Via Adventures in Poor Taste, we have a look at the full sized preview for Lost Light issue 23. The finale of Lost Light continues, drawing together plot threads from six years of comics to set the stage for the grand finale. It is part 5 of Crucible – and be warned, if you’ve not read Lost Light 22, this one spoils (and then goes a way to explaining) the shocking last page of Lost Light 22.
If you don’t mind spoilers, read on to check out the preview!
Sagitta
Just having read LL 23 twice…all I can give in response atm is…
justiceg
So having read LL 23, I can confirm that
a) at least according to LL, the images are all taken from the issue released tomorrow
b) those spoilers for 24+25 might be a big stretch.
That being said, I've seen spoilers that looked too bizarre to be legitimate before, so we'll see what happens when issue 24 comes out. I certainly hope it's better than what was postulated!
Fishsticks
Guiding Hand combiner? Aw yeah.
justiceg
I know!! Man I hope so. I'll know once I buy LL tonight.
Stryyder
Supposedly it was confirmed that these spoilers were inaccurate and all the images used were just taken from the issues releasing tomorrow, not any of the future issues.
Sagitta
Hmm. Apparently going back "old school"…meaning cartoon and comic spin-offs just to support the toyline. Liked it better With MtMtE/LL where the characters and the story came first. Otherwise we really would have had a Rung (Transformer/Action Figure) by now.
Come to thing of it…due to his design would have made nice for a pen. Some crossover geek may have even had Rung transform into Dr. Who's screwdriver for all we know…
GoLion
I was right about something for once? YAS!!
Sagitta
To be fair even in the "reveal" as Rung explained to Megatron there wasn't any time for any edit if there was any hope warn him and the others of Froid & Sundar through the recorded conversation Rung had made. While it -could- be taken as someone else "unmasking" Rung…Rung was the one who did so himself for the sake of his shipmates.
As far as the impact of Rung informing his patients of his license being revoked all those years ago and he had been running an illegitimate practice ever since, strictly speaking of course, and how -they- responded to the news that wasn't really explored (given what occurred within the following arc.)
Either way whether it was arrogance which drove him to overlook the original ruling against his practice, or his stepping down from it centuries later, or not shouldn't factor in should it? He did what he did. He kept the ruling a secret until he couldn't, for the same reason he stepped down…for the sake of others. And sometimes for himself. Did he do things in the right or correct way? Or for the right reasons or motives? I don't think so either. But then who prefers characters in a story who are perfect?
Digilaut
Well, if it’s true the endgame got leaked (and the leaked has been persistent enough to continue leaking in other places even after the original thread got deleted) I’m off TFW.
It’s just too dangerous and somebody will accidentally spoil something out if carelessness. Thanks for the ride and I’ll see you after the conclusion!
justiceg
FYI, there were *massive* spoilers just posted into the comics forum that effectively spoil the next *three issues* of Lost Light, the conclusion of Unicron and Optimus Prime, and in fact included posted a couple of images from all of the comics in question. (Also – do not click that link unless you are also wanting to read the spoilers for Optimus and Unicorn as well).
If you want to be spoiled for LL, open the tag below. I saved the images in question when they were posted so I know they're legit. Don't ask me to explain any more than what was posted though, because I don't know and am just going off of what was posted + the images.
Warning: huge spoilers, and I kind of regret reading them now.
Also, I don't think this is a spoiler, but the revised TF comic line in Jan 2019 according to this is
a) an Aligned comic tying in with the toyline
b) a Cyberverse comic
A bit underwhelming for me personally. I can see why most of the creative teams currently involved with the TFs aren't coming back.
Focksbot
I crashed pretty hard toward the end of MTMTE as well, and found the early LL issues to be the nadir of the whole series – up until the Mutineers arc, when it found its feet. I'll admit I probably adjusted my expectations downward in order to get to a point where I was really enjoying the series again, but I also think that prior to that I had let myself get overly tuned in to the things I found disappointing. On top of that, let's face it – it's much easier to write a compelling beginning than a successful middle and end. Plenty of longform episodic stories have ended up foundering in some way. I followed Fables right up until the last two books, and by that point it had been getting steadily worse for about 15 volumes, to the point where I will likely never read, let alone buy, the final parts, despite collecting enough trade paperbacks to fill a whole shelf. Lost Light could have followed suit; instead, it's pulled up in a very heartening, enjoyable way.
So I guess what I'm saying is I've found it useful to adjust my perspective away from fetishising (perhaps an overly strong word) the first season of MTMTE and move to accepting the saga as a whole, and Roberts as a flawed but fascinating writer. I doubt we'll ever get a story like this again – the mix of influences and ideas is completely unique – and at the end of the day, I think that's more valuable than reliably watertight storytelling.
NanakoPreame
This. You can't have earth issues mix in with giant space robots who have ability to change into different things and expect it to go smoothly.
GoLion
The book is… not moving along like it did in the earlier days. It's still a DAMN fantastic book. And Petrichor is still, FAR AND AWAY, the best representative of a transwoman in a comic pretty much ever. Unlike a certain someone that has pretty much amounted to fuck all in the grand scheme of the comic she was introduced.
The only thing I'll say about this book as far as social commentary: Transformers is probably not the best place to showcase social issues. It just doesn't work. There are a number of books out right now that do a MUCH better job of advancing progressive ideals. Saga being one of them.
raindance773
It can be loved and hated, but the object of those feelings should be the art, not the other observers. There is no accounting for taste, but there must be some level of civility.
Chiller
My 2cents to all these arguments.
OC Characters:
Primus, Impactor, Orion Pax were all OC characters back in the day.
You could even argue that most of the movie cast (bar Magnus) were OC characters, as they had been specifically written for the story, then the toys were designed.
The WORST thing a piece of art can be is for people to have no opinion over it. Art should always cause discussion otherwise what is the point. Art should be loved and hated at the same time.
samisham
Really? I must have misremembered. But either way, he still does an arrogantly bad job of honouring their memory and only resigns as the LL's psychiatrist after his crimes were revealed by someone else. leading the others, understandably so, to feel betrayed and like he violated their trust.
Murasame
Looking forward to this issue.
Sagitta
Actually, from Froid "quoting (Rung), quoting the ruling" listed in issue 48 was "Patients aren't friends". Which doesn't even imply romance of any sort. Just a basic friendship. Which would explain why Rung took in and helped others with their issues but shied away with opening up himself. (Though he eventually did with Nightbeat during the first LL arc.)
Not to mention Rung's startled reaction when Whirl openly claimed Rung as a friend of his while he and Rung were both being held hostage by a rather disturbed ex-prison warden/POW way back in issue 6