IDW - Transformers #22

Title: Rise of the Decepticons, Part 4: Prisoners

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Anna Malkova

Colours by: Joana LaFuente

Letters & Design by: Jake M. Wood

Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Plot

Novastar's team battles it out with Sixshot, but the six-changer is far too powerful for them to handle, and it gets worse when Rumble and Frenzy free Quake from the electro net. Luckily for security though, Leviathan arrives and smashes Quake into the ground like a discarded toy. The Riser does manage to shoot the giant Cybertronian in the leg, causing her to fall directly on top of him. Knowing they're unable to win this now, Sixshot has Frenzy and Rumble retreat with hm.

Happy with having one of their top targets in custody, Novastar decides to let the other Risers escape for now, so they can also get aid for their injured team members.

News of Quake's capture spreads to Iacon quickly, and crowds begin to gather to witness the "parade" that Sentinel is having the prisoner go through before going into the prison itself, so as to show his dominance over the Rise and Ascenticons. Orion isn't happy with this idea as he thinks it'll go horribly wrong, but Sentinel is uninterested. Behind his back, Orion has Security line the streets along with some of Ironhide's Senate Guards to try and keep the likely attacks on the prisoner at bay. Whilst making these plans, Nautica contacts Orion to warn him that the dangerous Voin Asserter she and Road Rage had been escorting around Iacon has gone missing..

Elsewhere at his safe house, Bumblebee goes to a hole in the wall (caused when the Tether fell) to watch the prison parade, where he notices a lot of Ascenticons in the crowd, making him nervous.

During the "parade" Flatline works on Roughstuff's heavily damaged form, while Skytread has been working up the Ascenticons in the crowd, so they start to rush the parade platform carrying Quake, allowing the dangerous bot to escape, albeit still shackled and trapped in robot mode.

Quake manages to slip through the crowd, and down an alleyway, where he encounters the Voin Asserter, who sets his enslaved organics on the Riser causing him heavy damage, before Quake kills another Voin.

Bumblebee arrives in the aftermath, seeing Quake having been unshackled during the battle and jumps him from behind with a sword dropped by one of the dead organics, skewering his throat, causing a reaction that decapitates him and ejects his spark casing in the process.

Shortly afterwards, Stakeout and Smokescreen arrive, and although the recognise why he had to kill him, they need to arrest him for murder now. Bumblebee calmly accepts this fate, having gotten revenge on the bot who killed Rubble, but also knows his work isn't complete yet...Barricade is still alive, and his intel was what led to Quake murdering Rubble in the first place.... 

Characters

Autobot/Security Forces/Senate Guard

Sentinel Prime - Space Shuttle

Orion  Pax - Truck

Ironhide - Van

Stakeout - Police Vehicle

Novastar - Car

Springer - Car/Helicopter

Smokescreen - Car

Sureshot - Buggy
Windblade - VTOL Jet

Vibes

Bumper - Car

Roulette - Car

Pipes - Truck

Brawn - Van

Grotusque

Other Guards

Blades - Helicopter (Mentioned) Injured

Ascenticon/The Rise

Sixshot - Car/Tank/Jet/Winged Beast/Gun

Quake - Tank Killed by Bumblebee

Skytread - Tank and Jet

Rumble - Cassette

Frenzy - Cassette

Roughstuff - Truck Badly Injured, Under Repairs

Ascenticons in the Crowd

Soundwave - Hovercraft (Voice Only)

Megatron - Mining Vehicle (Mentioned)

Barricade - Police Vehicle (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Bumblebee - Winged Hovercraft Arrested by Stakeout

Starscream - Jet

Nautica - Submarine

Flatline -  Van

Leviathan - Metal Harvester Injured by Quake

Andromeda

Voxpop

Iacon Crowds

Rubble (Mentioned) Dead

Road Rage - Flying Car (Mentioned)

Beachcomber - Buggy (Mentioned) Injured

Hoist - Tow Truck (Mentioned)

