IDW - Transformers/Back To The Future #3

Written by: Cavan Scott

Art by: Juan Samu

Colours by: David Garcia Cruz & Candice Han

Letters by: Neil Uyetake

Editors: David Mariotte & Chase Marotz

Plot

The Constructions find Scrapper's deactivated body and blame Biff for it, forcing the human to run. Bonecrusher goes after him, but the Construction gets blasted by Doc Brown's nullifier, just like Scrapper.

Doc explains his plan to try make contact with the Autobots using a nearby communications tower to get them to help Emmet recover his time machine to fix the timeline. When they reach their destination, Doc manages to get out a signal, but Biff, who has taken his nullifier, shoots the tower, shutting it down, and escorts his new prisoners back to the Constructions, and their newly arrived boss, Starscream.

Having picked up the signal, Rodimus and his small band of remaining Autobots head to Hill Valley, where they see Biff about to execute Doc and Marty's parents, Marty however grabs some piping and smashes Biff's exosuit gun, saving them.

The Autobots join in and attack the Decepticons, stealing the nullifier back from Biff and uses it to knock down Biff and the remaining Constructicons, using Skilz's new hoverboard mode to do so. Starscream gets knocked out by a powerful punch from Rodimus, and the Decepticons in the area are all defeated...

Suddenly, the Hill Valley Courthouse transforms into a giant robot, looming over them all....

Characters

Autobot

Rodimus Prime - Caravan

Bumblebee - VW Beetle

Gigawatt - Modified DeLorean

Skilz - Hoverboard (Formerly Skateboard)

Decepticon

Starscream - Fighter Jet Punched out by Rodimus

Hook - Crane Shot by Rodimus

Bonecrusher - Bulldozer Blasted by Doc Brown

Scavenger - Excavator Blasted by Marty

Long Haul - Dump Truck Blasted by Marty

Mixmaster - Mixing Truck Blasted by Marty

Scrapper - Front End Loader Deactivated

Human

Marty McFly

Doc Emmett Brown

George McFly

Lorraine Baines-McFly

Biff Tannen Exosuit Blasted by Marty

"Goldie" Wilson (Image on Billboard Only)

Other

Courthouse Bot - Hill Valley Courthouse

Einstein, the Dog

Notes

• It's unclear yet if Doc's Alpha-Wave Ionic Nullifier is fatal to Cybertronians, Scrapper is mentioned as being "deactivated" and it does damage the communications tower, but he never says it has killed any of them. It's likely it's designed to just shut down their systems, putting them in stasis lock.
• Biff's new Exosuit is based on the ones used by the humans in season three and four of the G1 cartoon, but more heavily armoured than theirs were.
• Despite scanning a Skysled for his new alternate mode, Skilz takes on a hoverboard design, reminiscent of Marty's one from the future scenes of the Back To The Future movies, possibly meaning he just scanned the engine parts to upgrade his existing skateboard mode
• The giant Courthouse robot at the end of the issue isn't identified, or even hinted at by any of the Decepticons during this issue, baking me believe it's possible it's not a Decepticon, and couild be anyone really (my hopes are for a Vector Prime type character)

IDW - Transformers Galaxies #4

Title:  Constructicons Rising, Part Four

Written by: Tyler Bleszinski

Art by: Livio Ramondelli

Letters by: Jake M. Wood

Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Plot

The Constructicons decide to turn against the others on Mayalx, but are unsure of how best to take them out. The Insecticons watch them, and decide to help out by killing some random guys and use their living sparks to make over energised Energon and present it to the Constructicons the next day.
Now overpowered, the Constructicons combine and firm the newly christened Devastator, and wipes out a facility and all the crew manning it.

Afterwards, the Insecticons metabolize the dead bodies into Energon, ready for them to ship it, and themselves back to Cybertron.
Back on Mayalx, the Constructicons decide to stay on the planet and build whatever they want, and build their own home there.

