IDW - Transformers: Shattered Glass II #5

Written by: Danny Lore

Art by: Guido Guidi

Inks by: Matt Froese

Colours by: John-Paul Bove

Letters by: Jake M. Wood

Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: David Mariotte

Plot

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Characters

Autobot

Ultra Magnus - Truck Cab Killed by Slicer

Optimus Prime - Vehicle Transport Likely Killed in Metroplex Collapse

Jetfire - Jet

Slicer - Car

Ratchet - Ambulance

Rodimus - Car Killed by Soundwave

Drift - Car Shot in Gut by Soundwave

Springer - Helicopter/Car Killed by Slicer

Tailgate - Car

Jazz - Car

Ricochet - Car

Cosmos - Orbiter 

Prowl - Police Car

Blaster - Boombox (Mentioned) Dead

Decepticon

Megatron - Jet

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Laserbeak - Cassette

Ravage - Cassette

Rumble - Cassette

Frenzy - Cassette 

Flamewar - Motorcycle

Slipstream - Jet

Hotlink - Jet

Starscream - Jet Spark and Ghost Only

Other

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

Notes

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

IDW - Transformers: Shattered Glass II #4

Written by: Danny Lore

Art by: Daniel Khanna

Inks by: Gigi Dutreix

Colours by: John-Paul Bove

Letters by: Jake M. Wood

Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: David Mariotte

Plot

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Captured by the Wreckers

Rodimus - Car

Slicer - Car Blasted out of Metroplex

Springer - Helicopter/Car

Drift - Car

Tailgate - Car

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

Metroplex - Titan Ship Partially Reactivated 

Blaster (Decapitated Head Only) Dead

Windblade - VTOL Jet (Flashback Only)

Lightbright (Flashback Only)

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport (Mentioned)

Ratchet - Ambulance (Mentioned)

Prowl - Police Car (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Megatron - Jet

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Flamewar - Motorcycle

Slipstream - Jet

Shadow Striker - Car

Hailstorm - Tank Killed by Rodimus

Hotlink - Jet

Sunstorm - Jet (Flashback Only)

Tracer - Helicopter (Flashback Only)

Barricade - Police Car (Flashback Only)

Starscream - Jet (Flashback Only) Spark Extracted in Present

Thundercracker - Jet (Flashback Only)

Frenzy - Cassette (Flashback Only)

Blackjack (Mentioned)

Constructicons (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Cannonball - Van (Flashback Only) Killed by Rodimus 

Lowload (Mentioned) Killed by Autobots

Cityspeakers (Mentioned)

Titan Net Team (Mentioned)

Notes

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

IDW - Transformers: Shattered Glass II #3

Written by: Danny Lore

Art by: Guido Guidi

Inks by: Matt Froese

Colours by: John-Paul Bove

Colour Assists by: Ed Pirrie

Letters by: Jake M. Wood

Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: David Mariotte

 

Plot

Slicer meets with Ratchet, who has set up shop in a new location, following the taking of Gold City, where Ratchet explains that he doesn't care who wins the war, since his job is just to put the pieces back together. He also mentions that Slicer is due a new arm soon, as he has a habit of destroying his ones regularly.

Slicer drives through the Static Zone towards Metroplex's partially reactivated body, where he tests out the effectiveness of his modifications to Blaster's decapitated head, which is able to keep a partial signal to Soundwave's radio frequencies, despite the extreme interference in the Static Zone.

Inside the Titan, Slicer plants bombs, in case he needs them later, and searches for Starscream's spark, which he locates in Metroplex's control room. He also finds Goldbug, who is trying to get the Titan working, but doesn't really understand how to do so. Slicer pretends to be loyal to Goldbug, and helps him to fix the Titan's systems, but notices that the Titan seems to be reactive to the nearby patrolling Jetfire's presence.

Slicer tries to get Goldbug to report how often the Titan tends to activate for, but the former Gold City despot is unwilling to be helpful. Soundwave's voice on the Blaster-radio mentions a front line patrol from the Decepticons, which gives Slicer an idea...

