IDW - Transformers: Windblade #1

Title: Combiner Wars Part 1: The Sum and its Parts

Written by: Mairghread Scott

Story by: Mairghread Scott & John Barber

Art by: Sarah Stone

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Plot

The Camiens react to the sudden appearance of Swindle and Menasor, but are easily overwhelmed by the massive combiner. Swindle starts to panic, as he only planned to rob the Camiens as Starscream suggested to him, when suddenly he realises that Starscream has played him, and that he's manipulated things to make Menasor an unstable combiner and make them a target on the planet.

On Cybertron, Optimus calls Starscream to tell him that the Space Bridge has been activated, and Starscream pretends to be shocked before heading down. Once there he orders his police force to go through the portal and attack the combiner.

Back on Caminus, Swindle tries to sneak off, whilst Menasor is being dealt with by the Camiens, when he sees the police force head through the portal, along with Ironhide and Chromia, blocking his exit.

The Autobots and police force join the fight against Menasor. Optimus tries to head through too, but Windblade tells him to stay on Cybertron until she can explain some things to him first. Chromai gets grabbed by Menasor, but Windblade manages to save her before she falls to her death. Windblade calls back to Cybertron to get the Aerialbots to come in.

At first, Starscream refuses to allow Superion to join the fight, but Optimus threatens him to have Prowl investigate him if he refuses, and so the Aerialbots are sent through the portal and instantly combine to Superion.

Superion easily defeats Menasor using his "superior" skills as a combiner and fighter. Windblade meets with the other Cityspeakers to arrange for Menasor to be separated and taken back to Cybertron for a trial, she sees the Forgefire Parliament to arrange for Starscream to meet with them for first contact, and to speak to the Mistress of Flame to discuss the existence of Optimus Prime. During this, Swindle is captured by one of the police force members, on Starscream's orders.

Windblade returns to Cybertron and has Starscream go to Caminus to make official first contact, however she talks to Optimus alone and reveals that the Camiens are extremely religious, and think of the Primes as gods, thus meaning that Optimus would be seen as a god too, especially with the Matrix in his chest. He's reluctant to head there now, a he doesn't want to mislead or manipulate the Camiens, but Windblade says that Starscream will just do it otherwise, and for all the wrong reasons.

Windblade and Optimus head to Caminus, where he is greeted as a god by thee Camiens after showing the Matrix much to Starscream's hatred, and Optimus' apparent unease..

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Windblade - VTOL Jet

Chromia - Speedbike

Ironhide - Van

Superion - Aerialbot Gestalt

Silverbolt - Jet

Skydive - Jet

Fireflight - Jet

Alpha Bravo - Helicopter

Powerglide - A10 Jet

Air Raid - Jet (Part of Superion)

Nautica - Submarine (Mentioned)

Thunderclash (Mentioned)

Metroplex - City/Ship (Mentioned)

Prowl - Police Vehicle (Mentioned)

Wheeljack - Race Car (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Menasor - Stunticon Gestalt Defeated by Superion

Motormaster - Truck (Mentioned)

Stunticons (Mentioned)

Camien

Mistress of Flame

Afterburner - Jet Killed by Menasor

Hot Shot - Car

Lightbright

Alpha Squadron Fliers - Jets

Pink City Speaker

Red Forgefire Parliament Member

Yellow Forgefire Parliament Member

Caminus - City (Interface Shown)

Other Camiens

United Cybertron

Starscream - Jet

Swindle - Off Road Vehicle Arrested by Badgeless

Scoop - Front End Loader

Secret Police/The Badgeless - Jets

Blackjack - Car (Flashback)

Rattrap - Rat (Mentioned)

Cybertron Security Force (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Solus Prime (Flashback)

Prima (Mentioned)

The Thirteen Primes (Mentioned)

Primus (Mentioned)

Notes

• It's shown that Caminus has multiple Cityspeakers talking to it at one time, most likely to help speed up the translations, or have shifts etc
• How did Afterburner and the others not notice Menasor behind Swindle until he pointed him out?
• Blackjack is revealed to be unaligned, a former member of the Cybertronian Security force (the Badgeless?) and to have been planted with the Stunticons by Starscream for the purpose of him making Menasor unstable.
• Starscream has selected his upcoming Generations toy as his new body design (dull surprise....) but he hasn't decided on the colours yet.
• Air Raid isn't shown with the Aerialbots whilst uncombined, possibly due to his toy being unavailable in the same toy wave with the others (like Drag Strip in the previous issue)
• Superion likes to refer to Superion in the third person
• Windblade reveals that Solus Prime is INDEED connected to Caminus, and that her people worship the Thirteen Primes as gods, unlike how the Cybertronians see them.
• I wonder how the Camiens will take it when they learn that the Matrix's energies were drained when Optimus restored Cybertron?
• Windblade claims that the Camiens can all recite the names of the Thirteen Primes, this means that Optimus is likely not one of them as he is in the Aligned universe...unless he used a different name back then, before his "rebirth".

