IDW - Transformers #26

Title: War World: Awakenings

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Anna Malkova

Colours by: David Garcia Cruz

Letters & Design by: Jake M. Wood

Editor: David Mariotte

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: Tom Waltz

Plot

Some time ago, Termagax witnesses the Tether collapse, and is infuriated, she orders her workshop "House" to construct something for her...

Now, Pyra Magna has been freed from her prison by the newly appointed Optimus Prime. 

Ironhide is unsure if people will be happy with Pyras release, and questions Sentinel's final orders to kill Starscream, which Optimus has no intention of doing, as he hopes to not kill anyone, and end this uprising peacefully.

At the prison, Pyra sends out a signal to one if her loyal Companions, Jumpstream, who uses her teleportation abilities to get to her nearly instantly, informs her about what's been happening recently, and agrees that this may be a worthy cause for them to fight for, and heads out to find the rest of their team for Pyra.

Andromeda speeds towards Tarn to get away from the problems happening in Iacon, but gets ordered by Soundwave to report to the Decepticon's Headquarters so they can control what news is being spread.

Elsewhere, some Decepticons are patrolling the streets in Iacon, when they discuss that Sizshit us going to be leading their forces soon, which a hiding Cyclonus overhears, and, along with the ghosts of his former allies, gets to work...

The Decepticon Senators are angered about the Rainmakers killing Sentinel Prime, but Megatron insists that they know he is infuriated with them too, but they need to move on from this problem for now, and heads off to meet with Starscream at the Arena, whilst the other Senators are to isolate their captured fellow Senators until they agree to join them.

Starscream tries to manipulate Megatron into needing him, and offers two pieces if information, one did now, and one for when he has some sense if power. Soundwave however, not liking Starscream already simply attacks the Intelligence Head, and Megatron proceeds to join him in thewtenibg the bot's life, until Starscream reveals that he has information on the Enigma of Combination and Titan Sparks, peaking Megatron's interest.

Before anything else can be said however, Skytread interrupts with news that Termagax is in the Arena...

Termagax is publicly denouncing Megatron's actions to the other Decepticons, and asks them to explain their terrorist actions, whuc Megatron defends thatvhevus doing what she couldn't.

Termagax realizes that Megatron was not who she thought he was, he just wanted to have a war so he could be in charge, and doesn't care about Cybertron"s future like he claims. 

Megatron swufkt shoots Termagax, seemingly killing her before everyone assembled. He begins to announce that anyone who defies him will be treated as a traitor, and killed like her...except Ratbat reveals that this isn't Termagax, but a drone made to look like her...

Elsewhere, Termagax is inside "House" and orders her workshop to relocate somewhere else, as she is now a target if Megatron's anger...

Characters

Autobot/Security Forces/Senate Guard

Optimus Prime - Truck

Chromia - Car

Ironhide - Van

Froid - Jet

Blaster

Crosshairs - Van

Hound - Jeep

Nautica - Submarine

Ratchet - Ambulance

Red Alert - Emergency Vehicle

Streetwise - Police Car

Fixit - Ambulance

Inferno - Fire Truck

Hot Spot - Fire Truck

Hoist - Tow Truck

Grapple - Crane

Kup - Pick-up Truck

Highjump - Van

Zetar - Drill Tank

An Infiltration Trooper - Cassette

Other Assembled Autobots

Sentinel Prime - Space Shuttle (Corpse) Dead

Roulette - Car (Mentioned) Dead

Chainclaw - Bear (Mentioned) Dead

Decepticon/Ascenticon

Megatron - Tank

Soundwave - Hovercraft

Strika - Battle Tank

Ratbat - Cassette

Acid Storm - Jet

Ion Storm - Jet

Nova Storm - Jet

Swift - Helicopter

Roadtrap - Van

Battleslash - Helicopter

Crasher - Car

Termagax - Armoured Van

Skytread - Tank and Jet

Gutcruncher

Obsidian - Helicopter

Lugnut - Jet

Scatterspike - Van

Runabout - Car

Runamuck - Car

Laserbeak - Cassette

Nautilator - Lobster

Other Assembled Decepticons

Sixshot - Tank/Jet/Winged Wolf/Gun/Car (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Pyra Magna - Truck

Jumpstream - Car

Roadmaster

Starscream - Jet

Andromeda - Car

Cyclonus - Jet

"House"

Far-off Building Team

Highfire (Ghost Only)

Gridlock (Ghost Only)

Provoke (Ghost Only)

Grudge (Ghost Only)

Nominus Prime - Jet (Mentioned) Dead

The Captured Senators (Mentioned)

Perceptor (Mentioned)

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport (Mentioned)

Bumblebee - Winged Hovercraft (Mentioned)

Pyra Magna's Other Companions (Mentioned)

The Threefold Spark (Mentioned)

