IDW - Transformers vs G.I. Joe #2

Title: Targetmasters

Written by: Tom Scioli and John Barber

Art, Colours and Lettering by: Tom Scioli

Production by: Chris Mowry

Edits by: Carlos Guzman

Plot

The Joes start pelting Iacon with their Creeper (Green) Bombs, assuming it is the Capitol of Cybertron, unfortunately for them though, it was abandoned a while ago after the Autobots were defeated. Nearby, Perceptor and his team are watching the vines attacking the city and analyse the substance. Before long they discover the Joe's ship and decide to head out and investigate them.

On the invading Joes ship, Psyche-Out is protesting the use of biological weapons on this alien world, but the other Joes don't care. They locate the Decepticon's base, the giant Decepticon Trypticon, and proceed to attack, but find a forcefield protecting the Decepticon. From within, Megatron sends out his troops to attack the invaders, which includes the giant gestalt Devastator.

After a short battle, most of the Joes run away, and Wild Bill pilots their ship into Devastator, knocking him into his component parts.

Nearby, Perceptor and his team are rolling away, when the Joes try to mingle in with them as traffic, only for Perceptor and Brawn to be captured by Cyclonus and his team. Wheeljack tries to reach the humans, but is attacked by them, and they escape, unfortunately though, four of the Joes are captured by the Insecticons.

The remaining Joes head to an area that they've started terraforming to be habitable for humans and set up camp.

Meanwhile, Scourge and Cyclonus present the captured Autobots to Megatron, who is displeased, and kills Scourge for bringing him relics, especially with the arrival of the humans. Speaking of whom, the Insecticons present their captives to Megatron, and he proceeds to start torturing them.

Unknown to the Decepticons, Mirage has snuck inside Trypticon, and frees the other two Autobots, and creates an Optimus Prime hologram to distract Megatron, as they escape, with the humans in tow, heading back to metroplex.

Back at the Joe's base, the team find Wild Bill alive, despite his kamikaze mission, and also capture one of the "evil alien robots" Wheeljack in their totally heroic creeper vine traps.

Characters

Autobot

Perceptor - Cybertronian Tank

Wheeljack - Cybertronian Car

Mirage - Cybertronian Car

Brawn - Cybertronian Van

Optimus Prime (Hologram Only)

Bumblebee (Head Only)

Metroplex (Mentioned)

Decepticon

God King Megatron

Tyrpticon - City

Cyclonus - Cybertronian Jet

Scourge - Space Shuttle Killed by Megatron

Thrust - Cybertronian Jet

Astrotrain

Kickback - Locust

Bombshell - Boll Weevil

Shrapnel - Scarab Beetle

Scrapper - Cybertronian Front End Loader

Bonecrusher - Cybertronian Bulldozer

Mixmaster - Cybertronian Mixing Truck

Hook - Cybertronian Crane

Scavenger - Cybertronian Excavator

Long Haul - Cybertronian Dump Truck

Devastator - Constructicon Gestalt

Generic Decepticons

GI Joe

Scarlett

Psyche-Out

Heavy Duty

Wild Bill

General Flagg

Breaker Captured by Joes

Clutch Captured by Joes

Jinx Captured by Joes

Cover Girl Captured by Joes

Blowtorch

Alpine

Lowlight

Tunnel Rat

Sci Fi

Charbroil

Too Many Joes....

Cobra

Dr Venom (Mentioned)

Notes

• Once again, I'm not very familiar with the GI Joe franchise, and coupling that with this art style, I can only really identify characters who are named on page here. Sorry about the lacking character lists because of this!
• One of the first things the Joes do on Cybertron is bomb what they think is a capitol building with a bio-terrorist weapon....yes...still totally rooting for these guys!
• The Green Bombs are reuses of the Creeper Bombs stolen by the Joes in issue #0
• Why are some of the Decepticons (who all turn into jets) flying on external jet things, but others are just flying under their own power?
• Perceptor is shown using his seldom seen tank mode here...that's one good thing here at least!
• So Devastator's defeated pretty easily here huh?
• Megatron has Bumblebee's head on a chain around his neck, he was last seen being killed by Starscream in issue #0
• As well as the Joes having the Creeper Bombs, they also have a Weather Dominator and are starting to terraform Cybertron....THESE ARE THE HEROES!!??

DW - Generation One V3 #0

Plot

Unicron devours the planet Lithone and uses it to power itself and create a new minion, Cyclonus and sends him out since the previous minion, Scourge has be put out of commission by Shockwave and captured by humans.

On Earth, the EDC are studying the bodies of Scourge, Devastator and Superion, whilst the Earth-based Autobots have made contact with the ones of Cybertron and learn that Optimus is badly injured, following Shockwave tearing out the Matrix forcibly.

On Quintessa the Quintessons have been monitoring the recent past events involving the Cybertronians and deem it almost time to make Megatron face judgement.

On the Planet of Junk Wreck-Gar is collecting the bodies of several deactivated Air Warriors to please his new "friend" Megatron, who is happy with his work.

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Badly Injured

Ultra Magnus - Car Carrier Injured

Jazz - Porsche

Wheeljack - Race Car

Sunstreaker - Sports Car

Sideswipe - Sports Car

Brawn - SUV

Windcharger - Sports Car

Ratchet - Ambulance

Prowl - Police Car

Hoist - Tow Truck

Perceptor - Microscope

Smokescreen - Sports Car

Springer - Rocket Car/Helicopter

Broadside - Jet/Battleship

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Ironhide - Van

Superion - Aerialbot Gestalt Dead, in EDC Custody

Decepticon

Megatron - Gun Injured

Shockwave - Ray Gun

Astrotrain - Train/Space Shuttle

Blitzwing - Tank/Jet

Air Warriors - Jets Deactivated

Menasor - Stunticon Gestalt (On Screen)

Scourge - Space Shuttle Dead, in EDC Custody

Devastator - Constructicon Gestalt Dead, in EDC Custody 

Quintesson

Judges

Prosecutor

Executioner

Baliffs

Sharkticons - Sharks

Allicons - Alligators

Firestar

Moonracer

Other

Wreck-Gar - Motorcycle

Unicron - Ringed Planet

Cyclonus - Space Jet

Sweeps - Space Shuttles

Kranix Killed by Unicron

Arblus Killed by Unicron

EDC

Notes

• Due to this comic's events not being anything to do with the next story I decided to put it separate in this blog
• This story sets up the Quintesson plot, but due to the collapse of Dreamwave after issue 10 of this line, and after issue 3of Age of Wrath, we have no idea what Megatron did to piss off the Quints so much, or what their ultimate plan was.
• This story shows that Scourge is one of Unicron's minions, and was the one who revived Cybertron during the shutdown and staged his rescue from the Sharkticons to gain his trust
• Devastator and Superion's dead bodies have also been captured by the EDC along with Scourge
• The Auotbots on Earth now have contact with the ones on Cybertron
• Wreck-Gar is shown collecting Air Warrior bodies that were dumped on The Planet of Junk after the Age of Wrath, and is working for Megatron, to help him rebuild his army.
• This story shows the first signs of the female Autobots being Quintesson agents, it's later shown that Arcee is one as well

DW - 20th Anniversary Summer Special

G1 - Welcome to the Jungle

Plot

Megatron fights a feral Razorclaw on Planet Beest, having already defeated and captured the other Predacons, but manages to defeat the Predacon leader in the forest and take shim back to his lair inside a temple where he fixes his mind and refits Razorclaw to be able to combine with his fellow Predacons, into Predaking.

