Editing The Gloaming

{{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.)<br>
{{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—"<br>
<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'!"<br>
"Maybe you should see '''Rung'''. You could be suffering from some kind of '''stress-related disorder'''..."<br>
"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!"<br>
"I'm struggling to see that one."<br>
"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."<br>
"I'm angry because I failed the crew."<br>
"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."<br>
"I think you'd better leave now."<br>
"But my point is that you '''shouldn't''' hate yourself for feeling—"<br>
"'''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—"<br>
'''Swerve:''' "'''Absolutely all the time.'''"<br>
'''Whirl:''' "It'll be '''exquisite''', whatever it is. Brainstorm's a frikkin' '''artist'''."<br>
'''Swerve:''' "Okay, that's it, '''new mission:''' open the briefcase. It'll distract me from Rewind."<br>
'''Skids:''' "Great. I look forward to the crippling anticlimax."<br>


"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 MTMTE 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: Victory (franchise)|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 ''Transfomrers'' 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>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/322681873677574145 James Roberts on Twitter]</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>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/325551925049323520 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A80czw4uz60 "Lullaby"] by {{w|Arco (band)|Arco}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/326788231821676545 James Roberts on Twitter]</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''''' <small>([[July 17]], 2013) ISBN 1613776918 / ISBN 978-1613776919 </small>
:*Contains issues #12 to #16.
:*Bonus material includes art from most covers, and the prose story ''[[Signal to Noise]]''.

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

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 4|The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 4]]''''' <small>([[October 12]], [[2016]]) ISBN 1631407155 / ISBN 978-1631407154</small>
:* Contains issues #14 to #16, ''[[The Transformers: Monstrosity|Monstrosity]]'' series, and ''Robots in Disguise'' #12 to #18.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 57: Remain In Light''''' <small>([[August 21]], [[2019]])</small>
:* Hardcover collection of ''More than Meets the Eye'' #14 to #21, plus the prose stories "[[Signal to Noise]]" and "[[The Sound of Breaking Glass]]".
:* Bonus content includes a cover gallery and introduction by [[Simon Furman]].

<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|'''''IDW Collection Phase 2 Vol. 4'''''; cover art by Marcelo Matere and [[Tom B. Long]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v57.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 57: Remain In Light'''''; cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] (Skids) and Alex Milne (Overlord)
</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}}