IDW - Transformers: Shattered Glass II #5

Written by: Danny Lore

Art by: Guido Guidi

Inks by: Matt Froese

Colours by: John-Paul Bove

Letters by: Jake M. Wood

Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: David Mariotte

Plot

The battle under Metroplex's shadow is in full force, Megatron relays the information of Magnus' plans to use the Titan, powered by Starscream's spark, to conquer the world, and about how Optimus has been held captive for a mystery operation too...

Soundwave finds the injured Slicer on his way to enter the Titan, where the two decide to team up to take down the Autobots, since he has grown a distaste for Magnus and his methods, and he wants to rescue his friend, Ratchet.

Soon after entering the Titan, the duo encounter Magnus' body, screaming in silence, but Soundwave's mind reading abilities tell him that it is Optimus' mind inside that body.

The real Magnus, now in Optimus' body, so he can lead the Autobots easier, and flanked by his Wreckers, and a captive Jetfire, arrive, with them still believing Slicer to be on his side, and that Soundwave is his captive too.

Slicer soon reveals his true nature, and attacks the Wreckers, intent to save his friend Ratchet and help his new ally Soundwave.

Before long, Jetfire is freed and Soundwave leads him to the spark chamber, where he frees Starscream's spark, and escapes from Metroplex with it, causing the Titan to collapse.

Magnus storms into the chamber and fights with Soundwave, for him ruining his plans, but the new Tyrant is shot from the Titans, to his apparent death, by Slicer. Soundwave is rescued from the Titan before his crashes, and is reunited with the other Deceptions.

In the aftermath, Jetfire has gone into hiding with Starscream's spark, while Slicer and Rachet are also hiding out, presumably to avoid further attacks from the remaining Wreckers. Meanwhile Prowl is the last Autobot Warlord still in power...

Characters

Autobot

Ultra Magnus - Truck Cab Killed by Slicer

Optimus Prime - Vehicle Transport Likely Killed in Metroplex Collapse

Jetfire - Jet

Slicer - Car

Ratchet - Ambulance

Rodimus - Car Killed by Soundwave

Drift - Car Shot in Gut by Soundwave

Springer - Helicopter/Car Killed by Slicer

Tailgate - Car

Jazz - Car

Ricochet - Car

Cosmos - Orbiter 

Prowl - Police Car

Blaster - Boombox (Mentioned) Dead

Decepticon

Megatron - Jet

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Laserbeak - Cassette

Ravage - Cassette

Rumble - Cassette

Frenzy - Cassette 

Flamewar - Motorcycle

Slipstream - Jet

Hotlink - Jet

Starscream - Jet Spark and Ghost Only

Other

Metroplex - Titan Ship Disconnected from Starscream's Spark, Collapsed 

Notes

• Sorry I'm very late getting this review up, I guess it being the final issue of IDW's run got me to delaying it. Plus I've been busy.
• Like the rest of the series, the Hasbro Pulse release of this comic came with a figure of Soundwave with Ravage and Laserbeak. So that was nice :) 
• The issue starts with Megatron injured from the fight, but also knowing what Flamewar discovered last issue, showing at least a brief time skip between the issues.
• Metroplex has returned to not having his Autobot insignia again...
• Slicer is shown to have survived his fall from Metroplex.
• The inner robot gimmick from Ultra Magnus' toy is referenced this issue, with him replacing Optimus by swapping bodies with him. However, the physical toy of Magnus uses the Siege version of the mould, meaning the inner robot is very different. It also doesn't explain the new blue colour scheme either...
• Despite him still technically being alive when we last saw him, I can't see Optimus surviving Metroplex's crash, which everyone else was desperate to escape from.
• Once again, like the other ongoing series from IDW, this series ends on somewhat of a cliffhanger, with Prowl as a potential big villain, after manipulating the other Warlords in the first two storylines.

IDW - Transformers: Shattered Glass II #4

Written by: Danny Lore

Art by: Daniel Khanna

Inks by: Gigi Dutreix

Colours by: John-Paul Bove

Letters by: Jake M. Wood

Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: David Mariotte

Plot

Flamewar and Soundwave team up to try and protect the Titan Net from the Autobots, who are planning to use it to destroy the Titans, rather than letting them sleep, as the Decepticon's want.

Soundwave and Flamewar end up joining the Pirate captain Cannonball, Flamewar's commander, in fighting Rodimus and Flamwar, while Lightbright is hacking the network. The battle doesn't go well, even though the Network was protected, Cannonball is killed, while ordering Flamewar to escape...

Following Cannonball's death, the Pirates crew hold a memorial for their fallen captain, with Flamewar taking the lead. Megatron arrives, and commends Cannonball's resolve to protecting Cybertron, even if they disagreed on the methods used. Megatron offers Flamewar and her crew a place in the Decepticons, to continue their captain's work...

Years later, following the disastrous battle on Earth, Flamewar is furious with Starscream that he could abandon Megatron, but Starscream argues that Megatron let them escape, to let the Decepticon movement survive, even if he died... 

