IDW - Beast Wars #12

Title: Maximals Strike Back, Part 3

Written by: Erik Burnham

Art by: Josh Burcham

Letters by: Jake M. Wood

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Editor: Jazmine Joyner

Supervising Editor: David Mariotte

Plot

The Maximals and Predacons continue their fights inside and out of the Darksyde.

Nyx manages to disable the Transwarp engine, and also knock out Tarantulas. Rattrap calls her for help when Megatron's room locks itself up, with him on the inside, having stolen the Golden Disk.

Outside, Cheetor manages to knock out Scorponok and handles Blackarachnia.

Skold, angry that the Maximals brought Razorbeast here, leading to his death, fights with Rhinox, who refuses to fight back, seeing that she is upset.

Dinobot gets attacked by Waspinator, wanting revenge for Terrorsaur's death, but Dinobot blasts him away.

Optimus and Megatron continue their battle, but when Nyx requests assistance in freeing Rattrap, he gives up on the rise, and finishes off Megatron, leaving him beaten down on the ground in shock.

Blackarachnia abandons the battle seeing her leader was defeated, and Skold gives up on her one sided fight with Rhinox...

Inside the ship, Optimus manages to free Rattrap, and they, aloh with Nyx, try leavib this ship, only to encounter a forcefield.

Megatron gloats that he'll keep them there until he can be repaired in a CR Chamber, so he can kill them all.

Unfortunately for him though, Optimus threatens to destroy the disk if he doesn't let them go, and without their Transwarp drive they can't even leave the planet. 

Megatron is forced to let them go, but swears to not rest now until Optimus is dead...

The Maximals head into the shuttle, where Rattrap reveals he made a copy of the contents of the disk, so they can study it too.

Later, Tarantulas has collected Terrorsaur's corpse, and starts experimenting on it...

Characters

Maximal

Optimus Primal - Gorilla

Rhinox - Rhino

Dinobot - Velociraptor

Cheetor - Cheetah

Rattrap - Rat

Nyx - Bat

Razorbeast - Wild Boar (Mentioned) Dead

Maximal Command (Mentioned)

Predacon

Megatron - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Tarantulas - Tarantula

Blackarachnia - Black Widow Spider

Scorponok - Scorpion

Waspinator - Wasp

Skold - Alligator Snapping Turtle

Terrorsaur - Pteranodon Dead, Corpse being Experimented on

Rhinox's Old Friends (Mentioned) Some Dead

Other

"The Ones Before" (Mentioned)

Muhammad Ali (Mentioned)

Notes

• The roll call page this issue has been updated with crosses over the Terrorsaur and Razorbeast, due to their deaths last issue.
• Megatron's beast mode head gets stripped of its artificial skin, revealing a head based on Animated Grimlock's
• Blackarachnia  comments that she may have to switch allegiances after Megatron lost to Optimus. Her switching sides was one of her major plot lines in the original Beast Wars cartoon.
• Rhinox references that he had friends amongst the Predacons back on Cybertron, including some he even loved. We previously have heard from him that not all Predacons are evil, and that the two factions have had working relationships for centuries. It's even possible that he was the one to have that Predacon transmission that was briefly mentioned early in the series.
• Megatron had a forcefield generator set up inside the Darksyde, inspired by the Maximals using theirs to keep them at bay earlier.
• Rattrap is shown to have made a copy of the Golden Disk for them to analyse. This must have happened when he lingered in Megatron's room after retrieving it.
• Tarantulas previously told Terrorsaur that he wanted him to stay in one piece, so he had more parts for his experiments. My guess would be that we'll see something like his Transmetal form come from these experiments.
• Terrorsaur's spark isn't seen with his body during the end scene, implying it either was taken (possibly by the Vok) or just simply extinguished without a body to house it.

IDW - Transformers #39

Title: Darkness, Once Gazed Upon, Part Three

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Andrew Lee Griffith

Colours by: John-Paul Bove

Letters by: Nathan Widick

Editor: David Mariotte

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: Tom Waltz

Plot

Smokescreen tries to get Swindle to arm the unarmed members of their team, Magnus, Elita and Bumblebee, but the bar owner insists he doesn't have any weapons in his bar 

Suddenly, the wall blows in, with Sixshot leading a crew of Decepticons inside, and orders them to kill everyone except Magnus, as Megatron wants him alive...

