TFCC #66 - Another Light Part 6

Title: The Future Buried...

Writers: Jesse Wittenrich & Pete Sinclair

Pencils & Inks: Eryck Webb

Colours: Evan Gauntt

Letters: Jesse Wittenrich

Managing Editor: Pete Sinclair

Plot

The heroic Decepticons head back towards the Classicsverse Earth, as Galvatron has had a bad feeling about the planet since the walls around the Multiverse were closed off, and feels that he, and the others need to go there to help. Ultra Mammoth, on Earth, tells Galvatron that there's nothing happening, when suddenly a wave of energy hits across the planet and all Humans and Pretenders with Human-like shells are vanished, confusing everyone.

Under the Ironworks base, Perceptor and Wheeljack examine the Rarefied Energon pool and notice that it's starting to change, almost like it is alive...

On Cybertron, Nova Prime and his "Knights of Unicron" have arrested the evil Autobots, but Unicron contacts Nova and warns him that Rodimus is still alive and is about to enact a horrible plan.

Suddenly the entire planet begins to fall apart, Nova gets knocked down a panel, but manages to hang on by his axe. Rodimus reappears and declares himself the new Prime, and tells his Autobots to leave the planet as it's too dangerous to stay on now.

Moments later the Autobots have left the planet on the shuttles and Sky Lynx whilst the planet finishes it's change...into the physical form of their creator god Primus! Primus is glad to see the stars again, but decides that the Classicsverse Earth, that is sitting in orbit of Cybertron is in his way, so he attacks.

Primus' first target on Earth is the Ironworks base, which he easily destroys using a laser from orbit. Galvatron's shuttles arrive in the area, where they are horrified to find Primus attacking the foreign Earth, and then they too are attacked by their own god.

On the planet, the remaining Transformers are preparing to meet their fates, since their only shuttles were destroyed in the Ironworks base, but Grimlock manages to evade Primus long enough to get back to the planet and rescue the stranded Transformers, allowing them all to leave safely.

Primus prepares to unleash his full power on Earth, when suddenly the now uninhabited planet explodes and a large female Transformer emerges from it's rubble, declaring herself Gaea, and as Primus' "sister". Gaea explains that the Thirteen hid her inside the Classics Earth, just in case she was ever needed for battle, but she is shocked that she has to face off with Primus of all possible threats.

On Primus' body, the Knights of Unicron manage to rescue the still dangling Nova Prime, and they prepare to help Gaea against Primus. Primus attacks Gaea at full power, but she's able to easily deflect his attacks, she manages to blast out one of his eyes, whilst Nova Prime and his team take out the other one, blinding Primus in the process, before they fly off to safety. Primus contacts Rodimus for help, but the new Prime declines the request, simply saying that he'd be no help against her. Gaea finally shoots her brother in the back, destroying this dark version of him entirely, save his head.

In the aftermath, Gaea transforms into a new Cybertron, and Primus' head becomes a new moon for the planet. The good Autobots and Decepticons repopulate the planet and live in peace, with the Knights of Unicron acting as guardians for the planet. The factions have no put aside their weapons in favour of peace, and plan to rebuild their lost civilization...

From the shadows however, the Classicsverse Megatron has arrived on this new Cybertron, and begins his plans to conquer the world....

Characters

Autobot

Ultra Mammoth - Mammoth

Wheeljack - Race Car

Perceptor - Microscope

Grimlock - Raptor

Ironhide - Van

Ratchet - Ambulance

Sunstreaker - Sports Car

Warpath - Tank

Scoop - Front End Loader

Vroom - Dragster - Motorcycle Shell Sent to Alternate Earth by Gaea

Metalhawk - Jet Sent to Alternate Earth by Gaea

Skyhammer - Car - VTOL Jet Shell Sent to Alternate Earth by Gaea

Crossblades - Dragster - Helicopter Shell Sent to Alternate Earth by Gaea

Decepticon

Megatron - Tank

Megatron's Troops

Knights of Unicron

Nova Prime - Truck

X-Brawn - Personnel Carrier

Checkpoint - Pick Up Truck

Autotroopers - Pick Up Trucks

SG Decepticon

Galvatron - Rescue Helicopter

Starscream - Jet

Octopunch - Hovercraft

Treadshot - Sports Car

Cyclonus - Jet

Cyclonus - Space Shuttle

Straxus - Tank

Needlenose - Jet

Spinister - Helicopter

Hun-Grr - Two Headed Dragon

SG Autobot

Rodimus Prime - Sports Car

Sky Lynx - Space Shuttle

Drift - Race Car

Blaster - Boom Box

Goldbug - Sports Car

Rewind - Cassette

Ultra Magnus - Truck Cab (Mentioned) Sent to Alternate Universe

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab (Mentioned) Turned into Nova Prime

Other

Gaea - New Cybertron (Formerly Earth)

Primus - Cybertron Destroyed by Gaea

Unicron - Ringed Planet (Voice Only)

