems]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1988 — ''The Transformers'' — Arrival from Cybertron ([[Video Gems|V.I.P. Video Gems]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1991 — ''The Transformers'' — Arrival from Cybertron ([[Video Gems|Little Gems Junior Video Club]]) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1999 — ''The Transformers: Generation 2'' — More than Meets the Eye ([[Malofilm|Seville Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2001 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Exclusively from Blockbuster ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;{{w|LaserDisc}}
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers: Generation 2'' ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Original Series: Volume Two (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Complete Original Series: Deluxe Edition (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — First Season Collector's Edition ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume One (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 1: Series 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 1 ([[Déclic Images]]) — European French audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — The Best of ''The Transformers'' (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — Cult Sci-Fi Legends (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Episodes (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Classic Transformers'' — Series One: Part One (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 01: Stagione Uno Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season One (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete First Season: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — More than Meets the Eye (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Original Series (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2014 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete First Season: 30th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Animated Series (Metrodome)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/season-1/synopses/4023.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1YhGjCP9ckz3M3XHZjqsKydJZxI_Fs8vQ Full episode script, with revision pages dated 13th March 1984]

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]
[[Category:MSTF]]
[[Category:Pack-in material]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]

Crucible (Part 1): A Dance Before Dying

2021-01-29T01:13:19Z

Amiga Power: /* Errors */

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Lost Light|The Transformers: Lost Light]]'' #19
|prev=The Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here
|next=Crucible (Part 2): Lūstrāre
|image=LL19_cvrA.jpg
|title="Crucible (Part 1): A Dance Before Dying"
|caption=Shut up and dance with me.
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[July 4]], 2018
|coverdate=Early June, 2018
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[E. J. Su]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[David Mariotte]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era]]
}}
'''Team Rodimus and the Scavengers reunite with former friends just in time to deal with a sparkeater attack orchestrated by Getaway.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Team Rodimus]] and the [[Scavenger (group)|Scavengers]] watch as the mutinous crew of the ''[[Lost Light]]''—now somehow converted into [[sparkeater (creature)|sparkeaters]]—land on the surface of [[Mederi]] and start lumbering towards them. The group is unsure of the extent of the threat they pose, but quickly find out when [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] approaches the sparkeater-[[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] and attempts to talk to him, only to be scorched by a stream of acid vomit from his former lab partner. [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] tackles the wounded Brainstorm to safety, and the whole group transforms and beats retreat. As the sparkeaters give chase, [[Wipe-Out's ship|a small ship]] appears in the distance, heading right for the group; something drops from its underside, which [[Roller (IDW)|Roller]] initially thinks is a bomb... only for it to turn out to be [[Grimlock (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Grimlock]], who lands in the midst of the sparkeaters, stomping several of them flat. The former [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]] leader hacks the sparkeater-[[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] to bits with his sword, prompting [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] to grab [[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] and zap Grimlock with the Decepticon's guns, just enough to get his attention and stop him from killing any more of their afflicted fellow Autobots. A blast from the ship overhead scatters the remaining sparkeaters, and the craft sets down, revealing who else is on board: [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]], [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]], [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]], and [[Wipe-Out]]. Explanations come thick and fast: after being separated from the Scavengers, Grimlock fought his way out of [[Scorponok (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Scorponok]]'s [[Worldsweeper]] and ended up adrift in space, where his distress signal was picked up by First Aid, Riptide, and the injured Thunderclash after they escaped the ''Lost Light''. The group proceeded to travel to [[Troja Major]], where they repaired Thunderclash, left the [[Firstborn]] in the care of [[Agonizer|the Curator]], chartered a small [[Quantum generator|quantum-jump]]-capable ship from Wipe-Out, and set out in search of the ''Lost Light'' by following a homing beacon they hid on it. As [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] and [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] bond over a love of puns, First Aid relates the atrocities [[Getaway]] has wrought in [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]]'s absence. Suddenly, just as Rodimus is making plans to search for the ''Lost Light'', a [[proton missile]] impacts nearby. Looking up to the source of the missile, the group sees that the ''Lost Light'' has arrived, now decorated with a huge symbol on its underside: the gear-like coat of arms of the [[Knights of Cybertron]]!

Aboard the ''Lost Light'', Getaway orders [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]] to fire on the 'bots below again, but it turns out they've run out of missiles, having used up the rest recently battling the [[Phantom Fleet]]. As indicated by the symbol that has been added to the ship, Getaway has joined forces with the mysterious [[Adaptus|Grand Architect]], and worse yet, he is not the only familiar face on the Architect's side: so is Getaway's former captor, Chief Justice [[Solomus|Tyrest]]! Communicating via hologram, Tyrest accuses Getaway of playing with the Autobots and urges him to finish things quickly so the final stage of the Architect's plan can begin. Getaway denies it, but as he surveys the oil reservoir full of [[scraplet]]s, it's obvious that he has plans of his own...

Down below, the group watches as the ''Lost Light'' pulls back, disappearing into clouds that are rapidly darkening the sky. But there is no respite for our heroes, as a second wave of sparkeaters suddenly appears; [[Krok (G1)|Krok]] saves the surprised Rodimus by blasting the sparkeater-[[Slapdash (G1)|Slapdash]] to pieces, which angers [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]], but Krok won't apologize for saving Rodimus. Magnus instructs everyone to shoot to wound rather than kill, but sparkeater physiology makes it a tricky prospect—[[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] does some heavy damage to [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]; Thunderclash has to shoot [[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]] after he takes off one of Rung's arms with his acid vomit; but Grimlock has no angst to spare for mutineers and traitors. Realizing that Getaway ''wants'' him to get angry and lash out, Rodimus—inspired by [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]]'s recent attempt to goad him into action, and much to his own chagrin—decides to calm down and think like [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]], assembling a rational plan of action. He instructs most of the group to barricade themselves inside Ward Zero, luring the sparkeaters after them, while he, Magnus, Thunderclash, Roller, Grimlock, Whirl, [[Drift (G1)|Drift]], [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]], [[Anode]], and [[Lug (IDW)|Lug]] wedge into Wipe-Out's ship, with Crankcase at the helm, and take off after the ''Lost Light''. Cyclonus, in particular, relishes a reunion with Getaway, intending to kill him ''slowly''.

Weaving through bolts of lighting, Crankcase pilots Wipe-Out's ship after the ''Lost Light'', and the group is able to enter the larger vessel via shuttle bay four, finding that there are no guards or shields up. It is, of course, all part of Getaway's plan; no sooner have they landed and disembarked than all the shields and blast doors in the bay start descending. Rodimus and Cyclonus are able to dart under one before it shuts, but the rest of the group is sealed in. Strategically-placed charges in the ceiling detonate, bringing the contents of the room above—the oil reservoir—flooding down into the bay. Anode, in particular, is gripped with terror as the team find themselves facing the menace of the metal-munching scraplets, who have combined into a massive, tentacled monstrosity!

Rodimus and Cyclonus, meanwhile, make for the bridge of the ship, certain that Getaway is waiting for them. And he is... but what Rodimus has ''not'' expected is for Getaway to be flanked by Star Saber... and Scorponok!

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (4)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (5)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] (6)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (7)
*[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (9)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (10)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (11)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (12)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (13)
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (16)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (17)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (21)
*[[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (24)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] (25)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (26)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (27)
*[[Hound (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hound]] (28)
*[[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] (29)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Grimlock]] (30)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (31)
*[[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] (32)
*[[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] (33)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Getaway]] (35)
*[[Slapdash (G1)|Slapdash]] (36)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (37)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (38)
*[[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]] (39)
*[[Crosscut (Autobot)|Crosscut]] (40)
*[[Xaaron]] (41)
*[[Powerflash]] (43)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] (2)
*[[Krok (G1)|Krok]] (3)
*[[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] (8)
*[[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] (14)
*[[Fulcrum]] (15)
*[[Nickel]] (19)
*[[Scorponok (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Scorponok]] (46)

|c4=
*[[Roller (IDW)|Roller]] (1)
*[[Anode]] (18)
*''[[Epistemus|Magnificence]]'' (20)
*[[Lug (IDW)|Lug]] (22)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (23)
*[[Wipe-Out]] (34)
*[[Solomus|Tyrest]] (42)
*Alien telepaths (44)
*[[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]] (45)

}}

==Quotes==
"Perceptor? Percy? It's Brainstorm—remember me? Your lab partner? Your one-time lab partner? 'Watch out you fool, the ceiling can't support your weight!' That guy."
:—'''Brainstorm''' tries to reach the sparkeater'd Perceptor

"'''Run,''' people! Threat level five! Emergency protocol five! Escape procedure fi—" 
"Five?" 
"'''Six''', actually!" 
"Pretty sure you were gonna say—" 
"'''Don't pretend you know the system!'''"
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Misfire'''

'''Misfire''': Grimsy! You're '''alive'''! 
'''Ultra Magnus''': Best to keep your distance, Decepticon. Grimlock has a tendency to— 
''Misfire embraces Grimlock'' 
'''Ultra Magnus''': —hug people? 
'''Rodimus''': Now that we've found Cyberutopia, we should go on a quest to explain '''this'''. 
'''Ultra Magnus:''' ...Grimlock's been missing for years. They probably found him, saved him—by accident, no doubt—and he feels protective towards them. You see? There's an explanation for everything. 
'''Misfire''': What did you do with the baby? 
'''Ultra Magnus''': ...Nothing makes sense anymore.
:—The Scavengers' weirdness officially tops Team Rodimus's weirdness.

"That's how I like my explanations. Hard, fast, and confusing." 
"Yeah, I used to be in [the] recap business, and that précis did '''not''' take any prisoners." 
"It was like being beaten to death with a '''Story So Far.'''" 
"A 'summary execution.'" 
"How come we've never met?" 
"The universe hates winners."
:—'''Misfire''' and '''Swerve''' bond

"What was it you said yesterday?" 
"You expect me to remember back that far? I can't even remember how this sentence started."
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Whirl'''

"I don't care about Getaway. I care about '''you.'''"
:—'''Tailgate''', to Cyclonus

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*The "story so far" segment on the inside front cover is presented as a conversation between Swerve and Misfire, hearkening back to the old "Swerve recap" pages used in ''More than Meets the Eye'' between [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|issue #29]] and [[The One Where They Go to Earth|#43]].
*Brainstorm's line (quoted above) about the ceiling not being able to hold his weight alludes to an unseen follow-up to a scene from way back in [[Rules of Disengagement (issue)|''More than Meets the Eye'' #7]], in which Brainstorm did science while suspending himself from the ceiling in an attempt to impress Perceptor.
*Brainstorm attempts to tell Perceptor that they are "simpatico", which he did before in [[Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|''More than Meets the Eye'' #24]].
*Grimlock and Scorponok were both last seen in [[Kill All 'Cons|issue #15]].
*Grimlock is less than happy to see Ultra Magnus; unsurprising, since Magnus was the one who arrested him way back in [[Maximum Dinobots issue 5|''Maximum Dinobots'' #5]].
*First Aid, Riptide, and Thunderclash were last seen escaping the ''Lost Light'' in [[The Plotters' Club (Part 3): Journey's End|issue #12]].
*Wipe-Out previously appeared in [[An Axe to Break the Ice|issues #8]]-[[Chasing the Infinite|9]].
*Star Saber references an off-panel encounter the ''Lost Light'' has had between issue #12 and this one with the "[[Phantom Fleet]]". This fleet was first mentioned in [[Dissolution Part 2: Anomie|issue #2]], explained to be a group of [[Worldsweeper]]-class ships that were lost in the [[Dark Nebula]] millions of years ago. The Grand Architect's use of Worldsweepers has been flagged up as anachronistic several times, always suggesting there was a connection...
*When the crew observes the change in weather, as the sky darkens and clouds roll in, First Aid notes that conditions were the same on Troja Major. We saw this weather in action there in issue #14, where it was said to be due to the "warping" of the "spiritual ley line" the planet sits on; it was noted last issue that Mederi sits on the same ley line.
*Whirl needled Rodimus into action by asking him "What Would Megatron Do?" back in [[The Everlasting Voices (1): Metastasis|issue #16]].
*Tyrest was last seen in [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|''More than Meets the Eye'' #21]], when his attempt to reach Cyberutopia by killing every [[reproduction|cold-constructed]] Transformer in the universe was stopped by the crew. The [[The Sound of Breaking Glass|prose story]] published as a back-up in that issue revealed he went on to escape captivity via a teleporter.
*Tyrest notes that "Benzene has been cleared" as part of the Grand Architect's plans. The [[Benzene Cluster]] has been mentioned several times between [[The Plotters' Club (Part 1): Full Circle|issues #10]]-[[Sardines|13]]; in particular, issue #12 mentioned a mysterious party operating out of the cluster.
*Tyrest also says "the pathway has been sterilized", something [[Flame (Marvel)|Flame]] noted preparations were being made for back in issue #9.
*As we observed back in our notes for [[The Plotters' Club (Part 2): Filling in the Blanks|issue #11]], the red scraplets have been on the ''Lost Light'' from the start, as alluded to by [[The Gloaming|''More than Meets the Eye'' #16]]. This issue finally reveals why; Drift explains that Brainstorm brought them on board, hoping he could train them to "eat temporal energy" to prevent his time-travel experiments being discovered.

===Errors===
[[File:LL19 vehicle modes.jpg|thumb|upright=1.33]]
*Well, doesn't look like anyone provided E. J. Su with reference material for the crew's vehicle mode looks from past issues of the comic,<ref>[https://twitter.com/ejsu28/status/1008256077215903744 E. J. Su (@ejsu28) on Twitter, 2018/06/17]</ref> because Chromedome turns into his ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' [[Chromedome (G1)#Generations|toy]] (itself based on his [[:File:MTMTE9 early Chromedome.jpg|Shadowplay"-era body]], in contrast with his modern body), Ratchet turns into his ''[[Transformers: Prime (toyline)|Transformers: Prime]]'' [[Ratchet (G1)/toys#Prime|toy]], and... ''sigh''... Rodimus and Drift turn into the vehicle modes of [[IP theft|unofficial "third party" toys]] based on their comic book designs.
*In his part of the "story so far", Misfire mentions "an'''d''' army" rather than "an army".
*Not necessarily an error, but on page 6 when First Aid says "Funeral towns are great '''for''' spare parts", it seems odd to emphasise the word "for".
*On page 7, Swerve says "I used to be in recap business", which should probably be "I used to be in ''the'' recap business". This was corrected for the trade paperback.
*There are two typos on page 9: "mobilze" instead of "mobilize" in the first panel and "make is" instead of "make it" in the third panel. Both were corrected for the trade paperback.
*It might not strictly be an error, but the timings really don’t match up between the Scavengers and Grimlock and their different journeys after splitting on the Worldsweeper. Grimlock has managed to fight his way out of the Worldsweeper; get picked up; fly to Troja Major; meet and hire Wipe-Out; tool up with a massive arsenal and fly to Mederi. In the same amount of time, the Scavengers only managed to arrive (instantaneously) at Mederi, spend a few minutes bickering in a cell, and run into Nautica. Huh.

===Other trivia===
*Originally solicited for release in early June 2018, as the first of ''two'' issues of ''Lost Light'' that were supposed to be released that month, this issue arrived late, in the first week of July.

===Soundtrack===
TBC

===Covers (3)===
*'''Cover A:''' Whirl, Magnus, Rodimus, Brainstorm, Anode, and Lug aim their weapons, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Cover B:''' Inferno, Blaster, Bluestreak, Hound, Brawn, and Huffer aim their weapons, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]; a companion piece to Cover A
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Roche's black and white lineart from Cover A
<gallery>
File:LL19 cvrA.jpg|Team Rodimus
File:LL19 cvrB.jpg|vs. the Mutineers
File:LL19 cvrRI.jpg|and the loser is the colors
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''Lost Light'' #20
*''[[Transformers: Unicron]]''
*''[[Transformers: Requiem of the Wreckers]]''
*''{{i|Jem and the Holograms: Dimensions}}'' TPB
*''Atomic Robo: The Spectre of Tomorrow'' TPB
*''Ghostbusters: Answer the Call'' TPB
*''The Infinite Loop: Nothing But the Truth'' TPB
*''Full Bleed'' comics and culture magazine
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]] Adventures'' Vol. 3 TPB

===Reprints===
*'''''Transformers: Lost Light''''' Vol. 4 TPB ([[January 30]], [[2019]]) ISBN 1684054109 / ISBN 978-1684054107
:Contains ''Lost Light'' issues #19 to #25.
:Bonus material CURRENTLY UNKNOWN.

*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]] Volume 87: Crucible''''' ([[July 29]], [[2020]])
:Contains ''Lost Light'' issues #19 to #24.
:Bonus material includes the second half of ''[[Transformers: Historia]]'' (after ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]''), including the [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] profile, a cover gallery and an intro by [[Simon Furman]].

<gallery>
File:LLvol4 TPBcvr.jpg|'''Vol. 4''' cover by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v87.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection Volume 87: Crucible''''' cover by [[Dreamwave Productions]], [[Casey Coller]] and [[Tom B. Long]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.comiccrusaders.com/exclusive-preview-transformers-lost-light-19/ Preview]

[[Category:Lost Light issues]]

IP infringement

2021-01-29T01:01:10Z

Amiga Power: /* Third party designs in official products and marketing */

{{disambig2|unlicensed toys based on ''Transformers''|third parties that produce actual ''Transformers'' products under license|Third party}}
[[File:01-Studio Headless Unicron.jpg|thumb|200px|"You underestimate me, Hasbro."]]
The many and varied facets of the [[Transformers brand|''Transformers'' brand]] are the intellectual property (IP) of [[Hasbro]] and [[TakaraTomy]], and their ownership of these ideas and designs is [[Copyright|protected by law]]. Alas, some rascally elements have, over the years, decided they'd like a slice of that pie, which has led to the creation of what have been described as '''IP infringing items''' by employees of former Hasbro licensee [[Fun Publications]].

{{bigquote|Theft of IP like this is staggering, develop your own characters and designs!|[[Aaron Archer]], former [[Hasbro]] employee<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170510214929/https://aaron-archer-art.tumblr.com/post/88471654165/aeonmagnus-fans-toys-ft-03-scoria-gallery Aaron Archer on Tumblr]</ref><ref>Archer would later do design work for a not-[[Octopunch (G1)|Octopunch]] figure for an abortive Kickstarter project. TFWiki.net leaves you to make of this what you will.</ref>}}

==Kinds of IP theft==
Technically, any use of Hasbro and Takara's ''Transformers'' names, characters, and concepts without obtaining a license could be considered IP theft. Things such as fan art and fan fiction, however, are rarely considered problematic, being as they are not intended to generate profit or are otherwise one-off works. In fact, in the past Hasbro has laid out guidelines to fan-artists and similar creators wishing to make and sell art and crafts based on ''Transformers'', which basically boiled down to being careful how one "branded" it (or, in practice, ''didn't'' brand it by just avoiding the use of brand names and some minor semantics).

When things get dicey —and the license-holders get tetchy— is when IP theft occurs on a grander, and more organised scale.

===Knockoffs===
[[File:DOTM.MIRAGEKO.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Automatons in Concealment]]
{{main|Knockoff}}
In the context of ''Transformers'', [[knockoff]] is often used to describe both low-budget/quality toys, the kind of off-color, oversized/undersized thing that one might come across in a "dollar store" cranked out by the bajillions from China, and higher-quality toys that actually attempt to pass themselves off as genuine Hasbro or Takara products. Knockoffs that are direct replicas of existing Hasbro toys are very obviously the result of theft – in that case, it is the precise design and engineering for the toy that has been stolen. However, it is not unheard of for manufacturers to create their own cheap toys in the image of ''Transformers'' characters, and these still constitute IP theft – Optimus Prime the Character is as much Hasbro's property as Optimus Prime the Specific Toy.

Conversely, a toy that copies the engineering (i.e. [[transformation]]) of an existing Hasbro/Takara product but is changed enough as to not resemble an existing character protected by copyright might not necessarily constitute IP theft: Functionality is protected by patents, and patent protection legally expires after 20 years. This is why you occasionally see off-brand toys that work just like the [[Jumpstarter]]s but look nothing like [[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]] or [[Twin Twist]].
{{--}}

==="Third party" toys===
[[File:MechaformNotJetfire.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.85|I Can't Believe It's Not Jetfire!]]
In the late 2000s, spurred on by the ''Transformers'' nostalgia boom invoked by the [[live-action film series]], a new phenomenon arose—unlicensed products based on ''Transformers'' aimed at the adult collector market. The very earliest examples of this kind of product were accessories and then "upgrades" for existing Hasbro toys, such as a trailer/armor set for ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], but the market quickly grew to include standalone action figures based on ''Transformers'' characters. The number of groups producing these figures has ballooned rapidly, to the point that two or even three separate companies will be simultaneously releasing toys of the same characters. Popular market trends have included [[combiner]]s and, more recently, faux-''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' figures.

The [[fandom]]'s generally recognized name for these kinds of figures is "third party Transformers", although this is ultimately a misnomer for the plain reason that they are not actual ''Transformers'' products. (This terminology makes more sense in light of their history, as the initial accessories, add-ons and "upgrade" kits can still somewhat be considered "third party" products, and the term, once established among the fandom, was simply never adjusted when standalone figures became the main focus of such offerings.) Obviously, these should not be confused with the actual [[Third party|third parties]] who produce ''Transformers'' merchandise under license from Hasbro or Takara. In (very half-hearted) attempts to dissuade the notion that they are pinching ''Transformers'' characters, "third party" toy manufacturers typically avoid using [[Insignia|faction symbols]] (although sometimes including molded spaces for the buyer to apply their own), and give their figures alternative names that attempt to capture the sound and/or spirit of the [[trademark]]ed originals, with varying degrees of bizarreness. A toy intended to look like [[Starscream (disambiguation)|Starscream]] might, for example, wind up named "Stellaryell". Initially, fans would often avoid confusion by referring to these figures as "not" versions of the characters they were based on (for example, "Not-Starscream"), though as the market has grown that terminology has been mostly abandoned since there's liable to be multiple different Not-Starscreams.

After many years of these products, name overlaps are bound to happen; for example, different companies have figures alternatively based on [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] and [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] that are both named "Rager". Even more hilariously (though not really surprising), there are even ''knockoffs'' of "third party" toys! Let's see ''them'' duke out their IP conflicts in court.

Desire for those toys arises for various reasons—wanting a toy of a toyless character, wanting a collection with consistent scale, desiring different visuals (be it show-accuracy or more unique takes on characters), or simply believing them to be higher-quality than the official releases are among those reasons.

For reasons that should, again, be obvious, TFWiki considers "third party" toys unrelated to its goal of documenting the ''Transformers'' brand, beyond examples where they have influenced official product.

====Types of "third party" toys====
Note: The following terms are descriptors rather than actual official terms since, well, they're clearly not official products.

* Accessories: these are generally items that are designed to interact with official product, but involve no modification to said official product. These are most often weapons (e.g. the [[Star Saber (Prima)|Star Saber]] and [[Dark Star Saber]] from ''Transformers: Prime''), but may also include [[:Category:MacGuffins|MacGuffins]] like the [[AllSpark Matrix]] or even characters like notable humans such as [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari]] and [[Isaac Sumdac (Animated)|Isaac Sumdac]].
* Add-ons: these are items that are designed to interact with official product and modify their appearance. However, said modification takes advantage of preexisting tabs, slots, posts and so on, thus requiring no actual modification of the official product. An example would be panels designed to fill in the gaps in the thighs of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Titans Return|''Titans Return'' Powermaster Optimus Prime]], which slot in snugly into the gaps.
* Upgrade kits: these are items designed to interact with official product and modify their appearance, but require some sort of actual modification to the official product. This can be as simple as popping off and swapping a limb on ball joints, to more comprehensive modifications like partial disassembly and replacing of parts. A kit that allows someone to switch the head of ''Classics'' Bumblebee to create a ''Classics''-styled Goldbug or giving ''G1'' Ironhide and Ratchet actual heads would be an example of this.
* Full figures: as mentioned above, these are generally what is meant when references are made to "third party Transformers". These are standalone fully transformable figures clearly based on and meant to evoke actual Transformers characters. One of the earliest and most (in)famous examples was a triple-changing Not-Springer which became wildly popular because official Springer toys of that time transformed into either a land vehicle or an air vehicle, but not both.

Again, these are descriptors, partially because there is a lot of overlap. For example, would a replacement head for a reissue G1 Bruticus that comes with light up LED eyes be considered an upgrade kit (since it replaces the original head) or an add-on (since it makes use of the post hole already intended for the original head)? Would hands and feet for a ''Combiner Wars'' Combiner that also transform into weapons for the component bots fall under accessories (as they're weapons) or upgrade kits (since they replace the original hands and feet) or add-ons (since they slot into preexisting ports)? And what about stickers that can change, for example, [[Prowl (G1)/toys#War for Cybertron: Siege|''Siege'' Prowl]] into an approximation of an [[Autotrooper (disambiguation)|Autotrooper]]? In fact, a lot of what created the demand for figures in the first place was that grey area. The first widely-successful "third-party" figures were technically an upgrade kit for [[Bruticus Maximus (ROTF)|Bruticus Maximus]], which were "fixing" the problem of the set having only two limb molds by adding two additional Basic-sized figures to the mix.
{{--}}

===Doujinshi===
Generally understood to mean fan-comics, doujinshi (同人誌) are a uniquely Japanese occurrence. Japan has a very healthy culture of fan groups who make their own manga, many of them starring original characters but a huge portion starring characters owned by companies (for a ''Transformers'' example, imagine a gag manga where [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] is portrayed as a little child and being raised by [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and the other Decepticons to be the mighty [[Emperor of Destruction]] he is in [[Fight!_Super_Robot_Lifeform_Transformers:_Victory_(franchise)|''Transformers Victory'']]. Hijinks ensue). This would of course never fly in a litigious society like the US, but in Japan doujinshi exist in a strange gray area. <ref>[https://www.tofugu.com/japan/doujinshi-definition/ A page explaining doujinshi and why they're tolerated in Japan]</ref>

Basically, the difference between what would be understood as a fan-comic in the West and a doujinshi in Japan is that in the West (especially the US) while a company might turn a blind eye to someone making fan-comics for fun (e.g. on a site like DeviantArt), they would come down on them if they tried to put those same fan comics up for sale. [[Hasbro]] might allow (or at least ignore) people selling fanart and fan-comics at a proper ''Transformers'' convention like [[BotCon]], but might be much less forgiving if those same people tried to sell those items at, say, a general science fiction convention. Meanwhile in Japan, there are various conventions where doujinshi are actually the key focus, such as the famous Comiket. A ''Transformers'' doujinshi might be sold at a ''Transformers''-related convention, but might also appear at, say, a mecha-related convention or a general science fiction-related convention (since the Transformers would fall under a mecha or science fiction category).

Long story short, [[TakaraTomy]] could complain and shut groups making doujinshi down any time they wanted, but like many Japanese companies it appears that it simply isn't worth the hassle. People who make doujinshi are often the most hardcore of fans, and so alienating them isn't something most companies are eager to do. In addition, any victory would simply not be worth the resulting bad press, since fan groups are not exactly swimming in cash and while doujinshi are put up for sale, a lot of groups seem to just do it for love of the art or love of the series. It should also be mentioned that many big names in manga got their starts or honed their skills in doujinshi circles, and it isn't impossible for a company to want to recruit some of these up-and-coming talents.

It, er, probably should be pointed out that some doujinshi are very, very NSFW.

{{--}}

==Hasbro and IP theft==
===Remarks and actions===
Official statements from Hasbro on "third party" toys are few and far between. In one response, provided as part of the company's now-defunct fansite Q&A program, they noted the illegal nature of the figures, and remarked that this kind of IP theft was unfair to legitimate licensees who pay to produce ''Transformers'' merchandise.<ref>[http://www.tfviews.com/news/main/hasbro-q-and-a/499 TFviews Hasbro Q&A, August 2009]</ref>

In 2015, Hasbro's UK branch distributed an online survey of the collecting habits of ''Transformers'' fans to coincide with the Auto Assembly unofficial convention, which included a surprising number of questions regarding "third party" products. In a bit of an embarrassing ''faux pas'', a Hasbro representative present at the convention itself also addressed a [[Vos (DJD)|Vos]] cosplayer as "Cynicus", the name of an unofficial figure of that character.<ref>[http://waspshot23.tumblr.com/post/127569311096/ok-so waspshot23 on Tumblr]</ref>

To date, there have been no known instances of Hasbro pursuing actual legal action against the manufacturers of "third party" toys. While such unofficial toys were banned from being sold at the dealer room at [[BotCon 2012]],<ref>This mandate initially encompassed fan art too, but this was quickly relaxed.</ref> [[BotCon 2015|2015]] and [[BotCon 2016|2016]], they generally seem to adopt a "laissez-faire" approach to such toys; while they don't officially condone such material, they're happy to allow it to exist as long as it isn't impacting Hasbro's bottom line. A noted exception was an unofficial toy of [[Unicron]], announced during the [[HasLab]] campaign for [[Unicron/toys#War for Cybertron|''War for Cybertron'' Unicron]], seemingly intended to directly undercut Hasbro's big-ticket crowdfunded toy; evidently and understandably unhappy with his, Hasbro apparently intervened to have all posts about the pretender to the throne taken down from social media.<ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/3rd-party-not-unicron-apparently-removed-by-hasbro/43937/ 3rd Party (Not) Unicron Apparently Removed by Hasbro] at Seibertron</ref>

===Third party designs in official products and marketing===
[[File:MTMTE18 cvrB.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|right|IP untheft?]]
In recent years, there have been occasions where "third party" figure designs have slipped into official media. One cover for [[Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|''More than Meets the Eye'' #18]] saw [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] and [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] drawn based on unofficial figures "Rager" and "Cogz" (do you see what we meant about the names?). Hasbro and [[IDW Publishing|IDW]] did not comment on this, although it seems likely that somebody somewhere might've gotten a slap on the wrist. (The artist in question has not done any comic covers since...)

Meanwhile, ''official'' third party licensee [[Imaginarium Art]]'s statues of [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] and [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] seem to be based on the unofficial figures "Carry" and "Green Giant", with [http://imaginarium-art.com/project_news.php Rodimus Prime] featuring detailing on his forearms otherwise unique to Carry and [https://www.facebook.com/imaginarium.hobby/posts/575739045925230 Devastator] having kneepads only found on Giant. One has to assume Hasbro wasn't looking too closely, or were understandably unaware of those figures, when they signed off on these.

In what was presumably an innocent mistake that resulted from the use of a fan's personal collection, a slide shown at the Hasbro investor and press event presentation during [[Toy Fair 2016]] that represented Transformers "Spanning Generations" featured a photograph of a father and son surrounded by a variety of ''Masterpiece'' toys... and the "third party" [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] "Green Giant".<ref name="toyfair16">[http://news.tfw2005.com/2016/02/12/tfw2005-coverage-hasbro-toy-fair-2016-investor-press-event-309206 Slides from the Hasbro investor and press event presentation during Toy Fair 2016].</ref> Oops!

Although stylized, the ''[[Transformers: Earth Wars]]'' models for the Predacons are recognizably based upon the "Feralcons" (remember what we were saying?), one of the three notable sets of "third party" Predacons. It even leaked into their combined mode. Meanwhile, [[Motormaster (G1)#Transformers: Earth Wars|Motormaster]] is modeled on the TransFormMission "Powertrain" interpretation of Motormaster's design from IDW's [[The Transformers (IDW)|2009-2011 ongoing series]].

Similarly, ''Earth Wars'' and the ''[[Transformers: Power of the Primes (cartoon)|Power of the Primes]]'' cartoon feature models for the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] based on the Fanstoys' "Iron Dibots" figures, rather than those from the concurrent [[Power of the Primes (toyline)|toyline]].

In an odd occurrence for a game almost exclusively using screen models and recent toys, [[Jazz (G1)#Transformers: Forged to Fight|Jazz]] in ''[[Transformers: Forged to Fight]]'' is directly modeled on ToyWorld's "Coolsville" figure.

[[Crucible (Part 1): A Dance Before Dying|''Lost Light'' #19]] shows [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] and [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] in alt-modes based directly on the Mastermind Creations "Calidus" and "Stray" figures.

An [[Industrial Light & Magic|ILM]] design presentation about the 2018 ''[[Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee]]'' movie used an image of Fans Toys "Rouge" as a [[Arcee (G1)|Generation 1 Arcee]] design reference for [[Arcee (Movie)|''Bumblebee'' Arcee]].<ref>[https://www.ilm.com/visual_development/bumblebee-developing-an-epic-set-piece/ Bumblebee: Developing an Epic Set Piece - ILM San Francisco]</ref>

===Hasbro's own copyright dodging===
[[File:CYB sonic bomber originalsculpt.jpg|right|upright=0.85|thumb|First party problems.]]
Despite Hasbro's own (completely understandable) aversion against people making a profit off their IP without permission, it's not like Hasbro is entirely innocent in this regard: In fact, the ''Transformers'' toys' [[alternate mode]]s being unlicensed reproductions of real-world vehicles and aircraft goes back all the way to the very first ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|Transformers]]'' toys.

While the whole market situation was still very different back in the 1980s, and car manufacturers apparently didn't start properly enforcing their intellectual properties in the field of toys and merchandise until the early 2000s, ''Transformers'' toys with [[licensed vehicle alternate modes]] are still the exception rather than the rule. The vast majority of [[popular Earth vehicle alternate modes]] are still unlicensed approximations of their real-life inspirations, basically "[[Sunstreaker (G1)/toys|not-Lamborghinis]]" or "[[Powerglide (G1)/toys|not-A-10s]]", with a few details altered to avoid a lawsuit — though this wasn't enough in [[Side Burn (RID)#Toys|one notable case]]. [[Downshift (Energon)#Cybertron|Some]] [[Windcharger (G1)/toys#Transformers (2010)|examples]] are a little more creative, meshing together two or more real-life inspirations to create a genuine "hybrid" design, but most are just barely altered and instantly recognizable for what they are supposed to represent. While the target audience is obviously a different one (most people who buy a Hasbro Sunstreaker do so because he represents Sunstreaker the ''Transformers'' character, not because they want a Lamborghini for their toy car collection; however, most, if not all, people who buy a "third party" version of Sunstreaker do so because he represents Sunstreaker the ''Transformers'' character), it's worth noting for being illustrative of the gray area involved.

Less of a gray area appears to be the case of the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' [[Go-Bot (G2)|Go-Bot]] [[High Beam#Generation 2|High Beam]] (released in 1995), though: Its alternate mode looks plain ''identical'' to a vehicle from Mattel's ''Hot Wheels'' line that was first released in 1991 under the names "Back Burner" and "Sonic Special", but would eventually become more well-known in 1995 under the name "[[Wikia:hotwheels:Speed Blaster|Speed Blaster]]". Unless both toys were based on the same obscure real-life concept car that has since been ''completely'' forgotten by history, that would be a ''very'' blatant case of Hasbro ''literally'' copying one of its competitor's toys and just making it transform.

Hasbro's [[Built to Rule!]] and [[Kre-O]] toylines "knocking off" the {{w|Lego}} brand's iconic bricks cannot be considered true IP theft, due to the technical patents for their brick-building system expiring in 1978.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Fan terminology]]
[[Category:Toys]]

Little Victories

2021-01-23T19:10:12Z

Amiga Power: /* Trivia */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=22
|prev=More than Meets the Eye issue 21
|next=Black Metal: Dark Cybertron Chapter 2
|seriesissue2=''[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron Prelude]]''
|prev2=Soundwaves (issue)
|next2=Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1
|image=MTMTE22 cvrA.jpg
|title="Little Victories" A film by Rewind of Lower Petrohex
|caption=What a guy!
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[October 9]], [[2013]] (iBooks) [[October 16]], [[2013]] (print)
|coverdate=October 2013
|story by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[James Raiz]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2013)]]
}}
'''Rewind's recordings become a movie that charts the crew's adventures, including an intrusion into another robotic civil war, the mystery of Rung's alternate mode, and a visit from one of the greatest Autobots around!'''

==Synopsis==
In a series of brief talking-head segments, the crew of the ''[[Lost Light]]'' introduce themselves to the audience as a set of title cards appear between soundbytes: "Little Victories: A film by [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] of [[Lower Petrohex]]". After everyone has given their names, Rewind turns his camera around to introduce his film, created at [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]]'s request, through a combination of his perpetual recordings of the goings-on on the ship and footage from the many security cameras installed on the vessel by [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]. To begin the movie proper, we see Rodimus requesting its filming, followed by a candid clip of [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] expressing some concern at potentially looking ridiculous as a result of questionable editing decisions. Rodimus gives him permission to censor the finished product if necessary, and blacked-out sections of the film prove he wasn't shy about it.

While lounging around in the ship's [[oil]] reservoir, Rewind, [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]], and [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] talk about the cool [[alternate mode]]s of their teammates, and the conversation turns to the mystery of what [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] turns into. Swerve wagers a hundred [[Shanix]] to the first person to figure it out, and starts trying by "accidentally" clonking him on the head in hopes of automatically triggering a transformation. Talking-head clips of Tailgate and Swerve reflecting on their wager turn to talk of hobbies, a topic that Rewind gets [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] to weigh in on; the theoretician lists "meeting new people", and recalls an encounter on [[Hedonia]]...

[[File:Littlevictories-happynow.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.6|One day, [[army-building]] went too far.]]
The film shifts to Hedonia, some time beforehand, and shows Skids and [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] meeting the [[Ammonite]]s, a race of mechanical beings engaged in a civil war with their enemies the [[Terradore]]s. Whirl disparages their conflict in comparison with the Transformers' own, but it soon becomes apparent that the Ammonites trump the Cybertronians at every turn: their war has lasted ''sixteen'' million years rather than four, they have ten-changing "Decabots" instead of just [[Six Changer]]s, and while the Transformers are still trying to master [[Combiner]] technology, the Ammonites are ''all'' interchangeable combiners, and prove it by separating into their diminutive component 'bots. The two 'bots are enjoying a drink with their new rivals when a patron alerts the barman to the arrival of a huge Terradorian cruiser. As the Ammonites panic, Whirl strides outside and, with Skids looking on, quickly and easily murders the Terradore leader [[Imperius Drax]], smugly informing his new "friends" that ''that'' is how it's done.

[[File:LittleVictories-Thunderclash.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|"I'm sorry Mellie, I don't fraternize with the staff."]]
Another talking-head segment follows, as Rewind asks each crew-member if they are "happy", to a variety of positive, confused, suspicious and veiled answers. A short scene of Tailgate trying and failing to trick Rung into transforming with an "alt-mode party" comes next, after which the movie shows Rodimus arriving in the ''Lost Light'' communication suite wearing a makeshift "[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]" helmet made from a bucket for a theme night as [[Swerve's]]. [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] informs him that they have received a message from [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]], captain of the ''[[Vis Vitalis]]'', who is quickly proven by another series of soundbytes from the crew to be one of the most popular, awesome, super-cool and handsome Autobots in the whole entire universe. Rodimus, however, is not a fan, and an extremely passive-aggressive exchange of pleasantries follows as Thunderclash comes aboard with his first officer [[Paddox]]. Rodimus tries to show off his crew, but Thunderclash knows them all well: he actually gets a ''hug'' from Ultra Magnus when he compliments his writings on "the relationship between typograpy and military justice", he impresses [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] by respecting [[Spectralism|his religion]] with an appropriate greeting, and he turns out to be old friends from medical school with [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]]. Rodimus ''just about'' holds himself together through all of this, but explodes when Thunderclash reveals that ''he'' is on a quest for the [[Knights of Cybertron]] too! He angrily demands to know what Thunderclash wants, and the film cuts away to segments from Ratchet and [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] that explain that the ''Vis Vitalis'' is actually a huge, wireless life support machine that keeps the gravely-wounded Thunderclash alive, and that he has come to the ''Lost Light'' hoping for a ship-to-ship jumpstart to replenish his vessel's failing power supply.

[[File:Paddox little victories.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5|Stealing Cyclonus' lines? How fiendish!]]
A little later, Thunderclash walks [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] through how to use the [[quantum generator|quantum engines]] to accomplish the power-transfer, but just before the process is activated, Paddox suddenly pulls a gun on Thunderclash, revealing himself to be an Ammonite deep-cover agent! The Ammonites, it turns out, are actually the ''bad guys'' in their war, and following Whirl's assassination of the Terradores' leader, all Ammonites have been recalled for a big push back against the extreme tactics of his successor—tactics that potentially include allying with the mysterious "[[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Dark Cyclops]]". "Paddox" intends to take the Autobots' quantum engines for the Ammonite war effort, but is abruptly taken out in the most unusual way possible: Swerve sneaks up and clobbers him over the head with... Rung in alternate mode. The film cuts away briefly for Rung to explain that even ''he'' doesn't know what his odd, cylindrical alternate mode is—he was classified as an "ornament" by the [[Functionist Council]]—then cuts back to Thunderclash thanking Rodimus for his efforts, and Rodimus quietly whispering to Rewind that he has begun to regret the candid nature of the movie...

[[File:MTMTE22 Rung's alternate mode.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|In Search Of: What I Am.]]
''On [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]], the [[Circle of Light]] boo the movie, which Skids is playing as part of a recruitment drive, hoping to get some of the Circle to join the ''Lost Light''. The Circle mock the movie and the entire ship's crew, accusing them all of being crazies and shirkers who never make any progress in their quest, and all leave, with some thinking of signing up with Thunderclash. Behind Skids, on the screen, the movie continues to roll on...''

A final talking-head segment sees Rewind ask each of the crewmembers what they hope is next for them. Some see the end in sight and some think the journey itself and the friends they've made are what it's all about, but Tailgate sums it up best when he says: "Who knows?" For the final scene of the movie, Rewind calls all his friends together for a group shot in Swerve's, not caring who stands where as along as everyone is together.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (1)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (2)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (3)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (4)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (6)
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (7)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (9)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] (10)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] (11)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (12)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (13)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (14)
*[[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (15)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]] (19)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (20)
*[[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] (21)
{{!}}}
|c4=
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (5)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (8)
*Assorted [[Ammonite]]s (16)
*[[16444/9]] (17)
*[[Mondo]] (18)
*[[Paddox]] (22)
*Multiple [[Circle of Light]] members (23)
}}

==Quotes==
"It's '''Whirl''', spelled: ''ker-klick! '''Choom!'''" 
:—'''Whirl''', on his own name

"So you think you're better at war than us? How long were you fighting?" 
"Four million years. You?" 
"Sixteen." 
"Sixteen years." 
"Sixteen million." 
<big>"'''Sixteen million years?!'''</big> Six-'''teen'''? That's ridiculous. That's a ridiculous number."
:—'''16444/9''' and '''Skids'''

"I once went toe-to-toe with a '''six-changer'''. Jet! Beast! Tank! Gun! '''And something else I can't remember!'''"
:—'''Whirl'''

''(Rodimus enters the communications room with a bucket on his head.)'' 
"I thought you didn't like hats." 
"'''Theme Night''' at Swerve's: 'People You'd Like to Punch.' I was a lone '''Megatron''' in a sea of '''Whirls'''."
:—'''Blaster''' and '''Rodimus'''

"What's the '''problem?''' Everyone on board the ''Lost Light'' is '''cracked in the head!'''" 
"Yeah, '''dysfunctional''' isn't the word! There isn't a '''normal''' 'bot among you!" 
"And that wouldn't be so bad if you actually '''made progress'''—but as far as I can make out, all you do is '''argue''', crack jokes, and get '''sidetracked''' doing pointless, silly things that only you find amusing!"
:—Various members of the '''Circle of Light''' get a bit meta on the comic. Er, the movie.

"In the future, I'd like to see a world without guns. Ha! No. Joking."
:—'''Brainstorm'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*The fact that Rewind was making a documentary about life on the ''Lost Light'' was revealed in [[Under Cold Blue Stars|issue #15]], in which [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] noted he was about to attend a screening of the rough cut. Obviously, this comic ''is'' that rough cut, since Rewind wasn't around to make any changes after that story was over.
*The scenes in the documentary take place over a wide span of time. The earliest takes place during issue #1, while the latest—consisting predominantly of Thunderclash's visit to the ship and a substantial number of the talking-head interview scenes—must occur in-between issues [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|#13]] (in which the crew visited Hedonia) and [[Remembrance Day|#14]]. The one present day scene, taking place outside the documentary, occurs between scenes in the [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|previous issue]], after Tyrest's defeat but before the ''Lost Light'' departs Luna-1.
*Ultra Magnus notes that he has received the [[Novic Medal for Outstanding Valor|Novic Medal]], presumably named in reference to the legendary Nova Prime (Tailgate, still lying about his history, claims to have earned ''seven''). It was previously mentioned in [[Rotorstorm (G1)|Rotorstorm]]'s bio in ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]''.
*Rewind asks Magnus if he's received the [[Rodimus Star]], an accolade that hasn't appeared in the main ''More than Meets the Eye'' series itself, but which was introduced in ''[[The Reluctant Specialist|Spotlight: Trailcutter]]''.
*A number of moments from this issue were hinted at or even seen in previous issues, which took place later chronologically.
**Two of the panels in Rewind's farewell montage in issue [[The Gloaming|#16]] have their source in the events depicted this issue: Perceptor running out of his smoking lab (page 2, panel 5), from which dialogue was lifted directly, and Rung counting his model collection (page 5, panel 7). Back in #16, the scene of the former had camera read-out text when none of the others did. Now we know why.
**In issue [[Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|#19]], Tyrest brings up Ultra Magnus hugging someone.
**In issue #21, Magnus talks about Rodimus's immature reaction to a "Thunder--."
*Swerve claims to have been playing hand-grenade tag with [[Waverider]], a pastime for which the latter was put in the brig just prior to issue #13.
*The Raging Prism was mentioned back in #13, where some of the characters talked about visiting its "Temple" on Hedonia. It makes sense, then, that a Hedonian resident would make reference to it.
*One of the Ammonites exclaims, "By the Great Shattering." According to the [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|Annual]], something called the Shattering caused the formation of the Galactic Council. And since we learn this issue that the Council formed in response to the Ammonite-Terradore war... Ta-da, it all adds up!
*The six-changer Whirl is referring is clearly [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]]. He lists Sixshot's alternate modes, excluding the armored car mode that's never seen used in the IDW continuity.
*When asked if he's happy, Brainstorm rather ominously replies "''Soon. Not yet. Soon.''" This would be expanded on in [[Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|issue #38]].
*For the first time, we have in-story acknowledgment that Tailgate and Rung are from the same era, confirming that the former's reference to Rungian analysis in issue #1 was no error.
*Tailgate's altmode appears for the first time, indicating that his t-cog had not yet succumbed to [[cybercrosis]]. Interestingly, it is a Cybertronic version of his original toy (including T-tops!), rather than his upcoming ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' release.
*Upon seeing Rodimus's "Megatron" costume (a bucket on his head), Blaster remarks on his captain's dislike for hats, which was introduced in the [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|2012 annual]].
*Tailgate's statement that he wants to hate Thunderclash is a reference to his tendency to resent 'bots of greatness, previously seen in his attitudes toward Dominus Ambus and pre-insanity Tyrest.
*Back in issue #16, Chromedome pointed out a constellation he and Rewind had dubbed the "Vis Vitalis". Given that this term refers to something decided non-physical (see real-life references, below), we can probably assume that the stars made a picture of Thunderclash's ship.
*Continuing the running joke of people getting his name wrong, Rung's old ID card spells his name R-O-N-G.
*Chromedome finally learns to make the sound "pfft", having struggled to do so for ''four million years'' across issues [[Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|#9]] and [[Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|#11]].

===Transformers references===
*The Rung toy Swerve is trying to figure out on this issue's B cover comes with a set of [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]-style [[instructions]]. It has articulated eyebrows and a "listening mode"!
*Swerve tries to make Rung reflexively transform by striking his [[neural cluster]], a weak spot on Transformers mentioned in the Marvel UK story "[[Fire on High!]]".
*The Ammonites and Terradores are designated "Evil" and "Heroic", just like the "Heroic Autobots" and "Evil Decepticons" in classic Transformers marketing.
*Rodimus wearing a bucket as Megatron is a reference to Megatron's in- and out of-universe nickname "Buckethead".

===Real-life references===
*The title of this issue appears in white Windsor typeface on a plain black background, in homage to the [http://fontsinuse.com/uses/2147/woody-allen-film-titles-1977-2012 title cards] of many {{w|Woody Allen}} films. It also uses Allen's trademark quotation marks.
*The panels "censored" by Ultra Magnus, meanwhile, use a font for their captions based on that used in the TV series ''{{w|Arrested Development (TV series)|Arrested Development}}'', of which James Roberts is an avowed fan.
*The "Vis Vitalis" is a classical alchemical principle that proposes the existence of "life force" possessed by living creatures.
*On page 8, an insectoid alien calls the bartender "Mondo", a reference to {{w|mondo film}}s. Roberts thought we wouldn't get it, but we did!
*Probably hardly worth mentioning by this point, but one of the cameras is numbered [[113 (disambiguation)|113]].

===Trivia===
*Because this issue was written to be packed in with the ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' Deluxe Class [[Skids (G1)#Generations|Autobot Skids]] toy, it had to be written ''well'' in advance, before even #16 was penned, hence its standalone, not-too-continuity-heavy nature.
*The digital version of this issue was inadvertently released a week early through iBooks. It wasn't taken down, but nobody really noticed until a few days before its print release.
*This issue is labelled as a "[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]]" prelude, and has a redesigned inside front cover to go along with this branding.
*This issue's visiting guest Autobot has his named spelled "Thunder Clash" on the cover, as it was on his original toy, but as "Thunderclash" in the story itself, as pretty much every [[Thunderclash (disambiguation)|other use of the name]] is.
*According to Roberts's annotated script, an earlier concept for this issue would have visited the ''Vis Vitalis'', where it would have been revealed that the entire crew was perfect and every ''Lost Light'' crew member would have had a direct and idealized counterpart. This plot would have been rather close to the Red Dwarf episode Demons And Angels - not the only time a MTMTE plot would echo that TV show.
*No "Meet the Crew" feature is included this issue, but then, the first two pages of the story cover that all pretty well themselves!
*A [http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1sjk4t3 deleted scene] from this issue featured Ratchet pulling a prank on Drift by claiming that [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]]'s hands were haunted, punching people of their own accord. The scene was later [http://dcjosh.tumblr.com/post/107665292031/its-done-the-mtmte-22-deleted-scene-in-all-its illustrated] by [[Josh Burcham]].

===Edits===
*The version of this comic available with the ''Generations'' Deluxe Class Autobot Skids toy is identified as "The Transformers: Skids" on the inside cover, rather than "''The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye'' #22".
*In addition, there are several differences between the original release of this issue (which remained unchanged for the trade paperback reprint except for one change noted under "errors") and the version packaged with Deluxe Skids:
:*On page 1, several minor alterations to the dialogue, such as the removal of quotation marks around Skids's name, changing Rewind's line in panel 7 from "What is it, '''nerves'''?" (emphasis on "nerves") to "What is it? Nerves?" and merging Chromedome's lines "--calls me Chromedome." and "Even you." into a single speech bubble.
:*On page 3, the first panel has the location and date "Cybertron, 18 months ago" added.
:*On page 6, [[16444/9]]'s "accursed [[Terradore]]s" gets changed to "hated Terradores", and inexplicably, "take your pick" gets changed to "... what he said." Furthermore, Whirl's list of "vehicles, machinery, and weapons" loses the second comma.
:*On page 18, Swerve's line "Wait. Look over there..." isn't immediately followed by Rung saying "We have to do something." Rather, Rung explicitly completes Swerve's ellipsis with "... is that Thunderclash with a gun to his head?"
:*Brainstorm's dialogue on page 21 is completely altered, from "In the future, I'd like to see a world without guns. Ha! No. Joking." to "The future? No. No. No. You're looking in the wrong direction." [[The Custom-Made Now - An Elegant Chaos Prologue|Issue 35]] provides an explanation for this initally rather odd-seeming line.
:*Also on page 21, Rewind's dialogue is changed from "Group shot, everyone! Group shot! Everyone over here! Come on, chop chop! You too, Cyclonus... I don't care where everyone stands..." to "Group shot, group shot! Come on, come on! Everyone over here! And you, Cyclonus... I don't care where people stand..."

===Errors===
*Rewind is consistently drawn without the little red light on the side of his head.
*First Aid is drawn with two separate, bug-like optics instead of his conventional visor.
*Skids' "Take your pick" in the conversation with the Ammonites is missing punctuation.
*What little can be seen of Trailcutter's vehicle mode is noticeably off-model on page 11, resembling his traditional Earth pickup truck mode far more than it ought to.
*On page 17, panel 5, "actually" is misspelled "actaually"; this remained uncorrected in the TPB and the version packaged with the ''Generations'' Deluxe Class Autobot Skids figure.
*Back in issue 13, as the Autobots were departing Hedonia, Whirl remarked that they hadn't killed anybody, which this issue proves to be incorrect. The error was caught well in advance of the publication of this issue (since it was written so far ahead of time), and the offending line was removed from the trade paperback reprinting of issue #13.
*Tailgate's alt mode has an Autobrand, despite his never having undergone a true initiation.
*In one of the little "censored" panels, Ultra Magnus is referred to as the Duly ''Elected'' Enforcer of the Tyrest Accord, instead of the usual Duly ''Appointed''.

===Crew manifest===
*No updates!

===Soundtrack===
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB2TEElBU64 "End Credits"] by {{w|Jesse Hartman|Laptop}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/384812407022833664 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3eM2R1aCKQ "I Knew Prufrock Before He Got Famous"] by {{w|Frank Turner}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/384816775415611392 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YMYC0pS4Ws "Goodnight Kiss"] by {{w|Black Box Recorder}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/389505792807677952 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>

===Covers (4)===
*'''Cover A:''' Rung holds a datapad bearing Thunder Clash's image, signed by the 'bot himself, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Cover B:''' Swerve tries to puzzle out the transformation of a Rung toy, by [[Nick Roche]] and Josh Burcham.
*'''Cover RI:''' Skids, by [[Phil Jimenez]] and [[Romulo Fajardo Jr.]]
* '''Hasbro exclusive cover:''' Cropped-in version of cover RI, exclusively available with ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' Deluxe Class [[Skids (G1)#Generations|Autobot Skids]].
<gallery>
File:MTMTE22 cvrA.jpg|The totally modest Thunderclash.
File:MTMTE22 cvrB.jpg|Swerve feels [[fandom|our]] pain.
File:MTMTE22 cvrRI.jpg|Guess which cover comes with the Skids toy?
File:MTMTE22 cvrHAS.jpg|And the winner is...
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*[[Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1|''The Transformers: Dark Cybertron'' #1]]
*''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' [[Black Metal: Dark Cybertron Chapter 2|#23]]
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Winners & Losers: Dark Cybertron Chapter 3|#23]]
*''Robots in Disguise'' [[Soundwaves (issue)|#22]]
*''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One|Regeneration One]]'' [[Destiny, Part Five|#95]]
*IDW ''Samurai Jack'' comic
*''[[My Little Pony]]'' Annual 2013
*''[[Star Trek]]: Khan'' (back cover)

===Reprints===
*'''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 5''''' ([[November 13]], 2013) ISBN 1613778023 / ISBN 978-1613778029 
:*Contains issues #17 to #22.
:*Bonus material includes art from most covers, and the prose story ''[[The Sound of Breaking Glass]]''.

*'''''Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Box Set''''' ([[December 2]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631404741 / ISBN 978-1631404740
:*Contains ''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye'' Volumes 1 to 5.
:*Bonus content UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 5|The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 5]]''''' ([[February 22]], [[2017]]) ISBN 1631408445 / ISBN 978-1631408441
:* Contains the issues #17 to #22, as well as the ''[[The Transformers: Primacy|Primacy]]'' series, and ''Robots in Disguise'' issues #19 to #22.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol5.jpg|'''Volume 5'''; cover art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
File:MTMTE boxset.jpg|'''Box Set'''; cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V5.jpg|'''''IDW Collection Phase 2 Vol. 5'''''; cover art by Marcelo Matere and [[Tom B. Long]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/comics-16/transformers-more-than-meets-the-eyes-22-full-preview-178599/ Preview]
* [http://boards.idwpublishing.com/3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15275&p=353870#p353870 James Roberts reflects on the creative process of this issue on the IDW forums]
[[Category:Dark Cybertron issues]]

Little Victories

2021-01-23T19:09:23Z

Amiga Power: /* Trivia */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=22
|prev=More than Meets the Eye issue 21
|next=Black Metal: Dark Cybertron Chapter 2
|seriesissue2=''[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron Prelude]]''
|prev2=Soundwaves (issue)
|next2=Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1
|image=MTMTE22 cvrA.jpg
|title="Little Victories" A film by Rewind of Lower Petrohex
|caption=What a guy!
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[October 9]], [[2013]] (iBooks) [[October 16]], [[2013]] (print)
|coverdate=October 2013
|story by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[James Raiz]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2013)]]
}}
'''Rewind's recordings become a movie that charts the crew's adventures, including an intrusion into another robotic civil war, the mystery of Rung's alternate mode, and a visit from one of the greatest Autobots around!'''

