IDW - Rom Annual 2017

Title: The Origin of Rom: Cold Fire

Plot and Script by: Christos Gage & Chris Ryall

Pencils by: David Messina

Inks by: Michele Pasta

Colours by: Alessandra Alexakis & David Messina

Letters by: Shawn Lee

Editorial Assist by: David Mariotte

Publisher: Ted Adams

Plot

Strange meteors crash through the energy shield around the peaceful planet of Elonia. The K'atsema family start to examine the rocks, but the mothers contact Rom, their son, to help them move the rocks due to their weight and his knowledge on geology. Rom's brother Reyn manages to pick up one of the smaller rocks and comments that it's started to glow to his mothers...

Rom returns home with his friends, Livia and Fy-Laa, where they are curious about how the meteors got through the planet's shield, when suddenly Rom's home explodes, leaving them shocked.

Later, the Solstar Order have arrived at the explosion site, to investigate the incident, when one of their investigators locate the severely burned and injured body of one of Rom's mothers!

The next day, Rom and his friends have arrived at the Solstar Academy's Medical Facility, where Rom tries to find out who attacked his family, and several other settlements, pointing out how suspicious it is that all the meteors and explosions hit settled areas only. Commander Diavod dismisses this, trying to hide the threats of the outside universe from Elonia, but is soon interrupted when the injured people all start to wake up, attack the scientists, and are revealed to be Dire Wraiths, including Rom's mother!

The Wraiths attack the observation lounge, where Rom and the others are located. Rom's "mother" tries to trick him into lowering his guard, so she can kill him too, but Rom takes Diavod's Neutralizer, and shoots her, albeit with not enough power to kill the Wraith. Soon, more members of the Order arrive, and the Wraiths escape through a newly created hole in the wall.

Later, Rom and his friends arrive at the Solstar Order Command Center, where they join the Order, so they can help stop the Wraiths from hurting anyone else. The command teams are unsure, since Elonians are generally weaker than most other species, but allow them, since they need numbers more than brute force now.

Rom and the others go through their training, and in this time Rom and Livia start a romantic relationship. Before long they graduate from the training program and are assigned to guard the mines at the Blue Mountains, which is right near where Rom used to live with his family. Their mission is to see if the Wraiths are using it as their local base of operations, but Rom suspects it's just busy-work for them, as they aren't respected yet.

The team of Rom, Livia and Fy-laa settle down for the night, at the mouth of the mines, when they are suddenly attacked by the Dire Wraiths! The newly graduated Order members are heavily outmatched by the evil aliens, which leads Rom to using his geological and local knowledge to his advantage, and blasts a hole in the ground, allowing the Order team to fall into the abandoned mine, where their fall is cushioned by the water, which flooded the place, causing it to be abandoned originally.

The team try to hide from the Wraiths, but they are able to sense them. Rom tries to use his Neutralizer on them, but it's out of energy, forcing him to throw it aside. The Wraiths continue to advance on him, so he grabs a nearby rock out of desperation, to use it as a bludgeoning weapon, but the ore, which the Wraiths are afraid of, starts to turn into a liquid substance, and begins covering and merging with Rom, as painfully as possible. Rom reaches for the Neutralizer out of habit, and it is also merged with Rom.

Rom stands up, and is revealed to be fully covered in a silver suit of armour, and manages to shoot a Neutralizer beam from his hand, killing one of the Wraiths with ease, much to everyone's shock.

Rom soon convinces his friends to use the ore on themselves, which they do, resulting in them also being upgraded with their armours allowing them to finish off the rest of the present Dire Wraiths, including the one that took Rom's mother's body

Later, the Solstar Order pick up the trio, and collect up as much of the ore as they can. Some time later, the ore and armour has been analysed, and reveals that they are now perfect Dire Wraith killing machines, but it cannot be removed, which leads the command team to plan to use the ore on their troops, to fight the Wraiths off, as the KNIGHTS of the Solstar Order.

The team goes for further testing and training with their armour, but Rom excuses himself, so he can return to his old home so he can memorialize his family, and swears revenge for them.

Following this pledge, he flies off to return to the rest of the Knights....

