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Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus

2013-06-19T21:28:10Z

Manuelle Magnus: /* Featured characters */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=18
|prev=Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon
|next=Remain in Light 3 of 5
|image=MTMTE18 cvrA.jpg
|title="Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[June 19]], [[2013]]
|coverdate=June 2013
|story by=[[James Roberts]]
|pencils by=[[Alex Milne]]
|inks by=[[Brian Shearer]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editorial assistant=[[Toni Korde]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2013)]]
}}

'''While the Legislators lay siege to the ''Lost Light'', Rodimus's team are imprisoned on Luna 1 with a mysterious cell-mate and are confronted by the mastermind behind their plight.'''

==Synopsis==

A seemingly-unending army of [[Legislator]]s has invaded the ''[[Lost Light]]'', teleporting aboard and striking at the Autobots all throughout the ship simultaneously. Both [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] and [[Skids (G1)|Skids]], battling on separate fronts, recognize the robots from their last encounter with them, and while Swerve is able to use the impressive armament built into his bar by [[Brainstorm]]—as well as the comical but effective "[[My First Blaster]]" the scientist made specially for him—to dispatch his lone attacker, Skids finds his super-learning abilities pushed to the limit by the much larger force he faces...

Down on the surface of [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]], while [[Pharma]] takes the incapacitated [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] prisoner, the rest of [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]]'s team retreat from [[Lockdown (G1)|Lockdown]]'s forces, save for [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], who disobey orders and counterattack. In fleeing, the others discover the awesome sight of a [[Metrotitan (body-type)|Metrotitan]] graveyard, and Rodimus orders them to fly inside the titans' giant bodies in hopes of losing their pursuers. Weaving through a Metrotitan's cavernous interior, Rodimus is able to dispatch the Decepticons on his tail... but unfortunately, his comrades are not so lucky and are taken captive by Lockdown's men, forcing Rodimus to surrender. They are escorted to a prison on the moon's surface, where they discover a silent [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] who pays them no attention, a mysterious ancient [[space bridge]], and meet face-to-face with Lockdown's true master: [[Tyrest (Autobot)|Chief Justice Tyrest]], primary lawmaker of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], failed arbiter of peace, broker of the [[Tyrest Accord]], and creator of the [[Aequitas]] computer, who vanished from public view years ago. Tyrest charges them all with "crimes against creation" (prompting a tirade of verbal abuse from Rodimus) and confines them to a cell with another Autobot named [[Minimus Ambus|Ambus]]. After Rodimus relates their plight, [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] inquires of their cell-mate if he is [[Dominus Ambus|''Dominus'' Ambus]], [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]]'s old partner, but the moustachoied 'bot explains that he is Dominus's [[spark]]-brother ''Minimus'' Ambus, a trader imprisoned for selling enriched [[nucleon]]. Rodimus notes Ambus's lack of an [[Autobot]] badge, prompting [[Rung]] to offer him his, but Ambus politely refuses. With the last few days of his life ticking away, [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] is very eager to find a way to escape, hoping Brainstorm or Chromedome can use their special abilities to bust them loose, but Ambus warns that escape attempts will be seen as admissions of guilt, and Rodimus agrees, noting they need to figure out the bigger picture first.

Back aboard the ''Lost Light'', Skids tears into wave after wave of Legislators, fighting with a righteous fury sparked by the blame he assigns himself: there's no question that the Legislators are here for him, and the rest of the ship's crew, who took him in without question, are suffering as a result. Swerve races to the oil reservoir to aid his friend, arriving just as the doors open and a torrent of fuel spills out... followed presently by a battered, weakened, but victorious Skids. Just as Skids steps through the doors, however, another [[Star Saber (Victory)|large red, white and blue robot]] materializes behind him and stabs him through the torso with a gigantic sword. Swerve opens fire, but fails to land a single shot, and is promptly knocked out by the newcomer.

Elsewhere, Ratchet awakens to see Pharma leering down at him. After showing off his new hands, which can "turn into anything", the deranged doctor gestures to a large yellow box in the middle of the room, and challenges Ratchet to guess what is inside it. Intent on not humoring Pharma, Ratchet claims he does not care and refuses to play the twisted game, so Pharma simply opens it to reveal... Ratchet's body! With great horror, the medic realizes he is nothing but a decapitated head and spark hanging from a med-slab!

Back in the prison, Rung hands out energon sticks to calm everyone's nerves, and tells Tailgate—who remembers Tyrest from [[Nova Prime]]'s days—about the history of their jailor. Rodimus takes over to recap Tyrest's role in the Aequitas trials, even as both Rung and Ambus try to quiet him, knowing that the trials are top secret and not to be talked about. Ambus conspicuously tries to change the subject, asking questions about Skids, and Rung offers him an energon stick, only to deliberately drop the box as he hands him one. Ambus becomes angry, quickly picking up the scattered sticks... which serves as the last piece of evidence Rung needs. Ignoring Ambus's plaintive requests to stop, Rung explains that he has observed many familiar characteristics in Ambus: a certain way of speaking, an intolerance for mess, and a fixation on the psychiatrist's Autobot badge, which he deliberately positioned at an angle when he reattached it after Ambus turned it down. Rung gives Ambus the chance to tell the others the truth for himself, and he reluctantly agrees. Minimus Ambus ''is'' his true name, he explains, but the crew of the ''Lost Light'' have always known him as... Ultra Magnus!

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashback.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (1)
*[[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] (3)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (4)
*[[Ambulon]] (5)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (6)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (7)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (8)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (9)
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokscreen]] (10)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (11)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (12)
*[[Dipstick]] (13)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]] (14)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (15)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Pharma]] (16)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] (17)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (20)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] (23)
*[[Brainstorm]] (24)
*[[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (25)
*[[Rung]] (26)
*[[Minimus Ambus]] (28)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (32)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (35)
*[[Tyrest (Autobot)|Tyrest]] (36)
*[[Deftwing]] (37)
*[[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]] (38)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Lockdown (G1)|Lockdown]] (18)
*"Vehicons" (19)
*[[Chop Shop]] (29)
*[[Venom (G1)|Venom]] (30)
*[[Ransack (G1)|Ransack]] (31)
*[[Barrage (Insecticon)|Barrage]] (33)
*"Insecticon" (34)
*''[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]]'' (39)
*''[[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]]'' (40)

|c4=
*[[Legislator]]s (2)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] (21)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (22)
*[[Metrotitan (body-type)|Metrotitans]] (27)

}}

==Quotes==

"Now, I didn't say it to '''Fort Max'''—and I didn't say it to '''Whirl'''—and I didn't even say it to '''Cyclonus''' when he had his '''Dead Universe flashback'''. But you, my friend—to you I say:" 
''(CH-CHUK)'' 
"'''Get the hell out of my bar.'''" 
''(Swerve blasts the Legislator.)'' 
<big>'''"♪ HOORAY! ♩ YOU SCORED A DIRECT ♫ HIT! ♪"'''</big>
:—'''Swerve'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s badass speech is a little deflated by his '''My First Blaster'''

"The last time I danced this dance some piece of scum had just '''destroyed my memories'''. I woke up with blowtorch in my hand and nothing in my head, and your friends were all over me. So you'll forgive me if I put '''two and two together'''—and make '''fist!'''" 
''(THWOK)'' 
"Okay, that didn't really work, did it, the whole 'two and two' thing. It should be 'four'—you're expecting me to say 'four,' but I said... 'cos it coincided with me '''punching you''', yeah? Forget it."
:—'''Skids'''

"Pharma, we really must sit down some time so I can explain to you why we all hate you. We'll start with your '''personality''' and go from there."
:—'''Lockdown'''

"If I still kept a journal of all my moves, '''that''' would be on the front cover." 
"'''Excellent, excellent''' effort. It's just a shame none of your friends are as much of a show-off as you are." 
"Yeah, well, none of my friends have flames on their chest. It's a lot to live up to."
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Lockdown'''

"Ah, enriched nucleon...! The magic ingredient! Two drops turns '''hand gun''' into a '''banned gun'''." 
"You should really stop and listen to yourself sometimes."
:—'''Brainstorm''' and '''Perceptor'''

"'''Brainstorm!''' How about cobbling together some kinda superweapon out of—out of the '''ceiling''' or something? You're always telling us what a genius you are..." 
"I don't respond well to pressure." 
"Well, why not open your '''magic briefcase''' and make all the naughty people in the universe disappear?" 
"Don't. Mock. The briefcase."
:—'''Tailgate''' and '''Brainstorm'''

"What about you, Domey? The Legislators round the corner—could you extend the needles in your fingers far enough to reach their necks and '''brainwash''' them into letting us go?" 
"Short answer: No. Long answer: No, don't be an idiot." 
:—'''Tailgate''' and '''Chromedome'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*In addition to being hilarious, Swerve's need for "My First Blaster" reminds us of his poor marksmanship and weapons-handling, established in past instances such as when he accidentally shot Rung in [[Interiors|issue #6]] and blew his own face off in [[Before & After|issue #12]].
*The Metrotitans were introduced in [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|the ''More than Meets the Eye'' 2012 annual]] (in which Rodimus's crew also went on a voyage through the innards of one). That they should turn up in the same place as Lockdown's group is no surprise, since the Decepticon squad were established to be hunters of Titans when they debuted in ''[[The Reluctant Specialist|Spotlight: Trailcutter]]''.
*Chief Justice Tyrest was introduced by Roberts in ''[[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|Last Stand of the Wreckers'' #5]], named after the [[Tyrest Accord]] first established in ''[[Spotlight: Ultra Magnus]]''.
*Chromedome takes umbrage at Tailgate calling him "Domey"; that was [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]]'s nickname for him.
*Pharma is revealed to have worked with Ratchet at the [[Deltaran Medical Facility]]; the facility was first mentioned in "[[Chaos Theory Part 1|"Chaos Theory," Part 1]], and the fact that Ratchet worked there was revealed in [[Omega's Conundrum|''Spotlight: Orion Pax'']].
*Tailgate gets very sarcastic about Tyrest's aspirations as Rung relates his backstory; he did the same thing about Dominus Ambus when Chromedome told his story in issue #12.
*Tyrest's "judging machine", [[Aequitas]], was the central macguffin of ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]''.
*It's fitting that Rung should recognize Ambus as Magnus through observation of traits in his speech; issue #13's "[[Signal to Noise]]" featured an exchange between the two characters in which Rung commented on the observations he'd made on Magnus's way of talking over time.

===Transformers references===

*In-keeping with the Titan Hunters' established trait of having members based on characters from other continuity families (specifically ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Lugnut (TF 2010)|Lugnut]] and "[[Blitzving]]" in ''[[The Reluctant Specialist|Spotlight: Trailcutter]]''), their ranks in this issue include warriors based on ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Transformers: Prime]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (both car and jet versions) and at least one [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]].
*The Legislators are noted to be "copycats" of the [[Guardian (Marvel)|Guardian]] droids, Autobot battle drones that originated in the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel UK Generation 1 series]], who put in a brief appearance in IDW continuity in a flashback in [[Remembrance Day|issue #14]].

===Real-life references===
*Following on from [[Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|issue #11]]'s [[Nightmare Fuel]] and [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|issue #13]]'s [[Mood Whiplash]], this issue gives us another drink that takes its name from a [http://www.tvtropes.com TVTropes] page: the [[Berzerker Button]] (though the trope is just called "[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BerserkButton Berzerk Button]", no "er").
*Tyrest's failed "two-city state solution" is a reference to the fabled "[[Wikipedia:Two-state solution|two state solution]]" in Israel and Palestine's eternally moribund peace process.
*Brainstorm's briefcase has a built-in "[[attention deflector]]" that prevents people from noticing it, clearly inspired by the "[[wikipedia:Somebody Else's Problem|Somebody Else's Problem]]" fields from ''[[wikipedia:Life, the Universe and Everything|Life, the Universe and Everything]]'', Douglas Adams' third ''Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'' book, which accomplishes the same effect.

===Crew manifest===
*[[Deftwing]]'s corpse appears, having become a victim of the Legislators off-panel.
*Rodimus gives the crew count as "three hundred, give or take", which seems on the generous side, given that it was 200-ish at outset.
*Ultra Magnus is ''who what now??''
*12 deaths, one crewmember in terminal condition, Ultra Magnus is... ''what???'' ...5 new arrivals (plus 20 or so Faders), and one banishment since the launch.

===Soundtrack===
For all of "Remain in Light":
*''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjmGZfHHC80 A Dazzling End]'' from the ''[[Doctor|Doctor Who]]'' Series 4 soundtrack, by [[wikipedia:Murray Gold|Murray Gold]]
*''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPJAX7Cu-4k The Universal]'' by [[Wikipedia:Blur (band)|Blur]]

For this issue alone:
*''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QB5gDqFau8 Winterlight]'' by [[Wikipedia: Clearlake (band)|Clearlake]]
*''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuwAoLpbjaA El Presidente]'' by [[Wikipedia: Drugstore (band)|Drugstore]]
*''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysJijpSPOGY Afterglow]'' by Holm

===Covers (3)===
*'''Cover A:''' Skids battles a throng of Legislators, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Cover B:''' Gears, Hound and Huffer defending themselves, by [[Sean Chen]] and [[Tom Chu]]. In what's probably a slightly embarassing snafu for Hasbro, Chen has drawn Huffer and Gears based on the [[knockoff|unofficial "third party" toys]] based on the characters, "Rager" and "Cogz".
*'''Cover RI:''' A Legislator looms over the fallen Ambulon and First Aid, by [[Nick Roche]] and Josh Perez.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE18 cvrA.jpg|
File:MTMTE18 cvrB.jpg|
File:MTMTE18 cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Second Exodus|#18]]
*''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One|Regeneration One]]'' [[Destiny, Part 2|#92]]
*''Falling Skies''
*''The X-Files: Season 10'' #1 (back cover)

==External links==
*[http://www.fullmetalhero.com/content/more-than-meets-eye-18-full-preview-6943/ Preview]

Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus

2013-06-19T21:27:37Z

Manuelle Magnus: /* Featured characters */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=18
|prev=Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon
|next=Remain in Light 3 of 5
|image=MTMTE18 cvrA.jpg
|title="Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[June 19]], [[2013]]
|coverdate=June 2013
|story by=[[James Roberts]]
|pencils by=[[Alex Milne]]
|inks by=[[Brian Shearer]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editorial assistant=[[Toni Korde]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2013)]]
}}

'''While the Legislators lay siege to the ''Lost Light'', Rodimus's team are imprisoned on Luna 1 with a mysterious cell-mate and are confronted by the mastermind behind their plight.'''

==Synopsis==

A seemingly-unending army of [[Legislator]]s has invaded the ''[[Lost Light]]'', teleporting aboard and striking at the Autobots all throughout the ship simultaneously. Both [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] and [[Skids (G1)|Skids]], battling on separate fronts, recognize the robots from their last encounter with them, and while Swerve is able to use the impressive armament built into his bar by [[Brainstorm]]—as well as the comical but effective "[[My First Blaster]]" the scientist made specially for him—to dispatch his lone attacker, Skids finds his super-learning abilities pushed to the limit by the much larger force he faces...

Down on the surface of [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]], while [[Pharma]] takes the incapacitated [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] prisoner, the rest of [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]]'s team retreat from [[Lockdown (G1)|Lockdown]]'s forces, save for [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], who disobey orders and counterattack. In fleeing, the others discover the awesome sight of a [[Metrotitan (body-type)|Metrotitan]] graveyard, and Rodimus orders them to fly inside the titans' giant bodies in hopes of losing their pursuers. Weaving through a Metrotitan's cavernous interior, Rodimus is able to dispatch the Decepticons on his tail... but unfortunately, his comrades are not so lucky and are taken captive by Lockdown's men, forcing Rodimus to surrender. They are escorted to a prison on the moon's surface, where they discover a silent [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] who pays them no attention, a mysterious ancient [[space bridge]], and meet face-to-face with Lockdown's true master: [[Tyrest (Autobot)|Chief Justice Tyrest]], primary lawmaker of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], failed arbiter of peace, broker of the [[Tyrest Accord]], and creator of the [[Aequitas]] computer, who vanished from public view years ago. Tyrest charges them all with "crimes against creation" (prompting a tirade of verbal abuse from Rodimus) and confines them to a cell with another Autobot named [[Minimus Ambus|Ambus]]. After Rodimus relates their plight, [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] inquires of their cell-mate if he is [[Dominus Ambus|''Dominus'' Ambus]], [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]]'s old partner, but the moustachoied 'bot explains that he is Dominus's [[spark]]-brother ''Minimus'' Ambus, a trader imprisoned for selling enriched [[nucleon]]. Rodimus notes Ambus's lack of an [[Autobot]] badge, prompting [[Rung]] to offer him his, but Ambus politely refuses. With the last few days of his life ticking away, [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] is very eager to find a way to escape, hoping Brainstorm or Chromedome can use their special abilities to bust them loose, but Ambus warns that escape attempts will be seen as admissions of guilt, and Rodimus agrees, noting they need to figure out the bigger picture first.

Back aboard the ''Lost Light'', Skids tears into wave after wave of Legislators, fighting with a righteous fury sparked by the blame he assigns himself: there's no question that the Legislators are here for him, and the rest of the ship's crew, who took him in without question, are suffering as a result. Swerve races to the oil reservoir to aid his friend, arriving just as the doors open and a torrent of fuel spills out... followed presently by a battered, weakened, but victorious Skids. Just as Skids steps through the doors, however, another [[Star Saber (Victory)|large red, white and blue robot]] materializes behind him and stabs him through the torso with a gigantic sword. Swerve opens fire, but fails to land a single shot, and is promptly knocked out by the newcomer.

Elsewhere, Ratchet awakens to see Pharma leering down at him. After showing off his new hands, which can "turn into anything", the deranged doctor gestures to a large yellow box in the middle of the room, and challenges Ratchet to guess what is inside it. Intent on not humoring Pharma, Ratchet claims he does not care and refuses to play the twisted game, so Pharma simply opens it to reveal... Ratchet's body! With great horror, the medic realizes he is nothing but a decapitated head and spark hanging from a med-slab!

Back in the prison, Rung hands out energon sticks to calm everyone's nerves, and tells Tailgate—who remembers Tyrest from [[Nova Prime]]'s days—about the history of their jailor. Rodimus takes over to recap Tyrest's role in the Aequitas trials, even as both Rung and Ambus try to quiet him, knowing that the trials are top secret and not to be talked about. Ambus conspicuously tries to change the subject, asking questions about Skids, and Rung offers him an energon stick, only to deliberately drop the box as he hands him one. Ambus becomes angry, quickly picking up the scattered sticks... which serves as the last piece of evidence Rung needs. Ignoring Ambus's plaintive requests to stop, Rung explains that he has observed many familiar characteristics in Ambus: a certain way of speaking, an intolerance for mess, and a fixation on the psychiatrist's Autobot badge, which he deliberately positioned at an angle when he reattached it after Ambus turned it down. Rung gives Ambus the chance to tell the others the truth for himself, and he reluctantly agrees. Minimus Ambus ''is'' his true name, he explains, but the crew of the ''Lost Light'' have always known him as... Ultra Magnus!

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashback.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (1)
*[[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] (3)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (4)
*[[Ambulon]] (5)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (6)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (7)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (8)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (9)
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokscreen]] (10)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (11)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (12)
*[[Dipstick]] (13)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]] (14)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (15)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Pharma]] (16)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]] (17)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (20)
*[[Rodimus|Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity]] (23)
*[[Brainstorm]] (24)
*[[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (25)
*[[Rung]] (26)
*[[Minimus Ambus]] (28)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (32)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (35)
*[[Tyrest (Autobot)|Tyrest]] (36)
*[[Deftwing]] (37)
*[[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]] (38)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Lockdown (G1)|Lockdown]] (18)
*"Vehicons" (19)
*[[Chop Shop]] (29)
*[[Venom (G1)|Venom]] (30)
*[[Ransack (G1)|Ransack]] (31)
*[[Barrage (Insecticon)|Barrage]] (33)
*"Insecticon" (34)
*''[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]]'' (39)
*''[[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]]'' (40)

|c4=
*[[Legislator]]s (2)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Cyclonus]] (21)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (22)
*[[Metrotitan (body-type)|Metrotitans]] (27)

}}

==Quotes==

"Now, I didn't say it to '''Fort Max'''—and I didn't say it to '''Whirl'''—and I didn't even say it to '''Cyclonus''' when he had his '''Dead Universe flashback'''. But you, my friend—to you I say:" 
''(CH-CHUK)'' 
"'''Get the hell out of my bar.'''" 
''(Swerve blasts the Legislator.)'' 
<big>'''"♪ HOORAY! ♩ YOU SCORED A DIRECT ♫ HIT! ♪"'''</big>
:—'''Swerve'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s badass speech is a little deflated by his '''My First Blaster'''

"The last time I danced this dance some piece of scum had just '''destroyed my memories'''. I woke up with blowtorch in my hand and nothing in my head, and your friends were all over me. So you'll forgive me if I put '''two and two together'''—and make '''fist!'''" 
''(THWOK)'' 
"Okay, that didn't really work, did it, the whole 'two and two' thing. It should be 'four'—you're expecting me to say 'four,' but I said... 'cos it coincided with me '''punching you''', yeah? Forget it."
:—'''Skids'''

"Pharma, we really must sit down some time so I can explain to you why we all hate you. We'll start with your '''personality''' and go from there."
:—'''Lockdown'''

"If I still kept a journal of all my moves, '''that''' would be on the front cover." 
"'''Excellent, excellent''' effort. It's just a shame none of your friends are as much of a show-off as you are." 
"Yeah, well, none of my friends have flames on their chest. It's a lot to live up to."
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Lockdown'''

"Ah, enriched nucleon...! The magic ingredient! Two drops turns '''hand gun''' into a '''banned gun'''." 
"You should really stop and listen to yourself sometimes."
:—'''Brainstorm''' and '''Perceptor'''

"'''Brainstorm!''' How about cobbling together some kinda superweapon out of—out of the '''ceiling''' or something? You're always telling us what a genius you are..." 
"I don't respond well to pressure." 
"Well, why not open your '''magic briefcase''' and make all the naughty people in the universe disappear?" 
"Don't. Mock. The briefcase."
:—'''Tailgate''' and '''Brainstorm'''

"What about you, Domey? The Legislators round the corner—could you extend the needles in your fingers far enough to reach their necks and '''brainwash''' them into letting us go?" 
"Short answer: No. Long answer: No, don't be an idiot." 
:—'''Tailgate''' and '''Chromedome'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*In addition to being hilarious, Swerve's need for "My First Blaster" reminds us of his poor marksmanship and weapons-handling, established in past instances such as when he accidentally shot Rung in [[Interiors|issue #6]] and blew his own face off in [[Before & After|issue #12]].
*The Metrotitans were introduced in [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|the ''More than Meets the Eye'' 2012 annual]] (in which Rodimus's crew also went on a voyage through the innards of one). That they should turn up in the same place as Lockdown's group is no surprise, since the Decepticon squad were established to be hunters of Titans when they debuted in ''[[The Reluctant Specialist|Spotlight: Trailcutter]]''.
*Chief Justice Tyrest was introduced by Roberts in ''[[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|Last Stand of the Wreckers'' #5]], named after the [[Tyrest Accord]] first established in ''[[Spotlight: Ultra Magnus]]''.
*Chromedome takes umbrage at Tailgate calling him "Domey"; that was [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]]'s nickname for him.
*Pharma is revealed to have worked with Ratchet at the [[Deltaran Medical Facility]]; the facility was first mentioned in "[[Chaos Theory Part 1|"Chaos Theory," Part 1]], and the fact that Ratchet worked there was revealed in [[Omega's Conundrum|''Spotlight: Orion Pax'']].
*Tailgate gets very sarcastic about Tyrest's aspirations as Rung relates his backstory; he did the same thing about Dominus Ambus when Chromedome told his story in issue #12.
*Tyrest's "judging machine", [[Aequitas]], was the central macguffin of ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]''.
*It's fitting that Rung should recognize Ambus as Magnus through observation of traits in his speech; issue #13's "[[Signal to Noise]]" featured an exchange between the two characters in which Rung commented on the observations he'd made on Magnus's way of talking over time.

===Transformers references===

*In-keeping with the Titan Hunters' established trait of having members based on characters from other continuity families (specifically ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Lugnut (TF 2010)|Lugnut]] and "[[Blitzving]]" in ''[[The Reluctant Specialist|Spotlight: Trailcutter]]''), their ranks in this issue include warriors based on ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Transformers: Prime]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (both car and jet versions) and at least one [[Insecticon (Prime)|Insecticon]].
*The Legislators are noted to be "copycats" of the [[Guardian (Marvel)|Guardian]] droids, Autobot battle drones that originated in the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel UK Generation 1 series]], who put in a brief appearance in IDW continuity in a flashback in [[Remembrance Day|issue #14]].

===Real-life references===
*Following on from [[Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|issue #11]]'s [[Nightmare Fuel]] and [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|issue #13]]'s [[Mood Whiplash]], this issue gives us another drink that takes its name from a [http://www.tvtropes.com TVTropes] page: the [[Berzerker Button]] (though the trope is just called "[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BerserkButton Berzerk Button]", no "er").
*Tyrest's failed "two-city state solution" is a reference to the fabled "[[Wikipedia:Two-state solution|two state solution]]" in Israel and Palestine's eternally moribund peace process.
*Brainstorm's briefcase has a built-in "[[attention deflector]]" that prevents people from noticing it, clearly inspired by the "[[wikipedia:Somebody Else's Problem|Somebody Else's Problem]]" fields from ''[[wikipedia:Life, the Universe and Everything|Life, the Universe and Everything]]'', Douglas Adams' third ''Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'' book, which accomplishes the same effect.

===Crew manifest===
*[[Deftwing]]'s corpse appears, having become a victim of the Legislators off-panel.
*Rodimus gives the crew count as "three hundred, give or take", which seems on the generous side, given that it was 200-ish at outset.
*Ultra Magnus is ''who what now??''
*12 deaths, one crewmember in terminal condition, Ultra Magnus is... ''what???'' ...5 new arrivals (plus 20 or so Faders), and one banishment since the launch.

===Soundtrack===
For all of "Remain in Light":
*''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjmGZfHHC80 A Dazzling End]'' from the ''[[Doctor|Doctor Who]]'' Series 4 soundtrack, by [[wikipedia:Murray Gold|Murray Gold]]
*''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPJAX7Cu-4k The Universal]'' by [[Wikipedia:Blur (band)|Blur]]

For this issue alone:
*''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QB5gDqFau8 Winterlight]'' by [[Wikipedia: Clearlake (band)|Clearlake]]
*''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuwAoLpbjaA El Presidente]'' by [[Wikipedia: Drugstore (band)|Drugstore]]
*''[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysJijpSPOGY Afterglow]'' by Holm

===Covers (3)===
*'''Cover A:''' Skids battles a throng of Legislators, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Cover B:''' Gears, Hound and Huffer defending themselves, by [[Sean Chen]] and [[Tom Chu]]. In what's probably a slightly embarassing snafu for Hasbro, Chen has drawn Huffer and Gears based on the [[knockoff|unofficial "third party" toys]] based on the characters, "Rager" and "Cogz".
*'''Cover RI:''' A Legislator looms over the fallen Ambulon and First Aid, by [[Nick Roche]] and Josh Perez.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE18 cvrA.jpg|
File:MTMTE18 cvrB.jpg|
File:MTMTE18 cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Second Exodus|#18]]
*''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One|Regeneration One]]'' [[Destiny, Part 2|#92]]
*''Falling Skies''
*''The X-Files: Season 10'' #1 (back cover)

==External links==
*[http://www.fullmetalhero.com/content/more-than-meets-eye-18-full-preview-6943/ Preview]

MediaWiki:TFWiki.net 2012 Transformers Hall of Fame Auditions/Entries

2012-02-29T11:36:02Z

Manuelle Magnus: /* Poll entries */

This is the page for the '''TFWiki.net Transformers Hall of Fame Auditions''' entries. The rules are as follows:

#You must pick your top five ''Transformers'' characters, from any era. They must actually '''be''' Transformers; sorry, but no humans, non-Transformer aliens, non-Transformer robots, or anything else of the sort are being considered for the Hall of Fame. Any votes for such entities will '''not''' be tabulated. It is the sole discretion of the contest organizers to decide what does and does not count.
#Take your top five list and '''put it in alphabetical order'''. Order of preference does not matter. Feel free to denote the character's franchise of origin, although these distinctions may or may not figure into the final results.
#You '''cannot''' vote for a specific version of Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Megatron, Starscream, Dinobot, Ironhide, Ratchet, Soundwave, or Waspinator. They've already been inducted!
##You '''also''' can't vote for '''Grimlock, Jazz or Shockwave'''. They're being automatically inducted this year!
#'''However, you CAN vote for ''[[Beast Wars (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] or [[Optimus Primal]]! Hasbro considers them separate!'''
#Only one entry per user.

Please put your characters of choice and user name below in the following manner:

*Bulkhead, Emirate Xaaron, Side Swipe, Terrorsaur (BW), X-Brawn --(four tildes)

Poll entry period ends at 3pm on '''[[March 1]], 2012'''. --[[User:Monzo|Monzo]] 12:25, 23 February 2012 (EST)

