IDW - Dark Cybertron #1

Title: Dark Dawn

Written by: John Barber and James Roberts

Layouts by: Phil Jimenez

Finished Art by: Andrew Griffith

Prologue Art by: Brendan Cahill

Colours by: Josh Perez

Prologue Colours by: J.P. Bove

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Plot

Long ago, deep in space the Ark-1 finds a space anomaly in the Benzuli Expanse, which Nova Prime finds interesting, after looking at the equipment Cyclonus determines that it's a portal to another universe, described in legends as a counter to this one, a dead universe. Nova Prime orders Galvatron to send them into the portal, before it's too late however, Jhiaxus sends out a distress call, and contacts Shockwave to tell him to continue his work for him.

Six Million years later, Shockwave has almost completed his mission, he has Jhiaxus send Waspinator through a space bridge with the Metrotitan from Gorlam Prime, upon arrival, the Titan's Ore within his body (from Gorlam Prime) begins to react with the Ore in the Crystal City, and causes a reaction.

In Iacon, Rattrap calls out to Starscream, who has taken on a new body following his coronation, and points out that the sun, which rose earlier is still in the same place, and that it's still hours until sunrise anyway! Starscream has a scan taken of the anomaly and recognizes it, he asks Rattrap to contact the Lost Light as he needs an expert's help.

Gorlam Prime is exploding due to Jhiaxus' actions with the Titan, and Orion Pax's ship isn't able to escape the gravity well, when suddenly the Lost Light Quantum Jumps to the rescue, having picked up Pax's distress signal before, and escapes due to it's stronger engines.

The two ship's crews meet up and find each other weird. Magnus asks Pax if he plans to assuming command of the ship, but he says no, but does want a tour of the ship. During the tour, they end up on the bridge, when Starscream makes contact, after a short annoyance from Orion about Starscream being in contact and learning about his new leadership over Cybertron, Starscream gets down to business and asks for Cyclonus to confirm that the anomaly on Cybertron is a portal to the Dead Universe, which he sadly does, and warns them that it'll be devastating, as it could destroy the whole planet, but Orion thinks it'll be something much worse...

In the wastelands of Cybertron, the Autobots are investigating the anomaly themselves when suddenly the ground in front of them explodes and a now ravenous, zombie-like Titan erupts from the ground and towers over the them.

Shockwave has a quick flash of future visions including Megatron fighting Galvatron, Starscream dissolving, Rodimus being clamped by something large, Alpha Trion flying, Kup in chains, the Lost Light crashing into some water and Orion Pax fighting a mirror image of himself. 

Shockwave pulls himself out of his vision to find Waspinator worrying over him, but Shockwave shrugs off him and Dreadwing as he greets his two cohorts from the Dead Universe via a hologram: Nova Prime and Galvatron!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Characters

Autobot

Rodimus - Sports Car

Bumblebee - Car

Orion Pax - Truck Cab

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport

Swerve - Van

Skids - Van

Brainstorm - Jet

Whilr - Osprey Helicopter

Ratchet - Ambulance

Perceptor

Hound - Jeep

Prowl - Car

Ironhide - Van

Arcee - Car

Snarl - Stegosaurus

Swoop - Pteranodon

Sludge - Apatosaurus

Slag - Triceratops

Hardhead - Personnel Carrier

Wheelie - Car

Cliffjumper - Car (Flashback)

Sideswipe - Car (Flashback)

Alpha Trion (Flash Forward)

Kup - Pick-Up Truck (Flash Forward)

Mirror Orion - Truck Cab (Flash Forward)

Thunderclash (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Shockwave - Flying Artillery 

Dreadwing - Stealth Bomber

Waspinator - Wasp

Megatron (Flash Forward)

NAIL

Starscream - Jet

Rattrap - Z'verein Mole Rat

Swindle - Van

Jazz - Car

Blurr - Race Car

Cybertronian

Cyclonus - Jet

Jhiaxus - Jet

"The Necrotitan" - Space Shuttle Mutated by Ores

Nova Prime - Truck

Galvatron - Tank

Tailpipe - Motorcycle (Flashback)

Grindcore - Anti-Missile Tank (Flashback)

Scourge - Space Shuttle (Flashback)

Ancient Cybertronians (Mentioned)

Knights of Cybertron (Mentioned)

Metrotitans (Mentioned)

Primus (Mentioned)

Other

Garnak

Notes

• This is the start of the big Dark Cybertron event that has been being built up since the relaunch of the comic
• The Previously section features scenes from various MTMTE and RID comics (as if anyone hasn't been following them already anyway!)
• The prologue makes a small retcon that Nova Prime ordered Galvatron to send the Ark into the Dead Universe, unlike how it looked in Spotlight: Galvatron, where he just did it of his own accord.
• Tailpipe, a character mentioned by Cyclonus as being on the Ark is shown here for the first time, here he is shown using the character model of the Tailpipe toy from the Dark of the Moon Human Alliance toyline (one of my favourites by the way)
• The bright light shown in several RID issues recently is revealed to be a portal to the Dead Universe here
• Starscream's new body is based on the upcoming Armada Starscream toy, just without the insignias. Which of course is based on the Starscream from Transformers Armada originally
• Starscream being in contact with the Lost Light was introduced in the prose story included in MTMTE#21
• The Metrotitan shown in previous issues being taken from Gorlam Prime was clearly miscoloured, as he's shown here in both the present and flashbacks in this new colourscheme.
• It's revealed here that Shockwave's whole scheme has been in order to serve his true master, Nova Prime!!
• Nova Prime was last seen in Heart of Darkness where he was possessed by the D-Void and defeated by Galvatron, who in turn was last seen being dissolved by the Dead Universe during Chaos. Kup, who was seen in the future vision was last seen being sent to the Dead Universe during the Infestation crossover where he was zombified.
• It's likely that the Lost Light are looking for Thudnerclash again, because he's had a head-start on the Knight Quest, and they want to learn where he's been already.