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Crucible (Part 5): The Unremembering

2018-09-24T21:55:23Z

Justice: Note on Rung's serial number.

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Lost Light|The Transformers: Lost Light]]'' #23
|prev=Crucible (Part 4): The Return of the King
|next=Crucible (Part 6): A Spark Among Embers
|image=LL23_cvrA.jpg
|title="Crucible (Part 5): The Unremembering"
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[September 5]], 2018
|coverdate=August 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]]
}}
'''The honest-to-Primus true history of the Guiding Hand and the earliest days of Cybertron is revealed at last as our heroes square up to save the universe.'''

==Synopsis==
As the [[Functionist Council|Functionists]]' "[[Primus]]" tears its way through [[Adaptus]]'s replicas of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], aboard Adaptus's [[Worldsweeper]] mothership, [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] drowns out everyone else's reaction to the news that [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] is supposedly the real Primus with his raucous laughter. [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] quiets the room and lets Rung speak... and as everyone watches, the truth of Adaptus's claim is seemingly proven when Rung regenerates his missing arm in the blink of an eye. [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] refuses to be believe it, of course, pointing out Rung's serial code, 100,000,000... only Rung now realizes that he's always been reading the number ''upside-down'', and it's actually 000000001, denoting him as the first Cybertronian. Reflecting on his history of brushes with death and miraculous recoveries, of the nagging sense of ''not knowing'' he has always had about himself, Rung realizes that what Adaptus claims is true, as memories of the ancient past come flooding back. Rung begins to remember how it was Adaptus—not [[Mortilus]], as the legends claim—who sparked the war among the [[Guiding Hand]] when he advocated attacking Cybertron's neighboring planets, believing that only in the crucible of conflict could the Cybertronian race adapt and evolve. Unable to stand against his brothers united, Adaptus fled to [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]] and unleashed a contingency plan, blasting Cybertron with an electromagnetic weapon that erased the minds of its entire population, including his brothers, who forgot their former identities and became mythologized as gods. Primus took the brunt of the blast, turning him into the perpetually forgettable, always-overlooked Rung.

Adaptus explains how, exploiting the confusion, he installed [[planetary engine]]s on Luna 1 and used the now-mobile moon to flee into the [[Warren]]. Deposited by the space-time labyrinth in the far future, he arrived ''now'', at this moment in time, and bore witness to the menace of the Functionist Primus—then proceeded to flee back into the past, adopting the alias of the "Grand Architect" to plan for the future, so that he could stop the danger the Functionists posed. [[Flame (Marvel)|Flame]] points out that that's not ''going'' very well, drawing Adaptus's attention back to the battle outside, and the steady erosion of his fleets by the faux-Primus, with even the self-regenerating [[Infinite]]s—their powers inspired by Primus's own—proving unable to stand against the planet-sized menace. Before Adaptus can take action, however, [[Tyrest (G1)|Tyrest]]—that is, [[Solomus]]—shoots him in the back, his own memories now restored, and seething with rage at having had his life stolen from him. However, Solomus is no physical match for Adaptus, and is quickly and severely wounded—but before he can activate the teleporter concealed in his hand and escape, Adaptus lops that hand off with his chainsaw. Adaptus proceeds to impale Solomus with his saw, but falters for a moment when all the violence and viciousness causes [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]]'s consciousness to briefly surface once more. Seeing an opening, Solomus deploys the finger-drill on his remaining hand and stabs it right through the distracted Adaptus's forehead, directly into his brain. Thus do the old gods die; the fatally-wounded pair perish together, their bodies explosively dissolving into inert [[living metal|sentio metallico]].

Recovering Solomus's still-intact severed hand, [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] uses the teleporter to send himself to the ''[[Lost Light]]'', then uses the ship to rescue the others from the worldsweeper. The ''Lost Light'' and [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]]'s ''[[Last Light (ship)|Last Light]]'' both set down on the single remaining Cybertron, and our heroes reunite to discuss what to do next. [[Grimlock (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Grimlock]], [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]], and Whirl suggest Rung use some of his divine powers to "smite" the other Primus, but Rung doesn't ''have'' any such abilities; he and the Guiding Hand were not actually ''gods,'' just the first of the Cybertronian race. The [[Magnificence]]—or as the crew now recognize it, [[Epistemus]]—speaks up to reveal that there is ''one'' thing Rung can do: he can use his ability to generate [[photonic crystal]]s to create three new [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrices of Leadership]], just as he created the ''original'' all those millions of years ago. Epistemus explains that those three Matrices can be positioned and opened by Rodimus, Ratchet, and [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] to simultaneously destroy the Functionist Primus's [[brain module|brain]] and [[transformation cog]], and [[Vector Sigma]], blowing it up from within. Everyone is a little confused over why the unassuming ''Tailgate'' must be one of the candidates; Epistemus explains that it is because he, innocent little 'bot that he is, can overcome the fabled "[[morality lock]]" that seals the Matrix. Given that Rodimus, Ratchet, and Tailgate will be trapped inside "Primus" when it explodes, [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] refuses to allow them to go through with the plan, whereupon Epistemus's patience starts to run out, as he strangely begins referring to himself in the plural, and reveals that he was responsible for gathering them all here to enact this plan—teleporting Tailgate to [[Mederi]], slowly teleporting Ratchet to make it seem as if he was disintegrating, and even speaking through [[Ten]] to direct them here.

As the Functionist Primus draws close to the final Cybertron, Rodimus refuses to allow Megatron and his crew to return to the unattended ''Last Light'', preferring to keep them all together. And it is through unity that a new, less-explosive plan is formed: one by one, with each member of the crew volunteering a different suggestion, it is concluded that, rather than positioning three Matricies like bombs, they will instead direct the energy of ''twelve'' Matrcies into Vector Sigma through Cybertron's [[hot spot]]s, overloading and destroying the computer and the Functionist Council bonded to it. Epistemus flies into an unholy rage, refusing to allow this plan to go ahead, and unleashing bolts of energy that slay [[Froid]], [[Sunder (G1)|Sunder]], and [[Nine-of-Twelve]]. Ratchet realizes that the voice speaking to them is ''not'' that of Epistemus; it is, in fact, the voice of the [[Omega Guardian]]s, communicating via the Magnificence from the [[Higher Realms]]. The Guardians explain that they desire to return from his realm beyond—a typically impossible feat that they believe they can achieve using a tiny fault between realities that lies in the [[Benzene Cluster]]. One of their number once tried to return alone, but perished in the attempt, their four-dimensional corpse becoming the Warren, spanning all space, time and universes. Rodimus realizes that the Guardians specifically need "Primus" to ''blow up'' for their plan, intending for the planet-sized explosion to tear the fault open wide enough for them to traverse. The Guardians cackle that once they have returned, they will "eat everything," and mock the very idea that the crew can stop them... prompting [[Nickel]] to silence them by crushing the Magnificence between her hands.

The ''Last Light'' explodes as the Functionist Primus tears into the facsimile Cybertron, but at the last second, the ''Lost Light'' takes off, escaping the planet just before it is rent asunder. At Megatron's command, [[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] swings the ship around to fly back towards the evil Primus, as the crew gets ready to save the universe!

[[File:LL23 NowWeSaveTheUniverse.jpg|center|400px|thumb]]

==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"{{!}}
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]]/[[Primus]] (1)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] (4)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (5)
*[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (6)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] (7)
*[[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] (12)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (13)
*[[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (14)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Brainstorm]] (17)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Chromedome]] (19)
*[[Rewind (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rewind]] (20)
*[[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] (21)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (24)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (28)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (29)
*[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] (34)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (36)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Grimlock]] (40)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] (25)
*[[Krok (G1)|Krok]] (26)
*[[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] (31)
*[[Nickel]] (32)
*[[Fulcrum]] (35)
*[[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] (41)

|h3=[[Anti-Vocationist League]]|c3=
*[[Nine-of-Twelve]] (30)
*[[Clicker]] (33)
*[[Decibel]] (37)
*A [[Lunabot]] (38)
*[[Ruckus (G1)|Ruckus]] (39)

|c4=
*[[Adaptus]]/[[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]] (2)
*[[Flame (Marvel)|Flame]] (3)
*[[Tyrest (G1)|Tyrest]]/[[Solomus]] (8)
*[[Sunder (G1)|Sunder]] (9)
*''[[Mortilus|Censere/Mortilus]]'' (10)
*[[Epistemus]]/[[Magnificence]] (11)
*[[Anode]] (15)
*[[Lug (IDW)|Lug]] (16)
*[[Wipe-Out]] (18)
*[[Roller (IDW)|Roller]] (22)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] (23)
*[[Froid]] (27)
}}

==Quotes==
"I'll tell you one thing... if there's a god, he's making '''less and less''' of an effort to make me believe in him."
:—'''Ratchet''' reacts to the news that Rung is Primus

"It's finding new ways to '''help''' others, not '''hurt''' them, that inspires progress."
:—'''Rung''' refutes Adaptus's outlook

"Not gonna lie—that's '''exactly''' how '''I''' wanna go out."
:—'''Whirl''' watches Solomus and Adaptus explode into dust

"You're as effective a god as you are a psychiatrist."
:—'''Froid''' zings '''Rung'''

"I'm not letting you out of my sight." 
"'''Still?''' You still think I'm going to '''betray you?'''" 
"Who said anything about betrayal? I just think that we're at our best when we're together."
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Megatron'''

<big>'''"YOU CANNOT BEGIN TO IMAGINE WHAT WE ARE. WE ARE EXPANSIVE. WE ARE MANIFOLD. WE EXTEND IN EVERY DIRECTION. WE EXIST BEYOND THE PERIPHERY OF WHAT YOU TELL YOURSELF IS REAL. SO WHEN YOU SAY YOU WILL STOP US, HOW EXACTLY DO YOU PROPOSE TO DO THAT?"'''</big> 
''(Nickel crushes the Magnificence)'' 
"They didn't see '''that''' coming."
:—The '''Omega Guardians''' are no match for '''Nickel's''' dry-cool action hero wit

'''Megatron:''' "Turn us around." 
'''Crankcase:''' "As you command, Megatron." 
'''Rodimus:''' "'Yes' is fine. 'Sure thing' is also acceptable."

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Rung has, of course, always been one of the central mysteries of ''More than Meets the Eye''/''Lost Light''. His true nature, now revealed at last, was seeded in his very first on-panel appearance way, way back in [[Chaos Theory Part 1|''The Transformers'' vol. 1 #22]], when Senate cadets cruelly joked that he was some grand figure from Cybertronian myth, like "one of the [[Knights of Cybertron]]? The last of the [[Progenitor]]s? [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]]'s long-lost spark brother?" How near they were, yet so far!
*While cackling over the idea of Rung being "God," Whirl remembers how he strangled him back in [[Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|''More than Meets the Eye'' #2]].
*Rung's self-healing ability was also alluded to in ''More than Meets the Eye'' #2, in which Ratchet—while treating him for the ''first time in his life''—marveled at how he was "in amazing shape" (even specifically noting that Rung's energon conduits and sub-cutaneous circuitry had started repairing themselves). Examples of his preternatural durability referenced in this issue include recovering after having his head blown off (in [[Interiors|''More than Meets the Eye'' #6]]) and being the only survivor of the crash of the ''[[Fateful Archetype]]'' (a story related in [[Speak, Memory: Part 1|''More than Meets the Eye'' #48]]).
*It was also in issue #48 that Sunder hacked his mind, which Rung here describes as a "mental jolt" that brought suspicions that there was something "abnormal" about him to the surface. Perhaps that's why, when leaving his last will and testament in [[The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|''More than Meets the Eye'' #50]], he requested that his body be dismantled, so that his alternate mode was put totally out of use, "just in case."
*Rung's "serial code" was first mentioned ''aaaalll'' the way back in [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|''More than Meets the Eye'' #1]].
*The flashback of the Guiding Hand's battle against Adaptus is laid out almost identically to the depiction of the God War in [[The Everlasting Voices (2): The God War|''Lost Light'' #17]], with their appearances shifted from the mythological designs to their actual bodies and Mortilus swapping places with Adaptus.
*The "Higher Realms" were first mentioned in [[The Ties That Bind|issue #14]], when it was noted that the Omega Guardians had ascended to them.
*In addition to explaining why everyone has always found Rung so forgettable—a running gag that also goes right back to ''More than Meets the Eye'' #1—Adaptus's electromagnetic weapon is credited with causing "the birth of [[information creep]]", the condition first named in [[Twenty Plus One|''More than Meets the Eye'' #31]] that causes mechanical lifeforms to lose their memory data over time. This adds even more weight to Rung's original "promotional poster" released before ''More than Meets the Eye'' #1, which stated he "wants to be remembered".
*Adaptus is revealed to have been responsible for installing [[planetary engine]]s on Luna-1, explaining the presence of his coat-of-arms on the moon's surface, as seen in [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|''More than Meets the Eye'' #21]].
*The sight of Luna 1 disappearing into the Warren is specifically shown in a close-up reflection in Rung's glasses. This hearkens back to [[Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|''More than Meets the Eye'' #17]], when Rung stared up at the moon-sized portal that was about to lead the ''Lost Light'' to Luna 1, and declared: "Is anyone else getting a sense of deja vu?"
*Tyrest/Solomus's concealed teleporter switch was previously used by him to escape imprisonment in [[The Sound of Breaking Glass|''More than Meets the Eye'' #21]].
*His finger-drill was established in [[Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|''More than Meets the Eye'' #19]].
*The precedent for Adaptus and Solomus's bodies dissolving into inert sentio metallico upon their deaths was established in [[The Dying of the Light Part 2: The Sun in Flight|''More than Meets the Eye'' #51]], when the deceased Censere/Mortilus did the same.
*We previously heard the term "morality lock" in [[Dissolution Part 2: Anomie|issues #2]] and [[Kill All 'Cons|#15]]. It was in the latter that Flame remarked that "nobody believes" in the concept any more, prompting him to gasp "So it ''is'' real...!" in this issue.
*The Omega Guardians, via the Magnificence, are revealed to have been responsible for teleporting Tailgate from his underground isolation chamber (where he was last seen in [[After Megatron (A Dissolution Epilogue)|issue #7]]) to Mederi (where Cyclonus found him in [[The Everlasting Voices (1): Metastasis|issue #16]]). They were also responsible for triggering Ratchet's apparent discorporation in [[Sardines|issue #13]], and were the parties who spoke through Ten in the same issue, explaining [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]]'s observation in issue #16 that Ten's voice had "sounded different"—because it wasn't ''his'' voice (the one he normally says "ten" in), but the Guardians speaking through him. That also explains Ten's giddy elation at being able to speak properly in issue #16 (thanks to Mederi's telepathic environment), since he hadn't actually been the one doing it before.
*Cyclonus refers back to the time he "interfaced" with Vector Sigma; the footnote directs readers to ''More than Meets the Eye'' #1, which was when we first learned about it, though it actually happened off-panel during the events of [[Chaos Part Four: Genesis|''The Transformers'' vol. 1 #30]].
*It is now clear that the reason the Magnificence sent the Scavengers to Mederi instead of Garrus 9 in [[Kill All 'Cons|''Lost Light'' #15]] was to make sure he was in place to carry out his role in the Omega Guardian's plan.

===Errors===
*The single-panel flashback of the Guiding Hand shows Rung with his backpack attached—but per [[Little Victories|''More than Meets the Eye'' #22]], we know that he was only given that backpack millions of years later by the Functionist Council.
*Crankcase claims the ''Lost Light'' is five miles long; only a third of the fifteen-mile measurement consistently given elsewhere.
*When Megatron's spacecraft is destroyed, Brainstorm says "That's the '''Last Light''' 's totaled!" Either the first word of the sentence or the possessive s should be removed.

===Other trivia===
*Originally solicited for release in August 2018, this issue arrived a little late, in the first week of September.
*You might've noticed that no explanation is provided in this issue or the previous one for why Mederi had to be brought to the Benzene Cluster, given that all that happened to it was that it was destroyed by the Functionist Primus. Presumably, the young version of Adaptus must have seen this happening on his trip to the future, and was fulfilling an ontological paradox by making it happen.
*Intentional or not, the above image of the Evil Primus ripping Cybertron in half bears a marked resemblance to Unicron doing the same in [[Road's End|''Unicron'' #4]].
*The format of Rung's serial number - "000000001" - implies that the Transformers population is bound to a maximum of 999999999.

===Soundtrack===
TBC

===Covers (3)===
*'''Cover A:''' Velocity, Nautica, Anode, Lug, and Nickel, by [[Jack Lawrence]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
*'''Cover B:''' Tyrest/Solomus versus Pharma/Adaptus, by [[Geoff Senior]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Lawrence's black and white lineart from Cover A
<gallery>
File:LL23 cvrA.jpg|
File:LL23 cvrB.jpg|
File:LL23 cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''Lost Light'' #24
*''[[Transformers: Unicron]]''
*[[Our Finest|''Unicron'' #3]]
*''[[Transformers vs. Visionaries]]'' TPB
*''[[Transformers: Bumblebee - Win If You Dare]]'' graphic novel
*''[[G.I. Joe (comic)|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero]]'' #255
*''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero vs. the Six Million Dollar Man'' TPB
*In Memoriam: Harlan Ellison
*''Wynonna Earp'' Season 3

==External links==
*[http://www.adventuresinpoortaste.com/2018/08/31/exclusive-idw-preview-transformers-lost-light-23/ Preview]

[[Category: Lost Light issues]]

Crucible (Part 3): Farsickness

2018-07-25T18:30:48Z

Justice: Addition of Pharma/Flame continuity note.

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Lost Light|The Transformers: Lost Light]]'' #21
|prev=Crucible (Part 2): Lūstrāre
|next=Crucible (Part 4)
|image=LL21_cvrA.jpg
|title="Crucible (Part 3): Farsickness"
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[July 25]], 2018
|coverdate=Early July, 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]]
}}
'''Back aboard the ''Lost Light'', our heroes are caught up in the Grand Architect's mad plan to save the universe.'''