Notes

• Termagax's home base is revealed to be called "House". It's unclear yet if it is just an A.I. controlling a structure, if perhaps a repurposed Titan/larger bot yet.
• Pyra Magna is confirmed as the prisoner that Froid was banned from visiting, here explained as him getting too sympathetic towards her.
• Amongst the Autobots under Optimus Prime is an Infiltration Trooper, so it's most likely either Rewind or Eject, but it could be a more obscure character like Rosanna or Flip Sides. I like to think it's Eject though, since Rewind got all the love last time around.
• Inferno looks more of less like his normal character model here, even though last time we say him, his alternate mode was based on his Energon series toy.
• The odd colourings on the group shot of the Autobots is most likely due to the Matrix shining over them, causing a yellowish light to hit some, and darker shadows to be cast over others.
• Megatron has acquired his Fusion Cannon since the last issue. It goes unmentioned here (but is used, so it's not an art mistake) so I'm assuming we'll get a backstory issue explaining it before long.
• The Rainmakers are mentioned as being mute, whether this is by choice or inability has yet to be revealed.
• Roadmaster finally gets a speaking role, following her cameos in the old IDW.
• Jumpstream is shown to have a teleporting ability
• Pyra Magna and Jumpstream's character models are slightly modified versions of their Combined Wars toys, we can also assumed that the other "Companions" are the same.
• Andromeda's alternate mode shares quite a few similarities to Cybertron series Override.
• The Enigma of Combination mentioned by Starscream here was found in the flashbacks of the first Galaxies plotline, which combines the Constructions. Considering he's the head of Cybertronian Intelligence it makes sense he would have learned about it.
• Sentinel's order to kill Starscream is probably due to him knowing about the Enigma and the Titan Sparks, so that Megatron can't get them for his needs.

IDW - Transformers #25

Title: War World: Prime

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Anna Malkova

Colours by: Joana LaFuente 

Letters & Design by: Jake M. Wood

Editor: David Mariotte

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: Tom Waltz

Plot

Following his rescue of the Winged Moon, Wheeljack crashes on Cybertron, looking for help in rescuing it again from a team who have usurped it again. Unfortunately he only finds the Battlechargers, who attack him on sight, but gets rescued by Streetwise and Slapdash and taken to safety.

At the Senate building, the captured Guards are stuck in one of the lower cells, whilst Sentinel Prime and Orion Pax are imprisoned in the high security cells above them, guarded by Ravage and Laserbeak, and both taunted by Megatron.

At a security facility, Chromia, Hound, Novastar and Ironhide are debating how to deal with the Decepticons and save the Senators when Wheeljack is brought in, who tells them about the Decepticon team capturing the Moon, prompting Nova Star to lead a team to rescue it, while Wheeljack is sent for repairs.

Whilst planning, Megatron declares that the Decepticons are in charge now, and imposes a lockdown, on punishment of death, until their enemies are all gone.

Kip is given a new team to lead, replacing the firm Heavies from the old war, and everyone is given their missions, Prowls team is to stay behind for back up at a safe house, while Ironhides crew breaks into the Senate to resume the captured bots and Kup's crew provide a distraction by attacking the senate building from the outside.

Inside the building, Megatron us trying to convert the captured Senators to the Decepticons when he hears the explosions from outside, and sends Strika and HER new team of Heavies to confront them.

Ironhide's team break into the cell holding the guards, quickly freeing them and break into the upper cells, where they chase off Laserbeak and Ravage before freeing the isolated Senators. Ironhide splits his team up again, with half of them escorting the two Senators to the safe house, whilst the rest will join him in trying to free the other Senators. Megatron learns of this attack from laserbeak, and redirects Strika's team to take them out.

Roulette is quickly killed, and the rest of the crew are pinned down by the other Heavies. Forced to escape, Ironhide, Groove and Backstreet break out of the Senate building, but Chainclaw is killed by Clench's roof mounted rail gun.

Bumper tries to save Chainclaw, but I'd also shot by the Decepticon. Sideswipe goes to help out Bumper, while their sniper, the recently recovered Javelin, is having a panic attack.

Sunrunner drops a beacon next to Clench from the air, allowing Flak and Sidetrack to use homing missiles to destroy the gun and it's operator.

In the aftermath, Sideswipe appears cradling the dead body of Bumper, and requires medical attention himself.

Soon, Sentinel and Orion are brought to safety, but Sentinel rushes away to get to a communications tower to let the people know he is still in charge. Clench spots his launch and warns Megatron, who sends the Rainmakers after him.

Sentinel tries to outfly the Rainmakers, but gets grounded by them, before being mortally wounded by the trio after a quick battle.

Chromia, Orion, Brawn and Flare-up arrive too late, with Sentinel's last words being to pass the Matrix to Ultra Magnus and to kill Starscream. Orion takes the Matrix, intending to fulfill his promise, but the Matrix reacts to him, and compels him to place it within his own chest, reforming it to hold the Matrix, and Orion collapses.

Inside the Matrix, Orion is met by the Mediator, in the form of his own mentor, Codexa, where it shows him the past if Cybertron and the lineage if Primes, warning Orion of the upcoming shadow, and their need if the true "Thirteenth Prime" to save them all.