==Synopsis==
In a series of brief talking-head segments, the crew of the ''[[Lost Light]]'' introduce themselves to the audience as a set of title cards appear between soundbytes: "Little Victories: A film by [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] of [[Lower Petrohex]]". After everyone has given their names, Rewind turns his camera around to introduce his film, created at [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]]'s request, through a combination of his perpetual recordings of the goings-on on the ship and footage from the many security cameras installed on the vessel by [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]. To begin the movie proper, we see Rodimus requesting its filming, followed by a candid clip of [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] expressing some concern at potentially looking ridiculous as a result of questionable editing decisions. Rodimus gives him permission to censor the finished product if necessary, and blacked-out sections of the film prove he wasn't shy about it.

While lounging around in the ship's [[oil]] reservoir, Rewind, [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]], and [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] talk about the cool [[alternate mode]]s of their teammates, and the conversation turns to the mystery of what [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] turns into. Swerve wagers a hundred [[Shanix]] to the first person to figure it out, and starts trying by "accidentally" clonking him on the head in hopes of automatically triggering a transformation. Talking-head clips of Tailgate and Swerve reflecting on their wager turn to talk of hobbies, a topic that Rewind gets [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] to weigh in on; the theoretician lists "meeting new people", and recalls an encounter on [[Hedonia]]...

[[File:Littlevictories-happynow.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.6|One day, [[army-building]] went too far.]]
The film shifts to Hedonia, some time beforehand, and shows Skids and [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] meeting the [[Ammonite]]s, a race of mechanical beings engaged in a civil war with their enemies the [[Terradore]]s. Whirl disparages their conflict in comparison with the Transformers' own, but it soon becomes apparent that the Ammonites trump the Cybertronians at every turn: their war has lasted ''sixteen'' million years rather than four, they have ten-changing "Decabots" instead of just [[Six Changer]]s, and while the Transformers are still trying to master [[Combiner]] technology, the Ammonites are ''all'' interchangeable combiners, and prove it by separating into their diminutive component 'bots. The two 'bots are enjoying a drink with their new rivals when a patron alerts the barman to the arrival of a huge Terradorian cruiser. As the Ammonites panic, Whirl strides outside and, with Skids looking on, quickly and easily murders the Terradore leader [[Imperius Drax]], smugly informing his new "friends" that ''that'' is how it's done.

[[File:LittleVictories-Thunderclash.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|"I'm sorry Mellie, I don't fraternize with the staff."]]
Another talking-head segment follows, as Rewind asks each crew-member if they are "happy", to a variety of positive, confused, suspicious and veiled answers. A short scene of Tailgate trying and failing to trick Rung into transforming with an "alt-mode party" comes next, after which the movie shows Rodimus arriving in the ''Lost Light'' communication suite wearing a makeshift "[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]" helmet made from a bucket for a theme night as [[Swerve's]]. [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] informs him that they have received a message from [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]], captain of the ''[[Vis Vitalis]]'', who is quickly proven by another series of soundbytes from the crew to be one of the most popular, awesome, super-cool and handsome Autobots in the whole entire universe. Rodimus, however, is not a fan, and an extremely passive-aggressive exchange of pleasantries follows as Thunderclash comes aboard with his first officer [[Paddox]]. Rodimus tries to show off his crew, but Thunderclash knows them all well: he actually gets a ''hug'' from Ultra Magnus when he compliments his writings on "the relationship between typograpy and military justice", he impresses [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] by respecting [[Spectralism|his religion]] with an appropriate greeting, and he turns out to be old friends from medical school with [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]]. Rodimus ''just about'' holds himself together through all of this, but explodes when Thunderclash reveals that ''he'' is on a quest for the [[Knights of Cybertron]] too! He angrily demands to know what Thunderclash wants, and the film cuts away to segments from Ratchet and [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] that explain that the ''Vis Vitalis'' is actually a huge, wireless life support machine that keeps the gravely-wounded Thunderclash alive, and that he has come to the ''Lost Light'' hoping for a ship-to-ship jumpstart to replenish his vessel's failing power supply.

[[File:Paddox little victories.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5|Stealing Cyclonus' lines? How fiendish!]]
A little later, Thunderclash walks [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] through how to use the [[quantum generator|quantum engines]] to accomplish the power-transfer, but just before the process is activated, Paddox suddenly pulls a gun on Thunderclash, revealing himself to be an Ammonite deep-cover agent! The Ammonites, it turns out, are actually the ''bad guys'' in their war, and following Whirl's assassination of the Terradores' leader, all Ammonites have been recalled for a big push back against the extreme tactics of his successor—tactics that potentially include allying with the mysterious "[[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Dark Cyclops]]". "Paddox" intends to take the Autobots' quantum engines for the Ammonite war effort, but is abruptly taken out in the most unusual way possible: Swerve sneaks up and clobbers him over the head with... Rung in alternate mode. The film cuts away briefly for Rung to explain that even ''he'' doesn't know what his odd, cylindrical alternate mode is—he was classified as an "ornament" by the [[Functionist Council]]—then cuts back to Thunderclash thanking Rodimus for his efforts, and Rodimus quietly whispering to Rewind that he has begun to regret the candid nature of the movie...

[[File:MTMTE22 Rung's alternate mode.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|In Search Of: What I Am.]]
''On [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]], the [[Circle of Light]] boo the movie, which Skids is playing as part of a recruitment drive, hoping to get some of the Circle to join the ''Lost Light''. The Circle mock the movie and the entire ship's crew, accusing them all of being crazies and shirkers who never make any progress in their quest, and all leave, with some thinking of signing up with Thunderclash. Behind Skids, on the screen, the movie continues to roll on...''

A final talking-head segment sees Rewind ask each of the crewmembers what they hope is next for them. Some see the end in sight and some think the journey itself and the friends they've made are what it's all about, but Tailgate sums it up best when he says: "Who knows?" For the final scene of the movie, Rewind calls all his friends together for a group shot in Swerve's, not caring who stands where as along as everyone is together.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (1)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (2)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (3)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (4)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (6)
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (7)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (9)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] (10)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] (11)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (12)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (13)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (14)
*[[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (15)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]] (19)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (20)
*[[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] (21)
{{!}}}
|c4=
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (5)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (8)
*Assorted [[Ammonite]]s (16)
*[[16444/9]] (17)
*[[Mondo]] (18)
*[[Paddox]] (22)
*Multiple [[Circle of Light]] members (23)
}}

==Quotes==
"It's '''Whirl''', spelled: ''ker-klick! '''Choom!'''" 
:—'''Whirl''', on his own name

"So you think you're better at war than us? How long were you fighting?" 
"Four million years. You?" 
"Sixteen." 
"Sixteen years." 
"Sixteen million." 
<big>"'''Sixteen million years?!'''</big> Six-'''teen'''? That's ridiculous. That's a ridiculous number."
:—'''16444/9''' and '''Skids'''

"I once went toe-to-toe with a '''six-changer'''. Jet! Beast! Tank! Gun! '''And something else I can't remember!'''"
:—'''Whirl'''

''(Rodimus enters the communications room with a bucket on his head.)'' 
"I thought you didn't like hats." 
"'''Theme Night''' at Swerve's: 'People You'd Like to Punch.' I was a lone '''Megatron''' in a sea of '''Whirls'''."
:—'''Blaster''' and '''Rodimus'''

"What's the '''problem?''' Everyone on board the ''Lost Light'' is '''cracked in the head!'''" 
"Yeah, '''dysfunctional''' isn't the word! There isn't a '''normal''' 'bot among you!" 
"And that wouldn't be so bad if you actually '''made progress'''—but as far as I can make out, all you do is '''argue''', crack jokes, and get '''sidetracked''' doing pointless, silly things that only you find amusing!"
:—Various members of the '''Circle of Light''' get a bit meta on the comic. Er, the movie.

"In the future, I'd like to see a world without guns. Ha! No. Joking."
:—'''Brainstorm'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*The fact that Rewind was making a documentary about life on the ''Lost Light'' was revealed in [[Under Cold Blue Stars|issue #15]], in which [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] noted he was about to attend a screening of the rough cut. Obviously, this comic ''is'' that rough cut, since Rewind wasn't around to make any changes after that story was over.
*The scenes in the documentary take place over a wide span of time. The earliest takes place during issue #1, while the latest—consisting predominantly of Thunderclash's visit to the ship and a substantial number of the talking-head interview scenes—must occur in-between issues [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|#13]] (in which the crew visited Hedonia) and [[Remembrance Day|#14]]. The one present day scene, taking place outside the documentary, occurs between scenes in the [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|previous issue]], after Tyrest's defeat but before the ''Lost Light'' departs Luna-1.
*Ultra Magnus notes that he has received the [[Novic Medal for Outstanding Valor|Novic Medal]], presumably named in reference to the legendary Nova Prime (Tailgate, still lying about his history, claims to have earned ''seven''). It was previously mentioned in [[Rotorstorm (G1)|Rotorstorm]]'s bio in ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]''.
*Rewind asks Magnus if he's received the [[Rodimus Star]], an accolade that hasn't appeared in the main ''More than Meets the Eye'' series itself, but which was introduced in ''[[The Reluctant Specialist|Spotlight: Trailcutter]]''.
*A number of moments from this issue were hinted at or even seen in previous issues, which took place later chronologically.
**Two of the panels in Rewind's farewell montage in issue [[The Gloaming|#16]] have their source in the events depicted this issue: Perceptor running out of his smoking lab (page 2, panel 5), from which dialogue was lifted directly, and Rung counting his model collection (page 5, panel 7). Back in #16, the scene of the former had camera read-out text when none of the others did. Now we know why.
**In issue [[Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|#19]], Tyrest brings up Ultra Magnus hugging someone.
**In issue #21, Magnus talks about Rodimus's immature reaction to a "Thunder--."
*Swerve claims to have been playing hand-grenade tag with [[Waverider]], a pastime for which the latter was put in the brig just prior to issue #13.
*The Raging Prism was mentioned back in #13, where some of the characters talked about visiting its "Temple" on Hedonia. It makes sense, then, that a Hedonian resident would make reference to it.
*One of the Ammonites exclaims, "By the Great Shattering." According to the [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|Annual]], something called the Shattering caused the formation of the Galactic Council. And since we learn this issue that the Council formed in response to the Ammonite-Terradore war... Ta-da, it all adds up!
*The six-changer Whirl is referring is clearly [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]]. He lists Sixshot's alternate modes, excluding the armored car mode that's never seen used in the IDW continuity.
*When asked if he's happy, Brainstorm rather ominously replies "''Soon. Not yet. Soon.''" This would be expanded on in [[Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|issue #38]].
*For the first time, we have in-story acknowledgment that Tailgate and Rung are from the same era, confirming that the former's reference to Rungian analysis in issue #1 was no error.
*Tailgate's altmode appears for the first time, indicating that his t-cog had not yet succumbed to [[cybercrosis]]. Interestingly, it is a Cybertronic version of his original toy (including T-tops!), rather than his upcoming ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' release.
*Upon seeing Rodimus's "Megatron" costume (a bucket on his head), Blaster remarks on his captain's dislike for hats, which was introduced in the [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|2012 annual]].
*Tailgate's statement that he wants to hate Thunderclash is a reference to his tendency to resent 'bots of greatness, previously seen in his attitudes toward Dominus Ambus and pre-insanity Tyrest.
*Back in issue #16, Chromedome pointed out a constellation he and Rewind had dubbed the "Vis Vitalis". Given that this term refers to something decided non-physical (see real-life references, below), we can probably assume that the stars made a picture of Thunderclash's ship.
*Continuing the running joke of people getting his name wrong, Rung's old ID card spells his name R-O-N-G.
*Chromedome finally learns to make the sound "pfft", having struggled to do so for ''four million years'' across issues [[Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|#9]] and [[Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|#11]].

===Transformers references===
*The Rung toy Swerve is trying to figure out on this issue's B cover comes with a set of [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]-style [[instructions]]. It has articulated eyebrows and a "listening mode"!
*Swerve tries to make Rung reflexively transform by striking his [[neural cluster]], a weak spot on Transformers mentioned in the Marvel UK story "[[Fire on High!]]".
*The Ammonites and Terradores are designated "Evil" and "Heroic", just like the "Heroic Autobots" and "Evil Decepticons" in classic Transformers marketing.
*Rodimus wearing a bucket as Megatron is a reference to Megatron's in- and out of-universe nickname "Buckethead".

===Real-life references===
*The title of this issue appears in white Windsor typeface on a plain black background, in homage to the [http://fontsinuse.com/uses/2147/woody-allen-film-titles-1977-2012 title cards] of many {{w|Woody Allen}} films. It also uses Allen's trademark quotation marks.
*The panels "censored" by Ultra Magnus, meanwhile, use a font for their captions based on that used in the TV series ''{{w|Arrested Development (TV series)|Arrested Development}}'', of which James Roberts is an avowed fan.
*The "Vis Vitalis" is a classical alchemical principle that proposes the existence of "life force" possessed by living creatures.
*On page 8, an insectoid alien calls the bartender "Mondo", a reference to {{w|mondo film}}s. Roberts thought we wouldn't get it, but we did!
*Probably hardly worth mentioning by this point, but one of the cameras is numbered [[113 (disambiguation)|113]].

===Trivia===
*Because this issue was written to be packed in with the ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' Deluxe Class [[Skids (G1)#Generations|Autobot Skids]] toy, it had to be written ''well'' in advance, before even #16 was penned, hence its standalone, not-too-continuity-heavy nature.
*The digital version of this issue was inadvertently released a week early through iBooks. It wasn't taken down, but nobody really noticed until a few days before its print release.
*This issue is labelled as a "[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]]" prelude, and has a redesigned inside front cover to go along with this branding.
*This issue's visiting guest Autobot has his named spelled "Thunder Clash" on the cover, as it was on his original toy, but as "Thunderclash" in the story itself, as pretty much every [[Thunderclash (disambiguation)|other use of the name]] is.
*According to Roberts's annotated script, an earlier concept for this issue would have visited the ''Vis Vitalis'', where it would have been revealed that the entire crew was perfect and every ''Lost Light'' crew member would have had a direct and idealized counterpart. This plot would have been rather close to the [[w|Red Dwarf]] episode Demons And Angels - not the only time a MTMTE plot would echo that TV show.
*No "Meet the Crew" feature is included this issue, but then, the first two pages of the story cover that all pretty well themselves!
*A [http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1sjk4t3 deleted scene] from this issue featured Ratchet pulling a prank on Drift by claiming that [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]]'s hands were haunted, punching people of their own accord. The scene was later [http://dcjosh.tumblr.com/post/107665292031/its-done-the-mtmte-22-deleted-scene-in-all-its illustrated] by [[Josh Burcham]].

===Edits===
*The version of this comic available with the ''Generations'' Deluxe Class Autobot Skids toy is identified as "The Transformers: Skids" on the inside cover, rather than "''The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye'' #22".
*In addition, there are several differences between the original release of this issue (which remained unchanged for the trade paperback reprint except for one change noted under "errors") and the version packaged with Deluxe Skids:
:*On page 1, several minor alterations to the dialogue, such as the removal of quotation marks around Skids's name, changing Rewind's line in panel 7 from "What is it, '''nerves'''?" (emphasis on "nerves") to "What is it? Nerves?" and merging Chromedome's lines "--calls me Chromedome." and "Even you." into a single speech bubble.
:*On page 3, the first panel has the location and date "Cybertron, 18 months ago" added.
:*On page 6, [[16444/9]]'s "accursed [[Terradore]]s" gets changed to "hated Terradores", and inexplicably, "take your pick" gets changed to "... what he said." Furthermore, Whirl's list of "vehicles, machinery, and weapons" loses the second comma.
:*On page 18, Swerve's line "Wait. Look over there..." isn't immediately followed by Rung saying "We have to do something." Rather, Rung explicitly completes Swerve's ellipsis with "... is that Thunderclash with a gun to his head?"
:*Brainstorm's dialogue on page 21 is completely altered, from "In the future, I'd like to see a world without guns. Ha! No. Joking." to "The future? No. No. No. You're looking in the wrong direction." [[The Custom-Made Now - An Elegant Chaos Prologue|Issue 35]] provides an explanation for this initally rather odd-seeming line.
:*Also on page 21, Rewind's dialogue is changed from "Group shot, everyone! Group shot! Everyone over here! Come on, chop chop! You too, Cyclonus... I don't care where everyone stands..." to "Group shot, group shot! Come on, come on! Everyone over here! And you, Cyclonus... I don't care where people stand..."

===Errors===
*Rewind is consistently drawn without the little red light on the side of his head.
*First Aid is drawn with two separate, bug-like optics instead of his conventional visor.
*Skids' "Take your pick" in the conversation with the Ammonites is missing punctuation.
*What little can be seen of Trailcutter's vehicle mode is noticeably off-model on page 11, resembling his traditional Earth pickup truck mode far more than it ought to.
*On page 17, panel 5, "actually" is misspelled "actaually"; this remained uncorrected in the TPB and the version packaged with the ''Generations'' Deluxe Class Autobot Skids figure.
*Back in issue 13, as the Autobots were departing Hedonia, Whirl remarked that they hadn't killed anybody, which this issue proves to be incorrect. The error was caught well in advance of the publication of this issue (since it was written so far ahead of time), and the offending line was removed from the trade paperback reprinting of issue #13.
*Tailgate's alt mode has an Autobrand, despite his never having undergone a true initiation.
*In one of the little "censored" panels, Ultra Magnus is referred to as the Duly ''Elected'' Enforcer of the Tyrest Accord, instead of the usual Duly ''Appointed''.

===Crew manifest===
*No updates!

===Soundtrack===
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB2TEElBU64 "End Credits"] by {{w|Jesse Hartman|Laptop}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/384812407022833664 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3eM2R1aCKQ "I Knew Prufrock Before He Got Famous"] by {{w|Frank Turner}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/384816775415611392 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YMYC0pS4Ws "Goodnight Kiss"] by {{w|Black Box Recorder}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/389505792807677952 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>

===Covers (4)===
*'''Cover A:''' Rung holds a datapad bearing Thunder Clash's image, signed by the 'bot himself, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Cover B:''' Swerve tries to puzzle out the transformation of a Rung toy, by [[Nick Roche]] and Josh Burcham.
*'''Cover RI:''' Skids, by [[Phil Jimenez]] and [[Romulo Fajardo Jr.]]
* '''Hasbro exclusive cover:''' Cropped-in version of cover RI, exclusively available with ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' Deluxe Class [[Skids (G1)#Generations|Autobot Skids]].
<gallery>
File:MTMTE22 cvrA.jpg|The totally modest Thunderclash.
File:MTMTE22 cvrB.jpg|Swerve feels [[fandom|our]] pain.
File:MTMTE22 cvrRI.jpg|Guess which cover comes with the Skids toy?
File:MTMTE22 cvrHAS.jpg|And the winner is...
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*[[Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1|''The Transformers: Dark Cybertron'' #1]]
*''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' [[Black Metal: Dark Cybertron Chapter 2|#23]]
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Winners & Losers: Dark Cybertron Chapter 3|#23]]
*''Robots in Disguise'' [[Soundwaves (issue)|#22]]
*''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One|Regeneration One]]'' [[Destiny, Part Five|#95]]
*IDW ''Samurai Jack'' comic
*''[[My Little Pony]]'' Annual 2013
*''[[Star Trek]]: Khan'' (back cover)

===Reprints===
*'''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 5''''' ([[November 13]], 2013) ISBN 1613778023 / ISBN 978-1613778029 
:*Contains issues #17 to #22.
:*Bonus material includes art from most covers, and the prose story ''[[The Sound of Breaking Glass]]''.

*'''''Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Box Set''''' ([[December 2]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631404741 / ISBN 978-1631404740
:*Contains ''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye'' Volumes 1 to 5.
:*Bonus content UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 5|The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 5]]''''' ([[February 22]], [[2017]]) ISBN 1631408445 / ISBN 978-1631408441
:* Contains the issues #17 to #22, as well as the ''[[The Transformers: Primacy|Primacy]]'' series, and ''Robots in Disguise'' issues #19 to #22.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol5.jpg|'''Volume 5'''; cover art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
File:MTMTE boxset.jpg|'''Box Set'''; cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V5.jpg|'''''IDW Collection Phase 2 Vol. 5'''''; cover art by Marcelo Matere and [[Tom B. Long]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/comics-16/transformers-more-than-meets-the-eyes-22-full-preview-178599/ Preview]
* [http://boards.idwpublishing.com/3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15275&p=353870#p353870 James Roberts reflects on the creative process of this issue on the IDW forums]
[[Category:Dark Cybertron issues]]

The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle

2021-01-19T11:45:44Z

Amiga Power: /* Errors */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=55
|prev=The Dying of the Light Part 5: Rage, Rage
|next=Ten to Midnight
|seriesissue2=''[[Titans Return (comic)|Titans Return]]''
|next2=The Last Autobot
|image=MTMTE55_regcvr.jpg
|title="The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle"
|caption="I came here to build a bridge."
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[July 27]], [[2016]]
|coverdate=July 2016
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|pencils by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2016)]]
}}

'''Megatron versus the DJD, for all the marbles.'''

==Synopsis==
Aboard the [[Galactic Council]] vessel ''[[Retaliator]]'', in orbit above [[Necroworld]], ship's commander [[Neech|General Neech]] assesses the situation on the planet below. Following [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]'s recent actions in defense of organic life on [[Miliarium]], the Council was forced to take action to save face. Conspiring with [[Getaway]], they were provided with Megatron's location so they could dispatch their assassin, [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] to slay him, only to find upon arrival that the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] had beaten them to the punch. Now, the infuriated Neech is prepared to renege on his promise to Getaway that the other Autobots will not be harmed, as he readies a [[geobomb]] for use...

Seconds before [[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]] and Overlord open fire, Megatron activates [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]]'s forcefield generator, which [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] explains to the watching Autobots that he removed from Trailcutter's corpse months ago. The furious Tarn calls the rest of the DJD to his side, while instructing [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] to storm the fortress and wipe out the Autobots. Deathsaurus is then quite literally struck with an attack of conscience when [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] and [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] blast him with the same psychic weapon that originally drew them to the planet. As Deathsaurus is consumed by self-loathing and guilt for all the Decepticon lives lost on the mission, [[Nickel]] proposes they withdraw to prevent further deaths. Realizing now that Tarn's obsession with Megatron has always superseded his belief in the Decepticon cause, she calls for a full retreat, and the Decepticons all pull out—even Overlord, who believes the cowering and broken Megatron is no longer worthy of his attention. Left on their own, the remaining four DJD members pound on the field until it gives way and they are able to pass through it... and which point Megatron stands, his apparent defeat nothing but an act, and menacingly announces that trapping them inside the field with him has always been his plan.

[[File:Mtmte 55 antimatter.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.7|''I led my men straight into a massacre'' ''I witnessed their deaths firsthand'']]
Inside the fortress, Ravage tells a skeptical [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] that Megatron has always been a master planner who covers all contingencies. Brainstorm scoffs and tries to prove that ''he's'' smarter by bringing up his [[time case]]—which Ravage reveals ''he'' stole the last piece of on Megatron's order. Unfortunately, the case cannot help solve the current crisis, as Megatron disposed of it months beforehand, having abandoned the idea of escaping his fate via time travel. A confused [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] then interrupts the explanation with a strange discovery of his own: he has found his own severed arm in a nearby cupboard. Ravage excitedly realizes the significance of this bizarre find and explains another of Megatron's contingency plans. Using one of the interdimensional portals inside his body, he has successfully completed an old, failed plan from during the war and established a link to a [[black hole]], in order to draw on [[antimatter]] for power. It was through this portal that Whirl's arm vanished when it was severed during his fight with Megatron a year ago, and over the last twelve months, Megatron has slowly reached out with his thoughts to draw the arm back, thereby completing the two-way link to the black hole. The presence of Whirl's recovered arm, Ravage realizes, means that Megatron has succeeded and can now draw upon antimatter... and that the forcefield is a means to protect the ''rest of the planet'' when it is unleashed.

Within the field, antimatter spills from Megatron's glaring eyes as he visits his rage upon the DJD. One by one, he slaughters them all, tearing their bodies apart with antimatter, stripping them of their aliases as he does so: first [[Vos (DJD)|Vos]]—aka "Forestock"—then [[Helex (DJD)|Helex]]—aka "Crucible"—then [[Tesarus (DJD)|Tesarus]]—aka "Scissorsaw"—before finally turning on Tarn. At first begging for mercy only to realize he will be afforded none, Tarn snaps at Megatron to finish him, and Megatron is only too happy to oblige, snatching Tarn's Decepticon-sigil mask from his face and slapping it onto his own chest over his Autobot badge, so that they might both "die as Decepticons."

In the midst of the slaughter, the Autobots' eyes are torn away from the monitors by the sudden, surprising arrival of even more new players: a group of confused Cybertronians wander into the fortress's control room, chief among them [[Roller (IDW)|Roller]], who is holding the time case!

[[File:MTMTE_55_Terminus.jpg|thumb|''I put myself back in the narrative...'']]
Megatron lifts the maskless Tarn, and names him at last: [[Tarn (DJD)|Glitch]]. With the final stinging barb that everything he did was for nothing, Megatron ends Tarn's life in an antimatter crescendo that now threatens to destroy the ex-Decepticon himself. At the last second, however, using the time case, [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] teleports inside the forcefield and offers his hand to Megatron—and after a moment's hesitation, Megatron accepts and he and Rodimus are transported back to the fortress just as the antimatter within the forcefield explodes. Megatron rushes to Ravage's side; seeing that his leader is safe, Ravage stops holding on, and with a final entreaty to Megatron that he not "change back," he quietly dies, his passing felt even across the galaxy by a heartbroken [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]]. In silent fury, Megatron flips the med-bay table; when [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] offers to patch up his injuries, he whirls on the Autobots, even pointing his broken cannon at them. After a moment of silence, realizing what he has done, Megatron decides to leave... only for another figure to appear in the doorway: his old friend [[Terminus (G1)|Terminus]]. Confused but elated, Megatron drops his cannon and embraces his friend, mourning how he has "lost his way," as Tarn's mask slips from his chest and is crushed underfoot.

The next day, Rodimus, [[Drift (G1)|Drift]], and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Minimus Ambus]] gather in front of the Necrobot's memorial to the "Disappeared" so that Rewind can share with them the information he has gathered from the Necrobot's journal. Following [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]]'s forceful suggestion that he become more hands-on, the Necrobot saw an opportunity when he found the time case buried near Megatron's statue, hidden there by Megatron when he abandoned it during his previous visit to the planet. Using the case, the Necrobot traveled through time, saving the lives of those who history recorded as "Disappeared," like Roller and Terminus, bringing them to the present and placing them in induced comas so they could recover from the rigors of the less-stable form of time travel a single case allowed. These were the stasis tubes of "organics" the Autobots found, their true natures disguised by the same holographic camouflage used in the Necrobot's flowers. Rewind lays a flower by [[Dominus Ambus]]'s name, while Rodimus and Drift wonder what has become of Nightbeat and [[Rung (G1)|Rung]]...

Down in the depths of Necroworld, Nightbeat and Rung come to the end of their journey as they emerge through the final hatch in the planet's "crust" that leads to the hollow void within. Examining the landscape, Rung spots a familiar-looking pattern: an inverted version of the [[Vinvissius Canals]] on Cybertron. With awe, Rung realizes that the hollow Necroworld is the ''mold'' that that the metal world of Cybertron was made in. The pair have no time to take in this revelation, however, as a sudden flash of light heralds the arrival of the Council's geobomb. Nightbeat recognizes the device moments before it detonates... and the world vanishes in an explosion of white.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] (4)
*[[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (5)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (8)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (9)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (10)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] (11)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (14)
*[[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (15)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (19)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (20)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]]'s corpse (21)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (22)
*[[Wavelength (G1)|Wavelength]] (24)
*[[Syphon]] (25)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (32)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Minimus Ambus]] (34)
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (36)
*[[Nightbeat (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Nightbeat]] (37)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] (2)
*[[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]] (3)
*[[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] (6)
*[[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] (12)
*[[Nickel]] (13)
*[[Helex (DJD)|Helex]] (16)
*[[Vos (DJD)|Vos]] (17)
*[[Tesarus (DJD)|Tesarus]] (18)
*"Disappeared" Decepticon (27)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] (28)
|c4=
*[[Neech|General Neech]] (1)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (7)
*Purple "Disappeared" bot (23)
*[[Roller (IDW)|Roller]] (26)
*[[Terminus (G1)|Terminus]] (29)
*[[Ten]] (30)
*Indistinct "Disappeared" bot (31)
*Indistinct "Disappeared" bot (33)
*[[Mortilus|Censere]] (flashback, 35)
}}

==Quotes==
"[Megatron's] not dangerous because he's '''stronger''' than everyone else. He's dangerous because he's '''smarter''' than everyone else." 
"Present company excepted." 
"'''You? Ha!''' You're not even the smartest person in this '''conversation.'''"
:—Even dying, '''Ravage''' delivers a sick burn to '''Brainstorm'''

"You'd have thought—given the '''compassion''' shown to me on the ''Lost Light''—that I'd have learnt to be a little more '''forgiving'''. But I'm afraid '''Getaway''' had the right idea: '''no mercy.'''" 
"Do it, then. '''Do it!''' At least I'll die a Decepticon!" 
''(Megatron snatches Tarn's mask and places it on his chest)'' 
"You and I both."
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Tarn'''

"Goodbye, '''Glitch.''' I want you to die with one thought in your head: everything you did was for nothing."
:—'''Megatron'''

"Don't...change...back"
:—'''Ravage''' leaves '''Megatron''' with an ambiguous goodbye

"What's happened?" 
"Nothing. Everything. I lost my way."
:—'''Terminus''' and '''Megatron''' reunite

"Nightbeat! I rarely let my '''temper''' get the better of me, but I am '''this close''' to raising my voice."
:—'''Rung'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*[[The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|Issue #50]] made it appear that Getaway had always intended to deliver Megatron and the crew to the D.J.D., but we learn this issue that his co-conspirators were, in fact, the Galactic Council, the interplanetary governing body that the crew first encountered back in [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|the 2012 annual]]. Getaway has had dealings with the council for years, having met them during his time working with [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] as part of the "Diplomatic Corps," as shown in [[Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|issue #20]]. This doesn't make Getaway much less of a tool, but it certainly goes some way to validating his previously-expressed belief that the other Autobots wouldn't be harmed, which seemed questionable at best when it was the D.J.D. we thought he was dealing with.
*Additionally, it would suggest that the initial signal from the Necrobot that brought Rodimus and Megatron's group to the planet—which the Necrobot only sent because he was under attack by the D.J.D.—was not planned for by Getaway: he and the crew must have simply exploited the opening it granted them to carry out their plan, informing the council of Megatron's location. Thus, his remark in issue #50 for Rodimus to "say hello to the Necrobot for him" was not the cruel joke it seemed, as he honestly wouldn't have had any reason to think he was dead.
*It was also in issue #50 that the Autobots saved [[Miliarium]].
*The council's planet-destroying geobomb was originally mentioned back in [[Animals|issue #46]], in which it was noted it was based on a design created by [[Killmaster]]. It appears blue here, despite that issue telling us geobombs were red, but [[Dissolution Part 3: A World Misplaced|this is not an error]].
*Trailcutter used his panic bubble in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|issue #29]]. He sealed his own fate with it in [[Births, Deaths, and Interventions|issue #34]] when he inadvertently trapped himself inside it with [[Kaon (DJD)|Kaon]]; fitting, then, that Megatron should take revenge on the whole DJD by trapping them in the same way.
*Megatron was seen holding Trailcutter's severed hand, containing his forcefield generator, as he examined his body in [[The Custom-Made Now - An Elegant Chaos Prologue|issue #35]]. He was ''not'' shown to put it back down!
*Ravage stole the last remaining time case for Megatron in [[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|issue #40]]. He is revealed to have abandoned it following the events of [[The Not Knowing|issue #44]], burying it by his statue on Necroworld when the reality of the weight of his past caught up to him upon seeing the huge field of spark-flowers that represented those he had killed.
*Megatron's purported antimatter powers (see "Transformers references," below) were originally mentioned in "[[Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory]]," and Ratchet made passing reference to them again in issue #29, when he started to ask Megatron about them. In this issue, we learn that they ''were'' actually just rumors; Megatron never succeeded in linking to a black hole before now. Ratchet shows knowledge of this fact, suggesting Megatron gave him an honest off-panel answer to his question in #29.
*Megatron's "interdimensional injuries" were sustained during the "[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]]" crossover event. Whirl's arm was swallowed up by one of the portals these injuries left inside his body in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|issue #28]].
*In [[slaughterhouse|issue #32]], when revealing that he had been watching Megatron for months, Ravage observed that all the ex-Decepticon seemed to do was "sit in his room with his eyes closed, and think, and think, and think." Following [[Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|issue #39]], Megatron retreated to his quarters, with characters observing over the next two issues that he had "barely left them"; he claimed he was "working" and "thinking." Now we know the truth: the "thinking" Ravage observed was Megatron focusing his thoughts seeking out and linking one of his portals to a black hole, while the thinking he did after #39 was him doing the same to locate Whirl's arm and draw it back.
*All the gratuitous hinting from [[Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|issue #36]] turns out to be the red herring we ''warned'' you it might be: he disappeared at the end of that issue, but Roller is ''not'' Tarn! This deception was alluded to in the solicitation for this issue, which reminded readers of the "four terrible words, millions of years old, that gave the Decepticons their name." Those words, as any reader of ''More than Meets the Eye'' will likely remember, are: "You are being deceived." We certainly were!
*In truth, the leader of the DJD is at last revealed to be [[Tarn (DJD)|Glitch]], the ''other'' member of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]]'s rebel unit whose fate in the present day was unknown. Glitch originally appeared in [[Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|issue #11]], in which he was described as having the power to deactivate non-sentient machinery with a touch. It was noted by [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Senator Shockwave]] that his power had the potential to grow, and when he reappeared in issue #36, his skills had evolved to the point that he could use them at a distance. Coupled with Tarn's remark in [[The Permanent Revolution|issue #39]] that his "weaponized conversation" ability was "slow to manifest," it's obvious that Glitch's powers eventually evolved to the point where he could deactivate ''sentient'' machines as well.
*There's no dramatic "unmasked" panel, because Glitch has never had a face for us to recognize. In his previous appearances, he's been shown to be a victim of [[empurata]], but he had his hands restored between issues #11 and #36, setting up the idea that his face could later be restored as well, as it obviously was at some point before he donned his Decepticon mask. Certainly, the implication of the story is that everyone already knew he was Glitch; back in [[Speak, Memory: Part 1|issue #48]], Skids recognized Tarn's voice when he first met him, having previously known Glitch during their academy days together. Skids's history with Tarn was ''also'' hinted at back in [[slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|issue #33]], when Skids recalled "a friend" who was capable of identifying the location of a Transformer's brain module while they were in alternate mode; a skill the issue indicated Tarn possessed. Little did we realise at the time that Tarn and Skids's friend were one and the same!
*Also in issue #36, Glitch is prominently positioned between Orion Pax and Roller in the panel of the former encouraging the latter to read Megatron's work. Looks like ''someone'' took the idea to heart...
*Terminus previously appeared in issue #34, his fate left a mystery and his erasure from history occasionally commented upon by others during "season 2."
*The Autobots realize that the time case was the "portable apothecary" that legends of the Necrobot professed he carried, which we heard about in passing back in [[Twenty Plus One|issue #30]].

===Transformers references===
[[File:MegatronAntimatterUK.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.5]]
*Megatron's antimatter powers are derived from information in his original [[bio]], which explained that he could interdimensionally link up to a [[black hole]] and use its antimatter to power his [[fusion cannon]]. When Megatron's bio was condensed down into the truncated version printed alongside his [[Tech Spec|tech specs]], however, the simplified language made it sound like it was ''Megatron himself'' who could use antimatter, rather than his cannon. This shortened version influenced the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|UK Marvel comic]], which depicted Megatron wielding antimatter, in the form of a starry black cloud, as a destructive weapon; in particular, [[Resurrection!|issue #104]] showed it streaming from his eyes (pictured at right), as it does in this story.

===Real life references===
*One last time, we remind you that the title of this issue, and the larger multi-parter, are quotes from "{{w|Do not go gentle into that good night}}," by {{w|Dylan Thomas}}.
*Just as Captain [[K'gard]] of the Galactic Council was a reference to the philosopher {{w|Søren Kierkegaard}}, General Neech is a reference to {{w|Friedrich Nietzsche}}.

===Errors===
*On page 1, panel 2, the ''Retaliator'' is referred to as a "Galactic Councilclass B warship." There ought to be a space in there. (This is not corrected in the trade paperback.)
*Megatron says that the DJD will die by their "birth names," but "Glitch" isn't Tarn's birth name. Issue #11 made it clear it was an alias, and issue #36 revealed his real name was "Damus." (Roberts confirmed via Twitter that he acknowledged this in earlier drafts of the script, but that it "killed the moment.")
*Another birth name does not seem accurate - "Forestock" is a Neocybex word, a language that Vos doesn't speak. (Roberts again confirmed via Twitter that this is not Vos' birth name.<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/758394268440551426 James Roberts about Vos' birth name on Twitter, 27 July 2016.]</ref>) The Vos that Megatron knew was actually Dominus Ambus undercover, so presumably he just knows Forestock’s name from his days a regular Decepticon.
*Before Terminus disappeared on Messatine (which we now know was down to the Necrobot), he was badly injured and missing his legs. Now he’s fine and walking around.
*Helex and Tesarus's real names have been swapped. The former, with his internal smelting chamber, is "Crucible," while the latter, who had a multi-bladed rotor-grinder in his chest, is "Scissorsaw," but they're interchanged between the panels of the characters' deaths. This is corrected in the trade paperback.

===Other trivia===
[[File:MTMTE 55 Helex Tesarus deaths single vs TPB.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|right|Today, you die by each other's birth names.]]
*The title of the story is missing from this issue; Roberts notes there was no good place to include it. (The trade paperback adds it on the last page.)
*As they retreat, one of the Decepticon troops transforms into a [[Cobra]] [[HISS tank]].
*In addition to Roller and Terminus, Rodimus identifies two of the "Disappeared" as Autobots named [[Wavelength (G1)|Wavelength]] and [[Syphon]]. Presumably these are the tall orange robot and short blue robot who appear in several panels (other "Disappeared" only appear in one apiece). Which is which is not specified, but as Rodimus states that he fought with Syphon during the [[Forced Flood]], Syphon is probably the orange bot with a scuba diver-looking face.
*Ravage notes that, in-universe, it's been twelve months since issue #28 (the start of "season 2" of the series).
*This issue also contains the first part of the [[Secret Raiders: A Revolution Prelude|Revolution Prelude]] back-up strip, a four-page prequel laying the groundwork for September's "[[Revolution]]" crossover which appears in several of IDW's July titles.
*The trade paperback makes a small change to one of Megatron's lines on page 10. Where he originally said "Given the compassion shown to me on the ''Lost Light''," the trade has him saying "Given the compassion shown to me '''since boarding''' the ''Lost Light''."
*When Megatron flips the med-bay table following Ravage's death, the layout of the panel homages [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]]'s famous table-flipping scene from [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|issue 1]].
*The emotive emblems return!

===Soundtrack===
For all of "The Dying of the Light":
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCdBc5uByFQ Hurt]" by {{w|Johnny Cash}}

A song "to accompany the imaginary trailer" for the story:
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhB6Lb7_kN8 Daydream in Blue]" by {{w|I Monster}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/751514260669366273 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>

For this issue alone:
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq9x-ff0fXs Here's Where the Story Ends]" by {{w|The Sundays}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/756606870023012354 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hD0wd2HUVs Everything I Am Is Yours]" by {{w|Villagers(band)|Villagers}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/756608832533659648 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6Sdr9_1PFY Missing the War]" by {{w|Ben Folds Five}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/756610292348514305 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyH6bnt56mU To the Rescue]" by {{w|The Divine Comedy (band)|The Divine Comedy}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/756612265080655876 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>

===Covers (3)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Megatron cradles a spark-flower, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' Rodimus and [[Rom|Rom, the Space Knight]] fist-bump, by [[Brendan Cahill]] and [[John-Paul Bove]]; part of a series of Rom-themed covers featured on numerous IDW titles in July, in celebration of the launch of the character's new ongoing series.
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Megatron stands on a dais and holds his hands aloft as spark-flowers blow around him in the wind, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]; a counterpart to Roche and Burcham's cover for [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|issue #29]].
<gallery>
File:MTMTE55 regcvr.jpg|''Let me tell you what I wish I'd known''
File:MTMTE55 subcvr.jpg|''When I was young and dreamed of glory'' ''You have no control''
File:MTMTE55 cvrRI.jpg|''Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?''
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*[[The Last Autobot|''Titans Return'' one-shot]]
*''More than Meets the Eye'' #57
*''[[Revolution]]''
*''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shadows of the Past'' game (back cover)

===Reprints===
*'''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 10''''' ([[October 5]], [[2016]]) ISBN 1631407163 / ISBN 978-1631407161
:*Contains issues #50 to #55.
:*Bonus content includes covers of each issue.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 72: The Dying of the Light''''' ([[January 24]], [[2018]])
:* Hardcover collection of ''More than Meets the Eye'' #50 to #55.
:* Bonus content includes the story "[[No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases]]" and essential background material on the DJD.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 11|The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 11]]''''' ([[June 17]], 2020) ISBN 1684056403 / ISBN 978-1684056408
:* Contains "[[Silent Light]]" from ''[[The Transformers Holiday Special]]'', ''[[The Transformers: Redemption]]'', [[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|''The Transformers'' vol. 2]] issues [[Conquerors Part 1: Aphelion|#46]] to [[The Transformers issue 50|#50]], and ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #50 to #55.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol10.jpg|'''Volume 10'''; cover art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v72.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 72: The Dying of the Light'''''; cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] (Cyclonus) and [[Alex Milne]] (retro)
File:IDWCollectionP2V11.jpg|'''''IDW Collection Phase Two: Vol. 11''''' cover by [[Marcelo Matere]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.nerdspan.com/july-27th-idw-previews-rom-1-x-files-annual-2016-micronauts-4/ Preview]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle}}

The Dying of the Light Part 5: Rage, Rage

2021-01-18T16:05:19Z

Amiga Power: /* Real-life references */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=54
|prev=The Dying of the Light Part 4: At Close of Day
|next=The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle
|image=MTMTE54_regcvr.jpg
|title="The Dying of the Light Part 5: Rage, Rage"
|caption=''"REAR RANK, FIRE!"'' ''"Reload!"'' ''"REAR RANK, FIRE!"'' ''"Reload!"''
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[June 22]], [[2016]]
|coverdate=June 2016
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|pencils by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]] and [[Christa Miesner]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2016)]]
}}
'''Through the sacrifice of one of their comrades, the Autobots are given the means to fight back... and Megatron takes up arms once more.'''

==Synopsis==
On the blasted ground outside the [[Mortilus|Necrobot]]'s fortress, the [[Autobot]]s tear into the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] and their allies with fire and fervor. As [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] and [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] man laser turrets built into the shoulders of [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]]'s new "Maximus Ambus" armor, Rewind tries to tell Magnus of the recent discovery he made about [[Dominus Ambus|his brother]], but the battle has all of Magnus's attention. [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] swoops in low to bear down on [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]], but the [[Decepticon]] sadist punches him into the ground. [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] blasts Overlord in the face to draw his attention away, and the grinning monster proceeds to describe in grisly detail how he dismembered the original Rewind before Chromedome blew up the cell containing them both. Chromedome screams a scream of passion and rage, and hurls a punch at Overlord... a punch of such freakish strength that it lifts Overlord off the ground and sends him flying backward! As [[Nickel]] proceeds to shoot Chromedome in the arm with [[Vos (DJD)|Vos]]'s rifle mode, [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] observes that the Autobots are fighting with unprecedented strength. [[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]] assures him it is merely a last-gasp effort, and is more interested in the absence of Megatron, but Deathsaurus is certain that something has happened to the Autobots to give them this boost...

''Minutes earlier, as the Autobots engage in their group hug inside the fortress, an off-hand remark by [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] about the tightness of [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]]'s super-strength hug causes [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] to have a brainwave. Reasoning that Tailgate's recent [[spark]] spasm released an energy wave that transformed him and, temporarily, those Transformers nearest to him, into super-strong [[Outlier (group)|outliers]], it should theoretically be possible to induce such a spasm in someone ''else'', thereby duplicating the effect on those assembled. The prospect of deliberately causing someone to have a nervous breakdown seems untenable, but [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] volunteers for the job and asks Chromedome to finally unlock his forgotten traumatic memories in order to accomplish it. Chromedome is unwilling to use his [[mnemosurgery]] needles, but as Tarn begins blaring "[[The Empyrean Suite]]" in advance of the DJD's attack, and the memories associated with the music begin to tickle the back of Skids's consciousness, Chromedome agrees to take another tactic: nothing more than a few awful, well-chosen words. Every memory from his time in [[Grindcore (prison)|Grindcore]] including the horrific, smelting death of [[Quark]] comes rushing back to Skids, and his spark erupts with light.''

Powered up into Outliers by Skids's sacrifice, the Autobots tear their way through their enemies, with [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] even pulling off his old "Flame Out" maneuver to incinerate a dogpile of Decepticons. Unfortunately, no sooner has he sizzled their circuits than he collapses to his knees, suddenly weakened, as the power-up begins to wear off!

Inside the fortress, Ratchet tends to Skids, who has been so badly traumatized by the experience that his spark has shrunk away to almost nothing. Ratchet attempts to stabilize him so that he can join the fight and leave the job of tending Skids to [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]], but the ex-Decepticon is having some health problems of his own, suffering from cramps caused by [[Fool's Energon]]. Ratchet insinuates that they are actually the product of fear and anxiety, but Megatron refutes the allegation, and explains to the medic that he is refusing to fight not because he fears the DJD, but because he fears what he himself will become if he straps a weapon to his arm once more. As far as Megatron is concerned, if he allows himself to commit violence again, he will be unable to stop himself from committing more and more, [[File:RageRage-Megatronappears.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.2|''Here comes the general'']]endlessly. This forces Ratchet into a confession: Fool's Energon is a placebo. It has never sapped Megatron's strength; Megatron only ''believed'' that it did, and every time he fought someone since he began taking it, he was—however subconsciously—acting with self-imposed restraint. Just then, Megatron looks at the monitor displaying the fight outside, and sees [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] being torn in half by Tarn. Ratchet is distracted when Skids wakes up and falls off the med-slab, desperate to find [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] and tell him what became of Quark. When the medic looks up again, screaming that he needs help getting Skids back on the slab before he dies, Megatron is gone...

Outside, the upgrade process has well and truly worn off, as Brainstorm finds when his fist crumples against [[Lugnut (TF 2010)|Lugnut]]'s armor. He turns to the Necrobot's holographic statue of Skids to offer his thanks for the temporary advantage, only to find that the statue has been switched off... because Skids's body now lies lifeless on the floor of the fortress med-bay, his spark extinguished.

The weakened Autobots seem certain to join him in death, surrounding by the enemy on all sides—until salvation is heralded by the thunderous retort of a [[fusion cannon]]. With his newly-built weapon now attached, Megatron strides onto the battlefield, silently obliterating all opposition. Deathsaurus, fearing for the lives of his men, prepares to order a retreat but in the end, in the face of Tarn's orders, capitulates and sends them ''all'' in to 'wear out' the tyrant. (He doesn't know that Tarn has ordered ''his'' men to retreat, but a disappointed Nickel knows). Megatron reaches his comrades in fire and blood, gathers up the two pieces of the still-living Ravage, and orders them back to the fortress to get his feline friend help: ''he'' needs nobody's help.

Megatron roars for Tarn to come out but a well-placed shot from Nickel and Vos soon disables Megatron's cannon and leaves him open to attack. As the other Autobots watch through the monitor inside the fortress, Tarn and Overlord stand over the unarmed Megatron, and level their weapons as the man sinks, tired and distraught, to his knees. Tarn asks Megatron if it was worth it; the once and former Decepticon leader remains silent as he looks up at his would-be executioners, but shock crosses his features... just as three shots ring out...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (1)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Maximus Ambus]] (2)
*[[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (5)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] (statue, 6)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (9)
*[[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (10)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (11)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (14)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (19)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (20)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (21)
*[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (22)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (23)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] (24)
*''[[Quark]]'' (25)
*[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] (27)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Helex (DJD)|Helex]] (3)
*[[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] (8)
*[[Doryu (Victory)|Doryu]] (12)
*[[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] (13)
*[[Vos (DJD)|Vos]] (15)
*[[Nickel]] (16)
*[[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]] (17)
*[[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] (18)
*[[Blue Bacchus]] (26)
*[[Lugnut (TF 2010)|Lugnut]] (28)
|c4=
*[[Ten]] (4)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (7)
}}

==Quotes==
"The mnemosurgeon! I was '''hoping''' we'd meet again—I wanted to tell you something. I'm afraid your '''skinny little friend''' died before the missiles hit. I managed to pull off '''three''' of his limbs before the pain '''really''' drove him over the edge. The '''noises''' he made...! And he kept calling your name! ''"Domey! Domey! Save me!"'' I had to put his '''head''' in my mouth just to '''shut him up'''. Just popped it in and—chomp!—bit down 'til he stopped '''twitching'''."
:—'''Overlord'''

"Ask me what I used to do for a living!" 
"What?" 
"Ask me what I used to do for a living!" 
"'''What?'''" 
"Same thing as I do now, '''dirtwad'''—'''waste disposal!'''"
:—'''Tailgate''' tries some action hero banter, but a '''Decepticon''' doesn't play along

"You're not a '''coward''', Megatron—'''or''' a pacifist, for that matter. At least not in the way '''I''' understand the word." 
"I'm not afraid of the DJD. I am, however, afraid of '''rediscovering''' what I'm capable of. I'm afraid that if I got out there and fight—'''really''' fight—I won't be able to stop. '''Ever.''' Because I '''won't want to'''. Every day is a '''battle''', Ratchet. Every hour. Every '''second'''. A battle between me and the '''real''' me—and I wish I knew which was which." 
"So either way, it's about you. ''Quelle suprise.''" 
"It's not about me—it's about '''everyone else.'''" 
"Riiiiight." 
"If I step outside, '''that's''' just the beginning—the first of a '''thousand''' battlefields. If I don't keep myself in check, the '''war''' could reignite—and if it '''did''', it would make what's gone before seem '''trivial''' by comparison. I'd surrender myself '''completely''' to my darker impulses—because I'd '''have''' to. If I were to avoid another day like '''this''' one—another day of being '''torn in two'''—I'd have to. I don't give a damn if '''Fool's Energon''' has sapped my strength or dulled my mind—I '''would not be stopped.'''"
:—'''Ratchet''' and '''Megatron'''

"Sleep tight, soldier."
:—'''Ratchet''' bids farewell to Skids

"I don't need your help. I don't need ''anybody's'' help. But Ravage does."
:—'''Megatron's''' line has two meanings!

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
[[File:MTMTE Tailgate Bomb Waste Disposal character arc.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|Now imagine if the Decepticon just happened to be a [[K-Class|K-Con]]…]]
*Overlord reveals what happened to the original Rewind, after they were trapped in the [[slow cell]] together in [[Under Cold Blue Stars|issue #15]]. Given the time dilation involved in the cell's function, either he was lying to hurt Chromedome or Overlord works disturbingly fast.
*Skids recalls the two previous instances in which Chromedome stopped him from remembering his lost memories, in [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|issue #8]] and [[Speak, Memory! (Part 2)|#49]]. As Tarn blares "The Empyrean Suite", Skids starts to feel hot, as memories of the smelting chamber seen in issue #49 start to creep in.
*If you're wondering why Transformers aren't turning into Outliers as a result of traumatic experiences all the time, recall that it's only the unique mixture of quantum energy that the crew of the ''[[Lost Light]]'' have been exposed to in their travels that has mutated their sparks to the point that they are capable of this stress-induced evolution, as explained in issue #49.
*This issue marks the culmination of Tailgate's character arc that began all the way back in [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|issue #1]]: Originally, the inscription on his left arm only read "osal", with the rest of it having been worn off by the elements during the six million years he spent lying unconsciously underground. In [[Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|issue #2]], after Swerve had inquired about it, Tailgate insisted it should say "''Bomb'' Disposal"; prior to [[Interiors|issue #6]], he had Ratchet "fix" it (although an artistic error for the original single release of that issue accidentally gave away the subsequent twist, but that was later corrected for the trade paperback collection); in [[Before & After|issue #12]], he ''actually'' attempted to disarm a bomb (while tricking Rewind into talking him through the process), which nearly resulted in himself, Rewind, Cyclonus and Whirl getting killed; in [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|issue #13]], he finally came clean to Cyclonus about the truth, revealing that the inscription on his arm ''did'' originally say "''Waste'' Disposal"; and finally, following his near-death experience in [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|issue #21]], he decided he no longer wanted to pretend to be someone he isn't, and had the inscription on his arm changed to its original form, "''Waste'' Disposal", prior to [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|issue #29]] (he specifically drew attention to it while talking to [[Getaway]] in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|issue #30]]). Now, having gained super-strength, he turns what once was his source of secret shame into the set-up for an ''epic'' one-liner, ''knocking the head off a Decepticon with a single punch'' while pointing out that what he's doing does ''still'', in a way, qualify as "waste disposal".
*Rodimus uses his "Flame Out" ability for the very first time since it was introduced all the way back in [[Maximum Dinobots issue 3|''Maximum Dinobots'' #3]]. He even remarks on how long it's been since he last did it.
*Fool's Energon is revealed to be a placebo, in actuality being standard yet disgusting tasting Energon; its foul taste was previously evidenced when [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]] snuck some in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|issue #29]]. Ratchet explains they couldn't give Megatron a ''real'' sedative because of the damaged state of his internal organs, caused by [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]], which we learned about in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|issue #28]], meaning Megatron's apparent physical weakness and change in personality were merely psychosomatic. In an ''incredibly'' subtle bit of foreshadowing of this, Ratchet let slip a "What is it?" while trying to get his story straight to Rodimus in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|issue #30]] as he outlined the bogus chemical's effects.
*Ratchet recalls previous instances in which Megatron restrained his strength: fighting [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] in issue #28, punching [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] in [[Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|issue #38]], and lashing out at Tailgate in [[The Lopsided Triangle|issue #47]].
*As Skids crawls along the floor after falling off the med-slab, he calls himself "scum" for what he unknowingly helped Tarn do in Grindcore. This hearkens ''aaaaaall'' the way back to his first appearance in this series in [[Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|issue #2]], in which, while struggling to remember anything about himself, the last vestiges of this memory caused the amnesiac Skids to briefly think his name was "Scum".
*Back in [[The Not Knowing|issue #44]], Skids remarked "who doesn't want to survive the dying of the light?"
*Tarn sounds almost glad to find Megatron to have his "fire" back while Overlord dismisses this as him just finding a big gun. Both views fit into their ongoing desire to kill Megatron: Tarn was angry and upset that Megs, by surrendering, was no longer the 'real' Megs back in [[The Dying of the Light Part 3: Your Fierce Tears|part 3]], while Overlord has been constantly talking down and demeaning Megatron in a protests-too-much kinda way since [[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 2|"Last Stand of the Wreckers" #2]].
*This issue marks the first time Velocity is shown in her vehicle mode, while the Autobots retreat with the severely wounded Ravage back into the Necrobot's fortress.
*Ten is distraught to see Skids' corpse. Back in "[[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme]]", Skids was in his mural of favourite crewmembers.
*Megatron is distraught over the thought of "another day of being '''torn in two'''". As he says it, he gestures at the screen in which Ravage is being hunted down by Tarn, foreshadowing events that occur just one page later.