Ratchet - Ambulance (Mentioned)

Other

Voin Asserter Killed by Quake

Enslaved Organics Killed by Quake

Notes

• I know this is a common comment in this series now, but the main cover with the main female Risers really has nothing to do with this issue's plot, in the slightest.
• Despite being depicted as a friendly character, Leviathan is shown with red eyes and a mostly purple colourscheme, which is more evocative of a Decepticon design...wonder if that's a story-beat for the future?
• The two headed NAIL from early in the Robots In Disguise era of Transformers comics is finally named here as Voxpop. His gimmick is that one of his heads just says "pop".
• Ironhide's team is confirmed here to be separate to the main Security Forces, as they are specifically Senate Guards
• Despite how it seemed last issue, Roughstuff is still alive (but in a VERY bad condition)
• In Bumblebee's defence, I don't think Quake was going to survive long after his wounds fighting the Voin Asserter

IDW - More Than Meets The Eye #42

Title: The Frail Gaze

Written by: James Roberts

Art by: Alex Milne

Colours by: Joana LaFuente

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: John Barber

Plot

On board the Vis Vitalis, Nautica dances with Skids in private, so she can show that she CAN dance, but doesn't want to do it in public as she's shy. Skids is happy with the arrangement too, since he's learning the dances too through his special skill. The two talk about how Nautica and Firestar were basically forced to be friends, and they don't really seem to like each other. Before they can really continue though, Skids collapses, and the invisible aliens start appearing on the dance floor, Skids is too weak to fight them, and Nautica isn't a good fighter, so they are soon swarmed by the aliens.

In the Morgue, Nightbeat is analysing the aliens whilst fighting them off, along with Getaway, they are over-run by them, until Ravage appears and saves them. Nightbeat quickly examines Photon's corpse again, and sees the same eggs on his face as they found on Countdown and Getaway, and they escape.

In the Medibay, the aliens have appeared there too, and are fought off by the Autobots. Velocity throws some machinery at the aliens, causing a load noise, causing Firestar and Skystalker to investigate. Upon entering the room, Skystalker is ripped in half by one of the aliens, instantly killing him. Thunderclash wakes up from his death bed, and fights off the aliens, telling the others to escape whilst he sacrifices himself for the greater good. His self-less deed causes the ticks some pain, which Velocity notes whilst the group escapes.

On the dancefloor, Nautica manages to wriggle free from the pile of aliens crushing the two of them, and plugs herself into a recharge socket, causing the attached, and organic aliens to die from electrocution.

Nautica and Skids escape, but manage to run into the other Autobots, allowing them to lock themselves into a room whilst they figure out what's happening.

Nightbeat examines the rest of the crew and finds the eggs on Skids. Firestar notes that everyone who seems to be affected all have charisma, causing Nightbeat to identify them as Personality Ticks, whom he'd only thought of as myth before now. The Camiens picked them up when they visited Planet Marasma, before joining the Vis Vitalis, their pilot Vertex died from their effects, and then infected Thunderclash and the others since then. Velocity realizes that one of the aliens must have made themselves visible for long enough to heal up Thunderclash, so they could feed off him for longer, thus explaining why she couldn't remember her properly afterwards.

Nightbeat starts to formulate a plan to defeat the Ticks when suddenly they rush the door and smash it down, forcing the Autobots to fend for their lives. All of a sudden though, they all fall down dead, as Rodimus and Megatron suddenly appear from behind them.

Later, on the Lost Light, First Aid repairs Skids, Getaway and Thudnerclash from their wounds, and it is revealed that the Ticks died from overloading on the combined charisma of Megatron and Rodimus, which was Nightbeat's idea, but he wonders why they turned up BEFORE he even sent the message. Magnus reveals that Skater, Borer and Flex were the ones to call Rodimus, when they deduced the situation BEFORE Nightbeat did, they were just less showy about it. Magnus mentions that Thunderclash is now joining the crew since his old war wound is healed now, the Matrix map was destroyed, but Thunderclash still has some memories of parts of it, giving them SOME progress at least.

