IDW - Transformers: Shattered Glass #1

Written by: Danny Lore

Art by: Guido Guidi

Inks by: John Wycough

Colours by: John-Paul Bove

Colour Assists by: Ed Pirrie

Letters by: Lettersquids

Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: David Mariotte

Design by: Jake Wood & Johanna Nattalie

Plot

The bodyscrapper Blurr brings in the remains of his recent bounty, Sixshot, to Gold City, where he delivers himnto his middlebot, Ratchet, who is currently experimenting on a new patient...

While there, Blurr is informed of a new bounty from Goldbug himself, he wants the Devepticon Starscream brought to him, alive, as he wants the information he holds.

Elsewhere, Starscream is struggling against two more Bodyscrappers, Chromedome and Hardhead, but managed to injure the latter, while the former is suddenly attacked by Blurr, who feigns switching sides.

Starscream and Blurr make it to the Static Zone, outside the city where Starscream confronts the Evil Autobot on why he would help him. Blurr tries to tell him that he only joined the Autobots out of necessity originally, and points out that if Goldbug is looking for him, then the other higher up Autobots like Optimus and Prowl must be after him too for his information...the location of Megatron.

Starscream agrees, and tells Blurr the direction to take to reach the Decepticon leader, and the duo head through the active volcanic fields...

Along the way, Blurr monologues to himself about how he's going to lead Starscream to Goldbug and will then bring in Megatron himself, when suddenly Starscream attacks the Autobot, revealing that he knew his plan all along, and just needed him to keep him safe while he gets through the Static Zone.

The two fight, with Blurr using his super speed to outpace the Decepticon, but his speed ends up being his outdoing, when Starscream tricks him into stepping in the path of a volcanic eruption, trapping him and encasing him in lava, as he screams revenge on the Seeker...

The next morning, Starscream thanks Blurr for his unintended help, explaining that he stayed with him in case he somehow survived, and heads out to meet with Megatron at his hiding place....

Characters

Autobot

Blurr - Race Car Smelted in Volcanic Eruption

Ratchet - Ambulance

Hardhead - Tank

Chromedome - Car

Gold City Denizens

Ratchet's "Patient"

Metroplex - Titan Ship/City Dead/Immersant

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab (Flashback Only)

Goldbug - Car (Flashback Only)

Prowl - Police Car (Flashback Only)

Fortress Maximus - Titan Ship/City (Flashback Only)

Brainstorm - Jet (Flashback Only)

Highbrow - Helicopter (Flashback Only)

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport (Flashback Only)

Springer - Helicopter/Car (Flashback Only)

Roadbuster - Jeep (Flashback Only)

Kup - Pick-up Truck (Flashback Only)

Optimus Prime's Enforcer (Flashback Only)

Flashback Autobots (Flashback Only)

Ratchet's Fallen Comrade (Mentioned) Dead

Decepticon

Starscream - Tetrajet 

Sixshot - Tank/Jet/Gun/Winged Wolf/Car Killed by Blurr

Refraktor - Hovercraft (Flashback Only) Captured by Headmasters

Flashback Decepticons (Flashback Only)

Megatron - Space Shuttle (Mentioned)

Notes

• Unusually for a comic, this issue came with a full sized Blurr figure. There is a mass release version that doesn't have the toy, but who would want that? :P 
• Beyond the cover and the adverts (which were likely made when the comic was produced in the Pulse version as theybare all of things from several months ago) there's no differences between the versions, unlike when we previously had pack-in comics, where they were censored in various ways. I guess in this case it's different due to this only being sent with the figure, and not placed in the packaging.
• This version of Shattered Glass is not connected to the previous Shattered Glass continuity made by Fun Publications, other than being in the same multiverse of course...
• This marks the first mainstream, successful reboot to the Shattered Glass concept, with the previous attempts either being concepts or just one-offs.
• It's likely, that just like how the original version was the mirror universe counterpart to the Classics universe, that this version is a counterpart to the current IDW continuity, due to the use of current toy moulds, whether as virtual retools or using the new Shattered Glass collection figures. Also the appearance of Metroplex, seemingly being Immersant, adds to the possibility.
• Unlike in the previous Shattered Glass universe, most of the secondary characters colourschemes in this story aren't based on another colourscheme, they just used what looked best.
• Ratchet holds up the Data fob for Blurr holding the information in his next target, but the speech bubble is covering it up, making the next few panels a little confusing.
• Hardhead refers to Chromedome as "Chromey", likely a corruption on his nickname from Rewind in IDW Version 1 of "Domey".
• The dialogue in this issue tells us that this is set after the Transformers have been to Earth, and even that a version of the Headmasters storyline has happened too.
• It's left unclear at the end if Blurr somehow survived being melted in place by the volcano (face it, we've seen Transformers survive literal atomisation in the past). But it would be weird to kill off a character that is sold with the comic he's killed in....

IDW - More Than Meets The Eye #25

Title: Dark Cybertron Chapter 6: No Exit

Written by: James Roberts and John Barber

Art by: James Raiz, Atilio Raiz and Livio Ramondelli

Colours by: Josh Perez and Livio Ramondelli

Letters by: Gilberto Lazcano

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Plot

On Cybertron, most of the Dinobots are waiting away from the Necrotitan with some of the others injured by it, including Astrotrain, when suddenly the Titan disappears in a smoke of dust, Astrotrain lends his binoculars (bad eyes) to Swoop to see what's happening...what he sees is the Titan attacking the remains of the team that went into the Crystal City, who are running away. The Dinobots try to stop the Titan, but he's too strong and is already heading towards Iacon.

Meanwhile, inside Metrooplex in the Red Ocean, the crew led by Ultra Magnus in the Rodpod and travelling through Metroplex's eye socket, and head towards the brain, along the way they notice all the rust, and the science guys believe it's the water itself that's causing him to rust so badly, they try to figure out what's happening, but before they do they arrive in the brain chamber and find it empty. The team get worried as it seems to be surgically removed. Magnus has the ship redirected towards his chest so they can check on the spark next, along the way Ratchet notices that the lights inside Metroplex are starting to go out, meaning that he's dying. Getaway leaves a message to Swerve about the Admium they found in the water, due to his metallurgy skills. They detect a drydock up ahead and deside to head towards it. Along the way Perceptor picks up 8 life signs, since there's seven on the team, it bodes well that Metroplex may be alive still.

In Iacon, Starscream is inspecting those injured from the deathwave, but ends up getting shouted at by Tankor over his inability to lead. Starscream soon starts shouting at Flatline, who looks full of fear, to which Starscream realizes there's something behind him...the Necrotitan, who is destroying everything in his way!

