IDW - Transformers #52

Title: All Hail Optimus Part 3: The Medium and the Message

Written by: John Barber

Art by: Livio Ramondelli

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Plot

Galvatron watches some footage of Optimus at the White House and comments to Blackrock about how corrupt he is becoming. Galvatron leaves for an "appointment" and Blackrock begins to sow seeds of doubt in Skywarp's loyalty to Galvatron, and asks him to help him with something.

On Cybertron, Starscream speaks to Bumblebee's ghost about how Optimus is ruining his own name, all by himself, and he doesn't have to manipulate anything to do it. Rattrap makes an appearance to tell him the meeting is beginning, but Starscream decides to be late, to make a point about who is in charge.

At the meeting room for the Council of Worlds, Optimus has been granted a meeting with the colony representatives, who want an explanation for his actions in annexing a populated world like Earth. Starscream takes the opportunity to point out that Optimus is simply following in the line of the Primes, and isn't the first one to try and claim another world for himself. The representatives appear to side with Starscream, and leaves.

On Earth, Galvatron is dropped off at a volcano by Astrotrain, and is immediately attacked by Arcee, who is angry for his attack on the Ark, despite their demi-alliance. The two warriors fight, and Galvatron gives Arcee his concerns about Optimus' recent actions being due to Prowl being merged with him briefly. Arcee denies this, and leaves, but promises that she will kill Galvatron one day.

Optimus and Aileron travel to Caminus through the Space Bridge, where they meet with the Mistress of Flame, who explains to Optimus that she believes that Optimus is one of the Thirteen Primes, and that, with all that has happened on Earth, it would make a perfect colony world for him to rule from.

Back on Earth, Arcee has returned to the Autobot's current base, where she checks up on the still injured Sideswipe. Tracks joins her and he reveals that his brother, Needlenose, hates the Autobots because of Bumblebee killing Horri-Bull. Arcee finds this interesting, and can use it to help the Autobots out further.

Outside, Optimus and Aileron return from Caminus, and Optimus prepares to head to the Decepticon's commune. Cosmos requests that Optimus send anyone else, but himself to the commune, as Soundwave won't work with a Prime. Optimus refuses, as he want's Soundwave to work for him. Arcee comes outside, and reveals a secret to Optimus, that will help him in his mission.

Optimus and Thudnercracker (along with Buster in a DOGGY SPACE SUIT!!!) arrive at the commune where Optimus meets with Soundwave in private (the meeting was set up on Needlenose's request, thanks to a favour asked for by Tracks) Soundwave relays that he believes that Galvatron simply wants chaos to reign on Earth, and has no real long-term goals. Optimus asks Soundwave to work with him to help save Earth from Galvatron, but Soundwave doesn't accept that Humans are equal life-forms, and shouldn't be worried about by them, and also cannot serve a Prime, after all the Decepticons have fought over.

Optimus uses the information that Arcee gave him, and blackmails Soundwave that he will reveal to the other Decepticons that HE was the one who killed Horri-Bull, and not Bumblebee like they all believe, especially Needlenose, who loved Horri-Bull. Soundwave reluctantly agrees...

On Cybertron, the next morning Starscream sets off a plan to make Optimus, and the line of Primes look bad for all to see. He has charged Circuit and Longtooth to head to Earth, and document EVERYTHING that is happening there, so that all of Cybertron, and the Colonies can see what he is really like....

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Arcee - Sports Car

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Pyra Magna - Emergency Vehicle

Tracks - Sports Car

Cosmos - Orbiter

Thundercracker - Fighter Jet

Sideswipe - Sports Car On Life Support

Windblade - VTOL Fighter Jet

Bumblebee - Cybertronian Car (Ghost)

Sentinel Prime - Truck (Hologram)

Megatron - Tank (Hologram)

Alpha Trion - Tumbler (Mentioned)

Optimus Maximus - Autobot Combiner (Mentioned)

Prowl - Police Vehicle (Mentioned)

Sunstreaker - Sports Car (Mentioned)

Other Torchbearers (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Galvatron - Tank

Astrotrain - Space Shuttle/Train

Skywarp - Cybertronian Jet Out of Phase

Soundwave - Personnel Carrier

Needlenose - Fighter Jet

Sky-Byte - Flying Shark

Slugslinger - Twin Nosed Jet

Laserbeak - Cassette

Buzzsaw - Cassette

Sparkstalker - Insect Monster (Footage)

Shockwave - Flying Artillery (Hologram) Dead

Brawl - Tank (Mentioned)

Horri-Bull - Bull (Mentioned) Dead

United Cybertron

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Rattrap - Mole Rat

Circuit

Longtooth

Zetca (Footage)

Camien

Mistress of Flame

Aileron - Space Ship

Swift - Helicopter

New Torchbearers

Caminus Space Bridge Operator

Lightbright (Footage)

Sterling - Car (Footage) Dead

Other Colonists

Knock Out - Sports Car

Moonracer - Sports Car

Vanquish - Part of Jet

Airazor - Falcon

Tigatron - Tiger

Obsidian - Osprey Helicopter

Strika - Battle Tank

Other Cybertronian

Blackrock

Nova Prime - Truck (Hologram) Dead

Zeta Prime - Truck (Hologram) Dead

Crystal City Metrotitan (Hologram) Dead

Jhiaxus - Jet (Mentioned) Dead

The Primes (Mentioned)

The Fallen/Megatronus (Mentioned)

Thirteen Colony Titans (Mentioned)

Other

Buster the Astro-Dog

Thrust Drone - Jet (Footage)

Notes

• Blackrock's "no-human face" look reminds me a bit of Destro from the GI Joe franchise
• Speaking of whom, Blackrock appears to have now accepted his Cybertronian-heritage.
• Skywarp's condition appears to be getting worse, and appears to be just an outline now (though this could just be an artistic choice)
• Optimus' arm has been replaced following it's severing last issue, but hasn't been painted to match the rest of his colour scheme yet.
• From Starscream's dialogue, it appears that Nova, Sentinel and Zeta once tried to annex another planet. Nova is a definite, and we had a mention of Sentinel doing this earlier on, but Zeta is another story...what populated planet did he annex?
• Galvatron was apparently willing to give Brawl to Arcee for revenge for him "defeating" her back on the Ark.
• From their dialogue Arcee tells Galvatron that she's on the side she was supposed to be all along. This either refers to her forced gender switch by Jhiaxus, or her decision to join the Autobots just prior to the Dark Cybertron events.
• Galvatron believes that Optimus' mind has been corrupted by his combining with Prowl during Combiner Wars
• We learn here that one of the tenants of the Way of the Flame is to build up the future, and not dwell in the past.
• This seems a bit off when it comes to the Mistress of Flame, as she seems obsessed with the Thirteen Primes, even though they are purely in the past.
• This issue confirms that the Mistress believes that Optimus is one of the Thirteen Primes, and believes that he is destined to rule over Earth as a new Colony world.
• From the looks of them, the New Torchbearers are male Camiens.
• Arcee's knowledge of Soundwave killing Horri-Bull is due to her being temporarily aligned with the Decepticons, along with Prowl during the early issues of this series
• Sideswipe's current status in a life support pod could be a sneaky note that he has an upcoming Combiner Wars toy, that he's being kept out of the way until a reveal (I'm clutching at straws, but he would make a good replacement for Prowl in Optimus Maximus)
• Buster has a space suit......D'AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!
• Optimus tells Cosmos that he wants Soundwave to bow to him. When he blackmails Soundwave later, Soundwave DOES briefly dip his head as if he's bowing when considering his options.
• Just before Bumblebee's ghost appears, Starscream gets a cold chill, despite the light and area looking fairly warm....this could be a sign of Bumblebee's nature.

