Sig-Pub - Robots in Disguise #4

Notes

• Yup, still no unique comic!
• The reprinted comic here is #3 from the IDW Series, here's my review on that issue: http://aesircomic-books.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/idw-robots-in-disguise-animated-3.html
• The comic was renamed as "Double Agent Attack" here
• The answer to this month's competition is actually spoiled on the back cover....wow...

Features

Race to Bumblebee - Destroy the terrible magazine's cover to make a bad boardgame!

Fact File - Information on Sideswipe

Sudoku - A very simple variant of 4x4 Sudoku using Transformers characters

Decepticons in Disguise - Fill in the gaps to identify the hidden Decepticon...it's not hard!

Posters - Bumblebee with his alternate mode, and Optimus with Megatronus

Underbite vs Grimlock - Spot the differences!

Transformers Post - Fixit reads the mail, and gives his favourite a Mega Optimus Prime.

Competition - Win an old Three-Step Grimlock figure...

RID - The Trials of Optimus Prime

Plot

Optimus leads Bumblebee's team into battle against some Decepticons, but end up being helplessly outnumbered and outgunned, causing the entire team to be killed.

Micronus ends the simulated battle, and gloats that Optimus isn't as ready as he had hoped, Micronus heals Optimus' false wounds. Optimus begs to be allowed to return to Earth so he can aid Bumblebee in his mission, and prepare for the upcoming trouble there. Micronus is hesitant but goes to ask the other Primes for their opinions. Once with the others, the Primes flat out refuse, but one of them, Liege Maximo, begins to mock how useless and weak Optimus seems to be, then quietly decides to "help" Optimus with his training too.

Micronus gives Optimus the bad news, but Optimus is still insistent. Micronus simply sets up another test, and creates a recreation of and Earth city, and has Optimus protect some holographic humans from some attacking Decepticons. Whilst Optimus deals with three of the Decepticons, Maximo suddenly enters the simulation, and hides, taking control of the last Decepticon, to make it a lot more powerful.

Optimus is able to defeat the powerful robot, but Micronus is concerned, as he is certain he didn't conjure up something that dangerous for Optimus to fight with. Maximo seems happy that he's messed with the training unnoticed, and plots to cause more mischief.

Micronus opens a portal to Earth for Optimus to watch Bumblebee's team through for a break, whilst he goes to investigate something by himself.

On Earth, the Autobots are playing a football game with Russell, whilst Bumblebee is in the command centre doing some work.

Optimus is happy after seeing his friends again, but it is cut short when Micronus returns and closes the portal. Micronus asks Optimus to go get recharged, whilst he prepares for the next training exercises. However Maximo has been secretly watching them and decides to play with Bumblebee as well...

Back on Earth Liege Maximo sends Bumblebee a fake image of Optimus, and using that image, tells Bumblebee that he has had a change of heart, and has now joined the Decepticons, and that he's coming to attack the Autobots soon. Bumblebee is disturbed, and thinks about how to tell the rest of the team, but Fixit suddenly declares that another Decepticon has appeared on his sensors, Stinkbomb, who is a demolitions expert.

The Autobots head out to Crown City Bridge, where Stinkbomb was detected where they engage the Decepticon, however Bumblebee is distracted when "Optimus" appears in the water beneath them and continues taunting Bumblebee with him switching sides. Sideswipe pushes Bee out of the way as Stinkbomb throws a bomb at him, but ends up being badly injured in the process, unnerving Bumblebee that it was because of him.

Stinkbomb sets off his tail-bomb which allows him to escape, whilst the Autobots try to prevent damage, and get the injured Sideswipe to safety. They head back to the Scrapyard for repairs without their target.

In the Realm of the Primes, Maximo closes his portal to Bumblebee and turns his attention back to Optimus. He finds the Autobot meditating with Micronus, and decides to strike, sending in several small attack-bots to hit him, with Optimus assuming this is a test to keep himself aware at all times. Micronus levitates both of them, and reveals that he didn't create those holograms, and someone else is messing with him, he creates a pyramid for Optimus to wait on top of, whilst he goes to talk to the other Primes about the situation.

Back on Earth, Sideswipe is taken to Fixit for repairs, and Bumblebee seems distracted still. The team grow worried, and due to his lapses in judgement lately and strange attitude, Fixit thinks their leader is suffering with brain rust.

Micronus meets with the other Primes, where he learns that they haven't attacked Optimus, and they then realize that Maximo is missing...

