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Legacy of Hope

2026-05-13T22:46:35Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Synopsis */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: EarthSpark (cartoon)|Transformers: EarthSpark]]'' ep 46
|image=EarthSpark-LegacyOfHope-Poster.jpg
|caption=
|prev=Hometown Heroes
|next=
|title="Legacy of Hope"
|season=4
|season ep=2
|airdate=[[December 5]], [[2025]] (Paramount+) TBA (Nickelodeon)
|production company=[[Hasbro Entertainment]] [[Nickelodeon]]
|writers=[[Ian Busch]] Dale Malinowski [[Greg Weisman]]
|animation studio=[[88 Pictures]]
|directors=[[Abe Audish]] [[Vinton Heuck|Vinton T. Heuck]] [[Scooter Tidwell]]
|video=
|videosite=
}}

'''Everyone goes to Cybertron where a familiar evil from Optimus's past is gathering power.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]: [[Hot Rod (ES)|Hot Rod]] arrives via [[Space bridge|Spacebridge]] carrying the [[Emberstone]], and is followed by [[Robby Malto|Robby]] and [[Mo Malto]] moments later. Hot Rod simply transforms and drives away, and Mo has to stop Robby's futile attempt at pursuit, insisting they need to go back and get backup. Menacing shapes close in on the two kids, forcing them to seek a hiding place, but the shelter they find is soon ripped away.

The rest of the Malto family along with [[Bumblebee (ES)|Bumblebee]] and [[Megatron (ES)|Megatron]] also arrive, and [[Alex Malto|Alex]] identifies their landing point as [[Praxus]], though the city appears to be in ruins. They head for a nearby secret [[Autobot]] base which [[Bumblebee (ES)|Bumblebee]] knows will have a [[Spark]] scanner. While they walk, [[Thrash (ES)|Thrash]] spots footprints and thinks they should follow the tracks, leading to an argument with Twitch which he acquiesces on. They eventually reach the base, but initial scans show no spark signatures in the city. As scans continue, Thrash attempts to use an Autobot secure channel to contact Optimus, but inadvertently attracts a horde of [[Sparkless]] to the building, forcing the group to fight until the scan can finish. Finally Bumblebee manages to lure the horde outside before the scan finishes, giving the team two possible leads: a dead zone where the scan has been blocked, and the location of two [[Decepticon]]s. Twitch and Thrash break into an argument over which of the two options is the best to pursue. It becomes more heated when Twitch realizes Thrash has told the others about her issue and ends with the pair deciding to pursue their chosen leads.

[[Hashtag (ES)|Hashtag]], Alex, Bumblebee and [[Nightshade (ES)|Nightshade]] join Twitch in heading towards the scan void and she grouses about her brother. Meanwhile Megatron, [[Dot Malto|Dot]] and [[Jawbreaker (ES)|Jawbreaker]] accompany Thrash to the location of the two Decepticons where Thrash scouts ahead to find there are actually three Transformers there. Twitch finds only a huge hole in the ground and she realizes she's led them to absolutely nothing and Thrash was right. The others try to cheer her up, but they're interrupted by the arrival of Decepticons, specifically [[Shockwave (ES)|Shockwave]]'s group returned from Earth, and a fight ensues.

The other group find the three Decepticons have gone, but are soon under attack by a group of identical bots — [[Mirage (ES)|Mirage]] and his holographic clones, and their attempts to convince the Autobot that they're on the same side fall on deactivated audio sensors. When Thrash gets comms from Twitch asking for help, his team is too busy fighting Mirage to go help. Dot suddenly spots human footprints on the ground and follows them to a nearby building where she finds Robby and Mo in [[exosuit]]s, getting the two kids to convince Mirage to stop fighting. Robby and Mo quickly fill the others in on what Hot Rod's done before wondering where everyone else is, causing Thrash to remember Twitch's earlier distress call. Meanwhile Twitch's team has reached an impasse with the Decepticons, but then a huge structure rises from the ground — Liege Maximo's fortress.

Optimus Prime is hauled in chains to a pod which opens revealing [[Liege Maximo]]. Optimus is shocked as he and the other Primes had long ago combined forces to trap Maximo in a void. Maximo reveals he's tracked down and destroyed the other Primes, wielding the [[Star Saber (Thirteen)|Star Saber]] as proof of [[Prima]]'s death. Maximo intends to use the power he's accumulated to take control of worlds and transform them into energon, and to this end he wants the [[Matrix of Leadership]] so he can command other life forms. He begins cutting into Optimus's chest, however the fortress has been invaded by Mirage, who is able to rescue Optimus, [[Elita-1 (ES)|Elita-1]] and [[Wheeljack (ES)|Wheeljack]], but Maximo prevents them from rescuing [[Prowl (ES)|Prowl]] and they're forced to leave without their comrade.

Thrash's group joins Twitch's team in the battle against the 'Cons, and they're soon also joined by Optimus Prime's group emerging from Maximo's fortress. Even with reinforcements, they're forced to flee when the 'Cons take Dot, Alex and Thrash hostage. The trio are taken before an unimpressed Maximo.

Mirage takes the others to [[Mirage's Garage]], an old converted Decepticon base. The Autobots observe they feel like they're low on energon, and Nightshade works out that it's as if Cybertron itself is leeching power from them — Mirage confirms that that's why everyone's joined "Team Liege". With few other options, they come up with a plan to get an energon refinery working again, and with the Cybertronians out of action bar Mirage, the task is assigned to the Terrans. Once they leave, Megatron realizes Maximo will need to take the Emberstone and [[Enigma of Combination]] to the [[Well of All Sparks|Well of Sparks]]. Optimus wants to go scout the area, but Megatron points out he needs to keep the Matrix safe, so instead Bumblebee heads out with Megatron and Elita-1. A short time later, Mo realizes Robby has gone — he's joined the trio, with Bumblebee reluctantly agreeing to let him tag along.

Twitch's team reaches the energon refinery where Nightshade effects repairs with the help of Wheeljack via comms. While this is happening, the rest of the team is jumped by [[Scorponok (ES)|Scorponok]] but keep him busy until Nightshade completes the fix. Scorponok tries to claim the energon in Liege Maximo's name, leading to him chasing the Terrans until Jawbreaker renders him unconscious. The group heads out into a sandstorm and begin making their way back to the garage.

Liege Maximo arrives at the Well of Sparks with Hot Rod and [[Soundwave (ES)|Soundwave]]. Bumblebee's group observes from a distance as Maximo pulls out the Enigma and Emberstone. Scorponok arrives and reports on events at the refinery, believing Twitch's team will have perished in the sandstorm. The group has, in fact, arrived back at the garage minus Twitch, who is lost in the sandstorm. At the Well, Robby sees his opportunity and goes for the Emberstone, only to be struck down by Maximo. The Enigma and Emberstone combine over the Well, producing a column of light and creating huge metal tendrils from the surface of Cybertron which spread to other nearby planets. Liege Maximo claims victory and demands to know where Optimus and the Matrix of Leadership are. When the team refuses to tell him, Liege pulls [[Triptych Mask|a staff]] from his chest and uses it to probe Robby's mind and discover the location of Mirage's Garage.

[[File:LegacyofHope-RequiemBlaster.jpg|left|thumb|300px]]

Still lost in the sandstorm, Twitch is knocked out by a piece of flying debris and finds herself in the presence of [[Quintus Prime]]. She berates him for not being there for her and insists he go talk to someone more worthy, but he instead leaves her with some words of inspiration. In the garage, Optimus is fading fast when Twitch arrives with the energon. Her warning about the incoming Decepticons allows them to ambush the 'Cons. This only gives them a small advantage, and Optimus's attempts to reason with Hot Rod don't go well. Finally Liege himself turns up and, pointing the [[Requiem Blaster (Thirteen)|Requiem Blaster]] at Optimus, demands the Matrix. Optimus reluctantly opens his chest to reveal an empty cavity. Maximo quickly works out that the missing Twitch has the Matrix and orders Hot Rod to go find her, shrugging off his request for energon. Hot Rod reacts by turning on Maximo.

Twitch arrives at Maximo's fortress with the energon from the refinery and frees everyone. Thrash is taken aback when Twitch is supportive of him, and heads off with Elita and Prowl to help Optimus. Twitch and the rest of the group stay to search as Twitch has sensed via the Matrix that someone is in great pain.

At the garage, Maximo beats Optimus severely until [[Swindle (ES)|Swindle]] suggests maybe they go look for Twitch, however Maximo is sure she'll turn up to help her family.

Twitch's group stumbles on the source of the feelings of pain she's been experiencing — the [[AllSpark]]! They're joined by Breakdown, but soon realize that the AllSpark is draining the energon out of everything and one due to a [[Liegian Darts|Liegian Dart]] stuck in the side of it. As a human, Robby is immune to the AllSpark's power and pulls the dart from it.

Liege Maximo terminates Optimus with the Star Saber, a state of affairs that lasts all of a second before Optimus is brought back online by the power of the AllSpark. The Decepticons, realizing Maximo has been lying to them about the AllSpark's destruction, turn on the Prime and blast him through the roof before leaving. Liege is still defiant before the Autobot/Malto forces, using the Star Saber to call in another horde of Sparkless. The team is able to take out the Sparkless, leaving just Maximo again, but he produces the [[Blades of Time]], intending to use them to turn Breakdown back to his side. Bumblebee throws himself in front of Breakdown and the blades regress him to an earlier form. Maximo then unleashes the Blades on Megatron while fighting Optimus, before terminating the former Decepticon leader with the Requiem Blaster. Maximo demands the Matrix and Twitch throws it to him before the Terrans all attack the evil Prime. Quickly realizing that the horns are his weak point, they manage to slice said horns off, resulting in Liege Maximo disappearing into a singularity.

The mechanical tendrils connecting the nearby worlds retract, freeing them. Optimus picks up the discarded Matrix and returns it to his chest, while Robby turns down Hot Rod's offer of the Emberstone back. They take Megatron's body to the AllSpark, which mends the hole in his chest however he is still dead. Jawbreaker announces he's staying on Cybertron for a while, and the family shares a hug, right as Megatron returns to life. Unfortunately the Blades of Time have regressed him to his hostile wartime self, and he immediately leaves through the Spacebridge. Twitch believes they can turn Megatron back to the side of good, and the team rolls out to go find him.

[['Til all are one]].

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Hot Rod (ES)|Hot Rod]] (1)
*[[Bumblebee (ES)|Bumblebee]] (11)
*[[Mirage (ES)|Mirage]] (14)
*[[Optimus Prime (ES)|Optimus Prime]] (25)
*[[Prowl (ES)|Prowl]] (28)
*[[Elita-1 (ES)|Elita-1]] (29)
*[[Wheeljack (ES)|Wheeljack]] (30)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (ES)|Megatron]] (12)
*[[Laserbeak (ES)|Laserbeak]] (15)
*[[Octopunch (ES)|Octopunch]] (16)
*[[Skullcruncher (ES)|Skullcruncher]] (17)
*[[Shrapnel (ES)|Shrapnel]] (18)
*[[Frenzy (ES)|Frenzy]] (19)
*[[Ravage (ES)|Ravage]] (20)
*[[Swindle (ES)|Swindle]] (21)
*[[Soundwave (ES)|Soundwave]] (22)
*[[Skywarp (ES)|Skywarp]] (23)
*[[Nova Storm (ES)|Nova Storm]] (24)
*[[Breakdown (ES)|Breakdown]] (26)
*[[Shockwave (ES)|Shockwave]] (27)
*[[Hardtop (ES)|Hardtop]] (31)
*[[Bombshell (ES)|Bombshell]] (33)
*[[Scorponok (ES)|Scorponok]] (34)

|c3=
*[[Robby Malto]] (2)
*[[Mo Malto]] (3)
*[[Dot Malto]] (4)
*[[Alex Malto]] (6)

|h4=[[Terran]]s||c4=
*[[Thrash (ES)|Thrash]] (5)
*[[Jawbreaker (ES)|Jawbreaker]] (7)
*[[Twitch]] (8)
*[[Hashtag (ES)|Hashtag]] (9)
*[[Nightshade (ES)|Nightshade]] (10)

|h5=Others||c5=
*[[Sparkless]] (13)
*[[Liege Maximo]] (32)
*[[Quintus Prime]] (35)
}}

==Quotes==
"There's one in our secret base not far from here." 
"The one in the polonium-packing district?" 
"Okay, make that a not-so-secret base."
:—'''Bumblebee''' and '''Megatron'''

"I can't believe I finally get to Cybertron and the planet tries to kill me."
:—'''Jawbreaker'''

"We have already won, because I dare to do what Optimus never had the courage to: show the universe our strength and have all kneel before us"
:—'''Liege Maximo'''

"You are not alone. Lifeforms gifted with reason eventually question themselves. Those who never do are dangerous. Twitch, what makes any of us strong is believing we can be."
:—'''Quintus Prime'''

"Optimus!? Follow me and I will '''lay my vengeance upon ''you''.'''"
:—'''Megatron''' after he returns to his wartime self upon reactivation thanks to the Blades of Time

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Twitch is continuing her issues from the previous episode of feeling useless because she was out of action during the battle against the [[Quintesson]]s.
* The [[AllSpark]] returns. We first learned in "[[Warzone]]" that Megatron threw the Allspark into the Space Bridge back in [[2007]] and had wondered ever since if it made it back to Cybertron. Well, it did... kinda.
* Breakdown standing guard over an imprisoned Bumblebee might be a role reversal from the Season 1 finale "[[The Last Hope, Part 2]]" when Bumblebee was outside of Breakdown's prison cell.

===Transformers references===
* The Earth side of the Space Bridge is the now-standard portal generator, but the Cybertron side is pulled straight from the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original cartoon]], a ring-like structure that opens at the front after the travelers beam down from the sky.
* The concept of Sparkless zombie-like Transformers originates in the [[Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy (cartoon)|''Transformers: War for Cybertron'' cartoon]].
* Liege Maximo originates from the [[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|''Generation 2'' Marvel comics]]. While he's had a few appearances in print since then, this is his first major role in an animated production.
* The tendrils interconnecting planets results in a structure that evokes the [[Hub (G2)|Hub]], Maximo’s project which was lightly touched on in G2 and explored in more detail in the unofficial [[Alignment]].
* The [[Exosuit]]s were first introduced in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
* Mirage's ability to multiply himself was popularized in ''[[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|Rise of the Beasts]]'', his more jokey light-hearted personality also seems to be based off his [[Mirage (Movie)|depiction from the film]].
* The staff Liege uses to probe Robby's memories is [[Onyx Prime]]'s [[Triptych Mask]], portrayed as a spear rather than an actual mask like it was in ''[[Transformers One (film)|Transformers One]]'' and the recent ''[[Transformers: Age of the Primes|Age of the Primes]]'' [[Onyx Prime#Age of the Primes|toy.]]
* The [[Requiem Blaster (Thirteen)|Requiem Blaster]] sports [[The Fallen]]'s unique [[insignia]] created for ''[[Power of the Primes (toyline)|Power of the Primes.]]''
* Speaking of The Fallen, Liege Maximo's given backstory of turning on the rest of the [[Thirteen]] and being imprisoned in another dimension is highly reminiscent of Megatronus’ usual story. They even mention having erased Maximo from history!
* Optimus Prime was apparently present for the Thirteen's defeat of Liege Maximo, all but stating that he himself was one of their number. Issue is, Prime himself stated in an [[Disarmed|earlier episode]] that he was once ''Orion Pax''. The probable intent was for him to have been reincarnated from the [[Thirteenth Prime]], like his [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Aligned continuity counterpart]], but this is never addressed on-screen.
* While probably not intentional, Hot Rod's portrayal as a reluctant follower of a system he knows is flawed while trying to do as much good as he can from the inside bears more than a little resemblance to his [[Hot Rod (G1)#Beast Wars: Uprising|portrayal]] in ''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]''.
* The [[Blades of Time]] are the artifact of [[Vector Prime]], though their portrayal here differs from past stories; in the novel ''[[Transformers: Exiles]]'' and guidebook ''[[Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus]]'', the Blades were used to open portals (to the [[Realm of the Primes]] and to [[Unicron]], respectively); rewinding time on an individual’s mind and body is new. Plus, they were slivers of metal that assembled into an hourglass shape, not ''[[Transformers: Legacy|Legacy]]'' [[Prowl (Animated)#Legacy|Prowl]]'s shuriken.
* Megatron's last line is a riff on his ''[[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Beast Wars]]''{{'}} counterpart famous quote from the opening of "[[Nemesis Part 2]]".

===Real-world references===
*

===Errors===
* Maximo mispronounces [[Prima]]'s name as “Pree-ma”.
* Why did the Decepticons seemingly build human-controllable exo-suits on Cybertron?
* If the Blades of Time can regress Bumblebee's body back to how it used to be, why didn't it do the same for Megatron? Megatron in the past said he adopted his tiltrotor aircraft alternate mode as a sign of good faith in his heel-face turn, we could probably chalk that up to the animators not having made a pre-Earth mode Megatron design but it does seem like an oversight.

===Trivia===
* [[Aaron LaPlante]] joins the cast of ''EarthSpark'' in this episode, but oddly, is only credited as "Additional Voices." This happened with [[Eric Bauza]] and [[Vanessa Marshall]] before him, and may suggest he was originally cast as one of the new characters featured in this special, only to be replaced after recording.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''L'espoir en héritage'''" ("Hope as a legacy")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 5]], 2025
::*[[Gilles Morvan]] does not return to dub Prowl's few lines, [[Fabrice Josso]] does not return to dub Wheeljack's line, and [[Sylvain Agaësse]] does not return to voice Shockwave's line. Who cares? It's only the big finale...
::*Still on that note, Breakdown changes voice again. And this, despite the presence of [[Arthur Pestel]], who voiced him in ''The Last Hope'', who dubs Hot Rod in this very episode. Who cares? It's only the big finale...

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Vermächtnis der Hoffnung'''"
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 4]], 2025
[[Category:EarthSpark episodes]]

Transformers (2023) issue 26

2025-11-23T19:03:01Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Errors */

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2023 comic)|Transformers]]'' #26
|prev=Transformers (2023) issue 25
|next=Transformers (2023) issue 27
|image=Transformers 2023 26 Cover A.jpg
|caption=
|title=
|publisher=[[Image Comics]] [[Skybound Entertainment]]
|date=[[November 12]], [[2025]]
|coverdate=November 2025
|written by=[[Robert Kirkman]]
|art by=[[Dan Mora]]
|colors by=[[Mike Spicer]]
|letters by=[[Rus Wooton]]
|editor=[[Ben Abernathy]]
|publication design=[[Andres Juarez]]
|production=[[Ashby Florence]]
|continuity=[[Energon Universe]]
|chronology=
}}

'''With new and unexpected allies alike, Optimus Prime must figure out how he and the Autobots will move forward on the path to ending their war.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] wildly opens fire on [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], still panicking after his experience in [[Cobra-La]] and screaming "DEATH TO THE AUTOBOTS!" He tries to remove [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] from [[Teletraan I|Teletraan-1]], but both Skywarp and the [[Autobot]]s warn him that doing so will kill Skywarp. Thankfully, his rampage is halted by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], who rips the [[incendiary gun]]s off his arms. Thundercracker blames the Autobots for Skywarp's condition, not believing them when they say they lacked the capability to undo what [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] did. However, [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] then returns, accompanied by [[General Flagg]] and his supply of [[Energon]].

Recognizing that Thundercracker still has some nobility in him, Optimus tells the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] that they will use their new resources to repair Skywarp. Magnus is concerned about showing this level of mercy to a [[Decepticon]], but Optimus insists they have to find common ground as Cybertronians if they are to have any hope of ending the war. Flagg commends Optimus on his conflict resolution skills, and Optimus introduces the rest of the Autobots to their new human ally. Wheeljack is initially wary of the General, but is thankful upon seeing the recovered bodies of [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] and [[Bulkhead (G1)|Bulkhead]]. As the two discuss the rebuilding efforts in [[Chicago]], Wheeljack proposes that - with enough resources - he could build the city into something brand new, with state of the art defense capabilities, an offer Flagg readily accepts.

Some time later, Wheeljack reports that he should be able to get Teletraan working again, offering to repair Optimus once he's done, but Optimus insists they start repairs with those who need them most, in this case Skywarp (despite objections from Wheeljack and Magnus, both still uneasy at the presence of Thundercracker). Optimus then shares some of their Energon with the imprisoned Soundwave, but the reception of his kindness is far chillier than Thundercracker's. Optimus questions why Soundwave would remain so loyal to the Decepticons after they abandoned him, but ultimately leaves his prisoner to his Energon.

In Chicago, the Autobots are still aiding in cleanup alongside [[Carly (G1)|Carly]] and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]]. [[Shredhead]] especially proves impressive to their new friends, managing to help [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] save a group of humans out from under some heavy debris. Meanwhile, at [[Shadow Watch]], [[Miles Mayhem]] examines the 3D scans that they took of Optimus Prime during his visit to their underground base. This will allow them to study the [[Transformer]]'s [[transformation]]. Mayhem asks the technician if he's shared this with General Flagg, believing the fewer people who know about this, the better. When the technician confirms Flagg doesn't, Mayhem pulls out a pistol and shoots him.

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] tasks [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] with venturing into Decepticon territory to recover the components of [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s [[space bridge]]. She sees it as an opportunity to redeem himself for his betrayal, but Cliffjumper insists he did the right thing to help [[Earth]]. Elita is tired of hearing about Earth, instead focusing on the plight of their fellow Autobots, many of whom lay in [[stasis lock]] around their base.

On the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'', Wheeljack has finished his repairs to both Teletraan and Skywarp. The Decepticon teleporter seems confused, but when Optimus tries to explain what happened, he attacks the Autobot leader. Wheeljack desperately tries to shield Teletraan from any stray blasts while Thundercracker tries to get his fellow Seeker to stop. However, it is to no avail, as Skywarp transforms and flies through the ship to escape. He comes across Soundwave, who tells him to return to the Decepticons and alert [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]. Thundercracker tries to talk Skywarp down, reminding him that it was their fellow Decepticons that mutilated Skywarp in the first place, but Skywarp insists that it was just desperation, and that things will return to normal with Megatron back. But Thundercracker refuses to go back, and so Skywarp simply transforms and flies away.

Aboard the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'', [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] have scoured the seafloor and found what little bits of Energon they could, bringing it before Megatron. Their leader is disappointed, as such a pittance is barely enough for his own repairs, let alone their entire forces. Scrapper suggests that they could overtake [[human]] energy generation and use that to create more Energon, but his suggestion is interrupted when Megatron falls to his knees, shrieking. The other Decepticons can do little else but look on as Megatron grabs his head in pain, his eyes glowing purple...

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks. 
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (1)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (2)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (5)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (6)
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (8)
* [[Bulkhead (G1)|Bulkhead]] (9)
* [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (11)
* [[Shredhead]] (13)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (14)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (16)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (17)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (20)
* [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] (21)
* [[Moonracer (G1)|Moonracer]] (22)
* [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (23)
* [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (24)
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (25)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (26)

|c2=
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (3)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (4)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (10)
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (27)
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (28)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (29)
* [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (30)
* [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (31)
* [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (32)
* [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (33)
* [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (34)

|c3=
* [[General Flagg]] (7)
* [[Carly (G1)|Carly]] (12)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (15)
* [[Miles Mayhem]] (18)
* [[Shadow Watch]] researcher (19)
}}

==Quotes==
"Optimus, is this wise?" 
"[[Thundercracker (G1)|He]] cares for his brethren, as we do. How can we ever hope to end the war if we cannot find common ground?" 
"I notice you said 'end', not 'win'." 
"Forgive me, friend. I find I cannot fathom an end to this conflict that would feel like a win."
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Optimus Prime'''

"It's okay. We're '''strong'''. We're going to get through this." 
"You sound just like him." 
"My dad?" 
"No. Optimus Prime."
:—'''Spike''' and '''Carly'''

"You always were '''weak'''. The Decepticons don't need you. You will not be missed."
:—'''Skywarp''' to Thundercracker

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Skywarp was cannibalized by Starscream and Soundwave to repair Teletraan-1 back in [[Transformers (2023) issue 4|issue #4]].
* Carly remarks that Spike is sounding more like Optimus Prime, possibly as a side effect of their connecting through the [[Matrix of Leadership]] in [[Transformers (2023) issue 22|issue #22]].
* Shockwave's space bridge was destroyed in [[Transformers (2023) issue 12|issue #12]], when Optimus blew it up to save Earth, but stranding Elita and Cliffjumper back on Cybertron.
* Kup was last seen getting blown up in Elita's assault on Shockwave's lab in [[Transformers (2023) issue 7|issue #7]] and his body was seen in [[Transformers (2023) issue 15|issue #15]] being left behind by [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] when he recovered [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]], claiming Kup was "gone." Evidently, Elita chose to recover him at some point, which is good since he isn't as gone as Streak believed.

===''Transformers'' references===
* Thundercracker uses his sonic boom attack, an ability first listed on his original [[Bob Budiansky]]-penned tech specs.
* Thundercracker's doubts about the Decepticon cause is an element pulled from his original profile. Past iterations have also played up this angle of the character, most notably his [[2005 IDW continuity]] [[Thundercracker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|incarnation]].
* Scrapper's suggestion that the Decepticons could use human-based energy generators is a callback to the Decepticons' usual Energon-harvesting schemes in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]].
* Mayhem having the schematics of Optimus Prime recalls the origins of a few [[Nemesis Prime (Prime)|previous]] [[Nemesis Prime (G1)#Alternators toy bio| man-made]] [[Nemesis Prime (AOE)| recreations]] of the Autobot leader.
* Following Mora's usual use of toys as references for drawing, the ''Nemesis'' is based on its [[Nemesis (G1)#Legacy_2|''Legacy'' toy]].

===''M.A.S.K.'' references===
* Miles Mayhem is fascinated by Optimus Prime's transformative abilities, clearly foreshadowing the development of the signature transforming vehicles of [[M.A.S.K.]] and [[V.E.N.O.M.]].

===Real life references===
* The helicopters delivering supplies to the ''Ark'' are {{w|Boeing CH-47 Chinook}}s.

===Errors===
* On the final two pages, the gun barrel on Megatron's back is colored black like his fusion cannon instead of the proper gray.
* On the penultimate page, a "Lorem ipsum" placeholder text is placed between the bottom panels.
* Mayhem has a full scan of Optimus Prime, despite the Autobot leader still not having a fully-repaired right arm.

===Other notes===
* Energon Experience: Presented by Skybound Executive Editor Ben Abernathy.
** '''Character Spotlight:''' Skywarp
** '''Not Your Kup of Tea:''' Don't worry readers, Kup did indeed survive his seemingly-fatal ordeal from issue #7.
** '''Creator Spotlight:''' Ben asks letterer Rus Wooton what his [[alternate mode]] would be. Wooton suggests an amphibious vehicle so he could go on land and water.

===Covers (9)===
* '''Cover A:''' Optimus Prime versus Thundercracker, by [[David Nakayama]]
* '''Cover B:''' Shredhead, by [[Daniel Warren Johnson]] and Mike Spicer.
* '''Cover C:''' Connecting cover, by [[Jorge Corona]] and Mike Spicer.
* '''Cover D:''' The Decepticons, by [[Kael Ngu]].
* '''Cover E:''' Design for Optimus Prime, by Dan Mora and [[Andres Juarez]].

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 26 Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 26 Cover B.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 26 Cover C.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 26 Cover D.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 26 Cover E.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 26 Comickaze Cover.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 26 The 616 Comics Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 26 The 616 Comics Cover B.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 26 John Giang Cover.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisement===
* Explore the Energon Universe in ''[[G.I. Joe (2024 comic)|G.I. Joe]]'' [[G.I. Joe (2024) issue 14|#14]] and [[G.I. Joe (2024) issue 15|#15]] and ''Transformers'' #27.
* The Quintesson War comes to ''[[Void Rivals]]'' [[Void Rivals issue 25|#25]]!
* ''The Art of ''Daniel Warren Johnson''
* ''Invincible Universe: Battle Beast'' Volume 1 TPB
* ''Blood & Thunder'' Volume 1 TPB

===Reprints===

==External links==

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Transformers (2023) issues]]

Transformers (2023) issue 21

2025-06-22T07:11:44Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Other trivia */

{{comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2023 comic)|Transformers]]'' #21
|prev=Transformers (2023) issue 20
|next=Transformers (2023) issue 22
|image=Transformers 2023 21 Cover B.jpg
|caption=
|title=
|publisher=[[Image Comics]] [[Skybound Entertainment]]
|date=[[June 11]], [[2025]]
|coverdate=June 2025
|written by=[[Daniel Warren Johnson]]
|art by=[[Jorge Corona]]
|colors by=[[Mike Spicer]]
|letters by=[[Rus Wooton]]
|editor=[[Ben Abernathy]]
|publication design=[[Andres Juarez]]
|production=[[Ashby Florence]]
|continuity=[[Energon Universe]]
|chronology=
}}

'''The Autobots are forced to make difficult choices to survive when the Decepticons launch an all-out assault on the ''Ark''!'''

==Synopsis==
[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] awakens in the depths of the [[United States military]] facility he's being kept in. The only person around is [[Doc (G.I. Joe)|Carl "Doc" Greer]], whom Magnus tentatively greets, to Doc's surprise. The two converse for a bit before the conversation is interrupted by the arrival of [[General Flagg]] with some sort of machine. Doc asks the general what he plans to do to Magnus, stating he's essentially a prisoner of war, but Flagg ignores his protests as he activates the machine. As the machine begins to whirr, Magnus pleads for them to stop.

[[File:TF2023 no. 21 - Enter Superion.jpg|thumb|left|150px|[[Superion (G1)#Age of the Primes|Coincidence?]] I think not!]]
On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] checks in with [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] and [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] as they work to repair [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s [[space bridge]], hoping to return to [[Earth]] and bring back [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. However, because of the damage to the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' side, the portal will require quadruple the [[Energon]] necessary to transport all of them; they only have enough to send one [[Autobot]] back. Elita goes to [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] and [[Shredhead]], as the little red bot tells the newly born warrior about his friend [[Carly (G1)|Carly]].

Back on Earth, the [[Decepticon]]s prepare to launch an assault on the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]''. Inside the Autobot base, [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] is examining Optimus, trying to figure out why the [[Matrix of Leadership]] hasn't recharged at all since its last use. As he looks over the scans, he deduces the cause to be some sort of infection coming from [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s arm. However, their examination is interrupted by the Decepticons' attack. The Autobots return fire with the aid of the ''Ark'''s weaponry, managing to even keep the bickering combiners [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] and [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] at bay. As the two sides duke it out, [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] emerges from his hiding place within the ''Ark'' and connects to the console where [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] resides.

