IDW - Transformers '84 Secrets & Lies #3

Writer: Simon Furman

Artist: Guido Guidi

Colourist: John-Paul Bove

Letterer: Jake M. Wood

Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Plot

On Cybertron, Counterpunch's plans aren't going well, Shockwave is out of the picture, and Straxus is more power-hungry than he ever expected, and even worse, Thunderwing and Scorponok have joined forces with him to conquer the entire planet as a trio.

Later, whilst watching a smelting pool session, Straxus explains to Counterpunch that after he conquers Cybertron, he plans to conquer the cosmos too, so he wants to revive Shockwave's Project Dreadnaught.

Knowing he cannot allow this to happen, Counterpunch goes back to the Autobots as Punch, and tells Ultra Magnus about this, and how he needs to destroy the engines, however they just don't have enough bodies to spare for this mission, luckily though, Impactor arrives and has a suggestion, and offers his team, the Wreckers, as his crew.

Magnus contacts Fortress Maximus and Star Saber to try and get them to help him to counter the growing Decepticon attacks a Ross the planet, even though it seems like a list cause now...

On Earth, Grimlock, in his over-energized state is driven to head back to the Ark, where the ships computer AUNTIE, damaged in the crash, sees him as a threat and creates constructs of the Reserve Warriors from its mind bank, but doesn't give them sparks, so they are pure fighting machines.

In orbit, the Coneheads recover from Shockwave's attack and head towards the earth to try and get revenge, but wind up at the Ark first, and are attacked by the sparkless Autobots, distracting them from stopping Grimlock from entering the crashed ship. Still in a panic, AUNTIE creates Guardian Drones to counter him.

Grimlock manages to smash through the drones, and in the process but s through most of the super Energon from his system, but AUNTIE has gone overboard now, and gas revived Megatron to counter the intruder!

Characters

Autobot

Punch/Counterpunch - Car

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport

Star Saber - Jet

Fortress Maximus - Battle Platform

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Hoist Construct Blasted by Thrust

Grapple Construct

Skids Construct

Smokescreen Construct - Car

Tracks Construct - Winged Car Blasted by Thrust

Impactor

Roadbuster - Jeep

Whirl - Helicopter

Topspin - Jet

Twin Twist - Drill Tank

Rack'n'Ruin

Chromedome - Car

Hardhead - Tank

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Sureshot - Buggy

Crosshairs - Van

Pointblank - Car

Autobot Smelting Pool Victims Smelted

Optimus Prime (Mentioned) Inert

Ark Crew (Mentioned) Inert

The Other Dinobots (Mentioned) Inert

Decepticon

Straxus- Flying Tank

Thunderwing - Jet

Scorponok - Battle Platform

Deathsaurus

Megatron

Dirge - Jet Made to crash by Smokescreen Construct

Ramjet - Jet

Thrust - Jet

Kickback - Insect Jet

Bombshell - Insect Jet

Shrapnel - Insect Jet

Slugslinger - Jet

Mindwipe - Bat

Misfire - Jet

Cyclonus - Jet

Scourge - Space Shuttle

Bludgeon

Octopunch

Blot

Sinnertwin

Rippersnapper

Hun-Gurr

Sparks talker

Afterburner

Other Decepticon Warriors

Shockwave - Ray Gun (Mentioned) Inert

Nemesis Crew (Mentioned) Inert

Other Cybertronian

AUNTIE

Three Guardian Drones Destroyed by Grimlock

Neutral Smelting Pool Victims Smelted

Scraplets (Mentioned)

Notes

• Fortress Maximus' team is made up of his troops from the Headmasters mini-series.
• The Nemesis apparently has the ability to cure Shockwave's Scraplet virus, I guess the computer managed to collect some water from somewhere!
• Star Saber makes his Marvel continuity debut, along with his Decepticon counterpart Deathsaurus. This marks the first time that Star Saber has been portrayed in his traditionally heroic persona in modern comics as well! YAY!
• It's unclear yet if the Megatron summoned at the end of the issue is a properly restored bot like the Dinobots, or an sparkless husk like the reserve warriors. I would guess, from AUNTIE's current state, that he's probably sparkless.

