IDW - Regeneration One #91

Title: Destiny Part One

Writer: Simon Furman

Penciler: Andrew Wildman

Inker: Stephen Baskerville

Colorist: John-Paul Bove

Coloring Assist: James Stayte

Letterer: Chris Mowry

Editor: John Barber

Editor-in-Chief: Chris Ryall

Plot

Bludgeon's new army attacks planet Cresta Superior and slaughters the inhabitants which Bludgeon and Soundwave watch on from on the Warworld with the Thunderwing remains in the background (having used the Matrix energies to build the army). Bludgeon suggests that since it'll take a while for the Warworld to return to Cybertron for their ultimate plan, he should have his own Decepticons on the planet undermine the Autobot's rule some more...

It's the day after Scorponok's dark reign over Cybertron, and everything is still damaged, and the people are distrusting one and another. Several Autobots meet up for a discussion on the situation, which Hot Rod was absent for, since he was learning about the Demons whilst this was all happening. Perceptor and the others tell him that the population are feeling bad after all that happened and some are confused by their feelings during the crisis.

Elsewhere, Ultra Magnus sends out his Civil Defense Force to help protect the innocent in the new violent times when Trailbreaker tells him that the satellite left over Earth is transmitting a message from Earth. Optimus (in his new base there) confirms that he received Magnus' report about the recent events an dis told about Fixit's team being sent to Nebulos to fix the issues there too. Magnus reports that he's worried about Hot Rod's leadership style, but Optimus tells him not to worry, and that his unorthodox methods may be what Cybertron needs now.

On the Ark, Galvtaron remembers when the Unicron of his home universe devoured his Cybertron and then forced him to rule Earth, and be content with it. Galvatron is now determined to rule THIS Cybertron.

Meanwhile, on Cybertron Hot Rod begins his speech to the population about his plans to try and reunite the Demons, and the Transformers on this planet, but the public (goaded by some Decepticons) turn violent and have to be held back by the Autobot guards.

Soon, Hot Rod is taken away by Kup, who tells him that he should concede the leadership to Ultra Magnus, Hot Rod gets Trailbreaker to contact Magnus for him, but before he can be connected the surviving Dinobots turn up and want to help Hot Rod in his search for the Demons and a way to help them, on the condition that they also go to find Grimlock as well, as they believe he's still alive at the bottom of the Sonic Canyons.

Magnus makes contact with Hot Rod, who tells the former to get Iacon repaired and ready for the reunification of the Cybertronians, having changed his plans.

Back on Cresta Superior, Rook arrives and finds the planet destroyed and reports back to his leader, Jhiaxus at the Hub that it appears to have been caused by Cybertronians. Jhiaxus remarks that it seems inevitable now for the past and future to clash at long last.

Worryingly in Zero Space, the crack seems to shatter, and that the future is now...cancelled?

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck

Hot Rod - Car

Ultra Magnus - Car Carrier

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Trailbreaker - Van

Red Hot - Fire Engine

Seawatch - Rescue Boat

Fixit - Ambulance

Stakeout - Police Car

Sky High - Helicopter

Grapple - Crane

Prowl - Police Car

Streetwise - Police Car

Perceptor - Microscope

Jetfire - Jet

Blades - Helicopter

Inferno - Fire Engine

Roadbuster - Jeep

Blurr - Race Car

Red Alert - Emergency Responce Car

Whirl - Helicopter

Sandstorm - Helicopter/Buggy

Rack 'N' Ruin

Slag - Triceratops

Snarl - Stegosaurus

Sludge - Apatosaurus

Swoop - Pteranodon

Civil Defense Force Members 90 Percent Dead

Brainstorm Arrested

Highbrow Arrested

Hardhead Arrested

Grimlock (Flashback) Maybe Dead

Overdrive (Flashback)

Override (Flashback)

Getaway (Flashback)

Road King (Flashback)

Decepticon

Galvatron - Laser Cannon

Bludgeon - Tank

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Spinister - Helicopter
Needlenose - Jet

Thunderwing Matrix Suffused Remains

Blitz Engines

Scorponok (Flashback) Maybe Dead

Alternate Universe Sweeps (Flashback)

Megatron (Mentioned) Dead

Cybertronian Empire

Jhiaxus

Rook - Bird-Like Jet

Other

Maccadam's Bartender

Alternate Universe Unicron - Ringed Planet (Flashback)

Demons (Vision)

People of Cresta Superior Killed by Decepticons

Nebulons Still Disorientated

Cybertronian Civilians

Primus (Mentioned)

Notes

• The soldiers on Cresta Superior are dressed in blue and red armour, and have a snake emblem on their fortress? Anyone else think of Cobra then?
• Scorponok's method to reverse the Nucleon effects seem to have been implemented on the victims since the last issue (yeah...the morning AFTER!)
• Thunderwing's corpse seems to be being repaired on the Warworld...uh oh!
• It turns out that since the Gene-Key was reversed some Transformers have violent tendencies still, in the wake of living out their chaotic sides for a few days (or however long it was)
• Fixit and his team have been dispatched to Nebulos (at some point) to try and fix what Scorponok did to the planet
• Magnus seems to think that Hot Rod made himself go underground during Scorponok's short-lived reign on purpose...
• Galvatron's flashback shows the alternate universe Unicron devouring Galvatron's original Cybertron and leading to the events of Rhythms of Darkness, where he was introduced too
• Hot Rod seems to be shocked when Slag is seen out of Quarantine, but didn't seem to care about Inferno being out...
• Oh my gosh! Jhiaxus is here! Who could have forseen that? (other than everyone as he was shown in the spoilery scenes in issue 80.5)
• Speaking of the spoilery scenes, the crack in Zero Space seems to be shattering now...ominous!
• Optimus seems to know who Glavatron is....maybe they found out some point in the last 20 years?