IDW - Transformers #39

Title: Darkness, Once Gazed Upon, Part Three

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Andrew Lee Griffith

Colours by: John-Paul Bove

Letters by: Nathan Widick

Editor: David Mariotte

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: Tom Waltz

Plot

Smokescreen tries to get Swindle to arm the unarmed members of their team, Magnus, Elita and Bumblebee, but the bar owner insists he doesn't have any weapons in his bar 

Suddenly, the wall blows in, with Sixshot leading a crew of Decepticons inside, and orders them to kill everyone except Magnus, as Megatron wants him alive...

In the basement, Headlock is trying to make it to the hidden tunnels before the fight can start, when he finds "Ruckus" exploring, interested in what is inside one of the Immersion Chambers.

During the battle, Smokescreen finds Swindle's secret weapons cache, and arms himself with as much as he can carry, rejoining the battle in full force.

Elsewhere in Iacon, Cyclonus finds "Provoke" leaving the medical center, and confronts her, pointing out her recent contradictions and odd behaviour, forcing her to reveal her true identity as Exarchon, intending to take his body as a replacement. After a short battle, Cyclonus tears out her spark, and destroys it, realising that Ruckus is likely to also be an Exarchon host, he knows what needs to be done...

Meanwhile, "Flatline" has made his way to Shockwave's secret base, where he is repairing Skywarp from his recent injuries caused by Sky Lynx, and reveals his identity as Exarchon to his former follower...intending to finish their old mission.

After a hard battle, the Autobots manage to escape from Swindle's bar, but Swindle as his staff are left behind. In the underground tunnels, the Autobots, plus Bumblebee and Elita, regroup, but they know they're unlikely to get back to Crystal City before the Decepticons attack the city to try and take down the Autobot army.

In the aftermath of the battle, the bar is destroyed, and Sixshot warns the owner to stay in line from now on, or this will be the least of his troubles.

Swindle starts to complain about his lot on life now, when he notices Ruckus' corpse in the basement. Suddenly Deathsaurus, now infested by Exarchon, bursts through the remains of the roof, and heads into the skies, intending to crush Cybertron under his feet again, and to keep it crushed this time....

Characters

Autobot

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport

Chromia - Car

Windblade - VTOL Jet

Arcee - Car

Smokescreen - Car

Decepticon

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

Shockwave - Flying Artillery

Ravage - Cassette

Catgut

Treadshot

Gutcruncher

Cindersaur - Lizard Monster

Flamefeather - Bird Monster

Jolt - Car

Scatterspike - Van

Green/Orange Security Guard Killed by "Provoke"

Megatron - Tank (Mentioned)

Three-fold Spark

Flatline/Exarchon - Van

Provoke/Exarchon - Big Wheeled Vehicle Killed by Cyclonus

Ruckus/Exarchon - Buggy Killed Self to Infest Deathsaurus

Deathsaurus/Exarchon - Dragon

Other Cybertronian

Swindle - Van

Trickdiamond - Car

Roughstuff - Truck Joins Decepticons

Headlock - Forklift

Bumblebee - Winged Hovercraft

Elita-1 - Car

Cyclonus - Jet

Skywarp - Jet Under Repairs from Shockwave

Gridlock (Ghost)

Highfire (Ghost)

Grudge (Ghost)

Paragon (Ghost)

Provoke (Ghost)

Notes

• Roughstuff is shown switching sides to the Decepticons here, confirming that the Devepticon badge he had a couple issues ago was just a mistake.
• Flatline is confirmed to have been taken over by Exarchon this issue, after being attacked by the ancient evil in issue 36 
• Following her physical death, Provoke returns to being one of Cyclonus' ghosts again
• Deathsaurus was shown to be in the immersion chambers previously in the series, having decided to live out his days killing Cliffjumper in there...wonder if Exarchon will have an urge to kill Cliffjumper now too?

IDW - Transformers #38

Title: Darkness, Once Gazed Upon, Part Two

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

Megatron meets with Mindwipe in secret, to entrust a Titanspark to him, intending for him to use it to create a new Titan, and eventually restore the Forge to create a new Decepticon army for Megatron's cause.

Soundwave calls Megatron away to deal with the newly imprisoned Ultra Magnus. The war general tries to make Megatron see sense, and warns him that Ruckus is somehow connected to a returning Exarchon.