IDW - Transformers #39

Title: Combiner Wars Opening Salvo: First Contact

Written by: John Barber

Story By: Mairghread Scott & John Barber

Art by: Livio Ramondelli

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Plot

Scoop returns from Earth and delivers the Enigma of Combination to Starscream.

Optimus and Windblade walk through the Decepticon ghetto on their way back to Metroplex when they are attacked by a load of Decepticons, but the two Autobots manage to handle the Decepticons, especially when Chromia and Ironhide intervene as well, and they force the Decepticons to leave them be.

Windblade reveals to Optimus that when she was looking for him earlier, it was for a reason, and the four Autobots should all head off to discuss things privately.

Once they've gone, the observing Swindle decides to leave as well, in part out of boredom, and part to avoid the Stunticons who still hate him for his actions on Earth.

Inside Metroplex, Windblade reveals that along with Wheeljack and the others, the Spacebridge is working now, but they are worried to tell Starscream, and they are worried that he'll use it to conquer the lost colony worlds, and plans to use Superion to act as an enforcer of sorts.

He suggests that Wheeljack should continue to repair the Aerialbots, as they are still living Autobots, Ironhide and Chromia are assigned to guard the Spacebridge in case Starscream comes after it. He and Windblade head off to meet with Starscream themselves as well.

Starscream is looking through new bodies for him to take on, in anticipation of his future successes when Optimus and Windblade arrive, and tell him that the Spacebridge is completed, but then warns him not to use it for expanding his "empire". An argument begins between the three of them, with Starscream claiming that Caminus may be planning to invade Cybertron itself, so they need Superion to defend the planet.

Optimus and Windblade leave, but insist on making Starscream agree that upon contact with the Colony Worlds they need to assign a representative and work together on a constitution for the united worlds. They leave Starscream to plot away....

Starscream visits Wheeljack in Superion's hanger where he presents the Enigma of Combination to him. Later on, Starscream also visits Swindle at his home, with the Enigma in tow, and asks him if he wants a way to get rich.

Swindle soon heads out to the Stunticon's base, where he tells them he's getting the old gang back together, an shows them the Enigma.

Optimus contacts the Lost Light to invite them back home for contact with the Colonies, but Rodimus refuses to return home, but agrees to send a ship of representatives back 

Windblade begins to warn Optimus about something to do with Caminus, but is interrupted when Metroplex informs her that something is wrong in the Spacebridge room. They look on the security feed and see Ironhide and Chromia knocked out, and the Spacebridge is active behind them.

Far away, Caminus is orbiting it's dying star when suddenly a Spacebridge opens up in the sky, and Menasor, with Swindle riding his shoulder, comes through, with the plan of robbing the entire planet!

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Windblade - VTOL Jet

Ironhide - Van

Chromia - Speed Bike

Wheeljack - Race Car

Metroplex - City/Space Ship

Alpha Bravo - Helicopter

Powerglide - Jet

Rodimus - Car (On Communicator)

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport (On Communicator)

Megatron - Tank (On Communicator)

Superion - Aerialbot Gestalt Under Repairs

Aerialbots (Mentioned)

Prowl - Police Vehicle (Mentioned)

Bumblebee - Muscle Car (Mentioned) Dead

Decepticon

Menasor - Stunticon Gestalt

Motormaster - Truck

Breakdown - Car

Offroad - Off Road Vehicle

Dead End - Car

Drag Strip - F1 Race Car (When combined into Menasor)

Blackjack - Car

Mindwipe

Sinnertwin - Two Headed Dragon

Battletrap

Acidstorm - Jet

Weirdwolf 

Wildrider - Car (Mentioned)

United Cybertron

Starscream - Jet

Rattrap - Rat

Scoop - Front End Loader

Swindle - Off Road Vehicle

Cybertronian

Devastator - Gestalt (Hologram)

Caminus - City/Space Ship (Hologram)