Elsewhere in the realm, Maximo goes after Optimus again, and creates a copy of Bumblebee, but turned evil, and claims that he's there because Earth was destroyed and he was sent to the realm as punishment of some sort. "Bumblebee" attacks Optimus, Optimus is able to defeat the copy, believing it to be a test of Micronus' again. Micronus then returns and tells Optimus that he didn't create the Bumblebee clone, but he thinks Maximo did.

Maximo is annoyed that Micronus is messing with his new "toy" and decides to "play" with Bumblebee again instead.

Bumblebee thinks he's located Stinkbomb on the scanners again, but it turns out to be Maximo's Optimus clone's eyes playing a trick on him. "Optimus" continues with his declarations of evil, but Bee is starting to believe this is all just a trick as well. Bee attempts to destroy the scanner to stop the imposter's messages, but the others stop him, and confront him about his "brain rust" but Bee convinces them that he's fine, and that someone has been sending him fake messages from Optimus. Despite how it sounds, the team respects Bumblebee and believes his story, just in time for them to go after Stinkbomb again.

In the Realm of the Primes, Maximo has a tantrum about how boring the Autobots are. He conjures up a small army of attack-bots, and plans to send them to attack Bumblebee and the others.

Elsewhere, Micronus explains who Maximo is to Optimus, and how despite not really being evil, he is mischievous and will cause problems if he can. Optimus notes that the fake Bumblebee seemed to give up when he didn't believe he was real, which makes Micronus believe he has a chance against Maximo's efforts after all. 

On Earth, Bee and the others locate Stinkbomb refuelling himself, and building a new tail-bomb, during the battle however, Bumblebee notices Optimus looking at him evilly again.

Maximo is ready to mess with Bumblebee again, but is suddenly interrupted by Micronus, who confronts his attacks on Optimus and Bumblebee. He tells Maximo to stop with his games, but Maximo ignores him, and continues with his game with Bee.

The Optimus clone on Earth begins screaming at Bee, which catches the notice of everyone in the group, confirming for everyone that Bee hasn't just been seeing and hearing things. The group manage to defeat Stinkbomb, and capture him, essentially ignoring the copy of Optimus, and ruining his schemes.

Back in the realm, Optimus is encountered by "evil" versions of all of Bumblebee's team, claiming that he's failed them again, but he realizes straight away that it's just Maximo's tricks again, and easily destroys them.

Following their defeats, Maximo goes off him a tantrum again, moaning about how unfair it all is. Micronus reappears before Optimus and commends him for his defeat of Maximo, and promises that he will be punished by the other Primes accordingly. He also reveals that Maximo has been messing around with Bumblebee as well, but he managed to fend off the attacks too. He opens a portal so Optimus can tell Bumblebee what was happening.

Back on Earth again Sideswipe has woken up, and everyone is gathered around him. Optimus communicates with them, and assures them that this isn't a trick this time, and the two thank each other for not being deluded by their attackers. Optimus promises to be joining Bumblebee on Earth just as soon as he can, once his trials are over, so they can really be a team again, like the old days...

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Semi Truck

Bumblebee - Compact Coupe

Strongarm - Police Cruiser

Sideswipe - Sports Car

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Fixit

Drift - Race Car (Mentioned)

Jetstorm - Buzzsaw Deployer (Mentioned)

Slipstream - Buzzsaw Deployer (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Stinkbomb Captured by Team Bee

Megatron - Jet (Mentioned)

Cybertronian

Micronus Prime

Liege Maximo

"Deep Voice" Prime

The Other Primes

Solus Prime (Mentioned)

Human

Denny Clay

Russell Clay

Other

Holograms and Illusions

Primus (Mentioned)

Unicron (Mentioned)