The Decepticons don't believe him, and Megatron has him imprisoned with the captured Senators. Strika however, knowing that Magnus wouldn't lie, suggests that they do look into Ruckus, in case there's any validity to Magnus' claims.

Elsewhere, Cyclonus goes to see "Provoke" again, but finds her researching Cybertron's history some more, and not seeming to have regained her own memories any further.

After leaving, the ghosts of his former teammates/his inner thoughts further suspect Provoke isn't actually herself due to her strange behaviour and even speak patterns...

The Autobots send a small strike team into Iacon to recover Ultra Magnus, with Smokescreen getting them inside using a hidden tunnel through Swindle's bar, calling in a favour with the bartender to give them free passage to leave the city later.

Magnus is taken to the Senate prison, where he finds the Senators dying, but refusing to give in to Megatron's demands.

The Autobot team break into the prison, and manage to free Magnus, but can't manage to save the Senators as well, due to their limited numbers and time, with the rest of the Autobots reinforcing Crystal City for an expected attack from Megatron.

Magnus joins the other Autobots in escaping, reluctantly leaving the Senators behind, potentially to die, and manage to get to a closed Swindle's.

Swindle tries to protest having the Autobots there, due to the Decepticon's rules, but he's ignored by the Autobots, who also want him to allow Bumblebee and Elita-1 to escape with them, and to arm the two of them, as well as Magnus, so they can defend themselves when the Decepticons give chase.

Unknown to any of them, Trickdiamond disapproved of Swindle's deal with Smokescreen, so she informed Starscream, who passed it on to Sixshot, who is now outside the bar, ready to kill everyone inside....

Characters

Autobot

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport

Chromia - Car

Windblade - VTOL Jet

Smokescreen - Car

Arcee - Car

Greenlight - Car

Gauge - Energon Detector Vehicle

Optimus Prime - Truck (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Megatron - Tank

Soundwave - Hovercraft

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

Strika - Battle Tank

Starscream - Jet

Slipstream - Jet

Flamewar - Motorcycle

Blackjack - Car

Mindwipe - Bat

Twirl - Jet

Tentakil - Squid

Nautilator - Lobster

Cy-Kill - Motorcycle Crushed Under Senator Prison Door

Offroad - Van

Triton

Scatterspike - Van

Cindersaur - Lizard Monster

Flamefeather - Bird Monster

Jolt - Car

Ravage - Cassette

Gutcruncher

Treadshot

Catgut

"Green Horns" Killed by Smokescreen

"Green Antennae" Kicked into Senate Prison by Chromia 

Rest of Sixshot's Team

Ruckus/Exarchon - Buggy (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Cyclonus - Jet

Provoke/Exarchon - Big Wheeled Vehicle

Crisscross Dying from lack of Energon

Swindle - Van

Trickdiamond - Car

Roughstuff - Truck

Kaskade Comatose

The Imprisoned Senators Dying from lack of Energon

Highfire (Ghost)

Paragon (Ghost)

Gridlock (Ghost)

Grudge (Ghost)

Flatline - Van (Mentioned) Missing

Termagax - Van (Mentioned)

Streetwise - Car (Mentioned)

Motormaster - Truck (Mentioned)

Headlock - Forklift (Mentioned)

Bumblebee - Winged Hovercraft (Mentioned)

Elita-1 - Car (Mentioned)

Primus (Mentioned)

Insecticons Swarm (Mentioned)

Other

The "last" Titanspark

Rust Worms (Mentioned)

Notes

• This issue confirms the assumption that just about everyon had, that Megatron did recover at least one of the Titansparks from the Pyramid Forge before it was destroyed. He says it was just the one that survived, but I think it's safe to say he's lying again...
• We've known that Arcee was part of the Autobots for a few issues now, but we now learn that Greenlight and Gauge joined her.
• Soundwave appears to be under the impression that Ruckus is still comatose, and no-one seems to deny this. We learned he (really Exarchon) joined the Decepticons last issue, so maybe they're just letting anyone join, without going through Sixshot and the others now?
• Gridlock mentions that his body was taken by Termagax to try and figure out the weapon that killed him. We have seen his head amongst her belongings whenever we've seen inside "House". This also implies that she probably doesn't know the answer still though.
• Roughstuff has lost his Decepticon badge since last issue, so maybe he only has it for when on duty?
• The Senate building being turned into a prison has been referenced since the uprising, but we actually see it here. The main Senate meeting room is holding the shackled Senators, who are being deprived of Energon until they join the Decepticons. The windows and holes in the walls and ceiling are also covered in energy grates that can slice up anything on contact.

