More than Meets the Eye (IDW ongoing comic)

[andersonh1]

"Dark Cybertron" also undid the end of Costa's run (Ironhide's vision of the future).

As the future hasn't happened yet, it's hard to say that it was "undone".

[Dominic]

More than Meets the Eye #38:
Ironically, just a few days ago, I was complaining that Roberts is more focused on "teh feelz" than ideas. While issue #38 is still pretty feelz-heavy, Roberts demonstrates that he can still handle ideas along with his enviable skills at world-building. And, he resolved a plot-pointfrom the beginning of the series (3 years ago). The basic time-travel plot resolves along standard lines ("the stuff that happened was supposed to happen, and attempts to prevent that stuff ensured history played out as it was supposed to"). But, Roberts managed to work in some thoughts on the ethical implications of motives and outcomes, keeping the book from being too much a string of cliches.

The lack of moral and practical consequences for a number of characters might bother some readers. But, a recurring theme in "More than Meets the Eye" is that many of the characters are neither morally nor mentally sound. (The odd-balls on the ship are usually the healthier members of the crew.)

Unfortunately, Roberts decided to get overly whimsical at the end. (Why the hell are alien space robots obsessed with "Back to the Future"?)

Grade: B/C


-note: Roberts also calls back to the "-ation" run that Anderson mentioned. I guess it is still relevant. Egg on my face.

[Sparky Prime]

Unfortunately, Roberts decided to get overly whimsical at the end. (Why the hell are alien space robots obsessed with "Back to the Future"?)

I think it's more along the lines of Transformers being obsessed with Earth-culture in-general, seeing as they covered Bluestreak has a large collection of movies from Earth several issues ago. "Back to the Future" just happens to line up with their most recent time traveling adventures. And that wasn't quite the end of the issue... It has a bit of a sinister twist on it as we find out in the alternate timeline/parallel universe, the Functionalist finally managed to figure out what Rung's altmode does (called it that he has a function!), but while we still don't know what that function is, apparently it's so dangerous they feel the need to execute him. Anyway, I thought this was a great issue. What happened with Megatron was somewhat predictable (the who and why was a nice twist), but I was really surprised just how much the crew of the Lost Light would end up setting things up for themselves in the future with out realizing it. We found out where the message from the future came from, where the Lost Light itself came from, the origin of Sparkeaters... Really goes to show just how much Roberts planned out to have had all these hints sprinkled throughout the series.

[BWprowl]

It has a bit of a sinister twist on it as we find out in the alternate timeline/parallel universe, the Functionalist finally managed to figure out what Rung's altmode does (called it that he has a function!)

This was so stupid on a variety of levels. First and foremost, Rung's altmode turning out to have a function COMPLETELY PROVES THE FUNCTIONALISTS' POINT! Every shape DOES serve a purpose! Rung's altmode IS meant to do something! They should be parading his ass through the street, showing off how right they were! It also completely undermines Roberts's points AGAINST the Functionalists along those same lines. Rung's altmode not serving a purpose was one big "you're wrong" to them and their philosophy, and now that it's been revealed that it does, in fact serve a purpose, that's completely turned around! What is even the point of trying to argue "Not all altmodes have a purpose" when the ONE altmode that had been shown not to have a purpose actually DOES have a purpose? What the hell?

And THEN, there's whole other levels of idiocy on their part. Okay, if they're so scared of whatever stupid important destiny thing Rung's altmode does (I'm guessing it's something along the lines of allowing TFs to survive without a transformation cog), then why not just GET RID of that altmode? TFs can change altmodes! They change 'em all the time! We've seen it! Just force Rung to scan a computer mouse or a hat rack or something and send him on his way! Jesus shit this is the dumbest, most thematically-inconsistent bit of writing I've seen in a long time.

It was especially annoying since the rest of the issue was actually pretty good, too.

