IDW - Transformers Escape #2

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Beth McGuire-Smith

Colours by: Priscilla Tramontano

Letters & Design by: Jake M. Wood

Editor: David Mariotte

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: Tom Waltz

Plot

Ever since the War of the Threefold Spark, the Insecticons have periodically returned to Shockwave's secret base, to see if the cloning experiments have progressed, but Shockwave keeps dismissing them. After the most recent visit, SoundBlaster asks Shockwave if he's told them that he doesn't need them for the cloning experiments, since he already has the materials to create an army without their further assistance, but Shockwave simply states that the Insecticons are too powerful to risk upsetting, so he's keeping them in check, but he is starting to fear that Bombshell might know something...

As is to prove Shockwave correct, the Insecticons ambush one of the only other figures in the base, Skystalker, and implant him with a Cerebro-Shell to use him as a spy against Shockwave.

Meanwhile, at the Academy of Research in Crystal City, Highbrow contacts Straxxus about the Arks, but during their conversation, Straxxus and Geomotus discuss the recent ground tremors, and the very real risk they have in destroying the planet itself, prompting Straxxus to reveal that he has started renovating one of the Arks for the civilians of Darkmount, but will allow the other three to be used for the rest of Cybertron's evacuations.

A convoy of aliens, injured Cybertronians and Autobot guards are leaving Iacon to reach Darkmount to try and get access to Straxxus' store of Arks, led by Hound, Wheeljack and Nautica.

Along their journey to Darkmount, the convoy is attacked by a group of Decepticons, who, whilst they don't care about the organics leaving Iacon, they want the Cybertronians, who are now "Decepticon Civilians" to them, to remain. A very short fight ensues, which is abrupted ended when Dai Atlas arrives, scaring away the Decepticons.

Hound and the others are shocked by Dai Atlas' return, and he explains that it was in response to the distress call from the A'ovans, but also reveals that his time Immersant has rendered him a pacifist, since that was the entire reason that he went Immersant in the first place, much to the disappointment of the others. 

At that moment, the back of thje convoy is attacked by the Insecticons, taking down most of the guards, forcing Hound and Road Rage to try and take them out alone, but Road Rage is quickly knocked down by Skrapnel, leaving just Hound to defend them all...

Characters

Autobot/Security Forces/Senate Guard

Hound - Jeep

Wheeljack - Car

Nautica - Submarine

Road Rage - Flying Car

Highjump - Van

Tote - Van

Mudslinger - Monster Pick-Up Truck

Evacuation Convoy Guards

Cromar - Jet (Mentioned)

Decepticon

Shockwave - Flying Artillery

Soundblaster - Hovercraft

Bombshell - Boll Weevil

Kickback - Locust

Skrapnel - Stag Beetle

Skystalker - Car Placed under Cerebro-Shell Control

Skytread - Tank and Jet

Roadtrap - Vam

Gutcruncher

Airwave - Battle Platform

Megatron - Tank (Mentioned)

Insecticon Clones (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Dai Atlas - Drill Tank-Jet

Highbrow - Helicopter

Mianframe

Geomotus - Buggy

Azimuth

Straxxus

Cybertronian Evacuees

Meteorfire - Space Shuttle (Flashback Only)

Crosscut - Van (Flashback Only)

Vigilem - Titan Warship (Mentioned) Missing

The Threefold Spark (Mentioned)

Darkmount Civilians (Mentioned)

Other

Pra'jak

A'ovans Species Almost Extinct

Other Alien Evacuees

Slaargs (Mentioned)

