The Energon Pub

[Big Grim]

Well, I just gotta say I'm enjoying the hell outta Lost Light.

[MrBlack]

The first few issues were a bit slow, and Jack Lawrence was still not up to speed, but Lost Light really started to feel like MTMTE as of last issue, at least for me. Lawrence has really improved since issue #1, and while I don't think he's quite there with Alex Milne in terms of storytelling and detail, he's getting there. Milne has had more than a few clunky, overly detailed panels, and at least I never fail to understand what's going on when Lawrence draws. The style is different, but it works for me.

Storywise, it's back on track for me. I like the stuff with Rung, I'm beginning to enjoy Anode, and all the character building is on point. The Killmaster stuff bothers me a bit, but I'm willing to let that slide a bit since it is still building off previously established continuity. The "coincidence" with Rung doesn't bother me, as it's really only a storytelling technique. Functionist Rung has known what he could do for months, and we, the reader, are only just learning it now. The original Rung only just found out, and for an established story reason. It's coincidence, but only in how it's presented to the reader, rather than being something unbelievable from a story perspective.

[DeadCaL]

To me, I think certain characters have become caricatures of themselves, namely Brainstorm. Quirky is fine, but I have limits.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

I do, however, consider myself an amateur writer and feel that work from a good writer should be defended if it feels justified, as I believe so in this case.

This is where I disagree. I don't think James Roberts is a good writer. I like MTMTE generally, but it could have been so much better. It feels too cluttered, though not as bad as ReGeneration One was. If Roberts was truly worth his salt, he would have tidied up the story and maybe gotten more out of the pages he was allotted. Having said that, I still do plan on picking up the TPB of Lost Light, so I guess in the end that's all that matters.

I think he's a phenomenal writer. He can turn a phrase into magic, create genuine, relatable characters, and the long term plotting at play is very well planned.

I think Barber at his peak of being involved/invested as an editor helped the final presentation of Roberts' words in way we haven't seen in a long time now. Don't underestimate editorial's role in what we see. Also consider IDW has a shortage of labor in that department causing some of the delays reeally plaguing some of their other titles.

I kinda wish I had an editor for all my board posts and articles here. They'd be much better!

Wanted to comment on this last night, but was too tired and had too early a morning. And too late a day. I like Roberts and I do think he is a really good writer. One of the best in the IDW series really. His specialty is the character development, making us care for his characters rather than seeing them as mostly generic fodder with a name.

That being said:

I hate anode, and every panel on her has been wasted.

Whole arc should have been four issues.

Lawrence's art ... Nope. Zama and Pitre smoke him on every level. It's not very good, it doesn't fit the story, and detracts. I can only imagine everything would be reading better with Milne at the helm.

It's just fine. I don't know. I'm not totally down on lost light. It just doesn't seem to be on the level of mtmte. Not even close. Every month is at least vaguely disappointing.

There's good stuff. There really is. But it feels like every issue has me trying to justify the good in the face of the bad.

**** anode.

To me, I think certain characters have become caricatures of themselves, namely Brainstorm. Quirky is fine, but I have limits.

I agree to some levels with both of these posts, and both bring up the main things I have had issues with in Lost Light. While I understand the purpose of bringing on a new character from which to see the perspective of the new story, he couldn't have picked a worse character for this job. Despite what Scotty says, and I do really respect what you say Scotty with all your storytelling stuff, I really hate Anode. Still do. She has yet to do anything that makes me like her or find interest in her in any way. Unless she is an ancient Cybertronian (which she isn't), there is no way she should work in the 2 different locations. One is on Cybertron as a fighter, while the other was born on Caminus or whatever and became an adventurer after being in the wrong job. That doesn't work for me and really brings me down. I actually get a slight twinge when I see Kurona post because I see her face

Brings me to the 2nd point: I completely agree with DeadCaL: quirky is one thing, but Brainstorm feels too exaggerated in LL so far. Just enough to bug me, and he is in my top 3 favorites of all time character wise.

Finally, despite warming some to Lawrence's art, I still don't like it too much. It irritates me some reading the comic and is part of the reason I don't read LL that much after the first read. I was ridiculed some for my LL#2 review for saying I did not like the art at all, but I can't like it yet. Just can't. Part of the reason I am excited for Rom v. TF's in July is because of Milne and Barber teaming up. And I have really enjoyed the other 2 ongoings because I like the art. Zama grew on me after about 2 issues and I have come to enjoy her art, just needing to adjust from Griffith. And Pitre-Durocher is excellent in TAAO. Lawrence just feels a step or 3 behind them yet though, which is disappointing as MTMTE was my favorite of the ongoings.

But then Revolution was also a killer. It basically killed Seibs comic vibe, and it has somewhat reduced mine. And with more crossover stuff coming, I feel more annoyed than enjoyed with comics honestly.

