MTMTE #36 (Spoilers obv)

[Computron]

This was a great, great issue. Perfect blend of action and MTMTE dialogue.

1) Orion Pax and Megatron's conversation. Just so good.

2) Rodimus and Trailbreaker. Tragic.

3) Roller looks like he gets shot in the face. It seems his turn into Tarn is getting set into motion.

4) Some utterly fantastic art here. Roller, Orion, Rodimus, Megatron and Whirl all got some great depictions.

One thing tho, I thought the Senate were functionists? That part kind of confused me.

The Hot Spot would support functionist ideals. The senate doesn't want that to happen, so they wanna take it or nuke it. But I thought the senate were functionists, which is why Megs rebelled.

Oh and the Comixology app was all screwed up in regards to panel progression so be warned.

[Metal Vendetta]

The Senate and the Functionist Council were always separate entities - in the alternate timeline we saw last issue the Functionists had disbanded the Senate and become the leaders of Cybertron. In the real timeline we know that Megatron's forces overthrew the Senate and I'm guessing they took out the Functionists as well. Basically, the Senate are the guys with the elaborate crests and robes who look like Roman senators and the Functionists are the creepy guys in the back room who look like Empurata victims but probably aren't.

Onto the issue itself, well I've just had my first readthrough and it's hit all the right notes, though my judgement has been a bit coloured by the whole Estriol thing - it's not that I don't like James Roberts any more but I'm disappointed by his recent behaviour, so I was less excited to go into this issue as I normally am. Anyway, I find it hard to disagree with Compy's 1-4, so here's a few that occurred to me *picks up comic to refer to*

5) Relevant to the whole Estriol thing, spark-types. I notice Nautica was rewritten to be Ferrum-positive, as opposed to say, Ferrum-negative like Cyclonus and Tailgate or Vitreous-postive like Chromedome, Rewind, Riptide and Whirl, because otherwise people might think it strange that she wasn't along for the ride. The Briefcase is tuned to only respond to someone of a compatible spark-type to Brainstorm's, so presumably Brainstorm was either F- or V+ - place your bets now - and both spark-types are compatible, whatever that means, with each other. It also explains why so few 'bots went back - First Aid explained way back when that V+ is quite a rare spark-type, 1 in 150 or so, so for a crew of about 200ish(?) four of them seems about right, possibly five...

7) We don't know Rodimus's spark-type either. He's presumably one of the two groups that could go back in time with him, though he could be a previously unseen - but "compatible" with whatever Brainstorm's spark-type is - spark-type all of his own. This also leads to speculation about what Megatron's spark-type is and whether he might have a previously unseen or unique kind, which is not impossible.

The sparks are going to Nyon. As in Hot Rod of Nyon. Surely he just saved himself, as if he needed another reason to feel special.

9) All of this feels like a predestination paradox - even though they took precautions to wipe people's minds - or because of that - they're certainly where they need to be and things seem to be unfolding as they have or would have unfolded in the regular timeline. So they were perhaps always destined to be there.

10) "The hell you will" - Roller out-John Waynes space robot John Wayne.

11) **** we don't know Rung's spark-type either, and I just realised I totally forgot about him being in this issue. Which is excellent writing on Roberts' part.

12) Lovely foreshadowing shot of the big handshake between Orion Pax and Tumbler.

13) I've been speculating about "Glitch"'s true identity for, like, years now. And it turned out he was Damus. Well, it's fair to say, I didn't see that coming. Huh.

[Hound]

The Trailbreaker bit was just mean

[snarl]

More for the Roller is Tarn file:

Confirmed point one percenter.
Using "drugs"
Takes one in the face.

And interestingly, did we witness Prime being inadvertantly responsible for creating him?

Prime, his idol, tells him to read Megatron's writing "it's powerful stuff".
It's then quite likley he's left behind by his idol as a result of going m.i.a. and Prime having his mind wiped of the event.

You could see how he'd get seduced by someone charismatic Like Megatron if he's looking for somethign to help him get over an apparent rejection by his bestie.

Or he could just have recieved a personality changing brain injury, or even the institute find him mashed up on the battlefield and he gets shadowplayed.

Interestingly enough, he'd fully remember the time travelers as he doesn't get the Chromedome handshake.

Which ties back in to why he's happily massacre Brainstorm.

[snarl]

[composite word including 'f*ck'] my old boots... I've just spotted something...

[snarl]

Ta da!

It's the "you are being decieved" bit btw.

JR could be taking piss on a massive scale mind you...

[Best First]

i was not expecting this yesterday so was a super suprise - altho i now feel a 6 week wait for the next issue coming on.

Agree about TB but can't help but feel it is better than yet another character coming back from the dead almost straight away.

[Computron]

Agree about TB but can't help but feel it is better than yet another character coming back from the dead almost straight away.

I think that's the best part about it. You kind of think to yourself that maybe he is coming back, like Rewind or Ultra Magnus, and then that rug is pulled away from under you.

I also like the characterization and growth it shows in Rodimus. Losing Trailbreaker really shook him up to the point he is willing to alter history to prevent it.

[Best First]

i am not sure that mark's development in Rodimus's case.

Self indulgently risk all of time and space - check.

[Computron]

i am not sure that mark's development in Rodimus's case.

Self indulgently risk all of time and space - check.

Well granted, he's still reckless, but after losing the crew's confidence, plus earlier tragedies, I think he can't have another loss on his hands.