In the present day, Flamewar is annoyed that Megatron won't let her lead her team to take on the Autobots in the Static Zone, so she leads her crew out on an unapproved mission, soon finding Metroplex mostly awake, and the Wreckers dragging Jetfire inside the Titan, where she also notices Rodimus outside.

Wanting revenge for her captain's death, Flamewar charges at Rodimus, but the Autobot is a lot more skilled than the Pirate. Hailstorm tries to help her, but Rodimus shoots his weapons array, and kills him. Flamewar tries to kill Rodimus in revenge, but Slipstream tries to spirit her away, only for Flamewar to free herself to continue her revenge, leading her to blacking out after a shot from the Autobot.

Flamewar soon awakens, to find herself shackled up inside the Titan, where she finds a similarly shackled Optimus Prime, who is taken away for a "procedure". Flamewar tries to get Slicer to reveal what he's doing to Optimus, but the Wrecker doesn't tell her anything, other than how she is only being kept alive as a bargaining chip, since Megatron clearly respects her a lot to send her after the Wreckers, making the Pirate feel guilty for going behind his back.

Soon, Slipstream infiltrates the Titan, and attacks Slicer, freeing Flamewar in the process. Flamewar noticed how attached Slicer seemed to be to Blaster's decapitated head, and wonders if it has some connection to their partial control of the Titan, and grabs it. Slicer tries to attack Slipstream, so Flamewar shoots him, blasting him out the wall of the Titan's control room, to (Flamewar hopes) his death.

Flamewar is tempted to go after Rodimus to get her revenge, but she thinks back on how her leaders have sacrificed themselves in the past to keep the vision alive, and she reasons that she needs to sacrifice her vendetta to get the minimal information she has gathered about what the Wreckers are doing, with Blaster's head. Optimus' capture, a strange procedure and others, to Megatron, who, along with Soundwave has joined the battle against the Wreckers outside the Titan....

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Captured by the Wreckers

Rodimus - Car

Slicer - Car Blasted out of Metroplex

Springer - Helicopter/Car

Drift - Car

Tailgate - Car

Jetfire - Jet (Allied with the Decepticons) Captured by the Wreckers

Metroplex - Titan Ship Partially Reactivated 

Blaster (Decapitated Head Only) Dead

Windblade - VTOL Jet (Flashback Only)

Lightbright (Flashback Only)

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport (Mentioned)

Ratchet - Ambulance (Mentioned)

Prowl - Police Car (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Megatron - Jet

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Flamewar - Motorcycle

Slipstream - Jet

Shadow Striker - Car

Hailstorm - Tank Killed by Rodimus

Hotlink - Jet

Sunstorm - Jet (Flashback Only)

Tracer - Helicopter (Flashback Only)

Barricade - Police Car (Flashback Only)

Starscream - Jet (Flashback Only) Spark Extracted in Present

Thundercracker - Jet (Flashback Only)

Frenzy - Cassette (Flashback Only)

Blackjack (Mentioned)

Constructicons (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Cannonball - Van (Flashback Only) Killed by Rodimus 

Lowload (Mentioned) Killed by Autobots

Cityspeakers (Mentioned)

Titan Net Team (Mentioned)

Notes

• The Hasbro Pulse edition of this issue comes with a Deluxe sized Flamewar with a Battle Master Fireglide.
• Interestingly, unlike with most Shattered Glass designs, Flamewar uses her G1 colour scheme and design, except the insignia, rather than a  different one, meaning this figure can be used as both versions of the character.
• Fireglide appears on the Hasbro Pulse cover, but not in the comic itself, possibly implying the Battle Master was a late edition to the figure.
• Slipstream was briefly shown last issue, but this one reveals that she uses the Earthrise Seeker design, rather than the Siege version seen with the other Seeker body types this issue.
• Slipstream's colour scheme appears to be based on G1 Windblade, which would be very appropriate due to their occasional rivalries in different pieces of fiction.
• Cannonball appears to just use the Timelines version of the G1 character of the same name, which used the Prime Ratchet mould, without any colour changes.
• At the end of the previous issue, all of the Pirate crew arrived at the Titan's location, but only Flamewar, Slipstream, Hailstorm, Shadow Striker and Hotlink headed there during this issue.
• Rodimus is shown using the binocular-shades first seen on his G1 counterpart in the 1986 Movie.
• Lightbright and Windblade are mentioned as being "Citycrashers", very clearly a reference to the IDW comic storyline where the Risers hacked the Titan Net, and caused the Titans to crash into Cybertron.
• Goldbug doesn't appear this issue, suggesting that he probably did die from Jetfire's crushing last issue.
• Flamewar is shown using her front wheel in it's gun configuration, but the wheel is also attached to her backpack in the same panels...
• On a similar note, Flamewar wears her wheel in it's complete form throughout the issue, like how Prime Arcee wears it, but the cover shows it split in half and mounted at the back of her neck, like how Road Rocket wears hers. I'm not sure which one is the "official" version for her in this continuity.
• Slicer's Autobot insignia is blasted off when Flamewar shoots him, this is likely to help with toy design synergy, but could also hint at a future storyline (I still think the double-up characters and toys are multiversal travellers myself)
• Metroplex is shown to now have an Autobot insignia. I guess he generated it since last issue?
• It's confirmed this issue that Optimus was NOT killed by Ultra Magnus, but he has been captured by the Wreckers for an "operation". It should be noted that his chest has been fully repaired from the injuries he suffered in issue one of the series. (Maybe from the Matrix?)
• Wheeljack jokes that Magnus wants Optimus kept alive, so he can paint him to look like him, as a living mirror. Could this be a reference to Magnus' inner robot from the toyline, or something more?
• I think, based on what we've seen so far, that Magnus plans to replace Optimus, and potentially steal the Matrix from his body, which is the operation Ratchet needs to perform. Either that, or he wants the matrix removed for a potential third series storyline (perhaps something related to Vector Sigma, Primus etc)

