The five most shafted Transformers!

Amongst the vast tapestry of the Transformers franchise there are just some characters who have been given the short straw as their lot in life. Now I do not mean the characters who are created just to die (the "Hi and Die" if you will) or those who have been relegated to side characters compared to the "main guys". What I mean are the characters who have been given a role, or have been treated in a way that we cannot respect or trust them now, or have just been treated unfairly for no valid reason.

As such, here are the five characters (or sets of characters in some cases) that I feel have been given the shaft. If you disagree with me, or have your own ideas, please let me know in the comments here, and have fun reading :)

5. Cosmos

First on the list, Cosmos! Yes, everyone loves the little fella, but let's face it, we love him because he's essentially a joke, his roles within the media over the years can basically be summarized as "Space Taxi" or crowd filler.

Even his essential counterpart amongst the Decepticons, Astrotrain, has made more of a role for himself than just the "Space Taxi", given that he took on a role as Decepticon leader in one episode of the cartoon, and even acted as god to some Titan aliens. He's even had a fairly vocal and prominent role within the IDW continuity in recent years, unlike our pal Cosmos who has only just started appearing as more than a background character (and even that is just a glorified space camera).

Also, let's not forget his nonsense alternate mode and the fact that these guys are meant to be in DISGUISE. I suppose it did work well during the Mars Attacks crossover though....

4. Jawbreaker

I know what you're thinking! Who?

This guy has had it so bad, that out of all the regular release single figures (excluding playsets, and one of the Mutants) he never appeared ONCE in the IDW Gathering or Ascending comics, not even in a cameo. To put this simply, they had space for Manta Ray, a McDonalds Happy Meal toy, but not a full sized regular release toy!

This problem has even been around for longer than this, where his only fictional appearance ANYWHERE (bar his Sourcebook profile) has been in a recent Collector's Club comic, where he used Ratchet's Beast Hunters toy character model, and even that was a minor role.

3. Hot Shot

Oh Hot Shot, for a few years you were a main character in basically all the Transformers cartoons, you spawned a popular internet meme, and everyone loved you, what could go wrong?

The Movie came out, and Bumblebee replaced you as the main character, then suddenly everyone forgot all about you, that's what!

Sure we've had a handful of toys based on your past appearances (Universe 2008, Prime and upcoming AOE) but that's nothing to what it was even a few years ago

For those of you who are unaware, when Transformers Animated began, it was planned for Hot Shot to be a main character, but following the release of the first movie, he was replaced with Bumblebee, sure he was later shown in an episode in Season Three, but he, and the rest of his team were pretty much just recycled character ideas and models

2. Sentinel Prime

You may not have been expecting Sentinel to appear here, but hear me out.

Ever since the Sentinel Prime character has been fleshed out (beyond just a dead arm in Dreamwave, or just a flashback death scene in Marvel) he has been typecast as a relative jerk, or just utterly unlike-able.

The IDW G1 version was a bully former security guard who was the Senate's figure head. In Animated he's a former friend of Optimus with a massive ego problem, and of course in Dark of the Moon, he is a traitor who kills Ironhide in a violent way (spoilers btw).

It has become somewhat impossible to think of Sentinel as anything other than amoral or just a horrible individual, and for that, I'm sorry for him, as I'm sure he wasn't originally envisioned this way!

1. The Twins

Now here's the big one, or should I say two. Skids and Mudflap from Revenge of the Fallen. The two of them act like children who are wannabe gangsters, and the world turns that into them being racist stereotypes of black people.

A culmination of this complain was that the duo were written out of their role in Dark of the Moon (where they would have been killed alongside Ironhide, protecting Sam and Bumblebee from Sentinel) and, if you haven't noticed, there have been little to no mentions of Twins in Transformers since then (even Sideswipe and Sunstreaker aren't seen together too much now) and this is just stupid

What is really bad about this particular situation is that the characters themselves were an interesting take on Cybertronians, and could be seen as having been influenced by the internet (as was established to be how they learned to speak English) to acting this way, perhaps even due to things like chat rooms and forums.

Their battle against Devastator in ROTF was also pretty entertaining in itself, and was a good pay-off for the characters existing.

There you go guys, I hope you enjoyed this topic, and let me know about any points of view you have on this subject. If you have any ideas for a future "article" for me to write on, then please let me know 

Thanks for reading! :)

IDW - Revenge of the Fallen Adaptation

Plot

Thousands of years ago on Earth, The Fallen wages a war against his brothers, The Primes over the Star Harvester on the planet, as The Fallen plans to use it to destroy the sun and take it's energy for himself. (wonder who won?)