==Poll entries==


*Arcee, Blackarachnia, Blaster, Perceptor, Rumble --[[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 12:32, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Barricade, Devastator, Laserbeak, Ravage, Sideways --[[User:LV|LV]] 12:34, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Bluestreak, Hot Rod, Rattrap, Ravage, Wheeljack --[[User:Bluestreak7|Bluestreak7]] 12:41, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Arcee, Hot Rod, Ratbat, Ravage, Skywarp--[[User:Riddlerj|Riddlerj]] 12:44, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Barricade, Beast Megatron, Rattrap, Sideways, Sky-Byte [[User:Hooper X|-hx]] 12:58, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Blaster, Hot Rod, Perceptor, Scorponok, Wheeljack {{unsigned|84.13.39.130}}
*Demolishor, Megatron (BW), Scorponok, Sideways, Sky-Byte. [[User:Rayqui|Rayqui]] 13:14, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Cyclonus, Hot Rod, Jetfire, Kup, Rhinox - [[User:Zadok Rox|Zadok Rox]] 13:21, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Kup, Prowl (G1), Scorponok (G1), Sunstreaker, Swindle --[[User:Cattleprod|Cattleprod]] 13:32, 23 February 2012 (EST)
* Blackarachnia, Bulkhead, Hot Rod, Megatron (BW), Swindle --[[User:Detour|Detour]] 13:41, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Arcee, Megatron (BW), Optimus Primal, Ravage, Unicron --[[User:KilMichaelMcC|KilMichaelMcC]] 13:47, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Blackarachnia, Megatron (BW), Optimus Primal, Rampage (BW), Sky-Byte [[User:Interrobang|—Interrobang]] 13:54, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Megatron (BW), Minerva (Masterforce), Optimus Primal, Rattrap, Rhinox {{unsigned|50.10.61.121}}
*Arcee, Blackarachnia, Laserbeak, Prowl, Sky-Byte --[[User:Boy Blunderous|Boy Blunderous]] 14:07, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Blades, Hot Rod, Kup, Megatron (BW), Smokescreen --[[User:Antimatter|Antimatter]] 14:11, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Bruticus, Fortress Maximus, Omega Supreme, Skywarp, Ultra Magnus --[[User:Starfield|Starﬁeld]] 14:19, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Arcee, Blackarachnia, Bulkhead, Rhinox, Sky-Byte --[[User:Abates|abates]] 14:22, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Cliffjumper, Cyclonus, Prowl, Ultra Magnus, Wheeljack --[[User:AutoUIMagnus299|AutoUIMagnus299]] 14:37, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Arcee, Hot Rod, Jetfire, Omega Supreme, Prowl --[[User:Alientraveller|Alientraveller]] 14:57, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Depth Charge, Quickstrike, Rattrap, Rhinox, Wreck-Gar --[[User:Femmes Rule!|Femmes Rule!]] 15:01, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Prowl, Rodimus Prime, Scorponok, Springer, Ultra Magnus --[[User:Magaroja|Magaroja]] 15:19, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Hot Spot, Quickmix, Searchlight, Silverbolt, Steeljaw --[[User:Ironhold|Ironhold]] 15:35, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Astrotrain, Bruticus, Rumble, Skywarp, Thundercracker --[[User:crown of starscream|crown of starscream]] 16:02, 23 Febuary 2012 (EST)
*Bulkhead, Megatron (BW), Prowl, Ravage, Sky-Byte --[[User:Ratbatman|Ratbatman]] 15:36, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Blackarachnia, Paddles, Piano Transformer Guy, Scrounge, Silverbolt (BW)--[[Special:Contributions/184.56.30.163|184.56.30.163]] 15:40, 23 February 2012 (EST))
*Metroplex, Mudflap (movie), Predaking, Sunstorm (G1), Trypticon {{unsigned|94.7.56.6}}
*Blitzwing (Animated), Ironfist, Straxus, Ultra Magnus, Wreck-Gar --[[User:HunterCham|HunterCham]] 16:02, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Jetstorm (BM), Lugnut (Animated), Megatron (BW/BM), Optimus Primal, Roadbuster.--[[Special:Contributions/96.237.141.219|96.237.141.219]] 16:31, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Arcee, Cliffjumper, Fortress Maximus, Optimus Primal, Ultra Magnus--[[User:Spydersix|Spydersix]] 16:36, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Arcee, Bulkhead, Cliffjumper, Jetfire, Prowl [[User:Bobpiecheese|Bobpiecheese]] 16:37, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Arcee, Laserbeak (DOTM), Megatron (BW), Ravage, Unicron. [[Special:Contributions/95.151.0.33|95.151.0.33]] 17:04, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Bulkhead, Fortress Maximus, Ginrai, Prowl, Ultra Magnus --[[User:Ookalf|Ookalf]] 17:06, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Impactor, Ironfist, Overlord, Straxus, Tarantulas --[[User:Rosicrucian|Rosicrucian]][[User Talk:Rosicrucian|Talk]] 18:25, 23 February 2012 (EST)
* Bulkhead, Lugnut, Megatron (BW), Sky-Byte, Sunstorm --[[User:M Sipher|M Sipher]] 18:34, 23 February 2012 (EST)
* Blurr, Rattrap, Tarantulas, Thundercracker, Ultra Magnus --[[User:Russellestate|Russellestate]] 19:02, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Blackarachnia, Inferno (BW), Rampage (BW), Sky-Byte, Swindle --[[Special:Contributions/72.187.230.66|72.187.230.66]] 19:08, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Megatron (BW), Nightbeat, Sentinel Prime (Animated), Sky-Byte, Thunderwing--[[Special:Contributions/74.110.211.53|74.110.211.53]] 19:24, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Laserbeak(G1), Optimus Primal, Predaking, Primus, Ultra Magnus (G1).If combiners count.If not then Warpath--[[User:Gamemaster|Gamemaster]] 7:53, 23 February 2012
*Rampage (BW), Rattrap, Scorponok (BW), Tarantualas (BW), Terrorsaur (BW) [[User:Stevo|Stevo]] 19:57, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Cheetor (Beast Era), Ginrai, Megatron (Beast Era), Optimus Primal, Thunderwing --[[User:Sabrblade|Sabrblade]] 20:03, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Bluestreak, Chromia, First Aid, Prowl, Ravage--[[User:al_cielo|al_cielo]] 20:02, 23 February 2012
*Jetfire, Landmine, Sky lynx, Smokescreen, Swoop--[[User:Wwelord|Wwelord]] 20:08, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Botanica (both BW and Animated), Firestar, Moonracer, Perceptor (Animated), Slipstream (Animated). If Botanica doesn't count, put Chromia in her place. --[[User:Firestar_of_Kalis|Firestar_of_Kalis]] 15:22, 23 February 2012 (HST)
*[[Blackarachnia]], [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], [[Scourge (RID)|Scourge]], [[Sentinel Prime (DOTM)|Sentinel Prime]] -- [[User:Queso|¡Usa El Queso!]] [[User talk:Queso|Complain here]] 20:42, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Arcee, Bulkhead, Megatron (BW), Sky-Byte, Wheeljack. ----[[Special:Contributions/71.17.207.182|71.17.207.182]] 20:59, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Arcee, Bulkhead, Megatron (BW), Optimus Primal, Skybyte --[[User:FortMax|FortMax]] 20:59, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*[[Barricade]], [[Bulkhead]], [[Hot Rod]], [[Megatron (BW)]], [[Rattrap]] -- [[User:Awa64|Awa64]] 02:34, 25 February 2012 (EST)
* Arcee, Bulkhead, Optimus Primal, Ironhide, Sky-byte --(Dinobotairfeather)
*Jetfire, Megatron(BW), Rampage(BW), Sari Sumdac(She counts), Sentinel Prime [[User:DinoFreakUSA|DinoFreakUSA]] 21:52, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Bulkhead (Prime), Prowl (G1), Thundercracker (G1 and Cybertron), Ultra Magnus (RID), Wheeljack (G1) --[[Special:Contributions/68.147.45.66|68.147.45.66]] 22:19, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Cyclonus (G1), Galvatron (G1), Rampage (BW), Silverbolt (BW), Sky-Byte --[[User:Thylacine 2000|Thylacine 2000]] 22:34, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*[[Arcee]], [[Blackarachnia]], [[Firestar]], [[Moonracer]], [[Sunstreaker]] --[[User:Metroplex|Metroplex]] 22:35, 23 February 2012 (EST)
* Bombshell (G1), Cyclonus (G1), Demolishor (Armada), Scourge (RID), Swerve (G1) --[[User:Thunderweb|Thunderweb]] 23:17, 23 February 2012 (EST)
*Brawn (G1), Megatron (BW), Ravage (SG), Sunstorm (G1), Ultra Magnus (G1) {{unsigned|74.37.238.167}}
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]], [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]], [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]], [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] --[[User:G1MarvelBlaster|G1MarvelBlaster]] 00:47, 24 February 2012 (EST)
*Barricade, BlackArachnia, Thunderwing, Wheeljack, Wreck-Gar[[Special:Contributions/70.34.147.3|70.34.147.3]] 01:11, 24 February 2012 (EST)
*Lugnut, Rotorstorm, Sixshot, Swindle, Wheeljack --[[User:Apoc|Apoc]] 01:36, 24 February 2012 (EST)
*Prowl, Skywarp, Thundercracker, Ultra Magnus, Wheeljack {{unsigned|N2977R}}
*Bludgeon (G1), Megatron (Beast Wars), Scorponok (G1), Thunderwing (G1), Unicron -- [[User:Dark T Zeratul|Dark T Zeratul]] 04:19, 24 February 2012 (EST)
*Arcee, Bulkhead, Kup, Rattrap, Wreck-Gar --[[User:Cr85747|Cr85747]] 4:47, 24 February 2012 (EST)
*Omega Supreme, Overlord, Ratbat, Sideways, Sky-Byte - [[User:Chris McFeely|Chris McFeely]] 05:25, 24 February 2012 (EST)
*Blades, Cliffjumper, Hot Shot, Rampage(BW), Thundercracker [[User:Wasp-shot23|Wasp-shot23]] 06:53, 24 February 2012 (EST)
*Astrotrain (G1), Blitzwing (G1), Bombshell, Laserbeak (G1), Rumble (G1) --[[User:Flicky1991|Flicky1991]] 09:26, 24 February 2012 (EST)
*Cosmos, Ironfist, Repugnus, Swerve, Tailgate -- JediFlaherty 11:50, 24 February 2012 (EST)
*Arcee, Cheetor, Devastator, Ravage, Sky-Byte -- [[User:Rav|Rav]] 14:51, 24 February 2012 (EST)
*Bulkhead, Laserbeak, Megatron (BW), Sky-Byte, Swindle - [[User:RolonBolon|RolonBolon]] 16:25, 24 February 2012 (EST)
*Bonecrusher, Devastator, Leadfoot, Roadbuster, Sky-Byte --[[User:Atomic Horse|Atomic Horse]] 17:47, 24 February 2012 (EST)
*Arcee, Devastator, Megatron (BW), Omega Supreme, Rattrap --[[User:Endgame|Endgame]] 18:05, 24 February 2012 (EST)
*Arcee(g1),Blitzwing(g1/animated),Bulkhead(animated/prime),Cyclonus(g1),Predaking(g1)--[[User:Bardock12|Bardock12]] 18:11, 24 February 2012 (EST)
*Bludgeon, Overlord, Prowl, Ultra Magnus, Wreck-Gar --[[User:NCZ|NCZ]] 18:47, 24 February 2012 (EST)
*Bulkhead, Crosswise, Hotshot, Vehicon (Prime), Wheeljack [[Special:Contributions/74.90.6.206|74.90.6.206]] 19:06, 24 February 2012 (EST)
*Bulkhead, Hot Shot, Sky-Byte, Ultra Magnus, Unicron {{unsigned|64.121.173.16}}
*Arcee, Barricade, Ironfist, Prowl, Thundercracker --[[User:TrashTalk|TrashTalk]] 01:33, 25 February 2012 (UTC)
*Alpha Trion, Arcee (Prime), Bulkhead, Prowl (Animated), W heeljack -- [[Special:Contributions/134.161.85.66|134.161.85.66]] 00:18, 25 February 2012 (EST)
*Arcee, Cyclonus, Kup, Rodimus Prime, Ultra Magnus--[[User:Starscream0625|Starscream0625]] 00:24, 25 February 2012 (EST)
*Bomb-Burst (G1), Cosmos, Warpath, Wheelie (G1), Wreck-Gar (G1 and Animated) {{unsigned|115.135.229.16}}
*Cliffjumper, Cyclonus, Hot Rod, Kup, Skywarp {{unsigned|98.132.183.140}}
*Megatron (BW), Nightbeat, Rattrap, Skullgrin, Springer - [[User:Danja|Danja]] 10:56, 25 February 2012 (EST)
*Bulkhead, Kup, Megatron (BW), Rattrap, Sky-Byte --[[User:G.B. Blackrock|G.B. Blackrock]] 11:19, 25 February 2012 (EST)
*Arcee, Blitzwing, Hot Rod, Rattrap, Sky-Byte --[[User:TrentTroop|TrentTroop]] 12:04, 25 February 2012 (EST)
*Cyclonus, Galvatron, Megatron (BW), Rodimus Prime, Ultra Magnus --[[Special:Contributions/50.138.134.40|50.138.134.40]] 12:29, 25 February 2012 (EST)
*Hot Shot, Megatron (BW), Optimus Primal, Rodimus, Ultra Magnus --[[User:Amadeus Windfall|Amadeus Windfall]] 12:52, 25 February 2012 (EST)
*Arcee, Hot Rod, Rattrap, Sky-Byte, Swindle -- GR
*Blaster, Megatron (BW), Prowl, Ravage, Skids --[[User:Chip|Chip]] 13:50, 25 February 2012 (EST)
*Arcee,Blackarachnia,Cliffjumper,Megatron(BW),Straxus---Abdullah
*Prowl, Roadbuster, Springer, Soundwave, Thundercracker --[[User:Shafau|Shafau]] 14:07, 25 February 2012 (EST)
*Drift, Laserbeak, Megatron (BW), Thundercracker (G1), Wheeljack. {{unsigned|98.232.210.235}}
*Blurr, Bulkhead, Jetfire, Unicron, Wheeljack --[[User:Andrusi|Andrusi]] 14:51, 25 February 2012 (EST)
*Broadside, Bulkhead, Jetfire, Megatron (BW), Unicron [[User:ShinRa Actual|ShinRa Actual]] 15:49, 25 February 2012 (EST)
*Arcee, Bulkhead, Hot Rod, Megatron (BW), Sky-Byte [[User:MrBlud|MrBlud]] 20:19, 25 February 2012 (EST)
*Arcee, Beachcomber (G1), Blurr (G1), Tracks (G1), Ultra Magnus (G1)--nikikt
*Arcee, Bulkhead, Lockdown, Omega Supreme, Scourge(RiD) -- [[User:Assey|Assey]] 23:20, 25 February 2012 (EST)
*Arcee, Devastator, Scorponok, Wheeljack, Wreck-Gar -- {{unsigned|24.3.231.149}}
*Cyclonus, Hot Rod, Optimus Primal, Sky-Byte, Wheeljack -- [[User:Anguirus]]
*Liokaiser, Metal Hawk, Minerva, Sixshot, Star Saber -- [[user:XenoStryker|XenoStryker]]
*Darkwing, Dreadwind, Impactor, Swindle, Xaaron - [[Special:Contributions/94.195.192.254|94.195.192.254]] 03:46, 26 February 2012 (EST)
*Blackarachnia, Hot Rod, Rattrap, Sky-Byte, Unicron -- [[user:Daith]]
*Bulkhead, Scourge (RiD), Sideways, Sky-Byte, Wheeljack -- [[User:Sky Shadow|Sky Shadow]] 07:46, 26 February 2012 (EST)
*Knock Out, Prowl, Skywarp, Sunstreaker, Thundercracker--[[User:TheHappyShark|TheHappyShark]] 09:27, 26 February 2012 (EST)
*Blackarachnia, Megatron (BW), Optimus Primal, Ravage, Shokaract--[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 10:47, 26 February 2012 (EST)
*Blackarachnia, Blaster, Guzzle, Megatron (BW), Ravage --[[User:Emvee|Emvee]] 12:12, 26 February 2012 (EST)
*Carnivac, Straxus, Swindle, Under-3, Xaaron [[User:Blueshift|Blueshift]] 12:18, 26 February 2012 (EST)
*Rattrap, Ravage, Scorponok, Swoop, Thundercracker {{unsigned|24.21.71.55}}
*Arcee, Bulkhead, Megatron (BW), Sky-Byte, Swindle [[Special:Contributions/75.89.162.254|75.89.162.254]] 15:23, 26 February 2012 (EST)
*Black Zarak, Erector, Fortress Maximus, Minerva, Swindle -- Star Sabre James 14:35 February 26, 2012 (CST)
*Fortress Maximus, Minerva, Prowl, Skywarp, Swindle -- Lowlight 14:46 February 26, 2012 (CST)
*Blitzwing, Lockdown, Overlord, Prowl, Wheeljack {{unsigned|Astrotrain85}}
*Bludgeon, Metalhawk, Minerva, Unicron, Thunderclash {{unsigned|Aernaroth}}
*Bulkhead, Cliffjumper, Hot Shot, Ultra Magnus, Wheeljack -- [[User:Thedude|Thedude]] 17:21, 26 February 2012 (EST)
*Devastator, Rodimus Prime, Skywarp, Thundercracker, Ultra Magnus -- [[User:PsychoAndy|PsychoAndy]] 18:08, 26 February 2012 (EST)
*Jetfire, Optimus Primal, Prowl (G1), Silverbolt (BW), Superion -- [[Pizzle]] 18:20, 26 February 2012 (EST)
*Arcee, Sky-Byte, Star Saber, Swindle, Thundercracker -- [[User:Terrortron|Terrortron]] 19:05, 26 February 2012 (EST)
*Bulkhead, Megatron (BW), Ravage, Sky-Byte, Swindle [[User:Pencoin|Pencoin]] 19:59, 26 February 2012 (EST)
*Brawl, Hot Shot, Megatron (BW), Prowl, Swindle -- [[User:Karhukjnsi|Karhukjnsi]] 22:02, 26 February 2012 (EST)
*[[Blackarachnia]], [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], [[Optimus Primal]], [[Rattrap]], [[Ravage]] -- [[User:AWT88|AWT88]] 23:06, 26 February 2012 (EST)
*Arcee, Bulkhead, Rattrap, Sky-Byte, Wheeljack (G1) [[User:EShadowP|EShadowP]] 23:16, 26 February 2012 (EST)
*Arcee (Prime), Ratchet (Prime), Roadbuster, Starscream (Armada), Wheeljack (G1) --[[Special:Contributions/98.109.187.86|98.109.187.86]] 23:31, 26 February 2012 (EST)
*Arcee, Hot Rod/imus, Nightbeat, Perceptor, Ultra Magnus --[[User:Trixter|Trixter]] 00:08, 27 February 2012 (EST)
*Botanica, Bulkhead, Demolishor, Lugnut, Sky-Byte --[[Special:Contributions/62.254.76.247|62.254.76.247]] 04:20, 27 February 2012 (EST)
*Lugnut, Sky-Byte, Swindle {{unsigned|87.251.221.57}}
*[[Blades (RB)|Silverbolt 2]], [[Blitzwing (disambiguation)|THA BLITZ, THA HOLE BLITZ & NUTHIN' BUT THA BLITZ]], [[Prowl (Animated)|The ninja bot who never finnished his training]], Hellscream, [[Thunderwing (G1)| BIG & BAD, Thunderwing]]--[[User:Jazzerprime|Jazzy primey, yo]] 5:43, February 28, 2012
*Ginrai (Masterforce), Metalhawk (Masterforce), Minerva (Masterforce), Overlord (Masterforce), Sky-Byte (RID)-- Megabattimus
*Arcee, Megatron (BW), Minerva, Rattrap, Sky-Byte -- Hursticon
*Hot Rod, Nightbeat, Kup, Rodimus Prime, Ultra Magnus-- tburch
*Arcee, Cheetor, Devastator, Minerva, Swindle-- MunkkyNotTrukk
*Amalgamous Prime, Drift (SG), Heatwave (SG), Jetstorm (SG), Solus Prime {{unsigned|219.79.17.93}}
*Arcee, Omega Supreme, Prowl, Ravage, Sky-Byte --[[User:ZacWilliam|ZacWilliam]] 08:24, 27 February 2012 (EST)
*Beast Wars Megatron, Minerva, Rodimus, Sky-Byte, Swindle -- brickonator
*Bulkhead(Animated), Megatron(BW), Rattrap, Rhinox, Sixshot -- ([[User:Proper Dave|Proper Dave]] 10:14, 27 February 2012 (EST))
*Bulkhead, Megatron (BW), Optimus Primal, Sky-Byte, Wheeljack -- Barricade64
*Cannonball, Flatline, Megatron (BW), Optimus Primal, Sky-Byte --[[User:Spin-Out|Spin-Out]] 10:53, 27 February 2012 (EST)
*Alpha Trion, Megatronus Prime/The Fallen, Prima, Primus, Unicron {{unsigned|70.80.204.216}}
*Arcee (prime), Knock out (prime), Rattrap (bw), Ravage, Silverbolt (bw) {{unsigned|Foxtrot}}
*Blurr(SG), Cliffjumper(SG), Dead-end (G1), Dreadwing(Prime), The Fallen {{unsigned|Ghostpirate}}
*Megatron (BW), Rattrap (BW), Terrorsaur (BW), Unicron, Ultra Magnus {{unsigned|62.252.152.189}}
*Arcee, Bulkhead, Lockdown, Rattrap, Wheeljack -- [[User:SamuraiMarmoset|SamuraiMarmoset]] 4:36 PM, 02-27-2012
*Cyclonus(Armada), Knock Out(Prime), Ravage(G1), Scourge(RID), Starscream(Armada) -- ~Tempest Prime9~ 5:06 PM, 02-27-2012
*Alpha Trion, Arcee, Devastator, Primus, Unicron -- Androiddxx 6:21 PM, 27 February 2012
*Dezarus, Dinobot2, Megazarak,Megatron(beast wars),Predaking--Android26 3:46 PM February 27
*Alpha Trion, Devastator, Prowl, Unicron, Wheeljack -- AWESOMEAUTOBOT 8:57 PM February 27 2012
*Alpha Trion, Hardhead, Jetfire, Kup, Warpath--IDWfan 9:26 PM, 27 February 2012
*Bulkhead, Knock Out(Prime), Megatron (BW), Sky-Byte, Swindle -- [[User:Strangefour|Strangefour]] 22:32, 27 February 2012 (EST)
*Arcee, Bulkhead, Prowl, Rattrap, Wheeljack --[[Special:Contributions/75.162.22.53|75.162.22.53]] 00:09, 28 February 2012 (EST)
*Powerglide (G1), Red Alert (Armada), Seaspray (G1), Tidal Wave (Armada), Wingsaber (cybertron) -- [[User:Powerspray231|Powerspray231]] 17:45 28th February 2012 (AEST)
*Fortress Maximus, Metalhawk, Rattrap, Skids, Vector Prime {{unsigned|123.211.2.245 }}
*Lockdown, Megatron(BW), Rodimus Prime, Sky-Byte, Thunderwing(G1) - [[User:Quickstrike|Quickstrike]] 05:49, 28 February 2012 (EST)
*Bulkhead, Megatron(BW), Scarem, Sky-Byte, Wheeljack (Armada)- --[[User:Esser-Z|Esser-Z]] 12:50, 28 February 2012 (EST)
*Arcee (Prime), Breakdown (Prime), Cyclonus (G1), Knock Out (Prime), Skywarp (G1) {{unsigned|Randanex}}
*Arcee, Barricade, Beast Wars Megatron, Jetfire, Star Saber -- [[User:TulioDude|TulioDude]]
*Bludgeon, Knock Out (Prime), Mirage (Movie), Silverbolt (G1), Wheeljack (Prime) - [[User:bumblebeeradio|bumblebeeradio]]
*Blackarachnia, Blurr, Fortress Maximus, Rodimus, Wreck-Gar {{unsigned|176.9.53.41}}
*Megatron (BW), Mirage (Movie), Rattrap, Sideswipe (G1), Soundwave {{unsigned|206.53.78.111}}
*Blackarachnia, Perceptor, Scorponok, Sideways, Wheeljack -- --[[User:Cydra|Cydra]] 19:54, 28 February 2012 (EST)
*Arcee, Devastator, Optimus Primal, Rodimus Prime, Unicron -- Lodril
*Beta, Nightracer, Omega Supreme, Optimus Primal, Rattrap -- Firestone
*Minerva, Swindle -- [[Special:Contributions/97.103.161.171|97.103.161.171]]
*Bulkhead, Minerva, Sky-bite, Swindle, Wheeljack [[User:Fredbob|Fredbob]] 22:01, 28 February 2012 (EST)
*Galvatron, Jhiaxus, Kup, Ultra Magnus, Unicron [[User:Manuelle Magnus|Manuelle Magnus]] 07:35, 29 February 2012 (EST)


[[Category: TFWiki.net]]

Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)

2011-07-23T05:24:44Z

Manuelle Magnus: /* Home video releases */

{{Nav-bw}}

Though [[Trukk not munky|reviled]] by many Transfans when it first hit the airwaves in 1996, the wholly-[[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] '''''Beast Wars''''' is now considered by many to be among the finest examples of Transformers storytelling.

==Overview==
The series opens at an unspecified time and place, where two warring factions of robots have crashed on a strange planet populated by animals like those on [[Earth]]. The planet abounds in mystery, with vast deposits of raw [[Energon (fuel)|Energon]] and evidence of [[Vok|alien]] activity. The Energon forces the newly arrived Transformers to take on protective beast forms to shield themselves from the ambient Energon radiation. And so begin the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]]...

[[Image:Beastwarsmaxgroup.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Rattrap and Airazor conspire to ruin school picture day.]]
Though at first the show seemed to be in an entirely separate continuity, by the end of the first season's 26 episodes, viewers had been treated to a number of classical Transformers references, such as [[Unicron]] and even the reappearance of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], last seen as a ghost in the third season of [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the original cartoon]]. These ties to the original story increased as the second season progressed and the planet was revealed as prehistoric Earth, the characters having been thrown back in time. The third season was entirely structured around the [[Maximal]]s defending their dormant [[Autobot]] ancestors aboard the ancient crashed [[Ark (G1)|Ark]].

The show won over many viewers through fun, intriguing stories and generally high production values. Strong characterization, top-notch scripting and voice acting, and complex, overarching plot threads are among the reasons cited for the show's enduring popularity. Some of the show's mysteries and machinations remain topics for fan debate over a decade after it aired.

The show's CGI, though somewhat primitive by today's standards, was revolutionary by television standards of the time (and puts [[Energon (cartoon)|some later shows]] to [[Cybertron (cartoon)|shame]]). Mainframe's animators took pains to ensure their characters gestured and emoted in great detail, and the "camera" work often took creative advantage of the format's flexibility.

The show was immediately followed by a sequel series, ''[[Beast Machines (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]''.
{{-}}

==Episodes==
{{main|List of Beast Wars episodes}}

''Beast Wars'' has had 52 episodes over 3 seasons.

===Season 1: 1996–1997===
{{columnlist|4|
# [[Beast Wars (Part 1)]]
# [[Beast Wars (Part 2)]]
# [[The Web]]
# [[Equal Measures]]
# [[Chain of Command]]
# [[Power Surge]]
# [[Fallen Comrades]]
# [[Double Jeopardy]]
# [[A Better Mousetrap]]
# [[Gorilla Warfare]]
# [[The Probe]]
# [[Victory (episode)|Victory]]
# [[Dark Designs (episode)|Dark Designs]]
# [[Double Dinobot]]
# [[The Spark]]
# [[The Trigger, Part 1]]
# [[The Trigger, Part 2]]
# [[Spider's Game]]
# [[Call of the Wild]]
# [[Dark Voyage]]
# [[Possession]]
# [[The Low Road]]
# [[Law of the Jungle]]
# [[Before the Storm]]
# [[Other Voices, Part 1]]
# [[Other Voices, Part 2]]}}

===Season 2: 1997–1998===
{{columnlist|4|
# [[Aftermath]]
# [[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)]]
# [[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)]]
# [[Tangled Web]]
# [[Maximal, No More]]
# [[Other Visits (Part 1)]]
# [[Other Visits (Part 2)]]
# [[Bad Spark]]
# [[Code of Hero]]
# [[Transmutate (episode)|Transmutate]]
# [[The Agenda (Part 1)]]
# [[The Agenda (Part 2)]]
# [[The Agenda (Part III)]]}}

===Season 3: 1998–1999===
{{columnlist|4|
# [[Optimal Situation]]
# [[Deep Metal]]
# [[Changing of the Guard]]
# [[Cutting Edge]]
# [[Feral Scream Part 1]]
# [[Feral Scream Part 2]]
# [[Proving Grounds]]
# [[Go with the Flow]]
# [[Crossing the Rubicon]]
# [[Master Blaster]]
# [[Other Victories]]
# [[Nemesis Part 1]]
# [[Nemesis Part 2]]}}

==Characters==
[[Image:BW Maximals.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Time for Rattrap to lead.]]
[[Image:BW Predacons.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Waspinator is loved by fans.]]
Because developing new CGI character models was, at the time, an expensive and time-consuming process, the number of on-screen characters in ''Beast Wars'' was relatively small compared to most other ''Transformers'' shows. It is thus practical to list all the Transformers who appeared in the cartoon. They are listed in order of appearance. (The [[stasis lock]]ed [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] are not on this list.) Note that many characters besides these are also full-fledged ''Beast Wars'' characters, having appeared in other media.
{{-}}

{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
*[[Optimus Primal]] ([[Garry Chalk]])
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] ([[Richard Newman]])
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]]* ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] ([[Ian James Corlett]])
*[[Rattrap]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Tigatron]] ([[Blu Mankuma]])
*[[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] ([[Pauline Newstone]])
*[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] ([[David Sobolov]])
*[[Tigerhawk]] ([[Blu Mankuma]])
|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
*[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] ([[David Kaye]])
*[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] ([[Don Brown]])
*[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] ([[Doug Parker]])
*[[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] ([[Alec Willows]])
*[[Waspinator]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]† ([[Venus Terzo]])
*[[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] ([[Jim Byrnes]])
*[[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]] ([[Colin Murdoch]])
*[[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] ([[Campbell Lane]])
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] ([[Lee Tockar]])
*[[Dinobot II]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
|c4=
*[[Vok]] ([[Blu Mankuma]], [[Richard Newman]])
'''[[Protohuman]]s'''
*[[Leader Neanderthal]] ([[Garry Chalk]])
*[[Chak]]
*[[Una]] ([[Susan Blu]])
|nonumbering=true
}}
<nowiki>*</nowiki> Allied with the Maximals, nominally a Predacon.

† Became a Maximal towards the end of the series, though originally a Maximal protoform.

==International releases==
===Japan===
In Japan the show was split into 2 separate 26 episode series, ''Beast Wars'' which aired in 1997 (consisting of Canadian season 1) and ''Beast Wars Metals'' which aired in 1999 (consisting of Canadian seasons 2 and 3). The ''Beast Wars Metals'' series featured two additional [[clip show]]s:

*Episode 14: "[[Where Is the Banana?]]"
*Episode 26: "[[Remix: I Lost the Banana!]]"

Japan crafted two separate theatrical releases, the first being "[[Beast Wars Special Super Lifeform Transformers]]" (premiering the episode "[[Bad Spark]]" as well as two other segments) and a triple feature of short animated films based on [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] toylines (premiering the episode "[[Cutting Edge]]"). Since these episodes were released theatrically, they are not included in the show's proper 26 episode list, with their places being taken by the pair of aforementioned clip shows.

Additionally, for whatever reason, the Japanese dub of ''Beast Wars'' and ''Beast Wars Metals'' notoriously chose to turn the series into a goofy comedy show with lots of fourth-wall humor and a relentless string of over-the-top and in-your-face jokes, even at the most ''inappropriate'' of moments. This was the work of [[Iwanami Yoshikazu]], director of the Japanese ''Beast Wars'' series.

Some examples include:
* The beginning of every episode would start with one of the characters asking a ridiculous question and receiving equally ridiculous answers (Optimus Primal asking "Where is my banana", for instance) before segueing into the [[War War! Stop It|opening rap theme]] by [[Banana Ice]]. (On that music note, "[[For the Dream|FOR THE DREAM]]" is the closing song, while "[[Hello! Toughness]]" was the ending song for the special "[[Clash! Beast Warriors]]".)
* An attempt was made to ensure that nary a moment went by in which at least ''one'' character wasn't talking. Dramatic silences and subtle jokes involving body language or facial expressions were killed with meaningless, prattling dialogue and corny jokes. Characters could even be heard talking when their lips were visibly ''not moving at all''. Even in close ups. Perhaps worst of all, a "gag" that ran through the course of the entire series featured each character "making noises" every single time they fired their weapon. For instance, Rattrap would make a sound along the likes of "pikyuu!" every time he fired. Every. Single. Time.
* Rattrap would constantly break the fourth wall by "smelling" what the audience was eating and make gluttonous comments.
* Many characters received completely new personalities that were polar opposites to their Western interpretation (Depth Charge enjoyed singing folk songs while Megatron became a flamboyant madman that shrieked like a little girl at the sight of danger). A character had their gender altered (poor, poor Airazor).
* Clip shows would feature the characters interacting in silly situations such as game shows and contests (in one instance, Megatron acted as judge in a celebrity impersonation contest).

While many long-time ''Transformers'' fans in Japan reviled this dub (including [[Hirofumi Ichikawa]]) it remained a hit with its target audience: young children. At any rate, this version of ''Beast Wars'' was popular enough to spawn two equally goofy-natured spin-offs, ''[[Beast Wars II (cartoon)|Beast Wars II]]'' and ''[[Beast Wars Neo (cartoon)|Beast Wars Neo]]'', and two Japanese-exclusive theatrical releases.

===United Kingdom===
When originally aired on GMTV in the United Kingdom, ''Beast Wars'' was only screened on school holidays, usually in double bills on Bank Holidays, and one episode per morning on half-term weeks, meaning that only a few episodes were shown a year, with wide gulfs in between (most prominently, ''three months'' passed between the airings of "Other Visits" parts [[Other Visits (Part 1)|1]] and [[Other Visits (Part 2)|2]]). In a sign of things to come, "[[Beast Wars (Part 1)]]" was shown some 25 minutes earlier than billed due to re-scheduled news reports, meaning many fans missed the entire opening episode. Things went from bad to worse when "[[Equal Measures]]" was skipped, and only continued when, after "[[Victory (episode)|Victory]]", the series skipped directly to "[[Other Voices, Part 1]]". The entirety of the second season followed the conclusion of the first, but the channel never aired the third season; although it was subsequently released on VHS, the cliffhanger-resolving "[[Optimal Situation]]" was only available as a free gift with purchase at [[Toys"R"Us]].

Additionally, these GMTV airings were modified in various ways. The first and most foremost alteration was the removal of the word "Transformers" from the series' title, which was only reinstated with "[[Other Voices, Part 1]]". With regard to the actual content, the earliest episodes generally had nothing more extreme than the removal of uses of the word "[[Slag (slang)|slag]]" (as it is effectively a synonym for "slut" in English slang), but with the beginning of the second season, edits were steadily made to episodes for no readily apparent reasons. Additionally, any scenes featuring flashing images were routinely put through a filter that slowed such scenes down to comical levels. This culminated in a butchered version of "[[The Agenda (Part 1)|The Agenda]]", which snipped out many short scenes throughout all three episodes for no reason, from inconsequential moments like Tarantulas cackling and driving out of his lab in Part 1, to key scenes such as Silverbolt and Optimus Primal's "office talk" in Part 2, and in what was the last straw for many fans, the complete second half of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s speech (''the part explaining [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s entire motivation''), also from Part 2.

During the time they had the rights to the series, GMTV also showed the entirety of seasons one and two on the then cable-only channel ITV 2.

Channel 5, a terrestrial channel, showed the entire series in its complete form in 2003. Thankfully. This got rerun too, leading to the ''Beast Wars'' comics getting [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|used as reprints in Titan's Movie-based comic]].

===France===
In France and (French) Belgium, the show was called "Animutants" and had a good-quality dubbing, rather close to the original voices. But while the first two seasons of the show were aired, the third one never was; the show always ended with "[[The Agenda (Part III)]]", leaving the viewers in the area with the worst case of cliffhanger ever.

===Belgium===
Beast Wars aired under its original name with Dutch subtitles, but like the French broadcast, it stopped abruptly after [[The Agenda (Part III)]].

===Vietnam===
In Vietnam, the show was called "Chiến tranh quái vật vũ trụ" (Galaxy Monster Wars). The show was released on VHS tapes with a very good Vietnamese dub, then it was copied to VCD. Unfortunately, as happened in France, only the first two seasons were aired. It ended with "[[The Agenda (Part III)]]", and left the fans with a cliffhanger.

===Germany===
The German dub used the original title, ''Beast Wars''. The show was initially very successful on the TV Station RTL2 and was released on VHS. However, only the first season was shown and dubbed. Furthermore, the TV broadcast had many fight scenes censored to comply with Germany's strict laws against TV violence; however, the VHS Release was uncut. After many reruns the show was cancelled and the second and third Season were never shown in Germany.

==Home video releases==
===Canada===
{{main|Alliance Atlantis}}
[[Image:Alliance Beast Wars Vol1 DVD.jpg|thumb|150px|]]
;VHS
*''Beast Wars'' — A Feature Length Beasties Adventure (1996)
*''Robots-Bêtes'' — Une Adventure Cybernetique (1996)
*''Beast Wars'' — Beasties Escape (1998)
*''Robots-Bêtes'' — L'Évasion (1998)
*''Beast Wars'' — Warning from Space (1998)
*''Robots-Bêtes'' — Alert Dans L'Espace (1998)
*''Beast Wars'' / ''Robots-Bêtes'' Three pack (1998)
*''Beast Wars'' — Optimus Lives! (1998)
*''Robots-Bêtes'' — L'Empreinte D'Optimus (1998)
;DVD
*''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes — Where the Beasties Began! (2005)
*''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes: Volume 2 — The Saga Continues! (2005)
*''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes: Volume 3 — The Battle Rages On! (2005)
*''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes: Volume 4 — The Predacons Advance! (2005)
*''Beast Wars'' — The Complete First Season (2005)
{{-}}

===Japan===
{{main|Geneon Universal Entertainment}}
[[Pioneer]]'s Japanese DVD sets of the series come with optional English language dialogue with Japanese subtitles, allowing fans in Japan to view the more serious version of the show if desired.
;VHS
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Enter the Super Lifeform Transformers (1997)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Cheetus' Crisis (1997)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Disappeared (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Lonely Warrior Tigatron (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — New Weapon of Terror (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Goodbye Rattle!? (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Floating Island Deathmatch (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — The Destrons Make Drama (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — There are 2 Dinobots? (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Resurrected Beast Power (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Starscream's Invulnerability (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Farewell Tigatron (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — To Protect the Peace... (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers Special'' — Great Cybertron Army Collection (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers Special'' — Great Destron Army Collection (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Great Quiz Collection (1999)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — We're Back! (1999)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Convoy Reborn (1999)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — I Quit! (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Huh? The Face? (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — I'm a Crab! (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — I Do Love You! (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Groooww Bigger (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Rrray! (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — The Movie (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Yeah, I'm Back! (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Love Typhoon (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Sssshiny! (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — We Have Returned (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers: Metals'' — Happy? This Should Do It (2000)
[[Image:Pioneer BeastWars Laserdisc Box2.jpg|thumb|150px|]]
;Laserdisc
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Maximal Edition (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Predacon Edition (1998)
;DVD
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — DVD BOX (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers: Metals'' — DVD BOX 1 (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers: Metals'' — DVD BOX 2 (2000)
{{-}}

===United Kingdom===
{{main|Universal}}
Almost the entire run of the show ended up on VHS from 2000 to 2001, oddly missing "[[Aftermath]]" and "[[Optimal Situation]]". This time, cuts were gone! Characters could rightfully swear!
[[Image:UK Beast Wars Vol3 VHS.jpg|150px|thumb|Not featuring [[Razorclaw (BW)|Razorclaw]].]]
;VHS
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Free Video (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 1 (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 2 (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 3 (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 4 (2000)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 5 (2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 6 (2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 7 (2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 8 (2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 1 (2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 2 (2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 3 (2001)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 4 (2001)
;DVD
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 1 (2004)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Vol. 2 (2005)
{{-}}

===United States===
[[Image:Rhino BeastWars Vol1 DVD.jpg|thumb|100px|]]
{{main|Kid Rhino}}
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 1 (2002)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 2 (2002)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete First Season (2003)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete Second Season (2004)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete Third Season (2004)
{{-}}

===Australia and New Zealand===
{{main|Madman Entertainment}}
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 1 (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 2 (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 3 (2006)
*''The Transformers: Beast Wars'' — Complete Collection (2009)
{{-}}

===Russia===
Russian DVD sets come only with Russian language dialogues and no subtitles.
;DVD
*''Transformery: Bitvy Zverey'' — Season 1 Vol. 1 (first 13 episodes of the first season) (2011)
{{-}}

===Pack-ins and Giveaways===
{{main|Hasbro}}
{{main|Pack-in material}}
;VHS
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Aftermath]] & [[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)]] (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Aftermath]] (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)]] (1998)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Bad Spark]] & [[Code of Hero]] (1999)

;DVD
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Equal Measures]] (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[A Better Mousetrap]] (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[The Spark]] (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Spider's Game]] (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Possession]] (2006)
*''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — [[Code of Hero]] (2006)
*"[[Beast Wars (Part 1)|Super Lifeform Transformers Appear]]" and "[[Victory (episode)|Make a Dramatic Comeback, Destrons]]" (2006)
*"[[Beast Wars (Part 2)|Destroy the Destrons]]" (2006)
*"[[The Web|Cheetus's Crisis]]" (2006)
*"[[Equal Measures|Operation: Time Bomb Transfer]]" (2006)
*"[[Chain of Command|Convoy Disappeared]]" (2006)
*"[[Power Surge|The Sky-Mountains Explode]]" (2006)
*"[[Fallen Comrades|Solitary Warrior, Tigatron]]" (2006)
*"[[Double Jeopardy|Kick of the Spider Woman]]" (2006)
*"[[The Probe|New Weapons of Terror!]]" (2006)
*"[[Gorilla Warfare|The Assassin Virus]]" (2006)
*"[[A Better Mousetrap|Goodbye, Rattle!?]]" (2006)
*"[[The Spark|Falcon Warrior, Airazor]]" (2006)
*"[[The Trigger, Part 1|Floating Island Death Match, Part 1]]" and "[[The Trigger, Part 2|Floating Island Death Match, Part 2]]" (2006)
*"[[Dark Voyage|Around and Around the Jungle]]" (2006)
*"[[Possession|The Immortal Starscream]]" (2006)

==Notes==
* The first season of ''Beast Wars'' cost $18 million, according to [http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/browse_thread/thread/b334d45514e26ab4/bc8e54e9165e0823?hl=en&lnk=st&q=bob+forward+interview+inferno+megatron&rnum=1#bc8e54e9165e0823 a 1997 interview with Bob Forward].
* There are three known unproduced ''Beast Wars'' episodes: "[[A Greater Ape]]", "[[Bitch Wars]]" and "[[Dark Glass]]".
* [http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-CLUB_%28%E6%A8%A1%E5%9E%8B%E9%9B%91%E8%AA%8C%29 B-Club magazine] erroneously claims that ''Beast Wars'' is the first fully CGI television show in the world, a title actually held by ''[[:wikipedia:Insektors|Insektors]]''. Mainframe's own CGI show ''[[wikipedia:ReBoot|ReBoot]]'' also predates ''Beast Wars''.
* The Production Designer for the show, [[Clyde Klotz]], won an Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation in 1997. How cool is that?
* For reasons unknown, the US Rhino release of ''Beast Wars'' season three did not include the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UmCEsbUe6E opening that was televised], which included an original shot of the ''Axalon'' and ''Darksyde'' spaceships crashing down to prehistoric Earth. Instead, all season three episodes began with the season two opening for the first part of the beginning credits.
* Also, the ''Beast Wars'' season one release from Rhino used a totally different and shorter opening sequence and a shortened version of the theme.

===Foreign names===

*''English:'' '''''Beasties''''' (Canada)
*''Japanese:'' '''''Chō Seimeitai Transformers Beast Wars''''' (超生命体トランスフォーマー　ビーストウォーズ, "Super Lifeform Transformers Beast Wars"), '''''Chō Seimeitai Transformers Beast Wars Metals''''' (second and third seasons, 超生命体トランスフォーマー　ビーストウォーズ　メタルス, "Super Lifeform Transformers Beast Wars Metals")
*''French:'' '''''Animutants''''' (France), '''''Robots-Bêtes''''' (Canada)
*''Italian:'' '''''Biocombat'''''
*''Latvian:'' '''''Briesmoņu kari''''' ("Monster Wars")
*''Polish:'' '''''Kosmiczne Wojny''''' ("Cosmic Wars")
*''Russian:'' '''''Bitvi Zverey''''' (Битвы зверей, "Battles of the Beasts"), '''''Zhestokye voini''''' (Жестокие войны, "Cruel wars")
*''Spanish:'' '''''Guerra de Bestias''''' (America)
*''Vietnamese:'' '''''Chiến tranh quái vật vũ trụ''''' ("Galaxy Monster Wars")

[[Category:Beast Wars media]]
[[Category:Television series]]

Rising Storm issue 4

2011-05-06T05:29:50Z

Manuelle Magnus: /* Notes */

{{comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Rising Storm]]'' #4
|prev=Rising Storm issue 3
|image=RisingStorm4 coverA.jpg
|caption=Give me your Movie TICKETS!
|title=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[May 4]], [[2011]]
|coverdate=
|writer=[[John Barber]]
|art=[[Carlos Magno]]
|colors=[[Jesus Aburtov|Aburtov]] and [[Graphikslava]]
|letters=[[Shawn Lee]]
|editor=[[Andy Schmidt]]
|cover=[[Brian Rood]] Carlos Magno
|continuity=[[Live-action film series]]
}}

'''Get ready for ''[[Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]''!'''

==Synopsis==

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Wheelie (ROTF)|Wheelie]] (3)
*[[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] (7)
*[[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]] (8)
*[[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] (9)
*[[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe]] (10)
*[[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] (11)
*[[Jolt (ROTF)|Jolt]] (13)
*[[Chromia (ROTF)|Chromia]] (16)
*[[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]] (19)
*[[Elita-One (Movie)|Elita-One]] (20)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Hatchling]] (2)
*[[Brains]] (4)
*[[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] (12)
*[[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] (14)
*[[Fearswoop (ROTF)|Fearswoop]] (15)
*[[Rumble (ROTF)|Rumble]] (17)
*[[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] (18)
*[[Ratbat (ROTF)|Ratbat]] (21)
*[[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] (22)
*[[Beastbox (ROTF)|Beastbox]] (23)
*[[Astrotrain (DOTM)|Astrotrain]] (24)

|c3=
*[[Sam Witwicky]] (5)
*[[Carly Miller]] (6)
*[[Robert Epps]] (??)
*[[William Lennox]] (??)

}}

==Quotes==
==Errors==
*Like in issue 3, Elita-1 alternate mode is drawn like Chromia alternate mode
*At the end of the issue Arcee is drawn with Chromia body and vice versa.

==Notes==
*Writer [[John Barber]] said that the explanation of why Shockwave doesn't resemble his movie design was going to be given in this issue.<ref>http://twitter.com/TheJohnBarber/status/60710221739339776</ref> which oddly doesn't happen, but Shockwave is indeed badly damaged by Optimus Prime.
*For the [[Transformers (2007)|third]] [[Cyber Missions|time]], Barricade disappears without any explanation of what happened to him.
*[[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]] and [[Chromia (ROTF)|Chromia]] are left alive at the end of the issue.
*The fate of multiple robots that arent appearing in the film (or havent been confirmed to appear at least) like [[Tankor (ROTF)|Tankor]], [[Fearswoop (ROTF)|Fearswoop]] and few others are unknown

===Covers (2)===
*'''Cover A:''' Art by [[Brian Rood]] of Optimus Prime.
*'''Cover RI:''' Art by Carlos Magno, with colors by Aburtov and Graphikslava, of Optimus Prime fighting Bludgeon.

