IDW - Transformers vs G.I. Joe #4

Title: Form Follows Function

Written by: Tom Scioli and John Barber

Art, Colours and Lettering by: Tom Scioli

Production by: Chris Mowry

Edits by: Carlos Guzman

Plot

Duke is discovered as a GI Joe spy, but he manages to defeat all the guys who confront him, on his way out of the base he runs into Snake Eyes and they start fighting next to the Space Bridge.

Elsewhere, Dr Venom is doing some voodoo looking stuff with Soundwave's body, a creepy book, some Joe soldiers and the Bumblecycle.

Elsewhere again, a Joe spaceship piloted by the Joe's pets (.....) is heading towards Cybertron with some more of their eco-terrorist weapons when they are stopped by a Cobra ship piloted by the Oktober Guard (no idea who they are). They start fighting, but are soon stopped by Fort Max grabs them and gobbles them up for fuel.

On Cybertron, Psyche-Out is leading a team to explore Cybertron, but are captured by Rodimus for some reason, and drives off with them towards the Decepticons, where he is met by Blaster, who attacks him as a traitor. Rodimus manages to defeat Blaster, and Apeface and Demolishor turn up and say that Megatron has been hoping someone would capture Blaster before long.

In Iacon, the Autobots and Joes get over their deadly illnesses, just in time for Metroplex to turn up, and Grimlock announces peace between the Joes and Autobots (presumably because of the Joes fighting the Sharkticons last issue). During the party that follows the unison, Bazooka decides to eat some of the Technorganic plants that are growing on the planet now and has a vision of Primus, but mis-translates it as "Prime Us", and asks Grimlock who Prime is. (meanwhile, Rodimus betrays the Decepticons and starts driving off with Blaster back to Metroplex) Grimlock explains that Optimus Prime was their leader, but he left because Megatron defeated him in a battle, and left Rodimus in charge, but Grimlock deposed him and took over.

Arcee counters that no one knows why Optimus left, and the others state that until they see otehrwise they believe Optimus is still alive out there somewhere, planning something.

Meanwhile Snake Eyes and Duke are fighting in Space-Time (yup) when they come across Optimus combined with his other modular parts, also stuck in space-time.

Characters

Autobot

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Rodimus - Hauling Truck

Blaster

Arcee

Brawn - Van

Wheeljack - Car

Mirage - Car

Perceptor - Tank

Slag - Triceratops

Swoop - Pteranodon

Fortress Maximus

Metroplex - Slug Thing

Optimus Prime - Truck

Omega Supreme - Rocket and Base (Drawing)

Bumblebee Corpse seen as Bumblecycle

Decepticon

Frenzy (Or Rumble) - Cassette Blown up by Duke

Apeface Dropped in Smelting Pool by Rodimus

Demolishor  Dropped in Smelting Pool by Rodimus

Soundwave Corpse shown with Joes

Megatron (Drawing)

GI Joe

Duke

Scarlett

Dr Venom

Shipwreck

Psyche Out

Frostbite

Barbecue

Chuckles

Mainframe

Lt. Falcon

Bazooka

Tripwire

Cover Girl

Jinx

Dusty

Order

Seasick

Junkyard

Max

Clyde

Sandstorm

Freedom

Too Many Generic Joes

Joe Colton (Mentioned)

Cobra

Snake Eyes

Big Boa Killed by Duke

Cobra Troops

Oktober Guard

S.H.R.I.E.K.

Colonel Breakoff

Horrorshow

Denia

Dragun

Munchnik

Other

Notes

• Ugh
• Why does Frenzy (or Rumble?) just let Duke put a bomb in his mouth?
• And why does Duke have a shirt under his UNDERCOVER disguise saying his name on it?!
• ...there is literally a scene with animal soldiers fighting Halloween reject soldiers....and yet it's still a meh issue...
• Fortress Maximus's "function" as "The Living Prison" may be a reference to his former role in IDW's main comics as the prison warden at Garrus-9...thought he wasn't eating the Joe's pets in that series....
• Blaster's role as a "Freedom Fighter" is likely a nod to his origins in the Marvel comics in the same way.
• One of Rodimus' Decepticon "friends" is Armada Demolishor
• The dialogue in the past has indicted that the Terraformed part of Cybertron is Iacon, but it's shown here to be on the southern side of Cybertron, despite Iacon normally being the very north-point of the planet.
• The whole scene with Grimlock leaving Metroplex and the Autobots and Joes having a random dance party are lifted from the 80's animated movie.
• ...The bit with Bazooka getting high on the Technorganic leaves is new though...
• Its revealed here that Grimlock deposed Rodimus as the Autobot's "King" after Optimus left for some undisclosed reason, and then Rodimus went rogue and started hunting or working with the Decepticons or something.
• So Duke and Snake Eyes somehow end up in the Space/Time void, and run into Optimus in a weird semi-transformed mode.
• Why is Duke now wearing Boa's helmet? That seems a bit strange....
• What am I saying? This whole series is strange!