IDW - Robots in Disguise #1

Comic Staff

Title: The Autonomy Lesson
Written by: John Barber

Art by: Andrew Griffith

Colour by: Josh Perez

Letters by: Shawn Lee

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Storyline

More and more ships full of NAIL's are returning to Cyberton, but are finding that the planet is trying to keep them away, but nonetheless the shanty town built up around Kimia station where they're trying to work together, but not that well.

Bumblebee and Metalhawk both greet a ship full of new arrivals, when the new NAIL is hostile towards Bumblebee (partly thanks to Metalhawk implying that the Autobots destroyed Cybertron and that he'd had Rodimus killed as well). Metalhawk takes the new NAIL on a tour of the city.

Elsewhere Tappet starts to graffiti the wall of Kimia, but is caught by Horri-Bull and Needlenose, who proceed to abuse their power as deputies and beat up the poor NAIL, until Prowl, Sideswipe and Blurr arrive and stop them, arrest Tappet for his vandalism and escort the Decepticons back to their base.

Prowl and Sideswipe escort the two Decepticons to their base, where Ratbat tries to get Prowl to give them more freedoms and remove the I/D chips so they can transform and use their weapons and powers, but Prowl refuses, just calling them animals. When alone again, Ratbat tells Horri-Bull and Needlenose to stay out of trouble until the next night, when their plan will be put in place.

In Kimia Bumblebee asks what happened to Tappet and Prowl explains that some Decepticons went overboard. Bumblebee tells him to get better control over his deputies or they'll have to start kill them. Prowl states that Ratbat's going to be a problem for them. The two of them go in the elevator and enter the command room where Broadside informs them of a new ship arriving, and Prowl tries to get Bumblebee to cancel the memorial for Rodimus and his crew the next day, since most of the planet either hated or are indifferent to them. Bumblebee asks Broadside to get Metalhawk to come see him.

Elsewhere Ironhide, Wheeljack and Omega Supreme are trying to survey the land around the shanty town to get a better look at what's happened to their planet, but are unable to get too far out. Back at Kimia, Prowl is watching the sunset when his mysterious accomplice meets with him and asks him some questions about his worldview, and Prowl tells him to leave before someone sees him.

Bumblebee releases Tappet and Metalhawk arrives and asks why Tappet was beaten up during custody etc. Tappet leaves and the two others go for a ride with each other to talk, with Metalhawk commenting on how Bumblebee has a new alternate mode, which Bumblebee accredits to Wheeljack. Bumblebee asks Metalhawk to accompany him on stage at the ceremony for Rodimus to make the NAIL's try and accept it as well. Metalhawk asks Bumblebee to stop calling them NAIL's as it's offensive. Bee agrees, and then Metalhawk reveals that a lot of people think that Bumblebee had Rodimus' ship destroyed because of their disagreement. Bumblebee is shocked and angry, but before he can go too far the two of them hear a commotion nearby.

Horri-Bull and Needlenose have started a fight with Zetca in front of several NAIL's and seem to want to kill him. Bumblebee tries to get Horri-Bull to stop fighting by threatening him with the I/D chip, but he doesn't listen. Metalhawk tells Bumblebee to consider what he's about to do, but Bumblebee ignores him and detonates the chip, killing Horri-Bull.

From the top of a ship Skywarp reports that Horri-Bull is dead, and he's recalled to base, and he teleports away...leaving Needlenose in shock over his friend's death, and a crowd converging on the scene.

Characters

Autobot


Bumblebee - Car
Prowl - Car
Sideswipe - Car
Blurr
Ironhide - Van
Wheeljack
Omega Supreme - Rocket, Base and Tank
Broadside
Sizzle
Jazz - Car
Mirage
Silverstreak - Car
Sky Lynx
Rodimus (Mentioned) Believed to be dead
Ultra Magnus (Mentioned) Believed to be dead
Crew of the Lost Light (Mentioned) Believed to be dead
Optimus Prime (Mentioned)

Decepticon


Senator Ratbat
Horri-Bull Killed by Bumblebee
Needlenose - Jet
Skywarp - Jet
Soundwave - Van
Starscream - Jet
Acid Storm - Jet
Laserbeak
Buzzsaw
Ravage
Rumble
Shockwave - Ray Gun
Bombshell
Mindwipe
Triggerhappy
Rampage
Divebomb
Razorclaw - Drill Tank
Dead End - Car
Wildrider - Car
Spinister - Helicopter
Hook - Crane
Bonecrusher
Other Decepticons

NAIL


Metalhawk - Jet
Tappet - Car
Zetca Beaten up by Horri-Bull
"Tank NAIL" - Tank
"Boba-Fett NAIL"
NAIL Crowd

Other


Prowl's Mysterious Accomplice (In Shadows only)
Knights of Cybertron (Mentioned)

Comic Notes

• Cybertron has started striking out at ships etc, but doesn't seem to be attacking the people in the Kimia-Shanty town
• Starting here, as well as having War For Cybertron character models (ie Cybertronian alternate modes) the characters also have glowing parts, such as on their insignias.
• As with MTMTE, I wont mention the alternate modes of characters unless it is clear
• In the background on page two there's a green building with a red top...possibly a reference to Cosmos
• It's explained why the Autobots have Cybertronian modes now, but there's no real reason (at the moment) why the Decepticons have new modes as well
• Ratbat is really taking on his old role as Senator to heart again
• Omega Supreme can regrow any of his walls that are damaged
• Ironhide and Wheeljack are trying to survey the planet again, but can't get too far out due to the geological issues
• The radio static gets worse on Cybertron after sundown now
• It's not clear who Prowl's accomplice is. All we know right now is that he didn't go to Earth (he thinks it's called "Eart")
• The doorway out to the balcony in Kimia where Prowl stands in this story looks like it was crudely carved out of the wall, as do some of the other walls etc on the former station.
• The collection of ships are starting to look more and more like a real city now
• It seems like Horri-Bull's death was planned by whomever Skywarp is working for (either Ratbat, Prowl or someone else)
• Due to him appearing in the background, we can finally see that Razorclaw survived his encounter with Starscream back in the Revenge of the Decepticons TPB's storyline.
• Sideswipe is back to his more normal colours, rather than his G2 version seen in Death of Optimus Prime
• Skywarp can teleport again....how ominous....

TFCC - The Stunti-Con Job

Comic Staff

Story - Marty Isenberg, Derrick J. Wyatt & Matt Youngberg

Writer - Marty Isenberg

Pencils/Inks - Marcelo Matere

Colours - Thomas Deer & Jesse Wittenrich

Letters - Jesse Wittenrich

Storyline

Shortly after Optimus Prime and his team return to Cybertron with the Allspark and Megatron and his troops as prisoners and the Decepticons are imprisoned in their old fortress Trypticon in Kaon.

In Iacon Sideswipe is working as a beat cop, approaching the end of his career and retirement to the Energon Farms, but he needs to solve this one last case, which regards some stolen modifications. Whilst out on the street looking into a lead Sideswipe and his new partner Cheetor take down Rattletrap, who has Optimus Prime's axe on him, he says that he gave it to him, so Sideswipe calls his bluff. The three of them go to see Optimus who shows them his axe, and Rattletrap admits that the one he has is a copy and was found at the Motor Master's Stunt Convoy's rehearsal. Sideswipe has Rattletrap taken to the stockades for peddling stolen merchandise.

Cheetor and Sideswipe head to the Stunt Convoy's practice area (a former gladiator arena in Kaon, next to Trypticon) when Cheetor spots some Decepticons and goes to attack them, only to be stopped by Wildrider, when he learns that the Decepticons are actually just actors performing into a show for Sentinel "Magnus". The Stunt Convoy rehearse their show and pander up to Sentinel, who's only upset that the hologram of his head used in the show isn't bigger (as he wants Megatron to see it from his cell). The rehearsal ends when Toxitron reveals he lost his axe, which Sideswipe says he has, and then proceeds to look through their props as he thinks there's more stolen modifications there, but finds nothing and is escorted off the site by some Autotroopers on Sentinel's orders.

