IDW - More Than Meets the Eye #22

Title: "Little Victories": A film by Rewind of Lower Petrohex

Written by: James Roberts

Art by: James Raiz

Colours by: Josh Burcham

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: John Barber

Plot

A film, made by Rewind starts, and the crew of the Lost Light introduce themselves to the audience. The scene flashes back to just before the launch and Rodimus asks Rewind to record his every movement so they can document the journey and use it as a travelogue of sorts. Magnus is a bit wary, but Rodimus allows him to have final editorial cut if he wants.

The scene flashes forward some time to Rewind, Swerve and Tailgate hanging out at the Oil Reservoir, discussing alternate modes, then get the idea to hold a contest to find out Rung's alternate mode, as Rewind reveals that his wheel is just an ornament and actually becomes a trolley for him to use. Swerve tries making him transform by force by throwing hand grenades at the back of his head, which just annoys the therapist more than anything.

Rewind asks Skids if he has any hobbies for the film, he says he likes meeting new people, like the Stentarians on Hedonia. The scene shifts back to Hedonia, where Skids, Whirl and Rewind are face to face with several other robotic lifeforms, and they start comparing whose species and war is better. (The Ammonites are at war with the Terradores, and they all combine with eachother, have 10 alt modes and other amazing things. But their war has lasted sixteen million years.)

Soon they sit down to drink with the Autobots and realize how futile the war is, before long though some Terradores arrive on the planet. Whirl gets annoyed, goes outside, and kills their leader. Apparently ending that long conflict in one move.

Rewind asks the crew if they are happy for the film, and gets a varied response. Later, Rung is walking around with his trolley and is called into the bar by Tailgate, who is in his alternate mode with several others, and calls it an "Alt-Mode Party!". Rung points out however that they can't reach their drinks in those modes, stumping the poor little guy.

Later, Blaster calls Rodimus up to the bridge as he's gotten a message from another Autobot ship, captained by the famous and wonderful Thunderclash. Rodimus gets a bit jealous of Thudnerclash and keeps trying the one-up him, only to fail at every turn, and gets really annoyed when Thunderclash reveals that HE'S on a quest to find the Knights of Cybertron as well.

It's revealed that Thudnerclash wants to use the Lost Light's Quantum engines to repower his ship, the Vis Vitalis, which is also what keeps him alive. Perceptor says that it can work, but suddenly Thunderclash's second officer Paddox is revealed to be an evil Ammonite spy who has been leaking Autobot secrets and tech to the Ammonites to defeat the peacful Terradores. However since the Terradore leader was killed a short time ago the new leader has become quite dangerous. He planned to take the Lost Light and defeat the Terradores with it, but if Thunderclash uses the engines like he wants to, the ship will be useless to them. So he threatens to kill the famous Autobot.

Swerve and Rung are wandering towards the engine room, as Swerve has lied and said he personally knows Thunderclash and can get Rung his autograph in exchange for him showing him that his Transformation Cog still works, when they come across the hostage situation. The two manage to save the day however when Rung turns into a make-shift bat mode and Swerve knocks out Paddox with it.

Rung reveals to Rewind that he doesn't know what his alternate mode is, and no-one ever has, during the functionist days he was given a wheel to make him look "normal" and his ID card identifies him as being an "ornament".

After the incident, the Vis Vitalis is repaired and Thudnerclash goe soff on his way again, with Rodimus finally respecting him (though he hints that if Rewind wasn't recording then he may have reacted differently)

Back in the present, Skids is showing the film to the the surviving members of the Circle of Light on Luna-1 in the hopes that they'll join the quest. They agree, but decide to try and find Thunderclash to join his crew instead of Rodimus'.

Back in the film, the crew give their hopes for the future of the quest,and Rewinds finishes it off with a group-shot of the main-crew members who appeared in his film.

The End. (now roll credits!)

Characters

Autobot

Rodimus "Prime" - Car

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport

Drift - Car

Skids - Van

Swerve - Van

Rung - Unknown Alternate Mode

Rewind - Giant Memory Stick

Chromedome - Car

Trailcutter - Van

Blaster

Whirl - Osprey Helicopter

Brainstorm - Jet

Perceptor

Ratchet - Ambulance

First Aid - Ambulance

Other Lost Lighters

Optimus Prime (Mentioned)

Red Alert (Mentioned)

Waverider (Mentioned)

Stentarians

Paddox - Omni-Combinational (Ammonite)

16444/9 - Omni-Combinational (Ammonite)

Imperius Drax (Mentioned - Terradore) Killed by Whirl

Drax's Successor (Mentioned - Terradore)

Terradore Imperial Guard (Mentioned)

Other Ammonites

Terradores (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Megatron (Mentioned)

Other

Tailgate - Car

Cyclonus - Jet

Hedonians

Mondo the Bartender

Circle of Light Outside of Film Only

Chief Justice Tyrest (Mentioned)

Nominus Prime (Mentioned)

Knights of Cybertron (Mentioned)

Galactic Council (Mentioned)

Functionists (Mentioned)