IDW - Transformers Shattered Glass II #2

Written by: Danny Lore 

Art by: Daniel Khanna

Colours by: Thomas Deer

Letters by: Jake M. Wood

Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: David Mariotte

Plot

Following the Decepticon occupation of Gold City, now New Kaon, Blaster is stalking Decepticons in and around the city, and trying to make a name of himself, but is encountered by Slicer and Rodimus, who aren't happy with him messing around, and seemingly avoiding them, after failing to kill Megatron and Starscream earlier. Slicer stops Rodimus from killing Blaster, reminding him that he is needed for a mission, so Rodimus allows him another chance.

Blaster and his cassettes infiltrate New Kaon, where they try finding Soundwave, and his underground radio station, but gets distracted when he finds Megatron and Jetfire, and attempts to get them to fight, but manipulating them with subsonics, but he gets interupted, breaking the manipulation, and also revealing the presence of a Decepticon in the city.

Blaster manages to find the radio station, and hacks into it, to allow him to monitor their actions, rather than destroying it, as he was ordered. Soundwave finds, and attacks the Autobot, but Blaster manages to escape when explosions are heard above them.

Blaster eventually meets with Rodimus and Slicer outside of the city, where Blaster learns that Rodimus has killed his cassettes, and now intends to kill Blaster himself too, for his numerous failures.

Blaster looks back on his life, and how everyone is against him, and that the world is just jealous of his talents and skills, leading him to join the Autobots and the war, to make a real difference in the world...

Rodimus finishes off the failed Autobot, and Slicer decapitates him, intending to use his new connection to Decepticon radio to spy on their enemies, and suggests to Rodimus to plant Blaster and his Cassettes bodies at Gold City, to make it look like the Decepticons killed him, instead of them...

Characters

Autobot

Blaster - Boombox Killed by Rodimus

Rodimus - Car

Slicer - Car

Jetfire - Jet (Alligned with Decepticons now)

Rewind - Cassette Killed by Rodimus

Ramhorn - Cassette Killed by Rodimus

Steeljaw - Cassette Killed by Rodimus

Eject - Cassette (Flashback Only) Dead

Chromedome - Car (Flashback Only)

Jazz - Car (Flashback Only)

Blurr - Car (Flashback Only) Dead

Optimus Prime - Truck (Mentioned) Beaten to Near Death

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Megatron - Jet

Flamewar - Motorcycle

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Whisper - Jet

Clench - Truck Shot by Blaster

Gutcruncher Crushed by a Heavy Panel

Dead Decepticon Being Eaten by Autobot Cassettes

New Kaon Soldiers

Refraktor - Hovercraft (Flashback Only)

Starscream - Jet (Mentioned) Spark Removed by Goldbug

Decepticon Cassettes - Cassettes (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

The Old Senate (Mentioned)

"The Sponsors" (Mentioned)

Notes

• The Hasbro Pulse release of this issue comes with a Shattered Glass Blaster (with Rewind) figure.
• Gold City is revealed to have been renamed as "New Kaon" following the removal of Goldbug.
• Jetfire is revealed to be staying at New Kaon, despite the ending of series one implying he was going solo to decide what to do, to avenge Starscream's death. He is still also wearing his Autobot insignia, despite his toy featuring a faction flipping feature.
• Blaster is shown to be a former broadcast reporter, who was blacklisted for his attitude and conspiracy theories, leading to him running a pirate radio show, which also got cancelled, before he was recruited into the Autobots
• Blaster's brief time as a musician features him, and his cassette team, performing on stage, somewhat evoking the Retail Incentive cover for Spotlight: Blaster from IDW.
• Slicer is shown with his mysterious cape again, but he does take is off for a few panels in the middle of the issue (if it was for hiding their presence, then Rodimus should also be wearing it)
• There's a slight light in Blaster's eyes after he is decaptiated, but I think that's just from Slicer accessing his link to the Decepticon's radio network, rather than an indication of him surviving.
• This issue (and figure) was released before Ultra Magnus and issue one on Hasbro Pulse, which isn't that unusual. But it is interesting to note, that the first issue to be released from both series of Shattered Glass includes the death of it's featured character, with Blurr in series one, and Blaster here.
• Blaster mentions a few times how he misses Eject, and that he gets annoyed by Rewind. It's possible this is a reference to how his Kingdom/Legacy counterpart comes with Eject, which he is "stuck with" Rewind in both the comic and toy.
• Eject is revealed to have died from the battle in the bar from issue three of the first series.