Orion wakes up in reality again, and declares his name as Optimus Prime

Characters

Autobot/Security Forces/Senate Guard

Orion Pax/Optimus Prime - Truck

Sentinel Prime - Space Shuttle Killed by the Rainmakers

Chromia - Car

Novastar - Car

Ironhide - Van

Hound - Jeep

Kup - Pick-up Truck

Springer - Helicopter/Car

Sunrunner - Bomber Jet

Sidetrack - Anti-aircraft Tank

Flak - Missile Tank

Top Shot - Self Propelled Gun Truck

Prowl - Police Car

Streetwise - Police Car

Slapdash - Race Car

Bumper - Car Killed by Clench

Strongarm - Police Vehicle

Pointblank - Car

Javelin

Sideswipe - Car

Zetar - Drill Tank

Brawn - Van

Backstreet - Car

Pipes - Truck

Groove - Motorcycle

Chainclaw - Bear Killed by Clench

Flareup - Motorcycle

Roulette - Car Killed by Blitzwing

Subsea - Submarine

Grotesque - Winged Tiger Monster

Decepticon/The Rise

Megatron - Mining Vehicle

Soundwave - Hovercraft

Laserbeak - Cassette

Ravage - Cassette

Nova Storm - Jet

Ion Storm - Jet

Acid Storm - Jet

Strika - Battle Tank

Snap Trap - Turtle

Heavywait

Blitzwing - Tank/Jet

Apeface - Ape/Jet

Clench - Truck Killed by Flak and Sidetrack

Refraktor - Hovercraft

Crasher - Race Car

Runamuck - Car

Runabout - Car

Team Stream (Mentioned)

Mindwipe - Bat (Mentioned)

Quake - Tank (Mentioned) Dead

Other Cybertronian

Wheeljack - Race Car

The Senate Most Captured by the Decepticons

Primus (In Matrix/Statue Only)

The Thirteenth Prime (In Matrix Only)

Nominus Prime - Jet (In Matrix Only)

Zeta Prime - Truck (In Matrix Only)

Nova Prime - Truck (In Matrix Only)

Other Matrix Bearers (In Matrix Only)

Prediction (In Matrix Only)

Halonix Maximus (In Matrix Only)

Zarak Maximus (In Matrix Only)

Solus Prime (In Matrix/Stained Glass Only)

Vector Prime (Stained Glass Only)

Codexa (Image Used for The Mediator)

Exarchon (Mentioned)

The First Forged (Mentioned)

The Thirteen Primes (Mentioned)

Solomus (Mentioned)

Mortilus (Mentioned)

Bumblebee - Winged Hovercraft (Mentioned)

Starscream - Jet (Mentioned)

Vigilem - Titan War Ship (Mentioned)

Warpath - Tank (Mentioned) In Stasis

Powerglide - Jet (Mentioned)

Brainstorm - Jet (Mentioned) Dead

Rubble (Mentioned) Dead

Tether Victims (Mentioned) Dead

Swindle - Van (Mentioned)

Ratchet - Ambulance (Mentioned)

Hoist - Tow Truck (Mentioned)

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport(Mentioned)

Perceptor (Mentioned) 

Other

Flying Eye Drones

The Mediator (In Matrix Only)

"It" (In Matrix Only)

Turbofoxes (In Matrix Only)

Slaargs (Mentioned)

"The Coming Shadow" (Mentioned)

Notes

• The Autobots, Security Forces and Senate guards are pretty much acting as one faction from this issue, so we can probably assume that the Autobot moniker will be applied to all of them soon
• Wheeljack's crash landing back on Cybertron is following the cliffhanger from issue 24 where the Stream Team started their attack on the Moon.
• Sentinel's fear that if Cybertronians venture too far from Cybertron with expansion etc will cause the rest of the universe to fear and hate them, much like what happened to them in the previous IDW continuity.
• Zetar is seen transforming in his brief cameo, but doesn't parts-form like his recent toy does.
• Nova Storm is referred to as female here, much like her Cyberverse counterpart
• The new character Heavywait was previously seen in flashbacks in the Optimus Prime comic, albeit her gender and name weren't revealed then.
• Clench's railgun weapon is most likely a reference to his original toys weaponry
• Javelin's inability to use her gun is most likely due to her getting shot the last time she used one.
• Bumper's death here continues the seeming tradition of him dying early on, or having horrible things happen to him.
• The bar where Sentinel has his final stand-off is called the "Slaarg and Turbofox". We learn in Escape #1 that Slaargs are extinct, either meaning this place was established before their extinction, or this would be the human equivalent to calling your bar "the Dodo and the fox"
• Through the Mediator, we see Codexa in her full glory for the first time.
• Through the Matrix journey we learn that the Hate Plague occured in Cybertron's past, and this version caused a lot if death, with several sparks returning to the Allspark.
• Exarchon is mentioned to have not returned to the Allspark, implying he is still alive, like Cyclonus suggested earlier in the series.
• The journey through the Matrix implies that the Thirteen Primes being connected to Primus has been restored, after the previous continuity made them just bots used by Shockwave for his grand scheme.
• Among the past Matrix-bearers we see who can be assumed to be Nova Prime, using his Timelines toy as the basis.
• Zeta Prime in this comic is based on his retconned appearance from the G1 cartoon, rather than his unique design from the previous IDW continuity.
• The Mediator mentions a "coming shadow", which is likely not the Decepticons, since they're already a threat, implying a future terror for Cybertron (Quintessons, Unicron, Exarchon, who knows?)
• Orion Pax's design doesn't change when he becomes Optimus Prime. Just saying, he has a lot of WFC figures that could have been used to distinguish the evolution.

