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Getaway

2016-10-07T03:17:09Z

EnergonMage: /* Generations */

{{factions|autobot}}
:''Getaway is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:G1Getaway boxart.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Magnum Foreshortening]]
'''Getaway''' is an escape artist without compare. He's cool-headed and logical under even the craziest, most dire circumstances and that lets him figure his way out of even the trickiest surprise or sneak attack. His reputation for cool-headed escapes is legendary, dating all the way back to the infamous [[Armornecking Incident]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. He even has an escape kit concealed within a hidden compartment in his heel that he can reach even when bound.<ref>Seen in "[[Prime Bomb!]]"</ref>

However, Getaway is also a bot of strong conviction and opinion. And has no problem using his wily cunning to deceive and manipulate others to get what he wants. Even his closest friends. While he understands his dubious morality of his actions, he rationalizes them, feeling the alternative he's preventing is worse.

His [[Nebulan]] [[Powermaster]] partner is [[Rev]].

Sometimes he is known as '''Breakaway'''.

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:Powermasterspeoplepower.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Getaway will not stand for being miscolored! ...okay, yes, he will.]]
Getaway was a member of [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]'s crew on board the ''[[Steelhaven (G1)|Steelhaven]]'', and was part of a skeleton crew left aboard the ship when everyone else disembarked to watch [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] battle for leadership on the surface of the [[Moon (moon)|moon]]. Their presence helped prevent ''Steelhaven'' from being destroyed in a Decepticon attack. On Fortress Maximus's orders, Getaway, his crewmates, and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]] left the battle and took the ship back to Nebulos, on a mission to revive the fallen [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]. {{storylink|Totaled!}} They made contact with a friend of the old Nebulan [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] leader [[Galen Kord|Galen]] named [[Hi-Q]], but found that Nebulans had developed an acceptable level of robo-phobia after the Transformers nearly decimated their civilization last time. Hi-Q had led a research project which detonated a bomb in the atmosphere, spreading a molecular revisioning agent that converted all fuel supplies on Nebulos into a type poisonous to Transformer life. The poisoning passed the "acid test" when a pair of [[Decepticon]] vagabonds named [[Darkwing]] and [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] came to Nebulos looking for [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'s army, and ended up poisoning themselves on local fuel and being rendered inert. Unfortunately, a jealous assistant named [[Hi-Test]] stole and modified a new form of bio-mechanical engineering, enabling him and his partner [[Throttle (G1)|Throttle]] to [[Binary bonding|binary-bond]] with the Decepticons and restore them to functionality, bringing Nebulos once more under Decepticon attack.

Hearing this story, Getaway and his fellow Autobots attempted to stop the Decepticons, but proved a poor match for these new Powermaster warriors in their weakened condition. Hi-Q and his staff came to respect the Autobots for their devotion to repairing their fallen leader and determination to protect the very people intent on poisoning them if they stayed on Nebulos. They chose to undergo the same Powermaster Process that Hi-Test did, and Getaway was binary-bonded to [[Rev]], one of Hi-Q's aides. Through this transformation, the Autobots succeeded in restoring Prime to functionality and driving the Decepticons off of Nebulos. Their new Nebulan partners chose to return to Earth alongside Getaway, Prime and the others. {{storylink|People Power!}}

[[File:Border Flats.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7]]
On its way to Earth, the ''Steelhaven'' received a transmission advertising the "[[Cosmic Carnival]]," an intergalactic traveling show with attractions from many worlds. Getaway wasn't all that impressed with it, and dismissed the whole thing as a "freakshow for malfunctioning morons." Optimus and Goldbug wound up investigating it when they learned that fellow Autobot [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] was part of the line-up. Due to the carnival's steep admission fee, none of the others wound up partaking in Sky Lynx's rescue. {{storylink|The Cosmic Carnival}} ''They arrived on Earth during Christmas time. Itching for action while Prime gathered his thoughts, Getaway led the Powermasters to investigate suspected Decepticon activity in the town of [[Border Flats]]. Instead they discovered the Autobot [[Advance Surveillance Unit]] had made a mess of the town while trying to join in on the festivities. As the Autobots settled down, Optimus Prime returned from his moment alone to impart on Getaway and the rest about their responsibility to the planet.''{{storylink|Cold Comfort and Joy!}}

''A [[solid light simulation]] of Getaway was used in a training mission for the [[Mayhem Attack Squad]]. He was likely among what [[Snarler]] referred to as "Autobot non-entities" contained within the simulation.'' {{storylink|The Hunting Party (Marvel)|The Hunting Party}}

''After Getaway had reunited with the Autobots aboard the Ark, the ship received a distress call from Earth's surface. In response, Nightbeat assembled a combat team that included Getaway, [[Siren (G1)|Siren]], [[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]], [[Hosehead (G1)|Hosehead]], and himself. Under Optimus Prime's command, they rushed to Earth to help their fallen comrades, only to find what seemed to be mythology come to life: a [[Deathbringer (Marvel)|Deathbringer]] had come to cleanse the planet of life! Getaway and the others fought valiantly against the Deathbringer, but their efforts proved futile against the seemingly invulnerable foe. Using a plan hatched by Nightbeat, Optimus used the Deathbringer's own programming against it, and caused it to self-destruct, removing Getaway and the others from danger.'' {{storylink|Deathbringer (issue)|Deathbringer}} ''Getaway also defended the Ark against an attack by the borderline deranged [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]].'' {{storylink|Assault on the Ark!}}

''During a battle against [[Quake (G1)|Quake]], Joyride inadvertently led to a human getting seriously injured. Though [[Hi-Q]] built a life-support system to heal the human, its power source was stolen by [[Throttle (G1)|Throttle]]. The Autobots' initial attempt at retrieving the battery led to the [[Dreadwing (G1)|Dreadwing]], Throttle's ship, crashing down into the ocean. Despite Getaway's complaints that he would rust, he was enlisted alongside the rest of the Autobot Powermasters to retrieve the power cell from the briny deep. Already on a thirty-minute time limit before their Nebulan partners ran out of air, the Autobots were met with further interference when the [[Seacon (G1)|Seacons]] turned up. Despite barely holding his own against the likes of [[Tentakil (G1)|Tentakill]] and [[Overbite (G1)|Overbite]], Getaway was forced to disengage from Rev so that his partner could see the power cell's retrieval through while he carried on fighting. This ultimately led to the Autobots' triumph; as soon as the Dreadwing's cockpit was breached, putting the Decepticon Nebulans inside at risk of drowning, the Seacons abandonned the offensive to rescue them. The Autobots resurfaced with both their hides and the power cell intact... though that didn't stop Getaway from complaining as he spotted a spot of rust on his wrist.'' {{storylink|Dreadwing Down!}}

When the Decepticon [[Air Strike Patrol]] attacked [[MacDill Air Force Base]] in [[Tampa]], Getaway questioned the need for Autobot involvement. Limited resources and personnel meant the Ark would be virtually unguarded if they ventured down to Earth. Nevertheless, Prime insisted. {{storylink|Back from the Dead}} Getaway's words proved prophetic, however, as it quickly became apparent that the Decepticon [[Micromaster]]s had lured the Autobots away from the Ark deliberately. {{storylink|The Resurrection Gambit!}} Optimus Prime ordered a full Autobot retreat back to the shuttle while he remained behind as a rear guard. Reluctantly, Getaway and the others complied, even when [[Hot Rod/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] broke ranks to remain behind with Prime. {{storylink|All the Familiar Faces!}} Back aboard the Ark, Getaway tried to throttle information out of [[Blackjack]], the Micromaster who rigged the Ark with explosives, only to discover the countdown had already begun and was irreversible. Ratchet managed to rig a portal to transport the explosives to Cybertron, but seemingly at the cost of his own life. {{storylink|Skin Deep}}

[[File:Getaway manacles.jpg|upright=0.6|thumb|"Now, I will disarm the missiles with both hands tied behind my back..."]]
''At some point during his time on Earth, Getaway learned that some humans would use credit cards to open locked doors. He immediately procured one for himself, and stashed it in a secret compartment should the need ever arise for it.''

''Out of nostalgia for a time when he had lived inside a computer game, Optimus kept a spare copy of his mind stored in a floppy disc at [[Alternate Reality, Inc.]] Unfortunately, this made the installation a target for Decepticons, who could put the disc to malicious use. Getaway, Slapdash and Joyride were tasked with guard duty at the game company, and shortly after they had taken up the task, Darkwing and Dreadwind attacked. The Autobots were forced to scramble for cover, allowing Darkwing access to the building while Dreadwind remained on the offensive. Though Getaway managed to double back and get inside Alternate Reality, Inc. as well, Slapdash and Joyride were temporarily taken out by enemy fire.''

''Getaway battled Darkwing inside, while [[Rev]] likewise fought with [[Throttle (G1)|Throttle]]. The scuffle ended with Getaway's shotgun destroyed, and the Decepticons limping away with the disc in-hand. Knowing that if the Decepticons combined into their [[Dreadwing (G1)|Dreadwing]] mode they would definitely escape, Getaway pushed his powermaster partner to his limit and leaped upon the two jets as they reached one another. Dreadwind and Darkwing managed to combine, but with Getaway's hand stuck in their combination joint! As they took off, Getaway and Rev wound up getting tugged along for the ride.''

''Getaway was captured by the Decepticons aboard [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'s orbiting spacecraft, where both he and Rev were imprisoned in energy manacles, and thrown in the brig. Left unsupervised, Getaway immediately got to work on an escape plan. Using the credit card he kept hidden on him, he deflected one of his cage's energy bars (which only affected metal) allowing him a gap to reach out and turn the cage's power off. Getaway was now free to move about, and in due course had Rev mobile as well. He instructed his Nebulan partner to find them an escape pod while he saw to botching up Optimus's assassination. Getaway interfaced with the computer [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] was using to program a smart missile, one that could track Optimus wherever he went. The computer showed signs of a rudimentary intelligence, and introduced itself as "[[A.B.C.]]"''

''Getaway desperately attempted to appeal to A.B.C., telling the computer of how the missile's target was a brave and noble soul. A.B.C. could only state that it had not been programmed to disarm the missile as Getaway continued to delve into Optimus's inspirational qualities. Though Getaway seemingly failed to get through to A.B.C., Rev succeeded in locating a means of escape. With the Decepticons due to check up on them, Getaway and his partner were forced to leave. As the smart missile launched, Getaway at least managed to contact Optimus Prime, warning him of the incoming payload.''

''By the time Getaway and Rev made it back to Autobase, Optimus Prime has already left to meet the missile on his own. Getaway went after Prime to help in any way he could. Arriving at Prime's side, he found his leader intact while the smart missile was lying on the ground, an apparent dud. Getaway realized that he had gotten through to A.B.C. after all, and that the computer had disarmed the missile after hearing of Prime's greatness and compassion. Though Optimus was saddened that the sentient computer would have likely been destroyed once Scorponok learned of its betrayal, Getaway told him to rejoice instead, as he was the one who inspired Earth's very first fully-independent A.I. to make a decision for itself.'' {{storylink|Prime Bomb!}}

[[File:Starscream autobots fallen star.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.6]]
''After Starscream came back, revived as a [[Pretender]] and joined the ranks of Scorponok's Decepticons, he (mistakenly) thought every other Con thought him of a loser and relic—while in truth they were terrified of his power. Going on a stroll, he stumbled into an Autobot scout party composed of Getaway, [[Chainclaw (G1)|Chainclaw]] and [[Cloudburst]]. Scared, the Autobots proposed to leave peacefully, but the angry Starscream (thinking the Bots meant he wasn't worth fighting) attacked them. After seeing his comrades quickly dispatched, Getaway fled, stating "Gotta... get away!" But he did NOT get away this time; Starscream overtook him, and with a single blast, left him a smoldering wreck on a nearby dirt road.'' {{storylink|Fallen Star!}}

After the Autobots sought out the lost [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]], only for the Decepticon [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] to come into possession of the mystical artifact, the latter began to rampage through the Ark. With the Matrix's energies fueling Thunderwing's rampage, Getaway and many others were unsuccessful in beating him back. Only the ingenuity of Nightbeat allowed the Autobots to escape total annihilation, and Thunderwing was cast out into the void of space. {{storylink|All Fall Down}} Afterward, Getaway and his fellow Powermasters were part of a team that retrieved the [[Classic Pretender]]s from [[VsQs]], left stranded there by Thunderwing. Thereafter, the Autobots pursued recreational exploits to get their minds off the imminent threat of [[Unicron]]. During this period, an unhappy [[Slapdash (G1)|Slapdash]] lost a game of [[Cybertronian games#Fullstasis|Fullstasis]] to Getaway. {{storylink|Eye of the Storm}} [[File:Getaway end of the road.jpg|thumb|"I'm Getaway, not [[Crosshairs (G1)|Crosshairs]]!"]] When the grotesque fusion of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] began rampaging aboard the Ark, Optimus Prime was reluctant to harm the creature that was half his oldest friend. As more Autobots were injured by the entity, however, [[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]] became fed up with Prime's hesitation and demanded he deal with the problem, permanently, or else he would invoke the [[Crisis Act]] and forcibly remove Optimus from command. A quick glance at the Autobots present, Getaway among them, confirmed that Kup's threat wasn't an idle one. {{storylink|The Pri¢e of Life!}}

Despite the growing mistrust in Optimus Prime's leadership, Getaway and the Autobots agreed to his unconditional surrender to Scorponok and the Decepticons, in the interests of establishing a united front against [[Unicron]]. Getaway was taken into custody by Octopunch and Bludgeon as Optimus spoke with Scorponok on the matter. {{storylink|Surrender!}} As the war moved back to Cybertron, Getaway and the Autobots battled a squad of Unicron cultists. {{storylink|The Void! (US)|The Void!}}

Getaway was among the last Autobots standing during the Decepticons' assault on [[Klo]]. He was eventually trapped in a box canyon, and took a direct hit from [[Dreadwing (G1)|Dreadwing]], which blew him up but good. Presumably, he would have almost immediately have been revived by the [[Last Autobot]]. {{storylink|End of the Road! (US)|End of the Road!}}

''At an unknown point in the war on Earth, the Triggerbot [[Backstreet (G1)|Backstreet]] went AWOL after blowing a planned ambush. Joyride and Getaway were among the Autobot patrols who attempted to track him down.'' {{storylink|Trigger-Happy!}}
{{-}}

=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
[[File:Getaway ShadowOfEvil.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|"A-anything for a [[Getaway#Notes|running gag]], Simon! ''Urk-''"]]
Getaway was seen among the Autobots in 2009, after the [[Time Wars]] altered the flow of history to make the Autobots the losers of the war for Cybertron. Limping their way back to [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] on Earth, the Autobots were sabotaged by one of their own and crashlanded on the planet. Hard. Those that survived then had to face [[Hot Rod/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]], who had been driven mad by the evil essence of [[Unicron]] growing inside him. Getaway's smoldering corpse was seen among the ruins of the [[Future Autobot evacuation ship|ship]], although whether he died in the crash or was exterminated by his own leader is unclear. {{storylink|Shadow of Evil}}
{{-}}

=====Earthforce=====
{{earthforcefiction}}
[[File:Grimlock prime ark crew break-away.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
Getaway was among the "new age" Autobots who attended [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s meeting with [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] and the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] about their more brutal methods. When Grimlock threatened to quit the Autobots, Prime seemed all too willing to let him, and the two of them actually came to blows. After about ten minutes, though, Getaway and [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] decided the fight was probably a "draw". Having apparently beaten some sense into each other, Optimus Prime agreed to allow Grimlock his autonomy, to lead "Earthforce" while he and the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'s crew took off for space. {{storylink|Break-Away!}}

=====Rhythms of Darkness!=====
In an alternate future of [[2009]], Getaway was one of seven surviving Autobots on Earth, possibly in the universe. Alongside [[Guzzle (G1)|Guzzle]], [[Chainclaw (G1)|Chainclaw]], [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]], [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]], [[Crossblades (G1)|Crossblades]], and [[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]], he participated in a last-ditch effort to show the rest of the world that there remained resistance in the United States, fighting against [[Galvatron II|Galvatron]]'s tyrannical rule. Upon approaching the Decepticons' Powerbase however, Getaway snapped, unable to simply sneak past the installations' guards and avoid a direct confrontation further. He leaped upon [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], prompting Guzzle and Chainclaw to join him in the impromptu distraction while the rest of their team proceeded. He wound up getting slain in battle, though the rest of his team succeeded in their task. {{storylink|Rhythms of Darkness!}}

====''Transformers Comic-Magazin''====
Getaway was among the Autobots monitoring the Decepticons from a distance when Megatron made peaceful gestures to Humanity in [[New York City]]. The Autobots returned to the Ark and discovered that a statue of Snaptrap that the Decepticons had gifted to New York was actually Snaptrap in disguise. Snaptrap went on a rampage and the Decepticons used this distraction to attack various other targets. Prime led the Autobots to narrowly defeat this menace. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 4#Transformers in Action: The Troy Principle|The Troy Principle}} Those events were recorded on a videotape that was later found and watched by Autobots on Cybertron after a [[City of Fear!|nuclear disaster]] in [[Kalis]]. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 21|In Memory of Earth}}

In [[1973]], {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 17|Powermaster Optimus Prime - A Robot, a Hero}} Getaway attended a meeting in which Optimus Prime lectured the Autobots on the basics of their mission and existence, and applauded Slapdash's call for a one-world Autobot government. He reminded his fellow Autobots that they were loners and weren't as committed to their cause as the Decepticons. Later, the Decepticons attacked an oil tanker, and Getaway helped in the rescue effort. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 6|A Big Day for Powermaster Optimus Prime}} Those events would later be observed via log recording by Autobots in the year [[2008]]. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 17|Powermaster Optimus Prime - A Robot, a Hero}}

The characteristics of Getaway and the other Powermaster Autobots were reviewed by [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] in a simulation watched by [[Bumblebee (G1)|Goldbug]].{{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 15|Memories of Bumblebee}}

{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 8|Save Nevada Alpha}} {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 9|The Transformers' Grand Hour: Headmaster of the Dimensions}} {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 10|Transformers in Action: Wanderer Between the Worlds}} {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 13|The Energon Trap}} {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 14|Transformers in Action: The Countdown to a New Space Age!}} }}

====''Regeneration One''====
{{noterg1}}
[[File:Lancer two crew war to end all wars.jpg|thumb|left]]
As he traveled through [[Zero Space]], [[Hot Rod/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] observed the Autobots' confrontation with a [[Deathbringer (Marvel)|Deathbringer]] in [[Denver]] in the past; a battle at which Getaway was present. {{storylink|Less Than Zero}}

