IDW - Transformers: Shattered Glass II #4

Written by: Danny Lore

Art by: Daniel Khanna

Inks by: Gigi Dutreix

Colours by: John-Paul Bove

Letters by: Jake M. Wood

Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: David Mariotte

Plot

Flamewar and Soundwave team up to try and protect the Titan Net from the Autobots, who are planning to use it to destroy the Titans, rather than letting them sleep, as the Decepticon's want.

Soundwave and Flamewar end up joining the Pirate captain Cannonball, Flamewar's commander, in fighting Rodimus and Flamwar, while Lightbright is hacking the network. The battle doesn't go well, even though the Network was protected, Cannonball is killed, while ordering Flamewar to escape...

Following Cannonball's death, the Pirates crew hold a memorial for their fallen captain, with Flamewar taking the lead. Megatron arrives, and commends Cannonball's resolve to protecting Cybertron, even if they disagreed on the methods used. Megatron offers Flamewar and her crew a place in the Decepticons, to continue their captain's work...

Years later, following the disastrous battle on Earth, Flamewar is furious with Starscream that he could abandon Megatron, but Starscream argues that Megatron let them escape, to let the Decepticon movement survive, even if he died... 

In the present day, Flamewar is annoyed that Megatron won't let her lead her team to take on the Autobots in the Static Zone, so she leads her crew out on an unapproved mission, soon finding Metroplex mostly awake, and the Wreckers dragging Jetfire inside the Titan, where she also notices Rodimus outside.

Wanting revenge for her captain's death, Flamewar charges at Rodimus, but the Autobot is a lot more skilled than the Pirate. Hailstorm tries to help her, but Rodimus shoots his weapons array, and kills him. Flamewar tries to kill Rodimus in revenge, but Slipstream tries to spirit her away, only for Flamewar to free herself to continue her revenge, leading her to blacking out after a shot from the Autobot.

Flamewar soon awakens, to find herself shackled up inside the Titan, where she finds a similarly shackled Optimus Prime, who is taken away for a "procedure". Flamewar tries to get Slicer to reveal what he's doing to Optimus, but the Wrecker doesn't tell her anything, other than how she is only being kept alive as a bargaining chip, since Megatron clearly respects her a lot to send her after the Wreckers, making the Pirate feel guilty for going behind his back.

Soon, Slipstream infiltrates the Titan, and attacks Slicer, freeing Flamewar in the process. Flamewar noticed how attached Slicer seemed to be to Blaster's decapitated head, and wonders if it has some connection to their partial control of the Titan, and grabs it. Slicer tries to attack Slipstream, so Flamewar shoots him, blasting him out the wall of the Titan's control room, to (Flamewar hopes) his death.

Flamewar is tempted to go after Rodimus to get her revenge, but she thinks back on how her leaders have sacrificed themselves in the past to keep the vision alive, and she reasons that she needs to sacrifice her vendetta to get the minimal information she has gathered about what the Wreckers are doing, with Blaster's head. Optimus' capture, a strange procedure and others, to Megatron, who, along with Soundwave has joined the battle against the Wreckers outside the Titan....

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Captured by the Wreckers

Rodimus - Car

Slicer - Car Blasted out of Metroplex

Springer - Helicopter/Car

Drift - Car

Tailgate - Car

Jetfire - Jet (Allied with the Decepticons) Captured by the Wreckers

Metroplex - Titan Ship Partially Reactivated 

Blaster (Decapitated Head Only) Dead

Windblade - VTOL Jet (Flashback Only)

Lightbright (Flashback Only)

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport (Mentioned)

Ratchet - Ambulance (Mentioned)

Prowl - Police Car (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Megatron - Jet

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Flamewar - Motorcycle

Slipstream - Jet

Shadow Striker - Car

Hailstorm - Tank Killed by Rodimus

Hotlink - Jet

Sunstorm - Jet (Flashback Only)

Tracer - Helicopter (Flashback Only)

Barricade - Police Car (Flashback Only)

Starscream - Jet (Flashback Only) Spark Extracted in Present

Thundercracker - Jet (Flashback Only)