==Synopsis==
As space itself above [[Mederi]] splits open into a crackling rift, [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] takes the recaptured ''[[Lost Light]]'' down to the planet to collect the rest of his crew and the [[Scavenger (group)|Scavengers]] so they can all make a quick escape. As the convalescing former mutineers, now cured of their [[sparkeater (creature)|sparkeater]] mutation, are loaded aboard, [[Perceptor (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Perceptor]] apologizes to Rodimus for everything that has happened, and Rodimus happily forgives them all. Even Mederi's alien telepaths are brought onto the ship, but as they are being removed from Ward Zero, a [[geobomb]] is suddenly teleported into the midst of the room, inspiring everyone to pick up the pace. Once everyone is aboard, the ''Lost Light'' blasts off, but it doesn't get far before pilot [[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] finds that, even with the engines at full force, the ship cannot escape the pull of the rift...

On the other side of the rift, the [[Worldsweeper]] [[Phantom Fleet|fleet]] of the [[Grand Architect]] hovers in formation. Aboard the flagship, [[Flame (Marvel)|Flame]] works upon the unseen Architect's body, reconstructing it and offering to adjust his vocal synthesizer. [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] cuts into the conversation via radio, alerting the Architect to the impending detonation of the geobomb, which will shunt Mederi through the rift. The Architect's curt response, and the fact that [[Tyrest (G1)|Tyrest]]'s scanner sweeps have as yet detected no signs of the mysterious enemy whose coming the Architect is preparing for, only encourage Scorponok to question his loyalties...

The ''Lost Light'' emerges from the rift into what the ship's navigation computer identifies as the [[Benzene Cluster]]. But instead of the planets that ''normally'' occupy the cluster, there are five multi-coloured duplicates of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] itself, which [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] recognizes as the same sight [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] saw years before, when he stepped through Tyrest's portal on [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]]. With the ship's engines drained by the transit through the rift, Crankcase sets the ''Lost Light'' down on one of the Cybertrons, which [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] is able to identify as a perfect replica of the ancient Cybertron of his time, even though [[Anode]] and [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]]'s metallurgical skills confirm it to be a recent creation. The team barely has time to take in this strange new situation they find themselves in before a fleet of [[Black Block Consortia]] ships land nearby, and thousands of Consortia troopers surround them. The situation only keeps escalating as the Grand Architect's flagship appears overhead, shining a spotlight on them. Over a speaker, the Architect introduces himself to the group, and, believing what [[Getaway]] told him about Rodimus coming to stop his plans, order the Consortia to kill them. Nautica is able to give him pause by speaking aloud the symbol of the [[Knights of Cybertron]] that the Architect uses as his insignia; intrigued, the Architect invites Rodimus to choose a small delegation to come aboard his ship and talk. Suddenly, the long-silent [[Magnificence]] pipes up, listing Rodimus, [[Rung (G1)|Rung]], [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]], and [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] as the necessary choices. But Rodimus isn't having it; in an impassioned speech that sees him list of all the incredible achievements the crew have made on their quest, he refuses to break his team up ever again, and vows to defeat the Architect if he turns things into a fight. After a moment's pause, the Architect invites the whole team aboard.

Scorponok is furious that the Architect has allowed the ''Lost Light''ers to live, which proves to be the last straw. Having only ever stayed with the Architect make use of his resources for his now-failed [[Firstborn|Project: Firstborn]], he is tired of all the secrets and mystery. The Architect's identity, it transpires, is unknown even to Scorponok and Tyrest—but while Tyrest is happy to go along with his plans, now his loyal follower after the Architect saved his life following his escape on Luna 1, Scorponok isn't so trusting. He contacts two of the Architect's ''other'' recruits, [[Froid]] and [[Sunder (G1)|Sunder]], and instructs them to go ahead with a plan they have prearranged: to have Sunder use his remote [[mnemosurgery]] powers to read the Architect's mind and discover his true identity.

The ''Lost Light'' sets down in the flagship's docking bay, and as the crew waits, the Magnificence around [[Nickel]]'s neck becomes a topic of conversation. Though nobody else hears anything, Rung believes that he hears the Magnificence speak his name—and when he leans into to look the device in its eyeball, he suddenly, involuntarily transforms, even "speaking" the transformation noise as he does so! Looking down at Rung's still-mysterious alternate mode, Swerve and [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] muse how it makes them feel "young"... but that longstanding puzzle suddenly takes a back seat when everyone's attention is drawn away by the sight of Mederi bursting through the rift, which seals up behind it. A moment later, Froid and Sunder are trooped into the hangar in handcuffs, leading Rodimus to realize they're all in a giant cell. Still, it gives them an opportunity to interrogate the two villains, and Froid is happy to tell them everything he knows. The Architect, Froid relates, created biomechanical constructs to secretly infiltrate and take over the Black Block Consortia, pitting them against the [[Galactic Council]] to sweep the Benzene Cluster clean of much of its population and planets, making room for the replicas of Cybertron, which he created using a giant planet-sized mould, and which together form a weapon known as the "[[God Gun]]." Rewind chimes in to explain how Cybertron legend claims that the planet itself could be used as a weapon, redirecting starlight into an energy beam, but that the war did too much damage to the real thing for the theory to ever be confirmed, hence the Architect's need for copies of ''ancient'' Cybertron—and ''five'' Cybertrons combined can create a beam powerful enough to drill into ''another universe''. But both the threat the Architect has created this weapon to fight, and the identity of the Architect himself, remain mysteries; the Architect is so powerful that he was able to expel the probing Sunder from his mind before he could learn them, stripping him of his mnemosurgical powers in the process.

Scorponok activates the God Gun, opening a portal to a neighboring universe, but there's ''still'' no sign of the mystery threat. Via radio, the Architect reassures Scorponok their enemy ''will'' appear soon; millions of years ago, the Architect was sent through time, through the [[Warren]], to ''this moment'', where he ''saw'' the enemy, before fleeing back into the past to prepare for his coming. The Architect intends to banish the enemy through the portal, into another universe, thereby saving this one... but when Tyrest detects a sudden massive flare of energy on the ''other side'' of the portal, Scorponok realizes with horror what has happened: the enemy was in the next universe the whole time, and the Architect's portal has only provided him with the means to cross over into this one! Scorponok is in the middle of roaring into his radio in outrage when the door behind him bursts open; the Grand Architect has ''not'' taken kindly to Scorponok's plotting with Froid and Sunder, and stabs him through the back with a very familiar chainsaw-hand. Scorponok falls dead at the feet of the Architect... a.k.a. [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]]!

As Rodimus and the others watch, a huge fleet of ships comes flying through the portal with a replica of the ''Lost Light'' at its head. Rodimus and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]]'s communicators chime simultaneously, and a transmission from the bridge of the duplicate ship comes through. A transmission... from [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]]!!

==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)
*[[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (2)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Brainstorm]] (5)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] (6)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Perceptor]] (7)
*[[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] (8)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (9)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] (10)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (12)
*[[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] (15)
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (16)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (18)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (20)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (22)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Grimlock]] (23)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (25)
*[[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] (26)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Chromedome]] (28)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (32)
*[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] (39)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] (3)
*[[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] (14)
*[[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] (17)
*[[Krok (G1)|Krok]] (24)
*[[Fulcrum]] (29)
*[[Nickel]] (31)
*[[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (34)

|c4=
*[[Wipe-Out]] (4)
*Alien telepaths (11)
*[[Roller (IDW)|Roller]] (13)
*[[Anode]] (19)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] (21)
*[[Lug (IDW)|Lug]] (27)
*[[Flame (Marvel)|Flame]] (32)
*[[Grand Architect]]/[[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]] (33)
*[[Tyrest (G1)|Tyrest]] (35)
*[[Black Block Consortia]] troops (36)
*[[Sunder (G1)|Sunder]] (37)
*[[Froid]] (38)
}}

==Quotes==
"Our navicomp doesn't know its ass from its elbow. It's not been the same since Whirl spilt... god, what was it? Magnus! What did Whirl spill on the navicomp?" 
"Tailgate."
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Ultra Magnus'''

"A new place, a new mystery, random fragments of information... in thirty seconds' time, we'll be fighting for our lives." 
"What makes you say that?" 
"S'what '''always''' happens!"
:—'''Misfire''' and '''Chromedome'''

"Getaway was right." 
"'''So''' not the best way to start a conversation."
:—The '''Grand Architect''' and '''Rodimus'''

"This is not the time to try and split us up. Do you have '''any''' idea what we've been through together? What we've '''achieved?''' We've seen off a '''Phase Sixer''', cured an '''army''' of sparkeaters, survived a mutiny, traveled in time, gatecrashed a universe, and saved '''half our race.''' (...) We've liberated planets, defeated the '''D.J.D.''', found Luna 1 '''and''' the Necrobot, rescued '''two''' Metrotitans, been '''erased from existence''', and '''stolen a moon'''... and a few hours ago, we '''died''' and '''broke heaven.''' The key word is '''we'''. This isn't about '''Team Rodimus'''. This is about Team Magnus. It's about Team Nautica. Team Anode. Team Skids. Team Nightbeat. Hell, it's even about '''Team Whirl.''' So if 'the Grand Architect' turns out to be nothing more than the latest in a long line of '''nobodies''' trying to '''prove a point'''—another sad little trumped-up tyrant who throws a '''hissy fit''' whenever the world won't listen—then maybe, just maybe, Getaway '''was''' right. Because if you're stupid enough to turn this into '''us''' versus '''you''', then guess what? We'll win. '''We've got form.'''"
:—'''Rodimus''' addresses the Grand Architect

"Exaggeration is a form of '''conversational fraud.''' A colleague of mine used to exaggerate frequently. Between our first meeting and his request for an urgent transfer, he must have exaggerated... well... it must have been four or five times."
:—'''Ultra Magnus'''

"Were you expecting someone else?"
:—'''Megatron''' makes his big return

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*First Aid refers to Misfire as "Flyhigh," which we learned was his real name back in [[Kill All 'Cons|issue #15]].
*Rewind doesn't know what the geobomb is when it appears, but Rung is able to recognize it, because he saw one up close back in [[The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle|''More than Meets the Eye'' #55]].
*The Benzene Cluster, it turns out, is the end of a spiritual leyline that the ''Lost Light'' crew have been travelling along for the whole of their journey. Drift lists the planets positioned along it as including [[Deimus]] (visited very early on the quest, back in ''[[The Waiting Game|Spotlight: Hoist]]''), [[Theophany]] (the [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|2012 ''More than Meets the Eye'' annual]]), [[Troja Major]] ([[An Axe to Break the Ice|issue #8]]-[[Chasing the Infinite|9]]), and Mederi.
*Drift also notes that spay "frays" at the end of the leyline; perhaps that's why one species of aliens native to Benzene, fist mentioned in [[The Plotters' Club (Part 2): Filling in the Blanks|issue #11]], are called the [[Fraynian]]s, from the planet [[Frayus]]. As Tyrest did last issue, Drift refers to this frayed space as "threadbare"; "threadbare space" was one of the key phrases Drift saw in his vision in [[Dissolution Part 1: Some Other Cybertron|issue #1]].
*As Nautica (and a footnote) remind us, the five multi-colored Cybertrons were first glimpsed by [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] back in [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|''More than Meets the Eye'' #21]]. Cyclonus recognizes them as copies of the ancient Cybertron of his time, which Froid explains were created using a "hollow planet—a giant mold." That mold is obviously [[Necroworld]], which Rung and [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] discovered matched the shape of ancient Cybertron back in ''More than Meets the Eye'' #55. The implication, then, is that Necroworld was created using Cybertron as a base, rather than Cybertron having been created from it, as Rung assumed at the time.
*Rodimus lists of the crew's accomplishments as:
**"Seen off a [[Phase Sixer]]" ([[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]], in [[Under Cold Blue Stars|''More than Meets the Eye'' #15]])
**"Cured an army of sparkeaters" (last issue)
**"Survived a mutiny" ([[The Dying of the Light|''More than Meets the Eye'' #50-55]])
**"Traveled in time" ([[Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|''More than Meets the Eye'' #36]]-[[Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|38]])
**"Gatecrashed a universe" [[Dissolution Part 1: Some Other Cybertron|''Lost Light'' #1]]-[[Dissolution Part 6: This Machine Kills Fascists|6]])
**"Saved half our race" [[Remain in Light|''More than Meets the Eye'' #17-21]])
**"Liberated planets" (''More than Meets the Eye'' #50, for example)
**"Defeated the DJD" (''More than Meets the Eye'' #55)
**"Found Luna 1 and the Necrobot" (''More than Meets the Eye'' #17 and [[The Not Knowing|#44]])
**"Rescued two Metrotitans" ([[Metrotitan (Zone)|Metrotitan]] in the 2012 annual, and [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] in [[Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8|''More than Meets the Eye'' #26]], but see errors)
**"Been erased from existence" ([[Twenty Plus One|''More than Meets the Eye'' #31]])
**"Stolen a moon" ([[Dissolution Part 5: Modes of Production|''Lost Light'' #5]])
**"Died and broke heaven" ([[The Everlasting Voices (1): Metastasis|''Lost Light'' #16]]-[[The Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here|18]])
*Tyrest relates his escape from incarceration via teleporter, which occurred in [[The Sound of Breaking Glass|''More than Meets the Eye'' #21]].
*The Grand Architect repaired Tyrest's mind, and so the self-inflicted drill-hole on his forehead that made him go funny is now gone. (For some reason, his projected image still sported it in [[Crucible (Part 1): A Dance Before Dying|issue #19]].)
*The Grand Architect is... Pharma?? This turncoat Autobot was last seen (chronologically speaking) in ''More than Meets the Eye'' #21, in which he died, but had his corpse pulled through Tyrest's portal. His return was foreshadowed by an appearance in Drift's vision in ''Lost Light'' #1, but ssssomething doesn't add up here:
** Pharma was just a regular, loyal Autobot until only about a decade ago, when he fell under the [[Decepticon Justice Division|DJD]]'s thumb while on [[Messatine]], but the Grand Architect has been operating in the galaxy for centuries. Also, the crew hear his voice but don't recognize it, after it's been established there ''wasn't'' time for Flame to retune his vocal synthesizer. Time travel ''is'' somehow involved somehow, per Pharma's claims about the Warren sending him through time... is that what happened when he was pulled through the portal? ...but... we're pretty sure there's another shoe waiting to drop here...
** Tyrest mentions that after the battle in ''More than Meets The Eye'' #21, he teleported away and at that point was found by the Grand Architect, who repaired him. Given that Pharma's headless body had been pulled through the portal very shortly prior to that, there wouldn't really be sufficient time for Pharma to have been completely repaired and recovered to then repair Tyrest.
** Likewise, Pharma mentions in ''More Than Meets The Eye'' #19 that he's never seen the kind of technology that Luna 1 offers, despite the fact Luna 1 has the Grand Architect / Knight of Cybertron symbol painted in the center of its engines.
** Pharma is shown to be so terrified of the DJD that he was willing to kill patients to keep the DJD placated (''More than Meets the Eye'' #4 and #5), which doesn't quiiiiite square up with Grand Architect Pharma being powerful enough to kill Scorponok with one punch here - cheapshot or not.
*Megatron was last seen in ''Lost Light'' #6, when he was left stranded in the Functionist Universe thanks to [[Terminus (G1)|Terminus]] misleading him. Is ''he'' the monster the Grand Architect fears? He's wearing his [[fusion cannon]] again... and his hand ''is'' just ''ever-so-strategically'' positioned to cover his chest, so we can't see if he's still wearing his Autobot insignia...
* Nice touch - no one has seen the Grand Architect's face or knows who he is...except Flame, the one Autobot present in the Grand Architect's army. Pharma's been mentioned as a staunch Autobot (and heavily prejudiced against Decepticons) since his first appearance.

===Transformers references===
*Continuing a trend of recent issues to use [[Unicron]]-related dialogue cribbed from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', Crankcase cries out "We're being sucked into it!" as the ''Lost Light'' is pulled through the rift, a line spoken by [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] in the film when he and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] were consumed by the monster planet.

===Real world references===
*The title of this issue, "Farsickness," is a condition that is the opposite of homesickness, a longing for far-off places.

===Errors===
*While listing off the crew's accomplishments on page 10, Rodimus refers to "two Metrotitans." This ''was'' the name by which the giant [[cityformer]]s were introduced in the 2012 ''More than Meets the Eye'' annual, but ever since then, every single other IDW story has referred to them only as "[[Titan (IDW)|Titans]]," with "Metrotitan" being repositioned as the name of the [[Metrotitan (Zone)|''individual Titan'']] the crew rescued in that story.
*On page 11, panel 7, Scorponok uses the phrase "tow the line." That ought to be "to'''''e''''' the line."
*There's a thin orange circle behind "cosmic Pathblaster"-Cybertron on page 15 that seems like it was meant to be a star, based on the text about positioning Cybertron a certain distance from it, and by the star behind the five-Cybertron God Gun at the bottom of the page.

===Other trivia===
*Originally solicited for release in early July 2018, as the first of ''two'' issues of ''Lost Light'' that were supposed to be released that month, this issue arrived a bit late, only coming out in the ''last'' week of July, bumping the second July issue into August. But on the plus side, it's only two weeks after issue #20, and only three weeks after #19, making a total of ''three'' issues of ''Lost Light'' released in July—even if they ''were'' all late!

===Soundtrack===
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB-RcX5DS5A The Scientist]" by {{w|Coldplay}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=E5H8DwJI0uA Sons and Daughters]" by {{w|The Decemberists}}

===Covers (3)===
*'''Cover A:''' Everyone's very shocked, by [[Jack Lawrence]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
*'''Cover B:''' Our heroes, by [[Geoff Senior]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Lawrence's black and white lineart from Cover A
<gallery>
File:LL21 cvrA.jpg|
File:LL21 cvrB.jpg|
File:LL21 cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''Lost Light'' #22
*''[[Transformers: Unicron]]''
*''[[Transformers vs. Visionaries]]'' TPB
*''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]] vs. The Six Million Dollar Man'' TPB
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' #7
*''The Comic Book History of Comics: Comics For All'' TPB
*''[[Star Trek]]: The Next Generation: Terra Icognita''
*[[Unicron issue 1|''Transformers: Unicron'' #1]]

==External links==
*[https://graphicpolicy.com/2018/07/24/preview-transformers-lost-light-21/ Preview]

[[Category: Lost Light issues]]

Crucible (Part 3): Farsickness

2018-07-25T18:27:05Z

Justice:

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Lost Light|The Transformers: Lost Light]]'' #21
|prev=Crucible (Part 2): Lūstrāre
|next=Crucible (Part 4)
|image=LL21_cvrA.jpg
|title="Crucible (Part 3): Farsickness"
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[July 25]], 2018
|coverdate=Early July, 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]]
}}
'''Back aboard the ''Lost Light'', our heroes are caught up in the Grand Architect's mad plan to save the universe.'''

