IDW - Lost Light #10

Title: The Plotters' Club, Part 1: Full Circle

Written by: James Roberts

Art by: Jack Lawrence 

Colours by: Joana LaFuente

Letters by: Tom B Long

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Publisher: Ted Adams

Plot

The Protectobots and Mirage finally return to the Lost Light, which appears to be under radio silence, but their shuttle is damaged and they are running on fumes, they wind up crashing into the shuttle bay, only to find a heavily armed security team greeting them, instead of a welcoming party. Getaway soon appears and greets them as friends, but he is cagey about the whereabouts of Rodimus, Megatron and the others, and suggests that First Aid take Blade to the medibay, as he was injured in the crash.

At the medibay, First Aid talks with Blades as he repairs him, and they find it odd how they STILL haven't seen their captains, and start reminiscing over Rodimus' antics. First Aid thinks something is happening, which makes Blades panic that there's a virus on the ship that's going to kill everyone. First Aid ignores this suggestion, but finds that the medibay's computer is now password protected to keep him out. First Aid uses another machine to perform a spark scan of the ship, and is shocked that there is less crew than there was before they left, but also finds that one of the sparks is in a locked room in the medibay.

Blades leaves to find some help, whilst First Aid takes out a blowtorch and tries to break into the room, only to be stopped by a newly arrived Getaway, who claims the door isn't actually opened, and shows him Thunderclash, who is back in a coma again. He claims that Hoist has tried everything, but cannot wake him up.

First Aid asks him about the missing crew members and the passwords on the computer. He says that he'll fix the password, but lies that Rodimus and the others left the ship to look for the Knights of Cybertron with the Necrobot without dealing with the antics of the rest of the crew. Getaway suggests that he go see Hoist about Thunderclash's situation, directing him to "Visages" which has taken "Swerve's'" as the go-to bar on the ship.

First Aid soon arrives at the bar, where he does indeed find most of the crew. He locates Hoist after a few awkward stares from Atomizer and the security crew. He learns from Hoist and a few others the names of the crew who "left" with Rodimus, and also that they are apparently only a couple of weeks away from Cyberutopia now, but First Aid begins to become further worried and leaves the bar...

First Aid finds his way to the locked-up "Swerve's" where he finds the power turned off, and he summons the rest of the Protectobots and Mirage for a talk. He expresses his concerns to them about the crew lying to them about what happened to Rodimus, and recalls a conversation about a possible mutiny with Getaway before they left Cybertron following the Dark Cybertron event, which the other Protectobots claim to have never been spoken to about. Mirage is unwilling to even discuss this as he trusts his friends, but Riptide soon appears in the bar and confirms the theory, but also adds that he believes that the DJD were summoned by Getaway to kill Rodimus, Megatron and the others, as well as him putting Thunderclash into a coma for also having second thoughts of the mutiny.

Getaway appears and dismisses the claims that he attacked Thudnerclash, but explains that he placed him into a looped memory coma, keeping him trapped inside his memories, reliving his decision to leave the ship. Streetwise finds the light switch and turns it on, revealing that the Engex distilleries are holding several severed brain modules inside them, revealing the location of the missing crew members.

Mirage turns invisible and attacks Getaway with a glass, and the returned Autobots are soo attacked by the security team. Riptide stays behind to buy the Protectobots time to escape, as they run off to the shuttle bay, intending to return to Cybertron to tell Optimus and everyone else what has happened on the ship. Blades' arm is injured in their escape, in the same way it was when he was patched up by First Aid at the start of this adventure....

The Protectobots find their own ship, fully repaired in record time, and take off within it. They are shot by a proton missile from the Lost Light, which damages their shuttle, and they are caught in a tractor beam, and forced back towards the Lost Light...and the events from the start of the issue start again...ending with First Aid being suggested to repair Blades again, with apparently no memory of what just happened....