IDW - Transformers '84 Secrets and Lies #2

Writer: Simon Furman

Artist: Guido Guidi

Colourist: John-Paul Bove

Letterer: Jake M. Wood

Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Plot

After boarding the Ark, the Dynobot's bodies are deemed to be unsalvageable right now, but their sparks and memory engrams are placed into the ship's mind bank, though Optimus wants them to be saved, he also knows that this effort will soon be completely wasted...

At the Autobot's base, Perceptor reports his beliefs that Shockwave used the Dreadnaut thrusters to try and move the planet's course, however before they can do anything about it, the new Decepticon leader, Straxus, launches an attack on the Autobots (on Counterpunch's advice) that distracts them from the thruster discovery.

Soon, the Ark completes it's fake mission to clear a path for Cybertron, and is boarded by the Decepticons, prompting Optimus to purposefully crash the Ark into the side of a mountain on the surface of a planet...

Following his victory, still aboard the Nemesis, Shockwave contacts Counterpunch to inform him of his imminent return to Cybertron, once he confirms the deaths of Megatron and the others. To his shock, the Coneheads appear behind him, having been ordered to stay in aerial mode outside the Ark during the attack, and wonder why Shockwave isn't trying to help the injured Decepticons below. Shockwave's response is to shoot them with a modified Scraplet virus, designed to incapacitate rather than kill, and heads off to the planet below.   

On the Ark, AUNTIE, the Ark's computer detects Shockwave's presence and deems him a threat to the crew, so it rebuilds the Dynobots (now the Dinobots) using scans of fossils in the area as a basis. The Dinobots head out alone, intending to get revenge on the one-eyed Decepticon for his recent victory over them.

Later, Counterpunch contacts Shockwave to ask where he is, since he missed their planned rendezvous, and Cybertron has passed the planet, however Shockwave has had a change of plan, as he's discovered that the planet is packed full of raw Energon sources, and he intends to drain the planet dry and power his Project Dreadnaut forever.

Unfortunately for him, the Dinobots arrive and tear into the lone Decepticon. Seeing the battle isn't going well, Grimlock has Snarl bash the nearby mountain, causing a landslide, hitting everyone. Sludge and Snarl get buried and Slag is caught in a tar pit, but Shockwave is able to still stand. Swoop grabs a vial of Shockwave's new super Energon he's been collecting from Earth, and throws it to Grimlock before crashing. Grimlock injects the Energon into his system and gets super-powered, immediately punching Shockwave into the mountain, burying him too, winning the battle....

Characters

Autobot

Punch/Counterpunch - Car

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Slag - Triceratops Trapped in Tar Pit

Snarl - Stegosaurus Buried under Land Slide

Sludge - Apatosaurus Buried under Land Slide

Swoop - Pteranodon Crashed into Mountain

Ultra Magnus - Truck

Perceptor

Nosecone - Drill Tank

Lightspeed - Car

Impactor - Tank

Springer

Sandstorm

Broadside

Optimus Prime Rendered Inert in Ark Crash

Gears Rendered Inert in Ark Crash

Huffer Rendered Inert in Ark Crash

Bumblebee Rendered Inert in Ark Crash

Windcharger Rendered Inert in Ark Crash

Ironhide Rendered Inert in Ark Crash

Wheeljack Rendered Inert in Ark Crash

Ratchet Rendered Inert in Ark Crash

Other Autobots on Ark (Mentioned) Rendered Inert in Ark Crash

The Reserve Warriors (Mentioned) Stored in Mind Bank

Decepticon

Straxus - Flying Tank

Shockwave - Ray Gun Buried into Mountain by Grimlock

Thrust - Jet Hit by Shockwave's Scraplet Virus

Ramjet - Jet Hit by Shockwave's Scraplet Virus

Dirge - Jet Hit by Shockwave's Scraplet Virus

Megatron Rendered Inert in Ark Crash

Starscream - Jet Rendered Inert in Ark Crash

Thundercracker - Jet Rendered Inert in Ark Crash

Skywarp - Jet Rendered Inert in Ark Crash

Soundwave Rendered Inert in Ark Crash

Laserbeak Rendered Inert in Ark Crash

Frenzy Rendered Inert in Ark Crash

Chop Shop - Insect Jet

Bombshell - Insect Jet

Kickback - Insect Jet

Shrapnel - Insect Jet

Scowl

Birdbrain

Bristleback

Wildfly

Slog

Ratbat (Mentioned)

