IDW - Transformers #37

Title: Darkness, Once Gazed Upon, Part One

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Winston Chan & Guido Guidi

Colours by: John-Paul Bove

Colour Assist by: Ed Pirrie

Letters & Design by: Jake M. Wood

Editor: David Mariotte

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: Tom Waltz

Plot

Ultra Magnus and Optimus Prime meet with the Immersant Codexa, who relates how they learned of Exarchon's altered state during the original war, but by that time it had cost them many lives, including those of Cyclonus' team. Optimus asks his mentor if she thinks Exarchon is back, and she, connected to the many sparks of the planet, agrees that it is likely, even conjuring the name Ruckus as a potential victim of his...

Back in Iacon, Cyclonus barges into Swindle's bar, to see a fully revived Ruckus, claiming to have recovered from his near-death state, and is now learning what he's missed. He tries to question him about what happened, but the new Decepticon seems uninterested in talking to him.

Swindle ushers Cyclonus out, since he's not a Decepticon, and might get his place shut down by Megatron. Cyclonus leaves, but is getting suspicious by these recent miraculous recoveries...

Magnus and Prime start to leave Codexa's chamber, when Magnus notices that the entrance has been shut, despite him leaving it open, leading to him leaving, ready to fight, immediately finding a Decepticon crew led by Soundblaster holding the rest of the guards at gunpoint.

The Autobot general smashes through them, freeing the other Autobots, allowing them to defeat the Decepticons, and distracting them enough to allow Optimus to escape with the rest of his guards 

Ultimately, Magnus is forced to be left behind, leading to him being knocked out, and taken towards Iacon, for Megatron to deal with him later. Shockwave then orders Soundblaster, over the communicators, to seal Codexa's chamber, so Optimus cannot consult with her again...

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport Captured by Decepticons

Ironhide - Van

Groove - Motorcycle

Grotesque - Winged Beast

Backstreet - Car

Pyra Magna - Fire Truck (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Soundblaster - Hovercraft

Slipstream - Jet

Shadow Striker - Car

Ruckus/Exarchon - Buggy 

Roughstuff - Truck

Astrotrain - Trackless Train/Space Shuttle

Flamewar - Motorcycle

Hyperdrive - Car

Blackjack - Car

Tracer - Helicopter

Rumble - Cassette

Frenzy - Cassette

Swindle's Bar Patrons

Shockwave - Flying Artillery (Voice Only)

Megatron - Tank (Mentioned)

Starscream - Jet (Mentioned)

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

The Threefold Spark

Exarchon - Jet (Image)

Clone-Drone Soldiers - Jets (Flashback) Dead

Turmoil - Tank (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Cyclonus - Jet 

Swindle - Van

Codexa Immersant, Sealed into Chamber

Other Immersants 

Paragon - Treaded Vehicle (Flashback) Captured by Turmoil

Provoke - Motorcycle (Flashback) Shot in Chest, Infected by Exarchon off-panel 

Gridlock - Gun-Mounted Vehicle (Flashback) Kill by Headshot, by Unknown Weapon

Highfire - Jet (Flashback) Killed off-panel

Grudge - Truck (Flashback) Killed off-panel

Nominus Prime - Jet (Flashback)

Highbrow - Helicopter (Flashback)

Dai Atlas - Drill Tank (Flashback)

Quake - Tank (Flashback)

Brawn - Van (Flashback)

Seekers - Jets (Flashback)

Other War Cybertronian's (Flashback)

Flatline - Van (Mentioned)

Strika - Battle Tank (Mentioned)

Croaton - Titan Ship (Mentioned) Dead

The Titans - Titan Ships (Mentioned)

Strika's Heavies (Mentioned)

Turmoil's Prisoners (Mentioned)

Other

Exarchon's "Re-Makers" (Mentioned)

Neutronians (Mentioned) Mostly Extinct, due to Turmoil

Rust Worms (Mentioned)