Notes

• This story shows a couple more of Optimus' trials in the realm of the Primes, which is what he spent most of season one doing.
• This story also shows that Optimus is able to communicate with Bumblebee and the others by utilizing portals in the realm of the Primes. It also shows that other Primes are able to do so too.
• Liege Maximo is shown to be one of the Primes in the realm. None of the others (bar Micronus) are identified, but Solus is mentioned in an expressive form, implying that she isn't there for some reason. It's a bit confusing since the last we saw them, Optimus, Maximo and Micronus were all dead and were sent here...so why wasn't Solus?
• The only other one of the Primes described here is mentioned as having a deep voice, this could honestly be any of them, but I would guess either Vector Prime or Prima due to him seemingly having the final say on decisions.
• Liege Maximo is shown to be able to manipulate his horns to create hard-light holograms or illusions, much like the character he's loosely based on, Loki from Marvel comics.
• The main difference between Micronus' holograms and Maximo's seems to be that Maximo's can actually cause physical damage to others, whilst Micronus' are just cosmetic.
• Micronus' attitude towards not trusting Maximo is more than likely due to him manipulating Megatronus into killing Solus Prime back in the early years of their existence .
• Micronus hints that Optimus may be learning some things from the other Primes as well as him before he leaves the realm, but we haven't been shown that to any extent in the cartoon or comics yet.
• Despite him creating a small army and planning to attack Bee's team on Earth, Maximo appears to give up on the idea before the end of the book.

IDW - War For Cybertron

Script: Alex Irvine

Pencils and Inks: Don Figueroa

Colours: Andrew Dalhouse

Letters: Robbie Robbins

Editor: Andy Schmidt

Plot

The High Council of Cybertron have called a gathering of representatives of all the guilds on the planet following the recent terrorist attacks across the world. Megatron is called to the stand to testify on his involvement with the new Decepticon movement, to which he explains how he went from being a nameless miner to becoming the gladiatorial champion, and learned how worthless life is right now from how people died, showing him that change is needed.

After Megatron is dismissed, Sigil, a representative of the Guilds tries to explain the importance of the guilds ad having everyone stick to a set role, as he claims it to be Primus' desire.

After him, Orion Pax is called up, and gives a speech on how he agrees with Megatron's point of view, but disagrees with his terrorist ways, and essentially founds the Autobots during the speech. But by doing so he splits the planet into factions, causing arguments across the planet, and even in the council chambers.

Halogen declares that they need a new Prime since Sentinel is still missing, and declares Orion Pax to be the new leader, Optimus Prime! He is given the job of locating the Matrix, which is lost somewhere on the planet, so as to solidify his position. Megatron decides that Optimus planned all of this and formally declares him his enemy. Halogen tries to calm down the situation to end the war before it even begins, but Megatron simply kills him on the spot.

A full-on battle begins, but Optimus tells Megatron that he'd willingly die to protect Cybertron. Megatron decides to leave with his Decepticons, and bids Optimus farewell, who also does so....

Characters

Autobot

Orion Pa/Optimus Prime - Truck

Jazz - Car

Newly Formed Autobot Army

Decepticon

Megatron/D-16- Tank

Soundwave - Van

Shockwave - Flying Artillery

Starscream - Jet (Flashback)

Seekers - Jets (Flashback)

Decepticon Army

Cybertronian

Councillor Halogen Killed by Megatron

Councillor Contrail

Councillor Drivetrain

Councillor Ratbat

Sigil

Alpha Trion

Nine Unidentified Councillors

Thirteen Elite Guardsmen

Sentinel Prime - Truck Captured by Decepticons

Cybertronian Crowds

Other

Primus (Mentioned)

Quintessons (Mentioned)

Notes

• This story is adapted from selected parts of the Exodus novel, and is used to help advertise the War For Cybertron game
• Most of the characters shown in this comic are simply generics...this upsets me...I like random cameos....:(
• As depicted here very clearly, there are 13 members of the High Council, and 13 members of the Elite Guard protecting them.
• Polyhex has "Smelting Pool Estates"....WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO LIVE ABOVE A SMELTING POOL?!?!? That's like putting my house above a live Volcano!
• The war with the Quintessons is referenced in this comic, but it isn't gone into detail until the "Covenant of Primus" book came out, though this comic reveals that Orion Pax had a role within that war, as shown in the other book.
• Sentinel Prime is shown chained up and in the dark, getting ready for his upcoming death in the game!

IDW - More Than Meets The Eye #48

Title: Speak, Memory: Part 1

Written by: James Roberts

Art by: Hayato Sakamoto

Coordination by: Phases

Colours by: Joana LaFuente

Letters by: Tom B. Long & Chris Mowry

Editor: John Barber

Plot

Skids is having another session with Rung, to try and uncover his repressed memories, whilst building one of his models. Skids recounts how he was captured by the Decepticons after the Simanzi Massacre and placed into a cell with an inhibiter device attached, however he starts to lose the details halfway through, so they call it quits

Skids prepares the leave when Ruing receives a visit from Froid, whom had be believed dead for some time now. The two reunite and Skids excuses himself, commenting on the new arrival's Primal Beads around his neck.