Characters

Decepticon

Megatron - Gun

Razorclaw - Lion

Predacons (Seen in Predaking Mode)

Predaking - Predacon Gestalt

Air Warriors - Jets

Other

Battle Beasts

Notes

• This story is set between Megatron killing Wreck-Gar and returning to Cybertron
• The denizens of Planet Beest are the Battle Beasts.
• Despite what is shown on the cover, the other Predacons don't actually appear in this comic

Energon - Perspective

Plot

Slugslinger, Snow Cat and Sharkticon return from a mission (to steal the Omega Supreme plans) in failure and lie to Megatron about what went wrong, and telling him how it wasn't each of their faults. After listening to all of them, Megatron talks to Slugslinger and says that his lie was the most convincing, which is what he needs in his army, so he promotes him to senior lieutenant.

Characters

Autobot

Omega Supreme - Crane and Train (Flashback) Under Construction

Decepticon

Megatron - Space Jet

Snow Cat - Snow Tracker

Slugslinger - Twin Nosed Jet

Sharkticon - Submarine

Shockblast - Sattelite/Tank (Mentioned)

Mini-Con

Skyboom - Shuttle (Flashback)

Wreckage - Warship (Flashback)

Scattor - Jet (Flashback)

Human

Kicker (Flashback)

Notes

• This is set after the last to be released issue of Energon
• ...Why was Snow Cat...who turns into a snowmobile sent on a mission to Ocean City, which is in the ocean...?
• Slugslinger and Sharkticon's faces look different to their normal states, both looking more normal than they should
• The Energon Saber Team are in their Armada series counterpart's colours

RID - Ultra Magnus...to the Rescue?

Plot

Megatron tells Scourge and Sky-Byte that their supplies from Cybertron have been cut off due to issues there, so he orders them to drain energy from Earth, whilst he and some of the Decepticons cause distractions for the Autobots.

The attacks begin and the Autobots are stretched thin so Optimus goes to deal with Scourge and Sky-Byte himself, who are attacking a power plant in Arizona, when Ultra Magnus joins in as well. The two learn to work together and eventually manage to defeat the bad guys, saving the day, however Magnus still doesn't want to be part of Prime's team, so he goes off on his own once more.

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Fire Truck

Ultra Magnus - Car Carrier

Prowl - Police Car

Side Burn - Muscle Car

X-Brawn - SUV

T-Ai

Rapid Run - Bullet Train (On Screen)

Predacon

Megatron - Dragon/Bat/Hand/Car/Jet

Sky-Byte - Shark

Slapper - Toad

Gas Skunk - Skunk

Darkscream - Flying Squirrel

Decepticon

Scourge - Oil Tanker

Armorhide - Tank

Rollbar - Jeep

Human

Workers

Firemen

Notes

• This comic seems to be set during the RID TV series. It's likely however that had this of been picked up as a series that we'd have seen it diverge somewhat
• From the looks of things, Megatron is performing a diversion in this story....why?!
• Magnus pretty much calls Scourge a repaint.
• ...What is wrong with Side Burn's head in this story!?!?

BW - Ain't No Rat

Plot

The Maximals are on their way home with Megatron as their prisoner, so the Maximals all take a stasis nap to pass the time, whilst asleep, Rattrap has a dream about him being out alone, when Dinobot 2 attacks him, but he's rescued by three Maximals he doesn't recognize. Rattrap invites the Maximals to return to base with him for safety, but they refuse, saying they have more important things to do.

Rattrap wakes up to Optimus Primal wondering what he was talking about whilst sleeping, but Rattrap doesn't think it's important, and that it's just a dream, and they continue back home.

Characters

Maximal

Optimus Primal - Ape/Armoured Truck/Jet

Rattrap - Rat

Cheetor - Cheetah

Rhinox - Thino

Black Arachnia - Spider

Silverbolt - Winged Wolf

Optimus Minor - Spider Monkey (Flashback)

Bonecrusher - Bison (Flashback)

Wolfang - Wolf (Flashback)

Predacon

Megatron - Dragon

Dinobot 2 - Raptor (Flashback)

Notes

• This story was selected to be the next Dreamwave series, however Dreamwave collapsed before it could be made, however the series was recycled by IDW for The Gathering, which has the same basic plot and characters (as seen from released scripts)
• This is of course set between the end of Beast wars and the start of Beast Machines.
• Despite what is shown on the front cover, Megatron ISN'T in his Tyrannosaurus Rex body in this story

IDW - Rodimus vs Cyclonus

Staff

Written by: Simon Furman

Art by: Boo

Colours by: Josh Burcham

Letters by: Chris Mowry

Assistant Editor: Carlos Guzman

Editor: Andy Schmidt

Plot

Ultra Magnus has been killed, and Galvatron has claimed the Matrix for himself, he then gloats about how he is so close to victory as Autobot City has been razed, Cybertron is mostly defenseless and most of the more powerful Autobots are out of the way, he then tells Cyclonus and Scourge to hunt down the remaining Autobots, and that the one who has the highest head count will be made his new second-in-command. The two split up and chase down some Autobot ships.

Hot Rod/Rodimus, Kup and the others leave Quintessa on their stolen ship and start to hunt down their friends with Wheelie driving the ship. They soon locate the shuttles remains on the Planet of Junk and begin to head that way when Cyclonus appears from nowhere and starts attacking the ship. Rodimus tricks Cyclonus into stopping his attack by challenging him to one-on-one combat inside the ship, which the Decepticon agrees to. The two fight inside the ship, with Cyclonus taking the lead very early on.

Kup contacts another Autobot ship nearby who is under attack from Scourge to come near their ship, as he's figured out that the two aren't too fond of each other and will fight on sight right now. Rodimus gets Cyclonus to punch a radioactive pipe which shoots off in his face and he defeats Cyclonus in battle, forcing him to leave, outside he sees the other shuttle and he and Scourge fight, allowing the two ships full of  Autobots to escape on their own courses.

The shuttle with Kup on it lands on the Planet of Junk shortly later.

Characters

Autobot

Hot Rod/Rodimus - Sports Car

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Wheelie - Car

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Swoop - Pteranodon

Snarl - Stegosaurus

Slag - Triceratops

Sludge - Apatosaurus

Grapple - Crane

Warpath - Tank

Tracks - Muscle Car

Jazz - Sports Car

Bumblebee - Beetle

Arcee - Sports Car

Wreck-Gar - Motorcycle

Ultra Magnus - Car Carrier Killed by the Sweeps

Optimus Prime - Truck (Flashback) Killed by Megatron

Blurr - Race Car (Flashback)

Perceptor - Microscope (Flashback)

Decepticon

Galvatron - Laser Cannon

Cyclonus - Space Jet

Scourge - Stealth Bomber

Sweeps - Stealth Bombers

Devastator - Constructicon Gestalt

Lugnut - A10 Thunderbolt Jet

Rumble - Tank

Frenzy - Tank

Other

Unicron - Ringed Planet

Notes

• There's no reason why this story couldn't be counted in the canon of the IDW Movie adaptation, the only possible problem would be the character models. The last panel even seems to be mostly lifted from that issue as well!
• Most of the characters in this comic are based on their Reveal the Shield or Generations toys. Some however use their older character models, despite modern equivalents being available, like with Tracks, Optimus, Perceptor or Bumblebee.
• This comic was made available with the Rodimus vs Cyclonus box set
• My version of this comic is the European version, and thus is has the trilingual text boxes...yaaaaay
• Cyclonus is angry that he didn't get troops like Scourge did

IDW - The Animated Movie

Plot

Unicron approaches, attacks and devours the peaceful metallic world of Lithone, leaving few survivors.

Cybertron has been conquered by the Decepticons, but the Autobots have outposts on the 2 moons. Optimus orders Ironhide, Prowl, Ratchet and Brawn on a shuttle to Earth for an energy run to help them power a full scale assault, however Laserbeak has been watching this and reports it back to Megatron on Cybertron.

