I’ve Fallen from Grace, took a Blow to My Face, I’ve Loved, and I’ve Lost.
More Than Meets the Eye issue 12: Before and After. 19th December 2012.
No more death threats, eh
A little bit of housekeeping first. I’ve decided one way to avoid getting burnt out again is to take regular breaks, at the end of each year’s comics. Having just come back from a hiatus, it won’t be a long one, but after this, I’ll be taking the rest of February (2025, for those in the future. How’s the radioactive wilderness?) off, returning on March 2nd.
Back in 2012, the first year of what has been a very successful relaunch for the series comes to a close with the now extremely confident Roberts deciding to be playful with the format for the sheer joy of it, arguably as a little treat to himself
Though it’s also a handy way of coming up with a structure that lets two different artists handle the issue in a thematic rather than them being handed random pages way, as the issue alternates between scenes set “Before” an event (drawn by Alex Milne) and “After” (drawn by Brendan Cahill).
Before and After, see? It’s playful, but not necessarily subtle.
No more death threats, eh
A little bit of housekeeping first. I’ve decided one way to avoid getting burnt out again is to take regular breaks, at the end of each year’s comics. Having just come back from a hiatus, it won’t be a long one, but after this, I’ll be taking the rest of February (2025, for those in the future. How’s the radioactive wilderness?) off, returning on March 2nd.
Back in 2012, the first year of what has been a very successful relaunch for the series comes to a close with the now extremely confident Roberts deciding to be playful with the format for the sheer joy of it, arguably as a little treat to himself
Though it’s also a handy way of coming up with a structure that lets two different artists handle the issue in a thematic rather than them being handed random pages way, as the issue alternates between scenes set “Before” an event (drawn by Alex Milne) and “After” (drawn by Brendan Cahill).
Before and After, see? It’s playful, but not necessarily subtle.
Our nuanced and heroic leads.
Starting “99 minutes, 24 seconds” (according to a clock that then runs down/up across the issue) Before, as a Lost Light shuttle approaches the planet Temptoria, with the “Important” (most violent) crew in the forward section, being rallied on by Whirl in a chorus of chanting “We kill ‘Cons!”, whilst the lesser lights (or simply the not trusted ones like Cyclonus) slum it in steerage.
Rodimus’ attempt to talk over Whirl and debrief (or more accurately, as Skids points out, brief) everyone very much shows that, even with his recent promise in the Annual to take things more seriously, he’s still very lackadaisical. They’re responding to Magnus having found out the planet below has been occupied by a group of Decepticons that may be the ones who kidnapped the Circle of Light and definitely are subjugating the population. But he struggles to even remember the second point, and it’s very clear this is mainly about an excuse to go down and commit some violence.
In the back, with the less likely fighters (to the point you have to wonder why a few of them have come along, is the blood lustre really that strong in Swerve?), Tailgate is talking a very big talk about the amount of killing he used to do to fleshlings back in his Primal Vanguard days. Which is the first obvious sign he’s full of crap about his backstory, something that will become important later in the issue. Tellingly, he needs Swerve’s advice on how to be calm. “Rungian re-experience therapy”, picture yourself in your happy place. Which turns out to be movie night with the gang for Tailgate.
Interesting they can say “Rung” with no issues when it’s in a psychological term.
Rodimus’ attempt to talk over Whirl and debrief (or more accurately, as Skids points out, brief) everyone very much shows that, even with his recent promise in the Annual to take things more seriously, he’s still very lackadaisical. They’re responding to Magnus having found out the planet below has been occupied by a group of Decepticons that may be the ones who kidnapped the Circle of Light and definitely are subjugating the population. But he struggles to even remember the second point, and it’s very clear this is mainly about an excuse to go down and commit some violence.
In the back, with the less likely fighters (to the point you have to wonder why a few of them have come along, is the blood lustre really that strong in Swerve?), Tailgate is talking a very big talk about the amount of killing he used to do to fleshlings back in his Primal Vanguard days. Which is the first obvious sign he’s full of crap about his backstory, something that will become important later in the issue. Tellingly, he needs Swerve’s advice on how to be calm. “Rungian re-experience therapy”, picture yourself in your happy place. Which turns out to be movie night with the gang for Tailgate.
