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/My Little Pony: The Magic of Cybertron #4

The Mightiest Dinobot

Writer: Ian Flynn

Artist: Casey W. Coller

Colours: Joana LaFuente

Letterer: Jake M. Wood

Finale

Writer: James Asmus

Artist: Jack Lawrence

Colours: Luis Antonio Delgado

Letterer: Neil Uyetake

Editor: Megan Brown

Consulting Editor: David Mariotte

"The Mightiest Dinobot" Plot

Spike brings his friend Smolder to visit his Cybertronian friend Grimlock and the other Dinobot's. While Grimlock is still impressed with Spike due to their previous experiences, the other Dinobot's don't see him as impressive, especially compared to the other dragon.

Suddenly, the mind controlled Superion appears and attacks the Dinobot's on Sombra's orders, and easily subdues them.

spike realizes however that Combiners are usually unstable, but Superion isn't, meaning Sombra's mind control is what is keeping them together.

Spike and Smolder fly around the combiner, with Spike using his knowledge of Cybertronians to tap into all the components personalities, and causes them to fall apart.

The spell not strong enough to control all five of them parts when separated, the Aerialbots are freed of their mind control and everyone celebrates Spike as the hero, and as an honorary Dinobot.

"Finale" Plot

Optimus and his team have tracked the mind controlled Cybertronians and Equestrians to a desolate area of Cybertron, where they find them trying to excavate something. Optimus calls in for reinforcements and attacks the group early, it's soon revealed why Optimus was in such a rush, when Sombra merges himself with a long hidden underground Titan, Scorponok!

Just after the combination, the reinforcements arrive, which includes s new set of exosuits for the Equestrians which can be used to attack the mind controlled with Equestrian-powered weapons to break the mind control, as discovered by Ratchet and his team earlier.

Soon all the bots and horses who were mind controlled are freed and turn against "Sombranok", causing the controlled Titan to explode, and dazing the king.

Soon a truce is upheld, and Megatron agrees not to try and abuse Equestrian magic again, as it doesn't meld well with Cybertron, but does agree that if anyone else wants to interact with Equestria, he won't get in their way, leading to the ponies to hug him as their new friend.

Elsewhere, the scene is being watched by a Quintesson, who judges the ponies as 'innocent'.....

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck

Elita-1 - Car

Mirage - Race Car

Cliffjumper - Car

Bumblebee - Car

Trailbreaker - Van

Arcee - Car

Ratchet - Ambulance

Wheeljack - Race Car

Blades - Rescue Helicopter

Cosmos - Orbiter 

Greenlight - Car 

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Swoop - Pteranodon

Sludge - Apatosaurus 

Slug - Triceratops

Snarl - Stegosaurus

Silverbolt - Passenger Jet Mind Controlled by Sombra, later Freed 

Slingshot - Fighter Jet Mind Controlled by Sombra, later Freed 

Air Raid - Fighter Jet Mind Controlled by Sombra, later Freed 

Skydive - Fighter Jet Mind Controlled by Sombra, later Freed 

Fireflight - Fighter Jet Mind Controlled by Sombra, later Freed 

Superion - Aerialbot Combiner Mind Controlled by Sombra, later Freed 

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport Mind Controlled by Sombra, later Freed 

