IDW - Transformers: Last Bot Standing #3

Written by: Nick Roche

Art by: E.J. Su & Nick Roche

Colours by: Rebecca Nalty

Letters & Design by: Johanna Nattalie

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Editor: David Mariotte

Plot

The Last Cybertronians work on preparing Shib to be converted into biofuel, while Rodimus meets a badly damaged Wheelie, who is part of the group, but still refuses to join Steeljaw's crew, but the other Cybertronians are determined to convert him to using biofuel too. Steeljaw and most of the team leave to gather up the nearby townsfolk for farming and harvesting...

Moon is convinced by Shib, whom he has become fascinated by, and Wheelie to allow her to say goodbye to Rodimus before she is killed. She rusn over, and jabs the key her family has been protecting for centuries into Rodimus' chest, fully restoring him to his prime.

Rodimus quickly destroys the biofuel converter, and takes out most of the left behind Cybertronians, with Moon sacrificing himself when Shib is in danger of dying too. Wheelie sends two of the Cybertronians to warn the others, but Rodimus just kicks the smaller robot into orbit to die.

Rodimus chases the last two members, and kills them, with Shib wondering if Rodimus is actually the good guy...

Steeljaw and his crew reach Fembrance and start gathering up the townsfolk, but also start detecting Cybertronian technology in the area. Steeljaw makes his way to Shib's home, and destroys it, locating the box with the last two Energon keys and a data pad that Rodimus left for Shib's ancestors.

Rodimus and Shib soon return to Fembrance to find the town in ruins, and the townsfolk in caged trailers.

Rodimus is about to do something about it, when Steeljaw returns with Shib's family captive and reveals that he knows Rodimus' secret now....

Characters

Autobot

Rodimus - Car

Gripper - Buggy (Flashback) Died from Accidental Fall

Strongarm - Van (Flashback) Died in Ship Crash

Last Cybertronians

Steeljaw - Van

Sharpclaw - Car

Wheelie Launched into Orbit by Rodimus

Wildwheel - Car Killed by Rodimus

Moon - Rabbit Accidentally Killed by Wildwheel 

Vex - Car Killed by Rodimus

Treadshock - Tank Killed by Rodimus

Riotgear - Tank

Override - Car

Cyberwarp - Jet

Wedge - Front End Loader

Lunaclub - Helicopter

Scylla - Squid

Nitro Dead 

Donnokt Denizens

Shib Wallkis

Beets Wallkis Captured by Steeljaw 

Trayvon Wallkis Captured by Steeljaw 

Errold 

Fembrance Rangers

Fembrance Townsfolk Captured

Shib's Mother (Flashback)

Shib's Father (Flashback)

Wallkis Family Ancestors (Flashback)

Primitive Donnokt People (Flashback)

Fembrance Miners (Mentioned)

Notes

• As predicted before, the keys are filled with liquid Emerging that is designed to be used on the 3 Autobots who landed on Donnokt.
• The keys being able to open up a hidden hatch on a Transformer, and empower them, repairing injuries etc, resembles the Allspark Key from Animated.
• Wheelie being the "Veteran" here is treated like a big reveal, but the preview last issue revealed it to us...
• I mentioned last issue that it looked like Rodimus altered his robot mode when he became the wagon, but this issue reveals that it's the same design, but worn down from a lack of Emerging.
• Rodimus implies that there is something else hidden on Donnokt, and seemed very interested in if the Miners in town had found out about him. I'm guessing that Donnokt has a natural surplus of Energon, which Rodimus is trying to hide.
• The deaths of Gripper and Strongarm seem a bit suspicious to me. I think, based on the previous note, that they tried to leave the planet with the new source of Energon to save their species, but Rodimus stopped them by killing them.
• The secret discovered by Steeljaw is likely not about the Energon, since Steeljaw and the others already said they couldn't really convert back to using Energon now, so it most likely is something more than that.
• The art on Cover B shows Rodimus seeing past Cybertronians, most based on past designs, but Blaster appears to be a fully new design...and now I am desperate to know what he turns into...

IDW - Deviations: Transformers

Written by: Brandon Easton

Art by: Priscilla Tramontano

Colours by: Priscilla Tramontano & John-Paul Bove

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Edits by: John Barber

Publisher: Ted Adams

Plot

As usual, the battle of Autobot City commences with the Decepticons invading on a hi-jacked Autobot shuttle, and several Autobots are killed in the battle. Optimus arrives to take on Megatron one-on-one, but Hot Rod gets the urge to help his leader win. However, unlike what should happen, Kup manages to tackle the younger Autobot, and stops him from joining the battle, and becoming a hostage, allowing Optimus to finally kill Megatron.

Following his death, the Decepticons escape on Astrotrain, with Starscream taking command of the Decepticons, with no challenges. On the way back to Cybertron, Astrotrain needs them to lose some mass so he can continue the journey, resulting in the injured Decepticons being jettisoned, however without Megatron amongst them, they are simply devoured by Unicron, who is on his way to Cybertron as well...

Back on Earth, the Autobots mourn the dead, and Optimus decides to lead a mission to Cybertron to finish the Decepticons whilst they are weakened. Hot Rod starts to feel like something is wrong, but is being ignored due to him causing problems lately, with him attempting to join the battle against Megatron, and other things. Hot Rod is placed under Magnus' command on his shuttle, and charged with protecting Daniel until they reach Moon Base Two so he can be reunited with his father.

On Cybertron, Starscream is officially crowned the Decepticon leader, but during the ceremony, Unicron appears and orders Starscream to destroy the Matrix for him, as it is the one thing that can harm him. Starscream gets upgraded by Unicron, but begins to annoy the deity when he keeps asking for more things.

Shortly afterwards, on Magnus' shuttle, Hot Rod is talking to Daniel where he admits that he's been seeing visions of Optimus dying, and thinks that something is trying to tell him something. Magnus overhears this and believes Hot Rod is planning treason, but before anything can happen, the shuttle is attacked by "Megascream" and his loyal Seekers. During the battle, Magnus is badly injured by an exploding console, and Hot Rod attempts to save the day by stalling the engines, like he has a hunch to, but unfortunately it just causes the engines to blow out, sending them flying.