During the invasion of the [[Hub (G2)|Hub Network]], Getaway and a team of Autobots comprising [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]], [[Sky High (Pretender)|Sky High]], [[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] and [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] aboard the ''[[Lancer Two]]'' were shot down by [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]'s forces when they revealed their full defensive power. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 3}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[File:TWW AgeofWrath2 Getaway.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Where we're going, we don't need roads.]]
After [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] managed to take over Cybertron, Getaway remained one of the few free Autobots, not enslaved in the Decepticons' labor camps. As part of a ploy to capture one of Megatron's [[Air Warrior|Aerospace Extermination Squadron]], the drones he had used to conquer the planet, Getaway acted as bait for the Autobot resistance, and led a squadron into an to [[Nova Cronum]]. There, the drones were ambushed by [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]]'s squad of Autobots. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.2|The Age of Wrath #2}} After two had been destroyed, the surviving drone appeared to shut itself down before suddenly reactivating and augmenting itself with upgraded weaponry. Getaway was the first to go down, but managed to attach the [[inhibitor claw]] onto the drone just as it was preparing to execute [[Slapdash (G1)|Slapdash]]. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.3|The Age of Wrath #3}}
{{note|Due to [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s closure, the ''War Within'' series ended prematurely. Years later, [[Simon Furman]] released the unpublished scripts to the final three issues: Nightbeat and Getaway brought the inert drone to Perceptor, who discovered upon analyzing it that it was powered by cyberstatic energy. {{storylink|The Age of Wrath Pt.4}}}}
{{-}}

===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
{{quote|''Bomp''. When you—''bomp''—say something funny or clever or ''bomp'', that's what I do. You hate it. You say it's patronising. Which it '''''is'''''. Which is why I do it.|Getaway}}
{{quote|I have '''''no''''' idea who you are. Or why you keep saying "bomp".|[[Skids (G1)|Skids]]|"[[Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely]]"}}
{{ongoing}}
[[File:TheLopsidedTriangle-MTOs.jpg|left|upright=1.5|thumb|"We were to be airdropped into a virtual hell on Earth in order to engage in a life-or-death offensive to locate and retrieve the Commissioner's lost keys."]]
'''Getaway of the [[Corcapsia Incursion]]''' was [[Reproduction#IDW Generation 1 continuity|constructed cold]] during the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]. A "[[M.T.O.|Made To Order]]" soldier, he was brought online by [[Autobot High Command]] from a stockpile of frozen sparks originally harvested from the Matrix back during the days of [[Nova Prime]]. Along with the rest of his unit, Getaway was 'born' and educated shortly before he was to be deployed on Corcapsia. According to Getaway, a few seconds after his education he was airdropped into a battlefield and, as his brain hadn't properly grasped his primary function, he panicked and ran away from [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]]. {{storylink|The Lopsided Triangle}} A little-known fact is he's shown signs of possible Matrix affinity. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}}

[[File:SpotlightBlaster GetawayKupHufferBroadside.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Stuck in a trench with three complainers. Getaway is planning his escape even as we speak.]]
Shortly after [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]'s first apocalyptic assault, the besieged Autobots prepared for the big push against their positions by the Decepticons. The injured Getaway was in a trench alongside [[Kup (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Kup]], [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]], and [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]], waiting for [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]'s morale-boosting broadcast to the Autobot forces, a transmission that never came. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}}

Getaway joined the [[Diplomatic Corps]], which was actually just a front for Autobot [[Special Operations]]. Answering to [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] and partnered with [[Skids (G1)|Skids]], Getaway embarked on a mission to investigate Chief Justice [[Tyrest (G1)|Tyrest]]. Getaway and Skids shadowed Tyrest for years, always staying one step behind to avoid suspicion from [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]]. The two became close friends and Getaway would often playfully jab (''"bomp"'') Skids on the chin; an in-joke between the two. When some of Tyrest's...''shadier'' dealings came to Prowl's attention, he ordered Getaway and Skids to hunt the Chief Justice down and shoot him with a "[[Nudge gun|thought bullet]]" that would implant the impulse to resign from his position. After they tracked Tyrest to his secret staging ground- [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]], Skids successfully made the shot.

[[File:Getaway Skids ArmTheLonely.jpg|thumb|left|''Se-cret... Aaaaa-gent 'Bots!'']]
However, Tyrest's mind had already been damaged and the thought bullet did nothing more than alert him to the Autobot duo's presence. While Skids managed to escape Luna 1, Getaway was captured and imprisoned by Tyrest's [[Legislator]]s. He spent months alternately being ranted over by the Chief Justice or tortured on the [[variable voltage harness|VVH]] by Tyrest's new enforcer, [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]]. Eventually, Getaway got a full picture of what Tyrest was planning. The only reason Getaway was not executed was because Tyrest felt the information he possessed was too valuable. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}}

[[File:Getawaymtmte.jpg‎|upright=1.67|thumb|They say that first impressions are always the hardest to forget.]]
Finally, the crew of the ''[[Lost Light]]'' happened upon Luna 1, and Getaway and Skids were reunited in one of Tyrest's prisoner cells. {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}} Skids had followed protocol after escaping, wiping his own memories, and thus was unable to recognize his old partner. Getaway filled in the blanks related to Skids' memory problems and told [[Hot Rod/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] of Tyrest's "[[universal killswitch]]"- a horrific device that would terminate any Transformers that were [[Reproduction|constructed cold]]. Getaway then proceeded to cobble together the means to escape from various items donated by the other Autobots in the cell, and the group headed off to confront Tyrest. Unfortunately, the Chief Justice had managed to reverse-engineer a "weapon of mass-suggestion" from the thought bullet that was used on him, paralyzed the Autobots with it, and activated the killswitch. Having been constructed cold himself, Getaway spasmed in agony on the ground as the killswitch began its lethal work. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}}

Fortunately, Tyrest's plans were foiled and the killswitch deactivated- saving Getaway's life, among others. {{storylink|Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|This Calamitous Life}} The next day, Rodimus and Getaway ventured back to the initial [[spark]] "hot spot" the ''Lost Light'' crew had discovered upon first landing on Luna-1, only to discover it had gone dark and would not reignite. Getaway then accompanied Rodimus to Tyrest's control room, where [[Perceptor (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Perceptor]] had managed to establish contact with [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|The Sound of Breaking Glass}}

[[File:Winners&Losers Getaway.jpg|left|upright=0.6|thumb|You say that now, [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|but just wait...]]]]
After Ultra Magnus had been left in charge of the ''Lost Light'', he and Getaway were summoned by [[Brainstorm (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Brainstorm]] to one of its shuttle bays. On the way there, Getaway asked how Magnus was handling leadership and the two lightly discussed Magnus's attempts to "soften his image" amongst the crew through his use of more informal language. After arriving at the shuttle bay, they beheld the severed tip of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'s thumb, which had been previously stored there and was now levitating and pressing against the inside of the ship's hull. Getaway was awed by the very fact that they even had a piece of Metroplex aboard, let alone what it was currently doing. Going from what Tyrest had once upon a time told Getaway about [[Titan (IDW)|Titans]] being interconnected, Brainstorm theorized that Metroplex was somehow communicating with them and nudging the ''Lost Light'' in a certain direction. {{storylink|Winners & Losers: Dark Cybertron Chapter 3|Winners & Losers}}

With the ship parked at the bottom of an alien sea and under attack from [[Ammonite]]s, Getaway joined a group heading for something called the [[Rodpod]], and was flabbergasted to find Rodpod was a shuttle designed after Rodimus's head. {{storylink|Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|Into the Abyss}} ''That'' was the moment Getaway decided that Rodimus needed to be deposed for the good of the mission. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|How Bright Their Frail Deeds}} While being pursued by Ammonites, the Autobots discovered they had flown into Metroplex's eye socket. {{storylink|Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|Into the Abyss}} While Getaway was still trying to deal with the fact that they were inside a head inside a head, Brainstorm discovered traces of [[admium]] in the water and had Getaway ring [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]], though he just got Swerve's answering service. They also found a drydock, but some exploration of Metroplex's interior just led them in a circle. They arrived back at the Rodpod in time for it to explode courtesy of an Ammonite. {{storylink|No Exit: Dark Cybertron Chapter 6|No Exit}}

Swerve eventually returned Getaway's call with an urgent message to evacuate the area on account of the swarm of Ammonites heading their way. After an attempt to interrogate the bomber Ammonite which ended with the questionee exploding, the group of Autobots encountered [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] and [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] {{Storylink|The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|The Dead Are Not Enough}} and Getaway defused the tension by pointing out the two newcomers was an Autobot. He, [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], and Skids engaged the Ammonites who subsequently poured in while the others went to meet [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]]. {{storylink|Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8|Burning Bright}} Unfortunately when Metroplex teleported back to Cybertron, the Ammonites came too, so the trio still had their hands full, at least until Metroplex's immune system abruptly came back online and the Ammonites all perished. {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}} Getaway and Skids later hung out in [[Swerve's]], at least until the proprietor almost messed himself over [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] being in the bar, and Getaway hastily excused himself. {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} When billions of Ammonites invaded, Getaway joined in the defense of Cybertron as [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]] led a team to face [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]], the mastermind behind the whole affair. {{storylink|Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|Black Planet}}

Knowing that under Rodimus's leadership they'd never find the Knights, Getaway and [[Atomizer]] came up with a plan to blackmail him into surrendering his position. They attempted to trick him into violating a confidential vote, but he failed to take the bait. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} {{storylink|The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|How Bright Their Frail Deeds}} Worse still, when mass-murdering superbastard Megatron was given a suspended sentence, allowed the Autobrand, and co-cpataincy of the ''Lost Light'', Getaway was further ''unhappy'' so he, Atomizer and [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] plotted to set up new captain Megatron to "attack" an Autobot and metaphorically hang himself. {{storylink|The Lopsided Triangle}} The first attempt by Whirl failed, {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} so the escapologist hit on a new plan: he'd groom a patsy to, eventually, attack Megatron and be killed. {{storylink|The Lopsided Triangle}}

[[File:PredestinationABeginnersGuide- GetawayandTailgate.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb|Getaway wears a literal shadow to aid in literary foreshadowing.]]
Naive little Tailgate fit the bill. {{storylink|The Lopsided Triangle}} Getaway sought him out, bigging up the little fellow's heroics on Luna-1 and saying it was Prime worthy. When Tailgate admitted he had tried to lie about being a [[Golden Age]] hero before, Getaway sympathized and brought up his own less-than-illustrious career before joining the Diplomatic Corps, before giving Tailgate an affectionate "bomp" on the chin. (Did he notice Cyclonus storming out of the bar in disapproval?)

All of this was interrupted when the spaceship began to vanish and they found themselves drifting in space on the [[Rodpod]]. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} Then the crew of the Rodpod ''also'' began to vanish and the Autobots tried to work out what was causing it. Getaway admitted to being a M.T.O. in case that was the cause but it turned out that only original crewmembers were vanishing. This left Getaway as part of the remaining crew, who proceeded to stumble upon a destroyed ''Lost Light''. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}} They split up to investigate and Getaway and Skids, together again, searched the wreckage. En route, they talked about their issues with Megatron and that they worried they would stop hating him because his death toll was too big to process. Things took a macabre turn when they caught up with [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] and found a huge pile of mutilated corpses of their fellow crewmembers, corpses that indicated the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] had been through. {{storylink|slaughterhouse}} It luckily (well, not for ''this'' crew) turned out that these were quantum duplicates of the original crew, and they were able to get the original ''Lost Light'' back. {{storylink|slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|The Road Not Taken}}

As the ''Lost Light'' carried on its mission, Getaway and his cabal began asking the crew what side they'd take in a ''purely hypothetical'' mutiny against Megatron and Rodimus. Any crew member that would not was shot with the "nudge gun" and forgot all about the conversation. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|How Bright Their Frail Deeds}}

[[File:Getaway's innocent conversation with Tailgate.jpg‎|left|upright=1.67|thumb|''When you're out in a club And you see a Tailgate DO THE CREEP! (Haaaa!)'']]

Getaway arranged to go fishing for [[Legislator]] parts in the oil lake with Tailgate (50 points for a head!) but they met up for drinks first. After listening to a ''slight'' fabrication of Tailgate's recent time travel escapades, Getaway just ''happened'' to ''accidentally'' mention that Cyclonus had called him a "simple-minded" coward behind his back for being scared on his deathbed. He was ''totally'' against that and Cyclonus's problems! Don't worry Tailgate, another drink would help (oh hush that you don't want anymore) and oh don't mention to Cyclonus that I told you this, eh? {{storylink|Our Steps Will Always Rhyme}}

And I definitely didn't nudge gun you, that's just a headache Tailgate, cor you sure can't hold your drink. {{storylink|Our Steps Will Always Rhyme}} {{storylink|The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|How Bright Their Frail Deeds}}

Brainstorm, Getaway, and Skids invaded [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]]'s room to <s>show off</s> teach her practical skills (escaping chains in his case) only to find she would rather read a psychological treatise by [[Froid]]. When Nautica said Rung had implied he ghostwrote it "just now", Getaway passive-aggressively insulted Rung as boring and tried to "bomp" his way out of it when Skids objected. It was ''just a joke'', Skids, geez! They patched it up when they went to [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]]'s pre-wake on the ''[[Vis Vitalis]]'' i.e. to a huge dance party, where both of them hit on [[Firestar (G1)|Firestar]].

Later, a fatigued Getaway was found resting by Nightbeat and both of them found a panicked, screaming Ravage. They pursued him to the ship's morgue out of curiosity and Getaway found the ''warm'' corpse of [[Countdown (G1)|Countdown]]. After accidentally using one of Brainstorm's devices that exposed cloaking fields, they discovered some strange technorganic parasites on the corpses and on Getaway's ''face'', which started burning as soon as noticed. That's when strange alien creatures attacked! {{storylink|The Sensuous Frame}} The pair managed to fight them off for a time, until Nightbeat realized that the aliens were [[personality tick]]s feeding off of Getaway's natural charisma. After Rodimus and Megatron accidentally took care of the entire infestation, Getaway joined the rest of the crew for a disco party. Naturally, Getaway took the opportunity to go dancing with Tailgate, much to Cyclonus's chagrin. {{storylink|The Frail Gaze}} Getaway later went along on the trip to the [[Censere|Necrobot]]'s planet, spending the ride there chatting with Tailgate. {{storylink|The Not Knowing}}

Getaway put the final stages of his anti-Megatron plan in motion one night at [["Visages"]]; after recounting the story of his birth and teaching Tailgate some [[chirolinguistics]], Getaway offered Tailgate a gift: a pair of clip-on [[mnemosurgery]] needles. Although Tailgate was surprised- as he'd never asked for a pair—Getaway changed the subject by telling him that he'd been setting up the ancient bond of the [[Conjunx Ritus]]—the first step of becoming a [[Conjunx Endura]]. In order to finish the ceremony Getaway told Tailgate that he would need to prove his commitment with a spectacular demonstration of his love. Getaway requested that Tailgate use the mnemo-needles to reprogram the sleeping Megatron's mind; the needles were fakes, but Getaway knew that Megatron would immediately flip out and kill the little guy. To ensure that Tailgate wouldn't survive, Getaway also gave Tailgate a dud 'Ravage detector', knowing that Ravage would alert Megatron to the intrusion. Getaway later met with Whirl and Atomizer after Whirl started having second thoughts about the plan. However, Tailgate had already set off to do the deed, and Atomizer shot Whirl with Getaway's old nudge gun to keep him from squealing. {{storylink|The Lopsided Triangle}}

However, Whirl was able to send out one last warning to Cyclonus before his memory was lost and Cyclonus subsequently foiled Getaway's plan. After [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] used his mnemosurgery skills to find out who put Tailgate up to it, Ultra Magnus arrested both Getaway and Atomizer. {{storylink|Speak, Memory: Part 1}} During the rogue memosurgeon [[Sunder (G1)|Sunder's]] attack on the ''Lost Light'', Tailgate discovered Getaway locked away in the ship's brig, the escape artist's arms, legs, jaw and voicebox having been removed to prevent any possible escape. {{storylink|Speak, Memory! (Part 2)}}

And he didn't escape. Instead, the rest of the crew ''let him out'' to start the mutiny. When a signal came from the Necrobot's planet, {{storylink|The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|How Bright Their Frail Deeds}} he contacted the [[Galactic Council]], offering to strand Megatron and all those that had refuted his idea of mutiny on the planet so that they could deal with him in exchange for leaving the Autobots with him alone. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle|Do Not Go Gentle}} Once Megatron, Rodimus, and all the people who'd said "no" (including Whirl, because how ''dare'' he get in the way) were trapped on the Necrobot's planet, they contacted the ''Lost Light'', surprised to be faced with Getaway, who took the time to inform the abandoned crewmembers of exactly how he'd done that and why, snarling at how Megatron's atrocities were being written off as "missteps—painful but necessary—on Megatron's path to self-discovery", before cutting transmission. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|How Bright Their Frail Deeds}}

Despite his braggado, he may have felt guilty about sacrificing so many Autobots. When a time fissure reopened at [[Swerve's]], allowing him to look back at departed souls, Getaway looked back at a gathering of the ones he'd left for the Council. {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}} He soon contacted the Galactic Council to confirm that they'd held up their end of the deal, but the only response he got was that they had made no such promise. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle|Do Not Go Gentle}}

==Commercial appearances==
*Getaway, [[Slapdash (G1)|Slapdash]], and [[Joyride (G1)|Joyride]] were shocked to discover that the Decepticons had developped [[Powermaster]] technology as well when they encountered [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] and [[Darkwing]] while out for a drive. The three Autobots used their Nebulan partners to transform to robot mode and fight back. They were soon joined by [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and his own partner, [[Hi-Q]] who provided additional firepower against the Decepticons. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Powermasters|Powermasters commercial}}
*During a battle on the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], Getaway mistook [[Quickswitch]] for a Decepticon. He was quickly corrected by another Autobot, and Quickswitch made use of his many modes to help the Autobots overpower the Decepticons. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Quickswitch|Quickswitch commercial}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Legends''===
During a battle eons ago, Getaway, Slapdash and Joyride were defeated and almost killed by [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] and [[Darkwing]]. They were only saved from certain doom when [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] arrived and drove both of the Decepticons off. Many years later on [[Earth]], the three Autobots encountered Dreadwind and Darkwing again, and this time they weren't so lucky. {{storylink|End of the Road (Legends)|End of the Road}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[File:MF-toy Lightfoot.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|I want to Getaway, I want to flyyyyy away...]]
*'''Getaway''' (Powermaster, 1988)
**''Accessories:'' Rev Powermaster unit, [[plasma-shell shotgun|Plasma-Shell Shotgun]]

:Getaway transforms into a racing-modified white [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes#Mazda RX|Mazda RX-7 FC3S]]. Plasma-Shell shotgun can be plugged onto the vehicle roof for storage via [[5mm post]]. Attaching [[Rev]] (or any other Powermaster unit) into the Powermaster socket on the vehicle's hood unlocks Getaway's transformation sequence into [[robot mode]], though one ''can'' unlock the transformation simply by pressing down on the panel without Rev. Getaway's robot mode is mostly static with articulation restricted to arms.

