IDW - Transformers Wreckers: Tread & Circuits #3

Written by: David Mariotte 

Art by: Jack Lawrence

Colours by: Brittany Peer & Rebecca Nalty

Letters by: Val Lopez & Jake M. Wood

Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: Tom Waltz

Plot

The race is underway, but Mayhem, including Axer, quickly start attacking the track and the racers, killing at least Road Pig in the process, and severely injuring many others like Road Rocket, Override and Sideways.

The security force lose. Intact with the drones on the track, and send out troops to save anyone they can.

The Wreckers, as part of the race, manage to take down most of the Mayhem members, but are stopped by Security from finishing them off, unknown to the racers and Wreckers, the Mayhem members shed their Pretender shells to escape, while being obstructed from view by security.

Acer catches up wit Knock Out, who is in the front of the race, but the surgeon mocks him, bidding him farewell, as Breakdown shoots a missile at Axer, killing him on the spot, revealing his complicity bin this race-fixing plot!

Knock Out soon speeds into the stadium, winning the race, and being named as the new First Senator of Velocitron, with the remaining racers walking behind him, behind Breakdown.

The Wreckers meet up at the end of the race, and aren't happy with this result, and think something more is happening here...

Characters

Autobot/Wrecker

Thunderclash - Truck

Aileron - Jet

Hot Shot - Jeep

Ricochet - Car

Minerva - Car

Mayhem

Octopunch

Skullgrin

Submarauder

Axer Killed by Breakdown

Thunderblast - Boat Crushed by Racers

Slugslinger - Twin Nosed Jet Knocked Out by Hot Shot 

Velocitronian

Knock Out - Car

Breakdown - Armoured Van

Drag Strip - F1 Racer

Leadfoot - F1 Racer

Override - Race Car Blasted by Mayhem

Sideways - Motorcycle Crashed by Mayhem

Road Rocket - Motorcycle Skewered by Mayhem

Road Pig - Motorcycle Killed by Octopunch

Scrounge - Wheel

Signal Lancer - Traffic Light

Lickety-Split - Tricycle

RoadHauler - Crane

Clampdown - Police Car

Burn-Out - Van

Dirt Rocket - Motorcycle

Moonracer - Car

Armada Mirage - F1 Racer In Stasis Lock from Rockslide 

Orange Cybertron Crumplezone - Rocket Trike 

Green Cybertron Clocker - Convertible Crushed by Skullgrin 

Purple Armada Downshift - Race Car

Red/Yellow RID2015 Sideswipe - Car

Green RID2015 Quillfire - Van

Purple RID2015 Blurr - Race Car

White/Yellow RID2015 Blurr - Race Car

Light Blue RID2015 Blurr - Race Car

Other Racers

Sec-Ops Officers

Race Spectators

Other Medics (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Xaaron

Primus (Mentioned)

Iron Hope 100 (Mentioned)

Notes

• There are so many virtual redecoes and transplants from older series' this issue. I've tried to identify them all, but a few have probably passed over my head.
• On the note of virtual redecoes, I wouldn't be shocked of some of them (RoadHauler, Clampdown, Burn-Out, as well as the ones featured last issue, like Leadfoot and Knock Out) get new toys in the near future.
• Knock Out is mentioned as being endorsed by the Ascenticons...I'm gonna go out on a lead and say the results of this race were all part of Megatron's big plan for revolution...
• The use of the term "Ascenticon" here, means that this issue IS set earlier in the timeline than its contemporary comics.
• Submarauder is shown leaving a Pretender shell, with his inner robot designed to resemble a Prime Master figure. We can probably assume that Skullgrin and Octopunch have the same ability.
• The boys designed after the Museum guards from Robots in Disguise that I thought were just bouncers last issue, are shown to actually be part of Breakdown's corrupted security force.
• There's still no clue on whether Xaaron is a Velocitronian or just a visiting signatory yet...he just doesn't feel like a member of the speedy planet's population to me! 
• Axer is revealed to have been a member of Mayhem this issue, planning to overrule the Velocitronian way of deciding its leadership. However it also appears that the main force of Mayhem were also working with Breakdown and Knock Out to cause enough havok to enable Knock Out to win the race, before betraying and killing Axer...this is confusing! 

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 - Transformers vs Visionaries #4

Title: Good Men

Written by: Magdalene Visaggio 

Art by: Fico Ossio

Colours by: David Garcia Cruz

Lettered by: Shawn Lee

Edited by: Sarah Gaydos & David Mariotte

Published by: Greg Goldstein

Plot

Quickswitch is recruited by Ironhide's team due to his drill alternate mode, and is outfitted with the counter-wave bomb to be taken down to Vector Sigma and detonated to stop the Talisman's effects. Leoric and Ironhide are worried about how they haven't heard from Arzon's team yet, and believe they may have been killed.

In New Prysmos, Witterquick and Mortdred are being held in a torture chamber and are hurt by Reekon, until Cryotek arrives and takes over the torture. He tries to explain himself to Witterquick, when Virulina comes in and wants to talk to her ew Darkling Lord.

Elesewhere, in his chamber, Merklynn is talking with Arzon, and explains that he wants their people to go back to their magical ways and sees the Cybertronians are blasphemous. He tells Arzon that he wants him to overthrow Virulina and rule Prysmos the proper way, even showing him a vision of the future from his scrying pool, showing Virulina broken and beaten on a floor.

Virulina takes Cryotek to her throne room, where she attacks him to goad him into fighting back, making him prove that he will fight for his people, she is able to defeat him, and explains that she has used a spell on the torture chamber that will send their life-force to the Talisman to speed up it's activation, meaning that it'll be ready today, so long as Witterquick and Mortdred are killed by Cryotek.