Megascream prepares to turn his attention to Optimus' ship, but Soundwave contacts him informing him that Unicron is eating Moon Base One. Megascream now angrily heads back to Cybertron.

Optimus wonders why Megascream left so fast, but they then set their attentions to the other shuttle, which has been flung off further than it ever should have. Optimus decides to land on the nearby planet of Quintessa for repairs.

On Quintessa, the Autobots are approached by a hoard of Sharticons, who almost immediately attack them. Optimus decides that they have no time for this, and orders the Autobots to defeat them. The crew enter the main court room of the planet, and promptly scare off the Quintessons and free their prisoners. There, they meet Kranix, who tells them about Unicron, and how he just ate his planet of Lithone. Knowing the planet isn't too far away from Cybertron, Optimus figures that that may have been the reason for Megascream's retreat before, and decides to return to Cybertron too, after rescuing Magnus and the others.

Magnus' shuttle is in a terrible condition, but Hot Rod is ordered into the last working escape pod with Daniel and manages to escape to the Planet of Junk's surface safely, whilst the shuttle crashes, and kills the rest of the Autobots.

Back at Cybertron, Megascream confronts Unicron, who tells him that he has grown tired of his whining, and has decided to destroy Cybertron now, transforming into his robot mode, and starts his violent assault.

Optimus' shuttle arrives at the Planet of Junk, and rescues Hot Rod and Daniel. On the way back to Cybertron, Hot Rod apologizes for his causing the deaths of Magnus and the others, but Optimus tells him that they will mourn later, as they need to concentrate on the upcoming battle.

The shuttle arrives at Moon Base Two, where Daniel is reunited with his father, and the Autobots begin to rally. Optimus announces that he believes the power of the Matrix will defeat Unicron, and heads to the monster alone in a shuttle.

On Unicron's surface, Optimus is confronted by Megascream, who tells Optimus to give him the Matrix, and combines with four other Decepticons to attack the Autobot leader, and take it from him. Megascream is about to crush Optimus, when suddenly Hot Rod appears, having snuck aboard the shuttle and knocks Optimus out of Megascream's hand. He takes the Matrix from the injured Optimus, explaining that he KNOWS this is meant to happen, he places a teleportation disk on him from Wheeljack's lab, and sends him safely back to Moon Base Two.

Hot Rod briefly fights the giant Decepticon, but manages to unleash the power of the Matrix, and ascends to his true form, Rodimus Prime, and kills himself, Megascream, and Unicron in the process.

In the aftermath, the Autobots return to Cybertron and celebrate the end of the Cybertronian wars. Optimus looks up, and promises to Alpha Trion, and the briefly lived Rodimus Prime that he will never question the will of the Matrix ever again (which is good since it's BEEN BLOWN UP!!)

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck

Hot Rod - Sports Car Ascended into Rodimus Prime

Rodimus Prime - Caravan Killed in Matrix Explosion

Ultra Magnus - Car Carrier Killed in Shuttle Crash

Springer - Rocket Car/Helicopter Killed in Shuttle Crash

Arcee - Sports Car Killed in Shuttle Crash

Perceptor - Microscope Killed in Shuttle Crash

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Blurr - Race Car

Blaster - Boom Box

Bumblebee - VW Beetle

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Swoop - Pteranodon

Sludge - Apatosaurus

Slag - Triceratops

Ironhide - Van Dead

Prowl - Police Car Dead

Wheeljack - Race Car Dead

Windcharger - Sports Car Dead

Scrounge - Wheel

Alpha Trion (Vision)

Other Autobots

Decepticon

Megatron - Gun Killed by Optimus Prime

Starscream/Megascream - Fighter Jet Killed in Matrix Explosion

Soundwave - Cassette Player Died as Part of Megascream Gestalt

Astrotrain - Train/Space Shuttle Died as Part of Megascream Gestalt

Thrust - Fighter Jet Died as Part of Megascream Gestalt

Dirge - Fighter Jet Died as Part of Megascream Gestalt

Thundercracker - Fighter Jet

Sunstorm - Fighter Jet

Acid Storm - Fighter Jet

Ramjet - Fighter Jet

Blitzwing - Tank/Fighter Jet

Laserbeak - Cassette

Rumble - Cassette

Shockwave - Ray Gun

Mixmaster - Mixing Truck

Long Haul - Dump Truck

Scrapper - Front End Loader

Skywarp - Fighter Jet Devoured by Unicron

Bombshell - Boll Weevil Devoured by Unicron

Shrapnel - Stag Beetle Devoured by Unicron

Kickback - Locust Devoured by Unicron

Gladiaron (Statue Only)

Floron (Statue Only)

Dery (Statue Only)

Ghoulon (Statue Only)

