IDW - Transformers #24

Title: Wheeljack: Orbital Decay

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Beth McGuire-Smith

Letters & Design by: Jake M. Wood

Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Plot

Following it's untethering from Cybertron, the Winged Moon is on an uncontrolled course towards the nearby sun. Most of the stranded individuals on the Moon are evacuated, but Wheeljack, Lancer, Huffer, Gears and Cosmos stay behind (with one escape shuttle) to try and save the planetoid, with Wheeljack being more determined due to the Moon being both Termagax's final big project before entering politics and her eventual self-exile, but also due to the Moon storing a sixth of Cybetron's current Energon supply.

After a couple of failed attempts, Lancer finds an Infiltration Trooper hiding on the escape shuttle, named Enemy, who admits that he was the one who was siphoning Energon from the Moon for the Rise, and also says he isn't sorry for the Tether being torn down by Vigilem.

The team make one last attempt to save the Moon by detonating the Wings and using the inner Energon stores to create a thruster, forcing it into a reverse course, away from the sun!

Following their success, most of the team celebrate inside, while Wheeljack basks in the glow of the now more distant sun on the surface. However, before they can get too far into their celebrations, Flamewar and the rest of "Team Stream" arrive, intending to steal the Moon!

Characters

Decepticon/Ascenticon/Rise

Enemy - Cassette

Slipstream - Jet

Shadow Striker - Car

Flamewar - Motorcycle

Astrotrain - Space Shuttle/Trackless Train

Blackjack - Car

Hyperdrive - Car

Tracer - Helicopter

Hotlink - Jet

Sunstorm - Jet

Termagax - Armoured Vehicle (Flashback)

Megatron - Mining Vehicle (Mentioned)

Blast Off - Space Shuttle (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Wheeljack - Race Car

Huffer - Truck

Gears - Truck

Cosmos - Orbiter

Lancer - Car

Croaton Remains Seen, Reduced to Dust

Vigilem - Titan War Ship (Mentioned)

Lodestar - Titan Space Ship (Mentioned)

Nominus Prime - Jet (Mentioned)

Moon Evacuees (Mentioned)

Notes

• This issue follows Wheeljack's team on the Winged Moon, which was launched into space in issue 17. The end of this story is most likely set around the time of issue 23, with the Decepticons having performed their coup.
• The opening text report confirms that Seekers were built as clones during the war against the Threefold Spark, but also shows that Infiltration Troopers (Cassettes) volunteered to join the enemies during that war.
• Huffer's character model is based on his Combiner Wars toy, due to them using the most recent figure for character models in this continuity, HOWEVER, it should be noted that shortly after this issue was released, Kingdom Huffer was revealed, who looks more like his traditional depiction. I guess they could say the new toy is an upgrade though...
• Gears is mentioned as being Wheeljack's Mentee here.
• Enemy mentions that the Rise were using Vigilem as a relay point for stolen Energon, confirming that he was being used by them before the attack on the Tether.
• Croaton is mentioned as a dead Titan here, having been "usurped" by Exarchon during the war, mirroring his coersion by the Quintessons in the Cyberverse cartoon.

IDW - Transformers/My Little Pony: Friendship in Disguise #4

Strength in Numbers

Writer: Ian Flynn

Artist: Sara Pitre-Durocher

Colours: Joana LaFuente

Letterer: Jake M. Wood

Finale

Writer: James Asmus

Artist: Tony Fleecs

Colours: Lauren Perry

Letterer: Neil Uyetake

Editor: Megan Brown

Consulting Editor: David Mariotte

Group Editor: Bobby Curnow

First Story Plot

The Insecticons attack the Apple Family Farm. Applejack tries to chase them off, but is unable to, until Discord arrives, and transports members of the Apple Family from all over Equestria to help her, and they manage to chase off the attackers with some ease.

Second Story Plot

The Decepticons have gone into hiding, which worries Princess Cadance of the Crystal Empire. That is until the walls of her palace are blown in, and the Decepticon/Changeling army demand her surrender of all the Empire's magical items to be turned into supercharged Energon.