Jetfire - Jet Mind Controlled by Sombra, later Freed 

Clampdown - Emergency Vehicle Mind Controlled by Sombra, later Freed 

Afterburner - Speedbike Mind Controlled by Sombra, later Freed 

Huffer - Truck Mind Controlled by Sombra, later Freed 

Warpath - Tank Mind Controlled by Sombra, later Freed 

Doublecross - Two Headed Dragon Mind Controlled by Sombra, later Freed 

Decepticon

Megatron - Tank Mind Controlled by Sombra, later Freed 

Shockwave - Flying Artillery

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Snapdragon - Jet/Dragon

Breakdown - Armoured Van

Skytread - Tank and Jet

Slipstream - Fighter Jet

Shadow Striker - Car 

Ravage - Cassette

Frenzy - Cassette

Rumble - Cassette Mind Controlled by Sombra, later Freed 

Bombshell - Boll Weevil Mind Controlled by Sombra, later Freed 

Ruckus - Buggy Mind Controlled by Sombra, later Freed 

Squeezeplay - Crab Monster Mind Controlled by Sombra, later Freed 

Caliburst - Gun Mind Controlled by Sombra, later Freed 

Refraktor - Hovercraft Mind Controlled by Sombra, later Freed 

Other Cybertronian

Scorponok - Scorpion Destroyed

Equestrian

Princess Twilight Sparkle Mind Controlled by Sombra, later Freed 

Pinkie Pie Mind Controlled by Sombra, later Freed 

Fluttershy Mind Controlled by Sombra, later Freed 

Rarity

Applejack

Rainbow Dash

Spike

Smolder 

King Sombra Defeated and Captured

Octavia Melody

Blaze

Wave Chill

Soarin

Fleetfoot

Surprise

Queen Chrysalis (Mentioned)

Yona (Mentioned)

Sandbar (Mentioned)

Other Young Sixers (Mentioned)

Other

Quintesson Judge

Scorponok's Controller (Mentioned)

Notes

• Despite being correct in the comic itself, the main cover features the enslaved characters with purple glowing eyes instead of green...very odd.
• Following his adventure in the original crossover, Spike decided to research all of the Transformers...he's a nerd!
• It's kind of shocking to me that in a comic that features all the Dinobot's and a combiner, we didn't see Volcanicus being formed!
• It's implied here that Optimus and the other main Autobots weren't seen in this series to this point because they were following the possessed bots to keep track of them.
• The exosuits used by the ponies are designed to be able to transform into weapons, unlike the design shown briefly in the previous crossover, making them a similar technology to the Western version of the G1 Targetmasters.
• The weaponry that the Equestrians transform into are a hammer for Applejack, an axe for Rainbow Dash, a sword for Twilight Sparkle, a party cannon for Pinkie Pie, a flamethrower for Spike and a shield for both Rarity and Fluttershy. Fluttershy's shield is only seen briefly being weilded by Ratchet in a background shot.
• Rarity jokes that it's been about 20 minutes since Twilight was mind controlled. This is a reference to how an MLP episode usually takes place over 20 minutes. It's POSSIBLE that these events could have taken place over that short time frame, but it would be very tight...
• The Refraktor shown being freed by Arcee has blue eyes, but later he has red eyes...maybe she accidentally turned one of them into an Autobot?
• Scorponok exploding at the climax of this story is the first confirmed, named character to be killed off in the MLP crossover continuity.
• Most of the Cybertronians shown in this issue are based on recent toys or prominent characters...so why is Clampdown there? Is this an early look at a future Selects toy?
• The end of this issue shows a Quintesson Judge taking an interest in the Equestrians, hinting at a future crossover plot, however, due to Generation 5 starting soon for MLP it's possible that Friendship is Magic will be abandoned for the new continuity. Time will tell I guess!

IDW - Transformers/My Little Pony: Friendship in Disguise #2

Inspiring

Writer: Ian  Flynn

Artist: Sara Pitre-Durocher

Colours: Joana LaFuente

Letterer: Jake M. Wood

They Eat Ponies, Don't They?

Writer: Sam Maggs

Artist: Casey W. Coller

Colours: Joana LaFuente

Letterer: Neil Uyetake

Editor: Megan Brown

Consulting Editor: David Mariotte

Group Editor: Bobby Curnow

First Story Plot

Spike, now in the Ark on Earth, spends time with Grimlock, who he idolizes due to his giant size and strength, when the ship's proximity alarms go off, alerting them to the Constructicons arrival, planning to destroy the Ark whilst it's undermanned.