Characters

Autobot

First Aid - Ambulance Trapped in Looped Memory Coma

Hot Spot - Fire Truck Trapped in Looped Memory Coma

Streetwise - Police Car Trapped in Looped Memory Coma

Groove - Police Motorcycle Trapped in Looped Memory Coma

Blades - Rescue Helicopter Trapped in Looped Memory Coma

Rook - Armoured SWAT Van Trapped in Looped Memory Coma

Mirage - F1 Race Car Trapped in Looped Memory Coma

Riptide - Boat

Thunderclash - Truck Trapped in Looped Memory Coma

Getaway - Car

Atomizer - Car

Hoist - Tow Truck

Hound - Jeep

Xaaron

Bluestreak - Car

Jackpot - Car

Crosscut - Van

Mainframe

Powerflash - Jet

Strafe - Jet

Boss - Car

Doublecross - Two Headed Dragon

Repugnus - Insect Monster

Grotusque - Winged Cat Monster

Sureshot - Baja Buggy

Pointblank - Car

Waverider - Submarine

Highbrow - Helicopter

Rad - Car

Dipstick - Car

Rollout - Bulldozer

Grapple - Crane

Siren - Car

Gears - Van

Smokescreen - Car

Inferno - Fire Truck

Brawn - Van

Huffer - Truck

Ammo

Aquabat - Hovercraft/Bat

Rodimus - Car (Mentioned) "Exiled"

Ultra Magnus/Minimus Ambus - Vehicle Transport/Minesweeper (Mentioned) "Exiled"

Megatron - Tank (Mentioned) "Exiled"

Whirl - Osprey Helicopter (Mentioned) "Exiled"

Nightbeat - Car (Mentioned) "Exiled"

Skids - Van (Mentioned) "Exiled"

Velocity - Race Car (Mentioned) "Exiled"

Nautica - Submarine (Mentioned) "Exiled"

Chromedome - Car (Mentioned) "Exiled"

Rewind - Data Slug (Mentioned) "Exiled"

Rung - Photon Crystal Generator (Mentioned) "Exiled"

Swerve - Van (Mentioned) "Exiled"

Tailgate - Car (Mentioned) "Exiled"

Brainstorm - Jet (Mentioned) "Exiled"

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab (Mentioned)

Prowl - Police Car (Mentioned)

Perceptor - Tank (Mentioned)

Blaster - Acoustic Tank (Mentioned)

Hosehead - Fire Truck (Mentioned)

Tiretread - Race Car (Mentioned)

25 Lost Light Crew Members (Mentioned) Missing

Decepticon

Decepticon Justice Division (Mentioned)

Ravage - Cassette (Mentioned) "Exiled"

Other Cybertronian

The Knights of Cybertron (Mentioned)

The Necrobot (Mentioned)

Ten (Mentioned)

Cyclonus - Jet (Mentioned)

Other

The Black Block Consortia (Mentioned)

The Galactic Council (Mentioned)