<gallery>
Image:RisingStorm4 coverA.jpg|
Image:RisingStorm4 coverRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===

[[Category:IDW Dark of the Moon issues]]

Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 33

2010-09-09T03:44:41Z

Manuelle Magnus: /* Contents */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club (magazine)|Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club]] #33
|prev=Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 32
|next=Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 34
|image=Htcc-33.jpg
|caption=
|publisher=[[Fun Publications]]
|date=early June 2010
|coverdate=June 2010-July 2010
}}
'''G2 Redux'''

=Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue #33=
'''Editor-In-Chief:''' [[Brian Savage]] 
'''Editor:''' [[Pete Sinclair]] 
'''Creative Director/Layout:''' [[Lanny Lathem]] 
'''Associate Editor:''' [[Ben Yee]] 
'''Associate Editor:''' [[Jesse Wittenrich]] 
'''Research Editor:''' [[Karl Hartman]] 
'''Columnist:''' [[Rob Meyer]] 
'''Head Proofreader:''' [[Heather Choplin]] 
'''Proofreader:''' [[Mark Baker-Wright]] 
'''Resident Colorist:''' [[Drew Eiden]] 
'''Resident Artist:''' [[Evan Gauntt]] 
'''Staff:''' [[Greg Sepelak]] and [[Trent Troop]] 
'''Featured Artists:''' [[Casey Coller]]

==Contents==
* On the cover: Bio card art of [[BotCon 2010]] [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]]

* Brian's Bytes and Bolts, From the Editor's Desk (inside cover)

* "Gregg Berger - Almost 25 Years Later and STILL not a Bozo!" (p. 3) - Interview with [[Gregg Berger]]

* HASBRO "GENERATIONS" INTERVIEW! (pp. 4-5) - Interview with Hasbro about [[Generations (toyline)|Generations]], including images of [[Straxus (G1)|Darkmount]], [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], [[Megatron (Prime)|''War for Cybertron'' Megatron]] and [[Soundwave (Prime)|''War for Cybertron'' Soundwave]].

* Profile: [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (p. 6)

* Profile: [[Moonracer]] (p. 7)

* "Transformers: 2010 - part 3" by [[Jim Sorenson]] (p. 8) - [[Rodimus Prime (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] and [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]'s specific strategies for victory.

* "THE GUESTS OF BOTCON" (p. 9) - BotCon has guests sometimes! Let's remind you.

* "[[The Coming Storm: Part 3]]" - comic story (pp. 10-15)

* ''[[Around Cybertron]]'' ([[Wings of Honor continuity|Wings of Honor]] version), "Featured Fan Art!" with "Optimus Prime" by Audrey Cunningham, [[Liftor]]'s profile (back cover)

==Notes==
* Martin Fisher wrote the profile for Moonracer, but is not listed among the issue's credits. [http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=185377#185377]

[[Category:Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issues]]

Sideways (Armada)

2010-08-28T18:38:06Z

Manuelle Magnus: /* Animated */

{{picsneeded|Sideways's Autobot/Decepticon faction symbol from Armada or Cybertron package.}}
{{disambig2|the Unicron-serving backstabber|the live-action Decepticon|Sideways (ROTF)}}
{{factions|autobot|decepticon|unicron}}

:''Sideways is a cross-universal agent of [[Unicron]] hailing from [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]], first seen in the [[Robots in Disguise (franchise)|Robots in Disguise]] [[continuity]].''

[[Image:Sidewaysarmadafleer.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Goofy ominous nutball hardass.]]

'''Sideways''' is the consummate con-artist. He is misleading and deceitful in everything he does, portraying himself as the ninja-like warrior or the aloof drifter, and he lives for the look of shock and betrayal on his victims' faces when they realize he's played them for fools. Though Sideways appears to be a robot of average size and strength, he is nigh-invincible when he calls upon the powers of Unicron. Using the mysterious [[trans-phase mode]], he can take any form he chooses, and "heal" even the most grievous damage at will. Often, he'll eschew a body entirely, choosing to speak through monitors or as a vision in the sky. When does choose to manifest in physical form, there is one constant: Sideways prefers to shroud his face behind a mask or visor or [[Mini-Con]] so as to keep himself mysterious and anonymous.

{{note|Sideways enjoys an extremely convoluted backstory in which he has been retroactively inserted into multiple different continuity families, and may be portrayed very differently in each. See individual series notes for details.}}

:''Japanese name:'' '''Doubleface''' (''Armada'' and ''Robot Masters''), '''Noisemaze''' (''Cybertron'')
:''Polish name:'' '''Krętacz''' (''Armada'')

==Fiction==
===''Robots In Disguise''===
====Toy bio====
Sideways was recruited into the Autobot army on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] around the time that [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|Fortress Maximus]] was uncovered on [[Earth]]. He modified his body to resemble a Terran sports motorcycle, facilitating the speed with which he performed many of his duties. Conscientious and ninja-like, Sideways maintained a mysterious silence about himself, expressing only a desire to quickly engage the enemy and then return to Cybertron (presumably from Earth, given his [[Alternate mode|alt-mode]]).<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-images/tech-specs/Robots-In-Disguise-Tech-Specs/2002-Transformers-Tech-Specs/Sideways__RID_.jpg.html ''Robots in Disguise'' Sideways's on-package bio]</ref>

{{note|In this, Sideways' first portrayal, we see no hint of anything beyond a run-of-the-mill Autobot warrior. However, much of the text of the RID Sideways profile (as well as the name and altmode, of course) was copied to become the basis for the Armada toy—thus making them the same character and "reversing" Sideways' exploits into the RID continuity.}}

===Unicron Trilogy===
====Cartoon continuity====
=====''Armada'' cartoon=====
:''Voice Actors:'' [[Paul Dobson]], [[Mark Acheson]] (as Unicron) (English); [[Takahiro Yamada]], [[Takahiro Sakurai]] (Japanese), [[Ekkehardt Belle]] (German)

[[Image:Gale Needalift.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Hey kids, want some candy?]]
Sideways first appeared as a beam of light from the sky striking a large [[Earth]] city near the Autobot base. An enigmatic warrior, he appeared to side with the Autobots, helping Hot Shot by watching his back during a confrontation with Scavenger. When asked to reveal himself, he transformed, his rider quickly splitting and becoming a helmet that covered his entire head. He claimed to be Sideways, a drifter who just wandered into the conflict. While he gave the human kids [[Billy (Armada)|Billy]] and [[Fred (Armada)|Fred]] rides in cycle mode to keep them entertained, [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] and [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] as well as [[Rad White|Rad]] and [[Alexis]] were suspicious of the motorcycle's motives, especially his close attention to the Mini-Cons. {{storylink|Gale}}

[[Image:Credulous Sidewaysknocksswordaway.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Surprise, the mysterious ninja is evil!]]

In the following battle, [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] faced Sideways and Hot Shot alone, and managed to force the [[Mini-Con storage panel|Mini-Con panel]] Sideways had (apparently) found out of his grasp. As the Decepticon leader began to warp away, both Autobots grabbed onto Megatron and all three were teleported to the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]]. To Hot Shot and Megatron's surprise, the Mini-Con panel was a fake,
made to convince Megatron to retreat so that Hot Shot, spurred on by Sideways's encouragement, could defeat the Decepticons once and for all. Though both robots fought well alongside each other, with Sideways expressing concern over Hot Shot's well-being, he eventually betrayed
the young Autobot, by striking a deal with Megatron. He would pretend to be Megatron's hostage and in exchange, no matter what, Hot Shot
would turn over the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]]. At first, Hot Shot did follow through, but reneged at the last moment by calling the Mini-Cons back to him. Sideways suddenly attacked Hot Shot, knocking the Star Saber out of his hands and kicking it to [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]. He switched Mini-Con heads, revealing his allegiance to the Decepticons. Hot Shot was savagely beaten by the Decepticons, who stopped short of destroying him on the advice of [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]], who teleported the young 'bot back to the Autobot base. Once Sideways's loyalty to the Decepticons seemed to be confirmed, he began manipulating them and playing them against each other to suit his mysterious goals. {{storylink|Credulous}}

[[Image:Sidewaysheads.jpg|left|150px|thumb|My Autobot counterpart is nearby...]]

One of these goals was the replacement of Megatron as Decepticon leader after a series of significant losses. Sideways sowed the seeds of rebellion within the Decepticon ranks, subtly turning Starscream against Megatron and convincing Megatron of Starscream's imminent treachery. The situation came to a head when the two Decepticons fought outside their base, but Sideways then realized Megatron would never execute Starscream for his insubordination, exposing an ever-constant weakness within the Decepticon command structure. After the battle, Sideways
mused that this weakness would come back to haunt Megatron one day, and would be his ruin. Fortunately though, this incident somehow served to
solidify the Decepticons as a unit, giving them much greater morale and cohesiveness, and achieving Sideways's aims of giving neither faction in the conflict a clear advantage. {{storylink|Rebellion}}

[[Image:Chase RainbowSideways.jpg|right|200px|thumb|You don't want to taste Sideways's rainbow.]]

Shortly thereafter, Sideways tried to hack the Autobot base computer, only to encounter the children attempting to destroy the equipment to stop Sideways. He transported them to a digital universe, where they saw the coming of two [[Jetfire (Armada)|new]] [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|combatants]]. He tried to threaten them into handing over the [[Street Action Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Street Action Mini-Con Team]], before the kids realized that as this wasn't real, he could not harm them. Sideways then apologized to an unseen master, shortly before the children escaped the digital universe, chased by an unknown [[Unicron|entity]]. {{storylink|Chase (episode)|Chase}}

The Decepticons began to distrust Sideways, suspecting he was not what he seemed, and realized he was manipulating everybody in the unit. Caught out by [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]] and the other Decepticons while communicating with his unseen master, Sideways panicked and attempted to escape, but not before he was confronted by [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] and sliced in half with the Star Saber. Sideways simply reformed each time, reconnecting his parts and absorbing laser blasts from the other Decepticons. Megatron, in fury and disgust, hacked Sideways to pieces and he was seemingly destroyed... or so they thought. Sideways had entered [[trans-phase mode]] and his [[Mirror|rider]] rose in the form of a twisted [[nanite]] creature before the Decepticons' eyes, declaring that the Star Saber and Skyboom shield were merely toys to him, as he was near-invincible. His rider said there were millions of Mini-Cons left to be found, and challenged Megatron to see who would find them first, before flying off to parts unknown. {{storylink|Detection}}

[[Image:Awakening-Sidewaysonscreen.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Sideways may be dead, but he lives on in reruns.]]

While most of the Autobots were on Earth fighting the monstrous new Decepticon recruit, [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]], Sideways made an appearance inside the Autobots' base... on a monitor! He told [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] and [[Alexis]] about the [[Requiem Blaster]], and how the Autobots must find the three Mini-Cons that form it before the Decepticons do. Neither of them trusted Sideways, but the knew Sideways was right. If the Decepticons did find the Requiem Blaster first, it could spell doom for the Autobots and the galaxy. {{storylink|Awakening}} He then journeyed to the [[Antarctica|Antarctic]] to deliver [[Ravenus]] and the [[Doomstone]] to a group of [[Speed Chaser Mini-Con Team|evil Mini-Cons]] who were hunting down [[Super Stunt Mini-Con Team|a group of refugee Mini-Cons]] for their master. {{storylink|Linkage Part 8}} Once the Autobots had acquired the Requiem Blaster, Sideways appeared once again on the Autobots' monitors, laughing. He showed them that he'd disabled their defenses. Sure enough, the Decepticons infiltrated the Autobot base, took the Requiem Blaster, and nearly killed [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] in the process. {{storylink|Sacrifice}}

Later, Sideways appeared to the Decepticon tactician, [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]], and told him that the Requiem Blaster would be even more powerful if used in conjunction with the other two Mini-Con weapons, the sword and the shield. {{storylink|Mars (episode)|Mars}} Thrust talked with Sideways again in a secret, ominous meeting. They planned to get the Mini-Con weapons away from the Autobots. {{storylink|Crack}} Thanks to Starscream's confusion on where his loyalties lay, he was able to steal the other two weapons from the Autobots, giving the Decepticons all three weapons. Thrust was hard at work on a secret project for Megatron, one that would harness the energy of all three weapons, and Sideways congratulated the tactician on his growing duplicity. When the three weapons were combined to power the starship [[Hydra Cannon]], Megatron used it to blow up a nearby comet while Sideways laughed from afar, on Earth's moon. {{storylink|Threaten}}

Both the Autobots and Decepticons were en route to Cybertron when a few of each faction were warped to a strange planet where they fought a dark copy of Optimus Prime called [[Nemesis Prime (Armada)|Nemesis Prime]]. When Optimus Prime and Megatron combined their firepower against it, Nemesis Prime was destroyed, and as the copy dissipated, Sideways appeared momentarily. Nemesis Prime had merely been Sideways's puppet. {{storylink|Puppet}}

[[Image:Uprising-SidewaysSpookyGhost.jpg|right|200px|thumb|He controls the horizontal, but not the vertical. The vertical is for saps.]]

When both sides had arrived on Cybertron, a black hole opened up over the planet. It started becoming apparent to some that Unicron was arriving. An apparition of Sideways appeared over the Autobots, and the Mini-Cons attacked it. After telling the Mini-Cons to get lost, Sideways again disappeared. Sideways returned to swear vengeance against the Mini-Cons when they tried to stop the black hole's effects. {{storylink|Uprising}} Eventually, Thrust became suspicious that his partnership with Sideways and Unicron might be found out, so he panicked and stole the Requiem Blaster and Skyboom Shield. Thrust ran deep underground where he met up with Sideways, but he was tailed by Starscream. Starscream declined Sideways's obligatory offer to join Unicron, and the two fought.

[[Image:Portent-Sideways vs Starscream.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Armada basically lines up the cast one by one so Sideways can call them an idiot.]]

Sideways assaulted Starscream with strange tendrils and amoeba-like organisms, and he and Thrust were able to leave with the two weapons. Now inside the moon in Cybertron's orbit, Sideways placed the Mini-Con weapons into its core, revealing that the moon was Unicron lying dormant all along. {{storylink|Portent}} The last of the three Mini-Con weapons was dropped by Starscream when he sacrificed himself to Unicron to prove to Galvatron (a transformed Megatron) that Autobot and Decepticon must join forces to destroy Unicron. Sideways formed over what was left of Starscream and grabbed the sword, making an easy getaway. {{storylink|Cramp}}

With all three weapons in place within Unicron's core, Sideways's master was able to shed the rest of his moon disguise and show his real form. Sideways and his patsy Thrust celebrated their inevitable victory over time and space. {{storylink|Alliance (episode)|Alliance}} Thrust was told by Sideways to leave, as his work for now Unicron was now done. Thrust was confused, thinking he would be Unicron's right-hand man, but Sideways got angry, and ordered him to leave immediately. Thrust, dejected, left for the surface, where he later was crushed to death within Unicron's
creases during the battle. {{storylink|Union}}

[[Image:Origin-SidewaysUnicroncore.jpg|right|250px|thumb|"I'm going to start elongating all my 's' sounds, Optimusssss."]]

Optimus and Megatron managed to reach the glowing core deep within Unicron's body. Before their eyes, the core budded, recreating the body of Sideways. Unicron spoke through this Sideways body, announcing that Sideways had always been an extension of Unicron himself, and that Sideways
had intentionally stoked the flames of the Autobot/Decepticon war so that Unicron could be fueled by their mutual hatred. He took special delight in mocking Optimus Prime for claiming to fight a war for peace, a seeming contradiction. The truth, according to Unicron/Sideways, was that Optimus Prime loved to battle; Prime refused to admit this. Unicron/Sideways wrapped Prime and Megatron in tendrils, drained Megatron of his energy, and offered Prime the opportunity to merge with him.

[[Image:Sideways dead.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Ouchies.]]

Then the children and their Mini-Cons arrived, and they pleaded with him to stop, but Unicron/Sideways was able to claim them as their own; the Mini-Cons were Unicron's creation, after all. But inside a dreamworld created by Unicron, the children were able to call out to the Mini-Cons. They reactivated and told Unicron/Sideways that they believed in peace, and would fight for it if necessary. Their combined might was able to help Prime break free of his tendrils, and he fired a shot right through Sideways using the Requiem Blaster. As what was left of Sideways faded, he claimed he'd have his revenge... {{storylink|Origin}}

{{note|Internal to the ''Armada'' series, it is slightly unclear whether Unicron was somehow possessing his body for that period of time, or if Sideways had been an extension of Unicron all along instead of a separate individual. The additional backstory provided for Sideways in ''Cybertron'', however, would seem to establish that it's the former. Additionally, in "[[Credulous]]", before Sideways's Mini-Con head connects with his body after colliding with Megatron, an odd voice spoke, sounding like it came from a being of lesser intelligence emanated from the motorcycle body's own head, before the Mini-Con head took over. The mysterious line not being in the Japanese version of the episode and the shaky nature of the ''Armada'' dub in general only further obscures the issue.}}

=====''Linkage'' mini-comics=====

On Unicron's behalf, Sideways provided his master's corrupted Mini-Cons with the use of [[Ravenus]] and the [[Doomstone]]. {{storylink|Linkage Part 8}} When they failed to eliminate or claim [[Redline]] and his friends, the evil Mini-Cons used [[trans-phase mode]] to connect with Sideways via a dimensional portal, and fled from Earth. {{storylink|Linkage Part 12}}

=====''Cybertron'' cartoon=====
:''Voice Actors:'' [[Ted Cole]] (English), [[Susumu Chiba]] (Japanese)

[[Image:Deep-Sideways.jpg|left|200px|thumb|He's been up there waiting the whole time!]]

Sideways was preserved by Unicron's dark power after his defeat by the Requiem Blaster. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime}} Twenty years later, he appeared again during the Transformers' search for the [[Cyber Planet Key|Cyber Planet Keys]]. After the disappearance of ''[[Atlantis]],'' he observed from the top of a rocky cliff and wondered how he could best manipulate both factions to his own advantage. It wouldn't be long
until they were all his puppets! {{storylink|Deep}} He offered his services to the Autobots, but as soon as he'd helped them corner Starscream, Sideways switched to a Decepticon symbol, fired on the Autobots, and promptly left. Starscream and the others were left wondering exactly what that was all about. {{storylink|Ship}}

[[Image:Sand-Sideways explains.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Honestly guys, I'm an Autobot! You don't remember me at all!]]

Later, Sideways spoke to Megatron through a portal window, telling him that Optimus Prime could be found on [[Jungle Planet (Cybertron)|Jungle Planet]]. He later appeared with the other Decepticons as they confronted the Autobots, chuckling evilly as they argued over who sent the messages leading to their meeting. {{storylink|Savage (episode)|Savage}} Sideways stood back and observed as Megatron fumed after his defeat at the hands of Optimus Prime on Jungle planet. Noting that the locals were itching for another fight with Prime, Sideways sought out [[Leobreaker]] in the woods, pleading for help to save a friend who was buried under a rockslide. Leobreaker rallied the other Autobots on Jungle Planet and marched them into a canyon to save this imaginary friend, while Sideways laughed from above. He had also sent a fake message from Optimus Prime to [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]], and so the Decepticons were also converging on that point. Megatron suspected the message was fake, but kept quiet. The two factions met in battle as Sideways planned, while he mused from above that no matter who loses, he wins! But he was spotted, and Leobreaker angrily threw him to the ground for lying to him. Sideways desperately explained that he was a "secret agent" for the Autobots, digging for "inside information". Optimus Prime wasn't convinced, but when their interrogation was interrupted by a communication from [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]], Sideways transformed and escaped. {{storylink|Sand}}

Sideways traveled with Megatron and the other Decepticons to [[Velocitron]] to apprehend the Speed Planet Cyber Planet Key. Here, Leobreaker and Sideways clashed again. When Megatron lost the Cyber Planet Key to [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]], he, Sideways, and the other Decepticons fled. {{storylink|Champion}} Meanwhile, as Optimus Prime prepared to battle Scourge for the Jungle Planet Cyber Planet Key, Sideways and Starscream plotted. {{storylink|Honor}} As Scourge trained for the coming battle, Sideways and Starscream bet on the winner. At Sideways's suggestion, Starscream interfered with the Autobots's ability to get to the battle, thus causing Scourge's faith in Prime as an honorable opponent to waver. {{storylink|Primal}}

When the Autobots finally defeated Scourge and acquired the Cyber Planet Key, Sideways was deployed with the rest of Megatron's troops to track down the Key after the Autobots split up with several decoy boxes. He personally pursued Vector Prime, revealing the ability to warp as he battled the ancient warrior for the box he held. When Vector Prime sent out [[Safeguard (Cybertron)|Safeguard]] to attack, Sideways used his faction-swapping shield to trick the Mini-Con into leaving before snatching the box from Vector Prime. When he found nothing but a rock inside, Sideways beat a hasty retreat. He was later seen goofing off as Megatron and Starscream went after the real holders of the Cyber Planet Key, and returned to Megatron's personal dimension when the rest of the Autobots arrived to secure the Key. {{storylink|Trust}}

[[Image:Retreat-SidewaysStarscreamarmy.jpg|left|200px|thumb|That's right, the undercarriage of Sideways's altmode shows you the inside of his split-open ass.]]

Starscream was growing tired of Megatron's attitude towards him, and Sideways wondered if Starscream was going to doublecross his leader. When Megatron and his troops headed out from his dimension to find another Cyber Planet Key, Starscream instead chose to head to Earth. Intrigued, Sideways followed Starscream there, where they witnessed a burst of Cyber Key-related energy. He joined Starscream on his trip to the Arctic, where the wayward Decepticon demanded the Autobot [[Crosswise (Cybertron)|Crosswise]] give him Earth's Cyber Planet Key. When Sideways realized that Starscream had sent Megatron the wrong direction and intended to take Earth's Key for himself, he decided to stay back and watch Starscream's fight with Crosswise, out of harm's way. ...at least, until Crosswise looked like he was going to lose, when Sideways happily leapt into action to kick him while he was down. Crosswise drove away, and Sideways shadowed him while Starscream investigated the cave he was guarding. {{storylink|Trap}} Sideways followed Crosswise all the way to his hidden hideout, where his leader, [[Evac (Cybertron)|Evac]], was waiting. When Sideways was discovered, he once again fled. {{storylink|Invasion}}

Starscream, meanwhile, had recruited countless imprisoned Decepticons he had freed in the Arctic, and so Sideways stood at his side while Starscream marched his army across the face of the Earth. They converged on the location of the Autobot base, where they found the Autobots retreating via a [[Space Bridge]]. Starscream and Sideways engaged them in battle, but Sideways was quickly knocked away by the Autobots' firepower. {{storylink|Retreat}} Starscream succeeded in grabbing the Autobots' collected Cyber Planet Keys and the [[Omega Lock]], and returned to his underground volcanic lair, where Sideways and [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast]] were waiting. {{storylink|Critical}} The Autobots weren't far behind, and a clash between them and Starscream's army was inevitable. Sideways called them forth, ordering them to rise up and destroy their enemies, while he and Starscream watched the battlefield through a portal;
Starscream was slowly absorbing the power of his stolen goods, and wasn't quite ready yet. The Autobots and Megatron managed to break into the volcano base, but Sideways had prepared a series of explosive boobytraps. {{storylink|Assault}}

[[Image:Starscreamepisode-Sidewaysposes.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Hey, Sideways, your shield has huge gaps in it.]]

Despite this, the Autobots were able to get through them, where they came face to face with Sideways. Asked as to what side he was on today, Sideways replied that he was on his own, but today he was betting on Starscream. The Autobots fought him, but he was able to warp around them at will, and none were able to land a punch. Ultimately, [[Vector Prime]] placed his Mini-Con, [[Safeguard (Cybertron)|Safeguard]] on Sideways's back, and Optimus Prime was able to use that to detect where Sideways would appear next. After several blasts, Sideways was once again able to flee, this time because of the arrival of Scourge. He returned to Starscream's side, where the wayward Decepticon was nearly finished absorbing the Omega Lock's power. When Starscream said he wouldn't run to face Megatron, but wait for Megatron to come and be picked off at his leisure, Sideways realized there was nothing more he could do there and left, teleporting away. {{storylink|Starscream (episode)|Starscream}} Once the tremendous battle was over, and Starscream (despite having grown to a large size) had fallen over defeated, Sideways reappeared. Noting that Starscream could still be useful to him, he warped Starscream's humongous body away. {{storylink|United}} Starscream woke up inside the ''Atlantis'', with Sideways standing over him. Sideways explained that during the time Starscream had been out, Megatron had been defeated and Primus had awoken. The two traveled to Cybertron and found it transformed into Primus, but lying dormant; Sideways snarked that some clever guy had stolen all his power. He and Starscream tried to fight their way through the Autobots to the Omega Lock, but failed. Later, Sideways warped behind the Autobots' human friends, nabbed their three [[Mini-Con]] pals, and warped away. Angry, the children jumped into the portal window he left behind. {{storylink|Balance}}

[[Image:Memory-Sidewaysandchildren.jpg|left|200px|thumb|WOULD YOU LIKE TO? WOULD YOU LIKE TO?]]

Sideways attached Jolt to some equipment in order to search his memories for data pertaining to location of [[Gigantion]], where the last Cyber Planet Key would be found. But all Sideways could extract was useless data that would take forever to examine, so he tried to watch some television to pass the time. No luck—they were jamming their own communications, so he couldn't watch ''[[Galactic Guardians]]'' or anything, so he turned on his [[Soundwave (G1)|stereo]] and began moving to the music. Starscream yelled at him for goofing off. Embarrassed, Sideways ran off to do repairs. Indeed, the memory download was taking too long, so Sideways decided it would be much quicker if they just hacked open Jolt's head, took what they wanted, and deleted the rest. The operation was interrupted by the children, and so Sideways left to deal with them. After a few slapstick adventures, including a faked hologram of Megatron telling Sideways to jump on one foot and call himself a "pretty lady", the children were able to escape with Sideways's key to the cell he was keeping the other two Mini-Cons in. Though those two were rescued, Sideways finally caught up with them, laughing maniacally and with evil intent. {{storylink|Memory}} Jolt, whose rotors were now untied, was able to open a warpgate for himself and the others to escape through. Angered, Sideways warped away himself, and appeared again in front of the children and the Mini-Cons, telling him that he had put an energy field around the ship to prevent Jolt from pulling that trick again. The children and the Mini-Cons ran, but he threw one of his wing blades into the path ahead of them, blocking their escape. As Sideways mocked their attempts to distract him so they could make their getaway, [[Coby Hansen|Coby]] was able to communicate with the ship and spray [[fire-retardant foam]] over Sideways's head. They fled.

[[Image:Escape-Sidewaysmeandrawing.jpg|right|thumb|250px|"A ''mouth?!'' This is libel!"]]

Later, when the children and the Mini-Cons had located the chamber in which Sideways was guarding, the one that was blocking communications from being sent out of ''Atlantis'', they remotely caused a malfunction in one of the engine rooms. Sideways ran out of the chamber and into the engine room, where he found a crude drawing of him on the wall. "Now that's just mean!" Next they dumped him down one of the garbage chutes, which Sideways laughed at. He'd just warp out of there! But he forgot that he'd disabled warping, so he was cast out of the ship into space. A piece of trash that followed him conked him on his head, knocking him out. ''Atlantis'' was soon found by the Autobots and Decepticons, and so Starscream set the ship to warp away. Just in time, the children and the Mini-Cons shot themselves out of the ship in two escape pods, but Sideways's floating body blocked the second pod from leaving the warp perimeter of the ship. Sideways and the second pod disappeared along with ''Atlantis''. {{storylink|Escape (episode)|Escape}}

Sideways returned to the helm of ''Atlantis'' with Starscream, as the distance between them and the planet [[Gigantion]], home to the final [[Cyber Planet Key]], quickly narrowed. But due to the work of [[Bud Hansen|Bud]], Jolt, and [[Reverb (Cybertron)|Reverb]], [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], [[Wing Saber]], and the Decepticons were able to follow a trail to the ship, and so Sideways activated the ship's defenses while he navigated a warp jump away. But after they had jumped, Starscream felt the power of Primus, and so the ''Atlantis'' returned to Cybertron. After a battle between Starscream and Primus, Starscream was brutally defeated, so Sideways warped the ship away again with Starscream's body in tow. {{storylink|Titans}} Starscream was no worse for wear by the time Sideways had begun piloting ''Atlantis'' through a warp gate to another dimension where Gigantion was located, but the Autobots' ship, the ''[[Ogygia]]'', wasn't far behind. ''Atlantis'' started lagging behind the Autobots when Bud and the Mini-Cons aboard began sabotaging its engines, much to the fury of Sideways and Starscream. {{storylink|Warp}}

Sideways managed to get ''Atlantis'' to Gigantion, but only after a crash-landing. Before too long, the ship was under attack from the Autobots. Starscream was still too drained from his fight with Primus, so Sideways was told to fight them himself, an order he grumbled loudly about once he was out of Starscream's range. He confronted Optimus Prime, merged with Wing Saber, and bemoaned their sneaky tactics. He was the one supposed to be pulling the strings! As Sideways was targeted by a volley of missiles, Optimus Prime told Sideways that he'd had enough of his tricks. After a prolonged fight, Sideways could do nothing better than to utter a pathetic "mother!" as Prime's final, most powerful attack was bearing in on him. Thankfully for Sideways, he was saved by [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]], who pushed him out of the way at the last second. Once they were safe, Sideways thanked Soundwave for the rescue. Soundwave reminded Sideways that "that's how we roll," and not to forget their ultimate purpose. {{storylink|City}}

[[Image:Showdown-SoundwaveSidewaysstare.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Don't go towards the light, Sideways!]]

While the both of them were searching for the last Cyber Planet Key, they were discovered by the [[Cybertron Defense Force]]. Soundwave explained to them that he and Sideways were the last two survivors of [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]], which was destroyed as the result of a battle between it and Gigantion long ago. When the Autobots noted it was their own fault their planet was destroyed, Soundwave shrouded them in a thick black cloud while Sideways created virtual duplicates of himself. He managed to mess with Red Alert's head, but was tricked into revealing himself by Scattorshot after the clever technician dealt with the smog. In the end, the two Planet X natives were crushed under a falling tower. {{storylink|Challenge}}

Sideways and Soundwave didn't resurface until the Autobots were ready to leave Gigantion to their home dimension to repair the black hole. They challenged the Autobots, blocking their path out of the planet, for they wanted to ensure the black hole destroyed the galaxy. After fighting Optimus Prime to a standstill, they were interrupted by Starscream and Megatron, who were fighting several layers above them, glowing and pulsating with energy levels no one present had ever seen. Soundwave and Sideways wanted to escape, fearing their own destruction, but they lamented that if they didn't grab the Omega Lock then, they'd have failed at their mission. Both warped closer to the battle between Megatron and Starscream, and, reaching towards the tremendous energy that had built up during the Decepticons' battle, Sideways begged Soundwave to leave and save himself. Soundwave rejected this, because they were in this together. As Megatron and Starscream punched each other simultaneously, a wave of energy seemed to destroy both Planet X natives.

[[Image:Beginning-SoundwaveSideways.jpg|right|thumb|250px|We're not dead! Neither is our planet! Weird.]]

Vector Prime noted that neither were likely destroyed in the conventional sense, but were blasted into another dimension. {{storylink|Showdown (episode)|Showdown}} His analysis seemed to be correct; a little later, when Megatron witnessed a vision of Starscream—apparently reaching out through the [[fire dimension]] to mock him one final time—Sideways and Soundwave were both standing by the traitor's side. {{storylink|Unfinished}}

The next (and last) time Sideways was seen, he, Soundwave, and [[Laserbeak (Cybertron)|Laserbeak]] were cheering as they stood before an undestroyed Planet X, apparently having found an intact, parallel version of their homeworld in the dimension they had been transported to. {{storylink|Beginning}}

{{-}}

====Dreamwave ''Armada'' comic====
[[Image:SkywarpSidewaysWheeljack.jpg|left|300px|thumb|I'm such a secret shill for Unicron that you only ever see me once! Well, twice.]]

Always evasive about where his true loyalties lie, Sideways has been seen on battlefields the galaxy over, but not always on the same side. He has manipulated both factions like a game of cosmic chess, and chooses his words carefully. Neither Autobot nor Decepticon, he has always served just one master: [[Unicron]]. To these purposes, he assigned his Mini-Con companion, [[Crosswise (Armada)|Crosswise]] to infiltrate the Mini-Cons' Moonbase operations and send things awry. Crosswise was more of a wildcard than a full-on partner, unlike Sideways's other Mini-Con, [[Rook (Armada)|Rook]]. Rook was assigned to sow the real seeds of discontent amongst the Mini-Cons on the moon. {{storylink|More Than Meets The Eye (Armada)}}

Sideways himself was first seen working on a secret desert rocket site, guarded by [[Skywarp (Armada)|Skywarp]] and [[Wheeljack (Armada)|Wheeljack]], which was designed to launch Megatron's [[Solar Scalpel]] laser system in orbit. {{storylink|Fire & Ice}} After the rocket was launched, he returned to Cybertron, and was present for the battle against Unicron... though what exact role he played in it is unknown. {{storylink|The End}}
{{-}}

===Generation 1===
====''Robot Masters'' online comic====
[[Image:RMComic-SidewaysBWMegs.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Master manipulator teamed up with master manipulator? That's WAY more interesting than [[Lio Convoy]] teaming up with [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]... so of course it only happens ONCE.]]

Sideways participated in the confusing war over [[Solitarium]], where he employed a special communications system called "[[Crosswise (Armada)|Shadow]] and [[Rook (Armada)|Bright]]". When [[Road Rocket (G2)|Road Rocket]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], and [[Optimus Primal]] explored a crevasse filled with [[Solitarium]] crystals, they were ambushed from above by [[Megatron (BW)|Beast Megatron]] and Sideways, who detonated the crystals around the Autobots.

Fortunately, Primal managed to shield the three from the explosion with a huge slab of rock, but they were unable to prevent the Decepticons from making off with a huge load of Solitarium.{{storylink|Robot Masters (online comic)|Must Defend the Solitarium!}}

{{note|Sideways is said to have used special dimension-jumping powers to participate in this storyline, and he now shares the paintscheme of Armada Sideways. Remember that part—you'll see why soon!}}

{{-}}
====TV Magazine ''Robot Masters'' photocomic====
[[Image:Roadrocketsidewaysphotocomic.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Okay, thumb war!]]

Road Rocket and Sideways found a piece of Solitarium at the same time, though each claimed they saw it first. The Solitarium was located across a gorge, so the two revved up their engines to see who could cross it in their motorcycle modes. Unfortunately, Sideways miscalculated, falling down the gorge, while Road Rocket was victorious. {{storylink|Robot Masters Vol. 4}}

{{-}}

===''Animated''===
[[Image:Sidewaysanimated.jpg|right|thumb|100px|He might change his mind about Shanghai once he gets there.]]
Shortly before the [[AllSpark (Animated)|AllSpark]] was hidden in space by [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]], Sideways arrived from another dimension and joined the Decepticons. Land General Sideways was responsible for overseeing the [[Silvart War]], where he was captured by [[Primal Major]] and prepared for transportation back to Cybertron on board the ''[[Alpha Supreme|Axalon]]''. [[Shockwave (Animated)|Longarm Prime]] speculated that thanks to the General's [[Trans-phase mode|Trans-Phase Generator]], Sideways broke free of his restraints and sabotaged the engine, causing the ''Axalon'' and its crew to succumb to a black hole.

Since Sideways was never seen again, Longarm Prime suspects Sideways was trying to get to some place called "[[Shanghai]]", which he frequently mentioned. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac Volume 2|The AllSpark Almanac Volume 2}}

{{note|''Animated'' Sideways is described as having the signature powers of the familiar pre-existing character. His body looks like [[Sideways (ROTF)|''Revenge of the Fallen'' Sideways]] with the paintjob of ''Armada'' Sideways. These clear visual continuity points are very similar to those used to establish that Sideways had "jumped" from the Unicron Trilogy into Generation 1. However, there is no absolute proof that after his arrival in ''Animated'', Sideways ever followed through on his desire to visit Shanghai, nor which universe's Shanghai he might have visited. If one makes the conclusion that he did make that jump, he and the movie-continuity Sideways must be the same person; if not, not.}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===Robots in Disguise===
[[Image:RIDtoy-Sideways.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Hello, my treacherous friend.]]

* '''Sideways vs. Axer''' (Mega multi-pack, 2002)

: The first Sideways toy is a yellow and black [[redeco]] (and minor [[Retool|retooling]], from changes made to the mold for a Japanese ''[[Microman]]'' version) of [[Road Rocket (G2)|Road Rocket]], transforming into a Yamaha GTS1000A racing motorcycle with a light-up rear wheel suspension/buzzsaw weapon. He came packaged with [[Axer]] in a [[Wal-Mart]] [[exclusive]] two-pack.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2002/Autobot/Sideways/sideways.htm More information on RiD Sideways at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Armada===
[[Image:Armadatoy-Sideways-wrongways.jpg|right|300px|thumb|My hats are the grandest of all... except that they're putting me on the wrong sides!]]

* '''Sideways w/ Rook and Crosswise''' (Super-Con, 2002)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''MX-01'''
**''Accessories'': 2 tailpipe-missiles

: The second toy of Sideways was released in 2002 in ''[[Armada (toyline)|Armada]]'', transforming into a Cybertronic motorcycle, and was the first larger ''Armada'' toy to come with two [[Mini-Con|Mini-Cons]]; [[Rook (Armada)|Rook]] and [[Crosswise (Armada)|Crosswise]]. Each Mini-Con could form a new head for Sideways, as well as reveal a faction sigil behind his clear-plastic chestplate in that mode. Their individual and combined robot modes were designed to act as riders when Sideways is in vehicle mode. His tailpipes become arm-mounted [[Powerlinx]]-activated pressure-launch missile launchers.

: Two variations of the [[Hasbro]] version of the toy exist. The first variation features the opposite Mini-Con heads revealing their intended faction logo. This was due to an error in the television series' animation which depicted Crosswise as the Decepticon head and Rook as the Autobot head. Hasbro made a [[running change]] so the toy reflected the series' faction alignments. The second variation changed the salmon on Crosswise to a more Decepticon-like purple. This toy was also released in the Japanese ''Micron Legend'' toyline as "Doubleface" shortly afterwards, featuring a color scheme on the cockpit of the bike that was closer to the anime appearance.

: In November of 2003, US [[Toys"R"Us]] stores had special bonus pack Max-Con (Deluxe) toys, which came with a single bonus Mini-Con attached to the card over their sticker, for ''less'' than the price as a normal Max-Con during Toys"R"Us's post-Thanksgiving-day sale. Like [[Blurr (Armada)|Blurr]], Sideways could come with one of the [[Destruction Mini-Con Team]] members: [[Buzzsaw (Armada)|Buzzsaw]], [[Drill Bit (Armada)|Drill Bit]], or [[Dualor]].

: This mold was also used for ''[[Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' [[Rapid Run (Energon)|Rapid Run]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2002/Autobot/ArmSideways/sideways.htm More information on Armada Sideways at TFU.info]''

===Robot Masters===
[[Image:RMtoy-Doubleface.jpg|right|300px|thumb|We've come full circle or something.]]
* '''Doubleface''' (Robot Master, 2004)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''RM-19'''

: Doubleface, a purple, gray, and yellow [[redeco]] (and minor [[Retool|retooling]], from changes made to the mold for a Japanese ''[[Microman]]'' version) of [[Road Pig (G2)|Road Pig]], was released in Japan in 2005, transforming into a Harley-Davidson Electra Glide touring motorcycle with electronic light-up tailpipe/"blaster" weapon. It featured a fixed Decepticon logo, and was the second and last appearance of this character in Japan as of 2006.

: There is a minor variation to this toy; though both versions feature an "electronics warning" on the robot mode's butt, some versions use a clear-plastic sticker, while others have the text tampographed there.