Grimlock goes out to fight the Decepticons, but gets overwhelmed when they combine into Devastator. Spike, wanting to help, and noticing the engines of the downed Autobot ship, rushes back inside, quickly learns basic Cybertronian and starts up the ship's engines, using them to blast the combiner, who de-combines and the Constructicons retreat.

Afterwards, Grimlock thanks Spike, and tells him that he's inspired by his quick mind and skills, despite his small size, and says that he knows he'll get stronger as time goes on.

All this flattery causes Spike to pass out in joy however...

Second Story Plot

On Equestria, Pinkie Pie is hosting her cooking show, and introduces her very special guest, the newest Autobot, Gauge. The two show their favourite recipes as part of a cultural exchange of sorts, with Pinkie showing off her cupcakes, and Gauge showing an iron filling casserole, much to the horror of the pony audience, and Pinkie herself.

Before the two can start their cooking however, Shockwave arrives via another Spacebridge, and he declares his intent to test if ponies can be used to fuel Decepticons.

Pinkie and Gauge work together to defeat Shockwave using a bunch of kitchen utensils and manage to knock him back into the Spacebridge, sending it away again. Following his expulsion, the audience cheer, likely assuming it was just part of the show.

A while later, the duo finish preparing their meals, and both try the other's creations, and both immediately dislike the other's work, but at least try to be courteous about it...

Characters

Autobot

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Gauge

Other Autobots (Mentioned, On Other Missions)

Decepticon

Shockwave - Ray Gun

Hook - Crane

Long Haul - Dump Truck

Mixmaster - Mixing Truck

Scrapper - Front End Loader

Bonecrusher - Bulldozer

Scavenger - Excavator

Devastator - Constructicon Gestalt

Equestrian

Pinkie Pie

Spike, the Dragon

Derpy

Bon Bon

Lyra Heartstrings

Vinyl Scratch

Octavia

Cheerilee

Doctor Hooves

Roseluck

Thunderlane

Flitter

Minuette

Lily Valley

Apple Split

Diamond Rose

Cherry Berry

Lemon Hearts

Cloudkicker

Other Ponies in Audience

Princess Twilight Sparkle (Mentioned)

Notes

• We learn that at least one Equestrian was transported to the Transformers universe here, since Spike is on the Earth of their universe (and not the Equestria Girls one)
• Since the Transformers-side of the portal, as well as Grimlock, was on Cybertron last issue it's logical to assume that Spike ended up on Cybertron initially, and went back to Earth via Spacebridge afterwards. (the cartoon did show that Cybertron had a breathable atmosphere in this continuity)
• Spike's ability to quickly learn a new language and operational systems that are beyond that of Equestria is likely due to Twilight's book-worm influence.
• The Ark's engines can be converted easily into cannons it seems....that would be handy if Trypticon attacks the volcano and ship in a couple decades....
• Gauge is introduced as the newest Autobot, likely a reference to her status as the newest forged Cybertronian in the concurrent G1 comic series from IDW, though she isn't an Autobot in that continuity (yet)
• Shockwave shows the ability to convert his hands into new weapons etc
• Shockwave's plan to see if he can convert ponies into fuel could be a reference to pink alchemy from the previous IDW continuity, where organics are drained of life to create Energon
• Pinkie Pie's dislike of Gauge's food is quite funny when you look at a load of crap she's eaten over the franchise's run.

TFNation - The Decepticons' Time-Terror

Written by: Ralph Burns and Matt Marshall

Illustrated by: Garry Bodsworth, Kris Carter, Matt Dallas, Herzspalter, Chris McFeely, Umi Mayao/Coralus, Sora L Pereira, Chris Philips, Ben Pirrie, Ed Pirrie, Liam Shalloo, Shibara, Kris Smith, Gavin Spence, Vanessa Sutherland, Alex Tarca/EPH, Joe Teanby, Andy Turnbull and Adam Worden/Zerokaiser

Plot

The year is 1993, and the Autobot Skram has been demoted to a maintenance worker following a mistake at Atlantis that led to the death of Thunderclash and the theft of a load of artefacts by Megatron. Pyro gave him this punishment due to his lack of teamwork and his impulsiveness leading to the death of his teammate.

