IDW - Transformers #51

Title: All Hail Optimus Part 2: Edge of the Earth

Written by: John Barber

Art by: Andrew Griffith

Colours by: Josh Perez, Josh Burcham, John-Paul Bove

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Plot

The Autobots are travelling around the Earth, helping the humans out with their problems, whether they want their help or not.

On the Skyroller, Optimus has another vision, where Soundwave, Prowl, Starscream and the Mistress of Flame all tell him he has done wrong and chastise him. Optimus suddenly wakes up to find Aileron watching over him. Optimus apologizes to her for Sterling's death, but Aileron says that they knew what they were going into when they joined them.

Elsewhere, Spike is visiting his mother, where she is panicking over Optimus appearing on the TV, and Spike reassures her that he'll not let him hurt the Earth. Jones picks Spike up in a Skywatch jet and they head out on their mission.

At the White House, Faireborn and the President are looking through footage of the Autobots performing good deeds, and wonder if they are actually just trying to be helpful, but the President also wonders how long it'll take before they become violent.

Back on the Skyroller, Optimus greets Tracksand asks him if he can contact his brother, Needlenose, on the Decepticon's commune, but Sunstreaker argues that they don't need the Decepticon's help, since he still blames them for what happened to the Ark, and Sunstreaker. Aileron gets annoyed and points out that the Humans are worse than the Decepticons, since they're aliens and attacked them too, even killing Sterling. Optimus tries to calm her down, but she leaves the shuttle, and heads out on her own...

The Skywatch team reach Thundercracker's old "house" where they expect to find the Autobots hiding, but instead they find the place abandoned, except for it being plastered with the words "We are here to help" everywhere.

They President and Faireborn are informed of this, and they wonder if this is all true, and they aren't trying to conquer the planet, like last time. After a long discussion Aileron lands outside the White House and demands to see the President, and wants her to surrender to her and the Autobots.

The Thrust and Ramjet drones attack Aileron, who tries to evade them but is rescued by Optimus and Sunstreaker, who have been following her.

Optimus points out to Aileron that the humans are justified in their fear of the Autobots, since they, along with the Decepticons have killed countless numbers of their people, and he tries to resolve the conflict with words, rather than violence.

However, the humans aren't listening, and Faireborn, under pressure from the President, allows usage of the satellite cannons again, and manages to sever Optimus' left arm off. She tries for a final killing blow, but is stopped by Victorion, who followed Optimus, deflecting the laser away.

Victorion uses her powers to levitate the Autobots and Aileron, and shield them from the humans. Spike has been watching all of this, and points out Optimus' fatal flaw, he has the power to kill them, but he WON'T!

Victorion takes them back to the Skyroller, where the crew are reunited, upon returning, Optimus forgoes having his arm repaired, and does something he's been meaning to do for a while... He opens a conference call with Starscream, Soundwave and the Mistress of Flame, as his decisions on Earth have affected all of them too....

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Alpha Trion - Tumbler

Arcee - Sports Car

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Jetfire - Fighter Jet

Jazz - Sports Car

Sky Lynx - Space Shuttle

Pyra Magna - Emergency Vehicle

Skyburst - Helicopter

Stormclash - Helicopter

Dustup - Sports Car

Jumpstream - Sports Car

Rust Dust - Motorcycle (Only part of Victorion)

Victorion - Torchbearer Gestalt

Sunstreaker - Sports Car

Tracks - Sports Car

Thundercracker - Fighter Jet

Cosmos - Orbiter

Sideswipe - Sports Car In Medical Tube

Silverbolt - Passenger Jet

Firelight - Fighter Jet

Air Raid - Fighter Jet

Skydive - Fighter Jet

Alpha Bravo - Rescue Helicopter

Powerglide - A10 Thunderbolt

Prowl - Police Vehicle (Dream Only)

Wheeljack - Race Car (Mentioned)

Megatron - Tank (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Soundwave - Personnel Carrier

Needlenose - Fighter Jet (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Bob the Insecticon

D.O.C.

Primus (Mentioned)

Camien

Mistress of Flame

Aileron - Space Ship

Sterling - Car (Mentioned) Dead

Human

US President

Marissa Faireborn

Ayana Jones

Spike Witwicky

Mrs Witwicky

Zilong Qian

Random Humans

John Powell (Footage) Killed by Jazz

Sanjay Bharwanay (Mentioned)

General Witwicky (Mentioned) Dead

Spike's Sister (Mentioned)

Other

Ramjet Drones - Jets

Thrust Drones - Jets

Buster the Dog

Notes

• Hey look! The Aerialbots have finally split into their individual parts!
• Also, look at that! Powerglide is seen too, I don't think he's even been seen as PART of Superion since before their combination!
• As an opposite though, Rust Dust has STILL only been shown as part of Victorion, and not individually.
• In Optimus' dream he's shown with a missing arm. This arm is the opposite one to that which gets severed at the end of this issue.
• Suitably the Mistress of Flame is shown to be on fire in the dream!
• Despite his prominence on the front cover, Prowl only appears in one frame of a dream sequence in this issue.
• It's possibly a coincidence, but Aileron was right near Optimus during both of his visions so far...wonder if this means anything?
• Spike's real name is revealed to be "Stevie".
• Despite her seeming to be understanding of Sterling's death last issue, Aileron does suddenly go on a "kill all humans" trip without any real provocation.
• Also, Sunstreaker defending the humans as not all being bad is kind of ironic, since the last time he spent a fair bit of time on Earth, he basically caused the planet to be conquered by the Decepticons, and wanted them all dead.
• A panel from the Costa ongoing series is shown on screen in this comic, showing Jazz in his old character model and art style etc.
• The president can't tell that Aileron is a female. This either means Aileron has a non-stereotypical female voice, or the president is a bit of a dick.
• Victorion's gravity-control powers are shown to also be able to bend light to allow her and others to be "invisible" and also to deflect laser beams.
• Why do the Chinese still have those satellites in orbit? I thought Aileron destroyed them all last issue?
• The previous Earth team's Autobots have been repaired between the last issue and now, except for Sideswipe, because no one likes him.
• Since this is set after the Autobots have left Thundercracker's old "house" this means it's after the Autobots have received the Lost Lighter's last wills, since they don't seem too bothered about it here, I'm guessing they'll be MOSTLY fine.