In the basement, Headlock is trying to make it to the hidden tunnels before the fight can start, when he finds "Ruckus" exploring, interested in what is inside one of the Immersion Chambers.

During the battle, Smokescreen finds Swindle's secret weapons cache, and arms himself with as much as he can carry, rejoining the battle in full force.

Elsewhere in Iacon, Cyclonus finds "Provoke" leaving the medical center, and confronts her, pointing out her recent contradictions and odd behaviour, forcing her to reveal her true identity as Exarchon, intending to take his body as a replacement. After a short battle, Cyclonus tears out her spark, and destroys it, realising that Ruckus is likely to also be an Exarchon host, he knows what needs to be done...

Meanwhile, "Flatline" has made his way to Shockwave's secret base, where he is repairing Skywarp from his recent injuries caused by Sky Lynx, and reveals his identity as Exarchon to his former follower...intending to finish their old mission.

After a hard battle, the Autobots manage to escape from Swindle's bar, but Swindle as his staff are left behind. In the underground tunnels, the Autobots, plus Bumblebee and Elita, regroup, but they know they're unlikely to get back to Crystal City before the Decepticons attack the city to try and take down the Autobot army.

In the aftermath of the battle, the bar is destroyed, and Sixshot warns the owner to stay in line from now on, or this will be the least of his troubles.

Swindle starts to complain about his lot on life now, when he notices Ruckus' corpse in the basement. Suddenly Deathsaurus, now infested by Exarchon, bursts through the remains of the roof, and heads into the skies, intending to crush Cybertron under his feet again, and to keep it crushed this time....

Characters

Autobot

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport

Chromia - Car

Windblade - VTOL Jet

Arcee - Car

Smokescreen - Car

Decepticon

Sixshot - Car/Jet/Tank/Gun/Winged Beast 

Shockwave - Flying Artillery

Ravage - Cassette

Catgut

Treadshot

Gutcruncher

Cindersaur - Lizard Monster

Flamefeather - Bird Monster

Jolt - Car

Scatterspike - Van

Green/Orange Security Guard Killed by "Provoke"

Megatron - Tank (Mentioned)

Three-fold Spark

Flatline/Exarchon - Van

Provoke/Exarchon - Big Wheeled Vehicle Killed by Cyclonus

Ruckus/Exarchon - Buggy Killed Self to Infest Deathsaurus

Deathsaurus/Exarchon - Dragon

Other Cybertronian

Swindle - Van

Trickdiamond - Car

Roughstuff - Truck Joins Decepticons

Headlock - Forklift

Bumblebee - Winged Hovercraft

Elita-1 - Car

Cyclonus - Jet

Skywarp - Jet Under Repairs from Shockwave

Gridlock (Ghost)

Highfire (Ghost)

Grudge (Ghost)

Paragon (Ghost)

Provoke (Ghost)

Notes

• Roughstuff is shown switching sides to the Decepticons here, confirming that the Devepticon badge he had a couple issues ago was just a mistake.
• Flatline is confirmed to have been taken over by Exarchon this issue, after being attacked by the ancient evil in issue 36 
• Following her physical death, Provoke returns to being one of Cyclonus' ghosts again
• Deathsaurus was shown to be in the immersion chambers previously in the series, having decided to live out his days killing Cliffjumper in there...wonder if Exarchon will have an urge to kill Cliffjumper now too?

IDW - Transformers Wreckers: Tread & Circuits #4

Written by: David Mariotte

Art by: Jack Lawrence

Colours by: Heather Breckel

Letters by: Jake M. Wood

Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: Tom Waltz

Plot

Following the Speedia 500, Knock Out has been decided to be the new First Senator of Velocitron, and everyone has gathered for the ceremony.

The Wreckers, still looking for Mayhem, are amongst the crowd, but mostly split up to cover more ground.