IDW - Transformers: Last Bot Standing #4

Written by: Nick Roche

Art by: E.J. Su & Nick Roche

Colours by: Rebecca Nalty & Brittany Peer

Letters & Design by: Johanna Nattalie

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Editor: David Mariotte

Plot

Steeljaw plays the recording that Rodimus gave to Shib's ancestors, revealing that Donnokt is loaded with raw Energon, which Rodimus decided to hide, rather than use it to revive their species.

Rodimus reveals that he killed the team left at the camp, and that it was all because of the key he used on himself, and that the last two, which Steeljaw is holding, can make the user as strong as him. His plan works, and the other Cybertronians, starved for real Energon fight over the keys, destroying one by accident.

Taking advantage of the fight, Rodimus and Shib free the people of Fembrance and Shib gets the last Energon key. Rodimus and Shib race away, and Rodimus causes an explosion to try and slow down their pursuers, knocking out Rodimus in the process.

Shib makes.her way to the mines, where she intends to hide for a while, but Steeljaw and Sharpclaw follow, and locate the Energon mine in the mountain. They capture Shib, but an errant shot causes a small earthquake due to the Energon.

The siblings fight over who gets to use the Energon key, but Steeljaw ultimately wins out, and uses it.

Rodimus wakes up following the rumble, but is soon confronted by the other Cybertronians, who have combined into a crude gestalt robot, Unstoppimus.

Despite his great size, Unstoppimus is Energon depleted and Rodimus easily defeats him, but tearing off his head, knocking out all the components. Rodimus prepares to kill the fallen Cybertronians, but he senses that Shib needs help.

Rodimus arrives at the mine, but he is attacked by the injured Sharpclaw, and meets the restored Steeljaw. Rodimus reveals that they can't even use the Energon, due to them converting themselves to using Biofuel, and since he destroyed their base's equipment, they can't even use that now.

Steeljaw, in rage, stand Rodimus through his abdomen and chucks him into the raw Energon put.

Steeljaw, now seeing that they're doomed, decides to be petty and shoot the Energon, to cause Donnokt to blow up, Sharpclaw tries to convince him to spare the world, as they have a chance to still live, Steeljaw however still fires, but Sharpclaw jumps in the way, taking her out.

Steeljaw, now furious at having killed his own sister, intends to kill Shib, but Rodimus, who has been supercharged by the Energon, returns to life, and finishes off the former Decepticon.

With no enemies left, Rodimus tears off his arm blasters.

Rodimus spends some time afterwards helping the Donnokt People to work out how to use the Energon safely, and enables them to improve their technology in a short timeframe. 

Rodimus constructs a small spacecraft, and stores the remaining Cybertronians, who were rendered harmless and near dead, in it, before sitting in it too, and allows himself to power down forever on the shuttle, as it drifts aimlessly in space.

Later, Shib looks out at the stars, and is happy that she added a new one to the sky, with Rodimus' shuttle...

Characters

Autobot

Rodimus - Car Goes into stasis

Strongarm - Van (Flashback and Footage) Dead

Gripper - Buggy (Flashback and Footage) Dead

Kup (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Talon - Jet (Flashback) Killed by Rodimus

Fangry - Winged Wolf (Flashback) Killed by Rodimus

Talon's Crew (Mentioned) Killed by Rodimus and crew

The Last Cybertronians

Steeljaw - Van Killed by Rodimus

Sharpclaw - Car Shot by Steeljaw, in Stasis

Wedge - Bulldozer Badly Injured in Unstoppimus Destruction, in Stasis 

Lunaclub - Helicopter Badly Injured in Unstoppimus Destruction, in Stasis 

Scylla - Squid Badly Injured in Unstoppimus Destruction, in Stasis 

Cyberwarp - Jet Badly Injured in Unstoppimus Destruction, in Stasis 

Override - Car Likely Killed in Unstoppimus Destruction

Riotgear - Tank Likely Killed in Unstoppimus Destruction 

Unstoppimus - Last Cybertronian Gestalt Destroyed by Rodimus 

Wheelie Stuck in Orbit, Likely Dead

Nitro (Mentioned) Dead

Base Camp Team (Mentioned) Dead

Donnokt Denizens

Shib Wallkis

Beets Wallkis

Trayvon Wallkis

Alderman Errold

Firebolt, the Steed

Sparks, the Steed

Fembrance Townsfolk

Stambo (Mentioned)

Brennet (Mentioned)

Shib's Ancestors (Mentioned)

Other

Primus (Mentioned)

Notes

• The Energon keys are confirmed to having been created for use by the three Autobots, if they were needed by the Wallkis family, but Strongarm and Gripper died before they could be used on them (still not convinced that Rodimus didn't kill them though)
• The planet is also confirmed to be filled with raw Energon, which Rodimus teaches the Donnokt People to process safely for themselves.
• Sharpclaw exclaims "Primus' Ball Bearings!' I just wanted to mention that :) 
• Most of the surviving (at the start of the issue) members of the Last Cybertronians have been members of a combiner team in past fiction, explaining how they can combine (poorly) this issue.
• Rodimus' "god" form is based on the Super Saiyans from the Dragon Ball franchise (yeah, it looks a bit weird, why did they give him a gold wig, rather than the fiery design, like he has on the cover?)
• The ending is a bit bittersweet, Donnokt is safe, but the stars are still burning out, so they are on borrowed time right now, maybe they can develop interdimensional travel to escape to the next license holder?
• This marks the last G2 series for IDW, with only Shattered Glass to follow it (and, yes, the first two issues have been released already, but I've been procrastinating). There hasn't been any announcements on who the next license holder will be yet.