In the Dead Universe Nightbeat says he's sure he'd be sorry for what he's done to Orion and the others if he wasn't being controlled, meanwhile Hardhead starts smashing against the wall of the containment cube to try and smash it, which the team thinks is stupid. Orion Pax starts to smash into it as well, Rodimus tries to point out that it's useless, to which Orion smacks Rodimus (in order to whisper that he's made a crack and he's trying to distract Nightbeat from noticing). Rodimus then steps in and tries to talk Nightbeat around, when Nightbeat sees something in Rodimus' hand which makes his head hurt and he kneels. All of a sudden Nova Prime appears before the team suggesting they all bow too.

At the dry dock inside Metroplex the team leave the Rodpod and start following some hand painted arrows on the floor. They follow the signs until they reach a ceiling, which Skids smashes through, and finds, to his surprise the Rodpod again. The team are confused as to how they've gone round in circles until they hear a ticking, and find the cause, a bomb and an Ammonite holding a detonator, and sets it off, blowing up the Rodpod in the process.

Back in the Dead Universe Nova greets Orion Pax and his team to his universe, and asks how they planned to leave since the Gorlam Prime portal is one way now. He also mocks Cyclonus, to the point where Cyclonus tells Hardhead to smash the cell, which he does and escapes, however the cell reforms itself (by Nova's will) and keeps the rest of the team trapped inside. 

Hardhead moves in to punch Nova Prime, who simply grabs his hand, and crushes it (along with the forcefield generator) causing the Dead Universe to claim him, and reduces him to rust, he crumbles up and is blown away by the wind. Afterwards, Nova Prime brings up another friend of Orion's in the Dead Universe, one who turns into a spacebridge they can use to escape...Kup!

Characters

Autobot

Orion Pax - Truck Cab

Rodimus - Car

Hardhead - Personnel Carrier Killed by Nova Prime

Nightbeat - Car Under Control of Nova Prime

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport

Skids - Van

Getaway

Ratchet - Ambulance

Perceptor

Brainstorm - Jet

Whirl - Osprey Helicopter

Sludge - Apatosaurus

Slug/Slag - Triceratops

Swoop - Pteranodon

Arcee - Car

Prowl - Emergency Car

Ironhide - Van

Metroplex - City/Space Ship Dying - No Brain, Rusting Away.

Swerve - Van

Kup - Pick Up Truck Captive of Nova Prime

Bumblebee - Car (Mentioned) Believed to be Dead

Snarl - Stegosaurus (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Astrotrain - Train/Space Shuttle Injured

Soundwave - Van

Rumble - Tank

Ravage - Cassette Injured

Megatron (Mentioned) Believed to be Dead

Skywarp - Jet (Mentioned) Believed to be Dead

Unified Cybertron

Starscream - Jet

Flatline - Van

Tankor - Tank

Tankor/Octane - Oil Tanker/Cargo Plane

Deathwave Victims

Scoop - Front End Loader (Mentioned)

Cybertronian

Nova Prime - Truck

Cyclonus - Jet

Necrotitan - City/Spaceship

Jhiaxus - Jet (Mentioned)

Galvatron - Laser Tank (Mentioned)

Titans (Mentioned)

Knights of Cybertron (Mentioned)

Other

Ammonite Stowaway

Notes

• Slag's rename to Slug here is due to these issues being released with toys in the US. It's also a reference to how "Slag!" is used as an explicit in some Transformers continuities and how it is a real-world offensive term in countries such as England.
• The first page is set during the end of the previous issue as we see the Titan suddenly act of Shockwave's command here.
• It's implied here that Megatron, Bumblebee and Skywarp were killed when the Titan attacked, but since we have a solicit for the next issue talking about Megatron fighting Galvatron, and we've also had the teasers for April showing Megatron as a main character, we can assume he's fine at least.
• Prowl's the one helping the injured Arcee AGAIN?! I think he has a thing for the crazy pink lady!
• Swerve's ringtone is indeed shown to be Orion Pax's distress call as he mentioned in issue one.
• Titans are revealed here to have fully functional cities inside them, even in robot mode. This make's sense considering their size and roles as "chariots" for the Knights.
• The "deathmark" on Starscream's chest is shown to be spreading quite rapidly here.
• Tankor's appearance here is CLEARLY just because his toy is being released with this issue. He's only in five panels, and one additonal one where he was replaced with his G1 counterpart (Octane).
• The "something" in Rodimus' hand is most likely something to do with the destroyed Matrix.
• Nova Prime's line of "Wait for it..." is possibly a reference to the catchphrase used by the staff at the Auto Assembly convention in the UK for when things are going a bit behind schedule with the computers etc (of course here the delay is in Hardhead's horrible murder, which is much worse!)
• Nova Prime not knowing Kup's name would imply that he hasn't been able to talk since he arrived in the Dead Universe (about 3 years ago)
• You have to wonder why Hardhead died instantly when exposed to the Dead Universe fully, but Cyclonus didn't? (Both have been residents there for a time)

IDW - More Than Meets The Eye #24

Title: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4: Into the Abyss

Written by: James Roberts and John Barber

Art by: Atilio Rojo, James Raiz, Nick Roche, Livio Ramondelli and Robert Gill

Colours by: Romulo Fajardo, JR. and Livio Ramondelli

Letters by: Gilberto Lazcano

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Plot

The Lost Light is surrounded on the floor of the Red Ocean by an army of smaller robots, who the bridge crew determine to have alternate modes, and also seem to be combiners. Perceptor believes that the small robots aren't native to the planet as they don't seem to be outfitted for aquatic performance, but seemed to piggy-back to the ocean with the Lost Light's Quantum Jump. Magnus tries communicating with the robots, but doesn't get a response...at first! Then they attack the ship and blow a hole in the bridge!

Back on Cybertron, the city of Iacon is in ruins following the Necrotitan's energy wave, Scoop and his team are working to save people, whilst Starscream and Rattrap are wandering around trying to work out what exactly happened. Before long however Scoop approaches Starscream, and points out to the population that the black mark on Starscream's chest marks him as the one chosen to destroy the planet, not to save it as initially thought, which starts to turn the crowd against him further!.

Back at the Red Ocean, Magnus has managed to get the bridge crew into the hallway and sealed it shut due to flooding when he comes across Skids and Getaway. Skids identifies the attackers as Ammonites. Magnus orders the crew to engage the Ammonites and protect the ship. Doing so, Magnus and a few others go into Rodimus' personal craft, the Rodpod (being careful not to damage it, or Rodimus will kill them). The battle goes well for the Lost Lighters, as they seem to be capable of dealing with even the Ammonite's larger combinations.