At the Medibay, Cyclonus sits next to an unconscious Tailgate, and Velocity marvels at how he wasn't killed by the multiple gun shot wounds he sustained. Megatron arrives and offers his apologies for striking out at Tailgate earlier, and insists that he'd never have actually killed the little Autobot (despite beginning to crush his neck). Rodimus explains that they discovered from Tailgate's mind (via Mnemosurgery) that Getaway and Atomizer set him up, and they've been arrested by Magnus in response. They also explain that Tailgate's energy wave actually managed to wake up Thunderclash as well, now all they need is for Tailgate to wake up too.

Back at Rung's office, Froid recounts how after he helped capture Sunder, a Mnemosurgeon who turned into a serial killer, he joined the prison transport ship that was taking him to Garrus-6, when Sunder escaped and took him hostage, they were believed to be killed when the shuttle they were in was destroyed. Unknown to the rest of the crew however, Sunder and Froid ended up on Scarvix, where Froid became a famous psychiatrist there, whilst helping Sunder get past the death of his accomplice and brother during the shuttle destruction. however, Sunder and Froid ended up on Scarvix, where Froid became a famous psychiatrist there, whilst helping Sunder get past the death of his accomplice and brother during the shuttle destruction.

After the story, Froid reveals the reason he tracked down Rung..he want's to look at his patient notes, which Rung vehemently refuses, due to both patient confidentiality, and of Froid's past of plagiarizing his work. However Froid threatens to reveal Rung's dark secret if he refuses...

Skids sits at the Oil Reservoir and continues to try and recall his memories again, where he recalls helping his new cell-mate Quark remove his inhibitor device, allowing him to transform between modes again. Skids explains that he learned how to do it whilst watching them construct one earlier due to his outlier skills. Quark suggests to keep his abilities a secret in case of being singled out by the Decepticons, when suddenly the commandant of the prison arrives at the door, and Skids recognizes the voice...before his memory starts to fail again.

Rung refuses the request of Froid's and he seems to take it well, but asks Rung to see him off the ship. Once they reach the shuttle bay, Rung is surprised to see some guards, until Froid shows him inside his ship...where Sunder is sitting in a cell, and has been writing words worshiping Mortilus on the walls. Rung claims this is wrong, and Froid is too close to Sunder to be objectional, but Froid throws that in his face by bringing up that Ruing got too close to a patient on a previous assignment, and was disbarred, however the ship was destroyed, so as the sole survivor Rung was able to pretrend it never happened.

Froid reveals that Sunder is able to feed on troubled memories and experiencing by using a rare Mnemosurgery technique where he can read minds just using his eyesight, so he had his eye's scooped out, and planned to use Rung's patients to feed him.

Suddenly, Froid is sent flying as Skids appears and shoots him away with his grappling hook. Rung tells Skids to leave, but Skids is confused as Rung himself called for him to come assist him, but that was before he knew about Sunder's skill. Froid takes this moment to reveal that his Primal Beads are actually Sunder's eyes, and gives them back. Sunder greets the two Autobots, and scans Rung's mind, shattering his spectacles in the process, then turns to Skids, unlocking his repressed memory...

Skids' cell opens up to the prison's commandant...the Decepticon now named Tarn!

Characters

Autobot

Rodimus - Sports Car

Megatron - Tank

Rung

Skids - Van

Velocity - Race Car

Tailgate - Car Unconscious

Kindle

Fervor

Riptide - Boat (Voice Only)

Quark - Electron Microscope (Flashback)

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport (Flashback)

Getaway - Car (Flashback) Arrested

Atomizer - Car (Flashback) Arrested

Heavy Tread (Flashback) Detonated as a Landmine

Grindcore Prisoners (Flashback)

Optimus Prime/Orion Pax (Mentioned)

Thunderclash - Truck (Mentioned) He woke up!