Knoc Out begins his first speech, declaring that Velocitron's dedication to spectacle has caused them too much trouble recently, and believes that his political party, the Ascenticons, can help the world get back on track.

Before he can continue however, Submarauder harpoons him, with Minerva attacking him to try and stop the attack. Skullgrin abandons his shell, and detonates it, leaving Minerva holding the harpoon gun.

In the chaos, Mayhem attack the crowds, but the Wreckers and the racers team up to subdue them.

Eventually, Breakdown returns with his security force, only to find the situation settled, however he also reveals that they've captured Minerva, since she was holding the weapon that almost killed the Senator...

Later, the Wreckers, minus Minerva, who has been left behind for a trial (Knock Out promised to put in a good word, due to her trying to save him) leave orbit, and broadcast a final message to their fans, saying that following the drama on Velocitron they're taking a short break, but hope to be back soon.

After sending out the message, Circuit is happy that he was able to do one last episode, as he dies from his previous wounds. The team grieve his death, and launch his body into space in a coffin.

Following this, Thunderclash says they need to return to Cybertron, as they learned during their stay on Velocitron that the Tether on Cybertron has fallen, and things aren't going too well there in general. 

In order to help them, however, Thunderclash suggests that they get in contact with civilians and allies to find out what is happening on Cybertron, and the other Colonies, essentially extending their roster...

Meanwhile, on Velocitron, Minerva is placed into indefinite stasis for trying to murder the First Senator, with Knock Out and his crew all bearing their Decepticon Insignias...

Characters

Autobot/Wrecker

Thunderclash - Truck

Aileron - Jet

Hot Shot - Jeep

Ricochet - Car

Minerva - Car Imprisoned on Velocitron

Circuit Died from Previous Wounds

Decepticon/Mayhem

Knock Out - Car

Breakdown - Armoured Van

Skyquake - Jet

Octopunch

Skullgrin

Submarauder Shell Destroyed

Roadgrabber

Bugly

Slugslinger - Twin Nosed Jet

Thunderblast - Boat

Ruckus - Buggy (Image Only)

Other Velocitronian

Road Rocket - Motorcycle

Override - Race Car

Scrounge - Wheel

Leadfoot - F1 Race Car

RoadHauler - Crane

Clampdown - Police Car

Lickety-Split - Tricycle

"Frogbot"

Velocitronian Crowds and Racers

Security Force Members

Sizzle - Car (Statue Only)

Other Cybertronian

Emirate Xaaron 

Carnivac - Wolf (Image Only)

Topspin - Jet (Image Only)

Bulkhead - Truck (Image Only)

Springer - Helicopter/Car (Image Only)

Smashdown - Hammer (Image Only)

Stardrive - Car/Jet (Image Only)

Lockdown - Car (Image Only)

Whirl - Helicopter (Image Only)

Impactor - Tank (Image Only)

Ironfist - Van (Image Only)

Moonracer - Car (Image Only)

Star Saber - Jet (Image Only)

Rack 'n' Ruin (Image Only)

GoShooter - Police Car (Image Only)

Notes

• This story's place in the timeline is a little confusing this issue. Knock Out is referred to as an Ascenticon throughout the issue, up til the end, where he name-drops the Decepticons, and the insignia is on display, implying it is set following the Senate takeover in the main series. However Thunderclash seemed to be unaware that the Tether has fallen, which happened quite a long time ago now! Maybe they're just out of the loop on some news from Cybertron?
• Overrid and Road Rocket are shown Mongst the signatories behind Knock Out this issue, showing they survived the race's events...Sideways is nowhere to be seen though...maybe he died, and Unicron abducted him to be his new Herald?
• Before Knock Out redecorated it with the Decepticon insignia, the symbols across the Senator's podium is the Speed Planet Key symbol from the Cybertron series.
• As is traditional for a Wreckers series, some one in the main cast has to be killed off. Here, we see Circuit die from the wounds he suffered in issue two.
• Most of the bots in the lineup of prospective new Wreckers are character who have had past fictional connections to the group, or similar teams. However some choices like GoShooter or Moonracer seem to be very random.
• Among the prospective Wreckers is Ruckus, who we know in the main series has been replaced by Exarchon in the present day...so I don't think he'll be much help to them...

