IDW - Transformers #17

Title: The Change in Your Nature, Part Five

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Anna Malkova & Bethany McGuire-Smith

Colours by: Joana LaFuente & John-Paul Bove

Letters by: Jake M. Wood & Neil Uyetake

Editors: David Mariotte

Plot

The Risers leave the Titan hub building, noting that even if someone can track what they've done, they cannot stop it, so they're heading back to their headquarters, to wait for the inevitable to happen...
At the remains of the Memorial Crater, Cyclonus is thinking about what to do next, and his to avenge the destroyed monument, when he is asked to move along, for his safety by Hot Spot, who tells him that Sixshot and the Rise caused this, giving Cyclonus a target for his anger...

At the Winged Moon, Wheeljack has discovered a siphon and transmitter that was sending Energon to the Rise base at the monument, and reports this to Lancer, so she can relay it to Perceptor. Gears has an accident and almost goes flying into orbit again, but is quickly rescued by Wheeljack. Cosmos arrives, but not to save Gears this time, he wants to know why a Titan is heading right towards the Moon...

At the primary Titan hub in Iacon, Blaster and his team can't get ahold of Vigilem, who is heading right for the Moon, and can't reach any other dormant Titan in orbit, due to the Rise's sabotage. Luckily they remember that Lodestar was still active due to only just returning, and Lightbright remaining aboard, so they decide to call her for help.
Aboard Lodestar, Lightbright is informed about the situation, and they set out to intercept the rogue Titan, who seems to just ignore them, and just quotes Codexa's writings about the Titans, worrying the others, before during upon them.
Lodestar tried matching his firepower, but Vigilem is more powerful than her. Seeing the attacks from the Winged Moon, Wheeljack orders everyone to go deep inside the Moon for safety.
Vigilem soon lands on the underside of the Moon and attacks the Tether attaching it to Cybertron. Lodestar tried to stop him again, but the more powerful Titan cripples her, and sends Lightbright flying around inside her. Lodestar reports something terrifying to Lightbright, despite her injuries...the Tether is falling.....

Characters

The Rise

Slipstream - Jet
Shadow Striker - Car
Astrotrain - Trackless Train/Space Shuttle
Flamewar - Motorcycle
Tracer - Helicopter
Skystalker - Car
Blackjack - Car
Sixshot - Car/Tank/Jet/Gun/Winged Beast

Security Forces/Autobot

Blue/white Guy's Body Dead

Sentinel Prime - Space Shuttle (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Lodestar - Titan Spaceship Badly Damaged by Vigilem
Vigilem - Titan Warship
Lightbright
Wheeljack - Car
Gears - Van
Huffer - Truck
Lancer - Car
Cosmos - Orbiter 
Blaster
Playback
Gizmo
Wavelength
Cyclonus - Jet
Hot Spot - Fire Truck
Groundbuster - Bulldozer
Others in Search & Rescue Team
Gridlock (Ghost)
Highfire (Ghost)
Provoke (Ghost)
Grudge (Ghost)
Primus (Mentioned) The Thirteen (Mentioned)
The Knights of Legend (Mentioned)
The Dormant Titans (Mentioned)
The Other Titan Cityspeakers (Mentioned)
The Reversionists (Mentioned)
Paragon (Mentioned)
Froid - Jet (Mentioned)
Perceptor (Mentioned)
Codexa (Mentioned)
Waypoint (Mentioned)
Chela (Mentioned)
Tempo (Mentioned)

Other
The Szorian Empire (Mentioned)