Back in the lab, Quickswitch is having some last minute work done before the mission, when Leoric receives a message from Cryotek, telling him about what is happening with Witterquick and the Talisman, apologizing for his betrayal . Leoric heads off alone to confront Virulina himself, leaving Galadria in charge of the bomb team.

The team, heads out, but soon encounter Talsiman energy whilst drilling. Quickswitch manages to go through the energy, shielding the others, but is killed in the process. The group wind up in a chamber near Vector Sigma and Wheeljack prepares to set off the bomb. Unfortunately the group are not alone, Arzon, now wearing Darkling Lord armour, confronts the group. The Spectral Knights are captured by the Darkling Lords, whilst Arzon tries to convince Galadria to join him, but she cannot do so, as committing genocide is wrong. Arzon slaps her away, and slashes the counterwave bomb in half....

Characters

Autobot

Ironhide - Van

Wheeljack - Race Car

Quickswitch - Drill  Killed by Talisman Energy

Windblade - VTOL Jet (Image)

Spectral Knight

Leoric 

Galadria

Ectar

Witterquick Being Drained of Life Force

Arzon Joins Darkling Lords

Darkling Lord

Virulina

Cryotek

Reekon

Cravex

Lexor

Mortdred Being Drained of Life Force

Darkstorm (Flashback)

Other Cybertronian/Colonist

Breakdown - Arnoured Van

Vector Sigma (Mentioned)

Other

Merklynn

Heskedor (Mentioned) Heart Became Arcana Vast

Notes

• Hey look it's Quickswitch! Let's hope he doesn't die within an iss-oh....he did... Funny story, I actually called this, I read the three page preview and called that he would die a "shock-death" Here's my tweet!
• Speaking of shock deaths...has anything been said of what happened with Fat Tankor? Last time we saw him he was guarding the alien city.
• Quickswitch's transformation capabilities seem a bit confused in this issue. He bemoans his drill mode, but doesn't he have 4 other alternate modes? (I would assume this was due to a change in his alternate modes for the series, except the roll call page says he's a multi-former)
• Virulina has big scary holographic versions of her head emitting from her base tower...how can the people of New Prysmos NOT see she is evil?!
• We learn a bit of the Visionaries creation story here, basically there was once a being who acted as the living universe, and over time she split apart with her heart forming the Arcana vast at the core of Prysmos, giving life to their planet and giving them their magical powers.
• So...from the dialogue here it sounds like Merklynn did intend to betray Virulina eventually, but not in the way I thought originally, he just wants someone else to take control of the city.
• Still waiting for all the air to escape New Prysmos here...it's a been a couple days at least now
• Apparently the totem shields can be used to contact other Visionaries, which emits the caller's face via magic...why didn't any of the left behind Spectral Knights use this to ask Leoric and the others what was happening rather than betraying him to Virulina?
• Oh, Arzon joined the Darkling Lords too, cool...seems like all the most loyal Spectral Knights aren't too loyal huh? I mean I guess it could just be a ruse for his ultimate plan to take down Virulina, but it seems a bit extreme to slap Galadria if that was the case.
• Also, remember how Mortdred was standing along with Virulina on top of the Thrustinator chariot last issue, implying that he was either betraying the Knights, or just getting close to her to assassinate her? Well I think Mags forgot! He's a prisoner here now!
• And yes, this issue ends with the Darkling Lords still with all the power and nothing good for the Spectral Knights, so if they have any chance of winning in the finale next issue it will be a Deus Ex Machina...yay....

IDW - Transformers vs Visionaries #3

Title: Desperate Measures

Written by: Magdalene Visaggio

Art by: Fico Ossio

Colours by: David Garcia Cruz

Lettered by: Shawn Lee

Edited by: Sarah Gaydos & David Mariotte

Published by: Greg Goldstein

Plot

In New Prysmos, Virulina declares to the Spectral Knights who were left behind in the city when Leoric and his crew left, that they should join her side, because Leoric and the others are wrong. Cryotek agrees to, which leads the others to defect to the Darkling Lords too. One of the Darkling Lords, Mortdred, leaves quietly as he knows that Virulina hates him and will likely kill him before long.

Soon, Mortdred reaches Leoric and his team, telling them what is happening in the city, and asks to join them, since he knows how Virulina thinks about him. Ironhide later questions Leoric on how he trusts the Darkling Lord, which he admits that he doesn't, but knows he has a survival instinct that is stronger than his corrupted personality, and he thinks they can use his skills.

In Wheeljack's lab, he attaches a new arm to Breakdown to replace his decayed one, before performing an experiment on the old rusted arm, which he manages to reverse the effects of the magic, for about a second before his crumbles again. This gives the Autobot an idea on how to save Cybertron from the effects of the Talisman.

Soon, the Spectral Knights are called to a meeting with the Autobots, who discuss the newly theorized "counter-wave" that can be used to negate the Talisman's effects on Cybertron's core, and inoculating it, and all Cybertronians from the future effects too, however they still need to work on it.

In the meanwhile, Witterquick, Arzon, and Mortdred are sent back to New Prysmos to assassinate Virulina, and force them back into the dominate role, with Leoric confident that Merklynn will simply back whoever has the best likelihood of winning this war.

The team arrive in the tunnels under New Prysmos, where Mortred is forced to take on his tiny beetle totem form to enter the city undetected. he makes it to Virulina's throneroom in the Darkling Lord Monastery where he witnesses Virulina experimenting with her magic, attempting to recreate an old technique from Prysmos where they powered old machinery with magic, and she attempts to trun Waspinator into a chariot for her to use.

Mortdred leaves and reports that the monastery is lightly guarded, with most Visionaries likely being on patrol in the city, and the team head into the city, via the sewers of the city itself.

