A comiXologist Recommends (the book that everyone in the office is always screaming about)
Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye #50, @idwcomics
Story by James Roberts
Art by Alex Milne and Brendan Cahill
Colors by Joana Lafuente, Priscilla Tramontano, and John-Paul Bove
It’s not often these days that we get the opportunity to see a comic reach its fiftieth issue, and that MTMTE has done so is a testament to its quality. We’ve followed Rodimus and friends (and not-friends) on their quest to find the Knights of Cybertron (please pretend that text has been Blingee’d) and the many, many…many distractions they’ve faced along the way. Between spark-eaters, mad doctors, monsters in the basement, Megatron Himself joining the crew, a chase sequence through time(complete with Back to the Future references), and all of the other abundant deterrents the crew of the Lost Light have confronted, surely they’ve come so far in their adventure?
…Nah.
However, #50 marks a huge change in the status quo of MTMTE as we know it. “How Bright Their Frail Deeds”, the first story in this issue, takes a sharp turn as things get dire for Team Rodimus. The storytelling is paced exquisitely and, paired with Milne’s beautiful artwork, creates an almost cinematic experience while reading. Each page will have the reader on the edge of their seat wondering what more could possibly go wrong for our heroes.
The second installation, “No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases”, is a short character piece focusing on the memories the crew (and we, the readers) have made on their journey. Cahill’s art in this story really strengthens the blow the reader feel with his grasp on subtle body language and emotion. The story is poignant and sweet and funny, and you will need tissues.
MTMTE #50 is a hallmark in the series, and only Roberts knows where it will go from here. Will it break our hearts? Probably. But I’ve always enjoyed suffering the slow burn of a good story. I mean, as Swerve so eloquently puts it, “Who wants closure? Let’s really stretch this sucker out.”
ComiXologist Prime is a Digital Editor at ComiXology and really, who is that pseudonym kidding?
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