Meanwhile, in the Dead Universe, the team are traveling towards the point of the gravitational pull when the topics of Rodimus potentially taking over full control of the Autobots, Rodimus saving all the cold constructed from death and the progress of his quest are brought up, as well as how Cyebrtron's new status as Starscream's domain is similar to how things were before the Decepticon uprising.

During the conversations, Rodimus notices that Cyclonus' face is leaking black Energon still, but at an alarming rate now. Orion tries to administer some medical aide, but Nightbeat, revealing himself and shocking the others, tells him that would be a bad idea to even touch him right now.

Back on Cybertron, the Transformers at the foot of the Necrotitan are dealing with their injured and wonder what to do next. Bumblebee asks Soundwave if he can pick up any transmissions from the city, but he cannot, however he does hear something unusual...Megatron screaming!

At the Crystal City, Shockwave is operating on the operational Megatron as he's trying to activate the Space Bridge technology he implanted within him. Shockwave reveals that he doesn't care about the goals of Nova Prime, and that he's using them, as well as others. Megatron is offered a chance to work with them for his ultimate goal of equality, but he refuses. Shockwave then actiavtes the Bridge and Nova Prime starts to climb out of a screaming Megatron's chest.

Back on the Red Ocean, the Rodpod is running from a group of Ammonites (in the shape of an actual ammonite) and hides in a cavern they find. However upon inspection, they find some strange compounds in the cavern, and realise what it is....they're inside the eye socket of Metroplex himself!

Characters

Autobot

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport

Ratchet - Ambulance

Mainframe

Blaster

Brainstorm - Jet

Perceptor

Skids - Van

Getaway

Whirl - Osprey Helicopter

Waverider - Aquatic Vehicle

Chromedome - Car

Trailcutter - Van

Cosmos - Orbiter

Sunstreaker - Car

Swerve - Van

Rung

Atomizer

Metroplex - Space Ship Injured in Red Ocean

Rodimus - Car

Orion Pax - Truck Cab

Hardhead - Personnel Carrrier

Nightbeat - Car

Bumblebee - Muscle Car

Ironhide - Van

Prowl - Emergency Car

Arcee - Car Injured

Swoop - Pteranodon

Sludge - Apatosaurus

Slag - Triceratops

Lost Light Crew

Dominus Ambus (Mentioned)

Sentinel Prime (Mentioned)

Zeta Prime (Mentioned)

Thunderclash (Mentioned)

Aquastar - Aquatic Vehicle (Mentioned)

Hydrobots - Aquatic Vehicles (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Megatron Used as Space Bridge by Shockwave

Shockwave - Flying Artillery 

Soundwave - Van

Rumble - Tank

Frenzy - Tank Maybe Dead

Ravage - Cassette

Skywarp - Jet

Cybertronian

Cyclonus - Jet Leaking Black Energon

Nova Prime - Truck

Galvatron - Laser Tank

Metalhawk - Jet

Necrotitan - Space Shuttle

Starscream - Jet

Rattrap - Mole Rat

Scoop - Front End Loader

Holepunch - Gun

Tracer - Gun

Sky Byte - Flying Shark

Iaconians Injured in Necrootitan's energy wave

Construction Patrol (Mentioned)

Primus (Mentioned)

The Senate (Mentioned)

Functionists (Mentioned)

Nominus Prime (Mentioned)

Other

Ammonites (2026 of them)

Paddox (Mentioned)

Galactic Council (Mentioned)

Black Block Consortia (Mentioned)

Notes

• The Ammonites are referred to here as Mini-Cons at times (as in Miniature Decepticons) before their species name was actuallly identified by Skids (though Magnus does still call them Mini-Cons once afterwards). This could be because the toy set of the Mini-Con Assault Team is supposed to be released with this issue in the future, so it just makes sense from a marketing point of view too.
• The Lost Light is 15 miles long and 10 miles wide, and was not designed to be a submarine.
• It does have spotlights on the outside though!
• Magnus makes reference to his no longer being the Duly Appointed Officer of the Tyrest Accord.
• Rung is shown using a staff weapon for the first time (though he did have one on the cover to the fifth TPB of MTMTE)
• Nightbeat reveals himself to Orion's group! (Look, I'm a Nightbeat fanboy, so every time he so much as has a cameo I'll mention it, 'kay?)
• Frenzy looks a bit dead here....
• Speaking about Frenzy, he and Rumble appear to have been drawn in their cassette bodies originally, but with tank treads added to the arms to try and correct the mistake.
• It' revealed here that Shockwave is also just using Nova Prime and Galvatron as well...wonder what his true aims are?
• The Necrotitan's attack hit the population totally at random, and not to do with being cold constructed etc (like Tyrest's attack was)

IDW - More Than Meets The Eye #23

Title: Dark Cybertron Chapter 2: Black Metal

Written by: James Roberts and John Barber

Art by: Atilio Rojo, James Raiz and Livio Ramondelli

Colours by: Josh Perez and Livio Ramondelli

Letters by: Gilberto Lazcano

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Plot

On Cybertron, Bumblebee and his team of Autobots are waiting to see what the inactive Necrotiitan is about to do. The Dinobots want to just destroy it, but Bumblebee wants to be cautious.

Meanwhile at the site of the imploding Gorlam Prime, the Lost Light is waiting in the area whilst they decide what to do about the Dead Universe threat. Brainstorm is working on a project using a Cyberwraith he took from a dead Sweep after the Chaos event whilst the others wait.

Back on Cybertron, in Iacon Starscream is arming himself with some weapons he took from Kimia after the Autobots left, when Rattrap doubts that he can stop the Titan with normal weapons, and suggests going to see an "old friend".

Back on the Lost Light, Magnus finds Orion and Rodimus in Swerve's bar waiting for Brainstorm to finish and they discuss how everyone can feel that something terrible is about to happen. Orion also talks about how he's not happy about how Starscream is now ruling Cybertron when Brainstorm contacts them.

In Brainstorm's lab, Optimus and Rodimus are fitted with devices that have some of the Cyberwraith's venom inside it, so they can enter the Dead Universe without being killed instantly by the Universe itself. They manage to recruit Hardhead and Cyclonus to join them as well, since both have spent time in the vicinity, though Cyclonus is VERY reluctant to go. Before long the ship approaches the portal left by Gorlam Prime's destruction, Magnus is left in charge of the ship to hunt down Jhiaxus as Orion is sure he's involved in some way, which Wheelie waits with the Skyroller for them to return. The four Autobots soon depart for the Dead Universe.

