IDW - Rom and the Micronauts

Title: Gods and Monsters

Writer: Christos Gage

Artist: Paolo Villanelli

Colourist: Alessandra Alexakis

Letterer: Shawn Lee

Editor: David Mariotte

Publisher: Greg Goldstein

Plot

Rom and the Micronauts confront Karza and D'rge, whilst the Absence is incubating both the Presence and the Entropy Cloud within himself, speeding up her rebirth. Rom takes on Karza alone, whilst the Micronauts attack D'rge. Using the Presence's power, D'rge sends energy to all the Wraiths on Earth, allowing them to reveal themselves and begin conquering the planet.

Nearby, Orphion and Livia detect the massive Wraith readings, so they decide to join Rom in his battle, leaving the Wraith guards at the facility to Camilla and Darby.

During Rom's fight with Karza, he attempts to retake his energy from the Baron using an Enerchange, shocking Karza, and the two fight over the Enerchanging process and are slowly fusing.

Livia and Orphion arrive, with Livia joining the Micronauts in attacking D'rge, whilst Orphion goes straight for the Absence, shooting into him to hit the Presence...however when he fired into him, he became exposed to the Entropy Cloud inside, corrupting his body. Knowing he is dying from the exposure, he grapples with D'rge and strangles him to death, just as his body fails too, and he dies...

The Micronauts and the Knights begin their attacks on the Presence when Karza appears behind them, having fully merged with Rom, seemingly in charge of the body, however Rom manages to show he has some sway too, and forces him to blast a hole into the Absence, opening a hole, and beginning to seep out the Entropy Cloud forcing him to help them. The group focus all their weapons fire on the hole, and force the Presence to remain inside the decaying body of the Absence, forcing her to also become over-exposed to the Entropy Cloud, killing her with explosive effect.

The group make it outside where Karza ejects Rom from his body, giving him back all his own energy. The Knights and Micronauts prepare to battle their enemy, when he suddenly displaces himself back to Microspace, declaring victory.

The team soon learn that the Wraiths across the planet are being subdued and killed due to their extra energy being removed with the Presence's death.

A while later, Orphion is buried on Earth with full Solstar honours. Rom bids goodbye to his tiny allies, who have learned that when Karza returned to Microspace he took full credit for getting rid of the Entropy Cloud, and is now being hailed as a god. The Micronauts are heading back home to reunited with Oz and the Time Travelers to try and stop Karza and his new regime...

Characters

Solstar Order

Rom

Livia

Orphion Killed by Entropy Cloud Exposure

Micronaut

Larissa

Phenolo-Phi

Acroyear

Biotron

Microtron

Oziron Rael (Mentioned)

Dire Wraith

The Presence Killed by Entropy Cloud Exposure

The Absence Killed with The Presence

D'rge Killed by Orphion

UN President Wraith Defeated

NORAD Wraiths Defeated

Parisian Wraiths Defeated

Other Earth Wraiths Defeated

Other Microspace

Baron Karza

Microspacian Citizens (Footage)

Acroyear III Units (Footage)

Time Travelers (Mentioned)

Human

Camilla Byers

Darby Mason

UN Members

NORAD Workers

Parisian Citizens

Notes

• It turns out, despite his theory that he would survive exposure to the Entropy Cloud, due to his armour, that Rom would have died if he had of back in Microspace.
• So...for basically the main villain of the Rom series, D'rge dies from being strangled....I'm surprisingly okay with that!
• Orphion's death was sort of spoiled in the earlier released (not reviewed here yet) Unicron #0, where he was missing from the Solstar Order's ranks
• So...I was sort of right in my theory...Karza did end up betraying the Wraiths and helped to kill their Goddess, but he was forced to do so by Rom. So I sort of got it right I guess?
• AHHHH!!! Microtron zombie!!! I mean he clearly seemed to die before, so what other explanation is there to him coming back to the story?
• It can be assumed that Livia leaves Earth after the events of this story to return to Elonia for the events of Unicron #0. This is likely due to the Wraith infection on Earth being so minimal now.
• Oz gets a name-drop in this issue! Now if only he would have appeared...
• Aww what a happy ending (minus the Orphion dying part) it sure would be a pity is some evil demon planet was to come along and ruin it...
• Despite this being the ending of the Rom and Micronauts series', this really feels like an opening to another series for the Micronauts back in Microspace being set up.