Notes

• The opening panel of this issue implies that, along with Shockwave, the Insecticons were a part of the Threefold Spark's army, or at least were able to infiltrate it.
• Cromar gets a name-drop in this issue, and MIGHT be the bot seen a little behind Wheeljack and Hound in the opening long-shot of the evacuation convoy, based on his body shape, but without details or colour it could be anyone.
• Similarly, in front of Hound and Wheeljack is a red bot with large shoulders and wheels on the tops of his arms, which could be Aragon. If these are them, then along with Zetar's appearance in issue 25 of the main series, all three Powerdashers might have made their appearances in the new series.
• Meteorfire was a explorer and TV show host from the Cyberverse franchise, so his role as a part of the Xenobiology department fits very well! Also, since Hound describes him in the present tense, it's likely that he's still alive and not Immersant or just dead.
• Straxxus is revealed to be a Senator here, and also to have had a past as a theoretician that dabbles in many fields.
• The ground shakes have been shown to occur throughout the earlier parts of this continuity, but here we learn that if they continue, it could result in Cybertron itself being torn apart.
• After a few mentions, Highbrow finally makes his physical debut, and as expected, he is using his Titans Return character model.
• Oddly, Battleslash is not present in  the Decepticon ambush team, but his partner in crime, Roadtrap is...
• We see Dai Atlas' alternate mode this issue, which is shown to be the combined tank-jet mode that his Legends toy can form, rather than a separate tank and get.
• As I theorized in the earlier parts of the series, it seems like Skystalker is an unwilling member of the Rise/Decepticons, and was forced into it to wake up Vigilem
• The Off-Road Patrol, minus Powertrain, are all shown as part of the evacuation escort team. Powertrain's absence is due to him being part of Ultra Magnus' crew, and them being delayed by 70 cycles due to the Black Sphere's time dilation.
• This issue confirms that most Cybertronians are ambidextrous, explaining why they can usually wield weapons in both hands when needed.
• Dai Atlas is confirmed to be the only Cybertronian to return from becoming Immersant, but he does reveal that a part of him is still Immersed, and heading to where they go during that process (most likely the Allspark)

IDW - Beast Wars #1

Title: Savage Landing, Part 1

Written by: Erik Burnham

Art by: Josh Burcham

Letters by: Jake M. Wood

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Editor: David Mariotte

Supervising Editor: Tom Waltz

Plot

On Cybertron, the Tripredacus Agent Galavar, now going by the same Megatron, after the long-gone Decepticon leader, has led a team of loyal Predacons to steal a golden disk from the Science Ministry, and steal a Transwarp ship, destroying most of the rest at the shipyard in the process, much to the annoyance of the Tripredacus Council, who consider taking credit for it if his plan actually works though...

Elsewhere, the Axalon is is on a delivery mission when they are contacted by Ironhide of Maximal Command, who informs Optimus Primal of the theft on Cybertron, and orders him to intercept the Predacons before they can time jump with the Transwarp drive, since the Axalon is the only active Transwarp capable shuttle still in the area.

Soon, the Predacon shuttle passes them, causing the Maximals to give chase, and try to take out their engines, but they initiate the Transwarp drive, and start their time jump. Primal orders Nyx to tether their coordinates to the Predacon's, and the Axalon is pulled through too...

Now in the distant past, the Predacons arrive above an unnamed planet with two moons, and open fire on the second-to-arrive Axalon, taking out their weapons. Not letting that defeat the, Nyx rams the Axalon into the Predacon ship and sends both plummeting to the surface. On the way down, Rhinox ejects the Stasis Pods being stored on-board, to keep them safe from the crash impact, hoping they will land safely at a later date.

The two ships manage to dislodge and crash on opposite sides of a vast valley, knocking out both crews in the process, prompting the ship's A.I.s to repair them, but upon detecting high levels of Energon in the area, they scan the local lifeforms to grant them an extra organic shield to the exposure.

The two factions all recooperate and aclimate to their new forms, and Megatron plots to continue his grand scheme, but first, he plans to take out their pursuers...

Characters

Maximal

Ironhide - Tank

Optimus Primal - Gorilla (Previously Hover Truck)

Rhinox - Rhino (Previously Bulldozer)

Cheetor - Cheetah (Previously Race Car)

Rattrap - Rat (Previously Motorcycle)

Nyx - Bat (Previously Hover Speeder)

Under-3 - Car Killed by Scorponok

Other Maximal Command Security Force Members - Car Stunned by Predacons

Maximal Protoforms (Mentioned) In Stasis Pods, in Orbit

Maximal Command (Mentioned)

The Science Ministry (Mentioned)

Predacon

Sea Clamp

Ram Horn

Cicadacon

Galavar/Megatron - Tyrannosaurus Rex (Previously Tank)

Dinobot- Velociraptor (Previously Jet) 