Human

Daniel Witwicky

Spike Witwicky

Other

Unicron - Ringed Planet Killed in Matrix Explosion

Quintessons

Sharkticons - Sharks

Kranix

Other Quintesson Prisoners

Notes

• This special is part of the 2016 IDW cross-line event, in the same vein as "Infestation" or "Mars Attacks <insert name here>". This year's theme is based on the "What If...?" line from Marvel.
• This is actually NOT the first time that we've had an alternate version of what happened during the Movie. In the Marvel days we had Rhythms of Darkness, which showed that Galvatron won the events of the movie, and in Regeneration One we actually see the final battle from that story.
• Also, in the Regenerations One scene, the Autobot shuttle crashed on the Planet of Junk and killed the crew, much like what happened here.
• The recap page for this comic actually comes from the IDW adaptation of the movie, rather than screenshots from the film.
• The fateful moment that was changed in this story, was that Hot Rod was stopped by Kup from interfering with Optimus and Megatron's battle. So in a way, all the bad things that happened here are Kup's fault!
• Amongst the dead bodies in this story is an Transformers: Animated Autotrooper....weird...
• Apparently if Hot Rod never interfered then Megatron would be a terrible shot as he completely misses Optimus' head.
• Following the shock of Megatron's death, no one challenges Starscream's plan to take leadership.
• Ultra Magnus' attitude with Hot Rod is based on an abandoned plot line from the script of the movie where he was going to reprimand him for breaking Kup's cordon on Lookout Mountain during the start of the film.
• Optimus takes Hot Rod's place on Kup's shuttle, with Optimus going on Magnus' too.
• It's actually mentioned here that the reason not all the Autobots are joining the shuttle trips back to Cybertron because they are part of a clean-up crew for the city.
• Despite not touching the Matrix or being exposed to it, like in the movie, Hot Rod appears to be receiving messages from it, further cementing his position as the "Chosen One"
• It's actually brought up that Daniel being exposed to a horrible war with people dying all around him MAY have affected him negatively.
• Starscream has to discard his cape and crown when he transforms. Nice touch. Though I guess a jet with a cape would look a bit stupid.
• Because he never stopped to observe Optimus' death and had his bargaining debate with Megatron, Unicron arrived at Cybertron DURING Starscream's coronation.
• Starscream isn't as good of a negotiator as Megatron was, all he got was a modified body, gave the ability to combine with him to 4 other random Decepticons, and that is it....YAY!
• Starscream's new "Megascream" body appears to be loosely based on Leozack's body, and likewise his combined form looks somewhat like Liokaiser's design. Hopefully this is a hint for a Liokaiser set coming out in Combiner Wars :)
• The Sharkticons "greet" the Autobots on Quintessa, in the actual film it was the Allicons.
• Amongst the prisoners freed on Quintessa is Scrounge...THROW HIM TO THE SHARKTICONS!!!!
• Arcee never speaks in this comic.
• Why couldn't more of the Autobots fit inside that escape pod with Hot Rod and Daniel?! From what we see of it, it looks large enough for at least a couple more!
• In the actual movie, Unicron attacks Cybertron after Galvatron tries to blackmail him with the Matrix, here he just does it because Starscream annoys him.
• The Autobots resolved their issues on Quintessa so fast, that they never encountered Wheelie, and because the Autobots on the Planet of Junk never went scavenging for parts, they never bothered the Junkions, so they were never met either!
• Starscream confronts Unicron before he can eat Moonbase Two, so the Autobot's base there is left intact.
• Thinking about that though, since the Autobots never enter Unicron here, does that mean Jazz and Cliffjumper, and the rest of the Moonbase One Autobots were killed either in his digestive system or the explosion?
• Despite being modified for combination, none of the other Decepticons have been modified appearance-wise.
• Optimus mentions how he questioned the ways of the Matrix, does that mean the Matrix told him to give it to Hot Rod so he could fulfil his destiny?
• Oh, and the Matrix appears to he blown up with Rodimus Prime here...let's hope there's no hate plague round the corner!!

IDW - Primacy #4

Written by: Chris Metzen & Flint Dille

Art by: Livio Ramondelli 

Letters by: Chris Mowry

Editor: John Barber

Plot

The Decepticons continue their assault on the Autobots, and assume that they have all be killed by the sheer firepower, whilst Megatron is distraught over the revelation from Pentius over his manipulation and plans to destroy Cybertron.

However, much to the Decepticon's shock, the Autobots have survived the attack on them using Trailbreaker's forcefield, and the proceed to counter-attack the Decepticons.

Nearby, Blackwall and Grimlock continue their battle, andd Grimlock manages to win by skewering his head with his sword, causing it to blow up, showing that despite Blackwall being stronger, Grimlock knows how to fight dirtier.

Megatron, realizing that he has to destroy Pentius from his own, and Trypticon's sparks, and orders Soundwave to raze Iacon if he fails.

Elsewhere, Hot Rod is attacked by Onslaught, who plans to kill him to get a place on Megatron's high command (as he's faamous), but he is saved by his old friend Slinger, who betrays the Decepticons, realizing that neither side is right in this war. Unfortunately Razorclaw hears this and immediately kills Slinger, and leads his Predacons to go against Hot Rod as well. However before they can start their attack, the Dynobots appear to assist their younger friend, and win the battle.

Megatron approaches the body of Trypticon, and smashes through the Autobots guarding him. Optimus notices this, and heads off to intercept him, taking down Motormaster on the way, and Omega Supreme defends him from the rest of the Stunticons.

Optimus soon reaches Megatron, and starts to duel with him, to stop him from doing anything stupid, with Megatron revealing that his spark was tainted by Pentius and he plans to use him to destroy all of Cybertron, and he knows no-one can stop him. Optimus however counters that there is always someone willing to save the day, giving his Autobots as examples. He then opens to Matrix to remove Pentius from the two sparks, leaving Megatron the way he was before. However, Optimus notes that Megatron's spark was corrupted long before Pentius came around, and knocks him out.

Moments later, Optimus broadcasts to everyone that Megatron has been defeated and he is imprisoned, and Cybertron returns to some level of peace. Optimus thinks back over what has happened, and finally feels happy with who he is now, as Optimus Prime, but knows that this is just the beginning of his story....