===Transformers references===
*When Rewind attempts to tell Magnus about what happened to Dominus last issue, Ultra Magnus paraphrases his most famous line from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'': "I can't deal with that now."
*In a cute touch, Autobot Megatron's new fusion cannon fires orange beams, just like all Autobot weaponry in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]], rather than Decepticon purple. Having been built by Brainstorm, it brings to mind his talk of weapons that could differentiate between Autobot and Decepticon by firing different coloured lasers back in issue #28, but the cartoon color-coding has actually always been in effect for pretty much all weaponry throughout "season two," independent of anything Brainstorm might've made.

===Real-life references===
*As with the previous chapters, this issue's title (and the title of the multi-parter itself) is taken from the poem "{{w|Do not go gentle into that good night}}," by {{w|Dylan Thomas}}.
*In the left-side background on page 14, in the big crowd of Decepticons, you can just see a dead ringer for [[Evangelion Unit-01]].
*Chromedome's words when he asks Tailgate to keep a distance while everyone else is given a temporary power boost by Skids, "Not you, Tailgate. You've already taken your magic medicine.", appear to reference French comic {{w|Asterix}}, where Asterix's friend Obelix is constantly denied drinking from the magic potion, which temporarily gives the Gauls superhuman strength, because he had fallen inside the local village druid's cauldron containing the potion as a child and gained permanent superhuman strength as a result. Like Tailgate, Obelix is a naive, light-hearted simpleton with a childlike intellect and a tendency to be easily upset or enraged. The characters are drawn in the same sort of placement too, gathering around Skids the way the Gaulish villagers gather round Getafix’s cauldron.

===Errors===
[[File:MTMTE 54 hugging single vs TPB.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|right|I'm not hugging too tight — I'm ''panicking''. Your speech bubble is suffocating me!]]
*In the "Story So Far" recap, Minimus Ambus is said to be the alter ego of [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Fortress Maximus]]. Sounds like someone at IDW had ''[[Titans Return (franchise)|Titans Return]]'' on the brain when writing that!
*On page five, panel 1, Ratchet tells Tailgate not to squeeze so tightly as they hug—but his speech bubble's been stuck right on top of Tailgate's head, making him almost unnoticeable in the panel. The speech bubble was moved in the trade paperback.
*On the same page, Ratchet says Tailgate was "taken the brink," rather than "taken '''to''' the brink." This was corrected in the trade paperback.
{{-}}

===Other trivia===
*Vos's sole speech bubble in this issue, spoken when Tarn forgets to credit him along with Nickel for blasting Chromedome, translates to "Bears love sushi." Eh??
*The Autobot emblems are exceptionally emotive this issue, ranging from sad with "tears" (Ratchet), enraged (Megatron) and OH GOD IT BURNS (Rodimus).
*Skids dies to get the fight scenes going in this comic: it's explicit that he's near death to give the Autobots a temporary boost of power, and suggests that Megatron leaving for his big action scene meant Skids couldn't get back onto his medical slab.
**The fight scenes just leads to the Autobots back where they left off in #53 rather than achieving anything and only the cannon fodder Decepticons, given orders by Tarn to charge 'over the top' directly at Megatron simply to wear him down, get killed. All of this feels pretty intentional by the writer who said "Next: In Flanders' Fields" last issue and tied in to Megatron's themes that violence, however justified or necessary, is only turning out badly for him and those around him.
*The month that this issue came out in Europe, the 100th anniversary of the {{w|Battle of the Somme}}, the bloodiest and most brutal battle of World War 1 was commemorated—the battle in which hundreds of thousands of Allied soldiers died within moments of going 'over the top', forced to run straight towards German guns as little more than cannon fodder. ''Technically'' the Allies won that battle, but casualties for both sides were catastrophic.

===Soundtrack===
For all of "The Dying of the Light":
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCdBc5uByFQ Hurt]" by {{w|Johnny Cash}}

For this issue alone:
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeaeFgBI2ns Slow Parade]" by {{w|Broken Records (band)|Broken Records}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/744311270292209664 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xq5pC0MS1ww Superman]" by {{w|Cinerama (band)|Cinerama}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/744312958008819713 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxSJklULfJ0 The Birds Will Sing For Us]" by {{w|Ed Harcourt}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/744314676662665216 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>

===Covers (3)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Our heroes, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] versus [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]], by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Cyclonus, Tailgate, Nautica, and Velocity all share a drink with [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]], by [[Sara Pitre-Durocher]] and [[Josh Perez]]; one of three retailer incentive covers by Pitre-Durocher for June's Transformers titles, which all feature Windblade in commemoration of the launch of ''[[The Transformers: Till All Are One|Till All Are One]]''.
<gallery>
File:MTMTE54 regcvr.jpg|Thanks to Tarn, Decepticon costume parties have a ''very'' strict dress code.
File:MTMTE54 subcvr.jpg|How to kill your dragon.
File:MTMTE54 cvrRI.jpg|Last call in 15 cycles!
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''More than Meets the Eye'' #55
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]'' [[All Hail Optimus Part 5: As Above...So Below|#54]]
*''[[The Last Autobot|Titans Return]]'' one-shot
*''[[The Transformers: Till All Are One|Till All Are One]]'' [[07:00:00|#1]]
*''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' [[The War Never Ends|#13]]
*''The Electric Sublime''
*IDW ''[[Action Man]]'' comic
*''Tales From the Darkside'' comic (back cover)

===Reprints===
*'''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 10''''' ([[October 5]], [[2016]]) ISBN 1631407163 / ISBN 978-1631407161
:*Contains issues #50 to #55.
:*Bonus content includes covers of each issue.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 72: The Dying of the Light''''' ([[January 24]], [[2018]])
:* Hardcover collection of ''More than Meets the Eye'' #50 to #55.
:* Bonus content includes the story "[[No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases]]" and essential background material on the DJD.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 11|The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 11]]''''' ([[June 17]], 2020) ISBN 1684056403 / ISBN 978-1684056408
:* Contains "[[Silent Light]]" from ''[[The Transformers Holiday Special]]'', ''[[The Transformers: Redemption]]'', [[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|''The Transformers'' vol. 2]] issues [[Conquerors Part 1: Aphelion|#46]] to [[The Transformers issue 50|#50]], and ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #50 to #55.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol10.jpg|'''Volume 10'''; cover art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v72.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 72: The Dying of the Light'''''; cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] (Cyclonus) and [[Alex Milne]] (retro)
File:IDWCollectionP2V11.jpg|'''''IDW Collection Phase Two: Vol. 11''''' cover by [[Marcelo Matere]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.newsarama.com/29778-megatron-leads-the-autobots-in-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-54-preview.html Preview]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dying of the Light Part 5: Rage, Rage}}

The Dying of the Light Part 2: The Sun in Flight

2021-01-16T19:09:18Z

Amiga Power: /* Continuity notes */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=51
|prev=No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases
|next=The Dying of the Light Part 3: Your Fierce Tears
|image=MTMTE51_regcvr.jpg
|title="The Dying of the Light Part 2: The Sun in Flight
|caption="Sixty! We dropped at least 60, wouldn't you say?" "That leaves only 3,940."
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[March 30]], [[2016]]
|coverdate=March 2016
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|pencils by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|publisher=[[Ted Adams]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2016)]]
}}
'''Rodimus and his stranded comrades weigh their options as the D.J.D. close in.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Tarn's library.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.8|''He started retreatin' and readin' every treatise on the shelf.'']]
On the now-deceased [[Mortilus|Necrobot]]'s [[Necroworld|planet]], the stranded members of the ''[[Lost Light]]'' crew take shelter within the Necrobot's fortress as the forces of the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] pound on its walls. Presently, however, the attack stops, and a message is left burned into ground outside warning that the killers will return at sunset to finish the job. [[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]] and [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] return to the ''[[Peaceful Tyranny]]'', where Tarn shows off his collection of deceased miners (whose bodies were used by [[Terminus (G1)|Terminus]] to smuggle [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]'s writings back from [[Messatine]] millions of years ago), and explains to an impatient Deathsaurus that they have granted the Autobots a temporary reprieve only as a form of vicarious torture, leaving them to work themselves into a frenzy of fear and anger before they are slain.

With communications cut off, the Autobots search the Necrobot's fortress from top to bottom, hoping to find weapons or a means of escape. [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] and [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] discover that the Necrobot's body has crumbled to dust, and find a key among the remains. While they leave to search for the door it opens, the others examine the only other promising discovery they have made: the quantum-tech teleport booth used by the Necrobot to travel across the galaxy. [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] ascertains that it only has enough power to get them to a nearby asteroid, but that is good enough for everyone, and they are all about to travel through it when Velocity, Swerve, and [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] return to reveal what they have discovered behind the mystery door—dozens of life support tubes containing comatose organic beings. Knowing that the D.J.D. will slaughter the organics if they leave them unguarded, the group talks things out; [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] believes that all the good they have done, and will go on to do if they survive, balances the cosmic scales enough for them to leave the organics to their fate, but Megatron refuses to abandon any living creatures, and delivers an impassioned speech that convinces all assembled to stay and help him protect them. Swerve proposes stealing the D.J.D.'s ship and using it to transport themselves and all the pods to safety, so [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] volunteers to leave the safety of the fortress and sniff out the ship's location. Before departing, he offers Megatron a communicator, and urges him to "talk to him"...

[[File:TheSunInFlight MegatronTarn.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|"Look how old you've become." "Something far worse has happened to you."]]
Aboard the ''Peaceful Tyranny'', Tarn and Deathsaurus talk strategy with [[Tesarus (DJD)|Tesarus]], [[Vos (DJD)|Vos]], and [[Nickel]], while the other members of the group establish a base camp elsewhere on the planet. Tarn dismisses the notion that the assembled Autobots could pose any threat, but Tesarus recognizes that the Necrobot's fortress has a [[storm-shield]] to protect it from extreme weather conditions, which could, with sufficient power, be upgraded to hold the D.J.D. off for days. Tarn insists there is no such power supply on the planet, but before an argument can kick off, his personal communicator rings—a communicator that only Megatron has the number for.

Megatron arranges to meet Tarn alone, and mounts a [[space scooter]] the Autobots have found in the fortress to travel to their meeting point. Before he leaves, [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] asks him why his famous hatred of organics has suddenly ceased to be an issue; Megatron explains that, when struck with the psychic attack earlier, he heard the screams of all the organic races he had obliterated during the war, and cannot live with allowing any more of them to die. Megatron then heads out to meet Tarn in the massive field of flowers surrounding his own statue, where he calmly and willingly surrenders to the D.J.D. leader.

[[File:TheSunInFlight-helexvsten.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|''Everyone give it up for America's favorite fighting French-Ten!'']]
Elsewhere, Ravage follows the scent of the D.J.D., but ends up locating their base camp, rather than their ship. He is also quick to realize that he has been followed by [[Ten]], who has been desperately trying to help all this time, but has been repeatedly ignored and told off by Rodimus. An exasperated Ravage pulls a dirty move, asking Ten to stand up; immediately upon doing so, the [[Legislator]] is spotted by the Decepticons below, and they come charging up the hill to attack him. With Ten serving as a distraction, Ravage heads down to the base camp, certain he can smell a ship somewhere...

Back at the fortress, the other Autobots finally notice Ten's absence, and discover a message he has left for them: a pile of the Necrobot's spark-flowers, sitting next to the storm-shield generator, alongside a drawing of [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]]. The message is clear—Ten has realized that the flowers can be used to power up the shield!

Ten fights bravely, but is blasted, burned, blinded, and even loses limbs to the relentless Decepticon horde. Before the fatal blow can be struck, however, salvation arrives in the form of the occupants of the ship Ravage detected... [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] and [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] have returned!

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (1)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (2)
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (3)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] (4)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (5)
*[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (6)
*[[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (7)
*[[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (8)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (11)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (12)
*[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] (13)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (14)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (15)
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (19)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (30)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (31)
{{!}}}
|c2=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Lugnut (TF 2010)|Lugnut]] (9)
*[[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]] (10)
*[[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] (18)
*[[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] (21)
*[[Vos (DJD)|Vos]] (22)
*[[Tesarus (DJD)|Tesarus]] (23)
*[[Nickel]] (24)
*[[Blue Bacchus]] (25)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Kaon (DJD)|Kaon]] (26)
*[[Helex (DJD)|Helex]] (27)
*[[Dominus Ambus|The Pet]] (28)
*[[Guyhawk]] (29)
{{!}}}
|c4=
*[[Ten]] (16)
*[[Mortilus|Necrobot]]'s remains (17)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (20)
}}

==Quotes==
"Okay, so, the '''bad news''' is that we're comprehensively weaponless, our defenses amount to a '''giant umbrella,''' and the only transport in this paper-thin 'fortress' is a space scooter so '''unconvincing''' it needs the words 'space scooter' painted on it." 
"What's the good news?" 
"Who said anything about good news?"
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Tailgate'''

"I'm not trying to '''set an example,''' if that's what you mean. I've made my choice, Rodimus. You're free to make yours. You're '''all''' free to make yours. Anyone who wishes to leave should leave. No questions need be asked, no reasons given. The same if you want to '''stay'''. You don't have to justify your actions, or explain your motives, or invite others to '''scrutinize''' your '''conscience.''' Either you stay or you go. You don't need anyone's '''permission.''' You don't need anyone's '''blessing.''' Make whatever decision you wish to make—but make it for '''yourself.''' And let me assure you: there is nothing in this room but '''understanding.'''"
:—'''Megatron

"I saw a '''storm-shield generator''' in there. The Necrobot must've used it to protect the glass ceiling." 
"It's called an '''atrium'''." 
"No, it's definitely a storm-shield."
:—'''Tesarus''' and '''Nickel'''

"Now then, in between getting your arses kicked... perhaps you could tell us what we've missed."
:—'''Ratchet'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*[[Lugnut (TF 2010)|Lugnut]] is a member of Deathsaurus's army. He's previously appeared in IDW continuity in [[Rise|''Autocracy'' #10]], and a guy loosely looking like him appeared as a member of the [[Titan Hunter]]s in [[The Reluctant Specialist|''Spotlight: Trailcutter'']], but don't sweat the details too much; in all these appearances, he's really little more than an [[Easter egg]], the latter being more of a reference to the [[Lugnut (Animated)|original ''Animated'' character]] than specifically to the G1-era character from the [[Transformers (2010 toyline)#RTS|2010 toyline]].
*We got a glimpse of Tarn's collection of dead generic "miner" Transformers in [[Speak, Memory! (Part 2)|issue #49]]. They are revealed to hold the answer to the long-standing question of how Terminus was smuggling Megatron's writings off of [[Messatine]], originally raised in [[Births, Deaths, and Interventions|issue #34]]: he was arranging for the works to be carved onto their internal organs before they were sent back to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Hence, as a huge Megatron fanboy, Tarn collects them.
*Tarn remarked that he had the first edition of ''Towards Peace'' mounted on his wall back in [[The Permanent Revolution|issue #39]]. He wasn't lying.
*Tarn says that Terminus has been unfairly “airbrushed out of history”. It was Megatron himself who was at least partly behind that, thanks to his going back and removing the dedication to Terminus in every copy of Towards Peace, as he revealed to Rung in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|their therapy session]].
*Rodimus makes a quick reference to his being an "ex-[[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] bearer," which occurred during the "[[Space Opera Part 1: The Stars My Destination|Space Opera]]" storyline in the [[The Transformers (IDW)|2009-2011 ongoing series]].
*None of the characters have any knowledge of it, of course, but a similar row of life support pods containing organic lifeforms was previously seen in [[Animals|issue #46]]. These pods have some mysterious connection to the gear-like symbol that the cast discussed last issue.
*Megatron's decision to risk his life for organics plays off [[slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|issue #33]], where Megatron is disgruntled at the very concept that he'd have to risk himself for non-mechanicals and asks where he signed up for this. Back then, Skids made it clear that if redemption meant anything, Megatron would risk it; back then, Megatron had to be berated into doing it but a year and a half later, he's the one fortifying everyone else.
*Tesarus recalls encountering a storm-shield when the D.J.D. went after [[Heretech]], a story we first heard about in issue #39.
*When listing off the races whose voices he heard screaming, Megatron mentions the "Magisterians." Presumably, these are the inhabitants of [[Magisteria VI]], who we saw in [[Some Of My Best Friends Are Autobots|issue #46]]. See "Transformers references" and "errors" for more.
*He also lists the [[Nibarian]]s, whom [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] previously mentioned killing in "[[The Hunting Party (IDW)|The Hunting Party]]".
*They're back, baby! [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] left the series way back in [[The Gloaming|issue #16]], while Ratchet went off to find him in [[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|issue #40]]. They found each other in the [[The Transformers: Drift - Empire of Stone|''Empire of Stone'']] mini-series, and it looks like they've been doing some adventuring since, as both have brand new body designs. Drift's even re-donned the Autobot symbol, suggesting the egregious continuity wonkery of ''Empire of Stone'' is being quietly ignored and he's an Autobot again without any messing about.
*Alex Milne stated on Twitter that [[:File:Drift-Alex Milne-LL.jpg|Drift's new "face paint"]] is to honor [[Dai Atlas (Zone)|Dai Atlas]],<ref>[https://twitter.com/markerguru/status/716702702416355328 ]</ref> leader of the [[Circle of Light]] who were responsible for Drift's "enlightenment" and side-switching, who died in [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|issue #21]].

===Transformers references===
*While the [[Praeton]]s that Megatron mentions killing don't appear to be a pre-existing race from Transformers canon, the [[Nibarian]]s first came from the [[Fun Publications]] story "[[The Razor's Edge]]" and the [[Torkuli]] from the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] episode "[[Webworld]]". Both races also faced a rough time from not just the Decepticons, but sort-of Megatron: the Nibarians are brutally conquered by [[Flamewar (G1)|Flamewar]] in a Megatron disguise, while the Torkuli's homeworld is destroyed by [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron, an upgraded Megatron]].
*[[:File:Ratchet-Alex Milne-MtMtE-LL.jpg|Ratchet's new design]] borrows a few cues from his [[Ratchet (WFC)|''Prime'' counterpart]], including a white helmet with a red crest (the inverse of his previous ''More than Meets the Eye'' appearance), as well as a red mohawk-stripe and chin-guard. He is dual-wielding a pair of the [[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1#Continuity notes|Generation 1 cartoon's generic Autobot laser pistols]], as he did in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
*The regular cover sees Megatron wielding his "lightsaber" that he used in his battle with Optimus during ''The Transformers: The Movie''.

===Real-life references===
*As with the previous chapter, this issue's title (and the title of the multi-parter itself) is taken from the poem "{{w|Do not go gentle into that good night}}," by {{w|Dylan Thomas}}.
*Tarn refers to his corpse collection as "first editions", as any collector of books would do.
*The space scooter looks to be based on the [[Scooter (GoBots)|Tonka ''GoBot'' Scooter]], sharing his red and black coloration.

===Errors===
*Brainstorm counts sixteen present, but there are actually seventeen. Of course, this might not be an error; he could be excluding Ten (because Brainstorm's a jerk), Ravage (the only Decepticon present, who has never actually helped anyone) or maybe even Rong (Wrung? Y'know, that guy...).
*Megatron says that all the races he mentions are extinct, but there were obviously living Magisterians kicking about very recently, as the [[Scavenger (group)|Scavengers]] visited their planet and used [[holomatter]] avatars of them. Unless it wasn't Magisteria ''VI'' Megatron scoured of life, but another planet in the system. A Torkuli also made a cameo appearance in "[[Cybertronian Homesick Blues]]", so Megs missed one.
*Megatron calls 'em "Torkulians," but per "Webworld," the inhabitants of [[Torkulon]] are "Torkuli." This is corrected in the trade paperback.

===Other notes===
*Another overt example of Brainstorm's occasionally-mentioned British accent: he says "maths" instead of "math." Less expected: Ratchet saying "arses" instead of "asses."

===Soundtrack===
For all of "The Dying of the Light":
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCdBc5uByFQ Hurt]" by {{w|Johnny Cash}}

For this issue alone:
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4VWKbZkIcM The Ship Song]" by {{w|Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/712081400745369600 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taYufMit8SI Foi Na Cruz]," also by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/712081733693411328 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zLfCnGVeL4 The Sound of Silence]" by {{w|Simon & Garfunkel}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/712082538513174530 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>

===Covers (3)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Megatron and Rodimus in Tarn's clutches, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' An Energon-soaked Tarn by [[Andrew Griffith]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Tarn by [[Livio Ramondelli]]

<gallery>
File:MTMTE51 regcvr.jpg|Tarn's about to have some fun.
File:MTMTE51 subcvr.jpg|Someone other than Tarn has had a REALLY bad day.
File:MTMTE51 cvrRI.jpg|Tarn the impaler.
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''More than Meets the Eye'' #52
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]'' [[All Hail Optimus Part 2: Edge of the Earth|#51]]
*''Street Fighter x [[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]''
*''[[Transformers: Deviations|Deviations]]''
*IDW digital comics (back cover)

===Reprints===
*'''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 10''''' ([[October 5]], [[2016]]) ISBN 1631407163 / ISBN 978-1631407161
:*Contains issues #50 to #55.
:*Bonus content includes covers of each issue.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 72: The Dying of the Light''''' ([[January 24]], [[2018]])
:* Hardcover collection of ''More than Meets the Eye'' #50 to #55.
:* Bonus content includes the story "[[No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases]]" and essential background material on the DJD.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 11|The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 11]]''''' ([[June 17]], 2020) ISBN 1684056403 / ISBN 978-1684056408
:* Contains "[[Silent Light]]" from ''[[The Transformers Holiday Special]]'', ''[[The Transformers: Redemption]]'', [[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|''The Transformers'' vol. 2]] issues [[Conquerors Part 1: Aphelion|#46]] to [[The Transformers issue 50|#50]], and ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #50 to #55.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol10.jpg|'''Volume 10'''; cover art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v72.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 72: The Dying of the Light'''''; cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] (Cyclonus) and [[Alex Milne]] (retro)
File:IDWCollectionP2V11.jpg|'''''IDW Collection Phase Two: Vol. 11''''' cover by [[Marcelo Matere]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.newsarama.com/28548-preview-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-51.html Preview]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dying of the Light Part 2: The Sun in Flight}}

The Dying of the Light Part 3: Your Fierce Tears

2021-01-16T18:28:49Z

Amiga Power: /* Errors */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=52
|prev=The Dying of the Light Part 2: The Sun in Flight
|next=The Dying of the Light Part 4: At Close of Day
|image=MTMTE52_regcvr.jpg
|title="The Dying of the Light Part 3: Your Fierce Tears
|caption=Death waits you! You have made a covenant with death, and with Hell you are in agreement. You're all going to die! Don't you realize? Can't you see? You're all going to die! Die! Death awaits you all!
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[April 27]], [[2016]]
|coverdate=April 2016
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|pencils by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2016)]]
}}
'''Megatron versus Tarn! A new challenger appears!'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Mtmte52 evacuating ten.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.6|''I'm with you, but the situation is fraught!'']]
As [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] and [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] struggle to hold off the [[Decepticon Justice Division|D.J.D.]] and their allies, Drift observes [[Kaon (DJD)|Kaon]]'s horrified reaction to [[Ten]] striking [[Dominus Ambus|The Pet]], then seizes the little creature and threatens to kill it in order to stay the villains' hands. A distraught Kaon orders everyone to stand down, and Ratchet, Drift, and Ten are then airlifted to safety by their own ship, piloted by [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]]. [[Helex (DJD)|Helex]], furious, overturns Kaon's order and everyone opens fire on the ship, damaging it and sending it falling out of the sky.

Elsewhere on [[Necroworld]], [[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]] and [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] meet in front of Megatron's statue, where Tarn is left incredulous by Megatron's request that the D.J.D. spare the other Autobots if he surrenders to them. Tarn speaks of Megatron's inspiring legacy and all the lives that were willingly sacrificed to his cause, but the weary Megatron regrets everything, even his own life. Disgusted, Tarn launches a brutal physical attack on his former leader, knocking his Autobot [[insignia]] off, hoping to reignite his lost fire by forcing him to fight back. But the battered Megatron refuses to rise to the bait, citing both his newfound pacifism, and the fact that the [[Fool's Energon]] he is fuelled with makes it impossible anyway. Megatron chuckles, reflecting on the side effect of Fool's Energon that can allegedly change a 'bot's personality... and realizes that, even if that is true, despite his lifelong fear of mental tampering... he's ''better'' the way he is now. Realizing that the 'bot he once worshipped is gone, Tarn blasts him point-blank in the chest, and is about to deliver a second, fatal shot when a third party suddenly arrives on the scene and orders him to stop... a third party named '''[[Overlord (Masterforce)|OVERLORD]]!'''

Ravage manages to crash Ratchet and Drift's ship at the entrance to the [[Mortilus|Necrobot]]'s fortress, and the group takes cover inside. The Autobots are happy to see their two old friends again, but [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] is confused as to why they are here; it turns out they came in response to a call [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] made on the communicator [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] gave her, which the D.J.D.'s signal blockers had cut off before she could speak. Velocity had thought she was making contact with First Aid himself, and immediately makes a rather terrible first impression on Ratchet. Infinitely more tense is the concurrent reunion of Drift and [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]], the latter still feeling guilty over letting Drift take the blame for the Overlord debacle, and for never coming to look for him after the truth came out, out of fear he would hate him. Drift accepts Rodimus's sincere apology, but doubts his belief that they can all make it out of their present situation alive.

[[File:TarnvsOverlord.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|''Where have you been?'' Uh, France?]]
Overlord demands that ''he'' be the one to kill Megatron, and a fight instantly breaks out between the two Decepticons over who will have the honor. As they battle, Tarn remarks that the D.J.D. believed Overlord to be dead; the [[Phase Sixer]] explains that he was recovered and repaired by a group of mysterious benefactors, who have sent him to Necroworld to kill Megatron—an "alignment of interests," as Overlord puts it. Tarn proposes an alliance, but Overlord refuses: Megatron is ''his'', and his alone, to end. At that point, however, the two combatants realize that while they have been distracted grappling with one another, Megatron has dragged his battered body onto the [[space scooter]] that brought him there, and escaped back to the fortress!

[[File:YourFierceTears-byebyekaon.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Man openly campaigns against me, talking 'bout "I look forward to our partnership!"]]
At the fortress, [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] regards the Necrobot's memorial for the "[[disappeared]]", pondering the names carved into it as a means of keeping his mind busy. Presently, [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] arrives; she wonders where [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] is, and the archivist tells her that they have had an argument, each believing the other should have used the teleport chamber to escape. Nautica then asks about the pair's history, wondering about the protocol for becoming either [[Conjunx Endura]] or [[Amica Endura]] in Cybertronian society. When Rewind asks her why, she remarks that their looming fate has led her to question some matters she has been avoiding...

Tarn and Overlord return to the ''[[Peaceful Tyranny]]'', where Overlord immediately sets about mocking and undermining the group and its alliance with [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]]. The distressed Kaon then arrives to report what happened to his unit, and the capture of The Pet, which only gives Overlord more material to work with. Tarn embraces his panicking colleague... then with cold fury, rips his head clean off, horrifying the watching [[Nickel]] and even silencing Overlord. Smashing Kaon's severed head across Overlord's chest, he declares that ''emotion'' was the weakness that changed Megatron, and it is a weakness he will not allow himself, or any of his men, to feel.

And back at the fortress, the unconscious Megatron is hauled inside by his allies, fuel-streaked Autobot symbol still defiantly clutched in his hand...
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (4)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (5)
*[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] (8)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (11)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (12)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (13)
*[[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (14)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (15)
*[[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (16)
*[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (17)
|c2=
*[[Helex (DJD)|Helex]] (1)
*[[Kaon (DJD)|Kaon]] (6)
*[[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] (7)
*[[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]] (9)
*[[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] (10)
*[[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] (18)
*[[Nickel]] (19)
|c4=
*[[Ten]] (2)
*[[Dominus Ambus|The Pet]] (3)
}}

==Quotes==
"Drift! Say something '''inspirational!''' I fight better when I'm annoyed!"
:—'''Ratchet'''

"You want to talk about wasted lives? What about all the people who '''died''' following your orders? The road-sweepers and the haulers. The '''miners!''' All those who died in service to a future '''you''' promised to bring about? Did '''they''' waste their lives? Did '''I''' waste '''mine?''' Look around you. Every flower represents a life '''you''' ended—a death for which you bear '''full responsibility.''' You think they're all Autobots?"
:—'''Tarn'''

"I know everything is '''connected.''' I know it's impossible to preserve some moments and not others—however tempting it might be. I know that not long ago, someone tried to kill me before I was born. And I know I hated them less for their '''ambition''' than their failure to '''realise it.'''"
:—'''Megatron'''

"The thought of anyone tampering with my mind used to '''terrify''' me. But if Prime's chemicals have '''kept me in line...''' then maybe that's a good thing. '''I'm better like this.'''" 
"No. You're better dead." 
''(CHOOM!)''
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Tarn'''

"'''You're''' Ratchet? The '''sourpuss'''? The '''slavedriver'''? The '''hand-thief''' who took a thousand years to retire? '''You're''' him?" 
"Er..." 
"I hope '''not'''—otherwise I've made a really '''bad''' first impression...!"
:—'''Velocity''' and '''Ratchet'''

"You're both angry for the same reason? Is that logical?" 
"Let me know the next time you and the person you love have a logical argument."
:—'''Nautica''' and '''Rewind'''

"Come here, Kaon. I never realized that you cared for that creature as much as you '''do.''' Sorry—" 
''(RRRIP!)'' 
"—as much as you '''did.'''"
:—'''Tarn'''

"Don't you '''ever''' think '''you''' can come into my house and '''pass judgement'''. I will not be '''ridiculed''' by someone who spent half his life '''running''' and the other half '''sulking''' because no one gave chase."
:—'''Tarn''', to Overlord

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Megatron hints that, before becoming a Decepticon, Tarn was a significant 'bot in the life of some importance, remarking that he "turned" him to the Decepticon side in order to "hurt" that 'bot by proving that it could be done. The last time Megatron talked about doing something purely out of spite in order to hurt someone, he was talking about [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]], back in [[slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|issue #34]]. Is that misdirection we see, or it is another big fat in-your-face hint that Tarn is Optimus's old buddy [[Roller (IDW)|Roller]] under his mask, following the possible set up in [[Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|issue #36]]? Of note, Roller's name ''seems'' to be included on the Necrobot's memorial for the "disappeared"...
*Megatron refers to Brainstorm's attempt to kill him before he was born, from [[Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|issue #38]].
*Aaaaaa''aaaAAAAA'' '''''AAAAAAAAAAA'''''<big>'''''AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA IT'S OVERLORD!!!!'''''</big> The original ''MTMTE'' Big Bad makes his return after being blasted out of the ''[[Lost Light]]'' back in [[Under Cold Blue Stars|issue #15]], but c'mon, none of us ''really'' believed he was dead, did we? Tarn gives a quick rundown of his backstory from ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'', summarizing how he refused to follow Megatron's orders, went rogue, and then, upon realizing that Megatron didn't care and wasn't pursuing, staged the events of that mini-series as a way of trying to get his old leader's attention.
*Tarn recalls crossing Overlord off [[The List|the D.J.D.'s list]]; they actually killed Overlord's quantum duplicate, as shown back in issues [[slaughterhouse|#32]] and [[slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|33]].
*For such a devoted fan of Megatron, Tarn forgets a very important fact about him, as was established alllll the way back in [[Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory]]: Megatron's got a habit of not dying.
*As noted in a footnote, Ratchet gave First Aid the communicator in [[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|issue #40]], which he then passed onto Velocity in [[The One Where They Go to Earth|issue #43]].
*Given that Drift knows that Rodimus told the rest of the crew the truth about the Overlord conspiracy, Ratchet must have told him about it following the end of [[The Transformers: Drift - Empire of Stone|''Empire of Stone'']]. That mini was evidently written without proper understanding of the full story behind Drift's exile, while issue #40 of this series also floundered a little while trying to deal with the fallout of Rodimus's reveal, but this issue ties it off at last. Rodimus told the crew the truth, but didn't try to find and bring Drift back because he was afraid he would hate him for making his sacrifice meaningless.
*We previously saw the Necrobot's memorial for the disappeared in [[The Not Knowing|issue #44]].
*It is noted that several months have passed between the two-part story in issues [[Speak, Memory: Part 1|#48]] and [[Speak, Memory! (Part 2)|#49]] and "The Dying of the Light" (during which, we know, both the [[Silent Light|''Holiday Special'' story]] and [[No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases|issue #50's back-up strip]] took place).
*Tarn ripping Kaon's head and spine out and crushing it against a solid surface echoes Kaon's killing of [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]] in [[Births, Deaths, and Interventions|issue #34]].

===Transformers references===

===Real-life references===
*As with the previous chapters, this issue's title (and the title of the multi-parter itself) is taken from the poem "{{w|Do not go gentle into that good night}}," by {{w|Dylan Thomas}}.
*On the Necrobot's memorial to the disappeared, there's a name reading "-EAMWA-". Now it could certainly be "Screamwarp" or "Steamwash" but there's one other very [[Dreamwave Productions|obvious answer]]...

===Errors===
*On page 6, Tarn says "wasted lifes," rather than "wasted lives." This is fixed in the trade paperback.
*On page 17, Tarn says “a suggestion: perhaps we should -“ twice, being interrupted by Overlord both times. Only the second one really makes sense in context; the first is a bit of a non-sequitur.
*Not strictly an error, but on pages 7 and 19, Megatron and Tarn use the British spelling, "realise," rather than the American "realize." The former is fixed in the trade paperback, but the latter is not.
*On page 17, Rewind says "and they pleasure they take in doing it" instead of "''the'' pleasure." This is fixed in the trade paperback.

===Other trivia===
*We learn a little more about the types of "Endura" bonding. Nautica notes that in some civilizations, you have to be "Amica" before you can then move on to being "Conjunx," though that is not true of [[Caminus (planet)|Caminus]]. Rewind explains that in Cybertronian society, one must actually first ''rule out'' being Conjunx before "opting" for Amica. "It can make for a very bittersweet ceremony," he says. No doubt!
*Whirl and Cyclonus feature quite prominently on the Retailer Incentive cover but do not appear at all in this issue.

===Soundtrack===
For all of "The Dying of the Light":
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCdBc5uByFQ Hurt]" by {{w|Johnny Cash}}

For this issue alone:
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S7DmnjWTSk Franklyn]" by {{w|Michael Nyman}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/723596046329360384 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn4dy_7Q9Bo The Return of Evil Bill]" by {{w|Clinic (band)|Clinic}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/723596314597068800 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAVUPu7URbc Teardrop]" by {{w|Massive Attack}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/723596609775349762 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"Twilight of the Empire" by Fariña<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/723597298421239808 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>

===Covers (4)===
*'''Regular cover:''' A fuel-streaked Megatron receives a face-punching from Tarn, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' The D.J.D. and Deathsaurus's forces, by [[Hayato Sakamoto]] and [[MGR]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Don't worry: Megatron, Ravage, [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] are the good guys! By [[Brendan Cahill]] and [[John-Paul Bove]]
*'''Heroes and Fantasies Alamo City Comic Con exclusive cover:''' Wraparound image of Megatron, [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Unicron]], by [[Juan Carlos Ramos]].
<gallery>
File:MTMTE52 regcvr.jpg|This one's for my brother, this one's for my pa, and this one's for me!
File:MTMTE52 subcvr.jpg|These are the bad guys!
File:MTMTE52 cvrRI.jpg|This is more believable, looking at the bad guys!
File:MTMTE52 cvrRE.jpg|[[Orson Welles]] is still hungry.
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''More than Meets the Eye'' #53
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]'' [[All Hail Optimus Part 3: The Medium and the Message|#52]]
*''[[The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers|Sins of the Wreckers]]'' [[Sins of the Wreckers issue 4|#4]]
*IDW ''Micronauts'' comic
*IDW online comics (back page)

===Reprints===
*'''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 10''''' ([[October 5]], [[2016]]) ISBN 1631407163 / ISBN 978-1631407161
:*Contains issues #50 to #55.
:*Bonus content includes covers of each issue.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 72: The Dying of the Light''''' ([[January 24]], [[2018]])
:* Hardcover collection of ''More than Meets the Eye'' #50 to #55.
:* Bonus content includes the story "[[No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases]]" and essential background material on the DJD.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 11|The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 11]]''''' ([[June 17]], 2020) ISBN 1684056403 / ISBN 978-1684056408
:* Contains "[[Silent Light]]" from ''[[The Transformers Holiday Special]]'', ''[[The Transformers: Redemption]]'', [[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|''The Transformers'' vol. 2]] issues [[Conquerors Part 1: Aphelion|#46]] to [[The Transformers issue 50|#50]], and ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #50 to #55.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol10.jpg|'''Volume 10'''; cover art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v72.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 72: The Dying of the Light'''''; cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] (Cyclonus) and [[Alex Milne]] (retro)
File:IDWCollectionP2V11.jpg|'''''IDW Collection Phase Two: Vol. 11''''' cover by [[Marcelo Matere]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.newsarama.com/28977-the-autobots-are-stranded-in-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-22-preview.html Preview]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dying of the Light Part 3: Your Fierce Tears}}

Our Steps Will Always Rhyme

2021-01-15T15:04:42Z

Amiga Power: /* Other trivia */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=40
|prev=The Permanent Revolution
|next=The Sensuous Frame
|image=MTMTE40_regcvr.jpg
|title=Chief Medical Officer Ratchet in: "Our Steps Will Always Rhyme"
|caption=Looks like Ratchet has been collecting [[Cyberverse (toyline)|Cyberverse]].
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[April 29]], [[2015]]
|coverdate=April 2015
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Brendan Cahill]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2015)]]
}}

'''A hearing is convened to decide Brainstorm's punishment, which inspires Ratchet to venture off on a mission of his own—but not before he says his farewells properly.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Pharma ratchet steps shall always rhyme.jpg|thumb|left|upright=2]]
[[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] has never been very good at saying goodbye, whether to [[Roller (IDW)|Roller]], to [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]], or even to [[Hunter O'Nion]]. Such thoughts are on his mind today, as he enjoys a drink in the deserted [[Swerve's]], while the [[Swerve (G1)|bartender himself]] and [[Ten]] pass the time arranging a huge pyramid of glasses. The pyramid is lucky to be spared what happens next; Ratchet is not so fortunate, and is knocked head over heels as [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] comes careening into the bar on a new [[hoverboard]] that he has purchased in [[Fortuna]], capital city of the planet [[Scarvix]], where the ''[[Lost Light]]'' is currently berthed while its [[quantum generator]]s recharge. Tailgate apologizes, but notes how empty the bar is, which Swerve whines is the result of [[Mirage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Mirage]] opening a competing establishment, [["Visages"]] (quotation marks included!), after the recent poisoning incident at Swerve's. While Swerve laments, Tailgate tells Ratchet he's going fishing for [[Legislator]] body-parts in the [[oil reservoir]] with [[Getaway]]; this turns the subject of conversation towards the put-upon Ten, who [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] has been trying to convince Swerve to treat better. Realising he is running late, Ratchet departs...

...in order to attend the first meeting of the [[Lost Light Internal Legal Affairs Committee]], headed by Ultra Magnus, [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]], [[Xaaron]], and an absent [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]], who are holding a hearing to decide what [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]]'s punishment will be following his recent deceptions. Brainstorm queries why [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] is not on trial, having been the 'bot who actually fired the fatal shot on their time travel adventure, but [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] has already pleaded Rewind's case in private. When confronted with the [[Decepticon]] symbol within his faceplate, Brainstorm does not deny the implication; [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] storms out as Brainstorm details how he chose to become an undercover agent in order to obtain from the Decepticons the resources necessary to build his [[time case|time machine]], but notes that he never provided his handlers with any information that would harm the [[Autobot]]s. When the subject of the alternate ''Lost Light'' and the act of treachery by its Brainstorm that resulted in the death of the entire crew is raised, Brainstorm takes a stand, refusing to be held accountable for actions that were not his own—a stand that earns him a solo round of applause from [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]]. The Committee begrudgingly admits that this is true, but conclude he must still be punished for his attempts to alter history; his time machine is to be destroyed, and his access to his lab is to be strictly regulated, but much to Brainstorm's surprise—and Ratchet's silent but visible dissatisfaction—he is ''not'' going to be kicked off the ship.

[[File:Getaway's innocent conversation with Tailgate.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7|If your [[Early Early Warning System]] isn't already ringing it should '''''definitely''''' be by now.]]
Following the hearing, Magnus checks in on the melancholy Megatron, to see if he has taken a missing datapad belonging to Magnus. Megatron denies any involvement, but cryptically claims to be "working". Ratchet, meanwhile, heads to "Visages" to borrow Tailgate's hoverboard; the little 'bot is in the bar with Getaway, and grows confused and upset as the escapologist continues to ply him with drink and 'negative compliments', and claims that [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] has been talking about Tailgate behind his back.

Under the patently phoney ruse that Tailgate's board is infected with teleporting "super-[[scraplet]]s", Ratchet has [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] round up a select few of the crew for "examination". He uses the short, one-on-one sessions to talk candidly with each of them: he scolds Rodimus for the inconsistent treatment Brainstorm has received in comparison with exiled [[Drift (G1)|Drift]]; he gives [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]]'s number to [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] in order to get him counselling; he asks [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] to be a friend to Rung outside of officer hours; he helps [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] understand that Brainstorm's actions were truly selfless, as he was an [[M.T.O.]] and would have been erased from history had his mission succeeded; he suggests that Swerve try getting Megatron to perform some of his poetry to reinvigorate his bar; and he tries to console Ultra Magnus, who has come to believe that the rest of the crew does not respect him after finding a tiny figurine of his innermost form, [[Minimus Ambus]], outside his hab-suite door.

[[File:MTMTE40 Ten's mural.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Is it wrong to say we give it 10 out of 10?]]
Once the examinations are done (and First Aid has made it clear he knows Ratchet was making up the "super-scraplets"), Ratchet is once again clobbered by Tailgate on his ''new'' hoverboard, which Tailgate explains was built by Ten. His curiosity piqued by the similarity in artistic style of the drawing of Tailgate on the hoverboard and the Minimus Ambus figurine, Ratchet visits Ten's makeshift "quarters", where he discovers that the soul of an artist glows within the vocally-impaired robot: Ten has drawn a beautiful mural of the ship's crew on his wall, and built a wide range of miniatures of the same with to-scale dioramas. Noticing that there's a display dedicated to Ultra Magnus, Ratchet realizes that Magnus is Ten's "favorite", and that Ten, wanting something of his, secretly took the missing datapad in exchange for the Minimus figure. Examining the pad, Ratchet discovers why Magnus was so eager to get it back: it contains a poem he is trying to write! Ratchet encourages Ten to return the pad, and types a message for Magnus into it to explain the situation.

A little later, with his new friend Ten at his side, Minimus Ambus enters Swerve's, which is now the popular spot once again after Swerve had Megatron perform... at "Visages"! While Minimus talks about the strange message Ratchet left him, brief moments play out across the ship: Brainstorm and Nautica reconcile; Getaway and Tailgate fish; Cyclonus broods; Rodimus and Perceptor burn Brainstorm's briefcases... save one, which is secretly recovered for Megatron by [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]]; and First Aid finds Ratchet's quarters deserted, with a communicator and a note at long last appointing First Aid the ship's chief medical officer. As the ''Lost Light'' departs Scarvix, Ratchet watches it go from a small shuttle of his own, before he too takes off... in search of Drift.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (1)
*''[[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]]'' (3)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (6)
*[[Siren (G1)|Siren]] (7)
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (8)
*[[Hosehead (G1)|Hosehead]] (9)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (10)
*[[Xaaron]] (12)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (13)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]]/ [[Minimus Ambus]] (14)
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (15)
*[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (16)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] (17)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] (18)
*[[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (19)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (21)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] (22)
*[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] (24)
*[[Hound (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hound]] (26)
*[[Getaway]] (27)
*[[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] (28)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (29)
*[[Mirage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Mirage]] (30)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (31)
*? (32)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (33)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (34)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (35)
*[[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]] (36)
*[[Grotusque]] (mural, 37)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]] (mural, 38)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (figurine, 39)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (40)
*[[Slapdash (G1)|Slapdash]] (41)
*[[Atomizer]] (42)
*[[Rad (G1)|Rad]] (43)
*[[Crosscut (Autobot)|Crosscut]] (44)
*[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (45)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (figurine, 46)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*''[[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]'' (5)
*[[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] (23)
|c3=
*''[[Hunter O'Nion]]'' (4)
|c4=
*''[[Roller (IDW)|Roller]]'' (2)
*[[Ten]] (11)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (20)
}}

==Quotes==
"I '''hate''' it. I ''(muffled)'' everything about it. It sounds ''(muffled)'' '''awful.'''"
:—'''Swerve''', on "Visages"

'''Brainstorm:''' "Everyone who's ever built a '''fully functioning time machine''', stand up." 
''(Riptide stands up.)'' 
''(beat)'' 
'''Riptide:''' "Oh, a '''time''' machine...! Sorry." 
''(Riptide sits down.)''

"The Decepticons have had their suspicions about me for '''ages.''' I'm the worst double agent '''ever'''. Worse than '''Rung.'''" 
''(beat)'' 
"Joke. Not funny."
:—'''Brainstorm'''

"If I had sarcasm-powered legs, I'd do a '''happy dance'''...!"
:—'''Nautica''' takes the news of a potential scraplet infection poorly

"How do I feel. How do I 'feel'." 
"It's not meant to be a trick question."
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Ratchet'''

"Are these your '''favorites'''?" 
"Ten." 
"Yeah. Mine too. You're '''missing someone''', though. Not your fault: you joined after he left. After we '''sent him away.''' You'd have liked him. '''I''' did—probably a lot more than either of us realized."
:—'''Ratchet''' and '''Ten''' talk about Drift

"I don't trust poetry. What's the point? All these people trying to say something by hiding it behind something else." 
"Someone once said that poetry is a hazardous attempt at self-understanding. It's certainly '''difficult'''..."
:—'''Swerve''' and '''Minimus Ambus'''

'''Brainstorm:''' "I added a new button:" 
'''Nautica's wrench:''' "Brainstorm is an ass!" 
'''Nautica:''' "It's my new favorite."

"This ship is a refuge for the '''emotionally inarticulate'''. Oh, people talk. People talk '''all the time'''. They just don't '''say''' very much. They're too worried about people knowing how they '''feel'''. Too worried about being '''found out'''. For better or worse, we're judged by what we do, and not what we '''say'''. And if it takes us a while to get around to doing something '''important''', well... better late than never."
:—'''Ratchet's''' farewell message

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Ratchet's first flashback shows his parting with [[Roller (IDW)|Roller]], which chronologically takes places between the scenes of the past shown in [[Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|issue #11]] and [[Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|issue #36]].
*His second flashback is set before his departure for Earth, prior to [[Infiltration issue 0|''Infiltration'' #0]], IDW's first ''Transformers'' issue. We also learn that Ratchet's departure was what convinced Pharma to transfer to [[Delphi]], where we met him in [[Life After the Big Bang|issue #4]]. Pharma is depicted tinkering with a transformation cog, foreshadowing his eventual fall from grace.
*The third flashback shows Ratchet (in his "-ations"-era body, complete with [[holomatter]] avatar and even speech-bubble and font design from that time) returning [[Hunter O'Nion]] home following his separation from [[Sunstreaker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sunstreaker]], set in the missing year between [[Maximum Dinobots issue 5|''Maximum Dinobots'' #5]] and [[All Hail Megatron issue 1|''All Hail Megatron'' #1]]. [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] is shown watching Hunter, alluding to his eventual capture of the boy and the pillaging of his mind, revealed in [[All Hail Megatron issue 8|''All Hail Megatron'' #8]].
*Hunter is noted to be going to his sister's house, a small allusion to the non-canonical strip "[[Hail and Farewell]]", in which Hunter's sister was noted to be his only remaining family.
*Tailgate's been inspired to get a hoverboard after watching ''[[Back to the Future|Back to the Future Part II]]'' in [[Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|issue #38]].
*The oil reservoir is full of Legislator body parts after Skids tore an entire battalion of them apart down there back in [[Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|issue #18]].
*Someone has written "I failed the [[Ambus Test]]" on Ten's back; the test, an indicator of sentience, was previously mentioned in [[Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|issue #24]].
*Getaway's behaviour towards Tailgate has grown noticeably more creepy from when we first saw it in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|issue #30]].
*Ratchet feels Hoist needs "someone to talk to"; that's likely because of his isolation issues, which we saw illustrated in [[The Waiting Game|''Spotlight: Hoist'']], and which are no doubt flaring up after [[Trailbreaker (G1)|his roommate]] died in [[Births, Deaths, and Interventions|issue #34]], only the week before the events of this issue.
*We've known that "Brainstorm" isn't Brainstorm's real name since [[The Reluctant Specialist|''Spotlight: Trailcutter'']]; here, Nautica reveals that it is "Genitus of Operation: Solar Storm".
*Ratchet encourages Skids to get the "puncture wounds" on his neck fixed; those would be the [[mnemosurgery]] holes Chromedome left after [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|issue #8]].
*In keeping with her professed enthusiasm for engex in issue 28, Nautica nurses a giant-sized drinking glass at Swerve's.
*In the same panel, "Whirl Wuz Here" can be seen scrawled on a chair. Whirl's propensity for graffiti was previously brought up in the Annual, as well as earlier this very issue in relation to the writing on Ten's back. Further, the specific words call back to the desk graffiti on one of the (out-of-continuity) covers to issue 5: "Whirl Wuzent Here".
*Also in this same panel, Brainstorm's Autobot symbol is noticeably absent from his chest, presumably a consequence in some way or other of his revealed duplicity.
*Ratchet's departure leads into his role in the [[The Transformers: Drift - Empire of Stone|''Drift - Empire of Stone'']] mini-series, already published in full by the time of this issue's release.
*The long-range communicator Ratchet takes bears a noticeable resemblance to the "time phone" of the Elegant Chaos arc, which makes sense seeing as how the latter certainly didn't seem constrained by distance in its depiction.
*First Aid's tenure as Chief Medical Officer will be brief, as he and several others will be leaving the ship shortly in order to be part of the "[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]" storyline. In fact, the comic showing his departure, "[[The Possible Light]]", had been published two weeks prior.

===Transformers references===
*The planet Scarvix appeared in [[Headhunt|issue #133]] of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|Marvel UK Generation 1 comic]].
*The 'bots who Tailgate nearly knocks down while on his board are Siren, Nightbeat, and Hosehead, the full roster of 1988 Autobot [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]]. As a cute reference, Hosehead claims Tailgate "nearly took [his] head off".
*As Swerve directs Ten around, he says: "A little to the left... a little bit more", a verbatim quote from [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' as he arranges the positioning of a roadblock, right before Hot Rod comes crashing through.
*The rise and fall of Mirage's bar was first mentioned in [[The Possible Light|''The Transformers'' #40]], just a few weeks before this issue was published.
*When Ratchet describes the "super-scraplets", he uses the onomatopoeia "Vop!" to illustrate their teleportation abilities. That's the sound effect IDW uses for [[Skywarp (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Skywarp]]'s teleports.

===Real-life references===
*This issue's title is a lyric from the {{w|Leonard Cohen}} song, "{{w|Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye}}", a pretty self-explanatory reference.
*Siren's exclamation of "I'm walkin' here!" is an oft-quoted line of {{w|Dustin Hoffman}}'s from the 1969 film ''{{w|Midnight Cowboy}}''.
*When Ratchet leaves Hunter home, the human notes he is going to catch up on a lot of television, listing off the hot-name shows that were airing at the time the scene is set, in the late 2000s: the reimagined ''{{w|Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)|Battlestar Galactica}}'', ''[[Doctor Who]]'', and ''{{w|Heroes (TV series)|Heroes}}''.
*After Tailgate smacks into Ratchet for the second time, Ratchet returns his hoverboard and says "Hey, kid, thanks", paraphrasing similar lines from ''{{w|Back to the Future}}'' and {{w|Back to the Future Part II|its sequel}} when [[Marty McFly]] returns borrowed boards to their owners.
*The individual mentioned in Minimus's remark on the nature of poetry, quoted above, was {{w|Robert Penn Warren}}, who wrote: "For what is a poem but a hazardous attempt at self-understanding: it is the deepest part of autobiography."

===Errors===
*Brainstorm's first speech bubble in this issue is mistakenly channeled from Chromedome.
*Ratchet's interaction with Rodimus is pretty off-base. The medic's ire is focused on the "disproportionate punishment" he believes Drift received, but completely ignores the fact that ''Rodimus'' was the one who was responsible for bringing Overlord on board the ship (which we know from [[Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8|issue #26]] that Rodimus admitted to the whole crew) and that Drift had actively ''volunteered'' to take the blame for the fiasco and allowed himself to be exiled—there was no "punishment" involved for Ratchet to be angry about. The No-Prize-y explanation would be that Rodimus didn't tell the crew that Drift chose to be exiled, which would kinda-sorta fit with [[Drift - Empire of Stone issue 1|''Empire of Stone'' #1]], in which Ratchet knows that Drift is not to blame for the Overlord situation, and claims he was "following orders". The trade paperback changes the wording of Ratchet's complaint to "inconsistent treatment", which papers over the problem by making it more about how the difference between the two Autobots' sentences appears to the rest of the crew, rather than about the punishments themselves.

===Other trivia===
*After running a month behind for the first quarter of 2015, ''More than Meets the Eye'' gets back on schedule with this issue, the second of two released in April.
*There are plenty of ''Lost Light'' regulars who aren't part of Ten's mural, but it's pretty telling that Ten has left Swerve himself out of the artwork.
*The shared faves of Ratchet and Ten are Chromedome, Nautica, Tailgate, Rung, Skids, Hoist, Getaway, and Rodimus (and Magnus).
*Also, Ten seems to depict himself with eyes in both his mural and his miniature, despite being a Legislator and having none.
*In accordance with Ratchet's suggestion, Skids can be seen socializing with Rung in the background, towards the end of the issue.
*Brainstorm mentions his 'handler' but doesn't tell us who that would be. Will we ever find out?
*Nautica has a pretty drastic reaction to Brainstorm's admission of being a double agent, considering how she was an outsider to the whole war - though perhaps it’s more personal, in that she and Brainstorm have clearly become close friends in the six months since they met, but he never told her about his duplicity. Nautica will get over it though.

===Soundtrack===
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rgb8am3NQU0 Nobody's Empire]" by {{w|Belle and Sebastian}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/590293158644318208 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYRoZELZY3w Love Expression]" by {{w|It's Jo and Danny}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/590296043683713024 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-bJPmasXKs Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye]" by Leonard Cohen<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/593649430785568769 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>

===Covers (3)===
*'''Regular cover:''' The ''Lost Light'' crew in Ratchet's tender hands, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' Tailgate on his hoverboard as Getaway, Cyclonus, and Ultra Magnus look on, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Brainstorm in the spotlight, with Nautica, Ratchet, and Ultra Magnus silently judging, by [[Brendan Cahill]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]

<gallery>
File:MTMTE40 regcvr.jpg|He's got the whole gang in his hands.
File:MTMTE40 subcvr.jpg|Well, it beats pod-racing.
File:MTMTE40 cvrRI.jpg|'''CHUNG CHUNG'''
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''More than Meets the Eye'' #41
*"[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]"
*''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' [[Expelled from the Garden|#6]]
*''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters'' trade paperback
*IDW ''Skylanders'' comic
*IDW ''{{i|Jem and the Holograms (comic)|Jem and the Holograms}}'' comic
*''[[My Little Pony]]: FIENDship Is Magic'' comic book event
*Disney comics are back! (back cover)

===Reprints===
*'''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 8''''' ([[October 21]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631404520 / ISBN 978-1631404528
:*Contains issues #39 to #44.
:*Bonus content includes covers of each issue.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 8|The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 8]]''''' ([[December 19]], [[2018]]) ISBN 1684053722 / ISBN 978-1684053728
:* Contains ''More than Meets the Eye'' #35 to #40, ''Robots in Disguise'' #35 to #38, ''[[The Transformers: Punishment]]'' and ''[[The Transformers: Drift - Empire of Stone]]''.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 63: Elegant Chaos''''' ([[June 12]], [[2019]])
:* Hardcover collection of ''More than Meets the Eye'' #35 to #42.
:* Bonus content includes a cover gallery and intro by [[Simon Furman]].