Inside the monastery Witterquick speeds around to see if anyone is around, but finds no-one, soon however they notice a Darkling Lord and he knocks her out, not realizing that it's one of his fellow former Spectral Knights, Feryl.

Soon, the trio split up, with them all knowing their roles in the mission. Before too long, Arzon comes across the treacherous Cryotek and the two fight over who's side is right or not, that is until Virulina, now riding her monstrous Waspinator-chariot , with Mortdred by her side, and Witterquick trapped in Waspinator's mandibles....

Characters

Autobot

Ironhide - Van

Wheeljack - Race Car

Kup - Pick Up Truck (Mentioned) Dead

Decepticon

Waspinator - Tank Turned into Chariot by Virulina

Other Cybertronian/Colonist

Breakdown - Armoured Van

Spectral Knight

Leoric

Arzon

Witterquick Captured by Virulina

Ectar

Galladria

Cryotek (Joins Darkling Lords)

Feryl (Joins Darkling Lords) Knocked Out Cold by Witterquick

Craggor (Joins Darkling Lords)

Other Spectral Knights (Joins Darkling Lords)

Darkling Lord

Virulina

Mortdred

Cravex

Darkstorm (Mentioned) Dead

Other Prysmosian

Merklynn (Flashback)

Notes

• So....there were actually LOADS of Spectral Knights left behind in New Prysmos...why did Leoric not call on any of them to help defend the shield from the Darkling Lords?!
• We finally see this universe's version of Cryotek here, and he's kind of an idiot...he immediately decides that Leoric is wrong and joins forces with Virulina, even taking on Darkling Lord armour, and convincing the other Knights to do the same...even though in issue one he refused to join the meeting about the invasion of Cybertron situation because he found it "shameful"
• Also...was she just adding to her lies after he switched sides, since during the fight with Arzon he claimed that the Cybertronians were isolating and destroying them....THEY INVADED CYBERTRON AND THEN KILLED A BUNCH OF GUYS TRYING TO BROKER PEACE/PROTECT THEM FROM THE UNKNOWN DANGERS OF THE MECHANICAL PLANET THEY INVADED!!!!
• Seriously, is Cryotek just a moron or something?!
• So we see here that Wheeljack's new counter-wave can reverse the effects of the Visionary magic causing Cybertronians to rust to death, sure it doesn't last long right now, but it'll likely be ready by the end of issue 5....I really hope they don't bring Kup back just like that...that would really make his emotional death truly pointless...
• Leoric's plan is to send a team into New Prysmos to assassinate Virulina...why bother? without the shield the atmosphere will be gone soon, leading her to just suffocate to death...no I am not letting that bit of illogicality to pass...
• Okay, it is implied here that the Talisman is also going to transform Cybertron into an organic planet, with animal and vegetation....WHERE THE FUCK DID VIRULINA GET THAT FROM?!?! You cannot just add a huge plot point like that three issues into a series, and imply that that was stated from the start. The Talisman has only ever been shown to kill Cybertronians, disrupt technology, and turn people into Dire Wraith hybrids before. Nothing about it creating new life!
• Waspinator is mentioned to be the last remaining Cybertronian guard left in New Prysmos....does this mean that Tankor is dead? Did he run away with Ironhide?
• Why did Feryl have a face mask on? Was it just so that Witterquick wouldn't recognise her despite her distinctive hairstyle and animal totem?
• So, my guess is that the "twist" at the end of this issue that Mortdred has betrayed the Spectral Knights to Virulina is actually going to be revealed to be a double twist next issue, where it's revealed that Arzon's unmentioned plan was for him to pretend to betray them, just so they can attack her from behind or something.
• Waspinator's "chariot" form is actually based on the Fun Publications toy for Thrustinator, a fairly forgettable figure from the Subscription Service. I am impressed!
• We all know that Waspinator will survive this incident, that's his whole shtick, the universe hates him, so it won't let him just die, despite all the pain he goes through.
• As I said last issue, this issue still leaves the Transformers at a massive disadvantage to the Darkling Lords. The only real "advantage" they have at the moment is that they have a potential counter to the Talisman's effect, but it's far from being completed. My prediction is that this will continue next issue, with something being pulled out of Leoric's ass in issue 5 to save the day.

IDW - Transformers vs Visionaries #2

Title: Cybertron No More

Written by: Magdalene Visaggio

Art by: Fico Ossio

Colours by: David Garcia Cruz

Lettered by: Shawn Lee

Edited by: Sarah Gaydos & David Mariotte

Published by: Greg Goldstein

Plot

Ironhide races out of New Prysmos to alert the rest of his team of Virulina's murder of Kup, whilst Virulina races towards Merklynn's prison to free him, followed by Leoric, protesting what she has just done. Inside the cage, Leoric is horrified to see that Merklynn has also killed his guards using some magic he has managed to tap into, and leaves as Virulina heads to the balcony and declares that they can kill the Cybertronians and will take their planet to the people below, showing Kup's dead and severed head as proof.

Leoric soon calls a meeting of the Spectral Knights at their fortress, where they agree that they cannot take a world that is already inhabited, so they must fight the Darkling Lords, despite this leading to a war that will hurt their already lowered population.

Soon, the Darkling Lords have headed to the three pillars that generate the shield that keeps the Prysmosians inside their city, and prepare to destroy them, with the civilians of the city watching. The Spectral Knights arrive and fight off the Lords, seemingly winning in their fights, until the civilians turn against the Spectral Knights, telling them that they want to follow the Darkling Lords now.

Before long, the pillars are destroyed, and Virulina and Merklynn gloat over their impending victory. Leoric arrives behind them to battle Virulina, but she manages to overpower him, and he is forced to retreat with the others

Ironhide returns to Wheeljack's lab where he informs them of Kup's death, when Wheeljack gives him more bad news. When the Talisman reaches the planet's core it will taint all the Energon left in it, and turn all Cybertronians on the planet to dust, just like Kup, and it will hit in less than two days. Things look dark, until Leoric and the Spectral Knights arrive behind him.

