IDW - More Than Meets The Eye #29

Title: World, Shut Your Mouth - Part 2: Words Hand in the Air

Written by: James Roberts

Art by: Alex Milne

Colours by: Joana LaFuente

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editorial Assistance: Rebecca Huard

Editor: John Barber

Plot

On Luna 2, the Victim Impact Statements are in full swing, and Rodimus is fed up of hearing them all. Atomizer approaches him, and tells him he has the list of everyone who voted for him to be stripped of his command. Rodimus tells him to go away with it, as he would be in big trouble if he ever saw those names. Atomizer mentions that there's some members of the crew, who wanted to resume the quest on the list, and he should read it to see who are true believers of their mission...which makes Rodimus hesitate...

Starscream is brought to the stand, as speaks up in Megatron's defence, he basically calls Megatron a thug, who got way in over his head, and he should be pitied for being the monster he became due to the war. Afterwards Megatron asks to speak to Ultra Magnus alone, and is granted a 30 minute break.

During the break, Starscream and Optimus learn from Rattrap and Slamdance respectively that the opinion polls are showing that the public are warming to both sides due to their actions during the trial.

Following the break, Magnus announces that Megatron has changed his plea to "Innocent" and wishes to address the court, Optimus is stunned, and Magnus claims that Megatron simply had a change of heart.

At the same moment, Rodimus has tucked into a dark corner, reading a tablet that looks an awful lot like a certain list Atomizer teased him with earlier...

On the Lost Light, six months later, Tailgate is finally back to full health, and is exercising his Transformation Cog, and springing onto Cyclonus, showing off his "Finger in the Head" move which defeated Tyrest, and he is caught up on the recent events.

Tailgate sees Megatron as their captain, and is a bit confused, until he runs into Mainframe and Jackpot, and he is glad to hear that people missed him during his illness. He's having the best day of his life...then he walks into a Legislator....who is merely acting as a doorman for Swerve's bar, ass Swerve has reprogrammed him to serve his bar's rules.

In the bar, Skids, Nautica, Riptide and Trailcutter are hanging out reading the Lost Light Insider, which Nautica passes off as a scandal sheet. Trailcutter is drunk, but wants something even stronger, when Riptide mentions hearing about Megatron's "Superfuel" in the Medibay, which gets Trailcutter worked up.

Nightbeat is in his room working on some cases when Chromedome visits to tell him about his message from Rewind changing, and asks him to check it out to see if it was tampered with, but Nightbeat suggests that Chromedome just imagined it out of grief. Chromedome tells him to leave, but as soon as he turns he see's Rewind standing in the doorway!!

Elsewhere, Trailcutter is sneaking to the Medibay, with a head cam attached so the others can watch as well, however he finds the Medibay heavily locked. Nautica decides that this is a bad idea, so she leaves the group and decides to hide in her quarters. During this, Skids is jumped by Tailgate, showing off his new signature move, which knocks over the computer and damages it. This means he misses Trailcutter seeing the door disappear in front of him, and allows him to enter. He finds the superfuel and takes a swig of it.

Unfortunately for Trailcutter he set off a silent alarm, which has summoned a security team, Megatron, Ultra Magnus and Ratchet, who tell him to drop the fuel, as it won't agree with him. Suddenly Trailcutter collapses, and feels poisoned, Megatron approaches him to help him out, but Trailcutter activates his "panic button" which sets off a forcefield for 30 minutes. Megatron tells the others to leave while he deal with the situation.

Chromedome and Nightbeat race back to Nightbeat's room to grab Nightbeat's equipment, as Nightbeat believes that the rewind he saw, which disappeared when Chromedome turned around, was a Data Ghost, left behind due to the weight of the data he stored inside him, which fascinates Nightbeat. Chromedome thinks that Rewind must be haunting him as he hasn't kept his promises to him. Nightbeat manages to open his door (after several locks) only to find his back wall missing....

Trailcutter's forcefield pops, and he tells Megatron to take him away, he just doesn't want to fight with him. Instead Megatron smacks him across the back of the neck, and permanently activates his Fuel Intake Modulator meaning he can never enjoy getting drunk again. Trailcutter is angry at first, but Megatron gives him the role of Director of Security since he was unhappy with how easily he got into the Medibay, and warns him that if he does anything to sabotage his job in anyway, then he will destroy him.