Back in the present day NEST and their Autobot allies chase two Decepticons, Sideways and Demolishor across Shanghai Optimus takes down Demolishor, who then warns Optimus that the Fallen shall rise again before dying, meanwhile Sideways is killed by Sideswipe. The incident in Shanghai is covered up, which Sam watches on TV.

Sam is packing his bags for college when he finds a shard of the Allspark in the clothes he wore during the Mission City battle and is infused with some energy whilst on the phone with Mikaela. The shard falls through his floor and into the kitchen which brings all the appliances to life, and they attack. Bumblebee, who lives in the garage attacks them, and ends up blowing the house up, leaving Judy furious (as the parents know about the Autobots now). Later Mikaela arrives and Sam gives her the shard, which the Decepticon Wheelie sees and reports. Sam and Bumblebee say goodbye, as he cant take a car to college as a freshman.

Galloway meets with Lennox and his team at the NEST base on Diego Garcia and tells them that the government isn't happy about the damage caused in Shanghai, and Optimus says that if the government asks them to leave then they will, but remind them that the Decepticons still exist on the planet and will go after humans, whether the Autobots are around or not. Soundwave, in orbit, launches Ravage to Diego Garcia, which he learned to be where the Allspark shard is, and also learns where Megatron was dumped in the ocean. Elsewhere, Sam moves into his college dorm and starts meeting his new classmates including Leo and Alice.

Ravage infiltrates NEST and steals the Allspark shard, later Sam goes to a party with his new friends when he called out by Bumblebee, who takes him to see Optimus. He tells Sam that the government believes the Decepticon attacks are the Autobot's fault and that the Allspark shard has been stolen and they need his help for realations.

Elsewhere Ravage and some other Decepticons, including Scalpel use the Allspark Shard to revive Megatron.

Megatron flies off to the crashed Nemesis on another planet where he meets with Starscream and talks with The Fallen in his dimension. Megatron is told that Sam now holds the power of the Allspark within him, and they need him for their ultimate plan to find the Matrix to power the harvester.

In school, Sam starts feeling the effects of the Allspark by assimilating knowledge too fast and starts overloading. Sam calls Mikaela about this and during the call Wheelie tries to steal her shard from the safe, but she stops him and tells Sam that she's coming to his school.

NEST detect multiple Decepticon attacks in America and send out some troops to deal with them. At Princeton Alice tries to seduce Sam and is revealed to be a Decepticon, Mikaela and Leo arrive just as Alice is trying to strangle him with her tongue, and the three of them escape in a car they steal after a short chase through the school. Alice chases the car, but Mikaela drives into her, knocking her away, however Grindor appears from nowhere and catches the car, hauling it away with him.

Sam is taken to a warehouse where Scalpel prepares to cut out his brain for them to use when  Bumblebee and Optimus appear and kill the doctor and fight off the Decepticons. Optimus drives off with Sam whilst Bumblebee takes Leo and Mikaela. Optimus ends up in a forest where he fights off Megatron, Starscream and Grindor whilst trying to protect Sam but ends up being killed by Megatron. Before Megatron can get to Sam though the other Autobots arrive and Bumblebee takes the Humans away with the Twins into hiding.

Megatron hacks the satellite feeds and addresses the Earth and orders them to find Sam for him, or he'll start destroying the world. Sam's parents in France (on their world tour) are kidnapped by some Decepticons.

Whilst on the run Sam decides he needs help, Leo suggests they go see someone who hacked his website and seems to know all about the symbols he keeps seeing in his head. The person they go to see turns out to the former Agent Simmons, who tells them that the Transformers have been on Earth for some time now, and shows them pictures of those symbols found across the planet, and even photos of some vehicles who they believe to be Transformers too.

The humans tell Wheelie (whom Mikaela had stuffed in a toll box after their fight) to help them find one of these old Transformers, and he directs them to the Smithsonian, where their Allspark shard launches itself towards a blackbird jet, which reconfigures into the now elderly Jetfire, a Decepticon who decided to defect some time ago. Sam shows Jetfire the symbols, which Jetfire interprets as clues to finding the Matrix, he then transports himself, the Autobots and Humans to Egypt via a space bridge, once there he explains who The Fallen is and that he planned to destroy Earth, so his former brothers turned their bodies into a tomb to hide the Matrix, the only thing that can reactivate the harvester, from The Fallen. He sends Sam and the others on a mission to find it, as it's power can also be used to revive Optimus.