The Air Strike Patrol fly through the Static Zone on their duty, when they are attacked, and all taken out by Slicer and Goldbug, as a ploy to bring Jetfire in closer. Before Jetfire can arrive, Goldbug turns on Slicer, revealing that he knows Slicer has been using him, and that he's still loyal to the Wreckers, but he's been using him too. Before he can kill Slicer however, Jetfire arrives, and lands on top of Goldbug, crushing Starscream's murderer, most likely killing him.

Jetfire prepares to kill Slicer too, but the latter activates a bomb in his arm to injure the rogue scientist, allowing the rest of the hidden Wreckers to ensnare him, with Slicer ordering them to keep him alive, as he isn't sure how needed he is to control Metroplex yet.

Slicer wonders if Ratchet foresaw his stunt with the bomb, or if his words put the idea of blowing up his own arm with his earlier comments, but doesn't have the time to contemplate it too far, as a troop of Decepticons, led by Flamewar come roaring towards him....

Characters

Autobot

Slicer - Car

Jetfire - Jet Captured by the Wreckers

Goldbug - Car Crushed by Jetfire

Ratchet - Ambulance

Rodimus - Car

Drift - Car

Tailgate - Car

Helicopter - Helicopter/Car

Blaster (Decapitated Head Only) Dead

Blurr - Car (Melted Corpse) Dead

Optimus Prime - Truck (Mentioned)

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Visper - Jet Killed by Slicer

Storm Cloud - Jet Killed by Slicer

Nightflight - Jet Killed by Goldbug

Tailwind - Jet Killed by Slicer

Flamewar - Motorcycle

Slipstream - Jet

Shadow Striker - Car

Hailstorm - Tank

Hotlink - Jet

Sunstorm - Jet

Tracer - Helicopter

Barricade - Police Car

Starscream (Disembodied Spark Only) Dead

"Exo-Suit"  (Arm Only)

Soundwave - Cassette Player (Voice Only)

Megatron - Jet (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Metroplex - Titan Ship Partially Reactivated 

Ratchet's "Patients" Disassembled to Death

Notes

• This Hasbro Pulse release of this issue comes with a Shattered Glass Collection Slicer, with Exo-Suit figure. Unlike the other members of the collection, this figure features a positive polarity Decepticon insignia, rather than a Negative polarity Autobot one (both are evil, but still, it's different). The figure is also designed to be used as the G1 character of Slicer too, who was originally an Action Master. It's still unknown why the character and figure was named Slicer, instead of Wheeljack, especially since Wheeljack is still in trademark, and has been used in very recent years.
• The Exo-suit figure that comes with this issue gets a very brief reference at the start of this issue, as the arm that Ratchet sets aside to use as a replacement for Slicer's, assuming he will damage his current one soon.
• Though not mentioned, it's very likely that the eyes that Slicer gives to Ratchet were Blaster's, since his decapitated head is seen eyeless this issue.
• On his way to the Titan, Wheeljack drives past, and ignores, the melted corpse of Blurr, from the first issue of the first series of Shattered Glass.
• Goldbug mentions that he's going to "punt" Blaster's head into space. While it's probably just a funny coincidence, that's what Rodimus did to Wheelie, who was a decapitated head, in the Last Bot Standing mini-series.
• Slicer references Goldbug as a "failed Wrecker" this issue. We saw his previous persona, Bumblebee, as a member of the Wreckers in issue one of this series. This implies that he was fired or left in disgrace from the group,
• Tailgate is seen amongst the Wreckers this issue, using the same body he sported from the Timelines comics. Surprisingly it still appears to use the Thrilling Thirty mould as the basis, rather than the newer Titans Return design.
• The team of Decepticons that make their entrance into the battle at the end of this issue are mostly made of "Team Stream" from the now completed IDW continuity.
• It seems like Metroplex is being powered by Starscream, with his spark resonating with Jetfire's presence, due to their close past relationship, so I'm going to guess that the Titan will end up joining the Decepticons, if he survives this series at all.
• Hailstorm, who appears at the end of the issue was originally a figure from the HFTD line, which is mostly aligned with the movie continuities, but this character did make a couple of cameos in IDW comics as a G1 character. His colourscheme seems to be based on Strika, originally a Vehicon General from Beast Machines, but has made appearances as an Autobot, Decepticon and even Neutral in G1-set comics since then.