IDW - Shattered Glass #5

Written by: Danny Lore

Art by: Guido Guidi

Inks by: Matt Froese

Colours by: John-Paul Bove

Letters by: Neil Uyetake

Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: David Mariotte

Design by: Jake Wood & Johanna Nattalie

Plot

The Decepticons, led by Megatron, have started their assault on Gold City to try and usurp it from Goldbug, and rescue Starscream from his clutches.

Inside the lab, Goldbug tries to force Starscream to give him access to the Titan codes within his spark, but he refuses, and Jetfire continues to try and defend his old friend from his current boss.

Eventually however, Starscream gets shot in the back by Goldbug, and his his spark ripped out through his back by the warlord.

Goldbug leaves, clutching the Seeker's spark casing, intending to use it to control the dormant Titans, and conquer Cybertron for himself. Jetfire is left behind, mourning over his dead friend, blaming himself for forcing him into this war, since he knew Starscream only ever wanted to live in peace.

Jetfire takes out Goldbug's guards, and once the Decepticons break into the building, he leaves, cradling Starscream's corpse.

Megatron sees this, and stops him, mistaking him for trying to do something to the body, but Jetfire soon breaks down, blaming himself for everything. Megatron soon manages to calm him down, and offers to help him take revenge on Goldbug for what he's done, which Jetfire considers...

Slicer makes his way into a sewer tunnel, where he makes contact with his real boss, Ultra Magnus, who isnt concerned with Goldbug having the Titan-control coded spark, as he's sure Optimus and Prowl allowed him to go this far, as they plan to take him out themselves so they can get the Titans instead...

At the Titan excavation site, Goldbug starts to reactivate the long dormant Metroplex....

Characters

Decepticon

Megatron - Jet

Starscream - Jet Spark Torn out by Goldbug

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Barricade - Police Car

Dirge - Jet

Refraktor - Hovercraft

Astrotrain - Train/Space Shuttle

Random Decepticons

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck

Goldbug - Hatchback

Prowl - Police Car

Jetfire - Jet

Slicer - Race Car

Blaster - Boom Box

Jazz - Car

Chromedome - Car

Ratchet - Ambulance

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport (Holo-Communicator Only)

Gold City Security Team - Hatchbacks Killed by Jetfire

Random Autobots

Other Cybertronian

Metroplex - Titan Ship Awakening

Notes

• Just as an update, in the sheer amount of time since I actually received this comic (with Jetfire) Hasbro have finally released issue 3 with Starscream, so the collection is now complete (so far)
• It's kind of hilarious, now I have the Jetfire figure, how out of scale the characters are in this series, in terms of the toys they are being used to promote.
• Refraktor was last seen as a victim of the Autobot Bodyscrappers, so seeing him here either means that was just one aspect of him (like Viewfinder or Spectro etc) or he managed to escape them.
• Jetfire's possible defection at the end of this issue is most likely a reference to the faction-switch feature on the toy, carried over from his Siege counterpart.
• Slicer working for Ultra Magnus, against Optimus, is likely a reference to his role in the Invasion comic, where Ultra Magnus is aided by Wheeljack to destroy another Universe...hopefully this doesn't happen again though...that was a mess to clean up!
• Metroplex is shown awakening at the end of this issue. However he appears to have been buried up to his head again, unlike how we saw him in issue one...

IDW - Transformers #38

Title: Darkness, Once Gazed Upon, Part Two

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Anna Malkova

Colours by: David Garcia Cruz

Letters & Design by: Jake M. Wood

Editor: David Mariotte

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: Tom Waltz

Plot

Megatron meets with Mindwipe in secret, to entrust a Titanspark to him, intending for him to use it to create a new Titan, and eventually restore the Forge to create a new Decepticon army for Megatron's cause.

