IDW - Regeneration One #96

Title: The War to End All Wars: Part 1

Writer: Simon Furman

Penciler: Guidi Guido

Inker/Finisher (Pages 17-22): Stephen Baskerville

Colourist: John-Paul Bove

Letterer: Chris Mowry

Editor: John Barber

Editor-in-Chief: Chris Ryall

Plot

At some point in time, an older looking Rodimus Prime is standing in a fiery and melted room, reflecting on his massive past mistakes....

In the present day, Rodimus leads the Autobots in a rescue mission in Iacon, which has been devastated in the recent war with the Decepticcons, which leads to some guys like Kup wondering if it would have been better if they'd lost instead. Amongst the carnage they find a barely living Bludgeon, who begs Rodimus to finish him off so he can have his honourable death, but Rodimus declines and orders a medic, when available to heal him up, as a punishment.

Rodimus begins plans to do as Primus wished, and fix the remaining mistakes he was shown in his journey through time, beginning with Galvatron. He has Ultra Magnus take a team to apprehend him, as he's gone missing from where Magnus left him following the battle. After that, he barely acknowledges the Dinobots and Demons, and rolls off, leaving the Dinobots feeling a bit annoyed.

On Earth, Optimus is building a Space Bridge, since the humans have agreed to relocate to Nebulos for their survival, but Circuit Smasher isn't happy, and is tempted to "accidentally" destroy the bridge. Optimus touches on a sore subject by mentioning Buster's death, which really pisses off Circuit Smasher.

Optimus receives a message from Cybertron, and is greeted by Rodimus Prime, whom he agrees to pass off leadership to. Rodimus discusses with the assembled Autobots and Optimus about the loose threads Primus showed him, but Optimus isn't sure how Circuit Smasher can be a major problem.

Elsewhere, in Kalis, Ultra Magnus and his team have located Galvatron and engage him in a battle, the battle seems to be going well until the Acolytes of Unicron appear and abduct Galvatron, as they see him as a herald of Unicron and see his return as a sign of his return.

Nightbeat and Bumblebee are looking into the old archives, and manage to find an obscure image of Jhiaxus, but realize that Jhiaxus only wiped out the data on himself from Cybertron''s databanks, not other planets, so they send out a message to all Cybertron's past trade partners for any information, and start waiting.

On Nebulos, the Autobots there are building their side of the pace Bridge for the transfer, whilst the Nebulons are working on rebuilding bodies for the remaining Autobot heads kept in their labs, including Fortress Maximus. However unknown to them, the dark spawn of the corrupted Matrix is on Nebulos and enters the tank that hold's Fortress Maximus' original head.

Back on Cybertron, Nightbeat and Bumblebee are concerned about how there are absolutely no responses of any type from any of Cybertron's past traders, so they send out a probe to find out more.

On the Ark in an asteroid field Starscream is getting fed up of waiting still, when he suddenly gets scared of "him" being there.

All of a sudden Cybertron's sky is filled with strange ships, and Rodimus is greeted on a communications screen by the face of Jhiaxus, who claims to come in peace.

Characters

Autobot

Rodimus Prime - Caravan

Optimus Prime - Truck

Ultra Magnus - Car Carrier

Gunrunner - Jet Shot by Acolytes of Unicron

Skram - Race Car Shot by Galvatron

Rapido - Race Car

Blurr - Race Car

Nightbeat - Sports Car

Bumblebee - VW Beetle

Prowl - Police Car

Perceptor - Microscope

Jetfire - Jet

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Swoop - Pteranodon

Slag - Triceratops

Sludge - Apatosaurus

Snarl - Stegosaurus

Quickmix - Mixing Truck

Erector - Truck Cab

Groundpounder - Front End Loader

Takedown - Mixing Truck

Neutro - Bulldozer

Crumble - Crane

Hot Spot - Fire Engine

Hosehead - Fire Engine

Streetwise - Police Car

Blades - Rescue Helicopter

Siren - Emergency Car

Drench - Race Car Injured in Iacon attack

Fixit - Ambulance

Powerglide - Jet

Wheeljack - Race Car

First Aid - Ambulance

Grapple - Crane

Hoist - Tow Truck

Mirage - F1 Race Car

Fortress Maximus - Battle Station Being Rebuilt - Head infected by Dark Matrix creature

