I was surprised to see nobody's talking about this issue yet..but then it turned out iBooks apparently released it one week too soon.   Here are my thoughts anyway...

Overall I thought this was a pretty standard issue. I didn't feel the plot really moved forward that much, up until the last page that is, but it does give us some more insight into some of the characters we love, as well as the alternate Cybertron.

Boy, Rodimus & co sure do get a lot of time to chit-chat while in custody!  

The leader of the Functionists is shown on television. He has recently replaced his head with

Spoiler

this universe's Matrix of Leadership

! He's also going to reveal what their universe's

Spoiler

Rung turns into

!

Tailgate is getting a bit too cocky thanks to his newfound powers, and this results in a fight with some of the Cons on Necroworld. This accidentally leads to Anode getting hurt. We find out that Anode apparently has some unfinished business with Velocity.

Seems like the next issue will be where things start rolling but#2 hasn't wowed me. I'd say Lost Light is not off to a very strong start, yet I'm curious how this will continue.  

 

It's a week early out on iBooks, so spoilers beware: it might be a week for many of you.

Spoiler

Heh, well, I'll buy it twice I suppose - comixology next week - because this was a big step in the right direction IMO. It didn't ease all of my reservations about the relaunch, but.

A little weird that Megs and Rodimus decide to surrender but I can see it being the better strategic option for the moment... and obviously Megatron knew he could easily bust free if needed, as happened. I'm glad that wasn't drawn out too long.

There's a lot going on here and more than anything I hope it doesn't get tabled for too long. The gear symbol, Drift's vision, all these kinds of things --- I don't want to wait 20 issues. There are plenty of dangling plot threads in MTMTE already, let's move on.

I liked Magnus basically saying, fuck, we're so far off our path. Heh. The Functionist stuff is very interesting. The big hook though, is, of course, learning the secret of Rung.

Anode and Lug were a bit more tolerable in this issue. I'm still not particularly interested in devoting the time to new characters when we have other cast members who are backgrounded or not even showing up in the issue (Brainstorm). That said, again, they were more tolerable, and we have some plot movement. Again, nice that Roberts didn't draw out the pre-existing relationship with Velocity.

Perhaps the most compelling bit for me was Cyclonus and Tailgate. I found Tailgate a little annoying as the ANGRY LOVER last issue, and the first couple panels did little to dispel that for me. But Cyclonus, perhaps one of my favorite TFs of all time, superbly rendered by Roberts in MTMTE, steps in and snaps the story into focus. "This was where YOU fought the DJD." Cyclonus' solemn guilt, inner (and outer) strength, wisdom... and Tailgate isn't even listening. He's totally consumed with his new power, he's the 80 pound weakling who now has the power to bully.

Art. Hurm. It's ok. There are moments when Lawrence's proportions are very off, strange, even chibi, and it jars me out of the story. I'm not saying it has to be Mline, we've always had fill-ins... but I find it a little flat, lacking dynamics. It's not that it's more cartoony, I love the art in TAAO are feel it works awesome there by Sara Pitre-Doucher. Right now though, it's just... it's just not quite working for me. The coloring/inking even seems bland, which is a little bit odd. Burcham is pretty damn good usually!

Unfortunately for comics, the art is as important as the writing in a lot of ways, so it detracts. I was prepared to drop the book and follow it on the wiki after how much I disliked Anode and issue 1. I'm happy with issue 2 and I really hope the Rung reveal is worth the wait. If it's a letdown that might be too much to bear.

 

I was able to snatch this up before I couldn't. I rather enjoyed this issue. And Lawrence's art is starting to grow on me. I like it better then Sakamoto's. In fact, there are times where I forget it's not Milne.

I'm also glad they're cutting to the chase with Anode's connection to Velocity. Plus, we're going to find what Rung's function is!

 

Since we had 2 threads, merged them, edited title....and off we go.....  

 

Disagree on forgetting it's not Milne, but it is better than Sakamoto trying to do Milne.  

And I agree. Roberts seems to be cutting to the chase on a number of fronts. It's for the best imo.

 

Calling it now: Rung turns into a

Spoiler

Cybertronian butter churner

 

I usually tune into a forum after I've read the comic, so a HUGE thanks to everyone for using those spoiler tag/coverup thingies! Haven't read #2 yet and I don't want to be unpleasantly surprised!