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)

IDW - Transformers #28

Title: War World, Part 4: Hunt

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

Cyclonus breaks into the Decepticon Gladiator Pit base, knocking out several guards in the process, so he can finally confront Sixshot over his destruction of the Memorial Crater.

Elsewhere, the Decepticons are continuing their takeover of the planet's main systems, including the Energon Distribution Centers and the Titan Network Hub, but when they reach the prison cells, they find that Swindle's business partners, Trickdiamond and Headlock have broken him, and a couple other prisoners, Roughstuff and Bumblebee, free already.

At the Gladiator Pit, Andromeda is forced into a staged interview to broadcast, framing the Autobots as corrupt and the Decepticons as the greater good, where they also announce Sixshot as the new head of the Decepticon Guard, and claim that the Rise was just a story made up by the Autobots to scapegoat their own mistakes.

Elsewhere, Starscream has Refractor pass onto an Autobot guard, Vibes, to ask Perceptive about "Titansparks" so that both sides have the information at hand, and to try a convince Megatron that he needs his intelligence gathering skills to win this war...

Later at the Gladiator Pit, Cyclonus finds Sixshot, and attacks him, despite the latters uninterest in the fight, and quickly ends it by informing Cyclonus that the Autobots have released Pyra Magna from prison, after consulting another of his ghosts, he offers to bring Sixshot Pyra's head...

Following their prison break, Swindle's crew, including Bumblebee, who still wants to kill Barricade, enter a hidden chamber under Swindle's bar, where Bee notices Deathsaurus inside an Immersion Chamber, where Swindle explains he's been there's since getting repaired following his injuries from an off-world mission some time ago, and will be there until he disengages himself.

Inside the chamber, Deathsaurus continuously chases and kills Cliffjumper, the one who almost killed him before....

Characters

Autobot

Grapple - Crane Truck

Hot Spot - Fire Truck

Wheel Blaze - Fire Truck

Zetar - Drill Tank

Seawatch - Boat

Stakeout - Police Car

Slapdash - Race Car

Vibes

Pyra Magna (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Megatron - Tank

Soundwave - Hovercraft

Strika - Battle Tank

Ratbat - Cassette

Skytread - Tank and Jet

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

Mindwipe - Bat

Sparkstalker - Insect Monster

Bitstream - Jet

Crasher - Race Car

Treadshot

Catgut

Battleslash - Helicopter

Refraktor - Hovercraft

Nautilator - Lobster

Twirl - Jet

Runamuck - Car

Runabout - Car

Swift - Helicopter

Howlback - Cassette

Ravage - Cassette

Singe Imprisoned

Storm Cloud - Jet Imprisoned

Other Random Decepticons

Shockwave - Flying Artillery (Mentioned)

Jhiaxus - Jet (Mentioned)

Gutcruncher (Mentioned)

Quake - Tank (Mentioned) Dead

Barricade - Police Car (Mentioned)

Elita-One - Car (Mentioned) Confined to Quarters 

Other Cybertronian

Starscream - Jet

Cyclonus - Jet

Swindle - Van

Trickdiamond - Car

Headlock - Forklift

Bumblebee - Winged Hovercraft

Roughstuff - Truck

Deathsaurus - Dragon In Immersion Chamber

Andromeda - Car

Blaster

Playback

Wavelength

Gizmo - Buggy

Glyph - Car

Tap-Out - Car

Steeljaw

Immersion Chamber Users

Cliffjumper - Car (Simulation Only)

Grudge (Ghost) Dead

Provoke (Ghost) Dead

Gridlock (Ghost) Dead

Highfire (Ghost) Dead

Paragon (Ghost) Killed by Pyra Magna

The Titans (Mentioned) Slowly Crashing

Termagax - Armoured Van (Mentioned)

Fake Termagax (Mentioned) Killed by Megatron

The Senate (Mentioned) Overthrown by Decepticons

Perceptor (Mentioned)

Turmoil (Mentioned)

Breaker (Mentioned) Killed during War of the Threefold Spark

Bruteforce (Mentioned) Killed during War of the Threefold Spark

Ultimatum (Mentioned) Killed during War of the Threefold Spark

Kickstart (Mentioned) Killed during War of the Threefold Spark

Frontrunner (Mentioned) Killed during War of the Threefold Spark

Stormwave (Mentioned) Killed during War of the Threefold Spark

Outsider (Mentioned) Killed during War of the Threefold Spark

Other

The Thraal (Mentioned)