Chromedome - Car (Flashback)

Hot Rod - Sports Car (Mentioned) Became Rodimus Prime

Decepticon

Shockwave - Ray Gun Hooked to Ark

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Galvatron - Laser Canon Kidnapped by Acolytes of Unicron

Bludgeon Dying - Being fixed

Krok Arrested

Blitz Engines Destroyed

Megatron (Mentioned)

Soundwave (Mentioned) Arrested

Decepticon Heads in Captivity (Mentioned)

Cybertronian

Jhiaxus

Cybertronian Empire

Demons

Acolytes of Unicron

Dead Guys in Iacon

Boltax (Flashback)

Past Senators (Image)

Spannerbots (Mentioned)

Other

Spike Witwicky/Circuit Smasher

Nebulon Senior Scientist

Dark Matrix Creature

Stylor - Chromedome's Head (Flashback)

Unicron (Image)

Deathbringer (Image)

Primus (Mentioned)

Buster Witwicky (Mentioned)

Witwicky Family (Mentioned)

Little America Collective (Mentioned)

Notes

• Bludgeon somehow survived his plummet to Cybertron, albeit only JUST.
• What caused the massive damage shown in the opening scenes? The Warwold exploded too high up to cause massive ground damage, it could have been from the damage caused by the Warworld shooting the planet, but that damage didn't look like this before.
• Rodimus totally snubs off Grimlock and his Demon army, possibly as a reference to Primus doing the same in the past
• How have the Autobots organized the space bridge project so fast? This story seems to have taken place minutes after the end of the battle, but Optimus and Quickmix's team have almost set up new space bridges on Earth and Nebulos already!
• Rodimus Prime is officially made Autobot leader in this issue.
• Is it just a coincidence that Nightbeat makes his first appearance in Regeneration One at the same time he makes his reappearance in IDW's main continuity? Hmmmm....
• The Acolytes of Unicron have been in hiding since their last appearance just before the Unicron war.
• Erector makes a full, completely unmistakeable appearance here! YAY!
• The Nebulons seem to be fully recovered now as well...how long has it been since the end of the Scorponok sctoryline?
• Chromedome and Stylor are revealed to have both survived the wars in the past, but are now separate and reunited with their original head/reintegrated to society (respectively)
• The Decepticons who went to Nebulos' original heads are being kept detained until further notice.
• The dark Matrix creature has somehow made its way to Nebulos.
• The lack of responses from Cybertron's past traders most likely means they've been destroyed by the Cybertronian Empire (Jhiaxus' guys)
• Rooks alternate mode shown a few issues ago is revealed here to be a mass produced body type.
• Starscream is implied to know who Jhiaxus is, possibly as a reference to Jhiaxus being a bulked out Sekker body-type, maybe.

IDW - Regeneration One #92

Title: Destiny Part Two

Writer: Simon Furman

Penciler: Andrew Wildman

Inker: Stephen Baskerville

Colorist: John-Paul Bove

Letterer: Chris Mowry

Editor: John Barber

Editor-in-Chief: Chris Ryall

Plot

Optimus goes to talk to Circuit Smasher/Spike Witwicky, but is attacked by the super powered human, however Optimus refuses to fight back and insists that he wants to talk. Soon more humans arrive in their battle suits and Spike is ordered to stand down by his wife, Linda Chang who wants to let Optimus have his fair say for now.

On Cybertron Prowl and Trailbreaker are watching over the formerly Nucleon-infused Autobots in the Garage to make sure they're safe to leave, and the "inmates" aren't too happy about the situation. Prowl and Trailbreaker soon leave to help calm down a few recent flashpoints of activity across Cybertron.