Notes

• With Cyclonus' team being shown in colour for the first time properly here, it makes it a lot easier to figuring out what their alternate modes are. So I have made my guesses based on these in the character list above.
• Provoke's eyes are shown to be yellow in the flashback scenes, while the version of her seen in the present day has red eyes, making it quite clear those are a side effect of Exarchon's body snatching. Interestingly though, when we see an image of Exarchon later this issue, we see his eyes were blue...
• Optimus theories here that the person he speaks to when he meets with the Immersant Codexa is not actually her, but the collective consciousness of Cybertron's sparks, possibly the afterlife.
• There's a mostly grey scale jet transformer hanging around in the command room when Nominus was being briefed on Exarchon's abilities, he never speaks or makes much notice of himself, but he seems too detailed for just a background character...I think that may be one of Exarchon's bodies...
• We learn here what has been predicted already, Exarchon is able to take over another Cybertronian's spark, overwriting it, and can possess multiple bodies at once, we do learn here though that once possessed, the process seems to be irreversible, and he is limited to controlling three bodies at any one time.
• Cyclonus previously claimed that he lost track of Provoke's body after her apparent death, but we learn here that he was dragged away before he could recover her body, before Strika's Heavies could arrive to finish the battle.
• Roughstuff is shown to be Decepti-branded now, he was a part of the Rise originally, but was arrested before being branded, and allied with Swindle's crew. The latter is shown here, but I can't see a Decepticon badge on him, meaning he's probably still unaligned, despite his bar being Decepticon-only now.
• Ruckus, really Exarchon, is shown to have joined the Decepticons, most likely to try and spread his influence again, and either recruit new soldiers or just cause trouble.
• Soundblaster is shown to be able to hold Cassettes in his chest, an ability that his mould-mate Soundwave hasn't been shown to have yet in this continuity.
• Ultra Magnus, in his Siege body, is being captured by the Decepticons and brought to Megatron? I sure hope this goes better than it did in the War for Cybertron cartoon...

IDW - Beast Wars #10

Title: Maximals Strike Back, Part 1

Written by: Erik Burnham

Art by: Josh Burcham

Letters by: Jake M. Wood

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Editor: Jazmine Joyner

Supervising Editor: David Mariotte

Plot

After being on the defensive since they crashed on this planet, the Maximals are preparing for their strike on the Predacons. 

Dinobot uses this opportunity to explain how the Predacons came into possession of the Golden Disk, after it was discovered by the Science Ministry from the abandoned Voyager probe, and somehow became irradiated with Unspace energy, scaring them, leading them to try and hide it, but one of their members, Reptilion, betrays them to Galavar, who now goes by the name Megatron...

Dinobot further explains that Megatron used the disk to find the coordinates to this planet, to collect its massive cache of Energon for his conquest plans, and now Dinobot is concerned that the other files on the disk may be true too...

The Maximals have refitted an escape pod so they can use it as a shuttle, so they can attack the Predacons from the air. Optimus give out the missions, Dinobot and Nux are to infiltrate the Darksyde to try and take out the Transwarp engines, to stop them from potentially escaping in the future, while Rattrap goes to steal the disk, the rest of the team are to distract the Predacons in battle from the outside.

The bulk of the Predacons are outside the Darksyde training, when Terrorsaur starts voicing his complaints about their methods, and wants to go after the Maximals, angering Megatron, who attempts to kill the treacherous Predacon, but is stopped by Tarantulas, who sees killing him as a waste of resources. They still need fliers after all, and he'd be no use as spare parts if he is destroyed! Megatron agrees, and skulks away...

The Maximals launch their missiles towards the Predacons, who are forced to duck by Waspinator, who hears the missiles approaching. Before they can arm up however, Optimus Primal arrives, ready to fight, and asking where Megatron is...

