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What It's Really Like

2022-10-06T11:35:18Z

Pebbles27: /* Continuity notes */ removed inaccuracy

{{Comicstory
|series=op|issueno=8
|prev=The Next Day, and the Next
|next=Ghost Stories
|caption=
|image=OP8 regcvr.jpg
|title="What's It's Really Like"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[June 14]], 2017
|coverdate=June 2017
|written by=[[John Barber]]
|art by=[[Casey Coller]]
|colors by=[[John-Paul Bove]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era]]
}}

'''Invited to be interviewed on television, Jazz thinks he's finally got the chance to tell his story, while in the past, Jetfire is also searching for someone he can talk to.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Jazz (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jazz]] arrives at a warehouse on the outskirts of [[Mexico City]], where he is met by [[Sofía Orozco]], the woman he recently befriended, and her boss, journalist [[Hector Ramirez]], who will be conducting the interview Jazz has been invited to give. After signing the requisite paperwork, Jazz is led inside the converted warehouse and is positioned in front of the cameras, as Hector gets to work...

''Four million years ago, [[Jetfire (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jetfire]] continues to find life working for the security forces hard, as his partner in the science lab, [[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]], continues to insist on giving him the silent treatment after nearly a week. Jetfire storms out and goes flying to clear his head, but he is soon approached by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]], who has heard about his angry departure and hopes they can talk about it. Jetfire has little time for Pax, blaming him for pulling him into the world in which he now finds himself; Pax tries to remind Jetfire that the Decepticons are the "bad guys," but Jetfire dismisses the black-and-white morality Pax has recently begun to espouse, pointing out that the [[Clampdown (event)|governmental stranglehold]] that the [[Senate]] subjected [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to is not getting better under [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]], and that the Decepticons' desire to see it ended is not an immoral one. Pax insists that their use of violence to make their point is the problem, but Jetfire retorts that Pax meeting that violence with more violence is no better. Pax asks him a final question: if they all laid down their guns, what would he do to effect change?''

At the "[[Little Cybertron]]" refugee camp on [[Bikini Atoll]], the Autobot colonist soldiers help the [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]] reassemble a collapsed building. The Junkions are very grateful, but the colonists are bored and somewhat annoyed that they have been stuck with duty on the island, and are quick to transform and drive off to find something else to do. Unfortunately, they all forget that, since the death of her parnter [[Oiler]], [[Slide]] ''cannot'' transform, and she is left behind in their dust. [[Pyra Magna]] appears behind the dejected Slide to continue sowing dissent, reminding her that though ''others'' may do so, she will not forget Slide and her pain.

Aboard [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]], the [[President of the United States|president]] informs Optimus Prime that she has intel on the "top secret" location where Jazz's interview is being filmed. Having previously expressed misgivings about the whole thing given Jazz's history with human law enforcement, the president knows there will be blowback, and urges Optimus to take himself off the board for the moment, to distance himself from the proceedings. Weighing his options, Optimus follows the president's advice and decides to withdraw to Cybertron for a short while, sending a message to Little Cybertron to request that Pyra Magna accompany him so they can talk out their differences. [[Stormclash]] is immediately suspicious of Prime's motives, thinking he is trying to keep the [[Torchbearer]]s separate and vulnerable, but her sister [[Skyburst (G1)|Skyburst]] disagrees; Pyra appears to share Skyburst's view, but nonetheless makes sure [[Marissa Faireborn]] is told exactly where she is going before she leaves, just in case. [[Aileron]] has concerns of her own about Prime's leave of absence; she is starting to feel very alone, unsure if anyone shares her feelings, so Jetfire tells her about a time he felt the same, and how he found someone to talk to...

''Four million years ago, Jetfire visits a Decepticon bar, where he is immediately met with hostility from the patrons. Despite this, he finds the person he is looking for: his old friend [[Deluge (G2)|Deluge]], who recently beat him up for selling out [[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] and [[Horri-Bull]] to the police. Deluge shows remorse; he just wants to help Cybertron be a better place, and as a scientist, he appreciates and respects the efforts of Decepticon scientists like [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] and [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]—he didn't join up to bust heads, and had no idea that the other two 'Cons were running guns. Jetfire just wants to do some good too, which is why, despite everything, he'll still be going back to work for the security forces tomorrow. Deluge gestures to the [[Gutcruncher (G1)|bartender]], and the pair get set to drink their sorrows away.''

Pyra arrives at Autobot City in a borrowed Junkion shuttle, and greets Optimus as bluntly as ever. She questions his choice of Cybertron as neutral ground for their impending talk, but Prime explains they're going to a [[Rust Sea|remote spot]] far from prying eyes. Just before they step through the [[space bridge]], Prime sends a quick text message...

Jazz's interview progresses smoothly at first, as he recounts his youth in the industrial city of [[Staniz]], where his love of music took form and he made his living performing at bars and clubs. The instigation of the [[Clampdown (event)|Clampdown]] necessitated that he get a "real job," which saw him join up with the security services under Optimus Prime. Jazz goes on to talk about how he was the first of the Autobots to come to Earth, an advance scout set by Prime, and how he fell in love with the planet's music, particularly the genre from which he takes his English-language name. Things start to take a worrying turn, however, as Ramirez presses him on complex and unflattering issues, eventually bringing up the death of [[John Powell]] and Jazz's recent interference with the Detroit police department, twisting Jazz's words at every turn to call his actions into question. Jazz breaks off the interview, hurt to discover that he has been deceived, and that he is not getting a chance to tell his version of events after all. Just then, Jazz's communicator chimes, as Optimus's text message comes through: "RUN."

Minutes later, the forces of [[Zilong Qian|Talon]]'s [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] unit (with [[Salvo (G.I. Joe)|Salvo]] for additional firepower) burst into the warehouse, fully armed... but Jazz is already long gone, having left his [[Aghartan electro-bass]] behind. Sofía sighs; she can tell Jazz was not just upset by her act of entrapment, but disillusioned by the realization it will take a lot more than simply telling his story to change people's minds about Transformers...

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks. 
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Jazz (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jazz]] (5)
*[[Jetfire (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jetfire]] (6)
*''[[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]]'' (7)
*[[Slide]] (8)
*[[Roulette (Universe)|Roulette]] (9)
*[[Midnight Express (RID)|Midnight Express]] (10)
*[[Gimlet]] (11)
*[[Bump]] (12)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Pyra Magna]] (14)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime/''Orion Pax'']] (15)
*[[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]] (17)
*[[Aileron]] (19)
*[[Stormclash]] (22)
*[[Skyburst (G1)|Skyburst]] (23)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] (19)
*''[[Blot (G1)|Blot]]'' (24)
*''[[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]]'' (25)
*''[[Apeface]]'' (26)
*''[[Deluge (G2)|Deluge]]'' (27)
*''[[Gutcruncher (G1)|Gutcruncher]]'' (28)
*''[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]'' (29)
*''[[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]]'' (30)

|h3=[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]|c3=
*[[Chameleon (G.I. Joe)|Chameleon]] (20)
*[[Sanjay Bharwaney|Hi-Tech]] (21)
*[[Mainframe (G.I. Joe)|Mainframe]] (33)
*[[Zilong Qian|Talon]] (34)
*[[Salvo (G.I. Joe)|Salvo]] (35)
*[[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]] (36)
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Spike]] (37)

|c4=
*[[Sofía Orozco]] (1)
*[[Hector Ramirez]] (2)
*[[Miguel]] (3)
*[[Salma Gutierrez]] (4)
*Various [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]] (13)
*[[President of the United States]] (16)
*''[[John Powell]]'' (31)
*''[[Tyler Nelson]]'' (32)
}}

==Quotes==
"Miguel has some '''papers''' for you to sign. You '''can''' write your name?" 
"It's only '''four letters''' and two of 'em are '''z'''."
:—'''Salma''' and '''Jazz'''

"You don't get it at '''all''', Orion. I'm not a flier '''or''' a scientist. I'm '''both'''. And that's something 'normal channels' won't '''let''' me be. That's the '''point''' the Decepticons are making, Orion. We can be '''ourselves.'''"
:—'''Jetfire'''

"Samba, hip-hop, taiko. So much good stuff. I heard Bach and I thought 'this sounds like what [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]]'s head's gotta be like.'"
:—'''Jazz''' on music

"Thank you for coming, Pyra." 
"When the '''Prime''' calls, what choice does a servant of Solus '''have?''' I assumed you had requested I oversee the construction of this '''Junkion city''' to create '''distance''' between us." 
"You're very '''blunt,''' Pyra." 
"There is no reason '''not''' to be."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Pyra Magna''', always super-cheery good-time buddies

"Thunderwing's a '''nut.'''" 
"'''Ha.''' I thought you '''liked''' him. A scientist flier." 
"I can't say he didn't inspire '''young Jetfire''', but then I got to know him, and he's a '''nut.'''"
:—'''Jetfire''' and '''Deluge'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*'''First appearances:''' Hector Ramirez, Miguel, Salma Gutierrez, Salvo (in ''Transformers'' comics)
*'''Earliest chronological appearances:''' Blot, Cutthroat, Deluge, Gutcruncher
*Jazz talks to Hector about the [[Clampdown (event)|Clampdown]], a period of martial law on Cybertron which was initiated by the [[Senate]] as part of their failed plan to crush the incipient Decepticonism. In the flashback portion of the story, Jetfire notes how Zeta Prime has extended the Clampdown, retroactively tying in his closure of the planet's stadiums—introduced in ''[[Spotlight: Blurr]]'', several years before the concept of the Clampdown was invented—in with it.
*When last seen in the present day, in [[Fight or Flee (issue)|''Punishment'' #2]], Gutcruncher had opened a bar. This issue reveals that this was his original pre-war occupation as well.
*As observed by a footnote, Optimus and Pyra's meeting plays out on Cybertron in the [[Ghost Stories|2017 ''Transformers'' annual]].
*Hector's done his research; in addition to Jazz's incidents with John Powell ([[Revenge of the Decepticons Part 4: Burning Chrome|''The Transformers'' vol. 1 #17]]) and the Detroit police ([[All Hail Optimus Part 2: Edge of the Earth|''The Transformers'' vol. 2 #51]]), he is also aware of the time Optimus Prime worked with Megatron to overthrow the government of Cybertron, as seen in ''[[The Transformers: Autocracy|Autocracy]]''.
*Jetfire is established to already be personally acquainted with Thunderwing at the time of this story's flashback portion, and regards him as a "nut." Thunderwing's... ''extreme'' tactics would eventually lead to his transformation into the monster that rendered Cybertron uninhabitable, as seen in ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer|Stormbringer]]''; it was in [[Stormbringer issue 1|issue #1]] of that series that Jetfire was originally shown to know Thunderwing, when he and the other scientists of Cybertron ignored what they saw as his insane rantings.
*Jazz mentions that he was the first Autobot to officially be sent to Earth by Optimus Prime. This is consistent with [[Police Action: Part 1|''The Transformers'' vol. 1 #25]], where Jazz made the off-handed comment to [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] that he had been on the planet "longer than any of them".
*Salvo isn't a regular member of the G.I. Joe team who appears in this title like the others seen in this issue; she recently joined the Joes in [[G.I. Joe vol. 5 issue 3|''G.I. Joe'' vol. 5 #3]], and normally functions as a member of that unit. [[Skywarp (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Skywarp]] likes the cut of her jib.

===Transformers references===
*Hector Ramirez jumps in wholesale from the original "Sunbow animated universe" of the 1980s. Originally created by writer [[Buzz Dixon]] for the ''G.I. Joe'' episode "Twenty Questions," Hector became a recurring character in Dixon scripts, showing up in more ''Joe'' episodes, as well as ''[[Jem]]'' and ''[[Inhumanoids]]''. He has a questionable (unnamed, somewhat off-model, voiced by a different actor) appearance in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 episode]] "[[Prime Target (episode)|Prime Target]]", and the colors of his outfit in this issue (brown suit, yellow shirt, blue tie) are based on how he looked in that episode.
*Jazz describes how his love of music was inspired by a [[magna march]], a kind of Cybertronian music first mentioned in the [[bio]] published on the packaging of the 2010 ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' reissue of the original [[Blaster (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Blaster]] toy.
*Deluge orders Jetfire a drink called a [[Grand Uprising (drink)|Grand Uprising]], named for the [[Grand Uprising|titular revolution]] of ''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]''.

===G.I. Joe references===
*Salvo can't recall the name of the pilot flying the craft that transports the Joe team to Mexico City. He doesn't appear on-panel, but the craft is the [[Phantom X-19]], which means the pilot is [[Ghostrider]]—and it's a running joke in ''G.I. Joe'' lore that nobody can remember his name.
*The President leaves Autobot City in a [https://www.yojoe.com/vehicles/12/ghosthawk2/ Ghost Hawk II], from the ''G.I. Joe: Retaliation'' toyline.

===Real-life references===
*The issue's title may be a reference to the song "{{w|What It's Like}}" by {{w|Everlast}}, a downbeat number describing people in unfortunately situations.
*Real-life human musicians whose work Jazz admires include legendary performers {{w|Miles Davis}}, {{w|Ornette Coleman}}, {{w|John Coltrane}}, {{w|Alice Coltrane}}, {{w|Thelonious Monk}}, and {{w|Charles Mingus}} (all of whom appear in a one-page montage) and modern talent {{w|Kamasi Washington}}.

===Trivia===
*It wouldn't be unfair to reflexively assume "Staniz" is a misspelling of pre-existing Cybertronian city [[Stanix|Stani'''x''']], but all the attributes of the town described here are different (it's in the north of Cybertron, and home to a spaceport, whereas Stanix, historically located in the south-west, is home to the [[Fort Scyk]] military complex and the [[Acid Wastes]]), indicating it's a new city.
*Despite Sofía Orozco having an accent on her given name per Spanish language convention, Hector Ramirez and Salma Gutierrez do not; in Spanish style their names should be rendered "Héctor Ramírez" and "Salma Gutiérrez".

===Covers (4)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Jazz is ready for his close-up, by [[Kei Zama]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Subscription cover A:''' Jazz's moment in the spotlight, by [[Casey Coller]] and [[John-Paul Bove]]
*'''Subscription cover B:''' Jetfire goes stargazing, by [[Andrew Griffith]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Optimus Prime by [[Sara Pitre-Durocher]]

<gallery>
File:OP8 regcvr.jpg|"Hey man, this show's gonna be outta sight!"
File:OP8 subcvrA.jpg|Ironically ''not'' [[Spotlight: Jazz]].
File:OP8 subcvrB.jpg|He'd rather look at the stars today instead of travel through them.
File:OP8 cvrRI.jpg|The titular character.
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''Optimus Prime'' #9
*"The Hasbro Tribune" editorial page promoting June's [[Hasbro Universe]] titles, including this issue, [[G.I. Joe vol. 5 issue 7|''G.I. Joe'' #7]], [[Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook issue 2|''Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook'' #2]], [[When Eagles Scream|''Revolutionaries'' #7]], [[After Megatron (A Dissolution Epilogue)|''Lost Light'' #7]], [[The Transformers: Salvation|''Salvation'' one-shot]], and ''Till All Are One'' #11.
*{{i|Jem and the Holograms: Infinite}}''
*''[[The Transformers: Salvation]]''
*''[[My Little Pony]]: The Movie Prequel''
*IDW ''{{i|Clue (comic)|Clue}}'' comic

===Reprints===
*'''''Optimus Prime''''' Vol. 2 TPB ([[January 24]], [[2018]]) ISBN 1684051312 / ISBN 978-1684051311
:Contains issues #7 to #10 and the [[Ghost Stories|2017 ''Transformers'' Annual]].
:Bonus material includes art from most covers.

*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]] Volume 78: New Cybertron''''' ([[November 14]], [[2019]])
:Contains issues #1 to #8.
:Bonus material includes a cover gallery and a sketch gallery by [[Kei Zama]].

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Three: Volume 3|The IDW Collection Phase Three: Volume 3]]''''' ([[September 27]], [[2022]]) ISBN 1684059070 / ISBN 978-1684059072
:* Contains ''[[Revolutionaries]]'' [[Strange Visitors|#5]]–[[Ghost in the Machine (IDW)|8]], ''[[The Transformers: Lost Light]]'' [[An Axe to Break the Ice|#8]]–[[The Plotters' Club (Part 3): Journey's End|12]], ''Optimus Prime'' #7–10, [[Ghost Stories|''Transformers'' Annual 2017]], and ''[[The Transformers: Salvation]]''.

<gallery>
File:OP_V2_TPB.jpg|'''Volume Two'''; cover art by [[Priscilla Tramontano]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v78.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection Volume 78: New Cybertron'''''; cover art by Don Figueroa and Casey Coller
File:IDWCollectionP3V3.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection, Phase Three, Vol. 3'''''; cover art by [[Sara Pitre-Durocher]]
</gallery>

==External links==
*[http://www.cbr.com/optimus-prime-8-exclusive-preview Preview]

[[Category:Optimus Prime issues]]

What It's Really Like

2022-10-06T11:34:32Z

Pebbles27: /* Featured characters */ Character missing and order of appearance incorrect.

{{Comicstory
|series=op|issueno=8
|prev=The Next Day, and the Next
|next=Ghost Stories
|caption=
|image=OP8 regcvr.jpg
|title="What's It's Really Like"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[June 14]], 2017
|coverdate=June 2017
|written by=[[John Barber]]
|art by=[[Casey Coller]]
|colors by=[[John-Paul Bove]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era]]
}}

'''Invited to be interviewed on television, Jazz thinks he's finally got the chance to tell his story, while in the past, Jetfire is also searching for someone he can talk to.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Jazz (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jazz]] arrives at a warehouse on the outskirts of [[Mexico City]], where he is met by [[Sofía Orozco]], the woman he recently befriended, and her boss, journalist [[Hector Ramirez]], who will be conducting the interview Jazz has been invited to give. After signing the requisite paperwork, Jazz is led inside the converted warehouse and is positioned in front of the cameras, as Hector gets to work...

''Four million years ago, [[Jetfire (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jetfire]] continues to find life working for the security forces hard, as his partner in the science lab, [[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]], continues to insist on giving him the silent treatment after nearly a week. Jetfire storms out and goes flying to clear his head, but he is soon approached by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]], who has heard about his angry departure and hopes they can talk about it. Jetfire has little time for Pax, blaming him for pulling him into the world in which he now finds himself; Pax tries to remind Jetfire that the Decepticons are the "bad guys," but Jetfire dismisses the black-and-white morality Pax has recently begun to espouse, pointing out that the [[Clampdown (event)|governmental stranglehold]] that the [[Senate]] subjected [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to is not getting better under [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]], and that the Decepticons' desire to see it ended is not an immoral one. Pax insists that their use of violence to make their point is the problem, but Jetfire retorts that Pax meeting that violence with more violence is no better. Pax asks him a final question: if they all laid down their guns, what would he do to effect change?''

At the "[[Little Cybertron]]" refugee camp on [[Bikini Atoll]], the Autobot colonist soldiers help the [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]] reassemble a collapsed building. The Junkions are very grateful, but the colonists are bored and somewhat annoyed that they have been stuck with duty on the island, and are quick to transform and drive off to find something else to do. Unfortunately, they all forget that, since the death of her parnter [[Oiler]], [[Slide]] ''cannot'' transform, and she is left behind in their dust. [[Pyra Magna]] appears behind the dejected Slide to continue sowing dissent, reminding her that though ''others'' may do so, she will not forget Slide and her pain.

Aboard [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]], the [[President of the United States|president]] informs Optimus Prime that she has intel on the "top secret" location where Jazz's interview is being filmed. Having previously expressed misgivings about the whole thing given Jazz's history with human law enforcement, the president knows there will be blowback, and urges Optimus to take himself off the board for the moment, to distance himself from the proceedings. Weighing his options, Optimus follows the president's advice and decides to withdraw to Cybertron for a short while, sending a message to Little Cybertron to request that Pyra Magna accompany him so they can talk out their differences. [[Stormclash]] is immediately suspicious of Prime's motives, thinking he is trying to keep the [[Torchbearer]]s separate and vulnerable, but her sister [[Skyburst (G1)|Skyburst]] disagrees; Pyra appears to share Skyburst's view, but nonetheless makes sure [[Marissa Faireborn]] is told exactly where she is going before she leaves, just in case. [[Aileron]] has concerns of her own about Prime's leave of absence; she is starting to feel very alone, unsure if anyone shares her feelings, so Jetfire tells her about a time he felt the same, and how he found someone to talk to...

''Four million years ago, Jetfire visits a Decepticon bar, where he is immediately met with hostility from the patrons. Despite this, he finds the person he is looking for: his old friend [[Deluge (G2)|Deluge]], who recently beat him up for selling out [[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] and [[Horri-Bull]] to the police. Deluge shows remorse; he just wants to help Cybertron be a better place, and as a scientist, he appreciates and respects the efforts of Decepticon scientists like [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] and [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]—he didn't join up to bust heads, and had no idea that the other two 'Cons were running guns. Jetfire just wants to do some good too, which is why, despite everything, he'll still be going back to work for the security forces tomorrow. Deluge gestures to the [[Gutcruncher (G1)|bartender]], and the pair get set to drink their sorrows away.''

Pyra arrives at Autobot City in a borrowed Junkion shuttle, and greets Optimus as bluntly as ever. She questions his choice of Cybertron as neutral ground for their impending talk, but Prime explains they're going to a [[Rust Sea|remote spot]] far from prying eyes. Just before they step through the [[space bridge]], Prime sends a quick text message...

Jazz's interview progresses smoothly at first, as he recounts his youth in the industrial city of [[Staniz]], where his love of music took form and he made his living performing at bars and clubs. The instigation of the [[Clampdown (event)|Clampdown]] necessitated that he get a "real job," which saw him join up with the security services under Optimus Prime. Jazz goes on to talk about how he was the first of the Autobots to come to Earth, an advance scout set by Prime, and how he fell in love with the planet's music, particularly the genre from which he takes his English-language name. Things start to take a worrying turn, however, as Ramirez presses him on complex and unflattering issues, eventually bringing up the death of [[John Powell]] and Jazz's recent interference with the Detroit police department, twisting Jazz's words at every turn to call his actions into question. Jazz breaks off the interview, hurt to discover that he has been deceived, and that he is not getting a chance to tell his version of events after all. Just then, Jazz's communicator chimes, as Optimus's text message comes through: "RUN."

Minutes later, the forces of [[Zilong Qian|Talon]]'s [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] unit (with [[Salvo (G.I. Joe)|Salvo]] for additional firepower) burst into the warehouse, fully armed... but Jazz is already long gone, having left his [[Aghartan electro-bass]] behind. Sofía sighs; she can tell Jazz was not just upset by her act of entrapment, but disillusioned by the realization it will take a lot more than simply telling his story to change people's minds about Transformers...

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks. 
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Jazz (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jazz]] (5)
*[[Jetfire (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jetfire]] (6)
*''[[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]]'' (7)
*[[Slide]] (8)
*[[Roulette (Universe)|Roulette]] (9)
*[[Midnight Express (RID)|Midnight Express]] (10)
*[[Gimlet]] (11)
*[[Bump]] (12)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Pyra Magna]] (14)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime/''Orion Pax'']] (15)
*[[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]] (17)
*[[Aileron]] (19)
*[[Stormclash]] (22)
*[[Skyburst (G1)|Skyburst]] (23)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] (19)
*''[[Blot (G1)|Blot]]'' (24)
*''[[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]]'' (25)
*''[[Apeface]]'' (26)
*''[[Deluge (G2)|Deluge]]'' (27)
*''[[Gutcruncher (G1)|Gutcruncher]]'' (28)
*''[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]'' (29)
*''[[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]]'' (30)

|h3=[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]|c3=
*[[Chameleon (G.I. Joe)|Chameleon]] (20)
*[[Sanjay Bharwaney|Hi-Tech]] (21)
*[[Mainframe (G.I. Joe)|Mainframe]] (33)
*[[Zilong Qian|Talon]] (34)
*[[Salvo (G.I. Joe)|Salvo]] (35)
*[[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]] (36)
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Spike]] (37)

|c4=
*[[Sofía Orozco]] (1)
*[[Hector Ramirez]] (2)
*[[Miguel]] (3)
*[[Salma Gutierrez]] (4)
*Various [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]] (13)
*[[President of the United States]] (16)
*''[[John Powell]]'' (31)
*''[[Tyler Nelson]]'' (32)
}}

==Quotes==
"Miguel has some '''papers''' for you to sign. You '''can''' write your name?" 
"It's only '''four letters''' and two of 'em are '''z'''."
:—'''Salma''' and '''Jazz'''

"You don't get it at '''all''', Orion. I'm not a flier '''or''' a scientist. I'm '''both'''. And that's something 'normal channels' won't '''let''' me be. That's the '''point''' the Decepticons are making, Orion. We can be '''ourselves.'''"
:—'''Jetfire'''

"Samba, hip-hop, taiko. So much good stuff. I heard Bach and I thought 'this sounds like what [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]]'s head's gotta be like.'"
:—'''Jazz''' on music

"Thank you for coming, Pyra." 
"When the '''Prime''' calls, what choice does a servant of Solus '''have?''' I assumed you had requested I oversee the construction of this '''Junkion city''' to create '''distance''' between us." 
"You're very '''blunt,''' Pyra." 
"There is no reason '''not''' to be."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Pyra Magna''', always super-cheery good-time buddies

"Thunderwing's a '''nut.'''" 
"'''Ha.''' I thought you '''liked''' him. A scientist flier." 
"I can't say he didn't inspire '''young Jetfire''', but then I got to know him, and he's a '''nut.'''"
:—'''Jetfire''' and '''Deluge'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*'''First appearances:''' Hector Ramirez, Miguel, Salma Gutierrez, Salvo (in ''Transformers'' comics)
*'''Earliest chronological appearances:''' Nosecone, Blot, Cutthroat, Deluge, Gutcruncher
*Jazz talks to Hector about the [[Clampdown (event)|Clampdown]], a period of martial law on Cybertron which was initiated by the [[Senate]] as part of their failed plan to crush the incipient Decepticonism. In the flashback portion of the story, Jetfire notes how Zeta Prime has extended the Clampdown, retroactively tying in his closure of the planet's stadiums—introduced in ''[[Spotlight: Blurr]]'', several years before the concept of the Clampdown was invented—in with it.
*When last seen in the present day, in [[Fight or Flee (issue)|''Punishment'' #2]], Gutcruncher had opened a bar. This issue reveals that this was his original pre-war occupation as well.
*As observed by a footnote, Optimus and Pyra's meeting plays out on Cybertron in the [[Ghost Stories|2017 ''Transformers'' annual]].
*Hector's done his research; in addition to Jazz's incidents with John Powell ([[Revenge of the Decepticons Part 4: Burning Chrome|''The Transformers'' vol. 1 #17]]) and the Detroit police ([[All Hail Optimus Part 2: Edge of the Earth|''The Transformers'' vol. 2 #51]]), he is also aware of the time Optimus Prime worked with Megatron to overthrow the government of Cybertron, as seen in ''[[The Transformers: Autocracy|Autocracy]]''.
*Jetfire is established to already be personally acquainted with Thunderwing at the time of this story's flashback portion, and regards him as a "nut." Thunderwing's... ''extreme'' tactics would eventually lead to his transformation into the monster that rendered Cybertron uninhabitable, as seen in ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer|Stormbringer]]''; it was in [[Stormbringer issue 1|issue #1]] of that series that Jetfire was originally shown to know Thunderwing, when he and the other scientists of Cybertron ignored what they saw as his insane rantings.
*Jazz mentions that he was the first Autobot to officially be sent to Earth by Optimus Prime. This is consistent with [[Police Action: Part 1|''The Transformers'' vol. 1 #25]], where Jazz made the off-handed comment to [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] that he had been on the planet "longer than any of them".
*Salvo isn't a regular member of the G.I. Joe team who appears in this title like the others seen in this issue; she recently joined the Joes in [[G.I. Joe vol. 5 issue 3|''G.I. Joe'' vol. 5 #3]], and normally functions as a member of that unit. [[Skywarp (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Skywarp]] likes the cut of her jib.

