Making Their Way, the Only Way They Know How, That’s Just a Little bit More Than the Law Will Allow.
More Than Meets the Eye issue 7: Rules of Disengagement. July 25th 2012.
Well that was… relentless.
For the last couple of issues, I’ve talked about James Roberts TV mentality, but here he actually starts to think more in terms of something only comics could do. Because, whilst it is occasionally necessary for a TV show to do an episode that only features the regulars in a minimal role (Doctor Who has become famous for it), it’s something they only do when there’s a boring behind the scenes logistical reason for it. Here, without actors under contract, or indeed without actors with egos, Roberts can go on a little diversion to what will become his secondary thread.
It’s something he’ll get bolder on with the subsequent Scavenger stories as well, neither of which will have any scenes back on the Lost Light.
This story effectively exists to introduce two groups properly before they, a very long way down the line, come to intersect with the main cast. Starting with the one that’s already had an ominous buildup: the Decepticon Justice Division.
Who are introduced in contrast to someone we’ve already met way back in Last Stand of the Wreckers, Phase Sixer Black Shadow. As we open on a tight closeup of Tarn’s face, as he asks about why Phase Sixer’s always rebel, over a montage, with kill counts, of Black Shadow’s notable battles. Including killing three Wreckers, 3003 troops of the 113th Battalion and 3 billion people on Rigel IV.
Well that was… relentless.
For the last couple of issues, I’ve talked about James Roberts TV mentality, but here he actually starts to think more in terms of something only comics could do. Because, whilst it is occasionally necessary for a TV show to do an episode that only features the regulars in a minimal role (Doctor Who has become famous for it), it’s something they only do when there’s a boring behind the scenes logistical reason for it. Here, without actors under contract, or indeed without actors with egos, Roberts can go on a little diversion to what will become his secondary thread.
It’s something he’ll get bolder on with the subsequent Scavenger stories as well, neither of which will have any scenes back on the Lost Light.
This story effectively exists to introduce two groups properly before they, a very long way down the line, come to intersect with the main cast. Starting with the one that’s already had an ominous buildup: the Decepticon Justice Division.
Who are introduced in contrast to someone we’ve already met way back in Last Stand of the Wreckers, Phase Sixer Black Shadow. As we open on a tight closeup of Tarn’s face, as he asks about why Phase Sixer’s always rebel, over a montage, with kill counts, of Black Shadow’s notable battles. Including killing three Wreckers, 3003 troops of the 113th Battalion and 3 billion people on Rigel IV.
Five guys.
Leading us to “Black Shadow Vs the Decepticon Justice Division,” where the super solder is tied into a chair looking rather brutalised (including no legs), as Tarn is surprised to be told he’s still alive, as when the sobbing stops that usually means they’re dead.
This gives us our first full panel shot of five (one not immediately apparent) members of the DJD, putting Tarn at the front with his Deceptibrand face mask, big black and purple body, and double fusion canon, effectively, and intentionally, looking like every 12-year-olds fanfic badass Decepticon.
Black Shadow’s recovery gives Tarn a chance to introduce the others as he recaps what Black Shadow has been through already: Kaon (the electric chair), Vos (who only speaks old Cybertronian, actually the alphabet created for the movies), Helex (a big furnace guy) and Tesarus (a big mincing machine with a drum that crunches you up in his chest).
You will absolutely struggle to remember which one is which for at least a couple of them, but again, that’s rather the point.
As Tarn talks about their goal of taking out all traitors in a way that sends a Message, Black Shadow tries to make the point that the war is over… Which turns out to be a bigger mistake as it turns out the war is only over when Megatron says so, complete with quote from Toward Peace (Megatron’s autobiography) that “When the rejection of my weapon is of significance to no one other than myself… only then will I remove it from my arm.”
This gives us our first full panel shot of five (one not immediately apparent) members of the DJD, putting Tarn at the front with his Deceptibrand face mask, big black and purple body, and double fusion canon, effectively, and intentionally, looking like every 12-year-olds fanfic badass Decepticon.
Black Shadow’s recovery gives Tarn a chance to introduce the others as he recaps what Black Shadow has been through already: Kaon (the electric chair), Vos (who only speaks old Cybertronian, actually the alphabet created for the movies), Helex (a big furnace guy) and Tesarus (a big mincing machine with a drum that crunches you up in his chest).
You will absolutely struggle to remember which one is which for at least a couple of them, but again, that’s rather the point.
As Tarn talks about their goal of taking out all traitors in a way that sends a Message, Black Shadow tries to make the point that the war is over… Which turns out to be a bigger mistake as it turns out the war is only over when Megatron says so, complete with quote from Toward Peace (Megatron’s autobiography) that “When the rejection of my weapon is of significance to no one other than myself… only then will I remove it from my arm.”