Megatron leads an attack on the shuttle and slaughters the Autobots on board, taking the ship to slip past the early warning systems.

On Earth, Hot Rod and Daniel are fishing when the shuttle approaches the city, the two youngsters go to Lookout Mountain to watch it land, but Daniel notices a hole in the shuttle, leading Hot Rod to look himself, and starts attacking once he realizes there are Decepticons on board. The Decepticons leave the ship and proceed to attack the city and the surrounding area.

Autobot City converts to it's battle mode so the Autobots can fight back, as Hot Rod and Kup manage to get back into the city before it closed itself off.

Perceptor has Blaster transmit an SOS to Optimus, and SOundwave sends his pets to attack the radio tower, to which Blaster releases his team as well to fight them off. Blaster mentions how Omega Supreme and several others are busy fighting off the Decepticon Gestalts at the Ark, which is why they can't get to Autobot City to help with the battle.

The Decepticons seem to be winning the fight, especially with Devastator on their side, when Optimus' shuttle appears with the Dinobots in tow. Optimus rolls through the Decepticons until he reaches Megatron, and the two fight, eventually leading to Optimus winning, but Megatron takes a foolish Hot Rod hostage, and blasts Optimus with a nearby weapon. Megatron approaches him to finish him off, but Optimus smacks him off a cliff, sending him down to the floor.

Starscream calls for the Decepticons to retreat in Astrotrain. Later Perceptor announces that Optimus' wounds are fatal...

Optimus passes the Matrix of Leadership to his selected successor, Ultra Magnus and dies. Unicron witnesses this by hacking the security cameras in the city and roars in anger whilst the Autobots mourn their leader's death.

Inside Astrotrain, the Decepticons decide to jettison their dead weight and injured troops, including Megatron into space, after which a battle ensues about who should become the next leader. Megatron and his fellow discarded Decepticons float towards Unicron, who makes a deal with Megatron that if he helps him to destroy the Matrix, as it's the one thing that he fears, then he will rebuild him, Megatron reluctantly agrees, and is rebuilt as Galvatron, and his troops become Scourge, Cyclonus, the Sweeps and the Armada, also providing them with a new ship as well.

On Cybertron, Starscream has just been crowned the new leader, when Galvatron arrives on the planet and immediately kills his successor, taking his place as leader once more.Unicron approaches Cybertron and begins devouring the Moons, Jazz and Cliffjumper call Earth for help but are swallowed by Unicron, shortly after followed by the other moon, with Spike and Bumblebee on it. Galvatron is angry with Unicron for destroying his property, but Unicron punishes him, causing Galvatron pain and forcing him to continue his mission to Earth.

The Autobots on Earth decide to head to Cybertron to deal with the monster planet, when Galvatron and his troops attack the city again, forcing the Autobots to head to the shuttles and escape into space, however the ships are attacked shortly afterwards, causing Hot Rod, Kup and the Dinobot's ship to crash on Quintessa, and leaving Ultra Magnus' ship to fake destruction by detonating the rear section and escaping on the front. Galvatron fools for it and thinks the Matrix is destroyed, which angers Unicron again, causing him pain. Galvatron heads back to Unicron to see what is wrong. Ultra Magnus and his teamhead towards the Planet of Junk for repairs, whilst Hot Rod and the others are split up on Quintessa, with Hot Rod sinking underwater.

Hot Rod fights off the Quintessa Flora and Fauna and rescues Kup from a mechanical squid, who has suffered major damage. The other shuttle crashes on the Planet of Junk, and the group start work on fixing the ship, with Daniel helping in his exo-suit. The local Junkions don't seem to happy about this.

Hot Rod fixes Kup up on Quintessa, and the two of them go to find the Dinobots when they are attacked and captured by a group of Allicons, whilst being watched by Wheelie. Soon the two Autobots are taken to a Quintesson court house, where they meet Kranix, who tells them what Unicron is, and then witness the Quintessons execute Kranix by feeding him to the Sharkticons.

Elsewhere, the Dinobots are wandering around Quintessa when Wheelie appears and tells them he'll show them where their friends are.

Unicron tells Galvatron that the Matrix is on the Planet of Junk with Ultra Magnus, and sends him there to destroy both of them. On the Planet of Junk, the Autobots are fixing their ship when the Decepticons appear and destroy the shuttle remains. Ultra Magnus tries to open the Matrix to stop Galvatron, but it wont open for him. Galvatron has the Sweeps kill Ultra Magnus, but he takes the Matrix for himself to turn Unicron into his slave, which of course angers the god once again.

On Quintessa the Autobots are dropped into the Sharkticon pool, but manage to break free and fight off the Sharkticons. The Dinobots and Wheelie arrive and help them to fight off the Quintessons and Sharticons, after the battle, Wheelie points out the Quintesson ship for them to take.

On the Planet of Junk the remaining Autobots mourn Ultra Magnus' death when the Junkions attack, however the battle abruptly ends when a Quintesson ship lands on the planet, reuniting the Autobots and Hot Rod makes peace with the Junkions, who in return rebuild Ultra Magnus. Magnus reveals that Galvatron has the Matrix.

The Autobots decide that they need to get to Galvatron, retrieve the Matrix and use it to defeat Unicron, which Hot Rod is sure will work. The Junkions reveal their own ship, and the two shuttles head off to Cybertron.

Galvatron tries to open the Matrix, but fails, Unicron converts to his robot mode and proceeds to attack Cybertron in revenge of Galvatron's betrayal, killing several Decepticons, including Shockwave, Reflector and the Coneheads. Galvatron attacks Unicron, but is swallowed by the monster. 

The Autobots appraoch Unicron and the Quintesson ship smashes through one of his eyes, and the Autobots evacuate the ship, entering the monster's body. Hot Rod is split up from Springer, Arcee, Blurr and Daniel, whom are all attacked by Unicron's anti-body weapons. Hot Rod finds Galvatron and the Matrix, they try to team up, but Unicron forces Galvatron to kill Hot Rod to redeem himself. The two start battling.

Outside, the Dinobots attack Unicron's exterior to no avail, and inside Arcee ruptures a water pipe causing a flood, that separates Daniel from the group, and he find shimself at a smelting pool where the survivors from the Moons are about to be dropped, including his father, he uses his exo-suit to blast the pool shut, and saves them.

During the battle between Hot Rod and Galvatron, Hot Rod grabs the Matrix from Galvatron's neck and it's revealed that he's the true chosen leader, and he ascends to Rodimus Prime, now much stronger he is able to literally throw Galvatron out of Unicron's body and through space. Rodimus opens the Matrix and causes Unicron to start exploding, he reunites with the other Autobots and leads them out of Unicron's other eye, just as the monster detonates.

Rodimus and the others arrive on the now abandoned Cybertron and reclaim it for the Autobots, and cheer for their victory, while Unicron's head is all that remains, and orbits the planet, replacing the moons he devoured before.