Aquarius

Tracer - Gun

Spike Witwicky - Cerebros' Head Sent to Alternate Earth by Gaea

All Classicsverse Humans Sent to Alternate Earth by Gaea

Inhabitants of New Cybertron

Acolytes of Unicron

The Thirteen (Mentioned)

Notes

• This story finally concludes the plot line of the Rarefied Energon that began in the third year of the comic.
• In case you never noticed it, most of the action and dialogue in this comic continues to paraphrase the 1986 Transformers Movie.
• Rodimus officially takes on the "Prime" title now.
• Primus' robot mode is based on his Cybertron Supreme class toy, but in Unicron's Energon series colour scheme.
• Primus attacking Earth (in a way similar to Unicron's attack on Cybertron in the Movie) could be a reference to an early draft of the Movie where Unicron did indeed attack Earth instead of Cybertron.
• So....did Grimlock rescue the Classics Decepticons as well? I can't really see Gigatron and the others being rescued by the SG Autobots, nor by Grimlock and his crew.
• Gaea being the core of Earth, and an enemy of Cybertron is likely a reference to the Aligned continuity version of Unicron
• Nova and his crew use their guns as propulsion whilst flying, much like how G1 Galvatron commonly does.
• Megatron's troops are heavily shadowed, but we can probably assume they have some relation to his crew from the Beast Wars: Shattered Glass series.
• Gaea sent the humans, and human-like beings on her surface to another Universe to keep them safe from her transformation. It's also revealed in the next storyline that she sent the animals along too.
• SG Scourge appears to be using the usual G1 character model by mistake in this issue.
• After Spike vanishes his Headmaster control helmet is seen falling from where his head was, but he wasn't wearing the helmet....
• Ironhide is seen behind Grimlock on the Autobot shuttle, but he's coloured in grey and blue.
• Strongarm's colour scheme on the back page appears to be based on the Gobot Crasher...I would like a toy of this!
• Windblade's appears to be based on Chromia's for some reason.

Other Features

Interview with Kristy Wu (RID2015 Windblade)

Another Time and Place Part 2 A look into futuristic alternate modes from G1

Teletraanic History Records Information on Megatron/Galvatron and Optimus/Nova Prime

Profile Images Updated images for Nova Prime and Galvatron, but no new information.

SD SG Minicomic SG Strongarm tells SG Windblade about her new awesome computer game.

Holiday Sale Buy some toys for cheap this Xmas! (Of course this magazine arrived in FEBRUARY FOR ME!)

TFCC #65 - Another Light Part 5

Title: Out of the One, Many

Writers: Jesse Wittenrich and Pete Sinclair

Pencils and Inks: Eryck Webb

Colours: Evan Gauntt

Letters: Jesse Wittenrich

Managing Editor: Pete Sinclair 

Plot

Nexus Prime travels to a weak point in the Multiverse, and uses the Terminus Blade and Star Saber to close the barriers between the Universes, stopping another tragedy like what happened with Ultra Magnus destroying the Classics-verse. The rest of the Thirteen arrive to try and stop him, but are too late.

Due to this action, Unicron and Primus, along with the Thirteen are split off from their Multiversal counterparts, which includes versions of themselves of the opposite polarity of ethics (ie Good Unicron, bad Primus).

In the Shattered Glass universe, Unicron has summoned the badly injured Optimus Prime and his almost dead Autobots, and convinces the Autobot leader to allow him to reformat him, and remove the chaos in his mind, and to help him to bring peace to this universe. Optimus is forced to accept, so he is turned into Nova Prime, and he is charged, along with his troops, X-Brawn, Checkpoint and the Autotroopers to bring order to the other Autobots.

On Cybertron, Rodimus is gloating over his betrayal of Optimus, when suddenly Nova Prime and his men are teleported into the throne room. Rodimus has the Autobots attack their new enemies, and Nova Prime attacks Rodimus on his own, easily defeating his usurper, and tossing him out a window, into a chasm.

Down the bottom of the chasm, Rodimus is face to face with Primus, who asks for his help in ridding his body of the impurities that walk around on the surface. His plan: mass extinction!

Characters

SG Autobot

Nova Prime - Truck

X-Brawn - Personnel Carrier

Checkpoint - Emergency Vehicle

Autotroopers - Emergency Vehicles

Rodimus - Sports Car Thrown into Primus' Chamber

Fortress Maximus - Battle Station

Rewind - Cassette

Drift - Race Car

Blaster - Boom Box

Tailgate - Sports Car

Other Autobots (It's hard to identify!!)