Other 12 Colony Ships - Cities/Space Ships (Holograms)

Constructicons (Mentioned)

Primus (Mentioned)

Crystal City Titan - City/Space Ship (Mentioned) Dead

Camien

Hot Shot

Lightbright

Lickety-Split

Other Camiens

Notes

• Scoop has placed the Enigma of Combination into a briefcase since he left Earth
• This story is set right after the end of Punishment, as Optimus and Windblade are on the way back from Optimus' private anniversary ceremony.
• Despite the previously mentioned views on ranged weaponry on Caminus, Chromia seems to be happy using a gun here...
• Optimus still has the Matrix's shell halves in his chest, despite it being empty now.
• The Stunticons still hate Swindle for turning them into Menasor a few years ago...despite them seemingly being a voluntary team for the process
• It's revealed that there were 13 colony ships/Titans sent out in the past, another reference likely to the Original Thirteen Transformers.
• Amongst the bodies Starscream looks into for his new form as his counterparts from the Movies, Beast Wars II, Animated, Prime and the upcoming Combiner Wars toy....wonder which one he'll choose?
• Blackjack claims to have been with the Stunticons all along (though he may have been drawn in place of Drag Strip for his appearances here).
• Offroad is mentioned to have joined the team after Wildrider left them, following their humiliating defeat from Bumblebee back on Earth.
• Rodimus and the Losst Light crew refuse to return to Cybertron for First Contact with Caminus and the others, but do say they will send a ship of representatives home for the event...what's the betting this ship will contain the Preotectobots and some other announced Combiner Wars toys like Magnus and Cyclonus?
• Magnus briefly mentions that the Lost Light has learned a thing or two about something to do with engines...most likely this is something to do with their time travelling adventure and their creation of Quantum Engines.
• Hot Shot is shown to be on Caminus, his previous 2 appearances are a cameo of his death in the Drift Miniseries (must have been some other guy) and a cameo on Cybertron in the Functionist Universe. Since the latter also included female Transformers, it seems likely that contact was made with the colonies before it was done in the main universe.
• What are Alpha Bravo andd Powerglide doing exactly? All we've seen them do is talk to Wheeljack whilst he tries to repair the OTHER Aerialbots...you'd think they were just there because of upcoming toys or something like that huh?

IDW - Angry Birds: Transformers #4

Title: Hard Boiled

Written by: John Barber

Art by: Marcelo Ferreira

Colours by: Nikos Koutsis

Guest Art by: Livio Ramondelli

Letters by: Chris Mowry

Barely Hanging On (Editor): David Hedgecock

Plot

The Autobirds and Deceptihogs begin their counterattack against the Eggbots, when they start to notice that the Eggspark is drawing it's power from the island itself, as is their new forms, which explains why Optimus Prime Bird is starting to run out of his inspirational speeches. The factions set up a plan to either allow the Eggspark to take Piggie Island, and run out of power to steal, or to send the Eggspark away somewhere.

The group manages to fight their way through the Eggbots to the building the Eggspark has spanwed around itself when Galvatron Pig breaks free from his binds, and starts fighting the others (the voices in his head told him to). Bluestreak Bird and the Minion Pigs join the group as well, having grabbed their secret weapon, Heatwave Pig's slingshot from the previous issue.

Galvatron Pig manages to smash through the rest of the Birds and Pigs, until Starscream Pig challenges him, having grabbed the Eggspark for himself, and growing to a massive size. Soundwave Pig manages to grab Galvatron Pig and hold him off, whilst Bumblebee Bird manages to rig up the slingshot, to send Starscream Pig, still wielding the Eggspark into space.

Now that the Eggspark is off the planet, the Autobirds and Deceptihogs, along with the island itself return to their original forms, and return to their regular routines.

In space, the Autobots begin their mission to look for the missing Allspark, when suddenly it, and a depowered Minion Pig smash through the window of the ship, asking for a lift...

Back on Piggie Island, the Pigs have gone back to their old roles, and the Birds start joking around with eachother, not noticing that one of their eggs is still powered by the Eggspark, and starts to Cyberform the area around it again....

