IDW - Transformers/My Little Pony: The Magic of Cybertron #1

The Magic of Cybertron

Writer: James Asmus

Artist: Jack Lawrence

Colours: Luis Antonio Delgado

Letterer: Jake M. Wood

A Real Mother

Writer: Sam Maggs

Artist: Casey W. Coller

Colours: Joana LaFuente

Letterer: Neil Uyetake

Editor: Megan Brown

Consulting Editor: David Mariotte

"The Magic of Cybertron" Plot

The Decepticons have used the saved coordinates for Equestrian's location to send a few teams to the magical world to steal as many magical artifacts as they can.

Whilst the portal is open, the pony Wonderbolts find it and travel through to investigate, only to get caged up by the Decepticons. soon however, a team of Seekers run through, chased by the Mane Six, led by Princess Twilight Sparkle, who shoots them with a horn blast, only to miss them, and hit a black crystal the Decepticons captured, causing it to activate, releasing a reconstituted King Sombra, who immediately mind controls Twilight, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, as well as several Decepticons, including Megatron. 

With his new minions, Sombra leaves, planning to conquer this new world. The Autobots soon arrive at the scene, and are shocked to find the ponies there, and are quickly caught up on the situation. The ponies then tell Shockwave (the defacto Decepticon leader now) and Optimus Prime to team up to save their world...

"A Real Mother" Plot

Holiday and Lofty arrive on Cybertron to try and find Scootaloo, who has gone missing on the planet, and are quickly met by Arcee and Greenlight, who agree to help the two ponies find their niece due to his dangerous Cybertron is right now.

Soon, they are confronted by a Sombra-controlled Killmaster, who uses his wand to cause them problems. However the ponies use Lofty's yarn to tie up the Decepticon, which the Autobots take over, so they can fling him far away

Following the battle, Scootaloo arrived, flanked by several young Cybertronians, who have just been playing safely all along. Following this, the kids continue to play, while the adults have a picnic and relax...

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck

Arcee - Car

Greenlight - Car

Ratchet - Ambulance

Sludge - Apatosaurus

Gauge

Rubble

Sureshock - Scooter

Hot Rod - Car

Flareup - Motorcycle

Hot Shot - Jeep

Decepticon

Megatron - Tank Mind Controlled by Sombra

Shockwave - Flying Artillery

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Slipstream - Fighter Jet

Killmaster Mind Controlled by Sombra, Flung Away by Ponies and Autobots

Thundercracker - Fighter Jet

Skywarp - Fighter Jet

Sunstorm - Fighter Jet

Acid Storm - Fighter Jet Mind Controlled by Sombra

Ion Storm - Fighter Jet Mind Controlled by Sombra

Shadow Striker - Car

Airachnid - Helicopter Mind Controlled by Sombra

Spinster - Helicopter

Skytread - Tank and Jet

Caliburst - Gun

Fracas - Gun

Skullcruncher - Alligator

Mindwipe - Bat

Breakdown - Van Mind Controlled by Sombra

Frenzy - Cassette Mind Controlled by Sombra

Refraktor - Hovercraft Mind Controlled by Sombra

Refraktor Clones - Hovercrafts Mind Controlled by Sombra

Equestrian

King Sombra

Twilight Sparkle Mind Controlled by Sombra

Fluttershy Mind Controlled by Sombra

Pinkie Pie Mind Controlled by Sombra

Applejack

Rarity

Rainbow Dash

Spike, the Dragon

Auntie Holiday

Auntie Lofty

Scootaloo

Spitfire

Fleetfoot

Soarin'

Surprise

Blaze

Octavia

Vinyl Scratch

Berry Punch

Random Ponies

Equestrian Critters

Sprinkleflowershine (Fictional)

Mr. Goblin (Fictional)

Other

Primus (Mentioned)

Unicron (Mentioned)