The corruptive power of Megatron's arm grows on Optimus, to the point where he involuntarily turns his [[fusion cannon]] on [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]]. However, before he can do anything, Skywarp's teleportation ability activates, teleporting the entire ship to parts unknown and sending the Autobots falling into the caverns of the mountain left behind. The Decepticons converge on the Autobots, but they are saved by the timely intervention of the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]]s, who combine into [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] to take on Bruticus and Devastator. As the Autobots try to recover, Optimus realizes what Megatron's arm is doing to him; however, he is unable to remove it himself. He pleads with his troops to shoot it off of him before it is too late, orders they reluctantly follow, wounding their leader in the process. The Autobots then attempt to flee on the back of Superion. Megatron, having regained his lost appendage, transforms into his gun mode and uses Starscream to blast Superion, ripping [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] from the gestalt and instantly killing him. The Autobots are forced to leave him behind as they fly away. Megatron tells the Decepticons to prepare for conquest.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks. 
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (2)
* [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] (5)
* [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (6)
* [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (7)
* [[Shredhead]] (8)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (10)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (15)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (16)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (17)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (18)
* [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (20)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (21)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (25)
* [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (26)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (27)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (28)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (29)
* [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (30)

|c2=
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (11)
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (12)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (13)
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (14)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (17)
* [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] (22)
* [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (23)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (24)

|c3=
* [[Doc (G.I. Joe)|Doc]] (1)
* [[General Flagg]] (3)
* [[Caparzo]] (4)
* ''[[Carly (G1)|Carly]]'' (9, holographic image)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (19)
}}

==Quotes==
"What are you reading?" 
"It's something that makes me--used to make me feel safe in the face of things too big to comprehend." 
"Like me." 
"Something like that." 
"I was doing the same thing when building my compound. Protecting myself. I wasn't doing anything. To anyone. What are you going to do to me?"
:-'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Doc'''

"She '''does''' look fragile." 
"Well, yes...Carly's small. Just like me. I'm one of the smallest Autobots there is. But she made me realize how big I really am. How big...'''everything''' is. I wish I was stronger. Bigger." 
"Don't worry, Cliff. I'm strong enough for the both of us. '''And''' Carly."
:-'''Shredhead''' talks with '''Cliffjumper''' about Carly.

"Bruticus! Devastator! Pull your heads out of your scrapholes!" 
"But he said--" 
"'''I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR USELESS SQUABBLING!!''' Focus on the '''enemy''', not each other!"
:-'''Megatron''' breaks up '''Bruticus's''' sibling fight with Devastator.

"You are an incredible warrior, Prime. But deep down, I always knew there was weakness inside you."
:-'''Megatron'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* General Flagg first appeared in the Energon Universe in ''[[Destro (comic)|Destro]]'' [[Destro issue 3|#3]], where he gave [[Destro|the titular arms manufacturer]] access to government secrets about [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]]'s encounter with Starscream from back in [[Transformers (2023) issue 2|issue #2]]. At the time, there was no indication that Flagg had any explicit connections to the G.I. Joe team that [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Colonel Hawk]] was assembling, but this issue confirms that he is at least part of the larger organization.
* Shockwave used the space bridge to connect Cybertron and Earth in [[Transformers (2023) issue 9|issue #9]]. Optimus destroyed it to prevent the harvesting of Earth, trapping Elita and Cliffjumper on Cybertron in the process, in [[Transformers (2023) issue 12|issue #12]].
* When last we saw Megatron at the end of the previous issue, his eyes were still damaged, but he's gotten them back this issue. Evidently, he must've had them repaired just after killing [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]].
* Skywarp's teleportation power was previously tapped into in [[Transformers (2023) issue 11|issue #11]] when Wheeljack used it to transport them directly into the brig of the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]''.
* The corrupting influence of Megatron's arm, which the Autobot leader used to replace the one he lost fighting Skywarp in [[Transformers (2023) issue 4|issue #4]], on Optimus has been growing steadily since the events of issue #12. As to ''how'' it's been corrupting Optimus, it can be easily surmised that it's the result of some residual energy from the "dark opposite" to the Matrix bestowed upon Megatron in the issue-long flashback from [[Transformers (2023) issue 19|issue #19]].
* Thundercracker snuck into the ''Ark'' in [[Transformers (2023) issue 17|issue #17]].
* Ultra Magnus’s antennas and Starscream’s new legs are both still blue.

===''Transformers'' references===
* This isn't the first time Slingshot has been taken out of the Aerialbots' lineup. Will [[Airazor (Universe)|Airazor]] or [[Alpha Bravo]] get their chance to shine? (Probably not.)
* Soundwave's design on [[Len Nicholas]]'s cover is a dead ringer for his [[Blokees]] ''[[Soundwave (G1)/merchandise#Galaxy Version|Galaxy Version]]'' model kit. Considering the way the cover's drawn and framed, it's likely Nicholas used a photo of the kit as direct reference for the art.

===Real life references===
* Caparzo might be named for the character of Private Adrian Carpazo from ''{{w|Saving Private Ryan}}''.

===Other trivia===
* You guessed it: it's time for "What will Daniel Warren Johnson tease in the letters pages this time?"
** Johnson confirms that he's not planning on introducing another comic-original Decepticon before his time on the series ends.
** In rapid succession, Johnson says he "CANNOT SAY" if we'll know who [[Dezimir]]'s master is before the end of this arc, confirms that the cast is fairly locked-in at this point (but teases "more to come" in [[Transformers (2023) issue 25|issue #25]], the first issue following his departure), de-confirms [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] due to already having so much combiner representation, and teases Optimus' origins by saying that he didn't have the Matrix when his [[spark]] came into being.
* This issue's back-matter introduces a new feature in the Energon Universe line: a "behind-the-scenes"-esque page called "Energon Experience", headed by editor [[Ben Abernathy]]. In addition to an introduction by Abernathy and a checklist of the Energon Universe issues and trade collections releasing that month, this edition of Energon Experience also has three spotlight sections, which are:
** '''Character Spotlight:''' A brief overview of Ultra Magnus and what's going on with him right now.
** '''Doc's The Name:''' A section on Doc's introduction in issue #20, along with some concept art of him in military garb.
** '''Creator Q&A:''' Ben asks Daniel Warren Johnson what alt-mode he'd turn into if he had one, and Johnson says he'd be a guitar. Quick, someone tell him about [[Laserbeak (Animated)|''Animated'' Laserbeak]]!
* In a funny coincidence, Slingshot's death in this issue comes just a few months after his latest toy in the ''[[Transformers: Age of the Primes|Age of the Primes]]'' was released. Talk about awkward timing...
** It's also not the first time the Aerialbots have specifically lost Slingshot either, as he was killed off in IDW's [[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers: Robots in Disguise]] in order to market his replacement, the new Aerialbot [[Alpha Bravo|Alpha Bravo]], for the then-upcoming ''[[Combiner Wars (toyline)|Combiner Wars]]'' toyline.
* After Megatron slaps Starscream, the [[seeker]] is shown bleeding some green fluid from his mouth. We know that [[energon]] is pink in this continuity, so what could it be? Optimus does refer to bile at another point in the issue, and Starscream is a rather bilious character...
* At different points, Bruticus refers to Devastator as 'they' (page 8) and 'he' (page 11), so the pronouns of combiners remain unclear.
* Warpath makes a throwaway comment about being tickled. This throws up a bizarre mental image, as one wonders how a [[Cybertronian]] could be tickled.

===Covers===
* '''Cover A:''' Shredhead, Cliffjumper, and Elita One, by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer.
* '''Cover B:''' Optimus gets Megatron's arm blown off, by Jorge Corona and Mike Spicer.
* '''Cover C:''' Connecting cover by [[David Nakayama]].
* '''Cover D:''' The Decepticons, by [[Derrick Chew.]]
* '''Cover E:''' Starscream in jet mode, by [[Pye Parr]].
* '''Cover F:''' Energon Universe Anniversary connecting cover, by [[Jason Howard]] and [[Annalisa Leoni]].
* '''Cover G:''' Energon Universe Anniversary connecting cover (black and white), by Jason Howard.
* '''The 616 Comics Cover A:''' Connecting cover by [[Tiago da Silva]].
* '''The 616 Comics Cover B:''' The other half of Tiago da Silva's connecting cover.
* '''MBartist Cover:''' Chibi-style versions of Soundwave, Laserbeak, [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], and [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]], by Len Nicholas.

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 21 Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 21 Cover B.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 21 Cover C.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 21 Cover D.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 21 Cover E.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 21 Cover F.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 21 Cover G.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 21 The 616 Comics Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 21 The 616 Comics Cover B.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 21 MBartist Cover.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* Explore the Energon Universe in ''[[G.I. Joe (2024 comic)|G.I. Joe]]'' [[G.I. Joe (2024) issue 8|#8]], ''[[Void Rivals]]'' [[Void Rivals issue 20|#20]], and ''Transformers'' #22.
* Energon Experience feature
* 4-page preview of ''Ghost Pepper''

===Reprints===
* '''''Transformers Volume 4: Conquer and Control''''' ([[November 25]], [[2025]]) ISBN 1534332588 / ISBN 978-1534332584 
** Collects ''Transformers'' issues #19–24 and the [[Transformers Energon Universe 2025 Special story|''Transformers'' story]] from ''[[Energon Universe 2025 Special]]''.
** Trade paperback format.

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 V4.jpg|'''''Volume 4: Conquer and Control''''' – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Transformers (2023) issues]]

Transformers (2023) issue 21

2025-06-22T07:08:53Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Other trivia */

{{comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2023 comic)|Transformers]]'' #21
|prev=Transformers (2023) issue 20
|next=Transformers (2023) issue 22
|image=Transformers 2023 21 Cover B.jpg
|caption=
|title=
|publisher=[[Image Comics]] [[Skybound Entertainment]]
|date=[[June 11]], [[2025]]
|coverdate=June 2025
|written by=[[Daniel Warren Johnson]]
|art by=[[Jorge Corona]]
|colors by=[[Mike Spicer]]
|letters by=[[Rus Wooton]]
|editor=[[Ben Abernathy]]
|publication design=[[Andres Juarez]]
|production=[[Ashby Florence]]
|continuity=[[Energon Universe]]
|chronology=
}}

'''The Autobots are forced to make difficult choices to survive when the Decepticons launch an all-out assault on the ''Ark''!'''

==Synopsis==
[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] awakens in the depths of the [[United States military]] facility he's being kept in. The only person around is [[Doc (G.I. Joe)|Carl "Doc" Greer]], whom Magnus tentatively greets, to Doc's surprise. The two converse for a bit before the conversation is interrupted by the arrival of [[General Flagg]] with some sort of machine. Doc asks the general what he plans to do to Magnus, stating he's essentially a prisoner of war, but Flagg ignores his protests as he activates the machine. As the machine begins to whirr, Magnus pleads for them to stop.

[[File:TF2023 no. 21 - Enter Superion.jpg|thumb|left|150px|[[Superion (G1)#Age of the Primes|Coincidence?]] I think not!]]
On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] checks in with [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] and [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] as they work to repair [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s [[space bridge]], hoping to return to [[Earth]] and bring back [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. However, because of the damage to the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' side, the portal will require quadruple the [[Energon]] necessary to transport all of them; they only have enough to send one [[Autobot]] back. Elita goes to [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] and [[Shredhead]], as the little red bot tells the newly born warrior about his friend [[Carly (G1)|Carly]].

Back on Earth, the [[Decepticon]]s prepare to launch an assault on the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]''. Inside the Autobot base, [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] is examining Optimus, trying to figure out why the [[Matrix of Leadership]] hasn't recharged at all since its last use. As he looks over the scans, he deduces the cause to be some sort of infection coming from [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s arm. However, their examination is interrupted by the Decepticons' attack. The Autobots return fire with the aid of the ''Ark'''s weaponry, managing to even keep the bickering combiners [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] and [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] at bay. As the two sides duke it out, [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] emerges from his hiding place within the ''Ark'' and connects to the console where [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] resides.

The corruptive power of Megatron's arm grows on Optimus, to the point where he involuntarily turns his [[fusion cannon]] on [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]]. However, before he can do anything, Skywarp's teleportation ability activates, teleporting the entire ship to parts unknown and sending the Autobots falling into the caverns of the mountain left behind. The Decepticons converge on the Autobots, but they are saved by the timely intervention of the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]]s, who combine into [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] to take on Bruticus and Devastator. As the Autobots try to recover, Optimus realizes what Megatron's arm is doing to him; however, he is unable to remove it himself. He pleads with his troops to shoot it off of him before it is too late, orders they reluctantly follow, wounding their leader in the process. The Autobots then attempt to flee on the back of Superion. Megatron, having regained his lost appendage, transforms into his gun mode and uses Starscream to blast Superion, ripping [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] from the gestalt and instantly killing him. The Autobots are forced to leave him behind as they fly away. Megatron tells the Decepticons to prepare for conquest.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks. 
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (2)
* [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] (5)
* [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (6)
* [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (7)
* [[Shredhead]] (8)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (10)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (15)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (16)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (17)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (18)
* [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (20)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (21)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (25)
* [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (26)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (27)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (28)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (29)
* [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (30)

|c2=
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (11)
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (12)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (13)
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (14)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (17)
* [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] (22)
* [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (23)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (24)

|c3=
* [[Doc (G.I. Joe)|Doc]] (1)
* [[General Flagg]] (3)
* [[Caparzo]] (4)
* ''[[Carly (G1)|Carly]]'' (9, holographic image)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (19)
}}

==Quotes==
"What are you reading?" 
"It's something that makes me--used to make me feel safe in the face of things too big to comprehend." 
"Like me." 
"Something like that." 
"I was doing the same thing when building my compound. Protecting myself. I wasn't doing anything. To anyone. What are you going to do to me?"
:-'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Doc'''

"She '''does''' look fragile." 
"Well, yes...Carly's small. Just like me. I'm one of the smallest Autobots there is. But she made me realize how big I really am. How big...'''everything''' is. I wish I was stronger. Bigger." 
"Don't worry, Cliff. I'm strong enough for the both of us. '''And''' Carly."
:-'''Shredhead''' talks with '''Cliffjumper''' about Carly.

"Bruticus! Devastator! Pull your heads out of your scrapholes!" 
"But he said--" 
"'''I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR USELESS SQUABBLING!!''' Focus on the '''enemy''', not each other!"
:-'''Megatron''' breaks up '''Bruticus's''' sibling fight with Devastator.

"You are an incredible warrior, Prime. But deep down, I always knew there was weakness inside you."
:-'''Megatron'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* General Flagg first appeared in the Energon Universe in ''[[Destro (comic)|Destro]]'' [[Destro issue 3|#3]], where he gave [[Destro|the titular arms manufacturer]] access to government secrets about [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]]'s encounter with Starscream from back in [[Transformers (2023) issue 2|issue #2]]. At the time, there was no indication that Flagg had any explicit connections to the G.I. Joe team that [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Colonel Hawk]] was assembling, but this issue confirms that he is at least part of the larger organization.
* Shockwave used the space bridge to connect Cybertron and Earth in [[Transformers (2023) issue 9|issue #9]]. Optimus destroyed it to prevent the harvesting of Earth, trapping Elita and Cliffjumper on Cybertron in the process, in [[Transformers (2023) issue 12|issue #12]].
* When last we saw Megatron at the end of the previous issue, his eyes were still damaged, but he's gotten them back this issue. Evidently, he must've had them repaired just after killing [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]].
* Skywarp's teleportation power was previously tapped into in [[Transformers (2023) issue 11|issue #11]] when Wheeljack used it to transport them directly into the brig of the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]''.
* The corrupting influence of Megatron's arm, which the Autobot leader used to replace the one he lost fighting Skywarp in [[Transformers (2023) issue 4|issue #4]], on Optimus has been growing steadily since the events of issue #12. As to ''how'' it's been corrupting Optimus, it can be easily surmised that it's the result of some residual energy from the "dark opposite" to the Matrix bestowed upon Megatron in the issue-long flashback from [[Transformers (2023) issue 19|issue #19]].
* Thundercracker snuck into the ''Ark'' in [[Transformers (2023) issue 17|issue #17]].
* Ultra Magnus’s antennas and Starscream’s new legs are both still blue.

===''Transformers'' references===
* This isn't the first time Slingshot has been taken out of the Aerialbots' lineup. Will [[Airazor (Universe)|Airazor]] or [[Alpha Bravo]] get their chance to shine? (Probably not.)
* Soundwave's design on [[Len Nicholas]]'s cover is a dead ringer for his [[Blokees]] ''[[Soundwave (G1)/merchandise#Galaxy Version|Galaxy Version]]'' model kit. Considering the way the cover's drawn and framed, it's likely Nicholas used a photo of the kit as direct reference for the art.

===Real life references===
* Caparzo might be named for the character of Private Adrian Carpazo from ''{{w|Saving Private Ryan}}''.

===Other trivia===
* You guessed it: it's time for "What will Daniel Warren Johnson tease in the letters pages this time?"
** Johnson confirms that he's not planning on introducing another comic-original Decepticon before his time on the series ends.
** In rapid succession, Johnson says he "CANNOT SAY" if we'll know who [[Dezimir]]'s master is before the end of this arc, confirms that the cast is fairly locked-in at this point (but teases "more to come" in [[Transformers (2023) issue 25|issue #25]], the first issue following his departure), de-confirms [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] due to already having so much combiner representation, and teases Optimus' origins by saying that he didn't have the Matrix when his [[spark]] came into being.
* This issue's back-matter introduces a new feature in the Energon Universe line: a "behind-the-scenes"-esque page called "Energon Experience", headed by editor [[Ben Abernathy]]. In addition to an introduction by Abernathy and a checklist of the Energon Universe issues and trade collections releasing that month, this edition of Energon Experience also has three spotlight sections, which are:
** '''Character Spotlight:''' A brief overview of Ultra Magnus and what's going on with him right now.
** '''Doc's The Name:''' A section on Doc's introduction in issue #20, along with some concept art of him in military garb.
** '''Creator Q&A:''' Ben asks Daniel Warren Johnson what alt-mode he'd turn into if he had one, and Johnson says he'd be a guitar. Quick, someone tell him about [[Laserbeak (Animated)|''Animated'' Laserbeak]]!
* In a funny coincidence, Slingshot's death in this issue comes just a few months after his latest toy in the ''[[Transformers: Age of the Primes|Age of the Primes]]'' was released. Talk about awkward timing...
** It's also not the first time the Aerialbots have specifically lost Slingshot either, as he was killed off in IDW's [[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers: Robots in Disguise]] in order to market his replacement, the new Aerialbot [[Alpha Bravo|Alpha Bravo]], for the then-upcoming ''[[Combiner Wars (toyline)|Combiner Wars]]'' toyline.
* After Megatron slaps Starscream, the [[seeker]] is shown bleeding some green fluid from his mouth. We know that [[energon]] is pink in this continuity, so what could it be? Optimus does refer to bile at another point in the issue, and Starscream is a rather bilious character...
* At different points, Bruticus refers to Devastator as 'they' (page 8) and 'he' (page 11), so the pronouns of combiners remain unclear.

===Covers===
* '''Cover A:''' Shredhead, Cliffjumper, and Elita One, by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer.
* '''Cover B:''' Optimus gets Megatron's arm blown off, by Jorge Corona and Mike Spicer.
* '''Cover C:''' Connecting cover by [[David Nakayama]].
* '''Cover D:''' The Decepticons, by [[Derrick Chew.]]
* '''Cover E:''' Starscream in jet mode, by [[Pye Parr]].
* '''Cover F:''' Energon Universe Anniversary connecting cover, by [[Jason Howard]] and [[Annalisa Leoni]].
* '''Cover G:''' Energon Universe Anniversary connecting cover (black and white), by Jason Howard.
* '''The 616 Comics Cover A:''' Connecting cover by [[Tiago da Silva]].
* '''The 616 Comics Cover B:''' The other half of Tiago da Silva's connecting cover.
* '''MBartist Cover:''' Chibi-style versions of Soundwave, Laserbeak, [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], and [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]], by Len Nicholas.

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 21 Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 21 Cover B.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 21 Cover C.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 21 Cover D.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 21 Cover E.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 21 Cover F.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 21 Cover G.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 21 The 616 Comics Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 21 The 616 Comics Cover B.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 21 MBartist Cover.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* Explore the Energon Universe in ''[[G.I. Joe (2024 comic)|G.I. Joe]]'' [[G.I. Joe (2024) issue 8|#8]], ''[[Void Rivals]]'' [[Void Rivals issue 20|#20]], and ''Transformers'' #22.
* Energon Experience feature
* 4-page preview of ''Ghost Pepper''

===Reprints===
* '''''Transformers Volume 4: Conquer and Control''''' ([[November 25]], [[2025]]) ISBN 1534332588 / ISBN 978-1534332584 
** Collects ''Transformers'' issues #19–24 and the [[Transformers Energon Universe 2025 Special story|''Transformers'' story]] from ''[[Energon Universe 2025 Special]]''.
** Trade paperback format.

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 V4.jpg|'''''Volume 4: Conquer and Control''''' – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Transformers (2023) issues]]

Transformers (2023) issue 21

2025-06-22T07:08:35Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Other trivia */

{{comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2023 comic)|Transformers]]'' #21
|prev=Transformers (2023) issue 20
|next=Transformers (2023) issue 22
|image=Transformers 2023 21 Cover B.jpg
|caption=
|title=
|publisher=[[Image Comics]] [[Skybound Entertainment]]
|date=[[June 11]], [[2025]]
|coverdate=June 2025
|written by=[[Daniel Warren Johnson]]
|art by=[[Jorge Corona]]
|colors by=[[Mike Spicer]]
|letters by=[[Rus Wooton]]
|editor=[[Ben Abernathy]]
|publication design=[[Andres Juarez]]
|production=[[Ashby Florence]]
|continuity=[[Energon Universe]]
|chronology=
}}

'''The Autobots are forced to make difficult choices to survive when the Decepticons launch an all-out assault on the ''Ark''!'''

==Synopsis==
[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] awakens in the depths of the [[United States military]] facility he's being kept in. The only person around is [[Doc (G.I. Joe)|Carl "Doc" Greer]], whom Magnus tentatively greets, to Doc's surprise. The two converse for a bit before the conversation is interrupted by the arrival of [[General Flagg]] with some sort of machine. Doc asks the general what he plans to do to Magnus, stating he's essentially a prisoner of war, but Flagg ignores his protests as he activates the machine. As the machine begins to whirr, Magnus pleads for them to stop.

[[File:TF2023 no. 21 - Enter Superion.jpg|thumb|left|150px|[[Superion (G1)#Age of the Primes|Coincidence?]] I think not!]]
On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] checks in with [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] and [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] as they work to repair [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s [[space bridge]], hoping to return to [[Earth]] and bring back [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. However, because of the damage to the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' side, the portal will require quadruple the [[Energon]] necessary to transport all of them; they only have enough to send one [[Autobot]] back. Elita goes to [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] and [[Shredhead]], as the little red bot tells the newly born warrior about his friend [[Carly (G1)|Carly]].

Back on Earth, the [[Decepticon]]s prepare to launch an assault on the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]''. Inside the Autobot base, [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] is examining Optimus, trying to figure out why the [[Matrix of Leadership]] hasn't recharged at all since its last use. As he looks over the scans, he deduces the cause to be some sort of infection coming from [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s arm. However, their examination is interrupted by the Decepticons' attack. The Autobots return fire with the aid of the ''Ark'''s weaponry, managing to even keep the bickering combiners [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] and [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] at bay. As the two sides duke it out, [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] emerges from his hiding place within the ''Ark'' and connects to the console where [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] resides.

The corruptive power of Megatron's arm grows on Optimus, to the point where he involuntarily turns his [[fusion cannon]] on [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]]. However, before he can do anything, Skywarp's teleportation ability activates, teleporting the entire ship to parts unknown and sending the Autobots falling into the caverns of the mountain left behind. The Decepticons converge on the Autobots, but they are saved by the timely intervention of the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]]s, who combine into [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] to take on Bruticus and Devastator. As the Autobots try to recover, Optimus realizes what Megatron's arm is doing to him; however, he is unable to remove it himself. He pleads with his troops to shoot it off of him before it is too late, orders they reluctantly follow, wounding their leader in the process. The Autobots then attempt to flee on the back of Superion. Megatron, having regained his lost appendage, transforms into his gun mode and uses Starscream to blast Superion, ripping [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] from the gestalt and instantly killing him. The Autobots are forced to leave him behind as they fly away. Megatron tells the Decepticons to prepare for conquest.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks. 
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (2)
* [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] (5)
* [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (6)
* [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (7)
* [[Shredhead]] (8)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (10)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (15)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (16)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (17)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (18)
* [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (20)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (21)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (25)
* [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (26)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (27)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (28)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (29)
* [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (30)

|c2=
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (11)
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (12)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (13)
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (14)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (17)
* [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] (22)
* [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (23)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (24)

|c3=
* [[Doc (G.I. Joe)|Doc]] (1)
* [[General Flagg]] (3)
* [[Caparzo]] (4)
* ''[[Carly (G1)|Carly]]'' (9, holographic image)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (19)
}}

==Quotes==
"What are you reading?" 
"It's something that makes me--used to make me feel safe in the face of things too big to comprehend." 
"Like me." 
"Something like that." 
"I was doing the same thing when building my compound. Protecting myself. I wasn't doing anything. To anyone. What are you going to do to me?"
:-'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Doc'''

"She '''does''' look fragile." 
"Well, yes...Carly's small. Just like me. I'm one of the smallest Autobots there is. But she made me realize how big I really am. How big...'''everything''' is. I wish I was stronger. Bigger." 
"Don't worry, Cliff. I'm strong enough for the both of us. '''And''' Carly."
:-'''Shredhead''' talks with '''Cliffjumper''' about Carly.

"Bruticus! Devastator! Pull your heads out of your scrapholes!" 
"But he said--" 
"'''I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR USELESS SQUABBLING!!''' Focus on the '''enemy''', not each other!"
:-'''Megatron''' breaks up '''Bruticus's''' sibling fight with Devastator.

"You are an incredible warrior, Prime. But deep down, I always knew there was weakness inside you."
:-'''Megatron'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* General Flagg first appeared in the Energon Universe in ''[[Destro (comic)|Destro]]'' [[Destro issue 3|#3]], where he gave [[Destro|the titular arms manufacturer]] access to government secrets about [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]]'s encounter with Starscream from back in [[Transformers (2023) issue 2|issue #2]]. At the time, there was no indication that Flagg had any explicit connections to the G.I. Joe team that [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Colonel Hawk]] was assembling, but this issue confirms that he is at least part of the larger organization.
* Shockwave used the space bridge to connect Cybertron and Earth in [[Transformers (2023) issue 9|issue #9]]. Optimus destroyed it to prevent the harvesting of Earth, trapping Elita and Cliffjumper on Cybertron in the process, in [[Transformers (2023) issue 12|issue #12]].
* When last we saw Megatron at the end of the previous issue, his eyes were still damaged, but he's gotten them back this issue. Evidently, he must've had them repaired just after killing [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]].
* Skywarp's teleportation power was previously tapped into in [[Transformers (2023) issue 11|issue #11]] when Wheeljack used it to transport them directly into the brig of the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]''.
* The corrupting influence of Megatron's arm, which the Autobot leader used to replace the one he lost fighting Skywarp in [[Transformers (2023) issue 4|issue #4]], on Optimus has been growing steadily since the events of issue #12. As to ''how'' it's been corrupting Optimus, it can be easily surmised that it's the result of some residual energy from the "dark opposite" to the Matrix bestowed upon Megatron in the issue-long flashback from [[Transformers (2023) issue 19|issue #19]].
* Thundercracker snuck into the ''Ark'' in [[Transformers (2023) issue 17|issue #17]].
* Ultra Magnus’s antennas and Starscream’s new legs are both still blue.

===''Transformers'' references===
* This isn't the first time Slingshot has been taken out of the Aerialbots' lineup. Will [[Airazor (Universe)|Airazor]] or [[Alpha Bravo]] get their chance to shine? (Probably not.)
* Soundwave's design on [[Len Nicholas]]'s cover is a dead ringer for his [[Blokees]] ''[[Soundwave (G1)/merchandise#Galaxy Version|Galaxy Version]]'' model kit. Considering the way the cover's drawn and framed, it's likely Nicholas used a photo of the kit as direct reference for the art.

===Real life references===
* Caparzo might be named for the character of Private Adrian Carpazo from ''{{w|Saving Private Ryan}}''.

===Other trivia===
* You guessed it: it's time for "What will Daniel Warren Johnson tease in the letters pages this time?"
** Johnson confirms that he's not planning on introducing another comic-original Decepticon before his time on the series ends.
** In rapid succession, Johnson says he "CANNOT SAY" if we'll know who [[Dezimir]]'s master is before the end of this arc, confirms that the cast is fairly locked-in at this point (but teases "more to come" in [[Transformers (2023) issue 25|issue #25]], the first issue following his departure), de-confirms [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] due to already having so much combiner representation, and teases Optimus' origins by saying that he didn't have the Matrix when his [[spark]] came into being.
* This issue's back-matter introduces a new feature in the Energon Universe line: a "behind-the-scenes"-esque page called "Energon Experience", headed by editor [[Ben Abernathy]]. In addition to an introduction by Abernathy and a checklist of the Energon Universe issues and trade collections releasing that month, this edition of Energon Experience also has three spotlight sections, which are:
** '''Character Spotlight:''' A brief overview of Ultra Magnus and what's going on with him right now.
** '''Doc's The Name:''' A section on Doc's introduction in issue #20, along with some concept art of him in military garb.
** '''Creator Q&A:''' Ben asks Daniel Warren Johnson what alt-mode he'd turn into if he had one, and Johnson says he'd be a guitar. Quick, someone tell him about [[Laserbeak (Animated)|''Animated'' Laserbeak]]!
* In a funny coincidence, Slingshot's death in this issue comes just a few months after his latest toy in the ''[[Transformers: Age of the Primes|Age of the Primes]]'' was released. Talk about awkward timing...
** It's also not the first time the Aerialbots have specifically lost Slingshot either, as he was killed off in IDW's [[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers: Robots in Disguise]] in order to market his replacement, the new Aerialbot [[Alpha Bravo|Alpha Bravo]], for the then-upcoming ''[[Combiner Wars (toyline)|Combiner Wars]]'' toyline.
** After Megatron slaps Starscream, the [[seeker]] is shown bleeding some green fluid from his mouth. We know that [[energon]] is pink in this continuity, so what could it be? Optimus does refer to bile at another point in the issue, and Starscream is a rather bilious character...
** At different points, Bruticus refers to Devastator as 'they' (page 8) and 'he' (page 11), so the pronouns of combiners remain unclear.

