IDW - Drift: Empire of Stone #3

Written by: Shane McCarthy

Breakdowns by: Guido Guidi

Finishes by: Stephen Baskerville

Colours by: John-Paul Bove

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: John Barber

Plot

Hellbat gives a monologue on how he found the Army of Stone almost as soon as their group arrived on the planet, and then reveals how he's been using other Autobots and Decepticons to use their power sources to power the Army, which is otherwise inert thanks to Drift and Turmoil killing their Monks on their first visit. Hellbat reveals that he finds their long lives somewhat pointless, and wants to end it all, by using the Stone Army to wipe out both the Autobots and Decepticons.

They are about to use Ratchet and Drift for more power supplies, when Grit returns and kills one of his cohorts. A battle ensues with Drift taking on Vanquish, Grit going after Hellbat, and Ratchet dealing with the last one.

The battles wage on, but Vanquish abandons Drift, so he can save Hellbat. In the process he sends Grit flying into a wall, and leaves him plummeting down a long way. Drift and Ratchet rescue him, and the trio narrowly escape their own deaths.

Hellbat turns on a machine that activates a large number of the Stone Army, who go after the trio. Drift and the others agree that there's no way to stop them alone, so they head to Gigatron's throne room where they expose Hellbat's plans, just as the Stone Army smash in as well. Gigatron gets angry at Hellbat's betrayal and destroys the Stone Army.

In the aftermath, Drift tells Gigatron that they need to join forces to take down Hellbat, before he can unleash more of the Army on the universe.

Characters

Cybertronian
Drift - Car

Autobot

Ratchet - Ambulance

Decepticon

Gigatron - Two Headed Dragon

Hellbat - Jet

Vanquish - Jet

Grit - Truck

Grapple Guy Killed by Grit

Green Guy Killed by Ratchet

Other Decepticons

Turmoil - Tank (Mentioned)

Other

Army of Stone

Stone Monks (Mentioned) Killed by Deadlock and Turmoil in past

Notes

• Drift claims to have taken a vow to never kill again....maybe he hadn't made that pact before he went to Delphi and as willing to kill Dent etc?
• Mention is made of Hellbat's helmet-eyes, implying they are actually eyes, and aren't decoration.
• Despite all his talking, Hellbat seems kind of incompetent in battle this issue
• Vanquish is shown to have retractable swords from his wrists
• We're shown that Gigatron has his twin headed dragon mode, wonder if he has the others too?