IDW - Unicron #1

Main Story

Written by: John Barber

Art by: Alex Milne

Colours by: Sebastian Cheng

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: David Mariotte

Publisher: Greg Goldstein

Side Story

Title: Ad Infinitum

Script by: Chris Ryall

Art by: David Messina

Colours by: Alessandra Alexakis

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Edits by: David Mariotte

Main Plot

Long ago....Unicron and Primus battled, resulting in the former's loss, and Primus turning himself into Cybertron. Over time the people of Cybertron believed Unicron to just be a story and eventually forgot about him, but now he has awoken...

Since his awakening, he has devoured the active, and even lost colony worlds of LV-117, Prion, Gorlam Prime, Velocitron, Elonia, Eukaris, Arduria, Tsehshi and Devisiun and is now approaching Caminus. This time however, the Transformers are ready, and along with Rom of the Solstar Order, wanting revenge for Elonia's destruction, are ready to defend the colony world in orbit. Unfortunately, the now defeated Shockwave's Maximal army have joined forces with Unicron and fight off the Transformers in the skies of Caminus.

Back on Cybertron, Windblade monitors the battle from a planning station, whilst unhappy with the plan at hand, but is still convinced that this is their best chance to defeat Unicron.

On Caminus' surface, the population of the colony are rushing to the Temple of Light for salvation from their very literal apocalypse, whilst Stormclash and Skyburst work on repairing the Spacebridge to evacuate the planet. Pyra berates the Mistress of Flame for still believing in the gods and hoping they'll help them, but the religious leader keeps her faith.

In orbit, the Transformers fight off the Maximals whilst Optimus leads and team of himself, Arcee and Bumblebee into a hole they've managed to make on Unicron's surface, so they can try and destroy him from the inside.

Outside, things are going badly with several Transformers, including Dirge being killed by the Maximals.

Inside Unicron's body, Optimus' team find themselves coming across the remains of several planets Unicron has eaten, and even come across the Quintesson mural from LV-117, the first known world eaten by Unicron, indicating they're getting close. 

The crew locate a cavern made up of several worlds that appears to have been merged into a forest, where Arcee even locates the dead body of an ancient Omega Sentinel, which leads them to believe the stories of Primus and Unicron battling in the past, since the Sentinels have been gone for millenia. Before they can really check further however, they are attacked by some creatures made up of mismatched people eaten by Unicron.

Unicron begins his direct attack on Caminus, shooting a beam at the planet, then beginning to pierce the surface. The twins have completed the Spacebridge repairs and the population start filtering away to Cybertron, though it's taking some time...

The Maximals break through the orbital defence and start attacking the surface, intending to trap enough Camiens there to be eaten too, but the Mistress of Flame steps up, and declares it to be her duty to defend her people. She gives he staff to Pyra and sends her and the others away, as she shoots fire from her chest at the Maximals.

The Unicron team are overwhelmed by Unicron's Antibodies, but are able to be teleported back to Ark Zero, just as Unicron devours Caminus, and the Mistress of Flame is devoured with it...

Luckily, thanks to the Mistress of Flame's sacrifice, the population of Caminus were able to escape, including Pyra, who cradles the staff, mourning her former leader's death...

At the jail, Starscream has come to visit the captured Shockwave, who wanted to speak to him, he reveals that his plans when attacking Cybertron were to poison the planet, so that when Unicron attacks, he will be killed. He wants Starscream to free him so they can create a new Decepticon empire, but Starscream isn't interested. He watches as Optimus' ship and the rest of the fleet return to Cybertron and gets an idea...

Optimus leaves the ship, held up by his team, having been injured by the Antibodies, and reports to a disappointed Windblade about how they failed to get information on Unicron, despite sacrificing Caminus to try.

Optimus is now concerned that Unicron will come after Carcer, Cybertron and Earth now and will destroy everything they have built up. Bumblebee points out that, assuming Cybertron isn't counted as a colony, then they've only accounted for twelve of them, when there's supposed to be thirteen!

Starscream appears, now bearing his insignias again, and waving a Decepticon flag, and declares to the displaced colonists that HE knows how to save them all, and will lead them to defeating Unicron.

Optimus, and the others, are of course not having any of this....

Side Story Plot

Rom meets with his fellow surviving Solstar Knights with Bumblebee and Imperator Carax, to try and involve them in the battle with Unicron, since they need to avenge the destruction of Elonia, and all the other worlds eaten by the creature. Q'b is vocally opposed to joining the fight, since they've already lost.

Rom however reminds him that despite the odds, they have to fight for what is right, as that is what the Solstar Order is for!