Later Sideswipe and Cheetor are looking into the Stunt Convoy members but find no records of them at all, when an Autotrooper walks in and tells them that Ironfist's lab's been broken into. The two cops head out to help Ironfistand they find his lab ransacked and him unconscious, but they wake him and he points out a silhouette, who looks like Optimus, but they quickly discover that it's Toxitron! Cheetor attacks him and manages to take him down, but angers Sideswipe in the process by risking killing them all by shooting a laser in a lab with explosive materials in it.
Toxitron is taken in for questioning, but isn't able to given any coherent answers so he's let go. Afterwards Sideswipe and Cheetor look into it some more and realise that due to some excavation and demolitions equipment also go missing that means that the Stunt Convoy are planning a break out from the prison next to their arena, and he realizes that the Stunt Convoy must be Decepticons as well because of this.
Strika has Wildrider and his Stunticon team report about the mission and they confirm that the prison will be broken into when the arena is destroyed during their show's finale.
The show starts and the arena is filled with Autobots when Cheetor and Sideswipe rush in and stop the show, but the Stunticons fight back, with Sentinel actually believing this to be part of the show. The Stunticons have the two cops cornered, but then Toxitron comes out from the wings and causes a part of the stadium to collapse and crush the Decepticons, Toxitron transforms and is revealed to be Optimus using Electronic paint, much to Sentinel's surprise. Optimus plays a recording of the report to Strika, which he was posing as Toxitron during and reveals that he had the real Toxitron captured and had Ironfist do his paint job for this plan as he was suspicious of the Convoy.
Motor Master gets himself free somehow and threatens to blow up the entire stadium and has Sideswipe at point blank range, Sideswipe grabs an axe from the ground and launches it, sending him and Motor Master flying into the wall and he grabs the detonator from him. Cheetor shouts at Sideswipe for risking blowing up everyone (as Cheetor did earlier himself) and Sideswipe says that NO ONE will stop his retirement.
The Stunticons are taken into Trypticon to be imprisoned right next to Megatron and the others, and Sideswipe finally retires to the Energon farm, he relaxes and watches a meteor shower in the sky...until he realises the shower is another Decepticon team lad by Strika!

Characters

Autobot

Sideswipe - Sports Car

Cheetor - Race Car

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Sentinel Prime/Magnus

Autotroopers - Treaded Vehicles 

Rattletrap - Speedbike

Bulkhead - SWAT Van

Ratchet - Ambulance

Bumblebee - Hatchback

Arcee - Sports Car

Omega Supreme - Orion Space Shuttle

Jazz - Sports Car

Jetfire - Jet

Jetstorm - Jet

Alpha Trion

Perceptor - Mobile Laboratory

Blurr - Race Car Cubed

Cliffjumper - Small Car

Botanica - Coupe

Brawn - Treaded Van

Ironhide - Treaded Vehicle

Rodimus - Sports Car

Red Alert - Ambulance

Hot Shot - Sports Car

Grandus - Mobile Platform

Erector

Warpath - Tank

Hubcap - Small Car

Bumper - Small Car

Sedan - Small Car

Tap-Out - Small Car

Chase - Small Car

Searchlight - Small Car

Freeway - Small Car

Wheelie - Small Car

Powerglide - Treaded Vehicle

Pipes - Treaded Truck

Huffer - Treaded Truck

Chromia - Sports Car

Minerva - Sports Car

Tracks - Sports Car

Mirage - Race Car

Wheeljack - Race Car

Cosmos - Observatory Buggy

Flareup - Motorcycle

Longrack

Rosanna

Lightbright - Submersible Hovercraft

Lickety-Split - Motor Trike 

Beachcomber (File Image)

Scrounge - Wheel (File Image)

Jackpot (File Image)

Decepticon

The Motor Master - Truck Cab Imprisoned in Trypticon

Wildrider - Muscle Car Imprisoned in Trypticon

Drag Strip - Sports Car Imprisoned in Trypticon

Dead End - Sports Car Imprisoned in Trypticon

Breakdown - Sports Car Imprisoned in Trypticon

Toxitron - Truck Cab Imprisoned in Trypticon

Strika - Armoured Battle Tank

Blot - Tank

Sky-Byte - Bomber Plane

Mindwipe - Jet

Oil Slick - Motorcycle

Scalpel - Microscope

Megatron - Osprey Helicopter Imprisoned in Trypticon

Shockwave - Tank/Crane/Longarm Imprisoned in Trypticon

Lugnut - Bomber Plane Imprisoned in Trypticon

Mini-Con

High Wire

Leader-1

Grindor

Sureshock

Reachout

DUCK-E

Other

Sari Sumdac - Human Woman

Mudflap (File Image)

Notes

• Rattletrap asks Cheetor and him can work together, the latter says maybe in another lifetime...hmmmm...
• Motormaster and his team look like some of the Autobots because they were cloned from them
• Cheetor uses two of his weapons in one scene...you only get one with the toy :(
• Blurr is seen in cube form in the large crowd scene...so he wasn't incinerated!
• The Stunt Convoy's banner shows an image of the 2011 Botcon toy set's box art
• Oil Slick has a new weapon attached to him, which is clearer to see in the Addendum
• Wildrider uses Lockdown's character model, which implies (since all the others use Autobot bodies) that he was an Autobot originally before going freelance
• After he dons his cape, helmet and shoulder pads Sentinel seems to loose his vehicle mode kibble, implying that he has a new alternate mode...maybe we'll find out what that is in a later comic?
• Erector has a Cy-Gar...hope he's not crazy as well (like Kup)

Prologue: Moving Viloations

Comic Staff

Writers - Greg Sepelak & S. Trent Troop

Pencils/Inks - Greg Sepelak

Colours - S. Trent Troop

Letters - Jesse Wittenrich

Storyline

Cheetor chases Crumplezone and Ransack through a street on Cybertron for a moving violation, but ends up causing havok and ends up causing Crumplezone to create a large crater in the middle of the street.

Later Cheetor is berated by Chief Depth Charge who demotes him to a beat cop in Iacon for his actions (leading to the events of the main comic)

Characters

Autobot


Cheetor - Race Car
Depth Charge - Submersible Vehicle
Crumplezone - Rocket Car
Ransack - Speedbike
Pipes - Treaded Truck
Huffer - Treaded Truck
Road Rage - Sports Car
Excellion - Sports Car
Chromia - Sports Car
Glyph - Small Car
Moscardo - Small Car
Volks - Small Car
Chase - Small Car
Tap-Out - Small Car
Stampy - Speedbike
Flashpoint - Van
Strongarm - Treaded Van
Air Raid - Treaded Vehicle
Autotrooper - Treaded Vehicle
Dug Base - Mobile Platform
Stungun - Wheeled Vehicle
Hubcap - Small Car
Jackpot
Rosanna
Saur
Ramhorn
Autobot Workers (2)
Blurr - Race Car (Mentioned)

Other


The Motor Master - Truck Cab (Picture)
Wasp - Small Car (Wanted Poster)
Mudflap (Wanted Poster)

Notes

• Crumplezone is based on the Dark Crumplezone toy from the Cybertron series (most likely to distinguish him from Bulkhead)
• Cheetor gets splattered in black paint here, which explains why they are on his toy
• For a two page comic there sure are a lot of cameos here...
• Jackpot and Hubcap being spoken to by Stungun is a reference to Gone too Far
• There are no Decepticons (well except for a picture of Motor Master) in this comic as they were banished from Cybertron, Wasp is unalligned, and Mudflap's faction is unknown (and they're just on posters anyway)
• Jackpot is clearly based on Jazz, but appears in a Cybertronian mode, which wasn't shown before for Jazz, so this issue effectively reveals Jazz's Cybertronian form as well, but not his alternate mode of course <<
• Also, due to Ransack sharing a character mode with Rattletrap, this story also reveals his alternate mode (as well as Stampy's)
• Also there are many new character sin this comic that share character models with older characters, but rather than going on about all of them, I'll leave you guys to look them up yourselves (as I'm lazy)

Allspark Almanac Addendum

Cheetor Profile by Ironfist

Ironfist Profile by Swindle

Sideswipe Profile by Ransack and Crumplezone

Depth Charge Profile by Cheetor

Ransack Profile by Depth Charge

Crumplezone Profile by Sideswipe

The Motor Master Profile by Wildrider

Wildrider Profile by Drag Strip

Drag Strip Profile by Breakdown

Breakdown Profile by Dead End

Dead End Profile by Toxitron

Toxitron Profile by The Motor master

Moving Violations summary by Depth Charge

The Stunti-Con Job summary by Strika

Trypticon Prison information by Sideswipe (with info on Mini-Cons)