IDW - Transformers #23

Title: Rise of the Decepticons, Part 5: We Have Deceived You

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Anna Malkova

Colours by: Joana LaFuente

Letters & Design by: Jake M. Wood

Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Plot

The special session of the Senate has come to discuss the recent actions of the Rise and for Sentinel to formally denounce the Ascenticons, however Megatron and his Ascenticon co-Senators arrive, uninvited, as this is about them. Orion Pax allows them to enter since they ARE elected officials, but also requests more guards inside the senate building.

At the prison, Bumblebee is being held for the murder of Quake, and Starscream visits him, and implies that the world is about to change, and he may have a place for him in this new world...

At the meeting, Megatron takes the podium where he accepts the name "Decepticon" for his faction, and claims that he will no longer wait around while the Autobots let the world fall apart around them. He claims that the Rise have surrendered to him, and implies that the Autobots were the ones to destroy the Tether...

Outside, the Decepticons make their move, attacking the guards outside and breaking into the main Senate hall, where Ion Storm uses his abilities to shoot an EMP through the assembled Senators, though draining him at the same time. During the attack, Strika grabs hold of Sentinel, intending to bring sanity back to Cybertron.

Several guards are killed or captured, but Strika chases Ironhide and a couple others out of the Senate building. From the front doors, she declares that the Decepticons are now here to rule Cybertron, and the crisis caused by the Autobots is over....

Characters

Autobot

Sentinel Prime - Space Shuttle

Orion Pax - Truck

Security Operations

Prowl - Police Vehicle

Strongarm - Police Vehicle

Bumper - Car

Vibes

Nightbeat - Car

Sideswipe - Car

Chromia - Car (Mentioned)

Senate Guard

Ironhide - Van

Grotusque - Winged Beast Detained by Decepticons

Chainclaw - Bear Detained by Decepticons

Brawn - Van

Groove - Motorcycle

Backstreet - Car

Roulette - Car

Pipes - Truck

Subsea - Submarine Seemingly Killed by Nova Storm

Flareup - Motorcycle Seemingly Killed by Nova Storm 

Decepticon

Megatron - Mining Vehicle

Strika - Battle Tank

Ratbat - Cassette

Acid Storm - Jet

Ion Storm - Jet Drained from using Powers

Nova Storm - Jet

Apeface - Jet/Ape

Runamuck - Car

Runabout - Car

Clench - Truck

Ravage - Cassette

Howlback - Cassette

Laserbeak - Cassette

Buzzsaw - Cassette

Squawktalk - Cassette

Beastbox - Cassette

Refraktor - Hovercraft (Mentioned)

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

Quake - Tank (Mentioned) Dead

Other Cybertronian

Starscream - Jet

Bumblebee - Winged Hovercraft Imprisoned

Proxima

Andromeda

Voxpop

Cyclonus - Jet

Assembled Senators Hit by Ion Storm's EMP

Crowd Outside Senate Building

Highfire (Ghost)

Gridlock (Ghost)

Grudge (Ghost)

Provoke (Ghost)

Primus (Mentioned)

Other

The Thraal (Mentioned)

The A'ovan (Mentioned)

Notes

• Voxpop's theory about the Thraal dropping to Tether to try and take out the A'ovan actually sounds plausible since one of their compounds was destroyed in the fall. Though we know from an outsider's perspective that it was caused by the Rise.
• Megatron has now formally adopted the Decepticon name for the Ascenticons, and claims that the Rise have surrendered to them. I think it's safe to just stop pretending that they're separate factions now.
• Proxima is revealed to have been made head archivist now, the position that Orion was primed to take on before taking on his senatorial position.
• Flareup appears to be a scaled up and bulked up version of her original toy, so I'm assuming she still turns into a motorcycle here too.
• Starscream knows about the attack on the Senate this issue because of his mole within the Decepticons, Refractor.
• We don't see which of the Rainmakers shoots the electricity that takes out Subsea and Flareup, but since we see Ion Storm's ability, and we can assume the acid rain is from Acid Storm, it's most likely that Nova Storm is the one who blasts them.
• The Infiltration Troopers mentioned earlier in the storyline are revealed to be Soundwave's future cassette minions.
• Clench's trailer is designed to eject the troopers out of it...this is something I never knew I needed from an earth vehicle mode for Soundwave...

IDW - Transformers (2019) #15

Title: The Change In Your Nature, Part Three

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Anna Malkova & Bethany McGuire-Smith

Colours by: Joana LaFuente & Josh Burcham

Letters by: Jake M. Wood

Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Plot

Megatron watches a live feed of Sentinel Prime addressing the population, denouncing the Ascenticons as liars for their promises of restoring Cybertron to it's pre-war rules etc, and accuses them of using the Rise's violence to gain sympathy for their cause, with Orion Pax behind him, but clearly disagreeing with his statements.

As he watches the feed, Jhiaxus pumps him with the emergency Energon reserves, so he can be fully energized when he goes to visit Shockwave.