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck

Omega Supreme - Rocket and Base

Hot Rod - Car

Grimlock - Armoured Vehicle

Snarl - Armoured Vehicle

Sludge - Armoured Vehicle

Slag - Armoured Vehicle

Swoop - Jet

Sky Lynx - Space Ship

Trailbreaker - Truck

Ultra Magnus - Truck

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Jazz - Car

Hound - Car

Bumblebee - Car

Prowl - Car

Ironhide - Van

Swerve - Truck

Rung

Springer - Car/Helicopter

Sandstorm - Buggy/Helicopter

Ratchet - Ambulance 

Other Autobots

Decepticon

Megatron - Tank

Soundwave - Acoustic Tank

Shockwave - Ray Gun

Starscream - Jet

Skywarp - Jet

Thundercracker - Jet

Blitzwing - Jet/Tank

Hook - Crane

Hun-Gar - Two Headed Monster

Blackwall Killed by Grimlock

Onslaught - Tank

Slinger Killed by Razorclaw

Razorclaw - Lion

Rampage - Tiger

Tantrum - Bull

Headstrong - Rhino

Divebomb - Falcon

Motormaster - Truck

Dead End - Car

Wildrider - Car

Dragstrip - Car

Breakdown - Car

Tyrpticon - Battle Platform Disabled

Other Decepticons

Other

Pentius Removed from Sparks by Optimus Prime

Notes

• This issue marks the end of Flint Dille and Chris Metzen's early-war trilogy.
• As a way of marking the end of this series, the last page of this issue duplicates the first page in Autocracy, but with the panels reversed and the Matrix light added to Optimus' chest panel, perfectly bookending the series.
• He isn't properly seen, but Trailbreaker MUST be amongst the Autobots in this issue, since his forcefield protects them from the weapons barrage.
• Slinger's storyline here seems a bit pointless, he was barely seen in Autocracy and Monstrosity. He re-appeared in Primacy as a new Decepticon, then betrays them the second he gets the chance, just to be killed by Razorclaw...
• Optimus and Motormaster's head-to head collision is an homage to their similar scene in Masquerade from the G1 cartoon
• Rung and Swerve are seen amongst the Autobots hiding from the fighting...this seems appropriate considering their fighting skills!
• We know from the present day stories that Metroplex survived the events of this comic, but Trypticon isn't so clear. However he was shown in Stormbringer and Spotlight: Blaster as being around, at least until just after the Thunderhead Pass incident, but it's kinda confusing here.
• Megatron is shown arrested and chained up at the end of this story, but we all know he must escape somehow, otherwise the rest of IDW couldn't happen...

IDW - Regeneration One #0

Title: Less Than Zero

Writer: Simon Furman

Art: Pages 1,22: Casey Coller

Art: Pages 2-6: Geoff Senior

Pencils: Pages 7-11: Jeff Anderson

Pencils: Pages 12-16: Joss Delbo

Art: Pages 17-21: Nick Roche

Inks: Pages 7-16: Stephen Baskerville

Colorist: John-Paul Bove

Letterer: Chris Mowry

Editor: John Barber

Editor-in-Chief: Chris Ryall

Plot

Hot Rod is tumbling through Zero Space, courtesy of Primus and is ejected, as an observer on Earth, during the battle with the Deathbringer. He watches the battle unfold and wonders why he's been sent there. After the Autobots defeat the Deathbringer Hot Rod continues to wait, eventually he sees what he's supposed to, the piece of the Matrix that was inside the Deathbringer is still around, and is tainted with evil, thus meaning that it's out there somewhere still.

Primus whips him up again, sending him to the distant past of Cybertron, long before the war broke out, where he follows Jhiaxus, someone he has no knowledge of, into Boltax's tower of Knowledge. Hot Rod watches as Jhiaxus, Boltax and three others pool their mental resources together as they create the Underbase. When inside the Underbase's cyber-ocean Jhiaxus attacks the others, and starts mining it for information, and makes plans for the informations. At the same time he deletes all records about himself, including memories and leaves, to begin his grand schemes, which Hot Rod wonders about...

Hot Rod is taken away before he can find out anything else and arrives on Earth again, just as Megatron's army of zombie Decepticons starts their rampage. Hot Rod follows the journey of Buster and his wife Jessie as they drive around and try to evade the Decepticons. They call Spike to try and get him to come with Fort Max to help, but Spike's not answering his phone. Buster and Jessie hide out in a carwash, but the zombie Ratbat finds them, and kills them both. Hot Rod wonders whether he was there to see Buster's fate, or what tipped the mental state of Spike...

Hot Rod is shot out of Zero Space and lands, corporeally on the planet of Junk where he finds an alternate version of himself fighting with Galvatron, he sees a crashed Autobot ship of some design he can't identify, and sees the bodies of several of his friends (and Arcee). Hot Rod warns his counterpart about an attack from Cyclonus and Scourge, and IS HEARD! Rodimus Prime however is shocked and ends up gettin ghit by the two Decepticons, the Matrix being flung off the chain around his neck, which lands near Hot Rod. Galvatron kills Rodimus and gloats to his troops, Hot Rod understands that he's not there to learn anything, just for some help, that he can't get back home, and reaches out for the Matrix.

Back in the Regen universe Bludgeon is about to kill Kup when a newly arisen Rodimus Prime appears from nowhere to stop him!

Characters

Autobot

Hor Rod/Rodimus Prime - Car/Caravan

Optimus Prime - Truck

Siren - Car

Nightbeat - Car

Getaway - Car

Hosehead - Fire Engine

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Alternate Reality Rodimus Prime - Caravan Killed by Galvatron

Alternate Reality Ultra Magnus - Car Carrier Dead

Alternate Reality Kup - Pick Up Truck Dead

Alternate Reality Springer - Rocket Car/Helicopter Dead

Alternate Reality Arcee - Car Dead

Other Autobots

Optimus Prime's Original Body (Flashback) Dead

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex (Flashback) Possessed by Primus

Waverider - Hovercraft (Mentioned)

Fortress Maximus - Battle Platform (Mentioned)

Alternate Reality Optimus Prime - Truck (Mentioned) Dead

Decepticon

Bludgeon - Tank

Octane - Oil Tanker/Cargo Plane "Zombified"

Ratbat - Cassette "Zombified"

Razorclaw - Lion "Zombified"

Skywarp - Jet "Zombified"

Bugly "Zombified"

Thundercracker - Jet "Zombified"

Other Zombie-cons "Zombified"