Notes

• This is the first part of the "Mutineers Trilogy", following the return of both the Lost Light, it's mutinous crew and the Protectobots.
• It's mentioned that the Protectobots have been gone for "months". It has been over two years in real world time since they left for "Combiner Wars". I know time doesn't pass exactly the same in the comics as it does in the real world, but this seems a bit strange. However since they are stuck in a looping memory, it's possible that they actually returned a few months ago and have just been trapped for a while now.
• Similarly to the above note, how did the Protectobots never receive the message from the trapped Lost Lighters on Necroworld...also now I think about it, did that message ever mention the mutiny or Getaway betraying them? You'd think one of them would want that information to reach Optimus or the other authorities right?
• It's mentioned in the "Story so far" that Rook was just a random Autobot who just happened to be standing near the Protectobots when they were merged into Defensor...oops?
• Hoist being the interim medical officer on the Lost Light makes some...kind of sense...he was shown to have some medical knowledge when he worked on Tripodeca during Overlord's assault on the ship, though his patient did end up dying....
• First Aid asks Mirage for a "pint" of Engex. I would say this was a mistake, since a "pint" would be a relatively small drink for a Transformer, but after asking James Roberts on Twitter, this is just a Cybertronian equivalent to a pint (like it's short for a "mega-pint" or something)
• It's mentioned that Perceptor was shocked when he learned that Brainstorm left with Rodimus, considering that he is known for being the subject of Brainstorm's stalking, and him being absent from the bridge during the issue the crew were exiled, it's possible that he wasn't aware of what was happening with them. In fact, his absence in this issue could be due to him being one of the "missing" crew members.
• On the other hand, Mirage's assertion that Bluestreak would never do anything deceptive like mutiny is somewhat wrong, as he WAS amongst the bridge crew who was present during Getaway's talk with them.
• From the dialogue, it seems clear that Mirage and First Aid originally agreed to a mutiny with Getaway, but the latter has since changed his mind, the rest of the Protectobots rejected the plan and got their minds wiped. This is somewhat confirmed at the start and end scenes where Getaway only really talks to or addresses Mirage, First Aid and Rook, the latter of which wasn't a part of the crew before now.
• The teethmarks on the spinal columns of the detached brain modules are likely an attempt by Getaway to make it look like Helex of the DJD attacked these crew members, as that was his main method of torture.
• Mainframe was the one who suggested that Whirl leave with Rodimus back in Issue 50 of MTMTE, his glee at him having left here really shows what a jerk he is!
• Considering this issue is set within what is essentially a shared dream, it's possible, and likely that the events depicted were either modified by Getaway to make the crew seem happier, or to alter some facts.
• I'm going to assume that since Defensor is never brought up in this issue that the Protectobots will be freed from their looped memory coma by combining, since getaway doesn't know about him yet.
• My guess as to the main back story here, is that the Lost Light picked up the distress signal from Necroworld, which led the bridge crew at least to know that their exiled crew members were seemingly given to the DJD by Getaway, leading to Riptide's suspicions, Thunderclash's attempted escape and the fates of the missing 25 crew members. I'm also going to guess that most of the crew either weren't told about the exiled crew not actually leaving on their own, or have been lied to since the beginning by Getaway.
• The four pages at the end of the comic are a reprinting of the first four, with only the title being added at the end, and the final panel's dialogue having a single difference...First Aid saying "Ah", instead of "Oh". Also Getaway's dialogue is completed on this panel, instead of continuing to the next, non-existent page.
• For some reason, First Aid keeps proclaiming "God" rather than the usual "Primus" or another Transformers-related explicit.

Sig Pub - Rescue Bots #6

Notes

• This month's screen-cap comic is "The Return of the Dinobot"

Features

Race the Roads! - Rip off the covers to make a race track for toy cars!

Crucial Emergency Facts with Optimus! - Learn about vehicles

Bumblebee's Brainbusters! - Puzzles!

Boulder Eye Test! - Look for specific things in a picture!

Spot the Differences! - Play spot the difference

Find out about Recycling Vehicles with Salvage - Learn about recycling vehicles etc

Chase needs you! - Help Chase complete a puzzle image

Match the Pairs - Find the odd High Tide picture out

Help Heatwave! - Do a bunch of Heatwave themed puzzles

Colour in Blades! - Take a wild guess

Shadow Search! - Find the vehicles without a shadow assigned to it!

Rescue Bots Post - Look at more scary pictures from young children!

Photo Challenge - Match a character with some close-up photos

Lunchtime Rescue! - Read a story about the Rescue Bots, using pictures for the key words

Competition Time! - Enter a contest for Mini-Cons and playsets again!

IDW - Optimus Prime #11

Title: Primeless Part 1

Written by: John Barber

Art by: Sara Pitre-Durocher, Fico Ossio, Paolo Villanelli & Kei Zama

Colours by: Josh Burcham 

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Publisher: Ted Adams

Plot

Marissa gets ready to head to Cybertron for the signing of Earth into the Council of Worlds, and is accompanied by her father. The Cybertronians and Joes left behind on Earth are a bit bored and fed up, whilst Slide starts bad-mouthing Optimus again, when suddenly the attack on Cybertron begins and the Spacebridge is shut down.

Everyone starts to panic over what is happening, but Aileron calms the situation down, allowing them to realize that the Bridge was shut down on Cybertron's side to stop the attackers from escaping or getting reinforcements. Aileron has the human news crew present report that the situation is being dealt with, whilst Jetfire begins studying the Bridge figure out how to reactivate it, the Joes are called back to the Lemuria for back-up, whilst Aileron has Thundercracker head to Sanctuary Station to make sure the Decepticon inhabitants aren't up to anything. The Torchbearers are ordered to remain in Autobot City with Soundwave in case of anything else happening, whilst Aileron and the Colonists head off to find Jazz, since he's more of a target than ever now.

The Colonists head to Mexico, where they soon find, not Jazz, but humans wielding past EDC weapons ordinance. They realize that Jazz is probably following the trail of guns to try and get rid of them. Slide keeps edging on at Aileron by questioning all of her, and Optimus' decisions in the past, resulting in the Camien getting further annoyed.