Unfortunately for Megatron, the Autobots and their Equestrian allies are there too, and all join together to take down the villains.

After a long battle, Megatron learns that Twilight's allies spread across the entire planet, making their victory almost guaranteed. Chrysalis states that she doesn't care, and without her magic, the portal home won't open, as the Cybertronians will just battle it out on Equestria, destroying it, leaving the world for her to rule afterwards 

At the moment, the Spacebridge opens in the sky, having been repaired by Spike and Grimlock, and the Decepticons are forced through it, back home, and the Changelings escape.

Afterwards the Autobots and their allies have a tea and Energon party to celebrate, before the Autobots return home, and Optimus detonates the Spacebridge, to keep Equestria safe from their war.

However, elsewhere on Cybertron, Shockwave reveals to Megatron that he has the coordinates to Equestria still, and wonders if they can force the magic of that world to theirs?

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck

Windblade - VTOL Fighter Jet

Prowl - Police Car

Ironhide - Van

Arcee - Sports Car

Bumblebee - Hatchback

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Gauge

Decepticon

Megatron - Tank

Shockwave - Ray Gun

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Crasher - Race Car

Skrapnel - Stag Beetle

Kickback - Grasshopper

Bombshell - Boll Weevil

Venom - Cicada

Chop Shop - Stag Beetle

Ransack - Locust

Barrage - Rhino Beetle

Equestrian

Princess Twilight sparkle

Rarity

Applejack

Rainbow Dash

Fluttershy

Pinkie Pie

Spike, the Dragon

Queen Chrysalis

Princess Cadance

Discord

Starlight Glimmer

Trixie

Tempest Shadow

Shining Armour

Apple Bloom

Sweetie Belle

Scootaloo

Big McIntosh

Sugar Belle

Granny Smith

Maude Pie

Silverstream

Yona

Sandbar

Smolder

Ocellus

Gallus

Spitfire

Soarin 

Apple Cinnamon

Aunt Orange

Uncle Orange

Caramel Apple

Red Gala

Braeburn 

Apple Fritter

Babs Seed

Apple Brown Betty

Red Delicious

Apple Strudel

Apple Bumpkin

Auntie Applesauce

Golden Delicious

Pina Colada 

Other Apple Family Members

Owlowiscious 

Evil Changelings

Cragodiles

Fluttershy's Animal Friends

Notes

• This is the finale issue of this crossover, and as is now customary for the crossovers of late, it ends on a potential cliffhanger for a sequel.
• Some of the Apple family members summoned for the battle against the Insecticons are actually not members of the family, they just have apple-like cutie marks
• Discord summoning the apples is reminiscent of Doctor Strange summoning the revived heroes in Avengers Endgame.
• The Insecticons referred to as clones here are the larger deluxe Insecticons, just coloured like the main trio
• The cragodiles seen amongst the Changelings and Decepticons are most likely shapeshifted Changelings, and not actual cragodiles.
• Spike uses an Exosuit like the one that the human Spike uses starting in the G1 Transformers Movie
• The end of the story features a scene transition going from the Decepticon insignia to the Autobots, with Twilight's cutie mark behind it
• Crasher/Fracture makes a brief cameo in this issue, using her Movie toy as the basis...she's using he gun as an axe though...weird...
• Tempest Shadow is seen helping form the shield in the final battle...but her magic is supposed to be unstable and explosive...this could have been explained in the comics though.

IDW - Transformers/My Little Pony: Friendship in Disguise #3

Pet Sounds

Writer: James Asmus

Artist: Jack Lawrence

Colours: Luis Antonio Delgado

Letterer: Jake M. Wood

The Flyin' Fox Trot

Writer: Sam Maggs

Artist: Priscilla Tramontano

Colours: Luis Antonio Delgado

Letterer: Neil Uyetake

Editor: Megan Brown

Consulting Editor: David Mariotte

Group Editor: Bobby Curnow

First Story Plot

Fluttershy and Discord are having a happy tea party in the former's cottage when there's an explosion from the outside.

