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Slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken

2024-01-16T13:04:44Z

Quecksilberlampe: /* Soundtrack */

{{lowercase}}
{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=33
|prev=slaughterhouse
|next=Births, Deaths, and Interventions
|image=MTMTE33 regcvr.jpg
|title="slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken" 
|caption="Did you know how much you missed me?"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[September 17]], [[2014]]
|coverdate=September 2014
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|inks by=[[Brian Shearer]] and [[John Wycough]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2014)]]
}}
'''The mystery of the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s disappearance is solved, beginning a race against time to shut down the quantum engines and put things right.'''

==Synopsis==
As [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] lifts the unconscious [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] out of the [[Magnus Armor]] and lays him down, the little 'bot slowly awakens. [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] tries to make sure he's okay and talks him through the surprising sights that greet him—an [[Autobot]] Megatron, a living [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]], and [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] being ''female''—but Nightbeat butts in, desperate to find out what happened on the ship. The detective is fascinated by their recent discoveries, and a closer examination of the poster for ''[[Information Creep]]'' has revealed its release date to have been only a few weeks after the ship's original launch, all standing in contradiction to the history they know—but Rewind dissolves into whimpering, able to give no verbal answer, instead offering up a [[data slug]] to the detective.

Meanwhile, across the room, Nautica observes the [[Quantum generator|quantum engines]]' [[quantum drum]]s floating in the web of [[quantum foam]], prompting [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] to make fun of her by suggesting her profession just involves putting "quantum" in front of other words. She responds with a (failed) joke about the way all quantum objects exist in two superpositioned states—which gives her a sudden realization that explains everything. She presents her theory to the crew: that upon launch, the malfunction of the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s quantum engines caused the ship to undergo a quantum duplication, yielding an exact copy, just as valid as the original, which materialized in the region of the space the ship was ''supposed'' to appear in, rather than jumping to the random planet that "their" ''Lost Light'' did. Nightbeat confirms her theory is correct with the data provided by Rewind, which reveals that the [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] they found in the coffin perished during the [[Sparkeater (creature)|Sparkeater]] fiasco when his head was phased inside the engines instead of just his arms. [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] subsequently took command, while Rodimus was interred by [[Drift (G1)|Drift]]; the coffin proceeded to fall from the ship when it broke up following the [[Decepticon Justice Division]]'s attack—brought on, Rewind claims, by the fact that someone onboard ''deliberately deactivated'' [[Overlord (G1)|Overlord]]'s cell, allowing the DJD to detect his signal. Rewind explains that he was forced to film the villains' murder spree because they promised to let [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] live if he did so, but for added psychological torture, they then tried to force the [[mnemosurgery|mnemosurgeon]] to wipe his own memories of Rewind, killing him with his own finger-needles when he refused.

Riptide brings Rewind's grim tale to an end by pointing out that the quantum foam floating outside is beginning to spread; Nautica realizes that it could potentially destroy [[Ofsted XVII]] down below by causing a chain reaction in the thinned-out space-time of the region and proposes shutting down the quantum engines entirely, which should also theoretically erase the "duplicate" ''Lost Light'' and reinstate their own. Megatron has no interest in risking his own life for a planet of non-Cybertronians, but Skids makes it clear it's not a choice: he is an Autobot now, and for that to ''mean something'', Megatron must put his life on the line for others. Unfortunately, the quantum foam is meshed around the drums so tight that a 'bot of Megatron's size cannot make it through; Rewind volunteers, but as both drums must be deactivated simultaneously, a second small 'bot is needed. Skids recalls [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]]'s [[mass-displacement gun]], capable of shrinking someone for the job, so the group heads for his lab to see if the "duplicate" Brainstorm invented the weapon. While searching the wrecked lab, Nightbeat and Nautica discuss the minutiae of the quantum duplication process, realizing that the Rewind "data ghost" and his altered message to Chromedome were the result of quantum "cross-contamination", and concluding that the erasure of their ''Lost Light'' was triggered when it came into proximity with Rodimus's coffin, making the paradox too blatant for the universe to continue "ignoring". Their conversation is brought to a shuddering halt when they lift a piece of rubble and reveal Brainstorm's body underneath... a discovery made all the more horrifying when Nightbeat picks up Brainstorm's disconnected faceplate, lying on the floor beside him, and uncovers a Decepticon insignia painted inside it. The ghastly realization that Brainstorm—and by extension, ''their'' Brainstorm—was the Decepticon mole who deactivated Overlord's cell has to be tabled by the crew in the face of greater concerns, and when it becomes apparent that the mass-displacement gun is not there, Megatron finally offers up a solution: he can use his own [[size changing|mass displacement]] powers, added to his [[spark]] to enable his old handgun mode, to shrink himself down and join Rewind in shutting the engines down.

A short time later, Rewind and the shrunken Megatron carefully make their way through the foam web, successfully reaching the quantum drums. As Nautica begins to walk them through the shutdown procedure, Rewind pauses, seeking belated confirmation of the fact that deactivating the drums will mean he and "his" ''Lost Light'' will cease to be. Nautica verifies this, and Rewind calmly resigns himself to this fact, given that his Chromedome is dead, leaving him with nothing to live for. He asks Megatron if the "other" Rewind and Chromedome are still strong, and after a moment of silence, Megatron tells him they are inseparable. Satisfied, Rewind throws the shutdown switch, and a wave of white light consumes everything.

===Epilogue 1===
Time passes. The deactivation of the quantum engines proves successful: the alternate ''Lost Light'' vanishes, and crew members slowly start appearing aboard the [[Rodpod]] in reverse order. When Chromedome is returned, however, Skids thrusts a pair of [[Magno-clamp|magna-clamps]] into his hands and tells him to go onto the pod roof... because somehow, the alternate Rewind has survived, and is waiting for him. The two 'bots look at each other in silent shock; Chromedome sits down beside his "resurrected" lover, and after a wordless moment of staring out at the stars together, the two embrace. Back inside, meanwhile, [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] reports that the ''Lost Light'' has also reappeared, and as a course is locked in, Megatron requests that he open a secure channel so that he can inform Rodimus about Brainstorm. [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] points out that he is not likely to be welcomed by the crew, and offers to depart for [[Earth]], but Megatron invites him to stay, asking if the horrors he has seen the DJD perpetrate are enough to make him question his dedication to the Decepticon cause. Nightbeat and Nautica wonder how Rewind could have survived; Nightbeat jokingly blames "the power of love"... though that doesn't explain how he has managed to keep ahold of the dead Brainstorm's [[time case|briefcase]]...

===Epilogue 2===
Back on the returned ''Lost Light'', Brainstorm squeezes his way through the crowd of revellers at [[Swerve's]], sitting down to next to [[Atomizer]]. Over Atomizer's protests, Brainstorm breaks the rules of the bar by undoing the clasps on his briefcase and opening it... and everyone in the bar except him collapses...

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Getaway]] (1)
* [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] (3)
* [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (4)
* [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] (5)
* [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (6)
* [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (7)
* [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (8)
* [[Crosscut (G1)|Crosscut]] (poster, 9)
* ''[[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]]'' (11)
* ''[[Drift (G1)|Drift]]'' (12)
* ''[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]'' (13)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (14)
* [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (15)
* ''[[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]]'' (17)
* ''[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]]'' (22)
* ''[[Dipstick]]'' (24)
* [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (25)
* [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (27)
* [[Ammo]] (28)
* [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (29)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (30)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (31)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Doublecross]] (32)
* [[Aquafend]] (33)
* [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (34)
* [[Joyride (G1)|Joyride]] (35)
* [[Repugnus (G1)|Repugnus]] (36)
* [[Atomizer]] (37)
* Guy on bar (38)
* [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] (39)
* Yellow guy (40)
{{!}}}
|c2=
* [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] (2)
* ''[[Tarn (G1)|Tarn]]'' (16)
* ''[[Vos (G1)|Vos]]'' (18)
* ''[[Helex (G1)|Helex]]'' (20)
* ''[[Tesarus (G1)|Tesarus]]'' (21)
* ''[[Kaon (G1)|Kaon]]'' (23)
* [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] (26)
|c4=
* ''[[Sparkeater (creature)|Sparkeater]]'' (10)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (19)
}}

==Quotes==
"Such a '''fuss'''. Is he important?" 
"Come now, Ravage. '''Everyone's''' important these days. But yes, I gather they're '''particularly''' fond of this one."
:—'''Ravage''' and '''Megatron''', the former with regard to Rewind, the latter with regard to the readers

"I've never seen the quantum drums outside of the quantum engines... even hidden behind all the '''quantum foam''', they're impressive..." 
"Nautica, to be a '''quantum mechanic''', all you have to do is put the word 'quantum' in front of other words. True or false?" 
"Both." 
"Eh?" 
"It's '''both''', simultaneously. True and false. It depends on the quantized energy state of each proposition." 
"Eh?" 
"It's a joke." 
"Oh. Are jokes not funny where you come from?"
:—'''Nautica''' and '''Riptide'''

"If that planet were teeming with '''Cybertronians''', then yes, there'd be an argument for going back into the breach. But I doubt that's the case." 
"Ah, your '''true colors'''. I'd forgotten how '''purple''' they were." 
"You've forgotten something else: I am your prisoner. I've been granted '''conditional bail''' while we look for the Knights of Cybertron. Where in my bail terms does it say—where '''precisely''' does it say—that I have to risk my life to save a handful of strangers? Where does it say '''that'''?" 
''(Skids taps Megatron's Autobot badge.)'' 
"Right. There. What does that badge even '''mean''' to you? How has wearing it forced you to '''modify''' your behaviour? I'm serious! How has being an Autobot '''in any way''' prevented you from doing '''exactly''' what you want? Because if the answer is "'''it hasn't'''"—then nothing you've said or done in the last six months counts for '''anything.'''"
:—'''Megatron''' is read the riot act by '''Skids'''

"Before you volunteer, Ravage, I'm sorry, but you lack the manual dexterity to perform the task." 
"Touch me again and I'll kill you."
:—'''Nautica''' and '''Ravage'''

"I don't know '''all''' our undercover agents. To be honest, he's not our usual type." 
"There's a type?" 
"Hm. Have you never been approached?"
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Nightbeat'''

"Here's a '''survival tip:''' When everyone's lining up to make sacrifices... always get to the back of the queue."
:—'''Megatron'''

"You should go first. You're still slightly larger than me, so there's a greater chance of you touching the foam and exploding... and if that happens there's no point in me putting my own life at risk." 
"And everyone says you were the kindhearted one." 
"Were?"
:—'''Rewind''' and '''Megatron'''

"What's left for me here? Chromedome's dead—which is just another way of saying '''I''' am. In fact I wanted to ask you earlier, but... on your '''Lost Light''', me and Domey... are we still going strong?" 
''(beat)'' 
"Megatron?" 
"You're inseparable."
:—'''Rewind''' and '''Megatron'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Brainstorm has, of course, been ''very'' dodgy for an Autobot since "[[Bullets]]", where we met him creating [[Unmentionable|monstrous weapons for fun]]. He's notably been callous about a dead Autobot way back in [[Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|issue #2]] and allowed an Autobot to be shot down without doing anything in [[Interiors|#6]]. You could go looking for other proof that he must be up to something.... though we'll later learn he has [[Quark|a different reason]] for joining the Decepticons than we first thought and he's just a naturally dodgy geezer!
* The Sparkeater affair took place in [[Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|issue #3]]; [[Animus]] died in that issue, but on this alternate ''Lost Light'', he survived long enough to lure the Sparkeater to the engine room, taking the place of [[Rung (G1)|Rung]], who is noted to have been "lost" in the initial explosion on the "alternate" ship. This seems to be further implicit confirmation that Animus was a [[Point One Percenter]], if his spark (shown to be green in that issue) was strong enough to serve as a lure for the creature over all others on the ship.
* The DJD suddenly detected Overlord's signature in [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|issue #8]]; at last, we learn that they were able to do this because the slow cell on the alternate ''Lost Light'' was shut down.
* With this issue, all the Autobots on the [[Mortilus|Necrobot]]'s list are shown to have died on the second ''Lost Light''; we don't see [[Dipstick]]'s corpse but his being shocked to death by Kaon probably counts.
* Brainstorm's [[mass-displacement gun]] previously appeared in the [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|2012 Annual]].
* Nautica finds the duplicate of Brainstorm's [[cyberwraith]] cadaver, first seen in [[Rules of Disengagement (issue)|issue #7]] and used to create [[Dead Universe]] forcefields in [[Black Metal: Dark Cybertron Chapter 2|issue #23]].
* Megatron suggests that Nightbeat is the sort of guy the Decepticons recruited as spies. Primarily, it's a joke about the detached way he tends to regard others and their emotions (part of his Benedict-Cumberbatch-as-Sherlock-Holmes characterization), but back in [[Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|issue #9]], we saw that Nightbeat followed Decepticon politics with interest before the war, and agreed with them about [[Functionism|ratioism]].
* Megatron recalls his old handgun transformation, which is an alternate form he hasn't had in IDW since ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]''; it previously appeared in ''More than Meets the Eye'' proper in flashback in [[The Gloaming|issue #16]].
* Last issue, Skids said he was worried he'd stop hating Megatron and here he is, genuinely pleased the ex-tyrant is risking himself for others just like he'd demanded. This starts him down a road where by [[The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|issue 50]], he'll be considered one of Megs' mates.
* "No Briefcases" was established as one of the rules of Swerve's in [[Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|issue #18]]. So how did Brainstorm get in the bar past Swerve's bouncer, Ten? Attention deflectors, of course!

===Transformers references===
* Brainstorm is revealed to have a mouth under his faceplate, leaving him evocative of his animation model for the [[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|''Headmasters'' cartoon]]. He also had his faceplate removed more recently in IDW's ''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One|Regeneration One]]'' [[Natural Selection, Part Two|#87]].
* The alternate Ultra Magnus was rid of his Nanocon infection using domesticated [[scraplet]]s, a form of mechanical parasite that originated in [[Crater Critters|issue #29]] of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel US series]]. There have been a few sparse references to them in Roberts-written IDW stories before now, including a one-panel appearance by one taken from Rewind's database in [[The Gloaming|issue #16]].

===Real-life references===
* This story's subtitle comes from the Robert Frost poem, "{{w|The Road Not Taken}}".
* {{W|Quantum superposition}} is a real concept in physics, whereby an isolated particle can exist in two or more different states simultaneously. Its footprint on popular culture is felt most famously via the {{w|Schrödinger's cat}} thought experiment, which envisions a hypothetical scenario where the phenomenon could be observed in a macroscopic object. The way in which one ''Lost Light'' begins disappearing as the two versions draw near to each other is loosely analogous to the process of {{w|quantum decoherence}}, in which a superposed particle ceases its quantum behaviour and assumes a single state once it is no longer isolated.

===Errors===
* An alternate scenario involving the Nanocons inside Ultra Magnus is described as having played out on the duplicate ''Lost Light''... buuuut the only reason the dormant Nanocons inside Magnus even became ''active'' was because of the influence of the [[Metrotitan (G1)|Crystal City Titan]], which the alternate ''Lost Light'' was never anywhere near. James Roberts offered the wry explanation that Skids was just ''assuming'' the Nanocons were activated by the Titan, and was wrong.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=In the MTMTE Annual, Skids *assumes* that proximity to the Metrotitan resurrected the Magnus Nanos. #33 proves he was wrong. #RetCon|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/516327616249622528|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2014|month=09|day=28|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* In [[:Image:Brainstorm atomizer timecase the road not taken.jpg|this panel on page 22]], Atomizer is missing one of the side pieces on his head that is meant to go between his head and cheek spike thingy. Now you can't unsee it.

===Crew manifest===
* All the vanished members of the ship return
* The Rewind of the "alternate" ''Lost Light'' survives the quantum reset and joins the crew

===Soundtrack===
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RT-kvaC-7ag "Teenage Spaceship"] by {{w|Bill Callahan (musician)|Smog}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iB7E1D_3Na4 "Ladies and gentlemen we are floating in space"] by {{w|Spiritualized}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uWatEGf2MY "Night and Day"] by Pelvis<ref>{{citesocial|quote=I promised you extra songs for MTMTE #33. Here's the first: Night & Day, by Pelvis http://t.co/TNxzsmb65y|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/512367379226300416|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2014|month=09|day=17|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4uCx3V_uac "Pure"] by {{w|The Lightning Seeds}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=And here's the final song for MTMTE #33: 'Pure', by the Lightning Seeds. http://t.co/ITAK4lXpVZ|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/512370194615115776|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2014|month=09|day=17|(defunct=)}}</ref>

===Other trivia===
* It's never actually explained what happened to all the ''other'' 'bots who weren't part of the original crew when their shuttles disappeared, but they all appear to be fine now that everything's over.

===Foreign Localization===
'''Swedish'''
* ''Title:'' "'''slakthuset Del 2: Det andra äventyret'''" ("slaughterhouse Part 2: The Other Quest")

===Covers (4)===
* '''Regular cover:''' A shadowed Rewind, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
* '''Subscription cover:''' In the manner of {{w|Lady Justice}}, Tarn holds aloft a set of scales on which the rest of the DJD members stand, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
* '''30th Anniversary cover:''' Tarn looms over [[Fulcrum]], dripping [[energon]], by [[Saren Stone]]; the second in September's series of 30th Anniversary covers commemorating moments from IDW history, this one representing the [[Scavengers (G1)|Scavengers]]' meeting with the DJD in issue #8.
* '''Heroes and Fantasies Alamo City Comic Con exclusive cover:''' [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (in his ''[[Grimlock (WFC)|War for Cybertron]]'' design) roars in front of the Alamo, by [[Casey Coller]] and [[John-Paul Bove]]; a banner reading "When Dinobots Ruled the Earth" falls in front of him, paying homage to the climactic scene of ''[[Jurassic Park]]'' (and not for the [[:File:AHM 13cvrApocalypse.jpg|first time]]).

<gallery>
File:MTMTE33 regcvr.jpg|Shh, he's hiding.
File:MTMTE33 subcvr.jpg|We serve our justice cold, and it is very cold in space.
File:MTMTE33 cvrRI.jpg|"Intimidated yet?"
File:MTMTE33 cvrRE.jpg|"Me Grimlock say Steven Spielberg, eat your heart out."
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''More than Meets the Eye'' #34
* ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[The World of Tomorrow|#33]]
* ''[[The Transformers: Primacy|Primacy]]'' [[Primacy issue 2|#2]]
* ''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' [[Targetmasters (issue)|#2]]
* IDW ''Transformers'' graphic novel library
* ''[[My Little Pony]]'' Annual 2014 (back cover)

===Reprints===
* '''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 6''''' ([[December 10]], [[2014]]) ISBN 163140184X / ISBN 978-1631401848
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #28–33.
** Bonus material includes covers of each issue.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 7]]''''' ([[March 21]], [[2018]]) ISBN 1684051495 / ISBN 978-1684051496
** Collects ''More Than Meets the Eye'' issues #28–30, #31–33 & #34, and ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' issues [[Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World|#28]]–[[Earthfall Part 5: I Dream of Wires|32]] & [[The World of Tomorrow|#33]]–[[The Crucible|34]].
** Hardcover format.

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

* '''''Transformers: Du sköna nya värld''''' ([[November]], [[2022]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #28–38 & #40.
** Swedish reprint. Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol6.jpg|'''''More Than Meets the Eye Volume 6''''' – cover art by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V7.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 7''''' – cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]] and [[Tom B. Long]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v61.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 61: World Shut Your Mouth''''' – cover art by [[Guido Guidi]] (Hoist) and [[Alex Milne]]
File:MTMTE SWE 04.jpg|'''''Du sköna nya värld''''' – cover art by Casey Coller and Joana Lafuente.
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.newsarama.com/22128-megatron-s-autobots-uncover-secrets-in-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-33-preview.html Preview]

Births, Deaths, and Interventions

2024-01-16T12:59:57Z

Quecksilberlampe: /* Soundtrack */

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

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

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

First Aid returns to find that Bluestreak and Mainframe have moved the injured 'bot, drastically reducing his chances of survival. To ensure his patient lives, First Aid requests a donation of two fluid drams of active [[energon]] from each of the Autobots, but Mainframe is still unsure about going ahead, and brings up the concern that such a donation risks inducing [[spark]] failure. While First Aid tries to talk him around, Bluestreak gets a nasty surprise when he finds the wounded robot's ''face'' on the floor—little do the group realise, their patient is [[Decepticon Justice Division]] member [[Vos (G1)|Vos]]!

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

[[File:Mainframe births deaths and interventions.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.9]]
The weakened Vos chants repeatedly in [[Cybertronian language#Old Cybertronian|Old Cybertronian]], prompting Mainframe to try using some of the theater's translation equipment to decipher his words. Bluestreak continues to examine Vos's detached face, accidentally releasing the multiple stabbing spikes hidden within it—a ghastly revelation that says enough about Vos's nature to convince Mainframe to opt out of donating his energon. Bluestreak also refuses, and First Aid orders the two out of the room, but Trailcutter is still willing, even when First Aid gives him the option to bow out by admitting that he knew from the start that Vos was a Decepticon. First Aid begins transferring some of his own energon first, but as he does so, Trailcutter reads off the translated version of Vos's words: "Find. Kill. Cleanse." Recognizing the motto of the Decepticon Justice Division, the horrified First Aid rips the transfer tube out of his chest, refusing to save the life of such a prolific murderer, even at the cost of his own ethics. Trailcutter insists on going through with the procedure and plugs the tube into himself, but the re-energized Vos then attacks. Trailcutter saves himself by blasting Vos with his leg guns, then throws his "panic bubble" forcefield around himself while First Aid reluctantly runs off to get Bluestreak and Mainframe's help. Unfortunately, Trailcutter soon discovers he has made a horrible mistake, as part of the pile of wreckage inside his bubble begins to transform: he has locked himself inside his own field with a ''second'' DJD member, who now drains energy from his forcefield in order to repair himself: [[Kaon (G1)|Kaon]]!

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

[[File:BirthsDeathsAndInterventions-kaonkillstrailcutter.jpg|thumb|left]]
First Aid, Mainframe, and Bluestreak return to a grisly scene: Kaon has torn Trailcutter limb from limb, and is holding his [[brain module]] in his hands. First Aid tries to explain that the war has been formally ended by Megatron to the unconvinced DJDer, begging him to study Trailcutter's datapad and see the speech for himself. Kaon agrees, but first crushes Trailcutter's brain against the forcefield; he then picks up the datapad, and radios [[Helex (G1)|Helex]] to beam him and Vos out.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

===Transformers references===
* On the cover, Ultra Magnus references "sub-section 11 (3) of the Autobot Code", another of James Roberts's regular references to [[113 (disambiguation)|the number]]. The giant rifle Magnus is hefting is of the same design that [[Metalhawk (G1)|Metalhawk]] carried back in [[The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|''More than Meets the Eye'' #27]], on an interior page also drawn by Brendan Cahill.
* Megatron's writings refer to Cybertron leaving orbit as an impossibility, but that's exactly what happened due to the war in [[The Transformers (issue)|the Marvel Comics]].
* When Kaon crushes Trailcutter's brain module, the action is accompanied by a "KRIK" sound effect—the same sound effect that accompanied [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]]'s destruction of [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]]'s brain module in [[The Legacy of Unicron!|issue #147]] of the original [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel UK series]].
* Using the [[Cyberglyphics]] substitution cypher from the [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|Titan ''Transformers'' comic]], Vos's chant is a random string of letters, Trailcutter calls himself a "I’ve gt my n" expert in Old Cybertronian swearwords, and calls Vos "Dick!", "Two!", and "Three!". When Vos points out Kaon, he just says "Word".

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

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

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

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

===Soundtrack===
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArbsM60-oOc "The Devil, You + Me"] by {{w|The Notwist}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Here we go again - the MTMTE soundtrack. The first song for issue #34 is 'The Devil, You + Me' by The Notwist https://t.co/NrRnDlaeCn|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/524347189796286464|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2014|month=10|day=20|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXAsuy4_kD4 "Don't You Forget"] by {{w|Micah P Hinson}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Here's the full length version of the song I just posted. Micah P Hinson, 'Don't You Forget'. To accompany MTMTE #34 https://t.co/NFak4HSVeN|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/524348876967645184|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2014|month=10|day=20|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akYQRttnQng "Knowing The Ropes"] by {{w|Michael Nyman}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=And the final song for MTMTE #34: Michael Nyman's 'Knowing the Ropes': https://t.co/aITlGHdj9T|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/524350311952302082|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2014|month=10|day=21|(defunct=)}}</ref>

===Foreign Localization===
'''Swedish'''
* ''Title:'' "'''Födslar, frånfållen och interventioner'''" ("Births, Deaths, and Interventions")

===Covers (3)===
* '''Regular cover:''' Ultra Magnus, warning the reader that he's not actually ''in'' the comic and that by purchasing the issue with this cover they're complicit in an act of false advertising, by [[Brendan Cahill]]
* '''Subscription cover:''' Megatron at his writing desk, the shadow of his future self looming large over him, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
* '''30th Anniversary cover:''' The third in October's series of three 30th Anniversary covers by [[Ken Christiansen]], which combines with the covers to [[Primacy issue 3|''Primacy'' #3]] and [[The Crucible|''Robots in Disguise'' #34]] to form an image depicting the major eras of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]]. This cover encapsulates the events of the post-[[The Transformers: The Movie|movie]] era.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE34 regcvr.jpg|You have been warned!
File:MTMTE34 subcvr.jpg|Megatron's shadow made him evil!
File:MTMTE34 cvrRI.jpg|The art makes it look so much cooler than it was.
</gallery>

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

===Reprints===
* '''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 7''''' ([[May 13]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631403273 / ISBN 978-1631403279
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #34–38.
** Bonus material includes covers of each issue.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 7]]''''' ([[March 21]], [[2018]]) ISBN 1684051495 / ISBN 978-1684051496
** Collects ''More Than Meets the Eye'' issues #28–30, #31–33 & #34, and ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' issues [[Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World|#28]]–[[Earthfall Part 5: I Dream of Wires|32]] & [[The World of Tomorrow|#33]]–[[The Crucible|34]].
** Hardcover format.

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

* '''''Transformers: Du sköna nya värld''''' ([[November]], [[2022]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #28–38 & #40.
** Swedish reprint. Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol7.jpg|'''''More Than Meets the Eye Volume 7''''' – cover art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V7.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 7''''' – cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]] and [[Tom B. Long]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v61.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 61: World Shut Your Mouth''''' – cover art by [[Guido Guidi]] (Hoist) and Alex Milne
File:MTMTE SWE 04.jpg|'''''Du sköna nya värld''''' – cover art by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Joana Lafuente]].
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

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

Slaughterhouse

2024-01-10T07:03:56Z

Quecksilberlampe: /* Soundtrack */

{{lowercase}}
{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=32
|prev=Twenty Plus One
|next=slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken
|image=MTMTE32 regcvr.jpg
|title="slaughterhouse" 
|caption=Wait a minute, [[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe's]] on the cover? How did that happen?
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[August 27]], [[2014]]
|coverdate=August 2014
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline#2014|Current era (2014)]]
}}

'''Horrors await the small group of Autobots as they explore the wreckage of the ''Lost Light'', but all is not as it appears...'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Riptide getaway information creep slaughterhouse.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.6]]
Overcoming their shock at the sight of the ruined ''[[Lost Light]]'', torn into three chunks and bleeding quantum foam, the remaining crew of the [[Rodpod]] conclude that, somehow, this is the time-displaced future version of the ship from which the coffin containing [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]]'s dead body originated. Setting down inside the wreckage to investigate, they soon realise that their impromptu landing pad appears to be [[Swerve's]], only it seems to have been refashioned as a playhouse, rather than a bar; a poster for a showing of ''[[Information Creep]]'', the play [[Crosscut (G1)|Crosscut]] is currently working on, seems to confirm that the ship is from the future. [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] brings out [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] to help in sniffing out the crew, though no-one is particularly pleased to see the cat-bot allowed to roam free. [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] tries to be friendly, but makes the cardinal mistake of treating Ravage like a pet, and, suitably chastized by a swipe of his claws, decides to head off with [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] to fix the [[quantum generator]]s and stop the foam leakage. Presently, Ravage locates [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]]—or rather, [[Minimus Ambus]], slaughtered and stripped of the [[Magnus Armor]] post-mortem, which lies nearby. [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] identifies the fatal blast-wound in Ambus's side as having been caused by a [[fusion cannon]], and immediately turns on Megatron; the former Decepticon retorts that his fusion cannon was destroyed following his change of allegiance, and that furthermore, he had no knowledge of Minimus Ambus within the armor. But as Skids points out, as the ship is from their future, he now ''does'' possess that knowledge and could potentially act on it in that future. Shaken, Megatron realizes that it is actually not impossible for him to be responsible for the death and devastation, and suggests that he and Ravage be locked up until more answers are forthcoming.

In another section of the ship, Nightbeat and Nautica make their way to the engine rooms, talking about the strangeness of recent events. Recalling the appearance of the deceased [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]]'s "data ghost" leads Nightbeat to ask Nautica about her own romantic past, and from there to the topic of pair-bonding in general on [[Caminus (planet)|Caminus]]; the engineer is amused by his bluntness, and asks the same questions of him. As they enter an elevator, extra gizmos added to [[Nautica's wrench]] by [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] deliver a report on the local surroundings, identifying local space as "worn down", with many signs of extensive recent [[unspace|teleportation activity]]. At that point, Nautica's foot bumps into something on the floor... ''Brainstorm's [[Time case|briefcase]].''

[[File:MTMTE32 i came to hate the person id become.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
Locked in a cupboard together, an angry Ravage attacks Megatron, accusing him of betrayal and hoping that [[shadowplay]] is responsible for his change of heart, which Megatron denies. Ravage tells him that [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]] is now in charge of the Decepticons, but that he will be abandoned immediately if Megatron but gives the word; Megatron despairs over the toxicity of Decepticon loyalty, and correctly deduces that Ravage was sent to spy on him by [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]], and that he was responsible for the attempted jailbreak during his trial. In response to Ravage's allegation that Megatron is unsure of his identity for the first time in his life, Megatron explains that his change of heart was motivated by the fact that, during his last talk with [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] prior to the [[Chaos (IDW)|Chaos event]], he had spoken harsh words that he had intended only to wound Prime... only to realize that he ''believed'' them, and that he hated the person he had become. Ravage claims that in years to come, Megatron will laugh at this notion, but Megatron admits to feeling old, and believes that the Megatron he once was is dead. Before the conversation can go any deeper, the lights flick on, repaired by the other Autobots... illuminating the dead bodies of [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]], [[Drift (G1)|Drift]], and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] in the cupboard's corner! Examining the bodies, Megatron finds their [[brain module]]s torn out and stuffed into their mouths, which gives him all the information he needs to identify the murderers...

Nightbeat opens Brainstorm's briefcase, only to find it empty, leading him and Nautica to theorize everything from invisible gas to a cloaking device to outright theft to explain the lack of contents... unaware that local space/time has begun warping around them, causing their conversation to occur out of sequence. The elevator opens to a gruesome sight: [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]]'s dead body, impaled on a bulkhead! But Nightbeat's attention is drawn by a greater mystery: a flight of stairs leading to a lower level, when they are already supposed to be on the lowest deck of the ship.

[[File:Slaughterhouse mtmte -32 djd attack.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|Showed up just to die! [[Ambulon|It]] [[:File:MTMTE18 cvrRI.jpg|happens]] [[Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|sometimes.]]‎]]
Skids and [[Getaway]] continue their exploration of the ship, talking about Megatron and their changing attitude toward him as they go. They catch up to Riptide just as he has made an horrific discovery—a room full of corpses, every one in [[alternate mode]], with two puncture holes in each of them. Reminded of the practice of [[cerebral dowsing]]—the ability to deduce the location of a Transformer's brain module while they are in alt mode—Skids realizes that all the dead have been shot in the "head", and that the secondary holes were bored in order to remove their [[transformation cog]]s. Just as Skids is getting to grips with this discovery, Nightbeat contacts him over the comm, and reveals that they have found [[Overlord (G1)|Overlord]]'s dead body in the [[slow cell]] beneath the ship. Megatron then joins the call, and everyone pools their knowledge and realizes they have come to the same conclusion: the ''Lost Light'' has been attacked by the [[Decepticon Justice Division]].