Elsewhere, NEST is disbanded after recent events and Galloway prepares to escort them back to Diego Garcia. In Egypt Sam is noticed by the local intelligence agencies, and Soundwave learns he's there. Sam works out where Jetfire's clues for the Matrix's location lead to and calls Lennox's wife to get a secret message to her husband to ask for military assistance.

Sam and the others arrive at Petra and find the Tomb of the Primes and Sam grabs the Matrix, which turns to dust, Sam refuses to give up and gathers the dust up into a sock as they hear the military jets arriving nearby. NEST hijack the plane their on, and force Galloway out of the plane elsewhere as the team airdrops to the location Sam sent to them.

Megatron and the Decepticons arrive in Egypt as well and start attacking Sam and his group, and the NEST guys too. Soundwave is in orbit hacking the surveillance images and edits them to remove the Decepticons. Sam and Mikaela run off through the ruins with the Matrix dust whilst Bumblebee and the others create diversions. Nearby, The Fallen arrives from his dimension and lands on top of a pyramid

The Fallen order Megatron and the Decepticons to find the Matrix before Optimus can be revived with it. Sam and Mikaela and found by Rampage, who reveals that he has Sam's parents hostage. Elsewhere the Twins, Simmons and Leo see Devastator begin his attack on a pyramid. Sam's parents are rescued by Bumblebee who kills Rampage in the process and takes them away to safety.

Devastator's attack on the pyramid reveals that the harvester was hidden beneath it, Simmons manages to contact a US ship that holds a rail gun weapon on board and helps them to target it towards Devastator, whilst the Twins fight the giant monster, elsewhere Sam and Mikaela meet up with the army guys and Jetfire arrives at the battle, taking out some Decepticons easily, but eventually gets mortally wounded by Scorponok. Sam makes a run for it and tries to use the Matrix on Optimus, but he's caught in a blast and killed.

Whilst dead, Sam sees the Dynasty of Primes who tell him that he has proven himself as a true leader, and is worthy of the Matrix, so they revive him. The Matrix reforms and Sam uses it on Optimus, reviving him as well. The Fallen teleports nearby and steals the Matrix from Sam, and returns to the harvester, Jetfire offers his body to create an upgrade for Opitmus to allow him to fly, so Ratchet gets to work.

The Rail Gun weapon kills Devastator as Optimus arrives and destroys the harvester. Optimus reveals to Megatron that a Prime cannot be created (as The Fallen promised Megatron) but has to be born. Megatron is disillusioned and turns against The Fallen, and leaves through one of The Fallen's own space bridges as Optimus kills The Fallen himself.

In the aftermath the humans and Autobots return home and wonder about the future, as Megatron, on the Nemesis looks over his newly born army of hatchlings, and begins his preparations....

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Bumblebee - Concept Camaro

Ironhide - Pick Up Truck

Ratchet - Emergency Humvee

Sideswipe - Concept Corvette

Skids - Smart Car (Formerly Front of Ice Cream Truck)

Mudflap - Smart Car (Formerly Rear of Ice Cream Truck)

Arcee - Motorcycle

Chromia - Motorcycle

Elita One - Motorcycle

Decepticon

The Fallen Killed by Optimus Prime

Megatron - Cybertronian Jet/Cybertronian Tank

Soundwave - Satellite

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Wheelie - RC Pick Up Truck (Defected to Autobots)

Jetfire - Blackbird Stealth Jet (Defected to Autobots) Killed by Scorponok, Parts given to Optimus

Sideways - Audi R8 Killed by Sideswipe

Grindor - Military Helicopter Killed by Optimus Prime

Scalpel - Microscope Killed by Optimus Prime

Ravage - Missile

Reedman - Ball Bearings

Alice - Animatronic Woman

Demolishor - Excavator Killed by Optimus Prime

Scrapmetal - Bulldozer

Scavenger - Excavator

Long Haul - Dump Truck Killed by Jetfire

Overload - Articulated Dump Truck

Scrapper - Front End Loader

Mixmaster - Mixing Truck

Rampage - Bulldozer

Devastator - Construction Vehicles Killed by Rail Gun

Scorponok - Part of Helicopter

Frenzy (Head Only) Dead

Hatchlings

Other Decepticon Attackers

Human

Sam Witwicky

Mikaela Banes

Lennox

Epps

Galloway

Leo Spitz

Seymour Simmons

Ron Witwicky

Judy Witwicky

Sarah Lennox

Monica Epps

Admiral Morshower

Professor Colan

Fassbinder

Sharsky

NEST

Other Humans

POTUS (Mentioned)