Notes

• This story uses footage from the start of the Lost Light's journey up until just before Rewind's death, with the non-movie parts being set during the end of the last issue.
• This story reveals that Rung's alternate mode is a mystery, even to him. Meaning that the maintenance buggy mode shown in his design pages was just there for the sake of it.
• Rung talking about his spaceships to Rewind in the film seems to be part of one of the clips shown in Rewind's "goodbye message"
• The Ammonites and Terradores are clearly a parallel to the Autobots and Decepticons (though with the nicer sounding Ammonites being evil it seems). They also all seem to be based on Micromaster Gestalt teams to an extent.
• Tailgate in his vehicle mode has an Autobot insignia, this is either a mistake, or it's another attempt on his temporary one.
• Tailgate reveals here that Rung was indeed around during his era as well. (This was only hinted at before when he spoke about Rungian theories
• Ultra Magnus is shown hugging Thunderclash in the movie, this is where Tyrest got that piece of silliness from!
• Also, it's a bit odd that Magnus censored the earlier bits of humiliation, but not this one.
• Thunderclash is revealed to have been on a Knight Quest of his own for some time now...wonder if we'll see him again in the future?
• Apparently the Ammonites are similar enough to Autobots that Paddox could go undetected for ages.
• The Functionists got Rung's name wrong on his ID card...oh dear!
• It's shown here that the Circle of Light (or at least the majority) didn't go with Rodimus and the others, but were interested in joining Thunderclash's crew
• It's not shown how Paddox was dealt with after his betrayal. Most likely he went to the brig of one of the two ships
• The whole last few pages of this comic appear to be the crew and audience reactions to the series in general.Just read them and you'll see what I mean!

IDW - Robots in Disguise #21

Title: Shockpoint

Written by: John Barber

Art by: Andrew Griffith (Present Day) and Livio Ramondelli (Past)

Colours by: Priscila Tramontano (Present Day) and Livio Ramondelli (Past)

Letters by: Shawn Lee

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Plot

Months ago, just after the rebirth of Cybertron, the Decepticons are disorganized, Ratbat however claims leadership, and tries to make some alliances with the Autobots. Once he's gone Shockwave approaches Soundwave and Bombshell telling them that Megatron is still alive, and they have work to do.

In the present day, Shockwave and Dreadwing are in the Crystal City preparing for Shockwave's new plan, and Dreadwing marveling about his recovery from death thanks to the Ore in the city. He contacts Jhiaxus who tells him he's waiting for Orion Pax on Gorlam Prime.

On the surface, Soundwave is spying on the conversation and starts work on a way to stop Shockwave in his schemes, but the other Decepticons aren't interested, and defy his leadership, by attacking him, and his cassettes. The battle ends with Needlenose using his words and makes them realize that this is all pointless and none of them care what Shockwave is doing as he deserted them in the battle, but if Soundwave wants to deal with Shockwave, he can do so himself.

Soundwave remembers back to the Chaos event where he, and the other Decepticons were merged together into the Decepti-God by the D-Void, due to them all being devoted to the Decepticon cause (thus bring forth the combiner revealtion seen with Devastator). And he remembers how Shockwave was NOT part of the Decepti-God, and merely watched the whole battle from afar.

Back in the present, Soundwave travels underground and finds the Crystal City, still intact and works out that this is Shockwave's base of operations, Soundwave quickly begins a battle with Dreadwing.

Back during the Decepticon exile on their asteroid, Shockwave and Soundwave are discussing how the Decepticons are beginning to resort to cannibalism and Shockwave continues his work on creating a Gestalt and a Space Bridge, Soundwave however is working on building a new body for Megatron, which Shockwave offers to assist in (which is why the body is incorporated with Space Bridge tech too).

In the present again, Soundwave defeats Dreadwing, and kills him with Shockwave watching on.

Back during Soundwave's time trapped in his alternate mode on Earth, he meets with Shockwave, and they both plot together to repair Soundwave's problem, if Soundwave deactivates the bomb in his head in exchange. Soundwave asks Shockwave about the Regenesis project, but Shockwave refuses to tell him anything about it (but the two do help each other out in the other ways)

Dreadwing is revived from the dead again on present Cybertron. Soundwave  assumes that Shockwave plans to use this process in the city to revive Megatron as well, but he doesn't plan to, as he deems that Megatron betrayed them with all his failed promises in the past, and due to him never truly trusting Shockwave.

Back in the past, Megatron gives Bludgeon his mission to follow Shockwave's steps after he went missing, and then sends Soundwave to follow Bludgeon as well. Megatron tells Soundwave that he plans to use whatever Shockwave has created for his own goals. Soundwave vows to not fail Megatron, even if it means killing Shockwave in the process.

Characters

Autobot

Sideswipe - Car (Flashback Only)

Orion Pax - Truck Cab (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Soundwave - Van

Shockwave - Flying Artillery

Dreadwing - Stealth Bomber

Blitzwing - Tank/Jet

Astrotrain - Train/Space Shuttle

Needlenose - Jet

Ravage - Cassette

Laserbeak - Data Disk

Buzzsaw - Cassette

Rumble - Tank

Frenzy - Tank

Cutthroat

Acid Storm - Jet

Cindersaur

Megatron - Tank (Flashback Only) Currently disabled

Bludgeon - Tank (Flashback Only)

Ratbat - Cassette (Flashback Only)

Long Haul - Dump Truck (Flashback Only)

Bonerusher - Bulldozer (Flashback Only)

Hook - Crane (Flashback Only)

Bombshell - Boll Weevil (Flashback Only)

