James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50

Friday, January 15th, 2016 8:06AM CST

Categories: Comic Book News, People News
Posted by: Va'al Views: 27,585

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Issue 49 of The Transformers will be released next week, with More Than Meets the Eye catching up later in the month - but the latter's writer James Roberts has opened up the letters page again in occasion of the 50th issue, through a special email address.

If you would like to feature in this landmark issue of one the most acclaimed Transformers comic book series, just follow the instructions below, and hurry: the deadline for submission is this Sunday 17th January!

In next month's issue, in celebration of MTMTE reaching its half century, we're resurrecting the letters page.

This is an invitation to get your name in print and to share with other readers your thoughts on the last four years - favourite issues, stories, characters, character moments, you name it. Best of all would be an insight into what MTMTE means to you.

There's no word limit as such, but the shorter your correspondence, the more we can fit in - and we reserve the right to edit letters for space. You don't have to give your actual name, but we need some kind of identifier - your twitter handle, for example.

But listen -- time is of the essence. You only have until Sunday night to send something through...!

A special email has been set up - mtmte50[at]gmail[dot]com - so that your letters are immediately recognised as being intended for publication in issue 50. Sending something to that address indicates that the message is 'For Publication'. After Monday, once the pages have been finalised, the email account will be cancelled.

We can't promise to print every letter, but we'll squeeze in as many as we can.

Feel free to spread the word beyond Twitter to TF sites etc.

If you're moved to write, thank you. MTMTE would be nothing without its fans, and this is a chance to recognise and celebrate that.

Cheers,

James

Credit(s): James Roberts

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Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1755754)
Posted by Microraptor on January 15th, 2016 @ 8:23am CST

If a link would be provided that'd be swell.

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1755759)
Posted by Va'al on January 15th, 2016 @ 8:31am CST

Microraptor wrote:If a link would be provided that'd be swell.

A special email has been set up - mtmte50[at]gmail[dot]com - so that your letters are immediately recognised as being intended for publication in issue 50. Sending something to that address indicates that the message is 'For Publication'. After Monday, once the pages have been finalised, the email account will be cancelled.

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1755763)
Posted by Microraptor on January 15th, 2016 @ 8:36am CST

Yeah. I figured that part out, but apparently my email "violates the delivery restrictions". So, Crap.

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1755765)
Posted by ScottyP on January 15th, 2016 @ 8:36am CST

Edit: Nevermind

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1755766)
Posted by Microraptor on January 15th, 2016 @ 8:41am CST

ScottyP wrote:Edit: Nevermind

Hmm?

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1755769)
Posted by Va'al on January 15th, 2016 @ 8:56am CST

Microraptor wrote:Yeah. I figured that part out, but apparently my email "violates the delivery restrictions". So, Crap.

Did you include an attachment? What account are you using?

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1755771)
Posted by Microraptor on January 15th, 2016 @ 9:01am CST

Va'al wrote:
Microraptor wrote:Yeah. I figured that part out, but apparently my email "violates the delivery restrictions". So, Crap.

Did you include an attachment? What account are you using?

An attachment you say? What is this mystic accouterment Va'al-sempai?

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1755775)
Posted by Va'al on January 15th, 2016 @ 9:15am CST

Microraptor wrote:
Va'al wrote:
Microraptor wrote:Yeah. I figured that part out, but apparently my email "violates the delivery restrictions". So, Crap.

Did you include an attachment? What account are you using?

An attachment you say? What is this mystic accouterment Va'al-sempai?

Just trying to figure out what you did to upset Roberts. :-$

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1755778)
Posted by jogunwarrior on January 15th, 2016 @ 9:46am CST

Spent some time typing something all out, editing it, reworded it, then summed all of that up with one simple sentence instead.

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1755780)
Posted by Va'al on January 15th, 2016 @ 9:56am CST

I am seriously tempted to just write

...why?

It can be read, interpreted, and answered in a variety of ways. :michaelbay:

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1755785)
Posted by Microraptor on January 15th, 2016 @ 10:01am CST

Va'al wrote:
Microraptor wrote:
Va'al wrote:
Microraptor wrote:Yeah. I figured that part out, but apparently my email "violates the delivery restrictions". So, Crap.