Soundwave has arrived to scout the area for weaknesses and Energon, scaring Fluttershy's animal friends into her cottage.

Fluttershy goes to confront him and see what he wants, but immediately assumes he's a friend when she sees he has pets (his cassette minions). She approaches him to meet the pets, but Soundwave disregards her, however when Discord leaves the house, Soundwave realises that he's a threat, and immediately starts to attack him, sending the cassettes to deal with Fluttershy.

While Discord is using his powers to mess with Soundwave, Frenzy tries to interrogate Fluttershy, but she gets distracted by a scar on Ravage, and tries to apply some cream to it, until Frenzy snacks it out of her hand, and knocks her over, angering the animals, Discord and the beast cassettes.

Soundwave gets swarmed by Discord and an army of magically Cyberformed critters, whilst Laserbeak, Ravage and Ratbat attack Frenzy. Frenzy offhandedly asks his fellow cassettes if they're really willing to ruin their friendship over this, prompting Fluttershy to go back into friendship mode and asks Soundwave if they can start over.

Discord suggests he could turn the Decepticons into pretty ponies, but Soundwave agrees to the start over, without being altered. Megatron contacts Soundwave, telling him they've set up a base, and Soundwave says he'll be with him...eventually, as he watches the Cassettes playing with their new friends.

Second Story Plot

Rainbow Dash is relaxing on a cloud when she is disturbed by Windblade flying past, who claims to be the fastest around, the two decide to have a race, which gathers a bit of a crowd.

During the race, a group of Decepticon jets led by Misfire interrupts, wanting to prove that the Decepticons are better than the Autobots at everything.

Windblade and Rainbow work together to trick the Decepticons into shooting their heat seekers at themselves, sending them plummeting down to the ground. The two racers decide to call the race a tie in the aftermath.

Characters

Autobot

Windblade - VTOL Jet

Mach Kick - Horse

Battle Unicorn - Unicorn

Decepticon

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Frenzy - Cassette

Laserbeak - Cassette

Ravage - Cassette

Ratbat - Cassette

Misfire - Jet

Acid Storm - Jet

Ion Storm - Jet

Nova Storm - Jet

Megatron - Tank (Voice Only)

Equestrian

Fluttershy

Rainbow Dash

Twilight Sparkle

Pinkie Pie

Applejack

Rarity

Discord, God of Chaos

Spike, the Dragon (Should be on Earth)

Fluttershy's Animal Friends

Random Pegasus Pair

Racers

Spectators

Notes

• Despite being very prominent on the cover, Beastbox doesn't appear in this comic :(
• Despite presumably not seeing him before, Soundwave somehow knows that Discord is a major threat.
• Apparently Equestria smells like Lavender
• Frenzy saying "save it for the message boards" when Fluttershy says that no one wants battle damage is possibly a sneaky jab at people who complain about the battle damage on the recent Siege toyline.
• Windblade being portrayed as fast, competitive and into racing is kind of out if character for her. Honestly her role in this comic would have suited Blurr better, with him being blue, super fast and loving racing, which is even further added on with the early solicits saying that Crasher was going to be the villain of this issue, with her being a race car, and in the Shattered Glass universe being Blurr's cousin.
• Two of the only horse Transformers, Mach Kick and Battle Unicorn, make cameos as racers this issue. This is very awesome. Even though we don't see their insignias, since they're usually Maximals, we can assume they're Autobots here.
• Spike is seen in the crowds this issue, despite him being stuck on Earth with Grimlock (as a small spoiler, Issue four features him returning from Earth, do this has to be a mistake, unless this story happens before his travel to Earth, and he just fell into a second Spacebridge, rather than the original one)
• The Rainmakers dont really do anything in this issue, Acid Storm says "ow" in the last panel, and that's all, even their stances during the battle are pretty static ...