TFCC #68 - Of Masters and Monsters Part 2

Title: Insight

Writers: Jesse Wittenrich & Pete Sinclair

Pencils: Dan Khanna

Inks: Jake Isenberg

Colours: Evan Gauntt

Letters: Jesse Wittenrich

Managing Editor: Pete Sinclair

Plot

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

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

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

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

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

Characters

Autobot

Metalhawk In Human Pretender Suit

Vroom In Human Pretender Suit

Crossblades In Human Pretender Suit

Paradronian

Impactor - Armoured Truck

Lifeline - Sports Car

Quickslinger - Space Shuttle

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

Sandstorm - Buggy/Helicopter

Random Paradronians

Unicron-Allied

Ramjet - Fighter Jet

Human

Spike Witwicky

Elizabeth

Mendez (the Mugger)

Police Officers

Captain Robin Lindley (Mentioned)

Jed Lindley (Mentioned)

Allan Silver (Mentioned)

Sam Wainwright (Mentioned)

RAAT (Mentioned)

Other

Mystery Silver-Streaked Hair Guy

Notes

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

Other Features

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

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

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

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

Lifeline Profile

Impactor Profile

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

IDW - Transformers #51

Title: All Hail Optimus Part 2: Edge of the Earth

Written by: John Barber

Art by: Andrew Griffith

Colours by: Josh Perez, Josh Burcham, John-Paul Bove

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: Carlos Guzman

Plot

The Autobots are travelling around the Earth, helping the humans out with their problems, whether they want their help or not.

On the Skyroller, Optimus has another vision, where Soundwave, Prowl, Starscream and the Mistress of Flame all tell him he has done wrong and chastise him. Optimus suddenly wakes up to find Aileron watching over him. Optimus apologizes to her for Sterling's death, but Aileron says that they knew what they were going into when they joined them.

Elsewhere, Spike is visiting his mother, where she is panicking over Optimus appearing on the TV, and Spike reassures her that he'll not let him hurt the Earth. Jones picks Spike up in a Skywatch jet and they head out on their mission.

At the White House, Faireborn and the President are looking through footage of the Autobots performing good deeds, and wonder if they are actually just trying to be helpful, but the President also wonders how long it'll take before they become violent.

Back on the Skyroller, Optimus greets Tracksand asks him if he can contact his brother, Needlenose, on the Decepticon's commune, but Sunstreaker argues that they don't need the Decepticon's help, since he still blames them for what happened to the Ark, and Sunstreaker. Aileron gets annoyed and points out that the Humans are worse than the Decepticons, since they're aliens and attacked them too, even killing Sterling. Optimus tries to calm her down, but she leaves the shuttle, and heads out on her own...

The Skywatch team reach Thundercracker's old "house" where they expect to find the Autobots hiding, but instead they find the place abandoned, except for it being plastered with the words "We are here to help" everywhere.

They President and Faireborn are informed of this, and they wonder if this is all true, and they aren't trying to conquer the planet, like last time. After a long discussion Aileron lands outside the White House and demands to see the President, and wants her to surrender to her and the Autobots.

The Thrust and Ramjet drones attack Aileron, who tries to evade them but is rescued by Optimus and Sunstreaker, who have been following her.

Optimus points out to Aileron that the humans are justified in their fear of the Autobots, since they, along with the Decepticons have killed countless numbers of their people, and he tries to resolve the conflict with words, rather than violence.

However, the humans aren't listening, and Faireborn, under pressure from the President, allows usage of the satellite cannons again, and manages to sever Optimus' left arm off. She tries for a final killing blow, but is stopped by Victorion, who followed Optimus, deflecting the laser away.

Victorion uses her powers to levitate the Autobots and Aileron, and shield them from the humans. Spike has been watching all of this, and points out Optimus' fatal flaw, he has the power to kill them, but he WON'T!

Victorion takes them back to the Skyroller, where the crew are reunited, upon returning, Optimus forgoes having his arm repaired, and does something he's been meaning to do for a while... He opens a conference call with Starscream, Soundwave and the Mistress of Flame, as his decisions on Earth have affected all of them too....

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Alpha Trion - Tumbler

Arcee - Sports Car

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Jetfire - Fighter Jet

Jazz - Sports Car

Sky Lynx - Space Shuttle

Pyra Magna - Emergency Vehicle

Skyburst - Helicopter

Stormclash - Helicopter

Dustup - Sports Car

Jumpstream - Sports Car

Rust Dust - Motorcycle (Only part of Victorion)

Victorion - Torchbearer Gestalt

Sunstreaker - Sports Car

Tracks - Sports Car

Thundercracker - Fighter Jet

Cosmos - Orbiter

Sideswipe - Sports Car In Medical Tube

Silverbolt - Passenger Jet

Firelight - Fighter Jet

Air Raid - Fighter Jet

Skydive - Fighter Jet

Alpha Bravo - Rescue Helicopter

Powerglide - A10 Thunderbolt

Prowl - Police Vehicle (Dream Only)

Wheeljack - Race Car (Mentioned)

Megatron - Tank (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Soundwave - Personnel Carrier

Needlenose - Fighter Jet (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Bob the Insecticon

D.O.C.