Notes

• This comic is a sequel series to the previous Transformers/MLP crossover, and several characters make reference to the previous adventure.
• The story is most likely set during the time skip between the Villains being defeated and Twilight's coronation in the MLP finale, however Spike has no wings in his brief appearances, which he definitely should by now.
• Frenzy mentions being given his book by someone on Equestria between fights, this is most likely Fluttershy, whom he fought and made friends with in the previous story.
• Oh they actually made the Unicron/Unicorn joke this time...AHAHAAHHHAA so original and not overdone at all...
• A lot of the Decepticons seen in this issue use their character models from the main Transformers comic.
• So at the end of the first story, we see that the Spacebridge has been destroyed, most likely to stop any reinforcements from Equestria to stop Sombra...so how did Scootaloo and her Aunties arrive on the planet? I'm pretty sure they weren't amongst those who came through the portal (The Mane Six, the Wonderbolts, Vinyl Scratch and Octavia). I guess Shockwave could have repaired the portal, but then why show the first one destroyed in the first place?
• Killmaster/Murderking was a character created as Whirl's arch nemesis in MTMTE. He uses a wand that projects energy at his enemies...so he's kind of a perfect fit for this crossover with a magic themed series!
• The "kid" Cybertronians are mostly based on the "kid-appeal" or younger  characters from past Transformers fiction. Hot Rod was introduced as Daniels friend, and young, before ascending to the new Prime on the G1 movie, Hot Shot was a younger bot from the Unicron Trilogy, Sureshock was a Mini-Con from Armada who was partnered with the human Alexis and Flareup was the young character created as a rookie warrior in Descent into Evil. The other two are the youngest Cybertronians from the current IDW continuity, Gauge and Rubble, the latter of whom met a deadly fate early into the series...
• Hot Shot is using his Generations Selects Jeep alternate mode, in case you couldn't tell who he is.
• Wow Lofty's yarn is strong isn't it??
• Just as some speculation. I'm going to guess that the solution to defeating Sombra will be some sort of Cybertronian Elements of Harmony, like Shockwave for logic, Optimus for bravery etc

IDW - Transformers Galaxies #9

Title: Gauging the Truth,  Part 3: Moment of Truth

Written by: Sam Maggs

Art by: Beth McGuire-Smith

Colours by: Josh Burcham

Letters & Design by: Jake M. Wood

Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Plot

The Exodus flies above a Cybertronian city, and begins it's attack on the planet. Arcee and Greenlight escape the ship so they can warn the Cybertronians and form a resistance against the invading force, whilst Gauge stays behind to try and stop the attack from the inside.

Unaware to her though, Heretech plans to use her as an integral part of his master plan, he'll have her, a Cybertronian newborn, who has been raised by the Reversionists to encourage everyone to join them, or he'll use the Exodus' engines to ignite an Energon vein on Cybertron, killing all those who remain "sacrilegious".

The Reversionists, including Gauge jump towards Cybertron, with Gauge taking on her mobile digger alternate mode, so she can "find the Energon vein" for Heretech. Gauge makes her way to a communications tower, and sends out a message to everyone, but not the one Heretech wanted, as she says that everyone should make their own choices in life, if they want to join the Reversionists they should, but they shouldn't be forced to.

Heretech, angry about this betrayal breaks his way into the communications tower and intends to kill the traitor, but Arcee and Greenlight arrive to defend their mentee. During the fight, Gauge locates some raw Energon under the tower's flooring and throws it at Heretech, who is in his giant drill mode, hitting the drillbit and causing the Energon to explode, badly injuring the Reversionist leader.

In the aftermath, the Reversionists give up their fight, and mostly disband, joining other factions, or returning to space under Accelerator's command. Gauge decides that she wants to stay with Arcee and Greenlight for a while, whilst she looks for her own life, and the trio walk off together, to begin their lives again on Cybertron. 

Characters

Reversionist

Heretech - Drill Tank Badly Injured by Gauge's Energon Explosion

Accelerator

Reversionist Congregation 

Other Cybertronian

Gauge - Mobile Digger

Arcee - Car

Greenlight - Car

Random Cybertronians

Primus (Mentioned)

Notes

• It's not clear when this issue is set in continuity, but since it was originally set to be released around the same time as issue 21 of the main comic, we can assume it's around about that time too here.
• When referring to Arcee and Greenlight, Gauge seems to refer to them as Autobots, we've had no indication that either are Autobots (yet) in this continuity.
• In the time since they left Cybertron, Gauge has taken on her own alternate mode, which should be a major deal to her mentors, but Arcee and Greenlight don't even mention it...
• Apparently directly under the ground in the communications tower is readily mineable Energon veins...you'd think they would have mined those considering the Energon crisis, before building a tower above it....
• Following the reveal of Heretech's lies and attack on Cybertron, the Reversionists are now no longer a political party, with most of the members joining the other factions, and some, under Accelerator, plan to return to space.