Terrorsaur - Pteranodon (Previously Jet)

Waspinator - Wasp (Previously Jet)

Tarantulas - Tarantula (Previously Dragster)

Scorponok - Scorpion (Previously Pincer Tank)

Skold - Alligator Snapping Turtle (Previously Tank)

Other Cybertronian

Wheeljack (Statue Only)

G1 Megatron (Mentioned Only)

Notes

• This series marks the start of the first official remake of Beast Wars since the cartoon began, other comic series have been sequel, prequels or side-quels. (Uprising was set in a universe where G1 Megatron was killed by Blackarachnia's venom, after Beast Megatron's attempt to kill G1 Optimus, making it a sequel too). The series is being marketed as a celebration of the line's 25th anniversary, and is supposed to be an ongoing. We'll see how long this new series lasts though :)
• This issue essentially remakes the "Theft of the Golden Disk" mini-episode produced for Botcon many years ago, and the opening scene of the original cartoon's first episode.
• Most of the guards at the Science Ministry are based on the MCSF from the Botcon parts of the franchise, but seemingly using the character model made for Unit-3 (Under-3) for the final Botcon, using the Combiner Wars Dead End mould as the basis...I don't think this version of him will be combining into Magnaboss any time soon though... The other ones seen are kind of hard to identify, but three might be Shatterpoint, Highbeam and Switchblade, but I'm just not sure...
• Most of the main cast are using older toy designs of the characters (mostly from the various Botcon figures) but a few are new designs with their own histories, like Dinobot using the IDW1 design for Metalhawk that originated in "The Death of Optimus Prime" or Tarantulas using his Mesothulas design from "Sins of the Wreckers".
• The new characters introduced this issue are also based on older characters too, Skold is designed using Beast Machines Tankor's design in her Cybertronian mode, and a modified version of Beast Wars Snapper for the beast mode body. Nyx doesn't seem to have a particular basis for her Cybertronian body, but her beast mode is likely based on Beast Wars Sonar, but without the Transmetal II parts. Her name is likely based on Onyx Primal, who was also a bat Transformer from the past.
• The main cast Maximal Cybertronians alternate modes are show in the backmatter of this issue (albeit, using very small images though), but the Predacons are just shown in bot mode, so I am guess on their alternate modes, based on the previous uses of their designs.
• It's been known for a long time that Megatron had a different name before taking on the former Decepticon leader's name in his honour, but we never knew his name before now (other than the Gnashteeth link from the Micron Booster character). Galavar is most likely derived from Galvatron, a character that G1 Megatron would become (assuming this follows the same basic historical timeline as the original Beast Wars).
• Unlike in the original, the Maximals and Predacons had their beast-themed names before they even took on their beast modes.
• The Axalon and Darksyde are redesigned somewhat to make them more boxy that the original versions, which were more streamlined.
• Optimus Primal is shown to be a bit more of a loose cannon than his cartoon counterpart, being interested in trying time travel, even before his orders were given.
• Unlike in the cartoon, the two ship's crews were knocked into stasis lock when they crashed, and were scanned automatically by their ship's computers into animals to protect them from the planet's Energon exposure. In the original they made the decision themselves whilst still conscious.
• It's not currently clear if the planet they crash on here is the Prehistoric Earth like in the original version, but the presence of Earth animals does imply that it is.

IDW - Transformers #27

Title: War World: Moon

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Fico Ossio

Colours by: David Garcia Cruz

Letters & Design by: Jake M. Wood

Editor: David Mariotte

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: Tom Waltz

Plot

Novastar's team, on board Sky Lynx, approach the Winged Moon, which has been attacked by the Decepticons, using the element of surprise due to the Moon having communications problems.

On the surface, Team Stream are trying to break into the inner facilities, but the engineers left on the Moon to try and save it have managed to barricade themselves in securely.

Shadow Striker leads some of the team, via a drill, directly into Enemy's holding cell, unaware that he was even stationed there, much to the Infiltration Trooper's annoyance.

On the surface, Astrotrain detects Sky Lynx approaching, and goes after him, however he doesn't know that only half of the giant Autobot is approaching, his other half has already landed carrying the Autobot team, who attack the Decepticons, and seem to have the upper hand.

