IDW - Transformers: Escape #5

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Beth McGuire-Smith

Colours by: Priscilla Tramontano

Letters by: Jake M. Wood

Editor: David Mariotte

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: Tom Waltz

Plot

The Insecticon Clone Swarm have begun their attack on the evacuation party outside Darkmount, and despite managing to fight off many of them, some of the Evacuation team are killed for their Energon, including Powerflash.

Some of the organic aliens work with their anti-Cybertronian weapons to fight off the Insecticons, while Straxxus orders the Arks to launch immediately, to evade the Insecticons.

Upon launch, the rear Ark, which held the terraforming compounds and Energon harvesters, required for their relocation is attacked and destroyed by the Insecticons, killing all aboard, as well as several Insecticons. Straxxus and his crew continue to fly off, while the remaining Insecticons fly back to their base.

At their base, the real Insecticons devour the returning clones so they can create more Ultra-Energon, so they can make more clones and conquer the planet.

Back at Darkmount, the Cybertronians agreed to give the leftover third Ark to the organics to get them to safety, joined by Dai Atlas to protect them, and plan to repair the final, fourth Ark to allow them to escape too in the future....

Characters

Autobot

Wheeljack - Car

Gears - Pick-up Truck

Hound - Jeep

Hoist - Tow Truck

Nautica - Submarine

Road Rage - Flying Car

Cromar - Jet/Back-mounted Weapons

Mudslinger - Truck

Powerflash Killed by Insecticons

Insecticon

Kickback - Locust

Bombshell - Boll Weevil

Skrapnel - Stag Beetle

Skystalker - Car

Clone Swarm - Insects

Darkmount Denizens

Straxxus - Tank

Ark-B Commander Killed by Insecticons

Ark-B Crew Killed by Insecticons

Ark-A Crew 

Other Cybertronian

Dai Atlas - Flying Tank

Speeder - Car

Leviathan - Metal Harvester

Cybertronian Evacuation Team

Clone-Drone Swarm - Jets (Flashback)

Exarchon (Mentioned)

Other

A'ovan Evacuees

Urtuskan Evacuees

Four-armed Alien

Other Evacuees

Left-over Organics (Mentioned)

Notes

• This issue marks the end of the Escape mini series, but as seen in issue 31 of the main series, the storyarc will have a part in the ongoing series.
• The four-armed alien isn't name, nor is his species name given, but this story shows that his species have a history of violence against Cybertronians, implying either a previous war, or that deterrents created for them during the expansion were developed in the past. But he seems fine with Cybertronians now, since he shares the technology with Wheeljack and Gears.
• Cromar is shown converting into back mounted weapons armament here, but isn't not the same configuration that the real world figure would take on.
• I'm guessing that the destruction of Ark-B and their relocation efforts being messed up, which he blames on Wheeljack and the others, is what will eventually being Straxxus to joining the Decepticons like he does in most other continuities.
• It's not clear, but it's very likely that Speeder probably joined Dai Atlas in protecting the evacuated organics.
• The final, damaged Ark is revealed to be coloured and loosely designed to resemble the traditional G1 Ark design, implying this will be the one that will eventually being Optimus and his crew to Earth.

IDW - Transformers/Back to the Future #4

Written by: Cavan Scott

Art by: Juan Samu

Colours by: Candice Han

Letters by: Neil Uyetake

Editors: David Mariotte & Chase Marotz

Plot

In the dark 2015, the few remaining Autobots are fighting, and dying to the giant Decepticon, Watchtower. 

Gigawatt gets fixed by Doc Brown, allowing him to time travel again, but before he can, he gets shot by Watchtower, protecting Marty and Doc. Gigawatt transforms and Marty gets inside regardless, but he can't build up speed, forcing Skilz and Doc to push the Autobot to speed him up to 88 mphnto time travel. They're successful, but everyone else is dead, with Watchtower about to step on the left behind Doc and Skilz...

Gigawatt and Marty arrive in 1984, and intercept Rumble in the real time machine, his human slave, Biff Tannen turns against Rumble, but the Decepticon manges to escape after shooting Gigawatt again.