Chromedome - Car (Mentioned)

Wheeljack - Race Car (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Tarn - Tank (Flashback)

Flywheels - Tank/Jet (Flashback)

Stalker - Personnel Carrier (Flashback)

Skyquake - Jet (Flashback)

Wingthing (Flashback)

Glit (Flashback)

Dreadwind - Stealth Bomber (Flashback)

Ruckus - Baja Buggy (Flashback)

Octus - Dalek (Flashback)

Take-Off (Flashback)

Charger (Flashback)

Grindcore Staff (Flashback)

Cybertronian

Cyclonus - Jet

Froid - Jet

Sunder

Sceptre (Mentioned) Killed in Ship Explosion

The Senate (Mentioned)

Primus (Mentioned)

Mortilus (Mentioned)

The Guiding Hand (Mentioned)

Notes

• It's hinted in this issue that Skids losing his "faith" is somehow related to what happened at Grindcore
• Given Glit's medical background in their profile, it's likely the "cross on their back is the Decepticon's version of the medical symbol.
• It's revealed that Rung only collects models of ships that he's served on. This also reveals that Rung was SUPPOSED to be on the Ark-1, but was recalled last minute
• Froid is shown in full in this issue, showing that his design is VERY much based on Prime Sondwave, just with a Seeker-looking chest.
• The effects of Tailgate's spark-wave is revealed to have woken up Thunderclash from his coma, it's also probable that he also revived Cyclonus as well, since he miraculously survived being blasted by the security crew.
• Sunder is normally an Autobot cassette-bird...guess he's a very different character now!
• Rung appears to have a habit of polishing his spectacles when he's nervous, the last time he was shown doing it was after his therapy session with Megatron.
• Since we know Quark died in Grindcore due to that being Brainstorm's motives behind making his time cases, it can be assumed that Tarn will kill him to torment Skids at some point.
• Skids appears to recognize Tarn's voice at Grindcore. Since there'd be no reason he'd know a Decepticon by code-name, just by voice alone, it can be assumed that he know's the voice of the guy under the mask, who is most likely Roller.
• Tarn appears to know about Skids' outlier abilities, which was known to Roller as well, further adding to the theory.
• From their names, I can probably assume that Kindle and Fervor are the previously mentioned Pyrobots

IDW - Transformers Holiday Special

"Choose Me"

Written by: Mairghread Scott

Art by: Corin Howell

Colours by: Thomas Deer

"Silent Light"

Written by: James Roberts

Art by: Kotteri

Colours by: Joanna LaFuente

"The Thirteenth Day of Christmas"

Written by: John Barber

Art by: Josh Burcham

Edited by: John Barber and Carlos Guzman

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Choose Me

On Cybertron, the Cybertronians and returning colonists are getting along great, but Starscream starts to get jealous, as he is still alone, except for the ghost of Bumblebee. However Bumblebee suggests that if he was kinder then others would like him.

Starscream takes this idea the wrong way, and decides to declare a new holiday for Cybertronians called "Chosen One Day" in which everyone has to give him a present to show they care about him. He has Rattrap deliver the message-video to Circuit and Longtooth to communicate to everyone, but they make a mistake, and cut off part of the message, and implies that "Chosen One Day" is where you give presents to ANYONE you want to show you care.

Soon, all of Cybertron and the colony worlds are taking part in the new holiday, except for Starscream who was given NOTHING. Starscream gets angry and plans his revenge when suddenly Wheeljack and several others arrive and surprises him with a party to say thanks for the great new holiday, and they gift him their friendship, until the morning anyway.

This pleases Starscream, and he decides to not kill anyone...at least not yet.

Characters

Autobot

Windblade - VTOL Fighter Jet

Chromia - Speedbike

Wheeljack - Race Car

Ironhide - Van

Blurr - Race Car

Slug - Triceratops

Bumblebee (Ghost)

Decepticon

Waspinator - Wasp

Tall Tankor - Cargo Plane/Oil Tanker

Fat Tankor - Tank

Sparkstalker - Insect Monster

Onslaught - Anti-Aircraft Truck

Brawl - Tank

Vortex - Helicopter

Blast Off - Space Shuttle

United Cybertron

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Rattrap - Mole-Rat

Circuit

Longtooth

Vehicon

The Badgeless

Colonists

Lightbright

Moonracer - Sports Car

Knock Out - Sports Car

"Aligned" Breakdown - Armoured Truck

Vanquish - Part of Jet

Fireshot - Part of Jet

Airazor - Falcon

Cheetor - Cheetah

Dinobot - Raptor

Elita One - Car

Strika - Battle Tank

Obsidian - Helicopter

Carcer Crew

Other Colonists

Silent Light

Rodimus returns to the Lost Light after a three-day trip for a "Meteorfest" to find Megatron and Ultra Magnus setting up some strange devices around the ship, whilst complaining about how Brainstorm is busy messing with his conceptual devices (which has incidentally turned the devices in the ship into things resembling traditional Christmas decorations from Earth.