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Arcee - Sports Car

Windblade - VTOL Fighter Jet

Aileron - Space Shuttle

Jetfire - Fighter Jet

Bumblebee - Car

Beachcomber - Buggy

Silverbolt - Concorde Jet

Fireflight - Fighter Jet

Skydive - Fighter Jet

Air Raid - Fighter Jet

Pyra Magna - Fire Truck

Rust Dust - Motorcycle

Stormclash - Helicopter

Skyburst - Helicopter

Jumpstream - Sports Car

Dust Up - Sports Car

Roadmaster - Van

Javelin

Proxima

Metroplex - Iacon City

Omega Supreme - Ship (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Starscream - Fighter Jet (Rejoins Decepticons)

Shockwave - Flying Artillery

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Acid Storm - Fighter Jet

Dirge - Fighter Jet Killed by Maximal Rampage

Sparkstalker - Insect Monster

Maximal

Optimus Primal - Gorilla

Dino Megatron - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Drago Megatron - Dragon

Rampage - Crab

Saberback - Stegosaurus

Guiledart - Triceratops

Killer Punch - Styracosaurus

Sea Clamp - Lobster

Buzzclaw - Lizard-Mantis

Scorponok - Scorpion Killed by Dirge

Cataclysm - Panther Killed by Dirge

Sandstorm - Scorpion Killed by Dirge

Wolfang - Wolf Killed by Dirge

Razorbeast - Wild Boar Killed by Soundwave

Inferno - Ant Devoured by Unicron

Other Maximals

Solstar Order

Rom K'atsema

Livia (Ad Infinitum Only)

Imperator Carax (Ad Infinitum Only)

Q'b (Ad Infinitum Only)

Nikomi (Ad Infinitum Only)

Sata (Ad Infinitum Only)

Guar (Ad Infinitum Only)

Plor (Ad Infinitum Only)

Orphion (Flashback) Dead

Fy-Laa (Flashback) Dead

Maur (Flashback)

Cybertronian/Colonist

Mistress of Flame Devoured with Caminus

Caminus - Ship Devoured with Colony World

Knock Out - Sports Car

Breakdown - Armoured Van

Lightbright

Vigilem - Carcer Ship Dead, Mode Locked

Pink Camien - Jet

Camien Civilians

Cybertronians and Colonist Warriors/Civilians

Omega Sentinel - Ship Dead Body inside Unicron

Prion - Ship Dead, Body Devoured by Unicron (Flashback)

Navitas - Delta City Devoured by Unicron (Flashback)

Quintesson Judge (Mural Image)

"The Arisen" (Mentioned)

Solus Prime (Mentioned)

The Thirteen Primes (Mentioned)

Other

Unicron - Ringed Planet

Antibodies

Ardurian Rocs Devoured by Unicron (Flashback)

Primus - Cybertron (Flashback)

Dire Wraiths (Mentioned)

The Absence Dead (Mentioned) 

The Presence Dead (Mentioned)

Nikomi's Kids Devoured by Unicron (Mentioned) 

Shah K'atsema Dead (Mentioned) 

Benna K'atsema Dead (Mentioned)

Reyn K'atsema Dead (Mentioned) 

Notes

• Here it is! The finale to the Hasbroverse has properly begun! However as is common with IDW, this issue is released on time, but Optimus Prime and Lost Light #21 were supposed to be released BEFORE this one, so expect some spoilers in this one!
• This series includes a side story and some background interviews and articles. This one's interviews are with Simon Furman and EJ Su
• When we left Unicron in #0, he was just attacking Eukaris. Since then he's taken out Arduria, Tsehshi and Devisiu, the latter of which is one of the founding worlds of the Council of Worlds
• Optimus' new double barrelled shoulder cannons seem to be emulating his Powermaster counterpart's
• It's so dark inside Unicron's body (in places) that Optimus and the others use headlights and even energon weapons to light their way
• The idea of Unicron's antibodies being made of his victims was actually seen in DDP's GI Joe vs Transformers Black Horizon, though they weren't merged together like these ones are...
• Amongst the Cybertronian bodies used for the Antibodies also appears to be the bodies of Elonians...ewww…
• So...does anyone wanna bet that we'll get a mind-freak scene of several beloved Transformers being turned into Antibodies, just to mess with the main characters towards the end of this series?
• Why is Beachcomber still allowed to be a prison guard?! He keeps getting blackmailed and beaten up!
• Shockwave's claim that he has been working to poison Cybertron for some time to in turn kill Unicron is actually plausible! He was shown to be the one who created the Talisman, which was used to poison Cybertron's energy supplies. He really is a master planner!
• Whilst the 13th Colony is likely going to be revealed to be Quintessa, since we know Quintus Prime and Quintessons exist in this continuity, but how do we know that LV-117 was the first colony destroyed like Bumblebee and the others are assuming?
• Also, why does Optimus think Unicron will come to Cybertron before Earth? It would make more sense to go after all the colonies first BEFORE going for Primus' body (Cybertron) itself
• Starscream has gotten back his Decepticon insignias, having gotten rid of them when he announced himself the new leader of Cybertron back in Robots in Disguise.
• It's not mentioned here, but remember that the Titan Caminus was also killed along with the planet itself
• Omega Supreme is referenced in passing. He's been off panel and injured since the end of the pre-Dark Cybertron storyline of Robots in Disguise
• The bronze-looking Solstar Knight seen in Ad Infinitum is apparently based on Plor the Pulsar from the Marvel series...but we shouldn't talk about him because of legal issues...shhhhh
• Nikomi and Q'b are revealed to still be alive, despite being part of the team who were killed by Unicron in #0. It can be assumed they just escaped somehow
• Ad Infinitum includes a credit for Christos Gage, the co-writer of the Rom series, as a victim of Unicron...I guess he was visiting Eukaris when it was eaten then?
• We also get a credit of thanks to Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema, the creators of the original Marvel Rom comics
• Judging by the advert at the end of this comic, it seems like every Hasbroverse franchise will be involved in this event...most likely a lot of these will be in the side stories to wrap up their story arcs.

