Skybound - Transformers #2

Writer, Artist: Daniel Warren Johnson 

Colourist: Mike Spicer

Letterer: Rus Wooton

Editors: Sean Mackiewicz & Jonathan Manning

Publication Design: Andres Juarez

Plot

Optimus explores the woods near the Autobot's current Quarry base, when he accidentally crushes a deer, a apologizes to it. Spike approaches him, and tells him it was just an accident, but Optimus is still distraught, forgetting how fragile life on Earth is compared to his home world.

Optimus and Spike tell each other a little about their homes, with Spike talking about his parents, and Optimus talks about Cybertron, including it's war, and how his actions led to the Ark's crash on Earth, and the war being brought here now...

Soon, a newly recovered Cliffjumper arrives, who gets scared by Spike, and a newly arrived Carly, before returning to the Quarry with Optimus.

Wheeljack is being repaired using Optimus' trailer, but Ratchet admits that they don't have enough to rebuild everyone quick enough to counter the Decepticons, or to keep them active without Energon.

Rescue workers have arrived at the power plant, where the workers try to explain about the giant robot attacks, but no-one believes them...until Skywarp and the others arrive, and start a new rampage, with Soundwave even using an Energon converter from the Ark to steal the energy from the plant for their use.

A military jet is called to the plant, but they are attacked by Starscream, who knocks the jet out of the air, and kills the pilot with his bare hands, the co-pilot, Duke, manages to escape after shooting Starscream in the eye.

Spike amanges to steal a police car, whilst the military jet falls on Skywarp and Soundwave, causing a noticeable explosion.

The Autobots hear the noise, and the humans get worried about their parents nearby. Optimus heads off to investigate, knowing the Decepticons are involved, and he feels immense guilt for bringing them to Earth in the first place.

Ratchet remains at the base to continue fixing their allies, with Cliffjumper to protect him. Spike convinces Prime to let him come with him, so he can protect his family, along with Optimus.

Carly drives back home, unaware than Laserbeak is following her, noticing the Optimus Prime added to her van's mural.

Upon returning home, she finds Sparkplug, who has gathered her father's weapons, and explains that the robots have killed her father, Davey.

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck

Ratchet - Ambulance

Cliffjumper - Car

Wheeljack Under Repairs 

Roller - Buggy Drone 

Brawn Stasis Locked

Jazz Stasis Locked 

Ironhide Stasis Locked 

Other Autobots Stasis Locked 

Beachcomber (Flashback) Shot by Decepticons

Beachcomber's Teammate (Flashback) Shot by Decepticons 

Bumblebee (Mentioned) Dead 

Previous Autobot Leader (Mentioned) Dead

Decepticon

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Skywarp - Fighter Jet

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Rumble - Cassette

Laserbeak - Cassette

Megatron (Flashback) Missing

Human

Spike

Carly

Sparkplug

Duke

Jordie

Frosting Killed by Starscream 

Plant Workers

Rescue Workers

Davey (Picture) Dead

Air Force Central Command Operator (Voice)

Spike's Mother (Mentioned) Dead

Jimmy (Mentioned) Dead

Other Cybertronian

Jetfire - Jet (Mentioned) Dead

Turborats (Mentioned)

Other

Cute Deer Accidentally Crushes by Optimus

Cute Wild Animals

Notes

• I can't help but think that the opening pages of Optimus accidentally killing a deer is a parody of the image of Optimus from the "Meet the Autobots" book for the 2007 Movie, where he is shown delicately interacting with butterflies and birds. See Here.
• Spike implies that his name is just a nickname given to him by his mother, before she died.
• Optimus states he and the Autobots left Cybertron after two centuries of war, meaning this incarnation of the Great War is a lot shorter than most others. (Though they also crashed on Earth a long time ago, since that war date)
• Megatron is shown to have been on the Ark before it crashed, fighting Optimus, and even causing his eye injury that he spotted before he was reformatted.
• Optimus' trailer is confirmed be include his combat deck, and even Roller! Yay! 
• The police cars seen this issue are designed like G1 Prowl, most likely to give his future alternate mode a basis, but this is a bit odd, since they are based on Japanese police cars...
• Duke makes his debut this issue, but seemingly pre-G.I. Joe, though he still seems to have some special tools.
• The two where the human characters are based is named as "Farmingham" here.
• Davey, from last issue is revealed to have been Carly's father.
• Just saying, we don't see Jetfire's body this issue...did Ratchet use him for spare parts for the Autobots?

Skybound - Transformers #1

Writer, Artist: Daniel Warren Johnson

Colourist: Mike Spicer

Letterer: Rus Wooton

Editor: Sean Mackiewicz

Publication Design: Andres Juarez

Plot

Sparkplug is in a bar, drinking away his troubles, following the death of his son, Jimmy, during a rocket launch. His surviving son, Spike, wakes him up, but upsets him when his dad notices his last son with Jimmy's telescope. Sparkplug is picked up by his friend to take him to work, while Spike goes off stargazing with his girlfriend, Carly.

Spike and Carly hike up a mountain and start to set up, when an earthquake hits, and the two tumble into a new crevasse, landing inside a long lost Spacecraft, the Ark, filled with seemingly dead, giant robots.