At Shuttle Bay Four, Firestar and Nautica say goodbye. Firestar, now a bit more modest and shaken after the death of Skystalker and the Personality Tick's abilities decides to return to Caminus, taking the now unneeded Vis Vitalis with them. She offers to sever her friendship with Nautica, since they both know they aren't a good match, however Nautica refuses, saying that their differences are what makes them a good match.

Later at Swerve's, the crew are having an "Earth Dance" with Blaster as the DJ and the crew dancing their problems away. During the party, Tailgate has Blaster play "The Power of Love", Cyclonus' new favourite song, and offers to dance with him. However before he can join him, Getaway starts dancing with Tailgate instead.

During the dance, Velocity turns up, and reveals that Firestar convinced her to join the Lost Light as well, much to Nautica's delight.

Skids compliments Swerve on the party and it's success, and Swerve declares his work is done...causing him to fade away and disappear, leaving the glass he was glass to smash onto the floor!

Characters

Autobot

Rodimus - Car

Megatron - Tank

Ultra Magnus/Minimus Ambus - Vehicle Transport/Minesweeper 

Thunderclash - Truck

Nightbeat - Car

Getaway - Car

First Aid - Ambulance

Skids - Van

Nautica - Submarine

Velocity - Race Car

Firestar - Jet

Skystalker - Jet Killed by Personality Tick

Proxima

Roadmaster

Photon - Race Car Killed by Personality Ticks

Skater - Hydrofoil

Borer

Flex

Bluestreak - Car

Swerve - Van Mysteriously Vanishes

Hound - Jeep

Chromdome - Car

Rewind - Data Slug

Blaster - Acoustic Tank

Tailgate - Car

Rung

Riptide - Boat

Huffer - Truck

Atomizer

Brainstorm - Jet

Windblade - VTOL Jet (Mentioned)

Chromia - Speedbike (Mentioned)

Countdown (Mentioned) Killed by Personality Ticks

Decepticon

Soundwave - Personnel Carrier (Mentioned)

Ravage - Cassette

Other Cybertronian/Camien

Cyclonus - Jet

Ten

Chopper - Helibot (Mentioned)

Vertex (Mentioned) Killed by Personality Ticks

Other

Personality Ticks Killed by Rodimus and Megatron's Charisma

Notes

• Swerve's special recap page returns again this issue
• It's revealed here that on Caminus it is deemed important to be skilled in an artform, rather than manual skills etc.
• It is also revealed that Camiens are required to have an Amica Endura (best friend), or they are deemed as social outcasts. They are also seen the same way if they break up one of those friendships. This could be why Windblade and Chromia are still hanging out despite Chromia's actions in the first Windblade mini-series.
• It's revealed that Ravage was overheating last issue, due to him knowing that someone could see him, but he couldn't see them.
• Skystalker appears here, but is quickly torn in half by the net panel....YAY!
• Despite his apparent Rigor-Morphis and death colours, Thunderclash was able to hep defend the others during the attack on the medibay.
• Despite them clearly having alternate modes, with Velocity's being very obviously a race car, neither she or Firestar transform when escaping the Ticks, even though the other Autobots DID.
• Speaking about that, we see enough of her body here to assume that Firetsar turns into a jet.
• Like I thought last issue, the Ticks are attracted to successful bots, who emit charisma for their fuel.
• Nautica mentioned that Firestar's flame changed colour since the last time she saw her, it is revealed here that it is because of the different fuel she is using now.
• Nautica reveals that Innermost Energon is highly explosive when heated up.
• This issue continues the theme of the main characters not saving the day all the time, with three random, unseen characters saving the day this issue, rather than the main cast.
• Roadmaster and Proxima make a VERY brief appearance setting up a shuttle for take-off towards the end of the comic
• Getaway's expression when he is dancing with Tailgate is VERY creepy.
• I think Nautica's replaced Brainstorm with Skids as her new best friend on the ship.
• Swerve completing a mission and then disappearing at the end of the comic is a reference to Quantum Leap. Whether this is meant to be a joke for his character, or a future plot point has yet to be revealed.
• Thunderclash's Matrix map was destroyed during the battle in the medibay, but he's joined the Lost Light crew along with Velocity, so that's progress still!
• Firestar is revealed to have lied about her being the 2nd in command of the ship, and having saved Thunderclash's life.
• Since we've seen no Circle of Light members on the Vis Vitalis, I'm guessing this means they didn't join with Thunderclash as they planned to after "Remain in Light"
• Assuming Thunderclash was the one to Autobrand them, like he was with Nautica and the others, I'm guessing that Vertex died before she was Autobranded 