In the UK, Spike is now working in the Greenwich power plant with some of the Autobots, including a miniaturized Ultra Magnus, whom now resembles a watch, who are looking into new energy sources and mysteries in the area, especially after finding a strange crystal skull under a ley line. Pyro, the leader of the Autobots on Earth has become obsessed with the idea that Earth has several alien secrets on it, especially under the Nazca Lines, Ley Lines, Pyramids and even Stonehenge. Spike assured Pyro that there's nothing under Stonehenge or the other places though...

Meanwhile, at the Decepticon's base, under Stonehenge, Megatron has now completed a new invention that he intends to use with the aid of a Decepticon "Time Warrior", Scorpia; The Cybernet Space Cube, which he will use to conquer Earth from the start of it's development.

Later, Skram is sent on a delivery run to the UK with some bottles of the Aquaspeeder's special water attached to his trailer for them to refill with. On his way there, he is forced off the road by a random shopping trolley and ends up crashing, spilling the water all over him.

At that moment, the Decepticons attack the Greenwich base and capture the human and Autobot staff, and use their machinery to complete the time machine and walk through...changing the present day...

At the Greenwich Power Station, the heart of the Decepticons' empire for sending Energy to power their empire, the king of the slaves in the UK, Spike Witwicky is being tended to by his own slaves, as well as the Decepticons' Earth leader, Clench, and with his miniature ally watch, Galvatron on his wrist. Everything is good for Spike, until suddenly Clench's head explodes!

The Autobot Skram appears, and explains that history has been altered by the Decepticons in some way. During their discussion, in which Spike doesn't accept Skram's alternate history, it is revealed that the Aquaspeeders are also in the base, but in a jail cell.

Spike takes Skram to the cells, intending to play along just to get him captured and rewarded by Emperor Megatron.

Skram leaves to try and find some clues to what happened, and whilst he is gone, the Aquaspeeders manage to make Spike realise that his current timeline is wrong, and that being a slave is wrong. Skram soon returns, with Ravage stuck in his cassette mode, giving them the full story about Megatron's plan!

In ancient Pangaea Megatron captured the first land-walking fish and enslaved it to produce power for his empire, thus planting this mentality in all it's descendants, aka the human race.

Soon, the Autobots and Spike wind up in the past, having found the Decepticon time machine, and Spike has his original memories restored, as well as his original Ultra Magnus watch. Soon, the Autobots find Pyro, who was taken with the Decepticons so he couldn't stop them himself and free him from his chains.

Soon the Autobots discover the pyramids being created and them sending energy to Cybertron for the Decepticons to come to Earth and enslave it, and they realize that the mysterious locations on Earth were INDEED created by aliens, Transformers in fact! Soon, they find a circuitry layout connecting the devices, which all leads towards Stonehenge!

The Autobots attack Megatron and his Decepticons, leading to a battle, with Speedstream holding off Devastator, Jetstorm fighting his Decepticon same-name counterpart and Skram and Deluge fighting Ramjet and Starscream. Soon Jetstorm appears and helps with the fight, leaving Skram to fight with Megatron.

Pyro joins in the fight to help Skram defeat Megatron, finally teaching Skram about teamwork. The battle between the two leaders ends up with the time stream warping around them, changing other character's colours, and ghosts from across time circle them. In the process the Galvatron watch returns and starts to fight with the Magnus watch.

Soon, Skram notices that Megatron's face plating is broken and he has a crystal skull underneath, meaning that it was HIS skull they found in the UK, meaning that they have already defeated him in history, so they can do it again.

the Autobots all work together to weaken the ground and, with the help of the Pangaean fish they knock Megatron into a chasm, leading towards the Earth's core, defeating him forever...