Primus (Mentioned)

Camien

Mistress of Flame

Aileron - Space Ship

Sterling - Car (Mentioned) Dead

Human

US President

Marissa Faireborn

Ayana Jones

Spike Witwicky

Mrs Witwicky

Zilong Qian

Random Humans

John Powell (Footage) Killed by Jazz

Sanjay Bharwanay (Mentioned)

General Witwicky (Mentioned) Dead

Spike's Sister (Mentioned)

Other

Ramjet Drones - Jets

Thrust Drones - Jets

Buster the Dog

Notes

• Hey look! The Aerialbots have finally split into their individual parts!
• Also, look at that! Powerglide is seen too, I don't think he's even been seen as PART of Superion since before their combination!
• As an opposite though, Rust Dust has STILL only been shown as part of Victorion, and not individually.
• In Optimus' dream he's shown with a missing arm. This arm is the opposite one to that which gets severed at the end of this issue.
• Suitably the Mistress of Flame is shown to be on fire in the dream!
• Despite his prominence on the front cover, Prowl only appears in one frame of a dream sequence in this issue.
• It's possibly a coincidence, but Aileron was right near Optimus during both of his visions so far...wonder if this means anything?
• Spike's real name is revealed to be "Stevie".
• Despite her seeming to be understanding of Sterling's death last issue, Aileron does suddenly go on a "kill all humans" trip without any real provocation.
• Also, Sunstreaker defending the humans as not all being bad is kind of ironic, since the last time he spent a fair bit of time on Earth, he basically caused the planet to be conquered by the Decepticons, and wanted them all dead.
• A panel from the Costa ongoing series is shown on screen in this comic, showing Jazz in his old character model and art style etc.
• The president can't tell that Aileron is a female. This either means Aileron has a non-stereotypical female voice, or the president is a bit of a dick.
• Victorion's gravity-control powers are shown to also be able to bend light to allow her and others to be "invisible" and also to deflect laser beams.
• Why do the Chinese still have those satellites in orbit? I thought Aileron destroyed them all last issue?
• The previous Earth team's Autobots have been repaired between the last issue and now, except for Sideswipe, because no one likes him.
• Since this is set after the Autobots have left Thundercracker's old "house" this means it's after the Autobots have received the Lost Lighter's last wills, since they don't seem too bothered about it here, I'm guessing they'll be MOSTLY fine.

IDW - More Than Meets The Eye #51

Title: The Dying of the Light Part 2: The Sun in Flight

Written by: James Roberts

Art by: Alex Milne

Colours by: Joana LaFuente

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: John Barber

Publisher: Ted Adams

Plot

The DJD attack the Necrobot's fortress, but soon stop on Tarn's orders. The Autobots are relieved at first, until Megatron reveals that this is part of the DJD's "script" where they give a show of force, then leave the victims to their fears for a while. To his prediction, Tarn has left a message burned into the ground of "sunset", which Chromedome estimates at about 8 hours from then. Rodimus has the crew look around the fortress for anything they can use as a weapon.

Ten tries to show Rodimus some of the flowers, but Rodimus ignores him. Nearby, Velocity notices that the Necrobot has turned into dust, which Swerve identifies as old Sentio Metallico, and this happens when old Cybertronian metal loses it's spark, however Velocity finds a key amongst the dust, which intrigues her.

On The Peaceful Tyranny, Tarn and Deathsaurus meet up in Tarn's office, where Deathsaurus asks why they've stopped the attack, which Tarn justifies as it being to torture the Autobots for longer...

Back at the fortress, Velocity, Swerve and Nautica are looking for the lock that matches the key, and Swerve explains that he only brought Ten along with him on this doomed mission because he was starting to feel guilty for abusing him, just as Velocity finds a door that matches the key.

Later, the Autobots report their various findings to Rodimus, who is unimpressed, however Nightbeat reveals that he has found the Necrobot's quantum transporter, but it only has enough energy left for a short trip, but it should be enough to get them far enough away to call for help. Unfortunately Nautica and the others return and reveal that they found the room filled with life support pods containing organic life in the locked room, and the pods are too big to go through the teleporter.

The Autobots start to debate what they should do, but Megatron silences everyone when he announces that he's staying to defend the pods, and he invites the others to do so as well, which they of course do, prompting Rodimus to close the door to the teleporter.

Swerve perks up when he realizes that the DJD must have arrived on a ship themselves, so they can try and steal it to leave the planet, and take the pods with them. Ravage offers to go track it down, as he knows the DJD's scent, and goes to leave. Before he does though, he hands Megatron a communicator and asks him to call "him"

On the Peaceful Tyranny, the DJD and Deathsaurus plan out the rest of their assault, and Tesarus begins to worry that the Autobots will activate the fortress' storm-shield, but Tarn isn't worried, due to the lack of energy available to them. He begins to get concerned however when he suddenly gets a call on HIS personal communicator...

Back at the fortress, Megatron prepares to head out to see Tarn, but Rodimus asks him why he is willing to risk everything for some organics, given his known hatred of them. Megatron reveals that during the mental attack on him, he heard the screams of several species that he's helped to become extinct over the years, and he no longer wishes to hear that sound again.

Ravage makes his way to the DJD's make-shift field HQ, but doesn't see The Peaceful Tyranny, he detects Ten behind him, having followed the Decepticon to try and help, but Ravage decides to show his true colours, and tricks Ten into standing up, exposing himself to the DJD, who immediately start attacking him, allowing Ravage to speed past the other Decepticons and infiltrate their base.

Elsewhere, at Megatron's statue, Tarn meets with Megatron, who asks his old pupil to remove his mask, so he can see his face, but Tarn retorts that THIS is his face now. In response, Megatron offers his surrender to Tarn.

At the fortress, the Autobots begin to wonder where Ten has gone, but soon realize that he's been trying to help them out all this time when they see a pile of the Necrobot's energy flowers next to the storm-shield generator and a picture of Trailcutter using his forcefields next to them, using them to explain how to make the storm-shield work properly.

Back in the field, Ten is being brutally torn apart by the DJD, but before he can be finished off he is saved by two newcomers...Drift and Ratchet!

Characters

Autobot

Rodimus - Car

Megatron - Tank

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport

Rung

Swerve - Van

Nautica - Submarine

Velocity - Race Car

Whirl - Osprey Helicopter

Chromedome - Car

Rewind - Data Slug

Tailgate - Car

Skids - Van

Brainstorm - Jet

Nightbeat - Car

Drift - Car

Ratchet - Ambulance

Trailcutter - Van (Picture Only)

Getaway - Car (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Ravage - Cassette

Tarn - Tank

Deathsaurus

Kaon - Variable Volt Harness

Vos - Rifle

Helex - Smelting Chamber

Tesarus - Metal Grinder

Nickel

The Pet

Lugnut - Bomber Plane

Guyhawk - Jet

Blue Bacchus - Helicopter

Deathsaurus' Crew

Heretech (Mentioned) Likely killed by DJD

Cybertronian

Cyclonus - Jet

Ten Brutally injured by DJD

Censerre Dead, reduced to dust

Messatine Miners Dead, Hung to Tarn's wall

Terminus (Mentioned)