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab Reformatted into Nova Prime

Brawn - SUV Reformatted into X-Brawn

Prowl - Police Car Reformatted into Checkpoint

Ratchet - Ambulance Reformatted into Autotrooper

Inferno - Fire Truck Reformatted into Autotrooper

Ultra Magnus - Truck Cab (Flashback)

The Thirteen

Nexus Prime

Prima

Megatronus/The Fallen

Solus Prime

Onyx Prime

Vector Prime

Liege Maximo

Logos Prime/Soundblaster

Alchemist Prime/Maccadam(/)

Epistemus

Solomus

Autonomous Maximus/The Last Autobot

Micronus Prime

Others

SG Unicron

SG Primus

Skyfall - A-10 Thunderbolt Jet (Flashback) Part of Nexus Prime

Landquake - Battle Tank (Flashback) Part of Nexus Prime

Breakaway - Fighter Jet (Flashback) Part of Nexus Prime

Topspin - Helicopter (Flashback) Part of Nexus Prime

Heatwave - Multi-Missile Tank (Flashback) Part of Nexus Prime

Unicron Split Up Across the Multiverse

Primus (Mentioned) Split Up Across the Multiverse

Notes

• Because they are identified as the Thirteen, and there are thirteen characters shown in that scene (including Nexus Prime) and this is set in the main Multiverse and not the Aligned Multiverse, we can assume the members are the ones identified already, even if we can't tell who is who from appearances here.
• One of the Thirteen looks like the usual depiction of the bartended of Maccadam's Old Oil House. It has been suggested that Alchemist Prime has secretly opened a bar on Cybertron since the downfall of the Primes, implying that he might be the same guy.
• The concept of Multiversal Singularities is explained more in this issue, as them having some autonomy in each Universe, but several of them have a united mind, with the closing of the Multiversal barriers this could be a retcon as to why some depictions of Singularities are vastly different across the Multiverse (like The Fallen in Dreamwave and the Bay-verse, Unicron in the G1 Cartoon and him in the DDP GI Joe crossover comics etc)
• The scene of Optimus and his troops being reformatted is in homage to the same scene with Megatron and his troops in the 80's Movie (though this Unicron also turns the evil Autobots good here, unlike Unicron in the Movie)
• So yeah, you can apparently use your Nova Prime toy as a Shattered Glass toy too now!
• The last time we saw Fort Max he was looking a bit dead in Aquarius' flashback during Reunification. Though, it could be Grand Maximus or Brave Maximus or something instead, considering we only see a part of him.
• I wonder if the remaining evil Autobots will follow Nova Prime, or if they will be forcibly reformatted too?
• The scene of Rodimus falling through Cybertron into Primus' chamber resembles the scene in the 80's Movie where he falls through Unicron's body and lands in a chamber with Galvatron,
• Primus' views of the Cybertronians on his body being an infestation is similar to Unicron's view of Humanity in the Prime cartoon.

Other Features

Mitchell Whitfield (RID Fixit) Q&A

John Warden Interview - He talks about the production of new Combiner Wars toys

From Another Time and Place - Article showcasing the pre-Punch double agent toy concepts

Teletraanic History Records - Article talking about Marissa Faireborn and Old Snake (to help sell the new toys)

Teletraanic History Records - Article talking about Shattered Glass Soundwave

Shattered Glass Soundwave Profile

SD SG Mini Comic - Shattered Glass Optimus is annoyed that he was made good in the main comic

Marissa and Old Snake adverts - They try to sell off more of these unliked figures!

IDW - Robots in Disguise #34

Title: The Crucible

Written by: John Barber

Art by: Livio Ramondelli

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Plot

Optimus Prime and Alpha Trion leave the damaged Ark-7 on Prime's personal ship the Skyroller, and park it on the opposite side of the Earth's Moon to the Ark so they can talk in private, at Trion's request.

Once alone, Alpha Trion tells Optimus about the final battle between the 13 Tribes of  Cybertron, and how Nova Major and Galvatron became allies during it. After defeating Onyx Prime's troops the duo are joined by Alpha Trion, who announces himself as the last Prime on Cybertron, to his knowledge. (which shocks Optimus in the present). After a small off-screen incident between Nova and Trion, the three start off on long trek to Old Kalis, and Onyx Prime's throneroom, where they find it deserted, except for Rhinox who stayed behind to guard it.

After discovering the place deserted Nova decides to take the moment to put into motion his plans for Functionism, putting everyone who was left from the 13 tribes into one society, but all in their own set places (this angers Optimus in the present, as he realizes that Trion was the one who allowed Nova to be a Prime, and to do all his future evil acts).

After a while, Nova Prime has befriended Jhiaxus, who begins work on creating a Gestalt for Nova Prime, and asks Galvatron if he knows about Nexus Prime's Enigma of Combination, which Galvatronn claims that Nexus took it with him when he fled Cybertron, as he couldn't find it when he ransacked his fortress before.

This slip of the tongue allows Alpha Trion to realize what really happened, and deduces that Galvatron in fact killed Nexus Prime himself, and stole the Enigma, as it's name should have made people believe that it was a concept not an object, as designed.

Optimus wonders in the present why Galvatron would have stolen the Enigma, since he hates the idea of combiners or altering the Cybertronian form. Alpha rion continues, by saying that Galvatron realized his mistake, and launched the Enigma into space, and it landed, most unusually on Earth. He also reveals that Shockwave discovered where the remaining surviving Primes had fled to following the war, and where the Enigma was sent, and seeded those planets with his Regenesis Ores.

