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....