Across Cybertron the Decepticons are causing havok for the Autobots, who aren't able to keep calm so easily, which is secretly due to Soundwave spreading a red mist that causes unrest. He is receiving a report on this from Spinister when he notices he has an eavesdropper - Blaster in the Garage. He sends out the Mayhem Attack Squad to take him out before he can reveal this to the Autobots.

Back on Earth Optimus has been taken to Little America in Wyoming where he suggests that the remaining humans be taken to planet Nebulos, so that they can live on a more stable planet, and can help to repair the native, still braindamaged Nebulons. The humans seem to be considering the proposal, but Spike looks furious about it since it would require them to be reliant on Cybertronians to do it.

At the Garage again, Blaster breaks free from his tank, followed by the others and learns about Soundwave sending his troops to get to him for eavesdropping on his plans. Roadgrabber, Snarler and Carnivac attack the exterior of the Garage and take down the guards.

Down below Hot Rod is leading the remaining Dinobots through the catacombs, not realizing that the Demons are following them in secret.

Back in the Garage Snarler smashes through the door and goes to ram Huffer, who just smashes him to the floor due to his innate strength, next Carnivac goes to attack the small Auotbot, but Inferno and SIlverbolt blast him with a massive gun recycled from an Energon Siphon. Next Roadgrabber takes aim to kill the Autobots, but keeps missing due to Blaster sending out scrambling signals, Huffer then pummels him a bit, and the other two blast him with the cannon. Carnivac breaks out of his Pretender shell and fires off a flame at Silverbolt, but is soon defeated himself by Blaster. Inferno puts out the fires on Silverbolt.

Later Prowl and the others return to arrest the defeated Decepticons, and Prowl says he's impressed with them, and confirms that the flashpoints seem to be dying down outside, however they've lost most long range communications and surveillance during the attacks.

This leaves them unknowing of two approaching ships, the War World and the Ark, with Bludgeon and Galvatron inside them, planning their own attacks on Cybertron.

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck

Hot Rod - Car

Prowl - Police Car

Trailbreaker - Van

Huffer - Truck

Inferno - Fire Truck

Silverbolt - Jet

Blaster - Boombox 

Swoop - Pteranodon

Snarl - Stegosaurus

Sludge - Apatosaurus

Slag - Triceratops 

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Whirl - Helicopter

Roadbuster - Jeep

Sandstorm - Buggy/Helicopter

Rack 'N' Ruin

Red Alert - Car

First Aid - Ambulance

Other Autobots

Sky Lynx - Space Shuttle (Flashback)

Grimlock (Mentioned) Presumed Dead

Springer (Mentioned) Dead

Decepticon

Galvatron

Bludgeon

Soundwave 

Spinister - Helicopter

Roadgrabber - Jet Defeated by Silverbolt and Inferno - Arrested

Snarler - Boar Defeated by Huffer - Arrested

Carnivac - Wolf Defeated by Blaster - Arrested

Needlenose - Jet

Battletrap - Tank and Jet

Ruckus - Baja Buggy

Windsweeper - Jet

Fang

Other Decepticons

Scorponok (Mentioned) Presumed Dead

Human

Circuit Smasher/Spike Witwicky

G.B. Blackrock

Linda Chang

Gordon Kent

Little America Civilians

Other

Cybertronian Civilians

Demons

Primus (Mentioned)

Nebulons (Mentioned)

Notes

• Looks like Optimus wasn't on Earth with the human's permission after all huh?
• I love how whipped Spike is by his wife
• The formerly Nucleon-infected Autobots are shown here to be still in quarantine, however Inferno was shown doing crowd control last issue...maybe that was Artfire?
• Sky Lynx's feet appear to be extendable
• So they use the already angry Wreckers team as a police force? Not a wise choice...
• It's a bit of a coincidence that Hot Rod keeps going into the tunnels below Cybertron during all these big violent battle events huh?