Soon, another robot, Jetfire, flies in, and plants a cartridge into Teletraan-1, the ship's computer, which gives it information about Earth vehicles, and starts repairing the other robots...

The first to wake up is Starscream, who immediately shoots the nearby Bumblebee in the head, killing him, whilst thanking the shocked Jetfire. The latter tries to stop Starscream from continuing his slaughter, but is shot by his old friend in the torso.

Before he can finish off their saviour, Starscream is stopped by the newly revived Optimus Prime, who also soon notices his human voyeurs and works to protect them.

Ratchet is soon revived too, along with Skywarp, clueing Starscream to Teletraan reviving them at random, prompting him to start dragging the other Decepticons closer to the computer.

Optimus realises they will be outnumbered soon, so orders Ratchet to load as many of their fellow Autobots into his new trailer as he can, for them to escape.

Soundwave is revived next, attacking Optimus, who is distracted when he finds the body of Bumblebee, and mourns for his friend, bringing back memories for Spike...

Starscream ambushes Optimus when he is distracted, and Soundwave deploys Ravage to assist him, but the humans manage to push Optimus' Ion Blaster to him, allowing him to blast Ravage and avoid the other Decepticons. Knowing he'll be too outnumbered if he doesn't stop the revival process, Optimus shoots and badly damages Teletraan-1, before escaping with Ratchet, the downed Autobots and the humans.

Starscream and Skywarp give chase, but Skywarp is quickly depleted of his energy, forcing them to return to the Ark, but not before Jetfire tries to repent by defeating Starscream, only to be fatally injured by his old friend.

Spike directs the Autobots to an old quarry for them to hide out in, where Jetfire apologizes for his rash actions, and believes their planet, and species itself is doomed to death now...as he dies himself...

At the Ark, Soundwave reveals that Teletraan-1 is beyond their current repair capabilities, but if they have materials and Energon, they may be able to repair it, and revive the rest of the Decepticons. Starscream is pressured into doing a solo resource run, due to the others being energy-depleted, and him being their leader now

The Decepticon leader soon finds a power plant, where Sparkplug happens to be working, where he attacks the electrical pylons, he soon notices Sparkplug's scared friend, whom the Decepticon picks up, and crushes to death, laughing about how pathetic the life on this planet was...

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck

Ratchet - Ambulance

Bumblebee Stasis Locked, Head blasted out by Starscream

Jazz Stasis Locked 

Cliffjumper Stasis Locked 

Prowl Stasis Locked 

Hound Stasis Locked 

Wheeljack Stasis Locked 

Windcharger Stasis Locked 

Other Autobots (Mentioned) Stasis Locked 

Decepticon

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Skywarp - Fighter Jet

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Ravage - Cassette Badly Injured by Optimus 

Thundercracker Stasis Locked

Reflector Stasis Locked 

Laserbeak - Cassette (Mentioned)

Megatron (Mentioned)

Other Decepticons (Mentioned) Stasis Locked 

Other Cybertronian

Jetfire - Cybertronian Jet Killed by Starscream

Teletraan-1 Destroyed by Optimus 

Human

Spike 

Carly

Sparkplug

Davey Killed by Starscream 

Danny

Jerry

Army Guy (Flashback) Likely Dead

Jimmy (Mentioned) Killed in Shuttle Explosion

Carly's Dad (Mentioned)

Notes

• This series follows on from Jetfire's departure in Void Rivals #1, with him making his way to Earth to wake up the Transformers (though I'm sure we'll learn how he found them and why he didn't go to Cybertron as he planned later)
• Of the characters on the Autobot cover of this issue, only Optimus and Ratchet are actually shown active this issue
• The Transformer character designs are based on the original designs of the characters from the 80s, unlike previous series where some level of toy synergy has been noted in recent years.
• Along with this, the series appears to be set around the 80s as well, with imagery of the Vietnam war and the (potential) Challenger explosion.
• Sparkplug is shown to be an ex-army guy, who lost a friend in war. I wonder if he'll be connected to GI Joe in this continuity?
• Spike is revealed to have had a brother named Jimmy, who died in a spacecraft explosion (who wants to bet that it'll be revealed to have been caused by a Cybertronian somehow?)
• The Cybertronians in this issue appear to be speaking in English, since the human characters don't need any translations.
• So...how do we think Bumblebee's going to be revived? GI Joe? Junkions? Something else?
• In the Marvel comics Teletraan believed that vehicles were the dominate form of life on Earth, here Jetfire knew the humans were, most likely due to his knowledge of other species (like the Aggorians and Zertonians)
• Optimus is shown to hold the Matrix in his chest at the moment, and reveals it has the power to heal, but not (seemingly) to revive the dead.
• Megatron is partially mentioned, but Starscream interrupts pointing out that HE is the leader now...what did you do to him Starscream?
• Sparkplug's friend is squished in front of him by Starscream...I think this version of the character will be anti-Cybertronian, like his Marvel counterpart.
• Jetfire knows Optimus' name, but didn't know he was the Prime yet, implying this version of the character was never known by an earlier name (like Orion Pax or Optronix)

IDW - Transformers: War's End #4

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Jack Lawrence

Inks by: Matt Froese, Rik Mack & Maria Keane

Colours by: John-Paul Bove

Colour Assists by: Ed Pirrie & Ben Pirrie

Letters by: Jake M. Wood & Nathan Widick

Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Plot

Exarchon attempts to infest the body of Devastator, but due to his gestalt spark, he can resist, much to Exarchon's shock. The stress of the defiance causes Devastator to fall apart into his component parts.