Kickback - Locust (Flashback Only)

Shrapnel - Stag Beetle (Flashback Only)

Dreadwind - Jet (Flashback Only) Dead - Eaten

Menasor - Gestalt (Hologram Only)

Devastator - Gestalt (Hologram Only)

Monstructor - Gestalt (Hologram Only)

Turmoil - Tank (Mentioned) Dead

Starscream - Jet (Mentioned)

Skywarp - Jet (Mentioned)

Horri-Bull (Mentioned)

Constructicons (Mentioned)

DJD (Mentioned)

Other Decepticons

Other

Jhiaxus - Jet

Galvatron - Tank (Flashback Only)

Sweeps - Space Shuttles (Flashback Only)

Decepti-God (Flashback Only)

NAILS (Mentioned)

Skywatch (Mentioned)

Notes

• The past events here patch up some continuity errors in the past, while most likely also linking towards the upcoming Dark Cybertron event too.
• Also, the past scenes are all shown in reverse chronological order.
• The present day scenes are set concurrently with the other Prelude issues (though after Shockwave's last appearance clearly)
• Most likely Ravage's near-death from Tyrest's Kill Switch happened just before this issue begins
• Dreadwing had his new body designed in homage to Megatron's last Earth Mode.
• Shockwave has a hologram on Menasor in the flashback, which implies that either he had a hand in designing that gestalt, despite Swindle doing all the work, or something sent him the schematics at some point.
• It's implied here that Starscream knew about Shockwave's regenesis project to some extent as he knew about Earth's Ore-13's official name.
• The scene at the end of this issue is a further extension of a scene from Spotlight: Shockwave, that was also extended in Spotlight: Soundwave! Wonder if we'll get a further extension in the future?

Titan - Transformers Prime #17

Cover Date: Nov/Dec 2013

Cover Price: £3.99

Poster: Beast Hunters Bumblebee

Comic Title: Collider Scope

Script: Robin Etherington

Art: Horacio Domingues

Colours: Nestor Pereyra

Lettering: Comicraft

Plot

Earthquakes start occuring in Europe, an area not usually known for quakes. Fowler is contacted by the president about a situation in the area, where some American troops have gone missing. Fowler informs the Autobots and a team is sent out to investigate.

Before long, the Autobots make it inside the underground base and find Shockwave working with the Decepticons to use the particle accelerator to create a permanent space bridge to Cybertron. The Autobots attack the Decepticons, but Shockwave summons Predaking to the battle as well.

The Autobots fight the Predacon, and Optimus uses himself as bait for him to chase, in the process though he manages to reverse the polarity of the electro magnet powering the collider and causes it to explode, closing the space bridge, and resulting in the Decepticons running away.

In the Aftermath the Autobots look at the destroyed device and wonder if they'll ever go hom, but understand that they have a new home to protect instead.

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Ratchet - Ambulance

Arcee - Motorcycle

Bulkhead - SUV

Wheeljack - Race Car

Decepticon

Shockwave - Cybertronian Tank

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Vehicons - Cars

Predacon

Predaking - Dragon

More Predacons (Mentioned)

Other

Agent Fowler

Jack

Raf

Genevans Caught in Earthquake

Mini-Cons (Mentioned)

President of US (Mentioned)

American Team in Geneva (Mentioned)

Notes

• This annoys me, in the comic Optimus is shown in his pre-Beast Hunters body, but has flight capabilities, this wouldn't matter too much normally, as this comic often used wrong character models during the Movie comics, but the article on the Forge shows him in his new body!!
• This comic seems to be set before Predaking revealed his sentience to the Decepticons during the series, though the characters refer to him as "The Predaking"
• The top secret particle accelerator mentioned here is most likely the one at CERN....not exactly top secret since everyone knows it exists!
• Wheeljack actually appears here! Now where's Smokescreen and Magnus?
• Why do the Decepticons want another permanent Space Bridge? They already have one as shown at the end of season 2!
• Why is Bulkhead so eager to get back to Cybertron? He's JUST BEEN THERE, and right now the planet is DEAD!!
• Bulkhead mentions Mini-Cons here...this can only mean that Arms Mircons are in this continuity!!! (I can dream can't I?)
• Wheeljack mentions "Garbage-O's", something introduced in the Allspark Almanacs...the writers are aware of what the fans like!
• There's a mention of "survivors" implying that some of the humans died when the Decepticons attacked
• Starscream's insulting names for Bulkhead and Wheeljack (Flunk-Head and Flat-Tyre) are kind of...pathetic...
• It's not really made clear, but the earthquakes seem to be caused by the space bridge's creation

Other Features

Adverts

Competition

All about...Predaking! - Predaking profile

Soundwave's Stumpers! - PUZZLES!! YAY!

The Beast Hunt! More puzzles! Booo

Bulkhead's Word Search - Take a guess

The Trans-Files - Info on the Forge of Solus Prime

Hunter or Hunted? - Question based puzzle to find out who you are (I'm Bulkhead btw....)

Mega Mouth - Letters and pictures page hosted by Megatron and Arcee

Ballistic Brain Busters! - WHY ARE THERE SO MANY PUZZLES?!