Whilst being energized, Megatron thinks back to his early days as a miner and gladiator, which all came to an end when the war started. He was drafted into combat, and during one large battle, Exarchon (or some of his iterations anyway) approached him, intending to use him for his needs, but was chased off. Megatron however saw Exarchon's true worth that day, he wasn't a great evil, but someone who everyone feared due to his immovable will...

Following the war, the Ascenticon movement was formed and the mines were closed, Cybertron was brought to a halt to try and stop another Threefold Spark from occurring. Despite her early ability to rally the forces, Termagax was eventually forced into self-imposed exile, so Megatron, taking after Exarchon's ways built on his own will and took over the Ascenticons for her, refusing to be denied or defeated by anyone....

Bumblebee meets with Orion Pax and Chromia, where he explains what happened at the Titan and how he suspects that Soundwave used his staff to try and kill the Risers. The other two decide to inform Bee about their suspicions that Barricade was feeding intel to the Ascenticons, which led to the Voin Scavenger and Rubble being murdered by Quake. Bee is furious that they didn't tell him sooner, but Orion just states that he was afraid of what Bee would do, and now decides to give their findings to Sentinel Prime....

Megatron arrives at the Rise's current HQ, where everyone has been put into lock-down, as per standard precautions, and Shockwave comes to meet with the Senator. Megatron learns that Shockwave has been recruiting from the exiled bots off-world, and appears to be worried. 

Megatron requests that Shockwave summon his top "lieutenants" to join them, and once Sixshot and Slipstream arrive, Megatron beats down Shockwave in front of them, the latter being no match for Megatron due to the minimal fuel reserves they are working from in the Rise.

After Shockwave is beaten and bloodied, he orders him to not act on his own accord any more, that he is to only work on his behalf and to HIS purposes, and to not allow a situation like that at the Titan, or the recent killings to happen ever again, and makes the lieutenants agree too.

Orion and Chromia have given Sentinel their evidence, and he declares a few controversial new orders. The security forces will be allowed unrestricted amounts of Energon, and access to weaponry in the search for Shockwave, Sixshot, Frenzy, Quake and Barricade, whilst capturing them is desirable, neutralizing is acceptable. He also deputizes Hound and Novastar to run the missions to take them down, as he doesn't believe that Chromia has the ability to deal with the problem, based on recent failures. Finally he wants Chromia to liaise with Ironhide to arrest and interrogate Soundwave, and he wants him captured soon, no matter the cost...

Characters

Autobot

Sentinel Prime - Space Shuttle

Orion Pax - Truck

Security Forces

Chromia - Car

Ironhide - Van

Hound - Jeep (Mentioned)

Novastar - Car (Mentioned)

Ascenticon

Megatron - Mining Vehicle

Jhiaxus - Jet

Bumblebee - Winged Hovercraft

Termagax - Truck (Flashback Only)

Rally-Goers (Flashback Only)

Strika - Battle Tank (Mentioned)

Soundwave - Hovercraft (Mentioned)

Elita-1 - Car (Mentioned)

The Rise

Shockwave - Weapons Platform Beaten Down by Megatron

Sixshot - Tank/Jet/Beast/Tank/Gun

Slipstream - Jet

Flamewar - Motorcycle

Shadow Striker - Car

Hyperdrive - Car

Barricade - Police Vehicle

Shockwave's Failed Experiments Dead 

Quake - Tank (Mentioned)

Triggerhappy (Mentioned)

Rumble (Mentioned)

Frenzy (Mentioned)

Ruckus - Buggy (Mentioned) Either Killed or Left Comatose in Titan Explosion

Wirespike (Mentioned) Either Killed or Left Comatose in Titan Explosion

Lowload - Drill Tank (Mentioned) Either Killed or Left Comatose in Titan Explosion

Kaskade (Mentioned) Either Killed or Left Comatose in Titan Explosion

The Threefold Spark

Exarchon's Iterations (Flashback Only)

Skywarp - Jet (Flashback Only)

The Clone Swarm (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Audience at Sentinel's Speech

Warpath - Tank (Flashback Only)

Flak - Multiple Missile Launcher (Flashback Only)

Blitzwing - Tank/Jet (Flashback Only)

Lugnut (Flashback Only)

Headlock (Flashback Only)

Miners (Flashback Only)

Brainstorm - Jet (Mentioned) Dead

Rubble (Mentioned) Dead

Nominus Prime (Mentioned)

Highbrow (Mentioned)

Ultra Magnus (Mentioned)

Ultra Magnus' Assault Force (Mentioned)

The Constructicons (Mentioned)