Rumble makes his way into the crashed Ark, intending to wake up the Decepticons, but finds the Autobots having been awoken by Gigawatt and Marty already. Rumble tries to escape again, but Biff and Marty dump the collected Energon on top of him, crushing him.

In the aftermath, Optimus thanks Marty for his help, but he's distracted by the dying Gigawatt. Optimus convinces him to return the time machine to Doc Brown in the real 2015, and end this time disruption...

Marty arrives in 2015, to see everything back to normal, and Doc shows him that Gigawatt is alive after all, thanks to the Autobots and their allies. Optimus reveals that in his time, the Autobots are living in secret, protecting the humans, but can now fight and live in the open, thanks to his work.

Gigawatt, Marty and Skilz return to 1985, where life is back to normal, or better. Gigawatt and Skilz look over their human friend from a distance, as Marty is gifted a new truck from his parents...one which weilds a small purple insignia on the grill...

Characters

Autobot

Gigawatt - Modified DeLorean Time Machine

1984/Good 2015 Optimus Prime - Truck

1984/Good 2015 Bumblebee - VW Beetle

1984 Jazz - Porsche

1984 Ratchet - Ambulance

1984 Brawn - SUV

Good 2015 Hot Rod - Sports Car

Good 2015 Skilz - Hoverboard

Bad 2015 Rodimus Prime - Caravan Killed by Watchtower

Bad 2015 Bumblebee - VW Beetle Killed by Watchtower

Bad 2015 Skilz - Hoverboard Likely Killed by Watchtower

Decepticon

Bad 2015 Watchtower - Hill Valley Courthouse

1985 Rumble - Cassette Crushed under Energon Cubes

1984 Megatron Disassembled in Ark 

1985 "Marty's Truck" - Pick-up Truck

Human

Marty McFly

1984/Good 2015 Biff Tannen

1985/Bad 2015 George McFly

1985/Bad 2015 Lorraine Baines-McFly 

Good 2015 Doc Brown

Bad 2015 Doc Brown Likely Killed by Watchtower

Other

Good/Bad 2015 Einstein, the Dog

Notes

• It's kind of ironic that the series about time travel is several months overdue, isn't it?
• The giant Decepticon isn't named in the comic itself, but the rollcall page informs us he is "Watchtower". Due to his size, he is probably a Titan as well.
• We never saw the future, successful version of Megatron in this series, maybe because the concept would destroy our minds?
• Rumble recognises Gigawatt as an Autobot, but he was a Decepticon originally. Unless he was always supposed to join the Autobots after waking up on the Ark?
• Biff's outfit in the good future seems to be based on the regular outfits of the Witwicky family in the G1 cartoon
• The ending implies that Marty's new truck is a Decepticon in disguise, it's unclear who it could be, but the first thing that comes to mind would be one of the Dreads from the Movie series.

IDW - Transformers/My Little Pony: The Magic of Cybertron #3

"Sick Beats"

Writer: Tony Fleecs

Artist: Tony Fleecs

Flats: Lauren Perry

Colours: Tony Fleecs

Letterer: Jake M. Wood

"The Beauty of Cybertron"

Writer:  James Asmus

Artist Priscilla Tramontano

Colours: Luis Antonio Delgado

Letterer: Neil Uyetake

Editor: Megan Brown

Consulting Editor: David Mariotte

"Sick Beats" Plot

Following their arrival on Cybetron, and witnessing several Ponies and Decepticons being mind controlled by King Sombra, Octavia and Vinyl decide to hide, until they can find a way home.

While hiding, they come across some of the students from the School of Friendship, who they intend to find a way home for, however they are soon encountered by Soundwave, who intends to capture them for Megatron to drain their magic.

A quick battle takes place, but it just results in the two groups being trapped in rubble. The groups continue to argue, and can't get themselves free, but soon they decide to work together to break out. Soundwave is told that the Equestrians can freely share their magic with him, simply by being friends.

When outside, Soundwave realises that something has happened, and Megatron has been compromised, so he needs to join up with the Equestrians to help him...

