TFCC #71 - Of Masters and Monsters Part 5

Title: Pandora's Gift

Writers: Jesse Wittenrich & Pete Sinclair

Pencils: Dan Khanna

Inks: Jake Isenberg

Colours: Evan Gauntt

Letters: Jesse Wittenrich

Managing Editor: Pete Sinclair

Main Strip

Plot

Having rescued Spike and the other humans from the damaged bus, Garry the Gorilla starts talking and thanks Spike for showing him that humans are good and worth saving, so he decides to help them.

The Autobot Pretenders are battling Thunder Mayhem nearby, but aren't doing too well against the destructive force. Garry approaches them and "suits on" revealing himself to be a Transformer too, who knows the weak points of Thunder Mayhem, having been involved in the final battle on Cybertron, revealing himself to be Optimus Prime himself.

Despite this though, Mayhem grabs the Autobot leader and restrains him, as he continues the attack on the city. The humans are panicking below, but Elizabeth tries to calm everyone down, as she has a plan...

Nearby, Megatron is glad that Optimus is still alive, but is still alone as his Decepticons are all gone. Soon, Ramjet arrives, promising to kill Megatron, until the Wreckers arrive, and Toxitron uses his acidic touch to melt Ramjet's face and arm. The Wreckers leave Ramjet to die, as they head off to join the battle, not noticing that Ramjet is healing from his wounds using his dark powers....

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Pick Up Truck

Hi-Q - Space Shuttle/Gun

Metalhawk - Fighter Jet

Crossblades - Helicopter Injured by Thunder Mayhem

Vroom - Motorcycle

Impactor - Armoured Truck

Bluestreak - Sports Car

Decepticon

Megatron - Tank

Thunder Mayhem - Mayhem Attack Squad Gestalt

Ramjet - Fighter Jet

Toxitron - Truck Cab

Fractyl - Fighter Jet

Counterpunch - Sports Car

Human

Spike Witwicky

Elizabeth

Detectives

Civilians

Notes

• WHAT?!?! Garry the Gorilla is actually Optimus Prime in disguise?! Who could have guessed that obvious twist was ever going to happen?!
• It's mentioned that Thunder Mayhem is made much stronger than the component parts when combined because of...reasons...but Optimus somehow knows his weak spots....how?
• You know, for a destructive killing machine, Thunder Mayhem hasn't killed anyone, or caused any major destruction (besides one bus) yet...
• I like how no-one even acknowledges Hi-Q being with Optimus...guess Targetmaster-lives don't matter in the Classicsverse.
• It's mentioned that Optimus was locked inside a ship and made to watch Thunder Mayhem's rampage over Cybertron in an apparent attempt to drive him insane...WHY BOTHER?!?!
• Wait, who are those guys appearing at the end of this story? Well they come from the prose stories that accompanied this series, due to what I can only assume to be because of the ending of the TFCC and their stories needing to be tied up quickly.
• Toxitron is supposed to be an altered Decepticon made as a clone of sorts for Optimus, including his own fake Matrix....he looks nothing like that Optimus of this universe....

Title: The Re-Burn of Blurr

Writer: Derrick J. Wyatt

Art: Josh Perez

Letters: Jesse Wittenrich

TFASDSG Strip

Plot

The Headmaster Jrs and Sari are on a trip with their teacher when they are greeted by a saddened Kremzeek, who tries to tell them about how the poor, slow Blurr was crushed accidentally by Shockwave, but the Headmasters aren't interested, so they attack Kremzeek and further damage the Blurr-cube, leaving Kremzeek even sadder....

Characters

Autobot

Arcee - Sports Car

Nightbeat - Sports Car

Siren - Htachback

Hosehead - Snow Plough

Blurr - (Slow) Race Car Pretty Much Dead

Decepticon

Shockwave - Tank/Crane (Flashback)

Other

Sari Sumdac

Kremzeek

Notes

• This story is a Shattered Glass take on the "Return of Blurr" script reading/storybook
• The teacher is a little odd, it's based on Arcee, so you'd assume it was a SG version of her, just in Scourge's colours, but this version also features Scourge's facial hair and head doo-dah, and comments they will "drain the Dinobot" aka a take on "drain the lizard" which is male speak for going to the toilet. I dunno, maybe Arcee's just male in this universe?
• Nightbeat appears to be based on Harley Quinn, with her mallet and "puddin" comment, so I would guess Hosehead and Siren are based on Suicide Squad characters too, but....I haven't seen the film yet, so I can't identify them.
• Siren's tiny speech is an inversion of his loud and obnoxious voice in the regular universes, it's difficult to read, but the dialogue says "Derrick J. Wyatt sees me in his dreams" and "Josh Perez thinks I taste like mint chocolate".....right then!

Other Features

The Secret Origin of the G2 Powermasters! - Article on the motorized Powermasters.

Transformers Animated profiles - A bunch of TFA character tech specs, nothing new though.

TFA Season 4 Episode Guide - A list and brief overview on the cancelled season 4 of Animated

Sari-Blurr artwork - A visual representation of the Sari-Blurr fusion from the script reading

TFA Headmaster Jrs. Profile - Profiles for Siren, Hosehead and Nightbeat

Advert for the TF/GI Joe Crossover toys - Buy things!!!!

IDW - Revolution: Transformers: Till All Are One

Title: Informed

Written by: Mairghread Scott

Art by: Naoto Tsushima

Colours by: DAI-XT

Letters by: Tom B Long

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Publisher: Ted Adams

Plot

Windblade is recharging in her quarters on Cybertron when she is approached by Pyra Magna and Soundwave to come to Earth to assist him in a delicate matter, though unhappy with the sudden request, she agrees, since she cannot refuse a Prime.

The trio soon arrive on Earth and Optimus explains that Metrotitan hasn't spoken to anyone in some time, since forming Autobot City, and he wants Windblade to find out what's wrong with him. Windblade, Pyra and Soundwave examine Metrotitan's systems and find nothing wrong with him. Several days later, Pyra gets annoyed and claims that it's like Metrotitan is giving them the cold shoulder, making Windblade realize that there's nothing wrong with Metrotitan, but he just doesn't want to talk to them.

Windblade locates Metrotitan's interface port and realizes that he wants to talk directly to Optimus, but she knows they don't know if this will be safe, so she interfaces instead.

Inside his mind, Windblade is angrily confronted by Metrotitan, who is insulted that Optimus sent a "speck" in his place to speak to him, but allows her to speak to the one who really wanted to speak to Optimus...Micronus Prime....

Windblade's mind is transported into Microspace, where she encounters Micronus, who has a message for Optimus regarding the destruction of Microspace, but tells Windblade that she has to experience what is happening, in order to fully understand it...

Soon, Windblade is shot out of the Entropy Cloud where she is collected by the Ministry of Defense, who find her interesting, as she has been reformatted into a pure energy being. Shazraella is called to interrogate the mysterious creature, and explains about the entropy cloud destroying Microspace, and also explains about the war between the Ministries of Defense and Science, but makes it sound like the MOD are the ones in the right.

Windblade doesn't trust Shazraella, so she doesn't give any real information to her, but is pressured by Shazraella, who is insistent that she is an alien from the cloud, using it as a weapon. Windblade gets tortured through electrocution , which event harms her physical body in Macrospace.