Back in Iacon Starscream has come to the jail cells to see Scoop, whom he had arrested under false charges recently, Jazz is reluctant to leave them alone, but does leave. Scoop reveals that he knows there's another Titan outside, and that he knows this because of a prophecy in the Covenant of Primes, that even seems to refer to Cybertron "and stars shall scream" and also includes an image that looks like Shockwave's head.

Elsewhere in the Crystal City, Shockwave is talking with Nova Prime and Galvatron via holo-communicator, but Nova Prime is angry because the portal between the Dead Universe and Cybertron created by the Necrotitan has gone, due to the reaction of the Ores, however Shockwave assures him that he has a plan, whilst looking at a hologram of Megatron.

Orion Pax, Rodimus, Hardhead and Cyclonus have arrived in the Dead Universe, the discover that the rubble from Gorlam Prime is heading further into the Universe, towards a certain point. Before long they realize that Cyclonus is missing, and worry that a group of giant Cyberwraiths may have gotten him when they start attacking them. After a short battle, the Cyberwraiths escape when Cyclonus returns, vomiting black Energon, and not wanting to discuss it. The group head off, following where the debris is heading, unaware that Nightbeat, long thought dead, is behind them, and starts examining the black Energon curiously.

Back on Cybertron, Bumblebee is still unsure what to do with the Titan when suddenly the Decepticons, led by Soundwave appear, and attack!

Characters

Autobot

Orion Pax - Truck Cab

Rodimus - Sports Car

Bumblebee - Muscle Car

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport

Brainstorm - Jet

Hardhead - Personnel Carrier

Nightbeat - Car

Arcee - Car

Prowl - Car

Ironhide - Van

Slag - Triceratops

Sludge - Apatosaurus

Snarl - Stegosaurus

Swoop - Pteranodon

Whirl - Osprey Helicopter

Wheelie - Car

Rung

Chromedome - Car

Swerve - Van

Skids - Van

Mainframe

Atomizer

Other Autobots

Dead Universe Victim - Maybe Leadfoot (Flashback) Dead

Thunderclash (Mentioned on Sign)

Cloudburst (Mentioned)

Waverider (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Shockwave - Flying Artillery

Soundwave - Van

Blitzwing - Jet/Tank

Astrotrain - Train/Space Shuttle

Needlenose - Jet

Ravage - Cassette

Other Decepticons

Megatron (Hologram)

NAIL

Starscream - Jet

Rattrap - Mole Rat

Jazz - Car

Scoop - Front End Loader

Other Cybertronian

Cyclonus - Jet

Nova Prime - Truck

Galvatron - Laser Tank

Necrotitan - Ship Undead

Primus (Mentioned)

Jhiaxus - Jet (Mentioned)

Annual Metrotitan (Mentioned) Dead

Other

Garnak

Baby Cyberwraith Captured by Brainstorm

Adult Cyberwraiths

Notes

• Slag is the only Dinobot to not get named in this story, possibly to avoid contradictions from the cast list that names him his "safe name" Slug.
• Several guys wonder if the Metrotitan on Cybertron is the same one who declared Starscream the "Chosen One". It isn't, but it's still worth noting.
• The corpse shown in Brainstorm's flashback is most likely one of the victims of the Dead Universe's attack in Revelation. Since he was shown to be examined by someone at some point, this is probably Leadfoot.
• The sign in Swerve's bar has Thudnerclash crossed out of it, which means Swerve just reuses for Orion Pax arriving (he also started writing Optimus, before crossing that out too)
• It seems that the Dead Universe denizens ability to kill people with their touch is due to these Cyberwraiths rather than it just being part of their anatomies 
• Despite his betrayal, and him KNOWING he betrayed him, Scoop still believes Starscream is Cybertron's saviour.
• The Covenant of Primes is most likely just a slight rename of the Covenant of Primus from other continuities, just renamed due to Primus' lack of prevalence in this continuity.
• The hieroglyph showing Shockwave's face COULD actually be anyone who underwent Empurata.
• Nova Prime and Galvatron act quite pally for a while, but Nova reveals this to be a lie when he pushes him away violently just for touching him.
• Shockwave's plans are revealed to involve Megatron in some way, possibly meaning that the new body he built for him was something to do with his grand scheme.
• NIGHTBEAT'S ALIVE!!!!!!!
• The Decepticons at the end are most likely attacking the Necrotitan rather than the Autobots as it is implied here.

IDW - Robots in Disguise #19

Title: Homecoming

Written by: John Barber

Art by: Dheeraj Verma

Colours by: Joana Lafuente

Letters by: Chris Mowry

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Plot

Waspinator is hanging out in a bar when he's asked to tell about his time as a Titan Hunter, such as how he used a weapon to kill a Metrotitan, and then managed to somehow pilot it's space bridge systems afterwards, something that Jhiaxus and Bludgeon (his audience) find very interesting, and asks if he can do it again.

Orion Pax and his team arrive on the now deserted Gorlam Prime (as it's inhabitants died during Heart of Darkness) and start exploring the place, during their exploration Garnak notices that some of the rocks underground have similarities to those found on Arduria and LV-117 (ie Ore infused planets) and Hardhead shows the team to the Catacombs, a Cybertronian looking city hidden underground, which he assumed Jhiaxus built after Ark-1 went missing (he lived there for a while remember)

Whilst exploring the Catacombs Wheelie touches a building, and his arm starts to rust away like what happened when someone was touched by a denizen of the Dead Universe, Hardhead blasts off the infected arm to stop the spreading.

Soon, Waspinator flies nearby screaming for help, as he's being chased by the Monstructor-Six, however he's rescued by Orion and the others. The six Decepticons combine into Monstructor, and destroy's the Autobot's ship (Ark-27). During the battle Orion figures that the Decepticons are after the city underneath, and he and Waspinator realize that it's a Metrotitan in disguise, Waspinator manipulates Orion into waking up the Titan, like he did with Metroplex in the past, and Orion figures this out too late that Waspinator's working with Monstructor and the others.

The Titan wakes up and Monstructor reports it to his bosses who appear in a de-cloaked ship above them, Monstructor rejoins the others, and Waspinator uses his weapon to hooks up to the Titan and pilots it, sending himself, the Titan and Bludgeon's ship to Cybertron, with Jhiaxus taunting Prime, wishing him "Pax Cybertronia"

In the aftermath, Gorlam Prime starts to rust away with the Titan gone, and the Ore-2 going off, Orion reveals that he knew something was happening, which is why he had his OWN ship, the Skyroller, cloaked as well, and has himself and his team board it, ready to return home to stop Jhiaxus and the others with their plots, and save everyone.