==Synopsis==
As space itself above [[Mederi]] splits open into a crackling rift, [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] takes the recaptured ''[[Lost Light]]'' down to the planet to collect the rest of his crew and the [[Scavenger (group)|Scavengers]] so they can all make a quick escape. As the convalescing former mutineers, now cured of their [[sparkeater (creature)|sparkeater]] mutation, are loaded aboard, [[Perceptor (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Perceptor]] apologizes to Rodimus for everything that has happened, and Rodimus happily forgives them all. Even Mederi's alien telepaths are brought onto the ship, but as they are being removed from Ward Zero, a [[geobomb]] is suddenly teleported into the midst of the room, inspiring everyone to pick up the pace. Once everyone is aboard, the ''Lost Light'' blasts off, but it doesn't get far before pilot [[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] finds that, even with the engines at full force, the ship cannot escape the pull of the rift...

On the other side of the rift, the [[Worldsweeper]] [[Phantom Fleet|fleet]] of the [[Grand Architect]] hovers in formation. Aboard the flagship, [[Flame (Marvel)|Flame]] works upon the unseen Architect's body, reconstructing it and offering to adjust his vocal synthesizer. [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] cuts into the conversation via radio, alerting the Architect to the impending detonation of the geobomb, which will shunt Mederi through the rift. The Architect's curt response, and the fact that [[Tyrest (G1)|Tyrest]]'s scanner sweeps have as yet detected no signs of the mysterious enemy whose coming the Architect is preparing for, only encourage Scorponok to question his loyalties...

The ''Lost Light'' emerges from the rift into what the ship's navigation computer identifies as the [[Benzene Cluster]]. But instead of the planets that ''normally'' occupy the cluster, there are five multi-coloured duplicates of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] itself, which [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] recognizes as the same sight [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] saw years before, when he stepped through Tyrest's portal on [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]]. With the ship's engines drained by the transit through the rift, Crankcase sets the ''Lost Light'' down on one of the Cybertrons, which [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] is able to identify as a perfect replica of the ancient Cybertron of his time, even though [[Anode]] and [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]]'s metallurgical skills confirm it to be a recent creation. The team barely has time to take in this strange new situation they find themselves in before a fleet of [[Black Block Consortia]] ships land nearby, and thousands of Consortia troopers surround them. The situation only keeps escalating as the Grand Architect's flagship appears overhead, shining a spotlight on them. Over a speaker, the Architect introduces himself to the group, and, believing what [[Getaway]] told him about Rodimus coming to stop his plans, order the Consortia to kill them. Nautica is able to give him pause by speaking aloud the symbol of the [[Knights of Cybertron]] that the Architect uses as his insignia; intrigued, the Architect invites Rodimus to choose a small delegation to come aboard his ship and talk. Suddenly, the long-silent [[Magnificence]] pipes up, listing Rodimus, [[Rung (G1)|Rung]], [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]], and [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] as the necessary choices. But Rodimus isn't having it; in an impassioned speech that sees him list of all the incredible achievements the crew have made on their quest, he refuses to break his team up ever again, and vows to defeat the Architect if he turns things into a fight. After a moment's pause, the Architect invites the whole team aboard.

Scorponok is furious that the Architect has allowed the ''Lost Light''ers to live, which proves to be the last straw. Having only ever stayed with the Architect make use of his resources for his now-failed [[Firstborn|Project: Firstborn]], he is tired of all the secrets and mystery. The Architect's identity, it transpires, is unknown even to Scorponok and Tyrest—but while Tyrest is happy to go along with his plans, now his loyal follower after the Architect saved his life following his escape on Luna 1, Scorponok isn't so trusting. He contacts two of the Architect's ''other'' recruits, [[Froid]] and [[Sunder (G1)|Sunder]], and instructs them to go ahead with a plan they have prearranged: to have Sunder use his remote [[mnemosurgery]] powers to read the Architect's mind and discover his true identity.

The ''Lost Light'' sets down in the flagship's docking bay, and as the crew waits, the Magnificence around [[Nickel]]'s neck becomes a topic of conversation. Though nobody else hears anything, Rung believes that he hears the Magnificence speak his name—and when he leans into to look the device in its eyeball, he suddenly, involuntarily transforms, even "speaking" the transformation noise as he does so! Looking down at Rung's still-mysterious alternate mode, Swerve and [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] muse how it makes them feel "young"... but that longstanding puzzle suddenly takes a back seat when everyone's attention is drawn away by the sight of Mederi bursting through the rift, which seals up behind it. A moment later, Froid and Sunder are trooped into the hangar in handcuffs, leading Rodimus to realize they're all in a giant cell. Still, it gives them an opportunity to interrogate the two villains, and Froid is happy to tell them everything he knows. The Architect, Froid relates, created biomechanical constructs to secretly infiltrate and take over the Black Block Consortia, pitting them against the [[Galactic Council]] to sweep the Benzene Cluster clean of much of its population and planets, making room for the replicas of Cybertron, which he created using a giant planet-sized mould, and which together form a weapon known as the "[[God Gun]]." Rewind chimes in to explain how Cybertron legend claims that the planet itself could be used as a weapon, redirecting starlight into an energy beam, but that the war did too much damage to the real thing for the theory to ever be confirmed, hence the Architect's need for copies of ''ancient'' Cybertron—and ''five'' Cybertrons combined can create a beam powerful enough to drill into ''another universe''. But both the threat the Architect has created this weapon to fight, and the identity of the Architect himself, remain mysteries; the Architect is so powerful that he was able to expel the probing Sunder from his mind before he could learn them, stripping him of his mnemosurgical powers in the process.

Scorponok activates the God Gun, opening a portal to a neighboring universe, but there's ''still'' no sign of the mystery threat. Via radio, the Architect reassures Scorponok their enemy ''will'' appear soon; millions of years ago, the Architect was sent through time, through the [[Warren]], to ''this moment'', where he ''saw'' the enemy, before fleeing back into the past to prepare for his coming. The Architect intends to banish the enemy through the portal, into another universe, thereby saving this one... but when Tyrest detects a sudden massive flare of energy on the ''other side'' of the portal, Scorponok realizes with horror what has happened: the enemy was in the next universe the whole time, and the Architect's portal has only provided him with the means to cross over into this one! Scorponok is in the middle of roaring into his radio in outrage when the door behind him bursts open; the Grand Architect has ''not'' taken kindly to Scorponok's plotting with Froid and Sunder, and stabs him through the back with a very familiar chainsaw-hand. Scorponok falls dead at the feet of the Architect... a.k.a. [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]]!

As Rodimus and the others watch, a huge fleet of ships comes flying through the portal with a replica of the ''Lost Light'' at its head. Rodimus and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]]'s communicators chime simultaneously, and a transmission from the bridge of the duplicate ship comes through. A transmission... from [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]]!!

==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)
*[[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (2)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Brainstorm]] (5)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] (6)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Perceptor]] (7)
*[[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] (8)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (9)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] (10)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (12)
*[[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] (15)
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (16)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (18)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (20)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (22)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Grimlock]] (23)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (25)
*[[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] (26)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Chromedome]] (28)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (32)
*[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] (39)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] (3)
*[[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] (14)
*[[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] (17)
*[[Krok (G1)|Krok]] (24)
*[[Fulcrum]] (29)
*[[Nickel]] (31)
*[[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (34)

|c4=
*[[Wipe-Out]] (4)
*Alien telepaths (11)
*[[Roller (IDW)|Roller]] (13)
*[[Anode]] (19)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] (21)
*[[Lug (IDW)|Lug]] (27)
*[[Flame (Marvel)|Flame]] (32)
*[[Grand Architect]]/[[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]] (33)
*[[Tyrest (G1)|Tyrest]] (35)
*[[Black Block Consortia]] troops (36)
*[[Sunder (G1)|Sunder]] (37)
*[[Froid]] (38)
}}

==Quotes==
"Our navicomp doesn't know its ass from its elbow. It's not been the same since Whirl spilt... god, what was it? Magnus! What did Whirl spill on the navicomp?" 
"Tailgate."
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Ultra Magnus'''

"A new place, a new mystery, random fragments of information... in thirty seconds' time, we'll be fighting for our lives." 
"What makes you say that?" 
"S'what '''always''' happens!"
:—'''Misfire''' and '''Chromedome'''

"Getaway was right." 
"'''So''' not the best way to start a conversation."
:—The '''Grand Architect''' and '''Rodimus'''

"This is not the time to try and split us up. Do you have '''any''' idea what we've been through together? What we've '''achieved?''' We've seen off a '''Phase Sixer''', cured an '''army''' of sparkeaters, survived a mutiny, traveled in time, gatecrashed a universe, and saved '''half our race.''' (...) We've liberated planets, defeated the '''D.J.D.''', found Luna 1 '''and''' the Necrobot, rescued '''two''' Metrotitans, been '''erased from existence''', and '''stolen a moon'''... and a few hours ago, we '''died''' and '''broke heaven.''' The key word is '''we'''. This isn't about '''Team Rodimus'''. This is about Team Magnus. It's about Team Nautica. Team Anode. Team Skids. Team Nightbeat. Hell, it's even about '''Team Whirl.''' So if 'the Grand Architect' turns out to be nothing more than the latest in a long line of '''nobodies''' trying to '''prove a point'''—another sad little trumped-up tyrant who throws a '''hissy fit''' whenever the world won't listen—then maybe, just maybe, Getaway '''was''' right. Because if you're stupid enough to turn this into '''us''' versus '''you''', then guess what? We'll win. '''We've got form.'''"
:—'''Rodimus''' addresses the Grand Architect

"Exaggeration is a form of '''conversational fraud.''' A colleague of mine used to exaggerate frequently. Between our first meeting and his request for an urgent transfer, he must have exaggerated... well... it must have been four or five times."
:—'''Ultra Magnus'''

"Were you expecting someone else?"
:—'''Megatron''' makes his big return

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*First Aid refers to Misfire as "Flyhigh," which we learned was his real name back in [[Kill All 'Cons|issue #15]].
*Rewind doesn't know what the geobomb is when it appears, but Rung is able to recognize it, because he saw one up close back in [[The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle|''More than Meets the Eye'' #55]].
*The Benzene Cluster, it turns out, is the end of a spiritual leyline that the ''Lost Light'' crew have been travelling along for the whole of their journey. Drift lists the planets positioned along it as including [[Deimus]] (visited very early on the quest, back in ''[[The Waiting Game|Spotlight: Hoist]]''), [[Theophany]] (the [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|2012 ''More than Meets the Eye'' annual]]), [[Troja Major]] ([[An Axe to Break the Ice|issue #8]]-[[Chasing the Infinite|9]]), and Mederi.
*Drift also notes that spay "frays" at the end of the leyline; perhaps that's why one species of aliens native to Benzene, fist mentioned in [[The Plotters' Club (Part 2): Filling in the Blanks|issue #11]], are called the [[Fraynian]]s, from the planet [[Frayus]]. As Tyrest did last issue, Drift refers to this frayed space as "threadbare"; "threadbare space" was one of the key phrases Drift saw in his vision in [[Dissolution Part 1: Some Other Cybertron|issue #1]].
*As Nautica (and a footnote) remind us, the five multi-colored Cybertrons were first glimpsed by [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] back in [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|''More than Meets the Eye'' #21]]. Cyclonus recognizes them as copies of the ancient Cybertron of his time, which Froid explains were created using a "hollow planet—a giant mold." That mold is obviously [[Necroworld]], which Rung and [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] discovered matched the shape of ancient Cybertron back in ''More than Meets the Eye'' #55. The implication, then, is that Necroworld was created using Cybertron as a base, rather than Cybertron having been created from it, as Rung assumed at the time.
*Rodimus lists of the crew's accomplishments as:
**"Seen off a [[Phase Sixer]]" ([[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]], in [[Under Cold Blue Stars|''More than Meets the Eye'' #15]])
**"Cured an army of sparkeaters" (last issue)
**"Survived a mutiny" ([[The Dying of the Light|''More than Meets the Eye'' #50-55]])
**"Traveled in time" ([[Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|''More than Meets the Eye'' #36]]-[[Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|38]])
**"Gatecrashed a universe" [[Dissolution Part 1: Some Other Cybertron|''Lost Light'' #1]]-[[Dissolution Part 6: This Machine Kills Fascists|6]])
**"Saved half our race" [[Remain in Light|''More than Meets the Eye'' #17-21]])
**"Liberated planets" (''More than Meets the Eye'' #50, for example)
**"Defeated the DJD" (''More than Meets the Eye'' #55)
**"Found Luna 1 and the Necrobot" (''More than Meets the Eye'' #17 and [[The Not Knowing|#44]])
**"Rescued two Metrotitans" ([[Metrotitan (Zone)|Metrotitan]] in the 2012 annual, and [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] in [[Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8|''More than Meets the Eye'' #26]], but see errors)
**"Been erased from existence" ([[Twenty Plus One|''More than Meets the Eye'' #31]])
**"Stolen a moon" ([[Dissolution Part 5: Modes of Production|''Lost Light'' #5]])
**"Died and broke heaven" ([[The Everlasting Voices (1): Metastasis|''Lost Light'' #16]]-[[The Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here|18]])
*Tyrest relates his escape from incarceration via teleporter, which occurred in [[The Sound of Breaking Glass|''More than Meets the Eye'' #21]].
*The Grand Architect repaired Tyrest's mind, and so the self-inflicted drill-hole on his forehead that made him go funny is now gone. (For some reason, his projected image still sported it in [[Crucible (Part 1): A Dance Before Dying|issue #19]].)
*The Grand Architect is... Pharma?? This turncoat Autobot was last seen (chronologically speaking) in ''More than Meets the Eye'' #21, in which he died, but had his corpse pulled through Tyrest's portal. His return was foreshadowed by an appearance in Drift's vision in ''Lost Light'' #1, but ssssomething doesn't add up here:
** Pharma was just a regular, loyal Autobot until only about a decade ago, when he fell under the [[Decepticon Justice Division|DJD]]'s thumb while on [[Messatine]], but the Grand Architect has been operating in the galaxy for centuries. Also, the crew hear his voice but don't recognize it, after it's been established there ''wasn't'' time for Flame to retune his vocal synthesizer. Time travel ''is'' somehow involved somehow, per Pharma's claims about the Warren sending him through time... is that what happened when he was pulled through the portal? ...but... we're pretty sure there's another shoe waiting to drop here...
** Tyrest mentions that after the battle in ''More than Meets The Eye'' #21, he teleported away and at that point was found by the Grand Architect, who repaired him. Given that Pharma's headless body had been pulled through the portal very shortly prior to that, there wouldn't really be sufficient time for Pharma to have been completely repaired + begin acting in the capacity of the Grand Architect.
** Likewise, Pharma mentions in ''More Than Meets The Eye'' #19 that he's never seen the kind of technology that Luna 1 offers, despite the fact Luna 1 has the Grand Architect / Knight of Cybertron symbol painted in the center of its engines.
** Pharma is shown to be so terrified of the DJD that he was willing to kill patients to keep the DJD placated (''More than Meets the Eye'' #4 and #5), which doesn't quiiiiite square up with Grand Architect Pharma being powerful enough to kill Scorponok with one punch here - cheapshot or not.
*Megatron was last seen in ''Lost Light'' #6, when he was left stranded in the Functionist Universe thanks to [[Terminus (G1)|Terminus]] misleading him. Is ''he'' the monster the Grand Architect fears? He's wearing his [[fusion cannon]] again... and his hand ''is'' just ''ever-so-strategically'' positioned to cover his chest, so we can't see if he's still wearing his Autobot insignia...

===Transformers references===
*Continuing a trend of recent issues to use [[Unicron]]-related dialogue cribbed from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', Crankcase cries out "We're being sucked into it!" as the ''Lost Light'' is pulled through the rift, a line spoken by [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] in the film when he and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] were consumed by the monster planet.

===Real world references===
*The title of this issue, "Farsickness," is a condition that is the opposite of homesickness, a longing for far-off places.

===Errors===
*While listing off the crew's accomplishments on page 10, Rodimus refers to "two Metrotitans." This ''was'' the name by which the giant [[cityformer]]s were introduced in the 2012 ''More than Meets the Eye'' annual, but ever since then, every single other IDW story has referred to them only as "[[Titan (IDW)|Titans]]," with "Metrotitan" being repositioned as the name of the [[Metrotitan (Zone)|''individual Titan'']] the crew rescued in that story.
*On page 11, panel 7, Scorponok uses the phrase "tow the line." That ought to be "to'''''e''''' the line."
*There's a thin orange circle behind "cosmic Pathblaster"-Cybertron on page 15 that seems like it was meant to be a star, based on the text about positioning Cybertron a certain distance from it, and by the star behind the five-Cybertron God Gun at the bottom of the page.

===Other trivia===
*Originally solicited for release in early July 2018, as the first of ''two'' issues of ''Lost Light'' that were supposed to be released that month, this issue arrived a bit late, only coming out in the ''last'' week of July, bumping the second July issue into August. But on the plus side, it's only two weeks after issue #20, and only three weeks after #19, making a total of ''three'' issues of ''Lost Light'' released in July—even if they ''were'' all late!

===Soundtrack===
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB-RcX5DS5A The Scientist]" by {{w|Coldplay}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=E5H8DwJI0uA Sons and Daughters]" by {{w|The Decemberists}}

===Covers (3)===
*'''Cover A:''' Everyone's very shocked, by [[Jack Lawrence]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
*'''Cover B:''' Our heroes, by [[Geoff Senior]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Lawrence's black and white lineart from Cover A
<gallery>
File:LL21 cvrA.jpg|
File:LL21 cvrB.jpg|
File:LL21 cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''Lost Light'' #22
*''[[Transformers: Unicron]]''
*''[[Transformers vs. Visionaries]]'' TPB
*''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]] vs. The Six Million Dollar Man'' TPB
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' #7
*''The Comic Book History of Comics: Comics For All'' TPB
*''[[Star Trek]]: The Next Generation: Terra Icognita''
*[[Unicron issue 1|''Transformers: Unicron'' #1]]

==External links==
*[https://graphicpolicy.com/2018/07/24/preview-transformers-lost-light-21/ Preview]

[[Category: Lost Light issues]]

Crucible (Part 3): Farsickness

2018-07-25T18:25:15Z

Justice: Addition of other continuity points referencing the discrepancy between "Grand Architect Pharma" and "Crazy Pharma" from earlier issues.