Characters

Autobird/Angry Birds

Optimus Prime Pig/Red - Truck Cab

Bumblebee Bird/Chuck - Car

Arcee Bird/Stella - Car

Bluestreak Bird/The Blues - Sidecar Motorcycle

Heatwave Bird/Terence - Fire Truck

Drift Bird/Bomb - Car

Jazz Bird/Bubbles - Car

Grimlock Bird/Hal - Motorcycle

Deceptihog/Pigs

Megatron Pig/King Pig - Tank

Starscream Pig/Minion Pig - Jet Launched into Space, found by Autobots

Lockdown Pig/Foreman Pig - Car

Galvatron Pig/Corporal Pig - Truck Cab

Soundwave Pig/Chef Pig - Van

Minion Pigs

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck

Arcee - Car

Jazz - Car

Bumblebee - Car

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Heatwave - Fire Truck

Other

Eggbots Neutralized

Notes

• The idea that the Eggspark is draining Piggie Island for its own power is similar to how the Allspark was used in the alternate timeline of the Live Action Movies.
• Also, why would the Eggspark sstop with just Piggie Island? Wouldn't it's energy draining power continue all the way down to the Earth's core eventually? Or is Piggie Island literally a floating piece of land, unconnected to the rest of the world?
• The non-mutated Minion Pigs have taken on the armour shown of the Pigs in the game. Though unlike in the games, they are not against the Autobirds and Deceptihogs, but on their side.
• The Eggspark has become a lot tidier and smoother since it's last appearance in this series
• Starscream Pig gets turned over-sized with the power of the Eggspark, much like his counterparts did with the Underbase in the G1 Marvel comics, and the Omega Lock in Cybertron. This also adds to the numerous links between the Allspark and the Underbase.
• How did the Allspark/Eggspark and Minion Pig reach the Autobot's shuttle at such a speed that it shattered the window too?
• Evidentially the Autobots won the battle with the Decepticons from issue one.
• Hal implies that he doesn't remember some of what happened when he was in his Grimlock form...yet everyone else seems to remember everything that happened....
• I know it was done for a cliffhanger conclusion, but how did one of the Eggbots remain on the Island? The Eggspark is gone!

IDW - More Than Meets The Eye #38

Title: Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide

Written by: James Roberts

Art by: Alex Milne

Colours by: Joanna LaFuente 

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: John Barber

Plot

Megatron starts to panic about Brainstorm trying to kill him at his creation, but Perceptor refuses to send him back in time to stop him, and sends Rodimus and his team along instead.

Back in the past, Brainstorm is still pointing his gun at Megatron's spark, when a grenade is thrown at him, and sends him flying, knocking him out, revealing Rodimus and his team to have arrived just in time.

The group figure out that this is during the Silver Harvest, and that Megatron was Constructed Cold. The start trying to fix the beginnings of Brainstorm's tampering, when Rewind reveals that his records haven't been changed yet, which means they've still failed the mission.

Rodimus calls Perceptor to see what's going on, whilst Perceptor starts to mes with the time locks to try and fix the problem. Rodimus realizes that Brainstorm's plans must be still going on, just as he stands up and points his gun back at Megatron.

Rung manages to get Brainstorm to put the gun down, when he works out that Brainstorm's been waiting for 10 minutes to shoot him, without getting the nerve to actually doing it. He reveals that he did all of this to try and steer Megatron away from evil, but it's all failed. Brainstorm collapses from his grenade injuries just as Rewind grabs his gun and shoots Megatron's spark, destroying it!

Rodimus reports this back to the future, and Megatron is of course unnerved, and rewind reveals that his database revealed to him that even though Cybertron is ruined from it's Functionist future without Megatron, the rest of the universe is happy, and none of them can fault his logic on the matter. Following this Rewind and Chromedome finally reconcile, and get back together.

Suddenly Tailgate notices that Megatron's body has gone missing, which Cyclonus notes is with Whirl in a locked room. Whirl has stolen the Luna-1 spark from Brainstorm's chest cavity and is implanting it into Megatron's body using his watch repair skills because he refuses to allow the Functionists to win after what they did to him.

In the future, Magnus reports to Rodimus that time has started moving outside of the ship again, meaning they've succeeded, but they're unable to return them to the present since the Quantum engines are out of power, and recharging them will cause them to lose their connection to the away team....Rodimus hangs up after swearing at him

In the past again, Tailgate borrows the time phone and makes a call to Cybertron to try and stop the Lost Light from taking off in the first place (the one seen in issue 1) and the team add in several points they want to add too, but he is cut off towards the end by Perceptor calling Rodimus back. Cyclonus tells them they are idiots for doing that, since most of the things the Lost Light have done have been good, and needed in general (such as finding the Cybercrosis cure, stopping Tyrest etc).