Characters

Maximal

Optimus Primal - Gorilla

Dinobot - Velociraptor

Rhinox - Rhino

Cheetor - Cheetah

Rattrap - Rat

Nyx - Bat

Razorbeast - Wild Boar

Botanica - Car (Flashback)

Labrat - Motorcycle (Flashback)

Ironhide - Treaded Vehicle (Mentioned)

Predacon

Megatron/Galavar - Tyrannosaurus Rex (Formerly Tank)

Terrorsaur - Pteranodon

Tarantulas - Tarantula

Waspinator - Wasp

Scorponok - Scorpion

Skold - Alligator Snapping Turtle

Blackarachnia - Black Widow Spider

Reptilion - Jet (Flashback)

Other Cybertronian

Wheeljack - Race Car (Flashback)

Landquake - Armoured Plough (Flashback)

Cybertronian Civilians (Flashback)

Box - Shuttle (Mentioned)

Primal's Old Commander (Mentioned)

Sharkticons (Mentioned)

Notes

• Oh...Razorbeast is up and about already! I guess his injuries weren't that serious after all! 
• The Wheeljack seen in the flashback seems to use the Animated character model of the character, but the statues seen in issue one were closer to his current G1 comic model. So maybe this is some new character who just resembles him, or has appropriated his name (like with Optimus and Megatron)
• Botanica appears to be using a modified version of the POTP female Autobot mould during her brief cameo.
• If the Wheeljack seen in the flashback IS the Autobot character, then either the Maximals are the same size as their predecessors (like in the Kingdom cartoon) or Wheeljack downgraded into a new, smaller body. I guess we'll see later down the line :) 
• The Maximals are shown to have mugshots of most of the Predacons on file (we don't see Scorponok, but he could be behind the speech bubble). Oddly though, they have one for Blackarachnia...when did they get this photo exactly?
• Waspinator being familiar with the sound of missiles, and panicking to protect his teammates from them is a nod to his usual date of blowing up in the original cartoon (though I'm assuming it'll have a bigger meaning later in the series too)

IDW - Shattered Glass #4

Written by: Danny Lore

Art by: Daniel Khanna

Inks by: Priscilla Tramontano

Colours by: John-Paul Bove

Letters by: Neil Uyetake 

Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: David Mariotte

Design by: Jake Wood & Johanna Nattalie

Plot

Following his fatal shooting by Megatron, during the final battle on Earth, Bumblebee is rebuilt into Goldbug by Ratchet, only to be disheartened when he learns that Optimus only allowed it, since they just happened to have spare Protoforms on the ship.

Some time later, Goldbug attempts to warn Optimus that Prowl is plotting against him, but the Autobot Commander is uninterested, since he doesn't see Prowl as a threat. Goldbug insults him, leading the Prime to knock him out with a jackhammer, taken from a worker. Shortly afterwards, Prowl approaches Goldbug, and attempts to convince him of plans for Cyberton again...

Later, Goldbug has been convinced by Prowl, and attempts to assassinate Optimus, though he fails, he escapes from his city, and makes his way to a city, he later renames Gold City...

In the present, Starscream is being held captive by Goldbug at Gold City, being tortured by Jetfire on his orders to gain access to the Seeker's ability to awaken the sleeping Titans.

An intruder alert is sounded, leading Goldbug to leave and deal with it himself. He quickly locates Skywarp, who has infiltrated to find Starscream, but the Autobot Warlord quickly defeats and decapitates him.

Goldbug returns to the torture chamber, and throws Skywarp's severed head at Goldbug, to try and scare him into using his Titan control powers for him, but Starscream is still defiant, and continues to insult Goldbug for his obsession with both Optimus and Megatron...

The Insecticons invade the facility next, taking out as many guards as they can along the way, however Goldbug goes after them by himself too, tearing through them, one by one...

After killing the Insecticons, Goldbug has had enough, and decides to speed up the matter, deciding that Jetfire is possibly stalling due to some lingering feelings for his old friend, he returns to the torture chamber, and threatens to kill Starscream too, to Jetfire's horror!

