IDW - Lost Light #10

Title: The Plotters' Club, Part 1: Full Circle

Written by: James Roberts

Art by: Jack Lawrence 

Colours by: Joana LaFuente

Letters by: Tom B Long

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Publisher: Ted Adams

Plot

The Protectobots and Mirage finally return to the Lost Light, which appears to be under radio silence, but their shuttle is damaged and they are running on fumes, they wind up crashing into the shuttle bay, only to find a heavily armed security team greeting them, instead of a welcoming party. Getaway soon appears and greets them as friends, but he is cagey about the whereabouts of Rodimus, Megatron and the others, and suggests that First Aid take Blade to the medibay, as he was injured in the crash.

At the medibay, First Aid talks with Blades as he repairs him, and they find it odd how they STILL haven't seen their captains, and start reminiscing over Rodimus' antics. First Aid thinks something is happening, which makes Blades panic that there's a virus on the ship that's going to kill everyone. First Aid ignores this suggestion, but finds that the medibay's computer is now password protected to keep him out. First Aid uses another machine to perform a spark scan of the ship, and is shocked that there is less crew than there was before they left, but also finds that one of the sparks is in a locked room in the medibay.

Blades leaves to find some help, whilst First Aid takes out a blowtorch and tries to break into the room, only to be stopped by a newly arrived Getaway, who claims the door isn't actually opened, and shows him Thunderclash, who is back in a coma again. He claims that Hoist has tried everything, but cannot wake him up.

First Aid asks him about the missing crew members and the passwords on the computer. He says that he'll fix the password, but lies that Rodimus and the others left the ship to look for the Knights of Cybertron with the Necrobot without dealing with the antics of the rest of the crew. Getaway suggests that he go see Hoist about Thunderclash's situation, directing him to "Visages" which has taken "Swerve's'" as the go-to bar on the ship.

First Aid soon arrives at the bar, where he does indeed find most of the crew. He locates Hoist after a few awkward stares from Atomizer and the security crew. He learns from Hoist and a few others the names of the crew who "left" with Rodimus, and also that they are apparently only a couple of weeks away from Cyberutopia now, but First Aid begins to become further worried and leaves the bar...

First Aid finds his way to the locked-up "Swerve's" where he finds the power turned off, and he summons the rest of the Protectobots and Mirage for a talk. He expresses his concerns to them about the crew lying to them about what happened to Rodimus, and recalls a conversation about a possible mutiny with Getaway before they left Cybertron following the Dark Cybertron event, which the other Protectobots claim to have never been spoken to about. Mirage is unwilling to even discuss this as he trusts his friends, but Riptide soon appears in the bar and confirms the theory, but also adds that he believes that the DJD were summoned by Getaway to kill Rodimus, Megatron and the others, as well as him putting Thunderclash into a coma for also having second thoughts of the mutiny.

Getaway appears and dismisses the claims that he attacked Thudnerclash, but explains that he placed him into a looped memory coma, keeping him trapped inside his memories, reliving his decision to leave the ship. Streetwise finds the light switch and turns it on, revealing that the Engex distilleries are holding several severed brain modules inside them, revealing the location of the missing crew members.

Mirage turns invisible and attacks Getaway with a glass, and the returned Autobots are soo attacked by the security team. Riptide stays behind to buy the Protectobots time to escape, as they run off to the shuttle bay, intending to return to Cybertron to tell Optimus and everyone else what has happened on the ship. Blades' arm is injured in their escape, in the same way it was when he was patched up by First Aid at the start of this adventure....

The Protectobots find their own ship, fully repaired in record time, and take off within it. They are shot by a proton missile from the Lost Light, which damages their shuttle, and they are caught in a tractor beam, and forced back towards the Lost Light...and the events from the start of the issue start again...ending with First Aid being suggested to repair Blades again, with apparently no memory of what just happened....