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol8.jpg|'''Volume 8'''; cover art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V8.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Vol. 8'''''; cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]] and [[Tom B. Long]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v63.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 63: Elegant Chaos'''''; cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] (Trailbreaker) and [[Alex Milne]] (retro)</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.comicbookresources.com/comic-previews/transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-40-idw-2015 Preview]

The Frail Gaze

2021-01-14T17:01:12Z

Amiga Power: /* Real-life references */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=42
|prev=The Sensuous Frame
|next=The One Where They Go to Earth
|image=MTMTE42_regcvr.jpg
|title="The Frail Gaze"
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[June 24]], [[2015]]
|coverdate=June 2015
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2015)]]
}}
'''Boxed in by mysterious parasitic creatures, the least-charismatic members of the ''Lost Light'' and ''Vis Vitalis'' crews fight for survival against a very unusual enemy.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Personality ticks the frail gaze.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]
[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] lets off some steam by convincing [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] to dance with her, surprising the super-learner with her skill and grace. As they twirl, Nautica explains her complicated relationship with [[Firestar (G1)|Firestar]]; already looked down upon and labelled "Naughty" for her lack of interest in the performing arts, Nautica essentially befriended the egotistical Firestar out of necessity, as the stricter tenets of [[Caminus (planet)|Camien]] religion would have resulted in her total ostracization if she did not have an [[Amica Endura]] before she was ten megacycles old. Worse yet, she can't "split up" with Firestar, because to do so is the ultimate affront one can commit in Camien culture. The exhausted Skids sits down to rest, but suddenly finds himself on the verge of passing out—as hideous, barnacled creates abruptly appear out of nowhere! With Skids too weak to fight and Nautica lacking the skill, the pair are soon buried under a pile of alien bodies...

In the morgue, [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] and [[Getaway]] are also trying to fight off the creatures, which Nightbeat deduces are using a perception-based form of cloaking that ceased functioning when the pair discovered their spores incubating on [[Countdown (G1)|Countdown]]. They are saved by a missile volley courtesy of [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]]—his [[attention deflector]]s now functioning properly again after the creatures revealed themselves—and the trio beat a quick retreat.

In the medibay, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Minimus Ambus]], [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]], and [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] come under attack from the horrors, one of which emerged from within [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]]'s trailer. [[Firestar (G1)|Firestar]] and [[Skystriker (G1)|Skystriker]] arrive in response to the noise, but Skystriker is immediately torn to shreds by the creatures. In an act of supreme heroism, Thunderclash transforms to hold their attackers off, giving everyone the chance to escape the room—though Velocity observes the monsters shudder at the sight of Thunderclash even as they flee...
[[File:Thunderclash TheFrailGaze.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.3|]]
Back on the dancefloor, Nautica claws her way free long enough to shove her fist into a nearby recharge socket, electrocuting the creatures piled on top of them with the current. They are soon joined by the groups from the morgue and medibay and barricade themselves in; Nautica has time for a happy reunion with Velocity, which results in the truth coming out about Firestar—she was lying about being Thunderclash's first officer in order to show off, and furthermore, it was the ''[[Vis Vitalis]]'' which rescued ''her'' ship, rather than the other way around, after its pilot [[Vertex]] suddenly died. Scanning the crew for spores, Nightbeat finds them on only Skids and Getaway, prompting him to realize that the beasts are "[[personality tick]]s", parasites that feed on charisma, inadvertently picked up by Firestar's crew during a stopover on [[Marasma]]. The ticks latched onto Vertex (a celebrated actor) and drained her dry, then moved onto Thunderclash, with one of their number even revealing itself long enough to heal his old war wound so they could continue feeding on him. Just as Velocity is recounting the momentary aversion to Thunderclash she saw the ticks display, and Nightbeat is using the information to formulate a solution, the door gives way and the creatures come pouring into the room. Nautica tries to force them back by hurling the vials of donated [[innermost energon]] at them, to no effect... but then, suddenly, the ticks all keel over, as a bemused [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] and [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] enter the room!

[[File:Borer skater flex the frail gaze.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.8]]
A little later, back on the ''Lost Light'', Nightbeat explains to Magnus that the deceased ticks had literally ''overdosed'' on Rodimus and Megatron's combined charisma, an extreme extension of their aversion to Thunderclash's moment of heroism Velocity had witnessed. Nightbeat is puzzled about one thing, though: he hadn't had time to call in Rodimus and Megatron after making his deduction, so how had they known to come? Ultra Magnus explains that, actually, three other crewmembers named [[Skater]], [[Flex]], and [[Borer]] had called them—they had figured everything out first, and just weren't so gosh-darned showy about it. Thunderclash, meanwhile, is receiving treatment and well on his way to full health, and although the map to [[Cyberutopia]] was destroyed in the chaos, Thunderclash will now no longer have to rely upon the ''Vis Vitalis'' for life-support and can join the ''Lost Light'' on their quest. Firestar's group are going to take the ''Vis Vitalis'' for themselves and return to Caminus; Nautica tries to persuade her to stay, but the experience has rattled Firestar, and moreover, has made her realize that Nautica surpassed her a long time ago. Firestar proposes that they sever their platonic lifebond, but Nautica refuses, telling her they are "different, but good."

Later still, the crew celebrate the successes of the day with an "indie disco" thrown at [[Swerve's]]. During the party, [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] cues up "[[The Power of Love]]" in an attempt to get [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] to dance with him, but Cyclonus hesitates too long, and when he finally moves towards the dancefloor, Tailgate is already dancing with Getaway. Elsewhere amid the dancers, Nautica gets a nice surprise when Velocity appears, having been encouraged to stay by Firestar. Yep, all seems well to [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]]'s eyes, and he wryly remarks that "his work here is done"... after which, he suddenly vanishes!
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (1)
*[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (2)
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (4)
*[[Getaway]] (5)
*[[Photon (G1)|Photon]]'s corpse (7)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (8)
*[[Minimus Ambus]]/[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (9)
*[[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (10)
*[[Firestar (G1)|Firestar]] (11)
*[[Skystriker (G1)|Skystriker]] (12)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] (13)
*[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] (14)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (15)
*[[Borer]] (16)
*[[Skater]] (17)
*[[Flex]] (18)
*[[Proxima (G1)|Proxima]] (19)
*[[Roadmaster]] (20)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (21)
*[[Hound (G1)/2005 IDW continuity |Hound]] (23)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (24)
*[[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (25)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (26)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (27)
*[[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] (29)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (30)
*[[Atomizer]] (31)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] (32)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (33)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] (6)
|c4=
*[[Personality tick]]s (3)
*[[Ten]] (22)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (28)
}}

==Quotes==
"I thought you said you couldn't dance!" 
"Did I say that?" 
"You did. You used false modesty to lure me into a '''sympathy trap.'''"
:—'''Skids''' and '''Nautica'''

"I have an Amica Endura—'''Firestar'''." 
"With the flame—oh yeah, saw you talking to him." 
"Her." 
"Sorry. Force of habit."
:—'''Nautica''' and '''Skids'''

"Any chance to teaching me to '''fight''' in the next five seconds? Otherwise, all I've got to throw at them is a selection of '''scathing literary quotations'''..."
:—'''Nautica''', to Skids

"I've rattled around long enough to have learned one thing: the universe is '''cold''', and '''cruel''', and '''violent'''—but only if you choose to look at it that way. For every act of aggression there are a '''thousand''' acts of kindness. For every hateful word, a million declarations of love. '''The good''' always outweighs the '''bad'''."
:—'''Thunderclash'''

"Wonderful! They're '''still''' attacking us, but now they're '''on fire'''!"
:—'''Velocity'''

"I've been thinking, and... maybe we should end it." 
"'''End''' it? Platonic Severance? Why?" 
"Fire and water—we're a '''bad mix.''' I used to think it was a case of waiting for '''you''' to catch up with '''me''', but your life now... all the things you do... fighting monsters..." 
"But if you reject me you'll be '''pilloried!" 
"?" 
"Stigmatized. Lambasted. '''Looked down on!'''" 
"I know. Why is which '''I''' should do it and not you. I haven't been the best of friends..." 
"No. I won't let you. I'm not having it. We're good. We're different, but—but that's good. I say we keep going." 
''(hug)'' 
"Okay, but just so you know... you were '''on fire''' today."
:—'''Firestar''' and '''Nautica'''

"—and then '''whomp!''' I made them all '''collapse''' just by turning up! Just. By turning. Up." 
"Yes. Yes, I was there."
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Ultra Magnus'''

"So, Megatron or Soundwave?" 
"'''What?''' What kind of a question—" 
"If you had to choose. '''If.'''" 
"What is this, a suicide attempt?" 
"I'm sensing Megatron." 
"I didn't say that."
:—'''Riptide''' and '''Ravage'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Nautica made a passing reference to the fact she had never been one for the performing arts back in [[slaughterhouse|issue #32]].
*Nautica's inability to deal with compliments was seen before in [[Twenty Plus One|issue #31]].
*Firestar and Nautica talked last issue about the fact Firestar's flame had changed color since Nautica had last seen her; this issue, we learn that that is because she is fuelling it with "[[Black Diamond]]", a rare combustible found only on Marasma, which is what helps Nightbeat deduce the personality ticks' origins.
*Foreshadowing their eleventh-hour save in this issue, Borer and Skater were hidden in the crowd last month. Did you spot 'em? A generic green robot also popped up during the disco who ''might'' have been supposed to be Flex, but none of the visible details match.
*Tailgate mutters under his breath that he always embarrasses Cyclonus, referencing Getaway's lies that Cyclonus has been talking behind his back during [[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|issue #40]].

===Transformers references===
*On his recap page, Swerve refers to the personality ticks as "[[space barnacle]] things".
*[[Skater]] was a generic Autobot who popped up in "[[Target: 2006]]" back in the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|UK Marvel comic]]. He was green there, but he's the red guy here. Magnus notes that he turns into a hydrofoil.
*One of the real-world bands whose music is featured in the ending is called [[The Primal Scream|Primal Scream]].

===Real-life references===
*The title of the story is a pun on the concept of the "{{w|Gaze#The "male gaze" in feminist theory|male gaze}}."
*As they dance, Skids remarks that Nautica is "teaching him a thing or two, whether he likes it or not," and she replies "That's an involuntary learner joke, and I claim my five [[shanix]]". This refers to an old promotion carried out by newspapers and other British media which dates back to the 1920s, in which a representative would be sent to a particular spot somewhere in the country, giving audience members the opportunity to win five pounds if they successfully located and identified them, approaching them with the phrase "You are [blank] and I claim my five pounds".
*The planet Marasma is likely named for the medical condition [http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/984496-overview Marasmus], a form of severe malnutrition characterized by lack of energy.
*The concept of an alien creature that feeds on personality traits was explored in the {{w|Red Dwarf}} episodes Polymorph and Emohawk. Many ideas and quotations from that show appear in More Than Meets The Eye but this one seems a particularly notable correlation.
*In addition to the tunes on this issue's soundtrack and "The Power of Love", songs which play at Swerve's disco include "What Presence?!" by {{w|Orange Juice (band)|Orange Juice}}, "The Party Line" by {{w|Belle and Sebastian}}, "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" by {{w|Saint Etienne (band)|Saint Etienne}}, and "Let's Make This Precious" by {{w|Dexys Midnight Runners}}
*Swerve's vanishing act at the end of the issue is an homage to ''[[Quantum Leap]]'', in which protagonist Sam Beckett would "leap" throughout time, moving on when he completed a task. The bartender even rattles off Beckett's "oh boy" catchphrase (although this was traditionally a reaction to ''arriving'' in a new time). Foreshadowing this, Swerve was seen watching ''Quantum Leap'' last issue.

===Errors===
*The Camien religion is called the "Way of ''the'' Flame" this issue, but was just the "Way of Flame" (no "the") when it was first mentioned in [[The Sum and Its Parts|''Windblade'' #1]].
*Skids talks about a 'bot named [[Chopper (G1)|Chopper]] (see "Other trivia," below). Chopper is called a "Helibut", which is a typo for a Heli''bot'' [[subgroup]].<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/1244972493577900033 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*When the personality ticks appear in front them, First Aid thinks they have all emerged from Thunderclash's trailer. Minimus corrects him by pointing out that only "the blue one" was inside the trailer... except ''all'' the ticks are blue.
*An error is repeated from last issue, in which Camien [[Skystriker (G1)|Skystriker]] is consistently referred to as "[[Skystalker (disambiguation)|Skystalker]]". It was corrected in the trade, but it doesn't matter much now! SLETCH!
**On that same panel, Skystriker's face is miscolored the same gray as his chest. It should be a warm yellow.
*Excessively pedantic, but Skids' "honky dory" should be "hunky dory".

===Crew Manifest===
*Thunderclash and Velocity join the crew of the ''Lost Light''.

===Other trivia===
*This issue was accidentally released a day early on IDW's digital comics app.
*Swerve's recap, absent since [[slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|issue #33]], is ''two'' pages in length this issue! This will turn out to be important for [[The One Where They Go to Earth|the very next issue]].
*Skids mentions that he once had an Amica Endura named [[Chopper (G1)|Chopper]], but split up with him because he was "an absolute arse."
*We learn more about Caminus and its religion, the [[Way of Flame]] in this issue. Socially, the performing arts carry great cachet on the planet, and those who do not at least try their hand at them are "frowned upon". Further, the Way of Flame stipulates that one must have an Amica Endura within ten megacycles of their creation, or they will be utterly shunned. Two people become Amica Endura through recitation of the [[Act of Constancy]], and to split up such a bond is known as the [[Platonic Severance]], but it is considered the worst thing one 'bot can do to another, and represents a failure on the part of the instigator to try harder at the friendship.
*[[Proxima (G1)|Proxima]], who was mentioned last issue, and [[Roadmaster]], who only showed up on last issue's cover, both appear in-story this issue.
*A "deleted scene" for this issue would have had [[Minimus Ambus]] perform what could only be described as a striptease using the [[Magnus Armor]] to the Bee Gee's "{{w|Stayin' Alive}}". Tragically, the scene was cut because it would be completely out of character for Minimus Ambus.<ref>James Roberts Q&A panel at TFCon 2015</ref>
*A number of fans liked 'Season 2' of MTMTE less than the first; this two-parter in general and this issue in particular have been particularly criticised for being meandering and indulging in Roberts' tropes too much. The dance, with its references to indie music, got a dinging for this. In a discussion of issue 50, Roberts acknowledged some people felt the comic had been meandering throughout the 40s. <ref>[http://www.orbitalcomics.com/orbital-directors-commentary-james-roberts-on-transformers-mtmte-50-audio/ Orbital Director’s Commentary – James Roberts on Transformers: MTMTE #50! - Track #1 15:59 to 17:40]</ref>

===Soundtrack===
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ri7MiiHiLjM She's Hearing Voices]" by {{w|Bloc Party}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/612388239928885248 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nImOq_eWHEM Light Pours Out Of Me]" by {{w|Magazine (band)|Magazine}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/612389346591834112 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8KynrRA1u8 Velocity Girl]" by {{w|Primal Scream}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/612390017701408768 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnpILIIo9ek How Soon Is Now]" by {{w|The Smiths}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/612390752103043072 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>

===Covers (4)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Ravage raises his hackles at an unseen enemy, in front of the fallen Nightbeat, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' Nautica boogies at the centre of a ''Lost Light'' dance party, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' The ''Lost Light'' crew gather for a celebration with drinks and fireworks, by [[Naoto Tsushima]] and [[Yamaishi]]
*'''Convention cover:''' ''Combiner Hunters'' [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] (with the ''Lost Light'' in the background for relevance), by [[Sara Pitre-Durocher]], available exclusively from IDW at San Diego Comic-Con 2015.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE42 regcvr.jpg|Ravage, if you don't give him back his wallet, you're going to be a sorry little kitty!
File:MTMTE42 subcvr.jpg|''This is my melody and it's just a ravers' fantasy...''
File:MTMTE42 cvrRI.jpg|Please tell me we didn't give all the fireworks to Whirl.
File:MTMTE42 concvr.jpg|Chromia's here to chop down Swerve's recap page and kick ass, and she's... Well, she's gonna do both, probably.
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''More than Meets the Eye'' #43
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]'' [[Now and On Earth|#42]]
*''[[The Transformers: Windblade|Windblade]]'' [[Windblade vol. 2 issue 4|#4]]
*''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' [[Headmasters (issue)|#7]]
*IDW ''{{i|Jem and the Holograms}}'' comic
*IDW ''[[Donald Duck]]'' comic
*''Monster Motors'' trade paperback (back cover)

===Reprints===
*'''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 8''''' ([[October 21]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631404520 / ISBN 978-1631404528
:*Contains issues #39 to #44.
:*Bonus content includes covers of each issue.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 9|The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 9]]''''' ([[June 19]], [[2019]]) ISBN 1684054842 / ISBN 978-1684054848
:* Contains ''More than Meets the Eye'' #41 to #44, ''Robots in Disguise'' #39 to #42, and ''[[The Transformers: Windblade|Windblade vol.2]]'' issues #1 to #5.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 63: Elegant Chaos''''' ([[June 12]], [[2019]])
:* Hardcover collection of ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #35 to #42.
:* Bonus content includes a cover gallery and an intro by [[Simon Furman]].

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol8.jpg|'''Volume 8'''; cover art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V9.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Vol. 9'''''; cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v63.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 63: Elegant Chaos'''''; cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] (Trailbreaker) and [[Alex Milne]] (retro)</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.comicbookresources.com/comic-previews/transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-42-idw-2015 Preview]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Frail Gaze}}

The Sensuous Frame

2021-01-14T16:55:23Z

Amiga Power: /* Real-life references */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=41
|prev=Our Steps Will Always Rhyme
|next=The Frail Gaze
|image=MTMTE41_subcvr.jpg
|title="The Sensuous Frame"
|caption=The idea of a "Thunder Clash [[Skyquake (Prime)|Pre-Memorial Hospital]]" is not out of the question either.
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[May 27]], [[2015]]
|coverdate=May 2015
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]] and [[Chris Mowry]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2015)]]
}}
'''The crew of the ''Lost Light'' is invited to the "pre-wake" of the soon-to-be-deceased Thunderclash, but Nightbeat and Getaway soon learn there is quite ''literally'' more than meets the eye going on aboard the ''Vis Vitalis''.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:SensuousFrame-ThunderClash.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.7]]
Decorated space-faring hero [[Countdown (G1)|Countdown]] arrives on the ''[[Vis Vitalis]]'' to see his ailing mentor [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]]—at last, the famous Autobot's old war wound has apparently gotten the better of him, and he now lies at death's door. Escorted by the ship's first officer [[Firestar (G1)|Firestar]] to the side of the mute, unmoving Thunderclash—trapped in alternate mode by [[rigor morphis]]—Countdown is left alone with his former teacher... at which point, he hears a knocking coming from within Thunderclash's trailer. Peering inside, Countdown only has time to scream...

On the ''[[Lost Light]]'', [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]], [[Getaway]], and [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] are all hanging out in [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]]'s room, but the [[Caminus (planet)|Camien]] bibliophile would rather read about the [[Froidian Classification System]] than indulge their silly antics. Mention of the psychologist's name leads Skids and Getaway to talk about [[Rung (G1)|Rung]], while Brainstorm manages to convince Nautica to try out his upside-down harness, which she ends up enjoying. Brainstorm has also completed an upgrade to [[Nautica's wrench]] at Getaway's request: the addition of a torch that counters [[attention deflector]]s, which Getaway plans to use to keep an eye out for the stealthy [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]]. Just then, an unfamiliar ringing is heard throughout the ship...

Simultaneously, in "[[Swerve's]]", Ravage and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] observe as [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]]—introverted following [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]]'s recent departure—finishes up his four-week viewing of every piece of human art and entertainment ever created. Just as he is describing the lessons he has learned, Swerve is interrupted by the ringing noise, which turns out to be a giant gong that [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] is ringing in order to summon the crew together. The gong signifies that the crew have "accomplished something": they have caught up to the ''Vis Vitalis'', and Rodimus can barely suppress his glee when he announces the news that his long-hated rival Thunderclash is on his deathbed, and that the crew are invited to a "pre-wake" in his honor. After giving the crew the news, Rodimus and [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] privately reveal to one another that they will not be attending the party, and their attempts to make excuses for not doing so lead to them scheduling a meeting for themselves during which they will "plan".

[[File:TheSensuousFrame-Firestar.jpg|thumb|Nautica reunited with her old [[Amica Endura|flame]].]]
Later, the pre-wake party is in full swing aboard the ''Vis Vitalis'', and the ''Lost Light''ers are all enjoying themselves... except for wallflowers Rung, Nautica, [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]], and [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]]. While Nightbeat takes Nautica's wrench and goes off to snoop around the ship, Nautica is approached by Firestar, who it turns out is her old room-mate and [[Amica Endura]] from Caminus, and who joined the ''Vis Vitalis'' crew when she and some other Camiens picked up a distress call and helped fix some damage the ship had taken. As she and Nautica swap stories, however, it soon becomes clear that Firestar is more "frenemy" than "friend", her catty remarks about Nautica's abilities and insistence on using the hated nickname "Naughty Nautica" soon mounting up, culminating in an awkward silence and an uncomfortable parting of the ways.

In Thunderclash's quarters, Camien crewmember [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] shows [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Minimus Ambus]] the supposed map to [[Cyberutopia]] that Thunderclash has carved into the room's wall, drawn from his dreams. [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] completes his examination of Thunderclash, which yields surprising results: whatever is killing Thunderclash, it is ''not'' his old [[spark]] injury, which has been miraculously healed around six months prior. Velocity explains that a passing medic was responsible, but cannot remember anything about her. Unable to deduce what has left Thunderclash in his current sorry state, First Aid opens his trailer to carry out an internal examination... but finds nothing.

[[File:Getaway photon the sensuous frame.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2]]
A little later, after the party has wound down and most of the crew have returned to the ''Lost Light'', Nautica hems and haws about staying for the funeral. A tired, out-of-sorts Skids tells her a few others are staying too, and will be picked up by Rodimus on his way back from a supply run; others such as Nightbeat, who has just found a strangely exhausted Getaway napping in the middle of a corridor. Just as Nightbeat rouses him, Ravage runs screaming down the hallway, his attention deflectors sparking, claiming that something is "everywhere" and "won't stop looking at him". Immensely intrigued, the pair set off after the frightened feline.

In Thunderclash's quarters, First Aid gets as surprise when he hooks the dying 'bot up to a monitor desk, and Thunderclash begins voluntarily, selectively shutting his systems down in order to make his life-signs on the monitor resemble words. First Aid, Velocity, and Minimus read his message: "You're all blind, you're all dead" ...and then turn when they hear the sound of knocking coming from within his trailer...

Nightbeat and Getaway follow Ravage into the ship's morgue, where they find the body of ex-racer-turned-public-speaker [[Photon (G1)|Photon]], and the ''still-warm'' corpse of Countdown. Shining the light of Nautica's torch onto Countdown exposes a horrible sight: a mass of [[technorganic]] eggs, clinging to his frame, invisible to the naked optic. Under the light, Getaway realizes they are on his body too... at which point, the pair suddenly find themselves surrounded by clawing alien creatures whose bodies are covered with the mysterious growths!
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Firestar (G1)|Firestar]] (1)
*[[Countdown (G1)|Countdown]] (2)
*[[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] (3)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] (4)
*[[Getaway]] (5)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (6)
*[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (7)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (8)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (10)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (11)
*[[Rollout (G1)|Rollout]] (12)
*[[Boss (G1)|Boss]] (13)
*[[Siren (G1)|Siren]] (14)
*[[Aquafend]] (15)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Borer]] (16)
*?  (17)
*?  (18)
*[[Joyride (G1)|Joyride]] (19)
*[[Atomizer]] (20)
*[[Hosehead (G1)|Hosehead]] (21)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (22)
*[[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] (23)
*[[Sky High (Pretender)|Sky High]] (24)
*[[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (25)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (26)
*[[Hound (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hound]] (27)
*[[Xaaron]] (28)
*[[Dipstick]] (29)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Pointblank]] (30)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (31)
*?  (32)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (33)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (34)
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (35)
*[[Skater]] (36)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (37)
*[[Repugnus (G1)|Repugnus]] (38)
*[[Doublecross]] (39)
*[[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]] (40)
*[[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] (41)
*[[Rad (G1)|Rad]] (42)
*[[Crosscut (Autobot)|Crosscut]] (43)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Mirage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Mirage]] (44)
*[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] (45)
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (46)
*[[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]] (47, see errors)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (48)
*[[Javelin]] (49)
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (50)
*[[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] (52)
*[[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (53)
*[[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (54)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Minimus Ambus]] (55)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (56)
*[[Photon (G1)|Photon]]'s corpse (57)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] (9)
|c4=
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (51)
}}

==Quotes==
"This is wonderful! And look! '''Reading!''' I can read upside down! I've always wondered if I could!" 
"You never thought to, I dunno, turn a book upside down?" 
... 
"I'm not here and you can't see me. I'm hiding behind my '''wall of shame.'''"
:—'''Nautica''' tries out Brainstorm's upside-down harness with some help from '''Skids'''

"Finished! One '''upgraded''' wrench! Where's that '''one Shanix''' you promised me?" 
"I fear I may have exploited your ignorance of monetary value. Tell you what: if that thing works, I'll pay you '''two''' Shanix! Whaddya say?"
:—'''Brainstorm''' strikes a hot deal with '''Getaway'''.

"Having devoured 30,000 years' worth of stories and songs—and having read and watched and listened to everything from ''The Maxims of Ptahhotep'' to ''Infinite Jest''—it's only '''now''' that I've come to realize three things—'''three bold and shining truths''' that I'll carry with me '''forever.''' 
:'''One:''' Life is inherently tragic—and over far too quickly.
:'''Two:''' All art thrives on conflict. We valorize fiction because it helps us make sense of ourselves.
:'''Three:''' Season 4 of ''Community'' was a serious misstep."
:—'''Swerve'''

"Have you met him?" 
"Not as such. I've tried to '''kill''' him several times..."
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Megatron''' on Thunderclash

"I'm gonna plan you '''into next week.'''" 
"Maybe. Or maybe after five minutes you'll get bored and start carving pictures onto your desk." 
"'''Wrong,''' actually! Utterly, demonstrably, '''villainously''' wrong. I ran out of space '''ages''' ago."
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Megatron''' on their joint planning session

"What. Is. The. Matter. With. You." 
"I'm '''resting''', I'm not—why are you talking to me like I'm a '''broken vending machine?'''" 
"I'm trying to show concern. I've seen other people do it."
:—'''Nightbeat''' and '''Getaway'''

'''Velocity:''' "He's killing himself to send us a message...?" 
'''Minimus:''' "A '''grammatically correct''' message. Look at that apostrophe..." 
'''First Aid:''' "He had to reduce his lifespan by six hours to generate that apostrophe." 
'''Minimus:''' "I know that's not supposed to '''impress''' me, but..."

"Aren't you going to look? Dead bodies. They're your favorite." 
"'''Murders''' are my favourite. A dead body's just a statement. A murder is a '''question:''' whodunit?"
:—'''Getaway''' and '''Nightbeat''' in the morgue

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*The presence of Mirage and the Protectobots on the ''Lost Light'' places this story before the ''[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]'' storyline, already well underway in the book's [[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|sibling]] [[The Transformers: Windblade|titles]] by the time this issue was released.
*Copious amounts of [[innermost energon]] have been donated for Thunderclash; we were introduced to this practice back in [[Before & After|issue #12]].
*[[Rigor morphis]] debuted ''waaaay'' back in [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|the very first issue]].
*Brainstorm's ability to work while hanging upside was previously seen in [[Rules of Disengagement (issue)|issue #7]].
*Nautica notes that Rung lent her the book she is reading; it was implied in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|issue #28]] that the pair had been exchanging books.
*Skids defends Rung, which indicates he's taking to heart [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]]'s request from [[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|last issue]] to be a friend to the psychiatrist.
*During Rodimus's announcement, Xaaron and Dipstick stand together in the audience, marking the third time the two have been spotted hanging out with one another in the series. It's perhaps safe to say at this point that the two are pals.
*Megatron and Rodimus's argument about "sulking" and "taking stock" echoes the one they had in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|issue #29]], with the roles reversed.
*Rodimus's habit of carving pictures into his desk was introduced in "[[Signal to Noise]]", back in [[More than Meets the Eye issue 13|issue #13]].
*Nautica mentioned having an Amica Endura back in [[slaughterhouse|issue #32]].
*Firestar is the new first officer of the ''Vis Vitalis'', which the ship was in need of since the [[Paddox|last one]] turned out to be an [[Ammonite]] in [[Little Victories|issue #22]].
*Thunderclash's map includes multiple uses of a familiar symbol: a gear-like hieroglyph seen engraved on the surface of [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]] and in the speech bubble of a mysterious ball of energy, both from [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|issue #21]].
*Minimus Ambus mentions that the ''Lost Light'''s version of the map was "memory-resistant", which was discovered in [[Under Cold Blue Stars|issue #15]].
*The fatal injury that Thunderclash has lived with is revealed to have been received after the fall of [[Grindcore (prison)|Grindcore prison]], an infamous location previously mentioned in [[Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|issue #39]] and "[[Bullets]]".
*Nightbeat makes a disparaging remark about Alpha Trion's supposed wisdom. We previously witnessed his distinct ''lack'' of awe towards the elder Autobot in [[Omega's Conundrum|Spotlight: Orion Pax]].
*Countdown is famous for his heroism in the [[Simanzi Massacre]].

===Transformers references===
*Firestar was one of the original [[Female Autobots]], who first appeared in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] episode "[[The Search for Alpha Trion]]". This is her first major role in G1-based fiction since then; she's mostly shown up in cameos since her original debut, partially due to [[Hasbro]]'s inability to [[trademark]] her name, requiring she be replaced in most stories with her lookalike, [[Flareup (disambiguation)|Flareup]]. Only the [[Aligned continuity family|Aligned]] [[Firestar (Prime)|version]] has had any significant role in her continuity's fiction.
*Generation 1 [[Micromaster]] Countdown is a similarly little-seen character, having received his biggest fictional role in [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s [[Transformers: Micromasters|''Micromasters'' mini-series]]. His being a legendary, highly decorated space hero comes directly from his original [[bio]].
*Rodimus's quarters are numbered "077"; the original Rodimus Prime toy's [[List of Japanese ID numbers|Japanese ID number]] was C-77.
*Swerve notes that Ratchet would have loved the party on the ''Vis Vitalis''; it almost never factors into his characterisation in ''any'' fiction, and certainly the current old-and-grumpy IDW incarnation of the character seems ''well'' past enjoying this sort of thing, but Ratchet's original Generation 1 bio does mention that he loves to party.

===Real-life references===
*We don't really need to point out that this issue takes its title from a line in the [[Tennyson|Alfred, Lord Tennyson]] poem ''{{w|In Memoriam A.H.H.}}'', since the poem opens this issue (or more accurately, the 50th of the poem's 133 sub-sections). We previously saw [[Verity Carlo]] with a book of Tennyson's poems in ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'' [[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|issue #5]].
*As Swerve watches television, the narration from the opening sequence of ''[[Quantum Leap]]'' plays.
*Specific works Swerve mentions having experienced include {{w|The Maxims of Ptahhotep}} and ''{{w|Infinite Jest}}''.
** The publisher's summary of the latter describes it as "Equal parts philosophical quest and screwball comedy". Sounds familiar to anyone?
*As quoted above, Swerve references TV show ''[[Community]]'', but gets cut off before he can finish complaining about the firing of series creator {{w|Dan Harmon}}.
* Rodimus’ line “wrong, actually! Utterly, demonstrably, villainously wrong” is almost word for word taken from Arnold Rimmer in {{w|Red Dwarf}} lecturing Lister in the episode Kryten: “Wrong, actually! Totally, utterly, and completely wrong.”
*The "next issue" box promises "murder on the dancefloor", a reference to the {{w|Murder on the Dancefloor|Sophie Ellis-Bextor song of the same name}}.

===Errors===
*The script, through Nautica's dialogue, makes the common mistake of mixing up "to infer" with "to imply." She says Rung "inferred" something to her, but the context makes it clear she means "implied."
*The 'bot at the centre of the dancefloor in our first look at the pre-wake is [[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]], but he's been coloured in pale blue, lavender and white instead of his normal yellow, red and orange. Given the coloured disco lightball and that Whirl is coloured red behind him, this could just be a stylistic choice.
*While listing Camiens on board, Firestar mentions a "Skystalker", but a few pages later, Nautica talks about a "Sky''striker''". We'd guess that the former is the error, since there are plenty of [[Skystalker (disambiguation)|Skystalkers]] in Transformers already and aside from Firestar, these Camien characters are all newly created with non-legacy names. Whether or not the name is a deliberate reference to the [[Skystriker (vehicle)|''G.I. Joe'' vehicle]], we couldn't be sure. "Skystalker" is indeed corrected to "Skystriker" for the trade paperback.
*On Thunderclash's wall map, a black line to the right of the re-charge socket is miscolored as part of his drawings.
*As Getaway and Nightbeat watch Ravage flail around, one of Ravage's speech bubbles ("They won't stop looking at me!") is misaligned—it's supposed to be touching the edge of the panel, but has been placed a little higher, leaving visible the flat edge of the bubble without an outline. This is corrected in the trade paperback.
*In the same sequence, some of the sparks flying off of Ravage are miscolored as part of his body, making him appear somewhat tattered.

===Other trivia===
*In addition to Javelin, Velocity, and the above-mentioned Skystriker, new Camiens named but not seen in this issue include [[Proxima (G1)|Proxima]] (who appears on the cover), [[Acceleron]], [[Exocet]], and [[Skimmer (G1)|Skimmer]]. Acceleron and Proxima are both female, while Skystriker is male; Skimmer and Exocet's genders are not mentioned.
*And speaking of which, Acceleron and Proxima are a ''couple'', making them the first-ever official female same-gender couple in Transformers history!
*An additional female Camien, [[Roadmaster]], appears on the cover but is not seen or mentioned in the story. She would, however, appear in the [[The Frail Gaze|next issue]].

===Soundtrack===
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kMT7r5lABc Last Night I Nearly Died (But I Woke Up Just In Time)]" by {{w|Duke Special}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/600415058271838208 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjF6akZ2WqI Sweetest Decline]" by {{w|Beth Orton}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/600417547855523840 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxvkI9MTQw4 Cannonball]" by {{w|The Breeders}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/600419681250443264 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9KVfZQgCYg Call Me Ishmael]" by {{w|Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/600419681250443264 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIHaNh3jRXg Flightless Bird, American Mouth]" by {{w|Iron & Wine}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/600422489211174912 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>

===Covers (3)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Nautica reunites with Firestar and her other old Camien friends, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' Thunderclash's huge pre-memorial statue, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Drift and Ratchet, by [[Kotteri]]

<gallery>
File:MTMTE41 regcvr.jpg|Nautica resolved to never have another girls' night out with Firestar after she caused a major wildfire by simply walking past a couple of trees.
File:MTMTE41 subcvr.jpg|They apparently built the damn thing in front of the Ruby Crystal Mines of Burma.
File:MTMTE41 cvrRI.jpg|Y'all come back now, ya hear?
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''More than Meets the Eye'' #42
*"[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]"
*''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' [[Expelled from the Garden|#6]]
*IDW ''{{i|Jem and the Holograms (comic)|Jem and the Holograms}}'' comic
*''[[Godzilla]]: Rulers of Earth'' trade paperbacks
*''Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland'' (back cover)

===Reprints===
*'''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 8''''' ([[October 21]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631404520 / ISBN 978-1631404528
:*Contains issues #39 to #44.
:*Bonus content includes covers of each issue.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 9|The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 9]]''''' ([[June 19]], [[2019]]) ISBN 1684054842 / ISBN 978-1684054848
:* Contains ''More than Meets the Eye'' #41 to #44, ''Robots in Disguise'' #39 to #42, and ''[[The Transformers: Windblade|Windblade vol.2]]'' #1 to #5.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 63: Elegant Chaos''''' ([[June 12]], [[2019]])
:* Hardcover collection of ''More than Meets the Eye'' #35 to #42.
:* Bonus content includes a cover gallery and intro by [[Simon Furman]].

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol8.jpg|'''Volume 8'''; cover art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V9.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Vol. 9'''''; cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v63.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 63: Elegant Chaos'''''; cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] (Trailbreaker) and [[Alex Milne]] (retro)</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.newsarama.com/24609-funeral-for-a-fallen-autobot-in-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-41-exclusive-preview.html Preview]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sensuous Frame}}

The Sensuous Frame

2021-01-14T16:53:14Z

Amiga Power: /* Real-life references */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=41
|prev=Our Steps Will Always Rhyme
|next=The Frail Gaze
|image=MTMTE41_subcvr.jpg
|title="The Sensuous Frame"
|caption=The idea of a "Thunder Clash [[Skyquake (Prime)|Pre-Memorial Hospital]]" is not out of the question either.
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[May 27]], [[2015]]
|coverdate=May 2015
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]] and [[Chris Mowry]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2015)]]
}}
'''The crew of the ''Lost Light'' is invited to the "pre-wake" of the soon-to-be-deceased Thunderclash, but Nightbeat and Getaway soon learn there is quite ''literally'' more than meets the eye going on aboard the ''Vis Vitalis''.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:SensuousFrame-ThunderClash.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.7]]
Decorated space-faring hero [[Countdown (G1)|Countdown]] arrives on the ''[[Vis Vitalis]]'' to see his ailing mentor [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]]—at last, the famous Autobot's old war wound has apparently gotten the better of him, and he now lies at death's door. Escorted by the ship's first officer [[Firestar (G1)|Firestar]] to the side of the mute, unmoving Thunderclash—trapped in alternate mode by [[rigor morphis]]—Countdown is left alone with his former teacher... at which point, he hears a knocking coming from within Thunderclash's trailer. Peering inside, Countdown only has time to scream...

On the ''[[Lost Light]]'', [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]], [[Getaway]], and [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] are all hanging out in [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]]'s room, but the [[Caminus (planet)|Camien]] bibliophile would rather read about the [[Froidian Classification System]] than indulge their silly antics. Mention of the psychologist's name leads Skids and Getaway to talk about [[Rung (G1)|Rung]], while Brainstorm manages to convince Nautica to try out his upside-down harness, which she ends up enjoying. Brainstorm has also completed an upgrade to [[Nautica's wrench]] at Getaway's request: the addition of a torch that counters [[attention deflector]]s, which Getaway plans to use to keep an eye out for the stealthy [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]]. Just then, an unfamiliar ringing is heard throughout the ship...

Simultaneously, in "[[Swerve's]]", Ravage and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] observe as [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]]—introverted following [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]]'s recent departure—finishes up his four-week viewing of every piece of human art and entertainment ever created. Just as he is describing the lessons he has learned, Swerve is interrupted by the ringing noise, which turns out to be a giant gong that [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] is ringing in order to summon the crew together. The gong signifies that the crew have "accomplished something": they have caught up to the ''Vis Vitalis'', and Rodimus can barely suppress his glee when he announces the news that his long-hated rival Thunderclash is on his deathbed, and that the crew are invited to a "pre-wake" in his honor. After giving the crew the news, Rodimus and [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] privately reveal to one another that they will not be attending the party, and their attempts to make excuses for not doing so lead to them scheduling a meeting for themselves during which they will "plan".

[[File:TheSensuousFrame-Firestar.jpg|thumb|Nautica reunited with her old [[Amica Endura|flame]].]]
Later, the pre-wake party is in full swing aboard the ''Vis Vitalis'', and the ''Lost Light''ers are all enjoying themselves... except for wallflowers Rung, Nautica, [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]], and [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]]. While Nightbeat takes Nautica's wrench and goes off to snoop around the ship, Nautica is approached by Firestar, who it turns out is her old room-mate and [[Amica Endura]] from Caminus, and who joined the ''Vis Vitalis'' crew when she and some other Camiens picked up a distress call and helped fix some damage the ship had taken. As she and Nautica swap stories, however, it soon becomes clear that Firestar is more "frenemy" than "friend", her catty remarks about Nautica's abilities and insistence on using the hated nickname "Naughty Nautica" soon mounting up, culminating in an awkward silence and an uncomfortable parting of the ways.

In Thunderclash's quarters, Camien crewmember [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] shows [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Minimus Ambus]] the supposed map to [[Cyberutopia]] that Thunderclash has carved into the room's wall, drawn from his dreams. [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] completes his examination of Thunderclash, which yields surprising results: whatever is killing Thunderclash, it is ''not'' his old [[spark]] injury, which has been miraculously healed around six months prior. Velocity explains that a passing medic was responsible, but cannot remember anything about her. Unable to deduce what has left Thunderclash in his current sorry state, First Aid opens his trailer to carry out an internal examination... but finds nothing.

[[File:Getaway photon the sensuous frame.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2]]
A little later, after the party has wound down and most of the crew have returned to the ''Lost Light'', Nautica hems and haws about staying for the funeral. A tired, out-of-sorts Skids tells her a few others are staying too, and will be picked up by Rodimus on his way back from a supply run; others such as Nightbeat, who has just found a strangely exhausted Getaway napping in the middle of a corridor. Just as Nightbeat rouses him, Ravage runs screaming down the hallway, his attention deflectors sparking, claiming that something is "everywhere" and "won't stop looking at him". Immensely intrigued, the pair set off after the frightened feline.

In Thunderclash's quarters, First Aid gets as surprise when he hooks the dying 'bot up to a monitor desk, and Thunderclash begins voluntarily, selectively shutting his systems down in order to make his life-signs on the monitor resemble words. First Aid, Velocity, and Minimus read his message: "You're all blind, you're all dead" ...and then turn when they hear the sound of knocking coming from within his trailer...

Nightbeat and Getaway follow Ravage into the ship's morgue, where they find the body of ex-racer-turned-public-speaker [[Photon (G1)|Photon]], and the ''still-warm'' corpse of Countdown. Shining the light of Nautica's torch onto Countdown exposes a horrible sight: a mass of [[technorganic]] eggs, clinging to his frame, invisible to the naked optic. Under the light, Getaway realizes they are on his body too... at which point, the pair suddenly find themselves surrounded by clawing alien creatures whose bodies are covered with the mysterious growths!
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Firestar (G1)|Firestar]] (1)
*[[Countdown (G1)|Countdown]] (2)
*[[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] (3)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] (4)
*[[Getaway]] (5)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (6)
*[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (7)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (8)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (10)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (11)
*[[Rollout (G1)|Rollout]] (12)
*[[Boss (G1)|Boss]] (13)
*[[Siren (G1)|Siren]] (14)
*[[Aquafend]] (15)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Borer]] (16)
*?  (17)
*?  (18)
*[[Joyride (G1)|Joyride]] (19)
*[[Atomizer]] (20)
*[[Hosehead (G1)|Hosehead]] (21)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (22)
*[[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] (23)
*[[Sky High (Pretender)|Sky High]] (24)
*[[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (25)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (26)
*[[Hound (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hound]] (27)
*[[Xaaron]] (28)
*[[Dipstick]] (29)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Pointblank]] (30)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (31)
*?  (32)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (33)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (34)
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (35)
*[[Skater]] (36)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (37)
*[[Repugnus (G1)|Repugnus]] (38)
*[[Doublecross]] (39)
*[[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]] (40)
*[[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] (41)
*[[Rad (G1)|Rad]] (42)
*[[Crosscut (Autobot)|Crosscut]] (43)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Mirage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Mirage]] (44)
*[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] (45)
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (46)
*[[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]] (47, see errors)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (48)
*[[Javelin]] (49)
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (50)
*[[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] (52)
*[[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (53)
*[[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (54)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Minimus Ambus]] (55)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (56)
*[[Photon (G1)|Photon]]'s corpse (57)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] (9)
|c4=
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (51)
}}

==Quotes==
"This is wonderful! And look! '''Reading!''' I can read upside down! I've always wondered if I could!" 
"You never thought to, I dunno, turn a book upside down?" 
... 
"I'm not here and you can't see me. I'm hiding behind my '''wall of shame.'''"
:—'''Nautica''' tries out Brainstorm's upside-down harness with some help from '''Skids'''

"Finished! One '''upgraded''' wrench! Where's that '''one Shanix''' you promised me?" 
"I fear I may have exploited your ignorance of monetary value. Tell you what: if that thing works, I'll pay you '''two''' Shanix! Whaddya say?"
:—'''Brainstorm''' strikes a hot deal with '''Getaway'''.

"Having devoured 30,000 years' worth of stories and songs—and having read and watched and listened to everything from ''The Maxims of Ptahhotep'' to ''Infinite Jest''—it's only '''now''' that I've come to realize three things—'''three bold and shining truths''' that I'll carry with me '''forever.''' 
:'''One:''' Life is inherently tragic—and over far too quickly.
:'''Two:''' All art thrives on conflict. We valorize fiction because it helps us make sense of ourselves.
:'''Three:''' Season 4 of ''Community'' was a serious misstep."
:—'''Swerve'''

"Have you met him?" 
"Not as such. I've tried to '''kill''' him several times..."
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Megatron''' on Thunderclash

"I'm gonna plan you '''into next week.'''" 
"Maybe. Or maybe after five minutes you'll get bored and start carving pictures onto your desk." 
"'''Wrong,''' actually! Utterly, demonstrably, '''villainously''' wrong. I ran out of space '''ages''' ago."
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Megatron''' on their joint planning session

"What. Is. The. Matter. With. You." 
"I'm '''resting''', I'm not—why are you talking to me like I'm a '''broken vending machine?'''" 
"I'm trying to show concern. I've seen other people do it."
:—'''Nightbeat''' and '''Getaway'''

'''Velocity:''' "He's killing himself to send us a message...?" 
'''Minimus:''' "A '''grammatically correct''' message. Look at that apostrophe..." 
'''First Aid:''' "He had to reduce his lifespan by six hours to generate that apostrophe." 
'''Minimus:''' "I know that's not supposed to '''impress''' me, but..."

"Aren't you going to look? Dead bodies. They're your favorite." 
"'''Murders''' are my favourite. A dead body's just a statement. A murder is a '''question:''' whodunit?"
:—'''Getaway''' and '''Nightbeat''' in the morgue

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*The presence of Mirage and the Protectobots on the ''Lost Light'' places this story before the ''[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]'' storyline, already well underway in the book's [[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|sibling]] [[The Transformers: Windblade|titles]] by the time this issue was released.
*Copious amounts of [[innermost energon]] have been donated for Thunderclash; we were introduced to this practice back in [[Before & After|issue #12]].
*[[Rigor morphis]] debuted ''waaaay'' back in [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|the very first issue]].
*Brainstorm's ability to work while hanging upside was previously seen in [[Rules of Disengagement (issue)|issue #7]].
*Nautica notes that Rung lent her the book she is reading; it was implied in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|issue #28]] that the pair had been exchanging books.
*Skids defends Rung, which indicates he's taking to heart [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]]'s request from [[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|last issue]] to be a friend to the psychiatrist.
*During Rodimus's announcement, Xaaron and Dipstick stand together in the audience, marking the third time the two have been spotted hanging out with one another in the series. It's perhaps safe to say at this point that the two are pals.
*Megatron and Rodimus's argument about "sulking" and "taking stock" echoes the one they had in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|issue #29]], with the roles reversed.
*Rodimus's habit of carving pictures into his desk was introduced in "[[Signal to Noise]]", back in [[More than Meets the Eye issue 13|issue #13]].
*Nautica mentioned having an Amica Endura back in [[slaughterhouse|issue #32]].
*Firestar is the new first officer of the ''Vis Vitalis'', which the ship was in need of since the [[Paddox|last one]] turned out to be an [[Ammonite]] in [[Little Victories|issue #22]].
*Thunderclash's map includes multiple uses of a familiar symbol: a gear-like hieroglyph seen engraved on the surface of [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]] and in the speech bubble of a mysterious ball of energy, both from [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|issue #21]].
*Minimus Ambus mentions that the ''Lost Light'''s version of the map was "memory-resistant", which was discovered in [[Under Cold Blue Stars|issue #15]].
*The fatal injury that Thunderclash has lived with is revealed to have been received after the fall of [[Grindcore (prison)|Grindcore prison]], an infamous location previously mentioned in [[Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|issue #39]] and "[[Bullets]]".
*Nightbeat makes a disparaging remark about Alpha Trion's supposed wisdom. We previously witnessed his distinct ''lack'' of awe towards the elder Autobot in [[Omega's Conundrum|Spotlight: Orion Pax]].
*Countdown is famous for his heroism in the [[Simanzi Massacre]].

===Transformers references===
*Firestar was one of the original [[Female Autobots]], who first appeared in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] episode "[[The Search for Alpha Trion]]". This is her first major role in G1-based fiction since then; she's mostly shown up in cameos since her original debut, partially due to [[Hasbro]]'s inability to [[trademark]] her name, requiring she be replaced in most stories with her lookalike, [[Flareup (disambiguation)|Flareup]]. Only the [[Aligned continuity family|Aligned]] [[Firestar (Prime)|version]] has had any significant role in her continuity's fiction.
*Generation 1 [[Micromaster]] Countdown is a similarly little-seen character, having received his biggest fictional role in [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s [[Transformers: Micromasters|''Micromasters'' mini-series]]. His being a legendary, highly decorated space hero comes directly from his original [[bio]].
*Rodimus's quarters are numbered "077"; the original Rodimus Prime toy's [[List of Japanese ID numbers|Japanese ID number]] was C-77.
*Swerve notes that Ratchet would have loved the party on the ''Vis Vitalis''; it almost never factors into his characterisation in ''any'' fiction, and certainly the current old-and-grumpy IDW incarnation of the character seems ''well'' past enjoying this sort of thing, but Ratchet's original Generation 1 bio does mention that he loves to party.

===Real-life references===
*We don't really need to point out that this issue takes its title from a line in the [[Tennyson|Alfred, Lord Tennyson]] poem ''{{w|In Memoriam A.H.H.}}'', since the poem opens this issue (or more accurately, the 50th of the poem's 133 sub-sections). We previously saw [[Verity Carlo]] with a book of Tennyson's poems in ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'' [[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|issue #5]].
*As Swerve watches television, the narration from the opening sequence of ''[[Quantum Leap]]'' plays.
*Specific works Swerve mentions having experienced include {{w|The Maxims of Ptahhotep}} and ''{{w|Infinite Jest}}''.
** The publisher's summary of the latter describes it as "Equal parts philosophical quest and screwball comedy". Sounds familiar to anyone?
*As quoted above, Swerve references TV show ''[[Community]]'', but gets cut off before he can finish complaining about the firing of series creator {{w|Dan Harmon}}.
* Rodimus’ line “wrong, actually! Utterly, demonstrably, villainously wrong” is almost word for word taken from Arnold Rimmer in Red Dwarf lecturing Lister in the episode Kryten: “ Wrong, actually! Totally, utterly, and completely wrong.”
*The "next issue" box promises "murder on the dancefloor", a reference to the {{w|Murder on the Dancefloor|Sophie Ellis-Bextor song of the same name}}.

===Errors===
*The script, through Nautica's dialogue, makes the common mistake of mixing up "to infer" with "to imply." She says Rung "inferred" something to her, but the context makes it clear she means "implied."
*The 'bot at the centre of the dancefloor in our first look at the pre-wake is [[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]], but he's been coloured in pale blue, lavender and white instead of his normal yellow, red and orange. Given the coloured disco lightball and that Whirl is coloured red behind him, this could just be a stylistic choice.
*While listing Camiens on board, Firestar mentions a "Skystalker", but a few pages later, Nautica talks about a "Sky''striker''". We'd guess that the former is the error, since there are plenty of [[Skystalker (disambiguation)|Skystalkers]] in Transformers already and aside from Firestar, these Camien characters are all newly created with non-legacy names. Whether or not the name is a deliberate reference to the [[Skystriker (vehicle)|''G.I. Joe'' vehicle]], we couldn't be sure. "Skystalker" is indeed corrected to "Skystriker" for the trade paperback.
*On Thunderclash's wall map, a black line to the right of the re-charge socket is miscolored as part of his drawings.
*As Getaway and Nightbeat watch Ravage flail around, one of Ravage's speech bubbles ("They won't stop looking at me!") is misaligned—it's supposed to be touching the edge of the panel, but has been placed a little higher, leaving visible the flat edge of the bubble without an outline. This is corrected in the trade paperback.
*In the same sequence, some of the sparks flying off of Ravage are miscolored as part of his body, making him appear somewhat tattered.

===Other trivia===
*In addition to Javelin, Velocity, and the above-mentioned Skystriker, new Camiens named but not seen in this issue include [[Proxima (G1)|Proxima]] (who appears on the cover), [[Acceleron]], [[Exocet]], and [[Skimmer (G1)|Skimmer]]. Acceleron and Proxima are both female, while Skystriker is male; Skimmer and Exocet's genders are not mentioned.
*And speaking of which, Acceleron and Proxima are a ''couple'', making them the first-ever official female same-gender couple in Transformers history!
*An additional female Camien, [[Roadmaster]], appears on the cover but is not seen or mentioned in the story. She would, however, appear in the [[The Frail Gaze|next issue]].

===Soundtrack===
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kMT7r5lABc Last Night I Nearly Died (But I Woke Up Just In Time)]" by {{w|Duke Special}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/600415058271838208 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjF6akZ2WqI Sweetest Decline]" by {{w|Beth Orton}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/600417547855523840 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxvkI9MTQw4 Cannonball]" by {{w|The Breeders}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/600419681250443264 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9KVfZQgCYg Call Me Ishmael]" by {{w|Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/600419681250443264 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIHaNh3jRXg Flightless Bird, American Mouth]" by {{w|Iron & Wine}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/600422489211174912 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>

===Covers (3)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Nautica reunites with Firestar and her other old Camien friends, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' Thunderclash's huge pre-memorial statue, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Drift and Ratchet, by [[Kotteri]]

<gallery>
File:MTMTE41 regcvr.jpg|Nautica resolved to never have another girls' night out with Firestar after she caused a major wildfire by simply walking past a couple of trees.
File:MTMTE41 subcvr.jpg|They apparently built the damn thing in front of the Ruby Crystal Mines of Burma.
File:MTMTE41 cvrRI.jpg|Y'all come back now, ya hear?
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''More than Meets the Eye'' #42
*"[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]"
*''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' [[Expelled from the Garden|#6]]
*IDW ''{{i|Jem and the Holograms (comic)|Jem and the Holograms}}'' comic
*''[[Godzilla]]: Rulers of Earth'' trade paperbacks
*''Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland'' (back cover)

===Reprints===
*'''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 8''''' ([[October 21]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631404520 / ISBN 978-1631404528
:*Contains issues #39 to #44.
:*Bonus content includes covers of each issue.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 9|The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 9]]''''' ([[June 19]], [[2019]]) ISBN 1684054842 / ISBN 978-1684054848
:* Contains ''More than Meets the Eye'' #41 to #44, ''Robots in Disguise'' #39 to #42, and ''[[The Transformers: Windblade|Windblade vol.2]]'' #1 to #5.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 63: Elegant Chaos''''' ([[June 12]], [[2019]])
:* Hardcover collection of ''More than Meets the Eye'' #35 to #42.
:* Bonus content includes a cover gallery and intro by [[Simon Furman]].

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol8.jpg|'''Volume 8'''; cover art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V9.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Vol. 9'''''; cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v63.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 63: Elegant Chaos'''''; cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] (Trailbreaker) and [[Alex Milne]] (retro)</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.newsarama.com/24609-funeral-for-a-fallen-autobot-in-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-41-exclusive-preview.html Preview]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sensuous Frame}}

Winners & Losers: Dark Cybertron Chapter 3

2020-12-05T09:37:36Z

Amiga Power: /* Errors */

{{Comicstory|
|series=rid|issueno=23
|prev=Soundwaves (issue)
|next=Finest Hour: Dark Cybertron Chapter 5
|seriesissue2=[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]] Chapter 3
|prev2=Black Metal: Dark Cybertron Chapter 2
|next2=Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4
|caption=
|image=RID23 cvrA.jpg
|title="Winners & Losers" Dark Cybertron Chapter 3
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[November 27]], [[2013]]
|coverdate=November 2013
|written by=[[John Barber]] and [[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Atilio Rojo]] and [[James Raiz]]
|colors by=[[Josh Perez]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline#2012-2013|Current era (2013)]]
}}
'''The power of the Necrotitan lays waste to Cybertron, while the ''Lost Light'' is pulled off-mission on an unexpected Titan Quest.'''