Skyfire - Jet (Mentioned) Brain Chip taken by Shockwave

Other Decepticons on Ark (Mentioned) Rendered Inert in Ark Crash

Other

AUNTIE

Scraplets (Mentioned)

Notes

• I'm very sorry about this review being EXTREMELY late, but my original copy got lost in rthe mail, then it's replacement got lost, so I had to get another one from another seller just to get this done relatively on time. (To put it into perspective, I've had issue 3 for longer than I've had issue 2)
• As with last time, I wont mention most things that were brought up in the creator commentary at the end of the issue, unless it seems particularly important to note.
• The Dynobot's sparks and memory engrams are placed into the same mind bank that the reserve Autobots are stored in, as we'll see more of next issue....
• Straxus is introduced here, and it's revealed that he was placed in his command position by  Counterpunch, on Shockwave's orders, with the intent of him being removed from power by Shockwave, which of course doesn't happen...
• The Autobots defending the border regions from Straxus during the Ark's launch is mostly made of future Wreckers, again, more on them next issue!
• Its confirmed here that Shockwave did figure out Optimus' plan, and used it to take out Megatron and his forces for his own gain, and intentionally stayed on the Nemesis as "back-up" to take advantage of this.
• The second half of this issue is basically a retelling of the Dinobot's origins from the original Marvel series, but more realistic and to be safe from legal stuff (such as the lack of living dinosaurs on the Savage Land)
• The Ark's computer, AUNTIE, is given the acronym of Artificial Utility Nexus/Tactical Intelligence Entity

IDW - Transformers Galaxies #9

Title: Gauging the Truth,  Part 3: Moment of Truth

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

The Exodus flies above a Cybertronian city, and begins it's attack on the planet. Arcee and Greenlight escape the ship so they can warn the Cybertronians and form a resistance against the invading force, whilst Gauge stays behind to try and stop the attack from the inside.

Unaware to her though, Heretech plans to use her as an integral part of his master plan, he'll have her, a Cybertronian newborn, who has been raised by the Reversionists to encourage everyone to join them, or he'll use the Exodus' engines to ignite an Energon vein on Cybertron, killing all those who remain "sacrilegious".

The Reversionists, including Gauge jump towards Cybertron, with Gauge taking on her mobile digger alternate mode, so she can "find the Energon vein" for Heretech. Gauge makes her way to a communications tower, and sends out a message to everyone, but not the one Heretech wanted, as she says that everyone should make their own choices in life, if they want to join the Reversionists they should, but they shouldn't be forced to.

Heretech, angry about this betrayal breaks his way into the communications tower and intends to kill the traitor, but Arcee and Greenlight arrive to defend their mentee. During the fight, Gauge locates some raw Energon under the tower's flooring and throws it at Heretech, who is in his giant drill mode, hitting the drillbit and causing the Energon to explode, badly injuring the Reversionist leader.

In the aftermath, the Reversionists give up their fight, and mostly disband, joining other factions, or returning to space under Accelerator's command. Gauge decides that she wants to stay with Arcee and Greenlight for a while, whilst she looks for her own life, and the trio walk off together, to begin their lives again on Cybertron. 

Characters

Reversionist

Heretech - Drill Tank Badly Injured by Gauge's Energon Explosion

Accelerator

Reversionist Congregation 

Other Cybertronian

Gauge - Mobile Digger

Arcee - Car

Greenlight - Car

Random Cybertronians

Primus (Mentioned)

Notes

• It's not clear when this issue is set in continuity, but since it was originally set to be released around the same time as issue 21 of the main comic, we can assume it's around about that time too here.
• When referring to Arcee and Greenlight, Gauge seems to refer to them as Autobots, we've had no indication that either are Autobots (yet) in this continuity.
• In the time since they left Cybertron, Gauge has taken on her own alternate mode, which should be a major deal to her mentors, but Arcee and Greenlight don't even mention it...
• Apparently directly under the ground in the communications tower is readily mineable Energon veins...you'd think they would have mined those considering the Energon crisis, before building a tower above it....
• Following the reveal of Heretech's lies and attack on Cybertron, the Reversionists are now no longer a political party, with most of the members joining the other factions, and some, under Accelerator, plan to return to space.

IDW - Transformers/My Little Pony: Friendship in Disguise #2

Inspiring

Writer: Ian  Flynn

Artist: Sara Pitre-Durocher

Colours: Joana LaFuente

Letterer: Jake M. Wood

They Eat Ponies, Don't They?