:Getaway has some design peculiarities. The lower legs work like a single unit à la fellow Powermaster [[Joyride (G1)|Joyride]], but they are actually separate sections only held together by the spoiler. Even the spoiler's sticker has a cut down the middle! Furthermore, the car front hinge was likely double-jointed to allow the car chunk to go flat against the figure's back, but was budgeted out. Evidence of this is left behind in the two layered plates (instead of a single piece) that form the figure's back for no reason. Getaway is also nearly 1" taller in robot mode than either of his fellow Powermasters, Joyride and Slapdash.

:This toy was sold in Japan as [[Lightfoot (Masterforce)#Super-God Masterforce|Lightfoot]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1988/Autobot/Getaway/getaway.htm More information on Getaway at TFU.Info]''
{{-}}

===''Generations''===
[[File:TF-Generations-Titans-Return-Deluxe-Breakaway.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|With this increased [[articulation]] I can backstab my friends with even greater efficiency!]]
*'''Autobot Throttle & Autobot Breakaway''' (Deluxe, [[2016]])
{{comingsoontoy}}
{{-}}

==Notes==
[[File:Breakaway movie toy.jpg|thumb|"Hey! I'm no Bay-former!"]]
*An [[homage]] to Getaway, [[Breakaway (Movie)|Breakaway]], was released as a Wal-Mart [[exclusive]] as a late part of the [[Movie (toyline)|live-action movie toyline]]. Its name was intended to be "Getaway," but the [[trademark]] could not be secured. The [[redeco]] was originally intended to be ''this'' Getaway, and part of the [[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|2008 ''Universe'' toyline]].
*When asked why Getaway was killed so often in his stories, [[Simon Furman]] commented that with a name like Getaway it would be funny if he did not get away.
*For some reason Getaway's character model in the Marvel UK and US features a mouth and a reasonably prominent chin. His toy and IDW appearances feature a [[mouthplate|faceplate]] (as does his Japanese cartoon counterpart [[Lightfoot (Masterforce)|Lightfoot]]). His Universe homage (see above) goes without a faceplate.
*Getaway's IDW incarnation is written with a New Zealand accent.<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/383004941192687616 James Roberts on Getaway's nationality on Twitter]</ref>

===Foreign names===
*''French:'' '''Fugitif''' (Canada)

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Lost Light crew]]
[[Category:Powermasters]]
[[Category:Regeneration One Autobots]]
[[Category:Strategists]]
[[Category:Titans Return]]

The Dying of the Light Part 4: At Close of Day

2016-10-04T21:26:20Z

EnergonMage: /* Continuity notes */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=53
|prev=The Dying of the Light Part 3: Your Fierce Tears
|next=The Dying of the Light Part 5: Rage, Rage
|image=MTMTE53_regcvr.jpg
|title="The Dying of the Light Part 4: At Close of Day"
|caption=''Men of Harlech, stop your dreaming Can't you see their spear points gleaming''
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[May 25]], [[2016]]
|coverdate=May 2016
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|pencils by=[[Alex Milne]] (pg 1-13, 19-20) and [[Hayato Sakamoto]] (pg 14-18)
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2016)]]
}}
'''In the final hours before the sun sets, Rewind and Chromedome finally solve the mystery of Dominus Ambus.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:AtCloseOfDay-tailgatedemolishes.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]
In the [[Censere|Necrobot]]'s fortress, [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] finishes up repairs on [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] while simultaneously perusing [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]]'s case notes from recent events in order to get caught up on what has happened while he's been away. He expresses some concern for [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]], observing that other crewmembers exposed to the energy released by his spark upon its mutation have experienced sudden system crashes, but the group can't worry too much about that right now, as the little 'bot is hard at work demolishing part of the fortress to provide [[Brainstorm (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Brainstorm]] with raw materials to make weapons. Although the team is making ready to fight, they also must prepare for the worst, and so [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] records some last words from each of them, to be sent out in the event of their deaths.

Despite the danger, [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]]'s mind is preoccupied with the mystery of the hollow planet on which they now stand, and he convinces [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Minimus Ambus]] to allow him to spend the remaining daylight hours investigating it. He ropes [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] into helping him, but just before they depart, they are called into a room by [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]], along with Brainstorm, Velocity, and [[Skids (G1)|Skids]]. Casting hesitations aside in the face of impending death, Nautica recites the formal oath that bonds each of them to her as [[Amica Endura]]. Afterward, however, as Rung leaves with Nightbeat, his parting with Skids seems noticeably awkward.

[[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Chromedome]] volunteers to perform [[mnemosurgery]] on the captive Pet in order to obtain the location of the [[Decepticon Justice Division|DJD]]'s [[Peaceful Tyranny|spaceship]] for Rodimus. As he injects the little creature, however, the experience proves stranger than expected, and he soon comes to a horrifying realization: the Pet is not a [[turbofox]] at all, but a Transformer...

Simultaneously, Rewind watches as Brainstorm measures Minimus Ambus for a new armor, which leads Minimus to mention that the ability to carry a heavier load was the one thing he was better at than his brother and fellow Loadbearer [[Dominus Ambus]]. Rewind is shocked to learn that his former [[Conjunx Endura]] kept the secret that he was a Loadbearer from him, and immediately opens the [[Grand Cybertronian Taxonomy]] on the Necrobot's computer so that Minimus can find Dominus's true appearance in it. Minimus does so with ease, pulling up his brother's base alternate mode: a turbofox.

[[File:It's not your decision to make.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
Understanding strikes Rewind and Chromedome at the same time, and the little archivist runs straight to the medibay (pausing only to sock Rodimus on the jaw for letting Chromedome inject yet again), where Chromedome pulls the full truth from The Pet's memories. Dominus disappeared because ''he'' was the Autobot undercover operative [[Dominus Ambus|Agent 113]], but when his true identity was discovered by the D.J.D., they "domesticated" him as a form of torture, locking him in beast mode by removing his [[transformation cog]] and lobotomizing him, turning him into their Pet. Chromedome has begun to repair Dominus's mind, but the mnemosurgeon's spark starts to fade thanks to the rigors of the procedure. Rewind urges him to stop, but Chromedome explains that Dominus will die if he does, and that he is willing to give up his life so that Rewind and Dominus can be together. Rewind refuses to let him, grabbing [[Drift (G1)|Drift]]'s sword and slicing Chromedome's needle-arm off, severing the connection, and saving his life at the cost of Dominus's.

[[File:MTMTE53FullyArmedBatallion.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.6|If you thought [[Lugnut (Animated)|Lugnut]] was obsessed with Megatron...]]
Hours later, the forces of the D.J.D. gather outside the fortress's [[storm shield]], while [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] work to finish assembling perimeter defenses. As Cyclonus puts the finishing touches to a turret, Whirl asks him about his relationship with [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] and whether or not they are "together." Cyclonus angrily informs him that they are not, because Tailgate deserves someone better than him, but vows that no harm will come to him this day. With the turret completed, Whirl fires upon the Decepticon mob, but unfortuntely discovers that in addition to preventing the Decepticons from firing ''in'', the storm shield prevents the turrets from firing outward. With only twenty minutes until sunset, Whirl and Cyclonus head back inside the fortress to share this report, leading Rodimus to contemplate simply shutting the shield down and facing death head-on. Megatron urges him to reconsider and for the group to cherish every minute of life they have left; from his tone, and the fact that he rebuffs the gift of a freshly-constructed [[fusion cannon]], Rodimus realizes that Megatron does not intend to stand with them in the fight. Calling himself too weak and too afraid, Megatron slinks away, leaving even [[Ravage (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ravage]] ashamed of his once-great leader. But where Megatron has let the team down, Brainstorm has not: he has constructed an absolutely ''colossal'' new suit of "Maximus Ambus" armor for Minimus that will give the D.J.D. as hard a fight as possible. Though Nightbeat and Rung have not yet returned, Rodimus welcomes the team into a group hug, thanks them all for travelling with him... then deactivates the storm shield, so that they may all rush out and meet their destiny together.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (1)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Chromedome]] (2)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] (3)
*[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] (4)
*[[Hot Rod/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] (5)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (6)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (7)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (8)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (9)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Dominus Ambus|Dominus Ambus/The Pet/Agent 113]] (10)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Brainstorm]] (11)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Minimus Ambus]] (12)
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (13)
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (14)
*[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (15)
*[[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] (16)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (23)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] (17)
*[[Nickel]] (18)
*[[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]] (19)
*[[Vos (DJD)|Vos]] (20)
*[[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] (21)
*[[Leozack]] (22)
*[[Ravage (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ravage]] (25)
|c4=
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] (24)
*[[Ten]] (26)
}}

==Quotes==
"And Minimus is okay with this..." 
"Yes, provided I don't go alone. I said I'd take someone he could do without. Joking." 
"You're not, though, are you?" 
"No."
:—'''Rung''' and '''Nightbeat'''

"I bid you stand in the glow of my spark that you may feel the heat of my words and know them to be true. I invite you to '''receive my light''' and in doing so becoming Amica Endura—from now until forever. Rung, for your '''words.''' Brainstorm, for your '''intellect.''' Lotty, for your '''determination.''' Nightbeat, for your '''curiosity.''' And Skids, for your '''kindness.''' Your kindness and your '''dancing.''' As you are to me, may I be to you—today, tomorrow, and always."
:—'''Nautica''' recites the Amica Endura oath

"If I pull out now, he'll '''die!''' His mind will '''collapse''' and he will die!" 
"But if you stay in there, '''you'll''' die..." 
"It doesn't '''matter!''' There's never been room for both of us in your life anyway!" 
"But I can't..." 
"Yes you '''can'''! <big>'''''YOU CAN HAVE HIM INSTEAD OF ME!'''''</big>"
:—'''Chromedome''' and '''Rewind'''

"No. We haven't spoken. Not about that. Important things are '''felt''', not '''said'''." 
"I'll take your word for it. I don't do "relationships." My world begins and ends with me. So why '''aren't''' you guys a couple?" 
"......he deserves better. He's '''kind.''' He '''cares''' about people. The more he's pushed away, the more he reaches out." 
"So it's not the height difference." 
"It is, in a way. '''He towers over me.'''" 
"Well, I still think you should be spending the rest of your lives together. I mean we're talking all of '''24 minutes''', but..." 
"Oh, we'll survive this. '''He'll''' survive, at any rate." 
"Because of the upgrade?" 
"Because I'll split this world open and tear down the sky before I let him come to even the '''slightest''' harm."
:—'''Cyclonus''' and '''Whirl'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Ratchet names [[Powerflash]] and [[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]] as those affected by the energy released by Tailgate; they were part of the security team who confronted him and Cyclonus in [[The Lopsided Triangle|issue #47]]. Ratchet compares the sudden burnout they have suffered to the effects of [[Ore-13|Ultra-Energon]], which was known to cause those who used it to burn out after it ran out—this fate befell [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] in ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer|Stormbringer]]'' and Megatron in ''[[The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation]]''. The footnote refers the reader all the way back to ''[[The Transformers: Infiltration|Infiltration]]'', in which the substance was introduced.
*A one-panel cutaway shows Swerve having a breakdown. Rightly so, since we learned in [[Life After the Big Bang|issue #4]] that he's seen the D.J.D. in action in the past, and should know better than just about anyone what the group's in for.
*The recording of the message seen in [[The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|issue #50]] takes place off-panel this issue. It was in that same issue that we learned the Necrobot's planet was hollow.
*Rewind snarls that Rodimus is an "enabler" for Chromedome's injecting habit. Chromedome declared he'd given it up for good back in [[The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|#27]] but six months later, Rodimus cajoled him to do it again ''just this once'' [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|in #30]], [[Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|#36]], and [[Speak, Memory: Part 1|#48]].
*At long last, the mystery revealed! Dominus Ambus was first introduced to audiences in [[Before & After|issue #12]], when Chromedome told Tailgate his story, and the unanswered question of what became of him has hung over the series ever since. With this issue, we learn that he was the mysterious "Agent 113", the Autobots' mole inside the D.J.D. originally introduced in the prose story "[[Bullets]]" in 2010. The revelation that he was a Loadbearer explains the different appearance he had when he was serving as the previous Vos, seen in [[The Not Knowing|issue #44]]. The designation "113" (which #44 told us was chosen by [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] and which Ultra Magnus noted probably "meant something") is revealed to have been taken from the number applied to his turbofox alternate mode in the Grand Cybertronian Taxonomy.
*Further, a lot of Dominus's history now takes on increased meaning: as a tiny beast-former, with a form frowned on by [[Functionism]], the idea that he was responsible for creating the [[Ambus Test]] to validate the sentience of such Cybertronians makes even more sense, as does his treatment of, and ultimately loving relationship with, a [[Disposable class]] 'bot like Rewind. This also adds an extra dimension to Dominus staying in his shell and never revealing his true inner form, as this would allow him to 'pass' for a 'higher' functioning Transformer.
*In [[Functionist Universe|an alternate timeline]], Dominus Ambus was put in charge of categorizing "the animals" within the Grand Cybertronian Taxonomy.
*Dominus was subjected to "domestication" to turn him into the D.J.D.'s pet, lobotomizing him and removing his [[transformation cog]]. We've seen this horrifying process before, back in [[Animals|issue #47]], in which it was revealed that Decepticon [[Demus]] was performing it on other Cybertronians to turn them into "torture-dolls" to sell to alien races. The "meet the cast" page all the way back in [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|issue #8]] even described the Pet as "domesticated"!!
*In fact, the Latin-rooted "Dominus Ambus" never seemed to make a ''heck'' of a lot of sense for the character, effectively meaning "Master Walks." But ''now'', well, it seems like it might have been foreshadowing all along, 'cause... who's good boy? Walkies? You want master to take you walkies? Yes you do ess oo doo ess oo ''dooooo'' lets go walkies
*The reveal of just what the Pet really is puts [[Kaon (DJD)|Kaon's]] obvious emotional attachment to him in a much creepier light. It also makes Tarn's violent reaction last issue a bit more understandable; Kaon wasn't just blubbering about a lost pet, he was expressing love and concern for ''an enemy spy''.
*After Rewind slices Chromedome's arm off, the shot of them lying on the floor together mirrors the final page of [[Under Cold Blue Stars|issue #15]]. Chromedome's even missing the same arm! On top of that, Drift's short sword was basically the reason Rewind # 1 had to sacrifice himself against Overlord back in that same issue. Here, Rewind # 2 uses Drift's short sword to save Chromedome's life and thus...sacrifice Dominus Ambus.
*Whirl notes that Tailgate was "wearing Cyclonus's energon for a while," as seen in [[Speak, Memory! (Part 2)|issue #49]].

===Real-life references===
*As with the previous chapters, this issue's title (and the title of the multi-parter itself) is taken from the poem "{{w|Do not go gentle into that good night}}," by {{w|Dylan Thomas}}.
*Velocity notes that Ultra Magnus wanted to read the group a poem "about poppies." The poem, as alluded to by the "next issue" caption, is "{{w|In Flanders Fields}}", by {{w|John McCrae}}, a memorial poem about the trench warfare that took place in the poppy fields of Flanders, [[Belgium]], in World War I. Such warfare often involved the tactic of "going over the top," charging towards enemy forces and facing near-certain death, hence the evocative use of the poem here, paralleling the crew's actions.
*Given the above, it's likely no coincidence that the Necroworld is covered with flowers.

===Errors===
*On page five, Nautica invites the gang to be her "amica endura" (singular), when the plural has previously been established by Nightbeat as "amica endur'''ae'''." (If we want to get ''really'' technical, the Latin pluralization should be "amic'''ae''' endur'''ae'''.")
*On page eight, Minimus says Dominus was "even more sensitive about his height that I was," instead of "than I was."
*On page seventeen, Ten holds up Megatron's newly-built cannon with both hands... except he lost his left arm last issue. You might think he's been repaired since then, but next issue shows him to still be missing the limb, so this scene is definitely a goof.

===Other trivia===
*In addition to cans of [[Kremzeek]]-brand drink, easter eggs scattered around [[Priscilla Tramontano]]'s retailer incentive cover for this issue include a [[curly straw]] and [[Ten]]'s doll of Minimus Ambus from [[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|issue #40]]. A sign promotes a poetry reading with the small-print warning that "non-attendence will result in punishment."

===Soundtrack===
For all of "The Dying of the Light":
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCdBc5uByFQ Hurt]" by {{w|Johnny Cash}}

For this issue alone:
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUk4DU_5mKM Make Your Move]" by {{w|The Delgados}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YatfHlIFGb0 Little Things (That Keep Us Together)]" by {{w|Scott Walker (singer)|Scott Walker}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsESk0GESxk Into Dust]" by {{w|Mazzy Star}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkLWf-fbsLo Out of Time]" by {{w|Blur (band)|Blur}}

===Covers (3)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Skids, Nautica, and Minimus Ambus surrounded by drill-spikes, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]], [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]], [[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]], and what's left of [[Kaon (DJD)|Kaon]], by [[Hayato Sakamoto]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Swerve tends bar, by [[Priscilla Tramontano]]; one of two retailer incentive variants by Tramontano on this month's IDW ''Transformers'' titles.
<gallery>
File:MTMTE53 regcvr.jpg|
File:MTMTE53 subcvr.jpg|
File:MTMTE53 cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''More than Meets the Eye'' #54
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]'' [[All Hail Optimus Part 4: It's Beginning To And Back Again|#53]]
*''[[The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers|Sins of the Wreckers]]'' [[Sins of the Wreckers issue 5|#5]]
*''[[The Transformers: Till All Are One|Till All Are One]]''
*''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' #13
*IDW ''Transformers'' reading guide

==External links==
*[http://www.newsarama.com/29398-amica-endura-is-magic-in-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-53-preview.html Preview]
*[https://twitter.com/markerguru/status/738478133859454976 Two inked pages by Alex Milne that were completed before he knew Sakamoto was drawing them instead, via his Twitter.]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dying of the Light Part 4: At Close of Day}}

The Duel

2016-08-19T00:56:34Z

EnergonMage: /* Notes */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Combiner Wars (cartoon)|Transformers: Combiner Wars]]''
|prev=The Council
|next=
|image= TheDuel Windblade and Optimus Prime.jpg
|caption=
|title="The Duel"
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]], [[Machinima]]
|written by=[[Eric S. Calderon]], [[George Krstic]], and [[F.J. DeSanto]]
|executive producer=
|airdate=[[August 16]], 2016}}

'''It's time to D-D-D-D-DUEL!'''