IDW - Transformers Galaxies #11

Title: Storm Horizon, Part 2

Written by: Brandon Easton

Art by: Andrew Griffith

Colours by: Josh Burcham

Letters & Design by: Jake M. Wood

Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Plot

Ultra Magnus and the remains of the crew of the Fist of Iacon head into the Black Sphere system to look for Alpha Trion on Spinister's orders (as he still has some of his crew hostage). Chromedome detects a Cybertronian ship on a planet in the system that is made from diamonds (due to the high pressure from the black hole) so Magnus heads down alone to investigate.

On the planet, Obsidar, he encounters the natives who try to chase him off, but run off after he easily defeats them in battle, and finds the cloaked Cybertronian ship.

Inside, he discovers that the ship is from Kaon, not somewhere Alpha Trion would hang around in, and sends the ships information back to his ship.

Whilst in the ship, he is attacked by its occupant, Octane, whom he easily takes down and discovers that he is a Splice Trader who is carrying corpses from the Tether fall, but insists that Alpha Trion isn't amongst the corpses.

When the ship is shot at from outside, Magnus drags Octane out with him, and finds Spinister and his crew. Spinister intends to kill Octane for hoarding bodies from his boss, but Magnus insists that he be brought back to Cybertron to face trial for his crimes. Spinister's bored if his heroic speech, so decided to end their arrangement and execute him and his captured crew.

Unfortunately for Spinister, Magnus gas backup, his mission is being escorted by Colonial Security Officer Victory Leo, who comes in to save the day.

Now having the upper hand, Magnus pins down Spinister to demand to know where Trion is, and Spinister admits to having net him, but only to give him maps of the uncharted space in the Black Sphere system and a Kworian shuttle in exchange for Alpha Trion's Energon supply. 

Magnus isn't sure if he can really trust Spinister, due to his profession, but is forced to believe him when Alpha Trion himself appears to corroborate his story, albeit through a hologram.

Trion explains that he left clues to his location in case something happened to him, but they signalled too early when he entered the Black Sphere system due to the systems odd nature. Magnus wants to know why he's working with Splicers and why he is being escorted by someone who looks like Soundwave. Trion says he wasn't aware if the former, but doesn't have time to explain the later, as his shuttle is being attacked by an alien fleet right now, and they need help....

Characters

Cybertronian Expeditionary Force/Colonial Security

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport

Chromedome - Car

Victory Leo - Space Shuttle/Winged Lion

Blue Erector - Truck

The Fist of Iacon Crew

Decepticon

Octane - Truck/Jet

Soundwave - Hovercraft (Flashback)

Slipstream - Jet (Flashback)

Sixshot - Gun/Car/Jet/Tank/Winged Wolf (Flashback)

Other Cybertronian

Alpha Trion

Soundblaster - Hovercraft

Spinister - Helicopter

Cybertronian Splicers

Tether Victims (Corpses Seen)

The Cybertronian Founders (Mentioned)

Other

Obsidar Natives

Organic Splicers

Kworians (Flashback)

Splicer boss (Mentioned)

Notes

• In the opening panel Alpha Trion mentions the Tabernacle of Tarn-Hauser Gate, which is a reference to the Netflix cartoon series. The subsequent discussion about erasing the losers of war's histories is a reference to Blade Runner.
• Octanes ship is decorated with a Decepticon/Ascenticon insignia, but since this issue is presumably set around the time of issue 23, where they are going by the Decepticon name exclusively now. So we can assume that he is at least related to the group.
• Spinister's scythe weapon appears to be made from his alternate mode propellers...which I'm pretty sure the toy cannot do...
• Victory Leo FINALLY makes his western media debut here, his partner Star Saber has appeared a few times in recent years, do it's about time!
• Ultra Magnus mentions how Soundblaster looks a lot like Senator Soundwave, marking one if the only times a repaint has been pointed out in universe. We also see Soundblaster in the shadows when Magnus thinks about Kaon, so he's possibly a Decepticon, and has a relationship with his mould-mate.
• The Splicer Boss mentioned this issue isn't identified here, but it could be Soundblaster, due to his prominence and proximity to Alpha Trion here.