Kup instinctively calls for them to be detained, but Leoric explains what just happened in the city, and explains that they do not agree with Virulina and want to help to stop the Talisman. Ironhide agrees to team up with them, but warns Leoric against betraying him...

Back in New Prysmos, Virulina is crowned the Chancellor of New Prysmos and vows to a cheering crowd that they will kill all the Cybertronians on the planet and take it for their new world!

Characters

Autobot

Ironhide - Van

Wheeljack - Race Car

Kup - Pick Up Truck (Head Only) Dead

Decepticon

Fat Tankor - Tank

Other Cybertronian/Colonist

Breakdown - Armoured Van

Merklynn's Guards Killed by Merklynn

Security Force Members

Starscream - Fighter Jet (Mentioned)

Spectral Knight

Leoric

Galadria

Arzon

Witterquick

Ectar

Darkling Lord

Virulina

Cindarr

Cravex

Lexor

Darkstorm (Mentioned)

Other Prysmosian

Merklynn

New Prysmosians

Notes

• Umm...Ironhide...maybe you should mention to Tankor about the killer organics inside the city he is guarding, rather than just ignoring him as you ram out of the city?
• So...the entire premise of this issue is that the Darkling Lords and the people of New Prysmos want the shield erected by the Cybertronians torn down so they can leave, but the Cybertronians didn't create the shield...Merklynn did. This only works if they created a second shield some time, or Merklynn has been lying about it's origins for some reason.
• Despite his name-drop last issue, Cryotek isn't amongst the Spectral Knights during their meeting or exile from New Prysmos.
• We get our first glimpses of the Visionary animal totems here. The animal forms are summoned from staffs, which are now possessed by all the Visionaries, rather than coming from their chest emblems, with the staffs being used for alternate magical spirits.
• On another note, the Spectral Knights retain their classic blue colouring, whilst the Darling Lords have been changed to purple. This is most likely to help differentiate the colours blue and green are quite similar, especially when they are lightly coloured.
• Despite the images on the totems being based on their traditional appearances the animal forms are now altered (most likely to resemble Prysmosian animals instead of Earth animals). These changes include a four eyes shark, a tusked lion and a horned dolphin.
• It takes all issue for Ironhide to reach Iacon to inform Wheeljack of what happened to Kup, but the Spectral Knights arrive just after him, having held their meeting and battle with the Darkling Lords in the process...maybe they can time travel?
• So....I know Metroplex pumped a breathable atmosphere into Iacon for the humans during First Strike...but how can the Prysmosians be sure that he's kept pumping it into their area since then? Also, what are they going to do when they kill all the Cybertronians? Just live in spacesuits? (And don't say that they happen to be able to breath the same air as what is natural on Cybertron, a planet without organic plant-life and was designed for mechanical life)
• So this story suffers from quite a bad problem so far...the Darkling Lords have the upperhand, and this is issue 2 of 5. Unless something happens to even slightly tip the scales next issue, then this is a very unbalanced series. If something happens to change the scale issue 4 or 5 then it's too late for it story-wise and will be seen just as a deus-ex-machine for our heroes. Maybe they will point out the atmosphere thing next issue or something?

IDW - Transformers vs Visionaries #1

Title: Schismatic

Written by: Magdalene Visaggio

Art by: Fico Ossio

Colours by: David Garcia Cruz

Lettered by: Gilberto Lazcano

Assistant Editor: David Mariotte

Edited by: Sarah Gaydos

With Assistance From: Carlos Guzman

Published by: Ted Adams

Plot

Merklynn has been imprisoned by his Visionaries, who have now arrived and taken residence in New Prysmos, shocked that it is in the more of an inhabited planet rather than a barren one that they were promised. The Visionaries are forced to hold talks with the Cybertronians due to his actions, but the Darkling Lords are dismissive of this, since they don't consider the Cybertronians to be real life, as they are mechanical.

Ironhide and Kup enter the city where they head towards meeting the two Visionary leaders, Leoric of the Spectral Knights, and Virulina of the Darkling Lords. Kup just wants peace between the two species, but Ironhide is himself dismissive of the peace talks, since he considers the Prysmosians as invaders and is worried that they are using Cybertron's now very limited resources too much.

The two groups meet and begin their talks, after Kup embarrasses everyone by trying the universal greeting on the newcomers.

Wheeljack and Breakdown, his new assistant, head towards the city on Windblade's orders to examine the effect the Talisman is having on Cybertron's environment, when Breakdown notices a surge of energy coming out of the ground. He touches it and his arm immediately turns to rust and begins spreading. Wheeljack quickly removes the arm with his laser scalpel, but both are horrified to see the severed arm crumple into nothing within seconds.

Inside the city, the meeting goes bad when Kup brings up that the Council of Worlds wants the Visionaries to hand over Merklynn as an act of good-will, leading Virulina to claim they just want to keep them imprisoned on the planet. Ironhide agrees and points out that if they don't start agreeing with their terms, then they'll be kept behind the energy grid indefinitely. Virulina and Ironhide both storm off, leaving Leoric and Kup alone, where they calmly discuss how both species have been in civil wars, and how Leoric had hoped their current situation would bring the two Visionary factions together, but sees that he is wrong. Kup tells Leoric about how even after their long standing war, the Cybertronians have made peace, and even had Megatron join the Autobots post war, so there is still hope for peace for the Visionaries.

In his cell, Merklynn continues to mope about his failed takeover of Cybertron, as he had hoped that the planet would be perfect to rebuild Prysmos on since it was vacant and war-torn...but he notices something in a cauldron that cheers him up...

