IDW - Transformers: Galaxies #3

Title: Constructicons Rising! Part 3

Written by: Tyler Bleszinski

Art by: Livio Ramondelli

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Plot

Wheeljack witnesses the Constructicons in their combined form complete a building, in the aftermath of the war, but is terrified when he sees the combiner destroy that same building, and smiles as he did so, much as he was expecting from the combination of all those minds.

Termagax manages to calm the giant down and gets him to de-combine. She suggests to Scrapper that the Constructicons need to control the seventh mind that appears when they combine, by allowing him to take the reigns in that form, which they agree to try out.

Later, in Iacon, Wheeljack meets with the Senate to report his concerns about the Constructicons, and despite Termagax's pleas to allow them to work to rebuild Cybertron as they are destined to, but the leader of the Senate, Nominus Prime, disagrees, concerned with the damage they can cause to Cybertron and it's population, and more importantly to him, the extreme amount of Energon needed to power their combined form. He allows them to fix the damage they caused recently, but after that, they need to be dealt with.

Some while later, the Constructicons complete their work in Iacon, having taken Termagax's suggestion about their combined form and are proud with their work. Nominus soon arrives and congratulates them on their hard work, and presents them with badges of honour.

Soon, Nominus gives the Constructicons a new mission, to help rebuild an energy processing plant on one of their outposts, so they can use that energy to further fix Cybertron. Termagax says she agrees with Nominus, but asks them to be wary and not everyone who has left Cybertron, has been for noble reasons.

The Constructicons leave Cybertron, heading to Mayalx, for which they hope to only be a short mission...

Characters

Cybertronian

Nominus Prime - Jet

Termagax - Van

Wheeljack - Car

Scrapper - Earthmover

Bonecrusher - Bulldozer

Hook - Crane

Scavenger - Excavator

Long Haul - Dump Truck

Mixmaster - Mixing Truck

"Devastator" - Constructicon Gestalt

Nominus' Senate Members

Nominus' Guards

Iacon Workers

Primus (Mentioned)

Megatron - Armoured Vehicle (Mentioned)

"The Abomination, Abominus" - Terrorcon Gestalt (Mentioned)

Iacon Rebuilding Teams (Mentioned)

Notes

• Sorry I'm so late on this one as well, but I've been busy with the new Pokémon games etc (plus as I mentioned last time, this series/storyline is kind of repetitive and boring)
• This issue is set entirely in a flashback showing what happened between the flashbacks in issue 1, and the present day scenes
• The scene of the Constructicons in "Devastator's" head seems to be based on the similar scene of the Combaticons inside Bruticus from Till All Are One.
• To possibly explain why the Constructicons blame Wheeljack for them being stranded on Mayalx, we see that he is the one who reported their violence to the Senate here...however Termagax tells them that SHE thought them leaving was a good idea, and we never see them learning that Wheeljack said anything...so.....what happened there?
• Nominus Prime finally makes a full appearance in a piece of media!!! YAY!!!
• Nominus directly references the early scenes from Issue 6 of the main comic, where he says that Megatron, the miners and archivists are pulling their weight in rebuilding, which we saw in that issue.
• The badges of honour shown this issue appear to be very simplified Autobot insignias, either meaning this is the origin of them, or that they simply base them off of their party's insignia for some reason.
• Since Nominus doesn't have a badge in this issue and it being set RIGHT AFTER the world changing war, we can assume that the Autobot party hasn't been fully formed yet, so I'm just going to class everyone as Cybertronian in the character lists.
• I think it's being implied from Scrapper noticing the workers also having the badges that there are some sort of symbol of trouble or perhaps an inhibiter of sorts, but we never see the Constructicons wearing them in this issue, or in the present day

IDW - Transformers: Galaxies #2

Title: Constructicons Rising, Part 2

Written by: Tyler Bleszinski

Art by: Livio Ramondelli

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Plot

On Mayalx, the Constructicons are sparring in a make-shift gladiatorial arena to improve their fighting skills, since Scrapper believes the changing times on Cybertron will lead to problems, and he wants them to be prepared.

Elsewhereon the planetoid, the Insecticons devour a dead Cybertronian, and metabolise him into Energon between themselves. They get interrupted by a communication from Shockwave however, who orders Bombshell to pick up the pace in getting the Constructicons to join their cause.

Back at the "arena" Scrapper teaches the others a lesson, when he defeats Bonecrusher, without even using a weapon, and knocks him out. Bombshell soon arrives and creeps out the Constructicons, with his temptation to eat the injured Bonecrusher.

The bug-bot proceeds to tell the Constructicons the story of how when he, and the others were forged, they were discovered to have a unique ability to eat raw materials, and create Energon from it, which was quickly put to use by society, however when the war started, the trio were pulled into it and eventually started eating the corpses of the war's victims, gaining their new title as Insecticons.

Following the war, the new bots in charge decided to distance themselves from these new monsters, and eventually sent them out to distant colonies to clean them up, and keep them out of sight.

Bombshell concludes his story by explaining that they wanted to get rid of them, because they were scared of them, and their powers, just like what happened to the Constructicons. The builders point out that the Insecticons ARE monsters though, and all the Constructicons want to do is build. But Bombshell reiterates that they are being kept underpowered and far away, never to return, due to everyone fearing their combined form, and hints towards them that he has allies that can allow them to live their lives, unchained and free from that fear... 