IDW - More Than Meets The Eye #41

Title: The Sensuous Frame

Written by: James Roberts

Art by: Alex Milne

Colours by: Joana LaFuente

Letters by: Tom B. Long and Chris Mowry

Editor: John Barber

Plot

On the Vis Vitalis, Firestar, the new second in command of the ship, escorts Countdown to visit the dying Thunderclash and give his last regards. Inside the med-bay Countdown is shocked to see Thunderclash is already undergoing Rigor Morphis, and goes to leave him his various medals as a sign of respect when he hears a knock from Thunderclash's trailer, he looks inside, and screams...

Elsewhere, on the Lost Light, Nautica is trying to read another book that Rung had given her, but is being annoyed by Skids, Getaway and Brainstorm showing off. Brainstorm finishes upgrading Nautica's wrench with a new app, designed to expose if Ravage, the ship's resident Decepticon, was sneaking around them, by it being able to "flummox" the light-based attention deflectors equipped to him. Suddenly a loud noise fills the ship. 

In Swerve's bar, Bluestreak tells Ravage that Swerve's been immersing himself in ALL of Earth's media after Ratchet left when they also hear the noise, and Swerve recognizes it as the milestone being reached gong.

Ten minutes later, the crew have gathered in the meeting room, where Rodimus reveals that the crew have been invited to Thunderclash's pre-wake on the Vis Vitalis, meaning that they've now got progress on their mission due to locating Thunderclash and his apparent Matrix map.

Megatron and Rodimus decide not to attend the pre-wake for their own reasons, but Megatron calls Rodimus out on his bluff about "taking stock" and makes him have a strategy meeting with him during the pre-wake.

Later, the two ships have met up, and the Lost Lighters head over to the Vis Vitalis and take part in a dance party. During the party, Nightbeat gets bored and decides to go snooping around the ship, borrowing Nautica's wrench to help him out. Upon his leaving, Firestar approaches Nautica, and greets her old friend, dragging her onto the dancefloor, against her own wishes.

After the quick dance, the two start talking, and Firestar accidentally insults Nautica when she compliments her on finally going it alone without Windblade and Nautica...

Minimus Ambus meets with Velocity and sees the Matrix Map that Thunderclash has been etching into the walls of the ship, which appears to match the one they lost on Luna-1. First Aid is a bit confused though, he sees that according to Thunderclash's medical records he was cured of his illness six months ago, but he's just suddenly started dying. Velocity comments that he was cured by a female Cybertronian, but she can't remember who it was.

First Aid wants to perform a new analysis on Thunderclash, and looked inside his trunk to find nothing inside....

Later, Rodimus and the Lost Light head off to a nearby Starhub to get some more stationary for Megatron and Rodimus' meeting, but some of the crew stay behind on the Vis Vitalis for the funeral and to catch up with others there. The ship would return later to pick up the "stragglers".

Skids and Getaway complain about being tired suddenly, but Nautica asks Skids for his help with something, and Nightbeat gets Getaway's help in chasing down the clearly scared Ravage, who is running through the corridors panicking about someone seeing him.