==Synopsis==
With the population of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] looking to him for guidance in the face of the [[Quintessa (IDW)|Necrotitan]]'s appearance—misinterpreted by all as the return of [[Metrotitan (Zone)|Metrotitan]]—[[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] takes a moment to visit [[Metalhawk (Masterforce)|Metalhawk]]'s body as it lies in state, once again talking out loud to his departed friend. Unfortunately for Starscream, he is entirely unaware that [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] is eavesdropping on him and has overheard him apologize to Metalhawk for killing him. Departing the mausoleum, Starscream tries to calm the throng of citizens outside, informing them he is going to speak to the Titan; Rattrap comes scampering up, feigning concern for Starscream, but Iacon's ruler isn't falling for the act. He's aware of Rattrap's scheming nature and respects it, proceeding to leave for the Titan after offering the ex-Autobot a nugget of wisdom: "don't make your first move until you're sure of your last one." Rattrap takes this to heart, and decides to visit [[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]] to get more information on the "Dark Cybertron" prophecy, talk of which has somehow begun to spread among the populace despite Scoop's incarceration, and which he is starting to believe is much more than some random conspiracy theory. Scoop has realized that Starscream has an important role to play in the prophecy's catastrophic fulfilment, and in this, Rattrap sees an opportunity...

[[File:Mainframe magnus winners and losers.jpg |thumb|left|upright=1.4]]
On the ''[[Lost Light]]'', [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] is distracted from the unease he feels with his new captaincy when the ship is unexpectedly pulled off course. Magnus and [[Getaway]] are summoned to [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]]'s lab to witness the cause of their sudden change of direction: [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'s severed thumb, on board since before the [[Titan Hunter]]s' [[The Reluctant Specialist|invasion of the ship]], is levitating, pulling on the craft, and Brainstorm theorises that Metroplex is trying to call them to him.

At the Necrotitan's feet, the battle between [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]]'s Autobots and [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]]'s Decepticons is brought to a halt by the appearance of Starscream overhead, heading for the Titan. [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] is infuriated by Bumblebee's willingness to compare notes with the Decepticons, insisting on immediate action, but before anyone can do anything, Starscream lands on the Titan's shoulder and tries to speak with it. The giant's eyes flare to life... and it emits a colossal energy wave that tears across the surface of the planet, devastating everything in its path. The shattered Autobots and Decepticons, many gravely wounded, try to take stock of the sudden, violent eruption, while Starscream rockets away, just ahead of the wave, trying to beat it back to Iacon. He calls for his subjects to flee, and tries to stand in the wave's path, but it sweeps over Iacon irresistibly, putting the city to ruin. The wave also has a second, unexpected effect: it brings Metalhawk back to life! The reanimated [[NAIL]] turns on Starscream, hungry for vengeance, but after trading a few blows, announces that now is not the time to settle old accounts. Instead, Metalhawk smashes into the vault holding the immobilized form of [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]], deactivates the stasis field restraining the Decepticon leader, and absconds with his unconscious body. His departure is observed by Rattrap and a liberated Scoop, now conspiring against Starscream together, but for the moment, Scoop is more concerned with helping the victims of the disaster.

[[File:Rid23-p23-lost-light-underwater.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2]]
Back on the ''Lost Light'', [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] argues against looking for Metroplex, on the basis that [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]]'s request for them to hunt down [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] takes precedence. Brainstorm and [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]], however, advocate following Metroplex's signal, and manage to bring Magnus around to their side. The ''Lost Light'' locks on to Metroplex's signal and [[Quantum generator|quantum jumps]] to its source, materializing beneath a blood-red ocean on an unknown world, where it is immediately beset by a swarm of robotic lifeforms!

Metalhawk delivers Megatron to [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]], who clearly has plans for the [[space bridge]] technology contained within his former leader's body. As Megatron awakes, Shockwave is confident that he will help fulfil their plans, as doing so - even at the cost of "unimaginable pain" - will realize ''all'' their dreams...
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{collist|2|
*[[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (8)
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (10)
*[[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]] (16)
*[[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] (17)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] (18)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] (19)
*[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (20)
*[[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (21)
*[[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (23)
*[[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] (24)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (25)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (26)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (27)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] (28)
*[[Getaway]] (29)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]] (30)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] (33)
}}
|c2=
*[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] (6)
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (9)
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (11)
*[[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] (12)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] (13)
*[[Skywarp (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Skywarp]] (14)
*[[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] (15)
*[[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]] (34)
|c4=
*[[Metalhawk (Masterforce)|Metalhawk]] (1)
*[[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] (2)
*[[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] (3)
*[[Tracer (Targetmaster)|Tracer]] (4)
*[[Holepunch (G1)|Holepunch]] (5)
*[[Quintessa (IDW)|Necrotitan]] (7)
*[[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]] (22)
*[[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] (31)
*[[Blurr (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Blurr]] (32)
}}

==Quotes==
"Well then! Leadership. Leading. Being a leader. What's it like so far?" 
"Meh." 
"'Meh'?" 
"Sorry, '''Getaway'''—Earth word. Friend of mine used to say it a lot." 
"What does it mean?" 
"I think it means—I think it just means 'meh.'"
:—'''Getaway''' and '''Ultra Magnus'''

"Rung says that if I relax my self-imposed ban on idioms, metaphors, and slang it'll help '''soften my image.'''" 
"Whatever floats your boat." 
"No need to show off."
:—'''Magnus''' and '''Getaway'''

"Don't just let this—this—'''Decepticon''' control you!"
:—Attention '''Prowl''', this is the kettle. Stop calling me black.

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Starscream killed Metalhawk in [[Heavy Is the Head|issue #16]]. We previously saw him visiting his dead body and talking to it in [[Three Monologues|issue #20]].
*While discussing conspiracies, Rattrap refers to the explosion of the [[Toraxxis mega-refinery]], which occurred in [[Rage (IDW)|''Monstrosity'' #4]]. Popular conspiracy theory apparently blames Optimus Prime for triggering the explosion, when it was actually [[Scorponok (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Scorponok]]'s doing.
*He also notes another conspiracy theory: that Ultra Magnus is really a "[[Minimus Ambus|little guy]] in armor". Little does he know that ''that'' one is true, as we learned in [[Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|''More than Meets the Eye'' #19]]!
*Magnus refers to an unnamed friend from [[Earth]] from whom he learned the word "meh"; clearly, he's talking about [[Verity Carlo]], whose association with him was covered in ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]''.
*While Magnus and Getaway walk down the corridor, we see the holographic equivalent of a bulletin board. Most of its signs are callback to concepts or character quirks from past issues of ''More than Meets the Eye'' and are fairly self-explanatory, with one notable exception: A "VOTE" sign in the center. The meaning of this will be revealed in [[Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8|chapter 8]].
*Magnus's dislike of ambiguity in speech is flagged up by Getaway, previously explored in "[[Signal to Noise]]".
*Rodimus orders a "weak energon spritzer" for Magnus... exactly the same drink that Tailgate speculated Magnus would favor, way back in [[Interiors|issue #6]].
*The ''Lost Light'' brought Metroplex's thumb on board in ''[[The Reluctant Specialist|Spotlight: Trailcutter]]''.
*Turns out that when Megatron transferred his [[spark]] et al. into his new body back in [[Before the Dawn|issue #14]], the space bridge technology that had been a defining feature of his previous form (seen in the [[The Transformers (IDW)|2009-2011 ongoing series]]) was also transplanted along with it.

===Real-life references===
*Ravage paraphrases the classic opening from the 1950s ''[[Superman]]'' TV series—"Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superman!"—when he spots Starscream heading for the Titan: "'''Up'''. In the sky... it's a '''plane'''..."

===Edits===
Similar to the [[pack-in material|pack-in]] versions of various other existing IDW comics, the version of this issue available with the ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' Deluxe Class [[Skywarp (G1)/toys#Generations|Skywarp]] toy was also subject to some changes, most of them being instances of censorship:
*No less than ''three'' changes on page 1 (not counting the "previously" pages): The speech bubble in panel 1 changes from "I guess you could say you '''died''' for your dream, Metalhawk" gets changed to "I guess you could say you '''gave it all''' for your dream, Metalhawk"; in the second speech bubble in panel 3, "you probably don't get out much, you know, being '''dead'''" gets changed to "you probably don't get out much, you know, '''not''' being '''alive'''"; and the second speech bubble in the final panel gets changed from "sorry I '''killed''' you, pal" to "sorry I '''blasted''' you, pal".
*Two more edits on page 14: Prowl's first speech bubble in panel 2 changes from "All guns on the Titan..." to "All blasters on the Titan...", and the caption in the final panel, "—that death wave is heading right for the city—" is shortened by the word "death", also changing formats in the process so the text fits into two instead of three lines.
*Two of Metalhawk's speech bubbles in panel 2 on page 17 replace "you killed me" with "you destroyed me", and are enlarged accordingly to fit the longer word.
*On page 19, the caption in the second panel is changed from "—people are dying—" to "—people are hurt—".

===Trivia===
*As in Chapter 2, Rojo illustrates the scenes on Cybertron, while Raiz lends his lines to those on the ''Lost Light''.
*This issue is packaged with ''Generations'' Skywarp, but given the character's non-role in the story, it seems likely a reshuffling of the toyline forced it to be swapped with [[Finest Hour: Dark Cybertron Chapter 5|Chapter 5]], in which Skywarp features heavily, and that this was supposed to be Rattrap's pack-in issue.

===Errors===
[[File:IDWRID23MetalhawkArmSwap.jpg|upright=1.0|thumb|Good thing they're on [[ball joint]]s.]]
*Scoop's Targetmaster partners Tracer and Holepunch, who appear among the citizens of Iacon on page 2 (not counting the "previously" pages), are drawn based on the designs of their new ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' toys, rather than the modified designs Andrew Griffith created for them in issue #20 that gave them construction vehicle [[alternate mode]]s. They're ''colored'' right this time, though.
*Also on page 2, Starscream's name is misspelled as Star''cream''. This error was fixed for the ''Dark Cybertron'' vol. 1 trade paperback collection, but is still present in the version of this comic included with the ''Generations'' Deluxe Class Skywarp toy.
*Metalhawk is missing the wrong arm in the first panel on the last page. The panel was partially ''redrawn'' to fix this error for the ''Dark Cybertron'' vol. 1 trade paperback collection, but the error is still present in the version of this comic included with ''Generations'' Skywarp.
*Mainframe says that despite cutting the engines, the ship is “still moving”, which is how he works out that Metroplex is pulling his thumb - and with it the spacecraft - towards himself. But if the Lost Light was in motion in space, then cutting the engines would mean it would indeed still move: the laws of physics dictate that bodies in space move continually in a straight line in their momentary direction of motion as long as no resistance impedes them. Cutting the engines would have had no effect either way. You’d have thought Mainframe would have known that.

===Covers (4)===
*'''Cover A:''' Starscream on his knees in the ruins of Iacon, by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
*'''Sub cover:''' Brainstorm, Ultra Magnus, and Ratchet superimposed over a starscape, as the ''Lost Light'' flies off in the direction indicated by an image of Metroplex's hand, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Cover RI:''' Skywarp, by [[Phil Jimenez]] and [[Romulo Fajardo Jr.]]
*'''Hasbro exclusive cover''': Cropped version of cover RI, exclusively available with ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' Deluxe Class [[Skywarp (G1)/toys#Generations|Skywarp]].
<gallery>
File:RID23 cvrA.jpg|You blew it up! Goddamn you! Goddamn you all to hell!
File:RID23 subcvr.jpg|Yes, we're in this comic now.
File:RID23 cvrRI.jpg|Skywarp's other body is at the cleaners.
File:RID23 cvrHAS.jpg|Exclusive Skywarp toy cover.
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*"[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]]" checklist, highlighting [[Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|''More than Meets the Eye'' #24]]
*Thanks to VIP Attendees to IDW Studios during [[BotCon 2013]]
*''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Color Classics'' Vol. 2
*IDW ''Ben 10'' comic (back cover)

===Reprints===
*'''''The Transformers: Dark Cybertron Volume 1''''' ([[April 16]], [[2014]]) ISBN 1613778910 / ISBN 978-1613778913
:*Contains issues #23 and #24, as well as ''Dark Cybertron'' Chapter 1 and ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #23 to #25.
:*Bonus material: cover gallery.

*'''''The Transformers: Dark Cybertron''''' ([[February 11]], [[2015]]) 163140072X / ISBN 978-1631400728
:*Contains issues #23 to #27, as well as ''Dark Cybertron'' Chapter 1, ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #23 to #27 and ''Dark Cybertron'' Finale.
:*Bonus material: cover gallery.

*'''''Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 59: Dark Cybertron, Part 1''''' ([[June 14]], [[2017]])
:*Hardcover collection of ''Dark Cybertron'' issue #1, ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #23–25, and ''Robots in Disguise'' issues #23–24.
:*Bonus content includes a bio on the Titans and the making of ''Dark Cybertron'' with John Barber and James Roberts.

*'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 6''''' ([[October 18]], 2017) ISBN 1684050855 / ISBN 978-1684050857
:*Contains issues #23 to #27, as well as ''Dark Cybertron'' Chapter 1, ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #23 to #27, ''Dark Cybertron'': Finale and ''The Transformers: Windblade'' issues #1 to #4.

<gallery>
File:DC vol1.jpg|'''''Dark Cybertron'' Volume 1'''; cover art by [[Phil Jimenez]] and [[Romulo Fajardo Jr.]]
File:DC HC.jpg|'''''Dark Cybertron'' hardcover'''; cover art by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v59.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 59: Dark Cybertron, Part 1'''''; cover art by [[Guido Guidi]] (Ratchet) and Phil Jimenez/[[Andrew Griffith]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V6.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 6'''''; cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]] and [[Tom B. Long]]
</gallery>

==External links==
*[http://www.fullmetalhero.com/content/transformers-robots-disguise-23-full-preview-7814/ Preview]

[[Category:Dark Cybertron issues]]

Winners & Losers: Dark Cybertron Chapter 3

2020-12-05T09:30:58Z

Amiga Power:

{{Comicstory|
|series=rid|issueno=23
|prev=Soundwaves (issue)
|next=Finest Hour: Dark Cybertron Chapter 5
|seriesissue2=[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]] Chapter 3
|prev2=Black Metal: Dark Cybertron Chapter 2
|next2=Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4
|caption=
|image=RID23 cvrA.jpg
|title="Winners & Losers" Dark Cybertron Chapter 3
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[November 27]], [[2013]]
|coverdate=November 2013
|written by=[[John Barber]] and [[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Atilio Rojo]] and [[James Raiz]]
|colors by=[[Josh Perez]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline#2012-2013|Current era (2013)]]
}}
'''The power of the Necrotitan lays waste to Cybertron, while the ''Lost Light'' is pulled off-mission on an unexpected Titan Quest.'''

==Synopsis==
With the population of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] looking to him for guidance in the face of the [[Quintessa (IDW)|Necrotitan]]'s appearance—misinterpreted by all as the return of [[Metrotitan (Zone)|Metrotitan]]—[[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] takes a moment to visit [[Metalhawk (Masterforce)|Metalhawk]]'s body as it lies in state, once again talking out loud to his departed friend. Unfortunately for Starscream, he is entirely unaware that [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] is eavesdropping on him and has overheard him apologize to Metalhawk for killing him. Departing the mausoleum, Starscream tries to calm the throng of citizens outside, informing them he is going to speak to the Titan; Rattrap comes scampering up, feigning concern for Starscream, but Iacon's ruler isn't falling for the act. He's aware of Rattrap's scheming nature and respects it, proceeding to leave for the Titan after offering the ex-Autobot a nugget of wisdom: "don't make your first move until you're sure of your last one." Rattrap takes this to heart, and decides to visit [[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]] to get more information on the "Dark Cybertron" prophecy, talk of which has somehow begun to spread among the populace despite Scoop's incarceration, and which he is starting to believe is much more than some random conspiracy theory. Scoop has realized that Starscream has an important role to play in the prophecy's catastrophic fulfilment, and in this, Rattrap sees an opportunity...

[[File:Mainframe magnus winners and losers.jpg |thumb|left|upright=1.4]]
On the ''[[Lost Light]]'', [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] is distracted from the unease he feels with his new captaincy when the ship is unexpectedly pulled off course. Magnus and [[Getaway]] are summoned to [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]]'s lab to witness the cause of their sudden change of direction: [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'s severed thumb, on board since before the [[Titan Hunter]]s' [[The Reluctant Specialist|invasion of the ship]], is levitating, pulling on the craft, and Brainstorm theorises that Metroplex is trying to call them to him.

At the Necrotitan's feet, the battle between [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]]'s Autobots and [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]]'s Decepticons is brought to a halt by the appearance of Starscream overhead, heading for the Titan. [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] is infuriated by Bumblebee's willingness to compare notes with the Decepticons, insisting on immediate action, but before anyone can do anything, Starscream lands on the Titan's shoulder and tries to speak with it. The giant's eyes flare to life... and it emits a colossal energy wave that tears across the surface of the planet, devastating everything in its path. The shattered Autobots and Decepticons, many gravely wounded, try to take stock of the sudden, violent eruption, while Starscream rockets away, just ahead of the wave, trying to beat it back to Iacon. He calls for his subjects to flee, and tries to stand in the wave's path, but it sweeps over Iacon irresistibly, putting the city to ruin. The wave also has a second, unexpected effect: it brings Metalhawk back to life! The reanimated [[NAIL]] turns on Starscream, hungry for vengeance, but after trading a few blows, announces that now is not the time to settle old accounts. Instead, Metalhawk smashes into the vault holding the immobilized form of [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]], deactivates the stasis field restraining the Decepticon leader, and absconds with his unconscious body. His departure is observed by Rattrap and a liberated Scoop, now conspiring against Starscream together, but for the moment, Scoop is more concerned with helping the victims of the disaster.

[[File:Rid23-p23-lost-light-underwater.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2]]
Back on the ''Lost Light'', [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] argues against looking for Metroplex, on the basis that [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]]'s request for them to hunt down [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] takes precedence. Brainstorm and [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]], however, advocate following Metroplex's signal, and manage to bring Magnus around to their side. The ''Lost Light'' locks on to Metroplex's signal and [[Quantum generator|quantum jumps]] to its source, materializing beneath a blood-red ocean on an unknown world, where it is immediately beset by a swarm of robotic lifeforms!

Metalhawk delivers Megatron to [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]], who clearly has plans for the [[space bridge]] technology contained within his former leader's body. As Megatron awakes, Shockwave is confident that he will help fulfil their plans, as doing so - even at the cost of "unimaginable pain" - will realize ''all'' their dreams...
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{collist|2|
*[[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (8)
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (10)
*[[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]] (16)
*[[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] (17)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] (18)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] (19)
*[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (20)
*[[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (21)
*[[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (23)
*[[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] (24)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (25)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (26)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (27)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] (28)
*[[Getaway]] (29)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]] (30)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] (33)
}}
|c2=
*[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] (6)
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (9)
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (11)
*[[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] (12)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] (13)
*[[Skywarp (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Skywarp]] (14)
*[[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] (15)
*[[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]] (34)
|c4=
*[[Metalhawk (Masterforce)|Metalhawk]] (1)
*[[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] (2)
*[[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] (3)
*[[Tracer (Targetmaster)|Tracer]] (4)
*[[Holepunch (G1)|Holepunch]] (5)
*[[Quintessa (IDW)|Necrotitan]] (7)
*[[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]] (22)
*[[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] (31)
*[[Blurr (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Blurr]] (32)
}}

==Quotes==
"Well then! Leadership. Leading. Being a leader. What's it like so far?" 
"Meh." 
"'Meh'?" 
"Sorry, '''Getaway'''—Earth word. Friend of mine used to say it a lot." 
"What does it mean?" 
"I think it means—I think it just means 'meh.'"
:—'''Getaway''' and '''Ultra Magnus'''

"Rung says that if I relax my self-imposed ban on idioms, metaphors, and slang it'll help '''soften my image.'''" 
"Whatever floats your boat." 
"No need to show off."
:—'''Magnus''' and '''Getaway'''

"Don't just let this—this—'''Decepticon''' control you!"
:—Attention '''Prowl''', this is the kettle. Stop calling me black.

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Starscream killed Metalhawk in [[Heavy Is the Head|issue #16]]. We previously saw him visiting his dead body and talking to it in [[Three Monologues|issue #20]].
*While discussing conspiracies, Rattrap refers to the explosion of the [[Toraxxis mega-refinery]], which occurred in [[Rage (IDW)|''Monstrosity'' #4]]. Popular conspiracy theory apparently blames Optimus Prime for triggering the explosion, when it was actually [[Scorponok (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Scorponok]]'s doing.
*He also notes another conspiracy theory: that Ultra Magnus is really a "[[Minimus Ambus|little guy]] in armor". Little does he know that ''that'' one is true, as we learned in [[Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|''More than Meets the Eye'' #19]]!
*Magnus refers to an unnamed friend from [[Earth]] from whom he learned the word "meh"; clearly, he's talking about [[Verity Carlo]], whose association with him was covered in ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]''.
*While Magnus and Getaway walk down the corridor, we see the holographic equivalent of a bulletin board. Most of its signs are callback to concepts or character quirks from past issues of ''More than Meets the Eye'' and are fairly self-explanatory, with one notable exception: A "VOTE" sign in the center. The meaning of this will be revealed in [[Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8|chapter 8]].
*Magnus's dislike of ambiguity in speech is flagged up by Getaway, previously explored in "[[Signal to Noise]]".
*Rodimus orders a "weak energon spritzer" for Magnus... exactly the same drink that Tailgate speculated Magnus would favor, way back in [[Interiors|issue #6]].
*The ''Lost Light'' brought Metroplex's thumb on board in ''[[The Reluctant Specialist|Spotlight: Trailcutter]]''.
*Turns out that when Megatron transferred his [[spark]] et al. into his new body back in [[Before the Dawn|issue #14]], the space bridge technology that had been a defining feature of his previous form (seen in the [[The Transformers (IDW)|2009-2011 ongoing series]]) was also transplanted along with it.

===Real-life references===
*Ravage paraphrases the classic opening from the 1950s ''[[Superman]]'' TV series—"Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superman!"—when he spots Starscream heading for the Titan: "'''Up'''. In the sky... it's a '''plane'''..."

===Edits===
Similar to the [[pack-in material|pack-in]] versions of various other existing IDW comics, the version of this issue available with the ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' Deluxe Class [[Skywarp (G1)/toys#Generations|Skywarp]] toy was also subject to some changes, most of them being instances of censorship:
*No less than ''three'' changes on page 1 (not counting the "previously" pages): The speech bubble in panel 1 changes from "I guess you could say you '''died''' for your dream, Metalhawk" gets changed to "I guess you could say you '''gave it all''' for your dream, Metalhawk"; in the second speech bubble in panel 3, "you probably don't get out much, you know, being '''dead'''" gets changed to "you probably don't get out much, you know, '''not''' being '''alive'''"; and the second speech bubble in the final panel gets changed from "sorry I '''killed''' you, pal" to "sorry I '''blasted''' you, pal".
*Two more edits on page 14: Prowl's first speech bubble in panel 2 changes from "All guns on the Titan..." to "All blasters on the Titan...", and the caption in the final panel, "—that death wave is heading right for the city—" is shortened by the word "death", also changing formats in the process so the text fits into two instead of three lines.
*Two of Metalhawk's speech bubbles in panel 2 on page 17 replace "you killed me" with "you destroyed me", and are enlarged accordingly to fit the longer word.
*On page 19, the caption in the second panel is changed from "—people are dying—" to "—people are hurt—".

===Trivia===
*As in Chapter 2, Rojo illustrates the scenes on Cybertron, while Raiz lends his lines to those on the ''Lost Light''.
*This issue is packaged with ''Generations'' Skywarp, but given the character's non-role in the story, it seems likely a reshuffling of the toyline forced it to be swapped with [[Finest Hour: Dark Cybertron Chapter 5|Chapter 5]], in which Skywarp features heavily, and that this was supposed to be Rattrap's pack-in issue.

===Errors===
[[File:IDWRID23MetalhawkArmSwap.jpg|upright=1.0|thumb|Good thing they're on [[ball joint]]s.]]
*Scoop's Targetmaster partners Tracer and Holepunch, who appear among the citizens of Iacon on page 2 (not counting the "previously" pages), are drawn based on the designs of their new ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' toys, rather than the modified designs Andrew Griffith created for them in issue #20 that gave them construction vehicle [[alternate mode]]s. They're ''colored'' right this time, though.
*Also on page 2, Starscream's name is misspelled as Star''cream''. This error was fixed for the ''Dark Cybertron'' vol. 1 trade paperback collection, but is still present in the version of this comic included with the ''Generations'' Deluxe Class Skywarp toy.
*Metalhawk is missing the wrong arm in the first panel on the last page. The panel was partially ''redrawn'' to fix this error for the ''Dark Cybertron'' vol. 1 trade paperback collection, but the error is still present in the version of this comic included with ''Generations'' Skywarp.
{{-}}
*Mainframe says that despite cutting the engines, the ship is “still moving”, which is how he works out that Metroplex is pulling his thumb - and with it the spacecraft - towards himself. But if the Lost Light was in motion in space, then cutting the engines would mean it would indeed still move: the laws of physics dictate that bodies in space move continually in a straight line in their momentary direction of motion as long as no resistance impedes them. You’d have thought Mainframe would have known that.

===Covers (4)===
*'''Cover A:''' Starscream on his knees in the ruins of Iacon, by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
*'''Sub cover:''' Brainstorm, Ultra Magnus, and Ratchet superimposed over a starscape, as the ''Lost Light'' flies off in the direction indicated by an image of Metroplex's hand, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Cover RI:''' Skywarp, by [[Phil Jimenez]] and [[Romulo Fajardo Jr.]]
*'''Hasbro exclusive cover''': Cropped version of cover RI, exclusively available with ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' Deluxe Class [[Skywarp (G1)/toys#Generations|Skywarp]].
<gallery>
File:RID23 cvrA.jpg|You blew it up! Goddamn you! Goddamn you all to hell!
File:RID23 subcvr.jpg|Yes, we're in this comic now.
File:RID23 cvrRI.jpg|Skywarp's other body is at the cleaners.
File:RID23 cvrHAS.jpg|Exclusive Skywarp toy cover.
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*"[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]]" checklist, highlighting [[Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|''More than Meets the Eye'' #24]]
*Thanks to VIP Attendees to IDW Studios during [[BotCon 2013]]
*''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Color Classics'' Vol. 2
*IDW ''Ben 10'' comic (back cover)

===Reprints===
*'''''The Transformers: Dark Cybertron Volume 1''''' ([[April 16]], [[2014]]) ISBN 1613778910 / ISBN 978-1613778913
:*Contains issues #23 and #24, as well as ''Dark Cybertron'' Chapter 1 and ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #23 to #25.
:*Bonus material: cover gallery.

*'''''The Transformers: Dark Cybertron''''' ([[February 11]], [[2015]]) 163140072X / ISBN 978-1631400728
:*Contains issues #23 to #27, as well as ''Dark Cybertron'' Chapter 1, ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #23 to #27 and ''Dark Cybertron'' Finale.
:*Bonus material: cover gallery.

*'''''Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 59: Dark Cybertron, Part 1''''' ([[June 14]], [[2017]])
:*Hardcover collection of ''Dark Cybertron'' issue #1, ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #23–25, and ''Robots in Disguise'' issues #23–24.
:*Bonus content includes a bio on the Titans and the making of ''Dark Cybertron'' with John Barber and James Roberts.

*'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 6''''' ([[October 18]], 2017) ISBN 1684050855 / ISBN 978-1684050857
:*Contains issues #23 to #27, as well as ''Dark Cybertron'' Chapter 1, ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #23 to #27, ''Dark Cybertron'': Finale and ''The Transformers: Windblade'' issues #1 to #4.

<gallery>
File:DC vol1.jpg|'''''Dark Cybertron'' Volume 1'''; cover art by [[Phil Jimenez]] and [[Romulo Fajardo Jr.]]
File:DC HC.jpg|'''''Dark Cybertron'' hardcover'''; cover art by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v59.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 59: Dark Cybertron, Part 1'''''; cover art by [[Guido Guidi]] (Ratchet) and Phil Jimenez/[[Andrew Griffith]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V6.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 6'''''; cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]] and [[Tom B. Long]]
</gallery>

==External links==
*[http://www.fullmetalhero.com/content/transformers-robots-disguise-23-full-preview-7814/ Preview]

[[Category:Dark Cybertron issues]]

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

2020-11-26T09:43:20Z

Amiga Power:

'''Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart''' was a prodigal pre-modern [[Austria]]n musician.

==Fiction==
===''The Last Knight'' film===
Mozart was one of the many members of the ancient [[Order of the Witwiccans]], a group of humans who knew of the presence of [[Transformer]]s on [[Earth]] and worked to keep their secret. {{storylink|Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight}}

==External links==
*{{w|Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart}} at Wikipedia

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mozart, Wolfagang}}
[[Category:Musicians]]
[[Category:Real people]]
[[Category:The Last Knight humans]]

The Transformers Sticker Book (1986)

2020-11-19T00:15:12Z

Amiga Power:

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=Panini
|title=[[The Transformers (franchise)|The Transformers]] Sticker Book
|image=Transformers stickerbook panni86.jpg
|caption=
|publisher=[[Panini|Figurine Panini]]
|date=1986
|ISBN=
|pagecount=32pp
|editor=
|writer=
|illustrator=
|continuity=
}}

'''The Transformers Sticker Book''' was a children's activity book published internationally by Panini in 1986.

==Vital statistics==
Published in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Denmark, Germany and Italy, this album was designed to hold 256 collectible stickers. These stickers were used to retell a number of season one episodes of [[The Transformers (cartoon)|''The Transformers'' cartoon]] as well as add visuals to a number of profiles. The profile pages each featured two foil stickers of the Transformer in question in both robot and [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]].
{{-}}

==Overview==
[[File:Panini-page.jpg|thumb|The foul force of 189 has taken out half Megatron's forces.]]
[[File:Panini-profile-small.jpg|thumb|Where's my middle?]]

The full checklist of stickers is as follows:
* #1 - #2: Autobot and Decepticon faction stickers (on foil paper)
* #3 - #11: Mural artwork from year two
* #12 - #42: "The Beginning" featuring [[More than Meets the Eye (mini-series)|More than Meets the Eye]] episode scenes
* #43 - #50: Optimus Prime profile
* #51 - #82: [[S.O.S. Dinobots]] episode scenes
* #83 - #90: Megatron profile
* #91 - #121: [[War of the Dinobots]] episode scenes
* #122 - #129: Slag profile
* #130 - #137: Snarl profile
* #138 - #169: [[Fire in the Sky]] episode scenes
* #170 - #177: Thrust profile
* #178 - #208: [[Heavy Metal War|The Heavy Metal War]] episode scenes
* #209 - #216: Inferno profile
* #217 - #248: [[Fire on the Mountain (episode)|Fire on the Mountain]] episode scenes
* #248 - #256: Swoop profile

{{-}}

==Notes==
* Identifies the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] by name.
* [[Luisa]]'s name was first revealed in this book.
* The highly truncated retelling of the first 3 episodes identifies the [[Decepticon]]s' fuel-gathering mission as '''Operation Energy''', and says that their plan was to construct a superweapon, not a space shuttle. Operation Energy is foiled because the [[human]]s learn to work with the [[Autobot]]s and anticipate the Decepticons' attacks, setting the stage for the stalemate of the ongoing series.
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] is a genius! He's credited with designing the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s and building [[Sky Spy]].
* Panini let you buy stickers directly! No doubt they're out of number #174.
* Character art from the toy boxes is used for the [[robot mode]]s on the profile pages, and illustrations of the toys are used for [[alternate mode]]s.
* Although this book depicts events from cartoon continuity, [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] is referred to as Jetfire throughout.
* The French/Dutch version of this stickerbook gave a handful of characters alternate French-language names (the Dutch portions staying unchanged). These names include: "Bonnebille" for [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], "Starscrim" for [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], "Stacar" for [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], "Ferro Métal" for [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], "Infernal" for [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]], "Swarp" for [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]], "Smarl" for [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]], and "Trust" for [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]. Whether these names were used in any other media made for French-speaking regions is unknown.
*Curiously, the album makes use of the same film prints that were used years later by [[Kid Rhino|Rhino Entertainment]] for their infamous DVD releases.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Transformers Sticker Book}}

[[Category:Generation 1 activity books]]
[[Category:Sticker books]]

The Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here

2020-10-18T09:51:37Z

Amiga Power:

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Lost Light|The Transformers: Lost Light]]'' #18
|prev=The Everlasting Voices (2): The God War
|next=Crucible (Part 1): A Dance Before Dying
|image=LL18_cvrA.jpg
|title="The Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here"
|caption= "He committed suicide, ''he'' committed suicide, and the fish committed suicide. There's a pattern here."
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[June 13]], 2018
|coverdate=May 2018
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Jack Lawrence]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[David Mariotte]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era]]
}}
'''When the truth of the "Afterspark" is revealed, Team Rodimus realizes that they have unexpectedly reached the end of their quest.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] and [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] return to the giant floating [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], where most of the rest of the group have now gathered with their loved ones, waiting for the moment of ascension. Tailgate is particularly excited to see Chromedome and Rewind happily holding hands with [[Dominus Ambus]] and ''another'' Rewind; the quartet tells him they are "all sorted" and "happy." [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] assures the group that their ascension will happen soon, because they are happy and ''want'' it to, and [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] compliments him on his heartfelt honesty.

Thinking that [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] is a guard, the [[Scavenger (group)|Scavengers]] muscle past her and make a break for it, but she stops them in their tracks with a bluff, pretending [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] has built a gun into her hand. Familiar enough with Brainstorm to believe it's plausible, the Scavengers stop, explaining that while they were only in the cell by accident, and that they don't want to fight. Confusion soon arises, though, when Nautica tells them they're in the [[Transformer afterlife|Afterspark]], while they're convinced they're in [[Garrus-9]]. [[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] indicates a sign on the wall identifying the prison, but where he points, Nautica sees a plaque bearing a religious quote. The group realizes they're seeing two different things, which causes the illusion to collapse, revealing the ''real'' sign, which reads "M10." Following the arrow painted on it leads the group to a door with a large "M" shaped logo, which Nautica pushes open...

Elsewhere in the same building, in "Ward Zero," [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]], [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]], and [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] find themselves under attack by a group of stone golems, which Rodimus recognizes from his adventure on [[Ki-Aleta]], where they were left by the [[Omega Guardian]]s to protect the [[Epistemus|Magnificence]]. Fortunately for the trio, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] returns to aid them, and the golems soon fall before them, noticeably less tough than they were when Rodimus first encountered them. Ratchet proceeds to examine the cylinder of "trapped light" in the center of the room, deducing it to be the Afterspark's "power supply," channeled from the comatose alien "patients" lying around it. While Ratchet works, Magnus receives a call from [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], who is unconvinced by this whole "Afterspark" scenario and suspects foul play is involved. Unfortunately, given what they've learned, Magnus can't reassure him otherwise, and tells him to simply stay on the line as Ratchet prepares to disconnect the "power supply." Drift begs Ratchet to reconsider; he ''might'' be right, but he might also be ''wrong'', and if this ''is'' the Afterspark, Ratchet will be damning them all. Ratchet needs barely a moment to deliberate... and hurls a chair through the cylinder, shattering it.

All across the "Afterspark," the illusion slowly collapses. The same "M" logo appears on a wall-screen in Ward Zero, which is all Ratchet needs to tell where they ''really'' are: the ancient medical hub known as [[Mederi]], an artificial moon constructed millions of years ago by the Omega Guardians. Via a console, Drift pulls up datalogs that explain what has happened: Mederi is a euthanasia clinic, and the alien "patients" are actually ''telepaths'', who tap the minds of terminally-ill new arrivals to create tailored illusions based on their desires and expectations that will help them die in peace and happiness. Team Rodimus simply crashed there when they abandoned [[Skip]], and the telepaths latched onto the strongest desire amongst the group to fabricate an illusion for them—Cyclonus's desire to go to the Afterspark, where he could reunite with the dead Tailgate. Just as the group thinks that all the answers have been revealed, however, Nautica and the Scavengers burst in with the corpse of [[Axe (G1)|Axe]], just one of hundreds of Mederi's dead they found in Morgue 10. Realizing that Axe was a member of the [[Circle of Light]], Rodimus has a brainwave, and instructs Drift to plot a course from Mederi to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and put it on the screen. Everyone gapes as a familiar pattern takes shape in front of them: the pattern of the map hidden within the Matrix of Leadership. Rodimus has realized the truth: they have reached the end of their quest. Mederi ''is'' Cyberutopia!

At Rodimus's direction, Drift pulls up treatment logs of the first Cybertronian patients to ever arrive on Mederi: the [[Knights of Cybertron]], who came there ten million years ago seeking treatment for [[Atrophosia]], a [[Cybercrosis]]-like disease contracted via contact with organic lifeforms. Sick and scared and longing for home, but still explorers seeking new worlds, the Knights' conflicting desires were resolved by Mederi's telepaths into one perfect illusion: the illusion of the perfect Cybertron. Lost in the illusion and forgetting their reality, the Knights placed a map to this "Cyberutopia" within the Matrix, and sent it back home so others could unwittingly join them in "happiness." So, now that their quest has ended with a surprisingly mundane reality, the question hangs in the air... what do our heroes do now?

Back with the main group, Whirl—briefed over the comm by Magnus—shares the truth of their situation with everyone, even as the illusory "loved ones" begin to fade away. Cyclonus and Tailgate are shattered by the revelation; in the moments before Tailgate disappears for good, Cyclonus is finally able to tell the little 'bot he loves him, and embraces him tightly, waiting for the end. As Rodimus and the others arrive to tell the full story, Whirl angrily silences them, then gently tries to get Cyclonus to stand... only for the still very-much-alive Tailgate to suddenly pop out of Cyclonus's arms, surprised to discover that he's ''not'' an illusion, but is, in fact, the genuine article! The question of how this can be is just one of several about the events leading up to the team's arrival on Mederi that remain unanswered... but even the ever-rational Ratchet is willing to allow it to go unexplained if it means the team gets to enjoy a happy ending.

Unfortunately... things aren't over yet. [[Fulcrum]] points skyward, and everyone looks up to see a cluster of Transformers descending toward them, including [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]], [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], [[Hound (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hound]], and [[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]]... all transformed into voracious, monstrous [[sparkeater (creature)|sparkeaters]]!

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in video recordings or as telepathic illusions. 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*''[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]]'' (1)
*''[[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]]'' (2)
*[[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (3)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (4)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] (10)
*[[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (11)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (12)
*''[[Dominus Ambus]]'' (13)
*''[[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Other Rewind]]'' (14)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (16)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (19)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (20)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (21)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (22)
*[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (27)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (31)
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (32)
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]]'s corpse (33)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (36)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] (37)
*[[Hound (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hound]] (38)
*[[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] (39)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (40)

{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Krok (G1)|Krok]] (23)
*[[Fulcrum]] (24)
*[[Nickel]] (25)
*[[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] (28)
*[[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] (29)
*[[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] (30)

|c4=
*[[Roller (IDW)|Roller]] (5)
*''[[Springarm]]'' (6)
*[[Anode]] (7)
*[[Lug (IDW)|Lug]] (8)
*''[[Quark]]'' (9)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (15)
*Alien telepaths (17)
*[[Omega Guardian]] "throwbacks" (18)
*''[[Epistemus|Magnificence]]'' (26)
*[[Axe (G1)|Axe]]'s corpse (34)
*''[[Knights of Cybertron]]'' (35)
}}

==Quotes==
'''Rodimus:''' "You're not going to believe this, but I '''know''' these guys." 
'''Drift:''' "'''Old friends,''' right? Please say they're old friends." 
''(An Omega Guardian punches Rodimus.)'' 
'''Ultra Magnus:''' "To be fair, that's not conclusive proof either way."

"Hmm. Some sort of '''energy.''' It's being generated by the patients and flowing into the chamber. Weird set up. Probably best not to tamper with it." 
"Er... what are you going to do?" 
"I'm going to tamper with it."
:—'''Ratchet''' and '''Drift'''

"Just tell me what you've done." 
"Excuse me! I haven't done anything!" 
"Forgive me, but the last time we spoke on the phone, I was asking you to let the hostages go." 
"Yes, well, I was a different person then." 
"Yes—you could be reasoned with."
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Whirl'''

"Religion-wise, I don't so much lack faith as '''actively hate god.'''"
:—'''Whirl'''

"Don't go. I can't lose you again." 
"You and me, eh? I guess some things were never meant to—" 
"Shut up. Shut up and let me say this while you're still around to hear it. Because I don't care: real, fake, alive, dead... I love you." 
"There. That wasn't so difficult, was it?"
:—'''Cyclonus''' and '''Tailgate''' ''think'' they're saying goodbye

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
[[File:MTMTE1vsLostLight18.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|Journey's end. And almost journeyers' end, as well.]]
*The second Rewind is, of course, the "original" version of the character who died back in [[Under Cold Blue Stars|''More than Meets the Eye'' #15]].
*As referenced in a footnote, the stone golems that attack Rodimus and co. first appeared way, ''way'' back in ''[[Spotlight: Hot Rod]]''. In that story, they were referred to as the "[[Omega Guardian]]s," but [[The Ties That Bind (issue)|issue #14]] explained that they were "throwbacks" who served the ''real'' Omega Guardians, a much more advanced race who have received several namedrops throughout ''More than Meets the Eye'' and ''Lost Light'', and are in this issue revealed to be key to its mytharc.
*Nautica refers to Brainstorm with his birth name, "Genitus," which we first learned (from her!) in [[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|''More than Meets the Eye'' #40]].
*The Scavengers were transmatted to Mederi (telepathically disguised as Garrus-9) back in [[Kill All 'Cons|issue 15]], using coordinates supplied by the Magnificence. Note how the Magnificence spoke up ''before'' they could finish asking where Garrus-9 was, funnily enough (''"Erm, anyone know how to get to –"''). And note that the issue never ''said'' they were in G-9, just somewhere "far away". Now, actually showing Garrus-9 from the outside was a bit of a cheat, but now we know it was all part of the disguise.
*Misfire explains that the Scavengers and Brainstorm had a "bit of a swapsies thing going on," referring to their trading of tech and information, as was hinted at in earlier stories and confirmed in [[Animals|''More than Meets the Eye'' #46]].
*Magnus refers to a past incident in which he negotiated with Whirl when the unstable Autobot took hostages. This seems likely to have occurred after Whirl was ejected from the [[Wrecker]]s and went off the deep end, a little while before the beginning of ''More than Meets the Eye''.
*Mederi was first mentioned in [[An Axe to Break the Ice|issue #8]], in which it was said that Velocity left [[Caminus (planet)|Caminus]] to study at one of its offshoots, Mederi Seven.
*Mederi is noted to sit on the same "spiritual leyline" as [[Troja Major]]. That leyline was said to have begun to "warp" in [[The Ties That Bind (issue)|issue #14]]...
*Axe originally appeared in the [[The Transformers: Drift|first ''Drift'' mini-series]]. Presumably, his presence here indicates he's one of the Circle of Light members the ''Lost Light'' crew encountered on [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]] in [[Remain in Light|''More than Meets the Eye'' #17-21]], who were inspired to undertake their own quest for Cyberutopia in [[Little Victories|issue #22]].
*The panel in which Rodimus makes the deduction that Mederi ''is'' Cyberutopia is a recreation of the first panel of the [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|first issue]] of ''More than Meets the Eye'', the end of the quest paralleling its beginning.
*In the video footage of the Knights' arrival on Mederi, they are all emerging from a city-mode [[Titan (group)|Titan]], since we know from [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|the 2012 ''More than Meets the Eye'' annual]] that the Titans served as their ships. The banners they carry bear the gear-like hieroglyph that has been a recurring image in the series, revealing that it specifically belongs to the order of Knights who found "Cyberutopia," who are only one of five orders know to exist. So now the big question remaining is, how does the [[Adaptus|Grand Architect]] fit in...?
*Continuing the homages to the very first issue, Misfire parrots Swerve's introductory line of "love a quest"; back in [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|''More than Meets the Eye'' #13]], Rewind lampshaded how similar Swerve and Misfire were.
*The group of mutated sparkeaters descending upon Team Rodimus on the last page are, of course, all part of Getaway's crew of mutineers, who allegedly arrived on Cyberutopia in [[The Plotters' Club (Part 3): Journey's End|issue #12]]. Their "Cyberutopia" looked identical to the model of the "Afterspark" shown in [[The Everlasting Voices (1): Metastasis|issue #16]] (as we observed in our notes for that issue), with their appearance here seemingly confirming that all our heroes and mutineers are indeed now gathered together in the same place at last.
*Not to mention, the sight of sparkeaters descending from the sky calls to mind Drift's vision from [[Dissolution Part 1: Some Other Cybertron|issue #1]]...

===Transformers references===
*While listing subjects related to the principle of ascension that he ''could'' be talking about but isn't, Swerve mentions "the five-faced incantation." We'll leave speculation on its relevance up to you, but any mention of "five faces" in a ''Transformers'' story should immediately start ringing some [[Quintesson]]-related alarm bells...

===Real-life references===
*The title of this multi-part story is taken from the {{w|W. B. Yeats}} poem, [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/57302/the-everlasting-voices "The Everlasting Voices".]
*In his list of subjects, Swerve mentions "{{w|metousiosis}}," a Greek word with religious connotations meaning "a change of essence."
*While discussing the illusion, Krok quotes a real-life proverb of supposed Chinese origin: "There's your truth, there's ''my'' truth, and then there's ''the'' truth." Nautica attributes it to [[Solomus|Chief Justice Tyrest]].
* The concept of a facility that shapes itself to resemble whatever its observer most desires - only to collapse when observed by more than one person at the same time - has, shall we say, very strong parallels with the Red Dwarf episode Camille.

===Other trivia===
*Originally solicited for release in May 2018, this issue arrived significantly late, halfway through June, ''eight weeks'' after issue #17.

===Soundtrack===
For all of "The Everlasting Voices":
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONxp_lLXWGk Twilight]" by {{w|Electric Light Orchestra}}

For this part alone:
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqMT22vkLWA Wanting What I Can't Have]" by Carla J. Easton<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/1005350536022028288 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=ZpvGu3szE24 Water]" by {{w|Ra Ra Riot}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/1005350759268052993 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXgs8X1MLww&feature=youtu.be Foreverland]" by {{w|The Divine Comedy (band)|The Divine Comedy}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/1007680456827994113 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>

===Covers (3)===
*'''Cover A:''' Drift holds back a disappearing Ratchet, by [[Jack Lawrence]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
*'''Cover B:''' ''Friggin' everyone'', by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Rodimus and Ratchet surrounded by the Omega Guardians, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
<gallery>
File:LL18 cvrA.jpg|
File:LL18 cvrB.jpg|"Give us some room, would'ja chaps?"
File:LL18 cvrRI.jpg|"You helped an enemy of democracy escape! She was carrying an apple of The People!"
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''Lost Light'' #19
*''[[Transformers: Unicron]]''
*''[[Transformers: Requiem of the Wreckers]]''
*''{{i|Jem and the Holograms: Dimensions}}'' TPB
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (character)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' #5
*''[[Star Trek]]: The Next Generation: Through the Mirror'' #1-5
*''Atomic Robo: The Spectre of Tomorrow'' TPB
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]] Adventures'' #10

===Reprints===
*'''''Transformers: Lost Light''''' Vol. 3 TPB ([[August 15]], [[2018]]) ISBN 1684053315 / ISBN 978-1684053315
:Contains ''Lost Light'' issues #13 to #18.
:Bonus material includes a cover gallery.

*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]] Volume 86: The Everlasting Voices''''' ([[July 1]], [[2020]])
:Contains ''Lost Light'' issues #13 to #18.
:Bonus material includes the first half of ''[[Transformers: Historia]]'' (up to ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]''), including the [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] profile, a cover gallery and an intro by [[Simon Furman]].

<gallery>
File:LLvol3 TPBcvr.jpg|'''Vol. 3''' cover by Jack Lawrence and Joana Lafuente
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v86.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection Volume 86: The Everlasting Voices''''' cover by [[Dreamwave Productions]] and [[Jack Lawrence]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.comiccrusaders.com/preview-transformers-lost-light-18/ Preview]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here}}
[[Category:Lost Light issues]]

The Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here

2020-10-18T09:50:54Z

Amiga Power:

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Lost Light|The Transformers: Lost Light]]'' #18
|prev=The Everlasting Voices (2): The God War
|next=Crucible (Part 1): A Dance Before Dying
|image=LL18_cvrA.jpg
|title="The Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here"
|caption= "He committed suicide, ''he'' committed suicide, and the fish committed suicide. There's a pattern here."
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[June 13]], 2018
|coverdate=May 2018
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Jack Lawrence]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[David Mariotte]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era]]
}}
'''When the truth of the "Afterspark" is revealed, Team Rodimus realizes that they have unexpectedly reached the end of their quest.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] and [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] return to the giant floating [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], where most of the rest of the group have now gathered with their loved ones, waiting for the moment of ascension. Tailgate is particularly excited to see Chromedome and Rewind happily holding hands with [[Dominus Ambus]] and ''another'' Rewind; the quartet tells him they are "all sorted" and "happy." [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] assures the group that their ascension will happen soon, because they are happy and ''want'' it to, and [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] compliments him on his heartfelt honesty.

Thinking that [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] is a guard, the [[Scavenger (group)|Scavengers]] muscle past her and make a break for it, but she stops them in their tracks with a bluff, pretending [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] has built a gun into her hand. Familiar enough with Brainstorm to believe it's plausible, the Scavengers stop, explaining that while they were only in the cell by accident, and that they don't want to fight. Confusion soon arises, though, when Nautica tells them they're in the [[Transformer afterlife|Afterspark]], while they're convinced they're in [[Garrus-9]]. [[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] indicates a sign on the wall identifying the prison, but where he points, Nautica sees a plaque bearing a religious quote. The group realizes they're seeing two different things, which causes the illusion to collapse, revealing the ''real'' sign, which reads "M10." Following the arrow painted on it leads the group to a door with a large "M" shaped logo, which Nautica pushes open...

Elsewhere in the same building, in "Ward Zero," [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]], [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]], and [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] find themselves under attack by a group of stone golems, which Rodimus recognizes from his adventure on [[Ki-Aleta]], where they were left by the [[Omega Guardian]]s to protect the [[Epistemus|Magnificence]]. Fortunately for the trio, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] returns to aid them, and the golems soon fall before them, noticeably less tough than they were when Rodimus first encountered them. Ratchet proceeds to examine the cylinder of "trapped light" in the center of the room, deducing it to be the Afterspark's "power supply," channeled from the comatose alien "patients" lying around it. While Ratchet works, Magnus receives a call from [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], who is unconvinced by this whole "Afterspark" scenario and suspects foul play is involved. Unfortunately, given what they've learned, Magnus can't reassure him otherwise, and tells him to simply stay on the line as Ratchet prepares to disconnect the "power supply." Drift begs Ratchet to reconsider; he ''might'' be right, but he might also be ''wrong'', and if this ''is'' the Afterspark, Ratchet will be damning them all. Ratchet needs barely a moment to deliberate... and hurls a chair through the cylinder, shattering it.

All across the "Afterspark," the illusion slowly collapses. The same "M" logo appears on a wall-screen in Ward Zero, which is all Ratchet needs to tell where they ''really'' are: the ancient medical hub known as [[Mederi]], an artificial moon constructed millions of years ago by the Omega Guardians. Via a console, Drift pulls up datalogs that explain what has happened: Mederi is a euthanasia clinic, and the alien "patients" are actually ''telepaths'', who tap the minds of terminally-ill new arrivals to create tailored illusions based on their desires and expectations that will help them die in peace and happiness. Team Rodimus simply crashed there when they abandoned [[Skip]], and the telepaths latched onto the strongest desire amongst the group to fabricate an illusion for them—Cyclonus's desire to go to the Afterspark, where he could reunite with the dead Tailgate. Just as the group thinks that all the answers have been revealed, however, Nautica and the Scavengers burst in with the corpse of [[Axe (G1)|Axe]], just one of hundreds of Mederi's dead they found in Morgue 10. Realizing that Axe was a member of the [[Circle of Light]], Rodimus has a brainwave, and instructs Drift to plot a course from Mederi to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and put it on the screen. Everyone gapes as a familiar pattern takes shape in front of them: the pattern of the map hidden within the Matrix of Leadership. Rodimus has realized the truth: they have reached the end of their quest. Mederi ''is'' Cyberutopia!

At Rodimus's direction, Drift pulls up treatment logs of the first Cybertronian patients to ever arrive on Mederi: the [[Knights of Cybertron]], who came there ten million years ago seeking treatment for [[Atrophosia]], a [[Cybercrosis]]-like disease contracted via contact with organic lifeforms. Sick and scared and longing for home, but still explorers seeking new worlds, the Knights' conflicting desires were resolved by Mederi's telepaths into one perfect illusion: the illusion of the perfect Cybertron. Lost in the illusion and forgetting their reality, the Knights placed a map to this "Cyberutopia" within the Matrix, and sent it back home so others could unwittingly join them in "happiness." So, now that their quest has ended with a surprisingly mundane reality, the question hangs in the air... what do our heroes do now?

Back with the main group, Whirl—briefed over the comm by Magnus—shares the truth of their situation with everyone, even as the illusory "loved ones" begin to fade away. Cyclonus and Tailgate are shattered by the revelation; in the moments before Tailgate disappears for good, Cyclonus is finally able to tell the little 'bot he loves him, and embraces him tightly, waiting for the end. As Rodimus and the others arrive to tell the full story, Whirl angrily silences them, then gently tries to get Cyclonus to stand... only for the still very-much-alive Tailgate to suddenly pop out of Cyclonus's arms, surprised to discover that he's ''not'' an illusion, but is, in fact, the genuine article! The question of how this can be is just one of several about the events leading up to the team's arrival on Mederi that remain unanswered... but even the ever-rational Ratchet is willing to allow it to go unexplained if it means the team gets to enjoy a happy ending.

Unfortunately... things aren't over yet. [[Fulcrum]] points skyward, and everyone looks up to see a cluster of Transformers descending toward them, including [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]], [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], [[Hound (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hound]], and [[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]]... all transformed into voracious, monstrous [[sparkeater (creature)|sparkeaters]]!

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in video recordings or as telepathic illusions. 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*''[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]]'' (1)
*''[[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]]'' (2)
*[[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (3)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (4)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] (10)
*[[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (11)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (12)
*''[[Dominus Ambus]]'' (13)
*''[[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Other Rewind]]'' (14)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (16)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (19)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (20)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (21)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (22)
*[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (27)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (31)
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (32)
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]]'s corpse (33)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (36)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] (37)
*[[Hound (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hound]] (38)
*[[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] (39)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (40)

{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Krok (G1)|Krok]] (23)
*[[Fulcrum]] (24)
*[[Nickel]] (25)
*[[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] (28)
*[[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] (29)
*[[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] (30)

|c4=
*[[Roller (IDW)|Roller]] (5)
*''[[Springarm]]'' (6)
*[[Anode]] (7)
*[[Lug (IDW)|Lug]] (8)
*''[[Quark]]'' (9)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (15)
*Alien telepaths (17)
*[[Omega Guardian]] "throwbacks" (18)
*''[[Epistemus|Magnificence]]'' (26)
*[[Axe (G1)|Axe]]'s corpse (34)
*''[[Knights of Cybertron]]'' (35)
}}

==Quotes==
'''Rodimus:''' "You're not going to believe this, but I '''know''' these guys." 
'''Drift:''' "'''Old friends,''' right? Please say they're old friends." 
''(An Omega Guardian punches Rodimus.)'' 
'''Ultra Magnus:''' "To be fair, that's not conclusive proof either way."

