TFCC #60 - Alone Together #5

Title: Alone Together Chapter 5: Clarity

Writers: S. Trent Troop and Greg Sepelak

Pencils and Inks: Naoto Tsushima

Colours: Evan Gauntt

Letters: Jesse Wittenrich

Managing Editor: Pete Sinclair

Coordination: Phases

Plot

Rampage is having a great time killing scientists in a fiery landscape, until he is magically teleported to a restrained table and is killed (again), Rampage then wakes up in a waiting room, where he learns that he's just being worn down, and that his friend is being dealt with too, in her own mind as well.

In her own prison, Transmutate is being torn apart mentally, until Rampage manages to reach her, and they help each other out, and manage to smash out of Delirious' traps. Bruton and Medusa attack the duo, but are no match for them since they've been fully re-energized, unlike last time.

The Destructons leaave the planet, irritated by the Cybertronian's stubbornness, and leave them a distress call to call either friends or enemies, whilst the Destructons experiment with the Navicomp they stole earlier, and manage to unlock the secrets of Transforming with it.

Characters

Cybertronian

Transmutate - Motorcycle

Rampage - Space Shuttle

Navicomp

Guys in Illusions

Destructon

Lord Imperious Delirious

Medusa Injured by Transmutate

Bruton Injured by Rampage

Psychokhan

Notes

• I would assume the guys at the start of the issue are based on the guys who experimented on Rampage in real life, but considering Rampage's..."mental issues"....it's possible they're just complete fabrications.
• Judging by them using the Navicomp at the end, and the dialogue, it seems that the Destructons can Trans-scan etc, just like Cybertronians (possibly indicating future toys)

Title: Another Light Prologue: Familiar Reflections
Writers: Jesse Wittenrich and Pete Sinclair
Pencils and Inks: Guido Guidi
Colours: Evan Guantt
Letters: Jessse Wittenrich
Managing Editor: Pete Sinclair

Plot

In 2015, following another failed attack on the Decepticons, the evil Autobots are returning back to Cybertron defeated, but Sky Lynx cannot continue the trip without them jettisoning some weight. Rodimus volunteers for the badly injured Autobots from the battle to be launched into space, which includes Optimus, which the rest of the crew are fine with.

Rodimus volunteers himself as the new leader, and the rest of the crew are totally fine with that too (no big battles inside the tiny ship this time!).

Optimus and the other "dead guys" float through space, when they are beckoned towards a strange voice, and a bright light, where they are greeted kindly by Unicron!

TO BE CONTINUED!!

Characters

Autobot

Rodimus Prime - Sports Car

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab Launched into Space

Sky Lynx - Space Shuttle

Drift - Race Car

Tailgate - Sports Car

Blaster - Boom Box

Trailbreaker - Van

Swerve - Pick Up Truck

Rewind - Cassette

Chromedome's Head

Ratchet - Ambulance Launched into Space

Prowl - Police Car Launched into Space

Inferno - Fire Engine Launched into Space

Brawn - Jeep Launched into Space

Other

Unicron - Ringed Planet

Notes

• This story of course parallels the events of the 1986 Animated movie
• Amongst the changes are Astrotrain being replaced with Sky Lynx, Rodimus and Optimus taking Starscream and Megatron's places, however Unicron is still the one who the evil leader encounters (though sounding nicer still)
• The crew aboard Sky Lynx is based on the crew of the Lost Light in IDW's G1 comics, bar Prowl and Optimus anyway.
• Chromedome has been reduced to just a head following his apparent demise much earlier, when he was mentioned as being a part of Optimus' trophy wall in Dungeons and Dinobots.

Other Features

Unreleased G2: The Lost Spectrum - Article on unreleased G2 figures

Transformers 30th Anniversary: Transformers Aligned: Putting the House in Order - Article on the Aligned continuity

TFCC #59 - Alone Together Part 4

Title: Delirious

Writers: S. Trent Troop & Greg Sepelak

Pencils & Inks: Naoto Tsushima

Colours: Evan Gauntt

Letters: Jesse Wittenrich

Managing Editor: Pete Sinclair

Coordination: Phases

Plot

Transmutate and Rampage wake up to find Lord Imperious, of the Destructrons apologizing for how Medusa and Bruton treated them in their encounter, and are invited inside their base to refuel with Energon, where they learn that Imperious was the one who freed them from the prison ship by destroying it, and how he did so because he wanted them to join the Desructrons, as all of them are outcasts on their own worlds, like them.