Botcon 2011 summary (with images of the TFA toys from that convention)

TFCC - Generation 2: Redux

Comic Staff

Writer: Greg Sepelak & Trent Troop

Pencils: Robby Musso

Inks: Robby Musso, Frank Milkovich & John Warner

Colours: Evan Gauntt, Jesse Wittenrich & S. Trent Troop

Letters: Jesse Wittenrich

Managing Editor: Pete Sinclair

Editor/In Chief: Brian Savage

Creative Director:Lanny Lathem

Storyline

Since 2006 when the Rebirth happened things have changed, Earth has begun creating new Transofmrers who have taken on the Autobot and Decepticon mantles as well and joined the war as a Second Generation. Optimus and most of the older Transformers are in space fighting Galvatron and his troops, whilst the newer ones fight it out on Earth.
The Decepticons under Clench's command chase off the Autobots under Pyro's command from the Large Hadron Collider with the help of Sky-Byte and his Sharkticons. Pyro is captured by Clench. 10 miles and 5 minutes later the Autobots regroup and plans a counter attack, whilst also calling for backup from Autobot City.
Back at the LHC Pyro is taken inside the building where he gets Clench to reveal his plan for the Collider, which rather than causing a Big Bang effect (which is a ridiculous plan) is being used to refine the Forestonite found on Earth to be used to power up the Decepticons. Clench has Cindersaur test it out, who eats it and mutates into a much larger and more powerful form, which impresses the Decepticons. He then has the others start testing it as well.
Later Double Punch, Slicer, Calcar and some Sharkticons are standing guard when the Autobots launch their attack on them. Clench and some of his troops join the fight, including the now powered up Firecons (with only Cindersaur being hideously mutated), and the Decepticons start beating down the Autobots using their Forestonite gained powers to overwhelm them.
Elsewhere Streetwise, Rapido and Meanstreak break in through the back door and make their way to the room where Pyro is being restrained and the Forestonite is being stored when a newly powered up Breakdown, Sky-Byte and Roadblock and they start to get beaten down by them. Outside again the Autobots are helped out by the Autobot reinforcements arriving, but they're still being overwhelmed nonetheless. Back in the LHC Pyro has freed himself from his bonds and goes to grab the Forestonite so the Decepticons can't use it, when Breakdown shoots it, intending for it to explode, but instead it just expels gas that affects all the assembled Transformers and gives them powers.
Outside the Autobots are starting to get the upper hand, and some of them start to enter the LHC to look for the human hostages and the missing Autobots. The gas starts to seep throughout the base and affects all the Transformers inside and gives them new powers. The Autobots start to master their abilities and use them to fight off the Decepticons, and rejoin the fight outside and clearly turn the tide of the battle for them.
The LHC building starts to collapse around the fighters, so the Decepticons and Sharkticons decide to retreat with the Forestonite that they can carry.
In the aftermath the Autobots help the humans to rebuild the LHC building and Pyro welcomes Streetwise onto his team as they need to recover a few missing canisters of Forestonite that the Decepticons stole.
Two days later, in France Slicer rendezvous with his future self from the year 5,000 and give shim a canister of Forestonite in exchange for some data from the future. Once Slicer leaves, future Slicer removes his fake Decepticon insignia and reveals himself to be Shattered Glass Wheeljack, who contacts his universe's Rodimus and says that he couldn't find Nexus Prime, but he found a compound they can use back home. Rodimus says he's done well and tells him to come home.

Characters

Autobot


Pyro - Fire Engine
Scorch - Military Jeep
Streetwise - Police Car
Rapido - Sports Car
Motor Mouth - Pick Up Truck
Gobots - Sports Car
Meanstreak - Race Car
Sideswipe - Sports Car
Road Rocket - Motorcycle
Aquafend - Baja Buggy
Drench - Race Car
Leadfoot - F1 Race Car
Manta Ray - Hovercraft
Double Clutch - F1 Race Car
Turbofire - Pick Up Truck
Windbreaker - Sports Car
Blowout - Sports Car
Gearhead - Sports Car
Firecracker - Sports Car
High Beam - Sports Car
Jazz - Porsche
Seaspray - Hovercraft
Hubcap - Sports Car
Electro -Hot Rod Pick Up Truck
Volt - Hot Rod Sports Car
Fizzle - Baja Buggy
Beachcomber - Buggy
Bumblebee - VW Beetle
Wheeljack - Race Car (Shattered Glass version)
Rodimus Prime - Sports Car (Monitor Only - Shattered Glass version)
Nexus Prime (Mentioned)
Optimus Prime - Truck (Flashback)
Hot Spot - Fire Engine (Flashback) Dead
Blades - Rescue Helicopter (Flashback) Dead
Groove - Police Motorcycle (Flashback) Dead
First Aid - Ambulance (Flashback) Dead
Defensor - Protectobot Gestalt (Flashback) Dead

Decepticon


Clench - Armoured Truck
Double Punch - Scorpion/Jet
Slicer - Race Car
Breakdown - Sports Car
Cindersaur - Tyrannosaurus Rex (former Lizard Monster)
Flamefeather - Bird Monster
Sparkstalker - Insect Monster
Skyjack - Jet
Dirtbag - Dump Truck
Roadblock - Front End Loader
Afterburner - Jet
Eagle Eye - Jet
Terradive - Jet
Windrazor - Jet
Hooligan - Jet
Space Case - Jet
Jetstorm - Baja Buggy
Deluge - Race Car
Jolt - Hot Rod Car
Sizzle - Hot Rod Car
Powerdive - Helicopter
Ransack - Propeller Plane
Starscream - Jet (Flashback)
Galvatron - Tank (Flashback)
Scourge - Space Shuttle (Flashback)
Cyclonus - Space Jet (Flashback)
Scorponok - Scorpion/Base (Flashback)
Zarak - Scorponok's Head (Flashback)
Runabout - Sports Car (Flashback)
Runamuck - Sports Car (Flashback)
Motor Master - Truck (Flashback) Dead
Drag Strip - F1 Race Car (Flashback) Dead
Dead End - Sports Car (Flashback) Dead
Wildrider - Sports Car (Flashback) Dead
Menasor - Stunticon Gestalt (Flashback) Dead

Other


Sky-Byte - Submarine
Sharkticons - Submarines
Quintessons (Mentioned)
LHC Workers

Notes

• Rather than using their original character models from the series, Galvatron and Cyclonus use their Universe toy models, and Scourge uses his Botcon toy model, as well as some other characters in the story like Skyfall using his new character model from a newer toyline.
• The only toy from the 2010 Botcon collection not to appear here is Ravage, since he's an SG character
• The Stunticons and Protectobots (bar Breakdown and Streetwise) were killed in battle in the missing four years.
• Cindersaur has a major character model change because he actually ate the Forestonite, unlike the others.
• The Sharkticons have learned to not trust it when someone others a bribe and the Universal Greeting
• Jetstorm and Deluge confirm in this comic that this is in the same continuity as the Wings of Honour storyline
• When he gets affected by the Forestonite Sideswipe morphs from his old G1 toyline based body to his new Botcon Custom Class design, rather than him originating in his Universe toy mold like Streetwise and Breakdown did
• It's never stated that Bumblebee actually is Bumblebee (due to him being Goldbug at the end of the US series) and his face seems to imply that he is still Goldbug (having a visor and mouthplate etc) but I'm naming him Bumblebee here still due to him being called that in the toyline
• The Diamond Edition includes an additional page that has Wheeljack from the Shattered Glass Universe appearing and tricking his coincidental doppelganger Slicer into giving him some Forestonite for a currently unknown plan. This is a reference to how they share the same character model and basis, plus also to how the "Slice" toy has a molded Autobot insignia on his chest due to the mold itself.
• Due to Wheeljack coming to this universe, it seems like the SG Autobots have worked out a new Stellar Spanner that can travel between dimensions
• Slicer really is an idiot....Wheeljack's ship has a GIANT AUTOBOT INSIGNIA ON IT!!!!