EDIT: Can we EVEN FUCKING talk about how stupid Rung and his reception in this series in general are? He's Roberts's personal, particular fan-character, with a unique function no one else has, who knows everyone, has been at every important point in TF history (established and commented on in-story!) and has a super-special unique altmode with a mysterious pre-destined purpose that makes him seen as THE most important person at the center of an alternate universe with the implication that it's the case for the 'main' universe as well. Oh, and he can talk down Brainstorm from killing Megatron because his psychological and analysis skills are JUST that awesome. But he's a perfectly great character who every fucker reading this book loves. Drift, DRIFT, is a horrible Mary-Sue sin against god created by Shane McCarthy the Anti-Christ, but Rung is perfectly fine character writing.

Fuck Roberts.

EDIT EDIT: I mean, what is he even trying to SAY here?! First he repeatedly establishes that anyone who asks about what a TF's altmode is is a dickbag. And THEN he goes and introduces a plot point that's going to have the ENTIRE readership asking what Rung's altmode is! What a douche!

[Sparky Prime]

First and foremost, Rung's altmode turning out to have a function COMPLETELY PROVES THE FUNCTIONALISTS' POINT! Every shape DOES serve a purpose! Rung's altmode IS meant to do something! They should be parading his ass through the street, showing off how right they were! It also completely undermines Roberts's points AGAINST the Functionalists along those same lines. Rung's altmode not serving a purpose was one big "you're wrong" to them and their philosophy, and now that it's been revealed that it does, in fact serve a purpose, that's completely turned around! What is even the point of trying to argue "Not all altmodes have a purpose" when the ONE altmode that had been shown not to have a purpose actually DOES have a purpose? What the hell?

As I've said before, it was never about proving the Functionalists right or wrong. The Functionalists ideals was that the Transformers should be limited to the function of their altmode and forced into a social class based on that alone. Rung only served to confuse them. As such, it doesn't undermine Roberts point at all, as his focus has always been about exploring the Transformers as whole characters, not limited to a specific function.

And THEN, there's whole other levels of idiocy on their part. Okay, if they're so scared of whatever stupid important destiny thing Rung's altmode does (I'm guessing it's something along the lines of allowing TFs to survive without a transformation cog), then why not just GET RID of that altmode? TFs can change altmodes! They change 'em all the time! We've seen it! Just force Rung to scan a computer mouse or a hat rack or something and send him on his way! Jesus shit this is the dumbest, most thematically-inconsistent bit of writing I've seen in a long time.

You keep saying we've seen them change altmodes, but that didn't happen until AFTER the war started. And in this timeline, the war never happened. So for all we know, they never even developed the means to change altmodes in this timeline, especially seeing how much control the Functionalists have taken over Cybertronian society in this timeline. Do you really think they'd want ordinary citizens to be able to take on another altmode when ever they pleased and completely undermine their ideals?

EDIT: Can we EVEN FUCKING talk about how stupid Rung and his reception in this series in general are? He's Roberts's personal, particular fan-character, with a unique function no one else has, who knows everyone, has been at every important point in TF history (established and commented on in-story!) and has a super-special unique altmode with a mysterious pre-destined purpose that makes him seen as THE most important person at the center of an alternate universe with the implication that it's the case for the 'main' universe as well. Oh, and he can talk down Brainstorm from killing Megatron because his psychological and analysis skills are JUST that awesome. But he's a perfectly great character who every fucker reading this book loves. Drift, DRIFT, is a horrible Mary-Sue sin against god created by Shane McCarthy the Anti-Christ, but Rung is perfectly fine character writing.

You seem to be over-exaggerating and (possibly) jumping the gun a bit. Rung was only at every important event in TF history because of time travel. Technically, you could say the same thing about most of the guys who were time traveling in the past couple issues. And a big difference between Rung and Drift is that Drift was introduced as this bad-ass, sword slinging hotshot that couldn't be touched OP character. I think that's why most fans reacted so negatively to him to begin with. Rung on the other hand was introduced by being punched onto Megatron's table at a bar. And we still don't actually know what his function might be. You'll notice how the Functionalists have him locked was just like how Overlord was in the main timeline simply because they didn't know his function. With that in mind, I think we can say the Functionalists ideas of a threat is may not be the same thing we might actually consider to be one. Roberts does seem to enjoy twisting things around like that in ways we might not expect.

