Loose Ends, Part 3

2012-09-15T08:51:49Z

82.20.115.50: /* Errors */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One]]'' #83
|prev=Loose Ends, Part 2
|next=Loose Ends, Part 4
|title="Loose Ends" Part 3
|image=RG183 cvrA.jpg
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[September 5]], [[2012]]
|coverdate=September 2012
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|penciler=[[Andrew Wildman]]
|inker=[[Stephen Baskerville]]
|colorist=[[John-Paul Bove]]
|letterer=[[Chris Mowry]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}

'''The Wreckers join up with some old allies on Earth, while Optimus Prime and Bludgeon gather their forces.'''

==Synopsis==

In the [[Mojave Desert]] on [[Earth]], the cybernetic [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Circuit Smasher]] attacks and fells [[Rack'n'Ruin|Rack 'n' Ruin]], and then turns on [[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]]. The [[Jumpstarter]] recognizes the human as former [[Autobot]] [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] Spike Witwicky, and keeps him talking long enough for the other [[Wrecker]]s to surround him. Topspin proposes an alliance, and Spike's friend [[Gordon Kent]] encourages him to agree. Spike leads the assembled group through the Argus mountains, angrily explaining how the current state of Earth is the Autobots' fault for leaving the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] behind on Earth. He and [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] were initially able to protect it, but when a group of humans were able to penetrate the ship in 1994, Megatron was reactivated and began laying waste to the Earth. Humanity resorted to nuclear tactics, but Megatron was able to hack the missiles and use them to destroy major human population centers, after which he revived the various dead Transformers that had been kept in the Ark as a zombie army to eradicate what resistance remained. [[Leadfoot (G2)|Leadfoot]] wonders where Megatron got the tech and know-how to accomplish these many feats, but Spike has no answer, and at this stage, does not particularly care. Presently, the group arrive at [[Argus Base]], former headquarters of an ultra-secret government combat group which the rebels have taken as their own. Here, Spike introduces the Autobots to the man behind their organization, and the creator of Argus Base's tech: their old ally, [[G.B. Blackrock]]!

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] gives [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] a talk on making decisions and living with their consequences, admitting that he is probably trying too hard to cling to the current peace. [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] then arrive with evidence that [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] has gone to Earth, and two transmissions they have consequently picked up from the planet after turning their attention to it: the distress call sent by [[Springer (G1)|Springer]], and a message that has been repeating for years, from [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]], demanding Prime's presence. There can be no hesitating now—Prime orders the Autobots to Earth.

In Argus Base, Springer and [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] attend a meeting with Spike, Blackrock and Kent via remote hologram projection to co-ordinate a strike against the Ark in order to take out Megatron's power base. Spike explains his transformation into Circuit Smasher: Fortress Maximus died in the conflict with Megatron, leaving Spike's mind and nervous system shut down, but his body alive. Reminded of a [[Circuit Breaker|former employee]] with a similar condition, Blackrock used a cybernetic process she had developed to revive Spike. As the discussion continues, a message arrives from Megatron in [[Washington, D.C.]], demanding the Wreckers leave the planet or be hunted down. Before leaving, however, they must collect Kup, in Megatron's clutches and infected with [[Scraplet]]s—an obvious trap, but one that means Megatron's attention will be focused away from the Ark, giving Springer an idea...

As an Autobot battle unit boards a shuttle bound for Earth, Optimus Prime instructs Hot Rod to stay behind, sensing in him a greatness that must be protected. Prime and Magnus are the last to board, and as the ship leaves, Hot Rod turns to go, and bumps into [[Dirtbag]]. Excusing himself, the young Autobot leaves... and Dirtbag radios [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] that the Autobots have left. In turn, Soundwave makes contact with [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]], whose forces are busy razing the planet [[Torkulon]], informing him that Cybertron is now under-protected... and the opportunity to rescue the remains of [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] has arisen!