IDW - More than Meets the Eye #1

Comic Staff

Title: Liars, A to D Part 1: How to say Goodbye and mean it
Written by: James Roberts

Art by:  Nick Roche

Colour by: Josh Burcham

Letters by: Shawn Lee

Editor: John Barber

Storyline

Rodimus addresses a crowd of Autobots and all of Cybertron via some video feeds about his intentions to leave Cybertron and look for the Knights of Cybertron rather than staying with Bumblebee. Wheeljack begins to wonder if this might cause a problem with most of the Autobots leaving, but Prowl assures him that hardly anyone will join Rodimus on his quest, however he's proven wrong when more than 200 sign up for the mission the next day.

At the Kimia Autobot HQ Ratchet examines the body of a NAIL who committed suicide by wearing down his transfomation cog and overheating himself by transforming non-stop for weeks as a protest against the Autobot occupation of Cybertron. Bumblebee says he needed him to examine him for Metalhawk to accept the suicide verdict. Ratchet tells Bumblebee that he's leaving with Rodimus and Bumblebee won't accept it and says that he's still needed here. Ratchet says that he needs to leave as he's getting old now and doesn't feel up to doing his job properly now, plus the Lost Light crew will need a medic.

Cyclonus flies over Cybertron, having been freed from his I/D chip by Rodimus and laments over the now utterly gone Cybertron and misses his old world. He then detects a familiar life sign, Scourge, and goes to find him.

At Prowl's quarters in Kimia Prowl tries to convince Chromedome to stay on Cybertron, but he wants to leave, all whilst Rewind is recording the conversation as part of his archivist job. Prowl gets angry and says that the war's not over, flips over his table and orders some of his men to put some cargo on the Lost Light for him.

6,000,000 years ago Tailgate fell down a hole whilst on the way to the original Ark launch and worries that the mission will fail if he's not there (it does of course). With his systems failing Tailgate starts to drag himself (since his legs are smashed up) towards his micro-trailer full of Energon as part of his plan.

Back in the present day Whirl is in a downed ship/cave/building talking to some dead Sweeps that he's strung up to the walls whilst coating the place in liquid Energon and prepares to blow it up with a match when Cyclonus walks in, thinking the Sweeps were Scourge, upon seeing him Whirl gets angry that he's seen him in an insane mood and attacks him, just before throwing the match at the Energon and blows the place up. Cyclonus transforms to escape him, but Whirl transforms and follows him.

Red Alert is doing security checks on all the Autobots trying to enter the Lost Light, and lets in Brainstorm, despite him having a dangerous experimental compound in his suitcase, and Swerve, who annoys him with his incessant chattering. During his inspection of Rung and his box of model space ships Cyclonus speeds past them and accidentally slashes off Rung's arm.

Drift reports to Rodimus that 208 Autobots have signed up for the mission, and Rodimus is delighted, Ultra Magnus however isn't happy with any of them due to his strict following of the laws etc. Cyclonus and Whirl continue their aerial battle, until Cyclonus tries to end it by transforming and landing on a peak, Whirl however  just continues his attacks and wants to kill Cyclonus for what he saw earlier.
In the past again Tailgate is trying to reach the Energon, but keeps blacking out. Back in the present Chromedome, Ratchet and Rewind are walking to the launch (since Rewind's alternate mode is just a giant memory stick) when Whirl and Cyclonus fall from th sky. Whirl goes to kill the now unconscious Cyclonus and lies to the others saying that he was the one messing with corpses etc. Ratchet tries to talk the insane Autobot down, but he won't listen...until an explosion comes from below the surface and knocks out Whirl. Tailgate calls out to the Autobots for some help, and he's pulled out, mumbling about missing the launch. When he sees Whirl he thinks he's dead, gets scared and blacks out again.
Ratchet, thinking Tailgate was talking about the Lost Light's launch brings him with them to the ship, along with Whirl for repairs (despite him being a major security risk etc) whilst Rewind goes off on his own and buys some golden disks off of Swindle, who comments on how sick Rewind must be to want these things.
Later the Lost Light starts to take off with Drift reporting on the new crew admissions and how Red Alert isn't happy about Whirl being on board. Magnus reports that Bumblebee wants to talk to Rodimus, but he ignores him.
Outside the crowds watch as the ship launches, Bumblebee says that he thought Prowl had a plan, and just as Prowl glances to Bumblebee the ship seemingly explodes.
The Lost Light is flung from it's premature Quantum Jump with a hull breach, and about 40 Autobots are flung from the ship. The crew manage to seal the hull breach, and head to the nearest planet for repairs and to find the ejected Autobots. On the planet Rodimus sees a meteor shower made up of the 40 ejected Autobots and they start on their way to rescue them, with Rodimus commenting on how this isn't a good start.
Back on Cybertron a message has arrived from a member of the Lost Light from the future who gives them a series of warnings about the mission, and even suggests that they don't even launch it, but is cut off just before he can reveal any real specifics, all whilst Bumblebee is mortified about the explosion.

Characters

Autobot

Rodimus
Drift
Ultra Magnus
Ratchet
Chromedome
Rewind - Giant Memory Stick
Whirl - Osprey Helicopter Badly Injured by Tailgate
Red Alert
Brainstorm
Swerve
Rung Injured by Cyclonus
Perceptor
Mainframe
Highbrow
Hound
Siren Ejected into Space
Fizzle Ejected into Space
Sureshot Ejected into Space
Rollout Ejected into Space
Polaris Ejected into Space
Waverider Ejected into Space
Hyperion Ejected into Space
Rad Ejected into Space
Bumblebee - Car
Prowl
Wheeljack
Xaaron
Dipstick - Car
Mirage
Sky Lynx - Space Shuttle
Future Lost Light Crew Member (Voice only)
Lost Light Crew
Autobot Crowd
Optimus Prime (Mentioned)
Wreckers (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Swindle
Megatron (Mentioned)

Cybertronian

Cyclonus - Jet Injured by Whirl
Tailgate Injured
NAIL Protestor - Car Suicide
Metalhawk - Jet (Mentioned)
Galvatron - Laser Cannon (Mentioned)
Scourge - Space Shuttle (Mentioned)
Sweeps - Space Shuttles Dead
Nova Prime - Truck (Mentioned)
Knights of Cybertron (Mentioned)
Prima/The First Cybertronian (Mentioned)

Other


Primus (Mentioned)
Vector Sigma (Flashback)

Comic Notes

• I'm not sure about the alternate modes here yet, so I'm leaving them blank unless they're mentioned here or are obvious
• The character models in this comic are based more on the character models from the War for Cybertorn/Prime series
• Ultra Magnus looks like he's based a bit on the Optimal Optimus toy from Beast Wars, but in new colours and with some new parts of course
• It seems like the planet has begun being rebuilt, since there's some sign posts set up for people to listen to Rodimus' speech
• When a Transformer dies it reverts to it's preferred shape through rigor-morphis (like rigor-mortis)
• The dead NAIL is one of the ones who appeared in The Death of Optimus Prime
• They repurposed one of the rooms in Kimia as an autopsy room....do they expect THAT many deaths??
• Rodimus plans to pick up any stray Transformers they find on his journey, so the cast is very likely to grow/shrink as needed
• When Rodimus is seen in Cyclonus' flashback he uses his older character model...YAY FOR CONTINUITY!!!
• Okay it looks like Prowl totally caused the explosion on the Lost Light...dick...
• Brainstorm's pass to excuse him from security checks includes a rub sign and a tech spec (neither of which have been decoded)
• Rung's serial number is 100,000,000
• Rung's collection of model space craft is seen here, however it looks like it's been destroyed due to the incident with Cyclonus (after being retained for the past 4,000,000 years....IRONY!!)
• Ultra Magnus doesn't approve of anyone on the ship it seems...and one of them owe's him money!
• It's unclear what the Golden Disks Rewind buys from Swindle are, but if they're like any past iterations of them, then they'll have important or dangerous data on them
• Holy Shite! Is that Sky Lynx!!!???
• One of the named Autobots who were pulled from the ship is called Polaris, named after a fan magazine from the Transmasters UK fangroup who produce fiction (which the writer and artist were both part of)
• From the message form the future it seems like the Lost Light will be back in known space before long, since it mentions Delphi, an Autobot medical outpost where part of Bullets was set.
• Also the future message mentions a coffin....in the movie continuity the Original 13 have sarcophagi to rest in or something, which are very similar to coffins...just saying! 
• Magnus mentions something about one of the crew having issues with Turbofoxes, and then Whirl mentions them as well, probably meaning it was about him.
• Wait...Tailgate's been on Cybertron for 6,000,000 years and yet he's never noticed the whole planet being dead or no one's picked up his Energy signature (or picked up on the Energon in his trailer??)
• It seems like Cyclonus was planning on joining Rodimus on his mission originally
• Tailgate mentions the Underbase
• It's a bit scary how so many scientists have joined Rodimus on his mission, leaving what seems like only Wheeljack left behind to fix and injured guys on Cybertron now....YOU'RE DOOMED!!!!

