Titan - Prime #16

Comic Title: Fury From the Deep

Writer: Chris Cooper

Art: Dario Brizuela

Lettering: Comicraft

Cover Price: £3.99

Cover Date: August 2013

Poster: Optimus and Ratchet try to kill you

Characters

Autobot

Bumblebee - Urbana 500 Sports Car

Decepticon

Piranacon - Seacon Gestalt Fatally wounded by a rock

Snaptrap Dead

Other Seacons (Mentioned)

Human

Jack

Miko

Raf

Al

Diner Owner

Crew of the Mary Jane (Flashback) Killed by Piranacon

Plot

Al, a retired sailor recalls an incident from about 10 years ago to the kids, who are on vacation, where he was attacked by a giant sea monster, who destroyed his ship, and killed his crew. They don't believe him at first, but when Miko notices a metal tooth arouns his neck, they start to think it could be the Decepticons.

Raf looks into the matter and discovers that a ship was sunk with only one survivor, with the same name as Al said, and they think the Decepticons could be involved, so they decide to go to the ocean to check it out (well they don't actually take it that seriously and just plan to have fun there).

The kids reach "Devil's Cove" with Bumblebee and go into the water on a small boat, Bumblebee starts to get agitated and suddenly the kids are dragged under water. Bumblebee dives underneath to save them, but he comes face to face with the giant sea monster.

Inside a nearby cavern, the kids wake up and find several torn apart wrecks, seemingly used for repairs, and they also find a dead Decepticon, who Raf identifies (using TFWiki on his laptop or something, they call it the "Autobot Archive" though) that it's Snaptrap and tells the others that he's normally found with the 5 other Seacons, who can combine into Piranacon. They figure out that this must be the sea monster who's attacking boats, but Raf also says that Snaptrap works as Piranacon's main mind, so without him Piranacon is basically a mindless monster.

Outside Piranacon and Bumblebee have their underwater fight (FINALLY) with Piranacon's sole consious thought being to kill the Autobots with maximum force. Inside the cave the kids have no luck in finding a way to escape, until Jack finds some old WWII Sea Mines still active. The kids place them near the blocked entrance and it explodes shooting rocks outwards with one fatally wounding Piranacon. The kids are sucked out of the cave to their doom, however Bumblebee rescues them before it's too late and takes them back to shore, where they warm up next to a fire, and decide that next year they'll have a "staycation" instead.

Notes

• This issue is clearly the one meant to be put in issue 12, but for some reason was held back. Having read the issue it seems most likely because it's set during the kid's summer holidays (ie, NOW!)
• The comic also announces that the next issue is out on the 10th of October, with a giant issue and with it being Beast Hunters related, so from the sounds of that we ARE getting the Beast Hunters rebrand for the comic, and it is becoming a more regular comic too, but they just wanted to get this older comic story done with before that
• Oh there's a lot of "stronger" language at the start of this comic than we tend to see in kid's comics, "hell" and "god's sake" are both used by the doomed sailors, whilst appropriate in the situation, it seems a bit out of place here
• The boat, the Mary Jane, or MJ, is probably a reference to the Spider-Man character for some reason
• Piranacon looks like he's just a slightly altered version of his G1 self...still we could use the G1 Seacons as him on our Prime toy shelves now of course!
• Yeah...Piranacon has survived for at least 10 years of attacking ships etc, yet gets killed by a single rock to the face? I think they just wanted to end his storyline rather than have to return to it again!
• I like how when Raf is drowning he still holds onto his laptop...and it's probably okay too!!

Other Features

Adverts

Competition

Beast Hunters Sneak Peak - A sneak peak (from the UK perspective) of Season 3

Front Line! - Faux Newspaper talking about the Transformers 4 rumours so far

All About Ultra Magnus - Info on everyone's favourite easy going character

Kre-O Transformers Conundrums! - Wonderful Kre-O based puzzles

Bumblebee's Beach Bonanza! - More puzzles!!

Soundwave's Stumpers! - WHY ARE THERE SO MANY PUZZLES?!?