Other

The Dynasty of Primes Dead

Ejector - Toaster Killed by Bumblebee

Appliance-Bots - Kitchen Appliances Killed by Bumblebee

Notes

• This is the adaptation of the ROTF Movie (duh)
• Again, some details have been changed for speed/ease of reading/add older details from the script etc
• Megatron knowing where The Fallen's ship is, is explained in Defiance where he visits him during the Allspark hunt.
• The vine thingies that attack The Fallen at the end are very random...no one seems to know what they are...(I blame Quintessons)
• The end of this story shows the Hatchlings being born, which were omitted from the movie version, but are a plot point in DOTM.
• The scene where Arcee and her sisters were injured in Egypt was omitted here, but is referenced in later stories
• Likewise Ravage's death wasn't shown here, but was shown in a later story as happening here

Titan - ROTF Volume 2 #8

Basic Information

Cover Characters: Skids and Mudflap

Cover Art: Barry Spiers & Lee Duhig/GURU-eFX

Cover Date: Winter 2010

Price: £2.99

Poster: Skids and Mudflap go to war

Comic Title: Back-to-Back

Script: Simon Furman

Art: Jon Davis-Hunt

Colours: Hi-Fi Design

Lettering: Den Patrick

Comic Plot

Soundwave attempts to interrogate Ransack as to the location of the Matrix, but he refuses to tell him. The Twins watch the event and attack the base to get answers. The Twins manage to disable Grindor and Ravage, but then Soundwave and Starscream attack the Twins and badly injure the duo.

Starscream prepares to kill Mudflap when Ransack saves him, flies off and tells them that he's going to tell The Fallen about this. Soundwave chases after him.

The Twins watch Soundwave escape then suddenly see an army of Protoforms arriving on Phobos, who immediately attack the Twins, but luckily the duo are saved when the Autobots arrives and takes on the drones.

After the fight the Autobots have the drones rounded up, but the Twins can't find Starscream and Ravage, Ironhide tells them not to worry about him, and tells them that the Autobots believe that they aren't traitors now, after reassessing all the evidence. The Twins decide to forget all about The Fallen after all the trouble it's caused them.

Comic Characters

Autobots

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Skids - Smart Car

Mudflap - Smart Car

Ironhide - Pick Up Truck

Sideswipe - Concept Corvette

Arcee - Motorcycle

Ratchet - Emergency Humvee

Decepticons

The Fallen (mentioned)

Soundwave - Satellite/Jet

Starscream - F-22 Jet (injured by Ransack)

Ransack - Bi-Plane

Grindor - Military Helicopter (injured by Twins)

Ravage - Missile (injured by Mudflap)

Lugnut Drones - Entry Pods (arrested by Autobots)

Comic Notes

• YAY! Original Artwork on the covers again! (8th issue to start with again!)
• This marks the end of the Twin's storyline that started in the first issue of this volume..the Twins are never seen again....
• Ransack still has his green robot mode and redish vehicle mode from the previous issue
• Soundwave totally bitch-slaps Ransack
• Ransack threatens to tell The Fallen about Soundwave's actions, seeing as how Soundwave is alive and well in later issues and the movies, it's clear that Ransack must have been "silenced" or he just couldn't get in touch.
• Arcee appears in her movie 1 toyline character model, rather that the ROTF version seen in an earlier issue
• The Lugnut drones from Issue 1 are seen again, but in grey Protoform mode
• Ratchet makes one of his rare appearances in Volume 2 now
• The Twins decide not to mention The Fallen to Optimus, in hopes that nothing ever comes from it (FOOLS!)
• It's unknown if Grindor was arrested as well as the drones, though it's likely that he escaped
• The Autobots must have followed the Twins to Mars and now know they aren't traitors after reassessing all the evidence they had against them.
• Sideswipe says "You Drive --I'll Carve!" to Ironhide, a reference to Mikaela's line to Bumblebee in the first movie.
• It's possible that the Lugnut Drones were amongst those who were in the Detention Center later in this volume, which gets liberated by Bludgeon.

Extra Features

Adverts

Competitions

More than Meets the eyes - Puzzles and games

All Hail Megatron reprint - Heavily edited part 8, which then tells you to buy the comic from Forbidden Planet if you want to see more...wow....

Bumblebee's Bust Day - More Puzzles

Way Past Cool! - Bumblebee reviews games

Jetfire - A profile again

Sideswipe's Armoury - Choppers (Helicopters)

Law & Disorder - Barricade and Ironhide's letter page

Starscream's Stars - Horoscope!