Inside, the Decepticons sneak around to find the Energon stores, but find the corridors booby-trapped, so go after Systems Control instead, to take the whole Moon instead if just the Energon.

Sunstirm tries to break in, but the engineers rig the Energon supplies to detonate, sending Sunstorm into orbit, irradiating him in the process.

Seeing this, Slipstream calls for a retreat, and they collect the now glowing Sunstirm, mumbling about seeing something, and head back to Cybertron.

Back on the Moon, Sky Lynx collects the Autobots and engineers to return them to Cybertron too, but Cosmos opts to remain on the Moon to defend it from further attacks, but asks Lancer to deliver a message to Blast-Off, inviting him to join him....

Characters

Autobot/Security Forces/Senate Guard

Novastar - Car

Windblade - VTOL Jet

Springer - Car/Helicopter

Sureshot - Buggy

Smokescreen - Car

Sky Lynx - Space Shuttle

Decepticon/The Rise

Slipstream - Jet

Shadow Striker - Car

Flamewar - Motorcycle

Astrotrain - Trackless Train/Space Shuttle

Sunstorm - Jet Irradiated by Energon Explosion

Hotlink - Jet

Hyperdrive - Car

Blackjack - Car

Tracer - Helicopter

Enemy - Cassette Missing In Action

Shockwave - Flying Artillery (Mentioned)

Blast-Off - Space Shuttle (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Cosmos - Orbiter

Huffer - Truck

Gears - Van

Lancer - Car

Wheeljack - Race Car (Mentioned)

Notes

• This issue's story presumably takes place just following Novastar leaving during the crisis meeting in issue 25, meaning it is likely occuring during the previous issue's events.
• Fico Ossio was the main artist for the Revolutionaries series as well as a few other series in the old IDW continuity, this is his first appearance on interiors in the new continuity.
• The engineer team refer to the Decepticons as "Risers" here. This is due to them not knowing about Megatron's uprising and their true nature yet.
• Sunstorm's newly irradiated firm is most likely a reference to his Dreamwave character, especially with his comments about seeing something afterwards. Maybe we'll finally get some proper use out of the character this time around!
• Enemy disappears from the Decepticon team before they can leave the Winged Moon, my guess is that this will be a recurring joke for the poor guy in this series...always getting left behind in horrible situations.
• It's unclear yet if Cosmos knows that Blast-Off is a member of the Decepticons or not.

IDW - Rom: Dire Wraiths #3

Writer: Chris Ryall

Letterer: Shawn Lee

Editor: David Mariotte

Main Story Title: One Small Step for Dire-Wraith-Kind, Part 3

Main Story Artist: Ron Joseph

Main Story Colourist: Jim Boswell

Side Story Title: One Small Step for a Spaceknight, Part 3

Side Story Artist: Guy Dorian Sr. & Maria Keane

Side Story Colourist: Ross Campbell

Main Story Plot

On the Moon, the Human astronauts figure out that the last surviving Wraith soldier is too weak to take them on, causing him to run away towards the remains of their gateway, hoping to escape them, but the humans chase him.

When the Wraith reaches the remains of the portal, he stalls for a moment , allowing Dodger to leap at him, but the astronaut goes right through the illusion, and into the portal, activating it again. The real Wraith grabs one of the remaining astronauts to further power the portal to send him back to where he came from, but Rom, on the other side of it fires on the monster, killing him.

As the portal closes, Rom congratulates the humans in their victory and salutes them...

On the Advebture-One Station the Mystic, Aby'ss, is searching for the only Human onboard, Sandra Shen, so she can be absorbed too, however the human scientist is smarter and manages to blast her with an energy weapon, and jabs needles into the alien to take samples for humanity to be prepared to take them on better in the future, killing the creature in the process

In the aftermath, the remaining astronauts complete their moonwalk, and replant the American flag. Shen contacts them and says she will complete the cleanup of the lander site, and lock down the area so noone will know what happened as the duo return to their shuttle.

Reunited with Collins on the Apollo shuttle, the three astronauts head back towards Earth, with two if them unaware that Collins was replaced by a Wraith whilst waiting for them....

