IDW - Transformers #43

Title: End of Time

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Anna Malkova, Juan Samu, Ed Pirrie & Blacky Shepherd

Colours by: David Garcia Cruz & Heather Breckel

Letters by: Jake M. Wood & Nathan Widick

Editor: David Mariotte

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: Tom Waltz

Plot

The battle for survival I'd in full swing

Outside Darkmount, the Autobots are fighting off the Insecticlones, with the scientists trying to get one live sample, to plant a spike with a data bomb in it for their big plan.

Seeing the Hugh swarm of Insecticlones approaching the city, forcing Termagax to sacrifice her mobile "House" by sending it into the swarm, and overloading the power core, taking out a large chunk of the swarm.

At the Insecticon hideout, in a dead Titan, Novastar's team infiltrate the facility, fighting off the remaining Insecticlones in the facility, and make their way to the Insecticons themselves.

In the hub of the Titan, the Insecticons are gorging themselves on their clones, and overenergizing themselves, allowing the Autobots to easily ambush them, and Novastar implants a receiver for the data bomb into Bombshell's head.

Whilst they are waiting for the data bomb to work, they fight off the remaining Insecticlones.

Meanwhile, in the wilderness, Optimus and his team fight back the Rust Worms, who are still encroaching upon them, with Jhiaxus' forces still boxing them in.

When all hope seems lost, the Insecticlones fly past the Autobots, who are now devouring the Rust Worms, as the data bomb reprogrammed them to do, mostly solving both world-eating problems.

Soon, Optimus and his crew head through the desert towards Darkmount, when they are encountered by Skywarp, who teleports in, riding an Imploder, the most dangerous Cybertronian weapon ever, and tells them to wait there, until Megatron comes to speak to them.... 

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime/Orion Pax - Truck 

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport

Kup - Pickup Truck

Ironhide - Van

Chromia - Car

Bumblebee - Winged Hovercraft

Subsea - Submarine

Pipes - Truck

Backstreet - Race Car

Sideswipe - Car

Bumper - Car

Strongarm - Police Van 

Vibes

Stakeout - Police Car

Wheeljack - Race Car

Highbrow - Helicopter

Perceptor

Blaster

Hound - Jeep

Road Rage - Flying Car

Tap-Out - Winged Hovercraft

Novastar - Car

Smokescreen - Car

Windblade - VTOL Jet

Springer - Car/Helicopter

Blades - Helicopter

Cromar - Jet/Weapons Embankment

Javelin - Car

Other Autobot Soldiers

Glyph - Car (Mentioned)

Jumpstream - Car (Mentioned)

Scattershot - Jet (Mentioned)

Other Technobots (Mentioned)

Autobot Fliers (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Megatron - Tank

Shockwave - Flying Artillery

Strika - Battle Tank

Obsidian - Dual Propeller Plane

Blitzwing - Tank/Jet

Nova Storm - Jet

Ion Storm - Jet

Acid Storm - Jet

Bombshell - Boll Weevil

Skrapnel - Stag Beetle

Kickback - Locust

Red Wing - Jet

Windsweeper - Jet

Thundercracker - Jet

Other Seekers - Jets

Other Cybertronian

Termagax - Van 

Skywarp - Jet 

"House" Self-Destructed

Mountain Titan Long Dead

Insecticlone Swarm Reprogrammed to Devour Rust Worms, Many Destroyed

Prima (Flashback Only)

Liege Maximo (Flashback Only)

Solus Prime (Flashback Only)

Megatronus (Flashback Only)

The Firstforged (Flashback Only)

Nominus Prime - Jet (Flashback Only)

Sentinel Prime - Shuttle (Flashback Only)

Codexa (Flashback Only)

Big Bang (Flashback Only)

Halonix Maximus (Flashback Only)

Gaidora - Dragon (Flashback Only)

Turbofoxes (Flashback Only)

Primus (Mentioned)

The Other Primes (Mentioned)

Proxima (Mentioned)

Froid - Jet (Mentioned)

Lodestar - Titan Ship (Mentioned) Undergoing Repairs

Titan Sparks (Mentioned)

The Senate (Mentioned)

Other

Rust Worms Being Devoured by Insecticlones

Notes

• This is the finale issue of the main Transformers series, with Wars End #4 and The Fate of Cybertron to wrap up the series afterwards.
• Among the feral Turbofoxes in the flashback is Gaidora, a Predacon from the Aligned continuity, implying that the prehistoric dragon-like Predacons may have existed in Cybertron's past like in that continuity.
• Cromar combines with Javelin as a weapons embankment, much like how his Siege toy is able to (though since Javelin hasn't had a recent toy, she technically can't weild him :p) 
• We see "House" destroyed this issue, but we never learned what exactly it was. I still believe it was a hidden Titan Spark or some very advanced A.I. that was an artificial Cybertronian (like Springer in IDW1)
• We don't see the mind controlled Skystalker in the Insecticon hideout, possible meaning, in their feeding frenzy, they may have devoured him.
• Even though Skywarp appears to be holding the Autobots hostage at the end for the Decepticons. I believe he's just fueling the chaos more, rather than trying to help Megatron here.
• Skywarp steals the Imploder he is seen riding this issue in Wars End #4, which was released shortly after this issue was released.
• Smokescreen admits that he doesn't remember who he works for anymore, as he's been moved around, behind the scenes so much, he just does what he feels is right in the situation.