Characters

The Rise

Kickback - Locust
Skrapnel - Scarab Beetle
Bombshell - Boll Weevil
Shockwave - Flying Artillery
Onslaught - Tank
Brawl - Tank
Blast Off - Space Shuttle
Vortex - Helicopter

Ascenticon

Megatron - Mining Vehicle (Mentioned)
Termagax - Armoured Van (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Scrapper - Earthmover
Scavenger - Excavator
Long Haul - Dump Truck
Mixmaster - Mixing Truck
Bonecrusher - Bulldozer
Hook - Crane
Devastator - Constructicon Gestalt
Mayalx Workers Killed by Insecticons and Devastator
Nominus Prime - Jet (Statue Only)

Notes

• So, this issue came out a couple months late huh? 
• Just as a reminder, last time we saw them, the Constructicons were not ready to kill everyone on the planet...they just decide to do that randomly this issue...
• The statue I could identify in issue one is confirmed as of Nominus Prime
• As I mentioned in the valentine's special, Blast Off and the Combaticons are revealed to be a part of the Rise
• Shockwave's appearance and demeaner this issue implies that it is set just before his beatdown from Megatron
• In case you can't tell, I'm not too impressed by this first storyline from Galaxies...let's hope the next ones are better!

IDW - Transformers: Galaxies #3

Title: Constructicons Rising! Part 3

Written by: Tyler Bleszinski

Art by: Livio Ramondelli

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Plot

Wheeljack witnesses the Constructicons in their combined form complete a building, in the aftermath of the war, but is terrified when he sees the combiner destroy that same building, and smiles as he did so, much as he was expecting from the combination of all those minds.

Termagax manages to calm the giant down and gets him to de-combine. She suggests to Scrapper that the Constructicons need to control the seventh mind that appears when they combine, by allowing him to take the reigns in that form, which they agree to try out.

Later, in Iacon, Wheeljack meets with the Senate to report his concerns about the Constructicons, and despite Termagax's pleas to allow them to work to rebuild Cybertron as they are destined to, but the leader of the Senate, Nominus Prime, disagrees, concerned with the damage they can cause to Cybertron and it's population, and more importantly to him, the extreme amount of Energon needed to power their combined form. He allows them to fix the damage they caused recently, but after that, they need to be dealt with.

Some while later, the Constructicons complete their work in Iacon, having taken Termagax's suggestion about their combined form and are proud with their work. Nominus soon arrives and congratulates them on their hard work, and presents them with badges of honour.

Soon, Nominus gives the Constructicons a new mission, to help rebuild an energy processing plant on one of their outposts, so they can use that energy to further fix Cybertron. Termagax says she agrees with Nominus, but asks them to be wary and not everyone who has left Cybertron, has been for noble reasons.

The Constructicons leave Cybertron, heading to Mayalx, for which they hope to only be a short mission...

Characters

Cybertronian

Nominus Prime - Jet

Termagax - Van

Wheeljack - Car

Scrapper - Earthmover

Bonecrusher - Bulldozer

Hook - Crane

Scavenger - Excavator

Long Haul - Dump Truck

Mixmaster - Mixing Truck

"Devastator" - Constructicon Gestalt

Nominus' Senate Members

Nominus' Guards

Iacon Workers

Primus (Mentioned)

Megatron - Armoured Vehicle (Mentioned)

"The Abomination, Abominus" - Terrorcon Gestalt (Mentioned)

Iacon Rebuilding Teams (Mentioned)

Notes

• Sorry I'm so late on this one as well, but I've been busy with the new Pokémon games etc (plus as I mentioned last time, this series/storyline is kind of repetitive and boring)
• This issue is set entirely in a flashback showing what happened between the flashbacks in issue 1, and the present day scenes
• The scene of the Constructicons in "Devastator's" head seems to be based on the similar scene of the Combaticons inside Bruticus from Till All Are One.
• To possibly explain why the Constructicons blame Wheeljack for them being stranded on Mayalx, we see that he is the one who reported their violence to the Senate here...however Termagax tells them that SHE thought them leaving was a good idea, and we never see them learning that Wheeljack said anything...so.....what happened there?
• Nominus Prime finally makes a full appearance in a piece of media!!! YAY!!!
• Nominus directly references the early scenes from Issue 6 of the main comic, where he says that Megatron, the miners and archivists are pulling their weight in rebuilding, which we saw in that issue.
• The badges of honour shown this issue appear to be very simplified Autobot insignias, either meaning this is the origin of them, or that they simply base them off of their party's insignia for some reason.
• Since Nominus doesn't have a badge in this issue and it being set RIGHT AFTER the world changing war, we can assume that the Autobot party hasn't been fully formed yet, so I'm just going to class everyone as Cybertronian in the character lists.
• I think it's being implied from Scrapper noticing the workers also having the badges that there are some sort of symbol of trouble or perhaps an inhibiter of sorts, but we never see the Constructicons wearing them in this issue, or in the present day