In the med-bay the team see that Thunderclash is communicating with them through his vitals monitor, by controlling his functions to spell words telling them they are all blind, and are all dead. They wonder what that means, when they hear something knocking from Thunderclash's trunk...

Nightbeat and Getaway think that Ravage would have headed to the Cold Storage, to avoid the people watching him, in there they find some dead bodies, with no noticeable injuries on them. They locate the recently dead body of Countdown, which was also without any marks, until Nightbeat illuminates it with Nautica's wrench, revealing some strange eggs all over him, that were invisible until the special light hits it, however Nightbeat also sees Getaway has them all over his face too. Before long, Nightbeat and Getaway notice that the room is filled with some strange monsters also covered in the eggs, despite the room being empty just before...

Characters

Autobot

Rodimus - Sports Car

Megatron - Tank

Minimus Ambus - Minesweeper

Firestar

Nautica - Submarine

Nightbeat - Car

Skids - Van

Getaway - Car

Brainstorm - Jet

First Aid - Ambulance

Velocity

Javelin

Rung 

Swerve - Van

Blustreak - Car

Tailgate - Car

Boss - Car

Aquafend - Race Car

Sky High - Helicopter

Gears - Van

Smokescreen - Car

Sureshot - Car

Rollout - Bulldozer

Atomizer

Hoist - Crane

Siren - Car

Hosehead - Fire Truck

Inferno - Fire Truck

Joyride - Buggy

Blaster - Acoustic Truck

Hound - Jeep

Xaaron

Pointblank - Van

Whirl - Osprey Helicopter

Huffer - Truck

Repugnus - Insect Monster

Doublecross - Two Headed Dragon

Crosscut - Van

Jackpot - Car

Rad - Car

Mainframe

Dipstick - Car

Mirage - Race Car

Hot Spot - Fire Truck

Blades - Helicopter

Groove - Motorcycle

Streetwise - Police Car

Thunderclash - Truck In Rigor Morphis

Countdown Killed by the Invisible Monsters

Photon Killed by the Invisible Monsters

Other Lost Lighters

Ratchet - Ambulance (Mentioned) Left the Ship

Alpha Trion (Mentioned)

Blurr (Mentioned)

Windblade (Mentioned)

Chromia (Mentioned)

Proxima (Mentioned)

Acceleron (Mentioned)

Exocet (Mentioned)

Skimmer (Mentioned)

Skystriker/Skystalker (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Ravage - Cassette

Cybertronian

Cyclonus - Jet

Froid (Mentioned)

"Mystery Medic" (Mentioned)

Other

Invisible Monsters

Notes

• We get to see Thunderclash's vehicle mode for the first time here. It is also revealed that his preferred mode was his alternate mode, according to his Rigor Morphis.
• It's revealed here that Thudnerclash used to hand out medals in the shape of his unique insignia decorations, much like how Rodimus hands out his Rodimus Stars as well...
• Rodimus hitting the "milestone gong" looks similar to the old "Gongman" openings for Rand Films.
• The only members of the Vis Vitalis crew we see alive and active in this issue are the new arrivals from Caminus...hmmm...
• Tailgate is still playing with the hoverboard created for him by Ten.
• The Protectobots and Mirage are all on board the Lost Light still, meaning this story is set either before Combiner Wars, or is set afterwards, but is unmentioned.
• All of the characters who have been shown to be victims of the invisible monsters are well respected, the famous racer and motivational speaker Photon, the "Greatest Autobot ever" Thunderclash, and the highly decorated Countdown.
• I think it's a safe bet to assume that the characters who are complaining about being suddenly tired, like Getaway and Skids have already been infected by the alien's eggs.
• Ultra Magnus seems to be really comfortable with his true self now, as he's going around without the Magnus armour at all nowadays!

IDW - Prime: Beast Hunters #7

HOORAY! I worked out how to use my scanner with Windows 8! Rejoice!! You can now have pictures in these blogs again!