Perceptor has told Rodimus that there is an experimental Quantum engine on Cybertron at the time, so they can get there and use it to charge up the time case's abilities. Once there, he goes off to fix make the edits to the engine and case, whilst Cyclonus fights with the security guard.

Back at the Con Facility, Brainstorm reveals that he originally built the time cases to try and save Quark from dying in prison, but then after the original Rewind died, he decided to try and save everyone from the war instead.

At the secret facility again, Cyclonus is overwhelmed by the guard and his Turbofoxes, and shoots him into a small room, and locks it.

Rodimus finishes his edits, and Cyclonus returns to him when suddenly the ship around them, revealed to be the Lost Light, is flung into the future with advanced engines, having reacted with the time case. The crew are then all teleported back to the present day.

Brainstorm is placed in the brig, Chromedome and Rewind are sharing a hab-suite again, and the crew are in Swerve's bar for a Movie Night, including Rodimus and Ultra Magnus. Megatron sits quietly in his own hab-suite, with Ravage watching silently.

Rung goes to see Perceptor, who is analysing the time cases, and says that he thinks the other timeline is still around, but in an alternate universe to them now, thanks to him tampering with the time locks before.

Meanwhile, in the Functionist Universe, Quark has called One-of-Twelve about a discovery that one of the janitor's made about their prisoner Rung. One-of-Twelve points his gun at Rung's spark and plans to kill him to hide the secrets about his unusual alternate mode,..

Characters

Autobot

Rodimus - Car

Megatron - Tank

Chromedome - Car

Rewind - Data Slug

Whirl - Osprey Helicopter

Riptide - Boat

Rung

Tailgate - Car

Perceptor - Microscope

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport

Hound - Jeep

Highbrow - Helicopter

Bluestreak - Car

Swerve - Van

Optimus Prime/Orion Pax (Mentioned)

Crosscut - Van (Mentioned)

Skids - Van (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Brainstorm - Jet Imprisoned

Ravage - Cassette

Decepticon Justice Division (Mentioned)

Cybertronian

Cyclonus - Jet

Swerve's Serving Droid

Security Guard Turned into Sparkeater by Cyclonus

Turbofoxes Defeated by Cyclonus

Megatron's Body's Original Spark Killed by Rewind

Cold Constructed Guys

Quark - Proton Microscope (Flashback) Died in Grindcore Prison Camp

Functionist Council (Mentioned)

Senate (Mentioned)

Chief Justice Tyrest (Mentioned)

Functionist Cybertronian

One-of-Twelve

Quark - Proton Microscope

Sweep

Rung About to be killed by One-of-Twelve

Notes

• Both Ultra Magnus and Perceptor were revealed to have earned Rodimus Stars in this issue
• This issue confirms that everything that has happened in this storyline was always MEANT to happen, from Megatron's batch number being missing, Megatron's evacuation from Messatine etc, and was caused by these events.
• Brainstorm reveals that he planned originally just to steer Megatron away from his evil ways, but decided only near the end to just kill him in the beginning and spare everyone his regime.
• The scanning scene at the start of season 2 in Rung's office is revealed to have been Brainstorm trying to scan Megatron for his timeline, but instead got Rung instead.
• Rewind reveals that even though the Cybertronians have a pretty lousy life in the Functionist future, the rest of the universe is great, and hasn't been damaged by the Civil War.
• As predicted by pretty much everyone, the spark implanted into Megatron here is the one that Brainstorm harvested on Luna-1 and placed into his chest.
• Ironically, Whirl, the guy who would later show Megatron the use of violence is also the guy who saved his life in the first place!
• Tailgate is revealed to be the one to send the message back to Cybertron in 2012, with the added comments from the rest of the team, bar Rewind (who never experienced these events) and Cyclonus (who points out what a stupid plan this was).
• The weapon Whirl took from Brainstorm's weapons lab is revealed to be a "Sparkeater Gun" which turns the victims into Sparkeaters. This means that the guy he attacked last issue turned into one, and probably started the legends of the Sparkeaters. The one turned by Cyclonus in this issue though is revealed to be the one found on the Lost Light in 2012, along with Turbofoxes!
• Brainstorm is revealed to have been observing Quark, his long lost love, when he spotted the time-travelling Rung at the bar.
• Brainstorm's obsession with Perceptor makes a little more sense now, his former love Quark was a scientist, who turned into a Microscope, and was designed to resemble Animated Perceptor.
• Perceptor mentions in this issue that he didn't know anything about Quantum Engines before joining the Lost Light, when it is shown here that he and Rodimus ended up INVENTING it in this issue, whilst sending the now super advanced Lost Light into the future for the NAIL's to find and bring back to Cybertron for Drift to buy!
• The film they play at Swerve's bar is Back to the Future 2.
• Following the revelation that Whirl was the only reason he still lives (and how the universe is better off without him) Megatron goes very quiet in his following appearances this issue.
• Perceptor's current alternate mode is revealed to be a Microscope now (it was a tank for a while as shown in LSOTW)
• Perceptor theorizes that his meddling with the time case's paradox lock may have created the possibility for alternate universes, despite him being the one who claimed it was impossible at the start of the story.
• In the postscript it's confirmed that Rung's mystery alternate mode is something very important, as we have all guessed already from the flurry of clues.
• Tailgate asks whether his message was a little too cryptic..a reference to how the real world audience has been deciphering it since that issue
• Ravage is revealed to be still on the Lost Light.

