IDW - Transformers #21

Title: Rise of the Decepticons, Part 3: Tremors

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Billie Montfort & Blacky Shepherd

Colours by: Joana LaFuente & John-Paul Bove

Letters & Design by: Jake M. Wood

Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Plot

Following another tremor, a geological team consisting of Azimuth, Geomotus, Landmine and Beachcomber find the giant Cybertronian Leviathan tracked down a crevice, who says that she won't transform and wants them to help her out.

Elsewhere, Bumblebee has been placed into a safe house under Stakeout's guard, but is visited by Windblade when they see a giant hologram of Megatron in the sky over Cybertron, claiming that the Autobots are trying to use the Tether's collapse to turn the people against the Ascenticons, who he points out are now being called "Decepticons" by the Autobots.

Orion Pax and Chromia see the hologram too, and Pax regrets that his old friend has gone this far, and is sure now that HE is the one responsible for the recent troubles on the planet, and not just rogue members of his faction.

Several high-risk Risers are being transported to their new base by Roughstuff when another tremor causes them to fall down another crevice. Being nearby, the geological team head out to see if they can help the injured, not knowing whose there. Once they reach the ledge, they recognize Quake, and report him to SecOps, knowing that he's one of Cybertron's most wanted right now. On hearing this, Geomotus decides to head back to Leviathan for safety.

Down the crevice, Triggerhappy shoots Roughstuff for crashing, and Rage reports the accident to Sixshot for help, though he's not very interested. Frenzy notices the geological team over the ledge and Triggerhappy transforms to go after them.

Triggerhappy quickly shoots Beachcomber and evades Landmine's attempt to ram into him when Windblade and the rest of Novastar's team arrive to take on the Risers. Fangry is quickly shot and taken out of the fight, and Quake gets caught in an electrified net by Novastar, seeing the state of the fight, Triggerhappy flies away, being chased by Windblade, and Rage drives away too.

Sixshot arrives and quickly knocks Blades out of the fight and joins Rumble and Frenzy to fight the remainder of the Security team.

Whilst the battle goes on, the Voin Asserter is being taken around Iacon by Nautica, who is just trying to keep the violent alien from levelling the city with it's firepower.

At the Titan Control Hub, Blaster okays Lightbright and Lodestar to leave Cybertron, whilst he continues to try and get the other Titans back online, now joined by Glyph, due to her data-wrangling expertise, and Tap-out and Steeljaw for guards.

Near to the battle site, Leviathan hears the noises and asks what's happening, to which Geomotus explains that his friends are fighting the Rise, which is all the motivation the giant Cybertronian needs. She transforms for the first time in ages and prepares to join the fight too....

Characters

Autobot/Security Operations

Orion Pax - Truck

Chromia - Car

Novastar - Car

Windblade - VTOL Jet

Blades - Helicopter Injured by Sixshot

Springer - Helicopter/Car

Sureshot - Buggy

Smokescreen - Car

Stakeout - Police Vehicle

Sentinel Prime - Space Shuttle (Mentioned)

Prowl - Police Vehicle (Mentioned)

Ascenticon/The Rise

Megatron - Mining Vehicle

Sixshot - Car/Jet/Gun/Tank/Winged Wolf

Rage - Car

Quake - Tank Ensnared in Electric Net by Novastar

Triggerhappy - Gun Mounted Jet

Fangry Shot by Springer

Rumble - Cassette

Frenzy - Cassette

Roughstuff - Truck Badly Shot by Triggerhappy

Termagax - Truck (Mentioned)

Soundwave - Hovercraft (Mentioned)

Shockwave - Battle Platform (Mentioned)

Storm Cloud - Jet (Mentioned)

Astrotrain - Trackless Train/Space Shuttle (Mentioned)