TFCC - Battle Lines

Release Dates: FEB 2011-JAN 2012
Issues:37-42
Continuity: Wings of Honour


Story: Pete Sinclair
Writers: Jesse Wittenrich & Pete Sinclair
Pencils: Dan Khanna
Inks: Dan Khanna & John Warner (41, 42)
Colours: Evan Gauntt & Jessie Wittenrich (37, 38)
Letters: Jesse Wittenrich
Managing Editor: Pete Sinclair

Story

Dion has been brought into the medical bay to be fixed up by Ratchet and his team after the attack on the Elite Guard, during which he recalls all that has happened to him over the years, from when he was just a dock worker, got attacked by Megatron, saw his friends die, then got fixed up, recruited into the Elite Guard only for them to be betrayed by the Combaticons.

In a bar Side Burn is pretending to be Dion to get some sympathy from some random femmes, until Prowl comes in and blows his story cover and drags him away from his ladies, and both head to Iacon for a meeting.

Starscream reports back to Deathsaurus about the success of the attack, he has Starscream tell Lyzack to ready the lab for the Combaticon's return so they can be repaired. Starscream is a bit of a pig towards Lyzack and she gets angry and starts eyeing up her brother's old sword.

At the Autobot High Council Citadel Magnum has gathered up the surviving Elite Guard members (Thunderclash, Flak, Kup, Landshark and Dion) and says that they're to make a stand and show that the Guard isn't gone as long as they survive...then they witness the newly arisen Optimus Prime declare war and states that all Autobots are now to take up arms, much to Magnum's dismay.

Optimus and his team prepare to go after Megatron rather than Deathsaurus, as Magnum has insisted that his team deals with him. Optimus notices that Side Burn's gone missing and everyone looks to Prowl to know where he is, who thinks he knows where he is.

Elsewhere Magnum leads his Elite Guard to a secret weapons locker he had built after the Combaticons went missing where they meet up with their reinforcements, Ricochet, Moonracer and Outback (his assistants). The team arm themselves up and head out, unaware that Side Burn is following them.

The Combaticons are being fixed up at Deathsaurus' base, but they're having problems due to Bruticus' eyes being damaged still, so they knock out the gestalt using his weak point and start to work on him. Starscream reports that the remaining Elite Guard members are approaching the base's location, and Deathsaurus has him lead all his available troops into battle against them.

Magnum's team approaches Deathsaurus' lair when they encounter Side Burn who says that he knows where the base is exactly, before he can tell them however the group is attacked by Starscream and his massive army. Ricochet tries to scout the area from the sky, but gets shot down by Starscream and plummets to the ground. The Autobots manage to fight off the Decepticons by using their superior skills, until Deathsaurus arrives and challenges Magnum personally. The Combaticons join the battle, and taunt Magnum and the otehrs by saying that they haven't been altered in any way mentally, and they joined Deathsaurus freely.

The Autobots try to keep the Combaticons separated so they can't combine, and sadly Ricochet dies from his injuries just before Lyzack joins the fight wielding her brother's sword.

The Combaticons manage to fight off the Autobots and start to combine, until they're blasted by a powerful weapon shot by a surprising combatant.

More members of the Elite Guard have survived, and have now joined the battle (Ironfist, Big Bang, Sprocket and Rumbler). The Combaticons try to combine again, but Blast Off has been captured by Side Burn and tied up. The Decepticons start to get worried by the growing Autobot forces, but Starscream refuses to retreat, and leads them in a counter attack.

Magnum starts to get an upper hand against Deathsaurus but Lyzack interferes and attacks the Autobot, which impresses both Starscream and Side Burn, however Thunderclash rescues his commander by punching the femicon away. Side Burn gets over his attraction and attacks Starscream with a flamethrower.

Deathsaurus gets up and goes to kill Thunderclash and Magnum, when Sprocket attacks him, and blasts him into the chest, causing immense pain leading to him calling for a retreat. The Autobots capture the Combaticons and has the Gyronian Sentry team take them into custody whilst they return him.

Back at his base, Deathsaurus is greeted by Megatron, who is now sitting in his throne, waiting for him.

Thunderclash, Big Bang and Dion are waiting at a security office for news on the Combaticons when they learn that Gyronia doesn't have a sentry team anymore since they all went missing, shocking the Autobots.

At Deathsaurus' base Deathsaurus has been strung up between some pillars with the Combaticons in cells behind him. Megatron challenges Deathsaurus to a fight to decide who the overall Decepticon leader should be once and for all, after a very quick fight Megatron manages to mutilate his opponent and then blasts him and point blank range.

Megatron has Soundwave recover any data from Deathsaurus' systems that they can use. Starscream switches sides and joins Megatron, and starts his plotting to become Decepticon leader. Once they leave Lyzack tends to Deathsaurus, who still functions,a nd they decide to leave the planet and banish themselves for their own safety.

A week later Magnum and the others have been fixed up and he apologizes to Optimus for any rudeness he showed him before as he was just worried that he was usurping power from him, Optimus accepts it , but stil feels that all Autobots are needed to fight off the Decepticons now, and Magnum now agrees.

Dion runs in and reports that the Decepticons are attacking the city, along with a new Gestalt, Devastator. The Autobots fight back against the Decepticons.

The Autobots are fighting off the large Decepticon forces and Dion suggests that they aim at Devastator's knees, which works as it causes them to destabilize and fail, making the Gestalt fall over. Megatron is angry and goes to kill Optimus, but he's protected by Magnum and Dion, who take the kill shots for him. Optimus attacks Megatron for killing his friends, and Megatron calls a retreat (the city's in ruins anyway). The Autobots cheer, whilst Optimus looks over his fallen friends.

Later Dion and Magnum have been taken to Alpha Trion who says that he can repair one of them, Optimus asks him to do his best. Several Autobot medics have been called in to help with repairs (with Rumbler dying on the table) and start upgrading the Autobots to be more war ready.

Some point later Optimus is introduced to one of his fallen friends (most likely Magnum) in his new form as Ultra Magnus. Countdown approaches Flak and asks if he's willing to reduce his size to help reduce Energon usage with the Micromaster process, and he agrees.

Several ships start taking off with some Autobots leaving for safer worlds for peace to colonize, one ship heads to Paradron with Landshark and Sprocket on board (whom is still talking to his now dead brother).

After millions of years Optimus leads a team off of Cybertron to look for new sources of fuel, but is forced to leave some of his friends, including Elita One and Side Burn behind.

The Autobots left on Cybertron enter hibernation pods to try and reserve Energon whilst some of them stay outside to guard and maintain them, including Alpha Trion and Kup and ar eplanned to reawaken when sufficient Energon starts returning to Cybertron.