: This mold was also used for ''[[Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Axer]]. It was planned for use in ''[[Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' as [[Soundwave (G1)/toys#LaserCycle|Soundwave]], but that toy never saw release.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2004/Destron/DoubleFace/doubleface.htm More information on Robot Masters Doubleface at TFU.info]''

===Cybertron===
[[Image:SidewaysCybertron.jpg|right|300px|thumb|On second thought, screw the whole motorcycle thing.]]
* '''Sideways''' (Deluxe-Class, 2005)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''GX-01'''
**''Accessories'': Left & right wing-blades, Planet X Cyber Key

: The third toy of Sideways released in the US was in the [[Cybertron (toyline)|''Cybertron'' toyline]]. Sideways in this line is a black and orange alien spacefighter with [[Cyber Planet Key]]-activated faction-switching ability and pop-out blades built into his battle shield. The toy features a translucent face with his signature horns. He comes with a [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]] style Cyber Planet Key; the US version has the [[Cyber Key Codes|Cyber Key Code]] "'''dj51'''" [[Tampograph|tampographed]] on the back.

: This toy was released in Japan as ''Galaxy Force'' Noisemaze, and no mention was made of a relationship to Doubleface / Sideways. He features chromed details on the wings instead of the standard gray, along with more intricate paint applications.

: This mold was also used for the Japanese DVD-[[exclusive]] [[Noisemaze Mass-Production Version]], ''[[Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]], and was [[Retool|retooled]] into [[BotCon 2009]] ''[[Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'' [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and the [[Sweep]]s.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2005/Decepticon/Sideways/sideways.htm More information on Cybertron Sideways at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Super Collection Figure===
[[Image:ACT10-Doubleface.jpg|right|thumb|300px|STRIKE POSE!]]
*'''Doubleface''' (2003)

:Available in "Act 10" of Takara's [[Super Collection Figure]] PVC line, Doubleface was available in both color and pewter. He came with an extra head so that his appearance could be switched between Doubleface's "normal" head and the "Decepticon" head. His appearance could ''not'' be switched out of its sort of weird-looking pose, however.
{{-}}

==Notes==

* The case for the Sidewayses of the five different continuity families (''Robots in Disguise,'' Unicron Trilogy, Generation 1, ''Animated'', and the live-action film) being the same individual hopping universes is... not airtight. Until 2010, no fiction had actually portrayed him migrating from one universe to another, but even before then, circumstantial evidence abounded:
** The first Sideways, a ''Robots in Disguise'' toy, was packaged with [[Axer]], whose on-package [[bio]] strongly insinuates that he had come from the ''Generation 1'' universe through a black hole. The bios make no particular connection between the two characters, so there is no reason to think Sideways must have come from another universe as well. Nevertheless, the real-world pairing of the characters makes it easy to accept that he did, based on later evidence.
** The next Sideways, from ''Armada'', was given an on-package bio of almost identical wording to that of the ''Robots in Disguise'' character. The ''Armada'' bio suggests that his duplicity is a new development upon coming to Earth, the result of being pulled in two mental directions by his Mini-Cons.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-images/tech-specs/Armada-Tech-Specs/2002-Transformers-Tech-Specs/Sideways__A_.jpg.html ''Armada'' Sideways's on-package bio]</ref> However, the cartoons and comics would both develop him as a pure agent of Unicron, which of course opens all sorts of cross-universal possibilities.
** The ''Robot Masters'' toy is what seals the deal. It's named and colored after the ''Armada'' toy, and some ''Robot Masters'' publicity material has declared that the character's first toy was indeed the ''Robots in Disguise'' Sideways figure. Since the entire premise of ''Robot Masters'' is that Transformers are arriving on present-day Earth through wormholes from across time and space, the idea that Sideways universe-hopped into the ''Robot Masters'' continuity is too strong to ignore.
** And finally, in 2010 the ''[[AllSpark Almanac II]]'' presented ''Animated'' Sideways as pretty clearly the same individual as all the other previous Sidewayses, and arguably the [[Sideways (ROTF)|Sideways of the live-action film]]. We are so, so shocked. On the other hand, this means getting cut in half was no huge deal for him. It'd happened [[Star Saber (Armada)|before]].

[[Image:Detection-SidewaysNoHat.jpg|right|180px|thumb|He's back. From outer space.]]

* In ''Armada'', outside of the stock footage sequences showing Sideways putting his Mini-Con helmets on, his "bare" head was often colored in shades of gray similar to the Crosswise head, rather than the appropriate purple and yellow.
* While the positioning of ''Armada'' Sideways's head-handlebars in toy form is up to the owner, the cartoon consistently portrayed them as angled downwards.
* In "[[Memory]]", Sideways seemed to be a fan of the [[Galactic Guardians]], a superhero team who star in their own cartoon show. He also seemed to be a fan of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive", as he sang the first few lyrics to himself before being interrupted by Starscream.

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Armada characters]]
[[Category:Animated characters]]
[[Category:Autobots]]
[[Category:Cybertron characters]]
[[Category:Decepticons]]
[[Category:Dimension hoppers]]
[[Category:Double agents]]
[[Category:Headmasters]]
[[Category:Ninjas]]
[[Category:Planet X]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen characters]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise characters]]
[[Category:Robot Masters characters]]
[[Category:Scouts]]
[[Category:Spies]]
[[Category:Unicron-related characters]]

Sideways (Armada)

2010-08-28T18:35:14Z

Manuelle Magnus: /* Animated */

{{picsneeded|Sideways's Autobot/Decepticon faction symbol from Armada or Cybertron package.}}
{{disambig2|the Unicron-serving backstabber|the live-action Decepticon|Sideways (ROTF)}}
{{factions|autobot|decepticon|unicron}}

:''Sideways is a cross-universal agent of [[Unicron]] hailing from [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]], first seen in the [[Robots in Disguise (franchise)|Robots in Disguise]] [[continuity]].''

[[Image:Sidewaysarmadafleer.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Goofy ominous nutball hardass.]]

'''Sideways''' is the consummate con-artist. He is misleading and deceitful in everything he does, portraying himself as the ninja-like warrior or the aloof drifter, and he lives for the look of shock and betrayal on his victims' faces when they realize he's played them for fools. Though Sideways appears to be a robot of average size and strength, he is nigh-invincible when he calls upon the powers of Unicron. Using the mysterious [[trans-phase mode]], he can take any form he chooses, and "heal" even the most grievous damage at will. Often, he'll eschew a body entirely, choosing to speak through monitors or as a vision in the sky. When does choose to manifest in physical form, there is one constant: Sideways prefers to shroud his face behind a mask or visor or [[Mini-Con]] so as to keep himself mysterious and anonymous.

{{note|Sideways enjoys an extremely convoluted backstory in which he has been retroactively inserted into multiple different continuity families, and may be portrayed very differently in each. See individual series notes for details.}}

:''Japanese name:'' '''Doubleface''' (''Armada'' and ''Robot Masters''), '''Noisemaze''' (''Cybertron'')
:''Polish name:'' '''Krętacz''' (''Armada'')

==Fiction==
===''Robots In Disguise''===
====Toy bio====
Sideways was recruited into the Autobot army on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] around the time that [[Fortress Maximus (RID)|Fortress Maximus]] was uncovered on [[Earth]]. He modified his body to resemble a Terran sports motorcycle, facilitating the speed with which he performed many of his duties. Conscientious and ninja-like, Sideways maintained a mysterious silence about himself, expressing only a desire to quickly engage the enemy and then return to Cybertron (presumably from Earth, given his [[Alternate mode|alt-mode]]).<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-images/tech-specs/Robots-In-Disguise-Tech-Specs/2002-Transformers-Tech-Specs/Sideways__RID_.jpg.html ''Robots in Disguise'' Sideways's on-package bio]</ref>

{{note|In this, Sideways' first portrayal, we see no hint of anything beyond a run-of-the-mill Autobot warrior. However, much of the text of the RID Sideways profile (as well as the name and altmode, of course) was copied to become the basis for the Armada toy—thus making them the same character and "reversing" Sideways' exploits into the RID continuity.}}

===Unicron Trilogy===
====Cartoon continuity====
=====''Armada'' cartoon=====
:''Voice Actors:'' [[Paul Dobson]], [[Mark Acheson]] (as Unicron) (English); [[Takahiro Yamada]], [[Takahiro Sakurai]] (Japanese), [[Ekkehardt Belle]] (German)

[[Image:Gale Needalift.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Hey kids, want some candy?]]
Sideways first appeared as a beam of light from the sky striking a large [[Earth]] city near the Autobot base. An enigmatic warrior, he appeared to side with the Autobots, helping Hot Shot by watching his back during a confrontation with Scavenger. When asked to reveal himself, he transformed, his rider quickly splitting and becoming a helmet that covered his entire head. He claimed to be Sideways, a drifter who just wandered into the conflict. While he gave the human kids [[Billy (Armada)|Billy]] and [[Fred (Armada)|Fred]] rides in cycle mode to keep them entertained, [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] and [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] as well as [[Rad White|Rad]] and [[Alexis]] were suspicious of the motorcycle's motives, especially his close attention to the Mini-Cons. {{storylink|Gale}}

[[Image:Credulous Sidewaysknocksswordaway.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Surprise, the mysterious ninja is evil!]]

In the following battle, [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] faced Sideways and Hot Shot alone, and managed to force the [[Mini-Con storage panel|Mini-Con panel]] Sideways had (apparently) found out of his grasp. As the Decepticon leader began to warp away, both Autobots grabbed onto Megatron and all three were teleported to the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]]. To Hot Shot and Megatron's surprise, the Mini-Con panel was a fake,
made to convince Megatron to retreat so that Hot Shot, spurred on by Sideways's encouragement, could defeat the Decepticons once and for all. Though both robots fought well alongside each other, with Sideways expressing concern over Hot Shot's well-being, he eventually betrayed
the young Autobot, by striking a deal with Megatron. He would pretend to be Megatron's hostage and in exchange, no matter what, Hot Shot
would turn over the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]]. At first, Hot Shot did follow through, but reneged at the last moment by calling the Mini-Cons back to him. Sideways suddenly attacked Hot Shot, knocking the Star Saber out of his hands and kicking it to [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]]. He switched Mini-Con heads, revealing his allegiance to the Decepticons. Hot Shot was savagely beaten by the Decepticons, who stopped short of destroying him on the advice of [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]], who teleported the young 'bot back to the Autobot base. Once Sideways's loyalty to the Decepticons seemed to be confirmed, he began manipulating them and playing them against each other to suit his mysterious goals. {{storylink|Credulous}}

[[Image:Sidewaysheads.jpg|left|150px|thumb|My Autobot counterpart is nearby...]]

One of these goals was the replacement of Megatron as Decepticon leader after a series of significant losses. Sideways sowed the seeds of rebellion within the Decepticon ranks, subtly turning Starscream against Megatron and convincing Megatron of Starscream's imminent treachery. The situation came to a head when the two Decepticons fought outside their base, but Sideways then realized Megatron would never execute Starscream for his insubordination, exposing an ever-constant weakness within the Decepticon command structure. After the battle, Sideways
mused that this weakness would come back to haunt Megatron one day, and would be his ruin. Fortunately though, this incident somehow served to
solidify the Decepticons as a unit, giving them much greater morale and cohesiveness, and achieving Sideways's aims of giving neither faction in the conflict a clear advantage. {{storylink|Rebellion}}

[[Image:Chase RainbowSideways.jpg|right|200px|thumb|You don't want to taste Sideways's rainbow.]]

Shortly thereafter, Sideways tried to hack the Autobot base computer, only to encounter the children attempting to destroy the equipment to stop Sideways. He transported them to a digital universe, where they saw the coming of two [[Jetfire (Armada)|new]] [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|combatants]]. He tried to threaten them into handing over the [[Street Action Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Street Action Mini-Con Team]], before the kids realized that as this wasn't real, he could not harm them. Sideways then apologized to an unseen master, shortly before the children escaped the digital universe, chased by an unknown [[Unicron|entity]]. {{storylink|Chase (episode)|Chase}}

The Decepticons began to distrust Sideways, suspecting he was not what he seemed, and realized he was manipulating everybody in the unit. Caught out by [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]] and the other Decepticons while communicating with his unseen master, Sideways panicked and attempted to escape, but not before he was confronted by [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] and sliced in half with the Star Saber. Sideways simply reformed each time, reconnecting his parts and absorbing laser blasts from the other Decepticons. Megatron, in fury and disgust, hacked Sideways to pieces and he was seemingly destroyed... or so they thought. Sideways had entered [[trans-phase mode]] and his [[Mirror|rider]] rose in the form of a twisted [[nanite]] creature before the Decepticons' eyes, declaring that the Star Saber and Skyboom shield were merely toys to him, as he was near-invincible. His rider said there were millions of Mini-Cons left to be found, and challenged Megatron to see who would find them first, before flying off to parts unknown. {{storylink|Detection}}

[[Image:Awakening-Sidewaysonscreen.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Sideways may be dead, but he lives on in reruns.]]

While most of the Autobots were on Earth fighting the monstrous new Decepticon recruit, [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]], Sideways made an appearance inside the Autobots' base... on a monitor! He told [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] and [[Alexis]] about the [[Requiem Blaster]], and how the Autobots must find the three Mini-Cons that form it before the Decepticons do. Neither of them trusted Sideways, but the knew Sideways was right. If the Decepticons did find the Requiem Blaster first, it could spell doom for the Autobots and the galaxy. {{storylink|Awakening}} He then journeyed to the [[Antarctica|Antarctic]] to deliver [[Ravenus]] and the [[Doomstone]] to a group of [[Speed Chaser Mini-Con Team|evil Mini-Cons]] who were hunting down [[Super Stunt Mini-Con Team|a group of refugee Mini-Cons]] for their master. {{storylink|Linkage Part 8}} Once the Autobots had acquired the Requiem Blaster, Sideways appeared once again on the Autobots' monitors, laughing. He showed them that he'd disabled their defenses. Sure enough, the Decepticons infiltrated the Autobot base, took the Requiem Blaster, and nearly killed [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]] in the process. {{storylink|Sacrifice}}

Later, Sideways appeared to the Decepticon tactician, [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]], and told him that the Requiem Blaster would be even more powerful if used in conjunction with the other two Mini-Con weapons, the sword and the shield. {{storylink|Mars (episode)|Mars}} Thrust talked with Sideways again in a secret, ominous meeting. They planned to get the Mini-Con weapons away from the Autobots. {{storylink|Crack}} Thanks to Starscream's confusion on where his loyalties lay, he was able to steal the other two weapons from the Autobots, giving the Decepticons all three weapons. Thrust was hard at work on a secret project for Megatron, one that would harness the energy of all three weapons, and Sideways congratulated the tactician on his growing duplicity. When the three weapons were combined to power the starship [[Hydra Cannon]], Megatron used it to blow up a nearby comet while Sideways laughed from afar, on Earth's moon. {{storylink|Threaten}}

Both the Autobots and Decepticons were en route to Cybertron when a few of each faction were warped to a strange planet where they fought a dark copy of Optimus Prime called [[Nemesis Prime (Armada)|Nemesis Prime]]. When Optimus Prime and Megatron combined their firepower against it, Nemesis Prime was destroyed, and as the copy dissipated, Sideways appeared momentarily. Nemesis Prime had merely been Sideways's puppet. {{storylink|Puppet}}

[[Image:Uprising-SidewaysSpookyGhost.jpg|right|200px|thumb|He controls the horizontal, but not the vertical. The vertical is for saps.]]

When both sides had arrived on Cybertron, a black hole opened up over the planet. It started becoming apparent to some that Unicron was arriving. An apparition of Sideways appeared over the Autobots, and the Mini-Cons attacked it. After telling the Mini-Cons to get lost, Sideways again disappeared. Sideways returned to swear vengeance against the Mini-Cons when they tried to stop the black hole's effects. {{storylink|Uprising}} Eventually, Thrust became suspicious that his partnership with Sideways and Unicron might be found out, so he panicked and stole the Requiem Blaster and Skyboom Shield. Thrust ran deep underground where he met up with Sideways, but he was tailed by Starscream. Starscream declined Sideways's obligatory offer to join Unicron, and the two fought.

[[Image:Portent-Sideways vs Starscream.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Armada basically lines up the cast one by one so Sideways can call them an idiot.]]

Sideways assaulted Starscream with strange tendrils and amoeba-like organisms, and he and Thrust were able to leave with the two weapons. Now inside the moon in Cybertron's orbit, Sideways placed the Mini-Con weapons into its core, revealing that the moon was Unicron lying dormant all along. {{storylink|Portent}} The last of the three Mini-Con weapons was dropped by Starscream when he sacrificed himself to Unicron to prove to Galvatron (a transformed Megatron) that Autobot and Decepticon must join forces to destroy Unicron. Sideways formed over what was left of Starscream and grabbed the sword, making an easy getaway. {{storylink|Cramp}}

With all three weapons in place within Unicron's core, Sideways's master was able to shed the rest of his moon disguise and show his real form. Sideways and his patsy Thrust celebrated their inevitable victory over time and space. {{storylink|Alliance (episode)|Alliance}} Thrust was told by Sideways to leave, as his work for now Unicron was now done. Thrust was confused, thinking he would be Unicron's right-hand man, but Sideways got angry, and ordered him to leave immediately. Thrust, dejected, left for the surface, where he later was crushed to death within Unicron's
creases during the battle. {{storylink|Union}}

[[Image:Origin-SidewaysUnicroncore.jpg|right|250px|thumb|"I'm going to start elongating all my 's' sounds, Optimusssss."]]

Optimus and Megatron managed to reach the glowing core deep within Unicron's body. Before their eyes, the core budded, recreating the body of Sideways. Unicron spoke through this Sideways body, announcing that Sideways had always been an extension of Unicron himself, and that Sideways
had intentionally stoked the flames of the Autobot/Decepticon war so that Unicron could be fueled by their mutual hatred. He took special delight in mocking Optimus Prime for claiming to fight a war for peace, a seeming contradiction. The truth, according to Unicron/Sideways, was that Optimus Prime loved to battle; Prime refused to admit this. Unicron/Sideways wrapped Prime and Megatron in tendrils, drained Megatron of his energy, and offered Prime the opportunity to merge with him.

[[Image:Sideways dead.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Ouchies.]]

Then the children and their Mini-Cons arrived, and they pleaded with him to stop, but Unicron/Sideways was able to claim them as their own; the Mini-Cons were Unicron's creation, after all. But inside a dreamworld created by Unicron, the children were able to call out to the Mini-Cons. They reactivated and told Unicron/Sideways that they believed in peace, and would fight for it if necessary. Their combined might was able to help Prime break free of his tendrils, and he fired a shot right through Sideways using the Requiem Blaster. As what was left of Sideways faded, he claimed he'd have his revenge... {{storylink|Origin}}

{{note|Internal to the ''Armada'' series, it is slightly unclear whether Unicron was somehow possessing his body for that period of time, or if Sideways had been an extension of Unicron all along instead of a separate individual. The additional backstory provided for Sideways in ''Cybertron'', however, would seem to establish that it's the former. Additionally, in "[[Credulous]]", before Sideways's Mini-Con head connects with his body after colliding with Megatron, an odd voice spoke, sounding like it came from a being of lesser intelligence emanated from the motorcycle body's own head, before the Mini-Con head took over. The mysterious line not being in the Japanese version of the episode and the shaky nature of the ''Armada'' dub in general only further obscures the issue.}}

=====''Linkage'' mini-comics=====

On Unicron's behalf, Sideways provided his master's corrupted Mini-Cons with the use of [[Ravenus]] and the [[Doomstone]]. {{storylink|Linkage Part 8}} When they failed to eliminate or claim [[Redline]] and his friends, the evil Mini-Cons used [[trans-phase mode]] to connect with Sideways via a dimensional portal, and fled from Earth. {{storylink|Linkage Part 12}}

=====''Cybertron'' cartoon=====
:''Voice Actors:'' [[Ted Cole]] (English), [[Susumu Chiba]] (Japanese)

[[Image:Deep-Sideways.jpg|left|200px|thumb|He's been up there waiting the whole time!]]

Sideways was preserved by Unicron's dark power after his defeat by the Requiem Blaster. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime}} Twenty years later, he appeared again during the Transformers' search for the [[Cyber Planet Key|Cyber Planet Keys]]. After the disappearance of ''[[Atlantis]],'' he observed from the top of a rocky cliff and wondered how he could best manipulate both factions to his own advantage. It wouldn't be long
until they were all his puppets! {{storylink|Deep}} He offered his services to the Autobots, but as soon as he'd helped them corner Starscream, Sideways switched to a Decepticon symbol, fired on the Autobots, and promptly left. Starscream and the others were left wondering exactly what that was all about. {{storylink|Ship}}

[[Image:Sand-Sideways explains.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Honestly guys, I'm an Autobot! You don't remember me at all!]]

Later, Sideways spoke to Megatron through a portal window, telling him that Optimus Prime could be found on [[Jungle Planet (Cybertron)|Jungle Planet]]. He later appeared with the other Decepticons as they confronted the Autobots, chuckling evilly as they argued over who sent the messages leading to their meeting. {{storylink|Savage (episode)|Savage}} Sideways stood back and observed as Megatron fumed after his defeat at the hands of Optimus Prime on Jungle planet. Noting that the locals were itching for another fight with Prime, Sideways sought out [[Leobreaker]] in the woods, pleading for help to save a friend who was buried under a rockslide. Leobreaker rallied the other Autobots on Jungle Planet and marched them into a canyon to save this imaginary friend, while Sideways laughed from above. He had also sent a fake message from Optimus Prime to [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]], and so the Decepticons were also converging on that point. Megatron suspected the message was fake, but kept quiet. The two factions met in battle as Sideways planned, while he mused from above that no matter who loses, he wins! But he was spotted, and Leobreaker angrily threw him to the ground for lying to him. Sideways desperately explained that he was a "secret agent" for the Autobots, digging for "inside information". Optimus Prime wasn't convinced, but when their interrogation was interrupted by a communication from [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]], Sideways transformed and escaped. {{storylink|Sand}}

Sideways traveled with Megatron and the other Decepticons to [[Velocitron]] to apprehend the Speed Planet Cyber Planet Key. Here, Leobreaker and Sideways clashed again. When Megatron lost the Cyber Planet Key to [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]], he, Sideways, and the other Decepticons fled. {{storylink|Champion}} Meanwhile, as Optimus Prime prepared to battle Scourge for the Jungle Planet Cyber Planet Key, Sideways and Starscream plotted. {{storylink|Honor}} As Scourge trained for the coming battle, Sideways and Starscream bet on the winner. At Sideways's suggestion, Starscream interfered with the Autobots's ability to get to the battle, thus causing Scourge's faith in Prime as an honorable opponent to waver. {{storylink|Primal}}

When the Autobots finally defeated Scourge and acquired the Cyber Planet Key, Sideways was deployed with the rest of Megatron's troops to track down the Key after the Autobots split up with several decoy boxes. He personally pursued Vector Prime, revealing the ability to warp as he battled the ancient warrior for the box he held. When Vector Prime sent out [[Safeguard (Cybertron)|Safeguard]] to attack, Sideways used his faction-swapping shield to trick the Mini-Con into leaving before snatching the box from Vector Prime. When he found nothing but a rock inside, Sideways beat a hasty retreat. He was later seen goofing off as Megatron and Starscream went after the real holders of the Cyber Planet Key, and returned to Megatron's personal dimension when the rest of the Autobots arrived to secure the Key. {{storylink|Trust}}

[[Image:Retreat-SidewaysStarscreamarmy.jpg|left|200px|thumb|That's right, the undercarriage of Sideways's altmode shows you the inside of his split-open ass.]]

Starscream was growing tired of Megatron's attitude towards him, and Sideways wondered if Starscream was going to doublecross his leader. When Megatron and his troops headed out from his dimension to find another Cyber Planet Key, Starscream instead chose to head to Earth. Intrigued, Sideways followed Starscream there, where they witnessed a burst of Cyber Key-related energy. He joined Starscream on his trip to the Arctic, where the wayward Decepticon demanded the Autobot [[Crosswise (Cybertron)|Crosswise]] give him Earth's Cyber Planet Key. When Sideways realized that Starscream had sent Megatron the wrong direction and intended to take Earth's Key for himself, he decided to stay back and watch Starscream's fight with Crosswise, out of harm's way. ...at least, until Crosswise looked like he was going to lose, when Sideways happily leapt into action to kick him while he was down. Crosswise drove away, and Sideways shadowed him while Starscream investigated the cave he was guarding. {{storylink|Trap}} Sideways followed Crosswise all the way to his hidden hideout, where his leader, [[Evac (Cybertron)|Evac]], was waiting. When Sideways was discovered, he once again fled. {{storylink|Invasion}}

Starscream, meanwhile, had recruited countless imprisoned Decepticons he had freed in the Arctic, and so Sideways stood at his side while Starscream marched his army across the face of the Earth. They converged on the location of the Autobot base, where they found the Autobots retreating via a [[Space Bridge]]. Starscream and Sideways engaged them in battle, but Sideways was quickly knocked away by the Autobots' firepower. {{storylink|Retreat}} Starscream succeeded in grabbing the Autobots' collected Cyber Planet Keys and the [[Omega Lock]], and returned to his underground volcanic lair, where Sideways and [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast]] were waiting. {{storylink|Critical}} The Autobots weren't far behind, and a clash between them and Starscream's army was inevitable. Sideways called them forth, ordering them to rise up and destroy their enemies, while he and Starscream watched the battlefield through a portal;
Starscream was slowly absorbing the power of his stolen goods, and wasn't quite ready yet. The Autobots and Megatron managed to break into the volcano base, but Sideways had prepared a series of explosive boobytraps. {{storylink|Assault}}

[[Image:Starscreamepisode-Sidewaysposes.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Hey, Sideways, your shield has huge gaps in it.]]

Despite this, the Autobots were able to get through them, where they came face to face with Sideways. Asked as to what side he was on today, Sideways replied that he was on his own, but today he was betting on Starscream. The Autobots fought him, but he was able to warp around them at will, and none were able to land a punch. Ultimately, [[Vector Prime]] placed his Mini-Con, [[Safeguard (Cybertron)|Safeguard]] on Sideways's back, and Optimus Prime was able to use that to detect where Sideways would appear next. After several blasts, Sideways was once again able to flee, this time because of the arrival of Scourge. He returned to Starscream's side, where the wayward Decepticon was nearly finished absorbing the Omega Lock's power. When Starscream said he wouldn't run to face Megatron, but wait for Megatron to come and be picked off at his leisure, Sideways realized there was nothing more he could do there and left, teleporting away. {{storylink|Starscream (episode)|Starscream}} Once the tremendous battle was over, and Starscream (despite having grown to a large size) had fallen over defeated, Sideways reappeared. Noting that Starscream could still be useful to him, he warped Starscream's humongous body away. {{storylink|United}} Starscream woke up inside the ''Atlantis'', with Sideways standing over him. Sideways explained that during the time Starscream had been out, Megatron had been defeated and Primus had awoken. The two traveled to Cybertron and found it transformed into Primus, but lying dormant; Sideways snarked that some clever guy had stolen all his power. He and Starscream tried to fight their way through the Autobots to the Omega Lock, but failed. Later, Sideways warped behind the Autobots' human friends, nabbed their three [[Mini-Con]] pals, and warped away. Angry, the children jumped into the portal window he left behind. {{storylink|Balance}}

[[Image:Memory-Sidewaysandchildren.jpg|left|200px|thumb|WOULD YOU LIKE TO? WOULD YOU LIKE TO?]]

Sideways attached Jolt to some equipment in order to search his memories for data pertaining to location of [[Gigantion]], where the last Cyber Planet Key would be found. But all Sideways could extract was useless data that would take forever to examine, so he tried to watch some television to pass the time. No luck—they were jamming their own communications, so he couldn't watch ''[[Galactic Guardians]]'' or anything, so he turned on his [[Soundwave (G1)|stereo]] and began moving to the music. Starscream yelled at him for goofing off. Embarrassed, Sideways ran off to do repairs. Indeed, the memory download was taking too long, so Sideways decided it would be much quicker if they just hacked open Jolt's head, took what they wanted, and deleted the rest. The operation was interrupted by the children, and so Sideways left to deal with them. After a few slapstick adventures, including a faked hologram of Megatron telling Sideways to jump on one foot and call himself a "pretty lady", the children were able to escape with Sideways's key to the cell he was keeping the other two Mini-Cons in. Though those two were rescued, Sideways finally caught up with them, laughing maniacally and with evil intent. {{storylink|Memory}} Jolt, whose rotors were now untied, was able to open a warpgate for himself and the others to escape through. Angered, Sideways warped away himself, and appeared again in front of the children and the Mini-Cons, telling him that he had put an energy field around the ship to prevent Jolt from pulling that trick again. The children and the Mini-Cons ran, but he threw one of his wing blades into the path ahead of them, blocking their escape. As Sideways mocked their attempts to distract him so they could make their getaway, [[Coby Hansen|Coby]] was able to communicate with the ship and spray [[fire-retardant foam]] over Sideways's head. They fled.

[[Image:Escape-Sidewaysmeandrawing.jpg|right|thumb|250px|"A ''mouth?!'' This is libel!"]]

Later, when the children and the Mini-Cons had located the chamber in which Sideways was guarding, the one that was blocking communications from being sent out of ''Atlantis'', they remotely caused a malfunction in one of the engine rooms. Sideways ran out of the chamber and into the engine room, where he found a crude drawing of him on the wall. "Now that's just mean!" Next they dumped him down one of the garbage chutes, which Sideways laughed at. He'd just warp out of there! But he forgot that he'd disabled warping, so he was cast out of the ship into space. A piece of trash that followed him conked him on his head, knocking him out. ''Atlantis'' was soon found by the Autobots and Decepticons, and so Starscream set the ship to warp away. Just in time, the children and the Mini-Cons shot themselves out of the ship in two escape pods, but Sideways's floating body blocked the second pod from leaving the warp perimeter of the ship. Sideways and the second pod disappeared along with ''Atlantis''. {{storylink|Escape (episode)|Escape}}

Sideways returned to the helm of ''Atlantis'' with Starscream, as the distance between them and the planet [[Gigantion]], home to the final [[Cyber Planet Key]], quickly narrowed. But due to the work of [[Bud Hansen|Bud]], Jolt, and [[Reverb (Cybertron)|Reverb]], [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], [[Wing Saber]], and the Decepticons were able to follow a trail to the ship, and so Sideways activated the ship's defenses while he navigated a warp jump away. But after they had jumped, Starscream felt the power of Primus, and so the ''Atlantis'' returned to Cybertron. After a battle between Starscream and Primus, Starscream was brutally defeated, so Sideways warped the ship away again with Starscream's body in tow. {{storylink|Titans}} Starscream was no worse for wear by the time Sideways had begun piloting ''Atlantis'' through a warp gate to another dimension where Gigantion was located, but the Autobots' ship, the ''[[Ogygia]]'', wasn't far behind. ''Atlantis'' started lagging behind the Autobots when Bud and the Mini-Cons aboard began sabotaging its engines, much to the fury of Sideways and Starscream. {{storylink|Warp}}

Sideways managed to get ''Atlantis'' to Gigantion, but only after a crash-landing. Before too long, the ship was under attack from the Autobots. Starscream was still too drained from his fight with Primus, so Sideways was told to fight them himself, an order he grumbled loudly about once he was out of Starscream's range. He confronted Optimus Prime, merged with Wing Saber, and bemoaned their sneaky tactics. He was the one supposed to be pulling the strings! As Sideways was targeted by a volley of missiles, Optimus Prime told Sideways that he'd had enough of his tricks. After a prolonged fight, Sideways could do nothing better than to utter a pathetic "mother!" as Prime's final, most powerful attack was bearing in on him. Thankfully for Sideways, he was saved by [[Soundwave (Cybertron)|Soundwave]], who pushed him out of the way at the last second. Once they were safe, Sideways thanked Soundwave for the rescue. Soundwave reminded Sideways that "that's how we roll," and not to forget their ultimate purpose. {{storylink|City}}

[[Image:Showdown-SoundwaveSidewaysstare.jpg|left|300px|thumb|Don't go towards the light, Sideways!]]

While the both of them were searching for the last Cyber Planet Key, they were discovered by the [[Cybertron Defense Force]]. Soundwave explained to them that he and Sideways were the last two survivors of [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]], which was destroyed as the result of a battle between it and Gigantion long ago. When the Autobots noted it was their own fault their planet was destroyed, Soundwave shrouded them in a thick black cloud while Sideways created virtual duplicates of himself. He managed to mess with Red Alert's head, but was tricked into revealing himself by Scattorshot after the clever technician dealt with the smog. In the end, the two Planet X natives were crushed under a falling tower. {{storylink|Challenge}}

Sideways and Soundwave didn't resurface until the Autobots were ready to leave Gigantion to their home dimension to repair the black hole. They challenged the Autobots, blocking their path out of the planet, for they wanted to ensure the black hole destroyed the galaxy. After fighting Optimus Prime to a standstill, they were interrupted by Starscream and Megatron, who were fighting several layers above them, glowing and pulsating with energy levels no one present had ever seen. Soundwave and Sideways wanted to escape, fearing their own destruction, but they lamented that if they didn't grab the Omega Lock then, they'd have failed at their mission. Both warped closer to the battle between Megatron and Starscream, and, reaching towards the tremendous energy that had built up during the Decepticons' battle, Sideways begged Soundwave to leave and save himself. Soundwave rejected this, because they were in this together. As Megatron and Starscream punched each other simultaneously, a wave of energy seemed to destroy both Planet X natives.

[[Image:Beginning-SoundwaveSideways.jpg|right|thumb|250px|We're not dead! Neither is our planet! Weird.]]

Vector Prime noted that neither were likely destroyed in the conventional sense, but were blasted into another dimension. {{storylink|Showdown (episode)|Showdown}} His analysis seemed to be correct; a little later, when Megatron witnessed a vision of Starscream—apparently reaching out through the [[fire dimension]] to mock him one final time—Sideways and Soundwave were both standing by the traitor's side. {{storylink|Unfinished}}

The next (and last) time Sideways was seen, he, Soundwave, and [[Laserbeak (Cybertron)|Laserbeak]] were cheering as they stood before an undestroyed Planet X, apparently having found an intact, parallel version of their homeworld in the dimension they had been transported to. {{storylink|Beginning}}

{{-}}

====Dreamwave ''Armada'' comic====
[[Image:SkywarpSidewaysWheeljack.jpg|left|300px|thumb|I'm such a secret shill for Unicron that you only ever see me once! Well, twice.]]

Always evasive about where his true loyalties lie, Sideways has been seen on battlefields the galaxy over, but not always on the same side. He has manipulated both factions like a game of cosmic chess, and chooses his words carefully. Neither Autobot nor Decepticon, he has always served just one master: [[Unicron]]. To these purposes, he assigned his Mini-Con companion, [[Crosswise (Armada)|Crosswise]] to infiltrate the Mini-Cons' Moonbase operations and send things awry. Crosswise was more of a wildcard than a full-on partner, unlike Sideways's other Mini-Con, [[Rook (Armada)|Rook]]. Rook was assigned to sow the real seeds of discontent amongst the Mini-Cons on the moon. {{storylink|More Than Meets The Eye (Armada)}}

Sideways himself was first seen working on a secret desert rocket site, guarded by [[Skywarp (Armada)|Skywarp]] and [[Wheeljack (Armada)|Wheeljack]], which was designed to launch Megatron's [[Solar Scalpel]] laser system in orbit. {{storylink|Fire & Ice}} After the rocket was launched, he returned to Cybertron, and was present for the battle against Unicron... though what exact role he played in it is unknown. {{storylink|The End}}
{{-}}

===Generation 1===
====''Robot Masters'' online comic====
[[Image:RMComic-SidewaysBWMegs.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Master manipulator teamed up with master manipulator? That's WAY more interesting than [[Lio Convoy]] teaming up with [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]... so of course it only happens ONCE.]]

Sideways participated in the confusing war over [[Solitarium]], where he employed a special communications system called "[[Crosswise (Armada)|Shadow]] and [[Rook (Armada)|Bright]]". When [[Road Rocket (G2)|Road Rocket]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], and [[Optimus Primal]] explored a crevasse filled with [[Solitarium]] crystals, they were ambushed from above by [[Megatron (BW)|Beast Megatron]] and Sideways, who detonated the crystals around the Autobots.

Fortunately, Primal managed to shield the three from the explosion with a huge slab of rock, but they were unable to prevent the Decepticons from making off with a huge load of Solitarium.{{storylink|Robot Masters (online comic)|Must Defend the Solitarium!}}

{{note|Sideways is said to have used special dimension-jumping powers to participate in this storyline, and he now shares the paintscheme of Armada Sideways. Remember that part—you'll see why soon!}}

{{-}}
====TV Magazine ''Robot Masters'' photocomic====
[[Image:Roadrocketsidewaysphotocomic.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Okay, thumb war!]]

Road Rocket and Sideways found a piece of Solitarium at the same time, though each claimed they saw it first. The Solitarium was located across a gorge, so the two revved up their engines to see who could cross it in their motorcycle modes. Unfortunately, Sideways miscalculated, falling down the gorge, while Road Rocket was victorious. {{storylink|Robot Masters Vol. 4}}

{{-}}

===''Animated''===
[[Image:Sidewaysanimated.jpg|right|thumb|100px|He might change his mind about Shanghai once he gets there.]]
Shortly before the [[AllSpark (Animated)|AllSpark]] was hidden in space by [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]], Sideways arrived from another dimension and joined the Decepticons. Land General Sideways was responsible for overseeing the [[Silvart War]], where he was captured by [[Primal Major]] and prepared for transportation back to Cybertron on board the ''[[Alpha Supreme|Axalon]]''. [[Shockwave (Animated)|Longarm Prime]] speculated that thanks to the General's [[Trans-Phase Generator]], Sideways broke free of his restraints and sabotaged the engine, causing the ''Axalon'' and its crew to succumb to a black hole.

Since Sideways was never seen again, Longarm Prime suspects Sideways was trying to get to some place called "[[Shanghai]]", which he frequently mentioned. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac Volume 2|The AllSpark Almanac Volume 2}}

{{note|''Animated'' Sideways is described as having the signature powers of the familiar pre-existing character. His body looks like [[Sideways (ROTF)|''Revenge of the Fallen'' Sideways]] with the paintjob of ''Armada'' Sideways. These clear visual continuity points are very similar to those used to establish that Sideways had "jumped" from the Unicron Trilogy into Generation 1. However, there is no absolute proof that after his arrival in ''Animated'', Sideways ever followed through on his desire to visit Shanghai, nor which universe's Shanghai he might have visited. If one makes the conclusion that he did make that jump, he and the movie-continuity Sideways must be the same person; if not, not.}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===Robots in Disguise===
[[Image:RIDtoy-Sideways.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Hello, my treacherous friend.]]