Soundwave calls Megatron away to deal with the newly imprisoned Ultra Magnus. The war general tries to make Megatron see sense, and warns him that Ruckus is somehow connected to a returning Exarchon.

The Decepticons don't believe him, and Megatron has him imprisoned with the captured Senators. Strika however, knowing that Magnus wouldn't lie, suggests that they do look into Ruckus, in case there's any validity to Magnus' claims.

Elsewhere, Cyclonus goes to see "Provoke" again, but finds her researching Cybertron's history some more, and not seeming to have regained her own memories any further.

After leaving, the ghosts of his former teammates/his inner thoughts further suspect Provoke isn't actually herself due to her strange behaviour and even speak patterns...

The Autobots send a small strike team into Iacon to recover Ultra Magnus, with Smokescreen getting them inside using a hidden tunnel through Swindle's bar, calling in a favour with the bartender to give them free passage to leave the city later.

Magnus is taken to the Senate prison, where he finds the Senators dying, but refusing to give in to Megatron's demands.

The Autobot team break into the prison, and manage to free Magnus, but can't manage to save the Senators as well, due to their limited numbers and time, with the rest of the Autobots reinforcing Crystal City for an expected attack from Megatron.

Magnus joins the other Autobots in escaping, reluctantly leaving the Senators behind, potentially to die, and manage to get to a closed Swindle's.

Swindle tries to protest having the Autobots there, due to the Decepticon's rules, but he's ignored by the Autobots, who also want him to allow Bumblebee and Elita-1 to escape with them, and to arm the two of them, as well as Magnus, so they can defend themselves when the Decepticons give chase.

Unknown to any of them, Trickdiamond disapproved of Swindle's deal with Smokescreen, so she informed Starscream, who passed it on to Sixshot, who is now outside the bar, ready to kill everyone inside....

Characters

Autobot

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport

Chromia - Car

Windblade - VTOL Jet

Smokescreen - Car

Arcee - Car

Greenlight - Car

Gauge - Energon Detector Vehicle

Optimus Prime - Truck (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Megatron - Tank

Soundwave - Hovercraft

Sixshot - Jet/Car/Tank/Gun/Winged Beast

Strika - Battle Tank

Starscream - Jet

Slipstream - Jet

Flamewar - Motorcycle

Blackjack - Car

Mindwipe - Bat

Twirl - Jet

Tentakil - Squid

Nautilator - Lobster

Cy-Kill - Motorcycle Crushed Under Senator Prison Door

Offroad - Van

Triton

Scatterspike - Van

Cindersaur - Lizard Monster

Flamefeather - Bird Monster

Jolt - Car

Ravage - Cassette

Gutcruncher

Treadshot

Catgut

"Green Horns" Killed by Smokescreen

"Green Antennae" Kicked into Senate Prison by Chromia 

Rest of Sixshot's Team

Ruckus/Exarchon - Buggy (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Cyclonus - Jet

Provoke/Exarchon - Big Wheeled Vehicle

Crisscross Dying from lack of Energon

Swindle - Van

Trickdiamond - Car

Roughstuff - Truck

Kaskade Comatose

The Imprisoned Senators Dying from lack of Energon

Highfire (Ghost)

Paragon (Ghost)

Gridlock (Ghost)

Grudge (Ghost)

Flatline - Van (Mentioned) Missing

Termagax - Van (Mentioned)

Streetwise - Car (Mentioned)

Motormaster - Truck (Mentioned)

Headlock - Forklift (Mentioned)

Bumblebee - Winged Hovercraft (Mentioned)

Elita-1 - Car (Mentioned)

Primus (Mentioned)

Insecticons Swarm (Mentioned)

Other

The "last" Titanspark

Rust Worms (Mentioned)