===Covers===
* '''Cover A:''' Shredhead, Cliffjumper, and Elita One, by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer.
* '''Cover B:''' Optimus gets Megatron's arm blown off, by Jorge Corona and Mike Spicer.
* '''Cover C:''' Connecting cover by [[David Nakayama]].
* '''Cover D:''' The Decepticons, by [[Derrick Chew.]]
* '''Cover E:''' Starscream in jet mode, by [[Pye Parr]].
* '''Cover F:''' Energon Universe Anniversary connecting cover, by [[Jason Howard]] and [[Annalisa Leoni]].
* '''Cover G:''' Energon Universe Anniversary connecting cover (black and white), by Jason Howard.
* '''The 616 Comics Cover A:''' Connecting cover by [[Tiago da Silva]].
* '''The 616 Comics Cover B:''' The other half of Tiago da Silva's connecting cover.
* '''MBartist Cover:''' Chibi-style versions of Soundwave, Laserbeak, [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], and [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]], by Len Nicholas.

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 21 Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 21 Cover B.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 21 Cover C.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 21 Cover D.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 21 Cover E.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 21 Cover F.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 21 Cover G.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 21 The 616 Comics Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 21 The 616 Comics Cover B.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 21 MBartist Cover.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* Explore the Energon Universe in ''[[G.I. Joe (2024 comic)|G.I. Joe]]'' [[G.I. Joe (2024) issue 8|#8]], ''[[Void Rivals]]'' [[Void Rivals issue 20|#20]], and ''Transformers'' #22.
* Energon Experience feature
* 4-page preview of ''Ghost Pepper''

===Reprints===
* '''''Transformers Volume 4: Conquer and Control''''' ([[November 25]], [[2025]]) ISBN 1534332588 / ISBN 978-1534332584 
** Collects ''Transformers'' issues #19–24 and the [[Transformers Energon Universe 2025 Special story|''Transformers'' story]] from ''[[Energon Universe 2025 Special]]''.
** Trade paperback format.

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 V4.jpg|'''''Volume 4: Conquer and Control''''' – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Transformers (2023) issues]]

Transformers (2023) issue 20

2025-05-18T19:50:11Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Other trivia */

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2023 comic)|Transformers]]'' #20
|prev=Transformers (2023) issue 19
|next=Transformers (2023) issue 21
|image=Transformers 2023 20 Cover A.jpg
|caption=Daddy's home.
|title=
|publisher=[[Image Comics]] [[Skybound Entertainment]]
|date=[[May 14]], [[2025]]
|coverdate=May 2025
|written by=[[Daniel Warren Johnson]]
|art by=[[Jorge Corona]]
|colors by=[[Mike Spicer]]
|letters by=[[Rus Wooton]]
|editor=[[Ben Abernathy]]
|publication design=[[Andres Juarez]]
|production=[[Ashby Florence]]
|continuity=[[Energon Universe]]
|chronology=
}}

'''The Autobots revive allies old and new following the return of Megatron, who has his own scores to settle.'''

==Synopsis==
In the ruins of [[Seattle]], now reunited with the [[Decepticon]]s, [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] prepares to pursue the fleeing [[Autobot]]s. However, he is interrupted by a challenge from [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], as the furious [[Triple Changer]] finally confronts the object of his hatred. Megatron welcomes the challenge and, even in his injured state, savagely beats Astrotrain and tosses him off a building, mocking him. Astrotrain begs Megatron to go ahead and kill him, but Megatron assures him he still has plans for him.

Elsewhere, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] has been taken to a secret [[United States military]] site to be studied, though progress is slow as they barely know what they're dealing with. [[Doc (G.I. Joe)|Doc]] talks with a private about having recently seen action while the private mentions that he hasn't heard from his brother, who was serving onboard the [[USS Henry Harrison|USS ''Henry Harrison'']]. He asks Doc if he'll pray for him, but Doc simply states that he doesn't do that anymore.

At the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'', [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] convenes with [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. Optimus is worried: their forces are spread too thin, and he knows that Megatron will be coming after them as soon as he's reunited the disparate factions of Decepticons. Spike asks Optimus more about the [[Matrix of Leadership]], wondering if [[Sparkplug Witwicky|his dad]] might still be in there somewhere, but Prime confirms that he does not hear the voices of any of the Primes who now reside within it. Optimus confesses that he is worried about a darkness inside him that once overtook him at the start of the war, and fears that he won't be able to find the light; however, Spike reassures him that the light always comes back, just like a sunrise.

The pair's bonding moment is then interrupted by the arrival of [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] and the newly-repaired [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], who have returned from their mission to recover [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]. Optimus thanks Silverbolt and welcomes him into the ''Ark'', where the rest of the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]]s are finished being repaired. As they come online, the Aerialbots excitedly embrace Optimus. [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] then informs Optimus that he's set up a diagnostic table to examine Prime's visions, as [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] observes them from behind [[Teletraan I|Teletraan-1]].

[[File:TF2023 no. 20 - Megatron Punishes Starscream.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Some things never change.]]
On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Shredhead]] talks with [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]], who is worried about [[Carly (G1)|Carly]]. Cliffjumper asks Shredhead if they recognize him, and Shredhead says that while their memories are hazy, they do feel a connection from the [[spark]]s that made them. When Cliffjumper tells Shredhead about his concerns for the human that painted the mural on the side of Shredhead's alternate mode, they enthusiastically transform and suggest the pair go rescue her.

Meanwhile, the Decepticons have reconvened on the fragment of Cybertron that fell into the [[Pacific Ocean]]. Megatron reveals that this particular part of their world housed the Beacon of [[Omega Supreme (G1)|The Ancient]], and that he hid raw materials here during the war. He orders [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] brought before him and, using the technology available, fully restores the damaged [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]. Starscream grovels before Megatron in thanks before Megatron proceeds to beat him once more within an inch of his life. He then orders Astrotrain be brought in and transforms into his gun mode. Though Starscream tries to resist, Megatron's will overpowers him and he blasts Astrotrain to smithereens, though this task requires Starscream to unload shot after shot, as Megatron's incomplete state means his gun mode lacks its usual firepower. After transforming back into robot mode, Megatron tells the Autobots to prepare themselves, because he's coming to make himself whole again...

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks. 
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (8)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (10)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (11)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (12)
* [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (13)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (14)
* [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (15)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (16)
* [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (17)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (18)
* [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (19)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (20)
* [[Shredhead]] (23)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (24)

|c2=
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (1)
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (2)
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (3)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (4)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (5)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (21)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (22)
* [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (25)
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (26)
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (28)
* [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (29)
* [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (30)
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (31)
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]](?) (32)<ref>Seen only from behind and in silhouette. Based on who’s present on Earth and the lack of helicopter rotors, it’s either Swindle or one of the other Constructicons.</ref>

||c3=
* [[Doc (G.I. Joe)|Doc]] (6)
* Private (7)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (9)

|h4=Others|c4=
* ''[[Omega Supreme (G1)|The Ancient]]'' (27)
}}

==Quotes==
"You are weak, Astrotrain. Weak and naive. Naive to think that there is justice in this life. But there's no justice here. Only '''strength'''. And I am the '''definition''' of strength." 
"Ungh..." 
"You were pathetic then. You're pathetic now. A stain on what it means to be a Decepticon." 
"Please... let it end. Just kill me now." 
"Not yet. I still have use for you."
:-'''Megatron''' gives '''Astrotrain''' a dressing-down.

"There is a darkness inside me, Spike. I can't quite tell what it is. No matter how dire our cause has gotten I have always been able to find...'''light'''. Where is it now?" 
"Optimus, look. I know there's not organic life on your planet. But...there are suns all over the galaxy, aren't there? Cybertron must have a sunset. Just like Earth?" 
"I...yes. You are correct." 
"Then there's gotta be a '''sunrise''' at some point."
:-'''Spike Witwicky''' lifts '''Optimus''' out of his funk.

"We must be our own saviors. We must look out for each other. Isn't that right '''Starscream'''?"
:—'''Megatron''' to '''Starscream'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Astrotrain has been on the warpath for Megatron ever since being freed from the brig of the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' back in [[Transformers (2023) issue 8|issue #8]].
* Though it isn't officially stated, the military site where Ultra Magnus is being kept is most likely a [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]-run site given the presence of Doc. What relation this site has to [[Pit (G.I. Joe)|the Pit]] and [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]]'s team is still unclear.
* The private states that he hasn't heard from his brother serving aboard the USS ''Henry Harrison'', indicating that he doesn't know about the destruction of the aircraft carrier by the Decepticons in issue #8.
* Though it wasn't immediately clear when we last saw him in [[Transformers (2023) issue 18|issue #18]], Spike's appearance here confirms that he's more-or-less fully recovered from being shot in [[Transformers (2023) issue 3|issue #3]], as he's able to walk without any form of assistance.
* We've had winks and nods here and there, but this issue is the first to really broach the topic of the Primes that preceded Optimus. As Optimus doesn't go into much detail about them besides acknowledging their spirits' presence within the Matrix, however, the Energon Universe's incarnation of the Prime lineage remains an enigma.
* While Optimus may not hear the voices of the previous Primes in the Matrix, Sparky entering it has clearly had some effect, as he has been experiencing visions of Sparky's life since issue #8. Optimus also notes that he's having trouble "finding the light", just as Sparky admitted he couldn't in [[Transformers (2023) issue 4|issue #4]], furthering the strengthening connection between the two.
* Jetfire was believed lost after being blasted by the [[space bridge]]'s energy in [[Transformers (2023) issue 9|issue #9]].
* The arrival of the Aerialbots has been ''long'' anticipated, as Daniel Warren Johnson regularly teased their then-forthcoming debut in the letters pages of previous issues.
* Skywarp has been fused with Teletraan-1 after being torn apart by Starscream and Soundwave since [[Transformers (2023) issue 5|issue #5]]. Thundercracker, after abandoning the Decepticons in [[Transformers (2023) issue 16|issue #16]], arrived at the ''Ark'' to try and separate Skywarp from the Autobot computer in [[Transformers (2023) issue 17|issue #17]].
* The Ancient, which fans know to be Omega Supreme, was first seen in the flashbacks of [[Transformers (2023) issue 13|issue #13]]. Prior to that, we had also seen a [[Guardian robot]] in a recording from Megatron in ''[[Cobra Commander (comic)|Cobra Commander]]'' [[Cobra Commander issue 1|#1]].
* Off-panel, Starscream's torso has been separated from the [[H.I.S.S. tank]] it was grafted to in [[Transformers (2023) issue 14|issue #14]].
* We first saw Megatron's gun mode and his ability to impose his will on those who wield it in issues #13 and #14. Just last issue, we learned that these abilities were granted to Megatron by a dark counterpart to the Matrix bestowed upon him by a group of [[Quintesson]]s.

===''Transformers'' references===
* The concept of the Matrix containing the spirits of past Autobot leaders (or Primes, in this case) was first introduced in "[[Five Faces of Darkness]]", the five-part opening arc of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Sunbow cartoon]]'s third season. Notably, Optimus' remark about not being able to commune with the Primes' contained spirits runs in direct contrast with the cartoon, where that ''was'' possible, indicating that the Matrix isn't as well-understood as Optimus thinks it is...
* Silverbolt's fear of flying is a trait that goes back to his original [[Bob Budiansky]]-penned tech specs.
* Just as in the [[Marvel Comics continuity]], the Aerialbots were built as a direct counter to the Decepticons' air superiority.

===''G.I. Joe'' references===
* This issue introduces G.I. Joe medic [[Doc (G.I. Joe)|Carl “Doc” Greer]] to the Energon Universe. In addition to being a medical doctor, Doc's original filecard listed his secondary military specialty as "chaplain's assistant." Here, however, the private refers to him as "chaplain" (see "Errors" below).

===Real life references===
* Beachcomber quotes [[Maverick (Collaborative)|Pete "Maverick" Mitchell]]'s iconic line from ''{{w|Top Gun}}''. This is not the first time that line has [[Perspective|appeared in ''Transformers'' fiction]].

===Errors===
* While it is not uncommon for chaplains to also have some medical training, chaplains are specifically noncombatants, which clashes with Doc having been described as seeing action recently.

===Other trivia===
* The panel of Optimus comforting Spike is visually similar to Starscream and Thundercracker attacking [[Davey]] and the ''Harrison'' captain in [[Transformers (2023) issue 1|issue 1]] and issue 8, respectively.
* Starscream's new legs are consistently colored blue throughout this issue. Given colorist [[Mike Spicer]]'s track record so far, for now we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume this is intentional.
* Daniel Warren Johnson and editor Ben Abernathy again take to the letters pages to tease what's to come and answer some pressing questions:
**Both hint at the appearence of [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] in future issues.
** When asked if Optimus' visions and violent outbursts are related to Megatron's [[fusion cannon]] arm and the mind-dominating ability of his pistol mode, Johnson responds with a smiling emoji. When that same reader asks if Shredhead will either stick around with Elita's team, form their own Autobot crew, or go it solo, Johnson responds with ''three''.
** One reader goes ''really'' deep and asks if [[Fusion (Marvel)|Fusion]], an incredibly obscure Autobot from the [[Transformers Annual 1985]] story "[[And There Shall Come...a Leader!]]", might appear in the comic. Johnson, likely not knowledgeable about the U.K. comic, remarks that the reader's probably farther ahead in the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel run]] than he is, since he only made to ''roughly'' [[Pretender to the Throne!|issue #40]]. This marker gives us a rough, but still helpful idea of how far Johnson's knowledge of classic Generation 1 lore extends, or that he potentially misinterpreted "back in 85" as meaning issue #85, rather than the year 1985.
** Another reader brings up a salient point: if Megatron had the power to repair [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] in issue #18, why didn't he just use that power to fix himself? Johnson states that Megatron, in addition to being the cold-and-calculating type, has a very particular code he abides by, one that puts the well-being of his troops over his own... to an ''extent'', anyway.
** When one reader finds it odd that [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] was able to talk in issue #17, despite Ravage and Laserbeak seemingly being unable to, Johnson responds, "who said Laserbeak and Ravage can't talk? ;)"

===Covers===
* '''Cover A:''' Megatron looms over Starscream, by Daniel Warren Johnson and [[Mike Spicer]].
* '''Cover B:''' The Aerialbots, by [[Jorge Corona]] and Mike Spicer.
* '''Cover C:''' Connecting cover by [[David Nakayama]].
* '''Cover D:''' Megatron fights Astrotrain, by [[Howard Porter]] and [[Romulo Fajardo Jr.]].
* '''Cover E:''' Jazz, by [[Simon Parr]].
* '''The 616 Comics Cover A:''' Connecting cover by [[Tiago da Silva]].
* '''The 616 Comics Cover B:''' The other half of Tiago da Silva's connecting cover.
* '''Big Time Collectibles Cover:''' Chibi-fied versions of various Autobots and Decepticons pose in front of a silhouetted Cybertron, by [[Freely Abrigo]].
* '''Clayton Crain Cover:''' The Autobots vs the Decepticons, by [[Clayton Crain]].
* '''East Side Comics Cover:''' Optimus Prime, by [[Raymund Bermudez]].
<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 20 Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 20 Cover B.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 20 Cover C.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 20 Cover D.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 20 Cover E.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 20 The 616 Comics Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 20 The 616 Comics Cover B.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 20 Big Time Collectibles Cover.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 20 Clayton Crain Cover.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 20 East Side Comics Cover.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* Energon Universe hardcovers (release dates on all three are a month early)
* Explore the Energon Universe in ''[[G.I. Joe (2024 comic)|G.I. Joe]]'' [[G.I. Joe (2024) issue 7|#7]], ''Void Rivals'' [[Void Rivals issue 19|#19]], and ''Transformers'' #21.
* Meet Your New Favorite Decepticon in ''[[Transformers: Worst Bot Ever]]''
* ''Ghost Pepper''

===Reprints===
* '''''Transformers Volume 4: Conquer and Control''''' ([[November 25]], [[2025]]) ISBN 1534332588 / ISBN 978-1534332584 
** Collects ''Transformers'' issues #19–24 and the [[Transformers Energon Universe 2025 Special story|''Transformers'' story]] from ''[[Energon Universe 2025 Special]]''.
** Trade paperback format.

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 V4.jpg|'''''Volume 4: Conquer and Control''''' – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer
</gallery>

==External links==

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Transformers (2023) issues]]

Transformers (2023) issue 20

2025-05-18T19:48:14Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Other trivia */

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2023 comic)|Transformers]]'' #20
|prev=Transformers (2023) issue 19
|next=Transformers (2023) issue 21
|image=Transformers 2023 20 Cover A.jpg
|caption=Daddy's home.
|title=
|publisher=[[Image Comics]] [[Skybound Entertainment]]
|date=[[May 14]], [[2025]]
|coverdate=May 2025
|written by=[[Daniel Warren Johnson]]
|art by=[[Jorge Corona]]
|colors by=[[Mike Spicer]]
|letters by=[[Rus Wooton]]
|editor=[[Ben Abernathy]]
|publication design=[[Andres Juarez]]
|production=[[Ashby Florence]]
|continuity=[[Energon Universe]]
|chronology=
}}

'''The Autobots revive allies old and new following the return of Megatron, who has his own scores to settle.'''

==Synopsis==
In the ruins of [[Seattle]], now reunited with the [[Decepticon]]s, [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] prepares to pursue the fleeing [[Autobot]]s. However, he is interrupted by a challenge from [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], as the furious [[Triple Changer]] finally confronts the object of his hatred. Megatron welcomes the challenge and, even in his injured state, savagely beats Astrotrain and tosses him off a building, mocking him. Astrotrain begs Megatron to go ahead and kill him, but Megatron assures him he still has plans for him.

Elsewhere, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] has been taken to a secret [[United States military]] site to be studied, though progress is slow as they barely know what they're dealing with. [[Doc (G.I. Joe)|Doc]] talks with a private about having recently seen action while the private mentions that he hasn't heard from his brother, who was serving onboard the [[USS Henry Harrison|USS ''Henry Harrison'']]. He asks Doc if he'll pray for him, but Doc simply states that he doesn't do that anymore.

At the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'', [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] convenes with [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. Optimus is worried: their forces are spread too thin, and he knows that Megatron will be coming after them as soon as he's reunited the disparate factions of Decepticons. Spike asks Optimus more about the [[Matrix of Leadership]], wondering if [[Sparkplug Witwicky|his dad]] might still be in there somewhere, but Prime confirms that he does not hear the voices of any of the Primes who now reside within it. Optimus confesses that he is worried about a darkness inside him that once overtook him at the start of the war, and fears that he won't be able to find the light; however, Spike reassures him that the light always comes back, just like a sunrise.

The pair's bonding moment is then interrupted by the arrival of [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] and the newly-repaired [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], who have returned from their mission to recover [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]. Optimus thanks Silverbolt and welcomes him into the ''Ark'', where the rest of the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]]s are finished being repaired. As they come online, the Aerialbots excitedly embrace Optimus. [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] then informs Optimus that he's set up a diagnostic table to examine Prime's visions, as [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] observes them from behind [[Teletraan I|Teletraan-1]].

[[File:TF2023 no. 20 - Megatron Punishes Starscream.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Some things never change.]]
On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Shredhead]] talks with [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]], who is worried about [[Carly (G1)|Carly]]. Cliffjumper asks Shredhead if they recognize him, and Shredhead says that while their memories are hazy, they do feel a connection from the [[spark]]s that made them. When Cliffjumper tells Shredhead about his concerns for the human that painted the mural on the side of Shredhead's alternate mode, they enthusiastically transform and suggest the pair go rescue her.

Meanwhile, the Decepticons have reconvened on the fragment of Cybertron that fell into the [[Pacific Ocean]]. Megatron reveals that this particular part of their world housed the Beacon of [[Omega Supreme (G1)|The Ancient]], and that he hid raw materials here during the war. He orders [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] brought before him and, using the technology available, fully restores the damaged [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]. Starscream grovels before Megatron in thanks before Megatron proceeds to beat him once more within an inch of his life. He then orders Astrotrain be brought in and transforms into his gun mode. Though Starscream tries to resist, Megatron's will overpowers him and he blasts Astrotrain to smithereens, though this task requires Starscream to unload shot after shot, as Megatron's incomplete state means his gun mode lacks its usual firepower. After transforming back into robot mode, Megatron tells the Autobots to prepare themselves, because he's coming to make himself whole again...

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks. 
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (8)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (10)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (11)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (12)
* [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (13)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (14)
* [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (15)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (16)
* [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (17)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (18)
* [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (19)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (20)
* [[Shredhead]] (23)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (24)

|c2=
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (1)
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (2)
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (3)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (4)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (5)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (21)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (22)
* [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (25)
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (26)
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (28)
* [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (29)
* [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (30)
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (31)
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]](?) (32)<ref>Seen only from behind and in silhouette. Based on who’s present on Earth and the lack of helicopter rotors, it’s either Swindle or one of the other Constructicons.</ref>

||c3=
* [[Doc (G.I. Joe)|Doc]] (6)
* Private (7)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (9)

|h4=Others|c4=
* ''[[Omega Supreme (G1)|The Ancient]]'' (27)
}}

==Quotes==
"You are weak, Astrotrain. Weak and naive. Naive to think that there is justice in this life. But there's no justice here. Only '''strength'''. And I am the '''definition''' of strength." 
"Ungh..." 
"You were pathetic then. You're pathetic now. A stain on what it means to be a Decepticon." 
"Please... let it end. Just kill me now." 
"Not yet. I still have use for you."
:-'''Megatron''' gives '''Astrotrain''' a dressing-down.

"There is a darkness inside me, Spike. I can't quite tell what it is. No matter how dire our cause has gotten I have always been able to find...'''light'''. Where is it now?" 
"Optimus, look. I know there's not organic life on your planet. But...there are suns all over the galaxy, aren't there? Cybertron must have a sunset. Just like Earth?" 
"I...yes. You are correct." 
"Then there's gotta be a '''sunrise''' at some point."
:-'''Spike Witwicky''' lifts '''Optimus''' out of his funk.

"We must be our own saviors. We must look out for each other. Isn't that right '''Starscream'''?"
:—'''Megatron''' to '''Starscream'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Astrotrain has been on the warpath for Megatron ever since being freed from the brig of the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' back in [[Transformers (2023) issue 8|issue #8]].
* Though it isn't officially stated, the military site where Ultra Magnus is being kept is most likely a [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]-run site given the presence of Doc. What relation this site has to [[Pit (G.I. Joe)|the Pit]] and [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]]'s team is still unclear.
* The private states that he hasn't heard from his brother serving aboard the USS ''Henry Harrison'', indicating that he doesn't know about the destruction of the aircraft carrier by the Decepticons in issue #8.
* Though it wasn't immediately clear when we last saw him in [[Transformers (2023) issue 18|issue #18]], Spike's appearance here confirms that he's more-or-less fully recovered from being shot in [[Transformers (2023) issue 3|issue #3]], as he's able to walk without any form of assistance.
* We've had winks and nods here and there, but this issue is the first to really broach the topic of the Primes that preceded Optimus. As Optimus doesn't go into much detail about them besides acknowledging their spirits' presence within the Matrix, however, the Energon Universe's incarnation of the Prime lineage remains an enigma.
* While Optimus may not hear the voices of the previous Primes in the Matrix, Sparky entering it has clearly had some effect, as he has been experiencing visions of Sparky's life since issue #8. Optimus also notes that he's having trouble "finding the light", just as Sparky admitted he couldn't in [[Transformers (2023) issue 4|issue #4]], furthering the strengthening connection between the two.
* Jetfire was believed lost after being blasted by the [[space bridge]]'s energy in [[Transformers (2023) issue 9|issue #9]].
* The arrival of the Aerialbots has been ''long'' anticipated, as Daniel Warren Johnson regularly teased their then-forthcoming debut in the letters pages of previous issues.
* Skywarp has been fused with Teletraan-1 after being torn apart by Starscream and Soundwave since [[Transformers (2023) issue 5|issue #5]]. Thundercracker, after abandoning the Decepticons in [[Transformers (2023) issue 16|issue #16]], arrived at the ''Ark'' to try and separate Skywarp from the Autobot computer in [[Transformers (2023) issue 17|issue #17]].
* The Ancient, which fans know to be Omega Supreme, was first seen in the flashbacks of [[Transformers (2023) issue 13|issue #13]]. Prior to that, we had also seen a [[Guardian robot]] in a recording from Megatron in ''[[Cobra Commander (comic)|Cobra Commander]]'' [[Cobra Commander issue 1|#1]].
* Off-panel, Starscream's torso has been separated from the [[H.I.S.S. tank]] it was grafted to in [[Transformers (2023) issue 14|issue #14]].
* We first saw Megatron's gun mode and his ability to impose his will on those who wield it in issues #13 and #14. Just last issue, we learned that these abilities were granted to Megatron by a dark counterpart to the Matrix bestowed upon him by a group of [[Quintesson]]s.

===''Transformers'' references===
* The concept of the Matrix containing the spirits of past Autobot leaders (or Primes, in this case) was first introduced in "[[Five Faces of Darkness]]", the five-part opening arc of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Sunbow cartoon]]'s third season. Notably, Optimus' remark about not being able to commune with the Primes' contained spirits runs in direct contrast with the cartoon, where that ''was'' possible, indicating that the Matrix isn't as well-understood as Optimus thinks it is...
* Silverbolt's fear of flying is a trait that goes back to his original [[Bob Budiansky]]-penned tech specs.
* Just as in the [[Marvel Comics continuity]], the Aerialbots were built as a direct counter to the Decepticons' air superiority.

===''G.I. Joe'' references===
* This issue introduces G.I. Joe medic [[Doc (G.I. Joe)|Carl “Doc” Greer]] to the Energon Universe. In addition to being a medical doctor, Doc's original filecard listed his secondary military specialty as "chaplain's assistant." Here, however, the private refers to him as "chaplain" (see "Errors" below).

===Real life references===
* Beachcomber quotes [[Maverick (Collaborative)|Pete "Maverick" Mitchell]]'s iconic line from ''{{w|Top Gun}}''. This is not the first time that line has [[Perspective|appeared in ''Transformers'' fiction]].

===Errors===
* While it is not uncommon for chaplains to also have some medical training, chaplains are specifically noncombatants, which clashes with Doc having been described as seeing action recently.

===Other trivia===
* The panel of Optimus comforting Spike is visually similar to Starscream and Thundercracker attacking [[Davey]] and the ''Harrison'' captain in [[Transformers (2023) issue 1|issue 1]] and issue 8, respectively.
* Starscream's new legs are consistently colored blue throughout this issue. Given colorist [[Mike Spicer]]'s track record so far, for now we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume this is intentional.
* Daniel Warren Johnson and editor Ben Abernathy again take to the letters pages to tease what's to come and answer some pressing questions:
**Both hint at the appearence of [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] in future issues.
** When asked if Optimus' visions and violent outbursts are related to Megatron's [[fusion cannon]] arm and the mind-dominating ability of his pistol mode, Johnson responds with a smiling emoji. When that same reader asks if Shredhead will either stick around with Elita's team, form their own Autobot crew, or go it solo, Johnson responds with ''three''.
** One reader goes ''really'' deep and asks if [[Fusion (Marvel)|Fusion]], an incredibly obscure Autobot from the [[Transformers Annual 1985]] story "[[And There Shall Come...a Leader!]]", might appear in the comic. Johnson, likely not knowledgeable about the U.K. comic, remarks that the reader's probably farther ahead in the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel run]] than he is, since he only made to ''roughly'' [[Pretender to the Throne!|issue #40]]. This marker gives us a rough, but still helpful idea of how far Johnson's knowledge of classic Generation 1 lore extends, or that he potentially misinterpreted '85' as meaning issue #85.
** Another reader brings up a salient point: if Megatron had the power to repair [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] in issue #18, why didn't he just use that power to fix himself? Johnson states that Megatron, in addition to being the cold-and-calculating type, has a very particular code he abides by, one that puts the well-being of his troops over his own... to an ''extent'', anyway.
** When one reader finds it odd that [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] was able to talk in issue #17, despite Ravage and Laserbeak seemingly being unable to, Johnson responds, "who said Laserbeak and Ravage can't talk? ;)"

===Covers===
* '''Cover A:''' Megatron looms over Starscream, by Daniel Warren Johnson and [[Mike Spicer]].
* '''Cover B:''' The Aerialbots, by [[Jorge Corona]] and Mike Spicer.
* '''Cover C:''' Connecting cover by [[David Nakayama]].
* '''Cover D:''' Megatron fights Astrotrain, by [[Howard Porter]] and [[Romulo Fajardo Jr.]].
* '''Cover E:''' Jazz, by [[Simon Parr]].
* '''The 616 Comics Cover A:''' Connecting cover by [[Tiago da Silva]].
* '''The 616 Comics Cover B:''' The other half of Tiago da Silva's connecting cover.
* '''Big Time Collectibles Cover:''' Chibi-fied versions of various Autobots and Decepticons pose in front of a silhouetted Cybertron, by [[Freely Abrigo]].
* '''Clayton Crain Cover:''' The Autobots vs the Decepticons, by [[Clayton Crain]].
* '''East Side Comics Cover:''' Optimus Prime, by [[Raymund Bermudez]].
<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 20 Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 20 Cover B.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 20 Cover C.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 20 Cover D.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 20 Cover E.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 20 The 616 Comics Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 20 The 616 Comics Cover B.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 20 Big Time Collectibles Cover.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 20 Clayton Crain Cover.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 20 East Side Comics Cover.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* Energon Universe hardcovers (release dates on all three are a month early)
* Explore the Energon Universe in ''[[G.I. Joe (2024 comic)|G.I. Joe]]'' [[G.I. Joe (2024) issue 7|#7]], ''Void Rivals'' [[Void Rivals issue 19|#19]], and ''Transformers'' #21.
* Meet Your New Favorite Decepticon in ''[[Transformers: Worst Bot Ever]]''
* ''Ghost Pepper''

===Reprints===
* '''''Transformers Volume 4: Conquer and Control''''' ([[November 25]], [[2025]]) ISBN 1534332588 / ISBN 978-1534332584 
** Collects ''Transformers'' issues #19–24 and the [[Transformers Energon Universe 2025 Special story|''Transformers'' story]] from ''[[Energon Universe 2025 Special]]''.
** Trade paperback format.

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 V4.jpg|'''''Volume 4: Conquer and Control''''' – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer
</gallery>

==External links==

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Transformers (2023) issues]]

Transformers (2023) issue 17

2025-02-15T23:01:23Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Other trivia */

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2023 comic)|Transformers]]'' #17
|prev=Transformers (2023) issue 16
|next=Transformers (2023) issue 18
|image=Transformers 2023 17 Cover A.jpg
|caption=
|title=
|publisher=[[Image Comics]] [[Skybound Entertainment]]
|date=[[February 12]], [[2025]]
|coverdate=February 2025
|written by=[[Daniel Warren Johnson]]
|art by=[[Jorge Corona]]
|colors by=[[Mike Spicer]]
|letters by=[[Rus Wooton]]
|editor=[[Ben Abernathy]]
|production design=[[Andres Juarez]]
|production=[[Ashby Florence]]
|continuity=[[Energon Universe]]
|chronology=
}}

'''As the chaos of the Decepticons' civil war spills out into a major human city, two teams of Autobots look to recruit some allies: one seeks out a friend in need, while the other aims to build a brand-new one.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] makes his way to the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'', where he reunites with [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], still merged with [[Teletraan I|Teletraan One]]. Thundercracker attempts to separate the two, but Skywarp tells him to stop, as removing him means death. Understanding Skywarp's situation, Thundercracker resolves to find a way to remove his brother from his "prison"...