Characters

Autobot

Orion Pax/Optimus Prime - Truck

Hardhead - Personnel Carrier

Wheelie - Car

Metroplex - City/Ship (Flashback)

Decepticon

Waspinator - Wasp

Bludgeon - Tank

Birdbrain - Monster

Bristleback - Monster

Icepick - Monster

Scowl - Monster

Slog - Monster

Wildfly - Monster

Monstructor - Gestalt

Titan Hunters (Flashback)

Megatron (Mentioned)

Shockwave (Mentioned)

Other

Garnak

Jhiaxus - Jet

Gorlam Prime Titan - City/Ship Killed/Controlled by Waspinator

Flashback Titan - City/Ship Killed by Waspinator (Flashback)

Bar Aliens

Knights of Cybertron (Mentioned)

Gorlam Prime Civilians (Mentioned) Dead

Nova Prime (Mentioned)

Primus (Mentioned)

Notes

• Waspinator was last seen amongst the Titan Hunters in Spotlight: Thundercracker
• The art in the issue is kind of....weird - Seriously what's up with Hardhead?
• All the Metrotitans shown here have Autobot insignias, which they shouldn't have since they went away before the factions were set up
• Why does Monstructor ride on top of Bludgeon's ship? Why not just de-combine and go INSIDE it?
• Gorlam Prime is shown here to possess Ore-2 (Death) which explains it's connection to the Dead Universe...wonder how Nova Prime and his crew reached the Dead Universe in the first place then, since they went missing BEFORE the Regenesis Project
• Due to him losing an arm, Wheelie has to use his mouth to fire his slingshot
• They seem to be hiding re-revealing that Gorlam Prime was renamed Cybertron by it's inhabitants here...wonder if this means something big for the future?
• Optimus' ship is called the Skyroller, perfect for him considering his past police partner and drone buddy, and toy-based gun pal.
• Most likely the bright light seen at the end of RID #18 is this same space bridge

IDW - Regeneration One #87

Title: Natural Selection Part Two

Writer: Simon Furman

Penciler: Andrew Wildman

Inker: Stephen Baskerville

Colorist: John-Paul Bove

Letterer: Chris Mowry

Editor: John Barber

Editor-in-Chief: Chris Ryall

Plot

Grimlock, now in a new transforming body watches as Scorponok revives Hardhead, Highbrow and Brainstorm as amoral killers. Scorponok then orders Grimlock to return to Cybertron.

On Cybertron Hot Rod learns from a team under the surface that they believe they've found the tunnels that lead to Primus' chamber. Crosshairs reports that Grimlock's shuttle is in Cybertron space. Soon, Grimlock returns to the planet and wants to see Slag and the others, but Hot Rod won't let him as he's to be arrested for his actions (stealing the ship, going off on his own etc). After a short battle, Grimlock is placed in a holding cell.

On Earth Starscream shambles into the Ark, where Galvatron ambushes him and asks him why he's there, but Screamer's unable to talk still, so Galvatron has him lead him to wherever he was going instead. Elsewhere on the plant, Optimus has decided to remain on Earth to help with the rebuilding, despite the Human's not wanting their help. The other Autobots leave on a ship heading back home.

On Cybertron Hot Rod gives orders to the Autobots to oversee Grimlock whilst he goes to check on something elsewhere. Brainstorm and the others return to Cybertron on their own ship and head onto the planet on Scorponok's orders.

Perceptor is taken to see Grimlock in his jail, where he quickly deduces that his new body is from Nebulos, meanwhile outside the Civil Defense Hub the Headmasters arrive and kill the guard, Slapdash to gain entrance to the building.

In the cell Perceptor continues examining Grimlock, in the hopes of using his new body's design to fix the other Nucleon infused victims, when Grimlock implants one of the Warrior Gene Keys given to him by Scorponok onto the scientist. Shortly afterwards, the now evil Perceptor  contacts Kick-Off asking him to come see him. 

The evil Headmasters go through the hub and kill the stationed Autobots, then contact Scorponok to tell him they're ready.

Hot Rod reaches the dig site for the Primus tunnels and proceeds down below, where unknown to him some Demons are wandering around and have killed some of the workers.

On the Ark on Earth Galvatron is lead to Auntie's chamber where he blasts a hole in the wall on Starscream's gesturing and unveils Shockwave hooked up into the computers. 

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Hot Rod - Sports Car

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex (On Scorponok's Side)

Highbrow - Helicopter (On Scorponok's Side)

Hardhead - Tank (On Scorponok's Side)

Brainstorm - Jet (On Scorponok's Side)

Perceptor  (On Scorponok's Side)

Ultra Magnus - Car Carrier

Kick-Off

Slapdash - F1 Race Car Killed by Highbrow

Crosshairs - Off Road Vehicle

Sureshot - Buggy

Lightspeed - Sports Car

Nosecone - Drill Tank

Dogfight - Fighter Jet

Override - Motorcycle

Backstreet - Race Car

Hosehead - Fire Engine

Siren - Emergency Sports Car

Grapple - Crane

Slag (Mentioned)

Autobots in Nursery (Mentioned)

The Last Autobot (Mentioned)

Jazz (Mentioned)

Bumblebee (Mentioned)

Other Autobots

Decepticon

Scorponok - Scorpion

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Galvatron - Laser Cannon

Shockwave Hooked up to Ark

Thunderwing (Mentioned) Dead

Other

Primus Inert in Chamber

Demons

Auntie (Mentioned) Destroyed

Notes

• Yeah...so they have a magic key that turns you evil....just go with it guys
• Grimlock doesn't seem to be under the warrior gene effect, maybe because he's always been a bit violent and Decepticon-esque
• The Autobots have been looking for Primus' chamber, who's tunnels have been a mystery since Bumblebee and the others were bridged there about 20 years ago (of course Galvie and Xaaron found them again...)
• Starscream still has his speech messed up, despite Megatron's death
• Why does the former Headmaster's ship need parachutes? surely an advanced alien robotic lifeform can create a mechanical substitute??
• What is Kick-Off playing with when Perceptor calls him? Is it a movement based game or something?
• Looks like Hot Rod's prophecy about fighting the Demons from an earlier issue is coming true soon
• Why didn't Scorponok put the brainwashed Headmasters on Grimlock's ship and have them return like him? Why send them on a second ship!?
• Shockwave's fate of being hooked up to the Ark after it's crash is very close to what happened to him in the Classics Universe
• Weird....wasn't Hosehead amongst the dead after the Unicron battle?