Windblade is forced to tell Shazraella about Cybertron and the war, but hides that the planet is currently under uneasy leadership, in case the Microspace residents ever come to their universe. Soon, one of her handmaidens calls Shazraella away to see her husband, before being attacked by another handmaiden.

The traitor handmaiden releases Windblade from her restraints and asks her for help, but doesn't believe in getting it through torture. Windblade begins to assure her that she'll help, but she fades away from Microspace, as the handmaiden is killed for her treason.

Windblade sees Micronus' face before her and begins to pass on his message to her....

Soon, Windblade wakes up in Autobot City, where she tells Optimus about Micronus Prime's universe being destroyed, and begs him for help there. Optimus however refuses, as he wants to concentrate on protecting Earth from the current Ore-13 instabilities, and due to him now being resistant to aiding another Prime following their past mistakes. Windblade points out that Optimus is no better than them, as he annexed Earth in the name of the Primes, and they accepted that due to him being a Prime. Optimus still denies her request, but asks her to remain on Earth to help him, which she accepts...because he is a Prime....she goes off alone, watched by the newly arrived Rom....

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Windblade - VTOL Fighter Jet

Pyra Magna - Fire Truck

Sentinel Prime - Truck/Jet (Mentioned)

Chromia - Speedbike (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Soundwave - Personnel Carrier

Starscream - Fighter Jet (Illusion)

Bruticus - Combaticon Gestalt (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Metrotitan - Autobot City

Micronus Prime In Life-Death State

Windblade's Possible Pasts and Futures (In Metrotitan's Mindscape)

Liege Maximo (Mentioned)

Vigilem - City/Space Ship (Mentioned)

The Primes (Mentioned)

Mistress of Flame (Mentioned)

Microspace

Baron Karza

Shazraella

Traitor Handmaiden Killed for treachery

Shazraella's Handmaidens

Acroyear II Unit

Ministry of Defense Troops (Footage)

Ministry of Science Troops (Footage)

Other

Rom, the Space Knight

Notes

• The start of this issue begins between the end of the Titans Return event, but before Revolution #1. The "present day" part is set between Revolution #2 and #3, as evident by Windblade's knowledge of Microspace, and Rom's presence in Autobot City.
• Despite being made by the series regular artist, Sara Pitre-Durocher, the main cover for this issue features Windblade with the wrong facial markings. Also Metrotitan is shown with an Autobot insignia, which he doesn't have, and on top of that, the Micronauts don't appear ANYWHERE in this issue...
• Metrotitan has a tower in his city mode that is topped by his robot mode head...that's creepy...
• The ancient symbol of the Primes that Metrotitan uses here is based on the symbol seen on the earliest Prime from Five Faces of Darkness.
• Micronus' character model in this issue is pretty much his character model from Robots in Disguise, rather than the design based on that character seen so far in the crossover.
• The servants who assist Shazraella during Micronauts are identified as "handmaidens" here
• Shazraella's official role is given here as leader of the Ministry of Defense - Intelligence Division, before we only knew she was at one point the "mistress of spies"
• Windblade's trip into Microspace appears to have sent her back in time as well, since Baron Karza should be working from Micronus' body by this point, rather than still being in normal Microspace. It's likely that this is due in part to the time-altering nature of the entropy cloud, as shown when Baron Karza entered the cloud after the Heliopolis, but wound up exploring it for years whilst the Heliopolis was only there a couple of days.
• Windblade compares Shazraella to Starscream in personality....I don't know who should be more insulted there!

IDW - Revolution #3

Title: O Ship of State

Written by: John Barber & Cullen Bunn

Art by: Fico Ossio

Colours by: Sebastian Cheng

Letters by: Tom B Long

Edited by: David Hedgecock

Editor-in-Chief: Chris Ryall

Publisher: Ted Adams

Plot

In Microspace, the Heliopolis is at the centre of the Entropy Cloud, and the ship approaches the planet sized (to their point of view) body of Micronus Prime, the progenitor of Microspace itself, and is now being used as Baron Karza's base of operations to try and save Microspace,

Karza contacts the crew of the Heliopolis and explains that he has been in the cloud for many years now, trying to learn how to save the universe, and explains that time works differently in the cloud. He asks for the crew's help in saving the universe along with him, which they reluctantly agree to do, despite his evil past.

In the Macroverse, Matt Trakker returns to Governor's Island and confronts Scarlett about not telling him and his team about the Cybertronians being sentient, and accidentally reveals that Miles has captured one of them, without her knowledge. Miles turns up and escorts Matt away, to speak with him.

Elsewhere, Kup is hooked to a torture device and watched by Sly and Vanessa of MASK, and Vanessa tricks him into revealing all he knows about Ore-13 and the reason it is exploding, along with the knowledge of the stash of Ore-13 under Autobot City.

Rom has been taken back to Autobot City for both parties to explain their actions to eachother, and Rom explains how he only killed Dire Wraiths, and warns the Autobots about them infiltrating the planet's infrastructure, and are using Ore-13 to cloak themselves from his analyzer. Windblade reveals her recent finding that the Titan has a connection to another universe where Micronus Prime lies, dead, and explains that the Microspace is dying as well. Optimus is sympathetic to the situation, and decides that they must prioritize Earth's safety over another universe's, which Windblade agrees to, disgruntledly.

Aileron returns to Autobot City and reports that Kup has been captured, and he the Ore-13 is being sent away through a spacebridge to another universe, causing it to detonate. Aileron is prepared for repairs, whilst Rom looks at the spacebridge and begins thinking about things...

Back at Governor's Island, Scarlett is wondering if they can trust Manheim since he's hiding things from her and his own team, when suddenly Doc enters the room and reveals that the Joe corpses weren't humans after all, including Colton. The group are unnerved by this revelation, and wonder if the alien infiltrators are their allies, or enemies.

Scarlett gets in contact with an "old friend" to try and solve this issue out once and for all...

In Microspace, Karza receives  communication from his ally in the Macroverse, who tells him to not take any more Ore-13 yet, as the transport is causing the Ore to explode on Earth. Karza doesn't care however, as he sees the safety of Microspace to be more important than one planet, so he activates the spacebridge regardless.

On the Heliopolis, a Time Traveler suddenly appears and informs the crew that their true mission is about to begin, just as the spacebridge is deployed from Micronus' chest...

At Autobot City the Autobots try to figure out the link between Aileron's report and Rom's mission, when Rom examines the spacebridge and gets shocked when his suit reacts to it, and the Ore-13 around the room...

Back in Microspace, the spacebridge is opened, and to Karza's shock Ore-13 begins shooting through it, and starts detonating in the space around Micronus, he believes that his ally has turned against him. Elsewhere, the Time Traveler tells Oz and the crew to head through the portal so they can save the universe, including Microspace, which they agree to...

Back on Earth, Rom has taken control of the spacebridge in Autobot City, and the Ore-13 and is the one sending it through the portal to Microspace, justifying it as sacrificing an unknown universe to save this planet. Windblade stops him however when she points out to both him and Optimus that sacrificing anyone for their own mission is just wrong.