 

Now that was awesome. But waaaaayyyyy too short! I need more now! Aaaaaaah. We need at least 10 more pages each month.

 

I did enjoy the issue. It's hard to say at the moment whether any reservations about the art are material or just because I've been so used to Milne. Will have to give it time I guess. The art does at least act to draw a heavy stylistic line between what was MTMTE and what is LL.

I did feel that, although Megatron went through his redemption ark, his moralising on the Functionist universe at the start was a bit much. Yes you've been 'redeemed' *somewhat* but you're still a mass-murderer. And yes I know anti-functionism was his original bag before he went all homicidal but...well it just felt a bit strained to me. I can't bring myself to totally believe in his position to cast judgement in such a righteous way. And it's not because I don't share Roberts' politics- they're pretty closely aligned to mine in fact. Horses for courses I guess.

Tailgate was a bit annoying. Doubtless he is meant to be the young-ish impulsive one adjusting to his powers. But still. Annoying.

Love the mystery build up with Cyberutopia being mentioned and Rung's alt mode. Am definitely interested in where this goes.

Edit: and the reference to the snowflake and 'the lighthouse'. Intriguing!

 

I did not mind the art. Sure, Milne would be better. But it's not distracting at all.

 

I would hope that Megatron isn't let off the hook that easily.

 

One more thing...Rodimus's line "you're pretty cross for someone who thinks they've been proved right". Lol

 

Good issue. I enjoyed this more than I think I've enjoyed MTMTE/LL in a while.

I only realised that I was quite gripped by the story when I became annoyed with the AVL interrupting Drift recounting his vision and the Countdown conclusion cutting off any questions about Cyberutopia. Instead of being irritated at Roberts for teasing me I'm cross with the in world interruptions, which certainly makes me think I'm feeling the stories a bit more now.

When I saw Kaput's name so prominently on the memorial in the preview I did wonder how soon it'd be before he showed up again, being one of the those Roberts creations. Very soon apparently. I wonder where that's going.

If there's one thing we can depend on in MTMTE/LL it's that the Lost Light crew will reach the wrong conclusion ("Brainstorm's gone back to kill Orion Pax!"), so I think it's safe to assume that the 'den' hasn't transported them to the functionist universe, but rather the geobomb has and everyone on necroworld is in the functionist universe too.

I'm paying close attention to the titles of the functionist council, as I think they're very significant to the plot. What's the significance of the 6-of-12, the enactor; or person who puts a bill into law, being the one that's wound up with the matrix for a head? Also, perfectly natural that the 'castigator' should be giving everyone a load of verbal.

Also, Ratchet and Drift remain a joy. I think they may be becoming my favourite thing about the comic. Whereas I'm becoming quite bored of Cyclonus and Tailgate. Something needs to change there.

Morality Lock sounds a bit like the barrier on Tyrest's portal. Trapped light makes me think of the matrix map.

 

So far, so good. I do dig the amount of content that Roberts was able to inject in this issue, two separate stories that could have been easily told in two different issues in other books. The Functionist Universe allows for solid worldbuilding and to develope some old plot-points like Rung and his purpose while the other focusing on the rest of the Lost Light works for character development and reveals.

Some points that I need to point out:

1) It seems like Anode and Lug might be a couple.

2) I'm glad that Nautica and Velocity are getting more scenes together because I'm shipping the hell out of them.

That's the kind of person I am people.

 

If he keeps up with this I'm very happy. But now it's unbearable to wait for the next issue again. Just like it was in season one.

 

As a fan girl, I have to say this issue was very satisfying. Good amount of fan service.


Can't wait to see what Rung's alt is supposed to be. Maybe this whole time is was the key or gateway to the Knights of Cybertron. Which would be ironic since they had him on board the whole time  .

 

The art isn't bad, just not what I'm use to after MTMTE. Wonder what's next for Alex Milne. Would like for him to do something transformers related

 

Maybe he gets his own book to write and draw. That would've been a good excuse for his absence  

 

It read, to me, as tailgate written explicitly to be obnoxious --- as a character flaw. His power has gone to his head. Cyclonus attempting to break through his macho superhero posturing is a cool direction.

I still dislike anode and lug, and I resent them for taking up piles of pages from established cast members who I would much rather see time spent on.

 

I agree, and I found it boring. I didn't think of it as a new direction as just a variation on an existing; Cylconus lectures Tailgate. The last time I found enjoyed their scenes was #47.