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Lost Light|The Transformers: Lost Light]]'' #21
|prev=Crucible (Part 2): Lūstrāre
|next=Crucible (Part 4)
|image=LL21_cvrA.jpg
|title="Crucible (Part 3): Farsickness"
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[July 25]], 2018
|coverdate=Early July, 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]]
}}
'''Back aboard the ''Lost Light'', our heroes are caught up in the Grand Architect's mad plan to save the universe.'''

==Synopsis==
As space itself above [[Mederi]] splits open into a crackling rift, [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] takes the recaptured ''[[Lost Light]]'' down to the planet to collect the rest of his crew and the [[Scavenger (group)|Scavengers]] so they can all make a quick escape. As the convalescing former mutineers, now cured of their [[sparkeater (creature)|sparkeater]] mutation, are loaded aboard, [[Perceptor (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Perceptor]] apologizes to Rodimus for everything that has happened, and Rodimus happily forgives them all. Even Mederi's alien telepaths are brought onto the ship, but as they are being removed from Ward Zero, a [[geobomb]] is suddenly teleported into the midst of the room, inspiring everyone to pick up the pace. Once everyone is aboard, the ''Lost Light'' blasts off, but it doesn't get far before pilot [[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] finds that, even with the engines at full force, the ship cannot escape the pull of the rift...

On the other side of the rift, the [[Worldsweeper]] [[Phantom Fleet|fleet]] of the [[Grand Architect]] hovers in formation. Aboard the flagship, [[Flame (Marvel)|Flame]] works upon the unseen Architect's body, reconstructing it and offering to adjust his vocal synthesizer. [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] cuts into the conversation via radio, alerting the Architect to the impending detonation of the geobomb, which will shunt Mederi through the rift. The Architect's curt response, and the fact that [[Tyrest (G1)|Tyrest]]'s scanner sweeps have as yet detected no signs of the mysterious enemy whose coming the Architect is preparing for, only encourage Scorponok to question his loyalties...

The ''Lost Light'' emerges from the rift into what the ship's navigation computer identifies as the [[Benzene Cluster]]. But instead of the planets that ''normally'' occupy the cluster, there are five multi-coloured duplicates of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] itself, which [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] recognizes as the same sight [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] saw years before, when he stepped through Tyrest's portal on [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]]. With the ship's engines drained by the transit through the rift, Crankcase sets the ''Lost Light'' down on one of the Cybertrons, which [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] is able to identify as a perfect replica of the ancient Cybertron of his time, even though [[Anode]] and [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]]'s metallurgical skills confirm it to be a recent creation. The team barely has time to take in this strange new situation they find themselves in before a fleet of [[Black Block Consortia]] ships land nearby, and thousands of Consortia troopers surround them. The situation only keeps escalating as the Grand Architect's flagship appears overhead, shining a spotlight on them. Over a speaker, the Architect introduces himself to the group, and, believing what [[Getaway]] told him about Rodimus coming to stop his plans, order the Consortia to kill them. Nautica is able to give him pause by speaking aloud the symbol of the [[Knights of Cybertron]] that the Architect uses as his insignia; intrigued, the Architect invites Rodimus to choose a small delegation to come aboard his ship and talk. Suddenly, the long-silent [[Magnificence]] pipes up, listing Rodimus, [[Rung (G1)|Rung]], [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]], and [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] as the necessary choices. But Rodimus isn't having it; in an impassioned speech that sees him list of all the incredible achievements the crew have made on their quest, he refuses to break his team up ever again, and vows to defeat the Architect if he turns things into a fight. After a moment's pause, the Architect invites the whole team aboard.

Scorponok is furious that the Architect has allowed the ''Lost Light''ers to live, which proves to be the last straw. Having only ever stayed with the Architect make use of his resources for his now-failed [[Firstborn|Project: Firstborn]], he is tired of all the secrets and mystery. The Architect's identity, it transpires, is unknown even to Scorponok and Tyrest—but while Tyrest is happy to go along with his plans, now his loyal follower after the Architect saved his life following his escape on Luna 1, Scorponok isn't so trusting. He contacts two of the Architect's ''other'' recruits, [[Froid]] and [[Sunder (G1)|Sunder]], and instructs them to go ahead with a plan they have prearranged: to have Sunder use his remote [[mnemosurgery]] powers to read the Architect's mind and discover his true identity.

The ''Lost Light'' sets down in the flagship's docking bay, and as the crew waits, the Magnificence around [[Nickel]]'s neck becomes a topic of conversation. Though nobody else hears anything, Rung believes that he hears the Magnificence speak his name—and when he leans into to look the device in its eyeball, he suddenly, involuntarily transforms, even "speaking" the transformation noise as he does so! Looking down at Rung's still-mysterious alternate mode, Swerve and [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] muse how it makes them feel "young"... but that longstanding puzzle suddenly takes a back seat when everyone's attention is drawn away by the sight of Mederi bursting through the rift, which seals up behind it. A moment later, Froid and Sunder are trooped into the hangar in handcuffs, leading Rodimus to realize they're all in a giant cell. Still, it gives them an opportunity to interrogate the two villains, and Froid is happy to tell them everything he knows. The Architect, Froid relates, created biomechanical constructs to secretly infiltrate and take over the Black Block Consortia, pitting them against the [[Galactic Council]] to sweep the Benzene Cluster clean of much of its population and planets, making room for the replicas of Cybertron, which he created using a giant planet-sized mould, and which together form a weapon known as the "[[God Gun]]." Rewind chimes in to explain how Cybertron legend claims that the planet itself could be used as a weapon, redirecting starlight into an energy beam, but that the war did too much damage to the real thing for the theory to ever be confirmed, hence the Architect's need for copies of ''ancient'' Cybertron—and ''five'' Cybertrons combined can create a beam powerful enough to drill into ''another universe''. But both the threat the Architect has created this weapon to fight, and the identity of the Architect himself, remain mysteries; the Architect is so powerful that he was able to expel the probing Sunder from his mind before he could learn them, stripping him of his mnemosurgical powers in the process.

Scorponok activates the God Gun, opening a portal to a neighboring universe, but there's ''still'' no sign of the mystery threat. Via radio, the Architect reassures Scorponok their enemy ''will'' appear soon; millions of years ago, the Architect was sent through time, through the [[Warren]], to ''this moment'', where he ''saw'' the enemy, before fleeing back into the past to prepare for his coming. The Architect intends to banish the enemy through the portal, into another universe, thereby saving this one... but when Tyrest detects a sudden massive flare of energy on the ''other side'' of the portal, Scorponok realizes with horror what has happened: the enemy was in the next universe the whole time, and the Architect's portal has only provided him with the means to cross over into this one! Scorponok is in the middle of roaring into his radio in outrage when the door behind him bursts open; the Grand Architect has ''not'' taken kindly to Scorponok's plotting with Froid and Sunder, and stabs him through the back with a very familiar chainsaw-hand. Scorponok falls dead at the feet of the Architect... a.k.a. [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]]!

As Rodimus and the others watch, a huge fleet of ships comes flying through the portal with a replica of the ''Lost Light'' at its head. Rodimus and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]]'s communicators chime simultaneously, and a transmission from the bridge of the duplicate ship comes through. A transmission... from [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]]!!

==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)
*[[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (2)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Brainstorm]] (5)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] (6)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Perceptor]] (7)
*[[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] (8)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (9)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] (10)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (12)
*[[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] (15)
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (16)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (18)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (20)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (22)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Grimlock]] (23)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (25)
*[[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] (26)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Chromedome]] (28)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (32)
*[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] (39)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] (3)
*[[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] (14)
*[[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] (17)
*[[Krok (G1)|Krok]] (24)
*[[Fulcrum]] (29)
*[[Nickel]] (31)
*[[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (34)

|c4=
*[[Wipe-Out]] (4)
*Alien telepaths (11)
*[[Roller (IDW)|Roller]] (13)
*[[Anode]] (19)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] (21)
*[[Lug (IDW)|Lug]] (27)
*[[Flame (Marvel)|Flame]] (32)
*[[Grand Architect]]/[[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]] (33)
*[[Tyrest (G1)|Tyrest]] (35)
*[[Black Block Consortia]] troops (36)
*[[Sunder (G1)|Sunder]] (37)
*[[Froid]] (38)
}}

==Quotes==
"Our navicomp doesn't know its ass from its elbow. It's not been the same since Whirl spilt... god, what was it? Magnus! What did Whirl spill on the navicomp?" 
"Tailgate."
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Ultra Magnus'''

"A new place, a new mystery, random fragments of information... in thirty seconds' time, we'll be fighting for our lives." 
"What makes you say that?" 
"S'what '''always''' happens!"
:—'''Misfire''' and '''Chromedome'''

"Getaway was right." 
"'''So''' not the best way to start a conversation."
:—The '''Grand Architect''' and '''Rodimus'''

"This is not the time to try and split us up. Do you have '''any''' idea what we've been through together? What we've '''achieved?''' We've seen off a '''Phase Sixer''', cured an '''army''' of sparkeaters, survived a mutiny, traveled in time, gatecrashed a universe, and saved '''half our race.''' (...) We've liberated planets, defeated the '''D.J.D.''', found Luna 1 '''and''' the Necrobot, rescued '''two''' Metrotitans, been '''erased from existence''', and '''stolen a moon'''... and a few hours ago, we '''died''' and '''broke heaven.''' The key word is '''we'''. This isn't about '''Team Rodimus'''. This is about Team Magnus. It's about Team Nautica. Team Anode. Team Skids. Team Nightbeat. Hell, it's even about '''Team Whirl.''' So if 'the Grand Architect' turns out to be nothing more than the latest in a long line of '''nobodies''' trying to '''prove a point'''—another sad little trumped-up tyrant who throws a '''hissy fit''' whenever the world won't listen—then maybe, just maybe, Getaway '''was''' right. Because if you're stupid enough to turn this into '''us''' versus '''you''', then guess what? We'll win. '''We've got form.'''"
:—'''Rodimus''' addresses the Grand Architect

"Exaggeration is a form of '''conversational fraud.''' A colleague of mine used to exaggerate frequently. Between our first meeting and his request for an urgent transfer, he must have exaggerated... well... it must have been four or five times."
:—'''Ultra Magnus'''

"Were you expecting someone else?"
:—'''Megatron''' makes his big return

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*First Aid refers to Misfire as "Flyhigh," which we learned was his real name back in [[Kill All 'Cons|issue #15]].
*Rewind doesn't know what the geobomb is when it appears, but Rung is able to recognize it, because he saw one up close back in [[The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle|''More than Meets the Eye'' #55]].
*The Benzene Cluster, it turns out, is the end of a spiritual leyline that the ''Lost Light'' crew have been travelling along for the whole of their journey. Drift lists the planets positioned along it as including [[Deimus]] (visited very early on the quest, back in ''[[The Waiting Game|Spotlight: Hoist]]''), [[Theophany]] (the [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|2012 ''More than Meets the Eye'' annual]]), [[Troja Major]] ([[An Axe to Break the Ice|issue #8]]-[[Chasing the Infinite|9]]), and Mederi.
*Drift also notes that spay "frays" at the end of the leyline; perhaps that's why one species of aliens native to Benzene, fist mentioned in [[The Plotters' Club (Part 2): Filling in the Blanks|issue #11]], are called the [[Fraynian]]s, from the planet [[Frayus]]. As Tyrest did last issue, Drift refers to this frayed space as "threadbare"; "threadbare space" was one of the key phrases Drift saw in his vision in [[Dissolution Part 1: Some Other Cybertron|issue #1]].
*As Nautica (and a footnote) remind us, the five multi-colored Cybertrons were first glimpsed by [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] back in [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|''More than Meets the Eye'' #21]]. Cyclonus recognizes them as copies of the ancient Cybertron of his time, which Froid explains were created using a "hollow planet—a giant mold." That mold is obviously [[Necroworld]], which Rung and [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] discovered matched the shape of ancient Cybertron back in ''More than Meets the Eye'' #55. The implication, then, is that Necroworld was created using Cybertron as a base, rather than Cybertron having been created from it, as Rung assumed at the time.
*Rodimus lists of the crew's accomplishments as:
**"Seen off a [[Phase Sixer]]" ([[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]], in [[Under Cold Blue Stars|''More than Meets the Eye'' #15]])
**"Cured an army of sparkeaters" (last issue)
**"Survived a mutiny" ([[The Dying of the Light|''More than Meets the Eye'' #50-55]])
**"Traveled in time" ([[Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|''More than Meets the Eye'' #36]]-[[Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|38]])
**"Gatecrashed a universe" [[Dissolution Part 1: Some Other Cybertron|''Lost Light'' #1]]-[[Dissolution Part 6: This Machine Kills Fascists|6]])
**"Saved half our race" [[Remain in Light|''More than Meets the Eye'' #17-21]])
**"Liberated planets" (''More than Meets the Eye'' #50, for example)
**"Defeated the DJD" (''More than Meets the Eye'' #55)
**"Found Luna 1 and the Necrobot" (''More than Meets the Eye'' #17 and [[The Not Knowing|#44]])
**"Rescued two Metrotitans" ([[Metrotitan (Zone)|Metrotitan]] in the 2012 annual, and [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] in [[Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8|''More than Meets the Eye'' #26]], but see errors)
**"Been erased from existence" ([[Twenty Plus One|''More than Meets the Eye'' #31]])
**"Stolen a moon" ([[Dissolution Part 5: Modes of Production|''Lost Light'' #5]])
**"Died and broke heaven" ([[The Everlasting Voices (1): Metastasis|''Lost Light'' #16]]-[[The Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here|18]])
*Tyrest relates his escape from incarceration via teleporter, which occurred in [[The Sound of Breaking Glass|''More than Meets the Eye'' #21]].
*The Grand Architect repaired Tyrest's mind, and so the self-inflicted drill-hole on his forehead that made him go funny is now gone. (For some reason, his projected image still sported it in [[Crucible (Part 1): A Dance Before Dying|issue #19]].)
*The Grand Architect is... Pharma?? This turncoat Autobot was last seen (chronologically speaking) in ''More than Meets the Eye'' #21, in which he died, but had his corpse pulled through Tyrest's portal. His return was foreshadowed by an appearance in Drift's vision in ''Lost Light'' #1, but ssssomething doesn't add up here:
** Pharma was just a regular, loyal Autobot until only about a decade ago, when he fell under the [[Decepticon Justice Division|DJD]]'s thumb while on [[Messatine]], but the Grand Architect has been operating in the galaxy for centuries. Also, the crew hear his voice but don't recognize it, after it's been established there ''wasn't'' time for Flame to retune his vocal synthesizer. Time travel ''is'' somehow involved somehow, per Pharma's claims about the Warren sending him through time... is that what happened when he was pulled through the portal? ...but... we're pretty sure there's another shoe waiting to drop here...
** Tyrest mentions that after the battle in "More than Meets The Eye" #21, he teleported away and at that point was found by the Grand Architect, who repaired him. Given that Pharma's headless body had been pulled through the portal very shortly prior to that, there wouldn't really be sufficient time for Pharma to have been completely repaired + begin acting in the capacity of the Grand Architect.
** Likewise, Pharma mentions in "More Than Meets The Eye" #19 that he's never seen the kind of technology that Luna 1 offers (despite the fact Luna 1 has the Grand Architect's symbol painted on its engine).
** Pharma is shown to be so terrified of the DJD that he was willing to kill patients to keep the DJD placated ("More than Meets the Eye" #4 and #5), which doesn't quiiiiite square up with Grand Architect Pharma being powerful enough to kill Scorponok with one punch here - cheapshot or not.
*Megatron was last seen in ''Lost Light'' #6, when he was left stranded in the Functionist Universe thanks to [[Terminus (G1)|Terminus]] misleading him. Is ''he'' the monster the Grand Architect fears? He's wearing his [[fusion cannon]] again... and his hand ''is'' just ''ever-so-strategically'' positioned to cover his chest, so we can't see if he's still wearing his Autobot insignia...

===Transformers references===
*Continuing a trend of recent issues to use [[Unicron]]-related dialogue cribbed from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', Crankcase cries out "We're being sucked into it!" as the ''Lost Light'' is pulled through the rift, a line spoken by [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] in the film when he and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] were consumed by the monster planet.

===Real world references===
*The title of this issue, "Farsickness," is a condition that is the opposite of homesickness, a longing for far-off places.

===Errors===
*While listing off the crew's accomplishments on page 10, Rodimus refers to "two Metrotitans." This ''was'' the name by which the giant [[cityformer]]s were introduced in the 2012 ''More than Meets the Eye'' annual, but ever since then, every single other IDW story has referred to them only as "[[Titan (IDW)|Titans]]," with "Metrotitan" being repositioned as the name of the [[Metrotitan (Zone)|''individual Titan'']] the crew rescued in that story.
*On page 11, panel 7, Scorponok uses the phrase "tow the line." That ought to be "to'''''e''''' the line."
*There's a thin orange circle behind "cosmic Pathblaster"-Cybertron on page 15 that seems like it was meant to be a star, based on the text about positioning Cybertron a certain distance from it, and by the star behind the five-Cybertron God Gun at the bottom of the page.

===Other trivia===
*Originally solicited for release in early July 2018, as the first of ''two'' issues of ''Lost Light'' that were supposed to be released that month, this issue arrived a bit late, only coming out in the ''last'' week of July, bumping the second July issue into August. But on the plus side, it's only two weeks after issue #20, and only three weeks after #19, making a total of ''three'' issues of ''Lost Light'' released in July—even if they ''were'' all late!