After a while of traveling, they eventually find Jazz, as well as a bunch of humans attacking him with their Transformer-killing weaponry!

Characters

Autobot

Aileron - Space Shuttle

Metrotitan - Autobot City

Jetfire - Fighter Jet

Jazz - Sports Car

Tracks - Muscle Car

Stormclash - Helicopter

Skyburst - Helicopter

Rust Dust - Motorcycle

Dustup - Sports Car

Jumpstream - Sports Car

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab (On TV)

Pyra Magna - Fire Truck (On TV)

Kup - Pick Up Truck (Mentioned)

Bumblebee - Car (Mentioned) Dead

Decepticon

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Swift - Helicopter

Ramjet - Jet (Mentioned) Dead

Thrust - Jet (Mentioned) Dead

Predacons (Mentioned)

Seekers - Jets (Mentioned) Defunct

Colonist

Slide - Rear of Oil Tanker

Midnight Express - Bullet Train

Roulette - Muscle Car

Bump - Armadillo

Gimlet - Lobster

Camien Newscaster

Oiler - Front of Oil Tanker (Mentioned) Dead

Centurion/HOS Bumblebee - Locomotive (Mentioned)

Junkions (Mentioned)

Sterling - Car (Mentioned) Dead

Nightbird (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Thundercracker - Fighter Jet

Circuit

Flatline - Van

Blurr - Race Car

Tappet - Car

Dirge - Jet

Playback

Primus (Mentioned)

Solus Prime (Mentioned)

Council of Worlds (Mentioned)

Starscream - Fighter Jet (Mentioned)

GI Joe

Flint

Chameleon

Hi-Tech

Mainframe

Hashtag (On TV)

Scarlett (Mentioned)

Other Human

Marissa Faireborn

Serena Bharwaney

Jaylin Henry

Jimmy Pink

Sofia Orozco

Maki Asato

Bryce Chan

Brad Emory

BNN Newscaster

Hector Ramirez

Human News Team

Human Delegates

Mexican Villagers

Earth Defense Command (Mentioned) Defunct

Maki Asato's Parents (Mentioned) Killed in Decepticon Invasion

Action Man/Ian Noble (Mentioned)

John Henry (Mentioned)

Madame President (Mentioned)

BNN Reporter Nina (Mentioned)

Other

Buster the Dog

Ramjet and Thrust Clones - Jets (Mentioned) 

Notes

• Ironically, this issue works better as the Optimus Prime section of the First Strike event than the ACTUAL Optimus Prime tie in, which felt more like a Revolutionaries tie-in.
• This issue takes place during the early parts of the First Strike event, showing Marissa heading to Cybertron, we actually see her next scene on Cybertron in the Optimus Prime: First Strike tie-in.
• This issue uses four different artists throughout the story. This seems odd as it's not an anthology or perspective piece. Maybe Kei Zama couldn't keep up with the art duties for this issue?
• This issue features more news clips showing events or opinions of various characters over what is happening on Cybertron during these events, like we had in Optimus Prime: First Strike.
• Though she does get named in dialogue, Chameleon is the only major character in the issue to not get an identification box. Even the Torchbearers, who mostly do nothing all get a name box!
• Serena Bharwaney was last seen during the "Bumblebee" miniseries, where she was just a child that Bumblebee befriended, she is now a teenager/young adult, clearly showing us that time is passing in the Hasbroverse (unlike in most comic universes like Marvel or DC)
• Jaylin Henry is clearly a descendant of John Henry, who befriended the Hearts of Steel Autobots, who in this continuity are actually mind-wiped Eukarians
• Nightbird is mentioned as being a Camien Cityspeaker.
• The angry NAIL news caster is using the character model of Playback from the G1 episode "Fight or Flee"
• Despite constantly going on about how without Oiler she cannot transform, Slide is shown in trailer mode, hanging off of Midnight Express...if you can do this, then get an alternate mode that isn't reliant on another party!
• Jimmy Pink is shown to be back at work in his garage...it could be the art, but he looks a bit more haggard than usual. Maybe he's developed the same illness Verity had in "Sins of the Wreckers"?
• It's mentioned that Dirge and Blurr are "former" members of their factions, yet they still wear their insignias....

