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?