"I need the drone to change colour if anyone finds out about our not-evil Overlord plan. Yeah, make it an evil colour"
You can see where Tarn gets his pretentious way of talking from, which he adds to as he comes in to whisper to Black Shadow about his own special power… his voice. Which can fall into rhythm with the spark of his victim, and slowly shut it down, literally talking someone to death.
Black Shadow can barely get an apology out before the whispered tones from the music lover (remember that) has an explosive result.
Kills: 1.
It’s incredibly over the top and almost generically evil, but, again, that will eventually wind up the point. And with the next person on The List not findable, it’s time to head for the target after that, over in the Kol system…
Before we get there though, it’s our first playing it safe diversion to the Lost Light, following up on events from last issue. First, it turns out that, as discussed at length by me already, Rung actually survived after a difficult and long medical procedure that Ratchet would call a miracle if he believed in them.
Remember that folks.
Black Shadow can barely get an apology out before the whispered tones from the music lover (remember that) has an explosive result.
Kills: 1.
It’s incredibly over the top and almost generically evil, but, again, that will eventually wind up the point. And with the next person on The List not findable, it’s time to head for the target after that, over in the Kol system…
Before we get there though, it’s our first playing it safe diversion to the Lost Light, following up on events from last issue. First, it turns out that, as discussed at length by me already, Rung actually survived after a difficult and long medical procedure that Ratchet would call a miracle if he believed in them.
Remember that folks.
Brings a whole new meaning to pumping someone for information.
Remember that folks.
Secondly, that his visitors (such as a distraught Swerve) include Red Alert. Who tells the basically headless body about what he found the in the basement, and that now he’s convinced “They” are going to kill him. So as Rung is the only one he trusts (presumably because he can’t actually do anything), he leaves a recording of Overlord he made shoved into Rung’s missing thumb hole.
Bit rude.
But it turns out that you’re not paranoid if they are out to get you, as one of the Beast Machines inspired medical drones behind Red Alert reacts with a colour change on their light to the mention of Overlord (a stupid bit of programming, why give away they listening out for key words?, it’s lucky Red Alert wasn’t facing them or he’d really have lost it), and observes sinisterly as he says goodbye to Rung and leaves.
Bringing us to the main characters of this story, a large part of which is (because, as we’ll see, James Roberts grew up on all the films your dad liked to watch when they were on a Sunday afternoon if you’re over 40) “So what do you do with the German army after they war?” They’re not all actively Nazis and you can’t execute or imprison everyone, so what happens to just the rank-and-file guys? How do they reintegrate back into society?
Secondly, that his visitors (such as a distraught Swerve) include Red Alert. Who tells the basically headless body about what he found the in the basement, and that now he’s convinced “They” are going to kill him. So as Rung is the only one he trusts (presumably because he can’t actually do anything), he leaves a recording of Overlord he made shoved into Rung’s missing thumb hole.
Bit rude.
But it turns out that you’re not paranoid if they are out to get you, as one of the Beast Machines inspired medical drones behind Red Alert reacts with a colour change on their light to the mention of Overlord (a stupid bit of programming, why give away they listening out for key words?, it’s lucky Red Alert wasn’t facing them or he’d really have lost it), and observes sinisterly as he says goodbye to Rung and leaves.
Bringing us to the main characters of this story, a large part of which is (because, as we’ll see, James Roberts grew up on all the films your dad liked to watch when they were on a Sunday afternoon if you’re over 40) “So what do you do with the German army after they war?” They’re not all actively Nazis and you can’t execute or imprison everyone, so what happens to just the rank-and-file guys? How do they reintegrate back into society?
Your friendly neighbourhood corpse defilers.
Now this could be stepping on the toes of Robots in Disguise, which is exploring similar themes, but (at the moment, he will widen the lens as the series goes on) John Barber is more looking upwards at the elite and political classes and the impact on them. Roberts is keen to explore the rank-and-file grunts who signed up out of conscription or just for a payday, and to contrast them with the incredibly in denial patriotic DJD we just met.
The introduction of this team of misfits is achieved via a newly created character as the Decepticon we’ll come to know as Fulcrum wakes up on a battlefield on Kol, as finding himself surrounded by a bunch of beloved to readers of the later Marvel UK comic characters. Plus, Misfire and Crankcase.
They’re horrified he’s alive as they were pulling him apart for useful pieces, he’s horrified they were pulling him apart for useful pieces without checking he was dead, to which their counterargument is every other Transformer on this battlefield of corpses was absolutely dead.