Writer: Sam Maggs

Artist: Casey W. Coller

Colours: Joana LaFuente

Letterer: Neil Uyetake

Editor: Megan Brown

Consulting Editor: David Mariotte

Group Editor: Bobby Curnow

First Story Plot

Spike, now in the Ark on Earth, spends time with Grimlock, who he idolizes due to his giant size and strength, when the ship's proximity alarms go off, alerting them to the Constructicons arrival, planning to destroy the Ark whilst it's undermanned.

Grimlock goes out to fight the Decepticons, but gets overwhelmed when they combine into Devastator. Spike, wanting to help, and noticing the engines of the downed Autobot ship, rushes back inside, quickly learns basic Cybertronian and starts up the ship's engines, using them to blast the combiner, who de-combines and the Constructicons retreat.

Afterwards, Grimlock thanks Spike, and tells him that he's inspired by his quick mind and skills, despite his small size, and says that he knows he'll get stronger as time goes on.

All this flattery causes Spike to pass out in joy however...

Second Story Plot

On Equestria, Pinkie Pie is hosting her cooking show, and introduces her very special guest, the newest Autobot, Gauge. The two show their favourite recipes as part of a cultural exchange of sorts, with Pinkie showing off her cupcakes, and Gauge showing an iron filling casserole, much to the horror of the pony audience, and Pinkie herself.

Before the two can start their cooking however, Shockwave arrives via another Spacebridge, and he declares his intent to test if ponies can be used to fuel Decepticons.

Pinkie and Gauge work together to defeat Shockwave using a bunch of kitchen utensils and manage to knock him back into the Spacebridge, sending it away again. Following his expulsion, the audience cheer, likely assuming it was just part of the show.

A while later, the duo finish preparing their meals, and both try the other's creations, and both immediately dislike the other's work, but at least try to be courteous about it...

Characters

Autobot

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Gauge

Other Autobots (Mentioned, On Other Missions)

Decepticon

Shockwave - Ray Gun

Hook - Crane

Long Haul - Dump Truck

Mixmaster - Mixing Truck

Scrapper - Front End Loader

Bonecrusher - Bulldozer

Scavenger - Excavator

Devastator - Constructicon Gestalt

Equestrian

Pinkie Pie

Spike, the Dragon

Derpy

Bon Bon

Lyra Heartstrings

Vinyl Scratch

Octavia

Cheerilee

Doctor Hooves

Roseluck

Thunderlane

Flitter

Minuette

Lily Valley

Apple Split

Diamond Rose

Cherry Berry

Lemon Hearts

Cloudkicker

Other Ponies in Audience

Princess Twilight Sparkle (Mentioned)

Notes

• We learn that at least one Equestrian was transported to the Transformers universe here, since Spike is on the Earth of their universe (and not the Equestria Girls one)
• Since the Transformers-side of the portal, as well as Grimlock, was on Cybertron last issue it's logical to assume that Spike ended up on Cybertron initially, and went back to Earth via Spacebridge afterwards. (the cartoon did show that Cybertron had a breathable atmosphere in this continuity)
• Spike's ability to quickly learn a new language and operational systems that are beyond that of Equestria is likely due to Twilight's book-worm influence.
• The Ark's engines can be converted easily into cannons it seems....that would be handy if Trypticon attacks the volcano and ship in a couple decades....
• Gauge is introduced as the newest Autobot, likely a reference to her status as the newest forged Cybertronian in the concurrent G1 comic series from IDW, though she isn't an Autobot in that continuity (yet)
• Shockwave shows the ability to convert his hands into new weapons etc
• Shockwave's plan to see if he can convert ponies into fuel could be a reference to pink alchemy from the previous IDW continuity, where organics are drained of life to create Energon
• Pinkie Pie's dislike of Gauge's food is quite funny when you look at a load of crap she's eaten over the franchise's run.

IDW - Transformers #22

Title: Rise of the Decepticons, Part 4: Prisoners

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Anna Malkova

Colours by: Joana LaFuente

Letters & Design by: Jake M. Wood

Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Plot

Novastar's team battles it out with Sixshot, but the six-changer is far too powerful for them to handle, and it gets worse when Rumble and Frenzy free Quake from the electro net. Luckily for security though, Leviathan arrives and smashes Quake into the ground like a discarded toy. The Riser does manage to shoot the giant Cybertronian in the leg, causing her to fall directly on top of him. Knowing they're unable to win this now, Sixshot has Frenzy and Rumble retreat with hm.