Interesting they can say “Rung” with no issues when it’s in a psychological term.
Tigger if he was a psychopath.
As Pipes and Hound discuss Red Alert (making it clear the official story is he had an accident, and that Ultra Magnus has taken over as security chief to get a really unwieldly full job title), and Trailcutter and Hoist talk about the Fort Max inspire leg guns the former now has, Chromedome and Rewind are having a fight about Rewind being there at all. With much recrimination about the breaking of promises on both sides (in Chromedome’s case, about injecting).
So, it’s probably the first time a Whirl intervention turns out to be a good thing, as he calls out Rewind to come film him limbering up, for his biopic, Harder, Faster, Wrecker. And you don’t have to be a Rungian to find that choice of title from someone who got kicked out the Wreckers interesting.
On the surface of the planet, in the Decepticon base, where Blip (who looks like Blot, to the point I wonder if a last second substitution happened here) is excited to meet Nautilator, who it turns out sounds exactly like Megatron.
Bold to do an audio gag in a print media, but before you can say “Setup for a payoff”, their monitors reveal “It’s raining Autobots…”
So, it’s probably the first time a Whirl intervention turns out to be a good thing, as he calls out Rewind to come film him limbering up, for his biopic, Harder, Faster, Wrecker. And you don’t have to be a Rungian to find that choice of title from someone who got kicked out the Wreckers interesting.
On the surface of the planet, in the Decepticon base, where Blip (who looks like Blot, to the point I wonder if a last second substitution happened here) is excited to meet Nautilator, who it turns out sounds exactly like Megatron.
Bold to do an audio gag in a print media, but before you can say “Setup for a payoff”, their monitors reveal “It’s raining Autobots…”
Me when I get a hangover these days.
To lead us into our first “After” scene (15 minutes and a spare second after to be precise), with “Autobot down!”, as the shuttle takes off to the Lost Light, with Chromedome nursing a badly injured Rewind by Ambulon, before turning to Swerve and asking what happened… before finding Swerve is completely missing his face (in a wonderfully gruesome image, complete with eyeball hanging out of his skull).
70 minutes Before, Swerve and Tailgate are contributing nothing to the battle but staring in awe at how incredibly good at fighting Ultra Magnus is, a reminder he’s not just an OCD bureaucrat.
Though he’s more respectful of named characters (only punching out, as he’s spelt today, Hun-Gar) than Drift and Rodimus are, gleefully killing off Seacons, with Drift’s sword going right through Snap Trap’s eyes, followed by argument about whose kill that was (apparently, Drift gets the ones with the swords). Showing, again, no one is taking this supposed mercy mission that seriously.
70 minutes Before, Swerve and Tailgate are contributing nothing to the battle but staring in awe at how incredibly good at fighting Ultra Magnus is, a reminder he’s not just an OCD bureaucrat.
Though he’s more respectful of named characters (only punching out, as he’s spelt today, Hun-Gar) than Drift and Rodimus are, gleefully killing off Seacons, with Drift’s sword going right through Snap Trap’s eyes, followed by argument about whose kill that was (apparently, Drift gets the ones with the swords). Showing, again, no one is taking this supposed mercy mission that seriously.
He is, isn't he?
Also, now we’re firmly into the era of writing comics to promote toys, it’s an incredibly bold move to kill off characters who are obvious Generations fodder. And it’s especially lucky for all involved the eventual new Seacons managed to avoid needing to be pimped by the comics, avoiding some of the more humorous swerves to accommodate needing to shill an already killed character we’re going to see.
35 minutes after, back on the Lost Light, Chromedome comes running off the shuttle, both with advice on allergies (including ultraviolet light, which would have been an important clue in the original plans for the series) and offering himself up for the same jumpstart technology that was used to revive Fortress Maximus, as he has the same vitreous rare positive spark type.
35 minutes after, back on the Lost Light, Chromedome comes running off the shuttle, both with advice on allergies (including ultraviolet light, which would have been an important clue in the original plans for the series) and offering himself up for the same jumpstart technology that was used to revive Fortress Maximus, as he has the same vitreous rare positive spark type.