IDW - Rom vs Transformers: Shining Armor #2

Written by: John Barber &Christos Gage

Art by: Alex Milne

Colours by: Josh Perez

Letters by: Tom B Long

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Publisher: Ted Adams

Plot

A few weeks before the attack on the Xetaxxis Solstar station, a Decepticon team led by Starscream are approached by Vekktral and his Dire Wraiths. At first Starscream is uninterested, but when he learns of Vekktral's encounter with Stardrive, he becomes interested, as he wants to know how she's been staying alive without access to Energon, and determines that if they get that secret then they can stop worrying about raiding other planets to get more...

A short while later, an Autobot shuttle holding Sky Blast, Bumblebee and Ultra Magnus inside come across a Decepticon team destroying a Galactic Council ship. They kill the Decepticons, but find the Galactic Council crew inside, all dead. They find it weird how the Decepticons were seeming to be trying to hide their involvement in the attack, since normally they'd announce this attack proudly. Magnus hacks into the computer and finds out that the ship was heading towards Xetaxxis for the negotiations, so they head there too...

About a week later, Rom attacks the newcomer Autobots, assuming they are allied with Starscream, but soon realizes that the two groups of Cybertronians are enemies too. He tries to form an alliance with them, but Magnus simply shoots him away, assuming, and insisting that the Solstar Order and Decepticons are allied together, and that Stardrive is a Decepticon who has been coated in the Solstar Armour, though Bumblebee points out that the Decepticons and the Knights are fighting each other too..

Outside, Sky Blast reports that the Station is falling apart, and the only thing keeping it in place is the force-field around it, as he observes some of the crew escape in shuttles and escape pods. 

Inside, Magnus drives into Starscream, splitting him away from Stardrive, whom Bumblebee tries to help up, she assumes he's attacking her and shoots him away. Suddenly Sky Blast appears and attacks her, in order to protect Bumblebee.

Vekktral takes the chaos as an opportunity to send one of his troops to merge with the newcomer Autobot, which causes Sky Blast to mutate into a horrifying monster, and the Wraith's mind to be merged with him, creating a new primal creature. Everyone is shocked that a Wraith and a Cybertronian can merge, and how messed up they are.

The Knights attack the new Sky Blast-Wraith, but cannot do anything to harm him. Starscream and Doomwings go to retrieve the Energon Synthesizer and leave whilst everyone else is distracted, but Doomwings is grabbed by the monster and torn to pieces.

Starscream is pissed off with Vekktral for letting his new troop kill one of his men, but Vekktral reveals that he is not in control of the monster. The Decepticons try to fight off the monster too, but end up heading out of the station themselves.

Bumblebee approaches Stardrive again, insisting that she explains who she is, and when he learns that she isn't a Decepticon, but a Solstar Knight, he explains that the Autobots are opposed to the Decepticons and their allies too, which now includes the Dire Wraiths. Magnus interrupts them and disables the force-field of the station, hoping that the re-entry into the atmosphere will kill the monster.

Magnus summons the Autobot shuttle remotely for them to escape in, whilst everyone else starts evacuating too. However Starscream destroys the shuttle before leaving with the other Decepticons and Wraiths, intending to recover the Synthesizer from the rubbles of the station on the planet below.

Stardrive takes on her aerial form and flies the two Autobots into the planet's atmosphere, knowing that they cannot survive the fall without her.

Following the destruction of the station, the Solstar Knights follow Stardrive down to the planet. Livia and Sata dismiss Stardrive as having chosen her "own kind" over them, but Rom still believes she is loyal to them, so they go to find her.

The Decepticons arrive too, hoping that the Synthesizer has survived, but soon learn that the monster managed to survive the station's destruction too, and is heading towards the planet too.

On the planet's surface, Stardrive and the Autobots are in a crater, where Magnus attempts to arrest Stardrive for breaching the Tyrest Accord by sharing herself, and her technology with an alien empire. Bumblebee calls Magnus out on being ridiculous, but he doesn't care. However he is soon blasted square in the chest by Rom who threatens to do the same to Bumblebee if he doesn't surrender, as he mourns the supposed death of his teammate....