IDW - Transformers Shattered Glass II #2

Written by: Danny Lore 

Art by: Daniel Khanna

Colours by: Thomas Deer

Letters by: Jake M. Wood

Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: David Mariotte

Plot

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

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

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

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

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

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

Characters

Autobot

Blaster - Boombox Killed by Rodimus

Rodimus - Car

Slicer - Car

Jetfire - Jet (Alligned with Decepticons now)

Rewind - Cassette Killed by Rodimus

Ramhorn - Cassette Killed by Rodimus

Steeljaw - Cassette Killed by Rodimus

Eject - Cassette (Flashback Only) Dead

Chromedome - Car (Flashback Only)

Jazz - Car (Flashback Only)

Blurr - Car (Flashback Only) Dead

Optimus Prime - Truck (Mentioned) Beaten to Near Death

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Megatron - Jet

Flamewar - Motorcycle

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Whisper - Jet

Clench - Truck Shot by Blaster

Gutcruncher Crushed by a Heavy Panel

Dead Decepticon Being Eaten by Autobot Cassettes

New Kaon Soldiers

Refraktor - Hovercraft (Flashback Only)

Starscream - Jet (Mentioned) Spark Removed by Goldbug

Decepticon Cassettes - Cassettes (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

The Old Senate (Mentioned)

"The Sponsors" (Mentioned)

Notes

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

IDW - Transformers Shattered Glass II #1

Written by: Danny Lore

Art by: Marcelo Matere & Andrew Lee Griffith 

Additional Inks by: Gigi Dutreix

Colours by: John-Paul Bove

Letters by: Jake M. Wood

Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: David Mariotte

Plot

In the past, Ultra Magnus, a lawman, is summoned by Orion Pax to lead his new squad of enforcers, in preparation for his upcoming uprising against the Senate.

One day, Magnus' squad encounter Senator Shockwave, a friend of Magnus', who is being hounded by journalists, asking about a rumoured military schism. Shockwave, who disapproves of Magnus' new squad, insults them, angering Impactor, who gets into a fight with the Senator, leading Magnus to lose control, and throws Kup at the other Wrecker, seemingly killing Impactor, and causing Shockwave to look at Magnus in a worse way...

Later, Magnus informs Orion that he has reorganised the squad into his own, fully independent unit, the Wreckers, so they can do the dirty business, without Orion being implicated, as he really wanted, which Orion begrudgingly agrees to.

The Wreckers are sent to the Senate, where they slaughter many of the gathered Senators, enabling Orion to take over easily. Magnus is confronted directly by Shockwave, but the Senator is no match for the strong Autobot. Rather than killing him though, Shockwave is taken away for Empurata, to rewrite his mind...

In the present day, Magnus, along with his Wreckers, arrive at the Throne of Pax, where they demand an audience with Optimus, and the Autobot tyrant allows him to see him, with one of his Wreckers, leaving the rest outside.

Magnus meets with Optimus, and Magnus suggests that him and Prowl racing to claim the newly awakening Titan from Goldbug is splitting their forces too thin, and that the Decepticons will take advantage of it and take back Cybertron, like they already have at Gold City. Optimus refuses to listen, and Jazz tries to speak up for Magnus, pointing out his role in ensuring Optimus' power, but the Prime refuses to listen, and knocks the Wrecker away.

The two Wreckers leave, but decide that Optimus is going to get them all killed with his poor leadership, so Magnus gives the signal to the Wreckers, and they start killing the guards around Pax, with Magnus facing off against Optimus himself.

After a harsh battle, Magnus shows his superior raw strength to Optimus, and manages to beat him to near-death, all whilst pointing out that he, and his Wreckers, are what gave him all his power and respect.