IDW - Regeneration One #85

Title: "Loose Ends" Part 5

Writer: Simon Furman

Penciler: Andrew Wildman

Inker: Stephen Baskerville

Colorist: John-Paul Bove

Letterer: Chris Mowry

Editor: John Barber

Editor-in-Chief: Chris Ryall

Plot

In Zero Space a crack is seen. Meanwhile on Earth in Washington D.C. Optimus and his team of Autobots arrive and Megatron executes Springer on the spot, which causes Optimus to snap and he launches at his eternal foe whilst the rest of his team deal with the Decepticon zombies. Nearby Kup manages to understand Starscream enough to know that he needs to kill Ratchet to defeat Megatron as well. Back at the fight Optimus learns about Megatron having access to all of Earth's missiles thanks to Auntie on the Ark.

Roadbuster and Circuit Smasher's team fight off the Guardian Units outside the Ark, and during the fight Circuit Smasher manages to infiltrate the crashed ship and starts to approach the main computer, as Auntie starts to arm the warheads.

On Cybertron the Autobots arrive outside the Hall of Silence where they find it encased in a black energy shield and can't infiltrate it, despite knowing a Decepticon is inside going after Thunderwing's Matrix energy soaked body.

At Washington again Optimus tries to reason with Megatron about the missiles, but can't get through to him, and Kup starts crawling toward's Ratchet's head, and is cured of the Scraplets by First Aid, who gives him his gun as well. Circuit Smasher reaches Auntie's interface and starts to overload her circuits, but she sends in a virus to try and stop him.

At the Washington battle again, Opitmus gets the advantage in the battle and prepares to kill Megatron with a piece of rubble from a road, but can't do it, so Megatron turns the tables and gets ready to kill Optimus instead. Luckily however Kup manages to blast Ratchet at point range, killing him and causing great pain to Megatron, who Optimus slams into the chest of and crushes his spark, killing him instantly.

In the vicinity of the Carmacks Yukon the ice starts to crack and Galvatron emerges after his 20 years nap. Circuit Smasher destroys Auntie and all the zombie Decepticons and Guardian Units deactivate, the Autobots win, but Optimus holds Megatron's body, seemingly sad about what he had to do.

On Nebulos Grimlock is held in chains, and is greeted by Scorponok, who has had his original head attached to a new body and offers Grimlock a new body as well to free him of his Action Master body, in exchange for him joining him in his next stage of evolution.

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Ultra Magnus - Car Carrier

Prowl - Police Car

Kup - Pick Up Truck

First Aid - Ambulance

Ratchet Killed by Kup

Springer - Helicopter/Rocket Car Killed by Megatron

Roadbuster - Jeep

Topspin - Jet

Rack 'N' Ruin

Broadside - Jet/Battleship

Hot Rod - Sports Car

Grapple - Crane

Blurr - Race Car

Grimlock

Red Alert - Emergency Sports Car

Cosmos - Orbiter

Tracks - Muscle Car

Ironhide - Van

Hound - Jeep

Wheeljack - Race Car

Skids - Van

Mirage - F1 Race Car

Warpath - Tank

Guard Duo

Scanning Guy (Mainframe?)

Fortress Maximus (Mentioned) Dead

Decepticon

Megatron - Gun Killed by Optimus Prime

Galvatron - Laser Cannon

Scorponok - Scorpion

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Starscream - Fighter Jet Deactivated with Auntie's Destruction (Maybe)

Tantrum - Bull Deactivated with Auntie's Destruction

Blot - Bipedal Monster Deactivated with Auntie's Destruction

Zombie Army Deactivated with Auntie's Destruction

Thunderwing (Mentioned)

