IDW - Unicron #1

Main Story

Written by: John Barber

Art by: Alex Milne

Colours by: Sebastian Cheng

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: David Mariotte

Publisher: Greg Goldstein

Side Story

Title: Ad Infinitum

Script by: Chris Ryall

Art by: David Messina

Colours by: Alessandra Alexakis

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Edits by: David Mariotte

Main Plot

Long ago....Unicron and Primus battled, resulting in the former's loss, and Primus turning himself into Cybertron. Over time the people of Cybertron believed Unicron to just be a story and eventually forgot about him, but now he has awoken...

Since his awakening, he has devoured the active, and even lost colony worlds of LV-117, Prion, Gorlam Prime, Velocitron, Elonia, Eukaris, Arduria, Tsehshi and Devisiun and is now approaching Caminus. This time however, the Transformers are ready, and along with Rom of the Solstar Order, wanting revenge for Elonia's destruction, are ready to defend the colony world in orbit. Unfortunately, the now defeated Shockwave's Maximal army have joined forces with Unicron and fight off the Transformers in the skies of Caminus.

Back on Cybertron, Windblade monitors the battle from a planning station, whilst unhappy with the plan at hand, but is still convinced that this is their best chance to defeat Unicron.

On Caminus' surface, the population of the colony are rushing to the Temple of Light for salvation from their very literal apocalypse, whilst Stormclash and Skyburst work on repairing the Spacebridge to evacuate the planet. Pyra berates the Mistress of Flame for still believing in the gods and hoping they'll help them, but the religious leader keeps her faith.

In orbit, the Transformers fight off the Maximals whilst Optimus leads and team of himself, Arcee and Bumblebee into a hole they've managed to make on Unicron's surface, so they can try and destroy him from the inside.

Outside, things are going badly with several Transformers, including Dirge being killed by the Maximals.

Inside Unicron's body, Optimus' team find themselves coming across the remains of several planets Unicron has eaten, and even come across the Quintesson mural from LV-117, the first known world eaten by Unicron, indicating they're getting close. 

The crew locate a cavern made up of several worlds that appears to have been merged into a forest, where Arcee even locates the dead body of an ancient Omega Sentinel, which leads them to believe the stories of Primus and Unicron battling in the past, since the Sentinels have been gone for millenia. Before they can really check further however, they are attacked by some creatures made up of mismatched people eaten by Unicron.

Unicron begins his direct attack on Caminus, shooting a beam at the planet, then beginning to pierce the surface. The twins have completed the Spacebridge repairs and the population start filtering away to Cybertron, though it's taking some time...

The Maximals break through the orbital defence and start attacking the surface, intending to trap enough Camiens there to be eaten too, but the Mistress of Flame steps up, and declares it to be her duty to defend her people. She gives he staff to Pyra and sends her and the others away, as she shoots fire from her chest at the Maximals.

The Unicron team are overwhelmed by Unicron's Antibodies, but are able to be teleported back to Ark Zero, just as Unicron devours Caminus, and the Mistress of Flame is devoured with it...

Luckily, thanks to the Mistress of Flame's sacrifice, the population of Caminus were able to escape, including Pyra, who cradles the staff, mourning her former leader's death...

At the jail, Starscream has come to visit the captured Shockwave, who wanted to speak to him, he reveals that his plans when attacking Cybertron were to poison the planet, so that when Unicron attacks, he will be killed. He wants Starscream to free him so they can create a new Decepticon empire, but Starscream isn't interested. He watches as Optimus' ship and the rest of the fleet return to Cybertron and gets an idea...

Optimus leaves the ship, held up by his team, having been injured by the Antibodies, and reports to a disappointed Windblade about how they failed to get information on Unicron, despite sacrificing Caminus to try.

Optimus is now concerned that Unicron will come after Carcer, Cybertron and Earth now and will destroy everything they have built up. Bumblebee points out that, assuming Cybertron isn't counted as a colony, then they've only accounted for twelve of them, when there's supposed to be thirteen!