Did you include an attachment? What account are you using?

An attachment you say? What is this mystic accouterment Va'al-sempai?

Just trying to figure out what you did to upset Roberts.

I'm innocent I swear.

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1755799)
Posted by ScottyP on January 15th, 2016 @ 10:25am CST

Microraptor wrote:
ScottyP wrote:Edit: Nevermind

Hmm?

I misinterpreted your first post in the thread, and once I figured that out I just edited my post to take out the pointless advice within, that's all

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1756535)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on January 17th, 2016 @ 2:27pm CST

Just sent my letter. Told him how good a job he is doing and how this comic is what hooked me on comics. Plus I asked for Rook to join the crew with the protectobots and told him how much I look forward to seeing Defensor in MTMTE

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1765949)
Posted by Va'al on February 13th, 2016 @ 1:15pm CST

Once again thanks to Seibertron.com member and podcaster ScottyP, we have been notified of the regular iTunes three page preview - and it’s for the big, landmark issue #50, starting the Dying of the Light arc! As writer James Roberts confirms on Twitter, there are pages 4-6, rather than 1-3, but take a look nonetheless below.

THE DYING OF THE LIGHT—PART 1! Since joining the Lost Light, MEGATRON has rejected everything that once made him the most feared and hated Cybertronian of all time. But penitence has a price, and before the ex-Decepticon can find true redemption he must first confront his darkest legacy—the Decepticon Justice Division.

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1766393)
Posted by Quint on February 14th, 2016 @ 2:31pm CST

Megatron: Rumbled. Speaking of which...

You know, it's lovely to see that, even after starting a war and millions of years of being a genocidal tyrant, Megatron has maintained a playful sense of humour...

(FFS, this better be a trick or a <ahem> long con.)

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1766533)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on February 14th, 2016 @ 9:05pm CST

Well, Dunno what to make of it yet. Cannot wait for what 10 days though?

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1766638)
Posted by ZeroWolf on February 15th, 2016 @ 8:40am CST

Quint wrote:
Megatron: Rumbled. Speaking of which...

You know, it's lovely to see that, even after starting a war and millions of years of being a genocidal tyrant, Megatron has maintained a playful sense of humour...

(FFS, this better be a trick or a <ahem> long con.)

Why would it be a trick? Megatron has grown immensely since becoming an autobot, I love him like this and hope that this doesn't change for years yet. They want an evil Megatron? Bring bw megs into the comics ;-)

Sigh I really need to find the money so I can get this series again.

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1766692)
Posted by Quint on February 15th, 2016 @ 12:18pm CST

ZeroWolf wrote:
Quint wrote:
Megatron: Rumbled. Speaking of which...

You know, it's lovely to see that, even after starting a war and millions of years of being a genocidal tyrant, Megatron has maintained a playful sense of humour...

(FFS, this better be a trick or a <ahem> long con.)

Why would it be a trick? Megatron has grown immensely since becoming an autobot, I love him like this and hope that this doesn't change for years yet. They want an evil Megatron? Bring bw megs into the comics

Sigh I really need to find the money so I can get this series again.

It hasn't been earned, due to the sheer scale of the atrocities he's committed and the very narrow time frame this spontaneous, Road to Damascus-style turnaround occurred within. Compare this to the delicious malevolence of Chaos Theory... Verisimilitude and all that...

It's either bad planning (a franchise imperative shoe-horned in), bad writing or, hopefully, the plot is more complex than it otherwise seems. Perhaps Megatron does want to meet the Knights but for ulterior motives that also involve Brainstorm's briefcase.

I like Megatron's quips as much as the next person, in their own right, yet the character change doesn't ring true. Nonetheless, I'm especially enjoying how he has ostensibly supplanted Rodimus as the bona fide captain outright (senior crew members such as Magnus, Rung et al defer to Megs, his battlefield expertise is in stark contrast to the sloppy tactics employed by Rodders etc).

It would also explain why he's lowering himself by explaining his feelings to lesser beings so frequently <insert Futurama quote here

>

Imagine the devastation it would cause if it is revealed he has been insidiously using them this whole time. It would also add some meaning to Rodimus' stunted growth as a character.