IDW - Rom and the Micronauts #4

Title: Asymmetric Warfare

Writer: Christos Gage

Artist: Paolo Villanelli

Colourist: Alessandra Alexakis

Letterer: Shawn Lee

Editor: David Mariotte

Publisher: Gold Goldstein

Plot

Orphion, Livia, Camilla and Darby are pinned down by a small army of Wraiths, including Axiom and Reptos, being powered up by sorcerers in South Korea. Luckily Rom and the Micronauts arrive and turn the tide of the fight by taking down the sorcerers, allowing the others to fight properly again. Axiom escapes to warn Karza and the others about this turn of events, whilst the heroes take out the remaining Wraiths. During the battle Rom is pointed towards the Reptos, who have Enerchanged with others to gain a larger size, but are left unstable due to the difference in power, meaning Rom needs to Enerchange with Karza to regain his own true powers.

Following the battle, the Earth team explain that Karza and the Wraiths have set up base on a Japanese island facility, Hashima Island, and have Japan on their side due to them infiltrating their government and portraying the Solstar Knights as murderers. Whilst Orphion shares his intel on the island with the Micronauts, Rom talks with Livia about his lessons in Enerchanging, and believes that they could use it to be able to safely remove their armour and resume their pre-war lives, however Livia doesn't want to do that, as she isn't the same person she was before they joined the war.

At Hashima Island, Axiom explains what has happened, and the Wraiths are starting to panic. Karza reveals that he has a plan to speed up their plans, but it requires The Absence to be "dedicated", angering the intangible Wraith to the point that he agrees, just to show his power...

Back at the staging ground, Acroyear approaches Livia and relates to her that he is also an organic being trapped inside armour, and that he would give anything to remove it and have a normal life, indicating towards Phen again. Livia picks up on what he's saying and points out to him that one's appearance doesn't matter, and she has witnessed many very different species fall in love in her travels across the universe, even a Solstar Knight and a Dire Wraith once fell in love. Rom's true ambition with removing his armour is that he hates it because it is a constant reminder of how his family and his innocence died.

After their preparations, the team head out to Hashima Island, where they split in two teams, Rom and the Micronauts use their smaller size to sneak into the base, whilst Orphion and the others create a big distraction outside.

Things begin well, but Axiom notices that Rom isn't amongst the others fighting so he hunts him down. The Micronauts manage to fight off Axiom, but Rom finishes him off by Enerchanging with him, stealing his size and seemingly sending him to Microspace as Karza did to him earlier. Rom is glad to have a full sized body again, but can feel his body is unstable, so the group rush off to confront Karza and get Rom's true power back, however as they reach his chamber, they see Karza has already succeeded...he has awoken The Presence...

Characters

Solstar Order

Rom

Livia

Orphion

Space Knight in Love (Flashback)

Micronaut

Larissa

Phenolo-Phi

Acroyear

Biotron

Microtron (Voice Only)

Baron Karza

Dire Wraith

The Absence

The Presence 

D'rge

Axiom Shunted to Microspace by Rom

Wraith Sorcerers

Wraith Soldiers Most Killed

Wraith Hawks

Reptos Army Most Self Destruct

Wraith Sorcerer in Love (Flashback)

Human

Darby Mason

Camilla Byers

Other

Fire Alien (Flashback)

Multi-Headed Alien (Flashback)

Torchbearer (Flashback)

Blind Alien (Flashback)

Rom's Family (Flashback) Dead

Notes

• I know it's the penultimate issue, and they had to gloss over the timeline between the end of Rom and this series, but I still find it amazing how quickly Livia and Orphion accept Camilla and Darby, considering the former has partial Dire Wraith powers, and the latter is wearing the dead arm of one of their former allies...
• Oh wow! It's Axiom! He hasn't been seen in like a year, wonder if he'll do a lo- oh...he pretty much dies at the end
• It's implied by his dialogue that "The Absence" is technically "An Absence" and is a position one can attain through a hard ritual, and implies to be a conduit for The Presence to be summoned through.
• Amongst the aliens who find love appears to be a Torchbearer (Camien religious warriors and the guards for the Mistress of Flame) and a blind alien (based on her eyes being covered, yet they still have a gun out)
• Microtron, despite seeming to be on death's door last issue is HEARD on the ship a few times this issue...we don't see him, so either this was a late addition just to show people he's fine before the series ends, or it's for a reveal that he's been modified in some way on the ship (maybe even as part of the ship now?)