Everyone regroups in Swerve's and prepares to depart with all due haste, though first, they have to bring the befuddled Nautica up to speed: the brain modules in the corpse mouths were the work of [[Helex (G1)|Helex]], while the fusion cannon that slew Magnus belonged to [[Tarn (G1)|Tarn]], who also removed the transformation cogs of the dead to feed his transformation addiction. Megatron believes the DJD are acting in response to his denouncement of the Decepticon cause, but Nightbeat points out that evidence suggests that the ship is ''not'' simply from the future: Overlord and the cell containing were jettisoned from the ship some time in the past, and should not ''be'' there any more, suggesting that past events somehow played out differently on this version of the ship. A surge of energy and tremor caused by the ship's reaction to the quantum foam rocks the team, but Nautica refuses to leave as they haven't finished searching for survivors. Megatron is certain that the DJD will have left none... until Ravage picks up a new scent, and, huddled within the Magnus Armor... Megatron finds the still-living form of Rewind.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks. Those who appear in the present as corpses are marked with asterisks.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (1)
* [[Getaway]] (2)
* [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] (3)
* [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (4)
* [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] (5)
* [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (6)
* [[Crosscut (G1)|Crosscut]] (poster, 7)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]]* (9)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* ''[[Jetfire (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jetfire]]'' (10)
* ''[[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]]'' (11)
* [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]]* (12)
* [[Drift (G1)|Drift]]* (13)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]* (14)
* [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]]* (15)
* [[Blades (G1)|Blades]]* (16)
* [[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]]* (17)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]* (18)
* [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]]* (19)
* [[Rad (G1)|Rad]]* (20)
* [[Powerflash]]* (21)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]]* (22)
* [[Waverider]]* (23)
* [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]]* (24)
* [[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]]* (25)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]* (26)
* [[Rollout (G1)|Rollout]]* (27)
* [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]]* (28)
* ''[[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]]'' (36)
* ''[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]]'' (37)
* ''[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]]'' (38)
* ''[[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]]'' (39)
* [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (40)
{{!}}}

|c2=
* [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] (8)
* [[Overlord (G1)|Overlord]]* (29)
* ''[[Tesarus (G1)|Tesarus]]'' (30)
* ''[[Helex (G1)|Helex]]'' (31)
* ''[[Vos (G1)|Vos]]'' (32)
* ''[[Tarn (G1)|Tarn]]'' (33)
* ''[[Kaon (G1)|Kaon]]'' (35)

|c4=
* ''[[Dominus Ambus|The Pet]]'' (34)
}}

==Quotes==
'''Nautica:''' "Okay, so it's '''been ripped apart''', but—that's our ship!" 
'''Getaway:''' "Er—the ship we just saw disappear..." 
'''Riptide:''' "Two words: '''paradox.'''" 
'''Skids:''' "Riptide's right, even if his spelling isn't."

'''Nautica:''' "That's '''quantum foam'''...and it's not supposed to be exposed to naked space. I think it's '''mutated'''. Best not to fly too close. I suspect the '''merest graze''' would-" 
''Riptide flies too close to the foam, damaging the ship* '' 
'''Getaway:''' "Did you do that on purpose?" 
'''Riptide:''' "'''No!''' Why would I do that on purpose?" 
'''Getaway:''' "Because you strike me as one of those "'''don't push the button'''" types. 
'Don't push the button' / 'Why not?' / (presses button) / '''BOOM!'''" 
'''Riptide:''' "...Ridiculous."

"Nuh-uh! It's '''not''' Ultra Magnus, which makes this a '''fail'''... I'm just waiting for confirmation from the judges and... oh! Not only is it a fail, but it's been placed in the '''epic''' category."
:—'''Riptide''' on Ravage's tracking ability

"Do you have a ''Conjunx Endura''? Or any ''Amica Endurae''? Do they practise any form of elective kinship on Caminus? Why are you smiling?" 
"Because '''you'''! Your '''questions'''! Anyone else would '''sidle up''' to a subject like that..." 
"Gah, who's got time to tiptoe?" 
"Well, the answers are no, yes, and yes. What about you? Ever had a sparkmate?" 
"Nah. But then, I '''am''' pretty insufferable." 
... 
"Silent howls of protest."
:—'''Nightbeat''' and '''Nautica'''

"I love my wrench." 
"'''Is''' it technically a wrench?" 
"It's a wrench-slash-scanner-slash-'''everything'''. Brainstorm added a billion extras. See? There's even a light that goes on when I'm exaggerating." 
:—'''Nautica''' and '''Nightbeat'''

"I once told Optimus I killed for the sake of killing. I wanted to make him '''hurt me''', you see—because when he hurts others, he hurts '''himself'''. And the thing is, when the words were in my head I didn't think I meant them; but when they left my mouth, I realized that I '''did'''. If the world thinks you're a monster, what does it matter? The world is '''wrong'''. But when you start to think of '''yourself''' as a monster... I came to hate the person I'd become. And I decided that the best way to leave that person behind—perhaps the easiest way—was to become an Autobot."
:—'''Megatron''' on his change of allegiance

"Look at me, Ravage. I'm '''old'''. Old and weak. Their poison makes me '''brittle''', but even at full strength, I'm long past my prime. My spark '''flickers''' where once it '''flared'''. And this body... oh, this nonsense body. It doesn't graft to the spark like the others. There's no purchase. No '''bite'''." 
"I don't like to hear you talk like this." 
"Why?" 
"Because it's not '''you'''! The Megatron who tore down the Senate—who emancipated millions; the Megatron we followed; the Megatron we '''loved'''... what happened to '''him'''?" 
"I don't know. I think he's dead." 
"Dead? Or just resting?" 
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Ravage'''

"Well done for '''Megatron'''. That was bomp-worthy." 
"It's weird, though. I almost wanted to apologize for locking him in... I worry I'm going to stop hating him." 
"A Decepticon kills an Autobot, you hate him. But a million Autobots? A '''billion'''? It's meaningless. That's the problem: the greater the crime, the harder it is to process a response."
:—'''Getaway''' and '''Skids'''

"It's a game, Nautica—an old wartime favorite. When someone shouts '''D.J.D.''' you have to find your friends and run like hell."
:—'''Getaway'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Though nobody points it out, the web of red quantum foam looks an aaaaawful lot like blood. This is not first "bleeding spaceship" we've seen in ''More than Meets the Eye''—there was the [[Worldsweeper]] back in [[Rules of Disengagement (issue)|issue #7]], though that was ''actually'' blood.
* We learned about Crosscut's play ''Information Creep'' last issue. As this is ''not'' the future, we can safely assume that without most of the disruptive ''More Than Meets The Eye'' plots going on here, Crosscut just had more free time to work on it.
* A one-panel flashback shows Megatron being made to melt his fusion cannon in a vat of acid under the watchful eyes of Jetfire and Optimus Prime; there's a similarity here to an imaginary sequence seen in issue #7 (again) in which, after the hypothetical end of conflict, Megatron prepares to dispose of his weapon in a similar bubbling vat.
* We learn about another form of Transformer pair-bonding in addition to the [[Conjunx Endura]] this issue, the "[[Amica Endura]]". Though Nightbeat doesn't expand on the concept, it seems logical to assume that this is a Transformery version of a "best friend"—this was later confirmed by James Roberts.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Pretty much - a best friend in a society where friendships can last millions of years.|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/504551830937165824|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2014|month=08|day=27|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* Ravage mentions [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]]'s stewardship of the Decepticons, which is playing out over in sister title ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]''.
* Ravage is also revealed to be responsible for freeing the Decepticons from the ''Lost Light'' brig in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|issue #28]].
* When Megatron recalls his talk with Optimus Prime, he is remembering the events of "[[Chaos Theory Part 1]]" and the notable speech he gave in that issue.
* Skids mentions a friend who used cerebral dowsing to tell where the brain was in any alt-mode. Given what we learn later on there's a good chance he's talking about Glitch.
* As starts to become apparent as the issue builds towards its climax, there's clearly some timey-wimeyness at play here, and this is not simply a future version of the ''Lost Light''—the slow cell, Overlord and Rewind were all, ah, ''dispatched'' one way or another in [[Under Cold Blue Stars|issue #15]] and should no longer be on the ship, nor should Drift, who appears among the corpses despite being exiled in [[The Gloaming|issue #16]]. Note the... ''tactful'' positioning of Tailgate's dead body so as not to give this away ahead of time: he has been impaled through the chest, so we can't see if he's got the Autobot insignia he received shortly before issue #28, and only "Disposal" can be glimpsed on his right arm—we can't tell if it says "Bomb" or "Waste", the switch between the two having taken place in [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|issue #21]]—thereby eliminating the markings that we would be able to use to identify a future version of Tailgate as he is now. We do, however, get one small hint at the truth: the energon splattered around Tailgate's corpse is green, curdled as a result of the cybercrosis that he was cured of in issue #21.
* Getaway's noises about a "response" to Megatron are a covert part of his story arc, which will become apparent in [[The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|issue 50]].
* We can probably safely presume that it was to this "alternate" ''Lost Light'' that the DJD went following their detection of Overlord's signal at the conclusion of [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|issue #8]], explaining why they never appeared to vex our heroes in the course of regular events.
* And speaking of issue #8, it's logical to wonder if the deaths on the [[Mortilus|Necrobot]]'s list back in that story might not be recordings of the passings of these "alternate" 'bots.

===Transformers references===
* Skids exclaims "By the [[Celestial Spires]]", an exclamation commonly seen in the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|Marvel UK]] comics.

===Real-world references===
* {{w|Quantum foam}} is also the name of a real concept in quantum mechanics.
* Nautica's upgraded wrench is a pretty clear take-off on the [[sonic screwdriver]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' fame, in particular the highly multifunctional version of the device seen in the 2005 series.
* Getaway's feelings about the scale of Megatron's crimes (see quote [[#Quotes|above]]) are reminiscent of a famous statement dubiously attributed to another mass-murdering tyrant, Joseph Stalin: [[wikiquote:Joseph Stalin#Misattributed|"The death of one man is a tragedy, the death of millions is a statistic."]]
* Skids references Tarn's "morphing addiction", which is a soundalike for "morphine addiction".

===Crew manifest===
* Of "our" ''Lost Light'' crew, only Megatron, Getaway, Nautica, Nightbeat, Riptide, Skids, and stowaway Ravage are left. All other crewmembers have disappeared.
* All are dead on the alternate ''Lost Light'' except for Rewind.

===Soundtrack===
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGT86SW9Yxc "Dark"] by {{w|Low (band)|Low}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Oi! Here's the first of the songs for MTMTE #32, and it's the shortest one so far: The Dark, by Low. https://t.co/vkKld0SvLN #MTMTE_32|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/501511410413629440|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2014|month=08|day=18|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5nzwqj3utY "Dirge"] by {{w|Death in Vegas}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Here's the second of the songs for MTMTE #32: Dirge, by Death in Vegas. Dirge is not in this issue. https://t.co/NUyyQXwSrE #MTMTE_32|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/501512196493279232|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2014|month=08|day=18|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EODw7eH5u7Q "Waiting Rooms"] by {{w|Simon Warner}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=And the 3rd song for MTMTE #32. Persevere with this one; it's huge and beautiful. Simon Warner's epic Waiting Rooms: https://t.co/ID78r1PmJd|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/501514111864172544|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2014|month=08|day=18|(defunct=)}}</ref>

Roberts singled out one more song, but noted that he resisted making it the issue's theme "in case you'd had enough Divine Comedy":
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6t949ErrEfo "Note to Self"] by {{w|The Divine Comedy (band)|}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Resisted saying this was the theme to MTMTE #32 in case you'd had enough Divine Comedy. But it fits SO WELL. https://t.co/392cuMB5vR|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/501871775702351873|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2014|month=08|day=19|(defunct=)}}</ref>

===Other trivia===
* As noted in the synopsis, when Nightbeat and Nautica open Brainstorm's briefcase, the six-panel scene plays "out of order", with each panel making no sense if read directly after the preceding one. The clue for readers to deduce the proper reading order is in the large floor numbers that change as the lift descends through the ship's levels; reading the panels in descending order from Level 06 to Level 01 will reveal the proper conversation. This is quite deliberate, and not any kind of printing error or glitch in your digital copy, kids!
* Many of the dead characters appear in vehicle mode for the first time in the series, making it hard to identify them! In particular, once-and-former [[Action Master]]s Rad, Rollout, and Powerflash get alternate modes for the first time in Transformers fiction; fellow Action Master Jackpot—sitting to the right of Blades above the door—has been mostly covered by a speech balloon.
* Despite Megatron's explicit order after the formation of the Decepticons, as revealed in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|issue #28]], Whirl is not spared by the Division. Real loyal, guys. Roberts would later clarify that the order to spare Whirl can be ignored if he's directly threatening the soldier's life, which is the DJD's excuse to get around the order. In [[The Permanent Revolution|issue #39]], Tarn would also mention the team was high on [[Nucleon (substance)#2005 IDW continuity|Nuke]] when they began killing everyone.
* Overlord's seemingly passive acceptance of a saw to the neck despite showing he can escape his restraints with ease makes a lot more sense when you remember how suicidal he was at this point.
* The main cover features Magnus, Whirl, Perceptor, Mainframe and Ratchet fighting back-to-back. Page 21 seems to show the outcome of that fight, as all are shown getting killed except for Ratchet, who's been replaced by Swerve.

===Foreign Localization===

'''Swedish'''
* ''Title:'' "'''slakthuset Del 1'''" ("slaughterhouse Part 1")

===Covers (3)===
* '''Regular cover:''' Ultra Magnus, Whirl, Ratchet, Perceptor, and Mainframe in battle, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
* '''Subscription cover:''' Nightbeat and Nautica atop Brainstorm's briefcase, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]], in homage to a classic ''[[The X-Files: Conspiracy: The Transformers|X-Files]]'' promotional image.
* '''30th Anniversary cover:''' The fused Megatron/Ratchet monstrosity from [[The Pri¢e of Life!|issue #70]] of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel Comics series]], by [[Casey Coller]] and [[John-Paul Bove]], continuing this month's 30th Anniversary cover theme of Marvel moments. Slightly less horrifying than the contents of the issue.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE32 regcvr.jpg|Mainframe: Ok [[James Roberts|Roberts]]! I swear to [[Primus|God]], for every issue I don't star in, someone dies!
File:MTMTE32 subcvr.jpg|The truth is in [[time case|here]]!
File:MTMTE32 cvrRI.jpg
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''More than Meets the Eye'' #33
* ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Earthfall Part 5: I Dream of Wires|#32]]
* ''[[The Transformers: Primacy|Primacy]]''
* IDW ''Transformers'' trade paperback library
* ''Spirit Animals''
* ''Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland'' (back cover)

===Reprints===
* '''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 6''''' ([[December 10]], [[2014]]) ISBN 163140184X / ISBN 978-1631401848
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #28–33.
** Bonus material includes covers of each issue.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 7]]''''' ([[March 21]], [[2018]]) ISBN 1684051495 / ISBN 978-1684051496
** Collects ''More Than Meets the Eye'' issues #28–30, #31–33 & #34, and ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' issues [[Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World|#28]]–[[Earthfall Part 5: I Dream of Wires|32]] & [[The World of Tomorrow|#33]]–[[The Crucible|34]].
** Hardcover format.

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

* '''''[[Transformers: Best of Megatron]]''''' ([[March 2]], [[2022]])
** Collects [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (1984)]] [[The Pri¢e of Life!|#70: "The Pri¢e of Life!"]], ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin]]'' [[Megatron Origin issue 1|#1]], [[The Transformers (IDW)|''The Transformers'' (2009)]] [[Chaos Theory Part 1|#22: "Chaos Theory Part 1"]], ''[[The Transformers: Autocracy|Autocracy]]'' [[Choices|#7: "Choices"]], and ''More than Meets the Eye'' #32: "slaughterhouse".
** Bonus material includes an art gallery.
** Comic format.

* '''''Transformers: Du sköna nya värld''''' ([[November]], 2022)
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #28–38 & #40.
** Swedish reprint. Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol6.jpg|'''''More Than Meets the Eye Volume 6''''' – cover art by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V7.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 7''''' – cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]] and [[Tom B. Long]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v61.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 61: World Shut Your Mouth''''' – cover art by [[Guido Guidi]] (Hoist) and [[Alex Milne]]
File:BestOfMegatron cvr.jpg|'''''Best of Megatron''''' – cover art by [[James Biggie]]
File:MTMTE SWE 04.jpg|'''''Du sköna nya värld''''' – cover art by Casey Coller and Joana Lafuente.
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://issuu.com/idwpublishing/docs/tf_mtmte_32-pr Preview]

World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide

2023-12-09T09:14:57Z

Quecksilberlampe: /* Soundtrack */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=30
|prev=World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air
|next=Twenty Plus One
|image=MTMTE30 subcvr.jpg
|title="World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide"
|caption= [[Knock Out (Prime)|Watch the paint.]]
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[June 25]], [[2014]]
|coverdate=June 2014
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|assistant editor=[[Rebecca Huard]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline#2014|Current era (2014)]]
}}
'''Megatron's trial comes to a head while in the present day, things on board the ''Lost Light'' start falling apart.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Megatron seawing predestination a beginners guide.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.9]]
''Six months in the past, the trial on [[Moonbase Two|Luna 2]] takes an unexpected turn as [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] informs the court of [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]'s decision to retract his earlier guilty plea. As [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]], [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]], and [[Autobot High Command]] look on in anger and chagrin, Magnus delivers an affidavit on Megatron's behalf. Magnus recounts the alleged reasons behind the defendant's change of mind: while initially content to let justice take its course, the prosecution's course of action has convinced him that the trial is nothing more than a grandstanding political maneuver to promote the [[Autobot]]s' version of events, including his "attempted mental violation" by [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] and [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus]] himself presiding as [[Chief Justice]]. However, as Ultra Magnus is about to suggest a second course of action, the surviving [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]] and [[Seacon (G1)|Seacons]], freed from the brig of the ''[[Lost Light]]'', storm the arena with the intent of rescuing their leader via [[orbital jump]]. As Optimus and co. move to engage the loyal soldiers, [[Seawing (G1)|Seawing]] implores Megatron to grab his extra [[teleport pack]], only for the former [[Decepticon leader]] to apologetically refuse. As the [[Decepticon]] soldiers are swiftly defeated, Optimus decrees that the court will adjourn for a brief recess...''

On board the ''Lost Light'', assistant bartender and "entertainments officer" [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] runs [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] and [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] through the various Earth films he's got in store for the patrons of [[Swerve's]] while [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], confined to quarters for the suspected theft of Ultra Magnus' desk tidy, looks on through his [[holomatter]] avatar. [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] urges [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] to finish his drink or risk being late to Megatron's education seminar, only for the [[Hydrobot (G1)|Hydrobot]] to reply that class was cancelled today. This exchange gives [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] opportunity to voice his displeasure with their new captain and predict that the class is yet another rung in the ladder of Megatron's domination of the universe.

''At the recess, high command converges to hear Ultra Magnus conclude Megatron's argument: in concurrence with the ancient legal system of Luna 2, different and separate from that of Cybertron, Megatron has invoked his right to be tried by the only body which can objectively process his charges: the [[Knights of Cybertron]]. [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] and Starscream are quick to protest this unwelcome development, but Ultra Magnus insists that the trial cannot be reshuffled for the convenience of the prosecution's argument, and Optimus is quick to back him up, pointing out that their handling of the trial is just as important as the actual outcome. Rattrap also speaks up in favor of their argument, pointing out that such duplicity belies the trial as a strictly black-and-white moral affair.''

In the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s medibay, [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]], Ultra Magnus, and Megatron look on as [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] examines the contents of the mysterious coffin: [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]]'s apparent corpse. Though he is able to quickly confirm the gaping head wound as the cause of death, there is no obvious evidence that the figure isn't their captain...much to the shock and confusion of Rodimus himself, who arrives to view "his" corpse, bickering with "co-captain" Megatron all the while.

''Before the trial's conclusion, Optimus visits Megatron's cell once more, confronting him about his earlier request to have the trial take place on Luna 2, under the pretense of the [[Raskol Arena|arena]] there being the only structure large enough to contain all the people he has ever wronged. Megatron insists that his intentions are not to escape justice, but to atone for his crimes by finding the Cybertronian race a new home in the form of [[Cyberutopia]], the fabled domain of the Knights of Cybertron, after which he will gladly let justice take its course. Optimus hands Megatron a datapad and promises to uphold Megatron's wish and let him join the ''Lost Light'' crew—as long as he relays the message on it to the crowd. ''

[[File:MTMTE30 Team Rodimus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5]]
In the medibay, Megatron's barbs rouse the sulky Rodimus into action. Calling on [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]], Chromedome, Brainstorm, Skids, and [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]], he charges "Team Rodimus" with using their considerable abilities to determining the nature of the dead doppelgänger. While Megatron looks on in disgust, Chromedome attempts to extract memories from its ruined brain, and Nautica inquires about Brainstorm's [[Early Early Warning System|''early'' Early Warning System]] (for those times that your early warning system just isn't enough). Nautica notes the presence of [[Spectralism|spectralist]] symbols on the coffin, causing Ratchet to theorize that [[Drift (G1)|Drift]], a practicing spectralist, may have been the one to build the coffin. His speculation is cut short as Chromedome and First Aid announce the bizarre and rather disturbing truth: based on the body's surviving memories, and the age of its [[innermost energon]], it's none other than Rodimus's future self! As the early early warning system delivers a warning, Rodimus reasons that he should be able to upset any such time loop relatively easily, and immediately decides to ''lop off one of his arms with a chainsaw''. Megatron points out that his future self's arm could very well have been reattached postmortem, and Nightbeat realizes that this future Rodimus is missing the "crisis vote" engraving in his palm. Rodimus reveals that he removed the engraving after a conversation with Ratchet, only for the others to ignore him and stare in shock as part of the ship's hull disappears behind him!

[[File:PredestinationABeginnersGuide- GetawayandTailgate.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Foreshadowing!]]
In Swerve's, [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] proves that old habits die hard, wowing the patrons with tales of his heroism on [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]]. [[Getaway]] approaches, applauding the little 'bot as [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] silently looks on. The escapologist asserts that Tailgate's lifesaving actions on Luna 1 were a feat worthy of the title of Prime, much to Tailgate's embarrassment, before taking a seat and asking why Tailgate changed his arm decal back to "Waste Disposal," causing Tailgate to recount his bid at reinventing himself as a hero. Getaway sympathizes, bringing up his own less-than-illustrious career before joining the [[Diplomatic Corps]], before giving Tailgate an affectionate "bomp" on the chin. Neither of them notice Cyclonus storming out of the bar in disapproval, but the sudden blaring of the alarm is enough to get their attention.

''At the height of the trial, Megatron makes good on his part of the deal and recites Optimus' message, renouncing Decepticonism and its ideals and ordering its members everywhere to do the same. With this damning discreditation, the trial plays out exactly as Optimus had promised, and Prime even stops by Megatron's cell afterwards to congratulate him. Megatron remarks that the old him would have vowed death on Prime, but Optimus responds that that is exactly the point. Optimus leaves satisfied, not noticing Megatron bury his head in his hands.''

[[File:Mtmte30-p23-lost-light-disintegrates.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
''Later, Rodimus gleefully shows an unimpressed Ratchet the new [[Rodpod]] the crew has built him, before his exultant demeanor abruptly gives way and he remarks that it's a hard time to be reminded that people are fundamentally good. Confused, Ratchet presses the matter, and Rodimus comes clean about reading [[Atomizer]]'s list of the 89 crewmembers who voted to remove him. Ratchet furiously reminds Rodimus that such conduct is very much illegal, but Rodimus reassures him that he had already made up his mind not to act on the information, and is considering telling Magnus the truth about the affair after the latter is done with Megatron. Ratchet floors him in with the outcome of the trial and the revelation that they are ''anything'' but done with the apostate. As Ratchet fills him in on the specifics, Rodimus is overcome with rage and disbelief. Ratchet grimly concurs before handing him back the list, saying that a universe where a Decepticon mass murderer can sit on an Autobot bridge makes it easier to forgive Rodimus's actions. Rodimus complies with Ratchet's suggestions and destroys the list as Ratchet tells him that he was wise not to act on it, as it's a fake. When Rodimus asks how he knows, Ratchet replies that ''his'' name isn't on it.''

As more and more pieces of the ''Lost Light'' begin vanishing, Megatron orders the crew to evacuate to the shuttles. Rodimus yanks him off the intercom and into the Rodpod, sparking off another ill-timed round of bickering as the shuttles take off. Ultra Magnus stills the spat with some truly frightening news: The ''Lost Light'' has fully given in to the mysterious decay and completely disappeared!
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in the flashback portion of the issue.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* ''[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]'' (1)
* [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] (2)
* ''[[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]]'' (3)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (4)
* ''[[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]]'' (5)
* ''[[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]]'' (6)
* ''[[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]]'' (16)
* [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (17)
* ''[[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]]'' (18)
* ''[[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]]'' (19)
* [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (23)
* [[Doublecross]] (24)
* [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (25)
* [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] (26)
* [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (27)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (28)
* [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] (29)
* [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (30)
* [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (31)
* [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (32)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (33)
* [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (34)
* [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (35)
* [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (36)
* [[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (37)
* [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (38)
* [[Siren (G1)|Siren]] (39)
* [[Hosehead (G1)|Hosehead]] (40)
* [[Getaway]] (41)
* [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] (44)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* Matrix thief? (45)
* [[Atomizer]] (46)
* [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (47)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (48)
* [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (49)
* [[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]] (50)
* [[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] (51)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (52)
* [[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (53)
* [[Repugnus (G1)|Repugnus]] (54)
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (55)
* [[Slapdash (G1)|Slapdash]] (56)
* [[Dipstick]] (57)
* [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] (58)
* [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] (59)
{{!}}}
|c2=
* ''[[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]]'' (9)
* ''[[Rage (G1)|Rage]]'' (10)
* ''[[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]]'' (11)
* ''[[Hydradread]]'' (12)
* ''[[Bulletbike (G2)|Bulletbike]]'' (13)
* ''[[Blip]]'' (14)
* ''[[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Grr]]'' (15)
* ''[[Seawing (G1)|Seawing]]'' (20)
* ''[[Tentakil (G1)|Tentakil]]'' (21)
* ''[[Snaptrap (G1)|Snap Trap]]'' (22)
|c4=
* ''[[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]]'' (7)
* ''[[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]]'' (8)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (42)
* [[Ten]] (43)
}}

==Quotes==
'''Ultra Magnus:''' "Your honor—is it an '''abuse of process''' to request that the presiding judge '''intervene'''?" 
'''Optimus Prime:''' "I will allow it." 
'''Hun-Grr:''' "Objec—" 
''THWOK!'' 
'''Hun-Grr:''' —''shnn!''"
:-PUNS!

'''Megatron:''' "You've been '''sulking in the shadows''' ever since we took off." 
'''Rodimus:''' "I've been '''taking stock!'''" 
'''Megatron:''' "No, Optimus "takes stock." '''I''' "take stock". You sulk. You're sulking '''now'''." 
'''Rodimus:''' "I'm '''confronting my own mortality'''! I'm having one of those—those '''existential crisises'''!" 
'''Ultra Magnus:''' "Crises." 
'''Rodimus:''' "'''Not now,''' Magnus."

"If there are still some memories in my '''dead lookalike''', you could '''read them''' and find out if he's really me." 
"You do realize that interfacing with a corpse is highly dangerous. I could die." 
""Could"! The '''luxury''' of "could"! I'm '''already dead'''!"
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Chromedome'''

"Got any '''theories''', Perceptor?" 
"One or two." 
"Is that all? I've got '''hundreds.'''" 
"Then you clearly have a lot of eliminating to do."
:—'''Brainstorm''' and '''Perceptor'''

"What are you doing? '''UNHAND ME!'''" 
"Shut up and follow me. Oh, and for future reference? Only '''bad guys''' say "unhand me"."
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Rodimus'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Snap Trap and Hun-Grr's crews of Decepticons were locked up in the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s brig in [[Before & After|issue #12]]. It's fitting that they, of all the Decepticons present for the trial, should be the ones who stage the attempted escape; after all, they were among the 'Cons mentioned by Megatron in [[Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8|issue #26]] who were still out in space, doing dastardly Decepticonny things, instead of trying to live in peace like most of those on Cybertron.
* Whirl's holomatter avatar reappears, last seen in [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|issue #13]]. As with several of the other avatars that appeared in that issue, which sported different [[Alex Milne]] designs on the cover of the comic compared to the [[Guido Guidi]] designs they appeared with in the story, Whirl is here redesigned with a more punkish look, featuring chains, big boots, and spiked knee- and elbow-pads.
* Ratchet posits a poor attempt at [[shadowplay]] as a possible cause of coffin-Rodimus's demise.
* Scrawled in graffiti on Megatron's cell wall is the partially-obscured phrase "Equal Rights For Knockoffs", a slogan denouncing prejudice against those who were [[Reproduction#2005 IDW continuity|constructed cold]]. We heard Brainstorm rattle this tagline off in [[Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|issue #17]].
* The [[communicube]] Megatron was seen handing Rodimus in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|issue #28]] is revealed to have contained a request to move the trial to Luna 2.
* Megatron's reaction to Chromedome's mind-reading needles may be a callback to his extreme reaction against having his mind read (or altered) in issue #28.
* Drift was flagged as a "practicing spectralist" in [[Little Victories|issue #22]].
* Rodimus tries to not think about the circumstances of Drift's departure, back in [[The Gloaming|issue #16]]. Considering it was Rodimus's fault, you can't really blame him...
* Rodimus's adventures as mentioned by Chromedome include "waking up in [[Nyon]]" (''[[The Transformers: Autocracy|Autocracy]]'' taught us that Hot Rod hails from Nyon and [[Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|#36]] will imply this means his 'birth'), "finding the [[Epistemus|Magnificence]]" (as seen in ''[[Spotlight: Hot Rod]]''), and "the speech at [[Rivets Field]]" (given in [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|issue #1]]).
* Swerve snapped photos of Orion Pax, Magnus, and Rodimus drinking in the bar in [[Black Metal: Dark Cybertron Chapter 2|issue #23]]; here one of those shots is framed and hanging on the wall.
* The previous [[Rodpod]] was destroyed in [[No Exit: Dark Cybertron Chapter 6|issue #25]].
* Rodimus got the (''false!'') list of crew votes from Atomizer [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|last issue]].
* Ratchet notes he voted against Rodimus staying on as captain; we don't need to rattle off a laundry list of Rodimus's mistakes that led to the crisis act being invoked, but in Ratchet's case, it was likely the blaming and exile of Drift, with whom he was forming a complicated relationship, that earned his vote against him.
* The deleterious effects of Megatron's canister of "superfuel" on Trailcutter last issue are explained here: it's actually [[Fool's Energon]], a toxin created by [[Quickmix (G1)|Quickmix]] that drains his strength.
* As the alarm sounds through the ''Lost Light'', an unidentified 'bot with an animalistic [[alternate mode]] appears sitting opposite Groove in Swerve's. Though the colors and body design are different, his helmet is a dead ringer for that of the mysterious thief who stole the [[Matrix of Leadership]] millions of years in the past, seen in [[Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|issue #19]].
* When Rodimus decides to cut off his arm, he makes to sever his right; does this mean that he's a southpaw? When he destroys the datapad, he does toss it into the air with his left hand...

===Transformers references===
* Ultra Magnus's use of a big honking hammer is a callback to the signature weapon of his ''[[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Animated]]'' and ''[[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Prime]]'' counterparts.
* Getaway's nickname for Tailgate, "Scout", is also a size class for Transformers toys. Specifically, small toys.

===Real-life references===
[[File:Zulu predestination a beginners guide.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb]]
* Bluestreak has brought along a selection of human-made movies from his time on Earth, including ''[[Zulu]]'' (right), ''{{w|Aguirre, the Wrath of God}}'', ''{{w|The Muppets Take Manhattan}}'', and ''{{w|Breathless (1960 film)|À bout de souffle}}''. Whirl is a fan of the latter's director, {{w|Jean-Luc Godard}}.
* Right after we hear Swerve loves Earth comics, we see him flailing a dramatic hand while he exposits a supervillainy scheme Megatron must be up to.
* The arena in which Megatron's trial is held is named the "{{w|Raskol}} arena", the Russian word for "split" or "schism". The term specifically refers to the 17th century splitting of the Russian Orthodox Church, triggered by reforms introduced by its patriarch; no coincidence, then, that the Raskol arena should play host to such a shattering change to the Decepticon movement following a pronouncement by ''its'' patriarch. Indeed, real-life Russian parallels have played a large role in Roberts's expansion of Decepticon history throughout ''More than Meets the Eye''; the general mindset and growth of the party is evocative of Communist Russia, and several Russian loanwords have been used to describe activities during the war, such as "samizdat" (describing Megatron's writings in [[Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|issue #9]]) and "pogrom" ("anti-Neutral progroms" were carried out by [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]], according to [[Life After the Big Bang|issue #4]]). James Roberts has also described Megatron as akin to Raskolnikov from Fyodor Dostoyevsky's novel ''Crime and Punishment'' on his Twitter feed, so the name "Raskol" might be a reference to that.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=.@allthesecats Megatron to me has always had a Rodion Raskolnikov vibe.|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/522288037016133632|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2014|month=10|day=15|(defunct=)}}</ref>

===Errors===
* When we see Hosehead in Tailgate's audience, the back of his head is colored gray by Joana Lafuente — as is toy-accurate. When we [[:File:TowardsPeace-eavesdroppers.jpg|last saw him two issues ago]], [[Josh Burcham]] colored his helmet entirely red.
* Bluestreak claims to have "spent time on Earth as part of an infiltration unit". Ah.... no, he didn't. He wasn't part of the unit that appeared under Prowl's command at the start of IDW's comics; in fact, during the time infiltration units were in play, he was stationed on the [[Autobot Orbital Command Hub]] and saw action on [[Varas Centralus]], as seen during ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer|Stormbringer]]'', and didn't make his way to Earth until the [[The Transformers (IDW)|2009-2011 ongoing series]], after infiltration protocol had been abandoned. Nothing saying he couldn't have picked the fondness for Earth culture up ''then'', of course.
* When Optimus hands Megatron a datapad with the speech to disband the Decepticons on it, his words are "'''Freedom of Movemen'''t"; the "t" is not bolded like the rest of the phrase.
* Page 13, panel 2: When Rodimus says, "...then the future in which I die..." the "I" is written with a sans-serif letter ''I''. This is in contradiction to ''More than Meets the Eye''{{'}}s normal lettering style, which like most comics uses a serif-adorned ''I'' for the first person singular pronoun. (For comparison, look at Rodimus's other two uses of "I" in the very same word balloon.) This is fixed in the trade paperback collection.