Notes

• This issue confirms the assumption that just about everyon had, that Megatron did recover at least one of the Titansparks from the Pyramid Forge before it was destroyed. He says it was just the one that survived, but I think it's safe to say he's lying again...
• We've known that Arcee was part of the Autobots for a few issues now, but we now learn that Greenlight and Gauge joined her.
• Soundwave appears to be under the impression that Ruckus is still comatose, and no-one seems to deny this. We learned he (really Exarchon) joined the Decepticons last issue, so maybe they're just letting anyone join, without going through Sixshot and the others now?
• Gridlock mentions that his body was taken by Termagax to try and figure out the weapon that killed him. We have seen his head amongst her belongings whenever we've seen inside "House". This also implies that she probably doesn't know the answer still though.
• Roughstuff has lost his Decepticon badge since last issue, so maybe he only has it for when on duty?
• The Senate building being turned into a prison has been referenced since the uprising, but we actually see it here. The main Senate meeting room is holding the shackled Senators, who are being deprived of Energon until they join the Decepticons. The windows and holes in the walls and ceiling are also covered in energy grates that can slice up anything on contact.

IDW - Beast War #11

Title: Maximals Strike Back, Part 2

Written by: Erik Burnham

Art by: Josh Burcham

Letters by: Jake M. Wood

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Editor: Jazmine Joyner

Supervising Editor: David Mariotte

Plot

Megatron is alerted to the Maximal's attack on the Darksyde, and leaves the ship to join the battle, only to get quickly ambushed by Dinobot, who wants revenge for his ambush and injuries in the past.

With most of the Predacons out, Rattrap, Cheetor and Nyx sneak into the Darksyde for their own missions.

Cheetor finds and attacks Blackarachnia, while Nyx makes her way to the engine room, to try and disable it, when Tarantulas attacks her, leading the two to fight again too.

Rattrap eventually finds Megatron's room, where he locates the Golden Disk, but thinks it might be trapped in some way, so he spends some time analysing the device holding it.

Outside, the other Maximals are fighting with the Predacons, with the Maximals only going for non-killing blows. Eventually, Razorbeast explains this to his Predacons friend, Skold, and says that they just want to recover the Golden Disk, when he is launched into the air by Terrorsaur, who leads him to one of the strange floating islands nearby, and drips him onto some volatile Energon crystals, causing them to detonate and seemingly kill the Maximal, devastating Skold.

Whilst fighting with Dinobot, Megatron notices that he's favouring his right side during their fight, meaning he's still injured from the previous fight, giving him the edge. Megatron prepares to kill his former soldier, when Optimus appears, and challenges Megatron himself.

Whilst everyone else continues their own fights, Terrorsaur reappears to Skold, and starts belittling Razorbeast and herself, causing Skold to snap. She tears Terrorsaur's spark out of his chest, leaving his body limp and turning grey, discarding the spark afterwards, simply saying that she always hated him...

Afterwards Skold finds an injured Waspinator, and says that they just lost Terrorsaur. Waspinator misunderstands that to mean that the Maximals killed him, and decalres that he'll avenge their friend, but Skold doesn't correct him, thinking about Razorbeast....

Characters

Maximal

Optimus Primal - Gorilla

Dinobot - Velociraptor

Rhinox - Rhino

Cheetor - Cheetah

Rattrap - Rat

Nyx - Bat

Razorbeast - Wild Boar Seemingly Killed by Terrorsaur

Predacon

Megatron - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Scorponok - Scorpion

Waspinator - Wasp

Tarantulas - Tarantula

Blackarachnia - Black Widow Spider

Skold - Alligator Snapping Turtle

Terrorsaur - Pteranodon Spark Torn from Body by Skold

Notes

• Megatron's rubber ducky appears to have regenerative powers, as it is shown healed from its destruction by the end of the issue.
• Okay, so after praising the series for not sidelining Razorbeast last issue, they seemingly kill him off this one...
• Terrorsaur's death is quite ironic too, since his new Kingdom toy is due out soon...I wonder if he'll come with a detachable Spark too?
• It's possible that Razorbeast and Terrorsaur could be revived in some way, since we've seen bots survive having their sparks removed in the past, and we never actually see Razorbeast getting killed, only an explosion...I think we may be looking at two of the Vok's future experiments...

