Spoiler: 43 That "Tetrahexian humor" panel. Just, trying to paste that expression onto Cyclonus' actual face. I think I broke something. That avatar is so hot.
@sirsparklepants, you can also read about the adventures of Drift and Ratchet in the four-issue Empire of Stone miniseries! The art and pacing aren't as good as mtmte proper, but you still get some really nice character moments in the mix.
EoS won me over near the end, because Drift's thighs. Drift's thiiiiiighs. He's a strong empowered action woman with really banging thighs.
@spockandawe thanks! I was just thinking 'so where is drift these days' when I was reading last night.
Spoiler: Empire of stone Is the emperor dude's finger covering half of Ratchet's face? Why do they have to keep making the villains built like brick shithouses? My biggest weakness. Ratchet's snark in all of this is killing me. Giving Drift shit over his sensor readings, "could you please, just for once, not be you" aaaaaaaah. Also "what happened to your shuttle?" "adventures." The guard is genre savvy. Fucking - Ratchet's face. Drift's "you don't know!" Oh, not a guard, I guess. Ratchet telling Drift the hell off was wonderful. Hellbat is... impressively fucked up. I'm pretty impressed at how well the franchise in general is handling "post-war trauma" as a theme. What the fuck, Gigatron turns into a DRAGON? This is so unfair, he's obviously a one-off character but that shit is so cool. Wait, hold the phone, a TWO HEADED DRAGON? Why do the Deceptions get the coolest character designs. Autobots, get on this so I don't have to feel bad for finding the Decepticons more attractive in general. Why did Drift's face suddenly become an overlined mess? Welp. That sure was a lot of death for an issue focused on someone who's sworn off killing. I understand it, but I get really annoyed at characters who are like "violence is okay but no killing" who then gets handed the solution, narratively, of someone else killing the threat. It feels like lazy writing. Choosing not to kill in a battle scenario is hard, because it offers you the easiest solution to "how do I keep this person from doing bad things to me and other people?" Well, if they're dead, they won't be doing anything else ever again. Eliminating that option makes everything harder, because you have to find another answer to that question. And letting another character or situation cause the death of a problem keeps the no-killing character from having to do that hard work. It irritates the hell out of me. (A:tLA has possibly the only conflict of this sort that I've seen that I liked, because there was a lot of conflict and another solution was found.) On a different note, I love how when his adrenaline (or whatever the robot equivalent is) isn't up, Drift turns into this sulky teenager. REAL MATURE.
Spoiler: mtmte 49 Tailgate's on the cover does that mean we get that one addressed now? because THAT is still very much in need of being addressed oh god skids your snark in the face of terrible possibilities is commendable Quark is judging. Stop judging, quark SHIT SHIT SHIT THSI GUY IS SO SCARY "Transmit." WHAT RUNG WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOU'RE PLANNING SOMETHING AREN'T YOU? "You tried to KILL me and now you're ignoring me?!" oh honey oh my gosh the necklace is cy's innermost energon ahhhh HOLY SHIT HE IS GAGGED AND TIED UP THAT MUCH? HOLY SHIT THEY TOOK OFF HIS ARMS AND LEGS? WHAT THE FUCK WHAT THE JUST WHAT THE FUCK??? THAT'S A BIT INTENSE ISN'T IT? "Ow not so tight!" ... huh? tailgate's just grabbing his arm :o froid is such a terrible fucker and he doesn't even seem to realize that what he's doing is super fucked up THAT IS TERRIFYING THAT IS VERY VERY GRAPHIC AND GORE-Y AND TERRIFYING HOLY SHIT I'D RATHER CUDDLE A NECROMORPH THAN BE ANYWHERE NEAR SUNDER HOW DID THIS ESCALATE SO QUICKLY i can't believe CD has to tell Megatron to not hover over Rodimus