Characters

Solstar Order

Imperiator Carax

Orphion

Diavod

Rom K'atsema

Livia

Fy-laa

Prim

Butin

Whrrr

Maur

Q'b

"Mask-wearing Bear"

"Purple Blob"

Other Solstar Order Troops

Solstar Order Medical Facility Staff

Other Elonian

Benna K'atsema Killed in Meteor explosion, Possibly possessed by Dire Wraith

Shah K'atsema Killed in Meteor explosion, Possibly possessed by Dire Wraith

Reyn K'atsema Killed in Meteor explosion

Elonian Newscaster (Hologram Only)

Dire Wraith

High Priest Killed by Livia

"Mother" Wraith Killed by Rom

Other Dire Wraiths Killed by Rom and Livia

Invading Dire Wraith Army

Other

Loros (Mentioned)

Notes

• This story is set about 200 years ago, meaning it is set around the 1800's
• Rom has two mothers...it isn't clear which one is which though, but I'm guessing that Benna is the short-black haired one, and Shah is the other, since that's the order they were named in, and shown on panel here.
• The Solstar Order are confused over how the Dire Wraiths could inhabit inorganic meteors, this is later discovered in the modern era by Rom to be due to them blending their magic with other technology
• It's not clear if Livia is also Elonian, like Rom (just with a different skin tone), or another species altogether.
• The Dire Wraith High Priest in this issue seems to have a snake-like body, just like Orphion. He mentions that the Wraiths invaded his planet first, so maybe this is just one of the first victims?
• The strange ore that creates the Soltar Knight armour is unidentified here, but due to it's affinity with Cybertronian technology, as shown during Revolution, it's likely one of the Regenesis Ores created by Shockwave, or some derivative of them.
• Also regarding the ore, they encase organic beings with a new mechanical body, gives them in-built flight capabilities, in-built weapons, are self-healing and have extended life-spans? Is Rom a Go-Bot?
• The armour is revealed to be able to change shape based on the wielder's needs...I wonder if this will mean anything in the future issues?
• The stories of the Knights of the Solstar Order will continue properly in Rom  #11.
• On the last page the only Knight that is unidentified is the purple blob. The bear is also unnamed, but we at least saw him in this issue...unless he's Diavod, in which case...YIKES!

IDW - Till All Are One #7

Title: Desperate Measures

Written by: Mairghread Scott

Art by: Sara Pitre-Durocher

Colours by: Joana LaFuente

Letters by: Tom B Long

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Publisher: Ted Adams

Plot

Ironhide's troops are fighting the Titans on Cybertron's surface, as Windblade's team attacks Carcer, planning to try and convince him to help in the battle against the others. Starscream and the remaining council members are watching the action unfold from the Spire, and Starscream admits that he really does hope that Windblade succeeds, but feels like she wont, since heroes tend to die...

Devastator is tearing into Carcer's hull, but is soon confronted by an attack force led by Strika, who seems to be matched up to him in terms of strength.

Obsidian notes how the shuttles seem to be acting strange in the area, and orders for the nearby ones to be struck, in case of any infiltrators. The shuttle carrying Windblade's team is hit, and detonates, but Fireshot is able to get them out safely by having everyone hide within rubble, and crash onto the hull, leading to them making it into an airlock.

Inside the Titan, the team splits into two groups, one to reach the armoury, the other to the brain chamber. Obsidian soon detects the team heading to the armoury, and reports this to Elita, also reporting that Windblade is with them. Elita, assuming that this is Starscream's doing, leads a team to intercept them herself.

She attacks the team, and manages to clip Windblade's wing, and swatting the others away at the same time, she goes to finish off Windblade personally, but "Windblade" is revealed to just be Lightbright having used a holo-projector to disguise herself as her, much to Elita's distaste.

Windblade's real team arrives at the brain chamber, having avoided detection by going through the vents. Windblade prepares to interface with Carcer's brain, but is interrupted by Obsidian, who figured that something was going on, and reasoned that the brain was the better tactical decision for Windblade to go for, rather than the armoury.

Obsidian tries to convince Windblade that reactivating Carcer is a mistake, but she insists that he is needed for the battle. Obsidian unleashes his weapons, and opens fire on the team, who work together to disable the Carcerian delegate, allowing Windblade to link up to Carcer's brain, even as Obsidian continues to call for her to stop.

Windblade taps into the mind of Carcer, and manages to reactivate him, realizing too late why the Carcer crew refused to allow him to fight...he isn't really Carcer...he is the evil Titan Vigilem, who was loyal only to Liege Maximo....