===Transformers references===
*Hector Ramirez jumps in wholesale from the original "Sunbow animated universe" of the 1980s. Originally created by writer [[Buzz Dixon]] for the ''G.I. Joe'' episode "Twenty Questions," Hector became a recurring character in Dixon scripts, showing up in more ''Joe'' episodes, as well as ''[[Jem]]'' and ''[[Inhumanoids]]''. He has a questionable (unnamed, somewhat off-model, voiced by a different actor) appearance in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 episode]] "[[Prime Target (episode)|Prime Target]]", and the colors of his outfit in this issue (brown suit, yellow shirt, blue tie) are based on how he looked in that episode.
*Jazz describes how his love of music was inspired by a [[magna march]], a kind of Cybertronian music first mentioned in the [[bio]] published on the packaging of the 2010 ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' reissue of the original [[Blaster (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Blaster]] toy.
*Deluge orders Jetfire a drink called a [[Grand Uprising (drink)|Grand Uprising]], named for the [[Grand Uprising|titular revolution]] of ''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]''.

===G.I. Joe references===
*Salvo can't recall the name of the pilot flying the craft that transports the Joe team to Mexico City. He doesn't appear on-panel, but the craft is the [[Phantom X-19]], which means the pilot is [[Ghostrider]]—and it's a running joke in ''G.I. Joe'' lore that nobody can remember his name.
*The President leaves Autobot City in a [https://www.yojoe.com/vehicles/12/ghosthawk2/ Ghost Hawk II], from the ''G.I. Joe: Retaliation'' toyline.

===Real-life references===
*The issue's title may be a reference to the song "{{w|What It's Like}}" by {{w|Everlast}}, a downbeat number describing people in unfortunately situations.
*Real-life human musicians whose work Jazz admires include legendary performers {{w|Miles Davis}}, {{w|Ornette Coleman}}, {{w|John Coltrane}}, {{w|Alice Coltrane}}, {{w|Thelonious Monk}}, and {{w|Charles Mingus}} (all of whom appear in a one-page montage) and modern talent {{w|Kamasi Washington}}.

===Trivia===
*It wouldn't be unfair to reflexively assume "Staniz" is a misspelling of pre-existing Cybertronian city [[Stanix|Stani'''x''']], but all the attributes of the town described here are different (it's in the north of Cybertron, and home to a spaceport, whereas Stanix, historically located in the south-west, is home to the [[Fort Scyk]] military complex and the [[Acid Wastes]]), indicating it's a new city.
*Despite Sofía Orozco having an accent on her given name per Spanish language convention, Hector Ramirez and Salma Gutierrez do not; in Spanish style their names should be rendered "Héctor Ramírez" and "Salma Gutiérrez".

===Covers (4)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Jazz is ready for his close-up, by [[Kei Zama]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Subscription cover A:''' Jazz's moment in the spotlight, by [[Casey Coller]] and [[John-Paul Bove]]
*'''Subscription cover B:''' Jetfire goes stargazing, by [[Andrew Griffith]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Optimus Prime by [[Sara Pitre-Durocher]]

<gallery>
File:OP8 regcvr.jpg|"Hey man, this show's gonna be outta sight!"
File:OP8 subcvrA.jpg|Ironically ''not'' [[Spotlight: Jazz]].
File:OP8 subcvrB.jpg|He'd rather look at the stars today instead of travel through them.
File:OP8 cvrRI.jpg|The titular character.
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''Optimus Prime'' #9
*"The Hasbro Tribune" editorial page promoting June's [[Hasbro Universe]] titles, including this issue, [[G.I. Joe vol. 5 issue 7|''G.I. Joe'' #7]], [[Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook issue 2|''Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook'' #2]], [[When Eagles Scream|''Revolutionaries'' #7]], [[After Megatron (A Dissolution Epilogue)|''Lost Light'' #7]], [[The Transformers: Salvation|''Salvation'' one-shot]], and ''Till All Are One'' #11.
*{{i|Jem and the Holograms: Infinite}}''
*''[[The Transformers: Salvation]]''
*''[[My Little Pony]]: The Movie Prequel''
*IDW ''{{i|Clue (comic)|Clue}}'' comic

===Reprints===
*'''''Optimus Prime''''' Vol. 2 TPB ([[January 24]], [[2018]]) ISBN 1684051312 / ISBN 978-1684051311
:Contains issues #7 to #10 and the [[Ghost Stories|2017 ''Transformers'' Annual]].
:Bonus material includes art from most covers.

*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]] Volume 78: New Cybertron''''' ([[November 14]], [[2019]])
:Contains issues #1 to #8.
:Bonus material includes a cover gallery and a sketch gallery by [[Kei Zama]].

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Three: Volume 3|The IDW Collection Phase Three: Volume 3]]''''' ([[September 27]], [[2022]]) ISBN 1684059070 / ISBN 978-1684059072
:* Contains ''[[Revolutionaries]]'' [[Strange Visitors|#5]]–[[Ghost in the Machine (IDW)|8]], ''[[The Transformers: Lost Light]]'' [[An Axe to Break the Ice|#8]]–[[The Plotters' Club (Part 3): Journey's End|12]], ''Optimus Prime'' #7–10, [[Ghost Stories|''Transformers'' Annual 2017]], and ''[[The Transformers: Salvation]]''.

<gallery>
File:OP_V2_TPB.jpg|'''Volume Two'''; cover art by [[Priscilla Tramontano]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v78.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection Volume 78: New Cybertron'''''; cover art by Don Figueroa and Casey Coller
File:IDWCollectionP3V3.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection, Phase Three, Vol. 3'''''; cover art by [[Sara Pitre-Durocher]]
</gallery>

==External links==
*[http://www.cbr.com/optimus-prime-8-exclusive-preview Preview]

[[Category:Optimus Prime issues]]

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

2022-09-11T04:29:20Z

Pebbles27: Spelling fix

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=51
|prev=No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases
|next=The Dying of the Light Part 3: Your Fierce Tears
|image=MTMTE51_regcvr.jpg
|title="The Dying of the Light Part 2: The Sun in Flight
|caption="Sixty! We dropped at least 60, wouldn't you say?" "That leaves only 3,940."
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[March 30]], [[2016]]
|coverdate=March 2016
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|pencils by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2016)]]
}}
'''Rodimus and his stranded comrades weigh their options as the D.J.D. close in.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Tarn's library.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.8|''He started retreatin' and readin' every treatise on the shelf.'']]
On the now-deceased [[Mortilus|Necrobot]]'s [[Necroworld|planet]], the stranded members of the ''[[Lost Light]]'' crew take shelter within the Necrobot's fortress as the forces of the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] pound on its walls. Presently, however, the attack stops, and a message is left burned into ground outside warning that the killers will return at sunset to finish the job. [[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]] and [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]] return to the ''[[Peaceful Tyranny]]'', where Tarn shows off his collection of deceased miners (whose bodies were used by [[Terminus (G1)|Terminus]] to smuggle [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]'s writings back from [[Messatine]] millions of years ago), and explains to an impatient Deathsaurus that they have granted the Autobots a temporary reprieve only as a form of vicarious torture, leaving them to work themselves into a frenzy of fear and anger before they are slain.

With communications cut off, the Autobots search the Necrobot's fortress from top to bottom, hoping to find weapons or a means of escape. [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] and [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] discover that the Necrobot's body has crumbled to dust, and find a key among the remains. While they leave to search for the door it opens, the others examine the only other promising discovery they have made: the quantum-tech teleport booth used by the Necrobot to travel across the galaxy. [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] ascertains that it only has enough power to get them to a nearby asteroid, but that is good enough for everyone, and they are all about to travel through it when Velocity, Swerve, and [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] return to reveal what they have discovered behind the mystery door—dozens of life support tubes containing comatose organic beings. Knowing that the D.J.D. will slaughter the organics if they leave them unguarded, the group talks things out; [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] believes that all the good they have done, and will go on to do if they survive, balances the cosmic scales enough for them to leave the organics to their fate, but Megatron refuses to abandon any living creatures, and delivers an impassioned speech that convinces all assembled to stay and help him protect them. Swerve proposes stealing the D.J.D.'s ship and using it to transport themselves and all the pods to safety, so [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] volunteers to leave the safety of the fortress and sniff out the ship's location. Before departing, he offers Megatron a communicator, and urges him to "talk to him"...

[[File:TheSunInFlight MegatronTarn.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|]]
Aboard the ''Peaceful Tyranny'', Tarn and Deathsaurus talk strategy with [[Tesarus (DJD)|Tesarus]], [[Vos (DJD)|Vos]], and [[Nickel]], while the other members of the group establish a base camp elsewhere on the planet. Tarn dismisses the notion that the assembled Autobots could pose any threat, but Tesarus recognizes that the Necrobot's fortress has a [[storm-shield]] to protect it from extreme weather conditions, which could, with sufficient power, be upgraded to hold the D.J.D. off for days. Tarn insists there is no such power supply on the planet, but before an argument can kick off, his personal communicator rings—a communicator that only Megatron has the number for.

Megatron arranges to meet Tarn alone, and mounts a [[space scooter]] the Autobots have found in the fortress to travel to their meeting point. Before he leaves, [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] asks him why his famous hatred of organics has suddenly ceased to be an issue; Megatron explains that, when struck with the psychic attack earlier, he heard the screams of all the organic races he had obliterated during the war, and cannot live with allowing any more of them to die. Megatron then heads out to meet Tarn in the massive field of flowers surrounding his own statue, where he calmly and willingly surrenders to the D.J.D. leader.

[[File:TheSunInFlight-helexvsten.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|''Everyone give it up for America's favorite fighting French-Ten!'']]
Elsewhere, Ravage follows the scent of the D.J.D., but ends up locating their base camp, rather than their ship. He is also quick to realize that he has been followed by [[Ten]], who has been desperately trying to help all this time, but has been repeatedly ignored and told off by Rodimus. An exasperated Ravage pulls a dirty move, asking Ten to stand up; immediately upon doing so, the [[Legislator]] is spotted by the Decepticons below, and they come charging up the hill to attack him. With Ten serving as a distraction, Ravage heads down to the base camp, certain he can smell a ship somewhere...

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

Ten fights bravely, but is blasted, burned, blinded, and even loses limbs to the relentless Decepticon horde. Before the fatal blow can be struck, however, salvation arrives in the form of the occupants of the ship Ravage detected... [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] and [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] have returned!

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (1)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (2)
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (3)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] (4)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (5)
*[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (6)
*[[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (7)
*[[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (8)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (11)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (12)
*[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] (13)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (14)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (15)
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (19)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (30)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (31)
{{!}}}
|c2=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Lugnut (TF 2010)|Lugnut]] (9)
*[[Tarn (DJD)|Tarn]] (10)
*[[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]] (18)
*[[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] (21)
*[[Vos (DJD)|Vos]] (22)
*[[Tesarus (DJD)|Tesarus]] (23)
*[[Nickel]] (24)
*[[Blue Bacchus]] (25)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Kaon (DJD)|Kaon]] (26)
*[[Helex (DJD)|Helex]] (27)
*[[Dominus Ambus|The Pet]] (28)
*[[Guyhawk]] (29)
{{!}}}
|c4=
*[[Ten]] (16)
*[[Mortilus|Necrobot]]'s remains (17)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (20)
}}

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

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

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

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

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*[[Lugnut (TF 2010)|Lugnut]] is a member of Deathsaurus's army. He's previously appeared in IDW continuity in [[Rise|''Autocracy'' #10]], and a guy loosely looking like him appeared as a member of the [[Titan Hunter]]s in [[The Reluctant Specialist|''Spotlight: Trailcutter'']], but don't sweat the details too much; in all these appearances, he's really little more than an [[Easter egg]], the latter being more of a reference to the [[Lugnut (Animated)|original ''Animated'' character]] than specifically to the G1-era character from the [[Transformers (2010 toyline)#RTS|2010 toyline]].
*We got a glimpse of Tarn's collection of dead generic "miner" Transformers in [[Speak, Memory! (Part 2)|issue #49]]. They are revealed to hold the answer to the long-standing question of how Terminus was smuggling Megatron's writings off of [[Messatine]], originally raised in [[Births, Deaths, and Interventions|issue #34]]: he was arranging for the works to be carved onto their internal organs before they were sent back to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Hence, as a huge Megatron fanboy, Tarn collects them.
*Tarn remarked that he had the first edition of ''Towards Peace'' mounted on his wall back in [[The Permanent Revolution|issue #39]]. He wasn't lying.
*Tarn says that Terminus has been unfairly “airbrushed out of history”. It was Megatron himself who was at least partly behind that, thanks to his going back and removing the dedication to Terminus in every copy of Towards Peace, as he revealed to Rung in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|their therapy session]].
*Rodimus makes a quick reference to his being an "ex-[[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] bearer," which occurred during the "[[Space Opera Part 1: The Stars My Destination|Space Opera]]" storyline in the [[The Transformers (IDW)|2009-2011 ongoing series]].
*None of the characters have any knowledge of it, of course, but a similar row of life support pods containing organic lifeforms was previously seen in [[Animals|issue #46]]. These pods have some mysterious connection to the gear-like symbol that the cast discussed last issue.
*Megatron's decision to risk his life for organics plays off [[slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|issue #33]], where Megatron is disgruntled at the very concept that he'd have to risk himself for non-mechanicals and asks where he signed up for this. Back then, Skids made it clear that if redemption meant anything, Megatron would risk it; back then, Megatron had to be berated into doing it but a year and a half later, he's the one fortifying everyone else.
*Tesarus recalls encountering a storm-shield when the D.J.D. went after [[Heretech]], a story we first heard about in issue #39.
*When listing off the races whose voices he heard screaming, Megatron mentions the "[[Magisterian]]s." Presumably, these are the inhabitants of [[Magisteria VI]], who we saw in [[Some Of My Best Friends Are Autobots|issue #46]]. See "Transformers references" and "errors" for more.
*He also lists the [[Nibarian]]s, whom [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] previously mentioned killing in "[[The Hunting Party (IDW)|The Hunting Party]]".
*They're back, baby! [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] left the series way back in [[The Gloaming|issue #16]], while Ratchet went off to find him in [[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|issue #40]]. They found each other in the [[The Transformers: Drift - Empire of Stone|''Empire of Stone'']] mini-series, and it looks like they've been doing some adventuring since, as both have brand new body designs. Drift's even re-donned the Autobot symbol, suggesting the egregious continuity wonkery of ''Empire of Stone'' is being quietly ignored and he's an Autobot again without any messing about.
*Alex Milne stated on Twitter that [[:File:Drift-Alex Milne-LL.jpg|Drift's new "face paint"]] is to honor [[Dai Atlas (G1)|Dai Atlas]],<ref>[https://twitter.com/markerguru/status/716702702416355328 ]</ref> leader of the [[Circle of Light]] who were responsible for Drift's "enlightenment" and side-switching, who died in [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|issue #21]].

===Transformers references===
*While the [[Praeton]]s that Megatron mentions killing don't appear to be a pre-existing race from Transformers canon, the [[Nibarian]]s first came from the [[Fun Publications]] story "[[The Razor's Edge]]" and the [[Torkuli]] from the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] episode "[[Webworld]]". Both races also faced a rough time from not just the Decepticons, but sort-of Megatron: the Nibarians are brutally conquered by [[Flamewar (G1)|Flamewar]] in a Megatron disguise, while the Torkuli's homeworld is destroyed by [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron, an upgraded Megatron]].
*[[:File:Ratchet-Alex Milne-MtMtE-LL.jpg|Ratchet's new design]] borrows a few cues from his [[Ratchet (WFC)|''Prime'' counterpart]], including a white helmet with a red crest (the inverse of his previous ''More than Meets the Eye'' appearance), as well as a red mohawk-stripe and chin-guard. He is dual-wielding a pair of the [[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1#Continuity notes|Generation 1 cartoon's generic Autobot laser pistols]], as he did in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
*The regular cover sees Megatron wielding his "lightsaber" that he used in his battle with Optimus during ''The Transformers: The Movie''.

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

===Errors===
*Brainstorm counts sixteen present, but there are actually seventeen. Of course, this might not be an error; he could be excluding Ten (because Brainstorm's a jerk), Ravage (the only Decepticon present, who has never actually helped anyone) or maybe even Rong (Wrung? Y'know, that guy...).
*Megatron says that all the races he mentions are extinct, but there were obviously living Magisterians kicking about very recently, as the [[Scavenger (group)|Scavengers]] visited their planet and used [[holomatter]] avatars of them. Unless it wasn't Magisteria ''VI'' Megatron scoured of life, but another planet in the system. A Torkuli also made a cameo appearance in "[[Cybertronian Homesick Blues]]", so Megs missed one.
*Megatron calls 'em "Torkulians," but per "Webworld," the inhabitants of [[Torkulon]] are "Torkuli." This is corrected in the trade paperback.

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

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

For this issue alone:
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4VWKbZkIcM The Ship Song]" by {{w|Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/712081400745369600 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taYufMit8SI Foi Na Cruz]," also by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/712081733693411328 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zLfCnGVeL4 The Sound of Silence]" by {{w|Simon & Garfunkel}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/712082538513174530 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>

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

<gallery>
File:MTMTE51 regcvr.jpg|Tarn's about to have some fun.
File:MTMTE51 subcvr.jpg|Someone other than Tarn has had a REALLY bad day.
File:MTMTE51 cvrRI.jpg|Tarn the impaler.
</gallery>

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

===Reprints===
*'''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 10''''' ([[October 5]], [[2016]]) ISBN 1631407163 / ISBN 978-1631407161
:*Contains issues #50 to #55.
:*Bonus content includes covers of each issue.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 72: The Dying of the Light''''' ([[January 24]], [[2018]])
:* Hardcover collection of ''More than Meets the Eye'' #50 to #55.
:* Bonus content includes the story "[[No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases]]" and essential background material on the DJD.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 11|The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 11]]''''' ([[June 17]], 2020) ISBN 1684056403 / ISBN 978-1684056408
:* Contains "[[Silent Light]]" from ''[[The Transformers Holiday Special]]'', ''[[The Transformers: Redemption]]'', [[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|''The Transformers'' vol. 2]] issues [[Conquerors Part 1: Aphelion|#46]] to [[The Transformers issue 50|#50]], and ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #50 to #55.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol10.jpg|'''Volume 10'''; cover art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v72.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 72: The Dying of the Light'''''; cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] (Cyclonus) and [[Alex Milne]] (retro)
File:IDWCollectionP2V11.jpg|'''''IDW Collection Phase Two: Vol. 11''''' cover by [[Marcelo Matere]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

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

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dying of the Light Part 2: The Sun in Flight}}

The Not Knowing

2022-09-04T00:31:56Z

Pebbles27: /* Errors */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=44
|prev=The One Where They Go to Earth
|next=Some Of My Best Friends Are Autobots
|image=MTMTE44_regcvr.jpg
|title="The Not Knowing"
|caption="Forty-two! Is that all you've got to show for seven and a half million years' work?"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[September 2]], [[2015]]
|coverdate=August 2015
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|pencils by=[[Hayato Sakamoto]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2015)]]
}}
'''Following the trail of Agent 113's bullet, the ''Lost Light''ers make their way to the Necrobot's base of operations, where both Rewind and Chromedome's relationship, and Nightbeat's hope in the existence of a greater power, are tested.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:MTMTE44 a lot of banter.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.7|Take the second panel out of context, things don't look quite right...]]
The message bullet extracted from [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]]'s shoulder proves largely corrupted by rust, but of the data sent by [[Dominus Ambus|Agent 113]]—now revealed to have been the previous holder of the "[[Vos (DJD)|Vos]]" codename—one intact piece of information gives the crew of the ''[[Lost Light]]'' a startling new objective to explore: the location of the supposedly-mythical [[Mortilus|Necrobot]]'s [[Necroworld|base of operations]]. [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] has a revelation of his own, however—it turns out that the doodles he has been carving into his desk since the ship's launch are, in fact, a map to [[Cyberutopia]] just like the one [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] drew, and he is much more interested in following it than looking for the Necrobot. When [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] and [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] explain that they want to visit the Necrobot's world in hopes of learning the fate of Rewind's old partner [[Dominus Ambus]], [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] agrees to their request, and the ''Lost Light'' sets off. [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] takes Rewind aside to talk about his departed spark brother in order to caution him to not get his hopes up for Dominus's survival, but it turns out that Rewind has already had this discussion with ''his'' Magnus, on the quantum duplicate ''Lost Light'', and refuses to believe his claim that he can sense his brother's absence.

Presently, the ''Lost Light'' arrives at the Necrobot's rather unassuming planet, and a small group heads down to the surface in the [[Rodpod]]. They are greeted by the sight of a beautiful garden, full of holographic statues surrounded by sparkling blue flowers, and soon deduce that the statues represent those Transformers who are still living, while the empty plinths are for the dead. Homing in on the solitary life sign on the planet, the Rod Pod sets down outside a huge complex, where a noticeably jumpy [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] immediately spots some movement in the building's doorway, only for the door to be slammed shut before he can reach it. While the others split up to wander about the garden and investigate, Nightbeat stands outside the door and calls to whoever or whatever may be inside... at which point, the door opens a crack, and the imposing form of the Necrobot appears to invite Nightbeat inside!

[[File:Censere nightbeat the not knowing.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2]]
[[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] dismisses the exercise as a waste of time, but Megatron confides that that was precisely his rationale for allowing the trip: although he will accept his fate when the time comes, he is in no hurry to rush toward that final judgement. Regardless of Megatron's intent, Chromedome and Rewind are here for a purpose: soon, they have hacked into the central database that powers the holographic statues, so that they can search for Dominus's name to learn what has become of him. But before Chromedome presses "search", Rewind hesitates, unsure if, after all this time, he ''really'' wants to know the truth. Chromedome assures him that whatever choice he makes, he will stand by him, and help him continue his search in other ways—a show of dedication that convinces Rewind that the past must be put behind him. The search begins, and the result appears... Dominus Ambus of Ambustus Minor is, indeed, deceased.

Within the Necrobot's complex, the mysterious robot explains to Nightbeat that he is, actually, a totally ordinary—if very long-lived—Cybertronian named [[Mortilus|Censere]]. A forensic pathologist, Censere was moved to begin chronicling deaths when the death of his friend [[Tusk]] went unreported, and simply uses the machines in his complex to keep track of spark signatures and to teleport him around the universe to carry out his tasks. Nightbeat is dismayed and furious; in spite of his rationalist nature, he had truly hoped to learn that the Necrobot was proof of a higher power, a reaffirmation of the notion of life after death that Nightbeat had come to doubt since his own death years beforehand. Censere reassures him that just because ''he'' is not "magic" does not mean that the [[Transformer afterlife|Afterspark]] does not exist, and explains that his understanding of life and death is not absolute: he was, for instance, alarmed to see Nightbeat and many of the other ''Lost Light''ers, as he believed they were already dead. Censere takes him to a monolith labelled "In Honor of the [[Disappeared]]", upon which he has carved the names of those whose deaths he cannot verify; Nightbeat sees his own name on the slab (his body having been stolen away into the [[Dead Universe]] before Censere reached him), but then spots another one of great interest. He calls the crew together, and while everyone is marvelling over the once-legendary Necrobot, Nightbeat takes Chromedome and Rewind to the monolith, where it is revealed that Dominus Ambus's name is also engraved on its surface!

A little later, as everyone prepares to depart, Nightbeat says farewell to Censere, but not without grimly informing him that he should use his skills to save the living, rather than record the dead. Rodimus realizes that Megatron has disappeared, and is informed by [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] that he slipped away with Ravage a little while ago, after the Necrobot explained the significance of his garden's flowers: they contain the residual [[spark]] energy of the deceased, and he plants them around the statue of the Transformer who was responsible for ending that life. Thus it is that Megatron receives a grim reminder that he cannot put off his day of reckoning forever, as he visits his own statue and sees a beautiful blue field of sparkling flowers, stretching in every direction, far and away into the horizon...
[[File:MTMTE44-MegatronLookAtTheFlowers.jpg|450px|center|thumb|Just look at the flowers.]]

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (2)
*[[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (3)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (4)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]]/[[Minimus Ambus]] (5)
*[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] (6)
*[[Dominus Ambus|Agent 113]] (video message, 7)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (8)
*[[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (9)
*[[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] (10)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (11)
*[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (12)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (13)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Getaway]] (14)
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (16)
*[[Ube-in]] (statue, 17)
*[[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] (statue, 18)
*[[Cyber]] (statue, 19)
*[[O-G]] (statue, 20)
*[[Yamada-3]] (statue, 21)
*[[Action]] (statue, 22)
*[[Indead]] (statue, 23)
*[[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] (statue, 26)
*[[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] (27)
*[[Hound (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hound]] (28)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] (29)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] (15)
*[[Wheezing Arrow]] (statue, 24)
|c4=
*[[Mortilus|Censere]] (1)
*[[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] (statue, 25)
}}

==Quotes==
"You know, I can just about accept that the '''D.J.D.''' was infiltrated by an Autobot, but what I find '''bizarre''' is that this '''"Agent 113"''' thinks it practical to deliver his field reports by firing bullet-shaped data-slugs into '''three-fingered metallurgists'''." 
"It's not '''exclusively''' metallurgists. When I said that, I didn't... I was attempting to make a joke." 
"Yes—I know—I was '''running with it'''. There's a lot of banter on this ship; I thought I was ready to take the plunge." 
"I think we've both learned something from this."
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Ultra Magnus'''

"If you caught '''me''' spilling that many beans, you'd give me a '''dressing down''' so epic, so protracted—so narratively dense—it would have subplots, callbacks, and a finale that would provide closure whilst leaving the door open for future '''tellings off'''."
:—'''Rodimus''', to Magnus, when Magnus tells Megatron about Agent 113

"Is it too soon to have '''"Chosen One"''' engraved on my forehead?" 
"I can think of more appropriate words."
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Megatron'''

"Don't take offense, but it's quite difficult—sitting here, looking at you... you look so '''similar'''." 
"I know. Why do you think I've spent most of my life trying to look like someone else?"
:—'''Rewind''' and '''Minimus Ambus'''

"I don't know what you were expecting. I don't know what a '''non-boring''' planet looks like to you." 
"What." 
"Describe it. I'm genuinely interested. Describe your perfect planet." 
"Let's see... stripped of organic life, relieved of energy, coated in metal... oh—wait—that's '''your''' perfect planet."
:—'''Megatron''' might want some cold water for that burn, courtesy of '''Rodimus'''

"Don't '''touch''' anything, don't '''steal''' anything, and definitely don't '''desecrate''' anything."
:—'''Rodimus''' warns the crew to behave

"Once you press "search", that's it—I'll know. And I don't know if I'm '''ready''' to know. ...I'm sorry. This is stupid. I'm being stupid." 
"It's not. And you're not." 
"Tell me what to do." 
"Rewind—my love—it's not for me to say." 
"But this affects '''both''' of us. If I don't do this... if we leave here not knowing, we could spend the next four million years searching for someone who's..." 
"I know. But at least we'd be doing it together."
:—'''Rewind''' and '''Chrome—''' *sniff*...and '''Chromedome'''... look, I just have something in my eye, okay?!