===Crew manifest===
* Rodimus is revealed to be alive (at least for the moment) and "co-captain" of the ''Lost Light''.
** Confirmed previous crew: First Aid, Rodimus, Smokescreen, Siren, Atomizer, Highbrow, Blaster, Mainframe, Hound, Powerglide, Slapdash, Dipstick
*** At least 30/79 original crew still on board, 2 departed
** Confirmed new arrivals: none this issue
*** At least 17 new crew members since second launch
** Confirmed departures: The ''Lost Light'' itself?

===Soundtrack===
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqwxBpzngg8 "Speedway"] by {{w|Morrissey}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Part of MTMTE #30's soundtrack: Speedway, by Morrissey. http://t.co/DVwVrfPL5M|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/472161417756696576|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2014|month=5|day=29|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq7JSic1DtM "Rise"] by {{w|Public Image Ltd}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=The next song from next week's conclusion to the Trial of Megatron: http://t.co/w292Jzq98q MTMTE 30 Anger is an energy.|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/478680161454665729|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2014|month=6|day=16|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y6kop0VTXY "Street Spirit (Fade Out)"] by {{w|Radiohead}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=And the final song from MTMTE 30, out next week: http://t.co/74saUACQDB|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/478680831947714560|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2014|month=6|day=16|(defunct=)}}</ref>

===Other trivia===
* On page 5, Rung's ''Lost Light'' scale model appears to be missing some bits, foreshadowing the ship's bizarre disappearance.
* Hun-Grr's on his third name spelling since his introduction in IDW continuity. He started out as "Hun-Grrr" (the most prevalent spelling of his name in the 80s), until issue #12, when it was changed to "Hun-Gar" (a never-before-seen spelling, and a change also reflected in ''[[The Transformers: Monstrosity|Monstrosity]]''). Now, he's Hun-''Grr'', the spelling from the original Marvel series.

===Foreign Localization===
* '''Swedish'''
** ''Title:'' "'''Hörru, sluta stirra! Del 3: Förutbestämmelser - en handbok för nybörjare'''" ("Hey You, Stop Staring! Part 3: Predestination - A Handbook For Beginners")

===Covers (6)===
* '''Regular cover:''' The Rodpod and various shuttles abandon the ''Lost Light'', by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
* '''Subscription cover:''' Rodimus hands over the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s keys to Megatron, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
* '''30th Anniversary cover:''' Megatron sits on the [[Abraham Lincoln|Lincoln Memorial]] as seen in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original ''The Transformers'' cartoon]] episode "[[Atlantis, Arise!]]", by [[Guido Guidi]] and [[John-Paul Bove]]

<gallery>
File:MTMTE30 cvr.jpg|All hands abandon ship! All hands abandon... CHOOOOOMMM!
File:MTMTE30 subcvr.jpg|"Ok, here's the keys back, Dad."
File:MTMTE30 cvrRI.jpg|It's tough to find seats in his size.
</gallery>

* '''BotCon cover:''' Black-and-white lineart version of the 30th anniversary cover available at [[BotCon 2014]], several days before the regular retail edition of the comic was released.
* '''Retailer Exclusive covers:''' A pair of connecting covers that depict [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] in a DJ battle against [[Vinyl Scratch]], by [[Tony Fleecs]]. These covers were available as a shared exclusive between [http://www.plasticempire.com/ Plastic Empire] and [http://thetoyfederation.com/ The Toy Federation], and were first made available at their booth at [[BotCon 2014]].

<gallery>
File:MTMTE30 concvr.jpg|At least pick the head up off the ground - sheeesh!
File:MTMTE30 cvrREA.jpg|"I've been waiting a long time for this, you poor excuse for a sound system!"
File:MTMTE30 cvrREB.jpg|"All talk...no shock."
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''More than Meets the Eye'' #31
* ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Earthfall Part 3: The Mind Bomb|#31]]
* ''[[The Transformers: Windblade|Windblade]]'' [[Windblade issue 3|#3]]
* 15 Years of IDW: Spotlight on Gabriel Rodriguez
* ''[[Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark (console)|Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark]]''
* IDW: Getting Into Your Head for 15 Years (back cover)

===Reprints===
* '''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 6''''' ([[December 10]], [[2014]]) ISBN 163140184X / ISBN 978-1631401848
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #28–33.
** Bonus material includes covers of each issue.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 7]]''''' ([[March 21]], [[2018]]) ISBN 1684051495 / ISBN 978-1684051496
** Collects ''More Than Meets the Eye'' issues #28–30, #31–33 & #34, and ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' issues [[Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World|#28]]–[[Earthfall Part 5: I Dream of Wires|32]] & [[The World of Tomorrow|#33]]–[[The Crucible|34]].
** Hardcover format.

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

* '''''Transformers: Du sköna nya värld''''' ([[November]], [[2022]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #28–38 & #40.
** Swedish reprint. Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol6.jpg|'''''More Than Meets the Eye Volume 6''''' – cover art by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V7.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 7''''' – cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]] and [[Tom B. Long]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v61.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 61: World Shut Your Mouth''''' – cover art by [[Guido Guidi]] (Hoist) and [[Alex Milne]]
File:MTMTE SWE 04.jpg|'''''Du sköna nya värld''''' – cover art by Casey Coller and Joana Lafuente.
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air

2023-12-09T09:03:58Z

Quecksilberlampe: /* Soundtrack */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=29
|prev=World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace
|next=World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide
|image=MTMTE29 subcvr.jpg
|title="World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air"
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[May 14]], [[2014]]
|coverdate=May 2014
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|assistant editor=[[Rebecca Huard]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline#2014|Current era (2014)]]
}}

'''In the past, Megatron's trial takes a surprising turn, while in the here and now, a drunken prank exposes the alarming contents of the coffin.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:WordsHangInTheAir-Pallbearers.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.6|Coffin up a storm.]]
Freshly awoken from his recuperation from [[cybercrosis]], his [[transformation cog]] fully functional, and an [[Autobot]] [[insignia]] newly emblazoned on his chest, a cheery [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] speeds through the ''[[Lost Light]]'' and greets [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] by leaping onto his back and poking him in the head—his new "signature move", he gleefully explains. A lot has gone on while he was offline, but the biggest surprise soon comes walking down the hallway: captain [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]], wearing an Autobot symbol of his own, directing the transport of the mysterious coffin through the ship's corridors. Tailgate only has a moment to be amazed, though, before a drunken [[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]]—supported by [[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]]—staggers up to him, welcoming him back and lauding his brave actions against [[Solomus|Tyrest]]. All together, Tailgate beams, he's having pretty much the best day ever... until he finds his way barred by a battle-scarred [[Legislator]]!

''Six months ago, on [[Moonbase Two|Luna 2]], Megatron's trial continues with [[Gripper (G1)|Gripper]] giving testimony regarding the [[Decepticon Justice Division]]. Watching from a balcony, a glum [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] is approached by [[Atomizer]], who has brought something of interest: a list of everyone who voted against Rodimus when he recently evoked the [[Crisis Act]], acquired through dubious means, which he hopes Rodimus will use to shape the crew of the ''Lost Light'' in to one that is entirely behind him before they depart. A hesitant Rodimus instructs him to destroy it, and Atomizer agrees... ''if'' Rodimus asks him one more time. The young captain pauses...''

It turns out the Legislator is the bouncer at [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve's]] [[Swerve's|bar]]; the chatty proprietor explains that he reprogrammed him and named him "Ten" because it's the only word he can say. Elsewhere in the bar, [[Skids (G1)|Skids]], [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]], and [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] read about Megatron and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]]'s dispute over what to do with the coffin in the newest edition of the ''[[Lost Light Insider]]''. Riptide decides to have a little fun with the severely inebriated [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]], and alleges that Megatron keeps some kind of "superfuel" in the medibay, prompting the reluctant specialist to try stealing it.

[[File:WordsHangInTheAir-Nightbeat.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
''When [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] gets his turn on the witness stand, it is to speak in Megatron's defense—in a sense. Although he starts off with some unrepentant grandstanding, for which Magnus and [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] reprimand him, he eventually delivers a speech that paints Megatron as a painfully inept leader who merely lit a fuse, and was unable to control of the explosion of war that resulted, but insisted on perpetuating it rather than admit failure. It is not death Megatron deserves, Starscream opines, but pity. Subsequently, the trial is put on hold for thirty minutes as Megatron requests a private conference with Magnus; during the downtime, Starscream gets news on his rising stock in the opinion polls from [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] and gloats at his moral besting of Megatron while Optimus gets similarly positive news from [[Slamdance (G1)|Slamdance]] on how the trial is being received by the population.''

[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] is deep in thought over a holographic projection of [[Rung (G1)|Rung's]] [[alternate mode]] in his quarters when [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] comes knocking, requesting his expert help in investigating the sudden change to [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]]'s last message. The recording has since reverted to normal, and Nightbeat is a little incredulous, keen to blame Chromedome's grief for the supposed "message from beyond the grave"... until he turns around to see Rewind himself, standing in the doorway!

[[File:Trailcutter fools energon words hang in the air.jpg|thumb|left|upright=2]]
Mounted with a headcam to give Riptide and the others a live feed of his drunken dare, Trailcutter sneaks to the medibay, only to find it locked. Nautica, thinking the better of the prank, leaves the bar, at which point Tailgate introduces Skids to his new "finger in the head" move, accidentally knocking over the computer they are using to communicate with Trailcutter and breaking it. As such, they do not hear Trailcutter's surprising report that the medibay door has simply ''vanished'', allowing him access. As he begins to chug the supposed "superfuel" from a canister with Megatron's serial number on it, the captain himself arrives with a security team in response to silent alarms and instructs him to put the fuel down. Trailcutter seems ready for a fight but suddenly keels over, believing himself to be poisoned by the fuel, and triggers his "panic bubble"—a forcefield disconnected from his mental functions that fills the room and won't shut down for thirty minutes.

Chromedome and Nightbeat race back to Nightbeat's quarters; the vision of Rewind went unseen by Chromedome before it vanished, and Nightbeat believes it was a "[[data ghost]]", an impression left on the physical world by the metaphysical weight of the data that Rewind carried. Chromedome is apprehensive, reasoning that if Rewind has come back as a "ghost", then he is being haunted, but the pair are momentarily given another concern when Nightbeat opens the door to his hab-suite and discovers that the wall to the room has disappeared, exposing open space beyond!

[[File:Chief justice optimus prime words hang in the air.jpg|thumb|upright=2]]
After thirty minutes, Trailcutter's forcefield shuts down, and Megatron punishes him with a precision strike to the back of the head that permanently activates his [[fuel intake moderation chip]], leaving him forever unable to get drunk again, or take any pleasure in the act. Trailcutter is outraged, but Megatron ignores his anger and instead decides to offer him some focus by promoting him to director of security for the ship. That done, the pair turn their attention to the coffin... which has been broken open by Trailcutter's forcefield, and is leaking [[energon]]. Prising the lid off, the pair peer inside, and are greeted by the sight of Rodimus's corpse, with half its head missing!

''As court resumes, Ultra Magnus gives Optimus Prime some shocking news: Megatron now wishes to plead "not guilty"! And he's not the only 'bot who's had a change of heart, as somewhere else, in a darkened room, Rodimus looks over Atomizer's list...''
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in the flashback portion of the issue.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (1)
* [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (3)
* [[Grotusque]] (4)
* [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] (5)
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (6)
* [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] (7)
* [[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] (8)
* [[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]] (9)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (11)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* ''[[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]]'' (12)
* ''[[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]]'' (13)
* ''[[Gripper (G1)|Gripper]]'' (14)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (15)
* ''[[Atomizer]]'' (16)
* [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] (17)
* [[Doublecross]] (18)
* [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (19)
* [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (20)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (21)
* [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (22)
* [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (23)
* [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] (24)
* [[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (25)
* [[Repugnus (G1)|Repugnus]] (26)
* [[Joyride (G1)|Joyride]] (27)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]] (28)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (30)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (31)
* [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (32)
* ''[[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]]'' (33)
* ''[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]]'' (34)
* [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (35)
* [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (36)
* [[Aquafend]] (37)
* ''[[Slamdance (G1)|Slamdance]]'' (39)
{{!}}}
|c4=
* [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (2)
* [[Ten]] (10)
* ''[[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]]'' (29)
* ''[[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]]'' (38)
}}

==Quotes==
"If he's called Ten, why's he got '9' on his back?" 
"Because it's funny." 
"Is it?" 
"It is if you've got a sense of humor. You must've lost yours to '''cybercrosis'''."
:—'''Tailgate''' and '''Swerve'''

"It's a '''scandal sheet''', Riptide. It uses gossip, mockery, and slander to titillate its readers, and whoever writes it should be ashamed of themselves. And 'Mags v. Megs' would've made a '''much''' better headline."
:—'''Nautica''' on the ''Lost Light Insider''

"I'm at the medibay door—they've done something to it. They've made it all '''lock-y.'''" 
"'Lock-y'? How many have you '''had'''?" 
"I think I want to '''punch''' it."
:—'''Trailcutter''' and '''Skids'''

"Trust me—every fiber of my being is telling me to put a stop to this. It's only through sheer '''force of will''' that I'm able to keep watching."
:—'''Skids'''

"Now, what am I actually '''looking for?''' A vat? A flask? A vial? My money's on a vial. Vials are '''sinister.'''"
:—'''Trailcutter'''

"Information carries weight. It's not corporeal, but it has '''presence'''. It can be '''felt'''. It hangs in the air like—like words. Like the morning after an argument! Actually, not like that. That's a bad analogy. I'm distracted. Shut up. Stop '''expecting things''' of me." 
"But why '''Rewind?'''" 
"Think about it! He was a walking archive—literally. A body of information. All that dense data squeezed into such a small space. Pressing down like a—like a—" 
"Like a gun to your head."
:—'''Nightbeat''' and '''Chromedome'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Tailgate recovers from the cybercrosis he succumbed to back in [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|issue #21]]. It was in that same issue that he overcame [[Solomus|Tyrest]] with his "finger in the head" move, when he jammed his finger into the hole in Tyrest's head.
* Tailgate describes Optimus Prime as a "roof-jumping, name-taking" hero, still basing his view of Prime on the story he was told in [[Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|the "Shadowplay" trilogy]].
* Tailgate finally becomes a full-fledged Autobot, having been studying toward this end since [[How Ratchet Got His Hands Back|issue #5]].
* Jackpot sings a line from the drinking song everyone performed in [[The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|issue #27]].
* When Starscream is lambasting Megatron, he mockingly refers to him as a "grand architect". Later, this term will begin to crop up [[Adaptus|very often...]]
* Though he appeared to die in [[Chaos Part One: Lamentations|issue #24]] of the [[The Transformers (IDW)|2009-2011 ongoing series]], Grotusque put in a brief appearance in [[Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|''Robots in Disguise'' #27]]. His appearance in this issue confirms that wasn't an error and he's definitely alive, as he and his fellow [[Monsterbot (G1)|Monsterbot]]s—not seen together since ''[[The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots|Maximum Dinobots]]''—have joined the ''Lost Light''.
* The description Rodimus and Atomizer give of Vos ("hooks for hands and feet!") is different to how [[Vos (G1)|the Vos we saw]] in [[Rules of Disengagement (issue)|issues #7]] and [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|#8]] looks. This was the first indication (confirmed shortly after by [[James Roberts]] on the IDW forums<ref>[http://boards.idwpublishing.com/3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=12651&start=15 IDW Forums James Roberts Q&A]</ref>) that there are previous holders of the D.J.D. codenames, being passed on after the incumbent dies. This is a brief aside here but pays off in [[The Not Knowing|#44]] and [[The Dying of the Light Part 4: At Close of Day|#53]], when the identity of the hooked Vos is revealed.
* Atomizer's line that there are people who'll "put up with you [Rodimus] if it means finding the Knights" is a bit of careful omission on his part that would not be revealed until [[The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|issue #50]], where it turns out Atomizer ''himself'' is doing that.
* Ratchet wants to ask Megatron a question "about <nowiki>[his]</nowiki> eyes"—he's referring to Megatron's rumored [[antimatter]] powers, which he and [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] talked about back in [[Chaos Theory Part 1|issue #22]] of the ongoing, which manifest through his eyes per their previous usage in "[[Resurrection!]]", a [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel UK]] story. [[The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle|Issue #55]] reveals that Ratchet got an answer, that Megatron had tried to get antimatter power but never pulled it off.
* Swerve clutches his shoulder as he says his "old injury's playing up", which pays off in [[The One Where They Go to Earth|issue #43]].
* Nautica mentions ''[[The Ascetic Cybertronian]]'', a work written by Dominus Ambus that was previously referenced by Alpha Trion in ''[[Omega's Conundrum|Spotlight: Orion Pax]]''.
* [[Ambulon]]'s belongings remain in the medibay, labelled as "untouched" following his death in [[Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|issue #20]].
* The can of "superfuel" reads "MEGS-071-980"; "071-980" is Megatron's serial number, as revealed in the aforementioned issue #22 of the ongoing.
* Whatever is in Megatron's canister of green "superfuel", it's probably got something to do with his enigmatic comment last issue that he was going to recharge—"if you can call it that." Something's up with Megatron's fuel intake!
* Judging by his presence among the responders to Trailcutter's break-in, [[Aquafend]] remains part of the Lost Light's security personnel. From [[Interiors|issue #6]], we know he held such a position back in "Season 1" as well.
* The depth of the relationship between Rewind and [[Dominus Ambus]] has only been implied in the past; this issue confirms that the pair were [[Conjunx Endura]]e.
* Nightbeat referred to the "Big Three" mysteries waaaaaaay back in his ''[[Spotlight: Nightbeat|Spotlight]]'' issue; this issue establishes that two of the three were the disappearances of the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark-1]]'' and [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]], which have since been found (though there's clearly still a lot more to Luna 1's story yet to be told).

===Transformers references===
* The ''Lost Light Insider'' uses Megatron's rarely-referenced nickname from his old [[The Transformers Universe (Marvel)|''Universe'' profile]], "The Slag Maker".
* Swerve serves a drink called the ''[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]]'', a "very short, very strong drink".

===Real-life references===
* The idea of Ten being programmed to obey Swerve's "three laws" ("no guns, no [[sword]]s, no [[time case|briefcase]]s") is a humorous take on {{w|Isaac Asimov}}'s "{{w|Three Laws of Robotics}}".
* Nightbeat's quarters are in hab-suite 221, a reference to 221b Baker Street, home of famous detective [[Sherlock Holmes]].
* The concept of a "data ghost" as a lingering impression of a deceased person was also found in the 2008 ''[[Doctor Who]]'' episode "{{w|Silence in the Library}}".

===Errors===
* Gripper is colored light yellow & black, where his toy is orange and black.
* As Trailcutter approaches Megatron's quarters, Ultra Magnus, Megatron, and Ratchet appear left-to-right. In the following panel, their order is reversed.
* The second panel on page 5 (not counting the "Previously" page) is labeled "Trial Megatron (Day 3)." In the trade paperback collection, this is corrected to "The Trial of Megatron (Day 3)."
* Due to a printing error, the Subscription cover and the 1-in-10 Incentive cover were switched. Retailer orders for the Subscription cover were filled with the Incentive cover and orders for the Incentive cover were filled with the Subscription cover.
* When Megatron examines the coffin, he says "I'm going to assume it's safe to take closer look." In reality, it should be "it's safe to take '''a''' closer look."

===Crew manifest===
* Trailcutter is now the ''Lost Light'' security chief, a position manned by Ultra Magnus since [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]'s boxing in [[Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|#11]].
* Building upon last issue's adjustments to the crew:
** Confirmed previous crew: Tailgate, Cyclonus, Jackpot, Hoist, Trailcutter, Ratchet, Aquafend
** Confirmed(?) departures: Rodimus
*** At least 18/79 original crew still on board, 3(?) departed
** Confirmed new arrivals: Hot Spot, Broadside, Grotusque, Riptide, Doublecross, Streetwise, Repugnus
*** At least 17 new crew members since second launch

===Other trivia===
[[File:MtMtE22and29-RungAltmode.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|Nae difference, by the way!]]
* This issue features a new style of recap page, which sees Swerve address the readers directly to get them up to speed.
* The series roll call page is reintroduced, though lacking the short bios that characterized season one's "Meet the Crew" page.
* The projection Nightbeat is shown studying is supposed to be of Rung's [[alternate mode]].<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Nightbeat in his room, looking at that object? That object is Rung. #MTMTE29 #AnyOtherQuestions? :-)|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/467438088604876800|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2014|month=05|day=16|(defunct=)}}</ref> Indeed, the projection's details and shapes are very clearly based on those of Rung's [[robot mode]], reconfigured, with his head-crest, circular central chest design, "waistcoat" details, pelvis, and shin-protrusions all evident. This had to ''be'' confirmed by Roberts outside the comic, however, because it looks ''completely different'' to the mode as it appeared previously in [[Little Victories|issue #22]]. In the interest of fairness, we shan't list this under "Errors", 'cause the art here is by regular artist Alex Milne, while the alt mode's first appearance was by fill-in artist [[James Raiz]].
* Last issue showed that Ultra Magnus had red thighs at the start of Megatron's trial. This issue shows that by day 3 his upper legs are white. This is almost certainly a deliberate change to tie him more into the [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys#Generations|Combiner Wars]] Ultra Magnus toy. Fortunately there were no shots of his legs during the "present-day" scenes last issue, so we just have to assume that he got a minor paint job after the trial's opening statements.

===Soundtrack===
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KhYJjY4CVc "Words Hang in the Air"] by {{w|The Ladybug Transistor}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=MTMTE 29's titular theme song, and favourite of mine, finally found on Grooveshark: http://t.co/Y1ciQ8fR9Z|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/467025634955649024|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2014|month=05|day=15|(defunct=)}}</ref>

===Foreign Localization===
* '''Swedish'''
** ''Title:'' "'''Hörru, sluta stirra! Del 2: Orden hänger i luften'''" ("Hey You, Stop Staring! Part 2: The Words Hang in the Air")

===Covers (3)===
* '''Standard cover:''' Megatron and Tailgate, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Priscilla Tramontano]]
* '''Subscription cover:''' Megatron on trial atop a field of skulls, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
* '''Incentive cover:''' Part of a series of "30th Anniversary" covers from the May 2014 Transformers titles by [[Marcelo Matere]] that appear to have been released in reverse order; [[Earthfall Part 2: Detonation Boulevard|''Robots in Disguise'' #29]] depicts the characters on Cybertron, [[A Long Way Down|''Windblade' #2]] shows them being rebuilt, and this issue, though released first, shows [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]], [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]], [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]], and [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] under fire on Earth. The group of characters featured hearkens back to their time together in the [[Dead Universe]] during "[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]]". Colors by Priscilla Tramontano.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE29 cvr.jpg|"Oh yeah?" '''"Yeah!"'''
File:MTMTE29 subcvr.jpg|Megatron: Terminator Genesis.
File:MTMTE29 cvrRI.jpg|Guess which one doesn't make it.
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''More than Meets the Eye'' #30
* ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Earthfall Part 2: Detonation Boulevard|#29]]
* ''[[The Transformers: Windblade|Windblade]]'' [[A Long Way Down|#2]]
* IDW ''Littlest Pet Shop'' comic
* IDW: Getting Into Your Head for 15 Years (back cover)

===Reprints===
* '''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 6''''' ([[December 10]], [[2014]]) ISBN 163140184X / ISBN 978-1631401848
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #28–33.
** Bonus material includes covers of each issue.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 7]]''''' ([[March 21]], [[2018]]) ISBN 1684051495 / ISBN 978-1684051496
** Collects ''More Than Meets the Eye'' issues #28–30, #31–33 & #34, and ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' issues [[Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World|#28]]–[[Earthfall Part 5: I Dream of Wires|32]] & [[The World of Tomorrow|#33]]–[[The Crucible|34]].
** Hardcover format.

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

* '''''Transformers: Du sköna nya värld''''' ([[November]], [[2022]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #28–38 & #40.
** Swedish reprint. Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol6.jpg|'''''More Than Meets the Eye Volume 6''''' – cover art by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V7.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 7''''' – cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]] and [[Tom B. Long]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v61.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 61: World Shut Your Mouth''''' – cover art by [[Guido Guidi]] (Hoist) and [[Alex Milne]]
File:MTMTE SWE 04.jpg|'''''Du sköna nya värld''''' – cover art by Casey Coller and Joana Lafuente.
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.newsarama.com/21096-more-autobot-megatron-in-transformers-mtmte-29-preview.html Preview]

World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace

2023-12-09T08:57:49Z

Quecksilberlampe: /* Soundtrack */

{{disambig2|the real-world comic issue|the in-universe political tract|Towards Peace}}

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=28
|prev=The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10
|next=World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air
|seriesissue2=''[[Dawn of the Autobots]]''
|prev2=...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale
|image=MTMTE28 subcvr.jpg
|title="World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace"
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[April 30]], [[2014]]
|coverdate=April 2014
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|assistant editor=[[Rebecca Huard]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline#2014|Current era (2014)]]
}}
'''The ''Lost Light'' has some new faces aboard, including a brand new captain... Megatron! But how did the fearsome former Decepticon's trial lead to him joining the crew, and why have things started to disappear all around the ship?'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:WorldShutYourMouth1-BrainstormNautica.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5]]
Six months have passed since the defeat of [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]], his attempt to fulfill the [[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]] prophecy thwarted, and the ''[[Lost Light]]'' is back out among the stars. New crewmember [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] returns from a visit to the fuel furnace, where the [[Pyrobot]]s are angry over some missing [[Nucleon (substance)|nucleon]] rods, and resumes her conversation with [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]], though she expresses some doubt in his idea for guns that shoot color-coded lasers which can tell if their wielder is "good" or "bad". As they pass by [[Rung (G1)|Rung]]'s quarters, they observe several of the crew listening at the door, which Brainstorm explains is because their captain is receiving his first session with the psychiatrist. Their captain... [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]!

''Six months ago, back on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] arrives late to a meeting called by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]], eager to get back aboard the ''Lost Light'' and off on their quest once again, only to be informed that nobody is going anywhere until the captive Megatron is put on trial in accordance with the public's wishes, during which Optimus himself will sit in judgement in the absence of a [[Chief Justice]]. Starscream and [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] show signs of uneasiness at a military trial, but Optimus points out the precedents of the [[Phobos]] and [[Desecrus]] trials. [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]], meanwhile, is disgusted with the whole idea of a trial, seeing it as pointless and urging for an execution, but brightens when he is appointed prosecutor; [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] is less enthused at speaking for the defense, but accepts the assignment quietly.''

''After the meeting ends, Optimus finally takes some time to catch up with Rodimus, and learns the disheartening news about the destruction of Rodimus's half of the Matrix. Rodimus explains that he is planning to continue his quest without the map the Matrix had held by seeking out [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]], who has professed to have had dreams that are leading him to the [[Knights of Cybertron]]. He also admits that he is worried about the great Autobot after recent attempts to reach him have failed, so Optimus takes him aside to show him a way that can hopefully expedite Megatron's trial and get him back on-mission quickly.''

[[File:MTMTE28 megatron head examined.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2]]
Two hours into his session with Rung, Megatron is growing tired of the therapist's analysis of his [[fusion cannon]], so Rung takes a different tack, requesting that he describe some of the most significant encounters in his life. As [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] quietly listens from below the desk, Megatron describes how he met Rung himself, prompting Rung to consult what he describes as the only surviving original, unaltered copy of Megatron's own autobiography, ''[[Towards Peace]]'', to match up the dates. He asks a question about the work's history—namely, why Megatron removed a dedication to someone named "[[Terminus (G1)|Terminus]]" from a later edition of the book, deleting what he believed were all the dedicated copies, briefly digressing to offer up a candid opinion on the revealing nature of self-editing—but a sudden blackout that briefly plunges the room into darkness brings their session to an abrupt end. Megatron departs with the answer that Terminus was the one who taught him "not to get attached", and tells Rung that "self-editing" is not limited to just writings, but something that people do to their lives every day via denial, selective memory, and more. But sometimes, the former Decepticon notes, such editing is not enough, and one must start their lives over again—just like he is now.

''As the ''Lost Light'' gets ready to resume its mission, [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] holds auditions for new crewmembers with a little help from [[Crosscut (G1)|Crosscut]] and a disinterested [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]]. His criteria for admission prove deeply unusual, as he rejects [[Groove (G1)|Groove]] for being easily distracted and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] for looking too much like Prowl, but just as he is about to turn down a particularly enthusiastic Nautica for having a trisyllabic name, [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] bursts in and reveals that the whole thing is a prank Swerve is playing—after all, Ultra Magnus would never have permitted the interviews to be advertised as "crewditions".''

''Optimus and Rodimus visit Megatron in his cell, bringing [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]], intending to have him use his mnemosurgery skills to extract memories from Megatron's mind that can be used to corroborate his testimony in court, thereby ending the trial quicker. A horrified Megatron cries out for his guards, fearful that the procedure will be used as cover for tampering with his mind—something which he refuses to permit, and will die to prevent. A resigned Prime departs with Chromedome, but Rodimus remains behind a moment to deliver a final speech to Megatron, matter-of-factly stating how happy everyone will be when he is inevitably executed. Megatron takes his words in quietly, then calmly requests that he do him a favour, and hands him a [[communicube]].''

[[File:Whirl Megatron MTMTE28.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5]]
Nightbeat and [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] try to check on Chromedome, who has slunk back into depression following the end of Megatron's trial, and now stays in his hab suite listening to [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]]'s final message on repeat. Unsurprisingly, he doesn't answer the door when the pair knock, and Nightbeat decides it's best to leave him be, more intrigued by the curious absence of the "8" from the suite's door number. As they leave, neither seems to notice that some letters have also disappeared from the "fuel furnace" sign behind them in the length of time they have been standing there... and neither is present to share in Chromedome's shock when Rewind's repeating message suddenly ''changes'', ending on a tortured scream.

Returning to his quarters, Megatron discovers his door defaced with graffiti denouncing him as a murderer whose time is marked. Seconds later, he blocks an arrow sent flying towards his head with his hand, and turns to see [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] standing with a bow. Whirl is apparently about to deny his actions, before suddenly savagely attacking Megatron, tackling him through a wall and into the fuel furnace below. Whirl claims that he is tired of waiting for Megatron to make his move to settle their old score, and so he has struck first. Boasting about his "immortality" as they fight, Whirl is offered a shocking revelation by Megatron: the only reason he has lived so long is because Megatron ''ensured'' it, ordering his Decepticons never to kill Whirl out of 'gratitude' for Whirl showing him that words were not enough to effect change. [[File:MTMTE28 megatron pleads guilty.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6]] Taunted by the knowledge of what he turned Megatron into, a furious Whirl punches through Megatron's stomach... only to have his arm disappear, lost to the Gordian Knot of [[space bridge]] portals that Shockwave's manipulations have turned Megatron's innards into. Megatron instructs Whirl to clean up the graffiti in exchange for his keeping quiet about the attack, and leaves, muttering about the absence of the workshy Pyrobots from the furnace. Whirl recovers and follows a short time later, reporting to someone over a communicator that his attempt to bait Megatron into attacking him has failed...

''Before the assembled populace of Cybertron, the shackled Megatron is escorted to his hearing, and the trial begins. Prowl reads off his litany of charges, and Megatron quietly, calmly, pleads guilty.''