EDIT EDIT: I mean, what is he even trying to SAY here?! First he repeatedly establishes that anyone who asks about what a TF's altmode is is a dickbag. And THEN he goes and introduces a plot point that's going to have the ENTIRE readership asking what Rung's altmode is! What a douche!

Um... Asking what a TF's altmode is has never been an issue. Ever.

[BWprowl]

As I've said before, it was never about proving the Functionalists right or wrong. The Functionalists ideals was that the Transformers should be limited to the function of their altmode and forced into a social class based on that alone.

Did you just skip over it every time "Every shape serves a purpose" came up? That's the basis of the whole Functionalist philosophy. When it was initially introduced, that's what Rung's altmode was challenging. By being a shape that didn't serve a purpose, it was a direct challenge to that dogma. Now that we know his shape DOES serve a purpose, it serves to REINFORCE that point.

As such, it doesn't undermine Roberts point at all, as his focus has always been about exploring the Transformers as whole characters, not limited to a specific function.

Except that, as of now, Rung's ENTIRE ROLE in the comic is defined around discovering what the purpose of his altmode is and how it will impact the story.

You keep saying we've seen them change altmodes, but that didn't happen until AFTER the war started. And in this timeline, the war never happened. So for all we know, they never even developed the means to change altmodes in this timeline, especially seeing how much control the Functionalists have taken over Cybertronian society in this timeline. Do you really think they'd want ordinary citizens to be able to take on another altmode when ever they pleased and completely undermine their ideals?

They don't have to let everyone else use the technology, but surely they shouldn't have a problem using it on Rung to eliminate his offending altmode and be done with the whole problem.

Um... Asking what a TF's altmode is has never been an issue. Ever.

In just this latest arc it's been:

Megatron: The Functionalists' focus on altmodes makes them a bunch of assholes.

Enforcer: Ambus what do you transform into? I'm gonna force you to transform in front of me.
Ambus: Christ what an asshole.

Chromedome: If they catch me on this train they'll force me to transform and use my altmode. Christ, what a bunch of assholes.

Nightbeat: The Decepticons are going to round everyone up and force them to transform.
Quark: Christ what a bunch of assholes.

Which now gets flipped into:

Readers: What does Rung transform into?
Roberts: Christ what a bunch of assholes.

[Dominic]

It has a bit of a sinister twist on it as we find out in the alternate timeline/parallel universe, the Functionalist finally managed to figure out what Rung's altmode does (called it that he has a function!), but while we still don't know what that function is, apparently it's so dangerous they feel the need to execute him. Anyway

Some people (at the IDW forums) have been speculating that Rung is a walking McGuffin. There might be some merit to it.


On a related speculative note:
Brainstorm is one of the first Decepticons. He joined up for the right reasons, and resents the monsters that Megatron and the others eventually became.

We found out where the message from the future came from, where the Lost Light itself came from, the origin of Sparkeaters... Really goes to show just how much Roberts planned out to have had all these hints sprinkled throughout the series.

No question.

This was so stupid on a variety of levels. First and foremost, Rung's altmode turning out to have a function COMPLETELY PROVES THE FUNCTIONALISTS' POINT! Every shape DOES serve a purpose! Rung's altmode IS meant to do something! They should be parading his ass through the street, showing off how right they were!

It depends what the purpose of the alternate mode is. If Rung's purpose is to influence probability or break "rules", that would undermine the regime.

But he's a perfectly great character who every fucker reading this book loves. Drift, DRIFT, is a horrible Mary-Sue sin against god created by Shane McCarthy the Anti-Christ, but Rung is perfectly fine character writing.

It is less an issue with Roberts or Rung and more an issue with the fans.

I am planning to see a similar dynamic with Hama's Joe book, as he brings back Serpentor. (When DDP brought back Serpentor it was a crime against everything "GI Joe" stood for. But, when Hama does, the fans are more than likely going to be okay with it.)

[Shockwave]

It has a bit of a sinister twist on it as we find out in the alternate timeline/parallel universe, the Functionalist finally managed to figure out what Rung's altmode does (called it that he has a function!), but while we still don't know what that function is, apparently it's so dangerous they feel the need to execute him. Anyway

Some people (at the IDW forums) have been speculating that Rung is a walking McGuffin. There might be some merit to it.