Double Trouble! - MORE!!! (This one's a spot the difference btw)

Escape! - Maze Puzzle

Bumblebee's Beast Blaster! - Cut out, and ruin the comic to give your Bumblebee shaped blaster (free with this issue) some targets (either that or use Mini-Cons)

Rescue Bots - The Mystery of the Pirate Bell

Plot

At the firehouse, Cody is telling the Rescue Bots about the pirates who stole the Settlers' Bell in the past, but Cody has to leave for a rehearsal with his Lad Pioneer troop for the Founder's Day ceremony the next morning. As he goes to leave though his father stops him because of the bad weather and instead has the team roll out to help safeguard the town from the storm.

Whilst at the marina Blades gets Cody to finish his story, and they learn that the pirates were lost in a storm, much like they were having tonight. Suddenly the storm manages to destroy a part of the marina, and sends Cody and the Rescue Bots afloat into the ocean with no-one able to help them.

Soon, they land on a deserted island, and Blades discovers that his rotor blade is busted, so he can't fly. The group search the island and find a nice opening where they set up camp. The Rescue Bots try building a shelter for Cody to use, but it's useless as it keeps collapsing, however that's fine, since Cody manages to build himself one using his Pioneer training. The Rescue Bots then go looking for food for Cody, but fail there too, but luckily (again) Cody uses his training to catch and eat his own fish.

That night, the group surround themselves around a camp fire and Cody starts to tell a scary story, which Blades gets afraid off, so tries to make an excuse at getting more firewood. Cody notices that the firewood he currently has looks like a figurehead of a ship, and asks Blades where he found it.

The next morning Blades takes the group to where he found the figurehead, and the group fall down a hole into a cavern, where they find a pirate's ship with the Settlers' Bell on board in a grotto. The group manage to drag it out of the grotto and sail it back to Griffin Rock, where the town are happy and the bell is returned to it's rightful place.

Characters

Autobot

Heatwave - Fire Engine

Chase - Police Car

Blades - Rescue Helicopter

Boulder - Bulldozer

Human

Cody Burns

Chief Charlie Burns

Dani Burns

Kade Burns

Graham Burns

Griffin Rock Civilians

Lad Pioneers

Oaken Crow Pirates (Mentioned)

Notes

• This story book is a retelling of the Transformers: Rescue Bots episode "The Lost Bell" using screen shots and big chunks of text
• Graham, Kade and Dani only appear here in cameo appearances
• It's a bit of a coincidence that the only guy who got injured in the storm is the only flier, and the only injury was his rotor blade
• I like how Cody and the Rescue Bots just HAPPENED to land on the same island as the pirates they were just talking about before their journey
• I wonder if Cody and the others found any pirate corpses on the island or ship?

IDW - More Than Meets The Eye #21

Title: Remain in Light Part 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life

Written by: James Roberts

Art by: Alex Milne

Colours by: Josh Burcham with Joana Lafuente

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: John Barber

Plot

Tyrest is about to step through the portal to Cyberutopia, when Tailgate, who cannot hear the signal from Tyrests weapon jumps on his head and jabs his finger in the hole in his forehead, incapacitating him, Tailgate then turns off the signal, allowing the others to move again. Tyrest gets ready to kill Tailgate, but Rodimus points one of the claimed Legislator weapons to threaten him, and Tailgate pleads with him to just do it, as he's going to die from Cybercrosis within 2 days anyway. However the situation is put out of Rodimus' hands when Tyrest is shot in the back by an even smaller Minimus Ambus!

Outside, at the Smelting Pool the Circle of Light and Whirl fight off the Legislators, whilst Cyclonus goes on to challenge Star Saber, after a short battle, Cyclonus jabs Star Saber in one eye with his horn and prepares to kill him, but Star Saber teleports away at the las moment

Inside the Control Room again, Rodimus is shocked by Ambus's new appearance, and he reveals that THIS is actually his true form, and that he just had 2 body suits. Perceptor and the others get to work to try and reverse the effects of the Kill Switch, when Pharma escapes from his cuffs and heads to the portal. Skids, Rung and First Aid go after him, but Pharma reveals he can't go through anyway, as there's a forcefield, which Rung realises is similar to Aequitas technology, and only one without guilt, and flly at peace can pass through, which only Skids in the group matches, so he heads on through. After Skids has gone, Pharma taunts First Aids, and laughs about killing Ambulon, prompting First Aid to simply blast off his head. Rung consoles his distraught friend.

Rodimus is hooked up to the Kill Switch by Perceptor, who plans to use his Matrix half to reset the sparkcode in all the Cold Constructed Transformers, allowing them to be saved, but in the process it may kill Rodimus, and will certainly destroy the Matrix half. Before he potentially dies he wants to talk to Ambus though. Nearby, Swerve hears Tyrest talking, as he states "One, One". This causes all the Legislators to stop their attack outside, and rush to his aid.

Ambus reveals to Rodimus that he DID lure the Lost Light to Luna-1, but having Tyrest remotely access the armour to return it to him, rather than teleporting, so that they would follow, and Tyrest would knock some sense into Rodimus for his poor leadership style, this was of course before he knew Tyrest had gone coo-coo-bananas. Rodimus in turn reveals that he was involved in Overlord being on the ship, as Prowl basiclaly goaded him into doing it, b ut he promises that if he survives the Kill Switch reset, then he'll make amends. Perceptor activates the switch.