IDW - Rom and the Micronauts #3

Title: Entropy

Writer: Christos Gage

Artist: Paolo Villanelli

Colourist: Alessandra Alexakis

Letterer: Shawn Lee

Editor: David Mariotte

Publisher: Greg Goldstein

Plot

Rom and the Micronauts are attacked by the now Wraith infected Acroyear, but after a long fight, Phen manages to stall her would-be lover for a second, allowing Rom to use his Neutralizer on him, purging the Wraith-taint from his body.

At the Entropy-Cloud processing facility, Membros is showing the Absence his work, by using a combination of Wraith magic and Ministry of War technology to contain the cloud, allowing it to be transported to the Presence, allowing her to turn Earth into a new Wraith homeworld. 

Outside, the Ampzilla and Terraphant guards are attacked by Rom, but don't realize that a Hornetroid unit following him is a Trojan horse, just as the Micronauts blast themselves out of it and tear through the guards.

With the guards dead, the Micronauts attack the barrier around the facility, but cannot break it down...that is until Microtron bashes their ship into the wall, causing it to create a hole for the others to go through.

Inside the facility, Microtron scans the area and transmits his findings to Biotron, just as the Absence attacks him, phasing through his body and disabling the robot. The others arrive and start attacking the Absence, he begins to panic as he is needed for the conduit to send the cloud to Earth, but is rescued when Membros returns with an Antron and Lobros, upgraded with wraith-matter, who attack the Micronauts and Rom.

Biotron recovers Microtron's injured body and tells Rom to go after the machine collecting the cloud, since Microtron's data shows that he can destroy it, allowing the other Micronauts to fight their new enemies.

Rom quickly destroys the machine, but as a result, the collected cloud is unable to be stored anymore, and he is forced to fly away. Rom is willing to fight the remaining wraiths and Ministry members, since his armour should protect him from aging from the cloud's energies, however Membros just tells them to leave, as he plans to, since he is now planning to go into hiding since he has failed Karza, and now fears for his life.

The Micronauts escape, just as the cloud erupts, causing everything around it to age and decay. Larissa decides to take this opportunity to return to Earth, so they can take down Karza and his allies before they can rebuild their facility.

However, on Earth, Karza is informed of the facility's destruction by the Absence, but admits that he expected this to happen, so he built another device, ready to be sent back to Microspace, this time more heavily protected, despite this leaving their Earth forces limited.

Karza intends for the Micronauts to attack, seeing him as being open to attack, but he already hasd a plan to take them out once and for all...

Characters

Micronaut

Larissa

Phenolo-Phi

Acroyear Cured of Wraith-Taint by Rom

Biotron

Microtron Disabled by The Absence

Ministry of War

Baron Karza

Membros

Dire Wraith/Wraith Infected

The Absence

Lobros

Antron

Ampzilla Killed by Rom

Terraphant Three Killed by Acroyear

Hornetroid (Corpse Only) Dead

Wraith Creatures

Wraith Warriors

Wraith Sorcerers (Mentioned)

The Presence (Mentioned)

Other

Rom

Aged Corpses Dead

Notes

• As mentioned in the comic itself, Solstar Knights are able to burn out a Wraith infection using their weapons, as Orphion did to Camilla Byers in the Rom solo series. However in that case, a taint remained and gave her the biology of a Wraith still, despite remaining human...wonder if Acroyear will show any changes from this too?
• Following the removal of the Wraith taint, Acroyear never deploys his wings, which he normally does...coincidence?
• Is it just me, or does the picture above of the Micronaut's ship look like the armoured version of Voyager from Star Trek?
• It appears that the Lobros and Antron shown in this issue are not the same ones from Wrath of Karza, since he refers to the older ones as "the last versions".
• Okay, Karza is definitely one of the smartest villains out there. He figured there was a chance that the heroes could destroy his weapon, so he had another one (potentially more) built just in case.

IDW - Rom and the Micronauts #2

Title: Microspace Knight

Writer: Christos Gage

Artist: Paolo Villanelli

Colourist: Alessandra Alexakis

Letterer: Shawn Lee

Editors: Carlos Guzman & David Mariotte

Publisher: Greg Goldstein

Plot

In Microspace, an energy depleted Rom fights off a swarm of Reptos, when he discovers that they have been turned into Dire Wraiths. He tries to take them out, but in his weakened state he is overwhelmed. Before he can be defeated however, the Micronauts arrive and fight off the Repto-Wraiths, ultimately letting them escape so they can take Rom back to their ship for healing.