IDW - Transformers #38

Title: The Onyx Interface Conclusion: The Obliterati 

Written by: John Barber

Art by: Andrew Griffith

Colours by: Josh Perez

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Plot

Galvatron, the Decepticons, Scoop and Arcee head out to attack Devastator, who is tearing apart the Wanmu facility trying to grab the Enigma of Combination. 

Meanwhile, Thundercraker tries to make the clones of Thrust and Ramjet stop their attack, but to no avail. Thundercracker heads down to Bikini Atoll where he leaves Buster with Sanjay and goes after the clones, before they attack Galvatron and the others, beginning a massive war in the process.

In Wanmu, Devastator breaks though Blackrock's defences and grabs the Enigma when suddenly Spike appears in the room (for some reason, rather than just escaping through the vents he entered in). Devastator focuses on Spike once again, and changes his primary mission to his death.

Thundercracker catches up to the speeding clones over the Pacific Ocean, and calls Soundwave asking for his help to disrupt the signal controlling the clones and prevent Galvatron from getting angry and taking it out on the humans.

In Wanmu, Arcee tries to reason with Prowl, but he just throws the Enigma right at her, knocking her out, having forgotten that's his whole mission. Galvatron begins gloating at Arcee's defeat, and goes to grabb the Enigma, before being grabbed by Devastator and flung away.

Devastator goes after Spike, but the Decepticons fight back to defend Spike (not sure why).

Sounwave agrees to Thundercracker's request, and disables the clones, making them fall harmlessly into the ocean, and Soundwave orders Thundercracker to never contact him again.

Galvatron heads back towards Devastator to rejoin the battle when Sky Lynx, Sideswipe and Kup appear and join the battle. During this, the two sides notice that the Decepticon shuttle has been stolen, and the Enigma is gone as well.

Putting 2 and 2 together, Arcee manages to convince Prowl that he's failed his mission since the Enigma is gone. He agrees to leave, but not without the Spacebridge from inside the Wanmu facility, Spike and Jimmy are captured by the Decepticons and the EDC.

On their way back to the Ark shuttle Arcee and Prowl have an argument about how both of them were out of line, and Prowl also blames the Constructicons for them losing the Enigma, despite the decision being a group one by the Gestalt mind.

Sounwave returns to the Decepticon's base under the Indian Ocean where he keeps quiet about the clones and Thundercracker. Galvatron tells Soundwave that they found the Enigma, but Scoop has stolen it for Starscream. He then comments that this will mean the end of Cybertronian society as they know it, and they may need to open the doors to their new commune sooner rather than later.

Characters

Autobot

Prowl - Police Vehicle

Arcee - Sports Car

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Sideswipe - Sports Car

Sky Lynx - Space Shuttle

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Galvatron - Tank

Soundwave - Personnel Carrier

Rumble - Motorcycle

Frenzy - Motorcycle

Laserbeak - Cassette

Buzzsaw - Cassette

Blitzwing - Tank/Jet

Skywarp - Cybertronian Jet Hooked up to Decepticon HQ

Scrapper - Front End Loader (Mentioned) Dead

Thrust - Jet (Mentioned) Dead

Ramjet - Jet (Mentioned) Dead

Cybertronian

Thundercracker - Fighter Jet

Devastator - Gestalt

Hook - Crane

Long Haul - Dump Truck

Mixmaster - Mixing Truck

Scavenger - Excavator

Bonecrusher - Bulldozer

Scoop - Front End Loader

Starscream - Jet (Mentioned)