Magnus stands over Optimus' damaged body, with the Wreckers behind him, ready to execute his own plans for Cybertron...

Characters

Autobot

Orion Pax/Optimus Prime - Truck Crushed by Ultra Magnus

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport

Jazz - Car

Slicer - Car

Rodimus - Car

Drift - Car

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Ricochet - Car

Sandstorm - Buggy/VTOL Helicopter

Whirl - Helicopter Killed by Slicer

Sunstreaker - Car Killed by Slicer

Pax Guards Killed by Wreckers

Bumblebee/Goldbug - Car (Flashback Only)

Springer - Helicopter/Car (Flashback Only)

Impactor - Tank (Flashback Only) Killed by Ultra Magnus

Prowl - Police Car (Mentioned)

Cordon - Car (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Laserbeak - Cassette (Flashback Only)

Flashbox (Flashback Only)

Senator Shockwave (Flashback Only) Put through Empurata

Senator Ratbat - Cassette (Flashback Only) Killed by Ultra Magnus

Senator Crosscut - Van (Flashback Only) Killed by the Wreckers

Senator Tomaandi (Flashback Only) Killed by the Wreckers

Senator Proteus (Flashback Only) Killed by the Wreckers 

Senator Decimus (Flashback Only) Killed by the Wreckers 

Other Senators (Flashback Only) Killed by the Wreckers 

Metroplex - Titan Ship (Mentioned) Reactivated

Scraplets (Mentioned)

Notes

• The Hasbro Pulse edition of this comic came with a Shattered Glass Ultra Magnus figure (that also doubles as Diaclone Universe Delta Magnus)
• The inner monologue narration that was present through series one returns for this series, but this issue parodies it, by having Ultra Magnus refusing to narrate for most of the story, as we aren't worthy enough to know his thoughts.
• Senator Shockwave's design is based on his appearance from the MTMTE flashbacks, as is his basic backstory too.
• Ultra Magnus calls Sunstreaker "Cordon" at one point, on purpose. This possibly explains the name alteration of Wheeljack to Slicer (beyond being a toy thing), but it could explain some other figures released in Generations, who can be doubled as Shattered Glass characters, as those could be just code names used by them (ie SG Tracks might be referred to as "Road Rage", SG Skids as "Burn-Out" etc).
• Wheeljack is shown wearing his full-body cloak, as he did at the end of series one, but we don't see what its for yet. My guess would be that it's to either hide his energy signature, or to at least hide something (maybe somehow the Exo-Suit that comes with his toy?)
• It's mentioned a few times that Magnus' face-hologram is emotionless, but we clearly see it making a whole range of emotions throughout the issue.
• We don't learn here why Magnus' face is skeletal yet, but in the original Shattered Glass it was caused by Optimus ripping off his face after a rebellion attempt, but he appears to have his injury before he is summoned to lead the Wreckers.
• We learned in series one that Shockwave's Empurata went wrong, and he ended up becoming extremely heroic, rather than apathetic, a complete reversal of what happened to the old IDW continuity.
• Despite how kill-happy he's been this issue, I think Optimus is still alive at the end of this issue, and will likely return to his throne by the end of the series.

IDW - Shattered Glass #5

Written by: Danny Lore

Art by: Guido Guidi

Inks by: Matt Froese

Colours by: John-Paul Bove

Letters by: Neil Uyetake

Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: David Mariotte

Design by: Jake Wood & Johanna Nattalie

Plot

The Decepticons, led by Megatron, have started their assault on Gold City to try and usurp it from Goldbug, and rescue Starscream from his clutches.

Inside the lab, Goldbug tries to force Starscream to give him access to the Titan codes within his spark, but he refuses, and Jetfire continues to try and defend his old friend from his current boss.

Eventually however, Starscream gets shot in the back by Goldbug, and his his spark ripped out through his back by the warlord.