Also me with a hangover these days.
The important thing is, after being relatively careful to leave some plausible deniability if there was pushback up to this point, coining the term “Conjunx endura” as Cybertronian (or faux Latin, conjunx literally meaning spouse) for a married couple. It’s a big moment, but one easy to miss, planted as it is in the middle of a dramatic moment. But it’s two words that commit the series to relationships that the fandom will become far more invested in that the robots fighting stuff.
Also easy to miss is Tailgate, having to drag a wounded Cyclonus off the shuttle by the foot, pleading for help to broad indifference.
38 minutes before, we get an amazing Milne earns his pay-check amazing panel of Chromedome and Skids fighting a giant Overkill, as Rewind and Tailgate find an unexpected callback to the Last Stand of the Wreckers hardback extras, as they find a bunch of the local organics in a cell, wired up to machines pumping their life essences to make energon.
And the door they’re behind is wired to a big, big C-61 (giving us the cover designed to trick fans into thinking it was Tailgate and Fullcrum and a Scavengers crossover was coming) bomb.
Also easy to miss is Tailgate, having to drag a wounded Cyclonus off the shuttle by the foot, pleading for help to broad indifference.
38 minutes before, we get an amazing Milne earns his pay-check amazing panel of Chromedome and Skids fighting a giant Overkill, as Rewind and Tailgate find an unexpected callback to the Last Stand of the Wreckers hardback extras, as they find a bunch of the local organics in a cell, wired up to machines pumping their life essences to make energon.
And the door they’re behind is wired to a big, big C-61 (giving us the cover designed to trick fans into thinking it was Tailgate and Fullcrum and a Scavengers crossover was coming) bomb.
No kill like...
Now, obviously, the sensible thing to do would be to wait for the battle the Autobots are winning anyway to be over and take care of the bomb in a carefully controlled environment with no stress of distractions.
But bomb disposal expert Tailgate isn’t having any of that, and even though he’s visibly terrified (which he passes off as a vital part of staying alive, you’ve got to be scared of these things) and Rewind has already found some of his posturing about his war activities dubious, the smaller Autobot refuses to retreat to a safe distance, regardless of whether or not Chromedome would like it. He just doesn’t want the last thing he films to have been Whirl “Punching himself in the face to prove he’s “Super unvincible.””
Which is lucky in one way, as Tailgate is able to ask the historian how he’d disable the bomb if he were him, as a little test. Though one that looks suspiciously like desperate fishing for information…
Outside, Whirl and Cyclonus are fighting Blip and Nautilator, with the former getting the payoff to the “Sounds like Megatron” gag as Whirl tries, and fails, to get his voice deep enough, to sound like Optimus Prime as he kills him.
But bomb disposal expert Tailgate isn’t having any of that, and even though he’s visibly terrified (which he passes off as a vital part of staying alive, you’ve got to be scared of these things) and Rewind has already found some of his posturing about his war activities dubious, the smaller Autobot refuses to retreat to a safe distance, regardless of whether or not Chromedome would like it. He just doesn’t want the last thing he films to have been Whirl “Punching himself in the face to prove he’s “Super unvincible.””
Which is lucky in one way, as Tailgate is able to ask the historian how he’d disable the bomb if he were him, as a little test. Though one that looks suspiciously like desperate fishing for information…
Outside, Whirl and Cyclonus are fighting Blip and Nautilator, with the former getting the payoff to the “Sounds like Megatron” gag as Whirl tries, and fails, to get his voice deep enough, to sound like Optimus Prime as he kills him.
Luckily, everyone will have too much other stuff going on to remember what Tailgate's bullshit does here.
Which is odd. Much funnier is Swerve, out of ammo, asking for a spare gun of Whirls’s and getting thrown Brainstorm’s new “Shoomer.” And before he can finish asking why it’s called the Shoomer, Swerve SHOOMS off his own face by accident when looking down the barrel.
Gun safety is clearly not something they teach on Cybertron.