IDW - First Strike #5

Main Story

Written by: Mairghread Scott & David A Rodriguez 

Art by: Max Dunbar

Inks (Page 9-10) by: John Wycough

Colours by: Ander Zarate

Letters by: Gilberto Lazcano

Assistant Editor: David Mariotte

Editor: David Hedgecock

Publisher: Ted Adams

The Origins of Evil Part Five

Title: One Unholy Machine

Written by: John Barber

Pencils by: Netho Diaz

Inks by: Walden Wong

Colours by: David Garcia Cruz

Main Plot

Windblade reports that she just witnessed Ironhide and Sunstreaker's teams being defeated on the security footage to Optimus, only to discover that he has vanished. She is concerned that he is going to do something stupid, and decides to go after him, despite Metroplex suggesting that he knows what is best.

Optimus manages to get Arcee and Soundwave to help him, as they break into the holding cells and free Scarlett and her team so they can help them stop Colton. Arcee gives the humans their weapons, but they are soon joined by some of the prison's guards. They manage to escape when Optimus smashes through the exterior wall, and Soundwave uses a pulse to disable their pursuers. Having predicted Optimus' plan, Windblade tries to stop him from going against the Council's wishes, but Optimus manages to convince her that he may be right this time. She allows him to leave, but promises to never allow his Prime-hood to manipulate her again. Optimus and the others enter a tunnel and head after Colton and his team.

Windblade soon arrives at the Council Chamber, where she intends to tell Starscream about Optimus freeing the humans. Starscream already knows however, as he was monitoring the prison, and Elita already tries to inform him too. They agree that Optimus has to be arrested for this, and the humans re-detained before anything else can happen to Cybertron. However, upon heading out, Elita orders Obsidian to kill the humans on sight so they can be dealt with permanently.

Using all their skills, Optimus and his allies easily travel through the tunnel, until they reach an acidic river that they cannot cross, however Scarlett remembers how Matt told her about Mayhem's hologram technology, and realises that Colton must have chosen all his team members for a reason. She leaps into the river, and reveals that it is a hologram, one so strong that even Soundwave's scans read it as real, allowing them to continue on.

Colton's team are extremely close to the core now, but the planet itself is fighting back, with electrical storms and Insecticons being sent out to stop them. Despite them still in-fighting, the Iron Ring manage to break through, and find the core's chamber, only to find Optimus and his team, waiting, having been given a shorter route.

Scarlett tries to convince Colton to give up, but he refuses, forcing his former protégé to fight him...

The Origins of Evil Plot

The Iron Ring are preparing to head off to Cybertron, but Colton decides to ask Kreiger why he has been so obsessed with the Talisman, he reveals his history of being in World War II and about all his adventures, leading to him discovering the Talisman and becoming obsessed with unlocking its secrets and mastering them for his ultimate mission...to conquer new worlds past Cybertron...

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Arcee - Sports Car

Windblade - VTOL Fighter Jet

Metroplex - Iacon City

Ironhide - Van

Pyra Magna - Fire Truck (Mentioned)

Sunstreaker - Sports Car (Mentioned) Possibly Dead

Decepticon

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Other Cybertronian/Colonist

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Elita One

Obsidian - Stealth Bomber Helicopter

Natural Insecticon Swarm

Badgeless Officers

Prison Guards

Primus (Mentioned)

Sunstreaker's Team (Mentioned) Dead

GI Joe

Scarlett

Roadblock

Lady Jaye

MASK

Matt Trakker

Gloria Baker

The Iron Ring

Joe Colton/Baron Ironblood

Miles Mayhem

Garrison Kreiger

Destro

Lady Shazraella

Storm Shadow

Red Shadow Ninjas

Trojan-Bots - Cannon Turrets

Gorky (Origins Only)

Major Bludd (Origins Only)

Horrorshow (Origins Only)

Doctor Mindbender (Origins Only)

B.A.T.'s (Origins Only)

Other

Sgt. Savage (Flashback, Origins Only)

Iron Troopers (Flashback, Origins Only)

World War II Soldiers (Flashback, Origins Only)

Plutarch (Mentioned)

Alexander the Great (Mentioned)