Alpha isn't sure if Galvatron knows the Enigma is on Earth or not, but knows they must recover it before he does, but also asks Optimus if he intends to tell Prowl (the head of Devastator) about the Enigma and this lost history, which he retorts with a "why wouldn't I?". However, unknown to both of them, Cosmos is floating nearby in stealth paint, having recorded and passed on the entire conversation to Prowl already.....

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Alpha Trion

Prowl - Police Vehicle 

Jetfire - Jet

Arcee - Sports Car

Sideswipe - Sports Car

Sky Lynx - Space Shuttle

Cosmos - Orbiter

Aerialbots (Mentioned)

Megatron (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Shockwave (Mentioned)

Swindle (Mentioned)

Cybertronian

D.O.C.

Hook - Crane

Scavenger - Excavator

Bonecrusher - Bulldozer

Mixmaster - Mixing Truck

Long Haul - Dump Truck

Devastator - Constructicon and Prowl Gestalt (Hologram)

Nova Prime/Major - Truck (Flashback)

Galvatron (Flashback)

Jhiaxus (Flashback)

Rhinox (Flashback)

Nexus Prime (Flashback) Seemingly killed by Galvatron

Eucryphia (Flashback) Killed by Onyx Prime's Beasts

Onyx Prime's Beasts (Flashback) Mostly killed by Galvatron and Nova Major

Headmasters (Flashback) Killed by Galvatron

Pesprapf Maximus? (Mentioned)

Thirteen Primes (Mentioned)

Prima (Mentioned)

Onyx Prime (Mentioned)

Solus Prime (Mentioned)

Liege Maximo (Mentioned)

Megatronus/The Fallen (Mentioned)

Primus (Mentioned)

Mortilus (Mentioned)

Adaptus (Mentioned)

Monstructor (Alluded to)

Notes

• Alpha Trion is revealed to be one of the Original 13 Primes in this continuity, and name checks Liege Maximo, Megatronus, Prima, Onyx Prime, Nexus Prime and Solus Prime as members too, lining up with their Aligned counterparts. The only one who could be different is Optimus, but we never know! Remember, this is the continuity that gave us a friendly, fun loving Shockwave for a while!
• Nexus Prime uses a character model based on his Aligned counterpart, as seen from the Covenant of Primus book.
• Sky Lynx apparently eats his Energon out of a bowl...how dignified!
• The Citadel of Light looks an awful lot like the Star Saber doesn't it?
• Nova Prime (then Major) is shown in his alternate mode for the first time here, as well as in his smaller robot mode (missing the cape, face mask etc)
• The Mournsong, which is mentioned by Rhinox was Onyx Prime's artefact from Primus in the Aligned continuity.
• Considering the Monstructor Six's alternate modes, and Nova's feelings towards the beast Transformers, its likely that they weren't volunteers for the Monstruuctor gestalt as previously believed.
• It appears that Nexus Prime's Headmasters are made similarly to the ones on Earth by Scorponok in the early IDW stories, where they are a mixture of Cybertronian and organic beings. This does sort of make you wonder whether Scorponok or the Machination actually unearthed the Enigma at some point....
• Cosmos appears to be quite willing to spy on Optimus on Prowl's orders here...wonder if there's something more sinister afoot?
• It's revealed that Alpha Trion's mission was to look for the Enigma of Combination.
• Megatron is mentioned to have NOT named himself after Megatronus (The Fallen) here, despite that being the case in the Aligned continuity
• Why does Optimus just happen to have a hologram of Devastator on his person?
• The concept of Information Creep, previously shown in MTMTE, Retribution, and even Five Faces of Darkness, is used again here to explain why the events of the past are considered myth by many modern day bots.
• The concept of "only a Prime can kill a Prime" was introduced in Revenge of the Fallen. Of course we know that's not exactly true from across the multiverse, but it's a fun myth :)

IDW - Robots in Disguise #26

Title: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9: Finis Temporis

Written by: John Barber and James Roberts

Art by: Andrew Griffith and Livio Ramondelli

Colours by: Josh Perez and Livio Ramondelli

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Plot

The Transformers are fending off the Necrotitan and Scoop continues to moan at Starscream, who is currently dying from the death mark. Starscream complains about how the only people around who may have helped him have just ignored his call when suddenly they answer.

The Lost Light and Metroplex apppear in Iacon, wiith Metroplex immediately attacking the Necrotitan, the Lost Light is unable to land properly so it crashes near the battle site as Bumblebee and the others watch and are amazed that their friends are indeed still alive.

Inside Metroplex Windblade asks Magnus if he knew Metroplex was going to have another Titan to fight when he landed, which he denies, but speculates that Metroplex himself knew though. Elsewhere inside the Titan Whirl reports that the Ammonites are still inside as well, so they still have to deal with them.