IDW - Transformers: Escape #4

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Beth McGuire-Smith

Colours by: Priscilla Tramontano

Letters by: Neil Uyetake

Editor: David Mariotte

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: Tom Waltz

Plot

Having learned that Dai Atlas has returned to the living world, his old follower, Speeder arrives at Darkmount to offer his commander his sword, but the new pacifist refuses it and asks Speeder to keep it for himself.

Wheeljack, Nautica and Highbrow have made contact with Straxxus, who has agreed to meet with them inside the sealed off city, where the Autobots discover that most of Darkmount have been loaded up into the three active Arks, but also learn that the fourth ship has engine problems, and will likely not work. Straxxus simply states that his priority is to his people, and points out that there's never been an uprising or attack in Darkmount, showing that he knows how to rule effectively, unlike the Autobots or Decepticons.

Elsewhere, Rage and Hydradread have located the Insecticon Titan-base, where they soon locate who they believe to be Kickback, but upon killing him, they notice that he doesn't have a spark chamber, prompting more cloned and feral Insecticons to appear around them.

Outside Darkmount, Wheeljack expresses his distrust of Straxxus to the others, when the gathered crowd see the Titan Emissary plummeting into the nearby mountain-range , showing them that they're running out of time.

Rage and Hydradread manage to escape the Insecticons when the Titan's crash distracts them, sending the swarm into the sky, prompting the two Decepticons to suggest negotiation to Shockwave with the Insecticons.

The Darkmount evacuees see the cloud of Insecticon Clones approaching their location, seemingly eyeing them up for food, leading Hound to point out that if Dai Atlas doesn't fight the clones, then he is dooming all the living beings here, including the organics, who don't have a spark that will return to the Allspark, to death.

Dai Atlas agrees and accepts his sword back from Speeder, ready to battle the monsters...

Characters

Autobot

Wheeljack - Car

Nautica - Submarine

Highbrow - Helicopter

Hoist - Tow Truck

Hound - Jeep

Road Rage - Flying Car

Gears - Van

Tote - Van

Mudslinger - Van

Powerflash

Cromar - Jet

Autobot Guards

Cybertronian Evacuees

Decepticon

Rage - Car

Hydradread - Car

Megatron - Tank (Mentioned)

Shockwave - Flying Artillery (Mentioned)

Kickback - Locust (Mentioned)

Other Insecticons - Insects (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Dai Atlas - Flying Tank

Speeder - Car

Leviathan - Metal Harvester Injured

Straxxus 

Darkmount Denizens

Insecticon Clone Swarm - Insects 

Emissary - Titan Ship Crashed into Cybertronian Mountains

Orbiting Titans - Titan Ships (Mentioned) Crashing

Mountain Titans Long Dead

Other

A'ovans

Urtuskans

Other Alien Evacuees

Notes

• Speeder was the smaller figure packed with the original Dai Atlas toy, so it makes sense why he's his loyal follower here, his design doesn't seem to be based on a newer toy and is just a redesign based on his original figure.
• Straxxus makes his first full-in person appearance here, but he doesn't appear to be based on an existing figure. He has some similarities with the RID2015 Blastwave mould, with a new chest and back-accessory, but that might just be me trying to find similarities here.
• The Arks seen this issue are completely new designs, and not based on any previous incarnations, and even coming in various colours! My guess is that they are using the term "Ark" for an escape vessel rather than a shuttle-type.
• The Insecticon clones are revealed to be sparkless and feral, making them quite similar to the Sparkless from the WFC franchise, even with them seemingly being consumed by trying to devour/kill other Cybertronians.
• This issue is revealed to be set during the same period as issue 29 of the main series when we see Emissary crashing from the Deceptiocons forcing the Titan's accelerated descent.

IDW - Transformers: Escape #3

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Beth McGuire-Smith 

Colours by: Priscilla Tramontano

Letters & Design by: Jake M. Wood

Editor: David Mariotte

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: Tom Waltz

Plot

Hound fights off the Insecticons, and is soon joined by Highjump and Powerflash to chase off the monsters, but not before they abduct two organics and a Cybertronian called Scrambler.

Elsewhere, at one of Shockwaves labs, Skystalker, under the mind control of the Insecticons steals a load of equipment for them, as well as the Thunder Arrow shuttle, Onslaught tries to stop him, but is stunned away instead, and the enthralled Decepticon leaves...

Back at the convoy, Hound asks Dai Atlas why he refuses to fight, considering he is a famous war hero. The old Cybertronian suggests that he only thought because he couldn't see any better option in the past, but following his Immersion he has come to respectball sparks, even those of his enemies, and cannot see a reason to kill one any more

The Insecticons make their way to their new base, inside the head of a long dead Titan, where Skystalker has set up the stolen cloning technology. Bombshell proceeds to monologue that they can use this equipment to recreate the cloning experiments of Exarchon and Shockwave during the past war and create an army of their own to devour all Energon on the planet and beyond.

At the Convoy again, Wheeljack notices the Titans still falling to the planet's surface, and wonders what is even happening to his planet now.

Soon however Highbrow and Gears arrive to join the crew on their way to Darkmount, where Straxxus orders them to stop outside the city, saying that he will still give them the Ark that he promised and some supplies, but they cannot enter the city as they don't not have the ability to accommodate them all. Hound isn't sure about this, but agrees...