Megatron returns to the bridge for an update on the ship's progress tracking Thunderclash. Magnus also informs him that an unidentified object they had detected out in space earlier is now within visual range. Study of the [[Insignia|Autobranded]] object's size and lack of engines suggests it is a ''coffin''...
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in the flashback portion of the issue.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] (1)
* [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (2)
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (3)
* [[Hosehead (G1)|Hosehead]] (4)
* [[Joyride (G1)|Joyride]] (5)
* [[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (6)
* [[Sky High (Pretender)|Sky High]] (7)
* [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (8)
* [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] (9)
* [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] (10)
* ''[[Atomizer]]'' (11)
* ''[[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'' (12)
* ''[[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]]'' (13)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* ''[[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]]'' (14)
* ''[[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (15)
* ''[[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]]'' (16)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (17)
* ''[[Crosscut (G1)|Crosscut]]'' (20)
* ''[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]]'' (21)
* ''[[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]]'' (22)
* ''[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]'' (23)
* ''[[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]]'' (24)
* [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (25)
* [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (26)
* [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (27)
* [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (28)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* ''[[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]]'' (31)
* ''[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]'' (32)
* ''[[Hound (G1)|Hound]]'' (34)
* ''[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]]'' (35)
* ''[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]]'' (36)
* ''[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]]'' (37)
* ''[[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]]'' (38)
* ''[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]]'' (39)
* ''[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (40)
* ''[[Xaaron]]'' (41)
* ''[[Powerflash]]?'' (42)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (43)
* [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] (44)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* ''[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]]'' (45)
* ''[[Rollout (G1)|Rollout]]'' (46)
* ''[[Sunstreaker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sunstreaker]]'' (47)
* ''[[Siren (G1)|Siren]]'' (48)
* ''[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]]'' (49)
* ''[[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]]'' (50)
* [[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] (51)
{{!}}}
|c2=
* [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] (19)
|c4=
* ''[[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]]'' (18)
* ''"[[Metalhawk (G1)|Metalhawk]]''" (29)
* ''[[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]]'' (30)
* ''[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]]'' (33)
}}

==Quotes==
"Color coded '''lasers.''' '''Red''' if you're an Autobot, '''purple''' if you're a Decepticon. And this is the best bit: '''the color changes depending on who's firing the gun.'''" 
"So the gun would—" 
"'''—know if you were good or bad!''' Yes! What do you think? Good idea? '''Amazing''' idea? Be honest." 
"Honestly? I think for an intuitive weapon to promote long-discredited notions of '''moral absolutism''' is problematic in the extreme." 
"..." 
"..." 
"It doesn't '''have''' to be red and purple..."
:—'''Nautica''' and '''Brainstorm'''

"Starscream! Will you stop saying "my people"? They're not your people. They're not your '''anything'''. They're ordinary Cybertronian citizens who went '''insane''' and put you in charge. Any day now they'll wake up, realize what they've done, and kill themselves. Suicide by '''face-palm'''."
:—'''Rodimus'''

"I hate to disappoint you, Rung, but sometimes a fusion cannon is just a fusion cannon."
:—'''Megatron''' on compensation

"My life is a succession of decisions made in '''confined spaces'''."
:—'''Megatron'''

"Here's a little—whatever. A little thing. A disclosure. An insight. '''Revisionism'''—I've always been fascinated by it. By the idea of a writer going back and altering things. Make no mistake: an edit is a '''profoundly aggressive''' act. As '''Froid''' once said, we grieve for the '''murdered word'''. If you want to get the measure of an author, don't look at what they've left on the page.... look at what they've '''taken away'''."
:—'''Rung'''

"I was once reprimanded for making an '''aside.'''"
:—'''Swerve'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Everyone crowded around Rung's door in the opening sequence is a new arrival on the ''Lost Light''. With the exception of Groove, all those present were shown to have been on Cybertron at various points during the first two years of ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]''.
* During the "Crewditions", Swerve references making an aside at some point in the past. His awareness of doing so is surely an effect of the [[Metafictional bomb|meta-bomb]], which was detonated in [[Under Cold Blue Stars|issue #15]].
* In a long-distance shot of Metroplex, we can see Atomizer supervising the spray-painting of the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s name onto the ship; fitting, since he's a former decorator.
* Optimus refers to the trial of a character named [[Phobos]], adding context to the "Phobos controversy" mentioned in [[Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|issue #11]].
* Rodimus's Matrix-half was shattered back in [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|issue #21]]. That issue also features the defeat of Tyrest that Rodimus mentions, which is why there is no Chief Justice available for Megatron's trial, forcing Optimus to take the chair. When he does, he wears a crown like Tyrest's.
* The ''Lost Light'' was previously shown to be searching for Thunderclash in [[Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1|"Dark Cybertron" Chapter 1]]. The superlative Autobot's divine guidance towards the Knights of Cybertron was introduced when the crew first encountered him in [[Little Victories|issue #22]].
* Rung's "encounter" with Megatron was shown in [[Chaos Theory Part 1|issue #22]] of the [[The Transformers (IDW)|2009-2011 ongoing series]]. It was Rung's first pictorial appearance. Why Rung does not recall the encounter would be explained in [[Elegant Chaos Part 2: Stet|issue #37]].
* Megatron's line about decisions in small spaces (mine shafts, alt modes, cells) was a direct response to his meeting with Whirl in a cell from that same issue. His decision in a mine shaft almost certainly refers to the opening from [[Megatron Origin issue 1|Megatron Origin #1]]. And in a flashback in [[The Gloaming]] we saw the decision he made the very first time he was in his small alt-mode - when, wielded by Heretech at the [[Battle for Hell's Point]], he faced Ultra Magnus (actually [[Datum]] in the Magnus armour) and, despite there being an 80% chance that the Hell's Point would blow up if Magnus so much as moved from the spot where he stood, chose to shoot him anyway.
* Rung refers to [[Froid]], his psychoanalytical rival mentioned in "[[Signal to Noise]]".
* Riptide is one of the [[Hydrobot (G1)|Hydrobot]]s, a team that was mentioned in [[Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|issue #24]]. We also hear of his teammate [[Aquabat]].
* We learn that the mines Megatron originally worked in (before he was reassigned to [[Messatine]], per [[Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|issue #9]]) were beneath [[Nova Point]], adding substantially greater meaning to the fact that he delivered his declaration of war from the top of this peak, as we learned in [[Rules of Disengagement (issue)|issue #7]].
* Rewind's farewell message appeared back in [[The Gloaming|issue #16]].
* In this issue, Rewind's message contains the line "And to think I'll never see you again," which is repeated twice. In its appearance in [[The Gloaming|issue #16]], the same line was rendered "And to think -- I will never see you again," without the contraction. Little edits...
* One of the slurs scrawled onto Megatron's door is 'spawn of [[Mortilus]]', a term previously used by Metroplex to refer to [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] in [[The Illusion of Control|''Monstrosity'' #10]]. Its usage here as what is clearly an idiom seems intended to confirm that Trypticon isn't ''actually'' a spawn of Mortilus, which was almost certainly the misguided intent of the original dialogue.
* Whirl first attacks Megatron with a bow and arrow- a hint that one of his collaborators is [[Atomizer]], who favors such weapons.
* Optimus has somehow managed to convince Chromedome to perform mnemosurgery on Megatron despite Chromedome making it abundantly clear he was finished with it just [[The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|two issues]] earlier, in response to a similar request. This will prove to be a trend in 'Season 2' as Chromedome is routinely asked for more injecting and agrees to it ''just this once''. He ends up doing it in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Part 3 of this very story!]]
* Broadside was last seen in [[Before the Dawn|''Robots in Disguise'' #14]], in which the building he was in was crushed by [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. The same goes for Sky High, who was crushed in Devastator's grip. Nice to see they're okay!
* Meanwhile, his fellow Triple Changer and former Wrecker Sandstorm reappears here for the first time since ''[[Chaos Part Two: Numbers|Chaos]]''. And he's no longer [[Things Fall Apart, Part 3: "Seasons in Flight"|hideous]]. Thank Primus for a [[Sandstorm (G1)#Voyager|new toy]], amirite?
* Megatron is charged with warfare against the Senate and the Stratocracy but not against the [[Grand Convocation]]. This is not an error: Megatron was absent for most of ''[[The Transformers: Monstrosity|Monstrosity]]'' and never had the chance to go to war with it!
* If you're not darkening your pants at the use of the word "coffin" in this issue's final panel, it's 'cause you're not remembering the message from the future from all the way back in [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|issue #1]] which warned "Don't open the coffin".

===Transformers references===
* Brainstorm's color-coded guns hearken back to the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original ''The Transformers'' cartoon]], in which each faction's weapons fired uniquely-colored blasts. However, in what might be an error, Brainstorm here suggests that Autobot guns would fire ''red'' energy blasts; in the cartoon, the Autobots' weapons fired ''orange'' blasts, this being their signature color in every respect save for [[insignia]] and their blue eyes, used for bases, technology, spaceships and more, in the same way the Decepticons used purple for everything (except their ''red'' eyes!). The idea of red energy blasts for Autobots wasn't introduced until the [[Unicron Trilogy continuity family|Unicron Trilogy]] cartoons.
* Given what we [[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|later learn about Brainstorm]], it's somewhat surprising that ''he'' would suggest colour-coding guns to identify Autobots from Decepticons. But it makes sense when you remember that he has never himself fired a gun - at least, not with the intention of killing someone.
* The Dostoyevsky quote on page 2 is written in [[Richard Starkings]]'s "Bithead" typeface which was first used way back in [[BotCon 1997]]'s "[[Ground Zero]]" for [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] dialogue.
* The wireframe "X-ray" effect Rung and Megatron are drawn with during the brief blackout pays homage to [[Unicron]]'s reformatting of the abandoned Decepticons in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
* Megatron has taken up residence in hab suite 113, another of Roberts's [[113 (disambiguation)|multiple references]] to the number.
* Before Megatron and Whirl crash into the fuel furnace, a sign on the wall reads "P-38", in reference to Megatron's original Walther P38 pistol [[alternate mode]]. Below that is "C-16"; 16 was Megatron's original [[List of Japanese ID numbers|Japanese ID number]], from before they started adding "C-" or "D-" to them to denote whether the toy was a "Cybertron" (the Japanese name for the Autobots) or "Destron" (Decepticon). Megatron is an Autobot now, hence this little "C-16" in-joke.
* Rung has a model [[Starhopper]] in his spaceship collection.

===Real-life references===
{{quote|Alien culture. You wouldn't get the reference.|Bluestreak}}
* The title of this three-parter is derived from the {{w|Julian Cope}} {{w|World Shut Your Mouth (song)|song of the same name}}.
* The issue opens with the dialogue "aaaaand... we're '''back!'''", which is, of course, a meta-reference to this issue's position as ''More than Meets the Eye''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s 'second-season premiere' after the interlude that was "Dark Cybertron".
* Megatron's "Sometimes a fusion cannon..." line is a paraphrasing of the famous quote "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar", a phallic imagery joke misattributed to {{w|Sigmund Freud}}.
* Bluestreak directly references the 1994 movie ''{{w|Shallow Grave (1994 film)|Shallow Grave}}'', which opens with three people amusing themselves by running a fake interview!
* Nautica is a quantum mechanic, a play upon the real-life field of {{w|quantum mechanics}}. The cheat engines and Möbius ships she professes interest in are also wordplays, on {{w|Heat engine|heat engines}} and {{w|Möbius strip|Möbius strips}} respectively.
* As with real {{w|Distilled beverage|distilled alcoholic spirits}}, such as {{w|vodka}}, "triple distilled" [[engex]], per Chromia's description of Nautica's demand for "really good" engex, is apparently the expensive stuff.
* A {{w|stratocracy}} is a form of military government, where the military are the government by constitutional right.

===Errors===
* There's a free-floating asterisk after Rodimus says "the greatest Autobot of all time" that doesn't have a footnote attached to it. It was removed in the collection.
* As Chromedome listens to Rewind's message, it includes the line "I've probably got 0.8 seconds..." In issue #16, this was rendered as two sentences spliced together "I've probably got about n—ought point eight seconds"; the word "about" has disappeared from the line this issue. While it's tempting to draw a parallel with this issue's theme of editing, this accidentally-dropped word was actually a mistake by TFWiki when the speech was written up and edited for readability for issue #16's article (which also included turning "n—ought point eight" into "0.8"). Seems like Roberts knew he could source the quote from the article quickly rather than spend time searching his hard drive for the script!
* To the extreme left of the trial double-page splash, by Sandstorm's elbow, [[Metalhawk (G1)|Metalhawk]] appears to be sitting in the audience, despite having died in the [[...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|conclusion to "Dark Cybertron"]].

===Crew manifest===
* The crew gets a big overhaul. The exact number of 'bots aboard is presently unknown, having last been calculated at 190 functional crewmembers and several non-functional wounded. (In Roberts' letter at the end, he says there are 300, but that may be an inexact number.)
** Confirmed previous crew: Ultra Magnus, Brainstorm, Rung, Skids, Chromedome, Whirl, Perceptor, Mainframe, Blaster, Getaway, Swerve
** Confirmed new arrivals: Megatron, Nautica, Joyride, Nightbeat, Mirage, Hosehead, Groove, Sky High, Bluestreak, Ravage
** Confirmed departures: [[Fizzle]] and [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]]

===Other trivia===
* Megatron ''never'' says he wanted to kill Whirl himself, but that he was "grateful" for Whirl's attack showing him that one needed actions, not merely words, to change the world.
* Ravage's appearance on the ''Lost Light'' comes as a surprise. One of James Roberts's early ideas for ''More than Meets the Eye'' included Ravage stowing away on the ship; whether or not that's what happening here isn't quite clear yet.
* Rung refers to a female "fellow bibliophile" from whom he acquired the original copy of ''Towards Peace''. Given Nautica's voracious love of reading, mentioned a few pages later during her interview with Swerve, and the fact that the opening scene of the issue established that she knows Rung is a booklover, it's highly unlikely this bibliophile is anyone other than her.
* Rung reveals that his cute little round spectacle-like optics actually ''are'' a pair of [[Spectacles|spectacle lenses]] than he can remove, as he does so this issue.
* Bluestreak comments that this is his second attempt to sign up for the ''Lost Light'', an outside reference to the fact that Roberts tried to get the character for the book at its outset, but he wound up going to ''Robots in Disguise'' because that book's artist [[Andrew Griffith]] loves the character.
* This issue's story is followed by a letter from James Roberts welcoming readers to the book, which is missing from the Comixology download.
* Similar to the pre-launch promotion for ''More than Meets the Eye'' and ''Robots in Disguise'' two years prior, this series was trailed by a "scavenger hunt" for a series of six promo posters that were released to various sites around the internet. This round of '' More than Meets the Eye'' images featured a "tarot" theme, and included: Megatron on [[IDW Publishing|IDW]]'s Facebook page,<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152346827453279&set=a.10150239372238279.337626.8473603278&type=1&stream_ref=10 IDW's Facebook page]</ref> Nautica on Seibertron.com,<ref>[http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/idw-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-28-seibertron-exclusive-nautica-teaser/30039/ Seibertron.com]</ref> Nightbeat on BWTF.com,<ref>[http://bwtf.com/node/3262 BWTF.com]</ref> Riptide on The TransMissions podcast's Twitter,<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Thx 2 @IDWPublishing a new promo image 4 Transformers #MTMTE 28 out Wed 4/30! Who is Riptide?! Find out Wednesday! http://t.co/YuOYZYmWZv|link=https://twitter.com/trnsmissions/status/460908171368738818|name=trnsmissions|site=Twitter|year=2014|month=4|day=28|(defunct=)}}</ref> Tailgate on The Underbase podcast's Twitter,<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Finger in the head! #stateoftheART MTMTE Promo image! http://t.co/HEAHs2ZCj0|link=https://twitter.com/theunderbase/status/460886217186226176|name=theunderbase|site=Twitter|year=2014|month=4|day=28|(defunct=)}}</ref> and Trailcutter on TFormers.com.<ref>[http://tformers.com/trailcutter-the-catalyst-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-exclusive-promotional-art-cover/23186/news.html TFormers.com]</ref>

<gallery>
File:MTMTEpromo megatron.jpg|"The Apostate"
File:MTMTEpromo nautica.jpg|"The Savant"
File:MTMTEpromo nightbeat.jpg|"The Inquisitor"
</gallery>

<gallery>
File:MTMTEpromo riptide.jpg|"The Knave"
File:MTMTEpromo tailgate.jpg|"The Ingenue"
File:MTMTEpromo trailcutter.jpg|"The Catalyst"
</gallery>

===Soundtrack===
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45vgN4F_6bk "A Question of Trust"] by {{w|Their Hearts Were Full of Spring}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=I think it's time we had the first of the MTMTE #28 soundtrack songs, don't you? "Empires will fall..." https://t.co/llCVqewDBC|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/451155105438793728|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2014|month=4|day=2|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuJIqmha2Hk "Mr. Blue Sky"] by {{w|Electric Light Orchestra}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Here's the second of several songs to accompany MTMTE #28. It's familiar but apt, with a post-Dark Cybertron theme: https://t.co/e4uc6zzJgX|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/454747748508901376|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2014|month=4|day=11|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlX0Hfh1_3Y "Let's Get Started"] by {{w|Frisbie (band)|Frisbie}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=And here it is: the last song in the lead-up to MTMTE #28 and the start of Season 2: https://t.co/4WDcd6Qj4c|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/459474751162187776|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2014|month=4|day=24|(defunct=)}}</ref>

===Foreign Localization===

'''Swedish'''
* ''Title:'' "'''Hörru, sluta stirra! Del 1: Skapa fred'''" ("Hey You, Stop Staring! Part 1: Creating Peace")

===Covers (3)===
* '''Standard cover:''' Megatron superimposed on a starfield as the ''Lost Light'' boldly goes forward, by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
* '''Subscription cover:''' Megatron and the cast recreate [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|issue #1]]'s Cover E, which was an homage to Kevin Maguire's 1986 ''Justice League'' #1, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
* '''Incentive cover:''' Megatron, by [[Livio Ramondelli]], part of a three-piece image alongside [[A 'Bot and Her City|''Windblade'' #1]] and [[Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World|''Robots in Disguise'' #28]].

<gallery>
File:MTMTE28 cvrA.jpg|Megatron, on his final frontier.
File:MTMTE28 subcvr.jpg|No we don't!
File:MTMTE28 cvrRI.jpg|Space Ghost!
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* "[[Dawn of the Autobots]]"
* ''More than Meets the Eye'' #29
* ''Star Mage''
* IDW: Getting Into Your Head for 15 Years (back cover)

===Reprints===
* '''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 6''''' ([[December 10]], [[2014]]) ISBN 163140184X / ISBN 978-1631401848
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #28–33.
** Bonus material includes covers of each issue.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 7]]''''' ([[March 21]], [[2018]]) ISBN 1684051495 / ISBN 978-1684051496
** Collects ''More Than Meets the Eye'' issues #28–30, #31–33 & #34, and ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' issues [[Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World|#28]]–[[Earthfall Part 5: I Dream of Wires|32]] & [[The World of Tomorrow|#33]]–[[The Crucible|34]].
** Hardcover format.

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

* '''''Transformers: Du sköna nya värld''''' ([[November]], [[2022]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #28–38 & #40.
** Swedish reprint. Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol6.jpg|'''''More Than Meets the Eye Volume 6''''' – cover art by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V7.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 7''''' – cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]] and [[Tom B. Long]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v61.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 61: World Shut Your Mouth''''' – cover art by [[Guido Guidi]] (Hoist) and [[Alex Milne]]
File:MTMTE SWE 04.jpg|'''''Du sköna nya värld''''' – cover art by Casey Coller and Joana Lafuente.
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/idw-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-28-full-preview/30044/ Preview]

Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life

2023-12-06T18:47:25Z

Quecksilberlampe: /* Soundtrack */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=21
|prev=Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely
|next=The Sound of Breaking Glass
|image=MTMTE21 cvrA.jpg
|title="Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life"
|caption=And the rest... is silence.
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|published in=[[More than Meets the Eye issue 21|''More than Meets the Eye'' #21]]
|date=[[September 25]], [[2013]]
|coverdate=September 2013
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]] with [[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2013)]]
}}
'''The last of the answers comes out and new mysteries are born as the ''Lost Light''ers race to stop Tyrest's killswitch. But the shadow of death looms large over the crew... will everyone make it out alive?'''

==Synopsis==
With only inches to spare, [[Solomus|Tyrest]] is stopped from passing through his portal by [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] leaping onto his back, immune to Tyrest's paralytic thought weapon thanks to [[cybercrosis]]-induced loss of hearing on the signal's frequency. Tailgate hits the switch on Tyrest's staff that deactivates the signal, freeing the other Autobots from its effects, but is then seized by the deranged Chief Justice, who threatens his life if [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] does not let him enter the portal. Tailgate urges Rodimus to open fire since he is soon to die anyway, but the quandry is soon removed from Rodimus's hands: Tyrest is shot in the back by [[Minimus Ambus]]!

[[File:Cyclonus StarSaber ThisCalamitousLife.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.3]]
Outside, [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] responds to [[Star Saber (G1)|Star Saber]]'s call for challengers, but the resultant duel goes poorly for him. When Star Saber asks him what he fights for, however, Cyclonus replies that it's personal, and drives his single horn into Star Saber's eye. The blinded Saber drops Cyclonus, but manages to teleport away before a killing blow can be struck.

With Tyrest dispatched, Ambus—now in a truly diminutive state, not even as tall as Rodimus's waist—explains that the form they have seen him in up until now was another suit of armor, and that he was knocked unconscious when its head was crushed. As everyone tries to deal with the [[universal killswitch|killswitch]] and its victims, [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]] tries to make a run for the portal, only to discover than he cannot pass through it. [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] concludes it operates on [[Aequitas]] technology, barring entry to those who carry some form of guilt, but [[Skids (G1)|Skids]], at peace with himself for the first time after the mystery of his missing memories has been solved, finds he can step through. Pharma is unfazed by the whole affair, and his incessant smugness is the final straw for [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]], who blows his head off in a moment of unchecked anger.

Across the room, [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] wires Rodimus into the killswitch, intending to use the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]-half within him to reinstate the "sparkcode" common to all constructed-cold Transformers that the killswitch is scrambling, thereby undoing its effects... but in the process destroying the Matrix map, and potentially Rodimus himself as well. With this hanging over them, Ambus confesses that he did indeed lure the ''Lost Light'' to Luna 1, having opted to let his Magnus Armor manually return to Tyrest rather than teleport away, thereby allowing them to follow it. Unaware of the Chief Justice's insanity, he assumed Tyrest would discipline Rodimus for the reckless leadership that Ambus had been unable to deal with. Rodimus, however, admits to being responsible for much worse than poor leadership: he had actually conspired with [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] and the others to bring [[Overlord (G1)|Overlord]] on board the vessel, goaded into doing so when Prowl accused him of being afraid. Rodimus vows not to die in an act of self-sacrifice, so that he can make recompense for his misdeeds. The switch is then thrown, the Matrix shatters... and those affected begin to recover!

[[File:MTMTE21 Rodimus crucifixion metaphor.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8]]
Outside, the [[Legislator]]s abruptly cease their battle with the Circle of Light, detecting the activation of a new imperative: the crippled Tyrest has managed to activate Part 1, Section 1 of the [[Tyrest Accord]], recalling the robots to defend his broken form. Unaware of this, [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] begins celebrations, congratulating Cyclonus and asking if their deal to let bygones be bygones still stands. Cyclonus grimly agrees... though not before a brief, silent fantasy of pushing Whirl into the [[smelting pool]] below.

[[File:MTMTE21 tailgate amends law.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5]]
On the other side of the portal, a confusing sight greets Skids: he finds himself standing on the surface of one of five multi-coloured copies of Cybertron itself, the other four floating in the sky above him, as [[Adaptus|a huge iridescent ball of energy]] hovers in front of him. The orb communicates with Skids in a synesthetic medley of sensations that he cannot comprehend, but his struggle for understanding is cut off by a cry for help from Rung from the other side of the portal. Skids sprints back through to the control room, now flooded with Legislators, and dives into battle... though nobody notices the tendrils that follow him out of the portal and drag Pharma's headless body back through. Informed of Tyrest's law-amending computer by Ambus, Tailgate saves the day by scampering to the console and putting his knowledge of the [[Autobot Code]] to use re-writing section 500, remembering at the last moment the pivotal relevance of a [[semicolon]]. His amendment repeals the law—"'''all''' of it"—causing the Legislators to cease functioning, but the victorious Tailgate then collapses.

The next day, back on the ''[[Lost Light]]'', Cyclonus stands vigil over Tailgate, who is only minutes from death. Tailgate sadly confides that he was only two weeks old when he became trapped under the [[Mitteous Plateau]], and that he has wanted to do something important with his life ever since... but having now done so, he finds it all a bit underwhelming. He asks Cyclonus to kill him quickly, to spare him the agony of his final moments, but Cyclonus refuses. A communique from [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] brings Cyclonus rushing, but the call proves to have been premature: Tailgate's spark has contracted beyond the point the cybercrosis cure Ratchet and [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] have divined from Pharma's medi-bay would work. Cyclonus returns to Tailgate's side, and silently impales the little bot on his [[Great Sword]].

===Epilogue===
Some time later, the ''Lost Light'' departs [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]], having gleaned all they could from what remained there. Rodimus and Ambus—now back in his armor and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] once again—talk things out, listing off damage the adventure has caused, including [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]]'s retreat into his laboratory with the [[Point One Percenter]] spark. The pair idly wonder how Luna 1 was able to remain missing for so long... never having seen the set of five gigantic [[Planetary engine|planetary turbines]] on the moon's dark side, surrounding a strange gear-like hieroglyph that was among the images projected by the energy ball Skids encountered...

Later still, Magnus speaks with a repaired, refurbished Cyclonus, and asks for an update... on Tailgate. Cyclonus—now with his missing horn replaced, a gift created for him by Tailgate—explains that he is recovering well, his spark having been re-energized to a point where the cure could be implemented thanks to a transfusion of energy from Cyclonus, through the Great Sword, as suggested by Whirl just as Cyclonus was returning to Tailgate's room. Impressed by Cyclonus's actions, Magnus formally welcomes him on board.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (5)
* [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]] (6)
* [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (7)
* [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (8)
* [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (9)
* [[Minimus Ambus]] (10)
* [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (11)
* [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] (14)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] (15)
* [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (16)
* [[Getaway]] (17)
* [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (18)
* [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (19)
* [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] (20)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (26)
{{!}}}
|c2=
* [[Kaon (G1)|Kaon]] (22)
* [[Krok (G1)|Krok]] (23)
* [[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] (24)
|c4=
* [[Legislator]]s (1)
* Multiple [[Circle of Light]] members (2)
* [[Solomus|Tyrest]] (3)
* [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (4)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (12)
* [[Star Saber (G1)|Star Saber]] (13)
* [[Dominus Ambus|The Pet]] (21)
* [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] (25)
}}

==Quotes==

"I've never bought into the notion of '''Primal Infallibility;''' I think that sometimes, God gets it wrong. He lets the best of us get sick and die while '''degenerates''' like you go on forever. But I think Primus is smiling on me today, Star Saber: he's letting me correct one of his mistakes."
:—'''Cyclonus'''

"But we're '''friends'''! You should have '''told''' me! You should've said '''something'''..." 
"I know, but—what would you have done?" 
"I dunno—made you settle your tab?"
:—'''Swerve''' and '''Tailgate''' on cybercrosis

"Righto then, nurse: arrest me. Tell me off and lock me up. I've been a '''bad Autobot'''." 
"You're smiling. Everything you did at '''Delphi'''—all those patients you killed—and you're '''smiling?'''" 
"I know, I know—I'm incorrigible."
:—'''Pharma''' and '''First Aid'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Tailgate's loss of hearing on the higher frequencies was foreshadowed in [[Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|issue #17]], when Ratchet listed it off as one of the effects of his disease.
* When listing off Rodimus's assorted stunts and goofs, Minimus recalls him using Rung as bait during the Sparkeater affair (from [[Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|issue #3]]), the [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] hostage situation ([[Interiors|issue #6]]), Cyclonus's arrest ([[Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism|issue #10]]), the meeting with the [[Galactic Council]] ([[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|2012 annual]]), and a previously unseen incident involving someone named "Thunder-" something. Given the next-issue preview at the end of this issue shows Rung holding a picture of [[Thunder Clash]], I think we can all see where that's going.
* Tailgate's recognition of the importance of the semi-colon comes from his lectures on the Autobot Code courtesy of Ultra Magnus, which he specifically called out way back in issue #6.
* Cyclonus has been singing to Tailgate as he lies dying; they shared a song together back in [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|issue #13]].
* The panel of Cyclonus running out of Tailgate's room parallels Tailgate's panicked rush out of the medical bay in [[Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|issue #17]].
* Tailgate was seen making something back in [[Under Cold Blue Stars|issue #15]]. Here, we find out it was a new horn to replace Cyclonus's missing one, lost back in the [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|first issue]].
* Seeing how Tailgate was only a fortnight old before he was trapped underground and left offline for about six million years, this might explain why his [[holomatter]] avatar back in [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|issue #13]] was a baby.
* On Tailgate's deathbed, the writing on his arm says "Waste Disposal" instead of "Bomb Disposal." While a previous instance of such in [[Interiors|issue #6]] was an art mistake, this one is much more likely to be intentional, a signifier that he's decided to accept reality before the end. On Twitter, James Roberts mentioned that there was a cut line from an earlier draft about Tailgate wanting an "honest death."
* If Cyclonus ''had'' killed Whirl by pushing him in the smelting pool, then Tailgate would have died too (as Whirl wouldn't have been around to tell Cyclonus how to save Tailgate). You could also make the connection that it was Tailgate's softening influence on Cyclonus that stopped him doing the said killing.
* Swerve mentioned that he ought to be trying to cure cybercrosis in the [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|Annual]], as an example of better things he could be doing with his life. (As a metallurgist, such a cure might actually be in Swerve's field of expertise.)
* After discovering the hot spot back in [[Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|issue #17]], Brainstorm was quick to point out that he was anti-apartheid and supported "equal rights for knock offs!", implying that he was forged. Before the killswitch is turned off in this issue, we see that Brainstorm is also suffering from its effects, meaning that he was in fact constructed cold.

===Transformers references===
* When blasted by Ambus, Tyrest lets loose a "SHEEAAAGH!", a cry-of-pain sound effect that's one of [[Simon Furman]]'s [[Furmanism|trademarks]].
* Similarly, Tailgate notes he doesn't want to "[[Furmanism#DIE SCREAMING|die screaming]]", another Furmanism.

===Real-life references===
* Tailgate calls cybercrosis "The Big C", a common real-life euphemism for cancer.
* Rodimus is literally [[Jesus|put on a cross to use the power of their creator to wipe away the consequences of sin, at the potential cost of his own life]]. He's even wearing a "crown".
* When Brainstorm is shown in his workshop with the harvested Point One Percenter, a model of the {{w|Sulaco (spaceship)|U.S.S. Sulaco}} from the film ''{{w|Aliens (film)|Aliens}}'' is featured prominently amongst the equipment on his desk.
* When Cyclonus has his little imagine spot about pushing Whirl into the smelting pool, Whirl's claw sinking into the molten metal looks like a shout-out to the final moments of the heroic T-800 in ''{{w|Terminator_2:_Judgement_Day|Terminator 2: Judgement Day.}}''

===Trivia===
* The release of this issue was preceded by a three-week "Countdown to 21" Twitter campaign, during which James Roberts tweeted various teasers and factoids about this issue at a (notional) rate of one a day. In addition to the soundtrack tunes, listed below, and various teases about the content of the story, we learned that the issue was originally going to be titled "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out".
* Cyclonus refers to Vector Sigma as "he".
* Tyrest believed his portal would lead to [[Cyberutopia]]. Considering the otherworldly nature of the place Skids visited, he probably thought Tyrest was right... but the truth was something completely different; as revealed in ''[[The Transformers: Lost Light|Lost Light]]'' issue [[Crucible (Part 4): The Return of the King|#22]], the mysterious space was actually ''the [[Adaptus|Grand Architect]]'s mind.''
* As Tyrest, Star Saber, and Pharma represent different pillars of society gone wrong (law, religion, and medicine respectively), they are each symbolically defeated by "uncorrupted" examples of those same pillars: Tyrest is crippled by the law enforcer Ultra Magnus, Star Saber is almost killed by the religious Cyclonus, and Pharma gets his head shot off by the medic First Aid.

===Crew manifest===
* Minimus Ambus is fine!
* Tailgate's cybercrosis is successfully treated!
* Everybody lives, Rose! Just this once—everybody lives!
* 13 deaths, 5 new arrivals (plus 20 or so Faders), one boxed, and one banishment since the launch.

===Soundtrack===
For all of "Remain in Light":
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjmGZfHHC80 "A Dazzling End"] from the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' {{w|Doctor Who: Series 4 (soundtrack)|Series 4 soundtrack}}, by {{w|Murray Gold}}
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPJAX7Cu-4k "The Universal"] by {{w|Blur (band)|Blur}}

For this issue in particular:
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzGUXmWOJuo "Stronger Hearts Than Mine Lie Empty"] by {{w|Ballboy (band)|Ballboy}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGbC730C4BA "Sunshine (Adagio in D Minor)"] by {{w|John Murphy (composer)|John Murphy}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu4MC3fLSZ8 "Nobody Loves Us"] by {{w|Morrissey}}
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rfEas8T6tM "Longest Day"] by {{w|Soulsavers}}
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83KR_UBWdPI "No Cars Go"] by {{w|Arcade Fire}}
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDTZZ7LdDR8 "Dreaming of You"] by {{w|The Real Tuesday Weld}}

===Foreign localization===
'''Japanese'''
* ''Title:'' "'''Hikari no Naka ni Tamarite 5: Kono Higekiteki Jinsei'''" (光の中に溜まりて5 この悲劇的人生, "Gather in Light 5: This Calamitous Life")

'''Swedish'''
* ''Title:'' "'''Stanna i Ljuset 5 av 5: Detta Olyckliga Liv'''" ("Stay in the Light 5 of 5: This Unhappy Life")

==External links==
* [http://tformers.com/transformers-more-than-meets-the/21345/news.html Preview]

Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon

2023-12-06T04:28:21Z

Quecksilberlampe: /* Soundtrack */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=17
|prev=The Gloaming
|next=Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus
|caption=''Damn you for ruining our class photo!''
|image=MTMTE17 cvrA.jpg
|title="Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[May 29]], [[2013]]
|coverdate=May 2013
|story by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editorial assistants=[[Toni Korde]] and [[Mariel Romero]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2013)]]
}}
'''Everything has built to this! As Rodimus leads the ''Lost Light'' crew on a quest straight out of Cybertronian myth, old enemies reappear, old friends return, and new life waits to be born...'''

==Synopsis==
''Somewhere, in a darkened room, Rodimus relates the grim tale of recent events to an unseen listener...''

[[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] verifies the [[death clock]]'s scan of [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]], sadly confirming that the little 'bot has a fatal case of [[cybercrosis]], brought about by nothing more than old age, which will kill him in just over three days. As the medic details the stages of the disease, including blindness, paralysis, and memory loss, Tailgate flees the medibay in a panic, racing back to his quarters, where he explains his news to [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]]. Cyclonus stoically advises Tailgate to make his peace and face death boldly, but then leaves the room in silence, and stops in the hallway to observe his reflection... which he almost punches in a sudden, furious rage, only to stop and instead tear gouges in his own face with his claws.

[[File:Mtmte17-p11-lost-light-luna-one.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5]]
Examining security footage to determine what has become of the missing [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]], [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]], [[Ambulon]], and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] observe as the comatose Magnus suddenly sits bolt upright with impossible speed and appears to ''float'' to the shuttle bay. [[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] reports that the signal from the shuttle Magnus left in has been detected, and the ''[[Lost Light]]'' sets course after it, soon finding that it leads through a colossal wormhole. Rodimus informs the crew that the ship will be going through the portal, giving anyone who wishes the option not to come, but nobody takes it. The ship enters the portal, and what lurks on the other side proves beyond imagining: the lost satellite of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]], alleged home to the answer to every question, found at last.

