IDW - Transformers Annual 2021

Title: Light/Star

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Alex Milne

Colours by: John-Paul Bove

Letters & Design by: Jake M. Wood

Editor: David Mariotte

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: Tom Waltz

Plot

Lodestar undergoes an upgrade at the Black Hub station, where she and her City Speaker, Light bright, are joined by a technical crew led by Scattershot. Lodestar and Lightbright are upset with an Imploder weapon onto her, since that was the weapon used to kill Croaton, and all Titans now despise them.

Eventually, a possible sighting of Vigilem is reported, and Lodestar heads off to the Hexagon station to try and bring him in. The station's commander Thunderwing is quite off-putting towards the new arrivals and claims to have now known about Vigilems crimes on Cybertron.

The Technobots head to the station while Lightbright stays aboard Lodestar, with both hoping to get through to Vigilem and get him to return to stasis rather than destroy him.

On the station, the Technobots are shocked to find Bludgeon and the Conehead Seekers as part of Thunderwing's main crew, being known criminals, but try to work with them to get Vigilem to stand down.

The Technobots are split up, where they are quickly targeted by the station crew, when they point out contradictions with things that Thunderwing has stated, in listing letting it slip that he knows the Senate has fallen, but doesn't know about Vigilem's attack. He reveals that his plan is to use Vigilem to return to Cybertron and join the Decepticons as heroes.

Eventually, the Technobots are rounded up in another hired criminal, Airachnid's lab, where she is trying to recreate the lost artifacts of the Primes, and the Technobots are knocked into an artificial Enigma of Combination, where they are forcibly combined into Computron, sending the Conehead adrift into space, and forcing Airachnid to get Thunderwing to eject her lab to get Computron off the station before he can destroy them all.

Outside, Vigilem starts launching away, with Lodestar giving chase. The two Titans transform and engage in battle when Vigilem refuses to talk, forcing Lodestar to use the Imploder and destroy the rogue Titan, injuring herself in the process, and watches his remains fall into the system's star, destroying him fully...

Later, the Technobots are adrift in the ejected chunk of Hexagon station, having de-combined and Scattershot still infused with the Enigma's energies. Soon the team are recovered by an injured Lodestar, who is stuck in robot mode due to her injuries.

Later still, Lightbright and Lodestar are relaxing to energetic music when she is informed of an intercepted message from Cybertron that all of the orbiting Titans have crashed and been destroyed, leaving Lodestar as the last Titan. Hearing this catastrophic news, Lodestar and Lightbright mourn with somber music instead....

Characters

Autobot

Scattershot - Jet

Strafe - Jet

Lightspeed - Car

Afterburner - Speedbike

Nosecone - Drill Tank

Computron - Technobot Gestalt

Sentinel Prime (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Lightbright Injured in Imploder Detonation

Lodestar - Titan Ship

Vigilem - Titan War Ship Killed by Lodestar

Thunderwing - Jet

Bludgeon - Tank

Airachnid - Aircraft/Spider

Dirge - Jet Sent Adrift into Space, by Computron

Ramjet - Jet Sent Adrift into Space, by Computron

Thrust - Jet Sent Adrift into Space, by Computron

Metalhawk - Jet

Syphon

Black Hub Staff

Jazz - Car (On Monitor Only)

Skystalker - Car (Mentioned)

Croaton - Titan Ship (Mentioned) Dead

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport (Mentioned) Missing

The Primes (Mentioned)

The Orbiting Titans (Mentioned) Dead

The Senate (Mentioned) Captured by Decepticons

Hexagon Cybertronian Population (Mentioned)

Other

Hexagon Organic Population

Thraal Assassinator (Mentioned)