IDW - Robots in Disguise #10

Staff

Title: Syndromica (2)

Written by: John  Barber

Art by: Livio Ramondelli

Letters by: Shawn Lee

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Plot

The Reflector Trio, fresh from stealing Turmoil's ship on Cybertron on Shockwave's orders, run into planet LV-117, a ghost world that appears from nowhere, and which starts sending the trio into the future, where they see Spectro dead in his chair with someone talking around him. When the vision ends the ship is sapped of it's energon and they fall into the planet's atmosphere. Orion Pax's ship follows them towards the planet, having picked up a Decepticon signal after hunting down Bludgeon and his crew, and mistakes them for them. Wheelie is frightened as he never wants to return to LV-117 when the crew also see the vision of Spectro's body. The team take their ship down to see what's happened.

On the planet's surface the team find the drained Decepticon ship, and find Spectro's dead body in his chair, just as they saw in the vision, and Hardhead says he's been there for over 70 years, despite them having just been following them 10 minutes before. Orion goes exploring and finds an orb (the time machine), and sees a vision of himself holding something and being told that Wheelie wouldn't leave without him. Orion touches the orb and is sent to another time where he sees a ship flying away whilst something screams behind him. He then warps to another time where Monstructor is being formed and defeats some local fauna, and then he reforms again, Bludgeon appears behind Orion and says that now they will understand all about "Ore-1", as he tried to explain before, but Orion's confused as Bludgeon never tried to explain anything last time he saw him on Arduria. Bludgeon is confused too, but then realizes that he hasn't had this conversation yet, and leaves on the ship with his master.

Orion is sent to another time, whee he finds Turmoil in front of his ship, where he has an army of aliens working on constructing his time machine, on Shockwave's orders he's there to investigate the effects of Ore-1 on the planet. After talking with the Decepticon for a while, Orion notices Bludgeon with one of the aliens skewered on his sword and chases after him. Turmoil tries to use one of the aliens as a bartering chip and threatens to kill him if Orion doesn't give up, but Orion just smashes his eye and runs off with the alien. When he jumps to another time again, along with the alien, whom he tries to communicate with, but is attacked by him (and introduces himself as Varta). Orion is able to calm down Varta, when they see the Decepticon ship falling from the sky, and Varta goes off to try and see what it is (leading into Spotlight: Wheelie). Bludgeon attacks Orion now, but doesn't seem to remember ever running from him before. The two are transported to the dark future (the planet is falling apart) where Orion meets with Wheelie and Varta, but of the past, Varta recognizes Orion and tells him to come with them on their ship before it's too late, but Bludgeon skewers the alien before he can finish.

Jhiaxus is there this time and reveals that when he saw the same future that Ironhide did after Chaos fell and that he now knows that his and Nova's old dream from the distant past is to come to pass. Jhiaxus declares that True Chaos is coming and that he plans to bring up the Gorlam Prime he saw, and the Orion will help him. Orion of course declines this offer, and Wheelie shoots at a door on his ship and releases two of the animals he was bringing with him to another world, who attack Monstructor, Wheelie then shoots at Jhiaxus and make shim drop the device he was going to use to bring forward the future of Gorlam Prime, which also helped to control the timeline too, which Orion catches and is sent back to his present where he finds the Time Machine ship gone, as well as the Decepticons and Jhiaxus, and he can't stop them, as he already saw them leave, so he can't alter the future, he's picked up by his crew and they tell him he was gone for a month and they leave the planet, having lost another 2 weeks and they try to figure out what Jhiaxus' true plan is by following him again, and also wonder what could have destroyed LV-117

Characters

Autobot

Orion Pax - Truck Cab

Hardhead - Personnel Carrier

Wheelie - Car

Wheeljack (Mentioned)

Prowl (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Bludgeon

Monstructor - Gesalt

Turmoil - Tank

Spectro Killed in Ship Crash

Viewfinder Killed by Wheelie in Spotlight

Spyglass Killed by Wheelie in Spotlight

Turmoil's Troops

Shockwave (Mentioned)

Other

Jhiaxus - Jet

Varta Killed by Bludgeon

Garnak

Arachnosaur

Chaosteros

Varta's People

Primus (Mentioned)

Nova Prime (Mentioned)

"True Chaos" (Mentioned as coming)

Notes

• Sorry if the plot section makes no real sense, but due to the messed up timeline here it's kind of confusing.
• This issue manages to sort out a few continuity burbs in the past, such as the Reflector Trio being killed in Spotlight: Wheelie, where Turmoil got his ship, where the ship went and a few more.
• The Reflector trio's deaths were shown in Spotlight: Wheelie
• This issue is very timey-wimey. Optimus and Bludgeon also seem to be meeting each other in the planet's timeline in opposite directions
• LV-117 seems to be being destroyed in a red field, much like what Unicron used on Lithone in the g1 Movie...hmmmm
• The planet LV-117 seems to be in a weird time-frame of it's own because of Shockwave's Regenesis Project, which seems to fling the inhabitants across time at random (with Orion etc being more affected due to the time machine ship. The era you are sent to is based on how you enter the atmosphere as well (which is why the Reflectors landed 70+ years before Orion and the others.
• Orion didn't know Turmoil is alive since he's been off Cybertron since he returned, this also places the attempt on his life (Spotlight: Drift) 5 years ago, however Turmoil is actually in an earlier time on the planet's history due to the planet's nature.
• The appearance of LV-117 fauna on LV-118 is explained here, as Wheelie bringing some with him to the planet when he left it (sort of like an Ark) This also shows that his ship was the Quintesson one he later used as a home on that planet, this implies that the Quintessons were on the planet at some time.
• Varta's people were indigenous to LV-117
• Orion is the one who smashed Turmoil's eye which needed him to wear a patch when we see him on Cybertron later (from his perspective)
• The Regenesis missile has a Quintesson image over the Decepticon insignia...dun dun dah!!!
• Due to LV-117's weird Ore-1 induced time-field it's impossible to tell if it's been destroy already or not (in terms of the present) However this does imply that Wheelie was still on LV-117 until the planet was destroyed and then left, being thrown back in the past (if it hasn't happened yet)....I know, confusing as hell!!!!

IDW - Robots in Disguise #6

Comic Staff

Title: Syndromica [1]

Written by: John Barber

Art by: Livio Ramondelli

Letters by: Shawn Lee

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Storyline

Shockwave arrives at Arduria to investigate why the gas giant planet has suddenly frozen over, and he learns that it's due to one of his Regenesis Missiles. Whilst there he encounters some of the residents, the Ardurian Rocs who are dying and freezing, so Shockwave puts them out of their misery and kills the remaining members.

