Interview with James Roberts about Transformers: Lost Light

Posted by WreckerJack Apr 5, 2017 at 2:54am CDT 21,432 views

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We have discovered Jeff Haas has done an interview with James Roberts about the Lost Light comic. James Roberts talks about his writing process and ideas for the series. The way he speaks about his work really shows how dedicated he is to the series.

"The first few drafts of the script are usually in longhand – I have a tower of notebooks full of my barely legible handwriting. I refine the dialog when typing everything up, and then edit it all again by hand" - James Roberts

The article also touches on the characters and stories along with James Robert's thoughts. It is an interesting read because you get a feel for how deep the story is. He also shares his ideas about some of the characters in both MTMTE and Lost Light.

"Anode, being a totally new character – and someone who was unfamiliar with our regulars and their backstory ... I wanted a driven, funny, independent, ebullient, cheeky new character, with a unique set of skills.” - James Roberts

If you enjoy Transformers: Lost Light, make sure you check out our archive!

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Re: Interview with James Roberts about Transformers: Lost Light (view post)

Comment by Kurona Apr 5, 2017

"[Anode] was going to cross paths with the crew of the Lost Light under the mutineer Getaway’s command, as opposed to being rescued by the time-traveling Necrobot. I was in a bit of a bind when MTMTE ended, because it ended on the mother of all cliffhangers: the main cast, and the planet on which they’d been left stranded by Getaway, had apparently blown up. So, they were dead, their ship had been stolen, they were falling behind on their quest … I had an obligation with Lost Light to pick up where I’d left off, but it was far from a neat jumping on point for new readers. Anode, being a totally new character – and someone who was unfamiliar with our regulars and their backstory – was my way of re-introducing all the series’ key concepts without it being too clunky."

This is very interesting. I just knew Revolution and the title change had fucked up things somehow and this demonstrates exactly how.

"After the Dissolution arc we’re following a smaller group of characters to a place we’ve mentioned more than once but never actually visited,” according to Roberts. “After that, we catch up with Getaway and his fellow mutineers – the titular Lost Light finally makes an appearance."

Hey D-max~

Re: Interview with James Roberts about Transformers: Lost Light (view post)

Comment by D-Maximal_Primal Apr 5, 2017

About damn time too.

Though I don't have any idea what he means by "place we've mentioned multiple times before" at the moment.

Re: Interview with James Roberts about Transformers: Lost Light (view post)

Comment by Kurona Apr 5, 2017

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:About damn time too.

Though I don't have any idea what he means by "place we've mentioned multiple times before" at the moment.

It's totally gonna be the Scavengers and Fort Max's crew teaming up to find and destroy the Nightmare Engine. Calling it

Re: Interview with James Roberts about Transformers: Lost Light (view post)

Comment by ScottyP Apr 5, 2017

Kurona wrote:
D-Maximus_Prime wrote:About damn time too.

Though I don't have any idea what he means by "place we've mentioned multiple times before" at the moment.

It's totally gonna be the Scavengers and Fort Max's crew teaming up to find and destroy the Nightmare Engine. Calling it

Hydrus V gets my vote. Did Brainstorm really take out a star with his briefcase? Probably not.

Re: Interview with James Roberts about Transformers: Lost Light (view post)

Comment by Kurona Apr 5, 2017

ScottyP wrote:
Kurona wrote:
D-Maximus_Prime wrote:About damn time too.

Though I don't have any idea what he means by "place we've mentioned multiple times before" at the moment.

It's totally gonna be the Scavengers and Fort Max's crew teaming up to find and destroy the Nightmare Engine. Calling it
Hydrus V gets my vote. Did Brainstorm really take out a star with his briefcase? Probably not.

Very true... heck, there's a lot of places we've heard of a ton of times. This comic is the perfect setting to be vague about this.

Re: Interview with James Roberts about Transformers: Lost Light (view post)

Comment by Va'al Apr 13, 2017

Via PreviewsWorld, we have some nice art to tide over the (delayed) wait for the next issue of Transformers: Lost Light #5 - now due on 10th May - in the form of variant covers! Mirrored below, you can find the Nick Roche / Josh Burcham Anode centric cover, and the Alex Milne / Josh Perez Functionist Dredd-esque enforcers. Check them out, along with clean line art from Milne, too!

It's TEAM RODIMUS versus a universe gone wrong! An alternate Cybertron is being torn apart as the malevolent Functionist Council implement a plan that's been millions of years in the making. But with victory within their reach, they find themselves up against someone who really shouldn't exist: MEGATRON.

Re: Interview with James Roberts about Transformers: Lost Light (view post)

Comment by Va'al Apr 15, 2017

We have another variant cover for IDW Publishing's Transformers: Lost Light #5, in addition to the Milne/Perez and Roche/Burcham ones, thanks again to PreviewsWorld - take a look below at the Jin Kim art featuring Ultra Magnus, Nautica and Drift, with a floating Rodimus head in the background!

Re: Interview with James Roberts about Transformers: Lost Light (view post)

Comment by Sebfolgero Apr 15, 2017

Speaking of comics, I just found combiner wars revised wave 6 on the pegs in Norway with the Idw comics. Last time I looked in the store there was almost no figures left but now there was a ton all on sale with comics

Re: Interview with James Roberts about Transformers: Lost Light (view post)

Comment by Kurona Apr 15, 2017

I want to frame this and hang it up somewhere. Beautiful art featuring some of the best characters

Re: Interview with James Roberts about Transformers: Lost Light (view post)

Comment by Kurona Apr 26, 2017

Straight from his Twitter account, comic writer James Roberts has tweeted a couple of panels featuring Nightbeat and Rung from the fifth issue of Lost Light, due for release next month. Check out the little snippet of character development below and tell us what you think in the forums!