while he's fixed. I can't believe it. He cares. FUUUUUCK THAT'S HUGE CHRIST I COULD DO WITH THSI BEING LESS GRAPHIC POOR THUNDERS AHHHHHHHHH OH MY GOD RUNG YOU ADORKABLE NERD I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS HOW GREAT "If he can't see us he can't hurt us! ... Okay he can still hurt us." asdfghjk no tailgate i think he wants to not kill the guy and that's why megs won't pick up the gun. Megs you are actually trying to talk him down omg hoW THE FUCK HOLY SHIT TAILGATE WHAT "Rodimus! Good to see you're in... Better shape." "Did you come up with that joke all by yourself?" "Ultra Magnus suggested the pause." YOU NERDS "If this is your resignation, I accept." MEGS FUCKING X-MEN BULLSHIT IS WHAT THIS IS. "SPARK MUTATION". HOW IS THIS COMIC SO SELF-INDULGENTLY AWESOME Tailgate is literally a superhero now i can't fucking believe this That is the most dramatic declaration of Pacifism I have ever seen and I can't believe it's megatron who is turning into a hardcore pacifist. good for him tho, good for him somehow i can't believe this actually had a happy ending hOLY SHIT TARN FUCK YEAH IT'S BETTER HE REGAIN THAT PARTICULAR MEMORY VERY CAREFULLY AND GENTLY IF AT ALL HOLY SHIT
49 IS SO GOOD!!!!!!!! i feel like I say this about like. Every single issue, but. they're all so fucking good Ahhhhh omg omg ivy you're almost done...... Spoiler: 49 skids being a bomb-negotiator is horrifying, grindcore is horrifying, mouth flowers are horrifying, pre-djd tarn is.... Pretty much exactly the same as djd tarn, so business as usual ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I found it really disappointing that tailgate didn't bring up the whole, you used marriage as a means to TRY TO KILL ME thing when he yelled at getaway tbh But TAILGATE THE INVULNERABLE SUPER-STRONG SPEEDY MARSHMALLOW!!!!!!!!! a tiny bara. he could bench-press ultra magnus. Also: sunder is the creepiest motherfucker thus far. Just, the worst.
Spoiler: 49 I love love love that Ultra Magnus suggested the pause. Just continuing off the theme of the two of them trying to learn humor. Before they were awful, now they're margninally competent!
Spoiler: mtmte 44 I was like, "Okay I will take commenting about this in chunks now" but there are so many good moments in this issue. I just can't. I tried screenshotting them, but I stopped when I realized I was hitting every single page. So here's a bulleted list of things I loved, in the order in which I encountered them. They're going to see the robot grim reaper! Ultra Magnus and Megatron attempting to joke, both of them failing so hard. (also their faces were so close in that panel... I wanted to scream NOW KISS.) Rodimus's description of the telling off Magnus would give him. Swerve basing a cocktail off Agent 113. Rodimus carrying his desk through the ship just to put one over on Thunderclash. Not taking a picture of the desk... carrying the whole thing. Oh boo boo. His pissy little face when Megatron overrules him. (I know why Megs is on the Lost Light, but I'm still kind of lost as to why he's co-captain.) Ultra Magnus becoming more comfortable with taking the armor off. His little Ten figure! Rodimus... does a dance when he's excited... and Megatron makes fun of it. This is the best day. "We don't have a stealth mode." "Humor me." TAILGATE SAYING THEY SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT A PRESENT AAAAAAAH Rodimus I know you think you're hot shit but you are not modeling for a pinup calendar here. Awww, Megatron. Just delaying your sentence and contemplating your mortality, nbd. The Necrobot looks hella cool. "death palace" How much Chromedome is all over Rewind this issue. Holding hands, supporting him, MY LOVE. Nightbeat ;__; poor baby THE FLOWERS. THIS IS HEARTBREAKING. "I present this not as an admonishment but as a simple statement of fact: you are all killers." That whole final spread and speech, christ.