Mega Mouth - Megatron and Arcee read more small human's letters

X Marks the Bot! Solve the clues and find Bumblebee...in other words, skip this one!

Titan - Prime Volume 4 #12

Information

Cover Characters: Bumblebee

Cove Date: Autumn 2012

Cover Price: £3.99

Poster: Ratchet and Bumblebee being attacked by Starscream

Comic Title: The Evil Shred

Script: Robin Etherington

Art: Dario Brizuela 

Colours: Dario Brizuela with Franco Riesco

Lettering: Comicraft

Plot

The Autobots have been ambushed by the Vehicons under Soundwave and Starscream's command, but the Autobots are easily taking them down. Screamer asks Soundwave what his plan is, and he points to Bumblebee, who is taking care of the children, he then shoots at Bumblebee, who is knocked down. Ratchet tends to him whilst the Autobots protect them.

Ratchet says Bumblebee will be fine, but he has some shrapnel in his chest, and asks Raf to accompany him back to base for some rest. When back at base, Raf puts on a film for Bumblebee to enjoy, and before long both of them fall asleep, when a claw starts piercing through Bumblebee's chest, followed quickly by the rest of Soundwave's hand, which he had launched at the Auotbot.

Bumblebee flings the hand away, but it keeps coming back, using the fingers as limbs. Raf can't believe this is happening and even believes it's just a delusion from the movie before (even trying to get rid of it with the remote).

Raf gets an idea, opens the silo doors and attaches one of Miko's fireworks rockets to the hand (which is throttling Bumblebee) and sends it flying out the mountain, exploding above the base. The Autobots return to base and wonder what's happening, Raf starts to explain.

Later on, Soundwave and Starscream are looking around for Soundwave's now blown up hand, with Screamer commenting that he should have had a spare built.

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Bumblebee - Sports Car Injured by Soundwave

Ratchet - Ambulance

Arcee - Motorcycle

Bulkhead - Off Road Vehicle

Decepticon

Soundwave - UAV Lost Hand

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Vehicons - Sports Cars

Megatron - Cybertronian Jet (Mentioned)

Human

Raf

Miko

Jack

Notes

• The comic seems to be quarterly now...wonder if there'll be a relaunch for the new Beast Hunters sub-line announced
• Annoyingly this comic seems to be still stuck in early season 1 and still doesn't feature any "new" characters
• Why didn't Soundwave launch Laserbeak at Bumblebee? You know, rather than tearing off his lower arm, which clearly wasn't designed to do that...
• Why did only Raf go with Bumblebee back to base? The Autobots even commented on how dangerous the situation is, so why not send Miko and Jack along as well?
• Mummies have feelings II might be a joke about Twilight, as the Mummy seems to be chasing the woman amorously, a reference to Twilight's vampires doing the same

Other Features

Adverts

Competitions

Prime Viewing - Quick Rundown on episodes Orion Pax-Nemesis Prime

Bumblebee's Brainteasers - Puzzles and stuff

Airachnid Profile - The title explains it

Soundwave's Stumpers - More Puzzles

Transformers Roll Call! Update - Announcement of the Optimus Prime Truck touring again in 2013

Mega-Mouth - Megs and Arcee read fan-mail and artwork

Titan - Prime Volume 4 #5

Basic Information

Cover Characters: Stock image of Arcee and Ratchet

Cover Date: March 2012

Price: £2.65
Poster: Autobot Group Shot

Comic Title: School is... Out!

Script: Robin Etherington

Art: Horacio Domingues 

Inks: Ruben Gonzalez 

Colours: Nestor Pereya

Lettering: Comicraft

Comic Plot

Several schools in Jasper County are being destroyed (after being evacuated) and the police have no idea who's causing it. The Autobots decide to investigate as they find it a bit odd that it's happening so near their base, so they tell the kids to stay away from school until it is all resolved.

Shortly afterwards Arcee and Jack are staking out Franklin High where the school is being evacuated and MECH suddenly appear on the scene. Arcee reports this to Optimus, who tells her that MECH are attacking the other schools in the area where the other Autobots are staking out as well, so they can't have any back-up. Jack says that he wants revenge for what Silas did to him and his mother last time.