Alternate Reality Galvatron - Laser Cannon

Alternate Reality Cyclonus - Space Jet

Alternate Reality Scourge - Space Shuttle

Megatron (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Jhiaxus - Jet

Boltax Mentally Injured by Jhiaxus

Decanus Mentally Injured by Jhiaxus

Brain Trust member 4 and 5 Mentally Injured by Jhiaxus

Boltax's Disciples 

Human

Buster Witwicky Killed by Ratbat

Jessie Witwicky Killed by Ratbat

Spike Witwicky

Firefighters

Human Evacuees Killed by Zombie-Cons

Other

Deathbringer Commited suicide thanks to Optimus

Anti-Matrix Creature

Mechanical Medic (Flashback) Turned into Deathbringer

Primus (Flashback) Inside Grimlock's body

Notes

• This issue acts both as a continuation of Hot Rod's journey, which began in issue 94, it also acts as a prequel to the series as well, helping to fill in some gaps in the plot.
• This comic COULD be seen as the Regeneration One celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the brand, with Marvel's comic continuity being the basis, as it uses several popular artists from across the franchise, and focuses on several different time frames. It also emulates the art style, including the changes in colouring style over the years as well, from ben-day style dots to block colouring etc.
• The Deathbringer segment is essentially a retelling of the UK story that had this event, but with Hot Rod being included as an observer, and the revelation of the tainted Matrix fragment at the end.
• Jhiaxus is revealed here to have existed long ago (and not created through budding like in the G2 comics) and that his absence from anyone's memories was due to him essentially deleting himself to hide
• It's shown here that Buster and Jessie have gotten married since they last appeared in the comics
• From the look of their mobile phone, it looks like Megatron's zombie invasion began in the mid-late 1990's
• Buster's fate, where he is killed in his car by Ratbat in a carwash is of course a reference to the events of "Buster Witwicky and the Carwash of Doom".
• The future alternate reality events shown are most likely from Galvatron's home universe, which therefore shows how he killed Magnus and the others, including Rodimus. This also implies that after he killed Rodimus he dragged his body back to Earth to string him up in New York. This alternate reality is basically the events of the 80's movie, but if the ship was left intact and the crews were combined.
• Ironically even though Hot Rod says he must be in an alternate future, the events of the Movie take place in 2005/2006, and Regen is set in 2012/2013
• The final scenes in this comic are clearly set during issue 95, which hasn't been released yet.
• Hot Rod doesn't name-check Arcee amongst the corpses, most likely because she doesn't have a counterpart at the moment in Regen One.
• It's likely that the reason Hot Rod was corporeal in the Junkion scene is because it's not a part of his history, but an alternate reality. Also he needed to be able to touch the Matrix here, so he had to be corporeal for that too!
• I wonder if Rodimus Prime has claimed the alternate reality's Matrix for himself as well?

IDW - Regeneration One #94

Title: Destiny Part Four

Writer: Simon Furman

Penciler: Guido Guidi

Inker: Stephen Baskerville

Colorist: John-Paul Bove

Letterer: Shawn Lee

Editor: John Barber

Editor-in-Chief: Chris Ryall

Plot

Galvatron falls down from the sky and attacks Ultra Magnus, throwing him around and smashing him through buildings etc, all whilst claiming they've fought before, much to Magnus' surprise as he's never actually met him before.

In Primus' chamber Hot Rod speaks to the Primus-Possessed Grimlock (whilst the other Dinobots are frozen) and Primus declares that Hot Rod is in fact a Prime, and sends him to Zero Space to help solve what has gone wrong. Once gone, Primus vacates Grimlock's body and the Dinobots are unfrozen, and shocked to find Hot Rod gone, and Grimlock smoldering in front of them.

Back in Iacon Magnus and Galvatron continue their fight and Magnus fires off one of his shoulder rockets and sends the Decepticon flying. Shortly afterwards Blades appears and reports that the Autobots are fighting back against another threat, the Warworld!

The Warworld starts shooting off loads of pods, that open to reveal the Decepticon's Blitz Engines, and start attacking the people of Cybertron. the Autobots fight back, but it's not going too well. Meanwhile Magnus transforms to join the battle, but is attacked by a surviving Galvatron.

Prowl, Perceptor and Kup meet at an Emergency Command Bunker to work out what to do with the Warworld, and they watch footage of the Autobots fighting it, and discover that the Blitz Engines are able to self-heal and seem to be powered by an external source similar to the Matrix, which they determine to be on the Warworld itself. Kup prepares the Wreckers to attack the ship, whilst Prowl goes to wake a sleeping giant.

Magnus drives around trying to shake off Galvatron, but to no affect, Mganus then shoots off his missiles again and blasts the road ahead of him, then stops causing Galvatron to fall, however the mad Decepticon grabs ahold of Magnus at the same time, and drags him over the ledge too, sending both plummeting.

On board the Warworld, the Decepticons are growing restless and decide to use the Warworld's cannons to show off it's power, they target the injured Galvatron and Magnus, so they can take out both a rogue element and the Auotbot's figurehead, and fire, blowing up a chunk of city along with it.

Prowl witnesses this from nearby as he's just awoken Omega Supreme to join the battle, who manages to take out several Blitz Engines on his own.

Soundwave watches and comments on how predictable this fight has been so far, and orders Monstructor to fight the giant Autobot. Just afterwards though Blaster appears behind Soundwave, ready to fight him.

Elsewhere, out of the flames Ultra Magnus staggers away, still alive, with a deactivated Galvatron in tow.

Characters

Autobot

Hot Rod - Sports Car Sent to Zero Space

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport

Prowl - Police Car

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Perceptor - Microscope

Blaster - Boom Box

Omega Supreme - Rocket and Base

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurs Rex Possessed by Primus, Burned Out

Slag- Triceratops

Swoop - Pteranodon

Sludge - Apatosaurus

Blades - Rescue Helicopter

Silverbolt - Jet

Skydive - Jet

Slingshot - Jet

Air Raid - Jet

Fireflight - Jet

Jetfire - Jet

Dogfight - Jet

Skyhammer - VTOL Jet Shell

Huffer - Truck Cab

Hound - Jeep

Mirage - F1 Race Car

Chromedome - Car

Siren - Car

Jazz - Car

Brainstorm - Jet

Hardhead - Tank

Highbrow - Helicopter

Chainclaw - Bear

Catilla - Tiger Electrocuted by Blitz Engine

Meanstreak - Race Car

Turbofire - Pick Up Truck

Windbreaker - Muscle Car Skewered by Blitz Engine

Optimus Prime (Mentioned)

Xaaron (Mentioned)

Wreckers (Mentioned)

Ultra Magnus from Galvatron's Universe (Mentioned) Killed by Galvatron

Other Autobots

Decepticon

Galvatron - Laser Cannon Deactivated by Warworld Explosion

Bludgeon - Tank

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Wingthing

Monstructor - Monster Pretender Gestalt

Horri-Bull - Bull

Octopunch - Crab

Stranglehold - Rhino

Krok

Blitz Engines

Megatron (Mentioned) Dead

Straxus (Mentioned)

