The Energon Pub

[avidgamer]

However, I was surprised that he showed Brainstorm contacting the DJD. I did think it was him, after all he's a Decepticon, but I still don't get why Brainstorm would get them involved.

Crazy theory - in the previous issue(s), Megatron surmised that Brainstorm wanted to be free and clear to attempt his plan. SO, he contacted the DJD the first time, but they slaughtered the crew of the alternate Lost Light. Meanwhile, Brainstorm is still waiting for them to appear, and figures they won't show. So, later, he convinces Chromedome to talk to Overlord, thinking that if Overlord gets free, he'll kill everyone on the ship. When THAT didn't work out, finally, he spikes everyone's drinks.

This would allow him to be free and clear of eliminating anyone who might stop him and he wouldn't have to do it directly (since he's shown to have qualms about killing people by himself).

[Dead Metal]

Remember skids had a memory of the empyrean suite? Tarn plays that when he interrogates his victims. That flashback might be revealing something different than roller meeting skids.

That was what I thought it would be, but then there is the Matrix tattoo and the angle fits.
Seriously, check out the two issues, Skids is always shown from the left, and the first time we get to see his full face is when Optimus notices the mini matrix.

The ES, Skids could still have heard it somewhere else, but the main thing I'm saying here, is that the flashback is to establish Tarn as Roller, and not hint at who Agent 113 is.

Looks more "angry" than "shocked" in #39.

I agree. It's a stretch; a plausible stretch, but still a stretch nonetheless.

Go back to the issue, Skids was acting tough, due to what he was doing at the time, Roller interrupted him and stopped him, this could very well be just before the shocked expression in issue 10

[Nemesis Maximo]

Remember skids had a memory of the empyrean suite? Tarn plays that when he interrogates his victims. That flashback might be revealing something different than roller meeting skids.

That was what I thought it would be, but then there is the Matrix tattoo and the angle fits.
Seriously, check out the two issues, Skids is always shown from the left, and the first time we get to see his full face is when Optimus notices the mini matrix.

The ES, Skids could still have heard it somewhere else, but the main thing I'm saying here, is that the flashback is to establish Tarn as Roller, and not hint at who Agent 113 is.

Looks more "angry" than "shocked" in #39.

I agree. It's a stretch; a plausible stretch, but still a stretch nonetheless.

Go back to the issue, Skids was acting tough, due to what he was doing at the time, Roller interrupted him and stopped him, this could very well be just before the shocked expression in issue 10

Huh, that's a good point. You may be on to something - I guess if you look at it as though the scene was extended for this POV, yeah...

I'm Imagining how it would play out as a TV show as opposed to a static image, and I can see it.

[pie-man]

A couple of things that still confuse me...

Brainstorm contacted Tarn about Overlord, let the DJD into the Lost Light.... but how did he end up getting killed during the slaughter?

And the DJD killed everyone on board the Lost Light... but that happened to be an alternate Lost Light (without Rodimus & Megatron). Now they're going to track down Megs, and look to kill crew of the Lost Light again?

[ctrlFrequency]

A couple of things that still confuse me...

Brainstorm contacted Tarn about Overlord, let the DJD into the Lost Light.... but how did he end up getting killed during the slaughter?

Tarn said their intention was to only kill Overlord, but when they saw Drift, they killed him and they got out of control, they killed everyone (One thing lead to another and boom, everyone was dead)

And the DJD killed everyone on board the Lost Light... but that happened to be an alternate Lost Light (without Rodimus & Megatron). Now they're going to track down Megs, and look to kill crew of the Lost Light again?

Yes.

[Dead Metal]

Remember skids had a memory of the empyrean suite? Tarn plays that when he interrogates his victims. That flashback might be revealing something different than roller meeting skids.

That was what I thought it would be, but then there is the Matrix tattoo and the angle fits.
Seriously, check out the two issues, Skids is always shown from the left, and the first time we get to see his full face is when Optimus notices the mini matrix.

The ES, Skids could still have heard it somewhere else, but the main thing I'm saying here, is that the flashback is to establish Tarn as Roller, and not hint at who Agent 113 is.

Looks more "angry" than "shocked" in #39.

I agree. It's a stretch; a plausible stretch, but still a stretch nonetheless.