Characters

Autobot

Windblade - VTOL Fighter Jet

Blurr - Race Car

Metroplex - Iacon City/Space Ship Knocked Out

Bumblebee - Cybertronian Car (Ghost)

Ironhide - Van (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Sparkstalker - Insect Monster

United Cybertron

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Devastator - Constructicon Gestalt

Metalhawk - Fighter Jet (Flashback) Killed by Starscream

Ironhide's Security Force (Mentioned)

Colonist

Tigatron - Tiger

Airazor - Eagle

Knock Out - Sports Car

Moonracer - Sports Car

Prime Breakdown - Armoured Van

Lightbright

Fireshot - Part of Jet

Carcerian

Elita One

Obsidian - Stealth Osprey Helicopter

Strika - Battle Tank

Lancer

Greenlight

Carcerian Troops

Other

Titan Swarm - Space Ships

Vigilem - Spaceship Carcer

Notes

• Despite being on the roll call page, and being mentioned as fighting the Titans, Ironhide doesn't actually appear in this issue
• Also, despite all appearances, Windblade doesn't actually appear on the issue cover. That's Lightbright in disguise.
• Starscream's getting a bit sloppy in his chats with Bumblebee's ghost. He does so in front of Airazor and Knock Out in this issue, with the former even commenting on it.
• Strika is strong enough to fight off Devastator....yikes!
• With the revelation that Carcer is actually Vigilem, the Titan mentioned to be loyal to Liege Maximo in the Revolution tie-in issue, it's quite likely that the former captain, who currently acts as Elita One's throne is ACTUALLY Liege Maximo's body!
• It is assumed that the secret device Sparkstalker gave Windblade was he holo-projector that Lightbright used this issue.
• All members of the Council of Worlds appear in this issue, except for Vanquish.

IDW - Lost Light #2

Title: Dissolution Part 2: Anomie

Written by: James Roberts

Art by: Jack Lawrence

Colours by: Joana LaFuente

Letters by: Tom B Long

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Publisher: Ted Adams

Plot

Rodimus and the others are confused by where they are, but Rewind manages to figure out for certain that they are in the Functionist Universe, where Megatron was never allowed to be born. The team are soon taken into custody due to Twelve-of-Twelve believing them to be parts of the Anti-Vocationist League. Megatron suggests they go freely, so they can hopefully discuss the situation with the rest of the council. The Functionists however destroy the Time Den, since they see it as pointless, since it wasn't "born".

Back on Necroworld, Lug is hanging out at the Memorial to the Disappeared, having just been repairing relations with the Autobots following Anode's insults to them, when Anode arrives. The two discuss how if Anode wanted to leave, then she would have by now, leading Anode to reveal that she's interested in finding Cyberutopia with the Autobots, she claims to want to settle down there, but Lug believes she just wants to ransack the place. Before the two can really argue though, Fangry suddenly gets thrown between them by Tailgate.

In the Functionist Universe again, the newcomers are paraded through the streets of Cybertron by the Functionists, to act as examples to anyone thinking of rebelling against them. Along the way, the team notice several countdowns on the monitors and begin to wonder what it is counting to. Drift is shocked when he sees a giant statue of Primus, in his warrior persona, with the words "Survive and Thrive" under it. Seeing this, Drift quickly tells Ratchet about the vision he had on Necroworld, and reveals that the world he saw was covered in several old and ominous phrases, just like that one. Before much else can be done though, a grenade is thrown near them by the newly arrived members of the Anti-Vocationist League!

On Necroworld, Tailgate continues his assault on Fangry. Anode tries to stop his attack, but is thrown away by Tailgate before she can, all of which scares off the remaining assembled Decepticons. Cyclonus approaches him, and, upon seeing that Fangry has been knocked out, he asks Tailgate to come with him somewhere...

Nearby, Lug finds Anode skewered on a piece of scrap metal in the field, and calls for help, only to be approached by a certain wheeled individual...

On Cybertron, the AVL are being easily beaten down by the Functionists, so the Lost Lighters decide, after seeing how pathetic they are, to help. Megatron easily frees himself from his cuffs, and begins to coordinate the others.

On Necroworld, Cyclonus takes Tailgate to see all the Decepticons he killed during the battle with the DJD, and tries to make him realize that his new super-strength powers are causing him to lose control, and are also making him run through his Energon reserves too fast. Tailgate denies this, just as he passes out....