Rom surrenders, and shuts down the spacebridge, and allows himself to be restrained by the Cybertronians, and agrees that they must fight to protect both Earth and Microspace.

Unnoticed by anyone else, the Heliopolis flies through the portal and the Micronauts find themselves in a large metallic maze, unaware that they are tiny in this universe. They look for a way out of the metallic world they're in when they run into what they believe to be a giant version of Baron Karza, but is actually a human in a black ninja suit...Snake-Eyes...who is preparing for battle....

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Windblade - VTOL Fighter Jet

Aileron - Space Shuttle

Kup - Pick Up Truck In MASK Captivity

Victorion - Torchbearer Gestalt

Arcee - Sports Car

Jazz - Sports Car

Decepticon

Soundwave - Personnel Carrier

Other Cybertronian

Micronus Prime Maybe Dead in Microspace

Metrotitan - Autobot City

GI Joe

Scarlett

Mainframe

Doc

Snake-Eyes

M.A.S.K.

Miles Manheim

Matt Trakker

Vanessa Warfield

Sly Rax

Other Human

Madame President (Mentioned)

EDC (Mentioned) Absorbed into GI Joe

Matt Trakker's Dad (Mentioned) Dead

Dire Wraith

Example Wraith (Projection Only)

Joe Colton (Mentioned) Dead

Other Dead GI Joes (Mentioned) Dead

Micronaut

Oz Rael

Phenolo-Phi

Larissa

Biotron

Acroyear

Microtron

Other Microspace Denizens

Baron Karza

Time Traveler

Other Biotron Units Dead

Other

Rom, the Space Knight

Karza's Ally

Notes

• The start of this issue retells and continues on from the end of the Micronauts Revolution one-shot
• Despite Micronus being believed to be dead, his optics are still lit up, indicating that he is probably still alive in some manner
• It's explained that Ore-13 is being used by Karza to suppress the effects of the Entropy Cloud
• Rom resolved his issues with Optimus and the others pretty quickly huh? Last we saw them they were still fighting
• Windblade reveals that she learned about Micronus creating Microspace and now lays there "dead" during the Till All Are One Revolution one-shot...this issue hasn't been released yet...SPOILERS!!!!
• Aileron is identified as "Autobot Idealist" here, marking the first official point where she is identified as an Autobot...then again she could just be idealistic towards the Autobot cause without being one of them yet.
• Why does Scarlett have Snake-Eyes on her phone as "classified"? Is it just for the end of the issue cliffhanger? That's dumb...
• The identity of Karza's ally is unidentifiable here, but I would guess it's Miles Mayhem, as he contacts Karza right after his agents learn about the Ore-13 detonating when being transported elsewhere, and he is pretty much one of the only other villains in the series so far...
• Micronus' spacebridge ejects from his body from his chest, out of the detailing that resembles a Mini-Con powerlinx port.
• Rom mentions that spacebridges were thought to be lost. Before the resurgence of the Titans in modern issues, the only spacebridges being used were Nova Prime's ones from the Dead Universe, and the ones created by Bombshell and Shockwave in All Hail Megatron and the Costa Ongoing.
• Rom's armour has an affinity with both Ore-13 and the Titan spacebridges, implying that his armour could have connections with Cybertron.
• Rom confirms his dislike for Cybertronians is due to the galactic opinions of the species, but also appears to accept that they are trying to make up for their "crimes" now.
• Despite their smaller size, the Micronauts ship appears to be visible to Snake-Eyes.

IDW - Transformers #57

Title: White Heat

Written by: John Barber

Art by: Livio Ramondelli

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Publisher: Ted Adams

Plot

Following the forced spacebridge journey, Optimus wakes up to find Soundwave standing next to him, opposite Sentinel Prime and Sovereign, who is now using Alpha Trion's decapitated body as his own. Sentinel informs them that they are in the shadow of the now dead Titan, Prion, who was abandoned by Micronus Prime, and offers Optimus to join him and prepare for his master, Onyx Prime's return.

On Earth. the newly reformed GI Joe attack the Cybertronians in the Indian Ocean, and go under water to try and secure the downed ship. Sky Lynx and the others fight them off and begin collecting up the injured, before the humans can capture any of them.

Back on Prion, Sentinel explains that the population of the planet were descendants of Micronus Prime that the Black Block Consortia razed, and the one survivor (Nickle) was corrupted by the Decepticons and joined them. Sentinel explains that he wants Optimus to use his power as a Prime to conquer Earth, to "protect" it from a similar fate to what happened here.

Sentinel asks Soundwave why he is now allied with Optimus, and the Decepticon explains that when he witnessed him raising the Titan on Earth, he realized that he was a true Prime. Sentinel is happy with this, and have Sovereign slash Soundwave with his energy blade, glad that he can die a believer now.

Back on Earth, Blitzwing has escaped the Autobots and plans to go off on his own, however Zilong Qian, now going by Talon, skewers him on mecha and plans to fly him back to Governor's Island (their new HQ) much to Spike's disgust,

The Torchbearers form into Victorion and use her gravitational powers to mess up the GI Joe jet's targeting systems, and Jetfire worries that this will all cause more problems.

On Prion again, Optimus flat out refuses Sentinel's offer and knocks him down. Soundwave removes the blade from his body and smacks Sovereign off of Alpha Trion's body. Soundwave then confronts the Titan Master and reactivates the "Blackrock" program within him, reverting him to his human personality.

Before the freed Titan Master can do anything, Sentinel grabs him and sends both of them through the spacebridge towards their next target. Soundwave cannot find the target location on the spacebridge's records, but Optimus doesn't care, he has Soundwave set the bridge to Cybertron so they cab get Alpha Trion medical attention.

On Earth, the Autobots retreat, with Vitcorion levitating the injured with her gravitation powers. The Joes leave as well, glad that they have a Decepticon prisoner and the remains of the ship as well.

Shortly later, Alpha Trion has had his head reattached on Cybertron, and Fixit is confident that he'll recover. Optimus and Soundwave head back to the spacebrodge to return to Earth, and Soundwave confirms his belief that Optimus is right in his actions on Earth now, and now feels confident in the belief that all life is equal, not just Cybertronian life. He believes that they need to work together to deal with the upcoming dangers of Onyx Prime and his followers, as warned by Galvatron and Sentinel alike....

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Sentinel Prime/Infinitus - Truck/Jet (and Head)

Alpha Trion - Space Shuttle Under Repairs by Fixit

Arcee - Sports Car

Sky Lynx - Space Shuttle

Jetfire - Fighter Jet

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Tracks - Sports Car

Jazz - Sports Car

Sunstreaker - Sports Car

Thundercracker - Fighter Jet

Pyra Magna - Emergency Truck

Stormclash - Helicopter

Dust Up - Sports Car

Rust Dust - Motorcycle

Skyburst - Helicopter (Part of Victorion Only)

Jumpstream - Sports Car (Part of Victorion Only)

Victorion - Torchbearer Gestalt

Windblade - VTOL Fighter Jet

Ironhide - Van

Wheeljack - Race Car

Fixit - Ambulance

Megatron - Tank (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Soundwave - Personnel Carrier

Blitzwing - Tank/Jet Captured by GI Joe

Rumble - Motorcycle

Frenzy - Motorcycle

Swift - Helicopter

Needlenose - Fighter Jet

Dreadwing - Stealth Bomber

Mindwipe - Bat

Slugslinger - Twin Nosed Jet

Decepticon Ghetto Victims Dead

Galvatron - Tank (Footage) Dead

Nickel (Mentioned)

Ravage - Cassette (Mentioned) Dead

Other Cybertronian/Colonist

Sovereign/Garrison Blackrock - Head Reverted to Blackrock Persona by Soundwave

Aileron - Space Shuttle

Lightbright

Bob the Insecticon

D.O.C.