Exarchon turns to the other bots assembles around him to usurp one of them instead, leading to most of them to run away in fear.

Flamewar is left behind by accident, as she was asking the Constructicons what it was like to be combined, when Exarchon attacks her, intending to take her body, but is interrupted by Soundblaster, who informs him that there are enemies nearby, taking him down below again. Flamewar runs away too, before she can be attacked again.

Elsewhere, the assembles Autobots and Decepticons work on their plans, when the Decepticon scientists arrive, revealing their plan to use the last Titanspark, whose casing has been rigged to trap Exarchon if he tries to usurp it. They are also going to have Mindwipe hypnotize Exarchon to make him attempt it. The assembled forces agree with this plan, despite it sacrificing a future Titan...

Down below, Exarchon infestsbgis spark into the giant drill and launches it towards the Allspark, where he intends to fuse with the planet itself, and conquer the world.

The Autobot team inside the base hear all of this, and start tunneling to intercept the drill with Zetar.

Exarchon ends up returning to the surface with the Clone-Drones, whist Soundblaster and his Infiltration Troopers go after the Autobots, to allow the plan to succeed.

On the surface, the combined forces meet with Exarchon's troops, and a full battle erupts, leading to Mindwipe managing to hypnotize Exarchon, and Cyclonus opens the Titanspark casing for him to usurp.

With Exarchon seemingly defeated, Onslaught and the others are forced to surrender, and Sixshot collects the spark to bring to Megatron, however Pyra Magna shatters the spark, not allowing Megatron to have an Exarchon-infused Titanspark.

The underground team manage to reach the drill, but are attacked by Soundblaster and his crew, Zetar does manage to core through the drill, destroying it, but hurting himself, and causing a large explosion in the process.

The Autobots escape the drill tunnel before it collapses in on itself, and Landmine deliberately leaves Frenzy there, recognising him as the one who killed Brainstorm, and starting this whole situation.

On the surface, Sixshot and Pyra Magna split up their forces, due to their differing ideologies, and Cyclonus decides to remain in the Canyons, now that his war is finally over. Sixshot returns towards Iacon with the Constructicons, and Pyra is intending to extract the Autobots still down below.

Landmine and the others down below make their ways out of the tunnel, and into the lab, where they hear a "worp" sound, and notice that the Imploder that was on display in the lab is now missing...

Characters

Autobot

Pyra Magna - Truck

Sunstreaker - Car

Jumpstream - Car

Windcharger - Car

Landmine - Plough Buggy

Geomotus - Radar Buggy

Sureshot - Buggy

Pointblank - Car

Zetar - Drill Tank

Decepticon

Sixshot - Jet/Tank/Gun/Car/Winged Beast

Slipstream - Jet

Shadow Striker - Car

Flamewar - Motorcycle

Hyperdrive - Car

Blackjack - Car

Bitstream - Jet

Mindwipe - Bat

Sparkstalker - Insect Monster

Flamefeather - Bird Monster

Cindersaur - Lizard Monster

Swift - Helicopter

Tracer - Helicopter

Roughstuff - Truck

Megatron - Tank (Mentioned)

Shockwave - Flying Artillery (Mentioned)

Threefold Spark

Exarchon/Deathsaurus - Dragon Body Abandoned for Titanspark

Exarchon - Drill Cores by Zetar

Soundblaster - Hovercraft Likely Trapped in Tunnel Rubble

Rumble - Cassette Likely Trapped in Tunnel Rubble

Frenzy - Cassette Trapped in Alternate Mode, Trapped in Tunnel Rubble 

Onslaught - Tank Captured by Sixshot

Brawl - Tank Captured by Sixshot

Vortex - Helicopter Likely Captured by Sixshot

Clone-Drone Army - Jets

Other Cybertronian

Last Titanspark Rigged to trap Exarchon, destroyed by Pyra Magna when Infested

Cyclonus - Jet

Skywarp - Jet 

Scrapper - Front End Loader

Bonecrusher - Bulldozer

Scavenger - Excavator

Long Haul - Dump Truck

Hook - Crane

Mixmaster - Mixing Truck

Devastator - Constructicon Gestalt 

Grudge (Ghost)

Highfire (Ghost)

Paragon (Ghost)

Provoke (Ghost)

Gridlock (Ghost)

Primus (Mentioned)

Brainstorm - Jet (Mentioned) Dead

Notes

• This issue marks the finale of the Wars End series, and is concurrently the end of the Transformers main comic series, to be followed up by Fate of Cybertron at the end of June.
• Exarchon refers to the Clone-Drone Army as "Seekers" this issue, this is a bit of an error, since the Seekers were formed to counter the Clone-Drones.
• Strangely, we don't see the Deathsaurus body, post-Exarchon's extraction. While previous issues clarify that he would be dead, we never see it here 
• We don't see what happens to Vortex, Soundblaster, Rumble or Frenzy at this issue's climax. It can be assumed that Vortex was captured along with the other Combaticons, but the latter three appear to be trapped underground. I wonder if Fate of Cybertron will show us anything about them?
• Zetar cores through the drill that was infused with Exarchon's spark, which was designed to infect the Allspark, and never speaks, or shows his eyes after the attack...so is there a chance that Exarchon somehow infested inside Zetar when he destroyed the drill?
• Skywarp steals the Imploder that he appeared with at the end of Transformers #43 from Exarchon's Sonic Canyon base, and we know that he goes to intercept Optimus and his crew on their way to Darkmount with it.
• Cyclonus seems to retire this issue from fighting, now that Exarchon is finally (hopefully) dead.
• So it seems like, if the original timeline would have been maintained, then Exarchon's drill would have hit the Allspark, and infested the planet, making it inhospitable for Cybertronians, leading to their deaths or enslavement.