Notes

• The Technobots actually all have Autobot insignias, this is rare at this point in the continuity, since the Autobot insignia has mostly only been seen on Optimus Prime so far, since it's still officially only a political party.
• This story feels more like a finale to the Galaxies series than a solo story, with many of the events from that series referenced, and even fits the off-Cybertron story theme of the series. My guess is that this was originally planned to be the finale of the series, but was changed to a solo story when the series was ended.
• Lodestar left Cybertron to get upgraded back in issue 21 of the main series.
• We barely see Metalhawk in the early pages of this story, but he appears to use his Timelines toy, usually they use the most recent toy for the character, but considering the Power of the Primes figure was a Prime Master, we can probably understand this change.
• The Technobots use the Unite Warriors version of the team, but with some colour changes 
• We learn that Croaton was killed using an Imploder, we learned previously that he was killed by Citadel, so he must have used that weopon to do the action. However, we know that Croaton was reduced to a cloud of rubble, while Vigilem only has a massive chunk torn out of him by it. There's a few possible explanations for this, such as that Citadel used a larger Imploder, he used multiple weapons, Croaton was just smaller than Vigilem, or even that Lodestar just used the weapon wrong. I wonder if we'll ever find out the answer?
• We last saw the Hexagon outpost in issue 12 where Nautica and Road Rage fought off a Thraal assassination attempt.
• Thunderwing used his Generations toy model for his appearance here, while Bludgeon uses a design based on his RID2015 model, but with some modifications
• The Conehead Seekers appear to be using their current Earthrise figures as a basis, but with Cybertronian modes.
• Airachnid is a transfer of the Prime series character, but with an updated design that has her as a triplechanger instead of just having a spider-themed attack mode.
• It's mentioned that the Enigma of Combination is one of the "lost" artifacts of the Primes, but we saw Termagax and the Constructicons discover it in issue 1 of Galaxies...so...where did it go?
• Scattershot has absorbed the power of Airachnid's artificial Enigma, much like how Superior did in the previous continuity.
• We end this issue with confirmation that all of the orbiting Titans on Cybertron have crashed and died, which also tells us that this story ends at about the same time that issue 29 of the main series is set (but could be a bit later, since the message could be delayed)
• I find it hard to believe that there's no more Titans out in the universe, perhaps stationed on one of the Colony world's or on deep space missions.

IDW - Unicron #3

Main Story

Title: Our Finest

Written by: John Barber

Art by: Alex Milne

Colours by: Sebastian Cheng & David Garcia Cruz

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: David Mariotte

Publisher: Greg Goldstein

Side Story

Title: Reunion

Written by: Brandon Easton

Art by: Juan Samu

Colours by: David Garcia Cruz

Lettered by: Curtis Fandango

Edited by: David Mariotte

Main Story Plot

Cybertron begins to counterattack against Unicron, with all available fliers and all shuttles going into orbit to fight. Elita recruits the Torchbearers to join her on Carcer to directly attack Unicron. Chromia returns to Cybertron in her shuttle, but is also joined by the Decepticon fleet, having been corrupted by Unicron.

Inside Metroplex's brain chamber Windblade and the others are discussing what to do about Unicron, with Starscream advocating for evacuation to Earth, but due to the colonists being outside of the city, they wont be teleported away with the city.

Chromia contacts Carcer to see why they are going directly to Unicron, with Elita explaining that Victorion is going to infiltrate Unicron's body and kill him from inside, and Carcer will give her backup.

Bumblebee arrives at the brain chamber with Aileron, and declares that Unicron was a doomsday device created by an alien race that also created the Dire Wraiths with Visionary magic, which Rom is disbelieving of. Aileron herself doesn't believe this, until Arcee arrives and explains what happened, as she was there...

When Cybertronians led by Onyx Prime invaded the planet Antilla, Onyx manipulated things to make the Antillans to attack them first, making Alpha Trion believe them to be the aggressors. A scientist used a device to kill everyone on the planet, and also turn it into Unicron, in order for him to get revenge against their attackers, and gets stronger with every world it devours.

The battle in orbit is going badly for the Cybertronians, and Victorion is fed up of watching people die. She attacks the lead Worldsweeper and slashed through the corrupted Decepticons inside, however, when she confronts Bludgeon he summons Monstructor to fight the powerful combiner. The two fight, but Monstructor defeats her by tearing off one of her legs and knocking her down.