Prion - City/Space Ship Dead

Mini-Cons Dead

Nexus Prime (Footage) Killed by Galvatron

Metrotitan - Autobot City (Mentioned)

The Thirteen Primes (Mentioned)

Liege Maximo (Mentioned)

Micronus Prime (Mentioned)

Onyx Prime (Mentioned)

GI Joe/EDC

Spike Witwicky

Zilong Qian/Talon

Deep Six

Wild Bill

GI Joe/EDC Troops

Joe Colton (Mentioned)

Other

Buster the Dog

Black Block Consortia (Mentioned)

Notes

• This issue marks the end of the Transformers Ongoing, which will be rebranded as "Optimus Prime" at the end of the year, except for one issue of Transformers Ongoing to tie in with Revolution.
• Hey look! we get to see Prion...but he's dead...and a load of Mini-Cons! They're dead too...I don't like this planet....
• Sovereign taking on Alpha Trion's head is a clear reference to his toy counterpart forming the ancient Autobot's head.
• This issue shows us that the EDC members have started taking on GI Joe codenames (this was shown in Revolution #1 with Ayana Jones now being Mayday, but that is set after this event).
• Sentinel/Infinitus talks about what happened to Prion, the Mini-cons and Micronus Prime leaving their planet as if he was present for it, if I'm remembering correctly, he has only just finished recovering from his assassination attempt...where is he getting his information from?
• Micronus' location is revealed in Revolution: Micronauts, where it is shown that he has formed the core of the Miroverse
• Blitzwing is captured here, allowing for him to be experimented on by GI Joe and Mile Manheim
• Soundwave grabs an energy sword by the blade and uses that to knock Sovereign off of Trion's head....badass...
• Sovereign is revealed to use Perception Filters to make him resemble a human
• Sentinel and Sovereign end up on Luna-1 following their departure on the spacebridge, leading to the events of the More Than Meets The Eye portion of this event.
• It looks like Fixit's medical bay is located on the top of a spindly tower....HOW IS THAT REASONABLE!??!
• Optimus' plan to send his troops to Cybertron to aid in the relief following Sentinel's attack on the Decepticon Ghetto is to explain why only a few Transformers are on Earth during Revolution. Optimus' comments that he hopes to see Windblade again soon also connects to her role on Earth during the crossover too.
• Soundwave reveals that Ravage died to Optimus, which we saw him feeling in MTTME #55

IDW - Revolution: Micronauts

Written by: Cullen Bunn

Art by: Chris Panda

Colours by: David Garcia Cruz

Letters by: Tom B Long

Editor: John Barber

Publisher: Ted Adams

Plot

Within the Entropy Cloud, the Heliopolis is attacked by a group of Reptos, which were on the planet Sauria when it was swallowed by the cloud, and assumed to have all died. The Reptos manage to break into the ship and attacks the crew, however, by working together they are able to defeat most of the Reptos. The group are however grabbed by some Reptos, who prepare to kill them when a Time Traveler appears to them, and uses his powers over time to destroy all the Reptos  in the ship, and causes the ones still outside to flee.

The crew try to get some information out of the Time Traveler, but he shows them a glimpse into their histories, and even shows them most of their (probable) deaths, and an image of the Earth, outside of this universe, before vanishing himself.

The group continue on their way towards the centre of the Entropy Cloud where they hope to find the cause of it, and want to save the Microverse.

The closer they get to the centre, the more debris they locate, however despite the debris being of modern machinery, they have aged a lot faster than they should have.

The ship is hailed by another vessel, and it's revealed to be the Micronaut's enemy, Baron Karza, who claims to have been waiting for them for years, despite them having only seen him days before, he tells them that he doesn't want to fight, and instead reveals that he has located what lies at the middle of their universe, and the Entropy Cloud, it is the body of the creator of the Microverse....the Cybertronian Micronus Prime....

Characters

Heliopolis Crew

Oziron Rael/Pharoid

Phenolo-Phi/Space Glider

Larissa/Orbital Defender

Biotron

Microtron

Acroyear

Other Microverse Denizens

Baron Karza

Time Traveler Vanished into time

Biotron Units Aged and Destroyed

Reptos Several Killed by Time Traveler

Cybertronian

Micronus Prime Laying inert at centre of the Microverse

Notes

• Quick disclaimer: I haven't read issues 1-6 of Micronauts yet, but I have ordered them to start collecting the series, so if I get any details wrong here due to that, I am sorry.
• Since Micospace was created by Micronus Prime, it's possible that the Reptos, a species that looks like a melding of mechanical and organic materials, have something to do with Nexus and Onyx Prime, as they were shown in the past to be trying to merge their two niches (beasts and combiners)
• So...the time travellers can actively affect time to the point of causing individuals to turn to dust within seconds? That is actually frightening!
• Though it could just be the word chosen to describe the cloud, the word entropy has been used in Transformers media to represent The Fallen/Megatronus, so due to the other "Thirteen" relationship here, I wonder if he has something to do with the cloud surrounding Micronus?
• An explanation for why Baron Karza beat the Micronauts to Micronus' boy could be due to time dilation and Micronus simply acts like a black hole, making time go faster or slower at different points.
• Remember when looking at the image of Micronus Prime, Mini-Cons are usually around the size of a human, so 4-7 foot normally...you cannot even see the Micronaut's ship on him without magnification!

IDW - Transformers #54

Title: All Hail Optimus Part 5: As Above... ...So Below
Written by: John Barber
Art by: Andrew Griffith
Colours by: Josh Burcham
Letters by: Tom B. Long
Editor: Carlos Guzman
Publisher: Ted Adams

Plot

The Cybertronians at Monument Valley are surrounded by EDC troops, whilst Buster and his Cybertronian friends are getting a free pass (Faireborn doesn't want anyone to kill the dog!!). Soundwave and Aileron are being stopped from attacking the humans on Optimus' orders, and Circuit continues to report this situation back to Cybertron.

Meanwhile, in the Indian Ocean, Superion is being pummelled by Sky Reign and the Seeker gestalts, during the fight Pyra Magna reveals that Victorion was compelled to de-combine by the Earth Enigma, but was unable to do so with Superion, since he was created WITHOUT the Enigma. Despite this, Superion claims to hear the Enigma in his head, and begins to take control of it. Superion forces the other combiners to de-combine, but in the process his mind is being over-written. One of the first functions to be deactivated by this new writing is his mass-displacement program, and thus he starts to expand in size without control.