Starscream appears, now bearing his insignias again, and waving a Decepticon flag, and declares to the displaced colonists that HE knows how to save them all, and will lead them to defeating Unicron.

Optimus, and the others, are of course not having any of this....

Side Story Plot

Rom meets with his fellow surviving Solstar Knights with Bumblebee and Imperator Carax, to try and involve them in the battle with Unicron, since they need to avenge the destruction of Elonia, and all the other worlds eaten by the creature. Q'b is vocally opposed to joining the fight, since they've already lost.

Rom however reminds him that despite the odds, they have to fight for what is right, as that is what the Solstar Order is for!

Characters

Autobot

Optimus Prime - Truck Cab

Arcee - Sports Car

Windblade - VTOL Fighter Jet

Aileron - Space Shuttle

Jetfire - Fighter Jet

Bumblebee - Car

Beachcomber - Buggy

Silverbolt - Concorde Jet

Fireflight - Fighter Jet

Skydive - Fighter Jet

Air Raid - Fighter Jet

Pyra Magna - Fire Truck

Rust Dust - Motorcycle

Stormclash - Helicopter

Skyburst - Helicopter

Jumpstream - Sports Car

Dust Up - Sports Car

Roadmaster - Van

Javelin

Proxima

Metroplex - Iacon City

Omega Supreme - Ship (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Starscream - Fighter Jet (Rejoins Decepticons)

Shockwave - Flying Artillery

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Acid Storm - Fighter Jet

Dirge - Fighter Jet Killed by Maximal Rampage

Sparkstalker - Insect Monster

Maximal

Optimus Primal - Gorilla

Dino Megatron - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Drago Megatron - Dragon

Rampage - Crab

Saberback - Stegosaurus

Guiledart - Triceratops

Killer Punch - Styracosaurus

Sea Clamp - Lobster

Buzzclaw - Lizard-Mantis

Scorponok - Scorpion Killed by Dirge

Cataclysm - Panther Killed by Dirge

Sandstorm - Scorpion Killed by Dirge

Wolfang - Wolf Killed by Dirge

Razorbeast - Wild Boar Killed by Soundwave

Inferno - Ant Devoured by Unicron

Other Maximals

Solstar Order

Rom K'atsema

Livia (Ad Infinitum Only)

Imperator Carax (Ad Infinitum Only)

Q'b (Ad Infinitum Only)

Nikomi (Ad Infinitum Only)

Sata (Ad Infinitum Only)

Guar (Ad Infinitum Only)

Plor (Ad Infinitum Only)

Orphion (Flashback) Dead

Fy-Laa (Flashback) Dead

Maur (Flashback)

Cybertronian/Colonist

Mistress of Flame Devoured with Caminus

Caminus - Ship Devoured with Colony World

Knock Out - Sports Car

Breakdown - Armoured Van

Lightbright

Vigilem - Carcer Ship Dead, Mode Locked

Pink Camien - Jet

Camien Civilians

Cybertronians and Colonist Warriors/Civilians

Omega Sentinel - Ship Dead Body inside Unicron

Prion - Ship Dead, Body Devoured by Unicron (Flashback)

Navitas - Delta City Devoured by Unicron (Flashback)

Quintesson Judge (Mural Image)

"The Arisen" (Mentioned)

Solus Prime (Mentioned)

The Thirteen Primes (Mentioned)

Other

Unicron - Ringed Planet

Antibodies

Ardurian Rocs Devoured by Unicron (Flashback)

Primus - Cybertron (Flashback)

Dire Wraiths (Mentioned)

The Absence Dead (Mentioned) 

The Presence Dead (Mentioned)

Nikomi's Kids Devoured by Unicron (Mentioned) 

Shah K'atsema Dead (Mentioned) 

Benna K'atsema Dead (Mentioned)

Reyn K'atsema Dead (Mentioned) 

