IDW - Primacy #1

Written by: Chris Metzen and Flint Dille 

Art by: Livio Ramondelli

Letters by: Chris Mowry

Editor: John Barber

Plot

Following the Exodus of Cybertron, the planet has gone quiet, but it's unlikely to stay that way for long.

Hot Rod hangs out with a friend in Maccadam's Old Oil House, having just graduated from the Autobot Academy, and fully defends his choice on side in the war. Outside the bar, Hot Rod runs into his old friend Slinger, who has joined the Decepticons. After a quick argument on who is right and wrong, the duo part ways, and Slinger tells Hot Rod to watch his back.

Following his rehabilitation after the events of Monstrosity, Optimus heads to the Grav-Haraan Glacier (Southern Polar Region) with Ironhide to relax a bit, whilst there however they find an Omega Sentinel, still waiting for Nova Prime to return. When he discovers that Nova went missing a long time ago, and that Optimus is the new Prime, complete with Matrix, he follows Optimus, and even takes on his shuttle mode to take them back to Iacon

In Iacon, Grimlock and his Dynobots are being returned to normal after their exposure to Corrupted Energon, and as his first job after recovery, Grimlock is paired up with Hot Rod for a recon mission.

At the ruins of Harmonex, Megatron wakes up Trypticon. who has had his spark infused with Pentius', creating a loyal follower for Megatron to add to his ranks. After a short discussion on what Trypticon remembers of his past lives, Trypticon projects memories from both of his lives, including Trypticon travelling a deserted Cybertron, and the Quintesson's actions of the past. After breaking the link, hey wait for the other Decepticons to assemble.

Sky Lynx carries Hot Rod and Grimlock to Harmonex to examine the remains of Trypticon, but when they arrive they are shocked to find him missing!

In orbit, Megatron and his Decepticons are set up inside Trypticon and begin their journey into the void of space....

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck

Ironhide - Van

Hot Rod - Car

Grimlock - Armoured Truck

Omega Supreme - Rocket

Sky LLynx - Space Shuttle

Ratchet - Ambulance

Wheeljack - Car

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport

Hot Rod's Bar Pal

Metroplex - City/Space Ship

Zeta Prime (Mentioned) Dead

Dynobots (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Megatron - Tank

Tyrpticon/Pentius - Space Ship

Soundwave - Acoustic Tank

Starscream - Jet

Skywarp - Jet

Shockwave - Ray Gun

Blackwall

Slinger

Scorponok - Scorpion Tank (Mentioned)

Cybertronian

Blaster - Acoustic Tank

Random Cybertronians

Nova Prime - Truck (Mentioned) Lost

Ark-1 Crew (Mentioned) Lost

Skar (Mentioned) Killed by Grimlock

Other

Quintessons (Flashback)

Sharkticons - Sharks (Flashback)

Primus (Mentioned)

Notes

• As usual, the character list is of Cybertronian vehicles, rather than Earth based, due to the era this comic is set in.
• This issue explains where Hot Rod was during Monstrosity. He was training at the Autobot Academy.
• Slinger, Hot Rod's friend shown in the previous 2 stories has been shown to have joined the Decepticons, and been rebuilt to be a warrior (as was shown to happen to Decepticons as far back as Megatron: Origin).
• It seems a bit odd that someone with a Decepticon insignia can just walk around in Iacon during the war huh? Especially after the Exodus has already happened!
• So Optimus just happened to travel to a desolate part of Cybertron, where he happened to find the last of the Omega Sentinels just waiting for the Prime to return? Huh...
• Grimlock and the Dynobots have had their dragon modes removed from their bodies, and have their original vehicle modes rescanned.
• Grimlock's animosity to Hot Rod could be a reference to their future working together in Maximum Dinobots
• Pentius' spark was placed with Trypticon's shell in Monstrosity, it's confirmed here that his spark has merged with Tyrpticon's making a new hybrid mind.
• Omega Supreme waiting for Nova Prime could mean that he was waiting for him, so he could confront him over his amoral actions (including support of Jhiaxus' experiments), as it was shown that this would be after his battle with Monstructor. Also Omega admitted in Spotlight: Optimus Prime that he and Nova "disagreed" on matters etc.
• At the end Megatron is shown using Trypticon as a starship, seemingly leading the Decepticons to find a new home away from Cybertron. This is also the main goal of the Decepticons in the present day IDW stories. Wonder what happens in this story to make them change their goals to conquering Cybertron again?
• Despite helping the Autobots in Autocracy, Blaster doesn't appear to have joined them by this point.
• Just remember, due to "recent" revelations in MTMTE, this Ultra Magnus isn't the same one who later joins the Lost Light!