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1766736)
Posted by ZeroWolf on February 15th, 2016 @ 2:31pm CST

But they have also been changing his origins to show that he never started off wanting that kind of future, yet he was forced into it by way of circumstances. You can see this in the flashback that tarn has sorta when he's talking to black shadow. I don't think it was a franchise thing as the only other megs to do this was in prime, where he disbanded the decepticons because of what unicron did to him.

Now you may like that ending of sorts where megs reveals his true colours but I would just face palm as that would be a true cop out and unlike Roberts, who is far too smart for such a disappointing twist.

As to what he wants the briefcase for, well I'm wondering if he wants to find the 'third' option for cybertron, one where the planet is freed from the influences of the corruption of groups like functionists but without the loss of life and all the violence that the decepticons caused.

If they went that route, then megatron would be similar to one of my all time favourite video game protagonists/antagonists Kain from the legacy of Kain series.

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1766767)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on February 15th, 2016 @ 3:57pm CST

I cannot see them undoing the past 2 years of Megatrons character development. Roberts has worked too hard and it has been shown that Megs has legitimate reasons for everything and he now feels the impact of what his life has brought, and he feels it strongly. I think he is good for good now

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1766793)
Posted by Va'al on February 15th, 2016 @ 4:32pm CST

Given what D-Max and ZeroWolf have just said, we also have the field shot on the Necrobot world, and the announcement in #49 about his turn to non-violence - renouncing his gun, as he wrote in Towards Peace. (Nicely mirrored by the losing of the walking stick - gun as tool to prop him up - with his holomatter avatar on Swearth, too.)

To set him up against Tarn, with the latter as a follower of Megatron the warrior, all of this may have actually been necessary. It would not be a clever ruse, this far in.

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1766827)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on February 15th, 2016 @ 7:30pm CST

The Necroworld image is to me the biggest impact on Megatron, with the issue 38 realization that the universe would be better without him coming in second

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1766882)
Posted by Quint on February 16th, 2016 @ 3:30am CST

I think we're all somewhat partisan towards potential plots that we prefer. Which is fair enough.

Nonetheless, I maintain that a damascene conversion - precipitated by a single Autobot's death after millions of years of slaughtering them, remember - is either, as above, unlikely, weak plotting or story writing. However praising Robert's writing for being so complex that he wouldn't throw a twist in is a little contradictory lol. The title is called More Than Meets The Eye, after all.

Anyway, It's just speculation of future developments (yes, based on somewhat homogeneous character voices). Time will tell.

Edit to add: From a PR / commercial point of view, Megatron's defection garnered headlines (even being mentioned in the UK Guardian very recently too). In the same way that Batman survived or Superman was resurrected or whatever, it's perhaps inevitable that Megatron will once again 'change' to court attention and revenue. This is likely just building up to a pay day and the only thing up for debate is the nature of his betrayal. Despite my criticism above, I hope it's Roberts that sees this through.

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1766884)
Posted by Va'al on February 16th, 2016 @ 3:51am CST

Quint wrote:This is likely just building up to a pay day and the only thing up for debate is the nature of his betrayal. Despite my criticism above, I hope it's Roberts that sees this through.

Alas, I am inclined to agree on the first part of that, and minus the 'alas' I agree on the second too!

Barber is a good egg too, and I don't expect him to change the direction any time soon. Cannot necessarily say the same of higher IDW or their connection with the franchise. But we'll see!

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1766908)
Posted by ZeroWolf on February 16th, 2016 @ 6:52am CST

I still say that a twist in the vein of "I was evil along fools!" Is in itself bad writing, everyone is still expecting it and it's a twist as stupid as most of M. Night Shamylan (spelling wrong I know) twists.

But I digress, it sea people always fall into the camps of "just pretending to be good" and "wanting redemption" so I have to ask, why do people want him evil? There's other bad guys out there now who can have the spotlight, galvatron has never shined so bright...apart from the old marvel comics.

As for one autobot life meaning more to wiping out millions? Well how many of them did he really know personally? That and redemption stories all start with the protagonist finding new value in life.