Jack infiltrates the school but is quickly captured thanks to the security system, when Silas reveals that they've been blowing up the schools to try and find Jack and his friends. Silas starts to set off explosives, and tells Jack that he's to be left inside whilst it blows up, whilst MECH can escape on a helicopter. Arcee however rams into the building and defends Jack from the MECH soldiers and Silas reaches the roof.

On the roof Jack reaches them and knocks down Silas, and Arcee rounds up the MECH soldiers, however Silas is rescued by some more of his soldiers and leave son a helicopter and gloats that they're going to die on that roof, however Arcee transforms and revs Jack off the roof to safety, and Arcee just comments about how much she would do to protect those she cares for, like Jack and...wait...did they leave the MECH soldiers on the roof to die as the school blazes up!??!?! DUDE!!!!!

Comic Characters

Autobot


Optimus Prime - Truck Cab
Arcee - Motorcycle
Ratchet - Ambulance (Green Version)

Decepticon


Airachnid - Helicopter (Mentioned)


Human


Jack
Miko
Raf
Silas
Sterling Spoon
Bliss Meadow
June (Mentioned)
MECH Soldiers
School Kids
School Staff

Comic Notes

• In Ratchet's only appearance in this comic he's coloured like Bulkhead...colouring mistake? Or an attempt at a new character for the comics like Hoist?
• Sterling Spoon and Bliss Meadow are likely references to former Marvel UK characters Irwin Spoon and Joy Meadows - If not then they are some BIZARRE coincidences....
• This story is set after Crisscross (which hasn't been released on UK TV at the time of printing)

Extra Features

Adverts

Competitions

Arcee Profile

Defuse the Bomb! - Puzzle based on today's comic

Save Jack! - Maze based on today's comic

Episode Guide: Volume 1 - Darkness Rising Part 5

Starscream's Stumpers - Puzzles from Starscream

A Walk on the Wicked Side - Soundwave does a Crossword

Mega-Mouth- Megatron and Arcee do the fan mail page

Titan - Prime Volume 4 #4

Basic Information

Cover Characters: Stock Image of Optimus Prime and Bulkhead

Cover Date: FEB 2012

Price: £2.65

Comic Title: Tinker, Tailor, Gamer, Spy!

Script: Robin Etherington

Art: Dario Brizuela

Lettering: Comicraft

Comic Plot

Raf meets up with his friend Dan where he picks up his all new "Ultra Lux Special Invasionauts Edition with 4D glasses" and Raf declares that his life is complete. Elsewhere Megatron discusses their new plan with Soundwave and has it begin.

At Omega One Raf and Bulkhead are playing the new game with Ratchet disapproving in the background when Raf suddenly begins to act weird and starts obeying a voice from his screen that only he can see and starts recalibrating the Ground Bridge coordinates to ones sent by Megatron and opens it up, allowing a flood of Vehicons into the base.

The Autobots activate their defenses and have the humans hide with Raf to try and fix him. Miko notices that the game box has a Decepticon insignia on it and yanks the system out of the TV, ending the hypnotic control and freeing Raf, who is unaware of what has happened. Raf runs to the Ground Brodge controls and reverses the coordinates, and cause a vacuum in the base, the Autobots and Humans hold onto the defensive protrusions whilst the Vehicons and sucke dout of the base through the Bridge and sent base to where they came from.

After the fight everyone recovers and Raf throws out the game and says that he'll lay off them for a while, all whilst Ratchet makes a joke about how games are safe until someone loses a limb, whilst fondling a severed Vehicon arm...YIKES!