In their ship's med-bay Rom is placed on a rejuvenator unit and slowly healed. In the meanwhile he tells the Micronauts all he learned about Karza's plan during the Enerchange with him. The Wraith's god, The Presence, is in another dimension, but is stuck sleeping for several millennia to come, regardless on how much energy is fed to her, however the Entropy Cloud inside Microspace is able to warp time, allowing her to wake up much earlier. They determine that the Wraiths must be using another portal to send the Entropy Cloud to The Presence, so they hook up Rom's Analyzer to the ship to detect them.

Later, Acroyear takes Rom to see Larissa to learn about Enerchanging to help in the battle, but he notices that Acroyear and Phen have a bit of sexual tension between them. He brings it up with Acroyear, which he confirms, but knows nothing can happen due to him being mostly mechanical now, and also looking monstrous under the mask. Rom can relate due to him being stuck in his armour too, and misses being intimate with Livia as he used to be, but assures him that if they both love each other then looks or disabilities shouldn't matter

In the lab, Larissa explains the process of Enerchanging to Rom, and begins teaching him simple weapon summoning skills, and plans to show him more advanced processes in the future. Larissa confides in him that she is worried about using a powerful Centaur form that she shows him in battle, because it reminds her of one of her father, Baron Karza's, forms. Rom however assures her that she is nothing like her father and should give herself more credit.

Later still, the Micronauts and Rom arrive at the location the Analyzer has led them to, where they come across a Hornetroid that has been infected with a Wraith. Acroyear goes in for a close attack, and gets caught in it's pincers, however the group soon subdue the monster and Rom destroys it with his Neuatralizer.

Afterwards the team locate the portal, situated on top of a Wraith-infected asteroid. The team decide to take Acroyear back to the ship for some healing so they can fight at full strength, however Acroyear attacks Phen and starts sprouting Wraith-matter, revealing that he was infected by the Hornetroid, leaving Rom to conjure a sword of his own, and promises to end his misery....

Characters

Micronaut

Larissa

Phenolo-Phi

Acroyear Infected with Wraith-Matter

Biotron

Microtron

Oziron Rael (Mentioned) Now a Time Traveler

Solstar Order

Rom

Livia (Flashback Only)

Orphion (Flashback Only)

Maur (Flashback Only)

Butin (Flashback Only)

Q'b (Flashback Only)

Dire Wraith

Wraith Hornetroid Killed by Rom

Wraith Asteroid

Repto Wraiths

The Presence (Flashback Only)

Scylla (Flashback Only)

Wraith Sorcerer (Flashback Only)

Wraith Soldiers (Flashback Only)

Other Microspace

Possible Future Larissa (Flashback Only)

Baron Karza (Mentioned)

Other

Elonians (Flashback Only)

Rom's Family (Mentioned) Dead

Notes

• The Reptos are mentioned as scorning individuality. This would explain why most times we've seen them, they've been in swarms
• I assume that the Micronauts entered Microspace through one of the permanent space bridges created by the Time Travelers. I mention it here because it's not clear in the comic itself.
• It's mentioned that the Entropy Cloud is not quite gone yet, but it is lessening, and will currently take 1.4 years to destroy the Microspace. That might sound bad, but considering it was imminent destruction before now, it is getting better!
• And we finally get a full explanation of Karza's plan! He plans to send the Entropy Cloud into the Presence's dimension to speed up her awakening, which in turn removes it from Microspace allowing it to be saved from it's effects.
• So apparently people from outside of Microspace can learn how to Enerchange as well! Granted it takes organic beings years of training, but it is possible. And supposedly robots can download a code to learn to do it...GIVE IT TO THE AUTOBOTS!!!
• Larissa's centaur form was previously seen with her potential future self in the Micronauts Annual, but as she mentions here, she doesn't like to use it due to her father using a similar form, and worries that she'll end up like him.
• The Micronaut's ship changes appearance a couple of times in this issue...I'm just gunna pretend that it's a shape-shifting ship just so I don't get a continuity headache.
• You might be wondering how the Wraiths can now infect Micronauts despite the First Strike issues implying that they are incompatible, but it's logical to assume that Karza has shared samples of their biology with the Wraiths, which has allowed them to bond better with them.
• Oh no! Acroyear has been infected with Wraith-taint! I wonder if this will end up being removed, or even used to fix his appearance?