Notes

• The majority of this issue is drawn my Malkova, with McGuire-Smith providing the art for cyclonus' scene and the first scene on the Winged Moon
• Astrotrain is huge in this continuity. He's at least three times the size of the other Ascenticons in robot mode in this issue!
• Huffer uses his toy character model from his Combiner Wars toy. Whilst that IS the most recent Generations toy for him, it doesn't look a lot like his traditional design.
• Gear being found adrift in space was previously a plot point in the valentine's Day special
• The previously unnamed Titan who acted as Sentinel Prime's ship is named as Lodestar in this issue
• Blaster's team at the Titan net hub is filled with previously one-off characters with Wavelength and Gizmo coming from the previous IDW continuity, and Playback coming from the G1 cartoon.
• Continuing my thoughts from the previous issue, the City Speakers in this continuity still feel more like Titan Masters in design here, since each one is assigned to a specific Titan.
• Velocitron is mentioned in the song Lightbright is dancing to during her introduction, confirming it's existence in this continuity.
• Vigilem quoting Codexa's writings could be a part of Megatron's plans, since she was Orion Pax's mentor, and this could be a way to discredit the Autobots. Maybe?
• Two of the other mentioned Titans, Chela and Tempo were both either named or appeared in the previous IDW continuity, whilst Waypoint appears to be a completely new creation.
• It's not clear, but I believe that Vigilem landed on the underside of the Winged Moon and is shooting the tether near the top, based on Wheeljack being nearby when he lands and the star field being behind the "ground" during the panel where Lodestar shoots at Vigilem.
• Whilst it dies end on s clear cliffhanger, solicits mention that next issue focuses on Arcee and Greenlight getting Gauge off the planet, so I'm assuming that the next issue will be technically a continuation of this story, as well as another sixth issue stand alone story.

IDW - Transformers Galaxies #4

Title:  Constructicons Rising, Part Four

Written by: Tyler Bleszinski

Art by: Livio Ramondelli

Letters by: Jake M. Wood

Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Plot

The Constructicons decide to turn against the others on Mayalx, but are unsure of how best to take them out. The Insecticons watch them, and decide to help out by killing some random guys and use their living sparks to make over energised Energon and present it to the Constructicons the next day.
Now overpowered, the Constructicons combine and firm the newly christened Devastator, and wipes out a facility and all the crew manning it.

Afterwards, the Insecticons metabolize the dead bodies into Energon, ready for them to ship it, and themselves back to Cybertron.
Back on Mayalx, the Constructicons decide to stay on the planet and build whatever they want, and build their own home there.

Characters

The Rise

Kickback - Locust
Skrapnel - Scarab Beetle
Bombshell - Boll Weevil
Shockwave - Flying Artillery
Onslaught - Tank
Brawl - Tank
Blast Off - Space Shuttle
Vortex - Helicopter

Ascenticon

Megatron - Mining Vehicle (Mentioned)
Termagax - Armoured Van (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Scrapper - Earthmover
Scavenger - Excavator
Long Haul - Dump Truck
Mixmaster - Mixing Truck
Bonecrusher - Bulldozer
Hook - Crane
Devastator - Constructicon Gestalt
Mayalx Workers Killed by Insecticons and Devastator
Nominus Prime - Jet (Statue Only)

Notes

• So, this issue came out a couple months late huh? 
• Just as a reminder, last time we saw them, the Constructicons were not ready to kill everyone on the planet...they just decide to do that randomly this issue...
• The statue I could identify in issue one is confirmed as of Nominus Prime
• As I mentioned in the valentine's special, Blast Off and the Combaticons are revealed to be a part of the Rise
• Shockwave's appearance and demeaner this issue implies that it is set just before his beatdown from Megatron
• In case you can't tell, I'm not too impressed by this first storyline from Galaxies...let's hope the next ones are better!

FBF - To The Death #9

Title: The Leash

Story by: Simon Furman

Art by: Geoff Senior

Letterer: Martin Baines

Design by: Amazing15

Printed in the UK by: Mixam

Plot

The Pacifier team begin their battle with Killatoa, and Huey is quickly killed by the monster. Having seen two of his friends die, Rekt loses his mind and goes on a full assault on him.

Dryagin's team send a probe to inspect the Dolmen under Trumvirate control, and they notice a device on their backs, which must be what is controlling them.

The team manage to shoot a device at the Dolmen's backs which free them, allowing them to communicate with the rest of their species back on Asphodel, who in turn summon something from a volcano, seemingly made of lava.

Rekt's team manage to pin Killatoa to a wall with some spikes, but as they start to gloat, the monster reveals his secret, he fires a work-like creature from his mouth and injects it within Rekt, slowly, and painfully taking over his body.

Seeing this, Leone activates the bombs on Rekt's bandolier, detonating their friend and seemingly killing Killatoa too.

Down below, King starts to disarm the Extinction Weapon, whilst Dryagin makes his way through the building, including taking down the private militia there, so he can take down the Triumvirate himself, all whilst they get word that the "Chosen Few" have started making their way to a Starliner coming from Venus, implying that time is almost up. Snow triggers their broadcast, and starts streaming what the Triumvirate are doing to the world.