Story by: Mike Johnson & Mairghread Scott

Written by: Mike Johnson

Art by: Agustin Padilla

Colours by: Priscilla Tramontano

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Plot

Grimlock and Swoop have made their way to the now living surface of Cybertron again and find Snarl and Chromia with the other survivors. Whilst wondering what happened to the planet to wake it up, they receive a transmission from Kaon to have all Autobots regroup there. This makes Grimlock wonder if the war is actually over now.

Beneath the surface Sludge learns from Firestar and Zoom about Last Spark's destruction in the quakes, when suddenly the walls start shaking, and a Predacon smashes his way in. Sludge has the others escape while he fights the beast.

On the surface the Autobots want to head to Kaon, but Grimlock wont let them until all the unaccounted for are located. Just like that, Slug appears and tells them that Blackout is dead (and no-one says "who?!" evn though no-one there met him....). He tells them that Sludge is still down below, however before any sort of rescue mission begins, some of the remaining members of the Forged attack the group.

Underground, Sludge gets soundly beaten by the Predacon, who then goes after the others, and abducts the unsuspecting Zoom as he's climbing to the surface while Firestar can only watch, a short while later, Sludge finds the dying Zoom, and gives him his final wish, by calling him a Dinobot too. Following his death Sludge hears someone behind him, who startles him.

Up on top, the Dinobots take on the Forged while Grimlock tells the others, including a newly resurfaced Firestar to head to Kaon, when the Predacon suddenly smashes out of the ground. The Dinobots concentrate on him and manage to badly injure him and he flies off to safety.

Sludge then reappears on the surface along with three old friends: Bulkhead, Bumblebee and Arcee!

Characters

Autobot

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Swoop - Pteranodon

Snarl - Stegosaurus

Sludge - Apatosaurus

Slug - Triceratops

Chromia - Sports Car

Firestar - Hover Pick-Up Truck

Zoom  Killed by Rusty

Arcee - Motorcycle

Bumblebee - Sports Car

Bulkhead - Off Road Vehicle

Other Autobots

Decepticon

The Forged

Megatron (Mentioned)

Blackout (Mentioned) Dead

Predacon

Rusty - Winged Dragon

Other

Primus (Mentioned)

Notes

• Before I start the notes, I'll just mention that I have a new facebook like page for my comic series, which will of course most likely branch out to my blogs too, so here's a link if you want a little peek/like: https://www.facebook.com/HumanCookies #ShamelessAdvert
• This issue continues the confusingness of this previous two to such an extent that I have to bring out issue 6 just to remember what happened!
• It's not clear WHEN exactly this issue takes place during Predacon's rising. But since the Autobots didn't seem to think there was anyone else on Cybertron during those events, it can be assumed that this is just AFTER the movie, and the last 2 issues happened during it's storyline.
• The transmission heard from Kaon is most likely Team Prime sending out their recall message into space (but since it's so jumbled even so close, let's see how far it gets into the cold vacuum of nothingness!)
• The unnamed Predacon here is based on the Skystaler character model, which could mean that he's a mis-coloured Backbite...but because he's orange and black, I'll name him "Rusty" until something better comes up!
• Yeah so, Blackout died from his injuries in his last panel last issue (couldn't tell at the time) so Slug has abandoned his corpse, and has walked up to the surface very fast...if they were so close to the surface then why did he and Sludge not just head that way (especially considering all the quakes in the underground lately!?!)
• Yeah so Zoom gets killed off very quickly here despite him seeming to have a big plot role to play from his earlier appearances
• It's very strange how they made Chromia look so much like Arcee in her appearances, yet when Arcee actually appears here so looks off-model.
• Grimlock, after making his speech to Swoop about how everyone needs a fresh start now, and how he doesn't want to rule all of Cybertron, takes control of all the Autobots in this issue, and refuses others advice.