Back at Shockwave's lab, Rage is brought to the boss, who informs him of Skystalker's betrayal, and orders him to go capture him, but forces him to team with Hydradread for the job, despite Rage hating him, he agrees however, and is pleased to see all of Hydradread's new experimental weapons that they can test out on their mission....

Characters

Autobot

Hound - Jeep

Nautica - Submarine

Road Rage - Flying Car

Hoist - Tow Truck

Wheeljack - Car

Tote - Van

Highjump - Van

Mudslinger - Pick up Truck

Powerflash

Cromar - Jet

Scrambler Killed by Insecticons

Optimus Prime - Truck (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Shockwave - Flying Artillery

Soundblaster - Hovercraft

Bombshell - Boll Weevil

Skrapnel - Stag Beetle

Kickback - Locust

Skystalker - Car

Onslaught - Anti-aircraft Truck

Rage - Car

Hydradread - Car

Frenzy - Cassette

Rumble - Cassette

Megatron - Tank (Mentioned)

Roughstuff - Truck (Mentioned) Captured

Fangry - Winged Wolf (Mentioned) Missing

Triggerhappy - Jet (Mentioned) Missing 

Team Stream (Mentioned)

The Combaticons (Mentioned)

Three-fold Spark

Exarchon (Flashback Only)

Skywarp - Jet (Flashback Only)

Clone-Drone Swarm (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Dai Atlas - Flying Tank

Straxxus

Highbrow - Helicopter

Gears - Van

Leviathan - Metal Harvester Injured

Cybertronian Evacuees

Crashing Titan

Immersant Titan Long Dead

Kup - Pick up Truck (Flashback Only)

Blitzwing - Tank/Jet (Flashback Only)

Speeder - Car (Flashback Only)

Quake - Tank (Flashback Only)

Hardhead - Tank (Flashback Only)

Leozack - Jet (Flashback Only)

The Seekers - Jets (Flashback Only)

Abominus - Terrorcon Combiner (Flashback Only)

Anti-Three-fold Spark Forces (Flashback Only)

Nominus (Mentioned)

Darkmount's Inhabitants (Mentioned)

Other

A'ovan Evacuees

Other Alien Evacuees

The Thraal (Mentioned)

Two Organics (Mentioned) Killed by Insecticons

Notes

• The Thunder Arrow shuttle that Skystalker steals this issue was the main vessel used by the Decepticons in the Victory cartoon, the toy version of it was a repaint of the shuttle that came with Skystalker's original toy.
• Though it was heavily hinted at during the first storyline of Galaxies, we get confirmation that it was Abominus who went on a rampage in the past. We learn here that DaibAtlas was also present for that conflict too.
• It's mentioned here that the Seekers were created by Nominus Prime to counter Exarchon's clone army. What isn't clear is if they were created from new sparks or recruited and rebuilt from volunteers etc?
• Leviathan is revealed to still be injured from when she collapsed into Quake, defeating the dangerous Riser, and is amongst those being evacuated from Jacob, though she does say that she doesn't want to leave Cybertron, no matter the risk.
• Most of the Rise group, who were being relocated from the old Rise base when Quake was captured are revealed to still be missing, with only RUmble, Frenzy and Rage returning. We know Roughstuff has been released from prison by Swindle and has now joined his crew, but the rest are currently MIA.
• Shockwave mentions that he doesn't want it known that the Combaticons are under his command. It's unclear if that is just to keep them a secret to the general population, or to the rest of the Decepticons too...regardless this explains why Cosmos doesn't know he is a Decepticon and invited him to the Winged Moon.

IDW - Transformers Escape #2

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Beth McGuire-Smith

Colours by: Priscilla Tramontano

Letters & Design by: Jake M. Wood

Editor: David Mariotte

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: Tom Waltz

Plot

Ever since the War of the Threefold Spark, the Insecticons have periodically returned to Shockwave's secret base, to see if the cloning experiments have progressed, but Shockwave keeps dismissing them. After the most recent visit, SoundBlaster asks Shockwave if he's told them that he doesn't need them for the cloning experiments, since he already has the materials to create an army without their further assistance, but Shockwave simply states that the Insecticons are too powerful to risk upsetting, so he's keeping them in check, but he is starting to fear that Bombshell might know something...

As is to prove Shockwave correct, the Insecticons ambush one of the only other figures in the base, Skystalker, and implant him with a Cerebro-Shell to use him as a spy against Shockwave.

Meanwhile, at the Academy of Research in Crystal City, Highbrow contacts Straxxus about the Arks, but during their conversation, Straxxus and Geomotus discuss the recent ground tremors, and the very real risk they have in destroying the planet itself, prompting Straxxus to reveal that he has started renovating one of the Arks for the civilians of Darkmount, but will allow the other three to be used for the rest of Cybertron's evacuations.

A convoy of aliens, injured Cybertronians and Autobot guards are leaving Iacon to reach Darkmount to try and get access to Straxxus' store of Arks, led by Hound, Wheeljack and Nautica.

Along their journey to Darkmount, the convoy is attacked by a group of Decepticons, who, whilst they don't care about the organics leaving Iacon, they want the Cybertronians, who are now "Decepticon Civilians" to them, to remain. A very short fight ensues, which is abrupted ended when Dai Atlas arrives, scaring away the Decepticons.

Hound and the others are shocked by Dai Atlas' return, and he explains that it was in response to the distress call from the A'ovans, but also reveals that his time Immersant has rendered him a pacifist, since that was the entire reason that he went Immersant in the first place, much to the disappointment of the others. 