IDW - Transformers Wreckers: Tread & Circuits #3

Written by: David Mariotte 

Art by: Jack Lawrence

Colours by: Brittany Peer & Rebecca Nalty

Letters by: Val Lopez & Jake M. Wood

Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: Tom Waltz

Plot

The race is underway, but Mayhem, including Axer, quickly start attacking the track and the racers, killing at least Road Pig in the process, and severely injuring many others like Road Rocket, Override and Sideways.

The security force lose. Intact with the drones on the track, and send out troops to save anyone they can.

The Wreckers, as part of the race, manage to take down most of the Mayhem members, but are stopped by Security from finishing them off, unknown to the racers and Wreckers, the Mayhem members shed their Pretender shells to escape, while being obstructed from view by security.

Acer catches up wit Knock Out, who is in the front of the race, but the surgeon mocks him, bidding him farewell, as Breakdown shoots a missile at Axer, killing him on the spot, revealing his complicity bin this race-fixing plot!

Knock Out soon speeds into the stadium, winning the race, and being named as the new First Senator of Velocitron, with the remaining racers walking behind him, behind Breakdown.

The Wreckers meet up at the end of the race, and aren't happy with this result, and think something more is happening here...

Characters

Autobot/Wrecker

Thunderclash - Truck

Aileron - Jet

Hot Shot - Jeep

Ricochet - Car

Minerva - Car

Mayhem

Octopunch

Skullgrin

Submarauder

Axer Killed by Breakdown

Thunderblast - Boat Crushed by Racers

Slugslinger - Twin Nosed Jet Knocked Out by Hot Shot 

Velocitronian

Knock Out - Car

Breakdown - Armoured Van

Drag Strip - F1 Racer

Leadfoot - F1 Racer

Override - Race Car Blasted by Mayhem

Sideways - Motorcycle Crashed by Mayhem

Road Rocket - Motorcycle Skewered by Mayhem

Road Pig - Motorcycle Killed by Octopunch

Scrounge - Wheel

Signal Lancer - Traffic Light

Lickety-Split - Tricycle

RoadHauler - Crane

Clampdown - Police Car

Burn-Out - Van

Dirt Rocket - Motorcycle

Moonracer - Car

Armada Mirage - F1 Racer In Stasis Lock from Rockslide 

Orange Cybertron Crumplezone - Rocket Trike 

Green Cybertron Clocker - Convertible Crushed by Skullgrin 

Purple Armada Downshift - Race Car

Red/Yellow RID2015 Sideswipe - Car

Green RID2015 Quillfire - Van

Purple RID2015 Blurr - Race Car

White/Yellow RID2015 Blurr - Race Car

Light Blue RID2015 Blurr - Race Car

Other Racers

Sec-Ops Officers

Race Spectators

Other Medics (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Xaaron

Primus (Mentioned)

Iron Hope 100 (Mentioned)

Notes

• There are so many virtual redecoes and transplants from older series' this issue. I've tried to identify them all, but a few have probably passed over my head.
• On the note of virtual redecoes, I wouldn't be shocked of some of them (RoadHauler, Clampdown, Burn-Out, as well as the ones featured last issue, like Leadfoot and Knock Out) get new toys in the near future.
• Knock Out is mentioned as being endorsed by the Ascenticons...I'm gonna go out on a lead and say the results of this race were all part of Megatron's big plan for revolution...
• The use of the term "Ascenticon" here, means that this issue IS set earlier in the timeline than its contemporary comics.
• Submarauder is shown leaving a Pretender shell, with his inner robot designed to resemble a Prime Master figure. We can probably assume that Skullgrin and Octopunch have the same ability.
• The boys designed after the Museum guards from Robots in Disguise that I thought were just bouncers last issue, are shown to actually be part of Breakdown's corrupted security force.
• There's still no clue on whether Xaaron is a Velocitronian or just a visiting signatory yet...he just doesn't feel like a member of the speedy planet's population to me! 
• Axer is revealed to have been a member of Mayhem this issue, planning to overrule the Velocitronian way of deciding its leadership. However it also appears that the main force of Mayhem were also working with Breakdown and Knock Out to cause enough havok to enable Knock Out to win the race, before betraying and killing Axer...this is confusing!