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*The Necrobot was introduced in the "Scavengers" two-parter in [[Rules of Disengagement (issue)|issue #7]] and [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|#8]]. It was in the second of those issues that he actually physically appeared, and in which we saw his datapad containing a list of deceased ''Lost Light'' crewmembers; this issue confirms the earlier implication that these were the quantum duplicate crewmembers from the second ''Lost Light'', seen in the "Slaughterhouse" two-parter in [[slaughterhouse|issue #32]] and [[slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|#33]].
*Agent 113, first mentioned in the "[[Bullets]]" prose story in 2010, is finally revealed to not be a current member of the DJD, but rather, the previous holder of the "Vos" codename—the one with hooks for hands and feet, whose existence was established in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|issue #29]]. He was replaced so recently that nobody on the ''Light'', not even Megatron, knew he'd been replaced until they found the 'other' ''Light''.
*Magnus mentions that the crew learned how to juggle during a three-week stay at the Cosmic Carnival, and Skids was seen demonstrating his juggling skills back in issue [[The Sensuous Frame|#41]].
*We first learned Rodimus has been carving doodles into his desk in [[Signal to Noise|issue #13]], and were reminded of that fact recently in issue #41. Turns out he's been drawing a map to Cyberuptopia like the one we saw [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] had drawn in that same issue, complete with the gear-like hieroglyphs from [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|issue #21]].
*Ultra Magnus has a figure of [[Ten]] under his desk, recalling how their friendship began in [[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|issue #40]] when Ten gave him a Minimus Ambus figure.
*When Skids remarks that he is a "recovering believer", he strokes his cheek, where we know from issues [[Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|#11]] and [[Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|#36]] that he used to have a tattoo of the [[Matrix of Leadership]] as a symbol of his faith.
*Nightbeat refers to his death from all the way back in ''[[Spotlight: Hardhead]]'' (see "Errors", below).
*Swerve takes a selfie with the Necrobot; we've seen Swerve using his "cell phone", before, back in "[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]]", when he went on about his ringtone.
*Skids says "who doesn't want to survive the dying of the light?" to Nightbeat, both people who will be part of a little story in #50 called... [[The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|"The Dying of the Light"]]!
*Nightbeat is haunted by the idea that there is no afterlife for his kind. His use of the phrase "nothing to ascend to" forshadows his [[The Everlasting Voices (2): The God War|final fate]].
*Swerve's opening recap monologue contains the first hints of his relationship with Velocity.

===Transformers references===
*Ultra Magnus mentions that the ''Lost Light''ers once spent three weeks at the [[Cosmic Carnival]], the greatest show in the galaxy that appeared in [[The Cosmic Carnival|issue #44]] of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|original Marvel Transformers comic]].
*Rodimus jokes about having "Chosen One" engraved on his forehead, the title that Rodimus was referred to with in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]].

===Real-life references===
*Rodimus describes Rewind's way of telling him about the Necrobot as they walk through the ship's corridors as "''West Wing''-ing", a reference to the TV show ''{{w|The West Wing}}'' and its famous tracking shots of characters talking with one another as they walk down long hallways.
*The Necrobot's real name, "Censere" (see "Errors", below), is a Latin word meaning to appraise or assess.
*The endless blue sparkflowers that symbolise the sparks of dead Cybertronians bear close resemblance to the poppy fields of Flanders, where hundreds of thousands of soldiers died during World War I, and to the legend that there are as many flowers as soldiers who died there. Poppies are also used to remember fallen, and veteran, soldiers in Britain and several Commonwealth nations, though this comic puts a darker spin on it here. This will take on an extra significance with "The Dying Of The Light" and especially [[The Dying of the Light Part 4: At Close of Day|#53]], which will give an explicit nod at the end to the First World War and the memorial poem "In Flanders Fields". In an extra nod, the gravestones on the special cover resemble the rows of hundreds of thousands of gravestones of Unknown soldiers lying in World War I and II cemeteries.

===Errors===
*Rewind worries about Rodimus poking someone's eye out with a table leg, but the table he's carrying doesn't really ''have'' legs — it's just a huge metal block with little stubs at each corner.
* As the crew disembark the Rodpod it appears that Skids has been coloured as Hound.
*The Necrobot introduces himself as "Censere", but when Nightbeat speaks his name during their farewell, it's incorrectly spelled "Censerre", with an extra "r". This is corrected for the trade paperback.
*When Nightbeat talks about his death, the footnote states he died in ''[[Spotlight: Nightbeat]]'', rather than ''Spotlight: Hardhead''. This is corrected for the trade paperback.
*Dominus Ambus's name is described as being "three from the bottom" on the monolith, but the art shows it being on the bottom line. The trade paperback changes this to "Right column, on the bottom".
*Rewind's second "Oh my god!" is attributed to Nightbeat erroneously.
*In "After the Necrobot explained about the flowers," Necrobot's word balloon is pointing at Riptide.

===Other trivia===
*This issue arrived a teensy bit late, landing in the first week of September rather than the last week of August.
*Megatron correctly deduces that the former holder of the Vos codename (who we now know was also Dominus Ambus) was the Autobot mole within the Decepticon Justice Division. While this does imply he was the appointed Vos as of Megatron's last meeting with the DJD, he was previously seen using the current Vos, originally known as Forestock, in his sniper rifle mode in a flashback panel of ''[[Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things]]''. Additionally, he seems aware of Forestock's new identity in ''[[The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle]]''. This may not necessarily be an error, as Megatron may have plausably been familiar with Forestock as a soldier and a weapon prior to his induction into the DJD.
*Several statues in the Necrobot's garden are not immediately recognizable; though Rodimus mentions two Transformers named [[Raptor (G1)|Raptor]] and [[Scissorkick]], their statues are said to be near [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] and [[Xaaron]], who are not pictured.
*While Xaaron has always been best known by the rank he carried in the Marvel comics, "Emirate", he's never had that rank in the IDW universe. As Rodimus spots a statue of him in the Necrobot's garden, he notes that his full title in this universe is "Advocate Xaaron".
*Ironhide died way back in [[...For All Mankind|''The Transformers'' #1]]; presumably the Necrobot turned his statue back on after learning that he was up and about again thanks to his [[Ironing Out the Details|resurrection]] at the hands of [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]].
*During Nightbeat's conversation with Censere, he reveals that he tracks the lives and deaths of ''Cybertronians'', yet there is a statue for Windblade, who is a [[Caminus (planet)|Camien]]. This suggests that either the Necrobot follows the lives and deaths of the Transformers of the colony worlds as well as Cybertron, or he made an exception for Windblade when she adopted Cybertron as her new home (James Roberts later confirmed the latter theory on Twitter [https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/639375882449195008?lang=en-gb]).
*Full names learned for Transformers in this issue include: [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee of Iacon]], [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] of [[Pescus Hex]], Dominus Ambus of [[Ambustus Minor]] (and thus by extension, Minimus Ambus of Ambustus Minor), Chromedome of Iacon, Hound of [[Lower Monoplex]], and Nightbeat of [[Yuss]]. Additionally, [[Ambulon]] is revealed to have been an [[M.T.O.]]; a speech-bubble obscures his full name, but we see that it partially reads "Ambulon of Operation Split Infin--" something (a crack about "{{w|split infinitive}}s" and Ambulon's status as part of a [[combiner]], if not a reference to his grisly demise). This makes Ambulon the first confirmed example of a Decepticon M.T.O.
*Bumblebee's plinth puts in an appearance, but note that the scene is drawn in such a way that we can't tell if his statue is on or off...

===Soundtrack===
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaoCEdZnyFk Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want]" by {{w|The Smiths}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/635846980078583810 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjeCgsNrvCw Song for the Leftovers]" by {{w|A Camp}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/635847872236396544 James Roberts on Twitter] — "(It's also kind of the theme to the end of Season 2)"</ref>

===Covers (3)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Chromedome and Rewind stare up at an imposing monolith, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' Megatron amid a field of gravestones, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]].
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Megatron wails after Nautica steals his Rodimus action figure, while Swerve looks on; one of a series of super-deformed covers by [[Agnes Garbowska]] that make up the Retailer Incentive covers on IDW's August ''Transformers'' titles.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE44 regcvr.jpg|
File:MTMTE44 subcvr.jpg|
File:MTMTE44 cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''More than Meets the Eye'' #45
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]'' [[The Transgressors|#44]]
*''[[The Transformers: Windblade|Windblade]]'' [[Race Against the Light|#5]]
*''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' [[Stick To Your Guns|#9]]
*''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Amazing Adventures''
*"You Must Shop at These Fine Stores!" - classic-style advert promoting multiple comic shops
*IDW ''Transformers'' comic app
*''Uncle Scrooge'' Vol. 1 TPB (back cover)

===Reprints===
*'''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 8''''' ([[October 21]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631404520 / ISBN 978-1631404528
:*Contains issues #39 to #44.
:*Bonus content includes covers of each issue.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 9|The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 9]]''''' ([[June 19]], [[2019]]) ISBN 1684054842 / ISBN 978-1684054848
:* Contains ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #41 to #44, ''Robots in Disguise'' issues #39 to #42, and ''[[The Transformers: Windblade|Windblade vol.2]]'' issues #1 to #5.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 66: Speak, Memory''''' ([[December 25]], 2019)
:* Hardcover collection of ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #43 to #49.
:* Bonus content includes a one-page article about the [[Scavenger (group)|Scavengers]], a cover gallery and a forward by [[Simon Furman]].

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol8.jpg|'''Volume 8'''; cover art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V9.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Vol. 9'''''; cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v66.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 66: Speak, Memory'''''; cover art by [[Dan Khanna]] (Getaway) and [[Hayato Sakamoto]] (retro)
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.newsarama.com/25708-preview-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-44.html Preview]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Not Knowing}}

Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life

2022-08-22T02:37:41Z

Pebbles27: /* Trivia */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=21
|prev=Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely
|next=The Sound of Breaking Glass
|image=MTMTE21 cvrA.jpg
|title="Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life"
|caption=And the rest... is silence.
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|published in=[[More than Meets the Eye issue 21|''More than Meets the Eye'' #21]]
|date=[[September 25]], [[2013]]
|coverdate=September 2013
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]] with [[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2013)]]
}}
'''The last of the answers comes out and new mysteries are born as the ''Lost Light''ers race to stop Tyrest's killswitch. But the shadow of death looms large over the crew... will everyone make it out alive?'''

==Synopsis==
With only inches to spare, [[Solomus|Tyrest]] is stopped from passing through his portal by [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] leaping onto his back, immune to Tyrest's paralytic thought weapon thanks to [[cybercrosis]]-induced loss of hearing on the signal's frequency. Tailgate hits the switch on Tyrest's staff that deactivates the signal, freeing the other Autobots from its effects, but is then seized by the deranged Chief Justice, who threatens his life if [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] does not let him enter the portal. Tailgate urges Rodimus to open fire since he is soon to die anyway, but the quandry is soon removed from Rodimus's hands: Tyrest is shot in the back by [[Minimus Ambus]]!

[[File:Cyclonus StarSaber ThisCalamitousLife.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.3]]
Outside, [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] responds to [[Star Saber (G1)|Star Saber]]'s call for challengers, but the resultant duel goes poorly for him. When Star Saber asks him what he fights for, however, Cyclonus replies that it's personal, and drives his single horn into Star Saber's eye. The blinded Saber drops Cyclonus, but manages to teleport away before a killing blow can be struck.

With Tyrest dispatched, Ambus—now in a truly diminutive state, not even as tall as Rodimus's waist—explains that the form they have seen him in up until now was another suit of armor, and that he was knocked unconscious when its head was crushed. As everyone tries to deal with the [[universal killswitch|killswitch]] and its victims, [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]] tries to make a run for the portal, only to discover than he cannot pass through it. [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] concludes it operates on [[Aequitas]] technology, barring entry to those who carry some form of guilt, but [[Skids (G1)|Skids]], at peace with himself for the first time after the mystery of his missing memories has been solved, finds he can step through. Pharma is unfazed by the whole affair, and his incessant smugness is the final straw for [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]], who blows his head off in a moment of unchecked anger.

Across the room, [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] wires Rodimus into the killswitch, intending to use the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]-half within him to reinstate the "sparkcode" common to all constructed-cold Transformers that the killswitch is scrambling, thereby undoing its effects... but in the process destroying the Matrix map, and potentially Rodimus himself as well. With this hanging over them, Ambus confesses that he did indeed lure the ''Lost Light'' to Luna 1, having opted to let his Magnus Armor manually return to Tyrest rather than teleport away, thereby allowing them to follow it. Unaware of the Chief Justice's insanity, he assumed Tyrest would discipline Rodimus for the reckless leadership that Ambus had been unable to deal with. Rodimus, however, admits to being responsible for much worse than poor leadership: he had actually conspired with [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] and the others to bring [[Overlord (G1)|Overlord]] on board the vessel, goaded into doing so when Prowl accused him of being afraid. Rodimus vows not to die in an act of self-sacrifice, so that he can make recompense for his misdeeds. The switch is then thrown, the Matrix shatters... and those affected begin to recover!

[[File:MTMTE21 Rodimus crucifixion metaphor.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8]]
Outside, the [[Legislator]]s abruptly cease their battle with the Circle of Light, detecting the activation of a new imperative: the crippled Tyrest has managed to activate Part 1, Section 1 of the [[Tyrest Accord]], recalling the robots to defend his broken form. Unaware of this, [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] begins celebrations, congratulating Cyclonus and asking if their deal to let bygones be bygones still stands. Cyclonus grimly agrees... though not before a brief, silent fantasy of pushing Whirl into the [[smelting pool]] below.

[[File:MTMTE21 tailgate amends law.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5]]
On the other side of the portal, a confusing sight greets Skids: he finds himself standing on the surface of one of five multi-coloured copies of Cybertron itself, the other four floating in the sky above him, as [[Adaptus|a huge iridescent ball of energy]] hovers in front of him. The orb communicates with Skids in a synesthetic medley of sensations that he cannot comprehend, but his struggle for understanding is cut off by a cry for help from Rung from the other side of the portal. Skids sprints back through to the control room, now flooded with Legislators, and dives into battle... though nobody notices the tendrils that follow him out of the portal and drag Pharma's headless body back through. Informed of Tyrest's law-amending computer by Ambus, Tailgate saves the day by scampering to the console and putting his knowledge of the [[Autobot Code]] to use re-writing section 500, remembering at the last moment the pivotal relevance of a [[semicolon]]. His amendment repeals the law—"'''all''' of it"—causing the Legislators to cease functioning, but the victorious Tailgate then collapses.

The next day, back on the ''[[Lost Light]]'', Cyclonus stands vigil over Tailgate, who is only minutes from death. Tailgate sadly confides that he was only two weeks old when he became trapped under the [[Mitteous Plateau]], and that he has wanted to do something important with his life ever since... but having now done so, he finds it all a bit underwhelming. He asks Cyclonus to kill him quickly, to spare him the agony of his final moments, but Cyclonus refuses. A communique from [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] brings Cyclonus rushing, but the call proves to have been premature: Tailgate's spark has contracted beyond the point the cybercrosis cure Ratchet and [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] have divined from Pharma's medi-bay would work. Cyclonus returns to Tailgate's side, and silently impales the little bot on his [[Great Sword]].

===Epilogue===
Some time later, the ''Lost Light'' departs [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]], having gleaned all they could from what remained there. Rodimus and Ambus—now back in his armor and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] once again—talk things out, listing off damage the adventure has caused, including [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]]'s retreat into his laboratory with the [[Point One Percenter]] spark. The pair idly wonder how Luna 1 was able to remain missing for so long... never having seen the set of five gigantic [[Planetary engine|planetary turbines]] on the moon's dark side, surrounding a strange gear-like hieroglyph that was among the images projected by the energy ball Skids encountered...

Later still, Magnus speaks with a repaired, refurbished Cyclonus, and asks for an update... on Tailgate. Cyclonus—now with his missing horn replaced, a gift created for him by Tailgate—explains that he is recovering well, his spark having been re-energized to a point where the cure could be implemented thanks to a transfusion of energy from Cyclonus, through the Great Sword, as suggested by Whirl just as Cyclonus was returning to Tailgate's room. Impressed by Cyclonus's actions, Magnus formally welcomes him on board.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (5)
*[[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]] (6)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (7)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (8)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (9)
*[[Minimus Ambus]] (10)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (11)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] (14)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] (15)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (16)
*[[Getaway]] (17)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (18)
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (19)
*[[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] (20)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (26)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Kaon (DJD)|Kaon]] (22)
*[[Krok (G1)|Krok]] (23)
*[[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] (24)
|c4=
*[[Legislator]]s (1)
*Multiple [[Circle of Light]] members (2)
*[[Solomus|Tyrest]] (3)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (4)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (12)
*[[Star Saber (G1)|Star Saber]] (13)
*[[Dominus Ambus|The Pet]] (21)
*[[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] (25)
}}

==Quotes==

"I've never bought into the notion of '''Primal Infallibility;''' I think that sometimes, God gets it wrong. He lets the best of us get sick and die while '''degenerates''' like you go on forever. But I think Primus is smiling on me today, Star Saber: he's letting me correct one of his mistakes."
:—'''Cyclonus'''

"But we're '''friends'''! You should have '''told''' me! You should've said '''something'''..." 
"I know, but—what would you have done?" 
"I dunno—made you settle your tab?"
:—'''Swerve''' and '''Tailgate''' on cybercrosis

"Righto then, nurse: arrest me. Tell me off and lock me up. I've been a '''bad Autobot'''." 
"You're smiling. Everything you did at '''Delphi'''—all those patients you killed—and you're '''smiling?'''" 
"I know, I know—I'm incorrigible."
:—'''Pharma''' and '''First Aid'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Tailgate's loss of hearing on the higher frequencies was foreshadowed in [[Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|issue #17]], when Ratchet listed it off as one of the effects of his disease.
*When listing off Rodimus's assorted stunts and goofs, Minimus recalls him using Rung as bait during the Sparkeater affair (from [[Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|issue #3]]), the [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Fortress Maximus]] hostage situation ([[Interiors|issue #6]]), Cyclonus's arrest ([[Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism|issue #10]]), the meeting with the [[Galactic Council]] ([[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|2012 annual]]), and a previously-unseen incident involving someone named "Thunder-" something. Given the next-issue preview at the end of this issue shows Rung holding a picture of [[Thunder Clash]], I think we can all see where that's going.
*Tailgate's recognition of the importance of the semi-colon comes from his lectures on the Autobot Code courtesy of Ultra Magnus, which he specifically called out way back in issue #6.
*Cyclonus has been singing to Tailgate as he lies dying; they shared a song together back in [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|issue #13]].
*The panel of Cyclonus running out of Tailgate's room parallels Tailgate's panicked rush out of the medical bay in [[Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|issue #17]].
*Tailgate was seen making something back in [[Under Cold Blue Stars|issue #15]]. Here, we find out it was a new horn to replace Cyclonus's missing one, lost back in the [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|first issue]].
*Seeing how Tailgate was only a fortnight old before he was trapped underground and left offline for about six million years, this might explain why his [[holomatter]] avatar back in [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|issue #13]] was a baby.
*On Tailgate's deathbed, the writing on his arm says "Waste Disposal" instead of "Bomb Disposal." While a previous instance of such in [[Interiors|issue #6]] was an art mistake, this one is much more likely to be intentional, a signifier that he's decided to accept reality before the end. On Twitter, James Roberts mentioned that there was a cut line from an earlier draft about Tailgate wanting an "honest death."
*If Cyclonus ''had'' killed Whirl by pushing him in the smelting pool, then Tailgate would have died too (as Whirl wouldn't have been around to tell Cyclonus how to save Tailgate). You could also make the connection that it was Tailgate's softening influence on Cyclonus that stopped him doing the said killing.
*Swerve mentioned that he ought to be trying to cure cybercrosis in the [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|Annual]], as an example of better things he could be doing with his life. (As a metallurgist, such a cure might actually be in Swerve's field of expertise.)
* After discovering the hot spot back in [[Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|issue #17]], Brainstorm was quick to point out that he was anti-apartheid and supported "equal rights for knock offs!", implying that he was forged. Before the killswitch is turned off in this issue, we see that Brainstorm is also suffering from its effects, meaning that he was in fact constructed cold.

===Transformers references===
*When blasted by Ambus, Tyrest lets loose a "SHEEAAAGH!", a cry-of-pain sound effect that's one of [[Simon Furman]]'s [[Furmanism|trademarks]].
*Similarly, Tailgate notes he doesn't want to "[[Furmanism#DIE SCREAMING|die screaming]]", another Furmanism.

===Real-life references===
*Tailgate calls cybercrosis "The Big C", a common real-life euphemism for cancer.
*Rodimus is literally [[Jesus|put on a cross to use the power of their creator to wipe away the consequences of sin, at the potential cost of his own life]]. He's even wearing a "crown".
*When Brainstorm is shown in his workshop with the harvested Point One Percenter, a model of the {{w|Sulaco (spaceship)|U.S.S. Sulaco}} from the film ''{{w|Aliens (film)|Aliens}}'' is featured prominently amongst the equipment on his desk.
*When Cyclonus has his little imagine spot about pushing Whirl into the smelting pool, Whirl's claw sinking into the molten metal looks like a shout-out to the final moments of the heroic T-800 in ''{{w|Terminator_2:_Judgement_Day|Terminator 2: Judgement Day.}}''

===Trivia===
*The release of this issue was preceded by a three-week "Countdown to 21" Twitter campaign, during which James Roberts tweeted various teasers and factoids about this issue at a (notional) rate of one a day. In addition to the soundtrack tunes, listed below, and various teases about the content of the story, we learned that the issue was originally going to be titled "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out".
*Cyclonus refers to Vector Sigma as "he".
*Tyrest believed his portal would lead to [[Cyberutopia]]. Considering the otherworldly nature of the place Skids visited, he probably thought Tyrest was right... but the truth was something completely different; as revealed in ''[[The Transformers: Lost Light|Lost Light]]'' issue [[Crucible (Part 4): The Return of the King|#22]], the mysterious space was actually ''the [[Adaptus|Grand Architect]]'s mind.''
*As Tyrest, Star Saber, and Pharma represent different pillars of society gone wrong (law, religion, and medicine respectively), they are each symbolically defeated by "uncorrupted" examples of those same pillars: Tyrest is crippled by the law enforcer Ultra Magnus, Star Saber is almost killed by the religious Cyclonus, and Pharma gets his head shot off by the medic First Aid.

===Crew manifest===
*Minimus Ambus is fine!
*Tailgate's cybercrosis is successfully treated!
*Everybody lives, Rose! Just this once—everybody lives!
*13 deaths, 5 new arrivals (plus 20 or so Faders), one boxed, 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 Who]]'' {{w|Doctor Who: Series 4 (soundtrack)|Series 4 soundtrack}}, by {{w|Murray Gold}}
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPJAX7Cu-4k "The Universal"] by {{w|Blur (band)|Blur}}

For this issue in particular:
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pagRd8CTjo "Stronger Hearts Than Mine Lie Empty"] by {{w|Ballboy (band)|Ballboy}}
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGbC730C4BA "Sunshine (Adagio in D Minor)"] by {{w|John Murphy (composer)|John Murphy}}
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu4MC3fLSZ8 "Nobody Loves Us"] by {{w|Morrissey}}
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rfEas8T6tM "Longest Day"] by {{w|Soulsavers}}
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83KR_UBWdPI "No Cars Go"] by {{w|Arcade Fire}}
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDTZZ7LdDR8 "Dreaming of You"] by {{w|The Real Tuesday Weld}}

===Foreign localization===
'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Hikari no Naka ni Tamarite 5: Kono Higekiteki Jinsei'''" (光の中に溜まりて5 この悲劇的人生, "Gather in Light 5: This Calamitous Life")

'''Swedish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Stanna i Ljuset 5 av 5: Detta Olyckliga Liv'''" ("Stay in the Light 5 of 5: This Unhappy Life")

==External links==
*[http://tformers.com/transformers-more-than-meets-the/21345/news.html Preview]

City on Fire

2022-08-20T12:00:15Z

Pebbles27: /* Errors */

{{Comicstory|
|series=rid|issueno=12
|prev=The End of the Beginning of the World
|next=The Verge
|seriesissue2=''[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]'' #4
|caption=
|image=RID12 cvrA.jpg
|title="City on Fire"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[December 12]], [[2012]]
|coverdate=December 2012
|written by=[[John Barber]]
|art by=[[Andrew Griffith]]
|colors by=[[Josh Perez]]
|letters by=[[Shawn Lee]]
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline#2012-2013|Current era (2012)]]
}}
'''Megatron returns—and everything falls apart!'''

==Synopsis==
At [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]]'s request, [[Wheeljack (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Wheeljack]] reports to [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]'s med-center, where [[Fixit (G1)|Fixit]] informs him that [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] is in stable condition following the injuries he sustained in the explosion of the [[Decepticon]] pen. Far more important matters suddenly make themselves known to the scientist, however, when [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] bursts in with alarming news: [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] is back! Wheeljack joins Starscream and the other [[Autobot]]s in massing at the edge of the city to meet the former Decepticon leader as he approaches and shocks all assembled with the declaration that he comes in peace. Unsurprisingly, nobody is buying it, and Bumblebee orders the Autobots to all open fire. A torrent of firepower rips into Megatron, blasting his already-damaged frame down to nearly a skeleton, before a mob of Decepticons fronted by [[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]], remembering Megatron's heroic actions during the [[Chaos (IDW)|Chaos Event]] and already sour over the destruction of their pen, appear and force the Autobots to stop. Bumblebee begrudgingly acquiesces, and arranges for Megatron to be taken into custody and examined by Wheeljack while Needlenose heads up the search for survivors in the pen wreckage.

A little later, after Wheeljack confirms Megatron's identity, and Bumblebee has refused to engage him in dialogue, remembering how [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s "talk" with Megatron went, [[Metalhawk (G1)|Metalhawk]] warns that in the wake of these events, things are going to go wrong. For once, Bumblebee agrees, and as he, Metalhawk and Wheeljack talk, they start to feel as if the major players taken out on both the Autobot and Decepticon sides in recent months point to strategic elimination of their forces by a third party. Metalhawk suspects Starscream, given that he has risen to power beyond his station in the midst of all this, and they attempt to call him in. When he does not answer his comm, Wheeljack heads over to the Decepticon pen, where the Decepticons have discovered there are no survivors in the wreckage and have formed a mob intending to march on High Command. Wheeljack arrives just after Starscream has given a rousing speech in an attempt to quell their desire for violence and re-affirm himself as the choice for a new and better future... which has fallen completely on its face. Disheartened by both this and the news that even Metalhawk, the only being he considered his friend, is starting to distrust him, Starscream leaves in a funk, headed for the detention center to confront Megatron. Before Wheeljack can go after him, a call from Fixit summons him to the med-center, where he learns that Prowl has vanished from his [[CR chamber|regeneration chamber]]. Checking to see if he has returned to his quarters, Wheeljack discovers that Prowl's living space does not show up on the city's surveillance network and goes to investigate.