===Soundtrack===
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB-RcX5DS5A The Scientist]" by {{w|Coldplay}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=E5H8DwJI0uA Sons and Daughters]" by {{w|The Decemberists}}

===Covers (3)===
*'''Cover A:''' Everyone's very shocked, by [[Jack Lawrence]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
*'''Cover B:''' Our heroes, by [[Geoff Senior]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Lawrence's black and white lineart from Cover A
<gallery>
File:LL21 cvrA.jpg|
File:LL21 cvrB.jpg|
File:LL21 cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''Lost Light'' #22
*''[[Transformers: Unicron]]''
*''[[Transformers vs. Visionaries]]'' TPB
*''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]] vs. The Six Million Dollar Man'' TPB
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' #7
*''The Comic Book History of Comics: Comics For All'' TPB
*''[[Star Trek]]: The Next Generation: Terra Icognita''
*[[Unicron issue 1|''Transformers: Unicron'' #1]]

==External links==
*[https://graphicpolicy.com/2018/07/24/preview-transformers-lost-light-21/ Preview]

[[Category: Lost Light issues]]

The Dying of the Light Part 4: At Close of Day

2018-07-07T23:39:04Z

Justice: /* Continuity notes */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=53
|prev=The Dying of the Light Part 3: Your Fierce Tears
|next=The Dying of the Light Part 5: Rage, Rage
|image=MTMTE53_regcvr.jpg
|title="The Dying of the Light Part 4: At Close of Day"
|caption=''Men of Harlech, stop your dreaming Can't you see their spear points gleaming''
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[May 25]], [[2016]]
|coverdate=May 2016
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|pencils by=[[Alex Milne]] (pg 1-13, 19-20) and [[Hayato Sakamoto]] (pg 14-18)
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2016)]]
}}
'''In the final hours before the sun sets, Rewind and Chromedome finally solve the mystery of Dominus Ambus.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:AtCloseOfDay-tailgatedemolishes.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|''Hey yo, I'm just like my country'' ''I'm young, scrappy and hungry'' ''And I am not throwing away my shot!'']]
In the [[Censere|Necrobot]]'s fortress, [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] finishes up repairs on [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] while simultaneously perusing [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]]'s case notes from recent events in order to get caught up on what has happened while he's been away. He expresses some concern for [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]], observing that other crewmembers exposed to the energy released by his spark upon its mutation have experienced sudden system crashes, but the group can't worry too much about that right now, as the little 'bot is hard at work demolishing part of the fortress to provide [[Brainstorm (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Brainstorm]] with raw materials to make weapons. Although the team is making ready to fight, they also must prepare for the worst, and so [[Rewind (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rewind]] records some last words from each of them, to be sent out in the event of their deaths.

Despite the danger, [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]]'s mind is preoccupied with the mystery of the hollow planet on which they now stand, and he convinces [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Minimus Ambus]] to allow him to spend the remaining daylight hours investigating it. He ropes [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] into helping him, but just before they depart, they are called into a room by [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]], along with Brainstorm, Velocity, and [[Skids (G1)|Skids]]. Casting hesitations aside in the face of impending death, Nautica recites the formal oath that bonds each of them to her as [[Amica Endura]]. Afterward, however, as Rung leaves with Nightbeat, his parting with Skids seems noticeably awkward.

[[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Chromedome]] volunteers to perform [[mnemosurgery]] on the captive Pet in order to obtain the location of the [[Decepticon Justice Division|DJD]]'s [[Peaceful Tyranny|spaceship]] for [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]]. As he injects the little creature, however, the experience proves stranger than expected, and he soon comes to a horrifying realization: the Pet is not a [[turbofox]] at all, but a Transformer...

Simultaneously, Rewind watches as Brainstorm measures Minimus Ambus for a new armor, which leads Minimus to mention that the ability to carry a heavier load was the one thing he was better at than his brother and fellow Loadbearer [[Dominus Ambus]]. Rewind is shocked to learn that his former [[Conjunx Endura]] kept the secret that he was a Loadbearer from him, and immediately opens the [[Grand Cybertronian Taxonomy]] on the Necrobot's computer so that Minimus can find Dominus's true appearance in it. Minimus does so with ease, pulling up his brother's base alternate mode: a turbofox.

[[File:It's not your decision to make.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|''There are moments that the words don't reach...'']]
Understanding strikes Rewind and Chromedome at the same time, and the little archivist runs straight to the medibay (pausing only to sock Rodimus on the jaw for letting Chromedome inject yet again), where Chromedome pulls the full truth from The Pet's memories. Dominus disappeared because ''he'' was the Autobot undercover operative [[Dominus Ambus|Agent 113]], but when his true identity was discovered by the D.J.D., they "domesticated" him as a form of torture, locking him in beast mode by removing his [[transformation cog]] and lobotomizing him, turning him into their Pet. Chromedome has begun to repair Dominus's mind, but the mnemosurgeon's spark starts to fade thanks to the rigors of the procedure. Rewind urges him to stop, but Chromedome explains that Dominus will die if he does, and that he is willing to give up his life so that Rewind and Dominus can be together. Rewind refuses to let him, grabbing [[Drift (G1)|Drift]]'s sword and slicing Chromedome's needle-arm off, severing the connection, and saving his life at the cost of Dominus's.

[[File:MTMTE53FullyArmedBatallion.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.6|''Let's show these Federalists who they're up against'' ''SOUTHERN'' '''''MOTHERFRAGGING''''' ''DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICANS'']]
Hours later, the forces of the D.J.D. gather outside the fortress's [[storm shield]], while [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] work to finish assembling perimeter defenses. As Cyclonus puts the finishing touches to a turret, Whirl asks him about his relationship with [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] and whether or not they are "together." Cyclonus angrily informs him that they are not, because Tailgate deserves someone better than him, but vows that no harm will come to him this day. With the turret completed, Whirl fires upon the Decepticon mob, but unfortuntely discovers that in addition to preventing the Decepticons from firing ''in'', the storm shield prevents the turrets from firing outward. With only twenty minutes until sunset, Whirl and Cyclonus head back inside the fortress to share this report, leading Rodimus to contemplate simply shutting the shield down and facing death head-on. Megatron urges him to reconsider and for the group to cherish every minute of life they have left; from his tone, and the fact that he rebuffs the gift of a freshly-constructed [[fusion cannon]], Rodimus realizes that Megatron does not intend to stand with them in the fight. Calling himself too weak and too afraid, Megatron slinks away, leaving even [[Ravage (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ravage]] ashamed of his once-great leader. But where Megatron has let the team down, Brainstorm has not: he has constructed an absolutely ''colossal'' new suit of "Maximus Ambus" armor for Minimus that will give the D.J.D. as hard a fight as possible. Though Nightbeat and Rung have not yet returned, Rodimus welcomes the team into a group hug, thanks them all for travelling with him... then deactivates the storm shield, so that they may all rush out and meet their destiny together.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (1)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Chromedome]] (2)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] (3)
*[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] (4)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] (5)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (6)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (7)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (8)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (9)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Dominus Ambus|Dominus Ambus/The Pet/Agent 113]] (10)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Brainstorm]] (11)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Minimus Ambus]] (12)
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (13)
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (14)
*[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (15)
*[[Rewind (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rewind]] (16)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (23)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] (17)
*[[Nickel]] (18)
*[[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]] (19)
*[[Vos (DJD)|Vos]] (20)
*[[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] (21)
*[[Leozack]] (22)
*[[Ravage (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ravage]] (25)
|c4=
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] (24)
*[[Ten]] (26)
}}

==Quotes==
"And Minimus is okay with this..." 
"Yes, provided I don't go alone. I said I'd take someone he could do without. Joking." 
"You're not, though, are you?" 
"No."
:—'''Rung''' and '''Nightbeat'''

"I bid you stand in the glow of my spark that you may feel the heat of my words and know them to be true. I invite you to '''receive my light''' and in doing so becoming Amica Endura—from now until forever. Rung, for your '''words.''' Brainstorm, for your '''intellect.''' Lotty, for your '''determination.''' Nightbeat, for your '''curiosity.''' And Skids, for your '''kindness.''' Your kindness and your '''dancing.''' As you are to me, may I be to you—today, tomorrow, and always."
:—'''Nautica''' recites the Amica Endura oath

"If I pull out now, he'll '''die!''' His mind will '''collapse''' and he will die!" 
"But if you stay in there, '''you'll''' die..." 
"It doesn't '''matter!''' There's never been room for both of us in your life anyway!" 
"But I can't..." 
"Yes you '''can'''! <big>'''''YOU CAN HAVE HIM INSTEAD OF ME!'''''</big>" 
(beat) 
''SLIKT'' 
"It's not your decision to make, Domey. It's not your decision to make."
:—'''Chromedome''' and '''Rewind''' creating the first cry-your-eyes-out moment of this issue

"No. We haven't spoken. Not about that. Important things are '''felt''', not '''said'''." 
"I'll take your word for it. I don't do "relationships." My world begins and ends with me. So why '''aren't''' you guys a couple?" 
"......he deserves better. He's '''kind.''' He '''cares''' about people. The more he's pushed away, the more he reaches out." 
"So it's not the height difference." 
"It is, in a way. '''He towers over me.'''" 
"Well, I still think you should be spending the rest of your lives together. I mean we're talking all of '''24 minutes''', but..." 
"Oh, we'll survive this. '''He'll''' survive, at any rate." 
"Because of the upgrade?" 
"Because I'll split this world open and tear down the sky before I let him come to even the '''slightest''' harm."
:—'''Cyclonus''' and '''Whirl''' creating the second cry-your-eyes-out moment of this issue.

"C'mere, guys... Group hug. Thanks for travelling with me. Ready?"
:—'''Rodimus''' creating the third... I'm not... ''I'm not crying, dammit!''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Ratchet names [[Powerflash]] and [[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]] as those affected by the energy released by Tailgate; they were part of the security team who confronted him and Cyclonus in [[The Lopsided Triangle|issue #47]]. Ratchet compares the sudden burnout they have suffered to the effects of [[Ore-13|Ultra-Energon]], which was known to cause those who used it to burn out after it ran out—this fate befell [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] in ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer|Stormbringer]]'' and Megatron in ''[[The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation]]''. The footnote refers the reader all the way back to ''[[The Transformers: Infiltration|Infiltration]]'', in which the substance was introduced.
*A one-panel cutaway shows Swerve having a breakdown. Rightly so, since we learned in [[Life After the Big Bang|issue #4]] that he's seen the D.J.D. in action in the past, and should know better than just about anyone what the group's in for.
*The recording of the message seen in [[The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|issue #50]] takes place off-panel this issue. It was in that same issue that we learned the Necrobot's planet was hollow.
*Rewind snarls that Rodimus is an "enabler" for Chromedome's injecting habit. Chromedome declared he'd given it up for good back in [[The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|#27]] but six months later, Rodimus cajoled him to do it again ''just this once'' [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|in #30]], [[Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|#36]], and [[Speak, Memory: Part 1|#48]].
*At long last, the mystery revealed! Dominus Ambus was first introduced to audiences in [[Before & After|issue #12]], when Chromedome told Tailgate his story, and the unanswered question of what became of him has hung over the series ever since. With this issue, we learn that he was the mysterious "Agent 113", the Autobots' mole inside the D.J.D. originally introduced in the prose story "[[Bullets]]" in 2010. The revelation that he was a Loadbearer explains the different appearance he had when he was serving as the previous Vos, seen in [[The Not Knowing|issue #44]]. The designation "113" (which #44 told us was chosen by [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] and which Ultra Magnus noted probably "meant something") is revealed to have been taken from the number applied to his turbofox alternate mode in the Grand Cybertronian Taxonomy.
*Further, a lot of Dominus's history now takes on increased meaning: as a tiny beast-former, with a form frowned on by [[Functionism]], the idea that he was responsible for creating the [[Ambus Test]] to validate the sentience of such Cybertronians makes even more sense, as does his treatment of, and ultimately loving relationship with, a [[Disposable class]] 'bot like Rewind. This also adds an extra dimension to Dominus staying in his shell and never revealing his true inner form, as this would allow him to 'pass' for a 'higher' functioning Transformer.
*In [[Functionist Universe|an alternate timeline]], Dominus Ambus was put in charge of categorizing "the animals" within the Grand Cybertronian Taxonomy.
*Dominus was subjected to "domestication" to turn him into the D.J.D.'s pet, lobotomizing him and removing his [[transformation cog]]. We've seen this horrifying process before, back in [[Animals|issue #47]], in which it was revealed that Decepticon [[Demus]] was performing it on other Cybertronians to turn them into "torture-dolls" to sell to alien races. The "meet the cast" page all the way back in [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|issue #8]] even described the Pet as "domesticated"!!
*In fact, the Latin-rooted "Dominus Ambus" never seemed to make a ''heck'' of a lot of sense for the character, effectively meaning "Master Walks." But ''now'', well, it seems like it might have been foreshadowing all along, 'cause... who's good boy? Walkies? You want master to take you walkies? Yes you do ess oo doo ess oo ''dooooo'' lets go walkies
*The reveal of just what the Pet really is puts [[Kaon (DJD)|Kaon's]] obvious emotional attachment to him in a much creepier light. It also makes Tarn's violent reaction last issue a bit more understandable; Kaon wasn't just blubbering about a lost pet, he was expressing love and concern for ''an enemy spy''.
* Chromedome mentions that Dominus ''"was Agent 113! The *original* Agent 113!"'', which implies both that Dominus had a successor and that Chromedome knows that the original has been replaced. Hmmmmmmm.
* On the other hand, this could be a dialogue error and the line is meant to read "was Vos! The *original* Vos!", which would also make (more) sense in this context.
*After Rewind slices Chromedome's arm off, the shot of them lying on the floor together mirrors the final page of [[Under Cold Blue Stars|issue #15]]. Chromedome's even missing the same arm! On top of that, Drift's short sword was basically the reason Rewind # 1 had to sacrifice himself against Overlord back in that same issue. Here, Rewind # 2 uses Drift's short sword to save Chromedome's life and thus...sacrifice Dominus Ambus.
*Whirl notes that Tailgate was "wearing Cyclonus's energon for a while," as seen in [[Speak, Memory! (Part 2)|issue #49]].

===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}}.
*Velocity notes that Ultra Magnus wanted to read the group a poem "about poppies." The poem, as alluded to by the "next issue" caption, is "{{w|In Flanders Fields}}", by {{w|John McCrae}}, a memorial poem about the trench warfare that took place in the poppy fields of Flanders, [[Belgium]], in World War I. Such warfare often involved the tactic of "going over the top," charging towards enemy forces and facing near-certain death, hence the evocative use of the poem here, paralleling the crew's actions.
*Given the above, it's likely no coincidence that the Necroworld is covered with flowers.

===Errors===
*On page five, Nautica invites the gang to be her "amica endura" (singular), when the plural has previously been established by Nightbeat as "amica endur'''ae'''." (If we want to get ''really'' technical, the Latin pluralization should be "amic'''ae''' endur'''ae'''.") This is corrected in the trade paperback.
*On page eight, Minimus says Dominus was "even more sensitive about his height that I was," instead of "than I was." This is corrected in the trade paperback.
*The trade paperback actually creates an error- it adds a link to Rewind's dialogue bubble in the scene where he's holding the downed Chromedome. The bubble is linked...to something off-panel, when it is clear that the dialogue is supposed to be Rewind's.
*On page seventeen, Ten holds up Megatron's newly-built cannon with both hands... except he lost his left arm last issue. You might think he's been repaired since then, but next issue shows him to still be missing the limb, so this scene is definitely a goof.

===Other trivia===
*In addition to cans of [[Kremzeek]]-brand drink, easter eggs scattered around [[Priscilla Tramontano]]'s retailer incentive cover for this issue include a [[curly straw]] and [[Ten]]'s doll of Minimus Ambus from [[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|issue #40]]. A sign promotes a poetry reading with the small-print warning that "non-attendence will result in punishment."

===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=nUk4DU_5mKM Make Your Move]" by {{w|The Delgados}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YatfHlIFGb0 Little Things (That Keep Us Together)]" by {{w|Scott Walker (singer)|Scott Walker}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsESk0GESxk Into Dust]" by {{w|Mazzy Star}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkLWf-fbsLo Out of Time]" by {{w|Blur (band)|Blur}}

===Covers (3)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Skids, Nautica, and Minimus Ambus surrounded by drill-spikes, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]], [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]], [[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]], and what's left of [[Kaon (DJD)|Kaon]], by [[Hayato Sakamoto]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Swerve tends bar, by [[Priscilla Tramontano]]; one of two retailer incentive variants by Tramontano on this month's IDW ''Transformers'' titles.
<gallery>
File:MTMTE53 regcvr.jpg|Do NOT want!
File:MTMTE53 subcvr.jpg|Overlord always giggles at mayhem.
File:MTMTE53 cvrRI.jpg|Gimme a clean martini in a dirty [[Kremzeek (G1)|Kremzeek]] glass!
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''More than Meets the Eye'' #54
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]'' [[All Hail Optimus Part 4: It's Beginning To And Back Again|#53]]
*''[[The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers|Sins of the Wreckers]]'' [[Sins of the Wreckers issue 5|#5]]
*''[[The Transformers: Till All Are One|Till All Are One]]''
*''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' #13
*IDW ''Transformers'' reading guide
*IDW online comics (back cover)

==External links==
*[http://www.newsarama.com/29398-amica-endura-is-magic-in-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-53-preview.html Preview]
*[https://twitter.com/markerguru/status/738478133859454976 Two inked pages by Alex Milne that were completed before he knew Sakamoto was drawing them instead, via his Twitter.]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dying of the Light Part 4: At Close of Day}}

The Dying of the Light Part 4: At Close of Day

2018-07-07T23:38:41Z

Justice: /* Continuity notes */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=53
|prev=The Dying of the Light Part 3: Your Fierce Tears
|next=The Dying of the Light Part 5: Rage, Rage
|image=MTMTE53_regcvr.jpg
|title="The Dying of the Light Part 4: At Close of Day"
|caption=''Men of Harlech, stop your dreaming Can't you see their spear points gleaming''
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[May 25]], [[2016]]
|coverdate=May 2016
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|pencils by=[[Alex Milne]] (pg 1-13, 19-20) and [[Hayato Sakamoto]] (pg 14-18)
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2016)]]
}}
'''In the final hours before the sun sets, Rewind and Chromedome finally solve the mystery of Dominus Ambus.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:AtCloseOfDay-tailgatedemolishes.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|''Hey yo, I'm just like my country'' ''I'm young, scrappy and hungry'' ''And I am not throwing away my shot!'']]
In the [[Censere|Necrobot]]'s fortress, [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] finishes up repairs on [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] while simultaneously perusing [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]]'s case notes from recent events in order to get caught up on what has happened while he's been away. He expresses some concern for [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]], observing that other crewmembers exposed to the energy released by his spark upon its mutation have experienced sudden system crashes, but the group can't worry too much about that right now, as the little 'bot is hard at work demolishing part of the fortress to provide [[Brainstorm (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Brainstorm]] with raw materials to make weapons. Although the team is making ready to fight, they also must prepare for the worst, and so [[Rewind (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rewind]] records some last words from each of them, to be sent out in the event of their deaths.

