Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye #33 – Review

By: James Roberts (writer), Alex Milne (art), Joana Lafuente (colors)

The Story: The quantum crew must stop the quantum engines from spewing quantum foam before it causes a quantum explosion.

…Quantum.

The Review: The past six issues of Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye have seen nonstop surprises and brilliant, mind-bending ideas introduced one after another. This issue, while technically the climax of the season’s second arc, serves as a conclusion to most of these plot points, leaving everything tied up nicely and the reader’s mind – and heart – sufficiently blown.

One strength that James Roberts has brought to the title of late is the self-contained nature of the stories. While that may sound somewhat odd given that nearly everything in this issue references a past adventure, everything you need to solve the mysteries at hand is contained within these twenty pages. Even bearing a bold “Part 2” on its title page, this issue’s essential functions are separate from its predecessor’s. What that means for this issue is that, even though it’s deeply connected to past stories, there’s a full narrative arc in this issue, a new problem to be solved and complications arising from the proposed solution. While it’s possible that the benefit of this approach will be mitigated in trade, as a single issue, it does a lot for the series.

While I’ve just gone on at some length about the merits of this issue’s individuality, I can’t deny that it also reaps the rewards of thirty-three issues of character work. While much of the cast is missing, Roberts has made MTMTE a true ensemble book and the feeling that you know the whole crew is put to spectacular use. Megatron says it best. “Such a fuss,” Ravage mutters, “Is he important?” “Come now, Ravage. Everyone’s important these days.” And he’s right. Though there are favorites even among the handful of survivors, the knowledge that death, or worse, is a very real possibility gives this issue an edge above its fellows, and certainly above most other comics series out there. In fact, the premise of this issue seemingly requires a tragedy, but I’ll not say more.

The plot structure, stripped down, is remarkably simple, amounting really to little more than a protracted brainstorming* session, but the naturalistic manner in which Roberts introduces new concepts and the precision timing with which he does so will keep you on the edge of your seat. That said, the story does string the reader along with the fear and excitement of a particularly dramatic reveal that is quickly forced to the sidelines.

Character-wise, the standouts are clearly Skids, Megatron, and Rewind. Though he doesn’t get a great chance to demonstrate his personality, Rewind is fascinating for the effect he has on others. There’s a lovely sense, especially in the early pages, of the crew walking on eggshells around him, afraid to do something wrong and lose him again or, worse, reveal the truth about their version of him and Chromedome.

It’s also interesting to see Megatron really struggling with his Autobot peers and their philosophy, especially with Ravage at his side. This sets Skids, already our default leader of the group, up for one of the issue’s best moments, as he forces Megatron to stare down what it means to be an Autobot. The moment works not only because of the eloquent, believable writing Roberts gifts Skids but because of the sincerity we’ve seen in Megatron’s transformation from warlord to Byronic hero. Becoming someone new, someone better, will always be hard. So often we go through life trusting our instincts and changing those can be even more difficult than changing our minds. If that sounds overly philosophical, I assure you that it’s not. Somehow this enormous advertisement for awesome robots is one of the most considered and genuine examinations of what it means to change* on the stands.

Indeed, Roberts aims straight for the heart this issue. Each of the epilogues will almost certainly draw a response out of you, even if you see them coming, and if Megatron’s last line before the epilogues doesn’t get you I can only assume that you haven’t been reading this series.

Alex Milne’s art is lovely, as ever. While the quality of the linework itself is ‘merely’ the series standard, this issue stands on it’s subtle and effective storytelling. Use of negative space and unobtrusively dramatic compositions combine to communicate the beats of the issue quickly and completely. It’s actually very impressive how much Milne walks the line of calling upon simple universal gestures – finger pointing, head hanging, crushing something in anger, etc. – without descending into the generic. Look no further than the first epilogue for proof that you are not immune to the power of familiar tropes.

While it’s perhaps less than the average issue of MTMTE, there’s also a number of great expressions peppered throughout the issue. Getaway’s frustration or Nautica’s absolute joy in figuring out the mystery add a level of character above the dialogue that helps this comic remain one of the most personal and relatable reads on my pull list month after month.

Joana Lafuente also deserves a quick shoutout. The colors of Swerve’s Bar or the soft light of space or, especially, Rewind’s flashbacks are simply beautiful. Lafuente makes expert use of general palettes for each location and the resulting mood buoys the title considerably.

The Conclusion: As I said, over the last few issues Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye has aimed higher and higher, introducing bigger threats and wilder ideas issue after issue. It would have been pretty much impossible for issue #33 to live up to that pedigree while simultaneously drawing all of those divergent threads together. In fact, it’s a feat in itself that it all comes together at all. Nevertheless, James Roberts and Alex Milne do bring it to a natural conclusion, delivering the sweet cathartic satisfaction of a well-crafted ending and firing straight into the heart as they do so.

MTMTE #33 lacks some of the excitement of previous issues and invests a little heavily in it’s shocking reveal, however it’s hard to deny that it’s an affecting and beautifully written comic.

Grade: B+

A Thought:

• While I wish we could have had more time to get reacquainted with Rewind, it’s actually pretty amazing he’s not more incoherent, surviving a DJD raid only to come face to face with Autobot Megatron!
• I think you’re funny, Nautica…

*HA!