Notes

• Still sorry about being behind schedule on these reviews, my comic supplier is still being silly, but my pre-orders with them should be finished in December...anyway.....
• Once again, Pyra appears on the cover despite never appearing in the comic itself...were her scenes cut or something? I know Rom's on the cover too, but we know he's on Earth doing his own stuff, where is Pyra?
• Rather than being Badgeless officers, the two guards in the prison shown here are new random designs.
• If Metroplex believes that Optimus is doing what is right, then why is he not helping him in his escape and rescue of the humans?
• To further add to the thought that Soundwave is back to his cassette player mode, he doesn't transform when Optimus and Arcee do....though saying that he must be a fast runner, since he can easily keep up with them in speeding vehicle mode.
• The devices that the Trojan-Bots were shown deploying in issue four are revealed to be EMP mines here.
• Matt Trakker's experience with Miles Mayhem's powerful holograms were shown at the end of the first MASK storyline where he made him believe his Mother was being killed in front of him.
• It was briefly mentioned in the Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook that Bob was a clone of the Insecticon sub-species. This issue confirms that rather than that being a Decepticon sub-group originally, it was a type of Cybertronian Fauna, much like they are in the Aligned continuity.
• In the Origins story Kreiger uses terms like how he "arrived" in America and how it seemed "alien" to him...these are some interesting terms to use, given the spoiler for next issue that I wont mention here yet...He even refers to Earth as Colton's world...not his...oh my!

IDW - First Strike - Optimus Prime

Title: Unification Day: Dawn

Written by: John Barber

Art by: Guido Guidi & John Wycough

Colours by: Thomas Deer

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Assistant Editor: David Mariotte

Editor: David Hedgecock

Publisher: Ted Adams

Plot

On Cybertron, the newly fused Centurion and Atomic Man are finally talking with Optimus Prime, and they explain to him about both of their back stories, and how Kreiger essentially tortured and caused the deaths of both of them, but due to their minds being muddled, they still aren't sure whose memories are who's half of the time. Blackrock is helping him with this problem, since he has had similar problems with not knowing who he really is. 

Optimus leaves the two to themselves and plans to return to them the next day, following the celebrations of Earth joining the Council of Worlds.

On the roof of the building they are in, Kup and Action Man are hanging out, with Kup bragging about how these are the best seats in the house to watch the events. Ian however is just excited for being on an alien planet. Arcee joins them, and reacquaints with them, thanking Ian for taking care of Kup for her, before leaving to join Optimus at the event.

Down in the streets, Marissa and Mayday are catching up on what they have been up to since the EDC has been closed down, but Marissa has to soon leave for the signing. Optimus meanwhile is greeting reporters whilst Pyra is being snarky towards him, earning a warning from Arcee.

Back at the tower, the two half Cybertronians are discussing all that has been happening to them lately, and Centurion further commenting on how Cybertronians may just be creatures of war....just as an explosion happens in the crowd below, caused by the human guests on the planet. Centurion immediately knows that it is because of Kreiger, as he knows his work.

Optimus, Arcee and Pyra immediately start to get the human diplomats to safety, but Pyra blames the humans for the attack. Kup and Action Man lead off the tower and join the battle. Mayday soon finds Marissa and Flint, and help to fight alongside them, but the two Joe members try to convince Marissa to get to safety since she is a noticeable target for the attackers.

Kreiger, exiting one of the Trojan-Bots with some more troops sends Colditz, a German bounty hunter on a mission of his own.

The Autobots fight off the Iron Ring members, but Action Man is soon separated from Kup. Though he gets surrounded by Iron Grenadiers Optimus soon appears and rescues him. Action Man notices Colditz and recognises him from his own adventures on Earth. He and Optimus notice that he ignores Marissa, despite her value, and sees him start to scour the tower where Centurion is staying. They make the obvious conclusion and contact Blackrock to get ready for an attack.

Colditz arrives at the window, but rather than fire upon them, he tells Centurion that Kreiger wants him to rejoin his troops, which appears to work, as Centurion quickly shoots Blackrock in the back...

Kup and Arcee soon join up with Mayday, Marissa and Flint, where they soon discover that Cobra is in some way involved with the attack, despite them being defunct for ages. They notice Optimus scaling the tower, and soon learn along with him that Centurion and Blackrock are missing.