==Synopsis==
After a tense stare-down, [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] breaking [[Maxima]]'s rifle is the trigger that sends [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] charging at the former [[Autobot]] leader, but he easily side-steps her sword. Prime reveals that he has been tracking the [[Cityspeaker]] since receiving a transmission from [[Computron (G1)|Computron]], but Windblade has no time for his words, and renews her furious assault. Continuing to simply dodge her attacks, without retaliating, Optimus asks why she fired upon the Council, and is met with a tirade of anger against Autobots, [[Decepticon]]s, and [[Combiner]]s alike.

Prime insists that his Autobots always fought for a good cause, and that he cannot allow the murder of a Council member. After another failed attack, Windblade reveals that she had not been trying to kill [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], and that her true agenda is to deal with the problem of the Combiners. As she powers up her turbines to blow Prime away, the Autobot finally deploys his axe, fending off the sword strike that follows and disarming Windblade.

As the Cityspeaker lies exhausted, Optimus implores her to return home so as to avoid beginning another war, but her revelation that the Council possesses the [[Enigma of Combination]] changes his tune. Acknowledging that all of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] is in danger from the artifact, the Autobot leader declares that they must seek the help of the one person possessing sufficient firepower to destroy it...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (1)

|c4=
*[[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] (2)
}}

==Quotes==

"Why are you trying to kill Starscream?"

"I'd like to kill every ONE of you!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Windblade''' calmly discuss matters.

"I wasn't trying to kill Starscream"
:—'''Windblade''' suffers from split personality disorder

==Notes==

*Windblade's motives and plans seem a tad... confused, as noted by the quotes above. She claims she wasn't trying to harm Starscream or the other Council members (which jibes with what we saw last episode; Windblade aiming at the Enigma than getting her shot messed up by Optimus), yet right before she declares that she wants to kill all those responsible for the Combiners.
*Optimus Prime's energon-axe is faithfully recreated from how it appeared in [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original Generation 1 cartoon]].

==External links==
*[https://www.go90.com/profiles/va_3284b04d4fb74ea584af0b9dece19200 "The Duel" on go90] (US only)
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNyhC-cDTE4 "The Duel" on YouTube] (non-US only)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Duel}}
[[Category:Combiner Wars episodes]]

All Hail Optimus Part 5: As Above...So Below

2016-06-15T18:01:12Z

EnergonMage: /* Real-life references */

{{Comicstory
|series=exrid|issueno=54
|prev=All Hail Optimus Part 4: It's Beginning To And Back Again
|next=All Hail Optimus Part 6
|caption=
|image=TF54 regcvr.jpg
|title="All Hail Optimus Part 5: As Above...So Below"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[June 15]], [[2016]]
|coverdate=June 2016
|written by=[[John Barber]]
|art by=[[Andrew Griffith]]
|colors=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era]]
}}

'''Superion faces the ultimate sacrifice to stop Galvatron's plans for the Enigma of Combination, while Optimus Prime's campaign reaches a dramatic turning point.'''

==Synopsis==
Beneath the [[Indian Ocean]], the [[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]]-controlled [[Sky Reign]] attacks [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], who struggles to fight back as he starts to feel the [[Enigma of Combination]] trying to take over his own mind. [[Jetfire (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Jetfire]] deduces that the Enigma was responsible for separating [[Victorion]], so [[Kup (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Kup]] suggests deleting a portion of the Enigma's source code—shared between all devices using it—in hopes of "breaking" it. Such a tactic proves impossible, as the code simply repairs itself. Fortunately, Superion has one advantage the other combiners do not: he was ''not'' created by the Enigma. Using the limited resistance to its power that this grants him, Superion begins to write the Enigma's source code onto his own brain, allowing him to take control of it and use it to force the other combiners to separate. In the process, however, he loses control of the part of his mind that controls his [[size changing|mass displacement]], and swells up to even more gigantic size. The colossal Superion begins tearing into the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'', which in turn starts losing power, allowing [[G.B. Blackrock|Blackrock]] to escape his bonds while Galvatron rages. Finally, with some difficulty, Superion separates back into the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]]; de-combining effectively causes Superion's brain to cease to "exist," thereby causing the portion of the Enigma source code he had written onto his brain to disappear from the whole. The Enigma is now useless... but in order for it to remain that way, Superion must never combine again.

In [[Monument Valley]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] continues refusing to let [[Soundwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Soundwave]] engage the attacking [[Earth Defense Command|EDC]] forces, even as [[Circuit (G1)|Circuit]] reports live to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] as events unfold. Unfortunately, Soundwave has had all he can stand, and he and [[Aileron]] are soon returning fire. Optimus despairs and turns to [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] for advice, but all the old 'bot has to offer are enigmatic prophecies and platitudes. Desperate, Optimus encourages Soundwave to try reading the humans' minds; perhaps goaded somewhat by the veiled allegation that he ''can't'' do it, Soundwave complies, and is granted sudden, jarring understanding. Human brains, he realizes as he makes contact, are at their base level electrical, just like Cybertronians, and all the fear and hatred he feels from them is just as real and valid as any Cybertronian emotion. Recognizing the wrongness of his belief that humans are lesser beings, Soundwave immediately takes responsibility for the crimes he has perpetrated against humanity, and surrenders.

Back under the ocean, Galvatron hauls himself from the wreckage of the ''Nemesis'' and picks through his fallen troops until he finds [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], who he wakes up and orders to transport him away. [[Sunstreaker (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Sunstreaker]] tries to stop them escaping, but nearly takes a cannon-blast from Galvatron to the face; he is saved only when [[Thundercracker (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Thundercracker]] tackles him out of the shot's path, which gives Galvatron and Astrotrain their chance to get away. Simultaneously, [[Arcee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Arcee]]'s team attempts to take Blackrock into custody, but they are kept at bay by a gun-toting [[Marissa Faireborn|Faireborn]] and [[Ayana Jones|Jones]], who have arrived in response to a secret signal Blackrock hid in the transmission Galvatron had earlier sent to the EDC. Arcee is not willing to back down, but the matter is taken out of her hands when a repentant [[Skywarp (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Skywarp]]—having secretly made a deal with Blackrock—teleports Faireborn, Jones, and Blackrock away.

Surrounded by the EDC, Optimus sadly concludes that he has been defeated, leading [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]]—watching Circuit's broadcast on Cybertron—to celebrate even harder. Alpha Trion, however, continues to urge him to reach out with his feelings. Prime again senses the mysterious object buried beneath the valley that drew him there in the first place... but this time, he realizes what it is. Kneeling down, Prime bids what lurks beneath to arise... and a gigantic [[Metrotitan (body-type)|Titan]] bursts out of the ground! The EDC immediately retreat, while a crestfallen Starscream's jaw hangs open. Just then, Arcee radios in to report on their mission, regretfully informing Prime of Galvatron's escape. But Prime, galvanized by the day's successes, refuses to accept this result, and finally permits Arcee to hunt Galvatron down and end his threat—no matter the cost.

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] (9)
*[[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] (10)
*[[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (14)
*[[Kup (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Kup]] (19)
*[[Rust Dust]] (20)
*[[Dustup]] (21)
*[[Pyra Magna]] (22)
*[[Jetfire (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Jetfire]] (23)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Thundercracker]] (27)
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (28)
*[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (29)
*[[Arcee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Arcee]] (34)
*[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (36)
*[[Jazz (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Jazz]] (37)
*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (38)
*[[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (39)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Sunstreaker]] (42)

|c2=
*[[Soundwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Soundwave]] (8)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (17)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (18)
*[[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (24)
*[[Dreadwing (G2)|Dreadwing]] (25)
*[[Acid Storm]] (26)
*[[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]] (30)
*[[Skywarp (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Skywarp]] (31)
*[[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] (33)
*[[Swift]] (35)
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (40)
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (41)

|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Spike Witwicky]] (1)
*[[Zilong Qian]] (2)
*[[Marissa Faireborn]] (6)
*[[Ayana Jones]] (7)

|c4=
*[[D.0.C.]] (3)
*[[Buster (IDW)|Buster]] (4)
*[[Bob (IDW)|Bob]] (5)
*[[Longtooth]] (11)
*[[Circuit (G1)|Circuit]] (12)
*[[Aileron]] (13)
*[[Sky Reign]] (15)
*[[Seeker clone]] combiners (16)
*[[G.B. Blackrock|Garrison Blackrock]] (32)
*[[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]] (43)
*[[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] (44)
*[[Metrotitan (body-type)|Titan of Earth]] (45)
}}

==Quotes==
'''Soundwave:''' "I '''hear''' you, Spike Witwicky. I should have '''known''' it would be '''you.'''" 
'''Qian:''' "What did you do to get '''him''' mad at you?" 
'''Spike:''' "No idea. He might just hate me on principle."

"Only an Autobot would bring a '''pistol''' to a '''fusion cannon''' fight."
:—'''Galvatron'''

"This must be what an '''Autobot victory''' feels like. You won on '''certain fronts''', yet your quarry slipped away." 
"Not '''this''' time, Soundwave. Arcee—'''pursue''' Galvatron. Do not allow him to '''escape'''...'''whatever''' the cost."
:—'''Soundwave''' and '''Optimus Prime'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Rumble and Frenzy talk about how Arcee "keeps beating them up," referring to several past clashes with her in [[The End of the Beginning of the World|issue #11]], [[Heavy Is the Head|#16]], and [[Onyx Interface Part Two: Vs.|#36]].
*The story behind Superion's spontaneous creation was discussed in [[Second Exodus|issue #18]].
*Soundwave refers to Spike with contempt, but Spike doesn't know what he did to make the Decepticon hate him with such specificity. More than likely, it was the time his team deactivated Rumble, back in [[All Hail Megatron issue 9|''All Hail Megatron'' #9]], which caused Soundwave to howl with anguish when it happened. Spike also finds the sensation of Soundwave trying to read his mind familiar, citing a past experience with it from ''All Hail Megatron''; Soundwave didn't read any human minds in that story, so presumably, Spike's referring to the brain-rattling sonic screech that followed Rumble's defeat in that same issue, just before Soundwave came running onto the scene.
*It is explained that Prime brought the Autobots to Monument Valley based on the vision he experienced back in [[All Hail Optimus Part 1: Once Upon a Time on Earth|issue #50]]; said vision included the sight of the Earth Titan emerging. Optimus noted in the previous issue that he was sensing something in the area.
*Optimus previously displayed the ability to awaken dormant Titans in [[Homecoming (IDW)|issue #19]].

===Real-life references===
*On Sara Pitre-Durocher's retailer incentive cover, a shipping container is stamped "19062015 VCTRN," in reference to the June 19, 2015 reveal of Victorion on [http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2015/06/19/victorion-transformers-exclusive-first-look/28969983/ USA Today], which included artwork from the [[An Uneventful Night|''Combiner Hunters'' one-shot]], Pitre-Durocher's first interior work for IDW.
* "As above so below" is a an ancient [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermeticism Hermetic] phrase taken from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerald_Tablet the Emerald Tablet], part of a series of Egyptian-Greek wisdom texts. The texts discuss concepts like alchemy, astrology, the divine, and the nature of the mind.

===Covers (3)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Superion under attack, by [[Andrew Griffith]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' Soundwave and Aileron surrounded by the EDC, by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] and the [[Torchbearer|Rust Renegades]], by [[Sara Pitre-Durocher]].
<gallery>
File:TF54 regcvr.jpg|
File:TF54 subcvr.jpg|
File:TF54 cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''The Transformers'' #55
*''[[The Transformers: Till All Are One|Till All Are One]]'' [[Till All Are One issue 1|#1]]
*IDW ''[[Action Man]]'' comic
*''TMNT: Bebop and Rocksteady Destroying Everything''
*''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' [[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe issue 13|#13]]

==External links==
*[http://www.newsarama.com/29684-buster-is-in-the-crosshairs-in-transformers-54-preview.html Preview]

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

2016-03-30T16:49:28Z

EnergonMage: /* Continuity notes */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=51
|prev=No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases
|next=The Dying of the Light Part 3
|image=MTMTE51_regcvr.jpg
|title="The Dying of the Light Part 2: The Sun in Flight
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[March 30]], [[2016]]
|coverdate=March 2016
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|pencils by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|publisher=[[Ted Adams]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2016)]]
}}

'''Rodimus and his stranded comrades weigh their options as the DJD close in.'''

==Synopsis==
On the now-deceased [[Censere|Necrobot]]'s [[Necroworld|planet]], the stranded members of the ''[[Lost Light]]'' crew take shelter within the Necrobot's fortress as the forces of the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] pound on its walls. Presently, however, the attack stops, and a message is left burned into ground outside warning that the killers will return at sunset to finish the job. [[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]] and [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] return to the ''[[Peaceful Tyranny]]'', where Tarn shows off his collection of deceased miners (whose bodies were used by [[Terminus (G1)|Terminus]] to smuggle [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]]'s writings back from [[Messatine]] millions of years ago), and explains to an impatient Deathsaurus that they have granted the Autobots a temporary reprieve only as a form of vicarious torture, leaving them to work themselves into a frenzy of fear and anger before they are slain.

With communications cut off, the Autobots search the Necrobot's fortress from top to bottom, hoping to find weapons or a means of escape. [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] and [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] discover that the Necrobot's body has crumbled to dust, and find a key among the remains. While they leave to search for the door it opens, the others examine the only other promising discovery they have made: the quantum-tech teleport booth used by the Necrobot to travel across the galaxy. [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] ascertains that it only has enough power to get them to a nearby asteroid, but that is good enough for everyone, and they are all about to travel through it when Velocity, Swerve, and [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] return to reveal what they have discovered behind the mystery door—dozens of life support tubes containing comatose organic beings. Knowing that the DJD will slaughter the organics if they leave them unguarded, the group talks things out; [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] believes that all the good they have done, and will go on to do if they survive, balances the cosmic scales enough for them to leave the organics to their fate, but Megatron refuses to abandon any living creatures, and delivers an impassioned speech that convinces all assembled to stay and help him protect them. Swerve proposes stealing the DJD's ship and using it to transport themselves and all the pods to safety, so [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] volunteers to leave the safety of the fortress and sniff out the ship's location. Before departing, he hands Megatron a communicator, and urges him to "talk to him"...

Aboard the ''Peaceful Tyranny'', Tarn and Deathsaurus talk strategy with [[Tesarus (DJD)|Tesarus]], [[Vos (DJD)|Vos]] and [[Nickel]], while the other members of the group establish a base camp elsewhere on the planet. Tarn dismisses the notion that the assembled Autobots could pose any threat, but Tesarus recognizes that the Necrobot's fortress has a [[storm-shield]] to protect it from extreme weather conditions, which could, with sufficient power, be upgraded to hold the DJD off for days. Tarn insists there is no such power supply on the planet, but before an argument can kick off, his personal communicator rings—a communicator that only Megatron has the number for.

Megatron arranges to meet Tarn alone, and mounts a [[space scooter]] the Autobots have found in the fortress to travel to their meeting point. Before he leaves, [[Hot Rod/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] asks him why his famous hatred of organics has suddenly ceased to be an issue; Megatron explains that, when struck with the psychic attack earlier, he heard the screams of all the organic races he had obliterated during the war, and cannot live with allowing any more of them to die. Megatron then heads out to meet Tarn in the massive field of flowers surrounding his own statue, where he calmly and willingly surrenders to the DJD leader.

Elsewhere, Ravage follows the scent of the DJD, but ends up locating their base camp, rather than their ship. He is also quick to realize that he has been followed by [[Ten]], who has been desperately trying to help all this time, but has been repeatedly ignored and told off by Rodimus. An exasperated Ravage pulls a dirty move, asking Ten to stand up; immediately upon doing so, the [[Legislator]] is spotted by the Decepticons below, and they come charging up the hill to attack him. With Ten serving as a distraction, Ravage heads down to the base camp, certain he can smell a ship somewhere...

Back at the fortress, the other Autobots finally notice Ten's absence, and discover a message he has left for them: a pile of the Necrobot's spark-flowers, sitting next to the storm-shield generator, alongside a drawing of [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]]. The message is clear—Ten has realized that the flowers can be used to power up the shield!

Ten fights bravely, but is blasted, burned, blinded, and even loses limbs to the relentless Decepticon horde. Before the fatal blow can be struck, however, salvation arrives in the form of the occupants of the ship Ravage detected... [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] and [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] have returned!

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (1)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (2)
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (3)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] (4)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (5)
*[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (6)
*[[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (7)
*[[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] (8)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (11)
*[[Hot Rod/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] (12)
*[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] (13)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (14)
*[[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (15)
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (19)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] (30)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (31)

|c2=
*[[Lugnut (TF 2010)|Lugnut]] (9)
*[[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]] (10)
*[[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] (18)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (21)
*[[Vos (DJD)|Vos]] (22)
*[[Tesarus (DJD)|Tesarus]] (23)
*[[Nickel]] (24)
*[[Blue Bacchus]] (25)
*[[Kaon (DJD)|Kaon]] (26)
*[[Helex (DJD)|Helex]] (27)
*[[The Pet]] (28)
*[[Guyhawk]] (29)

|c4=
*[[Ten]] (16)
*[[Censere|Necrobot]]'s remains (17)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] (20)
}}

==Quotes==

"Okay, so, the '''bad news''' is that we're comprehensively weaponless, our defenses amount to a '''giant umbrella,''' and the only transport in this paper-thin "fortress" is a space scooter so '''unconvincing''' it needs the words "space scooter" painted on it." 
"What's the good news?" 
"Who said anything about good news?"
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Tailgate'''

"I'm not trying to '''set an example,''' if that's what you mean. I've made my choice, Rodimus. You're free to make yours. You're '''all''' free to make yours. Anyone who wishes to leave should leave. No questions need be asked, no reasons given. The same if you want to '''stay'''. You don't have to justify your actions, or explain your motives, or invite others to '''scrutinize''' your '''conscience.''' Either you stay or you go. You don't need anyone's '''permission.''' You don't need anyone's '''blessing.''' Make whatever decision you wish to make—but make it for '''yourself.''' And let me assure you: there is nothing in this room but '''understanding.'''"
:—'''Megatron

"I saw a '''storm-shield generator''' in there. The Necrobot must've used it to protect the glass ceiling." 
"It's called an '''atrium'''." 
"No, it's definitely a storm-shield."
:—'''Tesarus''' and '''Nickel'''

"Now then, in between getting your arses kicked... perhaps you could tell us what we've missed."
:—'''Ratchet'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*[[Lugnut (TF 2010)|Lugnut]] is a member of Deathsaurus's army. He's previously appeared in IDW continuity in [[Rise|''Autocracy'' #10]], and as a member of the [[Titan Hunter]]s in [[The Reluctant Specialist|''Spotlight: Trailcutter'']], but don't sweat the details too much; in all these appearances, he's really little more than an [[easter egg]], more of a reference to the [[Lugnut (Animated)|original ''Animated'' character]] than specifically to the G1-era character from the [[Transformers (2010 toyline)|2010 toyline]].
*We got a glimpse of Tarn's collection of dead generic "miner" Transformers in [[Speak, Memory! (Part 2)|issue #49]]. They are revealed to hold the answer to the long-standing question of how Terminus was smuggling Megatron's writings off of [[Messatine]], originally raised in [[Births, Deaths, and Interventions|issue #34]]: he was arranging for the works to be carved onto their internal organs before they were sent back to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Hence, as a huge Megatron fanboy, Tarn collects them.
*Rodimus makes a quick reference to his being an "ex-[[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] bearer," which occurred during the "[[Space Opera Part 1: The Stars My Destination|Space Opera]]" storyline in the [[The Transformers (IDW)|2009-2011 ongoing series]].
*None of the characters have any knowledge of it, of course, but a similar row of life supports pods containing organic lifeforms was previously seen in [[Animals|issue #46]]. These pods have some mysterious connection to the gear-like symbol that the cast discussed last issue.
*Tesarus recalls encountering a storm-shield when the DJD went after [[Heretech]], a story we first heard about in [[The Permanent Revolution|issue #39]].
*When listing off the races whose voices he heard screaming, Megatron mentions the "Magisterians." Presumably, these are the inhabitants of [[Magisteria VI]], who we saw in [[Some Of My Best Friends Are Autobots|issue #46]]. See "Transformers references" and "errors" for more.
*They're back, baby! [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] left the series way back in [[The Gloaming|issue #16]], while Ratchet went off to find him in [[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|issue #40]]. They found each other in the [[The Transformers: Drift - Empire of Stone|''Empire of Stone'']] mini-series, and it looks like they've been doing some adventuring since, as both have brand new body designs. Drift's even re-donned the Autobot symbol, suggesting the continuity wonkery of ''Empire of Stone'' is being quietly ignored and he's an Autobot again without any messing about.
* Drift is wearing face paint/"make-up" under his eyes that looks vaguely similar to the kind worn by [[Cityspeaker|the Cityspeakers]]. The significance of this isn't yet clear.