Dryagin makes his way to the Triumvirate's office, and immediately shoots all three right between the eyes, however due to them being in new artificial bodies, this does little to harm them. Veni proceeds to start pressing down on his chest, telling him his contract has been terminated....

Characters

Pacifier

Aleksy Dryagin

Dolan Rekt Infested by Killatoa, Mercy-Killed by Leone

Leone

Bette Larssen

Jonas Huey Killed by Killatoa

Diamond Bill

Dodsworth (Footage Only)

Bosco (Footage Only)

Besbitt (Footage Only)

Megan Umber (Mentioned) Dead

White Noise

Deacon Snow

Juddh King

Berenger Possibly Killed by a Dolmen

Reis Killed by a Dolmen

Forward/Tactical Bunker Staff

"The Director" (Mentioned)

Tri-Corp

Veni

Vidi

Vici

Killatoa Possibly Killed with Rekt

The Elite Private Militia Killed by Dryagin

Other Human

Lena Dryagin

Leo Dryagin

"The Chosen Few" Evacuating Earth

Gilgamesh Township Bar Patrons

Other

Lupex, the Space Doggo

Captured Dolmen Trio Freed from Triumvirate Control

The Free Dolmen

Notes

• This issue clarifies that only three of the Dolmen from Asphodel were brought to Earth to guard the Extinction Weapon, with the rest still residing on the planet Asphodel itself.
• The question from last issue is resolved here, with Berenger getting name-dropped as the surviving team member this issue. However it's not clear if he died this issue, as he appears to be in the location that a blast hits, but I can't be 100% sure.
• Killatoa is revealed to be a parasite who implants himself into a victim to use their body as a replacement for his own damaged one, possibly explaining his colour change last issue.
• Remember a few issues ago when I suggested that Lena could be related to Snow due to his interest in her? Well turns out I was right! She is his daughter!

IDW - Transformers Valentines Day Special

Written by: Patrick Ehlers & Sara Pitre-Durocher

Art by: Jack Lawrence & Sara Pitre-Durocher

Colours by: Josh Burcham & Sara Pitre-Durocher

Letters & Design by: Jake M. Wood

Editors: David Mariotte, Tom Waltz & Riley Farmer

Main Story Plot

Following her hard work and requests, Glyph's request for an assignment to research the languages of Planet SDS-359 has been accepted. She tells her friend, the former gladiator Tap-Out, who s feeling useless in the modern world and offers him a role in her mission as a bodyguard.

The two arrive on SDS-359, where they quickly encounter the mammalian natives, but Glyph seems to offend them with her attempts to communicate, leading to them unleashing a guardian beast to attack the Cybertronians. Tap-Out, always eager for a fight, immediately attacks the monster, leading to Glyph's embarrassment, but the native's delight

Over time, more guardians are unleashed, and Tap-Out defeats them all, whilst Glyph is failing to translate their language properly. She tells Tap-Out that they need to leave the planet soon, and if she doesn't translate the language, or make any progress before then, then her mission will be deemed a failure.

Tap-Out tries to speak to the natives again, but they simply summon another monster. He goes to attack it, but s run down by Glyph, who attacks instead, gaining the respect of the natives. She realized, that she knows their language through their preliminary studies of the planet, but that she couldn't use the language properly because the species only respects violence, and she needed to respect that for her to fully comprehend and speak the language itself.

The two soon leave, speaking the native language fluently, having completed their mission...

Back-up Story Plot

Space Security Chief Cosmos is a bit bored of his job, all he ever does is collect debris and the occasional adrift Gears from orbit, to keep Cybertron safe from space-bound problems. However all this work is very lonely.

One day whilst in space, Cosmos receives a ping and assumes it is Gears adrift again, but instead it's another space-traveller, Blast Off, who is also a bit bored and alone. The two soon make friends and talk whilst on their respective jobs. One day, Cosmos realizes that he doesn't even know what his new friend looks like, so he sends him a group shot of him and several others, before appearing right behind him.