The Voin (Mentioned)

Skitters (Mentioned)

Notes

• Cliffjumper and Deathsaurus were last seen in Galaxies 6, which is now confirmed to have occurred "kilocycles" ago.
• Amongst the prisoners seen by Swindle are Singe (who was arrested and interrogated by Prowl) and Storm Cloud who was left behind during the fight at Swindle's bar, and Roughstuff, who was shot and left for dead by the Risers during their escape from Leviathan.
• I'm pretty sure with his opinion in them leaving him for dead, that Roughstuff has probably left their group now (the others are probably still fine with them though)
• Gutcruncher is mentioned as having joined the revolution, which we have been seeing in the Escape comics.
• Elita is being implicated as a traitor, but I'm not sure why...she was a loyal Ascenticon, but disagreed with how Soundwave did things.
• Vibes finally gets an in-story namecheck for the first time!
• Paragon is confirmed to be a former lover of Cyclonus' who was killed by Pyra Magna, which also confirms why she was imprisoned, for mass murder.
• Paragon's ghost doesn't appear to have any damage on it, implying that it was either a lower body damage-based death (since we only see him from the chest up) or he was killed internally perhaps?
• Flatline is mentioned to be giving Starscream some cosmetic surgery for his injuries, but he still appears to be neutral so far, and just working in repairs for everyone who needs them.

IDW - Transformers #20

Title: Rise of the Decepticons, Part 3: Swindle's

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Anna Malkova

Colours by: Joana LaFuente

Letters & Design by: Jake M. Wood

Editors: David Mariotte

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Plot

Prowl is watching Andromeda's stream on the recent events, when he's interrupted by Nightbeat, who has a prisoner who needs to be interrogated.
He man-handles Singe, the prisoner, to get some information out of him, about who he was scavenging Energon for following the Tether's collapse.
Elsewhere, at an A'ovan sanctuary, Hound is mourning over the many animals killed when the Tether fell on the building, but is interrupted by Sideswipe, who wants to join Hound's team of Heavies to go after the Rise, but is denied as he lacks experience.

Later, as they're preparing for their next raid, Strongarm starts to believe that she's cursed, since every mission she's been on since she recently graduated has resulted in more problems, and the whole world is falling apart around them, with riots and protests from all factions, the Ascenticons blocking entry to their base from the Security Forces, and Lodestar needing heavy repairs before she can be refitted with weapons to go after Vigilem, and on top of that, the now loose Moon is heading to the Sun, with Wheeljack believed to be still onboard!
Prowl however, suggests that she not worry about the rest of the world's problems and deal with their mission. They're joined by Sideswipe and head towards Swindle's joint, where Bumper will go inside, since no one will likely know who he is.

Inside, a Skitter race is being held, but despite the attendance, Swindle and his crew realize that not much is being better on, most likely due to the recent events, so Trickdiamond offers a drink deal if people start spending more.
Mindwipe arrives, and tries to get Swindle to give him the Energon he promised to supply to him for his experiments, but Swindle renages, insisting that he would never of knowingly helped  a Rise member, Mindwipe starts to protest this, but then notices Bumper watching them from the crowd.
Bumper reports Mindwipe being there, and Prowl warns him not to look in his eyes, but Mindwipe appears behind him.

The security team bust through the doors and start their raid, Mindwipe hypnotises Bumper ordering him to kill Prowl, whilst Visper and Storm Cloud fight the Security team. Bumper tries attacking Prowl, but is subdued. Mindwipe and Visper manage to escape, but Storm Cloud is captured for interrogation. Swindle gets arrested for his illegal dealings (again) and Bumper to restrained until the hypnosis wears off.

Mindwipe reports Storm Cloud's capture to Shockwave, who is furious, and orders for the Rise base to be evacuated, in case it's location is compromised.
Suxshot goes to the lower quarters and tells Rumble and Quake to get moving, and to not get any further on his bad side for their murderous actions...