Other

Sixty-ish Organics On Life-Support

Nibarians (Mentioned) Species Made Extinct by Decepticons

Torkulians (Mentioned) Species Made Extinct by Decepticons

Magisterians (Mentioned) Species Made Extinct by Decepticons

Praetons (Mentioned) Species Made Extinct by Decepticons

Notes

• Lugnut is shown to have been a part of Deathsaurus' crew. He was previously shown amongst the Titan Hunters under Lockdown's command, so I guess he changed teams since Remain in the Light?
• It's possible he joined Deathsaurus' crew as he was afraid that the DJD would come after him following is involvement in those events, which almost resulted in the death of Kaon and maybe some others on the team.
• Swerve reveals here that when an older Cybertronian dies, he turns into dust...wonder why that didn't happen to Ironhide when he died in the Costa ongoing series?
• The dead Cybertronians shown in Tarn's office in issue 49 are revealed here to be the dead miners that Terminus (Megatron's old friend) used to smuggle his early writings out of Messatine on. Tarn has collected them due to his obsession with Decepticonism.
• It's revealed fully here that the mental attack that occurred last issue had all those effected have their worst fears amplified in their minds. Swerve reveals that his was that Ten was shouting at him for not treating him like a real person, whilst Megatron heard the screams of the organic species that he's killed over the years.
• It's confirmed that the Necrobot used Quantum technology to transport himself from his planet to other worlds to perform his death audits.
• The life support pods under the Necrobot's fortress are similar to those seen under Demus' base in issue 46. This implies that the Necrobot is somehow related to the mystery gear faction, and the mystery bots associated with it.
• Tarn has a phone that only Megatron has the number to....this is sounding more like an abusive relationship with every issue!
• It's hinted here that Heretech was hunted by the DJD at some point, meaning that all, if not most of the Warriors Elite/Phase Sixers have betrayed Megatron in some way.
• Drift and Ratchet are back from their excursion away during Empire of Stone! Wonder if Mirage and the Protectobots will return in this story too?
• Ratchet's new design appears to be a hybrid of his previous look, but with cues from his Prime counterpart (mostly the helmet)
• Drift now has a new design with his great sword being stored horizontally rather than against his "spine", he has also be re-autobranded, and appears to now have formal face paint, like the Camien city speakers wear

3H - Reaching the Omega Point

Title: Terminus

Story: Simon Furman with Glen Hallit

Script: Simon Furman

Pencils/Inks: Geoff Senior

Computer Colouring/Effects: Andrew Wildman

Lettering: Richard Starkings and Comicraft

Plot

The evil tyrant from the future, Shokaract has made his way into the distant past of Earth, during the Beast Wars, so he can secure the essence of Unicron's evil that is seeded on the planet. Upon arriving, he attacks the local Maximals, who are joined by Windrazor, who is a resident of Shokaract's dark future. The Maximals are badly outmatched against the much more advanced Cybertronian.

Megatron is watching the battle with glee, as he gets to see his adversaries killed, and Apelinq, another time traveller from the "present day" Cybertron that the Beast Warriors are from watching as well, as he finds it fascinating, despite him needing to return to Cybertron with the antidote to the transformation virus on the planet.

Suddenly, a portal opens up and the Covenant of Primus arrive from their secluded hideout and immediately start attacking Shockaract, as they have been training to from their creation, however even they are no match for Shokaract and he kills most of them.

Apelinq grows tired of just watching, and decides to join in with the fight, despite it jeopardizing his mission back home. Megatron, noticing that space and time is beginning to warp around him, due to the battle, also decides to join the fight.

Shokaract is in trouble now, so he revives his two loyal heralds, Antagony and Cataclysm to aid him in the battle.

From no-where, Sandstorm, another Transformer from Shokaract's future, arrives and explains to Optimus and Windrazor that this battle is at the epicentre of a massive time storm that is merging several time lines, and that he was unsuccessful in getting help from J'nwan in the future.

Suddenly more beast warriors from other universes and time lines start to appear in this time and join the battle against Shokaract. With their help, Antagony and Cataclysm are destroyed, but Shokaract taps into his Matrix of Conquest, and annihilates most of the newcomers.

Soon, Sandstorm joins the battle against Shokaract and is revealed to be another member of the Covenant, who was sent undercover to the future to try and stop Shokaract.

In anger, Shokaracts fully taps into the powers of the Matrix of Conquest, grows to a greater size and destroys Sandstorm/Scorpius. Everyone else continues their attacks on the tyrant, and the remaining Covenant members use the last of their powers to combine into an energy being, and enter the Matrix of Conquest, where they fight with the embodiment of Unicron inside the Matrix.

Outside the Matrix, another portal opens, and the people of J'nwan, including the original Optimus and Megatron, arrive and join the battle. Both inside and outside the Matrix, the heroes win the battle, the essence of Unicron is destroyed and Shokaract explodes, ending the Omega Point, and erasing it from history.

In another time and place, the Predacon who would later become the tyrant Shokaract is running for his life, he makes his way to the pool where he was destined to locate the essence of Unicron, but he finds nothing there....he is left to his death by his pursuers instead.

Characters

Maximal

Optimus Primal - Ape/Treaded Vehicle/Jet

Windrazor - Winged Wolf Lost in Time Storm

Apelinq - Ape

Polar Claw - Polar Bear Killed by Shokaract

B'Boom - Mandrill Killed by Shokaract

Air Hammer - Owl-Hammerhead Shark Killed by Shokaract

Blackarachnia - Spider

Cheetor - Cheetah

Rattrap - Rat

Rhinox - Rhino

Primal Prime - Ape/Treaded Vehicle/Jet (Mentioned)

Predacon

Shokaract/Hunter - Crab Defeated by the Covenant and others

Megatron - Dragon

Antagony - Ant Killed by Apelinq and Covenant Members

Cataclysm - Cheetah Killed by Apelinq and Covenant Members

Drill Bit - Boll Weevil Killed by Shokaract

Transquito - Mosquito Killed by Shokaract

Covenant of Primus*All erased from history after Omega Point

Leonicus - Lion

Scorpius/Sandstorm - Scorpion Killed by Shokaract

Taurotron - Bull Killed by Shokaract

Ariex - Ram

Geminator Killed by Shokaract

Piscor

Aquator

Cancix

Librus

Sagittarii

Virgol

Capricun

J'nwan

Optimus Prime - Truck

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Megatron - Gun

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Other

Unicron Defeated by the Covenant and others

Primus

Other Beast Warriors

Chronarchitect (Flashback)