Characters

Autobot

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport Seemingly Killed by Rom

Bumblebee - Car

Sky Blast - Rocket Merged with "Soldier"

Decepticon

Starscream - Jet

Dirge - Jet

Ramjet - Jet

Thrust - Jet

Blitzwing - Tank/Jet

Astrotrain - Galactic Council Shuttle

Doomwings - Jet Killed by Sky Blast-Wraith

"Plasma Torch Guy" - Jet Killed by Autobots

"Bulldozer" - Bulldozer Killed by Autobots

Megatron - Tank (Mentioned)

Solstar Order

Stardrive - Spacefaring Car

Rom

Livia

Sata

Orphion (Footage)

Nikomi (Footage)

Dire Wraith

Vekktral

"Soldier" Merged with Sky Blast

Dire Wraith Troops

Other

Galactic Council Crew Killed by Decepticons and Dire Wraiths

Stardrive's Classmates (Mentioned)

Notes

• Looks like my guess from last month about this Ultra Magnus not being the Minimus Ambus incarnation was correct, he acts nothing like out little rules-stickler from Roberts' work
• The Dire Wraith's original attempt to form an alliance with the Decepticons was to point out that they both can change forms...nice try kiddos!
• So it looks like the Galactic Council ship was indeed attacked by the Decepticons, and since we see some of their corpses here, it's likely that the Wraiths only used some of their body parts to take on their forms, just like one did with Joe Colton on Earth...though I guess this could be another group of Galactic Council crew members, but it's unlikely.
• The "Plasma Torch Guy" is based on a Prime Aerial Vehicon. The Bulldozer guy appears to be just a generic with his bulldozer shovel stored on his shoulders.
• So turns out that the Galactic Council-Solstar Order negotiations were actually a real thing, but the Decepticons and Wraiths simply ambushed the Council ship en-route and took their place for this attack.
• Awwww....All of Stardrive's trinkets got destroyed with the station...including her pig-alien teddy thing from last issue :(
• I was a bit worried about all the non-Knight crew members and dignitaries on the station when it blew up, but then I noticed that a load of shuttles left the station a few pages earlier.
• Sky Blast is a direct import of the Mini-Con character from Armada, just upscaled into a full-sized Autobot here.
• So....we heard about how terrifying a Cybertronian-Wraith hybrid is from Orphion back in the Rom series....EEEP!
• The problem now, is that just about all of the characters left in the story, excluding Sata and Stardrive herself, are known to be active in the modern day setting, so we know no-one else important is likely to die off in the remaining three issues of this series, so there's less of a threat element here...
• So...Stardrive's vehicle mode has a flight mode too? I'm not sure if she's a triple changer or just developed a space-faring version of her car mode. You'd think she'd have mentioned this during her issue-long intro last time huh?
• Wonder if we'll get a cameo of Tyrest next issue so he can call on the next Ultra Magnus, or see this one vanish for the process instead?
• Technically, Ultra Magnus is wrong about Stardrive sharing Cybertronian technology with the Solstar Order. She is Camien, not Cybertronian, they have different technologies.
• The next issue preview claims that they have crashed on a mysterious planet....aka the planet Xetaxxis, which we've been told the name of a few times now?

IDW - Robots in Disguise #14

Title: Before the Dawn

Written by: John Barber

Pencils by: Andrew Griffith

Inks by: Brian Shearer

Colors by: Josh Perez

Letters by: Shawn Lee

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Plot

Circuit continues his interview with Metalhawk outside the ruined bar as the riots have stopped, when they both hear about the Decepticon breakout at the jail. Metalhawk contacts Bumblebee, who is joined by Blurr, Swindle and Dirge who reveal that Prowl is behind everything. Broadside can't get ahold of Prowl on his communicator, and his quarters aren't on the grid, so everyone starts to get worried, and decide to go look for him.

At the Black Room, Arcee has arrived, and Wheeljack and Starscream are Prowl's prisoners, both confused, Turmoil and Skywarp are sent out to set up the Decepticons in the city, whilst Megatron has Bombshell whip him up a new body, as his current one is too badly damaged.

Bumblebee, Blurr, Swindle, Sideswipe, Dirge and Metalhawk are out looking for Prowl for answers when the supposedly dead Astrotrain, Blitzwing and the Cassettes attack the group, taking down Swindle and Blurr, and badly injuring Metalhawk, everyone else (including Metalhawk) are lured into the Black Room where they find Prowl with the Decepticons, holding Screamer and Wheeljack prisoner.

Wheeljack starts talking to keep Bumblebee calm, but Prowl coldly executes him, blowing his head off tothe shock of everyone, especially with all the supposedly dead Decepticons being present too. Megatron reenters the room, in his new body, carrying his old one in his arms, and explains that he used the Ore-13 in his old body to create the strange effect on Cybertron, creating the wilderness. Then the Decepticons explain how Megatron gained the insight on how to create a perfect combiner whilst fighting the Deceptigod during the Chaos event, and that he was the one who captured, experimented on and combined the Aerialbots, and explains that he left them to kill the Dinobots and Ironhide, as well as themselves in the wilderness.