===Transformers references===
*Other races named by Megatron include the [[Nibarian]]s from the [[Fun Publications]] story "[[The Razor's Edge]]", and the [[Torkuli]]ans from the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] episode "[[Webworld]]". The "[[Praeton]]s" he also mentions don't appear to be a pre-existing race from Transformers canon.
*Ratchet's new design borrows a few cues from his [[Ratchet (WFC)|''Prime'' counterpart]], including a white helmet with a red crest (the inverse of his previous ''More than Meets the Eye'' appearance), as well as a red mohawk-stripe and chin-guard. He is dual-wielding a pair of the [[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1#Continuity notes|Generation 1 cartoon's generic Autobot laser pistols]], as he did in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.

===Real-life references===
*As with the previous chapter, this issue's title (and the title of the multi-parter itself) is taken from the poem "{{w|Do not go gentle into that good night}}," by {{w|Dylan Thomas}}.
*The space scooter looks to be based on the [[Scooter (GoBots)|Tonka ''GoBot'' Scooter]], sharing his red and black coloration.

===Errors===
*Megatron says that all the races he mentions are extinct, but there were obviously living Magisterians kicking about very recently, as the [[Scavenger (group)|Scavengers]] visited their planet and used [[holomatter]] avatars of them. Unless it wasn't Magisteria ''VI'' Megatron scoured of life, but another planet in the system.
*Megatron calls 'em "Torkulians," but per "Webworld," the inhabitants of [[Torkulon]] are "Torkuli."

===Other notes===
*Another overt example of Brainstorm's occasionally-mentioned British accent: he says "maths" instead of "math." Less expected: Ratchet saying "arses" instead of "asses."

===Soundtrack===
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4VWKbZkIcM The Ship Song]" by {{w|Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taYufMit8SI Foi Na Cruz]," also by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zLfCnGVeL4 The Sound of Silence]" by {{w|Simon & Garfunkel}}

===Covers (3)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Megatron and Rodimus in Tarn's clutches, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' A fuel-soaked Tarn by [[Andrew Griffith]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Tarn by [[Livio Ramondelli]]

<gallery>
File:MTMTE51 regcvr.jpg|
File:MTMTE51 subcvr.jpg|
File:MTMTE51 cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''More than Meets the Eye'' #52
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]'' [[All Hail Optimus Part 2: Edge of the Earth|#51]]
*''Street Fighter x [[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]''

==External links==
*[http://www.newsarama.com/28548-preview-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-51.html Preview]

All Hail Optimus Part 1: Once Upon a Time on Earth

2016-02-25T14:02:26Z

EnergonMage: /* Continuity notes */

{{Comicstory
|series=exrid|issueno=50
|prev=Conquerors Part 4: Perihelion
|next=New Worlds Order
|caption=
|image=TF50 regcvr.jpg
|title="All Hail Optimus Part 1: Once Upon a Time on Earth"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|published in=[[The Transformers issue 50|''The Transformers'' #50]]
|date=[[February 24]], [[2016]]
|coverdate=February 2016
|written by=[[John Barber]]
|art by=[[Andrew Griffith]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]] (pg. 1-15), [[John-Paul Bove]] (pg. 16-20), and [[Josh Perez]] (pg. 21-30)
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]] and [[Chris Mowry]]
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era]]
}}

'''In order to protect Earth from the Decepticons, Optimus Prime annexes the planet into the Cybertronian Council of Worlds. But few agree with his drastic decision...'''

==Synopsis==

''All across [[Earth]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] appears on every communications device, his words broadcast in every language. The Autobot leader has come to bring the Earth freedom—freedom from the harm at both the hands of the [[Decepticon]]s and its own native evils—by introducing it to the larger cosmic community.''

In the centre of [[Shanghai]], [[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]] ignores Optimus's demand to stand down, and orders his Decepticons into battle. Simultaneously, at the [[Earth Defense Command|E.D.C.]] Headquarters on [[Bikini Atoll]], [[Thundercracker (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Thundercracker]] insists that [[Marissa Faireborn|Marissa]] allow him to join the fight; she refuses, finally admitting that she just doesn't want to see him hurt, and orders the activation of the Transformer-crippling "[[mindbomb]]" instead. Though abandoned by a furious [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], Galvatron still has a mindbomb countmeasure - he forces the captive [[G.B. Blackrock (G1)|Garrison Blackrock]] to give the [[Onyx]] source code to one of his troops, the telepathic [[Outlier]] [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]], who then combines it with his mental powers to interfere with the mindbomb's activation, protecting Galvatron and a handful of other Decepticons from its effects. Unfortunately for the Decepticons, [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] uses a device of his own to shield ''all'' the [[Autobot]]s from the mind-weapon, and, vastly outnumbered, Galvatron has [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] teleport the operational Decepticons, and the captive Blackrock, away.

For a brief moment, it appears the Autobots have won... at which point, they come under attack from China's own [[People's Liberation Army Mecha Force]], a military unit led by pilot [[Zilong Qian]], equipped with transforming jet fighters created with Cybertronian technology sold to them by Blackrock! [[Aileron]] is shocked as the crippled Decepticons are slain one after the other by the mechas, but her friend [[Sterling]] can't muster any sympathy for the villains. But things soon go from bad to worse as Chinese satellites begin to rain down heat rays upon the battlefield, slaying Sterling and others. At Optimus Prime's instruction, Aileron takes flight and heads into space to shoot the satellites down; as she zooms off, she crosses paths with a shuttle containing [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]], which has arrived to collect any Decepticons who wish to relocate to [[Sanctuary Station]]. Several take Soundwave up on his offer, including [[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] and [[Swift]], but Cosmos sadly decides not to return with them- that his loyalty is to his friends- when Soundwave refuses to bring any of Optimus' followers aboard.

With the satellites successfully destroyed, Aileron returns to the battle just as the Autobots reactivate the [[space bridge]] and begin transporting all the wounded back to Cybertron. But time is short, as the bridge is running low on power, and while [[Victorion]] defends the evacuation, Optimus, [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], and Cosmos rescue [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], and [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] from the wreckage of the ''[[Ark-7]]''. Meanwhile, Aileron believes she has hit upon a solution, and runs through the faltering bridge, though the situation is no better on the other side: the evacuated Decepticons are still trying to fight back, and [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]] has called in [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] to keep the peace, which is going about as well as could be expected. Evading the combiner, Aileron makes her way to her objective: Optimus Prime's personal ship, the ''[[Skyroller]]'', which she pilots back through the bridge to Earth. All the remaining Autobots pile aboard, Prime sets the ''Ark-7'' to self-destruct, and the ''Skyroller'' streaks off into the sky with the space bridge safely attached to its hull.

The ''Skyroller'' sets course for E.D.C. Headquarters, where [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] encourages Marissa to finish the Autobots off now that they are weakened. Realizing that Optimus Prime just saved the Earth and knowing that he is only coming to collect his comrades, Marissa shuts Spike down and has him thrown in a cell, then everyone heads up to the surface to greet Prime's ship. Things are tense to begin with, but Thundercracker is able to corroborate Marissa's explanation that it was the traitorous Blackrock, not them, who was responsible for abducting [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]], and [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]]. Wishing to leave the E.D.C. and its subterfuge behind, Thundercracker asks Optimus to put the past aside, and the Autobot leader welcomes the former Decepticon into his ranks. Prime's unit departs with a warning to Marissa to get her house in order... and Marissa cannot help but wonder: what if Spike was right about the Autobots?

Thundercracker takes the Autobots back to his old homestead, where they can use what little Cybertronian tech he has to recharge and repair the space bridge. While recharging, Prime is plagued by visions... visions of a crashed Decepticon [[Worldsweeper]] and a burning [[White House]]... of Arcee and Galvatron fighting side by side... Victorion triumphing over [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] in battle... a [[Metrotitan (body-type)|Metrotitan]]'s fist emerging from beneath an Earth desert... Sanctuary Station burning... [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] and [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] bowing to an unseen figure... Aileron as the new [[Mistress of Flame]]... and of himself, surrounded by flame, with Galvatron's head on a pike. Hearing his cries, Aileron wakes him from his slumber, but rather than tell anyone what he has seen, Optimus has an idea. With Jetfire and Wheeljack's help, he uses the Skyroller's systems and the space bridge to transmit his message of freedom all across the Earth and Cybertron...

...and all across the Earth and Cybertron, others watch. Marissa realizes she was wrong; Arcee fears what will come next; Qian vows vengeance; Spike is outraged; Soundwave is unsurprised; Galvatron is delighted; Starscream and [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] are concerned... and [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] prepares to take action.

==Featured characters==

{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (2)
*[[Victorion]] (3)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ironhide]] (4)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (5)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (6)
*[[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] (9)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Thundercracker]] (25)
*[[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (29)
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (30)
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (31)
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (34)
*[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (38)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (46)
*[[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] (52)
*[[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] (54)
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (55)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (56)
*[[Pyra Magna]] (57)
*[[Skyburst (G1)|Skyburst]] (58)
*[[Stormclash]] (59)
*[[Dustup]] (60)
*[[Jumpstream]] (61)
*[[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] (62)

|c2=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Squawktalk (G1)|Squawktalk]] (10)
*[[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (11)
*[[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] (13)
*[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (14)
*[[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]] (15)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (17)
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (18)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (19)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (20)
*[[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (21)
*[[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (22)
*[[Tantrum (G1)|Tantrum]] (23)
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (36)
*[[Sky-Byte (G2)|Sky-Byte]] (37)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (39)
*[[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] (40)
*[[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]] (41)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Acid Storm]] (42)
*[[Headstrong (G1)|Headstrong]] (43)
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (44)
*[[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]] (45)
*[[Cindersaur (G1)|Cindersaur]] (47)
*[[Beastbox (G1)|Beastbox]] (48)
*[[Red Wing (MW)|Red Wing]] (50)
{{!}}}
|c3=
*[[G.B. Blackrock (G1)#IDW Generation 1 continuity|Garrison Blackrock]] (16)
*[[Marissa Faireborn]] (28)
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (32)
*[[Ayana Jones]] (33)
*[[Sanjay Bharwaney]] (35)
*[[Zilong Qian]] (49)

|c4=
*[[Aileron]] (7)
*[[Bob (IDW)|Bob]] (8)
*[[Swift]] (12)
*[[Sterling]] (24)
*[[D.0.C.]] (26)
*[[Buster (IDW)|Buster]] (27)
*[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (51)
*[[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]] (53)
}}

==Quotes==

"Why don't you want me to '''do''' something?" 
"'''I don't want you to die, okay?''' I '''like''' hearing your stupid stories." 
"Aw." 
"And if your '''flying's''' anything like your '''writing''', you wouldn't last '''two minutes,''' anyway."
:—'''Thundercracker''' and '''Marissa'''

"I'm glad '''somebody else''' 'round here looks like a '''spaceship'''."
:—'''Cosmos''', on Aileron

"We've only got '''seconds''' left, guys. Our best bet is to get that tall lady- 
"'''VICTORION!'''" 
"-yeah, '''you''', to carry the bridge, an' try an' '''march''' out of the city real '''fast-like'''."
:—Wheeljack comes up with a plan, if only he could remember what's-her-name.

"The prisoners have been injured. Shall I '''kill''' the '''humans'''?
:—'''Pyra Magna''' on seeing her captive fellow Autobots.

"You need to get your '''house''' in order... and if '''you''' don't, I will. Welcome to the '''Autobots''', Thundercracker."
:—'''Optimus''' warns Marissa and Ayana Jones to clean up their act before taking their former guest into his ranks.

"They'll find us anyway, my dear." 
"Prime or not, Trion- don't ever, '''ever''' call me that again."
:—'''Pyra Magna''' isn't above getting testy with a Prime

"I'm too tired to even make something up so I sound better'n I '''am.'''
:—'''Wheeljack'''

"People of Earth. I... am '''Optimus Prime.''' I speak to you in all languages, across all frequencies, with a message of '''hope.''' I understand the '''terror''' and '''hatred''' you feel toward those like myself. I ask you only to '''listen''', and consider my words. Your world is now under '''my''' protection. Yesterday's violence in the '''People's Republic of China''' was unfortunate. I, and my forces, acted to prevent an '''invasion''' by those called '''Decepticons.''' Five years ago, it was Decepticons who '''conquered''' your world, and my forces who '''liberated''' it. We left this planet, an action I believed would '''protect''' the people of Earth. I was wrong. Instead, your own '''governments''' gave resources, aid, and a home to this '''ultimate evil'''... while '''humans''' die from starvation and preventable '''diseases'''... while authority '''subjugates''' those it should '''serve.''' I vow to '''eliminate''' the threat '''my people''' brought to your world—but that is not the end '''goal'''. It is time for '''humankind''' to enter the '''cosmic community.''' I am not here to '''rule''' you, but to '''help''' you on this path. I bring the people of Earth that which is the right of '''all''' sentient beings... I bring you '''freedom.'''" 
"Like '''hell''' you do."
:—'''Optimus Prime'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s speech, and '''Prowl'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s reaction

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*The final panel on page 1, last in a sequence of Optimus Prime's face being displayed on communciations devices around the world, looks quite different from the others, with gritty, textured coloring. The final page reveals that this is the monitor Prowl is watching the speech on, which means this coloring choice was likely a deliberate one by [[Josh Burcham]] to evoke the palette of [[The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers|''Sins of the Wreckers'']], in which Prowl is currently appearing.
*Squawktalk and Beastbox appear as individuals for the first time in IDW continuity; previously, only [[Squawkbox]] (their toys' traditional combined form) has put in several appearances as one of the regulars at [[Maccadam's Old Oil House|Maccadam's]] during the book's first story arc. He was among those who initially abandoned his faction to remain in [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] after Starscream took power, but it looks like that didn't work out too good for him. As Squawkbox hasn't been shown to be a combiner in this continuity (so far), it may be that these two are simply different, separate individuals, much like Galvatron and Megatron.
*Starscream laments that Devastator's overly violent approach to putting down the Decepticons allows "a bunch of fugitives" to escape; the escapees are not identified, but this is probably a wee bit of butt-covering to make sure [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] and [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]], who have been part of the Decepticon mob in the last few issues, are still on the loose for their upcoming role in ''[[The Transformers: Till All Are One|Till All Are One]]'', as foreshadowed by the [[The Will of the Few|final issue of ''Windblade'']].
*Prime used the ''Skyroller'' while he was off on his self-imposed exile as "Orion Pax" during the first two years of the series. He brought it with him aboard the ''Ark-7'', then used it to take himself back to Cybertron in [[Onyx Interface Part One: Signals, Calls, and Marches|issue #35]], where it has remained until now.
*Victorion once again proves that she is much different than other combiners in IDW, here showing an ability to willingly separate and stay separated, unlike Superion and Devastator. Additionally, her approach to battle (to defend and to hold attackers at bay rather than kill) is quite at odds with Pyra Magna's willingness to kill Marissa and Ayana when she thinks they're responsible for the injuries the captive Autobots have suffered. The combination process doesn't seem to affect the Torchbearers' individuality, so far.
*Pyra Magna and Victorion are both shown with Autobot symbols on their chests, confirming that the previously factionless Torchbearers have officially joined the Autobots.
*Additionally, Victorion is shown to have a(n apparently retractable) faceplate, which she deploys during battle.
*Bob also shows a moveable faceplate when he growls at Buster.
*The words heard during Optimus Prime's prophetic vision are the "[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]]" prophecy recited by [[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]] are various times during the titular storyline.
*A [[Worldsweeper]] is seen in Optimus's vision, crashed in the middle of [[Washington, D.C.]] These giant symbol-ships have shown up over in ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' a few times, but this is their first appearance in this book.
*Although Prowl is currently appearing in ''Sins of the Wreckers'' at the time of this issue's publication, this storyline takes place chronologically after that mini's conclusion. Prowl's still missing the eye Optimus punched out in [[Now and On Earth|issue #42]].
* In a minor soft retcon, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker are stated to be brothers like they usually are. ''[[Spotlight: Sideswipe]]'' had suggested that they ''aren't'' brothers in this continuity.

===Transformers references===
*This story arc's title is, of course, a reference to IDW's own [[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|''All Hail Megatron'' comic book]]. Like, duh.
*Mindwipe, you say? Gosh, [[Titans Return|why '''''ever''''']] would he turn up so suddenly?
*There's a lot of generics biting it in this issue, but one who shows up and manages to ''not'' explode is [[Red Wing (MW)|Red Wing]], a red [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] introduced in [[Fun Publications]]' [[Termination|''Transformers: Timelines'' #8]]. See Errors, though.