Outside, Bumblebee and the others approach the Lost Light and find Hound leading it as he starts to explain where Rodimus and the others are.

The groups discuss things and it's revealed that Metroplex's thumb is inside the Lost Light. Megatron notices that Metroplex keeps reaching for the ship, hich makes him realize what needs to be done to win the battle. He has Bumblebee take him inside the ship and finds the thumb, he uses the Space Bridge inside his body to transport it and himself to an unknown location, which Bumblebee is concerned will be just to hide on Luna-2.

In the Dead Universe Nova Prime attacks Orion Pax whilst his Robo-Zombies are fighting the rest of the Autobots and Cyclonus. During their fight Nova takes on the form of Sentinel Prime and then Zeta Prime to try and mess with Orion's mind.

Nova Prime is attacked by Kup who he easily whacks away then takes on the form of Optimus Prime himself. Orion is easily knocked down by his doppelganger, but the rest of the Autobots fight him off, except for Rodimus, who goes to give Orion a pep-talk about how despite his predecessors actions, HE is the one who has made the Prime name great again, and is the reason why he doesn't want to be a Prime, as the only true Prime is Optimus. 

After the talk Nova blasts Rodimus out of the way, angering Orion again, who attacks Nova, but not in anger, but confidence. He quickly tears off his arm and lands a punch right through Nova's chest, seemingly killing him.

Back on Cybertron Galvatron feels Nova Prime's death, he lets Shockwave know about it, which makes him glad as he can get on with the real plan now. He orders Metalhawk to kill Waspinator and informs Jhiaxus to get the machine ready.

Elsewhere, the Transformers are losing their respective battles until Megatron reappears in Metroplex's hand, allowing him to be restored to health using the healing ore inside it, and gives him the strength to kill the Necrotitan, which somehow heals those affected by his power before. With Metroplex healed up by his thumb his internal systems are repaired including the anti-bodies which kill the Ammonites. Megatron lays now nearby and seems happy, despite looking almost dead, that the "good guys" won today.

Elsewhere Galvatron is ready to admit defeat, with the death of Nova and the Necrotitan his plans to return Cybertron to it's former glory are gone. Shockwave however reveals that he was never planning to restore Nova and Galvatron to some throne, but his true goals are much gretaer. Metalhawk listens on from some cover with a still alive Waspinator as Jhiaxus makes finishing touches to a device that is designed to harness the powers of the Dead Universe from it's creation to it's end, and plans to use Galvatron as a link to power it.

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime/Orion Pax - Truck Cab

Rodimus - Sports Car

Bumblebee - Muscle Car

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport

Prowl - Emergency Car

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Nightbeat - Sports Car

Ratchet - Ambulance

Brainstorm - Jet

Perceptor 

Whirl - Osprey Helicopter

Skids - Van

Getaway

Windblade - Jet

Chromia

Nautica

Hound - Jeep

Swerve - Van

Mainframe

Blaster

Hoist - Crane

Trailcutter - Van

Rung

Chromedome - Car

Slug - Triceratops

Metroplex - City/Space Ship

Sentinel Prime (Illusion)

Zeta Prime (Illusion)

Duobots (Mentioned) Dead

Decepticon

Megatron Badly Damaged

Shockwave - Flying Artillery

Soundwave - Van

Laserbeak - Data Disk

Buzzsaw - Cassette

Frenzy - Tank

Blitzwing - Tank/Jet

Astrotrain - Space Shuttle/Train

Hook - Crane

Long Haul - Dump Truck

Mixmaster - Mixing Truck

Scavenger - Excavator

Bonecrusher - Bulldozer

Bludgeon - Tank

Waspinator - Wasp

Dreadwing - Stealth Bomber

United Cybertron

Starscream - Jet

Rattrap - Mole Rat

Scoop - Front End Loader

Blurr - Race Car

Landfill - Dump Truck

Flatline

Zetca

Iaconians

Cybertronian

Necrotitan - City/Space Ship Killed by Metroplex

Nova Prime - Truck Killed by Optimus Prime

Galvatron - Laser Tank

Jhiaxus - Jet

Metalhawk - Jet

Cyclonus - Jet

Robo-Zombies

Knights of Cybertron (Mentioned)

Nominus Prime (Mentioned)

