IDW - Transformers vs Visionaries #3

Title: Desperate Measures

Written by: Magdalene Visaggio

Art by: Fico Ossio

Colours by: David Garcia Cruz

Lettered by: Shawn Lee

Edited by: Sarah Gaydos & David Mariotte

Published by: Greg Goldstein

Plot

In New Prysmos, Virulina declares to the Spectral Knights who were left behind in the city when Leoric and his crew left, that they should join her side, because Leoric and the others are wrong. Cryotek agrees to, which leads the others to defect to the Darkling Lords too. One of the Darkling Lords, Mortdred, leaves quietly as he knows that Virulina hates him and will likely kill him before long.

Soon, Mortdred reaches Leoric and his team, telling them what is happening in the city, and asks to join them, since he knows how Virulina thinks about him. Ironhide later questions Leoric on how he trusts the Darkling Lord, which he admits that he doesn't, but knows he has a survival instinct that is stronger than his corrupted personality, and he thinks they can use his skills.

In Wheeljack's lab, he attaches a new arm to Breakdown to replace his decayed one, before performing an experiment on the old rusted arm, which he manages to reverse the effects of the magic, for about a second before his crumbles again. This gives the Autobot an idea on how to save Cybertron from the effects of the Talisman.

Soon, the Spectral Knights are called to a meeting with the Autobots, who discuss the newly theorized "counter-wave" that can be used to negate the Talisman's effects on Cybertron's core, and inoculating it, and all Cybertronians from the future effects too, however they still need to work on it.

In the meanwhile, Witterquick, Arzon, and Mortdred are sent back to New Prysmos to assassinate Virulina, and force them back into the dominate role, with Leoric confident that Merklynn will simply back whoever has the best likelihood of winning this war.

The team arrive in the tunnels under New Prysmos, where Mortred is forced to take on his tiny beetle totem form to enter the city undetected. he makes it to Virulina's throneroom in the Darkling Lord Monastery where he witnesses Virulina experimenting with her magic, attempting to recreate an old technique from Prysmos where they powered old machinery with magic, and she attempts to trun Waspinator into a chariot for her to use.

Mortdred leaves and reports that the monastery is lightly guarded, with most Visionaries likely being on patrol in the city, and the team head into the city, via the sewers of the city itself.

Inside the monastery Witterquick speeds around to see if anyone is around, but finds no-one, soon however they notice a Darkling Lord and he knocks her out, not realizing that it's one of his fellow former Spectral Knights, Feryl.

Soon, the trio split up, with them all knowing their roles in the mission. Before too long, Arzon comes across the treacherous Cryotek and the two fight over who's side is right or not, that is until Virulina, now riding her monstrous Waspinator-chariot , with Mortdred by her side, and Witterquick trapped in Waspinator's mandibles....

Characters

Autobot

Ironhide - Van

Wheeljack - Race Car

Kup - Pick Up Truck (Mentioned) Dead

Decepticon

Waspinator - Tank Turned into Chariot by Virulina

Other Cybertronian/Colonist

Breakdown - Armoured Van

Spectral Knight

Leoric

Arzon

Witterquick Captured by Virulina

Ectar

Galladria

Cryotek (Joins Darkling Lords)

Feryl (Joins Darkling Lords) Knocked Out Cold by Witterquick

Craggor (Joins Darkling Lords)

Other Spectral Knights (Joins Darkling Lords)

Darkling Lord

Virulina

Mortdred

Cravex

Darkstorm (Mentioned) Dead

Other Prysmosian

Merklynn (Flashback)

Notes

• So....there were actually LOADS of Spectral Knights left behind in New Prysmos...why did Leoric not call on any of them to help defend the shield from the Darkling Lords?!
• We finally see this universe's version of Cryotek here, and he's kind of an idiot...he immediately decides that Leoric is wrong and joins forces with Virulina, even taking on Darkling Lord armour, and convincing the other Knights to do the same...even though in issue one he refused to join the meeting about the invasion of Cybertron situation because he found it "shameful"
• Also...was she just adding to her lies after he switched sides, since during the fight with Arzon he claimed that the Cybertronians were isolating and destroying them....THEY INVADED CYBERTRON AND THEN KILLED A BUNCH OF GUYS TRYING TO BROKER PEACE/PROTECT THEM FROM THE UNKNOWN DANGERS OF THE MECHANICAL PLANET THEY INVADED!!!!
• Seriously, is Cryotek just a moron or something?!
• So we see here that Wheeljack's new counter-wave can reverse the effects of the Visionary magic causing Cybertronians to rust to death, sure it doesn't last long right now, but it'll likely be ready by the end of issue 5....I really hope they don't bring Kup back just like that...that would really make his emotional death truly pointless...
• Leoric's plan is to send a team into New Prysmos to assassinate Virulina...why bother? without the shield the atmosphere will be gone soon, leading her to just suffocate to death...no I am not letting that bit of illogicality to pass...
• Okay, it is implied here that the Talisman is also going to transform Cybertron into an organic planet, with animal and vegetation....WHERE THE FUCK DID VIRULINA GET THAT FROM?!?! You cannot just add a huge plot point like that three issues into a series, and imply that that was stated from the start. The Talisman has only ever been shown to kill Cybertronians, disrupt technology, and turn people into Dire Wraith hybrids before. Nothing about it creating new life!
• Waspinator is mentioned to be the last remaining Cybertronian guard left in New Prysmos....does this mean that Tankor is dead? Did he run away with Ironhide?
• Why did Feryl have a face mask on? Was it just so that Witterquick wouldn't recognise her despite her distinctive hairstyle and animal totem?
• So, my guess is that the "twist" at the end of this issue that Mortdred has betrayed the Spectral Knights to Virulina is actually going to be revealed to be a double twist next issue, where it's revealed that Arzon's unmentioned plan was for him to pretend to betray them, just so they can attack her from behind or something.
• Waspinator's "chariot" form is actually based on the Fun Publications toy for Thrustinator, a fairly forgettable figure from the Subscription Service. I am impressed!
• We all know that Waspinator will survive this incident, that's his whole shtick, the universe hates him, so it won't let him just die, despite all the pain he goes through.
• As I said last issue, this issue still leaves the Transformers at a massive disadvantage to the Darkling Lords. The only real "advantage" they have at the moment is that they have a potential counter to the Talisman's effect, but it's far from being completed. My prediction is that this will continue next issue, with something being pulled out of Leoric's ass in issue 5 to save the day.