Go back to the issue, Skids was acting tough, due to what he was doing at the time, Roller interrupted him and stopped him, this could very well be just before the shocked expression in issue 10

Huh, that's a good point. You may be on to something - I guess if you look at it as though the scene was extended for this POV, yeah...

I'm Imagining how it would play out as a TV show as opposed to a static image, and I can see it.

Yup, it would be cool to see this in the form of a TV show!
I can't wait to get more information.

One thing that just hit me, remember back when we first saw Tarn? Black Shadow said the war is over and that Megatron was dead. Tarn replied that the war is only over once Megatron personally tells the Decepticons that the war is over and to lie down their weapons and badges, and that should Megatron do that the DJD would disband and cease their mission.
Well, what did Tarn do when he heard Megatron say the exact words he said would make him stop? He set himself a new mission to kill for.

[BATTLEMASTER IIC]

One thing that just hit me, remember back when we first saw Tarn? Black Shadow said the war is over and that Megatron was dead. Tarn replied that the war is only over once Megatron personally tells the Decepticons that the war is over and to lie down their weapons and badges, and that should Megatron do that the DJD would disband and cease their mission.
Well, what did Tarn do when he heard Megatron say the exact words he said would make him stop? He set himself a new mission to kill for.

Not to mention that they killed Whirl on the alternate Lost Light when Megatron ordered all Decepticons to not kill him.

This seems like a huge lapse in continuity.

EDIT: Me and Flashwave posted at about the same time That explanation of why the DJD would go after Megatron makes sense.

[Flashwave]

Remember skids had a memory of the empyrean suite? Tarn plays that when he interrogates his victims. That flashback might be revealing something different than roller meeting skids.

That was what I thought it would be, but then there is the Matrix tattoo and the angle fits.
Seriously, check out the two issues, Skids is always shown from the left, and the first time we get to see his full face is when Optimus notices the mini matrix.

The ES, Skids could still have heard it somewhere else, but the main thing I'm saying here, is that the flashback is to establish Tarn as Roller, and not hint at who Agent 113 is.

Looks more "angry" than "shocked" in #39.

I agree. It's a stretch; a plausible stretch, but still a stretch nonetheless.

Go back to the issue, Skids was acting tough, due to what he was doing at the time, Roller interrupted him and stopped him, this could very well be just before the shocked expression in issue 10

Huh, that's a good point. You may be on to something - I guess if you look at it as though the scene was extended for this POV, yeah...

I'm Imagining how it would play out as a TV show as opposed to a static image, and I can see it.

Yup, it would be cool to see this in the form of a TV show!
I can't wait to get more information.

One thing that just hit me, remember back when we first saw Tarn? Black Shadow said the war is over and that Megatron was dead. Tarn replied that the war is only over once Megatron personally tells the Decepticons that the war is over and to lie down their weapons and badges, and that should Megatron do that the DJD would disband and cease their mission.
Well, what did Tarn do when he heard Megatron say the exact words he said would make him stop? He set himself a new mission to kill for.

You are absolutely rigbt, and this sets up an interesting possibility for the DJD doing exactly what they hunt others down for, defying the Decwpticon cause in the name of the Decwpticon cause. But, I think theres two differences here. 1) Tarn is not looking past the Autbot logo on Megs' abdomen. In his eyes, defection is not the same as giving up or ceasing hostilities. 2) as a fanatic, i doubt the concept of Megatron losing is something he is prepred to grasp. In his mind, the only way Megatron would put down his fusion cannon, would be if every opponent was dead and Cybertron was his.

[Umbra]

Very nice issue, and it brings a large new cast for possible toys, since they seem to like pulling from the comics. I'm now hoping for a Tarn figure, which seems like they could easily release as Roller as well

I will be upset though if that is really all their is to Brainstorm's decepticon story. I am still hoping for another twist, such as he forged the logo as he thought DJD were the only ones who could stop Overlord

Can anyone help out and identify notable people in Deathsaurus' crew?

[Nemesis Maximo]

I doubt that about Brainstorm, Umbra. He would've brought that up when the Crew said it.

[Flashwave]

Very nice issue, and it brings a large new cast for possible toys, since they seem to like pulling from the comics. I'm now hoping for a Tarn figure, which seems like they could easily release as Roller as well

I will be upset though if that is really all their is to Brainstorm's decepticon story. I am still hoping for another twist, such as he forged the logo as he thought DJD were the only ones who could stop Overlord

Can anyone help out and identify notable people in Deathsaurus' crew?