Virulina meets with Cindarr in the Monastery of the Darkling Lords, where she bemoans the peace talks with him. He, however, informs her of what happened with Breakdown outside the city, and gives her the idea that their magic can hurt the Cybertronians, and has discovered something about the Talisman...

At Wheeljack's lab, Ironhide and Kup are shown what happened to Breakdown, and explains that the energy from the Talisman has a negative effect on Cybertronian bodies, causing them to decay at a rapid rate, just like what happened to Breakdown's arm. He also reveals that the Talisman is moving closer towards Vector Sigma, at the planet's core, and if it does it will fully infect the energon supply, poisoning it and likely killing all Cybertronian life on the planet. Ironhide storms off to confront the Visionaries about this discovery.

Back in New Prysmos, the Autobots confront Leoric and Virulina about this Leoric has no idea what is happening, but Virulina admits to knowing all about the Talisman's actions and is glad about it. She takes out a magically charged staff and lunges at Ironhide with it, but Kup pushes him away, taking the hit instead, and immediately is hit but the rusting effect and falls to the ground, dead, with Virulina declaring that Cybertron will be theirs!

Characters

Autobot

Kup - Pickup Truck Reduced to Rust by Virulina

Ironhide - Van

Wheeljack - Race Car

Megatron - Tank (Mentioned)

Windblade - VTOL Fighter Jet (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Fat Tankor - Tank

Other Cybertronian/Colonist

Breakdown - Armoured Van

Cybertronian Guards

Council of Worlds (Mentioned)

Vector Sigma (Mentioned)

Primus (Mentioned)

Spectral Knight

Leoric

Galadria

Arzon

Witterquick

Cryotek (Mentioned)

Darkling Lord

Virulina

Cindarr

Cravex

Lexor

Darkstorm (Statue Only) Killed with Prysmos' Destruction

Other Prysmosian

Merklynn/Garrison Kreiger Imprisoned by Visionaries

New Prysmosian Civilians 

Old Prysmos Population (Mentioned) Most Killed with Prysmos' Destruction

Notes

• I don't normally comment on the credits, but I don't understand the Carlos Guzman credit, they already had an assistant editor, so why did they need a non-assistant editor assistant editor credit too? My only guess is that Sarah Gaydos is new and she needed some extra help on her first project (I've never heard of her anyway)
• This story continues on from the end of the First Strike event, set at least a few weeks after the event. We also get verbal cues that this is set after the Till All Are One Annual, as Windblade is hinted at being in charge of Cybertron now.
• So turns out that the planet that Unicron burst out of was not Prysmos after all, as Prysmos is mentioned as being torn apart following Merklynn's spell...so what was the scene with Unicron being summoned due to the Talisman all about then?
• On topic of the Talisman, I'm a little confused as to why Merklynn didn't just use the device on Earth, it appears that the device used Energon for it's ability to re-create Prysmos...so why not tap into Earth's Ore-13 and create a city on there instead of trying to capture Cybertron? Surely Earth would have a more hospitable environment too...I mean if it was Vector Sigma they needed then that's different, but still...why Cybertron?
• It's implied in this story that the barrier around New Prysmos was erected as a containment field by the Cybertronians, but the First Strike event made it look like it was created by Merklynn. Maybe Metroplex erected a field around it as a self defence move, and it just looked otherwise.
• Oh a fun detail I noticed after reading this book about five times. The Visionaries only wear their face paint when they are interacting with the Cybertronians, when they are alone they look normal. This implies that the face paint is either a piece of formal wear or maybe a tribal thing. I like that little detail!
• We learn through dialogue that Darkstorm, the traditional leader of the Darkling Lords, was left to die on Prysmos when it was destroyed, leaving Virulina as their leader.
• Kup last tried using the Universal Greeting with the Micronauts in the Revolutionaries series. That time it actually worked, here, not so much.
• Hey look! Knockdown's previously unnamed Conjunx Endura is finally named in universe, and it is indeed Breakdown as it was in the Prime series! If we didn't already have several characters with shared named in this universe then I may be annoyed, but I'm fine with this :)
• We saw during the Revolutionaries series that the Talisman had the power to kill Cybertronians, so seeing it spread it's energies here makes sense.
• To be fair to her, despite looking fed up during the meeting with Kup and Ironhide, Virulina didn't act up until the Cybertronians suggested that they should hand Merklynn over to them as a sign of good will between the two species. Though to be fair to the Cybertronians, HE DID TRY TO DESTROY THEIR WORLD!!
• Virulina does lie to Cindarr however, when she claims that they just want the Visionaries to be prisoners and under their control, when they do offer them land to use for themselves on the planet if they still want to stay.
• Wheeljack states "Breakdown is a PRIME example"...HAH!!
• Oh no! Kup is dead! This has never happened before except that time he was sent to the Dead Universe for billions of years that is....
• The end of this comic sort of emulates the end of the first issue of Mike Costa's Transformers line where Ironhide is killed defending Hot Rod, a lot like how Kup "takes a bullet" for Ironhide himself here. We all know how that ended up too though...
• Okay I'm pretty sure if a delegate attacks another one, and kills them, then they are in massive trouble, so will Virulina get arrested for this or what?
• This issue is followed by a memorial to Kup and his IDW career, which is quite nice...especially if he stays dead, otherwise it's just emotional fluff designed to evoke sadness in the readers to make the end more impactful.
• I wonder how Ian/Action Man will take the news that his robot best friend is dead now? I smell a spin-off revenge plot!!