Skids, on the other side of the portal arrives on a strange world with several nearby metallic plants floating around, he is greeted by a giant multi-coloured spark who speaks to him in a strange language he doesn't understand.

The Kill Switch works, and all the Cold Constructed are returned to normal, all across the universe, however, the Matrix half is destroyed in the process. Before long, the Legislators have marched into the room, and start attacking the Autobots. Outside, Cyclonus and Whirl meet on top of the Smelting pool, with Whirl glad about their victory, he asks Cyclonus if they're cool, to which Cyclonus imagines himself pushing Whirl into the pool, killing him, but instead just leaves, agreeing to end their fued.

Skids rushes back through the portal after hearing Rung call for help, and Pharma's headless body is grabbed by some tendrils and pulled through the portal. During the battle, Tailgate learns about Tyrest's computer and how the Legislators are linked to it, so he modified the last accord, which repeals the entire thing, making the Legislators stop in their tracks, however Tailgate collapses from his illness

The next day, Cyclonus is with Chromedome in a medibay with Tailgate, who knows that his death is near now, he tells Cyclonus that he has a gift for him in their hab-suite and how he was only born a couple of weeks before the Ark-1 launch, and he's just wanted to do something with his life, he begs Cyclonus to kill him, but he refuses. Ratchet contacts Cyclonus to tell him they've found the cure in Pharma's medibays with Swerve's help, but it's too late to apply it, as Tailgate's spark is too weak. Cyclonus goes off in a strop, but is stopped by Whirl...a short time later, he arrives at Tailgate's deathbed again, with his great sword, and skewers him with it.

The Lost Light leaves soon afterwards, with Ambus back in the Ultra Magnus armour, and Rodimus beginning his plans to make amends, but is worried about his crew, since Ambulon and several others were killed, First Aid's gone quiet, and Brainstorm's locked himself in his workshop (unknown to others, with the Point One Percentor spark), and they wonder how Luna-1 was kept missing for so long, when Tyrest found it so easily, which is revealed to be, unknown to them as well, because the planet has a massive rocket on the back.

Later, Ultra Magnus visits Cyclonus in his hab suite, now sporting a new horn, thanks to Tailgate, and asks how Tailgate is doing, which Cyclonus replies that he needs to recover still from the treatment, revealing that he used the Great Sword to transplant some of his own spark into him, as he had excess energies, and that it was Whirl's idea. Magnus is impressed, and finally officially welcomes him aboard the ship.

The Sound of Breaking Glass

Earlier on, Rodimus and Ambus lead a mission on Luna-1 to try and recover what they can from the planet before they plan to leave. Brainstom finds his misplaced briefcase, but the space bridge itself is beyond fixing, they wonder about Pharma's missing body, but it's not that important right now. Meanwhile, Perceptor finds Tyrest's communications array, and starts work on repairing it.

At Swerve's bar on the Lost Light, Fort Max meets with Rung, and explains that he's been offered a new job, but it involves leaving the ship.

Rodimus returns to his office, and decides immediately to have Atomizer help him redecorate it appropriately, and remembers his last proper conversation with Drift, when he said he'll take the full consequences for Overlord being on the ship, as Rodimus is needed for the future.

Swerve returns to his bar, happy that he's helped Ratchet decipher the cure to Cybercrosis, when Brainstorm comes in, and asks him to keep an ear out for any chatter about his briefcase, which he's worried was opened during the problems on Luna-1, and that it'd be dangerous if that happened.

At the morgue, Ratchet finds Ambus trying to put the Magnus armour back on, and he reveals that he knows how it works, and helps him put it back on, and tells him that he's always thought of him at the TRUE Ultra Magnus, as he's done it the longest. After Magnus leaves, Ratchet goes on to his true job, and starts reviving Red Alert.

On Luna-1, Rodimus and Getaway are trying to make the hot spot ignite again, but with no luck, as the Matrix was clearly what made it ignite originally, though they do wonder why it has died out anyway, since hot spots tends to stay active after they activate. Soon, Fort Max and Red Alert join them, with Max glad to be taking over as the Duly Appointed Enforcer of the Tyrest Accord, and with Red Alert helping him on Luna-1, along with some of the Circle of Light, so they can keep up the job of enforcing the laws, which are still needed, and also protect the moon, and watch over Tyrest's unconscious body. Red Alert plans to reprogram the Legislators to guard Luna-1 as well.

Perceptor has the communications activated, and plans to make a copy for the ship, when they get in contact with Cybertron though, they're shocked to find Starscream responding.

Later, after the ship has gone, Outrigger, a member of the Circle runs and tells Red that Tyrest has moved, but when they get there, he's gone (having activated a recall button of his own, and teleported away)

Characters

Autobot

Rodimus - Car

Minimus Ambus/Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport Middle body decapitated, back in main Armour

Skids - Van

Ratchet - Ambulance

First Aid - Ambulance

Chromedome - Car

Swerve - Van

Whirl - Osprey Helicopter

Rung - Maintenance Buggy

Brainstorm - Jet

Perceptor

Getaway

Prowl - Car

Pharma - Jet Decapitated by First Aid, Kidnapped by Tendrils

Fortress Maximus - Tank Stayed on Luna-1

Red Alert Revived, and Stayed on Luna-1

Grapple

Inferno

Drift - Car (Flashback) Self Exiled

Optimus Prime (Mentioned)