Magnus and Megatron tell Rodimus that the entire ship needs to be put to sleep so they can travel through some hostile space without being attacked, which is the reason for the signal dampeners/decorations.

At Swerve's bar Swerve, Nautica and Whirl are drunk, and ignoring the lock-in for the trip through hostile space. Suddenly they hear a knock on the door, panicking them that Magnus has come for them, however Whirl instead just finds some crates at the door, with a newborn Cybertronian protoform inside. The trio decide to send the Protoform to Luna-1 for it to be looked after properly through the Subspace Hatch, but they find it locked up in Magnus' office.

Before long, Magnus appears without his armour and asks why the trio aren't in their protective pods, they panic and Nautica hides the Protoform inside the Magnus armour, which suddenly activates and tries to hug Magnus, who is soon knocked out by Nautica with her spanner. They lose track of the Protoform and start to panic again, whilst also dragging Magnus to safety.

The Protoform, still inside the armour finds his way to Megatron, and proceeds to try and hug him, causing Megatron to freak out over his sudden touchy-feeliness, until he's saved by Nautica and the others claiming that he's just drunk.

Nautica and Swerve get into their protective pods, and Whirl says he'll take care of the Protoform, he plans to send it out the air-lock, so that the crew will be saved (since if it's detected by the Maulers the entire ship will be put in danger and there's no extra pods for it to go into) However when he sees that the baby has taken on features similar to his, he feels a strong connection, and lets it sleep in the pod with him.

Later, Whirl wakes up in the Medibay where Velocity reveals that the Protoform was in fact just the combined form of a swarm of Scraplets, who took the young Cybertronian form to trick the Lost Lighters into thinking it wasn't a threat before killing them all. Whirl reveals that he deprived energy to his own spark so that only the baby would be detected, keeping everyone safe.

If he was out for any longer then he would have died. Learning how he risked everything for a swarm of sentient pathogens, as it tricked him, he says that he's proud of his little friends...

Characters

Autobot

Rodimus - Car

Megatron - Tank

Ultra Magnus/Minimus Ambus - Vehicle Transport/Minesweeper

Whirl - Osprey Helicopter

Nautica - Submarine

Swerve - Van

Velocity - Race Car

Brainstorm - Jet (Mentioned)

Rewind - Data Slug (Mentioned)

Other

Protoform/Scraplets

Cerebros (Mentioned)

Primus (Mentioned)

Maulers (Mentioned)

Galactic Council (Mentioned)

The Thirteenth Day of Christmas

On the Twelfth day of Christmas, Director Anna Log is sleeping in her house with her pet Turbofoxes nearby when suddenly Megatron blasts his way into her house, in a Santa-suit, and kills her and her pets.

The next day, December 38th, Thundercracker, a great detective and his assistant Buster receive word of the death of the Director and goes to investigate. Once there, they find some video footage of the murderer, and identify it as Santa Claus.

Thundercracker heads to the North Pole, passing some surfing penguins and Polar Bears drinking Coca-Cola and locates Santa's base of operations, but Buster's nose starts glowing red, which can mean only one thing...danger!

Suddenly Santa's mechanical reindeer fly up to attack the brave detective, but he easily defeats them, making his way to Santa's base, and engages the jolly, muscular human in a fist-fight. Suddenly Thundercracker learns that Megatron framed Santa, and all because Santa left him a lump of coal for being a naughty boy. Thundercracker punches Megatron and knocks him out, saving Christmas. Afterwards, Santa and Thundercracker fly off, using Megatron in tank-mode as a sleigh, led by the reindeer and Buster, and become the best of friends! The End.

Thundercracker finishes telling Faireborn and Jones his idea for a children's story book, but Faireborn is completely annoyed by all his mistakes and just how bad the plot was. Jones leaves with Buster, in her reindeer antlers, and leaves the other two to argue about it's worth.

