IDW - Transformers: Last Bot Standing #2

Written by: Nick Roche

Art by: E.J. Su & Nick Roche

Colours by: Rebecca Nalty

Letters & Design by: Johanna Nattalie

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Editor: David Mariotte

Plot

Rodimus investigates the pod used by the Visitor, but keeps being interrupted by Shib, who followed him, and explains that she, and her family, have been hiding him for generations.

Rodimus tries to use the stars to determine exactly how long it's been since he went into hiding, but is shocked to see the stars  linking out of existence, which Shib says has been happening since at least her grandfather's time.

The elderly Autobot laments that his species is to blame for the stars dying, and for so many world's dying, all because of their war.

Soon, a mob from the town arrives, and they intend to take Rodimus away for a town meeting to determine his fate, and also intend to imprison Shib and her family for hiding an alien robot. Rodimus agrees to be captured, but on the condition that Shib and her brothers not be blamed at all.

Elsewhere, Moon, formerly Spine-Shucker, guards the new base of his crew of eclectic Cybertronians, who have landed on the planet to look for a new home, and for more biofuel to power them.

Override and Riotgear are sent out to find Nitro, their scout, and locate his pod, which is being guarded by two of the townsfolk, whom Riotgear quickly grabs and learns that another Cybertronian was taken to town. Riotgear proceeds to devour the townsfolk to use as fuel...

At her homestead, Shib speaks with her brother Beets, before silently sneaking out of the house, slipping past the sleeping guard.

The next morning, Rodimus has been strapped to the ground, and is being guarded by some townsfolk, but they are soon distracted when Override and Riotgear arrive, and completely ignore them when they notice Rodimus.

Shib tries to free Rodimus, but he's afraid for her safety due to more of his kind appearing. Shib hides, at Rodimus' request, but the two other Cybertronians "rescue" him, and drive back towards their base.

The town's Alderman is told about the "rescue" and he's furious, despite their weapons having no effect on the giant robots regardless. He is further angered when he learns that Shib escaped from her house, and now considers her a conspirator with the aliens.

Rodimus is soon brought to the Cybertronian camp, where everyone is shocked to see another member of their species. Rodimus intends to fight them all, but his energy depletion gets to him, and he passes out.

While offline, Rodimus recalls how he, Gripper and Strongarm landed on the planet, with Rodimus intending to have them all just die out here, and not cause any further problems for the universe, hoping they're the last of their species.

Rodimus soon wakes up, and is shocked when no-one recognises his name, and learns that the Last Cybertronians have been overwriting their old memories to help themselves survive, and also now power themselves on Biofuel, and reveals that they already have a new subject to be converted into fuel...Shib, who was hiding in Rodimus' cape!

Characters

Autobot

Rodimus - Wagon Base (Previously Car)

Strongarm - Van (Flashback)

Gripper - Buggy (Flashback)

Powermaster Optimus Prime - Truck (Flashback)

Grandus - Battle Platform (Flashback)

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex (Flashback)

Thunderclash - Truck (Flashback)

Windblade - VTOL Jet (Flashback)

Tigerhawk - Winged Tiger (Flashback)

Bulkhead - Van (Flashback)

Armada Red Alert - Van (Flashback)

Arcee - Car (Flashback)

Decepticon

Galvatron - Cannon (Flashback)

Gigatron - Jet/Bat/Car/Dragon/Hand (Flashback)

Predaking - Predacon Gestalt (Flashback)

Starscream - Tetrajet (Flashback)

Sixshot - Car/Jet/Tank/Gun/Winged Beast (Flashback)

Strika - Battle Tank (Flashback)

Flamewar - Motorcycle (Flashback)

Snarler - Drill-Beast (Flashback)

Noisemaze - Space Jet (Flashback)

Calcar - Car (Flashback)

The Last Cybertronians

Steeljaw - Van

Sharpclaw - Car

Moon/Spine-Shucker - Rabbit

Override - Car

Riotgear - Tank

Cyberwarp - Jet

Vex

Wedge - Bulldozer

Treadshock - Tank

Nitro - Car (Mentioned) Dead

Scylla (Mentioned) In Stasis

Lunaclub (Mentioned In Stasis

"The Veteran" (Mentioned) In Stasis 

Donnokt Denizens

Shib Wallkis Captured by the Last Cybertronians

Alderman Errold 

Beets Wallkis

Wallkis Homestead Guard

Tunp

Spletsil

Rodimus' Third Guard

Buck Eaten by Riotgear

Buck's Co-Guard Eaten by Riotgear 

Fembrance Townsfolk/Mob

Donnokt Steeds

Trayvon Wallkis (Mentioned)

Grandpappy Wallkis (Mentioned)

Mr Wallkis (Mentioned)

Shib's Ancestors (Mentioned)

Fembrance Town Council (Mentioned)

Other

Primus (Mentioned)

Humans (Mentioned)

Nebulans (Mentioned)

Klovians (Mentioned)