Side Story Plot

The adrift Solar Knights manage to take down the Wraith-possessed Dhorian, finally putting their old friend out if his pain. Unfortunately the portal that sent them to this distant part of space is closing, forcing Nikomi to send Rom through alone, while he hibernates until he can be found again...

Rom, grateful for the sacrifice doesn't waste his time, now back where this all started, he opens up the portal again, and sees two Human astronauts being harassed by a line Dire Wraith, whom he kills, congratulating and saluting the two Humans in the process and flying off to continue his long mission to defeat the evil species....

Characters

Adventure Team

Sandra Shen

Dodger/James Brightside Killed by the Wraith Portal

Mixmaster/Martin Flannery (Mentioned) Dead

Arsenal/Anatoli Kiev (Mentioned) Dead

Scalpel/Elmo Aubreyson (Mentioned) Dead

Hank Armstrong (Mentioned, Images used by the Wraiths) Dead

NASA

Neil Armstrong

Buzz Aldrin

Mike Collins (Mentioned, Replaced by Sky'sm) Dead

Other Human

Franco Columbo (Mentioned)

President Eisenhower (Mentioned)

President Kennedy (Mentioned)

Dire Wraith

Mystic Aby'ss Killed by Sandra Shen

Mystic Sky'sm (Posing as Mike Collins)

Third Mystic (Posing as Dhorian) Killed by Rom

Axlar Killed by Rom

Sular (Corpse Only) Dead

Solar Order

Rom

Nikomi Stranded in Deep Space

Dhorian (Corpse Puppeted by Wraiths) Dead

Notes

• This issue was VERY delayed, but after about a year, this three issue miniseries is finally complete!
• Since they never get properly identified this issue, I've decided to use logic to name the Mystics who have different dates this issue. Aby'ss is the one who dies and Sky'sm is the one who survived. If a later story changes that, then oh well.
• As I speculated last issue, it's revealed that Collins has been replaced by the surviving Wraith at the end of this issue.
• Somehow, the Wraith who attacks Sandra turns into Hank to try and trick her, and is implied to be the one who absorbed him, but the one who replaced Collins was also the one who replaced Hank and this is confusing....
• Nikomi being lost in space, seemingly acting as a "death" this issue really loses its edge when you remember this is a prequel, and we see Nikomi later, alive and well.
• And as the series ends, we still don't have a name (or status) for the third Wraith soldier, orca name for the Mystic who took over Dhorian's suit/corpse.
• Rom somehow knows that the beings on Earth's Moon are Humans, despite not knowing about them later in the timeline before Earthfall.

IDW - Transformers #26

Title: War World: Awakenings

Written by: Brian Ruckley

Art by: Anna Malkova

Colours by: David Garcia Cruz

Letters & Design by: Jake M. Wood

Editor: David Mariotte

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Supervising Editor: Tom Waltz

Plot

Some time ago, Termagax witnesses the Tether collapse, and is infuriated, she orders her workshop "House" to construct something for her...

Now, Pyra Magna has been freed from her prison by the newly appointed Optimus Prime. 

Ironhide is unsure if people will be happy with Pyras release, and questions Sentinel's final orders to kill Starscream, which Optimus has no intention of doing, as he hopes to not kill anyone, and end this uprising peacefully.

At the prison, Pyra sends out a signal to one if her loyal Companions, Jumpstream, who uses her teleportation abilities to get to her nearly instantly, informs her about what's been happening recently, and agrees that this may be a worthy cause for them to fight for, and heads out to find the rest of their team for Pyra.

Andromeda speeds towards Tarn to get away from the problems happening in Iacon, but gets ordered by Soundwave to report to the Decepticon's Headquarters so they can control what news is being spread.

Elsewhere, some Decepticons are patrolling the streets in Iacon, when they discuss that Sizshit us going to be leading their forces soon, which a hiding Cyclonus overhears, and, along with the ghosts of his former allies, gets to work...

The Decepticon Senators are angered about the Rainmakers killing Sentinel Prime, but Megatron insists that they know he is infuriated with them too, but they need to move on from this problem for now, and heads off to meet with Starscream at the Arena, whilst the other Senators are to isolate their captured fellow Senators until they agree to join them.