Goldbug leaves, clutching the Seeker's spark casing, intending to use it to control the dormant Titans, and conquer Cybertron for himself. Jetfire is left behind, mourning over his dead friend, blaming himself for forcing him into this war, since he knew Starscream only ever wanted to live in peace.

Jetfire takes out Goldbug's guards, and once the Decepticons break into the building, he leaves, cradling Starscream's corpse.

Megatron sees this, and stops him, mistaking him for trying to do something to the body, but Jetfire soon breaks down, blaming himself for everything. Megatron soon manages to calm him down, and offers to help him take revenge on Goldbug for what he's done, which Jetfire considers...

Slicer makes his way into a sewer tunnel, where he makes contact with his real boss, Ultra Magnus, who isnt concerned with Goldbug having the Titan-control coded spark, as he's sure Optimus and Prowl allowed him to go this far, as they plan to take him out themselves so they can get the Titans instead...

At the Titan excavation site, Goldbug starts to reactivate the long dormant Metroplex....

Characters

Decepticon

Megatron - Jet

Starscream - Jet Spark Torn out by Goldbug

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Barricade - Police Car

Dirge - Jet

Refraktor - Hovercraft

Astrotrain - Train/Space Shuttle

Random Decepticons

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck

Goldbug - Hatchback

Prowl - Police Car

Jetfire - Jet

Slicer - Race Car

Blaster - Boom Box

Jazz - Car

Chromedome - Car

Ratchet - Ambulance

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport (Holo-Communicator Only)

Gold City Security Team - Hatchbacks Killed by Jetfire

Random Autobots

Other Cybertronian

Metroplex - Titan Ship Awakening

Notes

• Just as an update, in the sheer amount of time since I actually received this comic (with Jetfire) Hasbro have finally released issue 3 with Starscream, so the collection is now complete (so far)
• It's kind of hilarious, now I have the Jetfire figure, how out of scale the characters are in this series, in terms of the toys they are being used to promote.
• Refraktor was last seen as a victim of the Autobot Bodyscrappers, so seeing him here either means that was just one aspect of him (like Viewfinder or Spectro etc) or he managed to escape them.
• Jetfire's possible defection at the end of this issue is most likely a reference to the faction-switch feature on the toy, carried over from his Siege counterpart.
• Slicer working for Ultra Magnus, against Optimus, is likely a reference to his role in the Invasion comic, where Ultra Magnus is aided by Wheeljack to destroy another Universe...hopefully this doesn't happen again though...that was a mess to clean up!
• Metroplex is shown awakening at the end of this issue. However he appears to have been buried up to his head again, unlike how we saw him in issue one...

IDW - Shattered Glass #4

Written by: Danny Lore

Art by: Daniel Khanna

Inks by: Priscilla Tramontano

Colours by: John-Paul Bove

Letters by: Neil Uyetake 

Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: David Mariotte

Design by: Jake Wood & Johanna Nattalie

Plot

Following his fatal shooting by Megatron, during the final battle on Earth, Bumblebee is rebuilt into Goldbug by Ratchet, only to be disheartened when he learns that Optimus only allowed it, since they just happened to have spare Protoforms on the ship.

Some time later, Goldbug attempts to warn Optimus that Prowl is plotting against him, but the Autobot Commander is uninterested, since he doesn't see Prowl as a threat. Goldbug insults him, leading the Prime to knock him out with a jackhammer, taken from a worker. Shortly afterwards, Prowl approaches Goldbug, and attempts to convince him of plans for Cyberton again...

Later, Goldbug has been convinced by Prowl, and attempts to assassinate Optimus, though he fails, he escapes from his city, and makes his way to a city, he later renames Gold City...

In the present, Starscream is being held captive by Goldbug at Gold City, being tortured by Jetfire on his orders to gain access to the Seeker's ability to awaken the sleeping Titans.

An intruder alert is sounded, leading Goldbug to leave and deal with it himself. He quickly locates Skywarp, who has infiltrated to find Starscream, but the Autobot Warlord quickly defeats and decapitates him.