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1767110)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on February 16th, 2016 @ 4:50pm CST

A twist like Megs being evil for years while being an Autobot just doesn't seem to fit with what we seen. I believe he truly is going down that different path

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1769508)
Posted by Va'al on February 25th, 2016 @ 3:39am CST

Just for information, there are some previews and extra pages floating around the internet for MTMTE #50.
We will not be newsing anything until we get the actual material from IDW.

Please read James Roberts' message about the situation, too:

[...] it pains me that random, spoiler-heavy panels/pages, out of both context and sequence, will spread everywhere over the next two weeks, making it nigh-on impossible for readers to approach this exceptionally important issue as the creative team intended. You won't read the issue as it was written or experience it as it was designed to be experienced. Furthermore, sales could take a dent.

So please, if you've happened upon some pages from #50 that aren't 4, 5 or 6, don't share them.

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1769601)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on February 25th, 2016 @ 2:31pm CST

Really sucks considering this was supposed to come out today, and yet is delayed 2 weeks. It needs to get back to the regular slot of the last week of the month, not the second week of the following month :MAXIMAL:

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1769786)
Posted by Professor Smooth on February 26th, 2016 @ 5:10am CST

I don't know why this happened, but the book was released on iTunes here in Japan. The whole issue, in English, for 950 yen.

I don't want to spoil anything for anybody, but I will say that it's worth waiting for. Not sure if it's possible to use the Japanese version of iTunes from outside the country, but if you can, get on it.

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1769787)
Posted by Va'al on February 26th, 2016 @ 5:14am CST

Professor Smooth wrote:I don't know why this happened, but the book was released on iTunes here in Japan. The whole issue, in English, for 950 yen.

I don't want to spoil anything for anybody, but I will say that it's worth waiting for. Not sure if it's possible to use the Japanese version of iTunes from outside the country, but if you can, get on it.

Yep, we were aware of this, and thank you for keeping quiet on it!
idw-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-50-discussion-thread-p1769786.php#p1769508

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1769897)
Posted by ScottyP on February 26th, 2016 @ 1:52pm CST

If anyone posts unmarked spoilers and/or non-officially-distributed "preview" pages here I will perma ban you never be friends with you.

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1770441)
Posted by o.supreme on February 29th, 2016 @ 2:17pm CST

Hopefully with March & June having 5 Wednesdays, they will be able to get back on production schedule. Especially if ever down the road they want to do another crossover event. It would not be very well received to read things out of order.

But then again SoTW #4 is also delayed, and TF vs GI Joe, well that appears like the Ghost of Christmas Future, and really should be put to an end, hopefully soon. Also I talked to one of the comic shop workers. Apparently DC is behind on a number of titles as well. looks to be happening more & more in the industry.

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1770579)
Posted by Va'al on March 1st, 2016 @ 7:23am CST

o.supreme wrote:Hopefully with March & June having 5 Wednesdays, they will be able to get back on production schedule. Especially if ever down the road they want to do another crossover event. It would not be very well received to read things out of order.

But then again SoTW #4 is also delayed, and TF vs GI Joe, well that appears like the Ghost of Christmas Future, and really should be put to an end, hopefully soon. Also I talked to one of the comic shop workers. Apparently DC is behind on a number of titles as well. looks to be happening more & more in the industry.

It's not a production issue, or at least not from the creative side. There is something big happening in the physical production and shipping of the books across the board.

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1771386)
Posted by ScottyP on March 4th, 2016 @ 3:07pm CST

After delays, false previews, cut parts and more delays, the second milestone for IDW Publishing Transformers is here - More Than Meets the Eye also reaches issue #50! Check out below a full preview, as first shown on Newsarama, and make sure to head back here next week for the regular Seibertron.com review of this landmark issue.

Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye #50
James Roberts (w) • Alex Milne & Brendan Cahill (a) • Griffith (c)
THE DYING OF THE LIGHT—PART 1! Since joining the Lost Light, MEGATRON has rejected everything that once made him the most feared and hated Cybertronian of all time. But penitence has a price, and before the ex-Decepticon can find true redemption he must first confront his darkest legacy—the Decepticon Justice Division.
FC • 48 pages • $7.99

Bullet points:
MEGATRON’S past comes back to haunt him—literally!
The D.J.D. are utterly committed to punishing any who abandon MEGATRON’s cause… and now they know MEGATRON is an AUTOBOT!
The masterplan of TRANSFORMER’s geniuses James Roberts and Alex Milne reveals itself!
The story begins here—but you won’t believe where it will end!
Will the Lost Light survive? Nothing is sure!
Variant Cover by Alex Milne!