Slipstream - Jet

Other Cybertronian

Azimuth

Beachcomber - Buggy Shot by Triggerhappy

Geomotus -  Satellite-Mounted Buggy

Landmine - Treaded Plough 

Leviathan - Metal Harvester

Bumblebee - Winged Hovercraft

Pointblank - Car

Nautica - Submarine

Road Rage - Flying Car

Blaster 

Wavelength

Playback

Steeljaw

Glyph - Car

Tap-Out - Car

Lodestar - Senate Shuttle

Lightbright (Voice Only)

Highbrow (Mentioned)

Hoist (Mentioned)

Halonix Maximus (Mentioned)

Preditron (Mentioned)

Vigilem - Titan Warship (Mentioned) Missing

Disabled Titans (Mentioned) "Gone Dark, and on Slow Fall"

Other

Voin Asserter 

Enslaved Organics

Flyt Swarm

Murdered Voin (Mentioned) Dead

Notes

• We have two new artists for this issue, but I have no idea who did what pages, however whichever one did the artwork using Windblade's Thrilling 30 toy character model is no friend to anyone! GUH!
• Azimuth is based on the Kronoform toy from the pre-G1 Micro Change toy line, though I'm pretty sure she doesn't turn into a wristwatch here...
• Cybertron's Earthquake problem seems to be increasing...maybe Primus is angry about the recent events, or maybe someone is doing something dodgy under the planet's surface?
• Bumblebee is officially out of the Ascenticons now, but still needs his insignia removed.
• Megatron is outright shown lying this issue when he says he didn't cause the Tether to fall, when he was the one to order it. Before now he's only really stretched the truth, but now he's outright lying to everyone.
• Triggerhappy is shown to use his most recent toy, the Titans Return figure, for his character model
• Though he's still groaning the last time we see him, I'm going to assume that Roughstuff died from his wounds, considering the battle that started shortly after the wounding.
• Despite his robot mode being based on his Titans Return figure, his alternate mode looks totally different.
• We don't see Rumble transform in this issue, but since he shares a character model with Frenzy, we can assume he shares his alternate mode. 
• Enough time has passed since the last issue that Lodestar has been repaired enough to head to get her refits to take on Vigilem in the future.
• Blaster mentions that the Titans are dark and on a slow fall, implying that they are going to fall down to Cybertron's surface if they aren't fixed soon.

IDW - Transformers '84: Secrets & Lies #1

Writer: Simon Furman

Artist: Guido Guidi

Colourist: John-Paul Bove

Letterer: Jake M. Wood

Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Plot

Punch continues his confessions, and tells a story regarding Shockwave, a scientist who, with his team, wants to concentrate on Project: Dreadnaut, a project designed to turn Cybertron into a space-faring war world, but Megatron is becoming obsessed with defeating Optimus Prime instead. Counterpunch arrives and orders Shockwave to Megatron's throne room for a meeting, where he orders and attack, which leads to a massive explosion, knocking Cybertron out of it's already precarious orbit, and towards an asteroid belt. Shockwave suggests that they be allowed to continue with Project: Dreadnaut to navigate the planet through the asteroids, but Megatron orders they wait to see what the Autobots do first.

Later, Shockwave heads to his tower, where Ratbat confronts him that he believes he caused the explosion, but cannot prove it. But he will be watching him very closely from now on...

Some time later, the Decepticons learn of the Ark being constructed, and construct their own vessel to go after it, the Nemesis. Shockwave asks Skyfire to remain on Cybertron, so he can continue their work, should anything go wrong with the Nemesis.

Punch, despite knowing that Ratbat wants to information to get to the Autobots, delivers the suspicions of Shockwave causing the explosion to Prowl, who orders the team of Perceptor and the Dynobots to investigate the Dreadnaut turbines to see if anything was triggered there.

Skyfire and Shockwave detect the Autobot presence at the turbines, and both head out to investigate it. Megatron is furious that Shockwave isn't at the launch site on time and has the Coneheads hunt him down, with Counterpunch suggesting that he could be at Project: Dreadnaut.

Skyfire arrives at the turbines just after the Autobots start their investigation, and attacks them. He causes a lot of damage, but is eventually taken down by Grimlock with his flame sword. The Dynobots start to celebrate their victory when they are blasted from the sky by Shockwave, nearly killing them all. He approaches Skyfire's corpse and removes his brain module, intending to revive him at a later date.