Comic Characters

Autobot


Optimus Prime - Truck Cab
Bulkhead - Off Road Vehicle
Ratchet - Ambulance
Bumblebee - Sports Car

Decepticon


Megatron - Cybertronian Jet
Soundwave - UAV
Vehicons - Sports Cars

Human


Raf
Miko
Jack
Dan
Raf's Mother (Mentioned)

Comic Notes

• For no apparent reason Arcee is missing from this issue
• Soundwave talks happily away here, unlike his silent stance in the series
• What exactly makes the glasses "4D"?
• Why is Raf playing with Bulkhead instead of his fellow game junkie Bumblebee?
• For some reason Raf can see perfectly when hypnotized as he can navigate the base and type in coordinates without his glasses on...
• The Autobots have pop up shields in their base, much like those seen in the War For Cybertron games
• Why did the Decepticons put an insignia on their game box?

Extra Features

Adverts

Competitions

Mystic Megatron  - Horoscope

Invasionauts- A game piece based game to play (or ignore)

Darkness Rising Part 4 - Episode Guide with Micro Quiz

Starscream's Stumpers! - Puzzles from Screamer

Bulkhead's Wordsearch - Wordsearch from Bulkie

Mega-Mouth - Megatron and Arcee read the fan mail

Titan - Prime Volume 4 #3

Basic Information

Cover Characters: Stock images of Bumblebee and Arcee attacking you

Cover Date: January 2012

Price: £2.99

Poster: Optimus and Vehicle mode Bumblebee and Megatron. Optimus and Bumblebee

Comic Title: Ice Breaker

Script: Robin Etherington

Art: Jeremy Tiongson

Lettering: Comicraft

Comic Plot

The NS Yamal (an ice breaker ship) is carving it's way to a US research center in Russia when the Decepticons appear and commandeer the ship. Meanwhile at Omega One (Autobot base) the Autobots are decorating the base for Christmas time when Fowler comes in and tells them about the Decepticon attack. Optimus, Bumblebee and Ratchet use the Ground Bridge to get to the ice breaker and leaves Arcee and Bulkhead to look after the kids.

The Kids try to get Bulkhead and Arcee to bond, when they realise that they have nothing in common. The other Autobots arrive at the Yamal and find the crew and passengers knocked out, suddenly Starscream attacks with his Static Lance and knocks out Ratchet. Bumblebee attacks the Decepticon and manages to knock him out as well, and takes his weapon from him. Back at Omega One Miko asks the two Autobots to both agree on one thing they like about winter and they'll recreate it for them inside the base.

Back at the Yamal Optimus goes head to head against Megatron and Megatron says that he plans to use the nuclear weapons on the ship, and overload them with the Static Lance causing a reaction that will unearth all the underwater Energon deposits and cause the downfall of Mankind. Bumblebee throws the lance to Optimus, who attacks Megatron with it, and causes it to overload itself, and burns out.

Later the Yamal arrives at the Research Center wondering what happened, but also grateful that they're safe. The Autobots return to Omega One where Ratchet needs some rest, but immediately slips up on the ice that has been poured onto the ground so the kids and other Autobots can skate on, with that having been what Arcee and Bulkhead agreed on before.

Comic Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Ratchet - Ambulance

Bumblebee - Muscle Car

Bulkhead - Off Road Vehicle

Arcee - Motorcycle

Decepticon

Megatron - Cybertronian Jet

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Soundwave - ATV (Mentioned)

Human

Jack

Raf

Miko

Agent Fowler

Fowler's Wife (Mentioned)

Fowler's Butcher (Mentioned)

Captain Krill (Yamal Captain)

Pavel (Yamal crewman)

NS Yamal Crew

NS Yamal Passengers

Comic Notes

• Arcee really doesn't like Bulkhead at the start of this comic, she even calls him an embarrassment to their species (then again this was when he had issues with putting a fairy on the tree)
• Arcee and Bulkhead love skating (guess she got over the near-death by ice incident then)
• Arcee and Bulkhead bond over their skating
• Bulkhead's "Cybertron sized" mince pies are most likely meant to be "Cybertronian sized" and not the size of the planet
• Raf has to pull out the Jenga to salvage the day...been there, done that!
• Either Bumblebee channels Optimus through himself or there was an editing error in this comic
• Bulkhead cannot reach the top of their Christmas tree....must be a huge one!
• I don't even want to think about the havoc the ice rink will cause when it defrosts, especially with all those electrical devices in Omega One!
• The extra large covers have returned.....