Titan - Prime #14

Title: It's a Knock Out

Script: Robin Etherington

Art: Horacio Domingues

Colours: Nestor Pereyra

Lettering: Comicraft

Cover Date: Spring 2013

Cover Price: £3.99

Poster: Autobot Season One main cast

Story

Knock Out and Breakdown cut the power in a TV studio, and then appear before the host.

Later that day Optimus and Bulkhead are told by Fowler about the incident, and that they've been named especially to be the negotiators for the human hostages. Arcee tags along to help behind the scenes.

Optimus and Bulkhead enter the studio and are immediately attacked...by a giant teddy bear, who Bulkhead blasts to nothingness, Knock Out and Breakdown then greet the Autobots and tell them to play their game, or they'll kill their human hostages.

The Autobots go across the studio, but are attacked by the show's obstacles, which have been modified to be more dangerous by Knock Out, however the Autobots manage to break through them all. Some Vehicons that were disguise as Mummy props attack the Autobots, but are easily dealt with. 

Optimus manages to save the hostages, but Knock Out reveals that he's set the building to blow up, but Arcee manages to stop him by sneaking in and blasting the floor out under the Decepticons, sending them plummeting. Later the humans are all fine, but think the robots were just some special effects (idiots) and Arcee wipes out all the footage of the Transformers recorded by the cameras.

Later, the kids somehow manage to watch some of the footage, specifically a part where Bulkhead falls into some water and gets wet.

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Bulkhead - Off Road Vehicle

Arcee - Motorcycle

Decepticon

Knock Out - Sports Car

Breakdown - Armoured Van

Mummy Vehicons

Megatron (Mentioned)

Human

Chuck Chuckles

Miko

Raf

Jack

Agent Fowler

Down and Out Contestant

Down and Out Crew and Audience

Notes

• The Down and Out contestant seems to be based on Indiana Jones
• WHY OH WHY OH WHY WOULD KNOCK OUT AND THE AUTOBOTS APPEAR IN ROBOT MODE IN A STUDIO FULL OF HUMANS?!?!?
• THE HUMANS THEN BELIEVE THE AUTOBOTS ARE JUST SPECIAL EFFECTS?!? WTF?!?!!!??? 
• Why is Arcee driving around without her holo-driver?
• Due to Breakdown being happily walking around, we can assume this is set before his death
• So Knock Out's plan was to make the Autobots play a game, to embarrass them or something?
• Vehicon Mummies are awesome!
• Gee that bridge sure does turn giant and very strong when the Autobots are walking on it doesn't it?
• Not that I'm complaining, but where's Bumblebee in this episode?
• Arcee claims that she has deleted all the footage of the Transformers caught on the studio cameras....yet the kids are watching Bulkhead on the show later on...how did that happen?
• Bulkhead freaking out and "killing" the giant teddy is similar to his reaction to the scraplets.
• In the Trans Files section it referenced that the Nemesis is actually Trypticon, something not mentioned in the series.

Other Features

Adverts

Competition

It's Prime Time - recap of second half of season 2

Kre-O Transformers Conundrums! - Kre-O based puzzles

Ultimate Smackdown - Starscream vs Soundwave

Soundwave's Stumpers! - More Puzzles

All About Knock Out! - Info on everyone's favourite narcissist 

Down and Out! - Puzzles based loosely on today's comic

The Trans Files - Information on the Nemesis/Trypticon

Mega Mouth - Arcee and Megatron read the mail and stuff

Super Cybertronian Search! - Wordsearch

Prime Targets! - Cut out targets for use with the free foam dart gun in today's comic

IDW - Prime

Plot

Cliffjumper returns to Cybertron after picking up a Decepticon signature and upon arriving is attacked by several Vehicons. The Autobot is captured by them and taken to their base where they order him to decrypt an encrypted Autobot message for them (it's Optimus' message to his forces to come to Earth), but Cliffjumper lies and tells them a joke about the contents. The Vehicons prepare to kill him, but Arcee breaks in and takes out the Vehicons and frees Cliffjumper with ease. Arcee says that the Decepticons are builidng something big in Kaon, and she's going to stop them, Cliff decides to join her, and then to head to Earth together afterwards.

The two Autobots arrive at Kaon and break into the location of the building site using the ancient tunnels under the city that Arcee knows about where they find Starscream and a group of Vehicons in front of a completed Space Bridge, targeted towards Earth. The two realize that they have to destroy the Space Bridge to stop them from sending an army to fight against Optimus. Cliff causes a distraction whilst Arcee sabotages the Bridge with the controls, the Autobots are fired upon by the Decepticons, but they escape through the Space Bridge just as it starts to explode.

The two Autobots fall from the Space Bridge on Earth in a desert an celebrate their small victory. The two look for local disguises and take on vehicle modes, then start to look for Optimus and the others. The Space Bridge opens up again briefly and flings Starscream out of it as it finally destabilizes fully. Starscream sees a couple of jets fly over him, and scans one. The two Autobots are riding along the road when they're attacked by Starscream in jet mode, Arcee is badly injured and Screamer gloats over them.

Starscream defends an injured Arcee against Starscream and has the advantage until Breakdown appears and starts beating on him. Arcee wakes up and starts shooting at Breakdown to stop him from hurting Cliff anymore. Breakdown throws Cliff down and goes to rescue Starscream, who is trapped under some rocks, thanks to Cliffjumper. The two Autobots regroup again and go into hiding, the Decepticons chase them, but are stopped when Optimus and Bumblebee appear, having detected their arrival. The Decepticons run/fly away, and Optimus takes the new arrivals back to base via a Ground Bridge from Ratchet.