Titan - ROTF Volume 2 #7

Basic Information

Cover Characters: Stock Images of Starscream and Optimus Prime

Cover Date: January 2010

Price: £2.70

Poster: Optimus kills Starscream

Comic Title: Turnabout

Script: Simon Furman

Art: Jon Davis-Hunt

Colours: Hi-Fi Design

Lettering: Andrew James

Comic Plot

On the Martian moon, Phobos, the Twins are being welcomed into the Decepticon ranks, though the other Decepticons don't appear to happy with the new arrivals. Soundwave sends them out on their first mission, to locate Ransack and bring him back to them. Soundwave then sends Grindor and Sideways to follow them.

The Twins arrive on Earth and go to the place where they encountered Ransack last time, and sure enough the ancient Transformer appears again and attacks them. Elsewhere, NEST have picked up on the fight and informs the Autobots that the Twins are involved, so they start to head out to intercept.

The Twins trick Ransack into stop attacking them by telling him that The Fallen sent them, so he calms down and follows them willingly. Grindor and Sideways see this and decide to attack the Twins and Ransack to get the glory themselves.

The Twins fight the Decepticons, with Mudflap managing to cause Sideways to ram into a tree, knocking him out, but Grindor manages to escape with Ransack in tow.

The NEST team arrive in the area and sees the Twins fighting the Decepticons and continue to monitor. The Twins gets absolutely annoyed now and decide to find out what's going on once and for all!

Comic Characters

Autobots

Skids - Entry Pod, Smart Car

Mudflap - Entry Pod, Smart Car

Ironhide - Pick Up Truck

Sideswipe - Concept Corvette

Decepticons

The Fallen (mentioned)

Soundwave - Satellite/Jet

Sideways - Audi R8 (injured by Mudflap)

Grindor - Military Helicopter

Ravage - Missile

Ransack - Bi-Plane (injured by Grindor)

Comic Notes

• This is the first issue to feature an extended front cover (to advertise the giant Devastator toy up for grabs) This is however made up for by having the double cover gimmick which makes it look like Optimus is shooting Starscream
• Despite being the characters on the cover...neither Optimus NOR Starscream are in the actual comic!
• The Twins are being used by Soundwave to locate Ransack, so he can use him to locate the Matrix and the Star Harvester for himself
• Soundwave's plan is to have Ransack kill the Twins, and then Grindor and Sideways are to take Ransack.
• The Twins' entry pod modes are the same as the ones seen in issue 1 and 2 of this volume just in their proper colours rather than grey, but they don't have to rescan the smart car modes when they arrive on Earth again.
• Skids reveals that he was just pretending to defect to try and learn more about what's happening...Mudflap apparently didn't realize it was an act...yikes!
• Ransack is shown in his toy colours when in vehicle mode, but when in robot mode he takes on a mostly green robot mode...maybe he uses electronic paint?
• According to Ransack, he hasn't heard from The Fallen in a long time...assuming this isn't just him exaggerating, that means that The Fallen informed someone else on Earth to hunt down the Twins....
• It's unclear is NEST picked up Sideways after he was abandoned on Earth, though judging by the events in ROTF, it can be safely assumed that he was just left there and drove off to Shanghai to hide out with Demolishor.

Extra Features

Adverts

Competitions

More than Meets the Eye - Puzzles and Games

All Hail Megatron reprint - Part 7

Sideswipe's Armoury - Heavy Armour (armoured vehicles)

Way Past Cool! - Bumblebee's game reviews

Law & Disorder - Barricade and Ironhide talk to the fans

Starscream's Stars - Horoscope

Titan - ROTF Volume 2 #6

Basic Information

Cover Characters: Stock Image of Starscream

Cover Date: December 2009

Price: £2.70

Poster: G1 Kup, Blurr and Springer

Comic Title: Outlaw Blues

Script: Simon Furman

Art: Jon Davis-Hunt

Colours: Hi-Fi Design

Lettering: Andrew James

Comic Plot

The Twins have been detained and are currently on route to a secured location when they are rescued by Wheelie (on Soundwave's orders).

Optimus at Diego Garcia is informed of the Twin's escape and deems that their recapture is a priority now. The Twins are then immediately attacked, forcing them to go on the run again.

2 Days later, the Twins are in Tranquility and pick up Sam to speak with him and try to explain what's happened to him so he can relay it to the Autobots (though it looks like he's abducting them really)

Bumblebee sees this and goes after the Twins. The Twins quickly give up Sam and try to surrender to Bumblebee, when suddenly Soundwave arrives and shoots the Autobot, and offers the Twins sanctuary, which they accept.