Starscream tries to manipulate Megatron into needing him, and offers two pieces if information, one did now, and one for when he has some sense if power. Soundwave however, not liking Starscream already simply attacks the Intelligence Head, and Megatron proceeds to join him in thewtenibg the bot's life, until Starscream reveals that he has information on the Enigma of Combination and Titan Sparks, peaking Megatron's interest.

Before anything else can be said however, Skytread interrupts with news that Termagax is in the Arena...

Termagax is publicly denouncing Megatron's actions to the other Decepticons, and asks them to explain their terrorist actions, whuc Megatron defends thatvhevus doing what she couldn't.

Termagax realizes that Megatron was not who she thought he was, he just wanted to have a war so he could be in charge, and doesn't care about Cybertron"s future like he claims. 

Megatron swufkt shoots Termagax, seemingly killing her before everyone assembled. He begins to announce that anyone who defies him will be treated as a traitor, and killed like her...except Ratbat reveals that this isn't Termagax, but a drone made to look like her...

Elsewhere, Termagax is inside "House" and orders her workshop to relocate somewhere else, as she is now a target if Megatron's anger...

Characters

Autobot/Security Forces/Senate Guard

Optimus Prime - Truck

Chromia - Car

Ironhide - Van

Froid - Jet

Blaster

Crosshairs - Van

Hound - Jeep

Nautica - Submarine

Ratchet - Ambulance

Red Alert - Emergency Vehicle

Streetwise - Police Car

Fixit - Ambulance

Inferno - Fire Truck

Hot Spot - Fire Truck

Hoist - Tow Truck

Grapple - Crane

Kup - Pick-up Truck

Highjump - Van

Zetar - Drill Tank

An Infiltration Trooper - Cassette

Other Assembled Autobots

Sentinel Prime - Space Shuttle (Corpse) Dead

Roulette - Car (Mentioned) Dead

Chainclaw - Bear (Mentioned) Dead

Decepticon/Ascenticon

Megatron - Tank

Soundwave - Hovercraft

Strika - Battle Tank

Ratbat - Cassette

Acid Storm - Jet

Ion Storm - Jet

Nova Storm - Jet

Swift - Helicopter

Roadtrap - Van

Battleslash - Helicopter

Crasher - Car

Termagax - Armoured Van

Skytread - Tank and Jet

Gutcruncher

Obsidian - Helicopter

Lugnut - Jet

Scatterspike - Van

Runabout - Car

Runamuck - Car

Laserbeak - Cassette

Nautilator - Lobster

Other Assembled Decepticons

Sixshot - Tank/Jet/Winged Wolf/Gun/Car (Mentioned)

Other Cybertronian

Pyra Magna - Truck

Jumpstream - Car

Roadmaster

Starscream - Jet

Andromeda - Car

Cyclonus - Jet

"House"

Far-off Building Team

Highfire (Ghost Only)

Gridlock (Ghost Only)

Provoke (Ghost Only)

Grudge (Ghost Only)

Nominus Prime - Jet (Mentioned) Dead

The Captured Senators (Mentioned)

Perceptor (Mentioned)

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport (Mentioned)

Bumblebee - Winged Hovercraft (Mentioned)

Pyra Magna's Other Companions (Mentioned)

The Threefold Spark (Mentioned)

Notes

• Termagax's home base is revealed to be called "House". It's unclear yet if it is just an A.I. controlling a structure, if perhaps a repurposed Titan/larger bot yet.
• Pyra Magna is confirmed as the prisoner that Froid was banned from visiting, here explained as him getting too sympathetic towards her.
• Amongst the Autobots under Optimus Prime is an Infiltration Trooper, so it's most likely either Rewind or Eject, but it could be a more obscure character like Rosanna or Flip Sides. I like to think it's Eject though, since Rewind got all the love last time around.
• Inferno looks more of less like his normal character model here, even though last time we say him, his alternate mode was based on his Energon series toy.
• The odd colourings on the group shot of the Autobots is most likely due to the Matrix shining over them, causing a yellowish light to hit some, and darker shadows to be cast over others.
• Megatron has acquired his Fusion Cannon since the last issue. It goes unmentioned here (but is used, so it's not an art mistake) so I'm assuming we'll get a backstory issue explaining it before long.
• The Rainmakers are mentioned as being mute, whether this is by choice or inability has yet to be revealed.
• Roadmaster finally gets a speaking role, following her cameos in the old IDW.
• Jumpstream is shown to have a teleporting ability
• Pyra Magna and Jumpstream's character models are slightly modified versions of their Combined Wars toys, we can also assumed that the other "Companions" are the same.
• Andromeda's alternate mode shares quite a few similarities to Cybertron series Override.
• The Enigma of Combination mentioned by Starscream here was found in the flashbacks of the first Galaxies plotline, which combines the Constructions. Considering he's the head of Cybertronian Intelligence it makes sense he would have learned about it.
• Sentinel's order to kill Starscream is probably due to him knowing about the Enigma and the Titan Sparks, so that Megatron can't get them for his needs.