The team are hastily introduced to the smooth-talking Fulcrum by a rapid-fire Misfire:
Crankcase, with a head injury that’s given him a permanent scowl as smiling could finish him off (“A punchline could kill him”), and says words you’ve only ever seen written down, like “Bah.”
A joke Roberts would basically revisit with Chromedome later.
Spinister, who is the biggest departure from his Marvel depiction, being an idiot savant (though the savant part won’t become apparent till their next story) who is threatened by vaguely hostile shapes and long words.
Flywheels, the religious one who can’t tell a lie without transforming and has massive feet (and initially thinks Fulcrum was a zombie in a callback to his one previous fictional appearance).
The introduction of this team of misfits is achieved via a newly created character as the Decepticon we’ll come to know as Fulcrum wakes up on a battlefield on Kol, as finding himself surrounded by a bunch of beloved to readers of the later Marvel UK comic characters. Plus, Misfire and Crankcase.
They’re horrified he’s alive as they were pulling him apart for useful pieces, he’s horrified they were pulling him apart for useful pieces without checking he was dead, to which their counterargument is every other Transformer on this battlefield of corpses was absolutely dead.
The team are hastily introduced to the smooth-talking Fulcrum by a rapid-fire Misfire:
Crankcase, with a head injury that’s given him a permanent scowl as smiling could finish him off (“A punchline could kill him”), and says words you’ve only ever seen written down, like “Bah.”
A joke Roberts would basically revisit with Chromedome later.
Spinister, who is the biggest departure from his Marvel depiction, being an idiot savant (though the savant part won’t become apparent till their next story) who is threatened by vaguely hostile shapes and long words.
Flywheels, the religious one who can’t tell a lie without transforming and has massive feet (and initially thinks Fulcrum was a zombie in a callback to his one previous fictional appearance).
No one does expressive expressionless faces better.
Then there’s the military strategist with a lot of time on his hands who is technically the leader of this merry band as the highest ranking one, Krok. Who has to point out that Misfire isn’t always like this, he’s the “Energon extractor” of this team of “Expropriation specialists,” and he’d been accidentally exposed to circuit speeders.
Though Misfire will actually be exactly like this in all future appearances.
The telling part of all this though, for all the banter and rapid-fire quips, during their initial conversation, Misfire is holding the already extracted fuel pump of Fulcrum and has to be persuaded (via a reworked gag about a light switch from the Red Dwarf episode Legion, “I kind of need it, you know, for pumping my fuel”) not to permanently take it. These are not at this stage, nice guys. They’re organ harvesters.
Speaking of potentially not nice guys, back on the ship, Brainstorm has a visit from Chromedome. Whilst hanging upside down from the ceiling as he works just to show off. Though it’s the half hidden in a box tablet with Perceptor’s alt-mode design on it that starts a minor visual running gag that will end up influencing the story in more ways than one.
Chromedome is there because he had managed to sneak Skids gun away from him (an easy thing to do when he doesn’t know he’s got a gun) and had Brainstorm take a look at it. There’s back and forth banter and snipping between them, but it boils down the fact Brainstorm has christened it a “Binary” gun as it only takes two bullets, and that he otherwise found nothing out as it self-destructed as he took it apart. Though the engineering does remind him of something from “The Institute.”
All of which at this point feels like some overall series arc moving stuff that has no connection to the main story of the issue, but we’ll see a long way down the line how Skids and his story links back to one of the characters we’ve met off the ship this month.
Though Misfire will actually be exactly like this in all future appearances.
The telling part of all this though, for all the banter and rapid-fire quips, during their initial conversation, Misfire is holding the already extracted fuel pump of Fulcrum and has to be persuaded (via a reworked gag about a light switch from the Red Dwarf episode Legion, “I kind of need it, you know, for pumping my fuel”) not to permanently take it. These are not at this stage, nice guys. They’re organ harvesters.
Speaking of potentially not nice guys, back on the ship, Brainstorm has a visit from Chromedome. Whilst hanging upside down from the ceiling as he works just to show off. Though it’s the half hidden in a box tablet with Perceptor’s alt-mode design on it that starts a minor visual running gag that will end up influencing the story in more ways than one.
Chromedome is there because he had managed to sneak Skids gun away from him (an easy thing to do when he doesn’t know he’s got a gun) and had Brainstorm take a look at it. There’s back and forth banter and snipping between them, but it boils down the fact Brainstorm has christened it a “Binary” gun as it only takes two bullets, and that he otherwise found nothing out as it self-destructed as he took it apart. Though the engineering does remind him of something from “The Institute.”