Rampage considers joining them, but Transmutate says no, as they are not broken, and do not need to be treated this way, however Imperious refuses to let them leave, gets angry, and reveals his hidden multiple evil eyes and mouth, and uses his Delirious Fire power to attack them

Characters

Cybertronian

Rampage - Space Shuttle

Transmutate - Motorcycle

Cryotek (Mentioned)

Other Prisoners (Mentioned) Killed by Imperious

Destructron

Lord Imperious Delirious

Medusa

Bruton

Psychokhan

Other

The Lunartrix (Flashback)

The Symbions (Flashback)

The Intruder Empire (Flashback)

Navi-Comp (Mentioned)

Notes

• The Animated article features images for Animated Erector previously only ever seen in the spoof article on him for the Hall of Fame (hopefully this means we'll see the other images before long)
• The Destructrons are all identified officially here after their unnamed appearances last issue
• It's revealed that the one who destroyed the prison ship earlier was Delirious himself.
• The Destructrons are revealed to not be a specific race, but a collection of abused robotic life-forms from various worlds
• What's the betting that in the next issue, either Rampage or Transmutate will destroy Delirious, and escape from the planet?
• Delirious reveals that he planned to use the entire Prison ship as a new army source to invade Cybertron...wonder how the ship blew up them if that wasn't the purpose of the attack?

Other Features

Transformers at 30: Transformers Animated: A New Direction by Jim Sorenson

Transformers: Generation 2- Generation Lost Part 1 Article on the aborted G2 toys

Medusa Profile

Lord Imperious Delirious Profile

Transformers I.Q. quiz - focusing on Decepticon leaders, besides Megatron

Transformers 1.Q. Trivia Bonus Info on Violen Jiger

Recordicons About the reuses of names for the Cassetticons in the Beast Era.

TFCC #58 - Alone Together #3

Title: Alone Together Chapter 3: Kindred

Writers: S. Trent Troop & Greg Sepelak

Pencils & Inks: Naoto Tsushima

Colours: Evan Gauntt

Letters: Jesse Wittenrich

Managing Editor: Pete Sinclair

Coordination: Phases

Plot

Rampage attacks Transmutate, but very quickly they recognize each other from their brief meeting in the prison some time earlier. But before they can really catch up, Rampage collapses from a lack of energy.

Transmutate hooks Rampage up to the Navicomp to help recharge Rampage, and he explains to her that both of them are Point One Percenters, and therefore are a rare breed of Cybertronian who shouldn't be able to contain their powers, which is why they were exiled  Rampage suggests the two of them settlle down on this planet and just live out their lives alone, together (the Navicomp even offers to officially lifebond them).

Before anything else can happen though, the duo are attacked by a pair of aliens, who swiftly knock them both out, when the two Cybertronians awaken they are greeted by the alien's leader, Lord Imperious Delirious of the Destructons, who seems disappointed by the Cybertronians they were able to find.

Characters

Cybertronian

Transmutate - Good Motor Scooter

Rampage - Flight of Fear Jet

Navi-Comp

Destructon

Lord Imperious Delirious

Medusa

Bruton

Psychokhan

Notes

• Rampage and Transmutate recognise eachother's voices from the prison they were in during the prologue story
• Transmutate's "crime" is revealed here to be her simply being a Point One Percenter, like Rampage.
• Wow Destructons....a bunch of random super obscure alien characters who even I had to look up to recognize/name them!
• Shockingly they don't even get any new redesigns to look like recent toys!
• The way the Destructons speak to Transmutate and Rampage seems to imply that they can sense their sparks or something (refering to them as "lights" etc)

Other Features

Transformers at 30: Let's go to the Movies - Article on the movies by Jim Sorenson