===Real-life references===
*This issue's title is a riff on the movie ''{{w|Once Upon a Time in the West}}'', likely a partial reference to the fact that actor Henry Fonda was cast against type as a villain in the movie, paralleling the traditionally heroic Optimus Prime's questionable position in this story.
*As the ''Skyroller'' readies for takeoff, Aileron reports "Atomic turbines to power—and we're ready to leave!"—a mashup of the activation procedure for the Batmobile in the 1960s ''[[Batman]]'' TV series, "Atomic batteries to power! Turbines to speed! Ready to move out!"

===Errors===
*Optimus attests that it has been five years since the events of ''All Hail Megatron'', but in [[Earthfall Chapter 3: The Mind Bomb|issue #30]], ''eight'' years were said to have passed since then. Deliberately or not, this timescale ''does'' fit with [[Earthfall Part 2: Detonation Boulevard|issue #29]]'s claim that 2011's Occupy Wall Street movement was happening when ''All Hail'' occurred, but it's hard to reconcile it with everything else that's happened in IDW continuity since then (the two-year gap between ''All Hail'' and the [[The Transformers (IDW)|Costa ongoing]], the entirely of said ongoing, and four real-time years of this series).
*Tantrum's looking a little off-color as Victorion lifts him with her gravity powers on page 4, with a greenish-yellow body instead of orange, and grey feet instead of red.
*Continuing with miscolored Predacons, on page 9, the doubled-over Headstrong is all red and grey.
*For his one-panel appearance, Red Wing's left hand is red, while his right hand is black. As he otherwise very closely matches the deco layout of the artwork released of him by Fun Pub, we know both his hands ought to be black.
*Rust Dust is not shown in robot mode at all during the story, though she is drawn as Victorion's chestplate- even though all her other fellow Torchbearers are shown as both Victorion's limbs and as individual robots. It's possible that she was elsewhere in the scenes set at Thundercracker's "house", but as all her other teammates are shown in the panel, and given her history of not always showing up on art of Victorion, it seems more like an error.

==External links==
*[http://www.newsarama.com/28049-optimus-prime-conquers-earth-in-transformers-50-preview.html Preview]

All Hail Optimus Part 1: Once Upon a Time on Earth

2016-02-25T14:01:20Z

EnergonMage: /* Continuity notes */

{{Comicstory
|series=exrid|issueno=50
|prev=Conquerors Part 4: Perihelion
|next=New Worlds Order
|caption=
|image=TF50 regcvr.jpg
|title="All Hail Optimus Part 1: Once Upon a Time on Earth"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|published in=[[The Transformers issue 50|''The Transformers'' #50]]
|date=[[February 24]], [[2016]]
|coverdate=February 2016
|written by=[[John Barber]]
|art by=[[Andrew Griffith]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]] (pg. 1-15), [[John-Paul Bove]] (pg. 16-20), and [[Josh Perez]] (pg. 21-30)
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]] and [[Chris Mowry]]
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era]]
}}

'''In order to protect Earth from the Decepticons, Optimus Prime annexes the planet into the Cybertronian Council of Worlds. But few agree with his drastic decision...'''

==Synopsis==

''All across [[Earth]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] appears on every communications device, his words broadcast in every language. The Autobot leader has come to bring the Earth freedom—freedom from the harm at both the hands of the [[Decepticon]]s and its own native evils—by introducing it to the larger cosmic community.''

In the centre of [[Shanghai]], [[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]] ignores Optimus's demand to stand down, and orders his Decepticons into battle. Simultaneously, at the [[Earth Defense Command|E.D.C.]] Headquarters on [[Bikini Atoll]], [[Thundercracker (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Thundercracker]] insists that [[Marissa Faireborn|Marissa]] allow him to join the fight; she refuses, finally admitting that she just doesn't want to see him hurt, and orders the activation of the Transformer-crippling "[[mindbomb]]" instead. Though abandoned by a furious [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], Galvatron still has a mindbomb countmeasure - he forces the captive [[G.B. Blackrock (G1)|Garrison Blackrock]] to give the [[Onyx]] source code to one of his troops, the telepathic [[Outlier]] [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]], who then combines it with his mental powers to interfere with the mindbomb's activation, protecting Galvatron and a handful of other Decepticons from its effects. Unfortunately for the Decepticons, [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] uses a device of his own to shield ''all'' the [[Autobot]]s from the mind-weapon, and, vastly outnumbered, Galvatron has [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] teleport the operational Decepticons, and the captive Blackrock, away.

For a brief moment, it appears the Autobots have won... at which point, they come under attack from China's own [[People's Liberation Army Mecha Force]], a military unit led by pilot [[Zilong Qian]], equipped with transforming jet fighters created with Cybertronian technology sold to them by Blackrock! [[Aileron]] is shocked as the crippled Decepticons are slain one after the other by the mechas, but her friend [[Sterling]] can't muster any sympathy for the villains. But things soon go from bad to worse as Chinese satellites begin to rain down heat rays upon the battlefield, slaying Sterling and others. At Optimus Prime's instruction, Aileron takes flight and heads into space to shoot the satellites down; as she zooms off, she crosses paths with a shuttle containing [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]], which has arrived to collect any Decepticons who wish to relocate to [[Sanctuary Station]]. Several take Soundwave up on his offer, including [[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] and [[Swift]], but Cosmos sadly decides not to return with them- that his loyalty is to his friends- when Soundwave refuses to bring any of Optimus' followers aboard.

With the satellites successfully destroyed, Aileron returns to the battle just as the Autobots reactivate the [[space bridge]] and begin transporting all the wounded back to Cybertron. But time is short, as the bridge is running low on power, and while [[Victorion]] defends the evacuation, Optimus, [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], and Cosmos rescue [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], and [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] from the wreckage of the ''[[Ark-7]]''. Meanwhile, Aileron believes she has hit upon a solution, and runs through the faltering bridge, though the situation is no better on the other side: the evacuated Decepticons are still trying to fight back, and [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]] has called in [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] to keep the peace, which is going about as well as could be expected. Evading the combiner, Aileron makes her way to her objective: Optimus Prime's personal ship, the ''[[Skyroller]]'', which she pilots back through the bridge to Earth. All the remaining Autobots pile aboard, Prime sets the ''Ark-7'' to self-destruct, and the ''Skyroller'' streaks off into the sky with the space bridge safely attached to its hull.

The ''Skyroller'' sets course for E.D.C. Headquarters, where [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] encourages Marissa to finish the Autobots off now that they are weakened. Realizing that Optimus Prime just saved the Earth and knowing that he is only coming to collect his comrades, Marissa shuts Spike down and has him thrown in a cell, then everyone heads up to the surface to greet Prime's ship. Things are tense to begin with, but Thundercracker is able to corroborate Marissa's explanation that it was the traitorous Blackrock, not them, who was responsible for abducting [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]], and [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]]. Wishing to leave the E.D.C. and its subterfuge behind, Thundercracker asks Optimus to put the past aside, and the Autobot leader welcomes the former Decepticon into his ranks. Prime's unit departs with a warning to Marissa to get her house in order... and Marissa cannot help but wonder: what if Spike was right about the Autobots?

Thundercracker takes the Autobots back to his old homestead, where they can use what little Cybertronian tech he has to recharge and repair the space bridge. While recharging, Prime is plagued by visions... visions of a crashed Decepticon [[Worldsweeper]] and a burning [[White House]]... of Arcee and Galvatron fighting side by side... Victorion triumphing over [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] in battle... a [[Metrotitan (body-type)|Metrotitan]]'s fist emerging from beneath an Earth desert... Sanctuary Station burning... [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] and [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] bowing to an unseen figure... Aileron as the new [[Mistress of Flame]]... and of himself, surrounded by flame, with Galvatron's head on a pike. Hearing his cries, Aileron wakes him from his slumber, but rather than tell anyone what he has seen, Optimus has an idea. With Jetfire and Wheeljack's help, he uses the Skyroller's systems and the space bridge to transmit his message of freedom all across the Earth and Cybertron...

...and all across the Earth and Cybertron, others watch. Marissa realizes she was wrong; Arcee fears what will come next; Qian vows vengeance; Spike is outraged; Soundwave is unsurprised; Galvatron is delighted; Starscream and [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] are concerned... and [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] prepares to take action.

==Featured characters==

{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (2)
*[[Victorion]] (3)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ironhide]] (4)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (5)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (6)
*[[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] (9)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Thundercracker]] (25)
*[[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (29)
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (30)
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (31)
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (34)
*[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (38)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (46)
*[[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] (52)
*[[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] (54)
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (55)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (56)
*[[Pyra Magna]] (57)
*[[Skyburst (G1)|Skyburst]] (58)
*[[Stormclash]] (59)
*[[Dustup]] (60)
*[[Jumpstream]] (61)
*[[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] (62)

|c2=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Squawktalk (G1)|Squawktalk]] (10)
*[[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (11)
*[[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] (13)
*[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (14)
*[[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]] (15)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (17)
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (18)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (19)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (20)
*[[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (21)
*[[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (22)
*[[Tantrum (G1)|Tantrum]] (23)
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (36)
*[[Sky-Byte (G2)|Sky-Byte]] (37)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (39)
*[[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] (40)
*[[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]] (41)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Acid Storm]] (42)
*[[Headstrong (G1)|Headstrong]] (43)
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (44)
*[[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]] (45)
*[[Cindersaur (G1)|Cindersaur]] (47)
*[[Beastbox (G1)|Beastbox]] (48)
*[[Red Wing (MW)|Red Wing]] (50)
{{!}}}
|c3=
*[[G.B. Blackrock (G1)#IDW Generation 1 continuity|Garrison Blackrock]] (16)
*[[Marissa Faireborn]] (28)
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (32)
*[[Ayana Jones]] (33)
*[[Sanjay Bharwaney]] (35)
*[[Zilong Qian]] (49)

|c4=
*[[Aileron]] (7)
*[[Bob (IDW)|Bob]] (8)
*[[Swift]] (12)
*[[Sterling]] (24)
*[[D.0.C.]] (26)
*[[Buster (IDW)|Buster]] (27)
*[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (51)
*[[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]] (53)
}}

==Quotes==

"Why don't you want me to '''do''' something?" 
"'''I don't want you to die, okay?''' I '''like''' hearing your stupid stories." 
"Aw." 
"And if your '''flying's''' anything like your '''writing''', you wouldn't last '''two minutes,''' anyway."
:—'''Thundercracker''' and '''Marissa'''

"I'm glad '''somebody else''' 'round here looks like a '''spaceship'''."
:—'''Cosmos''', on Aileron

"We've only got '''seconds''' left, guys. Our best bet is to get that tall lady- 
"'''VICTORION!'''" 
"-yeah, '''you''', to carry the bridge, an' try an' '''march''' out of the city real '''fast-like'''."
:—Wheeljack comes up with a plan, if only he could remember what's-her-name.

"The prisoners have been injured. Shall I '''kill''' the '''humans'''?
:—'''Pyra Magna''' on seeing her captive fellow Autobots.

"You need to get your '''house''' in order... and if '''you''' don't, I will. Welcome to the '''Autobots''', Thundercracker."
:—'''Optimus''' warns Marissa and Ayana Jones to clean up their act before taking their former guest into his ranks.

"They'll find us anyway, my dear." 
"Prime or not, Trion- don't ever, '''ever''' call me that again."
:—'''Pyra Magna''' isn't above getting testy with a Prime

"I'm too tired to even make something up so I sound better'n I '''am.'''
:—'''Wheeljack'''

"People of Earth. I... am '''Optimus Prime.''' I speak to you in all languages, across all frequencies, with a message of '''hope.''' I understand the '''terror''' and '''hatred''' you feel toward those like myself. I ask you only to '''listen''', and consider my words. Your world is now under '''my''' protection. Yesterday's violence in the '''People's Republic of China''' was unfortunate. I, and my forces, acted to prevent an '''invasion''' by those called '''Decepticons.''' Five years ago, it was Decepticons who '''conquered''' your world, and my forces who '''liberated''' it. We left this planet, an action I believed would '''protect''' the people of Earth. I was wrong. Instead, your own '''governments''' gave resources, aid, and a home to this '''ultimate evil'''... while '''humans''' die from starvation and preventable '''diseases'''... while authority '''subjugates''' those it should '''serve.''' I vow to '''eliminate''' the threat '''my people''' brought to your world—but that is not the end '''goal'''. It is time for '''humankind''' to enter the '''cosmic community.''' I am not here to '''rule''' you, but to '''help''' you on this path. I bring the people of Earth that which is the right of '''all''' sentient beings... I bring you '''freedom.'''" 
"Like '''hell''' you do."
:—'''Optimus Prime'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s speech, and '''Prowl'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s reaction

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*The final panel on page 1, last in a sequence of Optimus Prime's face being displayed on communciations devices around the world, looks quite different from the others, with gritty, textured coloring. The final page reveals that this is the monitor Prowl is watching the speech on, which means this coloring choice was likely a deliberate one by [[Josh Burcham]] to evoke the palette of [[The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers|''Sins of the Wreckers'']], in which Prowl is currently appearing.
*Squawktalk and Beastbox appear as individuals for the first time in IDW continuity; previously, only [[Squawkbox]] (their toys' traditional combined form) has put in several appearances as one of the regulars at [[Maccadam's Old Oil House|Maccadam's]] during the book's first story arc. He was among those who initially abandoned his faction to remain in [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] after Starscream took power, but it looks like that didn't work out too good for him. As Squawkbox hasn't been shown to be a combiner in this continuity (so far), it may be that these two are simply different, separate individuals, much like Galvatron and Megatron.
*Starscream laments that Devastator's overly violent approach to putting down the Decepticons allows "a bunch of fugitives" to escape; the escapees are not identified, but this is probably a wee bit of butt-covering to make sure [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] and [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]], who have been part of the Decepticon mob in the last few issues, are still on the loose for their upcoming role in ''[[The Transformers: Till All Are One|Till All Are One]]'', as foreshadowed by the [[The Will of the Few|final issue of ''Windblade'']].
*Prime used the ''Skyroller'' while he was off on his self-imposed exile as "Orion Pax" during the first two years of the series. He brought it with him aboard the ''Ark-7'', then used it to take himself back to Cybertron in [[Onyx Interface Part One: Signals, Calls, and Marches|issue #35]], where it has remained until now.
*Victorion once again proves that she is much different than other combiners in IDW, here showing an ability to willingly separate and stay separated, unlike Superion and Devastator. Additionally, her approach to battle (to defend and to hold attackers at bay rather than kill) is quite at odds with Pyra Magna's willingness to kill Marissa and Ayana when she thinks they're responsible for the injuries the captive Autobots have suffered. The combination process doesn't seem to affect the Torchbearers' individuality, so far.
*Pyra Magna and Victorion are both shown with Autobot symbols on their chests, confirming that the previously factionless Torchbearers have officially joined the Autobots.
*Additionally, Victorion is shown to have a(n apparently retractable) faceplate, which she deploys during battle.
*Bob also shows a moveable faceplate when he growls at Buster.
*The words heard during Optimus Prime's prophetic vision are the "[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]]" prophecy recited by [[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]] are various times during the titular storyline.
*A [[Worldsweeper]] is seen in Optimus's vision, crashed in the middle of [[Washington, D.C.]] These giant symbol-ships have shown up over in ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' a few times, but this is their first appearance in this book.
*Although Prowl is currently appearing in ''Sins of the Wreckers'' at the time of this issue's publication, this storyline takes place chronologically after that mini's conclusion. Prowl's still missing the eye Optimus punched out in [[Now and On Earth|issue #42]].
* In a minor soft retcon, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker are stated to be brothers like they usually are. ''[[Spotlight: Sideswipe]]'' had suggested that they ''weren't'' brothers in this continuity.

===Transformers references===
*This story arc's title is, of course, a reference to IDW's own [[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|''All Hail Megatron'' comic book]]. Like, duh.
*Mindwipe, you say? Gosh, [[Titans Return|why '''''ever''''']] would he turn up so suddenly?
*There's a lot of generics biting it in this issue, but one who shows up and manages to ''not'' explode is [[Red Wing (MW)|Red Wing]], a red [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] introduced in [[Fun Publications]]' [[Termination|''Transformers: Timelines'' #8]]. See Errors, though.

===Real-life references===
*This issue's title is a riff on the movie ''{{w|Once Upon a Time in the West}}'', likely a partial reference to the fact that actor Henry Fonda was cast against type as a villain in the movie, paralleling the traditionally heroic Optimus Prime's questionable position in this story.
*As the ''Skyroller'' readies for takeoff, Aileron reports "Atomic turbines to power—and we're ready to leave!"—a mashup of the activation procedure for the Batmobile in the 1960s ''[[Batman]]'' TV series, "Atomic batteries to power! Turbines to speed! Ready to move out!"

===Errors===
*Optimus attests that it has been five years since the events of ''All Hail Megatron'', but in [[Earthfall Chapter 3: The Mind Bomb|issue #30]], ''eight'' years were said to have passed since then. Deliberately or not, this timescale ''does'' fit with [[Earthfall Part 2: Detonation Boulevard|issue #29]]'s claim that 2011's Occupy Wall Street movement was happening when ''All Hail'' occurred, but it's hard to reconcile it with everything else that's happened in IDW continuity since then (the two-year gap between ''All Hail'' and the [[The Transformers (IDW)|Costa ongoing]], the entirely of said ongoing, and four real-time years of this series).
*Tantrum's looking a little off-color as Victorion lifts him with her gravity powers on page 4, with a greenish-yellow body instead of orange, and grey feet instead of red.
*Continuing with miscolored Predacons, on page 9, the doubled-over Headstrong is all red and grey.
*For his one-panel appearance, Red Wing's left hand is red, while his right hand is black. As he otherwise very closely matches the deco layout of the artwork released of him by Fun Pub, we know both his hands ought to be black.
*Rust Dust is not shown in robot mode at all during the story, though she is drawn as Victorion's chestplate- even though all her other fellow Torchbearers are shown as both Victorion's limbs and as individual robots. It's possible that she was elsewhere in the scenes set at Thundercracker's "house", but as all her other teammates are shown in the panel, and given her history of not always showing up on art of Victorion, it seems more like an error.

==External links==
*[http://www.newsarama.com/28049-optimus-prime-conquers-earth-in-transformers-50-preview.html Preview]

Speak, Memory! (Part 2)

2016-02-10T17:51:30Z

EnergonMage: /* Continuity notes */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=49
|prev=Speak, Memory: Part 1
|next=
|image=MTMTE49_subcvr.jpg
|title="Speak, Memory!" (Part 2)
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[February 10]], [[2016]]
|coverdate=January 2016
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|pencils by=[[Hayato Sakamoto]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|publisher=[[Ted Adams]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2016)]]
}}

'''Rung steps up as Sunder stalks the halls of the ''Lost Light'', and Skids's repressed memories grow dangerously close to overwhelming him.'''