Frenzy - Cassette (Flashback Only)

Blackjack (Mentioned)

Constructicons (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Cannonball - Van (Flashback Only) Killed by Rodimus 

Lowload (Mentioned) Killed by Autobots

Cityspeakers (Mentioned)

Titan Net Team (Mentioned)

Notes

• The Hasbro Pulse edition of this issue comes with a Deluxe sized Flamewar with a Battle Master Fireglide.
• Interestingly, unlike with most Shattered Glass designs, Flamewar uses her G1 colour scheme and design, except the insignia, rather than a  different one, meaning this figure can be used as both versions of the character.
• Fireglide appears on the Hasbro Pulse cover, but not in the comic itself, possibly implying the Battle Master was a late edition to the figure.
• Slipstream was briefly shown last issue, but this one reveals that she uses the Earthrise Seeker design, rather than the Siege version seen with the other Seeker body types this issue.
• Slipstream's colour scheme appears to be based on G1 Windblade, which would be very appropriate due to their occasional rivalries in different pieces of fiction.
• Cannonball appears to just use the Timelines version of the G1 character of the same name, which used the Prime Ratchet mould, without any colour changes.
• At the end of the previous issue, all of the Pirate crew arrived at the Titan's location, but only Flamewar, Slipstream, Hailstorm, Shadow Striker and Hotlink headed there during this issue.
• Rodimus is shown using the binocular-shades first seen on his G1 counterpart in the 1986 Movie.
• Lightbright and Windblade are mentioned as being "Citycrashers", very clearly a reference to the IDW comic storyline where the Risers hacked the Titan Net, and caused the Titans to crash into Cybertron.
• Goldbug doesn't appear this issue, suggesting that he probably did die from Jetfire's crushing last issue.
• Flamewar is shown using her front wheel in it's gun configuration, but the wheel is also attached to her backpack in the same panels...
• On a similar note, Flamewar wears her wheel in it's complete form throughout the issue, like how Prime Arcee wears it, but the cover shows it split in half and mounted at the back of her neck, like how Road Rocket wears hers. I'm not sure which one is the "official" version for her in this continuity.
• Slicer's Autobot insignia is blasted off when Flamewar shoots him, this is likely to help with toy design synergy, but could also hint at a future storyline (I still think the double-up characters and toys are multiversal travellers myself)
• Metroplex is shown to now have an Autobot insignia. I guess he generated it since last issue?
• It's confirmed this issue that Optimus was NOT killed by Ultra Magnus, but he has been captured by the Wreckers for an "operation". It should be noted that his chest has been fully repaired from the injuries he suffered in issue one of the series. (Maybe from the Matrix?)
• Wheeljack jokes that Magnus wants Optimus kept alive, so he can paint him to look like him, as a living mirror. Could this be a reference to Magnus' inner robot from the toyline, or something more?
• I think, based on what we've seen so far, that Magnus plans to replace Optimus, and potentially steal the Matrix from his body, which is the operation Ratchet needs to perform. Either that, or he wants the matrix removed for a potential third series storyline (perhaps something related to Vector Sigma, Primus etc)

IDW - Transformers (BNE) #16

Title: The Change In Your Nature, Part Four

Written by: Brain Ruckley

Art by: Bethany McGuire-Smith & Anna Malkova

Colours by: Josh Burcham & Joana LaFuente

Letters by: Jake M. Wood

Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Plot

A meeting takes place in secret between the Senators, minus those affiliated with the Ascenticons, considering the recent situation, especially regarding the imminent arrest of Soundwave. Most of the Senate seem upset with the decision, and Froid takes this moment to try and speak with Nnautica about Cybertronian psychology when dealing with aliens.

Following the meeting, Heretech goes to meet with Megatron, and informs him of the real reason of the meeting being to capture Soundwave, and that he cannot condone these actions, and just wanted to warn Megatron of this ambush. He also mentions that he plans to lead the Reversionists in an exodus from Cybertron, to escape from the crumbling society of their homeworld.