Characters

Cybertronian

Glyph - Car

Tap-Out - Car

Nautica - Submarine

Apeface - Ape/Jet

Xeno-Relations Division Employees

Cybertronian Civilians 

Cosmos - Orbiter (Back-Up Story Only)

Blast Off - Space Shuttle (Back-Up Story Only)

Gears - Van (Back-Up Story Only)

Tailgate - Car (Back-Up Story Photo Only)

Onslaught - Tank (Back-Up Story Photo Only)

Brawl - Tank (Back-Up Story Photo Only)

Vortex - Helicopter (Back-Up Story Photo Only)

Swndle - Van (Back-Up Story Photo Only)

Quake - Tank (Back-Up Story Photo Only)

Hardhead - Tank (Back-Up Story Photo Only)

First Aid - Ambulance (Back-Up Story Photo Only)

Tow-Line - Van (Back-Up Story Photo Only)

Tidal Wave - Battleship (Back-Up Story Photo Only)

Giant Aileron - Space Shuttle (Back-Up Story Photo Only)

TFA Blackout - Helicopter (Back-Up Story Photo Only)

TFA Lugnut - Bomber Jet (Back-Up Story Photo Only)

Armada Jetfire - Space Shuttle (Back-Up Story Photo Only)

Armada Scavenger - Bulldozer (Back-Up Story Photo Only)

Classics Jetfire - Jet (Back-Up Story Photo Only)

Others in Photo (Back-Up Story Photo Only)

Sentinel Prime - Space Shuttle (Mentioned)

Primus (Mentioned)

Other

SDS-359 Native Mammals

SDS-359 Guardians

Notes

• Obviously, this story is a special issue released around Valentines day 2020, with both stories being set n continuity with the current IDW series, with both stories seemingly set before the events of the man series.
• Gladiatorial matches have been mentioned to be banned in the past, though this issue states that Sentinel Prime banned them, its been implied before now that Nominus was the one who banned them
• Glyph and Tap-out's story, following them being alone on an alien planet and growing close, essentially makes this an updated retelling of their backstory from the Extended Universe 3H comic days.
• It's unclear in the story itself, but the later released Transformers #17 confirms that Gears keeps ending up adrift in space because of his work on the Winged Moon, and him not adjusting for the lack of gravity when working there
• Blast Off's "class picture" that he sends to Cosmos includes a load of cameos, but a lot of them are just generics made by the artist to fill in space. A few of them are also based on toys, but don't appear to be the actual character (like the Classics Jetfire, who should be using the Siege Jetfire in this series instead)
• It's not stated, but the reveal the Blast Off and most of the Combaticons are in the Rise in Galaxies #4 could imply that he is carrying Risers or supplies for them during this story
• The solicits at the back of this issue shows how late the man series has been being released recently, with the "next issue" to be released being marketed as #19, and stating that #5 of Galaxies is available already...both of which being VERY wrong...

IDW - Transformers (BNE) #16

Title: The Change In Your Nature, Part Four

Written by: Brain Ruckley

Art by: Bethany McGuire-Smith & Anna Malkova

Colours by: Josh Burcham & Joana LaFuente

Letters by: Jake M. Wood

Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Plot

A meeting takes place in secret between the Senators, minus those affiliated with the Ascenticons, considering the recent situation, especially regarding the imminent arrest of Soundwave. Most of the Senate seem upset with the decision, and Froid takes this moment to try and speak with Nnautica about Cybertronian psychology when dealing with aliens.

Following the meeting, Heretech goes to meet with Megatron, and informs him of the real reason of the meeting being to capture Soundwave, and that he cannot condone these actions, and just wanted to warn Megatron of this ambush. He also mentions that he plans to lead the Reversionists in an exodus from Cybertron, to escape from the crumbling society of their homeworld.

As Heretech leaves, Starscream comes out of the shadows, saying he isn't there to warn Megatron like Heretech was, as he's backing everyone until he knows who will win this conflict, but did want to mention to Megatron that Bumblebee may be working with Orion Pax, due to his continued links with him, despite being removed from Security in the past. Megatron doesn't want to believe that his friend would plant a spy in his ranks, but is starting to question it...

Nautica manages to escape from the annoyance that is Froid, when she learns that a Voin shuttle is docking at the space port, and is devastated to learn that it is in fact a  Voin Asserter, a special variant designed to deliver justice after a crime is committed against the Voin, and this will be trouble....