Inside the Nemesis, Galvatron is furious that the Enigma failed him, and that the whole Onyx system is collapsing. The ship starts to lose power, allowing Blackrock to swim away, grabbing his removed face in the process.

Outside, Arcee's team begin to break into the Nemesis to try and take control of the ship, and notice that Superion is getting bigger and bigger. Nearby, Jetfire determines that Superion is taking on the entire Enigma into himself, and deduces that if he de-combines then the code will be trapped inside Superion's mind, but split across the five Aerialbots, thus stopping it from working, but he's worried that he'll lose his mind BEFORE he can de-combine.

Kup manages to give the Aerialbots a pep-talk and saving the world with a great sacrifice (like he did during Infestation) and Superion understands, he manages to de-combine and Silverbolt comments on how Superion is now dead, but it was worth it to defeat Galvatron in this battle.

Back at Monument Valley, Soundwave is tired of hiding from the humans, and goes against Optimus' orders, and starts firing back at them, followed shortly by Aileron. Meanwhile, Optimus is reminded by Trion that he came here because of his vision, and he must stay strong and figure out why.

During the battle, Optimus tricks Soundwave into using his powers to read the human soldier's electrical brain signals, like he can do with other Cybertronians.

Following this, Soundwave has a sudden realization that humans aren't inferior creates like he previously believed and surrenders to the humans, and forces Aileron to do the same.

Underwater again, Galvatron locates Astrotrain, and wakes him up (following being de-combined by Superion) to take him away from Earth. Sunstreaker appears, and threatens to shoot the two Decepticons, but is attacked by Galvatron's fusion cannon instead. Thundercracker knocks Sunstreaker out of the way to save him, as he's a "hero" now, however this allows Galvatron and Astrotrain to escape.

Inside the Nemesis, Arcees team are heading towards the bridge of the ship when they encounter Blackrock trying to escape, suddenly Faireborn and Jones appear in a submersible, and rescue Blackrock, revealing that he added a distress message to the images that Galvatron previously sent to the EDC. The Autobots try to stop them from taking Blackrock, since he isn't human, but Skywarp appears and reveals that he's made a deal with Blackrock himself, and teleports the humans and himself away, much to Arcee's annoyance.

At Monument Valley, the Cybertronians are all but defeated, and are considering surrender, but Optimus suddenly starts to realize why he's there...he kneels down, places his hand to the ground, and awakens a long lost Metrotitan, buried on Earth long ago. The EDC fly away in fear of the city-sized Transformer, all whilst this is being transmitted back to Cybertron, leaving Starscream slack-jawed and unnerved.

In the aftermath, Arcee contacts Optimus to report her failure in retrieving Blackrock, but he doesn't mind, and gives her a new mission...to find Galvatron and stop him, whatever the cost. Arcee gleefully accepts the mission....

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Alpha Trion - Tumbler

Arcee - Sports Car

Tracks - Muscle Car

Jazz - Sports Car

Jetfire - Fighter Jet

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Pyra Magna - Fire Truck

Rust Dust - Motorcycle

Dustup - Sports Car

Sky Lynx - Space Shuttle

Thundercracker - Fighter Jet

Sunstreaker - Sports Car

Cosmos - Orbiter

Silverbolt - Commercial Jet

Alpha Bravo - Rescue Helicopter

Fireflight - Fighter Jet

Skydive - Fighter Jet

Air Raid - Fighter Jet

Superion - Aerialbot Gestalt De-combined, never able to re-combine

Victorion - Torchbearer Gestalt (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Galvatron - Tank

Skywarp - Cybertronian Jet

Soundwave - Personnel Carrier

Frenzy - Motorcycle

Rumble - Motorcycle

Needlenose - Fighter Jet

Swift - Helicopter

Slugslinger - Twin Nosed Jet

Dreadwing - Stealth Bomber

Acid Storm - Fighter Jet

Mindwipe - Bat

Blitzwing - Tank/Jet

Astrotrain - Train/Space Shuttle

Sky Reign - Forced Gestalt Forced to De-combine by Superion

United Cybertron

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Rattrap - Mole Rat

Circuit

Longtooth

Camien

Aileron - Space Shuttle

Sterling - Car (Mentioned) Dead

Other Cybertronian

Blackrock

Titan of Earth

D.0.C.

Bob the Insecticon

Primus (Mentioned)

Human

Marissa Faireborn

Ayana Jones

Spike Witwicky

Zilong Qian

EDC Troops

Sanjay Bharwaney (Mentioned)

Other

Buster the Dog

Seeker Clone Gestalts Forced to De-combine by Superion

Thrust Clones - Jets

Ramjet Clones - Jets

Notes

• So Sky Reign IS  a Decepticon then? At least when on Earth...I wonder if they recombine they'll still be a Decepticon?
• Despite the big reveal of him last issue, Galvatronus is no where to be seen (though his components are seen in the aftermath.
• It is completely confirmed here that Combiners use mass displacement when combining to scale the mis-sized limbs together.
• Aileron appears to use a slightly yellow/orange instead of her usual reds his issue.
• It's revealed that Optimus relocated the Autobots to Monument Valley because of his vision in issue 50.
• In that same vision, we saw Victorion standing near a defeated Superion. Assuming that the Aerialbots never re-combine, as they declare to do in this issue, that would make that part of the vision just figurative, and thus the same could be said for some of the remaining unfulfilled parts as well.
• Soundwave remembers Spike from the battle in Manhattan, as he was responsible for hurting one of his cassettes. Also Spike recognizes the sound he makes as him trying to read their minds from the same invasion.
• So...after a few years of interactions with humans, Soundwave has NEVER tried to read their minds and happened upon the realization that they are just simpler versions of Cybertronians before now?
• Swift implies that she has joined the Decepticons here, desite her not having a visible insignia yet.
• Needlenose and Tracks both instinctively push each other out of the way of Faireborn's gun fire...n'awwww.
• Optimus awakens his third Titan in this issue! The first was Metroplex, then the future Necrotitan, and now the Titan of Earth.
• Also of note, the only Titans that Optimus has ever awoken have shared the same body-type as Metroplex....coincidence?

IDW - Deviations: Transformers

Written by: Brandon Easton

Art by: Priscilla Tramontano

Colours by: Priscilla Tramontano & John-Paul Bove

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Edits by: John Barber

Publisher: Ted Adams

Plot

As usual, the battle of Autobot City commences with the Decepticons invading on a hi-jacked Autobot shuttle, and several Autobots are killed in the battle. Optimus arrives to take on Megatron one-on-one, but Hot Rod gets the urge to help his leader win. However, unlike what should happen, Kup manages to tackle the younger Autobot, and stops him from joining the battle, and becoming a hostage, allowing Optimus to finally kill Megatron.

Following his death, the Decepticons escape on Astrotrain, with Starscream taking command of the Decepticons, with no challenges. On the way back to Cybertron, Astrotrain needs them to lose some mass so he can continue the journey, resulting in the injured Decepticons being jettisoned, however without Megatron amongst them, they are simply devoured by Unicron, who is on his way to Cybertron as well...