Arcee informs Optimus that Windblade needs him at the Council chambers, so they split up, Optimus and Marissa will go to the meeting, whilst Arcee and the rest of the Revolutionaries head off in pursuit of Centurion and Colditz, but Optimus warns them to be careful, as Cybertron gets much more dangerous in the dark...

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Arcee - Sports Car

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Garrison Blackrock/Sovereign - Head Shot in Back by Centurion

Pyra Magna - Fire Truck

The Torchbearers (Mentioned)

Windblade - VTOL Fighter Jet (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Shockwave - Flying Artillery(Mentioned)

Megatron - Gun (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian/Colonist

Centurion/Atomic Man - Luxury Car

Longtooth

Circuit

Cybertronian Crowd-Filler

Domitus Major - Steam Train (Flashback Only)

Thundercracker - Fighter Jet (Mentioned)

Council of Worlds (Mentioned) 

GI Joe 

Mayday

Flint

Hashtag

Joe Troops

Scarlett (Mentioned)

Iron Ring

Garrison Kreiger

Colditz

Buzzer

Trojan-Bots

Red Shadow Ninjas

Iron Grenadiers

Doctor X (Mentioned)

Cobra (Mentioned)

Other Human

Marissa Faireborn

Action Man/Ian Noble

Human Delegates

Earth Defense Command (Mentioned) Defunct 

Joan Rivers (Mentioned)

Other

Elder God (Flashback Only)

Notes

• Just a quick note, it has come to my attention since my last reviews that Ironblood's Alliance has been officially named as "The Iron Ring" so I'll be calling it that here too :)
• Much like Optimus Prime #11 and #12 (reviews coming soon) this issue features interviews with characters discussing the events. In this case it is bookended by Optimus and Marissa talking about the entry into the Council of Worlds, and then about the attack on Cybertron.
• The comic is set during the start of the main First Strike storyline, and concludes with Optimus about to head off to the meeting with the rest of the Council.
• This issue could also be seen as a continuation of the "Revolutionaries" storyline, since all the characters appear here and the events are the main backstory for this very event.
• Arcee being chummy with Kup here is likely due to their time working together on Earth, especially during the Sins of the Wreckers story. As mentioned here, she met and mocked Action Man (mostly because of his name) during Revolution.
• Amongst the generic Autobots in the crowd we have a load of Japanese character models, but I won't say it is meant to be them due to them having the wrong colours.
• As mentioned in the story itself, Colditz was a villain from Action Man's own short lived series. He was working with Storm Shadow and Doctor X there, which is probably how he got assigned to the Iron Ring here.
• Pyra uses lethal force on the Iron Ring, which is mostly made of humans, directly against Optimus' orders....I think Prowl's going to have an exile-mate soon!
• Marissa's joke about Joan Rivers interviewing her is a reference to her robot character Dot Matrix from Spaceballs

IDW - First Strike - Rom

Written by: Christos Gage

Art by: Chris Panda

Colours by: David Garcia Cruz

Letters by: Shawn Lee

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Publisher: Ted Adams

Plot

Rom attacks the Micronauts, believing them to be Dire Wraiths, and is soon disarmed by Acroyear, though Rom shows off his ability to use his Neutralizer abilities without his physical weapon. The Micronauts continue to fight with Rom, until Biotron points out that he is a robot, so he couldn't be a Wraith. Rom accepts this, and requests that he scans them further. He soon determines that whilst they are not Wraiths, they have been infected with the Wraith-Taint, but due to being Micronauts, they were not turned. He uses the Neutralizer to purify them, allowing them to work together.

The Micronauts proceed to explain their encounter with the Wraiths in the sewers and about the pathogen they are developing to infect multiple humans at once, leading to Rom jumping to action.

The Micronauts and Rom soon arrive at the sewers where they find a mass of half-transformed humans, but also a perfected one. Rom soon destroys the hybrids and they go after the Wraiths, who have already left to spread their virus.