IDW - Rom and the Micronauts

Writer: Christos Gage

Artist: Paolo Villanelli

Colourist: Alessandra Alexakis

Letterer: Shawn Lee

Editors: Carlos Guzman & David Mariotte

Publisher: Ted Adams

Plot

D'rge and Karza discuss their potential new alliance to deal with their now mutual enemies, with The Absence joining them to at that he has a plan for them to work together to defeat the Micronauts and Rom alike. He teleports them all away to their goal...

A few hours later, the Micronauts arrive at the Dire Wraith's lighthouse, having been following Karza's signal but find it abandoned. They detect Wraith signals there too, but since there's no sign of a battle they assume that the two forces have teamed up. They head off to find Rom, as they figure he'd be interested in working together since the Wraiths are involved.

Inside the Lighthouse, one piece of the Absence remains and reports to the others that the Micronauts are doing as they planned.

Later, the Micronauts find Rom and his human allies, Darby Mason and Camilla Byers, in Utah having just taken down a Wraith cell, and they agree to join the Micronauts in taking down Karza and the Wraiths alike. Rom uses his Analyzer to detect a location where Wraith and Microspace technologies are the highest, and determines that that must be where they are hiding. He sends a message to Orphion and Livia, who are currently dealing with another mission, to tell them where they are going and they head off.

Soon our heroes arrive at the Yucca Mountains in Nevada where they immediately attack the Wraiths, but unfortunately they planned for this, and using a combination of Karza's Enerchange ability, and D'rge's magic, Karza begins to Enerchange with Rom himself. Rom tries to fight off the Baron, but he's getting weaker as Karza is stealing his strength, whilst the rest of the team are busy with the Wraiths, and cannot help their ally.

Orphion and Livia manage to arrive, just in time to see Rom seemingly reduced to nothingness and Karza has taken all his power. The other two Knights attack Karza, but he easily defeats them, and leaves with the remaining Wraiths, planning to kill the Knights at a later date.

Later, the Knights are revived and they confirm that there is no sign of Rom, or the Micronauts. They swear to take down Karza in the name of Rom, and will get revenge for him...

Some time later still, the Micronauts manage to unearth themselves from some rubble they were trapped under during the battle, where they make shocking discovery, Rom is not dead, he has been transported to Microspace. They decide to head to Microspace to rescue him, and also see if he has some way to stop Karza, since their powers are now connected through the Enerchange...

In Microspace, Rom is floating in space, surrounded by a Reptos swarm....

Characters

Solstar Order

Rom Displaced to Microspace, Energy Drained by Karza

Orphion

Livia

Fy-Laa (Mentioned) Dead

Micronaut

Larissa

Phenolo-Phi

Acroyear

Biotron

Microtron

Dire Wraith

The Absence 

D'rge

Lava Monster Likely Killed by Orphion and Livia

Wraith Troops

Wraith Cows Killed by Rom's Team

The Presence (Mentioned)

Human

Darby Mason

Camilla Byers

Action Man (Flashback Only)

Scarlett (Flashback Only)

Roadblock (Flashback Only)

Snake Eyes (Flashback Only)

Other Joes (Flashback Only)

Miles Mayhem (Mentioned)

Other Microspace

Baron Karza

Reptos Swarm

Other

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab (Flashback Only)

Notes

• It's confirmed here that The Absence is in various locations at once, partly explaining his translucent appearance and intangibility 
• It's also confirmed that The Presence is not literally under the Earth's crust, but in a "Synchronic Dimension" that appears to be connected to the crust
• Larissa has been given a slight redesign, giving her a fully shaved head, likely to help distinguish her from Darby Mason, who could honestly be her alternate universe self, they look so similar!
• Orphion and Livia are fighting against a lava monster of some sort...I guess that explains where they were during the First Strike tie-ins, but....WHY AREN'T WE SEEING THAT STORY?!?
• Rom doesn't look in any way concerned that Darby is wearing his dead best friend's arm on her arm does he? Also his other human friend still has Dire Wraith powers.....I think we're missing a story here!
• Biotron kept up to his promise to analyse the Wraith magic so the Micronauts can be protected from it
• From the looks of it, Karza didn't just steal Rom's strength and size, but also his Neutralizer energies...who wants to be that he'll turn against the Wraiths and kill some with that power in this series?
• The beam of Neutralizer energy that Orphion and Livia shoot up in memorial for Rom's "death" is a reference to what Rom did to memorialize his family's murder by the Wraiths in his annual.
• Oh hey! Rom was sent to Microspace! I look forward to returning there for the first time since pretty much the start of the Micronauts series!
• It's mentioned a few times that there is a Microspace colony on Earth now...I want to see that!
• Considering how Microspace looks peaceful, and the Reptos as alive again, we can assume that the Time Travelers were successful in stopping the Entropy Cloud...yay!