Human

Circuit Smasher/Spike Witwicky

Gordon

Nel

Rob

Mossof

Daley

Other

Auntie Killed by Circuit Smasher

Guardian Units Deactivated with Auntie's Destruction

Kup's Scraplets Cured by First Aid

Notes

• Yup, most of the points I predicted ended up happening, like Kup killing Ratchet and Optimus killing Megatron...though I guess Springer's death was a bit of a surprise
• Is it weird that all the Transformers still have their 80's alternate modes?
• Thunderwing's body is now a Matrix Reservoir, which seems to be why the Autobot's have his corpse in storage still
• Sparks have been retconned into this continuity now (YAY)
• Galvatron seems to have the same injuries he had from his battle with Fort Max back in the 90's
• On a similar note, Galvatron is revealed to wake up and seems to be in pain just a Megatron's spark is extinguished, remember, this Galvatron is a future version of Megatron from an alternate universe in 2009, which was 3 years ago by this timeline, meaning that this isn't HIS future, which is what he was worried about in the earlier comics.
• Is it creepy that Scorponok just happens to have a headless body of Grimlock lying around? Yes, yes it is!
• Most of the Decepticon zombies are quite unidentifiable, so I won't bother trying to identify them, but there does seem to be more more than we've seen so far.
• Optimus is never seen with his trailer...wonder why he didn't bring it?
• Something to note: Leadfoot isn't seen in this issue, and he was shown being badly hurt last time...maybe he died?

IDW - Regeneration One #84

Staff

Title: "Loose Ends" Part 4

Writer: Simon Furman

Penciler: Andrew Wildman

Inker: Stephen Baskerville

Colorist: John-Paul Bove

Letterer: Chris Mowry

Editor: John Barber

Editor-in-Chief: Chris Ryall

Plot

Starscream, although lobotomized, is still able to think and tries to tell something to the scraplet-infected Kup how to defeat Megatron once and for all, but is physically unable to say the words. Megatron has his Decepticon Zombie army leave the site where he's left Kup's inert body, ready for the Autobot rescue party to arrive.

Springer, Whirl and Sandstorm fly towards Kup's location, which they know is a trap, but they need to do this to give Roadbuster a distraction, whilst his team approach the Ark. In Canada, Roadbuster leads his team, including Circuit Smasher and some of the human resistance (in battle suits from the base), plus the rest of the Wreckers and plans their attack on the Ark. Circuit Smasher makes Roadbuster promise that they're just doing to destroy the Ark, not try to salvage it or anything.

Back at the city, the fliers approach Kup when the Decepticons start to attack them, Springer sends a message to Roadbuster that he's free to start, and they do. The Canada team are attacke dby the Ark's defense systems, including Auto-Guns, but seem to be able to break through them, which no other team has ever managed to do so far.

At the city, the three fliers are all knocked down, one by one. Megatron approaches the still alive Springer and points his fusion cannon at his head, ready to finish him off. In Canada again, the team arrive at the Ark, but then an army of Guardian Units pour out of it, ready to fight.

On Cybertron, Hot Rod has a strange dream about him being on a rocky-lava filled world and is attacked  by a Demon, whilst wiedling a strange sword. Hot Rod thinks this dream or whatever it was is connected to Optimus leaving for Earth, when suddenly Blurr appears and tells him that the Neo-Decepticons have infiltrated the Hall of Silence to take the remains of Thunderwing.

Optimus and his team arrive on Earth and encounter Megatron as he's about to kill Springer, this cheers up Megatron as he's been waiting for decades for Optimus to come to him. With this distraction, Strascream approaches Kup, who is still alive and tries to tell him to "Kill Ratchet", which is the only way to kill Megatron too, due to their mental link.

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime

Spinger - Helicopter Shot Down

Kup - Pick Up Truck Infected with Scraplets

Whirl - Helicopter Shot Down

Sandstorm - Helicopter Shot Down

Roadbuster - Jeep

Broadside - Jet

Topspin - Jet

Leadfoot - F1 Race Car Flipped in Canada

Rack 'N' Ruin

Hot Rod

Blurr

Ultra Magnus

Prowl

Hound

Cosmos - Flying Saucer

Wheeljack

Ratchet (Head Only)