At the Medi-bay, Anode wakes up, remembering something from her past, she has been patched up by Kaput, another of the Disappeared, who also happens to be a medic. Before long, Velocity, Nautica and Swerve storm in, with Velocity determined to make a citizen's arrest on Anode for her past actions. Having discovered that more "Disappeared" are appearing, the group realize that more of them could still be waking up from their pods. Swerve goes to check on the pods, just in case, whilst Nautica and Velocity start to interrogate Anode about "The Lighthouse"

On Functionist Cybertron, the Lost Lights are tearing through the Functionists, and rescue their prisoners. Despite his previous bravado and cool demeanour, Twelve-of-Twelve is teleported away in an emergency, the moment one of the Autobots attack him. With his retreat, the remaining Functionaries run off.

The Lost Lighters join forces with the AVL members, and their leader, Clicker, prepares them for transport to their base, Cyberutopia!

Before the group are able to leave though, the countdown reaches zero, and Six-of-Twelve appears on all the screens across Cybertron, announcing that he has identified the use of the "Useless One", the figure-head of the AVL...Rung....

Characters

Autobot

Rodimus - Sports Car

Megatron - Tank

Minimus Ambus - Minesweeper

Drift - Car

Ratchet - Ambulance

Rewind - Data Slug

Chromedome - Car

Velocity - Race Car

Nautica - Submarine

Swerve - Van

Tailgate - Car

Kaput

Pharma - Jet (Mentioned)

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Fangry Beaten Unconscious by Tailgate

Rapidfire - SUV

"Energon Divebomb" - Eagle

"Cybertron Hardtop" - Dune Buggy

Jack-Knife Dead, Killed by Tailgate

Several of Deathsaurus' Troops Dead, Killed by Tailgate

Decepticon Justice Division (Mentioned) Dead

Anti-Vocationist League

Clicker - Laser Pointer

Green Data Slug - Data Slug

Two Lunabots - Space Shuttles

Blue Rung Lookalike

Green Rung Lookalike Eyes Gouged Out by Functionits

White Rung Lookalike Eyes Gouged Out by Functionits

Functionist

Six-of Twelve

Twelve-of-Twelve

Functionary Enforcers

Monitor-Head Functionary Killed by Roller

Sky-Spies

Other Functionist Council Members (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Roller - Truck

Terminus - Mining Vehicle

Cyclonus - Jet

Anode - Jet

Lug - Backpack Equipment

Functionist Universe Rung

Functionist Universe Civilians

Primus (Statue)

Epistemus (Mentioned)

The Old Senate (Mentioned)

Knights of Cybertron (Mentioned)

The Guiding Hand (Mentioned)

Sparkeater Swarm (Mentioned)

Other

Black Box Consortia (Mentioned)

Flash-Flame (Mentioned)

Notes

• Twelve-of-Twelve's levitation is still not commented on really...maybe that's just an ability he always had?
• The Functionists destroy the time den due to it not being a Transformer, and therefore not really having a purpose is a bit confusing....especially since they are using some non-Transformer handcuffs in the same scene...
• Amongst the names on the Memorial for the Disappeared is someone named Shock, at first you may believe it to be the Duobot of the same name, but it is a different character with the same name according to James Roberts on Twitter (Here)
• On the same topic, none of the named "Disappeared" are shown on the memorial...Maybe the list updates itself when they are located? Kaput makes an appearance just after it appears though...
• Lug is revealed to be a female Transformer.
• Amongst the crowd in the Functionist Universe are more cameos from past Transformers franchises like Robots in Disguise and the Unicron Trilogy.
• The image of Primus being a warrior god is revealed to be an older version of his representation in continuity, as he is now seen as a benevolent god.
• Drift reveals that the previous vision he had, that was mentioned last issue was what brought him and Ratchet to Necroworld. He also reveals that the fleet of Worldsweeper ships in the new vision was the "Phantom Fleet" which went missing the Dark Nebula.
• The Dark Nebula was previously mentioned in the Revolution tie-in issue for More Than Meets The Eye, as being where the Dire Wraiths were, and the reason Megatron steered clear of the place.
• It's not confirmed here, but Clicker's appearance makes me think he turns into a laser pointer, like the previously mentioned Shimmerstick
• Megatron proves just how string he is by tearing apart his cuffs without any real effort.
• Velocity and Nautica both know who Anode is, so she and Lug are likely Camiens who just happened to get to Cybertron to excavate that snowflake thing from last issue.
• Swerve's lack of emotion last issue, along with possibly Nautica's lack of sadness appears to be due to Nautica performing some sort of medical treatment, possibly some sort of Mnemosurgery.
• As mentioned by Chromedome, Six-of-Twelve now has a Matrix-styled head, probably to further show his authority. Since this is a universe where war never broke out, it is likely that the actual Matrix is still hidden on the Undergrid...Maybe the Lost Lighters can recover this new Matrix to use it's map to Cyberutopia?
• Clicker claims that his base of operations is on Cyberutopia, it's likely not THE Cyberutopia, but a place named after the idea of it.
• So, turns out the Functionists didn't kill Rung last time we saw them after all!