Spoiler: mtmte 50 um UM OH GOD NAUTS WHAT HAPPENED D: FUCK OH MY GOD POOR CHROMEDOME WHAT'S GOING ON? "It's the first time we've died together." DON'T SAY SHIT LIKE THAT jesus FUCK WHAT'S GOING ON WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'LL DIE IN SIX HOURS, NIGHTBEAT WHAT THE FRICK "I'd like to be buried in my armor" FUCK "no funeral." DOUBLE FUCK "If I die in my altmode I want you to dissassemble me." TRIPLE FUCK oh god the scavengers are receiving it to YOU GUYS IT'S NOT A POPCORN MOMENT HOYL SHIT "Oh-- P.S. I'd like to be recycled." QUADRUPEL FUCK WHAT IS TAHT SUPPOSED TO MEAN IT WAS SENT THREE WEEKS AGO WHAT THE FUCK Megatron as an off-field strategist is very important to me "But was the watch-reference really necessary? Talk about reopening old wounds!" aww Whirl Rodimus bickering with Megatron over the intercomm is very important "POWER PUNCH!" tailgate you dork <3 "Tell you what -- just this once, how'd you like to give the order? would that cheer you up?" ASDFGHJK MEGATRON SMILES "Go on, say it. You know you want to." "Oh, very well -ahem- Autobots, ROLL OUT!" ASDFGHJHGFDXSYDFGHJHGFDSASDF THIS IS TOO CUTE HELP I CANNOT MEGATRON IS TEACHING THEM HISTORY? THIS IS TOO CUTE I CANNOT HE MAKES THEM DO ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADES THEM HOLY FUCKING SHIT I AM DEVELOPING AN ACCUTE CASE OF THE DOKIS megatron going all EXAMINE YOUR BIASES on them is SO GOOD. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH MEGATRON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that thingy! Like skids said the light thingy said that! WE REACHED A CONCLUSION AS A GROUP PROUD OF YOU TEAM, WELL DONE GOOD DISCUSSION! uhhhh megs? Megs? MEGS???? "I-... I apologize. Class dismissed." OH FUCK HE LOOKS SO SCARED OH GOD i don't know which possibility is worse that he doesn't want to believe that maybe the map might not be enough or whether he was triggered by being associated with discipline. fUCK goddammit why did Rung stop practicing, Megs needs help "Because I've never been happier" ASDFGHJKJHGFDSASDFGHJHGFDSASDFGHJJKHGS HIS SMILE OH GOD AHHHHHHHHHHHHH "I'm glad you're happy." Velocity you are a sweet angel and this world doesn't deserve you. Also that ringtone is hilarious OH NO THEY ARE SICK? also fuck Chromedome and Rewind look so worried and the gentle handholding just god it's so cute okay y'all are hearing disturbing as shit things randomly that's VERY NOT GOOD okay I am sick of this shit CYCLONUS AND TAILGATE ARE STANDING THERE IN THAT VERY PANEL, RIGHT NEXT TO EACHOTHER AND I HAVE NO RESOLUTION TO THE MARRIAGE DRAMA YET I CALL BULLSHIT oh god it seems like they are hearing their worst fears? OH NO D: Psychological assault is awful my poor babies D: "Hold on someone fired on us and you want to run towards the gun?" "yep. and then disarm them before they take another shot." ilu rods magnus now is HARDLY the time to correct rodimus' terrible grasp of grammar <3 "When did you first realize he uses bad grammar to distract you whenever you raise an objection to something he wants to do?" "HE DOES WHAT?" 1) rodimus is a sly little mech <3 2) i love how well Megs knows him by now, 3) How did you not realize that Magnus? "Are you always this excitable?" "Nope! Sometimes I'm extremely violent. Sometimes I'm a bit of both." whirl my darling *SIGHS* i can just about hear the cheerful voice he probably says this in ALSO TEN HAS SOOOOOO MANY FLOWERS DRAWN ON HIM YESSSS HE'S THE CUTEST "Magnus is right! Making up words leads to Criminarchy and Pandebordination." BRAINSTORM <3 OHHHHH IT'S THE NECROBOT PLANET DOES