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1771391)
Posted by ZeroWolf on March 4th, 2016 @ 3:15pm CST

Oh dear, looks like they are going to need a miracle. Though I wonder if they blank one of the previews as to not give spoilers.

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1771418)
Posted by BATTLEMASTER IIC on March 4th, 2016 @ 6:27pm CST

Looks like Tarn is holding them at gunpoint while having them all record their last wishes. I think it's Tarn based on the shadow across Nightbeat's face that Red Alert pointed out. Looks like a double fusion cannon.

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1771421)
Posted by Noideaforaname on March 4th, 2016 @ 7:02pm CST

Hasn't everyone died, like, twice already? Starting off a series with "they all DIE" is a cheap tactic to begin with, but MtMtE has had so many fake-outs this just doesn't have the slightest effect.

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1771453)
Posted by Randomhero on March 4th, 2016 @ 10:45pm CST

Noideaforaname wrote:Hasn't everyone died, like, twice already? Starting off a series with "they all DIE" is a cheap tactic to begin with, but MtMtE has had so many fake-outs this just doesn't have the slightest effect.

I'm with you there. I don't believe this in the slightest. The DJD don't give out final requests. Not to their own and absolutely not Autobots. The first pages feel like nothing but Tumblr bait anymore.

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1771466)
Posted by MTMESkids on March 5th, 2016 @ 2:07am CST

still....5 days...
Anyway whos's faces are on the stones in the cover?
I thik I reckognize Drift, and Overlord....an other ideas?

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1771469)
Posted by ZeroWolf on March 5th, 2016 @ 3:15am CST

I don't know about that randomhero, being Roberts creations he's free to dicate their way of engagement, especially if megatron is involved and as part of a deal has brokered an execution time as part of his own plan to rescue everyone.

Let's face it, tarn would believe megs if he said this was a trick, and listen to him on all matters (when he's not trying to kill him.

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1771472)
Posted by Squiddy on March 5th, 2016 @ 4:27am CST

Noideaforaname wrote:Hasn't everyone died, like, twice already? Starting off a series with "they all DIE" is a cheap tactic to begin with, but MtMtE has had so many fake-outs this just doesn't have the slightest effect.

The people who boarded the Lost Light in issue #1 were died and was bought back by quantum shenanigans. Everyone at this point is on their last life. I will say that I feel like James has gotten scared of killing off major characters. He's been hyping up #50 on his twitter for a good while but I just think he likes getting people overly excited....

Randomhero wrote: I'm with you there. I don't believe this in the slightest. The DJD don't give out final requests. Not to their own and absolutely not Autobots. The first pages feel like nothing but Tumblr bait anymore.

First: Tarn did. Issue #39, in the beginning, his latest victim requested to take his mask off as a "last words". Think about it, the LL is a huge ship filled with Autobots. Tarn has a big group of Decepticons with him. When will there be a more perfect time to strike fear onto others about the DJD and their ruthless actions?

Second: What the hell do the first pages relate ANYTHING to tumblr? It's a bleak/dark opening so let's blame tumblr for it? Your logic is confusing... :???:

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1771492)
Posted by Randomhero on March 5th, 2016 @ 11:44am CST

Squiddy wrote:
Noideaforaname wrote:Hasn't everyone died, like, twice already? Starting off a series with "they all DIE" is a cheap tactic to begin with, but MtMtE has had so many fake-outs this just doesn't have the slightest effect.

The people who boarded the Lost Light in issue #1 were died and was bought back by quantum shenanigans. Everyone at this point is on their last life. I will say that I feel like James has gotten scared of killing off major characters. He's been hyping up #50 on his twitter for a good while but I just think he likes getting people overly excited....

Randomhero wrote: I'm with you there. I don't believe this in the slightest. The DJD don't give out final requests. Not to their own and absolutely not Autobots. The first pages feel like nothing but Tumblr bait anymore.