Other

Ammonites Killed by Metroplex

Notes

• Andrew Griffith is back to his art duties, covering the Cybertron, Metroplex and Lost Light scenes with Livio Ramondelli continuing on as the Dead Universe artist.
• Bumblebee and the others are understandably confused about the Lost Light still existing considering the last time they saw it it was in an explosion!
• It also appears that Metroplex's brain module and his inhabitants have been moved into his head again (I can accept this considering Metroplex has just space bridged himself and the Lost Light to Cybertron, and it was shown in the 2012 Annual that the Titans can space bridge away smaller items accurately (ie Ore''s remains). Though as shown here he DIDN'T remove the Ammonites as well...
• Nova Prime transforms himself into all official Autobot Primes here (It's unclear if Nominus was an Autobot, and Rodimus was self appointed
• Metroplex's severed thumb is revealed here to be soaked in one of Shockwave's ores. The ore in Metroplex's thumb seems to have a healing effect that is able to spread across a great distance as it seems to be what heals those injured by the Necrotitan, unless the death of the Necrotitan is what healed them....
• Orion Pax takes back his name of Optimus Prime after Rodimus convinces him that it's HIS actions that have made the name great again following the dark actions of his predecessors 
• It's revealed here that the plan all along has been to wait for Nova Prime to die, along with his control over the Dead Universe so they can harness it's power for Shockwave's final victory, but using Galvatron as a link as well.
• It seems funny to me that Megatron was being used as a portal to the Dead Universe at the start of this storyline, and now it seems that Galvatron (who is a rebuilt version of Megatron in some continuities) is going to be used in a similar way here.
• According to Shockwave samples of all of the ores that he seeded across the galaxy that actually managed to survive have all returned to Cybertron now. So I guess we're getting to see the purpose in them soon!
• The Robo-Zombies in the Dead Universe are shown to be in more styles than just Sweeps, this could account for all the different body types in Galvatron's army in Heart of Darkness, or they could just be other members of the Ark-1 crew.

IDW - More Than Meets The Eye #26

Title: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8: Burning Bright

Written by: James  Roberts and John Barber

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

Bumblebee drives along the wilderness of Cybertron towards Iacon with Megatron hanging onto his roof, along the way the duo discuss what needs to be done. Megatron points out that due to it's composition the Necrtitan is neither dead or alive so it cannot be stopped by killing it, and begins formulating a new plan to save "his" people.

In Iacon itself the Necrotitan continues it's rampage and Starscream feels sorry for himself. Rattrap finds him, and Starscream congratulates him out out-scheming him with Scoop's help, but Rattrap reveals he's not there to take command, and reveals the returning Prowl, Soundwave and their armies who take control of the situation and begin a counterattack plan against the Titan.

Meanwhile, inside Metroplex Getaway diffuses the ensuing fight between the Autobots and Female Transformers when he reveals that they're all Autobots and they should work together against a common foe, namely the Ammonites who just broke down the doors into the chamber.

The Females lead Magnus and some of the others up their zip-line to help protect Metrooplex's brain (which was moved) whilst the rest of the Autobots fight off the Ammonites. Along the way Ratchet starts to bring up Chromia and Nautica's female natures, but stops when Chromia seems a bit snappy about the subject, they reach the left shoulder blade and find the brain, and Windblade guarding it.

In the Dead Universe Nightbeat leads the team to Kup and they take down a load of Sweeps along the way. Once there Orion has Cyclonus guard the door and Nightbeat starts separating Kup from the machines. Whilst this is happening Rodimus tells Orion about what happened with Overlord, and explains that he admitted his part in the incident to the crew and invoked the Crisis Act and asked the crew to vote on whether he should be captain anymore or not. 89 voted "no", but 101 voted "yes", so he reamined on as captain. However he decided to work harder to win back the trust of the 89 who voted "no" so he scratched the numbers into his hands as a reminder. Afterwards rather than giving him a "no-one's perfect" speech Orion tells him that he should have quit rather than forcing a vote and that he's ashamed of him.

Kup is revived fully and seems ready for battle, but suddenly Cyclonus is thrown into him by Nova Prime, who prepares to battle with Orion Pax, once and for all.

At Metroplex's brain the Females explain that they arrived here after being members of Thunderclash's crew when Alpha Trion ran into them and explained the problems with Metroplex, the three of them left the ship and started working on saving him, but it's not going well. Magnus however has an idea, and thinks he knows why Metroplex called out to them originally now as well. He has Metroplex's systems opened up somewhat and contacts the Lost Light asking them to send Quantum Jump energy from the engines to Metroplex (using the water as a conduit) so they can jump start him (like the Lost Light did with the Vis Vitalis in issue 22).

In Iacon, things are going bad still, the Medics aren't getting along well and they try to repair the big guns like Omega Supreme and the Aerialbots, but nothing seems to be working too well against the Necrotitan. During the battles Prowl asks Soundwave what Shockwave's real goal is, as none off this makes sense. Soundwave admits that Shockwave was never devoted to the Decepticon cause and has always had his own agenda, whatever it is. Prowl comments that they need a miracle, to which Megatron and Bumblebee appear (Megatron had Bumblebee wait for the perfect moment to appear). Megatron suggests that they send all the Cybertronians they can to Luna-2 until the battle is over, and he'll call for reinforcements in space to return and fight as well. Bumblebee refuses that option as he won't give up Cybertron to the Decepticons that way, and is determined that together they can win this war against Shockwave.

With that a Quantum Jump occurs and the Lost Light and Metroplex appear in Iacon, ready to face the Necrotitan.