Megatron calls Elita-1 to meet with him, and asks her if she has any concerns about Bumblebee's loyalties. She denies any concerns, but does express that she feels that Soundwave is not truly on their side, and reveals her belief that he killed the Risers to cover up some secrets. Megatron dismisses her, and contacts Soundwave, still furious with him after his recent failures. He wants him to contact Shockwave to proceed with their plans ahead of schedule, no matter how messy it'll get...

A Rise team head toward a near-abandoned Cityspeaking facility, where they plan to take it over. They manage to take down the three security officers stationed there, but not before the last one, Headrush, manages to call in for reinforcements 

Knowing they don't have much time, they have their seemingly reluctant member, a Cityspeaker named Skystalker, link up to a machine that allows him to talk with the Titan in Cybertron's orbit, Vigilem, and tells him it's time to wake up, and proceed with their earlier discussed plans...

Characters

Autobot

Orion Pax - Truck

Sentinel Prime - Space Shuttle (Mentioned)

Security Forces

Chromia - Car

Ironhide - Van

Brawn - Van

Pipes - Truck

Headrush Killed by Hyperdrive

Red/Green Guy Killed by Tracer

White/Blue Guy Killed by the Risers

Ascenticon

Megatron - Mining Vehicle

Elita-1 - Car

Soundwave - Hovercraft (Mentioned)

Strika - Battle Tank (Mentioned)

Bumblebee - Winged Hovercraft (Mentioned)

The Rise

Slipstream - Jet

Shadow Striker - Car

Flamewar - Motorcycle

Tracer - Helicopter

Blackjack - Car

Hyperdrive - Car

Skystalker - Car

Astrotrain - Trackless Train/Space Shuttle

Immersant Titan Team (Mentioned) 2 Dead, 2 Comatose

Shockwave - Hovercraft (Mentioned)

Quake - Tank (Mentioned)

Barricade - Police Vehicle (Mentioned)

Bitstream - Jet (Mentioned)

Sparkstalker (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Starscream - Jet

Nautica - Submarine

Road Rage - Flying Car

Froid - Jet

Heretech

Vigilem - Titan Ship

Space Port Workers

Immersant Titan (Mentioned) Destroyed

Strika's Heavies (Mentioned)

The Reversionists (Mentioned)

Proxima (Mentioned)

Crosscut - Van (Mentioned)

Other Species

Voin Asserter

Murdered Voin (Mentioned) Dead

Notes

• McGuire-Smith provides the art for the early scenes, whilst the entire Riser raid is provided by Malkova
• It's mentioned this issue that Nautica seems to have no interest in relationships with Cybertronians, furthering her seeming preference to alien species seen in previous issues.
• As mentioned in a previous issue, the murdered Voin was someone important, and the Asserter has been called to exact justice for it.
• Strika is mentioned as being a Senator in the present day.
• Strika's Heavies were previously seen during Megatron's flashback to the war with the Threefold Spark, which included Flak, Warpath and Blitzwing.
• So....the death count on Cybertron is really racking up from this issue it seems!
• Skystalker, due to his demeanour and needing to be "reminded" of his loyalties to the Rise seems to imply that he's not a willing member, but someone who was abducted and forced to join them due to his Cityspeaker skills.
• Also, Cityspeakers are brought back to the franchise, following their prominence in the previous IDW continuity. It's unclear yet if Windblade is also a Cityspeaker, as she traditionally is, but considering her position in Security, it's unlikely (unless she had a career change or something)
• Cityspeaking in this continuity appears to be more akin to the Titan Masters of that continuity, where they are linked up to the Titan in some way, rather than reading their brain patterns to communicate for them like Cityspeakers were shown to do.
• And oh poopy! The Titan in orbit around Cybertron is revealed to be Vigilem, the personal Titan of Liege Maximo from the previous continuity, who was mentally and mode-locked by the ancient Cybertronians, as well as having his name changed to "Carcer" for him aiding Maximo in his crimes. Since we get his name as Vigilem, and see he is active already, we can assume that this part of his history never happened in this Universe
• So, jumping ahead a bit, the solicits for the next few issues mention a catastrophe and  mass exodus of the population, so I'm guessing that Vigilem is going to cause a few problems next issue....