As Rodimus waits in his quarters, morosely examining unread messages from Ultra Magnus on his datapad, [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] enters to report his preliminary findings: a lifesign scan, amazingly, suggests the moon is home to a billion lifeforms. Rodimus handpicks a small team to join him on the first expedition to the moon, confidentially informing them that all he really wants to do is find out what became of Ultra Magnus: [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (to fill Magnus's role and tell him things he doesn't want to hear); [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]]; [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (in case there's any fighting to be done, though Whirl suspects it's positive discrimination); [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (who [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] urges to search the moon for a solution to his lost memories); Ratchet; and Cyclonus, for his familiarity with the creation myth that Luna 1 is part of. Cyclonus agrees to come only on the condition that Tailgate gets to accompany them, desiring to give his tiny friend a great experience before his death, but he cautions Tailgate to disabuse himself of the notion that the moon may hold a cure to his condition. [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] begs to come along, citing his metallurgical skills, but Rodimus refuses, accusing him of having abandoned that function to be a bartender.

[[File:Chromedome and Rodimus with a spark.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3]]
Leaving the ''Lost Light'' under the stewardship of [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]], the Autobots head down to the moon and deploy in [[Mobile Autobot Repair Bay|M.A.R.B.]]s. They soon discover Magnus's shuttle, smashed open from the outside-in, but when Rodimus hops off the M.A.R.B. to examine it, his feet touching the moon's surface for the first time, the incredible happens: the entire moon lights up, as a billion [[spark]]s suddenly flare to life all over its surface. Luna 1, it transpires, is a gigantic "[[hot spot (phenomenon)|hot spot]]", a field where sparks are born, that has been fertilized after an ages-long wait when Rodimus touched it. As Rodimus wonders if the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]-half he is carrying could have been responsible, the other Transformers look in wonder on the field, the like of which Chromedome remarks had mostly ceased to be by his lifetime, since he was "constructed cold". Tailgate has heard this term thrown around a lot without understanding it, and the others explain that Chromedome was created using the energy from an extant spark, as opposed to "forged", born in a hot spot (which Whirl is eager to point out ''he'' was). Cyclonus calls the group's attention to a spark glowing green, which Brainstorm recognizes as a "superspark"—a vanishingly rare, insanely powerful [[Point One Percenter]]—and immediately begins excavating it over Perceptor's horrified protestations. Everyone discusses whether or not this is the right thing to do, but moral debates are promptly tabled by an explosive, unexpected arrival: a platoon of Decepticons led by [[Lockdown (G1)|Lockdown]], who descend from the sky, weapons blazing, decrying Rodimus's team as trespassers!

[[File:TheFecundMoon-Skids.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.8]]
Back on the ''Lost Light'', the transmission from Rodimus's team is abruptly cut off, but Blaster and Maximus aren't sure if it's the moon or the ship that's being isolated. Down in the ship's [[oil]] reservoir, Skids is spending some time alone with this thoughts when suddenly, a familiar phrase gurgles out of the darkness: "Nineteen eighty-four". A platoon of the [[Legislator|giant golden warrior robots]] he last saw just before joining the ''Lost Light'' crew bursts out of the reservoir's black depths, chanting their familiar refrain... but that's not all. More of the robots appear all across the ship: in [[Swerve's]], which he has decided to close down; on the bridge; and everywhere in-between, these ones brandishing huge guns and declaring "Seventeen twenty-one".

''Rodimus pauses in his story, reflecting on how many impossible things happened in one day, and realizes he has not even asked the name of his mystery listener. The older bot introduces himself as "Ambus"...''

On Luna 1, as Rodimus's team flees the Decepticon attack, Ratchet's M.A.R.B. is hit and explodes, throwing the medic to the ground. A figure appears before the fallen Ratchet and offers its hand... and Ratchet looks up to see [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]] looming over him!
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (3)
* [[Ambulon]] (4)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (5)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (6)
* [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (7)
* [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (8)
* [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (9)
* [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (10)
* [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] (11)
* [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (12)
* [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (13)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (14)
* [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] (15)
* [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] (16)
* [[Atomizer]] (17)
* [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (18)
* [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (19)
* [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] (20)
* [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (21)
* [[Minimus Ambus|Ambus]] (28)
* [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]] (30)
{{!}}}
|c2=
* [[Barrage (Insecticon)|Barrage]] (22)
* [[Ransack (G1)|Ransack]] (23)
* [[Venom (G1)|Venom]] (24)
* [[Lockdown (G1)|Lockdown]] (25)
* [[Chop Shop (G1)|Chop Shop]] (26)
* "[[Titan Hunter#Lockdown's team|Den-O]]" (27)
|c4=
* [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (1)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (2)
* [[Legislator]]s (29)
}}

==Quotes==
"You're visiting Luna 1 for the '''experience''', nothing else. This can't be about finding a '''cure.'''" 
"'Course not! 'Course it can't. ...'''why''' can't it?" 
"It just '''can't.'''" 
"Right. Fine. So I'm not allowed to '''hope.'''" 
"Listen to me. <big>'''Never. Hope.'''</big> Hope is a '''lie.'''"
:—'''Cyclonus''' and '''Tailgate'''

"Time to break out the '''[[Mobile Anti-Assault Battlesuit|M.A.A.B.]]s''' and play 'Hunt the Crewmember.'" 
"Wait—'''M.A.R.B.s''' or '''M.A.A.B.s'''"? 
"'M.A.A.B.s or M.A.A.B.s?' What?" 
"'''M'''obile '''A'''utobot '''R'''epair '''B'''ay, or '''M'''obile '''A'''nti-'''A'''ssault '''B'''attlesuit?" 
"The ones that turn into—the '''cool ones.''' The battlesuits." 
"Right. We don't have any of those."
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Brainstorm'''

'''Brainstorm:''' "I was '''anti-apartheid.''' Went on the marches and everything. 'Equal rights for '''knock-offs!''''" 
'''Tailgate:''' "Eh?" 
'''Chromedome:''' "Ignore him—he thinks it's four million years ago and he's being '''progressive.'''"

"What are you—" 
"'''Harvesting''' it." 
"No, because harvesting takes '''skill'''. And '''patience.''' And '''time.''' You can't just—you can't just do '''precisely what you're doing now...!" 
:—'''Perceptor''' and '''Brainstorm'''

"Where are you going to put [the spark], Brainstorm? In your '''briefcase?'''" 
"I '''wasn't''', but if I '''did'''... oh, man. You've just '''blown my mind.'''"
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Brainstorm

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Popular-but-unseen [[Spoke]] and [[Lockstock]], mentioned in issues [[Before & After|#12]] and [[The Gloaming|#16]], get another name-drop in this issue, where it turns out they're just as well-liked by the ship's medibot—the [[Diagnostic Drone]] seen floating around the ship in multiple past issues (perhaps most prominently [[Rules of Disengagement (issue)|issue #7]])—as they are by their crewmates.
* Rodimus likens himself, Magnus, and Drift to [[Rossum's Trinity]], the principle of Transformer biology introduced in [[Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|issue #3]].
* Following last issue's surprise ending, Tailgate's looming death is revealed to be the result of [[cybercrosis]], a rotting disease first mentioned in [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|the ''More than Meets the Eye'' 2012 annual]]. For a dash of added irony, Tailgate was heard to hope in issue #12 that a cure for the disease had ''not'' been found, when expressing dislike of Dominus Ambus's do-goodery.
* Ratchet notes that the cybercrosis has likely curdled Tailgate's [[innermost energon]], which is sure to be the reason it appeared a sickly green color when Tailgate was seen pouring some out in issue #12, compared to the traditional pink-purple of everyone else's in that same issue. It is also pointed out that Tailgate's [[transformation cog]] likely no longer works, which he has not noticed because he hasn't transformed in so long; in fact, we've never seen him ''successfully'' transform at all through the run of the series, as when he last attempted it in [[Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|issue #2]] he got stuck halfway.
* Ratchet also comments on Tailgate's 'full life', as everybody except Cyclonus still believes he's extremely well-read and accomplished.
* It's not immediately clear what Rung might be referring to when he says he has a sense of ''déjà vu'' at the sight of the portal, but it's appropriate that he would be the one to feel it, as past issues have established him as a "historical constant" who has been around a ''long'' time and been present for nearly every major event in Cybertron history.
* The portal looks a heckuva lot like the one Skids and the gold robots flew out of all the way back in issue #2.
* Having lost his arm in [[Under Cold Blue Stars|issue #15]], Chromedome is seen with a skeletal replacement on page 7 like that worn by Rodimus in issue #3, after he lost his own limbs. It has been built back up to a proper arm by page 10.
* Fortress Maximus appears to be back in everyone's good graces, as he's seen with the group listening to Rodimus' opt-out speech, and is left in charge of the ''Lost Light'' when Rodimus travels to Luna 1.
* Luna 1! This famous missing satellite of Cybertron's has been regularly mentioned across both ''More than Meets the Eye'' and ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' since its legend was introduced in ''[[Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime]]''. Reference is made to the quests that Swerve and Rodimus both undertook for it, which were originally commented on in issue [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|#1]] and the 2012 annual, respectively (though it's not clear if they were both on the ''same'' moonquest or not).
* Callbacks are made to the deaths of [[Polaris]] and [[Shock (G1)|Shock]] (both from issue #2), [[Animus]] (issue #3) and [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (issue #15) .
* The origin of Luna 1's nickname, "The Seething Moon", is revealed, as it is "seething" with unborn life. We got our first hint toward the sheer scope of what we see here back in [[Remembrance Day|issue #14]], when we saw [[Overlord (G1)|Overlord]]'s spark emerge from Luna 2. That story saw Overlord's spark denoted as a "Point One Percenter" by its green coloration, which is how the Autobots identify another this issue.
* We get a clear explanation for terminology we've been hearing since ''[[Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory]]'': [[Reproduction#2005 IDW continuity|"Forged"]] Transformers are those whose sparks were grown naturally from the metal of Cybertron or one of its moons, while Transformers [[Reproduction#2005 IDW continuity|"constructed cold"]] were created using energy from another's spark. This process, in turn, is revealed to be another name for spark splicing, a population-enhancement program introduced by [[Nova Prime]], mentioned in [[Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|issue #11]].
* Skids is moping around in the ship's oil reservoir, where he was also seen ruminating in [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|issue #8]].
* The Decepticons who attack Rodimus's team are Lockdown's "[[Titan Hunter]]s" from ''[[The Reluctant Specialist|Spotlight: Trailcutter]]''. Ransack was not seen among the group in that issue; his presence here marks the first time all four [[Insecticon (G1)|Deluxe Insecticons]] have appeared together in IDW continuity. He was last seen in ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Stick Together|issue #3]], implying that he somehow left Cybertron in the interim.
[[File:Mtmte17-point one percenter spark.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|The birth of a spoiler.]]
* From the name he provides and his moustachioed visage, Rodimus's mysterious listener is obviously supposed to remind the audience of [[Dominus Ambus]], Rewind's old (romantic) partner and master, seen in flashbacks in issue #12. His obviously shortened name and different color scheme (green and white versus Dominus's gold) ought to give readers pause, and as next issue will reveal, he's not what he appears.
* The giant gold robots previously appeared back in issue #2. They've not been named in-story as of yet, but concept art from the first ''More than Meets the Eye'' trade paperback identified them as "Legislators", a term that has gone on to be used in IDW's catalogue solicitations for "Remain in Light".
* Bonkers Autobot doctor Pharma appeared in issues #4 and [[How Ratchet Got His Hands Back|#5]], in which he got his hands lopped off. He's replaced one of them with a chainsaw. Groovy.
* The Point One Percenter Spark the Autobots discover and which Brainstorm takes into his possession will [[Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|eventually]] end up becoming [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|hugely important]].
* Ratchet talks about death from old age, which is a phenomenon that has only recently been observed in the Transformer race. In the [[How To Say Goodbye And Mean It: Part 2|final issue]] of ''[[The Transformers: Lost Light|Lost Light]]'', it is revealed that Ratchet was one of the few confirmed characters to die of old age.

===Transformers references===
* Whirl explains that the harvesting of a spark involves taking with it a portion of the surrounding metallic matter, named "[[Living metal|sentio metallico]]". Roberts created this term for his unofficial novel ''Eugenesis'', where it was the name of the liquid metal matter that erupted from other Transformers' bodies and congealed into new lifeforms as part of the "budding" reproductive process seen in the original ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|Generation 2]]'' comic book. This seems to imply—as has been previously suggested by remarks about the irreplaceable nature of forged body parts—that forged bodies actually ''grow'' from this matter around the spark, where constructed cold bodies are simply built.
* The Legislator's declarations of "seventeen twenty-one" refer to the issues of ''More than Meets the Eye'' that the five-part "Remain in Light" story appears in, starting with this issue, #17, and running until #21.

===Real-life references===
* ''{{w|Remain in Light}}'' is the title of an album by the band {{w|Talking Heads}}.
* For the language-fanciers among you, "fecund" means "fertile". The full moon is often described as "fecund" in literature, owing to its mythological connections to fertility; here, that figurative language is given a far more literal double-meaning, as the moon in this story is literally bursting with life waiting to be born.
* Brainstorm has a tiny model of {{w|RoboCop (franchise)#ED 209|ED-209}} from ''{{w|RoboCop}}'' on his desk.
* Continuing the trend started by "[[Titan Hunter#Lockdown's team|V3]]" from ''[[The Reluctant Specialist|Spotlight: Trailcutter]]'', [[Titan Hunter#Lockdown's team|another new member]] of the Titan Hunters appears to be based on one of the title characters from the Japanese tokusatsu franchise ''{{w|Kamen Rider Series|Kamen Rider}}'', in this case {{w|Kamen Rider Den-O (character)|Kamen Rider Den-O}}.

===Errors===
* The first sentence of the Story So Far page has an unnecessary comma.
* In page 7 panel 1, Rung's dialogue of "dèjá vu" is misspelled—the diacritics are inverted; the correct spelling from French is "déjà vu".
* Cover B has the panel above Rodimus's fist — the one closer to the reader — incorrectly colored yellow.

===Other trivia===
* Like the "[[Duobot|Shock and Ore]]" gag before it, the "M.A.A.B.s or M.A.R.B.s" joke is another one that works better if you imagine it spoken with James Roberts's native English accent, where the pronunciation of the words is virtually identical, versus the more obvious difference a North American accent yields.

===Crew manifest===
* Tailgate discovers he is terminally ill.
* 11 deaths, 5 new arrivals (plus 20 or so Faders), one boxed, and one banishment since the launch.

===Soundtrack===
For all of "Remain in Light":
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjmGZfHHC80 "A Dazzling End"] from the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' {{w|Doctor Who: Series 4 (soundtrack)|Series 4 soundtrack}}, by {{w|Murray Gold}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrbxWOMpwfs "The Universal"] by {{w|Blur (band)|Blur}}

For this issue alone:
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAa7J10D8Qw "Heaven"] by the aforementioned Talking Heads
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4XHx_boqTI "A Comet Appears"] by {{w|The Shins}}

James Roberts had intended to use [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PqyfVvLlLQ "Is Anybody out There?"] by The Ballet,<ref>{{citesocial|quote=...was 'Is Anybody Out There?' by The Ballet. Est shot: Lost Light in space. Slow pan to the window of Tailgate and Cyclonus' hab suite.|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/345657487187394561|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2013|month=06|day=14|(defunct=)}}</ref> but it wasn't on YouTube.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=I wanted to use 'Is Anybody Out There?' as the theme to #17 but the song wasn't/isn't on Youtube.|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/345661668044443648|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2013|month=06|day=14|(defunct=)}}</ref>

===Foreign localization===
'''Japanese'''
* ''Title:'' "'''Hikari no Naka ni Tamarite: Hōjō no Tsuki'''" (光の中に溜まりて豊穣の月, "Gather in Light: Fecund Moon")

'''Swedish'''
* ''Title:'' "'''Stanna i Ljuset 1 av 5: Den Sjudande Månen'''" (Stay In the Light 1 of 5: The Seething Moon") or "'''Stanna i Ljuset 1 av 5: Den Fruktbara Månen'''" ("Stay In the Light 1 of 5: The Fertile Moon") <ref>The Table of Contents and the actual story differ on the title.</ref>

===Covers (5)===
* '''Cover A:''' The ''[[Lost Light]]'' crew face an onslaught of [[Legislator]]s, art by [[Alex Milne]], colours by [[Josh Perez]]
* '''Cover B:''' Rodimus flees a Legislator, art by [[Sean Chen]], colours by [[Tom Chu]].
* '''Cover RI:''' A despondent Tailgate alone beside a porthole, art by [[Nick Roche]], colours by Josh Perez.
* '''Con Edition:''' Blank white version for sketches, available exclusively at assorted conventions
* '''Comicfolio edition:''' Cover A sans trade dress, included in a die-cut hardcover portfolio with a lithograph of Cover B. Limited to 250 copies, only available through the [[IDW Limited]] store.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE17 cvrA.jpg|Light their darkest hour!
File:MTMTE17 cvrB.jpg|Run Forrest, run!
File:MTMTE17 cvrRI.jpg|Man up, Tailgate!
File:MTMTE17 conedition.jpg|The Void!
File:MTMTE17 comicfolio.jpg|It can be yours too, for only some outrageous sum.
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Shockwaves|#17]]
* ''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One|Regeneration One]]'' [[Destiny, Part One|#91]]
* ''[[The Transformers: Monstrosity|Monstrosity]]'' [[Monstrosity issue 1|#1]]
* IDW [[Dynamic Forces]] exclusives
* ''[[Doctor Who]]: Prisoners of Time'' trade paperback
* IDW Limited Transformers books
* ''[[My Little Pony]]: Color Me Treasury Edition''
* ''Regular Show''
* IDW ''Popeye'' graphic novels (back cover)

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

* '''''Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Box Set''''' ([[December 2]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631404741 / ISBN 978-1631404740
** Collects ''More Than Meets the Eye'' volumes 1–5.
** Bonus material unknown at this time.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 5]]''''' ([[February 22]], [[2017]]) ISBN 1631408445 / ISBN 978-1631408441
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Primacy|Primacy]]'' issues [[Primacy issue 1|#1]]–[[Primacy issue 4|4]], ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' issues [[Homecoming (IDW)|#19]]–[[Three Monologues|20]] & [[Shockpoint|#21]]–[[Soundwaves (issue)|22]], and ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #17–21, #22 & "[[The Sound of Breaking Glass]]".
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 57: Remain in Light''''' ([[August 21]], [[2019]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #14–21, and "[[Signal to Noise]]" & "[[The Sound of Breaking Glass]]".
** Bonus material includes a cover gallery and a forward by [[Simon Furman]].
** Hardcover format.

* '''''Transformers: Krig och hågkomst''''' ([[July]], [[2021]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #14–22, a special illustrated version of "[[The Sound of Breaking Glass]]", and ''[[The Transformers: Spotlight|Spotlight]]: [[Omega's Conundrum|Orion Pax]]''.
** Swedish reprint. Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol5.jpg|'''''More Than Meets the Eye Volume 5''''' – cover art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
File:MTMTE boxset.jpg|'''''More Than Meets the Eye Box Set''''' – cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V5.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 5''''' – cover art by Marcelo Matere and [[Tom B. Long]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v57.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 57: Remain in Light''''' – cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] (Skids) and Alex Milne (Overlord)
File:MTMTE SWE 03.jpg|'''''Krig och hågkomst''''' – cover art by Alex Milne and [[Josh Perez]].
</gallery>

==External links==
* [http://www.fullmetalhero.com/content/more-than-meets-eye-17-full-preview-6586/ Preview]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

The Gloaming

2023-12-06T04:20:20Z

Quecksilberlampe: /* Soundtrack */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=16
|prev=Under Cold Blue Stars
|next=Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon
|caption=Not to be confused with "The Glomping".
|image=MTMTE16 cvrA.jpg
|title="The Gloaming"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[April 24]], [[2013]]
|coverdate=April 2013
|story by=[[James Roberts]]
|pencils by=[[Agustin Padilla]]
|inks by=[[Jose Aviles]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|assistant editor=[[Toni Korde]] and [[Mariel Romero]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline#2012-2013|Current era (2013)]]
}}
'''Rodimus and Chromedome wrestle with their emotions in the wake of Overlord's rampage, as Ultra Magnus hovers at death's door and Drift makes a fateful decision.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Magnus shock ore powerdashers the gloaming.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.8|Badge is looking a little crooked there, Mags.]]
''Then:''

''At the [[Battle for Hell's Point]], amidst a raging firefight, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] tries to bluff the [[Warriors Elite]], only to be blasted point blank by [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] himself, sending him tumbling to the ground far below...''

''On the planet [[Clemency]], amidst the struggle over the [[Nightmare Engine]], Ultra Magnus issues orders to his troops - and then takes a direct hit from an explosive [[K-Class]] [[Torque (G1)|Decepticon]]...''

''During the battle known as the [[Simanzi Massacre]], Rotorstorm and Ultra Magnus pick their way through a swamp, trying to elude a troop of [[Cybernought]]s - but one Cybernought has found them, and unleashes its full firepower on Ultra Magnus...''

Now:

Fatally wounded by [[Overlord (G1)|Overlord]], Ultra Magnus lies on [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]]'s operating table aboard the ''[[Lost Light]]''. [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] sits by his bedside and plays his [[The Empyrean Suite|favorite song]] for him, and [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] cleans his body. Neither of the little bots' efforts are particularly appreciated by Ratchet, nor is [[Drift (G1)|Drift]]'s disgust at his use of what he calls a "[[death clock]]": a medical scanning field that monitors the rate of contraction of Magnus's shrinking [[spark]] to calculate a time of death. With the clock giving Magnus only ten more days, Tailgate grows increasingly distraught, partially at the clinical approach the others are taking to the situation. Punctuating this sentiment, Swerve shushes him so they can hear an announcement over the tannoy by [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]], who vows to discover who is responsible for Overlord's being on the ship.

Worried about [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]]'s emotional state following [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]]'s death, [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] goes looking for him, and finds him outside the ship, on the hull, watching the stars as he used to do with Rewind. Discovering him to be quite calm and collected—eerily so—Skids leaves. Someone who is ''not'' so calm and collected, however, is Rodimus, who has just finished trashing his office in a rage when [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] enters. The pair talk about Magnus and the source of Rodimus's fury; Rung opines that his anger is not over his failure to protect his crew, but rather, over the fact that ''he himself'' was not responsible for defeating Overlord. The psychiatrist's words evidently strike too close to home, and Rodimus menacingly invites Rung to vacate his office, which he does with all due haste.

[[File:Brainstorm brings briefcase to funeral.jpg|thumb]]
Presently, a group funeral is held for those who died during Overlord's rampage, and as everyone settles into place for the speeches, Swerve resolves to distract himself from Rewind's death by finding out what's inside [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]]'s briefcase. Proceedings soon get underway; Rodimus delivers a eulogy for popular crew member [[Tripodeca]], then invites Chromedome to say a few words for Rewind, noting—after a stern glare from Rung—the little archivist's central role in saving the ship. Chromedome delivers a brief, unemotional farewell for his partner and returns to his seat, piquing Brainstorm's attention. After the deceased's bodies are given a space burial, the scientist follows Chromedome back to his quarters, where he finds him sorting through Rewind's belongings and disposing of them. It turns out Brainstorm has seen Chromedome like this before: the surgeon has had several [[Conjunx Endura]]e in his life, and after the deaths of each one, the intensity of the emotional connections he forged with them repeatedly led him to use his [[mnemosurgery]] skills on himself, removing his memories of them in order to escape the hurt. Chromedome has been so disconnected because he has been planning to do this to himself; this, Brainstorm explains, is why he does not have any [[innermost energon]]—not because he was born without it, but because he has loved and lost so many that he has given it all up as deathbed offerings. Chromedome half-heartedly promises Brainstorm he won't go through with it, but Brainstorm knows better, having had this conversation with him before. The scientist sadly leaves the room after giving him one final gift: a [[data slug]] thrown through the doors of the [[slow cell]] by Rewind before they closed. [[File:TheGloaming-iloveyou.jpg|thumb|left|They're totally NOT gay, you guys. They're just bros. With vows.]] Left alone, Chromedome plays the slug to discover a farewell message from Rewind, edited together from his database of video and audio clips in the final moments of this life, which entreats Chromedome to be strong, to go on without Rewind, and to allow himself to be happy. Rewind signs off by telling Chromedome he loves him, and Chromedome, after a moment, retracts his mnemosurgery needles back into his fingers.

As Chromedome is playing the message, much of the rest of the crew gathers in the shuttle bay, where Rodimus addresses them. An investigation into the culprit behind Overlord's presence was not necessary, as Drift has admitted responsibility and explained everything. With barely restrained fury, Rodimus strips him of his Autobot symbol and exiles him from the ship. As he walks towards [[Drift's shuttle|the shuttle]] prepared for him, Drift is knocked down by a piece of debris hurled by an angry crew member; Ratchet helps him up, and Drift departs on his little ship.

Down in the medical bay, as Rodimus's announcement plays over the tannoy, Ultra Magnus's arm moves, and his hand clenches into a fist. A little later, Ratchet and Tailgate return to find that he has disappeared! Half-jokingly suggesting they look under the table, Tailgate leans forward, into the path of the scanning field... then looks up to see that the "death clock" is giving him just under three-and-a-half days to live!
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks and/or Rewind's video clips.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* ''[[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]]'' (1)
* ''[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]]'' (2)
* ''[[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]]'' (3)
* ''[[Grimlock (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Grimlock]]'' (4)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (5)
* ''[[Ore]]'' (12)
* ''[[Shock (G1)|Shock]]'' (13)
* ''[[Zetar (G1)|Zetar]]'' (14)
* ''[[Cromar]]'' (15)
* ''[[Rotorstorm (G1)|Rotorstorm]]'' (18)
* [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (19)
* [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (20)
* [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (22)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (23)
* [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (24)
* [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (25)
* [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (26)
* [[Xaaron]] (27)
* [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (29)
* [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] (30)
* [[Tripodeca]] (31)
* "[[Toxin]]" (32)
* [[Atomizer]] (33)
* ''[[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]]'' (34)
* ''[[Slamdance (G1)|Slamdance]]'' (35)
* ''[[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]]'' (36)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* ''[[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]]'' (37)
* ''[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]]'' (38)
* ''[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]'' (39)
* ''[[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]]'' (40)
* ''[[Kick-Off (G1)|Kick-Off]]'' (43)
* ''[[Skyfall (G1)|Skyfall]]'' (44)
* ''[[Ambulon]] (45)
* ''[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]]'' (46)
* ''[[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] (47)
* ''[[Springer (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Springer]]'' (48)
* ''[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (49)
* ''[[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]]'' (50)
{{!}}}
|c2=
* [[Overlord (G1)|Overlord]] (6)
* ''[[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]]'' (7)
* ''[[Heretech]]'' (8)
* ''[[Killmaster]]'' (9)
* ''[[Black Shadow (G1)|Black Shadow]]'' (10)
* ''[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]'' (11)
* ''Numerous [[K-Class]] 'bots'' (16)
* ''[[Torque (G1)|Torque]]'' (17)
* ''[[Snaptrap (G1)|Snaptrap]]'' (41)
|c4=
* [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (21)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (28)
* ''[[Nova Prime]]'' (42)
}}

==Quotes==

"At the risk of sparking an '''ontological argument''', certain machines—machines like that—are an '''affront to nature'''."
:—'''Drift''', on the "death clock"

"Look, I know you want me to tell you it's going to be okay, but—" 
<big>"'''Yes!'''</big> Yes, I '''do'''! Because it's '''not''' okay! I '''know''' 'okay'—I '''specialize''' in 'okay'—and I can tell you pretty emphatically that '''none''' of this—none of this business with '''Overlord''' and '''Magnus''' and '''Rewind'''—none of this even '''approaches''' my definition of 'okay'!" 
"Maybe you should see '''Rung'''. You could be suffering from some kind of '''stress-related disorder'''..." 
"I'm '''upset'''! Doesn't anyone '''do''' upset anymore? What's '''wrong''' with you people? Is this a '''war thing'''?"
:—'''Ratchet''' and '''Tailgate'''

"Rewind and I used to come out here a lot. Mapping the constellations... Heh—that makes it sound too grand. We used to make pictures with stars. Over there—look—we have the ''[[Vis Vitalis]]''. And there's '''Prowl''' being hit over the head by a [[fusion cannon]]. Whack!" 
"I'm struggling to see that one." 
"Yeah, I just made that one up for '''old time's sake'''. Prowl being battered was a Rewind special."
:—'''Chromedome''' and '''Skids'''

"Sir, I don't think you did this to your office because of Ultra Magnus. You're angry, but not about that." 
"I'm angry because I failed the crew." 
"Or maybe... maybe what's '''really''' making you angry is the fact that you didn't defeat Overlord yourself. Fortress Maximus and Chromedome and Rewind—dear Rewind—'''they''' got him off the ship. '''They''' saved everyone; not you. And you hate it, and you hate that you hate it." 
"I think you'd better leave now." 
"But my point is that you '''shouldn't''' hate yourself for feeling—" 
"'''Quickly.'''"
:—'''Rung''' gets a little too close to the truth with '''Rodimus'''

'''Skids:''' "I can't believe Brainstorm brought his '''briefcase''' to a funeral. Ever wonder what's in—" 
'''Swerve:''' "'''Absolutely all the time.'''" 
'''Whirl:''' "It'll be '''exquisite''', whatever it is. Brainstorm's a frikkin' '''artist'''." 
'''Swerve:''' "Okay, that's it, '''new mission:''' open the briefcase. It'll distract me from Rewind." 
'''Skids:''' "Great. I look forward to the crippling anticlimax." 

"It always ends the same way. I'll leave the room and you'll stick your fingers in your neck; and later, when I ask you how you're feeling, you'll give me that blank look. The '''worst''' look. Because then Rewind really '''will''' be dead."
:—'''Brainstorm''', to Chromedome

"Your attention for a moment. This is Rewind, showing you edited footage from my database. I've probably got about 0.8 seconds before game over, so hear me out. I've always been terrified that you'd die before I did, because you and me apart strikes me as intensely wrong. So promise me something. Be brave. And be strong. And keep going without me. And another thing: no more injecting. It '''will''' kill you. And remember: you deserve to be happy. The New Institute was the old you. You're a better person now—stubborn and frustrating, but wonderful. And to think, I will never see you again. One more thing—one last thing—because I don't say it enough: I love you."
:—'''Rewind'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s final message (edited together for readability)

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
[[File:Gloaming-warriors-elite.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.8|Ultra Magnus smiled once and regretted it ever since.]]
* Magnus's first flashback is to the [[Battle for Hell's Point]], a conflict previously mentioned in [[Chaos Theory Part 1|"Chaos Theory," Part 1]] and Impactor's [[Autopedia]] profile in [[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|''Last Stand of the Wreckers'' #5]] (and sure enough, Impactor does cameo on the first page).
* The [[Warriors Elite]] were the subgroup from which the later [[Phase Sixer]]s would be chosen; they were first mentioned by name back in [[Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|issue #2]] and had their origins properly explained in [[Remembrance Day|issue #14]]. This issue gives us our first look at Heretech, only previously mentioned in #14, and reveals that the wand-wielding [[Killmaster]] (intermittently mentioned through Roberts's works starting with [[How Ratchet Got His Hands Back|issue #5]]) is also a member of the group. He was not listed among them in #14, leaving it ambiguous whether he also underwent the Ununtrium process.
* It was noted in "Chaos Theory" that the Battle for Hell's Point was Megatron's first outing with his pistol [[alternate mode]], reflected in this issue when Magnus doesn't realize the gun Heretech is holding is Megatron until he speaks.
* Magnus's second flashback is to the battle on the planet [[Clemency]] which we saw the Decepticon side of in [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|issue #8]]. Clemency is revealed to be the location of the [[Nightmare Engine]], a mysterious Decepticon weapon mentioned in [[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 4|''Last Stand of the Wreckers'' #4]].
* Magnus's team is on Clemency to save [[Pious Maximus]], a religious figure who appeared in [[Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism|issue #10]].
* The K-Class Decepticon with Magnus's name written on his side is [[Torque (G1)|Torque]], who appeared in issue #8 with Magnus's name on display even then.
* The third flashback takes us to [[Simanzi]], home to the [[Crucible]] and site of a famous massacre first mentioned in [[Rotorstorm (G1)|Rotorstorm]]'s Autopedia profile from [[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 1|''Last Stand of the Wreckers'' #1]].
* Magnus's team falls foul of a [[Cybernought]] on Simanzi; one of these gigantic battle mechs previously appeared in issue #8.
[[File:MTMTE16 magnus on simanzi.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.8|Just a speck of dirt. - DIRT?!]]
* We ''thought'' Magnus's flashbacks were offering us some insight into a few of his foibles in the ''More than Meets the Eye'' series: he smiles at the Warriors Elite (the "one time" that he smiled "and regretted it" referred to in his short bio on the "Meet the Cast" page), his Autobot symbol is crooked at Clemency, he's waist-deep in filth and called "Mags" at Simanzi. Rotorstorm even refers to Magnus' wisecracks, something Skids mentioned in [[Interiors|issue #6]]. All these ran counter to the grim, dirt-hating, badge-obsessive protocol freak we'd seen for the past year, and every time something horribly violent happened to him. Actually, the real reason was [[Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|something else entirely]]. At the time, an evil James Roberts said the flashbacks were so we could [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|"remember him as he was"...]] <ref>http://tformers.com/transformers-more-than-meets-the/19940/news.html</ref>
* Swerve is playing "[[The Empyrean Suite]]" for Magnus, a piece of music that we learned was running through Skids's head back in issue #8. There, we learned the music has a sinister connotation that we are not yet aware of, but which, per Swerve's dialogue, is evidently common knowledge.
* Skids refers to Trailbreaker's change of name (to Trail''cutter'')—referred to previously in-dialogue in [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|the ''More than Meets the Eye'' Annual]]—which was explained the same month this issue was published in ''[[The Reluctant Specialist|Spotlight: Trailcutter]]''.
* We get our first glimpse of the decorative flames painted on Rodimus's doorframe, in imitation of those on his chest. They were previously described in the prose story "[[Signal to Noise]]".
* Unseen Autobots [[Spoke]] and [[Lockstock]] get another mention, having first been spoken of in [[Before & After|issue #12]]. The running gag is that they're clearly a big noise on the ship, but we never get to see or hear from them; here, they're established to be friends with the super-popular Tripodeca.
* Chromedome's lack of innermost energon was mentioned in issue #12.
* Brainstorm implies that he has loved and lost as well in his life, a point which will be revisited in [[Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|issue 38]] as an explanation for his actions in that arc.
* Five previously seen scenes from the past issues of ''More than Meets the Eye'' can be spotted among Rewind's collage of video clips:
** Rodimus addressing the crew after the accident with the quantum engines ([[Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|issue #2]])
** Prowl urging Rewind to change Chromedome's mind ([[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|issue #1]])
** Brainstorm placing a bet on when Rodimus would say "Till all are one" ([[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|Annual 2012]])
** Tailgate inquiring about the ending of Rewind's "epic story" ([[Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|issue #11]])
** Trailbreaker holding Shock's extracted [[brain module]] ([[Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|issue #3]])
* Rewind's clips also include a "deleted scene" of sorts, of Swerve saying "this is" with Tailgate behind him. This is from when he introduced Tailgate to Rewind (obviously saying "This is Tailgate") which took place in issue #2, but only Rewind's response is actually in the issue itself.
* Also among Rewind's clips is a shot of [[Snaptrap (G1)|Snap Trap]] behind bars. He's obviously in the brig of the ''Lost Light'' following his capture in issue #12, and is still sporting the stab-wound in his faceplate he sustained in that issue.