His first official job however is to help Megatron open up the coffin that was brought aboard (since it was knocked ajar when Trailcutter set off his forcefield and appears to be free of viruses etc). Inside they find the dead, and partially decapitated body of Rodimus!

Characters

Autobot

Megatron - Tank

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport

Ratchet - Ambulance

Trailcutter - Van

Riptide - Boat

Nautica - Submarine

Skids - Van

Tailgate - Car

Swerve - Van

Chromedome - Car

Nightbeat - Car

Broadside

Mirage

Hot Spot

Groove

Streetwise

Mainframe

Jackpot

Hoist - Crane

Bluestreak - Car

Joyride

Aquafend

Grotusque

Repugnus

Doublecross

Rung - A Thingie (Hologram Only)

Rewind - Memory Stick (Data Ghost) Dead

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab (Flashback)

Rodimus - Car (Flashback + Corpse in Coffin)

Prowl - Emergency Car (Flashback)

Gripper (Flashback)

Atomizer (Flashback)

Arcee - Car (Flashback)

Whirl - Osprey Helicopter (Flashback)

Blaster (Flashback)

Slamdance (Flashback)

Star Saber - Jet (Mentioned in an insult)

Ambulon - Leg (Mentioned) Dead

Brainstorm - Jet (Mentioned)

Dominus Ambus (Mentioned)

Brawn (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Shockwave - Flying Artillery (Mentioned)

Scorponok - Scorpion Tank (Mentioned)

Decepticon Justice Division (Mentioned)

Vos (Mentioned)

United Cybertron

Starscream - Jet (Flashback)

Rattrap - Mole Rat (Flashback)

Other Cybertronians (Flashback)

Other

Cyclonus - Jet

Ten the Doorman

Titans (Mentioned)

Notes

• The "previously" section has been turned into a humorous monologue detailing the recent events
• The Roll Call page has also returned, but lacks mini bios, and only seems to feature major characters for that story
• Tailgate has finally recovered from his bout with Cybercrosis, meaning he can now fully transform, move around and everything (which he does here)
• Tailgate has seemingly decided to milk his moment of glory during the battle with Tyrest by making his "finger in the head" move his signature.
• He has also been finally given his Autobrand, which Cyclonus doesn't seem to approve of.
• As of this issue every Protectobot is on board the Lost Light (with several being on Cybertron in Season One) - Wonder if this means we'll have some gestalt fun, since Megatron is here too?
• Cyclonus is shown with his Great Sword again, despite him not having it at all during Dark Cybertron.
• The crew of the Lost Light are revealed to actually like Tailgate, and sincerely wanted him to get better
• The "Vos" described during the trial is clearly not the same guy we saw with the DJD, confirming that they rename themselves after the "First Five Cities" when they join the group.
• The majority of the crew in the bar scene are new cast members, which is meant to show us as many new faces as possible most likely.
• Trailcutter knowing the newcomer Nautica's name, but not long term crewmate Riptide's at first is a bit insulting!
• The author of the Lost Light Insider is clearly screwing up facts to make Megatron seem much more irrational and bad than he is during these events. Due to his past as a broadcaster, and place on the Bridge during the coffin incident, would probably indicate that Blaster is the author.
• Nightbeat is studying a hologram of Rung's "alternate mode" when he is met by Chromedome, a reference to it being confusing, or something more?
• 2 of the "Big Three" mysteries mentioned in Spotlight: Nightbeat are revealed here to be Ark-1 and Luna-1's locations. Could the 3rd be Rung's alternate mode? Or just the location of the Knights?
• If you look in the background during the scene with Nightbeat examining the hologram, you can see his walls vanishing, and the stars showing through.
• Nightbeat's room number (221) is clearly a reference to 221b Baker Street, the address of Sherlock Holmes
• Nautica is shown to be able to lower her visor with her fingers rather than it being automatic.
• Ambulon's belongings are still sitting at his desk...IT'S BEEN SIX MONTHS GUYS!!
• Hey look! Slamdance is still around! I wonder where he's been since Chaos! I mean, if he was on Cybertron you'd assume he was the news caster rather than Circuit, and if he was on the Lost Light, then why wasn't he doing announcements rather than Siren?
• Despite being quite close to each other (room 208 and 221) Chromedome and Nightbeat decided to drive back to Nightbeat's room...
• Despite the wall being missing, none of Nightbeat's stuff is being blown out into space implying there may be a forcefield in place, or the wall is just invisible.
• Chromedome confirms that Dominus Ambus was indeed rewind's first Conjunx Endura
• Trailcutter is given the role of Director of Security, which has been part-time filled by Ultra Magnus since Red Alert's "accident"
• Um....why is Rodimus dead, with half a head inside a coffin?!
• The Autobots are clearly shown to be using microphones during the trial now...this is adorable in a practical way!
• Megatron has implied that he turned off his own F.I.M. chip, has this been for a while? Or since he started taking his "superfuel"?
• It's entirely possible that the tablet Rodimus is reading at the end is NOT the voting results, but something else altogether...this is James Roberts' work after all!