First: Tarn did. Issue #39, in the beginning, his latest victim requested to take his mask off as a "last words". Think about it, the LL is a huge ship filled with Autobots. Tarn has a big group of Decepticons with him. When will there be a more perfect time to strike fear onto others about the DJD and their ruthless actions?

Second: What the hell do the first pages relate ANYTHING to tumblr? It's a bleak/dark opening so let's blame tumblr for it? Your logic is confusing...

These are nothing but confessions and requests of where to be buried and how their funerals should be. Not how the DJD work, we saw how they handled the duplicate lost light.

This is cheesy found footage confessions like in Blair witch. The DJD are not recording their last words and requests. The crew themselves are making them, and the line from Red Alert is to throw you off like most of what James does in his writing. he puts a little thing in to keep you focused while he's doing something else. Similar to Shockwaves origin. You read the whole thing and go "there were little clues everywhere!" But you're not paying attention to them because you're focusing on the red white and blue color scheme and going "the senator is ultra Magnus!" That's how James writes.

These first pages are meant for you to go "OHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD!!!!" And I not feeling it.

Also, it doesn't matter who dies! They have a time machine brief case with paradox locks! It doesn't matter! Why do you think there's a three week time difference? Everyone can die except a couple people, they use the brief case and can literally change the outcome and and Optimus can jump in and everyone is fine because the biggest "F YOU" mcguffin is in their hands.

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1771498)
Posted by MTMESkids on March 5th, 2016 @ 12:17pm CST

Randomhero wrote:
Squiddy wrote:
Noideaforaname wrote:Hasn't everyone died, like, twice already? Starting off a series with "they all DIE" is a cheap tactic to begin with, but MtMtE has had so many fake-outs this just doesn't have the slightest effect.

The people who boarded the Lost Light in issue #1 were died and was bought back by quantum shenanigans. Everyone at this point is on their last life. I will say that I feel like James has gotten scared of killing off major characters. He's been hyping up #50 on his twitter for a good while but I just think he likes getting people overly excited....

Randomhero wrote: I'm with you there. I don't believe this in the slightest. The DJD don't give out final requests. Not to their own and absolutely not Autobots. The first pages feel like nothing but Tumblr bait anymore.

First: Tarn did. Issue #39, in the beginning, his latest victim requested to take his mask off as a "last words". Think about it, the LL is a huge ship filled with Autobots. Tarn has a big group of Decepticons with him. When will there be a more perfect time to strike fear onto others about the DJD and their ruthless actions?

Second: What the hell do the first pages relate ANYTHING to tumblr? It's a bleak/dark opening so let's blame tumblr for it? Your logic is confusing...

These are nothing but confessions and requests of where to be buried and how their funerals should be. Not how the DJD work, we saw how they handled the duplicate lost light.

This is cheesy found footage confessions like in Blair witch. The DJD are not recording their last words and requests. The crew themselves are making them, and the line from Red Alert is to throw you off like most of what James does in his writing. he puts a little thing in to keep you focused while he's doing something else. Similar to Shockwaves origin. You read the whole thing and go "there were little clues everywhere!" But you're not paying attention to them because you're focusing on the red white and blue color scheme and going "the senator is ultra Magnus!" That's how James writes.

These first pages are meant for you to go "OHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD!!!!" And I not feeling it.

Also, it doesn't matter who dies! They have a time machine brief case with paradox locks! It doesn't matter! Why do you think there's a three week time difference? Everyone can die except a couple people, they use the brief case and can literally change the outcome and and Optimus can jump in and everyone is fine because the biggest "F YOU" mcguffin is in their hands.

On the other hand, maybe the DJD feels capturing the lost light with Megatron, and show this kind of fear and hopelessness to the world is a more effective message than destroy them in silence. Don't forget the first time it was just ordinary business. now its about Megatron.

But who knows?

For me even that I think/hope that the majority of these guys will stay alive, this few pages give the feeling of hopelessness.

What is also interesting that as I see two or three characters says betrayal...by who?