There is another twist coming though, because Brainstorm says "Do not kill anyone else. I mean it, if you do, you'll blow my cover, and I'm close to The Jackpot."

So who, or what is the Jackpot? (Unless its the time machine, but we have no reason to think that had anything to do with the Cecepticon plo, especially since he was going to kill Tarn's idol.) The mass illing was before Megs' defection, or at least before Megs was known, and Drift was hardly a prize.

[pie-man]

So who, or what is the Jackpot? (Unless its the time machine, but we have no reason to think that had anything to do with the Cecepticon plo, especially since he was going to kill Tarn's idol.) The mass illing was before Megs' defection, or at least before Megs was known, and Drift was hardly a prize.

Can't help giggling here, but there *is* a Lost Light crew member called Jackpot!!!

Though I seriously doubt that Brainstorm is referring to him. I did wonder about his statement, but I thought that it was the time machine he was referring to.

[Va'al]

Very nice issue, and it brings a large new cast for possible toys, since they seem to like pulling from the comics. I'm now hoping for a Tarn figure, which seems like they could easily release as Roller as well

I will be upset though if that is really all their is to Brainstorm's decepticon story. I am still hoping for another twist, such as he forged the logo as he thought DJD were the only ones who could stop Overlord

Can anyone help out and identify notable people in Deathsaurus' crew?

Via TFWiki:

[Sagitta]

Remember skids had a memory of the empyrean suite? Tarn plays that when he interrogates his victims. That flashback might be revealing something different than roller meeting skids.

Go back issue 8#. Chromedome does use his talents on Skids mentioning he sees some of his memories as well as why they were psychologically and mentally blotted out. It's a basic internal self-defence mechanism. When something so traumatic occurs the individual subconsciously buries the memories.

I highly doubt the "Duo Blaster" (or whatever Brainstorm called the gun) had anything to do with that. From what I recall the messed up memories were before Skids and Getaway had that assignment from Prowl.

[Umbra]

Can anyone help out and identify notable people in Deathsaurus' crew?

Via TFWiki:

Thanks a bunch, that is definitely a part of the Transformers universe I'm not terribly familiar with. I was looking through the new Liokaiser gallery though and realizing between current and expected combiner wars figures (aerialbots, brawl, nosecone) it seems like they could pull off a version of it. Maybe a future club/con figure set.

[MrBlack]

However, I was surprised that he showed Brainstorm contacting the DJD. I did think it was him, after all he's a Decepticon, but I still don't get why Brainstorm would get them involved.

Crazy theory - in the previous issue(s), Megatron surmised that Brainstorm wanted to be free and clear to attempt his plan. SO, he contacted the DJD the first time, but they slaughtered the crew of the alternate Lost Light. Meanwhile, Brainstorm is still waiting for them to appear, and figures they won't show. So, later, he convinces Chromedome to talk to Overlord, thinking that if Overlord gets free, he'll kill everyone on the ship. When THAT didn't work out, finally, he spikes everyone's drinks.

This would allow him to be free and clear of eliminating anyone who might stop him and he wouldn't have to do it directly (since he's shown to have qualms about killing people by himself).

Well, back in #33, we learned that Drift publicly admitted that Overlord was on board the Lost Light after Rodimus was killed. Brainstorm may not have wanted that to be publicly known. As long as he was in charge of building an Autobot Phase Sixer, he could control the process and prevent the Autobots from making any headway. With the crew now knowing that Overlord was on board, his work would come under more scrutiny, at the very least, and he could be taken off the project due to his role in the cover-up. Thus, he called the DJD to take Overlord out before the Autobots could figure out his secrets.

This scenario never happened on board the off-course Lost Light. Overlord's status was secret until his breakout, and when he was blown up there was no longer any point to keeping the investigation secret.

As to the question below of the "Jackpot" that Brainstorm mentioned to the DJD, I assumed that the Decepticons were aware, to some degree, of his time machine research. They probably wanted him to take out Orion Pax, while Brainstorm clearly had his own reasons for creating the tech.

[MrBlack]

Holy crap, I totally forgot about Skids having the Matrix in Shadowplay! I went back and checked, it looked a bit different (missing the black) but it'S there an Optimus points it out.
Then I saw how Roller was in the the same task force, so I payed some more attention. You see, until Optimus points out that SKids has the Matrix tattoo in part 2, you only ever see Skids from the side, from the left side!
And then I noticed that there is one moment in which Skids makes such a face, at such an angle:

There is no denying it now, Roller is Tarn, it also tells us that that's not Tarn remembering a traitor he's about to torture.