Other Species

Voin Scavenger (Mentioned) Dead

Notes

• Sorry I'm late with this again, but more ennui etc is making I hard to do reviews in decent time (but I'm getting a bit of a pile right now..sooooo......
• Malkova provides the art for the current day scenes, whilst McGuire-Smith provides the art for the flashback scenes.
• Exarchon, the leader of the Threefold Spark, is revealed to have his consciousness split between multiple bodies, which apparently happened to him somehow offworld, and seemingly drove him to evil, explaining he restriction on further colonization and exploration in the Nominus Edict.
• Headlock appears as a Gladiatorial coach in the flashback, somewhat similar to his role in the RID2015 cartoon.
• Lugnut is clearly seen as one of Megatron's opponents in the Gladiator matches, this was a role previously mentioned for him in the Aligned universe.
• Skywarp is the only legacy character to be confirmed as a part of the Threefold Spark's forces, showing that it's not just an army of clones, but also brings Skywarp's current whereabouts to question. 
• The scene where Chromia and Orion speak to Bumblebee is essentially a recap of all the evidence into who the murderers are, just in case anyone was still confused after 15 issues.
• It's mentioned that two of the four Risers seemingly killed last issue are still on life-support, but we don't get to know which ones yet.
• It's mentioned that the current Rise base is an old outpost of the Threefold Spark, and that Shockwave is trying to replicate the process that allowed him to split his mind between different bodies (which most people are assuming will somehow involve Refraktor, to give him his traditional triple-bot look)
• It's not confirmed, but Megatron's dialogue may suggest that Shockwave was also part of Exarchon's forces, which could be why he was exiled in the first place.
• The Galaxies spin-off series is directly referenced this issue, confirming that the Constructicon storyline (at least) is set concurrently with this series
• Amongst the weapons in the Rise base, are some cannons that look very similar to Megatron's traditional fusion cannon, though he uses it as a bludgeoning weapon instead of a cannon here.
• Slipstream is introduced out of nowhere are a co-field commander with Sixshot, somewhat resembling her role in Cyberverse.
• Ultra Magnus is mentioned as not being available to assist security, but it's not clear if this is because of death or something less serious.
• It's mentioned that none of the great generals will serve, implying that either they are unable to serve due to injury, or perhaps out of disapproval of Sentinel and his methods.

IDW - Transformers (2019) #12

Title: Nautica: Home

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Sara Pitre-Durocher

Colours by: Joana LaFuente

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Plot

A short while ago, Sentinel Prime receives word from Cybertron about the recent murders, and cuts his colonial tour short. He orders the ship to return home, once any aliens or Colonists, who are not planning to return to Cybertron have left the ship.

Starscream tries to have a conversation with Nautica about the recent Cybertronian murders, but she is more worried about the murdered Voin, as some of their deaths matter more than others, and this could cause some future problems. Starscream isn't interested, but shows Nautica some footage about the Thraal diplomatic party, as he wants to know what they are saying. Nautica gets worried and rushes away, calling for her bodyguard, Road Rage to join her.

Road Rage meets with Nautica, and they head towards the Thraal's quarters, and Nautica explains that she heard the Thraal address each other strangely, and using odd terminology, and she just wants to look into a possible problem, but doesn't want to inform security yet, in case it's just a mis-translation.

After meeting with the Thraal, Nautica notes that one of the odd-acting Thraal is not a part of the delegation, and is therefore unaccounted for, she asks Lightbright on the ship's bridge to scan the ship for any unusual organic signatures on the vessel, just in case. She notes one in the cold storage area for food for the organic species, so Nautica decides to investigate.

In the cold storage, they find some bisected animals, that are supposed to be used for ceremonies by the Thraal, and realise that the animals must have been used for smuggling some smaller parts to create a larger weapon. The duo find a hatch and follow the Thraal's trail, eventually finding him, and a device heading through a tunnel leading to an air-hatch.

Road Rage attacks the Thraal, crushing him, but not before he can order the device, a mobile explosive to teleport outside. Road Rage calls security to warn them of the terrorist attack on the hull, and soon the duo make it outside, and try to stop the explosive, but find that it has a one-tracked A.I. to make it's way to it's destination and detonate.

Road Rage follows the explosive as it passes over an area that has been pressurized by Lightbright, causing a blow out, sending the explosive flying away from the ship, Road Rage fires on it, causing a massive explosion, leaving Road Rage floating away into space...

Later, Nautica meets with Sentinel, and confirms that Road Rage will be okay in short time, but that the Thraal is going to die following his crushing. She also insists that the Thraal Delegate did not know about the attack, but that she is upset by what happened, with Nautica comparing the Thraal to Cybertronians for having factions. 

Sentinel asks Nautica whether this will cause any future problems, and reminds her that he doesn't want any more problems on top of the current murder spree and rallies on Cybertron. Nautica simply states that they will need to take some actions to hide this attack, and to place extra security to monitor the Thraal and others, but it shouldn't be of any notice, since this was always a possibility.

And with that, the shuttle heads towards Cybertron....

Characters

Cybertronian

Sentinel Prime - Shuttle

Nautica - Submarine

Road Rage - Flying Car

Starscream - Tetrajet

Hound - Jeep

Lightbright

"Giant Woman" - Senate Shuttle

Colony Tour Staff

Thraal Delegate's Guard

Crosscut (Flashback Only)

Novastar - Car (Mentioned)

Brainstorm - Jet (Mentioned) Killed by a Rise Member

Rubble (Mentioned) Killed by Quake

Senate Shuttle Security (Mentioned)

Close-Defence Drones (Mentioned)

Two Teleporting Cybertronians (Mentioned)

Thraal

Thraal Ambassador

Thraal Ambassador's Four Secondaries

Thraal Saboteur Crushed by Road Rage

Thraal A.I. Explosive Destroyed by Road Rage

Other Alien

Voins

Voin Enslaved Organics 

Frems Dead in Cold Storage, Intended for Meals

Bioluminescent Aeglus IV Species (Memory)