IDW - Beast Hunters #3

Story by: Mike Johnson & Mairghread Scott

Written by: Mike Johnson

Art by: Agustin Padilla

Colours by: Priscilla Tramontano

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Plot

Long ago, Shockwave began to take an interest in Earth, and began watching it out of curiosity.

In the present day, Grimlock and Swoop are underground in some old tunnels, where Swoop annoys Grimlock by talking too much, and they encounter a group of the Forged's soldiers, whom the 2 Dinobots manage to take down fairly quickly. Grimlock figures out that the group couldn't have been down there just to guard some old rubble, so he removes it and reveals an old door, which opens into an abandoned lab of Shockwave's, filled with discarded bones and damaged equipment.

Meanwhile, at Last Spark Snarl and Sludge have returned to help them rebuild and repair after their fight with Airwave, the people of the city are wary of the two Dinobots, but are willing to believe they are there to help out.

Back at Shockwave's old lab, the two Dinobots have found some shattered tubes, but also see some still intact, until whatever's inside it smashes out, revealing a living Tyrannosaurus Rex! Swoop comments on how he looks like Grimlock, but Girmlock disagrees, transforming and taking on the real Dinosaur, meanwhile three more tubes begin to smash open, leaving Swoop to contend with a Pteranodon, Stegosaurus and Triceratops alone.

Characters

Autobot

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Swoop - Pteranodon

Sludge - Apatosaurus

Snarl - Stegosaurus

Firestar - Hover Pick-Up Truck

Zoom

Last Spark Denizens

Airwave - Jet Dead

Slug - Triceratops (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Forged Warriors Killed by Grimlock and Swoop

Shockwave (Flashback)

Other

Tyrannosaurus Rex

Pteranodon

Stegosaurus

Triceratops

Notes

• This marks Swoop's first appearance since the end of Rage of the Dinobots
• It's not clear, but the thing Snarl is carrying at Last Spark looks a bit like Airwave's corpse...
• Zoom's love of talking, and name could be references to Blurr
• The dinosaurs shown here in Shockwave's lab are lacking feathers, and have glowing eyes, possibly hints that they aren't really dinosaurs after all, but robotic copies
• The lack of an Apatosaurus could be a reference to how Sludge was originally just a test subject
• The Pteranodon is coloured like G1 Swoop

IDW - Beast Hunters #2

Story by: Mairghread Scott & Mike Johnson

Written by: Mairghread Scott

Art by: Agustin Padilla

Colours by: Priscilla Tramontano

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Plot

Snarl and Sludge fight the Insecticons led by Kickback, during which Kickback taunts Sludge about how he was just used by Shockwave as a test-subject for the Dinobot's and was just abandoned, then forgotten about for some time. All of that of course annoys Sludge to the point that he half kills Kickback, and learns from him that the Insecticons haven't been draining the victims, and they believe it to be the Forged, he also reveals that an aerial Autobot scout witnessed a fight between them over it, so there's proof. Snarl admits that the Insecticons aren't the killers, and Sludge agrees...this time, and subsequently kills Kickback.

Afterwards the two Autobots discuss what happened, recharge and decide to return to Last Spark on a hunch. Inside the city, the two Dinobots meet with Firestar, who takes them to the morgue inside they find some marks on the corpses similar to those on the draining victims and believe that the morgue was used as a practice ground by someone in the city, just then Airwave walks in, and the Dinobots realize that only Airwave has an aerial mode in the city, menaing he must be the attacker.

Airwave, rumbled, attacks Firestar and leaves her for dead, he takes off in jet mode and blames the Dinobots for Firestar's death, leading the city's people to attack the two outsiders. During the following battle Sludge manages to ground Airwave and they argue, as Airwave claims that everyone left on the planet is doomed, that's why he's doing anything to survive. Airwave's about to kill Sludge, when Firestar, who wasn't killed after all skewers him through the chest, slices him in half and finishes him off.