In the middle of the San Juan Islands, [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]]'s team manages to narrow down [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]' trail, having found his tracks and gotten a stronger lock on his energon readings. Arcee thanks [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] for helping her, and he replies that he's just happy to be useful in a way that doesn't involve violence; when Arcee asks what made him decide to abandon the fight in the first place, Beachcomber recalls the day the [[Decepticon]]s attacked the ''Ark'' — in the midst of the battle, he got a glimpse of the vast wonders of space through a crack in the hull... a sight that made the war seem so meaningless by comparison. As Arcee questions if he really has a choice in the matter, [[Carly (G1)|Carly]] alerts the group to incoming fire, which sends the group tumbling into the water. The blasts are being fired by a rattled Ultra Magnus, who stops when he realizes he's shooting at Arcee — he couldn't recognize his friends through the dark of the woods, and had lost himself in the midst of building a massive fortress to keep himself safe...

On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], final preparations are underway for [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] and [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]]'s assault on the [[Well of All Sparks|Well of Sparks]]. The weary Elita envies the hope in Cliffjumper's eyes, having been stuck drudging through the never-ending back-and-forth of the war on Cybertron for centuries... which, Cliffjumper remarks, is why [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus]] had to leave, intending to find a way forward elsewhere and then return home to save everyone. As Elita begins ranting again about how they're stuck on their own, [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] cuts her short — in the brief moment Optimus returned to Cybertron, he managed to remove [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] from the picture, leaving the Decepticons on Cybertron effectively leaderless and giving the [[Autobot]]s, who've ''all'' been suffering as much as she has, an opportunity to turn things around, especially now that they have the means to create reinforcements. Elita agrees, and the team sets off.

[[File:TF2023 no. 17 - AutobotsInSeattle.jpg|thumb|left|200px]]

As Optimus' team overlook the aftermath of the broken dam, [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] informs Optimus that [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] is moving into a large human population by the name of "[[Seattle]]". Despite Wheeljack's objections regarding his mysterious spurts of violence, Optimus rallies his team forward, intent on saving what human lives he can.

At the Hall of Sparks, [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] is complaining to [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] about how he'd rather be battling in Autobot territory than be stuck guarding a place that hasn't seen action in years... right as [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] whizzes by, and he, Bluestreak, and [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] blow open a path for Elita and Cliffjumper to make their way inside. Elita incapacitates the two Decepticons and catches up with Cliff at the Well, which mysteriously activates on its own. At the Well's prompting, Cliff inserts his clan's [[spark canister]], and after it confirms the contained [[spark]]s are enough to proceed, Cliff prepares to begin the creation event...

In Seattle, the battle between [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s team and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s team continues, leaving devastation in its wake. Steeling himself, Optimus orders the Autobots to save as many of the humans as they can. Back at the Well of Sparks, Elita informs Cliff that its program is asking for a [[alternate mode|secondary mode]] to model the new Autobot after. On cue, Cliff has [[Blades (G1)|Blades]] deposit Carly's wrecked van, which the Well scans. The new Autobot then emerges, the combination of his clan's sparks causing them to remember Cliff from ages past. When Cliff asks what his new friend calls themselves, they respond: their name is '''[[Shredhead]]!'''

{{--}}

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks. 
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (5)
* [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (6)
* ''[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]'' (8)
* ''[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]'' (9)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (11)
* [[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (12)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (13)
* [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] (14)
* [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (15)
* [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (16)
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (17)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (18)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (19)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (20)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (21)
* [[Shredhead]] (29)

|c2=
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (1)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (2)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (7)
* ''[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (10)
* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (22)
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (23)
* [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] (24)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (25)
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (26)
* [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (27)

||c3=
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (3)
* [[Carly (G1)|Carly]] (4)
* [[Seattle]] citizens (28)
}}

==Quotes==
"You think you have what it takes to defeat us, Soundwave?" 
"Actually... yes." 
"'''GET REAL.''' You always were, and always will be, a '''BI--!'''"
:—'''Starscream''' talks smack to '''Soundwave''' and gets a fistful of Devastator for his trouble.

"Quickly, get in!" 
"Who the heck are you?" 
"The name is '''Optimus Prime'''. We are here to rescue you!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' introduces himself to a group of humans.

"Cliffjumper... we recognize... no... ''I'' recognize you from ages past." 
"My... new friend. Tell me. What do the combined sparks of my clan... call themselves? What is your name?" 
"My name... is '''''Shredhead'''''."
:—'''Shredhead''' declares their name to '''Cliffjumper'''.

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Skywarp's been stuck acting as a part of Teletraan One since the very end of [[Transformers (2023) issue 4|issue #4]], and Thundercracker's known about this since his revival in [[Transformers (2023) issue 5|issue #5]], though he didn't learn that it was Starscream and Soundwave's fault until just last issue.
* As revealed in [[Transformers (2023) issue 7|issue #7]], Ultra Magnus was defeated and taken captive by Shockwave, who stripped him down to the bone (bare metal?) and tortured him for what was implied to be centuries. He was rescued by Elita that same issue, but after being repaired with the intent of rejoining the fight, his trauma caused him to flee in fear upon re-encountering Shockwave in [[Transformers (2023) issue 11|issue #11]], and Arcee and co. have been busy searching for him for the past two issues.
* The spark canister Cliffjumper used to create Shredhead was recovered [[Transformers (2023) issue 16|last issue]] from where his clan died. He told Carly about how Starscream bombed them in [[Transformers (2023) issue 4|issue #4]].
* Hey, it's Blades! No idea where the rest of the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobot]]s are, though, and considering the [[combiner]] team Daniel Warren Johnson appears to be teasing in the letters pages of this issue, the answer to that question's likely a while off yet. Blades also mentions that he airlifted [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] at some point in the past, indirectly confirming that the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] exist in the Energon Universe continuity.
* Warpath notably has a skeletal right arm and a rather bare-looking chest cannon, the result of Elita's team's attempt to repair him after his brush with death in [[Transformers (2023) issue 7|issue #7]].
* Thrust's position as a guard for the Hall of Sparks was actually teased last issue, as he can be seen flying around it in Elita's flashback.
* Carly's van was wrecked after she drove it into the middle of the Autobots and Decepticons' battle in [[Transformers (2023) issue 12|issue #12]]. It wound up on Cybertron when Devastator kicked both it and Cliffjumper into the [[space bridge]] connecting the planet to [[Earth]].

===''Transformers'' references===
* Unlike the more cartoon-based, animalistic [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]], Ratbat takes after his intelligent counterpart from [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]]'s [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''Transformers'' comic]].

===Other trivia===
* We've got some more teases and notes from Daniel Warren Johnson in the letters pages this issue:
** [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]]s, [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]]s, and other established organic/Transformer hybrids won't be explored during Johnson's run, though he does note they are one of his favorite parts of the franchise. Similarly, the likes of [[Flamewar]], [[Slipstream]], and [[Airachnid]] won't be showing up, as Johnson doesn't know who they are (he says they sound cool, though!).
** When asked if we'll be seeing an Autobot combiner at some point, Johnson provides a vintage photo of him as a kid with the captain of the Thunderbirds (likely referring to the {{w|45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States)|45th Infantry Combat Brigade Team}}) and leaves it at that. We're not saying we know for sure who this is meant to tease, ''[[Aerialbot (G1)|but]]...''
**When asked if [[Shockwave (G1)#Energon Universe|Shockwave]] was really dead following his battle with Optimus Prime in [[Transformers (2023) issue 12|issue 12]], Johnson replied "DEAD dead or MOSTLY dead?", seemingly teasing Shockwave assuming his usual emotionless persona.
** The [[Seacon (G1)|Seacon]]s also get deconfirmed, but this time by way of DWJ remarking at how ''amazing'' they sound based on the description the reader's provided and heading to [[TFWiki.Net|TFWiki]] to read up on them, confirming that he does research stuff here. ...Okay, technically we already knew Skybound were getting ''some'' of their information from here thanks to them basically copy-pasting our description of "[[Size changing|mass conversion]]" ''twice'', but at least this time we've actually been acknowledged by name.
* Welcome to the Energon Universe, Shredhead! On the letters page, editor [[Ben Abernathy]] states Shredhead had been in the pipeline for some time before their debut in this issue.
* Also in the letters page of this issue, both Ben and [[Daniel Warren Johnson]] refer to Shredhead with they/them pronouns, possibly making them [[:Category:Nonbinary characters|nonbinary]], or a plural being of multiple sparks in one body.

===Covers===
* '''Cover A:''' Thundercracker bemoans Skywarp's fate, by Daniel Warren Johnson and [[Mike Spicer]].
* '''Cover B:''' Ultra Magnus panics in his wooden fortress, by Jorge Corona and Mike Spicer.
* '''Cover C:''' Connecting cover by [[Karl Kerschl]].
* '''Cover D:''' Ultra Magnus, Carly, and Spike charge into battle, by [[Jay Anacleto]] and [[ Romulo Fajardo Jr.]].
* '''Cover E:''' Optimus, Cliffjumper, and Wheeljack amidst some rubble, by [[Homare]].
* '''The 616 Comics Cover A:''' Optimus poses in front of a very synthwave-y background, by [[Raymond Gay]].
* '''The 616 Comics Cover B:''' Virgin foil variant of Raymond Gay's cover.
* '''The 616 Comics Cover C:''' Connecting cover by [[Tiago Da Silva]].
* '''The 616 Comics Cover D:''' The other half of Tiago Da Silva's connecting cover.
* '''Acme Superstore Cover:''' Ultra Magnus, by [[Ryan Miller]].
* '''Big Time Collectibles Cover A:''' Ultra Magnus, by [[John Giang]].
* '''Big Time Collectibles Cover B:''' Magnus and Arcee, by [[Mike Choi]].
* '''Carnivore Comics Cover:''' Ultra Magnus in the middle of battle, by [[Björn Barends]].
* '''One Stop Comics Shop Cover A:''' Optimus vs. Soundwave, by [[Jeffrey Edwards]]. Exclusively made available to attendees of Planet Comicon Kansas City 2025.
* '''One Stop Comics Shop Cover B:''' Optimus vs. Soundwave with a very 80s backdrop, by Jeffrey Edwards. Virgin foil variant, also exclusive to Planet Comicon Kansas City 2025.
* '''Unknown Comics Cover A:''' Optimus Prime, by [[Tyler Kirkham]].
* '''Unknown Comics Cover B:''' Negative bleed variant of Tyler Kirkham's cover.

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 17 Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 17 Cover B.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 17 Cover C.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 17 Cover D.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 17 Cover E.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 17 The 616 Comics Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 17 The 616 Comics Cover B.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 17 The 616 Comics Cover C.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 17 The 616 Comics Cover D.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 17 Acme Superstore Cover.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 17 Big Time Collectibles Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 17 Big Time Collectibles Cover B.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 17 Carnivore Comics Cover.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 17 One Stop Comic Shop Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 17 One Stop Comic Shop Cover B.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 17 Unknown Comics Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 17 Unknown Comics Cover B.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* Explore the Energon Universe in ''[[G.I. Joe (2024 comic)|G.I. Joe]]'' [[G.I. Joe (2024) issue 4|#4]], ''[[Void Rivals]]'' [[Void Rivals issue 17|#17]], and Transformers #18.
* Five-page preview for ''{{w|Universal Monsters}}: {{w|The Mummy (1932 film)|The Mummy}}''

===Reprints===
* '''''Transformers Volume 3: Combiner Chaos''''' ([[May 28]], [[2025]]) ISBN 153432559X / ISBN 978-1534325593 
** Collects issues #13–18 and the [[Transformers Energon Universe Special story|''Transformers'' story]] from ''[[Energon Universe 2024 Special]]''.
** Trade paperback format.

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 V3.jpg|'''''Volume 3: Combiner Chaos''''' – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer
</gallery>

==External links==

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Transformers (2023) issues]]

Transformers (2023) issue 9

2024-06-17T17:12:14Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Other trivia */

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2023 comic)|Transformers]]'' #9
|prev=Transformers (2023) issue 8
|next=Transformers (2023) issue 10
|image=Transformers 2023 9 Cover A.jpg
|caption=Where's [[Dai Atlas]] when you need him?
|title=
|publisher=[[Image Comics]] [[Skybound Entertainment]]
|date=[[June 12]], [[2024]]
|coverdate=June 2024
|written by=[[Daniel Warren Johnson]]
|art by=[[Jorge Corona]]
|colors by=[[Mike Spicer]]
|letters by=[[Rus Wooton]]
|editor=[[Ben Abernathy]]
|continuity=[[Energon Universe]]
|chronology=
}}

'''The battles on Earth and Cybertron finally collide, with horrifying consequences for Optimus and his allies.'''

==Synopsis==
As the [[Autobot]]s near the [[Decepticon]]s' location in the [[Pacific Ocean]], [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] activates a device from the bridge of the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]''. From an antenna atop the ship, a whirlpool begins to form and a beam of pink energy fires into the sky which grazes [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]], sending the Autobot jet careening to the bottom of the ocean floor. As the Autobots are thrown from their companion, they are confronted by the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s as they work on the device — a [[space bridge]], through which [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] steps through! The Autobots scramble to fight back as the Decepticons converge on them. [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] is cornered by Soundwave, wielding Shockwave in his gun mode, but is saved from execution by [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] taking the blast for him and allowing [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] to intervene. Shockwave quickly engages the Autobot leader, eager to pay him back after their last encounter.

In [[Farmingham]], [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], and [[Carly (G1)|Carly]] make their way back to the dam, hoping to repair their [[energon]] turbine with supplies from the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]''. Carly is eager to learn how to fight, but Arcee informs her that being linked is more about looking out for each other than it is fighting. However, a mile out from the dam, they are confronted by the [[Farmingham milita]]. Carly rushes out in front of the militia and urges them to stand down, telling them the Autobots are the good guys. Meanwhile, at [[Farmingham Hosptial]], [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] learns from the doctor that his spine was grazed by the bullet when the militia accidentally shot him. Spike asks if he'll ever walk again, but the doctor's words of reassurance are interrupted by the sound of [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], who has come looking for Spike. Though he doesn't wish to to harm any "lesser beings", he threatens to destroy the hospital if Spike doesn't come with him; Spike agrees without hesitation.

[[File:TF2023 no 9 - Beachcomber Rescues Spike.jpg|left|thumb|"Aren't you a little short for—Oh wait [[Star Wars (franchise)|wrong franchise]]".]]
On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] are cornered by the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]]s. Unable to find an escape, Elita follows a pink glow at the end of a corridor, discovering the portal Shockwave used to come to Earth, arriving on the alien world in the midst of Optimus and Shockwave's battle. The Combaticons begin to follow them through, with [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] giving the order to merge. Without missing a beat, Elita grabs Prime's [[ion blaster]] and fires at the space bridge. Onslaught leaps through, but [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] is caught in between the portal and is bisected as it closes. Soundwave orders the Decepticons to eliminate the rest of the Autobots and they open fire on Cliffjumper and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]]. Elita insists that she and Optimus retreat, dragging both him and Magnus away from the combat. Soundwave prepares to go after them, but Shockwave tells him to focus on repairing the space bridge. The cyclopean Decepticon then discovers the abandoned Cliffjumper and Jazz, eager to have new subjects to "experiment" with.

As Astrotrain approaches the Pacific, he tells Spike about how Cybertron has been plagued with disease, but that the resources of Earth will help the Decepticons save their world, even at the cost to the humans. Spike protests, but Astrotrain nonchalantly says that it is simply the way for "a weaker species." Astrotrain also reveals that he will be delivered to Shockwave as an offering from Soundwave to experiment with the native lifeform. As they approach the coastline, a blue-and-white machine attaches to the Decepticon, shutting off his engines and sending him crashing to the shore. The side of Astrotrain is torn open by [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]], who's here to rescue Spike!
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (1)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (2)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (3)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (6)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (7)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (14)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (15)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (24)
* [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] (25)
* [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (29)

|c2=
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (4)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (5)
* [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (8)
* [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (9)
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (10)
* [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (11)
* [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (12)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (13)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (21)
* [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (22)
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (23)
* [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (26)
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (27)
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (28)

|c3=
* [[Carly (G1)|Carly]] (16)
* Militia (17)
* Doctor (18)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (19)
* Hospital security (20)
}}

==Quotes==
"Still sniveling. Still slimy. Still '''weak'''." 
"'''Weak?''' Did you forget our last meeting, Shockwave? Shall I make you cry for mercy a '''second''' time?"
:—'''Shockwave''' and '''Optimus'''

"You fought dirty last time, Optimus. But I have learned much since that day. '''''Your ending shall be slow and brutal.'''''"
:—'''Shockwave''' drives home how he's changed.

"It must be surprising to you, seeing us standing in front of you, in all our metallic glory. But where we hail from is a shell of its former self. Our home is in need of sustenance. And look at the land you live in. Your resources are immeasurable and ripe for the taking." 
"But... this is our ''home!''" 
"Such is the way for a weaker species. I feel sorry for you, human."
:—'''Astrotrain''' teaches '''Spike''' how colonization works.

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Jetfire is now sporting an [[Insignia|Autobrand]], something which must have occurred in between panels [[Transformers (2023) issue 8|last issue]].
* The Decepticons who fired on Elita's team in [[Transformers (2023) issue 7|issue #7]] are confirmed to have been the Combaticons. In their previous appearance, only their shadowed silhouettes were seen.
* Spike was shot by one of [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparky]]'s militia in [[Transformers (2023) issue 3|issue #3]].
* So why ''does'' Soundwave want Spike as a test subject for Shockwave when presumably any human will do? Could it perhaps have something to do with the fact Spike is responsible for Ravage getting shot in [[Transformers (2023) issue 1|issue #1]] and this is a bit of petty revenge?
* So we weren't crazy, that ''was'' Beachcomber hiding in the shadows [[Transformers (2023) issue 8|last issue]]. He didn't appear to be part of the resurrected Ark crew and he didn't come through with Elita and Magnus, so how the heck did he get to Earth?

===''Transformers'' references===
* The Combaticons are colored in their [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] colors.
* In something of a counter-reference, Shockwave is acting unusually emotional throughout the issue, even ''laughing'' at one point. In a series that has taken pains to recapture the personality traits of the G1 cast, this is a glaring exception; time will tell if it was artistic license (or, uh, error) or a setup for an upcoming in-story personality adjustment.

===Real-world references===
* Shockwave paraphrases the human idiom "tickled pink," replacing "pink" with his own "purple."
* As noted in the opening blurb of the letters page, Daniel Warren Johnson is ecstatic that Jorge Corona didn't bat an eye at the direction of drawing Shockwave performing {{w|The Undertaker}}'s signature {{w|Piledriver (professional wrestling)#Kneeling reverse_piledriver|Tombstone Piledriver}} finishing move on Optimus.

===Errors===
* Shockwave uses the word "welp" as an insult. It should be spelled "[https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/whelp whelp]"; the word "[https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/welp welp]" is a corruption of "well", typically used to express helpless exasperation.

===Other trivia===
* In a franchise first, Shockwave's gun mode is shown to shrink down to a size that a "normal" character like Soundwave can wield. In all prior media, Shockwave's gun mode had been a gigantic levitating contraption, not requiring anyone to hold it and in any case too big for all but [[The Revenge of Bruticus|the largest bearers]].

* On the letters page, one paragraph explains how [[mass displacement]] works in the Energon universe; it is a genetically-endowed ability that only triggers when a Transformer converts into their alt-mode.

===Covers===
* '''Cover A:''' Optimus holds the world on his shoulders ala {{w|Atlas (mythology)|Atlas}}, by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer.
* '''Cover B:''' Shockwave and his victims, by Jorge Corona and Mike Spicer.
* '''Cover C (1:10 Copy Incentive):''' Connecting cover, by [[Karen S. Darboe]].
* '''Cover D (1:25 Copy Incentive):''' Shockwave, by [[Jonathan Wayshak]] and [[David Baron]].
* '''Cover E (1:50 Copy Incentive):''' The Combaticons, by [[David Baldeón]] and [[Rex Lokus]].
* '''Cover F:''' Energon Universe Anniversary connecting cover, by [[Jason Howard]] and [[Annalisa Leoni]].
* '''Cover G:''' Energon Universe Anniversary connecting cover (black and white), by Jason Howard.

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 9 Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 9 Cover B.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 9 Cover C.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 9 Cover D.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 9 Cover E.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 9 Cover F.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 9 Cover G.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/skyboundent/gi-joe-a-real-american-hero-compendium-set Kickstarter for the ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' Hardcover Compendiums]]
* 5-page preview of ''[[Destro (comic)|Destro]]'' [[Destro issue 1|#1]].

===Reprints===
* '''''Transformers Volume 2: Transport to Oblivion''''' ([[November 27]], [[2024]]) ISBN 1534345272 / ISBN 978-1534345270 
** Collects issues #7–12.
** Trade paperback format.

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 V2.jpg|'''''Volume 2: Transport to Oblivion''''' – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer
</gallery>

==External links==
*

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Transformers (2023) issues]]

Transformers (2023) issue 9

2024-06-17T17:11:11Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Other trivia */

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2023 comic)|Transformers]]'' #9
|prev=Transformers (2023) issue 8
|next=Transformers (2023) issue 10
|image=Transformers 2023 9 Cover A.jpg
|caption=Where's [[Dai Atlas]] when you need him?
|title=
|publisher=[[Image Comics]] [[Skybound Entertainment]]
|date=[[June 12]], [[2024]]
|coverdate=June 2024
|written by=[[Daniel Warren Johnson]]
|art by=[[Jorge Corona]]
|colors by=[[Mike Spicer]]
|letters by=[[Rus Wooton]]
|editor=[[Ben Abernathy]]
|continuity=[[Energon Universe]]
|chronology=
}}

'''The battles on Earth and Cybertron finally collide, with horrifying consequences for Optimus and his allies.'''

==Synopsis==
As the [[Autobot]]s near the [[Decepticon]]s' location in the [[Pacific Ocean]], [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] activates a device from the bridge of the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]''. From an antenna atop the ship, a whirlpool begins to form and a beam of pink energy fires into the sky which grazes [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]], sending the Autobot jet careening to the bottom of the ocean floor. As the Autobots are thrown from their companion, they are confronted by the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s as they work on the device — a [[space bridge]], through which [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] steps through! The Autobots scramble to fight back as the Decepticons converge on them. [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] is cornered by Soundwave, wielding Shockwave in his gun mode, but is saved from execution by [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] taking the blast for him and allowing [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] to intervene. Shockwave quickly engages the Autobot leader, eager to pay him back after their last encounter.

In [[Farmingham]], [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], and [[Carly (G1)|Carly]] make their way back to the dam, hoping to repair their [[energon]] turbine with supplies from the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]''. Carly is eager to learn how to fight, but Arcee informs her that being linked is more about looking out for each other than it is fighting. However, a mile out from the dam, they are confronted by the [[Farmingham milita]]. Carly rushes out in front of the militia and urges them to stand down, telling them the Autobots are the good guys. Meanwhile, at [[Farmingham Hosptial]], [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] learns from the doctor that his spine was grazed by the bullet when the militia accidentally shot him. Spike asks if he'll ever walk again, but the doctor's words of reassurance are interrupted by the sound of [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], who has come looking for Spike. Though he doesn't wish to to harm any "lesser beings", he threatens to destroy the hospital if Spike doesn't come with him; Spike agrees without hesitation.

[[File:TF2023 no 9 - Beachcomber Rescues Spike.jpg|left|thumb|"Aren't you a little short for—Oh wait [[Star Wars (franchise)|wrong franchise]]".]]
On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] are cornered by the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]]s. Unable to find an escape, Elita follows a pink glow at the end of a corridor, discovering the portal Shockwave used to come to Earth, arriving on the alien world in the midst of Optimus and Shockwave's battle. The Combaticons begin to follow them through, with [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] giving the order to merge. Without missing a beat, Elita grabs Prime's [[ion blaster]] and fires at the space bridge. Onslaught leaps through, but [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] is caught in between the portal and is bisected as it closes. Soundwave orders the Decepticons to eliminate the rest of the Autobots and they open fire on Cliffjumper and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]]. Elita insists that she and Optimus retreat, dragging both him and Magnus away from the combat. Soundwave prepares to go after them, but Shockwave tells him to focus on repairing the space bridge. The cyclopean Decepticon then discovers the abandoned Cliffjumper and Jazz, eager to have new subjects to "experiment" with.

As Astrotrain approaches the Pacific, he tells Spike about how Cybertron has been plagued with disease, but that the resources of Earth will help the Decepticons save their world, even at the cost to the humans. Spike protests, but Astrotrain nonchalantly says that it is simply the way for "a weaker species." Astrotrain also reveals that he will be delivered to Shockwave as an offering from Soundwave to experiment with the native lifeform. As they approach the coastline, a blue-and-white machine attaches to the Decepticon, shutting off his engines and sending him crashing to the shore. The side of Astrotrain is torn open by [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]], who's here to rescue Spike!
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (1)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (2)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (3)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (6)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (7)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (14)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (15)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (24)
* [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] (25)
* [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (29)

|c2=
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (4)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (5)
* [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (8)
* [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (9)
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (10)
* [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (11)
* [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (12)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (13)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (21)
* [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (22)
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (23)
* [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (26)
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (27)
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (28)

|c3=
* [[Carly (G1)|Carly]] (16)
* Militia (17)
* Doctor (18)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (19)
* Hospital security (20)
}}

==Quotes==
"Still sniveling. Still slimy. Still '''weak'''." 
"'''Weak?''' Did you forget our last meeting, Shockwave? Shall I make you cry for mercy a '''second''' time?"
:—'''Shockwave''' and '''Optimus'''

"You fought dirty last time, Optimus. But I have learned much since that day. '''''Your ending shall be slow and brutal.'''''"
:—'''Shockwave''' drives home how he's changed.

"It must be surprising to you, seeing us standing in front of you, in all our metallic glory. But where we hail from is a shell of its former self. Our home is in need of sustenance. And look at the land you live in. Your resources are immeasurable and ripe for the taking." 
"But... this is our ''home!''" 
"Such is the way for a weaker species. I feel sorry for you, human."
:—'''Astrotrain''' teaches '''Spike''' how colonization works.

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Jetfire is now sporting an [[Insignia|Autobrand]], something which must have occurred in between panels [[Transformers (2023) issue 8|last issue]].
* The Decepticons who fired on Elita's team in [[Transformers (2023) issue 7|issue #7]] are confirmed to have been the Combaticons. In their previous appearance, only their shadowed silhouettes were seen.
* Spike was shot by one of [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparky]]'s militia in [[Transformers (2023) issue 3|issue #3]].
* So why ''does'' Soundwave want Spike as a test subject for Shockwave when presumably any human will do? Could it perhaps have something to do with the fact Spike is responsible for Ravage getting shot in [[Transformers (2023) issue 1|issue #1]] and this is a bit of petty revenge?
* So we weren't crazy, that ''was'' Beachcomber hiding in the shadows [[Transformers (2023) issue 8|last issue]]. He didn't appear to be part of the resurrected Ark crew and he didn't come through with Elita and Magnus, so how the heck did he get to Earth?

===''Transformers'' references===
* The Combaticons are colored in their [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] colors.
* In something of a counter-reference, Shockwave is acting unusually emotional throughout the issue, even ''laughing'' at one point. In a series that has taken pains to recapture the personality traits of the G1 cast, this is a glaring exception; time will tell if it was artistic license (or, uh, error) or a setup for an upcoming in-story personality adjustment.

===Real-world references===
* Shockwave paraphrases the human idiom "tickled pink," replacing "pink" with his own "purple."
* As noted in the opening blurb of the letters page, Daniel Warren Johnson is ecstatic that Jorge Corona didn't bat an eye at the direction of drawing Shockwave performing {{w|The Undertaker}}'s signature {{w|Piledriver (professional wrestling)#Kneeling reverse_piledriver|Tombstone Piledriver}} finishing move on Optimus.

===Errors===
* Shockwave uses the word "welp" as an insult. It should be spelled "[https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/whelp whelp]"; the word "[https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/welp welp]" is a corruption of "well", typically used to express helpless exasperation.

===Other trivia===
* In a franchise first, Shockwave's gun mode is shown to shrink down to a size that a "normal" character like Soundwave can wield. In all prior media, Shockwave's gun mode had been a gigantic levitating contraption, not requiring anyone to hold it and in any case too big for all but [[The Revenge of Bruticus|the largest bearers]].

* On the letters page, one paragraph explains how [[mass conversion]] works in the Energon universe; it is a genetically-endowed ability that only triggers when a Transformer converts into their alt-mode.

===Covers===
* '''Cover A:''' Optimus holds the world on his shoulders ala {{w|Atlas (mythology)|Atlas}}, by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer.
* '''Cover B:''' Shockwave and his victims, by Jorge Corona and Mike Spicer.
* '''Cover C (1:10 Copy Incentive):''' Connecting cover, by [[Karen S. Darboe]].
* '''Cover D (1:25 Copy Incentive):''' Shockwave, by [[Jonathan Wayshak]] and [[David Baron]].
* '''Cover E (1:50 Copy Incentive):''' The Combaticons, by [[David Baldeón]] and [[Rex Lokus]].
* '''Cover F:''' Energon Universe Anniversary connecting cover, by [[Jason Howard]] and [[Annalisa Leoni]].
* '''Cover G:''' Energon Universe Anniversary connecting cover (black and white), by Jason Howard.

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 9 Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 9 Cover B.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 9 Cover C.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 9 Cover D.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 9 Cover E.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 9 Cover F.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 9 Cover G.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/skyboundent/gi-joe-a-real-american-hero-compendium-set Kickstarter for the ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' Hardcover Compendiums]]
* 5-page preview of ''[[Destro (comic)|Destro]]'' [[Destro issue 1|#1]].

===Reprints===
* '''''Transformers Volume 2: Transport to Oblivion''''' ([[November 27]], [[2024]]) ISBN 1534345272 / ISBN 978-1534345270 
** Collects issues #7–12.
** Trade paperback format.

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 V2.jpg|'''''Volume 2: Transport to Oblivion''''' – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer
</gallery>

==External links==
*

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Transformers (2023) issues]]

Transformers (2023) issue 5

2024-02-18T20:33:18Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Other trivia */ This issue does NOT contain a four page preview for Cobra Commander. It has ads for other comics and games instead.