Suddenly, he hears a noise from behind some rubble, however, before he can confront the hiding Perceptor the Coneheads arrive and order him to return to the launch site with them, seeing no point in dealing with the lone Autobot, he agrees to leave with them. He returns and takes a scolding for his misbehaviour from Megatron before boarding the Nemesis, knowing that either him or Megatron would have to die on this mission...

Perceptor calls for a rescue team to recover the Dynobots, for them to be repaired on the Ark, as it launches, with most of the crew, bar Optimus Prime, unaware that the Nemesis is waiting for them at the Asteroid belt...

Characters

Autobot

Punch/Counterpunch - Hover Car 

Prowl

Perceptor - Tank

Grimlock Nearly Killed by Shockwave, taken for repairs

Snarl - Amphibious Vehicle Nearly Killed by Shockwave, taken for repairs

Slag - Armoured Jeep Nearly Killed by Shockwave, taken for repairs

Sludge - Bulldozer Nearly Killed by Shockwave, taken for repairs

Swoop/Divebomb - Jet Nearly Killed by Shockwave, taken for repairs

Ratchet 

Cliffjumper

Red Alert

Broadside

Outback

Random Autobots

Optimus Prime - Battle Platform (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Megatron

Shockwave - Flying Ray Gun

Skyfire - Jet Killed by Dynobots, Brain Module taken by Shockwave

Dirge - Jet

Ramjet - Jet

Thrust - Jet

Ratbat

Starscream - Jet

Thundercracker - Jet

Skywarp - Jet

Blitzwing -  Tank

Octane

Runamuck

Runabout

Barrage

Chop Shop

Ransack

Venom

Hook

Deluge

Reflector

Soundwave

Razorclaw

Snaptrap

Frenzy

Random Decepticons

Notes

• It's finally here! The sequel to last year's Transformers '84 special, which in turn is a prequel to the original Marvel comics, the series still continues the narrative of Punch/Counterpunch telling some secrets to an unknown party.
• Speaking of the Punch/Counterpunch narrative, I think this is setting up a trial-type reveal that Punch is giving evidence for in the future, either in a Quintesson style trial, or perhaps a recap like we saw in Aspects of Evil from Marvel UK.
• I won't be talking about a lot of the homages etc in this issue, since the comic comes with a list at the back itself! Go buy the comic guys!
• Just like with other pre-Earth comics set in an existing continuity, I wont mention alternate modes in the character list, unless it's shown in the comic itself, or was shown in the earlier released media that this is a prequel/sequel to.
• Punch confirms that his actions as Counterpunch are all of his own free-will, which he does to maintain his deep-cover.
• This story reveals that the Jetfire from the  Marvel comics was rebuilt by Shockwave from his old friend Skyfire, who is killed in this issue. This Skyfire is also a scientist and a friend of Starscream's, which, like the name Skyfire, originated from the Sunbow G1 cartoon.
• Ratbat is shown even this early in continuity to dislike and distrust Shockwave, a plot point that is pretty major in the Marvel series.
• The "Dynobots" are confirmed to have been a full team pre-Earth here (having just been hinted as a team in the past) In keeping with continuity, Swoop is mistakenly referred to as "Divebomb" a couple times this issue, his original name before losing a fight to the Predacon of the same name.
• Punch references the future fight between Shockwave and the Dinobots on Earth, showing us that this story is being told after that event, and that he must have somehow witnessed it. (Judging from the "next issue" preview the fight may be a part of the story though)

IDW - Transformers Galaxies #7

Title: Gauging the Truth, Part 1

Written by: Sam Maggs

Art by: Beth McGuire-Smith 

Colours by: Josh Burcham

Letters & Design by: Jake M. Wood

Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Plot

Curate Gauge is struggling with her life as a devout member of the Reversionist religion. Not in the sense that she doesn't believe, but she's been getting some odd feelings recently, and has started seeing mysterious messages on screens everywhere.
One time, after approaching Heretech's throne to see a screen message clearer, she gets berated by Heretech and runs off to her quarters in fear, afraid of her "god".