Re: Interview with James Roberts about Transformers: Lost Light (view post)

Comment by Kurona Apr 26, 2017

As it turns out, not long after James Roberts tweeted two panels of the comic, the preview of Lost Light's fifth issue has been put up on itunes! Have a look below and tell us what you think in the forums.

Re: Interview with James Roberts about Transformers: Lost Light (view post)

Comment by Randomhero Apr 26, 2017

I hate to say it but I've lost so much interest in this series. Mtmte is a series I've always had a love/hate relationship with but with where it's gone and where it's going with this story I've just become "oh yeah we haven't gotten an issue this month" or "well there's an issue coming out. I grab it when I'm free" I wish I could be more excited but I'm just not anymore.

Re: Interview with James Roberts about Transformers: Lost Light (view post)

Comment by Kurona Apr 26, 2017

I must admit - and since this is my favourite series and it's had such a big impact on my life, this is hard to admit - the current arc has been a bit weak, unfocused and all over the place imo. Things seem to happen without any lead-in, we jump from point to point without any time devoted to a subject and it's been a little hard to follow. It's not terrible per se, it's still a fine plot and certain things like Anode and the geo-bomb (and Brainstorm squealing!!) shine through to me, but it's not quite up to par as MTMTE was.

However... that said, while this doesn't excuse everything, I'm kinda putting this down to forced editorial mandates. It just so happens that a plot that's... well, as I just described; arguably a drop in quality, happens right when they're forced to restart the numbering, essentially tasked with bringing in new readership and the creative team is reshuffled? I'm not familiar with how everything works, but I don't think this was a good thing for the comic and I think if we'd gotten MTMTE #58 instead of LL #1, things would have been different. That's why I've been a bit easier on this than I really should be; maybe it's me being a bit too optimistic or biased, but I can't look at the negatives of the comic recently, compare it to how incredible MTMTE was and not look towards the editorial mandates.

Also, Nightbeat and Rung. That's reeling me back in as that little talk between them is looking very interesting and Nightbeat's showing his nicer side.

Re: Interview with James Roberts about Transformers: Lost Light (view post)

Comment by Randomhero Apr 26, 2017

The renumbering and renaming doesn't bother me. I've been reading comics since I was 6 and it's something you have to just get adjusted to. This wasnt batman or Spider-Man getting in the 700s and 800s and going back it issue one, it was issue 56 and then changing. Wasn't that big of a deal.

My biggest issue has always been and will always be unless it changes is that Roberts writes this like a television show and not a comic book and those are two very different medias. The structure is an utter mess at times. The ideas and characterization have always been its strengths where as it's structure has always been something to be desired. I'm not going to go as far as some and accuse James of writing knock off red dwarf fan fiction but it's hard not to see it. I've talked to James, he's a great guy but I wish he'd work on his storytelling and grow from it instead of making tongue and cheek remarks from characters in the book like hes done a bit whenever "community" was referenced.

I used to get furious for so long at this series because it never does anything with the quest and I finally gave up by season 2 because there wasn't a single issue in those 2 and half years that actually had any form of progress with the quest. They got a map halfway but we had to have more deviations. James said with lost light he's making the quest priority. Now we know for the next few months thanks to solicits and probably for the rest of the year we will be in functionalist universe and all I can do is toss my hands in the air and ask "well why did you even say that James?"

He said it a few times in interviews and podcasts by the way.

Re: Interview with James Roberts about Transformers: Lost Light (view post)

Comment by ScottyP Apr 26, 2017

Primus bless, this fandom turned on this book faster than it took to type this sentence.

I loved everything in those three pages and just cannot wait for more. Y'all go have your 'We want Milne and plot resolution' pity party, I'll be over here with my robot pals enjoying the ride :POPCORN:

Re: Interview with James Roberts about Transformers: Lost Light (view post)

Comment by bodrock Apr 26, 2017

I miss Milne's art, no doubt, but I'm also enjoying the ride! I'm sure Roddy will get his ship back and they'll be back on track....eventually.

Re: Interview with James Roberts about Transformers: Lost Light (view post)

Comment by Kurona Apr 27, 2017

I actually really like the art myself. I still prefer Milne and think he's a better fit, but it's not like Lawrence is a slouch or anything; he's a fantastic artist and in my opinion he works well for the comic.

Re: Interview with James Roberts about Transformers: Lost Light (view post)

Comment by Randomhero Apr 27, 2017

I too like jacks art. It's very Early 2000s Nick Roche meets Guido Guidi. It's got that classic looks with a little exaggerated proportions.

Re: Interview with James Roberts about Transformers: Lost Light (view post)

Comment by Big Grim Apr 27, 2017

ScottyP wrote:I loved everything in those three pages and just cannot wait for more. Y'all go have your 'We want Milne and plot resolution' pity party, I'll be over here with my robot pals enjoying the ride

I'm with you Scotty. I'm having a blast with Lost Light and will continue to enjoy it.

Kurona wrote:I actually really like the art myself. I still prefer Milne and think he's a better fit, but it's not like Lawrence is a slouch or anything; he's a fantastic artist and in my opinion he works well for the comic.

Pretty much exactly how I feel too. Lawrence is doing a great job in my opinion.

Re: Interview with James Roberts about Transformers: Lost Light (view post)

Comment by Randomhero Apr 27, 2017

Is Alex not returning at all? I know he's doing that miniseries with John and Josh Perez but wasn't Alex suppose to return for the next arc and then Jack would do the one after?

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