IDW - Optimus Prime #4

Title: New Cybertron Part 4: Dance Among the Shadows

Written by: John Barber

Art by: Alex Milne

Colours by: Josh Burcham

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Publisher: Ted Adams

Plot

Four Million years ago, Zeta Prime gives a speech to the people of Cybertron, announcing that Orion Pax and his team have revealed the truth about Hefter being a Decepticon gun-runner, and announces the inquiry closed. Orion is annoyed by this and questions Zeta about this, but Zeta doesn't believe that Hefter is worthy of real investigation, since he was a traitor to the people, and even starts quoting old propaganda pieces to prove his point to Orion. Zeta then shows off the Matrix in his chest, which he uses to point out that despite it being a fake, it still holds power across Cybertron, and even suggests that this could all be his one day, if he just tows the line.

Jetfire is released from custody by Prowl, and immediately punches the officer. Jetfire walks off, but is noticed by Horri-Bull and Needlenose, who think that he needs a way to "protect" himself in the future....

Later, Orion Pax and Prowl meet up at the abandoned Cosmic Carnival, where they also meet with Jetfire, who reveals that the Decepticons gave him a gun, and agrees to tell them when the next shipment is arriving on Cybertron, revealing that his release and fight with Prowl was all staged.

Today, Rumble, Frenzy and Cosmos fight off the swarm of Sharkticons in the Junkion shuttle, but are soon captured. Rum-Maj uses this to prove that the Autobots were trying to betray them, but Wreck-Gar points out that she never really intended to help them out, be he still does, she however ignores this, and deems that they need to be destroyed...

Optimus and Aileron return to Earth from their meeting on Cybertron, where Aileron is irritated by the Colonists all kneeling before their Prime, when they are called to the control room. Once there, Optimus contacts Soundwave to have him call all the Earth's leaders to Autobot City for an emergency meeting to solve the situation between the Junkions and them. Aileron is worried about this and asks Optimus to speak to her alone...

At the foot of the Matterhorn, below Autobot City, Soundwave has received Optimus' request and sets off to send out the invites, but is worried about Cosmos and the others not being back in contact yet.

In Cairo, Thundercracker walks through a market town with Marissa, and manages to convince her to talk to her father again, pointing out that he probably didn't JUST come to see her to ask her to join the team, but also wanted to see her.

Aileron speaks with Optimus on the hull of Autobot City, and questions his actions, and wonders why he seems to be trying to invoke the Tyrest Accord and risk war between the Earth and Cybertron. He reveals that he is confident that this will force the Earth into the Council of Worlds, despite Starscream's reluctance on the matter, and admits that he doesn't believe in the magical properties of the Matrix, but does think he can use it to control those who do believe in it! Pyra Magna overhears this, and calls him out on abusing his position and toying with the loyalty of others.

Chameleon and Flint are flying off following their meet-up with Marissa, but, along the way, they are stopped by Thundercracker, who has Marissa on board, who wants to talk to them again.

The two aircraft land in Cattedrale Di Palermo, where Marissa explains to her father that she didn't refuse the position in GI Joe because of him, but simply because she doesn't believe they can win against the Cybertronians and other threats.

At Autobot City, Pyra strikes down Optimus, cracking a hole in his faceplate, but he refuses to fight back, claiming that violence is not the way to take command. Pyra however retorts that everything Optimus has ever done has been in violence, which is even why the Junkion's planet was destroyed. Pyra reneges on her promise to teach Optimus to use the Matrix properly, and even accuses him of not being a believer in his own Prime-hood in front of the Colonists. Optimus however doesn't acknowledge her claims, and orders the troops to prepare for the Human delegates.

The next morning, the Autobots and Human leaders meet at Autobot City to discuss the potential alliance between Earth, Cybertron and the Junkions. The Junkion's shuttle arrives above the city, but Rum-Maj simply discards an injured Cosmos out of the door, and announces that the infiltration is being seen as an act of war against them. The Junkion ship lifts off, and a hatch opens, releasing a massive swarm of Sharkticons upon the city, to attack everyone.

The Autobots and Humans prepare to fight back against their new shared enemy, and Pyra wonders who will win Optimus' game this time...

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime/Orion Pax - Truck Cab

Arcee - Sports Car

Pyra Magna - Fire Engine

Jetfire - Fighter Jet

Sky Lynx - Space Shuttle

Rust Dust - Motorcycle

Skyburst - Helicopter

Stormclash - Helicopter

Dust Up - Sports Car

Jumpstream - Sports Car

Cosmos - Orbiter Beaten by Sharkticons and Junkions

Sideswipe - Sports Car Near Death in Repair Tube

Zeta Prime (Flashback Only)

Prowl - Police Vehicle (Flashback Only)

Megatron - Tank (Mentioned)

Tracks - Muscle Car (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Soundwave - Personnel Carrier

Rumble - Motorcycle Probably Beaten by Sharkticons

Frenzy - Motorcycle Probably Beaten by Sharkticons

Horri-Bull (Flashback Only)

Needlenose - Fighter Jet (Flashback Only)

Hefter - Forklift Truck (Mentioned) Dead

Colonist Allies

Aileron - Space Shuttle

Midnight Express - Train

Roulette - Muscle Car

Oiler - Part of Oil Tanker

Slide - Part of Oil Tanker

Gimlet - Lobster

Bump - Armadillo

Mistress of Flame (Mentioned)

Junkion

Wreck-Gar

Rum-Maj

Sharkticon Swarm

Other Cybertronian

Metrotitan - Autobot City Ship

Thundercracker - Fighter Jet

D.O.C.

Cybertronian Population (Flashback Only)

The Thirteen Primes (Mentioned)

Council of Worlds (Mentioned)

Starscream - Fighter Jet (Mentioned)

GI Joe

Flint

Chameleon

Talon

Spike

Mainframe

Hi-Tech

Mayday (Mentioned)

Human

Marissa Faireborn

Madam President

World Leaders

Earth Nations Observation Forces

Random Civilians

Marissa's Mother (Mentioned)

Earth Defense Command (Mentioned) Defunct

Other

Buster the Dog

Notes

• Though not shown on panel, it's likely that Rumble and Frenzy were also captured and/or eaten by the Sharkticons
• It's revealed that, unsurprisingly, Rum-Maj was planning to betray the Autobots all along, however Wreck-Gar appears to still be willing to help them save Sideswipe's life.
• Zeta Prime shows off his fake Matrix in the flashbacks for this issue, seems a bit unusual here, but maybe this has something to do with the Matrix appearing in Lost Light, which is also likely the fake one.
• Optimus' admittance that he's using the Colonist's reverence of the Matrix to control them REALLY adds to the theory that Prowl's mind has influenced Optimus following their combination during Combiner Wars
• Marissa reveals here that the real reason she is travelling Earth with Thundercracker and Buster is because she believes that the Cybertronians are going to destroy the Earth in the end, and she just wants to see it all before it's gone. To be fair, it was almost destroyed because of Ore-13 a few weeks earlier...
• Though not mentioned in dialogue, the place Prowl and Orion Pax meet up in is the Cosmic Carnival, as seen in the Marvel comics.
• It's not mentioned, but it seems likely that Marissa's mother isn't Lady Jaye in this continuity, since she isn't mentioned as being part of GI Joe, and is mentioned as a drunk.