As the Decepticon mob moves through the city streets, [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] battens down the hatches at [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]], holing up with a few Autobots, NAILs and even a few rational Decepticons with [[Jazz (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jazz]] to protect them. As he boards up the door, some unexpected help suddenly descends from the ceiling ducts: [[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]] is here to make a deal!

Wheeljack, meanwhile, runs afoul of a group of particularly angry Decepticons led by [[Cindersaur (G1)|Cindersaur]], who refutes Wheeljack's claim that they can live in peace. The sickening realization dawns on Wheeljack that ''his presence'' in the middle of the mob, his being in the wrong place at the wrong time, is the spark that is going to trigger a full-scale riot... and trigger it, it does. As tensions spill over and makeshift bombs are thrown, Wheeljack is attacked and downed by Cindersaur and [[Staxx]], but just as they are planning to take Wheeljack to the prison as a gift for [[Turmoil]] while they free Megatron, a powerful energy beam blows Staxx to bits. Prowl is back, armed to the teeth... and he is ''angry''.

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] (1)
*[[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] (2)
*[[Fixit (G1)|Fixit]] (3)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Wheeljack]] (4)
*[[Sizzle (G1)|Sizzle]] (6)
*[[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (8)
*[[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] (9)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sideswipe]] (10)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (11)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (12)
*[[Jetfire (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jetfire]] (13)
*[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (14)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] (16)
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (44)
*[[Jazz (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jazz]] (48)
|c2=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] (5)
*[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] (7)
*[[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (17)
*[[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (18)
*[[Acid Storm (G1)|Acid Storm]] (19)
*[[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] (20)
*[[Cindersaur (G1)|Cindersaur]] (21)
*[[Weirdwolf (G1)|Weirdwolf]] (22)
*[[Battletrap (G1)|Battletrap]] (23)
*[[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (24)
*[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (25)
*[[Squeezeplay (G1)|Squeezeplay]] (26)
*[[Staxx]] (27)
*[[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]] (28)
*[[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (29)
*[[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]] (30)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (31)
*[[Apeface]] (32)
*[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (33)
*[[Octane|Tankor]] (36)
*[[Wingspan]] and [[Pounce]] (37-38)
*"[[Seeker (body-type)|Slaughterhouse]]" (39)
*[[Snarler]] (40)
*[[Octopunch (G1)|Octopunch]] (41)
*[[Submarauder (G1)|Submarauder]] (42)
*[[Stranglehold]] (43)
*[[Squawkbox]] (46)
*[[Skywarp (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Skywarp]] (50)
*[[Turmoil]] (51)
*[[Sinnertwin (G1)|Sinnertwin]] (52)
*[[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] (53)
{{!}}}
|h3=[[NAIL]]s|c3=
*[[Metalhawk (G1)|Metalhawk]] (15)
*[[Scrambling neon Decepticon|Scrambling Neon]] and friend (34-35)
*[[Hipotank]] (37)
*[[Tappet]] (38)
*[[Zetca]] (45)
*[[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] (47)
*[[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]] (49)
}}

==Quotes==
"Everyone, wait a minute. '''Think''' about what you're doing. This has been a '''terrible''' night... we have lost some of our '''best''' and '''brightest''', but we can '''carry on'''... if we don't lose sight of what we '''fought''' for. Our cause was '''just.''' Our war was for '''equality.''' We fought for so long, and we stared '''defeat''' in the '''eye'''... and we didn't '''look away.''' '''Now''' we stand on the precipice of '''victory.''' We've lost '''allies,''' we've lost '''leaders'''... but '''change''' has always been '''our''' way. We must leave behind our '''destructive past.''' '''Violence''' is the old way—'''Megatron''' is the old way. '''I''' am the '''new'''—when I'm '''elected''' leader, this will be a '''victory''' for '''us,''' and for all Cybertronians—because we'll prove we were '''right.''' Not through the superiority of our '''firepower'''... but through the superiority of our '''ideas.''' A validation not for the '''methods''' that long tarnished the '''Decepticon dream''', but for the '''dream''' itself. Victory is at '''hand'''—and it is '''ours''' to '''lose.''' Will you stand with me?" 
"Blow it out your sprocket, '''<nowiki>'Chosen One.'</nowiki>'''"
:—'''Starscream''' gets rather spectacularly shut down by '''Acid Storm'''

"What are '''you''' doing here?" 
"You weren't answering your '''comm.''' Metalhawk suggested you might be... well, up to '''no good.'''" 
"Oh, '''did''' he? It's so '''nice''' to have '''friends'''. I can see why '''you people''' have so '''many.'''"
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Wheeljack'''

"Decepticons—you are all under '''arrest'''. I invite you to '''resist'''."
:—'''Prowl'''

==Notes==
*Onslaught appears in a crowd scene for the first time since "[[International Incident Part 4: "All My Sins Remembered"|International Incident]]", a little over two years prior to the publication of this issue. Like fellow Combaticon [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]], he is sporting his ''[[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron|Fall of Cybertron]]'' design.
*Wheeljack's forcefield-sphere first appeared back in [[Interference Patterns|issue #7]].
*The "talk" between Optimus Prime and Megatron that Bumblebee recalls took place in "[[Chaos Theory Part 1]]".
[[File:Rid12 clones and slaughterhouse.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|We'd like to stress the "liberally" part of "liberally based on".]]
*A [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] appears in the first panel of page 16, with a [[body-type]] that is somewhere between the ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (franchise)|War for Cybertron]]'' design Starscream and co. are using and the classic Seeker look. Colorist Josh Perez opted to render him in a tan and teal color scheme very liberally based on [[:File:Generic palette swap.jpg|the generic Decepticon jet]] who appeared in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original ''The Transformers'' cartoon]] episode, "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4]]", itself based on the color scheme of Onslaught. Fan [[Dave Edwards|Dave "Zobovor" Edwards]] coined the name "Slaughterhouse" for this guy years and years ago, and frankly, we think that's too cool a name ''not'' to make use of here.
*Wheeljack drives past [[Snarler]], [[Octopunch (G1)|Octopunch]], [[Submarauder (G1)|Submarauder]], and [[Stranglehold]], all making their first appearance in the [[2005 IDW continuity|IDW continuity]]. All appear only as normal robots without their [[Pretender]] shells, since that tech is not at all widespread in the IDW universe; it stands out for Snarler, Ock, and Strangles in particular, as in all their past fictional appearances, they're very rarely seen ''without'' their shells!
*Speaking of Stranglehold, he's colored in the bright yellow and teal shades of his toy's [[package art]], rather than the orange and green that the toy actually is.
*Bluestreak is called Bluestreak again for the first time in a while, having gone by the name Silverstreak throughout his appearances in [[The Transformers (IDW)|the 2009-2011 ongoing]] and [[The Transformers: Ironhide|''Ironhide'' miniseries]].
*Staxx seems to take particular umbrage at Wheeljack's capture of Turmoil from issue #7; that'd likely be because he was one of Turmoil's troops, as seen back in [[Drift issue 1|''Drift'' #1]].

===Errors===
*Battletrap's helmet is grey instead of blue throughout the issue.
*Cutthroat's yellow parts are coloured off-white, which makes him look like Wingspan and Pounce's lost triplet.
*When Wheeljack rips the datapad out of Fixit’s hands on page 15, two of the surveillance feeds depict scenes from later in the same issue. The feed above the blank screen where Prowl's quarters should be shows the group shot at Maccadam's on the following page (with "Tankor", Hipotank and Tappet inside the image frame, plus Zetca's left arm and Jazz's legs), which doesn't occur until Wheeljack drives right past Maccadam's, and the feed below the blank screen depicts the Decepticon crowd from page 19 (with Razorclaw and Slugslinger inside the image frame). The frame is conveniently cropped to keep Wheeljack himself, whom the crowd is reacting to in that panel, out of view.

===Real-world references===
*Wheeljack quotes [[Peter Venkman|Bill Murray]] in ''[[Ghostbusters]]'' when he warns Cindersaur: "Back off, man—I'm a scientist."

===Edits===
Similar to the [[pack-in material|pack-in]] versions of various other existing IDW comics, the version of this issue available with the ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]] Combiner Wars'' Deluxe Class [[Drag Strip (G1)#Generations|Dragstrip]] and [[Swindle (G1)#CombinerWars|Swindle]] toys was also subject to some changes:
*On page 3, Bumblebee's speech bubble in panel 3 is changed from "Autobots'''—kill him.'''" to "Autobots—'''blast him.'''", with the speech bubble itself resized accordingly.
*On page 6, Bumblebee's speech bubble in panel 3 is shortened from "What the '''hell''' are you doing, '''Needlenose?'''" to simply "What are you doing, '''Needlenose?'''"
*On page 7, Bumblebee's second speech bubble in panel 4 is shortened from "See how many '''bodies''' we should be looking for." to simply "See how many we should be looking for."
*On page 9, Wheeljack's first caption in panel 1 is changed from "I mean, how many deaths '''is''' Megatron responsible for?" to "I mean, how much destruction '''is''' Megatron responsible for?", with the caption itself resized accordingly.
*On page 10, Metalhawk's second speech bubble in panel 1 is changed from "My people are going to '''die.'''" to "My people are going to '''hurt.'''"
*Two edits on page 11: Needlenose's third speech bubble in panel 2 has "They're '''mad''' and all their leaders are '''dead''' or… well, '''you.'''" changed to "They're '''mad''' and all their leaders are '''gone''' or… well, '''you.'''"; and his first speech bubble in panel 3 has "I don't think they're going to stop ontil they have '''Megatron''' giving them orders to '''kill Autobots''' again." shortened to "I don't think they're going to stop ontil they have '''Megatron''' giving them orders again.", resulting in a slightly empty lower portion of the speech bubble.
*On page 14, Starscream's first speech bubble in panel 4, which consists of the expletive "Damn.", is omitted entirely.
*On page 19, Cindersaur's second speech bubble in panel 4 has "You '''stand by''' when Prowl '''kills us''' one by one" changed to "You '''stand by''' when Prowl '''silences us''' one by one".

===Foreign localization===
'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Moyuru Machi'''" (燃ゆる街, "Town Ablaze")

===Covers (5)===
*'''Cover A:''' Megatron under fire, by [[Andrew Griffith]] and [[Josh Perez]].
*'''Cover B:''' The Autobots doing the aforementioned firing, by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Joana Lafuente]].
*'''Cover RI:''' Arcee on a street corner, in homage to the cover of the {{w|David Bowie}} album, ''{{w|The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars}}'', by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]. Part of a theme with ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' [[Before & After|#12]], which also features an incentive cover based on a famous album.
*'''Hasbro exclusive cover A:''' Artwork of [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] from the ''[[Transformers Legends (mobile game)|Transformers Legends]]'' mobile game, exclusively available with ''Generations'' Deluxe Dragstrip. Rebranded as [[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]] #4.
*'''Hasbro exclusive cover B:''' Artwork of [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]], exclusively available with ''Generations'' Deluxe Swindle. Rebranded as ''[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]'' #4.

<gallery>
File:RID12 cvrA.jpg|Battle Damaged version.
File:RID12 cvrB.jpg|For those about to rock - FIRE!
File:RID12 cvrRI.jpg|Arcee and the Spiders from Mars.
File:CW Drag Strip cvr.jpg|Drag Strip toy cover
File:CW Swindle cvr.jpg|Swindle toy cover
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' [[Before & After|#12]]
*''[[The Transformers: Spotlight]]'': [[Omega's Conundrum|Orion Pax]]
*''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One]]'' [[Natural Selection, Part One|#86]]
*IDW ''[[My Little Pony|My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic]]'' comic
*CGC
*''The Adventures of Augusta Wind''
*''Popeye'' (back cover)

===Reprints===
*'''''The Transformers: Robots in Disguise Volume 4''''' ([[September 18]], [[2013]]) ISBN 1613777655 / ISBN 978-1613777657
:*Contains issues #12 to #16.
:*Bonus material: cover gallery.

*'''''Transformers: Robots in Disguise'' Box Set''' ([[December 2]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631404261 / ISBN 978-1631404269
:*Contains ''Robots in Disguise'' Volumes 1 to 5.
:*Bonus content UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 4|The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 4]]''''' ([[October 12]], [[2016]]) ISBN 1631407155 / ISBN 978-1631407154
:* Includes issues #12 to #18, as well as the ''[[The Transformers: Monstrosity|Monstrosity]]'' series, and ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #14 to #16.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 56: City On Fire''''' ([[October 2]], [[2019]])
:*Collects ''Robots in Disguise'' issues #8–14 and the [[Primus: All Good Things|2012 Annual]].
:*Bonus material includes a cover gallery, and a new introduction by [[Simon Furman]].

<gallery>
File:RID vol4.jpg|'''''Robots in Disguise ''Volume 4'''''; cover art by [[Andrew Griffith]] and [[Josh Perez]]
File:RID-Box-Set.jpg|'''''Robots in Disguise Box Set'' slipcase'''; cover art by ???
File:IDWCollectionP2V4.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 4'''''; cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]] and [[Tom B. Long]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v56.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 56: City On Fire'''''; cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] and Andrew Griffith
</gallery>

[[Category:Combiner Wars issues]]

Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc

2022-08-17T04:23:32Z

Pebbles27: /* Continuity notes */

{{Comicstory|
|series=mtmte|issueno=9
|prev=Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?
|next=Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism
|caption=
|image=MTMTE9_cvrA.jpg
|title="Shadowplay (A Totally Epic Story Based On Real Events That Definitely Happened) Part 1: Post Hoc"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[September 26]], [[2012]]
|coverdate=September 2012
|story by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Chris Mowry]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline#2012-2013|Current era (2012)]]
}}
'''A group of Autobots are gathered by Rewind to tell a story of corruption, conspiracy, and murder from long ago on Cybertron.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Nightbeat quark maccadams post hoc.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.8|A wretched hive of scum and villainy.]]
''On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], before the war, [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] and [[Quark]] meet outside [[Maccadam's Old Oil House|Maccadam's New Oil House]] to discuss the increase of violence in the face of the [[Clampdown (event)|Clampdown]] and the rise of the [[Decepticon]] movement. Nightbeat is sympathetic to the worker class cause, while the science-class Quark fears for the future... but their argument ends when a drop of [[energon]] lands in Quark's drink, and the pair look up to discover the dead body of [[Sherma|Senator Sherma]], suspended from the Interstate Bridge!''

In the present day, aboard the ''[[Lost Light]]'', [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] arrives late to a meeting called by [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] in [[Swerve's]]: the archivist has called him, [[Drift (G1)|Drift]], [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]], [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] and [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] together (with [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] and [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] as an audience) to help him tell a story that will aid in [[Rung (G1)|Rung]]'s mental recuperation. The true-life tale is set shortly after the instigation of the Clampdown, beginning with the assassination of Senator Sherma, and reveals how, thanks to one Autobot, all those present played a role in a greater story than they ever realized...

Chromedome begins the story by recalling how he and his partner in [[Iaconian Mechaforensic Division|Mechaforensics]], [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]], were called in to investigate Sherma's murder, easily deducing the Decepticons as the culprits from the presence of their [[insignia]], graffitied on Sherma's back. Skids interrupts to ask for some clarification on Prowl, who he doesn't remember; Swerve has a few choice words to describe him, and Rewind tries to emulate his fondness for flipping tables over, but can't quite manage it. Drift, receiving some messages from [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]], tries to hurry the story along, so Rewind turns narration over to him, asking about his time as a homeless [[circuit booster]] addict in the [[Dead End (place)|Dead End]]. Drift recounts how he was attacked by [[Sonic (IDW)|Sonic]] and [[Boom]] and was saved by decorated police officer [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]] and brought to a medical drop-in center run by [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]]. Ratchet takes issue with Drift's embellishment of the facts, as he jokingly claims the atheist medic was praising [[Adaptus]] and [[Primus]] as he worked, but what he begrudgingly is unable to deny is that he told Drift that he was special. Drift tells of how he lied to Ratchet about going to a local [[Relinquishment Clinic]], prompting Tailgate to ask exactly what the clinics were; Rewind plays an infomercial for one, which explains that they were used in the days of [[functionism]] to give 'bots the chance to experience life in bodies with other [[alternate mode]]s via Sparkswap technology.

[[File:PostHoc-Slamdance.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8|"But enough about electing the new Space Pope..."]]
Never a fan of the clinics, Ratchet picks up the story, remembering the news broadcast that played immediately after he had repaired Drift: the broadcast that announced the death of [[Nominus Prime]], with its claim that he was the victim of a rust infection that Ratchet, having operated on Nominus following the attempt on his life, knew was a lie. His part in the story complete, Drift leaves to respond to an increasingly irate Rodimus, while Ratchet goes on to summarize how he accompanied Orion to a rendezvous with his [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|senator friend]]. The senator confirmed Orion's suspicions that Nominus was killed by the Senate after the [[Matrix of Leadership]] within his chest was revealed to be a fake, and revealed his fears that the Senate's head of security, [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel]], was planning something involving the Decepticons. For the sake of drama, Rewind has Ratchet stop there, turning things back over Chromedome to have him carry on with the story of Sherma's murder. Having discovered through autopsy that the senator was shot to death, Chromedome describes how he and Prowl traced fragments of [[cerulean glass]] found in Sherma's boots and treads back to the privileged community of [[Translucentica Heights]] and headed there on [[Skydart]]s. They discussed Prowl's upbringing in the strict town of [[Petrex]] and the existence or not of the [[Institute]] along the way, but upon their arrival, a corpse came flying out a high-rise window and landed in front of them, sporting another graffitied Decepticon symbol...

Meanwhile, down in the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s oil reservoir, Drift arrives to answer Rodimus's call. The reason is anything but pleasant... dredged out of the [[oil]] by [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]], they have discovered the remains of [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], and Rodimus blames [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] for his death!
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (4)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (6)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (7)
*[[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (8)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (9)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (11)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (12)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (13)
*''[[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]] (20)
*[[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] (24)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (25)
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (26)
{{!}}}
|c4=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*''[[Scrounge (G1)|Scrounge]]'' (1)
*''[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]]'' (2)
*''[[Quark]]'' (3)
*''[[Sherma]]'' (5)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (10)
*''[[Nominus Prime]]'' (14)
*''[[Proteus]]'' (15)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*''[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]]'' (16)
*''[[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]]'' (17)
*''[[Boom]]'' (18)
*''[[Sonic (IDW)|Sonic]]'' (19)
*''[[Slamdance (G1)|Slamdance]]'' (21)
*''[[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Conspicuously-unnamed senator]]'' (22)
*''[[Momus]]'' (23)
{{!}}}
}}

==Quotes==
'''Ratchet''': By the vaulted heights of— 
'''Drift''': You had him '''hidden behind the bar?!''' 
'''Chromedome''': So '''embarrassing'''. 
'''Skids''': —not '''seriously''' telling me that he's been here the '''whole time?!''' 
'''Whirl''': Cool.
:—Reactions to Rewind pulling Rung's catatonic body out from behind the bar in Swerve's.

"The Decepticons are behind this." 
"What makes you say that? Does the '''upside down corpse''' reference the Decepticons' plans to '''upend''' societal hierarchies? Is the position of the body such that at sunset, the shadow will point to the '''[[Functionist Council|Functionalist council]] building''' where the first Decepticon activists were '''arrested?'''" 
"There's all that, '''obviously.''' But for me the real '''clincher''' is the '''massive Decepticon symbol''' graffitied on his back."
:—'''Chromedome''' and '''Prowl'''

"It's '''Prowl!''' 'Prowl the Pragmatist!' You know—'''Prowl!'''" 
"'''Oh!''' Turns into a Predabot? Posted at Delphi? Likes a hug?" 
"'''No!''' Prowl with the '''head spikes''' and the '''cruel mouth''' and the--'''cross''' all the time! '''Epically, pre-emptively, existentially''' cross. And cold! Supercilious and cold! Imagine '''Ultra Magnus''' without the '''warmth''' and '''people skills.'''"
:—'''Swerve''' and '''Skids''', tossing [[Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|foreshadowing]] riiiight over our heads.

"How many times has he flipped a table?" 
"Prowl? Ooh, four times." 
"Y'know, when we left his office for the ''Lost Light'' I '''swear''' I heard-" 
"You're '''right!''' Five times."
:—'''Rewind''' and '''Chromedome'''

"So I'm laying on a circuit slab in Ratchet's Dead End workshop—and he says: 'Primus guide me, Primus protect me, I beseech you, oh might Primus, please—' '''MMMPH!'''" 
"'''Unreliable narrator alert!''' Do '''not''', I repeat '''do not''' listen to what he says!"
:—'''Drift''' and '''Ratchet'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*This story is essentially a direct sequel to Roberts's "[[Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory]]" [[Chaos Theory Part 2|two-parter]] from the [[The Transformers (IDW)|ongoing series]], published a little over a year before this story began. It follows up on events established by that story, like the injury of Nominus Prime by a suicide bomber, the establishment of the [[Clampdown (event)|Clampdown]], Orion Pax's reconstruction with a new chamber in his chest, and his dalliance with an enigmatic senator who conspicuously continues to go unnamed. The window of Maccadam's is even still cracked from where Rung collided with it in the first few pages of "[[Chaos Theory Part 1]]".
*Furthermore, the issue's opening line, "What am I looking at again? Not more violence?" is a call back and deliberate contrast to Chaos Theory's opening line, "What am I looking at again? Not more poetry?"
*This issue gives us our second mention of the [[Primal Vanguard]], the unit to which Tailgate was supposedly attached, as he mentioned back in [[Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|issue #2]].
*Several references are made to "[[Proteus's Promise]]", an unspecified political promise made by [[Proteus|Senator Proteus]] from "Chaos Theory". This was the title of the public information film shown by Rewind in [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|issue #8]].
*A billboard reading "Everyone's Shape Serves A Purpose" can be spotted outside Maccadam's; this slogan was repeated by Rewind in [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|issue #1]].
*Ratchet comments that he spray-paints his hands red; and well he should, as they're replacements gained from [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]] in [[How Ratchet Got His Hands Back|issue #5]] which are actually blue. Some paint even transitions onto Drift's face when Ratchet tries to gag him during the storytelling.
*Red Alert's name is also present on Rewind's hotspot diagram, yet unlike the others, he is not present at the storytelling meeting. With the last page's cliffhanger, the reason for that becomes graphically clear.
*[[Sherma Bridge]] has cropped up in several places in Roberts's stories, starting with "Chaos Theory Part 1". Here we learn it was formerly the "Interstate Bridge", and was renamed (formally or colloquially, it's not specified) after the dead senator hung from it.
*Skids confuses Prowl with [[Dent]], who we met back in [[Life After the Big Bang|issue #4]], where it was explained that he ''used'' to be named "Prowl" as well. His suggested animalistic alternate mode is confirmed (as a "Predabot"), and humorously, the reason he was shambling towards [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] in that issue despite being infected with [[Red Rust]] is because he "likes a hug".
* Skids’ memories of Prowl are amongst those he had lost prior to the series start, accounting for why he appears to be the only Autobot unaware of Prowl and his reputation.
*Drift's time as a homeless drifter (snort, giggle) was previously shown in [[Drift issue 2|issue #2 of his self-titled mini-series]]. (A deleted scene would've had him bump into [[Gasket]] on the way out of the clinic<ref>[http://theunderbase.libsyn.com/the-underbase-deconstructs-shadowplay "The Underbase Podcast Deconstructs Shadowplay"], 26:17 - 26:37</ref>)
*Ratchet was antagonistic to Drift earlier in the series, which appeared to be a clash of science VS religion: now we see that Ratchet saved Drift and gave him advice, which he'd ignore to become a notorious blood-soaked killer.
*Sonic and Boom previously appeared in issues #4 and #5, where they were likewise enjoying the upper hand on would-be victims before getting quickly and thoroughly trounced by a new arrival.
*Mentioned several times but perennially silent and off-screen is an allegedly chatty, teasing cohort of Orion's named "[[Roller (IDW)|Roller]]". James Roberts confirmed in an interview that this is not Orion's [[Roller (G1)|future component]] but someone for whom that component would be named in honor.<ref>[http://theunderbase.libsyn.com/the-underbase-deconstructs-shadowplay "The Underbase Podcast Deconstructs Shadowplay"], 39:43 - 41:54</ref>
*We first got a glimpse of a Relinquishment Clinic in [[Interiors|issue #6]], where one was implied to have some link to Chromedome and Rewind's shared history.
*A few of the names on the memorial for the Ark-1 are obscured by Ratchet's hand. While "Cyclonus" can be easily figured out from what we can see of it, the final name, starting with "Hype...", raises more questions. Could this be a reference to the obscure Transformer seen only in [[Skyquake (G1)|Skyquake's]] Megavisor, [[Hyperdrive (Turbomaster)|Hyperdrive]]?
*A name beginning with "Tail" is also on the memorial. [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|Issue #13]] reveals that this is ''not'' short for Tailgate.
*Pax's unnamed senator friend has had his color scheme tweaked a little in this issue compared to "Chaos Theory", with some more blue added to his chest.
*[[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]'s involvement in Nominus Prime's unfortunate fate was implied in a montage of images in [[Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|issue #3]], and made explicit here.
*The Senator's comment that he wanted to tear Sentinel Prime's head off is [[Titans Return (comic)|somewhat prescient]]!
*The revelation that the Matrix within Nominus Prime was a fake ties in to Optimus Prime's discovery of the real talisman in the [[Undergrid]] in ''[[The Transformers: Autocracy|Autocracy]]''. When and how the Matrix went missing is eventually revealed in [[Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|issue #19]].
*"Chaos Theory" and ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin]]'' are bridged with the revelation that Megatron was shipped off-planet after the earlier story to [[Messatine]], previously established to be home to [[Nucleon (substance)|Nucleon]] mines and future home of both the [[Delphi]] medical facility and the [[Decepticon Justice Division]]. This presumably placed [[Mining Outpost C-12]] from ''Megatron Origin'' on that planet too, but the later "[[Births, Deaths, and Interventions]]" has C-12 as a separate place.
*In a big retcon, the Decepticons exist ''before'' the events of ''Megatron Origin'', inspired by the early datalogs published by Megatron.
*The mysterious "Institute" gets another mention this issue, one of several that have been peppered throughout Roberts's works.
* Chromedome’s name appears in quotation marks on the Sociotemporal Hotspot diagram, alluding to this not being his original name, before it is actually addressed within the story itself.