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2023 comic)|Transformers]]'' #5
|prev=Transformers (2023) issue 4
|next=Transformers (2023) issue 6
|image=Transformers 2023 5 Cover A.jpg
|caption=''Now this... is PEAK.''
|title=
|publisher=[[Image Comics]] [[Skybound Entertainment]]
|date=[[February 14]], [[2024]] (physical) [[February 21]], [[2024]] (digital)
|coverdate=February 2024
|written by=[[Daniel Warren Johnson]]
|art by=Daniel Warren Johnson
|colors by=[[Mike Spicer]]
|letters by=[[Rus Wooton]]
|editors=[[Sean Mackiewicz]] & [[Jonathan Manning]]
|continuity=[[Energon Universe]]
|chronology=
}}

'''The ranks of Autobots and Decepticons grow as each side prepares to mount an offensive against their enemies.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparky]] each reflect and share their experiences in their respective wars. Sparky asks Optimus, who has seen so much more than he ever will, why it has to be like this, but Prime solemnly laments that even he isn't sure. Staring at his reflection, with [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s arm replacing his missing one, Prime wonders aloud if he's becoming the very thing he fights against.

In the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'', the [[Decepticon]]s use [[Teletraan I]], now rebuilt using parts from [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]'s body, to rebuild their fellow soldiers. Upon revival, [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] is horrified to see what's become of Skywarp, but [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] reassures him that Skywarp sacrificed himself for the greater good of the Decepticons. [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] alerts [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] that the [[Autobot]]s have discovered their source of energy, so Starscream decides to lead Soundwave, Thundercracker, and the newly-revived [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] to attack.

At the local dam, Sparky helps [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] and a newly revived [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (currently using only half his body due to their limited resources) to turn the water from the dam to power an [[energon]]-generating turbine. Wheeljack offers to repair Optimus, but Optimus insists on using their energy supply to help restore their fellow warriors, reviving [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] next. Arcee is happy to be back, but the Decepticons' attack interrupts the joyous occasion. [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] tries to attack Optimus, but is swiftly blasted away by his [[fusion cannon]]. Starscream rails at Prime for taking something "precious" to the Decepticons, but Optimus balks at this, taunting that Starscream fears the cannon as he feared its previous wielder. An enraged Starscream turns his [[null-ray]]s on the water turbine and destroys it, but is ultimately forced to retreat when Prime blasts him with the fusion cannon.

With their number bolstered and the Decepticons retreating, Prime decides now to retake the ''Ark''. Sparky decides to join them and [[Carly (G1)|Carly]] asks to go as well, but both Optimus and Sparky refuse, not wanting her to get hurt like [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]]. Optimus orders the Autobots to roll out, but Cliffjumper decides to sneak Carly into his driver's seat, feeling she deserves to be there when they finally stop the Decepticons for good. Night falls as the Autobots arrive at the ''Ark'', but as they approach the ship, they are beset by a convoy of green construction vehicles. A repaired Starscream appears and gloats that he knew the Autobots would follow them back to the ship. He then orders the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] to do what they do best: merge and form [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]!

{{--}}

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks. 
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
* ''[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]'' (2)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (3)
* ''[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]'' (4)
* ''[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]'' (5) (see “errors” below)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (13)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (14)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (15)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (17)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (19)

|c2=
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (6)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (7)
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (8)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (9)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (10)
* [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (11)
* [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (12)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (18)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (20)
* [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (22)
* [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (23)
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (24)
* [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (25)
* [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (26)
* [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (27)
* [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (28)

|c3=
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky|"Sparky" Witwicky]] (1)
* [[Carly (G1)|Carly]] (16)
* ''[[Jimmy Witwicky]]'' (21)
}}

==Quotes==
"It is good to be back in focus, Starscream! Where is Meg--" 
"Stay focused on the ''enemy'', Reflector! These filthy Autobots want to take what makes our pistons move freely!"
:—'''Reflector''' and '''Starscream'''

"I don't know who you are, but if ''Optimus'' cares about you-- then ''I'' care, too."
:—'''Arcee''', rescuing Carly

"'''YOU!''' Taking something so precious and using it for your own evil purpose!" 
"'Precious'? Are you sure this doesn't make you quake in your jets, Starscream? Last I remember, you were cowering in front of this very weapon. A constant reminder of what you'll ''never'' be."
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Optimus''', on Megatron's fusion cannon

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* We once again get flashbacks to Sparky's experiences in the war and the death of Jimmy Witwicky, both of which we saw in the opening pages of [[Transformers (2023) issue 1|issue #1]]. This issue also gives us our first proper look at Jimmy in a flashback panel to right before his launch.
* Optimus lost his arm back in [[Transformers (2023) issue 3|issue #3]] during his fight with Skywarp, with Ratchet replacing it with Megatron's in the last issue after taking it from the ''Ark'' back in issue #1.
* We get more hints about what happened to Megatron before the crash of the ''Ark'', with Optimus saying he last saw Starscream cowering before Megatron’s fusion cannon.

===Transformers references===
* Arcee and Ratchet are shown to have a close relationship, not unlike their [[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|''Animated'']] counterparts.

===Real-world references===
* Jazz continues his use of musical references in his speech.
* Almost all of Reflector's speech is comprised of photography puns, including a fun new meaning for the abbreviation 'ISO'. (Which actually stands for International Organization for Standardization and relates to the sensitivity of a camera's sensor.)

===Errors===
* In a flashback to the war on Cybertron, Optimus is seen cradling a bot with details that mark him as being [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]. However, he is miscolored white and red.
* As the Decepticons attack the dam, an Autobot lies ready to be reactivated who is colored like [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] but appears to actually be [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]].

===Other trivia===
* The digital release of this issue was delayed by a week, meaning that physical customers got it a week early.

===Covers===
* '''Cover A:''' Optimus sees his reflection in Megatron’s fusion cannon, by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer.
* '''Cover B:''' Teletraan-1 reactivates the Decepticons, by [[James Stokoe]].
* '''Cover C (1:10 Copy Incentive):''' Connecting cover by [[Orlando Aroecena]].
* '''Cover D (1:25 Copy Incentive):''' Cliffjumper and Carly stand in Starscream’s shadow, by [[Natacha Bustos]].
* '''Cover E (1:50 Copy Incentive):''' Optimus wields the might of Megatron’s arm and cannon, by [[Karl Kerschl]].

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 5 Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 5 Cover B.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 5 Cover C.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 5 Cover D.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 5 Cover E.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* The [[Cobra]] threat begins in ''[[Cobra Commander (comic)|Cobra Commander]]'' [[Cobra Commander issue 1|#1]]!
* Explore the Energon Universe in [[Cobra Commander issue 2|''Cobra Commander'' #2]], ''[[Duke (comic)|Duke]]'' [[Duke issue 3|#3]], and ''[[Void Rivals]]'' [[Void Rivals issue 7|#7]].
* [[Renegade Game Studios]]' ''[[Transformers Deck-Building Game]]'', ''[[Transformers Roleplaying Game]]'', ''G.I. Joe Deck-Building Game'', and ''G.I. Joe Roleplaying Game''
* ''Invincible: Escape From Mars''
* Skybound Insiders

===Reprints===
* '''''Transformers Volume 1: Robots in Disguise''''' ([[May 7]], [[2024]]) ISBN 1534398171 / ISBN 978-1534398177 
** Collects issues #1-6.
** Trade paperback format.

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 V1.jpg|'''''Volume 1: Robots in Disguise''''' – cover art by [[Daniel Warren Johnson]] and [[Mike Spicer]]
</gallery>

==External links==
*

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Transformers (2023) issues]]

Transformers (2023) issue 2

2023-11-19T20:01:40Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Continuity notes */

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2023 comic)|Transformers]]'' #2
|prev=Transformers (2023) issue 1
|next=Transformers (2023) issue 3
|next2=Duke issue 1
|image=Transformers02A_Cover.jpg
|caption=Once you pop, you can’t stop.
|title=
|publisher=[[Image Comics]] [[Skybound Entertainment]]
|date=[[November 7]], [[2023]]
|coverdate=November 2023
|written by=[[Daniel Warren Johnson]]
|art by=Daniel Warren Johnson
|colors by=[[Mike Spicer]]
|letters by=[[Rus Wooton]]
|editors=[[Sean Mackiewicz]] & [[Jonathan Manning]]
|continuity=[[Energon Universe]]
|chronology=
}}

'''The Autobots must learn to adapt to Earth with scant resources, while the Decepticons gather more energon to rebuild their army.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] walks through a wood, marveling at the natural beauty of Earth. The plants, the animals, the scenery; he finds it all breathtaking. However, his serenity is interrupted upon hearing a crunch underneath his foot: he's stepped on a small deer, killing it. Optimus leans down, cradling the creature with remorse. [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] emerges from the woods and reassures Optimus that it was an accident. Optimus tells Spike that this world is so fragile compared to his own. Seeing the [[Autobot]] leader's despair, Spike decides to change the subject of the conversation and asks Optimus about his name. Optimus tells him that the [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] title denotes him as leader of the Autobots and was passed to him by the previous leader of their kind. Optimus in turn inquires about Spike's name, who reveals that his mom used to call him "Spikey" before she passed away due to his hair always sticking up as a child. Optimus is confused; he’s never heard the terms "mom" or "dad" before, though he does know the concept of "family." Spike then asks Optimus about where he comes from, prompting Optimus to tell him about [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and the war between the Autobots and [[Decepticon]]s that has raged for the past two centuries. The Autobots' forces eventually dwindled from the Decepticons' relentless onslaught to the point where they were forced to flee the planet aboard the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]''. However, their escape was attacked by [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and the Decepticons. The last thing Optimus saw before they crashed into the mountain was Earth. Optimus thanks Spike for assisting him during the battle, saying that he's not sure they would have escaped without him. Spike in turn offers condolences for [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]].

[[File:TF2023 – Cliffjumper freaks out.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.35|Sorry Cliff, but with Bumblebee gone, you're the closest thing we got to a [[kid-appeal character]].]]
Their somber heart-to-heart is soon interrupted by the newly reactivated [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]], whom [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] was able to successfully repair. Optimus warmly greets his old friend, but Cliffjumper is not nearly as taken with Earth as his commander, freaking out upon seeing Spike and [[Carly]] and bumping into the trees. Carly tells him to calm down. After all, if anyone should be freaking out about the giant robots from space, it's her. This gets Cliffjumper to calm down and the two shake hands. Inside the quarry, Ratchet has set about trying to revive the other Autobots, but has used up the last of their energon reserves fixing Cliffjumper. Optimus considers using the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to replenish their energon, but Ratchet says they can't. The Matrix is connected to Prime's own life force and if they lose him, they lose everything. Cliffjumper remarks that if they're running out of energon, the Decepticons will hopefully have the same problem.

Meanwhile, at the power plant [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] and [[Davey]] work at, a police officer is surveying the damage caused by [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s attack and taking statements, not believing [[Jordie|the plant manager]]'s story about a giant robot. The officer says they'll get some detectives out here to investigate, but a panicked Sparkplug insists they need to call in the Army. As the officer tries to reassure Sparkplug, [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] drops from the sky, destroying his patrol car. Behind him descend Starscream and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] carrying an energy transfer module stolen from the ''Ark'', which will allow them to more efficiently convert energon from the plant. The police officer tries to shoot at Starscream, much to Sparkplug's protests, only for Starscream to step on him. As the Decepticons begin to drain the plant of its energy, Soundwave intercepts a transmission from the U.S. military asking a nearby pilot under the callsign "[[Frosting]]" to intercept their attack. Amused at the idea of the "squishies" trying to fight them, Starscream goes to intercept the fighter. He dogfights with them for a bit before transforming and smacking the jet down. The pilot and his ride-along eject, but Starscream catches up to Frosting and squashes him between his hands. The other soldier activates a button on his parachute, converting it into a winged jetpack. As Starscream advances, he pulls out his gun and fires at the Decepticon, getting a lucky shot at his eye before retreating. Starscream opts to give up on the minor annoyance and [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]] flies away to fight another day.

Back at the plant, Sparkplug takes one of the patrol cars as he is chased down by Skywarp. Before he can catch the human, however, Frosting's F-18 comes crashing down on top of him and Soundwave, allowing Sparkplug to slip away. The resulting explosion is seen by the Autobots and Carly and Spike realize that the plant is under attack. Feeling responsible for bringing their war to this planet, Optimus opts to face the Decepticons, despite Ratchet's protest about their need to find their own energy sources. Optimus assigns Cliffjumper to stay with Ratchet and protect their sleeping comrades. Spike decides to come along to help his dad, which Optimus reluctantly allows. Carly tries to stop him, saying they need to get back home to their parents, but Spike inists. She decides to leave for home alone. As she drives back towards town, she is spotted by [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]], who identifies the image of Optimus Prime Carly drew on her van earlier that day. She arrives home to find Sparkplug already there, dressed in his old Army fatigues and carrying several guns. Carly asks where her dad is, and Sparkplug answers that "they" killed him; Davey is dead.

{{--}}

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks. 
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (1)
* ''[[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]]'' (4)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (6)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (8)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (9)
* [[Roller (G1)|Roller]] (10)
* [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (11)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (12)
* [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] or [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (13) (See "Errors" below)
* [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (14)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (15) (See "Errors" below)

|c2=
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (2)
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (3)
* ''[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'' (5)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (19)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (20)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (23)

|c3=
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (2)
* [[Carly]] (7)
* Police officer (16)
* [[Jordie]] (17)
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (18)
* [[Frosting]] (21)
* [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]] (22)
}}

==Quotes==
'''Spike:''' "Um... Hi... Nice to meet y--" 
'''Cliffjumper:''' "Ah, we're not there yet, my man. Yeeesh... You're like a [[turborat]]-- creepy, little--" 
'''Carly:''' "Oh, please." 
'''Cliffjumper:''' Yeow! How many of you '''are''' there?" 

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Having been merely hinted at in the last issue, the flashback to the war on Cybertron gives us our first look at Megatron, though his whereabouts are still unknown. ([[Cobra Commander (comic)|#WhereIsMegatron]])
* While mentioned but not seen last issue, this issue gives us our first appearance of Laserbeak, still out scouting for new sources of energy.
* This issue confirms what Jetfire alluded to last issue, that unlike most incarnations of the ''G1'' story, the war has only been raging for two centuries instead of the more traditional four million years.
* Ratchet refers to deactivated brothers ''and sisters'', confirming that female-identifying Autobots exist in this continuity.

===Transformers references===
* Cliffjumper compares Spike to a [[turborat]], a form of Cybertronian wildlife that first appeared in [[Form Follows Function|the fourth issue]] of [[Tom Scioli]] and [[John Barber]]'s ''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]''.
* The police cars of the FPD are quite clearly based on [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], retaining his Japanese police car color layout, twin red siren lights (as opposed to red and blue) and the “highway patrol” markings on the back (none of which really make sense on an American city patrol car, but we'll let that slide.)

===G.I. Joe references===
* First Sergeant Conrad S. Hauser, codename '''DUKE''', makes his debut in the [[Energon Universe]] in this issue ahead of [[Duke (comic)|his own title]] debuting next month.
* While [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] doesn’t exist yet in this continuity, it seems the U.S. military has been developing some hi-tech tools, such as the jetpack Duke uses. This could be a new take on Jet Mobile Propulsion Unit (J.U.M.P.) jetpack from the ''G.I. Joe'' toyline, which Duke famously used in the opening sequence of ''G.I. Joe: The Movie''.

===Real-world references===
* Frosting’s name is painted on the side of his jet’s cockpit, a real practice common on United States fighter aircraft. It’s worth noting, however, that the formatting is slightly off. His rank and full name should be on one line, with his callsign printed below. Instead, it lists simply his rank, first name, and callsign on the same line.

===Errors===
* On page 4, 'millennia' is mis-spelled as 'millenia'.
* Amongst the deactivated Autobots in the quarry is Sideswipe who appears to be miscolored as [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]], and a bot who appears to be either Inferno or Grapple (with their wheels on the side of their legs rather than their foot) in the colors of [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]].

===Other trivia===
* This issue contains a four page preview for ''[[Duke (comic)|Duke]]'' [[Duke issue 1|#1]].

===Covers===
* '''Cover A:''' Starscream attacks Frosting, by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer.
* '''Cover B:''' Optimus Prime transforms as he drives off a cliff, by [[Afu Chan]].
* '''Cover C (1:10 Copy Incentive):''' Connecting cover by [[Orlando Aroecena]].
* '''Cover D (1:25 Copy Incentive):''' Autobots wage their battle to destroy the evil forces of the Decepticons, by [[Bryan Hitch]] and [[Alex Sinclair]].
* '''Cover E (1:50 Copy Incentive):''' Duke uses his jetpack against Starscream, by [[Tom Reilly]].
* '''Second Printing Variant Cover A:''' Duke, by [[Jason Howard]].
* '''Second Printing Variant Cover B:''' Soundwave, by Jason Howard.
* '''Second Printing Variant Cover C:''' Cliffjumper, by Jason Howard.

<gallery>
File:Transformers02A_Cover.jpg|
File:Transformers02B_Cover.jpg|
File:Transformers02C_Cover.jpg|
File:Transformers02D_Cover.jpg|
File:Transformers02E_Cover.jpg|
File:Transformers02 2nd Ptg Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers02 2nd Ptg Cover B.jpg|
File:Transformers02 2nd Ptg Cover C.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* Codename: G.I. Joe starts in ''[[Duke (comic)|Duke]]'' [[Duke issue 1|#1]].
* A new era for G.I. Joe starts in ''[[G.I. Joe (comic)|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero]]'' #301.
* ''[[Universal]] Monsters [[Dracula]]''

==External links==

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Transformers (2023) issues]]

Transformers (2023) issue 2

2023-11-19T07:53:29Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Errors */

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2023 comic)|Transformers]]'' #2
|prev=Transformers (2023) issue 1
|next=Transformers (2023) issue 3
|next2=Duke issue 1
|image=Transformers02A_Cover.jpg
|caption=Once you pop, you can’t stop.
|title=
|publisher=[[Image Comics]] [[Skybound Entertainment]]
|date=[[November 7]], [[2023]]
|coverdate=November 2023
|written by=[[Daniel Warren Johnson]]
|art by=Daniel Warren Johnson
|colors by=[[Mike Spicer]]
|letters by=[[Rus Wooton]]
|editors=[[Sean Mackiewicz]] & [[Jonathan Manning]]
|continuity=[[Energon Universe]]
|chronology=
}}

'''The Autobots must learn to adapt to Earth with scant resources, while the Decepticons gather more energon to rebuild their army.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] walks through a wood, marveling at the natural beauty of Earth. The plants, the animals, the scenery; he finds it all breathtaking. However, his serenity is interrupted upon hearing a crunch underneath his foot: he's stepped on a small deer, killing it. Optimus leans down, cradling the creature with remorse. [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] emerges from the woods and reassures Optimus that it was an accident. Optimus tells Spike that this world is so fragile compared to his own. Seeing the [[Autobot]] leader's despair, Spike decides to change the subject of the conversation and asks Optimus about his name. Optimus tells him that the [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] title denotes him as leader of the Autobots and was passed to him by the previous leader of their kind. Optimus in turn inquires about Spike's name, who reveals that his mom used to call him "Spikey" before she passed away due to his hair always sticking up as a child. Optimus is confused; he’s never heard the terms "mom" or "dad" before, though he does know the concept of "family." Spike then asks Optimus about where he comes from, prompting Optimus to tell him about [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and the war between the Autobots and [[Decepticon]]s that has raged for the past two centuries. The Autobots' forces eventually dwindled from the Decepticons' relentless onslaught to the point where they were forced to flee the planet aboard the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]''. However, their escape was attacked by [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and the Decepticons. The last thing Optimus saw before they crashed into the mountain was Earth. Optimus thanks Spike for assisting him during the battle, saying that he's not sure they would have escaped without him. Spike in turn offers condolences for [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]].

[[File:TF2023 – Cliffjumper freaks out.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.35|Sorry Cliff, but with Bumblebee gone, you're the closest thing we got to a [[kid-appeal character]].]]
Their somber heart-to-heart is soon interrupted by the newly reactivated [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]], whom [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] was able to successfully repair. Optimus warmly greets his old friend, but Cliffjumper is not nearly as taken with Earth as his commander, freaking out upon seeing Spike and [[Carly]] and bumping into the trees. Carly tells him to calm down. After all, if anyone should be freaking out about the giant robots from space, it's her. This gets Cliffjumper to calm down and the two shake hands. Inside the quarry, Ratchet has set about trying to revive the other Autobots, but has used up the last of their energon reserves fixing Cliffjumper. Optimus considers using the [[Matrix of Leadership]] to replenish their energon, but Ratchet says they can't. The Matrix is connected to Prime's own life force and if they lose him, they lose everything. Cliffjumper remarks that if they're running out of energon, the Decepticons will hopefully have the same problem.

Meanwhile, at the power plant [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] and [[Davey]] work at, a police officer is surveying the damage caused by [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s attack and taking statements, not believing [[Jordie|the plant manager]]'s story about a giant robot. The officer says they'll get some detectives out here to investigate, but a panicked Sparkplug insists they need to call in the Army. As the officer tries to reassure Sparkplug, [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] drops from the sky, destroying his patrol car. Behind him descend Starscream and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] carrying an energy transfer module stolen from the ''Ark'', which will allow them to more efficiently convert energon from the plant. The police officer tries to shoot at Starscream, much to Sparkplug's protests, only for Starscream to step on him. As the Decepticons begin to drain the plant of its energy, Soundwave intercepts a transmission from the U.S. military asking a nearby pilot under the callsign "[[Frosting]]" to intercept their attack. Amused at the idea of the "squishies" trying to fight them, Starscream goes to intercept the fighter. He dogfights with them for a bit before transforming and smacking the jet down. The pilot and his ride-along eject, but Starscream catches up to Frosting and squashes him between his hands. The other soldier activates a button on his parachute, converting it into a winged jetpack. As Starscream advances, he pulls out his gun and fires at the Decepticon, getting a lucky shot at his eye before retreating. Starscream opts to give up on the minor annoyance and [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]] flies away to fight another day.

Back at the plant, Sparkplug takes one of the patrol cars as he is chased down by Skywarp. Before he can catch the human, however, Frosting's F-18 comes crashing down on top of him and Soundwave, allowing Sparkplug to slip away. The resulting explosion is seen by the Autobots and Carly and Spike realize that the plant is under attack. Feeling responsible for bringing their war to this planet, Optimus opts to face the Decepticons, despite Ratchet's protest about their need to find their own energy sources. Optimus assigns Cliffjumper to stay with Ratchet and protect their sleeping comrades. Spike decides to come along to help his dad, which Optimus reluctantly allows. Carly tries to stop him, saying they need to get back home to their parents, but Spike inists. She decides to leave for home alone. As she drives back towards town, she is spotted by [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]], who identifies the image of Optimus Prime Carly drew on her van earlier that day. She arrives home to find Sparkplug already there, dressed in his old Army fatigues and carrying several guns. Carly asks where her dad is, and Sparkplug answers that "they" killed him; Davey is dead.

{{--}}

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks. 
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (1)
* ''[[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]]'' (4)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (6)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (8)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (9)
* [[Roller (G1)|Roller]] (10)
* [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (11)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (12)
* [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] or [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (13) (See "Errors" below)
* [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (14)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (15) (See "Errors" below)

|c2=
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (2)
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (3)
* ''[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'' (5)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (19)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (20)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (23)

|c3=
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (2)
* [[Carly]] (7)
* Police officer (16)
* [[Jordie]] (17)
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (18)
* [[Frosting]] (21)
* [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]] (22)
}}

==Quotes==
'''Spike:''' "Um... Hi... Nice to meet y--" 
'''Cliffjumper:''' "Ah, we're not there yet, my man. Yeeesh... You're like a [[turborat]]-- creepy, little--" 
'''Carly:''' "Oh, please." 
'''Cliffjumper:''' Yeow! How many of you '''are''' there?" 

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Having been merely hinted at in the last issue, the flashback to the war on Cybertron gives us our first look at Megatron, though his whereabouts are still unknown. ([[Cobra Commander (comic)|#WhereIsMegatron]])
* While mentioned but not seen last issue, this issue gives us our first appearance of Laserbeak, still out scouting for new sources of energy.
*This issue confirms what Jetfire alluded to last issue, that unlike most incarnations of the ''G1'' story, the war has only been raging for two centuries instead of the more traditional four million years.

===Transformers references===
* Cliffjumper compares Spike to a [[turborat]], a form of Cybertronian wildlife that first appeared in [[Form Follows Function|the fourth issue]] of [[Tom Scioli]] and [[John Barber]]'s ''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]''.
* The police cars of the FPD are quite clearly based on [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], retaining his Japanese police car color layout, twin red siren lights (as opposed to red and blue) and the “highway patrol” markings on the back (none of which really make sense on an American city patrol car, but we'll let that slide.)

===G.I. Joe references===
* First Sergeant Conrad S. Hauser, codename '''DUKE''', makes his debut in the [[Energon Universe]] in this issue ahead of [[Duke (comic)|his own title]] debuting next month.
* While [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] doesn’t exist yet in this continuity, it seems the U.S. military has been developing some hi-tech tools, such as the jetpack Duke uses. This could be a new take on Jet Mobile Propulsion Unit (J.U.M.P.) jetpack from the ''G.I. Joe'' toyline, which Duke famously used in the opening sequence of ''G.I. Joe: The Movie''.

===Real-world references===
* Frosting’s name is painted on the side of his jet’s cockpit, a real practice common on United States fighter aircraft. It’s worth noting, however, that the formatting is slightly off. His rank and full name should be on one line, with his callsign printed below. Instead, it lists simply his rank, first name, and callsign on the same line.

===Errors===
* On page 4, 'millennia' is mis-spelled as 'millenia'.
* Amongst the deactivated Autobots in the quarry is Sideswipe who appears to be miscolored as [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]], and a bot who appears to be either Inferno or Grapple (with their wheels on the side of their legs rather than their foot) in the colors of [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]].

===Other trivia===
* This issue contains a four page preview for ''[[Duke (comic)|Duke]]'' [[Duke issue 1|#1]].

===Covers===
* '''Cover A:''' Starscream attacks Frosting, by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer.
* '''Cover B:''' Optimus Prime transforms as he drives off a cliff, by [[Afu Chan]].
* '''Cover C (1:10 Copy Incentive):''' Connecting cover by [[Orlando Aroecena]].
* '''Cover D (1:25 Copy Incentive):''' Autobots wage their battle to destroy the evil forces of the Decepticons, by [[Bryan Hitch]] and [[Alex Sinclair]].
* '''Cover E (1:50 Copy Incentive):''' Duke uses his jetpack against Starscream, by [[Tom Reilly]].
* '''Second Printing Variant Cover A:''' Duke, by [[Jason Howard]].
* '''Second Printing Variant Cover B:''' Soundwave, by Jason Howard.
* '''Second Printing Variant Cover C:''' Cliffjumper, by Jason Howard.

<gallery>
File:Transformers02A_Cover.jpg|
File:Transformers02B_Cover.jpg|
File:Transformers02C_Cover.jpg|
File:Transformers02D_Cover.jpg|
File:Transformers02E_Cover.jpg|
File:Transformers02 2nd Ptg Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers02 2nd Ptg Cover B.jpg|
File:Transformers02 2nd Ptg Cover C.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* Codename: G.I. Joe starts in ''[[Duke (comic)|Duke]]'' [[Duke issue 1|#1]].
* A new era for G.I. Joe starts in ''[[G.I. Joe (comic)|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero]]'' #301.
* ''[[Universal]] Monsters [[Dracula]]''

==External links==

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Transformers (2023) issues]]

Things Fall Apart, Part 2: "A Rude Awakening"

2023-06-09T05:49:56Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Errors */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers]]'' #3
|prev=Things Fall Apart, Part 1: "New Arrivals, Old Encounters"
|next=Things Fall Apart, Part 3: "Seasons in Flight"
|seriesissue2=
|prev2=
|next2=
|title="A Rude Awakening"
|image=TFvol1 3cvrA.jpg
|caption="I've got time for you now! And you! And you..."
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date= [[January 13]], [[2010]]
|coverdate=December 2009
|written by=[[Mike Costa]]
|art by=[[Don Figueroa]]
|colors by=[[James Brown]]
|letters by=[[Chris Mowry]]
|editor=[[Andy Schmidt]]
|assistant editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|associate editor=[[Denton J. Tipton]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2010)]]
}}
'''Ultra Magnus's arrival casts an unwanted spotlight on recent occurrences within the Earthbound Autobots.'''

==Synopsis==
In an old army hangar, [[Jetfire (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jetfire]] whines about a headache. [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hot Rod]] comes in and reveals he's changed his mind about getting off [[Earth]] as soon as possible, instead wanting to get all the [[Autobot]]s in [[human]] custody out as well. He shows Jetfire their new [[Decepticon]] comrades, saying there are no sides anymore.

Meanwhile, at [[Autobase]], [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] explains to the bots he's here to investigate what they've been up to. [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] explains the situation, from which Magnus somehow discerns that [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] has died.

At [[Skywatch]] headquarters, [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Spike Witwicky]] tries to talk to [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]]. Spike wants to make things easier for him, but Optimus just accepts his fate and broods. Spike's colleague asks why he's doing this and Spike says he's trying to have something to give [[Sparkplug Witwicky|his dad]] when he arrives.

[[File:RudeAwakening-Hoist.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5]]
Back at Autobase, Ultra Magnus investigates the events on Earth as if it was a crime scene. He thinks that Bumblebee might not be a capable leader, especially when more Autobots—[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]], [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] and [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]]—leave. Ultra Magnus leaves to find Hot Rod.

Back in Hot Rod's group, Jetfire says he can't build things, to which Hot Rod replies that he isn't building, just disassembling. Also, [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] and [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] aren't too keen on their new Decepticon comrades.

At Skywatch, Spike has detected Blurr's group and sends guys to capture them. Blurr thinks his friends are slow when a Skywatch mine blows him up. Hoist, Beachcomber and Tracks are quickly subdued by Skywatch, but Blurr runs away, breaking the sound barrier. The others are brought back to Skywatch where Spike asks Optimus Prime again if he wants to talk.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Jetfire (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jetfire]] (1)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hot Rod]] (2)
* [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (9)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (10)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Wheeljack]] (11)
* [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] (12)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (13)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] (14)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (15)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sideswipe]] (16)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (17)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] (19)
* [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] (22)
* [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (23)
* [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (24)
* [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (25)
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (26)
* [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (27)
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (28)
{{!}}}
|c2=
* [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (3)
* [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (4)
* [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (5)
* [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (6)
* [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (7)
* [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (8)
* [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (21)
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (29)
|c3=
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Spike Witwicky]] (18)
* [[Joe Henderson]] (20)
* [[Campolongo]] (30)
* [[Kyle Pennington]] (31)
}}

==Quotes==
"I know that spending a lot of time on a planet can start to... influence an outpost. I did a full scan of all our files on contemporary Earth culture, so I won't need any acclimation. I'm on the same page as you, and I want you to know I'm not the bogeyman. I'm not here to "come down" on anybody. I'm not looking for "narcs"." 
"What is he talking about?"
:—'''Ultra Magnus''''s efforts to speak Earth lingo only baffle '''Sideswipe'''

"So. The great '''Optimus Prime'''. The guy who knows where all the bodies are buried." 
"I'm not sure exactly what that particular idiom means, but it sounds like something I'd probably object to."
:—'''Spike''' and '''Optimus Prime'''

"I'm not here to be treated kindly." 
"I am being stonewalled by a talking truck with self-flagellation issues."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Spike'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* The introduction page text states that this issue takes place after [[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 1|''Last Stand of the Wreckers'' #1]] (when Magnus took leave of the Wreckers to come to Earth), but before [[The Hanging Sword|''Bumblebee'' #1]].
* It seems that quite a few Decepticons didn't make it off Earth than did during their final evacuation, as the Stunticons, Combaticons, and Constructicons all have team members show up here.