Characters

Cybertronian

Thundercracker - Fighter Jet

Autobot

Beat Cop Arcee - Sports Car (Fictional Only)

Decepticon

Megatron - Tank (Fictional Only) Defeated by Thundercracker

Cameraman Laserbeak - Cassette (Fictional Only)

Human

Marissa Faireborn

Ayana Jones

Director Anna Log (Fictional Only) Killed by Megatron

Fictional Cop (Fictional Only)

Other

Buster

Reindeer Robots (Fictional Only)

Two Pet Turbofoxes (Fictional Only) Killed by Megatron

Notes

• The front cover shows that Ravage has gotten Megatron a new fusion cannon...could this be a glimpse into his future?
• The art style and theme for "Choose Me" is based on Doctor Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"
• One of the colonists coming through the Space Bridge is based on the My Little Pony brand, I'd assume that she (he?) comes from Eukaris.
• Bumblebee's ghost is redesigned here to be more cartoony, with him also having Energon Cubes chained to himself, like Jacob Marley from "A Christmas Carol"
• "Choose Me" seems to be set before "Redemption", but after the conclusion of the "Windblade" series as Slug is still welcome in the city, and Elita One and the others are around.
• The Combaticons gift Onslaught with a new grenade...wonder if that will come up again with their plans to make Starscream pay for covering up Swindle's death?
• Despite the other representatives being shown at the party, neither Carcerian representative is at Starscream's party.
• A lot of the contrived Christmas imagery in "Silent Light" are based on mostly British Christmas traditions, like crackers, paper crowns etc.
• Rodimus has been to a "Meteorfest" a reference to his introduction to the IDW continuity on a flaming meteor during his Spotlight issue.
• The events of this issue takes place after the events of MTMTE 48, released the same day, based on how Magnus has moved the Subspace Hatch to his officer from the Medi-bay. This somewhat spoils a few character's survival from the upcoming part 2 for that storyline, which has been noted to include deaths.
• The Scraplets are capable of controlling the Magnus Armour...this is not explained...
• So the plot in this issue is that the crew all have to get to their "B.E.D.S" and sleep so they don't get noticed by someone on Christmas Eve...
• "The Thirteenth Day of Christmas" is Thundercracker's attempt at writing a children's Christmas story book....as this is the case it is a mis-match of many themes and mistakes.
• Strangely, this story is the only one of the three stories included here that is undeniably set at Christmas.
• I would say that Thundercracker added his understanding of Buster's language in for the story, but Transformers #48 actually DOES show that he understands the sweet doggy!
• Arcee wearing a police uniform really reminds me of the Transformers in human clothes from the Transformers Legends tie-in comics.
• Buster's glowing nose is a reference to Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer. She is also shown wearing reindeer horns when the story shifts to reality....N'AWWWWW!!!!
• Megatron being evil and using his fusion cannon in this story implies that he's a Decepticon in this "continuity"
• In case you missed it, Megatron is used as Santa's sleigh in the final panel of the "story book"

IDW - GI Joe vs Transformers #10

Title: Earth: R.I.P.

Written by: Tom Scioli and John Barber

Art, Colours and Lettering by: Tom Scioli

Production by: Chris Mowry

Edits by: Carlos Guzman

Plot

Following the destruction of Earth, the Oktober Guard plant a flag to claim Cybertron as "New Transylvania" and the Joes wonder if they should do the same.

Elsewhere, inside Trypticon the Cobras are started a meal in celebration of their victory (in blowing up their own planet I guess...) when Megatron enters the room, and disturbs everyone when he eats one of the GI Joe prisoners alive. In the aftermath the Cobras lose their appetites, except for Torch, who eats a chicken leg and immediately vomits up blood, and dies, having fallen victim to Roadblock's, their captured chef, poisoning of the food.

The Cobras attack Roadblock, but he manages to escape with Tunnel Rat's help, and enters the vents of the giant Decepticon. After a short crawl, Tunnel Rat leads Roadblock to Perceptor, who is revealed to have only been pretending to be a Decepticon, he places the two humans inside his refrigerated chest cavity, along with another body bag. Perecptor leaves, but is noticed by the Decepticons, and is chased for a while.

Soon, Perceptor and the two Joes arrive at the Joe's new HQ on Cybertron, the new Pit where they regroup. Once there, Perceptor reveals that Wild Bill was killed some time ago, despite his attempts to revive him at Trypticon. The imposter Wild Bill, Zartan, attacks some of the other Joes outside in a helicopter, but is stopped when Stalker kills him with a sniper rifle. In the aftermath Hawk has the Joes take Bill for a "real" autopsy. Using their combined knowledge following their separate times inside Trypticon, Tunnel Rat, Perceptor and Roadblock believe that they know how to disable his forcefield, allowing the Joes and Autobots to attack.