TO BE CONTINUED IN A FLASH FORWARD

Characters

Autobot


Optimus Prime
Ultra Magnus
Dion - Sports Car Killed by Megatron (Possibly rebuilt as Ultra Magnus)
Magnum - Haughty Hauler Killed by Megatron (Most likely rebuilt as Ultra Magnus)
Side Burn - Blue Flame Speedster
Prowl - Sleek Secure Ride
Thunderclash - Heavy Hauler
Landshark - Baddas Hauler
Kup - SUV
Flak - Multiple Missile Launcher Tank
Outback - Offroad Arsenal
Ricochet - Quick Strike Fighter
Moonracer - Bad Motor Scooter
Ironfist - Boom Buggy
Big Bang
Sprocket - Overdrive Observer
Rumbler - Speeder
Ironhide - Blistering Battle Wagon
Brawn
Jazz
Trailbreaker
Alpha Trion
Hauler - Binary Loadlifter
Countdown - Rocket Mounted Personnel Carrier
Road Rage
T-Ai
Sentinel Major - Rolling Arsenal (Flashback) Killed by Bruticus
Elita One - Car
Ratchet - Van
Cop-Tur - Helicopter
Wheeljack
Perceptor
Hoist
Firster Aid
Pipes
Tailgate
Powerglide
Firestar
Red Alert
Inferno
Smokescreen
Huffer
Gears
Chromia
Lancer
Greenlight
Grapple
Orion Pax (Flashback) Killed by Megatron - Rebuilt as Optimus Prime
Ariel (Flashback) Killed by Megatron - Rebuilt as Elita one
Gyronian Sentry - Geared Guardian (Controlled by Megatron)
2 Paradron Medics
Elite Guard (Mentioned) Destroyed by Combaticons
Aerialbots - Jets (Flashback, Cameo - Time Displaced)
Autobot Forces
The Council (Mentioned)

Decepticon


Megatron
Deathsaurus - Winged Menace Badly Injured and Banished by Megatron
Lyzack - Female Fury-Flier Banished
Starscream - Cybertronian Tetra Jet
Shockwave - Ray Gun
Soundwave - Lamppost
Devastator - Constructicon Gestalt Defeated by Autobots
Thundercracker - Cybertronian Tetra Jet
Skywarp - Cybertronian Tetra Jet
Sunstorm - Cybertronian Tetra Jet
Reflector
Onslaught - Assault Bludgeon Arrested and Deconstructed by Megatron
Swindle - Land Vehicle Arrested and Deconstructed by Megatron
Blast Off - Orbiter Arrested and Deconstructed by Megatron
Vortex - Helicopter Arrested and Deconstructed by Megatron
Brawl - Tank Arrested and Deconstructed by Megatron
Bruticus - Combaticon Gestalt
Acid Storm - Cybertronian Tetra Jet
Hook (Mentioned)
Constructicons (Mentioned)
Leozack - Fury-Flier (Mentioned)
Decepticons Forces
Decepticon Medics

Notes

• This story leads into the G1 TV series and then Generation Two Redux.
• If you look carefully on the first page you can see the Aerialbots from the War Dawn episode
• The usage of Descent into Evil figures continues here
• It looks like Cop-Tur was the one who fixed up Dion the first time (after Megatron attacked the dock)
• Prowl and Side Burn aren't brothers, but are good friends due to them being built near to eachother
• Lyzack keeps her brother's sword in the crockery cupboard
• Brawn has spiked knuckle dusters
• Starscream sees Bruticus' weak spots being hit in this story, which explains why he implemented it in the future when he recovers them
• When Lyzack uses her brother's sword she sort of goes nuts
• Side Burn is shown to also fancy non-red non-sports car females when he is shown to fancy Lyzack as well, which deviates him from his RiD Counterpart
• Ironfist, Big Bang, Sprocket and Rumbler are shown to have survived the Combaticons attack and it was explained in Sprocket's profile that it was because they fell into a hole or something to a lower level...yeah I know...go with it
• Megatron's win against Deathsaurus isn't really fair, he just returned from a major battle without a chance to get properly fixed up.
• This story is also shown to be after the flashbacks of Secret of Omega Supreme, and gives a name to the generic robots shown being controlled by Megatron's Robo-Smasher too. It also explains that Megatron stole the gestalt technology that Devastator is given from Deathsaurus after beating him.
• Considering how important Iacon is, you'd think there's be a lot more Autobots protecting it than are shown...
• Swindle isn't against trying to sell his wares to an enemy
• Although it's made unclear in this issue who became Ultra Magnus, it can be safely assumed that it was Magnum who was saved (since Hasbro have already said that Dion was never rebuilt into another character
• Countdown and Flak are shown to be getting ready to undergo the Micromaster process, whilst also joined by the already a Micromaster Cop-Tur. 
• Side Burn was with Elita and the others who were late to getting to the Ark
• Kup is much older looking in the future because he is forced to ration Energon whilst guarding the sleeping Autobots on Cybertron, along with Alpha Trion.
• Optimus seems shocked in The Search for Alpha Trion that Elita and the other females are still alive, despite several characters from Season Two being in the group sent to sleep along with them on Cybertron
• Most of Megatron's troops are just mind controlled Autobots

Other Features

37

Neil Ross Interview

Hasbro Designer Interview (regarding Generations Wreck-Gar)

Landshark Profile

Starscream Profile

TFCC Contest winners announcement

Spotlight on Heart of Darkness comic

Around Cybertron Mini-Comic

Fan Art

Recordicons Mini-Comic

38

Morgan Lofting Interview

Michael Bay Interview

Outback Profile

Ironhide Profile

Kre-O Q&A

Around Cybertron Mini-Comic

Fan Art

Recordicons Mini-Comic

39

Frank Welker Interview

San Diego Comic-Con Exclusives article

Side Burn Profile

Prowl Profile

Mini-Mayhem Mini-Comic - Regarding Botcon Hall of Fame

Animated Interview about Botcon 2011's Season 3.5 Media

Around Cybertron Mini-Comic

Fan Art

Recordicons Mini-Comic

40

Steven Blum Interview

Botcon 2011 Report

Thunderclash Profile

Lyzack Profile

Hall of Fame 2011 Inductee Article

Around Cybertron Mini-Comic

Fan Art

Recordicons Mini-Comic

41

Dan Gilvezan Interview

New York Comic Con Article

First Look at 2012 Exclusives

Gyronian Sentry Profile

Sprocket Profile

Gone But Not Forgotten Article (Part One) by Jim Sorenson - Neo Knights

Word Search

Fan Art

Recordicons Mini-Comic

42

Michael McConnohie Interview

Transformers Prime toyline article (and Generations Wave 5)

Hauler Profile

Devastator Profile

Gone But Not Forgotten Article (Part Two) by Jim Sorenson - Action Masters

Contest Winners Announcment

Recordicons Mini-Comic

TFCC - The Coming Storm

Release Date: FEB 2010-JAN 2011
Issues: 31-36
Continuity: Wings of Honour (Pre-G1)


Story: Pete Sinclair & Rik Alvarez
Writers: Jesse Wittenrich & Pete Sinclair
Pencils: Dan Khanna
Inks: Frank Milkovich (31-33), Josh Warner (34-36)
Colours: Josh Perez (31), Thomas Deer (32-36)
Letters: Jesse Wittenrich
Managing Editor: Pete Sinclair

Story

Nexus Prime and Aquarius arrive on a Cybertron in the Multiverse and are immediately attacked by a bunch of Decepticons, whom Nexus Prime promptly beats down, all whilst Aquarius is reminiscing about how Nexus Prime originated as five separate robots across four realities all feeling alone, until they all united in the Shattered Glass universe and saved the day against Optimus Prime's evil Autobots and rebuilt Megatron into Galvatron, and then they entered the dimensional portal to hunt for something.

Nexus finally confides in Aquarius that he's looking for Prima's Star Saber and that if the wrong people find it first then all of reality would just cease to exist. The two of them go looking for clues as to why thye were drawn to this universe when Nexus sees an Elite Guard insignia which ignites a memory for him, he enters a new location into his transporter and they leave for a new universe.

In the distant past Kup and Landshark prepare for a mission with the Elite Guard.

Thunderclash's and Metalhawk's teams defeat some Virulent Clones and then are recalled to base, where Thunderclash's team are to be redirected to another planet for another mission. The two teams part ways and Metalhawk's team are greeted by Magnum and Sentinel Major, their superior officers. Magnum says he's concerned about how the Council will deal with the rising Decepticon threat on Cybertron, and introduces the team to their new recruits to try and convince the Council that only the Elite Guard is needed.. The Combaticons.

A few weeks later Metalhawk's team, and the Combaticons (led by Onslaught) have grown close and have been steadily taking down several Decepticon warlords. The two teams, whilst on a mission encounter a Decepticon soldier and the Combaticons interrogate him (resulting in his death) after receiving the coordinates to a nearby commander, whom Onslaught suggests they target next, Metalhawk agrees. The two teams stake out the base and locate the commander, Shadowcaster, whom Onslaught assassinates from a long distance.

The groups regroup at Checkpoint Alpha (an old theater) where Onslaught admits that he found this too easy, and that he doesn't think they've actually succeeded. Onslaught suggests that they split up, metalhawk can report the mission to Magnum, whilst the Combaticons can investigate the area to see if they have missed anything. Later however the Combaticons are captured by a mysterious Decepticon....