Bombshell explains that the reason the gestalt process always failed was because of the component's individuality, and so he came up with a plan to remove that. However their plans were a bit halted when the Titan arrived and announced Screamer was the chosen one, which could have harmed Megatron's ultimate plans, so Prowl took down Omega Supreme to allow the Decepticons to be blamed and halt Starscream's own plans.

It's revealed by Bombshell, that he's been controlling Prowl since they fought in the sewers and had the Constructicon's "killed" to take them out of sight so they can be worked on for the big plan.

Bombshell briefly frees Prowl's mind, so he can "say goodbye", Prowl asks how Bumblebee couldn't have known he wasn't in control of his mind, just as Megatron orders the Constructicons AND PROWL to combine into Devastator, with Prowl forming the head.

Devastator starts his attack on the city, smashing into Autobot HQ, seemingly killing Sky High and Broadside, as the Decepticons begin their ground assault. Soundwave reports that the highest number of Autobots is at the Med-Center, so Megatron orders Devastator to start there. Bumblebee starts to question why Megatron has told him everything if he's just going to kill him, in response Megatron crushed his head and orders his troops to kill the rest, with Arcee stabbing Sideswipe with her sword. Megatron turns on a projector which pits the Decepticon insignia on the moon as Devastator smashes through the city.

Just outside the city Ironhide, Swoop, Slag, Sludge, Snarl and Superion show up and watch the carnage, with Ironhide guessing they need to save the world.

Characters

Autobot

Bumblebee - Car Head crushed by Megatron

Prowl - Car Under Bombshell's Control, Part of Devastator now

Arcee - Car

Sideswipe - Car Stabbed by Arcee

Blurr - Race Car Run Down by Astrotrain

Wheeljack - Car Killed by Prowl

Sky High - Helicopter Crushed by Devastator

Broadside  Maybe Killed by Devastator

Ironhide - Van

Slag - Triceratops

Snarl - Stegosaurus

Sludge - Apatosaurus

Swoop - Pteranodon

Superion - Aerialbot Gestalt

Circuit

Longtooth

Jazz - Car

Fixit (Mentioned)

Omega Supreme (Flashback) Blown up by Prowl

Silverbolt - Jet (Flashback/Part of Superion)

Slingshot - Jet (Flashback/Part of Superion)

Skydive - Jet (Flashback/Part of Superion)

Air Raid - Jet (Flashback/Part of Superion)

Fireflight - Jet (Flashback/Part of Superion)

Decepticon

Megatron - Tank (Previously Stealth Bomber)

Starscream - Jet

Soundwave - Van

Shockwave - Flying Cannon

Devastator - Prowl and Constructicon Gestalt

Long Haul - Dump Truck

Scavenger - Excavator

Bonecrusher - Bulldozer

Mixmaster - Mixing Truck

Hook - Crane

Astrotain - Train/Space Shuttle

Blitzwing - Tank/Jet

Bombshell

Laserbeak - Data Disk

Buzzsaw - Cassette

Ravage - Cassette

Dirge - Jet

Swindle - Car Run Down by Astrotrain

Turmoil - Tank

Skywarp - Jet

Dreadwing - Stealth Bomber

Needlenose - Jet

Apeface

Sunstorm - Jet (Flashback)

Menasor - Stunticon Gestalt (Flashback)

Scrapper (Mentioned) Dead

Ratbat (Mentioned) Dead

Other Decepticons

NAIL

Metalhawk - Jet Badly injured by Blitzwing

Sky-Byte - Flying Shark

Tappet - Car

Zetca

Other

Metrotitan - City/Space Ship (Flashback) Dead

Deceptigod (Flashback)

Monstructor - Gestalt (Flashback)

The Titans - Cities/Space Ships (Mentioned)

Primus (Mentioned)

Galvatron (Mentioned)

Jhiaxus (Mentioned)

Notes

• It seems that Prowl's been under Bombshell's control since they met in the sewers...Time to re-read the series!
• Arcee's role in this whole thing seems a bit more confusing though, as she was on Prowl's side BEFORE he was altered
• Megatron's new body seems to be based on his pre-Earth mode (though is different still)
• It's a bit ironic that just as Hasbro announce a toy based on his stealth bomber body, that he's be given a completely new charactrer model....
• As I'm sure is noted everywhere else, Broadside is shown talking to Fixit, however the guy who is on screen is Circuit, this is either an art mistake, script error, or Fixit's voice is coming from another unseen panel, and Broadside is just watching the news at the same point
• I do hope Bumblebee's face being smashed in isn't a lead up to him being mute like in most other continuities...lets just hope he stays dead please!
• It's mentioned here that Prowl's mind already had damaged memories...possibly hinting that Chromedome did things to him in the past?
• Remember, as seen a lot in MTMTE, and even with the Constructicons in this series, headshots aren't always fatal...don't count Jackie out yet!

TFCC - Beast Wars Shattered Glass Chapter One: Shattered Time

Plot

The Shattered Glass Ultra Magnus destroys the Classicsverse with the Terminus Blade, however an Autobot and Decepticon ship escaped through a hole in space and both crashland on a planet, with their engines blown out.