Shockwave confirms Arcee's story about Antilla, but also explains that after he left Cybertron following the wars between the Primes, he and his loyalists wound up on Antilla, where Shockwave learned about Unicron and finds the Talisman, the device used to create it. He has the Talisman shipped away towards Earth, for it to be used to later poison Cybertron.

Optimus relays this story to Windblade, who isn't shocked now by all this nonsense. Starscream starts again about letting most of Cybertron and the colonists die, if it means Unicron will be deathly wounded, which drives Windblade to screaming that this is all Cybertron's fault and not the colonists, yet it is them who are being hurt.

Arcee points out that despite it being a terrible thing to happen, without Antilla, NONE of the other colonies would have been created, and none of the colonists would have been born in the first place. Windblade heads off, with Arcee grabbing hold of her, not allowing her to run away. However Windblade isn't trying to escape, but rather has a plan, and just needs some time to enact it.

In orbit, Carcer is under heavy fire, so Elita, in a last ditch attempt to protect Cybertron orders for the ship to ram into Unicron, only for the Chaos Bringer to shoot the ship with his eye beams and obliterates the dead Titan and everyone aboard along with him.

Back at Metroplex, Soundwave returns with the Enigma of Combination, intending to use to combine the entire population of the planet into a giant force to stop Unicron, however Jetfire reveals that even if they did that, they would only be at about a third of the size of Unicron. Soundwave realizes that the others are starting to consider using the space bridge and leave the people outside of the city to die, so he alerts the Decepticons outside, and they begin to riot, and storm the city, as Soundwave has given them a chance now.

Arcee returns and says that Windblade has a plan to save them, but she needs time, which Starscream agrees they have to allow her, as she has allowed them all to try before now.

All across Cybertron, the displaced colonists and Cybertronians watch and Unicron starts digging his claws into Unicron's surface...

Side Story Plot

On Earth, the MASK team have reunited and save some people from the natural disasters and destruction in the city. The team eventually arrive at one of their team, Julio Lopez's emergency medical centre where they learn that they have inspired the normal people of the city and the world to help each other and fight back, so they'll continue to do so, up to the end...

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Windblade - VTOL Fighter Jet

Arcee - Sports Car

Aileron - Space Shuttle

Bumblebee - Hatchback

Jetfire - Fighter Jet

Chromia - Speedbike

Pyra Magna - Fire Truck

Rust Dust - Motorcycle

Skyburst - Helicopter

Stormclash - Helicopter Seemingly Killed by Monstructor

Dust Up - Sports Car

Jumpstream - Sports Car

Victorion - Torchbearer Gestalt

Tracks - Muscle Car

Sizzle - Car

Silverbolt - Concorde Jet

Skydive - Fighter Jet

Fireflight - Fighter Jet

Not-Slingshot - Fighter Jet

Scattershot - Jet Killed by a Worldsweeper

Cloudraker - Jet Killed by a Worldsweeper

Fastlane - Car Killed by a Worldsweeper

Firestar

Metroplex - Iacon City (Voice and Interior Only)

Prowl - Police Vehicle (Mentioned)

Kup - Pic k Up Truck (Mentioned) Dead

Decepticon

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Shockwave/Onyx Prime - Flying Artillery

Bludgeon - Tank

Monstructor - Monster Gestalt

Wideload - Dump Truck Killed by Victorion

Sledge - Backhoe-Payloader Killed by Victorion

Needlenose - Fighter Jet

Fat Tankor - Tank

Tall Tankor - Oil Tanker/Cargo Plane

Decepticon Ghetto Denizens

Decepticon Vengeance Division Mutated into Unicron's Minions

Maximal

Domitius Major - Sauropod (Flashback Only)

Centurion - Beetle (Flashback Only)

"HOS Prowl" (Flashback Only)

Maximal Troops (Flashback Only)

Other Cybertronian/Colonist

Elita One - Car Sent Adrift in orbit by Unicron's Attack

Obsidian - Osprey Helicopter Crushed by debris in ship

Vigilem - Carcer Ship Destroyed by Unicron

Swift - Helicopter

Zetca

Greenlight

Lancer

D.O.C.