Notes

• Despite a couple of IDW #1 nods this issue, I don't believe this can fit in that continuity, since the Optimus Prime shown was in his Powermaster body, which that version of Prime never took on. (Though I guess he could be Ginrai...)
• The "Last Cybertronians" we meet this issue are an eclectic group from most Transformers generations. Quite fitting for a series designed to end an era, and celebrate the brand.
• The "Visitor" from last issue, who Rodimus killed, is revealed to be named Nitro.
• Rodimus' design changes between the flashbacks and the modern day scenes, most likely due to scanning the wagon he's been using for decades, but it could also be from spare parts from the Wallkis family.
• Rodimus believes that the Cybertronians are the reason that the stars are dying in the sky, most likely because of the war (we have seen Star Harvesters in some past continuities etc).
• Strongarm is confirmed to be one of Rodimus' comrades, but the other is Gripper, not Prowl as I guessed last issue. oh well.
• We can assume from Rodimus' behaviour that Strongarm and Gripper are most likely dead.
• The Last Cybertronians have overwritten their older memories, in luding many famous names from the past, a nod to Information Creep from IDW #1, an explanation on why beings able to live for billions of years, can forget their distant past.
• The Last Cybertronians are revealed to use "biofuel", where they process organic life into fuel for them to use. This process was referred to as Pink Alchemy in IDW #1, and was hinted at with the Insecticons in IDW #2.
• The "Veteran" mentioned here is heavily implied to be Wheelie, based on the next issue promo. However, the name originates from an alias used by Swoop in the 3H comics Beast Era comics and prose.
• Rodimus seems to have an attachment for his cape/tarp, potentially meaning it was a gift from Strongarm or Gripper, or perhaps the original Wallkis ally. Though it is also possible that he just realised that Shib was in the cloth, and was worried for her.
• The energy keys that Shib owns are still not explained, but I still believe they are to be used to jumpstart Rodimus' spark, and would have been given to her ancestors when Rodimus first went into hiding.

IDW - Transformers: Windblade #5

Title: Race Against the Light

Written by: Mairghread Scott

Art by: Corin Howell

Colours by: Thomas Deer

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: John Barber

Plot

Windblade and the others now know why the Velocitronian cities are always moving, and why they are able to survive energy-wise from just solar power...their sun literally scorches the surface of their planet. Windblade and the team race alongside the city, and manage to work together to reach an access door, and enter the city, where they meet up with Moonracer.

Inside the city, the team are told about how the only way they can get Velocitron to ally with Cybertron is to win the Benefit race that day, and to win impressively, since the current planet leader, Override, is having some problems with a rival, Ransack lately.

Ironhide escorts Blurr to the stadium, along with Moonracer, who needs to be present for the proceedings, whilst Windblade, Chromia, and Moonracer's assistant Clocker head down to Navitas' brain chamber.

In the brain chamber, Windblade is depressed to find it in disrepair, and tries to communicate with Navitas, but finds him brain damaged, since the Velocitronians abandoned him, and just rely on him to maintain the city and their needs.

Blurr enters the race, which he learns is a "no rules" event, and is soon attacked by his fellow racers, who have all been outfitted with weapons and tools to injure the others. During the race, Moonracer identifies Blurr to Override, and suggests that Cybertron may still want their alliance to happen, but Override is so far unimpressed by the Cybertronian racer.

In Navitas' brain chamber, Windblade directly accesses Navitas' brain, and uses it to cause obstacles, and ramps along the race course (since there are no rules) and manages to let Blurr win that way, since the Velocitronians weren't expecting it.

After the race, Blurr calls out Override on whether the alliance should go ahead, which Override puts to the audience. They all agree and Blurr succeeds in creating the alliance.

Windblade tells Wheeljack, back on Cybertron, but he's worried since Starscream is now getting ready to meet MORE colony representatives....

Characters

Autobot

Windblade - VTOL Fighter Jet

Chromia - Speedbike

Blurr - Race Rocket Car

Ironhide - Van

Wheeljack - Race Car

Metroplex - City/Space Ship (Mentioned)

Velocitronian

Override - Race Car

Ransack - Motorcycle (Probably)

Moonracer - Sports Car

Knock Out - Sports Car

Clocker - Race Car

Knock Out's Conjunx Endura (Prime Breakdown) - Off Road Vehicle

Roadmaster - Race Car

Navitas - Part of Delta City

Velocitronians - Racing Vehicles

Camien

Mistress of Flame (Mentioned)

Caminus - City/Space Ship (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Solus Prime (Mentioned)

Notes

• Moonracer was made Cybertronian ambassador because she impressed everyone by keeping up with the moving city for an entire day
• Override and Ransack, the two "leaders" of Velocitron are based on their Cybertron series counterparts. Clocker is also based on his Cybertron counterpart.
• Like how Metroplex and Caminus are being used as cities, Navitas is also incorporated into Delta City on Velocitron.
• The guards to the Benefit race appear to be based, design and colour-wise by Transformers Arms Micron Wildrider
• Racemaster appears to be based on the G2 character Rapido, but with his name from his United counterpart.
• Blurr has been turned into a vehicle similar to Cybertron series Crumplezone's in this series, rather than being a more traditional car.
• The pin in Windblade's "head-dress" is shown to be able to act as a stylus for touch-screen interfaces. Most likely in case the Titans are unable to talk properly etc, like with Navitas here.
• From the preview and past issues, we can guess that the new guests are from Eukaris (the Beast Wars planet)