[Metal Vendetta]

I was going to say that this was classic Rodimus, hot-headed and not thinking through the consequences of his actions, but ironically, if Rodimus's plan had followed through, Trailbreaker would have remembered about Roller and things probably wouldn't have been as bad. Argh.

[Best First]

Also i don't think Roddy blames himself in this case, at least not so much, all the events that led to TB's death you can pretty much pin on Prowl and Megs. Roddy pretty much states he blames Megs last issue.

That cross time Prime Megs convo. Sheesh.

[bumblemusprime]

Loved it.

Also, DAT PREVIEW. Next issue, someone returns. I said returns!

Who's Damus?

Loved the Trailbreaker bit. Also loved the usual Orion Pax bein bitchin. James writes a better Prime and a better Megatron than anyone. That phone call!

I mean, Rodimus risked all of space and time, but that's nothing on Megatron trying to get Prime to do what he would eventually do, in case their two visions could be united.

[Best First]

Er, yeah - is Damus someone we know? Cos i don't recall a reference to Damus anywhere. And my susbequent google-fu has failed to land a single blow.

On Glitchmus - would shaking his hand not have had a rather terminal effect on Chromedome's special memory erasing hand?

Yeah James's Orion is amazing. I did not even notice Tailgate's comment the first time i read it as Forcefield Repaint Pax was so lovingly renedered

On which note - Milne. Milne. Milne. He just can't stop getting better - the continuity between Cyclonus getting hit above the battle platform and his shoulder on the last page - it is exquisite.

So Roller get's abandoned because of this trip do we think? Because everyone forgets he was out there. So this trip created Tarn? Maybes?

MTMTE. The best thing. Ever.

[snarl]

No idea who Damus is either!

and yeah, think this is what made Tarn.

http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transform ... on-12.html

The link above has a great little comparison pic. Also the line "are you not getting a forceful sense of deja vu?"

I would be astonished if this was a bait and switch, I think James Roberts is just having a lot of fun.

[snarl]

You know what...

The more I look at Roller's face, the more I think it is based completely off the autobot insignia...

[Computron]

You know what...

The more I look at Roller's face, the more I think it is based completely off the autobot insignia...

Mind. Blown.

Not that I see it, I can not unsee it.

[Best First]

You know what...

The more I look at Roller's face, the more I think it is based completely off the autobot insignia...

I was thinking the same thing but talked myself out of it!

[Optimus Prime Rib]

Spencer and I have been having a mutual fangasm via Facebook about what we think is happening.
What if Tarn is Roller AND is the Mole Because he believes in Megatron, not the Decepticon cause.
Why is the new Brainstorm toy a Headmaster? Isn't there a big bad out there who killed off all of the Headmasters? So who is he really out to kill?
OR
Stormy goes to kill Pax, and Roller sacrifices himself Target:2006 style.

[Optimus Prime Rib]

Just saw the Impactor splash page.
Can we make James Roberts a holiday card that says "You always were a wily old buzzard"?
Maybe he won't kill off Impy if he knows we're on to him.

[Impactor returns 2.0]

Sorry but who's damus? I'm missing something here.

I wish more people could read this comic, I try to get friends it it but it's transformers.
It's just brilliantly written.

[bumblemusprime]

Damus AKA Glitch is one of the outliers on Optimus's team. Missed the name at the beginning.

I got trade vol. 6 this week, and then chased it with 34-36, and i can't remember the last time I enjoyed re-reading something on so many levels--humor, worldbuilding, character, drama, science fiction. I enjoyed it more than my last re-read of Song of Ice & Fire.

If James ever writes an original SF novel, people will be shoving Hugo and Nebula awards down his pants.

(guess as long as it's not up his pants)

[Computron]

Damus AKA Glitch is one of the outliers on Optimus's team. Missed the name at the beginning.

I got trade vol. 6 this week, and then chased it with 34-36, and i can't remember the last time I enjoyed re-reading something on so many levels--humor, worldbuilding, character, drama, science fiction. I enjoyed it more than my last re-read of Song of Ice & Fire.

If James ever writes an original SF novel, people will be shoving Hugo and Nebula awards down his pants.

(guess as long as it's not up his pants)

Between he and Aaron Dembski Bowden, its been a banner year for sci fi writing based on pre existing IPs. ADB does for 40k what Roberts does for Transformers.

[Yaya]

I have no clue what you guys are talking about when it comes to Estriol (which as a physician is annoying because it's a real hormone found in both females and males of the human species http://www.lef.org/Magazine/2008/8/Estr ... th/Page-01 ), and I think I'd like to keep it that way. A bit too fleshy a word for my tastes when applying it to a robot in a TF comic.

Anyhoo, another fantastic issue, I must say. Loved the whole Trailbreaker bit. Roller was kind of meh. Found him somewhat annoying and bland as a character. Guess that's the point.

No sign of Brainstorm leads me to think that maybe my hunch that he's going after Megs instead might be correct.

Windcharger! Finally shows up in the IDW continuity and gets his magnetized arms put to good use right away, all the whilst Trailbreaker activates his forcefield. See? James makes even the overused hackneyed elements of these characters seem new. Roberts would do wonders with Cliffy's glass gun and Hounds holoprojector and Huffers.......whining...

What I'm most intrigued about is what the future will be like when they return. We just know JR won't let that pass without some sort of repercussions. You don't meet up with Orion Pax, help him save some 'eggs', and then willy-nilly go back to the same-old-same-old future. Maybe they weren't originally meant to save those sparks? Or were they? Can't remember if that was mentioned by Rewind or not as part of established history. If not, could be interesting to see what bearing those rescued sparks could have on the future.