IDW - More Than Meets The Eye #28

Title: World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace

Written by: James Roberts

Art by: Alex Milne

Colours by: Josh Burcham

Letters by: Tom B. Lang

Editorial Assistance: Rebecca Huard

Editor: John Barber

Plot

Following the battle with Shockwave, the planet is being put back together, Metroplex has taken the place of Iacon as the planet's capital, and the Lost Light is almost ready to return to it's mission. However, Optimus refuses to allow Rodimus to leave yet, as he needs everyone to stay on the planet until the trial with Megatron can be concluded. Optimus assigns the Autobot High Command their roles in the trial.

Soon, Optimus asks Rodimus how the quest is going, and Rodimus admits that he had to shatter the Matrix to save the Cold Constructed, but he thinks Thunderclash can help as he was having "dreams" about where the Knights are. Optimus appears annoyed at Rodimus for losing the Matrix, but asks for his help in speeding up the trial, so Rodimus can get on his way...

Swerve runs a crew audition for people who wish to join the Lost Light along with Crosscut and Riptide, but Swerve keeps rejecting all of the candidates. During Nautica's audition Nightbeat bursts in, and exposes the auditions as a prank created by Swerve as he knows Ultra Magnus would never have allowed him to call them "Crewditions"

Elsewhere, Optimus and Rodimus visit Megatron in his cell with Chromedome, whom they intend to use to extract memories from Megatron to use in the trial, to make things go faster, but Megatron refuses to allow them to mess with his mind in any way. Optimus then leaves and tells him he won't see him until the trial now, afterwards Rodimus tells Megatron that he WILL be executed for his crimes, but Megatron just calmly asks him to do him a favour, and hands over a Communicube to him.

The Trial later begins on Luna 2, Megatron is brought out into a stadium filled with Cybertronians, and his many crimes are listed, including genocide and conquering of sovereign worlds, which he pleads guilty to....

Six Months later, the Lost Light is back on it's journey, with it's new arrivals, including their new captain, Megatron, who has visited Rung for a therapy session, which has attracted the rest of the crew to try and eavesdrop.

Megatron grows tired of his therapy session, and tries to leave, but Rung shocks him by showing he has an original copy of Megatron's autobiography, "Towards Peace", including the original dedication to Terminus. Shortly afterwards the room is shrouded in darkness briefly, before it returns to normal. Megatron decides to leave, and Megatron reveals that Terminus was someone who taught him to not become attached to things, which was the reason he removed the dedication. He also says that he wanted this session in the first place because he wants to rewrite his life, and to try and redeem himself

Nightbeat and Skids decide to visit Chromedome, to see if he is alright, as he hasn't been seen since the end of the Trial and Megatron's "Grand Statement". But Chromedome is just sitting in his room, rewatching Rewind's final message to him on repeat, so they leave him alone. But Nightbeat has started to notice some letters are disappearing from the walls and doors, which interests him. The duo leave before they hear Rewind's message change, as it ends in a horrifying scream instead of the usual "I love you"

Megatron returns to his room and finds the door covered in graffiti, and then gets struck by an arrow shot by Whirl, who then attacks Megatron, and drags into battling in the fuel furnace room. Megatron defends himself, but doesn't do anything to badly hurt Whirl, except revealing that his past victories were all orchestrated by him, to allow him to live on knowing he "created" Megatron. The fight ends after Whirl punches Megatron in the stomach, and his arm is sucked into some of his random space bridges. Megatron tells him to clean up the mess and comments on how the Pyrobots are shirking off their work again. Whirl then calls up someone as says that Megatron's expecting to be provoked so he's not going to be too easy to provoke.