Notes

• Here it is! The finale to the Hasbroverse has properly begun! However as is common with IDW, this issue is released on time, but Optimus Prime and Lost Light #21 were supposed to be released BEFORE this one, so expect some spoilers in this one!
• This series includes a side story and some background interviews and articles. This one's interviews are with Simon Furman and EJ Su
• When we left Unicron in #0, he was just attacking Eukaris. Since then he's taken out Arduria, Tsehshi and Devisiu, the latter of which is one of the founding worlds of the Council of Worlds
• Optimus' new double barrelled shoulder cannons seem to be emulating his Powermaster counterpart's
• It's so dark inside Unicron's body (in places) that Optimus and the others use headlights and even energon weapons to light their way
• The idea of Unicron's antibodies being made of his victims was actually seen in DDP's GI Joe vs Transformers Black Horizon, though they weren't merged together like these ones are...
• Amongst the Cybertronian bodies used for the Antibodies also appears to be the bodies of Elonians...ewww…
• So...does anyone wanna bet that we'll get a mind-freak scene of several beloved Transformers being turned into Antibodies, just to mess with the main characters towards the end of this series?
• Why is Beachcomber still allowed to be a prison guard?! He keeps getting blackmailed and beaten up!
• Shockwave's claim that he has been working to poison Cybertron for some time to in turn kill Unicron is actually plausible! He was shown to be the one who created the Talisman, which was used to poison Cybertron's energy supplies. He really is a master planner!
• Whilst the 13th Colony is likely going to be revealed to be Quintessa, since we know Quintus Prime and Quintessons exist in this continuity, but how do we know that LV-117 was the first colony destroyed like Bumblebee and the others are assuming?
• Also, why does Optimus think Unicron will come to Cybertron before Earth? It would make more sense to go after all the colonies first BEFORE going for Primus' body (Cybertron) itself
• Starscream has gotten back his Decepticon insignias, having gotten rid of them when he announced himself the new leader of Cybertron back in Robots in Disguise.
• It's not mentioned here, but remember that the Titan Caminus was also killed along with the planet itself
• Omega Supreme is referenced in passing. He's been off panel and injured since the end of the pre-Dark Cybertron storyline of Robots in Disguise
• The bronze-looking Solstar Knight seen in Ad Infinitum is apparently based on Plor the Pulsar from the Marvel series...but we shouldn't talk about him because of legal issues...shhhhh
• Nikomi and Q'b are revealed to still be alive, despite being part of the team who were killed by Unicron in #0. It can be assumed they just escaped somehow
• Ad Infinitum includes a credit for Christos Gage, the co-writer of the Rom series, as a victim of Unicron...I guess he was visiting Eukaris when it was eaten then?
• We also get a credit of thanks to Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema, the creators of the original Marvel Rom comics
• Judging by the advert at the end of this comic, it seems like every Hasbroverse franchise will be involved in this event...most likely a lot of these will be in the side stories to wrap up their story arcs.

IDW - Lost Light #20

Title: Crucible Part 2: Lustrare 

Written by: James Roberts

Art by: Casey W. Coller

Colours by: Joana LaFuente

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: David Mariotte

Publisher: Greg Goldstein

Plot

On Mederi, the team left on the surface continue to barricade themselves into Ward Zero, where First Aid manages to hack into Mederi's files discovers a possible cure for the Sparkeater disease, but it is a concussive medicine, meaning it has to be "punched" into the victims. They prepare to use a generator to administer the cure, but Misfire worries that the organic aliens in the ward could be harmed by the generator. First Aid agrees that this is a risk and tries to find another cure, only for Nickle to turn it on anyway. Outside the Sparkeaters are knocked out, and Velocity commends Nickel, since the organics would have been killed regardless if the monsters got inside, but luckily the generator didn't hurt them anyway. Nickel plays it off that she knew that...and not that she just didn't care about the aliens...

