MTMTE 46

[Computron]

I love the scavengers. I really do. This issue really worked for me on several levels. First, some great moments from all the Scavengers and you can really see that Fort Max is nowhere near recovered from G9 or the war. He is a walking trainwreck of PTSD issues

But Misfire and Krok, hot damn are they well written. Loved the bit about Radar and the wreckers.

While Krok/Roberts was a little blunt with the mental health messaging it still works because feankly 4 million years of war should cause psychosis.

Loved the Grimlock reveal and the new threat arising.

Oddly enough most reviews coming in don't like this issue. Ill never understand this fandom.

[snarl]

Compy, Transformers fans are by and large ******* ***** mate.

You must have never been to another TF forum or one of the conventions.

I agree with you on all points though and thought this issue was most agreeable.

[Metal Vendetta]

Despite ending last issue with a really palpable sense of "Oh **** they're all gonna die" I thought this was really lovely - I was very pleased to see from the preview that Max was at least talking first and shooting later and glad that followed throughout the issue. Lots of great little character moments for the Scavengers here to show how Roberts has developed their sympathetic side - they've come a long way since their still-living-campfire-'bot-shooting origins. Plus, some really creepy horror with the revelation that the Roboids are living Cybertronians contrasting sharply with the sheer comedy of the 'Cons riding to Grimmy's rescue on multicoloured Equinoids.

So yeah, fully expected to be depressed by the end of this issue and instead found it quite uplifting - it's impossible to read Spinister's note without a smile creeping across your face - and very glad that all the principal characters made it out in more or less one piece. Blurring the line between evil Decepticons and heroic Autobots is always welcome, especially when it's done as well as this.

[Professor Smooth]

Having now read the issue (loved it!), I have to wonder... Was the author just trolling the "PC language police" with his twit-longer response? Knowing full-well that their concerns are not only addressed in, but become the *focal point* of the issue? Like, do you think he had this devious grin on his face the whole time he was typing it?

[Hound]

Having now read the issue (loved it!), I have to wonder... Was the author just trolling the "PC language police" with his twit-longer response? Knowing full-well that their concerns are not only addressed in, but become the *focal point* of the issue? Like, do you think he had this devious grin on his face the whole time he was typing it?

I'd like to think so, but his tweets after the fallout suggested that he was really upset by the situation.

Fantastic issue. I really love how Max came across. I was worried he would be crazy and uncompromising again but by the end he was ready to admit his way of doing things may not have been the best.

[Yaya]

My kind of issue. Loving the Scavengers, though they seem a far cry from what they first appeared to be when first introduced. Seems like they're more....principled now. Nice touch and looking forward to seeing more of them.

Fort Max was surprisingly restrained compared to what I expected he'd be in this issue, i.e. an Overlordin-kind of Autobot with his own, shall we say, convincing brand of justice. By stories end, even he found a bit a humor in the Scavengers exploits. Seemed like Max turned a corner of sorts and questions now whether he can generalize about Decepticons. I do wish he had that signature white plus sign on his forehead though. That has always screamed Fort Max to me for some reason and he seems kind of incomplete without it.

Have we seen those villians before at the end? Can't remember.

One thing I've gleaned from Roberts is that he does have a very dark corner in his mind. He comes up with the worst possible ways to die or be tortured. To be honest, it kind of bothers me, as it seems like a kind of recurrent theme. If there's one criticism I'd have with his work (and there are very few!) is to lighten up just a tad more. I'm all for a more serious take on things and themes that are more reflective of the world, but some of the things he comes up with are just downright sadistic. Then again, maybe that really is an accurate reflection of the world we now live in. Which bothers me even more.

But yeah, loved this issue.

[Best First]

I think this is my new favourite issue. Between what i thought was a well handled discussion of mental illness (certainly for this medium), the usual quality character moments and a real sense of character growth (especially Max changing his MO rather than being stuck wanting to shoot every decepticon in the face) and the twist of the roboids - well certainly my favourite in a long while anyway.

I agree with the implication above that JR would have been better to let this issue do the talking for him.

Also Milne rocked as usual.