Other Autobots

Decepticon

Megatron

Starscream - Jet

Skywarp - Jet

Thundercracker - Jet

Blitzwing - Jet/Tank

Blot - Bipedal Monster

Tantrum - Bull

Octane - Crago Plane/Oil Tanker

Ratbat - Cassette

Soundwave

Thunderwing (Mentioned)

Human

Circuit Smasher

Gordon Kent

Rob

Paula

Nel

Other

Demon (In Dream)

Guardian Units

Auntie (Mentioned)

Scraplets

Notes

• As I've been saying for a while now, the obvious method to killing Megatron, would be to kill Ratchet
• Thundercracker goes with Skywarp through his portal...not sure if that's been seen before now
• Leadfoot isn't seen out of vehicle mode in this issue
• Circuit Smasher doesn't seem to care whether the Autobots live or die
• The sword Hot Rod conjures in his dream/vision/whatever it is looks sort of like Primus' sword in the old Marvel days, and adding to that Primus' similar appearance to Hot Rod, it would make sense, it could also be the Star Saber however as well.
• There's a few Autobots hidden behind Optimus and his guys on the penultimate page, most are unidentifiable, but one does look like Wheeljack

IDW - Regeneration One #83

Staff

Title: "Loose Ends" Part 3

Writer: Simon Furman

Penciler: Andrew Wildman

Inker: Stephen Baskerville

Colorist: John-Paul Bove

Letterer: Chris Mowry

Editor: John Barber

Editor-in-Chief: Chris Ryall

Plot

On Earth, Circuit Smasher confronts the Autobots, and blames them for what has happened to Earth as they left and never cleaned up after themselves. Topspin recognizes Circuit Smasher as Spike Witwicky, a former ally of the Autobots, b ut he just says that Spike is dead. One of the humans, Gordon, convinces Spike to allow the Autobots to help them when Springer and his team return after sending off their message to Cybertron. Spike agrees, but wants the Autobots to understand what they've done to Earth in their absence.

At Nova Point on Cybertron Hot Rod is giving Hot Rod another lesson when Magnus interrupts with some important news.

On Earth again, Springer can't get ahold of Kup, and Spike says he's probably dead. Spike explains that in 1994 when he and Fort Max were away from the area some stupid humans invaded the Ark and managed to wake up Megatron, who immediately started attacking everyone and everything. Megatron somehow manages to get control of nuclear missiles and resurrects several dead Decepticons from the Ark's vaults. The Humans and Fort Max, plus at least Circuit Breaker began to fight back against Megatron, but he easily defeated them.

The Humans lead the Autobots to their hidden base where they are introduced to an aged G.B. Blackrock, another former ally to the Autobots, who asks them where Optimus is.

Back on Cybertron Optimus is shown that the Cosmic Carnival picked up the Wreckers and headed to Earth, and then they receive Springer's message from Earth asking for help, plus also another message sent repeatedly for years on a low frequency from Megatron, calling out Optimus. Optimus gives the word for a team to be sent to Earth to fight Megatron off.

On Earth, Spike explains to the Autobots that Fort Max was killed and that he was killed too, but Blackrock managed to save his life using a similar process used on Josie Beller in the 80's, augmented by his own Cybertronian implants, which also retards his aging as well. The group starts to plan against Megatron and start working on how to get into the Ark and cut off his power-advantage, when Megatron sends out a message telling the Wreckers to come and rescue Kup, who has been infected by Scraplets, and that he'll be dead very shortly.

Spike instantly recognizes it as a trap, but Springer knows they have to save him still, he looks at a pair of metal suits and gets an idea....

At the Scramble City Complex on Cybetron Optimus and Magnus set off with a team of Autobots on a shuttle on the way to Earth and leave Hot Rod behind, Hot Rod doesn't think Optimus will return (ie Megatron will kill him or something). After the Autobots leave, Dirtbag contacts Soundwave to inform him of this.

On Torkulon, Bludgeon and his forces are slaughtering the inhabitants in preparation of "assimilation" when Soundwave contacts him and informs him that Optimus and most of his greatest warriors are gone, and that Thunderwing's Remains should be easier to retrieve now....

