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Review will be late due to offscreen life. Sorry.

With our charming and prestigious Comics Editor and News Administrator Va'al otherwise indisposed, it's fallen on me to take up the reigns for this week's review of IDW's More Than Meets The Eye #44. As warned already, this one will be spoiler heavy throughout, because there's no way I can adequately review this thing if I'm trying to not tell you things about it. Since some of the text gets front paged, I'm just typing up things to delay the start of the actual review. This is your Swerve recap. Need a review with no spoilers? Here it is: stop reading my stupid words and go buy this. Now. Stop, really, and go spend $4 right the hell now on this book. I'm serious, if you want to read this issue (you do), and you read this review beforehand, you will regret it. Don't have regrets, the internet can wait.



So with all that out of the way, let me tell you what author James Roberts has done here. This is an issue about the value of life, dogma, love, hope, expectation, and consequences. Oh, and Transformers, I suppose. Strap in your feelings, we're going for a ride.



We'll start with Rodimus, like you do when writing about MTMTE. We're joined on the first page with Rewind attempting to tell Rodimus a story, this time about the mysterious, legendary Necrobot. Rodimus, naturally, seems to not care. There are more important things that can be done, like get attention for being The Best Guy because he's carved a map to Cyberutopia on a table. Forget this side-quest, The Best Captain has done a thing, so naturally, we have to follow up on this.



Only this doesn't go to plan for him, as Megatron, The Other Captain, thinks one more little side quest isn't such a big deal. Under the guise of continuing to be very, almost unusually, caring about Rewind, off they go to look for the Necrobot. Why do they do this?



Well that's something, isn't it? So off they go, eventually landing on the Necrobot's planet. Without going into too much plot summary (much of the above was in the previews anyhow), and without spoiling too much of the absolutely stunning art by Hayato Sakamoto, colored by Joana Lafuente in images, there are some other themes and points worth serious note.

First, the buddy cop duo that never was/is likely never to be: Nightbeat and the Necrobot.



At the start of this issue, we know positively very extremely little about the Necrobot. Within the confines of this one single comic, we learn a gigantic ton about him. The Necrobot, through his interaction with Nightbeat, is wholly fleshed out as a character. The storytelling here is simply marvelous, touching on Nightbeat's expectations that maybe, just maybe there's something more to the ideas of religious dogma, or supernatural powers existing in the universe. It turns out that the Necrobot doesn't live up to this, he's really just a guy (I told you there would be spoilers) named Censere. Censere tells him, in my favorite panel of the book, that he should still hope anyhow if he wants to. Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.

Oh, and his cape. I want one. Just go read it, you'll see what I mean.

Next, but not last, it's time to reflect on the latest goings on in my favorite romance in fiction these days: Chromedome and Rewind.



As a guideline, I'm never much into fictional romance. Love is a fickle thing and it's extremely hard to make a compelling story about it without falling into, literally, a gillion tropes, cliches, and stretches of cringe-worthy dialogue. Roberts continues to utterly avoid all of this and provide a story about two souls on a journey that deeply care about one another to their core. I should also point out that this is yet more consistent, meaningful, and impacting character development that's handled in just the fewest of pages. It doesn't take a lot of time to be satisfying, and this is where I point out that the lettering of Tom B. Long really helps in setting the dialogue's tone appropriately. The voices in your head won't emphasize the wrong words, which can't always be said in comics.

Finally, the least obvious (until the end, that is) featured story in the issue. Who is this issue about, really?



The renaissance of Megatron is continued here, and he's always there in this one, just off to the side, sometimes being snarky, but then... well, I'm not going to post the last two page spread because it's incredible. With the last sentence of this book, any emotions I had to spend were spent. Sometimes consequences aren't as material as you want them to be. Instead, they end up being something more, something worse - true guilt.



This one's an embodiment of Samwise Gamgee's very famous lines from Tolkien's The Two Towers, but everyone knows those, I think. Is this the best comic I've ever read? Probably. As I said at the start, go buy this. Maybe buy one for a friend too.