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1771504)
Posted by Randomhero on March 5th, 2016 @ 12:56pm CST

MTMESkids wrote:
Randomhero wrote:
Squiddy wrote:
Noideaforaname wrote:Hasn't everyone died, like, twice already? Starting off a series with "they all DIE" is a cheap tactic to begin with, but MtMtE has had so many fake-outs this just doesn't have the slightest effect.

The people who boarded the Lost Light in issue #1 were died and was bought back by quantum shenanigans. Everyone at this point is on their last life. I will say that I feel like James has gotten scared of killing off major characters. He's been hyping up #50 on his twitter for a good while but I just think he likes getting people overly excited....

Randomhero wrote: I'm with you there. I don't believe this in the slightest. The DJD don't give out final requests. Not to their own and absolutely not Autobots. The first pages feel like nothing but Tumblr bait anymore.

First: Tarn did. Issue #39, in the beginning, his latest victim requested to take his mask off as a "last words". Think about it, the LL is a huge ship filled with Autobots. Tarn has a big group of Decepticons with him. When will there be a more perfect time to strike fear onto others about the DJD and their ruthless actions?

Second: What the hell do the first pages relate ANYTHING to tumblr? It's a bleak/dark opening so let's blame tumblr for it? Your logic is confusing...

These are nothing but confessions and requests of where to be buried and how their funerals should be. Not how the DJD work, we saw how they handled the duplicate lost light.

This is cheesy found footage confessions like in Blair witch. The DJD are not recording their last words and requests. The crew themselves are making them, and the line from Red Alert is to throw you off like most of what James does in his writing. he puts a little thing in to keep you focused while he's doing something else. Similar to Shockwaves origin. You read the whole thing and go "there were little clues everywhere!" But you're not paying attention to them because you're focusing on the red white and blue color scheme and going "the senator is ultra Magnus!" That's how James writes.

These first pages are meant for you to go "OHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD!!!!" And I not feeling it.

Also, it doesn't matter who dies! They have a time machine brief case with paradox locks! It doesn't matter! Why do you think there's a three week time difference? Everyone can die except a couple people, they use the brief case and can literally change the outcome and and Optimus can jump in and everyone is fine because the biggest "F YOU" mcguffin is in their hands.

On the other hand, maybe the DJD feels capturing the lost light with Megatron, and show this kind of fear and hopelessness to the world is a more effective message than destroy them in silence. Don't forget the first time it was just ordinary business. now its about Megatron. But who knows?

For me even that I think/hope that the majority of these guys will stay alive, this few pages give the feeling of hopelessness.

What is also interesting that as I see two or three characters says betrayal...by who?

Ravage.

The DJD don't need to show anything, they're walking killing machines that are already feared by most.

Also, it's not the end of MTMTE. Its the End of this "season", one or two main characters will die MAYBE. I don't believe for 5 seconds Rung will because will its Rung. He's still a giant mystery. There still has to be a crew for MTMTE to go on.

All I can think about is how the Overload story was labeled as being a massacre...we lost borderline red shirt Pipes(still sad) but he was a red shirt, Rewind who's alive again and a dude who looked like minicon Highwire. Truly a massacre. Dying light we lost Ambulon. What a contribution he was, it felt like his death was going to have meaning to First Aid but that plot was swipped under the rug and even the last two issues were sold as "death in the corridors" no one died.

Sorry but I'm not buying this comic anymore as being a heartbreaking series. I hope the story is good but to cry over who dies and lives is pointless.

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1771505)
Posted by Squiddy on March 5th, 2016 @ 12:58pm CST

Randomhero wrote:
These are nothing but confessions and requests of where to be buried and how their funerals should be. Not how the DJD work, we saw how they handled the duplicate lost light.

This is cheesy found footage confessions like in Blair witch. The DJD are not recording their last words and requests. The crew themselves are making them, and the line from Red Alert is to throw you off like most of what James does in his writing. he puts a little thing in to keep you focused while he's doing something else. Similar to Shockwaves origin. You read the whole thing and go "there were little clues everywhere!" But you're not paying attention to them because you're focusing on the red white and blue color scheme and going "the senator is ultra Magnus!" That's how James writes.

These first pages are meant for you to go "OHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD!!!!" And I not feeling it.