66 minutes after, Chromedome comes out of attempting a jumpstart and, whilst waiting to see if it works, explains both the vials of energon around Rewind (“Innermost energon”, from around the spark, given as a gesture. Though Chromedome is too dry to have any to give. Tailgate tries to handwave his ignorance by saying it was called something else back in the day), and that Rewind is in theory too important to go into battle because of his archive. But does anyway because he’s looking for someone…
Leading to Tailgate to ask how they met and became “Best friends”, which gets some contempt from Chromedome, but also a flashback…
Rewind is old and used to be part of a disposable class of Cybertronains who turned into memory sticks.
Gun safety is clearly not something they teach on Cybertron.
66 minutes after, Chromedome comes out of attempting a jumpstart and, whilst waiting to see if it works, explains both the vials of energon around Rewind (“Innermost energon”, from around the spark, given as a gesture. Though Chromedome is too dry to have any to give. Tailgate tries to handwave his ignorance by saying it was called something else back in the day), and that Rewind is in theory too important to go into battle because of his archive. But does anyway because he’s looking for someone…
Leading to Tailgate to ask how they met and became “Best friends”, which gets some contempt from Chromedome, but also a flashback…
Rewind is old and used to be part of a disposable class of Cybertronains who turned into memory sticks.
SHOOM
Till he met his number one guy, Dominus Ambus, all round super great guy and expert on everything. Who met Rewind whilst looking for a cure for Cybercrosis (there’s a lot of important dumping of terms here, the Grand Cybertronian Taxonomy is another), they quickly bonded, with Ambus fighting to get people like Rewind recognised as people.
After which, they became inseparable, signing up for things like the Luna One quest and the Autobot army after the outbreak of war together. Inseparable. Till Dominus Ambus disappeared without a trace.
Which is where Chromedome came in, at a Relinquishment Clinic. No longer homes of good times body swapping (or even hidden institutes). By this time in the war, they were suicide clinics, and Chromedome was ready to check out.
What about his work had driven him to that point will remain a mystery for now, but he’d never felt closer to anyone as he did to the two Decepticons in the line with him.
After which, they became inseparable, signing up for things like the Luna One quest and the Autobot army after the outbreak of war together. Inseparable. Till Dominus Ambus disappeared without a trace.
Which is where Chromedome came in, at a Relinquishment Clinic. No longer homes of good times body swapping (or even hidden institutes). By this time in the war, they were suicide clinics, and Chromedome was ready to check out.
What about his work had driven him to that point will remain a mystery for now, but he’d never felt closer to anyone as he did to the two Decepticons in the line with him.
Not the greatest chat-up line of our times.
Rewind was in the morgue, not to kill himself, but to search through the bodies as he tries to find out what happened to his beloved. Which gave Chromedome something he needed: A distraction from his own problems. So, they in turn became inseparable, looking for Dominus by any means (including checking out snuff movies), with Chromedome even promising to continue the search if anything happened to Rewind.
Which is a lot to unpack, and we’ll have plenty of time over the next few years to dissect this marriage based around a search that will end the relationship if it ever succeeds (and Chromedome’s already emphatic he hates Dominus without ever having even met him), but, suffice to say for now, it’s an extremely messy and awkward situation to be in, with a side order of strong denial.
There’s also a strange moment in there of Chromedome explaining to Tailgate (who, as far as he knows, should be very aware of this as a Primal Vanguard killing machine), how difficult it is to kill a Transformer. Even offering up cutting your own head off as an example of something that wouldn’t automatically kill one of them.
All of which, along with the gag of Swerve blowing his own face off almost being an irrelevant detail to the characters, is probably the first time Roberts has been aware of criticism of the series online (that Rung and Red Alert should be dead) and has decided to write in a “No, don’t you get it? You idiots” speech into the comic itself in response.
Not for the last time, and certainly not the most overt, but it is quite funny considering Rung is meant to be a clue anyway.
Which is a lot to unpack, and we’ll have plenty of time over the next few years to dissect this marriage based around a search that will end the relationship if it ever succeeds (and Chromedome’s already emphatic he hates Dominus without ever having even met him), but, suffice to say for now, it’s an extremely messy and awkward situation to be in, with a side order of strong denial.