"The Beauty of Cybertron" Plot

Ratchet and Rarity have joined up to try and find a cure to the mind control, and manage to capture Knock Out, who isn't actually mind controlled, but just rioting for the fun of it. Ratchet forces him to help them out by placing a (fake) bomb to his shoulder as leverage. 

The trio travel through Cybertron, with Knock Out also trying to prove to Rarity that Cybetron is more than just danger, and is a truly beautiful place too, when the group come across a group of mind controlled bots gathering Energon for Sombra, including Knock Out's partner Breakdown.

The trio combine Rarity's magic with Ratchet's neural disruptors and brainwave inhibitors, plus Knock Out's love for Breakdown manages to break him out of the spell. The group try to figure out a way to use this for everyone else, but unknown to them, Sombra is watching, and monologues that it is already too late...

Characters

Autobot

Ratchet - Ambulance

Decepticon

Megatron - Tank Under Sombra Mind Control 

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Knock Out - Car

Breakdown - Van

Thundercracker - Fighter Jet

Laserbeak - Cassette

Ravage - Cassette

Other Cybertronian

Mind Controlled Bots 

A Titan

Equestrian

Rarity

Twilight Sparkle Under Sombra Mind Control

Fluttershy Under Sombra Mind Control

King Sombra

Octavia Melody

Vinyl Scratch

Sandbar

Tina

Solder

Silverstream

Ocellus

Gallus

The Equestrian Princesses (Mentioned)

Other

The Radiant Shralls 

Notes

• Oddly, the two stories this issue are set at the start of the crossover, just after Sombra mind controls the crowd at the Spacebridge, and seemingly near the end of the crossover, with Ratchet and Rarity figuring out a "cure" to the mind control.
• We saw Octavia and Vinyl being abducted with their stage by the Decepticons in issue one.
• The "Young Six" are revealed to have been at the musical event along with the "Mane Six" when the Decepticons started their abduction, and apparently everyone there was transported to Cybertron (though we didn't see that part)
• Ocellus refers to Vinyl as "Miss DJ" likely as a reference to her alternate official name if DJ Pon-3 (or maybe they just forgot which name they were using in this story)
• The end of the first story shows the Spacebridge seemingly repaired. I'm pretty sure it was completely destroyed in issue one, which this issue is set during/just after.
• Knock Out is a transplant of his Prime counterpart, along with Breakdown from the same series, with them identified as "partners" here, as they werw previously shown to be in the old IDW continuity.
• The Cybertron in this crossover is shown to be similar to that of the concurrent main Transformers continuity, with organic aliens on the planet, and Titans acting as buildings and part of the landscape.
• Sombra makes his first appearance since the very first story of issue one.

IDW - Beast Wars #5

Title: Savage Landing, Part 5

Written by: Erik Burnham

Art by: Josh Burcham

Letters by: Jake M. Wood

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Editor: David Mariotte

Supervising Editor: Tom Waltz

Plot

After returning Nyx to the Axalon, Dinobot is placed in a holding cell within the crashed ship, where Optimus tries to figure out if Dinobot is being serious about his request to join the Maximals. Soon, he is joined by a newly recovered Nyx, who he leaves to talk with the Predacon alone.

Nyx asks him why he helped her, and he explains that he only joined the Predacons as Megatron lied to him, exploiting his honourable nature, after seeing Nyx resisting her torture, he saw her as honourable, and hoped that the other Maximals were too.

Unknown to the duo, Rattrap is watching the interaction on a security feed. Cheetor walks in, and Rattrap tries to distract him from his intrusion when he sees a warning signal from outside.

The Predacons have managed to locate the Axalon, and prepare to attack it. Unfortunately for the Maximals, due to the drama with Nyx, Rattrap hasn't been able to bring the Axalon's defenses back online.

Optimus, Rhinox and Cheetor leave the ship to distract the Predacons, and they soon engage in battle, with the Maximals able to hold their own, but outnumbered.

Inside the ship, Dinobot and Nyx hear the fighting, and the Predacon defector convinces Nyx to free him, so they can both join the battle and help the Maximals.

Elsewhere in the Axalon, Rattrap is trying to repair the defense systems, when he is attacked by Tarantulas. Rattrap manages to shoot Tarantulas and hide, leaving Tarantulas to skulk off, planning to "deal" with the Axalon.