Cybertronian Fleet

Colony Survivors

Carcerian Warriors Most Killed in Unicron's Attack

Alpha Trion - Tumbler (Flashback Only)

Galvatron - Tank (Flashback Only)

Omega Supreme - Rocket Base (Flashback Only)

Omega Sentinels - Rocket Bases (Flashback Only)

The Thirteen Primes (Mentioned)

Solus Prime (Mentioned)

Human

Matt Trakker/Spectrum (Side Story Only)

Gloria Baker/Aura (Side Story Only)

Brad Turner/Eclipse (Side Story Only)

Julio Lopez/Gulliver (Side Story Only)

Human Survivors (Side Story Only)

Med Centre Staff (Side Story Only)

MASK Fanboy (Side Story Only)

Miles Mayhem (Mentioned)

Solstar Order

Rom

Imperator Carax

Elonian Survivors

Other

Unicron - Ringed Planet

Antillans (Flashback Only) Dead

Unicron's Creator (Mentioned)

Dire Wraiths (Mentioned)

Visionaries (Mentioned)

Notes

• Slingshot is amongst the Aerialbots going into battle (albeit slightly miscoloured) he's supposed to be dead...but then again everyone else will be dead soon, so no long term harm!
• Swift appears to be amongst the Decepticons again...please make up your mind on your faction Decepticons!!
• Just like we saw a mass of Decepticon ships in the last issue, we get an Autobot fleet here with several existing ship types, like the different Arks, shuttles and a few generics.
• This issue reveals that the world we saw Onyx Prime and his group attack in a flashback was Antilla, which was also the world we saw turn into Unicron last issue, confirming that the planet orbiting the dark star was Antilla/Unicron, and is thirteenth colony world (implying that Unicron may have his own natural Ore too)
• Considering some Omega Sentinels were on Antilla when the Unicron device activated, it's likely that the one we saw inside Unicron in issue 1 was one of the attackers, rather than one that just found Unicron.
• Along with their ships, the Decepticon crew inside them are turned into Maximal-esque monsters. This is likely a reference to an old Unicron concept where he could corrupt individuals and turn them into his servants.
• Bludgeon is shown with an aura around him and what looks like his Void Spectre again, this is likely why he seems to have his mind intact rather than being mindless like the other Decepticons.
• Bludgeon reveals that Victorion's gravity powers are caused by her exposure to Ore-4 on Caminus.
• Shockwave's flashback reveals that the Talisman IS the device that created Unicron, which he found on Antilla after arriving there and sending it away to Earth with some of his followers (the guys who would later become the Hearts of Steel Transformers)
• It keeps getting mentioned how Metroplex can only spacebridge the people within his city mode away
• I still think there's another world out there with an Ore on it, since Liege Maximo's "world" is just a Titan ship, and not a planet, also Unicron just blows up Carcer, and doesn't devour it.
• Elita appears to survive her ship's destruction, as she is seen floating in space (why would they bother giving us a close-up if she was just dead?)
• The back-up strip is a MASK one of all things! It doesn't give us any real future spoilers, and just shows that Earth is under attack in the near future and that the MASK team are performing rescue missions to save the day.
• Since we last saw them, it looks like Brad Turner has been recovered, after being captured and replaced by Zartan.
• Also Matt Trakker is not a part of GI Joe anymore it seems...good for him!

IDW - Unicron #2

Main Story

Title: Stranger Eons

Written by: John Barber

Art by: Alex Milne

Colours by: Sebastian Cheng

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: David Mariotte

Publisher: Greg Goldstein

Side Story

Title: Last Stand

Written by: David Rodriguez

Art by: Nelson Daniel

Lettered by: Tom B. Long

Edited by: David Mariotte

Main Story Plot

Starscream has redeclared himself as the "Chosen One" and decides to speak on behalf of all the now displaced Colonists, causing them to lose faith in Optimus and the Council, even claiming that they will try and turn people against him with some damning reasoning.

Starscream reveals that during his last days in power he sent out Bludgeon and others to recruit some Decepticons who were still in hiding, and has now sent them to attack Unicron, or rather, to contain him.