On the Lost Light, Cyclonus has flown off through the corridors with Star Saber chasing him, the two having unfinished business since their last encounter on Luna-1. Rodimus is left with Getaway and Scorponok, the former of which just watches as Scorponok pummels the Autobot. Rodimus taunts Getaway about how he'll never be a Prime, not just because of him not being worthy, but because "Getaway Prime" sounds stupid, to which Getaway just orders Scorponok to kill him.

In the now flooded Shuttle Bay Four, Grimlock manages to slice the Scraplet combiner in half, but it quickly reforms. It starts to grab for the team, until it notices Whirl and speeds off towards him. Whirl screams out a "No!" before being shocked at the Scraplets reforming into a hand and caress his face gently....

Back in the corridors, Star Saber is getting bored with just flying in circles, that is until Cyclonus transforms and draws his sword, bisecting the still speeding Star Saber from end to end, seemingly killing the murderous zealot. He offers him a brief prayer to hope Primus forgives his sins, as he also hopes the same for himself one day.

On the Bridge, Scorponok is about to squish Rodimus' head, but is teleported away by Tyrest, since the Grand Architect needs his "lieutenants" with him for the next stage of their plans. Getaway is left alone with Rodimus, and decides to run for his life rather than fight him there.

On Mederi, some of the Sparkeaters are brought into Ward Zero to complete their treatment, when suddenly the aliens begin a count-down, leaving everyone to worry about what they are counting towards...

Back on the Lost Light, Rodimus follows Getaway to the furnaces, where he contacts Cyclonus to let him know where he is, and he is ambushed by Getaway. The two fight, with Getaway threatening to use some Nucleon rods to destroy the ship. The two talk, and Getaway explains that when they arrived on "Cyberutopia" they found nothing, since the crew didn't have a consensus of what Cyberutopia would be like, and were soon attacked by the Grand Architect's Worldsweepers. Getaway managed to save his own life by claiming that Rodimus and Megatron, along with their allies would be coming to stop the Architect's plans, and offered to help them fight them off. As payment and a show of loyalty, he had his crew handed over to Scorponok to be turned into Sparkeaters.

Getaway admits that everything he ever wanted was pointless now, Cyberutopia was just a fantasy, and he'll never be a Prime. The only thing he has left is to kill Rodimus. Rodimus declares that Getaway is obsessed with him, but Getaway claims the opposite to be true, since he chased him across the universe, and rather than help out his crew on the surface of Mederi, he opted to come to the ship to kill him. This makes Rodimus pause for a moment to consider it, giving Getaway a chance to detonate the Nucleon rods...

LUCKILY, Cyclonus arrives and slices off Getaway's arm, leading him to run off in fear into the open furnace, planning to die by his own hands. Rodimus, having reconsidered things, runs in after his long-time enemy and recovers him, carrying him out as his paint job reverts back to its original state.

Rodimus puts Getaway on the ground as he and Cyclonus look for the sprinkler system controls to put out the furnace flames before they spread too far, however Getaway wakes up and grabs Cyclonus' discarded great sword. He goes to skewer the ancient Cybertronian, when he is stopped by an image of Primus himself in the now-activated Sprinklers. Primus holds out his hand to Getaway, which he takes to mean he has been chosen as the new Prime, he hold's his god's hand and is finally happy.

Then Primus breaks apart into the Scraplet army and tear Getaway apart, killing him in a violent fashion, leaving just a few scraps behind.

Behind the Scraplets, Whirl explains that the Scraplets that he looked after as a baby that snuck on the Lost Light from Luna-1 a few Christmas' ago were a part of the swarm and they have taken control of them. They hacking into the Mederi computers and gave Getaway his happiest wish, validation from god, before killing him.

All seems well, until Rodimus receives a call from Ratchet on Mederi, he explains about the organics having completed their countdown and tells his captain to look out the window, as there's a massive tear in space above Mederi.....