Back in the present, the Autobots debrief over what has happened, and Pyro starts on a theory he has that something is happening under the mysterious pyramids of Antarctica, which Spikes completely dismisses...

Meanwhile, in the pyramids of the Antarctic, the newest leader of the Decepticons, Starscream, plots his next move....

Characters

Autobot

Pyro - Fire Truck

Skram - Muscle Car

Speedstream - Race Car

Deluge - Race Car

Aquafend - Baja Buggy

Jetstorm - Rally Car

Ultra Magnus - Wrist Watch

Rodimus - Caravan (In Time Stream Only)

Thunderclash - Truck (Mentioned) Killed by Megatron

Optimus Prime - Truck (Mentioned)

Bumblebee - VW Beetle (Mentioned)

Wheeljack - Race Car (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Megatron - Tank Reduced to Crystal Skull by Autobots in Earth's Core

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Ramjet - Fighter Jet

Stalker - Missile Launcher Truck

Scorpia - Time Machine

Jetstorm 2 - Baja Buggy Killed by Jetstorm

Deluge 2 - Race Car

Afterburner - Fighter Jet

Eagle Eye - Fighter Jet

Windrazor - Fighter Jet

Terradive - Bomber Plane

Devastator - Constructicon Gestalt

Constructicons

Clench - Truck (Alternate Timeline) Killed by Skram

Galvatron - Wrist Watch (Alternate Timeline)

Ravage - Cassette (Alternate Timeline)

Scorponok - Scorpion/Base (In Time Stream Only)

Human

Spike Witwicky

Human Slaves (Alternate Timeline)

Other

Pangaean Fish

Time Ghosts

Notes

• This was the (now seemingly annual) exclusive book for TFNation. This time in the style of a Ladybird book, here remade to "Ladybug"
• The Ladybug logo has been redesigned to be the G2 version of Bumblebee, who was red and black, much like a Ladybird. Despite this, Bumblebee only gets a mention in the story, and doesn't actually appear.
• The back cover includes a list of other Ladybird/Ladybug books. The first ten listed are real books, but the last two "Erector at the Pole" and "Thundercracker's Revenge" are fake titles...could these be future exclusives being hinted at?
• The front cover includes a special piece of art by Mike Collins, the artist of the first four Ladybird books, and is coloured by Kris Carter
• In the credits for the artists involved, Coralus is listed twice, I'm not sure if this was on purpose, but I'm going to guess it was just a mistake.
• On page twenty of the book, there is an alignment error that has the image of the page covering Spike's dialogue, making it very confusing why Skram is arguing against something that wasn't even said! (You can just see the bottom of the lines under the image)
• Pyro's thoughts about aliens being trapped under the Nazca lines is reminiscent of the Decepticon Pretenders in Masterforce being hidden under them too
• The Cybernet Space Cube stolen by Megatron is based on the main framing device of the short-lived G2 cartoon series, where the cube would be showing events and added a frame to some scenes.
• The Decepticon Scorpia in this story is actually historically an Autobot.
• In the alternate timeline, it seems that Megatron and Galvatron are not the same person, as both exist at the same time, one as a watch, and the other as the supreme ruler of the universe.
• In the alternate timeline, Spike's outfit keeps changing between a loose robe with no under-shirt and a white shirt with a red cape (then changing to a yellow shirt after time travelling)
• With the reveal that the Aquaspeeder's water not having any special qualities...why did they and Skram not get affected by the time change?
• Skram's feeling of deja-vu at seeing the Ravage statue is due to it using the classic stock design of Ravage pouncing seen in a lot of older comics and Ladybird books.
• The pyramids being energy distributors here is likely a reference to the use of the Great Pyramid in Revenge of the Fallen as a Sun Harvester.
• Devastator changing to an orange colour during the time-stream battle, and Megatron turning purple are references to repaints and even a new toy of Megatron's from the G2 era
• Ultra Magnus and Galvatron having to have another fight, despite being reduced to watches is a reference to their long-standing rivalry in comic history
• Megatron's crystal skull is an obvious reference to the Crystal Skull from the Indiana Jones movie of the same name, which starred Shia LaBeouf, who also played a major role in the first three Transformers movies
• I guess the implication is that when Megatron fell into the Earth's core his body dissolved away, leaving just his crystal skull, but it's not clear how his skull survived, or how his brain was removed in secret...