Aileron and Arcee are talking about the destruction of Caminus, when Bumblebee approaches them to ask Arcee why she was disturbed to see the dead Omega Sentinel inside Unicron. Arcee explains that the Sentinels were a part of the Expansion, and one must have found Unicron, or was even sent to him by Shockwave in the past, but she doesn't trust HIM to tell the truth.

Bumblebee takes her hint, and heads off to ask someone who may know more, joined by Aileron, who doesn't want to be left idle, and they soon arrive at the hangar where Omega Supreme is being treated. Bee thinks they should get Soundwave to read his mind to get answers, and touches his face...however Omega's head starts to turn black, along with Bee's eyes....

Pyra stands on top of a building alone with the Mistress of Flame's Forgehammer, unsure of why she gave it to her, but believes it was to show that she will always be part of her life. Pyra stabs the hammer into the surface and walks away from it.

Starscream is brought into the Council's new War Room, where his former co-workers are not happy to see him, especially when he mocks them for not changing the name of their council, due to the destruction of almost all of the colonies now!

Starscream explains that his plan is to use Bludgeon's findings on Unicron using faster than light travel rather than teleportation, so his fleet is there to contain Unicron, before they can unleash the full firepower on it. He refuses to add Optimus' fleet to his, saying that there's enough firepower already.

Before anything else can happen though, the meeting is interrupted by a message from Chromia on her ship, the Sabre in G Nebula 89, who can see the conflict between the Decepticons and Unicron.

Bee is shown a vision of a scientist using a device to seemingly create Unicron, resulting in the star system to be destroyed, leaving only a dying planet and black star behind, and creating the magic of Prysmos and the Dire Wraiths...As Bee comes out of his trance, Omega Supreme dies, succumbing to his long term injuries.

The Decepticons open fire on Unicron, who unleashes the Maximals to attack them, however, despite obstructing him, Unicron still teleports away, with Bludgeon revealing himself to be a follower of Unicron!

Three Maximals break into Bludgeon's Worldsweeper, revealing their true, demonic forms in front of him.

Unicron arrives in orbit of Cybertron, and transforms into a robot mode. Bee and Aileron leave the hangar to look for Optimus or Windblade, as Bee understands now what Unicron is, and how to destroy him...unfortunately, the method is to destroy everyone...

Side Story Plot

On the Lemuria, the Joes are pinned down by the invading Maximal army, with almost the entire team injured or worse. Scarlett has all but given up, knowing their odds of survival are almost nil. They have refugees on the ship, but no way to get it to activate to escape. 

Roadblock manages to motivate Scarlett into remembering who they are, and that Joes never give up. She agrees and plans to make a last stand, just as Skywarp, Helix and Snake Eyes arrive, having taken down the Maximals in the base, and are ready to help with the rest...

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Windblade - VTOL Fighter Jet

Bumblebee - Hatchback

Arcee - Sports Car

Aileron - Space Shuttle

Chromia - Speed Bike

Omega Supreme - Rocket Base Dies from Injuries

Pyra Magna - Fire Truck

Rust Dust - Motorcycle

Dust Up - Sports Car

Skyburst - Helicopter

Stormclash - Helicopter

Decepticon

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Bludgeon - Tank

Sledge - Backhoe-Payloader

Wideload - Dump Truck

Broadside - Tank

Shockwave - Flying Artillery (Mentioned)

Megatron - Tank (Mentioned)

Galvatron - Tank (Mentioned)

Maximal

Optimus Primal - Gorilla

Beast Megatron - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Inferno - Ant

Depth Charge - Manta Ray (Side Story Only)

Maximal Army

Other Cybertronian/Colonist

Elita One - Car

Obsidian - Helicopter

Strika - Battle Tank

Moonracer - Car

Knock Out - Car

Fireshot - Part of Jet

Vanquish - Part of Jet

Tigatron - Tiger

Airazor - Eagle

Lancer

Greenlight

Vigilem - Carcer Ship Corpse used as Ship

Two Data Slugs

RID 2015 Scorponok - Scorpion

Cybertronian Crowds/Colony Refugees

Devisen Survivors (Mentioned)