Soon she gets an epiphany and decides to head to the engine room, a forbidden room on the ship, that the mysterious messages are leading her to.
She finds the room much darker than expected, and is chased by a shadowy figure, who she manages to knock out, and continue following her path...until she finds Arcee and Greenlight in a cell, who want to tell her the REAL truth...

Characters

Reversionist

Plenary Heretech
Curate Accelerator
Curate Gauge
Reversionist Guard
Friendly Reversionist
Other Reversionists 

Other Cybertronian

Arcee - Car
Greenlight - Car
Fantasy Cybertronians (Fantasy Only)
Primus (Mentioned)

Notes

• So it shouldn't need to be said, but we're clearly missing a bit of story here following the last time we saw this ship, I'm going to guess that next issue will have a flashback or something.
• The funeral speaker from Brainstorm's funeral is named here as Accelerator, and has taken on the role as Gauge's mentor here.
• My guess with what happened with Gauge here is that either she was brainwashed with mnemosurgery or something similar, or she is trapped inside a loop-like program, like in the Mutineers Trilogy from Lost Light or the Quintesson invasion from Cyberverse
• All of the crowd scenes this issue feature the non major characters in block colouring, it's possible this this on purpose if this is indeed a simulation or similar
• Heretech and Accelerator seem a bit angrier in this issue than they did in their brief appearances in previous stories, possibly adding to the simulation theory again.

IDW - Transformers #20

Title: Rise of the Decepticons, Part 3: Swindle's

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Anna Malkova

Colours by: Joana LaFuente

Letters & Design by: Jake M. Wood

Editors: David Mariotte

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Plot

Prowl is watching Andromeda's stream on the recent events, when he's interrupted by Nightbeat, who has a prisoner who needs to be interrogated.
He man-handles Singe, the prisoner, to get some information out of him, about who he was scavenging Energon for following the Tether's collapse.
Elsewhere, at an A'ovan sanctuary, Hound is mourning over the many animals killed when the Tether fell on the building, but is interrupted by Sideswipe, who wants to join Hound's team of Heavies to go after the Rise, but is denied as he lacks experience.

Later, as they're preparing for their next raid, Strongarm starts to believe that she's cursed, since every mission she's been on since she recently graduated has resulted in more problems, and the whole world is falling apart around them, with riots and protests from all factions, the Ascenticons blocking entry to their base from the Security Forces, and Lodestar needing heavy repairs before she can be refitted with weapons to go after Vigilem, and on top of that, the now loose Moon is heading to the Sun, with Wheeljack believed to be still onboard!
Prowl however, suggests that she not worry about the rest of the world's problems and deal with their mission. They're joined by Sideswipe and head towards Swindle's joint, where Bumper will go inside, since no one will likely know who he is.

Inside, a Skitter race is being held, but despite the attendance, Swindle and his crew realize that not much is being better on, most likely due to the recent events, so Trickdiamond offers a drink deal if people start spending more.
Mindwipe arrives, and tries to get Swindle to give him the Energon he promised to supply to him for his experiments, but Swindle renages, insisting that he would never of knowingly helped  a Rise member, Mindwipe starts to protest this, but then notices Bumper watching them from the crowd.
Bumper reports Mindwipe being there, and Prowl warns him not to look in his eyes, but Mindwipe appears behind him.

The security team bust through the doors and start their raid, Mindwipe hypnotises Bumper ordering him to kill Prowl, whilst Visper and Storm Cloud fight the Security team. Bumper tries attacking Prowl, but is subdued. Mindwipe and Visper manage to escape, but Storm Cloud is captured for interrogation. Swindle gets arrested for his illegal dealings (again) and Bumper to restrained until the hypnosis wears off.