Goldbug returns to the torture chamber, and throws Skywarp's severed head at Goldbug, to try and scare him into using his Titan control powers for him, but Starscream is still defiant, and continues to insult Goldbug for his obsession with both Optimus and Megatron...

The Insecticons invade the facility next, taking out as many guards as they can along the way, however Goldbug goes after them by himself too, tearing through them, one by one...

After killing the Insecticons, Goldbug has had enough, and decides to speed up the matter, deciding that Jetfire is possibly stalling due to some lingering feelings for his old friend, he returns to the torture chamber, and threatens to kill Starscream too, to Jetfire's horror!

Characters

Autobot

Goldbug/Bumblebee - Hatchback

Jetfire - Jet

Slicer - Race Car

Tap-Out - Hatchback

Freeway - Hatchback

Searchlight - Hatchback

Wideload - Dump Truck

Random Autobots

Optimus Prime - Truck (Flashback)

Prowl - Police Car (Flashback)

Ratchet - Ambulance (Flashback)

Decepticon

Starscream - Jet

Skywarp - Jet Killed by Goldbug

Kickback - Locust Likely Killed by Goldbug

Skrapnel - Stag Beetle Killed by Goldbug

Bombshell - Boll Weevil Killed by Goldbug

Ransack - Locust Likely Killed by Goldbug

Venom - Cicada Killed by Goldbug

Megatron - Jet (Flashback)

Thundercracker - Jet (Flashback)

Other

Miners (Flashback)

Titans (Mentioned)

Notes

• Unlike the previous issue, this issue was also released with a Shattered Glass figure of the cover character, in this case, Goldbug, (Starscream is currently delayed until early January)
• Confirming what was assumed previously, Megatron's attack on Bumblebee is what prompted him to get upgraded to Goldbug.
• Goldbug uses a pair of electrocuted rods to fight Skywarp this issue...his toy does not come with these...sadly...
• A character named Slicer is featured this issue, he's based on the G1 Decepticon character of the same name, which was also the colourscheme used for Shattered Glass Wheeljack in the past...so who knows what's going on there! (Most likely there's a planned Slicer toy release, which will be reusable as Shattered Glass Wheeljack too)
• Most of the troops working under Goldbug appear to share the same toy mould as him, but with different heads.
• We only see Kickback and Ransack get knocked over during the battle, but it's very likely that Goldbug killed them too
• Optimus is shown using an axe in the flashback, but his toy doesn't feature one...again, very sad...

IDW - Transformers Shattered Glass #3

Written by: Danny Lore 

Art by: Guido Guidi

Colours by: John-Paul Bove

Letters by: Neil Uyetake

Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: David Mariotte

Design by: Jake Wood & Johanna Nattalie

Plot

Long ago, Starscream and his colleague Jetfire meet with Orion Pax to try and ask for funding in their Titan excavation project, which he seems interested in, but Starscream doesn't trust the Senator due to his shady nature, and walks off from the meeting...

Later, Starscream and Jetfire have managed to gather funds themselves and have managed to uncover the entire head of a sleeping Titan, Metroplex. Jetfire starts to worry about their finds running out before they can complete their work, but Starscream still refuses to even meet with Orion Pax due to his mistrust of him.

However, Jetfire goes against Starscream's wishes, and does go to Pax, and even joins the Autobot cause, with Jetfire even disavowing his friend when he refuses to join them. Starscream escapes from the Autobots and heads to the Titan site, where he destroys their research, while partially coding it to his own spark...

Much later, following the war's conclusion, Starscream returns to the long-abandoned Titan, where he completes the transfer, thus turning his spark into the key to awaking the Titans for the Decepticons to take back Cybertron...

In the present, Megatron and Starscream arrive in the Autobot-controlled Gold City, where they quickly find Soundwave, who is running a Decepticon Radio service for relating information to their scattered resistance fighters to ask him to help them relay their new plan to their forces.

Later, Megatron and Starscream meet in a bar, where they soon discover they are being spied on by Blaster and his minions, who quickly attack the Decepticons.