* '''Sideways vs. Axer''' (Mega multi-pack, 2002)

: The first Sideways toy is a yellow and black [[redeco]] (and minor [[Retool|retooling]], from changes made to the mold for a Japanese ''[[Microman]]'' version) of [[Road Rocket (G2)|Road Rocket]], transforming into a Yamaha GTS1000A racing motorcycle with a light-up rear wheel suspension/buzzsaw weapon. He came packaged with [[Axer]] in a [[Wal-Mart]] [[exclusive]] two-pack.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2002/Autobot/Sideways/sideways.htm More information on RiD Sideways at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Armada===
[[Image:Armadatoy-Sideways-wrongways.jpg|right|300px|thumb|My hats are the grandest of all... except that they're putting me on the wrong sides!]]

* '''Sideways w/ Rook and Crosswise''' (Super-Con, 2002)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''MX-01'''
**''Accessories'': 2 tailpipe-missiles

: The second toy of Sideways was released in 2002 in ''[[Armada (toyline)|Armada]]'', transforming into a Cybertronic motorcycle, and was the first larger ''Armada'' toy to come with two [[Mini-Con|Mini-Cons]]; [[Rook (Armada)|Rook]] and [[Crosswise (Armada)|Crosswise]]. Each Mini-Con could form a new head for Sideways, as well as reveal a faction sigil behind his clear-plastic chestplate in that mode. Their individual and combined robot modes were designed to act as riders when Sideways is in vehicle mode. His tailpipes become arm-mounted [[Powerlinx]]-activated pressure-launch missile launchers.

: Two variations of the [[Hasbro]] version of the toy exist. The first variation features the opposite Mini-Con heads revealing their intended faction logo. This was due to an error in the television series' animation which depicted Crosswise as the Decepticon head and Rook as the Autobot head. Hasbro made a [[running change]] so the toy reflected the series' faction alignments. The second variation changed the salmon on Crosswise to a more Decepticon-like purple. This toy was also released in the Japanese ''Micron Legend'' toyline as "Doubleface" shortly afterwards, featuring a color scheme on the cockpit of the bike that was closer to the anime appearance.

: In November of 2003, US [[Toys"R"Us]] stores had special bonus pack Max-Con (Deluxe) toys, which came with a single bonus Mini-Con attached to the card over their sticker, for ''less'' than the price as a normal Max-Con during Toys"R"Us's post-Thanksgiving-day sale. Like [[Blurr (Armada)|Blurr]], Sideways could come with one of the [[Destruction Mini-Con Team]] members: [[Buzzsaw (Armada)|Buzzsaw]], [[Drill Bit (Armada)|Drill Bit]], or [[Dualor]].

: This mold was also used for ''[[Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' [[Rapid Run (Energon)|Rapid Run]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2002/Autobot/ArmSideways/sideways.htm More information on Armada Sideways at TFU.info]''

===Robot Masters===
[[Image:RMtoy-Doubleface.jpg|right|300px|thumb|We've come full circle or something.]]
* '''Doubleface''' (Robot Master, 2004)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''RM-19'''

: Doubleface, a purple, gray, and yellow [[redeco]] (and minor [[Retool|retooling]], from changes made to the mold for a Japanese ''[[Microman]]'' version) of [[Road Pig (G2)|Road Pig]], was released in Japan in 2005, transforming into a Harley-Davidson Electra Glide touring motorcycle with electronic light-up tailpipe/"blaster" weapon. It featured a fixed Decepticon logo, and was the second and last appearance of this character in Japan as of 2006.

: There is a minor variation to this toy; though both versions feature an "electronics warning" on the robot mode's butt, some versions use a clear-plastic sticker, while others have the text tampographed there.

: This mold was also used for ''[[Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Axer]]. It was planned for use in ''[[Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' as [[Soundwave (G1)/toys#LaserCycle|Soundwave]], but that toy never saw release.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2004/Destron/DoubleFace/doubleface.htm More information on Robot Masters Doubleface at TFU.info]''

===Cybertron===
[[Image:SidewaysCybertron.jpg|right|300px|thumb|On second thought, screw the whole motorcycle thing.]]
* '''Sideways''' (Deluxe-Class, 2005)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''GX-01'''
**''Accessories'': Left & right wing-blades, Planet X Cyber Key

: The third toy of Sideways released in the US was in the [[Cybertron (toyline)|''Cybertron'' toyline]]. Sideways in this line is a black and orange alien spacefighter with [[Cyber Planet Key]]-activated faction-switching ability and pop-out blades built into his battle shield. The toy features a translucent face with his signature horns. He comes with a [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]] style Cyber Planet Key; the US version has the [[Cyber Key Codes|Cyber Key Code]] "'''dj51'''" [[Tampograph|tampographed]] on the back.

: This toy was released in Japan as ''Galaxy Force'' Noisemaze, and no mention was made of a relationship to Doubleface / Sideways. He features chromed details on the wings instead of the standard gray, along with more intricate paint applications.

: This mold was also used for the Japanese DVD-[[exclusive]] [[Noisemaze Mass-Production Version]], ''[[Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]], and was [[Retool|retooled]] into [[BotCon 2009]] ''[[Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'' [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and the [[Sweep]]s.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2005/Decepticon/Sideways/sideways.htm More information on Cybertron Sideways at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Super Collection Figure===
[[Image:ACT10-Doubleface.jpg|right|thumb|300px|STRIKE POSE!]]
*'''Doubleface''' (2003)

:Available in "Act 10" of Takara's [[Super Collection Figure]] PVC line, Doubleface was available in both color and pewter. He came with an extra head so that his appearance could be switched between Doubleface's "normal" head and the "Decepticon" head. His appearance could ''not'' be switched out of its sort of weird-looking pose, however.
{{-}}

==Notes==

* The case for the Sidewayses of the five different continuity families (''Robots in Disguise,'' Unicron Trilogy, Generation 1, ''Animated'', and the live-action film) being the same individual hopping universes is... not airtight. Until 2010, no fiction had actually portrayed him migrating from one universe to another, but even before then, circumstantial evidence abounded:
** The first Sideways, a ''Robots in Disguise'' toy, was packaged with [[Axer]], whose on-package [[bio]] strongly insinuates that he had come from the ''Generation 1'' universe through a black hole. The bios make no particular connection between the two characters, so there is no reason to think Sideways must have come from another universe as well. Nevertheless, the real-world pairing of the characters makes it easy to accept that he did, based on later evidence.
** The next Sideways, from ''Armada'', was given an on-package bio of almost identical wording to that of the ''Robots in Disguise'' character. The ''Armada'' bio suggests that his duplicity is a new development upon coming to Earth, the result of being pulled in two mental directions by his Mini-Cons.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-images/tech-specs/Armada-Tech-Specs/2002-Transformers-Tech-Specs/Sideways__A_.jpg.html ''Armada'' Sideways's on-package bio]</ref> However, the cartoons and comics would both develop him as a pure agent of Unicron, which of course opens all sorts of cross-universal possibilities.
** The ''Robot Masters'' toy is what seals the deal. It's named and colored after the ''Armada'' toy, and some ''Robot Masters'' publicity material has declared that the character's first toy was indeed the ''Robots in Disguise'' Sideways figure. Since the entire premise of ''Robot Masters'' is that Transformers are arriving on present-day Earth through wormholes from across time and space, the idea that Sideways universe-hopped into the ''Robot Masters'' continuity is too strong to ignore.
** And finally, in 2010 the ''[[AllSpark Almanac II]]'' presented ''Animated'' Sideways as pretty clearly the same individual as all the other previous Sidewayses, and arguably the [[Sideways (ROTF)|Sideways of the live-action film]]. We are so, so shocked. On the other hand, this means getting cut in half was no huge deal for him. It'd happened [[Star Saber (Armada)|before]].

[[Image:Detection-SidewaysNoHat.jpg|right|180px|thumb|He's back. From outer space.]]

* In ''Armada'', outside of the stock footage sequences showing Sideways putting his Mini-Con helmets on, his "bare" head was often colored in shades of gray similar to the Crosswise head, rather than the appropriate purple and yellow.
* While the positioning of ''Armada'' Sideways's head-handlebars in toy form is up to the owner, the cartoon consistently portrayed them as angled downwards.
* In "[[Memory]]", Sideways seemed to be a fan of the [[Galactic Guardians]], a superhero team who star in their own cartoon show. He also seemed to be a fan of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive", as he sang the first few lyrics to himself before being interrupted by Starscream.

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Armada characters]]
[[Category:Animated characters]]
[[Category:Autobots]]
[[Category:Cybertron characters]]
[[Category:Decepticons]]
[[Category:Dimension hoppers]]
[[Category:Double agents]]
[[Category:Headmasters]]
[[Category:Ninjas]]
[[Category:Planet X]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen characters]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise characters]]
[[Category:Robot Masters characters]]
[[Category:Scouts]]
[[Category:Spies]]
[[Category:Unicron-related characters]]

International Incident Part 2: "Ranks of Bronze"

2010-08-14T05:35:33Z

Manuelle Magnus: /* Synopsis */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers]]'' #10
|prev=International Incident Part 1: "The Land Ironclads"
|next=International Incident Part 3
|title=International Incident Part 2: "Ranks of Bronze"
|image=Transformers 10A.jpg
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date= [[August 10]], [[2010]]
|coverdate=August 2010
|written by=[[Mike Costa]]
|art by=[[Guido Guidi]]
|colors by=[[James Brown|J. Brown]]
|letters by=[[Neil Uyetake]]
|assistant editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|editor=[[Andy Schmidt]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2010)]]
}}
'''The Autobots sneak into North Korea'''

==Synopsis==
On a dock in [[Incheon]], [[South Korea]] Campologno is hooking up a shipping container to a crane when he is confronted by a rather officious dockworker. The dockworker, quite reasonably, wants to know what sort of shipping company has the power to force a shipyard to unload a single ship at a time when there's alien attacks occurring within 10 miles. Unable to successfully bluff the operation even with Joe Henderson's help, Campologno incapacitates the dockworker with a sleeper hold and tosses him into the water. Henderson and Campologno argue about this course of action, bemoaning the limited time they've had to run the operation. [[Skywatch]] field commander Spike Witwicky silences his subordinates and gets there assistance in opening the seven shipping containers, revealing seven Autobots in their [[alternate mode|vehicular forms]].

Once freed from his container, Optimus Prime asks if there's a problem. Spike complains about the lack of smarts that his unit has been displaying. Prime reminds him that a units is a reflection of it's commanding officer. After that, the Autobots and Skywatch personnel enter a hangar, allowing the Autobots to transform into their robot forms without being spotted by the watchful eyes of any orbiting reconnaissance satellites. Witwicky reminds them that the mission is strictly off the book now that Cybertronians have been classified as Weapons of Mass Destruction, so they'll have to engage the enemy without revealing their robotic nature. The Autobots will have to fight in their alternate modes. Spike reveals that Prime's trailer contains a lot of weaponry, and Wheeljack is tasked with attaching that weaponry to the Autobot's vehicular bodies.

Further inland, Onslaught, Brawl and Vortex are relaxing, and celebrating not having to deal with [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] or [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] bossing them around. At this point, Kim Jong Du storms out with his bodyguards to admonish the idling Decepticons and order them to deal with US/South Korean forces that are mustering. Brawl is less than happy to be ordered about by a human and makes his objections known to Onslaught. The Combaticon leader says they have to keep this up as long as Kim has Energon, but he has a plan. Vortex calls him on it, and Onslaught admits that he's ''formulating'' a plan. This causes Brawl to claim that he misses Swindle.

A short while later a US NCO is rallying his troops to face off against the 3 Combaticons. As he's declaring that the humans won't let machines just march in, an extremely up-gunned Smokescreen goes speeding past to engage the Decepticon foe. Smokescreen lays down a smokescreen as blasts Vortex. This leads Onslaught to wonder if there are Autobots present. Onslaught's suspicions are confirmed when Optimus Prime emerges from the smoke at ramming speed and barrels into the luckless Decepticon. Vortex uses his rotors to redirect the smokescreen at Smokescreen, reasoning that the Autobot can't see through it either. Taking advantage of the distraction, Vortex takes to the skies and transforms to helicopter mode, bragging that the Autobot/Skywatch force is doomed without air support.

Spike obviously agrees with Vortex, as he orders the hitherto hidden Jetfire to engage the Combaticon helicopter. Meanwhile, the ground-based Decepticon forces are trying to figure out why the Autobots won't transform, preferring to remain as sitting ducks in their alternate modes. As Onslaught starts tearing into Prime's cab, skywatch deploys their Beta Team of [[Crash suit]]s. The Autobots and the Crash suits start herding the Combaticons towards the sea, where a waiting Broadside unleashes a debilitating volley of firepower at the Decepticon duo, effectively pinning them. Immediately after this, Vortex blasts Jetfire, damaging the Autobot's wing and causing him to plummet into a collision with Broadside. The huge explosion this causes distracts the Autobots long enough for the three Combaticons to flee the area.

A short time later, the Autobots are back in the hangar, with Ratchet working on repairing some of the damage to Broadside and Jetfire. Spike wants to know how come the other Skywatch personnel allowed Brawl to escape. Campologno and Henderson point out that the Combaticon's are protected from Skywatch's suppressors and without that advantage, they can't stop a tank. Optimus notes that Jetfire, as a research scientist, really is no match for soldier of Vortex's caliber. Ratchet interrupts the debrief to give a prognosis on Jetfire: he'll be out of action for at least a week. Cliffjumper grouses that this will leave them without air support and the option of transforming, meaning that they'd have almost no chance of victory. Prime states that he's been in contact with the Autobot leader, Bumblebee, and that 'Bee has a plan.

Bumblebee is giving a speech to a potential new recruit, mentioning how times have changed, and how they're not really sure where things are now, citing [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] as an example. 'Bee talks about how the situation is much bigger than it used to be and that it threatens all Autobots and Decepticons. Bumblebee concludes by asking Thundercracker to join his force as the Seeker ponders...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters

|c1=
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (5)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (6)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (7)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (8)
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (9)
* [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (10)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (11)
* [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (17)
* [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (18)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (19)
|c2=
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (12)
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (13)
* [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (14)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (20)

|c3=
* [[Campologno]] (1)
* South Korean customs official (2)
* [[Joe Henderson]] (3)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (4)
* [[Kim Jong Du]] (15)
* US Army commander (16)
}}

==Quotes==
* TBD
==Errors==
* On page 13, one of the military guys describes the Combaticons as "tough costumers" instead of "tough customers."
* On page 15, when Vortex attacks Cliffjumper, the latter is coloured like Smokescreen.

==Items of note==
*''Once again'' the designs for the Transformer characters have changed, with artist Guido Guidi giving the Autobots and Decepticons character models that are closer to the style he used during ''[[All Hail Megatron]]'' but incorporating details from [[Don Figueroa]]'s run in ''The Transformers'' ongoing series. The notable exception is Jetfire, who retains his (more or less) [[Floro Dery]] character model.
*Skywatch soldier Campologno has been providing the Autobots with his DVDs in an attempt at a cultural exchange. Evidently, among them are television series and movies starring [[Patton Oswalt]].
*Broadside has the emblem that looks like the [[Cybertron Elite Guard]] logo, but it's actualy a LEGO 4005-1: Tug Boat homage.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/comic-books-graphic-novels/318429-transformers-10-preview-review-thread-2.html#post5105571 Guido post at TFW 2005 message board.]</ref>
*Onslaught and Vortex are shown opening their [[mouthplate]]s to reveal mouths underneath. Brawl can probably do this too.
*As Ratchet repairs Broadside and Jetfire, the rarely seen [[onebox component|repair bay]] from his original toy sits next to him.

===Covers (2)===
* '''Cover A:''' Jetfire getting blasted out of the sky. Art by [[Guido Guidi]], colors by [[James Brown|J. Brown]]
* '''Cover RI:''' The Autobots in the darkness. Art by [[Charles Paul Wilson III]], colors by ???.

<gallery>
Image: Transformers 10A.jpg|
Image: Transformers 10RI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* TBD

==References==
<references />

[[Category:IDW Generation 1 issues]]

International Incident Part 2: "Ranks of Bronze"

2010-08-14T05:34:50Z

Manuelle Magnus: /* Synopsis */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers]]'' #10
|prev=International Incident Part 1: "The Land Ironclads"
|next=International Incident Part 3
|title=International Incident Part 2: "Ranks of Bronze"
|image=Transformers 10A.jpg
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date= [[August 10]], [[2010]]
|coverdate=August 2010
|written by=[[Mike Costa]]
|art by=[[Guido Guidi]]
|colors by=[[James Brown|J. Brown]]
|letters by=[[Neil Uyetake]]
|assistant editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|editor=[[Andy Schmidt]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2010)]]
}}
'''The Autobots sneak into North Korea'''

==Synopsis==
On a dock in [[Incheon]], [[South Korea]] Campologno is hooking up a shipping container to a crane when he is confronted by a rather officious dockworker. The dockworker, quite reasonably, wants to know what sort of shipping company has the power to force a shipyard to unload a single ship at a time when there's alien attacks occurring within 10 miles. Unable to successfully bluff the operation even with Joe Henderson's help, Campologno incapacitates the dockworker with a sleeper hold and tosses him into the water. Henderson and Campologno argue about this course of action, bemoaning the limited time they've had to run the operation. [[Skywatch]] field commander Spike Witwicky silences his subordinates and gets there assistance in opening the seven shipping containers, revealing seven Autobots in their [[alternate mode|vehicular forms]].

Once freed from his container, Optimus Prime asks if there's a problem. Spike complains about the lack of smarts that his unit has been displaying. Prime reminds him that a units is a reflection of it's commanding officer. After that, the Autobots and Skywatch personnel enter a hangar, allowing the Autobots to transform into their robot forms without being spotted by the watchful eyes of any orbiting reconnaissance satellites. Witwicky reminds them that the mission is strictly off the book now that Cybertronians have been classified as Weapons of Mass Destruction, so they'll have to engage the enemy without revealing their robotic nature. The Autobots will have to fight in their alternate modes. Spike reveals that Prime's trailer contains a lot of weaponry, and Wheeljack is tasked with attaching that weaponry to the Autobot's vehicular bodies.

Further inland, Onslaught, Brawl and Vortex are relaxing, and celebrating not having to deal with [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] or [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] bossing them around. At this point, Kim Jong Du storms out with his bodyguards to admonish the idling Decepticons and order them to deal with US/South Korean forces that are mustering. Brawl is less than happy to be ordered about by a human and makes his objections known to Onslaught. The Combaticon leader says they have to keep this up as long as Kim has Energon, but he has a plan. Vortex calls him on it, and Onslaught admits that he's ''formulating'' a plan. This causes Brawl to claim that he misses Swindle.

A short while later a US NCO is rallying his troops to face off against the 3 Combaticons. As he's declaring that the humans won't let machines just march in, an extremely up-gunned Smokescreen goes speeding past to engage the Decepticon foe. Smokescreen lays down a smokescreen as blasts Vortex. This leads Onslaught to wonder if there are Autobots present. Onslaught's suspicions are confirmed when Optimus Prime emerges from the smoke at ramming speed and barrels into the luckless Decepticon. Vortex uses his rotors to redirect the smokescreen at Smokescreen, reasoning that the Autobot can't see through it either. Taking advantage of the distraction, Vortex takes to the skies and transforms to helicopter mode, bragging that the Autobot/Skywatch force is doomed without air support.

Spike obviously agrees with Vortex, as he orders the hitherto hidden Jetfire to engage the Combaticon helicopter. Meanwhile, the ground-based Decepticon forces are trying to figure out why the Autobots won't transform, preferring to remain as sitting ducks in their alternate modes. As Onslaught starts tearing into Prime's cab, skywatch deploys their Beta Team of [[Crash suit]]s. The Autobots and the Crash suits start herding the Combaticons towards the sea, where a waiting Broadside unleashes a debilitating volley of firepower at the Decepticon duo, effectively pinning them. Immediately after this, Vortex blasts Jetfire, damaging the Autobot's wing and causing him to plummet into a collision with Broadside. The huge explosion this causes distracts the Autobots long enough for the three Combaticons to flee the area.

A short time later, the Autobots are back in the hangar, with Ratchet working on repairing some of the damage to Broadside and Jetfire. Spike wants to know how come the other Skywatch personnel allowed Brawl to escape. Campologno and Henderson point out that the Combaticon's are protected from Skywatch's suppressors and without that advantage, they can't stop a tank. Optimus notes that Jetfire, as a research scientist, really is no match for soldier of Vortex's caliber. Ratchet interrupts the debrief to give a prognosis on Jetfire: he'll be out of action for at least a week. Cliffjumper grouses that this will leave them without air support and the option of transforming, meaning that they'd have almost no chance of victory. Prime states that he's been in contact with the Autobot leader, Bumblebee, and that 'Bee has a plan.

Bumblebee is giving a speech to a potential new recruit, mentioning how times have changed, and how they're not really sure where thing are now, citing [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] as an example. 'Bee talks about how the situation is much bigger than it used to be and that it threatens all Autobots and Decepticons. Bumblebee concludes by asking Thundercracker to join his force as the Seeker ponders...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters

|c1=
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (5)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (6)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (7)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (8)
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (9)
* [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (10)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (11)
* [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (17)
* [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (18)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (19)
|c2=
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (12)
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (13)
* [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (14)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (20)

|c3=
* [[Campologno]] (1)
* South Korean customs official (2)
* [[Joe Henderson]] (3)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (4)
* [[Kim Jong Du]] (15)
* US Army commander (16)
}}

==Quotes==
* TBD
==Errors==
* On page 13, one of the military guys describes the Combaticons as "tough costumers" instead of "tough customers."
* On page 15, when Vortex attacks Cliffjumper, the latter is coloured like Smokescreen.

==Items of note==
*''Once again'' the designs for the Transformer characters have changed, with artist Guido Guidi giving the Autobots and Decepticons character models that are closer to the style he used during ''[[All Hail Megatron]]'' but incorporating details from [[Don Figueroa]]'s run in ''The Transformers'' ongoing series. The notable exception is Jetfire, who retains his (more or less) [[Floro Dery]] character model.
*Skywatch soldier Campologno has been providing the Autobots with his DVDs in an attempt at a cultural exchange. Evidently, among them are television series and movies starring [[Patton Oswalt]].
*Broadside has the emblem that looks like the [[Cybertron Elite Guard]] logo, but it's actualy a LEGO 4005-1: Tug Boat homage.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/comic-books-graphic-novels/318429-transformers-10-preview-review-thread-2.html#post5105571 Guido post at TFW 2005 message board.]</ref>
*Onslaught and Vortex are shown opening their [[mouthplate]]s to reveal mouths underneath. Brawl can probably do this too.
*As Ratchet repairs Broadside and Jetfire, the rarely seen [[onebox component|repair bay]] from his original toy sits next to him.

===Covers (2)===
* '''Cover A:''' Jetfire getting blasted out of the sky. Art by [[Guido Guidi]], colors by [[James Brown|J. Brown]]
* '''Cover RI:''' The Autobots in the darkness. Art by [[Charles Paul Wilson III]], colors by ???.

<gallery>
Image: Transformers 10A.jpg|
Image: Transformers 10RI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* TBD

==References==
<references />

[[Category:IDW Generation 1 issues]]

International Incident Part 2: "Ranks of Bronze"

2010-08-14T05:20:08Z

Manuelle Magnus: /* Synopsis */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers]]'' #10
|prev=International Incident Part 1: "The Land Ironclads"
|next=International Incident Part 3
|title=International Incident Part 2: "Ranks of Bronze"
|image=Transformers 10A.jpg
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date= [[August 10]], [[2010]]
|coverdate=August 2010
|written by=[[Mike Costa]]
|art by=[[Guido Guidi]]
|colors by=[[James Brown|J. Brown]]
|letters by=[[Neil Uyetake]]
|assistant editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|editor=[[Andy Schmidt]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2010)]]
}}
'''The Autobots sneak into North Korea'''

==Synopsis==
On a dock in [[Incheon]], [[South Korea]] Campologno is hooking up a shipping container to a crane when he is confronted by a rather officious dockworker. The dockworker, quite reasonably, wants to know what sort of shipping company has the power to force a shipyard to unload a single ship at a time when there's alien attacks occurring within 10 miles. Unable to successfully bluff the operation even with Joe Henderson's help, Campologno incapacitates the dockworker with a sleeper hold and tosses him into the water. Henderson and Campologno argue about this course of action, bemoaning the limited time they've had to run the operation. [[Skywatch]] field commander Spike Witwicky silences his subordinates and gets there assistance in opening the seven shipping containers, revealing seven Autobots in their [[alternate mode|vehicular forms]].

Once freed from his container, Optimus Prime asks if there's a problem. Spike complains about the lack of smarts that his unit has been displaying. Prime reminds him that a units is a reflection of it's commanding officer. After that, the Autobots and Skywatch personnel enter a hangar, allowing the Autobots to transform into their robot forms without being spotted by the watchful eyes of any orbiting reconnaissance satellites. Witwicky reminds them that the mission is strictly off the book now that Cybertronians have been classified as Weapons of Mass Destruction, so they'll have to engage the enemy without revealing their robotic nature. The Autobots will have to fight in their alternate modes. Spike reveals that Prime's trailer contains a lot of weaponry, and Wheeljack is tasked with attaching that weaponry to the Autobot's vehicular bodies.

Further inland, Onslaught, Brawl and Vortex are relaxing, and celebrating not having to deal with [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] or [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] bossing them around. At this point, Kim Jong Du storms out with his bodyguards to admonish the idling Decepticons and order them to deal with US/South Korean forces that are mustering. Brawl is less than happy to be ordered about by a human and makes his objections known to Onslaught. The Combaticon leader says they have to keep this up as long as Kim has Energon, but he has a plan. Vortex calls him on it, and Onslaught admits that he's ''formulating'' a plan. This causes Brawl to claim that he misses Swindle.

A short while later a US NCO is rallying his troops to face off against the 3 Combaticons. As he's declaring that the humans won't let machines just march in, an extremely up-gunned Smokescreen goes speeding past to engage the Decepticon foe. Smokescreen lays down a smokescreen as blasts Vortex. This leads Onslaught to wonder if there are Autobots present. Onslaught's suspicions are confirmed when Optimus Prime emerges from the smoke at ramming speed and barrels into the luckless Decepticon. Vortex uses his rotors to redirect the smokescreen at Smokescreen, reasoning that the Autobot can't see through it either. Taking advantage of the distraction, Vortex takes to the skies and transforms to helicopter mode, bragging that the Autobot/Skywatch force is doomed without air support.

Spike obviously agrees with Vortex, as he orders the hitherto hidden Jetfire to engage the Combaticon helicopter. Meanwhile, the ground-based Decepticon forces are trying to figure out why the Autobots won't transform, preferring to remain as sitting ducks in their alternate modes. As Onslaught starts tearing into Prime's cab, skywatch deploys their Beta Team of [[Crash suit]]s. The Autobots and the Crash suits start herding the Combaticons towards the sea, where a waiting Broadside unleashes a debilitating volley of firepower at the Decepticon duo, effectively pinning them. Immediately after this, Vortex blasts Jetfire, damaging the Autobot's wing and causing him to plummet into a collision with Broadside. The huge explosion this causes distracts the Autobots long enough for the three Combaticons to flee the area.

A short time later, the Autobots are back in the hangar, with Ratchet working on repairing some of the damage to Broadside and Jetfire. Spike wants to know how come the other Skywatch personnel allowed Brawl to escape. Campologno and Henderson point out that the Combaticon's are protected from Skywatch's suppressors and without that advantage, they can't stop a tank. Optimus notes that Jetfire, as a research scientist, really is no match for soldier of Vortex's caliber. Ratchet interrupts the debrief to give a prognosis on Jetfire: he'll be out of action for at least a week. Cliffjumper grouses that this will leave them without air support and the option of transforming, meaning that they'd have almost no chance of Victory. Prime states that he's been in contact with the Autobot leader, Bumblebee, and that 'Bee has a plan.

Bumblebee is giving a speech to a potential new recruit, mentioning how times have changed, and how they're not really sure where thing are now, citing [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] as an example. 'Bee talks about how the situation is much bigger than it used to be and that it threatens all Autobots and Decepticons. Bumblebee concludes by asking Thundercracker to join his force as the Seeker ponders...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters

|c1=
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (5)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (6)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (7)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (8)
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (9)
* [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (10)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (11)
* [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (17)
* [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (18)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (19)
|c2=
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (12)
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (13)
* [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (14)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (20)

|c3=
* [[Campologno]] (1)
* South Korean customs official (2)
* [[Joe Henderson]] (3)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (4)
* [[Kim Jong Du]] (15)
* US Army commander (16)
}}

==Quotes==
* TBD
==Errors==
* On page 13, one of the military guys describes the Combaticons as "tough costumers" instead of "tough customers."
* On page 15, when Vortex attacks Cliffjumper, the latter is coloured like Smokescreen.

==Items of note==
*''Once again'' the designs for the Transformer characters have changed, with artist Guido Guidi giving the Autobots and Decepticons character models that are closer to the style he used during ''[[All Hail Megatron]]'' but incorporating detailsfrom [[Don Figueroa]]'s run in ''The Transformers'' ongoing series. The notable exception is Jetfire, who retains his (more or less) [[Floro Dery]] character model.
*Skywatch soldier Campologno has been providing the Autobots with his DVDs in an attempt at a cultural exchange. Evidently, among them are television series and movies starring [[Patton Oswalt]].
*Broadside has the emblem that looks like the [[Cybertron Elite Guard]] logo, but it's actualy a LEGO 4005-1: Tug Boat homage.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/comic-books-graphic-novels/318429-transformers-10-preview-review-thread-2.html#post5105571 Guido post at TFW 2005 message board.]</ref>
*Onslaught and Vortex are shown opening their [[mouthplate]]s to reveal mouths underneath. Brawl can probably do this too.
*As Ratchet repairs Broadside and Jetfire, the rarely seen [[onebox component|repair bay]] from his original toy sits next to him.

===Covers (2)===
* '''Cover A:''' Jetfire getting blasted out of the sky. Art by [[Guido Guidi]], colors by [[James Brown|J. Brown]]
* '''Cover RI:''' The Autobots in the darkness. Art by [[Charles Paul Wilson III]], colors by ???.

<gallery>
Image: Transformers 10A.jpg|
Image: Transformers 10RI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* TBD

==References==
<references />

[[Category:IDW Generation 1 issues]]

International Incident Part 2: "Ranks of Bronze"

2010-08-14T05:18:29Z

Manuelle Magnus: /* Synopsis */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers]]'' #10
|prev=International Incident Part 1: "The Land Ironclads"
|next=International Incident Part 3
|title=International Incident Part 2: "Ranks of Bronze"
|image=Transformers 10A.jpg
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date= [[August 10]], [[2010]]
|coverdate=August 2010
|written by=[[Mike Costa]]
|art by=[[Guido Guidi]]
|colors by=[[James Brown|J. Brown]]
|letters by=[[Neil Uyetake]]
|assistant editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|editor=[[Andy Schmidt]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2010)]]
}}
'''The Autobots sneak into North Korea'''

==Synopsis==
On a dock in [[Incheon]], [[South Korea]] Campologno is hooking up a shipping container to a crane when he is confronted by a rather officious dockworker. The dockworker, quite reasonably, wants to know what sort of shipping company has the power to force a shipyard to unload a single ship at a time when there's alien attacks occurring within 10 miles. Unable to successfully bluff the operation even with Joe Henderson's help, Campologno incapacitates the dockworker with a sleeper hold and tosses him into the water. Henderson and Campologno argue about this course of action, bemoaning the limited time they've had to run the operation. [[Skywatch]] field commander Spike Witwicky silences his subordinates and gets there assistance in opening the seven shipping containers, revealing seven Autobots in their [[alternate mode|vehicular forms]].

Once freed from his container, Optimus Prime asks if there's a problem. Spike complains about the lack of smarts that his unit has been displaying. Prime reminds him that a units is a reflection of it's commanding officer. After that, the Autobots and Skywatch personnel enter a hangar, allowing the Autobots to transform into their robot forms without being spotted by the watchful eyes of any orbiting reconnaissance satellites. Witwicky reminds them that the mission is strictly off the book now that Cybertronians have been classified as Weapons of Mass Destruction, so they'll have to engage the enemy without revealing their robotic nature. The Autobots will have to fight in their alternate modes. Spike reveals that Prime's trailer contains a lot of weaponry, and Wheeljack is tasked with attaching that weaponry to the Autobot's vehicular bodies.

Further inland, Onslaught, Brawl and Vortex are relaxing, and celebrating not having to deal with [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] or [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] bossing them around. At this point, Kim Jong Du storms out with his bodyguards to admonish the idling Decepticons and order them to deal with US/South Korean forces that are mustering. Brawl is less than happy to be ordered about by a human and makes his objections known to Onslaught. The Combaticon leader says they have to keep this up as long as Kim has Energon, but he has a plan. Vortex calls him on it, and Onslaught admits that he's ''formulating'' a plan. this causes Brawl to claim that he misses Swindle.

A short while later a US NCO is rallying his troops to face off against the 3 Combaticons. As he's declaring that the humans won't let machines just march in, an extremely up-gunned Smokescreen goes speeding past to engage the Decepticon foe. Smokescreen lays down a smokescreen as blasts Vortex. This leads Onslaught to wonder if there are Autobots present. Onslaught's suspicions are confirmed when Optimus Prime emerges from the smoke at ramming speed and barrels into the luckless Decepticon. Vortex uses his rotors to redirect the smokescreen at Smokescreen, reasoning that the Autobot can't see through it either. Taking advantage of the distraction, Vortex takes to the skies and transforms to helicopter mode, bragging that the Autobot/Skywatch force is doomed without air support.

Spike obviously agrees with Vortex, as he orders the hitherto hidden Jetfire to engage the Combaticon helicopter. Meanwhile, the ground-based Decepticon forces are trying to figure out why the Autobots won't transform, preferring to remain as sitting ducks in their alternate modes. As Onslaught starts tearing into Prime's cab, skywatch deploys their Beta Team of [[Crash suit]]s. The Autobots and the Crash suits start herding the Combaticons towards the sea, where a waiting Broadside unleashes a debilitating volley of firepower at the Decepticon duo, effectively pinning them. Immediately after this, Vortex blasts Jetfire, damaging the Autobot's wing and causing him to plummet into a collision with Broadside. The huge explosion this causes distracts the Autobots long enough for the three Combaticons to flee the area.

A short time later, the Autobots are back in the hangar, with Ratchet working on repairing some of the damage to Broadside and Jetfire. Spike wants to know how come the other Skywatch personnel allowed Brawl to escape. Campologno and Henderson point out that the Combaticon's are protected from Skywatch's suppressors and without that advantage, they can't stop a tank. Optimus notes that Jetfire, as a research scientist, really is no match for soldier of Vortex's caliber. Ratchet interrupts the debrief to give a prognosis on Jetfire: he'll be out of action for at least a week. Cliffjumper grouses that this will leave them without air support and the option of transforming, meaning that they'd have almost no chance of Victory. Prime states that he's been in contact with the Autobot leader, Bumblebee, and that 'Bee has a plan.

Bumblebee is giving a speech to a potential new recruit, mentioning how times have changed, and how they're not really sure where thing are now, citing [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] as an example. 'Bee talks about how the situation is much bigger than it used to be and that it threatens all Autobots and Decepticons. Bumblebee concludes by asking Thundercracker to join his force as the Seeker ponders...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters

|c1=
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (5)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (6)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (7)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (8)
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (9)
* [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (10)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (11)
* [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (17)
* [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (18)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (19)
|c2=
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (12)
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (13)
* [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (14)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (20)

|c3=
* [[Campologno]] (1)
* South Korean customs official (2)
* [[Joe Henderson]] (3)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (4)
* [[Kim Jong Du]] (15)
* US Army commander (16)
}}

==Quotes==
* TBD
==Errors==
* On page 13, one of the military guys describes the Combaticons as "tough costumers" instead of "tough customers."
* On page 15, when Vortex attacks Cliffjumper, the latter is coloured like Smokescreen.

==Items of note==
*''Once again'' the designs for the Transformer characters have changed, with artist Guido Guidi giving the Autobots and Decepticons character models that are closer to the style he used during ''[[All Hail Megatron]]'' but incorporating detailsfrom [[Don Figueroa]]'s run in ''The Transformers'' ongoing series. The notable exception is Jetfire, who retains his (more or less) [[Floro Dery]] character model.
*Skywatch soldier Campologno has been providing the Autobots with his DVDs in an attempt at a cultural exchange. Evidently, among them are television series and movies starring [[Patton Oswalt]].
*Broadside has the emblem that looks like the [[Cybertron Elite Guard]] logo, but it's actualy a LEGO 4005-1: Tug Boat homage.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/comic-books-graphic-novels/318429-transformers-10-preview-review-thread-2.html#post5105571 Guido post at TFW 2005 message board.]</ref>
*Onslaught and Vortex are shown opening their [[mouthplate]]s to reveal mouths underneath. Brawl can probably do this too.
*As Ratchet repairs Broadside and Jetfire, the rarely seen [[onebox component|repair bay]] from his original toy sits next to him.

===Covers (2)===
* '''Cover A:''' Jetfire getting blasted out of the sky. Art by [[Guido Guidi]], colors by [[James Brown|J. Brown]]
* '''Cover RI:''' The Autobots in the darkness. Art by [[Charles Paul Wilson III]], colors by ???.

<gallery>
Image: Transformers 10A.jpg|
Image: Transformers 10RI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* TBD

==References==
<references />

[[Category:IDW Generation 1 issues]]

International Incident Part 2: "Ranks of Bronze"

2010-08-14T05:17:11Z

Manuelle Magnus: /* Synopsis */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers]]'' #10
|prev=International Incident Part 1: "The Land Ironclads"
|next=International Incident Part 3
|title=International Incident Part 2: "Ranks of Bronze"
|image=Transformers 10A.jpg
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date= [[August 10]], [[2010]]
|coverdate=August 2010
|written by=[[Mike Costa]]
|art by=[[Guido Guidi]]
|colors by=[[James Brown|J. Brown]]
|letters by=[[Neil Uyetake]]
|assistant editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|editor=[[Andy Schmidt]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2010)]]
}}
'''The Autobots sneak into North Korea'''

==Synopsis==
On a dock in [[Incheon]], [[South Korea]] Campologno is hooking up a shipping container to a crane when he is confronted by a rather officious dockworker. The dockworker, quite reasonably, wants to know what sort of shipping company has the power to force a shipyard to unload a single ship at a time when there's alien attacks occurring within 10 miles. Unable to successfully bluff the operation even with Joe Henderson's help, Campologno incapacitates the dockworker with a sleeper hold and tosses him into the water. Henderson and Campologno argue about this course of action, bemoaning the limited time they've had to run the operation. [[Skywatch]] field commander Spike Witwicky silences his subordinates and gets there assistance in opening the seven shipping containers, revealing seven Autobots in their [[alternate mode|vehicular forms]].

Once freed from his container, Optimus Prime asks if there's a problem. Spike complains about the lack of smarts that his unit has been displaying. Prime reminds him that a units is a reflection of it's commanding officer. After that, the Autobots and Skywatch personal enter a hangar, allowing the Autobots to transform into their robot forms without being spotted by the watchful eyes of any orbiting reconnaissance satellites. Witwicky reminds them that the mission is strictly off the book now that Cybertronians have been classified as Weapons of Mass Destruction, so they'll have to engage the enemy without revealing their robotic nature. The Autobots will have to fight in their alternate modes. Spike reveals that Prime's trailer contains a lot of weaponry, and Wheeljack is tasked with attaching that weaponry to the Autobot's vehicular bodies.

