IDW - First Strike #4

First Strike

Written by: Mairghread Scott & David A. Rodriguez 

Art by: Max Dunbar

Inks by: Josh Wycough

Colours by: Ander Zarate

Letters by: Gilberto Lazcano

Assistant Editor: David Mariotte

Editor: David Hedgecock

Publisher: Ted Adams

The Origins of Evil

Title: Hitting the Big Time

Written by: John Barber

Pencils by: Netho Diaz

Inks by: Walden Wong

Colours by: David Garcia Cruz

Main Plot

In the tunnels in the city's lower depths heading to the core, the villains continue planting their signal jammers, all whilst arguing about the best way to continue. Colton pushes a button on a remote, which triggers the Trojan-Bots across Cybertron to change into their cannon turret modes as well as deploying further jammers and other devices, as well as summoning more Red Shadows to stall any Joes or Transformers from catching up to them.

At the Spire, Elita's order to execute the Joes is ignored by the rest of the council, but they are still unconvinced that the human invaders cannot actually destroy the planet with whatever they're planning. They decide to listen to Scarlett about what she knows about their plan however, and learn that Colton plans to use something to detonate the planet's core to destroy it. Optimus tries to talk for the humans and demands that Colton is not underestimated, but no-one is interested in what he has to say and is ignored.

The Joes are placed in a cell, but Marissa explains this is just for show, as Starscream isn't stupid, he still plans to explore this situation, and he does. Starscream has Ironhide ready his team to explore the tunnels, whilst Windblade interfaces with Metroplex's mind to locate them with the security cameras.

Soon, Windblade notices a grappling hook in the tunnels and sends the security forces after them. Optimus, feeling useless visits the Joes in their cell, and confesses that he isn't used to not being listened to, now that there is a Council above his position to shoot down his suggestions. Scarlett admits that she isn't on Cybertron to save his species, not entirely at least, she wants to convince Colton that he is wrong with his genocidal plans, and won't believe that he has turned out like this, despite having allowed her to join his team when no one else would. Optimus can relate, having put everything on the line when he allowed Megatron to try and redeem himself following Dark Cybertron...

The villains head further towards the core, but soon Storm Shadow notices the security cameras and realizes that the Transformers have found them. Metroplex starts to reconfigure the corridor they are in to try and trap them, but they manage to evade capture. Sunstreaker's team chases after them, but are ambushed by a load of augmented Red Shadows. Ironhide rushes to help him, but is stopped when the Trojan-Bots attack him and his team.

The villains soon reach the hatch leading into the core, but are approached by a badly injured Sunstreaker who plans to stop them. Colton uses a laser to shoot the Autobot, seemingly killing him.

Windblade has been watching this on the security feed and is shocked that the humans have managed to do all of this already...just as Scarlett suggested they could....

Origins of Evil Plot

Shazraella has holed herself up inside an Onyx databank and starts Enerchanging with it to gather information so she can conquer the world after all. She is interrupted by Miles Mayhem and Joe Colton who ask for her help in conquering Cybertron, with her getting to keep the planet afterwards to do with as she pleases, which she is glad to do...

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Windblade - VTOL Fighter Jet

Metroplex - Iacon City

Ironhide - Van

Sunstreaker - Sports Car Seemingly Killed by Joe Colton

Decepticon

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Tall Tankor - Truck/Cargo Plane

Fat Tankor - Tank

Megatron - Tank (Flashback Only)

Other Cybertronian/Colonist

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Rattrap - Mole Rat

Mistress of Flame

Elita One

Airazor - Falcon

Tigatron - Tiger

Knock Out - Sports Car

Moonracer - Sports Car

Badgeless Officers

Primus (Mentioned)

Micronus Prime (Mentioned)

Liege Maximo (Mentioned)

GI Joe/MASK

Scarlett

Roadblock

Lady Jaye

Matt Trakker

Gloria Baker

Tunnel Rat (Flashback Only)

Snake Eyes (Flashback Only)

Rock 'n Roll (Flashback Only)

Doc (Flashback Only)

Quick Kick (Flashback Only)

Helix (Flashback Only)

Spirit (Flashback Only)

Ironblood's Alliance

Joe Colton/Baron Ironblood

Shazraella

Miles Mayhem

Garrison Kreiger 

Destro

Storm Shadow

Red Shadow Ninjas

Trojan-Bots - Cannon Turrets

Iron Grenadiers

Other Human

Marissa Faireborn

Scarlett's Recruiter (Flashback Only)

Scarlett's Co-Recruits (Flashback Only)

Onyx Data Center Guard (Origins Only) Killed by Miles Mayhem

Other

Baron Karza (Hologram, Origins Only)

Solstar Knights (Mentioned)

Notes

• Considering how many times we've seen Miles Mayhem in conflict with Storm Shadow and Shazraella I really expect either him to kill on of them, or them to kill him some point in this series.
• The Trojan-Bots are shown to be able to transform into cannon turrets....human technology sure has come a long way!
• The council seem really open about Liege Maximo being on the loose here huh? Considering how only half of them knew about it last we heard, and even then they planned to keep it a secret...
• How far does Metroplex's artificial atmosphere reach under the city? I don't see any breathing apparatus with the villains to keep them breathing....
• The "Origins" story is likely set in San Francisco, as that was where Shazraella was dropped off by the Mad Time Traveler at the end of Wrath of Karza.
• Also, Shazraella's new outfit, her being Karza's "former consort" and their differing campaigns were all shown in Wrath of Karza too
• We learn here that Shazraella's motives for helping Ironblood's alliance is that she gets Cybertron in the aftermath to do with as she wishes
• Hey, what happened to Pyra Magna? We haven't seen her since pretty much the start of the series?