IDW - First Strike - Rom

Written by: Christos Gage

Art by: Chris Panda

Colours by: David Garcia Cruz

Letters by: Shawn Lee

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Publisher: Ted Adams

Plot

Rom attacks the Micronauts, believing them to be Dire Wraiths, and is soon disarmed by Acroyear, though Rom shows off his ability to use his Neutralizer abilities without his physical weapon. The Micronauts continue to fight with Rom, until Biotron points out that he is a robot, so he couldn't be a Wraith. Rom accepts this, and requests that he scans them further. He soon determines that whilst they are not Wraiths, they have been infected with the Wraith-Taint, but due to being Micronauts, they were not turned. He uses the Neutralizer to purify them, allowing them to work together.

The Micronauts proceed to explain their encounter with the Wraiths in the sewers and about the pathogen they are developing to infect multiple humans at once, leading to Rom jumping to action.

The Micronauts and Rom soon arrive at the sewers where they find a mass of half-transformed humans, but also a perfected one. Rom soon destroys the hybrids and they go after the Wraiths, who have already left to spread their virus.

D'rge and his acolyte arrive at a carnival the next day and have one of their other followers, posing as a ride operator, and stops them up the top of a Ferris Wheel. They manage to release the virus, but Rom suddenly appears and kills the acolyte, Biotron manages to vacuum up the virus into his containment chamber to stop it from spreading. Rom fights with D'rge, who is able to use his shielding magic to stop the Knight, and gloats that the virus cannot be stopped that easily, and it mutates and breaks out of the chamber

The Micronauts opt to distract D'rge, as Rom uses the Neutralizer to destroy the virus monster. D'rge mocks the Micronauts for the futility of their work here, since he can simply just create more of the virus and spread it in the future, however Biotron reveals that he had the virus inside his body for long enough to analyse it and create an antidote, which he will share with the humans. D'rge, furious with the Micronauts, announces them as enemies of his race, and escapes by morphing into a iny creature and flying away.

The Micronauts and Rom part ways with them agreeing to call on each other in the future if they need each other's help against the Wraiths or other villains.

Later, in a hidden location, D'rge is fuming about the Micronauts, when Baron Karza suddenly appears and offers to help him deal with their mutual enemies. D'rge's new acolyte tries to take out Karza, but the tiny tyrant easily kills him. D'rge is unwilling to work with Karza, since he remembers his role in betraying the Wraiths during the Revolution, but Karza claims to be able to help him revive "The Presence", the Wraith's dark god. D'rge agrees, and begins to talk with the despot....

Characters

Micronaut

Larissa

Phenolo-Phi

Acroyear

Biotron

Microtron

Baron Karza

Dire Wraith

D'rge

D'rge's Acolyte Killed by Rom

D'rge's New Acolyte Killed by Karza

Ferris Wheel Operator

Partially Mutated Human-Wraiths Died from Mutation

Wraith-Hound Killed by Rom

Wraith Virus Construct Killed by Rom

"The Presence" (Mentioned) Asleep

Other

Rom, the Space Knight

Carnival Goers 

Notes

• This issue directly follows the events of First Strike: Micronauts, and leads into the upcoming "Rom and the Micronauts" series.
• This issue also has no mention of the Cybertronians or the First Strike event, making it a tie-in, in name only.
• We've known for a little while now that Solstar Knights don't need their weapons to use Neutralizer energy, but this is the first time we've seen Rom shoot lasers out of his eyes!
• It may seem odd that Rom claims that Wraiths cannot possess inorganic beings, when the concurrently releasing series "Rom vs Transformers: Shining Armor" shows that they can possess Cybertronians. But remember that Transformers aren't technically inorganic, and are made of a living metal.
• The head Sorcerer from last issue is revealed to be D'rge, a major villain from the early issues of the Rom series.
• Dire Wraiths can apparently change their size, without changing their appearance...good to know!
• As everyone else has likely already remembered, Karza never actually allied with the Dire Wraiths during Revolution, he was allied with Miles Mayhem who was in turn allied with the Wraiths. He did "betray" them by forcing them to merge with him, but he wasn't technically their ally in the first place.