IDW - Micronauts 2017

Written by: Cullen Bunn

Art by: Marcelo Ferreira

Colours by: David Garcia Cruz

Letters by: Tom B Long

Edits by: David Hedgecock

Editorial Assists by: David Mariotte

Published by: Ted Adams

Plot

One of the Time Travelers looks over the problems happening in Microspace, and laments how the Ministries of Defense and Science are fighting eachother, rather than working together, but he also follows the Micronauts onto Earth to keep an eye on them, to make sure they succeed in their mission to save the Universe.

On Earth, the Micronauts are flying through a city, following the instructions of the Time Mask to one of the Interdimensional Portals that can take them back to Microspace, but before they can find it, they come across another Microspace-originating vessel, which attacks the Heliopolis. The new ship is stronger than the Heliopolis, so the crew leave the vessel to handle it themselves. Unfortunately, the rival crew have the same idea...no shockingly, as they are ALSO the Micronauts, but from the future!

The present day crew are shocked by coming face-to-face with their future selves, when their counterparts open fire on them, taking the shock to their advantage. The crews clash, but the future crew are stronger, as can be expected, and they want to stop their past selves from returning home. Throughout this battle, the past and future are being flashed, showing how everyone began, and where their lives are headed, as if their mere proximity is messing with time-space itself. During the battle, the future Larissa, now donning a version of Baron Karza's armour, fights her counterpart, whilst remarking about how she should have told the others the truth about herself from the start, and now she'll be forced to.

The battle culminates when the two Oz's clash, and Future Oz confirms that he IS his future self, and if they return to Microspace now, then they will fail in their mission to save it, and also reveals that the Time Mask is lying to him. Oz isn't sure about that, especially since his future self seems to be wearing the same mask, but his future self shows him how wrong he is...he removes the mask, whilst expressing how he once trusted it, and reveals that his head now seemingly houses the Entropy Cloud itself!

The two crews call a truce, and meet up on the ground, the future crew reveals that they had to fight with the past crew, as they knew they would never have listened to them, due to being too stubborn. Future Oz warns the crew not to return home yet, as they will fail the mission if they do. Biotron is confused, since the fact that they came to this battle as a result of failing, then that means they must fail for this to happen. The future Oz states that "Time is all things", the same thing that all Time Travelers say.

Future Oz turns to energy and gives the Micronauts a glimpse of the future, and the horrors of the upcoming Earthwar, and they can only save both universe by staying behind, and changing the future once more. With that, the future crew vanish, seemingly back to the future.

In the aftermath, Oz tries to get the Time Mask to explain what happens in the future, but he remains silent. The crew decide to remain on Earth to try and change their futures, unaware that the Interdimensional Portal is still open, and that an army of Acroyear II's are flying through it....

Characters

Micronauts

Oziron Rael

Larissa

Phenolo-Phi

Acroyear

Microtron

Biotron

Time Mask

Future Micronauts - Returned to Future

Oziron Rael Enerchanged with Time Mask and Entropy Cloud

Larissa Now in Baron Karza Armour

Phenolo-Phi Enerchanged with Reptos

Acroyear Enerchanged with Daegon's Steed

Microtron Fused with Biotron

Biotron Fused with Microtron

Other Microverse Denizens

Time Traveler

Acroyear II Army

Giant Acroyear (Flash Forward)

Baron Karza (Flashback and Flash Forward)

Shazraella (Flashback and Flash Forward)

Reptos Army (Flashback and Flash Forward)

Micronus Prime (Flashback) Comatose

Baron Daegon (Flashback)

Time Casket (Flashback) Dead - Time Mask as only remains.