Veloctitronian Survivors (Mentioned)

Skywarp - Fighter Jet (Side Story Only)

Mistress of Flame (Mentioned) Dead

Omega Sentinels (Mentioned)

Eukarians (Mentioned)

Liege Maximo (Mentioned) Dead

Solus Prime (Mentioned) Dead

Human

Marissa Faireborn

Scarlett (Side Story Only)

Roadblock (Side Story Only)

Shipwreck (Side Story Only)

Lady Jaye (Side Story Only)

Doc (Side Story Only)

Agent Helix (Side Story Only)

Snake Eyes (Side Story Only)

Human Refugees (Side Story Only)

Joe Colton (Mentioned)

Cobra (Mentioned)

Other

Unicron - Ringed Planet

Rom, the Space Knight

Prysmosians (Vision)

Dire Wraiths (Vision)

Alien Scientist (Vision)

Elonians (Mentioned)

Notes

• Very quickly, Firestar appears on the over with the Council members and Starscream...why? She isn't even in this issue (Don't get me wrong, she looks good, but she's just out of place)
• There are some human sized characters amongst the Transformers in the opening pages, we can't see much of them, but from their outfits I would guess they are Prysmosian (Though we know there are Humans and Elonians also on Cybertron now too)
• Gee, Cybertron sure looks like it has been developed a lot in the past few issues huh? We can't see any barren wastelands or shanty towns anywhere!
• The three Decepticons that Bludgeon recruits are the Mini-Con Demolition Team from the Classics toyline, albeit now upgraded to full-sized Transformers. Though in one panel Wideload is misnamed as Sledge (another member's name)
• When we last saw Bludgeon, he was commenting on how his "Master" was arriving soon. At the time, we believed this to be Onyx Prime, especially after it was revealed that he was Shockwave in disguise, but here we learn that he was referring to Unicron.
• The Decepticon fleet is made up of Worldsweepers, Warworlds and something called "Worldburners". This latter term is likely referring to the Nemesis and Revenge duplicates in the armada.
• We learn here that, unsurprisingly, Arcee was a part of the Cybertronian Expansion in the past. This is unsurprising since her twin, Galvatron, was known to also be a part of it.
• Similarly, we learn that the Omega Sentinels were a part of the Expansion too, and not just defenders of the planet.
• We learn here that less than a hundred Devisens survived their colony's destruction. We aren't given a number of Velocitronians, but since it was the first populated world to be devoured it is likely that only those who were based on Cybertron/Earth would have survived.
• Two Data Slug "Disposables" are seen working on computers in the council's "war room" I'd like to say one of those is Eject, but they look like generics and have similar colour schemes.
• Chromia and her team are revealed to be alive, having been missing for some time now. It was assumed by some that they were killed off-panel by Liege Maximo or his allies, as they were sent to hunt him down.
• It's unclear if Omega Supreme's vision is showing Unicron's "birth" or his "rebirth" after stasis. If it is his birth, then how would Omega have these memories, he wasn't around back then.
• It's implied from the flashback, that the planet Antilla, often shown orbiting a dead, black star is actually Unicron's physical form, but was originally a normal planet with life that was killed when a scientist did something to spread energy around.
• A side effect of Unicron's "birth" and the energy being shot off was the creation of the Dire Wraiths, having mutated from some alien species, and apparently the original advent of magic on Prysmos.
• So, after being on life-support for a few years now, Omega Supreme just dies after giving information to Bumblebee...YEESH!!
• Instead of turning grey when he died, Omega Supreme starts to turn black and cracks start to appear.
• The Maximals are revealed to actually be some demonic looking robots under their animal "shells", which somewhat resemble Liege Maximo. This also somewhat explains why we keep seeing multiples of these Maximals, even though they sometimes die in one issue, before reappearing (Like Inferno last issue reappearing here)
• Bludgeon refers to the Maximals as Liege Maximo's. Does this mean that the Maximals are not related to Onyx Prime's beasts?
• Unicron's transformation sequence is very reminiscent of the same scene in the Transformers Movie.
• I am actually surprised that Unicron IS going to Cybertron already. He still has two or three colonies to eat before going after Primus right? It's possible that he's just there to eat Caminus, and then teleport away to Earth or the thirteenth colony. Just seems a little off to me.
• The side story acts as a coda of sorts for the cancelled Scarlett's Strike Force, but is actually set earlier in the timeline than the main story, since the Maximals are attacking Earth here. It's possible they are just a second group, attacking the Colonies to make them easier to destroy. However it's more likely that it's because this was meant to go up in a later issue, since it was mentioned in solicits that Micronauts would have had a comic in this issue instead.
• This issue does not feature Aubrey Sitterson, the writer of GI Joe and Scarlett's Strike Force, most likely due to the controversy revolving around him last year.
• Roadblock mentions that "this isn't even the most trouble we've been in this year". Whilst in continuity it is likely referring to the actions of Cobra, that were supposed to happen in the unreleased issues of the comic, however in a real world context it could be referring to their comic's sudden cancellation at only three issues, in the middle of a storyline.
• Skywarp, Snake Eyes and Helix all were about to escape from the Lemuria and join Duke's project when the series ended. They must have decided to return here!
• The behind the scenes section includes interviews with Nick Roche and Shane McCarthy.