IDW - Transformers vs The Terminator #4

Title: Enemy of my Enemy, Part 4

Story by: David Mariotte, Tom Waltz & John Barber

Written by: David Mariotte & John Barber

Art by: Alex Milne

Colours by: David Garcia Cruz

Letters & Design by: Jake M. Wood

Editor: Tom Waltz

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Plot

Starscream continues his gambit to force the Terminator to team up with him to take out the Autobots and Megatron by holding the Cyberdyne employees hostage, however the smaller robot has scanned the humans and determined that they aren't needed for Skynet to be formed, but he still agrees to an alliance for his own needs.

Sarah tries to contact the Ark from a guard house, but is stalked by Ravage, and is unable to reach the Autobot shuttle.

Whilst Optimus and Megatron fight it out, Arcee, Velocity and Bumblebee battle the other Decepticons, when Soundwave notices Sarah's attempts to contact the Ark failing, and realizes that something has happened to it, he tries to inform Megatron, but gets shot from behind by the treacherous Starscream, who then launches the Terminator at Megatron to try and kill him immediately, but Megatron catches him and flings him back at Starscream, downing him in his jet mode.

Seeing Soundwave getting attacked, Ravage gets distracted, so Sarah makes her move, she tussles with Ravage, and manages to get her gun into his mouth, shooting him through the brain module, killing him.

The Autobots finish the other Decepticons off, seemingly leaving just Megatron around. Sarah calls for help, as she's found the Terminator crushed under Starscream. The Decepticon jet transforms and prepares to attack the Autobots, when the badly injured Soundwave arrives, firing on him in revenge, leading to him flying away. Soundwave turns on Sarah and the Terminator, but they shoot him, finishing him off.

After the bulk of the battle, the Terminator asks the Autobots to throw him into Megatron again, seeing he has a small hole on his chest now from the battle, he's thrown through, and starts shooting at Megatron's spark, causing it to explode, killing the smaller robot along with Megatron.

In the aftermath, the surviving Decepticons are captured, but the dead are left behind as the human authorities arrive. Sarah stats behind to cover for the Autobots, but promises Bumblebee to keep an eye on them...

Soon, the Autobots return to where the Ark should be, but instead find the molten remains from the Terminator's explosives, and realises that they are the only Cybertronians on Earth now, so until they can make contact with Cybertron again, they should stay low and form a truce for now, which the Decepticons agree to.

Some time later, Sarah has joined Skywatch as a high ranking member, so she can watch over the Autobots, fulfilling her promise to Bumblebee...

However, under ground of the facility, scientists have examined Megatron's body, and created an army of T-800 and T-8000 Terminator's, which seem to be infected with Megatron's still working mind....

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck

Arcee - Ford Mustang

Velocity - Pontiac Firebird

Bumblebee - VW Beetle

Ratchet - Ambulance (Mentioned) Killed in Ark Explosion

Wheeljack - Race Car (Mentioned) Killed in Ark Explosion

Ark Autobots (Mentioned) Killed in Ark Explosion

Decepticon

Megatron - Gun Killed by the Terminator, Rebuilt into Skynet

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Soundwave - Cassette Player Killed by Starscream, Sarah Connor and the Terminator

Ravage - Cassette Killed by Sarah Connor

Skywarp - Fighter Jet

Thundercracker - Fighter Jet

Kickback - Locust Killed by Arcee

Skrapnel - Stag Beetle

Bombshell - Bill Weevil

Future Starscream - Hunter-Killer Aerial (Memory)

Skywatch

The Terminator Killed when Megatron's Spark exploded

New T-800's

New T-8000's

Human

Sarah Connor

Chet

Cyberdyne Employees

Skywatch Employees

Emergency Responders

Notes

• Even though it doesn't seem likely, Kickback seems to have been killed from his kick from Arcee, since we never see him again after this.
• With Starscream and the other Seekers still alive, and Megatron being used as the basis of a new Skynet, it seems possible that the future seen at the start of this series could STILL happen, just with, and given the series, most likely will happen again 
• The Terminator killing Megatron by attacking his Spark directly seems to be in reference to Megatron's temporary death at the end of the 2007 Movie, with the Terminator in place of the Allspark.
• The United Transformers at the end of the story stand around in a circle chanting "Till all are One" in a reference to the G1 movie
• The Skynet Alpha Base seen here is the same one referred to as "Omega Base" in issue one, just altered due to the time travel.
• Why would Skywatch create the T-800s in the likeness of the kill-robot that came from nowhere?
• As is traditional for these recent Crossover comics, the end leads it open for a sequel of some sort.