==Synopsis==
His mind invaded by [[Sunder (G1)|Sunder]]'s remote [[mnemosurgery]], [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] relives the long-repressed memories of his time in [[Grindcore (prison)|Grindcore]]... ''memories of how the prison commandant, [[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]], conscripted him to repair the facility's teleport chambers, in exchange for the liberation of fifty prisoners. Skids completes the work, much to the consternation of his cellmate [[Quark]], who doubts Tarn will keep his promise, but Skids believes that at the very least, functioning teleporters will mean prisoners will get to leave the living hell of Grindcore, even if it is to work as slaves on other planets. The pair's argument ends when loud music beings playing through the camp... music that Quark identifies as "[[The Empyrean Suite]]..."

To [[Rung (G1)|Rung]]'s horror, [[Froid]] unlocks Sunder's cage, deeming his release "the least worst option." [[Kindle]] and [[Fervor]] rush aboard the ship and level their weapons at the serial killer, but he turns his gaze upon them, and Skids and Rung gasp in horror at what occurs. Reacting quickly, Rung transmits a live recording of the proceedings he has been making to [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] in order to warn the crew...

Some time later, [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] awakes from his coma to find all lights on the ''[[Lost Light]]'' deactivated, with strange, spherical balls of machinery dotted around the corridors. Exploring the darkened vessel, he finds [[Getaway]] in the brig after his recent crimes, but when the escape artist remains silent in the face of all the puzzled Tailgate's questions, the little 'bot punches the wall in anger, and somehow, all the nearby windows shatter. Just as Tailgate bends to examine one of the machine-balls, Rung, Skids, and Froid appear, and Rung explains what the ball is: horrifyingly, it is ''[[Hot Rod/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]]'', who has fallen victim to one of Sunder's favorite mind-tricks. The killer uses his mind powers to force his victim to transform, but causes them to forget ''how'' to, resulting in them ''turning themselves inside out.'' The lights are out and the crew are locked up in their rooms to prevent Sunder from ''seeing'' his intended victims, but Rung is out looking for [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]], as he needs his mnemosurgical skills to prevent Skids from remembering his traumatic time in Grindcore, lest the sudden, violent recollection of those memories permanently damage his mind. Unfortunately, the grinning Sunder then rounds a nearby corner, and Skids clutches his head as the memories begin again...

''Skids is invited to Tarn's office, where Tarn confirms that the teleport generators are working, and shows Skids a datapad of the promised prisoners being released into the [[Manganese Mountains]]. Skids tries to up the ante, insisting that a hundred prisoners will have to be freed next time, but Tarn informs him that [[Snare]] can fix the generators in the future, having watched Skids's repair job. Tarn then tells Skids that, as he is no longer of use to him, he will be sent off on the next mass teleport the following day, but Skids asks if he can give his place to someone else.''

Rung blocks Sunder's line-of-sight on Skids with his own body and drags Froid in to help, but the rival psychiatrist makes the mistake of looking Sunder in the eyes, and screams in agony as he is made to transform himself inside-out. A sudden blast fells Sunder, courtesy of [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]], who has arrived with Megatron and Chromedome, but the killer survives and quickly flees. As Chromedome goes to work sealing off Skids's memories once again, Thunderclash, Megatron, Tailgate, and Rung pursue Sunder back to the shuttle bay, where yet another unpleasant surprise is waiting for them—Froid's shuttle, it turns out, is the dead, transformed body of Sunder's brother [[Sceptre]], which Sunder now transforms into a giant robot-battle-suit! Thunderclash falls victim to Sunder's mind-powers and is turned inside out, but before the same can happen to Megatron, Rung reveals his own ace in the hole: his model ship collection, all actually armed and flight-capable, which he controls via a remote and uses to shoot out Sunder's eyes! Tailgate shouts for Megatron to pick up Thunderclash's dropped gun and end Sunder's threat, but Megatron tries to talk Sunder down instead; when the killer doesn't listen, Tailgate does the job himself... by ''picking up the [[Rodpod]]'' and using to crush Sunder!!

Later, Megatron meets with Rung on the bridge, where the psychiatrist tenders his resignation. His secret dismissal by the tribunal of the ''[[Fateful Archetype]]'' is now out in the open, since Froid's recounting of it was part of the recording Rung sent to Megatron. Megatron proposes that Rung let his patients decide if they want to keep seeing him, but Rung refuses. As he leaves, the repaired Rodimus enters, and presents Megatron with [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]]'s analysis of Tailgate's baffling show of strength: it turns out that his [[spark]], "uniquely susceptible to mutation as a result of the background radiation generated by quantum travel," has undergone a stress-related mutation that has turned him into a new breed of super-strong, super-fast, super-durable [[Outlier]]. Bizarre as ''that'' might be, Rodimus is even ''more'' flummoxed by Megatron's refusal to fire on Sunder, and the ex-Decepticon reveals that recent events in his life have led him to a decision. Henceforth, Megatron renounces the use of violence!

''Skids and Quark line up to enter the teleport chamber, expecting to be sent to the planet [[Ambervalia]]. Quark is the 'bot Skids gave his place to, but Tarn, "touched" by the gesture, has allowed them both to leave. Once inside, however, Skids studies the boiling-hot chamber and comes to a ghastly realization... scant moments before he alone is teleported out, into Tarn's office. The "teleport chamber" is, the commandant explains, is in actuality a ''smelting'' chamber, which melts down the bodies of those inside for raw materials to be used in the creation of Decepticon [[M.T.O.]]s. "The Empyrean Suite" is played merely to drown out their dying screams. Tarn seizes Skids by the head and forces him to watch as Quark and all the others die horrible, molten deaths, and Skids's faith in [[Primus]] dies with them.''

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (1)
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (2)
*[[Kindle]] (8)
*[[Fervor]] (9)
*[[Getaway]] (10)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (11)
*[[Hot Rod/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] (12)
*[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] (13)
*[[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (14)
*[[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] (15)

|c2=
*''[[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]]'' (5)
*''[[Snare]]'' (6)
*''[[Talon (G1)|Talon]]'' (17)

|c4=
*[[Sunder (G1)|Sunder]] (3)
*[[Froid]] (4)
*''[[Quark]]'' (7)
*[[Sceptre]] (16)
}}

==Quotes==
"I'd say you were '''ashamed''', but I don't think you've got it in you."
:—'''Tailgate''', on Getaway.

"You think death scares me in the slightest? I've lived half my life in its shadow. It is the fate of every mnemosurgeon to '''die on the job'''—a victim of their addiction. We '''know''' when death is near; we can '''feel''' it creeping closer—but never close enough to make us '''stop'''. The fatal injection is always the '''next''' injection—until one day it '''isn't'''."
:—'''Sunder'''

"Say hello to my '''fleet''', Sunder! You're not the only one who likes to do things remotely!"
:—'''Rung''' made a pun!

"I won't accept this. You're spent your whole life forgiving other people's mistakes. Why should you be denied that same kindness? I want you to tell everyone on board about the tribunal—and then let your '''patients''' decide whether they want to keep seeing you." 
"Do you really think so little of me—so little of my '''work'''—that you'd suggest something like that? "Let your patients decide"—would you say that to a '''brain surgeon''' who'd been '''struck off?''' Or a failed '''space bridge engineer'''—would you let his passengers take the risk? I '''will''' tell everyone about the tribunal... but only by way of explaining why I'm no longer practising."
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Rung'''

"Rodimus. Good to see you're in.... '''better shape.'''" 
"Did you come up with that joke all by yourself?" 
"Ultra Magnus suggested the pause."
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Rodimus'''

"I suppose you could call me an '''agnostic.''' You see, I'm not sure about '''heaven'''... but I'm pretty sure '''hell''' exists."
:—'''Tarn'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Tailgate carries a vial of Cyclonus's [[innermost energon]] around his neck, left at his bedside while he was recovering after the events of [[The Lopsided Triangle|issue #47]]. We first learned about this ritual back in [[Before & After|issue #12]], when Tailgate attempted to do it for Cyclonus.
*Snare and Talon were previously shown working together under [[Turmoil]] in [[Drift issue 1|''Drift'' #1]], which prrrobably takes place after this. Snare will go on to have a bigger role in ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]''; his profile in that series notes that he enjoyed treating prisoners cruelly for the fun of it, which certainly fits with the revelation he worked at Grindcore.
*We learned back in [[Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|issue 36]] that, before the war, [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] had been exposing sparks to radiation in an attempt to artificially create Outliers. With the revelation of Tailgate's radiation-induced Outlier powers, it would seem that Sentinel was actually onto something and merely using the wrong ''kind'' of radiation.

===Transformers references===
*Thunderclash's weapon is based on the large central non-removable cannon sculpted into the trailer/base on his original toy.
*Tarn makes reference to the Inferno, aka the [[Pit]], the Transformer equivalent of Hell that originated with the [[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|''Beast Wars'' cartoon]]. This is the first mention of the concept in IDW continuity, and indeed, the first mention of it in any major Transformers media since the ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Prime]]'' episode "[[Loose Cannons]]", aired about four years prior to this issue's release. Tarn also uses the term [[Afterspark]] as analogous to "Heaven," a name that's been used to refer to the afterlife several times in IDW continuity, starting with ''[[Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime]]''. This seems like further proof that it's the same thing that as what we know as the [[Allspark]] (a term that's fallen out of fashion in reference to the afterlife, after the introduction of the physical [[AllSpark]] object).

===Real-life references===
*Ambervalia takes its name from the Roman agricultural festival {{w|Ambarvalia}}. Said festival involved sacrificing a group of animals after first leading them in a procession... not unlike the way in which the prisoners of Grindcore are led into the "teleport" chamber, then slaughtered.

===Errors===
*In the opening caption of the second epilogue, "Grindcore" is misspelled as "Grindore".

===Other notes===
*This issue arrives rather late, seven weeks after the previous one, halfway through February instead of the originally solicited January.
*This issue's title has an exclamation mark, but last issue's didn't.
*Getaway's punishment for his role in issue #47's scheme is a severe one: to inhibit his escape artist abilities, he's ''had his arms and legs removed'', and being a noted charmer whose silver tongue has let him talk his way around others, his ''voicebox'' has also been taken out, leaving a gaping hole in his face, hence his silence when Tailgate questions him. Yikes.

===Soundtrack===
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDA-Eq4kUG4 Monkey vs. Shark]" by {{w|Thee More Shallows}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzjyEEaUxKU The Living Dead]" by {{w|Suede (band)|Suede}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQ2yXWi0ppw Losing My Religion]" by {{w|R.E.M.}}

===Covers (3)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Tailgate defends the cowering Thunderclash, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' A defiant Rung stares up at the caster of a threatening shadow, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Whirl, Cyclonus, Skids, Rung, Riptide, and Brainstorm, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]; part of a series of variant covers "counting down" to the release of the 50th issues of ''The Transformers'' and ''More than Meets the Eye'' in February 2016, which connect to the other covers in the series to form a larger image.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE49 regcvr.jpg|
File:MTMTE49 subcvr.jpg|
File:MTMTE49 cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''More than Meets the Eye'' #50
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]'' and ''More than Meets the Eye'' #50
*''The Transformers'' [[Conquerors Part 4: Perihelion|#49]]
*''[[The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers|Sins of the Wreckers]]'' [[Sins of the Wreckers issue 3|#3]]
*IDW ''Transformers'' Reading Guide

==External links==
*[http://www.newsarama.com/27853-an-ancient-evil-stalks-the-lost-light-in-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-49-preview.html Preview]

Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5

2015-11-25T17:23:49Z

EnergonMage: /* Notes */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'' #5
|prev=Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 4
|next=Escape (G1)
|image=Last Stand of the Wreckers5 Cover A.jpg
|caption=This is the end, my former friend.
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[May 19]], [[2010]]
|coverdate=May 2010
|story=[[Nick Roche]] & [[James Roberts]]
|script=Nick Roche & James Roberts
|art=Nick Roche
|colors=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters=[[Chris Mowry]]
|editor=[[Andy Schmidt]]
|associate editor=[[Denton J. Tipton]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2010)]]
}}

'''Where everything FINALLY hits the fan.'''

==Synopsis==
In [[Garrus-9]], [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] tears [[Guzzle (G1)|Guzzle]] in half, bashes [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] unconscious, and smirks when [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] ''destroys his right eye''. Down in the [[Aequitas]] chamber, [[Verity Carlo]] continues to argue against detonating the deterrence chips, which will kill Impactor in addition to the closing Decepticons. She puts her case to [[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]], arguing that he's made the Wreckers stand for something, and ''his'' [[Wrecker]]s would never kill one of their own.

[[Pyro (G1)|Pyro]] decides to abandon his egotistical visions of a glorious death and tells the others to run; he'll cover them. Dying for people he cares about, he tells Ironfist, is the most he can do, and he tells Verity that the ''[[Autobot]]s'' need the humans to look after ''them''. The Wreckers withdraw, Ironfist working out a plan to deal with Overlord, while Pyro is ingloriously torn to pieces behind them. As they withdraw, at Verity's urging, Ironfist reveals the truth he's learnt about Impactor and [[Pova]]...

''Twenty years ago, pinned down on Pova, Impactor decided the best way to get a shot at [[Squadron X]] would be to fire through [[Springer (G1)|Springer]]'s midsection. Despite Springer's protest that he didn't have the circuit dampeners needed to avoid the pain, Impactor fired. After winning the battle, Impactor reported to [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] that the enemy had been caught, but learned [[Povian]] neutrality made the operation illegal; Squadron X would have to be released. Instead, Impactor murdered the Decepticon as they knelt in chains as Springer tried to stop him and the others stood silent...''

Back outside, Overlord has defeated Impactor, but Springer gloats that his men will soon arrive with the freed Autobot prisoners, but Overlord reveals he had already ordered the prisoners executed. Luckily, the other Wreckers do arrive and [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] blasts the monster's hand off to free Springer, and Ironfist chucks him a ''massive'' chaingun, which Springer unloads into Overlord.

Overlord shrugs off the fire, ''rips off Springer's face'', and blasts Perceptor offline, leaving only Ironfist. ''That'' is when said nerd reveals the gun was loaded with deterrence chips... and detonates them.

[[File:LastStandoftheWreckers5-brittlebones.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Overlord learned the hard way to never let [[The Fallen]] ever do your makeovers.]]
Ironfist falls unconscious, leaving Verity alone as Overlord rises as a ''fire-consumed, skeletal horror'', enraged that he's left unable to face [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] when he arrives. Realizing Overlord's intentions, Verity, informs him that [[All Hail Megatron issue 12|Megatron is long dead]] and laughs; Overlord thought Megatron would come for him, yet the tyrant died not remembering Overlord ''at all''. The monster collapses in despair, and Impactor rises from the mat to finish him. When Overlord fails to resist, Impactor refuses to kill him. Repenting his actions on Pova, he disables Overlord for capture and trial... as Springer would want.

Overlord is beaten and the Decepticons have fled, but four Wreckers lie dead. Springer and [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] are on emergency life support, their chances of recovery unclear. Pardoned by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]], Impactor and a repaired Guzzle abruptly leave. Ironfist dies en route to Earth from an aneurysm caused by a lab accident with his [[Cerebro-sensitive bullet|cerebro-centric bullet]]s eighteen months ago that left one inching towards his brain all along.

[[File:Prowl LSOTW5 Pressure.jpg|thumb|150px|]]
On Earth, Prowl takes this report and the ostensibly sole [[data slug]] Ironfist was able to make of the Aequitas data. He admits to Ultra Magnus that he knew about Ironfist's approaching death and had arranged for him to be placed on the Wreckers, his dream job, in exchange for bypassing the suicide lock on Aequitas. ("''Yes'', of ''course'' I regret it.") Prowl reveals the true reason for the mission: they couldn't allow the Decepticons to get Aequitas's records of tried ''Autobots''. Prowl recalls the horror of their charges. Magnus believes in revealing the trials; Prowl agrees, but fears the Autobots will be shattered if they learn the truth before the war ends. Departing, Ultra Magnus notes how convienient it would be for Prowl if the data were corrupted, but he likes to think Prowl better than to destroy the evidence. Alone, contemplating the slug, Prowl slightly squeezes it...

And on Earth, Verity writing as "Fisitron", muses whether this is the "end of the road" for the Wreckers or just a "stop-off" to reflect. "Because that's how we ''honor'' those we've lost: by looking ''forward'', not back."
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Guzzle (G1)|Guzzle]] (1)
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (3)
*[[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (4)
*[[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] (5)
*[[Pyro (G1)|Pyro]] (6)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (7)
*[[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]] (8)
*[[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]] (10)
*[[Rack'n'Ruin]] (14)
*[[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]] (15)
*[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (16)
*[[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] (17)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (20)
*[[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] (21)
*[[Rad (G1)|Rad]] (22)
*[[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]] (23)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (24)
*[[Flame (Marvel)|Flame]] (25)
*[[Tyrest (G1)|Tyrest]] (26)
*[[Xaaron]] (27)
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (28)
|c2=
*[[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] (2)
*[[Tornado]] (11)
*[[Macabre]] (12)
*[[Earthquake (G1)|Earthquake]] (13)
*[[Fang]] (18)
*[[Triton]] (19)
|c3=
*[[Verity Carlo]] (9)
}}

==Quotes==
"It's a story of sacrifice and betrayal, and of good people dying in ''stupid, pointless ways''."
:—'''"Fisitron"'''

"Oh, don't look so ''surprised''. You didn't expecte this stunted little ''wretch'' to ''survive'', did you?" 
"You're a '''maniac'''!"
:—'''Overlord''''s opinion on Guzzle's chance of living and '''Kup''' pretty much summing up readers' thoughts of Overlord.

"Ironfist! You should know better than ''anyone'' what the Wreckers are ''really'' about! They give the other Autobots something to ''believe in''!"
:—'''Verity''' trying to motivate Ironfist.

"I figure that dying to save people you ''care about'' is the most that anyone can do." 
"I think you have your ''motto''." 
"No... my ''last words''."
:—'''Pyro''' and '''Ironfist'''

"Sweet."
:—'''Springer''' gets thrown a giant gun to shoot Overlord with.

"Sweet."
:—'''Overlord''' holds Springer's face-skin in his palm.

"Oh, man, this is PERFECT! You can't accept that he never gave chase! You lived your life thinking about him every day, and he died forgetting all about you!" 
"But... But he owes me! He owes me."
:—'''Verity''' giving '''Overlord''' the ''wonderful'' news about Megatron.

"One way or another, you've killed a ''lot'' of my friends today. It's been a ''long time coming'', but this is where you get yours!"
:—'''Impactor''' to Overlord.