Characters

Autobot

Orion Pax - Truck

Rodimus - Sports Car

Bumblebee - Muscle Car

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport

Prowl - Emergency Car

Nightbeat - Car

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Metroplex - City/ Space Ship

Getaway

Perceptor

Ratchet - Ambulance

Skids - Van

Brainstorm - Jet

Whirl - Osprey Helicopter

Windblade - Jet

Chromia

Nautica

Ironhide - Van

Arcee - Car

Swoop - Pteranodon

Slug - Triceratops

Snarl - Stegosaurus

Sludge - Apatosaurus

Fixit - Ambulance

Alpha Trion (Mentioned)

Hound - Jeep (Mentioned)

Drift - Car (Mentioned)

Thunderclash (Mentioned)

Pharma - Jet (Mentioned)

Aerialbots - Jets (Mentioned) Out of Commission

Omega Supreme - Rocket and Base (Mentioned) Out of Commission

Jetfire - Jet (Mentioned) Out of Commission

Other Autobots

Decepticon

Megatron Legless

Soundwave - Van

Buzzsaw - Cassette

Ravage - Cassette

Blitzwing - Tank/Jet

Shockwave - Flying Artillery (Mentioned)

Overlord - Tank and Jet (Mentioned)

Squadron X (Mentioned)

Decepticon Justice Division (Mentioned)

Other Decepticons

United Cybertron

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Rattrap - Mole Rat

Scoop - Front End Loader

Blurr - Race Car

Flatline

Sky-Byte - Flying Shark Injured in Battle

Other Iaconians

Cybertronian

Nova Prime - Truck

Cyclonus - Jet Dying

Necrotitan - City/Space Ship

Sweeps - Space Ships

Other

Ammonites

Notes

• Judging by how Megatron keeps hanging onto Bumblebee's roof/back during his transformation, I guess he has no moving parts in that area during conversion
• It seems implied here that Starscream might not know Ironhide or the Dinobots by name/face as he just refers to them as "uh...everybody elsse..."
• Prowl calls Slag by his new name "Slug"...when did they have the chance to discuss his name change exactly?
• How did Getaway notice Nautica's Autobot insignia if it was covered in so much dirt?
• Chromia mistakes Ratchet for Pharma, which is understandable as they have the same head etc.
• Why are Chromia and the others having to catch up with Cybertronian history? Maybe something connected to their female natures?
• Optimus seems really mad with Rodimus here due to his actions involving Overlord and not stepping down as leader...wonder if he'll act the same way when he learns of Prowl's involvements in SEVERAL dubious acts.
• Also, it's weird that 101 of Rodimus' crew were OK with him remaining as captain despite being told about his involvement with Overlord...then again this is a crew that includes Whirl!
• Windblade being able to understand Meetrooplex through reading the flashes of light could be a reference to the strange language Skids couldn't understand in "Supposed-Cyberutopia".
• Alpha Trion isn't with Metroplex right now as he's almost found the "Holy Grail" and needed to recover it...wonder what it is? The Star Saber perhaps?
• Flatline's reaction to Fixit using a trailer to store the injured implies that the trailer wasn't designed for medical use, or is an outdated technology.
• The Lost Light finally returns to Cybertron after being thought to be dead by the rest of the planet.

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 - More Than Meets The Eye #25

Title: Dark Cybertron Chapter 6: No Exit

Written by: James Roberts and John Barber

Art by: James Raiz, Atilio Raiz and Livio Ramondelli

Colours by: Josh Perez and Livio Ramondelli

Letters by: Gilberto Lazcano

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Plot

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Characters

Autobot

Orion Pax - Truck Cab

Rodimus - Car

Hardhead - Personnel Carrier Killed by Nova Prime

Nightbeat - Car Under Control of Nova Prime

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport

Skids - Van

Getaway

Ratchet - Ambulance

Perceptor

Brainstorm - Jet

Whirl - Osprey Helicopter

Sludge - Apatosaurus

Slug/Slag - Triceratops

Swoop - Pteranodon

Arcee - Car

Prowl - Emergency Car

Ironhide - Van

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

Swerve - Van

Kup - Pick Up Truck Captive of Nova Prime

Bumblebee - Car (Mentioned) Believed to be Dead

Snarl - Stegosaurus (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Astrotrain - Train/Space Shuttle Injured

Soundwave - Van

Rumble - Tank

Ravage - Cassette Injured

Megatron (Mentioned) Believed to be Dead

Skywarp - Jet (Mentioned) Believed to be Dead

Unified Cybertron

Starscream - Jet

Flatline - Van

Tankor - Tank

Tankor/Octane - Oil Tanker/Cargo Plane

Deathwave Victims

Scoop - Front End Loader (Mentioned)

Cybertronian

Nova Prime - Truck

Cyclonus - Jet

Necrotitan - City/Spaceship

Jhiaxus - Jet (Mentioned)

Galvatron - Laser Tank (Mentioned)

Titans (Mentioned)

Knights of Cybertron (Mentioned)

Other

Ammonite Stowaway

Notes

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

IDW - Robots in Disguise #24

Title: Dark Cybertron Chapter 5: Finest Hour

Written by: John Barber and James Roberts

Art by: Robert Gill and Livio Ramondelli

Colours by: Romulo Fajardo, Jr. and Livio Ramondelli

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Plot

Nova Prime and Galvatron are coming through the portal in Megatron's chest, but appear to be a little stuck. Nova insists that Shockwave helps them, but he says he's a bit busy, just as the Autobots and Decepticons, now teamed up, arrive and attack them. During the fight, Bumblebee is shocked to see Metalhawk alive, and learns from him that Shockwave has promised him revenge for his death if he helps him out with this mission.

