IDW - Primacy #4

Written by: Chris Metzen & Flint Dille

Art by: Livio Ramondelli 

Letters by: Chris Mowry

Editor: John Barber

Plot

The Decepticons continue their assault on the Autobots, and assume that they have all be killed by the sheer firepower, whilst Megatron is distraught over the revelation from Pentius over his manipulation and plans to destroy Cybertron.

However, much to the Decepticon's shock, the Autobots have survived the attack on them using Trailbreaker's forcefield, and the proceed to counter-attack the Decepticons.

Nearby, Blackwall and Grimlock continue their battle, andd Grimlock manages to win by skewering his head with his sword, causing it to blow up, showing that despite Blackwall being stronger, Grimlock knows how to fight dirtier.

Megatron, realizing that he has to destroy Pentius from his own, and Trypticon's sparks, and orders Soundwave to raze Iacon if he fails.

Elsewhere, Hot Rod is attacked by Onslaught, who plans to kill him to get a place on Megatron's high command (as he's faamous), but he is saved by his old friend Slinger, who betrays the Decepticons, realizing that neither side is right in this war. Unfortunately Razorclaw hears this and immediately kills Slinger, and leads his Predacons to go against Hot Rod as well. However before they can start their attack, the Dynobots appear to assist their younger friend, and win the battle.

Megatron approaches the body of Trypticon, and smashes through the Autobots guarding him. Optimus notices this, and heads off to intercept him, taking down Motormaster on the way, and Omega Supreme defends him from the rest of the Stunticons.

Optimus soon reaches Megatron, and starts to duel with him, to stop him from doing anything stupid, with Megatron revealing that his spark was tainted by Pentius and he plans to use him to destroy all of Cybertron, and he knows no-one can stop him. Optimus however counters that there is always someone willing to save the day, giving his Autobots as examples. He then opens to Matrix to remove Pentius from the two sparks, leaving Megatron the way he was before. However, Optimus notes that Megatron's spark was corrupted long before Pentius came around, and knocks him out.

Moments later, Optimus broadcasts to everyone that Megatron has been defeated and he is imprisoned, and Cybertron returns to some level of peace. Optimus thinks back over what has happened, and finally feels happy with who he is now, as Optimus Prime, but knows that this is just the beginning of his story....

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck

Omega Supreme - Rocket and Base

Hot Rod - Car

Grimlock - Armoured Vehicle

Snarl - Armoured Vehicle

Sludge - Armoured Vehicle

Slag - Armoured Vehicle

Swoop - Jet

Sky Lynx - Space Ship

Trailbreaker - Truck

Ultra Magnus - Truck

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Jazz - Car

Hound - Car

Bumblebee - Car

Prowl - Car

Ironhide - Van

Swerve - Truck

Rung

Springer - Car/Helicopter

Sandstorm - Buggy/Helicopter

Ratchet - Ambulance 

Other Autobots

Decepticon

Megatron - Tank

Soundwave - Acoustic Tank

Shockwave - Ray Gun

Starscream - Jet

Skywarp - Jet

Thundercracker - Jet

Blitzwing - Jet/Tank

Hook - Crane

Hun-Gar - Two Headed Monster

Blackwall Killed by Grimlock

Onslaught - Tank

Slinger Killed by Razorclaw

Razorclaw - Lion

Rampage - Tiger

Tantrum - Bull

Headstrong - Rhino

Divebomb - Falcon

Motormaster - Truck

Dead End - Car

Wildrider - Car

Dragstrip - Car

Breakdown - Car

Tyrpticon - Battle Platform Disabled

Other Decepticons

Other

Pentius Removed from Sparks by Optimus Prime

Notes

• This issue marks the end of Flint Dille and Chris Metzen's early-war trilogy.
• As a way of marking the end of this series, the last page of this issue duplicates the first page in Autocracy, but with the panels reversed and the Matrix light added to Optimus' chest panel, perfectly bookending the series.
• He isn't properly seen, but Trailbreaker MUST be amongst the Autobots in this issue, since his forcefield protects them from the weapons barrage.
• Slinger's storyline here seems a bit pointless, he was barely seen in Autocracy and Monstrosity. He re-appeared in Primacy as a new Decepticon, then betrays them the second he gets the chance, just to be killed by Razorclaw...
• Optimus and Motormaster's head-to head collision is an homage to their similar scene in Masquerade from the G1 cartoon
• Rung and Swerve are seen amongst the Autobots hiding from the fighting...this seems appropriate considering their fighting skills!
• We know from the present day stories that Metroplex survived the events of this comic, but Trypticon isn't so clear. However he was shown in Stormbringer and Spotlight: Blaster as being around, at least until just after the Thunderhead Pass incident, but it's kinda confusing here.
• Megatron is shown arrested and chained up at the end of this story, but we all know he must escape somehow, otherwise the rest of IDW couldn't happen...