Kronus Settlers (Flashback) Dead

Phen's Family (Flashback) Dead

Microtron's Brothers (Flashback)

Other Pharoids (Flashback) Enerchanged with Time itself

Ministry of Defense (Mentioned)

Ministry of Science (Mentioned)

Macroverse Denizens

Optimus Prime (Flashback)

Soundwave (Flashback)

Scarlett (Flashback)

Snake-Eyes (Flashback)

Rom, the Space Knight (Flashback)

Dr Dell (Flashback)

Dire Wraiths (Flashback)

Random Humans

Human Soldiers (Flash Forward)

Notes

• The first five pages of this comic basically acts as a "previously" section
• Though briefly mentioned in issue 9, this issue basically acts as a prelude to the upcoming "Earthwar". This is likely the plot of the upcoming Wrath of Karza series.
• It is seemingly confirmed here that the Time Travelers DID cause the Entropy Cloud, and judging from future Oz's appearance, they are the future forms of the Pharoid race.
• In the glimpse of the Revolution event, it looks like Optimus and Soundwave are fighting, but they are allies at the moment....
• One of the women that the Heliopolis flies past assumes it is just an annoying drone....I want that as a toy NOW Hasbro!
• I don't know what figure the future crew's ship is based on, I can't find it  anywhere on the resource sites...
• The future Microtron has been fused inside of Biotron, after both were badly injured during a future battle
• Future Acroyear appears to have Enerchanged with Baron Daegon's horse, whilst Phen has fused with a Reptos. Amongst the dead in the flash-forward are some Reptos, it can be assumed she fused with one of those.
• Future Larissa is revealed to now wear Baron Karza armour, and through the flashbacks, it seems that she was genetically modified by him, perhaps as his successor.
• Future Oz now has the Time Mask over his head, and also houses the Entropy Cloud inside his body, and acts like a Time Traveler. His appearance also now resembles the old Pharoid toy, with a shiny head.
• Since Future Phen doesn't look like she's aged too much, it can be assumed that the Earthwar is sooner rather than later.
• Acroyear's flashback shows that he was originally humanoid, but had the Acroyear armour grafted onto him...it looks painful!
• The future crew are revealed to have been able to return to Microspace by following the Mask's instructions, but that course led to their massive injuries and changes in the future.
• Future Phen refers to the Time Mask as "The Traitor", implying that we really cannot trust that thing!
• It's unclear if the future crew are real or just a manifestation of the Time Traveler from the start of this story. Also, if they are real, then that would seem to suggest that Oz turns into the bald Time Traveler that we've seen a couple of times in the series now.
• The Time Traveler refers to Micronus as being in "his 'final' resting place". This implies that he could come back to life in the future...maybe that's why Microspace is dying? Micronus is waking up!

IDW - Micronauts #9

Written by: Cullen Bunn & Jimmy Johnston

Art by: Max Dunbar

Colours by: Ander Zarate

Letters by: Tom B Long

Editor: David Hedgecock

Assistant Editor: David Mariotte

Publisher: Ted Adams

Plot

The staff at the holding facility are being shouted down by their commander, who learns that they can locate the Micronauts, due to their ship leaving an Argon trail behind them. Commander Klain then contacts his boss, Miles Mayhem, who orders him to capture the Micronauts ALIVE.

At the Microspace settlement, the Micronauts are shocked to find that the guys with the guns, are actually friendly, and are greeted by the Time Traveler inside his Casket, he reiterates that they were expected, and escorts them to the great hall for a feast. Oz contacts Microtron, and informs him of the change in situation, and allows him to continue repairs to the Heliopolis.

In the great hall, the Traveler explains that the walls are inscribed with the history of Microspace, and that they themselves are from the future, having escaped the end of Microspace with the Kronus, and that they travelled in time with them by accident, landing on Earth 1000 years ago, and were unable to leave, due to his energies being badly depleted. The Micronauts are a bit distraught, as this implies that they'll fail in their mission of saving Microspace, but the Traveler corrects them, explaining that time can be changed, and this was just one possibility.

Later, the Traveler explains that the Micronauts can return to Microspace without a Spacebridge, but will need to locate one of the dangerous interdimensional portals located on Earth, meaning they can continue their research on the Entropy Cloud before they leave.