Further inland, Onslaught, Brawl and Vortex are relaxing, and celebrating not having to deal with [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] or [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] bossing them around. At this point, Kim Jong Du storms out with his bodyguards to admonish the idling Decepticons and order them to deal with US/South Korean forces that are mustering. Brawl is less than happy to be ordered about by a human and makes his objections known to Onslaught. The Combaticon leader says they have to keep this up as long as Kim has Energon, but he has a plan. Vortex calls him on it, and Onslaught admits that he's ''formulating'' a plan. this causes Brawl to claim that he misses Swindle.

A short while later a US NCO is rallying his troops to face off against the 3 Combaticons. As he's declaring that the humans won't let machines just march in, an extremely up-gunned Smokescreen goes speeding past to engage the Decepticon foe. Smokescreen lays down a smokescreen as blasts Vortex. This leads Onslaught to wonder if there are Autobots present. Onslaught's suspicions are confirmed when Optimus Prime emerges from the smoke at ramming speed and barrels into the luckless Decepticon. Vortex uses his rotors to redirect the smokescreen at Smokescreen, reasoning that the Autobot can't see through it either. Taking advantage of the distraction, Vortex takes to the skies and transforms to helicopter mode, bragging that the Autobot/Skywatch force is doomed without air support.

Spike obviously agrees with Vortex, as he orders the hitherto hidden Jetfire to engage the Combaticon helicopter. Meanwhile, the ground-based Decepticon forces are trying to figure out why the Autobots won't transform, preferring to remain as sitting ducks in their alternate modes. As Onslaught starts tearing into Prime's cab, skywatch deploys their Beta Team of [[Crash suit]]s. The Autobots and the Crash suits start herding the Combaticons towards the sea, where a waiting Broadside unleashes a debilitating volley of firepower at the Decepticon duo, effectively pinning them. Immediately after this, Vortex blasts Jetfire, damaging the Autobot's wing and causing him to plummet into a collision with Broadside. The huge explosion this causes distracts the Autobots long enough for the three Combaticons to flee the area.

A short time later, the Autobots are back in the hangar, with Ratchet working on repairing some of the damage to Broadside and Jetfire. Spike wants to know how come the other Skywatch personnel allowed Brawl to escape. Campologno and Henderson point out that the Combaticon's are protected from Skywatch's suppressors and without that advantage, they can't stop a tank. Optimus notes that Jetfire, as a research scientist, really is no match for soldier of Vortex's caliber. Ratchet interrupts the debrief to give a prognosis on Jetfire: he'll be out of action for at least a week. Cliffjumper grouses that this will leave them without air support and the option of transforming, meaning that they'd have almost no chance of Victory. Prime states that he's been in contact with the Autobot leader, Bumblebee, and that 'Bee has a plan.

Bumblebee is giving a speech to a potential new recruit, mentioning how times have changed, and how they're not really sure where thing are now, citing [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] as an example. 'Bee talks about how the situation is much bigger than it used to be and that it threatens all Autobots and Decepticons. Bumblebee concludes by asking Thundercracker to join his force as the Seeker ponders...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters

|c1=
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (5)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (6)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (7)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (8)
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (9)
* [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (10)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (11)
* [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (17)
* [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (18)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (19)
|c2=
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (12)
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (13)
* [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (14)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (20)

|c3=
* [[Campologno]] (1)
* South Korean customs official (2)
* [[Joe Henderson]] (3)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (4)
* [[Kim Jong Du]] (15)
* US Army commander (16)
}}

==Quotes==
* TBD
==Errors==
* On page 13, one of the military guys describes the Combaticons as "tough costumers" instead of "tough customers."
* On page 15, when Vortex attacks Cliffjumper, the latter is coloured like Smokescreen.

==Items of note==
*''Once again'' the designs for the Transformer characters have changed, with artist Guido Guidi giving the Autobots and Decepticons character models that are closer to the style he used during ''[[All Hail Megatron]]'' but incorporating detailsfrom [[Don Figueroa]]'s run in ''The Transformers'' ongoing series. The notable exception is Jetfire, who retains his (more or less) [[Floro Dery]] character model.
*Skywatch soldier Campologno has been providing the Autobots with his DVDs in an attempt at a cultural exchange. Evidently, among them are television series and movies starring [[Patton Oswalt]].
*Broadside has the emblem that looks like the [[Cybertron Elite Guard]] logo, but it's actualy a LEGO 4005-1: Tug Boat homage.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/comic-books-graphic-novels/318429-transformers-10-preview-review-thread-2.html#post5105571 Guido post at TFW 2005 message board.]</ref>
*Onslaught and Vortex are shown opening their [[mouthplate]]s to reveal mouths underneath. Brawl can probably do this too.
*As Ratchet repairs Broadside and Jetfire, the rarely seen [[onebox component|repair bay]] from his original toy sits next to him.

===Covers (2)===
* '''Cover A:''' Jetfire getting blasted out of the sky. Art by [[Guido Guidi]], colors by [[James Brown|J. Brown]]
* '''Cover RI:''' The Autobots in the darkness. Art by [[Charles Paul Wilson III]], colors by ???.

<gallery>
Image: Transformers 10A.jpg|
Image: Transformers 10RI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* TBD

==References==
<references />

[[Category:IDW Generation 1 issues]]

Time-Quake

2010-08-10T05:24:16Z

Manuelle Magnus: /* Synopsis */

{{comicstory
|prev=Web of Deception
|seriesissue=''Transformers Animated: [[Be the Hero]]'' #4
|next=
|image=Time-Quake cover.jpg
|caption=
|title="Time-Quake"
|publisher=[[HarperCollins Publishers]]
|imprint=HarperCollins Children's Books
|published in=[[United Kingdom]]
|date=[[May 28]], 2009
|written by=[[Colin Brake]]
|continuity=[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|''Transformers Animated'' cartoon]]
|pagecount=128
|price=£4.99
|ISBN=0007303904 978-0007303908
|printed in=[[United Kingdom|Great Britain]]
}}
'''Strange time effects plague Detroit, leading you and Bulkhead to discover a time machine.'''

==Synopsis==
{{note|As this is a [[multipath adventure]], below are two representative walkthroughs covering most options between them...}}
Temporal anomalies have been causing time to seem to stretch and shrink across [[Detroit]]. Some people are even blaming the Autobots for it. On your way home from school, you are almost trampled by a stampede of humans and robots fleeing from something and investigate to discover they were running from a Tyrannosaurus Rex. As you start to back away from it, a nearby SWAT vehicle transforms into [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]], who throws a taxi at the beast. As it vanishes, Bulkhead traces the temporal energy to the newly-built [[Lions Tower]] in the middle of Detroit. You and Bulkhead arrive at the empty building to encounter [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]]. Breaking and entering ensues, and on the top floor of the building you find a strange machine. As you lift one of the metal balls from the machine, white mist surrounds you...

You and Bulkhead find yourself in a cemetery and encounter [[Abraham Lincoln]]. After you help Abe with the wording of the [[Wikipedia:Gettysburg Address|speech he's about to give]], he recognises the ball you're holding, having found a similar one the night before. When he gives you the sphere, another temporal shift occurs...

You find yourself in 1773, on [[Griffin's Wharf]], and spot two men dressed as Native Americans, on their way to the [[Boston Tea Party]]. One of them spots Bulkhead and, fearing that he's a metal demon sent by the British, flees. After a short chase, Bulkhead picks the man up, causing him to faint. While he's unconscious, you loot him and discover he's carrying another of the control spheres. Though you're keen to watch the Boston Tea Party, another time shift occurs.

And you're back in the 22nd century at the top of the Lions Tower. While you're looking around for Bumblebee, the diminutive Autobot comes flying through a nearby wall. Stepping through the hole in the wall is [[Natasha Pyraniac]], owner of the time machine, and [[Blast-X]], her [[Decepticon]] accomplice. While the two Autobots fight Blast-X, she explains to you that she came back in time for some amusement, but fun time's over, and she leaves with the time machine. Blast-X is distraught at being abandoned, but fights on until the rest of the Autobots arrive and he can be brought down.

'''Or perhaps the following happened instead:'''

On your way home from school, you investigate an alarm and spot a building on fire. Outside you encounter Bulkhead, who says that temporal energy is present in the building. A time-displaced Minuteman from the American War of Independence appears, in a state of confusion. After revealing his name is [[John Hawkins]] and he's from 1775, he disappears in another temporal disturbance. Bulkhead is able to track the source of the energy, and you accompany him to an old warehouse on the Detroit River where [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] is already waiting. You break into the warehouse, and in the basement find a strange machine with metal control spheres. As you pick one up, you and Bulkhead are plunged back in time...

You and Bulkhead land up on a hillside, somewhere near Philadelphia. Coincidentally also on the hillside is [[Benjamin Franklin]], who's looking to conduct an experiment to prove that lightning is a form of electricity. He recognises your control sphere, having found an identical one on the hill, and leads you to his home to pick it up. Of course, no sooner do you have both spheres, than you and Bulkhead are sent through time again.

This time you find yourselves on a sidewalk in [[New York City]], in the early 21st century when people were still using fossil fuels as an energy source. The pollution prevents Bulkhead from getting a reading on the second missing control sphere, but a short time later he saves a teenage girl from being run over by a bus. You recognise the girl as [[Gabriella Constanza]], destined to be America's first female president, and discover she's found the control sphere you're after.

Back in the 22nd century, you find Prowl, who says you've been gone for days. The Autobots have discovered the time machine's owner is a chrononaut from the far future, who's being held prisoner by the Decepticon [[Wavelength]] in a river-side restaurant. Wavelength's electrical powers are holding the Autobots at bay. Your rubber-soled shoes make you immune, allowing you to sneak in via the fire escape and trip the sprinkler system, which shorts out Wavelength. The time traveler [[Aron Three Five]], thanks you for saving him and uses his time machine to return to the 51th century.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]]
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]]
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]]
*[[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]]
*[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]]
|c2=
*[[Blast-X]]
*[[Wavelength]]
|c3=
*[[You]]
*[[John Hawkins]]
*Confederate soldier
*[[Gabriella Constanza]]
*[[Abraham Lincoln]]
*[[Benjamin Franklin]]
*[[Sons of Liberty|Son of Liberty]]
*[[Simion Hawkins|Professor Simion Hawkins]]
*[[Natasha Pyraniac]]
*[[Aron Three Five]]
*[[Natalie]]

|nonumbering=true
}}

==Quotes==
"What are you? A speaking mechanical! Is this some British trickery?"
:—'''John Hawkins''' reacts to Bulkhead.

"Fear not, man of metal, I will take care of the youth."
:—'''Benjamin Franklin'''

"You didn't say 'please'" 
"My name is Blast-X and I don't need to."
:—'''Bumblebee''' and '''Blast-X'''

"Bravo! Best ballet I've seen in ages!"
:—'''Bulkhead''' watches Bumblebee dodge Blast-X's weapons fire.

==Notes==
===Errors===
*The options at the end of section 59 are reversed. If you choose to go with Prowl, you end up going with Bulkhead, and vice versa.
*Bulkhead is oddly knowledgeable about temporal mechanics. But this might be because of his knowledge of [[Space Bridge|Space Bridges]].

===Multipath===
*In this story you are school age and learned a lot about American history from school. You once recited the Gettysberg Address at a school assembly.
*The options you get are often things you, as a character, would have no control over, such as whether the character behind the whole scheme is a human or a Decepticon.
*Even more often, whichever choice you take, the next set of choices will be exactly the same. For instance, if you choose to go down in a lift, something will happen to make it go up instead, and you'll end up with the same two choices you'd haven gotten if you had chosen to go up in the first place.
*'''Alternate endings:'''
**Blast-X is responsible for the temporal disturbances on his own. His plan was to use the time machine to discredit the Autobots, and then make himself Detroit's biggest hero by stopping the time quakes himself. After Blast-X is defeated and the time machine destroyed, Optimus makes you an [[honorary Autobot]].
**The person behind the time quakes is [[Simion Hawkins|Professor Simion Hawkins]], whose time theories were scoffed at ten years ago. He's holed up in a skyscraper downtown, keeping the Autobots away by materialising dinosaurs, but you're able to sneak in and confront the professor. You're able to talk him into giving himself up, and he explains that his intention was to solve world hunger by farming animals from the past, but the experiments had caused holes in the fabric of space/time. Ratchet says restoring the control spheres should fix everything.
*Other variations include an encounter with a Neanderthal instead of a T-Rex, or meeting a Confederate soldier instead of John Hawkins.

===Trivia===
*The author, who has penned a number of ''[[Wikipedia:Doctor Who|Doctor Who]]'' books, has inserted a number of sly references to the show. Most of these are in the terms used in relation to time travel, but most glaring is the character of Natasha Pyraniac, who's said to be 403 years old and has run away from a sterile and boring society in order to have fun, a back story almost identical to that of [[Doctor (G1)|the main character from ''Doctor Who'']]. Her appearance and demeanor are intended to resemble the character of [[wikipedia:Rani (Doctor Who)|the Rani]] from that show, a clue to this being subtly hidden in her last name.
*During the sequence set in the 21st century, you encounter a young girl named [[Natalie]] who contributes nothing at all plotwise. We strongly suspect nepotism.
*Despite John Hawkins and Simion Hawkins sharing the last name, the two men do not otherwise appear to be linked.

[[Category:Animated storybooks]]
[[Category:Multipath adventures]]

Reunification: Part 3

2010-08-02T09:52:47Z

Manuelle Magnus:

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[Reunification]]
|prev=Reunification: Part 2
|next=Reunification: Part 4
|seriesissue2=[[Shattered Glass (fiction)|Shattered Glass]]
|title="Reunification: Part 3"
|publisher=[[Fun Publications]]
|published in=[[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 27]]
|writer=[[Forest Lee]]
|pencils by=[[Robby Musso]]
|inks by=[[Robby Musso]]
|colors by=[[Josh Perez]]
|letters by=[[Jesse Wittenrich]]
|editor=[[Pete Sinclair]]
|continuity=[[Shattered Glass]]
}}
'''Landquake and company chill out with a most groovy visitor!'''

==Synopsis==
Landquake, Breakaway and Topspin are baffled—the other robots around them cannot be detected or moved. A strange creature introducing himself as the [[Quintesson]] Aquarius explains that they're in a bubble of [[slow time]], and that ''he'' is the one who brought the trio here. When they protest that Alpha Trion was responsible for their presence here, Aquarius says that things aren't always what they seem. After conferring with his friends, Landquake agrees to listen to the Quintesson's tale.

The Quintessons, he explains, are explorers. They've had a covert research post on Cybertron for a long time, mostly keeping a low profile, but occasionally taking "more direct action" (such as, apparently, killing off Fortress Maximus). But now, Optimus Prime's Omega Doom project is too big for even the Quints to handle....

''Prime consults with Ironhide, regarding the scheduling and security for Project: Omega Doom, while Grimlock chows down on Blurr's shoulder. The project will let Prime and the Autobots build a galaxy-wide empire; success will mean that Ironhide gets a star system of his own to rule. And the universe will surrender, or see its very stars extinguished...''

...which ends Aquarius's recap. He's certain that the trio can stop the project, along with Skyfall (who, as Topspin helpfully points out, is dead) and "[[Heatwave|the fifth]]". What's more, Aquarius knows who the fifth is, and where to find him—namely, with Megatron. Explication has to end at that point, however; the slow time bubble is expiring, and Computron rips his way into the building.

Elsewhere, Alpha Trion is in contact with one of his allies. Both of their assassins are in place, and the strike will happen today: Megatron and Optimus will both die! With that accomplished, Cybertron will belong to Alpha Trion, while Earth goes to... Rodimus ''Prime''.

==Quotes==
"Can you...stop doing that thing with your faces? It's disconcerting."
:—Aquarius seems to be making '''Landquake''' a little motion-sick!

"I do not like this creature." 
"You don't like ''anyone'', Landquake. He seems fine to me."
:—'''Landquake''' is dour towards Aquarius; '''Breakaway''' is accepting. What else is new?

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters|h2=[[Autobot]]s||c2=
* [[Alpha Trion (SG)|Alpha Trion]]
* [[Computron (SG)|Computron]]
* [[Fortress Maximus (SG)|Fortress Maximus]]
* [[Omega Doom]]
* [[Ironhide (SG)|Ironhide]]
* [[Optimus Prime (SG)|Optimus Prime]]
* [[Landcross (SG)|Landcross]]
* [[Grimlock (SG)|Grimlock]]
* [[Blurr (SG)|Blurr]]
* [[Rodimus (SG)|Rodimus]]
|c4=
* [[Cypher]] (1)
* [[Breakaway (Classics)|Breakaway]] (1)
* Various unnamed robots (2)
* [[Topspin (Classics)|Topspin]] (2)
* [[Landquake (Timelines)|Landquake]] (3)
* [[Aquarius (SG)|Aquarius]]
* [[Skyfall (Cybertron)|Skyfall]]
}}

==Errors==

'''Aquarius''': "I can explain more while we run, but Computron's about ''the'' rip the roof off this building." (correct: "Computron's about ''to'' rip the roof off this building.")

==Notes==
* Grimlock picks up a popular Internet meme as he chomps on Blurr: NOM NOM NOM!
* Holy crap! A correct use of the term "[[solar system|star system]]"!

[[Category:Shattered Glass issues]]

Wings of Honor

2010-07-30T13:58:14Z

Manuelle Magnus:

{{comicstory|seriesissue=Transformers [[Timelines (fiction)|Timelines]] #4
|prev=Shattered Glass (issue)
|next=Generation 2: Redux
|seriesissue2=[[Wings of Honor continuity|Wings of Honor]]
|prev2=Eye in the Sky
|next2=The Coming Storm: Part 1
|title="Wings of Honor"
|image=Timelines v2n4de.jpg
|caption=The origin of Two-Face! ...wait, no.
|publisher=[[Fun Publications]]
|date=[[May 28]], [[2009]]
|story=[[Rik Alvarez]]
|writers=[[Forest Lee]] and Rik Alvarez
|pencils=[[Guido Guidi]] (flashback) and [[Dan Khanna]] (shuttle attack)
|inks=Guido Guidi (flashback) and [[Josh Warner]] (shuttle attack)
|colors=[[Thomas Deer]] (flashback) and [[Josh Perez]] (shuttle attack)
|letters=[[Jesse Wittenrich]]
|managing editor=[[Pete Sinclair]]
|editor in chief=[[Brian Savage]]
|price=$4.95 US
|continuity=[[Wings of Honor continuity|Wings of Honor]]
}}
'''Kup tells a story about one of his earliest missions at the beginning of the war.'''

==Synopsis==
''As Kup, Hot Rod, and the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s suffer a surprise attack by Cyclonus, Scourge, and the Sweeps, Hot Rod tries to lose their attackers by flying their shuttle towards a nearby nebula. Kup muses that their current situation reminds him of a story, prompting the Dinobots to beg to hear it, though Kup tells them to wait after seeing just how many Decepticons are after them.''

''Hot Rod is eventually able to hide their ship in the nebula. The Dinobots demand once again for a story, with Grimlock managing to intimidate Hot Rod into saying that repairing the ship can wait until after story time. Kup then launches into a story about the battle of [[Beta-Nine]], when he was a young "[[protoform|protie]]" on the [[Autobot Guard]] ship the ''[[Eight Track]]''...''

Thunderclash and his crew are finishing up a long recon mission on the outer ring, with no sign of [[Decepticon]]s detected, much to Landshark and Kup's disappointment. Then the ship receives a transmission from [[Autobot High Command]]. Magnum reports that the Decepticons have gone from a ragtag group to a full-fledged army with a [[Megatron (G1)|new leader]]. The [[Autobot]]s are now officially preparing for war, due to an attack on the ''[[Van De Graaff]]'', which was carrying a vitally important piece of cargo. Since the ''Eight Track'' is closest to where the ''Van De Graaff'' crashed, Magnum tells Thunderclash and his crew to go there, find the cargo, and return it safely at all costs.

[[Image:WingsofHonor-Skyraiders.jpg|left|thumb|250px|]]

Things go bad the moment they reach Beta-Nine, however, as their ship is suddenly shot down out of nowhere by a Decepticon ship. Landshark manages to crash-land the ship with no casualties except the ship and his morale. When he expresses his misgivings with their new situation, Thunderclash gives him a chewing out and everyone else a pep talk. They then start heading towards the ''Van De Graaff'''s crash site, only to be strafed by the Decepticons as they too arrive on the planet, causing Kup to become separated from the others.

As the others deal with getting into cover away from Hooligan, Leozack, and Skyquake, Kup finds himself dealing with Banzai-Tron, Gaihawk, and Hellbat. He manages to trip up Banzai-Tron, but ends up being cornered by the other two and hypnotized by Hellbat. Before Banzai-Tron can take advantage, however, Hellbat is suddenly snatched up by a giant lake monster that thought he looked like a nice snack, enabling Kup to escape.

Meanwhile, the other three Decepticons try to track down the rest of Kup's teammates. Thunderclash decides to try to draw some of the Decepticons away so he can then meet Kup at the ''Van De Graaff'', and he successfully baits Skyquake into chasing him. Kup, for his part, has already arrived at the ship, and he goes in to look for the cargo. He finds lots of dead Autobots full of holes and covered in [[Quintesson|creepy tentacles]], and retrieves the mysterious cargo.

[[Image:LandsharkWOH-energondelivery.jpg|left|thumb|250px|]]

Elsewhere, Flak and Landshark deal with the two Decepticons left still looking for them. Flak catches Leozack and Hooligan's attention as a distraction, then engages them. The fight goes poorly for Flak, but it's enough to get Landshark in position to take the two down with some surprise punches.

Back outside the ''Van De Graaff'', Kup finds himself under heavy fire from the Decepticons who have caught up with him, until Thunderclash barrels in just in time with a foe-tossing charge. Unfortunately, it proves to be only a temporary reprieve, until Kup gets an idea. As Banzai-Tron recovers and closes in, he threatens Kup into handing over the crate. Kup agrees, but Skyquake warns that he can sense Kup is up to something. Banzai-Tron doesn't listen, but it turns out he should have, as what Kup hands over is actually a container with a gun set to overload that blows the remaining Decepticons into submission.

''Kup is forced to put his storytelling on hold as their ship is finally spotted by the Decepticons. Cyclonus, Scourge, and the Sweeps blow an entry hole in the shuttle and board it... only to find themselves facing down five Dinobots who are '''very''' unhappy that their story was interrupted. The Autobots lay into the Decepticons with gusto.''

''As Scourge tries to crawl away from the resulting carnage, Kup levels his gun at the fleeing Decepticon, but it jams and Kup has to fiddle with it. Scourge recovers and snatches the malfunctioning gun away with a boast, only to find out that Kup has set the gun to overload and explode, taking Scourge out. The remaining Decepticons having also been soundly dealt with by the others, Kup goes back to his story...''

A recovery team eventually finds Thunderclash's squad,and takes them, their cargo, the surrendered Decepticons, and the Decepticon ship back to Autobot High Command. There they are summoned to Magnum's office, where he praises them for their work on the mission and rewards them with a special honor—creating a special strike force under Thunderclash's command known as... the [[Cybertron Elite Guard|Elite Guard]]!

''Kup never does find out personally what the special cargo was or what happened to it, but [[Matrix of Leadership|the contents within]] ''were'' successfully returned to [[Alpha Trion (G1)|their custodian]], to be given to [[Optimus Prime (G1)|their new "owner"]]...''
{{--}}
==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters|c1=
* [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (4)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (5)
* [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (6)
* [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (7)
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (9)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] (10)
* [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (11)
* [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] (12)
* [[Flak]] (13)
* [[Landshark]] (14)
* [[Magnum]] (15)
* [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] (23)
|c2=
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (1)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (2)
* [[Sweep]]s (3)
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (16)
* [[Skyquake (G1)|Skyquake]] (17)
* [[Leozack]] (18)
* [[Hooligan (G2)|Hooligan]] (19)
* [[Banzai-Tron (G1)|Banzai-Tron]] (20)
* [[Gaihawk]] (21)
* [[Hellbat]] (22)
}}

==Quotes==
"There was a time, back in the day, when Landshark was recognized as one of the finest pilots in the Autobot Guard. No matter how damaged a ship was, he'd put it down as delicate as a filament. 
"I'm not one hundred percent on where he got that reputation."
:—'''Kup''' has not-so-fond memories of Landshark's landing skills.

"Your plan ''sucks'', Flak. We'll never pull this off." 
"Shut up and get into position when you hear firing. And hurry up, unless you brought a box to carry home Flak pieces in."
:—'''Landshark''' and '''Flak''' discuss tactics.

"You boys call those missile launchers? ''These'' are missile launchers."
:—'''Flak''' is up on his pop culture references.

==Errors==
* TBD

==Items of note==
* According to [[Pete Sinclair]], this continuity "is VERY similar to [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the original G1 toon]], though it is different enough to allow us some leeway in the overall story telling. [...] Scourge will have always been in his BotCon 2009 body, Hot Rod in his Universe Legends body and so on. As time goes on there will be more subtle, and not so subtle, differences."<ref>[http://www.transformersclub.com/members/transforum/msgs.cfm?forum=22&msg=125826 Collectors' Club forum thread]</ref>
* The wide-release version (released on [[December 9]], 2009) of this comic book included profiles for [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], [[Banzai-Tron (G1)|Banzai-Tron]], [[Flak]], [[Leozack]], and [[Dion]].
* Kup's narration over the flashback tends to paint a decidedly different and more favorable (to Kup) picture than what we see actually happening.

===Real-world references===
* Leozack is portrayed with a slew of cheesy manga stereotypes, including a giant broadsword, punctuation marks over his head, [[Humanization|sweatdropping]], calling his attacks, and bold Asian-style fonts in his speech bubbles.
* Landshark is a nod to [[wikipedia:Chevy Chase|Chevy Chase]] and the [[wikipedia:Saturday Night Live|SNL]] skit about the [[wikipedia:Landshark (Saturday Night Live)|character of the same name]]... which in turn is spoofed during one of the panels in this comic.
* Flak's "missile launchers" line is likely a spoof on a famous [[wikipedia:Crocodile Dundee|Crocodile Dundee]] quote (or rather, the common misquote).
* The ''Eight Track'' is named after the old [[wikipedia:8-track tape|8-track tape]] technology.
* The ''Van de Graaff'', meanwhile, is named after [[wikipedia:Robert J. Van de Graaff|Robert J. Van de Graaff]] and the [[wikipedia:Van de Graaff generator|generator he invented]].

===Transformers references===
* Grimlock seems to be holding a stuffed [[petrorabbit]].
* Cyclonus is in his ''[[Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' toy body, and Hot Rod in his ''Universe'' Legends body. Grimlock seems to be based on his [[Masterpiece]] figure, but that's based on his cartoon [[character model]] to begin with, so that's all kind of circular. The other Dinobots and (framing story) Kup are in their cartoon character models.
* The framing story is lifted almost wholesale from a similar scene in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
* All of the Decepticons in the flashback other than Banzai-Tron are "Skyraiders", recipients of Skyquake's flying body upgrades, and precursors to the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]].

===Covers===
* '''BotCon Edition:''' Battle scene of Kup facing off against Skyquake and Banzai-Tron; art by [[Alex Milne]] and colors by [[Josh Perez]]
* '''Diamond Edition:''' Battle scene featuring Kup; art by [[Guido Guidi]] and colors by [[Thomas Deer]].
<gallery>
Image:WingsofHonor BotCon.jpg
Image:Timelines v2n4de.jpg
</gallery>

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Generation 1 issues]]
[[Category:Timelines issues]]

Shattered Glass (issue)

2010-07-30T13:38:37Z

Manuelle Magnus:

{{disambig2|the BotCon '08 comic|the franchise it introduced|Shattered Glass (franchise)}} 
{{comicstory
|seriesissue=[[Timelines (fiction)|''Transformers Timelines'']] Vol.2 #3
|prev=Games of Deception
|next=Wings of Honor
|seriesissue2=[[Shattered Glass (fiction)|Shattered Glass]]
|prev2=Shattered Expectations
|next2=Dungeons & Dinobots
|image=Timelines v2n3ce.jpg
|caption=Transformers stand and point a lot in the mirrorverse, too.
|title="Shattered Glass"
|publisher=[[Fun Publications]]
|date=[[April 24]], [[2008]] ([[BotCon 2008]])
|coverdate=Spring 2008
|writer=[[Ben Yee|Benson Yee]]
|story=[[Pete Sinclair]] and [[Ben Yee|Benson Yee]]
|pencils=[[Don Figueroa]]
|inks=[[Don Figueroa]]
|colors=[[Espen Grundetjern]]
|letters=[[Jesse Wittenrich]]
|managing editor=[[Pete Sinclair]]
|editorinchief=[[Brian Savage]]
|continuity=[[Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]]
}}
'''Decepticons wage their battle to destroy the evil forces of... the Autobots?'''

==Synopsis==
{{note|This story follows the events of [[Crossing Over: Part 6]].}}
Emerging from a dimensional portal, [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] arrives, to his shock, on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Almost immediately, he is jumped by an oddly colored [[Triggercon]] named [[Ruckus (SG)|Ruckus]]. Ruckus tries to make a getaway, when he's blasted by [[Rodimus (SG)|Rodimus]]. Rodimus takes Cliffjumper to see [[Optimus Prime (SG)|Optimus Prime]]. Optimus escorts the by-now-nervous Cliffjumper to the [[smelting pool]] to see [[Rumble (SG)|Rumble]]'s execution. Quite unwisely, Cliffjumper tries to talk some sense into Optimus and gets blasted for his pains. As a test of loyalty, Optimus dumps Cliffjumper into the [[Rad Zone]]. While unconscious, Cliffjumper's body is found by [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobot]]-colored versions of Scrapper and Long Haul. Cliffjumper wakes up to see both Hook and Scrapper working on him. Needless to say, he freaks out and makes a run for it, only to collide with Megatron, accompanied by Sideswipe. Sideswipe asks to see Cliffjumper alone. Upon further inspection, Sideswipe concludes that the Cliffjumper standing before him is not the same Cliffjumper he knew; after all, his Cliffjumper was killed right before his eyes during an ambush. Cliffjumper asks what the slag is going on, and Sideswipe condenses his universe's history.

In this universe, Optronix was absolutely obsessive about knowledge. Feeling unsatisfied in his original position, he backstabbed and betrayed countless others to become one of the more influential members of society. He began preaching intolerance for Cybertron's peaceful lifestyle, and others who agreed with this philosophy, mainly those who were similarly dissatisfied, joined him. In time, Optronix declared himself and his followers autonomous from Cybertron, and thus, they took the name [[Autobot]]s. Optronix then upgraded his followers, but, of course, he kept the most powerful mods for himself. When he finished upgrading, he renamed himself Optimus Prime. Then, one day, the Autobots began their reign of terror. Those who refused to join the Autobots were scrapped. Eventually, Optimus's sanity was shattered with a shocking revelation, but no one, not even his closest friends, knew what that was. The Autobots did not go unchallenged; other Cybertronians who managed to escape the initial massacre formed a loose resistance, but without a strong leader to guide them, the cause was sure to sputter out. That's when Megatron emerged from [[Polyhex]], uniting the resistance fighters into a tightly knit army. Megatron had only one equal on the battlefield, namely Optimus, but had the additional advantage of being able to transform. Armed with the technology of hiding themselves in plain sight, the resistance became the [[Decepticon]]s. Optimus, however, managed to reproduce the technology for his own troops to use. Because of that, morale has been sinking.

Cliffjumper, quite out of his league, asks why an Autobot in his universe would be a Decepticon in this one. Sideswipe confesses that he was once an Autobot, but over time, he stopped believing in Optimus's cause and was subsequently left for dead after a staged ambush. That was when he joined the Decepticons for the sole purpose of revenge. Cliffjumper isn't exactly convinced, but decides to stick around before he makes a final decision.
[[Image:Shatteredglassmegatrondecepticons.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Listen to the voice of not-doom.]]
Back in [[Iacon]], Blurr reports to Optimus (while Prime spars with [[holo-drone]]s, no less) about the status of the ''[[Ark (SG)|Ark]]'', but is concerned about the launching platform's stability. Optimus is unconcerned and even welcomes a Decepticon attack. At Decepticon HQ, Starscream reports on the ''Ark'''s status as well, with a highly concerned Megatron listening in. As Cliffjumper and Sideswipe enter, Megatron informs them that Optimus plans to head to other planets to plunder their resources. Cliffjumper exclaims "By [[Primus]], he can't be allowed to do that," leaving the others slightly confused. Cliffjumper then provides a highly condensed version of the Transformers' origins. Megatron is somewhat relieved to learn that a god may have been behind their creation, but says that he needs to concentrate on a plan to get past the guards at the launching platform. Starscream then comes up with the brilliant idea of attacking the platform itself. With the platform's destruction, the Ark will collapse under its own weight, stranding the Autobots on Cybertron, albeit temporarily. To destroy the platform, Starscream plans to use Cliffjumper's "[[glass gas]]" to weaken the steel, making it vulnerable to regular weapons fire. Cliffjumper agrees to assist Starscream with replicating the formula as Megatron and the others plan the new attack.

At sundown, Razorclaw and Rampage dispatch the guards, allowing Screamer, Divebomb, and Whisper to deploy the "Glass Gas Bombs", but while the bombs hit their target, their weapons fire fails to destroy the platform. It soon becomes an all-out brawl between the two sides, as Megatron and Optimus trade barbs. When Optimus spots Cliffjumper, he attempts to destroy the "traitor", but Megs takes the hit. Finally spurred into action, Cliffjumper finishes the job, destroying the platform and crippling the ''Ark''. Megatron orders the 'Cons to retreat, but Optimus, enraged, attempts to extract revenge. Megatron gives Optimus a parting gift before flying off into the sunset with Cliffjumper, who finally agrees to join the resistance.
{{--}}
==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters|h1=[[Decepticon]]s|c1=
* [[Ruckus (SG)|Ruckus]] (2)
* [[Clench (SG)|Clench]] (6)
* [[Skyquake (SG)|Skyquake]] (7)
* [[Krok (SG)|Krok]] (8)
* [[Rumble (SG)|Rumble]] (9)
* [[Long Haul (SG)|Long Haul]] (15)
* [[Scrapper (SG)|Scrapper]] (16)
* [[Hook (SG)|Hook]] (17)
* [[Diagnostic Drone]] (18)
* [[Sideswipe (SG)|Sideswipe]] (19)
* [[Megatron (SG)|Megatron]] (20)
* [[Soundwave (SG)|Soundwave]] (22)
* [[Razorclaw (SG)|Razorclaw]] (23)
* [[Rampage (SG)|Rampage]] (24)
* [[Reflector (SG)|Reflector]] (25)
* [[Starscream (SG)|Starscream]] (26)
* [[Cyclonus (SG)|Cyclonus]] (27)
* [[Divebomb (SG)|Divebomb]] (28)
* [[Whisper (SG)|Whisper]] (30)
* [[Heatwave]] (31)
* [[Laserbeak (SG)|Laserbeak]] (32)
* [[Slugslinger (SG)|Slugslinger]] (33)
* [[Buzzsaw (SG)|Buzzsaw]] (34)
* [[Quake (SG)|Quake]] (35)
* [[Frenzy (SG)|Frenzy]] (36)
|h2=[[Autobot]]s|c2=
* [[Rodimus (SG)|Rodimus]] (3)
* [[Perceptor (SG)|Perceptor]] (4)
* [[Optimus Prime (SG)|Optimus Prime]] (5)
* [[Grimlock (SG)|Grimlock]] (10)
* [[Goldbug (SG)|Goldbug]] (11)
* [[Ricochet (SG)|Ricochet]] (12)
* [[Blurr (SG)|Blurr]] (13)
* [[Jazz (SG)|Jazz]] (14)
* [[Sunstreaker (SG)|Sunstreaker]] (21)
* [[Dropshot (SG)|Dropshot]] (29)
* [[Nightbeat (SG)|Nightbeat]] (37)
|c4=
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (1)
}}

==Quotes==
"Oh, so unwise..."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' emulating [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]].

'''Sideswipe:''' "You're not him. You look just like him, except for the colors. It's like seeing a ghost." 
'''Cliffjumper:''' "Look, Sideswipe, or whoever you are, I'm tired of being shocked, confused, and generally angry here. Tell me what you are talking about or so help me I will beat it out of you!" 
'''Sideswipe:''' "Heh, you even talk like him."
:—Even mirrorverse Cliffjumper shares a mold with [[Bumblebee (G1)|a Bumblebee]].

'''Cliffjumper:''' "So, you're telling me that Megatron's a good guy and Optimus Prime is loonier than [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]]? Last week, I'd have told ya that you had a cracked cylinder. But... I've seen some crazy things lately. Dimension hopping, time travel, alternate realities... [[GEEWUN|what I wouldn't give for a simple war with good guys and bad guys!]]" 
'''Sideswipe:''' "Straxus is insane where you come from? Pity, I always liked his poetry..."
:—Poetry? Hate to see what their [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] is like.

'''Optimus Prime:''' "[[Seeker (SG)|Seekers]], [[Roll out|Transform and Roll out!]]" 
'''Rodimus:''' "15 points for the tapes, 25 points for the rest, loser buys the fuel! Game on!"
:—Even when everything's the opposite, some things remain constant.

==Errors==
* Cliffjumper, though portrayed as such in the story immediately prior, is not in his actual ''[[Classics (2006)|Classics]]'' color scheme. His silver car deco was dropped by the colorist for no reason.

==Items of note==
* This was Figueroa's first ''Transformers'' work since his hiatus.

===Transformers references===
* Though most of the crowd-fillers were [[redeco]]ed versions of previous characters, "Shattered Glass" Soundwave exists as a toy—the [[Soundwave (G1)/toys|"Sonic White" version of MP3 Soundwave]]. Quite a few of those got sold on that BotCon weekend.
* "Shattered Glass" Perceptor exists as a toy, too—[[Perceptor (G1)|Generation 1 Perceptor]] [[Magnificus|in his original ''pre-Transformers'' Microman colors]]. The [[repurposing]] trend these two characters started would be merrily [[Shattered Glass (toyline)|carried on in subsequent fiction]].
* There's a [[Diagnostic Drone]] helping Hook and Scrapper fix Cliffjumper. Amusingly, it's wearing a little nurse's cap.
* Sideswipe's history of "Shattered" [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] closely mirrors (so to speak) the version told in [[The Transformers (issue)|the very first ''Transformers'' story]], and even Optimus Prime's initial rallying cry to his troops is an homage to [[Megatron (G1)|Generation 1 Megatron's]] in that issue. However, Optimus Prime's early name, Optronix, is a reference to [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s ''[[The War Within]]''.
* Reflector's [[character model]] is based on [[Spy Shot 6]]. Both of them transform into cameras.
*[[Shockwave (SG)|"Shattered Glass" Shockwave]] is mentioned, as a mental health professional.
* [[Nightbeat (SG)|"Shattered Glass" Nightbeat]], [[BotCon 2008]]'s customization class figure, appears briefly at the ''[[Ark (SG)|Ark]]'' launch.
* Sideswipe's reasons for changing sides are the same as [[Wheeljack (Armada)|''Armada'' Wheeljack]], whose toy mold he shares.