The Combaticons find themselves in a prison, and despite Onslaughts orders not to bother trying to escape (as it's escape-proof) when they are greeted by two of their guards, Vanquish and Falcon, who take them to see Deathsaurus, who immediately offers the Combaticons their deepest desires if they join his Decepticon faction...they eventually agree.

A week later Metalhawk's team are on a mission in the middle of nowhere when they are encountered by an old Empty who talks about a coming storm and the Combaticons. The team try to get some information out of him, but then Metalhawk receives a signal from Elite Guard HQ, with Sentinel Prime recalling all troops due to an attack. The team transforms and rushes back to Iacon.

Once there they meet up with Ricochet who is fighting off some smaller Decepticons and shows them a data-pad with a live feed of the battle, which shows them that the Combaticons have defected to the Decepticons and are leading the battle. The Combaticons then demonstrate their new Gestalt form of Bruticus and kill Sentinel Major, and starts to slaughter the Elite Guard.

Metalhawk and his team approach the battle site and find it to be a massacre, with Elite Guardsmen being slaughtered from all directions by Bruticus. Ironfist goes in for a direct attack despite Metalhawk saying they should think up a plan first and he actually manages to knock over the gestalt. Bruticus goes after the lone Autobot, but he's protected by Over-Run and his helicopter drone, but Bruticus just grabs the drone and throws it at the two Autobots, enveloping them in flames. Dion uses his rockets to launch himself at the powerful Decepticon and manages to blind him, Bruticus flings Dion away from him, and disassembles into his component parts. Metalhawk approaches Onslaught to try and reason with him, but his old friend just blasts him at point blank range to the spark and kills him. The Combaticons spread out to kill the rest of the Guard, not seeing Dion still alive under some rubble.

A few hours later Thunderclash's team return to Cybertron after their mission to hear that the Elite Guard have been destroyed, and the HQ is gone.

TO BE CONTINUED IN BATTLE LINES

Characters

Autobot


Metalhawk - Lead Jet Killed by Onslaught
Dion - Sports Car

Ironfist - Boom Buggy Injured by Bruticus

Over-Run - Assault Copter Killed by Bruticus

Onslaught - Assault Bludgeon Defected to Decepticons
Swindle - Land Vehicle Defected to Decepticons
Blast-Off - Orbiter Defected to Decepticons
Vortex - Helicopter Defected to Decepticons
Brawl - Tank Defected to Decepticons
Kup - SUV
Thunderclash - Heavy Hauler
Flak - Multiple Missile Launcher Tank
Landshark - Baddas Hauler
Magnum - Haughty Hauler
Sentinel Major - Rolling Arsenal Killed by Bruticus
Halonix Maximus Killed by Combaticons
Ranger - Car Killed by Combaticons
Crosscut - Van Killed by Combaticons
R-Third Killed by Combaticons
Big Bang
Rumbler - Speeder
Sprocket - Overdrive Observer
Delta Seeker - Jet Killed by Combaticons
Powerflash Killed by Combaticons
Clear Out - Jet Killed by Combaticons
Windsail - Jet Killed by Combaticons
Tap-Out - Car Killed by Combaticons
Roadfire - Tank Killed by Combaticons
Rest-Q - Car Killed by Combaticons
Padlock Killed by Combaticons
Blacker - Car Killed by Combaticons
Laster - Car Killed by Combaticons
Braver - Car Killed by Combaticons
Rest of Elite Guard Supposedly Killed by Combaticons
Alpha Trion
Moonracer - Bad Motor Scooter
Ricochet - Quick Strike Fighter
Optimus Prime - Truck (Referred to)
Nexus Prime (Left Universe)
Skyfall - A10 Jet (Flashback)Merged into Nexus Prime
Breakaway - Fighter Jet (Flashback) Merged into Nexus Prime
Cliffjumper - Sports Car (Classics - Flashback)
Vector Prime - Space Shuttle (Flashback)
Alpha Trion - Space Shuttle (Shattered Glass - Flashback)
Optimus Prime - Truck Cab (Shattered Glass - Flashback)
Omega Doom - Mining Vehicle (Shattered Glass - Flashback)
Nightscream - Bat (Transtech - Flashback) Killed by SG Optimus Prime

Decepticon


Deathsaurus - Winged Menace
Lyzack - Female Fury-Flier
Starscream - Cybertronian Tetra Jet (Cameo)
Onslaught - Assault Bludgeon
Swindle - Land Vehicle
Blast-Off - Orbiter
Vortex - Helicopter
Brawl - Tank
Bruticus - Combaticon Gestalt Disabled by Dion
Falcon - Jet Killed offscreen
Vanquish - Jet
Supersonic - Jet Killed by Ricochet
Shadowcaster - Jet Killed by Onslaught
Cube Decepticon Killed by Brawl
Decepticon Troops
Thunderwing (Mentioned) Defeated by Elite Guard
Blue Bacchus (Mentioned) Defeated by Elite Guard
Virulent Clones - Bugs Destroyed by Elite Guard
Buzzsaws - Bugs with Chainsaws (Mentioned)
Runabout - Shadowy Sedan (Future Scene Only)
Runamuck - White Sedan (Future Scene Only)
Jetstorm - Radical Racer (Future Scene Only)
Deluge - Race Car (Future Scene Only)
Landquake - Tank (Flashback) Merged into Nexus Prime
Topspin - Helicopter (Flashback) Merged into Nexus Prime
Heatwave - Multiple Missile Launcher Tank (Flashback) Merged into Nexus Prime
Megatron - Space Jet (Shattered Glass - Flashback) Killed by Cyclonus, rebuilt into Galvatron
Galvatron - Rescue Helicopter (Shattered Glass - Flashback)
Starscream - Tetrajet (Shattered Glass - Flashback)
Cyclonus - Space Jet (Shattered Glass - Flashback)
Krunix - Gun (Shattered Glass - Flashback)
Ramjet - Jet (Cybertron - Flashback)
Scrapmetals - Spider Tanks (Cybertron - Flashback)
Bulletbike - Motorcycle (Transtech - Flashback) Spark transplanted by Topspin

Other


Fat Empty
Aquarius (Left Universe)
Decepticon Allied Mini-cons (Flashback)
Unicron (Flashback)
The Fallen (Flashback)

Notes

• This is set after the Wings of Honour comic
• The first part of this story is basically a clip show for the past 5 years of comics and sets up a future storyline for Nexus Prime to partake in...however Hasbro took over Nexus Prime's storyline, so it won't be resolved in the future (at least not in these comics)
• The market place in the future scenes features items that look like the Allspark and Transmetal Drivers from other continuities
• This storyline and the next feature pretty much every figure from the Descent into Evil boxset, which has otherwise been pretty much forgotten about in recent years
• Lyzack is a repurposed usage of her own brother, Leozack's Botcon toy from 2009
• The schematics shown to Blast Off for a potential new body are using the Classics Astrotrain mold
• Despite having multiple alternate modes, Deathsaurus is only ever shown to turn into his "Winged Menace" jet mode
• Sentinel Major is of course based on the Transformers Animated character, Sentinel Prime
• Dion doesn't seem to know who Crosscut is judging by the readout on his visor
• Ironfist is shown to die in the last part, but is shown alive again in a later issue
• Metalhawk's character model is based on his inner robot, but with his pretender shell armour integrated as well
• Shadocaster's fortress looks a bit like Trypticon in his base mode...
• If you look very carefully in issue 5, you can see Starscream on a building behind the Combaticons during the battle.