Characters

Autobot

Rodimus - Car

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport

Drift - Car

Getaway - Car Eaten by Scraplets

Ratchet - Ambulance

First Aid - Ambulance

Velocity - Race Car

Brainstorm - Jet

Chromedome - Car

Rewind - Data Slug

Rung - Photonic Crystal Generator

Swerve - Van

Tailgate - Car

Nautica - Submarine 

Riptide - Boat

Grimlock - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Thunderclash - Truck

Whirl - Osprey Helicopter

Sparkeater Inferno - Fire Truck Knocked out by Concussive Medicine Wave

Sparkeater Waverider - Submarine Knocked out by Concussive Medicine Wave

Sparkeater Siren - Car Knocked out by Concussive Medicine Wave

Sparkeater Slamdance - Cassettes Knocked out by Concussive Medicine Wave

Sparkeater Gears - Van Knocked out by Concussive Medicine Wave

Sparkeater Powerflash - Jet Knocked out by Concussive Medicine Wave

Other Lost Lighter Sparkeaters Knocked out by Concussive Medicine Wave

Sparkeater Bluestreak - Car (Flashback Only)

Sparkeater Hound - Jeep (Flashback Only)

Sparkeater Hoist - Crane (Flashback Only)

Skids - Van (Mentioned) Dead

Decepticon

Nickel - Rocket Powered Buggy

Misfire - Jet

Spinister - Helicopter

Fulcrum - K-Class Bomb

Crankcase - Van

Krok

Other Cybertronian

Scorponok - Scorpion

Star Saber - Jet Bisected by Cyclonus

Cyclonus - Jet

Roller - Truck

Wipe-Out - Car

Anode - Bi-Plane

Lug - Backpack Equipment

Primus (Scraplet Construct Only)

Tyrest (Voice Only)

Other

Scraplets

Alien Telepaths Comatose on Mederi

The Grand Architect (Mentioned)

The Beast (Mentioned)

Notes

• You may think it's harsh of Nickel to use the concussive wave generator around the organics, before they tested if it was safe for them, but do remember that her homeworld of Prion was destroyed by organics...so I guess it's okay for her to be a little kill-happy with them!
• Despite being the focus of the cover I got (Hey I love Star Saber!) His fight with Cyclonus lasts all of five panels....yay....we don't even get to see him transform into robot mode...
• Also....DAMMIT CYCLONUS! DON'T KILL MY STAR SABER SENPEI!! 
• Rodimus gets annoyed with Scorponok for referring to him as "Hot Rod", similarly to how he got annoyed with Fortress Maximus for the same reason. This is what you get for renaming yourself!
• Oh...what a shock...the scraplets are being controlled by the ones Whirl befriended in the Holiday Special...I totally didn't call that in the previous Lost Light review....
• According to Rodimus, Drift believes in what are essentially guardian angels named Slivers...hope they're not related to the poo aliens from the movies of the same names...
• Rung has "heard" the pronounced coat of arms for the Knights of Cybertron/the Grand Architect's faction before in the past...I wonder if this has some connection to his still unexplained alternate mode?
• Having finally taken back his ship, and gotten "revenge" on Getaway by not killing him like he wanted, but intending for him to be taken into custody for his crimes, Rodimus' colour scheme, which Drift gave him to signify that he wanted to kill someone, burns away in the flames, and returns to his classic look.
• Tyrest states that "The Beast" approaches. Considering this issue was originally meant to be released before Unicron #1 coming out, we can assume that this is referring to the planet eater.
• The crack in space near Mederi looks similar to the tear in time/space from the Marvel UK Time Wars event.
• My updated idea for the plot now, is that The Grand Architect's plan is to use the threadbare space created over the past few issues to try and trap Unicron within it, to try and save the Universe (obviously it'll fail, but whatever)

IDW - Optimus Prime #20

Title: The Falling Part 5: Endless Forever

Written by: John Barber

Art by: Kei Zama

Finishes by: Casey W. Coller (Pages 14-19)

Colours by: Josh Burcham

Letters by: Tom B. Long

Editor: David Mariotte

Publisher: Greg Goldstein

Plot

Back during the rule of Zeta Prime, Orion Pax brings his new recruit, Bumblebee with him on a raid of Swindle's weapons workshop, where Bee notices and is concerned by Pax's growing violence towards the Decepticons. Jetfire comments that this ISN'T the same person who challenged the old Senate in the past any more...