As Heretech leaves, Starscream comes out of the shadows, saying he isn't there to warn Megatron like Heretech was, as he's backing everyone until he knows who will win this conflict, but did want to mention to Megatron that Bumblebee may be working with Orion Pax, due to his continued links with him, despite being removed from Security in the past. Megatron doesn't want to believe that his friend would plant a spy in his ranks, but is starting to question it...

Nautica manages to escape from the annoyance that is Froid, when she learns that a Voin shuttle is docking at the space port, and is devastated to learn that it is in fact a  Voin Asserter, a special variant designed to deliver justice after a crime is committed against the Voin, and this will be trouble....

Megatron calls Elita-1 to meet with him, and asks her if she has any concerns about Bumblebee's loyalties. She denies any concerns, but does express that she feels that Soundwave is not truly on their side, and reveals her belief that he killed the Risers to cover up some secrets. Megatron dismisses her, and contacts Soundwave, still furious with him after his recent failures. He wants him to contact Shockwave to proceed with their plans ahead of schedule, no matter how messy it'll get...

A Rise team head toward a near-abandoned Cityspeaking facility, where they plan to take it over. They manage to take down the three security officers stationed there, but not before the last one, Headrush, manages to call in for reinforcements 

Knowing they don't have much time, they have their seemingly reluctant member, a Cityspeaker named Skystalker, link up to a machine that allows him to talk with the Titan in Cybertron's orbit, Vigilem, and tells him it's time to wake up, and proceed with their earlier discussed plans...

Characters

Autobot

Orion Pax - Truck

Sentinel Prime - Space Shuttle (Mentioned)

Security Forces

Chromia - Car

Ironhide - Van

Brawn - Van

Pipes - Truck

Headrush Killed by Hyperdrive

Red/Green Guy Killed by Tracer

White/Blue Guy Killed by the Risers

Ascenticon

Megatron - Mining Vehicle

Elita-1 - Car

Soundwave - Hovercraft (Mentioned)

Strika - Battle Tank (Mentioned)

Bumblebee - Winged Hovercraft (Mentioned)

The Rise

Slipstream - Jet

Shadow Striker - Car

Flamewar - Motorcycle

Tracer - Helicopter

Blackjack - Car

Hyperdrive - Car

Skystalker - Car

Astrotrain - Trackless Train/Space Shuttle

Immersant Titan Team (Mentioned) 2 Dead, 2 Comatose

Shockwave - Hovercraft (Mentioned)

Quake - Tank (Mentioned)

Barricade - Police Vehicle (Mentioned)

Bitstream - Jet (Mentioned)

Sparkstalker (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Starscream - Jet

Nautica - Submarine

Road Rage - Flying Car

Froid - Jet

Heretech

Vigilem - Titan Ship

Space Port Workers

Immersant Titan (Mentioned) Destroyed

Strika's Heavies (Mentioned)

The Reversionists (Mentioned)

Proxima (Mentioned)

Crosscut - Van (Mentioned)

Other Species

Voin Asserter

Murdered Voin (Mentioned) Dead

Notes

• McGuire-Smith provides the art for the early scenes, whilst the entire Riser raid is provided by Malkova
• It's mentioned this issue that Nautica seems to have no interest in relationships with Cybertronians, furthering her seeming preference to alien species seen in previous issues.
• As mentioned in a previous issue, the murdered Voin was someone important, and the Asserter has been called to exact justice for it.
• Strika is mentioned as being a Senator in the present day.
• Strika's Heavies were previously seen during Megatron's flashback to the war with the Threefold Spark, which included Flak, Warpath and Blitzwing.
• So....the death count on Cybertron is really racking up from this issue it seems!
• Skystalker, due to his demeanour and needing to be "reminded" of his loyalties to the Rise seems to imply that he's not a willing member, but someone who was abducted and forced to join them due to his Cityspeaker skills.
• Also, Cityspeakers are brought back to the franchise, following their prominence in the previous IDW continuity. It's unclear yet if Windblade is also a Cityspeaker, as she traditionally is, but considering her position in Security, it's unlikely (unless she had a career change or something)
• Cityspeaking in this continuity appears to be more akin to the Titan Masters of that continuity, where they are linked up to the Titan in some way, rather than reading their brain patterns to communicate for them like Cityspeakers were shown to do.
• And oh poopy! The Titan in orbit around Cybertron is revealed to be Vigilem, the personal Titan of Liege Maximo from the previous continuity, who was mentally and mode-locked by the ancient Cybertronians, as well as having his name changed to "Carcer" for him aiding Maximo in his crimes. Since we get his name as Vigilem, and see he is active already, we can assume that this part of his history never happened in this Universe
• So, jumping ahead a bit, the solicits for the next few issues mention a catastrophe and  mass exodus of the population, so I'm guessing that Vigilem is going to cause a few problems next issue....