===Transformers references===
* Among Magnus's team on Clemency are the [[Powerdasher]]s, of whom the drill and jet types appear on-panel (but more are indicated to be present). Magnus issues orders to a character named "[[Cromar]]"—while this name is not explicitly attached to a character on-page, it was the name given to the jet Powerdasher when it was released by [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] in the United States (under ''[[Diakron]]'') and by both [[GiG]] and [[Joustra]] in Europe (under ''[[Diaclone]]'').
* Brainstorm names three of Chromedome's past lovers as [[Pivot]], [[Scattergun]], and [[Mach (G1)|Mach]]. The first two are new names, while Mach was the name of a member of the [[Multiforce]] from ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (franchise)#Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory|Victory]]''. Same dude? Why not!
* Tripodeca's design was strongly influenced by [[Mini-Con]] [[High Wire (Armada)|High Wire]] from ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Transformers: Armada]]''. In the script notes, James Roberts says "For some reason, in my head, he's reminiscent of Jolt from TF: Armada"; presumably, he'd just gotten mixed up, as the description given is much more fitting for High Wire.
* Artist Agustin Padilla accidentally drew Chromedome amongst the Autobots gathered in the shuttle bay on page 17. With a quick edit to the lineart and a new blue, green, and white paintjob, colorist Josh Burcham turned the figure into "Toxin", an unofficial redeco of Chromedome created for fan-run Canadian convention [[Unofficial conventions|TFCon 2011]].
* The last clip in Rewind's message features a [[scraplet]] in a Petri dish. While they've previously been mentioned, this is the species's first on-panel appearance in the IDW continuity. This specific scraplet is based directly on one of the critters that appeared in [[The Cure!|issue #30]] of the original Marvel ''Transformers'' series, the second part of the two-part story that introduced them into ''Transformers'' lore—page 8, panel 4, of the issue to be exact!

===Real-life references===
* "Gloaming" is an old Scottish word meaning "twilight". That it is also the name of a Radiohead song from their 2003 album ''{{w|Hail to the Thief}}'' is only coincidence [http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?t=13702], despite Roberts' [[Dissolution Part 6: This Machine Kills Fascists|predilection]] [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|for]] [[Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|dropping]] [[Momus|musical]] [[Under Cold Blue Stars|references]] into his work.
* The death clock may or may not be a reference to Professor Farnsworth's [http://theinfosphere.org/Death_clock invention of the same name and purpose] in the ''{{w|Futurama}}'' episode "{{w|A Big Piece of Garbage}}."
* The name Chromedome gives a constellation, the "Vis Vitalis", is the name of a classical alchemical principle of a "life force" possessed by living creatures. It was later revealed that famed Autobot [[Thunder Clash]] has a ship named the ''Vis Vitalis''.

===Errors===
* In both past and present sequences, Ultra Magnus is consistently drawn with his original Generation 1 body, a look he's never worn in 2005 IDW continuity.
* Other consistent drawing errors include Rodimus having two "claws" per arm instead of the usual three, and Brainstorm's main wings being attached to his backpack rather than his shoulders.
* The name of the Decepticons' giant battle mechs is spelled "Cybernaught" here, but was spelled "Cybern'''o'''ught" back in issue #8. The TPB retains the 'Cybernaught' spelling despite correcting all other typos.
* Swerve and Tailgate are both drawn at around the same height as Ratchet, when they should be much shorter.
* When Chromedome and Skids are standing on the Lost Light's outer hull, neither is wearing magna-clamps on his feet.
* The five coffins at the funeral are each marked by a colored flame. On page 11, they are red, green, white, and two are blue. On page 12, however, Tripodeca's flame is none of these colors, appearing yellow instead.
* As he contemplates playing Rewind's data disc, Chromedome's finger-needles are not shown. He extended them just before this scene, and he has them extended in the very next panel.
* The final image in Rewind's message is one of him and Chromedome, taken by himself in a reflective surface—but his head-cam is still on the left-hand side of his head, when it should be mirrored.

===Other trivia===
* James Roberts cites this issue as the one he's most proud of, particularly the scenes with Chromedome and Brainstorm and Rewind's final message. He'd wanted to end the Chromedome/Rewind story with ''those'' three words but only told IDW & Hasbro late in the day, vaguely worried that this would be controversial. As it turned out, both were supportive.<ref>[http://www.fullmetalhero.com/t14540/ Moonbase2's second interview with James Roberts - 01:40:04 to 01:40:30]</ref>
* When it was initially released through digital retailer Comixology, buyers of this issue found they received a copy of [[Heavy Is the Head|''Robots in Disguise'' #16]] instead. The comic was fortunately updated to the correct one within just over an hour.
* Rewind's shattered head-camera is among the drifting debris at the top of page 5.
* Chromedome is wearing a black Autobot [[insignia]] in mourning.
* Page 7 includes a shot of Overlord's smashed body drifting in space. He's pretty clearly making a fist, but a conspicuous piece of space debris floating past in the foreground obscures his hand, and what he may or not may not be holding, leaving open the possibility that Rewind has survived the events of last issue, and remains in the villain's clutches. This was entirely deliberate; it was indeed initially planned for Rewind to survive with the intent that he would return several years later, during the book's "[[The Transformers: Lost Light|third season]]," but in the end, these plans never came to fruition.
* Among Rewind's belongings seen on pages 14 and 15 is a black tablet with a blank label. This is a copy of Rewind's ''Lost Light'' documentary, "[[Little Victories]]", which wound up not getting labelled before the issue went to print.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-comics-discussion/959698-mtmte-22-now-ibooks-here-spoilers-13.html#post10161727 Josh Burcham posts on TFW2005]</ref>
* The "Meet the Crew" page is completely overhauled this issue, with new mini-bios for everyone. The red "x" implying his death last issue is removed from Ultra Magnus's entry, while the dispatched [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] and Rewind are replaced with Fortress Maximus and Perceptor. Chromedome's position is listed as "lamentatorem", Latin for "mourner".
* For the first time in the series, the last names of the inker and colorist of the issue were on the front cover.

===Crew manifest===
* Tripodeca is revealed to have been among those killed in Overlord's rampage. Four other caskets are jettisoned along with his; assuming one contains Pipes, and that Rewind didn't get one since he left no remains to jettison, that would mean three other unnamed crewmembers were victims of Overlord too.
* Ultra Magnus has ten days of life remaining.
* Tailgate's only got three! Wha-huh?
* 11 deaths, 1 fatal wounding, 5 new arrivals (plus 20 or so Faders), and 1 boxed since the launch.

===Soundtrack===
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn_uWqlbdOM "Your Funny Uncle"] by {{w|Pet Shop Boys}}
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_2c_E_c-U0 "Holes"] by {{w|Mercury Rev}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Please think of this song when reading MTMTE #16. http://t.co/NgEZDKAI2e|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/322681873677574145|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2013|month=04|day=12|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3uIwEY27DQ "Tracy"] by {{w|Mogwai}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-B4cXLagkk "Les Jour Tristes"] by {{w|Neil Hannon}} & {{w|Yann Tiersen}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zH29SOVADBE "The Sadness of Things"] by {{w|Momus (musician)|Momus}}
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpBnX27eF_w "Embers"] by Byrne
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOBs8dU4Pb8 "Run"] by {{w|Snow Patrol}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Continuing the soundtrack to MTMTE #16. http://t.co/LzS9dCdEe9 See? I'm not afraid to go mainstream. One more song to come before Wednesday.|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/325551925049323520|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2013|month=04|day=20|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIa1bWw7-7Q "Lullaby"] by {{w|Arco (band)|Arco}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=As promised, the last MTMTE#16 song teaser. Issue's out tomorrow, folks. http://t.co/xTwtLerA75|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/326788231821676545|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2013|month=04|day=23|(defunct=)}}</ref>

===Foreign localization===
'''Japanese'''
* ''Title:'' "'''Hakubo'''" (薄暮, "Dusk")

'''Swedish'''
* ''Title:'' "'''Skymning'''" ("Twilight")

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A:''' Drift turns from a shattered Autobot [[insignia]], by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Joana Lafuente]].
* '''Cover B:''' Rodimus, post-tantrum, in his wrecked office, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Priscilla Tramontano]].
* '''Cover RI:''' Monochrome white (with a few red highlights) bust shot of Drift, by [[Marcelo Matere]], continuing the previous three months' "bust" theme for the RI covers, paralleling the RI cover to ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Heavy Is the Head|#16]].

<gallery>
File:MTMTE16 cvrA.jpg|Did Drift leave the Autobots, or did the Autobots leave Drift?
File:MTMTE16 cvrB.jpg|Rodimus is such a prat.
File:MTMTE16 cvrRI.jpg|Howdy, Drift!
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Heavy Is the Head|#16]]
* ''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One|Regeneration One]]'' [[Natural Selection, Part Five|#90]]
* [[Free Comic Book Day]]
* ''Regular Show''
* ''Danger Girl: Trinity'' (back cover)

===Reprints===
* '''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 4''''' ([[July 17]], [[2013]]) ISBN 1613776918 / ISBN 978-1613776919 
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #12–16.
** Bonus material includes art from most covers, and the prose story "[[Signal to Noise]]".
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Box Set''''' ([[December 2]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631404741 / ISBN 978-1631404740
** Collects ''More Than Meets the Eye'' volumes 1–5.
** Bonus material unknown at this time.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 4]]''''' ([[October 12]], [[2016]]) ISBN 1631407155 / ISBN 978-1631407154
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Monstrosity|Monstrosity]]'' issues [[Derelicts|#1]]–[[Belly of the Beast (issue)|12]], ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' issues [[City on Fire|#12]]–[[Heavy Is the Head|16]] & [[Shockwaves|#17]]–[[Second Exodus|18]], and ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #14–16.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 57: Remain in Light''''' ([[August 21]], [[2019]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #14–21, and "[[Signal to Noise]]" & "[[The Sound of Breaking Glass]]".
** Bonus material includes a cover gallery and a forward by [[Simon Furman]].
** Hardcover format.

* '''''Transformers: Krig och hågkomst''''' ([[July]], [[2021]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #14–22, a special illustrated version of "[[The Sound of Breaking Glass]]", and ''[[The Transformers: Spotlight|Spotlight]]: [[Omega's Conundrum|Orion Pax]]''.
** Swedish reprint. Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol4.jpg|'''''More than Meets the Eye Volume 4''''' – cover art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
File:MTMTE boxset.jpg|'''''More Than Meets the Eye Box Set''''' – cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V4.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 4''''' – cover art by Marcelo Matere and [[Tom B. Long]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v57.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 57: Remain in Light''''' – cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] (Skids) and Alex Milne (Overlord)
File:MTMTE SWE 03.jpg|'''''Krig och hågkomst''''' – cover art by Alex Milne and [[Josh Perez]].
</gallery>

==External links==
* [http://www.fullmetalhero.com/t12365/ Preview]
* [http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/creator-commentary-with-james-roberts-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-ongoing-16/27146/ Creator Commentary with James Roberts]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gloaming}}

Cybertronian Homesick Blues

2023-11-29T00:28:53Z

Quecksilberlampe: /* Soundtrack */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=13
|prev=Before & After
|next=Signal to Noise
|caption=
|image=MTMTE13_cvrA.jpg
|title="Cybertronian Homesick Blues"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|published in=[[More than Meets the Eye issue 13|''More than Meets the Eye'' #13]]
|date=[[February 6]], [[2013]]
|coverdate=January 2013
|story by=[[James Roberts]]
|pencils by=[[Guido Guidi]]
|inks by=[[John Wycough]], [[Juan Castro]], [[Guido Guidi]]. and [[Marc Deering]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]] (pg. 1-10, 13, 14, 17) and [[Joana Lafuente]] (pg. 11, 12, 15, 16, 18-22)
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2012)]]
}}
'''Well-kept secrets come out when Swerve takes his friends on shore leave on the pleasure planet Hedonia.'''

==Synopsis==
''[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] has repaired the ''[[Lost Light]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s long-range subspace network, and [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] has bribed him with free drinks to let him send the first transmission back to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. He records a message for his old buddy [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]], explaining the ship's explosive departure and the progress of the quest, and then begins to tell the story of the events of the previous day...''

[[File:Aquafend swerve drift cybertronian homesick blues.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]
A horrible howling sound emerging from [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]]'s hab-suite catches Swerve's attention on his way to work, but before he can open the door, he is yanked away by [[Drift (G1)|Drift]], who is preparing to storm the room with [[Aquafend]]. They proceed to kick the door in, to discover that the noise was Cyclonus singing a hymn in [[Cybertronian language#2005 IDW continuity|Old Cybertronian]]. Suitably chastened, Drift returns to [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]]'s office to carry on teaching the captain parrying, and Swerve tags along, asking the ninja-bot to become his new room-mate. Moments later, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] comes storming in, wound tighter than ever and rattling off a list of the crew's preposterously minor protocol infractions. Rodimus suggests he relax, and proposes that the crew take some "shore leave" on the nearby planet [[Hedonia]], convincing Swerve to show Magnus the planet's sights.

On the trip down to Hedonia, Swerve and Tailgate chat about the latter's choice in roommates and Cyclonus's past, and Swerve's friendship with Blurr, while Magnus desperately tries to relax. Setting down on the planet, Swerve's "posse" employ new auto-generated, personality-based [[holomatter]] avatars to find a mechanoid-friendly bar; Magnus's choice of a self-designed avatar based on [[Verity Carlo]] leaves them all asking questions. Swerve convinces Magnus to deactivate his fuel intake moderation chip so that he can enjoy drinking, but [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] exploits the opportunity to slip him a mickey—weapons-grade [[Nucleon (substance)|Nucleon]], which knocks Magnus out completely. Two hours later, the rest of the group are playing the "nemesis game", naming their worst enemies, when Magnus begins to come around and everyone but Swerve immediately flees in fear of repercussions. The sozzled Magnus mopes about his predicament to Swerve, about hating the quest and being hated by everyone and wanting to go back to Cybertron, and almost confesses to enjoying ''music'' when he notices Swerve's [[Autobot]] badge is missing. He dubs the little 'bot a shirker before gulping down another drink and passing out again.

A little later, the others return with trinkets bought from the gift shop; Rung has purchased a new model ship that reminds Skids of the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark-1]]'', prompting Rewind to play some millennia-old footage of the opening ceremony for the ship's launch, in which the crew was named. Suddenly, Cyclonus flies into a rage, flipping over the table and getting into a scuffle with Skids. Tailgate intervenes, urging the others to head back to the shuttle while he calms Cyclonus, and Swerve realises they only have twenty minutes to do so. Whirl quickly flies everyone back to the shuttle, after which they project their holomatters avatars back to the bar in order to transport the still-unconscious Ultra Magnus back via a short-cut through an organics-only area. To do so, he must be in his [[alternate mode]], so they drag him out of the bar and begin jumping up and down on him in order to make him involuntarily transform, and they eventually succeed... except, he's upside down. After managing him to flip him over, the group drives back to the shuttle, happily commenting on what a good time they've had.

[[File:Cyclonus tailgate singing cybertronian homesick blues.jpg|thumb]]
And back at the bar, a perfectly calm Cyclonus reveals something to Tailgate: he ''knows'' that he is lying, that he was not on the ''Ark''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s crew manifest - there was a [[Tailpipe (G1)|Tail''pipe'']], but no Tail''gate''. Tailgate realises that Cyclonus made a scene to save him from discovery, and sadly confesses that he never worked in ''bomb'' disposal, or the [[Primal Vanguard]]: he was actually a ''waste'' disposal 'bot, and he lied about himself because he was despondent over having never even been looked for after he fell through the [[Mitteous Plateau]] while on the way to rinse out the ''Ark-1''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s coolant. Cyclonus points out that he'll be caught out one day, but offers to share his method of easing sadness: he teaches Tailgate a song in Old Cybertronian, and the pair sing together in the empty bar.

''Swerve finishes up his recording, but when Blaster tries to send it to Blurr's personal hailing frequency, it does not go through. Swerve flashes back to the last time he met Blurr, and we learn it was the ''only'' time: he and Blurr were never friends, Swerve was just an over-eager fan who shared one or two sentences about opening a bar with Blurr while getting an autograph, and was fobbed off with a fake hailing frequency. He glumly returns to his bar, and in time, Ultra Magnus arrives, finally recovered from the previous night. He hands Swerve a new Autobot badge, revealing that he remembers everything about the drunken escapade. Swerve cautiously asks him if he'd like to be his new roomate, but Magnus simply chides him for his familiarity, making implicitly clear that nothing has changed between them.''
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks other than the extended one that makes up the main body of the story.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (1)
* ''[[Jazz (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jazz]]'' (2)
* ''[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]]'' (3)
* ''[[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]]'' (4)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (5)
* [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (6)
* [[Aquafend]] (7)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (10)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (11)
* [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (12)
* [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (13)
* [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (14)
* [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (15)
{{!}}}
|c4=
* [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (8)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (9)
}}

==Quotes==
"'''MUTINY!''' Everywhere I look I see rules being '''stretched''' and laws being '''broken''' and protocols being '''dragged outside and kicked to death.''' I've made a list: '''one,''' Skids keeps using the maintenance droids for target practice. '''Two,''' [[Waverider]] and [[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]] '''insist''' on playing '''hand-grenade''' tag outside my office. '''Three:''' the warning signs that '''[[Dipstick]]'s''' put up in the engine rooms are '''riddled''' with misplaced apostrophes. '''Four:''' [[Sprocket (G1)|Sprocket]] keeps touching his—" 
"'''MAGNUS!'''"
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Rodimus'''

"Maybe I have been taking things too seriously. Maybe I should try and... and... whatever. There's a word for it." 
"Relax?" 
"That's not even a word. I'd have heard of it."
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Rodimus'''

"If anyone can cheer [Magnus] up, you can!" 
"You say "cheer him up" like it's something '''other''' than a centuries-long undertaking destined to end in madness and suicide."
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Swerve'''

'''Rewind:''' "These holomatter avatars are '''brilliant'''—they even come with '''fake I.D.s!''' Say hello to 'Joe Human.' Who are you, Swerve?" 
'''Swerve:''' "'Mr. Person.' I dunno, these pseudonyms are a bit '''weak,''' aren't they?" 
'''Skids:''' "Least you've got a name—mine's '''blank.'''" 
'''Rung:''' "I think the program is struggling with human gender—do I '''look''' like a 'Mary Sue'?"

'''Rewind:''' "'Course, you know who Misfire reminds me of..." 
'''Swerve:''' "Shaddup." 
'''Rewind:''' "'''And''' you're a bad shot!" 
'''Swerve:''' "Not as bad as '''Misfire!'''" 
'''Rung:''' "My head begs to differ."

"I'm a serious person, Swerve! I can't help it! I only have two expressions, and the second one is just an angrier version of the first!"
:—'''Ultra Magnus'''

'''Rewind:''' "'Join me!' says Rodimus. 'Help me search for the Knights of Cybertron! Explore strange new worlds! Seek out new life! Jump up and down on the Duly Appointed Officer of the Tyrest Accord!'" 
'''Swerve:''' "I don't care what happens next: this quest just made the '''top three'''..." 
'''Rung:''' "Do you think this type of thing happens to '''Bumblebee''' and '''Prowl'''?"

==Notes==

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Quests cybertronian homesick blues.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|Though epic, his quest for Roger Ebert's approval [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|was to]] [[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|no avail.]] ]]
* Swerve's top ten list of quests include the "Moonquest" for [[Moonbase One|Luna-1]] he mentioned going on in [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|issue #1]]; a "Matrix Quest", referring to the [[Matrix Quest|story arc]] by that name from the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Generation 1 Marvel comic]]; a "Titan Quest", which presumably ''doesn't'' refer to the events of the [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|2012 annual]], since Swerve didn't go on that mission; and something called a "[[Thumb Quest]]", which he describes as legendarily bad later in the issue (and yet still makes #5 on his top ten!).
* In this issue only, Aquafend was shown with an exposed mouth. He hasn't been seen without his mouthplate in subsequent issues, so it's up for debate on whether he has a retractable mouthplate or if it was simply due to the artist's differing art style.
* The luckless [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] got hit by [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]]'s [[existential gun]] at some point off-panel — another incident he can add to his growing list of unfortunate events.
* Cyclonus sings in Old Cybertronian, the ancient language from several previous Roberts issues, most famously spoken by [[Vos (G1)|Vos]]. He is also noted to have a Tetrahexian accent; he mourned for the loss of [[Tetrahex]] back in issue #1.
* Swerve is looking for a new room-mate since his previous one, [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], was put into cold storage in [[Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|issue #11]]. In the course of the story he is turned down by Drift, Tailgate and finally Ultra Magnus, ultimately leaving the spot vacant and Swerve alone. This becomes a key plot point [[The One Where They Go to Earth|later]].
* Swerve recalls his time on [[Kimia Facility|Kimia]], and Cyclonus's attack on the facility, from the "[[Chaos (IDW)|Chaos]]" storyline.
* The unrealistic nature of holomatter avatar hair is flagged up, originally mentioned in [[How Ratchet Got His Hands Back|issue #5]].
* Swerve plans to visit [[simultronic]] suites while on Hedonia, a form of virtual reality escapism seen in ''[[Spotlight: Blurr]]''.
* Magnus chummed around with Verity Carlo during the ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'' mini-series. She appears on the cover in her sports-bra-and-hot-pants getup from that mini, while in the comic itself she appears in the clothes she wore back during the "-ations" era. Magnus recalls the nickname she called him in ''Last Stand'', "Uncle Magnus".
* [[Killmaster]] (the one with the wand), mentioned before in issue #5 and ''[[Omega's Conundrum|Spotlight: Orion Pax]]'', is revealed to be Whirl's arch-nemesis, and consequently—not too surprisingly—quite dead, [[Dissolution Part 3: A World Misplaced|according to Whirl]].
[[File:Swerve temporary badge.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|right|Stupid crotch badge.]]
* What the rest of Swerve's pals get up to after ditching him with Magnus for a while is revealed in the short prose story included in the back of this issue, "[[Signal to Noise]]".
* Magnus tells Swerve that [[Tyrest]] promised him things—and that he took them. Swerve struggles to understand, but what these things were will be revealed [[Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|soon enough]].
* Magnus also confesses to a love of music—something that will be revisited in the Christmas special, [[Silent Light]].
* Swerve mentions his last Autobot [[insignia|badge]] got damaged. ''[[The One Where They Go to Earth|Really doesn't sound that important, does it?]]'' He also mentions that he had a "temporary" badge, but adds that "it looked stupid". Back in [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|issue 1]] (drawn by [[Nick Roche]]), we saw that his "temporary" badge was located on his ''crotch''. Once [[Alex Milne]] took over art duties beginning with [[Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|issue 2]], he kept drawing Swerve without a badge.
* Skids buys Rodimus a [[Galactic Council]] captain's hat from the gift shop, hearkening back to Rodimus's comments about funny hats in the 2012 annual.
* The memorial plaque for the ''Ark-1'' seen in [[Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|issue #9]] included the name "Tail-", obstructed by shadow. Now we know that was not Tailgate, as we were supposed to think at the time, but another guy called [[Tailpipe (G1)|Tail''pipe'']].
* The partially-faded inscription on Tailgate's arm, it is revealed, originally said "Waste Disposal", but he had Ratchet replace the damaged text with "Bomb Disposal" prior to [[Interiors|issue #6]]. In an artistic error that was presumably the result of foreknowledge of this twist, the first few instances of the "fixed" inscription seen on Tailgate's arm in said issue actually ''did'' read "Waste Disposal", which was later corrected for the trade paperback collection.
* As many fans correctly theorized, Tailgate's odd behavior in [[Before & After|issue #12]] was indeed him leading Rewind into explaining to him what he should do in order to defuse the bomb correctly.
* The song Cyclonus teaches Tailgate, like [[Vos (G1)|Vos]]'s dialogue from issue #7, uses the [[Cyberglyphics]] substitution cypher from the [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|Titan ''Transformers'' comic]] and translates to "I've got my own". (Tailgate initially mispronounces it as "I've goq my xwn".)
* Rewind pokes fun at Swerve, saying that he is a similar personality to [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire's]]—right down to his poor aim. Swerve and Misfire would later [[:File:LL19 Swerve Misfire bond.jpg|become friends]], bonding over their abysmal aim and distaste for the fourth wall.
* As the ''Lost Light''ers return to the shuttle, Rung says "Savor this feeling, everyone... you never know what's around the corner." [[Overlord (G1)|Definitely foreshadowing...]]

===Transformers references===
* Whirl describes himself as having "no known weaknesses", a term used to describe especially powerful characters in [[Bob Budiansky]]'s original ''[[The Transformers Universe (Marvel)|The Transformers Universe]]'' Generation 1 character profiles.
* A [[Torkuli]] from the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original ''The Transformers'' cartoon]] episode "[[Webworld]]" can be seen outside the bar on page 7.
* During the Hedonia escapades, Rung wonders whether Bumblebee and Prowl ever get into similar situations. This is a meta-reference to sister title ''Robots in Disguise'', where those two are lead characters, and a book tonally different enough from ''More than Meets the Eye'' that such events would be completely out of place there.

===Real-world references===
* This story is named after the Bob Dylan song, "{{w|Subterranean Homesick Blues}}".
* Rewind's avatar wears a shirt of the Northern Irish band {{w|The Divine Comedy (band)|The Divine Comedy}}. Bespectacled frontman {{w|Neil Hannon}} even appears in silhouette on a patch on his shoulder on the issue's cover.
* The Mobius Circuit is a reference to a {{w|Möbius strip}}.
* Rung is concerned that the avatar program has assigned him the name of "Mary Sue". A "{{w|Mary Sue}}" is a literary term springing from ''[[Star Trek]]'' fanfiction to describe a wish-fulfillment character inserted into a story as an avatar of the author themselves, who is [[Drift (G1)|awesome at everything and is loved by everyone]]. However, the reactionary nature of internet fandom has led many to immediately slap this term on ''any'' self-created character an author adds to a previously existing universe—some have accused Rung of being guilty of this crime.
* Skids's ID, meanwhile, is a blank black pocketbook. While on the surface this calls back to his missing memories, it is also evocative of the 'psychic paper' employed by his avatar's inspiration: a blank piece of paper that causes viewers to see whatever form of identification they expect to see.
* Whirl offers Magnus a drink called "[[Mood Whiplash]]", named for the storytelling trope—coined by website [[TVTropes:Main/MoodWhiplash|TV Tropes]]—that sees fiction snap from the heartwarming to the horrifying with distressing speed. This is the second drink named after one of TV Tropes's tropes, following [[Nightmare Fuel]] from issue #11.
* As the Autobots jump on Magnus, Rewind, quoted above, is of course cribbing from the opening sequence of ''Star Trek''.
* A Vorlon alien from the television series ''{{w|Babylon 5}}'' can be seen on the cover underneath holo-Rung's arm.
* Blurr's lap times, as mentioned by Swerve, are evocative of issues of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel UK comic]]: Blurr is in [[Hunters|#117 and #118]], where Ultra Magnus is knocked out (foreshadowing his experiences later in this story). The significance of [[King of the Hill!|#111]] and [[Crater Critters|#123]] is not apparent.

===Trivia===
[[File:CybertronianHomesickBlues-SkidsRung.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7]]
* A whoooooole lot of material had to be cut from this script. One scene was going to have Rodimus bring in the local dignitries to meet the famous Ultra Magnus, to prove the Autobots weren't crude warmongers; since Magnus was blitzed out of his head, Whirl and the gang would be moving his limbs around to make it look like <s>Great Boo's up</s> he's 'up'.<ref>[http://theunderbase.libsyn.com/the-underbase-deconstructs-shadowplay "The Underbase Podcast Deconstructs Shadowplay"], 58:50 - 59:30</ref>
* The avatars on Alex Milne's cover all differ somewhat from Guidi's interpretations within the comic, but Rung and Skids's are especially different. On the cover, Rung is an effette, dapper Victorian gentleman, while in the comic, he is an unremarkable, tweed-wearing nebbish; Skids, meanwhile, is essentially James Bond on the cover, but in the comic, is basically the [[Doctor (Doctor Who)|Eleventh Doctor]], complete with bow-tie.
* Tailgate's avatar makes ''much'' more sense following the revelation from "[[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|This Calamitous Life]]".
* Since the phrasing is unclear, James Roberts has confirmed on his Twitter that the 50 shanix Rodimus got Drift to give to the crew, was from Drift's personal account.
* In 2018, he clarified that the reason Skids names ''Misfire'' of all bots as his nemesis is simply that Skids was looking at his Misfire-colored drink at the time.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=I will: amnesiac Skids was struggling to remember his actual nemesis and, looking around him for inspiration, saw his Misfire-coloured drink. https://t.co/HF18LpQlHW|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/1015621681010892800|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2018|month=07|day=07|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* Ultra Magnus's steering wheel is in the right-hand side of his cab, a feature that only appears in vehicles from countries who drive on the left side of the road, such as [[James Roberts|England]].

===Errors===
[[File:Swerve body designs.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|right|"Make sure to obscure the shoulders when seen from the front. The Autobot badge should not be visible." - "Got that!"]]
* Guido Guidi's pencils are credited to "Guido Giudi", though his inks are credited correctly.
* Drift has both his swords on page 2, when page 4 shows us he should be missing one, which he has left with Rodimus during their lesson.
* Ultra Magnus denies that "relax" is a word, claiming that he's never heard of it, despite the fact that he used the word [[How Ratchet Got His Hands Back|in a previous issue]].
* Scale's a little wonky. The first time we see the holomatter avatars, they're just big enough to sit at the bar. Then, when the Lost Lighters return to the bar, they're the same size. This includes Magnus, who is slightly larger in-person. However, later, when they're trying to transform Magnus, either Magnus grew or the crew SHRUNK.
* When Tailgate reveals the truth about his original occupation to Cyclonus, he shows him the "Bomb Disposal" inscription on his arm, which has "Bomb" and "Disposal" written in two separate lines. Yet back in [[Interiors|issue 6]], when the fixed inscription (which had previously just read "osal" before Tailgate had Ratchet "fix" it, as he tells Cyclonus in this issue) was first shown, both words appeared in one single line. (In the original single release of that issue, it erroneously read "Waste Disposal", thereby accidentally spoiling this issue's revelation early; the trade paperback reprint had it fixed to read "Bomb Disposal", though still written in a single line.)
* Swerve's flashback scene (set four million years in the past) depicts him in the same body design as his present-day self, rather than (for example) the design seen in [[Chaos Part Three: Kings|issue #28]] and [[Chaos Part Four: Genesis|#30]] of the [[The Transformers (IDW)|2009-2011 ongoing]]. This isn't exactly an error for this issue ''per se'', but it somewhat becomes one when Swerve's change of body designs (specifically, his shoulders) becomes a plot point in [[The One Where They Go to Earth|issue 43]]. Although it would appear in retrospect that the script for this issue specifically asked for the scene to be laid out so Swerve's shoulders would be subtly obscured when seen from the front, a view of Swerve from the back reveals that his shoulders are still made up of large wheels, like on his present-day self, which completely defies the purpose of this plot point. Even worse, Guido appears to have specifically used [[Nick Roche]]'s design for Swerve from [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|issue 1]] as a reference, with the Autobot insignia on his crotch deliberately removed (but still retaining the general outline), in contrast to the completely ''blank'' crotch Swerve had sported beginning with [[Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|issue 2]] (which is also used for the present day scenes in this issue). To be fair to Guido, changing the body type would perhaps have distract from the pathos of present-day Swerve realising he had been given a fake number through using the same words Blurr had used in the past.