All of which at this point feels like some overall series arc moving stuff that has no connection to the main story of the issue, but we’ll see a long way down the line how Skids and his story links back to one of the characters we’ve met off the ship this month.
What if we kissed in the Omniglobe?
On Kol, around a fire that can’t possibly be doing much to keep robots warm from the cold, Fulcrum points out that’s Krok’s team are really Scavengers (remember that name), and they talk about how this sector of space is one massive Decepticon graveyard. All thanks to thousands of battles that were fought here as the hero (Megatron) and the villain (Optimus Prime) were in “Omniglobes” controlling the fates of troops reduced to decimal points, with the only real difference being that the Autobots collected their dead.
Though the real surprise to Fulcrum is the war is over. And even though they don’t know who won, no one is very confident it was their side. But even if they have won, no one present has any real idea what the plan was after victory beyond some vague notion of “Phase Seven: Rebuilding,” which has Crankcase snarkily pointing out they basically spent all that time decimating their race with the end goal of then rebuilding it. The contrast with the chapter and verse quoting Tarn is very deliberate.
Though the real surprise to Fulcrum is the war is over. And even though they don’t know who won, no one is very confident it was their side. But even if they have won, no one present has any real idea what the plan was after victory beyond some vague notion of “Phase Seven: Rebuilding,” which has Crankcase snarkily pointing out they basically spent all that time decimating their race with the end goal of then rebuilding it. The contrast with the chapter and verse quoting Tarn is very deliberate.
CHOOM
It then turns out that Tarn was being very rose tinted about the Autobots collecting their dead, as a Fulcrum style survivor crawls towards the fire, only to have his “But the war’s over” curtly dismissed with a “Really, I hadn’t heard” before being executed with a headshot by Krok. And I don’t think he’s going to have the luck of Rung.
Again, the emphasis in on these not being the evillest of evil Decepticons, but they’re still not great people. Which is why I find their arc across the series one of the most satisfying as they learn not default to Decepticon mindsets by having to go out there and interact with people outside the fascist bubble they’ve been in for most of their lives.
And considering how spaced out their appearances are going to be (and certainly there were never any plans for them to return in the first year), it’s remarkable, as with so much of the pre-planning, that Roberts would get to follow it through.
But more on that over the next few years…
We have one final quick cutaway to the Lost Light, of Rung receiving a mysterious visitor (with black hands, if you want to narrow the list of suspects), who steals away Red Alert’s recording. Though one wonders how practical that is unless they take care of Red Alert before he can tell anyone else…
Again, the emphasis in on these not being the evillest of evil Decepticons, but they’re still not great people. Which is why I find their arc across the series one of the most satisfying as they learn not default to Decepticon mindsets by having to go out there and interact with people outside the fascist bubble they’ve been in for most of their lives.
And considering how spaced out their appearances are going to be (and certainly there were never any plans for them to return in the first year), it’s remarkable, as with so much of the pre-planning, that Roberts would get to follow it through.
But more on that over the next few years…
We have one final quick cutaway to the Lost Light, of Rung receiving a mysterious visitor (with black hands, if you want to narrow the list of suspects), who steals away Red Alert’s recording. Though one wonders how practical that is unless they take care of Red Alert before he can tell anyone else…
SUBTEXT
Back on Kol for the rest of the issue, Krok is keen to juice up W.A.P.
Their ship, the Weak Anthropic Particle that is.
Yes, an obvious joke, but I challenge anyone to read the acronym now and not snigger.
Still, the Energon from all these bodies should keep the W.A.P. well lubed for a long time, but Misfire (who slightly confusingly, shows some of the religious fever that seems to be more Flywheels thing and that he’ll certainly never have again. Must be the circuit speeders) is far more concerned with something he sees of in the distance. As it turns out he believes in the Necrobot—a myth of a robot who records the death of every Cybertronian and performs “Posthumous rites”—and keeps thinking he’s seen him in places like this and tries to catch the guy.
Which, though again we won’t know it for a long time, is how Roberts is connecting the Rung scenes to the main plot in the same way Skids has a yet unrevealed link as well.
He misses the Necrobot but does find a Decepticon ship. A Symbol Ship, literally. A massive craft in the shape of the Decepticon logo. No doubt as part of brand synergy. These were at the forefront of the Decepticons’ real glory days, and initially they’re all very excited to be able trade in their W.A.P for something bigger and harder and more thrusting.
Their ship, the Weak Anthropic Particle that is.
Yes, an obvious joke, but I challenge anyone to read the acronym now and not snigger.