At that moment, the back of thje convoy is attacked by the Insecticons, taking down most of the guards, forcing Hound and Road Rage to try and take them out alone, but Road Rage is quickly knocked down by Skrapnel, leaving just Hound to defend them all...

Characters

Autobot/Security Forces/Senate Guard

Hound - Jeep

Wheeljack - Car

Nautica - Submarine

Road Rage - Flying Car

Highjump - Van

Tote - Van

Mudslinger - Monster Pick-Up Truck

Evacuation Convoy Guards

Cromar - Jet (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Shockwave - Flying Artillery

Soundblaster - Hovercraft

Bombshell - Boll Weevil

Kickback - Locust

Skrapnel - Stag Beetle

Skystalker - Car Placed under Cerebro-Shell Control

Skytread - Tank and Jet

Roadtrap - Vam

Gutcruncher

Airwave - Battle Platform

Megatron - Tank (Mentioned)

Insecticon Clones (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Dai Atlas - Drill Tank-Jet

Highbrow - Helicopter

Mianframe

Geomotus - Buggy

Azimuth

Straxxus

Cybertronian Evacuees

Meteorfire - Space Shuttle (Flashback Only)

Crosscut - Van (Flashback Only)

Vigilem - Titan Warship (Mentioned) Missing

The Threefold Spark (Mentioned)

Darkmount Civilians (Mentioned)

Other

Pra'jak

A'ovans Species Almost Extinct

Other Alien Evacuees

Slaargs (Mentioned)

Notes

• The opening panel of this issue implies that, along with Shockwave, the Insecticons were a part of the Threefold Spark's army, or at least were able to infiltrate it.
• Cromar gets a name-drop in this issue, and MIGHT be the bot seen a little behind Wheeljack and Hound in the opening long-shot of the evacuation convoy, based on his body shape, but without details or colour it could be anyone.
• Similarly, in front of Hound and Wheeljack is a red bot with large shoulders and wheels on the tops of his arms, which could be Aragon. If these are them, then along with Zetar's appearance in issue 25 of the main series, all three Powerdashers might have made their appearances in the new series.
• Meteorfire was a explorer and TV show host from the Cyberverse franchise, so his role as a part of the Xenobiology department fits very well! Also, since Hound describes him in the present tense, it's likely that he's still alive and not Immersant or just dead.
• Straxxus is revealed to be a Senator here, and also to have had a past as a theoretician that dabbles in many fields.
• The ground shakes have been shown to occur throughout the earlier parts of this continuity, but here we learn that if they continue, it could result in Cybertron itself being torn apart.
• After a few mentions, Highbrow finally makes his physical debut, and as expected, he is using his Titans Return character model.
• Oddly, Battleslash is not present in  the Decepticon ambush team, but his partner in crime, Roadtrap is...
• We see Dai Atlas' alternate mode this issue, which is shown to be the combined tank-jet mode that his Legends toy can form, rather than a separate tank and get.
• As I theorized in the earlier parts of the series, it seems like Skystalker is an unwilling member of the Rise/Decepticons, and was forced into it to wake up Vigilem
• The Off-Road Patrol, minus Powertrain, are all shown as part of the evacuation escort team. Powertrain's absence is due to him being part of Ultra Magnus' crew, and them being delayed by 70 cycles due to the Black Sphere's time dilation.
• This issue confirms that most Cybertronians are ambidextrous, explaining why they can usually wield weapons in both hands when needed.
• Dai Atlas is confirmed to be the only Cybertronian to return from becoming Immersant, but he does reveal that a part of him is still Immersed, and heading to where they go during that process (most likely the Allspark)

IDW - Transformers Escape #1

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Beth McGuire-Smith

Colours by: Priscilla Tramontano

Letters & Design by: Jake M. Wood

Editor: David Mariotte

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: Tom Waltz

Plot

When the Tether fell, the A'ovan biosphere on Cybertron was damaged, which has left the endangered people vulnerable.

Hound picks up a distress signal from them, and finds a few of the animals dead, luckily he finds a few people huddled under some rubble, hiding from Skrapnel of the Insecticons.

Nautica and Road Rage, who are also responding to the distress signal, arrive and save Hound from Skrapnel, , but are soon joined by the other Insecticons. The trio team up to chase off the Insecticons, but leaving them, and the A'ovan Pra'tyne to realize that Cybertron is no longer safe for them.

Whilst flying away, the Insecticons start fighting over a Skitter to eat, but Bombshell tells the others that they need to get back onto eating sparks, not organics, but they'll need an army of themselves to harvest the planet of life, and he knows how to do it...  

Elsewhere, Wheeljack has been healed following his I'll dated mission on the Winged Moon, when Gutcruncher and some Decepticons try to drag out some Autobot-allied patients, but are stopped by Hoist, showing Wheeljack and the medics just how bad Megatron's New army are...

Outside, Wheeljack and Hoist see a Titan starting to skim the atmosphere above them, and they know the world is coming apart, but all the able ships left a while ago, however Wheeljack believes that there could be four Ark shuttles in Darkmount, but they would be under the care of Straxxus, which is a problem.

Later, Nautica and Hound get permission from Optimus Prime to arrange a mass-exodus of all non-Cybertronian life on the planet for their safety.

The duo soon call a meeting of all the alien species currently calling Cybertron their home so update them on the situation, and asks for their cooperation in the Exodus.