Characters

Autobot

Hot Rod - Sports Car Reformatted as Rodimus Prime

Rodimus Prime - Caravan

Optimus Prime - Truck Killed by Megatron

Ultra Magnus - Car Carrier

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Arcee - Sports Car

Springer - Helicopter/Rocket Car

Blurr - Race Car

Perceptor - Microscope

Wheelie - Car

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Swoop - Pteranodon

Snarl - Stegosaurus

Slag - Triceratops

Sludge - Apatosaurus

Blaster - Boom Box

Eject - Cassette

Rewind - Cassette

Ramhorn - Cassette

Steeljaw - Cassette

Jazz - Porsche

Cliffjumper - Porsche

Bumblebee - VW Beetle

Ironhide - Van Killed by Decepticons

Prowl - Police Car Killed by Decepticons

Brawn - SUV Killed by Decepticons

Ratchet - Ambulance Killed by Decepticons

Huffer - Truck Cab

Hound - Jeep

Sunstreaker - Sports Car

Omega Supreme - Rocket and Base

Defensor - Protectobot Gestalt

Superion - Aerialbot Gestalt

Wheeljack - Race Car Killed in Autobot City Battle

Windcharger - Sports Car Killed in Autobot City Battle

Decepticon

Megatron - Gun Reformed as Galvatron

Galvatron - Laser Cannon Launched into Space by Rodimus Prime

Cyclonus - Space Jet

Scourge - Space Shuttle

Sweeps - Space Shuttles

Armada - Space Jet Killed by Grimlock

Starscream - Fighter Jet Killed by Galvatron

Thundercracker - Fighter Jet Reformed as Scourge

Skywarp - Fighter Jet Reformed as Armada

Bombshell - Boll Weevil Reformed as Cyclonus

Kickback - Locust Reformed as Sweeps

Shrapnel - Stag Beetle Reformed as Sweeps

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Laserbeak - Cassette

Ravage - Cassette

Ratbat - Cassette

Rumble - Cassette

Frenzy - Cassette

Astrotrain - Train/Space Shuttle

Blitzwing - Tank/Jet

Shockwave - Ray Gun Killed by Unicron

Reflector - Camera Killed by Unicron

Ramjet - Fighter Jet Killed by Unicron

Dirge - Fighter Jet Killed by Unicron

Thrust - Fighter Jet Killed by Unicron

Menasor - Stunticon Gestalt

Bruticus - Combaticon Gestalt

Hook - Crane

Mixmaster - Mixing Truck

Long Haul - Dump Truck

Bonecrusher - Bulldozer

Scrapper - Front End Loader

Scavenger - Excavator

Devastator - Constructicon Gestalt

Junkion

Wreck-Gar - Motorcycle

Other Junkions - Motorcycles

Quintesson

Judges

Allicons - Alligators

Sharkticons - Sharks

Flora and Fauna

Baliff

Prosecutor

Human

Spike Witwicky

Daniel Witwicky

Other

Unicron- Ringed Planet Destroyed by the Matrix

Lithonians Devoured by Unicron

Kranix Killed by Quintessons

Arblus

Notes

• This is an adaptation of the G1 Movie for the 20th Anniversary
• Some scenes were removed, edited or added to make the story make more smooth, or to explain some plot holes (such as where some of the season 2 characters were during the battle, or what happened to Shockwave, replacing already dead characters with living ones in certain scenes and so on)
• This version clearly shows Bombshell as becoming Cyclonus...sorry Skywarp fans!
• This comic is very loyal to the character models from the G1 cartoon rather than replacing any with modern toys, which is a common situation in Transformers comics
• It's totally possible to place the Rodimus vs Cyclonus comic in this comic's continuity as well, but just with different character models
• There's no mention of what the year is, most likely due to the original setting being 2005, which was the past when this was published

IDW - Hearts of Steel

Plot

In the Ice Age the Autobots and Decepticons are fighting over control of the cold planet for it's resources, when the conditions get too bad, and they have to go into hibernation. Epochs later, Bumblebee wakes up when he hears a lot of hammering outside the Autobot cave, he heads outside and sees John Henry and his crew working on the railway and seems interested.

In San Francisco Bay, Tobias Muldoon is showing off his new invention, the Submarine when it explodes and sinks, humiliating Tobias in front of potential investors and other people. The sinking submarine crashes into a stasis pod at the bottom of the bay, and reactivates a Decepticon.

Later, Bumblebee wakes up Prowl and Ratchet and asks them whether they should wake up Optimus, but they see no need as the humans on this world aren't too advanced yet. Bumblebee runs off when they say no, as he's bored of just sleeping in the cave. One of John's workmen thinks they see something outside, so Bumblebee quickly takes on a new alternate mode based on the steam engine, much to the confusion of the workers.

Elsewhere, Tobias has taken his girlfriend and her father to a hotel for dinner, when he realizes he can't afford the meal since his invention failed. Mr Merriweather then has him wash dishes to pay it off (due to him owning the hotel). Tobias walks along the harbour humiliated later, when a warship transforms near him, and introduces himself as Shockwave, and says that his kind are there to reshape Earth.

Bumblebee, working as a driver-less vehicle helps the workers build the railway, which John isn't too happy about, as he doesn't like the idea of machines taking over the role of people.

Underwater, Tobias has been taken to meet the other Decepticons by Shockwave, who explains that they're aliens and they want his help as a scientist to collect energy and take on appropriate alternate modes etc, who agrees, so long as they can fund him to do so.

Elsewhere, John is angry with the new locomotive for stealing jobs etc when Bumblebee transforms and assures him that he doesn't want to steal his job, he just wants to help. John accepts this and the two become friends.

On another patch of rail line a train full of money is attacked by the Insecticons, who steal the money. On the surface, Tobias and the Decepticons are going over his plans for factories etc, when the Insecticons come up with the money to help fund his work for them. A short while later, the materials are being brought to him, and he begins work.

Word about the Insecticons attack has appeared in the papers, which John and his crew are reading, Bumblebee rolls off upon hearing of this and tells the other Autobots and they decide to help the humans against the Decepticons.

The Decepticons have had their first factory built up, and have started taking on more advanced alternate modes, including "futuristic" plane forms. Starscream monologues about how their plan is to have Astrotrain essentially smash into New York city, and it's all thanks to Tobias' help. Tobias hears this and runs away. He arrives at Kitty's house again and starts to tell everyone what's happening.

Jacob Lee Bonaventure approaches the Decepticons about helping them out (after somehow hearing about them), and is told by Starscream that he can be their intermediary to keep them secret for now, and is then told about how their ultimate goal is to turn Earth into a technological paradise like Cybertron.

In San Francisco, no one is believing Tobias' story about giant killer robots, until Ravage smashes into the house and goes to kill Tobias (no doubt sent by Starscream to silence him). Ravage tears apart the house, but all the humans inside it escape, and even defeat him by throwing a cigar into the house, causing an explosion (somehow) sending the Decepticon flying...NOW everyone else believe's Tobias!

Vanflint (a railway operator of sorts) has been brought into the Decepticon operation by Bonaventure and he reports the strange yellow locomotive from before, which Starscream immediately identifies as Bumblebee, and calls out to all Decepticons to be on the lookout for other Autobots too.

Bumblebee comes to see John later that night and says goodbye, as he needs to fight the Decepticons now. John volunteers to help him out, which Bumblebee seems fine with, and also introduces his co-workers to the Autobots too to help.

Th army has been called in, but the factory has been vacated already, Tobias works out that they must be already on their way to New York, building the rail as they go, the Auotbots and their human friends chase after them on the rails.

Astrotrain continues on his trek, smashing through the blockades set up to try and stop them with ease, and is heading towards New York at full speed. The Decepticons know the Autobots are following, as so they deploy Scourge in his blimp mode to stop them from following.

Scourge is defeated by Sideswipe, who partially transforms whilst rolling through a tunnel, causing Scourge to crash into the mountain and explode. The mountain is attacked whilst the Autobots are travelling though, leaving some caught behind some rubble. Bumblebee however continues along with John chasing the Decepticons, whilst the others are trapped/helping free the others. Bumblebee manages to just overtake Astrotrain on a parallel line and allows John to smack the line switch, causing the Decepticons to change tracks to an incomplete one, sending them, Vanflint and Bonaventure off the cliff. The trapped are all rescued, and the Autobots return home to rest once more.