Back on Earth, the Autobots mourn the dead, and Optimus decides to lead a mission to Cybertron to finish the Decepticons whilst they are weakened. Hot Rod starts to feel like something is wrong, but is being ignored due to him causing problems lately, with him attempting to join the battle against Megatron, and other things. Hot Rod is placed under Magnus' command on his shuttle, and charged with protecting Daniel until they reach Moon Base Two so he can be reunited with his father.

On Cybertron, Starscream is officially crowned the Decepticon leader, but during the ceremony, Unicron appears and orders Starscream to destroy the Matrix for him, as it is the one thing that can harm him. Starscream gets upgraded by Unicron, but begins to annoy the deity when he keeps asking for more things.

Shortly afterwards, on Magnus' shuttle, Hot Rod is talking to Daniel where he admits that he's been seeing visions of Optimus dying, and thinks that something is trying to tell him something. Magnus overhears this and believes Hot Rod is planning treason, but before anything can happen, the shuttle is attacked by "Megascream" and his loyal Seekers. During the battle, Magnus is badly injured by an exploding console, and Hot Rod attempts to save the day by stalling the engines, like he has a hunch to, but unfortunately it just causes the engines to blow out, sending them flying.

Megascream prepares to turn his attention to Optimus' ship, but Soundwave contacts him informing him that Unicron is eating Moon Base One. Megascream now angrily heads back to Cybertron.

Optimus wonders why Megascream left so fast, but they then set their attentions to the other shuttle, which has been flung off further than it ever should have. Optimus decides to land on the nearby planet of Quintessa for repairs.

On Quintessa, the Autobots are approached by a hoard of Sharticons, who almost immediately attack them. Optimus decides that they have no time for this, and orders the Autobots to defeat them. The crew enter the main court room of the planet, and promptly scare off the Quintessons and free their prisoners. There, they meet Kranix, who tells them about Unicron, and how he just ate his planet of Lithone. Knowing the planet isn't too far away from Cybertron, Optimus figures that that may have been the reason for Megascream's retreat before, and decides to return to Cybertron too, after rescuing Magnus and the others.

Magnus' shuttle is in a terrible condition, but Hot Rod is ordered into the last working escape pod with Daniel and manages to escape to the Planet of Junk's surface safely, whilst the shuttle crashes, and kills the rest of the Autobots.

Back at Cybertron, Megascream confronts Unicron, who tells him that he has grown tired of his whining, and has decided to destroy Cybertron now, transforming into his robot mode, and starts his violent assault.

Optimus' shuttle arrives at the Planet of Junk, and rescues Hot Rod and Daniel. On the way back to Cybertron, Hot Rod apologizes for his causing the deaths of Magnus and the others, but Optimus tells him that they will mourn later, as they need to concentrate on the upcoming battle.

The shuttle arrives at Moon Base Two, where Daniel is reunited with his father, and the Autobots begin to rally. Optimus announces that he believes the power of the Matrix will defeat Unicron, and heads to the monster alone in a shuttle.

On Unicron's surface, Optimus is confronted by Megascream, who tells Optimus to give him the Matrix, and combines with four other Decepticons to attack the Autobot leader, and take it from him. Megascream is about to crush Optimus, when suddenly Hot Rod appears, having snuck aboard the shuttle and knocks Optimus out of Megascream's hand. He takes the Matrix from the injured Optimus, explaining that he KNOWS this is meant to happen, he places a teleportation disk on him from Wheeljack's lab, and sends him safely back to Moon Base Two.

Hot Rod briefly fights the giant Decepticon, but manages to unleash the power of the Matrix, and ascends to his true form, Rodimus Prime, and kills himself, Megascream, and Unicron in the process.

In the aftermath, the Autobots return to Cybertron and celebrate the end of the Cybertronian wars. Optimus looks up, and promises to Alpha Trion, and the briefly lived Rodimus Prime that he will never question the will of the Matrix ever again (which is good since it's BEEN BLOWN UP!!)

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck

Hot Rod - Sports Car Ascended into Rodimus Prime

Rodimus Prime - Caravan Killed in Matrix Explosion

Ultra Magnus - Car Carrier Killed in Shuttle Crash

Springer - Rocket Car/Helicopter Killed in Shuttle Crash

Arcee - Sports Car Killed in Shuttle Crash

Perceptor - Microscope Killed in Shuttle Crash

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Blurr - Race Car

Blaster - Boom Box

Bumblebee - VW Beetle

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Swoop - Pteranodon

Sludge - Apatosaurus

Slag - Triceratops

Ironhide - Van Dead

Prowl - Police Car Dead

Wheeljack - Race Car Dead

Windcharger - Sports Car Dead

Scrounge - Wheel

Alpha Trion (Vision)

Other Autobots

Decepticon

Megatron - Gun Killed by Optimus Prime

Starscream/Megascream - Fighter Jet Killed in Matrix Explosion

Soundwave - Cassette Player Died as Part of Megascream Gestalt

Astrotrain - Train/Space Shuttle Died as Part of Megascream Gestalt

Thrust - Fighter Jet Died as Part of Megascream Gestalt

Dirge - Fighter Jet Died as Part of Megascream Gestalt

Thundercracker - Fighter Jet

Sunstorm - Fighter Jet

Acid Storm - Fighter Jet

Ramjet - Fighter Jet

Blitzwing - Tank/Fighter Jet

Laserbeak - Cassette

Rumble - Cassette

Shockwave - Ray Gun

Mixmaster - Mixing Truck

Long Haul - Dump Truck

Scrapper - Front End Loader

Skywarp - Fighter Jet Devoured by Unicron

Bombshell - Boll Weevil Devoured by Unicron

Shrapnel - Stag Beetle Devoured by Unicron

Kickback - Locust Devoured by Unicron

Gladiaron (Statue Only)

Floron (Statue Only)

Dery (Statue Only)

Ghoulon (Statue Only)