Characters

The Rise

Bombshell - Boll Weevil

Kickback - Locust

Skrapnel - Scarab Beetle

Shockwave - Hovercraft (On Communicator Only)

Other Cybertronian

Scrapper - Earthmover

Bonecrusher - Bulldozer

Mixmaster - Mixing Truck

Long Haul - Dump Truck

Scavenger - Excavator

Hook - Crane

Building Site "Accident" Victim Killed and Eaten by Insecticons

Devastator - Constructicon Gestalt (Statue/Mentioned Only)

Brainstorm - Jet (Flashback Only)

Brainstorm's Cos-Researchers (Flashback Only)

Notes

• Sorry I haven't uploaded this thing before now, I've just been busy recently, and this series hasn't been too motivating to get it done earlier. (Assuming it's out on time, the next issue will also be a little late, due to a trip I'm taking next weekend)
• It's implied in this issue that the Constructicons are being kept underpowered to make them slower and cause them to have a reason for not being able to return to Cybertron sooner. It's also very likely that it is to stop them from combining into Devastator and causing another ruckus!
• The Insecticon's victim this issue is mentioned as having an "accident" leading to his death...me thinks they killed him for his juices!
• Bombshell knowing who Shockwave is, and seemingly working for him implies that he is a member of the Rise.
• Its mentioned that Shockwave has plans for Bombshell's Cerebro-shells, considering the title of the story-arc in the main comic is currently "The change in your nature" could this be a hint towards an upcoming plot point?
• The last panel of the penultimate page of Devastator's head in a closeup is unclear, it might be a statue, like I think, or it could be a flashback to when they combined. If it is a statue though...then why was it made, when it's been made clear than people are afraid of Devastator?
• Apparently the crater made when Devastator punched the ground outside Iacon was never filled in...is it just a bro-fist pool when the acid rains come then?

IDW - Transformers Galaxies #1

Title: Constructicons Rising, Part 1

Written by: Tyler Bleszinski

Art by: Livio Ramondelli

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Plot

On Mayalx, the Constructicons are finishing off the Energon processing complex, and reminisce over the past, and long to return home to Cybertron, they hope that after this project they can return, but are also well aware that the people of Cybertron are afraid of them...

Long ago, following the war against the Threefold Spark, Iacon has been mostly destroyed, so Termagax and Wheeljack lead the reconstruction project, and are soon accompanied by the Constructicons , a team of prodigy builders.

During their work at Rivet's Field, the Constructicons have an unexpected discovery, the Enigma of Combination. Termagax explains to them that this artefact allows Cybertronians to combine and pool their abilities together, and asks them if they would be willing to attempt a combination to make the reconstruction process go past quicker, which they agree to.

The Constructicons soon embrace the Enigma , but struggle to even move with the new form, however they do manage to use their powers to smash a hole in the ground, saving them ten cycles worth of work in the process. The team decombine, and are drained. Scrapper is unsure if he wants to combine again, but Termagax says they should, and reiterates that they make a great team, unlike the previous combiner, whose members did not have a shared goal, and it went on a rampage, before being separated.

Termagax and Wheeljack leave, with Wheeljack worried about the Constructicon's new ability, but Termagax states that so long as they concentrate on building, then the combiner should have the same desires, and wont go on the rampage too.

Soon, with the help of the Constructicon's new form, Iacon is rebuilt, and it is considered a masterpiece.

Back in the present, the Constructicons continue with work on the processing complex, unaware that Bombshell is watching them...planning to use them for his plan....

Characters

Cybertronian

Scrapper - Earth Mover

Hook - Crane

Scavenger - Excavator

Mixmaster - Mixing Truck

Bonecrusher - Bulldozer

Long Haul - Dump Truck

Bombshell

Mayalx Energon Processing Complex Staff

"Unnamed Devastator" - Constructicon Gestalt (Flashback Only)

Termagax - Truck (Flashback Only)

Wheeljack - Car (Flashback Only)

Abominus - Terrorcon Gestalt (Flashback Only) Defeated and Parts Scattered

Primus (Mentioned)

Megatron - Armoured Vehicle (Mentioned)

"The Threefold Spark" (Mentioned) Defeated

Notes

• The present day segments of this story appear to be set along with the present day of the main title. The flashback scenes however seem to tale place before the events shown in issue six of the main title, due to the future Senators discussing the Constructicons as established builders there.
• The flashbacks of this story appear to be the earliest set story in this new continuity so far, showing just after the war against the Threefold Spark
• The Constructicons are mentioned to have left their Mentors earlier than usual.
• Termagax is revealed to have been Megatron's Mentor in the past.
• Termagax mentions the need to "Ascend", likely showing us the birth of her future Ascenticon movement.
• The Constructicons blame Wheeljack for them finding the Enigma of Combination, and causing them to combine and be "exiled"...but Termagax was literally the one who suggested that they should combine...why isn't she to blame?
• The Enigma is located in Rivet's Field, which in the old IDW was one of the Hot Spots and later the launch site of the Lost Light.
• The Enigma was an artefact first seen in the old IDW, as the signature item of Nexus Prime, which, like here, allows Cybertronians to combine.
• Devastator is shown to have normal optics, with a retractable visor to go over them, referencing the different head models of Devastator from the G1 cartoon.
• The previous user of the Enigma isn't named here, but from the words "Terror" and "Abomination" as well as his recognizable silhouette, we can easily see it's the Terrorcons and Abominus 
• The last two pages are seemingly in the "present", even though the comic itself neglects to show that, with another "Now." caption, like with every other time skip.
• The statue that Bombshell is shown standing on at the end appears to be of Megatronus/The Fallen of the Thirteen.