Elsewhere, Stormshadow and Snake-Eyes fight on one of Cybertron's mountainhorns when suddenly Stormshadow abandons the fight so he can rescue the still living Billy from inside Koh-Buru-Lah.

Inside Cybertron, Rodimus, his Autobots and their Joe allies approach the physical head of Primus, and head down inside the planet, where the Keeper teaches them about the origins of Cybertron, and many other planets by the Quintessons, at the bottom of the tunnel they find Optimus Prime being ferried across a river by Ultra Magnus....

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Dead?

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport

Rodimus - Car

Metroplex - Slug Thing

Perceptor - Tank

Brawn - Van

Mirage - Race Car

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex Dead, Corpse on Megatron's arm

Decepticon

Megatron

Trypticon - Battle Platform

Bonecrusher - Bulldozer

Scavenger - Excavator

Long Haul - Dump Truck (Mentioned) Dead

Devastator - Gestalt (Mentioned)

Confektor (Mentioned)

Random Decepticons

GI Joe

General Flagg

Hawk

Duke

Roadblock

Tunnel Rat

Wild Bill Dead

Skidmark Eaten by Megatron

Stretcher

Lifeline

Lady Jaye

Gung-Ho

Stalker

Psyche-Out

Bazooka

Cover Girl

Tripwire

Blowtorch

Steeler

Rock 'n Roll

Sandstorm

Dusty

Airtight

Lightfoot

Deep Six

Ozone

Wetsuit

Repeater

Beachhead

Leatherneck

Snow Job

Hit and Run

Freefall

Airwave

Scoop

Cold Front

Ambush

Quick Kick

Grunt

Torpedo

Recoil Killed by Zartan

Cross Country Killed by Zartan

Red Spot Killed by Zartan

Wreckage Killed by Zartan

Other Joes

Cobra

Destro

Serpentress

Zartan Killed by Stalker

Raptor

Road Pig

Ripper

Torch Poisoned by Roadblock

Zandar

Zanzibar

Copperhead

Cobra Commander

Nemesis Enforcer

Major Bludd

Storm Shadow

B.A.T.

Cobra Troopers

Oktober Guard

Colonel Breakoff

SHRIEK

Munchnik

Dragun

Denia

Horrorshow

Other Human

Snake-Eyes

Billy

Other

Koh-Buru-Lah

The Keeper

Primus
"The Makers"/Quintessons (Monuments)

Daiakuron (Mentioned) Split into multiple worlds

Unicron (Mentioned)

Notes

• So the Cobra guys actually trusted Roadblock NOT to poison their food?! REALLY?
• Speaking of which...what kind of poison makes you instantly spray blood from your mouth?
• Why does Megatron need to eat Humans?
• Wow Roadblock's kitchen inside Trypticon sure is well furnished....WHY?!?!
• Perceptor gives some Nazi-style salutes and marches when sneaking out of Trypticon.
• Somehow Flagg got off Earth before it was destroyed....oh yay, the crazy murderer guy is safe...
• It's very inconsistent on if the human characters need breathing apparatus on Cybertron.
• Cobra Commander and his off-shoot Cobra group were absorbed into Koh-Buru-Lah before the planet was destroyed.
• Billy is revealed to be codenamed as "Stormshadow II" and was trained by Stormshadow himself.
• Ultra Magnus' appearance here is in homage to Charon from Greek mythology, who rode the dead down to Hades.
• Ultra Magnus has a hammer here, much like his Animated and Aligned counterparts
• This comic includes a text story named Black Cybertron following Snake-Eyes and the Cassettes rescuing Soundwave from his "death"

Sig-Pub - Robots in Disguise #3

Notes

• No new comic this time again...honestly the main reason I'm doing this review is because most of my December comic orders haven't arrived still, due to the Holiday post period....sigh....
• The comic printed in this issue is a reprint of issue 2 of IDW's RID Series, it is renamed here as "Return of Team Prime"
• In fact, here's a link to my review of THAT issue: I don't want to write it again!

Other Features

"Transformers Pairs Game" Destroy the cover and create a tiny deck of "Pairs" cards

App Scan shield Get extra points for your RID App

Steeljaw Fact File

Draw Sideswipe Draw Sideswipe's alternate mode from the front view

Spot the Difference! Here's a hint...Grimlock disappears ENTIRELY!!!

Crappy half-size posters

Crossword Puzzle

Transformers Post You could win Mini-Con Deployer Drift...not bad actually!

Competition Time! You can win some One Step Changers!....nah....