Happy with having one of their top targets in custody, Novastar decides to let the other Risers escape for now, so they can also get aid for their injured team members.

News of Quake's capture spreads to Iacon quickly, and crowds begin to gather to witness the "parade" that Sentinel is having the prisoner go through before going into the prison itself, so as to show his dominance over the Rise and Ascenticons. Orion isn't happy with this idea as he thinks it'll go horribly wrong, but Sentinel is uninterested. Behind his back, Orion has Security line the streets along with some of Ironhide's Senate Guards to try and keep the likely attacks on the prisoner at bay. Whilst making these plans, Nautica contacts Orion to warn him that the dangerous Voin Asserter she and Road Rage had been escorting around Iacon has gone missing..

Elsewhere at his safe house, Bumblebee goes to a hole in the wall (caused when the Tether fell) to watch the prison parade, where he notices a lot of Ascenticons in the crowd, making him nervous.

During the "parade" Flatline works on Roughstuff's heavily damaged form, while Skytread has been working up the Ascenticons in the crowd, so they start to rush the parade platform carrying Quake, allowing the dangerous bot to escape, albeit still shackled and trapped in robot mode.

Quake manages to slip through the crowd, and down an alleyway, where he encounters the Voin Asserter, who sets his enslaved organics on the Riser causing him heavy damage, before Quake kills another Voin.

Bumblebee arrives in the aftermath, seeing Quake having been unshackled during the battle and jumps him from behind with a sword dropped by one of the dead organics, skewering his throat, causing a reaction that decapitates him and ejects his spark casing in the process.

Shortly afterwards, Stakeout and Smokescreen arrive, and although the recognise why he had to kill him, they need to arrest him for murder now. Bumblebee calmly accepts this fate, having gotten revenge on the bot who killed Rubble, but also knows his work isn't complete yet...Barricade is still alive, and his intel was what led to Quake murdering Rubble in the first place.... 

Characters

Autobot/Security Forces/Senate Guard

Sentinel Prime - Space Shuttle

Orion  Pax - Truck

Ironhide - Van

Stakeout - Police Vehicle

Novastar - Car

Springer - Car/Helicopter

Smokescreen - Car

Sureshot - Buggy
Windblade - VTOL Jet

Vibes

Bumper - Car

Roulette - Car

Pipes - Truck

Brawn - Van

Grotusque

Other Guards

Blades - Helicopter (Mentioned) Injured

Ascenticon/The Rise

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

Quake - Tank Killed by Bumblebee

Skytread - Tank and Jet

Rumble - Cassette

Frenzy - Cassette

Roughstuff - Truck Badly Injured, Under Repairs

Ascenticons in the Crowd

Soundwave - Hovercraft (Voice Only)

Megatron - Mining Vehicle (Mentioned)

Barricade - Police Vehicle (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Bumblebee - Winged Hovercraft Arrested by Stakeout

Starscream - Jet

Nautica - Submarine

Flatline -  Van

Leviathan - Metal Harvester Injured by Quake

Andromeda

Voxpop

Iacon Crowds

Rubble (Mentioned) Dead

Road Rage - Flying Car (Mentioned)

Beachcomber - Buggy (Mentioned) Injured

Hoist - Tow Truck (Mentioned)

Ratchet - Ambulance (Mentioned)

Other

Voin Asserter Killed by Quake

Enslaved Organics Killed by Quake

Notes

• I know this is a common comment in this series now, but the main cover with the main female Risers really has nothing to do with this issue's plot, in the slightest.
• Despite being depicted as a friendly character, Leviathan is shown with red eyes and a mostly purple colourscheme, which is more evocative of a Decepticon design...wonder if that's a story-beat for the future?
• The two headed NAIL from early in the Robots In Disguise era of Transformers comics is finally named here as Voxpop. His gimmick is that one of his heads just says "pop".
• Ironhide's team is confirmed here to be separate to the main Security Forces, as they are specifically Senate Guards
• Despite how it seemed last issue, Roughstuff is still alive (but in a VERY bad condition)
• In Bumblebee's defence, I don't think Quake was going to survive long after his wounds fighting the Voin Asserter