IDW - Transformers: Last Bot Standing #3

Written by: Nick Roche

Art by: E.J. Su & Nick Roche

Colours by: Rebecca Nalty

Letters & Design by: Johanna Nattalie

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Editor: David Mariotte

Plot

The Last Cybertronians work on preparing Shib to be converted into biofuel, while Rodimus meets a badly damaged Wheelie, who is part of the group, but still refuses to join Steeljaw's crew, but the other Cybertronians are determined to convert him to using biofuel too. Steeljaw and most of the team leave to gather up the nearby townsfolk for farming and harvesting...

Moon is convinced by Shib, whom he has become fascinated by, and Wheelie to allow her to say goodbye to Rodimus before she is killed. She rusn over, and jabs the key her family has been protecting for centuries into Rodimus' chest, fully restoring him to his prime.

Rodimus quickly destroys the biofuel converter, and takes out most of the left behind Cybertronians, with Moon sacrificing himself when Shib is in danger of dying too. Wheelie sends two of the Cybertronians to warn the others, but Rodimus just kicks the smaller robot into orbit to die.

Rodimus chases the last two members, and kills them, with Shib wondering if Rodimus is actually the good guy...

Steeljaw and his crew reach Fembrance and start gathering up the townsfolk, but also start detecting Cybertronian technology in the area. Steeljaw makes his way to Shib's home, and destroys it, locating the box with the last two Energon keys and a data pad that Rodimus left for Shib's ancestors.

Rodimus and Shib soon return to Fembrance to find the town in ruins, and the townsfolk in caged trailers.

Rodimus is about to do something about it, when Steeljaw returns with Shib's family captive and reveals that he knows Rodimus' secret now....

Characters

Autobot

Rodimus - Car

Gripper - Buggy (Flashback) Died from Accidental Fall

Strongarm - Van (Flashback) Died in Ship Crash

Last Cybertronians

Steeljaw - Van

Sharpclaw - Car

Wheelie Launched into Orbit by Rodimus

Wildwheel - Car Killed by Rodimus

Moon - Rabbit Accidentally Killed by Wildwheel 

Vex - Car Killed by Rodimus

Treadshock - Tank Killed by Rodimus

Riotgear - Tank

Override - Car

Cyberwarp - Jet

Wedge - Front End Loader

Lunaclub - Helicopter

Scylla - Squid

Nitro Dead 

Donnokt Denizens

Shib Wallkis

Beets Wallkis Captured by Steeljaw 

Trayvon Wallkis Captured by Steeljaw 

Errold 

Fembrance Rangers

Fembrance Townsfolk Captured

Shib's Mother (Flashback)

Shib's Father (Flashback)

Wallkis Family Ancestors (Flashback)

Primitive Donnokt People (Flashback)

Fembrance Miners (Mentioned)

Notes

• As predicted before, the keys are filled with liquid Emerging that is designed to be used on the 3 Autobots who landed on Donnokt.
• The keys being able to open up a hidden hatch on a Transformer, and empower them, repairing injuries etc, resembles the Allspark Key from Animated.
• Wheelie being the "Veteran" here is treated like a big reveal, but the preview last issue revealed it to us...
• I mentioned last issue that it looked like Rodimus altered his robot mode when he became the wagon, but this issue reveals that it's the same design, but worn down from a lack of Emerging.
• Rodimus implies that there is something else hidden on Donnokt, and seemed very interested in if the Miners in town had found out about him. I'm guessing that Donnokt has a natural surplus of Energon, which Rodimus is trying to hide.
• The deaths of Gripper and Strongarm seem a bit suspicious to me. I think, based on the previous note, that they tried to leave the planet with the new source of Energon to save their species, but Rodimus stopped them by killing them.
• The secret discovered by Steeljaw is likely not about the Energon, since Steeljaw and the others already said they couldn't really convert back to using Energon now, so it most likely is something more than that.
• The art on Cover B shows Rodimus seeing past Cybertronians, most based on past designs, but Blaster appears to be a fully new design...and now I am desperate to know what he turns into...