IDW - Transformers: War's End #1

Written by: Brian Ruckley 

Art by: Jack Lawrence

Inks by: Matt Froese

Colours by: John-Paul Bove & Priscilla Tramontano

Letters by: Jake M. Wood

Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Plot

Geomotus and Landmine are sent to the Sonic Canyons with some Autobot guards to investigate the area, as Optimus and the other higher-ups think that something will happen there regarding Exarchon.

Eventually the team encounter a set of old automated weapons that weren't disabled following the war. Unable to stop them, the team elect to jump further down the canyons to (relative) safety.

At his base, Exarchon explains to Shockwave how he jumped into Provoke's body and managed to survive. He offers positions in his new bid to conquer Cybertron to Skywarp and Shockwave, the latter of which is willing to listen when he mentions there were secrets he kept, even from him back in the original war.

Soon, Soundblaster and the Combaticons, minus Blast Off, who is AWOL, agree to join Exarchon, but Skywarp is uninterested and warps away. Onslaught tries to stop him, but Exarchon doesn't care. He says that he has something important in the Sonic Canyons, and that the Autobots are already there...but adds that HE is also there too...

Back at the Canyons, the Autobots survived their fall, and Geomotus soon finds an artificial shaft in the ground, which Zetar tries to drill down to inetrcept it, but the entrance opens, and Exarchon, in his new Deathsaurus body exits and prepares to kill the intruders...

At Iacon, Cyclonus approaches the Decepticon's HQ, still holding the decapitated head of Provoke/Exarchon and demands to see Megatron, after a short fight with the guards, Sixshot comes out and agrees when Cyclonus mentions Exarchon...

Sixshot brings Cyclonus to Megatron, but the Decepticon leader isn't interested, but Sixshot brings up all the strange occurrences recently, like strange revivals and disappearances such as Flatline and Deathsaurus.

Characters

Autobot

Geomotus - Radar Buggy

Landmine - Plough Buggy

Pointblank - Car

Zetar - Drill Tank

Sureshot - Buggy

Optimus Prime - Truck (Mentioned)

Pyra Magna - Truck (Mentioned)

Sky Lynx - Space Shuttle (Mentioned)

Crystal City Defenders (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Megatron - Tank

Sixshot - Tank/Jet/Car/Gun/Winged Beast

Soundwave - Hovercraft

Starscream - Jet

Gutcruncher

Roughstuff - Truck

Blast Off - Space Shuttle (Mentioned)

Threefold Spark

Exarchon/Flatline - Van

Exarchon/Deathsaurus - Dragon

Shockwave - Flying Artillery

Soundblaster - Hovercraft

Onslaught - Tank

Brawl - Tank

Vortex - Helicopter

Exarchon/Provoke (Flashback) Dead

Exarchon's Last War Body (Flashback) Dead

Exarchon/Ruckus - Buggy Dead

Clone Swarms (Mentioned) Destroyed

Other Cybertronian

Cyclonus - Jet

Skywarp - Jet

Paragon (Ghost)

Provoke (Ghost)

Grudge (Ghost)

Gridlock (Ghost)

Highfire (Ghost)

Cosmos - Orbiter (Mentioned)

Swindle - Van (Mentioned)

Insecticons (Mentioned)

Other

Flyts

Rust Worms (Mentioned)

Exarchon's Re-makers (Mentioned)

Notes

• This issue is mentioned as happening concurrently with Transformers 40, with the attack on the Crystal City being referenced multiple times.
• It's very likely that the events of "War's End" was originally meant to be the B story of the main series, but due to the approaching end of the IDW license, they simply released it as its own series to allow the story to be completed properly.
• Just like with Bumblebee and Elita-1 in the main series, Geomotus and Landmine don't have Autobot insignias this issue, but are very clearly sided with them, so I'm just marking them as Autobots here.
• Optimus thinks that something will happen at the Sonic Canyons, most likely, because of Jumpstream's time jump, where she learned that she and Cyclonus are killed there.
• The Sonic Canyons seen here are explained as being named for the air moving through pores in the fissures of the mountain ranges.
• Cyclonus killed the Provoke/Exarchon vessel in Transformers #39, he is shown to still be holding her head here.
• Roughstuff and Gutcruncher are shown positioned together as guards, both were previously employees of Swindle's, who were apparently undercut by him.
• Soundblaster confirms that he was created by both Shockwave and Exarchon, though it's not mentioned here, it is still very likely that he is a clone of Soundwave, for some reason.
• Blast Off is mentioned as having left to meet someone, most likely Cosmos on the Winged Moon, as the two were shown to have started a relationship in the Valentine's Day special.
• When Zetar transforms, he is shown separating and reassembling, much like his current Selects toy...does this mean his parts can turn into weapons too then?