Afterwards, Pra'tyne walks with Hound, when the Cybertronian hears another alarm, but the A'ovan explains that it is an old beacon given to them by Dai Atlas in case they ever need help in the future, but Hound explains that Atlas has gone Immersant and will not wake up again, which the A'ovan understands, but explains that some of the children set it off out if panic earlier during the Insecticon attack.

Elsewhere, the sleeping Dai Atlas hears the old beeping sound, and wakes up, tearing the cables from his body that were attaching him to Cybertron...

Characters

Autobot/Security Forces/Senate Guard

Optimus Prime - Truck

Hound - Jeep

Nautica - Submarine

Road Rage - Flying Car

Sentinel Prime - Space Shuttle (Mentioned) Dead

Decepticon/The Rise

Gutcruncher

Airwave 

Refraktor - Hovercraft

Skrapnel - Scarab Beetle

Kickback - Locust

Bombshell - Boll Weevil

Team Stream (Mentioned)

Megatron - Mining Vehicle (Mentioned

Other Cybertronian

Wheeljack - Race Car

Hoist - Tow Truck

Ratchet - Ambulance 

Flatline - Van

Dai Atlas - Tank and Jet

The Titans Skimming Cybertron's Atmosphere

Sonic Bomber -Jet (Flashback)

Roadfire - Tank (Flashback)

Straxxus (Flashback)

Colony Ark Escort Titan (Flashback)

Blaster (Mentioned)

Primus (Mentioned)

The Thirteen Primes (Mentioned)

The Reversionists (Mentioned)

Other

Pra'tyne

A'ovan Species Almost Extinct

Various Alien Species

Diagnostic and Treatment Drones

A Skitter

The Thraal (Mentioned)

Slaargs (Mentioned) Extinct

Notes

• This series acts as a follow-up to the Galaxies series, and also as the B story for the main comic, following the non Cybertronian exodus from Cybertron.
• It's revealed that Dai Atlas and his team were the ones who spearheaded the rescue of the A'ovan species from the attack by the Thraal.
• The Insecticons were last seen in the Galaxies opener, and the Reversionists are mentioned to still be stuck in Cybertron, this makes me wonder if the other focal characters from Galaxies will have a role in this series.
• Hoist finally makes an appearance after loads of references.
• The medics seem to be acting as neutrals so far, so I'll be considering them as such, regardless of their traditional future factions.
• Since returning to Cybertron, the Insecticons have developed a taste for organic life, implying they've been on a bit of a secret killing spree.
• Bombshell's comments about becoming countless is a reference to their cloning ability, that is being worked on by Shockwave throughout the main series
• Hoist mentions that the Titans are still slowly plummeting following the Rise's mind bomb in issue 17...Blaster needs to get in fixing that problem huh?
• Straxxus is a slight renaming of Straxus, most likely for trademark reasons.
• The presumed Titan seen with the Arks in the flashback is unidentified, but something about him reminds me of Tidal Wave.
• Despite the previous examples of Cybertronians going Immersant being essentially near comatose, and used to give their bodies and energy back to Cybertron, Dai Atlas seems quite well after being woken up!
• Dai Atlas being involved in an Exodus type storyline is reminiscent of his role in the old IDW continuity...let's hope this one gets to do more than the old one!
• Dai Atlas's design appears to be based on his newer Legends toy design, so most likely his teammates are based on their designs from that same set, though we don't see them too much.

IDW - Robots in Disguise #25

Title: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7: The Dead Are Not Enough

Written by: John Barber and James Roberts

Art by: James Raiz, Atilio Rojo and Livio Ramondelli

Colours by: Josh Perez and Livio Ramondelli

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Plot

At the Lost Light's site on the bottom of the Crimson Ocean Hound leads the Lost Lighters against the Ammonites. During the battle, Swerve saves Crosscut, a former Senator and current Play-write, but is shocked when Crosscute doesn't even know his name, despite being one of the "Main Guys". Crosscut notices Swerve's communicator flashing, meaning he has a message, Swerve says he'll check it out after the battle...but it's already done!

Hound has the injured crew members head back to the ship as they assume the Ammonites have retreated, but Waverider reports that they seem to have just regrouped towards the inactive body of Metroplex.

Inside Metroplex the team are confused as to why they aren't dead since the Rodpod exploded, but they find a wall in front of them instead. Because of this the team quickly figure out that the insides of Metroplex are just shifting all the time, meaning that the maze they found themselves in before was actually just them being trapped inside Metroplex's ever changing corridors.

Whilst figuring this out Getaway gets a message back from Swerve telling them to get out of Metroplex, as the Admium shards in the water are due to Metroplex catching a deadly disease that is turning his body into Admium slowly, and also reveals that it's contagious too. Before they can sort out anything Swerve then informs them that the Ammonites are invading the Titan as well..

In the Dead Universe Nova Prime has dragged his captives into the central castle (which is in the shape of his head). Inside Orion sits by Kup's dying body and tells Nova to reverse what he's done to him, but Nova says he was dying already when he arrived, and he simply manipulated his body afterwards. Nova then has Nightbeat take Orion and the others to a cell, and he'll be along himself later.

On Cybertron, Galvatron argues with Shockwave over them not going after the Transformers who escaped the Necrotitan's attack, but Shockwave counters that there's no need, due to his big-picture plans. During their discussion Jhiaxus and his crew return to Cybertron in their stolen Time Ship. Shockwave has Waspinator and Galvatron take Megatron's body back to his lab, so he can work on using him to recover Nova Prime again.