The Occulted Dremdens (Flashback Only)

A'ovans (Mentioned) Mostly Culled by the Thraal

Murdered Voin (Mentioned) Killed by Quake

Notes

• So with this issue we can see a pattern in this series' format, five issue long stories, followed by a one-off side story. We know the next story is another five issue deal, but with the release of Galaxies, an anthology series, coming this week, we'll have to see if this continues as well.
• As mentioned in the issue itself this story is set before the end of issue ten, when Sentinel and his crew return to Cybertron.
• Nautica is revealed to be the Head of Xenorelations (ie dealing with aliens). Road Rage is a bodyguard, and Novastar and Hound are part of Colonial Security. I think that's everyone from the Senator's crew we saw in issue ten now identified career-wise.
• Amongst the alien species mentioned in the prelude are the "Occulted Dremdens", a species that hasn't appeared in the franchise before now, whilst the others mentioned are previously introduced species from this series, or a prior one. We even get a brief cameo from them in a flashback! I'm guessing they're going to be important down the line!
• The "Giant Woman" shuttle is still unnamed, and still unconfirmed as a Titan, so I'm keeping my name for her from issue ten.
• One of the porthole paintings looks like a speedway. My guess is that this is our first brief look at Velocitron in this universe (Let's hope this version doesn't get destroyed like it has in the old IDW and Cyberverse recently!)
• Some Voin shown on the Senate ship have crustacean organics attached to them, showing that the ape-like ones aren't the only species they enslave.
• There's a nice bit of hypocrisy in this issue, Nautica and Road Rage ignore the enslaved organics attached to a Voin, but are later horrified at the idea that the Thraal have an A.I. installed in a bomb, as it is an enslaved inorganic consciousness.
• It's unclear if Road Rage is a triple changer, or if her car mode just has pop-out wings like the original did
• It's outright implied this issue that the A'ovans on Cybertron are the only ones left in the universe following a genocide caused by the Thraal
• It's also implied that the ruling party of the Thraal are not interested in continuing the genocide of the A'ovan, and that it is a vocal minority who want it.
• Nautica mentions that she only knows of two teleporting Cybertronians, we can assume that one of Skywarp, but who is the other?

IDW - Transformers (2019) #11

Title: The Cracks Beneath Your Feet, Part Five

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Angel Hernandez & Anna Malkova

Colours by: Joana LaFuente & Josh Burcham

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Plot

Now back on Cybertron, Sentinel and Starscream walk through the Council Chamber's corridors with Orion Pax and Chromia, where they discuss the Ascenticon blockade, stopping Prowl from speaking with Barricade about recent potential crimes.

Sentinel says that he wants them to just storm the Ascenticon's base and take him by force, but Orion points out that following the destruction of the war memorial, which some are blaming on Security, so he wants to talk to Megatron about all of this first. Sentinel agrees, but asserts that if Barricade isn't in custody by sunfall, then they need to storm the base.

Afterwards, Chromia speaks with Orion, telling him that Windblade managed to shield the data she was recovering during the explosion and they have forty names of Rise members, who they are going to start sifting through to find their murderers.

Elsewhere, Megatron is furious with Soundwave, now that he has learned that he passed information taken from his mole, Barricade, to Shockwave, and he used Quake to kill the Voin witness, and now he is publically denying Security access to Barricade, making them look even worse.

Knowing he cannot keep Barricade around anymore, Megatron sends a secret message to Shockwave to have Barricade whisked away, and to make it look obvious.

Bumblebee visits the still badly injured Windblade in the medical facility, where Orion Pax also arrives, telling his friend that she will get better. He also asks Bee to end his covert operation as an Ascenticon member, due to the upcoming raid on the base by Security, as he doesn't want him caught in the crossfire. Bee however refuses, as he wants to do this to get out of Orion's debt, and now also feels he needs to atone for not being there for Rubble either, when he was murdered too, or he's going to end up breaking in some way...

Later, the Ascenticons man their stations, as they know Security are planning to raid them, during the scattering however, Bee notices Barricade speaking to Soundwave, and follows him, finding him and Skytread at one of the old Gladiator gates. At that moment, the doors are blown in by Sixshot and his team, who are there to take Barricade away.

Bumblebee manages to beat away the Risers, but has problems with Sixshot, however before the Riser can take him out, Skytread uses a taser to knock out Bee. Before anything else can happen, Prowl and his security forces break in, and the Risers flee, with Barricade in their custody.

In the aftermath, Megatron looks over the damage, and sees a way to make this work for him, he starts another broadcast and declares that his people are under attack, and that Security was not only planning to attack too, but that they let the Rise attack them as well. He uses a blowtorch to modify the insignia of his group, into what will one day be known as the Decepticon insignia....declaring it to be the future of their world.... 