Eventually Pax reformed and went against his old friend Zeta Prime, helping Megatron to kill him, beginning the true civil war.

During the Dark Cybertron event, Bumblebee was killed by Shockwave and his body was consumed by a singularity caused by a repentant Shockwave, and has been trapped in Infraspace ever since then, but is now joined by Optimus Prime as well.

The two trapped Autobots worry about what is happening on Cybertron without them, but Optimus is confident that Arcee and the others can save their world, despite them being all but dead right now.

On Cybertron, Arcee tears through the Maximals, but even with her skills is eventually captured by Liege Maximo and his guards, but he reveals that they will not kill her, since "Onyx Prime" has need of her.

Nearby, Devastator and Victorion battle it out, with Devastator using brute force to overcome Victorion's gravity bending powers. Shockwave watches the battle as Starscream, whose entire life has been revealed to be pointless and manipulated, slinks away, intending to return to his jail cell.

Aileron and Jetfire make it to Metrotitan's body where they find the Titan has been definitely killed, Jetfire explains to Aileron who Shockwave is, explaining that he's pretty much pure evil and tried to destroy reality once. Aileron is pleased however, since he is just a real guy, and not a Prime, it's possible that he can be killed.

Back in Infraspace, Bee theorizes that he was able to connect to Starscream in the "real world" because he was always uncomfortable in his own body, and since the people trapped in Infraspace are without true bodies too, they must be able to use him as an anchor of sorts.

Back on Cybertron again, Windblade returns to the rest of the council after looking for Optimus, only to find a riot forming on the streets below between the Decepticons and Prime's loyalists, especially since some of them questions WHICH Prime to follow!

Hiding from the crowd, Soundwave is with Needlenose, the former of which is now hated by everyone for his involvement in Horri-Bull's murder being revealed. Starscream, on his way back to jail, is found by the Decepticons and they ask him to lead them once again, since he didn't do that bad of a job last time, however, upon hearing this, Soundwave is reinvigorated to get "his" Decepticons back...

Inside Infraspace, the two Autobots discuss how this world is pretty much just made up of thoughts and ideas, giving Optimus the idea to use the Matrix...or at least the memory of it, to help them escape...

Aileron and Jetfire make it towards the Crystal City singularity, where they find the anomaly larger and surrounded by light, as well as the dead bodies of several Maximals and Arcee's discarded jetpack, they worry about what is happening, until Shockwave arrives and is glad to see Jetfire, as he needs his help for the final stage of his plan....

Characters

Autobot

Windblade - VTOL Fighter Jet

Arcee - Sports Car

Jetfire - Fighter Jet

Aileron - Space Shuttle

Victorion - Torchbearer Gestalt

Roadmaster - Van

Metrotitan - Autobot City Dead

Optimus Prime/Orion Pax - Truck Cab Trapped in Infraspace

Bumblebee - Muscle Car Trapped in Infraspace

Zeta Prime (Flashback Only) Dead

Megatron - Tank (Flashback Only)

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport (Flashback Only)

Prowl - Emergency Vehicle (Flashback Only)

Ironhide - Van (Flashback Only)

Rodimus - Car (Mentioned)

Pyra Magna - Fire Truck (Mentioned)

Wheeljack - Race Car (Mentioned)

Silverbolt - Concorde Jet (Mentioned) 

Decepticon

Shockwave/Onyx Prime - Flying Artillery

Soundwave - Cassette Player

Needlenose - Fighter Jet

Acidstorm - Fighter Jet

Tall Tankor - Oil Tanker/Cargo Plane

Swift - Helicopter

Flip Sides - Cassette

G'Nur

Submarauder - Submarine

Skullgrin - Tank

Garboil - Cassette 

"Armada Thrust" - Fighter Jet

Decepticon Rioters

Swindle - Van (Flashback Only)