IDW - Transformers #36

Title: Lord of Misrule: Enigmatic

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

At the Medical Center in Iacon, Provoke is using a database to catch up on what has been happening since she went missing, and asks Cyclonus to leave her alone, so she can do this herself. Cyclonus agrees, but the "ghosts" in his head comment on how something is off about the situation they've found themselves in...

The battle between the Autobots and Decepticons at the edge of the Sea of Rust is in full swing, with Termagax's Spectrosynth Drones helping the Autobots take down the Decepticons.

Inside House, Termagax controls one of the drones to recover the Enigma from its hiding place inside the facility, with the intention of taking it out of reach of needed.

Unfortunately for Termagax, Skywarp has entered the battlefield, intending to claim the Enigma himself, so he can use it to prove his worth and to use it for leverage. Skywarp proceeds to teleport through House, until he finds the Enigma, and claims it for himself.

Eventually Skywarp warps to the top of House, declaring that he controls the Enigma, and they should all listen to him. Jumpstream arrives just in time, despite her injuries from his time travelling earlier, and Pyra asks her to reclaim the Enigma from Skywarp.

The two teleporters fight over the Enigma, but Skywarp proves to be the superior 'porter, but before he can escape, Sky Lynx crushes him in his maw, and scorches him at point-blank range, forcing him to drop the Enigma.

The ancient artifact lands next to Skytread, who intends to use it to retake his leadership role from Sixshot, but the larger Decepticon simply shoots him, sending him and the Enigma plummeting into the Rust Worms, devouring Skytread in the process.

Cybertron starts quaking again, with the bedrock around the Sea falling apart, freeing the worms, and forcing the two Rmies to escape, abandoning the Enigma in the process.

Termagax and Optimus comment that the Enigma has probably survived the Rust Worms, but it will be near impossible to recover it for now, but are now more worried about the Rust Worms being loose on the planet, potentially spelling out their doom...

Back at the Iacon Medical Center, Flatline is baffled that Ruckus, another practically-dead patient has awoken. Provoke suggests that it's not outside the realms of possibility for him to have been revived this way on his own, but Flatline refuses this, saying it is absolutely impossible.

"Provoke", now annoyed, drops the pretense and attacks Flatline, stating that Exarchon will have to be "Three once more"....

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck

Pyra Magna - Fire Truck

Ironhide - Van

Sky Lynx - Space Shuttle

Windblade - VTOL Jet

Jumpstream - Car

Sunstreaker - Car

Sureshot - Buggy

Arcee - Car

Groove - Motorcycle

Flareup - Motorcycle

Vibes

Pipes - Truck

Smokescreen - Car

Springer - Helicopter/Car

Pointblank - Car

Wheeljack - Race Car

Powertrain - Truck

Backstreet - Race Car

Big Daddy - Car

Wheel Blaze - Fire Truck

Brawn - Van

Javelin - Car

Subsea - Submarine

Other Autobot Fighters

Decepticon

Sixshot - Jet/Car/Tank/Gun/Winged Wolf

Skytread - Tank and Jet Eaten by Rust Worms

Nova Storm - Jet

Red Wing - Jet

Wingstun - Jet

Ion Storm - Jet

Hotlink - Jet

Battleslash - Helicopter

Weirdwolf - Wolf

Gutcruncher

Offroad - Van

Runamuck - Car

Runabout - Car

Crasher - Race Car

Flame Feather - Bird Monster

Other Decepticon Fighters

Megatron - Tank (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Termagax - Armoured Van

Skywarp - Jet

Cyclonus - Jet

Provoke/Exarchon - Wheeled Vehicle

Ruckus/Exarchon - Buggy

Flatline - Van Attacked by Exarchon

Geomotus - Radar Buggy

Landmine - Plough Buggy

Kaskade Comatose

Codexa Immersant

"House"

Spectrosynth Drones

Paragon (Ghost)

Highfire (Ghost)

Grudge (Ghost)

Gridlock (Ghost)

Primus (Mentioned)

Nexus Prime (Mentioned)

Citadel - Titan Ship (Mentioned) Dead

Old Cybertronian Senate (Mentioned)

Other

Rust Worms

Flyts

Termagax's Specimens (In Jars)

Notes

• It's shown here that Termagax manually controls her Spectrosynth Drones, but can leave them on a sort of auto-rin feature to allow her funer control on a single drone.
• An area that Skywarp warps into looks like it's a power source of some sort, but actually also resembles a spark chamber to an extent...is this more proof to my theory that House is a hidden Titan?
• It's mentioned that Nova Storm is potentially able to retrieve the Enigma from the Rust Sea, implying that she might have survived having her internal parts crushed by Windcharger last issue.
• My theory of Exarchon living on inside Provike's body is shown to be absolutely the case here! Yay for validation!