IDW - First Strike - Micronauts

Written by: Christos Gage

Art by: Chris Panda

Colours by: David Garcia Cruz

Letters by: Shawn Lee

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Publisher: Ted Adams

Plot

The Micronauts, still on Earth following the Earthwar have landed in the garden of a house where they are trying to figure out what to do now, since their leader is gone with the Time Travelers, and their new leader is Larissa, whom they have only recently learned is the daughter of Baron Karza himself, so they are unsure about how to fully trust her.

Before they can decide to do anything however they are "attacked" by some of the human giants with a giant killing machine (some gardeners with a lawnmower), luckily Larissa uses her forcefield generator to jam the blades and allows them to escape to their new ship.

The gardeners examine their "jammed" lawnmower when one of them is stung by a strange fly...and then suddenly explodes into a mess of Dire Wraith goo. The Micronauts go to assist the humans and are attacked by the flies themselves. They learn when one tries to infect Phen that the flies appear to be only able to infect humans, allowing the Micronauts to tear them apart without fear of infection too. Soon, the flies and even the infected gardener all turn to ash, Biotron captures on of the flies before it dies and scans it, determining that it was altered by Dire Wraith "magic". The Micronauts determine that they need to go after the Wraiths to stop this plot...

The Micronauts head into a hidden tunnel in the sewers where they decide to try and locate Rom, a member of the Solstar Order who is currently stationed on Earth. However they find the Dire Wraiths first and manage to take down all the minions with relative ease. The Sorcerer Wraiths use their powers to cast a spell that appears to harm the Micronauts. They manage to struggle their way to their ship and escape to get help from Rom after all. One of the Sorcerers attempts to go after them, but his superior is fine with them leaving, as it is all going to plan...

The Micronauts recover from their attack on the Wraiths and manage to find Rom, however his Analyzer detects that the Micronauts are Dire Wraiths, and prepares to Neutralize them!

To be continued....

Characters

Micronaut

Larissa

Phenolo-Phi

Acroyear

Biotron

Microtron

Oziron Rael (Mentioned) Ascended to a Time Traveler

Baron Karza (Mentioned)

Solstar Order

Rom, the Space Knight

Other Solstar Knights (Mentioned)

Dire Wraith

Wraith Holiness

Wraith Acolyte

Wraith Hound Killed by Larissa

Wraith-Flies Turned to Ash

Other Wraiths Killed by Acroyear and Biotron

Human

Gardener Ernie

Gardener Jimmy Killed by Wraith-Flies and turned to Ash

Other

Cybertronians (Mentioned)

Notes

• Whilst being part of the First Strike event, it has nothing (bar a brief mention of the incident on Cybertron) to do with the event. It mostly acts as a backdoor pilot to the upcoming "Rom and the Micronauts" series.
• This issue takes place shortly after Wrath of Karza, it introduces us to the Micronaut's currently unnamed new ship as well as Oz being gone due to him ascending to a Time Traveler
• The worm that Biotron holds up has some angry eyes on him...I'm pretty sure worms don't have visible eyes....
• Biotron mentions how Rom and the Earth are uneasy allies due to the Solstar Knights destroying Wraith-infested planets....unless this is mentioned in the final issue of Rom, this information should only really be known to the Knights themselves
• It looks like the Dire Wraith's spell have changed how Rom's Analyser sees the Micronauts, and makes them appear as Wraiths themselves. I seriously doubt they are now actually Dire Wraiths themselves.
• Where is Livia? Is she with Orphion following the events of the Rom series? Did she end up dying again? Guess I'll have to wait for next issue...

IDW - Micronauts Wrath of Karza #5

Written by: Cullen Bunn & Jimmy Johnston

Art by: Andrew Griffith & Ron Joseph

Colours by: David Garcia Cruz

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Assistant Editor: David Mariotte

Editor: David Hedgecock

Publisher: Ted Adams

Plot

Shazraella, now Enerchanged with the Mad Time Traveler takes the battle in her own hands, she quickly destroys Microtron's Tron army and prepares to go after the remaining Micronauts.

Optimus and the Autobots arrive at the fight area, where Optimus grabs Karza to pay him back for his previous attack and imprisonment of him, Arcee and Jazz, however Karza accesses Micronus' body again and grows to a giant size, attacking the Autobots all at once again.