===Transformers references===
[[File:MTMTE 9 infomercial toy instructions.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|Not actually a toy commercial.]]
*Roberts previously used "Quark" as the name for an Autobot in his ''Eugenesis'' fan-novel, but that's about as far as similarities between the two characters go. This Quark's head is based on [[Perceptor (Animated)|''Animated'' Perceptor]], as they both turn into microscopes.
*Speaking of ''Animated'', the luckless Scrounge makes a cameo in the first panel with an appearance based predominantly on his [[Scrounge (Animated)|''Animated'' counterpart]], carrying a bundle of [[Conductor|energy conductors]] (though probably [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1|not enough to last a quartex]]). Also visible is [[Rattrap (BW)|''Beast Machines'' Rattrap]].
*The model ship Rung is building on page 2 is the ''Lost Light'' itself. [[Elegant Chaos Part 2: Stet|Issue #37]] reveals the full circumstances of the scene of Rung in the past.
*A jug on the bar table has the same unique shape as the chemical flasks seen in the [[Lithone scientist|Lithone scientist's]] workshop at the beginning of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
*Chromedome is sporting a body based on his original Generation 1 toy in the flashback sequences. He notes that he was not ''called'' "Chromedome" at this point in his life, but for clarity's sake Rewind just has him use his current name while telling the story. His old name would be revealed in [[Remembrance Day|issue #14]], and was ''not'' some crazy secret conspiracy, thank you very much internet forums.
*The images used in the Relinquishment Clinic's infomercial are redrawn from the original Generation 1 toy [[instructions]] for the [[Zetar (G1)|Drill Powerdasher]] and [[Blurr (G1)/toys|Blurr]] (with the specific coloring specifically coming from his 1987 [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] version's instructions).

===Real-world references===
*{{w|Post-hoc analysis|"Post hoc" analysis}}, from the Latin meaning "after this", is the examination of data in search of patterns after the fact. As Rewind explains, this is the purpose of his story: to reveal to the gathered characters' how their exploits all crossed over with one another without any of them knowing.
*On page 1, a small robot resembles a mouse droid from ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]''.
*The Primal Vanguard shooting took place somewhere called "Apophenia". The word means the experience of seeing connections in meaningless or random data, a fitting title given what Rewind and this story are doing.

===Other trivia===
*"Shadowplay" was in Roberts's original plans but came about after "one of the rare" requests by Hasbro; they were concerned Optimus was going to be absent from the comics for over a year and asked for him to make a few appearances. As he did not want the ''Lost Light'' running into "Orion Pax-slash-Optimus-Prime", Roberts used it as an excuse to go back to Cybertron's past and tell a "''Lost Light'' [characters] origin story".<ref>[http://theunderbase.libsyn.com/the-underbase-deconstructs-shadowplay "The Underbase Podcast Deconstructs Shadowplay"], 04:20 - 04:59</ref>
*"Shadowplay" runs through three related genres in each of its three parts: this one is the police procedural. The opening scene was the obligatory ''CSI''-style pre-credits sequence where two unimportant characters find the body.<ref>[http://theunderbase.libsyn.com/the-underbase-deconstructs-shadowplay "The Underbase Podcast Deconstructs Shadowplay"], 07:43 - 08:01</ref>
*Chromedome's [[:File:MTMTE9 early Chromedome.jpg|flashback body]] that first appears in this issue [[Chromedome (G1)#Generations|would go on to inspire]] his 2017 ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' toy.

===Crew Manifest===
*Red Alert's headless body is recovered from the [[oil]] reservoir.
*6 deaths, 5 new arrivals (plus 20 or so Faders) since the launch.

===Errors===
*In the last panel of the first page, Nightbeat is missing a vent on the side of his helmet (his right, our left).
*In the panel where Nightbeat and Quark first see Sherma's hanging, dead body, Sherma's hands are drawn backwards.
*On page 7, Prowl refers to "the Functionalist council"; the council's ad on the same page, and page 2 before it, says "Functionist" and that's what Quark called them on the second page. This was corrected for the TPB.
*On page 16, panel 3, "understanding" is misspelled as "undersanding", this was corrected for the TPB.
*On the same page, on a subsequent panel, "someone" is misspelled as "somone", this was corrected for the TPB.
*Mechaforensics recovers glass from Senator Sherma's traction treads, but his body is not depicted as actually having any treads. We can't even argue that they're folded on the inside when he's in robot mode because we don't see any at the autopsy either.
*Ratchet mentions spray painting his hands on page 4, and later on page 13, panel 6, the wet paint is shown as residue on Drift's face following Ratchet holding his mouth shut in the previous panel. However, when it cuts back to Drift on page 14, the wet paint is nowhere to be seen without mention.

===Soundtrack===
For the three-part "Shadowplay" story:
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtckSsQ_Au0 "Comforting Sounds"] by {{w|Mew (band)|Mew}}

For this issue:
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYY3GzENE58 "Our Hearts Burn Like Damp Matches"] by {{w|The Leisure Society}}
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI-YR4LBzL0 Theme from ''Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind]'' by {{w|Jon Brion}}

The title is {{w|Shadowplay (song)|also a song}}, by the 1980s English band {{w|Joy Division}}.

===Foreign localization===
'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Shadowplay Jijitsu ni Motodzuita Saikō no Monogatari Part 1: Jigo'''" (シャドウプレイ事実に基づいた最高の物語パート1: 事後, "Shadowplay, an Excellent, Based on Reality Tale, Part 1: After the Fact")

'''Swedish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Skuggspel, En Helt Episk Berättelse Baserad på Verkliga Händelser som Verkligen Hände Del 1: Post Hoc'''" ("Shadowplay, A Truly Epic Story Based on Real Events That Really Happened Part 1: Post Hoc")

===Covers (3)===
*'''Cover A:''' Many key characters in fractured panels that together make up a close-up of the Decepticon insignia, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Cover B:''' Orion Pax in a shadowed alley, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Cover RI:''' Optimus Prime, by [[Marcelo Matere]] and [[Priscilla Tramontano]]

<gallery>
File:MTMTE9_cvrA.jpg|That broken glass looks very familiar!
File:MTMTE9_cvrB.jpg|Just what are you playing at, Prime?
File:MTMTE9_cvrRI.jpg|You just messed with the wrong Prime!
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Night and the City|#9]]
*''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One|Regeneration One]]'' [[Loose Ends, Part 3|#83]]
*Joe Kubert's ''Tarzan of the Apes'' Artist's Edition
*[[Primus: All Good Things|''Robots in Disguise'' Annual 2012]]
*''[[My Little Pony|My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic]]'' comic

===Reprints===
*'''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 3''''' ([[March 27]], [[2013]]) ISBN 161377592X / ISBN 978-1613775929 
:*Contains Annual 2012 and issues #9 to #11.
:*Bonus material includes "Meet the Crew", variant covers, and designs for the [[Guiding Hand]].

*'''''Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Box Set''''' ([[December 2]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631404741 / ISBN 978-1631404740
:*Contains ''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye'' Volumes 1 to 5.
:*Bonus content UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.

*'''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 3]]''''' ([[February 24]], [[2016]]) ISBN 1631405403 / ISBN 978-1631405402
:*Contains the Annual 2012 and issues #9 to 13, as well as ''Robots in Disguise'' Annual 2012 and #10–11, "[[The Hunting Party (IDW)|Spotlight: Thundercracker]]", "[[The Question|Spotlight: Bumblebee]]", "[[Spotlight: Megatron]]" and "[[Signal to Noise]]".
:*Bonus content UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 55: Shadowplay''''' ([[January 9]], [[2019]])
:* Hardcover collection of ''More than Meets the Eye'' #7 to #13, plus the 2012 Annual.
:* Bonus content the second of a new three-part interview with Roberts, early pages of scripts, and design sketches from Alex Milne.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol3.jpg|'''Volume 3'''; cover art by Alex Milne and [[Joana Lafuente]]
File:MTMTE boxset.jpg|'''Box Set'''; cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V3.jpg|'''''IDW Collection Phase 2 Vol. 3'''''; cover art by Marcelo Matere and [[Tom B. Long]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v55.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 55: Shadowplay'''''; cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] (Whirl) and Alex Milne (retro)
</gallery>

==References==

{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=13737 Preview]

Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc

2022-08-17T04:07:08Z

Pebbles27: /* Continuity notes */

{{Comicstory|
|series=mtmte|issueno=9
|prev=Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?
|next=Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism
|caption=
|image=MTMTE9_cvrA.jpg
|title="Shadowplay (A Totally Epic Story Based On Real Events That Definitely Happened) Part 1: Post Hoc"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[September 26]], [[2012]]
|coverdate=September 2012
|story by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Chris Mowry]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline#2012-2013|Current era (2012)]]
}}
'''A group of Autobots are gathered by Rewind to tell a story of corruption, conspiracy, and murder from long ago on Cybertron.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Nightbeat quark maccadams post hoc.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.8|A wretched hive of scum and villainy.]]
''On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], before the war, [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] and [[Quark]] meet outside [[Maccadam's Old Oil House|Maccadam's New Oil House]] to discuss the increase of violence in the face of the [[Clampdown (event)|Clampdown]] and the rise of the [[Decepticon]] movement. Nightbeat is sympathetic to the worker class cause, while the science-class Quark fears for the future... but their argument ends when a drop of [[energon]] lands in Quark's drink, and the pair look up to discover the dead body of [[Sherma|Senator Sherma]], suspended from the Interstate Bridge!''

In the present day, aboard the ''[[Lost Light]]'', [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] arrives late to a meeting called by [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] in [[Swerve's]]: the archivist has called him, [[Drift (G1)|Drift]], [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]], [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] and [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] together (with [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] and [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] as an audience) to help him tell a story that will aid in [[Rung (G1)|Rung]]'s mental recuperation. The true-life tale is set shortly after the instigation of the Clampdown, beginning with the assassination of Senator Sherma, and reveals how, thanks to one Autobot, all those present played a role in a greater story than they ever realized...

Chromedome begins the story by recalling how he and his partner in [[Iaconian Mechaforensic Division|Mechaforensics]], [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]], were called in to investigate Sherma's murder, easily deducing the Decepticons as the culprits from the presence of their [[insignia]], graffitied on Sherma's back. Skids interrupts to ask for some clarification on Prowl, who he doesn't remember; Swerve has a few choice words to describe him, and Rewind tries to emulate his fondness for flipping tables over, but can't quite manage it. Drift, receiving some messages from [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]], tries to hurry the story along, so Rewind turns narration over to him, asking about his time as a homeless [[circuit booster]] addict in the [[Dead End (place)|Dead End]]. Drift recounts how he was attacked by [[Sonic (IDW)|Sonic]] and [[Boom]] and was saved by decorated police officer [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]] and brought to a medical drop-in center run by [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]]. Ratchet takes issue with Drift's embellishment of the facts, as he jokingly claims the atheist medic was praising [[Adaptus]] and [[Primus]] as he worked, but what he begrudgingly is unable to deny is that he told Drift that he was special. Drift tells of how he lied to Ratchet about going to a local [[Relinquishment Clinic]], prompting Tailgate to ask exactly what the clinics were; Rewind plays an infomercial for one, which explains that they were used in the days of [[functionism]] to give 'bots the chance to experience life in bodies with other [[alternate mode]]s via Sparkswap technology.

[[File:PostHoc-Slamdance.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8|"But enough about electing the new Space Pope..."]]
Never a fan of the clinics, Ratchet picks up the story, remembering the news broadcast that played immediately after he had repaired Drift: the broadcast that announced the death of [[Nominus Prime]], with its claim that he was the victim of a rust infection that Ratchet, having operated on Nominus following the attempt on his life, knew was a lie. His part in the story complete, Drift leaves to respond to an increasingly irate Rodimus, while Ratchet goes on to summarize how he accompanied Orion to a rendezvous with his [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|senator friend]]. The senator confirmed Orion's suspicions that Nominus was killed by the Senate after the [[Matrix of Leadership]] within his chest was revealed to be a fake, and revealed his fears that the Senate's head of security, [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel]], was planning something involving the Decepticons. For the sake of drama, Rewind has Ratchet stop there, turning things back over Chromedome to have him carry on with the story of Sherma's murder. Having discovered through autopsy that the senator was shot to death, Chromedome describes how he and Prowl traced fragments of [[cerulean glass]] found in Sherma's boots and treads back to the privileged community of [[Translucentica Heights]] and headed there on [[Skydart]]s. They discussed Prowl's upbringing in the strict town of [[Petrex]] and the existence or not of the [[Institute]] along the way, but upon their arrival, a corpse came flying out a high-rise window and landed in front of them, sporting another graffitied Decepticon symbol...

Meanwhile, down in the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s oil reservoir, Drift arrives to answer Rodimus's call. The reason is anything but pleasant... dredged out of the [[oil]] by [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]], they have discovered the remains of [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], and Rodimus blames [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] for his death!
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (4)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (6)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (7)
*[[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (8)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (9)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (11)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (12)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (13)
*''[[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]] (20)
*[[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] (24)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (25)
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (26)
{{!}}}
|c4=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*''[[Scrounge (G1)|Scrounge]]'' (1)
*''[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]]'' (2)
*''[[Quark]]'' (3)
*''[[Sherma]]'' (5)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (10)
*''[[Nominus Prime]]'' (14)
*''[[Proteus]]'' (15)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*''[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]]'' (16)
*''[[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]]'' (17)
*''[[Boom]]'' (18)
*''[[Sonic (IDW)|Sonic]]'' (19)
*''[[Slamdance (G1)|Slamdance]]'' (21)
*''[[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Conspicuously-unnamed senator]]'' (22)
*''[[Momus]]'' (23)
{{!}}}
}}

==Quotes==
'''Ratchet''': By the vaulted heights of— 
'''Drift''': You had him '''hidden behind the bar?!''' 
'''Chromedome''': So '''embarrassing'''. 
'''Skids''': —not '''seriously''' telling me that he's been here the '''whole time?!''' 
'''Whirl''': Cool.
:—Reactions to Rewind pulling Rung's catatonic body out from behind the bar in Swerve's.

"The Decepticons are behind this." 
"What makes you say that? Does the '''upside down corpse''' reference the Decepticons' plans to '''upend''' societal hierarchies? Is the position of the body such that at sunset, the shadow will point to the '''[[Functionist Council|Functionalist council]] building''' where the first Decepticon activists were '''arrested?'''" 
"There's all that, '''obviously.''' But for me the real '''clincher''' is the '''massive Decepticon symbol''' graffitied on his back."
:—'''Chromedome''' and '''Prowl'''

"It's '''Prowl!''' 'Prowl the Pragmatist!' You know—'''Prowl!'''" 
"'''Oh!''' Turns into a Predabot? Posted at Delphi? Likes a hug?" 
"'''No!''' Prowl with the '''head spikes''' and the '''cruel mouth''' and the--'''cross''' all the time! '''Epically, pre-emptively, existentially''' cross. And cold! Supercilious and cold! Imagine '''Ultra Magnus''' without the '''warmth''' and '''people skills.'''"
:—'''Swerve''' and '''Skids''', tossing [[Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|foreshadowing]] riiiight over our heads.

"How many times has he flipped a table?" 
"Prowl? Ooh, four times." 
"Y'know, when we left his office for the ''Lost Light'' I '''swear''' I heard-" 
"You're '''right!''' Five times."
:—'''Rewind''' and '''Chromedome'''

"So I'm laying on a circuit slab in Ratchet's Dead End workshop—and he says: 'Primus guide me, Primus protect me, I beseech you, oh might Primus, please—' '''MMMPH!'''" 
"'''Unreliable narrator alert!''' Do '''not''', I repeat '''do not''' listen to what he says!"
:—'''Drift''' and '''Ratchet'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*This story is essentially a direct sequel to Roberts's "[[Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory]]" [[Chaos Theory Part 2|two-parter]] from the [[The Transformers (IDW)|ongoing series]], published a little over a year before this story began. It follows up on events established by that story, like the injury of Nominus Prime by a suicide bomber, the establishment of the [[Clampdown (event)|Clampdown]], Orion Pax's reconstruction with a new chamber in his chest, and his dalliance with an enigmatic senator who conspicuously continues to go unnamed. The window of Maccadam's is even still cracked from where Rung collided with it in the first few pages of "[[Chaos Theory Part 1]]".
*Furthermore, the issue's opening line, "What am I looking at again? Not more violence?" is a call back and deliberate contrast to Chaos Theory's opening line, "What am I looking at again? Not more poetry?"
*This issue gives us our second mention of the [[Primal Vanguard]], the unit to which Tailgate was supposedly attached, as he mentioned back in [[Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|issue #2]].
*Several references are made to "[[Proteus's Promise]]", an unspecified political promise made by [[Proteus|Senator Proteus]] from "Chaos Theory". This was the title of the public information film shown by Rewind in [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|issue #8]].
*A billboard reading "Everyone's Shape Serves A Purpose" can be spotted outside Maccadam's; this slogan was repeated by Rewind in [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|issue #1]].
*Ratchet comments that he spray-paints his hands red; and well he should, as they're replacements gained from [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]] in [[How Ratchet Got His Hands Back|issue #5]] which are actually blue. Some paint even transitions onto Drift's face when Ratchet tries to gag him during the storytelling.
*Red Alert's name is also present on Rewind's hotspot diagram, yet unlike the others, he is not present at the storytelling meeting. With the last page's cliffhanger, the reason for that becomes graphically clear.
*[[Sherma Bridge]] has cropped up in several places in Roberts's stories, starting with "Chaos Theory Part 1". Here we learn it was formerly the "Interstate Bridge", and was renamed (formally or colloquially, it's not specified) after the dead senator hung from it.
*Skids confuses Prowl with [[Dent]], who we met back in [[Life After the Big Bang|issue #4]], where it was explained that he ''used'' to be named "Prowl" as well. His suggested animalistic alternate mode is confirmed (as a "Predabot"), and humorously, the reason he was shambling towards [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] in that issue despite being infected with [[Red Rust]] is because he "likes a hug".
*Drift's time as a homeless drifter (snort, giggle) was previously shown in [[Drift issue 2|issue #2 of his self-titled mini-series]]. (A deleted scene would've had him bump into [[Gasket]] on the way out of the clinic<ref>[http://theunderbase.libsyn.com/the-underbase-deconstructs-shadowplay "The Underbase Podcast Deconstructs Shadowplay"], 26:17 - 26:37</ref>)
*Ratchet was antagonistic to Drift earlier in the series, which appeared to be a clash of science VS religion: now we see that Ratchet saved Drift and gave him advice, which he'd ignore to become a notorious blood-soaked killer.
*Sonic and Boom previously appeared in issues #4 and #5, where they were likewise enjoying the upper hand on would-be victims before getting quickly and thoroughly trounced by a new arrival.
*Mentioned several times but perennially silent and off-screen is an allegedly chatty, teasing cohort of Orion's named "[[Roller (IDW)|Roller]]". James Roberts confirmed in an interview that this is not Orion's [[Roller (G1)|future component]] but someone for whom that component would be named in honor.<ref>[http://theunderbase.libsyn.com/the-underbase-deconstructs-shadowplay "The Underbase Podcast Deconstructs Shadowplay"], 39:43 - 41:54</ref>
*We first got a glimpse of a Relinquishment Clinic in [[Interiors|issue #6]], where one was implied to have some link to Chromedome and Rewind's shared history.
*A few of the names on the memorial for the Ark-1 are obscured by Ratchet's hand. While "Cyclonus" can be easily figured out from what we can see of it, the final name, starting with "Hype...", raises more questions. Could this be a reference to the obscure Transformer seen only in [[Skyquake (G1)|Skyquake's]] Megavisor, [[Hyperdrive (Turbomaster)|Hyperdrive]]?
*A name beginning with "Tail" is also on the memorial. [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|Issue #13]] reveals that this is ''not'' short for Tailgate.
*Pax's unnamed senator friend has had his color scheme tweaked a little in this issue compared to "Chaos Theory", with some more blue added to his chest.
*[[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]'s involvement in Nominus Prime's unfortunate fate was implied in a montage of images in [[Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|issue #3]], and made explicit here.
*The Senator's comment that he wanted to tear Sentinel Prime's head off is [[Titans Return (comic)|somewhat prescient]]!
*The revelation that the Matrix within Nominus Prime was a fake ties in to Optimus Prime's discovery of the real talisman in the [[Undergrid]] in ''[[The Transformers: Autocracy|Autocracy]]''. When and how the Matrix went missing is eventually revealed in [[Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|issue #19]].
*"Chaos Theory" and ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin]]'' are bridged with the revelation that Megatron was shipped off-planet after the earlier story to [[Messatine]], previously established to be home to [[Nucleon (substance)|Nucleon]] mines and future home of both the [[Delphi]] medical facility and the [[Decepticon Justice Division]]. This presumably placed [[Mining Outpost C-12]] from ''Megatron Origin'' on that planet too, but the later "[[Births, Deaths, and Interventions]]" has C-12 as a separate place.
*In a big retcon, the Decepticons exist ''before'' the events of ''Megatron Origin'', inspired by the early datalogs published by Megatron.
*The mysterious "Institute" gets another mention this issue, one of several that have been peppered throughout Roberts's works.
* Chromedome’s name appears in quotation marks on the Sociotemporal Hotspot diagram, alluding to this not being his original name, before it is actually addressed within the story itself.

===Transformers references===
[[File:MTMTE 9 infomercial toy instructions.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|Not actually a toy commercial.]]
*Roberts previously used "Quark" as the name for an Autobot in his ''Eugenesis'' fan-novel, but that's about as far as similarities between the two characters go. This Quark's head is based on [[Perceptor (Animated)|''Animated'' Perceptor]], as they both turn into microscopes.
*Speaking of ''Animated'', the luckless Scrounge makes a cameo in the first panel with an appearance based predominantly on his [[Scrounge (Animated)|''Animated'' counterpart]], carrying a bundle of [[Conductor|energy conductors]] (though probably [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1|not enough to last a quartex]]). Also visible is [[Rattrap (BW)|''Beast Machines'' Rattrap]].
*The model ship Rung is building on page 2 is the ''Lost Light'' itself. [[Elegant Chaos Part 2: Stet|Issue #37]] reveals the full circumstances of the scene of Rung in the past.
*A jug on the bar table has the same unique shape as the chemical flasks seen in the [[Lithone scientist|Lithone scientist's]] workshop at the beginning of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
*Chromedome is sporting a body based on his original Generation 1 toy in the flashback sequences. He notes that he was not ''called'' "Chromedome" at this point in his life, but for clarity's sake Rewind just has him use his current name while telling the story. His old name would be revealed in [[Remembrance Day|issue #14]], and was ''not'' some crazy secret conspiracy, thank you very much internet forums.
*The images used in the Relinquishment Clinic's infomercial are redrawn from the original Generation 1 toy [[instructions]] for the [[Zetar (G1)|Drill Powerdasher]] and [[Blurr (G1)/toys|Blurr]] (with the specific coloring specifically coming from his 1987 [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] version's instructions).

===Real-world references===
*{{w|Post-hoc analysis|"Post hoc" analysis}}, from the Latin meaning "after this", is the examination of data in search of patterns after the fact. As Rewind explains, this is the purpose of his story: to reveal to the gathered characters' how their exploits all crossed over with one another without any of them knowing.
*On page 1, a small robot resembles a mouse droid from ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]''.
*The Primal Vanguard shooting took place somewhere called "Apophenia". The word means the experience of seeing connections in meaningless or random data, a fitting title given what Rewind and this story are doing.

===Other trivia===
*"Shadowplay" was in Roberts's original plans but came about after "one of the rare" requests by Hasbro; they were concerned Optimus was going to be absent from the comics for over a year and asked for him to make a few appearances. As he did not want the ''Lost Light'' running into "Orion Pax-slash-Optimus-Prime", Roberts used it as an excuse to go back to Cybertron's past and tell a "''Lost Light'' [characters] origin story".<ref>[http://theunderbase.libsyn.com/the-underbase-deconstructs-shadowplay "The Underbase Podcast Deconstructs Shadowplay"], 04:20 - 04:59</ref>
*"Shadowplay" runs through three related genres in each of its three parts: this one is the police procedural. The opening scene was the obligatory ''CSI''-style pre-credits sequence where two unimportant characters find the body.<ref>[http://theunderbase.libsyn.com/the-underbase-deconstructs-shadowplay "The Underbase Podcast Deconstructs Shadowplay"], 07:43 - 08:01</ref>
*Chromedome's [[:File:MTMTE9 early Chromedome.jpg|flashback body]] that first appears in this issue [[Chromedome (G1)#Generations|would go on to inspire]] his 2017 ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' toy.

===Crew Manifest===
*Red Alert's headless body is recovered from the [[oil]] reservoir.
*6 deaths, 5 new arrivals (plus 20 or so Faders) since the launch.

===Errors===
*In the last panel of the first page, Nightbeat is missing a vent on the side of his helmet (his right, our left).
*In the panel where Nightbeat and Quark first see Sherma's hanging, dead body, Sherma's hands are drawn backwards.
*On page 7, Prowl refers to "the Functionalist council"; the council's ad on the same page, and page 2 before it, says "Functionist" and that's what Quark called them on the second page. This was corrected for the TPB.
*On page 16, panel 3, "understanding" is misspelled as "undersanding", this was corrected for the TPB.
*On the same page, on a subsequent panel, "someone" is misspelled as "somone", this was corrected for the TPB.
*Mechaforensics recovers glass from Senator Sherma's traction treads, but his body is not depicted as actually having any treads. We can't even argue that they're folded on the inside when he's in robot mode because we don't see any at the autopsy either.
*Ratchet mentions spray painting his hands on page 4, and later on page 13, panel 6, the wet paint is shown as residue on Drift's face following Ratchet holding his mouth shut in the previous panel. However, when it cuts back to Drift on page 14, the wet paint is nowhere to be seen without mention.

===Soundtrack===
For the three-part "Shadowplay" story:
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtckSsQ_Au0 "Comforting Sounds"] by {{w|Mew (band)|Mew}}

For this issue:
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYY3GzENE58 "Our Hearts Burn Like Damp Matches"] by {{w|The Leisure Society}}
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI-YR4LBzL0 Theme from ''Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind]'' by {{w|Jon Brion}}

The title is {{w|Shadowplay (song)|also a song}}, by the 1980s English band {{w|Joy Division}}.

===Foreign localization===
'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Shadowplay Jijitsu ni Motodzuita Saikō no Monogatari Part 1: Jigo'''" (シャドウプレイ事実に基づいた最高の物語パート1: 事後, "Shadowplay, an Excellent, Based on Reality Tale, Part 1: After the Fact")

'''Swedish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Skuggspel, En Helt Episk Berättelse Baserad på Verkliga Händelser som Verkligen Hände Del 1: Post Hoc'''" ("Shadowplay, A Truly Epic Story Based on Real Events That Really Happened Part 1: Post Hoc")

===Covers (3)===
*'''Cover A:''' Many key characters in fractured panels that together make up a close-up of the Decepticon insignia, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Cover B:''' Orion Pax in a shadowed alley, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Cover RI:''' Optimus Prime, by [[Marcelo Matere]] and [[Priscilla Tramontano]]

<gallery>
File:MTMTE9_cvrA.jpg|That broken glass looks very familiar!
File:MTMTE9_cvrB.jpg|Just what are you playing at, Prime?
File:MTMTE9_cvrRI.jpg|You just messed with the wrong Prime!
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Night and the City|#9]]
*''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One|Regeneration One]]'' [[Loose Ends, Part 3|#83]]
*Joe Kubert's ''Tarzan of the Apes'' Artist's Edition
*[[Primus: All Good Things|''Robots in Disguise'' Annual 2012]]
*''[[My Little Pony|My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic]]'' comic

===Reprints===
*'''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 3''''' ([[March 27]], [[2013]]) ISBN 161377592X / ISBN 978-1613775929 
:*Contains Annual 2012 and issues #9 to #11.
:*Bonus material includes "Meet the Crew", variant covers, and designs for the [[Guiding Hand]].

*'''''Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Box Set''''' ([[December 2]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631404741 / ISBN 978-1631404740
:*Contains ''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye'' Volumes 1 to 5.
:*Bonus content UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.