Ironhide and Skywarp work together to stoop Nova Prime from coming through the portal, by Ironhide physically stopping him, and Skywarp going to the controls to disable them. Unfortunately for Skywarp however, his teleporting powers have gone haywire and he keeps going non-corporeal and cannot use the controls. Dreadwing reveals that he's joined Shockwave because he's pormised him victory, unlike Megatron..

Nearby Arcee and Blitzwing are hiding the injured combatants in a small cavern whilst they mine for some of the resurrection ore so they can heal their allies outside.

During the battle Shockwave takes Waspinator's gun, whilch he's deduced can control the Titan, and uses it to command the Titan to attack. Upon his command, the Titan smashes into the city and causes massive damage.

In the Dead Universe Nightbeat greets his old friends and talks about how he's still alive following Hardhead executing him, and he meets Cyclonus, who he performs a cold reading of to learn everything about him, and about his recent experiences with Tailgate. Cyclonus gets mad and threatens to kill Nightbeat and everyone else, but Orion calms him down. They decide to carry on with their mission to the center of the universe, with Nightbeat taking the lead.

Back on Cybertron, the survivors leave the destroyed Crystal City where they find Megatron up and about, carrying Ironhide, willing to work with Bumblebee to stop Shockwave. However before anything can happen he is attacked and torn apart by Galvatron from behind. The others attack Galvatron, before noticing Shockwave, the Titan and the rest of his team are also assembled, ready to destroy them.

Back in the Dead Universe, Nightbeat reveals that he discovered when he examined the black Energon earlier, he noticed a fragment of Cyclonus' forcefield generator, meaning that he's not protected from the Dead Universe any more as it was damaged when he crashed into the Universe, meaning that he's part of this Universe again.

Nightbeat shortly starts to walk off on his own, and asks the others to stand where they are, when suddenly a containment cube appears around the others, Orion figures it out that Nightbeat is STILL under Nova Prime's command.

Speaking of which, Nova Prime comes crashing back into the Dead Universe now that the portal in Megatron has been stopped....

Characters

Autobot

Orion Pax/Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Rodimus/Hot Rod - Car

Bumblebee - Car

Hardhead - Personnel Carrier

Nightbeat - Car

Prowl - Emergency Car

Ironhide - Van

Arcee - Car

Decepticon

Megatron Split in Two by Galvatron

Shockwave - Flying Artillery

Waspinator - Wasp

Dreadwing - Stealth Bomber

Soundwave - Van

Laserbeak - Data Disk Slashed by Metalhawk

Ravage - Cassette Slashed by Metalhawk

Rumble - Tank Slashed by Metalhawk

Buzzsaw - Cassette

Blitzwing - Jet/Tank

Needlenose - Jet

Skywarp - Jet Teleporting going Haywire

Starscream - Jet (Mentioned)

Cybertronian

Cyclonus - Jet

Nova Prime - Truck

Galvatron - Laser Tank

Metalhawk - Jet

Necrotitan - Space Ship

Tailgate - Car (Mentioned)

Notes

• When first shown, Galvatron seems to be pushing Nova out of the way when leaving the portal, explaining his appearance later on
• Metalhawk's missing arm seems to have grown back, most likely due to the resurrection ore in the city
• Bumblebee's face is revealed here to be covered in a mask, most likely to slowly heal his damages from the end of the war for Iacon.
• For the first time, neither the Lost Light, nor Iacon are shown in a Dark Cybertron issue.
• It's confirmed here that Waspinator's gun is the source of his ability to control Titans
• Bumblebee says "crap" instead of a common Cybertronian curse word like "scrap"...wonder if that'll be kept for the toy-re-release?
• Nightbeat's cold reading of Cyclonus reveals the reasons for his actions during the series so far, such as not replacing his missing horn until Tailgate gave him one, his self mutilation and even his feelings for Tailgate.
• Galvatron tearing apart Megatron (ie the portal to the Dead Universe) could mean that he's planning to strand Nova in the Dead Universe still.
• Nightbeat's sleeper agent reconditioning is revealed to still be in effect.
• It's mentioned here that Nightbeat's body must have been drawn into the Dead Universe following his death on Gorlam Prime, and that's how he's been revived...why didn't the Autobots notice his body was missing after the Expansion war though? He was kind of a big character after all...he was even on Optimus' crew for a while!!