Human

Daniel Witwicky

Spike Witwicky

Other

Unicron - Ringed Planet Killed in Matrix Explosion

Quintessons

Sharkticons - Sharks

Kranix

Other Quintesson Prisoners

Notes

• This special is part of the 2016 IDW cross-line event, in the same vein as "Infestation" or "Mars Attacks <insert name here>". This year's theme is based on the "What If...?" line from Marvel.
• This is actually NOT the first time that we've had an alternate version of what happened during the Movie. In the Marvel days we had Rhythms of Darkness, which showed that Galvatron won the events of the movie, and in Regeneration One we actually see the final battle from that story.
• Also, in the Regenerations One scene, the Autobot shuttle crashed on the Planet of Junk and killed the crew, much like what happened here.
• The recap page for this comic actually comes from the IDW adaptation of the movie, rather than screenshots from the film.
• The fateful moment that was changed in this story, was that Hot Rod was stopped by Kup from interfering with Optimus and Megatron's battle. So in a way, all the bad things that happened here are Kup's fault!
• Amongst the dead bodies in this story is an Transformers: Animated Autotrooper....weird...
• Apparently if Hot Rod never interfered then Megatron would be a terrible shot as he completely misses Optimus' head.
• Following the shock of Megatron's death, no one challenges Starscream's plan to take leadership.
• Ultra Magnus' attitude with Hot Rod is based on an abandoned plot line from the script of the movie where he was going to reprimand him for breaking Kup's cordon on Lookout Mountain during the start of the film.
• Optimus takes Hot Rod's place on Kup's shuttle, with Optimus going on Magnus' too.
• It's actually mentioned here that the reason not all the Autobots are joining the shuttle trips back to Cybertron because they are part of a clean-up crew for the city.
• Despite not touching the Matrix or being exposed to it, like in the movie, Hot Rod appears to be receiving messages from it, further cementing his position as the "Chosen One"
• It's actually brought up that Daniel being exposed to a horrible war with people dying all around him MAY have affected him negatively.
• Starscream has to discard his cape and crown when he transforms. Nice touch. Though I guess a jet with a cape would look a bit stupid.
• Because he never stopped to observe Optimus' death and had his bargaining debate with Megatron, Unicron arrived at Cybertron DURING Starscream's coronation.
• Starscream isn't as good of a negotiator as Megatron was, all he got was a modified body, gave the ability to combine with him to 4 other random Decepticons, and that is it....YAY!
• Starscream's new "Megascream" body appears to be loosely based on Leozack's body, and likewise his combined form looks somewhat like Liokaiser's design. Hopefully this is a hint for a Liokaiser set coming out in Combiner Wars :)
• The Sharkticons "greet" the Autobots on Quintessa, in the actual film it was the Allicons.
• Amongst the prisoners freed on Quintessa is Scrounge...THROW HIM TO THE SHARKTICONS!!!!
• Arcee never speaks in this comic.
• Why couldn't more of the Autobots fit inside that escape pod with Hot Rod and Daniel?! From what we see of it, it looks large enough for at least a couple more!
• In the actual movie, Unicron attacks Cybertron after Galvatron tries to blackmail him with the Matrix, here he just does it because Starscream annoys him.
• The Autobots resolved their issues on Quintessa so fast, that they never encountered Wheelie, and because the Autobots on the Planet of Junk never went scavenging for parts, they never bothered the Junkions, so they were never met either!
• Starscream confronts Unicron before he can eat Moonbase Two, so the Autobot's base there is left intact.
• Thinking about that though, since the Autobots never enter Unicron here, does that mean Jazz and Cliffjumper, and the rest of the Moonbase One Autobots were killed either in his digestive system or the explosion?
• Despite being modified for combination, none of the other Decepticons have been modified appearance-wise.
• Optimus mentions how he questioned the ways of the Matrix, does that mean the Matrix told him to give it to Hot Rod so he could fulfil his destiny?
• Oh, and the Matrix appears to he blown up with Rodimus Prime here...let's hope there's no hate plague round the corner!!

IDW - Transformers #50

Main Story Title: All Hail Optimus Part 1: Once Upon a Time on Earth

Written by: John Barber

Art by: Andrew Griffith

Colours by: Josh Burcham (1-15), John-Paul Bove (16-20), & Josh Perez (21-30)

Side Story Title: New Worlds Order

Pencils: Casey W. Coller

Inks: Jamie Snell

Colours: Joana LaFuente

Letters: Tom B. Long & Chris Mowry

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Publisher: Ted Adams

Main Story Plot

The Autobots, led by Optimus are face to face with Galvatron's Decepticons in Shanghai and an all-out battle begins. Galvatron soon reasons that the humans will soon activate their mindbomb again to stop the fight, and has Blackrock, who designed it, give Mindwipe the system's code so he can create a defence against it.

At the EDC base, Marissa refuses to allow Thundercracker to join in the battle, as she doesn't want him to die, meanwhile the rest of the team prepare to activate the mindbomb, as Galvatron predicted.

At the Jupiter commune, Soundwave contacts Galvatron to ask why he's invading Earth, which Galvatron simply shrugs off as being his plan all along. Soundwave in turn renounces Galvatron and his plans, and decides to lead a team to rescue the stranded Decepticons, who were just following Galvatron's orders.

Back on Earth, the EDC activate the mindbomb, and Mindwipe manages to block the signal to a small group of Decepticons, but is unable to protect all of them, causing most to be knocked out. The Autobots protect themselves thanks to a device Wheeljack developed to defend them against the weapon, since the Autobots had experienced it in the past. The Autobots prepare to take down the still standing Decepticons, but they teleport away thanks to Skywarp, just as the Chinese military arrive in their own transforming jets made from stolen Cybertronian technology.

The Chinese military, along with some human-owned satellites in orbit attack the remaining Decepticons, and kill several, including Aileron's friend Sterling, angering her. Instead however, Optimus has Aileron go into orbit, using her space shuttle mode, as take down the weapons satellites.

As Aileron begins her attack, the Decepticons led by Soundwave arrive at Earth and begins picking up the surviving Decepticons, but Soundwave refuses to allow any Autobots who follow Optimus to join them. Hearing this, Cosmos decides to remain on Earth, as the Decepticons fly off to safety.

Aileron finishes her mission, and returns to the planet to find another problem, the space bridge is running out of power, and the portal to Cybertron is shrinking, but some of the Autobots are still trapped on the crashed Ark. Aileron dives through the portal with a plan, but finds herself in the middle of a battle between the Autobots and some escaping Decepticons. She ignores the fight, and flies off to her target...

The Autobots on Earth are holding off the Chinese military, with Victorion using her abilities to scramble their jet's circuits. The group manage to rescue Arcee, Alpha Trion and Sideswipe from the crashed ship, and they begin to plan to leave the city on foot, since the portal is too small to travel safely now. At the last moment however, Aileron returns through the portal, having acquired Optimus' personal shuttle, the Skyroller, and picks up the Autobots, and the space bridge, ready to depart. Optimus sets the Ark to self-destruct, to help stop the continued corruption of their technology, and the Skyroller flies off to their next target, the EDC base.

The Skyroller soon arrives at the EDC base, but rather than fight, Marissa simply returns their "prisoners" to the Autobots, and briefly explains how Blackrock was responsible for all of this. Thundercracker decides to leave with the Autobots, taking his dog Buster with him, as he no longer feels safe with the EDC.

Optimus, now at their temporary base, Thundercracker's old "house", has a series of visions, and hears a recitation of the Dark Cybertron prophecy that shows Earth heavily damages, Aileron as the Mistress of Flame, the Jupiter Commune crashing out of orbit, and seemingly the Camiens betraying the Autobots, along with himself having killed Galvatron and conquered Earth.

Optimus wakes up to Aileron and the team are repairing their injured crew members and preparing their next steps.

Optimus has Jetfire help him send out a message to the Universe, first apologizing for the damage caused in Shanghai, but also stating that he plans to protect Earth, whether it wants it or not, he wants to help the humans for their own sakes, and wants Earth to join in the global community.

Everyone reacts to this news somewhat badly, but Galvatron finds it amusing....

Side Story Plot

Faireborn and Jones are summoned to the White House to discuss some changes in policy, and they're worried about what she plans to change.

The Decepticons rescued by Soundwave return to Jupiter, where Swift is angry with them for not telling her that she was fighting against a Prime. The Decepticons claim that he's not a real Prime, and just a pretender, and still as corrupt as a predecessors. Soundwave also adds that he no longer wishes to follow anyone, after being betrayed by both Megatron and Galvatron, and now he'll be running their missions.