Characters

Security Operations/Autobot

Sentinel Prime - Space Shuttle
Orion Pax - Truck
Chromia - Car
Prowl - Police Vehicle
Nightbeat - Car
Sideswipe - Car
Strongarm - Police Vehicle
Bumper - Car
Hound - Jeep
Ironhide - Van
Pointblank - Car
Vibes
Novastar - Car (Mentioned)
Springer - Helicopter/Car (Mentioned)
Streetwise - Police Vehicle (Mentioned)

Ascenticon/The Rise

Mindwipe - Bat

Visper - Jet

Storm Cloud - Jet Arrested by Security
Sixshot - Car/Jet/Gun/Wolf/Tank
Frenzy
Quake - Tank
Runamuck - Car
Runabout - Car
Skytread - Tank and Jet
OtherAscenticon Guards
Shockwave - Flying Artillery (Voice Only)
Barricade - Police Vehicle (Mentioned)
Skystalker - Car (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Swindle - Van Arrested by Security
Trickdiamond - Car
Headlock - Forklift
Gutcruncher

Andromeda

Lightbright 

Lodestar - Senate Titan Ship Under Repairs
Singe In Custody

Vanquish - Jet

Seaspray - Hovercraft

Hubcap - Car

Machine Wars Starscream - Jet

Two Headed NAIL

Megaplex - Jet

Photon - Race Car

Anode - Bi-plane

Nucleon

Tentakil - Squid

Nautilator - Lobster

Trip-Up - Car

Big Daddy - Car

Hubs - Car

Riptide - Boat

Misfire - Jet

Sledge - Truck

Pipes - Truck

Sharpclaw - Car

Twirl - Jet

Third Plaza Patrons

Senate Protesters

Tagan Heights Rioters

Swindle's Patrons

Apeface (Poster Only)

Lugnut - Jet (Poster Only)

Strika - Battle Tank (Poster Only)

Primus (Mentioned)

The Thirteen (Mentioned)

Wheeljack - Car (Mentioned) Believed to be on the Winged Moon

Leviathan - Harvester (Mentioned)

Vigilem - Titan War Ship (Mentioned)

The Other Titans (Mentioned) Inert and Failing

Other Species

Green, the Flyt

A'ovan Pra'tyne

A'ovan Creatures One Tenth Killed in Tether Collapse

Racing Skitters

Voin Scavengers (Mentioned)

Notes

• There's quite a few new characters introduced this issue, including Andromeda from the Fun Publications lines, Twirl from the Linkage comics, Trick Diamond from the Japanese United lineeline, and even Nick Roche's daughters OC Sharpclaw to name a few notable ones.
• Prowls pet alien is revealed to be a Flyt named Green, because she is green!
• Singe was arrested following his scavenging mission and attack during issue 18.
• In an update to the aftermath of Vigilem's attack, the Winged Moon has floated off into space, and is approaching the Sun, and Vigilem himself has headed off into space.
• Trickdiamond's profile mentions her connection to Swindle, but it was never elaborated on in her comic appearances until now.
• Bumper getting mind controlled to attack Prowl is likely a reference to the similar plot line introduced at the end of Dreamwave's run, bit never went anywhere.
• The end of this issue all but confirms that Frenzy was the one who killed Brainstorm at the start of the series

IDW - Bumblebee: Win if you Dare

Written by: James Asmus

Art by: Marcelo Ferreira & Athila Fabbio

Colours by: Valentina Pinto

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Plot

Bumblebee returns to the Ark following a test drive of his new body frame, and gets warned by Optimus against being so reckless in the future and taking on foes larger than him. Soon, the other Autobots are sent out on missions, whilst Bee is requested to complete another test drive, which he does, and starts to question his role on the team.

Soon, Bee sees a couple of racers, and disguises himself amongst them, only to get rammed by the racing jeep. The driver of the pick-up truck racer, Mateo, who has prosthetic limbs, berates the jeep driver for doing that, only for him to get rammed too, sending him over the side of the mountain road. Before he collides with the ground however, Bee transforms and saves him and his truck, shocking Mateo, who isn't aware of the Cybertronians.

Bee tows Mateo's truck back to his house for repairs, where Mateo explains that he lives with his mother, an aerospace engineer, who has been busy on a top-secret project recently.

Meanwhile, at her top-secret military hangar, Mateo's mother, Angela, is making last minutes plans for her upcoming presentation on a new stealth bomber, unaware than Swindle, the jeep from the earlier race, has been spying on her!

The next day, Mateo has breakfast with his mother, who explains that her presentation is the next day, so she can spend more time with him after that. 