The human soldiers locate the settlement, and start an attack on it, whilst capturing as many of the Kronus as they can for Mayhem's experiments. The Micronauts start processes to evacuate the city, and take as many Kronus as they can. Oz tries to head back to the great hall to preserve the historical records, but the Traveler tries to explain that it is pointless.

Klain throws a grenade towards Oz and the Traveler, causing the casket around him to shatter, and injuring Oz. Oz is shocked, as he didn't think a Time Traveler could ever die, when the mask inside starts talking to him, asking him to recover it. It explains that it is the Enerchanged form of the Traveler and the Casket itself, and that the Casket was the only thing keeping the time-displaced Kronus alive. Klain grabs Oz, and plans to take him in, but Acroyear slices off the human's fingers, and rescues Oz and the Mask, taking them back to the Heliopolis, as they escape.

On the ship, Oz learns that the Kronus all turned to dust, and faded from history as soon as the Casket was destroyed, and mourns for them. Larissa is distraught over all the pain they've suffered since arriving on Earth, and storms off. However, the Mask gives Oz another disturbing warning, an Earthwar is coming....

Characters

Micronaut

Oziron Rael

Larissa

Phenolo-Phi

Biotron

Microtron

Acroyear

Other Microspace Denizens

Time Casket Destroyed by Klain's Grenade, turned into Time Mask

Time Mask

Kronus All killed when Time Casket was destroyed

The Time Travelers (Mentioned)

Human

Commander Klain

Agent Hillenbrand

Omega Team

Holding Facility Staff

Miles Mayhem (On Holo-Communicator)

Notes

• Miles Mayhem is revealed to be in charge of the holding facility that abducted the Micronauts
• Turns out I mis-identified the insectoid Microspace denizens last issue, they are Kronus.
• The Time Casket's speech bubble has been recoloured to the normal white, making him not seem like a robot now!
• According to the Time Casket, Kronus will be the last planet to be destroyed by the Entropy Cloud.
• It's not clear yet, but the Casket's comments on how they travelled for at least a millennium (1000 years) and in reverse time, and they arrived on Earth 1000 years ago, it seems likely that the death of Microspace is coming soon.
• Amongst the many interdimensional portals glimpsed by the Casket are some random Earth artefacts and structures, as well as the Obelisk, currently being fought over in Revolutionaries, a series that the Micronauts are due to appear in the next issue of...hmmmm.....
• The insectoid appearances of the Kronus are due to them Enerchanging with some local insects upon arrival on Earth...not sure where they got their tiny guns from though....
• The Micronauts learn that the "giants" are known as Humans here.

IDW - Optimus Prime #3

Title: New Cybertron Part 3: Behind my Bleeding Back

Written by: John Barber

Art by: Kei Zama

Colours by: Josh Burcham

Letters by: Tom B Long

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Publisher: Ted Adams

Plot

Four Million years in the past, Jetfire leads Prowl and Orion Pax to see his boss, Soundwave, whom Orion recognizes as being involved in the murder of the Old Senate, he refuses to discuss the events as there is no evidence, and asks for him to get to the point.

Orion and Prowl ask Soundwave if it is true that Hefter, the dead Decepticon, was involved in smuggling weapons from off-world into the Decepticon's hands. Soundwave outright refuses this notion, as the Decepticons are not like that, implying further that Hefter was murdered just for being a Decepticon.

Orion and the others leave, and Starscream comes out of hiding, having just received a new shipment of off-world weapons, much to Soundwave's shock.

In the present day, Soundwave, Jetfire and Arcee discuss the Junkion's offer of a cure for Sideswipe, in exchange for Ore-13, but they don't know if they can trust Rum-maj, so they decides to start an investigation of their own. Soundwave contacts Sanctuary Station, and asks Cosmos to return to Earth to investigate the Junkion's ship using stealth paint to get past their advanced scanners.

Meanwhile, in Cairo, Thundercracker is performing his calculations on the Junkion ship for GI Joe, whilst Flint has coffee with his daughter, Marissa, and offers her a position on GI Joe, as per Thundercracker's fee to help them.

On Cybertron, Optimus' request for permission to trade the Ore-13 with the Junkions is denied by the council, since Earth isn't officially a member of the council yet and it would be in violation of the Tyrest Accord, especially now that Cybertron is recovering from the war with the Titans, and cannot risk arming an alien race with weapons.