"You see, this is one of those stories with a ''moral''. And the moral is simply this: life persists."
:—'''Verity'''

==Notes==
* Either Springer, Perceptor, or Kup ''were'' going to die in the final issue during planning, but in the end Roche and Roberts weren't allowed to do it.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9DPbginVXE Moonbase 2's AA2010 interview], 19:00 - 19:40</ref> Also dropped was a Guzzle/Kup confrontation, as there simply wasn't ''room'' in the condensed beast for it.
* [[Autopedia]] profiles include Pyro, Guzzle, and Impactor. Huzzah!
* Part of "Fisitron's" narration on the first page is based upon Alfred, Lord Tennyson's poem, ''[[Wikipedia:The Charge of the Light Brigade (poem)|The Charge of the Light Brigade]]''. At the end of the issue, with Verity finishing the entry as "Fisitron", a book of [[Tennyson]]'s poetry is on the table.
* The visuals of the battle on Pova in this issue contrasts sharply with how it was depicted in [[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 4|the previous issue]]. In issue 4, the battle was depicted with a sense of non-reality (befitting a falsified story), taking place on a sunny day, with the participants having little damage upon their bodies, even in death. However, in issue 5, the reality shows a depressing, rainy landscape with the participants all showing the signs of battle injuries. When Impactor is shown standing above the corpses of Squadron X, he is splattered with their fluids.
* "[[Zero Point]]", a short story included in the second ''Last Stand'' hardcover, would reveal that Squadron X were merely refueling on Pova and that the Wreckers had started the fight unprovoked. In the same collection, [[Ferak]]'s profile says they were on a supply run and not a combat mission. No "did it to save lives" excuse for ''you'', Impactor!
* Also in "Zero Point", we learn what the Wreckers are thinking when they stand silently by: they're thinking "hooray, good ol' Impactor!" but will pretend otherwise so Springer will keep the team going.
* On Pova, Prowl admonished Impactor through a communications device in his palm which projected an image that resembles a [[communicube]]. The text story "[[Bullets]]" would later confirm these as communicubes.
* Ironfist's little head scar had been around since #1, so we'd all been visually forewarned what his accident had been...
* The scenes of the dead prisoners is a deliberate copy of #3's scene of the imprisoned prisoners hearing the Wreckers have come to save them...
* The final scene takes place in [[Mister O's]].
* According to the TPB of the series, the police car parked outside is not [[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] or [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]].<ref>[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Fisitron's Facts]]</ref> Several years later, [[Sins of the Wreckers issue 1|it would be revealed]] that the car is actually [[Stakeout (G1)|Stakeout]], having been assigned to work with Verity by Ultra Magnus after the events on Garrus-9.
* Impactor's [[Autopedia]] profile mentions that Impactor got the idea for his harpoon arm after meeting an unnamed dimension-hopping "freelance peacekeeping agent" who had been "ricocheting from universe to universe after leaping through an exploding time portal." [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]], yes? Their meeting is chronicled in ''[[Wreckers: Declassified]]'', [[Datalog]] 151, which refers to the [[The Legacy of Unicron!|Marvel UK issue number]] in which Death's Head leaps through a time portal with [[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and disappears from the story. The title of said datalog, "The Wreckers at the Crossroads of Time", refers to the short ''[[Doctor|Doctor Who]]'' story, "The Crossroads of Time", which saw the titular Time Lord have a run-in with Death's Head following the time portal incident.
* Near the end of the issue we see [[Flame (Marvel)|Flame]] on trial.
* Autopedia tells us that Pyro suffers from [[Primus apotheosis]].
* Pyro's profile reveals he was at the [[Simanzi Massacre]], same as [[Rotorstorm (G1)|Rotorstorm]] in his profile. Both began to suffer their personality disorders following the Massacre...
* Speaking of Datalog numbers, the Datalog retelling of this series is numbered #332, which was the total number of issues of the Marvel UK ''Transformers'' comic had.
* Prowl starts to squeeze the chip a bit but it's left ambiguous as to whether he actually destroyed it. Even Roche and Roberts don't know whether Prowl did it! <ref>[http://tfarchive.com/community/showpost.php?p=690984&postcount=228 Fan account of the Auto Assembly 2010 Q&A]</ref> So how dodgy do ''you'' think Prowl is?
* James Roberts has noted that Prowl never asks about the Autobot prisoners, the alleged reason the Wreckers were sent in the first place. Brr.
* Ultra Magnus is shown in this issue in the design that [[Don Figueroa]] gave him for the first arc of the [[The Transformers (IDW)|ongoing series]].
*At the end of this issue, Kup and Perceptor are the only active Wreckers, with the other eight either dead, AWOL (Impactor and Guzzle), discharged (Whirl), or in critical condition (Springer), not counting Roadbuster.
* Perceptor uses his pretty-much-forgotten third "tank" mode in this issue.

===Errors===
* In the first scene in the Aequitas chamber, Topspin's body is initially colored gray and black (deactivated), but on the next page, it is colored normally.
* In the panel where Verity is on her knees mourning Ironfist's death, the part of the shirt below her ribcage is colored like skin.

===Real-world references===
* One of the sites of Flame's atrocities, [[Babu Yar]], is named very similarly to a [[wikipedia:Babi Yar|famous historical massacre site on Earth]].
* Amongst Flame's atrocities is listed the crime of "circuit-boarding", a reference to the torture technique controversially used by the CIA known as [[wikipedia:Waterboarding|waterboarding]]—kind of appropriate for a rogue Autobot.
* In what's likely a deliberate reference to the "Inquisitor" episode of the British sci-fi sitcom ''Red Dwarf'', Impactor almost directly quotes that show's Dave Lister, with his line to Overlord: "One way or another, you killed a lot of my friends today".

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A:''' A silhouette of Overlord looming over Impactor and Springer amidst flames with several Autobot grave markers in front of them, art by [[Nick Roche]] and colors by [[Josh Burcham]].
* '''Cover B:''' A Transformer hand lying on the ground, art and colors by [[Trevor Hutchison]].
* '''Cover RI:''' "Virgin" title-free edition of cover B.
<gallery>
Image:Last Stand of the Wreckers5 Cover A.jpg|
Image:Last Stand of the Wreckers5 Cover B.jpg|
Image:Last Stand of the Wreckers5 Cover RI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''[[The Transformers: Ironhide]]'' [[The Iron Age|issue 1]]
* [[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume One]]''
* ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]: Disavowed'' TPB
* ''[[Star Trek]]: Motion Picture Trilogy''
* ''Archie: The Best of Dan DeCarlo'' TPB
* ''The Family Circus Library: Book 2''
* [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]]'s ''The Wonderful Wizard of OZ'' TPB
* Comic app for the iPhone and iPod touch

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Last Stand of the Wreckers issues]]

Conquerors Part 2: Lagrange

2015-11-19T02:38:49Z

EnergonMage: /* Continuity notes */

{{Comicstory
|series=exrid|issueno=47
|prev=Conquerors Part 1: Aphelion
|next=Conquerors Part 3: Helden
|caption=
|image=TF47 regcvr.jpg
|title="Conquerors Part 2: Lagrange"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[November 18]], [[2015]]
|coverdate=November 2015
|written by=[[John Barber]]
|art by=[[Sara Pitre-Durocher]]
|colors by=[[Josh Perez]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era]]
}}

'''While Optimus Prime encounters the Torchbearers, the Decepticons make their play for control of the space bridge.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] welcomes [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] aboard the Jupiter commune, but can do little to comfort the distraught Autobot, since even his super-senses prove unable to detect any trace of the lost [[Autobot]]s. He assures Cosmos that the [[Decepticon]]s are not responsible for the attack on the ''[[Ark-27]]'', but Cosmos is given cause to think he is lying when [[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]] contacts the commune with orders to prepare to take the ''Ark'' and its space bridge. Soundwave insists that the Decepticons are not the guilty party, but that they would be foolish not to seize an opportunity placed before them...

On [[Earth]], [[G.B. Blackrock|Blackrock]] regales [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] with a story of his youth, sounding nuttier by the second as he claims that a "black angel" visited him as a child and set him on his current path. Blackrock marvels at the destructive capability of a single ''Ark'', wondering what it could do to Earth now that the Transformers are not distracted by being at war with one another; Spike points out that the existence of such a threat is exactly the reason he should release him and put him in charge, but Blackrock sees through the ruse, and continues to insist that Spike must help him figure out who or what he really is.

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Aileron]] visit the [[Rust Sea|Sea of Rust]], where they observe the miniature singularity that consumed the area. Emerging from the cave in which the singularity rests, they are confronted by the [[Torchbearer]]s, who, unlike most [[Caminus|Camiens]], actually seem affronted by Optimus's claim to the Prime title. Optimus, for his part, is curious as to why the Torchbearers have left their planet and the [[Mistress of Flame]] behind, but when they question his right to even ''ask'' such a question, a fight breaks out between Prime and the six-strong team. After a brief scuffle, however, Prime realizes that the Torchbearers are not trying to kill him; instead, they then combine into [[Victorion]], who immobilizes Prime with her gravity-control powers. At the combiner's request, Optimus recounts the supposed history of the [[Matrix of Leadership]]—from its legendary origins as the crystal prison of [[Solomus]], to its time in the hands of the [[Knights of Cybertron]], to forging of the [[Star Saber (Prima)|Star Saber]] around it by [[Solus Prime (G1)|Solus Prime]]—but stresses that he does not believe any of it, considering the talisman to be a piece of technology, not magic. Victorion scoffs at the fact that the holder of the holiest item on Cybertron does not believe in it, and spins a tale of the [[Thirteen|thirteen Primes]]. The name of thirteenth and final member of the group, she says, is unknown, a 'bot referred to only as "The Arisen"; the Mistress of Flame professed to know who The Arisen was, and it was this sacrilegious claim that drove the Torchbearers to remove themselves from her command. As a disciple of Solus Prime, Victorion claims the Matrix belongs to her... but for now, she intends only to use her skills as a creator to build up Optimus himself.

At the spaceport in [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], [[Zetca]] grows concerned when he spots a large group of Decepticons moving through the area. To his credit, [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] puts old prejudices aside and thinks nothing of it...until Zetca realizes that the Decepticons are headed for the [[space bridge]] chamber, and that Tracks's brother [[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] is leading them. When [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]] brushes off Tracks's concerns, Tracks heads down to confront his little brother on his own. Needlenose tries to bury the hatchet and invites Tracks to join them, but Tracks refuses and is about to contact Optimus Prime... until [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] blasts him! Tracks collapses, Needlenose kicks his brother's fallen body, and the Decepticons move out... all just a little ''too'' late for Starscream to finally have an attack of conscience brought on by another discussion with the imaginary [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]], leading him to inform [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] of what is going on.

Aboard the ''Ark-7'', [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], and [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] have finally succeeded in fighting their way through the vessel's commandeered defenses to the space bridge chamber. Unfortunately, just as Arcee pries the doors open, Needlenose and the Decepticons come pouring through the space bridge, intending to capture the ship and the bridge so they can use it to transport Decepticons straight from Cybertron to the commune. On the commune itself, when Cosmos expresses his horror upon learning their plan, he finds himself surrounded by Decepticon weapons—but Soundwave quickly orders the 'Cons to lower their guns, intent that their victory shall be won by their ideals, not their firepower. The dismayed Cosmos slumps to his knees, and wishes he had just stayed with the one true friend he has, his little buddy [[D.0.C.]]...

...who has, at that very moment, infiltrated the [[Earth Defense Command]]'s [[Bikini Atoll]] base and come face-to-face with [[Buster (IDW)|Buster]]!

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (1)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] (7)
*[[Sizzle (G1)|Sizzle]] (23)
*[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (24)
*[[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (31)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]] (hallucination, 32)
*[[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] (33)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (35)
*[[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] (36)
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (37)

|c2=
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (2)
*[[Sparkstalker]] (15)
*[[Cindersaur (G1)|Cindersaur]] (16)
*[[Sinnertwin (G1)|Sinnertwin]] (17)
*[[Acid Storm]] (18)
*[[Dreadwing (G2)|Dreadwing]] (19)
*[[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] (20)
*[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (21)
*[[Flamefeather (G1)|Flamefeather]] (22)
*[[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]] (27)
*[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (28)
*[[Dauros]] (29)
*[[Submarauder (G1)|Submarauder]] (30)
*[[Squeezeplay (G1)|Squeezeplay]] (39)
*[[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]] (40)
*[[Sky-Byte (G2)|Sky-Byte]] (41)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (42)
*[[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] (43)

|c3=
*[[G.B. Blackrock|Garrison Blackrock]] (5)
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (6)

|c4=
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Thundercracker]] (3)
*[[Buster (IDW)|Buster]] (4)
*[[Aileron]] (8)
*[[Jumpstream]] (9)
*[[Dustup]] (10)
*[[Pyra Magna]] (11)
*[[Skyburst (G1)|Skyburst]] (12)
*[[Stormclash]] (13)
*[[Rust Dust]] (14)
*[[Zetca]] (25)
*[[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]] (26)
*[[Victorion]] (34)
*[[Swift]] (38)
*[[D.0.C.]] (44)
}}

==Quotes==
"When I was a child, a '''black angel''' appeared before me. It spoke in a language I had never heard, but I '''understood'''. It showed me a world of '''rust deserts''' and '''infinite darkness'''. So I got '''that''' going for me. Which is nice."
:—'''Blackrock'''

"Not everything is '''about''' you, He-Who-Would-Be-Prime. We turn our backs on '''nothing'''. We came here to face our '''history''' and change our future. Who are '''you''' to question our path?" 
"I am '''Optimus Prime.'''"
:—'''Pyra Magna''' and '''Optimus Prime'''

"You're my '''brother'''. I care about '''you'''. You're making a '''mistake''' again." 
"Loving '''Horr-Bull''' wasn't a '''mistake'''."
:—'''Tracks''' and '''Needlenose'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Optimus reveals that the Sea of Rust is simply the modern name for what was once called the [[Rust Spot]], a location he visited in ''[[Omega's Conundrum|Spotlight: Orion Pax]]''.
*''Juuust'' peeping in on the left-hand side of the second panel on page 6 is [[Sizzle (G1)|Sizzle]]. He hasn't been seen in ages, but he's helping to run the spaceport—a job he's quietly been working since [[The Autonomy Lesson (issue)|the very first issue]].
*Tracks makes a passing mention of a ship that's gone missing, evidently referring to the one the Decepticons used to get to the commune last issue, which they rechristened the ''[[Peace Without Tyranny]]''.
*Skyburst and Stormclash make a vague reference to the events of ''[[The Transformers: Redemption]]'', when the former note that "nobody's come this way since..." and the latter cuts in "...nobody's come this way for a '''while.'''"
*Last seen in [[The World of Tomorrow|issue #33]], Omega Supreme is still offline and undergoing repair following the injuries he sustained in [[The End of the Beginning of the World|issue #11]]. Starscream goes through a quick rundown of the complex chain of conspirators responsible for his condition ([[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]], controlled by [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]], working for [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]], to frame [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]], in order to trick Starscream).
*Optimus recalls how the Matrix glowed when he first visited [[Caminus]] in [[The Sum and Its Parts|''Windblade'' #1]]—something that was almost certainly a goof at the time, but which is here repositioned as a mysterious event in-universe.
*Optimus recounts the mythic story of the Matrix's supposed creation, as detailed in the [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|2012 ''More than Meets the Eye'' annual]]. He also mentions that it was once called the "Creation Matrix" (see "Transformers references", below), which we first learned in "[[Chaos Theory Part 2]]".
* Swift is amongst the Decepticons when they take the space bridge. This goes uncommented on in-story, but is doubtlessly related to her recently-formed relationship with [[Barricade (G1)|Barricade]].

===Transformers references===
*Blackrock claims that a more accurate translation of the Cybertronian word for the "Ark" spacecraft is "Vanguard", a reference to the ship's classification as a [[Vanguard-class Deep Space Interceptor]] from ''[[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide]]''.
*Tracks mentions a ship coming in from [[Athenia]], a world from the [[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|''Headmasters'' anime]] previously mentioned in IDW continuity in [[The Nothing Man|issue #45]].
*The Torchbearers call the Matrix "The Matrix of Light", an obscure name for the talisman from the original 1986 ''The Transformers: The Movie'' sticker album. Prime himself also claims that legend called it the "Creation Matrix" because it was supposed to be able to grant life, referencing the handling of the Matrix in the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel Comics series]].
*Victorion rattles off a near-complete list of the Thirteen Primes: [[Prima]], [[Solus Prime]], [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], [[Nexus Prime]], [[Onyx Prime]], [[Alchemist Prime]], the [[Liege Maximo]], and [[The Fallen]] were already confirmed to be part of the group in IDW continuity, but her list adds [[Vector Prime]], [[Micronus Prime]], [[Amalgamous Prime]], and [[Quintus Prime]], proving that this incarnation of the group unsurprisingly matches that seen in the [[Aligned continuity family]]. The thirteenth member is known only as "The Arisen" (a counterpart to "The Fallen"), and his identity is a mystery—an allusion to the fact that, in the Aligned continuity family, the thirteenth Prime was a past incarnation of [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] himself.

===Real-world references===
*As with the previous issue, this story's title is a piece of real-world celestial mechanics terminology. A "lagrange" point is a location at which the gravitational forces of two large celestial bodies equal the centrifugal force on a smaller body between them.

===Errors===
*Soundwave says that the "black egg" surrounding the ''Ark-7'', established last issue to be from the time of Galvatron's youth, is technology from "Sentinel's era". Unless that's a seed being planted for something ([[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] will be returning for the "[[Titans Return]]" storyline in 2016), he should presumably be referring to "''[[Nova Prime|Nova's]]'' era", since Nova Prime was the one who lived at the same time as Galvatron and the Thirteen Primes.

===Other trivia===
*Victorion makes the first use of the gravity powers chosen for her by fans as part of the poll that resulted in her creation.

===Covers (3)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Optimus Prime on Victorion's shoulder, by [[Andrew Griffith]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' Soundwave, Laserbeak, and Sky-Byte look out a window on the commune, by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' [[Springer (G1)|Springer]]'s torn-off face in [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]]'s hand; part of November's series of ''[[The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers|Sins of the Wreckers]]'' tie-in incentive covers.
<gallery>
File:TF47 regcvr.jpg|
File:TF47 subcvr.jpg|
File:TF47 cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''The Transformers'' #48
*''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' [[Animals|#46]]
*''[[The Transformers: Redemption]]''
*''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Robots in Disguise issue 4|#4]]
*''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' #10
*''[[The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers|Sins of the Wreckers]]'' [[Sins of the Wreckers issue 1|#1]]
*IDW ''Transformers'' graphic novel library
*''Uncle Scrooge: The Grand Canyon Quest'' (back cover)

==External links==
*[http://www.newsarama.com/26779-autobots-and-decepticons-join-forces-in-transformers-robots-in-disguise-47-preview.html Preview]