After waking up from the crash, Girmlock goes out to investigate, but immediately seizes up due to the intense Energon in the area, elsewhere Megatron sends Nautilator and Tentakil out to investigate, and they too are seized up due to the Energon radiation, however they also get trampled and smashed apart by some local bisons.

Back at the Graviton (Autobot ship) the Autobots use Pretender and Powermaster technology to graft some organic modes based on some local lifeforms, and head out. Meanwhile at the Talon (Decepticon ship) Megatron has decided to use an experimental Energon-Absorbing armor instead so they can retain some mechanical dignity and has his remaining crew get ready for battle.

Characters

Autobot

Ultra Magnus - Mammoth (Former Truck Cab)

Grimlock - Raptor (Former Tyrannosaurus Rex)

Ironhide - Elephant (Former Van)

Prowl - Lion (Former Police Car)

Silverbolt - Eagle (Former Concorde Jet)

Decepticon

Megatron - Tank (Former Gun)

Dirge - Fighter Jet

Snaptrap - Snapping Turtle

Overbite - Shark

Seawing - Manta Ray

Skalor - Coelacanth

Nautilator - Lobster Killed by Bison Herd

Tentakil - Squid Killed by Bison Herd

SG Autobot

Ultra Magnus - Truck Cab

Notes

• This story follows the final scenes of Invasion, showing 2 of the surviving ships from that universe (it's not clear yet if they know they just narrowly escaped an exploding universe)
• The Decepticon ship, the Talon, looks like a creepy evil face...Now I won't sleep tonight!
• The Ultra Mammoth toy revealed for the 2013 Sub Service from the TFCC is confirmed here as being just a beast mode for G1 Ultra Magnus here
• The other Autobot alternate modes are based on some toys from the Beast Wars toyline who shared the same character names
• Dirge and the surviving Seacon's character model is based on their counterparts from Beast Wars II, and Megatron uses the body from his purple tank G2 toy, who sometimes came sold as Archforce. 
• The Lobster and Squid Seacons were "killed off" here because there was no Lobster counetrpart in BWII, and the Squid one was female.
• It's weird to me that Prowl, Ironhide and Silverbolt, who were from the Classicsverse, weren't in their Universe toy models...since some other characters were....
• Wonder where the rest of the Graviton crew are....
• Judging by the beast modes available this planet is likely an alternate Earth where that Matrix thingie was shipped off to.
• The floating computer that works on Megatron seems to be a NAVI of some sort

Other Features

Adverts

A U.S. Transformers Fan in Japan! Article

The TCC Overview of the Classicsverse 2007-2012 Brief summary of the Classicsverse

The Transformers Menagerie Part 1: Cassette Technology Info on the Cassettes

Optimus "Hero Prime" Prime (Primax 895.0 Gamma) Profile

Depth Charge (Primax 209.0 Gamma) Profile

Transformers I.Q. Quiz

Recordicons Mini-Comic

Transformers I.Q. Trivia Bonus - Lio Convoy data

IDW - Robots in Disguise #11

Written by: John Barber

Art by: Guido Guidi

Inks by: John Wycough (Pages 19-22)

Colours by: Priscilla Tramontano

Letters by: Shawn Lee

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Plot

Omega Supreme has been asked by Starscream to come see him to elaborate further on what the Metrotitan told Starscream before, but he declines and says he needs to think about some things. At the Kimia base the Autobots worry that Starscream is becoming popular and might win the upcoming elections, but Prowl insists that he WON'T win. A little later Starscream is in his home with Metalhawk trying on crowns to wear after his "coronation" when suddenly outside Omega Supreme is caught in a massive explosion, which Starscream believes to be because of Shockwave and his loyal group.

Rescue teams begin work on Omega and Starscream arrives to try and help, but the crowd turn on him, because he's a Decepticon. Metalhawk points out that thye don't know the Decepticons are involved and that everyone KNOWS that Prowl was responisble for Ratbat and several other deaths, but everyone's afraid to say so. At the Decepticon base Swindle and Dirge watch this happening on the ICS and worry about what's going to happen next.

Starscream returns to the Decepticon base and confronts Shockwave about what happened to Omega, which Shockwave doesn't deny, and tells him to leave, as he's leaving though Dirge and Swindle appear and ask for him to protect them if they give them some very dangerous information that they already gave to Shockwave about the Autobots.

At Kimia Bumblebee is starting to question Prowl's motives as well, and decides to not use the Omega situation for political reasons, and to start working harder, including hunting down Ironhide and the other's who are missing in the wilds. Prowl leaves the room and runs into Starscream on the balcony. Starscream reveals that Dirge told him about how he watched him kill Bombshell and the others and all about Arcee as well. The two of them then agree to work together to get rid of Shockwave and the others.

At the Decepticon base the Decepticons are continuing their plans, including a plan to kill Dirge and Swindle, when suddenly Arcee attacks and kills several of them before setting off a bomb that disables the rest, including Shockwave and Soundwave. Prowl tells Arcee to take the Decepticons to "the Black Room" with the others and to set up the explosives.