===Real-world references===
* Cliffjumper mutters "Ponderous, slaggin' ''ponderous''" after Sideswipe tells his tale is part of a semi-elaborate convention callback. There is an infamous set of outtakes of [[Casey Kasem]] (the original voice actor for Cliffjumper) having... well, violent meltdowns while recording ''American Top 40'' ("Ponderous, f***in' ''ponderous'', man."). Clips of these outtakes were edited with footage of Cliffjumper attempting to sniper-shot [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] from "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]" for the closing credits of [[MSTF]] at [[OTFCC 2004]].
[[Image:ShatteredGoBots.gif|right|300px|thumb|Shouldn't Fitor be colored like [[Path Finder]] or something?]]
* Artist [[Don Figueroa]] started a trend in his early Dreamwave days by killing off cameos of [[Tonka GoBots]] [[Cy-Kill (disambiguation)|Cy-Kill]]. Suitably enough, in this mirrorverse tale, an evil Leader-1 (in Cy-Kill colors) is cannon fodder. Oddly enough, though, Cy-Kill's fist is one of those raised in support of Optimus Prime's revolution.
* Jazz blurts out "I ain't gettin' bombed by no plane!", a reference to the oft-repeated mantra of B.A. Baracus (played by Mr. T) from ''The A-Team''; "I ain't gettin' on no plane!".
{{--}}
===Diamond Edition extras===
* [[More Than Meets The Eye (G1)|More Than Meets The Eye]]-style bios of Rodimus and Starscream.
* A reprint of "[[Shattered Expectations]]".

===Covers (2)===
* '''BotCon Convention cover:''' Evil Autobots Goldbug, Rodimus and Blurr by [[Dan Khanna]] (pencils).
* '''Wide release cover:''' Megatron leads the heroic Decepticons in an attack against Optimus.
<gallery>
Image:Timelines v2n3ce.jpg|Exclusive cover
Image:ShatteredGlass DiamondCover.jpg|Retail cover
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* www.temptingtoys.net
* [[Transformers Collectors' Club]]
* www.grahamcrackers.com
* www.stylinonline.com
* Past Generation Toys (back cover)

[[Category:Convention exclusives]]
[[Category:Shattered Glass issues]]

Shattered Glass (issue)

2010-07-30T13:37:32Z

Manuelle Magnus:

{{disambig2|the BotCon '08 comic|the franchise it introduced|Shattered Glass (franchise)}} 
{{comicstory
|seriesissue=[[Timelines (fiction)|''Transformers Timelines'']] Vol.2 #3
|prev=Games of Deception
|next=Wings of Honor
|seriesissue2=[[Shattered Glass (fiction)|Shattered Glass]]
|prev2=Shattered Expectations
|next2=Dungeons & Dinobots
|image=Timelines v2n3ce.jpg
|next3=Bee in the City
|caption=Transformers stand and point a lot in the mirrorverse, too.
|title="Shattered Glass"
|publisher=[[Fun Publications]]
|date=[[April 24]], [[2008]] ([[BotCon 2008]])
|coverdate=Spring 2008
|writer=[[Ben Yee|Benson Yee]]
|story=[[Pete Sinclair]] and [[Ben Yee|Benson Yee]]
|pencils=[[Don Figueroa]]
|inks=[[Don Figueroa]]
|colors=[[Espen Grundetjern]]
|letters=[[Jesse Wittenrich]]
|managing editor=[[Pete Sinclair]]
|editorinchief=[[Brian Savage]]
|continuity=[[Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]]
}}
'''Decepticons wage their battle to destroy the evil forces of... the Autobots?'''

==Synopsis==
{{note|This story follows the events of [[Crossing Over: Part 6]].}}
Emerging from a dimensional portal, [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] arrives, to his shock, on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Almost immediately, he is jumped by an oddly colored [[Triggercon]] named [[Ruckus (SG)|Ruckus]]. Ruckus tries to make a getaway, when he's blasted by [[Rodimus (SG)|Rodimus]]. Rodimus takes Cliffjumper to see [[Optimus Prime (SG)|Optimus Prime]]. Optimus escorts the by-now-nervous Cliffjumper to the [[smelting pool]] to see [[Rumble (SG)|Rumble]]'s execution. Quite unwisely, Cliffjumper tries to talk some sense into Optimus and gets blasted for his pains. As a test of loyalty, Optimus dumps Cliffjumper into the [[Rad Zone]]. While unconscious, Cliffjumper's body is found by [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobot]]-colored versions of Scrapper and Long Haul. Cliffjumper wakes up to see both Hook and Scrapper working on him. Needless to say, he freaks out and makes a run for it, only to collide with Megatron, accompanied by Sideswipe. Sideswipe asks to see Cliffjumper alone. Upon further inspection, Sideswipe concludes that the Cliffjumper standing before him is not the same Cliffjumper he knew; after all, his Cliffjumper was killed right before his eyes during an ambush. Cliffjumper asks what the slag is going on, and Sideswipe condenses his universe's history.

In this universe, Optronix was absolutely obsessive about knowledge. Feeling unsatisfied in his original position, he backstabbed and betrayed countless others to become one of the more influential members of society. He began preaching intolerance for Cybertron's peaceful lifestyle, and others who agreed with this philosophy, mainly those who were similarly dissatisfied, joined him. In time, Optronix declared himself and his followers autonomous from Cybertron, and thus, they took the name [[Autobot]]s. Optronix then upgraded his followers, but, of course, he kept the most powerful mods for himself. When he finished upgrading, he renamed himself Optimus Prime. Then, one day, the Autobots began their reign of terror. Those who refused to join the Autobots were scrapped. Eventually, Optimus's sanity was shattered with a shocking revelation, but no one, not even his closest friends, knew what that was. The Autobots did not go unchallenged; other Cybertronians who managed to escape the initial massacre formed a loose resistance, but without a strong leader to guide them, the cause was sure to sputter out. That's when Megatron emerged from [[Polyhex]], uniting the resistance fighters into a tightly knit army. Megatron had only one equal on the battlefield, namely Optimus, but had the additional advantage of being able to transform. Armed with the technology of hiding themselves in plain sight, the resistance became the [[Decepticon]]s. Optimus, however, managed to reproduce the technology for his own troops to use. Because of that, morale has been sinking.

Cliffjumper, quite out of his league, asks why an Autobot in his universe would be a Decepticon in this one. Sideswipe confesses that he was once an Autobot, but over time, he stopped believing in Optimus's cause and was subsequently left for dead after a staged ambush. That was when he joined the Decepticons for the sole purpose of revenge. Cliffjumper isn't exactly convinced, but decides to stick around before he makes a final decision.
[[Image:Shatteredglassmegatrondecepticons.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Listen to the voice of not-doom.]]
Back in [[Iacon]], Blurr reports to Optimus (while Prime spars with [[holo-drone]]s, no less) about the status of the ''[[Ark (SG)|Ark]]'', but is concerned about the launching platform's stability. Optimus is unconcerned and even welcomes a Decepticon attack. At Decepticon HQ, Starscream reports on the ''Ark'''s status as well, with a highly concerned Megatron listening in. As Cliffjumper and Sideswipe enter, Megatron informs them that Optimus plans to head to other planets to plunder their resources. Cliffjumper exclaims "By [[Primus]], he can't be allowed to do that," leaving the others slightly confused. Cliffjumper then provides a highly condensed version of the Transformers' origins. Megatron is somewhat relieved to learn that a god may have been behind their creation, but says that he needs to concentrate on a plan to get past the guards at the launching platform. Starscream then comes up with the brilliant idea of attacking the platform itself. With the platform's destruction, the Ark will collapse under its own weight, stranding the Autobots on Cybertron, albeit temporarily. To destroy the platform, Starscream plans to use Cliffjumper's "[[glass gas]]" to weaken the steel, making it vulnerable to regular weapons fire. Cliffjumper agrees to assist Starscream with replicating the formula as Megatron and the others plan the new attack.

At sundown, Razorclaw and Rampage dispatch the guards, allowing Screamer, Divebomb, and Whisper to deploy the "Glass Gas Bombs", but while the bombs hit their target, their weapons fire fails to destroy the platform. It soon becomes an all-out brawl between the two sides, as Megatron and Optimus trade barbs. When Optimus spots Cliffjumper, he attempts to destroy the "traitor", but Megs takes the hit. Finally spurred into action, Cliffjumper finishes the job, destroying the platform and crippling the ''Ark''. Megatron orders the 'Cons to retreat, but Optimus, enraged, attempts to extract revenge. Megatron gives Optimus a parting gift before flying off into the sunset with Cliffjumper, who finally agrees to join the resistance.
{{--}}
==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters|h1=[[Decepticon]]s|c1=
* [[Ruckus (SG)|Ruckus]] (2)
* [[Clench (SG)|Clench]] (6)
* [[Skyquake (SG)|Skyquake]] (7)
* [[Krok (SG)|Krok]] (8)
* [[Rumble (SG)|Rumble]] (9)
* [[Long Haul (SG)|Long Haul]] (15)
* [[Scrapper (SG)|Scrapper]] (16)
* [[Hook (SG)|Hook]] (17)
* [[Diagnostic Drone]] (18)
* [[Sideswipe (SG)|Sideswipe]] (19)
* [[Megatron (SG)|Megatron]] (20)
* [[Soundwave (SG)|Soundwave]] (22)
* [[Razorclaw (SG)|Razorclaw]] (23)
* [[Rampage (SG)|Rampage]] (24)
* [[Reflector (SG)|Reflector]] (25)
* [[Starscream (SG)|Starscream]] (26)
* [[Cyclonus (SG)|Cyclonus]] (27)
* [[Divebomb (SG)|Divebomb]] (28)
* [[Whisper (SG)|Whisper]] (30)
* [[Heatwave]] (31)
* [[Laserbeak (SG)|Laserbeak]] (32)
* [[Slugslinger (SG)|Slugslinger]] (33)
* [[Buzzsaw (SG)|Buzzsaw]] (34)
* [[Quake (SG)|Quake]] (35)
* [[Frenzy (SG)|Frenzy]] (36)
|h2=[[Autobot]]s|c2=
* [[Rodimus (SG)|Rodimus]] (3)
* [[Perceptor (SG)|Perceptor]] (4)
* [[Optimus Prime (SG)|Optimus Prime]] (5)
* [[Grimlock (SG)|Grimlock]] (10)
* [[Goldbug (SG)|Goldbug]] (11)
* [[Ricochet (SG)|Ricochet]] (12)
* [[Blurr (SG)|Blurr]] (13)
* [[Jazz (SG)|Jazz]] (14)
* [[Sunstreaker (SG)|Sunstreaker]] (21)
* [[Dropshot (SG)|Dropshot]] (29)
* [[Nightbeat (SG)|Nightbeat]] (37)
|c4=
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (1)
}}

==Quotes==
"Oh, so unwise..."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' emulating [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]].

'''Sideswipe:''' "You're not him. You look just like him, except for the colors. It's like seeing a ghost." 
'''Cliffjumper:''' "Look, Sideswipe, or whoever you are, I'm tired of being shocked, confused, and generally angry here. Tell me what you are talking about or so help me I will beat it out of you!" 
'''Sideswipe:''' "Heh, you even talk like him."
:—Even mirrorverse Cliffjumper shares a mold with [[Bumblebee (G1)|a Bumblebee]].

'''Cliffjumper:''' "So, you're telling me that Megatron's a good guy and Optimus Prime is loonier than [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]]? Last week, I'd have told ya that you had a cracked cylinder. But... I've seen some crazy things lately. Dimension hopping, time travel, alternate realities... [[GEEWUN|what I wouldn't give for a simple war with good guys and bad guys!]]" 
'''Sideswipe:''' "Straxus is insane where you come from? Pity, I always liked his poetry..."
:—Poetry? Hate to see what their [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] is like.

'''Optimus Prime:''' "[[Seeker (SG)|Seekers]], [[Roll out|Transform and Roll out!]]" 
'''Rodimus:''' "15 points for the tapes, 25 points for the rest, loser buys the fuel! Game on!"
:—Even when everything's the opposite, some things remain constant.

==Errors==
* Cliffjumper, though portrayed as such in the story immediately prior, is not in his actual ''[[Classics (2006)|Classics]]'' color scheme. His silver car deco was dropped by the colorist for no reason.

==Items of note==
* This was Figueroa's first ''Transformers'' work since his hiatus.

===Transformers references===
* Though most of the crowd-fillers were [[redeco]]ed versions of previous characters, "Shattered Glass" Soundwave exists as a toy—the [[Soundwave (G1)/toys|"Sonic White" version of MP3 Soundwave]]. Quite a few of those got sold on that BotCon weekend.
* "Shattered Glass" Perceptor exists as a toy, too—[[Perceptor (G1)|Generation 1 Perceptor]] [[Magnificus|in his original ''pre-Transformers'' Microman colors]]. The [[repurposing]] trend these two characters started would be merrily [[Shattered Glass (toyline)|carried on in subsequent fiction]].
* There's a [[Diagnostic Drone]] helping Hook and Scrapper fix Cliffjumper. Amusingly, it's wearing a little nurse's cap.
* Sideswipe's history of "Shattered" [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] closely mirrors (so to speak) the version told in [[The Transformers (issue)|the very first ''Transformers'' story]], and even Optimus Prime's initial rallying cry to his troops is an homage to [[Megatron (G1)|Generation 1 Megatron's]] in that issue. However, Optimus Prime's early name, Optronix, is a reference to [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s ''[[The War Within]]''.
* Reflector's [[character model]] is based on [[Spy Shot 6]]. Both of them transform into cameras.
*[[Shockwave (SG)|"Shattered Glass" Shockwave]] is mentioned, as a mental health professional.
* [[Nightbeat (SG)|"Shattered Glass" Nightbeat]], [[BotCon 2008]]'s customization class figure, appears briefly at the ''[[Ark (SG)|Ark]]'' launch.
* Sideswipe's reasons for changing sides are the same as [[Wheeljack (Armada)|''Armada'' Wheeljack]], whose toy mold he shares.

===Real-world references===
* Cliffjumper mutters "Ponderous, slaggin' ''ponderous''" after Sideswipe tells his tale is part of a semi-elaborate convention callback. There is an infamous set of outtakes of [[Casey Kasem]] (the original voice actor for Cliffjumper) having... well, violent meltdowns while recording ''American Top 40'' ("Ponderous, f***in' ''ponderous'', man."). Clips of these outtakes were edited with footage of Cliffjumper attempting to sniper-shot [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] from "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]" for the closing credits of [[MSTF]] at [[OTFCC 2004]].
[[Image:ShatteredGoBots.gif|right|300px|thumb|Shouldn't Fitor be colored like [[Path Finder]] or something?]]
* Artist [[Don Figueroa]] started a trend in his early Dreamwave days by killing off cameos of [[Tonka GoBots]] [[Cy-Kill (disambiguation)|Cy-Kill]]. Suitably enough, in this mirrorverse tale, an evil Leader-1 (in Cy-Kill colors) is cannon fodder. Oddly enough, though, Cy-Kill's fist is one of those raised in support of Optimus Prime's revolution.
* Jazz blurts out "I ain't gettin' bombed by no plane!", a reference to the oft-repeated mantra of B.A. Baracus (played by Mr. T) from ''The A-Team''; "I ain't gettin' on no plane!".
{{--}}
===Diamond Edition extras===
* [[More Than Meets The Eye (G1)|More Than Meets The Eye]]-style bios of Rodimus and Starscream.
* A reprint of "[[Shattered Expectations]]".

===Covers (2)===
* '''BotCon Convention cover:''' Evil Autobots Goldbug, Rodimus and Blurr by [[Dan Khanna]] (pencils).
* '''Wide release cover:''' Megatron leads the heroic Decepticons in an attack against Optimus.
<gallery>
Image:Timelines v2n3ce.jpg|Exclusive cover
Image:ShatteredGlass DiamondCover.jpg|Retail cover
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* www.temptingtoys.net
* [[Transformers Collectors' Club]]
* www.grahamcrackers.com
* www.stylinonline.com
* Past Generation Toys (back cover)

[[Category:Convention exclusives]]
[[Category:Shattered Glass issues]]

Games of Deception

2010-07-30T13:20:21Z

Manuelle Magnus:

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[Timelines (fiction)|''Transformers Timelines'']] Vol.2 #2
|prev=Dawn of Future's Past
|next=Shattered Glass (issue)
|next2=Theft of the Golden Disk
|title="Games of Deception"
|image=Gamesofdeception-cover.jpg
|caption=Hans plays with Lotte, Lotte plays with Jane.
|publisher=[[Fun Publications]]
|date=June 27, 2007 ([[BotCon 2007]])
|coverdate=Summer '07
|writer=[[Forest Lee]]
|story=[[Forest Lee]], [[Pete Sinclair]] and [[Benson Yee]]
|pencils=[[Alex Milne]]
|inks=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors=[[Drew Eiden]] and [[Josh Perez]]
|letters=[[Junemoon Studio]]
|managing editor=[[Pete Sinclair]]
|editorinchief=[[Brian Savage]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''A crew of Autobots arrive on Earth in pursuit of Bug Bite, who seeks to take control of the Decepticons for his own purposes.'''

==Synopsis==
{{note|The events of this story follow directly from [[Crossing Over: Part 6]].}}
[[Image:Bugbitelikesyou.jpg|left|150px|thumb|And YOU, reading this comic! Don't think I don't see you!]]
Aboard the [[Autobot]] battle cruiser [[Graviton (Classics)|''Graviton'']], [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and his crew arrive in [[Earth]] orbit, having followed a tip from [[Weirdwolf]]'s abandoned [[Nebulos|Nebulan]] partner, [[Monzo]]. The crew assumes Earthen alternate modes and heads to the surface, while [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] remains on the ship.

On the surface, [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] laments leaving [[Darkwing]] behind, being stuck with [[Bug Bite (G1)|Bug Bite]]'s crew, and the general state of the universe. Bug Bite is waiting for a contingent of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s forces to arrive.

Much further south, [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus]] and [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] return to [[Autobase Prima]] with the inert form of [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]], having barely escaped a [[Decepticon]] contingent that included [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. Prime orders [[Walter Barnett|Barnett]]'s forces to stay away from the Decepticons. Inside, [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] makes contact with [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] from Magnus's crew and flies off to meet them. [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] observes this and follows, invisible.

[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] arrive to meet Bug Bite. While Starscream discusses Bug Bite's proposal, Dreadwind and Weirdwolf catch wind of Mirage and blast him. Magnus's crew observes this with displeasure from a nearby cliff. Starscream is set to execute Mirage, when Bug Bite blasts him and his crew with modified [[cerebro-shell]]s, gaining control of them. Bug Bite's control is not perfect, but enough for the job.

The observing Autobots are prepared for this, however, and have a [[shell-jammer]] standing by. Bug Bite leads his followers away to meet with Megatron, and [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] tracks them.

At Decepticon Earth Base, Megatron consults with the captive head of [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] about Bug Bite. Bug Bite and company, with Swoop still following, arrive at the base. [[Elita One]] arrives and disables [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], who is guarding the entrance.

[[Image:Dreadwindgod.jpg|left|180px|thumb|"Well, I don't like you because you're choking me to death."]]
Formalities are short between Megatron and Bug Bite, as the latter makes his play almost immediately, his troops opening fire on Megatron, [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]], implanting them with cerebro-shells. Megatron, retaining some free ability under Bug Bite's partial control, demands an explanation for his action. Bug Bite explains that he comes from a parallel universe, one of quadrillions that exist, and one that was ravaged by some unknown action in this one. Some few managed to escape, including Bug Bite, who has come for revenge.

Megatron, however, is not so easily controlled; he's immune to the shell's effects. He throttles Bug Bite, who orders his troops to defend him—just as the Autobots jam the cerebro-shells. Decepticon fires on Decepticon, just as the Autobots burst into the room firing. In the chaos, Bug Bite makes a grab for a weapon, but Megatron kills him at point-blank range. Springer destroys the Decepticon computers, and the Autobots rescue Mirage and make a clean escape, leaving Megatron surrounded by lot of wreckage and deactivated Decepticons. He swears lethal vengeance.

Grimlock joins Magnus's crew as they head back into space to continue their hunt for [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]].
{{--}}
==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (1)
*[[Tyrannitron]] (2)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (3)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (4)
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (5)
*[[Elita One]] (6)
*[[Strongarm (Classics)|Strongarm]] (7)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (14)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] (15)
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (16)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (17)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (18)
*[[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (19)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (24)
*[[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (26)

|c2=
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (8)
*[[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] (9)
*[[Bug Bite (G1)|Bug Bite]] (10)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (11)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (12)
*[[Weirdwolf]] (13)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (20)
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (21)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (22)
*[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (23)
*[[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (25)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (27)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (28)
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (29)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (30)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (31)

}}

==Diamond Edition==
A slightly expanded version of the comic with a different cover was sold through Diamond, making the comic available through standard comic shops. It lacked the convention information, but added in its place:

* A new interior cover credits page with a CGI render of Thrust by [[Trent Troop]]

* Springer bio (lines by [[Dan Khanna]], colorist unknown)

* Bug Bite bio (lines by [[Marcelo Matere]], colorist unknown)

* "[[The New World]]" preview (text and illustration by [[Greg Sepelak]], colors by [[David Willis]])

* And some ads.

<gallery>
Image:TimelinesVol2_2_Diamond.jpg|Diamond cover
</gallery>

==Notes==
* This issue was available at [[BotCon 2007]] and promoted the various exclusive toys available at the convention. All of them make an appearance except for [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] and [[Beta Maxx]].

* The events of this comic take place ''after'' the conclusion of the 2007 arc of the [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club (magazine)|Fan Club comic]].

* Despite the effort that Magnus's crew puts into finding "disguises"... none of them are ever shown transforming.

* Bug Bite's modified shells seem to leave the victim in a normal state most of the time, until he activates a control mechanism. While under the shell's control, Dreadwind continues to moan and complain, Thundercracker is happy to see Skywarp, and Starscream makes threats against Bug Bite.

* In the dark of Megatron's private chamber are [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]'s chassis and [[Galvatron II|Galvatron's]] arm-cannon, both presumably salvaged during the interim between the end of the Marvel Generation 1 comics events and the Classics storyline.

* [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (he's [[FIBRIR|blue]] in this continuity) is present among Megatron's crew.

===Errors===
* The ''[[Graviton (Classics)|Graviton]]'' doesn't look anything like any of the ships from the Decepticon battle fleet it was stolen from.

* In the second panel of the first page, Springer stands so close to Magnus that Springer's face appears buried in Magnus' arm.

* On page 5, Starscream momentarily speaks in a different font.

* Mirage shouldn't have the power of invisibility in this Marvel Comics-based story; that was a power exclusive to the original cartoon. (Mirage's [[bio]] for [[BotCon 2007]] slightly mitigates this by reporting that he had a few upgrades, and he would use the stealth mode in Crossing Over. This may actually be the most unusual attempt at [[To sell toys|advertising a character]], since transparent Mirage was the '''''FREE FIGURE''''' that year.)

* [[Alex Milne]] also drew what appears to be the cartoon's [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. Though the Ark is still smashed up beyond nearly all recognition, Milne's version still appears to use the cartoon's five rear exhaust ports (versus the four the ship had when it crashed) and the cartoon's rounded hull shape (versus box-like). It's been claimed by Pete Sinclair that these attributes are due to coloring or inking errors, and that Milne referenced the crashed Ark in [[The Last Autobot?|US #79]] in his art.

* A dearth of commas in dialog makes for some bumpy reading. For example, on page 16, Bug Bite says, "Those of us who could fled, some seeking a solution."

[[Image:Dirge DeathTimelines.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Whoever he is, he's dead!]]
* Not an error ''per se'', but it's possible to mistake Dirge's deactivated form for Ramjet, as the light-on-metal gleam makes it look as much like a white head with a shadowed side, rather than the blue head with a metallic shine that's intended.

* Strongarm's name is parsed as two words instead of one. Bug Bite has the opposite problem.

* Rodimus is damaged enough that he needed to be carried back to the base. He was not that badly damaged at the end of Crossing Over. Also we did not see Skywarp taking damage to his nosecone shown here.

[[Category:Classics issues]]
[[Category:Timelines issues]]

Transformers (Titan Magazine)

2009-11-07T15:04:45Z

Manuelle Magnus:

{{move|Transformers Comic|All the individual issue-articles are titled "Transformers Comic".}}

[[Image:Tf mag 01 2007.JPG|right|200px|thumb|I dunno, I think you could fit some more text on that cover...]]

'''''Transformers''''' (rebranded '''''Transformers Universe''''' from issue #22-25, then '''Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen''' with Vol.2 #1, likely to be rebranded ''again'' as, I dunno, '''Transformers: Go-Go-Go-Gobots''' or something) is an ongoing monthly magazine published in the United Kingdom by [[Titan Books|Titan Magazines]]. It ties in to the [[live-action film series]] and features a mix of original comic strips, reprinted strips by [[IDW Publishing]], and regular features and competitions. It is over 50 pages long each month.

Titan picked up the rights to a Transformers comic in 2005 after Panini, publishers of [[Armada (Panini comic)|the short-lived UK Armada comic]], allowed it to lapse. Titan sat on it, reasoning "bugger [[Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]], let's wait for the upcoming film and make £££££s!". Work began on it in October 2006, though all information on the film was top secret ''even for Titan'' until IDW's movie comics began.

According to Steve White, Transformers was seen as "the big one", the title that would get Titan Magazines the attention and kudos of the UK comic industry. [http://fractalmatter.com/main/?p=671] It seemed to succeed, selling enough to get ''original cover art'' after #6, quite a height in the UK licensed comic market. It's already the longest running UK Transformers comic since [[Marvel Comics|Marvel's]]!

Titan briefly ran a [[Transformers Animated (Titan)|Transformers Animated sister title]] from 23rd October 2008, but unfortunately it didn't make £££££s and died after issue 3.

The main comic was rebooted and rebranded in June 2009, ''just'' in time for the [[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|second film]]. This is not an unusual tactic for Titan, who have done this repeatedly with their ''[[Star Wars]]'' comic to give sales a little bump. Unfortunately, the reboot has seen the comic use stock-photo covers again (sob!). The preview in #25 of the first volume lied that this was "an '''EXTREME''' makeover!!!".

Titan has produced digest-sized collections of the UK strips under the title ''Transformers Adventures''. Two have come out, the first reprint #1-6 and the second #7-13, while a third is advertised on Amazon.co.uk [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Transformers-Adventures-v-Simon-Furman/dp/1848561989/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1248535993&sr=1-3] but has mysteriously never come out. Simon Furman doesn't know whether or not Titan plans to print more. [http://simonfurman.wordpress.com/2009/07/07/sdcc-09-1/#comments] IDW reprinted the first eight issues' worth of strips in the United States in late 2008 as a four-issue miniseries, under the title ''[[Saga of the Allspark]]'', as a tie-in to Reign of Starscream [http://ryalltime.blogspot.com/2008/03/transfourmers.html]

{|style="margin:0 auto;padding:0 auto" align=center id=toc
!align=center bgcolor=#6699CC|'''Titan Transformers issues Volume 1:'''
|-align=center
|| [[Transformers Comic issue 1|#1]] | [[Transformers Comic issue 2|#2]] | [[Transformers Comic issue 3|#3]] | [[Transformers Comic issue 4|#4]] | [[Transformers Comic issue 5|#5]] | [[Transformers Comic issue 6|#6]] | [[Transformers Comic issue 7|#7]] | [[Transformers Comic issue 8|#8]] | [[Transformers Comic issue 9|#9]] | [[Transformers Comic issue 10|#10]] | [[Transformers Comic issue 11|#11]] | [[Transformers Comic issue 12|#12]] | [[Transformers Comic issue 13|#13]] | [[Transformers Comic issue 14|#14]] | [[Transformers Comic issue 15|#15]] | [[Transformers Comic issue 16|#16]] | [[Transformers Comic issue 17|#17]] | [[Transformers Comic issue 18|#18]] | [[Transformers Comic issue 19|#19]] | [[Transformers Comic issue 20|#20]] | [[Transformers Comic issue 21|#21]] | [[Transformers Comic issue 22|#22]] | [[Transformers Comic issue 23|#23]] | [[Transformers Comic issue 24|#24]] | [[Transformers Comic issue 25|#25]] |
|}

{|style="margin:0 auto;padding:0 auto" align=center id=toc
!align=center bgcolor=#6699CC|'''Titan Transformers issues Volume 2:'''
|-align=center
|| [[Transformers Comic issue 2.1|#1]] | [[Transformers Comic issue 2.2|#2]] | [[Transformers Comic issue 2.3|#3]] | [[Transformers Comic issue 2.4|#4]] | [[Transformers Comic issue 2.5|#5]] | [[Transformers Comic issue 2.6|#6]] | [[Transformers Comic issue 2.7|#7]] | [[Transformers Comic issue 2.8|#8]] |

|}

==Comic strip==
[[Image:Movie Devastator TitanIssue2.jpg|left|180px|thumb|I AM THE GOD OF HELLFIRE AND I BRING YOU...]]
Opening each issue is a 11-page original comic strip (10-page before #13). These are written by [[Simon Furman]] and illustrated by a mix of artists, many of whom have been seen on other Transformers comics — [[Geoff Senior]], [[Nick Roche]], [[Staz]] and [[Guido Guidi]].

===Transformers (2007)===

====Prequels and sequels====

{{quote|I suppose you'll just have to read the comic, which you could consider a historical document.|Starscream, #21's Star Screams}}

Issues #1–6 were set before the film and were based on specific characters, filling in details of the war and characters (like [[Brawl (Movie)|Devastator]]) who were not given much development in the film. The first two strips, starring [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus]] and [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]], tied in to the [[Movie Prequel (2007)|IDW prequel comic]] in the same way [[Marvel UK]]'s stories tied in to the Marvel U.S. series. At the end of #2, four of the characters had been scattered across the galaxy and #3–6 focused on their solo adventures on alien worlds. They also featured characters from the toyline, such as [[Clocker (Movie)|Clocker]], in secondary-character roles.

Issues #7–8 were set immediately after the [[Mission City]] battle in the film, dealing with leftover plot elements like [[Scorponok (Movie)|the whereabouts of Scorponok]]. Time and later film drafts have not been kind to these two strips: Scorponok stubbornly deciding to not be dead in ''Revenge of the Fallen'', and poor #7 had the Transformers' final battle being in Los Angeles.

====Alternate universe====
[[Image:TwilightsLastGleaming1.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Bloody foreigners, coming over here, taking our jobs...]]

For issues #9–13, the strip featured an alternate reality story, ''Twilight's Last Gleaming'', where the [[Decepticon]]s had captured the [[All Spark]]. Rather than just being a 5-part divergence, this alternate reality rolled on into the second year of the title and lasted until #25, the end of the first series. This was intended to allow Titan to do pretty much whatever they wanted with the cast and universe without having to worry about the plot of the second film. [http://simonfurman.wordpress.com/2008/05/06/script-wrap-%e2%80%94-uk/]

The alternate reality boasted a sizeable cast, covering both characters from the film and ones who only had toy [[bio]]s like [[Elita-One]]. It opened with [[Sam Witwicky]] already dead, Optimus Prime missing in action (later found to be offline), Autobot reinforcements gathering on the moon, and the Decepticons [[cyberforming]] the Earth. The resolution had Megatron dead (with Starscream usurping command) and the All Spark destroyed.

In this second year, the Autobots had to handle the ''aftermath'' of an Earth-shattering story, something that had not been done before. Storylines included the Decepticons deliberately preventing America from rebuilding, Jazz being reborn as an amoral villain, a second group of Decepticons under [[Stockade (Movie)|Stockade]], and [[Transformers Comic issue 18|then]] a [[Unicron|very big twist]]. The central plotline first involved Earth's slow, destructive demise from the aborted cyberforming of Twilight's Last Gleaming, before being replaced with the formation of a [[Decepticon Heartland]] and Starscream's manipulation of [[Theodore Allen|the American government]].

The alternate universe ended with a three-parter called ''Revolution'' that pitted the Autobots and Stockade's Decepticons against an all-out conquest attempt by Starscream. It tied up ''most'' of the loose ends. The last shot of the alternate universe was [[Mikaela Banes]] and [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] driving off into the sunset, awwww!

===Transformers Animated===

Issue 17 featured a 6 page Animated story written by Furman, written to promote the spin-off. Unsurprisingly, it featured [[Grimlock (Animated)|Grimlock]].

When the spin-off buggered off into cancellation, Transformers began printing the leftover strips from #23 to #25. The first and third were done as "pull-out" comics. By the second, it had began to diverge from the Season 2 continuity... which will never be followed up. Doh!

===Revenge of the Fallen===
====Prequels====

[[Image:Titan2-1_Mudflap.jpg|left|thumb|"[[Don Murphy]]'s stating an opinion! LEG IT!"]]

With the reboot, the comic has returned to prequel strips, this time for the second film. The spotlight is going to be focused on [[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]] and [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] and their interactions with the new movie cast. [http://simonfurman.wordpress.com/2009/06/18/it-begins-again/] Unlike the first run of prequels, there's no IDW prequel being reprinted and thus no attempt to tie into it.

A Decepticon army was being gathered on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] by Starscream, albeit a Starscream secretly backed by [[the Fallen]]. Skids and Mudflap, accidentally discovering the Decepticon plans, fled to Earth to warn the other Autobots. The menacing [[Ransack (ROTF)|Ransack]] was dispatched to silence them, but failed. Now the twins wait to warn Optimus and try to adjust to life on Earth with [[NEST]] (and NEST tries to adjust to life with ''them''!), while the Decepticons under [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] begin searching on Earth for ''something'', while trying to ensure the twins never talk. They achieved this by framing the twins as traitors...

{{-}}

===Artist "consistency"===

[[Image:Titan22 Arcee.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Hi, I'm Arcee!]]

Titan has, by this point, become infamous for inconsistency in the movie strip art. For reasons unknown, instead of using one or two artists it uses ''hordes'' of them (plus a few inkers and colourists) in #1-25, none ever doing more than one issue in a row. Different artists have different styles and, not to put too fine a point on it, have different ideas of how many of the Movie design's fiddly bits they want to draw.

But then there's other issues like:

* [[Elita-One]] started out looking just like her toy, but by her second strip her head was being altered to resemble [[Elita One|the G1 Elita]] (either to differentiate her from Arcee or as deliberate homage). How ''much'' her head resembles Elita One differs depending on artist... and in #14 and #16, she has the toy's head again!

[[Image:Titan13 Arcee.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Hi, I'm Arcee!]]

* [[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]] constantly alternates between being drawn like her movie design or like her Scout-class toy (only not blue).

* Andrew Wildman drew Ratchet looking like the white, face-plated Cybertronian Ratchet in [[Movie Prequel issue 1|Prime Directive issue 1]], which was reprinted in Wildman's issue. Unfortunately, in the issue immediately before, Nick Roche had drawn Ratchet looking ''exactly like'' his movie self!

* Colouring is fluid for many characters and sometimes entirely wrong: [[Armorhide (Movie)|Armorhide]] has been green and [[Armorhide (Cybertron)|white-and-blue]], Starscream has been both grey and bronze, Thundercracker has been blue and black...

* Poor [[Theodore Allen]] changes hair, age, and build in seemingly every appearance.

* The Decepticon Heartland base changes from a squat bunker with guns to a tall phallic tower, then into a ''different'' bunker, then into a bunker/tower combo thingy.

It appears model sheets aren't being used...

At the start of volume 2, it was announced [[Jon Davis-Hunt]] would be doing a long run, so consistency at last!

==Regular features==
* '''Autobot vs Decepticon Smackdown''' — last seen in #5 (as "Human VS Decepticon Smackdown"), this pitted two characters against each other and gave a list of their strengths and weaknesses. The outcome of the fight was left up to the reader to decide. This feature saw a return in #20 as '''Beast Wars Battlefield''', pitting [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] against a real Tyrannosaurus.
* '''Top Gear''' — this section provided competitions to win Transformers merchandise, as well as [[To sell toys|telling readers about awesome new stuff it'd be cool to have]].
* '''Character Profiles''' — an in-depth description of an individual character's personality, history, abilities and weaknesses. Originally these were taken from ''[[Transformers: The Movie Guide]]'', but from #8 (Bonecrusher) the movie-based ones have been new creations. As of issue 14, the profiles have included ''[[Beast Wars]]'' characters, adapted from [[Beast Wars Sourcebook]]. When volume 2 started, it took the [[The Movie Universe]] profiles as its base but expanded on them (unsurprising as Furman wrote both!).
[[Image:Star Screams logo.JPG|right|150px|thumb|You love it, you slags!]]
* '''Letters page''' — Letters and fan-art from readers, with a prize for the Star Letter. Originally called ''Mech Mail'', readers were invited to write in and say which Transformer they'd like to answer the mail (a [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|traditional]] gimmick) - [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] got the nod, and from #7 the column was called '''Star Screams'''. The tone was very over-the-top, with "Starscream" threatening death to readers who like the Autobots, slagging off the other characters, and so forth. Following the reboot, the strip was renamed '''Law and Disorder''', and [[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]] and [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] got the gig. Barricade picks up where Starscream picked off, while Ironhide is a nicer letters host; they argue and insult each other, similar to [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] and [[Hi-Test]] in [[:Image:185LETTERScomp.JPEG|''Dread Tidings'']].
* '''Artobots''' — a special section for readers' fan-art.
* '''[[Posters]]''' — a pull-out poster in the centre pages, sometimes double-sided. Generally it's a poster version of the front cover, though #7, #18 and #19 featured the art of what ''would'' have been a cover but were scrapped/altered at the last minute. Vol.2 has started to use covers from ''[[All Hail Megatron]]'' as posters.
* '''How To Draw...''' — This feature instructs small children how to draw the incredibly fiddly and complicated movie-verse Transformers. "If you found this one a bit difficult to draw... well, it's all part of Megatron's evil plans!" It's also shown how to draw sequential art and cover images. It's noted to not ''actually'' work as a how-to-draw and is generally unworkable.
* '''Colouring pages''', usually under the name '''The Purple and the Red'''.
* '''Puzzles'''. In Volume 2, these got a consistent name of '''More Than Meets The Eye'''.
* '''Bumblebee's Way-Past-Cool Reviews''' - Video game reviews. Which aren't written in Bumblebee's "voice". And aren't way past cool. Or even cool.
* '''Why [x] Like Being A:''' - irregular feature explaining all the cool features of a Transformer's alternate mode.
* '''Arcee's Soulmates''' - Starting in #20 and ended in #25; a small personal's column in ''Star Screams'', with Transformers (all of which are specific characters but go unnamed) putting a lonely-hearts ad out. I am not joking about this.
* '''Starscream's Stars''' - Starting in Volume 2, Starscream writes a horrorscope! (Instead of Scorpio, there's Scorponok, ho ho ho.)
* '''Sideswipe's Arsenal''' - Starting in Volume 2; a text feature explaining about military weapons.