Mindwipe reports Storm Cloud's capture to Shockwave, who is furious, and orders for the Rise base to be evacuated, in case it's location is compromised.
Suxshot goes to the lower quarters and tells Rumble and Quake to get moving, and to not get any further on his bad side for their murderous actions...

Characters

Security Operations/Autobot

Sentinel Prime - Space Shuttle
Orion Pax - Truck
Chromia - Car
Prowl - Police Vehicle
Nightbeat - Car
Sideswipe - Car
Strongarm - Police Vehicle
Bumper - Car
Hound - Jeep
Ironhide - Van
Pointblank - Car
Vibes
Novastar - Car (Mentioned)
Springer - Helicopter/Car (Mentioned)
Streetwise - Police Vehicle (Mentioned)

Ascenticon/The Rise

Mindwipe - Bat

Visper - Jet

Storm Cloud - Jet Arrested by Security
Sixshot - Car/Jet/Gun/Wolf/Tank
Frenzy
Quake - Tank
Runamuck - Car
Runabout - Car
Skytread - Tank and Jet
OtherAscenticon Guards
Shockwave - Flying Artillery (Voice Only)
Barricade - Police Vehicle (Mentioned)
Skystalker - Car (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Swindle - Van Arrested by Security
Trickdiamond - Car
Headlock - Forklift
Gutcruncher

Andromeda

Lightbright 

Lodestar - Senate Titan Ship Under Repairs
Singe In Custody

Vanquish - Jet

Seaspray - Hovercraft

Hubcap - Car

Machine Wars Starscream - Jet

Two Headed NAIL

Megaplex - Jet

Photon - Race Car

Anode - Bi-plane

Nucleon

Tentakil - Squid

Nautilator - Lobster

Trip-Up - Car

Big Daddy - Car

Hubs - Car

Riptide - Boat

Misfire - Jet

Sledge - Truck

Pipes - Truck

Sharpclaw - Car

Twirl - Jet

Third Plaza Patrons

Senate Protesters

Tagan Heights Rioters

Swindle's Patrons

Apeface (Poster Only)

Lugnut - Jet (Poster Only)

Strika - Battle Tank (Poster Only)

Primus (Mentioned)

The Thirteen (Mentioned)

Wheeljack - Car (Mentioned) Believed to be on the Winged Moon

Leviathan - Harvester (Mentioned)

Vigilem - Titan War Ship (Mentioned)

The Other Titans (Mentioned) Inert and Failing

Other Species

Green, the Flyt

A'ovan Pra'tyne

A'ovan Creatures One Tenth Killed in Tether Collapse

Racing Skitters

Voin Scavengers (Mentioned)

Notes

• There's quite a few new characters introduced this issue, including Andromeda from the Fun Publications lines, Twirl from the Linkage comics, Trick Diamond from the Japanese United lineeline, and even Nick Roche's daughters OC Sharpclaw to name a few notable ones.
• Prowls pet alien is revealed to be a Flyt named Green, because she is green!
• Singe was arrested following his scavenging mission and attack during issue 18.
• In an update to the aftermath of Vigilem's attack, the Winged Moon has floated off into space, and is approaching the Sun, and Vigilem himself has headed off into space.
• Trickdiamond's profile mentions her connection to Swindle, but it was never elaborated on in her comic appearances until now.
• Bumper getting mind controlled to attack Prowl is likely a reference to the similar plot line introduced at the end of Dreamwave's run, bit never went anywhere.
• The end of this issue all but confirms that Frenzy was the one who killed Brainstorm at the start of the series

IDW - Transformers vs The Terminator #2

Title: Enemy of My Enemy, Part 2

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 Editors: Riley Farmer & Megan Brown

Plot

The T-800 interrupts Megatron's attempt to execute the inert Optimus Prime by shooting out his left eye, leading to him siccing Starscream and Soundwave on him.
Sarah Connor tries to escape from the Ark, but is noticed by Soundwave, who ejected Ravage to chase her.
Eventually Ravage chases Sarah to Teletraan-1's console, where the scanner is knocked to Optimus' body, who gets repaired and attacks Starscream immediately. Sarah realises there's two factions of robots and points the scanner at another boy with the same badge as Optimus, Bumblebee, who quickly joins the battle

Believing the Autobots are all waking up, the Decepticons retreat, leaving Optimus and Bumblebee to sort through the dead or inert Autobots still on the Ark.
The T-800 turns his attention to the Autobots, intending to kill them too, bit Sarah forces them all to stop killing for now, and demands that the future robot explain his mission, or she'll just let the Autobots finish him off now.