Characters

Autobot

Bumblebee - Steamhammer Locomotive (former Armored Beetle)

Ironhide - Box Car Locomotive (former Ankylosaurus)

Prowl - Box Car Locomotive

Ratchet - Box Car Locomotive

Sideswipe - Box Car Locomotive

Gears - Box Car Locomotive

Tracks

Blaster

Huffer - Alligator

Cliffjumper - Armored Beetle

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Slag - Triceratops 

Snarl - Stegosaurus

Swoop - Pteranodon

Sludge - Apatosaurus

Optimus Prime - Apatosaurus (In Stasis)

Other Autobots

Decepticon

Starscream - Propeller Plane (former Dragon)

Skywarp - Propeller Plane (former Dragon)

Shockwave - Iron Clad War Ship

Astrotrain - Flying Train

Kickback - Piledriver Locomotive (former Locust)

Shrapnel - Scissors Locomotive (former Scarab Beetle)

Bombshell - Turret Locomotive (former Boll Weevil)

Ravage Injured/Killed by Mark Twain

Squawkbox

Scourge - Blimp Killed by Sideswipe

Octane

Soundwave

Frenzy

Thrust

Blitzwing 

Other Decepticons

Human

John Henry

Brawley

Cletus

Tobias Muldoon

Kitty Merriweather

Stanford Merriweather

Mark Twain

Jacob Lee Bonaventure Killed in Astrotrain Crash

Vanflint Killed in Astrotrain Crash

Smythe

Jules Verne

Abner

Dodd

Cleveland

Quincannon

Enterprise Captain

President (Mentioned)

Other Humans

Notes

• This mini-series was a standalone for a long time, until it had a sequel in the form of Transformers: Infestation 2 (Which I'll be getting soon, so I figured I'd put this one up before that)
• The alternate modes seen in the Ice Age and cave scenes are most likely a reference to Beast Wars (and also, most of the characters identified are just guesses before anyone asks for proof etc)
• The Decepticons don't seem to understand the concept of money in this story
• Aerial modes are created in this story by using designs for (near) future vehicles, like propeller planes and blimps etc
• There's several mistakes in this story (not talking about historical mistakes, like John Henry being real or anything like that) such as the Autobots being seen as the trailer parts to Astrotrain in some scenes
• Despite in most continuities the Transformers seeming to have renewable power sources in them, Bumblebee seems to require water and coal to run on the tracks
• Why exactly is Bumblebee the lead vehicle on the train? Wouldn't Prowl or someone else higher up be a more reasonable choice?
• Why are you falling down the chasm Astrotrain? YOU CAN FLY!!!!

IDW - Heart of Darkness

Characters

Cybertronian

Galvatron - Cybertronian Tank
Cyclonus - Space Jet
Scourge - Space Shuttle
Sweeps - Space Shuttles
Jhiaxus - F22 Jet
Thinkbox - Wheelhouse/Head
Nemesis Prime - Truck (Body possessed by D-Void) Killed by Galvatron
"Tap-Out" Devoured by D-Void
"Twin Cast" - Cassette Player
Spindrift Recruits
Million Strong Army
Junkions
Insectoids/Lizards
Aquatic Robots
Micromasters Dead
Dykayra Transformers Devoured by D-Void
Alternate Megatrons and Galvatrons

Autobot

Arcee - Cybertronian Car
Hardhead - Gun Mounted Personnel Carrier
Hot Rod - Sports Car
Wheelie - Cybertronian Car
Optimus Prime - Truck Cab
Prowl - Police Car
Jazz - Porsche
Kup - Pick Up Truck (Monitor) Zombie
Whirl - Helicopter (Flashback)
Roadbuster - Armoured Vehicle (Flashback)
Garrus-9 Guards (Flashback)

Decepticon

Thunderwing - Space Shuttle

Other

D-Void
Captain Karrg (Spindrift Hunter)
Master Eeems (Spindrift Hunter)
Karrg's Crew
Gorlam Prime denizens Devoured by D-Void
Zombies (Monitor)

Storyline

Galvatron, Scourge and Cyclonus have found Gorlam Prime as a deserted world but can't find any real reason why, all they know is that everyone just disappeared one day with no trace. The team go for a ride to try and find out more, and Galvatron reveries about all that had happened to him lately, from him being thrown into the Solar Pool at Garrus-9, resurfacing and scaring the guards into letting him leave, afterwhich he flew to Gorlam Prime and found Cyclonus and Scourge dying and learns that it's been years since he disappeared. Galvatron restores his Seekers to their former glory and manipulated them into being willing to help him again in finding out what happened to Gorlam Prime, leading to this moment.
Galvatron leads his team underground to the old excavation tunnels to try and find the silver water portal. They find several of the Micromaster's bodies from when Arcee killed them trying to get at Jhiaxus, and once inside they find that the portal has disappeared, and on top of that they find Jhiaxus' half-dead body lying on the ground where he explained that Arcee was killing him repeatedly for a long time, until Hardhead led her away and they both disappeared a few years ago.
Galvatron uses the power of the Heart of Darkness to revive and repair Jhiaxus, like he did to Scourge and Cyclonus earlier. The group try to find out what happened to the portal when Jhiaxus detects similar energies to the portal down a corridor. The group follow the corridor and find it filled with alien artifacts and markings and then they find a sphere of silver water hovering in the middle of a room. Galvatron goes to touch it, but is blasted by a returning Arcee and Hardhead, who are intent on killing the Cybertronians.

The two Autobots are easily tearing through the four Cybertronians, until an injured Galvatron touches the portal and taps into the power of the Dead Universe and repairs himself, he then attacks the Autobots. Hardhead tells Arcee to leave and warn the other Autobots offworld about Galvatron, and so she transforms and rides away, leaving Hardhead to take the brunt of Galvatron's attacks. Cyclonus chases Arcee and manages to cause the bridge she is riding along to blow up, sending her plummeting.
Galvatron taps into his new prisoner, Hardhead's mind and sees how his memories. In the past Hardhead returns from exploring the cities to find Arcee and the denizens of Gorlam Prime, even the crippled body of Jhiaxus all trying to reach the silver water, entering it, and disappearing. Arcee was spared by Hardhead grabbing her, and Jhiaxus couldn't reach it. Suddenly there was a flash of light and all the left behinds were knocked out, when they woke up, there was the silver water sphere in place of the pool. Arcee and Hardhead went looking for answers until Galvatron and the others came.
Galvatron warps Hardhead's mind and makes him his to command, and then he walks into the sphere to investigate it. Inside the sphere he sees a massively chaotic scene which makes no sence and starts hearing words about the D-Void whilst being torn apart, down to his skeletal features. The D-Void tries to devour Galvatron, but he manages to escape and leaves the water (fully restored) scared and blasting the sphere, trying to kill the D-Void. He says that D-Void feasts on sparks, and that it's going after Cybertron, and they have to stop it.
Elsewhere Arcee climbs out of the chasm she was blasted into and decides that she has to warn the other Autobots about Galvatron.

In the vapours of Spindrift a Bloomship and it's crew are busy hunting when they're attacked by a Cloud Leviathan, when suddenly they are saved by Galvatron killing the Leviathan. He boards the ship with his crew and they start scanning, confusing the hunters, but Galvatron detects a Cybertronian lifesign in the Wheelhouse, he uses his powers to revive it, and he is revived as Thinkbox and he's conscripted into Galvatron's team, they abandon the hunters and return to their own ship.
They travel to an old Cybertronian battle site on the planet where Galvatron proceeds to revive all the dead combatants and adds them to his ranks to challenge the D-Void.
They all return to the main ship in orbit and Jhiaxus activates the Space Bridge system on the ship which takes them to several other old battlefields on various worlds, allowing Galvatron to build up his army to the millions, returning to Gorlam Prime where they have made their base of operations.
The team is taken to Dykayra where they have located ruins similar to those seen in the tunnels under Gorlam Prime, so they decide to investigate where Galvatron finds some dead Cybertronians that even he can't revive with his new powers. Galvatron and some of the others enter a temple where they find another silver water sphere like on Gorlam Prime, and they find an old friend exiting it...Nemesis Prime, whom is possessed by the D-Void.