"Hmm. Some sort of '''energy.''' It's being generated by the patients and flowing into the chamber. Weird set up. Probably best not to tamper with it." 
"Er... what are you going to do?" 
"I'm going to tamper with it."
:—'''Ratchet''' and '''Drift'''

"Just tell me what you've done." 
"Excuse me! I haven't done anything!" 
"Forgive me, but the last time we spoke on the phone, I was asking you to let the hostages go." 
"Yes, well, I was a different person then." 
"Yes—you could be reasoned with."
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Whirl'''

"Religion-wise, I don't so much lack faith as '''actively hate god.'''"
:—'''Whirl'''

"Don't go. I can't lose you again." 
"You and me, eh? I guess some things were never meant to—" 
"Shut up. Shut up and let me say this while you're still around to hear it. Because I don't care: real, fake, alive, dead... I love you." 
"There. That wasn't so difficult, was it?"
:—'''Cyclonus''' and '''Tailgate''' ''think'' they're saying goodbye

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
[[File:MTMTE1vsLostLight18.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|Journey's end. And almost journeyers' end, as well.]]
*The second Rewind is, of course, the "original" version of the character who died back in [[Under Cold Blue Stars|''More than Meets the Eye'' #15]].
*As referenced in a footnote, the stone golems that attack Rodimus and co. first appeared way, ''way'' back in ''[[Spotlight: Hot Rod]]''. In that story, they were referred to as the "[[Omega Guardian]]s," but [[The Ties That Bind (issue)|issue #14]] explained that they were "throwbacks" who served the ''real'' Omega Guardians, a much more advanced race who have received several namedrops throughout ''More than Meets the Eye'' and ''Lost Light'', and are in this issue revealed to be key to its mytharc.
*Nautica refers to Brainstorm with his birth name, "Genitus," which we first learned (from her!) in [[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|''More than Meets the Eye'' #40]].
*The Scavengers were transmatted to Mederi (telepathically disguised as Garrus-9) back in [[Kill All 'Cons|issue 15]], using coordinates supplied by the Magnificence. Note how the Magnificence spoke up ''before'' they could finish asking where Garrus-9 was, funnily enough (''"Erm, anyone know how to get to –"''). And note that the issue never ''said'' they were in G-9, just somewhere "far away". Now, actually showing Garrus-9 from the outside was a bit of a cheat, but now we know it was all part of the disguise.
*Misfire explains that the Scavengers and Brainstorm had a "bit of a swapsies thing going on," referring to their trading of tech and information, as was hinted at in earlier stories and confirmed in [[Animals|''More than Meets the Eye'' #46]].
*Magnus refers to a past incident in which he negotiated with Whirl when the unstable Autobot took hostages. This seems likely to have occurred after Whirl was ejected from the [[Wrecker]]s and went off the deep end, a little while before the beginning of ''More than Meets the Eye''.
*Mederi was first mentioned in [[An Axe to Break the Ice|issue #8]], in which it was said that Velocity left [[Caminus (planet)|Caminus]] to study at one of its offshoots, Mederi Seven.
*Mederi is noted to sit on the same "spiritual leyline" as [[Troja Major]]. That leyline was said to have begun to "warp" in [[The Ties That Bind (issue)|issue #14]]...
*Axe originally appeared in the [[The Transformers: Drift|first ''Drift'' mini-series]]. Presumably, his presence here indicates he's one of the Circle of Light members the ''Lost Light'' crew encountered on [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]] in [[Remain in Light|''More than Meets the Eye'' #17-21]], who were inspired to undertake their own quest for Cyberutopia in [[Little Victories|issue #22]].
*The panel in which Rodimus makes the deduction that Mederi ''is'' Cyberutopia is a recreation of the first panel of the [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|first issue]] of ''More than Meets the Eye'', the end of the quest paralleling its beginning.
*In the video footage of the Knights' arrival on Mederi, they are all emerging from a city-mode [[Titan (group)|Titan]], since we know from [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|the 2012 ''More than Meets the Eye'' annual]] that the Titans served as their ships. The banners they carry bear the gear-like hieroglyph that has been a recurring image in the series, revealing that it specifically belongs to the order of Knights who found "Cyberutopia," who are only one of five orders know to exist. So now the big question remaining is, how does the [[Adaptus|Grand Architect]] fit in...?
*Continuing the homages to the very first issue, Misfire parrots Swerve's introductory line of "love a quest"; back in [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|''More than Meets the Eye'' #13]], Rewind lampshaded how similar Swerve and Misfire were.
*The group of mutated sparkeaters descending upon Team Rodimus on the last page are, of course, all part of Getaway's crew of mutineers, who allegedly arrived on Cyberutopia in [[The Plotters' Club (Part 3): Journey's End|issue #12]]. Their "Cyberutopia" looked identical to the model of the "Afterspark" shown in [[The Everlasting Voices (1): Metastasis|issue #16]] (as we observed in our notes for that issue), with their appearance here seemingly confirming that all our heroes and mutineers are indeed now gathered together in the same place at last.
*Not to mention, the sight of sparkeaters descending from the sky calls to mind Drift's vision from [[Dissolution Part 1: Some Other Cybertron|issue #1]]...

===Transformers references===
*While listing subjects related to the principle of ascension that he ''could'' be talking about but isn't, Swerve mentions "the five-faced incantation." We'll leave speculation on its relevance up to you, but any mention of "five faces" in a ''Transformers'' story should immediately start ringing some [[Quintesson]]-related alarm bells...

===Real-life references===
*The title of this multi-part story is taken from the {{w|W. B. Yeats}} poem, [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/57302/the-everlasting-voices "The Everlasting Voices".]
*In his list of subjects, Swerve mentions "{{w|metousiosis}}," a Greek word with religious connotations meaning "a change of essence."
*While discussing the illusion, Krok quotes a real-life proverb of supposed Chinese origin: "There's your truth, there's ''my'' truth, and then there's ''the'' truth." Nautica attributes it to [[Solomus|Chief Justice Tyrest]].
* The concept of a facility that shapes itself to resemble whatever its observer most desires - only to collapse when observed by more than one person at the same time - has, shall we say, very strong parallels with the [[Red Dwarf]] episode Camille.

===Other trivia===
*Originally solicited for release in May 2018, this issue arrived significantly late, halfway through June, ''eight weeks'' after issue #17.

===Soundtrack===
For all of "The Everlasting Voices":
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONxp_lLXWGk Twilight]" by {{w|Electric Light Orchestra}}

For this part alone:
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqMT22vkLWA Wanting What I Can't Have]" by Carla J. Easton<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/1005350536022028288 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=ZpvGu3szE24 Water]" by {{w|Ra Ra Riot}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/1005350759268052993 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXgs8X1MLww&feature=youtu.be Foreverland]" by {{w|The Divine Comedy (band)|The Divine Comedy}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/1007680456827994113 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>

===Covers (3)===
*'''Cover A:''' Drift holds back a disappearing Ratchet, by [[Jack Lawrence]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
*'''Cover B:''' ''Friggin' everyone'', by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Rodimus and Ratchet surrounded by the Omega Guardians, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
<gallery>
File:LL18 cvrA.jpg|
File:LL18 cvrB.jpg|"Give us some room, would'ja chaps?"
File:LL18 cvrRI.jpg|"You helped an enemy of democracy escape! She was carrying an apple of The People!"
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''Lost Light'' #19
*''[[Transformers: Unicron]]''
*''[[Transformers: Requiem of the Wreckers]]''
*''{{i|Jem and the Holograms: Dimensions}}'' TPB
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (character)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' #5
*''[[Star Trek]]: The Next Generation: Through the Mirror'' #1-5
*''Atomic Robo: The Spectre of Tomorrow'' TPB
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]] Adventures'' #10

===Reprints===
*'''''Transformers: Lost Light''''' Vol. 3 TPB ([[August 15]], [[2018]]) ISBN 1684053315 / ISBN 978-1684053315
:Contains ''Lost Light'' issues #13 to #18.
:Bonus material includes a cover gallery.

*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]] Volume 86: The Everlasting Voices''''' ([[July 1]], [[2020]])
:Contains ''Lost Light'' issues #13 to #18.
:Bonus material includes the first half of ''[[Transformers: Historia]]'' (up to ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]''), including the [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] profile, a cover gallery and an intro by [[Simon Furman]].

<gallery>
File:LLvol3 TPBcvr.jpg|'''Vol. 3''' cover by Jack Lawrence and Joana Lafuente
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v86.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection Volume 86: The Everlasting Voices''''' cover by [[Dreamwave Productions]] and [[Jack Lawrence]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.comiccrusaders.com/preview-transformers-lost-light-18/ Preview]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here}}
[[Category:Lost Light issues]]

Births, Deaths, and Interventions

2020-03-06T17:19:14Z

Amiga Power: /* Other notes */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=34
|prev=slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken
|next=The Custom-Made Now - An Elegant Chaos Prologue
|image=MTMTE34 subcvr.jpg
|title="Births, Deaths, and Interventions"
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[October 29]], [[2014]]
|coverdate=October 2014
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Atilio Rojo]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2014)]]
}}
'''In the present day, an attempt by a small group of Autobots to save the life of a wounded Transformer goes horribly wrong, while in the past, the exiled Megatron comes under mental assault from Senate agents.'''

==Synopsis==
Following the disappearance and reappearance of their shuttle and some of their group, a small handful of Autobots set down on the planet [[Ofsted XVII]] to await word from [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]]. [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] admires the spectacular sunrise—a product, [[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] explains, of atmospheric distortion caused by extreme [[warp gate]] activity in the area following a battle between the [[Galactic Council]], the [[Black Block Consortia]] and others over a wrecked spaceship—but [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]] is too busy reading ''[[Towards Peace]]'' to pay attention. Presently, a call from the fourth member of their group, [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]], summons them to a nearby lecture theater, ruined in the battle, where the medic has discovered a gravely wounded Transformer of indeterminate faction. Mainframe questions whether they should help him, given that they do not know if he is an Autobot or a Decepticon, but First Aid insists that, peacetime or wartime, it shouldn't matter. As First Aid goes to unload medical equipment carried by Trailcutter, Bluestreak and Mainframe study the wounded 'bot and try to figure out what he turns into.

[[File:MTMTE34 what you might call a thinker.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]
''Millions of years ago, the [[Senate]]'s chief psychopathologist [[Froid]] arrives on the desolate mining world of [[Messatine]]. He is met by facility head [[Rolt]], who provides him with a datapad on one of the mine's hardest workers: [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]. Studying the document briefly, Froid "diagnoses" Megatron with a severe mental illness, and introduces Rolt to his colleague, who will help enact a "cure"... [[Trepan]].''

First Aid returns to find that Bluestreak and Mainframe have moved the injured 'bot, drastically reducing his chances of survival. To ensure his patient lives, First Aid requests a donation of two fluid drams of active [[energon]] from each of the Autobots, but Mainframe is still unsure about going ahead, and brings up the concern that such a donation risks inducing [[spark]] failure. While First Aid tries to talk him around, Bluestreak gets a nasty surprise when he finds the wounded robot's ''face'' on the floor—little do the group realise, their patient is [[Decepticon Justice Division]] member [[Vos (DJD)|Vos]]!

[[File:Megatron terminus births deaths and interventions.jpg|thumb|upright=2]]
''In the mines of Messatine, Megatron is hard at work on [[Towards Peace|his latest piece of writing]] when a cough from his roomate demands his attention. [[Terminus (G1)|Terminus]]—Megatron's friend, proofreader, and the 'bot who somehow smuggles his works back to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]—has been dismembered in a mining accident, and will die if he is not repaired. Sadly, the [[Functionist Council]] has deemed him replaceable, and Megatron now keeps him alive with donations of his own energon. Terminus tries to convince Megatron that, while his words are important, it may become necessary for him to take violent physical action to ensure his message is heard; sensing a change in his friend's tone, Megatron asks him what has happened to alter his viewpoint, and Terminus reveals that he has been visited by Senate agents who suspect that Megatron is still writing. Megatron proposes that he stop, just for a while, but Terminus insists that he ''redouble'' his efforts, as his writings are more necessary than ever. Megatron is prepared to argue, but suddenly, a taser strikes him, knocking him out.''

[[File:Mainframe births deaths and interventions.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.9]]
The weakened Vos chants repeatedly in [[Cybertronian language#Old Cybertronian|Old Cybertronian]], prompting Mainframe to try using some of the theater's translation equipment to decipher his words. Bluestreak continues to examine Vos's detached face, accidentally releasing the multiple stabbing spikes hidden within it—a ghastly revelation that says enough about Vos's nature to convince Mainframe to opt out of donating his energon. Bluestreak also refuses, and First Aid orders the two out of the room, but Trailcutter is still willing, even when First Aid gives him the option to bow out by admitting that he knew from the start that Vos was a Decepticon. First Aid begins transferring some of his own energon first, but as he does so, Trailcutter reads off the translated version of Vos's words: "Find. Kill. Cleanse." Recognizing the motto of the Decepticon Justice Division, the horrified First Aid rips the transfer tube out of his chest, refusing to save the life of such a prolific murderer, even at the cost of his own ethics. Trailcutter insists on going through with the procedure and plugs the tube into himself, but the re-energized Vos then attacks. Trailcutter saves himself by blasting Vos with his leg guns, then throws his "panic bubble" forcefield around himself while First Aid reluctantly runs off to get Bluestreak and Mainframe's help. Unfortunately, Trailcutter soon discovers he has made a horrible mistake, as part of the pile of wreckage inside his bubble begins to transform: he has locked himself inside his own field with a ''second'' DJD member, who now drains energy from his forcefield in order to repair himself: [[Kaon (DJD)|Kaon]]!

[[File:Trepan megatron births deaths and interventions.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8]]
''Megatron awakens on Trepan's operating table, helpless to resist as the [[mnemosurgery|mnemosurgeon]] inserts his finger needle into his brain and prepares to delete his anarchic thoughts. Before he has done little more than scratch the surface of Megatron's mind, however, a call from Froid comes in instructing him to stop: Froid's contemporary [[Rung (G1)|Rung]], an opponent of personality adjustment except in the most extreme cases, has arrived on Messatine. Rung has actually come to inform Froid that the Senate has amended the requirements for personality adjustment, with ''two'' 'bots now required to sign off on the procedure, but before he can even discover who the patient in question is to determine whether or not he will be the second signee, a sudden energy surge from within the mine sets off alarms throughout the facility. So severe is the surge that planetary evacuation is commenced...''

[[File:BirthsDeathsAndInterventions-kaonkillstrailcutter.jpg|thumb|left]]
First Aid, Mainframe, and Bluestreak return to a grisly scene: Kaon has torn Trailcutter limb from limb, and is holding his [[brain module]] in his hands. First Aid tries to explain that the war has been formally ended by Megatron to the unconvinced DJDer, begging him to study Trailcutter's datapad and see the speech for himself. Kaon agrees, but first crushes Trailcutter's brain against the forcefield; he then picks up the datapad, and radios [[Helex (DJD)|Helex]] to beam him and Vos out.

''Freed from Trepan's clutches, Megatron fights against the throng of evacuees to get back to his chamber and save Terminus. Shoving his way past a guard, he finds their room empty, and nobody can tell him what has become of Terminus. Faced with either searching for his friend or saving himself and his unpublished works, Megatron grabs up as many of his datapads as he can carry and runs for the escape shuttle, internally begging for Terminus's forgiveness...''

''...while deep in the deserted mine, the mysterious energy surge peaks, erupts... and [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] materializes, [[time case|briefcase]] in hand. Looking around, he wonders to himself... "Where to start?"''
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] (1)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (2)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]] (3)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (4)
|c2=
*[[Vos (DJD)|Vos]] (9)
*[[Kaon (DJD)|Kaon]] (11)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] (13)
|c4=
*''[[Froid]]'' (5)
*''[[Rolt]]'' (6)
*''[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]'' (7)
*''[[Trepan]]'' (8)
*''[[Terminus (G1)|Terminus]]'' (10)
*''[[Rung (G1)|Rung]]'' (12)
}}

==Quotes==
"'''"Postwar Edition"'''? Don't tell me—there's a new chapter at the end: ''"Ignore everything I just said."''"
:—'''Bluestreak''' on ''Towards Peace''

"Maladies of the mind are easily hidden. We don't '''want''' to see them. They remind us of our fragility."
:—'''Froid'''

"You have two weapons at your disposal: your brain and your fists. You must be prepared to use '''both'''."
:—'''Terminus'''

"Perhaps I should stop writing—just for a while." 
"On the contrary—write '''more'''. Write '''quickly'''. Write while you still can. Pin your thoughts to the page like—like '''wraith-flies''', so that others may study the patterns on their wings. The people are '''hungry''', Megatron. You need to keep feeding them."
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Terminus'''

"It's '''Old Cybertronian'''—and it sounds like a prayer." 
"Do you speak...?" 
"No. Unless swearwords count, in which case I'm a ''<Old Cybertronian>'' '''expert.'''"
:—'''Bluestreak''' and '''Trailcutter'''

"Protest is a form of '''sickness''', Megatron. But don't worry... I'm here to cure you."
:—'''Trepan'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Mainframe explains that a battle has recently occurred above Ofsted XVII between the [[Galactic Council]] (an organization introduced in the [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|2012 ''More than Meets the Eye'' annual]] and oft-mentioned since) and the [[Black Block Consortia]] (another non-Cybertronian organization mentioned in the same breath as the council in [[Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|issue #24]]). The "buncha mechs" they battled is obviously the DJD, and the derelict ship the wrecked duplicate ''[[Lost Light]]''.
*It's also noted that a large number of [[warp gate]]s were deployed during that conflict, providing an explanation for [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]]'s observation last issue that local space had been worn down by warp gate activity.
*Bluestreak alludes to what happened to the other new additions to the ''Lost Light'' crew when the original crew and shuttles began disappearing—they were just left floating in space!
*The Autobots don't recognize Vos because, as was previously established in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|issue #29]], he's a ''new'' Vos, who has since replaced the one seen in the footage of the DJD played at Megatron's trial.
*Froid here receives his first pictorial appearance, after being mentioned in [[More than Meets the Eye issue 13|issue #13]]'s "[[Signal to Noise]]" and [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|issue #28]].
*Rolt mentions a soon-to-be-automated mining outpost by the name "Croteus 12", clearly referring to [[Mining Outpost C-12]], the mine Megatron works in by the time of ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin]]'' and the automation of which triggers his rebellion.
*Rolt's datapad includes Megatron's serial number, "071-980", previously seen in issue #29 and [[Chaos Theory Part 1|"Chaos Theory"]].
*Trepan previously appeared in issues [[Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism|#10]] and [[Remembrance Day|#14]]. In the latter, we learned that Megatron had him killed; notionally, this was to prevent Trepan from teaching [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] mnemosurgery, but in light of this issue's revelations, it's hard to imagine there wasn't an element of personal revenge in the deed.
*This issue introduces us to Terminus, who was mentioned before in issue #28 as the 'bot Megatron originally dedicated ''[[Towards Peace]]'' to.
*Vos chants "Primus spare my Spark" as he clings to life; we heard [[Flywheels]] utter the same prayer back in [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|issue #8]].
*First Aid mentions that Decepticons make their badges out of their spark casing, a tidbit we originally learned way back in [[Life After the Big Bang|issue #4]].
*Trailcutter gets to use the leg-guns he had installed way back in [[Before & After|issue #12]].
*Trailcutter's "panic bubble" was introduced in issue #29.
*Issue #28 showed us that Megatron had a pronounced fear of mnemosurgery, and with Trepan's aborted operation seen here, we now know why.

===Transformers references===
*On the cover, Ultra Magnus references "sub-section 11 (3) of the Autobot Code", another of James Roberts's regular references to [[113 (disambiguation)|the number]].
*Megatron's writings refer to Cybertron leaving orbit as an impossibility, but that's exactly what happened due to the war in [[The Transformers (issue)|the Marvel Comics]].
*When Kaon crushes Trailcutter's brain module, the action is accompanied by a "KRIK" sound effect—the same sound effect that accompanied [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]]'s destruction of [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]]'s brain module in [[The Legacy of Unicron!|issue #147]] of the original [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel UK series]].
*Using the [[Cyberglyphics]] substitution cypher from the [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|Titan ''Transformers'' comic]], Vos's chant is a random string of letters, Trailcutter calls himself a "I’ve gt my n" expert in Old Cybertronian swearwords, and calls Vos "Dick!", "Two!", and "Three!". When Vos points out Kaon, he just says "Word".

===Real-life references===
*The lecture theater in which the Autobots find Vos is named the "Tamizdat" lecture theater. A derivation of "{{w|Samizdat}}"—a Russian loanword referring to the spread of censored publications previously used to describe Megatron's writings in [[Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|issue #9]]—"Tamizdat" specifically refers to such literature published abroad, via smuggled manuscripts. This issue shows us that this is how Megatron's writings reached Cybertron from Messatine, via Terminus; just another example of the Russian political parallels James Roberts has often evoked in describing the growth of the Decepticon movement.

===Errors===
*In the first panel of page 8, Megatron is missing the treads on his back.

===Other notes===
*Where Terminus disappeared to would be revealed in issue 55 - suffice to say, it '''also''' involved a time case. Whether it was this or Brainstorm’s arrival - or both - that triggered the evacuation is unclear.
*Messatine is basically Cybertron's class structure in miniature and reflects Megatron's essay about the system as prison. Rolt is introduced as a seemingly stand-up guy who will stand up for Megatron but Terminus, no longer able to work, is still abandoned by his bosses as a waste of precious resources; managers want to be reclassified as a new class and will prey on the lower classes to gain favours from above; and when the mine is evacuated, it's by class ("intellectual class" trumping even the bosses) and the miners only get in "space permitting".
*Froid allows Rolt to believe he's the Senate's top dog in psychiatric issues but as soon as Rung shows up, and Rolt questions this, Froid just says he must have "misunderstood". Sneaky.

===Crew manifest===
*Trailcutter is killed by Kaon.

===Soundtrack===
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArbsM60-oOc&list=RDArbsM60-oOc#t=6 "The Devil, You + Me"] by {{w|The Notwist}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/524347189796286464 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCUSWbMUJQ4 "Don't You Forget"] by {{w|Micah P Hinson}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/524348876967645184 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akYQRttnQng "Knowing The Ropes"] by {{w|Michael Nyman}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/524350311952302082 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>

===Covers (3)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Ultra Magnus, warning the reader that he's not actually ''in'' the comic and that by purchasing the issue with this cover they're complicit in an act of false advertising, by [[Brendan Cahill]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' Megatron at his writing desk, the shadow of his future self looming large over him, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''30th Anniversary cover:''' The third in October's series of three 30th Anniversary covers by [[Ken Christiansen]], which combines with the covers to [[Primacy issue 3|''Primacy'' #3]] and [[The Crucible|''Robots in Disguise'' #34]] to form an image depicting the major eras of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]]. This cover encapsulates the events of the post-[[The Transformers: The Movie|movie]] era.
<gallery>
File:MTMTE34 regcvr.jpg|You have been warned!
File:MTMTE34 subcvr.jpg|Megatron's shadow made him evil!
File:MTMTE34 cvrRI.jpg|The art makes it look so much cooler than it was.
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''More than Meets the Eye'' #35
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[The Crucible|#34]]
*''[[The Transformers: Primacy|Primacy]]'' [[Primacy issue 3|#3]]
*''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' [[Form Follows Function|#4]]
*IDW ''Transformers'' graphic novel library
*IDW ''Angry Birds'' hardcover (back cover)

===Reprints===
*'''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 7''''' ([[May 13]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631403273 / ISBN 978-1631403279
:*Contains issues #34 to #38.
:*Bonus content includes covers of each issue.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 7|The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 7]]''''' ([[March 21]], [[2018]]) ISBN 1684051495 / ISBN 978-1684051496
:* Contains issues #28 to #34, and ''Robots in Disguise'' issues #28 to #34.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 61: World Shut Your Mouth''''' ([[January 8]], 2020)
:* Hardcover collection of ''More than Meets the Eye'' #28 to #34.
:* Bonus content includes "Season 2" character poster art, a cover gallery and a forward by [[Simon Furman]].

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol7.jpg|'''Volume 7'''; cover art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V7.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Vol. 7'''''; cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]] and [[Tom B. Long]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v61.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 61: World Shut Your Mouth'''''; cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] (Hoist) and [[Alex Milne]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.allspark.com/content/2014/10/idw-more-the-meets-the-eye-34-previews/ Preview]

Accent

2019-12-05T07:17:11Z

Amiga Power:

[[File:MMP2 Cosmos at controls.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Wheeere eeess the Malteeese Faalcon?]]
Some [[Transformer]]s speak the same language as their fellow warriors, but their words sound slightly different. Maybe they pronounce their vowels a little differently, maybe they put more stress on certain consonants, and maybe they pepper their sentences with strange expressions—whatever the case, that Transformer is said to have an '''accent'''. Sometimes possessing an accent can affect a Transformer's relationship with those around them in odd ways, though most often they're simply someone who just doesn't speak the same, and its something that goes unremarked upon.

==Fiction==
===''Cybertron''===
The residents of [[Nebulos|Nebulon]] had an accent closely resembling that of [[Australia]]. [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] spent some time there, and picked up the local accent, retaining it when he returned to fight alongside the other [[Autobot]]s. {{storylink|Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire's Cyber Key Code text}}

===''Bot Shots''===
[[Bot Shots]] such as [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]] who lived on the far side of the [[Rust Sea|Sea of Rust]] spoke with a slightly different accent. As a result, Skyquake sometimes mistakenly thought his comrades were making fun of him. {{storylink|Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake's online bio}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
[[Tarn (polity)|Transformers from Tarn]] have an identifiable accent. Because [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] came from there, anyone with a Tarnian accent was seen as suspicious during the [[Clampdown (event)|Clampdown]]. {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc}}

[[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] has a thick [[Tetrahex]]ian accent. Singing in [[Cybertronian language#2005 IDW continuity|Old Cybertronian]] with a thick Tetrahexian accent sounds like screaming to non-Tetrahexians. {{storylink|Cybertronian Homesick Blues}}

[[Brainstorm]] pronounced the word “[[Necrotitan]]” as NEE-crotitan, and is unable to distinguish between the pronunciation of the words “[[MAAB]]s” and “[[MARB]]s”, implying he has a British accent.

===''Rescue Bots'' cartoon===
At one point [[Cody Burns]] and [[Ezra Greene|Doc Greene]] asked [[Quickshadow]], a bot with a British accent, a British car for a vehicle mode, and who is voiced by a British actress, to open her trunk. She was very confused until she realized they meant her boot. {{storylink|Plus One (RB)|Plus One}}

===''The Last Knight'' film===
[[Hot Rod (DOTM)|Hot Rod]] had a French accent. To his chagrin, he was unable to remove it. {{storylink|Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight}}

==Notes==
*Typically in ''Transformers'' fiction involving voice work, the vast majority of characters speak with what could be described as a generic American accent, however there are a plethora of examples across different continuities of Transformers who speak with strong accents that are similar or identical to other human accents. There are several reasons this is done.
**In a show where thirty different robot characters have speaking lines, a memorable accent or [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|vocal quirk]] helps distinguish between "[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|the red jet guy]]", "[[Thundercracker (G1)|the blue jet guy]]", and "[[Ramjet (G1)|the grey jet guy]]".
**For better or worse, these stereotypical presentations help give audiences a "mental image" of the character—[[Beachcomber (G1)|the guy who talks like a beatnik]] is probably laid-back, relaxed, and totally cool. The [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|guy with the slow drawl]] is a rough and tumble cowboy who doesn't particularly cotton to all that fancy business, pardner. Accents, in this context, provide a sort of "cultural shorthand," which is not even limited to Western audiences—Japanese audiences have their own cliched stereotypes as well.
**Some voice actors play multiple characters within the same series, and adding various accents helps distinguish between them. Having two characters who sound essentially similar, save that one is "[[Outback (G1)|Australian]]" and one is "American" allows a VA to play multiple roles discreetly.
**Occasionally a voice actor will simply bring their own accent to a role.
*Most continuities do not explicitly point out how or when the Transformers learned to speak the dominant native language upon coming to [[Earth]], and indeed will often have scenes—particularly flashbacks—which depict them speaking Earthly languages with their individual accents while still on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], before encountering humans. If one takes these scenes somewhat literally, it would indicate that these accents or some kind of approximations (although probably not the language itself) are somehow native to Cybertron—after all, [[Doctor|lots of planets have a "north"]].
*As placing a particular accent can often vary depending on the ear of the listener and other factors, we have opted not to detail every instance of a Transformer sporting anything other than a generic American accent, unless it is story-relevant or otherwise called out by the fiction.

{{stub}}
[[Category:Transformer culture]]

The Transformers: Bumblebee

2019-09-10T22:01:55Z

Amiga Power: /* Notes */

{{disambig2|the [[IDW Publishing]] miniseries|characters named Bumblebee|Bumblebee (disambiguation)}}
[[File:Transformers Bumblebee 1B.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Back to [[GEEWUN]]? Can I have a [[Pretender]] shell at least?]]
'''''The Transformers: Bumblebee''''' is a 4-issue limited series published by [[IDW Publishing]] from [[2009]]–[[2010]] and set in the [[2005 IDW continuity]].

The miniseries served as sort of a maxi-''[[The Transformers: Spotlight|Spotlight]]'' for [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] and ran concurrently with the then-current [[The Transformers (IDW)|ongoing series]]. The events follow the ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'' maxiseries and are specifically set between issues #3 and #5 of the ongoing.

{{chapters |style=3 |prev=The Transformers (IDW)|next=The Transformers (IDW)|series=bumblebee|content=
* [[The Hanging Sword|#1]]
* [[The Impossible Knot|#2]]
* [[The Gift Horse|#3]]
* [[Wings of Wax|#4]]
}}

==Overview==
Although Bumblebee was elected as [[Autobot]] leader, he gets little respect, as Autobots strike out on their own or disrespect his authority. A rogue faction within [[Skywatch]] contacts the Autobots and sets up a meeting with Bumblebee to enlist the Autobots' help in capturing [[Decepticon]]s. Bumblebee agrees and the bots are fitted with special badges to cloak them from the main Skywatch force, but when Colonel [[Gordon Horiuchi|Horiuchi]] orders the capture of [[Blurr (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Blurr]] and resentment ensues, the Autobots learn that the badges also have the ability to immobilize them.
{{issuestub}}

==Creative team==
''Transformers: Bumblebee'' is written by [[Zander Cannon]] and illustrated by [[Chee Yang Ong]], who both worked on stories in ''All Hail Megatron Coda''. [[Moose Baumann]] provides colors. [[Guido Guidi]] and [[Josh Burcham]] team up to provide alternate covers.

==Notes==
*The events of the miniseries take place between issues 3 and 5 of [[The Transformers (IDW)|the ongoing title]].
*According to [[Andy Schmidt]], this miniseries was intended to appeal mainly to younger readers, while still fitting into the main storyline.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111030131144/http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=166855 Andy Schmidt explains which audience each of the current (January 2010) running series is aimed towards.]</ref> How this squares with the graphic imagery of cows being killed by Frenzy, drill-hands soaked in blood, is unclear,
* The titles of all four issues are derived from incidents in Greek mythology and legend (the sword of Damocles, the Gordian Knot, the Trojan Horse and the flight of [[Icarus]]). There is [[Transformers: Micromasters#Notes|precedent]] for this, albeit less high-falutin'.
*One of the things this mini became known for is the large number of discrepancies both between the artwork and the dialogue, as well as with the artwork of the concurrently released ongoing series. This affects character designs, [[Bluestreak (G1)|characters]] appearing in places they shouldn't be, the "badges" Horiuchi's rogue Skywatch faction provides the Autobots with being rather obviously interpreted very differently than intended by the script, several characters with very Asian-sounding names being drawn as white people (including a red-haired girl), and more.

==Collections==
* '''''The Transformers: Bumblebee'' TPB''' ([[July 8]], [[2010]]) ISBN 1600107028 / ISBN 978-1600107023
:* Bonus material includes cover art from all issues.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Six]]''''' ([[May 9]], [[2012]]) ISBN 1613771835 / ISBN 978-1613771839
:*Contains ''[[The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers]]'' #1–6, ''Bumblebee'' #1–4, ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'' #1–5 and ''[[The Transformers: Spotlight|Spotlight]]'': [[Ride-Along|Prowl]].

*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 47: International Incident''''' ([[March 3]], [[2019]])
**Collects ''Bumblebee'' #1–4 and ''[[The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers]]'' #9–12.
**Bonus material includes an interview with Zander Cannon and breakdowns for pages 1–4 of each issue of ''Bumblebee''.

<gallery>
File:Transformers Bumblebee TPB.jpg|'''''Bumblebee'' TPB'''; cover art by [[Chee Yang Ong]] and [[Moose Baumann]]
File:IDWCollection6.jpg|'''''IDW Collection Volume Six'''''; cover art by [[E. J. Su]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v47.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 47: International Incident'''''; cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] and [[Guido Guidi]]
</gallery>

==External links==
* [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=23471 Comicbookresources article]

==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bumblebee, The Transformers}}
[[Category:IDW (2005) comic series]]

The Hanging Sword

2019-09-10T21:58:38Z

Amiga Power:

{{Comicstory|
|series=bumblebee|issueno=1
|prev=
|next=The Impossible Knot
|seriesissue2=
|prev2=
|next2=
|title="The Hanging Sword"
|image=Transformers Bumblebee 1B.jpg
|caption=I picked out the new carpet... does the leader do anything else?
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[December 16]], [[2009]]
|coverdate=December 2009
|writer=[[Zander Cannon]]
|artist=[[Chee Yang Ong]]
|colorist=[[Moose Baumann]]
|letterer=[[Neil Uyetake]]
|editor=[[Andy Schmidt]]
|associate editor=[[Denton J. Tipton]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline#2010|Current era (2010)]]
}}
'''Bumblebee adjusts to his unexpected role and tries to forge a new alliance.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Bumblebee 1 Leader.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|left|And there was much rejoicing]]
The election of [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] as Autobot leader is full of cheer, but within a few days, Bumblebee wishes he could give up the title. Tensions are high as the [[Autobot]]s either stay in hiding, or forge out on their own. [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] rebukes a disrespectful [[Wheeljack (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Wheeljack]], who later receives a transmission from Colonel [[Gordon Horiuchi]]. While Bumblebee is explaining to [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] that he must hide in a very uncomfortable cave, Wheeljack listens to the Colonel, who states that he is part of a small group of rebels within [[Skywatch]] who want to work with the Autobots to capture [[Decepticon]]s. Wheeljack decides to make contact.

Bumblebee and Ratchet are furious when they find out, but agree to meet the Colonel anyway. At a neutral location, Horiuchi meets with Bumblebee and explains his desire to work with the Autobots. He cites [[Skywarp (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Skywarp]] as an example, who has recently attacked two defense suppliers. Unbeknownst to all of them, Skywarp is secretly stockpiling weapons for the day when [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] returns. Horiuchi gives Bumblebee a set of badges that will mask Transformer signals from Skywatch's scanners. Bumblebee takes the badges back to base where they are soon installed on each Autobot.

The Autobots soon capture six Decepticons, the latest being [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]], who is lost without [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] and has taken to spending his days bloodily slaughtering cattle with his drills. The next on the list is [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]], but instead, Horiuchi wants them to capture [[Blurr (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Blurr]], who had earlier left the team. When Cliffjumper loudly objects to capture one of their own, Horiuchi has his tech activate an immobilizer built into Cliffjumper's badge, locking him into [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]]. The Autobots are aghast, but Horiuchi explains it is merely until he calms down. The Autobots all realize that with these badges installed on all of them, they are now pawns for Horiuchi, essentially slaves, to be used as the Colonel sees fit, to capture friend and foe alike.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] (1)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (2)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Silverstreak]] (3)
*[[Hound (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hound]] (4)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (5)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Wheeljack]] (6)
*[[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (9)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (18)
*[[Blurr (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Blurr]] (on-screen display only) (19)
|c2=
*[[Skywarp (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Skywarp]] (7)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (12)
*[[Cindersaur (G1)|Cindersaur]] (13)
*[[Gutcruncher (G1)|Gutcruncher]] (14)
*[[Axer (G1)|Axer]] (15)
*[[Squawkbox]] (16)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (17)
|c3=
*Colonel [[Gordon Horiuchi]] (8)
*Lieutenant [[Daniel Klonowski]] (10)
*[[Skywatch]] personnel (11)
}}

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*'''First appearance''': [[Cindersaur (G1)|Cindersaur]]
*Cindersaur, [[Gutcruncher (G1)|Gutcruncher]], [[Axer (G1)|Axer]] and [[Squawkbox]] somehow made it to Earth within the last three years.
*Blurr deserted in [[Things Fall Apart, Part 2: "A Rude Awakening"|issue 3]] of [[The Transformers (IDW)|the ongoing]].
*Soundwave left Earth three years ago. You'd think Frenzy would be used to it by now.

===Real-world references===
*The title is a reference to the ancient Greek story of the sword of {{w|Damocles}}.

===Errors===
[[File:IDWBluestreakSilverstreak.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Wolverine publicity is one thing, but ''this'' is ridiculous.]]
*Silverstreak was listed as having left with Hot Rod in [[Things Fall Apart, Part 1: "New Arrivals, Old Encounters"|issue #2 of the ongoing]], but a very Bluestreak-looking Autobot is among those cheering for Bumblebee on the second page. Perhaps Silverstreak is a different character? Or maybe it's supposed to be [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]]?
*The buttons on the communications array have been crudely labelled, appearing straight and vertical within the frames, rather than following the angles of the buttons as they face the reader.
*Bumblebee lists six Decepticons captured (with mugshots of six Decepticons behind him), but just a few panels later, Col. Horiuchi says it's ''five'' Decepticons captured, with the sixth mugshot (Scavenger) representing the next target.

===Other trivia===
*Though the character designs for this miniseries are very different from the [[The Transformers (IDW)|ongoing title]], it's still odd that Cliffjumper retained his ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'' design while Bumblebee has been changed to his ''Generation One'' design.

{{--}}

===Covers (3)===
*'''Cover A:''' Happy Bumblebee and a mad Hot Rod; art by [[Guido Guidi]] with colors by [[Josh Burcham]].
*'''Cover B:''' Unhappy Bumblebee standing on the Autobot symbol; art by [[Chee Yang Ong]] with colors by [[Moose Baumann]].
*'''Cover RI:''' Black and white sketch version of cover B.
<gallery>
File:Transformers Bumblebee 1A.jpg|Back to my G1 [[character model]]—YES!
File:Transformers Bumblebee 1B.jpg|Ok, I'm small, get over it!
File:Transformers Bumblebee 1 CoverRI.jpg|RI cover
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*[[The Impossible Knot|''Transformers Bumblebee'' #2]]
*''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'' #12 and #13
*''Ghostbusters: Past, Present, and Future'' one-shot
*''Ghostbusters: Displaced Aggression'' #4
*[[Things Fall Apart, Part 1: "New Arrivals, Old Encounters"|''The Transformers'' #2]]
*[[...For All Mankind|''The Transformers'' #1]], this very issue, and [[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 1|''Last Stand of the Wreckers'' #1]]
*''The Family Circus Library'' Vol. 1
*''Bringing Up Father''
*''[[The Transformers Continuum]]'' and ''The Transformers'' #1, 2nd printing
*''[[Star Trek]] Alien Spotlight: Cardassians''
*''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Fool's Gold''
*''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'' (back cover)

===Reprints===
Other than [[The Transformers: Bumblebee#Collections|collections of the full series]]
* N/A

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hanging Sword}}

The Everlasting Voices (2): The God War

2018-10-03T19:51:55Z

Amiga Power: /* Continuity notes */

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Lost Light|The Transformers: Lost Light]]'' #17
|prev=The Everlasting Voices (1): Metastasis
|next=The Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here
|image=LL17_cvrA.jpg
|title="The Everlasting Voices (2): The God War"
|caption= "Are you telling me that you played the prat version of Rodimus, for four years?!"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[April 18]], 2018 (digital, limited print) [[April 25]], 2018 (widespread print)
|coverdate=April 2018
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Jack Lawrence]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[David Mariotte]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era]]
}}
'''Rodimus assembles a defense team to plead their case before the Guiding Hand, as our heroes get closer to unraveling the mystery of the Afterspark.'''

==Synopsis==
As [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] and [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] gape, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] examines the scorched spot on the ground where [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] stood a moment before. He is distracted from his work, however, by the sudden appearance of his deceased brother, [[Dominus Ambus]]. Dominus apologizes to Magnus for all the secrets he has kept from him, and tells him that he is proud of the 'bot his brother has become. Magnus is overcome with joy, and the giant [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] in the sky shines its light down upon him as he begins to ascend...

Not far away, [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]]'s [[Early Early Warning System]] leads himself, [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]], [[Drift (G1)|Drift]], and [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] to a temple, where they catch [[Anode]] and [[Lug (IDW)|Lug]] in the act of stealing the building's "soft [[ununtrium]]" spire. Unconvinced that they are all dead, and deciding that even if they ''are'', all that it means is that there are no more consequences for their actions, the two treasure hunters brush off Nautica's scolding and head off to see what they can pillage from the floating Matrix. The rest of the team return their attention to the temple, but before they can enter, Nightbeat catches sight of a trail of [[photonic crystal]]s on the ground, and decides to follow it instead. A second later, Drift also leaves the group... when a bolt of holy lightning teleports him away!

Drift reappears at Rodimus's side, followed a moment later by Ratchet and Magnus, snatched away just before the latter's ascension could occur. Rodimus has assembled the team to serve as counsel while he petitions the [[Guiding Hand]] to allow them all to return to the world of the living. Even when confronted by the towering forms of the five gods, Ratchet doesn't believe they are real, and demands to know who they really are. By way of an answer, [[Adaptus]] calls upon Drift to recite the story of the "[[God War]]:" the conflict that erupted when [[Mortilus]], god of death, turned on the other members of his pantheon, and, using [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]] as a staging base, began killing Cybertronians in their millions in order to bring death to the whole world. The war led to the destruction of the Guiding Hand's physical forms, but they lived on as ideas, and seeing the death that had been caused, pooled their power to create the [[Transformer afterlife|Afterspark]], a world to which Transformers would go upon their deaths, where they could live forever. Ultra Magnus is struck by the Guiding Hand's willingness to give Mortilus a second chance, reminded of [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]], but Rodimus makes sure Magnus's attention is focused on the matter at hand: ascertaining if the Guiding Hand have the power to resurrect them. Rodimus is undissuaded by the gods' warning that resurrection will mean they can never return to the Afterspark, so they ask him a simple question: why does he want to go back? After a few false starts, Rodimus manages to cut to the heart of the matter: he wants himself, and his crew, back on the ''[[Lost Light]]'' because that's where they've always been happiest. But, as the gods point out, they can be happier than they have ever been here in the Afterspark. With that, Rodimus's petition is denied, and the four [[Autobot]]s disappear in a flash.

Elsewhere, [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] and [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] trek across the Afterspark, sharing the stories of their deaths, as Tailgate reveals the truth about why he pushed Cyclonus away back on [[Necroworld]]. The pair vow never to be apart again.

Rodimus, Magnus, Drift, and Ratchet rematerialize on the opposite side of the temple Brainstorm and Nautica are investigating. Magnus is immediately accepting of their failure and speeds off to reunite with Dominus, but of course, Ratchet remains unconvinced by anything he has seen. Looking up at the temple, he sees the words "We Are All Trapped Light" written over an archway; the phrase is familiar to him, but somehow, neither Rodimus nor Drift can even ''see'' the words. The phenomenon continues as they explore inside; Ratchet can see a huge "W0" written on a pair of double doors that neither of his companions can. Ratchet pushes the doors open, revealing a haunting sight: a dozen aliens, each from a different species, all lying unconscious on slabs and hooked up to a cylindrical vat full of crackling green "trapped light." The hospital-like atmosphere clues our heroes in to the fact that "W0" stands for "Ward Zero"... but before they can figure anything else out, all the "patients" begin chanting a familiar mantra: "Prepare, Confront, Repel"... and suddenly the shadows around the three all fill with [[Omega Guardian|glowing red optics]]!

Nightbeat follows the trail of crystals back to the Matrix, where most of the other remaining members of the party are still hanging out, though not the one 'bot Nightbeat wants to see: [[Rung (G1)|Rung]]. When [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] asks why he's looking for him, Nightbeat explains what he has deduced: Rung had previously concluded that his purpose was to make photonic crystals, but he did not need to ''transform'' to do so, meaning that the mystery of his [[alternate mode]] remains unsolved. Unsolved, that is, until now—Nightbeat has cracked it! Unfortunately, the detective is so elated at having solved one of the "Big Three" mysteries to which he has dedicated his life that, before he can say another word, he ascends on the spot, his [[spark]] departing his body and flying off to the Matrix above!

Back in the temple, Nautica and Brainstorm are exploring their side of the building when they stumble upon [[Quark]], Brainstorm's long-unrequited crush. ''Oh so conveniently'', Quark confesses that he has always loved Brainstorm too, and Brainstorm immediately forgets his and Nautica's mission and leaves with Quark to walk back to the Matrix, discarding his red-hot Early Early Warning Device as he goes. Left alone, Nautica discovers a door marked "Danger: Do Not Enter", but before she can turn the handle, [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] appears and invites her to walk to the Matrix with him. However, due to the loss of her emotional attachment to Skids on [[Troja Major]], Nautica is not particularly moved by the appearance of the 'bot who was once her best friend, and when she doesn't respond to his advances, Skids flickers, distorts, and disappears. Realizing that these "dead friends" are actually distractions sent by someone or something to prevent the crew from learning the truth of their situation, Nautica returns her attention to the door, opening it and stepping through... into [[Grimlock (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Grimlock]]'s cell on [[Garrus-9]], where she runs smack into the baffled [[Scavenger (group)|Scavengers]]!

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks. 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (1)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] (2)
*[[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] (3)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]] (4)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (5)
*[[Dominus Ambus]] (6)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (9)
*[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (10)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Brainstorm]] (11)
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (12)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] (18)
*[[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (20)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (21)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (24)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (27)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] (28)
*[[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] (29)
*[[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] (30)
*[[Fulcrum]] (31)
*[[Krok (G1)|Krok]] (32)
*[[Nickel]] (33)

|c4=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Anode]] (7)
*[[Lug (IDW)|Lug]] (8)
*[[Solomus]] (13)
*[[Mortilus]] (14)
*[[Primus]] (15)
*[[Adaptus]] (16)
*[[Epistemus]] (17)
*''[[Ten]]'' (19)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] (22)
*[[Quark]] (23)
*Alien patients (25)
*[[Omega Guardian|Ominous figures]] (26)
{{!}}}
}}

==Quotes==
"That wasn't normal lightning—that was '''God's judgement.'''" 
"You're half right. 'Normal' lightning wouldn't have made Rodimus '''disappear'''—in fact, he'd probably have acted as a '''conductor.'''" 
"A '''lightning rod...!''' (Why am I like this?)"
:—'''Swerve''' and '''Ratchet'''

"One. I'm not convinced we're dead. Two. If we '''are''', I'm not convinced this is '''the Afterspark'''. Three. If it '''is''', I'm not convinced that I've broken the rules. And four, if I '''have''', what does that matter? We're dead." 
"I'm sorry, I can't watch logic being abused this way."
:—'''Anode''' and '''Nightbeat'''

"I'd like an explanation so I can '''reject it.'''"
:—'''Ratchet'''

'''Drift:''' "Why did you allow Mortilus to re-join you when it was his betrayal that tore you apart?" 
'''Solomus:''' "No one deserves to be '''cast out''' forever. When confronted by someone who staggers under the weight of their mistakes—someone who '''burns for forgiveness'''—the correct response is to give them a '''second chance.''' Even if, deep down, you know they might squander it. Perhaps that sounds perverse." 
'''Ultra Magnus:''' "No. No, it does not."

'''Adaptus:''' "Why do you want to leave?" 
'''Rodimus:''' "One word, three syllables. If you're who you say you are—if you know everything there is to know—you'll understand why I can't let '''Getaway''' win." 
'''Adaptus:''' "You're not being honest. You think you are, but you're not." 
'''Ratchet:''' "No, it's Getaway." 
'''Ultra Magnus:''' "It's definitely Getaway." 
'''Drift:''' "Like, a hundred percent."

"I died before the accident. I died before you did." 
"Before '''I''' did?" 
"I died on Necroworld—when you told me to go without you."
:—'''Cyclonus''' and '''Tailgate'''

"First '''Nightbeat''', then '''Drift'''... it's as if someone wants us to turn back." 
"Do you want to turn back? Have you had enough?" 
"Er, you're talking to someone who built four thousand and nine non-functional time machines. I don't give up easily."
:—'''Brainstorm''' and '''Nautica'''

"Where's Rung?" 
"With Chromedome and Rewind, I think. Why?" 
"I need to tell him he's wrong." 
"Ooh—I'll help."
:—'''Nightbeat''' and '''Whirl'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Though the events of the story make it evident that it's not really him, Dominus Ambus makes his first appearance in his true, "irreducible" [[turbofox]] form's robot mode as a walking, talking entity, having only appeared like this before in a file photo seen in [[The Dying of the Light Part 4: At Close of Day|''More than Meets the Eye'' #53]].
*The spire Anode and Lug steal is made of "soft ununtrium", a less-indestructible version of the mighty metal used in the creation of [[Phase Sixer]]s, as introduced in [[Remembrance Day|''More than Meets the Eye'' #14]]. Ununtrium's incredible value was previously noted in [[The Plotters' Club (Part 3): Journey's End|''Lost Light'' #12]] by the Scavengers—the last known supply of it was used up on [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]], as seen in [[Remembrance Day|''More than Meets the Eye'' #14]].
*Rodimus observes that by employing Drift, Ratchet, and Magnus as his counsel, he is covering every base: "faith, science, and law", respectively. This hearkens back to the villainous trinity from ''More than Meets the Eye'' season 1, [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]], [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]], and [[Solomus|Tyrest]], who represented each of those three pillars corrupted.
*At Adaptus's instruction, Drift recounts a slightly different take on the story of the Guiding Hand's war against Mortilus than the one originally heard in [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|the 2012 ''More than Meets the Eye'' annual]]. There had always been a slight disconnect between that story and the reality of the comic, in that the myth claimed [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]] was destroyed, but it turned up intact in [[Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|''More than Meets the Eye'' #17]] and has appeared in several subsequent stories. The story Drift tells (explicitly noted to be one of multiple stories that exist) realigns things, noting that the moon was merely knocked out of orbit and "sent careening through space" by the final blast Primus unleashed to kill Mortilus. Though obviously the events of this issue make it seem like this whole scenario is a fake-a-roo, Mortilus's continued appearance among the hand is not anomalous in and of itself, as it is justified by the myth, which notes that he was able to live again, since the ''idea'' of death still existed, thereby ensuring his rebirth.
*Drift's description of "a bolt of divine light [leaping] from Cybertron to Luna 1" is at least partially corroborated by [[Stick_Together|''Robots in Disguise'' #3]], in which Cybertron—reset to its primordial state—attempted to transmit energy to an absent Luna 1, with explosive results.
*Solomus's imprisonment in the crystal that would become the Matrix of Leadership is described as him being reduced to a single thought, "half impulse, half reaction," hearkening back to the Matrix splitting in half at the end of [[Chaos (IDW)|"Chaos"]] and its subsequent gifting to Rodimus and Bumblebee - who respectively embody those characteristics.
*The phrase "trapped light" was first heard all the way back in [[Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|''The Death of Optimus Prime'']], when [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] offered it as a potential translation for [[Ancient Cybertronian|Old Cybertronian]] text found within the Matrix. In [[Dissolution Part 2: Anomie|issue #2]], Drift included it among the list of phrases he saw in the vision he experienced in [[Dissolution Part 1: Some Other Cybertron|issue #1]].
*The use of the term "ward" is carefully chosen here; that's the word that was used to refer to the [[Adaptus|Grand Architect]]'s facilities in [[Chasing the Infinite|issue #9]]. That the aliens all begin chanting "Prepare, confront, repel"—a phrase that has been associated with the Architect since its introduction in [[Animals|''More than Meets the Eye'' #46]], and another of those seen by Drift in his vision—only confirms his involvement.
*Speaking of those aliens, the different races Rodimus identifies are all ones from past issues: a [[Frayus|Frayan]] (from [[The Plotters' Club (Part 2): Filling in the Blanks|issue #11]]; but see "Errors"), a [[Macerator (G1)|Macerator]] (from [[Signal to Noise|''More than Meets the Eye'' #13]]), a [[Temptorian]] (from [[Before & After|''More than Meets the Eye'' #12]]), a [[Miliarian]] (from [[The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|''More than Meets the Eye'' #50]]) and a [[personality tick]] (from [[The Sensuous Frame|''More than Meets the Eye'' #41]]-[[The Frail Gaze|42]]).
*Rung discovered that he was capable of making photonic crystals back in [[Dissolution Part 5: Modes of Production|issue #5]], which at the time seemed to settle the mystery of what his purpose was. However, as many readers observed at the time, this was ''never'' the mystery of Rung as it was originally presented to us back in [[Little Victories|''More than Meets the Eye'' #22]]: the question was always "what does Rung ''turn into?''" That question, it turns out, has not been forgotten...
*"Skids" refers to the time he and Nautica danced together, in ''More than Meets the Eye'' #42.
*Nautica had her emotional connection to Skids removed in issue #9.
*We rejoin the Scavengers exactly where we left them at the end of [[Kill All 'Cons|issue #15]].

===Transformers references===
*It ''might'' just be coincidence, but given that the Grand Architect previously cribbed dialogue from [[Unicron]] in issue #15, and his fingerprints are all over this issue, the "Guiding Hand's" warning feels like another example of this. Should Team Rodimus be resurrected then die again, the gods warn, they will "proceed directly to oblivion"—riffing on Unicron's exchange with Megatron in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', in which the monster planet tells the Decepticon leader to "proceed on [his] way to oblivion."

===Real-life references===
*The title of this multi-part story is taken from the {{w|W. B. Yeats}} poem, [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/57302/the-everlasting-voices "The Everlasting Voices".]

===Errors===
*The eyes on page 12 don't seem to have been colored in all the way, making Ratchet, Rodimus, and Drift look like their optics have gone dark. This was corrected in the trade paperback.
*The natives of [[Frayus]] are referred to as "Frayan" by Rodimus in this issue, but the term used in issue #11 was "Fraynian". This was corrected in the trade paperback.

===Other trivia===
*This issue was intended for release on April 25th, 2018, but a scheduling error caused it to be bumped up a week. The issue was released digitally on April 18th, and copies were sent to ''some'' stores.

===Soundtrack===
For all of "The Everlasting Voices":
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONxp_lLXWGk Twilight]" by {{w|Electric Light Orchestra}}

For this part alone:
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SvSY1iWIbI I'm Ready to Move On/Wild Heart Reprise]" by {{w|Bleachers (band)|Bleachers}}
*"[https://open.spotify.com/album/3TlSSVWAeW4TB2FkVZ94dI All Your Secrets]" by {{w|Yo La Tengo}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6RnlngUZJY Your Belgian Things]" by {{w|The Mountain Goats}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPmC3HasWsc Waitin' For a Superman]" by {{w|The Flaming Lips}}

===Covers (3)===
*'''Cover A:''' Rodimus defiantly stands before the Guiding Hand, by [[Jack Lawrence]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
*'''Cover B:''' Ultra Magnus ascends, by [[Jack Lawrence]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Black and white lineart version of Cover A
<gallery>
File:LL17 cvrA.jpg| "I have nothing BUT contempt for this pantheon!"
File:LL17 cvrB.jpg| Preliminary cover art, [[Sardines|'''Terms of Peace''']]
File:LL17 cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''Lost Light'' #18
*''[[The Transformers: Redemption of the Dinobots|Redemption of the Dinobots]]'' TPB
*''Dungeons & Dragons: Evil at Baldur's Gate''
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]: Forces of Destiny'' TPB
*''Samurai Jack: Quantum Jack'' TPB
*IDW ''[[Star Trek]]: Discovery'' comic
*''Half Past Danger 2'' hardcover
*CGC Comics
*IDW ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' #1-4

==External links==
*[https://www.facebook.com/idwpublishing/posts/10156279468648279 Preview]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Everlasting Voices (2): The God War}}
[[Category: Lost Light issues]]

The Everlasting Voices (1): Metastasis

2018-10-03T19:47:02Z

Amiga Power: /* Continuity notes */

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Lost Light|The Transformers: Lost Light]]'' #16
|prev=Kill All 'Cons
|next=The Everlasting Voices (2): The God War
|image=LL16_cvrA.jpg
|title="The Everlasting Voices (1): Metastasis"
|caption=Everybody's dead, Dave.
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[March 14]], [[2018]]
|coverdate=March 2018
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Jack Lawrence]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[David Mariotte]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era]]
}}
'''Death is just the beginning of the next step on Team Rodimus's journey.'''

==Synopsis==
One by one, the members of [[Team Rodimus]] awaken in unfamiliar surroundings. All separated from one another, each finds themselves on a slab inside individual, one-person rooms. Simultaneously, [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] awaken and step outside, where they are greeted by the sight of a vast, empty metal plain, and a sight that shocks Rodimus, but fills Cyclonus with elation... a gigantic [[Matrix of Leadership]] hovering above the unknown planet's surface!

Rodimus starts walking across the barren landscape. With no clue of how he wound up in his current location, he radios [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]], but the ex-lawman, still back in his room, is equally stumped, though he can at least confirm they're on the same planet, since he can see the Matrix too. As they talk, Rodimus stumbles across [[Ten]], who cheerfully greets him, still possessing his inexplicably-restored ability to speak beyond simply saying his own name. Ten can't explain his speech any more than Rodimus can, but is positively thrilled by it—not just because he can ''speak'', but because being ''able'' to speak gives him the chance to at last thank Rodimus for the home and friendship that the crew of the ''[[Lost Light]]'' have given him. As the ebullient Ten finishes voicing his gratitude, however, the giant Matrix overhead flares with blue light, projecting a beam that envelops Ten. The smile never leaving his face, Ten's body splits open and his [[spark]] emerges, ascending into the light and leaving his deceased mortal remains behind.