IDW - Transformers (2019) #9

Title: The Cracks Beneath Your Feet, Part 3
Written by: Brian Ruckley
Art by: Angel Hernandez & Anna Malkova
Colours by: Joana LaFuente
Letters by: Tom B. Long
Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Plot

Chromia, Windblade and Sideswipe head to the memorial, where they locate the entrance to the hidden base, once there, Chromia contacts Geomotus, who confirms her theory that the micro-fissures he found during their earlier mission had to be caused by mining, confirming to her that the base was built recently. Chromia bemoans that Barricade isn't responding to her calls and that they have to do this mission without him. The trio arm up with weapons with the armoury and head inside, with Sideswipe standing guard outside...

Elsewhere, Prowl tracks down one of his black market contacts, Headlock, and threatens him to give him all the information he has on the Voin and the recent killings, to which he admits that he's already given all the information he has to Barricade, who came to see him on "behalf" of Security...much to Prowl's surprise.

In the Rise base, the team are detected by Sixshot, Flamewar and Shadow Striker, who are the only members left after the evacuation, and Sixshot bemoans their actions that led Security straight to them.

Whilst exploring the base, Chromia and Windblade find a lot of supplies and equipment, but Chromia gets excited when she sees some Energon stations that haven't had their monitors disabled, so if they use a detector they can discover everyone who has used them! Windblade runs off to get the detector, leaving Chromia alone with the stations, unaware that Sixshot has arrived behind her...

At Ascenticon HQ, Bee is shocked to see the line of potential Ascenticon Guard members, and is surprised to see Barricade has been allowed to try out, despite him being current Security, which he waves off as him just having more to "offer" than Bee did...

Back outside the Rise base, Windblade grabs the detector and rushes back inside, when alone, Sideswipe is attacked by Flamewar.

Inside, Chromia and Sixshot fight it out, and Sixshot appears to be winning, until Windblade arrives and skewers her sword through his chest. Sixshot runs off, with the sword still in his chest, but throws a grenade to slow down the Securities. Chromia gives chase, whilst Windblade attached the detector, and they hear Shadow Striker on the intercom saying to escape before the "boom".

Shadow Striker and Sixshot escape, and Flamewar, seeing them leave, drives off as well, leaving Sideswipe alive behind her.

Chromia gets outside, but is shocked that Windblade hasn't escaped yet, just as the Rise base explodes, destroying the monument and Windblade's broken body is thrown miles away from the site.

Characters

Security Forces

Chromia - Car

Windblade - VTOL Jet Caught in Rise HQ Explosion, Thrown Miles away

Sideswipe - Car

Prowl - Police Vehicle

Barricade - Police Vehicle (Defecting to Ascenticons)

Security Trainees (Mentioned)

The Rise

Sixshot - Jet 

Shadow Striker - Car

Flamewar - Motorcycle

The Rise Commander (Mentioned)

Other Risers (Mentioned)

Ascenticon

Elita-1 - Car

Bumblebee - Winged Hovercraft

Soundwave - Hovercraft (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Headlock

Ascenticon Potential Recruits

Geomotus - Radar Mounted Rover (Hologram Only)

Cyclonus - Jet (Mentioned)

Brainstorm - Jet (Mentioned) Dead

Rubble (Mentioned) Dead

Landmine (Mentioned)