I don't think that's the same scene we saw in that issue. Skids looks worse for wear in #39, which is not the case in this scene, and the expressions in both scenes are also different. It's possible Tarn is remembering something from the time the two spent together under Pax's command, but given the other hint's we've gotten (Skids' amnesia, except for the Empyrean Suite), it seems likely that the image from #39 is from some point after Roller became Tarn (a theory I am more convinced is correct than ever).

[ebonyleopard]

I swear, reading the forums makes me feel like a TF rookie. I've read every single issue, yet every time I come to the forums you guys manage to point out stuff in the story or in an image that I completely over look or forget about. It's like reading comments typed by an army of Nightbeats.

Well done.

Also, I know I'm not the only one who's now hoping Hasbro or some third party gives us a Nickel toy. What an awesome name for a female bot (sounds like a robot version of Nicole. )

[Va'al]

Some Roberts stuff.

Okay, so it's been two weeks and I promised to answer some questions about Nickel. So here goes.
I wrote #39 thinking that Alex would be drawing it.
I write *every* issue thinking Alex will be drawing it. When we have a guest artist, it's usually decided once the script has been handed in
Before writing #39 I already had in my mind a very specific 'look' for Nickel: she was to be an androgynous Minibot with a retro, '50s vibe.
I wanted more female TFs in MTMTE and I in particular wanted a female Decepticon, so... Nickel. #NoBrainer
The 50s retro vibe is evident, I think, in the head design. She turns into a rocket/car which looks '50s Cold War'. You'll see it eventually. When you see Nickel again she might be a different color, or have highlights: she was originally silver and chrome, per the retro look. In the script (written with Alex in mind), in addition to the aforementioned design cues, I asked for lightbulb fingertips and a rocket pack. Ultimately it was Hayato Sakamoto who was given #39 to draw. He sketched 3 versions of Nickel, all excellent. I chose elements of each.

Until #39, all you'd seen, very deliberately, was the 'front facing' DJD. As readers, you knew them principally by their reputation. Where was I? Right, the DJD. Prior to #39 you knew them by their reputation + when you saw them in action, it was through the eyes of others. I didn't want to show any behind-the-scenes stuff until #39, the 'Spotlight: Tarn' issue. The intention was always to build to a contrast between the 'outward' and 'inward' DJD. The DJD were never going to be utterly murderous, terrifying, super-evil monsters 24/7, because who is like that, really? But given that, as readers, you weren't afforded a privileged 'off-stage' glimpse into their lives until #39, but instead saw them as the 'in universe' characters did, of course based on the info given you're gonna assume they're 100% awful - everyone 'in universe' does.
None of which is to say that the DJD *aren't* truly appalling creatures. They are! The things they do are AWFUL. Is that incompatible with their behaviour towards each other when in private? In my mind, no. Was #39 my attempt to belatedly 'humanise' the DJD because I'd made them TOO awful? No. But it was about making them less 1D, albeit that for plot purposes to date, 1D is what they needed to be.
NB: Not One Direction.
Do I think Nickel is cute? No. She's a foul-mouthed and quite possibly traumatised genocide survivor who facilitates torture and death. Do I object to people finding her cute? Course not. What you think of her is up to you!

[MrBlack]

In Roberts we trust. That was a wonderful explanation.

[MrBlack]

Oh man, page 7, look at what is in Tarn's drink.

[Va'al]

YES. I knew I saw it, but forgot about it until now! Good catch!

[Flashwave]

YES. I knew I saw it, but forgot about it until now! Good catch!

Tarn has a bendy straw, (Tailgate??? )but the other glass's swirl pattern looks like a Kremzeek, or is it just me?

[Va'al]

As is usual for a Friday evening in the UK (?), IDW writer James Roberts is feeling generous, and has shared with his Twitter followers the original Hayato Sakamoto designs for Nickel, the last of her kind who joins the DJD in Transformers More Than Meets The Eye #39. Refresh your memory about the issue with our review here, and check out the mirrored image below!

It’s Friday, have a treat: Sakamoto’s final design for Nickel, based on descriptions in #39’s script.

[SW's SilverHammer]

She's scary adorable : D