Bonus! James Roberts' soundtrack suggestions for this issue:

• The Smiths - Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want
• A Camp - Song for the Leftovers

Wow a perfect score for a book with quite a bit of continuity errors? Well okay then.

Honestly this was okay. I don't have a problem with the Necrobot and like I said before I didn't mind the reveal of 113 especially since he wasn't a very big deal to the IDW verse unless you read bullets and over hyped yourself about it.

The issue was fine, nothing mind blowing and pretty predictable. Last two pages were great, it was what I expected but had weight which is good.

It's an average issue. Collected as volume 8 I think this is the second lowest collection next to Remain in Light. Two good opening issues followed by a real "meh" red dwarf fanfic with transformers, then an over meta issue that isn't going to read well due to relying on the Swerve recaps that are not included in the previous trades when it was used and ends on a pretty average issue.

I thought it was an amazing issue. It really did speak volumes for Megatron and Nightbeat, plus chromedome and rewind. And I did not notice any real continuity errors, so I fail to see where that is coming from. This was both an explanatory read and an emotional one, and I for one am touched. Megatron has really grown on me, like a lot

Yeah, I'm curious about continuity errors. I didn't notice any, then again, the impact of the story would have distracted me from them. All I know of is a footnote error which JR acknowledged on Twitter, so I'm sure that'll get taken care of in the trade.

ScottyP wrote:Yeah, I'm curious about continuity errors. I didn't notice any, then again, the impact of the story would have distracted me from them. All I know of is a footnote error which JR acknowledged on Twitter, so I'm sure that'll get taken care of in the trade.

I caught them while reading. Someone listed them on the issues page at tfwiki. They're sound

Randomhero wrote:

ScottyP wrote:Yeah, I'm curious about continuity errors. I didn't notice any, then again, the impact of the story would have distracted me from them. All I know of is a footnote error which JR acknowledged on Twitter, so I'm sure that'll get taken care of in the trade.

I caught them while reading. Someone listed them on the issues page at tfwiki. They're sound

From that page on TF Wiki, here are the errors:

• The Necrobot introduces himself as "Censere", but when Nightbeat speaks his name during their farewell, he calls him "Censerre", with an extra "r". It's not clear which is the error.
• When Nightbeat talks about his death, the footnote states he died in Spotlight: Nightbeat, rather than Spotlight: Hardhead.
• Dominus Ambus's name is described as being "three from the bottom" on the monolith, but the art shows it being on the bottom line.

So a typo, a footnote issue that the author's noted, and something pretty much inconsequential.

Just ... weird.

Why was Rodimus drawn as a fembot from the waist down?

I believe that MTMTE is aimed at the LGBT portion of the fandom and Hasbro knows this which is why MTMTE is never included as a pack in comic with the toys.

Since the MTMTE is not intended for me I will be dropping the book before #50. There won't be much to see after #50 since the book seems to be collapsing in on itself anyway.

Is that grass in the Autobot graveyard? Are those graves on Cybertron or another world? We need to know! [Personally, I think that it would be much more economical to recycle Autobots for their parts than to bury them uselessly, especially during wartime.]

Pretty sure errors would be dock if it was by costa and Schmidt...just saying

One error I actually noticed is nightbeat saying the Necrobot Is the oldest he's met yet he's met Alpha Trion- a thirteen-, Galvatron and nova prime. Not to mention Omega Supreme and a Titan, both of which were considered the oldest cybertronians in existence. Metroplex is believed to know the guiding hand and the Knights to which he won't speak of because the current generation is unworthy.

ScottyP wrote:

Randomhero wrote:

ScottyP wrote:Yeah, I'm curious about continuity errors. I didn't notice any, then again, the impact of the story would have distracted me from them. All I know of is a footnote error which JR acknowledged on Twitter, so I'm sure that'll get taken care of in the trade.

I caught them while reading. Someone listed them on the issues page at tfwiki. They're sound

From that page on TF Wiki, here are the errors:

• The Necrobot introduces himself as "Censere", but when Nightbeat speaks his name during their farewell, he calls him "Censerre", with an extra "r". It's not clear which is the error.
• When Nightbeat talks about his death, the footnote states he died in Spotlight: Nightbeat, rather than Spotlight: Hardhead.
• Dominus Ambus's name is described as being "three from the bottom" on the monolith, but the art shows it being on the bottom line.