IDW - Transformers: Last Bot Standing #2

Written by: Nick Roche

Art by: E.J. Su & Nick Roche

Colours by: Rebecca Nalty

Letters & Design by: Johanna Nattalie

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Editor: David Mariotte

Plot

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Characters

Autobot

Rodimus - Wagon Base (Previously Car)

Strongarm - Van (Flashback)

Gripper - Buggy (Flashback)

Powermaster Optimus Prime - Truck (Flashback)

Grandus - Battle Platform (Flashback)

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex (Flashback)

Thunderclash - Truck (Flashback)

Windblade - VTOL Jet (Flashback)

Tigerhawk - Winged Tiger (Flashback)

Bulkhead - Van (Flashback)

Armada Red Alert - Van (Flashback)

Arcee - Car (Flashback)

Decepticon

Galvatron - Cannon (Flashback)

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

Predaking - Predacon Gestalt (Flashback)

Starscream - Tetrajet (Flashback)

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

Strika - Battle Tank (Flashback)

Flamewar - Motorcycle (Flashback)

Snarler - Drill-Beast (Flashback)

Noisemaze - Space Jet (Flashback)

Calcar - Car (Flashback)

The Last Cybertronians

Steeljaw - Van

Sharpclaw - Car

Moon/Spine-Shucker - Rabbit

Override - Car

Riotgear - Tank

Cyberwarp - Jet

Vex

Wedge - Bulldozer

Treadshock - Tank

Nitro - Car (Mentioned) Dead

Scylla (Mentioned) In Stasis

Lunaclub (Mentioned In Stasis

"The Veteran" (Mentioned) In Stasis 

Donnokt Denizens

Shib Wallkis Captured by the Last Cybertronians

Alderman Errold 

Beets Wallkis

Wallkis Homestead Guard

Tunp

Spletsil

Rodimus' Third Guard

Buck Eaten by Riotgear

Buck's Co-Guard Eaten by Riotgear 

Fembrance Townsfolk/Mob

Donnokt Steeds

Trayvon Wallkis (Mentioned)

Grandpappy Wallkis (Mentioned)

Mr Wallkis (Mentioned)

Shib's Ancestors (Mentioned)

Fembrance Town Council (Mentioned)

Other

Primus (Mentioned)

Humans (Mentioned)

Nebulans (Mentioned)

Klovians (Mentioned)

Notes

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

IDW - Transformers: Last Bot Standing #1

Written by: Nick Roche

Art by: E.J. Su & Nick Roche

Colours by: Rebecca Nalty

Letters & Design by: Johanna Nattalie

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Editor: David Mariotte

Plot

A vessel crashes on the planet Donnokt, and a Cybertronian figure emerges from it.

In a town nearby, life is normal, and Shib Wallkis is running a delivery company with her brothers, but is starting to lose customers due to recent technological developments, making her steed-drawn wagon obsolete.

Later, Shib is reminiscing on her deceased parents, when the townsfolk arrive, and ask for her help rescuing some miners, due to the new vehicles being unable to reach them due to the terrain, but her wagon can.

Later again, Shib returns with the injured Miners, and they are taken away for healing. Suddenly the crowd grow scared when the alien robot arrives and starts scanning the area.

Very quickly, Shib's wagon moves by itself and transforms, revealing the Autobot Rodimus, who fights the newcomer, and quickly kills him, after the newcomer suggests this world could be a new home world for them.

Rodimus leaves, telling no-one to follow him, despite Shib seeming to want to follow him.

Soon, a second vessel crashes on the planet, revealing another Cybertronian has arrived on the remote planet....

Characters

Cybertronian

Rodimus - Wagon Base

"The Visitor" Killed by Rodimus 

Moon - Rabbit

Strongarm (Flashback Only) Likely Dead

Prowl (Flashback Only) Likely Dead

Donnokt Natives

Shin Wallkis

Trayvon Wallkis

Beets Wallkis

Stambo Flentz

Doc Brel Tonder

Sparks, the Steed

Firebolt, the Steed

Brennet

Mr Flentz

Town Sheriff

Town Rangers

Miners Injured

Townsfolk

Shib's Parents (Photo) Possibly Dead 

The Alderman (Mentioned)

Notes

• This series is designed as a send-off of IDW Transformers, before their license expires at the end of the year. However this series will be followed by Shattered Glass II later in the year.
• This series is designed to fit in any continuity, but aesthetically it does seem to fit better with IDW1, than the current continuity.
• The steeds used by Shiv are named Firebolt and Sparks, the names used for Hot Rod's Target master partner in the past.
• The hidden necklaces with what appears to be Energon inside inside Shib's house appear to be keys. Most likely being gifted to her by Rodimus before he went into hiding as her wagon.
• Shin doesn't seem to be too shocked by Rodimus, implying that she knew he was there all along. My guess will be that he somehow accidentally killed her parents (possibly when his ship crashed) and he opted to protect her this way.
• Rodimus' shuttle in the flashback appears to be based on the front section of the Autobot shuttles, first seen in the G1 Movie, but with large thrusters added to the sides.
• Rodimus' shipmates are only shown in silhouette, but they appear to be Prowl and Strongarm, or at least repaints of them.
• The bot who arrives on the planet in the final pages is Moon, a character from the Beast Wars Second Anime and toyline.