The Maximals are starting to become overwhelmed by the Predacons, but Megatron is startled when Dinobot and Nyx join the battle too...

Characters

Maximal

Optimus Primal - Gorilla

Nyx - Bat

Rhinox - Rhino

Cheetor - Cheetah

Rattrap - Rat

Maximal Science Ministry (Mentioned)

Predacon

Megatron - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Dinobot - Velociraptor

Tarantulas - Tarantula

Terrorsaur - Pteranodon

Waspinator - Wasp

Scorponok - Scorpion

Skold - Alligator Snapping Turtle

Nyx's University Mate (Mentioned)

Notes

• Primal mentions that the cell that Dinobot was held in was designed for malfunctioning Protoforms. Whilst this could be just a general feature in Axalon-type ships, it's possible this was designed with Protoform X in mind.
• Dinobot's joke about him and Primal having a fight for leadership is a reference to his attempt at leadership in the original cartoon.
• I'm not sure how long it's been between issues in-universe, bit Nyx got fixed up quite quickly huh?
• It's explained here that the fundamental difference between Maximals and Predacons is that the latter tend to be more aggressive and active, leaning towards careers like athletics, peacekeeping etc, while Maximals tend to be more akin to scientists or explorers.
• Cheetor appears to have super speed in his robot mode, it's unclear yet if this is due to him scanning a fast animal, or just a natural ability of his.

IDW - Transformers #31

Title: Lord of Misrule: Test Flight 1

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Anna Malkova & Angel Hernandez

Colours by: David Garcia Cruz

Letters & Design by: Jake M. Wood

Editor: David Mariotte

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: Tom Waltz

Plot

Forty Cycles have passed since the Titans fell and the Autobots abandoned Iacon to the Decepticons. Flatline is running the Iacon Medical Center by himself and is trying to save the life of the long-thought dead Provoke, but isn't hopeful of his chances due to how long she's been in emergency stasis.

Ultra Magnus' ship finally returns to Cybertron, and rendezvous with Optimus in the Crystal City, where he agrees to follow the new Prime, since Megatron is taking away the government and his vote in the process. Magnus questions Optimus on releasing Pyra from her prison, but Optimus wants to give her another chance, despite her mistakes, and also points out that her loyalists are proving useful too.

Elsewhere, in Praxus, Perceptor works with Jumpstream to try and extend her teleportation abilities with a tool, so she can help with supply and troop transport in the new war. Unfortunately, the device malfunctions and Jumpstream is sent randomly porting across the planet, eventually finding herself between universes, gaining the attention of a shadowy figure in the between-space, until she crashes into an alternate universe version of Iacon.

Jumpstream quickly finds out how bad this universe is when she sees corpses strewn around the devastated city and the severed heads of several prominent Cybertronians, uncluding her leader, Pyra Magna, devastating her too.

Soon she finds what appears to be Sunstreaker wandering around, but is revealed to be an enslaved being controlled by a Voin Asserter among other Cybertronians.

Jumpstream is taken to see the leader of Cybertron by the Voin, who assumes she is a rebel and wants a reward, she is taken to a clone army of Skywarps and dragged to see their leader...Exarchon, who is using the bodies of Megatron, Shockwave and Onslaught as his own....

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport

Perceptor - Treaded Vehicle

Jumpstream - Car

Strongarm - Van

Bumper - Car

Sideswipe - Car

Victory Leo - Jet/Winged Lion

Pyra Magna - Truck (Flashback)

Kup - Pick-up Truck (Flashback)

Sunstreaker - Car (Flashback)

Arcee - Car (Flashback)

Hound - Jeep  (Flashback)

Wheeljack - Car (Flashback)

Smokescreen - Car (Mentioned)

Ratchet - Ambulance (Mentioned)

Hoist - Tow Truck (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Shockwave - Flying Artillery

Onslaught - Gun-Mounted Truck

Flamewar - Motorcycle

Blackjack - Car

Hyperdrive - Car

Runamuck - Car

Runabout - Car

Sunstorm - Jet Irradiated and in Containment Tube

Ruckus - Buggy In Intensive Care

Kaskade In Intensive Care

Megatron - Tank (Flashback)

