Optimus Prime stages a desperate gamble as the world-eater, Unicron, approaches Windblade’s homeworld—but that’s just the appetizer. The main course is Cybertron…
A comiXologist Recommends
Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye #55 @idwcomics
Written by James Roberts/Art by Alex Milne
As you might be able to tell by the amount of “comixologist reccomends” piling up for this series, there are some pretty big fans of More Than Meets the Eye here at comiXology. Naturally, we spend a lot of time during the monthly wait making wild theories and predictions. Then with every new issue, I have to ask myself: why do I try? It always takes a completely unexpected turn somewhere, or at least arrives in the place I thought it would by means I could never have dreamed up.
There was a lot riding on this much anticipated issue, the final installment of Dying of the Light as well as the “season 2” finale, but at the center of it all was the question of Megatron’s fate. Ever since he first declared himself an Autobot in the Dark Cybertron finale two possible conclusions have loomed in the distance. Would he die, having left behind the war and the cause that defined him, his story come to an inevitable end? Or would he eventually turn on his new companions and reclaim the Decepticon badge? Well… my lips are sealed, but once again events lead us exactly where we expect to go, only to unfold in a way no one could have anticipated.
Like the previous installments of Dying of the Light, this issue is packed with revelations. It feels like Roberts is taking nearly every dangling thread he’s woven together over the past 55 issues and bringing all of them to a close, shockingly, explosively, leaving us with wide open space for season 3. It’s a bit of a strange feeling, looking out at uncharted territory again just when things had started to feel so cozy and familiar. It’s exciting, too, to think that with the status quo so thorougly destroyed, both Rodimus & company and us readers may find ourselves completely off the edge of the map when the journey continues.
This is actually the last issue of More Than Meets the Eye (don’t panic, let me finish) under that name - the story will go on in Transformers: Lost Light. Here’s where I should say something about what a good jumping on point for new fans this fresh start will be, but I cannot in good conscience encourage anyone to miss out on 10 volumes of the best comics I have ever read. So catch up quick or hop on at the next stop, but get on this robot train already! Whatever happens next, I’m sure it will be fantastic - it’s the only prediction I’ve always been right about so far.
Emily Forster is a Digital Editor and spends her free time thinking almost exclusively about various kinds of sentient space robots.
COOL.
Fan-favorite Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye by James Roberts, John Barber, Nick Roche and Alex Milne and other cybertronic collections are on sale now!
A comiXologist Recommends (the book that everyone in the office is always screaming about)
Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye #50, @idwcomics
Story by James Roberts
Art by Alex Milne and Brendan Cahill
Colors by Joana Lafuente, Priscilla Tramontano, and John-Paul Bove
It’s not often these days that we get the opportunity to see a comic reach its fiftieth issue, and that MTMTE has done so is a testament to its quality. We’ve followed Rodimus and friends (and not-friends) on their quest to find the Knights of Cybertron (please pretend that text has been Blingee’d) and the many, many…many distractions they’ve faced along the way. Between spark-eaters, mad doctors, monsters in the basement, Megatron Himself joining the crew, a chase sequence through time(complete with Back to the Future references), and all of the other abundant deterrents the crew of the Lost Light have confronted, surely they’ve come so far in their adventure?
…Nah.
However, #50 marks a huge change in the status quo of MTMTE as we know it. “How Bright Their Frail Deeds”, the first story in this issue, takes a sharp turn as things get dire for Team Rodimus. The storytelling is paced exquisitely and, paired with Milne’s beautiful artwork, creates an almost cinematic experience while reading. Each page will have the reader on the edge of their seat wondering what more could possibly go wrong for our heroes.
The second installation, “No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases”, is a short character piece focusing on the memories the crew (and we, the readers) have made on their journey. Cahill’s art in this story really strengthens the blow the reader feel with his grasp on subtle body language and emotion. The story is poignant and sweet and funny, and you will need tissues.
MTMTE #50 is a hallmark in the series, and only Roberts knows where it will go from here. Will it break our hearts? Probably. But I’ve always enjoyed suffering the slow burn of a good story. I mean, as Swerve so eloquently puts it, “Who wants closure? Let’s really stretch this sucker out.”
ComiXologist Prime is a Digital Editor at ComiXology and really, who is that pseudonym kidding?