IDW - Lost Light #25

Title: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It: Part 2

Written by: James Roberts

Art by: Jack Lawrence

Colours by: Joana LaFuente

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: David Mariotte

Publisher: Greg Goldstein

Plot

Following the Functionist Council's defeat, Prowl has arrived on Functionist Cybertron to check up on the newly ignited Hot Spot on Luna-1, but he also tells Rodimus that he is there to also re-arrest Megatron for a new trail, since his appeal for the Knights of Cybertron to preside over his trial is now impossible. Megatron agrees to go with him, but Prowl also has more bad news. He wants to have the Lost Light's engines removed to help power up the new Cybertron. Rodimus reluctantly agrees, but has one request, a lap of honour in the ship for him and his crew...

One day later, the crew finish their lap, having had no problems and begin their trip back to Functionist Cybertron, with Rewind taking footage of the entire ship for posterity and everyone agrees that they should allow the ship to be scrapped rather than having it repurposed and/or replaced with something else. The team head off to toast their journey's end, when Nautica, Perceptor and Brainstorm approach Rodimus with a radical idea...

The trio of scientists believe they can recreate the original accident that caused the ship to duplicate itself, but to also shunt it into an alternate universe, thereby preventing the risk of them being deleted from existence like last time. They won't know if it worked, as they would just see themselves as arriving back at Functionist Cybertron, but they have a chance of continuing their journeys in uncharted space. Rodimus agrees to try if the rest of the crew agree in a vote...

Unaware if their plan worked or not, the crew toast the journey in the bar and say their goodbyes. Swerve tries to lock everyone inside the bar, but it fails when the hull of the ship is being ripped apart with them still inside, telling them that it's time to wrap it all up.

The crew soon head off on their own ways, with Nautica and Velocity heading to Earth to visit it and everyone else starting a new life. Prowl officially takes in Megatron, with Magnus joining them, leaving Rodimus alone.

Following Megatron's new trial, presided over by the Galactic Council, Rodimus goes to visit Megatron, who is waiting for his sentencing, which is either death or infinite imprisonment, and Megatron gives Rodimus the Rodimus Star that he was given over 800 years earlier, from his perspective and asks him to look after it for him. Soon, they are called back to the court for the verdict, but before they go, Magnus tells Megatron that he plans to destroy the Magnus armour, and live his life out as his true self, Minimus Ambus, which Megatron is very happy to hear. 

Over the intervening years, Drift and Ratchet become Conjunx Endura and settle down happily until Ratchet's old age catches up to him and he slowly dies. Rewind becomes obsessed with the history of the Functionist Universe and overloads, trapping him in his alternate mode, and Chromedome spends his time taking care of him. Swerve starts up a bar franchise, but eventually loses all but one of them. Nautica writes a semi-autobiographical book about her adventures. Most of the crew settle down on New Cybertron, with Ambus and Anode working on Luna-1 to bring the new "Lunarian" Cybertronians to term. Whirl is going in and out of prison at an alarming rate, and Rodimus is now working on a ship under Thunderclash's command. At some time, Brainstorm has a lab accident which now requires him to use a life-support device, housed in a briefcase, to survive.

Some time later, the crew are gathered together again for Ratchet's funeral, where they catch up and mourn their fallen comrade. After the funeral. Drift gifts Whirl Ratchet's hands to replace the ones he lost a long time ago, but he refuses to take them, as he doesn't see himself as broken any more.

Rodimus arrives at New Cybertron, just after the service, due to the Exitus being too far away to get there in time. He leaves Megatron's old Rodimus Star as an offering to Ratchet.

Cyclonus learns about Whirl's time in and out of prison and offers to take him in to his and Tailgate's home when he is released again, prompting a hug from his one-time nemesis.

Rodimus prepares to return to the ship when Drift approaches him and asks Rodimus whether he thinks their last plan worked or not, but Rodimus reminds him that they promised never to discuss it, but admits that he hopes that it did. He leaves, but promises to keep in touch with Drift...

Back in the past, the new quantum duplicate of the Lost Light arrives in uncharted space, and the crew celebrate their successful plan, and head off for new adventures in a completely unknown land...

Characters

Autobot

Rodimus - Car

Megatron - Tank Imprisoned or Killed by Galactic Council

Ultra Magnus/Minimus Ambus - Vehicle Transport/Minesweeper Magnus Armour Destroyed

Prowl - Police Vehicle

Drift - Car

Ratchet - Ambulance Died of Old Age

Fortress Maximus - Tank

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Thunderclash - Truck

Chromedome - Car

Rewind - Data Slug Trapped in Alternate Mode

Swerve - Van

Tailgate - Car

Brainstorm - Jet

Whirl - Osprey Helicopter

Nautica - Submarine

Velocity - Race Car

Perceptor - Tank

First Aid - Ambulance

Hot Spot - Fire Truck

Blades - Helicopter

Groove - Motorcycle

Streetwise - Police Vehicle

Huffer - Truck

Xaaron

Bluestreak - Car

Crosscut - Van

Grapple - Crane

Hoist - Crane 

Gears - Van

Hound - Jeep

Riptide - Boat

Blaster - Acoustic Tank

Red Alert - Car

Garrus-10 Guards - Vans

Duplicate Rodimus - Car

Duplicate Megatron - Tank

Duplicate Ultra Magnus/Minimus Ambus - Vehicle Transport/Minesweeper

Duplicate Blaster - Acoustic Tank

Duplicate Brainstorm - Jet

Duplicate Perceptor - Tank

Duplicate Drift - Car

Duplciate Chromedome - Car

Duplicate Rewind - Data Slug

Duplicate Swerve - Van

Duplicate Nautica - Submarine

Duplicate Ratchet - Ambulance 

Duplicate Whirl - Osprey Helicopter

Duplicate Tailgate - Car

Nightbeat (Toy)