Human

Garrison Blackrock

Marissa Faireborn

Agent Jones

Sanjay Bharwaney 

Spike Witwicky

Jimmy Pink

EDC Staff

Wanmu Facility Staff

Other

Buster

Ramjet Drones - Jets Disabled by Soundwave

Thrust Drones - Jets Disabled by Soundwave

Notes

• Rumble and Frenzy are confirmed to still have their motorcycle modes here, and to also have holographic drivers, a first for Decepticons in IDW
• The Enigma is noted to change size depending on who is wielding it
• Huh, it's a good thing that Galvatron didn't turn around after Devastator threw him away, else he'd have seen the dead army of Transformer clones falling into the ocean!
• Galvatron is shown fllying with just his foot-thrusters, when before he seemed to need his cannon too.
• It's confirmed here that Scrapper's consciousness is somewhere inside Devastator's combined mind.
• It seems that Scoop's sole mission on Earth was to steal the Enigma of Combination for Starscream...was this a new order since it's rediscovery, or was this always somehow his mission?

TFCC - Issue 61 Another Light: Falling into Place

Plot

Classics Blaster and SG Straxus are walking through the streets discussing Straxus' evil counterpart when suddenly a light suddenly shines and some strange Transformers with beast modes come through. The group recognizes Blaster as being from the Classics Universe too, and they regroup, and are introduced to the SG Universe.

The new arrivals are debriefed by Galvatron and Aquarius, saying that the Origin Matrix that Ultra Mammoth now holds is the ORIGINAL Matrix that Prima wielded, and forms the hilt of the Star Saber. Mammoth says he'll hold onto the Matrix until Nexus Prime returns, as he promised to it guardian, which Galvatron agrees to.

Cliffjumper gives the new arrivals to cliff notes to this new universe, and learns that Treadshot has a lead on the native Ultra Magnus on Earth. Galvatron says they can use the Stellar Spanner to go to Earth and help in the search.

The group leave the Decepticon's HQ where they find SG Spinister and Needlenose, who offer them new bodies, allowing them to not scare the native Humans with their giant beast modes.

Suddenly Cyclonus arrives and passes on a message from Soundwave to Galvatron, saying that the Autobots are attacking Decepticon City on Earth (SG Earth). Galvatron has Blast Off set up a shuttle to take them there for the battle....

Characters

SG Decepticon

Galvatron - Rescue Helicopter

Cyclonus - Jet

Spinister - Helicopter

Needlenose - Jet

Straxus - Tank

Soundwave - Cassette Player (Voice)

Megatron - Jet (Mentioned) Killed, turned into Galvatron

Starscream - Jet (Mentioned)

Treadshot - Sports Car (Mentioned)

Blast Off - Space Shuttle (Mentioned)

Stonecruncher - Crane (Mentioned)

Excavator - Crane (Mentioned)

SG Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab (Mentioned)

Ultra Magnus - Truck Cab (Mentioned)

Ironhide - Van (Mentioned) Dead

Scrounges - Battle Wheels (Mentioned)

Autobot

Ultra Mammoth - Mammoth

Grimlock - Velociraptor

Ironhide - Elephant

Prowl - Lion

Silverbolt - Eagle

Cliffjumper - Sports Car

Blaster - Boom Box

Nexus Prime - Gestalt (Mentioned)

Scrounge - Wheel (Mentioned) Dead

Decepticon

Straxus - Flying Cannon (Mentioned)

Other

Aquarius

Beta Maxx - Jet

Depth Charge - Fighter Jet (Mentioned)

Origin Matrix's Guardian (Mentioned)

Side Burn - Muscle Car (Mentioned)

Demolishor - Battle Tank (Mentioned)

Unicron (Mentioned)

Primus (Mentioned)

The Thirteen (Mentioned)

Prima (Mentioned)