Scorponok (Mentioned)

Other Decepticons

Other

Primus (Inside Grimlock's body)

Cybertronian Civilians

Dead Guys in Primus Chamber Dead

God Ginrai (Mentioned)

Unicron (Mentioned)

Notes

• The multiple references to Magnus and Galvatron being long standing rivals (in Galvatron's head anyway) is both a reference to their original toys (being advertised as the new leaders to hide Megatron's transformation and Hot Rod's leadership back in the 80's) and also to the UK comics that had them fights multiple times, which of course never happened in this continuity.
• This also confirms that way, that this Galvatron killed his universe's Ultra Magnus as well
• Why are there pedestrians driving around Cybertron when the Decepticon's Warworld is hovering above?!?
• Primus possesses Grimlock in a similar manner to how he did so with Xaaron as well
• Primus also confirms that Unicron didn't really kill him, as he's a Multiversal Singularity
• The Zero Space, which keeps appearing is shown here to be something to do with Primus
• The Decepticons seem to think that Magnus is the Autobot leader as they target him to die (as their figurehead)
• A bit confusing as well, the Warworld's attack blows up a huge part of a city, yet Magnus and Galvatron have just a few dents etc...
• Omega Supreme about to be attacked by Monstructor seems to be a reference to their storyline in IDW's main G1 series.
• Also, Blaster confronting Soundwave could be a reference to their final battle in Headmasters (meaning they may both die/get upgraded soon)

IDW - Regeneration One #93

Title: Destiny Part 3

Writer: Simon Furman

INTRODUCING Penciler: Guido Guidi

Inker: Stephen Baskerville

Colorist: John-Paul Bove

Letterer: Chris Mowry

Editor: John Barber

Editor-in-Chief: Chris Ryall

Plot

Bludgeon is meditating, and has forseen his own brutal death in battle, and knows that despite him leading the Decepticons back home, he won't see it's ultimate fate for himself.

Meanwhile, on the Ark Galvatron is planning on using the Ark as a ploy for the Autobots to destroy, as he's sure Optimus has reported that he took the ship by now, and plans to attack Cybertron's leaders himself, with them being unaware of his arrival, and assumes that Ultra Magnus (not Hot Rod) is in charge of the planet.

On Cybertron Ultra Magnus is directing several teams of Autobots across the planet on missions. The Wreckers storm the Neo-Decepticon's base at Fort Scyk, only to find it empty and for it to explode, though luckily the Wreckers survive. Elsewhere Prowl and some other police bots have caught up to a speeding Runamuck and arrest him, and confers with Magnus, agreeing that something is wrong and calls back the Aerialbots from their mission.

Nearby to the Aerialbots, Soundwave watches them leave, disappointed as he was hoping to have them killed now, as they want all the Autobot's air support to be gone before the Warworld arrives. Soundwave has Wingthing report this setback to the others, whilst he plots away with the waiting Monstructor about the oncoming destruction.

Near Cybertron, the Ark is ready to proceed on it's mission, when Shockwave, still hooked into the ship, alerts Galvatron to a stowaway, which Galvatron goes off to investigate. Once alone, Starscream, who has been pretending to be lobotomized still has Shockwave give him control of the ship for their plan to continue.

In Hanger Nine of the ship Galvatron is attacked by a Guardian Drone and he realizes that the ship is somehow against him, and Starscream appears on the screen gloating. Galvatron easily destroy the drone, but Shockwave lowers a forcefield in the hanger, sucking him into space.

Starscream sets the ship's weapons on Galvatron, but has to give up the battle when they start to get close to Cybertron, as they aren't ready to face the Autobots yet, so they go off hiding again.

In the tunnels under Cybertron Hot Rod and the remaining Dinobots have found Primus' chamber and Hot Rod thinks he's somehow been there before, and has a vision of various alternate versions of himself as well. Before long the chamber is filled with Demons, who the Dinobots and Hot Rod fight off, they head into a chamber, that the Demons for some reason won't enter and find several long dead bodies, before they can properly explore them though the glowing figure of Grimlock appears, saying it's time that they spoke, Hot Rod realizes that this is Primus inside the Dinobot's body.

In Iacon, Magnus is in contact with Cosmos above Cybertron who is monitoring the situation, just in case, when he loses contact with the orbiter, with the poor little guy being destroyed by the Warworld. Before he can do anything else though, Ultra Magnus is attacked by the annoying sight of Galvatron flying towards him, planning to make his move right now!!

Characters

Autobot

Hot Rod - Sports Car

Ultra Magnus - Car Carrier

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex Body Possessed by Primus

Swoop - Pteranodon

Sludge - Apatosaurus

Snarl - Stegosaurus

Slag - Triceratops

Prowl - Police Car

Streetwise - Police Car

Red Alert - Fire Response Car

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Roadbuster - Jeep

Rack 'N' Ruin

Sandstorm - Buggy/Helicopter

Topspin - Jet

Whirl - Helicopter Maybe Killed in Explosion?

Silverbolt - Concorde Jet

Air Raid - Fighter Jet

Fireflight - Fighter Jet

Slingshot - Fighter Jet

Skydive - Fighter Jet

Cosmos - Orbiter Killed by Warworld

Optimus Prime (Flashback)

Jetfire (Hologram)

Energon Rodimus - Truck Cab (Multiversal Vision)

Return of Convoy Battlestars Hot Rod - Sports Car (Multiversal Vision)

MTMTE Rodimus - Sports Car (Multiversal Vision)

TFA Rodimus Prime - Sports Car (Multiversal Vision)

Alternator Rodimus - Race Car (Multiversal Vision)

WFC Hot Shot - Sports Car (Multiversal Vision)

New Rodimus - Fire Truck (Multiversal Vision)

Wings of Honour Hot Rod - Sports Car (Multiversal Vision)

Armada Powerlinx Hot Shot - Sports Car (Multiversal Vision)