[DeadCaL]

OK, here's a question. As someone who mainly just reads the comics and just enjoys them without keeping up with every twitter thing and IDW this and that, what is the current set up with the writing/editing on TF comics at the mo?

A friend and I were discussing it over the phone. The subject of 'oversight' came up, cos if I were writing something I was super enthusiastic about, with very little managerial input, I'd probably go nuts and just fill it with fank wank.

I really like James's style, but bits here and there seem like the kind of stuff I'd expect an editor to tighten up on.

[ScottyP]

OK, here's a question. As someone who mainly just reads the comics and just enjoys them without keeping up with every twitter thing and IDW this and that, what is the current set up with the writing/editing on TF comics at the mo?

A friend and I were discussing it over the phone. The subject of 'oversight' came up, cos if I were writing something I was super enthusiastic about, with very little managerial input, I'd probably go nuts and just fill it with fank wank.

I really like James's style, but bits here and there seem like the kind of stuff I'd expect an editor to tighten up on.

With Barber focused on writing now (has some Marvel gigs now so stepped out of his editorial role), Carlos Guzman is editing most of the TF books. Guzman edited RiD/TF for Barber, and I never felt that way about those for the most part. That said, was told by EIC David Hedgecock in our last interview with him a couple months back that they're a little thin on the editorial side and that's why some of the books keep getting delayed, so maybe that's not helping matters. I don't think it's having any huge impact but there are a couple spots that seem weird - but then again, Guzman would know where this story is going so I'll trust the decisions for now as things that help the greater story unknown to the rest of us.

What I came here to share was some Alex Milne art from Twitter. He drew Rung from Rodimus' perspective at the end of LL 5 and it's fantastic:

[Rodimus Prime]

I remember Roberts saying that the plan for the MTMTE story (now the LL story) was 100 issues. Is this still the case?

[Kurona]

I remember Roberts saying that the plan for the MTMTE story (now the LL story) was 100 issues. Is this still the case?

He's certainly hoping to get there according to his Twitter.

Also according to his Twitter, he's really enjoying writing Issue 10 with the mutineers...

[ScottyP]

I remember Roberts saying that the plan for the MTMTE story (now the LL story) was 100 issues. Is this still the case?

He's certainly hoping to get there according to his Twitter.

Also according to his Twitter, he's really enjoying writing Issue 10 with the mutineers...

I seem to recall the initial high-level idea was about 100, though he and Barber were only given the go ahead to actually plan out 12 issues each at the start. Gotta wonder if Dark Cybertron and Megatron's arrival really bumped it out into a longer thing, or if the Hasbro U makes what was the intended finish line difficult. Never do know what changes have occurred even recently with a movie coming up that we're oblivious to!

[Va'al]

We've seen two variant covers, by Nick Roche/Josh Burcham and Alex Milne/Josh Perez, for IDW Publishing's Transformers: Lost Light #6 - but now, thanks to IDW directly, we have the main Jack Lawrence (with Joana Lafuente? credits, IDW, please) artwork too. And it features a very determined Megatron. Check it out below!

[Kurona]

Honestly, this cover is perfect. For the same sort of reason just a single fist works as a cover; despite the simplicity, the single action represented and focused on means a lot. I'm really excited to see Megatron kick ass this issue

[Randomhero]

Honestly, this cover is perfect. For the same sort of reason just a single fist works as a cover; despite the simplicity, the single action represented and focused on means a lot. I'm really excited to see Megatron kick ass this issue

Yeah that's what everyone was certainly expecting in dying of the light and he certainly did shoot a fusion cannon for 2 pages and used black magic to rip up the DJD to nothingness. Let's not kid ourselves. He's not going to throw any punches in this issue.

[Kurona]

Honestly, this cover is perfect. For the same sort of reason just a single fist works as a cover; despite the simplicity, the single action represented and focused on means a lot. I'm really excited to see Megatron kick ass this issue

Yeah that's what everyone was certainly expecting in dying of the light and he certainly did shoot a fusion cannon for 2 pages and used black magic to rip up the DJD to nothingness. Let's not kid ourselves. He's not going to throw any punches in this issue.

Well, I didn't mean literally kick ass, just... kick ass at being a great character.

[WreckerJack]

Does anyone see a problem with the preview?

(Jus havin' a chuckle till they fix it)

[Va'al]

Does anyone see a problem with the preview?

(Jus havin' a chuckle till they fix it)

A bold new direction, and look, for the Lost Light crew!
Who knew the Functionist universe would lead to this..?

[Rodimus Prime]

Honestly, this cover is perfect. For the same sort of reason just a single fist works as a cover; despite the simplicity, the single action represented and focused on means a lot. I'm really excited to see Megatron kick ass this issue

Yeah that's what everyone was certainly expecting in dying of the light and he certainly did shoot a fusion cannon for 2 pages and used black magic to rip up the DJD to nothingness. Let's not kid ourselves. He's not going to throw any punches in this issue.