There’s also a strange moment in there of Chromedome explaining to Tailgate (who, as far as he knows, should be very aware of this as a Primal Vanguard killing machine), how difficult it is to kill a Transformer. Even offering up cutting your own head off as an example of something that wouldn’t automatically kill one of them.
All of which, along with the gag of Swerve blowing his own face off almost being an irrelevant detail to the characters, is probably the first time Roberts has been aware of criticism of the series online (that Rung and Red Alert should be dead) and has decided to write in a “No, don’t you get it? You idiots” speech into the comic itself in response.
Not for the last time, and certainly not the most overt, but it is quite funny considering Rung is meant to be a clue anyway.
"Do you catch my Drift?
Someone who is looking to prove it’s not so hard to kill Cybertronians is Rewind, with the jumpstart not having worked because, much to his frustration, Chromedome has a low yield weak spark. They’re going to have to find another compatible volunteer…
82 minutes after, a forlorn and forced to go recharge Chromedome is alone in his habsuit, when a voice outside the door starts talking to him. About how Chromedome had thought the war was over, but today’s events prove the Decepticons are still a menace. But there’s something that could give the Autobots an edge, with his help. Something that could stop anyone else getting hurt.
Something in the basement…
As this voice will turn out to be Drift, I’m amused that every time I think we’ve passed the last example of the original plan for him to be the Getaway character, we get another example of him acting like Getaway.
The temptation of Chromedome has to take a break though, when Firt Aid (one of the minor gags in the issue is Ratchet is dealing with the actually important and unseen characters who were injured in the fight, emphasising we’re following the lower decks) calls. They’ve found a compatible spark, and the jumpstart has been a success! And none other than that really great guy Whirl has saved the day, much to Chromedome’s eternal gratitude.
82 minutes after, a forlorn and forced to go recharge Chromedome is alone in his habsuit, when a voice outside the door starts talking to him. About how Chromedome had thought the war was over, but today’s events prove the Decepticons are still a menace. But there’s something that could give the Autobots an edge, with his help. Something that could stop anyone else getting hurt.
Something in the basement…
As this voice will turn out to be Drift, I’m amused that every time I think we’ve passed the last example of the original plan for him to be the Getaway character, we get another example of him acting like Getaway.
The temptation of Chromedome has to take a break though, when Firt Aid (one of the minor gags in the issue is Ratchet is dealing with the actually important and unseen characters who were injured in the fight, emphasising we’re following the lower decks) calls. They’ve found a compatible spark, and the jumpstart has been a success! And none other than that really great guy Whirl has saved the day, much to Chromedome’s eternal gratitude.
Well, they'll definately never be friends.
During this praise of Ol’One Eye, Tailgate pours out some innermost energon to give to Cyclonus. Who completely rejects it, with annoyance that this little pest he doesn’t want has attached themselves to him.
Which would be a relatable view, if not for the whole kicking thing.
However, when he sees how many innermost energon donations Rewind has, compared to his none (and Chromedome had earlier made it clear that he and probably many others don’t care if the bunny eared mass killer survived or not), and he gets down on the floor with Tailgate to help clean up the mess.
Which, at just about 100 minutes afterwards, ends the look forward on what could be the start of a beautiful friendship.
01 minutes 19 seconds before, Cyclonus turns out to also have no time for Whirl trying to be friends, as the former watchmaker tries to point out what a great time they’ve had killing Decepticons together, and shouldn’t they put this whole “Cyclonus will kill you” thing behind them?
Which gets a firm no from Cyclonus, who spells out that he has interest in Whirl’s warped world view, that fighting together against a common foe means nothing. There’s no “before and after” to their relationship and all that changes day to day is exactly how Cyclonus is going to kill him.
Which certainly shows some confidence on Cyclonus’ part that, now any chance of a truce if firmly off the table, the far more impulsive Whirl won’t have a chance to act first whilst he’s brooding his perfect revenge over.
A chance that comes almost immediately, as Rewind calls them into the room with the bomb, where Tailgate has set off a timer, but won’t leave until he’s fully drained the bomb of explosive fluid, even with only seconds left.