Despite the danger, [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]]'s mind is preoccupied with the mystery of the hollow planet on which they now stand, and he convinces [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Minimus Ambus]] to allow him to spend the remaining daylight hours investigating it. He ropes [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] into helping him, but just before they depart, they are called into a room by [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]], along with Brainstorm, Velocity, and [[Skids (G1)|Skids]]. Casting hesitations aside in the face of impending death, Nautica recites the formal oath that bonds each of them to her as [[Amica Endura]]. Afterward, however, as Rung leaves with Nightbeat, his parting with Skids seems noticeably awkward.

[[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Chromedome]] volunteers to perform [[mnemosurgery]] on the captive Pet in order to obtain the location of the [[Decepticon Justice Division|DJD]]'s [[Peaceful Tyranny|spaceship]] for [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]]. As he injects the little creature, however, the experience proves stranger than expected, and he soon comes to a horrifying realization: the Pet is not a [[turbofox]] at all, but a Transformer...

Simultaneously, Rewind watches as Brainstorm measures Minimus Ambus for a new armor, which leads Minimus to mention that the ability to carry a heavier load was the one thing he was better at than his brother and fellow Loadbearer [[Dominus Ambus]]. Rewind is shocked to learn that his former [[Conjunx Endura]] kept the secret that he was a Loadbearer from him, and immediately opens the [[Grand Cybertronian Taxonomy]] on the Necrobot's computer so that Minimus can find Dominus's true appearance in it. Minimus does so with ease, pulling up his brother's base alternate mode: a turbofox.

[[File:It's not your decision to make.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|''There are moments that the words don't reach...'']]
Understanding strikes Rewind and Chromedome at the same time, and the little archivist runs straight to the medibay (pausing only to sock Rodimus on the jaw for letting Chromedome inject yet again), where Chromedome pulls the full truth from The Pet's memories. Dominus disappeared because ''he'' was the Autobot undercover operative [[Dominus Ambus|Agent 113]], but when his true identity was discovered by the D.J.D., they "domesticated" him as a form of torture, locking him in beast mode by removing his [[transformation cog]] and lobotomizing him, turning him into their Pet. Chromedome has begun to repair Dominus's mind, but the mnemosurgeon's spark starts to fade thanks to the rigors of the procedure. Rewind urges him to stop, but Chromedome explains that Dominus will die if he does, and that he is willing to give up his life so that Rewind and Dominus can be together. Rewind refuses to let him, grabbing [[Drift (G1)|Drift]]'s sword and slicing Chromedome's needle-arm off, severing the connection, and saving his life at the cost of Dominus's.

[[File:MTMTE53FullyArmedBatallion.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.6|''Let's show these Federalists who they're up against'' ''SOUTHERN'' '''''MOTHERFRAGGING''''' ''DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICANS'']]
Hours later, the forces of the D.J.D. gather outside the fortress's [[storm shield]], while [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] work to finish assembling perimeter defenses. As Cyclonus puts the finishing touches to a turret, Whirl asks him about his relationship with [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] and whether or not they are "together." Cyclonus angrily informs him that they are not, because Tailgate deserves someone better than him, but vows that no harm will come to him this day. With the turret completed, Whirl fires upon the Decepticon mob, but unfortuntely discovers that in addition to preventing the Decepticons from firing ''in'', the storm shield prevents the turrets from firing outward. With only twenty minutes until sunset, Whirl and Cyclonus head back inside the fortress to share this report, leading Rodimus to contemplate simply shutting the shield down and facing death head-on. Megatron urges him to reconsider and for the group to cherish every minute of life they have left; from his tone, and the fact that he rebuffs the gift of a freshly-constructed [[fusion cannon]], Rodimus realizes that Megatron does not intend to stand with them in the fight. Calling himself too weak and too afraid, Megatron slinks away, leaving even [[Ravage (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ravage]] ashamed of his once-great leader. But where Megatron has let the team down, Brainstorm has not: he has constructed an absolutely ''colossal'' new suit of "Maximus Ambus" armor for Minimus that will give the D.J.D. as hard a fight as possible. Though Nightbeat and Rung have not yet returned, Rodimus welcomes the team into a group hug, thanks them all for travelling with him... then deactivates the storm shield, so that they may all rush out and meet their destiny together.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (1)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Chromedome]] (2)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] (3)
*[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] (4)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] (5)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (6)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (7)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (8)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (9)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Dominus Ambus|Dominus Ambus/The Pet/Agent 113]] (10)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Brainstorm]] (11)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Minimus Ambus]] (12)
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (13)
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (14)
*[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (15)
*[[Rewind (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rewind]] (16)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (23)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] (17)
*[[Nickel]] (18)
*[[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]] (19)
*[[Vos (DJD)|Vos]] (20)
*[[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] (21)
*[[Leozack]] (22)
*[[Ravage (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ravage]] (25)
|c4=
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] (24)
*[[Ten]] (26)
}}

==Quotes==
"And Minimus is okay with this..." 
"Yes, provided I don't go alone. I said I'd take someone he could do without. Joking." 
"You're not, though, are you?" 
"No."
:—'''Rung''' and '''Nightbeat'''

"I bid you stand in the glow of my spark that you may feel the heat of my words and know them to be true. I invite you to '''receive my light''' and in doing so becoming Amica Endura—from now until forever. Rung, for your '''words.''' Brainstorm, for your '''intellect.''' Lotty, for your '''determination.''' Nightbeat, for your '''curiosity.''' And Skids, for your '''kindness.''' Your kindness and your '''dancing.''' As you are to me, may I be to you—today, tomorrow, and always."
:—'''Nautica''' recites the Amica Endura oath

"If I pull out now, he'll '''die!''' His mind will '''collapse''' and he will die!" 
"But if you stay in there, '''you'll''' die..." 
"It doesn't '''matter!''' There's never been room for both of us in your life anyway!" 
"But I can't..." 
"Yes you '''can'''! <big>'''''YOU CAN HAVE HIM INSTEAD OF ME!'''''</big>" 
(beat) 
''SLIKT'' 
"It's not your decision to make, Domey. It's not your decision to make."
:—'''Chromedome''' and '''Rewind''' creating the first cry-your-eyes-out moment of this issue

"No. We haven't spoken. Not about that. Important things are '''felt''', not '''said'''." 
"I'll take your word for it. I don't do "relationships." My world begins and ends with me. So why '''aren't''' you guys a couple?" 
"......he deserves better. He's '''kind.''' He '''cares''' about people. The more he's pushed away, the more he reaches out." 
"So it's not the height difference." 
"It is, in a way. '''He towers over me.'''" 
"Well, I still think you should be spending the rest of your lives together. I mean we're talking all of '''24 minutes''', but..." 
"Oh, we'll survive this. '''He'll''' survive, at any rate." 
"Because of the upgrade?" 
"Because I'll split this world open and tear down the sky before I let him come to even the '''slightest''' harm."
:—'''Cyclonus''' and '''Whirl''' creating the second cry-your-eyes-out moment of this issue.

"C'mere, guys... Group hug. Thanks for travelling with me. Ready?"
:—'''Rodimus''' creating the third... I'm not... ''I'm not crying, dammit!''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Ratchet names [[Powerflash]] and [[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]] as those affected by the energy released by Tailgate; they were part of the security team who confronted him and Cyclonus in [[The Lopsided Triangle|issue #47]]. Ratchet compares the sudden burnout they have suffered to the effects of [[Ore-13|Ultra-Energon]], which was known to cause those who used it to burn out after it ran out—this fate befell [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] in ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer|Stormbringer]]'' and Megatron in ''[[The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation]]''. The footnote refers the reader all the way back to ''[[The Transformers: Infiltration|Infiltration]]'', in which the substance was introduced.
*A one-panel cutaway shows Swerve having a breakdown. Rightly so, since we learned in [[Life After the Big Bang|issue #4]] that he's seen the D.J.D. in action in the past, and should know better than just about anyone what the group's in for.
*The recording of the message seen in [[The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|issue #50]] takes place off-panel this issue. It was in that same issue that we learned the Necrobot's planet was hollow.
*Rewind snarls that Rodimus is an "enabler" for Chromedome's injecting habit. Chromedome declared he'd given it up for good back in [[The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|#27]] but six months later, Rodimus cajoled him to do it again ''just this once'' [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|in #30]], [[Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|#36]], and [[Speak, Memory: Part 1|#48]].
*At long last, the mystery revealed! Dominus Ambus was first introduced to audiences in [[Before & After|issue #12]], when Chromedome told Tailgate his story, and the unanswered question of what became of him has hung over the series ever since. With this issue, we learn that he was the mysterious "Agent 113", the Autobots' mole inside the D.J.D. originally introduced in the prose story "[[Bullets]]" in 2010. The revelation that he was a Loadbearer explains the different appearance he had when he was serving as the previous Vos, seen in [[The Not Knowing|issue #44]]. The designation "113" (which #44 told us was chosen by [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] and which Ultra Magnus noted probably "meant something") is revealed to have been taken from the number applied to his turbofox alternate mode in the Grand Cybertronian Taxonomy.
*Further, a lot of Dominus's history now takes on increased meaning: as a tiny beast-former, with a form frowned on by [[Functionism]], the idea that he was responsible for creating the [[Ambus Test]] to validate the sentience of such Cybertronians makes even more sense, as does his treatment of, and ultimately loving relationship with, a [[Disposable class]] 'bot like Rewind. This also adds an extra dimension to Dominus staying in his shell and never revealing his true inner form, as this would allow him to 'pass' for a 'higher' functioning Transformer.
*In [[Functionist Universe|an alternate timeline]], Dominus Ambus was put in charge of categorizing "the animals" within the Grand Cybertronian Taxonomy.
*Dominus was subjected to "domestication" to turn him into the D.J.D.'s pet, lobotomizing him and removing his [[transformation cog]]. We've seen this horrifying process before, back in [[Animals|issue #47]], in which it was revealed that Decepticon [[Demus]] was performing it on other Cybertronians to turn them into "torture-dolls" to sell to alien races. The "meet the cast" page all the way back in [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|issue #8]] even described the Pet as "domesticated"!!
*In fact, the Latin-rooted "Dominus Ambus" never seemed to make a ''heck'' of a lot of sense for the character, effectively meaning "Master Walks." But ''now'', well, it seems like it might have been foreshadowing all along, 'cause... who's good boy? Walkies? You want master to take you walkies? Yes you do ess oo doo ess oo ''dooooo'' lets go walkies
*The reveal of just what the Pet really is puts [[Kaon (DJD)|Kaon's]] obvious emotional attachment to him in a much creepier light. It also makes Tarn's violent reaction last issue a bit more understandable; Kaon wasn't just blubbering about a lost pet, he was expressing love and concern for ''an enemy spy''.
* Chromedome mentions that Dominus ''"was Agent 113! The *original* Agent 113!"'', which implies both that Dominus had a successor (as yet unrevealed) and that Chromedome knows that the original has been replaced. Hmmmmmmm.
* On the other hand, this could be a dialogue error and the line is meant to read "was Vos! The *original* Vos!", which would also make (more) sense in this context.
*After Rewind slices Chromedome's arm off, the shot of them lying on the floor together mirrors the final page of [[Under Cold Blue Stars|issue #15]]. Chromedome's even missing the same arm! On top of that, Drift's short sword was basically the reason Rewind # 1 had to sacrifice himself against Overlord back in that same issue. Here, Rewind # 2 uses Drift's short sword to save Chromedome's life and thus...sacrifice Dominus Ambus.
*Whirl notes that Tailgate was "wearing Cyclonus's energon for a while," as seen in [[Speak, Memory! (Part 2)|issue #49]].

===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}}.
*Velocity notes that Ultra Magnus wanted to read the group a poem "about poppies." The poem, as alluded to by the "next issue" caption, is "{{w|In Flanders Fields}}", by {{w|John McCrae}}, a memorial poem about the trench warfare that took place in the poppy fields of Flanders, [[Belgium]], in World War I. Such warfare often involved the tactic of "going over the top," charging towards enemy forces and facing near-certain death, hence the evocative use of the poem here, paralleling the crew's actions.
*Given the above, it's likely no coincidence that the Necroworld is covered with flowers.

===Errors===
*On page five, Nautica invites the gang to be her "amica endura" (singular), when the plural has previously been established by Nightbeat as "amica endur'''ae'''." (If we want to get ''really'' technical, the Latin pluralization should be "amic'''ae''' endur'''ae'''.") This is corrected in the trade paperback.
*On page eight, Minimus says Dominus was "even more sensitive about his height that I was," instead of "than I was." This is corrected in the trade paperback.
*The trade paperback actually creates an error- it adds a link to Rewind's dialogue bubble in the scene where he's holding the downed Chromedome. The bubble is linked...to something off-panel, when it is clear that the dialogue is supposed to be Rewind's.
*On page seventeen, Ten holds up Megatron's newly-built cannon with both hands... except he lost his left arm last issue. You might think he's been repaired since then, but next issue shows him to still be missing the limb, so this scene is definitely a goof.

===Other trivia===
*In addition to cans of [[Kremzeek]]-brand drink, easter eggs scattered around [[Priscilla Tramontano]]'s retailer incentive cover for this issue include a [[curly straw]] and [[Ten]]'s doll of Minimus Ambus from [[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|issue #40]]. A sign promotes a poetry reading with the small-print warning that "non-attendence will result in punishment."

===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=nUk4DU_5mKM Make Your Move]" by {{w|The Delgados}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YatfHlIFGb0 Little Things (That Keep Us Together)]" by {{w|Scott Walker (singer)|Scott Walker}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsESk0GESxk Into Dust]" by {{w|Mazzy Star}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkLWf-fbsLo Out of Time]" by {{w|Blur (band)|Blur}}

===Covers (3)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Skids, Nautica, and Minimus Ambus surrounded by drill-spikes, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]], [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]], [[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]], and what's left of [[Kaon (DJD)|Kaon]], by [[Hayato Sakamoto]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Swerve tends bar, by [[Priscilla Tramontano]]; one of two retailer incentive variants by Tramontano on this month's IDW ''Transformers'' titles.
<gallery>
File:MTMTE53 regcvr.jpg|Do NOT want!
File:MTMTE53 subcvr.jpg|Overlord always giggles at mayhem.
File:MTMTE53 cvrRI.jpg|Gimme a clean martini in a dirty [[Kremzeek (G1)|Kremzeek]] glass!
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''More than Meets the Eye'' #54
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]'' [[All Hail Optimus Part 4: It's Beginning To And Back Again|#53]]
*''[[The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers|Sins of the Wreckers]]'' [[Sins of the Wreckers issue 5|#5]]
*''[[The Transformers: Till All Are One|Till All Are One]]''
*''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' #13
*IDW ''Transformers'' reading guide
*IDW online comics (back cover)

==External links==
*[http://www.newsarama.com/29398-amica-endura-is-magic-in-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-53-preview.html Preview]
*[https://twitter.com/markerguru/status/738478133859454976 Two inked pages by Alex Milne that were completed before he knew Sakamoto was drawing them instead, via his Twitter.]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dying of the Light Part 4: At Close of Day}}

The Dying of the Light Part 4: At Close of Day

2018-07-07T23:37:46Z

Justice: /* Continuity notes */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=53
|prev=The Dying of the Light Part 3: Your Fierce Tears
|next=The Dying of the Light Part 5: Rage, Rage
|image=MTMTE53_regcvr.jpg
|title="The Dying of the Light Part 4: At Close of Day"
|caption=''Men of Harlech, stop your dreaming Can't you see their spear points gleaming''
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[May 25]], [[2016]]
|coverdate=May 2016
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|pencils by=[[Alex Milne]] (pg 1-13, 19-20) and [[Hayato Sakamoto]] (pg 14-18)
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2016)]]
}}
'''In the final hours before the sun sets, Rewind and Chromedome finally solve the mystery of Dominus Ambus.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:AtCloseOfDay-tailgatedemolishes.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|''Hey yo, I'm just like my country'' ''I'm young, scrappy and hungry'' ''And I am not throwing away my shot!'']]
In the [[Censere|Necrobot]]'s fortress, [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] finishes up repairs on [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] while simultaneously perusing [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]]'s case notes from recent events in order to get caught up on what has happened while he's been away. He expresses some concern for [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]], observing that other crewmembers exposed to the energy released by his spark upon its mutation have experienced sudden system crashes, but the group can't worry too much about that right now, as the little 'bot is hard at work demolishing part of the fortress to provide [[Brainstorm (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Brainstorm]] with raw materials to make weapons. Although the team is making ready to fight, they also must prepare for the worst, and so [[Rewind (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rewind]] records some last words from each of them, to be sent out in the event of their deaths.

Despite the danger, [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]]'s mind is preoccupied with the mystery of the hollow planet on which they now stand, and he convinces [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Minimus Ambus]] to allow him to spend the remaining daylight hours investigating it. He ropes [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] into helping him, but just before they depart, they are called into a room by [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]], along with Brainstorm, Velocity, and [[Skids (G1)|Skids]]. Casting hesitations aside in the face of impending death, Nautica recites the formal oath that bonds each of them to her as [[Amica Endura]]. Afterward, however, as Rung leaves with Nightbeat, his parting with Skids seems noticeably awkward.

[[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Chromedome]] volunteers to perform [[mnemosurgery]] on the captive Pet in order to obtain the location of the [[Decepticon Justice Division|DJD]]'s [[Peaceful Tyranny|spaceship]] for [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]]. As he injects the little creature, however, the experience proves stranger than expected, and he soon comes to a horrifying realization: the Pet is not a [[turbofox]] at all, but a Transformer...

Simultaneously, Rewind watches as Brainstorm measures Minimus Ambus for a new armor, which leads Minimus to mention that the ability to carry a heavier load was the one thing he was better at than his brother and fellow Loadbearer [[Dominus Ambus]]. Rewind is shocked to learn that his former [[Conjunx Endura]] kept the secret that he was a Loadbearer from him, and immediately opens the [[Grand Cybertronian Taxonomy]] on the Necrobot's computer so that Minimus can find Dominus's true appearance in it. Minimus does so with ease, pulling up his brother's base alternate mode: a turbofox.