A short time later Prowl leads a small team to investigate the Decepticon's base when it explodes in his face (explained away as being because of a faulty Decepticon booby-trap) And thus the main Decepticons are made to be thought of as dead, but are actually being held prisoner somewhere, just as Starscream and Prowl have planned.

Starscream watches the explosion and is happy that his plans are coming together, however Arcee appears behind him and reveals that she knows where Dirge and Swindle are and that she knows EVERYTHING. She leaves, but after she's gone Starscream looks into the wilds and sees the worst thing possible...Megatron's back.

Characters

Autobot

Bumblebee - Car

Prowl - Speeder

Arcee - Car

Omega Supreme - Rocket and Base Heavily Damaged in Explosion

Circuit

Longtooth

Wheeljack - Car

Broadside

Sizzle

Streetwise - Car

Sideswipe - Car

Fixit - Ambulance

Warpath - Tank

Omega Spreem

Optimus Prime - Truck (Mentioned)

Metroplex - City/Ship (Mentioned)

Groove (Mentioned)

Hot Spot (Mentioned)

Ironhide - Van (Mentioned) Missing

Dinobots (Mentioned) Missing

Zeta Prime (Mentioned) Dead

Decepticon

Megatron - Stealth Jet Heavily Damaged by D-Void, but Mobile

Starscream - Jet

Shockwave Disabled by Arcee, Taken to the Black Room

Soundwave Disabled by Arcee, Taken to the Black Room

Astrotrain Killed or Disabled by Arcee, Taken to the Black Room

Blitzwing Killed or Disabled by Arcee, Taken to the Black Room

Ravage Killed or Disabled by Arcee, Taken to the Black Room

Rumble Killed or Disabled by Arcee, Taken to the Black Room

Frenzy Killed or Disabled by Arcee, Taken to the Black Room

Laserbeak Killed or Disabled by Arcee, Taken to the Black Room

Dirge - Jet

Swindle - Van

Triggerhappy Killed by Arcee

Blot Killed by Arcee

Bombshell (Mentioned) Dead

Constructicons (Mentioned) Dead

Ratbat (Mentioned) Dead

Turmoil (Mentioned)

DJD (Mentioned)

NAIL

Metalhawk - Jet

Tappet - Car

Hipotank - Tank

Sky-Byte - Shark (Mentioned)

NAIL Crowds

Other

Metrotitan - City/Ship (Mentioned) Dead

Crowds on Cybertron

A Sweep Head Dead

Notes

• Screamer's really an egomaniac, he has a model of his F15 Earth mode, and added wings from his Earth body to basically everything (his mirror, the tower he's in etc)
• After his explosion there seems to be a Cybertronian Candle-light vigil happening around him, most likely because he's so old and respected, despite being an Autobot
• Starscream really does actually seem to be trying to be a good leader now...pity his past record shows he'll probably be terrible at it!
• The Iacon Communication Service is back up, and is being used as a news feed of sorts
• Megatron still sports the heavy damage he received during the battle with D-Void
• It's mentioned here that most NAIL's are ex-Autobots, especially since most ex-Decepticons are killed by the DJD
• I guess Longtooth was released from Garrus-9 at some point before AHM then?

Conspiracy Theories

• Pretty sure Prowl and/or Arcee had something to do with the explosions from Omega Supreme
• Really..it's odd that Prowl just happened to be near the scene within seconds of him exploding huh?
• Since it's been a while since the Chaos event and Megatron is still heavily damaged,a nd was unheard of until now, it's likely that he was flung through time like Optimus was, albeit he was thrown much further than Optimus, but still!

TFCC - Games of Deception

Staff

Story: Forest Lee, Pete Sinclair and Benson Yee

Writer: Forest Lee

Pencils and Inks: Alex Milne

Colours: Drew Eiden and Josh Perez

Letters: Junemoon Studio

Managing Editor: Pete Sinclair

Editor in Chief: Brian Savage

Plot

Ultra Magnus and the rest of Grimlock's team of Decepticon hunters have arrived in orbit of Earth (in the Graviton) where they have detected several of Bludgeon's Decepticons on the planet, including Bug Bite and prepare to take them down.

On the planet, Bug Bite and his crew are waiting around for them to be discovered by some of Megatron's Decepticons, and track them as being a few hours away.

Elsewhere again, Optimus Prime and his team return to base after being trounced by Devastator and having Cliffjumper disappear (he jumped to the Shattered Glass Universe). Rodimus is badly injured and needs immediate repairs. Springer contacts Grimlock, who is part of Optimus' crew on Earth, and tells him about their mission, which Grimlock decides to join in on. Mirage gets a bit suspicious, so he goes into his invisible form and follows the Dinobot.

Starscream, Skywarp and Ramjet arrive at Bug Bite's camp and they discuss what Bug Bite is doing on Earth, since he's loyal to Bludgeon, not Megatron, Bug Bite lies and says he has beneficial information for Megatron, when the Decepticons notice somethin gin the bushes.