Notes

• The prelude storyline (and apparently the comic itself too) is available here: http://botcon.com/archive/story/index.html
• I won't be talking about the prelude text stories here, as they are pretty much rehashed in the comic itself, if you wish to read them, then you can see it at the above link.
• This was the storyline for Botcon 2000
• The storyline with Shokaract before his transformation was later rehashed for Fun Pub's "Hoist the Flag" comic.
• The events of this comic take place within the last few episodes of the Beast Wars cartoon, as Megatron has his new dragon body, but Tigerhawk hasn't made an appearance yet.
• The substance that Apelinq went to Earth for was a cure to Megatron's transformation virus from the Beast Machines series...one has to wonder why he doesn't take this opportunity to simply kill Megatron here and now, before he can conquer Cybertron?
• As should be obvious, the members of the Covenant are named after the constellations.
• The Covenant members aren't very easy to identify in this comic, but there does at least appear to be 12 separate character models, so they're all there!
• Sandstorm's true identity as a Scorpius is kind of spoiled when he is shown in a flashback early in the comic in his noticeable colours and alternate mode.
• Also, Scorpius joins the battle fairly early on, but isn't introduced into the story, or is noticed by Shokaract until very late on....this could be a mistake, or due to the time-warp thingie.
• The location 'J'nwan" is based on the term "Gen One" aka, Generation One. This is further added to when it's denizens include the original Optimus and Megatron, amongst other G1 characters.
• So yeah...the beast warriors summoned from the multiverse (or whatever) can shoot lasers from just about every body part....odd.
• The combined form of the energies of the Covenant resembles the version of Primus shown in the Marvel comics, thus it looks somewhat like Rodimus as well.
• After this comic ends, we learn that Apelinq returned to Cybertron through a portal before the Omega Point is erased, explaining how he remembers the events.
• Windrazor is later mentioned to have been rescued by Apelinq, but is ultimately erased from history, but due to his actions, Primus allows him to exist, but only as an in-between guide for other Transformers to travel between universes or something.

IDW - Deviations: Transformers

Written by: Brandon Easton

Art by: Priscilla Tramontano

Colours by: Priscilla Tramontano & John-Paul Bove

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Edits by: John Barber

Publisher: Ted Adams

Plot

As usual, the battle of Autobot City commences with the Decepticons invading on a hi-jacked Autobot shuttle, and several Autobots are killed in the battle. Optimus arrives to take on Megatron one-on-one, but Hot Rod gets the urge to help his leader win. However, unlike what should happen, Kup manages to tackle the younger Autobot, and stops him from joining the battle, and becoming a hostage, allowing Optimus to finally kill Megatron.

Following his death, the Decepticons escape on Astrotrain, with Starscream taking command of the Decepticons, with no challenges. On the way back to Cybertron, Astrotrain needs them to lose some mass so he can continue the journey, resulting in the injured Decepticons being jettisoned, however without Megatron amongst them, they are simply devoured by Unicron, who is on his way to Cybertron as well...

Back on Earth, the Autobots mourn the dead, and Optimus decides to lead a mission to Cybertron to finish the Decepticons whilst they are weakened. Hot Rod starts to feel like something is wrong, but is being ignored due to him causing problems lately, with him attempting to join the battle against Megatron, and other things. Hot Rod is placed under Magnus' command on his shuttle, and charged with protecting Daniel until they reach Moon Base Two so he can be reunited with his father.

On Cybertron, Starscream is officially crowned the Decepticon leader, but during the ceremony, Unicron appears and orders Starscream to destroy the Matrix for him, as it is the one thing that can harm him. Starscream gets upgraded by Unicron, but begins to annoy the deity when he keeps asking for more things.

Shortly afterwards, on Magnus' shuttle, Hot Rod is talking to Daniel where he admits that he's been seeing visions of Optimus dying, and thinks that something is trying to tell him something. Magnus overhears this and believes Hot Rod is planning treason, but before anything can happen, the shuttle is attacked by "Megascream" and his loyal Seekers. During the battle, Magnus is badly injured by an exploding console, and Hot Rod attempts to save the day by stalling the engines, like he has a hunch to, but unfortunately it just causes the engines to blow out, sending them flying.

Megascream prepares to turn his attention to Optimus' ship, but Soundwave contacts him informing him that Unicron is eating Moon Base One. Megascream now angrily heads back to Cybertron.

Optimus wonders why Megascream left so fast, but they then set their attentions to the other shuttle, which has been flung off further than it ever should have. Optimus decides to land on the nearby planet of Quintessa for repairs.

On Quintessa, the Autobots are approached by a hoard of Sharticons, who almost immediately attack them. Optimus decides that they have no time for this, and orders the Autobots to defeat them. The crew enter the main court room of the planet, and promptly scare off the Quintessons and free their prisoners. There, they meet Kranix, who tells them about Unicron, and how he just ate his planet of Lithone. Knowing the planet isn't too far away from Cybertron, Optimus figures that that may have been the reason for Megascream's retreat before, and decides to return to Cybertron too, after rescuing Magnus and the others.

Magnus' shuttle is in a terrible condition, but Hot Rod is ordered into the last working escape pod with Daniel and manages to escape to the Planet of Junk's surface safely, whilst the shuttle crashes, and kills the rest of the Autobots.

Back at Cybertron, Megascream confronts Unicron, who tells him that he has grown tired of his whining, and has decided to destroy Cybertron now, transforming into his robot mode, and starts his violent assault.

Optimus' shuttle arrives at the Planet of Junk, and rescues Hot Rod and Daniel. On the way back to Cybertron, Hot Rod apologizes for his causing the deaths of Magnus and the others, but Optimus tells him that they will mourn later, as they need to concentrate on the upcoming battle.

The shuttle arrives at Moon Base Two, where Daniel is reunited with his father, and the Autobots begin to rally. Optimus announces that he believes the power of the Matrix will defeat Unicron, and heads to the monster alone in a shuttle.

On Unicron's surface, Optimus is confronted by Megascream, who tells Optimus to give him the Matrix, and combines with four other Decepticons to attack the Autobot leader, and take it from him. Megascream is about to crush Optimus, when suddenly Hot Rod appears, having snuck aboard the shuttle and knocks Optimus out of Megascream's hand. He takes the Matrix from the injured Optimus, explaining that he KNOWS this is meant to happen, he places a teleportation disk on him from Wheeljack's lab, and sends him safely back to Moon Base Two.

Hot Rod briefly fights the giant Decepticon, but manages to unleash the power of the Matrix, and ascends to his true form, Rodimus Prime, and kills himself, Megascream, and Unicron in the process.

In the aftermath, the Autobots return to Cybertron and celebrate the end of the Cybertronian wars. Optimus looks up, and promises to Alpha Trion, and the briefly lived Rodimus Prime that he will never question the will of the Matrix ever again (which is good since it's BEEN BLOWN UP!!)