IDW - Transformers #57

Title: White Heat

Written by: John Barber

Art by: Livio Ramondelli

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Publisher: Ted Adams

Plot

Following the forced spacebridge journey, Optimus wakes up to find Soundwave standing next to him, opposite Sentinel Prime and Sovereign, who is now using Alpha Trion's decapitated body as his own. Sentinel informs them that they are in the shadow of the now dead Titan, Prion, who was abandoned by Micronus Prime, and offers Optimus to join him and prepare for his master, Onyx Prime's return.

On Earth. the newly reformed GI Joe attack the Cybertronians in the Indian Ocean, and go under water to try and secure the downed ship. Sky Lynx and the others fight them off and begin collecting up the injured, before the humans can capture any of them.

Back on Prion, Sentinel explains that the population of the planet were descendants of Micronus Prime that the Black Block Consortia razed, and the one survivor (Nickle) was corrupted by the Decepticons and joined them. Sentinel explains that he wants Optimus to use his power as a Prime to conquer Earth, to "protect" it from a similar fate to what happened here.

Sentinel asks Soundwave why he is now allied with Optimus, and the Decepticon explains that when he witnessed him raising the Titan on Earth, he realized that he was a true Prime. Sentinel is happy with this, and have Sovereign slash Soundwave with his energy blade, glad that he can die a believer now.

Back on Earth, Blitzwing has escaped the Autobots and plans to go off on his own, however Zilong Qian, now going by Talon, skewers him on mecha and plans to fly him back to Governor's Island (their new HQ) much to Spike's disgust,

The Torchbearers form into Victorion and use her gravitational powers to mess up the GI Joe jet's targeting systems, and Jetfire worries that this will all cause more problems.

On Prion again, Optimus flat out refuses Sentinel's offer and knocks him down. Soundwave removes the blade from his body and smacks Sovereign off of Alpha Trion's body. Soundwave then confronts the Titan Master and reactivates the "Blackrock" program within him, reverting him to his human personality.

Before the freed Titan Master can do anything, Sentinel grabs him and sends both of them through the spacebridge towards their next target. Soundwave cannot find the target location on the spacebridge's records, but Optimus doesn't care, he has Soundwave set the bridge to Cybertron so they cab get Alpha Trion medical attention.

On Earth, the Autobots retreat, with Vitcorion levitating the injured with her gravitation powers. The Joes leave as well, glad that they have a Decepticon prisoner and the remains of the ship as well.

Shortly later, Alpha Trion has had his head reattached on Cybertron, and Fixit is confident that he'll recover. Optimus and Soundwave head back to the spacebrodge to return to Earth, and Soundwave confirms his belief that Optimus is right in his actions on Earth now, and now feels confident in the belief that all life is equal, not just Cybertronian life. He believes that they need to work together to deal with the upcoming dangers of Onyx Prime and his followers, as warned by Galvatron and Sentinel alike....