The T-800 explains that the Decepticons awoke in his timeline and soon conquered the planets military. Skynet was formed to stop them, but they "surrendered" to the Decepticons, using their truce to develop time travel and send the T-800 to the past to both defeat the Cybertronians and ensure Skynets creation.
Following this story, Optimus surmises that the Autobots weren't in his future, which is why the Decepticons were able to win so easily, so he has changed the future already, and suggests a truce between them. At Sarah's insurance, he agrees, for now. Optimus asks Sarah if she'll help them recover the other Autobots and navigate the Earth, she agrees, so long as they can give her a ride home afterwards, though upon seeing Optimus' new alternate mode, the truck the T-800 stole, she gets nauseous and passes on the offer...

Later, on the west coast of Oregon, Megatron is being repaired by Soundwave, when the other Decepticons return from their scouting mission, revealing that the dominant species on the planet are organic, and will be easy to conquer. Refraktor reports that he's found a robotics lab nearby, which could be where the smaller robot from the Ark was built, and could also provide them with the power generators they need.
The Decepticons soon arrive at Cyberdyne Systems, and attack the workers...

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Semi Truck and Trailer
Bumblebee - VW Beetle
Hound Inert
Arcee Inert
Wheeljack Inert
Trailbreaker Inert
Prowl Inert, Seems Dead
Mirage Inert, Seems Dead
Sideswipe Inert, Seems Dead
Huffer Inert, Seems Dead
Other Autobots Inert or Dead

Decepticon
Megatron - Pistol
Starscream - Fighter Jet
Soundwave - Cassette Player
Thundercracker - Fighter Jet
Skywarp - Fighter Jet
Refraktor - Camera
Ravage - Cassette
Bombshell - Boll Weevil
Skrapnel - Scarab Beetle
Kickback - Locust
Future Megatron - Pistol
Future Starscream - Fighter Jet
Future Soundwave - Cassette Player
Future Thundercracker - Fighter Jet
Future Skywarp - Fighter Jet
Future Refraktor - Camera Killed by T-800s
Future Bombshell - Boll Weevil
Future Skrapnel - Scarab Beetle
Future Kickback - Locust

Other Cybertronian

Primus (Mentioned Only)
Sharkticons (Mentioned Only)

Skynet

T-800
Future T-800s

Human

Sarah Connor
Beachgoers Killed by Starscream
Cyberdyne Systems Staff
Future Skywatch Army Destroyed by Decepticons
Future Skynet Scientists Killed by Decepticons
The Trucker Brutalized by T-800 (Mentioned Only)

Notes

• In this continuity the Insecticons were apparently on the Ark when it crashed, rather than ejected from the Nemesis
• Arcee is amongst the Ark's crew members in this continuity too! She normally doesn't turn up until much later in G1 cartoon based continuities!
• It's implied that the Decepticons killed all the Autobots, leading to the conquering of Earth by Megatron. However we saw several Autobot corpses in the future scenes last issue, likely meaning the Terminator knew about the two factions and just wants to take both out.
• Skywatch, an organisation from the first IDW continuity, is revealed to have been the company that founded Skynet, with the latter being the science Division of the group that developed the Terminators
• The dune buggy driven by the humans on the beach appears to be based on Beachcomber.
• Cyberdyne Systems, seen at the end of this issue, was the company in the Terminator franchise that eventually created the technology that developed Skynet, using Terminator parts left in the past following the first movie.
• Reflector is now going by his trademark friendly toy name of Refraktor