IDW - Transformers Galaxies #8

Title: Gauging the Truth, Part 2: A Truth for a Truth

Written by: Sam Maggs

Art by: Beth McGuire-Smith & Umi Miyao

Colours by: Josh Burcham

Letters & Design by: Jake M. Wood

Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Plot

A confused Gauge wonders who Arcee and Greenlight are and they explain that she was not born a Reversionist, like she has been made to believe, but was born on Cybertron not too long ago, and shows her this using Arcee's Psychic Patch, also showing that when they reached the Reversionist ship the older bots were imprisoned for being non-believers, and mind-wiped Gauge due to her being young and easier to manipulate.

Following her exposition history lesson, Gauge believes the two Cybertronians, but says that she doesn't know how to unlock their cell, as she believes the bars are connected to the mainframe, but also says that the Reversionists are planning something bad and they need to do something about it soon.

Gauge leaves, and pretends to still be mind-wiped, she tries to get access to Heretech's quarters, where the mainframe is housed, but is barred by Accelerator. Soon however, Heretech addresses the Reversionists saying that they are nearly ready to "ascend". Knowing that she's nearly out of time to save the Cybertronians, so she breaks into Heretech's quarters and hacks into the mainframe, just as Accelerator arrives and calls for the guards.

Gauge runs for the engine room, where Arcee and Greenlight are being held, where she finds them freed now, and the trio fight off the guards, and Gauge explains that she was conflicted on who she was, and whether the Cybertronians were just using her to free them, but she realised that they never asked her to free them, but let her decide for herself (but heavily implied that they need to stop the Reversionists, and cannot do it from the cell).

Before they can head off to stop Heretech however, he makes an announcement over the ship's communicators saying they have arrived at their new world, ready for them to take for themselves. Arcee and the others look through the porthole and see the planet in question is Cybertron itself!

Characters

Reversionist

Heretech

Accelerator

RoadHauler - Crane

Reversionist Guards

Reversionist Congregation

Other Cybertronian

Gauge

Arcee - Car

Greenlight - Car

Red/Black Tailgate - Car (Memory Only)

Spaceport Guards (Memory Only)

Other Memory Cybertronians (Memory Only)

Primus (Mentioned)

Notes

• So, Gauge just had her mind wiped, this isn't a simulation or anything, at least that's the case, unless they change their mind in issue 9.
• Arcee is shown to have a Psychic Patch on her at all times....for...some reason?
• So, if I'm remembering correctly, Greenlight said that she was told there was space on the Reversionist ship for them to fly off the planet on...yet here we learn that the Reversionists didn't want non-believers on their ship...then why did they offer a place to them?
• The Exodus apparently went in a circle away from Cybertron, just to return so they can try and "cleanse" the planet.
• Does Heretech really expect his crew of maybe a few hundred/thousand religious folk to be able to take out everyone on Cybertron, and rebuild the planet in their image? This really is a cult isn't it?

IDW - Transformers Galaxies #7

Title: Gauging the Truth, Part 1

Written by: Sam Maggs

Art by: Beth McGuire-Smith 

Colours by: Josh Burcham

Letters & Design by: Jake M. Wood

Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Plot

Curate Gauge is struggling with her life as a devout member of the Reversionist religion. Not in the sense that she doesn't believe, but she's been getting some odd feelings recently, and has started seeing mysterious messages on screens everywhere.
One time, after approaching Heretech's throne to see a screen message clearer, she gets berated by Heretech and runs off to her quarters in fear, afraid of her "god".

Soon she gets an epiphany and decides to head to the engine room, a forbidden room on the ship, that the mysterious messages are leading her to.
She finds the room much darker than expected, and is chased by a shadowy figure, who she manages to knock out, and continue following her path...until she finds Arcee and Greenlight in a cell, who want to tell her the REAL truth...