With his mother gone, Mateo goes to their aircraft hanger, where Bee is hiding, as he plans to work with Mateo to find out who their race opponent was, and bring him to justice for trying to kill him. Mateo directs Bee to a garage where he meets with his friend Nicole, who works there and he thinks may know the identity of the racer. They awkwardly talk and Bee realizes that they like each other and tries to bring them closer. Nicole tells Mateo that she's going to the dance that night with some friends, and asks him to join them, before directing him to a military surplus and museum.

At the surplus, Mateo confronts the owner, Herman, who he thinks is the racer, when he notices his mother's bomber design on his boards. Realizing this is bigger than he though, he runs away to Bee, but is rammed by Swindle, who has been hiding there, knocking off his prosthesis, but managing to get into Bee. Bee and Mateo chase Swindle, unaware that the other Combaticons are still at the surplus, continuing their plot. Swindle manages to escape from the duo, and they return to Mateo's home, where Bee convinces him to go to the dance that night instead!

Angela's car breaks down on the way home from the airforce base, when she is captured by Swindle and is taken back to the surplus, where she is shown footage of Mateo, to force her to help them build their own stealth engines....

Mateo goes into the dance hall and starts awkwardly hanging out with Nicole, but Bee has a plan, he takes control of Mateo's prosthesis and makes him dance to impress Nicole, and the two have fun (with Bee revealing he only started him dancing, he's been doing it himself for a while now).

Soon, Bee notices Vortex in the area filming the school and chases him. Mateo and Nicole follow him (with the latter just believing the car was stolen) in Nicole's car. Bee tries to contact the Autobots, but Vortex is jamming his signals.

Back at the surplus, Onslaught starts yelling about Vortex going after Bee, instead of staying with the kid, giving Angela her cue. She grabs the planning board and smacks Swindle with it, allowing her to escape into one of the planes in the yard, allowing her to escape in one.

Angela flies to Sierra Station, where her bomber is based, hoping to get help against the Decepticons, but discovers that due to the presentation the next day, the base has minimal live ammunition on-site.

Bee and his humans friends arrive at the air field just after Angela, just in time for the Combaticons to combine into Bruticus. Despite the difference in size, Bee goes up to him in vehicle mode, and manages to drive around his legs, causing him to lose balance and fall, forcing him to de-combine. Soon, the Autobot and his human allies have gone missing, and they soon know why...they are on the stealth bomber and use it to bomb the Decepticons, with Bee knocking them out with an EMP as well.

Bee calls in the other Autobots, who round up and capture the Combaticons, and Bee tells Optimus what he learned from all this. He needs to concentrate on what he IS good at, and not what he lacks in. Bee says goodbye to his new friends by having one last race with Mateo....

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck

Bumblebee - VW Beetle

Windblade - VTOL Fighter Jet

Sideswipe - Lamborghini 

Blaster - Boom Box

Ratchet - Ambulance 

Wheeljack - Race Car

Prowl - Police Car

Hound - Jeep (On Screen)

Ironhide - Van (On Screen)

Jazz - Porsche (On Screen)

Mirage - F1 Race Car (Mentioned)

Trailcutter - Camper Van (Mentioned)

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Onslaught - Anti-Aircraft Truck Capture by Autobots

Swindle - Jeep Capture by Autobots

Brawl - Tank Capture by Autobots

Vortex - Helicopter Capture by Autobots

Blast Off - Space Shuttle Capture by Autobots

Bruticus - Combaticon Gestalt

Megatron - Gun (Mentioned)

Starscream - Fighter Jet (Mentioned)