*'''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 3]]''''' ([[February 24]], [[2016]]) ISBN 1631405403 / ISBN 978-1631405402
:*Contains the Annual 2012 and issues #9 to 13, as well as ''Robots in Disguise'' Annual 2012 and #10–11, "[[The Hunting Party (IDW)|Spotlight: Thundercracker]]", "[[The Question|Spotlight: Bumblebee]]", "[[Spotlight: Megatron]]" and "[[Signal to Noise]]".
:*Bonus content UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 55: Shadowplay''''' ([[January 9]], [[2019]])
:* Hardcover collection of ''More than Meets the Eye'' #7 to #13, plus the 2012 Annual.
:* Bonus content the second of a new three-part interview with Roberts, early pages of scripts, and design sketches from Alex Milne.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol3.jpg|'''Volume 3'''; cover art by Alex Milne and [[Joana Lafuente]]
File:MTMTE boxset.jpg|'''Box Set'''; cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V3.jpg|'''''IDW Collection Phase 2 Vol. 3'''''; cover art by Marcelo Matere and [[Tom B. Long]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v55.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 55: Shadowplay'''''; cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] (Whirl) and Alex Milne (retro)
</gallery>

==References==

{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=13737 Preview]

Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc

2022-08-17T04:06:30Z

Pebbles27: /* Continuity notes */

{{Comicstory|
|series=mtmte|issueno=9
|prev=Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?
|next=Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism
|caption=
|image=MTMTE9_cvrA.jpg
|title="Shadowplay (A Totally Epic Story Based On Real Events That Definitely Happened) Part 1: Post Hoc"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[September 26]], [[2012]]
|coverdate=September 2012
|story by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Chris Mowry]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline#2012-2013|Current era (2012)]]
}}
'''A group of Autobots are gathered by Rewind to tell a story of corruption, conspiracy, and murder from long ago on Cybertron.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Nightbeat quark maccadams post hoc.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.8|A wretched hive of scum and villainy.]]
''On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], before the war, [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] and [[Quark]] meet outside [[Maccadam's Old Oil House|Maccadam's New Oil House]] to discuss the increase of violence in the face of the [[Clampdown (event)|Clampdown]] and the rise of the [[Decepticon]] movement. Nightbeat is sympathetic to the worker class cause, while the science-class Quark fears for the future... but their argument ends when a drop of [[energon]] lands in Quark's drink, and the pair look up to discover the dead body of [[Sherma|Senator Sherma]], suspended from the Interstate Bridge!''

In the present day, aboard the ''[[Lost Light]]'', [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] arrives late to a meeting called by [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] in [[Swerve's]]: the archivist has called him, [[Drift (G1)|Drift]], [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]], [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] and [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] together (with [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] and [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] as an audience) to help him tell a story that will aid in [[Rung (G1)|Rung]]'s mental recuperation. The true-life tale is set shortly after the instigation of the Clampdown, beginning with the assassination of Senator Sherma, and reveals how, thanks to one Autobot, all those present played a role in a greater story than they ever realized...

Chromedome begins the story by recalling how he and his partner in [[Iaconian Mechaforensic Division|Mechaforensics]], [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]], were called in to investigate Sherma's murder, easily deducing the Decepticons as the culprits from the presence of their [[insignia]], graffitied on Sherma's back. Skids interrupts to ask for some clarification on Prowl, who he doesn't remember; Swerve has a few choice words to describe him, and Rewind tries to emulate his fondness for flipping tables over, but can't quite manage it. Drift, receiving some messages from [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]], tries to hurry the story along, so Rewind turns narration over to him, asking about his time as a homeless [[circuit booster]] addict in the [[Dead End (place)|Dead End]]. Drift recounts how he was attacked by [[Sonic (IDW)|Sonic]] and [[Boom]] and was saved by decorated police officer [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]] and brought to a medical drop-in center run by [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]]. Ratchet takes issue with Drift's embellishment of the facts, as he jokingly claims the atheist medic was praising [[Adaptus]] and [[Primus]] as he worked, but what he begrudgingly is unable to deny is that he told Drift that he was special. Drift tells of how he lied to Ratchet about going to a local [[Relinquishment Clinic]], prompting Tailgate to ask exactly what the clinics were; Rewind plays an infomercial for one, which explains that they were used in the days of [[functionism]] to give 'bots the chance to experience life in bodies with other [[alternate mode]]s via Sparkswap technology.

[[File:PostHoc-Slamdance.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8|"But enough about electing the new Space Pope..."]]
Never a fan of the clinics, Ratchet picks up the story, remembering the news broadcast that played immediately after he had repaired Drift: the broadcast that announced the death of [[Nominus Prime]], with its claim that he was the victim of a rust infection that Ratchet, having operated on Nominus following the attempt on his life, knew was a lie. His part in the story complete, Drift leaves to respond to an increasingly irate Rodimus, while Ratchet goes on to summarize how he accompanied Orion to a rendezvous with his [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|senator friend]]. The senator confirmed Orion's suspicions that Nominus was killed by the Senate after the [[Matrix of Leadership]] within his chest was revealed to be a fake, and revealed his fears that the Senate's head of security, [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel]], was planning something involving the Decepticons. For the sake of drama, Rewind has Ratchet stop there, turning things back over Chromedome to have him carry on with the story of Sherma's murder. Having discovered through autopsy that the senator was shot to death, Chromedome describes how he and Prowl traced fragments of [[cerulean glass]] found in Sherma's boots and treads back to the privileged community of [[Translucentica Heights]] and headed there on [[Skydart]]s. They discussed Prowl's upbringing in the strict town of [[Petrex]] and the existence or not of the [[Institute]] along the way, but upon their arrival, a corpse came flying out a high-rise window and landed in front of them, sporting another graffitied Decepticon symbol...

Meanwhile, down in the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s oil reservoir, Drift arrives to answer Rodimus's call. The reason is anything but pleasant... dredged out of the [[oil]] by [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]], they have discovered the remains of [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], and Rodimus blames [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] for his death!
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (4)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (6)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (7)
*[[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (8)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (9)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (11)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (12)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (13)
*''[[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]] (20)
*[[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] (24)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (25)
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (26)
{{!}}}
|c4=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*''[[Scrounge (G1)|Scrounge]]'' (1)
*''[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]]'' (2)
*''[[Quark]]'' (3)
*''[[Sherma]]'' (5)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (10)
*''[[Nominus Prime]]'' (14)
*''[[Proteus]]'' (15)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*''[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]]'' (16)
*''[[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]]'' (17)
*''[[Boom]]'' (18)
*''[[Sonic (IDW)|Sonic]]'' (19)
*''[[Slamdance (G1)|Slamdance]]'' (21)
*''[[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Conspicuously-unnamed senator]]'' (22)
*''[[Momus]]'' (23)
{{!}}}
}}

==Quotes==
'''Ratchet''': By the vaulted heights of— 
'''Drift''': You had him '''hidden behind the bar?!''' 
'''Chromedome''': So '''embarrassing'''. 
'''Skids''': —not '''seriously''' telling me that he's been here the '''whole time?!''' 
'''Whirl''': Cool.
:—Reactions to Rewind pulling Rung's catatonic body out from behind the bar in Swerve's.

"The Decepticons are behind this." 
"What makes you say that? Does the '''upside down corpse''' reference the Decepticons' plans to '''upend''' societal hierarchies? Is the position of the body such that at sunset, the shadow will point to the '''[[Functionist Council|Functionalist council]] building''' where the first Decepticon activists were '''arrested?'''" 
"There's all that, '''obviously.''' But for me the real '''clincher''' is the '''massive Decepticon symbol''' graffitied on his back."
:—'''Chromedome''' and '''Prowl'''

"It's '''Prowl!''' 'Prowl the Pragmatist!' You know—'''Prowl!'''" 
"'''Oh!''' Turns into a Predabot? Posted at Delphi? Likes a hug?" 
"'''No!''' Prowl with the '''head spikes''' and the '''cruel mouth''' and the--'''cross''' all the time! '''Epically, pre-emptively, existentially''' cross. And cold! Supercilious and cold! Imagine '''Ultra Magnus''' without the '''warmth''' and '''people skills.'''"
:—'''Swerve''' and '''Skids''', tossing [[Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|foreshadowing]] riiiight over our heads.

"How many times has he flipped a table?" 
"Prowl? Ooh, four times." 
"Y'know, when we left his office for the ''Lost Light'' I '''swear''' I heard-" 
"You're '''right!''' Five times."
:—'''Rewind''' and '''Chromedome'''

"So I'm laying on a circuit slab in Ratchet's Dead End workshop—and he says: 'Primus guide me, Primus protect me, I beseech you, oh might Primus, please—' '''MMMPH!'''" 
"'''Unreliable narrator alert!''' Do '''not''', I repeat '''do not''' listen to what he says!"
:—'''Drift''' and '''Ratchet'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*This story is essentially a direct sequel to Roberts's "[[Chaos Theory Part 1|Chaos Theory]]" [[Chaos Theory Part 2|two-parter]] from the [[The Transformers (IDW)|ongoing series]], published a little over a year before this story began. It follows up on events established by that story, like the injury of Nominus Prime by a suicide bomber, the establishment of the [[Clampdown (event)|Clampdown]], Orion Pax's reconstruction with a new chamber in his chest, and his dalliance with an enigmatic senator who conspicuously continues to go unnamed. The window of Maccadam's is even still cracked from where Rung collided with it in the first few pages of "[[Chaos Theory Part 1]]".
*Furthermore, the issue's opening line, "What am I looking at again? Not more violence?" is a call back and deliberate contrast to Chaos Theory's opening line, "What am I looking at again? Not more poetry?"
*This issue gives us our second mention of the [[Primal Vanguard]], the unit to which Tailgate was supposedly attached, as he mentioned back in [[Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|issue #2]].
*Several references are made to "[[Proteus's Promise]]", an unspecified political promise made by [[Proteus|Senator Proteus]] from "Chaos Theory". This was the title of the public information film shown by Rewind in [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|issue #8]].
*A billboard reading "Everyone's Shape Serves A Purpose" can be spotted outside Maccadam's; this slogan was repeated by Rewind in [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|issue #1]].
*Ratchet comments that he spray-paints his hands red; and well he should, as they're replacements gained from [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]] in [[How Ratchet Got His Hands Back|issue #5]] which are actually blue. Some paint even transitions onto Drift's face when Ratchet tries to gag him during the storytelling.
*Red Alert's name is also present on Rewind's hotspot diagram, yet unlike the others, he is not present at the storytelling meeting. With the last page's cliffhanger, the reason for that becomes graphically clear.
*[[Sherma Bridge]] has cropped up in several places in Roberts's stories, starting with "Chaos Theory Part 1". Here we learn it was formerly the "Interstate Bridge", and was renamed (formally or colloquially, it's not specified) after the dead senator hung from it.
*Skids confuses Prowl with [[Dent]], who we met back in [[Life After the Big Bang|issue #4]], where it was explained that he ''used'' to be named "Prowl" as well. His suggested animalistic alternate mode is confirmed (as a "Predabot"), and humorously, the reason he was shambling towards [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] in that issue despite being infected with [[Red Rust]] is because he "likes a hug".
*Drift's time as a homeless drifter (snort, giggle) was previously shown in [[Drift issue 2|issue #2 of his self-titled mini-series]]. (A deleted scene would've had him bump into [[Gasket]] on the way out of the clinic<ref>[http://theunderbase.libsyn.com/the-underbase-deconstructs-shadowplay "The Underbase Podcast Deconstructs Shadowplay"], 26:17 - 26:37</ref>)
*Ratchet was antagonistic to Drift earlier in the series, which appeared to be a clash of science VS religion: now we see that Ratchet saved Drift and gave him advice, which he'd ignore to become a notorious blood-soaked killer.
*Sonic and Boom previously appeared in issues #4 and #5, where they were likewise enjoying the upper hand on would-be victims before getting quickly and thoroughly trounced by a new arrival.
*Mentioned several times but perennially silent and off-screen is an allegedly chatty, teasing cohort of Orion's named "[[Roller (IDW)|Roller]]". James Roberts confirmed in an interview that this is not Orion's [[Roller (G1)|future component]] but someone for whom that component would be named in honor.<ref>[http://theunderbase.libsyn.com/the-underbase-deconstructs-shadowplay "The Underbase Podcast Deconstructs Shadowplay"], 39:43 - 41:54</ref>
*We first got a glimpse of a Relinquishment Clinic in [[Interiors|issue #6]], where one was implied to have some link to Chromedome and Rewind's shared history.
*A few of the names on the memorial for the Ark-1 are obscured by Ratchet's hand. While "Cyclonus" can be easily figured out from what we can see of it, the final name, starting with "Hype...", raises more questions. Could this be a reference to the obscure Transformer seen only in [[Skyquake (G1)|Skyquake's]] Megavisor, [[Hyperdrive (Turbomaster)|Hyperdrive]]?
*A name beginning with "Tail" is also on the memorial. [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|Issue #13]] reveals that this is ''not'' short for Tailgate.
*Pax's unnamed senator friend has had his color scheme tweaked a little in this issue compared to "Chaos Theory", with some more blue added to his chest.
*[[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]'s involvement in Nominus Prime's unfortunate fate was implied in a montage of images in [[Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|issue #3]], and made explicit here.
*The Senator's comment that he wanted to tear Sentinel Prime's head off is [[Titans Return (comic)|somewhat prescient]]!
*The revelation that the Matrix within Nominus Prime was a fake ties in to Optimus Prime's discovery of the real talisman in the [[Undergrid]] in ''[[The Transformers: Autocracy|Autocracy]]''. When and how the Matrix went missing is eventually revealed in [[Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|issue #19]].
*"Chaos Theory" and ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin]]'' are bridged with the revelation that Megatron was shipped off-planet after the earlier story to [[Messatine]], previously established to be home to [[Nucleon (substance)|Nucleon]] mines and future home of both the [[Delphi]] medical facility and the [[Decepticon Justice Division]]. This presumably placed [[Mining Outpost C-12]] from ''Megatron Origin'' on that planet too, but the later "[[Births, Deaths, and Interventions]]" has C-12 as a separate place.
*In a big retcon, the Decepticons exist ''before'' the events of ''Megatron Origin'', inspired by the early datalogs published by Megatron.
*The mysterious "Institute" gets another mention this issue, one of several that have been peppered throughout Roberts's works.
* Chromedome’s name appears in quotation marks on Rewind’s Sociotemporal Hotspot diagram, alluding to this not being Chromedome’s original name, before it is actually addressed within the story itself.

===Transformers references===
[[File:MTMTE 9 infomercial toy instructions.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|Not actually a toy commercial.]]
*Roberts previously used "Quark" as the name for an Autobot in his ''Eugenesis'' fan-novel, but that's about as far as similarities between the two characters go. This Quark's head is based on [[Perceptor (Animated)|''Animated'' Perceptor]], as they both turn into microscopes.
*Speaking of ''Animated'', the luckless Scrounge makes a cameo in the first panel with an appearance based predominantly on his [[Scrounge (Animated)|''Animated'' counterpart]], carrying a bundle of [[Conductor|energy conductors]] (though probably [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1|not enough to last a quartex]]). Also visible is [[Rattrap (BW)|''Beast Machines'' Rattrap]].
*The model ship Rung is building on page 2 is the ''Lost Light'' itself. [[Elegant Chaos Part 2: Stet|Issue #37]] reveals the full circumstances of the scene of Rung in the past.
*A jug on the bar table has the same unique shape as the chemical flasks seen in the [[Lithone scientist|Lithone scientist's]] workshop at the beginning of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
*Chromedome is sporting a body based on his original Generation 1 toy in the flashback sequences. He notes that he was not ''called'' "Chromedome" at this point in his life, but for clarity's sake Rewind just has him use his current name while telling the story. His old name would be revealed in [[Remembrance Day|issue #14]], and was ''not'' some crazy secret conspiracy, thank you very much internet forums.
*The images used in the Relinquishment Clinic's infomercial are redrawn from the original Generation 1 toy [[instructions]] for the [[Zetar (G1)|Drill Powerdasher]] and [[Blurr (G1)/toys|Blurr]] (with the specific coloring specifically coming from his 1987 [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] version's instructions).

===Real-world references===
*{{w|Post-hoc analysis|"Post hoc" analysis}}, from the Latin meaning "after this", is the examination of data in search of patterns after the fact. As Rewind explains, this is the purpose of his story: to reveal to the gathered characters' how their exploits all crossed over with one another without any of them knowing.
*On page 1, a small robot resembles a mouse droid from ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]''.
*The Primal Vanguard shooting took place somewhere called "Apophenia". The word means the experience of seeing connections in meaningless or random data, a fitting title given what Rewind and this story are doing.

===Other trivia===
*"Shadowplay" was in Roberts's original plans but came about after "one of the rare" requests by Hasbro; they were concerned Optimus was going to be absent from the comics for over a year and asked for him to make a few appearances. As he did not want the ''Lost Light'' running into "Orion Pax-slash-Optimus-Prime", Roberts used it as an excuse to go back to Cybertron's past and tell a "''Lost Light'' [characters] origin story".<ref>[http://theunderbase.libsyn.com/the-underbase-deconstructs-shadowplay "The Underbase Podcast Deconstructs Shadowplay"], 04:20 - 04:59</ref>
*"Shadowplay" runs through three related genres in each of its three parts: this one is the police procedural. The opening scene was the obligatory ''CSI''-style pre-credits sequence where two unimportant characters find the body.<ref>[http://theunderbase.libsyn.com/the-underbase-deconstructs-shadowplay "The Underbase Podcast Deconstructs Shadowplay"], 07:43 - 08:01</ref>
*Chromedome's [[:File:MTMTE9 early Chromedome.jpg|flashback body]] that first appears in this issue [[Chromedome (G1)#Generations|would go on to inspire]] his 2017 ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' toy.

===Crew Manifest===
*Red Alert's headless body is recovered from the [[oil]] reservoir.
*6 deaths, 5 new arrivals (plus 20 or so Faders) since the launch.

===Errors===
*In the last panel of the first page, Nightbeat is missing a vent on the side of his helmet (his right, our left).
*In the panel where Nightbeat and Quark first see Sherma's hanging, dead body, Sherma's hands are drawn backwards.
*On page 7, Prowl refers to "the Functionalist council"; the council's ad on the same page, and page 2 before it, says "Functionist" and that's what Quark called them on the second page. This was corrected for the TPB.
*On page 16, panel 3, "understanding" is misspelled as "undersanding", this was corrected for the TPB.
*On the same page, on a subsequent panel, "someone" is misspelled as "somone", this was corrected for the TPB.
*Mechaforensics recovers glass from Senator Sherma's traction treads, but his body is not depicted as actually having any treads. We can't even argue that they're folded on the inside when he's in robot mode because we don't see any at the autopsy either.
*Ratchet mentions spray painting his hands on page 4, and later on page 13, panel 6, the wet paint is shown as residue on Drift's face following Ratchet holding his mouth shut in the previous panel. However, when it cuts back to Drift on page 14, the wet paint is nowhere to be seen without mention.

===Soundtrack===
For the three-part "Shadowplay" story:
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtckSsQ_Au0 "Comforting Sounds"] by {{w|Mew (band)|Mew}}

For this issue:
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYY3GzENE58 "Our Hearts Burn Like Damp Matches"] by {{w|The Leisure Society}}
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI-YR4LBzL0 Theme from ''Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind]'' by {{w|Jon Brion}}

The title is {{w|Shadowplay (song)|also a song}}, by the 1980s English band {{w|Joy Division}}.

===Foreign localization===
'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Shadowplay Jijitsu ni Motodzuita Saikō no Monogatari Part 1: Jigo'''" (シャドウプレイ事実に基づいた最高の物語パート1: 事後, "Shadowplay, an Excellent, Based on Reality Tale, Part 1: After the Fact")

'''Swedish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Skuggspel, En Helt Episk Berättelse Baserad på Verkliga Händelser som Verkligen Hände Del 1: Post Hoc'''" ("Shadowplay, A Truly Epic Story Based on Real Events That Really Happened Part 1: Post Hoc")

===Covers (3)===
*'''Cover A:''' Many key characters in fractured panels that together make up a close-up of the Decepticon insignia, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Cover B:''' Orion Pax in a shadowed alley, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Cover RI:''' Optimus Prime, by [[Marcelo Matere]] and [[Priscilla Tramontano]]

<gallery>
File:MTMTE9_cvrA.jpg|That broken glass looks very familiar!
File:MTMTE9_cvrB.jpg|Just what are you playing at, Prime?
File:MTMTE9_cvrRI.jpg|You just messed with the wrong Prime!
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Night and the City|#9]]
*''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One|Regeneration One]]'' [[Loose Ends, Part 3|#83]]
*Joe Kubert's ''Tarzan of the Apes'' Artist's Edition
*[[Primus: All Good Things|''Robots in Disguise'' Annual 2012]]
*''[[My Little Pony|My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic]]'' comic

===Reprints===
*'''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 3''''' ([[March 27]], [[2013]]) ISBN 161377592X / ISBN 978-1613775929 
:*Contains Annual 2012 and issues #9 to #11.
:*Bonus material includes "Meet the Crew", variant covers, and designs for the [[Guiding Hand]].

*'''''Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Box Set''''' ([[December 2]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631404741 / ISBN 978-1631404740
:*Contains ''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye'' Volumes 1 to 5.
:*Bonus content UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.

*'''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 3]]''''' ([[February 24]], [[2016]]) ISBN 1631405403 / ISBN 978-1631405402
:*Contains the Annual 2012 and issues #9 to 13, as well as ''Robots in Disguise'' Annual 2012 and #10–11, "[[The Hunting Party (IDW)|Spotlight: Thundercracker]]", "[[The Question|Spotlight: Bumblebee]]", "[[Spotlight: Megatron]]" and "[[Signal to Noise]]".
:*Bonus content UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 55: Shadowplay''''' ([[January 9]], [[2019]])
:* Hardcover collection of ''More than Meets the Eye'' #7 to #13, plus the 2012 Annual.
:* Bonus content the second of a new three-part interview with Roberts, early pages of scripts, and design sketches from Alex Milne.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol3.jpg|'''Volume 3'''; cover art by Alex Milne and [[Joana Lafuente]]
File:MTMTE boxset.jpg|'''Box Set'''; cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V3.jpg|'''''IDW Collection Phase 2 Vol. 3'''''; cover art by Marcelo Matere and [[Tom B. Long]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v55.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 55: Shadowplay'''''; cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] (Whirl) and Alex Milne (retro)
</gallery>

==References==

{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=13737 Preview]

The Autonomy Lesson (issue)

2022-08-13T01:04:15Z

Pebbles27: /* Real world references */

{{disambig2|the comic issue|the mobile game event|The Autonomy Lesson (Legends)}}
{{Comicstory|
|series=rid|issueno=1
|prev=Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It
|next=The World & Everything in It
|next2=
|caption="So why's this series called 'Robots in Disguise' when we're never actually in--" "OH LOOK AT THAT INTERESTING THING OVER THERE!!"
|image=RID1_cvrE.jpg
|title="The Autonomy Lesson"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[January 25]], [[2012]] (1st printing) [[February 22]], 2012 (2nd printing)
|coverdate=January 2012
|story by=[[John Barber]]
|art by=[[Andrew Griffith]]
|colors by=[[Josh Perez]]
|letters by=[[Shawn Lee]]
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2012)]]
}}
'''With more and more NAILs arriving on Cybertron every day, his authority being questioned at every turn, and his tenuous control of the Decepticons slipping away, Bumblebee is forced to make a drastic choice.'''

==Synopsis==
As a ship carrying the newest group of [[NAIL]]s to return to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] comes in for a landing over the primordial planet, the substance of the world itself comes to life, reacting primitively to the presence of the "intruders" and lashing out at their craft. Although damaged, they are able to set down, and are greeted by [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] and [[Metalhawk (G1)|Metalhawk]], though the conversation that follows is a terse one, as Metalhawk takes every opportunity to blame the Autobots for the current situation and foster distrust for them in the new arrivals.

Elsewhere, [[Tappet]] is caught in the act of graffitiing a building by [[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] and [[Horri-Bull]], who are acting as enforcers of the peace following the implantation of [[inhibitor/deterrence chip]]s in the [[Decepticon]]s that prevent them transforming or using their special powers. Unfortunately, the pair elect to enforce the peace upside Tappet's head, but are caught before the situation escalates by [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]], [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]], and [[Sideswipe (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sideswipe]]. While Blurr takes Tappet into custody, Prowl and Sideswipe return Horri-Bull and Needlenose to the Decepticons' "home", where self-appointed leader [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] makes demands for equal treatment that fall on deaf ears. After the Autobots depart, however, Ratbat turns on the two troublemaking Decepticons for their willingness to serve the Autobots' government, and announces that he has a plan...

[[File:Prowl Arcee TheAutomonyLesson.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]
While [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Wheeljack]] are attempting to map the full extent of the changes to Cybertron, Bumblebee and Prowl clash over the Decepticon problem, and over Prowl's opposition to holding a memorial for the believed-dead crew of the ''[[Lost Light]]'', since most of the planet's population are hostile or indifferent towards the idea. Leaving Bumblebee to deal with matters of state, Prowl receives a visit from [[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|a mysterious co-conspirator]], who is aiding him in carrying out the unpleasant tasks necessary to keep the peace.

Metalhawk arrives and arranges for Tappet's release, following which he and Bumblebee talk about the memorial. Rather than actually give an answer, Metalhawk volunteers the fact that rumours are starting to spread that Bumblebee had the ''Lost Light'' blown up, which drives the little yellow 'bot into a fury. Before he can really lay into Metalhawk, though, they are distracted by a scuffle nearby: Horri-Bull and Needlenose are at it again, beating up [[Zetca]]. Bumblebee threatens to detonate Horri-Bull's I/D chip if he doesn't back off, but Horri-Bull calls his bluff, preparing to kill Zetca... and Bumblebee doesn't blink, triggering the explosive and blowing Horri-Bull's head off. And watching nearby is [[Skywarp (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Skywarp]], who reports Horri-Bull's death, and despite supposedly having an I/D chip, ''teleports'' away...
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (6)
*[[Mirage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Mirage]] (7)
*[[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (9)
*[[Jazz (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jazz]] (11)
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (16)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] (17)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sideswipe]] (20)
*[[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] (21)
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (22)
*[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (45)
*[[Sizzle (G1)|Sizzle]] (46)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] (47)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Wheeljack]] (48)
|c2=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] (12)
*[[Horri-Bull]] (13)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (23)
*[[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] (24)
*[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (25)
*[[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] (26)
*[[Acid Storm (G1)|Acid Storm]] (27)
*[[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (28)
*[[Triggerhappy (G1)|Triggerhappy]] (29)
*[[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (30)
*[[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (31)
*[[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] (32)
*[[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (33)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] (34)
*[[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (35)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (36)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (37)
*[[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]] (38)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (39)
*[[Skywarp (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Skywarp]] (40)
*[[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] (41)
*[[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (42)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] (43)
*[[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] (44)
{{!}}}

|h3=[[NAIL]]s|c3=
*Blue, red, and yellow triplets (1-3)
*[[Voxpop]] (4)
*[[Tappet]] (5)
*Green and yellow NAIL (8)
*"[[Slave Cy-Kill]]" (10)
*[[Scrambling neon Decepticon‎|Scrambling neon <s>Decepticon‎</s>]] NAIL and friend (13-14)
*[[Zetca]] (15)
*[[Metalhawk (G1)|Metalhawk]] (18)
*[[Hipotank]] (19)
*[[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]] (49)
}}

==Quotes==
"Autobot. You '''beg''' for our '''help''' and when we '''give''' it—how do you treat us?" 
"Like the '''animals''' you are."
:—'''Ratbat''' and '''Prowl''', trading verbal blows.