Megatron later arrives on the Bridge and learns that hey haven't made contact with Thunderclash yet, but they should be near the Vis Vitalis within days. Magnus also suggests that a UFO they've been following lately may be a coffin, left floating in space.....

Characters

Autobot

Megatron - Tank

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport

Rung

Perceptor

Brainstorm - Jet

Nautica - Deep Sea Submarine

Skids - Van

Nightbeat - Sports Car

Chromedome - Car

Whirl - Osprey Helicopter

Mainframe

Mirage

Hosehead

Joyride

Groove

Sky-High - Helicopter

Blaster

Rewind - Memory Stick (Voice on Recording only)

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab (Flashback Only)

Rodimus - Sports Car (Flashback Only)

Ratchet - Ambulance (Flashback Only)

Prowl - Emergency Car (Flashback Only)

Swerve - Van (Flashback Only)

Crosscut - Van (Flashback Only)

Riptide - Boat (Flashback Only)

Bluestreak - Car (Flashback Only)

Chromia - Car (Flashback Only)

Atomizer (Flashback Only)

Metroplex - City/Space Ship (Flashback Only)

First Aid - Ambulance (Flashback Only)

Sandstorm - Buggy/Helicopter (Flashback Only)

Broadside - Jet/Boat (Flashback Only)

Hound - Jeep (Flashback Only)

Cosmos - Orbiter (Flashback Only)

Ironhide - Van (Flashback Only)

Sky Lynx - Space Shuttle (Flashback Only)

Huffer - Truck (Flashback Only)

Xaaron (Flashback Only)

Powerflash (Flashback Only)

Trailcutter - Van

Rollout

Sunstreaker - Car

Siren

Hoist - Crane

Windblade - Jet

Sludge - Apatosaurus

Snarl - Stegosaurus

Thunderclash (Mentioned)

Pyrobots (Mentioned)

Hydrobots (Mentioned)

Aquabat (Mentioned)

Unnamed Hydrobat - Hovercraft/Winged Creature (Mentioned)

The Wreckers (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Ravage - Cassette

Shockwave - Flying Artillery (Mentioned)

United Cybertron

Starscream - Jet (Flashback Only)

Fat Tankor - Tank (Flashback Only)

Blurr - Race Car (Flashback Only)

Other

Chief Justice Tyrest (Mentioned)

Knights of Cybertron (Mentioned)

Circle of Light (Mentioned)

Phobos (Mentioned)

Desecrus (Mentioned)

Terminus (Mentioned)

Mortilus (MentioneD)

Rung's Female Bibliophile Friend (Mentioned)