IDW - Transformers #35

Title: Lord of Misrule: Sea of Rust II

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Anna Malkova

Colours by: David Garcia Cruz & Evan Gauntt

Letters & Design by: Jake M. Wood

Editor: David Mariotte

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: Tom Waltz

Plot

The Autobot team, led by Pyra Magna arrive to fight off the Insecticon Swarm, and manage to kill many of them, forcing the rest to retreat. Pyra and Wheeljack head inside "House" to meet with the reclusive scientist.

Skywarp arrives outside Shockwave's lab, and tries to reunite with his former teammate, but the former Exarchon follower simply arms up, prepared to fire on the teleporter. Skywarp asks what the deal with the clones swarming to the Sea of Rust is about, with Shockwave explaining it briefly as being due to the Enigma of Combination, leading to Skywarp to teleport away, saying he'll be back soon....

At Termagax's "House" she meets with Pyra, who simply wants to have permission to place sentries in the facility too, to prepare for the upcoming battle. Wheeljack tells Landmine and Geomotus that they should leave before the battle begins, as they aren't fighters.

Soon, the Autobots fortify the area around "House" whilst waiting for the rest of the attack force, led by Optimus Prime to arrive.

Optimus meets with Termagax too, with Termagax determined to make it clear that she will NOT choose a side in this war, and will not give him the Enigma either. Optimus however rebutes that Termagax, as both the founder of the Ascenticons and Megatron's mentor, is the one person who cannot be allowed to remain neutral, and she has to choose a side.

Sixshot leads a team of Decepticons to the Sea of Rust, and begins the attack on "House", sending the Rainmakers in first, however Pyra knew this would happen, and has the sentries ready. Arcee and Sureshot use their sniper skills to take down Ion Storm and Acid Storm, an Windcharger internally crushed Nova Storm too, after a bit of trouble with her impenetrable bodyframe.

A full-on battle begins between the Autobots and Decepticons. Inside "House", Termagax has made her choice, as she deploys an army of Spectrosynth Drones onto the battlefield....

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck

Pyra Magna - Fire Truck

Ironhide - Van

Novastar - Car

Sky Lynx - Space Shuttle

Windblade - VTOL Jet

Springer - Helicopter/Car

Blades - Helicopter

Rust Dust - Motorcycle

Groundbreaker - Car

Sunstreaker - Car

Smokescreen - Car

Arcee - Car

Sureshot - Buggy

Windcharger - Car

Wheeljack - Race Car

Flareup - Motorcycle

Groove - Motorcycle

Inferno - Fire Truck

Javelin - Car

Brawn - Van

Subsea - Submarine

Pipes - Truck

Grotesque - Winged Beast

Backstreet - Race Car

Pointblank - Van

Zetar - Drill Tank

Powertrain - Truck

Highjump - Van

Big Daddy - Car

Trip-up - Car

Other Autobots

Nominus Prime - Jet (Mentioned) Dead

Sentinel Prime - Space Shuttle (Mentioned) Dead

Decepticon

Sixshot - Car/Jet/Tank/Gun/Winged Beast

Shockwave - Flying Artillery

Shadow Striker - Car

Hyperdrive - Car

Flamewar - Motorcycle

Slipstream - Jet

Nova Storm - Jet Internals Crushed by Windcharger

Ion Storm - Jet Shot Out of Sky by Arcee

Acid Storm - Jet Shot Out of Sky by Sureshot

Roadtrap - Van

Battleslash - Helicopter

Runamuck - Car

Runabout - Car

Cindersaur - Lizard Monster

Flamefeather - Bird Monster

Skytread - Tank and Jet

Gutcruncher

Crasher - Race Car

Nautilator - Lobster

Twirl - Jet

Swift - Helicopter

Refraktor - Hovercraft

Direct-Hit - Truck

Power Punch - Truck

Weirdwolf - Wolf

Offroad - Van

Scatterspike - Van

Insecticon Swarm - Insects Some destroyed by Autobots

Other Decepticons

Megatron - Tank (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Termagax - Armoured Van

Geomotus - Buggy

Landmine - Buggy

Skywarp - Jet

Constructicons (Mentioned)

Other

"House"

Spectrosynth Drones

Rust Worms

Termagax's Specimens In Jars

Notes

• Wheeljack is the only major character from the Escape miniseries to join the defense of Termagax. Most likely the others (like Nautica, Hound etc) are busy fortifying Darkmount.
• Shockwave's extra weapons and armour is based on his Siege figure's extra accessories. I believe this is the first time we've seen the extra parts of a figure on panel in this series so far.
• Subsea mentions that the Senate Guard have renamed themselves as the "Prime Guard"
• Termagax reveals that she has possessed the Enigma of Combination since it was used on the Constructicons, with permission by both Nominus and Sentinel Primes. Most likely this was in effort to stop Cybertronian expansionism, like we saw with the population control in earlier issues.
• It's unclear if the Rainmakers survived their attacks in this issue, but after two getting shot through their jet modes, and plummeting to the ground, and Nova Storm getting internally crushed by Windcharger, before also plummeting, I'd expect them to at least have some bad injuries...
• The final panels make it pretty unclear if Termagax is sending her drones to attack the Autobots, Decepticons or both!
• Based on the title of this storyline referencing Skywarp, and him not really appearing much in the story itself in the past couple of issues, I'm going to guess that he will teleport in at the end of the fight, and either abduct Termagax or steal the Enigma (again, possibly both)

IDW - Transformers #34

Title: Lord of Misrule: Sea of Rust I

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Anna Malkova

Colours by: David Garcia Cruz & Evan Gauntt

Letters & Design by: Jake M. Wood

Editor: David Mariotte

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: Tom Waltz

Plot

Geomotus and Landmine investigate the crash site of the Titan Citadel in the Sea of Rust, and find the rust worms in a frenzy. Termagax appears behind them, still on the run from the Decepticons, and explains that the worms devoured Citadel's body, and are now hungry for more.