The Micronauts fight through the Ministry of War troops to get to Shazraella, whom is marching through the battlefield, using the Time Traveler's powers to both mess with time, and spread the Entropy Cloud. Oz charges towards Shazraella to stop her once and for all, but she simply dissolves him, leaving only the Time Mask behind.

Upon his death, Oz is sent back to his previous death, and his conversation with a Time Traveler, where he reveals that the war on Earth is needed, and Oz himself needs to embrace time itself in order to win the war...

Elsewhere on the battlefield, Karza notices that Shazraella is spreading Entropy across this planet now, and knowing how devastating that will be orders a truce between him and the Autobots to stop her, which Optimus agrees to.

The Autobots and Karza charge towards Shazraella, with Karza at first trying to talk her down, she takes offence to his defiance of her, and forces her husband to split from Micronus Prime, and sends the Prime far away, greatly weakening the Baron. She allows him to fall to the ground, but their daughter, Larissa catches him with her shield generator.

The assembled Micronauts, Autobots and Karza prepare to fight Shazraella in the final showdown, however are stopped when the Time Travelers, now led by an ascended Oz confront her, Oz merged with the Time Mask and the Travelers surround Shazraella, and begin dragging her into a Time Casket as punishment.

Before she is locked up, the Time Traveler de-Enerchanges from her and is forced himself in the Casket, before he can be trapped though he warps Shazraella and Karza away, so they won't be imprisoned too.

Following the battle, Oz joins the other Time Travelers to repair Microspace and even rescue the people trapped inside the Entropy Cloud. They easily reverse the effects on Earth, and sets up permanent space bridges between Microspace and Earth, in order to allow better relations between the two universes. Oz leaves with the others, but does promise to reunite with his friends again soon...

In the aftermath, the Micronauts go looking for Acroyear, who is still fighting with Raith and wonder if they can find a new ship...

Elsewhere, Karza arrives in Illinois, and considers how he can save his people now, whilst Shazraella arrives in San Francisco and starts work on her next plans....

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Arcee - Sports Car

Jazz - Sports Car

Micronaut

Oziron Rael Became a Time Traveler, Merged with Time Mask

Time Mask Merged with Oziron Rael

Larissa

Phenolo-Phi

Acroyear

Biotron

Microtron

Alphatron Destroyed by Shazraella

Betatron Destroyed by Shazraella

Gammatron Destroyed by Shazraella

Ministry of War

Baron Karza Sent to Illinois by Entropy Time Traveler

Shazraella Sent to San Francisco by Entropy Time Traveler

Commander Raith

Army Remnants 

Other Microspace

Entropy Time Traveler Trapped inside a Time Chamber

Time Travelers

Other Cybertronian

Micronus Prime Sent Far From Now by Shazraella

Notes

• Omegatron isn't seen amongst the dead "Trons" this issue, but since he doesn't appear in the First Strike tie-in, I'm gunna assume he's dead too...pity...
• Similarly, Commander Raith's fate is left unknown, he was last shown fighting with Acroyear, and it was mentioned that they were making friends, but he doesn't appear in First Strike...guess he died too?
• Whilst the Micronaut's new bodies are all new designs, the Transformer redesigns when Shazraella messes with time include Hearts of Steel based bodies at first, and later Optimus in his Pre-Earth body, Jazz in his Costa Ongoing body, and Arcee in her Robots in Disguise Pre-Earth body
• Oz's repressed discussion with the Time Traveler is a continuation of the conversation he had during his brief "death" during the finale of the first arc of the Micronauts comic.
• It was mentioned earlier in this very series that the Mad Time Traveler was the one who caused the Entropy Cloud, Shazraella causing it to spread to Earth when fused with him is a direct nod to this.
• Micronus Prime's body is  send "far from now" most likely so they don't have another Prime running around in the main storyline...we have a few right now after all.
• Shazraella ending up in San Francisco leads directly to her being discovered by Miles Mayhem and Baron Ironblood in the Origins story in First Strike #4, whilst Karza's landing in Smithton, Illinois, wondering how to save his people now is likely to be a plot point for the upcoming Rom and the Micronauts series, set after First Strike concludes.
• Remember that Karza was warped away BEFORE he learned that the Entropy Cloud is now being dealt with, so he is unaware that he doesn't HAVE to save his people any more...