In the Dead Universe, Nightbeat reveals to the prisoners that Nova Prime is planning to extract their sparks to strengthen Kup's and make the Space Bridge inside his body work properly. Rodimus shows Nightbeat his hand again, and reveals the engraved "89/101" and challenges Nightbeat to explain it, even offering him one question. He hopes that this will help break Nova's control as he has to use another part of his brain (this assumption is due to him sounding most like himself when he was doing his cold reading of Cyclonus after just meeting him).

After making his brain hurt a bit, Nightbeat figures out that the numbers have something to do with the number of crew on Rodimus' ship. Nightbeat lowers the bars, having been (seemingly) freed from Nova's control. Orion is confused as to the significance of the numbers and why they mattered, which prompts Rodimus to start to explain himself to his former commander.

Back on Cybertron Bumblebee stops Galvatron and Waspinator on their way to the lab and demands they hand over Megatron to him. Galvatron finds this hilarious and starts laughing. He throws Megatron aside and rushes Bumblebee, mocking his lack of experience and mocks that 4 million years of warfare is nothing to him, he also starts to mock Megatron...until he notices that he's disappeared.

Megatron, still torn in half has pinned down Waspinator and shoots Galvatron with his fusion cannon,, allowing Bumblebee to grab him and the two leave. Outside, they see Cybertron burning in the Nectrotitan's wake, Bumblebee notices Megatron smiling and asks how he could do so in this situation, but he says he's not smiling about Cybertron, but rather how Starscream must be suffering right now.

Sure enough, in Iacon Starscream is distraught amongst the fire and ruins, all whilst Scoop is mocking him for how he's screwed up everything, and how he's betrayed Cybertron with his actions since taking command of the world (yesterday).

Inside Metroplex, the team are getting ready for the Ammonites and wonder where Whirl has gone. Whirl reappears with the Ammonite Stowaway, who reveals that the Ammonites were recruited by Shockwave to delay the Lost Light in case the "Dead" weren't enough for his plans and if the Lost Light might stop his plans somehow. After his confession he explodes, due to a failsafe created by Shockwave to hide his plans. The team decide to return to Cybertron to stop Shockwave in his plans, when suddenly a harpoon shoots between them and allows a couple of FEMALE Transformers to lower themselves down, telling the crew to make no moves!

Characters

Autobot

Orion Pax - Truck Cab

Rodimus - Car

Bumblebee - Car

Nightbeat - Car

Kup - Pick Up Truck Turned into a Space Bridge by Nova Prime

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport

Getaway

Ratchet - Ambulance

Whirl - Osprey Helicopter

Skids - Van

Perceptor

Brainstorm - Jet

Hound - Jeep

Chromedome - Car

Highbrow - Helicopter

Blaster

Sunstreaker - Car

Waverider - Aquatic Vehicle

Trailcutter - Van

Swerve - Van

Crosscut - Van

Metroplex - City/Space Ship Dying

Lost Lighters

Rung (Mentioned)

First Aid - Ambulance (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Megatron Legs severed off

Shockwave - Flying Artillery 

Dreadwing - Stealth Bomber

Waspinator - Wasp Injured by Megatron

Bludgeon - Tank

Scowl

Slog

Bristleback

Icepick

Wildfly

Birdbrain

United Cybertron

Starscream - Jet

Scoop - Front End Loader

Cybertonian

Nova Prime - Truck

Galvatron - Laser Tank Shot by Megatron

Metalhawk - Jet

Jhiaxus - Jet

Necrotitan - City/Space Ship

Sweep Army - Space Shuttles

Cyclonus - Jet

Chromia

Nautica

Other

Ammonite Stowaway Killed by Unwilling Self Destruct

Ammonites

Notes

• The title of this issue was omitted from the actual issue, but was revealed online
• Hound's role as acting field commander here is a callback to his previous role as a team commander during the older stories in this continuity, like Spotlight Galvatron and Revelation.
• Swerve's "My First Blaster" has been implemented to his alternate mode here.
• Crosscut mistaking Swerve for Rung is a callback to how people don't remember who Rung is.
• Swerve also refers to himself as one of the "main guys" a reference to his real life status as a main character.
• Of course, the events of Transformers: Infestation gets a rare mention here
• It's heavily implied here that the Sweeps and Galvatron who were dissolved at the end of Chaos were simply sucked back into the Dead Universe...wonder if Scourge is amongst the Sweeps too?
• Shockwave brings up my point in an earlier blog about how Galvatron just happened to get out the portal first, then tore apart the portal's generator (Megatron) as well before Nova could escape too.
• It's somewhat implied here that Nova Prime's control over the dead Universe may have been exaggerated, as Rodimus points out that all he's really done so far is manipulate their containment cube, and Nightbeat seems to begin to say that just touching Kup won't kill him, despite what Nova said.
• I personally think that Nightbeat's de-conditioning was a bit too forced, possibly meaning he's still under Nova's command.
• Megatron's comment about his legs being severed off being just a scratch is sort of understandable, he did just survive for months as just a skeleton after all!
• Scoop reveals here that he didn't really believe the Dark Cybertron prophecy as being any more than just a story, but Starscream's actions actually made it come true.
• The Stowaway Ammonite says that his faction has been spying on the Lost Light since they made contact with Cybertron....that was only like 2 days ago or something at the most!
• Chromia and Nautica's appearances here would have been a major shock to me, had there not have been a solicitation for the Windblade comic that mentions them by name....
• Nautica is shown holding a wrench, meaning that she's most likely trying to repair Metroplex. 
• It's revealed here that the process used on Nightbeat is Shadowplay, or something like it. This implies that Jhiaxus had something to do with the process' creation.
• During the scene of Iacon burning we can see a silhouette of Necrotitan smashing around.