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Arcee - Motorcycle

Cliffjumper - Muscle Car

Bumblebee - Sports Car

Ratchet - Ambulance (Voice)

Bulkhead - Off Road Vehicle (Group Shot Only)

Decepticon

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Breakdown - Armored Van

Vehicons

Megatron (Mentioned)

Other

Unicron (Mentioned)

Notes

• This story was re-done in Season 2 of the TV series, but altered some details, like Arcee and Cliffjumper being captured together, Shockwave being the interrogator and Space Bridge developer, and other small details like that (annoying continuity)
• The Vehicons in this story use different colourschemes...this appears to be random
• Two of the vehicles Cliffjumper passed on to scan were a caravan and a truck, both vehicles are used by Rodimus and Optimus in G1....just a weird coincidence...or more?
• Arcee seems to almost die at Starscream's hand in this story...ironic considering how Cliffjumper actually does die by Starscream's hand in the TV series premier
• Breakdown is shown to be on Earth at this point, but isn't seen/mentioned in the TV series until a few episodes into it
• Bulkhead only appears in this issue on the last page in the "group shot" of the Autobots.

TFCC - The Stunti-Con Job

Comic Staff

Story - Marty Isenberg, Derrick J. Wyatt & Matt Youngberg

Writer - Marty Isenberg

Pencils/Inks - Marcelo Matere

Colours - Thomas Deer & Jesse Wittenrich

Letters - Jesse Wittenrich

Storyline

Shortly after Optimus Prime and his team return to Cybertron with the Allspark and Megatron and his troops as prisoners and the Decepticons are imprisoned in their old fortress Trypticon in Kaon.

In Iacon Sideswipe is working as a beat cop, approaching the end of his career and retirement to the Energon Farms, but he needs to solve this one last case, which regards some stolen modifications. Whilst out on the street looking into a lead Sideswipe and his new partner Cheetor take down Rattletrap, who has Optimus Prime's axe on him, he says that he gave it to him, so Sideswipe calls his bluff. The three of them go to see Optimus who shows them his axe, and Rattletrap admits that the one he has is a copy and was found at the Motor Master's Stunt Convoy's rehearsal. Sideswipe has Rattletrap taken to the stockades for peddling stolen merchandise.

Cheetor and Sideswipe head to the Stunt Convoy's practice area (a former gladiator arena in Kaon, next to Trypticon) when Cheetor spots some Decepticons and goes to attack them, only to be stopped by Wildrider, when he learns that the Decepticons are actually just actors performing into a show for Sentinel "Magnus". The Stunt Convoy rehearse their show and pander up to Sentinel, who's only upset that the hologram of his head used in the show isn't bigger (as he wants Megatron to see it from his cell). The rehearsal ends when Toxitron reveals he lost his axe, which Sideswipe says he has, and then proceeds to look through their props as he thinks there's more stolen modifications there, but finds nothing and is escorted off the site by some Autotroopers on Sentinel's orders.

Later Sideswipe and Cheetor are looking into the Stunt Convoy members but find no records of them at all, when an Autotrooper walks in and tells them that Ironfist's lab's been broken into. The two cops head out to help Ironfistand they find his lab ransacked and him unconscious, but they wake him and he points out a silhouette, who looks like Optimus, but they quickly discover that it's Toxitron! Cheetor attacks him and manages to take him down, but angers Sideswipe in the process by risking killing them all by shooting a laser in a lab with explosive materials in it.
Toxitron is taken in for questioning, but isn't able to given any coherent answers so he's let go. Afterwards Sideswipe and Cheetor look into it some more and realise that due to some excavation and demolitions equipment also go missing that means that the Stunt Convoy are planning a break out from the prison next to their arena, and he realizes that the Stunt Convoy must be Decepticons as well because of this.
Strika has Wildrider and his Stunticon team report about the mission and they confirm that the prison will be broken into when the arena is destroyed during their show's finale.
The show starts and the arena is filled with Autobots when Cheetor and Sideswipe rush in and stop the show, but the Stunticons fight back, with Sentinel actually believing this to be part of the show. The Stunticons have the two cops cornered, but then Toxitron comes out from the wings and causes a part of the stadium to collapse and crush the Decepticons, Toxitron transforms and is revealed to be Optimus using Electronic paint, much to Sentinel's surprise. Optimus plays a recording of the report to Strika, which he was posing as Toxitron during and reveals that he had the real Toxitron captured and had Ironfist do his paint job for this plan as he was suspicious of the Convoy.
Motor Master gets himself free somehow and threatens to blow up the entire stadium and has Sideswipe at point blank range, Sideswipe grabs an axe from the ground and launches it, sending him and Motor Master flying into the wall and he grabs the detonator from him. Cheetor shouts at Sideswipe for risking blowing up everyone (as Cheetor did earlier himself) and Sideswipe says that NO ONE will stop his retirement.
The Stunticons are taken into Trypticon to be imprisoned right next to Megatron and the others, and Sideswipe finally retires to the Energon farm, he relaxes and watches a meteor shower in the sky...until he realises the shower is another Decepticon team lad by Strika!

Characters

Autobot

Sideswipe - Sports Car

Cheetor - Race Car

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Sentinel Prime/Magnus

Autotroopers - Treaded Vehicles 

Rattletrap - Speedbike

Bulkhead - SWAT Van

Ratchet - Ambulance

Bumblebee - Hatchback

Arcee - Sports Car

Omega Supreme - Orion Space Shuttle

Jazz - Sports Car

Jetfire - Jet

Jetstorm - Jet

Alpha Trion

Perceptor - Mobile Laboratory

Blurr - Race Car Cubed

Cliffjumper - Small Car

Botanica - Coupe

Brawn - Treaded Van

Ironhide - Treaded Vehicle

Rodimus - Sports Car

Red Alert - Ambulance

Hot Shot - Sports Car

Grandus - Mobile Platform

Erector

Warpath - Tank

Hubcap - Small Car

Bumper - Small Car

Sedan - Small Car

Tap-Out - Small Car

Chase - Small Car

Searchlight - Small Car

Freeway - Small Car

Wheelie - Small Car

Powerglide - Treaded Vehicle

Pipes - Treaded Truck

Huffer - Treaded Truck

Chromia - Sports Car

Minerva - Sports Car

Tracks - Sports Car

Mirage - Race Car

Wheeljack - Race Car

Cosmos - Observatory Buggy

Flareup - Motorcycle

Longrack

Rosanna

Lightbright - Submersible Hovercraft

Lickety-Split - Motor Trike 

Beachcomber (File Image)

