The Reign of Starscream issue 1

2011-11-11T23:16:52Z

166.205.136.233: /* Notes */

{{comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers: The Reign of Starscream]]'' #1
|prev=Movie Adaptation issue 4
|next=The Reign of Starscream issue 2
|image=ReignOfStarscream.jpg
|caption=Grimlock was right... smashing IS fun!
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[May 7]], [[2008]]
|coverdate=April 2007
|written by=[[Chris Mowry]] and [[Chris Ryall]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Josh Perez]]
|letters by=[[Chris Mowry]]
|edits by=[[Denton J. Tipton]]
|continuity=[[Movie continuity]]
}}
'''Starscream takes the mantle of Decepticon leadership after the death of Megatron.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:IDW Reign Starscream Movie Ark.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Not the Ark. Seriously?]]
In the distant past, Optimus Prime launches the [[AllSpark]] into space to keep it away from Megatron and his [[Decepticon]]s. Instead of wiping out the [[Autobot]]s, Megatron pursues the cube and leaves Starscream to eliminate the Autobots. Prime leads a large contingent of Autobots aboard [[Ark (Movie)|a massive ship]] to catch Megatron alone in space and recover the AllSpark, while some forces stay on Cybertron to deal with the Decepticons. Starscream orders his troops to pursue in [[Nemesis (Movie)|their own craft]], though Barricade lets his dissent be known. Dreadwing reports that the cube is heading toward the [[Eshems Nebula]], with Megatron following, as well as the Autobots following both of them. The Autobots let loose a volley of mines that damages the Decepticon craft and seriously injures Dreadwing, so the Decepticons are forced to halt for repairs.

Over time, the AllSpark lands on [[Earth]] and Megatron ends up trapped in the frozen Arctic. Along the way, the Autobots send teams out to different locations, reacting to trace elements of AllSpark energy. The Decepticons park their ship on [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], and Starscream leads a contingent to Earth, traveling in their [[protoform]] [[alternate mode]]s. Wreckage is soon killed by a group of [[human]]s, and Starscream concedes that while they may be weak, humans are also dangerous, and he stresses the need to reformat themselves for disguise.

They eventually discover the frozen Megatron at Hoover Dam and mobilize toward him. Starscream destroys the dam's power generators, allowing Megatron to thaw, but when Megatron learns that the humans have taken the AllSpark, he can only state that Starscream has failed him again. The Decepticons engage the Autobots, and Ironhide causes Barricade to crash into a barrier. Blackout reports that Barricade may still be alive but Frenzy is most likely dead, but Megatron is still consumed with the cube. As the other Decepticons fall in battle, Starscream is angered by Megatron's non-concern with his brethren and fights the urge to destroy him. Sam Witwicky shoves the AllSpark into Megatron's chest, destroying both.

As Starscream declares that the human will pay, a group of jets attacks him. Enraged, he destroys them all. He then travels to see if Barricade is still alive, which he is, though barely. Barricade states that Frenzy has detailed files on the AllSpark and Sam. Starscream orders Barricade to continue reconnaissance on the Autobots when he has recovered and to refer to him now as '''Lord''' Starscream. Starscream then travels to Hoover Dam to recover Frenzy and prepares to assault the humans there.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters|c1=
* [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] (1)
* [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] (6)
* [[Prowl (Movie)|Prowl]] (7)
* [[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]] (8)
* [[Cosmos (Movie)|Cosmos]] (9)
* [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] (15)

|c2=
* [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] (2)
* [[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing]] (3)
* [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] (4)
* [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] (5)
* [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] (10)
* [[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]] (11)
* [[Wreckage (Movie)|Wreckage]] (12)
* [[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]] (13)
* [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]] (14)
}}

==Quotes==
"Bonecrusher, Prime's all yours — I've got a score to settle."<br/>
"Whatever you say."
:—'''Barricade''' gets ready to beat down, while '''Bonecrusher''' shows how much he cares.

