#tfsb

For those who havent read TF Skybound: these are from issues 12 and 21 respectively.

The parallels here

The composition

The everything

These are two separate instances of Optimus pointing his gun at something and another character wanting him to stop; they are so drastically different while being the exact fucking same tonally. In issue 12 its Optimus' choice to destroy all of that energon, to "forsake cybertron" for earth, to fire that cannon. In issue 21 is megatron's influence that gets optimus to switch from shooting starscream, to almost shooting jazz. Which is even wildier considering its his choice in issue 12 and it looks like he has no choice. Its an extremely hard decision for optimus and he does it anyway which may also be why he looks like that, but my point stands from either angle. In issue 21 it isn't his decision to swap targets.

The tone is the exact same in both of these pannels. The anxiety inducing wait of whats about to be a devastating loss. That moment right before it all happens. The moment of realization of what is happen, and knowing there is nothing else to be done. It will happen. This is exicuted perfectly by the art. The composition and the style of the pannel from 21 being the exact same as it is during the unforgettable one in 12 makes this connection here really solid. This style with the background removed and heavily contrasted black shading with specks of black around it is so rarely used that it really sticks out when it does show up. That makes this tonal connection I'm talking about even stronger.

Megtron's arm has slowly been influencing Optimus, mostly seen when he kills Shockwave. According to Elita, (at some point during 7-12 idr exactly) Optimus used to be a lot more brutal during the war! Megatron's arm I believe is tapping into those emotional outbursts that Optimus is having and influencing him to take the more brutal path. In issue 21 it just straight up takes control to take out another autobot instead. With Megatron being fully back up and functional I'd fully believe if he was somehow connected to Optimus through him having that arm. His ability to control others and their actions while they wield him is very extremely real and could definitely extend to this situation. It could have even helped power up Megatron from his miserable fight at the military headquarters where he got captured at the beginning of his stay on earth. Could explain how he's already powerful enough to get back to kicking the shit out of Starscream too.

Im mostly just rambling here I can't lie... I just NEEDED to get my base thoughts out about this right this second no more proofreading.

Raz definitely tries to cheer up Optimus. He helps bury the deer, give it a nice funeral and even talk about a few mistakes he made in the past. Also I definitely see Raz showing him the Iron Giant movie afterwards.