Characters

Autobot

Goldbug/Bumblebee - Hatchback

Jetfire - Jet

Slicer - Race Car

Tap-Out - Hatchback

Freeway - Hatchback

Searchlight - Hatchback

Wideload - Dump Truck

Random Autobots

Optimus Prime - Truck (Flashback)

Prowl - Police Car (Flashback)

Ratchet - Ambulance (Flashback)

Decepticon

Starscream - Jet

Skywarp - Jet Killed by Goldbug

Kickback - Locust Likely Killed by Goldbug

Skrapnel - Stag Beetle Killed by Goldbug

Bombshell - Boll Weevil Killed by Goldbug

Ransack - Locust Likely Killed by Goldbug

Venom - Cicada Killed by Goldbug

Megatron - Jet (Flashback)

Thundercracker - Jet (Flashback)

Other

Miners (Flashback)

Titans (Mentioned)

Notes

• Unlike the previous issue, this issue was also released with a Shattered Glass figure of the cover character, in this case, Goldbug, (Starscream is currently delayed until early January)
• Confirming what was assumed previously, Megatron's attack on Bumblebee is what prompted him to get upgraded to Goldbug.
• Goldbug uses a pair of electrocuted rods to fight Skywarp this issue...his toy does not come with these...sadly...
• A character named Slicer is featured this issue, he's based on the G1 Decepticon character of the same name, which was also the colourscheme used for Shattered Glass Wheeljack in the past...so who knows what's going on there! (Most likely there's a planned Slicer toy release, which will be reusable as Shattered Glass Wheeljack too)
• Most of the troops working under Goldbug appear to share the same toy mould as him, but with different heads.
• We only see Kickback and Ransack get knocked over during the battle, but it's very likely that Goldbug killed them too
• Optimus is shown using an axe in the flashback, but his toy doesn't feature one...again, very sad...

IDW - Transformers: King Grimlock #4

Written by: Steve Orlando

Art by: Agustin Padilla

Colours by: Jeremy Colwell & Heather Breckel

Letters by: Jake M. Wood

Editor: David Mariotte

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: Tom Waltz

Plot

Arko, having joined The Golden One's forces, is clad in golden armour, ready for combat with Grimlock and his followers.

Elsewhere, Grimlock confirms that the Red Wizard's blood is actually corrupted Energon, which he also believes is present across Menonia, including The Golden One, he begins plotting, with the village leaders in the group to defeat the powerful figure.

The next day, Grimlock approaches The Golden One's stronghold, where he is greeted by Clatta and the Golden Army, but Clatta is easily swatted away, and Grimlock tears through the army.

Nearby, the villager leaders use the last of their powers to create an eclipse, weakening The Golden One's power in the process.

The corrupted ruler turns into his dragonoid form and attacks the Dinobot, but Grimlock easily subdues him, and tries to force him to turn against Soltron, due to his corruptive Energon, however the ruler reveals that he is actually the host of Soltron, but is tired of all the suffering his is causing to himself and others.

Suddenly, Soltron tries to take full control of his body, but The Golden One does indeed rebel, and ejects him from his body, causing his own death in the process.

Needing a new host, Soltron offers his power to Arko, who has become disillusioned with how "weak" everyone is around her, and she agrees, gladding her in New armour, and granting her new powers, to Grimlock's horror... 

Characters

Autobot

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Soltron

Menonian Human

Arko Possessed by Soltron

Arnak

Berea

Anglorian and Valerift Survivors

Other

The Golden One Dies upon Soltron Leaving Body

Clatta

The Golden Army

The Red Wizard Dead

The Anti-Sun (Mentioned)

Notes

• The Menonian Energon making Grimlock more feral and unstable makes it seem more like Dark Energon than the normal variant.
• The Golden One acts like his connection to Soltron is weakened during an eclipse...but we learn later this issue that Soltron is inside The Golden One...which he also seems aware of....

IDW - Transformers Wreckers: Tread & Circuits #2

Written by: David Mariotte

Art by: Jack Lawrence

Colours by: Brittany Peer

Letters by: Jake M. Wood

Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: Tom Waltz

Plot

The Wreckers, sans Circuit arrive at a Race Bar to gather intel on the racers, in order to try and determine who could be affiliated with Mayhem, but come up with no leads. Aileron however learns that there's a bet being held to see who ruins the race first, Mayhem or the Wreckers. Aileron ends up insulting Thunderclash to the Mayhems when comparing how they are using the Speedia 500 to try and cause a spectacle, just like the Wreckers do with their stunt cover missions. Thunderclash shouts, but is quickly calmed down, before security chief Breakdown can ban him from the race.