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck

Hot Rod - Sports Car Ascended into Rodimus Prime

Rodimus Prime - Caravan Killed in Matrix Explosion

Ultra Magnus - Car Carrier Killed in Shuttle Crash

Springer - Rocket Car/Helicopter Killed in Shuttle Crash

Arcee - Sports Car Killed in Shuttle Crash

Perceptor - Microscope Killed in Shuttle Crash

Kup - Pick Up Truck

Blurr - Race Car

Blaster - Boom Box

Bumblebee - VW Beetle

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Swoop - Pteranodon

Sludge - Apatosaurus

Slag - Triceratops

Ironhide - Van Dead

Prowl - Police Car Dead

Wheeljack - Race Car Dead

Windcharger - Sports Car Dead

Scrounge - Wheel

Alpha Trion (Vision)

Other Autobots

Decepticon

Megatron - Gun Killed by Optimus Prime

Starscream/Megascream - Fighter Jet Killed in Matrix Explosion

Soundwave - Cassette Player Died as Part of Megascream Gestalt

Astrotrain - Train/Space Shuttle Died as Part of Megascream Gestalt

Thrust - Fighter Jet Died as Part of Megascream Gestalt

Dirge - Fighter Jet Died as Part of Megascream Gestalt

Thundercracker - Fighter Jet

Sunstorm - Fighter Jet

Acid Storm - Fighter Jet

Ramjet - Fighter Jet

Blitzwing - Tank/Fighter Jet

Laserbeak - Cassette

Rumble - Cassette

Shockwave - Ray Gun

Mixmaster - Mixing Truck

Long Haul - Dump Truck

Scrapper - Front End Loader

Skywarp - Fighter Jet Devoured by Unicron

Bombshell - Boll Weevil Devoured by Unicron

Shrapnel - Stag Beetle Devoured by Unicron

Kickback - Locust Devoured by Unicron

Gladiaron (Statue Only)

Floron (Statue Only)

Dery (Statue Only)

Ghoulon (Statue Only)

Human

Daniel Witwicky

Spike Witwicky

Other

Unicron - Ringed Planet Killed in Matrix Explosion

Quintessons

Sharkticons - Sharks

Kranix

Other Quintesson Prisoners

Notes

• This special is part of the 2016 IDW cross-line event, in the same vein as "Infestation" or "Mars Attacks <insert name here>". This year's theme is based on the "What If...?" line from Marvel.
• This is actually NOT the first time that we've had an alternate version of what happened during the Movie. In the Marvel days we had Rhythms of Darkness, which showed that Galvatron won the events of the movie, and in Regeneration One we actually see the final battle from that story.
• Also, in the Regenerations One scene, the Autobot shuttle crashed on the Planet of Junk and killed the crew, much like what happened here.
• The recap page for this comic actually comes from the IDW adaptation of the movie, rather than screenshots from the film.
• The fateful moment that was changed in this story, was that Hot Rod was stopped by Kup from interfering with Optimus and Megatron's battle. So in a way, all the bad things that happened here are Kup's fault!
• Amongst the dead bodies in this story is an Transformers: Animated Autotrooper....weird...
• Apparently if Hot Rod never interfered then Megatron would be a terrible shot as he completely misses Optimus' head.
• Following the shock of Megatron's death, no one challenges Starscream's plan to take leadership.
• Ultra Magnus' attitude with Hot Rod is based on an abandoned plot line from the script of the movie where he was going to reprimand him for breaking Kup's cordon on Lookout Mountain during the start of the film.
• Optimus takes Hot Rod's place on Kup's shuttle, with Optimus going on Magnus' too.
• It's actually mentioned here that the reason not all the Autobots are joining the shuttle trips back to Cybertron because they are part of a clean-up crew for the city.
• Despite not touching the Matrix or being exposed to it, like in the movie, Hot Rod appears to be receiving messages from it, further cementing his position as the "Chosen One"
• It's actually brought up that Daniel being exposed to a horrible war with people dying all around him MAY have affected him negatively.
• Starscream has to discard his cape and crown when he transforms. Nice touch. Though I guess a jet with a cape would look a bit stupid.
• Because he never stopped to observe Optimus' death and had his bargaining debate with Megatron, Unicron arrived at Cybertron DURING Starscream's coronation.
• Starscream isn't as good of a negotiator as Megatron was, all he got was a modified body, gave the ability to combine with him to 4 other random Decepticons, and that is it....YAY!
• Starscream's new "Megascream" body appears to be loosely based on Leozack's body, and likewise his combined form looks somewhat like Liokaiser's design. Hopefully this is a hint for a Liokaiser set coming out in Combiner Wars :)
• The Sharkticons "greet" the Autobots on Quintessa, in the actual film it was the Allicons.
• Amongst the prisoners freed on Quintessa is Scrounge...THROW HIM TO THE SHARKTICONS!!!!
• Arcee never speaks in this comic.
• Why couldn't more of the Autobots fit inside that escape pod with Hot Rod and Daniel?! From what we see of it, it looks large enough for at least a couple more!
• In the actual movie, Unicron attacks Cybertron after Galvatron tries to blackmail him with the Matrix, here he just does it because Starscream annoys him.
• The Autobots resolved their issues on Quintessa so fast, that they never encountered Wheelie, and because the Autobots on the Planet of Junk never went scavenging for parts, they never bothered the Junkions, so they were never met either!
• Starscream confronts Unicron before he can eat Moonbase Two, so the Autobot's base there is left intact.
• Thinking about that though, since the Autobots never enter Unicron here, does that mean Jazz and Cliffjumper, and the rest of the Moonbase One Autobots were killed either in his digestive system or the explosion?
• Despite being modified for combination, none of the other Decepticons have been modified appearance-wise.
• Optimus mentions how he questioned the ways of the Matrix, does that mean the Matrix told him to give it to Hot Rod so he could fulfil his destiny?
• Oh, and the Matrix appears to he blown up with Rodimus Prime here...let's hope there's no hate plague round the corner!!

IDW - More Than Meets The Eye #50

Main Story Title: The Dying of the Light Part 1: How Bright their Frail Deeds

Written by: James Roberts

Art by: Alex Milne

Additional Inks by: Brian Shearer

Colours by: Joana LaFuente, Priscilla Tramontano,& John-Paul Bove

Side Story Title: No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases

Art by: Brendan Cahill

Colours by: Joana LaFuente

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: John Barber

Publisher: Ted Adams

Main Story Plot

Optimus and Jetfire on Earth pick up a communication from the Lost Lighters, which displays the last wills and words of several crew members. Optimus is disturbed and asks Jetfire who else knows about it.

Like that, all across the galaxy Cybertronians are picking up the messages too, and all reacting to them in their natural manners, entertainment, fear, worry. When Jetfire tells Optimus that he can't get in contact with the Lost Light, Optimus is determined to save his friends, and orders for the space bridge to link up to the Lost Light, and use their quantum engines for a power source, but Jetfire bursts that bubble when he reveals that the messages were sent three weeks earlier...

Three weeks earlier, the Lost Lighters liberate the planet Miliarium from the Rust Giants, and are gathering a good reputation from the local galactic media. The crew returns to the ship, where Megatron hosts one of his classes on the Knights of Cybertron, where he discovers that the crew have encountered a strange gear symbol in the past, and as a group they determine that it must belong to one of the Knights, as a coat of arms, however during the class, Megatron falls ill and briefly attacks Minimus Ambus. He promptly leaves and heads to the Medibay.