500,000 Years later, in the present day the travelling Orion Pax (formerly Optimus Prime) meets with Hardhead, Wheelie and Garnak who are travelling as well to keep a dangerous cargo away from Cybertron. They tell Orion that they've picked up a signal from Ardurian space, despite the residents there being gone for a long time now. Orion agrees to help them investigate it.

On their ship Orion meets with Hardhead's cargo, Jhiaxus, who seems to have gone mad from the reformatting of Cybertron after the Chaos event, and he sarts rambling about Shockwave's 13 missiles.

The ship later lands on one of the Ardurian Aeries, where the signal was detected and they discover the bodies of the Rocs left by Shockwave years earlier and also discover the frozen form of Monstructor as well, reaching for a missile. 

Whilst asking Wheelie to look up Monstructor's files from the ship when Monstructor breaks free from the ice and goes in to attack Orion and Hardhead, and Orion suddenly remembers that last time he was seen it was with Bludgeon, whom is now on the ship and has attacked Garnak and Wheelie.

Orion and Hardhead fight Monstructor and learns that someone has removed Monstructor's weakness, which Orion learned when he first fought him years earlier from Omega Supreme. Monstructor willingly separates and barges past the two Autobots and return to their own ship which is leaving the Aerie.

Orion returns to the ship and finds Jhiaxus gone and Wheelie and Garnak left for dead. Later on, after the Autobots are healed up (albeit with Garnak losing an eye) the group are hunting down Bludgeon's ship and they figure out that they're heading to the Lenocinium Velnero system, the system where Wheelie was stranded for centuries. Optimus says they have to go there, which visibly disturbs Wheelie to the extent that he doesn't even rhyme. Optimus says that they still need to go there to stop Bludgeon from doing whatever he's doing, especially since it seems to be involving the Regenesis Missiles.

Characters

Autobot
Orion Pax - Truck Cab
Hardhead - Personnel Carrier
Wheelie - Car
Bumblebee - Car (Mentioned)
Dynobots (Mentioned)
Rodimus - Speedy Car (Mentioned)
Crew of Light Light (Mentioned)

Decepticon
Bludgeon - Tank
Wildfly - Monster
Slog - Monster
Scowl - Monster
Icepick - Monster
Birdbrain - Monster
Bristleback - Monster
Monstructor - Gestalt
Shockwave - Ray Gun (Flashback)

Cybertronian
Jhiaxus - Jet Driven mad by Reformatting 
Galvatron (Mentioned) Destroyed during Reformatting

Other
Garnak
Ardurian Rocs Killed by Regenesis Missile/Shockwave
Station Bar Patrons
Knights of Cybertron (Mentioned)

Comic Notes

• The Regenesis Missiles are what created the Ore-13 on Earth, and Froze Arduria, it's also been implied that one of them created the energon crystal laden world where Kup was trapped in his Spotlight as well.
• Orion learns from Hardhead that Rodimus is dead, but Orion doesn't believe it and is sure that he survived his ship's destruction (As the reader knows is the truth too). This also shows that Rodimus hasn't bothered to get in touch with Cybertron since their apparent deaths...I mean the Lost Light has basically EVERY scientist from Cybertron onboard! Seriously!! Why no radios?!
• Shockwave is mentioned as being on Cybertron right now
• In a nice touch, Orion and the others in this series are in their bodies from Chaos.
• The Ardurians are distant cousins to Transformers, much like how they are related to Battle Beasts in the 80's lines
• Jhiaxus is revealed to have survived his apparent death in Chaos, however he went mad from the reformatting.
• All the characters who were in some serious danger during Chaos are now accounted for
• It looks like we'll be getting some answers about what happened to Wheelie in the years between his Spotlight and Space Opera
• Oh look! The Monstructor Components have Alternate modes! Still no real name for their group yet though...

IDW - Heart of Darkness

Characters

Cybertronian

Galvatron - Cybertronian Tank
Cyclonus - Space Jet
Scourge - Space Shuttle
Sweeps - Space Shuttles
Jhiaxus - F22 Jet
Thinkbox - Wheelhouse/Head
Nemesis Prime - Truck (Body possessed by D-Void) Killed by Galvatron
"Tap-Out" Devoured by D-Void
"Twin Cast" - Cassette Player
Spindrift Recruits
Million Strong Army
Junkions
Insectoids/Lizards
Aquatic Robots
Micromasters Dead
Dykayra Transformers Devoured by D-Void
Alternate Megatrons and Galvatrons

Autobot

Arcee - Cybertronian Car
Hardhead - Gun Mounted Personnel Carrier
Hot Rod - Sports Car
Wheelie - Cybertronian Car
Optimus Prime - Truck Cab
Prowl - Police Car
Jazz - Porsche
Kup - Pick Up Truck (Monitor) Zombie
Whirl - Helicopter (Flashback)
Roadbuster - Armoured Vehicle (Flashback)
Garrus-9 Guards (Flashback)

Decepticon

Thunderwing - Space Shuttle

Other

D-Void
Captain Karrg (Spindrift Hunter)
Master Eeems (Spindrift Hunter)
Karrg's Crew
Gorlam Prime denizens Devoured by D-Void
Zombies (Monitor)

Storyline

Galvatron, Scourge and Cyclonus have found Gorlam Prime as a deserted world but can't find any real reason why, all they know is that everyone just disappeared one day with no trace. The team go for a ride to try and find out more, and Galvatron reveries about all that had happened to him lately, from him being thrown into the Solar Pool at Garrus-9, resurfacing and scaring the guards into letting him leave, afterwhich he flew to Gorlam Prime and found Cyclonus and Scourge dying and learns that it's been years since he disappeared. Galvatron restores his Seekers to their former glory and manipulated them into being willing to help him again in finding out what happened to Gorlam Prime, leading to this moment.
Galvatron leads his team underground to the old excavation tunnels to try and find the silver water portal. They find several of the Micromaster's bodies from when Arcee killed them trying to get at Jhiaxus, and once inside they find that the portal has disappeared, and on top of that they find Jhiaxus' half-dead body lying on the ground where he explained that Arcee was killing him repeatedly for a long time, until Hardhead led her away and they both disappeared a few years ago.
Galvatron uses the power of the Heart of Darkness to revive and repair Jhiaxus, like he did to Scourge and Cyclonus earlier. The group try to find out what happened to the portal when Jhiaxus detects similar energies to the portal down a corridor. The group follow the corridor and find it filled with alien artifacts and markings and then they find a sphere of silver water hovering in the middle of a room. Galvatron goes to touch it, but is blasted by a returning Arcee and Hardhead, who are intent on killing the Cybertronians.