Notes

• Ultra Mammoth and the other "Maximals" are sent to the Shattered Glass universe now, after their adventures on the prehistoric SG Earth.....where are the "Predacons" exactly though?
• Grimlock attacked Blaster, despite knowing he was the "real" one, most likely due to their rivalry during the Marvel run.
• Aquarius has returned to the SG universe after his time on Axiom Nexus
• Grimlock is absent from the debriefing of the new arrivals, and the measurements scene..wonder where he went to?
• Out of Silverbolt, Prowl and Ironhide, only Silverbolt has a new toy out, so we can probably guess that he'll have his Combiner Wars character model, but what about Prowl and Ironhide? Will they take on their Prime counterpart's forms?
• Also, Ultra "Mammoth" is keeping his prehistoric body...strange that the only TFCC exclusive of the bunch would do that huh?
• The end of this story shows that a counterpart to the Battle of Autobot City (Decepticon City here) from the 80's Movie is about to happen. This was hinted at last issue with the prologue showing the Autobots defeated and returning to space.
• I'm assuming that Soundwave is still in his Cassette Player body from Solar Requiem since he's still on Earth.
• The Recordicons comic was most likely written when Rewind was still "dead" in MTMTE. I know it's most likely going to be explained away as being because this ISN'T set in the IDW universe, but it's still most likely the reason.
• Side Burn and Demolishor are mentioned in reference to the Underbase storyline...which has yet to be resolved for us in the real world as it's story keeps getting delayed/cancelled.

Other Features

Rubber Soul - Article on Decoy figures and their follow ups
Toy Fair 2015 - Advert (though it arrived AFTER the event for me....
Lio Convoy Advert - Recruitment drive for the Club!
Cliffjumper's Cliff Notes! - Cliffjumper summarizes what's happened to him in this universe
Fun Pub Creative Team bios - Meet the creative team for the magazine this year.
Lio Convoy Profile
Broken Windshields Preview
Hot Shot's Thoughts - Armada Hot Shot interviews other Transformers
Bot on the Street - Random characters are asked what they would change their alt mode to
Recordicons - Mini-comic with Brainstorm setting Chromedome up with Eject.

IDW - Drift: Empire of Stone #4

Written by: Shane McCarthy

Breakdowns by: Guido Guidi

Pencils page 5-10 by: Marcelo Ferreira

Finishes by: Stephen Baskerville

Colours by: John-Paul Bove

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: John Barber 

Plot

Drift, Ratchet, Grit, Gigatron and his remaining troops all rush towards Hellbat and the awakened Army of Stone. Gigatron goes after Hellbat himself, whilst the others take on the Stone soldiers, but Hellbat has a larger Stone soldier take on Gigatron alone.

Drift manages to sneak up to Hellbat, and goes to attack him, but Vanquish steps between them, HOWEVER Grit then appears and takes on Vanquish due to his personal grudge with him.

Drift manages to reach Hellbat with Gigatron's help, and Vanquish badly injured Grit, however in his cockiness Grit grabs Vanquish's head and rips it off, killing the Decepticon, and he collapses from his injuries.

Drift takes on Hellbat himself, and manages to defeat him one on one, but Gigatron joins in on the fight as well, intending to take Hellbat's control panel for the Stone Army for himself to use, and turns on Drift in the process.

Whilst Drift and Gigatron are fighting, Hellbat programs all of the Stone soldiers to kill Gigatron, then allows Gigatron to kill him, along with the control panels, preventing the command from being cancelled.

With the power supply destroyed, the complex starts to detonate, so Drift, Ratchet and the surviving Decepticons all escape, just as the building blows behind them.

Following the destruction, Ratchet invites Drift back to the Lost Light, not as an Autobot, but as his friend.

Unseen by any of them, Grit crawls out of the rubble, removes his Decepticon insignia and walks off into the sunset.

Characters

Autobot

Ratchet - Ambulance

Decepticon

Gigatron - Two Headed Dragon Possibly Killed by Stone Army

Hellbat - Jet Killed by Gigatron

Vanquish - Jet Killed by Grit

Grit - Van (Defects from Decepticons)

Gigatron's Troops

Cybertronian

Drift - Car

Wing (Mentioned)

Other

Stone Army Destroyed in Explosion

Notes

• This issue is literally just one big fight scene...seems perfect for a Drift story huh?
• Gigatron has still only transformed into his dragon mode, making it unclear if he is a Decachanger in this continuity or not.
• Gigatron's fate in the end is left a bit unclear, the Stone Army are swarming him, and then the building explodes around them. Though this IS Transformers, and this IS one of the stronger characters around too, so he probably survived somehow
• Also, since Grit survived the explosion and collapse of the building, it's likely that Gigatron could have too.
• Drift's decision is also left unclear at the end of this issue, Ratchet invites him to return to the Lost Light with him, but we don't get a final answer...guess we'll find out in MTMTE soon though!