Megatron and Starscream put up a good fight, but Megatron is forced to restrain Blaster, allowing Starscream to fly to safety, as his spark is needed for their plans.

Starscream is shot out of the sky, but is found by Goldbug and his old friend Jetfire, who capture the Seeker...

Characters

Autobot

Goldbug/Bumblebee - Car

Jetfire - Jet

Blaster - Boom Box

Rewind - Cassette

Steeljaw - Cassette

Ramhorn - Cassette

Playback - Cassette Killed by Starscream

Gold City Denizens

Bar Patrons

Orion Pax - Truck (Flashback)

Prowl - Police Vehicle (Flashback)

Ironhide - Van (Flashback)

Jazz - Car (Flashback)

Chromedome - Car (Flashback)

Decepticon

Megatron - Jet

Starscream - Jet Captured by Goldbug

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Ravage - Cassette

Laserbeak - Cassette

Decepticon Soldiers (Mentioned)

Seekers (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Metroplex -Titan Ship (Flashback) Dormant

Scavenger - Excavator (Flashback)

Hook - Crane (Flashback)

Other Excavation Bots (Flashback)

Bots on Monitor (Images)

Notes

• You might notice that this issue's cover is in a different style to the other ones so far, that is because this is not the version that comes with the Starscream toy, since the toy has been (currently) delayed until early January. Incidentally, the next issue and the Goldbug figure have already been dispatched by Hasbro Pulse.
• Following the trend with this series, the returning characters from the Timelines continuity have been mostly reinterpreted with new personality quirks such as Ravage being overly talkative, but not speaking in 1337 speak.
• I can't really tell who the characters on Soundeave's screen are, die to them being just line arts, but I believe they use the Refraktor, Astrotrain and Fortress moulds, but they could still be anyone to be honest.
• Soundwave mentions that he's called the other Seekers to aide them, so we can assume they'll be making a reappearance soon, following their flashback cameos last issue (I know this happens with Skywarp next issue anyway, for the aforementioned reasons)
• This issue confirms that Metroplex, seen in the previous issues, is not actually an Autobot (yet) as he hasn't been awoken from his Titan sleep yet.
• Among the Cassettes deployed by Blaster is Playback, a character who appeared on Paradron in the G1 cartoon, and was named after a hi-and-die character from the Marvel comics of the same name.He doesn't last long...
• Starscream's unique spark is revealed here to be due to him reprogramming the Titan awakening system to be attuned to his spark signature, and later merging the programs fully to make him fully required for Metroplex and the others to wake up, essentially turning him into a Titan Master or Cityspeaker.
• The grid effects inside Starscream when he links up to the Titan system looks quite similar to the effects on him from merging with the Underbase in the Marvel continuity.
• The two bots that Starscream sees as he wakes up at the end of this issue are Goldbug and Jetfire, who are also the cover characters of the last two issues of this series. Nice touch! 

IDW - Transformers Shattered Glass #2

Written by: Danny Lore

Art by: Daniel Khanna

Colours by: John-Paul Bove

Letters by: Neil Uyetake

Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: David Mariotte

Design by: Jake Wood & Johanna Nattalie

Plot

Megatron's life of solitude past the Rust Sea is interrupted by the arrival of Starscream, who collapses after arriving from his injuries from both the Bodyscrappers and the Sea itself, forcing the reclusive Decepticon to help his loyal lieutenant.

Inside his hideout, Megatron patches up Starscream, and complains about his follower seeking him out, since he is no longer his leader, since losing the war, but Starscream counters that they haven't lost yet, and they still have a chance to save their planet from the Autobots.

Starscream reminisces over the first time he saw Megatron, he was at a protest, protecting Ratbat's right to protest from Prowl, and ended up getting arrested for attacking the officer.

Megatron was later released from prison by Orion Pax, due to their friendship, but the two get into an argument, after Orion threatens him with Empurata to try and fix his wild ways. The fight was soon broken up, but the two didn't speak again, until the war started...