Characters

Autobot

First Aid - Ambulance Trapped in Looped Memory Coma

Hot Spot - Fire Truck Trapped in Looped Memory Coma

Streetwise - Police Car Trapped in Looped Memory Coma

Groove - Police Motorcycle Trapped in Looped Memory Coma

Blades - Rescue Helicopter Trapped in Looped Memory Coma

Rook - Armoured SWAT Van Trapped in Looped Memory Coma

Mirage - F1 Race Car Trapped in Looped Memory Coma

Riptide - Boat

Thunderclash - Truck Trapped in Looped Memory Coma

Getaway - Car

Atomizer - Car

Hoist - Tow Truck

Hound - Jeep

Xaaron

Bluestreak - Car

Jackpot - Car

Crosscut - Van

Mainframe

Powerflash - Jet

Strafe - Jet

Boss - Car

Doublecross - Two Headed Dragon

Repugnus - Insect Monster

Grotusque - Winged Cat Monster

Sureshot - Baja Buggy

Pointblank - Car

Waverider - Submarine

Highbrow - Helicopter

Rad - Car

Dipstick - Car

Rollout - Bulldozer

Grapple - Crane

Siren - Car

Gears - Van

Smokescreen - Car

Inferno - Fire Truck

Brawn - Van

Huffer - Truck

Ammo

Aquabat - Hovercraft/Bat

Rodimus - Car (Mentioned) "Exiled"

Ultra Magnus/Minimus Ambus - Vehicle Transport/Minesweeper (Mentioned) "Exiled"

Megatron - Tank (Mentioned) "Exiled"

Whirl - Osprey Helicopter (Mentioned) "Exiled"

Nightbeat - Car (Mentioned) "Exiled"

Skids - Van (Mentioned) "Exiled"

Velocity - Race Car (Mentioned) "Exiled"

Nautica - Submarine (Mentioned) "Exiled"

Chromedome - Car (Mentioned) "Exiled"

Rewind - Data Slug (Mentioned) "Exiled"

Rung - Photon Crystal Generator (Mentioned) "Exiled"

Swerve - Van (Mentioned) "Exiled"

Tailgate - Car (Mentioned) "Exiled"

Brainstorm - Jet (Mentioned) "Exiled"

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab (Mentioned)

Prowl - Police Car (Mentioned)

Perceptor - Tank (Mentioned)

Blaster - Acoustic Tank (Mentioned)

Hosehead - Fire Truck (Mentioned)

Tiretread - Race Car (Mentioned)

25 Lost Light Crew Members (Mentioned) Missing

Decepticon

Decepticon Justice Division (Mentioned)

Ravage - Cassette (Mentioned) "Exiled"

Other Cybertronian

The Knights of Cybertron (Mentioned)

The Necrobot (Mentioned)

Ten (Mentioned)

Cyclonus - Jet (Mentioned)

Other

The Black Block Consortia (Mentioned)

The Galactic Council (Mentioned)