==Fantastic Free Gift!==
It's a battle-scarred and ancient tactic, known well to British and Irish comic fans: a cheap item stuck to the cover, that is hopefully desirable enough to convince a child to buy the comic. It's been around for decades, but traditionally was placed on the early issues and then on the occasional later ones to cause a short-term sales boost. These days, the UK comics industry is in such a piss-poor state that ''every damn issue'' has to have them - and they're often bulky, which leads to badly-shelved and bent comics in the newsagents - and Transformers is no exception.

[[Image:FREE! Gun.jpg|left|200px|thumb|This issue, FREE!! Micro-Plasform Missile Deploy-vice!]]
Free gifts have included a target-shooting game, Autobot/Decepticon dog tags, a notebook and pen, stickers, a pinball game, sweatbands, and ''many'' [[FREE! Blaster!|toy guns]].

They are always large enough to take up a significant amount of space on the cover they are stuck to, necessitating some pretty ugly graphic layouts that cover the illustrations with text in order to leave a large blank space for the gift to be attached to so it won't obscure anything important. This can often make the covers look ''really freaking bad'' when you take the gift off; a quick perusal of the cover images on their relevant articles will make immediately apparent the frequent emptiness of the bottom left-hand corner in particular.

Issues #23-25 had a splashy ''two'' free gifts, both of the extras being ''Animated'' themed. You might think that this was Titan getting rid of gifts they'd had made for the cancelled ''Animated'' comic... and you'd be right, since the promised gift for #25 is the sacred Pencil Pod promised to us in Animated #4 but that never arrived!

According to editor [[Steve White]], coming up with free gifts is "a nightmare for our marketing department, who have no real experience on a more male-orientated older title and have to come up with ideas that don't just rely on some piece of cheap plastic... However, they're constrained as much by money — yes, we'd love to have a [[Minicon]] on the first issue, but we have to get real." [http://transfans.net/interviews_white.php]

==Reprints==
To fill out the pages while keeping costs down, the magazine reprints comics published by [[IDW]]. The reprints in Vol.1 were cut into 5–8 pages segments (though one was once ''12'' pages out of necessity), deliberately shorter than the UK strip so it was clear which is the primary story.
[[Image:IDW Megatron Magmatron.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Transformers Mag — heroically teaching small children that BW Megatron is a badass.]]

The reprints so far have included:

* ''[[Movie Prequel (2007)|The Movie Prequel]]'': #1–13
* ''[[The Gathering|Beast Wars: The Gathering]]'': #1–13
* ''[[Megatron Origin]]'': #14–25
* ''[[The Ascending|Beast Wars: The Ascending]]'': #14–25

The Diamond solicit for Volume 2 #1 said that it would reprint "the official movie prequel", though [[Alliance (comic)|which]] [[Defiance|one]] was not specified. [http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b255/pah25/f.jpg] Oddly, this was then ''not'' included, and instead we got:

* ''[[All Hail Megatron]]'': #1-12

''How'' this will work, when Titan started only publishing parts of the AHM issues from #2 (Vol.2), is unknown. From #4, they've started giving titles to the reprints instead of "Part X".

==Audience==

{{quote|Younger readers? Pah, all they do is write in to fawn over that brightly coloured dishwasher, Bumblebee, or whine how Jazz dying in the 2007 film is 'unfair'.|Barricade, Vol.2 #1}}
[[Image:Ultra Magnus Koji and friends.jpg|left|150px|thumb|"Starscream called us worthless!! Yayyyy!"]]

The primary audience of ''Transformers'' is, of course, young children — as well as the features and editorial sections being written in juvenile tones (and the presence of free gifts), the letters page is full of kids sending in their praises, photos of their collections, suggestions for stories, and drawings of their own characters. Steve White has openly admitted it's a "junior" title, though they attempt not to talk down to the audience, citing this as a flaw in the short-lived Panini Armada title.

The youngest reader thus far is four and a half!

[[Image:Movie2007 Maggieandnerds.jpg|right|200px|thumb|"''That's'' not how that background character's feet looked in the last issue! ''To the wiki!''"]]

There is, however, a sizeable minority of older fans and this is openly recognized in both interviews and in the comic itself. This generally does not affect the content, with the exception of a competition in #7 for the ''Best of Simon Furman'' trade, with the question being: [[Death's Head (G1)|what robot bounty hunter Furman had made]].

Letters and photos have also shown a sizeable number of female readers of varying ages, which Starscream openly approved of.

{{-}}
==Multi-continuity==

While the current focus of the comic are, obviously, the films, the title has been multi-continuity from the start; in #22 to #25, the logo was even altered to say "Transformers Universe".
[[Image:Tf mag 23 Animated Pullout.JPG|left|200px|thumb|''"CELTIC!"'' ''"RANGERS!"'']]

Substantial references are made to the ''[[Generation 1]]'' franchise. #1 had a feature on the [[The Transformers: The Movie|animated movie and its DVD]], trades of IDW's comics are promoted and offered as competition prizes, and gets repeated nods in the letter's pages. A poster on [[The Many Faces of Optimus Prime]], running in both #17 and #1 of the Animated title, listed all the versions of Optimus Prime as well as [[Marvel Comics continuity|Marvel]], [[Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sunbow]], [[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW]] and [[Dreamwave Generation One continuity|Dreamwave]] G1 continuity. A follow-up, The Many Faces of Megatron, was run in #2 of Animated and #19 of this title.

As of #14, it began reprinting the G1 prequel story ''[[Megatron Origin]]'', while informing the young'uns that G1 is a [[Ruined FOREVER|wildly different variation]] of the mythos they know and love; this was followed with ''All Hail Megatron'', "an awesome reimagining of Transformer history" apparently.

IDW's [[Beast Wars (comic)#IDW comics|''Beast Wars'' comics]] were the main reprint in Vol.1, being chosen by Steve White for marketing reasons as the ''[[Beast Machines (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' DVD boxsets were being released at the same time as the film [http://fractalmatter.com/main/?p=671]. The [[Beast Wars (cartoon)|''Beast Wars'' cartoon]] itself had been repeated in full on a loop on Channel five in recent years, making it familiar to the target audience. Young readers in the letter's page have written in mentioning it (and #7 had a fan-art of [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]), Beast Wars character profiles began in #14, and Starscream has alluded that Simon Furman as a [[Maximal]] in the form of "a strategically-shaved ape", especially his head! There have also been two competitions to win the UK ''Beast Machines'' DVD boxsets.

The new [[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|''Transformers Animated'' cartoon]] received a series of minor features from #10-12 to hype up the show airing on UK satellite TV. #13 saw a 12-page "Pull Out Special" that contained information, plugged merchandise, and hyped the then-upcoming Animated comic; this was repeated with further hype and a six-page strip in #17. After the cancellation of the Animated comic, the three leftover strips and features ran in this comic.

==Sales==
Thanks to circulation figures printed in the comic's indicia and online sources, we know the comic's sales in the UK and Eire from 2007 to the end of 2008, as reported to the UK industry group [http://www.abc.org.uk ABC].

[[Image:Titan16_jazzlittleauction.JPG|right|240px|thumb|Titan's CEO appeases the shareholders.]]

The comic's average net circulation in 2007 was over 45,000 (reported from #10). This basically means it was selling more than the [http://tfarchive.com/comics/idw/sales.php average IDW issue] ever had.

[http://bearalley.blogspot.com/2008/08/comic-cuts-british-comics-circulations.html The January to June 2008 sales] showed Transformers' average sales [http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XsVALQtGIZM/SKcer_CIbqI/AAAAAAAAGUQ/vVbg7JzAS4A/s1600-h/Circulation+Charts+2008-01.jpg had dropped to 38,733].

The June to December 2008 average sales, by comparison, are reported by ABC to have [http://abcpdfcerts.abc.org.uk/pdf/certificates/15744762.pdf dropped to 24,617]. (''Arrrrg!'') Issue 14 was above the average, #18 and #19 below it. A global recession ''and'' being tied into last year's big film make for wobbly sales.

From #4 (Vol.2), for reasons unknown, Transformers is no longer registered with ABC [http://www.abc.org.uk/SearchResults.aspx?SearchInput=Transformers&WhereToSearch=Data] and the sales stopped appearing in the indicia. Sales in 2009 are thus unknown. The expectation is that sales will have bounced up again after the second movie, though at the moment there's no way to know. Worryingly, [[Chris McFeely]] confirmed that Diamond UK had stopped carrying the title after #4 due to low orders [http://tmukhub.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=idwtf&action=display&thread=2712&page=6#60934], though this may not reflect the newsagent trade (where most of Titan's business lies).

The sales for #1 of the ''Saga of the Allspark'' reprint series sold 11,417 in the North American direct market [http://tfarchive.com/community/showpost.php?p=622675&postcount=432]; this had dropped to 8,939 by #4. [http://tfarchive.com/community/showpost.php?p=634907&postcount=467]

==External Links==
* [http://www.titanmagazines.com/app?service=external/Product&sp=l919 Titan's webpage]
* [http://www.facebook.com/Transformers-Comic/19522254813#/ Transformers Comic Facebook page]
* [http://fractalmatter.com/main/?p=671 Steve White interview with Fractal Matter]
* [http://transfans.net/interviews_white.php Steve White interview with TransFans.net]

[[Category:Continuities]]
[[Category:Magazines]]
[[Category:Movie]]
[[Category:Transformers Magazine issues| ]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen Magazine issues| ]]
[[Category:Comics]]

The Transformers (IDW)

2009-11-07T05:43:58Z

Manuelle Magnus:

{{disambig3|Transformers}}
[[Image:IDW_TF_1B.jpg|thumb|250px|You know you love it!]]
'''''The Transformers''''' is an ongoing series to be published by [[IDW Publishing]] in November [[2009]], set in the main [[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]].

It is set three years after the events of the ''[[All Hail Megatron]]'' maxiseries.

{{chapters |style=3 |prev=All Hail Megatron|next=The Transformers (IDW)|title=''The Transformers'' issues:|content=
* [[The Transformers issue 1|#1]]
* [[The Transformers issue 2|#2]]
* [[The Transformers issue 3|#3]]
* [[The Transformers issue 4|#4]]
* [[The Transformers issue 5|#5]]
* [[The Transformers issue 6|#6]]
* ...
}}

{{quote|noquote=true|"It's been three years since the devastating events of ''All Hail Megatron''. The Earth has been rebuilt, the AUTOBOTS are in hiding, and the next great era in the Transformers saga is about to begin!"|'''IDW solicitation'''}}

==Overview==
* TBA

==Creative team==
The series will be written by [[Mike Costa]], who penned two of the stories in ''All Hail Megatron Coda''. Line-art will be provided by fan-favorite, [[Don Figueroa]], officially marking his return from Transformers hiatus. Don's art has been modified somewhat to make the Transformers more technically complex (more like the [[Transformers (2007)|movie 'bots]]) but still recognizable to their classic designs.

==Collections==
* TBA

==Items of note==
* ''The Transformers'' is constantly advertised as IDW's first ongoing ''Transformers'' comic series, which is weird considering that IDW stressed over and over after the release of [[Infiltration issue 0|''Infiltration'' #0]] that that was the start of an ongoing series and not just a miniseries.{{fact}}

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
* TBA

{{issuestub}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Transformers, The}}
[[Category:Generation 1]]
[[Category:IDW titles]]

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)

2009-06-30T13:20:24Z

Manuelle Magnus:

{{nav-rotf}}
'''''Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen''''' is the first of two planned sequels to ''[[Transformers (2007)|Transformers]]''. It was released in North America on [[June 24]], 2009.

{{quote|Revenge is mine!|The Fallen, ''[[Revenge of the Fallen]]''}}

:''Japanese title:'' '''''Transformers: Revenge'''''
:''French title:'' '''''Transformers 2: La Revanche''''' (''Transformers 2: The Revenge'')
:''German title:'' '''''Transformers: Die Rache''''' (''Transformers: The Revenge'')
:''Polish title:'' '''''Transformers: Zemsta Upadłych''''' (''Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen'', except the word "Fallen" is a plural.)
:''Italian title:'' '''''Transformers 2: La Vendetta Del Caduto''''' (''Transformers 2: The Revenge Of The Fallen'')
:''Serbian title:'' '''''Transformers 2: Najveće govno ikada''''' (''Transformers 2: The Revenge Of The Fallen'')
:''Spanish title:'' '''''Transformers: la Venganza de los Caidos'''''
:''Russian title:'' '''''Transformery: Mest' Padshikh''''', cyrillic: '''''Трансформеры: Месть падших''''' (''Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen'', except the word "Fallen" is a plural, like in Polish version.)

==Main cast==
{{spoiler|Revenge of the Fallen (film)|July 24, 2009}}

{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] ([[Peter Cullen]]) (6)
*[[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] (12)
*[[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] ([[Jess Harnell]]) (4)
*[[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] ([[Robert Foxworth]]) (16)
*[[Jetfire (ROTF)|Jetfire]] ([[Mark Ryan]]) (37)
*[[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]] ([[Grey DeLisle]]) (8)
*[[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]] ([[Tom Kenny]]) (10)
*[[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]] ([[Reno Wilson]]) (11)
*[[Sideswipe (ROTF)|Sideswipe]] ([[André Sogliuzzo]]) (9)
*[[Jolt (ROTF)|Jolt]] (17)
*[[Wheelie (ROTF)|Wheelie]] ([[Tom Kenny]]) (14)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] ([[Hugo Weaving]]) (31)
*[[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] ([[Charlie Adler]]) (32)
*[[The Fallen]] ([[Tony Todd]]) (1)
*[[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] (19)
*[[Alice]] ([[Isabel Lucas]]) (24)
*[[Grindor (ROTF)|Grindor]] (34)
*[[Scalpel]] ([[John Di Crosta]]) (30)
*[[Reedman]] ([[Frank Welker]]) (20)
*[[Sideways (ROTF)|Sideways]] (7)
*[[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]] (41)
*[[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] ([[Frank Welker]]) (15)
*A [[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]] lookalike (42)
*[[Decepticon]] protoform army (41)
*[[Constructicon (ROTF)|Constructicon]]s
**[[Devastator (ROTF)|Devastator]] ([[Frank Welker]]) (40)
**[[Demolishor (ROTF)|Demolishor]] ([[Calvin Wimmer]]) (6)
**[[Rampage (ROTF)|Rampage]] ([[Kevin Michael Richardson]]) (25)
**[[Mixmaster (ROTF)|Mixmaster]] (26)
**[[Long Haul (ROTF)|Long Haul]] (27)
**[[Scrapper (ROTF)|Scrapper]] (28)
**[[Hightower (ROTF)|Hightower]] (29)
**[[Scavenger (ROTF)|Scavenger]] (38
**[[Overload (ROTF)|Overload]] (39)
|c3=
*[[Sam Witwicky]] ([[Shia LaBeouf]]) (9)
*[[Mikaela Banes]] ([[Megan Fox]]) (13)
*[[William Lennox]] ([[Josh Duhamel]]) (2)
*[[Robert Epps]] ([[Tyrese Gibson]]) (3)
*[[Leo Spitz]] ([[Ramon Rodriguez]]) (21)
*[[Seymour Simmons]] ([[John Turturro]]) (36)
*[[Theodore Galloway]] ([[John Benjamin Hickey]]) (18)
*[[Judy Witwicky]] ([[Julie White]]) (10)
*[[Ron Witwicky]] ([[Kevin Dunn]]) (11)
*[[General Morshower]] ([[Glenn Morshower]]) (15)
*[[Professor Colan]] ([[Rainn Wilson]]) (33)
*[[Tova Simmons]] ([[Annie Korzen]]) (35)
*[[Fassbinder]] ([[Jonathon Trent]]) (22)
*[[Sharsky]] ([[Walker Howard]]) (23)
}}

==Technical details==
{{stub}}

==Short synopsis==
[[Image:ROTFteaserposter.jpg|right|250px|thumb|For dry, red eyes, the difference is clear: Clear Eyes.]]

The Autobots have found a home in "NEST", a secret military unit created to seek out and eliminate the remaining Decepticons. All is not well, however. Unbeknownst to them, Soundwave is in orbit, coordinating the Decepticon counterstrike. After Ravage steals the Allspark shard from NEST, a team of Constructicons and The Doctor journey to the bottom of the ocean and use it revive Megatron. The Decepticon leader journeys to the crashed Nemesis, rebukes Starscream, and meets with his master, The Fallen.

The Fallen explains that he had constructed a Solar Harvester on Earth, in violation of the Primes' code to never harm an inhabited planet. The Primes turned on him, banished and imprisoned him. However the Harvester still stands, and only one Prime remains. If Megatron destroys Optimus Prime, The Fallen will be freed to activate the Harvester, which will kill off the humans and provide the Decepticons with enough energon to raise an army. Megatron eagerly agrees, and returns to Earth with a vengeance.

It transpires that the location of the Harvester is hidden within Sam Witwicky, who absorbed the knowledge from another Allspark fragment. The Decepticons begin an all-out war across the Earth as they hunt down the human, and the Autobots and NEST are blamed for the ensuing carnage. Witwicky goes to ground, and must turn to unlikely allies in the race to find a solution. Ultimately, the last of the Primes defeats The Fallen, destroys the Harvester, and proves the Transformers' greatest power is found in their unexpectedly-ancient alliance with the humans.

==Full synopsis==
{{stub}}

==Quotes==


"Ding-a-ling, come out an' get yo' ice cream. Any bad robot out there better get ready for an ass-whoopin'."
:— '''Skids''' and '''Mudflap''' speaking their first line in the movie as the ice cream truck.

"Sam, fate rarely calls upon us at a moment of our choosing."
:— '''Optimus Prime'''

"Need parts. Kill ze little one!"
:— '''Scalpel''' instructs the Constructicons to kill one of their own, which they so happily oblige.

"Starscream, I'm home!"
:— '''Megatron'''. And the fangirls go wild!

"I know you’re pissed-I know you’re pissed, I tried to kill you, right? It’s totally understandable. I mean, if you tried to kill me, I’d be pissed, too."
:— '''Sam Witwicky''' tries to relate with '''Megatron'''.

"Is the fate of our race not worth one human life?" 
"You'd never stop at just ''one''. '''I'll take you all on!'''"
:— '''Megatron''' tries to justify killing Sam, but '''Optimus Prime''' disapproves based on the potato chip theory. Beatdown ensues.

"What planet am I on?" 
"Earth." 
"''Earth''? Terrible name for a planet. Might as well call it ''Dirt''. Planet Dirt."
:— '''Jetfire''' asks '''Simmons''' where he is, only to have negative thoughts.

"You know what my father was? [[Scrounge|A wheel]]! The first wheel! And you know what he transformed into? NOTHING! But he did so with honor! Dignity!"
:— '''Jetfire''' tells a story.

"Beginning. Middle. End. Facts. Details. Condense. Plot. Tell it."
:— '''Simmons''' demands more coherent exposition from Jetfire.

"Lemme show ya how we brought the pain in ''my'' day!!"
:—'''Jetfire''' enters the fray to show us young whippersnappers how it's ''really'' done.

"One man, alone, abandoned by the country he loves."
:— '''Agent Simmons''' being, well, Agent Simmons as he bravely charges off to lure the Decepticons away.

"GIVE ME YOUR FACE."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' warns The Fallen of his violent fetish.

"Not to call you a coward, master, but, sometimes, cowards do survive."
:— '''Starscream''' pitches his usual battle plan to an unusually receptive Megatron.

----

==Production staff==
* Writers [[Roberto Orci]] and [[Alex Kurtzman]] recruited [[Ehren Kruger]] to help them write the screenplay. [[Michael Bay]] and producers [[Don Murphy]], [[Tom DeSanto]], and [[Lorenzo di Bonaventura]] also returned.<ref>[http://www.superherohype.com/news/topnews.php?id=6372 Transformers 2 Writers Confirmed]</ref>
{{stub}}

===Visual effects===
{{stub}}
===Locations department===
{{stub}}

==Prequel material==
===Titan Magazines ''Transformers'' movie comics===
While the Decepticons were disgusted with the pro-Autobot propaganda of Bay's first documentary {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 13|#13's Star Screams}}, they're quite optimistic about the second film. [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]] has taken a strong interest in it, going to the trouble of personally convincing [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] to be in the film {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 15|15's Star Screams}}.

The Decepticons promise this new documentary will show a glorious Decepticon victory {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 10|#10's Star Screams}} - whether it's in the script or not. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 18|#18's Star Screams}}

Shockingly, even ''they'' are under a non-disclosure agreement regarding the script; Starscream fearfully refers to a greater power keeping him quiet. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 22|#22's Star Screams}} Talking about it could even undermine the Decepticon war effort! {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 23|#23's Star Screams}}

In the same week the film came out, the Decepticons suddenly became unhappy with it and the detente period ended. Bay, Kurtzman, and Orci are once again marked for extermination for their propaganda films. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.1|#1's Law and Disorder}}

===IDW ''Transformers'' movie comics===
{{stub}}

==Adaptations==
:''Main article:'' [[Revenge of the Fallen Movie Adaptation]]
{{main|Revenge of the Fallen (novel)}}
'''Children's adaptations'''
{{main|Revenge of the Fallen: The Junior Novel}}
{{main|The Last Prime}}
{{main|Operation Autobot}}
{{main|When Robots Attack!}}
{{main|I Am Optimus Prime (ROTF)}}
{{main|Rise of the Decepticons}}
{{main|Revenge of the Fallen: Sound Like the Transformers}}

==Sequels==
{{stub}}

==Soundtrack==
:''Main article:'' [[Revenge of the Fallen: The Soundtrack]]

==Score==
{{cleanup|June 25, 2009}}
:''Main article:'' [[Revenge of the Fallen: The Score]]
* [[Linkin Park]] and Hans Zimmer worked with Steve Jablonsky on the score of the movie. Linkin Park also wrote a song, called "New Divide". It was one of the theme songs for the movie, and they did several interpretations on that theme. <ref>[http://www.mikeshinoba.com/blog/special_events-recommended_music-in_the_studio-featured-linkin_park_/transformers_2_new_linkin_park_song_and_score]</ref>

==DVD release==

==Theatrical posters==
<center><gallery perrow="3">
Image:ROTFteaserposter.jpg|Teaser poster
Image:ROTF Theatrical poster.jpg|Theatrical poster
Image:ROTF International poster.jpg|International poster
Image:ROTF Prime poster.jpg|Prime poster
Image:ROTF bumblebee poster.jpg|Bumblebee poster
Image:ROTF Starscream poster.jpg|Wait...Starscream gets a poster but Megatron doesn't? That's just wrong.
</gallery></center>

==Reception==
{{quote|Transformers: ROTF has mostly gotten pretty hideous reviews, but that's because people don't understand that this isn't a movie, in the conventional sense.|[http://io9.com/5301898/michael-bay-finally-made-an-art-movie Michael Bay Finally Made An Art Movie], Charlie Jane Anders|[http://i09.com i09.com,] [[June 24]], [[2009]]}}
{{quote|[The critics] never seem to understand that I make movies for people to take a ride and escape.|[http://tinyurl.com/nyscnv forum post] by Michael Bay|[http://shootfortheedit.com shootfortheedit.com,] [[June 25]], [[2009]]}}

In the week leading up to the United States release, while the film had been released in Japan and the United Kingdom, ''Revenge of the Fallen'' was ranking 38% fresh on [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/transformers_revenge_of_the_fallen/ Rotten Tomatoes.com]. As American reviews were added into the ranking on June 24, the movie's freshness slipped slowly to 22%. RottenTomatoes.com's consensus was that "''Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen'' is a noisy, underplotted, and overlong special effects extravaganza that lacks a human touch." Roger Ebert, who gave the movie one star, remarked that "if you want to save yourself the ticket price, go into the kitchen, cue up a male choir singing the music of hell, and get a kid to start banging pots and pans together." <ref>[http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090623/REVIEWS/906239997 Roger Ebert's ''Revenge of the Fallen'' review] on RogerEbert.com</ref> Todd Gilchrist of Cinematical.com said Michael Bay "has exceeded even the possibilities of sequel-driven 'moreness,' combining his own muscular, high-gloss sensibility with the conventions of blockbusters past, present, and probably future to create a monolithic action masterpiece that feels destined to be the biggest movie of all time." <ref>[http://www.cinematical.com/2009/06/22/review-transformers-revenge-of-the-fallen/ Review: Transformers Revenge of the Fallen] on Cinematical.com</ref> Michael Phillips from the Chicago Tribune said "the first, comparatively lucid ''Transformers'' was a headache, but I sort of enjoyed it....''Revenge of the Fallen'' is more like listening to rocks in a clothes dryer for 2½ hours." <ref>[http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/chi-tc-mov-transformers-0623-0624jun23,0,7350387.story 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen' stars Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel] on chicagotribune.com </ref> Roger Ebert went back for more in a second article, declaring not only that ''Revenge of the Fallen'' was awful, but that it'd [[Ruined FOREVER|ruined action films FOREVER]]. <ref>[http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2009/06/the_fall_of_the_revengers.html "The Fall of the Revengers"] on suntimes.com</ref>

Despite the overwhelmingly negative reviews, ''Revenge of the Fallen'' poised itself quickly as a blockbuster maelstrom. It grossed $16 million in its opening midnight showings alone, an all-time record for Wednesday openings and a second-best for openings on any day of the week behind ''The Dark Knight''. After the full Wednesday was over, ''Revenge of the Fallen'' had grossed $55 million in domestic ticket sales, surpassing the previous Wednesday release record, held by ''Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'', by over $10 million. <ref> [http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1614673/story.jhtml 'Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen' Breaks Wednesday Box-Office Record] on MTV.com</ref> By the end of the first five days, ''Revenge of the Fallen'' had taken an estimated $201.2 million in the United States, just shy of ''The Dark Knight's'' record $203.8 million 5-day US total. In the same period, international markets took in $186.1 million, bringing the 5-day worldwide total to $387.3 million.<ref>[http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2601&p=.htm BoxOfficeMojo.com - Weekend Report: ‘Revenge of the Fallen' Rises with Optimal Debut, June 28, 2009]</ref>

==Trivia==
*The official title of the film is ''Revenge of the Fallen'' (with a lower-case "t" in "the") even though it is apparently referring to [[The Fallen]] (with a capital "T" in "The").
*Leo's room features posters for [[Wikipedia:Naruto|Naruto]], [[Wikipedia:Cloverfield|Cloverfield]], and [[Wikipedia:Bad Boys 2|Bad Boys 2]].
*During the scenes set in and around the deli in NYC, posters for the bands [[Wikipedia:Catch 22 (band)|Catch Twenty-Two]] and [[wikipedia:Voodoo Glow Skulls|Voodoo Glow Skulls]] are prominently featured.
*[[Frank Welker]] dubbed [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave]] not only in English but also in Italian, as a result, in the Italian edition of the movie Soundwave speaks with a strange, foreign accent.

==Transformers references==
In addition to carryovers from the previous film, various concepts and characters are derived from previous iterations of Transformers:
* The whole concept of "Transformers disguised as a human" used for [[Alice]] is inspired by the [[Pretender]]s. Roberto Orci even used the term "Pretender" during an interview before the movie release. However, a Transformer with an "organic" alt-mode instead of an external shell is a concept more reminiscent of the [[Beast Era]].
* The Generation 1 iteration of [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] is frequently portrayed as switching from Decepticon to Autobot (he's usually a young and technologically up-to-the-minute 'bot, however.)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and his ejectible minion [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] both have Generation 1 counterparts. Movie Soundwave even has the same voice actor as 1984 cartoon Soundwave, using the same voice, though without the synthetic vocal processing that made the cartoon voice so distinctive.
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] bears little physical resemblance to his Generation 1 namesake, but is a vaguely similar character archetype, and he ''does'' have that characteristic door armor hanging from his elbows.
* Generation 1 [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] was the first female Transformer with a starring role, and was likewise a pink-colored girlbot. The idea of Arcee the pink girlbot as a motorcycle dates back to ''[[Energon (franchise)|Energon]]''.
* [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], the combined form of the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]], was the first [[combiner]] robot in Generation 1.
* The characters are new, but the names "[[Mudflap]]", "[[Skids]]", "[[Jolt]]", "[[Rampage]]" and "[[Wheelie]]" are not. Likewise for the concept of "[[Seeker]]s".
* Prime dying and coming back to life has been done [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|times beyond counting]].
* Prime combining with another 'bot to increase his power (and often gain flight capabilities) is a trope that has occurred in many recent Transformers series (''Robots in Disguise'', ''Armada'', ''Energon'', ''Cybertron''.) In ''Armada'', a different [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] was his most frequent combination partner. This is the first time the other 'bot had to die for it to happen, though.
* The Fallen is based on a comic book character that made his debut in the 2004 miniseries [[The War Within: The Dark Ages]]. In fact, according to Hasbro, he is the ''exact'' same character!
* The [[Matrix of Leadership]] is one of the franchise's oldest MacGuffins.
* [[Energon (fuel)|Energon]] (mentioned though never seen) is the Transformers' power source in numerous incarnations, beginning with the original cartoon.
* Though it is almost certainly not an actual ''reference'' (it's a pretty generic and predictable sci-fi trope), the [[solar harvester]] is quite similar in function to the [[Solar Needle]] from the Generation 1 episode "[[Changing Gears]]", sucking energy from the [[Sun]] to produce energon. Both devices would have destroyed the Sun if allowed to fulfill their function.
* The same is true for Sam having Cybertronian knowledge pumped directly into his brain via a sacred Transformer talisman, which is reminiscent of [[Buster Witwicky]]'s similar situation in the [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] G1 comics.

==Development details==
{{cleanup|June 25, 2009}}
* In an interview with BANG! Showbiz, Shia LeBouf stated that the injuries he suffered in his recent vehicular collision were written into the script and did not adversely affect the filming schedule.<ref name="TheList2008">[http://www.list.co.uk/article/10788-shia-labeoufs-transformers-hand/ The List 1 August 2008]</ref>
* Also on January 29, 2009, Simon Furman commented on MTV Movie Blog about how the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] wouldn't fit very well into the movie's universe, and that he is glad they were dropped from the cast very early in development.<ref>[http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2009/01/29/no-dinobots-in-transformers-2-revenge-of-the-fallen-original-film-consultant-explains-why/ MTV Movie Blog interview with Simon Furman, January 29, 2009.]</ref>
* Michael Bay stated in interview with ''The Collider'' that he obtained permission to film in Egypt by contacting [[Zahi Hawass]], secretary general of Egypt's council of antiquities, who turned out to be a fan of the 2007 ''Transformers'' movie.<ref>[http://www.collider.com/entertainment/interviews/article.asp/aid/10866/tcid/1 The Collider article and video interview with Michael Bay, February 9, 2009]</ref>
* In an interview with Sci Fi Wire on March 31st, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman said they had looked through the comics and cartoons for the "most elemental bad guy" that "jumped off the material" and found that in the Fallen. They also stated that due to production necessities (Hasbro and Bay needing characters for scenes and design to begin as soon as possible) and the 2008-2009 Writers Strike, some characters were in their initial treatment while others were designed specifically for the movie production, and that due to the overall numbers of robots, the audience would not get to know all of the Transformers closely. Indeed, Orci and Kurtzman referred to some characters via descriptors such "Volt" (Jolt) and "Wheelbot" (Demolishor). They also confirmed that Nimoy was open to playing the Fallen if the role was offered, and that they were in the middle of hashing it out with Frank Welker over a role in the movie, but the final decision was down to Bay.<ref name="scifiwireMarch2009">[http://scifiwire.com/2009/03/orci-kurtzman-reveal-tran.php SciFi Wire March 2009 interview with Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman]</ref>
* On the MTV Movies blog, Michael Bay reported that they were still doing for the voices for the film, and that he was (jokingly) nervous of asking his relative Leonard Nimoy if he wanted to voice The Fallen in the movie for fear of offending him with the relatively low pay allotted to voice actors.<ref>[http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2009/04/21/michael-bay-afraid-to-offend-leonard-nimoy-with-transformers-family-reunion-offer/ ''Michael Bay Afraid To Offend Leonard Nimoy With ‘Transformers’ Family Reunion Offer'', MTV.com Movies blog, April 21, 2009]</ref>
* In a June 22nd article in Forbes (released online on June 4th), Michael Bay talked about his philosphy in movie-making, his demand of part-ownership of movies he makes, and the revelation that he receives an 8% cut of all toy sales from the ''Transformers'' movies.<ref>[http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/0622/celebrity-09-transformers-michael-bay-making-movies-enemies-money.html Michael Bay article on Forbes.com June 4, 2009]</ref>
* On June 8th, 2009, the movie had its world premiere in Japan. Michael Bay, Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Isabel Lucas and Ramon Rodriguez attended.<ref>[http://www.michaelbay.com/newsblog/files/47a23fdbb6ddc8ece6a0a6c87ccc2bbe-499.html Japanese Premiere photos at Michael Bay.com, June 8, 2009]</ref>. Other countries such as South Korea<ref>[http://www.michaelbay.com/newsblog/files/f7a7af7e754cfa877a635b95d8908eea-506.html Korean Premiere photos at Michael Bay.com, June 9, 2009]</ref>, the United Kingdom and Germany followed over the course of the next few days.
===Disinformation===
{{cleanup|June 25, 2009}}
* Michael Bay has claimed that the studio is putting out deliberate misinformation, to obscure real leaks.<ref>[http://io9.com/382919/michael-bay-plays-internet-punkd Michael Bay Plays Internet Punk'd]</ref> (Like our jobs weren't hard enough.)
* During San Diego Comic-Con 2008, in an interview on July 25th, [[Simon Furman]] claimed that the film would feature a character called [[The Fallen]], which was a character they created for [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s ''[[The War Within: The Dark Ages]]''<ref>[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=17412 Simon Furman confirms The Fallen is a character in an interview with Comic Book Resources]</ref> Three days later, [[IDW Publishing]] writer [[Chris Mowry]] corroborated the claim in an interview with MTV Splash Page, calling "The Fallen" the main villain of ''Revenge'' ([[Arcee (Movie)|Arcee]] was also confirmed in the same interview, but the reference to her was mysteriously removed shortly after publication). <ref>[http://splashpage.mtv.com/2008/07/28/exclusive-transformers-2-prequel-comic-gives-inside-scoop-on-2009-movie/ MTV Splash Page interviews Chris Mowry]</ref> Less than a week after this, however, Michael Bay reiterated that everything leaked thus far is part of their misinformation campaign and that only a handful of people involved with the production of ''Revenge'' have seen the script, contradicting IDW's interviews where their representatives confirm that they have the script. Additionally, Bay claimed the only truth about the film was Sam going to college.<ref>[http://www.shootfortheedit.com/forum/showpost.php?p=44729&postcount=2 A post made by Michael Bay on his forum]</ref> Curiously, on August 5th 2008, after a fan posted on Michael Bay's forum pointing out the contradiction, all references to the Fallen were removed from the aforementioned interviews, as well as any references to IDW Publishing having the script.
* ''Empire'' magazine's February 2009 issue features information on the role of the Egyptian Pyramids in the Movieverse's backstory. Michael Bay also confirmed The Fallen and denied Megatron would be resurrected (this later turned out to be untrue). Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics resembling helicopters will be revealed to be depictions of Transformers who visited Earth before the pyramids were built.<ref name="EmpireFeb2009">''Empire'' article entitled "20 to watch in 2009", written by Nick de Semelyn, dated February 2009, pages 68 and 69, issue 236</ref>
* After a short and poorly excuted "misinformation campaign" on the part of Michael Bay, Paramount and their licensees where they claimed that Megatron was not in the movie despite all ''officially released'' evidence to the contrary (including Megatron's brief appearance in the February 1 Superbowl tv spot and the February teaser trailer), Roberto Orci confirmed that Megatron does indeed return.<ref name="Megatron returns">[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-movie-discussion/180451-welcome-mr-roberto-orci-you-may-ask-him-questions-211.html#post3333713 Roberto Orci confirms Megatron's return on TFW2005.com - February 22, 2009]</ref>
* On March 6, due to the reports of Weaving's return, Michael Bay finally admitted Megatron was back, but claimed that Megatron would only appear briefly in a flashback to the past, despite the fact Megatron can be seen pinning Sam Witwicky to the ground in ''Revenge's'' tv spot and teaser trailer. One can assume that the director was trying to salvage some form of audience surprise in seeing Megatron return in the movie. In other news of a presumably legitimate kind, Bay said that the movie would go into the distant past and explain the history of the [[Prime]]s.<ref>[http://www.shootfortheedit.com/forum/showpost.php?p=66825&postcount=4 Michael Bay on his forum - March 6, 2009]</ref>

===''Transformers'' sequel and the 2007-2008 Writers Strike===
In late 2007, during preproduction for then-untitled ''Transformers'' sequel, the [[wikipedia:2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike|Writers Guild of America went on strike]]. At the time, Roberto Orci stated that the strike could likely delay ''Transformers 2's'' release. However, Michael Bay refuted this, claiming the movie was still on schedule.<ref>[http://www.shootfortheedit.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6200#post6200 Robert Orci discusses the strike & TF2]</ref> The reason behind Bay's confidence was discovered by Orci shortly after the strike ended. The director had apparently taken the outline the writers had handed in the night before the strike, and began pre-production based on it. <ref>[http://www.donmurphy.net/board/showthread.php?t=24357&page=4 Don Murphy message board - Orci on the aftermath of the strike]</ref>

==Errors==
*Bumblebee picks up Sam at a frat party in the evening. He then takes him to a graveyard where it's daytime.

*During Sam's campus freakout, when he drops his notes on the steps, a blonde woman in a suit can be seen coming down the steps to his left, nearly reaching him. However, when the camera angle shifts, the woman is suddenly at the top of the stairs again.

*On the sonar, there are "five contacts" diving down to Megatron's location, and "six contacts" going up after his resurrection. Since one Constructicon was killed to repair Megatron, shouldn't there be only five contacts going up as well? Keep in mind, Scalpel is too small to register on sonar, but Ravage is just large enough.

*When the [[Wikipedia:USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)|USS ''Theodore Roosevelt'']] is sunk by Decepticon [[transition form]]s, the hull number of 74 can clearly be seen.{{fact}} CVN-74 belongs to the [[Wikipedia:USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74)|USS ''John C. Stennis'']], a carrier that shows up later in the film and was also the carrier used for filming.

*Simmons has [[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy's]] head in a glass case, but Frenzy's head was shattered completely in the previous film.

*When Jetfire is activated at the [[Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum]] (actually the [[Wikipedia:Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center|Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center]], an annex of the Smithsonian) in Washington, he leaves the exhibition center and exits into the desert location of the [[Wikipedia:309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group|309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (aka The Boneyard)]], which is in Tuscon, Arizona. When Jetfire breaks out of the building, we can see a composited image of the Boneyard's rows of planes, so it's arguable that in this universe the middle of Washington DC happens to be a desert full of old planes, and no buildings and uh... heh heh. Given that this and the Transformers are the ''only'' changes between this universe and ours, that's a stretch.

==External links==
*[http://www.transformersmovie.com Dreamworks/Paramount's ''Transformers'' Movie website]
*[http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/ Hasbro's ''Transformers'' homepage]
*[http://www.collider.com/entertainment/interviews/article.asp/aid/10866/tcid/1 Interview with Michael Bay 02/09/2009] — Collider.com

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

[[Category:Films]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen]]