Still, the Energon from all these bodies should keep the W.A.P. well lubed for a long time, but Misfire (who slightly confusingly, shows some of the religious fever that seems to be more Flywheels thing and that he’ll certainly never have again. Must be the circuit speeders) is far more concerned with something he sees of in the distance. As it turns out he believes in the Necrobot—a myth of a robot who records the death of every Cybertronian and performs “Posthumous rites”—and keeps thinking he’s seen him in places like this and tries to catch the guy.
Which, though again we won’t know it for a long time, is how Roberts is connecting the Rung scenes to the main plot in the same way Skids has a yet unrevealed link as well.
He misses the Necrobot but does find a Decepticon ship. A Symbol Ship, literally. A massive craft in the shape of the Decepticon logo. No doubt as part of brand synergy. These were at the forefront of the Decepticons’ real glory days, and initially they’re all very excited to be able trade in their W.A.P for something bigger and harder and more thrusting.
They can't see the wood for the trees.
Until they actually explore the ship, and find Cybertronian blood on the ceiling, organic blood in tanks, weird protoforms that aren’t quite right and a wooden robot.
It’s all very like the exploration of the DNA ship in the Red Dwarf episode…erm… DNA, and, like the Scavengers themselves, sets up an arc that will need the book to last much longer than it was guaranteed to play out. Though unlike the Scavengers, getting it over the line in time will involve compromises that mean I’m still not really sure what the wooden robots are about.
The Scavengers are of the opinion that they are not the explore strange and sinister mystery types so it’s time to get in the W.A.P. and pull out.
Fulcrum on the other hand, is excited that for the first time in their lives there are no orders to follow or requirements upon them, they can do what they like, and this is interesting.
It’s all very like the exploration of the DNA ship in the Red Dwarf episode…erm… DNA, and, like the Scavengers themselves, sets up an arc that will need the book to last much longer than it was guaranteed to play out. Though unlike the Scavengers, getting it over the line in time will involve compromises that mean I’m still not really sure what the wooden robots are about.
The Scavengers are of the opinion that they are not the explore strange and sinister mystery types so it’s time to get in the W.A.P. and pull out.
Fulcrum on the other hand, is excited that for the first time in their lives there are no orders to follow or requirements upon them, they can do what they like, and this is interesting.
Missfire: The voice of reason.
But the debate is cut short by Krok hearing music on the channels he was monitoring for a silent alarm, leading to them getting a call from Tarn. Who cheerfully reveals that one of the seven stragglers in on The List, so if the others turn him over within 15 minutes, they can live.
Which both terrifies the six Decepticons are confuses them as there aren’t seven of them.
Till Krok points out the seventh life sign, in a CR chambre…
Grimlock.
I can’t remember if the next month being the company wide Dinobot Month meant this was not a surprise, or if they put some effort in to obscuring how or even if this book was involved, but it’s still an affecting final image. Plus, there’s also still misdirection here as the reader is likely to assume from his Decepticon curious past, that Grimlock is the one on the list.
Which both terrifies the six Decepticons are confuses them as there aren’t seven of them.
Till Krok points out the seventh life sign, in a CR chambre…
Grimlock.
I can’t remember if the next month being the company wide Dinobot Month meant this was not a surprise, or if they put some effort in to obscuring how or even if this book was involved, but it’s still an affecting final image. Plus, there’s also still misdirection here as the reader is likely to assume from his Decepticon curious past, that Grimlock is the one on the list.
A Grim Gram.
I’m probably sounding as boring in my praise for this era as I was when I was being critical of Costa, but that’s another strong, characterful issue that sets up the exploration of an interesting idea with the unemployed ‘Cons finding their way in life.
It also looks gorgeous, with Milne well into his stride now and colourists Josh Burchan and Joanna Lafuente sharing duties mean the Lost Light and Kol scenes feel different in a way that works nicely. The world Krok and company live in isn’t as warm as the Autobots’ home away from home.
All in all, it’s even better than a W.A.P.
I refuse to elaborate on which acronym of W.A.P. I mean there.
Next week (or possibly two weeks again as I might be away next Sunday, stay tuned!), even more Dinobots!
ROBOTS IN DISGUISE ISSUE 7
2012
COMMENT
KO-FI
It also looks gorgeous, with Milne well into his stride now and colourists Josh Burchan and Joanna Lafuente sharing duties mean the Lost Light and Kol scenes feel different in a way that works nicely. The world Krok and company live in isn’t as warm as the Autobots’ home away from home.
All in all, it’s even better than a W.A.P.
I refuse to elaborate on which acronym of W.A.P. I mean there.
Next week (or possibly two weeks again as I might be away next Sunday, stay tuned!), even more Dinobots!
ROBOTS IN DISGUISE ISSUE 7
2012
COMMENT
KO-FI