The Missing Cybertronians (Mentioned)

Other

Unlicensed Voin Scavenger (Mentioned) Dead

Notes

• Despite the main cover, and the solicits for the issue, Sentinel, Starscream Nautica, Orion Pax and Hound do not appear in this issue at all. At least Bumblebee has a page of content though I guess...
• Geomotus mentions a co-worker of his being named Landmine. Since this is a G1 series, we should assume this is the G1 character of the same name, but this series has had a fair few surprises so far, so maybe this is another version!
• Prowl mentioned that he was going to be looking into his black market contacts, just before Rubble died, implying that this is how Quake learned about the Voin Scavenger and went out to look for him.
• Shadow Striker outright names her group "Risers", pretty much confirming that they are the Rise, and not Ascenticons (unless the groups are connected like I originally believed)
• Oh hey! Sixshot is back! Let's hope he doesn't get lobotomized again this time!
• Also, we only see Sixshot in his jet alternate mode, so we don't know if he's a six-changer yet or not (though, based on the wheels on his shoulders, he most likely also turns into a car as well)
• Barricade getting information from Headlock about the Voin, and being instantly admitted into the Ascenticons instead of going through barriers like Bee had to would imply that he's been a mole for Soundwave for a while within the Security Forces, and likely gave them the information that led to the Voin and Rubble being killed by Quake.
• Sideswipe's Thermal Lance seems to be designed after the Decepticon Hunter used by his RID2015 counterpart.

IDW - Transformers (2019) #8

Title: The Cracks Beneath Your Feet, Part Two

Written by: Brain Ruckley

Art by: Anna Malkova, Angel Hernandez & Beth McGuire-Smith

Colours by: Joana LaFuente & Josh Burcham

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Plot

Flamewar calls in to Shadow Striker, reporting that Cyclonus is ripping up their hidden cables, and despite Shadow Striker's orders to stand down, Flamewar decides to attack to stop him.

Inevitably, Cyclonus pummels the smaller bot, but the tides turn when Shadow Striker appears and starts firing on Cyclonus too. Cyclonus flies off, but Striker fires upon him, hitting the flyer, and Striker berates Flamewar for her stupidity.

Elsewhere, Megatron visits Termagax in her fortress, where he tells her about the recent bombing at an Ascenticon rally, but she has no interest in the outside world, and is busy building in her workshop. She says Megatron can just continue leading the Ascenticons, as she doesn't trust or believe in the Senate any more, so he leaves.

Outside, Megatron contacts Soundwave and tells him that she won't get in their way...

Back in the city, Bumblebee has been accepted into the Ascenticon Guard and Elita-1 informs him that Megatron wants him to be part of the guard for Megatron at an upcoming Senate meeting, so he can show off an ex-security officer and friend to Autobots has joined his side, which Bee seems fine with.

Meanwhile, at the Security HQ, Froid is being questioned by Chromia and Prowl about if Quake could be capable of murder, due to his well known anger issues and his recent disappearance. Froid agrees that he is likely to be capable of murder, but also that many more could be too, as their species is being repressed too much, and someone was bound to snap eventually.

At that moment, Cyclonus crashes into the wall, burying Froid in rubble, and hobbles in injured from the earlier attack. he tells Chromia that Shadow Striker attacked him, and where they are, before being allowed to go see Ratchet. Froid offers to join him, but Cyclonus flat out refuses. Froid calls out that he should talk to Paragon, confusing everyone else, to which Froid just explains that he's the one Cyclonus needs to talk to really, before leaving.

In the aftermath, Chromia tells Sideswipe to open up the armoury so they can go after Shadow Striker and the rest of her suspected Rise members, regardless of whether it's going to get them in trouble....