IDW - Transformers: Galaxies #2

Title: Constructicons Rising, Part 2

Written by: Tyler Bleszinski

Art by: Livio Ramondelli

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Plot

On Mayalx, the Constructicons are sparring in a make-shift gladiatorial arena to improve their fighting skills, since Scrapper believes the changing times on Cybertron will lead to problems, and he wants them to be prepared.

Elsewhereon the planetoid, the Insecticons devour a dead Cybertronian, and metabolise him into Energon between themselves. They get interrupted by a communication from Shockwave however, who orders Bombshell to pick up the pace in getting the Constructicons to join their cause.

Back at the "arena" Scrapper teaches the others a lesson, when he defeats Bonecrusher, without even using a weapon, and knocks him out. Bombshell soon arrives and creeps out the Constructicons, with his temptation to eat the injured Bonecrusher.

The bug-bot proceeds to tell the Constructicons the story of how when he, and the others were forged, they were discovered to have a unique ability to eat raw materials, and create Energon from it, which was quickly put to use by society, however when the war started, the trio were pulled into it and eventually started eating the corpses of the war's victims, gaining their new title as Insecticons.

Following the war, the new bots in charge decided to distance themselves from these new monsters, and eventually sent them out to distant colonies to clean them up, and keep them out of sight.

Bombshell concludes his story by explaining that they wanted to get rid of them, because they were scared of them, and their powers, just like what happened to the Constructicons. The builders point out that the Insecticons ARE monsters though, and all the Constructicons want to do is build. But Bombshell reiterates that they are being kept underpowered and far away, never to return, due to everyone fearing their combined form, and hints towards them that he has allies that can allow them to live their lives, unchained and free from that fear... 

Characters

The Rise

Bombshell - Boll Weevil

Kickback - Locust

Skrapnel - Scarab Beetle

Shockwave - Hovercraft (On Communicator Only)

Other Cybertronian

Scrapper - Earthmover

Bonecrusher - Bulldozer

Mixmaster - Mixing Truck

Long Haul - Dump Truck

Scavenger - Excavator

Hook - Crane

Building Site "Accident" Victim Killed and Eaten by Insecticons

Devastator - Constructicon Gestalt (Statue/Mentioned Only)

Brainstorm - Jet (Flashback Only)

Brainstorm's Cos-Researchers (Flashback Only)

Notes

• Sorry I haven't uploaded this thing before now, I've just been busy recently, and this series hasn't been too motivating to get it done earlier. (Assuming it's out on time, the next issue will also be a little late, due to a trip I'm taking next weekend)
• It's implied in this issue that the Constructicons are being kept underpowered to make them slower and cause them to have a reason for not being able to return to Cybertron sooner. It's also very likely that it is to stop them from combining into Devastator and causing another ruckus!
• The Insecticon's victim this issue is mentioned as having an "accident" leading to his death...me thinks they killed him for his juices!
• Bombshell knowing who Shockwave is, and seemingly working for him implies that he is a member of the Rise.
• Its mentioned that Shockwave has plans for Bombshell's Cerebro-shells, considering the title of the story-arc in the main comic is currently "The change in your nature" could this be a hint towards an upcoming plot point?
• The last panel of the penultimate page of Devastator's head in a closeup is unclear, it might be a statue, like I think, or it could be a flashback to when they combined. If it is a statue though...then why was it made, when it's been made clear than people are afraid of Devastator?
• Apparently the crater made when Devastator punched the ground outside Iacon was never filled in...is it just a bro-fist pool when the acid rains come then?