Trailcutter (Toy)

Skids (Toy)

Windblade - VTOL Fighter Jet (Mentioned)

Chromia - Speedbike (Mentioned)

Impactor - Drill Tank (Mentioned) Dead

Rung/Primus - Matrix Forge (Mentioned) Dead and Forgotten

Decepticon

Misfire - Fighter Jet

Crankcase - Van

Spinister - Helicopter

Fulcrum - K-Class Bomb

Krok

Nickel - Rocket Powered Buggy

Duplicate Crankcase - Van

Duplicate Misfire - Fighter Jet

Duplicate Krok

Ravage (Toy)

Other Cybertronian

Cyclonus - Jet

Roller - Truck

Anode - Bi-Plane

Lug - Backpack Equipment

Clicker - Laser Pointer

Funeralbot

Rodimus' Pilot

Other Lost Lighters All get duplicated

Duplicate Anode - Bi-Plane

Duplicate Lug - Backpack Equipment

Duplicate Cyclonus - Jet

Ten (Toy)

Functionist Council (Mentioned) Dead

Knights of Cybertron (Mentioned)

Population of Functionist/New Cybertron (Mentioned)

Lunarians (Mentioned)

Other

Galactic Council (Mentioned)

Mederi Telepaths (Mentioned)

The Improbability Police (Mentioned)

Beryl, the Sentient Rust (Mentioned)

CONS4EVA, the Dire Wraith (Mentioned)

Notes

• The title of this issue is a reference to issue one of More Than Meets The Eye
• So, despite an unknown amount of time (quite a while we can guess from the dialogue) no one has changed their body from the present? It's not impossible, but seems very unlikely seeing how most characters change bodies every couple of years, if not more.
• The earlier mentioned issue with the timeline is not fixed in this issue. It will probably be waved off as being because of the Lost Lighters traveling through the Warren, causing about two years to pass without notice, but it just seems kind of lazy writing as an explanation.
• This issue was released a week before Unicron #6 was released, meaning that Earth's survival in that issue, along with Prowl, Windblade and Chromia surviving was spoiled by this issue.
• Prowl mentions that Cybertron is trying for membership with the Galactic Council. This makes IMMENSE sense due to the majority of their worlds being destroyed by Unicron.
• After a while, Functionist Cybertron gets officially renamed to New Cybertron.
• The G-10 guards escorting Whirl in the future scenes are based on the museum guards from the Robots in Disguise cartoon.
• Swerve mentions that there's a large omission in Nautica's book, which mostly hurts her own part in it, this is likely due to her erasing her emotions connected to Skids and effecting that narrative
• So...we aren't told how long has passed between the events of the previous issue and the start of this story's present scenes, but it can't be more than a few weeks....how has everyone forgotten about Rung in that time?! They have footage of him, and there's historical record of him (even a psychological procedure named after him!) Hell, even the Functionist Universe version of him was remembered about 800 years after his death (Since the council mention him amongst the dead, and we learn this issue that Megatron was holding onto his Rodimus Star for over 800 years). This is just silly!
• Also, if they don't remember Rung, where did they think they got a dozen Matrixes to save the day last issue?
• Lug refers to Anode as her wife here....why? The term used in continuity for spouse is Conjunx Endura.
• Oh and Bluestreak is alive again! I guess it was sad he was killed as a Sparkeater on Mederi, but...how did this happen?
• Similarly, the also very dead looking Protectobots are seen alive here too! (sans Rook that is). I eagerly await seeing Mirage and Atomizer stapled back together and alive too!
• Whirl's avatar's shirt stating "Ask me about my feminist agenda" is based on the one worn by Mockingbird on a controversial comic cover from Marvel. Bit of a brave choice to have a murderous literal psychopath who starts wars being the declared feminist of the crew, but whatever!
• Ratchet suggests that Drift's visions at the start of the series were due to the Mederi telepaths sending him images of the final battle through the Warren....okay....
• Ultra Magnus is revealed to have originally joining the crew to build up his contact list
• One of the guards accompanying Prowl to re-arrest Megatron is based on Kup's Titans Return toy.
• Despite being under oath, Rodimus lies in his testimony about Megatron and claims that he was the one to open the Matrix on Functionist Cybertron, and not Rodimus.
• The Lunarians are revealed to all resemble Rung, at least their heads do, making me also question how none of Rung's old friends have had a flash of memories about him yet!
• So....how did the crew recreate the original accident? Did they sacrifice someone to be partially absorbed into the engines again?
• The ending with the crew entering a new, unknown universe and debating what it would be like is very much a metaphor for what if happening in the real world Transformers comics, as the universe is being rebooted for a new one, which we don't know anything about yet.
• So...who wants to bet that in the new IDW Universe we'll eventually bump into the new version of the Lost Light?