IDW - Transformers Galaxies #12

Title: Storm Horizon,  Part 3

Written by: Brandon Easton

Art by: Andrew Griffith

Colours by: Josh Burcham

Letters & Design by: Jake M. Wood

Editors: David Mariotte & Tom Waltz

Assistant Editor: Riley Farmer

Plot

Ultra Magnus gears up in extra armour and attacks the Kworian vessels attacking Alpha Trion's ship, but is only taking out their weapons, as he sees no need to kill the alien species.

He makes it to Trion's ship, but I'd stopped from rescuing him by Sounbkaster, who insisted that the ancient Cybertronian fulfill his side of their agreement and attacks them.

The doomed ship is caught in the gravity well of the Black Sphere, but Magnus us able to grab Trion and escape in time, with Trion making sure the ship is still capable of flying, so Soundblaster can try to escape too.

Later, after Magnus and Trion return to the Fist of Iacon they make the concerning discovery that their proximity to the Black Sphere has altered their perception of time, and they've been gone for seventy cycles more than they thought.

They return to Cybertronian space, but are disturbed by the news of Megatron's revolution, though Alpha Trion suggests that they can use the artefacts of the past that he's been researching and hunting for to try and help defeat Megatron in the present...

Meanwhile, 66 cycles earlier Soundblaster returned to Cybertron long before his foes, where his master, Shockwave, is displeased with his failure, but Soares his life since he's in a good mood, as his army if Insecticons are ready to bring in the future for the Decepticons...

Characters

Cybertronian Expeditionary Force/Colonial Security

Ultra Magnus - Vehicle Transport

Chromedome - Car

Victory Leo - Lion/Jet

Fist of Iacon Crew Members

Decepticon

Shockwave - Flying Artillery

Soundblaster - Hovercraft

Octane - Truck/Jet Imprisoned by Magnus

Spinister - Helicopter Imprisoned by Magnus

Bombshell Clones - Bill Weevils

Skrapnel Clones - Stag Beetles

Kickback Clones - Locusts

Megatron - Mining Vehicle (Footage Only)

Other Cybertronian

Alpha Trion

Omega Supreme - Battle Station (Mentioned)

Termagax - Armoured Van (Mentioned)

Primus (Mentioned)

The Senate (Mentioned) Overthrown

The City Guardians (Mentioned)

Other

Kworians (Mentioned)

Notes

• This issue marks the end of the Galaxies series, to be followed by the new Escape mini series.
• The background characters in Magnus' crew are just generics, rather than any of the previously seen characters from the earlier issues.
• Magnus' armour upgrade looks sort of similar to his Prime counterpart's second design, with the wings and rounder design.
• Due to the time dilation from the Black Sphere, over seventy cycles have passed in the outer universe. This might sound like a lot, but that works out as about 2 Earth months in real time (one Cycle is shorter than one Earth Day) So they won't be too late when rejoining the war.
• Megatron's speech being played on repeat from Cybertron is the one we see being broadcasted in issue 25 of the main series.
• The ending with the army of Insecticon clones is the culmination of Shockwave's experiments with Exarchon's cloning technology, which was also alluded to in Escape #1
• Soundblaster's master (and by extension the rest of the Splice Traders too) is revealed to be Shockwave.
• Soundblaster's resemblance to Soundwave isn't explained yet, but since his master is Shockwave, we can probably assume he's a clone of the Senator, possibly implying more clones in the future of other characters.