Ambulon (Mentioned) Dead

Bumblebee (Mentioned)

Duobots (Mentioned) Dead

Wheeljack (Mentioned)

Atomizer (Mentioned)

High Command on Cybertron (Mentioned)

Pipes - Truck (Mentioned) Dead

Rewind - Giant Memory Stick (Mentioned) Dead

Lancet (Mentioned) Maybe Dead

Lockstock (Mentioned) Maybe Dead

Suture (Mentioned) Died as Ultra Magnus

Datum (Mentioned) Died as Ultra Magnus

Ramp (Mentioned) Died as Ultra Magnus

Blockus (Mentioned) Died as Ultra Magnus

Original Ultra Magnus (Mentioned) Dead

Decepticon

Kaon

Krok

Spinister

Overlord (Mentioned)

Lockdown (Mentioned)

Circle of Light

Dai Atlas (Mentioned) Killed by Star Saber

Outrigger Stays on Luna-1

Other Members Several killed in battle, some stayed on Luna-1

Other

Cyclonus - Jet

Tailgate - Car Cured from Cybercrosis

Chief Justice Tyrest Badly injured by Minimus Ambus, Gone missing

Star Saber Eye stabbed by Cyclonus, teleported away

Starscream - Jet

Legislators Disabled by Tailgate

Strange Giant Spark

Tendrils

The Pet

Brainstorm's Point One Percenter Spark

Nominus Prime (Mentioned)

Primus (Mentioned)

Sparkeater (Mentioned)

Galactic Council (Mentioned)

Thunder-Something (Mentioned)

Vector Sigma (Mentioned)

NAIL's (Mentioned)

Knights of Cybertron (Mentioned)

Notes

• This comic featured a small prose story afterwards, which I have included the brief synopsis for here as well
• I'm pretty sure I predicted that there would be a smaller Minimus inside the larger one at some point as well...
• From the looks of him when he's teleporting, it looks like Cyclonus may have sliced off Star Saber's arm
• Brainstorm is revealed here to be Cold Constructed.
• Rung seems to feel guilty or something, judging by how he can't enter the portal...wonder if that'll be brought up later...
• First Aid killing Pharma the way he does is pretty much exactly what he planned to do last issue, but Ratchet told him not to.
• Oddly, Tyrest accidentally saved Whirl's life, as he called for his Legislators to come to his aide just as one was about to kill him!
• Rodimus reveals that he was in on the Overlord conspiracy from the start, this is sort of hinted at back when Drift comments about Red Alert is snooping around, as Drift mentions to him that he's worried he'll find something he shouldn't.
• The giant spark's speech is made of just images. It's unclear what they mean, but from them, you could see it as meaning "Skids, what, Autobots, Decepticons, (or Cybertronian), The Lost Light, Not the Lost Light, Luna-1" which could be translated as "Skids? Did you come from a Cybertronian ship?", "Not a ship...Luna-1!"
• I really, really do think the alien world Skids went to has something to do with Quintessons, and the tendrils taking away Pharma's body sort of adds to that too!
• Tailgate finally learns the importance of a semi-colon, when it saves the day against the Legislators.
• Tailgate is revealed here to have only been 2 weeks old when he was trapped underground, which reveals why his holo-avatar looked like a baby.
• Tailgate also finally had his arm's writing redone to it's proper state "Waste Disposal"
• Brainstorm has kept the Point One Percenter spark, which seemed to be kept in his chest during the mission on Luna-1
• Cyclonus' connection to the Great Sword (which he's now wearing like Drift did) is explained as being because of his rebirth at Vector Sigma, as it gave him a more powerful and "newer" spark.
• The Space Bridge to "Cyberutopia" was destroyed during the battle with the Legislators.
• Fort Max, Red Alert (who's been revived) and several of the Circle of Light have stayed behind on Luna-1 to maintain it, and to watch over the injured Tyrest (who goes missing)
• Drift's exile is revealed to have been his idea, as a vision he had during the Chaos event showed him that Rodimus was vital to the future.
• Brainstorm thinks someone looked into the briefcase, which he asks Swerve to look into. hey, remember a few issues ago when Swerve said he'll look in that briefcase even if he dies trying?
• Ratchet is revealed to have known about the Magnus Armour since it was created
• The Lost Light now has possession of cures to various fatal illnesses to Cybertronians, thanks to Pharma's Medi-Bay.
• The hot spot on Luna-1 has died out, and Rodimus sprinkles the remains of the Matrix half on it out of respect.
• Rodimus plans to have a memorial to all those who have died under his watch set up in his office now.
• Ambus mentions Rodimus having an incident with someone starting with "Thunder-", since the next issue's solicit shows that Thunderclash is set to appear somehow, it could be him (then again, it could be Thundercracker, finally having left Earth for all we know, or Thunderwing, Thunderblast etc)
• The Lost Light finally make contact with Cybertron, but it's Starscream who answers the call, as he's now leader of the Cybertronians.
• Perceptor plans to create a copy of Tyrest's communications array for the Lost Light.
• It's mentioned here that some of the Circle of Light stay on Luna-1 to help out, that could mean that some went away with the Lost Light.