Notes

• This is the first part of the "Mutineers Trilogy", following the return of both the Lost Light, it's mutinous crew and the Protectobots.
• It's mentioned that the Protectobots have been gone for "months". It has been over two years in real world time since they left for "Combiner Wars". I know time doesn't pass exactly the same in the comics as it does in the real world, but this seems a bit strange. However since they are stuck in a looping memory, it's possible that they actually returned a few months ago and have just been trapped for a while now.
• Similarly to the above note, how did the Protectobots never receive the message from the trapped Lost Lighters on Necroworld...also now I think about it, did that message ever mention the mutiny or Getaway betraying them? You'd think one of them would want that information to reach Optimus or the other authorities right?
• It's mentioned in the "Story so far" that Rook was just a random Autobot who just happened to be standing near the Protectobots when they were merged into Defensor...oops?
• Hoist being the interim medical officer on the Lost Light makes some...kind of sense...he was shown to have some medical knowledge when he worked on Tripodeca during Overlord's assault on the ship, though his patient did end up dying....
• First Aid asks Mirage for a "pint" of Engex. I would say this was a mistake, since a "pint" would be a relatively small drink for a Transformer, but after asking James Roberts on Twitter, this is just a Cybertronian equivalent to a pint (like it's short for a "mega-pint" or something)
• It's mentioned that Perceptor was shocked when he learned that Brainstorm left with Rodimus, considering that he is known for being the subject of Brainstorm's stalking, and him being absent from the bridge during the issue the crew were exiled, it's possible that he wasn't aware of what was happening with them. In fact, his absence in this issue could be due to him being one of the "missing" crew members.
• On the other hand, Mirage's assertion that Bluestreak would never do anything deceptive like mutiny is somewhat wrong, as he WAS amongst the bridge crew who was present during Getaway's talk with them.
• From the dialogue, it seems clear that Mirage and First Aid originally agreed to a mutiny with Getaway, but the latter has since changed his mind, the rest of the Protectobots rejected the plan and got their minds wiped. This is somewhat confirmed at the start and end scenes where Getaway only really talks to or addresses Mirage, First Aid and Rook, the latter of which wasn't a part of the crew before now.
• The teethmarks on the spinal columns of the detached brain modules are likely an attempt by Getaway to make it look like Helex of the DJD attacked these crew members, as that was his main method of torture.
• Mainframe was the one who suggested that Whirl leave with Rodimus back in Issue 50 of MTMTE, his glee at him having left here really shows what a jerk he is!
• Considering this issue is set within what is essentially a shared dream, it's possible, and likely that the events depicted were either modified by Getaway to make the crew seem happier, or to alter some facts.
• I'm going to assume that since Defensor is never brought up in this issue that the Protectobots will be freed from their looped memory coma by combining, since getaway doesn't know about him yet.
• My guess as to the main back story here, is that the Lost Light picked up the distress signal from Necroworld, which led the bridge crew at least to know that their exiled crew members were seemingly given to the DJD by Getaway, leading to Riptide's suspicions, Thunderclash's attempted escape and the fates of the missing 25 crew members. I'm also going to guess that most of the crew either weren't told about the exiled crew not actually leaving on their own, or have been lied to since the beginning by Getaway.
• The four pages at the end of the comic are a reprinting of the first four, with only the title being added at the end, and the final panel's dialogue having a single difference...First Aid saying "Ah", instead of "Oh". Also Getaway's dialogue is completed on this panel, instead of continuing to the next, non-existent page.
• For some reason, First Aid keeps proclaiming "God" rather than the usual "Primus" or another Transformers-related explicit.

IDW - Regeneration One #99

Title: The war to end all wars Part 4

Writer: Simon Furman

Breakdowns: Guido Guidi

Finishes: Stephen Baskeville

Colourist: John-Paul Bove

Letterer: Chris Mowry

Editor: John Barber

Editor-in-Chief: Chris Ryall

Plot

In Zero Space Spike is being held captive by Primus, who wishes to use his unique body (part Human, Nebulon and Cybertronian) for his grand scheme. As a part of this he takes on the form of Buster, and mentally traumatizes Spike over letting him die at the Decepticon's hands.

Rodimus Prime is taken to see Jhiaxus on the Hub's Throneworld, where he asks the Autobot leader to join him freely in building up his empire, or he'll start killing his captured allies.

Elsewhere in the Hub, the Wreckers are attacking the connections between the worlds and causing massive problems. Rook reports this to Jhiaxus, who starts killing Autobots (those who have been altered by external forces - Headmasters, Pretenders etc) to force Rodimus to tell them to stop, however Rodimus points out that if it's the Wreckers then they won't stoop until their dead anyway. Jhiaxus has a battalion chase after them.

Meanwhile, Shockwave and the possessed Starscream decide to take action as well, with Starscream going after Jhiaxus himself.

On Earth, Blackrock is working on repairing Optimus following his quick battle with Fort Max. Linda just wants Optimus to be operational enough to find out where Max took Spike, so they can recover him, then destroy the space bridge and cut off all connection to the outside universe for good.

On Cybertron, the Dinobots witness the surviving Demons wrap themselves in a cocoon of some sort, as it waiting for something to happen, when Grimlock starts to get his memories that Primus erased back and starts babbling about how he was used, and about VsQs.

Elsewhere at the Star Chamber Galvatron attacks the Autobot scientists trying to contact Optimus or Quickmix, who have both gone quiet, and kills them all.

The Wreckers are tearing apart the Hub's connectors and causing massive damage all across, along with the aid of Shockwave and the Ark (which he still controls) Jhiaxus has Rodimus sent away to the prisons by 2 guards, who Rodimus easily takes down.

Jhiaxus is panicking over his crumbling empire and prepares to leave when Starscream arrives and re-introduces Jhiaxus to the Senators he killed during the Underbase's creation. Jhiaxus' mind is then painfully absorbed into Starscream (and the Underbase itself). Jhiaxus screams for Rook's help, but his loyal servant just runs away.