Extra Features

Adverts

Competitions

Bulkhead Profile

Photo Mash Up game

Episode Guide: Volume 1 - Darkness Rising Part 3 + Micro Quiz

Kre-O Transformers Mini-Comic

Starscream's Stumpers! - Lots of games

Mega-Mouth - Megatron and Arcee read the fan mail

Raf's Codebreaker - A map puzzle with a decryption guide

Miko's Christmas Wordsearch

Prime Puzzle! - Match up the missing parts of Prime's face to the letters

Merry Megatron Mask! - Deface your comic to make a cheap Megatron mask, and some cut out decorations as well.

Titan - Prime Volume 4 #1

Basic Information

Cover Characters: Optimus Prime

Cover Date: November 2011

Price: £3.99

Poster: DOTM Shockwave in Chicago

Comic Title: The Safe and the Failsafe

Script: Robin Etherington

Art: Jeremy Tiongson

Lettering: Rona Simpson

Comic Plot

Ratchet has completed work on the "Safe" in Autobot Outpost Omega One and the Autobots test it out, although Bulkhead goes a bit too far and actually smashes open the floor, much to Ratchet's annoyance.

Arcee looks into the whole and sees a Nuclear bomb with a timer ticking down, and then are told by Jack and Miko that there are Decepticons approaching the base, having been attracted by the radiation from the exposed warhead.

Optimus, Arcee and Bumblebee head outside to deal with the Vehicons, whilst Bulkhead, Ratchet and the humans stay behind to deal with the warhead. Outside, the Vehicons are dealt with very easily.

Inside the base Raf works out a way to deal with the warhead, since literally disarming it would be too dangerous he decides to trick it's triggering device by making the numbers ascend instead of descend, meaning that it'll never reach 00:00 and blow up.

After the warhead is sorted with Agent Fowler and a team of scientists arrive and explain that they were informed when the bomb was exposed due to a tracking device inside it, and that some higher ups decided to leave the bomb there as a failsafe, just in case the Autobots turned out to be evil. They remove the bomb, and later Ratchet decides to fix up the Safe with Raf's help this time.

Comic Characters

Autobots

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Bumblebee - Muscle Car

Bulkhead - Off Road Car

Arcee - Motorcycle

Ratchet - Ambulance

Decepticons

Vehicons - Sports Cars

Humans

Miko

Raf

Jack

Agent Fowler

Comic Notes

• The DOTM based poster, and the DOTM pull-out including several puzzles implies that these pieces were intended for a 5th issue of DOTM, but it was decided to switch the series to Prime rather last minute (though not as last minute as the decision to drop TFA was!)
• Miko is constantly mis-spelled as Mika
• Raf's glasses are drawn like they were blue lensed shades, unlike how they appear in the series
• The "Safe" isn't an acronym, it's just a safe room to train in
• With the pop up guns and other threats, the Safe is likely a reference to the Danger Room from the X-Men franchise
• This appears to be the first piece of fiction to use the term "Vehicons" for the Decepticon soldiers
• The Autobot's base was fitted with a nuclear bomb in case the Autobots went rogue.....EXTREME MUCH??!?!
• There are at least 87 levels at Omega-One
• The sign on the Safe reads "No one beyond this point who cannot be rebuilt using cogs and gears"...despite the kids having been invited inside......
• Raf suggests having pop-up targets in Megatron's image, similar to those seen in the G1 episode "The Rebirth Part 1"
• Raf hasn't met Megatron by this point as he calls him "that guy Megtaron!" meaning that this must be set before episode 23 of Season One.

Extra Features

Adverts

Competitions

Meet the Autobot Team! - Introduces the main Prime Autobots

The Missing Link! - Solve the puzzle

Megatron's Favourite Words...SEARCH! - A word Search

Episode Guide - Prime - Darkness Rising Part 1

Dark of the Moon Pullout - Including Poster, Puzzles, Megatron & Optimus vs Sentinel feature

Mega-Mouth - Megatron and Arcee take on the letters page