===Crew manifest===
* Rung is up and about again after reawakening in issue #11.
* 5 deaths, 5 new arrivals (plus 20 or so Faders), and 1 boxed since the launch.

===Soundtrack===
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fQXSYqr8ZY "Now My Heart Is Full"] by {{w|Morrissey}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Mb3CoWwNyY "Subterranean Homesick Blues"] by {{w|Bob Dylan}}
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXT5h6dTotA "The Underdogs"] by {{w|Rialto (band)|Rialto}}
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGQ114DPvuY "The Good Old Days"] by {{w|The Lodger (band)|The Lodger}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-GunCFV9JA "The Man Who Loved Beer"] by {{w|David Byrne}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgZCNph4sRE "Pamplona"] by {{w|Pelle Carlberg}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWW9UsU1-Uc "Lonely Hearts Still Beat the Same"] by {{w|The Research}}
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PZn-tBOrrM "Last Night I Nearly Died"] by {{w|Duke Special}}
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUoc6Wv72cs "It's Not the End of the World?"] by {{w|Super Furry Animals}}
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=773fnQDq60I "Bar Italia"] by {{w|Pulp (band)|Pulp}}

===Foreign localization===
'''Japanese'''
* ''Title:'' "'''Cybertron-jin no Homesick Blues'''" (サイバトロン人のホームシック・ブルース, "Homesick Blues of Cybertronians")

'''Swedish'''
* ''Title:'' "'''Hemlängtansblues'''" ("Homesick Blues")
* This reprint retains Whirl's line about not having killed anyone, in spite of [[Little Victories|#22]] proving that statement false and the Vol. 3 TPB editing said line out.

===References===
{{reflist}}

Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading

2023-11-28T19:29:43Z

Quecksilberlampe: /* Soundtrack */

{{Comicstory|
|series=mtmte|issueno=11
|prev=Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism
|next=Before & After
|caption=
|image=MTMTE11_cvrA.jpg
|title="Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[November 21]], [[2012]]
|coverdate=November 2012
|story by=[[James Roberts]]
|pencils by=[[Alex Milne]]
|inks by=[[Juan Castro]], [[Alex Milne]] and [[John Wycough]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Shawn Lee]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline#2012-2013|Current era (2012)]]
}}
'''Rewind's tale reaches its climax, as Orion Pax leads a daring heist for the Matrix.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:IDWMtMtE11-Outliers.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5]]
''On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], before the war... [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]] and his team prepare for their attempt to steal the explosive replica of the [[Matrix of Leadership]] hidden within the body of [[Nominus Prime]] in the [[Primal Basilica]]. Incredulous, [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] refuses to get involved, but promises not to blow the whistle on Pax if he keeps Prowl's partner [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] out of the action. As Prowl departs, Chromedome and [[Roller (IDW)|Roller]] return from the [[Jhiaxian Academy of Advanced Technology|Academy of Advanced Technology]] with three of its students selected by Pax's senator friend to help in the heist, all "outliers" possessed of special powers: the technology-disrupting [[Tarn (G1)|Glitch]], the magnetic [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] and the super-learner [[Skids (G1)|Skids]].''

Aboard the ''[[Lost Light]]'', [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]]'s story takes a short break so [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] can check on the progress of the still-unresponsive [[Rung (G1)|Rung]]. [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] pilfers some especially hard "[[Nightmare Fuel]]" liquor from [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] and begins dishing it out, jokingly getting Rung's name wrong and being warned by Ratchet that he particularly hates that. Everyone settles down as Chromedome gets back to his part of the story, describing his visit to the workshop of [[Iaconian Mechaforensic Division|Iacon Mechaforensics]] ballistics expert and [[Primal Vanguard]] fanboy [[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]], from whom he obtained a replica Matrix they could swap the bomb out for. Ratchet interrupts for a moment to recount an exchange between him, Roller and Pax that followed, as Roller attempted to warn Pax of various questionable activities his senator friend was involved in, including the recruitment and modification of ''other'' Autobots in addition to Pax himself, but Pax would not hear it.

In the ''Lost Light'' medibay, [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] balks at [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]]'s diagnosis of [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]'s comatose state as the result of attempted suicide. [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] attempts to restrain him as he grows angrier, accidentally gouging large dents in his arms that shock him into relaxing. Magnus proposes putting Red Alert in cold storage until their circumstances are more conducive to his mental well-being, and with [[Drift (G1)|Drift]]'s agreement, Rodimus sadly does so.

[[File:Shadowplay3 pax saves shockwave.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7]]
The story of the heist continues, with Ratchet describing how each of the outliers used their special powers to help penetrate the Primal Basilica while Chromedome and Roller remained behind to guard the senator. Their approach hidden from the [[Sky Spy]] network thanks to Roller's hacking skills, Windcharger magnetically levitated the team over the heads of the [[Triorian Guard]] of [[Triple Changer]]s standing watch at the Basilica, while Glitch deactivated the security systems so that Skids could (indignantly) lower Pax into position with his grappling hook. Discovering that the Matrix-bomb was locked in place, Pax switched places with [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]], whose incredible hands picked the locks with ease. Things almost went south when Glitch patted Skids on his back, jamming his winch and causing Ratchet to drop the bomb, but Windcharger saved the day by magnetically preventing its fall. The theft successfully completed, the team departed, but, having not been contacted by Roller at the appointed time, Pax sped on ahead to investigate; Chromedome takes over the story to describe Pax's return, just in time to find that Senate thugs [[Kroma]], [[Macabre]] and the [[Heavies]] had attacked their safehouse.

[[File:Shadowplay3-SenatorWho.jpg|thumb|left]]
Pax took out one of the Heavies, but when Kroma held his gun against Roller's head and proposed an exchange, the senator agreed to go with him. The remaining Heavy, Anvil, remained behind to finish off Pax, but Pax used the Matrix-bomb to destroy his attacker, then unearthed Chromedome from the rubble to lead him to the [[Institute]], figuring Kroma had taken the senator there. Alas, they discovered it was deserted—because despite its name, it was not unique. The senator had potentially been taken to any one of hundreds of hidden facilities, lost to them.

Such is the end of the story: not a happy one, but an ending nonetheless. Tailgate has a few remaining questions, which Rewind answers: [[Proteus (G1)|Proteus]] did not keep his promise, and much to Tailgate's surprise, Orion Pax became Optimus Prime. Sadly, Rung remains non-responsive, but when alarms suddenly begin blaring throughout the ship, and everyone heads for battle stations, Skids decides to try one last thing: he leans close to Rung, and deliberately mispronounces his name several times. Quietly, the psychiatrist awakens and corrects him.

''On Cybertron, before the war... Orion Pax is approached by another of the senator's recruits, [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta]]. And elsewhere, in one of the many Institutes, two staffers talk about the newest victim of [[Shadowplay]]: a senator who is also being subjected to the head-and-hand replacement ritual known as [[empurata]]. A senator...''

''...named [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]].''
{{--}}

==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"{{!}}
* ''[[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]]'' (2)
* [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (6)
* [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (7)
* [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (9)
* [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (10)
* [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (11)
* [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (12)
* [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (13)
* ''[[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]]'' (14)
* ''[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]'' (15)
* ''[[Siren (G1)|Siren]]'' (16)
* ''[[Gears (G1)|Gears]]'' (17)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* ''[[Sunstreaker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sunstreaker]]'' (19)
* ''[[Atomizer]]'' (20)
* ''[[Slapdash (G1)|Slapdash]]'' (21)
* ''[[Sprocket (G1)|Sprocket]]'' (22)
* ''[[Xaaron]]'' (23)
* ''[[Dipstick]]'' (24)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (28)
* [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (29)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (30)
* [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (31)
* [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (32)
{{!}}}
|c4=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* ''[[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]]'' (1)
* ''[[Roller (IDW)|Roller]]'' (3)
* ''[[Tarn (G1)|Glitch]]'' (4)
* ''[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]]'' (5)
* ''[[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]]'' (8)
* ''[[Bob (IDW)|Bob]]'' (18)
* [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (25)
* ''[[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]]'' (26)
* ''[[Crosscut (IDW)|Crosscut]]'' (27)
* ''[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]'' (33)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* ''[[Overcharge (G1)|Overcharge]]'' (34)
* ''[[Slamdance (G1)|Slamdance]]'' (35)
* ''[[Heavies]]'' (36-37)
* ''[[Kroma]]'' (38)
* ''[[Macabre]]'' (39)
* ''[[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta]]'' (40)
* ''Institute staff'' (41-42)
* ''[[Lobe]]'' (43)
* ''Lobe's assistant'' (44)
{{!}}}
}}

==Quotes==
"Sorry, '''Swerve''', I need the secret password." 
"Sigh. 'Whirl is a million billion times tougher than [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]].'" 
"You may enter." 
"Jeez, '''Whirl''', even I think that password's immature, and I glued Tailgate to his recharge slab the other day..."
:—'''Whirl''' and '''Swerve'''

"I should have said this '''earlier''', but—as a trainee theoretician who can master virtually any skill, I'm kind of '''insulted''' that you brought me along for my '''grappling hook'''."
:—'''Skids'''

"Okay, they've wired it in like a tamper-proof fuel pump. A '''440'''—the mother of all fuel pumps. If I put a finger wrong, it'll '''explode.'''" 
"In that case don't do anything. Not even '''you''' can disable a 440 by hand." 
"Pax, I think you're amazing, but that is the most ham-fisted attempt at reverse psychology I've ever heard."
:—'''Ratchet''' and '''Orion Pax'''

"The Matrix is just '''hovering''' there!" 
"You can thank Windcharger and his magic arms for that." 
"You're lucky I got tired of waiting." 
"His magic arms and his low boredom threshold."
:—'''Ratchet''', '''Orion Pax''', and '''Windcharger'''

"Ooh! Ooh! What about '''Orion Pax?''' What happened to him?" 
"Orion Pax...?" 
"He was '''great!''' I really liked him. 'I trust him, Roller. End of conversation.' '''I'm''' gonna start saying stuff like that." 
"Tailgate—Orion Pax became '''Optimus Prime.''' They're the same person. I thought you '''knew''' that." 
"'''What?!''' ''(holds up picture of Prime)'' You mean '''this''' is Orion Pax? Well, I'm '''floored'''. I did '''not''' see that coming."
:—'''Tailgate''' and '''Rewind'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Notice how Chromedome is never referred to by name on the first page; from [[Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|part 1]], we know he had a different name before he was "Chromedome", and here, he's only referred to as Prowl's "partner" (in turn indirectly furthering the obvious "romantic" implication between the two characters). This is because it's an impartial flashback, not part of Rewind's story (since it's a conversation between two characters not on the ''Lost Light''); he is called "Chromedome" elsewhere during the story since Rewind asked him to minimize confusion by doing so back in part 1.
* Having said something similar to Prowl four million years in the past in [[Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|issue #9]], Chromedome remarks that he is unable to make the derisive "Pfft" noise Swerve utters. Logically, that'd be because he doesn't have any lips!
* This is the third true story that Rewind organised. His first group was Blaster, Sunstreaker, Siren, Gears, and Perceptor; his second was Xaaron, Dipstick, Atomizer, Slapdash, and Sprocket. The implications are that the members of each group were at least peripherally involved in their own major incident, once upon a time, much like the current storytelling team. (Roberts has since admitted that there's no rhyme or reason behind the character choices except to make us go "what the heck did ''they'' all do together?!".<ref>[http://theunderbase.libsyn.com/the-underbase-deconstructs-shadowplay "The Underbase Podcast Deconstructs Shadowplay"], 1:04:20</ref>)
* When last seen, Atomizer carried a crossbow, which Ultra Magnus said he was going to confiscate. As Atomizer is now carrying a regular bow and quiver instead, we can assume Magnus followed through.
* In his younger days, Skids had a miniature Matrix "[[tattoo]]ed" on his cheek, just as [[Springarm]] did in "[[Chaos Theory Part 2|Chaos Theory]]". Pax remarks on the similarity. This apparent religiosity is a marked contrast to the nihilism the modern Skids expresses.
* The Primal Vanguard is the detachment to which Tailgate claimed to belong and which has been mentioned a few times in ''More than Meets the Eye''. The user of the bomb disposal kit Ironfist is so excited about is not named, leading fans to conclude that it was Tailgate himself, but [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|later revelations]] would prove this to be a splendid piece of misdirection by Roberts.
* Ironfist's looking a little different than he will when we chronologically see him next in ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]''. Based on the helmet we can see in the background of his lab, he obviously modified his own noggin to look like a Primal Vanguard helmet.
* Ironfist shows Chromedome the image of a robot named Crosscut, trapped in the [[Forever Glass]] of [[Moldavite VI]]. This could be potentially the ''fourth'' Crosscut to exist—there's the [[Crosscut (G1)|Japanese-original Autobot]], the [[Crosscut (Marvel)|Marvel Decepticon]], an unnamed member of the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] that the Decepticon Crosscut is often mistaken for (according to his profile in the ''Last Stand of the Wreckers'' hardcover), and now this guy. It is, of course, extremely possible that this Crosscut could be one of the others; being that this is Roberts, who doesn't toss this stuff around casually, it's almost a certainty.
* We see that Ironfist has always had a fondness for writing about his heroes; his ''[[Wreckers: Declassified]]'' datalogs had a predecessor in his monographs about the Primal Vanguard. We couldn't ''possibly'' imagine what it's like to write endlessly about our hobbies in minute detail, no sir.
* Pax's senator friend is noted to be on speaking terms with the [[Omega Guardian]]s, the enigmatic protectors of the [[Epistemus|Magnificence]] who have only previously appeared in ''[[Spotlight: Hot Rod]]''.
* This is the second story to mention the substance [[propex]]. In issue #8, Grimlock's body was preserved in a "weak propex solution".
* The Heavies, previously seen in Whirl's flashback in issue #6, reappear, as does Whirl's cellmate from last issue—one of the senate thugs who menaced Orion Pax in "[[Chaos Theory Part 2]]", whose name is revealed to be Kroma. One of the Heavies is named "Anvil"; we'd hazard a guess the other's "Hammer".
[[File:Kroma macabre heavies shadowplay conclusion.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7]]
* When Kroma, Macabre, and the Heavies arrive to kidnap the senator, Kroma quips that they are acting on the "best tip-off ever". This would be explained 26 issues later in "[[Elegant Chaos Part 2: Stet|Stet]]", where we learn that the Heavies encountered a [[time travel]]ling Whirl, Rewind, and Chromedome a year earlier (from their perspective) during the events of "[[Chaos Theory Part 2]]". Whirl was all set to kill the Heavies for their part in his oppression and eventual empurata by the [[Functionism|Functionists]], leading Chromedome to explain in front of them that they couldn't die because they had to return in a year's time to abduct Shockwave.
* Following a crack made early in the issue by Skids about the Academy of Advanced Technology never being referred to by its full name, we find out at the end of the story that it's the ''Jhiaxian'' Academy, after [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]. This indicates that it's the "J.A.A.T." mentioned last issue, and is a ''big'' clue to the true identity of the senator, as we've known since ''[[Spotlight: Doubledealer]]'' that Shockwave was a student of Jhiaxus's, obviously having studied under him at the academy before he left Cybertron.
* "Empurata", first mentioned in issue #6 and a few times since, is at last revealed to be a process by which criminals have their heads and hands removed and replaced. Whirl's reference to its persuasive power in issue #6, coupled with his lament about the loss of his hands last issue, now make a horrifying amount of sense. Glitch would also appear to have suffered through the process.
* [[Lobe]] was first mentioned as a Mechaforensic cybersurgeon in [[Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|part one]], asking for [[Sherma]]'s brain module as part of an experiment. Now we know he's one of the Institute's top brainwashers and that Sherma was killed by the Senate for being a closet dissident... They really ''are'' everywhere!
{{--}}

===Transformers references===
* The [[power booster rod]] was an Autobot tool famous for being stolen by the human criminal the [[Mechanic]] in [[Funeral for a Friend!|issue #26]] of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|original Marvel comic]]. Chromedome can be seen idly using it for its intended purpose of easily lifting heavy items.
* The Primal Basilica is decorated with statues of the [[Guiding Hand]] and the [[Aligned continuity family]] design of [[Prima]].
* In addition to [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] himself, one of the Triorian Guard is another guy sharing Blitzwing's body, coloured like his ''[[Diaclone]]'' toy. We'll assume that it's (an) [[Overcharge (G1)|Overcharge]].
* Kroma and the Heavies are accompanied by Decepticon assassin [[Macabre]], made famous by his one-shot appearance in the Marvel UK epic, ''[[Target: 2006]]''. We've already seen, through ''Last Stand of the Wreckers'', that he'll go on to lead [[Squadron X]] in IDW continuity.
* Among Ironfist's memorabilia is a spare drill belonging to [[Borebit]].
* Orion Pax's police station explodes at the time "Arc [[113 (disambiguation)|1-13]]".

===Real-life references===
[[File:Nightmare fuel shadowplay.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
* Shockwave has an academy for unusual, superpowered students who the wider world hates and fears: an ''[[X-Men]]'' nod. And if that's not blatant enough for you, Pax's next line is, "Is he [[Wolverine (Marvel)|the one with the claws?]]"
* "[[tvtropes:Main/NightmareFuel|Nightmare Fuel]]" is a term coined by ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000]]'' and popularized by the website [[tvtropes:|TV Tropes]] to describe horrifying scenes in fiction. Swerve has nabbed it from Trailbreaker's personal stash; a reference to Trailbreaker's fondness for strong "alcohol" that we saw back in [[Interiors|issue #6]], itself a reworking of the fuel-inefficient traits described in his original bio. The [[Pretender]] [[Skullgrin]] is pictured on the bottle's label.
* Tailgate has to make a "who's who" page to keep track of everyone in the story, just like the "Meet the Crew" features in the back of every issue of ''More than Meets the Eye''.

===Trivia===
* "Shadowplay" runs through three related genres in each of its three parts: this one is the heist story.<ref>[http://theunderbase.libsyn.com/the-underbase-deconstructs-shadowplay "The Underbase Podcast Deconstructs Shadowplay"], 07:43 - 08:00</ref>
* The heist this issue is about was alluded to in a conversation between Skids and Chromedome back in [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|issue #8]].
* Obviously, Shockwave isn't one of the main characters in ''More than Meets the Eye'' and was more prominent in ''Robots in Disguise''. As James Roberts says though, both titles are telling the same wider story of the Transformers universe and he believes it makes the twist more effective if Shockwave's origin is in the 'wrong' place.<ref>[http://www.fullmetalhero.com/t14540/ Moonbase2's second interview with James Roberts - 01:39:20 to 59:30]</ref>
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] is among the outliers, unnamed but rather obviously identifiable from his description as a truck who generates forcefields. When talking about Trailbreaker on the following page, Swerve calls him "Trailcutter", an alternate name developed by [[Hasbro]] after the loss of the trademark to the original, and noted in the [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|''More than Meets the Eye'' annual]] to be an alternate name the character uses in-universe. The origin of this second name would later be revealed in the character's [[The Reluctant Specialist|self-titled ''Spotlight'' issue]].
* At the request of James Roberts, colorist Josh Burcham purposely gave the Senator the hues of Ultra Magnus (both in this issue and the previous) to serve as a red (and blue and white, hyuk hyuk) herring.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-comics-discussion/716601-transformers-more-than-meets-eye-11-discussion-spoilers-29.html#post8649838 Forum post by Alex Milne]</ref>

===Crew Manifest===
* The still-living Red Alert is "boxed" and put into cold storage.
* 5 deaths, 5 new arrivals (plus 20 or so Faders), and 1 boxed since the launch.

===Soundtrack===
For the entire three-part "Shadowplay" story:
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtckSsQ_Au0 "Comforting Sounds"] by {{w|Mew (band)|Mew}}

For this issue:
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A88N8CVcnR8 "No Fear of Falling"] by {{w|I Am Kloot}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81LpJPXo_qs "Atmosphere"] by {{w|Joy Division}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vb59lMEtHL4 "Plainsong"] by {{w||The Cure}}

===Foreign localization===
'''Japanese'''
* ''Title:'' "'''Shadowplay (Saishūkai): Aru Uchi Kubi'''" (シャドウプレイ (最終回): ある打ち首, "Shadowplay (Conclusion): A Certain Beheading")

'''Swedish'''
* ''Title:'' "'''Skuggspel (Sista delen): En föraktfull halshuggning'''" ("Shadowplay (Final Part): A Disdainful Beheading")

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A:''' Orion Pax is lowered into the Primal Basilica, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
* '''Cover B:''' Ratchet reflected in the Matrix, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
* '''Cover RI:''' Rodimus stands over the injured Red Alert, by [[Marcelo Matere]] and [[Priscilla Tramontano]]

<gallery>
File:MTMTE11_cvrA.jpg|Skids and Ratchet are in the original art, but are hidden under the logo.
File:MTMTE11_cvrB.jpg|And yes, it fucntions as a mirror, too!
File:MTMTE11_cvrRI.jpg|Red lost his head.
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[The End of the Beginning of the World|#11]]
* ''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One|Regeneration One]]'' #86
* ''Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' Volume 1
* IDW ''[[My Little Pony|My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic]]'' comic
* ''Dorothy of Oz'' Prequel
* ''[[Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots]]''

===Reprints===
* '''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 3''''' ([[March 27]], [[2013]]) ISBN 161377592X / ISBN 978-1613775929 
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' Annual 2012 and issues #9–11.
** Bonus material includes "Meet the Crew", variant covers, and designs for the [[Guiding Hand]].
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Box Set''''' ([[December 2]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631404741 / ISBN 978-1631404740
** Collects ''More Than Meets the Eye'' volumes 1–5.
** Bonus material unknown at this time.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 3]]''''' ([[February 24]], [[2016]]) ISBN 1631405403 / ISBN 978-1631405402
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Spotlight|Spotlight]]: [[The Hunting Party (IDW)|Thundercracker]], [[The Question|Bumblebee]]'' & ''[[Spotlight: Megatron|Megatron]]'', ''More than Meets the Eye'' Annual 2012, issues #9–11 & #12–13 & "[[Signal to Noise]]", and ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Primus: All Good Things|Annual 2012]] & issues [[Syndromica (2)|#10]]–[[The End of the Beginning of the World|11]].
** Bonus material unknown at this time.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 55: Shadowplay''''' ([[January 9]], [[2019]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #7–13 and Annual 2012.
** Bonus material includes the second of a new three-part interview with Roberts, early pages of scripts, design sketches from Alex Milne, a cover gallery and a forward by [[Simon Furman]].
** Hardcover format.

* '''''Transformers: Kaos och skuggor''''' ([[November]], [[2020]])
** Collects [[The Transformers (IDW)|''The Transformers'' (2009)]] issues [[Chaos Theory Part 1|#22]]–[[Chaos Part One: Lamentations|24]], [[Chaos Part Two: Numbers|#26]], [[Chaos Part Three: Kings|#28]] & [[Chaos Part Four: Genesis|#30]], ''[[Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime]]'', and ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #9–13.
** Swedish reprint. Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol3.jpg|'''''More Than Meets the Eye Volume 3''''' – cover art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
File:MTMTE boxset.jpg|'''''More Than Meets the Eye Box Set''''' – cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V3.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 3''''' – cover art by Marcelo Matere and [[Tom B. Long]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v55.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 55: Shadowplay''''' – cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] (Whirl) and Alex Milne (retro)
File:MTMTE SWE 02.jpg|'''''Kaos och skuggor''''' – cover art by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]].
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading

2023-11-28T19:26:40Z

Quecksilberlampe: /* Foreign localization */

{{Comicstory|
|series=mtmte|issueno=11
|prev=Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism
|next=Before & After
|caption=
|image=MTMTE11_cvrA.jpg
|title="Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[November 21]], [[2012]]
|coverdate=November 2012
|story by=[[James Roberts]]
|pencils by=[[Alex Milne]]
|inks by=[[Juan Castro]], [[Alex Milne]] and [[John Wycough]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Shawn Lee]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline#2012-2013|Current era (2012)]]
}}
'''Rewind's tale reaches its climax, as Orion Pax leads a daring heist for the Matrix.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:IDWMtMtE11-Outliers.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5]]
''On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], before the war... [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]] and his team prepare for their attempt to steal the explosive replica of the [[Matrix of Leadership]] hidden within the body of [[Nominus Prime]] in the [[Primal Basilica]]. Incredulous, [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] refuses to get involved, but promises not to blow the whistle on Pax if he keeps Prowl's partner [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] out of the action. As Prowl departs, Chromedome and [[Roller (IDW)|Roller]] return from the [[Jhiaxian Academy of Advanced Technology|Academy of Advanced Technology]] with three of its students selected by Pax's senator friend to help in the heist, all "outliers" possessed of special powers: the technology-disrupting [[Tarn (G1)|Glitch]], the magnetic [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] and the super-learner [[Skids (G1)|Skids]].''

Aboard the ''[[Lost Light]]'', [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]]'s story takes a short break so [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] can check on the progress of the still-unresponsive [[Rung (G1)|Rung]]. [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] pilfers some especially hard "[[Nightmare Fuel]]" liquor from [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] and begins dishing it out, jokingly getting Rung's name wrong and being warned by Ratchet that he particularly hates that. Everyone settles down as Chromedome gets back to his part of the story, describing his visit to the workshop of [[Iaconian Mechaforensic Division|Iacon Mechaforensics]] ballistics expert and [[Primal Vanguard]] fanboy [[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]], from whom he obtained a replica Matrix they could swap the bomb out for. Ratchet interrupts for a moment to recount an exchange between him, Roller and Pax that followed, as Roller attempted to warn Pax of various questionable activities his senator friend was involved in, including the recruitment and modification of ''other'' Autobots in addition to Pax himself, but Pax would not hear it.

In the ''Lost Light'' medibay, [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] balks at [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]]'s diagnosis of [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]'s comatose state as the result of attempted suicide. [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] attempts to restrain him as he grows angrier, accidentally gouging large dents in his arms that shock him into relaxing. Magnus proposes putting Red Alert in cold storage until their circumstances are more conducive to his mental well-being, and with [[Drift (G1)|Drift]]'s agreement, Rodimus sadly does so.

[[File:Shadowplay3 pax saves shockwave.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7]]
The story of the heist continues, with Ratchet describing how each of the outliers used their special powers to help penetrate the Primal Basilica while Chromedome and Roller remained behind to guard the senator. Their approach hidden from the [[Sky Spy]] network thanks to Roller's hacking skills, Windcharger magnetically levitated the team over the heads of the [[Triorian Guard]] of [[Triple Changer]]s standing watch at the Basilica, while Glitch deactivated the security systems so that Skids could (indignantly) lower Pax into position with his grappling hook. Discovering that the Matrix-bomb was locked in place, Pax switched places with [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]], whose incredible hands picked the locks with ease. Things almost went south when Glitch patted Skids on his back, jamming his winch and causing Ratchet to drop the bomb, but Windcharger saved the day by magnetically preventing its fall. The theft successfully completed, the team departed, but, having not been contacted by Roller at the appointed time, Pax sped on ahead to investigate; Chromedome takes over the story to describe Pax's return, just in time to find that Senate thugs [[Kroma]], [[Macabre]] and the [[Heavies]] had attacked their safehouse.

[[File:Shadowplay3-SenatorWho.jpg|thumb|left]]
Pax took out one of the Heavies, but when Kroma held his gun against Roller's head and proposed an exchange, the senator agreed to go with him. The remaining Heavy, Anvil, remained behind to finish off Pax, but Pax used the Matrix-bomb to destroy his attacker, then unearthed Chromedome from the rubble to lead him to the [[Institute]], figuring Kroma had taken the senator there. Alas, they discovered it was deserted—because despite its name, it was not unique. The senator had potentially been taken to any one of hundreds of hidden facilities, lost to them.

Such is the end of the story: not a happy one, but an ending nonetheless. Tailgate has a few remaining questions, which Rewind answers: [[Proteus (G1)|Proteus]] did not keep his promise, and much to Tailgate's surprise, Orion Pax became Optimus Prime. Sadly, Rung remains non-responsive, but when alarms suddenly begin blaring throughout the ship, and everyone heads for battle stations, Skids decides to try one last thing: he leans close to Rung, and deliberately mispronounces his name several times. Quietly, the psychiatrist awakens and corrects him.

''On Cybertron, before the war... Orion Pax is approached by another of the senator's recruits, [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta]]. And elsewhere, in one of the many Institutes, two staffers talk about the newest victim of [[Shadowplay]]: a senator who is also being subjected to the head-and-hand replacement ritual known as [[empurata]]. A senator...''

''...named [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]].''
{{--}}

==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"{{!}}
* ''[[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]]'' (2)
* [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (6)
* [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (7)
* [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (9)
* [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (10)
* [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (11)
* [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (12)
* [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (13)
* ''[[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]]'' (14)
* ''[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]'' (15)
* ''[[Siren (G1)|Siren]]'' (16)
* ''[[Gears (G1)|Gears]]'' (17)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* ''[[Sunstreaker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sunstreaker]]'' (19)
* ''[[Atomizer]]'' (20)
* ''[[Slapdash (G1)|Slapdash]]'' (21)
* ''[[Sprocket (G1)|Sprocket]]'' (22)
* ''[[Xaaron]]'' (23)
* ''[[Dipstick]]'' (24)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (28)
* [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (29)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (30)
* [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (31)
* [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (32)
{{!}}}
|c4=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* ''[[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]]'' (1)
* ''[[Roller (IDW)|Roller]]'' (3)
* ''[[Tarn (G1)|Glitch]]'' (4)
* ''[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]]'' (5)
* ''[[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]]'' (8)
* ''[[Bob (IDW)|Bob]]'' (18)
* [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (25)
* ''[[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]]'' (26)
* ''[[Crosscut (IDW)|Crosscut]]'' (27)
* ''[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]'' (33)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* ''[[Overcharge (G1)|Overcharge]]'' (34)
* ''[[Slamdance (G1)|Slamdance]]'' (35)
* ''[[Heavies]]'' (36-37)
* ''[[Kroma]]'' (38)
* ''[[Macabre]]'' (39)
* ''[[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta]]'' (40)
* ''Institute staff'' (41-42)
* ''[[Lobe]]'' (43)
* ''Lobe's assistant'' (44)
{{!}}}
}}

==Quotes==
"Sorry, '''Swerve''', I need the secret password." 
"Sigh. 'Whirl is a million billion times tougher than [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]].'" 
"You may enter." 
"Jeez, '''Whirl''', even I think that password's immature, and I glued Tailgate to his recharge slab the other day..."
:—'''Whirl''' and '''Swerve'''

"I should have said this '''earlier''', but—as a trainee theoretician who can master virtually any skill, I'm kind of '''insulted''' that you brought me along for my '''grappling hook'''."
:—'''Skids'''

"Okay, they've wired it in like a tamper-proof fuel pump. A '''440'''—the mother of all fuel pumps. If I put a finger wrong, it'll '''explode.'''" 
"In that case don't do anything. Not even '''you''' can disable a 440 by hand." 
"Pax, I think you're amazing, but that is the most ham-fisted attempt at reverse psychology I've ever heard."
:—'''Ratchet''' and '''Orion Pax'''

"The Matrix is just '''hovering''' there!" 
"You can thank Windcharger and his magic arms for that." 
"You're lucky I got tired of waiting." 
"His magic arms and his low boredom threshold."
:—'''Ratchet''', '''Orion Pax''', and '''Windcharger'''

"Ooh! Ooh! What about '''Orion Pax?''' What happened to him?" 
"Orion Pax...?" 
"He was '''great!''' I really liked him. 'I trust him, Roller. End of conversation.' '''I'm''' gonna start saying stuff like that." 
"Tailgate—Orion Pax became '''Optimus Prime.''' They're the same person. I thought you '''knew''' that." 
"'''What?!''' ''(holds up picture of Prime)'' You mean '''this''' is Orion Pax? Well, I'm '''floored'''. I did '''not''' see that coming."
:—'''Tailgate''' and '''Rewind'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Notice how Chromedome is never referred to by name on the first page; from [[Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|part 1]], we know he had a different name before he was "Chromedome", and here, he's only referred to as Prowl's "partner" (in turn indirectly furthering the obvious "romantic" implication between the two characters). This is because it's an impartial flashback, not part of Rewind's story (since it's a conversation between two characters not on the ''Lost Light''); he is called "Chromedome" elsewhere during the story since Rewind asked him to minimize confusion by doing so back in part 1.
* Having said something similar to Prowl four million years in the past in [[Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|issue #9]], Chromedome remarks that he is unable to make the derisive "Pfft" noise Swerve utters. Logically, that'd be because he doesn't have any lips!
* This is the third true story that Rewind organised. His first group was Blaster, Sunstreaker, Siren, Gears, and Perceptor; his second was Xaaron, Dipstick, Atomizer, Slapdash, and Sprocket. The implications are that the members of each group were at least peripherally involved in their own major incident, once upon a time, much like the current storytelling team. (Roberts has since admitted that there's no rhyme or reason behind the character choices except to make us go "what the heck did ''they'' all do together?!".<ref>[http://theunderbase.libsyn.com/the-underbase-deconstructs-shadowplay "The Underbase Podcast Deconstructs Shadowplay"], 1:04:20</ref>)
* When last seen, Atomizer carried a crossbow, which Ultra Magnus said he was going to confiscate. As Atomizer is now carrying a regular bow and quiver instead, we can assume Magnus followed through.
* In his younger days, Skids had a miniature Matrix "[[tattoo]]ed" on his cheek, just as [[Springarm]] did in "[[Chaos Theory Part 2|Chaos Theory]]". Pax remarks on the similarity. This apparent religiosity is a marked contrast to the nihilism the modern Skids expresses.
* The Primal Vanguard is the detachment to which Tailgate claimed to belong and which has been mentioned a few times in ''More than Meets the Eye''. The user of the bomb disposal kit Ironfist is so excited about is not named, leading fans to conclude that it was Tailgate himself, but [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|later revelations]] would prove this to be a splendid piece of misdirection by Roberts.
* Ironfist's looking a little different than he will when we chronologically see him next in ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]''. Based on the helmet we can see in the background of his lab, he obviously modified his own noggin to look like a Primal Vanguard helmet.
* Ironfist shows Chromedome the image of a robot named Crosscut, trapped in the [[Forever Glass]] of [[Moldavite VI]]. This could be potentially the ''fourth'' Crosscut to exist—there's the [[Crosscut (G1)|Japanese-original Autobot]], the [[Crosscut (Marvel)|Marvel Decepticon]], an unnamed member of the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] that the Decepticon Crosscut is often mistaken for (according to his profile in the ''Last Stand of the Wreckers'' hardcover), and now this guy. It is, of course, extremely possible that this Crosscut could be one of the others; being that this is Roberts, who doesn't toss this stuff around casually, it's almost a certainty.
* We see that Ironfist has always had a fondness for writing about his heroes; his ''[[Wreckers: Declassified]]'' datalogs had a predecessor in his monographs about the Primal Vanguard. We couldn't ''possibly'' imagine what it's like to write endlessly about our hobbies in minute detail, no sir.
* Pax's senator friend is noted to be on speaking terms with the [[Omega Guardian]]s, the enigmatic protectors of the [[Epistemus|Magnificence]] who have only previously appeared in ''[[Spotlight: Hot Rod]]''.
* This is the second story to mention the substance [[propex]]. In issue #8, Grimlock's body was preserved in a "weak propex solution".
* The Heavies, previously seen in Whirl's flashback in issue #6, reappear, as does Whirl's cellmate from last issue—one of the senate thugs who menaced Orion Pax in "[[Chaos Theory Part 2]]", whose name is revealed to be Kroma. One of the Heavies is named "Anvil"; we'd hazard a guess the other's "Hammer".
[[File:Kroma macabre heavies shadowplay conclusion.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7]]
* When Kroma, Macabre, and the Heavies arrive to kidnap the senator, Kroma quips that they are acting on the "best tip-off ever". This would be explained 26 issues later in "[[Elegant Chaos Part 2: Stet|Stet]]", where we learn that the Heavies encountered a [[time travel]]ling Whirl, Rewind, and Chromedome a year earlier (from their perspective) during the events of "[[Chaos Theory Part 2]]". Whirl was all set to kill the Heavies for their part in his oppression and eventual empurata by the [[Functionism|Functionists]], leading Chromedome to explain in front of them that they couldn't die because they had to return in a year's time to abduct Shockwave.
* Following a crack made early in the issue by Skids about the Academy of Advanced Technology never being referred to by its full name, we find out at the end of the story that it's the ''Jhiaxian'' Academy, after [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]. This indicates that it's the "J.A.A.T." mentioned last issue, and is a ''big'' clue to the true identity of the senator, as we've known since ''[[Spotlight: Doubledealer]]'' that Shockwave was a student of Jhiaxus's, obviously having studied under him at the academy before he left Cybertron.
* "Empurata", first mentioned in issue #6 and a few times since, is at last revealed to be a process by which criminals have their heads and hands removed and replaced. Whirl's reference to its persuasive power in issue #6, coupled with his lament about the loss of his hands last issue, now make a horrifying amount of sense. Glitch would also appear to have suffered through the process.
* [[Lobe]] was first mentioned as a Mechaforensic cybersurgeon in [[Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|part one]], asking for [[Sherma]]'s brain module as part of an experiment. Now we know he's one of the Institute's top brainwashers and that Sherma was killed by the Senate for being a closet dissident... They really ''are'' everywhere!
{{--}}

===Transformers references===
* The [[power booster rod]] was an Autobot tool famous for being stolen by the human criminal the [[Mechanic]] in [[Funeral for a Friend!|issue #26]] of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|original Marvel comic]]. Chromedome can be seen idly using it for its intended purpose of easily lifting heavy items.
* The Primal Basilica is decorated with statues of the [[Guiding Hand]] and the [[Aligned continuity family]] design of [[Prima]].
* In addition to [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] himself, one of the Triorian Guard is another guy sharing Blitzwing's body, coloured like his ''[[Diaclone]]'' toy. We'll assume that it's (an) [[Overcharge (G1)|Overcharge]].
* Kroma and the Heavies are accompanied by Decepticon assassin [[Macabre]], made famous by his one-shot appearance in the Marvel UK epic, ''[[Target: 2006]]''. We've already seen, through ''Last Stand of the Wreckers'', that he'll go on to lead [[Squadron X]] in IDW continuity.
* Among Ironfist's memorabilia is a spare drill belonging to [[Borebit]].
* Orion Pax's police station explodes at the time "Arc [[113 (disambiguation)|1-13]]".