IDW - Infestation 2 Volume 2

Transformers

Plot

In 1887, some fish people from a hidden underwater city find the inert bodies of some Decepticons, resting for their reactivation signal and activate them under their own control, taking them to the hidden city for their grand scheme, due to the awakening of the Elder Gods.

In 1888, the USS Mistkatonic is attacked by a tentacled monster underwater. The Autobot Ironhide transformes from his hiding place on the ship and jumps into the water, sending out a call for help to the other Autobots.

A week later in San Franscisco Kitty and Tobias Muldoon are out walking with their children when Bumblebee aproaches them about needed Tobias' help once more, as an ancient evil has woken up on Earth and they need electricity to wake up their leader, Opitmus Prime.

A week later (again) Tobias has travelled to New York and meets with Thomas Edison to ask him for his help in creating a (massive) load of electricity. Edison send shim packing, but Nikola Tesla appraoches Tobias, offering his help instead. At the same time, the fish people invade Port Cenotaph in Nova Scotia as part of their plan. Ironhide has followed them, but is attacked by a possessed Bonecrusher.

Nikola and Tobias are travelling on a train made up of several Autobots up north and three days later arrive near their destination (at the end of the line) where Nikola is shown the true identities of the trains as robots, and Wheeljack paves a path using his snow-plough mode for the restof the journey. A small ship approaches  Port Cenotaph but is unable to dock due to the possessed civilians and giant robots in the city, before they can escape though, their ship is dragged underwater by the tentacled monster.

The Autobots and Humans arrive at their destination, the location of Optimus Prime's currently inert body.

In the North Atlantic the HMS Indomitable comes across a lifeboat with the remaining, dead crew of the USS Mistkatonic with fear on their faces (and glowing eyes). In Port Cenotaph, the possessed humans and Transformers chant and allow the Elder God in this universe to rise up from the water surrounding the city to rule the world once more.

Elsewhere, Tesla uses the basis of his Tesla Tower to use a balloon to collect electromagnetic power from the ionosphere to transfer it to Optimus and wake him up. The Autobots use their own power to ground out the balloon and collect the power for Optimus, which knocks them out. At first it looks like it fails, but then Optimus wakes up.

The Indomitable approaches Port Cenotaph after learning that contact was lost with the town several weeks ago, so they're going to check it out.

Optimus asks Nikola and Tobias what year it is and why he was awoken, and they explain the situation to him. Optimus revives his fallen Autobots using his energy stores.

The Indomitable arrives at Port Cenotaph and is caught up in battle with the Decepticons, the now Possessed Ironhide, the Elder God and Fish People. Optimus and the Autobots arrive at the town and all subdue the Decepticons and pin down Ironhide, whilst Ratchet starts removing the parasite from him. Optimus attacks the Elder God with his buzzsaw weapons. Optimus manages to tear apart the God and sends him falling down into the ocean once more, followed by the Fish People.

The Autobots (including the now free Ironhide) leave the town now the threat's gone, and leave Nikola and Tobias to deny any knowledge of what happened when the Indomitable docks (despite the dead body of Blitzwing being next to them)

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Steam Locomotive

Wheeljack - Steam Powered Snow Plough

Trailblazer - Steam Engine

Hound - Caboose Trolley Cab

Ratchet - Caboose Trolley Cab

Ironhide - Battleship Turret

Bumblebee - Streetcar Trolley

Decepticon

Shockwave Defeated by Autobots

Blitzwing Defeated by Autobots

Dirge Defeated by Autobots

Bonecrusher Defeated by Autobots

Skalor

Snaptrap

Nautilator

Overbite

Tentakil

Megatron (Mentioned)

Human

Tobias Muldoon

Nikola Tesla

Kitty Muldoon

Toby Muldoon

Katherine Muldoon

Port Cenotaph Civilians

USS Mitzkatonic Crew Killed by Elder God

HMS Indomitable Crew

Carruthers 

Thomas Edison

Edison's Muckers

Skipper Killed by Elder God

Kid Killed by Elder God

Other

Elder God Defeated by Optimus Prime

Fish People

Dog on Ship Killed by Elder God

Notes

• This story is a continuation of the previously stand-alone Hearts of Steel mini-series
• It's likely that this series wasn't in continuity with the main IDW Transformers series because the series isn't set on Earth right now.
• Bumblebee has changed his alternate mode completely since Hearts of Steel, being a streetcar now (and also only being in about 2 pages)
• Tobias and Kitty have married and had 2 kids since Hearts of Steel
• Weirdly Optimus has been reconfigured into a locomotive mode instead of still being in his beast mode from the Ice Age, maybe he woke up some time since the last story and went back to sleep again?
• Why did the Autobots need so much energy to resurrect Optimus? All the others just woke up on their own, or by gentle prompting...this is more annoying when he mentions his energy reserves that he then uses to revive the other Autobots
• Wheeljack uses swords in this, likely as a reference to the Prime series Wheeljack
• The Seacons only appear in the opening scenes, replaced later with other Decepticons

G.I. Joe

Plot

DR Llund and her teammate Dr Smith find a chamber inside a cave in the Antarctic, Llund is possessed and kills Smith, using his blood to power up a seal on the floor and digs up a strange artifact.