Characters

Autobot

Springer - Helicopter/Rocket Car

Sandstorm - Helicopter/Buggy

Whirl - Helicopter

Roadbuster - Gun Mounted Jeep

Topspin - Jet

Rack 'N' Ruin

Broadside - Jet

Leadfoot - F1 Race Car

Kup - Pick Up Truck Infected with Scraplets

Optimus Prime

Hot Rod

Ultra Magnus

Trailbreaker

Fortress Maximus - Battle Station (Flashback)

Maybe Prowl

Maybe Sunstreaker

Maybe Red Alert

Maybe Perceptor

Other Autobots

Decepticon

Megatron

Dirtbag

Soundwave

Bludgeon

Squeezeplay

Octopunch

Weirdwolf

Stranglehold

Skullcruncher

Hun-Gurrr (Flashback)

Skywarp (Flashback)

Blitzwing (Flashback)

Thunderwing Body in Storage

Human

Circuit Smasher/Spike

G.B. Blackrock

Gordon

Circuit Breaker (Flashback)

Flashback People

Other

Aunty (Ark Computer- Mentioned)

Notes

• Circuit Smasher's appearance is similar to Circuit Breaker's because Blackrock was involved in Spike's transformation as well
• Megatron was freed from the Ark in 1994, meaning all this destruction happened within about 18 years
• Circuit Breaker can be seen, very briefly (in silhouette in the flashbacks) , and is mentioned (indirectly) this is most likely due to her being owned by Marvel rather than Hasbro (she probably died in the battle as well)
• Why do the humans have Transformer-sized chairs in their base?
• Megatron's base of operations is the Ark, but it's unknown to anyone how Megatron managed to use it to create his army of the dead or to control Nukes etc.
• Kup being used as bait to lure in some Autobots, whilst being infected by a horrible disease is very similar to the Cosmic Rust episode in the G1 TV series, where Perceptor was in a similar position.
• The Autobots in entering the Autobot ship on Cybertron are all in monotone, so it's hard to tell who they are (thus I have given them just names based on characters with their molds)
• Planet Torkulon was previously seen in the G1 TV series, as a world driven insane by Galvatron, but the inhabitants in this version looks completely different (being brains in spider-suits instead of humanoids)
• Thunderwing's remains must have been recovered by the Autobots at some time after his death during the Unicron War.
• Bludgeon seems to have a Warworld....:)
• It's kind of odd that Soundwave (or even Bludgeon on his ship) wouldn't have retrieved Megatron's message in all these years...
• It's likely that Jhiaxus is behind Megatron's sudden omnipotent control over Earth (he was seen in the first issue remember)
• It's also likely that the rest of the Neo Knights were amongst the forces going against Megatron in the flashback

IDW - Regeneration One #82

Staff

Title: "Loose Ends" Part 2

Writer: Simon Furman

Penciler: Andrew Wildman

Inker: Stephen Baskerville

Colorist: John-Paul Bove

Letterer Chris Mowry

Editor: John Barber

Editor-in-Chief: Chris Ryall

Plot

Megatron is out on a stroll on his chariot with his army of zombie-like Decepticons looking for the Autobots who were on the ship he just destroyed (as he assumes they survived somehow) and finds a pair of escape pods abandoned, and sends out his army to hunt them down and bring them back to him.

The Wreckers are regrouping elsewhere and Whirl reports about the Decepticon army approaching, so they start heading out to find a satellite dish to contact Cybertron for help.

Elsewhere in space, Grimlock approaches Nebulos, where he hopes to use the Project Lazarus (which intended to reintegrate the Headmaster's original heads to their bodies) to try and place his own head on a new body to counteract the effects of Nucleon for himself and his friends (who have lost their Alternate Modes and other faculties.

On Cybertron, Trailbreaker reports the missing ship that Kup stole for his mission to Earth to Ultra Magnus, who goes into a rage, saying that he would have joined Kup if he could have, but he has to follow the rules.