Human

Mateo Cruz

Angela Cruz

Nicole

Herman

Captain Devlin

Random Humans

Sierra Station Personnel

Other

Diagnostic Drone

Notes

• This new graphic novel series is set in a variant of the G1 animated cartoon. Though I guess it COULD be the same continuity, but set in the years between season two and three...but then where did Windblade go after this series?
• Due to the stealth bomber's role in this comic, the story seems to be set in the mid-nineties, putting it after season two, however Mateo doesn't seem to know about Transformers, who have been active on Earth for at least a decade this means....maybe he's just very unattentive?
• The title of this volume is, of course, based on the line from the Stan Bush song "Dare", a prominent piece from the 80's G1 movie.
• Bumblebee is mentioned as being in a new body, explaining why he looks so different to his original cartoon look, despite the rest of the characters looking fairly authentic.
• Optimus points out to Bee that he cannot fly....well he COULD in the pilot episodes!!
• So....why exactly is Swindle getting involved in street races?
• Bee's use of the radio and making himself break down to try and get Mateo and Nicole together is clearly a reference to the similar scenes from the Live Action movie.
• Bee having a display with his face on it to interact with his drivers is taken straight from the original Robots in Disguise series, and Rescue Bots.
• So...I can buy Bee being able to control Mateo's prosthetic limbs with radio signals...but how is he controlling his ORGANIC arms?!
• Swindle has been mentioned as being out of favours with Megatron again, like he was in Aerial Assault and B.O.T. from the cartoon, though at least his friends, the Combaticons are still willing to work with him....surely that's not because of him forming a leg in their gestalt form though!
• Trailbreaker is referred to as "Trailcutter" in this comic, despite his original name being available again now....
• Wheeljack is mentioned as being "the smartest"...don't tell Perceptor or Brainstorm!!
• Despite them being captured at the end of this story, their reappearance in Season Three of the cartoon would tell us they get released/escape between now and then.

IDW - Till All Are One #3

Title: Things We Said We'd Never Do

Written by: Mairghread Scott

Art by: Sara Pitre-Durocher

Colours by: Joana LaFuente

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: John Barber

Publisher: Ted Adams

Plot

Windblade arrives at Metroplex's brain chamber and asks him to monitor the rust corridors to look for both Onslaught and Swindle's body, Metroplex asks her why, but Windblade is unwilling to reveal that. Unfortunately for her, Chromia appears and forces her to reveal that she's doing surveillance work for Starscream because he is threatening to expose Chromia's crimes to everyone.

Windblade reveals to her that she's looking for Swindle and trying to find him before Onslaught can because Starscream thinks he can do something to him to hurt his leadership.

Chromia reveals that she has secured footage of the space bridge room during the Combiner Wars and brings it up, but finds it corrupted. Chromia starts working on de-corrupting it, which takes a long time.

Over the next two weeks, Chromia works on repairing the footage, whilst Ironhide is training up his new police force. After the montage, both Blast Off and Chromia manage to hack into the security footage, showing Rattrap and Wheeljack carrying off Swindle's body.

Chromia rushes off to find Wheeljack, and contacts Windblade to keep her informed, however Starscream wont leave her alone, since she hasn't given him any good information yet.

Chromia reaches Wheeljack's apartment and tries to speak to him, just as Blast Off and Vortex blow a hole in the wall, intending to take Wheeljack in.

After a short battle, Chromia is beaten, and Wheeljack reveals that he and Rattrap didn't try to hide Swindle's body, they were trying to save him as he claimed to have secret information on Starscream, but they were too late, and found him brain-dead.

Soon afterwards, Onslaught confronts Rattrap, but is stopped from hurting him by Blast Off, who has arrived with his own Autobot prisoners. Onslaught forces Rattrap to fetch "something" for him, whilst Wheeljack takes him to Swindle's body.

Wheeljack leads Chromia and the Combaticons to a hidden lab where they find a brain-dead Swindle lies hooked up to some machines. Onslught still seems hopeful to get the information from Swindle's mind, but Blast Off is fed up with this. They've found Swindle, but he's brain-dead, they have failed in their plans. Onslught manages to convince him to just help him once more, which Blast Off regretfully does.

Rattrap turns up and Onslaught takes the "something" from him....the Enigma of Combination! Onslaught plans to use this to combine the Combaticons with Swindle, so they can both get the information from his head, and also get revenge on Starscream....

Characters

Autobot

Windblade - VTOL Fighter Jet

Chromia - Speed Bike

Ironhide - Van

Wheeljack - Race Car

Metroplex - Iacon City

Decepticon

Onslaught - Anti-Aircraft Truck

Blast Off - Space Shuttle

Vortex - Helicopter

Brawl - Tank

Swindle - Van Brain Dead

Sparkstalker - Insect Monster

Fat Tankor - Tank

Tall Tankor - Truck/Jet

United Cybertron

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Rattrap - Mole Rat

New Badgeless Recruits

Colonist

Obsidian - Osprey Stealth Jet

Strika - Battle Tank

Moonracer - Sports Car

Knock Out - Sports Car

Tigatron - Tiger

Airazor - Falcon

Fireshot - Part of Jet

Elita One (Mentioned)

Other

Solus Prime (Mentioned)