G2 Comic Hot Rod - Sports Car (Multiversal Vision)

Classics or Shattered Glass Rodimus - Sports Car (Multiversal Vision)

Other Rodimuses (Multiversal Vision)

Decepticon

Galvatron - Laser Cannon

Bludgeon - Tank

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Monstructor - Gestalt

Runamuck - Sports Car Arrested by Autobots

Wingthing

Runabout Killed by Demons (ages ago)

Shockwave Linked to Ark

Megatron (Mentioned) Dead

Other

Primus (Inside Grimlock's body)

Demons

Mark V Guardian Droid Destroyed by Galvatron

Demon Victims

Unicron (Mentioned)

Notes

• In Bludgeon's future death scene, he looks like he's been torn apart and blasted by a cannon, much like his G2 counterpart's ultimate fate as well
• The flashback scenes to the events in issue 80 (of the original run) are made to look more like the old-style artwork
• Should we be worried that Whirl is missing from the scenes just after the Neo-Decepticon base explodes?
• The Ark having asteroid destroying weapons is a call-back to it's original mission to destroy an asteroid field that was threatening Cybertron back in issue 1
• The vision Hot Rod sees is of various alternate reality versions of himself from across the franchise, some are mostly obscured, but most are recognizable, and of course including the Rodimus currently starring in More Than Meets the Eye.
• Interestingly one of the Rodimuses is an unreleased toy, and another is of Hot Shot (but in Hot Rod's colours)
• The Demons don't seem to be scared of the sword and covenant any more....
• Amongst the dead guys found in the Demon's lair are Runabout
• Grimlock is now yet another Transformer to be possessed by Primus

IDW - Regeneration One #91

Title: Destiny Part One

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

Plot

Bludgeon's new army attacks planet Cresta Superior and slaughters the inhabitants which Bludgeon and Soundwave watch on from on the Warworld with the Thunderwing remains in the background (having used the Matrix energies to build the army). Bludgeon suggests that since it'll take a while for the Warworld to return to Cybertron for their ultimate plan, he should have his own Decepticons on the planet undermine the Autobot's rule some more...

It's the day after Scorponok's dark reign over Cybertron, and everything is still damaged, and the people are distrusting one and another. Several Autobots meet up for a discussion on the situation, which Hot Rod was absent for, since he was learning about the Demons whilst this was all happening. Perceptor and the others tell him that the population are feeling bad after all that happened and some are confused by their feelings during the crisis.

Elsewhere, Ultra Magnus sends out his Civil Defense Force to help protect the innocent in the new violent times when Trailbreaker tells him that the satellite left over Earth is transmitting a message from Earth. Optimus (in his new base there) confirms that he received Magnus' report about the recent events an dis told about Fixit's team being sent to Nebulos to fix the issues there too. Magnus reports that he's worried about Hot Rod's leadership style, but Optimus tells him not to worry, and that his unorthodox methods may be what Cybertron needs now.

On the Ark, Galvtaron remembers when the Unicron of his home universe devoured his Cybertron and then forced him to rule Earth, and be content with it. Galvatron is now determined to rule THIS Cybertron.

Meanwhile, on Cybertron Hot Rod begins his speech to the population about his plans to try and reunite the Demons, and the Transformers on this planet, but the public (goaded by some Decepticons) turn violent and have to be held back by the Autobot guards.

Soon, Hot Rod is taken away by Kup, who tells him that he should concede the leadership to Ultra Magnus, Hot Rod gets Trailbreaker to contact Magnus for him, but before he can be connected the surviving Dinobots turn up and want to help Hot Rod in his search for the Demons and a way to help them, on the condition that they also go to find Grimlock as well, as they believe he's still alive at the bottom of the Sonic Canyons.

Magnus makes contact with Hot Rod, who tells the former to get Iacon repaired and ready for the reunification of the Cybertronians, having changed his plans.

Back on Cresta Superior, Rook arrives and finds the planet destroyed and reports back to his leader, Jhiaxus at the Hub that it appears to have been caused by Cybertronians. Jhiaxus remarks that it seems inevitable now for the past and future to clash at long last.

Worryingly in Zero Space, the crack seems to shatter, and that the future is now...cancelled?

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck

Hot Rod - Car

Ultra Magnus - Car Carrier

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Trailbreaker - Van

Red Hot - Fire Engine

Seawatch - Rescue Boat

Fixit - Ambulance

Stakeout - Police Car

Sky High - Helicopter

Grapple - Crane

Prowl - Police Car

Streetwise - Police Car

Perceptor - Microscope

Jetfire - Jet

Blades - Helicopter

Inferno - Fire Engine

Roadbuster - Jeep

Blurr - Race Car

Red Alert - Emergency Responce Car

Whirl - Helicopter

Sandstorm - Helicopter/Buggy

Rack 'N' Ruin

Slag - Triceratops

Snarl - Stegosaurus

Sludge - Apatosaurus

Swoop - Pteranodon

Civil Defense Force Members 90 Percent Dead

Brainstorm Arrested

Highbrow Arrested

Hardhead Arrested

Grimlock (Flashback) Maybe Dead

Overdrive (Flashback)

Override (Flashback)

Getaway (Flashback)

Road King (Flashback)

Decepticon

Galvatron - Laser Cannon

Bludgeon - Tank

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Spinister - Helicopter
Needlenose - Jet

Thunderwing Matrix Suffused Remains

Blitz Engines

Scorponok (Flashback) Maybe Dead

Alternate Universe Sweeps (Flashback)

Megatron (Mentioned) Dead

Cybertronian Empire

Jhiaxus

Rook - Bird-Like Jet

Other

Maccadam's Bartender

Alternate Universe Unicron - Ringed Planet (Flashback)

Demons (Vision)

People of Cresta Superior Killed by Decepticons

Nebulons Still Disorientated

Cybertronian Civilians

Primus (Mentioned)

