TFCC #55 - Alone Together: Prologue

Writers: Jesse Wittenrich & Pete Sinclair

Pencils & Inks: Naoto Tsushima

Colours: Evan Gauntt

Letters: Jesse Wittenrich

Managing Editor: Pete Sinclair

Coordination: Phases

Plot

Botanica leads a team of Maximals to break the imprisoned Dynobot out of jail, as part of their revolution against the unfairness of their lives, being born just to continue a fight they didn't start. Dynobot was imprisoned at some point due to being outspoken, and they need to rescue him to use him in their plight.

Along the way the team are stopped by the thought-to-be-dead Rattrap, who manages to see through their Imperception Shield (it makes them invisible) as he knows all of it's inventor's (Rhinox) design flaws.

The team approach the cells when Transmutate hears someone speaking to her, one of the prisoners seems to know her, and about her inner turmoil. The team manage to break Dynobot out, and the prisoner, Rampage, tells her to leave, as he's sure they'll meet again one day....

Characters

Maximal

Transmutate - Good Motor Scooter

Botanica - UAV

Botanica's Drone - Chest Plate

Rattrap - Sports Car

Jawbreaker - Van

Gecko-Bot - Race Car

Dynobot - Helicopter/Rocket Car

Torca - Armoured Artillery Truck

Rhinox (Mentioned)

Other

Rampage - Flight of Fear Jet

Alpha Trion (Mentioned)

"The Builders"/Autobots and Decepticons (Mentioned)

Notes

• This story is set in the same universe that Depth Charge from the previous story came from originally, AND where the imposter Black Arachnia and Nightscream from Reunification came from as well.
• It's not clear whether this story takes place before or after they left the universe however, though Botanica's drone does look a bit Nightscream-ish...
• Because of his omission from The Gathering and The Ascending, I believe this is the first time Jawbreaker has appeared in an official comic! (Albeit in a pre-beast body)
• All the characters here use existing toy models with remolded heads in some places, and therefore COULD be used as future toys (Rampage and Transmutate of course are getting this anyway)
• Rampage and Transmutate in the regular continuity wouldn't have these names until they arrived on Earth, but since this is set in an alternate universe it doesn't matter really
• Speaking of names, Rampage is named Rampage here, rather than protoform X, like his toy will be...I think the Club are trying to confuse me again....IT'S NOT DIFFICULT!! STOP IT!!!
• The spear weapon that comes with the Wheeljack mold is used here as the "Imperception Shield"
• Botanica's drone thingie actually uses Laserbeak's model as the basis, however her body is based on Beast Hunters Soundwave, which came with Ravage
• Rattrap and Botanica appear to have a past relationship here, like they did at the end of Beast Machines
• Rampage's interest in Transmutate is a clear reference to his friendship with her in Beast Wars
• Rampage isn't shown with a Predacon symbol here, and his profile page shows a Protoform X insignia instead, so I guess he follows the other Rampage's origins as a Maximal experiment of some sort.
• Given that the Maximals are mostly using Transformers Prime toys as their basis, I'd guess that the unseen Rhinox would use Bulkhead's model.

Other Features

"Thrilling 30" Interview with Flint Dille

Preview of 2014 Botcon figure Cannonball

Transformers at 30: Flashback by Jim Sorenson

Celebrity Fan Spotlight (interview with pro-boxer Marina Isami, a Transformers fan!

Rampage Profile

Transmutate Profile

Transformers I.Q. focusing on Autobot commanders

Transformers I.Q. Trivia Bonus focusing on the universe visited in today's comic!

Recordicons - Buzzsaw taunts Overkill