Afterwards, Firestar and the rest of the people in the city decide to remain behind, despite all that's happened, whilst the Dinobots return to their own city. Sludge goes to see Grimlock who says that he's glad he disobeyed his orders, and he needs Sludge to help him do what is right now and again, then proceeds to get ready for the day's duties.

Characters

Autobot

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Sludge - Apatosaurus

Snarl - Stegosaurus

Firestar - Hover Pick Up Truck

Airwave - Fighter Jet Killed by Firestar

Last Spark Denizens

Decepticon

Kickback - Insect Killed by Sludge

Insecticons - Insects

Shockwave (Mentioned)

The Forged (Mentioned)

Other

Primus (Mentioned)

The Thirteen (Mentioned)

Notes

• This issue concludes the story line begun last issue, indicating this series should be more episodic than just one single ongoing story (like the Mini's are)
• Still no sign of Swoop yet...
• This story finally addresses Sludge's absence, and return to the Dinobots, which was somewhat of a continuity burp before now
• I think we all saw that Airwave was going to be revealed to be the bad guy here...I mean he WAS based on a Decepticon after all
• Airwave has a VERY Earth-like alternate mode, despite his team-mate Firestar having a very Cybertronian looking one.

IDW - Beast Hunters #1

Story by: Mairghread Scott & Mike Johnson
Written by: Mairghread Scott
Art by: Agustin Padilla
Colours by: Priscilla Tramontano
Letters by: Tom B. Long
Editor: Carlos Guzman

Plot

On Cybertron, the war is long over, and the Autobots, under Grimlock's command, are wholed up in a city to protect them from the Forged and Insecticons left on the planet.

Sludge returns from a hunting mission with a large dead beast in tow to be drained for power. He soon joins Snarl and Grimlock in the throne room to go about their daily business of mediating problems in the city etc, after a while, Slug appears with some dead bodies that Grimlock wanted to see, but Sludge insists that they call it quits for today (as Girmlock's getting tired, and his beast is getting ready to release itself) which would be bad for the city.

Sludge goes off hunting when he encounters Firestar being chased by some Insecticons, the two take down the Decepticons, and Firestar says she needs help. She is taken to see Grimlock, but when she reveals she's from Last Spark, Grimlock goes mad and refuses to help her due to them not wanting his help in the past.

Firestar leaves, but Snarl and Sludge accompany her back to Last Spark to help them out from their attackers. Inside the city, the two Dinobots aren't well received as the people there believe they are tainted with Shockwave's madness after seeing their actions in the Forged prison (back in Rage of the Dinobots), however their leader Airwave is convinced to let them at least try to help.

The two Dinobots are taken to see some of the body, and find them fully drained of Energon and torn apart, and some were even taken from INSIDE the city. The Dinobots decide to check out Shockwave's lab to see if there's any sign of the Insecticons, like Kickback, or something else that could do this. They're given some Energon pumps and head out

The duo make it to the tunnel leading to the lab, but find it blocked by some Insecticons, including Kickback.

Characters

Autobot

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Sludge - Apatosaurus

Snarl - Stegosaurus

Firestar - Hover Pic-Up Truck

Airwave

Slug - Triceratops

Last Spark Civilians

Grimlock-ville Civilians

Swoop - Pteranodon (Mentioned)

Optimus Prime (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Kickback - Insect

Insecticons - Insects

Backbite - Dragon (Flashback)

Shockwave (Mentioned)

The Forged (Mentioned)

Constructicons (Mentioned)

Other

Dead Guys

Primus (Mentioned)

Prisoners (Flashback)

Mini-Cons (Mentioned)

Notes

• This is set to accompany the events of the Beast Hunters TV series, so it may reveal some spoilers from the series after a few issues
• This is set a while after the conclusion of Rage of the Dinobots
• Firestar's appearance in both modes are mostly references to her G1 counterpart, but she also has some cues from Prime Ironhide too, and even a bit from Movie Salvage as well
• Airwave is shown to be an Autobot here, but in G1, which is where the character he's based on is from, is a Decepticon