Elsewhere, [[Brainstorm (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Brainstorm]] and [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] find [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]], still in her room, examining the symbols etched onto her slab. Even as Brainstorm's [[Early Early Warning System|Early Early Warning Device]] drones an alert non-stop, Nautica translates the symbols as the "Primal Sacrament", the version of the Cybertronian creation myth told by the [[Clavis Aurea]] religious order that states [[Primus]] subdivided himself to give life to the pantheon of gods called the [[Guiding Hand]]. They are soon interrupted by an excited [[Drift (G1)|Drift]], who calls for them to join him outside.

[[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] arrives at Rodimus's location and has just completed examining Ten's body—confirming him to be dead—when Ultra Magnus, [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]], and [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] show up as well. Swerve concludes that Ten has "ascended," an enigmatic comment that pushes Whirl's patience to the breaking point, until Cyclonus arrives to explain what he and Swerve have both realized...

''The last thing anyone can remember, back aboard [[Skip]], Ten had begun speaking, declaring the "fate of the universe" to be at stake. As it turns out, that seems to have been deliberate hyperbole just to get everyone's attention, as the [[Legislator]] uses his new voice—which Nightbeat notes seems to be different from his regular one—to take charge of the situation. To save the de-materializing Ratchet, Ten instructs the crew to set course for the nearest [[Mederi]] facility, and guides them in modifying Skip's engines so they can fast-travel via "compressed space"—knowledge that Ten himself is unsure how he possesses. Unfortunately, mid-transit, the mass-displacement technology being used to enlarge Skip gives out completely, and the crew are forced to bail out to avoid being crushed. They are consumed by the ravages of compressed space...''

''...and die.''

Cyclonus and Swerve inform their comrades that they are all dead and in the [[Transformer afterlife|Afterspark]], a claim that is met with skepticism from several of the group, not least of all confirmed atheist Ratchet. He is about to go off on a rant until Whirl bonks him on the head to silence him; ''wherever'' it is they are, they are there because they were attempting to save Ratchet's life, so he could at least not be a jerk about it. Ratchet sighs and concedes the point, but announces aloud that he still needs to see some proof that they are in the land of the dead. As if on cue, in a flash of light, [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]] and [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] appear in front of the group! Cyclonus is the quickest to overcome his shock, and without a word, transforms to jet mode and streaks off into the distance.

Meanwhile, Drift has given the same explanation to Brainstorm, Nautica, and Nightbeat, crediting his ability to remember the details to his having "attuned himself to liminal spaces". While Drift and Brainstorm ponder Ratchet's potential reactions to the news, Nautica and Nightbeat discuss heavier matters. Following his experiences on [[Necroworld]], Nightbeat had hoped to solve the mystery of life after death, only for the answer to now wind up dropped in his lap—just the latest in a line of "solutions" to the big mysteries of the universe that he has failed to solve under his own power. He is snapped out of his melancholy by the sound of an engine, and looks up to see [[Roller (IDW)|Roller]] speeding toward the group on a bike. Roller hops off and the bike transforms, revealing itself to be Roller's old police co-worker, [[Springarm]], who died millions of years ago. Roller still feels guilty about not being there to save him, but Springarm has long since forgiven him, and the two friends zoom off together again. As Nautica tries to call after them, Brainstorm's Early Early Warning Device overheats to the point it burns his hands...

While Ratchet examines Pipes, Trailcutter explains to the others that they are in the Afterspark "in repose", a transitional plane to protect them from the brilliance of the true afterlife, to which they will ascend, as Ten did, when they are mentally and spiritually ready. Some distance away, punctuating Trailcutter's point, Cyclonus locates what he set off to search for: [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]], who has been waiting for Cyclonus to find him so they can ascend together.

Ratchet attempts to perk up the depressed Rodimus so they can deal with the situation, but proves unable to motivate him. Whirl, on the other hand, knows the secret word to do just that: what, Whirl wonders, would ''[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]]'' do in this situation? His ego appropriately threatened, Rodimus springs into action, refusing to let a little thing like "being dead" stop him from retaking the ''Lost Light'' from the mutinous [[Getaway]]. Arrogantly addressing the heavens, Rodimus demands an audience with Primus himself, berating and goading the invisible deity. With a thunderbolt, Rodimus's "prayers" are answered: he is reduced to a pair of smoking footprints, but reappears elsewhere on a dais that floats in front of the titanic forms of the Guiding Hand themselves! Staring his gods in the face, Rodimus grins and extends a hand in greeting...

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks. 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] (1)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (3)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] (5)
*[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (6)
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (7)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Brainstorm]] (8)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (9)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (10)
*[[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (11)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (12)
*''[[Rung (G1)|Rung]]'' (14)
*''[[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Chromedome]]'' (17)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*''[[Rewind (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rewind]]'' (18)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]] (19)
*[[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] (20)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (22)
{{!}}}
|c4=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] (2)
*[[Ten]] (4)
*[[Roller (IDW)|Roller]] (13)
*''[[Anode]]'' (15)
*''[[Lug (IDW)|Lug]]'' (16)
*[[Springarm]] (21)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Solomus]] (23)
*[[Mortilus]] (24)
*[[Primus]] (25)
*[[Epistemus]] (26)
*[[Adaptus]] (27)
{{!}}}
}}

==Quotes==
"So let me get this straight. You wake up in a '''strange place''' with no memory of how you got there, and the first thing you do is call '''me?'''" 
"Of course!" 
"Well, I must say that's... that's very '''flattering.''' I suppose we '''have''' been through a lot together..." 
"Right? I mean literally who else would I call?" 
"I don't know, I thought you and '''Drift''' were—" 
"Yeah, I tried Drift, he's not picking up."
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Rodimus'''

"Abandon Skip!"
:—'''Rodimus''' makes us all wonder if the Decepticon's name was always a set-up for this joke...

"I'm not religious. I don't trust any system that trades on compliance—especially one that bribes you with '''forgiveness.'''"
:—'''Whirl'''

"I'm not having the best of days. First, I survive a terminal illness by dying—something which makes even '''less''' sense when I say it out loud. And then I'm told that everything I lived my life by—everything I defined myself with reference to—science, medicine, rationalism—was wrong." 
"I believe they call that a '''<nowiki>'</nowiki>double-whammy.<nowiki>'</nowiki>'''"
:—'''Ratchet''' and '''Ultra Magnus'''

"If I'd know death was going to be like this, I wouldn't have '''courted''' it so much. Angry denials, stunned silences, gasps of disbelief... it's like that time Magnus tried to tell a joke."
:—'''Whirl'''

"I knew you'd find me."
:—'''Tailgate''', to Cyclonus

'''Swerve:''' "You can't just—you can't just '''demand''' an audience with god." 
'''Rodimus:''' "Watch me." 
''<Rodimus whistles>'' 
'''Rodimus: <big>"YO! Primus!</big>''' Rodimus here. Long time fan, first time caller." 
'''Swerve:''' "Oh. My. God." 
'''Ultra Magnus:''' "And yet, if Rodimus were ever going to engage in a '''theological conversation,''' this is exactly how it would play out."

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*This issue rejoins Team Rodimus following the events of [[Sardines|issue #13]].
*Ten is revealed to have a spark, which is a bit of a surprise, as there was no indication he and his fellow [[Legislator]]s had them. As noted in [[Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|''More than Meets the Eye'' #19]], at least some of them ''were'' built from the remains of deceased [[Circle of Light]] members, so maybe it's something to do with that.
*The creation story Nightbeat and Nautica translate from the ideograms is exactly the same one, word for word, as that recited by Cyclonus back in [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|the 2012 ''More than Meets the Eye'' annual]], which was the first time the story of the [[Guiding Hand]] was related. The story makes clear this is specifically the ''version'' of the story, known as the "Primal Sacrament", believed in by Cyclonus's religious order, [[Clavis Aurea]]; we already know this from the annual, in which Cyclonus referred to the story with that name and Rewind observed he had never heard it before, but Nautica and Nightbeat weren't part of the crew back then.
*The [[Mederi]] Centers were first mentioned back in [[An Axe to Break the Ice|issue #8]], in which it was noted Velocity left [[Caminus]] to study at one.
*"Compressed space" and the dangers of being exposed to it were introduced in [[The Plotters' Club (Part 2): Filling in the Blanks|issue #11]].
*Nightbeat lists off the "Big Three" mysteries he always wanted to solved, which he originally mentioned way back in ''[[Spotlight: Nightbeat]]''. He previously identified the fates of [[Moonbase One|Luna-1]] and the [[Ark (G1)|Ark-1]] as two of the three in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|''More than Meets the Eye'' #29]]; this issue finally confirms that the third mystery—as long suspected by readers—was “what is Rung’s alt mode for?” We got a partial answer back in [[Dissolution Part 5: Modes of Production|issue #5]] - we know that he can make crystals that hold spark energy - but it’s not the whole story...
*Nightbeat also talks about his loss of faith and his experiences on [[Necroworld]], as seen in [[The Not Knowing|''More than Meets the Eye'' #44]].
*Trailcutter died in [[Births, Deaths, and Interventions|''More than Meets the Eye'' #32]]; Pipes in [[Under Cold Blue Stars|''More than Meets the Eye'' #15]] (but note that he knows not just Velocity's name, but Nautica's ''nickname'' for her, "Lotty", despite never having known her while alive); Springarm in [[Chaos Theory Part 2|''The Transformers'' vol. 1 #23]]; and Tailgate, off-panel, somewhere between [[After Megatron (A Dissolution Epilogue)|issue #7]] and issue #13. ''Ssssssupposedly.''
*Springarm finally gives a name to the drink that comes in those little boxes with [[Kremzeek (G1)|Kremzeeks]] on them that Roller has often been shown sucking on in past issues: "[[K-Juice]]."
*In trying to determine Rodimus's level, Ratchet says "'till all are one", Rodimus's long-discarded catchphrase from the first year and a bit of ''More than Meets the Eye'', along with "wham, bam, in the van", which Rodders used back in [[Before & After|''More than Meets the Eye'' #12]].
*Now, we wouldn't want to accuse ol' Trailcutter of being a big ''fakey fakerson'' or anything, but the projection of the "Afterspark" that he shows our heroes is identical to "[[Cyberutopia]]" as it appeared on the final page of [[The Plotters' Club (Part 3): Journey's End|issue #12]], just rotated about 90 degrees clockwise.

===Real-life references===
*The title of this multi-part story is taken from the {{w|W. B. Yeats}} poem [https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/57302/the-everlasting-voices "The Everlasting Voices",] which is quoted at the end of the issue.
*The subtitle of this issue (pronounced "meTAH-sta-sis," FYI, not "meta-STAY-sis") is a piece of medical terminology referring to the spread of a disease to additional areas of a victim's body beyond the original site of infection.

===Other trivia===
*Boy, ''Lost Light'' really ''has'' got back on schedule; this issue arrives only two weeks after [[Kill All 'Cons|issue #15]]!
*When this issue was originally solicited in December of 2017, the image of Cover A that accompanied the listing miscolored Velocity's foot (just poking in on the left hand side of the cover, above Rodimus's head) in very [[Skids (G1)|Skids]]-like red and blue.

===Soundtrack===
For all of "The Everlasting Voices":
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONxp_lLXWGk Twilight]" by {{w|Electric Light Orchestra}}

For this part alone:
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwMwtAFw2LE Let Me Live]" by {{w|Queen (band)|Queen}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwC1swvlBPs Kelly Watch the Stars]" by {{w|Air (band)|Air}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYEC4TZsy-Y Perfect Day]" by {{w|Lou Reed}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efq95Pfqt5U Jesus, Etc.]" by {{w|Wilco}}

===Covers (3)===
*'''Cover A:''' The dead (?) bodies of the crew are laid out, by [[Jack Lawrence]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
*'''Cover B:''' Rodimus surrounded by the spirits of the departed, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Milne's uncolored line-art from Cover B
<gallery>
File:LL16 cvrA.jpg|The Transformers ARE ALL DEAD!
File:LL16 cvrB.jpg|"You will be visited by <s>three</s> four ghosts."
File:LL16 cvrRI.jpg|They MUST be dead{{m-}}they're grey.
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''Lost Light'' #17
*''[[Rom vs. Transformers: Shining Armor]]'' TPB
*''[[Rom]]: Tales of the [[Solstar Order]]'' one-shot
*''[[G.I. Joe (comic)|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero]]'' #250
*''{{i|Clue (comic)|Clue}}'' TPB
*''Ghostbusters: Crossing Over''
*''[[The Transformers: Redemption of the Dinobots|Redemption of the Dinobots]]'' TPB
*[[Free Comic Book Day]] 2018
*[[Schismatic|''Transformers vs. Visionaries'' #1]], presented as a "funeral program" for the departed [[Kup (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Kup]]

==External links==
*[https://www.cbr.com/transformers-lost-light-16/ Preview]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Everlasting Voices (1): Metastasis}}
[[Category: Lost Light issues]]

Skip (IDW)

2018-10-01T15:55:45Z

Amiga Power: /* Notes */

{{factions|decepticon}}
:''Skip is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW portion]] of the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:LL-14-Skip.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|He has a bad feeling about this.]]

'''Skip''' was a Decepticon who was part of [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]]'s forces. His duty may have ended in death, but his usefulness didn't.

==Fiction==
===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
Skip was amongst the Deceptions who escaped from [[Garrus-9]] in the company of [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]]. Like the rest of Shockwave's companions, he was on [[The List]], and had been intended to be handed over to the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] in exchange for the number one wanted member being allowed to go free, a deal [[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]] rejected. {{storylink|The Ties That Bind}} Following the end of the Great War, he was under Deathsaurus's command when Deathsaurus allied with Tarn and the DJD to kill [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] on [[Necroworld]]. {{storylink|The Permanent Revolution}} He was one of many Decepticons who were killed during the battle. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 5: Rage, Rage|Rage, Rage}}

[[File:After Megatron - Skip.jpg|left|thumb|Alas, poor Skip. I knew him, Ambus-io.]]
Later [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] presented Skip's corpse as a means of getting the stranded ''[[Lost Light]]'' crew off of Necroworld, as Skip's [[alternate mode]] was a spaceship, and recent events in the [[Functionist Universe]] had demonstrated that the use of [[Size changing|forced mass displacement]] would allow him to be made large enough to ferry most of the crew. When Rodimus asked for guesses as to what Skip turned into, [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] suggested that he turned into a ("purple, because Decepticon") wormhole, because suggesting he turned into a {{w|Skip (container)|skip}} would be beneath even ''Swerve's'' sense of humor.

After being enlarged and manually transformed into his ship-form, [[Team Rodimus]] departed Necroworld aboard Skip. {{storylink|After Megatron (A Dissolution Epilogue)|After Megatron}} Even mass-displaced, they found his alt mode's confines quite cramped, all the more so when the mass displacement started wearing ''off''. {{storylink|Sardines}}

To survive, the inexplicably lucid [[Ten]] directed the crew to modify Skip's engines to survive travel via the [[Warren]]. Mid-transit however, the mass displacement gave out forcing the crew to "abandon Skip" where they were exposed to the fatal ravages of super-compressed space. {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (1): Metastasis|Metstasis}}
{{-}}

==Notes==

*The spaceship Skip turns into is specifically named as an astropod.

*A {{w|Skip (container)|skip}} is a large, open-topped waste container, similar to a {{w|dumpster}}. All the good names really ARE taken.

[[Category:Comic-only Decepticons]]
[[Category:IDW Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:IDW Generation 1 starships]]

After Megatron (A Dissolution Epilogue)

2018-09-27T17:35:49Z

Amiga Power:

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Lost Light|The Transformers: Lost Light]]'' #7
|prev=Dissolution Part 6: This Machine Kills Fascists
|next=An Axe to Break the Ice
|image=LL7_subcvrB.jpg
|title="After Megatron" (A Dissolution Epilogue)
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[June 28]], [[2017]]
|coverdate=June 2017
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|pencils by=[[Jack Lawrence]]
|inks by=[[John Wycough]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era]]
}}
'''As the Autobots recuperate in the wake of their parallel universe adventure, Ultra Magnus must come to terms with the loss of Megatron, while Cyclonus and Tailgate finally have to talk their relationship out.'''

==Synopsis==
Following their return from the [[Functionist Universe]], the Autobots take a moment to relax and reflect. [[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Chromedome]] and [[Rewind (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rewind]] tell [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] the story of his alternate universe counterpart; [[Anode]] reveals her secrets to the reborn, now-fully-grown [[Lug (IDW)|Lug]]—who retains all her memories of her old life—and the pair reconcile; and [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] tries to question the plausibility of the methods used by [[Brainstorm (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Brainstorm]] to get them home, but the scientist isn't interested.

Eventually, after seven days have passed since their arrival on [[Necroworld]], [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] calls everyone together to announce a plan to get off the planet: a small group will use the spaceship alternate mode of the dead Decepticon [[Skip]], forcibly [[size changing|mass displaced]] to accommodate them, to pursue the ''[[Lost Light]]'' and re-establish contact with [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], while the rest remain behind on Necroworld to await pickup. After a bit of joking (and some concern over the ghoulish nature of the plot from [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]]) everyone sets about preparing for departure, and [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] observes that everyone seems a little "skittish"—the result of the absence of [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]], and the release of the unconscious tension his presence caused.

As [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] puts his super-strength to use reconfiguring Skip's enlarged body into alternate mode, he is approached by [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]], who expresses concern that Tailgate is avoiding him. Tailgate seems uncharacteristically curt as he brushes off Cyclonus's concerns; he ''does'' speak to other people, he says. Cyclonus reminds him of how his open-ness with others led to the trouble he got into with [[Getaway]], but Tailgate reassures him that he won't be falling under ''anyone's'' influence ever again... then invites Cyclonus to leave him alone as he returns to his work...

[[File:After Megatron - Kaput and Fangry.jpg|left|thumb|170px|If only...]]

In the medibay, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Minimus Ambus]] arrives to request the help of [[Kaput]] in donning his [[Magnus Armor]], which does not seem to be functioning properly. Kaput excuses his new assistant, the Decepticon [[Fangry (G1)|Fangry]], then examines Minimus for any injuries that might be preventing him from interfacing with his armor. As Kaput works, [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] makes small talk, idly observing how odd it is that Megatron is no longer around. She, of course, only ever knew him as co-captain; Minimus knew him as much more, but comments with respect on the focus and discipline he brought to the ''Lost Light''. Rodimus then buzzes Minimus over his communicator, reminding him he is supposed to conduct an inspection of Skip's ship mode.. something Minimus is actually ''late'' for!

While [[Roller (IDW)|Roller]] and Lug goof around, Nautica praises Anode for her above-and-beyond efforts in restoring her partner to life. Emboldened, Anode asks Nautica about the eyepatch she's now wearing; Nautica explains that the injury she sustained in the [[Decepticon Justice Division|D.J.D.]]'s attack is playing up. Their conversation is brought to an end by a bellow from Rodimus, alerting everyone to the fact that they leave in five minutes. Cyclonus goes to collect Tailgate for departure... only for Tailgate to haltingly inform him that he has decided to stay behind, and that Cyclonus should go on without him. Cyclonus seems to greet the information with his typical stoicism... but a moment later, at long, long last, he finally gives in to his emotions, refusing to accept Tailgate's decision. Tailgate tells him that he no longer believes they have a future together, and even tries to return the [[innermost energon]] Cyclonus gave him, but Cyclonus refuses to take it and knocks it from Tailgate's hands.

Meanwhile, following his ship inspection, Minimus has donned his Magnus armor again, but still cannot make it move, and has to be physically carried onto the ship. Rodimus comments on the half-heartedness of the inspection; Magnus glumly responds that that's because there was no ''point'' in being thorough and writing a report, since Rodimus would never read it like Megatron would have. Rodimus admits he has been re-thinking his stance on Megatron, and has concluded that his post-war penitence was proof enough that he was a good 'bot at heart. Magnus is momentarily speechless, then launches into a tirade decrying Rodimus's judgement and denouncing Megatron as a monster. In the heat of the moment, the Magnus armor suddenly reactivates, and Magnus stomps off to conduct a ''proper'' inspection. A call from Kaput subsequently verifies the hypothesis Rodimus was working on: the Magnus armor required a recognizable neural signal to function, and it wasn't reading Minimus's thanks to the cognitive dissonance he was experiencing as a result of his friendship with Megatron. Rodimus has, in fact, not forgiven Megatron in the ''slightest''; he just pretended to in order to get the necessary contrary response out of Magnus that would snap him back to himself.

And elsewhere aboard the ship, Cyclonus sits alone, solemnly tearing gouges into his face with his claws in grief... until [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] appears, places a hand on his to stop him, and sits down beside him in silence.

[[File:After Megatron-Fangry Buries.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|Here I go, burying any chance of a happy ending.]]
After watching Skip take off, Tailgate and Kaput discuss Tailgate's recent spate of destructive sleep fits. Kaput was informed of them by Cyclonus, while Tailgate reveals that Whirl told him the full story behind them too, how he was hurting Cyclonus during them, and that is why he forcibly separated Cyclonus from him. Kaput offers to find a way to de-power Tailgate's super-charged spark in order to cure him, and Tailgate gleefully accepts. After several days of study, Kaput believes he has the answer: concentrated exposure to neutronic radiation. Unfortunately, Tailgate must be sealed in a small subterranean isolation chamber to keep the radiation contained, and the process will take six months. Despite this, and the inherent risk of death involved, Tailgate doesn't hesitate in deciding to go through with it. However, no sooner is he installed within the chamber than Fangry sneaks up behind Kaput and kills him on the spot. In revenge for the beating and humiliation Tailgate subjected him to, Fangry resets the chamber's timer for ''six million years'', then buries it. Thus is Tailgate once more buried alive... long enough for grass to grow over the chamber, long enough for flowers to bloom...

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashback. 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (1)
*[[Rewind (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rewind]] (2)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Chromedome]] (3)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Brainstorm]] (6)
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (7)
*[[Kaput]] (8)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (9)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (10)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] (11)
*[[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (12)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (13)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (15)
*[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (18)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] (19)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Minimus Ambus/Ultra Magnus]] (20)
{{!}}}

|c2=
*[[Skip]]'s corpse (17)
*[[Fangry (G1)|Fangry]] (21)
*[[Rapidfire (G1)|Rapidfire]] (22)

|c4=
*[[Anode]] (4)
*[[Lug (IDW)|Lug]] (5)
*[[Roller (IDW)|Roller]] (14)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] (16)
*[[Ten]] (17)
}}

==Quotes==
"What if, just this once, you stopped trying to invent mysteries for the sake of it?"
:—'''Brainstorm''' indirectly addresses the comic's readership via Nightbeat

"Permission to start a petition to leave Swerve behind." 
"Don't be ridiculous. What a ridiculous thing to say. You don't need to bother with a petition."
:—'''Whirl''' and '''Rodimus'''

"I suppose I'm lucky—I was able to take him at face value. I didn't know the '''old''' Megatron." 
"You didn't know the old '''me''', either. I used to be a lot more uptight." 
"I find that genuinely hard to believe."
:—'''Velocity''' and '''Minimus Ambus'''

"I don't want you to leave me." 
"But Cyberutopia..." 
"...is nothing without you."
:—'''Cyclonus''' and '''Tailgate'''

"It's okay to miss him, you know. I've been thinking about this a lot since we got back. During the war, he did awful things. '''Awful''' things. And yes, in the end, even after we'd given him a second chance, he screwed us over and did a runner. But in between he felt bad, and surely that's enough. We need to respect his pain and how he chose to process it. At the end of the day, he was a good person. He just kept forgetting how to be good." 
"I— '''What?''' No. A good person who forgot how to be—? No! '''Feeling bad''' doesn't magically erase millions of years of warmongering. He '''used''' us, Rodimus. We trusted him and he '''abused''' that trust—because that's what he was: a serial abuser. He '''tricked''' us. He tricked '''me.''' His repentance was a '''sham''', his guilt an '''affectation.''' The '''tortured soul''', the '''killer's remorse'''—'''it was all a lie.''' He wore his contrition like a '''shining crown''' because he knew it would '''distract''' us. A good person who forgot how to be good? Wake up, Rodiumus. He was '''evil.''' He was '''always''' evil. I hope he '''rots.''' I hope he '''burns.'''"
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Ultra Magnus''', on Megatron

"You know, when it comes to other people, you can be so '''insightful'''... and yet you don't really know yourself. You're your own '''blind spot.'''" 
"Oh, I know what I'm like. That's the trouble. I know '''exactly''' what I'm like—I just can't stop myself." 
"I suppose that's why you need people like me around." 
"Well... it's certainly why I need people like Ultra Magnus."
:—'''Drift''' and '''Rodimus'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Rodimus laments the destruction of the [[Rodpod]], which occurred in [[The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|''More than Meet the Eye'' #50]]. It was in its destruction that Nautica's eye (and indeed, much of the rest of her face) was injured; she was repaired off-panel between the end of ''More than Meets the Eye'' and the start of ''Lost Light''.
*Rodimus is making his speech while standing on the empty plinth for ''Megatron's'' statue. Taken at face value, this would imply that Megatron was killed immediately after his final scene in issue 6! But given how narratively unsatisfying that would be, we may as well assume that "Alive, well, and leading a pacifistic revolution, but still in an alternate timeline" counts as dead by the criteria of the statue sensors.
*Kaput talks about "discredited spark types" such as "Estriol Positive"—an in-joke reference to [[Twenty Plus One|''More than Meets the Eye'' #31]], which originally identified it as Nautica's spark-type, before Roberts thought the better of it and had it removed for the trade paperback collection of the issue. "Discredited," indeed!
*As referenced in a footnote, Fangry received his beating from Tailgate in [[Dissolution Part 2: Anomie|issue #2]].
*Cyclonus was previously shown to express grief through self-harm, cutting gouges into his face, way back in [[Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|''More than Meets the Eye'' #17]].
*Tailgate doesn't let on to Cyclonus that he knows, but given that he's able to tell Kaput about it, it's obvious that [[Dissolution Part 4: Bad Moon Rising|issue #4]]'s cliffhanger resolved off-panel with Whirl telling Tailgate about his dangerous fits and the damage he had caused Cyclonus, the effects of which we saw in issues #2 and [[Dissolution Part 3: A World Misplaced|#3]].
*Ultra Magnus and Megatron had been getting pretty chummy since Megatron joined at the start of season 2, something Rodimus has even noted and disapproved of [[Silent Light|on occasion]].
*Cyclonus gave Tailgate some of his innermost energon while he was recuperating off-panel between the events of [[The Lopsided Triangle|''More than Meets the Eye'' #47]] and [[Speak, Memory! (Part 2)|#49]], in accordance with the traditions laid out in [[Before & After|issue #12]].
*Thus does Tailgate's story reach an... end? ...the way it began, all the way back in [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|''More than Meets the Eye'' #1]], with him buried alive for six million years...

===Errors===
*On page 14, panel 5, Ratchet's left shoulder is miscolored as white.

===Other trivia===
*If the joke surrounding Skip's name (in which it is suggested he might turn into "a skip") falls flat for you, it's probably 'cause you're not from the UK, where a "skip" is a rubbish container similar to a dumpster.
*Velocity’s line “speaking of the F.U. - anyone finding it strange, Megatron not being around? is nicely ambiguous - on the surface a reference to the Functionist Universe, but also, “F-You” is what the Lost Lighters believe Megatron has, in effect, said to them.
*A caption on page 4, panel 2, explains Fangry's "stifled laughter" after Minimus says he is having trouble getting dressed is done in the style of UK comic book The Beano, presumably to reflect the childish immaturity of Minimus’ issue.
*In his vehicle mode, Skip loses the green colour that his robot mode clearly displayed. His chest obviously becomes the roof of the spaceship...

===Soundtrack===
For all of "Dissolution":
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEI75kn9FTc Neither Here Nor There]" by {{w|Lost in the Trees}}

For this issue alone:
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvOoQ0Ff2nA Threnody]" by {{w|Keith Kenniff|Goldmund}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrulQAZq7Y8 Medicine]" by {{w|Daughter (band)|Daughter}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ybYYKBd_40 Without You]" by {{w|Tobias Jesso Jr.}}

===Covers (4)===
*'''Regular cover:'''Ultra Magnus in repose, by [[Jack Lawrence]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
*'''Subscription cover A:''' A photo strip of Ratchet, Drift, and Rodimus, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Subscription cover B:''' Ultra Magnus and Megatron shake hands, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Ultra Magnus by [[James Raiz]] and [[John-Paul Bove]]
<gallery>
File:LL7 regcvr.jpg|Gray herring.
File:LL7 subcvrA.jpg|Ratchet shows off his many expressions.
File:LL7 subcvrB.jpg|Magnus can't quit Megatron.
File:LL7 cvrRI.jpg|To me, he'll always be the duly appointed enforcer of the [[Tyrest Accord]].
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''Lost Light'' #8
*"The Hasbro Tribune" editorial page promoting June's [[Hasbro Universe]] titles, including this issue [[G.I. Joe vol. 5 issue 7|''G.I. Joe'' #7]], [[Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook issue 2|''Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook'' #2]], [[What It's Really Like|''Optimus Prime'' #8]], [[When Eagles Scream|''Revolutionaries'' #7]], [[The Transformers: Salvation|''Salvation'' one-shot]], and [[If I Know You|''Till All Are One'' #11]].
*''{{i|Jem and the Holograms: Infinite}}''
*''[[The Transformers: Salvation]]''
*''[[Optimus Prime (comic)|Optimus Prime]]'' Vol. 1 TPB
*IDW ''{{i|Clue (comic)|Clue}}'' comic

==External links==
*[http://www.multiversitycomics.com/previews/transformers-lost-light-7/ Preview]

[[Category: Lost Light issues]]

Dissolution Part 2: Anomie

2017-05-15T07:22:20Z

Amiga Power:

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Lost Light|The Transformers: Lost Light]]'' #2
|prev=Dissolution Part 1: Some Other Cybertron
|next=Dissolution Part 3: A World Misplaced
|image=LL2_regcvr.jpg
|title="Dissolution Part 2: Anomie"
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[February 1]], [[2017]]
|coverdate=January 2017
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Jack Lawrence]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era]]
}}
'''While Rodimus's team gets to grips with the Functionist Universe, Tailgate's increasingly aggressive behavior lands Anode in hot water.'''

==Synopsis==
Confronted by [[Twelve-of-Twelve]] and his [[Functionary|Functionaries]], [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] and company realize they have wound up in the [[Functionist Universe|alternate universe]] previously glimpsed by [[Rewind (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rewind]]—a world ruled by the [[Functionist Council]], where [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] never lived to start the [[Great War (G1)|war]]. Believing them to be members of the [[Anti-Vocationist League]], like the other prisoners currently in his clutches, Twelve-of-Twelve has them arrested; Megatron instructs everyone to go along peacefully, hoping the rest of the council can be reasoned with. After a Functionary destroys their "teleport den," the group is paraded through the streets, where Megatron observes in disgust as the populace fawns over Twelve-of-Twelve. Rodimus is naturally in a bad mood about the whole situation, and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Minimus Ambus]] only succeeds in annoying him more when he tries to sympathize. [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] and [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] observe several large screens around the city displaying countdown clocks and wonder how they are connected to the "Day of Revelation" mentioned by their captor, but Drift's attention is soon diverted to a colossal, building-sized statue of [[Primus]], bearing the inscription "Survive and Thrive" at its base. Haunted by the phrase, Drift tells Ratchet about the vision he experienced just before they left: a vision that included [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]], [[Grimlock (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Grimlock]], [[Sparkeater (creature)|sparkeaters]], the legendary "[[Phantom Fleet]]" of lost [[Worldsweeper]]s... and those words, and many others, scrawled in multiple ancient dialects. Drift also begins to describe the "rain" in his vision, but before he can finish, a grenade clatters into the street and blows up in the faces of the Functionaries leading the group. The [[Anti-Vocationist League]] has arrived to save its captive members!

On [[Necroworld]], [[Anode]] finds [[Lug (IDW)|Lug]] lounging by the Memorial to the Disappeared, relaxing after the difficult business of apologizing to everyone for Anode's lack of a social filter. Anode claims not to care what any of them think, but Lug knows she's lying, as she hid her original function from [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] when asked. After a bit of poking, Anode admits that she's interested in the quest for [[Cyberutopia]], thinking it might be nice to settle down there; Lug retorts with a laugh that Anode isn't interested in "settling down," but in plundering its treasures. Just then, the body of [[Fangry (G1)|Fangry]] comes flying through the air and crashes into the memorial, followed swiftly by a furious [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]], who has beaten Fangry to a pulp for his attack on [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]]. Anode attempts to intervene, but Tailgate backhands her away, inadvertently hurling her against a chunk of debris that impales her through the torso. As Fangry's fellow Decepticons beat a hasty retreat when Tailgate snarls at them, Cyclonus arrives on the scene and reproaches the little 'bot for his actions. In an attempt to make Tailgate understand the enormity and severity of the change his new powers represent, Cyclonus takes him to the site of the group's battle with the [[Decepticon Justice Division]], still littered with the bodies of the many, ''many'' Decepticons Tailgate killed. Tailgate thinks he is merely attempting to make him feel guilty for causing so much death, and argues that it was kill-or-be-killed; Cyclonus tries to make him understand that it is evidence of how much his strength is growing, potentially to a point beyond his control, and how fast his increasing powers are burning through his [[energon]]. Tailgate tries to argue otherwise... at which point, his energon reserves deplete and he collapses.

Back in the [[Censere|Necrobot]]'s fortress, Anode awakes with a start in the med-bay, roused by nightmarish recollections of her old life. Her wounds have been patched by another of the "Disappeared," [[Kaput]], who responded to Lug's calls for help. But no sooner has the medic introduced himself than [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] storms into the med-bay and pins Anode down, announcing that she is making a citizen's arrest. Just as Anode had feared, Velocity remembers her—as a thief. While [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] goes to check the life-support pods and make sure there aren't any other late-to-revive stragglers like Anode and Lug in them (with a strange remark to [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] on the way out, tapping his neck and saying he "needs another" something when he gets back because he is "starting to feel it again"), Velocity produces the "snowflake" treasure previously found by Anode and demands they talk about "the Lighthouse..."

[[File:Anomie-AntiVocationistLeague.jpg|thumb|right|300px|]]
The Anti-Vocationist League, it turns out, are a bunch of total wimps who can't put up any kind of fight against the Functionaries. At Rodimus's urging, Megatron breaks his bonds, frees the rest of the team, then takes command of the situation, directing everyone in a brief, dramatic, one-sided battle that sees them emerge victorious. Twelve-of-Twelve boasts that they still cannot stop the broadcast that is about to begin, but when [[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Chromedome]] snags him around the throat with a chain, all his bravado disappears and he puts in a distress call to be teleported out. As he vanishes, [[Terminus (G1)|Terminus]] marvels over Megatron's leadership skills, while Rodimus asks the AVL leader [[Clicker]] what the next step of his plan is. Clicker explains they will be using a concealed matter transporter nearby to relocate to the AVL's base of operations: Cyberutopia. Rodimus stares gape-mouthed at Clicker, but before he can ask any questions, the countdown timers all reach zero, and are replaced on the screens with an image of Functionist Council member [[Six-of-Twelve]]. The Day of Revelation has come, Six-of-Twelve tells everyone watching: the day on which the Functionists reveal to the world what the alternate mode of "The Useless One"–their prisoner, the rebel icon [[Rung (G1)|Rung]]–is for!

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (2)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] (4)
*[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] (5)
*[[Rewind (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rewind]] (6)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] (9)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Chromedome]] (13)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Minimus Ambus]] (14)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (18)
*[[Kaput]] (23)
*[[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (25)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (26)
*[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (27)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Fangry (G1)|Fangry]] (12)
*[[Rapidfire]] (20)
*Two other "Disappeared" Decepticons (19, 21)
*[[Jack-Knife]]'s corpse (24)

|c4=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Roller (IDW)|Roller]] (1)
*[[Terminus (G1)|Terminus]] (3)
*[[Twelve-of-Twelve]] (7)
*Multiple [[Functionary|Functionaries]] (8)
*[[Anode]] (10)
*[[Lug (IDW)|Lug]] (11)
*Two [[Lunabot]]s (15)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*Other [[Anti-Vocationist League]]rs (16)
*[[Clicker]] (17)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] (22)
*[[Six-of-Twelve]] (28)
*Functionist Universe [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (29)
{{!}}}
}}

==Quotes==
"Be careful. When you lie to me, you lie to '''God.'''"
:—'''Twelve-of-Twelve''' threatens our heroes

"The ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s been stolen; we're '''once again''' without a map to Cyberutopia; and now, to top it all, we're trapped in entirely the wrong universe. We've never been further from our goal. '''Ever.''' In fact, it's hard to escape the conclusion that we'd be closer to finding the '''Knights of Cybertron''' if we hadn't started looking for them in the first place." 
"What was that? What was that supposed to be? The opposite of a '''pep talk,''' that's what that was. God! I was angry, now I'm angry and '''depressed.''' Can I be chained to someone else, please?"
:—'''Minimus Ambus''' gets on '''Rodimus'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s nerves

"Ah. Okay. Oooh-kay. I get it. Bad guy or not, he was a '''person.''' Point taken. Lesson learned. Except '''no.''' Because it was '''him or me''', Cyclonus, I didn't kill him for '''fun!''' And if I'm '''honest?''' I don't think you get to play that card. I mean, how many people have '''you''' killed? '''Innocent''' people. How often do you think about '''them?'''" 
"Every day."
:—'''Tailgate''' and '''Cyclonus'''

"I'm making a '''citizen's arrest.'''" 
''(beat)'' 
"Who knows how to make a citizen's arrest?"
:—'''Velocity'''

"The '''A.V.L.''' would have you believe that not everyone has a purpose; that Primus built some of us - '''one''' of us - without a specific function in mind. 'All Hail The Useless One'. No more. Because today...today we tell you what the Useless One is ''for''."
:—'''Six-of-Twelve''' chews the scenery.

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Rewind references the "Black Box Consortia," the Functionist Universe version of the [[Black Block Consortia]] who were previously mentioned in [[The Custom-Made Now - An Elegant Chaos Prologue|''More than Meets the Eye'' #35]]. This finally confirms that wasn't just a typo!
*Oddly enough, Tailgate and Cyclonus' current relationship parallels their dynamic from the beginning of the comic. But this time, it's ''Tailgate'' who's the violent and powerful bot that needs to calm down.
*Primus's statue renders the character as he appeared in [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|the ''More than Meets the Eye'' 2012 annual]].
*Drift mentioned having another vision recently last issue; we here learn that he was not referring to his original vision, which inspired him to join the ''[[Lost Light]]'' crew, but rather to a new premonition that guided him and Ratchet to Necroworld, which took place off-panel prior to [[The Dying of the Light Part 2: The Sun in Flight|''More than Meets the Eye'' #51]].
*The Worldsweepers seen in Drift's vision last issue are identified by him as the [[Phantom Fleet]], which disappeared in the [[Dark Nebula]]. The Nebula was previously mentioned in [[Nothing Will Ever Be the Same Again!|the ''More than Meets the Eye: Revolution'' one-shot]] as the home of the [[Dire Wraith]]s.
*The Anti-Vocationist League members seen in this issue include two [[Lunabot]]s, as seen before in issue #35. Also present is a memory stick Transformer - they were wiped out by the Council in a [[mass recall]] at the very end of issue #35. Clearly, at least one survived...
*Kaput previously appeared in [[Omega's Conundrum|''Spotlight: Orion Pax'']]. His inclusion among the "Disappeared" tells us that the Necrobot didn't keep his list in chronological order, because Kaput was known to be active until just a few years ago, having helped to repair [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] following the events of ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'', according to "[[Zero Point]]."
*Lug noted that Anode had made Drift "collapse in front of his Conjunx Endura." Drift was with Rodimus at the time but awoke in the arms of Ratchet.
*Swerve's remarks to Nautica as he leaves indicate he is undergoing a process that temporarily keeps him from "feeling" something. The next issue would clarify that he is referring to "mood suppressants".
*When Six-of-Twelve previously appeared in issue #35, he had a normal-shaped head, but as Chromedome notes, it has since been redesigned to resemble the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. The fate of the Matrix is unknown in the Functionist Universe; without the war to bring [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]] to prominence, it presumably must still reside in the [[Undergrid]] where it was concealed millennia ago, per [[Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|''More than Meets the Eye'' #19]].

===Transformers references===
*Continuing with the standard set by issue #35 the crowd scenes set within the Functionist Universe feature Easter egg appearances by lots of characters from the [[Unicron Trilogy]], including [[Inferno (Energon)|''Energon'' Inferno]], [[Smokescreen (Armada)|''Armada'' Smokescreen]], [[Strongarm (Energon)|''Energon'' Strongarm]], [[Metroplex (Cybertron)|''Cybertron'' Metroplex]], [[Scavenger (Armada)|''Armada'' Scavenger]], [[Quickmix (Cybertron)|''Cybertron'' Quickmix]], [[Menasor (Cybertron)|''Cybertron'' Menasor]] (with a proper face), [[Landmine (Energon)|''Cybertron'' Landmine]], and [[Smokescreen (Armada)|''Armada'' Hoist]], as well as [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 franchise)|''Robots in Disguise'']] characters [[Grimlock (RID 2001)|Grimlock]] and [[Hightower (RID)|Hightower]]. The two Lunabots seen among the Anti-Vocationist League remain based on [[Jetfire (Armada)|''Energon'' Jetfire]], just as the one seen in issue #35 was.
*The two nameless Decepticons who flee Tailgate's wrath alongside [[Rapidfire]] are based on the [[Divebomb (Energon)|''Energon'' Divebomb]] and [[Hardtop (Cybertron)|''Cybertron'' Hardtop]] molds, with new color schemes. As a dune buggy, "Hardtop" seems to be in [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]]-blues-and-greys.

===Real life references===
*The title of this issue, "Anomie," is a word meaning the "lack of the usual social or ethical standards in an individual or group."

===Errors===
*On the regular cover, Cyclonus's [[Great Sword]] is ''way'' too short. He's not holding it an angle that would induce foreshortening.
*Twelve-of-Twelve gives the date as "1st Cycle 3041" in order to be consistent with last issue, but as noted in last issue's article, that's way off what has most recently been provided as the date for the present day.
*On page 5, panel 1, there's a little 'bot standing on the rooftop with a crane-arm on his back. The tip of his crane arm is cut off where it meets the edge of the roof, because the roof was apparently "pasted" onto the art.
*On page 13, panel 2, the edge of Tailgate's first speech balloon isn't properly aligned with the edge of the panel.

===Other trivia===
*Originally solicited for release in January 2017, this issue arrives a little late, slipping into the first week of February.
* [[Shock (G1)|Shock]]'s name is visible on the Necrobot's memorial, but he didn't disappear; he was killed by a sparkeater and his body was found in [[Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|''More than Meets the Eye'' #2]]. It was his fellow [[Duobot]], [[Ore]], who mysteriously disappeared in the 2012 annual. Rather than consider this a mistake, we'll assume it's a subtle extension of the joke that nobody could tell the two Duobots apart—not even the Necrobot!

===Soundtrack===
For all of "Dissolution":
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEI75kn9FTc Neither Here Nor There]" by {{w|Lost in the Trees}}

For this issue alone:
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYigyIuY8to It Ended on an Oily Stage]" by {{w|British Sea Power}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTS5jXKLGkQ Optimo]" by {{w|Liquid Liquid}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G21swi--fc Lille]" by {{w|Lisa Hannigan}}

===Covers (4)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Cyclonus defends Swerve, Tailgate, and [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], by [[Jack Lawrence]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
*'''Subscription cover A:''' Our heroes at the wrong ends of an array of blasters, by [[Alex Milne]]; one of a series of black-and-white "Artist's Edition" covers on IDW's January titles.
*'''Subscription cover B:''' Megatron reaches for Cybertron, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Rodimus stares out at an alien world, by [[Joana Lafuente]]; one of a series of retailer incentive variants by Lafuente on January's ''Transformers'' titles.

<gallery>
File:LL2 regcvr.jpg|
File:LL2 subcvrA.jpg|
File:LL2 subcvrB.jpg|
File:LL2 cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''Lost Light'' #3
*"The Hasbro Tribune" editorial page promoting January's [[Hasbro Universe]] titles, including this issue, [[New Cybertron Part 3: Behind My Bleeding Back|''Optimus Prime'' #3]], [[Desperate Measures|''Till All Are One'' #7]], [[Enter The Shadow|''Revolutionaries'' #2]], and [[G.I. Joe vol. 5 issue 2|''G.I. Joe'' #2]].
*2017 IDW Annuals
*''[[Action Man]]'' trade paperback
*''[[Revolution]]'' trade paperback
*IDW on Comixology Unlimited

==External links==
*[http://www.cbr.com/transformers-lost-light-2-exclusive-preview/ Preview]

[[Category: Lost Light issues]]

Conjunx Endura

2017-05-15T07:20:03Z

Amiga Power:

[[File:TheGloaming-iloveyou.jpg|thumb|300px|Also when are you going to take out the trash?]]
A '''Conjunx Endura''' is a [[Transformer]]'s significant other, an individual that they deeply [[Transformer romance|love]]. In [[human]] terms, Conjunx Endurae<ref>Official plural form used by Sentinel Prime in [[Last Light|''More than Meets the Eye'' #57]]; in ''real'' Latin, it would be "Conjuges."</ref> are the equivalent of spouses; for example, when the life of a Transformer is threatened to the point of unconsciousness, it falls upon their Conjunx Endura to make medical decisions on their behalf.<ref>"[[Before & After]]"</ref> Traditionally, a Transformer chooses a prospective partner through the ritual known as the '''Conjunx Ritus''': four acts of affection and mutual kindness which cement the bond between the two individuals.<ref>"[[The Lopsided Triangle]]"</ref>

Some Transformers think close relationships like these are embarrassing. Bluntly asking a stranger about their Conjunx is considered a bit gauche.<ref>"[[slaughterhouse]]"</ref>

{{bigquote|I've always been terrified that you'd die before I did, because you and me apart strikes me as intensely wrong.|Part of [[Rewind (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rewind]]'s final message to [[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|his Conjunx Endura]]|"[[The Gloaming]]"}}

==Fiction==
===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
Few Transformers have more than one Conjunx Endura in their lifespan, and many don't even have one. [[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Chromedome]] was an exception, having had at least four. This may be a unique case as every time one of his Conjunx Endurae died, Chromedome used his abilities as a [[mnemosurgery|mnemosurgeon]] to remove all his memories of [[Scattergun]], [[Mach (Victory)|Mach]] and [[Pivot]] in turn, making it as if they had never existed in order to spare himself the pain. Each time [[Brainstorm (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Brainstorm]] objected and each time Chromedome appeared to agree to hold off, before performing the procedure the moment Brainstorm left the room. This had the side effect of leading Chromedome to believe he was "born dry," the only person in history born without [[innermost energon]]. In fact, he had taken part in the ceremony of leaving a vial of innermost energon next to a friend or loved one so often, he literally had nothing left to give. {{storylink|The Gloaming}}

When [[Rewind (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rewind]] died, {{storylink|Under Cold Blue Stars}} Chromedome planned to remove the memory again, over Brainstorm's by-then ritualistic objections, but a final message from Rewind convinced him not to go through with it. {{storylink|The Gloaming}}

Before the war, [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] would needle [[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] by saying his brother's friend [[Horri-Bull]] was his Endura. Needlenose denied it at the time but millions of years later, he'd angrily tell Tracks that Horri-Bull was the only one he'd ever loved. It is unknown if Horri-Bull returned his feelings however. {{storylink|The Transgressors}}

[[File:ChooseMe-engagement.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

Some Transformers on the thirteen colony worlds maintained the tradition. Two such planets are [[Caminus]] {{storylink|slaughterhouse}} and [[Velocitron]]. [[Knock Out (G1)|Knock Out]]'s Conjunx Endura was an atypically slow Velocitronian. {{storylink|Windblade vol. 2 issue 4|Windblade vol. 2 #4}} The [[Torchbearer]]s [[Dustup]] and [[Jumpstream]] were Conjunx Endurae. {{storylink|Ghost Stories}} [[Tigatron]] and [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] are portrayed in a romantic relationship (as usual), but it is unknown if the inhabitants of [[Eukaris]] would refer to this bond as a Conjunx Endura. {{storylink|Windblade vol. 2 issue 6|Windblade vol. 2 #6}} The Camien [[Lightbright]] formed a bond of affection with the [[Firecon]] [[Sparkstalker]], leading the latter to ask her to become his Conjunx Endura, which she agreed to. {{storylink|Choose Me}}

[[Getaway]] described a preliminary set of rituals that would lead to becoming Conjunx Endurae, but as he was trying to manipulate Tailgate at the time, the validity of these rituals is dubious. {{storylink|The Lopsided Triangle}}

[[Lug_(IDW)|Lug]] noted that [[Anode]] had made [[Drift]] "collapse in front of his Conjunx Endura." Drift was with [[Rodimus]] at the time but awoke in the arms of [[Ratchet]]. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 2: Anomie}}

===Ask Vector Prime===
The songwriter [[Feedback]] of the [[Rock Bot (G1)|Rock Bots]] had three sequential Conjunx Endura relationships since achieving interstellar stardom. His [[syk]]-addiction may have something to do with the rapid spousal turnover. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/28}} [[Vector Prime]] and [[Scorpia (TransTech)|Scorpia]] became Conjunx Endurae on their voyage to Nebulos. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2016/02/14}}

===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
The [[Cyberdroid]]s [[Nucleon (Generations)|Nucleon]] and [[Kari]] were Conjunx Endurae. {{storylink|A Brush With Infamy}}

[[Bazooka (BWN)|Bazooka]] and [[Crazybolt (BWN)|Crazybolt]] had developed a close bond during their adventures on [[Metascan Omega]], leading acting-captain [[Magmatron]] to wonder if he would have to perform a Conjunx Ritus in the near future. {{storylink|Intersectionality}}

==Notes==
*[[James Roberts]] found that both IDW and Hasbro were "supportive and indeed encouraging" about having Chromedome and Rewind as an explicit couple.<ref>[http://www.fullmetalhero.com/t14540/ Moonbase2's second interview with James Roberts - 01:40:47 to 01:41:24]</ref>
*"Conjunx" is Latin for "spouse".
*An alternate term for essentially the same concept, "'''fembot lifebond partner'''", was given with the [[Cyber Key Codes]]-unlocked bonus content for ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' [[Downshift (Energon)|Downshift]].

==See also==
*[[Amica Endura]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising Transformer culture]]
[[Category:IDW Generation 1 Transformer culture]]

Conjunx Endura

2017-05-15T07:18:10Z

Amiga Power:

[[File:TheGloaming-iloveyou.jpg|thumb|300px|Also when are you going to take out the trash?]]
A '''Conjunx Endura''' is a [[Transformer]]'s significant other, an individual that they deeply [[Transformer romance|love]]. In [[human]] terms, Conjunx Endurae<ref>Official plural form used by Sentinel Prime in [[Last Light|''More than Meets the Eye'' #57]]; in ''real'' Latin, it would be "Conjuges."</ref> are the equivalent of spouses; for example, when the life of a Transformer is threatened to the point of unconsciousness, it falls upon their Conjunx Endura to make medical decisions on their behalf.<ref>"[[Before & After]]"</ref> Traditionally, a Transformer chooses a prospective partner through the ritual known as the '''Conjunx Ritus''': four acts of affection and mutual kindness which cement the bond between the two individuals.<ref>"[[The Lopsided Triangle]]"</ref>

Some Transformers think close relationships like these are embarrassing. Bluntly asking a stranger about their Conjunx is considered a bit gauche.<ref>"[[slaughterhouse]]"</ref>

{{bigquote|I've always been terrified that you'd die before I did, because you and me apart strikes me as intensely wrong.|Part of [[Rewind (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rewind]]'s final message to [[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|his Conjunx Endura]]|"[[The Gloaming]]"}}

==Fiction==
===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
Few Transformers have more than one Conjunx Endura in their lifespan, and many don't even have one. [[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Chromedome]] was an exception, having had at least four. This may be a unique case as every time one of his Conjunx Endurae died, Chromedome used his abilities as a [[mnemosurgery|mnemosurgeon]] to remove all his memories of [[Scattergun]], [[Mach (Victory)|Mach]] and [[Pivot]] in turn, making it as if they had never existed in order to spare himself the pain. Each time [[Brainstorm (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Brainstorm]] objected and each time Chromedome appeared to agree to hold off, before performing the procedure the moment Brainstorm left the room. This had the side effect of leading Chromedome to believe he was "born dry," the only person in history born without [[innermost energon]]. In fact, he had taken part in the ceremony of leaving a vial of innermost energon next to a friend or loved one so often, he literally had nothing left to give. {{storylink|The Gloaming}}

When [[Rewind (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rewind]] died, {{storylink|Under Cold Blue Stars}} Chromedome planned to remove the memory again, over Brainstorm's by-then ritualistic objections, but a final message from Rewind convinced him not to go through with it. {{storylink|The Gloaming}}

Before the war, [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] would needle [[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] by saying his brother's friend [[Horri-Bull]] was his Endura. Needlenose denied it at the time but millions of years later, he'd angrily tell Tracks that Horri-Bull was the only one he'd ever loved. It is unknown if Horri-Bull returned his feelings however. {{storylink|The Transgressors}}

[[File:ChooseMe-engagement.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

Some Transformers on the thirteen colony worlds maintained the tradition. Two such planets are [[Caminus]] {{storylink|slaughterhouse}} and [[Velocitron]]. [[Knock Out (G1)|Knock Out]]'s Conjunx Endura was an atypically slow Velocitronian. {{storylink|Windblade vol. 2 issue 4|Windblade vol. 2 #4}} The [[Torchbearer]]s [[Dustup]] and [[Jumpstream]] were Conjunx Endurae. {{storylink|Ghost Stories}} [[Tigatron]] and [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] are portrayed in a romantic relationship (as usual), but it is unknown if the inhabitants of [[Eukaris]] would refer to this bond as a Conjunx Endura. {{storylink|Windblade vol. 2 issue 6|Windblade vol. 2 #6}} The Camien [[Lightbright]] formed a bond of affection with the [[Firecon]] [[Sparkstalker]], leading the latter to ask her to become his Conjunx Endura, which she agreed to. {{storylink|Choose Me}}

[[Getaway]] described a preliminary set of rituals that would lead to becoming Conjunx Endurae, but as he was trying to manipulate Tailgate at the time, the validity of these rituals is dubious. {{storylink|The Lopsided Triangle}}

[[Lug_(IDW)|Lug]] noted that [[Anode]] had made [[Drift]] "collapse in front of his Conjunx Endura." Drift was with [[Rodimus]] at the time but awoke in the arms of [[Ratchet]]. {{storylink|Anomie}}

===Ask Vector Prime===
The songwriter [[Feedback]] of the [[Rock Bot (G1)|Rock Bots]] had three sequential Conjunx Endura relationships since achieving interstellar stardom. His [[syk]]-addiction may have something to do with the rapid spousal turnover. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/28}} [[Vector Prime]] and [[Scorpia (TransTech)|Scorpia]] became Conjunx Endurae on their voyage to Nebulos. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2016/02/14}}

===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
The [[Cyberdroid]]s [[Nucleon (Generations)|Nucleon]] and [[Kari]] were Conjunx Endurae. {{storylink|A Brush With Infamy}}

[[Bazooka (BWN)|Bazooka]] and [[Crazybolt (BWN)|Crazybolt]] had developed a close bond during their adventures on [[Metascan Omega]], leading acting-captain [[Magmatron]] to wonder if he would have to perform a Conjunx Ritus in the near future. {{storylink|Intersectionality}}

==Notes==
*[[James Roberts]] found that both IDW and Hasbro were "supportive and indeed encouraging" about having Chromedome and Rewind as an explicit couple.<ref>[http://www.fullmetalhero.com/t14540/ Moonbase2's second interview with James Roberts - 01:40:47 to 01:41:24]</ref>
*"Conjunx" is Latin for "spouse".
*An alternate term for essentially the same concept, "'''fembot lifebond partner'''", was given with the [[Cyber Key Codes]]-unlocked bonus content for ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' [[Downshift (Energon)|Downshift]].