Back on Earth, Jazz tries to talk to a woman he met in Mexico City, but she doesn't want to listen, since the Transformers killed half of her family, however Jazz wants to talk, as he's tired of no one talking out their problems, and just wants someone to listen to him..

Back in Cairo, Flint finishes talking to Marissa, just as Thundercracker finishes his calculations, Thundercracker asks if she accepted the offer, but he just glares him down, prompting Thundercracker to quickly forward his data to the other Joes.

The data arrives at the Matterhorn, but they still can't figure out how many Junkions are on board, as their jamming field extends too far. Suddenly Soundwave arrives, having been in contact with Mainframe, and he assists them in decrypting the Junkion's data, despite Talon hating the idea of Soundwave helping them.

Optimus and Aileron leave Cybertron, despite not getting the permissions needed from the council, but Optimus now feels that the path for Earth joining the council is more vital and clear than ever.

Cosmos arrives at the Junkion ship, along with Rumble and Frenzy as back-up. They infiltrate the ship, but are soon located by the Junkions. Cosmos wanders into a seemingly empty room, only to find it filled with Sharkticons, who immediately start attacking him.

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime/Orion Pax - Truck Cab

Arcee - Sports Car

Jetfire - Fighter Jet

Cosmos - Orbiter

Jazz - Sports Car

Prowl - Emergency Speeder (Flashback Only)

Megatron - Tank (Mentioned)

Windblade - VTOL Fighter Jet (Mentioned) Injured

Sideswipe - Sports Car (Mentioned) Dying

Decepticon

Soundwave - Personnel Carrier

Rumble - Motorcycle

Frenzy - Motorcycle

Buzzsaw

Laserbeak

Ravage (Flashback Only)

Hefter - Fork Lift Truck (Hologram Only)

Junkion Crew

Rum-Maj

Wreck-Gar (Hologram Only)

Junkion Crew Members

Sharkticon Hoard

Colonist

Mistress of Flame

Airazor - Eagle

Tigatron - Tiger

Obsidian - Osprey Stealth Bomber

Strika - Battle Tank

Fireshot - Part of Jet

Vanquish - Part of Jet

Moonracer - Sports Car

Knock Out - Sports Car

Aileron - Space Shuttle

Earth-based Colonists (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Metrotitan - Autobot City Outpost

Thundercracker - Fighter Jet

Circuit

Longtooth

Crowds at Spacebridge

Old Senate (Mentioned) Dead

GI Joe

Flint

Talon

Spike

Mainframe

Hi-Tech

Chameleon

Scarlett (Mentioned)

Chuckles (Mentioned)

Other Human

Marissa Faireborn

Jazz's Mexico City "Friend"

The Misfits (Poster Only)

Madame President (Mentioned)

Earth Defense Command (Mentioned) Defunct

Other

Buster the Dog

Notes

• Wreck-Gar's only appearance in this issue is as a hologram...aww :(
• Similarly, despite being prominent on the cover,  Bumblebee makes no appearance in this issue, either past or present era. It is likely that this is leading into the Transformers: Annual 2017 storyline, which is supposed to explain how Optimus met Bumblebee.
• Thundercracker is revealed to have sold his services to GI Joe in exchange for Marissa being offered a place on the team.
• Flint and Marissa are finally "on-screen" mentioned to be related. This is the first time in about 30 years...
• This story is set just after the events of he Till All Are One Titans Return tie-in, and as such there are some minor spoilers for the event's outcome here. For example, the Carcer delegates are still on the council, so it is likely they will not be turned against the others like they seem to be at the moment, Windblade is injured at some time, and the Cybertronians win the battle.
• The girl Jazz screams at has a Misfits poster, adding more of the Jem and the Holograms franchise to the Hasbroverse.
• It might seem bad that Starscream was dealing with off-world weapons in the past, but remember that this was set during the early war, and therefore BEFORE the Tyrest Accord being drafted. So he isn't really being a hypocrite here!
• Last time we saw the Sharkticons, they were on the Planet Junkion, however Sharkticons are more commonly associated with Quintessons, who are the usual users of the Junkion's ship....curious....
• One of the Sharkticons appears to have a lure on his head, evoking the look of an Angler fish,