At the Medibay, Megatron receives his "fools Energon" from Velocity, and she warns him about his usage of the substance as it may have unknown side-effects, beyond it weakening him, but Megatron claims that he's fine, and has never been happier.

velocity examines Megatron's head when she notices some dents on his helmet, and he explains that it was just a headache when he heard screaming. Suddenly she receives a message from Swerve, claiming that he and several other crew members also suffered the same weird phenomenon.

Later, all the affected crew members are gathered by Rodimus, who, along with Rung and Brainstorm explains that they were all attacked by a cerebral weapon of some sort from an unidentified location. So they're going to investigate it as a team.

Soon, the affected crew members, along with Rodimus, Velocity and Whirl for added muscle, take the Rodpod out towards the location, and use the new "teleport drive" on the ship to reach the destination instantly, but find themselves inside a large dark sphere. They use the drive again to reach the surface of the sphere, which they discover to be the Necrobot's planet.

The crew take in the sight, but not for long. Suddenly the team are attacked by several attack craft, forcing them back to the Rodpod. Rodimus discovers that the engines of the ship have been drained, despite there beiug enough to power two long distance teleports. The crew instead decides to head to the Necrobot's "fortress" where they plan to hold their ground.

The Rodpod is destroyed by the attack craft, but the crew manage to escape to the fortress, inside Nightbeat quickly finds the body of Censerre, the Necrobot dead, and stuffed with several of his flowers. Velocity can't determine whether he was killed by the gun shots or being overloaded by the energon flowers.

Ravage leaves the fortress to investigate one of the crashed attack crafts to determine who attacked them, whilst the rest of the crew work on the Necrobot's communications array. They manage to get it working and contact the Lost Light, however the call is answered by Getaway, who reveals that he was released by the crew, as they've decided to perform a mutiny on their captains, due to Megatron being a monster and not deserving redemption like High Command wants, and Getaway thinks Rodimus is a terrible commander.

Getaway explains that he and Atomizer have been trying to take down Rodimus and Megatron since they returned to Cybertron for Dark Cybertron, and have been using Getaway's Nudge Gun to ask people how they would react to a mutiny, and if they didn't like the answers, then they would have their memories wiped of the conversation.

Getaway ends the call, just as he coyly hints that they will be visited by the DJD soon. Ravage returns to the fortress, having been attacked by Tarn, and reports that there's hundreds of other Decepticons with Tarn this time.

The crew await their deaths....

Side Story Plot

Shock and Ore make their way into the empty bar of the Lost Light before it's launch and Shock is sure it's the same ship they were meant to serve on a long time ago, and even finds a tag he left under the bar's counter. The Duobots are ordered by Prowl to attach Overlord's cell onto the ship's hull, as a spectral version of Skids watches them...

A little later on, Skids opens up the bar as "Swerve's" and hosts a secret grand opening party, whilst there, Pipes and Drift sit together and Pipes tells Drift about his desire to find a lover, and Drift suggests Tailgate to him, which Pipes seems interested in, as a shocked, and invisible Tailgate watches them...

Later, following the Messatine visit, Ambulon asks First Aid to keep his embarrassing leg-alternate mode a secret, but First Aid points out that Swerve has an obsession with alternate modes, just as he throws a ball at his head, and forces him into leg mode, causing Swerve to make fun of him. Velocity and a diagnostic drone watch on from another time and place....

A little later on, Rewind has Rung set up in the bar, ready for another story-telling session that he's hoping will wake up the comatose psychiatrist, so he can ask him about the still missing Dominus Ambus. Out of his view, a grieving Chromedome is watching him tearfully, whilst Rung tells him that his time is up....

During Overlord's rampage, Perceptor rushes into the bar, which is being used as a triage station, since the Medibay is blocked, and he brings Tripodeca to Hoist for repairs, Perceptor leaves to rejoin the fight, ut is immediately grabbed by Overlord. Nearby, another Perceptor silently watches as Tripodeca dies on the bar....

Following the Legislator's attack on the ship, Swerve is trying to repair the damaged bar, but is joined by several crew members who bargain with him to keep the place open, if they all help him to fix the place, which he agrees to. Swerve then asks for them to keep an eye out for a salvageable Legislator for him to use as a bouncer, which is soon found by Jackpot. Ten watches as he is dug out of the rubble, looking happy....

Before the ship takes off following Dark Cybertron, the new crew members are taken on a tour of the ship, including the bar, where they meet their new friends, unaware that they're all being watched by the crew in secret from another time..

Perceptor brings the crew back from their trips, and explains to Minimus Ambus that Brainstorm's time cases had a side-effect, creating some holes in time that the crew can use to look back at the past in certain areas, one being in the bar. They can only observe, so their presence cannot affect the past, so this is just for interest, and to pay final tributes to their fallen friends.

Rodimus suggests to Ambus that he should use the time hole himself before it closes, but Perceptor corrects him that it's not closing, just fluctuating. Even after it is gone, it will return one day. Rodimus looks forward to that, and raises a toast to their fallen friends...

Unknown to them, Getaway is using the time hole in the future, saying farewell to the soon-to-be dead crew members himself.....

Characters

Autobot

Rodimus - Car

Megatron - Tank

Ultra Magnus/Minimus Ambus - Vehicle Transport/Minesweeper

Nautica - Submarine

Swerve - Van

Skids - Van

Chromedome - Car

Rewind - Data Slug

Rung

Whirl - Osprey Helicopter

Nightbeat - Car

Brainstorm - Jet

Velocity - Race Car

Tailgate - Car

Getaway - Car

Atomizer - Buggy

Mainframe

Thunderclash - Truck

Perceptor - Tank

Blaster - Acoustic Tank

Crossblades - Helicopter

Slamdance - Cassettes

Riptide - Boat

Hound - Jeep

Xaaron

Grapple - Crane

Crosscut - Van

Jackpot - Car

Bluestreak - Car

Hoist - Crane

Siren - Car

Brawn - Van

Inferno - Fire Truck

Fervor

Grotusque - Cat Monster

Highbrow - Helicopter

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Jetfire - Fighter Jet

Metroplex - City/Space Ship

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Fortress Maximus - Tank

Red Alert - Car

Wheeljack - Race Car

Windblade - VTOL Fighter Jet

Other Lost Lighters

Original Rewind - Data Slug (Only in Time Holes)

First Aid - Ambulance (Only in Time Holes)

Ambulon - Leg (Only in Time Holes)

Ratchet - Ambulance (Only in Time Holes)

Powerglide - Jet (Only in Time Holes)

Mirage - F1 Race Car (Only in Time Holes)

Sunstreaker - Sports Car (Only in Time Holes)

Blades - Helicopter (Only in Time Holes)

Ore - Treaded Vehicle (Only in Time Holes)

Shock - Treaded Vehicle (Only in Time Holes)