Galvatron is shocked to be in the presence of his old commander again, whilst Nemesis Prime has been waiting for this moment for some time now, since Galvatron killed him. Nemesis goes after Galvatron, and the two fight, they fight through a wall in the temple and end up outside, where some of Galvatron's troops assist their commander, but to no avail as Nemesis Prime uses D-Void's power to drain the life from some of his troops and kills them.
D-Void takes full control of Nemesis Prime and mutates his body into a larger, more monstrous one. Galvatron and his loyal troops attack D-Void but they can#'t cause him any damage, until Scourge returns with the whole army and they blast him into the silver water sphere again and Galvatron destroys the sphere. However he understands that this was just a part of D-Void and the real thing will be much stronger and that he needs more help.
Galvatron heads to Earth and helps Optimus Prime deal with some zombies and asks him to join him against D-Void, but he refuses. Jhiaxus Space Bridges Galvatron back to Gorlam Prime before leading his army to Cybertron.
Once they arrive on Cybertron the army starts to spread out and search the planet, when a Sweep finds Hot Rod and Wheelie and chases them. Galvatron sends out more of his troops to chase him and try and get him and his group to join them, but he reaches his ship and takes off into orbit. Galvatron waits on Cybertron for when D-Void arrives.

Notes

• It turns out that it's been years between the end of Revelation and Galvatron being reborn, now considering that, that implies that he was reborn AFTER Last Stand of the Wreckers (since All Hail Megatron, which is when LSOTW's beginning is set is about a year after Revelation) so that means that since there are Autobot guards on Garrus-9, that implies that the Autobots have retaken the facility and are rebuilding it.
• When Galvatron enters the silver water sphere he is shown a vast number of alternate versions of himself and Megatron, including some voice actors who played them, and some toys of him. However Megatron is separate to Galvatron in IDW, so why he's there is just confusing
• Thinkbox was an ancient Headmaster, due to his size it would imply that he formed the head of a larger robot (maybe Metroplex sized?)
• Galvatron's re-population of the species increases the Transformer race's numbers from the 10,000 mentioned by Prowl in his Spotlight issue to more than 1,000,000
• There are a lot of generic characters in this comic..but it's fun to give them names!!!
• One of the revived Transformers has taken on the form of a blue tape player...Twincast anyone?
• Hardhead is shown fighting alongside Galvatron's crew here, but in later stories he's shown to still be with Arcee...DAMN YOU CONTINUITY!!!!
• It's likely that this was originally meant to be a Galvatron mini-series (like Drift, Ironhide and Bumblebee were) but it was changed for some reason.
• The red Garrus-9 guard seems to be based on the Marvel Crossovers figure Venom's robot mode, but with a new head
• It's not clear why Hardhead was immune to the silver water's call, but no one else on Gorlam Prime was...

My Thoughts

Art

The artwork isn't bad, it's just quite simple looking or have needless extra details, compared to most other things in this continuity so far. The colours are very nice.

Story

This story explains what Galvatron and his troops have been up to lately and does so pretty well in my opinion

Continuity

This story is set after Revelation, during the All Hail Megatron Coda issue Rebirth, Infestation and during the Space Opera section of Chaos Theory's TPB, and leads directly into Chaos as well.

Other

The characters mostly keep their character models from the previous IDW titles, albeit simplified. Galvatron has randomly been given a new tank mode, possibly based on his Universe toy, but not actually resembling it, this is the only place it's been seen so far. Jhiaxus' vehicle mode seems to be an F22 jet, much like the Movie-continuity Starscream which was the basis for Jhiaxus' redesign here originally as well.
Despite being called Nemesis Prime in all his appearances, he actually uses his Nova Prime colours!

IDW - All Hail Megatron Coda

OLD WAYS

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab (Cybertronian Truck in Flashback)

Ironhide - Van (Cybertronian Van in Flashback)

Kup - Cybertronian Pick Up Truck (Flashback)

Springer - Cybertronian Helicopter/Rocket Car (Flashback)

Hubcap - Cybertronian Speeder (Flashback)

Tracks - Cybertronian Car (Flashback)

Undertow - Cybertronian Speeder (Flashback)

Brainstorm - Cybertronian Jet (Flashback)

Tempest - Cybertronian Van (Flashback)

Motorhead - Cybertronian Truck (Flashback)

Crosshairs - Cybertronian Car (Flashback)

Boxcar - Cybertronian Truck (Flashback)

Mirage - F1 Race Car (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Trypticon - Battle Platform (Flashback)

Storyline

Whilst contemplating retirement Ironhide is met by Optimus Prime who remembers with him his first acts as Prime, which Ironhide was present for, where Optimus tries to get Ironhide to help him become a better leader by using his skills. The two Autobots share a flash of Energon whilst remembering an attack from Trypticon which left them dangling off a cliff edge during which Optimus keeps them both safe and earns his loyalty. In the present Optimus has convinced Ironhide to stay on the team.

Notes

• Optimus and Ironhide act like strangers here, yet they were seen working together in Spotlight: Blurr, set before he became Prime
• The flashback scenes are in sepia tone
• Prime's mouth-plate can retract
• Ironhide's attack on Mirage is mentioned here as a reason why he wants to retire

My Thoughts

Art

This comic was the first one to use the Movie style designs for the G1 continuity, whilst it does look good, it just shouldn't have happened, there's no reason to try and make the G1 comics look like the movie designs.

Story

Purely filler, but also gives some background into one of Optimus' first missions as Prime

Continuity

This is set just before Ironhide leaves to go on the Skywatch raid where he dies.

UNEASY LIES THE HEAD

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Megatron - Gun On spark support

Starscream - F-15 Jet

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Buzzsaw - Cassette

Ratbat - Cassette

Rumble - Cassette

Shrapnel - Scarab Beetle

Kickback - Locust

Bombshell - Boll Weevil

Viewfinder

Spectro

Blitzwing - Tank/Jet

Storyline

Whilst on a ship (which looks like Astrotrain) Starscream is told by Shrapnel that there's news of Megatron, so he goes to Soundwave's lab to see his fallen leader where he assumes that he's died, but is corrected and told that his brain activity has grown a small amount which angers Starscream. He asks Soundwave why he doesn't do the logical thing and just kill him so they can use the Energon that's being used on him for other efforts, but Soundwave refuses, Starscream leaves to weigh his options.

Shrapnel offers to have either himself or one of the Insecticons just syphon off his energon so he'd die, but Starscream rejects the idea and Soundwave would never let anyone else near him. Whilst alone Starscream looks at the Matrix which Megatron stole from Optimus before and suddenly gets the urge to dump it out of the airlock, but is stopped by Shrapnel. Shrapnel asks where Starscream got it from and Starscream gets an idea and claims that it chose him as it's next wielder and that means he's a true leader. The Decepticons chant his name, he leaves the crowded room to plan their next moves, but ends up just holding his own head as if unsure what to do next.

Notes

• Starscream is revealed to have the Matrix with him
• The Matrix seems to be trying to return to Earth
• As shown from later issues the Matrix is able to heal Transformers, so technically they could have used it to heal Megatron...
• The ship the Decepticons are on looks like Astrotrain, but later issues will show that it's a separate ship
• Starscream starts wearing the Matrix on a chain here, much like Galvatron did in the G1 movie
• Starscream contemplates just dumping Megatron out of an airlock, but fears that he'd just come back stronger if he did (again like the Movie)
• It seems like Megatron didn't tell any of the other Decepticons that he had the Matrix...that'd be something I'd think he'd want to show off really...