===Real-life references===
* ''A Rude Awakening'' is a story by {{w|Brian Aldiss}}, as are the subtitles to the other issues in ''Things Fall Apart''.
* "Things Fall Apart" is itself a quote from the poem "{{w|The Second Coming (poem)|The Second Coming}}" by {{w|W.B. Yeats}}.

===Errors===
* Hot Rod's group needs to build a new ship from scratch, despite the fact new Autobots had been arriving on Earth and presumably brought ships with them in the process.
* Campolongo's name is spelled "Campologno". Since this is his first appearance, this error wasn't made clear until he was namechecked again in [[Scrapper (issue)|issue 8]].
* Hot Rod says that Wheeljack found a way to 'diffuse' the human restraints. He probably means to say 'defuse'.



===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A:''' Ultra Magnus unloads his weapons on some poor sap; art by [[Don Figueroa]] and colors by [[James Brown|J Brown]].
* '''Cover B:''' Hot Rod does a [[Wolverine (Marvel)|Wolverine]] pose; art by [[Andrew Wildman]].
* '''Cover RI:''' Concept art of Jetfire; art by Don Figueroa.

<gallery>
File:TFvol1 3cvrA.jpg|"Dammit Hot Rod, the Matrix was meant for me!"
File:TFvol1 3cvrB.jpg|"I'm the best at what I do, and what I do ain't very nice!"
File:TFvol1 3cvrRI.jpg|"It was logical to reformat... wasn't it?"
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* [[Things Fall Apart, Part 3: "Seasons in Flight"|''The Transformers'' #4]]
* TBD

===Reprints===
* '''''The Transformers, Volume 1: For All Mankind''''' ([[June 9]], [[2010]]) ISBN 1600106846 / ISBN 978-1600106842
** Collects ''The Transformers'' (2009) issues #1–6.
** Bonus material includes art from all covers, including design sketches from Don Figueroa.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Six]]''''' ([[May 9]], [[2012]]) ISBN 1613771835 / ISBN 978-1613771839
** Collects ''The Transformers'' (2009) issues #1–6, ''[[The Transformers: Bumblebee|Bumblebee]]'' issues [[The Hanging Sword|#1]]–[[Wings of Wax|4]], ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'' issues [[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 1|#1]]–[[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|5]], and ''[[The Transformers: Spotlight|Spotlight]]: [[Ride-Along|Prowl]]''.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 46: Things Fall Apart''''' ([[October 4]], [[2017]])
** Collects ''The Transformers'' (2009) issues #2–8.
** Bonus material includes character design sketches by Figueroa, an extract from [[Decepticomments]] from ''The Transformers'' #4 by Mike Costa, and a bio on IDW [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]].
** Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:IDW TF vol1.jpg|'''''Volume 1: For All Mankind''''' – cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] and [[James Brown]]
File:IDWCollection6.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Volume Six''''' – cover art by [[E. J. Su]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v46.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 46: Things Fall Apart''''' – cover art by [[Makoto Ono]] and Don Figueroa
</gallery>

[[Category:IDW The Transformers issues]]

Metrotitan (G1)

2023-06-03T22:31:48Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* 2005 IDW continuity */

{{featured}}
{{factions|decepticon|autobot|{{factions/icons|custom=PotP-Thirteenth.png|cSize=30px|cLink=Thirteenth Prime}}}}
{{disambig3.5|the Decepticon Titan|the [[body-type]] that sometimes takes its name from him|Titan (group)|Metrotitan}}
:''Metrotitan is a [[Decepticon]] [[Titan (group)|Titan]] from the [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (franchise)#Transformers: Zone|Zone]] portion of the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[File:Metrotitan.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|The very definition of a "bad neighborhood".]]
Constructed on [[Saturn]]'s moon [[Titan (moon)|Titan]] by the [[Autobot]]s, '''Metrotitan''' (メトロタイタン ''Metorotaitan'') is a massive warrior wielding a devastating freeze ray that can stop most enemies cold. Unfortunately for the Autobots, Metrotitan defected to the [[Decepticon]]s and was taught the ways of evil by the [[Nine Great Demon Generals]] under the command of [[Violengiguar]]. Whether his defection was a conscious choice or the result of forcible reprogramming is a matter of contention, though Metrotitan and his former allies have ultimately accepted his evil ways.

He leads the [[Metrosquad]] and has also been known to house the [[Race Track Patrol]].

In one universe, he is an Autobot-allied [[Titan (group)|Titan]] who serves as an [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] on [[Earth]].

{{TOCclear}}

==Fiction==
===Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''Zone'' story pages====
[[File:MetrotitanInSpace.jpg|thumb|left|''We're ooofffff to outer spaaaaace. We're leaaaaaving Mother Eaaaaarth. To saaaave the human raaaace. Our Star Blaaaaazers.'']]

Created on [[Saturn]]'s moon, [[Titan (moon)|Titan]], Metrotitan was appointed leader of the [[Metrosquad]] and schooled in the ways of evil by [[Violengiguar]]'s [[Nine Great Demon Generals]]. His first mission upon activation was to attack the [[Autobot]] Lunar Zone Base on [[Earth]]'s [[Moon (moon)|moon]] commanded by [[Rabbicrater]]. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone (story page)|Zone Part 7}}

He proved to be very impressive in battle, and even killed the veteran Autobot [[Galaxy Shuttle]] in his attack on the [[Zone City|Lunar Zone Base]]. Metrotitan might even have been able to best [[Dai Atlas (G1)|Dai Atlas]] if [[Sonic Bomber (G1)|Sonic Bomber]] hadn't kept the Metrosquad busy. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone (story page)|Zone Part 8}}

[[File:Roadfire1.jpg|thumb|200px]]
Metrotitan then unleashed his Freeze Beam Gun and used it to reduce the moon to an icy tomb. His freeze beam was even powerful enough to stop [[Sky Powered]] in its tracks. However, the Decepticon warrior was unprepared for the arrival of a third [[Powered Master]] named [[Roadfire|Road Fire]]. His freeze beam was easily countered by Road Fire's "Fire Kick" and Metrotitan was soundly defeated. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone (story page)|Zone Part 9}}
{{-}}

====Metrowars====
[[File:Metrowars antimatter projector.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.95|Attack on Metrotitan.]]
Years later, Metrotitan fell in with High Regent [[Scrash (G1)|Scrash]]'s splinter faction of Decepticons and was put under the command of [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]], who dubbed the titan's base mode as "Darkmount" after his former home. In a devastating battle, Metrotitan was able to soundly demolish his kin, [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]].

In a few days, the Decepticons attacked again with Metrotitan, who took down [[Metrobase (G1)|Metrobase]] on his way to Scramble City. But the Autobots were more prepared this time, having rebuilt Metroplex into a larger robot who towered over Metrotitan. When Metrotitan rejected the rumors of having been reprogrammed by the Nine Great Demon Generals, Metroplex accepted this admission and banished Metrotitan from the Autobots forevermore. Badly damaged by Metroplex's [[antimatter]] projector, Metrotitan wisely decided to retreat. {{storylink|Metrowars}}

[[File:Metrowars2 my own will.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

Convalescing afterward, Metrotitan raged over his defeat and swore vengeance against Metroplex, considering the fact that he could ''feel'' such an emotion to be proof that his mind was his own and untampered with. Straxus, perched on his shoulder with his hand wired into Metrotitan's head, coolly encouraged his beliefs. Concurrently, [[Metrobomb]] staged an attempt to steal data on Metroplex's new form so that Metrotitan could be rebuilt into a similar body, but he failed. {{storylink|Metrowars 2}}
{{-}}

====''Legends'' comic====
Prior to awakening and being converted into a Decepticon, Metrotitan had slept beneath Titan's surface since ancient times, inspiring the [[Sky God]] religion practiced by the native [[Titan (species)|Titans]]. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. EX (Metroplex)|Bonus Edition Vol. EX}}

When the [[Race Track Patrol]] recovered [[Full-Tilt (G1)|Full-Tilt]]'s [[personality component]] from [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]'s remains, they brought it to the current Decepticon base, Metrotitan. {{storylink|LG-43 Trypticon Project Chapter}}

Metrotitan was eventually defeated for good by Metroplex, who had tracked him down in a failed attempt to talk Straxus into surrendering. Metroplex returned his comatose body to Titan, where he would slowly absorb the moon's energy and hopefully one day reawaken as his original heroic self. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. EX (Metroplex)|Bonus Edition Vol. EX}}

While recapping Metroplex's life story to [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] and [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] in the [[Legends World|Legends Universe]], [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] mentioned Metrotitan's creation on Titan and his devastating attack on Metroplex. {{storylink|LG14 Ultra Magnus Prologue#The Mysterious Knowledgeable Grandpa Chapter|The Mysterious Knowledgeable Grandpa Chapter}}

Metrotitan resurfaced with the Metrosquad in a larger body to attack [[Micro|Zone]] again under the command of [[Violengiguar]]. He faced his former victim Galaxy Shuttle as well as the Titan-class Autobot, [[Metrobase (G1)|Metrobase]]. {{storylink|The Road to Legends' Revival Chapter 4: LG-EX Big Powered Prologue Part One|LG-EX Big Powered Prologue Part One}}

===''Wings Universe''===
Nine million years ago, the Metrotitan was a fortress in the [[Glibax]] flats. In the first decade of the Decepticon uprising, it came under siege by the Decepticons, who eliminated all resistance and then moved on. The more entrepreneurial [[Rage (G1)|Rage]] of the [[Stormtrooper (G1)|Stormtrooper]]s salvaged the Metrotitan and retrofitted it as a mobile battle station under his control.

After capturing the [[Heart of the Dragon]] from [[Median]], Rage's ultimate goal was to implant the powerful [[personality component]] in the Metrotitan itself, hoping to reformat the fortress into a massively powerful Transformer under his control. He hoped this grand gesture would be enough to get him noticed by the Decepticon generals, and rise in the rebel hierarchy. First, however, he tested the heart in a micro-sized body, creating the dragon known as [[Brimstone (G1 Decepticon)|Brimstone]]. Brimstone rampaged through the Metrotitan after the [[Elite Guard]]smen hunting Rage, until his energy levels destroyed the pint-sized terror from the inside out, apparently taking out the Metrotitan as well in the explosion. {{storylink|Flames of Yesterday}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|''More Than Meets The Eye'' Annual 2012]]}}
[[File:OP10-Titans.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

Legends claimed that Metrotitan was one of the original three [[Titan (group)|Titan]]s; along with [[Chela]], his "mate", and his doppelgänger [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], the three had supposedly fought alongside [[Primus]] during the original battle against his dreaded "[[Unicron/Generation 1|opposite]]". The first recorded instance of the three original Titans resurfacing in modern Cybertronian history occurred some twelve million years ago, during the initial unification of the [[Thirteen]], when [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Onyx Prime]] called upon them to end the war between the forces of the [[Crystal City]] and the [[Darklands]]. Their presence did just that, stunning the warriors into submission long enough for Onyx to reach [[The Fallen|Megatronus]] and negotiate a truce.

During the subsequent celebrations, Onyx announced that he had communed with Metrotitan, and designed a [[Autobot|symbol]], based off the countenance of Primus, that would commemorate this new alliance. {{storylink|Origin Myths}} Unbeknownst to the other members of the Thirteen, "Onyx Prime" was not who he appeared to be—in reality, "Onyx" was a cover identity for a time-travelling [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]], who had embarked on a new mission to engineer Cybertronian history to his own devising. The "face of Primus" was but one of many ontological paradoxes he would seed history with, which included the [[Dark Cybertron (prophecy)|"Dark Cybertron" prophecy]] and the legend of a "Chosen One", a conqueror who would unite Cybertron in its hour of need. {{storylink|The Falling, Interlude: The First Who Was Named|The First Who Was Named}}

[[File:RIDAnnual metrotitan.jpg|left|thumb|200px]]

Following the reign of the Thirteen and the [[First Cybertronian Civil War]], many other Titans departed the planet, until only three remained: Trypticon, Metroplex and Metrotitan. Metrotitan went into hibernation beneath the Crystal City, and came to be guarded by [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. When [[Nova Prime]] discovered the upper city and allied himself with Omega, the guardian hid Metrotitan's existence from the Prime. His recalcitrance paid off when Nova fell into megalomania and departed Cybertron to conquer other worlds, at which point Omega revealed the Metrotitan to Nova's more respectful former follower, [[Dai Atlas (G1)|Dai Atlas]]. Omega explained that Metrotitan would only awaken in the presence of a great Cybertronian, but that it would be Dai Atlas's task to protect him until then. When the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]] subsequently broke out in the following millennia, Dai Atlas became a conscientious objector and gathered together many like-minded Transformers to form the [[Circle of Light]], and used Metrotitan's energies to power their departure from Cybertron. {{storylink|Primus: All Good Things|All Good Things}} Settling on the planet [[Theophany]], the Circle built a new Crystal City atop the still-sleeping Metrotitan and continued to use his energies to power their new home. {{Storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}}

At some point, Crystal City was razed by [[Solomus|Tyrest]]'s [[Legislator]]s, leaving no sign of life, save Metrotitan slumbering underneath. When the crew of the ''[[Lost Light]]'' arrived to investigate, a subsidence sent them tumbling into the cavern beneath the city where the Titan lay, and they decided to enter its very body so that the their resident [[Mnemosurgery|mnemosurgeon]] [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] could tap its brain and hopefully find out what had befallen the Circle of Light. Chromedome discovered that Metrotitan's mind was still alive and screaming in frustration—he had heard the call sent out by Cybertron upon the planet's reformatting to "come home", but having been drained by the Circle for so long, he lacked the necessary power to teleport his giant bulk across space. With Metrotitan willing to destroy himself to separate his [[spark]] from his body in order to return home, [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] used miniaturization technology to shrink the giant down to a size that his reduced power could teleport away from the planet. {{Storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}}

[[File:PrimusAllGoodThings-MetrotitanEmbedded.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

Though millions of years had passed, Onyx Prime was not done with his former servant; using the supplies of [[Ore-10]] that his younger self had once invented, Onyx had been able to reprogram Metrotitan with a specific goal in mind. To ensure that Cybertron would remain weak and divided over the years to come, Onyx had convinced Metrotitan that the legends of the "Chosen One" were true... and that the vain, gullible [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] was that Chosen One. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 4: The Hallowing|The Hallowing}} When Metrotitan arrived back on Cybertron, he attempted to return to his old home in Crystal City, but wound up physically enmeshing his molecules into those of the city and causing a local destabilization of reality.

While Autobot scientist [[Wheeljack (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Wheeljack]] worked to contain the impending disaster, [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] and Starscream got closer to the Titan and where he awoke, crediting Starscream's presence as the reason. Metrotitan dubbed Starscream the Chosen One and thanked him for allowing him to awaken one last time, before warning the Transformers to depart so that they would not be destroyed along with him. The subsequent antimatter explosion seemingly obliterated him; {{storylink|Primus: All Good Things|All Good Things}} in reality, however, Shockwave's supplies of [[Ore-9]] simply teleported Metrotitan onto the next leg of his journey: [[Earth]]. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 4: The Hallowing|The Hallowing}}

When the [[Quintessa (IDW)|Necrotitan]] appeared near Crystal City after its reconstitution from [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]]'s [[Ore-14]], many Transformers–including Starscream himself–mistook it for Metrotitan. {{storylink|Winners & Losers: Dark Cybertron Chapter 3|Winners & Losers}}

[[File:AsAboveSoBelow-metrotitanawakens.jpg|thumb|left|300px|Don't you just hate it when someone wakes you up in the middle of a nap?]]

Having somehow returned to his original size in the interim, Metrotitan wound up buried beneath [[Monument Valley]], {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 5: As Above...So Below|As Above...So Below}} above a rich seam of [[Ore-13]], {{storylink|White Light}} and went into [[Stasis lock|stasis]] until he was needed. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 5: As Above...So Below|As Above...So Below}} During the turbulent days after his annexation of [[Earth]] into the [[Council of Worlds]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] dreamt of Metrotitan bursting free from the ground; this, in turn, prompted him to base his forces in Monument Valley. [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], continually urged Optimus to "reach out" with his feelings, {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 4: It's Beginning To And Back Again|It's Beginning To And Back Again}} and during a standoff against the [[Earth Defense Command]] Prime seemingly pulled this feat off and reawakened Metrotitan, his dramatic arrival promptly intimidating the humans into retreating. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 5: As Above...So Below|As Above...So Below}}

Footage of Metrotitan's arrival reached Cybertron thanks to the efforts of [[Circuit (G1)|Circuit]] and [[Longtooth]]. The sight of Optimus commanding the loyalty of a Titan as the [[Thirteen]] once had prompted a fresh wave of support from those religiously inclined colony worlds, who viewed him as the legendary [[The Arisen|Arisen]]". {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 6: No Fair Fights|No Fair Fights}} This was yet another step in Shockwave's ultimate goal: by setting Optimus up as a "true" Prime, Shockwave could subsequently discredit Prime and the lineage that had preceded him. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 4: The Hallowing|The Hallowing}}

[[File:TitansReturnOneShot-AutobotCity.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

In order to appear less imposing to the people of Earth, Metrotitan transformed into his city mode; hoping that the Titan would become an embassy for the Autobots on Earth, Optimus pronounced that Metrotitan would become "[[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]]". Shortly afterwards, Metrotitan beamed a data pulse into space, a message which immortalized Optimus as the leader who had ended the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]] and shepherded Earth into the galactic community. On Cybertron, this data pulse awoke [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]], who took up arms to "purify" his much-changed homeworld; {{storylink|The Last Autobot}} it eventually reached [[Micronus Prime]] in the parallel universe of [[Microspace]], and alerted the villainous [[Baron Karza]] to the existence of Ore-13 on Earth. {{storylink|Secret Raiders: A Revolution Prelude|Secret Raiders}} {{storylink|O Ship of State}}

When Sentinel Prime arrived on Earth to persuade Optimus to join his cause, he did so using Metrotitan's Spacebridge, destroying it behind him. In the ensuing battle beneath the city, [[G.B. Blackrock|Garrison Blackrock]]—now revealed as the ancient [[Sovereign]]—used his [[Titan Master]] abilites to open a new Spacebridge portal that warped himself, Optimus, Soundwave, and Sentinel to the dead world of [[Prion (planet)|Prion]]. {{storylink|White Light}} {{storylink|White Heat}}

After Optimus and Soundwave returned to Earth, the Cybertronians spent the next several months operating out of Metrotitan, performing charitable missions across Earth to prove their good intentions to humanity. {{storylink|Concorde Hymn}} While discussing the Transformers' continued presence on Earth, however, [[Scarlett]] and "[[Joe Colton (Dire Wraith)|Joe Colton]]" worried that Metrotitan's presence had galvanized the citizens of Cybertron behind Optimus, and potentially attracted other aliens to Earth. {{storylink|Secret Raiders: A Revolution Prelude|Secret Raiders}}

[[File:Informed-Metrotitan.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

By this time, Metrotitan's Spacebridge had been repaired, {{storylink|O Ship of State}} linked to [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'s own Spacebridge on Cybertron and becoming the primary means of travel between Earth and Cybertron. {{storylink|Ping}} Somehow, Metrotitan's Space Bridge was able to pierce dimensional barriers and access Micronus Prime's own Spacebridge, {{storylink|O Ship of State}} and as a destructive [[entropy cloud]] threatened to consume Microspace, Micronus sought help from Optimus and asked Metrotitan to pass his message along. Metrotitan went completely silent in the hopes that Optimus would establish a mental link with him to investigate, but his efforts were misinterpreted as a mechanical failure and the [[Cityspeaker]] [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] was called in to examine him. {{storylink|Informed}} Despite this setback, he continued to fulfill his duties, and, some weeks later, provided the Autobots with data regarding a recent explosion at [[Mount Olympus]] caused by destabilizing supplies of [[Ore-13]]. {{storylink|Concorde Hymn}}

After finally deducing that Metrotitan was trying to speak with Optimus, Windblade decided that she couldn't risk losing the Prime and opted to link with his consciousness herself. Displeased with the "speck", Metrotitan grudgingly shunted her consciousness into the subatomic realm of Microspace to meet with Micronus. {{storylink|Informed}} Learning that the alien [[Dire Wraith]]s drew power from Ore-13, the [[Space Knight]] [[Rom]] briefly used Metrotitan's space bridge to hurl chunks of the mineral into Microspace, hoping to put the ore beyond his enemies' reach. {{storylink|O Ship of State}}

Autobot City then became the site of all out battle as the Autobots and their new allies fought to defend Metrotitan from [[M.A.S.K.]] and the Dire Wraiths. {{storylink|The New Colossus}} When a gigantic, mutated Baron Karza joined the fray, Windblade was able to order Metrotitan to transform into his starship mode and carry the heroes to safety. {{storylink|Valley Forge}}

[[File:NewCybertron-metrotitan.jpg|thumb|right|300px|''Optimus Prime's Moving Castle'']]

With Baron Karza defeated, Metrotitan chose to remain airborne as the Autobots continued to police trouble spots across the world. {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 1: To Walk Among the Chosen|To Walk Among the Chosen}} The Autobots worked to refit their ship into an embassy and living space for human-Cybertronian relations, keeping a large concentration of Ore-13 aboard. {{storylink|Ghost in the Machine (IDW)|Ghost in the Machine}} Some months later, Metrotitan flew the Autobots to [[Mexico City]] to deal with a breach of the [[Tyrest Accord]], and then transported Optimus and his inner retinue to [[Washington, D.C.]] to meet with the [[President of the United States|President]]. Partway into the discussion, the Titan detected a massive [[Quintesson Cruiser|ship]] entering Earth's atmosphere, and on Optimus's orders he ferried the Autobots to the [[Matterhorn]] to intercept it. {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 1: To Walk Among the Chosen|To Walk Among the Chosen}}

The ship belonged to a tribe of nomadic [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]], and after making first contact with [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] and [[Rum-Maj]], the Autobots invited the impressed aliens aboard Metrotitan to begin negotiations. {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 2: A Lonely Pillar on the Plain|A Lonely Pillar on the Plain}} A series of diplomatic maneuvers by Prime saw a grand summit between humanity, Earth, and the Junkions held on Metrotitan's flight deck... only for the Junkions to unleash a horde of [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] from their ship, intending to take over Earth. {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 4: Dance Among the Shadows|Dance Among the Shadows}}

[[File:FutureGloriesLost-MetrotitanVsJunkions.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"After you, Mongo!"]]

In the ensuing battle, the Junkions rammed their vessel into Metrotitan's hull, and on Prime's command, Metrotitan retaliated by partially [[Transformation|transforming]] into his robot mode and ripping into the ship with his bare hands. {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 5: Future Glories Lost|Future Glories Lost}} Having removed the ship, he kept his hold on it until Optimus was able to broker a ceasefire. {{storylink|New Cybertron End: Feel Safe Without Regrets|Feel Safe Without Regrets}} He later flew Optimus and the President to the [[Marshall Islands|Bikini Atoll]] to inspect the growing colony of "[[Little Cybertron]]", {{storylink|The Next Day, and the Next}} and remained there after the Autobots decided to humanely shut down [[Sideswipe (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sideswipe]]'s life support system. {{storylink|The Life of Sideswipe}}

When [[Joe Colton|Baron Ironblood]] attacked [[Buenos Aires]], Blackrock used his [[Titan Master]] abilities to summon Metrotitan, who subsequently transformed to smash the force field surrounding the [[Onyx]] tower and grant Optimus Prime entry into the fray. Once Blackrock had calculated a counter-frequency to the [[Talisman (G1)|Talisman]]'s [[Dire Wraith]] mutation, he sent it to Metrotitan who—amplifying the signal using his supplies of Ore-13 and inbuilt space bridge—transmitted the cure and returned the infected humans to normal. The curative wave somehow had the effect of releasing the spirit of [[Atomic Man|Mike Power]] into the body of [[Centurion (IDW)|Centurion]]. {{storylink|Ghost in the Machine (IDW)|Ghost in the Machine}}

[[File:PrimelessPart2-Metrotitan.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Metrotitan auditioned for the role of the ''Avenger'' in ''XCOM 2.'']]

When the time came for Earth to formally join the [[Council of Worlds]], Metrotitan relocated to Washington, D.C. so that [[Marissa Faireborn]] and her new diplomatic retinue could travel to [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] via his Spacebridge. {{storylink|Primeless, Part 1}} What they didn't know was that Baron Ironblood and his [[Iron Ring]] were planning their own attack on Cybertron, and used their [[M.A.S.S. Device]] to piggyback off Metrotitan's Spacebridge frequency to transport their troops to Cybertron. {{storylink|First Strike issue 2|First Strike #2}} As the Iron Ring began their attack on Cybertron, Starscream shut down Metroplex's Spacebridge; [[Aileron]] took command and ordered Metrotitan to move away from any human population centers until they could reestablish communications with Cybertron, {{storylink|Primeless, Part 1}} rebasing him above the [[Greenland Sea]]. [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] and [[M.A.S.K.]] arrived shortly thereafter, bringing with them information that revealed Ironblood as the culprit. [[Skyburst (G1)|Skyburst]] and [[Stormclash]] disassembled Metrotitan's Bridge before the group set out to storm [[Castle Destro]], and used some of its components to travel to Cybertron. {{storylink|First Strike issue 2|First Strike #2}}

While doing research for his [[Starscream: The Movie (film)|his movie]], [[Thundercracker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Thundercracker]] interviewed [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] regarding Starscream's role in Metrotitan's prophecy. Trion opined that Metrotitan had been injured and delirious at the time, and that Starscream happened to be in a position to take advantage of the Titan's rambling. {{storylink|Starscream: The Movie (comic)|Starscream: The Movie}}

[[File:TheGround-Metrotitan.jpg|thumb|left|300px|He's got the touch. He's got the power.]]

After Optimus returned to Earth, he brought Metrotitan to [[Kentucky]] as he presided over the opening of a new Ore-13 mine. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 1: Surfeit of Primes|Surfeit of Primes}} This was cut short when Onyx Prime himself finally returned to Cybertron, and after catching wind of the situation Metrotitan transformed into robot mode and space bridged himself to Cybertron. The machinations of "Onyx" had sent Iacon into chaos, however, and as riots broke out in the streets, Metrotitan - still loyal to what he believed to be his "Chosen One"—opened fire on Onyx's flying skiff. Though Windblade and Optimus attempted to talk him down, the Titan refused to yield, and so Onyx, realizing that Metrotitan's usefulness was at an end, ordered the crew of [[Nemesis (BW)|his starship]] to fire on Metrotitan, blowing a hole through his chest and causing him to collapse. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 3: The Ground|The Ground}}

[[File:TheHallowing-MetrotitansLastWords.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]

Now unmasked as Shockwave, the cyclopean scientist ordered his co-conspirator [[Liege Maximo]] to take a battalion of Maximals to finish off the occupants of the city, who had been inside him when he travelled to Cybertron. As Starscream - now believing himself to be the reincarnation of [[The Fallen|Megatronus]] - clambered up to Metrotitan's head to see if the Titan could confirm this latest revelation, the wounded Titan seemingly confirmed this theory... only for Shockwave to arrive and explain everything—he had deliberately set up Metrotitan as a catspaw, to ensure that Starscream's ineffectual leadership would leave Cybertron fractured and divided for his return. Shockwave punctuated this statement with a blast from his cannon, finally finishing off the mortally wounded Metrotitan. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 4: The Hallowing|The Hallowing}}

In the aftermath of the crisis, Starscream and the other Decepticons took shelter in Metrotitan's dead body, where Starscream discussed his plans to reunite the Decepticon cells scattered throughout the galaxy to [[Decepticon Vengeance Division|fight back]] against the coming threat of [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]]. {{storylink|Unstopped and Unstoppable}} His remains were presumably annihilated when Unicron consumed Cybertron. {{storylink|Road's End}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers''===
{{anchor|Zone}}
[[File:ZoneToy metrotitan.jpg|thumb|400px|Discount Ultra Magnus.]]
* '''Metrotitan''' ([[1990]])
** ''ID number'': '''D-340'''
** ''Accessories:'' Metrodash, Metrodash's arms/cannons (x2), Metrodash's "beam pistol", Metrotank, Metrotank's turret, Metroshot's body/tower, Metroshot's chestplate/tower top, two white cannons/Metroshot's legs, two "ion pulse rifles"/Metroshot's arms, double-barreled cannon, rear tower, shoulder antenna, 2 fists, 2 kneecaps, 3 missiles

: A [[redeco]] of the Autobot [[Metroplex (G1)#Toys|Metroplex]], Metrotitan transforms from a large robot to a multi-leveled "city". This mode includes a service bay with launching mechanism, a helipad, and "parking" for six vehicles in whatever his legs fold out to be. He also has a third mobile battle station mode; a more compact wheeled form that incorporates his many weapons. Additionally, his weapons are all molded with universal-sized pegs that allow them to be attached in several different configurations and locations (for example, in the otherwise-pointless holes in his kneecaps in city mode). Metrotitan came with [[Metroshot]], [[Metrotank]], [[Metrodash]], and [[Metrobomb]]; the first two formed various parts of Metrotitan's alternate modes.

: The smaller "limb" robots from the "[[Scramble Power|Scramble City]]" style combiners can plug into ports in Metrotitans's shoulders and knees in robot mode, while the base modes of [[Silverbolt (G1)#Toys|Silverbolt]], [[Hot Spot (G1)#Toys|Hot Spot]], [[Motormaster (G1)#Toys|Motormaster]], and [[Onslaught (G1)#Toys|Onslaught]] can connect to him in city mode. The peg-size of Metrotitan's weapons also allows them to be wielded by the leaders and super-robots these teams create. He also comes with a special Micromaster-style ramp with a unique attachment at one end, meant to utilize the attachment bracket for the "Scramble City" leaders' base modes.

: Metrotitan's sticker sheet is a completely new one, intended to improve on Metroplex's. The original shoulder stickers (intended to resemble lighted skyscraper windows seen at night) have been replaced by warning panels since they ended up not being visible from the front of the city mode, and the "lighted skyscraper windows" pattern was used for new stickers that can be seen from that side, making the towers (especially the one behind the helipad) look more building-like.

