Tag: tailgate

mllemusketeer:

darklordofcutlets:

So there’s a thing I noticed in MTMTE which I really like and which moves me deeply.

In this comic, the acts of greatest bravery are committed by two biggest cowards in the whole story: one from the Autobot side, one from the Decepticon. I’m talking about Tailgate and Fulcrum, of course.

First, there’s Tailgate. A little janitor bot who’s technically two weeks old in the beginning of the story; weak, jumpy, naive, full of insecurities and issues. Who missed six million of years of war and woke up in a completely unfamiliar world, only to learn that he is sick and slowly dying. 

And this panicky, shy bot takes down the insane Chief Justice Tyrest – all to protect his friends. Using the symptoms of his illness to his advantage. It is easier for somebody like Rodimus or Cyclonus to be brave; they are warriors, they’ve seen many horrors in their lives, they are pretty strong and can take care of themselves. But Tailgate only heard of the war in stories; Tailgate is a very young civilian with major fears and crushed hopes; and he finds it in himself to use the fact that he’s dying to his friends’ benefit. To fight the most terrifying person he’s seen. This is what true strenght is. 

And on the Decepticon side we have Fulcrum. And let me tell you this: I still think that his act in Issue 8 was the single bravest, most heroic and badass thing in the whole series – not to mention it was deeply touching and sad. 

Fulcrum is a technician who was prosecuted for cowardice on the battlefield. He wad reformatted into K-class, meaning that he became a kamikaze programmed to transform into a bomb when he jumps from a height. Which he – the only one of all K-class – didn’t do because he was so afraid that fear paralyzed him during the jump. He meets the Scavengers – a ragtag group of misfits who are known to be “the worst Decepticons ever” – and who instantly take him in.

The DJD come after them – a squad of fanatics whose job is to torture and murder all traitors to Decepticon cause. You know, the DJD. Whose very names cause every Decepticon nightmares.

And Fulcrum – the coward, the loser, the one plagued by fear – stands up to the DJD. He calls them out on every horrible thing they did and attempts to sacrifice his life to get rid of the DJD and protect his newfound teammates: he jumps off the cliff. His attempt failed and, fortunately, he survives, but it’s the act that matters – and it was amazing. 

So… I like these two plotlines very much. And I like what they mean: that no matter how much you fear, how weak or insignificant you deem yoursef – if you have something dear to protect, you can be a hero. 

Yes yes yes this a thousand times yes.