Grimlock lost Mirage at some point and met up with Magnus and the others. They are watching the meeting from a distance and they watch the Decepticons find Mirage, and watch as Bug Bite plants cerebro shells on the new-comer Decepticons, putting them under his command. The Decepticons fly off with Mirage as a "gift" for Megatron. Grimlock has Swoop follow the Decepticons so they don't lose them.

Megatron is sitting in the ruins of the Ark talking to the head of Shockwave, which is connected to the computers, and learns that Bug Bite appeared mysteriously just after they crashed the Ark the second time. Megatron considers bringing Bug Bite into his fold as he's a good technician.

The Decepticons arrive at the Ark with Swoop and Elita in pursuit, who have found the base and entrance. Inside the ship, Bug Bite greets Megatron, then orders his mind-slaves to attack Megatron and those loyal to him.

Outside, Elita and Ravage get into a fight, with Elita quickly winning. Inside again Megatron's troops have been taken over by Bug Bite's cerebro shells, and even Megatron has been implanted with one too, which Bug Bite uses to make him stay still and listen to him. Bug Bite reveals that he's actually a Go-Bot from another universe and that the Classics Universe has destroyed his one, and he's there for revenge.

The Autobots sneak into the ship and start disabling the systems. Megatron attacks Bug Bite, revealing that he's not susceptible to Mind Control. Bug Bite orders his slaves to attack him, but Elita activates a jammer, which deactivates the Cerebro Shells, freeing all the slaves. Megatron orders those loyal to him to attack Bug Bite's crew and a battle begins.

The Autobots break into the ship distracting Megatron, who simply throws away Bug Bite, during the battle several Decepticons either die or get badly injured, with Megatron even blasting the head off of Bug Bite. Springer destroys the ship's computers, and the team rescueMirage, and then leave for safety, with Megatron vowing to kill all Autobots one day.

Later, Grimlock and his team return to the Graviton and inform Optimus of their work, and promise to return to Earth once Bludgeon and his troops are defeated, with that the Graviton leaves the system for further adventures.

Characters

Autobot

Opitmus Prime - Truck Cab

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Ultra Magnus - Truck Cab

Huffer - Truck Cab

Springer - Armored Assault Vehicle

Elita One - Attack Boat

Snarl

Tyrannitron

Swoop - Pteranodon

Srongarm - Police Car

Bumblebee - Hatchback

Rodimus - Sports Car Injured

Jetfire - Jet

Mirage - F1 Race Car

Ratchet - Ambulance Disabled on Ark

Cliffjumper - Hatchback (Mentioned) Missing

Decepticon

Megatron - Gun

Bug Bite - Sports Car Head Blasted Off by Megatron

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Thundercracker - Fighter Jet

Skywarp - Fighter Jet

Dirge - Fighter Jet Killed in Battle

Thrust - Fighter Jet

Ramjet - Fighter Jet

Dreadwind - Jet

Weirdwolf - Wolf Blasted by Megatron

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Ravage - Cassette

Frenzy - Cassette

Astrotrain - Space Shuttle/Train

Bonecrusher - Front End Loader

Long Haul - Crane

Shockwave (Head Only)

Galvatron (Cannon Only)

Devastator - Constructicon Gestalt (Mentioned)

Bludgeon - Tank (Mentioned)

Trypticon - Battle Platform (Mentioned)

Bombshell - Boll Weevil (Mentioned)

Darkwing - Jet (Mentioned)

Other

Barnett (Mentioned)

Monzo (Mentioned)

Hi-Test (Mentioned)

Notes

• This is part of the "Classics" universe, that was introduced storywise in Crossing Over, and in terms of toyline in the titular Classics toy line. As such most of the characters here use Classics toys as their character models. This storyline is later continued in Invasion, where this universe is destroyed.
• This continuity is a possible future for the Marvel US comic series
• Elita One's character model was later used as the basis for a toy for her in Botcon 2009 as an add-on set with Razorclaw
• Weirdly, despite this being a comic to advertise the Botcon set for this year, some of the set's toys aren't used very well (a very notable case is with Huffer who is in the story for about 2 pages, and then goes away)
• Starscream's small group of Seekers were the only ones released in the mass-market, with the Botcon additions being with Bug Bite (of course all the Botcon Seekers were later released on the mass-market as well later)
• It's not clear which Seeker was killed in the battle on the Ark, but since Dirge tends to die normally, I'll just say it's him.
• Bug Bite and Weirdwolf get badly hurt in this story, it's later shown that they survived by Dreadwind taking both to their ship to be repaired, Weirdwolf gets put in a CR chamber, and Bug Bite is revealed to have a back-up brain in his body, not his head, so he merely puts on a new head.
• Gee I hope Grimlock and his crew returned to Earth before the rest of their universe was destroyed by (evil) Ultra Magnus.
• Weirdly, despite them making a big deal about taking on Earth Modes at the start of the story, none of the Autobots seem to transform in this story....
• Darkwing is mentioned here, he later received a toy in the Universe toyline, which is a sequel toyline to Classics