IDW - Rom #8

Title: Reinforcements Part 4

Plot and Script by: Christos Gage and Chris Ryall

Pencils and Inks by: Paolo Villanelli

Colours by: Alessandra Alexakis

Letters by: Shawn Lee

Editorial Assist by: David Mariotte

Edited by: Carlos Guzman

Publisher: Ted Adams

Plot

Orphion speeds towards an oil rig, which is infested with Dire Wraiths, and goes about killing them all. Livia and Rom go after him, with Livia just tagging along, but only to accompany Rom. The Joes below are feeling down for being defeated by the Space Knights so easily, but decide to make a new plan with some "smaller friends" of theirs.

Orphion tears through the Wraiths on the oil rig, but makes sure not to damage the rig itself, as he's planning to use it to channel the neutralizing energies that he's going to use to destroy the Earth with, however before he can, Rom and Livia catch up to him.

Elsehwere, in Rhode Island, Darby and Ruan are sitting in a coffee shop, when Ruan soon reveals that he is a Dire Wraith, Darby understandably freaks out, and runs away. Ruan chases after her, leading Darby to fight back. However, Ruan soon reveals that he's not her enemy, he was a sleeper agent from birth, and has chosen to side with Earth against the other Dire Wraiths, and he needs her help to save the world.

Back at the oil rig, Rom tries to convince Orphion not to destroy the planet, but Orphion just sees him as a traitor and attacks him, ordering Livia to help him in attacking the traitor. Orphion keeps Rom busy, whilst sending Livia down below to clear out the remaining Wraiths. Rom and Orphion have a vicious fight, and Livia is overrun and isn't going to be able to defeat them. Orphion soon disables Rom, and prepares to destroy the planet.

Underneath, the Sorcerers are trying to power up "The Absence", but become concerned that the Space Knights are right above them. One of the Sorcerers, Kagan Knight, (the preacher from last issue) gives his life to "The Absence" and fully powers her. The Sorcerers want her to help them defeat the Knights, but she simply announces that there is no need, since the Knights are going to give them all they need, and kill each other in the process.

Characters

Solstar Order

Orphion

Rom

Livia

Dire Wraith

Ruan Sablik

The Absence

Kagan Knight Absorbed into The Absence

Sorcerers

Oil Rig Workers Most Killed by Orphion

GI Joe

Beach Head

Grunt

Scarlett (Mentioned)

Human

Darby Mason

The Mason Family (Mentioned) Killed by Wraiths

Notes

• Very quickly, since the last issue's release we've all seen the announcement of a new prequel event called "Rom vs Transformers: Shining Armour" in which a young Cybertronian is raised by the Solstar Order and a conflict arises from it. Last issue Orphion mentioned that when Dire Wraiths merged with Cybertronians it was bad news....I think we may now have a clue about what he was referring to.....
• Grunt's comments about "think smaller" leads me to believe that he's going to ask the Micronauts to help in taking down the Space Knights
• Oh no! Darby's sudden new friend Ruan is revealed to be a Dire Wraith! Shocker! (He is a good one though, so that's a shock!)
• On the point of Ruan though, his comments that he was raised as a human and was a sleeper agent could be also what "Cons4eva" from the MTMTE Revolution tie-in was too, and why he wasn't interested in the invasion of Earth. Just food for thought.
• The strange creature we've been seeing glimpses of and mentioned as "Legion" last issue is named as "The Absence" here....wonder what new name we'll be giving it next issue?