On Earth, the Wreckers approach the Deep Space Network dish at Goldstone and split up, some head to the dish, whilst others distract the Decepticons. Some of the Decepticons still follow the team heading to the dish, so Kup breaks off and fights them off alone.

On Nebulos, Grimlock finds the place deserted (much like Earth, but still with buildings up etc) and he is suddenly attacked by several Nebulons, who appear to be mesmerized, but he can't bring himself to defend himself against them, in case he kills the fleshlings.

Back on Earth again, Kup is defeated in battle by Skywarp and the Decepticons take him to Megatron's location, whilst on Nebulos again Grimlock is knocked out by a powerful laser shot from a mostly unseen foe (Scorponok).

On Earth again Kup wakes up to see Ratchet's lobotomized head looking at him from Megatron's chariot and learns from Megatron himself that he wants the Wreckers to send a message to Cybertron, which is why he left one of the dishes active, so he can show everyone what he's been up to for the past 21 years, especially Optimus Prime.

Elsewhere, some Humans run across Rack 'N' Ruin and Topspin, who were left behind for recovery, and Rack 'N' Ruin goes to try and make allies and to try and help them, when he's attacked very suddenly by Circuit Smasher.

Characters

Autobot

Springer - Helicopter

Roadbuster - Gun Mounted Jeep

Whirl - Helicopter

Leadfoot - F1 Race Car

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Topspin

Broadside

Rack 'N' Ruin

Sandstorm - Buggy

Grimlock Blasted by Scorponok

Ultra Magnus

Trailbreaker

Highbrow (Head only, On Recording)

Brainstorm (On Recording)

Ratchet Beheaded and Lobotomized

Slag (Mentioned)

Optimus Prime (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Megatron

Buzzsaw Lobotomized Zombie

Ratbat Lobotomized Zombie

Skywarp Lobotomized Zombie

Starscream Lobotomized Zombie

Razorclaw - Lion Lobotomized Zombie

Astrotrain Lobotomized Zombie

Hun-Gurrr - Two Headed Monster Lobotomized Zombie

Tentakil Lobotomized Zombie

Octane - Cargo Plane Lobotomized Zombie

Blitzwing Lobotomized Zombie

Scorponok - Scorpion Tank (Mostly Obscured)

Human

Circuit Smasher/Spike Witwicky

Survivors

Nebulon

Mesmerized Fighters

Borx (On Recording)

Project Lazarus Staff (On Recording)

Lord Zarak (Mentioned)

Other

Primus (Mentioned)

Nucleon Sufferers (Mentioned)

Notes

• All the Decepticons shown in Megatron's army are ones who were killed during Starscream's rampage with the Underbase, except for Ratbat and Starscream himself. Starscream was on the Ark when it crashed the second time, so he's easily explained, but Ratbat was killed on the Ark, so either Scorponok had Ratbat's body sent down to Earth after the battle, or he left it on the Ark until it crashed. This also shows that the Decepticons just left a lot of their dead to rot on Earth rather than recovering them.
• Megatron is keeping Ratchet alive, just barely so he can stay alive too (due to them being connected mentally) but lobotomized so his thoughts won't be obstructed by Ratchet's...of course this does make it easy for the Wreckers to kill Megatron, all they have to do is aim for Ratchet's head!
• Megatron saves semi-consciousness states in his "zombies" for those who have crossed him badly in the past, such as Starscream and Ratchet
• The Wreckers surviving the destruction of their ship by escaping last second has been done so many times not in previous fiction, that it's almost redundant now
• It's shown here that the original Headmaster heads were kept on Nebulos, and they have been trying to build new bodies, but are failing for some reason..until they looked into Zarak's old research.
• Despite being lobotomized zombies, the Decepticons can still think somewhat, can use their abilities and transform too
• Circuit Smasher is Spike Witwicky in case you hadn't heard/worked it out yet
• Kup is disgusted with what the Autobot's allowed to happen to Earth whilst they were rebuilding Cybertron