THAT MEAN MORE CENSERE? oh god poor megatron WHY DO PEOPLE INSIST ON SHOTING MY ROBOT CHILDREN PLEASE MAKE IT OUT SAFE PLS YES GOOD CENSERE'S IS PROBABLY SORTA SAFE FUCK FUCK WHY NOOOOOOO NO OH MY GOD THIS IS THE OPPOSITE OF ALLOWED MY BABY MY BOY CENSERE NOOOOOOOO DID SOMEONE STUFF A FLOWER IN HIS MOUTH? HOLY SHIIIIT WHY WHY ARE THEY MEAN TO THIS PURE BEAUTIFUL MECH. HOW CAN ANYONE HARM HIM (I was already planning on making Censere the first bot I'd draw, but this just cemented it. i just... my darling... *cries*) the fact that Megatron reminds ravage to be careful is making my heart feel worse. "Censerre was trying to warn us off by hurting us." my love (Is it Censere or Censerre bc they keep flip-flopping on spelling :I) FUCK NOT YOU HOW THE FUCK DID YOU EVEN GET OUT FO THERE "You removed my hands, Rodimus. And my feet. You took away my T-cog. You sawed off my mouth. You put my Spark in a trembler cage so sensitive I couldn't shift my weight without risking electrocution." holy fucking shit what is WRONG WITH Y'ALL you wanna tell me literally everyone except "Team Rodimus" fucking mutineed on them? THAT IS BULLSHIT I... I can't even say I don't understand Getaway and the others. But this is just some grade-A bullshit and harming all of the others along with Megatron because you are pissy that some people might sympathize with Megs and genuinely want him to become a better mech is SO UNCALLED FOR OH FUCK YOU GETAWAY RODIMUS IS TRYING HOW MUCH OF A FUCKING SCHEME WAS THIS? WHAT IS THIS CLOAK AND DAGGER BULLSHIT? CAN'T ANYONE JUST DO GOOD OLD FASHIONED "TALKING OUT YOUR ISSUES WITH EACHOTHER" ANYMORE? "What can I say? I'm not a bad person, I just have strong beliefs." oh i'd absolutely disagree with you on that Getaway. You're not one bit better than Megatron was in his war days you are willing to go over corpses to realize ideals that you arbitrarily decide everyone should adhere to. You are absolutely willing to throw people under the bus as long as you get your way. You're exactly as bad as Megatron was in the beginning. The only difference is that Megs had a headstart on doing fucked up shit, and then realized what he did and is trying to atone, while you, dear Getaway, are still convinced that just because others stand behind you, your way is right. Spoiler, Getsy, Megs also had a couple of people standing behind him. A whole lot of people actually. Convincing people to agree with you does not make you automatically right. OH GOD NO OH NO NO NO NO NO FUCK FUCK "I think this is it. I think this is how it ends." NO FUCK OFF, YOU ARE STILL ALL BANNED FROM TALKING ABOUT DEATH oh god chromedome carrying rewind to hug him tight OH GOD CY WITH A HAND ON BOTH SWERVE'S AND TAILGATE'S HEADS TO CALM THEM DOWN SKIDS AND NAUTICA HOLDING ONTO EACHOTHER'S HANDS AS VELOCITY FIXES HER LEG. (AND WOW I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE HOW MUCH I SHIPPED THEM AFTER TEH DANCING SCENE BUT HERE I AM AND HERE THEY ARE FUCK) RUNG LOOKING SO SO SO DESTROYED RODIMUS' POSE MEGATRON LOOKING OFF TO THE SIDE ALL ASHAMED AND BLAMING HIMSELF MAGNUS LOOKING AT RODIMUS LIKE HE'S EXPECTING HIM TO COME UP WITH SOME MAGIC SOLUTION THSI ENTIRE PANEL MAKES ME HURT OH GOD THIS ENTIRE SEQUENCE OF "WINDOWS INTO THE PAST" THINGS MAKES ME SAD Rodimus is extremely handsome in these panels, what the hell his face looks so good FUUUUUUUUCK OFF GETAWAY
Spoiler: 50 ALL OF YOUR REACTIONS ARE SO GOOD AND CORRECT!!!!!!!! I need to go get my computer so I can share my favourite panels omg omg omg (WELCOME TO SKIDS/NAUTICA HELL!!!! IT'S A RLY GOOD SHIP!!!!)