IDW - Robots in Disguise #4

Comic Staff

Title: Devisive

Written by: John Barber

Art by: Andrew Griffith

Colour by: Josh Perez

Letters by: Shawn Lee

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Storyline

Whilst at work, Dirge discovers the dead body of a Decepticon, Skydive and is attacked himself by Bombshell with one of his Cerebral Shells. Elsewhere Prowl is watching Starscream on stage trying to manipulate the situation when Arcee appears near him and calls him out on his involvement in Rodimus' supposed death, and points out that everyone believes he was the reason the ship blew up when Wheeljack arrives and reports about Skydive's death.

At the murder scene Prowl tries to interrogate Dirge, but he's being forced to just say he saw nothing thanks to Bombshell's shell. Wheeljack works out a system to trace the source of the signals in the shells and Prowl locates Bombshell, who has just taken Sunstorm for a slave too. Arcee and Prowl prepare to take him in when Bombshell has Dirge and Sunstorm attack the Autobots whilst he escapes. Prowl orders Blurr to chase Bombshell from outside, but doesn't give him back up.

Back at the battle Prowl gets angry and starts thinking about Spike Witwicky, and how he did bad things because he thought it was right, just like how Prowl was now acting. Arcee kills Sunstorm, despite him being incapacitated already, but allows Dirge to live.

Blurr locates Bombshell, but winds up ambushed by the Five remaining Constructicons. Arcee and Prowl go to hunt Bombshell and Prowl orders Arcee to deal with the Constructicons whilst he chases the bug. Bombshell is trapped in a corridor by Prowl, he tries interrogating him to find out who his boss is, but then just gets annoyed and executes the Decepticon.

With Bombshell's death his Cerebral Shells fall off and Dirge is free again. Prowl goes to kill Dirge as he's a witness, but Dirge is saved when he runs away and Prowl's aim is knocked by some falling waste. Prowl orders Arcee to go after Dirge, whilst he deals with the Constructicons. Prowl reactivates the Constructicon's I/D Chips that were disabled before and detonates all five, killing them all.

Arcee catches Dirge, but allows him to go free when he says he just wants to go about his normal life.

Later Blurr is screaming at Prowl about how he got him hurt, Prowl declares that the Decepticons are up to something and cannot be trusted, Blurr and the others think he's being paranoid. Bumblebee tries to calm Prowl down, but he doesn't listen to his leader and talks about this being a new era, and they need to take control before it's too late.

Characters

Autobot
Bumblebee - Car
Prowl - Car
Arcee - Car
Blurr - Race Car
Wheeljack - Car
Bluestreak - Car
Sideswipe - Car
Streetwise
Warpath - Tank
Broadside
Sizzle
Rodimus - Speedy Car (Mentioned)
Skydive - Jet (Mentioned)
Drift - Car (Mentioned)

Decepticon
Starscream - Jet
Dirge - Jet
Sunstorm - Jet Killed by Arcee
Acid Storm - Jet
Bombshell - Robotic Beetle Killed by Prowl
Skydive - Jet Killed by Bombshell
Swindle - Van
Scavenger - Excavator Killed by Prowl
Long Haul - Dump Truck Killed by Prowl
Mixmaster - Mixing Truck Killed by Prowl
Hook - Crane Killed by Prowl
Bonecrusher - Bulldozer/Front End Loader Killed by Prowl
Ratbat - Cassette (Mentioned) Dead
Megatron (Mentioned)

NAIL
Metalhawk - Jet
Tappet - Car
Nuggit
Brimstone
Boulder
Granite
Spearhead
Other
Spike Witwicky

Comic Notes

• Dirge doesn't seem to care much for the Decepticons still (explained why last issue) and just wants to live out his life
• Starscream's plan with the coalition seems to be that new members will be voted in after their terms are over, much to Bumblebee's shock.
• Arcee likes to play "poke the copper with a big stick" with Prowl by taunting him randomly
• It seems like the Rock Lords came to Cybertron after Chaos too! (Maybe we'll get more Gobots!!)
• Arcee seems to let Dirge go at the end because she knows what it's like to not like the hand your dealt (thanks to Jhiaxus)
• Okay...you thought Arcee was a murderer for killing Ratbat and Sunstorm?...Prowl just killed SIX MAIN DECEPTICONS!!! And even tried killing Dirge too.
• Prowl seems to hate Decepticons even more now, even declaring that Cybertron is the Autobot's world (also sort of alienating the NAIL's too)
• One of Starscream's first moves as a Coalition member was to get Decepticons jobs, and to allow them to transform again.
• It's not clear why Bombshell killed Skydive...maybe he was resistant to his cerebral shells?

