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Title: Natural Selection Part 5
Writer: Simon Furman
Penciler: Andrew Wildman
Inker: Stephen Baskerville
Colorist: John-Paul Bove
Coloring Assist: James Stayte
Letterer: Chris Mowry
Editor: John Barber
Editor-in-Chief: Chris Ryall
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Plot
Hot Rod, now with the Sword and Covenant of Primus, and with the knowledge that his creator tried to destroy the Demons before the creation of the Transformers decides to help out the poor creatures, but later, as he needs to leave these catacombs first, so he drives off, leaving the scared Demons alone.
Grimlock and the other non Gene-Keyed Autobots arrive at the Civil Defense Hub, and quickly take down all the guards (whilst trying not to kill them as well), they reach the control room, where the Decepticon clones surrender. The Autobots discover that the data cache is still intact, which includes Scorponok's data on how to cure the Nucleon affected, like Slag, however they also learn that the Autobot shuttle containing the Autobots who headed to Earth earlier is being targeted by missiles, and that Scorponok is at the Sonic Canyons for his big plan.
On Earth, the Ark is beginning to repair itself and is getting ready for flight with Galvatron standing around in the bridge. A few levels lower Starscream is sitting around, all lobotomized and stuff when he hears the mostly-dead Shockwave talking and then realizes that he can talk himself again too. Shockwave explains that he's removed the blocks Megatron placed on him, so he's now fully active again, and that he has fixed the ship, but cannot pilot it himself, which Starscream surmises to mean that he needs him to pilot it for him.
At the Sonic Canyons, Scorponok is getting more and more anxious and impatient with the delays to his super gene-key being completed and takes his anger out on G2 Roadblock, who was just standing there, which makes the other Decepticons a bit unnerved again.
Suddenly Grimlock arrives on a sky-sled and starts attacking the giant Decepticon, and is quickly taken out by him, and weakened by that Kryptonite thing Scorponok has against him, just as Perceptor is ordered to activate the key.
At the Hub again, Grapple and Blurr are trying to disarm the missiles, but to no luck, however Crosshairs makes Pounce give the code by killing Wingspan and threatening his life too and they disarm the missiles just in time. The Autobots on the ship witness the detonation, and prepare for battle.
Back at the Sonic Canyon, the key is activated and Scorponok monologues a bit, but soon shuts up when the key goes wrong, and everyone affected by it is reverted back to their old, true natures, and it's revealed that Perceptor was never truly affected by the key and that he's been working for Grimlock this whole time. Scorponok goes to kill Perceptor, but is stopped by Grimlock, who then calls for the other Dinobots to come out of hiding and join the fight. The other Decepticons leave the battle and Perceptor tells the remaining newly recovered Autobots to leave the bridge too as they don't have much time.
As everyone leaves, Swoop blasts out one end of the bridge making it collapse, sending Scorponok falling to his death, along with Grimlock, who declines being saved for some reason, as the Dinobots look on in horror.
Back on Earth, Optimus returns to the Ark's site to see it beginning to take off, and see's Galvatron in the bridge's window, and mistakes him for the now dead Megatron.
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Characters
Autobot
Optimus Prime - Truck
Hot Rod - Car
Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex Plummets from Bridge
Sludge - Apatosaurus
Snarl - Stegosaurus
Swoop - Pteranodon
Grapple - Crane
Blurr - Race Car
Hosehead - Fire Engine
Crosshairs - Van Buggy
Perceptor - Microscope
Highbrow - Helicopter
Brainstorm - Jet
Ultra Magnus - Car Carrier
Smokescreen - Car
Hound - Jeep
Red Alert - Fire Emergency Car
Sideswipe - Car
Cosmos - Orbiter
Skids - Van
Kup - Pick Up Truck
Override - Motorcycle
Road King - F1 Race Car
Dogfight - Jet
Skram - Car
Landmine - ATV
Kick-Off (Flashback)
Landfill - Dump Truck Knocked Out by Crosshairs
Decepticon
Scorponok - Scorpion Plummets from Bridge
Galvatron - Laser Cannon
Starscream - Fighter Jet
Shockwave Part of Ark
Pounce - Puma
Wingspan - Eagle Killed by Crosshairs
G1 Roadblock - Tank Knocked Out by Grimlock
G2 Roadblock - Front End Loader Killed by Scorponok
Crankcase - Off Road Vehicle Knocked Out by Crosshairs
Runamuck - Car Knocked Out by Swoop
Sparkstalker - Insect Monster Knocked Out by Blurr
Skyquake - Jet
Needlenose - Jet
Spinister - Helicopter
Megatron (Mentioned)
Other
Demons
Other Cybertronians
Primus (Mentioned)
Auntie (Mentioned) Deleted
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Notes
- This issue marks the end of the second storyline in this series, and is also the midway point for it so far
- It's not clear if Grimlock actually kills Guzzle here, since if he does then that means Guzzle was kind of weak
- Why is Blurr saying he's sorry to the DECEPTICONS he's punching?
- Yeah...for some reason both G1 and G2 Roadblock appear here...I know there's been a theme lately in the main IDW Transformers stories about characters having the same name, but I don't think this has ever been an issue with this continuity before (even in the Marvel days)
- Blurr using his super speed to type in the codes is something seen being used by several superfast superheroes in other series' (like Quicksilver from Marvel)
- Surprise! Perceptor was just pretending to be evil all along! (So does this mean he actually turned Kick-Off evil as well?!)
- Yeah...why did Grimlock not let Snarl help him? I get that he's doing this as a punishment for what he's done, but wouldn't prison time or something have been better punishment rather than plummeting?
- Optimus mistakes Galvatron for Megatron at the end (or maybe he just knows Galvie is a potential future form of Megatron, I dunno)