Characters

Reversionist

Plenary Heretech
Curate Accelerator
Curate Gauge
Reversionist Guard
Friendly Reversionist
Other Reversionists 

Other Cybertronian

Arcee - Car
Greenlight - Car
Fantasy Cybertronians (Fantasy Only)
Primus (Mentioned)

Notes

• So it shouldn't need to be said, but we're clearly missing a bit of story here following the last time we saw this ship, I'm going to guess that next issue will have a flashback or something.
• The funeral speaker from Brainstorm's funeral is named here as Accelerator, and has taken on the role as Gauge's mentor here.
• My guess with what happened with Gauge here is that either she was brainwashed with mnemosurgery or something similar, or she is trapped inside a loop-like program, like in the Mutineers Trilogy from Lost Light or the Quintesson invasion from Cyberverse
• All of the crowd scenes this issue feature the non major characters in block colouring, it's possible this this on purpose if this is indeed a simulation or similar
• Heretech and Accelerator seem a bit angrier in this issue than they did in their brief appearances in previous stories, possibly adding to the simulation theory again.

IDW - Transformers #18

Title: Arcee/Greenlight: Run

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Umi Miyao & Bethany McGuire-Smith

Colours by: Josh Burcham

Letters by: Jake M. Wood

Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Plot

Gauge, Arcee's new mentee is trying out a new job as an architect, whilst Arcee and Greenlight are arguing a out how they should leave Cybertron, due to the recent escalating violence, and especially Rubble's murder. Arcee doesn't want to leave, but is willing to discuss it later, when Gauge finds her place in the world first.
Soon the sky goes dark, and the trio notice the now detached Tether, which was just torn from the Winged Moon by Vigilem, is collapsing into Iacon.

They manage to avoid the initial collapse, but can hear it still falling further away, due to it's size, and they start trying to help the injured.
Gauge tries to help out when she hears some screaming in the distance, but ends up caught in a firefight (albeit with non lethal rounds) and is injured. Arcee goes mad and takes down the looters who are trying to loot an Energon store and agrees with Greenlight that it's now time to leave.

Greenlight and Arcee, with Gauge holding on, due to not having an alternate mode yet, speed past a damaged Energon store, which is detonating, but manage to make it to the spaceport, where they find it crowded.
The trio barge their way to the front, attempting to reach the Reversionist ship, the Exodus, but are barred from boarding by Security, since the Autobots are trying to block space travel following the recent attack.
Arcee distracts them by attacking them, allowing Greenlight and Gauge to board, they are concerned as the doors shut, as they need to leave, but when Arcee leaps in, at the last second, the little surrogate family embrace, looking forward to their new adventure together....

Characters

Security Operations

Strongarm - Police Van
Number - Car
"Red Tailgate" - Car
Spaceport Security Guards

Other Cybertronian

Arcee - Car
Greenlight - Car
Gauge
Red Alert - Emergency Vehicle
Inferno - Fire Truck
Fixit - Ambulance
Grapple - Crane
Lug
Green Architect
Gutcruncher
Purple Looter Arrested
Exodus Ship Greeter
Primus (Mentioned)
Exaarchon (Mentioned) Presumably Dead
Brainstorm - Jet (Mentioned) Dead
Rubble (Mentioned) Dead
The Immersant Titan (Mentioned) Dead
The Rise (Mentioned)
The Reversionists (Mentioned)
Random Cybertronians

Notes

• This issue follows on from the cliffhanger of last issue, but also acts as a prequel to the upcoming storyline starting in Galaxies #7
• Lug is shown to be an architect in this continuity, when we last saw her she was Anode's assistant in archaeology/thievery in the old IDW continuity
• Strongarm us revealed to be a new cop, much like her status as a cadet in the RID cartoon, where she originated from
• Her partner, Bumper, was last properly seen in Megatron Origin, where he was killed for spying on the early Deceptions...let's hope he doesn't suffer the same fate here...
• Arcee is revealed to be a war veteran, and even assassinated one of Exaarchon's bodies, both references to her past in the previous IDW continuity 
• Rather than using his most recent toy as his basis, Inferno appears to be using his Energon incarnation's alternate mode.
• He is also paired up with Red Alert, a reference to the long standing joke that they're in a relationship following their roles in the G1 cartoon.
• The main guard at the spaceport appears to be using the Thrilling Thirty Tailgate character model, but in more Windcharger looking colours, but still with Tailgate's head... VERY confusing!!
• The opening excerpt on being a mentor mentions how Titan mentors have a different role, most likely meaning that those mentors become that Titan's Cityspeaker.