::* ''[http://www.tfu.info/1990/Destron/Metrotitan/metrotitan.htm More information on Metrotitan at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''The Transformers''===
[[File:G1Metroplex toy.jpg|400px|thumb]]
{{see|Metroplex (G1)#Toys}}

:The original Metroplex toy can be repurposed as Metrotitan's Autobot-aligned body from the [[Metrotitan (G1)#2005 IDW continuity|2005 IDW continuity]].
{{--}}

==Notes==
[[File:MtMtEAnn2012-Metrotitans.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.5]]
* Metrotitan and his crew are one of a whopping ''two'' Decepticon releases in Japan in 1990. The only other bad guys for sale during ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (toyline)#Zone|Zone]]'' were the multi-packed [[Race Track Patrol#Toys|Race Track Patrol]].
** A popular [[fandom]] [[Misconceptions and urban legends about Transformers|misconception]] of no clear origin held that Metrotitan was a [[Zombie|zombie version]] of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], with an even stranger variation of the rumour claiming that he was somehow "regrown" from one of Metroplex's legs. While Metrotitan isn't a zombie, by complete coincidence, [[Quintessa (IDW)|one]] of IDW's multiple Titans ''did'' become a zombie during the [[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]] storyline!
** Metrotitan's new body in the ''Legends'' manga is, of course, a "virtual redeco" of ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)#T30|Thrilling 30]]'' Titan Class [[Metroplex (G1)#Generations|Metroplex]], complete with accompanying Metrosquad recolors.
* When the Titans were originally introduced in IDW continuity, they were referred to as "Metrotitans", and a panel showing a group of the giants (pictured at right) included one colored like the original Metrotitan in a nod to the origins of their name. This nomenclature quickly fell out of fashion, however; the species soon became known as merely "Titans", and one singular Titan was retroactively identified as being ''the'' Metrotitan. Unfortunately, the needs of the story meant that it was ''not'' the one with the faithful classic color scheme, who just has to be waved off now.
** The Necrotitan is mistakenly colored to look like IDW Metrotitan due to artist [[Andrew Griffith]] misinterpreting them as being the same 'bot. The other guy was eventually revealed to have the personal name "[[Quintessa (IDW)|Quintessa]]".

[[Category:Decepticon bases]]
[[Category:City Transformers]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) cities]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Transformers]]
[[Category:Japanese-original Transformers]]
[[Category:Legends Decepticons]]
[[Category:Multi-component Transformers]]
[[Category:Titans]]
[[Category:Transformers with three modes]]
[[Category:Zone Decepticons]]
[[Category:Wings Universe locations]]
[[Category:Turncoats]]

How To Say Goodbye And Mean It: Part 2

2022-12-29T18:59:19Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Real-world references */

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Lost Light|The Transformers: Lost Light]]'' #25
|prev=Crucible (Part 6): A Spark Among Embers
|next=
|image=LL25_cvrA.jpg
|title="How To Say Goodbye And Mean It: Part 2"
|caption=[[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|They made something of it.]]
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[November 7]], 2018
|coverdate=October 2018
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Jack Lawrence]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[David Mariotte]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era]]
}}
'''After a final "lap of honor" it's time for the ''Lost Light'' crew to say goodbye and move on with their lives... until tragedy reunites them one last time.'''

==Synopsis==
{{note|This story is told in non-linear form. This synopsis reorders it for ease of reading.}}

Some time after the defeat of the [[Functionist Council]], [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] arrives on "Functionist Cybertron" to survey the situation. His visit is to be a short one; the planet is largely to be left to its own devices while the universe's native Cybertronian population begins their new lives on [[Earth]] following the apocalyptic attack of [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]], but the billion new [[spark]]s that have ignited from [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]]'s [[hot spot]] must be dealt with, and most importantly, with the [[Knights of Cybertron]] having been proven not to exist, [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] must stand trial once again, this time with the [[Galactic Council]] presiding. [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] objects, but Megatron himself agrees. Prowl also announces his intention to remove the ''[[Lost Light]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[quantum generator]]s and use them to double Functionist Cybertron's [[energon]] reserves, for use in bringing the sparks to term; again, Rodimus initially refuses, before finally giving in, on the condition that Prowl allows him and the crew to take one final "victory lap" trip aboard the ship before it is decommissioned.

The crew are granted one day for their trip, and it passes without incident. [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] makes a complete recording of every corridor and room on the ship for posterity; in the process, he and [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] come upon [[Rung (G1)|Rung]]'s old quarters, but tragically, they and the rest of the crew have already lost all their memories of the terminally-forgettable psychiatrist. The pair rejoin the rest of the crew on the bridge as the ''Lost Light'' turns to head back to Functionist Cybertron, and conversation turns to the inevitability of endings, and how to make the most of them; Rodimus remarks that he would ''rather'' see the ''Lost Light'' decommissioned than allowed to become a monument or "just another spaceship," so that its meaning can never be diminished. [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] announces one last party in [[Swerve's|his bar]], but just before everyone heads off, [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]], [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]], and [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] take Rodimus aside to propose one final, risky, complicated, ludicrous stunt for the ''Lost Light'' to pull: when they quantum jump back to Functionist Cybertron, there is the infinitesimally slim chance they can intentionally recreate the accident from the ship's original launch that caused the creation of a quantum duplicate of it and the crew, ''and'' shunt the duplicate into a parallel universe so that there will be no risk of its existence being cancelled out like the last one, thereby allowing the crew to continue adventuring on their own terms in a new world. Rodimus puts the idea to a vote, and the crew agrees.

Of course, there's no way for the crew to know if the idea succeeds, since from their point of view, all that happens is that they successfully quantum jump back to Cybertron, and settle in for one last night of drinks, singing, and stories at Swerve's. [[Anode]] and [[Lug (IDW)|Lug]] decide to give up adventuring and settle down on Luna 1; [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Fortress Maximus]] makes peace with the [[Scavenger (group)|Scavengers]]; and [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] and [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]]—now finally romantically involved—explain to the crew their theory that the "visions" that have been guiding Drift since the start of their quest were actually messages sent back through time via the [[Warren]] by the telepaths from [[Mederi]]. [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] hauls Rodimus's desk into the bar, and everyone pores over the map etched into its surface, reminiscing about the places they have been and the things they have seen and done on their quest. Inspired by the revelation that Megatron pseudonymously wrote his favorite poem, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] delivers a toast to the ship and its crew, and to the unexpected joy that he found when the crew turned from colleagues into true friends. Swerve tries to declare a lock-in, but, to punctuate the finality of the moment, construction cranes abruptly begin tearing into the ship as it sits on the spaceport runway, beginning its disassembly.

Thus does the parting of the ways begin. [[Grimlock (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Grimlock]] and the Scavengers head back to [[Troja Major]], where [[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]]—having taken [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]]'s advice on love—plans to reunite with [[CONS4EVA]]. Chromedome and Rewind head off on a trip to [[Milnex]]; Nautica and [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] are taken to visit Earth by [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]]; Cyclonus places a tender kiss on Rodimus's cheek to thank him for everything. Prowl takes Megatron into custody, and Magnus goes with them, leaving Rodimus alone. After a moment, he hollers "[['Til all are one|Till All Are One]]" after Magnus, but his words go unheard.

Some time later, Megatron's trial is held. Magnus acts for his defense; Rodimus testifies and lies on the stand, claiming that ''Megatron'' was the one who was able to open the final [[Matrix of Leadership]] when he could not. While a jury is deliberating over "execution" or "infinite imprisonment," Rodimus visits Megatron in his cell for one last conversation, during which Megatron reveals that he still has the [[Rodimus Star]] Rodimus gave him, having held onto it for nearly a millennia, through all his centuries in the [[Functionist Universe]]. Presently, Megatron and Magnus are called in for sentencing; Megatron bids Rodimus farewell, and Magnus tells Megatron that he will take his advice and destroy the [[Magnus Armor]], living the rest of his life as his own 'bot.

Years pass.

Life goes on.

[[File:LL25 - Lunarian 113.jpg|thumb|right|200px| ''In their eyes, I see you, Alexander, I see you every time...'']]
Many of the crew settle on Functionist Cybertron. Swerve successfully turns his bar into a franchise, but it eventually fails and he has to close all but one location. Nautica writes a memoir of the crew's quest. Rewind becomes obsessed with learning everything there is to know about the history of the Functionist Universe, but winds up overloading and corrupting his brain, contracting the neuro-degenerative disease [[Delta's Malady]]; he becomes trapped in data stick form when he forgets how to transform, but continues to live and love with Chromedome. Brainstorm injures himself in a lab accident, requiring him to use his [[time case|infamous briefcase]] as a mobile life support system. Magnus no more, Minimus Ambus helps with the resettlement of all the new "[[Lunarian]]" 'bots born from the sparks from Luna-1, totally unaware that they all resemble Rung. Bereft of direction, [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] returns to his old troublemaking ways, and soon finds himself in and out of prison. Still eager for adventure, Rodimus signs onto the crew of Thunderclash's new ship, the ''[[Exitus]]''. And Ratchet and Drift become [[Conjunx Endura]]... until the day that Ratchet's advanced age finally catches up to him, and it is discovered that he is going to die of "age-related burnout."

Ratchet's peaceful passing brings the crew of the ''Lost Light'' together again for his funeral in [[Rivets Field]]; Drift arranges for Whirl to be granted day release from prison to attend. Cyclonus and [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] have been off-planet for an extended period of time and have been out of touch with their old friends, so after the ceremony, Swerve, [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]], and Brainstorm bring them up to speed on what has been happening with everyone. Dismayed to discover what has become of Whirl, Cyclonus and Tailgate invite him to come and live with them when he is next released, and he happily accepts. Whirl is so moved by their act of compassion that he begins to find worth in himself again, and turns down a gift from Drift—Ratchet's hands, to replace his own, lost so long ago—on the basis that he is not broken and does not need to be fixed.

Rodimus arrives late, after the ceremony has already concluded, and places Megatron's Rodimus Star—entrusted to him when the ex-Decepticon was taken away to his unrevealed fate—among the other offerings by Ratchet's grave. Drift can tell that the haggard Rodimus has been drinking, and expresses concern for him, knowing that life as part of Thunderclash's crew can't possibly compare to the way things used to be. One by the one, the mourners take their leave, until only Drift and Rodimus are left, whereupon Drift raises the subject they swore they'd never speak of: does Rodimus think the attempt to recreate the accident worked? Rodimus doesn't believe they will ever know one way or the other... and he tells himself that that is good, because that way, they can always pretend it did. The pair promise to keep in touch, and Rodimus departs.

''Many years earlier, the ''Lost Light'' quantum jumps back to Functionist Cybertron... but instead, the ship and crew find themselves in uncharted space, further than they have ever traveled before, with no idea of where they are. Realizing that they have succeeded in blasting themselves into another universe, the crew celebrate, with Perceptor crediting their accomplishment to knowledge gained from Brainstorm's earlier time travel experiments. Brainstorm is thrilled to finally have Perceptor's recognition, and Perceptor admits that the pair are "simpatico" after all. With co-captains Rodimus and Megatron at the helm, the ''Lost Light'' sets course for adventure in a new universe.''

''[[Furmanism|It never ends]]!''
[[File:LL25 It Never Ends.jpg|thumb|400px|center|''*curtains close*'']]
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (1)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] (2)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus/Minimus Ambus]] (3)
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (4)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (5)
*[[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (6)
*[[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (7)
*[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (8)
*[[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] (9)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (11)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (12)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (13)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Hound (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hound]] (14)
*[[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] (15)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] (16)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (17)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (18)
*[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] (19)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (20)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (21)
*[[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] (22)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (23)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (25)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (28)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Xaaron]] (29)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (30)
*[[Crosscut (Autobot)|Crosscut]] (33)
*[[Fortress Maximus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Fortress Maximus]] (36)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Grimlock]] (38)
*[[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] (40)
*[[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] (41)
*[[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (42)
*[[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] (43)
*[[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (44)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] (24)
*[[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] (27)
*[[Nickel]] (34)
*[[Fulcrum]] (35)
*[[Krok (G1)|Krok]] (37)
*[[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] (39)

|c4=
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (10)
*[[Roller (IDW)|Roller]] (26)
*[[Anode]] (31)
*[[Lug (IDW)|Lug]] (32)

'''[[Anti-Vocationist League]]'''
*[[Clicker]] (45)
}}

==Quotes==
"A week, a month, a year... what's the difference? There'll always be '''an ending'''—and if you're lucky, you get to see it coming."
:—'''Ratchet'''

"I'm grateful for one more day. Especially a day like this." 
"Er—literally nothing happened. We flew past some planets and '''talked.'''" 
"Yes. And I wouldn't have changed a thing."
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Whirl'''

"Treat him well, Doc. He's a keeper."
:—'''Rodimus''' congratulates Ratchet on his new relationship

"'''That's''' how we should measure our lives. Not in distance traveled, or time passed, or worlds conquered, but in '''moments'''... and the rush of joy—of grace—that exists within them."
:—'''Megatron'''

"Rodimus. Whatever happens next—whatever my fate—I deserve worse."
:—'''Megatron'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s final words

"Megatron... before we go... I've been thinking a lot about what you said—about how I should let the world look me in the eyes—and yes, I'll do it. I'll destroy my armor." 
"Good. Because you're so much bigger without it."
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Megatron'''

"Turns out being at a '''loose end''' is bad for me—and even worse for '''society.'''"
:—'''Whirl'''

"WITHOUT LOVE THERE IS NO MEANING."
:—The inscription on Ratchet's grave marker

'''Rodimus:''' "Crankcase? Set a course for '''high jinks and mild peril!'''" 
'''Swerve:''' "I've just heard the best order that's ever been given." 
'''Ultra Magnus:''' "How long will it take us?" 
'''Rodimus:''' "What, to explore the '''entire universe?'''" 
'''Ultra Magnus:''' "I will accept an estimate." 
'''Rodimus:''' "Well, if I had to guess... taking account of all known variables and allowing for every possible outcome... if I had to guess, I'd say it'll take us more or less... '''forever.''' What do you think, co-captain?" 
'''Megatron:''' "What do I think?" 
'''Rodimus:''' "Yeah." 
'''Megatron:''' "I think forever sounds about right."

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*The title of this issue is taken from the [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|first issue of ''More than Meets the Eye'']], where the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s adventure began just shy of seven years ago.
*The concept of "age-related burnout"—the Transformer equivalent of dying of natural causes—is a very new concept for both the Cybertronian race, and Transformers stories in general, with essentially all past media having presented the [[spark]] as immortal. The idea was introduced back in [[Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|''More than Meets the Eye'' #17]], in which Ratchet himself observed the first case had only been reported recently.
*Though it was deliberately and intentionally released first, the flashforward portions of this issue represent the chronologically final installment in the [[2005 IDW continuity]], taking place after the final issues of the [[Transformers: Unicron|''Unicron'' mini-series]] and ''[[Optimus Prime (comic)|Optimus Prime]]''. The present-day portions, meanwhile, take place ''between'' those two issues, and technically "spoil" that Prowl, [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]], and the planet Earth survived the apocalyptic events of ''Unicron'' (although if that last one surprises you, we don't know what to tell you). This highlights the continuity problem we previously pointed out in our notes for [[Crucible (Part 4): The Return of the King|issue #22]], which claimed that only a month had passed for Team Rodimus since the beginning of the series; the events of ''Unicron'' did not occur until "a few years" after the series began. Therefore, we ''have'' to conclude that the team's trip through the [[Warren]] in [[The Everlasting Voices (1): Metastasis|issue #16]] involved them travelling through time as well as space (but it does still feel like an after-the-fact fix for what was initially a goof).
*Prowl proposes setting up the decommissioned ''Lost Light'' as a monument on the [[Mitteous Plateau]], a region of Cybertron introduced all that way back in ''More than Meets the Eye'' #1, adjacent to the ship's original launch site.
*The bottle of [[Nightmare Fuel]] Swerve serves up at the final party comes from the departed Trailcutter's private stash, which is where Swerve got the ''first'' bottle of it we ever saw, back in [[Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|''More than Meets the Eye'' #11]]. The bottle is dated to 2012, the year that the series began.
*Ultra Magnus shows Brainstorm a piece of writing about a character named "Sprinklor"; this is the "sprinkler [[fan fiction|fan-fiction]]" Rodimus mentioned in [[Crucible (Part 2): Lūstrāre|issue #20]], which Swerve had told him Magnus writes. Magnus describes Sprinklor as "very by-the-book, very rule-driven," proving that even the ex-Duly Appointed Enforcer of the Tyrest Accord isn't above creating "Self-Insert" fanfic.
*The figurines on the table during the crew's last night in Swerve's are from [[Ten|Ten's]] collection of hand-crafted figures, and are of the crewmembers who didn't make it: [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]], [[Skids (G1)|Skids]], [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]], [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]], and Ten himself.
*The figurines stand around a model Lost Light created by Rung back in [[Elegant Chaos Part 2: Stet|''More Than Meets the Eye'' #37]].
*Bluestreak reminisces with Lug and Anode about how he tried to kill them (after being turned into a Sparkeater) on Mederi, which we saw in [[Crucible (Part 1): A Dance Before Dying|issue #19]].
*Nickel and Roller appear to have hit it off, flirting with each other in Swerve's. Nickel was shown surreptitiously "checking him out" back during a group scene in [[Crucible (Part 3): Farsickness|issue #21]]. It only makes sense that she'd be attracted to someone of Roller's build, considering he was a chief suspect among the fanbase for [[Tarn (G1)|Tarn]]'s identity for a long time.
*Fortress Maximus makes peace with the Scavengers after their previous rather violent meeting in [[Animals|''More than Meets the Eye'' #46]]. As he does so, Misfire is seen marveling over the guns in his legs, an attribute of Max's that was previously the subject of some humorous focus in [[Interiors|''More than Meets the Eye'' #6]].
*Aside from Swerve's recollection of the crew's trip to [[Hedonia]] in [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|''More than Meets the Eye'' #13]], the rest of the escapades the crew remember all happened "off-panel" and have never been mentioned before, but they are framed as happening "near" places we know the ship visited: [[Temptoria]] in [[Before & After|''More than Meets the Eye'' #12]], and [[Scarvix]] in [[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|''More than Meets the Eye'' #40]]. Notably, they laugh about an encounter with the "[[Improbability Police]]" that saw the ''Lost Light'' being impounded for "unlikely crimes" and Ultra Magnus getting them off by claiming the charges themselves were "too far-fetched"—a story that ''would'' have been told during the comic's third "season" had the decision not been made to end the IDW universe.
*The phrase "You flare, you flicker, you fade" was previously quoted by [[Shock (G1)|Shock]] in [[Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|''More than Meets the Eye'' #3]], and is here revealed to be a line from "[[Afterlight]]," a poem written by Megatron in his youth. Megatron had also contrasted how sparks "flare" and "flicker" in [[slaughterhouse|''More than Meets the Eye'' #32]]. This time, after Ultra Magnus quotes the poem, Megatron wistfully notes that it was also [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]]'s favorite.
*Ultra Magnus isn't kidding when he opens his toast by saying "I never thought I'd say this... but it's been fun." He was incapable of saying the word "fun" in [[How Ratchet Got His Hands Back|''More than Meets the Eye'' #5]].
*Hot Spot, Blades, Streetwise, and Groove all appear along with First Aid during Magnus's toast, proving that they survived their rather fatal-looking injuries in [[The Plotters' Club (Part 3): Journey's End|issue #12]].
*The Scavengers are presumably heading back to Troja Major because [[Crucible (Part 1): A Dance Before Dying|issue #19]] told us Grimlock left the [[Firstborn]] in the care of [[Agonizer|the Curator]] following the events of [[Kill All 'Cons|issue #15]].
*Taking Cyclonus's advice on love, Crankcase contacts CONS4EVA, the [[Dire Wraith]] he met online in ''[[Nothing Will Ever Be the Same Again!|More than Meets the Eye: Revolution]]''.
*Nautica mistakenly refers to Earth as "[[Swearth]]," the name the crew gave the holomatter duplicate of the planet they visited in [[The One Where They Go to Earth|''More than Meets the Eye'' #43]].
*Minimus notes it's been years since he worked on "[[Terms of Peace]]," the rulebook he was established to be writing in [[Sardines|issue #13]].
*The harvest of Luna 1's hot spot is termed the "Bronze Harvest," after the [[Silver Harvest]], the population boom from around five million years ago first mentioned in [[Twenty Plus One|''More than Meets the Eye'' #31]].
*Ratchet makes good on the promise that Whirl could have his hands after he died, made in [[Under Cold Blue Stars|''More than Meets the Eye'' #15]].
*Both Whirl and Megatron spend time incarcerated in [[Garrus-10]], the newest in the "Garrus" series of prisons that you'd assume was only constructed after the fall of [[Garrus-9]] in ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]''.
*Rodimus and Megatron's final talk in the latter's cell mirrors their first, from back in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|''More than Meets the Eye'' #28]], with Rodimus no longer believing Megatron deserves the fate he is destined for.
*Megatron was revealed to have been given a Rodimus Star ("for abandoning his evil ways") in [[Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|''More than Meets the Eye'' #38]]. Megatron's fate is not explicitly stated in the text of the comic, but the fact that Rodimus is in possession of the star in the future certainly seems intended to imply that the jury voted for "execution."
*Whirl and Cyclonus's final on-panel interaction is a mirror of one of their earliest, from [[Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|''More than Meets the Eye'' #2]]; there, Cyclonus caught Whirl in a surprise hug, with two question marks hovering over the shocked Autobot; here it's Whirl who does the surprise hugging, while exclamation marks hover over Cyclonus.
*The crew encountered the original quantum duplicate of the ''Lost Light'' in [[slaughterhouse|''More than Meets the Eye'' #32]]-[[slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|33]]. Nautica calls replicating the accident a "magic trick," since [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|''More than Meets the Eye'' #28]] told us that "magic=science Rodimus doesn't understand."
*Perceptor finally admits that he and Brainstorm are "simpatico," tapping him on the forehead with his index finger in the same way Brainstorm did to him when he originally used the phrase, back in [[Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|''More than Meets the Eye'' #24]]. Later, on twitter, James Roberts would confirm that this indicated the two were a couple. More interestingly though, it would seem Brainstorm has a [[Quark|type]].
* All the way back in [[The Transformers: Infiltration|''Infiltration'']], the very first story-arc of this continuity, Ratchet was the first Autobot to be introduced, when he rescues [[Hunter O'Nion]] and [[Verity Carlo]] from [[Thundercracker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Thundercracker]]. While not the last issue in terms of release, it is the last to happen chronologically, thanks to the scenes that take place during Ratchet's funeral years after the end of the quest. The entire continuity begins and ends with Ratchet.

===Transformers references===
[[File:LL25 RiD Museum Guard guarding Whirl.jpg|thumb|right|300px|"The guard gave him what could loosely be called an old-fashioned look. It was practically neolithic."]]
*The Garrus-10 guards who escort Whirl are based on the [[museum guard]]s seen in the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 cartoon)|2015 ''Robots in Disguise'']] episode, "[[Pilot (Part 1)]]." Another appears later in the story to arrest Megatron, accompanied by a grey-blue robot based on the [[Kup (G1)/toys#Titans Return|''Titans Return'' Kup toy]], with a new head design.
*As the group parts ways, Chromedome and Rewind leave to visit the census center on the planet [[Milnex]]—a final tip of the hat to longtime regular ''More than Meets the Eye'' artist, [[Alex Milne]].
*Similarly, Rodimus arrives late because the ''Exitus'' was on the other end of the "[[Acklaw System]]", a reference to series artist J'''ack Law'''rence.
*The ''Exitus'' itself is likely a reference to writer James Roberts' exit from IDW comics.
*In one last final pair of references to James Roberts's signature recurring number, "[[113 (disambiguation)|113]]," Swerve is noted to have 113 locations in his "Swerve's" franchise, and Whirl refers to the Lunarian Transformer who performs Ratchet's funeral as "Lunarian 113."

===Real-world references===
*Nautica's book, "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out," is named after {{w|There Is a Light That Never Goes Out|The Smiths' song of the same title}}.
*On page 9, Cyclonus sings a line from "[[The Power of Love]]," which we previously saw in [[Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|''More than Meets the Eye'' #38]] and [[The Frail Gaze|#42]] that he is fond of.
*Whirl's holo-avatar's shirt reads "ASK ME ABOUT MY FEMINIST AGENDA," a garment made famous by Marvel Comics character {{w|Mockingbird (comics)|Mockingbird}} when she wore it on the cover of [[wikia:marvel:Mockingbird Vol 1 8|issue #8 of her self-titled series in 2016]].
*Drift is shown to have started referring to Ratchet by the pet name of "Ratty" during their relationship. The name is a reference to ''{{w|The Wind in the Willows}}'' character Rat, who was known as "Ratty" to his friends.
*In some ways the 'simpatico' line is a [[Furmanism]], as it echoes a line spoken near the close of [[Simon Furman]]'s ''[[Death's Head]] 3.0'' story at Marvel, where the human character that Death's Head forms a bond with mentions that they are simpatico. Shortly before getting halfway through stating 'it's over...'.

===Errors===
*Among the mourners at Ratchet's funeral on page 1 is Bluestreak, coloured like Prowl. As this scene is set in the far future, of course, it is not ''impossible'' for this to actually be Prowl, having reverted at some point over the years to a Cybertronian body-design like Bluestreak (versus the Earth SUV design he has in the present-day segments), and indeed, Roberts claimed on Twitter that it ''was'' Prowl... but given that ''absolutely everybody else'' at the funeral is or was a ''Lost Light'' crewmember, and "Prowlstreak" is specifically standing with Bluestreak's fellow mutineers and recurring crew B-and-C-listers Hound, Blaster, and Perceptor, it really does feel like a goof that's being covered for.
*The notion that Megatron was the unattributed author of "[[Afterlight]]" doesn't match with previous references to the poem. In [[No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases|''More than Meets the Eye'' #50]], [[Shock (G1)|Shock]] realized the ''Lost Light'' was the ''Unitrex-1'' when he found his graffiti under the bar, a line from the poem. However, [[Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|''More than Meets the Eye'' #38]] showed us that the ''Unitrex-1''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s quantum engines made it disappear five million years ago, on the same day as Megatron's birth. Shock could not have referenced a poem written by Megatron before Megatron even came online.
*On page 16, panel 2, Minimus Ambus says: "500 million sparks brought to term. 500 Lunarians given somewhere to live..." That ought to be "500 ''million'' Lunarians," a restatement of the previous sentence in different terms, rather than the implication that only 500 of the 500,000,000 sparks had been given homes and jobs. This is corrected in the trade paperback.

===Soundtrack===
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4jR9P9YJGo Human]" by {{w|The Killers}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/1052999892124229634 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuYKUWM_o60 Here It Comes (The Road) Let's Go]" by {{w|Spiritualized}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/1059613846971838465 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNBjMRvOB5M Go West]" by {{w|Pet Shop Boys}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwixk2TOHbs Let's Get Out of this Country]" by {{w|Camera Obscura (band)|Camera Obscura}}; specifically envisioned as the "end credits" song of the series<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/1060266266575994883 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>

Roberts later noted that he'd forgotten to add:
*"There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" by {{w|The Smiths}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/1063520687216840706 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqmuaCSQuCs Lost Light]" by [https://retronymmusic.bandcamp.com/ Retronym], a fan-made song celebrating the series<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/1042163100634570752 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>

===Other trivia===
*Originally announced for release in October, this issue arrives a little late, in the first week of November.
*Items from throughout the series seen on Cover B include: Anode's trowel, Tailgate's hoverboard, the replacement horn Tailgate made for Cyclonus in [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|''More than Meets the Eye'' #21]], a [[nudge gun]], a string of "signal boosters"/[[Christmas]] lights from [[Silent Light|''The Transformers Holiday Special'']], a bottle of Nightmare Fuel, a [[Great Sword]], Nightbeat's magnifying glass, a [[curly straw]], a datapad displaying "[[Towards Peace]]," Rewind's head camera, one of the Necrobot's spark-flowers, the Autobot symbol patch from Whirl's holomatter avatar's dungarees, a tray of drinks from Swerve's, Swerve's "[[My First Blaster]]," a [[sparkeater (creature)|sparkeater]] tentacle, the vial of [[innermost energon]] Cyclonus gave Tailgate in [[Speak, Memory! (Part 2)|''More than Meets the Eye'' #49]], [[Nautica's wrench]], the canister of "[[Fool's Energon]]" from [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|''More than Meets the Eye'' #29]], Ultra Magnus's ridiculously long nameplate from [[How Ratchet Got His Hands Back|''More than Meets the Eye'' #5]], a photonic crystal, Rung's glasses, Brainstorm's briefcase, Rodimus's empty half of the Matrix casing, the keys to the ''Lost Light'' seen on the cover of [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|''More than Meets the Eye'' #30]], a Rodimus Star, and fluttering above it all, the "WE'VE ACHIEVED SOMETHING" banner from [[The Sensuous Frame|''More than Meets the Eye'' #41]]. Roche misspelled it "ACHIEIVED" and nobody noticed until the cover was revealed online; it was then corrected for the final release. In the process, highlight colors were also added to the insides of Rodimus's rear spoiler and wheels.
*The "Story So Far" recap on the inside front cover this issue simply reads: "You're joking, right?"
*The language used by Rodimus to describe the fate of the ''Lost Light'' is a metaphor for the comic itself, and the broader concepts of stories about ongoing licensed properties, changing creative teams, and the rarity of definitive endings in that industry in general. Were the ''Lost Light'' allowed to go on with someone else at the helm, Rodimus laments, over time, bit by bit, "they'd end up replacing it with (...) a bad copy," and he would rather see the ship get a "proper ending" from which there is "no going back."
*Similarly, the crew's discussion about the new universe they find themselves in at the end of the story alludes to the end of the current IDW universe and the impending launch of a [[Transformers (2019 comic)|brand new continuity]] from the company. "What [will it] be like?" wonders Misfire. "Too soon to say," replies Drift. "It could be virtually identical to ours, or it could be fantastically different."
*This final issue features 24 story pages instead of the usual 20, plus a three-page letter from James Roberts to close out the series, reflecting on it and ''More than Meets the Eye'' before it and thanking the audience and his many creative collaborators. Of particular note: Roberts once remarked in a [https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/704107919369961472 tweet from February 2016] that "the last line of the last issue" of the series had already been written, but he explains in this letter that this final line was not used in the end. The line was "OVER TO YOU," to be scrawled graffiti-style on top of "THE END" on the final page, as both a handing-over of the reins of the IDW Transformers universe to the next creative team, and in another sense, the handing of the "alternate universe" ''Lost Light'' to the prolific community of fan writers and artists, who will produce works starring these incarnations of the characters long after the series is over, and to whom Roberts is implicitly giving his "blessing" with the gift of a universe where those adventures can happen, forever. Roberts doesn't elucidate, but it's easy to interpret the line being dropped due to the fact that the [[2005 IDW continuity|current IDW universe]] is ending, and there ''is'' no next creative team, and this really is... ''*sniff*'' ...''the end'' for these characters.