"Prime never '''had''' to deal with this. And he never '''wanted''' to. But this is '''my''' world and I have to '''defend''' it—even if it doesn't want us here. No... '''Especially''' if Cybertron doesn't want us here."
:—'''Bumblebee'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*'''First appearances:''' Hipotank
*Needlenose says they want to "''do'' something" unlike Soundwave, Shockwave, and Bombshell. All three will turn out to have their own schemes going on in the background of the series.
*Bumblebee refers to the [[NAIL protester]] who killed himself back in "[[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|Liars, A to D Part 1]]".
*The ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> "destruction" in "Liars" hangs over the story, and the series itself.
*"Heard you'd gone soft on Eart", a nod to the previous ongoing and [[Ride-Along|Spotlight]] where Prowl learned a valuable lesson about being nice.
*Ratbat is livid at Prowl's "like the ''animals'' you are" crack. We'll learn from the later "[[Shockpoint]]"/"[[Soundwaves (issue)|Soundwaves]]" two-parter that the Transformers 'beasts' were traditionally seen as inferior, improperly sentient robots, including by Ratbat himself. This means Prowl's crack is a lot more barbed than first thought (and Prowl's a bit of a racist).

===Transformers references===
*Pottering around in opening double spread is a tall, slender NAIL who Josh Perez coloured to resemble the silver, black, and green redeco of the [[GoBots|Tonka ''GoBots'']] character [[Cy-Kill (GoBots)|Cy-Kill]], though Andrew Griffith hadn't deliberately drawn the NAIL to resemble the ''GoBots'' villain. And dead-center is an apparent homage to [[Scavenger (BM)|''Beast Machines'' Scavenger]].
*Several 'bots in the opening double spread each have two heads. They may be pairs of conjoined twins similarly to [[Rack'n'Ruin (G1)|Rack'n'Ruin]].
*In the Decepticon crowd scene, Mindwipe and Triggerhappy are seen standing next to each other—a reference to their joint desertion of [[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]]'s forces in the [[Marvel Comics continuity|Marvel comics]].

===Real world references===
*One of the NAILs in the opening double spread is an homage to [[Boba Fett]].
*The title is likely a reference to "The Anatomy Lesson", a well-known Alan Moore-written issue of ''Swamp Thing''.
* A spaceship seen on page two appears to be a larger version of Cosmos’ UFO alternate mode.

===Errors===
*In what is presumably a coordination error, Spinister is shown among the Decepticons on Cybertron in this issue, but [[Rules of Disengagement (issue)|''More than Meets the Eye'' #7]] would show him as being as having been part of [[Scavenger (group)|a group of off-world Decepticons]] for some time. Quick, someone [[Bluster|make up]] [[Firster Aid|a name]]!

===Other trivia===
[[File:Rid skywarp teaser.jpg|thumb|[[Skywarp (G1)|And to push people down stairs...]]]]
*As with ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|#1]], the release of this issue was preceded by a "scavenger hunt" of sorts that began on [[January 23]]rd, with one each of a series of fourteen images spotlighting individual characters being released to twelve different websites, both Transformers fansites and popular comic book new sites. These included [http://tformers.com/transformers-exclusive-tformers-transformers-robots-in/17046/news.html Bombshell at TFormers], [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=36600 Bumblebee at Comic Book Resources], [https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=260848257318709 Ironhide on the official Transformers Facebook page], [http://www.allspark.com/content/view/9864/ Metalhawk at the Allspark], [http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=271775#271775 Needlenose at the IDW forums], [http://p.twimg.com/AkB-GCgCMAIFdUD.jpg Prowl on John Barber's Twitter], [http://www.fullmetalhero.com/content/idw-transformers-robots-disguise-1-treasure-hunt-exclusive-image-2726/ Ratbat at Full Metal Hero], [http://www.comicvine.com/news/exclusive-transformers-robots-in-disguise-promo/144153/ Shockwave at Comic Vine], [http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/comics-16/rid-1-hits-this-wednesday---skywarp-wants-vengeance-174199/ Skywarp at TFW2005], [http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/exclusive-transformers-robots-in-disguise-promo-image-soundwave-remains-silent/23772 Soundwave at Seibertron], [http://www.newsarama.com/comics/transformers-rid-teaser-idw-120124.html Starscream at Newsarama], [http://www.polarismagazine.co.uk/exclusive-idw-transformers-robots-in-disguise-scavenger-hunt/ Tappet at Polaris Magazine], [http://glovestudios.blogspot.com/2012/01/transformers-robots-in-disguise-promo.html Wheeljack at Andrew Griffith's blog], and [https://twitter.com/#!/dyemooch/status/162819553892646912 Zetca on Josh Perez's Twitter].
** "Bombshell takes control"
** "Bumblebee wants peace"
** "Ironhide knows a secret"
** "Metalhawk is gaining allies"
** "Needlenose exercises his authority"
** "Prowl has an accomplice"
** "Ratbat wants power"
** "Shockwave is watching"
** "Skywarp wants vengence"
** "Soundwave remains silent"
** "Starscream sees an opportunity"
** "Tappet wants to be heard"
** "Wheeljack wants answers"
** "Zetca wants to survive"

*Sideswipe seems to have abandoned his wicked-sweet ''Generation 2''-colored body after only one issue. This was because Griffith was drawing this issue at the same time Roche was drawing ''[[Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime]]'' and they weren't aware the other was drawing Sideswipe differently.<ref>[http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?s=&showtopic=84653&view=findpost&p=1997976 Post by Andrew Griffith on The Allspark]</ref>
* Horri-Bull's yellow color stems from [[:File:Horribull bullhorn toy.jpg|the image TFWiki used to have for Horri-Bull's toy]] and [http://www.tfu.info/1988/Decepticon/Horri-Bull/horri-bull.htm TFU.info's screencap of Horri-Bull]. [[Josh Perez]] chose to use the yellow to "help him stick out a lot more".<ref>[http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?s=&showtopic=84653&view=findpost&p=1997013 Post by Josh Perez on The Allspark]</ref>
*In the Decepticon crowd scene, Blast Off is standing beside Starscream. However, as this wasn't clear, Josh Perez mistakenly thought it was a generic and colored him like {{w|Mister Sinister}}.<ref>[http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?s=&showtopic=84653&view=findpost&p=1997975 Post by Andrew Griffith on The Allspark]</ref>

===Foreign localization===
'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Jichi Jisshū'''" (自治実習, "Autonomy Drill")

===Covers (8)===
The seven first-printing covers to this issue feature a silver foil-stamped logo.
* '''Cover A:''' Ironhide, by [[Marcelo Matere]] and [[Priscilla Tramontano]]
* '''Cover B:''' Prowl, by Marcelo Matere and Priscilla Tramontano
* '''Cover C:''' Bumblebee, by Marcelo Matere and Priscilla Tramontano
* '''Cover D:''' Wheeljack, by Marcelo Matere and Priscilla Tramontano
* '''Cover E:''' Bumblebee, Prowl, Ironhide, and Wheeljack, by Andrew Griffith and Josh Perez
* '''Cover RIA:''' Fold-out gatefold cover combining the interlinked covers A–D
* '''Cover RIB:''' Hand-drawn sketch covers, by [[Dan Khanna]]
* '''Second printing:''' Bumblebee and Metalhawk, by Griffith and Perez; taken from the first panel of page 4

<gallery>
File:RID1_cvrA.jpg|The Dick,
File:RID1_cvrB.jpg|the Prick,
File:RID1_cvrC.jpg|the Bee
File:RID1_cvrD.jpg|and the Jack!
File:RID1_cvrE.jpg|Hey, I match my toy!
File:RID1_cvrRIA.jpg|The Fab Four
File:RID1_cvrRIB.jpg
File:RID1_2ndptg.jpg
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' [[Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|#2]]
*''Heroic: A Womanthology''
*''[[Infestation 2]]''
*''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]: {{i|Cobra Command}}''
*''Robots in Disguise'' and ''More than Meets the Eye''
*''Memorial''
*''Danger Girl: Revolver''

===Reprints===
*'''''The Transformers: Robots in Disguise Volume 1''''' ([[July 25]], [[2012]]) ISBN 1613772912 / ISBN 978-1613772911
:*Contains issues #1 to 5.
:*Bonus material includes art from most covers and notes on issue #3 by the author/artists.

*'''''The Transformers: Robots in Disguise Volume 1''''' (reissue) ([[May 21]], [[2014]]) ISBN 161377964X / ISBN 978-1613779644
:*Contains issues #1 to #5.
:*New cover by Livio Ramondelli.
:*Bonus material: cover gallery and notes on issue 3 by Barber, Griffith, and Josh Perez

*'''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 1]]''''' ([[September 3]], 2014) ISBN 1631400401 / ISBN 978-1631400407
:*Contains issues #1 to #6, as well as "[[Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime]]", and ''More than Meets the Eye'' #1 to #5.

*'''''Transformers: Robots in Disguise'' Box Set''' ([[December 2]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631404261 / ISBN 978-1631404269
:*Contains The Transformers: Robots in Disguise Volumes 1 to 5.
:*Bonus content UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 54: A Better Tomorrow''''' ([[April 3]], [[2019]])
:*Collects ''Robots in Disguise'' issues #1–7
:*Bonus material includes a new interview about the ''Robots in Disguise'' by John Barber.

<gallery>
File:RID vol1.jpg|'''Volume 1'''; cover art by [[Andrew Griffith]] and [[Josh Perez]]
File:RID vol1 reissue.jpg|'''Volume 1 reissue'''; cover art by [[Livio Ramondelli]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V1.jpg|'''''IDW Collection Phase 2 Vol. 1'''''; cover art by [[Saren Stone]]
File:RID-Box-Set.jpg|'''''Robots in Disguise Box Set'' slipcase'''; cover art by ???
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v54.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 54: A Better Tomorrow'''''; cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] and Andrew Griffith
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Autonomy Lesson}}

Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime

2022-08-12T05:46:40Z

Pebbles27: /* Continuity notes */

{{disambig3|Death of Optimus Prime}}
{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime]]''
|prev=Pax Cybertronia (issue)
|next=Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It
|caption= [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|New and edgy!]]
|image=TDOOP cvrB.jpg
|title="Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[December 21]], [[2011]]
|coverdate=December 2011
|story by=[[James Roberts]] and [[John Barber]]
|art by=[[Nick Roche]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Shawn Lee]]
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2011)]]
}}
'''Optimus Prime returns to a Cybertron that no longer needs him.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:DoOP Optimus Metalhawk.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|...How did Metalhawk get through that door?]]
A confused and disoriented [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] awakens on what seems to be [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], though the planet is now convulsing with primordial energies and is missing some of its characteristic features. He assumes he has somehow been transported into the distant past, but spotting the wreckage of [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]]'s [[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]] reveals that something even stranger is afoot. Prime soon discovers that [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] still exists, though it is now populated by Cybertronians whom he does not recognize and who mostly seem equally ignorant of himself. [[Tappet|One of them]], however, certainly recognizes Optimus and berates him for Cybertron's sorry state. The situation is defused when [[Sideswipe (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sideswipe]] and [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] arrive, intimidating the outspoken Transformer and introducing Optimus to the newly adopted acronym "[[NAIL]]"—Non-Aligned Indigenous Lifeforms—designating the multitudes of Cybertronians who evacuated their planet in the early stages of the [[Great War (G1)|civil war]] rather than picking and fighting for a side. Optimus is then reunited with [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]], who describe the relative ease with which they captured the disoriented, post-[[Deceptigod]] [[Decepticon]]s. They also express both their awe at the never-ending hordes of NAILs now returning to a pacified Cybertron and their tension at the situation, since they realize the NAILs perceive the Autobots to be nothing but symbols of the war they hate so much. That's certainly how [[Metalhawk (G1)|Metalhawk]] feels—though the harshness of his contempt for the Autobots is certainly matched by Optimus's own declarations that Metalhawk was a coward who abandoned his own race in its time of greatest need. Some of the Autobots recommend that Optimus demonstrate the power of the [[Matrix of Leadership]] in order to convince the NAILs of the justness of their cause, but this is clearly impossible as the Matrix is totally depleted.

Optimus visits the captive Decepticons, now imprisoned within the gun chamber of the crashed [[Kimia Facility]]. [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] tries to impress Optimus with his own record of Senatorial service, but Optimus tersely cuts him off by noting that, regardless of his pre-war history, he is now just as much a criminal as the rest of his faction.

[[File:DoOP protestors effigy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Prime's just hanging out with the populace]]
Day by day, the standoff with the NAILs grows ever more tense; for all his own dislike of the Autobots, Metalhawk is forced to play peacemaker when other NAILs such as [[Zetca]] begin to openly rally for violence against them. [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] and [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] finish their examination of the empty halves of the Matrix shell, and determine that it is actually an ancient cosmic map that leads to... something. [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] immediately declares that it must be pointing out the location of the [[Knights of Cybertron]], whose awesome power could surely help unite all Cybertronians and restore stability to the planet. The fact that these Knights are widely believed to be mythical does not dissuade him, and nor does Optimus's insistence that the [[Circle of Light]] was nothing but an eccentric cult. Drift is adamant about the reality of the Knights, and the wisdom of [[Dai Atlas (G1)|Dai Atlas]]'s guarantees of their power; gradually, he manages to convince some other Autobots of the need to undertake a quest for these Knights. [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] is outraged at the thought of leaving Cybertron in control of the NAILs, whom he considers to be lazy and opportunistic ingrates—though Metalhawk retorts that Prowl is only bitter because he had tried and failed to remain unaligned during the war. Suddenly, the crowd of NAILs outside attacks the Autobot base. Though disorganized, they can present a threat—emphasis on "can", as Prowl fixates on the potential of Autobot lives being at risk as being sufficient justification for releasing the captive Decepticons to beat back the crowds. Ratbat pleads with the other Decepticons not to obey Autobot orders and, instead, to attack their old enemies then and there. [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] countermands that order, pointing out that they would easily be destroyed by an alliance of Autobots and NAILs. With their transformation capabilities and heaviest weapons disabled, the Decepticons use sheer brute force to push back the NAILs, and thereafter are held in line by Prowl's warning that they have each been fitted with remote-controlled detonator chips.

[[File:DoOP matrix bequeathed.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Solomon Prime.]]
In despair, Optimus Prime addresses the entire populace of Cybertron. Though he means only the best for all of them, he grudgingly admits that in a way he himself has become just another aspect of endless war, and that he is willing to leave Cybertron forever in the hopes that its society will be able to restructure itself peacefully without him. As Optimus prepares for his departure, Rodimus and Bumblebee continue to disagree over the wisdom of manning an expedition to seek out the Knights of Cybertron and, in the end, decide to split their forces, with some Autobots going on the quest and others remaining behind to try to rebuild. Optimus Prime's last act among his old cohorts is to leave the empty halves of the Matrix shell in their hands.

On his lonely flight away from Cybertron, destined for parts unknown, the former leader of the Autobots reflects on how, for the first time in eons, he is no longer responsible for anyone else's life or death. At last, he feels free. Optimus Prime is dead; Orion Pax has been reborn.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sideswipe]] (5)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (6)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (7)
*[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (8)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] (9)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Wheeljack]] (10)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (13)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] (23)
*[[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (24)
*[[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] (26)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (27)
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (32)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] (33)
*[[Jazz (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jazz]] (34)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (35)
|c2=
*[[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]] (2)
*[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (12)
*[[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (15)
*[[Pounce]] or [[Wingspan]] (16)
*[[Horri-Bull]] (17)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] (18)
*[[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]] (19)
*[[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] (20)
*[[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] (21)
*[[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] (22)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]]? (28)
*Another Constructicon's foot (29)
*[[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] (30)
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (31)
|h3=[[NAIL]]s|c3=
*[[NAIL protester|Placard-carrying protestor]] (3)
*[[Tappet]] (4)
*[[Metalhawk (G1)|Metalhawk]] (14)
*[[Zetca]] (25)
|c4=
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (11)
}}

==Quotes==
"'''No!''' They're just '''using''' you! My Decepticons—we must '''rise''' against the '''Autobots!'''" 
"'''That's''' what you want? Attack and give the '''Autobots''' and these '''rioters''' something to unite against?" 
"You just don't '''understand''', Starscream." 
"Well, I understand why nobody's listened to '''Ratbat''' for four million years."
:—'''Ratbat''' doesn't get much respect from '''Starscream'''

"That '''mob''' outside? We owe them '''nothing!''' '''We're''' the ones who risked our lives against the Decepticons! Where was Metalhawk when [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] invaded [[Vos (polity)|Vos]], or—or blew up the '''[[Grand Imperium]]?''' But now that the smoke's cleared, they think they can just '''turn up and reclaim the planet?!''' I don't know what's worse—their '''arrogance''' or their '''cowardice!'''"
:—'''Prowl''' protests... too much

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Cyclonus protests that [[Infestation (IDW)|he shouldn't]] [[The Transformers: Heart of Darkness|be with the Decepticons]].
*Swindle [[Spotlight: Ultra Magnus|once]] [[Things Fall Apart, Part 1: "New Arrivals, Old Encounters"|again]] proposes to "make a deal". However, it doesn't fool Optimus Prime. Nice try, though.
*It would appear at least two members of The [[Circle of Light]] have made the journey back to Cybertron. They can be seen when Optimus has his run in with Tappet. Later one tussles with Pounce or Wingspan before Prime’s speech.
*As he begins his speech, Optimus Prime calls back to "[[Chaos Theory Part 2]]" by answering the "three questions" that Megatron proposed should be asked of any governing body: in whose interests he exercises his power, to whom he is held accountable, and how they can get rid of him.
*Eleven small headshots decorate page 19, illustrating the crowd as they listen to Optimus Prime's speech. Ten are easily recognisable characters, with a monkey-like eleventh proving less familiar. It's easy to miss, but he's the [[NAIL protester|generic NAIL]] who appears in two other scenes carrying a placard (illustrated above). Why did he get singled out? Probably something to do with his [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|nasty fate]]...

===Transformers references===
*Sideswipe is now sporting a body based on the [[BotCon 2010]] [[Sideswipe (G1)/toys#Timelines|"customization class" toy]]: his [[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|2008 ''Universe'' body]] in his ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' colors. He's also wearing the bandolier and sword he wore in the ''Generation 2'' comics.
*A generic NAIL on page 16 has a striking resemblance to [[Barricade (Movie)|movie Barricade]]: a mostly black body with a partially bronze face as well as red and blue siren lights. This generic is seen being held by Ironhide in a sort of Full Nelson. On the IDW boards, Josh Burcham confirmed that while the character wasn't specified to be Barricade in the script, he looked so much like him that he used Barricade's colors.
*This is the first fiction Zetca's ever gotten. Though, as a [[Masterforce Warrior]], he should technically be a human. The alteration of organic characters into Cybertronians [[Brisko|would]] [[Boomer|become]] [[Ricochet (G1)|a]] [[Holepunch (G1)|wider]] [[Tracer (Targetmaster)|trend]] in the IDW continuity here on out.

===Real-life references===
*[[Tappet]] is based on the famous British children's book character {{w|Noddy (character)|Noddy}}, sporting his conical blue "hat" topped in a bell, red torso, blue "shorts", and coloured cheeks. Moreover, his visible [[alternate mode]] components, including a chest grill and large red wheel wells on his shoulders, indicate that he transforms into [http://www.google.com/search?q=noddy%27s+car&hl=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=uWrzTsfWNOOh4gTe9tGNCA&ved=0CGYQsAQ&biw=1320&bih=636 Noddy's car], itself one of the most well-known aspects of the character. He also shares the same character model (with the exception of his head) as [[Dipstick]].
*The [[Galactic Positioning System]] used by Optimus is a galaxy wide version of the Global Positioning System.

===Errors===
*Two typographic errors crop up on page 9; "Bubmlebee" and "befroe". These were not corrected in either the TPB, or the hardback IDW Collection.
*Many of the Decepticons are in new forms, some of which (Starscream, Soundwave) are based on the ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (franchise)|War for Cybertron]]'' versions of the characters. While this sort of thing was commonplace under the previous ongoing series, IDW had said that it wouldn't happen going forward. Indeed, the Autobots are still in their Earth forms and only switch to Cybertronian forms later. It's especially odd considering the Decepticons have apparently been in prison since the end of "[[Chaos (IDW)|Chaos]]".
*Optimus describes the Guiding Hand as an "alternative truth", secrets known only to him through his bond with the Matrix, which even professional historian Rewind was unaware of. However, Rewind DOES seem familiar with the Hand as of the [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|2012 ''More Than Meets the Eye'' annual]], and [[Springarm]] was citing members of the Hand to Orion Pax four million years ago in "[[Chaos Theory Part 2]]". Now, neither of them specifically referred to "The Guiding Hand" by name, but...

===Trivia===
*This issue was originally advertised as "issue #125", but was instead sold as a standalone one-shot with a banner that simply identified it as a "celebration" of 125 issues. This count includes all of IDW's different Generation 1 universe series, mini-series and one-shots, with the exception of crossover projects ''[[New Avengers/Transformers]]'' and ''[[Infestation (IDW)|Infestation]]''.
*This story's title is given in ''three'' different permutations throughout the issue: ''The Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime'' on the cover, ''The Transformers: Death of Optimus Prime'' in the indicia, and ''Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime'' in the story itself.
*An editorial note from Andy Schmidt quoted in the TPB states that the original title for the issue was to be "Schism", which was likely changed due to 2011's ''[[X-Men]]'' storyline of the same name.

===Foreign Localization===
'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Optimus Prime no Shi'''" (オプティマスプライムの死, "Death of Optimus Prime")

'''Swedish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Optimus Prime är Död...'''" (Optimus Prime is Dead...)

===Covers (4)===
*'''Cover A:''' Generation 1 Optimus Prime toy; photo by [[Viktor Deak]]
*'''Cover B:''' Homage to [[:File:MarvelUK-150.jpg|the cover of ''The Transformers'' (Marvel UK)#150]]; art by [[Nick Roche]] and colors by [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Cover RI-A:''' Homage to "[[The Transformers (issue)|The Transformers]]" cover; art by [[Livio Ramondelli]]
*'''Cover RI-B:''' Montage of covers of the previous 124 issues

<gallery>
File:TDOOP cvrA.jpg
File:TDOOP cvrB.jpg
File:TDOOP cvrRIA.jpg
File:TDOOP cvrRIB.jpg
</gallery>

===Advertisements===

===Collections===
*'''''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye]] Volume 1'' TPB''' ([[June 13]], [[2012]]) ISBN 1613772351 / ISBN 978-1613772355 
:*Contains "The Death of Optimus Prime" and issues #1 to #3 of ''More than Meets the Eye''.
:*Bonus material includes art from most covers, 12 promotional images, "Meet the Crew" page, design sketches from [[Alex Milne]] for various characters and ship locations, and a 2-page editor's comment with "behind the scenes" information about the series.

*'''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 1'' TPB''' (reissue) ([[May 21]], [[2014]]) ISBN 1613779658 / ISBN 978-1613779651
:*same content as above with new cover.

*'''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 1]]''''' ([[September 3]], 2014) ISBN 1631400401 / ISBN 978-1631400407
:*Includes "The Death of Optimus Prime", ''More than Meets the Eye'' #1–5, and ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' #1–6.

*'''''Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye'' Box Set''' ([[December 2]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631404741 / ISBN 978-1631404740
:*Contains ''More Than Meets the Eye'' Volumes 1 to 5 in a slipcover holder.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 52: The Death of Optimus Prime''''' ([[December 13]], [[2017]])
:* Hardcover collection of ''[[The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers vol. 1]]'' [[Chaos Part One: Lamentations|#24]], [[Chaos Part Two: Numbers|26]], [[Chaos Part Three: Kings|28]], [[Chaos Part Four: Genesis|30]], [[Pax Cybertronia (issue)|31]] and "The Death of Optimus Prime".
:* Bonus content includes an interview with [[James Roberts]] on how he worked his way up to become an ongoing writer, character design sketches by [[Livio Ramondelli]], a cover gallery and an intro by [[Simon Furman]].

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol1.jpg|'''''More than Meets the Eye''''' Vol. 1 TPB cover by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
File:MTMTE vol1 reissue.jpg|'''Reissue''' cover by [[Livio Ramondelli]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V1.jpg|'''''IDW Collection Phase 2 Vol. 1''''' cover by [[Saren Stone]]
File:MTMTE boxset.jpg|'''''More than Meets the Eye'' Box Set''' cover by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v52.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 52: The Death of Optimus Prime'''''; cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] (Prime) and Livio Ramondelli (retro)
</gallery>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Death of Optimus Prime}}
[[Category:IDW (2005) issues]]

Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime

2022-08-12T05:46:04Z

Pebbles27: /* Continuity notes */

{{disambig3|Death of Optimus Prime}}
{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime]]''
|prev=Pax Cybertronia (issue)
|next=Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It
|caption= [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|New and edgy!]]
|image=TDOOP cvrB.jpg
|title="Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[December 21]], [[2011]]
|coverdate=December 2011
|story by=[[James Roberts]] and [[John Barber]]
|art by=[[Nick Roche]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Shawn Lee]]
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2011)]]
}}
'''Optimus Prime returns to a Cybertron that no longer needs him.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:DoOP Optimus Metalhawk.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|...How did Metalhawk get through that door?]]
A confused and disoriented [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] awakens on what seems to be [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], though the planet is now convulsing with primordial energies and is missing some of its characteristic features. He assumes he has somehow been transported into the distant past, but spotting the wreckage of [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]]'s [[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]] reveals that something even stranger is afoot. Prime soon discovers that [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] still exists, though it is now populated by Cybertronians whom he does not recognize and who mostly seem equally ignorant of himself. [[Tappet|One of them]], however, certainly recognizes Optimus and berates him for Cybertron's sorry state. The situation is defused when [[Sideswipe (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sideswipe]] and [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] arrive, intimidating the outspoken Transformer and introducing Optimus to the newly adopted acronym "[[NAIL]]"—Non-Aligned Indigenous Lifeforms—designating the multitudes of Cybertronians who evacuated their planet in the early stages of the [[Great War (G1)|civil war]] rather than picking and fighting for a side. Optimus is then reunited with [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]], who describe the relative ease with which they captured the disoriented, post-[[Deceptigod]] [[Decepticon]]s. They also express both their awe at the never-ending hordes of NAILs now returning to a pacified Cybertron and their tension at the situation, since they realize the NAILs perceive the Autobots to be nothing but symbols of the war they hate so much. That's certainly how [[Metalhawk (G1)|Metalhawk]] feels—though the harshness of his contempt for the Autobots is certainly matched by Optimus's own declarations that Metalhawk was a coward who abandoned his own race in its time of greatest need. Some of the Autobots recommend that Optimus demonstrate the power of the [[Matrix of Leadership]] in order to convince the NAILs of the justness of their cause, but this is clearly impossible as the Matrix is totally depleted.