IDW - Transformers '84 - Secrets and Lies #4

Writer: Simon Furman

Artist: Guido Guidi

Colourist: John-Paul Bove

Letterer: Jake M. Wood

Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Plot

At the Ark crash site, Grimlock is attacked by Megatron, under AUNTIE'S control, and the battle is brought outside, where the Coneheads are still fighting the Reserve Warriors. Seeing Megatron, seemingly unable to control his anti-matter powers, the Decepticon trio take off, but they suggest that Megatron might not be in control of his body, so if he destroys what is controlling him it should stop him.

Grimlock quickly realized it must be AUNTIE, so he runs in and tears into the computer, damaging it, instantly causing Megatron to fall back to stasis mode.

Back on Cybertron, Punch leads the newly formed Wreckers to Project Dreadnaught to destroy it, but are attacked by Abominus, the Terrorcon combiner, along the way.

The team manages to fight through them and set off explosives in the planetary thrusters, detonating them.

In the aftermath of all this, Star Saber, Fortress Maximus and Ultra Magnus team up to lead the Autobots, and allow groups like the Wreckers to do the dirty work, off the books.

The Coneheads report back to Straxus about the Ark crash, but Straxus simply tells them to forget all about the Ark and Megatron's location, in exchange for a high position in his new Decepticon heirachy, which they accept.

On Earth, Grimlock has returned to the previous battle site against Shockwave, and believing his friends are all dead, he deactivated himself too...waiting there in stasis until his eventual awakening in the future....

Characters

Autobot

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport

Star Saber - Jet

Fortress Maximus - Battle Platform

Punch/Counterpunch - Car

Impactor - Tank

Whirl - Helicopter

Roadbuster - Jeep

Rack'n'Ruin 

Twin Twist - Drill Tank

Topspin - Jet

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex Sets self to Stasis Lock

Grapple Construct 

Tracks Construct 

Other Dinobots (Mentioned)

Ratchet (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Megatron Returned to Stasis

Ramjet - Jet

Dirge - Jet

Thrust - Jet

Straxus - Flying Tank

Shrapnel - Insect Jet

Hun-Gurr - Two Headed Beast

Sinnertwin - Two Headed Dragon

Cutthroat - Winged Beast

Blot - Bi-Pedal Monster

Rippersnapper - Bi-Pedal Shark

Abominus - Terrorcon Gestalt

Project Dreadnaught Staff Killed by Wreckers

Other

AUNTIE Badly damaged by Grimlock

Guardian Drones Bodies on Floor of Ark

Notes

• The Megatron set upon Grimlock is confirmed to be Megatron's body, but with AUNTIE controlling it (so basically a hybrid of the Dinobots and Reserve Warriors situations)
• It's revealed that Impactor lost his hand fighting Sinnertwin.
• Grimlock smashing the Arks computer is used to explain why it cannot identify organics as the dominant life on Earth in the 1980s, but can in the prehistoric era.
• Ultra Magnus, Fort Max and Star Saber are shown to be a triumvirate of Autobot leaders here. In the 80s we only ever see Max and Magnus, so it's likely that Star Saber doesn't survive the war :(
• Grimlock is shown returning to the site where the Dinobots and Shockwave were trapped, but we never see Megatron being returned to the Ark or the Reserve Warriors being decommissioned. It's possible Grimlock just brought them back inside the Ark before leaving, but we didn't see it.
• We never learn who Punch is talking to for the framing device of this series, but we do know that it is after the Ark's crew is reawakened in 1984