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Sentinel Prime/Infinitus - Truck/Jet (and Head)

Alpha Trion - Space Shuttle Under Repairs by Fixit

Arcee - Sports Car

Sky Lynx - Space Shuttle

Jetfire - Fighter Jet

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Tracks - Sports Car

Jazz - Sports Car

Sunstreaker - Sports Car

Thundercracker - Fighter Jet

Pyra Magna - Emergency Truck

Stormclash - Helicopter

Dust Up - Sports Car

Rust Dust - Motorcycle

Skyburst - Helicopter (Part of Victorion Only)

Jumpstream - Sports Car (Part of Victorion Only)

Victorion - Torchbearer Gestalt

Windblade - VTOL Fighter Jet

Ironhide - Van

Wheeljack - Race Car

Fixit - Ambulance

Megatron - Tank (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Soundwave - Personnel Carrier

Blitzwing - Tank/Jet Captured by GI Joe

Rumble - Motorcycle

Frenzy - Motorcycle

Swift - Helicopter

Needlenose - Fighter Jet

Dreadwing - Stealth Bomber

Mindwipe - Bat

Slugslinger - Twin Nosed Jet

Decepticon Ghetto Victims Dead

Galvatron - Tank (Footage) Dead

Nickel (Mentioned)

Ravage - Cassette (Mentioned) Dead

Other Cybertronian/Colonist

Sovereign/Garrison Blackrock - Head Reverted to Blackrock Persona by Soundwave

Aileron - Space Shuttle

Lightbright

Bob the Insecticon

D.O.C.

Prion - City/Space Ship Dead

Mini-Cons Dead

Nexus Prime (Footage) Killed by Galvatron

Metrotitan - Autobot City (Mentioned)

The Thirteen Primes (Mentioned)

Liege Maximo (Mentioned)

Micronus Prime (Mentioned)

Onyx Prime (Mentioned)

GI Joe/EDC

Spike Witwicky

Zilong Qian/Talon

Deep Six

Wild Bill

GI Joe/EDC Troops

Joe Colton (Mentioned)

Other

Buster the Dog

Black Block Consortia (Mentioned)

Notes

• This issue marks the end of the Transformers Ongoing, which will be rebranded as "Optimus Prime" at the end of the year, except for one issue of Transformers Ongoing to tie in with Revolution.
• Hey look! we get to see Prion...but he's dead...and a load of Mini-Cons! They're dead too...I don't like this planet....
• Sovereign taking on Alpha Trion's head is a clear reference to his toy counterpart forming the ancient Autobot's head.
• This issue shows us that the EDC members have started taking on GI Joe codenames (this was shown in Revolution #1 with Ayana Jones now being Mayday, but that is set after this event).
• Sentinel/Infinitus talks about what happened to Prion, the Mini-cons and Micronus Prime leaving their planet as if he was present for it, if I'm remembering correctly, he has only just finished recovering from his assassination attempt...where is he getting his information from?
• Micronus' location is revealed in Revolution: Micronauts, where it is shown that he has formed the core of the Miroverse
• Blitzwing is captured here, allowing for him to be experimented on by GI Joe and Mile Manheim
• Soundwave grabs an energy sword by the blade and uses that to knock Sovereign off of Trion's head....badass...
• Sovereign is revealed to use Perception Filters to make him resemble a human
• Sentinel and Sovereign end up on Luna-1 following their departure on the spacebridge, leading to the events of the More Than Meets The Eye portion of this event.
• It looks like Fixit's medical bay is located on the top of a spindly tower....HOW IS THAT REASONABLE!??!
• Optimus' plan to send his troops to Cybertron to aid in the relief following Sentinel's attack on the Decepticon Ghetto is to explain why only a few Transformers are on Earth during Revolution. Optimus' comments that he hopes to see Windblade again soon also connects to her role on Earth during the crossover too.
• Soundwave reveals that Ravage died to Optimus, which we saw him feeling in MTTME #55

TFCC #68 - Of Masters and Monsters Part 2

Title: Insight

Writers: Jesse Wittenrich & Pete Sinclair

Pencils: Dan Khanna

Inks: Jake Isenberg

Colours: Evan Gauntt

Letters: Jesse Wittenrich

Managing Editor: Pete Sinclair

Plot

Metalhawk takes the bullet from the mugger, but accidentally reveals himself as a robot when his would starts sparking with energy. Before the disguised Autobots can decide what to do with the mugger, to stop him from revealing their secrets, they are all taken into Police custody.