Something Cyclonus deals with by grabbing Tailgate and throwing him clear of the room (which knocks him unconscious), but before he and Rewind can get out, Whirl has closed and locked the door, pretending it’s an automatic shutdown, and looking very pleased with himself as he the countdown hit zero…
Which would be a relatable view, if not for the whole kicking thing.
However, when he sees how many innermost energon donations Rewind has, compared to his none (and Chromedome had earlier made it clear that he and probably many others don’t care if the bunny eared mass killer survived or not), and he gets down on the floor with Tailgate to help clean up the mess.
Which, at just about 100 minutes afterwards, ends the look forward on what could be the start of a beautiful friendship.
01 minutes 19 seconds before, Cyclonus turns out to also have no time for Whirl trying to be friends, as the former watchmaker tries to point out what a great time they’ve had killing Decepticons together, and shouldn’t they put this whole “Cyclonus will kill you” thing behind them?
Which gets a firm no from Cyclonus, who spells out that he has interest in Whirl’s warped world view, that fighting together against a common foe means nothing. There’s no “before and after” to their relationship and all that changes day to day is exactly how Cyclonus is going to kill him.
Which certainly shows some confidence on Cyclonus’ part that, now any chance of a truce if firmly off the table, the far more impulsive Whirl won’t have a chance to act first whilst he’s brooding his perfect revenge over.
A chance that comes almost immediately, as Rewind calls them into the room with the bomb, where Tailgate has set off a timer, but won’t leave until he’s fully drained the bomb of explosive fluid, even with only seconds left.
Something Cyclonus deals with by grabbing Tailgate and throwing him clear of the room (which knocks him unconscious), but before he and Rewind can get out, Whirl has closed and locked the door, pretending it’s an automatic shutdown, and looking very pleased with himself as he the countdown hit zero…
Not the last time something terrible happened to Rewind when trapped behind a door.
With Cyclonus shielding Rewind from the bomb as it goes off.
That is a really good standalone (though still throwing lots of ideas and concepts in that will become important, including some setup for some very sneaky misdirection for later in 2013) issue that uses its structural gimmick well. Roberts is very much into his stride at this point, and is simply having a great time, helped by two artists who can milk every bit of drama and cool action out of what they’re given. There are a few panels during the fights that are arguably Alex Milne at his peak.
The only real shame is, none of the after scenes confirm if the organics get saved or not, making them a pure plot device. It’s hard to see Rodimus not really caring about the exact nature of their mission beyond violence as a character flaw when the comic isn’t that interested in their fate either.
2012 has, mediocre Autocracy aside, been IDW’s best year up till this point. The two main creative teams have found their feet quickly, and have become increasingly confident in their storytelling and ideas in way that would not have seemed possible in the darkest days of the Costa run.
2013 is going to present some challenges (including even more toy promotion), but we go into it on an incredibly strong footing.
Starting in three weeks, with Wheeljack discovering exactly what ACAB means.
SPOTLIGHT: ORION PAX
2012
COMMENT
KO-FI
That is a really good standalone (though still throwing lots of ideas and concepts in that will become important, including some setup for some very sneaky misdirection for later in 2013) issue that uses its structural gimmick well. Roberts is very much into his stride at this point, and is simply having a great time, helped by two artists who can milk every bit of drama and cool action out of what they’re given. There are a few panels during the fights that are arguably Alex Milne at his peak.
The only real shame is, none of the after scenes confirm if the organics get saved or not, making them a pure plot device. It’s hard to see Rodimus not really caring about the exact nature of their mission beyond violence as a character flaw when the comic isn’t that interested in their fate either.
2012 has, mediocre Autocracy aside, been IDW’s best year up till this point. The two main creative teams have found their feet quickly, and have become increasingly confident in their storytelling and ideas in way that would not have seemed possible in the darkest days of the Costa run.
2013 is going to present some challenges (including even more toy promotion), but we go into it on an incredibly strong footing.
Starting in three weeks, with Wheeljack discovering exactly what ACAB means.
SPOTLIGHT: ORION PAX
2012
COMMENT
KO-FI