On Cybertron, the Council of Worlds has been called together to discuss Optimus' annex of Earth. They decide to allow him to make his case when he can make contact, but Starscream is concerned as Prime's idea sounds a lot like Megatron planning to conquer a planet as well, which even the ghost of Bumblebee can't really deny.

On Earth, Galvatron's small team are hiding on the sunken shuttle, where Mindwipe performs a biopsy on Blackrock, confirming that he is Cybertronian, but not in any way they he's ever seen before, as he perfectly replicates a human, except for his mechanical innards. Galvatron thanks him for his assistance, and reveals that he now has access to the full Onyx systems, which includes the security cameras in the White House...

At the White House, the President reveals that she has released Spike and Jimmy, and that Spike will now act as her representative at the EDC, along with some other member countries also being more involved than previously. She eplains that she now sees this as a situation of Earth vs all aliens, and they plan to win. Galvatron gloats to Blackrock's detached, but functioning head, that all his enemies are doing their work for them.

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Windblade - VTOL Fighter Jet

Superion - Aerialbot Gestalt

Victorion - Torchbearer Gestalt

Pyra Magna - Emergency Truck

Skyburst - Helicopter

Stormclash - Helicopter

Dustup - Sports Car

Jumpstream - Sports Car

Rust Dust - Motorcycle (Only as part of Victorion)

Alpha Trion - Tumbler

Arcee - Sports Car

Sideswipe - Sports Car Badly Injured

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Jetfire - Fighter Jet

Jazz - Sports Car

Cosmos - Orbiter

Sky Lynx - Space Shuttle

Thundercracker - Fighter Jet

Sunstreaker - Sports Car

Ironhide - Van

Wheeljack - Race Car

Chromia - Speedbike

Cliffjumper - Car

Prowl - Police Vehicle

Bumblebee - Car (Ghost)

Megatron - Tank (Mentioned)

Sentinel Prime - Truck (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Galvatron - Tank

Soundwave - Personnel Carrier

Astrotrain - Space Shuttle/Train

Skywarp - Cybertronian Jet

Blitzwing - Tank/Fighter Jet

Mindwipe - Bat

Needlenose - Fighter Jet

Brawl - Tank

Rumble - Motorcycle

Frenzy - Motorcycle

Laserbeak - Cassette

Buzzsaw - Cassette

Sky-Byte - Flying Shark

Slugslinger - Dual Cockpit Jet

Razorclaw - Treaded Vehicle

Rampage - Treaded Vehicle

Tantrum - Treaded Vehicle

Headstrong - Treaded Vehicle

Squawktalk - Cassette

Beastbox - Cassette

Redwing - Fighter Jet

Acid Storm - Fighter Jet

Cindersaur - Lizard Monster

Cutthroat - Winged Monster

Other Decepticon Troops

Barricade - Car (Mentioned) Dead

United Cybertron

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Rattrap - Rat

Devastator - Constructicon Gestalt

Cybertronian Colonists

Aileron - Spaceship

Sterling - Car Killed by Human Satellite

Swift - Helicopter

Fireshot - Part of Jet

Vanquish - Part of Jet

Moonracer - Sports Car

Knock Out - Sports Car

Obsidian - Osprey Helicopter

Strika - Battle Tank

Tigatron - Tiger

Airazor - Eagle

Human

Marissa Faireborn

Ayana Jones

Sanjay Bharwaney

Spike Witwicky

Zilong Qian

President of the United States

POTUS Security Guards

EDC Personnel

General Witwicky (Mentioned) Dead

Jimmy Pink (Mentioned)

Other

Garrison Blackrock

Buster the Dog

Bob the Insecticon

D.O.C.

Chinese Mechs - Ret Jets

Ramjet Drone - Fighter Jet

Thrust Drone - Fighter Jet

Titan in Vision (Vision Only)

Ramjet-Thrust Combiners - Giant Jets (Mentioned)

The Primes (Mentioned)

Solus Prime (Mentioned)

Primus (Mentioned)

Notes

• Rust Dust is never seen outside of her chest-plate mode as part of Victorion...poor boob lady!
• Huh, Mindwipe sure has appeared out of nowhere right? Wonder if he has a new toy coming out later this year?
• Aww Marissa really does love Thundercracker after all...then he runs away!
• Several Decepticons appear in this issue in generic designs. One does look a lot like a black version of Whirl though.
• Soundwave claims to wish to rescue their "brothers and sisters" from Galvatron, but has no intention of saving any of the Autobots....does he think Swift is multiple bots?
• Again, despite Camiens being known for not liking projectile weapons due to them being wasteful, Aileron is shown here using a gun and having inbuilt guns in her space ship mode.
• It appears that due to the crudely drawn Autobot insignias on them, the Torchbearers have now officially joined the Autobots. This symbol is similar to what Rodimus attempted to do with Tailgate in the MTMTE Annual. This of course now aligns them with their upcoming toys.
• So, despite him being utterly blown up and shot seemingly to death last issue, Sideswipe seems to be relatively in one piece here. I mean he is said to be only just hanging on, but STILL!
• Thundercracker finally joins the Autobots after originally declining Drift's offer at the climax of All Hail Megatron, the series that this story line was named for.
• Also, Thundercracker tries to explain to Optimus what a handshake is, as if it were a human custom, but it's clearly known of to Cybertronians...Drift even offered his hand when he invited Thundercracker to the Autobots!
• Bob is revealed to have a retractable face plate that shows mandibles to scare puppies!
• Victorion is also shown at different points to have a retractable faceplate as well!
• The EDC were apparently unaware of Blackrock's combiner drones.
• Brawl is shown returning to Cybertron so he can be a part of the upcoming "Til all are one" series, along with the other Combaticons.
• A running joke in this comic is that no-one, bar Optimus, knows who Aileron is. Despite this, Optimus' vision implies that she'll become the new Mistress of Flame at some point.
• This comic was released before the final two issues of Sins of the Wreckers, meaning that it spoils that Prowl will survive that story :(
• Also, Jimmy Pink is mentioned as being released now too. I wonder what he'll do now? Reunite with Verity (assuming she survives Sins of the Wreckers too)
• In all seriousness though, if Verity dies from her mystery illness, and Prowl is allowed to live despite all he's done, then I may just rage!
• The White House has a pair of Blackrock's drone Cybertronians guarding it...how has this not caused a panic yet?
• Cybertron appears to be going under some more repairs now, either there's an attack that hasn't been shown yet in continuity, or they're actually building new buildings on the planet!
• It's mentioned somewhat off-hand that Sentinel Prime once claimed another populated planet, but was topped when the "peasants" revolted against him. I wonder if this plot line will be brought up in the upcoming Titans Return plot line, considering Sentinel is one of the centrepiece figures.
• The president is revealed to be a black woman. That's very nicely progressive IDW! *pats heads*
• It was mentioned offhand once that the Jupiter Commune is powered using the Onyx system...I wonder if Galvatron having control over that, and Optimus' vision of the Commune crashing have any connection?
• The last panel of the side story shows footage of the Autobots taken directly from the main story, placing this story at that same moment...although Prime hasn't made his message to the Universe yet...so how do the Council of Worlds already know about it?