The two researchers are invited inside House, where she offers them her hospitality. Unfortunately, a team of Decepticon Seekers find them, and intend to take down Termagax for Megatron. Red Wing decides to head back so he can report this to Megatron, but the others intend to impress their leader by taking her out themselves. However, Termagax isn't helpless, and launches House's arsenal on them, forcing Wingstun to also flee and Space Case to crash into the Sea of Rust, to die.

At the Crystal City, Optimus has officially dubbed his resistance against the Decepticons as the Autobots, and begins plans to search for Termagax, as he has learned that she possesses the Enigma of Combination, thanks to Bumblebee's intel. Highbrow reports that he actually knows where she is, since Geomotus reported that he's met with her, before entering a suppression field.

In Iacon, Megatron meets with Skywarp, who tries to convince the Decepticon leader to allow him to join his side for himnto have fun, but Megatron is unconvinced.

Soundwave reports Termagax's location at the Sea of Rust, and decides to use the Shockwave's troops to attack her, since he's closer, which Shockwave outsources to the Insecticon Swarm, to simply overwhelm her. Shockwave intends to use this to seizebthr Enigma for himself, do he keeps the monopoly of Combiners, since Devastator is under his influence in space....

In the medical center, Jumpstream wakes up from her brief coma, to be good by Perceptor that her "dimension hop" was actually time travel, terrifying her, as she reveals that this means Exarchon is still out there, and that he will win another eat in the future!

Back at the Sea of Rust, the Insecticon Swarm approaches House, and it begins fighting them off. Inside, Termagax explains that the reason the Decepticons want her is because she holds the Enigma of Combination, and also reveals that even though she is sceptical of the existence of the Thirteen Primes, she has experienced two of their artefacts, so she has surmised that the others also exist somewhere, and she is determined to find them.

House's arsenal finally runs out, and Termagax apologizes to her friends for getting them killed, when House detects more arrivals, a team of Autobots have come to rescue them!

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport

Pyra Magna - Truck

Highbrow - Helicopter

Chromia - Car

Ratchet - Ambulance

Perceptor

Jumpstream - Car

Windblade - VTOL Jet

Springer - Helicopter/Car

Blades - Helicopter

Sky Lynx - Space Shuttle

Arcee - Car

Kup - Pick-up Truck

Ironhide - Van

Strongarm - Van

Huffer - Truck

Inferno - Fire Truck

Blaster

Vibes

Tap-Out - Car

Chromedome - Car

Pointblank - Car

Grapple - Crane

Decepticon

Megatron - Tank

Soundwave - Hovercraft

Sixshot - Jet/Car/Tank/Gun/Winged Tiger

Nova Storm - Jet

Red Wing - Jet

Wingstun - Jet

Space Case - Jet Eaten by Rust Worms

Shockwave - Flying Artillery

Soundblaster - Hovercraft

Bombshell - Bill Weevil

Kickback - Locust

Skrapnel - Stag Beetle

Insecticon Swarm Many Destroyed by House

Nacelle - Jet (Mentioned)

Shockwave's Insecticon Clones (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Termagax - Armoured Van

Geomotus - Buggy

Landmine - Buggy

Skywarp - Jet

Devastator - Constructicon Gestalt (Flashback)

Abominus - Terrorcon Gestalt (Flashback)

Nexus Prime (Flashback)

Solus Prime (Flashback)

Vector Prime (Flashback)

Quintus Prime (Flashback)

Micronus Prime (Flashback)

Alchemist Prime (Flashback)

Liege Maximo (Flashback)

Exarchon (Mentioned)

Citadel - Titan Ship (Mentioned) Dead, Eaten by Rust Worms

Bumblebee - Winged Hovercraft (Mentioned)

Primus (Mentioned)

The Other Primes (Mentioned)

The Firstforged (Mentioned)

Other

"House"

Rust Worms

Termagax's "Samples" In jars

Notes

• This issue opens by revealing that the largest Titan, Citadel, was eaten by the rust worms when he crashed.. guess he has no chance of revival now then!
• Both Geomotus and Landmine are familiar with Termagax, implying that both are relatively older, since she's been in seclusion since shortly after the Nominus Editcbwas enforced.
• Red Wing previously ran away when he saw Windcharger was amongst the Autobot reinforcements, who ended up badly hurting Nacelle. This time he manages to escape being eaten alive by the rust worms! He's a smart fella!
• It's still unclear if House is a sentient being here. But we have learned that he's armed to the teeth.
• It's taken 34 issues, but the Autobots are now officially the faction of Optimus and his followers, instead of just the political party he was associated with.
• We get a brief cameo from Blaster in the Autobot groupshot, but I can't tell if he's a virtual retool of Siege Soundwave or a new design yet...there are rumours of a new Blaster toy in the pipeline though...
• Huffer's character model has been modified from being based on his Power of the Primes toy to one closer to (but not quite) his Kingdom toy.
• It's confirmed that Soundblaster is a clone here, but the circumstances of it, and whether Soundwave is aware of him is still unknown.
• The Insecticon Clone army we saw at the end of Galaxies is referenced here, as Shockwave explains that he doesn't want anyone to know if their existence yet.
• Shockwave mentions that there are fourteen artefacts of the Primes. We see in her fantasy that the Matrix and Star Saber are separate here, rather than the Matrix just being a part of the sword.
• Also, we see a mask among the artefacts, if we assume that is the Triptych mask then it's a little different to the one we've seen in the past, which had three faces, one for the past, future and present. It's possible it's the Lenses of Alchemist Prime, but, why is there a full face there?