TFCC - A Flash Forward #1

Release Date: Feb/Mar 2012
Issue Number: 43
Continuity: G1 TV Series, Post Generation 2: Redux


2005 Intro Writer: Flint Dille
2005 Intro Pencils: Dan Khanna
2005 Intro Inks: Josh Warner
Writers: Jesse Wittenrich & Pete Sinclair
Pencils & Inks: Matt Frank
Colours: Thomas Deer
Letters: Jesse Wittenrich
Managing Editor: Pete Sinclair

Story

In 2005 Devastator has just defeated the Dinobots and is rampaging through Autobot City during Megatron's attack when Ultra Magnus, Sideswipe, Red Alert and Tracks confront him, and manage to force him to de-combine. The Comstructicons attack the Autobots and manage to take down Red Alert whilst the others run away and regroup. Megatron watches on in glee.

In the present day the Battlechargers are telling this story and continue to say how Optimus and Megatron fought next leading to Megatron's death and return as Galvatron. Their audience, whom is revealed to be Jhiaxus finds this all very interesting and declares that he shall rebuild the Cybertronian Empire with himself as it's sole attendant.

Characters

Autobot

Ultra Magnus - Mighty Hauler (2005 only)

Sideswipe - Lamborghini Sports Car (2005 only)

Red Alert - Lamborghini Emergency Car (2005 only) Seemingly killed by Constructicons

Tracks - Stingray Muscle Car (2005 only)

Optimus Prime - Truck (Mentioned)

Dinobots (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Jhiaxus - Jet

Runabout - Black Tasty Tuner

Runamuck - White Tasty Tuner

Megatron - Gun (2005 only) Rebuilt as Galvatron

Galvatron - Tank (Mentioned)

Astrotrain - Space Shuttle/Train (Mentioned)

Sounwave - Cassette Player (Mentioned)

Hook - Crane (2005 only)

Mixmaster - Mixing Truck (2005 only)

Long Haul - Dump Truck (2005 only)

Scavenger - Excavator (2005 only)

Scrapper - Front End Loader (2005 only)

Bonecrusher - Bulldozer (2005 only)

Devastator - Constructicon Gestalt (2005 only)

Notes

• The first four pages of this issue are based on a deleted scene from the 1986 Movie (the storyboard can be seen in various special editions of the DVD)
• The Character Profiles have started using just photographs of the toys with some photo manipulation instead of creating artwork for them
• Jhiaxus' character model seems to be based on his Universe toy
• The Battlecharger's have changed their character models since we last saw them (this is currently unexplained)
• Runabout and Runamuck didn't go off with Galvatron and his troops into space (as mentioned in Generation 2: Redux) because they think he's crazy.
• I've put Galvatron's alternate mode as Tank here due to it being shown as his Universe toy in Generation 2: Redux, and thus was his alternate mode always in this continuity
• As with my own conventions, I'm naming the alternate modes with the TFCC's own names from profiles if available, so I'm assuming Runabout will be the same as Runamuck's
• The hammer Ultra Magnus is holding in his profile is based on his TFA Counterpart's weapon (and despite it being very noticeable it's not mentioned in his weapon's section)

The Allspark Addendum

Road Rage by Lockdown

Chromia by Rattletrap

Flashpoint by Minerva

Rosanna Live Poster (includes image of Manatronatee the Minesweeper, he new pet and other Easter Eggs)

Other Features

Hasbro Interview

LeVar Burton Interview

Ultra Magnus Profile

Runamuck Profile
Transformers I.Q. (A quiz)
Featured Fan Art
Recordicons Mini-Comic