On a related speculative note:
Brainstorm is one of the first Decepticons. He joined up for the right reasons, and resents the monsters that Megatron and the others eventually became.

We found out where the message from the future came from, where the Lost Light itself came from, the origin of Sparkeaters... Really goes to show just how much Roberts planned out to have had all these hints sprinkled throughout the series.

No question.

This was so stupid on a variety of levels. First and foremost, Rung's altmode turning out to have a function COMPLETELY PROVES THE FUNCTIONALISTS' POINT! Every shape DOES serve a purpose! Rung's altmode IS meant to do something! They should be parading his ass through the street, showing off how right they were!

It depends what the purpose of the alternate mode is. If Rung's purpose is to influence probability or break "rules", that would undermine the regime.

But he's a perfectly great character who every fucker reading this book loves. Drift, DRIFT, is a horrible Mary-Sue sin against god created by Shane McCarthy the Anti-Christ, but Rung is perfectly fine character writing.

It is less an issue with Roberts or Rung and more an issue with the fans.

I am planning to see a similar dynamic with Hama's Joe book, as he brings back Serpentor. (When DDP brought back Serpentor it was a crime against everything "GI Joe" stood for. But, when Hama does, the fans are more than likely going to be okay with it.)

subtitled: "Fans. Christ, what a bunch of assholes!"

[138 Scourge]

The Functionalists were finally destroyed when they captured a new Transformer named Goatsetron. They forced him to transform. And discovered his altmode, to their regret. The last known message from the Functionalists was "Christ, what an asshole!"

[Sparky Prime]

Did you just skip over it every time "Every shape serves a purpose" came up? That's the basis of the whole Functionalist philosophy. When it was initially introduced, that's what Rung's altmode was challenging. By being a shape that didn't serve a purpose, it was a direct challenge to that dogma. Now that we know his shape DOES serve a purpose, it serves to REINFORCE that point.

I haven't skipped over anything. Yes, the Functionalist catch phase is "every shape serves a purpose", but that's not the whole basis of their philosophy. Why does every shape serve a purpose? It's because they believe the function of the altmode defines a Cybertronian's role in society, and nothing else matters. Roberts' point, however, is that the Transformers have their own personal interests and goals, and thus the altmode function shouldn't limit them to that specific function and role in society. It doesn't reinforce the Functionalists point just because they figured out one more Transformers function that had previously eluded them.

Except that, as of now, Rung's ENTIRE ROLE in the comic is defined around discovering what the purpose of his altmode is and how it will impact the story.

Except that was the Rung of an alternate timeline. The Rung of the main timeline still hasn't got a clue what his function is. I'm sure it'll play into events of the book eventually (we've seen how long term Roberts can make elements of this book), but it's hardly his entire role in the comic now.

They don't have to let everyone else use the technology, but surely they shouldn't have a problem using it on Rung to eliminate his offending altmode and be done with the whole problem.

Why should Rung be the exception to their rule? Wouldn't that just reinforce the Anti-Functionalist movement by forcing him to conform with something they approve of?

In just this latest arc it's been:

Megatron: The Functionalists' focus on altmodes makes them a bunch of assholes.

Enforcer: Ambus what do you transform into? I'm gonna force you to transform in front of me.
Ambus: Christ what an asshole.

Nightbeat: The Decepticons are going to round everyone up and force them to transform.
Quark: Christ what a bunch of assholes.

Which now gets flipped into:

Readers: What does Rung transform into?
Roberts: Christ what a bunch of assholes.

Maybe you should quote the actual dialog from the book instead of making up how you want it to read, because that's not what any of them said. Megatron's point was that they should be allowed to pursue their own interests, free from the oppression forced on them based on function. Ambus' altmode exempt card was out of date so the Enforcer needed to verify his function. Quark was afraid the Decepticons would KILL anyone that didn't have a working class altmode, and Nightbeat thought he was being overly paranoid. And Roberts made Rung's altmode a mystery to purposefully build up and reveal what it is and does eventually.