===Real-life references===
[[File:Nightmare fuel shadowplay.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
* Shockwave has an academy for unusual, superpowered students who the wider world hates and fears: an ''[[X-Men]]'' nod. And if that's not blatant enough for you, Pax's next line is, "Is he [[Wolverine (Marvel)|the one with the claws?]]"
* "[[tvtropes:Main/NightmareFuel|Nightmare Fuel]]" is a term coined by ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000]]'' and popularized by the website [[tvtropes:|TV Tropes]] to describe horrifying scenes in fiction. Swerve has nabbed it from Trailbreaker's personal stash; a reference to Trailbreaker's fondness for strong "alcohol" that we saw back in [[Interiors|issue #6]], itself a reworking of the fuel-inefficient traits described in his original bio. The [[Pretender]] [[Skullgrin]] is pictured on the bottle's label.
* Tailgate has to make a "who's who" page to keep track of everyone in the story, just like the "Meet the Crew" features in the back of every issue of ''More than Meets the Eye''.

===Trivia===
* "Shadowplay" runs through three related genres in each of its three parts: this one is the heist story.<ref>[http://theunderbase.libsyn.com/the-underbase-deconstructs-shadowplay "The Underbase Podcast Deconstructs Shadowplay"], 07:43 - 08:00</ref>
* The heist this issue is about was alluded to in a conversation between Skids and Chromedome back in [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|issue #8]].
* Obviously, Shockwave isn't one of the main characters in ''More than Meets the Eye'' and was more prominent in ''Robots in Disguise''. As James Roberts says though, both titles are telling the same wider story of the Transformers universe and he believes it makes the twist more effective if Shockwave's origin is in the 'wrong' place.<ref>[http://www.fullmetalhero.com/t14540/ Moonbase2's second interview with James Roberts - 01:39:20 to 59:30]</ref>
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] is among the outliers, unnamed but rather obviously identifiable from his description as a truck who generates forcefields. When talking about Trailbreaker on the following page, Swerve calls him "Trailcutter", an alternate name developed by [[Hasbro]] after the loss of the trademark to the original, and noted in the [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|''More than Meets the Eye'' annual]] to be an alternate name the character uses in-universe. The origin of this second name would later be revealed in the character's [[The Reluctant Specialist|self-titled ''Spotlight'' issue]].
* At the request of James Roberts, colorist Josh Burcham purposely gave the Senator the hues of Ultra Magnus (both in this issue and the previous) to serve as a red (and blue and white, hyuk hyuk) herring.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-comics-discussion/716601-transformers-more-than-meets-eye-11-discussion-spoilers-29.html#post8649838 Forum post by Alex Milne]</ref>

===Crew Manifest===
* The still-living Red Alert is "boxed" and put into cold storage.
* 5 deaths, 5 new arrivals (plus 20 or so Faders), and 1 boxed since the launch.

===Soundtrack===
For the entire three-part "Shadowplay" story:
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtckSsQ_Au0 "Comforting Sounds"] by {{w|Mew (band)|Mew}}

For this issue:
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A88N8CVcnR8 "No Fear of Falling"] by {{w|I Am Kloot}}
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kpa9LtunUcg "Atmosphere"] by {{w|Joy Division}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-J7GF_ivsc "Plainsong"] by {{w||The Cure}}

===Foreign localization===
'''Japanese'''
* ''Title:'' "'''Shadowplay (Saishūkai): Aru Uchi Kubi'''" (シャドウプレイ (最終回): ある打ち首, "Shadowplay (Conclusion): A Certain Beheading")

'''Swedish'''
* ''Title:'' "'''Skuggspel (Sista delen): En föraktfull halshuggning'''" ("Shadowplay (Final Part): A Disdainful Beheading")

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A:''' Orion Pax is lowered into the Primal Basilica, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
* '''Cover B:''' Ratchet reflected in the Matrix, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
* '''Cover RI:''' Rodimus stands over the injured Red Alert, by [[Marcelo Matere]] and [[Priscilla Tramontano]]

<gallery>
File:MTMTE11_cvrA.jpg|Skids and Ratchet are in the original art, but are hidden under the logo.
File:MTMTE11_cvrB.jpg|And yes, it fucntions as a mirror, too!
File:MTMTE11_cvrRI.jpg|Red lost his head.
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[The End of the Beginning of the World|#11]]
* ''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One|Regeneration One]]'' #86
* ''Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' Volume 1
* IDW ''[[My Little Pony|My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic]]'' comic
* ''Dorothy of Oz'' Prequel
* ''[[Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots]]''

===Reprints===
* '''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 3''''' ([[March 27]], [[2013]]) ISBN 161377592X / ISBN 978-1613775929 
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' Annual 2012 and issues #9–11.
** Bonus material includes "Meet the Crew", variant covers, and designs for the [[Guiding Hand]].
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Box Set''''' ([[December 2]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631404741 / ISBN 978-1631404740
** Collects ''More Than Meets the Eye'' volumes 1–5.
** Bonus material unknown at this time.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 3]]''''' ([[February 24]], [[2016]]) ISBN 1631405403 / ISBN 978-1631405402
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Spotlight|Spotlight]]: [[The Hunting Party (IDW)|Thundercracker]], [[The Question|Bumblebee]]'' & ''[[Spotlight: Megatron|Megatron]]'', ''More than Meets the Eye'' Annual 2012, issues #9–11 & #12–13 & "[[Signal to Noise]]", and ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Primus: All Good Things|Annual 2012]] & issues [[Syndromica (2)|#10]]–[[The End of the Beginning of the World|11]].
** Bonus material unknown at this time.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 55: Shadowplay''''' ([[January 9]], [[2019]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #7–13 and Annual 2012.
** Bonus material includes the second of a new three-part interview with Roberts, early pages of scripts, design sketches from Alex Milne, a cover gallery and a forward by [[Simon Furman]].
** Hardcover format.

* '''''Transformers: Kaos och skuggor''''' ([[November]], [[2020]])
** Collects [[The Transformers (IDW)|''The Transformers'' (2009)]] issues [[Chaos Theory Part 1|#22]]–[[Chaos Part One: Lamentations|24]], [[Chaos Part Two: Numbers|#26]], [[Chaos Part Three: Kings|#28]] & [[Chaos Part Four: Genesis|#30]], ''[[Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime]]'', and ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #9–13.
** Swedish reprint. Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol3.jpg|'''''More Than Meets the Eye Volume 3''''' – cover art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
File:MTMTE boxset.jpg|'''''More Than Meets the Eye Box Set''''' – cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V3.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 3''''' – cover art by Marcelo Matere and [[Tom B. Long]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v55.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 55: Shadowplay''''' – cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] (Whirl) and Alex Milne (retro)
File:MTMTE SWE 02.jpg|'''''Kaos och skuggor''''' – cover art by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]].
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc

2023-11-28T19:23:51Z

Quecksilberlampe: /* Soundtrack */

{{Comicstory|
|series=mtmte|issueno=9
|prev=Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?
|next=Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism
|caption=
|image=MTMTE9_cvrA.jpg
|title="Shadowplay (A Totally Epic Story Based On Real Events That Definitely Happened) Part 1: Post Hoc"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[September 26]], [[2012]]
|coverdate=September 2012
|story by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Chris Mowry]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline#2012-2013|Current era (2012)]]
}}
'''A group of Autobots are gathered by Rewind to tell a story of corruption, conspiracy, and murder from long ago on Cybertron.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Nightbeat quark maccadams post hoc.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.8|A wretched hive of scum and villainy.]]
''On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], before the war, [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] and [[Quark]] meet outside [[Maccadam's Old Oil House|Maccadam's New Oil House]] to discuss the increase of violence in the face of the [[Clampdown (event)|Clampdown]] and the rise of the [[Decepticon]] movement. Nightbeat is sympathetic to the worker class cause, while the science-class Quark fears for the future... but their argument ends when a drop of [[energon]] lands in Quark's drink, and the pair look up to discover the dead body of [[Sherma|Senator Sherma]], suspended from the Interstate Bridge!''

In the present day, aboard the ''[[Lost Light]]'', [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] arrives late to a meeting called by [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] in [[Swerve's]]: the archivist has called him, [[Drift (G1)|Drift]], [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]], [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] and [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] together (with [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] and [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] as an audience) to help him tell a story that will aid in [[Rung (G1)|Rung]]'s mental recuperation. The true-life tale is set shortly after the instigation of the Clampdown, beginning with the assassination of Senator Sherma, and reveals how, thanks to one Autobot, all those present played a role in a greater story than they ever realized...

Chromedome begins the story by recalling how he and his partner in [[Iaconian Mechaforensic Division|Mechaforensics]], [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]], were called in to investigate Sherma's murder, easily deducing the Decepticons as the culprits from the presence of their [[insignia]], graffitied on Sherma's back. Skids interrupts to ask for some clarification on Prowl, who he doesn't remember; Swerve has a few choice words to describe him, and Rewind tries to emulate his fondness for flipping tables over, but can't quite manage it. Drift, receiving some messages from [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]], tries to hurry the story along, so Rewind turns narration over to him, asking about his time as a homeless [[circuit booster]] addict in the [[Dead End (place)|Dead End]]. Drift recounts how he was attacked by [[Sonic (IDW)|Sonic]] and [[Boom]] and was saved by decorated police officer [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]] and brought to a medical drop-in center run by [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]]. Ratchet takes issue with Drift's embellishment of the facts, as he jokingly claims the atheist medic was praising [[Adaptus]] and [[Primus]] as he worked, but what he begrudgingly is unable to deny is that he told Drift that he was special. Drift tells of how he lied to Ratchet about going to a local [[Relinquishment Clinic]], prompting Tailgate to ask exactly what the clinics were; Rewind plays an infomercial for one, which explains that they were used in the days of [[functionism]] to give 'bots the chance to experience life in bodies with other [[alternate mode]]s via Sparkswap technology.

[[File:PostHoc-Slamdance.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8|"But enough about electing the new Space Pope..."]]
Never a fan of the clinics, Ratchet picks up the story, remembering the news broadcast that played immediately after he had repaired Drift: the broadcast that announced the death of [[Nominus Prime]], with its claim that he was the victim of a rust infection that Ratchet, having operated on Nominus following the attempt on his life, knew was a lie. His part in the story complete, Drift leaves to respond to an increasingly irate Rodimus, while Ratchet goes on to summarize how he accompanied Orion to a rendezvous with his [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|senator friend]]. The senator confirmed Orion's suspicions that Nominus was killed by the Senate after the [[Matrix of Leadership]] within his chest was revealed to be a fake, and revealed his fears that the Senate's head of security, [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel]], was planning something involving the Decepticons. For the sake of drama, Rewind has Ratchet stop there, turning things back over Chromedome to have him carry on with the story of Sherma's murder. Having discovered through autopsy that the senator was shot to death, Chromedome describes how he and Prowl traced fragments of [[cerulean glass]] found in Sherma's boots and treads back to the privileged community of [[Translucentica Heights]] and headed there on [[Skydart]]s. They discussed Prowl's upbringing in the strict town of [[Petrex]] and the existence or not of the [[Institute]] along the way, but upon their arrival, a corpse came flying out a high-rise window and landed in front of them, sporting another graffitied Decepticon symbol...

Meanwhile, down in the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s oil reservoir, Drift arrives to answer Rodimus's call. The reason is anything but pleasant... dredged out of the [[oil]] by [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]], they have discovered the remains of [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], and Rodimus blames [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] for his death!
{{--}}

==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]] (4)
* [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (6)
* [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (7)
* [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (8)
* [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (9)
* [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (11)
* [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (12)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (13)
* ''[[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]] (20)
* [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] (24)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (25)
* [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (26)
{{!}}}
|c4=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* ''[[Scrounge (G1)|Scrounge]]'' (1)
* ''[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]]'' (2)
* ''[[Quark]]'' (3)
* ''[[Sherma]]'' (5)
* [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (10)
* ''[[Nominus Prime]]'' (14)
* ''[[Proteus (G1)|Proteus]]'' (15)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* ''[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]]'' (16)
* ''[[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]]'' (17)
* ''[[Boom]]'' (18)
* ''[[Sonic (IDW)|Sonic]]'' (19)
* ''[[Slamdance (G1)|Slamdance]]'' (21)
* ''[[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Conspicuously-unnamed senator]]'' (22)
* ''[[Momus]]'' (23)
{{!}}}
}}

==Quotes==
'''Ratchet''': By the vaulted heights of— 
'''Drift''': You had him '''hidden behind the bar?!''' 
'''Chromedome''': So '''embarrassing'''. 
'''Skids''': —not '''seriously''' telling me that he's been here the '''whole time?!''' 
'''Whirl''': Cool.
:—Reactions to Rewind pulling Rung's catatonic body out from behind the bar in Swerve's.

"The Decepticons are behind this." 
"What makes you say that? Does the '''upside down corpse''' reference the Decepticons' plans to '''upend''' societal hierarchies? Is the position of the body such that at sunset, the shadow will point to the '''[[Functionist Council|Functionalist council]] building''' where the first Decepticon activists were '''arrested?'''" 
"There's all that, '''obviously.''' But for me the real '''clincher''' is the '''massive Decepticon symbol''' graffitied on his back."
:—'''Chromedome''' and '''Prowl'''

"It's '''Prowl!''' 'Prowl the Pragmatist!' You know—'''Prowl!'''" 
"'''Oh!''' Turns into a Predabot? Posted at Delphi? Likes a hug?" 
"'''No!''' Prowl with the '''head spikes''' and the '''cruel mouth''' and the--'''cross''' all the time! '''Epically, pre-emptively, existentially''' cross. And cold! Supercilious and cold! Imagine '''Ultra Magnus''' without the '''warmth''' and '''people skills.'''"
:—'''Swerve''' and '''Skids''', tossing [[Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|foreshadowing]] riiiight over our heads.

"How many times has he flipped a table?" 
"Prowl? Ooh, four times." 
"Y'know, when we left his office for the ''Lost Light'' I '''swear''' I heard-" 
"You're '''right!''' Five times."
:—'''Rewind''' and '''Chromedome'''

"So I'm laying on a circuit slab in Ratchet's Dead End workshop—and he says: 'Primus guide me, Primus protect me, I beseech you, oh might Primus, please—' '''MMMPH!'''" 
"'''Unreliable narrator alert!''' Do '''not''', I repeat '''do not''' listen to what he says!"
:—'''Drift''' and '''Ratchet'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* This story is essentially a direct sequel to Roberts's "[[Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory]]" [[Chaos Theory Part 2|two-parter]] from the [[The Transformers (IDW)|ongoing series]], published a little over a year before this story began. It follows up on events established by that story, like the injury of Nominus Prime by a suicide bomber, the establishment of the [[Clampdown (event)|Clampdown]], Orion Pax's reconstruction with a new chamber in his chest, and his dalliance with an enigmatic senator who conspicuously continues to go unnamed. The window of Maccadam's is even still cracked from where Rung collided with it in the first few pages of "[[Chaos Theory Part 1]]".
* Furthermore, the issue's opening line, "What am I looking at again? Not more violence?" is a call back and deliberate contrast to Chaos Theory's opening line, "What am I looking at again? Not more poetry?"
* This issue gives us our second mention of the [[Primal Vanguard]], the unit to which Tailgate was supposedly attached, as he mentioned back in [[Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|issue #2]].
* Several references are made to "[[Proteus's Promise]]", an unspecified political promise made by [[Proteus (G1)|Senator Proteus]] from "Chaos Theory". This was the title of the public information film shown by Rewind in [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|issue #8]].
* A billboard reading "Everyone's Shape Serves A Purpose" can be spotted outside Maccadam's; this slogan was repeated by Rewind in [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|issue #1]].
* Ratchet comments that he spray-paints his hands red; and well he should, as they're replacements gained from [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]] in [[How Ratchet Got His Hands Back|issue #5]] which are actually blue. Some paint even transitions onto Drift's face when Ratchet tries to gag him during the storytelling.
* Red Alert's name is also present on Rewind's hotspot diagram, yet unlike the others, he is not present at the storytelling meeting. With the last page's cliffhanger, the reason for that becomes graphically clear.
* [[Sherma Bridge]] has cropped up in several places in Roberts's stories, starting with "Chaos Theory Part 1". Here we learn it was formerly the "Interstate Bridge", and was renamed (formally or colloquially, it's not specified) after the dead senator hung from it.
* Skids confuses Prowl with [[Dent]], who we met back in [[Life After the Big Bang|issue #4]], where it was explained that he ''used'' to be named "Prowl" as well. His suggested animalistic alternate mode is confirmed (as a "Predabot"), and humorously, the reason he was shambling towards [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] in that issue despite being infected with [[Red Rust]] is because he "likes a hug".
* Skids’ memories of Prowl are amongst those he had lost prior to the series start, accounting for why he appears to be the only Autobot unaware of Prowl and his reputation.
* Drift's time as a homeless drifter (snort, giggle) was previously shown in [[Drift issue 2|issue #2 of his self-titled mini-series]]. (A deleted scene would've had him bump into [[Gasket]] on the way out of the clinic<ref>[http://theunderbase.libsyn.com/the-underbase-deconstructs-shadowplay "The Underbase Podcast Deconstructs Shadowplay"], 26:17 - 26:37</ref>)
* Ratchet was antagonistic to Drift earlier in the series, which appeared to be a clash of science VS religion: now we see that Ratchet saved Drift and gave him advice, which he'd ignore to become a notorious blood-soaked killer.
* Sonic and Boom previously appeared in issues #4 and #5, where they were likewise enjoying the upper hand on would-be victims before getting quickly and thoroughly trounced by a new arrival.
* Mentioned several times but perennially silent and off-screen is an allegedly chatty, teasing cohort of Orion's named "[[Roller (IDW)|Roller]]". James Roberts confirmed in an interview that this is not Orion's [[Roller (G1)|future component]] but someone for whom that component would be named in honor.<ref>[http://theunderbase.libsyn.com/the-underbase-deconstructs-shadowplay "The Underbase Podcast Deconstructs Shadowplay"], 39:43 - 41:54</ref>
* We first got a glimpse of a Relinquishment Clinic in [[Interiors|issue #6]], where one was implied to have some link to Chromedome and Rewind's shared history.
* A few of the names on the memorial for the Ark-1 are obscured by Ratchet's hand. While "Cyclonus" can be easily figured out from what we can see of it, the final name, starting with "Hype...", raises more questions. Could this be a reference to the obscure Transformer seen only in [[Skyquake (G1)|Skyquake's]] Megavisor, [[Hyperdrive (Turbomaster)|Hyperdrive]]?
* A name beginning with "Tail" is also on the memorial. [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|Issue #13]] reveals that this is ''not'' short for Tailgate.
* Pax's unnamed senator friend has had his color scheme tweaked a little in this issue compared to "Chaos Theory", with some more blue added to his chest.
* [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]'s involvement in Nominus Prime's unfortunate fate was implied in a montage of images in [[Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|issue #3]], and made explicit here.
* The Senator's comment that he wanted to tear Sentinel Prime's head off is [[Titans Return (comic)|somewhat prescient]]!
* The revelation that the Matrix within Nominus Prime was a fake ties in to Optimus Prime's discovery of the real talisman in the [[Underworld]] in ''[[The Transformers: Autocracy|Autocracy]]''. When and how the Matrix went missing is eventually revealed in [[Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|issue #19]].
* "Chaos Theory" and ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin]]'' are bridged with the revelation that Megatron was shipped off-planet after the earlier story to [[Messatine]], previously established to be home to [[Nucleon (substance)|Nucleon]] mines and future home of both the [[Delphi]] medical facility and the [[Decepticon Justice Division]]. This presumably placed [[Mining Outpost C-12]] from ''Megatron Origin'' on that planet too, but the later "[[Births, Deaths, and Interventions]]" has C-12 as a separate place.
* In a big retcon, the Decepticons exist ''before'' the events of ''Megatron Origin'', inspired by the early datalogs published by Megatron.
* The mysterious "Institute" gets another mention this issue, one of several that have been peppered throughout Roberts's works.
* Chromedome's name appears in quotation marks on the Sociotemporal Hotspot diagram, alluding to this not being his original name, before it is actually addressed within the story itself.

===Transformers references===
[[File:MTMTE 9 infomercial toy instructions.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|Not actually a toy commercial.]]
* Roberts previously used "Quark" as the name for an Autobot in his ''Eugenesis'' fan-novel, but that's about as far as similarities between the two characters go. This Quark's head is based on [[Perceptor (Animated)|''Animated'' Perceptor]], as they both turn into microscopes.
* Speaking of ''Animated'', the luckless Scrounge makes a cameo in the first panel with an appearance based predominantly on his [[Scrounge (Animated)|''Animated'' counterpart]], carrying a bundle of [[Conductor|energy conductors]] (though probably [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1|not enough to last a quartex]]). Also visible is [[Rattrap (BW)|''Beast Machines'' Rattrap]].
* The model ship Rung is building on page 2 is the ''Lost Light'' itself. [[Elegant Chaos Part 2: Stet|Issue #37]] reveals the full circumstances of the scene of Rung in the past.
* A jug on the bar table has the same unique shape as the chemical flasks seen in the [[Lithone scientist|Lithone scientist's]] workshop at the beginning of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
* Chromedome is sporting a body based on his original Generation 1 toy in the flashback sequences. He notes that he was not ''called'' "Chromedome" at this point in his life, but for clarity's sake Rewind just has him use his current name while telling the story. His old name would be revealed in [[Remembrance Day|issue #14]], and was ''not'' some crazy secret conspiracy, thank you very much internet forums.
* The images used in the Relinquishment Clinic's infomercial are redrawn from the original Generation 1 toy [[instructions]] for the [[Zetar (G1)|Drill Powerdasher]] and [[Blurr (G1)/toys|Blurr]] (with the specific coloring specifically coming from his 1987 [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] version's instructions).

===Real-world references===
* {{w|Post-hoc analysis|"Post hoc" analysis}}, from the Latin meaning "after this", is the examination of data in search of patterns after the fact. As Rewind explains, this is the purpose of his story: to reveal to the gathered characters' how their exploits all crossed over with one another without any of them knowing.
* On page 1, a small robot resembles a mouse droid from ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]''.
* The Primal Vanguard shooting took place somewhere called "Apophenia". The word means the experience of seeing connections in meaningless or random data, a fitting title given what Rewind and this story are doing.

===Other trivia===
* "Shadowplay" was in Roberts's original plans but came about after "one of the rare" requests by Hasbro; they were concerned Optimus was going to be absent from the comics for over a year and asked for him to make a few appearances. As he did not want the ''Lost Light'' running into "Orion Pax-slash-Optimus-Prime", Roberts used it as an excuse to go back to Cybertron's past and tell a "''Lost Light'' [characters] origin story".<ref>[http://theunderbase.libsyn.com/the-underbase-deconstructs-shadowplay "The Underbase Podcast Deconstructs Shadowplay"], 04:20 - 04:59</ref>
* "Shadowplay" runs through three related genres in each of its three parts: this one is the police procedural. The opening scene was the obligatory ''CSI''-style pre-credits sequence where two unimportant characters find the body.<ref>[http://theunderbase.libsyn.com/the-underbase-deconstructs-shadowplay "The Underbase Podcast Deconstructs Shadowplay"], 07:43 - 08:01</ref>
* Chromedome's [[:File:MTMTE9 early Chromedome.jpg|flashback body]] that first appears in this issue [[Chromedome (G1)#Generations|would go on to inspire]] his 2017 ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' toy.

===Crew Manifest===
* Red Alert's headless body is recovered from the [[oil]] reservoir.
* 6 deaths, 5 new arrivals (plus 20 or so Faders) since the launch.

===Errors===
* In the last panel of the first page, Nightbeat is missing a vent on the side of his helmet (his right, our left).
* In the panel where Nightbeat and Quark first see Sherma's hanging, dead body, Sherma's hands are drawn backwards.
* On page 7, Prowl refers to "the Functionalist council"; the council's ad on the same page, and page 2 before it, says "Functionist" and that's what Quark called them on the second page. This was corrected for the TPB.
* On page 16, panel 3, "understanding" is misspelled as "undersanding", this was corrected for the TPB.
* On the same page, on a subsequent panel, "someone" is misspelled as "somone", this was corrected for the TPB.
* Mechaforensics recovers glass from Senator Sherma's traction treads, but his body is not depicted as actually having any treads. We can't even argue that they're folded on the inside when he's in robot mode because we don't see any at the autopsy either.
* Ratchet mentions spray painting his hands on page 4, and later on page 13, panel 6, the wet paint is shown as residue on Drift's face following Ratchet holding his mouth shut in the previous panel. However, when it cuts back to Drift on page 14, the wet paint is nowhere to be seen without mention.

===Soundtrack===
For the three-part "Shadowplay" story:
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtckSsQ_Au0 "Comforting Sounds"] by {{w|Mew (band)|Mew}}

For this issue:
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYY3GzENE58 "Our Hearts Burn Like Damp Matches"] by {{w|The Leisure Society}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vC0CaGSwme0 Theme from ''Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind]'' by {{w|Jon Brion}}

The title is {{w|Shadowplay (song)|also a song}}, by the 1980s English band {{w|Joy Division}}.

===Foreign localization===
'''Japanese'''
* ''Title:'' "'''Shadowplay Jijitsu ni Motodzuita Saikō no Monogatari Part 1: Jigo'''" (シャドウプレイ事実に基づいた最高の物語パート1: 事後, "Shadowplay, an Excellent, Based on Reality Tale, Part 1: After the Fact")

'''Swedish'''
* ''Title:'' "'''Skuggspel, en helt episk berättelse baserad på verkliga händelser som verkligen hände Del 1: Post Hoc'''" ("Shadowplay, A Truly Epic Story Based on Real Events That Really Happened Part 1: Post Hoc")

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A:''' Many key characters in fractured panels that together make up a close-up of the Decepticon insignia, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
* '''Cover B:''' Orion Pax in a shadowed alley, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
* '''Cover RI:''' Optimus Prime, by [[Marcelo Matere]] and [[Priscilla Tramontano]]

<gallery>
File:MTMTE9_cvrA.jpg|That broken glass looks very familiar!
File:MTMTE9_cvrB.jpg|Just what are you playing at, Prime?
File:MTMTE9_cvrRI.jpg|You just messed with the wrong Prime!
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Night and the City|#9]]
* ''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One|Regeneration One]]'' [[Loose Ends, Part 3|#83]]
* Joe Kubert's ''Tarzan of the Apes'' Artist's Edition
* [[Primus: All Good Things|''Robots in Disguise'' Annual 2012]]
* ''[[My Little Pony|My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic]]'' comic

===Reprints===
* '''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 3''''' ([[March 27]], [[2013]]) ISBN 161377592X / ISBN 978-1613775929 
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' Annual 2012 and issues #9–11.
** Bonus material includes "Meet the Crew", variant covers, and designs for the [[Guiding Hand]].
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Box Set''''' ([[December 2]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631404741 / ISBN 978-1631404740
** Collects ''More Than Meets the Eye'' volumes 1–5.
** Bonus material unknown at this time.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 3]]''''' ([[February 24]], [[2016]]) ISBN 1631405403 / ISBN 978-1631405402
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Spotlight|Spotlight]]: [[The Hunting Party (IDW)|Thundercracker]], [[The Question|Bumblebee]]'' & ''[[Spotlight: Megatron|Megatron]]'', ''More than Meets the Eye'' Annual 2012, issues #9–11 & #12–13 & "[[Signal to Noise]]", and ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Primus: All Good Things|Annual 2012]] & issues [[Syndromica (2)|#10]]–[[The End of the Beginning of the World|11]].
** Bonus material unknown at this time.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 55: Shadowplay''''' ([[January 9]], [[2019]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #7–13 and Annual 2012.
** Bonus material includes the second of a new three-part interview with Roberts, early pages of scripts, design sketches from Alex Milne, a cover gallery and a forward by [[Simon Furman]].
** Hardcover format.

* '''''Transformers: Kaos och skuggor''''' ([[November]], [[2020]])
** Collects [[The Transformers (IDW)|''The Transformers'' (2009)]] issues [[Chaos Theory Part 1|#22]]–[[Chaos Part One: Lamentations|24]], [[Chaos Part Two: Numbers|#26]], [[Chaos Part Three: Kings|#28]] & [[Chaos Part Four: Genesis|#30]], ''[[Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime]]'', and ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #9–13.
** Swedish reprint. Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol3.jpg|'''''More Than Meets the Eye Volume 3''''' – cover art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
File:MTMTE boxset.jpg|'''''More Than Meets the Eye Box Set''''' – cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V3.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 3''''' – cover art by Marcelo Matere and [[Tom B. Long]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v55.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 55: Shadowplay''''' – cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] (Whirl) and Alex Milne (retro)
File:MTMTE SWE 02.jpg|'''''Kaos och skuggor''''' – cover art by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]].
</gallery>

==References==

{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=13737 Preview]