Comic Characters

Autobots

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Ironhide - Pick Up Truck

Sideswipe - Concept Corvette

Skids - Smart Car

Mudflap - Smart Car

Decepticons

The Fallen (mentioned)

Starscream - F22 Jet

Soundwave - Satellite/Jet

Wheelie - RC Pick Up Truck

Human

Sam Witwicky

Mikaela Banes (mentioned)

Judy Witwicky (mentioned)

Comic Notes

• Starscream actually appears in this issue, albeit as a very brief cameo as the one who drops off Wheelie to free the Twins. This also confirms that his mission on Cybertron must be over
• Starscream and Wheelie almost definitely kill some humans in this issue when rescuing the Twins.
• Mikaela being mentioned here is about the only time we hear from Mikaela in this series!
• This marked the first time Soundwave was seen to set foot on Earth.
• Sam doesn't want to get involved with the war any more (as also shown in ROTF)
• It's not said here, but Soundwave is likely the one who sent the message to NEST telling them that Sam has been abducted by the Twins
• The Twins finally tell someone about the army forming on Cybertron by Starscream, but not Optimus, they tell Sam, and judging by the later issues, Sam told him later himself.
• A human getting abducted by an Autobot is very similar to what happened in Man of Iron, and coincidentally the human in that story was called Sammy Harker!!

Extra Features

Adverts

Competitions

More than Meets the Eye - Games and Puzzles

All Hail Megatron reprint - Part 6

Mudflap - Profile for the other twin!

War Paint - Do a Grid Copy of Megatron

Law & Disorder - Barricade and Ironhide talk about things!

Starscream's Stars - Horrible Horoscopes

Titan - ROTF Volume 2 #5

Basic Information

Cover Characters: Stock Image of Bumblebee

Cover Date: November 2009

Price: £2.70

Poster: Bumblebee punches a Decepticon insignia, G1 Prowl and Ironhide argue

Comic Title: Reversal of Fortune

Script: Simon Furman

Art: Jon Davis-Hunt

Colours: Hi-Fi Design

Lettering: Andrew James

Comic Plot

Optimus and Arcee hunt down Sideways in Australia. The Twins learn that Optimus is going to be heading to Diego Garcia soon (where they are as well) and get excited. Optimus and Arcee manage to beat down Sideways and captures him.

Later Optimus as his cargo are taken to Diego Garcia, and the Twins head over to him to talk, though they start arguing on who is to actually tell him about The Fallen and annoys him.

Suddenly Scorponok attacks the base from underground and Sideways reveals that he was just playing possum and both start an attack.

Optimus begins to declare a counter attack when he trips over Skids and Mudflap tries to use some debris as a shield, only for Sideways to steal it from him and the Decepticons leave in the confusion.

Sideswipe, having seen everything tells Optimus that Skids and Mudflap helped the Decepticons escape (all a misunderstanding of course) and also tells him about the Grindor incident and how the "attacked him" last issue. Optimus has the two detained for questioning.

Soundwave listens from high up and comments on how this is just the beginning...

Comic Characters

Autobots

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Arcee - 2 Motorcycles

Sideswipe - Concept Corvette

Skids - Smart Car

Mudflap - Smart Car

Decepticons

The Fallen (mentioned)

Soundwave - Satellite/Jet

Sideways - Audi R8

Scorponok

Grindor - Military Helicopter (mentioned)

Comic Notes

• It's not said outright here, but from the dialogue, it sounds like Sideswipe is implying that the Twins told the Decepticons that Optimus was in Australia...
• Sideways' line "Just 'cause I'd always rather flee than fight, don't mean I can't" was later made his official motto by Hasbro
• Arcee is shown in 3 motorcycle modes, all the same type and colour instead of three different ones. Only one is shown in robot mode.
• I bet Sideswipe spends his spare time collecting conspiracy theories ;)

Extra Features

Adverts

Competitions

Sideswipe's Armoury - He talks about Air Power (Jets)

All Hail Megatron reprint - Part 5

Heads will Roll Out! - Count the Optimus heads in the jumble

Devastator - Profile for the Decepticon

Way Past Cool! - Bumblebee reviews games

More than Meets the Eye - Transformers Puzzles

Law & Disorder - Barricade and Ironhide chat away

Starscream's Stars - Horoscope

Titan - ROTF Volume 2 #4

Basic Information

Cover Characters: Stock Images of Optimus and Ironhide

Cover Date: October 2009

Price: £2.70

Poster: Ironhide punches you, All Hail Megatron!