Rodimus frees the captured Autobots who join in with the battle. Shockwave arrives at the Throneworld and recovers Starscream's exhausted body from the collapsing construct, despite it being totally illogical - he starts to wonder if this is what emotion is. The attackers all leave as the Hub crumples into itself.

On the way back to Cybertron, Rodimus wonders about some things, all Jhiaxus was doing was trying to create order out of the chaos of the Universe, which is exactly Primus' function...so what if Primus isn't as benevolent as they all think?

On Cybertron a Dark Matrix creature leaps out of an Energon Pool....

Characters

Autobot

Rodimus Prime - Caravan

Optimus Prime - Truck Near Death

Ultra Magnus - Car Transport

Prowl - Police Car

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Bumblebee - VW Beetle

Roadbuster - Jeep

Whirl - Helicopter

Rack N' Ruin

Topspin - Jet

Sandstorm - Helicopter/Buggy

Broadside - Battleship/Jet

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Slag - Triceratops

Snarl - Stegosaurus

Sludge - Apatosaurus

Swoop - Pteranodon

Blurr - Race Car

Blaster - Boom Box

Hardhead - Tank

Chromedome - Car

Jetfire - Jet

Joyride - Baja Buggy Killed by Jhiaxus

Sky High - Helicopter Killed by Jhiaxus

Crosshairs - Off-Road Van Killed by Jhiaxus

Brainstorm - Jet Killed by Jhiaxus

Kick-Off

Star Chamber Staff Killed by Galvatron

Nightbeat - Car (Mentioned)

Quickmix - Mixing Truck (Mentioned)

Fortress Maximus (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Starscream - Jet Possessed by "The Four"

Shockwave - Ray Gun

Galvatron - Laser Cannon Possessed by Primus

Axer

Gutcruncher

Cybertronian Empire

Jhiaxus - Jet Absorbed by "The Four"

Rook - Jet

Other Members - Jets Mostly Dead

Human

Spike Witwicky/Circuit Smasher Captured by Primus

Linda Chang

G.B. Blackrock

Other Human Survivors

Buster Witwicky (Illusion Only)

Other

Primus

Dark Matrix Creature

Demons Entering Cocoon Stage

Boltax Part of Underbase

Decanus Part of Underbase

Tallus Part of Underbase

Rokan Part of Underbase

Other Cybertronians

Notes

• This is the penultimate issue of this series!
• Doesn't it feel like the whole Jhiaxus/Hub storyline was a bit shoehorned in or rushed?
• I mean seriously, last issue they were crushing the Autobots, now the Wreckers basically destroy them in a couple of minutes!
• With Galvatron's new attitude and his previous location near Primus, I think it's safe to say that he did what he's doing to Spike to Galvatron off screen, and this process will drive Spike mad(der) in time for next issue.
• Jhiaxus plans to use the Matrix energies inside Rodimus to power a new generation of Cybertronians, this is similar to Bludgeon's plans to use the Matrix to power his new generation of Transformers in the G2 series.
• Grimlock remembers the Dark Matrix creature from VsQs in the Marvel run, which is implied to be one with Primus as well here, which would mean that whatever Primus is up to has been planned for some time now.
• "The Four" are fully named here as Boltax, Decanus, Tallus and Rokan, the last 2 were unnamed in issue #0.
• Shockwave's scene with Starscream (see above) seems like it's just bait for the fangirls to fawn over honestly.
• Cybertron is shown to have some Decepticcons and Autobots wandering around on the surface...why wasn't every able-bodied Autobot/Decepticon brought in to counter this massive threat against their homeworld?!
• The Dark Matrix creature is shown to be in an energon pool at the end of this issue, but last time we saw it, it was entering Fort Max's mind...maybe there's more than one of them?
• Think about it this way...the individuals shown to Rodimus on his time trip by Primus are now all in his grasp. Fort Max, the Matrix Creature and Galvatron are under his power and Spike has been taken captive. The only wild-card (as pointed out earlier in the series) was Jhiaxus, who has now been taken out just in time for Primus' big push...seems like the trip was used to force Rodimus to help Primus out secretly for whatever he's doing.
• This could also mean that the Demon's attempts to keep people away from Primus' chamber were to try and stop him from being revived again.