My Thoughts

Art

The artwork here is quite basic, it seems to use G1 cartoon character models rather than IDW ones and the colours look like they're water coloured. I'm not a fan of it.

Story

This story is basically filler, though it does explain what's happening to Megatron in the aftermath of All Hail Megatron.

Continuity

This continues from when the Decepticons leave Earth in All Hail Megatron. This story is continued during the Third series of stories

REPLAY

Characters

Autobot

Sunstreaker - Lamborghini Gallardo (former Cybertronian Speeder and Sports Car) Near Dead

Sideswipe - Cybertronian Speeder (Flashback)

Blurr - Cybertronian Race Car (Flashback)

"Clocker" (Flashback)

"Bulkhead" (Flashback)

"Airazor" (Flashback)

"Side Burn" (Flashback)

Other Members of Sunstreaker's Team (Flashback)

Optimus Prime (Flashback, Mentioned)

Ratchet - Ambulance (Flashback)

Bumblebee - VW Beetle (Flashback)

Prowl - Police Car (Flashback)

Jazz - Porsche (Flashback)

Decepticon

The Swarm Dead members seen

Human

Hunter O'Nion (Flashback)

Machination Employees (Flashback)

Douglas (Machination employee) (Flashback)

Storyline

A dying Sunstreaker on Cybertron is flashing back through his life remembering how he used to be. In the past Sunstreaker was a beloved commander and war hero and one of his team mates informs him that he's been repositioned to Earth for an infiltration team there. Sunstreaker flashes forward to him being torn apart by the Machination and reduced to a still living but in pain head and then flashes forward to Hunter forcing him (from his point of view) into joining forces with him and merging with him fully as a Headmaster partner.

Later Ratchet tells a newly recovered Sunstreaker that he's separated him from Hunter successfully and that he's about to finish working on him when Sunstreaker starts to stomp off, Ratchet asks if he's okay, and Sunstreaker lies that he's fine, but ends up running to a dark corner and holding his head in disgust.

The memories start to repeat for him as he lies badly damaged in a pile of The Swarm on Cybertron.

Notes

• Sunstreaker's memories of the past are different to what actually happened, this is to make his actions in All Hail Megatron seem more reasonable. (To an extent)
• Sunstreaker being still alive but unable to move and trapped in a pile of the Swarm is kind of disturbing.
• You can see Sideswipe doing the "LOVE ME!!!" wave at Sunstreaker in the first flashback
• It's implied here that Sunstreaker's actions might be due to the bonding and separation of him and Hunter causing neural damage in him.

My Thoughts

Art

The art here looks very similar to the main comic series and has very bold and well shaded colours

Story

This story explains what happened to Sunstreaker from his point of view, and also reveals that he's still alive on Cybertron in a way.

Continuity

This continues from Sunstreaker's "death" in All Hail Megatron, he returns to the storyline in the Ironhide mini-series. The pre-Earth scenes are set right before Infiltration

Other

Some of Sunstreaker's troops look like previous characters from previous incarnations such as BW Airazor, Cybertron Clocker, TFA Bulkhead and RiD Side Burn

REBIRTH

Characters

Expansion

Galvatron - Laser Cannon

Cyclonus - Space Jet

Scourge - Space Shuttle

Sweeps - Space Shuttles

Expansion Members Dead, reborn as Sweeps

Straxus - Jet (Mentioned) Dying

Jhiaxus - Jet (Mentioned)

Nemesis Prime/Nova Prime - Truck Dead

Storyline

Galvatron pulls himself out of the Solar Pool on Garrus-9 and is in a lot of pain. On Gorlam Prime, Cyclonus has started bringing his dead and dying brothers from the Expansion to the planet so he can kill them with dignity rather than letting them suffer when Galvatron arrives and tells him to stop. Cyclonus asks what's the point and Galvatron conscripts them all into his new team, he blasts the pile of dead/dying Transformers and flings them into a furnace, however rather than killing them, he uses the power of the Heart of Darkness to rebuild them, starting with Scourge who is completely restored and becomes the template for an army of Sweeps created from the now reborn Expansion members. Cyclonus, Scourge and his Sweeps follow Galvatron for the upcoming mission.

Notes

• Cyclonus and Scourge are revealed to be Seekers
• Scourge was always a member of the Expansion...HONEST!!!
• The Sweeps are coloured blue here and Scourge is a purple colour, I believe this is the only time this happens.
• Galvatron originally intended the Sweeps to look like him, but Scourge became the template instead by accident.
• As Straxus was mentioned as "dying" along with Scourge in this story, it's likely that he was in the pile of Expansion members seen here
• Grindcore is never mentioned here, despite being a main member of the Expansion.

My Thoughts

Art

This comic has a simpler art style than usual but the bright colours more than make up for it if I'm honest.

Story

Galvatron is back and reunites with Cyclonus and Scourge and begins to have his own plans for the universe.

Continuity

This story continues from where Revelation ends and is later continued in Heart of Darkness

EVERYTHING IN ITS RIGHT PLACE

Characters

Autobot

Kup - Cybertronian Pick Up Truck

Springer - Cybertronian Helicopter/Rocket Car

Prowl - Police Car

Perceptor - Cybertronian Treaded Vehicle

Brainstorm - Cybertronian Jet

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Hound - Military Jeep

Jazz - Porsche

Ironhide - Van

Ratchet - Ambulance (Monitor Only)

Hot Rod - Cybertronian Sports Car (Monitor Only)

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex (Monitor Only)

Outback - Cybertronian Van (Flashback) Dead

Cloudburst - Cybertronian Jet (Flashback)

Landmine - Cybertronian ATV (Flashback)

Waverider - Cybertronian Hovercraft (Flashback)

Groundbreaker - Cybertronian Race Car (Flashback)

Blurr - Cybertronian Race Car (Mentioned)

Jetfire - Cybertronian Jet (Mentioned)

Trailbreaker - Camper Van (Mentioned)

Sizzle - Cybertronian Car (Mentioned)

Siren - Cybertronian Car (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Megatron - Gun (Flashback)

Soundwave - Cassette Player (Flashback)

Bludgeon - Cybertronian Tank (Flashback)

Thuderwing - Cybertronian Space Shuttle (Flashback)

Scorponok - Scorpion Tank (Flashback)

Storyline

Springer arrives on Kimia Station looking for Kup and punches Prowl in the chin (he's the one who moved him there from Ark-17) and he just explains that Kup's back now. Springer says that's impossible after all that happened to him on that planet. Prowl explains that he's had the team n Kimia adapt the Pretender Process for Kup and now he's back to a working state, though he needs to use a Cy-Gar to keep his sanity now.

Springer is taken to see Kup and he seems like his old pre-crazed self, except for when he's without his Cy-Gar, which makes him start to see monsters again. Prowl and Perceptor meet up later and Prowl tells him to stay with Kup at all times from now on to both keep him stocked up with Cy-Gars and to maintain his modified personality which is in line with Prowl's. Springer late arrives and suggests that the crew of Ark-17 and all those involved in his rescue attempts should be made to stay quiet about what happened to recover Kup, as he'd never accept it. Prowl accepts that, and then looks out at his new "puppet" Kup.