Jhiaxus - Jet (Flashback)

Blitzwing - Tank/Jet (Flashback)

Decepticon Attack Team - Tanks (Flashback)

Tarn Uprisers (Flashback)

Sixshot - Tank/Car/Jet/Winged Beast/Gun (Mentioned)

Shadow Striker - Car (Mentioned)

Slipstream - Jet (Mentioned)

Ion Storm - Jet (Mentioned)

Team Stream (Mentioned)

Three-fold Spark Universe 

Exarchon

Skywarp Clones - Jets

Voin Asserter

Sunstreaker - Car Enslaved by Voin

Heavywait - Van Enslaved by Voin

Other Enslaved Cybertronians

Megatron - Treaded Vehicle Body Controlled by Exarchon

Onslaught - Gun Mounted Truck Body Controlled by Exarchon

Shockwave - Flying Artillery Body Controlled by Exarchon

Optimus Prime/Orion Pax Severed Head Only

Ultra Magnus Severed Head Only

Pyra Magna Severed Head Only

Strika Severed Head Only

Kup Severed Head Only

Other Corpses Dead

Other Cybertronian

Cyclonus - Jet

Flatline - Van

Skywarp - Jet Stuck Between Universes 

Provoke In Protective Stasis 

First of Iacon Crew

Insecticon Clone Swarm - Insects

Insecticon Victims Dead

Primus (Mentioned)

The Thirteen Primes (Mentioned)

Straxxus (Mentioned)

The Senate (Mentioned) Imprisoned

Darkmount Cybertron Refugees (Mentioned)

The Titansparks (Mentioned) Supposedly Destroyed

Other

Flyts

Darkmount Organic Refugees (Mentioned)

The Thraal (Mentioned)

Notes

• As I predicted last issue, this story's time skip coincides with Ultra Magnus' return to Cybertron.
• Flatline is the only named medic to remain in Iacon as the others left with the Autobots, as they refuse to heal Decepticons. This is likely a nod towards his future Decepticon allegiance.
• The mention of Provoke being treated during he war and her mind being most likely gone, and the confirmation that Exarchon controls other bodies, makes me think that she's been turned into one of his incarnations and will bring in his return in this timeline.
• The Autobots have set up shop in the Crystal City, we previously saw the city in the Escape series. Usually the city gets destroyed in fiction, so we can probably assume the Decepticons are going to pay them a visit soon...
• Due to delays, the end of Escape gets spoiled in this issue, with us learning that Straxxus leaves the planet, and Wheeljack's team turn it into a refuge for neutrals etc.
• The Insecticon clones are also revealed to still exist and eat away at the dead/weak they encounter in the wilderness.
• Pyra and her followers have joined the Autobots since their last appearance, as has Ultra Magnus. We don't know if the rest of his crew has joined them, but considering their character histories we can probably assume they have too.
• Perceptor refers to some bots having special abilities upon forging, in the previous IDW continuity these were referred to as "Outliers" but they don't seem to have a name in this continuity yet.
• Sunstorm is still irradiated following his misadventure on the Winged Moon, he is also shown to definitely have the damaged mind and religious zealotry of his Dreamwave counterpart.
• The bot that notices Jumpstream when she is travelling to the alternate universe isn't named or seen too clearly, but we can assume due to his teleportation abilities, shape and future comic covers, that this is Skywarp.
• It's unclear where the timeline divergence happened in the alternate universe, as we seen several bots who fought against the Three-fold Spark, but are now on different sides, amongst the corpses, suggesting that this is a universe where Exarchon won the war, but then Sunstreaker is seen with an Autobot insignia, something we haven't seen on the main universe counterpart yet, suggesting that it could be a future event?
• In a previous flashback we heard Exarchon saying he had plans for Megatron, here we can assume that his plans were to take over his body.
• Something to be noted is that Exarchon's Megatron body doesn't have the fusion cannon that his main universe counterpart has, so that's another point in the "Exarchon won the war" column.