Elsewhere, Circuit is created by his old crewmate, Axer, who now works for Velocitron's security force. The latter offers his apologies for his actions during the Iron Hope incident, and gives him a ride back to the Wrecker's shuttle. Axer suggests that Circuit and the other Wreckers leave the race, since it's being used to flush out Mayhem, and leaves after receiving a message.

Circuit is suspicious, so follows Axer in his exo-suit, eventually finding him meeting with Octopunch, leader of Mayhem, and opening a channel to the other Wreckers to warn them that security has been breached, however the Autobot is shot in the head by a sniper.

The Wreckers, hearing the incident over the Comms rush out to Circuit's last location, but find him badly injured, next to the burning Mayhem hideout.

Circuit is brought back to the shuttle, where Minerva patches him up as best as possible, but isn't sure if he'll survive, before putting him into a CR Chamber.

The team head out to perform the rest of their mission, with Minerva heading to a medical station, in case of any injuries during the race, and the others joining the participants.

The race is started off, with Breakdown announcing security measures during the race, seemingly unaware of the security force's infiltration.

The racers are counted down, and the race for the next leader of Velocitron has begun!

Characters

Autobot/Wrecker

Thunderclash - Truck

Ricochet - Car

Hot Shot - Jeep

Aileron - Jet

Minerva - Car

Circuit Sniped by Mayhem, in CR Chamber

Mayhem

Octopunch

Other Mayhem Members (Mentioned)

Velocitronian

Road Rocket - Motorcycle

Breakdown - Van

Override - Race Car

Knock Out - Car

Leadfoot - Race Car

Sideways - Motorcycle

Jackpot - Car

Lickety-Split 

Scrounge - Wheel

Signal Lancer - Traffic Light 

Drag Strip - Race Car

Burn-Out - Van

Bar Bouncer

Bar Patrons

Medics

Speedia 500 Racers

Sizzle - Race Car (Image)

Electrons - Car (Mentioned) Dead 

Other

Axer

Xaaron

Iron Hope 100 (Mentioned)

Sec-Ops (Mentioned)

Notes

• This issue features a lot of cameos from older characters (such as Cybertron Brakedown, Crumplezone, Landmine etc) but with new heads and colourschemes. The characters who appear to be exact transplants are just going to be mentioned as characters in the list though.
• While Override and Sideways appear to just be transplants of their Cybertron and Armada toys respectively, Knock Out appears to use a body based on the Studio Series Jazz toy, possibly giving us a look at an upcoming Legacy Knock Out figure. Leadfoot likewise appears to be using Siege Mirage's body, possibly giving us a look at his next too too.
• The characters mention Sec-ops as being on patrol on Velocitron, but it should be Colonial Security here. It is possible though that locally it is just called Sec-ops though.
• The two games shown in the bar are "Mechanic Mania", an allusion to "Operation" and "Virtual Cube", which is based on the sport of "Cube" from the Cyberverse series.
• Circuit's suit is shown to be able to transform between a hover car and an eco suit....why did he leave the ship without it again?
• Minerva mentions that Circuit's injuries are the worst she's seen in a long time, and that she doesn't remember the last time it's looked this bad, further adding to my thoughts that this series is set during the early stages of the main comic series, before the war breaks out.
• Xaaron is shown this issue starting the race, it's possible that he's a denizen of Velocitron, but it's also possible that he's just there as a Senate representative, authenticating the event.
• Knock Out and Breakdown are shown to be a couple in this continuity again, and are even shown kissing on panel, which I don't remember ever happening in IDW version 1
• As I mentioned last issue...why is Aileron allowed to enter the race, when she uses a flying alternate mode?
• Drag Strip makes a brief cameo this issue, showing off his upcoming Legacy figure, which has just been revealed.