IDW - Optimus Prime #14

Title: The Dead Come Home Part 2

Written by: John Barber

Art by: Livio Ramondelli

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Publisher: Ted Adams

Plot

Prowl and his team of misfits and "forgotten" Cybertronians and allies fight the Beast Horde and manage to recue the last three surviving Throttlebots and manage to leave the planet on their shuttle so they can continue their mission to take down the "real threat".

Back on Cybertron, Optimus and his team try to restrain Slug, who has started attacking the other Dinobots, unknown to them being controlled by Bludgeon. The Dinobots join in trying to restrain Slug, whilst Sludge sneaks away to protect the "newcomers". Arcee notices him leave and follows him. Sandstorm starts to turn on Optimus, still seeing him as a corrupt leader and believes that Optimus set up this attack, until Centurion stops their fight and forces the teams to work together to calm down the crazed Dinobot.

Arcee follows Sludge into a cavern where she is ambushed by a small black and red protoforms, but is stopped from hurting the young Cybertronian by Trypticon, who reveals that he is protecting them, along with the Dinobots. 

Arcee has been transmitting this to Optimus, who now has a plan, he sends Blackrock back into Iacon so he can retrieve Marissa Faireborn, as he distracts Slug further.

Back in Iacon, Starscream barges into Bludgeon's cell and destroys the Void Scepter, breaking his control on Slug, explaining that he doesn't want him to kill Optimus, he wants Optimus to return to Iacon with the protoforms so they can be used as a political move, but now it is all ruined.

Trypticon rises from the ground and declares that the fighting must stop, as he will not let anyone hurt his "children", leading Optimus to explain his plan.... Blackrock returns with Marissa, and Optimus proposes that Trypticon take to his city-mode and Marissa declares the city as Earth's embassy on Cybertron, allowing the protoforms to be safe there and be protected from Starscream's influence due to being on "Earth's soil". Everyone agrees to this, even though Sandstorm thinks this is just Optimus using them for a political move.

Slug, now having calmed down is welcomed back by the Dinobots and they know that he was being manipulated somehow... Back in Iacon, Bludgeon watches the scene from his "cameras" in Slug and comments on how his master will soon return...leaving Bumblebee's ghost worried again...

Pyra Magna, Skyburst and Stormclash return to Earth through the spacebridge where they report that Optimus is still busy with the recovery on Cybertron, so he's not returning yet. Pyra leaves her group to reunite, whilst she deals with some other business...

In her quarters, she contacts Prowl to report that Optimus has set up an embassy for Earth on Cybertron, and the current climate is that Cybertron needs Earth's support for energy following the arrival of New Prysmos in the planet's core. Prowl confirms that with Pyra's information he's eliminated Eukaris as the root of the Beast Horde, so they still need to figure that out.