Gears - Van (Only in Time Holes)

Smokescreen - Car (Only in Time Holes)

Trailcutter - Van (Only in Time Holes)

Pipes - Truck (Only in Time Holes)

Drift - Race Car (Only in Time Holes)

Sandstorm - Buggy/Helicopter (Only in Time Holes)

Toaster - Toaster (Only in Time Holes)

Tripodeca - Tripod (Only in Time Holes)

Dipstick - Car (Only in Time Holes)

Waverider - Submarine (Only in Time Holes)

Rad - Car (Only in Time Holes)

Crosshairs - Van (Only in Time Holes)

Aquafend - Buggy (Only in Time Holes)

Joyride - Buggy (Only in Time Holes)

Landmine - ATV (Only in Time Holes)

Sprocket (Only in Time Holes)

Skater (Only in Time Holes)

Flex (Only in Time Holes)

Borer (Only in Time Holes)

Doubletap (Only in Time Holes)

Prowl - Police Vehicle (Statue)

Huffer - Truck (Footage)

Boss - Car (Footage)

Firestar (Communications Screen)

Autobot High Command (Mentioned)

Dominus Ambus (Mentioned)

Hubcap - Car (Mentioned)

Quark - Electron Microscope (Mentioned)

Slapdash - F1 Race Car (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Ravage - Cassette

Misfire - Jet

Krok

Crankcase - Van

Fulcrum - Bomb

Spinister - Helicopter

Tarn - Tank

Tesarus - Grinding Device

Helex - Smelting Pod

Vos - Rifle

Kaon - Variable Volt Harness

The Pet

Deathsaurus

Blue Bacchus - Helicopter

Killbison - Tank

Drillhorn - Drill Tank

Leozack - Jet

Guyhawk - Jet

Other members of Deathsaurus' crew

Overlord - Jet and Tank (Only in Time Holes)

Kicker - Leg (Mentioned)

Swing - Arm (Mentioned)

Arm-Or - Arm (Mentioned)

Abdominus - Torso (Mentioned)

United Cybertron

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Scoop - Front End Loader

Other Cybertronian

Cyclonus - Jet

Ten

Censerre Killed by the DJD

Legislators (Only in Time Holes) Dead

Bob the Insecticon (Only in Time Holes)

Diagnostic Drone

Chief Justice Tyrest (Mentioned)

Circle of Light (Mentioned)

Knights of Cybertron (Mentioned)

Scraplets (Mentioned)

Other

Rust Giants Defeated by Lost Lighters

Miliarians

Galactic Council (Mentioned)

Notes

• Presumably, the beginning section of the comic takes place about the same time as the end of Transformers #50, but Wheeljack should be on Earth, not on Cybertron. Unless he got the space bridge working properly in that time?
• Rung appears to be more afraid of his alternate mode than before, maybe something happens in the time between the main part of the story and making the message to the future again.
• Both Optimus and Megatron give the same responses when another character says no one is answering from the Lost Light.
• Riptide's disliking of tests was previously mentioned during their time travelling adventures
• The Mystery Gear symbol is bought up again here, where Nautica explains that a curator told her it was a coat of arms of some sort, much like the Autobot and Decepticon insignias are.
• The Galactic Council apparently like to experiment with cerebral weaponry, much like the Mind Bomb created by Blackrock in Transformers...hmm.....
• The Necrobot uses technology that is based on the Aequitas device from Garrus-9, so he can determine who was responsible for which death for his flower hobby...how did he get that?
• I'll be very shocked if ALL of the Lost Lighters not in the Rodpod team were willing to go through with a mutiny against Rodimus and the others, and leave them to be killed by the DJD. More than likely some of them, like Perceptor, Thunderclash and others, are just pretending and plan to betray Getaway.
• I mean seriously! If this is true then about 200 Autobots are going to be court-marshalled by Optimus or something when they eventually turn up after locating the Knights!
• If you remember, one of the effects of the Nudge Gun is to push someone into thinking something differently...maybe that's what happened to some of the crew?
• Deathsaurus' sword appears to be based on the Star Saber sword from the Prime cartoon.
• Ten found the time to collect an armful of the Necrobot's flowers...n'awwww!
• The side story acts as a celebration of the series so far, and gives us some bittersweet moments with some of the deceased characters from the series.
• Shock and Ore were supposed to be on the U-1/Unitrex-1/Lost Light when it was first launched, but it went missing, thanks to the Lost Lighters, before it's first launch, we also see the other side of the conversation that Prowl had on his communicator all the way back in issue 1
• It's revealed that Pipes was so eager to make new friends because he was looking for a lover, and he was actually interested in Tailgate thanks to a recommendation from Drift.
• Pipes confirms that the Hubcap that he knew and was good friends with is the same one who is currently starring in Sins of the Wreckers.
• Pipes comments that he could have had a big crush on Drift.....he would later be HORRIBLY MURDERED BY BEING CRUSHED!!!
• The combiner team that Ambulon was a part of is revealed to be called the "Combicons", but we don't know what the gestalt's name was yet :(
• Ambulon's leg mode is seen for the first time, and it even has a peg like the ones seen in the Combiner Wars toys, however it remains the same size as Ambulon, meaning he wasn't fitted with a mass-shifting device like the main ones appear to.
• Swerve's alt mode curiosity has been shown several times in the series, where he begged Tailgate to transform for him, and his quest to identify Rung's alternate mode before Dark Cybertron too.
• It's revealed that Rewind wanted Rung to have his brain fixed early in the series because he wanted to ask him about Dominus Ambus....did they know each other?
• Also, from Chromedome's reactions to him, it seems to be from before they found the other Rewind, meaning the time-hole was there in "Season One", but the hole was created by Brainstorm's time cases....maybe it's a timey wimey thing!?
• Tripodeca is revealed to turn into a tripod...poor fella....a BMX, like the robot he's based on (Armada High Wire) might have been better....JUST!
• Swerve's decision to reopen the bar, even after he was determined to close it before the "Remain in Light" storyline is explained here.
• Perceptor finding Quark's head funny is interesting, since it was based on his Transformers: Animated counterpart's design.
• Also, Brainstorm has his faceplate off and the briefcase attached to his arm....first off, that's where his Decepticon insignia is hidden. Silly double agent! And the briefcase should have been confiscated at the door due to the bar's rules.
• Sandstorm is shown amongst the bar patrons in the last time jump, meaning the events take place just before the ship takes off following Dark Cybertron.
• The "present" scene is set during the Holiday Special, as evident by the "Christmas lights" that are still hung up.
• The "present" also dates the Holiday Special as being set between issue 49 and 50, since Thunderclash and Tailgate are both up and about, wow that's cutting it close!
• Mirage comments that Swerve's bar is a dump, foreshadowing his decision to open his own bar.
• HOLY FUCK THIS ONE TOOK ME AGES TO DO!!!