Notes

• The soldiers on Cresta Superior are dressed in blue and red armour, and have a snake emblem on their fortress? Anyone else think of Cobra then?
• Scorponok's method to reverse the Nucleon effects seem to have been implemented on the victims since the last issue (yeah...the morning AFTER!)
• Thunderwing's corpse seems to be being repaired on the Warworld...uh oh!
• It turns out that since the Gene-Key was reversed some Transformers have violent tendencies still, in the wake of living out their chaotic sides for a few days (or however long it was)
• Fixit and his team have been dispatched to Nebulos (at some point) to try and fix what Scorponok did to the planet
• Magnus seems to think that Hot Rod made himself go underground during Scorponok's short-lived reign on purpose...
• Galvatron's flashback shows the alternate universe Unicron devouring Galvatron's original Cybertron and leading to the events of Rhythms of Darkness, where he was introduced too
• Hot Rod seems to be shocked when Slag is seen out of Quarantine, but didn't seem to care about Inferno being out...
• Oh my gosh! Jhiaxus is here! Who could have forseen that? (other than everyone as he was shown in the spoilery scenes in issue 80.5)
• Speaking of the spoilery scenes, the crack in Zero Space seems to be shattering now...ominous!
• Optimus seems to know who Glavatron is....maybe they found out some point in the last 20 years?

IDW - Regeneration One #89

Title: Natural Selection Part Four

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

The Dinobots are hiding from the now evil Autobots and the Decepticons and decide that they need to take down Grimlock for betraying them, and Scorponok for doing all this, so they head somewhee they know Grimlock will go to.

Soon, Treadshot detects someone entering the Nursery and Grimlock overhears, he kills the Decepticon and heads out himself, as he wants to help Slag, who's there, and must assume that the Dinobots are the intruders.

At the Sonic Canyons, Scorponok is surveying the construction of the pan global gene key, but starts to lose his cool, possibly as a result of his reattachment to a body.

In the lower levels of Cybertron Hot Rod is standing before the two artifacts, the sword and covenant of primus, he assumes he needs to choose one.

On Earth Optimus is driving around, and tries helping the humans in secret by helping repair the damages caused by Megatron, but he knows they won't accept him in the long run, at the Ark, Galvatron learns through Shockwave's memories that he seemed to hook himself up the the ark's computers so that he could survive due to his bad injuries after the crash.

Back on Cybertron Grimlock reaches the Nursery where he checks on Slag, but gets ambushed by the other Dinobots who want to kill him for all he's done, meanwhile Brainstorm, Hardhead and some Decepticons find Treadshot's body and report to Scorponok, who reveals that he has a tracer on Grimlock's body, and tells them where he is.

Hot Rod grabs for the Covenant and is shown how in the distant past the Demons were Cybertron's inhabitants and worshipped Primus, however after they started to war with eachother, Primus culled the planet, however leaving some alive in the aftermath, which Hot Rod now understands is his job to now finish off, so he grabs the sword and goes to attack a Demon who has just come through the phased wall as well.

Girmlock fights back against his friends, but before long Brainstorm and the others arrive and say they're going to kill all the Dinobots, in responce Grimlock blasts open Inferno's cell, releasing him and causes him to unleash his internal combustion effects, filling the place with fire, and taking out the bad guys.

Hosehead and the other uninfected Autobots arrive outside and put out the fire, and join forces with the escaped Dinobots, Grimlock reveals his plan is to turn the gene key against Scorponok and reverse the effects.

Ultra Magnus' ship, the Valiant, arrives in Cybertron space after the battle on Earth, unaware of the chaos below, and are granted access by the Decepticon clones, who have been ordered to blow the ship out of the sky when it gets close enough!

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck

Hot Rod - Sports Car

Ultra Magnus - Car Carrier

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Snarl - Stegosaurus

Sludge - Apatosaurus

Swoop - Pteranodon

Hosehead - Fire Engine

Grapple - Crane

Blurr - Race Car

Crosshairs - Van Buggy

Hound - Jeep

Smokescreen - Sports Car

Sideswipe - Sports Car

Red Alert - Emergency Sports Car

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Cosmos - Flying Saucer

Slag - Triceratops Infected by Nucleon

Inferno - Fire Engine Infected by Nucleon

Blaster - Boom Box Infected by Nucleon

Rest of Nursery Infected by Nucleon

Evil Autobot

Perceptor - Microscope

Highbrow - Helicopter

Brainstorm - Jet Injured/Killed in Inferno's explosion

Hardhead - Tank Injured/Killed in Inferno's explosion

Erector - Truck

Groundpounder - Front End Loader

Landmine - Car

Tailgate - Car

Road King - F1 Race Car

Decepticon

Scorponok - Scorpion Tank

Galvatron - Laser Cannon

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Needlenose - Jet

Windsweeper - Jet

Triggerhappy - Jet

Wingspan - Eagle

Pounce - Puma

Treadshot Killed by Grimlock

Dreadwind - Jet Injured/Killed in Inferno's explosion

Darkwing - Jet Injured/Killed in Inferno's explosion

Shockwave - Ray Gun Hooked up to Ark

Megatron (Mentioned) Dead

Other

Demons

Primus (Statue in Flashback)

Notes

• It's unclear who the white car on page one is, but I'm going to assume here it's Tailgate...just because!
• Also, why is Slapdash driving around alive? The Headmasters killed him a few issues ago! (It could be Road King I guess though, so that's what I'll call him here!)
• So I guess the giant sized gene key NEEDS to look like a key still huh?
• Oh lookit! Erector!! Most things are now forgiven!!
• Hot Rod's choice between the Sword of Primus, and the Covenant of Primus is a pretty clear parallel to Captain Britain's choice when he'she gains their powers. Though unlike them, Hot Rod seems to choose both!
• Inferno's Nucleon infused abilities are quite ironic, since he's a fire fighter, and now he expels fire!
• Why do the Decepticon clones look different? Shouldn't they be, you know, identical from the head-on?
• Why is it that Scorponok never used the Gene Key on Grimlock? And why doesn't he just get the other Dinobots infected either? He just orders for them to be killed on sight. Maybe the key can't be used on "primitives"?
• Seriously, what is it with Decepticons and shooting Autobots out of orbit? Megatron did that to the Wreckers above Earth, and now Scorponok plans for the Clones to do it to the Valiant as well!!