==See also==
*[[Amica Endura]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising Transformer culture]]
[[Category:IDW Generation 1 Transformer culture]]

Conjunx Endura

2017-05-15T07:15:18Z

Amiga Power:

[[File:TheGloaming-iloveyou.jpg|thumb|300px|Also when are you going to take out the trash?]]
A '''Conjunx Endura''' is a [[Transformer]]'s significant other, an individual that they deeply [[Transformer romance|love]]. In [[human]] terms, Conjunx Endurae<ref>Official plural form used by Sentinel Prime in [[Last Light|''More than Meets the Eye'' #57]]; in ''real'' Latin, it would be "Conjuges."</ref> are the equivalent of spouses; for example, when the life of a Transformer is threatened to the point of unconsciousness, it falls upon their Conjunx Endura to make medical decisions on their behalf.<ref>"[[Before & After]]"</ref> Traditionally, a Transformer chooses a prospective partner through the ritual known as the '''Conjunx Ritus''': four acts of affection and mutual kindness which cement the bond between the two individuals.<ref>"[[The Lopsided Triangle]]"</ref>

Some Transformers think close relationships like these are embarrassing. Bluntly asking a stranger about their Conjunx is considered a bit gauche.<ref>"[[slaughterhouse]]"</ref>

{{bigquote|I've always been terrified that you'd die before I did, because you and me apart strikes me as intensely wrong.|Part of [[Rewind (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rewind]]'s final message to [[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|his Conjunx Endura]]|"[[The Gloaming]]"}}

==Fiction==
===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
Few Transformers have more than one Conjunx Endura in their lifespan, and many don't even have one. [[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Chromedome]] was an exception, having had at least four. This may be a unique case as every time one of his Conjunx Endurae died, Chromedome used his abilities as a [[mnemosurgery|mnemosurgeon]] to remove all his memories of [[Scattergun]], [[Mach (Victory)|Mach]] and [[Pivot]] in turn, making it as if they had never existed in order to spare himself the pain. Each time [[Brainstorm (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Brainstorm]] objected and each time Chromedome appeared to agree to hold off, before performing the procedure the moment Brainstorm left the room. This had the side effect of leading Chromedome to believe he was "born dry," the only person in history born without [[innermost energon]]. In fact, he had taken part in the ceremony of leaving a vial of innermost energon next to a friend or loved one so often, he literally had nothing left to give. {{storylink|The Gloaming}}

When [[Rewind (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rewind]] died, {{storylink|Under Cold Blue Stars}} Chromedome planned to remove the memory again, over Brainstorm's by-then ritualistic objections, but a final message from Rewind convinced him not to go through with it. {{storylink|The Gloaming}}

Before the war, [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] would needle [[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] by saying his brother's friend [[Horri-Bull]] was his Endura. Needlenose denied it at the time but millions of years later, he'd angrily tell Tracks that Horri-Bull was the only one he'd ever loved. It is unknown if Horri-Bull returned his feelings however. {{storylink|The Transgressors}}

[[File:ChooseMe-engagement.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

Some Transformers on the thirteen colony worlds maintained the tradition. Two such planets are [[Caminus]] {{storylink|slaughterhouse}} and [[Velocitron]]. [[Knock Out (G1)|Knock Out]]'s Conjunx Endura was an atypically slow Velocitronian. {{storylink|Windblade vol. 2 issue 4|Windblade vol. 2 #4}} The [[Torchbearer]]s [[Dustup]] and [[Jumpstream]] were Conjunx Endurae. {{storylink|Ghost Stories}} [[Tigatron]] and [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] are portrayed in a romantic relationship (as usual), but it is unknown if the inhabitants of [[Eukaris]] would refer to this bond as a Conjunx Endura. {{storylink|Windblade vol. 2 issue 6|Windblade vol. 2 #6}} The Camien [[Lightbright]] formed a bond of affection with the [[Firecon]] [[Sparkstalker]], leading the latter to ask her to become his Conjunx Endura, which she agreed to. {{storylink|Choose Me}}

[[Getaway]] described a preliminary set of rituals that would lead to becoming Conjunx Endurae, but as he was trying to manipulate Tailgate at the time, the validity of these rituals is dubious. {{storylink|The Lopsided Triangle}}

[[Lug]] noted that [[Anode]] had made [[Drift]] "collapse in front of his Conjunx Endura." Drift was with [[Rodimus]] at the time but awoke in the arms of [[Ratchet]]. {{storylink|Anomie}}

===Ask Vector Prime===
The songwriter [[Feedback]] of the [[Rock Bot (G1)|Rock Bots]] had three sequential Conjunx Endura relationships since achieving interstellar stardom. His [[syk]]-addiction may have something to do with the rapid spousal turnover. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/28}} [[Vector Prime]] and [[Scorpia (TransTech)|Scorpia]] became Conjunx Endurae on their voyage to Nebulos. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2016/02/14}}

===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
The [[Cyberdroid]]s [[Nucleon (Generations)|Nucleon]] and [[Kari]] were Conjunx Endurae. {{storylink|A Brush With Infamy}}

[[Bazooka (BWN)|Bazooka]] and [[Crazybolt (BWN)|Crazybolt]] had developed a close bond during their adventures on [[Metascan Omega]], leading acting-captain [[Magmatron]] to wonder if he would have to perform a Conjunx Ritus in the near future. {{storylink|Intersectionality}}

==Notes==
*[[James Roberts]] found that both IDW and Hasbro were "supportive and indeed encouraging" about having Chromedome and Rewind as an explicit couple.<ref>[http://www.fullmetalhero.com/t14540/ Moonbase2's second interview with James Roberts - 01:40:47 to 01:41:24]</ref>
*"Conjunx" is Latin for "spouse".
*An alternate term for essentially the same concept, "'''fembot lifebond partner'''", was given with the [[Cyber Key Codes]]-unlocked bonus content for ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' [[Downshift (Energon)|Downshift]].

==See also==
*[[Amica Endura]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising Transformer culture]]
[[Category:IDW Generation 1 Transformer culture]]

Dissolution Part 1: Some Other Cybertron

2016-12-14T15:23:43Z

Amiga Power:

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Lost Light]]'' #1
|prev=Nothing Will Ever Be the Same Again!
|next=Dissolution Part 2
|image=LL1_regcvr.jpg
|title="Dissolution Part 1: Some Other Cybertron"
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[December 14]], [[2016]]
|coverdate=December 2016
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Jack Lawrence]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]] (pg. 1-4) and [[John-Paul Bove]] (pg. 5-20)
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2016)]]
}}

'''The stranded ''Lost Light''ers take stock following their victory.'''

==Synopsis==
On [[Moonbase Two|Luna 2]], [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertronian]] treasure-hunters [[Anode]] and [[Lug (IDW)|Lug]] find themselves under attack by a [[Decepticon]] [[Cybernought]]. Anode activates a forcefield to protect them while she digs up the artifact they've come looking for, but Lug is quite convinced they are about to die. Fortunately for them, moments before the Cybernought breaks through the forcefield, the [[Censere|Necrobot]] appears before them and spirits them away to the future.

Five hundred years later, Anode and Lug awaken from their stasis capsules on [[Necroworld]], just two of the many believed-dead 'bots the Necrobot has rescued from throughout time. The last to wake, they belatedly join a "debriefing" held by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]], who gets them up to speed, explaining what has happened to them, and about the Autobots' recent battle with and victory over the [[Decepticon Justice Division]]—though he and the energetic Anode immediately butt heads when she complains about his dry delivery. Anode and Lug head out to mingle, where they are intercepted by [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]], who has allegedly been assigned to carry out "background checks." Anode begins to suspect otherwise as the little bartender's questions become more and more ludicrous, so she changes the subject to ask about his [[Autobot]] [[insignia]], now black in color. Swerve explains he and the others are in mourning for [[Skids (G1)|Skids]]; Anode remarks that he doesn't ''seem'' very upset, to which Swerve rightly takes umbrage, and stomps off, sarcastically remarking that Anode should have [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] check her for "timesickness." Anode realizes too late the harshness of her words, but is immediately more concerned to hear Velocity's name...

Elsewhere in the crowd, [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] introduces [[Roller (IDW)|Roller]] to Velocity and [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]], but the medic has to rush off and drags Nautica with her. Nearby, Decepticons [[Rapidfire]] and [[Fangry]] watch this exchange, suspicious and discontented with the news that the war is over, and spoiling for a fight. Fangry suggests they pick a fight with the toughest 'bot in the room to establish dominance, and eyes the super-strong [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] as he shows off for the crowd, lifting Roller over his head and describing his various feats in the recent battle. As the wary [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] drags Tailgate aside to tell him off for grandstanding, Fangry saunters over and deliberately shoulders them as he goes past.

Meanwhile, [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] applies a new paintjob to [[Hot Rod/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]], replacing his reds, yellows, and oranges with black, blue, and purple—colors that, in the [[Spectralism]] doctrine, express both grief for a fallen comrade, and a "promise to kill." Rodimus implies this dual intent is intentional and that he is quite willing to kill [[Getaway]] for everything he has done to them when they get back to the ''[[Lost Light]]'', but before he can say it aloud, a tremor shakes the whole fortress.

The quake is also felt out in the Necrobot's flower fields by [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]], who has been telling his old friend [[Terminus (G1)|Terminus]] about the war, much as he might doubt his own objectivity on the matter. Before heading back, Megatron pauses at the plinth of [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]]'s now-deactivated holographic statue, and bids his departed friend farewell... whereupon [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] and [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] suddenly burst out of the ground beneath his feet! They all return to the fortress, where [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] explains that he teleported the pair back from the depths of the planet (just not ''quite'' all the way to the surface!) using the Necrobot's teleportation chamber, which he has rebuilt back out of the [[fusion cannon]] he turned it into. Nightbeat relates what he and Rung discovered, as well as the appearance of the [[Galactic Council]]'s [[geobomb]]—which apparently just burned out without effect, causing the earlier tremor. Rung, meanwhile, learns of Skids's fate from [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]], and sorrowfully goes to pay his last respects to his friend. As he grieves by Skids's bedside, however, a shaft of light unexpectedly bursts out of Rung's chest and he retches into his hand...

Tailgate awakens from a recharge to find that Cyclonus has been badly beaten. Suspecting Fangry is to blame, Tailgate storms off to find him, despite Cyclonus's pleas to the contrary. Concurrently, Anode and Lug attempt to use the teleporter; though Lug doesn't know the story behind it, Anode and Velocity apparently know one another, and Anode needs to get away from her as fast as possible. They are caught in the act by Rodimus and Drift, who explain that there's only enough energy for one use of the device... but Anode has already gone off on another tangent, fascinated by Drift's [[Great Sword]]. When she attempts to analyze it, he pushes her away, but the instant he makes contact, Drift collapses to the ground, and sees a terrifying vision of [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]] leading an army of [[sparkeater (creature)|sparkeaters]] and [[Worldsweeper]]s, all bearing down on himself, Rodimus, and [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], and a mysterious message etched in the ground!

Keeping his vision a secret, Drift subsequently joins the rest of the selected team—Rodimus, [[Minimus Ambus]], Ratchet, [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]], Rewind, Megatron, Terminus, and Roller—in using the teleporter to return to Cybertron so they can obtain a ship and then go back and collect everyone else. The machine appears to function perfectly, though it doesn't survive the trip... but as the group looks out over where [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] should be and sees a glittering metropolis, rather than the half-rebuilt city they left behind, they begin to suspect that something has gone wrong. A moment later, they are confronted by [[Twelve-of-Twelve]] of the [[Functionist Council]] and his [[Functionary]] enforcers, and Rewind realizes what has happened—they ''are'' on Cybertron... but they're in an [[Functionist Universe|alternate universe]]!

==Featured characters==
Character in ''italic text'' appear only in Drift's vision. 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus/Minimus Ambus]] (5)
*[[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (8)
*[[Rewind (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rewind]] (9)
*[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (10)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (13)
*[[Wavelength (G1)|Wavelength]] (14)
*[[Syphon]] (16)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (17)
*[[Hot Rod/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] (18)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (19)
*[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] (21)
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (22)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (23)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Brainstorm]] (24)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] (25)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]]'s body (27)
*''[[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]]'' (28)
*''[[Grimlock (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Grimlock]]'' (30)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (31)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Chromedome]] (32)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Rapidfire]] (11)
*[[Fangry]] (12)
|c4=
*[[Anode]] (1)
*[[Lug (IDW)|Lug]] (2)
*[[Cybernought]] pilot (3)
*[[Censere]] (4)
*Miscellaneous unnamed "Disappeared" (6)
*[[Roller (IDW)|Roller]] (7)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] (15)
*[[Terminus (G1)|Terminus]] (20)
*[[Ten]] (26)
*''Multiple [[Sparkeater (creature)|sparkeaters]] (29)
*Multiple [[Functionary|Functionaries]] (33)
*[[Twelve-of-Twelve]] (34)
}}

==Quotes==
"In my experience, no matter how bad the problem, no matter how insurmountable the odds, if you '''stand around''' long enough, someone else will sort it out."
:—'''Anode'''

"I think I speak for everyone here—particularly those of us who've spent the last 50 slides trying to '''punch ourselves to death'''—when I say: next time, just skip to that bit. The bit you said just now. The end bit. And maybe a few '''jokes''' to spice things up. Because that was so '''dull''' it made my '''life''' cry." 
"Those were '''statements''', not questions. I asked for questions. Do you have any?" 
"Does this count?"
:—'''Anode''' and '''Ultra Magnus'''

"'''Magnus?''' Last time he gave a speech, people '''died'''." 
"I know. The only winner that day was '''medical science'''. We finally know what happens when the brain is totally deprived of stimulus."
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Drift'''

"Goodbye, dear friend. The universe is emptier now, but you live on in its echoes."
:—'''Megatron''' bids farewell to Ravage

'''Brainstorm:''' "'kay, so, bear in mind that when you turn something into something else and then '''reverse''' the process you have to make some... '''aesthetic compromises.'''" 
''(The teleport chamber is revealed to be a ramshackle half-pipe lying on the floor.)'' 
'''Rodimus:''' "It's a '''den''', Brainstorm. You've built a '''den.'''" 
'''Ultra Magnus:''' "Does it work? As a teleporter, I mean. Not a den. I'm not qualified to pass judgement on a den."

"Whirl, I'm—" 
"—putting me in charge? '''Finally'''." 
"'''You'''? I wouldn't put you in charge of your own '''legs.'''" 
"Ouch. Lucky for you I respect people who hurt my feelings."
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Whirl'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*After a five-month gap in real-world time, we rejoin Team Rodimus on the Necroworld directly following on from the end of [[The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle|''More than Meets the Eye'' #55]]. That issue saw the defeat of the DJD, the death of Ravage, the return of the "Disappeared" Transformers, recovered from throughout time by the Necrobot (including Roller and Terminus), and the ''apparent'' detonation of the Galactic Council's geobomb.
*Cybernought battle suits were introduced in [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|''More than Meets the Eye'' #8]].
*Anode suspects Swerve's questions aren't genuine; of course, he's holding his own self-governed "Crewditions" again, asking silly questions, like he did back in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|''More than Meets the Eye'' #28]].
*The crew are all wearing black Autobot insignias in memory of Skids, who died in [[The Dying of the Light Part 5: Rage, Rage|''More than Meets the Eye'' #54]].
*All Swerve's "checks" reference the escapades of his various ship-mates - Brainstorm time-travelled to save someone he loved ([[Quark]]); Ultra Magnus is a [[loadbearer]] in disguise (in the form of [[Minimus Ambus]]); Megatron attempted to take over the universe (on numerous occasions); Skids had a dark secret (that he was responsible for Quark's death, as well as hundreds more); Tailgate had suppressed powers (triggered by a quantum-filled mutation). The reference to "villainous ex-partners" could be Chromedome - whose ex-parter [[Prowl]] put [[Overlord]] on the ship - but is more likely Getaway, who was Skids' former secret agent buddy.
*Rung's reaction to Skids's death is understandable, if due a little more exploration; he and Skids had grown closer over the last year of ''More than Meets the Eye'', and they shared a notably awkward parting for unclear reasons in [[The Dying of the Light Part 4: At Close of Day|issue #53]].
*Drift's vision includes features various separate but interlinked components of the primary over-arcing mystery of ''More than Meets the Eye''. Grimlock was found aboard a Worldsweeper in [[Rules of Disengagement (issue)|issue #7]], and it was revealed in [[Animals|issue #46]] that the ships are connected to a group of robots who wear the mysterious gear-like hieroglyph that has repeatedly appeared throughout the series, including on the surface of Luna-2, and on [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]]'s map to [[Cyberutopia]]. This symbol was identified in [[The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|issue #50]] as a coat-of-arms linked to the [[Knights of Cybertron]]. Pharma, meanwhile, was last seen in [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|issue #21]] when his dead body was dragged through an experimental spacebridge by forces unknown; on the other side of this bridge Skids briefly encountered a gigantic [[spark]] that spoke only in images, which included the symbol. Finally, the message Drift finds etched into the ground (see "Transformers references" below) translates to "PREPARE, CONFRONT, REPEL"—the same message Grimlock was shown to have written under a drawing of the glyph in issue #46.
**None of this seems to bode well for the true fate of the supposedly great and legendary Knights of Cybertron. Perhaps of note, according to [[The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|issue #27]], when Nautica asked [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], a contemporary of the Knights, about their fate, he merely responded that "none of them deserved to know".
*Drift refers to the "last time" he has a vision. We never saw it happen, but, as revealed in the prose backup story from issue #21, "[[The Sound of Breaking Glass]]," this occurred when he stabbed himself with his [[Great Sword]] in [[Chaos Part Three: Kings|issue #28]] of the [[The Transformers (IDW)|2009-2011 ongoing series]], giving him a vague glimpse of the future that inspired his dedicated to Rodimus.
*Our heroes have wound up in the parallel [[Functionist Universe]], an alternate timeline where Megatron never lived to start the war, introduced in [[The Custom-Made Now - An Elegant Chaos Prologue|''More than Meets the Eye'' #35]]. That issue featured the debut of [[Twelve-of-Twelve]], the [[Functionist Council]]'s [[Functionary]] enforcers, and the advanced form of [[Empurata]] that sees a 'bot's head replaced with a screen, as one of the councilman's retinue seen here has been subjected to. A "chest cavity search" is mentioned which was also seen in that issue, consisting of an examination of a 'bot's [[transformation cog]]. Rewind recognizes the universe from his previous glimpse of it, granted when his database was slowly overwritten when history was changed.
*The Empurata-afflicted 'bot is holding captive three other smaller robots, who are evidently protesters of the same kind as seen in issue #35—ones who have modified the appearance of their bodies to look like Rung, an individual who the disenfranchised in Functionist society have rallied around for his mysterious, apparently purposeless alternate mode. In [[Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|issue #39]], however, Functionist council member [[One-of-Twelve]] told that universe's captive Rung that they had figured out the mystery of his alt mode at last... which, coupled with Rung's intriguing physical reactions to the death of Skids this issue, indicates this long-standing puzzle may soon be solved!

===Transformers references===
*Lug's turns into Anode's backpack. Their transformation scheme is based on that of the ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' [[Rewind (G1)#Generations|Rewind]] toy.
*A few of the generic "Disappeared" Transformers look to have stolen the color schemes of other characters, including [[Ricochet (Headmasters)|Ricochet]], [[Smokescreen (Prime)|''Beast Hunters'' Smokescreen]]/"[[Bluestreak (Masterpiece)|Blue Bluestreak]]", and perhaps [[Demolishor (Armada)|''Armada'' Demolishor]].
*Rodimus's new color scheme is based on the [[e-HOBBY]] exclusive character, [[Black Rodimus Convoy]].
*The sword Grimlock is holding in Drift's vision is the [[Grimlock (WFC)|''Fall of Cybertron'' Grimlock]] toy's.
*The message Drift sees in his vision is written in "[[Cybertronian language|Ancient Autobot]]," a substitution cypher/font created by [[Jim Sorenson]], based loosely on the hieroglyphics seen in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] episode "[[Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust]]."
*Upon arrival in the Functionist Universe, the Autobots are met by what Twelve-of-Twelve calls a [[Sky Spy|Sky-Spy]], after the Autobot satellite from the Generation 1 cartoon. Rather than share its design with that device, though, (as the Sky Spies that appeared in [[Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|''More than Meets the Eye'' #11]] did), its appearance is that of a ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' [[Diagnostic Drone]], a design previously used by the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s medical drone, seen in multiple issues.

===Real life references===
*Any significance it might have to the story going forward notwithstanding, the "treasure" Anode digs up on Luna 2 sure looks like a [http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Special%20Snowflake%20Syndrome special snowflake].

===Other trivia===
*''Lost Light'' takes the place of ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' on the IDW schedule, and remains written by James Roberts, continuing on the story begun in the previous title's pages. This issue's story is followed by a five-page recap of the ''More than Meets the Eye'' story so far.
*Would you believe this is Fangry's first appearance in IDW continuity? I know! Talk about overdue!

===Soundtrack===
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rFfRo0SRAg This Is Why We Fight]" by {{w|The Decemberists}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxT0cUFbJyw Magic In Here]" by {{w|The Go-Betweens}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcE8YWdGtnI Water From the Same Source]" by {{w|Rachel's}}

===Covers (9)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Rodimus, Ratchet, Drift, and Nautica, by [[Jack Lawrence]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
*'''Subscription cover A:''' Rodimus and the ''Lost Light'', by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Subscription cover B:''' [[Getaway]] and the mutineers, by [[Andrew Griffith]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Subscription cover C:''' Blank cover for sketches

<gallery>
File:LL1 regcvr.jpg|
File:LL1 subcvrA.jpg|
File:LL1 subcvrB.jpg|
File:LL1 subcvrC.jpg|
</gallery>

*'''Retailer incentive cover A:''' Graffiti of Megatron, Rodimus, and Nautica by [[Sara Pitre-Durocher]]; part of a series of "graffiti" variants by Pitre-Durocher which combines with covers from [[New Cybertron Part 1: To Walk Among the Chosen|''Optimus Prime'' #1]], [[Revolutionaries issue 1|''Revolutionaries'' #1]], {{i|M.A.S.K. issue 1|''M.A.S.K.'' #1}}, and {{i|G.I. Joe Vol 5 issue 1|''G.I. Joe'' #1}} to form a complete image.
*'''Retailer incentive cover B:''' Megatron by [[Sonny Liew]]; one in a series of variants by Liew on the above-mentioned issues.
*'''Retailer incentive cover C:''' Megatron by [[Paul Pope]]; one in a series of variants by Pope on the above-mentioned issues.
*'''Bad Wolf Comics exclusive cover:''' Rodimus and the spectre of Megatron's past self, by [[Sajad Shah]] and [[Juan Fernandez]]; available exclusively from [http://www.badwolfcomics.com/ Bad Wolf Comics].
*'''Ript Apparel exclusive cover:''' the cast recreate the movie poster for ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', by [[Ninjaink|Timothy Lim]]. In a cute touch, Rodimus and Magnus's spots are swapped, meaning Rodimus gets to stand front and center while Magnus is way off to the side, in the distance, in vehicle mode. Available exclusively from [https://www.riptapparel.com/ Ript Apparel].

<gallery>
File:LL1 cvrRIA.jpg|
File:LL1 cvrRIB.jpg|
File:LL1 cvrRIC.jpg|
File:LL1 BadWolfcvr.jpg|
File:LL1 Riptcvr.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''Lost Light'' #2
*"Hasbro Tribune" promoting November's [[Hasbro Universe]] "[[Reconstruction]]" titles, including this issue

==External links==
*[http://www.cbr.com/transformers-lost-light-1/ Preview]

[[Category: Lost Light issues]]

The Lopsided Triangle

2016-11-25T12:40:10Z

Amiga Power:

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=47
|prev=Animals
|next=Speak, Memory: Part 1
|image=MTMTE47_regcvr.jpg
|title="The Lopsided Triangle"
|caption=''Why don't you go away, Getaway'' ''Stay away Getaway'' ''Get away Getaway'' ''You're hopelessly hopeless''
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[November 25]], [[2015]]
|coverdate=November 2015
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|pencils by=[[Brendan Cahill]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2015)]]
}}
'''Cyclonus is faced with a difficult choice as Getaway's intentions with Tailgate finally become clear.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:TheLopsidedTriangle-MTOs.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.8]]
In the deserted [["Visages"]], [[Getaway]] teaches [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] [[chirolinguistics]], but soon digresses long enough to recount the story of his birth during the [[Corcapsia Incursion]], and how he earned his name by shamefully running from the battle. After using [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]]'s wrench to uncover [[Ravage (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ravage]] drinking nearby, Getaway invites Tailgate to return to his quarters with him so he can give him a present, which turns out to be a set of clip-on [[mnemosurgery]] needles. Tailgate is a little confused, as he cannot ever remember claiming to want a set for himself the way Getaway claims he did, but Getaway soon changes the subject with a surprising revelation: he has, in actuality, been secretly walking Tailgate through the [[Conjunx Endura|Conjunx Ritus]], the four ceremonial acts which will make them [[Conjunx Endura]]. The "Act of Intimacy" was their holding hands as he taught him chirolinguistics; the "Act of Disclosure" was his tale of his birth; the "Act of Profference" was the giving of the needles as a gift; and now all he needs is for Tailgate to carry out the "Act of Devotion" by performing a spectacular demonstration of his love...

Elsewhere, [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] awakes in his and Tailgate's shared hab-suite to see that his room-mate is not on his recharge slab. He silently heads to "[[Swerve's]]"—observing [[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Chromedome]] and [[Rewind (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rewind]] holding hands as he goes—where Swerve offers him an [[Old Corroder]] as thanks for saving him during the "[[Swearth]]" debacle. Cyclonus takes the drink to "steel his nerves", then strides from the bar... but rather than go looking for Tailgate, he instead heads to [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]]'s quarters. He expresses his concerns about Tailgate and Getaway to the one-eyed watchmaker, fearing that the escapologist does not have his little friend's best interests at heart, but Whirl simply laughs in his face and tells Cyclonus that Tailgate will be better off with Getaway than he would be with him. Whirl asks why Cyclonus has even bothered to come to him with his problems, and Cyclonus responds that Whirl is the only one he could rely on to tell him the painful truth, because he knows he doesn't care about his feelings.

A few minutes later, an attack of conscience has Whirl call Getaway and [[Atomizer]] to his room. This pair, it turns out, were the ones who conspired with Whirl in the recent past to bait [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] into a fight in hopes of disgracing the ex-Decepticon and forcing him out. That remains their goal, and is the reason that Getaway has been "grooming" Tailgate all this time; he has no feelings of love for the minibot and has simply manipulated him into the "Act of Devotion", requesting that Tailgate prove himself by using the mnemo-needles to reprogram the sleeping Megatron's mind. Or rather, that's what Tailgate ''thinks'' he is going to do—the needles are only fakes, but when the mnemophobic Megatron awakes, Getaway expects him to murder Tailgate on the spot, resulting in Megatron either being killed by the ship's security or shipped back to Cybertron for imprisonment or execution. But Whirl isn't willing to go through with the plan anymore—not at the cost of Tailgate's life. Unfortunately, it's too late; Tailgate is already on his way to Megatron's quarters, and Getaway promptly has Atomizer shoot Whirl with his old [[nudge gun]], wiping his memories of their plan. As his memories slip away, the drowsy Whirl manages to project his [[holomatter]] avatar to various locations around the ship, eventually appearing outside the window of Cyclonus and Tailgate's room. Realizing something is wrong, the startled Cyclonus sprints to Whirl's room, but by the time he has arrived, Getaway and Atomizer are gone and Whirl has forgotten everything. Cyclonus is confused, but then spots a clue Whirl managed to leave before Atomizer pulled the trigger: he has set all the chronometers in his room to "113", Megatron's hab-suite number.

[[File:TheLopsidedTriangle-sparkspasm.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
Tailgate, meanwhile, has managed to screw up enough courage to sneak into Megatron's quarters, sweeping the room with Nautica's wrench to search for the lurking Ravage. Unfortunately, Getaway has deliberately disabled that function of the wrench, so Ravage goes undetected, and it is his cry that alerts Megatron as Tailgate is about to begin his task. Awakening in panic and rage, Megatron seizes Tailgate, but before he can do anything, Cyclonus's [[Great Sword]] comes flying through the doorway and sinks into Megatron's chest. Cyclonus runs in and bludgeons Megatron into unconsciousness with a chunk of recharge slab, then grabs Tailgate and makes a run for an escape pod, knowing that his actions could well have sealed both their fates. As they run, the pair realize that Getaway set Tailgate up... but more importantly, as Tailgate's mind runs back over his relationship with Cyclonus, he realizes that when he was on his deathbed, they unknowingly performed the Four Acts themselves—Tailgate held Cyclonus's hand, confessed his fear of death, and gave him the gift of a replacement horn, while Cyclonus proved his devotion by sharing the energy of his [[spark]] to save Tailgate's life. Just before they make it to the escape pod, however, the ship's security team catches up to them, and when Cyclonus reaches for his sword, they open fire. Cyclonus shields Tailgate from the barrage of firepower with his body, and, grievously wounded, bids the little 'bot farewell before collapsing in front of him. The horrified Tailgate's eyes flare with light the way they always do when he panics... but this time, the glow builds and builds, until his whole body radiates a pulsewave of blinding rainbow-light that surges throughout the entire ship...
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Getaway]] (1)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (2)
*[[Rewind (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rewind]] (6)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Chromedome]] (7)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (8)
*[[Rollout (G1)|Rollout]] (9)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]] (10)
*[[Crosscut (Autobot)|Crosscut]] (11)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (12)
*[[Atomizer]] (13)
*[[Grotusque]] (14)
*[[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (15)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] (16)
*[[Powerflash]] (17)
*[[Aquafend]] (18)
*[[Dogfight (G1)|Dogfight]] (19)
*[[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]] (20)
*[[Boss (G1)|Boss]] (21)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Ravage (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ravage]] (3)
|c4=
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] (4)
*[[Ten]] (5)

}}

==Quotes==

"Sorry about the mess." 
"What mess?" 
"No, but that's what people '''say''' in these situations, isn't it? "Come in, come in, sorry about the mess." "How was your trip?" "What brings you here at this hour?" I don't know! I've never '''entertained''' before. How am I doing so far?"
:—'''Whirl''' and '''Cyclonus'''

"Coming Soon: '''Cyclonus of Trixylix''' in ''"My Friend's Got a New Friend."'' '''HA!''' You '''devil!''' I thought this was '''life-and-death''', not sad-face boo-hoo '''relationship problems.''' Here you go. Have a '''reality check''', free of charge. By sheer '''happenstance''', you and '''Panic Button''' ended up being roomies. What makes you think there's '''any''' connection beyond that? The only thing you've got in common is a '''front door'''... 
"I saved his life." 
"And? So what? He '''owes''' you? You own him? He's not allowed to make other friends?" 
"I... care about him." 
"Again: so what? Here's a thought: maybe he just likes Getaway more he likes than you. Would '''anyone''' find that surprising? What can you offer him apart from your '''guaranteed disapproval''' and a '''face like a funeral'''? All you do is '''stare out the window'''! My advice to you? '''Get over it''' —because he's clearly over you. And let's face it... he's better off with the other guy."
:—'''Whirl''' gives '''Cyclonus''' the painful truth.

"There's no shame in surrendering to your '''limitations'''. Even the best of us '''fail'''. If you really don't feel brave enough to do this, just say "I'm not the 'bot you thought I was," and we'll forget this whole conversation." 
"'''All''' of it...?" 
"Well, I mean, we'd have to start the '''Four Acts''' again—if we still wanted to do that. And if we did, I'm sure there are other ways you could demonstrate your devotion... although none that would impress Cyclonus as much as saving the entire crew from Megatron."
:—'''Getaway''' is a manipulative asshole and '''Tailgate''' can't see it

"I don't '''like''' sending him into the '''devil's den''', but then I don't like a filthy fascist scumbag murderer getting an '''Autobot badge''' and a pat on the back from high command."
:—'''Getaway'''

"Goodbye, little one."
:—'''Cyclonus'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*We first heard of Corcapsia back in [[Twenty Plus One|issue #31]], in which Getaway revealed he was created during the "Corcapsia Incursion".
*The full meaning of the term "constructed cold" is revealed at last through Getaway's flashback to his birth. The reference to a spark being "defrosted" made in issue #31 was not euphemistic: the mass-produced [[spark]]s were actually ''frozen'', in which state they were inserted into pre-fab bodies to thaw out. Frozen sparks are here noted to be stored in [[photonic crystal]]s—the same type of crystal that makes up the core of the [[Matrix of Leadership]], as we learned in ''[[Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime]]''.
*Getaway refers to how "everything they'd decided [he] needed to know" took shape in his mind at the moment of his awakening. While the truthfulness of his account is, of course, questionable—given how ''many'' lies we know he's been telling—this would certainly seem to contradict the account given of M.T.O.'s early lives in issue #31, which explained that they had to undergo a multi-step training program of exams that required extensive revision, before being released into the world. If Getaway is considered to be telling the truth, this would suggest he was one of the later M.T.O.'s, who only had to go through the three-step program that didn't even last an hour, which this issue would imply was a pre-programmed thing that didn't require any conscious effort on his part.
*"Visages" is deserted because, in addition to [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] tricking Megatron into reciting poetry there in [[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|issue #40]], [[Mirage (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Mirage]] isn't even on board the ship to run the joint any more, having left in [[The One Where They Go to Earth|issue #43]].
*Chirolinguistics was introduced in issue #31.
*Tailgate notes that Cyclonus was going to teach him how to sing in Old Cybertronian; he first gave him a lesson in [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|issue #13]].
*Getaway's had Brainstorm add the Ravage-detecting torch to [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]]'s wrench in [[The Sensuous Frame|issue #41]].
*"Old Corroder" was previously mentioned in [[Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|issue #11]].
*Getaway claims he found the mnemo-needles he gives Tailgate in [[Fortuna]], where the ''Lost Light'' docked in issue #40.
*While Getaway had started grooming Tailgate earlier, it was in [[Twenty Plus One|#31]] that Getaway saw that Tailgate would definitely risk confronting Megatron.
*At last, it is revealed that the unseen co-conspirators with whom Whirl conversed in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|issue #28]], who had him attempt to coerce Megatron into a captaincy-ruining fight, were Atomizer and Getaway. Remember that back in [[slaughterhouse|issue #32]], Getaway discussed Megatron and how to properly hate him ("that's the problem: the greater the crime, the harder it is to process a response.")Getting rid of Megatron is not their endgame, however: Atomizer has shown interest in manipulating the ranks of the ''Lost Light'' before there was any indication Megatron would be coming on board in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|issue #29]], when he gave Rodimus a faked list of crewmembers who wanted to vote him out.
*Tailgate mentions [[Scalp]], an old friend of his who he brought up before in [[The Reluctant Specialist|''Spotlight: Trailcutter'']]. Turns out he was a mnemosurgeon. This fits with the head-themed naming convention for all other mnemosurgeons in that very same issue.
*Megatron's fear of mnemosurgery was originally displayed in issue #28. We learned the story behind his phobia in [[Births, Deaths, and Interventions|issue #34]].
*We've only ever seen Skids's nudge gun before, but we learned that Getaway had one of his own back in [[Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|issue #20]], in which it was explained that [[Tyrest (G1)|Tyrest]] confiscated it when he captured him and used it to develop the "Weapon of Mass Suggestion" he employed to immobilize the ''Lost Light''ers. Getaway notes it took him ages to find it again.
*Tailgate's deathbed experience occurred back in [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|issue #21]]. Two of the four acts—Cyclonus holding his hand, and Tailgate confessing how terrified of dying he was—happened off-panel, the first taking place before we joined the scene, and the second occurring when Cyclonus left the med-bay in response to a summons from [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]].
*Powerflash and Aquafend have previously appeared as members of the ''Lost Light'' security team in several previous issues, but this is the first time Strafe, Dogfight, or Boss have been shown to be part of the group.

===Real-life references===
*This issue concludes with a quote from the 1962 French film, ''{{w|Jules and Jim|Jules et Jim}}'': "We played with life and lost".
*Whirl mocks the heartbroken Cyclonus as being from "Trixylix" - Tixylix is a brand of infant cough medicine in the UK, ususally given to crying children.

===Errors===
*On page 12, Getaway's speech bubble about his nudge gun is coming from Atomizer. This is fixed in the trade.
*Back in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|issue #28]], the inside of Megatron's body was established to be filled with [[space bridge]] portals, to Whirl's loss (of hand). Shouldn't Cyclonus's Great Sword have been similarly truncated?
*Dogfight's looking a little off-color, with grey parts instead of pale blue, and entirely grey head, instead of his usual, more distinctive blue helmet and red face.

===Soundtrack===
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1pMMIe4hb4 Wuthering Heights]" by {{w|Kate Bush}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2Jb2Qeeuks Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken]" by {{w|Lloyd Cole and the Commotions}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryZ3dGzPFNQ Water From the Same Source]" by {{w|Rachel's}}

===Covers (4)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Tailgate is quite literally torn between Cyclonus and Getaway, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' Whirl's holo-avatar, adrift in space, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' [[Verity Carlo]], [[Perceptor (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Perceptor]], [[Springer (G1)|Springer]], and [[Kup (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Kup]], by [[Brendan Cahill]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]; part of November's series of ''[[The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers|Sins of the Wreckers]]'' incentive covers.
*'''Merrymac Games and Comics exclusive cover:''' ''[[Transformers: Generations#Combiner Wars (2015–2016)|Combiner Wars]]'' Voyager Class [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Combiner Wars|Optimus Prime]] in package, by [[Craig Rousseau]]; available exclusively from [https://www.facebook.com/Merrymacgamesandcomics Merrymac Games and Comics].

<gallery>
File:MTMTE47 regcvr.jpg|
File:MTMTE47 subcvr.jpg|
File:MTMTE47 cvrRI.jpg|
File:MTMTE47 cvrRE.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''More than Meets the Eye'' #48
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]'' [[Conquerors Part 2: Lagrange|#47]]
*''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' [[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe issue 10|#10]]
*''[[The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers|Sins of the Wreckers]]'' [[Sins of the Wreckers issue 1|#1]]
*''[[The Transformers: Redemption]]''
*IDW ''Transformers'' graphic novel library

==External links==
*[http://www.newsarama.com/26888-preview-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-47.html Preview]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lopsided Triangle}}

Our Steps Will Always Rhyme

2016-11-24T08:43:37Z

Amiga Power:

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=40
|prev=The Permanent Revolution
|next=The Sensuous Frame
|image=MTMTE40_regcvr.jpg
|title=Chief Medical Officer Ratchet in: "Our Steps Will Always Rhyme"
|caption=Looks like Ratchet has been collecting [[Cyberverse]].
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[April 29]], [[2015]]
|coverdate=April 2015
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Brendan Cahill]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2015)]]
}}

'''A hearing is convened to decide Brainstorm's punishment, which inspires Ratchet to venture off on a mission of his own—but not before he says his farewells properly.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Pharma ratchet steps shall always rhyme.jpg|thumb|left|upright=2]]
[[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] has never been very good at saying goodbye, whether to [[Roller (IDW)|Roller]], to [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]], or even to [[Hunter O'Nion]]. Such thoughts are on his mind today, as he enjoys a drink in the deserted [[Swerve's]], while the [[Swerve (G1)|bartender himself]] and [[Ten]] pass the time arranging a huge pyramid of glasses. The pyramid is lucky to be spared what happens next; Ratchet is not so fortunate, and is knocked head over heels as [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] comes careening into the bar on a new [[hoverboard]] that he has purchased in [[Fortuna]], capital city of the planet [[Scarvix]], where the ''[[Lost Light]]'' is currently berthed while its [[quantum generator]]s recharge. Tailgate apologizes, but notes how empty the bar is, which Swerve whines is the result of [[Mirage (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Mirage]] opening a competing establishment, [["Visages"]] (quotation marks included!), after the recent poisoning incident at Swerve's. While Swerve laments, Tailgate tells Ratchet he's going fishing for [[Legislator]] body-parts in the [[oil reservoir]] with [[Getaway]]; this turns the subject of conversation towards the put-upon Ten, who [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] has been trying to convince Swerve to treat better. Realising he is running late, Ratchet departs...

...in order to attend the first meeting of the [[Lost Light Internal Legal Affairs Committee]], headed by Ultra Magnus, [[Hot Rod/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]], [[Xaaron]], and an absent [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]], who are holding a hearing to decide what [[Brainstorm (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Brainstorm]]'s punishment will be following his recent deceptions. Brainstorm queries why [[Rewind (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rewind]] is not on trial, having been the 'bot who actually fired the fatal shot on their time travel adventure, but [[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Chromedome]] has already pleaded Rewind's case in private. When confronted with the [[Decepticon]] symbol within his faceplate, Brainstorm does not deny the implication; [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] storms out as Brainstorm details how he chose to become an undercover agent in order to obtain from the Decepticons the resources necessary to build his [[time case|time machine]], but notes that he never provided his handlers with any information that would harm the [[Autobot]]s. When the subject of the alternate ''Lost Light'' and the act of treachery by its Brainstorm that resulted in the death of the entire crew is raised, Brainstorm takes a stand, refusing to be held accountable for actions that were not his own—a stand that earns him a solo round of applause from [[Perceptor (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Perceptor]]. The Committee begrudgingly admits that this is true, but conclude he must still be punished for his attempts to alter history; his time machine is to be destroyed, and his access to his lab is to be strictly regulated, but much to Brainstorm's surprise—and Ratchet's silent but visible dissatisfaction—he is ''not'' going to be kicked off the ship.

[[File:Getaway's innocent conversation with Tailgate.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7]]
Following the hearing, Magnus checks in on the melancholy Megatron, to see if he has taken a missing datapad belonging to Magnus. Megatron denies any involvement, but cryptically claims to be "working". Ratchet, meanwhile, heads to "Visages" to borrow Tailgate's hoverboard; the little 'bot is in the bar with Getaway, and grows confused and upset as the escapologist continues to ply him with drink and 'negative compliments', and claims that [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] has been talking about Tailgate behind his back.

Under the patently phoney ruse that Tailgate's board is infected with teleporting "super-[[scraplet]]s", Ratchet has [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] round up a select few of the crew for "examination". He uses the short, one-on-one sessions to talk candidly with each of them: he scolds Rodimus for the inconsistent treatment Brainstorm has received in comparison with exiled [[Drift (G1)|Drift]]; he gives [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]]'s number to [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] in order to get him counselling; he asks [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] to be a friend to Rung outside of officer hours; he helps [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] understand that Brainstorm's actions were truly selfless, as he was an [[M.T.O.]] and would have been erased from history had his mission succeeded; he suggests that Swerve try getting Megatron to perform some of his poetry to reinvigorate his bar; and he tries to console Ultra Magnus, who has come to believe that the rest of the crew does not respect him after finding a tiny figurine of his innermost form, [[Minimus Ambus]], outside his hab-suite door.

[[File:MTMTE40 Ten's mural.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Is it wrong to say we give it 10 out of 10?]]
Once the examinations are done (and First Aid has made it clear he knows Ratchet was making up the "super-scraplets"), Ratchet is once again clobbered by Tailgate on his ''new'' hoverboard, which Tailgate explains was built by Ten. His curiosity piqued by the similarity in artistic style of the drawing of Tailgate on the hoverboard and the Minimus Ambus figurine, Ratchet visits Ten's makeshift "quarters", where he discovers that the soul of an artist glows within the vocally-impaired robot: Ten has drawn a beautiful mural of the ship's crew on his wall, and built a wide range of miniatures of the same with to-scale dioramas. Noticing that there's a display dedicated to Ultra Magnus, Ratchet realizes that Magnus is Ten's "favorite", and that Ten, wanting something of his, secretly took the missing datapad in exchange for the Minimus figure. Examining the pad, Ratchet discovers why Magnus was so eager to get it back: it contains a poem he is trying to write! Ratchet encourages Ten to return the pad, and types a message for Magnus into it to explain the situation.

A little later, with his new friend Ten at his side, Minimus Ambus enters Swerve's, which is now the popular spot once again after Swerve had Megatron perform... at "Visages"! While Minimus talks about the strange message Ratchet left him, brief moments play out across the ship: Brainstorm and Nautica reconcile; Getaway and Tailgate fish; Cyclonus broods; Rodimus and Perceptor burn Brainstorm's briefcases... save one, which is secretly recovered for Megatron by [[Ravage (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ravage]]; and First Aid finds Ratchet's quarters deserted, with a communicator and a note at long last appointing First Aid the ship's chief medical officer. As the ''Lost Light'' departs Scarvix, Ratchet watches it go from a small shuttle of his own, before he too takes off... in search of Drift.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] (1)
*''[[Roller (IDW)|Roller]]'' (2)
*''[[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]]'' (3)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (6)
*[[Siren (G1)|Siren]] (7)
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (8)
*[[Hosehead (G1)|Hosehead]] (9)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (10)
*[[Xaaron]] (12)
*[[Hot Rod/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] (13)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]]/ [[Minimus Ambus]] (14)
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (15)
*[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (16)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] (17)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Perceptor]] (18)
*[[Rewind (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rewind]] (19)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Chromedome]] (21)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Brainstorm]] (22)
*[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] (24)
*[[Hound (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Hound]] (26)
*[[Getaway]] (27)
*[[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] (28)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (29)
*[[Mirage (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Mirage]] (30)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (31)
*? (32)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (33)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (34)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (35)
*[[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]] (36)
*[[Grotusque]] (mural, 37)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]] (mural, 38)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (figurine, 39)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (40)
*[[Slapdash (G1)|Slapdash]] (41)
*[[Atomizer]] (42)
*[[Rad (G1)|Rad]] (43)
*[[Crosscut (Autobot)|Crosscut]] (44)
*[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (45)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (figurine, 46)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*''[[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]'' (5)
*[[Ravage (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ravage]] (23)
|c3=
*''[[Hunter O'Nion]]'' (4)
|c4=
*[[Ten]] (11)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] (20)
}}

==Quotes==
"I '''hate''' it. I ''(muffled)'' everything about it. It sounds ''(muffled)'' '''awful.'''"
:—'''Swerve''', on "Visages"

'''Brainstorm:''' "Everyone who's ever built a '''fully functioning time machine''', stand up." 
''(Riptide stands up.)'' 
''(beat)'' 
'''Riptide:''' "Oh, a '''time''' machine...! Sorry." 
''(Riptide sits down.)''

"The Decepticons have had their suspicions about me for '''ages.''' I'm the worst double agent '''ever'''. Worse than '''Rung.'''" 
''(beat)'' 
"Joke. Not funny."
:—'''Brainstorm'''

"If I had sarcasm-powered legs, I'd do a '''happy dance'''...!"
:—'''Nautica''' takes the news of a potential scraplet infection poorly

"How do I feel. How do I 'feel'." 
"It's not meant to be a trick question."
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Ratchet'''

"Are these your '''favorites'''?" 
"Ten." 
"Yeah. Mine too. You're '''missing someone''', though. Not your fault: you joined after he left. After we '''sent him away.''' You'd have liked him. '''I''' did—probably a lot more than either of us realized."
:—'''Ratchet''' and '''Ten''' talk about Drift

"I don't trust poetry. What's the point? All these people trying to say something by hiding it behind something else." 
"Someone once said that poetry is a hazardous attempt at self-understanding. It's certainly '''difficult'''..."
:—'''Swerve''' and '''Minimus Ambus'''

'''Brainstorm:''' "I added a new button:" 
'''Nautica's wrench:''' "Brainstorm is an ass!" 
'''Nautica:''' "It's my new favorite."

"This ship is a refuge for the '''emotionally inarticulate'''. Oh, people talk. People talk '''all the time'''. They just don't '''say''' very much. They're too worried about people knowing how they '''feel'''. Too worried about being '''found out'''. For better or worse, we're judged by what we do, and not what we '''say'''. And if it takes us a while to get around to doing something '''important''', well... better late than never."
:—'''Ratchet's''' farewell message

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Ratchet's first flashback shows his parting with [[Roller (IDW)|Roller]], which chronologically takes places between the scenes of the past shown in [[Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|issues #11]] and [[Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|issue #36]].
*His second flashback is set before his departure for Earth, prior to [[Infiltration issue 0|''Infiltration'' #0]], IDW's first ''Transformers'' issue. We also learn that Ratchet's departure was what convinced Pharma to transfer to [[Delphi]], where we met him in [[Life After the Big Bang|issue #4]]. Pharma is depicted tinkering with a transformation cog, foreshadowing his eventual fall from grace.
*The third flashback shows Ratchet (in his "-ations"-era body, complete with [[holomatter]] avatar and even speech-bubble and font design from that time) returning [[Hunter O'Nion]] home following his separation from [[Sunstreaker (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Sunstreaker]], set in the missing year between [[Maximum Dinobots issue 5|''Maximum Dinobots'' #5]] and [[All Hail Megatron issue 1|''All Hail Megatron'' #1]]. [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] is shown watching Hunter, alluding to his eventual capture of the boy and the pillaging of his mind, revealed in [[All Hail Megatron issue 8|''All Hail Megatron'' #8]].
*Hunter is noted to be going to his sister's house, a small allusion to the non-canonical strip "[[Hail and Farewell]]", in which Hunter's sister was noted to be his only remaining family.
*Tailgate's been inspired to get a hoverboard after watching ''Back to the Future Part II'' in [[Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|issue #38]].
*The oil reservoir is full of Legislator body parts after Skids tore an entire battalion of them apart down there back in [[Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|issue #18]].
*Someone has written "I failed the [[Ambus Test]]" on Ten's back; the test, an indicator of sentience, was previously mentioned in [[Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|issue #24]].
*Getaway's behaviour towards Tailgate has grown noticeably more creepy from when we first saw it in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|issue #30]].
*Ratchet feels Hoist needs "someone to talk to"; that's likely because of his isolation issues, which we saw illustrated in [[The Waiting Game|''Spotlight: Hoist'']], and which are no doubt flaring up after [[Trailbreaker (G1)|his roommate]] died in [[Births, Deaths, and Interventions|issue #34]], only the week before the events of this issue.
*We've known that "Brainstorm" isn't Brainstorm's real name since [[The Reluctant Specialist|''Spotlight: Trailcutter'']]; here, Nautica reveals that it is "Genitus of Operation: Solar Storm".
*Ratchet encourages Skids to get the "puncture wounds" on his neck fixed; those would be the [[mnemosurgery]] holes Chromedome left after [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|issue #8]].
*In keeping with her professed enthusiasm for engex in issue 28, Nautica nurses a giant-sized drinking glass at Swerve's.
*In the same panel, "Whirl Wuz Here" can be seen scrawled on a chair. Whirl's propensity for graffiti was previously brought up in the Annual, as well as earlier this very issue in relation to the writing on Ten's back. Further, the specific words call back to the desk graffiti on one of the (out-of-continuity) covers to issue 5: "Whirl Wuzent Here".
*Also in this same panel, Brainstorm's Autobot symbol is noticeably absent from his chest, presumably a consequence in some way or other of his revealed duplicity.
*Ratchet's departure leads into his role in the [[The Transformers: Drift - Empire of Stone|''Drift - Empire of Stone'']] mini-series, already published in full by the time of this issue's release.
*The long-range communicator Ratchet takes bears a noticeable resemblance to the "time phone" of the Elegant Chaos arc, which makes sense seeing as how the latter certainly didn't seem constrained by distance in its depiction.
*First Aid's tenure as Chief Medical Officer will be brief, as he and several others will be leaving the ship shortly in order to be part of the "[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]" storyline. In fact, the comic showing his departure, "[[The Possible Light]]", had been published two weeks prior.

===Transformers references===
*The planet Scarvix appeared in [[Headhunt|issue #133]] of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|Marvel UK Generation 1 comic]].
*The 'bots who Tailgate nearly knocks down while on his board are Siren, Nightbeat, and Hosehead, the full roster of 1988 Autobot [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]]. As a cute reference, Hosehead claims Tailgate "nearly took [his] head off".
*As Swerve directs Ten around, he says: "A little to the left... a little bit more", a verbatim quote from [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' as he arranges the positioning of a roadblock, right before Hot Rod comes crashing through.
*The rise and fall of Mirage's bar was first mentioned in [[The Possible Light|''The Transformers'' #40]], just a few weeks before this issue was published.
*When Ratchet describes the "super-scraplets", he uses the onomatopoeia "Vop!" to illustrate their teleportation abilities. That's the sound effect IDW uses for [[Skywarp (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Skywarp]]'s teleports.

===Real-life references===
*This issue's title is a lyric from the {{w|Leonard Cohen}} song, "{{w|Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye}}", a pretty self-explanatory reference.
*Siren's exclamation of "I'm walkin' here!" is an oft-quoted line of {{w|Dustin Hoffman}}'s from the 1969 film ''{{w|Midnight Cowboy}}''.
*When Ratchet leaves Hunter home, the human notes he is going to catch up on a lot of television, listing off the hot-name shows that were airing at the time the scene is set, in the late 2000s: the reimagined ''{{w|Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)|Battlestar Galactica}}'', ''[[Doctor|Doctor Who]]'', and ''{{w|Heroes (TV series)|Heroes}}''.
*After Tailgate smacks into Ratchet for the second time, Ratchet returns his hoverboard and says "Hey, kid, thanks", paraphrasing similar lines from ''{{w|Back to the Future}}'' and {{w|Back to the Future Part II|its sequel}} when {{w|Marty McFly}} returns borrowed boards to their owners.
*The individual mentioned in Minimus's remark on the nature of poetry, quoted above, was {{w|Robert Penn Warren}}, who wrote: "For what is a poem but a hazardous attempt at self-understanding: it is the deepest part of autobiography."

===Errors===
*Ratchet's interaction with Rodimus is pretty off-base. The medic's ire is focused on the "disproportionate punishment" he believes Drift received, but completely ignores the fact that ''Rodimus'' was the one who was responsible for bringing Overlord on-board the ship (which we know from [[Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8|issue #26]] that Rodimus admitted to the whole crew) and that Drift had actively ''volunteered'' to take the blame for the fiasco and allowed himself to be exiled—there was no "punishment" involved for Ratchet to be angry about. The No-Prize-y explanation would be that Rodimus didn't tell the crew that Drift chose to be exiled, which would kinda-sorta fit with [[Drift - Empire of Stone issue 1|''Empire of Stone'' #1]], in which Ratchet knows that Drift is not to blame for the Overlord situation, and claims he was "following orders". The trade paperback changes the wording of Ratchet's complaint to "inconsistent treatment", which papers over the problem by making it more about how the difference between the two Autobots' sentences appears to the rest of the crew, rather than about the punishments themselves.

===Other trivia===
*After running a month behind for the first quarter of 2015, ''More than Meets the Eye'' gets back on schedule with this issue, the second of two released in April.
*There are plenty of ''Lost Light'' regulars who aren't part of Ten's mural, but it's pretty telling that Ten has left Swerve himself out of the artwork.
*The shared faves of Ratchet and Ten are Chromedome, Tailgate, Rung, Skids, Hoist, Getaway, and Rodimus (and Magnus).
*Also, Ten seems to depict himself with eyes in both his mural and his miniature, despite being a Legislator and having none.
*In accordance with Ratchet's suggestion, Skids can be seen socializing with Rung in the background, towards the end of the issue.
*Brainstorm mentions his 'handler' but doesn't tell us who that would be. Will we ever find out?

===Soundtrack===
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rgb8am3NQU0 Nobody's Empire]" by {{w|Belle and Sebastian}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYRoZELZY3w Love Expression]" by {{w|It's Jo and Danny}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jexNsBjz1r8 Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye]" by Leonard Cohen

===Covers (3)===
*'''Regular cover:''' The ''Lost Light'' crew in Ratchet's tender hands, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' Tailgate on his hoverboard as Getaway, Cyclonus, and Ultra Magnus look on, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Brainstorm in the spotlight, with Nautica, Ratchet, and Ultra Magnus silently judging, by [[Brendan Cahill]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]

<gallery>
File:MTMTE40 regcvr.jpg|He's got the whole gang in his hands.
File:MTMTE40 subcvr.jpg|Well, it beats pod-racing.
File:MTMTE40 cvrRI.jpg|'''CHUNG CHUNG'''
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''More than Meets the Eye'' #41
*"[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]"
*''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' [[Expelled from the Garden|#6]]
*''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters'' trade paperback
*IDW ''Skylanders'' comic
*IDW ''[[Jem|Jem and the Holograms]]'' comic
*''[[My Little Pony]]: FIENDship Is Magic'' comic book event
*Disney comics are back! (back cover)

==External links==
*[http://www.comicbookresources.com/comic-previews/transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-40-idw-2015 Preview]