Also, it doesn't matter who dies! They have a time machine brief case with paradox locks! It doesn't matter! Why do you think there's a three week time difference? Everyone can die except a couple people, they use the brief case and can literally change the outcome and and Optimus can jump in and everyone is fine because the biggest "F YOU" mcguffin is in their hands.

You bring up a good point. Even though Tarn is being built up to encounter Megatron very soon, it's very possible that it's not Tarn.

It could be the same species that the LL were fighting 3 weeks ago. Megatron made it clear to not kill any of them, cue Tailgate directly splitting one of their heads open with a punch. This could've caught the attention of the Galactic Council's attention and are being sentenced to death on the ship. Or hell, it could be Overlord since Red Alert asked Fortress Maximus if that gun shadow looked familiar. It's up in the air who's actually standing there and making them request how they want to be buried. Personally, I like those little drips of subtext in MTMTE, it makes it clear that you have to pay attention to who's saying what to who.

Megatron has the only briefcase left on the ship, the rest were destroyed, but who said he'd save everyone on the ship with it? He's renounced being violent but he's still Megatron....BTW Optimus Prime is too busy with the garbage he started on Earth so he's not coming to help.

It's perfectly fine that you're not generally interested in the first couple of pages presented but don't use the overused excuse of "it's tumblr's fault". It really comes off that you just want to blame this issue on something that doesn't even relate to the comic itself.

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1771511)
Posted by ZeroWolf on March 5th, 2016 @ 1:40pm CST

I still think that the shadow is megs who is doing some machination against tarn who as the ultimate fan boy will probably accept megs back in a heart beat.

You are right though that there is some clues there that we haven't seen yet.

Again though you're assuming that the djd are going to do everything the same as before when this is a different scenario, they know they'll be going after a ship they already tore apart once, and if Roberts wants to play this differently then it's his call.

Another little thing I noticed, nightbeats request, it's a nice little call back and this could be forshadowing titans return where we know nightbeat is a titan master.

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1771590)
Posted by D-Maximal_Primal on March 5th, 2016 @ 4:46pm CST

I'm not completely sure what to make of it yet. But those guys do look pretty beat up that's for sure. Poor Nautica :MAXIMAL:

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1771670)
Posted by CombaticonsCombine? on March 6th, 2016 @ 7:56am CST

People complaining about them using the briefcase as a MacGuffin to save everyone, please remember this:

The briefcases were all part of a larger time machine. An individual briefcase can't be used for time travel if the others are destroyed. Which they are. Furthermore, we know the DJD do occasionally give final requests. But honestly, I don't see this as just the DJD. Since the DJD has aligned themselves with Deathsaurus' troops, it could be any of them as well.

And, to indirectly quote someone, I don't think these pages are supposed to be "OHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD!!!!" material. We've seen Roberts' writing when it's meant to resemble that, and this isn't it. It's entirely possible this isn't supposed to hype us, but just leave us wanting more. Like a cliffhanger, which is what many of these previews have been.

I feel a lot of people are misreading these few pages when they're out of context, so hopefully this post can help put those misconceptions to rest.

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1772201)
Posted by Mr Skram on March 9th, 2016 @ 6:40am CST

Anyone else feel like it was a bit of a letdown? I mean, some cool stuff happened but it's another issue that left me saying "next issue is going to be awesome!" instead of "this issue was awesome!".

Re: James Roberts Wants Your Letters for More Than Meets the Eye #50 (1772274)
Posted by ctrlFrequency on March 9th, 2016 @ 10:37am CST

Mr Skram wrote:Anyone else feel like it was a bit of a letdown? I mean, some cool stuff happened but it's another issue that left me saying "next issue is going to be awesome!" instead of "this issue was awesome!".

Yeah, totally with you. It felt like more set up (it was more set up)

Though I found the commentary on prescription drugs interesting and the idea that Megatron hasn't really changed, but his meds are causing it), if we'really going to have a "Megatron didn’t really change, he's still the same" moment, at least it is a plausible and different sort of approach rather than a tired old "I was always evil and this is all part of my plan!!!!" Momen. Howevrr, it may not be that,it could be "this is the door that opened a new outlook, sucks it had to be happy pills, but hey! Hugs!"

I need more coffee, I"m rambly.

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