Notes

• Windblade reveals to Chromia that Starscream is blackmailing her because of what Chromia did in the original Windblade mini-series.
• Despite not being a City Speaker, Chromia can communicate with Metroplex using a keyboard and monitors etc.
• Metroplex has seemingly grown some streets of apartments for the Cybertronians to live in!
• How did Rattrap manage to steal the Enigma of Combination here? Last time we saw it, it was under constant guard by at least two individuals.
• Despite what it appears to be, it looks like Blast Off is willing to abandon Onslaught and the other Combaticons after this mission to try and save Swindle, most likely as a consequence of his positive police training by Ironhide.
• On the other hand, Onslaught appears to be turning a little bit possessive and wants to merge with the Combaticons for ever!!!
• This issue came with a pull-out advert for the upcoming Revolution event.

IDW - Till All Are One #2

Title: Applicable Skills

Written by: Mairghread Scott

Art by: Sara Pitre-Durocher

Colours by: Priscilla Tramontano

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: John Barber

Publisher: Ted Adams

Plot

The riots over the death of a Decepticon by one of the Badgeless officers continues through the night, but Blast Off, who was directly involved in the incident has snuck back to the Combaticon Apartment, once there, Onslught quickly determines that Blast Off has done something and takes him to one side for a discussion.

The rioters, now being led by Onslaught and Blast Off storm towards the Council building, ready to lynch Starscream for his criminal actions.

An emergency meeting of the Council of Worlds is held, where Starscream suggests that they lock down the city and arrest everyone who has committed any crime to set an example. The Council disagree, and suggest calling on Victorion from Earth, as she could end the riots easily, however Starscream refuses since opening the space bridge could allow the rioters to take control of it.

Starscream reveals to the Council that Onslaught has a vendetta against him due to him breaking a deal with him over power in the past.

Ironhide, Windblade and Obsidian manipulate the situation, and force Starscream into naming Ironhide the new head of the Badgeless, as he's respected by the public.

Ironhide heads outside to announce his new position to the rioters and promises the find Swindle or his corpse, and also asks the rioters for volunteers to join the Badgeless and help him, regardless of past factions etc.

After a short period of silence, the Tankors and Sparkstalker volunteer, at this Onslaught snaps and attacks Ironhide, however Blast Off turns on his leader and restrains him, joining the New Badgeless himself, to Onsluaght's anger.

Up at the observation level of the Council building, the Council members decide to make a comment on the situation and leave. Windblade remains to ask Starscream if he does have Swindle's body, which Starscream finally confirms to not have. Starscream blackmails Windblade into taking down the Combaticons, before they can hurt him, or he'll expose Chromia's past crimes to the population.

In the streets of Iacon, Fat Tankor offers Blast Off to stay with him since he's fallen out with the Combaticons, which Blast Off accepts. Blast Off wanders off on his own and bumps into Onslught....who congratulates him on his good work!

Characters

Autobot

Ironhide - Van

Windblade - VTOL Fighter Jet

Chromia - Speed Bike

Bumblebee - Car (Ghost)

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab (Mentioned)

Victorion - Torchbearer Gestalt (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Onslaught - Anti-Aircraft Truck

Blast Off - Space Shuttle

Brawl - Tank

Vortex - Helicopter

Sparkstalker - Insect Monster

Tall Tankor - Jet/Truck

Fat Tankor - Treaded Vehicle

"Drunkatron" - Car (Footage Only) Dead

Swindle - Van (Mentioned) Assumed Dead

Decepticon Justice Division (Mentioned)

United Cybertron

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Rattrap - Mole Rat

Circuit

Badgeless Officers

Colonist

Obsidian - Osprey Stealth Bomber

Strika - Battle Tank

Airazor - Falcon

Tigatron - Tiger

Knock Out - Sports Car

Moonracer - Sports Car

Vanquish - Part of Jet

Fireshot - Part of Jet

Elita One - Car (Mentioned)

Other

Various Rioters

Primus (Mentioned)

Notes

• From the images shown in during the opening of this issue, it's very likely that Blast Off was the one to record the death of "Drunkatron" and leaked it to the press himself, just to add to the havoc.
• Obsidian claims that Elita One has kept the people from Carcer back on their ship, but last issue we clearly saw Lancer and Greenlight at the bar...it was even a major plot point!
• Onslaught and the Combaticons are revealed to have a vendetta against Starscream because he made a deal with them following the return to Cybertron, that if he managed to rise to power on Cybertron then he'd let them join him, however he reneged on the plan, causing their hatred.