Characters

Security Forces/Autobot

Chromia - Car

Prowl - Police Vehicle

Sideswipe - Car

Froid - UAV

Sentinel Prime - Space Shuttle (Mentioned)

Orion Pax - Truck (Mentioned)

Windblade - VTOL Jet (Mentioned)

Barricade - Police Vehicle (Mentioned)

Ratchet - Ambulance (Mentioned)

Ascenticon

Termagax

Megatron - Treaded Vehicle

Elita-1 - Car

Bumblebee - Winged Hovercraft

Other Ascenticons

Soundwave - Hovercraft (Mentioned)

Skytread - Tank and Jet (Mentioned)

Refraktor - Hovercraft (Mentioned)

Quake - Tank (Mentioned) Gone Missing

The Rise

Shadow Striker - Car

Flamewar - Motorcycle

Other Cybertronian

Cyclonus - Jet

Grudge (Ghost)

Gridlock (Ghost)

The Senate (Mentioned)

Paragon (Mentioned)

Rubble (Mentioned) Dead

Brainstorm - Jet (Mentioned) Dead

Pyra Magna (Mentioned)

Starscream - Jet (Mentioned)

The Missing Cybertronians (Mentioned)

Brainstorm's Killer (Mentioned)

Other

Primus (Mentioned)

Preserved Voin Corpse (In Termagax's Workshop)

Notes

• This issue comes with another packet of Transformers TCG cards, and again I got nothing good from it :(
• Art duties this month are split as such: Malkova does the Cyclonus vs Flamewar scene, Hernandez does the Megatron and Bumblebee scenes, and newcomer McGuire-Smith does the Security Forces scene at the end. Interestingly, I legitimately thought that was Andrew Griffith doing the final pages until I just checked the credits page....I am shocked!
• The first page of this issue takes place before Flamewar attacks Cyclonus last issue, giving us her side of the situation.
• From the dialogue this issue, we learn that Shadow Striker, and by extension Flamewar, were amongst the missing Cybertronians mentioned previously, and are part of The Rise, who have gone underground to hide.
• Shadow Striker mentions playing something called "Dead-Dark-Drone" with someone who's name begins with "Fr-". This could be anyone, but considering Froid's presence in the issue, and his history of being someone evil-ish, we might be able to assume this is him?
• Also, Shadow Striker is a mostly purple robot, which could be seen as bluish in the dark. Is she Brainstorm's killer?
• Shadow Striker's design is based on her Cyberverse counterpart, rather than her pre-existing G1 counterparts.
• Flamewar has hidden flamethrowers in her arms....this makes sense with her name!
• Grudge's ghost mentions how Shadow Striker and Flamewar have illegally good weapons, likely being a reference to the Nominus Edict that stops Cybertronians from having external weaponry.
• Dialogue also implies that Shadow Striker was in some way related to the war with the Threefold Spark to, since Gridlock and Cyclonus both recognise her.
• Oh...Termagax actually appears!! I'm not sure what she would turn into yet, but she does have a claw-like hand, which sort of looks like a satellite receiver when opened up (still a cool design though!)
• Termagax appears to have a collection of dead things or weapons...that's not ominous at all!
• Termagax name-drops Pyra Magna here, and asks if she's been "let out", maybe she's the one who Froid isn't allowed to visit in the jail?
• Oh! Sideswipe also makes an appearance for the first time (despite speaking before)
• And adding one more to the character appearances, on the cover preview for next issue, we finally get a look at Sentinel Prime, who seems to be based directly on his Titans Return toy

IDW - Transformers (2019) #7

Title: The Cracks Beneath Your Feet, Part One

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Angel Hernandez, Andrew Griffith & Anna Malkova

Colours by: Joana LaFuente & Josh Burcham

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Plot

Prowl and Chromia meet with Greenlight and Ratchet in the medical center, where they confirm that the Voin and Rubble were both killed via blunt force, rather than gunshots like Brainstorm was, meaning that there is likely two killers on the loose, rather than just one, as they were hoping.

Chromia tells Prowl that it's not his fault, but Prowl feels bad for not being able to find the Voin himself, and for not being able to help Rubble when he called for help, and he vows to solve this case.

Elsewhere, Bee is mourning for the death of his charge and Windblade reassures him that he isn't to blame for this.