The two Autobots are easily tearing through the four Cybertronians, until an injured Galvatron touches the portal and taps into the power of the Dead Universe and repairs himself, he then attacks the Autobots. Hardhead tells Arcee to leave and warn the other Autobots offworld about Galvatron, and so she transforms and rides away, leaving Hardhead to take the brunt of Galvatron's attacks. Cyclonus chases Arcee and manages to cause the bridge she is riding along to blow up, sending her plummeting.
Galvatron taps into his new prisoner, Hardhead's mind and sees how his memories. In the past Hardhead returns from exploring the cities to find Arcee and the denizens of Gorlam Prime, even the crippled body of Jhiaxus all trying to reach the silver water, entering it, and disappearing. Arcee was spared by Hardhead grabbing her, and Jhiaxus couldn't reach it. Suddenly there was a flash of light and all the left behinds were knocked out, when they woke up, there was the silver water sphere in place of the pool. Arcee and Hardhead went looking for answers until Galvatron and the others came.
Galvatron warps Hardhead's mind and makes him his to command, and then he walks into the sphere to investigate it. Inside the sphere he sees a massively chaotic scene which makes no sence and starts hearing words about the D-Void whilst being torn apart, down to his skeletal features. The D-Void tries to devour Galvatron, but he manages to escape and leaves the water (fully restored) scared and blasting the sphere, trying to kill the D-Void. He says that D-Void feasts on sparks, and that it's going after Cybertron, and they have to stop it.
Elsewhere Arcee climbs out of the chasm she was blasted into and decides that she has to warn the other Autobots about Galvatron.

In the vapours of Spindrift a Bloomship and it's crew are busy hunting when they're attacked by a Cloud Leviathan, when suddenly they are saved by Galvatron killing the Leviathan. He boards the ship with his crew and they start scanning, confusing the hunters, but Galvatron detects a Cybertronian lifesign in the Wheelhouse, he uses his powers to revive it, and he is revived as Thinkbox and he's conscripted into Galvatron's team, they abandon the hunters and return to their own ship.
They travel to an old Cybertronian battle site on the planet where Galvatron proceeds to revive all the dead combatants and adds them to his ranks to challenge the D-Void.
They all return to the main ship in orbit and Jhiaxus activates the Space Bridge system on the ship which takes them to several other old battlefields on various worlds, allowing Galvatron to build up his army to the millions, returning to Gorlam Prime where they have made their base of operations.
The team is taken to Dykayra where they have located ruins similar to those seen in the tunnels under Gorlam Prime, so they decide to investigate where Galvatron finds some dead Cybertronians that even he can't revive with his new powers. Galvatron and some of the others enter a temple where they find another silver water sphere like on Gorlam Prime, and they find an old friend exiting it...Nemesis Prime, whom is possessed by the D-Void.

Galvatron is shocked to be in the presence of his old commander again, whilst Nemesis Prime has been waiting for this moment for some time now, since Galvatron killed him. Nemesis goes after Galvatron, and the two fight, they fight through a wall in the temple and end up outside, where some of Galvatron's troops assist their commander, but to no avail as Nemesis Prime uses D-Void's power to drain the life from some of his troops and kills them.
D-Void takes full control of Nemesis Prime and mutates his body into a larger, more monstrous one. Galvatron and his loyal troops attack D-Void but they can#'t cause him any damage, until Scourge returns with the whole army and they blast him into the silver water sphere again and Galvatron destroys the sphere. However he understands that this was just a part of D-Void and the real thing will be much stronger and that he needs more help.
Galvatron heads to Earth and helps Optimus Prime deal with some zombies and asks him to join him against D-Void, but he refuses. Jhiaxus Space Bridges Galvatron back to Gorlam Prime before leading his army to Cybertron.
Once they arrive on Cybertron the army starts to spread out and search the planet, when a Sweep finds Hot Rod and Wheelie and chases them. Galvatron sends out more of his troops to chase him and try and get him and his group to join them, but he reaches his ship and takes off into orbit. Galvatron waits on Cybertron for when D-Void arrives.

Notes

• It turns out that it's been years between the end of Revelation and Galvatron being reborn, now considering that, that implies that he was reborn AFTER Last Stand of the Wreckers (since All Hail Megatron, which is when LSOTW's beginning is set is about a year after Revelation) so that means that since there are Autobot guards on Garrus-9, that implies that the Autobots have retaken the facility and are rebuilding it.
• When Galvatron enters the silver water sphere he is shown a vast number of alternate versions of himself and Megatron, including some voice actors who played them, and some toys of him. However Megatron is separate to Galvatron in IDW, so why he's there is just confusing
• Thinkbox was an ancient Headmaster, due to his size it would imply that he formed the head of a larger robot (maybe Metroplex sized?)
• Galvatron's re-population of the species increases the Transformer race's numbers from the 10,000 mentioned by Prowl in his Spotlight issue to more than 1,000,000
• There are a lot of generic characters in this comic..but it's fun to give them names!!!
• One of the revived Transformers has taken on the form of a blue tape player...Twincast anyone?
• Hardhead is shown fighting alongside Galvatron's crew here, but in later stories he's shown to still be with Arcee...DAMN YOU CONTINUITY!!!!
• It's likely that this was originally meant to be a Galvatron mini-series (like Drift, Ironhide and Bumblebee were) but it was changed for some reason.
• The red Garrus-9 guard seems to be based on the Marvel Crossovers figure Venom's robot mode, but with a new head
• It's not clear why Hardhead was immune to the silver water's call, but no one else on Gorlam Prime was...

My Thoughts

Art

The artwork isn't bad, it's just quite simple looking or have needless extra details, compared to most other things in this continuity so far. The colours are very nice.

Story

This story explains what Galvatron and his troops have been up to lately and does so pretty well in my opinion

Continuity

This story is set after Revelation, during the All Hail Megatron Coda issue Rebirth, Infestation and during the Space Opera section of Chaos Theory's TPB, and leads directly into Chaos as well.

Other

The characters mostly keep their character models from the previous IDW titles, albeit simplified. Galvatron has randomly been given a new tank mode, possibly based on his Universe toy, but not actually resembling it, this is the only place it's been seen so far. Jhiaxus' vehicle mode seems to be an F22 jet, much like the Movie-continuity Starscream which was the basis for Jhiaxus' redesign here originally as well.
Despite being called Nemesis Prime in all his appearances, he actually uses his Nova Prime colours!