Optimus visits the captive Decepticons, now imprisoned within the gun chamber of the crashed [[Kimia Facility]]. [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] tries to impress Optimus with his own record of Senatorial service, but Optimus tersely cuts him off by noting that, regardless of his pre-war history, he is now just as much a criminal as the rest of his faction.

[[File:DoOP protestors effigy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Prime's just hanging out with the populace]]
Day by day, the standoff with the NAILs grows ever more tense; for all his own dislike of the Autobots, Metalhawk is forced to play peacemaker when other NAILs such as [[Zetca]] begin to openly rally for violence against them. [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] and [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] finish their examination of the empty halves of the Matrix shell, and determine that it is actually an ancient cosmic map that leads to... something. [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] immediately declares that it must be pointing out the location of the [[Knights of Cybertron]], whose awesome power could surely help unite all Cybertronians and restore stability to the planet. The fact that these Knights are widely believed to be mythical does not dissuade him, and nor does Optimus's insistence that the [[Circle of Light]] was nothing but an eccentric cult. Drift is adamant about the reality of the Knights, and the wisdom of [[Dai Atlas (G1)|Dai Atlas]]'s guarantees of their power; gradually, he manages to convince some other Autobots of the need to undertake a quest for these Knights. [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] is outraged at the thought of leaving Cybertron in control of the NAILs, whom he considers to be lazy and opportunistic ingrates—though Metalhawk retorts that Prowl is only bitter because he had tried and failed to remain unaligned during the war. Suddenly, the crowd of NAILs outside attacks the Autobot base. Though disorganized, they can present a threat—emphasis on "can", as Prowl fixates on the potential of Autobot lives being at risk as being sufficient justification for releasing the captive Decepticons to beat back the crowds. Ratbat pleads with the other Decepticons not to obey Autobot orders and, instead, to attack their old enemies then and there. [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] countermands that order, pointing out that they would easily be destroyed by an alliance of Autobots and NAILs. With their transformation capabilities and heaviest weapons disabled, the Decepticons use sheer brute force to push back the NAILs, and thereafter are held in line by Prowl's warning that they have each been fitted with remote-controlled detonator chips.

[[File:DoOP matrix bequeathed.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Solomon Prime.]]
In despair, Optimus Prime addresses the entire populace of Cybertron. Though he means only the best for all of them, he grudgingly admits that in a way he himself has become just another aspect of endless war, and that he is willing to leave Cybertron forever in the hopes that its society will be able to restructure itself peacefully without him. As Optimus prepares for his departure, Rodimus and Bumblebee continue to disagree over the wisdom of manning an expedition to seek out the Knights of Cybertron and, in the end, decide to split their forces, with some Autobots going on the quest and others remaining behind to try to rebuild. Optimus Prime's last act among his old cohorts is to leave the empty halves of the Matrix shell in their hands.

On his lonely flight away from Cybertron, destined for parts unknown, the former leader of the Autobots reflects on how, for the first time in eons, he is no longer responsible for anyone else's life or death. At last, he feels free. Optimus Prime is dead; Orion Pax has been reborn.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sideswipe]] (5)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (6)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (7)
*[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (8)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] (9)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Wheeljack]] (10)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (13)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] (23)
*[[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (24)
*[[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] (26)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (27)
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (32)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] (33)
*[[Jazz (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jazz]] (34)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (35)
|c2=
*[[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]] (2)
*[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (12)
*[[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (15)
*[[Pounce]] or [[Wingspan]] (16)
*[[Horri-Bull]] (17)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] (18)
*[[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]] (19)
*[[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] (20)
*[[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] (21)
*[[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] (22)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]]? (28)
*Another Constructicon's foot (29)
*[[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] (30)
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (31)
|h3=[[NAIL]]s|c3=
*[[NAIL protester|Placard-carrying protestor]] (3)
*[[Tappet]] (4)
*[[Metalhawk (G1)|Metalhawk]] (14)
*[[Zetca]] (25)
|c4=
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (11)
}}

==Quotes==
"'''No!''' They're just '''using''' you! My Decepticons—we must '''rise''' against the '''Autobots!'''" 
"'''That's''' what you want? Attack and give the '''Autobots''' and these '''rioters''' something to unite against?" 
"You just don't '''understand''', Starscream." 
"Well, I understand why nobody's listened to '''Ratbat''' for four million years."
:—'''Ratbat''' doesn't get much respect from '''Starscream'''

"That '''mob''' outside? We owe them '''nothing!''' '''We're''' the ones who risked our lives against the Decepticons! Where was Metalhawk when [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] invaded [[Vos (polity)|Vos]], or—or blew up the '''[[Grand Imperium]]?''' But now that the smoke's cleared, they think they can just '''turn up and reclaim the planet?!''' I don't know what's worse—their '''arrogance''' or their '''cowardice!'''"
:—'''Prowl''' protests... too much

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Cyclonus protests that [[Infestation (IDW)|he shouldn't]] [[The Transformers: Heart of Darkness|be with the Decepticons]].
*Swindle [[Spotlight: Ultra Magnus|once]] [[Things Fall Apart, Part 1: "New Arrivals, Old Encounters"|again]] proposes to "make a deal". However, it doesn't fool Optimus Prime. Nice try, though.
*It would appear at least two members of The [[Circle of Light]] have made the journey back to Cybertron. They can be seen when Optimus has his run in with Tappet, and one tussles with Pounce or Wingspan before Prime’s speech.
*As he begins his speech, Optimus Prime calls back to "[[Chaos Theory Part 2]]" by answering the "three questions" that Megatron proposed should be asked of any governing body: in whose interests he exercises his power, to whom he is held accountable, and how they can get rid of him.
*Eleven small headshots decorate page 19, illustrating the crowd as they listen to Optimus Prime's speech. Ten are easily recognisable characters, with a monkey-like eleventh proving less familiar. It's easy to miss, but he's the [[NAIL protester|generic NAIL]] who appears in two other scenes carrying a placard (illustrated above). Why did he get singled out? Probably something to do with his [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|nasty fate]]...

===Transformers references===
*Sideswipe is now sporting a body based on the [[BotCon 2010]] [[Sideswipe (G1)/toys#Timelines|"customization class" toy]]: his [[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|2008 ''Universe'' body]] in his ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' colors. He's also wearing the bandolier and sword he wore in the ''Generation 2'' comics.
*A generic NAIL on page 16 has a striking resemblance to [[Barricade (Movie)|movie Barricade]]: a mostly black body with a partially bronze face as well as red and blue siren lights. This generic is seen being held by Ironhide in a sort of Full Nelson. On the IDW boards, Josh Burcham confirmed that while the character wasn't specified to be Barricade in the script, he looked so much like him that he used Barricade's colors.
*This is the first fiction Zetca's ever gotten. Though, as a [[Masterforce Warrior]], he should technically be a human. The alteration of organic characters into Cybertronians [[Brisko|would]] [[Boomer|become]] [[Ricochet (G1)|a]] [[Holepunch (G1)|wider]] [[Tracer (Targetmaster)|trend]] in the IDW continuity here on out.

===Real-life references===
*[[Tappet]] is based on the famous British children's book character {{w|Noddy (character)|Noddy}}, sporting his conical blue "hat" topped in a bell, red torso, blue "shorts", and coloured cheeks. Moreover, his visible [[alternate mode]] components, including a chest grill and large red wheel wells on his shoulders, indicate that he transforms into [http://www.google.com/search?q=noddy%27s+car&hl=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=uWrzTsfWNOOh4gTe9tGNCA&ved=0CGYQsAQ&biw=1320&bih=636 Noddy's car], itself one of the most well-known aspects of the character. He also shares the same character model (with the exception of his head) as [[Dipstick]].
*The [[Galactic Positioning System]] used by Optimus is a galaxy wide version of the Global Positioning System.

===Errors===
*Two typographic errors crop up on page 9; "Bubmlebee" and "befroe". These were not corrected in either the TPB, or the hardback IDW Collection.
*Many of the Decepticons are in new forms, some of which (Starscream, Soundwave) are based on the ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (franchise)|War for Cybertron]]'' versions of the characters. While this sort of thing was commonplace under the previous ongoing series, IDW had said that it wouldn't happen going forward. Indeed, the Autobots are still in their Earth forms and only switch to Cybertronian forms later. It's especially odd considering the Decepticons have apparently been in prison since the end of "[[Chaos (IDW)|Chaos]]".
*Optimus describes the Guiding Hand as an "alternative truth", secrets known only to him through his bond with the Matrix, which even professional historian Rewind was unaware of. However, Rewind DOES seem familiar with the Hand as of the [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|2012 ''More Than Meets the Eye'' annual]], and [[Springarm]] was citing members of the Hand to Orion Pax four million years ago in "[[Chaos Theory Part 2]]". Now, neither of them specifically referred to "The Guiding Hand" by name, but...

===Trivia===
*This issue was originally advertised as "issue #125", but was instead sold as a standalone one-shot with a banner that simply identified it as a "celebration" of 125 issues. This count includes all of IDW's different Generation 1 universe series, mini-series and one-shots, with the exception of crossover projects ''[[New Avengers/Transformers]]'' and ''[[Infestation (IDW)|Infestation]]''.
*This story's title is given in ''three'' different permutations throughout the issue: ''The Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime'' on the cover, ''The Transformers: Death of Optimus Prime'' in the indicia, and ''Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime'' in the story itself.
*An editorial note from Andy Schmidt quoted in the TPB states that the original title for the issue was to be "Schism", which was likely changed due to 2011's ''[[X-Men]]'' storyline of the same name.

===Foreign Localization===
'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Optimus Prime no Shi'''" (オプティマスプライムの死, "Death of Optimus Prime")

'''Swedish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Optimus Prime är Död...'''" (Optimus Prime is Dead...)

===Covers (4)===
*'''Cover A:''' Generation 1 Optimus Prime toy; photo by [[Viktor Deak]]
*'''Cover B:''' Homage to [[:File:MarvelUK-150.jpg|the cover of ''The Transformers'' (Marvel UK)#150]]; art by [[Nick Roche]] and colors by [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Cover RI-A:''' Homage to "[[The Transformers (issue)|The Transformers]]" cover; art by [[Livio Ramondelli]]
*'''Cover RI-B:''' Montage of covers of the previous 124 issues

<gallery>
File:TDOOP cvrA.jpg
File:TDOOP cvrB.jpg
File:TDOOP cvrRIA.jpg
File:TDOOP cvrRIB.jpg
</gallery>

===Advertisements===

===Collections===
*'''''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye]] Volume 1'' TPB''' ([[June 13]], [[2012]]) ISBN 1613772351 / ISBN 978-1613772355 
:*Contains "The Death of Optimus Prime" and issues #1 to #3 of ''More than Meets the Eye''.
:*Bonus material includes art from most covers, 12 promotional images, "Meet the Crew" page, design sketches from [[Alex Milne]] for various characters and ship locations, and a 2-page editor's comment with "behind the scenes" information about the series.

*'''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 1'' TPB''' (reissue) ([[May 21]], [[2014]]) ISBN 1613779658 / ISBN 978-1613779651
:*same content as above with new cover.

*'''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 1]]''''' ([[September 3]], 2014) ISBN 1631400401 / ISBN 978-1631400407
:*Includes "The Death of Optimus Prime", ''More than Meets the Eye'' #1–5, and ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' #1–6.

*'''''Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye'' Box Set''' ([[December 2]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631404741 / ISBN 978-1631404740
:*Contains ''More Than Meets the Eye'' Volumes 1 to 5 in a slipcover holder.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 52: The Death of Optimus Prime''''' ([[December 13]], [[2017]])
:* Hardcover collection of ''[[The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers vol. 1]]'' [[Chaos Part One: Lamentations|#24]], [[Chaos Part Two: Numbers|26]], [[Chaos Part Three: Kings|28]], [[Chaos Part Four: Genesis|30]], [[Pax Cybertronia (issue)|31]] and "The Death of Optimus Prime".
:* Bonus content includes an interview with [[James Roberts]] on how he worked his way up to become an ongoing writer, character design sketches by [[Livio Ramondelli]], a cover gallery and an intro by [[Simon Furman]].

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol1.jpg|'''''More than Meets the Eye''''' Vol. 1 TPB cover by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
File:MTMTE vol1 reissue.jpg|'''Reissue''' cover by [[Livio Ramondelli]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V1.jpg|'''''IDW Collection Phase 2 Vol. 1''''' cover by [[Saren Stone]]
File:MTMTE boxset.jpg|'''''More than Meets the Eye'' Box Set''' cover by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v52.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 52: The Death of Optimus Prime'''''; cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] (Prime) and Livio Ramondelli (retro)
</gallery>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Death of Optimus Prime}}
[[Category:IDW (2005) issues]]

Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime

2022-08-12T05:41:27Z

Pebbles27: /* Continuity notes */

{{disambig3|Death of Optimus Prime}}
{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime]]''
|prev=Pax Cybertronia (issue)
|next=Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It
|caption= [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|New and edgy!]]
|image=TDOOP cvrB.jpg
|title="Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[December 21]], [[2011]]
|coverdate=December 2011
|story by=[[James Roberts]] and [[John Barber]]
|art by=[[Nick Roche]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Shawn Lee]]
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2011)]]
}}
'''Optimus Prime returns to a Cybertron that no longer needs him.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:DoOP Optimus Metalhawk.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|...How did Metalhawk get through that door?]]
A confused and disoriented [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] awakens on what seems to be [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], though the planet is now convulsing with primordial energies and is missing some of its characteristic features. He assumes he has somehow been transported into the distant past, but spotting the wreckage of [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]]'s [[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]] reveals that something even stranger is afoot. Prime soon discovers that [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] still exists, though it is now populated by Cybertronians whom he does not recognize and who mostly seem equally ignorant of himself. [[Tappet|One of them]], however, certainly recognizes Optimus and berates him for Cybertron's sorry state. The situation is defused when [[Sideswipe (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sideswipe]] and [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] arrive, intimidating the outspoken Transformer and introducing Optimus to the newly adopted acronym "[[NAIL]]"—Non-Aligned Indigenous Lifeforms—designating the multitudes of Cybertronians who evacuated their planet in the early stages of the [[Great War (G1)|civil war]] rather than picking and fighting for a side. Optimus is then reunited with [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]], who describe the relative ease with which they captured the disoriented, post-[[Deceptigod]] [[Decepticon]]s. They also express both their awe at the never-ending hordes of NAILs now returning to a pacified Cybertron and their tension at the situation, since they realize the NAILs perceive the Autobots to be nothing but symbols of the war they hate so much. That's certainly how [[Metalhawk (G1)|Metalhawk]] feels—though the harshness of his contempt for the Autobots is certainly matched by Optimus's own declarations that Metalhawk was a coward who abandoned his own race in its time of greatest need. Some of the Autobots recommend that Optimus demonstrate the power of the [[Matrix of Leadership]] in order to convince the NAILs of the justness of their cause, but this is clearly impossible as the Matrix is totally depleted.

Optimus visits the captive Decepticons, now imprisoned within the gun chamber of the crashed [[Kimia Facility]]. [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] tries to impress Optimus with his own record of Senatorial service, but Optimus tersely cuts him off by noting that, regardless of his pre-war history, he is now just as much a criminal as the rest of his faction.

[[File:DoOP protestors effigy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Prime's just hanging out with the populace]]
Day by day, the standoff with the NAILs grows ever more tense; for all his own dislike of the Autobots, Metalhawk is forced to play peacemaker when other NAILs such as [[Zetca]] begin to openly rally for violence against them. [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] and [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] finish their examination of the empty halves of the Matrix shell, and determine that it is actually an ancient cosmic map that leads to... something. [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] immediately declares that it must be pointing out the location of the [[Knights of Cybertron]], whose awesome power could surely help unite all Cybertronians and restore stability to the planet. The fact that these Knights are widely believed to be mythical does not dissuade him, and nor does Optimus's insistence that the [[Circle of Light]] was nothing but an eccentric cult. Drift is adamant about the reality of the Knights, and the wisdom of [[Dai Atlas (G1)|Dai Atlas]]'s guarantees of their power; gradually, he manages to convince some other Autobots of the need to undertake a quest for these Knights. [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] is outraged at the thought of leaving Cybertron in control of the NAILs, whom he considers to be lazy and opportunistic ingrates—though Metalhawk retorts that Prowl is only bitter because he had tried and failed to remain unaligned during the war. Suddenly, the crowd of NAILs outside attacks the Autobot base. Though disorganized, they can present a threat—emphasis on "can", as Prowl fixates on the potential of Autobot lives being at risk as being sufficient justification for releasing the captive Decepticons to beat back the crowds. Ratbat pleads with the other Decepticons not to obey Autobot orders and, instead, to attack their old enemies then and there. [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] countermands that order, pointing out that they would easily be destroyed by an alliance of Autobots and NAILs. With their transformation capabilities and heaviest weapons disabled, the Decepticons use sheer brute force to push back the NAILs, and thereafter are held in line by Prowl's warning that they have each been fitted with remote-controlled detonator chips.

[[File:DoOP matrix bequeathed.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|Solomon Prime.]]
In despair, Optimus Prime addresses the entire populace of Cybertron. Though he means only the best for all of them, he grudgingly admits that in a way he himself has become just another aspect of endless war, and that he is willing to leave Cybertron forever in the hopes that its society will be able to restructure itself peacefully without him. As Optimus prepares for his departure, Rodimus and Bumblebee continue to disagree over the wisdom of manning an expedition to seek out the Knights of Cybertron and, in the end, decide to split their forces, with some Autobots going on the quest and others remaining behind to try to rebuild. Optimus Prime's last act among his old cohorts is to leave the empty halves of the Matrix shell in their hands.

On his lonely flight away from Cybertron, destined for parts unknown, the former leader of the Autobots reflects on how, for the first time in eons, he is no longer responsible for anyone else's life or death. At last, he feels free. Optimus Prime is dead; Orion Pax has been reborn.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sideswipe]] (5)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (6)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (7)
*[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (8)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] (9)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Wheeljack]] (10)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (13)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] (23)
*[[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (24)
*[[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] (26)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (27)
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (32)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] (33)
*[[Jazz (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jazz]] (34)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (35)
|c2=
*[[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]] (2)
*[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (12)
*[[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (15)
*[[Pounce]] or [[Wingspan]] (16)
*[[Horri-Bull]] (17)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] (18)
*[[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]] (19)
*[[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] (20)
*[[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] (21)
*[[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] (22)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]]? (28)
*Another Constructicon's foot (29)
*[[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] (30)
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (31)
|h3=[[NAIL]]s|c3=
*[[NAIL protester|Placard-carrying protestor]] (3)
*[[Tappet]] (4)
*[[Metalhawk (G1)|Metalhawk]] (14)
*[[Zetca]] (25)
|c4=
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (11)
}}

==Quotes==
"'''No!''' They're just '''using''' you! My Decepticons—we must '''rise''' against the '''Autobots!'''" 
"'''That's''' what you want? Attack and give the '''Autobots''' and these '''rioters''' something to unite against?" 
"You just don't '''understand''', Starscream." 
"Well, I understand why nobody's listened to '''Ratbat''' for four million years."
:—'''Ratbat''' doesn't get much respect from '''Starscream'''

"That '''mob''' outside? We owe them '''nothing!''' '''We're''' the ones who risked our lives against the Decepticons! Where was Metalhawk when [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] invaded [[Vos (polity)|Vos]], or—or blew up the '''[[Grand Imperium]]?''' But now that the smoke's cleared, they think they can just '''turn up and reclaim the planet?!''' I don't know what's worse—their '''arrogance''' or their '''cowardice!'''"
:—'''Prowl''' protests... too much

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Cyclonus protests that [[Infestation (IDW)|he shouldn't]] [[The Transformers: Heart of Darkness|be with the Decepticons]].
*Swindle [[Spotlight: Ultra Magnus|once]] [[Things Fall Apart, Part 1: "New Arrivals, Old Encounters"|again]] proposes to "make a deal". However, it doesn't fool Optimus Prime. Nice try, though.
*It would appear at least two members of [[The Circle of Light]] have made the journey back to Cybertron. They can be seen when Optimus has his run in with Tappet, and one tussles with Pounce or Wingspan before Prime’s speech.
*As he begins his speech, Optimus Prime calls back to "[[Chaos Theory Part 2]]" by answering the "three questions" that Megatron proposed should be asked of any governing body: in whose interests he exercises his power, to whom he is held accountable, and how they can get rid of him.
*Eleven small headshots decorate page 19, illustrating the crowd as they listen to Optimus Prime's speech. Ten are easily recognisable characters, with a monkey-like eleventh proving less familiar. It's easy to miss, but he's the [[NAIL protester|generic NAIL]] who appears in two other scenes carrying a placard (illustrated above). Why did he get singled out? Probably something to do with his [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|nasty fate]]...

===Transformers references===
*Sideswipe is now sporting a body based on the [[BotCon 2010]] [[Sideswipe (G1)/toys#Timelines|"customization class" toy]]: his [[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|2008 ''Universe'' body]] in his ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' colors. He's also wearing the bandolier and sword he wore in the ''Generation 2'' comics.
*A generic NAIL on page 16 has a striking resemblance to [[Barricade (Movie)|movie Barricade]]: a mostly black body with a partially bronze face as well as red and blue siren lights. This generic is seen being held by Ironhide in a sort of Full Nelson. On the IDW boards, Josh Burcham confirmed that while the character wasn't specified to be Barricade in the script, he looked so much like him that he used Barricade's colors.
*This is the first fiction Zetca's ever gotten. Though, as a [[Masterforce Warrior]], he should technically be a human. The alteration of organic characters into Cybertronians [[Brisko|would]] [[Boomer|become]] [[Ricochet (G1)|a]] [[Holepunch (G1)|wider]] [[Tracer (Targetmaster)|trend]] in the IDW continuity here on out.

===Real-life references===
*[[Tappet]] is based on the famous British children's book character {{w|Noddy (character)|Noddy}}, sporting his conical blue "hat" topped in a bell, red torso, blue "shorts", and coloured cheeks. Moreover, his visible [[alternate mode]] components, including a chest grill and large red wheel wells on his shoulders, indicate that he transforms into [http://www.google.com/search?q=noddy%27s+car&hl=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=uWrzTsfWNOOh4gTe9tGNCA&ved=0CGYQsAQ&biw=1320&bih=636 Noddy's car], itself one of the most well-known aspects of the character. He also shares the same character model (with the exception of his head) as [[Dipstick]].
*The [[Galactic Positioning System]] used by Optimus is a galaxy wide version of the Global Positioning System.

===Errors===
*Two typographic errors crop up on page 9; "Bubmlebee" and "befroe". These were not corrected in either the TPB, or the hardback IDW Collection.
*Many of the Decepticons are in new forms, some of which (Starscream, Soundwave) are based on the ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (franchise)|War for Cybertron]]'' versions of the characters. While this sort of thing was commonplace under the previous ongoing series, IDW had said that it wouldn't happen going forward. Indeed, the Autobots are still in their Earth forms and only switch to Cybertronian forms later. It's especially odd considering the Decepticons have apparently been in prison since the end of "[[Chaos (IDW)|Chaos]]".
*Optimus describes the Guiding Hand as an "alternative truth", secrets known only to him through his bond with the Matrix, which even professional historian Rewind was unaware of. However, Rewind DOES seem familiar with the Hand as of the [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|2012 ''More Than Meets the Eye'' annual]], and [[Springarm]] was citing members of the Hand to Orion Pax four million years ago in "[[Chaos Theory Part 2]]". Now, neither of them specifically referred to "The Guiding Hand" by name, but...

===Trivia===
*This issue was originally advertised as "issue #125", but was instead sold as a standalone one-shot with a banner that simply identified it as a "celebration" of 125 issues. This count includes all of IDW's different Generation 1 universe series, mini-series and one-shots, with the exception of crossover projects ''[[New Avengers/Transformers]]'' and ''[[Infestation (IDW)|Infestation]]''.
*This story's title is given in ''three'' different permutations throughout the issue: ''The Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime'' on the cover, ''The Transformers: Death of Optimus Prime'' in the indicia, and ''Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime'' in the story itself.
*An editorial note from Andy Schmidt quoted in the TPB states that the original title for the issue was to be "Schism", which was likely changed due to 2011's ''[[X-Men]]'' storyline of the same name.

===Foreign Localization===
'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Optimus Prime no Shi'''" (オプティマスプライムの死, "Death of Optimus Prime")

'''Swedish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Optimus Prime är Död...'''" (Optimus Prime is Dead...)

===Covers (4)===
*'''Cover A:''' Generation 1 Optimus Prime toy; photo by [[Viktor Deak]]
*'''Cover B:''' Homage to [[:File:MarvelUK-150.jpg|the cover of ''The Transformers'' (Marvel UK)#150]]; art by [[Nick Roche]] and colors by [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Cover RI-A:''' Homage to "[[The Transformers (issue)|The Transformers]]" cover; art by [[Livio Ramondelli]]
*'''Cover RI-B:''' Montage of covers of the previous 124 issues

<gallery>
File:TDOOP cvrA.jpg
File:TDOOP cvrB.jpg
File:TDOOP cvrRIA.jpg
File:TDOOP cvrRIB.jpg
</gallery>

===Advertisements===

===Collections===
*'''''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye]] Volume 1'' TPB''' ([[June 13]], [[2012]]) ISBN 1613772351 / ISBN 978-1613772355 
:*Contains "The Death of Optimus Prime" and issues #1 to #3 of ''More than Meets the Eye''.
:*Bonus material includes art from most covers, 12 promotional images, "Meet the Crew" page, design sketches from [[Alex Milne]] for various characters and ship locations, and a 2-page editor's comment with "behind the scenes" information about the series.

*'''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 1'' TPB''' (reissue) ([[May 21]], [[2014]]) ISBN 1613779658 / ISBN 978-1613779651
:*same content as above with new cover.

*'''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 1]]''''' ([[September 3]], 2014) ISBN 1631400401 / ISBN 978-1631400407
:*Includes "The Death of Optimus Prime", ''More than Meets the Eye'' #1–5, and ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' #1–6.

*'''''Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye'' Box Set''' ([[December 2]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631404741 / ISBN 978-1631404740
:*Contains ''More Than Meets the Eye'' Volumes 1 to 5 in a slipcover holder.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 52: The Death of Optimus Prime''''' ([[December 13]], [[2017]])
:* Hardcover collection of ''[[The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers vol. 1]]'' [[Chaos Part One: Lamentations|#24]], [[Chaos Part Two: Numbers|26]], [[Chaos Part Three: Kings|28]], [[Chaos Part Four: Genesis|30]], [[Pax Cybertronia (issue)|31]] and "The Death of Optimus Prime".
:* Bonus content includes an interview with [[James Roberts]] on how he worked his way up to become an ongoing writer, character design sketches by [[Livio Ramondelli]], a cover gallery and an intro by [[Simon Furman]].

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol1.jpg|'''''More than Meets the Eye''''' Vol. 1 TPB cover by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
File:MTMTE vol1 reissue.jpg|'''Reissue''' cover by [[Livio Ramondelli]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V1.jpg|'''''IDW Collection Phase 2 Vol. 1''''' cover by [[Saren Stone]]
File:MTMTE boxset.jpg|'''''More than Meets the Eye'' Box Set''' cover by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v52.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 52: The Death of Optimus Prime'''''; cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] (Prime) and Livio Ramondelli (retro)
</gallery>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Death of Optimus Prime}}
[[Category:IDW (2005) issues]]