Comic Title: New Tricks

Script: Simon Furman

Art: Jon Davis-Hunt

Colours: Hi-Fi Design

Lettering: Andrew James

Comic Plot

Ravage infiltrates a NEST base in the Orkney Islands in Scotland and hunts down Skids and Mudflap on Soundwave's orders.

Inside the base The Twins are being trained by Sideswipe via an obstacle course, which they deal with easily. Sideswipe isn't happy with them, thinking they're traitors etc, and sets another training cause up again, when Ravage attacks him from behind.

Ravage turns to the Twins next to complete his mission, but the Twins are able to outrun him and cause an accident and trap him under some rubble, but not stopping him. They divert him into the Simulated Combat room where Ravage projects a message from Soundwave telling them to tell him all they know about The Fallen when the Twins activate the simulation and injures Ravage in the process.

A while later, Sideswipe is back online and taken to see Ravage, only to find that he's gone. Sideswipe thinks that the Twins attacked him and thinks that they're Decepticons still...which Soundwave listens in on via the radio transmitter Ravage left in the base, which he finds interesting.

Comic Characters

Autobots

Sideswipe - Concept Corvette

Skids - Smart Car

Mudflap - Smart Car

Ironhide - Pick Up Truck (mentioned)

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab (mentioned)

Decepticons

The Fallen (mentioned)

Soundwave - Satellite/Jet

Ravage - Missile

Comic Notes

• Sideswipe believes that the Twins are traitors after the Grindor incident
• Ironhide gave the Twins to Sideswipe for special training
• Sideswipe really hates the Twins...he's not alone it turns out (I like them though!)

Extra Features

Adverts

Competitions

25 Years of Transformers - Article celebrating the last 25 years of awesomeness

Message in a Battle! - Birthday card design

All Hail Megatron reprint - Part 4

Ravage - Profile for everyone's favourite kitty-bot

Way Past Cool! - Bumblebee reviews new games

Which Transformer are you? - Take a quiz (I'm The Fallen apparently)

Law & Disorder - Barricade and Ironhide chat away

Starscream's Stars - Horoscope!

Titan - ROTF Volume 2 #3

Basic Information

Cover Characters: Stock Images of Skids and Mudflap

Cover Date: September 2009

Price: £2.99

Poster: G1 Starscream and Megatron

Comic Title: Learning Curve

Script: Simon Furman

Art: Jon Davis-Hunt

Colours: Hi-Fi Design

Lettering: Andrew James

Comic Plot

The Twins, at Edwards Air Base, attack Ironhide as an impromptu training exercise and get him angry. NEST detects Decepticon activity in Las Vegas so Ironhide and NEST head out to deal with it, and Ironhide tells the Twins to stay at the base...they ignore him and drive out themselves.

Soundwave has sent Grindor to look for one of the Seekers that is in Las Vegas to get it's mind from the shell. NEST attacks Grindor after he extracted the brain unit, and they trap him before he can escape.

The Twins arrive on the scene and try to help out by shooting at Grindor, but accidentally shoots the tether holding him down, setting the Decepticon free. Ironhide tells them to treat this as a learning experience and to not worry about it.

Comic Characters

Autobots

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab (mentioned)

Skids - Smart Car

Mudflap - Smart Car

Ironhide - Pick Up Truck

Bumblebee - Concept Camaro

Decepticons

Soundwave - Satellite/Jet

Grindor - Military Helicopter

Other

"Green Hubcap" - Vintage Car (dead)

Human

Sergeant Dundee

Comic Notes

• The Twins won't talk to anyone else about their discovery except for Optimus
• The Twins have a reputation for crying wolf
• The dead Seeker looks like a green version of Hubcap (a toy that was announced long after this comic came out)
• The Twins freeing Grindor will later be used as evidence against the Twins in the case against them being traitors.

Extra Features

Adverts

Competitions

The Fallen - His profile

More than Meets the Eye - Transformers Puzzles

All Hail Megatron reprint - Part 3

Mode Mix Up! - Transformers Match Up Game

Sideswipe's Arsenal - Rail Gun information

Top Gear - New stuff that you can buy or win

Law & Disorder - Barricade and Ironhide do stuff

Starscream's Stars - Horoscope

Titan - ROTF Volume 2 #2

Basic Information

Cover Characters: Stock Image of Megatron

Cover Date: August 2009

Price: £2.70

Poster: G1 Soundwave with Frenzy in his eyes

Comic Title: Dogfight!