Other Features

31

Michael Bell Interview

War for Cybertron Article

Runabout Profile

Jetstorm Profile

Transformers: 2010 - part 1 article by Jim Sorenson

Botcon Custom Class Retrospective

Around Cybertron mini-comic

Fan Art

Cop-Tur Profile

32

Derrick Wyatt interview

Power Core Combiner Hasbro Interview

Magnum Profile

Over-Run Profile

Transformers: 2010 - part 2 article by Jim Sorenson

The Making of the Botcon Exclusives

Around Cybertron mini-comic

Fan Art

Snowblind Profile

33

Gregg Berger interview

Generations Hasbro Interview

Onslaught Profile

Moonracer Profile

Tranformers: 2010 - part 3 article by Jim Sorenson

The Guests of Botcon

Around Cybertron mini-comic

Fan Art

Liftor Profile

34

Botcon 2010 Report

Deathsaurus Profile

Metalhawk Profile

Hall of Fame Article

Around Cybertron mini-comic

Fan Art

Recordicons Mini-Comic

35

Flint Dille Interview

Generations Hasbro Interview

Sentinel Major Profile

Ricochet Profile

Spotlight on Sector 7 comic

Around Cybertron Mini-Comic

Fan Art

Recordicons Mini-Comic

36

Paul Eiding Interview

Transformers Prime Article

Ironfist Profile

Bruticus Profile

TFCC 2011 Exclusives Article

Spotlight on Generation 2 Redux Diamond Release

Around Cybertron Mini-Comic

Fan Art

Recordicons Mini-Comic

IDW - The Death of Optimus Prime

Comic Staff

Story: James Roberts and John Barber

Art: Nick Roche

Colours: Josh Burcham

Letters: Shawn Lee

Production Assistance: Alice Sokolova

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Storyline

Optimus wakes up after having been missing for three weeks since opening the Matrix into the Heart of Darkness infected Vector Sigma, and finds himself on a feral and primordial planet, that according to his GPS systems is in fact Cybertron, and finds that the Matrix's crystal has darkened and split in two. Optimus thinks that he's been sent back in time to before life existed on the planet and decides to investigate when he finds several of Galvatron's Sweeps dead on the ground. He eventually makes his way to where Iacon was and finds the downed Kimia Station and several space ships set up like a shanty town, with countless Transformers lining the streets formed between the ships.

Optimus enters the shanty town and is confronted by one of the new arrivals who asks him to explain himself and to explain how he could have done this to Cybertron. Due to being missing for 3 weeks Optimus has no idea what's going on, and is approached by Sideswipe and Whirl who start to explain everything and sends him to Kimia to see Bumblebee and Rodimus.

Inside Kimia (now Autobot High Command) Rodimus explains to Optimus that after the Matrix was released the planet basically reset itself and became like it is now, so they set up base on Kimia. Later they contacted Bumblebee on Earth and had them transported to Cybertron, but not alone, several Cybertronian ships arrived in Cybertorn's orbit as well, having been called by Vector Sigma when Cybertron was restored. It's revealed however that none of the NAIL's are happy as they expected to find Cybertron as a paradise instead of this. Metalhawk, one of the NAIL's and a former Autobot enters the High Command and tells Optimus that the NAIL's want the Autobots to leave Cybertron so as to keep it safe from potential war. Rodimus suggests that Optimus uses the Matrix to stabilize the planet, but Optimus shows him the two halves that have been left after the last usage.

Optimus is taken to see the Decepticons captured after the battle in Chaos and learns that they're being kept inside one of Kimia's old cannons and are being inhibited for everyone's saftey. Optimus isn't sure about this. Ratbat tries to talk to Optimus as a Senator (as he used to be) but Optimus wont talk to him. Bumblebee says that he believes the Decepticons could easily escape their prison, but wont because there's nowhere better to go right now.

Optimus is called to one of the labs on Kimia where he is told by Perceptor and Rewind that the Matrix was designed to split in half, and that it has an inscription and a map inscribed onto the inside. Outside in the Spaceport the NAIL's are starting to get angsty, but Metalhawk is trying to keep everyone calm. Later there's a massive NAIL protest outside the High Command whilst the Autobots inside are discussing the map, with Drift saying that he thinks it's a map to the Knights of Cybertron, which he learned of when he was staying with the Circle of Light. Rodimus believes him, but Bumblebee and Prowl say they shouldn't care about some old legend and should try and fix Cybertron themselves, and not rely on the Knights to do it for them.

Suddenly a bomb goes off on the outside of the base and a riot starts off outside. Sideswipe reports that they need help, but Omega Supreme is still recharging, so Prowl releases the Decepticons from their prison, on the condition that they help calm the riot (they have inhibitor chips in them to stop them from transforming or attacking innocent guys). Ratbat tries to get the Decepticons to decline the Autobot's offer, but no one cares what he says, and they agree to help the Autobots.
During the fight outside Kimia, Metalhawk is injured in the crossfire, and Optimus has him brought into the base to be repaired. Inside the base Rodimus and Bumblebee continue their argument, and Prowl says that no one will want to join him and Drift on their trek, but Ultra Magnus shocks them by saying he'll go as well, and that he doesn't want to be on a planet where most of the people hate them (like Earth was). Prowl starts to protest this too much, and Metalhawk realizes that Prowl once tried to be a neutral, which Prowl confirms, which explains why he doesn't like the NAIL's at all, since he wasn't able to go through with his own neutrality and was forced into the war. After Prowl's speech Bumblebee realizes that Optimus Prime has gone missing again.
Optimus addresses the crowd outside Kimia and says that he'll leave Cybertron as he's a symbol of the war, as long as the other Autobots are free to stay on the planet without further trouble.
Later the crowd disperses and Rodimus and Bumblebee are still arguing about Rodimus wanting to leave again, before the argument can escalate however Optimus arrives at their location and gives them each a half of the dead Matrix, and leaves again silently.
Optimus takes a small ship and takes off into space to try and start again somewhere so he can be relieved of his responsibilities and to hopefully steer Megatron away from returning to Cybertron (as he's always said that he is mostly after Optimus now). Optimus reverts his name back to Orion Pax, as he was before the war, and goes away, planning to never be seen again. 

Characters

Autobot


Optimus Prime/Orion Pax - Truck Cab Leaves Cybertron and Abdicates as Prime
Rodimus - Sports Car
Bumblebee - Sports Car
Prowl - Police Car
Ultra Magnus - Car Carrier
Perceptor - Tank
Rewind - Giant Memory Stick
Drift - Race Car
Jazz - Sports Car
Ratchet - Ambulance
Red Alert - Emergency Lamborghini Gallardo
Ironhide - Cybertronian Van
Sideswipe - Lamborghini Gallardo
Whirl - Helicopter
Wheeljack - Race Car
Broadside - Warship/Jet

Decepticon


Starscream - F15 Jet
Ratbat
Shockwave - Ray Gun
Swindle - Jeep
Soundwave
Horri-Bull
Bomnbshell - Boll Weevil
Needlenose - Jet
Pounce or Wingspan
Hook - Crane
Ravage - Cassette
Blitzwing - Tank/Jet
Decepticon Soldiers
Megatron - Stealth Jet (Mentioned) Missing

Cybertronian

Cyclonus - Space Jet
Galvatron - Laser Cannon (Mentioned) Presumed Dead
Sweeps - Space Shuttles Dead
Dai Atlas (Mentioned)
Circle of Light (Mentioned)
The Guiding Hand (Mentioned)
Knights of Cybertron (Mentioned)

NAIL


Metalhawk - Cybertronian Jet (Former Autobot)
Zetca (Former Autobot)
Tappet - Car
"Barricade NAIL" - Car
NAIL Populace


Other


Vector Sigma

Comic Notes

• The characters here are still in their character models from the previous series rather than the new ones from the upcoming two series'
• Saying that however Ratbat has a new robot mode, and Soundwave seems to have his WFC inspired robot mode
• NAIL stands for Non-Affiliated Indigenous Life-Form, AKA Transformers who haven't taken a side
• Sideswipe is now in his G2 colours
• One of the NAIL's deeply resembles the Movie incarnation of Barricade
• One of the NAIL's resembles the children's character Noddy, this could be keeping in with the recent appearance of children's characters being made into Transformers-like toys in the UK (like Fireman Sam, Postman Pat or Thomas the Tank Engine). This character was later named Tappet (You tap at a nail, get it?)
• Cybertron resetting itself means all the old buildings, statues etc are destroyed, however anyone on the planet or any ships etc are still okay
• Metalhawk's time of leaving is confusing, it seems like he left before Optimus was named Prime, and also just after Dai Atlas left with his team, yet Drift defected and left after a battle involving Metalhawk, when he?!??
• ZETCA?!??!
• Kimia station is now acting as Autobot HQ and is incidentally in Iacon
• Metalhawk looks nothing like he did in the Drift mini-series, although he does look like the profile image for him from the Collectors Club for his Wings of Honour incarnation