Spoiler: 50 I'd just like to remind you of the time Nightbeat and Nautica were on the alternate Lost Light together, and he grilled her about her relationships (which even Nautica poked fun at as being awkwardly blunt), and then when she asked him if he had any relationships, he said, 'no, but I'm not the most likeable 'bot' (and then he added '...silent howls of protest' when she didn't argue with that point). So this is a mech who doesn't do the best at connecting to others on a social level and is aware that he's not the best at connecting to others. And then he and Censere connected easily, naturally, and quickly, which is... probably not something Nightbeat has experienced very often. Imagine how bright the future of their friendship must have looked to him. That's all :3c
FAVOURITE PANELS!!!!! i could not fit them all in one post BUT Spoiler: 50 Spoiler: 50 TALK HAPPY MEGATRON!!! mystery symbol!!! (nautica/skids...!!!) 2x protect combo!!! tailgate is invulnerable now, cyclonus, but still he must protect. mags protecting swerve because he's small i couldn't fit the panel in here but megatron looks like he's aiming the fusion cannon he no longer has at mims after he punches him...... SCREECHES sad cat ravage!!! also: this small group of bots care about each other, so much...... also @spockandawe : how dare you make me have feelings about nightbeat, what the fuck
Spoiler: 50 I DID NOT EVEN NOTICE CYCLONUS SHIELDING TAILGATE WITH HIS BODY CY YOU SAPPY PROTECTIVE IDIOT and how people treat ravage makes me sad so much. Except when megatron is really really nice to him that makes me sigh happily.
Also, Ravage! (I actually started typing this before Ivy's post, haha) Ravage has spent a long, long time as one of Soundwave's cassettes, and Soundwave is... man, I am loving his character to pieces. He's very self-contained, but his personality is coming out in bits and pieces and it's fascinating. He's very focused on community and has a strong protective instinct, and he seems to be one of the characters who's best at looking past faction allegiance in the post-war environment. He definitely stands against some people *coughstarscreamcough* but he's less of a knee-jerk reactionary than most of the cast, really. Like, in ex-RiD, his big driving thing throughout this whole story is that he wants to build a commune for cybertronians to live peacefully and happily. I'm DEADLY CURIOUS to get more insight into how a lot of his cassettes function (ratbat can get fucked, I cannot make myself like him :P), because their dynamic is so close to family, and even though the cassettes are independent and some of them disagree with Soundwave on certain things, I have to imagine that Soundwave taking them under his wing helped shield them from some of the psychological damage most of the cast has taken.
Spoiler: 50 okay okay okay ravage is very important, oh my god... i mean i was already shocked and betrayed by bluestreak and RIPTIDE(!!!!!!!!!!!!!) joining Team Getaway, but it's panels like these THAT MAKE IT 10000000x WORSE!!!!! like. riptide. riptide. these are your FRIENDS. you do not play fuck marry kill with your enemies!!!!! it is not done!!!! how dare you bond with my wonderful cat and then....!!! how dare and bluestreak!!! gossiping!!! (also that panel is painful foreshadowing for swearth) ravage is part of the crew, they treat him like part of the crew, and then they pull this horseshit. how dare!!!!!! :( here are some pettings to make me feel better