IDW - Beast Hunters #5

Story by: Mairghread Scott & Mike Johnson

Written by: Mairghread Scott

Art by: Agustin Padilla

Inks by: Jose Aviles

Colours by: Priscilla Tramontano, Josh Burcham & Josh Perez

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Plot

Snarl has been left in the Dinobot's encampment to deal with the problems of the other Autobots, while Grimlock and Swoop are at New Kalis, and Slug and Sludge are doing some work in the caverns. Snarl starts to get annoyed with his recent meeting with Scrounge when the planet is hit by a bright blue beam of light and the entire world starts shaking.

It soon ends though, and all the Transformers in the underground cities are feeling rejuvenated, and the caverns and planet's structure is reformed to an earlier state. Slug and Sludge are trapped in the caverns when the tunnel they were following is suddenly gone, but Sludge remembers that Last Spark is nearby in the other direction, so they head towards them for help.

In New Kalis, the walls in the city start to crack, and raw Energon starts pouring in, everyone, despite being rejuvenated all rush toward it out of habit, but Grimlock reminds them that too much raw Energon is dangerous. At the Dinobot's encampment only about six of the people present survived the quake, with Scrounge being one of the dead. Snarl takes charge though and starts a mission to escape the building.

In the caverns Sludge hears someone calling for help, but Slug doesn't care, but says he'll go find out who it is, as Sludge knows where the city is, and he doesn't. Meanwhile, Swoop bathes in some of the raw Energon, but gets worried when the Energon doesn't stop flowing. Slug finds the bot in distress, but finds out it's a member of the Forged, who managed to escape his settlement before it was destroyed by the quakes. Slug frees the Forged member from the rubble he's trapped under.

At New Kalis, Grimlock and Chromia are growing worried about the raw Energon, especially when others start rushing towards the Energon for themselves, despite the danger. Chromia, Swoop and Grimlock have to fight off their allies, which results in Grimlock going into beast mode and shooting fire off at them as well. Swoop transforms to fly people out, whilst Chromia goes off to recover anyone running away from Grimlock.

Everyone is in danger now, as Grimlock seems entranced by the raw Energon as well, Slug gets the Forged member out to safety, and Snarl watches as the Dinobot's encampment burns to the ground....

Characters

Autobot

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Snarl - Stegosaurus

Slug - Triceratops

Sludge - Apatosaurus

Swoop - Pteranodon

Chromia - Six Wheeled Car

Snarl's Assistant

Scrounge Killed in quake

"Cobra Commander"

New Kalis Denizens

Dinobot Settlement Denizens Several Killed

Last Spark Denizens (Mentioned)

Decepticon

"Blackout"

People in the Forged Settlement (Mentioned) Killed in quakes

Other

Robo-Squid

Primus (Mentioned)

Notes

• This issue is set during the last couple of minutes of the Transformers Prime episode "Deadlock", and shows how bad things are for the Transformers underground on Cybertron when it's being revived.
• It's a bit odd that this issue, and the solicits seem to make it sound like the beam might destroy Cybertron, when the episode showing it revived came out weeks earlier....
• One of the Generics seems to have been coloured to resemble Cobra Commander, so that's what I'm naming him here!
• The only thing Snarl could find of Scrounge was his special arm...how ironic!
• Despite appearing many times here, Snarl's helper goes unnamed, same with the Forged member.
• The main problem the Transformers are facing here with the revival of Cybertron is that the caverns under the planet's surface are filling with Energon once again, meaning they'll probably all drown, if they don't escape.
• The Forged member shown here looks like he's based on Movie Blackout's design, so maybe he's Blackout here as well?
• Chromia's appearance here seems to be based on Prime Arcee's design, though she turns into a car instead of a motorcycle.
• Grimlock's actions and Chromia's reactions at the end of this comic seem confusing, all Grimlock did was shoot fire off to get the civilians to leave the area, granted this might ignite the Energon, but rather than being worried, she seems more disappointed in him for some reason with her "how could you?", and then Grimlock stating that he's King. I guess he could have killed some of them, but it's not clear from the artwork.
• 
  

IDW - Regeneration One #0

Title: Less Than Zero

Writer: Simon Furman

Art: Pages 1,22: Casey Coller

Art: Pages 2-6: Geoff Senior

Pencils: Pages 7-11: Jeff Anderson

Pencils: Pages 12-16: Joss Delbo

Art: Pages 17-21: Nick Roche

Inks: Pages 7-16: Stephen Baskerville

Colorist: John-Paul Bove

Letterer: Chris Mowry

Editor: John Barber

Editor-in-Chief: Chris Ryall

Plot

Hot Rod is tumbling through Zero Space, courtesy of Primus and is ejected, as an observer on Earth, during the battle with the Deathbringer. He watches the battle unfold and wonders why he's been sent there. After the Autobots defeat the Deathbringer Hot Rod continues to wait, eventually he sees what he's supposed to, the piece of the Matrix that was inside the Deathbringer is still around, and is tainted with evil, thus meaning that it's out there somewhere still.

Primus whips him up again, sending him to the distant past of Cybertron, long before the war broke out, where he follows Jhiaxus, someone he has no knowledge of, into Boltax's tower of Knowledge. Hot Rod watches as Jhiaxus, Boltax and three others pool their mental resources together as they create the Underbase. When inside the Underbase's cyber-ocean Jhiaxus attacks the others, and starts mining it for information, and makes plans for the informations. At the same time he deletes all records about himself, including memories and leaves, to begin his grand schemes, which Hot Rod wonders about...