Space Case - Fighter Jet (Flashback Only)

Road Pig - Motorcycle (Flashback Only)

Snarler (Flashback Only)

Finback - Hovercraft (Flashback Only)

"Armada Cyclonus" - Helicopter (Flashback Only)

"Cybertron Sideways" - Space Shuttle (Flashback Only)

Maximal

Optimus Primal - Gorilla

Beast Megatron - Tyrannosaurus Rex

Thunderhoof - Elk Killed by Arcee

Steel Jaw - Wolf Killed by Arcee

Powerhug - Pill Bug Killed by Arcee

"Mutant Soundwave" - Bat/Alligator Killed by Arcee

Diver - Toad Killed by Arcee

Icebird - Owl/Polar Bear Killed by Arcee

Posion Bite - Barracuda/Scorpion Killed by Arcee

Mantis - Praying Mantis Killed by Arcee

Lazorbeak - Pteranodon Killed by Arcee

Tasmania Kid - Tasmanian Devil Killed by Arcee

Rockbuster - Fiddler Crab Killed by Arcee

Bigmos - Mosquito Killed by Arcee

Drill Nuts - Boll Weevil Killed by Arcee

Scuba - Squid Killed by Arcee

DJ - Cicada Killed by Arcee

Snapper - Snapping Turtle

Scylla - Squid

Archadis - Archaeopteryx

Dead End - Ammonite

Apache - Mandrill 

Cohrada - Cobra 

Jawbreaker - Hyena

Heinrad - Tanuki

Moon - Rabbit 

Seaclamp - Lobster (Claw Seen)

Other Maximals

Other Cybertronian/Colonist

Liege Maximo

Starscream - Fighter Jet

Elita One - Car

Mistress of Flame

Devastator - Constructicon Gestalt

Fat Tankor - Tank

Prime Loyalists

The Old Senate (Mentioned)

The Thirteen Primes (Mentioned)

Vigilem - Carcer Ship (Mentioned)

Trypticon - Earth Embassy (Mentioned)

Lightbright (Mentioned)

Metalhawk - Fighter Jet (Mentioned) Dead

Other

Marissa Faireborn

Notes

• The opening scene is set just after Bumblebee met Optimus in the 2017 Annual, and leads into his ruthless cop persona from the start of Autocracy
• Among the Decepticons in Swindle's workshop are Armada Cyclonus and Cybertron Sideways...has Unicron been manipulating Cybertron using Sideways this whole time?!
• Arcee claims to have avoided the Lost Light to also avoid wordplay...I guess she hates Swerve...
• In the Infraspace realm, Optimus appears to have a purple colour scheme, much like his Shattered Glass counterpart
• Bumblebee apologizes to Optimus for not doing a good job leading the Autobots during Optimus' self-imposed exile from Cybertron. Optimus says that it's okay, but he was pretty mad with Rodimus when he learned that he messed up too, seems a bit biased...
• Submarauder and Skullgrin are seen in their Pretender shells here...but if you remember all the way back to Stormbringer they were seemingly killed before they ever received them. (We saw before that Skullgrin survived his "death" so it can be assumed that at least some of the other proto-Pretenders did too)
• Fat Tankor is mentioned to be "unaligned"....since when?
• I'm assuming that the condor cassette in this issue is Garboil, since Laserbeak and Buzzsaw should be still on the Jupiter Decepticon colony
• Seaclamp's claw is shown amongst the dead bodies of the Maximals, however he prominently appears in the upcoming Unicron #1, so he must have just lost an arm (I would normally assume it's a repaint's body, but his only repaint is Gimlet, who is part of the Autobot's Earth crew)
• For some reason, Shockwave needs Arcee and Jetfire for his big plans, we don't know why, not even with the early released Unicron #1, set after this issue, and the next!
• Last issue's solicit for this issue said that "only one will survive" regarding Victorion and Devastator's battle...did the conclusion get moved back an issue for some reason? Their battle lasted all of two pages here...