Notes

• This is the start of MTMTE's second season.
• Nautica, who has finally reached her species' homeworld of Cybertron seems to have gotten bored of it already and joined the Lost Light
• Several of the new crew members were previously seen in the Robots in Disguise series, but as background characters.
• This issue confirms that Sky High and Broadside survived the attack from Devastator during the Decpeticon riots.
• Atomizer is shown overseeing the repainting of the Lost Light, this is a hint towards his past as an interior decorator
• Even Optimus Prime knows Thunderclash as the greatest Autobot of all time.
• Rung's spectacles are revealed to actually be removable, revealing a more standard style of optics instead. It appears that he needs to change them every so often as well. This makes his similarities to Kaon of the DJD even more apparent (Perhaps Kaon didn't keep changing his spectacles which is why he now has no eyes?)
• When the blackout occurs Megatron and Rung are shown in a grid-like manner similar to how Galvatron and his troops looked in the 80's movie during their reformatting. This could imply that they're being scanned here
• Megatron's fear of Chromedome going into his mind may have been hinted at during Overlord's flashback, where he mentioned that Megatron had Trepan killed for teaching Overlord about Mnemosurgery. Possibly implying that he was afraid even then of having his mind messed with.
• Megatron's body has been messed up so much that his internal organs are now a twisted Spacebridge.
• The missing words, blackouts etc are all likely due to the Lost Light somehow rejecting Megatron. Further implying that it is a sentient being in itself. Further, the writing on Megatron's door COULD have been done by the Lost Light itself, perhaps by moving the stolen letters and putting them on his door?
• Whirl is told that his "invincibility" against the Decepticons is all Megatron's doing, as he forbade anyone from killing him, since he made him what he is now.
• Rewind's "Goodbye" message is either altered here, or Chromedome is hearing it properly for the first time now (judging by Megatron's narrative on "little edits". If it was altered now, then that is likely due to the same force that's affecting the writing on the walls as well
• Megatron's trial takes place on Luna 2 in what appears to be either an old court or a stadium.
• Optimus' "crown" during the trial is the same as what Tyrest wears, imdicating that it's a part of his uniform, and not a natural extension.
• Ultra Magnus identifying the "UFO" as a "Coffin" is meant to make you weep, as that was one of the messages sent to the past back in issue 1 (Don't open the coffin)
• Rung's female bibliophile friend is either one of the newcomers who managed to get a copy (maybe Nautica go it from Alpha Trion?) or Arcee is a secret reader. Or she may be an alien! I'm sure we'll find out some time.
• The Lost Light going to rendezvous with Thunderclash sounds a lot like how it planned to meet with the Circle of Light at the start of Season One huh?
• Ravage being on the Lost Light seems to be a reference to how he was originally meant to be in the series as a spy in Season One. Similarly Bluestreak was going to be in the cast as well, but was removed as he was RID artist Andrew Griffth's favourite character.

IDW - Transformers vs GI Joe #0

Title: The Golden Boys

Written by: Tom Scioli and John Barber

Art, Colours and Lettering by: Tom Scioli

Production by: Chris Mowry

Edits by: Carlos Guzman

Cover Art by: Tom Scioli

Cover Colours by: Josh Burcham and Tom Scioli

Plot

Bumblebee is being chased by Starscream through space,, and Bumblebee is forced to crash his "ARK" into the planet Earth to hide out.

Nearby, GI Joe have begun an attack on a Cobra facility, but have to deal with some Creeper vines Cobra have developed. Scarlett tells the team that whoever brings her Cobra Commander's helmet, she'll marry (as he killed Snake Eyes' sister, and her parents). Duke and Snake Eyes take her up on her offer.

The team manage to track down Doctor Venom and Major Bludd, and find boxes full of Creeper products. The team split up to investigate the rest of the base to find the Commander.

Snake Eyes ends up in the car pool and finds Starscream wandering around, assuming he's just a BAT he tries to blow him up with a grenade, but it just gets swatted away. Bumblebee however decides to break his cover and takes Snake Eyes away in his car mode, to save him from the explosion and Starscream.

Scarlett and Duke find Cobra Commander and Baroness, but they manage t escape in a jet. Scarlett and the others follow in some stolen jets as well.

Bumblebee lets Snake Eyes out and begins fighting with Starscream. Snake Eyes manages to get onto the Commander's jet and whilst Scarlett throws some of the Creepers onto the jet, which begins to destroy it. Snake Eyes stabs Cobra Commander in the chest, however Commander manages to shoot Snake Eyes in the face as well.

The Joes destroy the Commander's jet as Snake Eyes is rescued by Duke and Scarlett. Everyone escapes the area, even Starscream, albeit missing a wing, Bumblebee however is taken in by the Creepers and is lost.

Later in the PIT, Snake Eyes is on bed rest, and has his face fully bandaged.Scarlett visits him, and says all they found was Cobra Commander's helmet, then asks him if he's thought about a date for their wedding yet...

Even later on, deep in space Starscream has returned to the Decepticons with Bumblebee's head, which Soundwave is now scanning for any information they can use against the Autobots. Megatron is pleased with Starscream for his work today, and offers him anything he desires.