Yeah, I wish he had laid down a little more carnage with the cannon, but I thought it was a clever way how he trapped Tarn inside the force field, even if their actual showdown was lackluster. It kinda gave Trailbreaker a bit of redemption though.

[ScottyP]

Joining the roster of covers for Transformers: Lost Light #6 is the ten copy retailer incentive cover by Marcelo Matere. This cover was posted by IDW Publishing onto their official site's page for Lost Light #6. It features Rung, one of the central characters in the "Dissolution" arc, adjusting his glasses while reading a data pad. Just like Rung, this is probably totally innocent behavior that readers should certainly not look into too deeply.

Check it out below, and speculate away by replying to this post on our Energon Pub Forums.

As of this writing, Transformers: Lost Light #6 is expected to be released on June 7th, 2017.

[william-james88]

This is more about MTMTE than Lost light, but knew I would reach the same people by posting here without resurrecting an older thread.

I read a good part of MTMTE but got really burned by Dark Cybertron. I dont even know if I read it all. I got back into MTMTE with issue 50 and read steadily since but of course there is a gap in between I have been slowly getting though. Was reading the arc with Megatron's trial (which is still topical because now I know who Terminus is and they keep speaking of the Trial in LL) and I saw this dude:




Who in the world is that? I remember Swerve said there shouldnt be people on the Lost Light who remind him of Prowl (as a joke sure, but I still thought that meant there werent any). UNless it is indeed bluestreak. Was that the bot who Swerve was joking to? He seemed to be blue, not grey.

[Kurona]

This is more about MTMTE than Lost light, but knew I would reach the same people by posting here without resurrecting an older thread.

I read a good part of MTMTE but got really burned by Dark Cybertron. I dont even know if I read it all. I got back into MTMTE with issue 50 and read steadily since but of course there is a gap in between I have been slowly getting though. Was reading the arc with Megatron's trial (which is still topical because now I know who Terminus is and they keep speaking of the Trial in LL) and I saw this dude:




Who in the world is that? I remember Swerve said there shouldnt be people on the Lost Light who remind him of Prowl (as a joke sure, but I still thought that meant there werent any). UNless it is indeed bluestreak. Was that the bot who Swerve was joking to? He seemed to be blue, not grey.

That's Bluestreak. He's a secondary character who shows up a bit more in other stories pre-50.

His colour scheme in this is a bit weird though - like they're trying to combine the original with some actual blue. I dig it, mind.

As a general rule, Swerve says anything to be a dick. Love him.

[william-james88]

This is more about MTMTE than Lost light, but knew I would reach the same people by posting here without resurrecting an older thread.

I read a good part of MTMTE but got really burned by Dark Cybertron. I dont even know if I read it all. I got back into MTMTE with issue 50 and read steadily since but of course there is a gap in between I have been slowly getting though. Was reading the arc with Megatron's trial (which is still topical because now I know who Terminus is and they keep speaking of the Trial in LL) and I saw this dude:




Who in the world is that? I remember Swerve said there shouldnt be people on the Lost Light who remind him of Prowl (as a joke sure, but I still thought that meant there werent any). UNless it is indeed bluestreak. Was that the bot who Swerve was joking to? He seemed to be blue, not grey.

That's Bluestreak. He's a secondary character who shows up a bit more in other stories pre-50.

His colour scheme in this is a bit weird though - like they're trying to combine the original with some actual blue. I dig it, mind.

As a general rule, Swerve says anything to be a dick. Love him.

Thanks. the colours looked very different than just the previous issue where we saw him like this:




So I was confused.

[ScottyP]

IDW is about as consistent with colors and designs as Sunbow was in the 80s. They're better lately, to be fair.

[Kurona]

IDW is about as consistent with colors and designs as Sunbow was in the 80s.

Dude... those words are hurtful words.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

To be fair, around issue 28/29 of MTMTE was when there was a colorist change, and there were several notable changes in colorings, such as Bluestreak's paint work and Magnus' thighs

[SureShot18]

IDW is about as consistent with colors and designs as Sunbow was in the 80s. They're better lately, to be fair.

Hey now, I don't ever remember seeing two Starscreams in the same panel.

Yeah I guess that's fair. Colors and designs have been wonky at times, but that is sort of the nature of a comic book, I guess. Different artists and colorists throughout a run, and all.

[ScottyP]

IDW is about as consistent with colors and designs as Sunbow was in the 80s.

Dude... those words are hurtful words.

I lived through Phase 1. One issue at a time. For every awesome moment like Stormbringer, there were times like New Avengers vs. Transformers. For every greatly cultivated continuity payoff like Devastation, there was a Spotlight: Blaster.

There were also at least 85.3 regular artists working under a laissez faire editorial reign. This is greatly exaggerated, of course, but by that last year in 2011 there was 0 consistency anywhere.