Orion comes to see him, but Bee doesn't want to talk to him right now and leaves. Orion offers his condolences for Rubble's death and leaves him be. Soon, Ironhide contacts him to let him know that following the newest deaths, the colony tours has been called off, and Sentinel and his crew are returning to Cybertron via the spacebridge, which Orion was expecting...

Bee heads to the Ascenticon HQ where Elita is shocked to see him, following his recent loss. Bee explains that he wants to join now more than ever, to make the world safer, and also says that Soundwave told him that the rest of the crew can decide if he joins or not. 

Skytread and Refraktor aren't impressed, and try to push him around due to him only being a scout, and being chucked out of the security forces in the past, but when Skytread points out that Bee coulsn't even keep his charge alive, Bee snaps and takes down Skytread and Refraktor with relative ease. Elita puts an end to the fight and Bee notices that Quake wasn't there too...

Meanwhile, at the memorial crater, Cyclonus stands watch, in case Exarchon and the Threefold Spark ever return, and continues to be haunted by the ghosts (or delusions) of his old friends. Cyclonus notices a new wire in the land around the memorial and decides to tear it out, considering it disrespectful, when he is attacked by Flamewar, who silently opens fire on him. Cyclonus tries to escape in jet mode, but is shot down.

Pissed at being forcibly grounded twice recently, he openly challenges Flamewar to a fight..

Characters

Autobot/Security Forces

Orion Pax - Truck

Chromia - Car

Prowl - Police Vehicle

Windblade - VTOL Jet

Ironhide - Van (Hologram)

Nominus Prime (Mentioned)

Sentinel Prime (Mentioned)

Ascenticon

Elita-1 - Car

Skytread - Tank and Jet

Refraktor

Soundwave (Mentioned)

Quake - Tank (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Bumblebee - Winged Hovercraft

Ratchet - Ambulance

Greenlight - Car

Cyclonus - Jet

Flamewar - Motorcycle

Cybertronian Pedestrians

Rubble (Body) Killed by Quake

Gridlock (Ghost)

Highfire (Ghost)

Grudge (Ghost)

Provoke (Ghost)

Primus (Mentioned)

Starscream - Jet (Mentioned)

Nautica - Submarine (Mentioned)

Perceptor (Mentioned)

Arcee - Car (Mentioned)

Arcee's Charge (Mentioned)

Brainstorm - Jet (Mentioned) Dead

Exarchon (Mentioned)

The Threefold Spark (Mentioned)

Other Species

Unlicensed Voin Scavenger (Body) Killed by Quake 

Notes

• Well this issue confirms it! Rubble was indeed killed in issue five. I am so glad they haven't given him a hand-waved save, thus negating the whole concept of death in the continuity from the onset :D
• This issue's art duties are divided up as follows: Hernandez does the Bumblebee scenes, Griffith does the Prowl and Orion Pax scenes, and Malkova finishes it off with the Cyclonus scene at the end.
• This issue comes with a free booster pack of the Wave One Transformers TCG. Mine didn't have anything too good in it unfortunately :( Also, the advert on the cover is kind of irritating...
• Greenlight is revealed to be a Xenobiologist (ie an alien specialist), the name of her and Arcee's new charge is still not known however...curious...
• Orion starts to suggest something to Bee in this issue, which he ignores and proceeds to the Ascenticon HQ, further adding to the idea that he is joining them as a ruse for Orion and the Senate. 
• Nautica and Starscream are mentioned as being part of Sentinel Prime's crew, possibly meaning they are also Senators, or at least high ranking individuals
• This issue gives our first proper mention of Spacebridges in this new continuity.
• Elita-1 is very different from her previous IDW self, with this one seeming to be more in line with her G1 cartoon self, as a protective and caring personality, but still a strong warrior who commands respect.
• Oh wow! It's Flamewar! We haven't seen her since her brief cameo in the TAAO Annual! Looks like she still has her motorcycle mode too! (NOW GIVE US A DECENT TOY FOR HER ALREADY HASBRO!!)
• Cyclonus mentions that this was his second forced landing, referring to the one he suffered at Windblade's hands in issue four.