Characters

Autobot

Bumblebee - VW Beetle Decapitated by Starscream

Optimus Prime (Hologram)

Decepticon

Starscream - F15 Jet (Formerly Nemesis-type Shuttle)

Megatron

Soundwave

Straxus

GI Joe

Snake Eyes Badly burned by Cobra Commander

Scarlett

Duke

Hawk

Roadblock

Doc

Stalker

Rock N Roll

Bazooka

Breaker

Wild Bill

Ace

Zap Killed by Cobra Commander

Short-Fuze Killed by Cobra Commander

Shooter Killed by Cobra Commander

Other Rookie Joe Killed by Cobra Commander

Cover Girl (Mentioned)

Other Joes

Cobra

Cobra Commander Skewered by Snake Eyes

Baroness

Doctor Venom

Major Bludd

Cobra Troopers

Notes

• This comic was released as part of Free Comic Book Day 2014 as the preview for the upcoming Transformers vs GI Joe series. This was previously done in 2012 for Regeneration One as well.
• The Transformer's language is shown as electronic signal which are usually translated for the audience.
• The comic is given as ageing effect to make it look like it's from the 80's.
• Starscream seems to actually be loyal to Megatron in this continuity, and even seems to see him as a "god"...this scares me.... 
• Bumblebee similarly refers to Optimus as "Lord Optimus" here...this seems a little more formal than Optimus would usually like.
• Bumblebee's ARK (Autobot Resistance Karrier) crashes into Earth in a similar fashion to the Ark in the G1 cartoon and Marvel comic.
• Snake Eyes actually has no facial scars for the majority of this story, and chatters away like mad...this is quite unusual!
• No-one paying attention to the 2 Transformers fighting in the skies during the battle is most likely due to Cobra's over-usage of robotic BATS through their adventures.
• Straxus sure does look a bit upset in the corner of the Decepticon base huh? Wonder if Megatron has just usurped him of his power or something?
• This comic also features some commentary, letters from the crew and a battlefield report talking about some weapons shown.
• Just a quick guess...I think the Autobots will arrive on Earth and find Bumblebee's headless body in GI Joe's custody...problems ensue!

TFCC - Alone Together Part 1: Paranoia

Writers: S. Trent Troop & Greg Sepelak

Pencils & Inks: Naoto Tsushima

Colours: Evan Gauntt

Letters: Jesse Wittenrich

Managing Editor: Pete Sinclair

Coordination: Phases

Plot

Lots of confusing things happen, which ends with a space ship blowing up, and Rampage being sent hurtling into a planet, determined to survive, and assuming that the Maximals sent him there to be isolated and kept away from the rest of the Cybertronians.

He travels the planet, recovering from his injuries following the crash (he was left as a skeleton). After a while he's able to talk again, and of course begins arguing with himself, but notices someone following him and so he attacks them.

Afterwards, and after announcing to no-one that he's not mad, he notices some tire tracks and assume that someone is taunting him, so he changes into his shuttle mode and prepares to chase them!

Characters

Cybertronian

Rampage - Jet

Transmutate (presumably) - Motorcycle

Other Cybertronians Likely killed in ship destruction (or whatever it was)

Notes

• Rampage has the ability to regrow his body parts after destruction
• Rampage is also of course, schizophrenic. As such, it's entirely possible that the person following him is just in his mind.
• The shadowy figure following Rampage here is most likely meant to be Transmutate based on the silhouette, and tracks left from the changeform (and her being on the front cover of this comic of course)
• I doubt Rampage was left on the planet on purpose, most likely the ship was destroyed by someone in transit. Otherwise they wouldn't have let someone with a flying alternate mode be left alone on a planet as a supposed isolation....

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Botcon 2014 comic preview
Botcon 2014 boxset preview
Transformers at 30: Flashback Part 2 by Jim Sorenson
Corey Burton Interview by Rosemary Ward
Squirm Profile
Olim Zarak
Transformers I.Q. quiz on pirate characters
Trivia Bonus Information on Cannonball
Recordicons SG Laserbeak is a hipster