A week later, at the Snake Pit (a Cobra Insane Asylum and training center) Interrogator is giving psychological examinations to some of the inmates to determine if any of them are fit to rejoin the main forces, Raptor, Gristle and Razor Claw are deemed unfit mentally, however Cesspool is just pretending to be mad to stay safe from Tomax and Xamot, Interrogator takes advantage of this by bribing Cesspool to send him money from his off-shore accounts for him to be deemed insane too.

Interrogator gives his findings to Baroness, who asks him to join her in seeing Dr Llund's finding. Llund's find is in fact a doorway used by the Elder Gods to enter this world, Baroness just wants the thing sold off and thinks this is a waste of time, she however tells Llund to try and open it, in case it can be used by Cobra for it's grand scheme. Outside the office though she tells Crystal Ball to watch over her whilst she leaves for safety this time (after the zombie thing last time)

A day later Llund calls a meeting for all the new recruits training there, which Interrogator watches (as Baroness asked him to stay behind as well) and Llund, now possessed by an Elder God sacrifices one of the recruits on the stage, which activates a strange song, which possesses the other recruits who are suceptible (everyone in the room by Interrogator) and turns them into hideous monsters who chase the non-believer, Interrogator.

He's chased into the corridors, where he runs into Storm Shadow (called in by Crystal Ball as he owes him something, and is immune to the effects due to mental training).Interrogator goes to the elevator where he finds Crystal Ball, and Storm Shadow joins them, so they can group up and find others who are unnafected. The unaffected keep setting explosives and setting them off in the Snake Pit, killing the following infected and collapsing the exit, stopping them from leaving.

GI Joe have detected strange activities in that area, and call in a clean-up squad led by Snake-Eyes and Scarlett in to investigate.

Interrogator learns that the insane seem to be immune to the effects, so they start freeing the inmates from the Pit, however upon trying to free Cesspool, Interrogator reveals that he's just faking, too late however as the infected Cesspool attacks Crystal Ball, who is protected by Razor Claw, who slices off the infected guy's arms. Crystal Ball tells everyone that fire should be able to kill the monsters.

The Joes arrive up top and Dee Jay picks up the music over his microphones, which affects the Joes up top except for Snake-Eyes, who tries to stop them non-violently and escapes into the semi-collapsed structure above the Snake Pit.

The mad Cobras and the others fight the possessed guys, Gristle uses fire, but ends up being burned up with them as well, whilst Crystal Ball and Storm Shadow go off to deal with Llund personally. Storm Shadow is easily defeated by Llund, but Crystal Ball talks to her about his true nature, saying he is able to hear the song as well, showing that he's a believer too. Llund agrees to listen.

Snake-Eyes has been taking out his teammates, but when Scarlettapproaches him wiht her gun pointed up to her own head, Snake-Eyes loses it and drops his weapon, she then turns the gun on him, elsewhere the Llund-God agrees with whatever Crystal Ball just told it and ends it's attack on this world, awaiting Crystal Ball's call for them in the future.

All the affected are knocked out as they are freed, and Snake-Eyes carried away a waking up Scarlett whilst the other Joes start waking up too.

A day and a half later Interrogator and the other survivors, minus Llund and Crystal Ball are rescue by Baroness in her jet and Interrogator says that Llund wa sunable to open the doorway properly.

Elsewhere, Llund wakes up in Crystal Ball's basement, where she finds more doorways there, she gets excited about working with him to summon the gods back properly (as you need several doors to allow them to come through properly, however Crystal Ball just says he doesn't need her help and proceeds to start poking her with his claw fingers in the face.

Characters

Cobra

Baroness

Interrogator

Crystal Ball

Storm Shadow

Dr. Llund Killed by Crystal Ball

Raptor/Dr Jacob Mitchell

Razor Claw

Gristle Killed by own Fire Weapon

Cesspool Mutated into Monster, Killed by Razor Claw

Dr Smith Killed by Dr Llund

Viper Recruits Turned into Lovecraftian Monsters, Killed by Unaffected

Cobra Troopers

Snake Pit Staff

Cobra Commander (Mentioned)

Tomax (Mentioned)

Xamot (Mentioned)

G.I. Joe

Snake-Eyes

Scarlett

Dee Jay

Airtight

Joe Clean-Up Squad

Other

Elder Gods

Lovecraft (Mentioned)

Raptor Bird (Flashback) Eaten by Raptor

Notes

• This is the only Infestation story (outside the CVO originating universe) to be involved in this crossover and the previous one
• It's revealed that Interrogator, Baroness and Mitchell survived the previous Infestation, but Mitchell (now called Raptor) has gone mad
• Baroness has learned her lesson, she gets out of the base BEFORE the crazy stuff begins
• It's said here that Cobra are keeping their insane members alive so they can deposit them in cities as part of Cobra's grand scheme, causing havok in the process
• In this universe the insane seem immune to the Elder God's control, but in the Dungeons and Dragons story it's shown that the insane are the first to be infected
• It's unclear why the Cobra agents mutate into monsters when they are affected, but the Joes just go red-eyed
• Again, this Infestation story is mostly Cobra based, despite the comic being titled "G.I. Joe"