Script: Simon Furman

Art: Jon Davis-Hunt

Lettering: Andrew James

Comic Plot

Skids and Mudflap arrive on Earth in Canada and take on their Smart Car modes. Starscream informs The Fallen about the Twins spying on them, and he tells him that he has an agent to deal with them on Earth. The Twins are attacked by Ransack.

In New York State Sam is looking at colleges still and Bumblebee picks up on the Twin's distress signal from being attacked by Ransack so he drives off to save him.

The Twins begin to fight back against Ransack, but he prepares to make a comeback when Bumblebee arrives on the scene and chases off the ancient Seeker, and he vows revenge.

Comic Characters

Autobots

Skids - Entry Pod, Smart Car

Mudflap - Entry Pod, Smart Car

Bumblebee - Concept Camaro

Decepticons

The Fallen

Ransack - Bi-Plane

Starscream - F22 Jet

Humans

Sam Witwicky

Judy Witwicky

Ron Witwicky

Comic Notes

• The Twins arrive on Earth after Arcee and Sideswipe, unlike in the IDW comics, and they take on their Smart Car modes as soon as they arrive on the planet, rather than taking on an Ice Cream Truck mode, and Ransack seems fine rather than being under Initiative control, so it's safe to say that this is a totally different continuity to IDW (duh)
• Starscream is to stay on Cybertron for now.
• Ransack works for The Fallen still
• Sam finally appears in the UK comics after being dead for most of Volume 1
• Bumblebee's radio gimmick also debuts here, since he had a normal voice throughout Volume 1
• Mikaela doesn't appear here or any other issue in this Volume, despite being the main character in Volume 1

Extra Features

Adverts

Competitions

Sideswipe - Sideswipe Profile

All Hail Megatron reprint - Part 2

More than Meets the Eye - Transformers Puzzles

Why Jetfire likes being an SR-71 Blackbird - What the title says...

Top Gear - Stuff to look at and buy

Law & Disorder - Barricade and Ironhide chat to the fans

Starscream's Stars - Horoscope

Titan - ROTF Volume 2 #1

Basic Information

Cover Characters: Stock Images of Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and Skids

Cover Date: July 2009

Price: £2.99

Poster: Optimus Prime reaches for you, G1 Optimus has killed Optimus

Comic Title: Training Day

Script: Simon Furman

Art: Jon Davis-Hunt

Lettering: Andrew James

Comic Plot

Skids and Mudflap, the Twins are training on a deserted Cybertron instead of heading to Earth to regroup with Optimus and his team. Meanwhile Starscream is sent back to Cybertron by The Fallen as part of his grand scheme whilst the others hunt for the Matrix on Earth.

Whilst training, the Twins seen that the Decepticons have arrived on Cybertron, and overhear them talking about The Fallen. They decide to tell Optimus, but think that a message would take too long, so they decide to go to Optimus themselves, when suddenly the Decepticons attack them. The Twins try to escape but keep getting hounded, so they decide to go into Entry Pod mode and fly to Earth and regroup with the Autobots.

Comic Characters

Autobots

Skids - Hovercar, Entry Pod

Mudflap - Hovercar, Entry Pod

Optimus Prime (cameo)

Bumblebee (cameo)

Ratchet (cameo)

Ironhide (cameo)

Sideswipe (cameo)

Decepticons

The Fallen (cameo)

Megatron (mentioned, dead)

Starscream - F22 Jet

Lugnut Drones - Jets

Comic Notes

• This is the first comic since issue 7 Volume One where Stock images are used for the covers
• This is the first and so far only Titan series to have the same artist all the way throughout.
• Start of the 8 issue Twins storyline
• Metrotitan City is named after the G1 Decepticon
• The Fallen is only ever seen in majorly obscured ways
• The Twins are revealed to have battle masks here
• The Decepticon drones here look like TFA Lugnut somewhat in robot mode, and the Universe Cyclonus toy in vehicle mode.
• The Twins ignored Optimus' order to come to Earth before this issue

Extra Features

Adverts

Competitions

Skids - Skids' profile page

More than Meets the Eye - Transformers Puzzles

All Hail Megatron reprint - Part 1

Prime Colours - Colour in your own version of Volume 1 Issue 25

Way Past Cool! - Bumblebee reviews the ROTF game

Pop Quiz, Hotshots - Test your Transformers knowledge

Top Gear - New stuff to look at and win

Law & Disorder - Barricade and Ironhide have taken over from Screamer

Starscream's Stars - Starscream's Horoscope column