So a typo, a footnote issue that the author's noted, and something pretty much inconsequential.

Yeah, there are no real continuity errors present. That thing about Nightbeat eh, he may not consider them meeting considering he never spoke to several or may not know the age of the rest. (Like he does not know A3 is a thirteen, only a very few do). So what Nightbeat says is really no continuity error.
And I would not totally agree with that writers comment. Roberts and Barber (considering they co-edit each others work) have been extraordinary with continuity. couple hiccups (but when is there not) but they really have done tons for the continuity of the IDW run

1984forever wrote:I believe that MTMTE is aimed at the LGBT portion of the fandom and Hasbro knows this which is why MTMTE is never included as a pack in comic with the toys.

Since the MTMTE is not intended for me I will be dropping the book before #50. There won't be much to see after #50 since the book seems to be collapsing in on itself anyway.

I agree whole heartily.

Transformers & the Combiner series seems to be putting it on thick at times as well. But I've mostly kept up with the MtMtE side of things.

It would have been been better for the writer(s) to have kept the stories on the level as their more highly acclaimed. (Rewind's woven tale for Rung & Remain in the Light to name two popular story arcs for example. No romance necessary. Just very good storytelling.)

Ratchet's farewell issue to the Lost Light was my own official last.

1984forever wrote:Just ... weird.

Why was Rodimus drawn as a fembot from the waist down?

I believe that MTMTE is aimed at the LGBT portion of the fandom and Hasbro knows this which is why MTMTE is never included as a pack in comic with the toys.

Since the MTMTE is not intended for me I will be dropping the book before #50. There won't be much to see after #50 since the book seems to be collapsing in on itself anyway.

I fail to see how it is collapsing in on itself. #38 made headlines on social media when it finally came out, and the Autobot Megatron has received so much attention. If anything it is doing amazing and is by far my favorite comic ever.
As for the comment about LGBT, I have never gotten that feel. Yes, Domey and Rewind have a relationship, but it has never panned out to be anything similar to human relationships. others have been mentioned, but considering this is not humans, completely different rules apply. And Rodimus has maintained that design since issue 1, so I fail to see how it is feminine. That is how Roche originally drew him, and all others have simply followed.
And #22 was a pack-in comic (Skids).

snavej wrote:Is that grass in the Autobot graveyard? Are those graves on Cybertron or another world? We need to know! [Personally, I think that it would be much more economical to recycle Autobots for their parts than to bury them uselessly, especially during wartime.]

It's just symbolic. It isn't actually in the story. more it is symbolizing the fact that we learn so much about the dead and how some peoples actions have lead them to discover an almost magical place concerning the deceased

what a good issue. I think im going to get this one signed by Roberts when he is in Charlotte. I loved it.

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

snavej wrote:Is that grass in the Autobot graveyard? Are those graves on Cybertron or another world? We need to know! [Personally, I think that it would be much more economical to recycle Autobots for their parts than to bury them uselessly, especially during wartime.]

It's just symbolic. It isn't actually in the story. more it is symbolizing the fact that we learn so much about the dead and how some peoples actions have lead them to discover an almost magical place concerning the deceased

It's actually quite touching seeing Megatron realize how many Autobots he killed.
(heart of a graveyard)

SillySpringer wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

snavej wrote:Is that grass in the Autobot graveyard? Are those graves on Cybertron or another world? We need to know! [Personally, I think that it would be much more economical to recycle Autobots for their parts than to bury them uselessly, especially during wartime.]