Characters

Autobot

Sentinel prime - Spaceship

Orion Pax - Truck

Security Forces

Chromia - Car

Prowl - Police Vehicle

Ascenticon Base Raiders

Windblade - VTOL Jet In CR Stasis, Will Recover in Time

Ascenticon

Megatron - Treaded Vehicle

Soundwave - Hovercraft

Elita-1 - Car

Bumblebee - Hovercraft

Barricade - Police Vehicle "Abducted" by Sixshot

Skytread

Refraktor - Hovercraft

Acid Storm - Tetrajet

Strika

Jhiaxus - Jet

Ratbat

Other Ascenticons

The Rise

Sixshot - Jet/Car

Storm Cloud - Jet

Visper - Jet

Shockwave - Spaceship (Mentioned)

Flamewar - Motorcycle (Mentioned)

Shadow Striker - Car (Mentioned)

Quake - Tank (Mentioned)

Mindwipe (Mentioned)

Frenzy (Mentioned)

Rumble (Mentioned)

Slipstream (Mentioned)

Blackjack (Mentioned)

Treadshot (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Starscream - Tetrajet

Senate Attendant

Alpha Trion (Stained Glass Depiction Only)

Solus Prime (Stained Glass Depiction Only)

Nexus Prime (Stained Glass Depiction Only)

Solomus (Stained Glass Depiction Only)

Quintus Prime (Stained Glass Depiction Only)

Rubble (Mentioned) Killed by Quake

Glyph (Mentioned)

Other

The Voin Scavenger Witness (Mentioned) Killed by Quake

Notes

• The bots in the stained glass windows in the hallway leading to Sentinel's office were chosen to represent different branches of state. As stated here, judging from the layout of the hallway, the opposite side may feature some more.
• The stained glass bots are also all members of the Thirteen Primes, or the Guiding Hand, implying that both groups are part of the mythology of this series too.
• Solomus being shown is interesting, as we can see his "crown" that was on his true form, who went by the name of "Tyrest" in the previous IDW continuity, implying that this universe didn't have a memory wipe of the Guiding Hands' identities and appearances, however we saw a statue of Primus in issue six, which was designed after the traditional Primus design, and not after "Rung". Now this could be just due to the artist wanting to use this design over the mythical form, but this could mean that Primus DOES have his traditional form in this universe, and isn't Rung again this time (HOPEFULLY!)
• The Statues sitting outside his office are also just cheeky references to the Movie version of Sentinel Prime, but with a sword inside of his Primax Blade
• As seems to be a habit now, the front cover that I have has nothing to do with the contents. Chromia appears in the opening scene, Windblade is seen in her CR chamber, and Sideswipe is nowhere to be seen. This would have been better suited for a couple of issues ago, when the trio went into the Monument base.
• Starscream is revealed to be the Head of Intelligence here.
• Glyph gets name-dropped in this issue, and appears to be based on the character introduced in the Extended Universe Botcon lines. I wonder if Tap-out hangs out with her too?
• Rumble is mentioned as being one of the Risers, possibly ending the conspiracy theory that Rubble was actually him in disguise (simply due to his name)
• All of the characters listed on the datapad as being Risers have had a new toy in recent years, so I could assume what alternate modes they have, but I wont that that risk, until it is confirmed (especially since a few have had multiple toys)
• Barricade is revealed to have been a member of the Ascenticons for a while now, but stayed in the Security Forces to act as a mole for Soundwave, and is confirmed to be the one who passed on the Voin's identity to Shockwave, leading to him sending out Quake to kill him, and Rubble by association. Megatron was apparently not aware of this mole situation.
• So...why did Soundwave or Shockwave send Quake to kill the Voin? Quake was made a very public member of the Ascenticons, meaning that the investigation, which will link back to him, will automatically link the Ascenticons to the murder too...what was the plan here? (They could have just had Sixshot or another warrior kill them instead!) My guess would be that they are somehow acting AGAINST Megatron to take leadership for themselves, much like the Marvel counterparts.
• Orion mentions that Windblade will recover from her injuries in time. This appears to be to quell the fears of the readers, who notice the similarities to Sideswipe's condition from the previous IDW continuity, which proved to be fatal.
• It is confirmed that Bumblebee was implanted into the Ascenticons on Orion's orders to spy on them, we also learn that Chromia is aware of this plan, but is the only other person to be aware of it.
• Orion comments on how inept the attack on Megatron in issue 2 was, something that people, including me, have been assuming was a staged attack ever since it happened.
• It is alluded to that Bumblebee was "saved" by Orion in the past. This is likely related to his firing from Security, which is still unexplained to us.
• The Ascenticon base is shown to be an old Gladiator Arena. I don't think this has been revealed before now!
• Sixshot is shown to be at least a triple changer, as we see his car mode for the first time this issue, we can probably assume he is a six-changer after all!
• Sixshot also still sports the wound from Windblade's sword skewering him from the last time we saw him. It is even affecting his T-Cog when he uses his car mode! Nice continuity and implementing an existing injury there!
• Skytread appears to be aware of the Ascenticon-Rise connection as he helps Sixshot to "kidnap" Barricade. Is Bumblebee the only one who doesn't know?
• As people have noticed since the start, the Ascenticon insignia is shown to be the basis of the Decepticon insignia, with Megatron revealing the new design this issue.
• Amongst the newly revealed Ascenticon members are Acid Storm and Jhiaxus, using their Siege and Thrilling Thirty designs respectively. And Strika and Ratbat in new character models