[[File:It's not your decision to make.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|''There are moments that the words don't reach...'']]
Understanding strikes Rewind and Chromedome at the same time, and the little archivist runs straight to the medibay (pausing only to sock Rodimus on the jaw for letting Chromedome inject yet again), where Chromedome pulls the full truth from The Pet's memories. Dominus disappeared because ''he'' was the Autobot undercover operative [[Dominus Ambus|Agent 113]], but when his true identity was discovered by the D.J.D., they "domesticated" him as a form of torture, locking him in beast mode by removing his [[transformation cog]] and lobotomizing him, turning him into their Pet. Chromedome has begun to repair Dominus's mind, but the mnemosurgeon's spark starts to fade thanks to the rigors of the procedure. Rewind urges him to stop, but Chromedome explains that Dominus will die if he does, and that he is willing to give up his life so that Rewind and Dominus can be together. Rewind refuses to let him, grabbing [[Drift (G1)|Drift]]'s sword and slicing Chromedome's needle-arm off, severing the connection, and saving his life at the cost of Dominus's.

[[File:MTMTE53FullyArmedBatallion.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.6|''Let's show these Federalists who they're up against'' ''SOUTHERN'' '''''MOTHERFRAGGING''''' ''DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICANS'']]
Hours later, the forces of the D.J.D. gather outside the fortress's [[storm shield]], while [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] work to finish assembling perimeter defenses. As Cyclonus puts the finishing touches to a turret, Whirl asks him about his relationship with [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] and whether or not they are "together." Cyclonus angrily informs him that they are not, because Tailgate deserves someone better than him, but vows that no harm will come to him this day. With the turret completed, Whirl fires upon the Decepticon mob, but unfortuntely discovers that in addition to preventing the Decepticons from firing ''in'', the storm shield prevents the turrets from firing outward. With only twenty minutes until sunset, Whirl and Cyclonus head back inside the fortress to share this report, leading Rodimus to contemplate simply shutting the shield down and facing death head-on. Megatron urges him to reconsider and for the group to cherish every minute of life they have left; from his tone, and the fact that he rebuffs the gift of a freshly-constructed [[fusion cannon]], Rodimus realizes that Megatron does not intend to stand with them in the fight. Calling himself too weak and too afraid, Megatron slinks away, leaving even [[Ravage (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ravage]] ashamed of his once-great leader. But where Megatron has let the team down, Brainstorm has not: he has constructed an absolutely ''colossal'' new suit of "Maximus Ambus" armor for Minimus that will give the D.J.D. as hard a fight as possible. Though Nightbeat and Rung have not yet returned, Rodimus welcomes the team into a group hug, thanks them all for travelling with him... then deactivates the storm shield, so that they may all rush out and meet their destiny together.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (1)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Chromedome]] (2)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] (3)
*[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] (4)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] (5)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (6)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (7)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (8)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (9)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Dominus Ambus|Dominus Ambus/The Pet/Agent 113]] (10)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Brainstorm]] (11)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Minimus Ambus]] (12)
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (13)
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (14)
*[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (15)
*[[Rewind (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rewind]] (16)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (23)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] (17)
*[[Nickel]] (18)
*[[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]] (19)
*[[Vos (DJD)|Vos]] (20)
*[[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] (21)
*[[Leozack]] (22)
*[[Ravage (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ravage]] (25)
|c4=
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] (24)
*[[Ten]] (26)
}}

==Quotes==
"And Minimus is okay with this..." 
"Yes, provided I don't go alone. I said I'd take someone he could do without. Joking." 
"You're not, though, are you?" 
"No."
:—'''Rung''' and '''Nightbeat'''

"I bid you stand in the glow of my spark that you may feel the heat of my words and know them to be true. I invite you to '''receive my light''' and in doing so becoming Amica Endura—from now until forever. Rung, for your '''words.''' Brainstorm, for your '''intellect.''' Lotty, for your '''determination.''' Nightbeat, for your '''curiosity.''' And Skids, for your '''kindness.''' Your kindness and your '''dancing.''' As you are to me, may I be to you—today, tomorrow, and always."
:—'''Nautica''' recites the Amica Endura oath

"If I pull out now, he'll '''die!''' His mind will '''collapse''' and he will die!" 
"But if you stay in there, '''you'll''' die..." 
"It doesn't '''matter!''' There's never been room for both of us in your life anyway!" 
"But I can't..." 
"Yes you '''can'''! <big>'''''YOU CAN HAVE HIM INSTEAD OF ME!'''''</big>" 
(beat) 
''SLIKT'' 
"It's not your decision to make, Domey. It's not your decision to make."
:—'''Chromedome''' and '''Rewind''' creating the first cry-your-eyes-out moment of this issue

"No. We haven't spoken. Not about that. Important things are '''felt''', not '''said'''." 
"I'll take your word for it. I don't do "relationships." My world begins and ends with me. So why '''aren't''' you guys a couple?" 
"......he deserves better. He's '''kind.''' He '''cares''' about people. The more he's pushed away, the more he reaches out." 
"So it's not the height difference." 
"It is, in a way. '''He towers over me.'''" 
"Well, I still think you should be spending the rest of your lives together. I mean we're talking all of '''24 minutes''', but..." 
"Oh, we'll survive this. '''He'll''' survive, at any rate." 
"Because of the upgrade?" 
"Because I'll split this world open and tear down the sky before I let him come to even the '''slightest''' harm."
:—'''Cyclonus''' and '''Whirl''' creating the second cry-your-eyes-out moment of this issue.

"C'mere, guys... Group hug. Thanks for travelling with me. Ready?"
:—'''Rodimus''' creating the third... I'm not... ''I'm not crying, dammit!''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Ratchet names [[Powerflash]] and [[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]] as those affected by the energy released by Tailgate; they were part of the security team who confronted him and Cyclonus in [[The Lopsided Triangle|issue #47]]. Ratchet compares the sudden burnout they have suffered to the effects of [[Ore-13|Ultra-Energon]], which was known to cause those who used it to burn out after it ran out—this fate befell [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] in ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer|Stormbringer]]'' and Megatron in ''[[The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation]]''. The footnote refers the reader all the way back to ''[[The Transformers: Infiltration|Infiltration]]'', in which the substance was introduced.
*A one-panel cutaway shows Swerve having a breakdown. Rightly so, since we learned in [[Life After the Big Bang|issue #4]] that he's seen the D.J.D. in action in the past, and should know better than just about anyone what the group's in for.
*The recording of the message seen in [[The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|issue #50]] takes place off-panel this issue. It was in that same issue that we learned the Necrobot's planet was hollow.
*Rewind snarls that Rodimus is an "enabler" for Chromedome's injecting habit. Chromedome declared he'd given it up for good back in [[The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|#27]] but six months later, Rodimus cajoled him to do it again ''just this once'' [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|in #30]], [[Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|#36]], and [[Speak, Memory: Part 1|#48]].
*At long last, the mystery revealed! Dominus Ambus was first introduced to audiences in [[Before & After|issue #12]], when Chromedome told Tailgate his story, and the unanswered question of what became of him has hung over the series ever since. With this issue, we learn that he was the mysterious "Agent 113", the Autobots' mole inside the D.J.D. originally introduced in the prose story "[[Bullets]]" in 2010. The revelation that he was a Loadbearer explains the different appearance he had when he was serving as the previous Vos, seen in [[The Not Knowing|issue #44]]. The designation "113" (which #44 told us was chosen by [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] and which Ultra Magnus noted probably "meant something") is revealed to have been taken from the number applied to his turbofox alternate mode in the Grand Cybertronian Taxonomy.
*Further, a lot of Dominus's history now takes on increased meaning: as a tiny beast-former, with a form frowned on by [[Functionism]], the idea that he was responsible for creating the [[Ambus Test]] to validate the sentience of such Cybertronians makes even more sense, as does his treatment of, and ultimately loving relationship with, a [[Disposable class]] 'bot like Rewind. This also adds an extra dimension to Dominus staying in his shell and never revealing his true inner form, as this would allow him to 'pass' for a 'higher' functioning Transformer.
*In [[Functionist Universe|an alternate timeline]], Dominus Ambus was put in charge of categorizing "the animals" within the Grand Cybertronian Taxonomy.
*Dominus was subjected to "domestication" to turn him into the D.J.D.'s pet, lobotomizing him and removing his [[transformation cog]]. We've seen this horrifying process before, back in [[Animals|issue #47]], in which it was revealed that Decepticon [[Demus]] was performing it on other Cybertronians to turn them into "torture-dolls" to sell to alien races. The "meet the cast" page all the way back in [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|issue #8]] even described the Pet as "domesticated"!!
*In fact, the Latin-rooted "Dominus Ambus" never seemed to make a ''heck'' of a lot of sense for the character, effectively meaning "Master Walks." But ''now'', well, it seems like it might have been foreshadowing all along, 'cause... who's good boy? Walkies? You want master to take you walkies? Yes you do ess oo doo ess oo ''dooooo'' lets go walkies
*The reveal of just what the Pet really is puts [[Kaon (DJD)|Kaon's]] obvious emotional attachment to him in a much creepier light. It also makes Tarn's violent reaction last issue a bit more understandable; Kaon wasn't just blubbering about a lost pet, he was expressing love and concern for ''an enemy spy''.
* Chromedome mentions that Dominus "was Agent 113! The *original* Agent 113!", which implies both that Dominus had a successor (as yet unrevealed) and that Chromedome knows that the original has been replaced. Hmmmmmmm.
* On the other hand, this could be a typo and the line is meant to read "was Vos! The *original* Vos!", which would also make (more) sense in this context.
*After Rewind slices Chromedome's arm off, the shot of them lying on the floor together mirrors the final page of [[Under Cold Blue Stars|issue #15]]. Chromedome's even missing the same arm! On top of that, Drift's short sword was basically the reason Rewind # 1 had to sacrifice himself against Overlord back in that same issue. Here, Rewind # 2 uses Drift's short sword to save Chromedome's life and thus...sacrifice Dominus Ambus.
*Whirl notes that Tailgate was "wearing Cyclonus's energon for a while," as seen in [[Speak, Memory! (Part 2)|issue #49]].

===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}}.
*Velocity notes that Ultra Magnus wanted to read the group a poem "about poppies." The poem, as alluded to by the "next issue" caption, is "{{w|In Flanders Fields}}", by {{w|John McCrae}}, a memorial poem about the trench warfare that took place in the poppy fields of Flanders, [[Belgium]], in World War I. Such warfare often involved the tactic of "going over the top," charging towards enemy forces and facing near-certain death, hence the evocative use of the poem here, paralleling the crew's actions.
*Given the above, it's likely no coincidence that the Necroworld is covered with flowers.

===Errors===
*On page five, Nautica invites the gang to be her "amica endura" (singular), when the plural has previously been established by Nightbeat as "amica endur'''ae'''." (If we want to get ''really'' technical, the Latin pluralization should be "amic'''ae''' endur'''ae'''.") This is corrected in the trade paperback.
*On page eight, Minimus says Dominus was "even more sensitive about his height that I was," instead of "than I was." This is corrected in the trade paperback.
*The trade paperback actually creates an error- it adds a link to Rewind's dialogue bubble in the scene where he's holding the downed Chromedome. The bubble is linked...to something off-panel, when it is clear that the dialogue is supposed to be Rewind's.
*On page seventeen, Ten holds up Megatron's newly-built cannon with both hands... except he lost his left arm last issue. You might think he's been repaired since then, but next issue shows him to still be missing the limb, so this scene is definitely a goof.

===Other trivia===
*In addition to cans of [[Kremzeek]]-brand drink, easter eggs scattered around [[Priscilla Tramontano]]'s retailer incentive cover for this issue include a [[curly straw]] and [[Ten]]'s doll of Minimus Ambus from [[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|issue #40]]. A sign promotes a poetry reading with the small-print warning that "non-attendence will result in punishment."

===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=nUk4DU_5mKM Make Your Move]" by {{w|The Delgados}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YatfHlIFGb0 Little Things (That Keep Us Together)]" by {{w|Scott Walker (singer)|Scott Walker}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsESk0GESxk Into Dust]" by {{w|Mazzy Star}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkLWf-fbsLo Out of Time]" by {{w|Blur (band)|Blur}}

===Covers (3)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Skids, Nautica, and Minimus Ambus surrounded by drill-spikes, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]], [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]], [[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]], and what's left of [[Kaon (DJD)|Kaon]], by [[Hayato Sakamoto]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Swerve tends bar, by [[Priscilla Tramontano]]; one of two retailer incentive variants by Tramontano on this month's IDW ''Transformers'' titles.
<gallery>
File:MTMTE53 regcvr.jpg|Do NOT want!
File:MTMTE53 subcvr.jpg|Overlord always giggles at mayhem.
File:MTMTE53 cvrRI.jpg|Gimme a clean martini in a dirty [[Kremzeek (G1)|Kremzeek]] glass!
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''More than Meets the Eye'' #54
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]'' [[All Hail Optimus Part 4: It's Beginning To And Back Again|#53]]
*''[[The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers|Sins of the Wreckers]]'' [[Sins of the Wreckers issue 5|#5]]
*''[[The Transformers: Till All Are One|Till All Are One]]''
*''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' #13
*IDW ''Transformers'' reading guide
*IDW online comics (back cover)

==External links==
*[http://www.newsarama.com/29398-amica-endura-is-magic-in-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-53-preview.html Preview]
*[https://twitter.com/markerguru/status/738478133859454976 Two inked pages by Alex Milne that were completed before he knew Sakamoto was drawing them instead, via his Twitter.]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dying of the Light Part 4: At Close of Day}}

Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On

2018-06-15T06:46:42Z

Justice: /* Continuity notes */

{{Comicstory|
|series=mtmte|issueno=2
|prev=Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It
|next=Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things
|caption=
|image=MTMTE2_cvrB.jpg
|title="Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[February 15]], [[2012]](1st printing) [[March 21]], 2012 (2nd printing)
|coverdate=February 2012
|story by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Shawn Lee]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2012)]]
}}
'''The recovering crew of the ''Lost Light'' are joined by Skids, a bot on the run... but on the run from what?'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:HangersOn-Hoist.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.7]]
On the barren planet where the ''[[Lost Light]]'' has put down, [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]], [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] and others go about gathering up the [[Autobot]]s who have been scattered across the world's surface. [[Brainstorm (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Brainstorm]] radios in that he has discovered the source of their explosive mishap: the [[Duobot]] [[Ore]] was standing too close to the [[quantum generator]] when it activated, and wound up being "totally mashed" into it. Perturbed by Brainstorm's general tone of levity, Rodimus orders him to start helping with the search, then takes a call from [[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Chromedome]], who is with [[Rewind (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rewind]] and [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], hauling [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] out of a lake.

Meanwhile, in the skies above the planet, a small ship materializes. Its sole occupant is [[Skids (G1)|Skids]], who awakens with an [[inhibitor claw]] on his back and the knowledge that he is running from ''something''... but cannot remember what, finding that all of his recent memories are missing. Spotting a [[mode lock]] on the shuttle's console and realizing that it is trying to transform into something, he sets the ship on collision course with the planet and bails out. He watches the ship crash, but from the flames, its remnants transform into a trio of gigantic robots; one was killed, presumably in the crash, but the others are quite alive and quite hostile, advancing on Skids while wielding giant swords and repeatedly intoning the cryptic phrase: "nineteen eighty-four". Apparently lacking in any weapons, Skids improvises with the nearby corpses of [[Polaris]] and [[Hyperion (G1)|Hyperion]]: he magnetizes the former to one of the giant robots, then uses the latter's gun to blow Polaris up, taking the monstrous mechanoid with it.

Aboard the ''Lost Light'', [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] tends to the wounds [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] received before take-off, startling the timid psychiatrist by smashing his own hand with a hammer to loosen his joints. They discusss [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]], who is being carbon-dated by [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]], and Ratchet grumbles about [[Drift (G1)|Drift]]'s newfound sense of unbearable positivity before half-heartedly turning his attention to the unconscious [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]]. Suddenly, Whirl awakens, seizes Rung, and begins throttling him, heedless of Ratchet and Swerve's attempts to calm him. The maddened Autobot only stops when Rung chokes out the warning that if he kills him, he'll go back to prison. Whirl snaps out of it and stalks off, the ruckus having awakened Tailgate, who is relieved to find out he did not kill the unhinged Autobot. Realizing that Tailgate is a 'bot out of time, Swerve begs Ratchet to allow him to be the one to tell him, and the "gentle" manner in which Swerve relates the information elicits a horrified bellow from Tailgate that is heard outside the ''Lost Light''.

[[File:HangersOn Whirl Cyclonus.jpg|thumb|I'm a vampire!!!]]
Elsewhere on the ship, Rodimus meets with Cyclonus, who explains that he attached himself to the hull of the ''Lost Light'' to join in its mission. Though unapologetic for his past actions, he pleads his case for being allowed to stay and manages to sway Rodimus to his side, though Ultra Magnus is less than convinced. Having found Whirl skulking around, Magnus brings him into the room, and orders him to settle his argument with Cyclonus. Whirl does so without admitting any guilt, and is surprised when Cyclonus hugs him... only for him to whisper during the embrace that Whirl should watch his back, because he's going to kill him.

[[File:Legislator vs Skids Hangers On.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]
Swerve and Tailgate go for a walk outside, with Tailgate rebuffing Swerve's request to see his [[alternate mode]] on the basis that Ratchet told him to take it easy. They meet up with Chromedome and Rewind for some proper introductions, when Skids suddenly falls out of the sky with the last of the giant 'bots on his tail. Recognizing the Autobot—and noting that he has long been thought dead—Chromedome removes Skids's inhibitor claw for him, allowing him to deploy his weapons and finish his pursuer off with impressive ease. As things calm down, though, Chromedome points out that Skids has been holding a handgun all along, which Skids somehow never realized...