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.)<br>
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (2)
*[[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]] (3)
*[[Rack'n'Ruin|Rack 'n' Ruin]] (4)
*[[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] (5)
*[[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]] (6)
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (7)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (8)
*[[Leadfoot (G2)|Leadfoot]] (10)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (11)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] (12)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (13)
*''[[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]'' (19)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (21)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]? (22)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]? (23)
*? (24)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]? (25)
*? (26)
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]? (27)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] (14)
*''[[Hun-Gurrr]]'' (15)
*''[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]'' (16)
*''[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]'' (17)
*[[Dirtbag]] (28)
*[[Octopunch (G1)|Octopunch]] (29)
*[[Weirdwolf]] (30)
*[[Stranglehold]] (31)
*[[Skullcruncher]] (32)
*[[Squeezeplay]] (33)
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (34)
*[[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] (35)
|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Circuit Smasher]] (1)
*[[Gordon Kent]] (9)
*''[[Circuit Breaker]]'' (18)
*[[G.B. Blackrock]] (20)
}}

==Quotes==

==Notes==
*The idea of Megatron taking the nuclear weapons fired by the world and using it against them is eerily similar to Galvatron's plan in the classic story "[[Rhythms of Darkness!]]". Also, that idea, combined with machines seeking out the remaining human resistance, is very similar to the ''Terminator'' franchise, which Furman has also written for.
*Unnamed and not drawn in detail for fear of legal terrors, Circuit Breaker can be spotted flying into battle alongside Fortress Maximus on page 9.
*The Decepticon casualties of the [[Underbase Saga]] are revealed to have been gathered up by the Autobots and kept in the Ark. This appears to contradict the finale of the saga itself, though, as both factions claimed they would be collecting their own fallen.
*The precise identity of the former owners of Argus Base is not divulged (and there are a few candidates in Marvel continuity, such as [[Rapid Anti-robot Assault Team|RAAT]]), but the presence of a large eagle-head sigil on the conference desk seems to implicitly identify the team as [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]], who gained a similar avian symbol with [[2009]]'s ''Rise of Cobra'' series.
*On a similar note, while they go unnamed, the yellow costumes and implicit motivation of the group who inadvertently revive Megatron bear a distinct resemblance to the Marvel Comics terrorist group AIM (arch-enemies of [[Nicholas Fury|Nick Fury]] and [[S.H.I.E.L.D.]], who appeared in [[Prisoner of War!|issue 3]] of the Marvel ''Transformers'' (US) series). But this might just be coincidence; the characters are just wearing yellow hazmat suits, complete with backpacks and hazard markings, rather than the distinctive "beekeeper" AIM outfits.
*The robotic battlesuits lined up in Argus Base are based on [[Buster's battlesuit]] from the Marvel UK story, "[[Robot Buster!]]".
*The Ark's computer is referred to with its original name, [[Aunty|Auntie]], for the first time in Marvel US continuity since its [[The Transformers (issue)|very first issue]]. The only other time this happened was in the UK story, "[[Raiders of the Last Ark]]".
*The planet [[Torkulon]] originated with the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] episode "[[Webworld]]", but aside from having native lifeforms that include vaguely spidery-thing that have something to do with brains, this depiction of the world seems to owe virtually nothing to its cartoon predecessor.
*The term "[[Scramble City (disambiguation)|Scramble City]]" has been used for a bunch of things in its time, but with this issue, it is first used as the name of a city on Cybertron.
*Bludgeon's forces appear to be travelling aboard the [[Warworld]], just as in ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|Generation 2]]''.

===Errors===
*On page 2 Circuit Smasher tells Topspin that badge he's sporting counts for nothing no more. Neither he or Rack'n'Ruin are drawn with Autobot symbols. It is also a double negative.

===Covers (3)===
*'''Cover A:''' Circuit Smasher zaps the Wreckers, by Andrew Wildman and [[Jason Cardy]].
*'''Cover B:''' The Ex-Bots loom over Kup, by [[Guido Guidi]].
*'''Cover RI:''' Zombie Starscream, Razorclaw and Blitzwing stomp through Washington, by [[Geoff Senior]] and [[Josh Burcham]].
<gallery>
Image:RG183 cvrA.jpg|
Image:RG1 83 cvrB.jpg|
Image:RG1 83 cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One]]'' #84
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Night and the City|#9]]
*''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' #9
*''[[Star Trek]]: The Next Generation — Hive''
*''Rocketeer: Cargo of the Doom''
*''Robots in Disguise'' Annual
*''[[My Little Pony|My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic]]'' comic (back cover)

[[Category:Regeneration One issues]]

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Loose Ends, Part 3