==Notes==
* The [[IDWords]] section features am interview with [[John Byrne]] about ''Star Trek: Assignment Earth''
* '''Cameos:''' [[Payload (Movie)|Payload]], [[Cosmos (Movie)|Cosmos]], [[Wreckage (Movie)|Wreckage]], [[Swindle (Movie)|Swindle]], [[Sam Witwicky]]
* The comic specifically follows the continuity of the film itself, rather than IDW's previous adaptation of the film, what with [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] not having had his head cleaved off.
* Alas, the additional scenes featured in the issue (which take place during both the "prequel" events and the post-movie events) make the comic entirely incompatible with the UK's [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|Titan magazine]].
* In addition, the story seemingly attempts to reconcile at least ''some'' of the events of IDW's [[Transformers: Movie Prequel|prequel mini-series]] and the [[Planetfall (Movie)|second Target-sponsored prequel comic]], what with the inclusion of [[Wreckage (Movie)|Wreckage]]. However, the opening scene (where [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] is talking to [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] as the latter sets to leave [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]) directly contradicts the events of the "Target" prequel comic, where Starscream is with the other Decepticons when they see Megatron leaving the planet from a distance.
* Reassuring Optimus, Prowl says that he has "turned death into a fighting chance to live"—quoting almost verbatim from Dr. McCoy in ''Star Trek III: The Search for Spock'', regarding the sacrifice of the ''Enterprise''.
* Dreadwing assures Starscream that "Unlike your other soldiers, I won't fail you"—a nod to a scene in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' where Megatron delivers a very similar slight against Starscream.
* Reflecting on their arrival on Earth, Starscream muses that stealth would yield "some great reward" on Earth, a nod to the album ''Some Great Reward'' by British band [[wikipedia:Depeche_Mode|Depeche Mode]].
* Store signs in [[Mission City]] seen on page 18 include "J.R.'s Toys" (a nod to one of writer Chris Mowry's friends) and "Hodad's", a one-of-a-kind burger store in Ocean Beach, California (using the actual store logo even). A truck on the same page advertises "Casper FX", another nod to one of Mowry's friends.
* A truck on the highway Starscream is flying over on page 21 bears the last name Latta. [[Chris Latta]] was the voice actor for [[Starscream (G1)|Generation 1 Starscream]].
* Starscream makes a sly reference to his [[Starscream (G1)|G1 self's]] motto as he prepares his assault at Hoover Dam near the end of the story, stating that "we all know what conquest is made of" (according to G1 Starscream's motto, of the ashes of one's enemies).

===Errors===
* This issue continues the [[Primal Fear!|grand]] [[The Ultimate Doom, Part 1|tradition]] of Transformers fiction [[The Test (issue)|confusing]] galaxies with [[Solar system|solar systems]]: In his opening narration for the [[Transformers (2007)|movie]], [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] states that the [[Autobot|Autobots]] "scattered across the galaxy", thus implying that [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] is located within the [[Milky Way]] galaxy. Yet when the [[AllSpark]] arrives on [[Earth]] in this issue, [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] states that its journey ends "galaxies away". This discrepancy is later corrected in [[The Reign of Starscream issue 5|issue #5]].
* Cybertron is misspelled as "[[Omni Productions|Cyberton]]" on page 10.

===Covers (4)===
* '''Cover A:''' Starscream attacking jets by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Kieran Oats]]
* '''Cover B:''' Homage to "[[The New Order]]" cover by Gabriel Rodriguez
* '''Incentive Cover RI:''' Starscream smashing rocks by [[James Raiz]] and [[Kieran Oats]]
* '''Apocalypse Comics Exclusive Cover:''' Animated version of Movie Starscream by ???

<gallery>
Image:R0S 1 a.jpg|Starscream needs to stop eating at Taco Bell
Image:R0S 1 b.jpg|Shockwave, eat your heart out!
Shockwave:"NO! I'll eat yours out and some of your limbs too!!!
Image:R0S 1 ac.jpg|Raahhrgg, who animated me?!
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* [[The Reign of Starscream issue 2|''The Reign of Starscream'' #2]]
* ''Star Trek: Assignment Earth''
* April releases
* ''The Executioner''
* ''Angel: After the Fall: First Night'' part 1
* ''Star Trek: The Enterprise Experiment''
* ''Zombies!: Hunters''
* ''Igor Movie Prequel''
* Free Comic Book Day: May 3, 2008
* ''Obscure: The Aftermath'' game
* ''Dead: She Said'' (back cover)

[[Category:IDW Movie issues|Reign of Starscream 1]]

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The Reign of Starscream issue 1