Scrounge - Wheel (File Image)

Jackpot (File Image)

Decepticon

The Motor Master - Truck Cab Imprisoned in Trypticon

Wildrider - Muscle Car Imprisoned in Trypticon

Drag Strip - Sports Car Imprisoned in Trypticon

Dead End - Sports Car Imprisoned in Trypticon

Breakdown - Sports Car Imprisoned in Trypticon

Toxitron - Truck Cab Imprisoned in Trypticon

Strika - Armoured Battle Tank

Blot - Tank

Sky-Byte - Bomber Plane

Mindwipe - Jet

Oil Slick - Motorcycle

Scalpel - Microscope

Megatron - Osprey Helicopter Imprisoned in Trypticon

Shockwave - Tank/Crane/Longarm Imprisoned in Trypticon

Lugnut - Bomber Plane Imprisoned in Trypticon

Mini-Con

High Wire

Leader-1

Grindor

Sureshock

Reachout

DUCK-E

Other

Sari Sumdac - Human Woman

Mudflap (File Image)

Notes

• Rattletrap asks Cheetor and him can work together, the latter says maybe in another lifetime...hmmmm...
• Motormaster and his team look like some of the Autobots because they were cloned from them
• Cheetor uses two of his weapons in one scene...you only get one with the toy :(
• Blurr is seen in cube form in the large crowd scene...so he wasn't incinerated!
• The Stunt Convoy's banner shows an image of the 2011 Botcon toy set's box art
• Oil Slick has a new weapon attached to him, which is clearer to see in the Addendum
• Wildrider uses Lockdown's character model, which implies (since all the others use Autobot bodies) that he was an Autobot originally before going freelance
• After he dons his cape, helmet and shoulder pads Sentinel seems to loose his vehicle mode kibble, implying that he has a new alternate mode...maybe we'll find out what that is in a later comic?
• Erector has a Cy-Gar...hope he's not crazy as well (like Kup)

Prologue: Moving Viloations

Comic Staff

Writers - Greg Sepelak & S. Trent Troop

Pencils/Inks - Greg Sepelak

Colours - S. Trent Troop

Letters - Jesse Wittenrich

Storyline

Cheetor chases Crumplezone and Ransack through a street on Cybertron for a moving violation, but ends up causing havok and ends up causing Crumplezone to create a large crater in the middle of the street.

Later Cheetor is berated by Chief Depth Charge who demotes him to a beat cop in Iacon for his actions (leading to the events of the main comic)

Characters

Autobot


Cheetor - Race Car
Depth Charge - Submersible Vehicle
Crumplezone - Rocket Car
Ransack - Speedbike
Pipes - Treaded Truck
Huffer - Treaded Truck
Road Rage - Sports Car
Excellion - Sports Car
Chromia - Sports Car
Glyph - Small Car
Moscardo - Small Car
Volks - Small Car
Chase - Small Car
Tap-Out - Small Car
Stampy - Speedbike
Flashpoint - Van
Strongarm - Treaded Van
Air Raid - Treaded Vehicle
Autotrooper - Treaded Vehicle
Dug Base - Mobile Platform
Stungun - Wheeled Vehicle
Hubcap - Small Car
Jackpot
Rosanna
Saur
Ramhorn
Autobot Workers (2)
Blurr - Race Car (Mentioned)

Other


The Motor Master - Truck Cab (Picture)
Wasp - Small Car (Wanted Poster)
Mudflap (Wanted Poster)

Notes

• Crumplezone is based on the Dark Crumplezone toy from the Cybertron series (most likely to distinguish him from Bulkhead)
• Cheetor gets splattered in black paint here, which explains why they are on his toy
• For a two page comic there sure are a lot of cameos here...
• Jackpot and Hubcap being spoken to by Stungun is a reference to Gone too Far
• There are no Decepticons (well except for a picture of Motor Master) in this comic as they were banished from Cybertron, Wasp is unalligned, and Mudflap's faction is unknown (and they're just on posters anyway)
• Jackpot is clearly based on Jazz, but appears in a Cybertronian mode, which wasn't shown before for Jazz, so this issue effectively reveals Jazz's Cybertronian form as well, but not his alternate mode of course <<
• Also, due to Ransack sharing a character mode with Rattletrap, this story also reveals his alternate mode (as well as Stampy's)
• Also there are many new character sin this comic that share character models with older characters, but rather than going on about all of them, I'll leave you guys to look them up yourselves (as I'm lazy)

Allspark Almanac Addendum

Cheetor Profile by Ironfist

Ironfist Profile by Swindle

Sideswipe Profile by Ransack and Crumplezone

Depth Charge Profile by Cheetor

Ransack Profile by Depth Charge

Crumplezone Profile by Sideswipe

The Motor Master Profile by Wildrider

Wildrider Profile by Drag Strip

Drag Strip Profile by Breakdown

Breakdown Profile by Dead End

Dead End Profile by Toxitron

Toxitron Profile by The Motor master

Moving Violations summary by Depth Charge

The Stunti-Con Job summary by Strika

Trypticon Prison information by Sideswipe (with info on Mini-Cons)

Botcon 2011 summary (with images of the TFA toys from that convention)