A Tale of Two Botcons - Recount of Botcon by Jim Sorenson and Chris McFeely

Dread Pirate Crew Profile

Flamewar Profile

Transformers I.Q. - Quiz focusing on the Negative Polarity universes

Transformers I.Q. Trivia Bonus - Information on Shattered Glass Megatron/Galvatron

Recordicons - Hipster Buzzsaw is forced to be part of a rock band by Soundwave

TFCC #57 - Alone Together Part 2: Perception

Writers: S. Trent Troop & Greg Sepelak

Pencils & Inks: Naoto Tsushima

Colours: Evan Gauntt

Letters: Jesse Wittenrich

Managing Editor: Pete Sinlair

Coordination: Phases

Plot

Transmutate is captured by the Maximals for her involvement in the Rebels releasing Dynobot, and is sent towards Garrus-16. On the way, the ship is destroyed and she is left stranded on a seemingly deserted planet.

She recovers the Navi Unit from her stasis pod and uses it for information (whilst it keeps trying to make her knock herself out so she can be recovered and arrested again). After a bit of searching Transmutate finds herself in the shadow of Rampage, who appears to want to hurt her.

Characters

Maximal

Transmutate - Motorcycle

Bigmos - Weird Comet (Flashback)

Windrazor - Fighter Jet (Flashback)

Ironhide/Santon (Flashback)

Great Convoy? (Flashback)

Botanica - UAV (Flashback)

Maximal Security Force - Flying Cars (Flashback)

Dynobot (On Poster only)

Other

Rampage - Space Jet

Navi Computer

Cryotek - Off-Road Vehicle (Flashback)

Buzzsaw? (Flashback)

Blue Guy (Mirage?) - Car (Flashback)

Notes

• Some of the characters shown here aren't very obvious here. Such as the identity of the Convoy, if it's Ironhide or Santon next to him, who are with Cryotek and so on. I honestly can't even tell most character's factions so I'll have to guess!
• Added to he existing new potential toys are Windrazor from Beast Hunters Dreadwing, Cryotek from Prime Bulkhead and a heavily modified Protoform Movie Optimus as Bigmos.
• Transmutate's story on the planet is set during Rampage's last issue it seems.
• The Navi unit apears to be based on the Navi's shown in the Japanese cartoon series'.
• They're not clearly shown, but I think the Security Team is suing Beast Hunters Bumblebee with some added bits (made to resemble the Clocker model from their previous appearances)

Other Features

Far From Extinct Article on the Dinobots, showing Grimlock toys from the decades

Transformers at 30: The Broken Pieces of Rome Article on he Unicron Trilogy

TCC Store Sale advert

Botcon 2014 previews

Jawbreaker Profile

Bigmos Profile

Transformers I.Q. Quiz on Non-Cybertronian Transformers

Trivia Bonus Information on organic Transformers

Recordicons Ravage is convinced Megatron went back in time

TFCC - Alone Together Part 1: Paranoia

Writers: S. Trent Troop & Greg Sepelak

Pencils & Inks: Naoto Tsushima

Colours: Evan Gauntt

Letters: Jesse Wittenrich

Managing Editor: Pete Sinclair

Coordination: Phases

Plot

Lots of confusing things happen, which ends with a space ship blowing up, and Rampage being sent hurtling into a planet, determined to survive, and assuming that the Maximals sent him there to be isolated and kept away from the rest of the Cybertronians.

He travels the planet, recovering from his injuries following the crash (he was left as a skeleton). After a while he's able to talk again, and of course begins arguing with himself, but notices someone following him and so he attacks them.

Afterwards, and after announcing to no-one that he's not mad, he notices some tire tracks and assume that someone is taunting him, so he changes into his shuttle mode and prepares to chase them!

Characters

Cybertronian

Rampage - Jet

Transmutate (presumably) - Motorcycle

Other Cybertronians Likely killed in ship destruction (or whatever it was)

Notes

• Rampage has the ability to regrow his body parts after destruction
• Rampage is also of course, schizophrenic. As such, it's entirely possible that the person following him is just in his mind.
• The shadowy figure following Rampage here is most likely meant to be Transmutate based on the silhouette, and tracks left from the changeform (and her being on the front cover of this comic of course)
• I doubt Rampage was left on the planet on purpose, most likely the ship was destroyed by someone in transit. Otherwise they wouldn't have let someone with a flying alternate mode be left alone on a planet as a supposed isolation....