Skids returns to the ''Lost Light'' with the other Autobots, quickly discovering he's earned himself a fan in Swerve, who artfully balances proposing that he and Skids team up and badgering Tailgate into transforming. Rodimus addressed the assembled Autobots on recent issues, but Whirl pipes up with a "pressing issues"—unimpressed with just about everyone else on the ship, he thinks the group should at least have a cool name. Swerve proposes "The Crusadercons", but Rodimus and Skids take issue with the -con suffix. Before any further discussion can be gone into, Rodimus gets a call from [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], who has been investigating reports of noises on the lower decks with [[Shock (G1)|Shock]]... who is now lying dead by Red's side, his [[spark]] ripped out. Panicked, Red Alert relates his fear to Rodimus... that there's a [[Sparkeater (creature)|Sparkeater]] on board!
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Brainstorm]] (1)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Perceptor]] (2)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] (3)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (4)
*[[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] (5)
*[[Rollout (G1)|Rollout]] (6)
*? (7)
*? (8)
*[[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]] (9)
*[[Ore]] (10)
*[[Rewind (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rewind]] (11)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Chromedome]] (12)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (13)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (15)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (17)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] (18)
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (19)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (20)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (22)
*[[Polaris]] (23)
*[[Hyperion (G1)|Hyperion]] (24)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (25)
*[[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] (26)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (27)
*[[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] (28)
*[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (29)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (30)
*[[Hound (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Hound]] (31)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Sunstreaker]] (32)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (33)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (34)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (35)
*[[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (36)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (37)
*[[Pointblank]] (38)
*[[Animus]] (39)
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (40)
*[[Shock (G1)|Shock]] (41)
{{!}}}
|c4=
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] (14)
*[[Legislator]]s (16)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (21)
}}

==Quotes==
"Why are you—''aak!''—doing this?" 
"It's your '''eyebrows'''! He's jealous of your capacity for self-expression!"
:—When '''Rung''' is throttled by Whirl, '''Swerve''' proves to be little help.

'''Rewind:''' "'''Wow.''' It's time like this I'm glad I have a camera bolted to my head..." 
'''Swerve:''' "Nice '''moves'''! Who '''are''' you? An '''ex-[[Wrecker]]'''? One of the '''[[Warriors Elite]]'''? An old '''pit fighter'''?" 
'''Skids:''' "I'm a '''theoretician.'''"
:—That last line kinda feels like it's missing a "...motherf@#!er!" at the end.

'''Rodimus:''' "'''Look''' at them all. What do I tell them?" 
'''Ultra Magnus:''' "The '''truth'''. We've lost contact with Cybertron, we can't find ourselves on the map, Ore is dead, Hyperion and Polaris are dead, but Cyclonus is happy, so that's okay". 
'''Rodimus:''' "See, this is why you're not a public speaker." 
'''Drift:''' "I think you should accentuate the positive. We've got the quantum generators working again—big tick. We're ready to resume our quest—big tick. And we've managed to save '''virtually''' all of the Autobots who got pulled outside—that's more of a '''little''' tick, '''but it's still a tick!'''" 
'''Rodimus:''' "Hmm. I think I'll go for a mixture of depressingly gloomy and offensively upbeat. Thanks, guys."

"So, you gonna show me your alt mode or what?" 
"Ooh, '''alright''' then. But I'm taking it '''slow''', okay?" 
"Tell you what: I'll speak to Skids and pop back in about '''six million years' time''', okay?"
:—'''Swerve''' only teases '''Tailgate''' because he loves him.

"'The Crusadercons.' The more you say it, the cooler it sounds." 
"Someone hears that, they're gonna think we're Decepticons." 
"What, so it has to end in 'bot'?" 
"Well... '''yeah'''. Omnibots, Monsterbots, Duobots... it's kind of an '''unwritten rule''', isn't it." 
"Forget the '''rules'''! The war's over—it's time to '''reclaim the suffix'''!"
:—'''Swerve''' is just a really quotable 'bot, okay? '''Skids''' doesn't share our enthusiasm for him.

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*This is the start of an arc about Tailgate's background, which will carry on until [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|#13]] (with one last slight twist in [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|#21]]). The "Bomb Disposal" on his arms have actually been enscribed by Ratchet: in #13, we learn what it ''used'' to say.
*It's also the start of the Skids arc which gets resolved in #19 and #20.
* The answer to the question Skids asks himself when he wakes up ("Scum! Why is my name Scum?") is revealed to the reader in [[Speak, Memory! (Part 2)|#49]] and remembered by Skids in [[The Dying of the Light Part 5: Rage, Rage|#54]].
*The Legislators keep saying [[1984|"nineteen eighty-four"]]: this will be significant in the Skids arc and has a different meaning to [[How Ratchet Got His Hands Back|what you think it does]].
*Whirl is ''loathed'' by the other Autobots, with Ratchet openly hoping that something would prevent him from repairing him.

===Transformers references===
*Blaster is now sporting a yellow face, a colouration formerly unique to the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel G1 comic]].
*At one point, Skids remembers his "Batch number, [[Tech Spec|Technical Specifications]], [[Function]]" and even his motto, which he finds lame.

===Trivia===
*If you don't get the double-meaning that British writer James Roberts has hidden in the Duobots' names, try saying "Shock and Ore" out loud with a British accent.
*The last page includes a summary of the crew members already introduced, with short introductions beneath. These include factoids such as Swerve's weapon of choice is his mouth, Whirl was twice voted "Autobot most likely to defect", and Ultra Magnus once smiled, and has regretted it ever since.

===Crew Manifest===
*The fifty or so crew members lost during the quantum jump are all recovered. The only deaths were Polaris and Hyperion.
*Shock and Ore are killed by the Sparkeater and quantum jump, respectively.
*Skids and Cyclonus join the crew.
*4 deaths, 2 new arrivals since the launch.

===Errors===
*Ratchet says he's asked Swerve to "carbon-date" Tailgate to find out how old he is, but carbon dating is neither useful for anything older than a few ten thousand years, nor anything that isn't composed of organic matter.
*When Skids is telling Chromedome to remove the inhibitor claw from his back, his gun is missing from his right hand.
*(And on Roche's cover, the gun is in his left hand, but whatevs.)
*On page 22, when Drift is giving the communicator device to Rodimus, he has two right hands.

===Soundtrack===
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUN826BdvV4 "Calendar Girl"] by {{w|Stars (Canadian band)|Stars}}
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfySK7CLEEg "Bloodbuzz Ohio"] by {{w|The National (band)|The National}}

===Covers (4)===
*'''Cover A:''' Rodimus amongst injured Autobots; art by Alex Milne, colors by [[Josh Perez]].
*'''Cover B:''' Skids gets blown out of the ship; art by [[Nick Roche]], colors by [[Josh Burcham]].
*'''Cover RI:''' Sketch (uncolored) version of cover A by Alex Milne.
*'''Second printing:''' Wraparound cover of Rodimus and Magnus surveying the ''Lost Light'' crew by Milne and Burcham, taken from panel 2 of page 19

<gallery>
File:MTMTE2_cvrA.jpg|"Quit lying down on the job, ya bums!"
File:MTMTE2_cvrB.jpg|Skids gets a helluva intro.
File:MTMTE2_cvrRI.jpg|"I TOLD THEM I WANTED COLOR!"
File:MTMTE2_2ndptg.jpg|Second printing cover
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise]]'' [[The World & Everything in It|#2]]
*''[[Infestation 2|Infestation 2: Transformers]]''
*''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero]]'' Annual 2012
*''Road Rage''
*''Jack Avarice is The Courier''

Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On

2018-06-15T06:45:39Z

Justice: /* Continuity notes */

{{Comicstory|
|series=mtmte|issueno=2
|prev=Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It
|next=Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things
|caption=
|image=MTMTE2_cvrB.jpg
|title="Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[February 15]], [[2012]](1st printing) [[March 21]], 2012 (2nd printing)
|coverdate=February 2012
|story by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Shawn Lee]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2012)]]
}}
'''The recovering crew of the ''Lost Light'' are joined by Skids, a bot on the run... but on the run from what?'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:HangersOn-Hoist.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.7]]
On the barren planet where the ''[[Lost Light]]'' has put down, [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]], [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] and others go about gathering up the [[Autobot]]s who have been scattered across the world's surface. [[Brainstorm (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Brainstorm]] radios in that he has discovered the source of their explosive mishap: the [[Duobot]] [[Ore]] was standing too close to the [[quantum generator]] when it activated, and wound up being "totally mashed" into it. Perturbed by Brainstorm's general tone of levity, Rodimus orders him to start helping with the search, then takes a call from [[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Chromedome]], who is with [[Rewind (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rewind]] and [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], hauling [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] out of a lake.

Meanwhile, in the skies above the planet, a small ship materializes. Its sole occupant is [[Skids (G1)|Skids]], who awakens with an [[inhibitor claw]] on his back and the knowledge that he is running from ''something''... but cannot remember what, finding that all of his recent memories are missing. Spotting a [[mode lock]] on the shuttle's console and realizing that it is trying to transform into something, he sets the ship on collision course with the planet and bails out. He watches the ship crash, but from the flames, its remnants transform into a trio of gigantic robots; one was killed, presumably in the crash, but the others are quite alive and quite hostile, advancing on Skids while wielding giant swords and repeatedly intoning the cryptic phrase: "nineteen eighty-four". Apparently lacking in any weapons, Skids improvises with the nearby corpses of [[Polaris]] and [[Hyperion (G1)|Hyperion]]: he magnetizes the former to one of the giant robots, then uses the latter's gun to blow Polaris up, taking the monstrous mechanoid with it.

Aboard the ''Lost Light'', [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] tends to the wounds [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] received before take-off, startling the timid psychiatrist by smashing his own hand with a hammer to loosen his joints. They discusss [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]], who is being carbon-dated by [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]], and Ratchet grumbles about [[Drift (G1)|Drift]]'s newfound sense of unbearable positivity before half-heartedly turning his attention to the unconscious [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]]. Suddenly, Whirl awakens, seizes Rung, and begins throttling him, heedless of Ratchet and Swerve's attempts to calm him. The maddened Autobot only stops when Rung chokes out the warning that if he kills him, he'll go back to prison. Whirl snaps out of it and stalks off, the ruckus having awakened Tailgate, who is relieved to find out he did not kill the unhinged Autobot. Realizing that Tailgate is a 'bot out of time, Swerve begs Ratchet to allow him to be the one to tell him, and the "gentle" manner in which Swerve relates the information elicits a horrified bellow from Tailgate that is heard outside the ''Lost Light''.

[[File:HangersOn Whirl Cyclonus.jpg|thumb|I'm a vampire!!!]]
Elsewhere on the ship, Rodimus meets with Cyclonus, who explains that he attached himself to the hull of the ''Lost Light'' to join in its mission. Though unapologetic for his past actions, he pleads his case for being allowed to stay and manages to sway Rodimus to his side, though Ultra Magnus is less than convinced. Having found Whirl skulking around, Magnus brings him into the room, and orders him to settle his argument with Cyclonus. Whirl does so without admitting any guilt, and is surprised when Cyclonus hugs him... only for him to whisper during the embrace that Whirl should watch his back, because he's going to kill him.

[[File:Legislator vs Skids Hangers On.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]
Swerve and Tailgate go for a walk outside, with Tailgate rebuffing Swerve's request to see his [[alternate mode]] on the basis that Ratchet told him to take it easy. They meet up with Chromedome and Rewind for some proper introductions, when Skids suddenly falls out of the sky with the last of the giant 'bots on his tail. Recognizing the Autobot—and noting that he has long been thought dead—Chromedome removes Skids's inhibitor claw for him, allowing him to deploy his weapons and finish his pursuer off with impressive ease. As things calm down, though, Chromedome points out that Skids has been holding a handgun all along, which Skids somehow never realized...

Skids returns to the ''Lost Light'' with the other Autobots, quickly discovering he's earned himself a fan in Swerve, who artfully balances proposing that he and Skids team up and badgering Tailgate into transforming. Rodimus addressed the assembled Autobots on recent issues, but Whirl pipes up with a "pressing issues"—unimpressed with just about everyone else on the ship, he thinks the group should at least have a cool name. Swerve proposes "The Crusadercons", but Rodimus and Skids take issue with the -con suffix. Before any further discussion can be gone into, Rodimus gets a call from [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], who has been investigating reports of noises on the lower decks with [[Shock (G1)|Shock]]... who is now lying dead by Red's side, his [[spark]] ripped out. Panicked, Red Alert relates his fear to Rodimus... that there's a [[Sparkeater (creature)|Sparkeater]] on board!
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Brainstorm]] (1)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Perceptor]] (2)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] (3)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (4)
*[[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] (5)
*[[Rollout (G1)|Rollout]] (6)
*? (7)
*? (8)
*[[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]] (9)
*[[Ore]] (10)
*[[Rewind (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rewind]] (11)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Chromedome]] (12)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (13)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (15)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (17)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] (18)
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (19)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (20)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (22)
*[[Polaris]] (23)
*[[Hyperion (G1)|Hyperion]] (24)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (25)
*[[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] (26)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (27)
*[[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] (28)
*[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (29)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (30)
*[[Hound (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Hound]] (31)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Sunstreaker]] (32)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (33)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (34)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (35)
*[[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (36)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (37)
*[[Pointblank]] (38)
*[[Animus]] (39)
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (40)
*[[Shock (G1)|Shock]] (41)
{{!}}}
|c4=
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] (14)
*[[Legislator]]s (16)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (21)
}}

==Quotes==
"Why are you—''aak!''—doing this?" 
"It's your '''eyebrows'''! He's jealous of your capacity for self-expression!"
:—When '''Rung''' is throttled by Whirl, '''Swerve''' proves to be little help.

'''Rewind:''' "'''Wow.''' It's time like this I'm glad I have a camera bolted to my head..." 
'''Swerve:''' "Nice '''moves'''! Who '''are''' you? An '''ex-[[Wrecker]]'''? One of the '''[[Warriors Elite]]'''? An old '''pit fighter'''?" 
'''Skids:''' "I'm a '''theoretician.'''"
:—That last line kinda feels like it's missing a "...motherf@#!er!" at the end.

'''Rodimus:''' "'''Look''' at them all. What do I tell them?" 
'''Ultra Magnus:''' "The '''truth'''. We've lost contact with Cybertron, we can't find ourselves on the map, Ore is dead, Hyperion and Polaris are dead, but Cyclonus is happy, so that's okay". 
'''Rodimus:''' "See, this is why you're not a public speaker." 
'''Drift:''' "I think you should accentuate the positive. We've got the quantum generators working again—big tick. We're ready to resume our quest—big tick. And we've managed to save '''virtually''' all of the Autobots who got pulled outside—that's more of a '''little''' tick, '''but it's still a tick!'''" 
'''Rodimus:''' "Hmm. I think I'll go for a mixture of depressingly gloomy and offensively upbeat. Thanks, guys."

"So, you gonna show me your alt mode or what?" 
"Ooh, '''alright''' then. But I'm taking it '''slow''', okay?" 
"Tell you what: I'll speak to Skids and pop back in about '''six million years' time''', okay?"
:—'''Swerve''' only teases '''Tailgate''' because he loves him.

"'The Crusadercons.' The more you say it, the cooler it sounds." 
"Someone hears that, they're gonna think we're Decepticons." 
"What, so it has to end in 'bot'?" 
"Well... '''yeah'''. Omnibots, Monsterbots, Duobots... it's kind of an '''unwritten rule''', isn't it." 
"Forget the '''rules'''! The war's over—it's time to '''reclaim the suffix'''!"
:—'''Swerve''' is just a really quotable 'bot, okay? '''Skids''' doesn't share our enthusiasm for him.

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*This is the start of an arc about Tailgate's background, which will carry on until [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|#13]] (with one last slight twist in [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|#21]]). The "Bomb Disposal" on his arms have actually been enscribed by Ratchet: in #13, we learn what it ''used'' to say.
*It's also the start of the Skids arc which gets resolved in #19 and #20.
* The answer to the question Skids asks when he wakes up ("Scum! Why is my name Scum?") is revealed to the reader in [[Speak, Memory! (Part 2)|#49]] and remembered by Skids in [[The Dying of the Light Part 5: Rage, Rage|#54]].
*The Legislators keep saying [[1984|"nineteen eighty-four"]]: this will be significant in the Skids arc and has a different meaning to [[How Ratchet Got His Hands Back|what you think it does]].
*Whirl is ''loathed'' by the other Autobots, with Ratchet openly hoping that something would prevent him from repairing him.

===Transformers references===
*Blaster is now sporting a yellow face, a colouration formerly unique to the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel G1 comic]].
*At one point, Skids remembers his "Batch number, [[Tech Spec|Technical Specifications]], [[Function]]" and even his motto, which he finds lame.

===Trivia===
*If you don't get the double-meaning that British writer James Roberts has hidden in the Duobots' names, try saying "Shock and Ore" out loud with a British accent.
*The last page includes a summary of the crew members already introduced, with short introductions beneath. These include factoids such as Swerve's weapon of choice is his mouth, Whirl was twice voted "Autobot most likely to defect", and Ultra Magnus once smiled, and has regretted it ever since.

===Crew Manifest===
*The fifty or so crew members lost during the quantum jump are all recovered. The only deaths were Polaris and Hyperion.
*Shock and Ore are killed by the Sparkeater and quantum jump, respectively.
*Skids and Cyclonus join the crew.
*4 deaths, 2 new arrivals since the launch.

===Errors===
*Ratchet says he's asked Swerve to "carbon-date" Tailgate to find out how old he is, but carbon dating is neither useful for anything older than a few ten thousand years, nor anything that isn't composed of organic matter.
*When Skids is telling Chromedome to remove the inhibitor claw from his back, his gun is missing from his right hand.
*(And on Roche's cover, the gun is in his left hand, but whatevs.)
*On page 22, when Drift is giving the communicator device to Rodimus, he has two right hands.

===Soundtrack===
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUN826BdvV4 "Calendar Girl"] by {{w|Stars (Canadian band)|Stars}}
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfySK7CLEEg "Bloodbuzz Ohio"] by {{w|The National (band)|The National}}

===Covers (4)===
*'''Cover A:''' Rodimus amongst injured Autobots; art by Alex Milne, colors by [[Josh Perez]].
*'''Cover B:''' Skids gets blown out of the ship; art by [[Nick Roche]], colors by [[Josh Burcham]].
*'''Cover RI:''' Sketch (uncolored) version of cover A by Alex Milne.
*'''Second printing:''' Wraparound cover of Rodimus and Magnus surveying the ''Lost Light'' crew by Milne and Burcham, taken from panel 2 of page 19

<gallery>
File:MTMTE2_cvrA.jpg|"Quit lying down on the job, ya bums!"
File:MTMTE2_cvrB.jpg|Skids gets a helluva intro.
File:MTMTE2_cvrRI.jpg|"I TOLD THEM I WANTED COLOR!"
File:MTMTE2_2ndptg.jpg|Second printing cover
</gallery>

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