At the police station, the mugger claims to not have seen anything, and the Autobots deny that anything happen, other than him firing a gun, and it missed them. The Autobots are soon dismissed, but not before they over-hear the police officers complaining about Cybertronians, and them being nothing but trouble.

Elsewhere, on the planet Paradron, Impactor heads to a medical centre to visit his injured friend, however, when he gets there the medic, Lifeline, reveals that his injuries were so bad that one of his two robot modes had to be removed. Impactor is angry, even though this was the only way to save him, and storms out of the medical centre.

Elsewhere still, Ramjet is searching for the other life-form he detected earlier, and plans to use them to make this universe into...nothing....

On Earth, the mysterious silver-streaked hair man approaches the disguised Autobots, reveals that he knows what they are, and also reveals that he's an actual native to this new Earth, and warns them that "he'll be here soon".

Characters

Autobot

Metalhawk In Human Pretender Suit

Vroom In Human Pretender Suit

Crossblades In Human Pretender Suit

Paradronian

Impactor - Armoured Truck

Lifeline - Sports Car

Quickslinger - Space Shuttle

Punch/Counterpunch - Sports Car Punch part removed (PRESUMED)

Sandstorm - Buggy/Helicopter

Random Paradronians

Unicron-Allied

Ramjet - Fighter Jet

Human

Spike Witwicky

Elizabeth

Mendez (the Mugger)

Police Officers

Captain Robin Lindley (Mentioned)

Jed Lindley (Mentioned)

Allan Silver (Mentioned)

Sam Wainwright (Mentioned)

RAAT (Mentioned)

Other

Mystery Silver-Streaked Hair Guy

Notes

• It's confirmed here that the Pretenders are using holo-matter to look like accurate humans, and have used Mass-displacement to look human sized.
• The black haired police officer mentions that Robin from the "Spacehikers" (look at the Marvel comics) grew up to be a police captain, and was supposedly traumatized by the events of the journey, along with her brother and friends.
• ...I wonder if her teddy remembers the journey too....is he her lieutenant? That would be awesome and crazy.
• Paradron and it's inhabitants exist in this new reality. Since Paradron is a colony world of Cybertron's, populated by Cybertronians who wanted to escape the war, that would imply that Cybertron and the other Transformers exist in this new reality.
• Lifeline's surgical tools are actually her toy's swords.....HOW ARE THOSE PRECISION TOOLS?!?!?
• Judging from the dialogue, it's likely that Impactor's "friend" is Punch, and due to the upcoming TFSS 5.0 Counterpunch toy, we can assume that the part removed was the "Punch" side of his body.
• It's very likely that the Silver-haired guy is the guy who Ramjet is looking for. On top of this, I'll also bet that he has something to do with TFSS 4.0, either as a holo-avatar for Thunder Mayhem, one of the Mayhem Attack Squad or the mystery seventh figure.
• SD SG Skywarp shares the same character model as Starscream (based on the Cybertron Starscream toy) but has a mostly blue colourscheme, so could be based on Thudnercracker or Brainstorm's usual colours.
• SD SG Thundercracker has the G2-looking colours from his Botcon toy, and of course is bright enough to emit bright lights from himself.

Other Features

From Another Time and Place Part 2 - Information on the almost created "U-Haul Robot" toy

TFSS 5.0 Full Reveal - Images of all the new figures available in the next set

Cold-Casted: A history of Transformer Statues Part 2 - Information on Palisades statues.

True Victory Part 2 -More information about the Victory franchise and it's development

Lifeline Profile

Impactor Profile

SD SG Mini-Comic - Starscream and Skywarp use Thundercracker as a light source.