Other Features

Botcon 2014 comic preview
Botcon 2014 boxset preview
Transformers at 30: Flashback Part 2 by Jim Sorenson
Corey Burton Interview by Rosemary Ward
Squirm Profile
Olim Zarak
Transformers I.Q. quiz on pirate characters
Trivia Bonus Information on Cannonball
Recordicons SG Laserbeak is a hipster

TFCC #55 - Alone Together: Prologue

Writers: Jesse Wittenrich & Pete Sinclair

Pencils & Inks: Naoto Tsushima

Colours: Evan Gauntt

Letters: Jesse Wittenrich

Managing Editor: Pete Sinclair

Coordination: Phases

Plot

Botanica leads a team of Maximals to break the imprisoned Dynobot out of jail, as part of their revolution against the unfairness of their lives, being born just to continue a fight they didn't start. Dynobot was imprisoned at some point due to being outspoken, and they need to rescue him to use him in their plight.

Along the way the team are stopped by the thought-to-be-dead Rattrap, who manages to see through their Imperception Shield (it makes them invisible) as he knows all of it's inventor's (Rhinox) design flaws.

The team approach the cells when Transmutate hears someone speaking to her, one of the prisoners seems to know her, and about her inner turmoil. The team manage to break Dynobot out, and the prisoner, Rampage, tells her to leave, as he's sure they'll meet again one day....

Characters

Maximal

Transmutate - Good Motor Scooter

Botanica - UAV

Botanica's Drone - Chest Plate

Rattrap - Sports Car

Jawbreaker - Van

Gecko-Bot - Race Car

Dynobot - Helicopter/Rocket Car

Torca - Armoured Artillery Truck

Rhinox (Mentioned)

Other

Rampage - Flight of Fear Jet

Alpha Trion (Mentioned)

"The Builders"/Autobots and Decepticons (Mentioned)

Notes

• This story is set in the same universe that Depth Charge from the previous story came from originally, AND where the imposter Black Arachnia and Nightscream from Reunification came from as well.
• It's not clear whether this story takes place before or after they left the universe however, though Botanica's drone does look a bit Nightscream-ish...
• Because of his omission from The Gathering and The Ascending, I believe this is the first time Jawbreaker has appeared in an official comic! (Albeit in a pre-beast body)
• All the characters here use existing toy models with remolded heads in some places, and therefore COULD be used as future toys (Rampage and Transmutate of course are getting this anyway)
• Rampage and Transmutate in the regular continuity wouldn't have these names until they arrived on Earth, but since this is set in an alternate universe it doesn't matter really
• Speaking of names, Rampage is named Rampage here, rather than protoform X, like his toy will be...I think the Club are trying to confuse me again....IT'S NOT DIFFICULT!! STOP IT!!!
• The spear weapon that comes with the Wheeljack mold is used here as the "Imperception Shield"
• Botanica's drone thingie actually uses Laserbeak's model as the basis, however her body is based on Beast Hunters Soundwave, which came with Ravage
• Rattrap and Botanica appear to have a past relationship here, like they did at the end of Beast Machines
• Rampage's interest in Transmutate is a clear reference to his friendship with her in Beast Wars
• Rampage isn't shown with a Predacon symbol here, and his profile page shows a Protoform X insignia instead, so I guess he follows the other Rampage's origins as a Maximal experiment of some sort.
• Given that the Maximals are mostly using Transformers Prime toys as their basis, I'd guess that the unseen Rhinox would use Bulkhead's model.

Other Features

"Thrilling 30" Interview with Flint Dille

Preview of 2014 Botcon figure Cannonball

Transformers at 30: Flashback by Jim Sorenson

Celebrity Fan Spotlight (interview with pro-boxer Marina Isami, a Transformers fan!

Rampage Profile

Transmutate Profile

Transformers I.Q. focusing on Autobot commanders

Transformers I.Q. Trivia Bonus focusing on the universe visited in today's comic!

Recordicons - Buzzsaw taunts Overkill