Some time later, the war enndednup on Earth, with the final battle taking place in Hollywood, Megatron orders the other Decepticons to retreat, knowing they can't win, and takes on the Autobots alone, behind eventually beaten down by Megatron, but not before dealing some major damage to the Autobots, and saving multiple Decepticons from their enemies, allowing most of their forces to escape.

After Megatron awoke, following the battle, he escaped the remains of Earth on a shuttle, and returned to Cyberton, where he discovered the Autobots had conquered the planet in his absence, leading to his exile.

Back in the presence, Starscream continues to try and prove their potential to win the war still, when he reveals that he's continued to examine his unique spark, and believes he has found a way to use it to reawaken the sleeping Titans, and use them to take back the planet...

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime/Orion Pax - Truck (Flashback)

Prowl - Police Car (Flashback)

Jetfire - Jet (Flashback)

Bumblebee - Car (Flashback) Blasted by Megatron, Reformatted into Goldbug

Ironhide - Van (Flashback)

Ratchet - Ambulance (Flashback)

Blurr - Race Car (Flashback)

Jazz - Car (Flashback)

Blaster - Boom Box (Flashback)

Windcharger - Car (Flashback)

Brawn - SUV (Flashback)

Downshift - Car (Flashback) Possibly Dead

Sunstreaker - Car (Flashback)

Sideswipe - Car (Flashback) Injured

Hot Rod - Car (Flashback) Injured 

Other Autobots (Flashback)

Dinobots (Mentioned)

Bodyscrappers (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Megatron - Space Shuttle

Starscream - Jet

Shockwave - Flying Artillery (Flashback)

Thundercracker - Jet (Flashback)

Skywarp - Jet (Flashback)

Soundwave - Cassette Player (Flashback)

Rumble - Cassette (Flashback)

Frenzy - Cassette (Flashback)

Ravage - Cassette (Flashback)

Refraktor - Hovercraft (Flashback)

Scrapper - Front End Loader (Flashback)

Bonecrusher - Bulldozer (Flashback)

Kickback - Locust (Flashback)

Bombshell - Bill Weevil (Flashback)

Other Decepticons (Flashback)

Other Cybertronian

Ratbat - Cassette (Flashback)

Chromedome - Car (Flashback)

Miners (Flashback)

Empurata Protesters (Flashback)

A Titan (Hologram Only)

Whirl - Helicopter (Poster Only)

The Senate (Mentioned)

Drillers (Mentioned)

Other

Humans (Mentioned) Possibly killed by Autobots

Notes

• This issue, again, came with a free figure, this time of Shattered Glass Megatron! (The price was a lot higher, though there is a cheaper option without the toy if you'd prefer)
• Megatron's Cape in the present setting appears to be based on the one worn by Optimus and Megatron in their G2 Cybertronian Alliance design.
• Laste issue Prowl was shown in shadows, seemingly to hide his design, possibly for a future toy reveal...but we see him in all his glory this issue!
• Whirl is shown on a pro-Empurata poster in the background of this issue, the old IDW continuity had Whirl as a stern hater of Empurata, following his own punishment.
• Optimus Prime/Orion Pax's windscreen crack is revealed to be an injury caused from his first fight with Megatron, pre-war.
• It's unclear what happened after Megatron was defeated, but from the ground looking pretty torn up, we can assume the Autobots probably raized Hollywood, if not more of Earth.
• Among the injured Autobots seen laying around are Downshift, Sideswipe and Hot Rod, the latter two being important characters in the previous continuity, but who knows with this one.
• Bumblebee is seen this issue during th flashback, where he is coloured like Bug Bite. We also see here that his injuries, that led to him being rebuilt as Goldbug were caused by Megatron shooting him with his fusion cannon.
• Starscream having an unusual spark is a recurring theme in Transformers fiction, with him usually being shown as being unable to permanently die.
• Earth having "Rarified Energon" is likely in reference to the Classics Universe from Fun Publications, which was the "positive" counterpart to the original Shattered Glass continuity. In that version the Energon was because Earth was actually a giant Transformers called Gaia, but I doubt they're doing that here again...