IDW - Transformers #33

Title: Lord of Misrule: Swindle's II

Written by: Brian Ruckley 

Art by: Beth McGuire-Smith

Colours by: David Garcia Cruz

Letters & Design by: Jake M. Wood

Editor: David Mariotte

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: Tom Waltz

Plot

Sixshot inspects the newly reopened Swindle's Bar, and agrees to allow it to stay open, but ONLY if they serve Decepticons exclusively.

Elsewhere, Skywarp raids an Energon facility to refuel, witnessed by Gutctuncher, who knows this is bad news...

Back at the bar, Bumblebee and Rough stuff are working underground in secret while Swindle greases up a few Decepticons who he thinks will spill some secrets to him.

After a while, Swindle approaches Bee and informs him that Elita-1 is being moved to the former Senate building to join the Senators in prison, and he thinks this is a good time to break her free to join their underground resistance.

Joined by a couple of Decepticons that Swindle has bribed, Charger and Fire Beast, Bee intercepts the prisoner see detail to save Elita, but he stalls when he realizes that Barricade is part of the and intends to kill him, untill he realizes that he's only in this situation because he killed Quake for revenge before, so he decides to end this vicious cycle, and let Barricade live before leaving. Charger however decides that he doesn't want Barricade to shoot them in the back, so he scorches his hand, still holding the gun.

Bee and Elita return to the bar, where Swindle says that he knew Barricade was in the area, but didn't know where, but he would have informed Bee if he knew he was in Elita's detail. Swindle also reveals that his recent intelligence gathering session revealed that he knows where the Enigma of Combination is, along with other Decepticons secrets.

Bee says they need to pass this information onto Optimus and the Autobots, so they can take out the Decepticons and bring things back to normal...

Skywarp  ontinues exploring and finds the new status quo on Cybertron interesting, so he hunts down a Decepticon, Off-Road, and asks to see his leader...

Characters

Decepticon

Sixshot - Jet/Car/Gun/Tank/Winged Beast

Barricade - Police Car

Jolt - Car

Ravage - Cassette

Charger 

Fire Beast - Equipment Accessory

Off-Road - Van 

Crasher - Race Car

Windsweeper - Jet

Tentakil - Squid 

Nautilator - Lobster

Twirl - Bomber Jet

Refraktor - Hovercraft

Cindersaur - Lizard Monster

Apeface - Ape/Jet 

Gutcruncher

Slicer

Treadshot

Catgut

Deveptiçon Patrons

Seekers - Jets 

Megatron - Tank (Mentioned)

Soundwave - Hovercraft (Mentioned)

Autobot

Sentinel Prime - Space Shuttle (Flashback Only)

Orion Pax/Optimus Prime - Truck (Flashback Only)

Other Cybertronian

Bumblebee - Winged Hovercraft

Elita-1 - Car

Swindle - Van

Trickdiamond - Car

Headlock - Forklift

Roughstuff - Truck 

Skywarp - Jet 

Deathsaurus - Dragon In Immersion Suite

Proxima (Flashback Only)

Devastator - Construction Gestalt (Flashback Only)

Big Wing (Flashback Only) Killed by Devastator 

Rubble's Forging Audience (Flashback Only)

Starscream - Jet (Mentioned)

Perceptor (Mentioned)

Cyclonus - Jet (Mentioned)

Rubble (Mentioned) Dead 

The Senate (Mentioned) Imprisoned

The Iron Hope 100 (Mentioned)

The Mentor Assessors (Mentioned)

Mayalx Inhabitants (Mentioned) Dead

Other

The Voin (Mentioned)

Notes

• Swindle and his crew are openly operating out of Swindle's bar, except for Bumblebee and Rough stuff, who are both in a hidden area of the complex.
• During the flashback to Devastator's attack on Mayalx we see a bot being killed by the combiner, who we can assume is Trickdiamond's mentor, Big Wing.
• We also learn here that the massacre on Mayalx has been covered up as being caused by an asteroid strike.
• We're told here that Charger and Fire Beast were part of the Iron Hope 100, and thus survived on Nucleon and lost the ability to transform....though we see here that Fire Beast can transform into some armour accessories...how does that work?
• With us seeing the Iron Hope 100 members so far being all traditional Action Masters, we can probably assume this to be true of all action Masters and partners, unless we see them transform in a comic.
• We see Sentinel Prime amongst those in attendance of Rubble's forging, but he's supposed to be off-world doing his colonybtour at this point in continuity (unless he came back just for this I guess)