Both of them are now planning for any eventuality, as the Horde could be coming for Earth or Cybertron, and they both need to keep their best interests under observation...

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Arcee - Sports Car

Garrison Blackrock/Sovereign - Head

Slug - Triceratops

Sludge - Apatosaurus

Snarl - Stegosaurus

Swoop - Pteranodon

Aileron - Space Shuttle

Prowl - Police Vehicle

Wheelie - Car

Goldbug - Car

Chase - Car

Rollbar - Jeep

Pyra Magna - Fire Truck

Stormclash - Helicopter

Skyburst - Helicopter

Dust Up - Sports Car

Jumpstream - Sports Car

Bumblebee - Car ("Ghost" Only)

Metrotitan - Autobot City (Mentioned)

Wreckers (Mentioned)

Other Throttlebots (Mentioned) Dead

Decepticon

Bludgeon - Tank In Custody

Beast Horde

Hydra -Pteranodon Killed by Stardrive

Insecticon - Beetle Killed by Prowl

Transquito - Mosquito Killed by Prowl

Drancron - Lizard-Dragonfly Killed by Stardrive

Sharp Edge - Sawshark Killed by Stardrive

Other Beasts Likely Killed by Prowl's Team

Other Cybertronian/Colonist

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Stardrive - Jet/Car

Trypticon - Earth Embassy

Strafe - Two Headed Dragon/Car

Sandstorm - Helicopter/Buggy

Centurion - Luxury Car

Protoform Sideswipe

New Protoforms

Junkions (Mentioned)

Human

Marissa Faireborn

Mayday/Ayana Jones (Mentioned)

Lady Jaye (Mentioned)

Other

Garnak

Teletraan (Voice Only)

Bludgeon's Master (Mentioned)

Notes

• So turns out Stardrive WAS infected with Wraith matter at the end of "Shining Armor", but appears to have better control over it than anyone else we've seen so far.
• Prowl's arm weapon is revealed to be the Vamparc Ribbon, which was previously seen uring Autocracy, it just happens to look a lot like the cannon on Megatron's Chaos event armour. We also get a reappearance of Zeta Prime's stash of weapons that Prowl was last seen contemplating using in Autocracy too. Turns out he kept them for a rainy day...
• The planet "Botanica" is revealed to actually be named "Regulus V"
• So further adding to the return of seemingly dead characters here...Trypticon returns! He was last seen giving his body to used by the new generation of Cybertronians as raw materials...guess they only used a small bit of his body then, since there's no noticeable damage to him!
• Bumblebee's "ghost" is revealed to have told Starscream what Bludgeon was doing from last issue. Though Starscream dismisses this as just that "he figured it out himself" it really does add more to him not just being a figment of his imagination and him actually communicating with him from "the dead"
• Trypticon is now being used as Earth's embassy on Cybertron. So they are technically using my suggestion from a while back of using the Titans for central buildings in new settlements then! (Still no sign of the dead Titan swarm being used for more cities yet though!)
• Pyra Magna has some Cybertronian-equivalent incense sticks in her quarters...that's a cute touch!
• Oh and also, Prowl and Pyra Magna are working together behind the scenes it seems...I am not shocked that two majorly corrupt Autobots are in collusion! Pyra even mentioned in the last issue that she wants Arcee to keep an eye on Optimus and herself, showing just how Prowl-like she's become!
• It is confirmed that the Beast Horde that keeps appearing is not from Eukaris, implying they are from another group of Onyx Prime followers. I'll think we'll get more information soon though, since Onyx Prime is said to return in the next issue...yay!
• Bludgeon mentions his "master" again. I would assume this will be in some way related to Unicron since he's the focus of the major "event" for this year. And let's face it, the last couple of continuities to feature Bludgeon (Dreamwave's G1 and Armada lines) both had him connected to Unicron too
• The "new Sideswipe" is based on the character's G2 colour scheme, which was used by Sideswipe during the post Chaos era.
• Tyrpticon is mentioned as being a former Decepticon, and due to his "nicer" attitude, we can probably assume that he isn't powered with Pentius' spark any more.