Hot Rod is taken away before he can find out anything else and arrives on Earth again, just as Megatron's army of zombie Decepticons starts their rampage. Hot Rod follows the journey of Buster and his wife Jessie as they drive around and try to evade the Decepticons. They call Spike to try and get him to come with Fort Max to help, but Spike's not answering his phone. Buster and Jessie hide out in a carwash, but the zombie Ratbat finds them, and kills them both. Hot Rod wonders whether he was there to see Buster's fate, or what tipped the mental state of Spike...

Hot Rod is shot out of Zero Space and lands, corporeally on the planet of Junk where he finds an alternate version of himself fighting with Galvatron, he sees a crashed Autobot ship of some design he can't identify, and sees the bodies of several of his friends (and Arcee). Hot Rod warns his counterpart about an attack from Cyclonus and Scourge, and IS HEARD! Rodimus Prime however is shocked and ends up gettin ghit by the two Decepticons, the Matrix being flung off the chain around his neck, which lands near Hot Rod. Galvatron kills Rodimus and gloats to his troops, Hot Rod understands that he's not there to learn anything, just for some help, that he can't get back home, and reaches out for the Matrix.

Back in the Regen universe Bludgeon is about to kill Kup when a newly arisen Rodimus Prime appears from nowhere to stop him!

Characters

Autobot

Hor Rod/Rodimus Prime - Car/Caravan

Optimus Prime - Truck

Siren - Car

Nightbeat - Car

Getaway - Car

Hosehead - Fire Engine

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Alternate Reality Rodimus Prime - Caravan Killed by Galvatron

Alternate Reality Ultra Magnus - Car Carrier Dead

Alternate Reality Kup - Pick Up Truck Dead

Alternate Reality Springer - Rocket Car/Helicopter Dead

Alternate Reality Arcee - Car Dead

Other Autobots

Optimus Prime's Original Body (Flashback) Dead

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex (Flashback) Possessed by Primus

Waverider - Hovercraft (Mentioned)

Fortress Maximus - Battle Platform (Mentioned)

Alternate Reality Optimus Prime - Truck (Mentioned) Dead

Decepticon

Bludgeon - Tank

Octane - Oil Tanker/Cargo Plane "Zombified"

Ratbat - Cassette "Zombified"

Razorclaw - Lion "Zombified"

Skywarp - Jet "Zombified"

Bugly "Zombified"

Thundercracker - Jet "Zombified"

Other Zombie-cons "Zombified"

Alternate Reality Galvatron - Laser Cannon

Alternate Reality Cyclonus - Space Jet

Alternate Reality Scourge - Space Shuttle

Megatron (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Jhiaxus - Jet

Boltax Mentally Injured by Jhiaxus

Decanus Mentally Injured by Jhiaxus

Brain Trust member 4 and 5 Mentally Injured by Jhiaxus

Boltax's Disciples 

Human

Buster Witwicky Killed by Ratbat

Jessie Witwicky Killed by Ratbat

Spike Witwicky

Firefighters

Human Evacuees Killed by Zombie-Cons

Other

Deathbringer Commited suicide thanks to Optimus

Anti-Matrix Creature

Mechanical Medic (Flashback) Turned into Deathbringer

Primus (Flashback) Inside Grimlock's body

Notes

• This issue acts both as a continuation of Hot Rod's journey, which began in issue 94, it also acts as a prequel to the series as well, helping to fill in some gaps in the plot.
• This comic COULD be seen as the Regeneration One celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the brand, with Marvel's comic continuity being the basis, as it uses several popular artists from across the franchise, and focuses on several different time frames. It also emulates the art style, including the changes in colouring style over the years as well, from ben-day style dots to block colouring etc.
• The Deathbringer segment is essentially a retelling of the UK story that had this event, but with Hot Rod being included as an observer, and the revelation of the tainted Matrix fragment at the end.
• Jhiaxus is revealed here to have existed long ago (and not created through budding like in the G2 comics) and that his absence from anyone's memories was due to him essentially deleting himself to hide
• It's shown here that Buster and Jessie have gotten married since they last appeared in the comics
• From the look of their mobile phone, it looks like Megatron's zombie invasion began in the mid-late 1990's
• Buster's fate, where he is killed in his car by Ratbat in a carwash is of course a reference to the events of "Buster Witwicky and the Carwash of Doom".
• The future alternate reality events shown are most likely from Galvatron's home universe, which therefore shows how he killed Magnus and the others, including Rodimus. This also implies that after he killed Rodimus he dragged his body back to Earth to string him up in New York. This alternate reality is basically the events of the 80's movie, but if the ship was left intact and the crews were combined.
• Ironically even though Hot Rod says he must be in an alternate future, the events of the Movie take place in 2005/2006, and Regen is set in 2012/2013
• The final scenes in this comic are clearly set during issue 95, which hasn't been released yet.
• Hot Rod doesn't name-check Arcee amongst the corpses, most likely because she doesn't have a counterpart at the moment in Regen One.
• It's likely that the reason Hot Rod was corporeal in the Junkion scene is because it's not a part of his history, but an alternate reality. Also he needed to be able to touch the Matrix here, so he had to be corporeal for that too!
• I wonder if Rodimus Prime has claimed the alternate reality's Matrix for himself as well?