It's just symbolic. It isn't actually in the story. more it is symbolizing the fact that we learn so much about the dead and how some peoples actions have lead them to discover an almost magical place concerning the deceased

It's actually quite touching seeing Megatron realize how many Autobots he killed.
(heart of a graveyard)
[img]3LYJ3Z36r3o[/img]

Isnt it though? I mean, the feeling I get for Megatron is that he is secretly tired of it all, but he keeps going. With this revelation hitting him in the face...I mean abstract numbers are one thing. When you see a field of the consequences, man. That's hard-hitting. I really really really hope Hasbro lets things continue and they are allowed to keep Megatron how he is and develop him into a heroric figure. Not a good guy and not really a happy ending, but a worthy ending. Let him try to atone for what he's done. That's far mor einteresting than megalomanical megatron. Besides, they have a GREAT character in Galvatron for that and he fits that role so much better.

Optimizzy wrote:

SillySpringer wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

snavej wrote:Is that grass in the Autobot graveyard? Are those graves on Cybertron or another world? We need to know! [Personally, I think that it would be much more economical to recycle Autobots for their parts than to bury them uselessly, especially during wartime.]

It's just symbolic. It isn't actually in the story. more it is symbolizing the fact that we learn so much about the dead and how some peoples actions have lead them to discover an almost magical place concerning the deceased

It's actually quite touching seeing Megatron realize how many Autobots he killed.
(heart of a graveyard)

Isnt it though? I mean, the feeling I get for Megatron is that he is secretly tired of it all, but he keeps going. With this revelation hitting him in the face...I mean abstract numbers are one thing. When you see a field of the consequences, man. That's hard-hitting. I really really really hope Hasbro lets things continue and they are allowed to keep Megatron how he is and develop him into a heroric figure. Not a good guy and not really a happy ending, but a worthy ending. Let him try to atone for what he's done. That's far mor einteresting than megalomanical megatron. Besides, they have a GREAT character in Galvatron for that and he fits that role so much better.

Is Galvatron the same as Megatron in the comics?

SillySpringer wrote:
Is Galvatron the same as Megatron in the comics?

No they are very different characters. Galvatrons vastly predates Megs.

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

SillySpringer wrote:
Is Galvatron the same as Megatron in the comics?

No they are very different characters. Galvatrons vastly predates Megs.

Wow am I behind on the comics. -_-
I am more into the G1 concept of them being one and the same.

SillySpringer wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

SillySpringer wrote:
Is Galvatron the same as Megatron in the comics?

No they are very different characters. Galvatrons vastly predates Megs.

Wow am I behind on the comics. -_-
I am more into the G1 concept of them being one and the same.

They've made it work pretty well. I'm very ok with them being two distinct characters, especially after the UT-era cartoons ran that train into the ground, which was still going on when IDW started all these books

ScottyP wrote:

SillySpringer wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

SillySpringer wrote:
Is Galvatron the same as Megatron in the comics?

No they are very different characters. Galvatrons vastly predates Megs.

Wow am I behind on the comics. -_-
I am more into the G1 concept of them being one and the same.

They've made it work pretty well. I'm very ok with them being two distinct characters, especially after the UT-era cartoons ran that train into the ground, which was still going on when IDW started all these books

"Between the time when the Knights of Cybertron left paradise, and the rise of the sons of Megatron, there was an age undreamed of. And onto this, Galvatron, destined to wear the jeweled crown of the Cybertronian empire upon a troubled brow. It is I, his chronicler, who alone can tell thee of his saga. Let me tell you of the days of high adventure!
*DUN DUN!*

SW's SilverHammer wrote:

"Between the time when the Knights of Cybertron left paradise, and the rise of the sons of Megatron, there was an age undreamed of. And onto this, Galvatron, destined to wear the jeweled crown of the Cybertronian empire upon a troubled brow. It is I, his chronicler, who alone can tell thee of his saga. Let me tell you of the days of high adventure!
*DUN DUN!*

Yes! lol.

"Galvatron, what is best in life?"

Thanks Scotty for taking care of this. Good stuff, and with a lot of appropriate depth to the story (and good call on the lettering!).

Sakamoto's facial expressions have changed a bit, I feel, since #39, too.

EDIT by Va'al: Please refrain from posting full page spoilers, or links to sponsored pages to read the comic. The book is already available via a number of established digital retailers, such as iTunes or ComiXology. Thank you.