D'rge and his acolyte arrive at a carnival the next day and have one of their other followers, posing as a ride operator, and stops them up the top of a Ferris Wheel. They manage to release the virus, but Rom suddenly appears and kills the acolyte, Biotron manages to vacuum up the virus into his containment chamber to stop it from spreading. Rom fights with D'rge, who is able to use his shielding magic to stop the Knight, and gloats that the virus cannot be stopped that easily, and it mutates and breaks out of the chamber

The Micronauts opt to distract D'rge, as Rom uses the Neutralizer to destroy the virus monster. D'rge mocks the Micronauts for the futility of their work here, since he can simply just create more of the virus and spread it in the future, however Biotron reveals that he had the virus inside his body for long enough to analyse it and create an antidote, which he will share with the humans. D'rge, furious with the Micronauts, announces them as enemies of his race, and escapes by morphing into a iny creature and flying away.

The Micronauts and Rom part ways with them agreeing to call on each other in the future if they need each other's help against the Wraiths or other villains.

Later, in a hidden location, D'rge is fuming about the Micronauts, when Baron Karza suddenly appears and offers to help him deal with their mutual enemies. D'rge's new acolyte tries to take out Karza, but the tiny tyrant easily kills him. D'rge is unwilling to work with Karza, since he remembers his role in betraying the Wraiths during the Revolution, but Karza claims to be able to help him revive "The Presence", the Wraith's dark god. D'rge agrees, and begins to talk with the despot....

Characters

Micronaut

Larissa

Phenolo-Phi

Acroyear

Biotron

Microtron

Baron Karza

Dire Wraith

D'rge

D'rge's Acolyte Killed by Rom

D'rge's New Acolyte Killed by Karza

Ferris Wheel Operator

Partially Mutated Human-Wraiths Died from Mutation

Wraith-Hound Killed by Rom

Wraith Virus Construct Killed by Rom

"The Presence" (Mentioned) Asleep

Other

Rom, the Space Knight

Carnival Goers 

Notes

• This issue directly follows the events of First Strike: Micronauts, and leads into the upcoming "Rom and the Micronauts" series.
• This issue also has no mention of the Cybertronians or the First Strike event, making it a tie-in, in name only.
• We've known for a little while now that Solstar Knights don't need their weapons to use Neutralizer energy, but this is the first time we've seen Rom shoot lasers out of his eyes!
• It may seem odd that Rom claims that Wraiths cannot possess inorganic beings, when the concurrently releasing series "Rom vs Transformers: Shining Armor" shows that they can possess Cybertronians. But remember that Transformers aren't technically inorganic, and are made of a living metal.
• The head Sorcerer from last issue is revealed to be D'rge, a major villain from the early issues of the Rom series.
• Dire Wraiths can apparently change their size, without changing their appearance...good to know!
• As everyone else has likely already remembered, Karza never actually allied with the Dire Wraiths during Revolution, he was allied with Miles Mayhem who was in turn allied with the Wraiths. He did "betray" them by forcing them to merge with him, but he wasn't technically their ally in the first place.

Sig Pub - Robots in Disguise #25

Notes

• The screen-cap comic this month is "Mini-Con Madness".
• Considering this month gave us the finale of the RID TV series, and next issue should be the finale to season two's comic reprints here, I wouldn't be shocked if next issue was the last one....maybe Cyberverse will be a better magazine? :p
• The Optimus vs Starscream profile would have been better suited for next month, since that's when they actually have a full on fight...
• The "Scavenger Spotting" puzzle only features the Weaponizer Mini-Cons...not the actual Scavengers...
• Tricerashot is misnamed as "TriceraSTOP" here...my inner (and outer) nerd is screaming...

Features

Make Drift - Destroy both covers to make a cardstock Drift in vehicle mode....whoo.....

Say What?!?!? - Match a quote to a character

Battle of the Bots - Optimus Prime vs Starscream profile

Join the Dots - Play connect the dots to make a creepy Bumblebee face!

Fixit Puzzles - Solve a bunch of puzzles from Fixit!

Scavenger Spotting! - Play spot the difference!

Grimlock Race - Lead Grimlock through a maze!

Light Speed Poster- Pull out the middle pages to give yourself a paper puzzle!

Sideswipe Sets - Find the off Sideswipe out!

Decepticon Danger! - Identify the Decepticons through a thick fog!

Comic Investigator- Use your memory skills to answer questions about the comic you totally read!

Puzzling Prizes - Answer a question about TLK Sqweeks and enter a contest for toys!

Colour in Optimus - ...Colour in Optimus....

Transformers Post - Send Fixit your mail and he'll judge you for it!

Strongarm Pursuit - Lead Strongarm through another maze...