IDW - Monstrosity #1

Story by: Chris Metzen & Flint Dille

Art by: Livio Ramondelli 

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: John Barber

Plot

In Kaon, the Dynobots, led by Grimlock lead a raid on some guys expecting a large payload from them, but ending up with nearly nothing. Afterwards they head to Swindle's business and pummels him for giving them bad information, and reveal that they need to get off Cybertron as they fear what'll happen if they lose control of themselves.

Inside Metroplex in Iacon, Optimus Prime hosts the inaugural meeting of the Grand Convocation (basically a replacement for the Senate). During the meeting Dai Atlas, thinking Optimus is no better than Zeta, keeps arguing with him on his policies etc, but stays out of respect for the Matrix inside of Optimus.

Meanwhile, in Deep Space Scorponok, having taken command of the Decepticons after Megatron's defeat at Optimus' hand in Autocracy, is flying Astrotrain towards the Planet Junkion, where he dumps Megatron, intending for him to die humiliated (instead of just martyring him or just killing a weakened leader).

Back on Cybetron Optimus returns to his chambers where he is greeted by Alpha Trion and congratulates him on his joining of the factions with the Convocation and assures him that only he himself can work out if he's truly worthy of his leadership or not (as he was uncertain after Dai Atlas' screaming.

Megatron plummets to Junkion, and is immediately attacked by the Junkions.

At the Rust Bucket bar on Cybertron the Dynobots take on a high profile job, to try and get the supplies to leave Cybertron.

On Junkion Megatron tears through the Junkions with some ease, but eventually collapses due to his injuries. On Cybertron, the Dynobots attack the Toraxxis Mega-Refinery for their prize, and encounter "minimal resistance". At Kolkular Scorponok official takes command of the Decepticons and all the troops seem fine with that except the Terrorcons who intend to head to Junkion to kill Megatron themselves and then go after Scorponok.

Speaking of Junkion, Megatron manages to wake up, and starts cannibalizing the Junkion's parts to repair his damaged body, then continues his journey across the planet, looking for a way to leave.

The Dinobots take the refinery, and start pumping the fuel, but Slag has and argument with Grimlock and leaves the team.

On Junkion again, Megatron comes across a crashed spiral ship and finds a long lost survivor, a Quintesson called Pentius whose been trapped there for a long time, and tells Megatron that to survive on this world he must himself become monstrous.

At Kolkular, Scorponok and Starscream are discussing things about leadership when an alarm comes in from the refinery, and they send out a team to investigate.

Meanwhile, at the sparring arena in Metroplex Optimus has asked Dai Atlas to come see him so they can work through some of their issues, and Optimus warns him that the Decepticons may consider his, and his follower's pacifistic ways as a weakness...to which Dai Atlas slices up two sparring droids with ease, and corrects him that he's not a pacifist, he's a patriot for the old ways.

On Junkion Megatron talks with Pentius, and learns that sometimes ships land on the planet for supplies etc, and frees him saying that he needs a guide on this planet, and Pentius will be his prisoner for the time being and plans to take one of the ships to return home.

Back in Toraxxis, the Dinobots are interrupted by the Seekers who attack them, Slag returns to the team during the battle and takes out Thrust and Dirge with ease. Scorponok joins the fight and mocks them that the Dinobots cant possibly fight them all off in their conditions, to which Grimlock agrees, and reveals that he set off an alarm for help, revealing Sky Lynx heading towards them in the sky!

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck

Grimlock

Slag

Snarl

Sludge

Swoop

Bumblebee - Car

Metroplex - City

Sky Lynx

Alpha Trion

Zeta Prime (Mentioned) Dead

Decepticon

Megatron Exiled to Junkion

Scorponok

Starscream - Jet

Swindle - Van

Astrotrain - Space Shuttle

Skywarp - Jet

Thundercracker - Jet

Tankor - Large Jet

Blitzwing - Jet

Ramjet - Jet

Dirge - Jet Injured by Slag

Thrust - Jet Injured by Slag

Hun-Gar - Two Headed Monster

Sinnertwin - Two Headed Monster

Cutthroat - Winged Monster

Rippersnapper - Shark Monster

Blot - Bi-Pedal Monster

Soundwave

Shockwave

Runamuck

Runabout

Bonecrusher

Rumble

Grand Convocation

Dai Atlas

Bulkhead

Traachon

Slinger

Xaaron

Tomaandi

Other

Pentius

Nightshift - Car Injured by Dynobots

Strongbox - Truck Injured by Dynobots

Wreck-Gar

Junkions

Sparring Drones

Sentry Drone Commander Killed by Grimlock

Circle of Light (Mentioned)

Engineering Guild (Mentioned)

Notes

• This is the collected version of issue 1-3 of the digital comic series (unlike how Autocracy made me wait for the Trade edition...)
• Wow the Dinobots sure are getting around a lot in comics lately aren't they? They're main characters in Regeneration One, Robots in Disguise, Beast Hunters AND here!!
• Swindle seems to have been repaired and back to running a business despite his injuries in Autocracy
• Bulkhead appears here in his Prime series body. His Animated series vehicle mode was previously seen in Spotlight Blurr as Blurr's limo, maybe it's the same guy?
• OH WHY?! They homage the Astrotrain scene from the 80's movie AGAIN!!!
• Megatron's new look on Junkion somewhat resembles his DOTM body, with it's clawed hands, capeand slightly demented facial features
• Dai Atlas' attitude towards Optimus COULD also be because of Optimus' former friendship with Shockwave, who attacked and turned against Dai Atlas too.