Notes

• Kup's Cigars are actually "Cy-Gars" which are an outdated device and holds some radiation from the planet Kup landed on before so as to keep him from going insane again
• Kup's new body is actually a Pretender Shell but rather than having an inner body he's controlled by a cerebral interface which Prowl has manipulated to better suit his own life views
• The Kimia Facility is seen for the first time here, this place will be important in Last Stand of the Wreckers and the Chaos storyline. For some reason isn't one of the only stations not hit by the Decepticons during All Hail Megatron
• It's shown here that it was Ironhide's idea for all the Autobots to take part in that ambush at the start of All Hail Megatron
• Ark-17 is a science vessel
• Prowl originally brought Kup to Kimia to try and reverse engineer some experimental weapons from him, luckily that failed.
• Perceptor was put with Kup's team to keep him stocked up on Cy-Gars.
• De to Perceptor's new Sniper status in later issues it seems likely that he hasn't been maintaining Kup's new personality traits, which is why we haven't seen him with Prowl's views etc in fiction.

My Thoughts

Art

As a Nick Roche comic this one has the look of a cartoon episode, and it's good

Story

This story, despite being filler mostly also gives some good revelations to what happened just before All Hail Megatron started

Continuity

This is set before Spotlight: Drift and after Spotlight: Kup, explaining his recovery. Prowl's amoral actions here are finally brought up in Infestation.

LOST & FOUND

Characters

Autobot

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Springer - Helicopter/Rocket Car

Perceptor - Tank

Hot Rod - Sports Car

Blaster - Acoustic Tank

Drift - Speeder

Blurr - Race Car

Roadbuster - Armoured Vehicle

Decepticon

Bludgeon - Tank

Icepick

Scowl

Slog

Birdbrain

Bristleback

Wildfly

Monstructor - Gestalt

Storyline

On the Trion, Blurr and Drift are passing the time by playing some games of Go whilst watching over Perceptor, who is currently in a CR chamber. About a 100 games later Blaster is having problems contacting any other Autobots on the communicators after receiving several distress signals and then nothing when Blurr comes in and says that Perceptor's up and about. Kup, Springer and Drift go to see him in his lab and see him working on some upgrades for himself including a stronger chest plate and some weapons, he thanks Drift for saving him.

Later as Perceptor is finishing his upgrades Kup tells him he doesn't need them as he's a scientist, not a warrior. Blaster appears on a screen and says that he has a signal from Hot Rod and that he's in trouble thanks to Bludgeon and the Monstructor Six. The team go to help him out and Kup tells Perceptor to stay on the ship.

Bludgeon and his team force Hot Rod's ship to crash and then surround him. Kup's team Orbital Jumps onto the planet to help him out and Bludgeon has Monstructor form to take them out. The Autobots are having trouble against him when a now sniper-upgraded Perceptor arrives and shoots Monstructor in his weak point where the torso is connected and blasts him apart. The Autobots have mixed feelings about what Perceptor has done to himself, but the Decepticons are escaping so they get back to the Trion with Hot Rod and go after them.

Notes

• The Monstructor Six are shown to be in the Decepticon fold now, hinting at where the Gestalt technology used for Devastator came from
• The game Go here is based on the Earth game originated in China, though most likely a similar version was created on Cybertron in the past or something as well.
• How Bludgeon has been revived, escaped from Garrus-9 and joined with the Monstructor Six has yet to be revealed
• Hot Rod's shuttle is the one he stole in his Spotlight, just repainted in his colours
• None of the characters from Spotlight: Drift who were with Kup but weren't in All Hail Megatron appear here...it's never shown where they went to.
• It's likely that Bludgeon's ship is the Torment, which is the one that Kup's team are chasing before they are ambushed in All Hail Megatron
• It's quite fitting that Blurr and Drift are in the first few frames together alone because in the real world they share a toy mold.

My Thoughts

Art

The art here is very detailed and well coloured, but nothing too special to talk about

Story

This explains why Perceptor is a sniper in the All Hail Megatron series

Continuity

Set after Spotlight: Drift and leads directly into All Hail Megatron

THE MAN OF STEEL

Characters

Autobot

Decepticon

Thrust - F-15 Jet Injured

Ravage - Cassette Injured by Spike

Human

Major Spike Witwicky

Colonel

Peter Dille (U.N.)

Frank Shin (U.N.)

Colonel Daniel Witwicky (Mentioned)

Nurses

Military (Flashback)

Rebuilding Teams (Flashback)

Storyline

Some U.N. guys are taken to see Major Spike Witwicky in hospital where they find him in a full body cast and being handled by several scantly clad nurses, they have the nurses leave so they can talk to him officially, but first is asked to explain why he's in a full body vast.

In the time after the invasion Spike was made leader of a team who're going out to hunt down any left over Transformers left on Earth and he takes on Ravage by himself in a building and their fight caused the building to collapse on him.

Back in the present Spike is told that Skywatch is now under U.N. control and that it has a new command structure and they want Spike to be a part of it, and that his father is the new commander of the group.

Notes

• With Thrust appearing here all three of the Coneheads have been seen in IDW now (and as is revealed later in Spotlight Prowl, all three have been killed off)
• Thrust must have been on Earth when the Decepticons invaded
• Talking about Thrust, he's shown here to be found by Spike's team, but in Spotlight: Prowl he's mentioned to be killed by some random humans before a team can arrive...maybe Skywatch just left him unguarded for a while?
• Ravage still being on Earth is the first sign that some Decepticons were accidentally left behind after the Decepticons were forced to leave.
• Despite being shown to be seemingly captured here Ravage is later shown to be free with the other Decepticons, though maybe by "I got him" Spike meant that he injured him?
• Spike was promoted from Commander to Major since AHM
• It's implied that Joshua Red (former head of Skywatch) wasn't American, maybe he's one of us evil Brits you see in every movie?

My Thoughts

Art

The art here is pretty standard for IDW, so there's not much to say about it

Story

This story explains some events set after All Hail Megatron and reveals that the U.N. have taken control of Skywatch and Spike is a commander there now (a bit plot point in the third storyline)

Continuity

Set after All Hail Megatron and before For All Mankind.

HIDDEN

Characters

Autobot

Bumblebee - VW Beetle

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Ratchet - Ambulance

Jazz - Porsche

Ironhide - Van

Hound - Military Jeep

Decepticon

Devastator - Constructicon Gestalt Mentioned)

Human

Lopez (Skywatch)

Klonowski (Skywatch)

Collins (Skywatch, Mentioned)

Skywatch Officers

Civilians

Karen's Husband

Karen and Family

Storyline

Bumblebee is looking arounf New York and trying to evade the humans who have started hunting Transformers down (Skywatch). Bumblebee finds a severed Transformer arm and starts to get very scared that he might get killed.

One of the Skywatch officers shoots a car that he thought was a Transformer, but wasn't and watches as a civilian try to stay in their home, but are forced to relocate, however the fire from the car starts to cause the nearby building to collapse, Bumblebee rushes in and keeps the building from collapsing. Skywatch starts shooting at Bumblebee (YAY) despite him trying to save the humans. As the humans leave the building safely Bumblebee lets go, Skywatch goes to make the kill shot when Optimus and his team arrive and recover him.

Later Bumblebee wakes up at base with Ratchet over him, Ratchet explains that they only found him by tapping into the human radio channels since Prime knew that he'd have to try and save some some time, and wouldn't be able to stay hidden, then Bumblebee rests and recharges.

Notes

• This story is mostly about Bumblebee....ZZZZZ
• Why are Skywatch doing missions at night time? wouldn't daylight missions work better?
• Despite Bumblebee's eyes being diamond-like shapes, his vision comes from two circles with a bar between them...it looks odd nonetheless.

My Thoughts

Art

Same art style as in "Uneasy lies the Head"...still not a fan

Story

A bumblebee filler story....BLEH!

Continuity

This is set after the end of All Hail Megatron and some time before the rebuilding process seen at the start of the third storyline. This is the last story from the second storyline from IDW.

Other

The character models are G1 Cartoon based rather than IDW based.