===Covers (3)===
*'''Cover A:''' Our happy crew together, by [[Jack Lawrence]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
*'''Cover B:''' A departing Rodimus casts a ''Lost Light''-shaped shadow, containing many artifacts from throughout the series (see "Other trivia," above), by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' [[Alex Milne]] returns to draw our heroes one last time, in an "updated" companion piece to [[:File:MTMTE vol1.jpg|his cover for the first ''More than Meets the Eye'' trade paperback]]; colours by [[Josh Perez]].
<gallery>
File:LL25 cvrA.jpg|''And we sailed out on orders from him but we found''
File:LL25 cvrB.jpg|''The maps he sent to us''
File:LL25 cvrRI.jpg|''Didn’t mention lost coastlines...''
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''[[Transformers: Bumblebee - Win If You Dare]]'' graphic novel
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (video game)|Team Sonic Racing]]'' one-shot

===Reprints===
*'''''Transformers: Lost Light''''' Vol. 4 TPB ([[January 30]], [[2019]]) ISBN 1684054109 / ISBN 978-1684054107
:Contains issues #19 to #25.
:Bonus material CURRENTLY UNKNOWN.

*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]] Volume 88: Unicron''''' ([[August 26]], [[2020]])
:*Contains ''[[Transformers: Unicron]]'' issues [[Our Darkest|#0]] to [[Ceremony|#6]], as well as ''[[Optimus Prime (comic)|Optimus Prime]]'' [[Post|#25]] and ''Lost Light'' #25.
:*Bonus material includes a cover gallery, the Hasbroverse backup comics and creator interviews, and an intro by [[Simon Furman]].

<gallery>
File:LLvol4 TPBcvr.jpg|'''''Lost Light'' Vol. 4''' cover by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v88.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection Volume 88: Unicron''''' cover by [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] and [[Alex Milne]]</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://graphicpolicy.com/2018/11/06/preview-transformers-lost-light-25/ Preview]

[[Category:Lost Light issues]]

Crucible (Part 3): Farsickness

2022-12-15T22:12:58Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Errors */

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Lost Light|The Transformers: Lost Light]]'' #21
|prev=Crucible (Part 2): Lūstrāre
|next=Crucible (Part 4): The Return of the King
|image=LL21_cvrA.jpg
|title="Crucible (Part 3): Farsickness"
|caption=''Polished'' Surprise!
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[July 25]], 2018
|coverdate=Early July, 2018
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Jack Lawrence]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[David Mariotte]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era]]
}}
'''Back aboard the ''Lost Light'', our heroes are caught up in the Grand Architect's mad plan to save the universe.'''

==Synopsis==
As space itself above [[Mederi]] splits open into a crackling rift, [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] takes the recaptured ''[[Lost Light]]'' down to the planet to collect the rest of his crew and the [[Scavenger (group)|Scavengers]] so they can all make a quick escape. As the convalescing former mutineers, now cured of their [[sparkeater (creature)|sparkeater]] mutation, are loaded aboard, [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] apologizes to Rodimus for everything that has happened, and Rodimus happily forgives them all. Even Mederi's alien telepaths are brought onto the ship, but as they are being removed from Ward Zero, a [[geobomb]] is suddenly teleported into the midst of the room, inspiring everyone to pick up the pace. Once everyone is aboard, the ''Lost Light'' blasts off, but it doesn't get far before pilot [[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] finds that, even with the engines at full force, the ship cannot escape the pull of the rift...

[[File:LL21 GA Worldsweeper Fleet.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Alright, everyone remember where we parked.]]
On the other side of the rift, the [[Worldsweeper]] [[Phantom Fleet|fleet]] of the [[Adaptus|Grand Architect]] hovers in formation. Aboard the flagship, [[Flame (Marvel)|Flame]] works upon the unseen Architect's body, reconstructing it and offering to adjust his vocal synthesizer. [[Scorponok (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Scorponok]] cuts into the conversation via radio, alerting the Architect to the impending detonation of the geobomb, which will shunt Mederi through the rift. The Architect's curt response, and the fact that [[Solomus|Tyrest]]'s scanner sweeps have as yet detected no signs of the mysterious enemy whose coming the Architect is preparing for, only encourage Scorponok to question his loyalties...

The ''Lost Light'' emerges from the rift into what the ship's navigation computer identifies as the [[Benzene Cluster]]. But instead of the planets that ''normally'' occupy the cluster, there are five multi-coloured duplicates of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] itself, which [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] recognizes as the same sight [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] saw years before, when he stepped through Tyrest's portal on [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]]. With the ship's engines drained by the transit through the rift, Crankcase sets the ''Lost Light'' down on one of the Cybertrons, which [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] is able to identify as a perfect replica of the ancient Cybertron of his time, even though [[Anode]] and [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]]'s metallurgical skills confirm it to be a recent creation. The team barely has time to take in this strange new situation they find themselves in before a fleet of [[Black Block Consortia]] ships land nearby, and thousands of Consortia troopers surround them. The situation only keeps escalating as the Grand Architect's flagship appears overhead, shining a spotlight on them. Over a speaker, the Architect introduces himself to the group, and, believing what [[Getaway]] told him about Rodimus coming to stop his plans, order the Consortia to kill them. Nautica is able to give him pause by speaking aloud the symbol of the [[Knights of Cybertron]] that the Architect uses as his insignia; intrigued, the Architect invites Rodimus to choose a small delegation to come aboard his ship and talk. Suddenly, the long-silent [[Epistemus|Magnificence]] pipes up, listing Rodimus, [[Rung (G1)|Rung]], [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]], and [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] as the necessary choices...but Rodimus isn't having it; in an impassioned speech that sees him list of all the incredible achievements the crew have made on their quest, he refuses to break his team up ever again, and vows to defeat the Architect if he turns things into a fight. After a moment's pause, the Architect invites the whole team aboard.

Scorponok is furious that the Architect has allowed the ''Lost Light''ers to live, which proves to be the last straw. Having only ever stayed with the Architect make use of his resources for his now-failed [[Firstborn|Project: Firstborn]], he is tired of all the secrets and mystery. The Architect's identity, it transpires, is unknown even to Scorponok and Tyrest—but while Tyrest is happy to go along with his plans, now his loyal follower after the Architect saved his life following his escape on Luna 1, Scorponok isn't so trusting. He contacts two of the Architect's ''other'' recruits, [[Froid]] and [[Sunder (G1)|Sunder]], and instructs them to go ahead with a plan they have prearranged: to have Sunder use his remote [[mnemosurgery]] powers to read the Architect's mind and discover his true identity.

The ''Lost Light'' sets down in the flagship's docking bay, and as the crew waits, the Magnificence around [[Nickel]]'s neck becomes a topic of conversation. Though nobody else hears anything, Rung believes that he hears the Magnificence speak his name—and when he leans into to look the device in its eyeball, he suddenly, involuntarily transforms, even "speaking" the transformation noise as he does so! Looking down at Rung's still-mysterious alternate mode, Swerve and [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] muse how it makes them feel "young"... but that longstanding puzzle suddenly takes a back seat when everyone's attention is drawn away by the sight of Mederi bursting through the rift, which seals up behind it. A moment later, Froid and Sunder are trooped into the hangar in handcuffs, leading Rodimus to realize they're all in a giant cell. Still, it gives them an opportunity to interrogate the two villains, and Froid is happy to tell them everything he knows. The Architect, Froid relates, created biomechanical constructs to secretly infiltrate and take over the Black Block Consortia, pitting them against the [[Galactic Council]] to sweep the Benzene Cluster clean of much of its population and planets, making room for the replicas of Cybertron, which he created using a giant planet-sized mould, and which together form a weapon known as the "[[God Gun]]." Rewind chimes in to explain how Cybertron legend claims that the planet itself could be used as a weapon, redirecting starlight into an energy beam, but that the war did too much damage to the real thing for the theory to ever be confirmed, hence the Architect's need for copies of ''ancient'' Cybertron—and ''five'' Cybertrons combined can create a beam powerful enough to drill into ''another universe''. But both the threat the Architect has created this weapon to fight, and the identity of the Architect himself, remain mysteries; the Architect is so powerful that he was able to expel the probing Sunder from his mind before he could learn them, stripping him of his mnemosurgical powers in the process.

[[File:LL21 God Gun.jpg|right|300px|thumb|"[[Obi-Wan Kenobi|That's no moon... that's five copies of the same planet!]]"]]
Scorponok activates the God Gun, opening a portal to a neighboring universe, but there's ''still'' no sign of the mystery threat. Via radio, the Architect reassures Scorponok their enemy ''will'' appear soon; millions of years ago, the Architect was sent through time, through the [[Warren]], to ''this moment'', where he ''saw'' the enemy, before fleeing back into the past to prepare for his coming. The Architect intends to banish the enemy through the portal, into another universe, thereby saving this one... but when Tyrest detects a sudden massive flare of energy on the ''other side'' of the portal, Scorponok realizes with horror what has happened: the enemy was in the next universe the whole time, and the Architect's portal has only provided him with the means to cross over into this one! Scorponok is in the middle of roaring into his radio in outrage when the door behind him bursts open; the Grand Architect has ''not'' taken kindly to Scorponok's plotting with Froid and Sunder, and stabs him through the back with a very familiar chainsaw-hand. Scorponok falls dead at the feet of the Architect... a.k.a. [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]]!

As Rodimus and the others watch, a huge fleet of ships comes flying through the portal with a replica of the ''Lost Light'' at its head. Rodimus and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]]'s communicators chime simultaneously, and a transmission from the bridge of the duplicate ship comes through. A transmission... from [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]!!

==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"{{!}}
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (1)
*[[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (2)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] (5)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (6)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] (7)
*[[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] (8)
*[[Hound (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hound]] (9)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (10)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (12)
*[[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (15)
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (16)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (18)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (20)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (22)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Grimlock]] (23)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (25)
*[[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] (26)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (28)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (32)
*[[Sunder (G1)|Sunder]] (38)
*[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] (40)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] (3)
*[[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] (14)
*[[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] (17)
*[[Krok (G1)|Krok]] (24)
*[[Fulcrum]] (29)
*[[Nickel]] (30)
*[[Scorponok (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Scorponok]] (35)

|c4=
*[[Wipe-Out]] (4)
*Alien telepaths (11)
*[[Roller (IDW)|Roller]] (13)
*[[Anode]] (19)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (21)
*[[Lug (IDW)|Lug]] (27)
*''[[Epistemus|Magnificence]]'' (31)
*[[Flame (Marvel)|Flame]] (33)
*[[Adaptus|Grand Architect]]/[[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]] (34)
*[[Solomus|Tyrest]] (36)
*[[Black Block Consortia]] troops (37)
*[[Froid]] (39)
}}

==Quotes==
"Our navicomp doesn't know its ass from its elbow. It's not been the same since Whirl spilt... god, what was it? Magnus! What did Whirl spill on the navicomp?" 
"Tailgate."
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Ultra Magnus'''

"A new place, a new mystery, random fragments of information... in thirty seconds' time, we'll be fighting for our lives." 
"What makes you say that?" 
"S'what '''always''' happens!"
:—'''Misfire''' and '''Chromedome'''

"Getaway was right." 
"'''So''' not the best way to start a conversation."
:—The '''Grand Architect''' and '''Rodimus'''

"This is not the time to try and split us up. Do you have '''any''' idea what we've been through together? What we've '''achieved?''' We've seen off a '''Phase Sixer''', cured an '''army''' of sparkeaters, survived a mutiny, traveled in time, gatecrashed a universe, and saved '''half our race.''' (...) We've liberated planets, defeated the '''D.J.D.''', found Luna 1 '''and''' the Necrobot, rescued '''two''' Metrotitans, been '''erased from existence''', and '''stolen a moon'''... and a few hours ago, we '''died''' and '''broke heaven.''' The key word is '''we'''. This isn't about '''Team Rodimus'''. This is about Team Magnus. It's about Team Nautica. Team Anode. Team Skids. Team Nightbeat. Hell, it's even about '''Team Whirl.''' So if 'the Grand Architect' turns out to be nothing more than the latest in a long line of '''nobodies''' trying to '''prove a point'''—another sad little trumped-up tyrant who throws a '''hissy fit''' whenever the world won't listen—then maybe, just maybe, Getaway '''was''' right. Because if you're stupid enough to turn this into '''us''' versus '''you''', then guess what? We'll win. '''We've got form.'''"
:—'''Rodimus''' addresses the Grand Architect

"Exaggeration is a form of '''conversational fraud.''' A colleague of mine used to exaggerate frequently. Between our first meeting and his request for an urgent transfer, he must have exaggerated... well... it must have been four or five times."
:—'''Ultra Magnus'''

"Were you expecting someone else?"
:—'''Megatron''' makes his big return

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*First Aid refers to Misfire as "Flyhigh," which we learned was his previous name back in [[Kill All 'Cons|issue #15]].
*Rewind doesn't know what the geobomb is when it appears, but Rung is able to recognize it, because he saw one up close back in [[The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle|''More than Meets the Eye'' #55]].
*Rodimus refers to the group as the "Crusadercons", a name Swerve proposed for the ''Lost Light'' crew ''waaaaay'' back in [[Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|''More than Meets the Eye'' #2]].
*The Benzene Cluster, it turns out, is the end of a spiritual leyline that the ''Lost Light'' crew have been travelling along for the whole of their journey. Drift lists the planets positioned along it as including [[Deimus]] (visited very early on the quest, back in ''[[The Waiting Game|Spotlight: Hoist]]''), [[Theophany]] (the [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|2012 ''More than Meets the Eye'' annual]]), [[Troja Major]] ([[An Axe to Break the Ice|issue #8]]-[[Chasing the Infinite|9]]), and Mederi.
*Drift also notes that space "frays" at the end of the leyline; perhaps that's why one species of aliens native to Benzene, first mentioned in [[The Plotters' Club (Part 2): Filling in the Blanks|issue #11]], are called the [[Fraynian]]s, from the planet [[Frayus]]. As Tyrest did last issue, Drift refers to this frayed space as "threadbare"; "threadbare space" was one of the key phrases Drift saw in his vision in [[Dissolution Part 1: Some Other Cybertron|issue #1]].
*As Nautica (and a footnote) remind us, the five multi-colored Cybertrons were first glimpsed by [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] back in [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|''More than Meets the Eye'' #21]]. Cyclonus recognizes them as copies of the ancient Cybertron of his time, which Froid explains were created using a "hollow planet—a giant mold." That mold is obviously [[Necroworld]], which Rung and [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] discovered matched the shape of ancient Cybertron back in ''More than Meets the Eye'' #55. The implication, then, is that Necroworld was created using Cybertron as a base, rather than Cybertron having been created from it, as Rung assumed at the time.
*Rodimus lists of the crew's accomplishments as:
**"Seen off a [[Phase Sixer]]" ([[Overlord (G1)|Overlord]], in [[Under Cold Blue Stars|''More than Meets the Eye'' #15]])
**"Cured an army of sparkeaters" (last issue)
**"Survived a mutiny" ([[The Dying of the Light|''More than Meets the Eye'' #50-55]])
**"Traveled in time" ([[Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|''More than Meets the Eye'' #36]]-[[Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|38]])
**"Gatecrashed a universe" ([[Dissolution Part 1: Some Other Cybertron|''Lost Light'' #1]]-[[Dissolution Part 6: This Machine Kills Fascists|6]])
**"Saved half our race" ([[Remain in Light|''More than Meets the Eye'' #17-21]])
**"Liberated planets" (''More than Meets the Eye'' #50, for example)
**"Defeated the DJD" (''More than Meets the Eye'' #55)
**"Found Luna 1 and the Necrobot" (''More than Meets the Eye'' #17 and [[The Not Knowing|#44]])
**"Rescued two Metrotitans" ([[Metrotitan (G1)|Metrotitan]] in the 2012 annual, and [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] in [[Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8|''More than Meets the Eye'' #26]], but see "Errors")
**"Been erased from existence" ([[Twenty Plus One|''More than Meets the Eye'' #31]])
**"Stolen a moon" ([[Dissolution Part 5: Modes of Production|''Lost Light'' #5]])
**"Died and broke heaven" ([[The Everlasting Voices (1): Metastasis|''Lost Light'' #16]]-[[The Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here|18]])
*Implied in issue #15, Scorponok now confirms outright that the Firstborn project was something he pursued on his own initiative, independent of the Grand Architect's ambitions.
*Tyrest relates his escape from incarceration via teleporter, which occurred in the [[The Sound of Breaking Glass|''More than Meets the Eye'' #21 backup story]].
** Also, Tyrest notes he wound up near Luna-1's engines, the same ones built around a giant version of the Knight symbol. Wonder what that's all about.
*The Grand Architect repaired Tyrest's mind, and so the self-inflicted drill-hole on his forehead that made him go funny is now gone. (For some reason, his projected image still sported it in [[Crucible (Part 1): A Dance Before Dying|issue #19]].)
*The Grand Architect's infiltrators are biomechs, which Froid describes as "soft on the outside, machine on the inside". Presumably, these would be the end result of all those mysterious experiments on mixing organics and technology that have been showing up since allll the way back in ''[[Rules of Disengagement (issue)|More Than Meets The Eye #7]]''.
*The Grand Architect is... Pharma?? This turncoat Autobot was last seen (chronologically speaking) in ''More than Meets the Eye'' #21, in which he died, but had his corpse pulled through Tyrest's portal. His return was foreshadowed by an appearance in Drift's vision in ''Lost Light'' #1, but ssssomething doesn't add up here. Pharma was just a regular, loyal Autobot until only about a decade ago, when he fell under the [[Decepticon Justice Division|DJD]]'s thumb while on [[Messatine]], but the Grand Architect has been operating in the galaxy for centuries. Now, this and various other discrepancies (Pharma recovering from his apparent death quickly enough to find and repair Tyrest not long after; his lack of familiarity with Luna 1's technology back in "[[Remain in Light]]" despite the moon bearing the Architect's insignia; Pharma's previously-displayed fear and hatred of Decepticons compared to the gleeful ease with which he takes out Scorponok) can be reconciled by the fact that [[time travel]] is explicitly involved here, given Pharma's claims about the Warren sending him through time (is that what happened when he was pulled through the portal?)...but we're pretty sure there's another shoe waiting to drop here...
*Megatron was last seen in ''Lost Light'' #6, when he was left stranded in the Functionist Universe thanks to [[Terminus (G1)|Terminus]] misleading him. Is ''he'' the monster the Grand Architect fears? He's wearing his [[fusion cannon]] again... and his hand ''is'' just ''ever-so-strategically'' positioned to cover his chest, so we can't see if he's still wearing his Autobot insignia...

===Transformers references===
*Continuing a trend of recent issues to use [[Unicron]]-related dialogue cribbed from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', Crankcase cries out "We're being sucked into it!" as the ''Lost Light'' is pulled through the rift, a line spoken by [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] in the film when he and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike]] were consumed by the monster planet.
*Megatron's fusion cannon design is very similar to the one belonging to [[Megatron (Animated)|the ''Animated'' version of the character]]. The reason for its angular appearance is revealed in the next issue.

===Real world references===
*The title of this issue, "Farsickness," is a condition that is the opposite of homesickness, a longing for far-off places.
*During his speech (quoted above), Rodimus drops the phrase "the world won't listen," an allusion to {{w|The World Won't Listen|The Smiths' album of the same name}}.

===Errors===
*While listing off the crew's accomplishments on page 10, Rodimus refers to "two Metrotitans." This ''was'' the name by which the giant cityformers were introduced in the 2012 ''More than Meets the Eye'' annual, but ever since then, every single other IDW story (and all ''Transformers'' fiction and merchandise since) has referred to them only as "[[Titan (group)|Titans]]," with "Metrotitan" being repositioned as the name of the [[Metrotitan (G1)|''individual Titan'']] the crew rescued in that story. This is corrected in the trade paperback.
*On page 11, panel 7, Scorponok uses the phrase "tow the line." That ought to be "to'''''e''''' the line." This is also corrected in the trade paperback.
*On page 16, panel 3, there's a thin orange circle behind "cosmic Pathblaster"-Cybertron. It looks like this was supposed to be a star (based on the text about positioning Cybertron a certain distance from it, and by the star behind the five-Cybertron God Gun at the bottom of the page) but it hasn't been colored in, leaving only an outline.
*On the final page, Megatron's fusion cannon is drawn as a squared 4 sided cannon. In subsequent issues it is instead drawn as a triangular 3 sided cannon.
*The handcuffs that Froid is wearing as he first enters the cell - noted by Rodimus - disappear completely after the first panel.

===Other trivia===
*Originally solicited for release in early July 2018, as the first of ''two'' issues of ''Lost Light'' that were supposed to be released that month, this issue arrived a bit late, only coming out in the ''last'' week of July, bumping the second July issue into August. But on the plus side, it's only two weeks after issue #20, and only three weeks after #19, making a total of ''three'' issues of ''Lost Light'' released in July—even if they ''were'' all late!

===Soundtrack===
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB-RcX5DS5A The Scientist]" by {{w|Coldplay}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/1021855222107447296 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=E5H8DwJI0uA Sons and Daughters]" by {{w|The Decemberists}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/1021856172792573959 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>

===Covers (3)===
*'''Cover A:''' Everyone's very shocked, by [[Jack Lawrence]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
*'''Cover B:''' Our heroes, by [[Geoff Senior]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Lawrence's black and white lineart from Cover A
<gallery>
File:LL21 cvrA.jpg|
File:LL21 cvrB.jpg|
File:LL21 cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''Lost Light'' #22
*''[[Transformers: Unicron]]''
*''[[Transformers vs. Visionaries]]'' TPB
*''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]] vs. The Six Million Dollar Man'' TPB
*''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (character)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' #7
*''The Comic Book History of Comics: Comics For All'' TPB
*''[[Star Trek]]: The Next Generation: Terra Icognita''
*[[Last Stand (Unicron)|''Transformers: Unicron'' #1]]

===Reprints===
*'''''Transformers: Lost Light''''' Vol. 4 TPB ([[January 30]], [[2019]]) ISBN 1684054109 / ISBN 978-1684054107
:Contains ''Lost Light'' issues #19 to #25.
:Bonus material CURRENTLY UNKNOWN.

*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]] Volume 87: Crucible''''' ([[July 29]], [[2020]])
:Contains ''Lost Light'' issues #19 to #24.
:Bonus material includes the second half of ''[[Transformers: Historia]]'' (after ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]''), including the [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] profile, a cover gallery and an intro by [[Simon Furman]].

<gallery>
File:LLvol4 TPBcvr.jpg|'''Vol. 4''' cover by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v87.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection Volume 87: Crucible''''' cover by [[Dreamwave Productions]], [[Casey Coller]] and [[Tom B. Long]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://graphicpolicy.com/2018/07/24/preview-transformers-lost-light-21/ Preview]

[[Category:Lost Light issues]]

Top Trumps

2022-12-14T23:17:10Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* 30 Blasts from the Past! */

{{disambig2|the Top Trumps card games|the Top Trumps Transformers book|Top Trumps: Transformers}}
[[File:Movie2007-Top Trumps.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb]]
'''Top Trumps''' is a type of card game produced by Winning Moves UK Ltd. Each pack consists of a number of cards (usually 30) with a series of statistics on each. Players get a randomised set of cards, and the active player reads one of the stats from their top card. The player with the highest value for that stat on their top card wins, and collects all of the top cards for that round. The player who manages to collect all the cards wins the match.

Given the similarities between this game and the Transformers' own [[Tech Spec]]s, it's only natural that the franchise lends itself to being adapted to this concept.

==''Transformers'' (2007)==
A pack of Top Trumps was released in [[2007]] to tie in with ''[[Transformers (film)|Transformers]]''. Each card has six statistics (Power, Height (m), Disguise, Heart, Courage and Mission), a brief description of the character or object, and an image of the subject.

===Cards===
{{collist|2|
*[[Autobot]]s
**[[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]]
**[[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]]
**[[Jazz (Movie)|Jazz]]
**[[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]]
*[[Decepticon]]s
**[[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]
**[[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]
**[[Barricade (Movie)|Barricade]]
**[[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]]
**[[Scorponok (Movie)|Scorponok]]
**[[Frenzy (Movie)|Frenzy]]
*[[Human]]s
**[[Sam Witwicky]]
**[[Mikaela Banes|Mikaela]]
**[[Archibald Witwicky|Cpt Witwicky]]
**[[Ron Witwicky]]
**[[Judy Witwicky]]
**[[Trent DeMarco]]
**[[Miles Lancaster|Miles]]
**[[William Lennox|Cpt William Lennox]]
**[[Patrick Donnelly|Sgt Patrick Donnelly]]
**[[Robert Epps|Sgt Julius Epps]]
**[[John Keller|Keller]]
**[[Seymour Simmons|Agent Simmons]]
**[[Maggie Madsen]]
**[[Glen Whitmann|Glen Whitman]]{{sic}}
**[[Tom Banachek|Banachek]]
**[[Brigham]]
**[[Sector Seven|Sector 7 personnel]]
**{{w|RAND Corporation}}
*Transformer
**[[Protoform]]s
*Unknown
**[[AllSpark]]
}}

===Notes===
*Blackout has the least power of all the Decepticons.
*Ron and Judy Witwicky are both braver than Optimus Prime and Megatron.
*In fact, Megatron has the lowest courage score in the game, and is therefore more cowardly than Glen Whitman.
*Miles is more powerful than Sam and Mikaela.
*The picture used for Donnelly is not [[Zack Ward]].
*Frenzy's alternate mode is a tape deck instead of a CD player.
*For whatever reasons, both models used for Scorponok are missing his head.
*The RAND Corporation uses a shot of Maggie and her team of analysts at the Pentagon.
*Additional "Super Top Trumps" cards were available separately in the UK and Germany, available when buying toys from certain stores, or with magazines:
**[[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]]
**[[Jorge Figueroa]]
**[[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]]
**Maggie Madsen
**Megatron

==''Revenge of the Fallen''==
[[File:ROTF-3D Top Trumps.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb]]
A second pack was released in [[2009]], to tie in with ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]''. This pack included special markings on the back of selected cards which, combined with a webcam and a 3D software downloadable from the Top Trumps website, allowed you to "interact" with a 3D Optimus Prime in the form of a four question game. This time around, the six statistics given are Height (ft), Firepower, Disguise, Speed, Bravery and Intelligence.

===Cards===
{{collist|2|
*Autobots
**[[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]]*
**Optimus Prime truck
**[[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]]
**Chevrolet Camaro
**[[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]]*
**[[Mudflap (ROTF)|Mudflap]]
**Ice cream van
**Chevrolet Trax & Beat
**[[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe]]*
**Corvette Stingray
**[[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]]
**GMC Topkick
**[[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]]*
**Hummer H2*
*Decepticons
**[[The Fallen]]
**[[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]
**[[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]
**[[Wheelie (ROTF)|Wheelie]]*
**[[Devastator (ROTF)|Devastator]]*
**[[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]]
**[[Scalpel (ROTF)|Scalpel]]
*Humans
**[[Sam Witwicky|Sam]]
**[[Mikaela Banes|Mikaela]]*
**[[Seymour Simmons|Agent Simmons]]*
**[[Leo Spitz]]
**[[William Lennox]]
**[[Robert Epps]]
**[[NEST|N.E.S.T]]
**[[United States military|The US Military Strike Force]]*
*Other
**[[AllSpark|The AllSpark shard]]
}}
{{note|Cards marked with * have 3D markings.}}

===Notes===
*The Autobots having separate cards for their vehicle and robot modes leads to some oddities, such as Ironhide actually being one point faster in robot mode, and Optimus Prime's intelligence going up one point when he turns into a truck.
*Wheelie is shown in his toy truck mode, unlike the other Decepticons who are all in robot mode.
*In general, the height for returning characters is consistent with the first set, though in feet rather than metres.
*The AllSpark shard is 3 feet tall. It's also smarter than Sam and Mikaela.
*Megatron's description refers to him being frozen in ice and not dead.
*N.E.S.T stands for Non-biological Extraterrestrial Species Treaty, as in ''[[The Last Prime]]''.

==''Transformers: Prime''==
[[File:TFPrime-Top Trumps.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb]]
A third pack was released in October [[2012]], this time focusing on ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Transformers: Prime]]'' rather than the movies, Winning Moves having eschewed releasing a pack for ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]''. Each card has five stats—Intelligence, Rank, Strength, Speed and [[Fireblast]]. Unlike the movie packs, it avoids sticking to strictly on-screen characters and uses a number of toy-only characters and even a couple from ''[[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron]]''.

===Cards===
{{collist|2|
*Autobots
**[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]]
**[[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]]
**[[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]]
**[[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]]
**[[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]]
**[[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]]
**[[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]]
**[[Tailgate (Prime)|Tailgate]]
**[[Ironhide (WFC)|Ironhide]]
**[[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Ultra Magnus]]
**[[Kup (WFC)|Kup]]
*Decepticons
**[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]]
**[[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]]
**[[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]]
**[[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]]
**[[Breakdown (WFC)|Brakedown]]{{sic}}
**[[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]]
**[[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]]
**[[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]]
**[[Terrorcon (Prime)|Terrorcon]] Cliffjumper
**[[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicon]]
**[[Rumble (WFC)|Decepticon Rumble]]
**[[Dead End (WFC)|Dead End]]
**[[Swindle (FOC)|Swindle]]
**[[Vortex (FOC)|Vortex]]
**[[Energon Driller]]
*Humans
**[[Jack Darby|Jack]]
**[[Miko Nakadai|Miko]]
**[[Raf Esquivel|Raf]]
*Other
**[[Thundertron]]
}}

===Notes===
*Knock Out's card erroneously has an Autobot symbol, unintentionally foreshadowing his change of hearts at the end of ''[[Predacons Rising (Prime)|Predacons Rising]]''.
*Thundertron lacks a faction insignia altogether.
*Pictures are a mix of promotional images from the show, toy [[package art]], and ''Fall of Cybertron'' images for Swindle and Vortex.
*The kids have intelligence stats of 8 and 9, making, for instance, Miko 3 points smarter than Bulkhead.
*The Energon Driller also has an intelligence of 8.

==''Transformers Annual 2015''==
The ''[[Transformers Annual 2015]]'' came with six exclusive ''[[Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction]]'' Top Trumps cards. The five statistics listed are Size, Strength, Terror, Speed and Disguise.

===Cards===
{{collist|2|
**[[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]]
**[[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]]
**[[Crosshairs (AOE)|Crosshairs]]
**[[Drift (AOE)|Drift]]
**[[Grimlock (AOE)|Grimlock]]
**[[Lockdown (ROTF)|Lockdown]]
}}

===Notes===
*The description on Bumblebee's card misspells his name "Bumblee".
*Lockdown is listed as a Decepticon bounty hunter.
*Grimlock has a disguise stat of 1. Giant metal dinosaur is not a good disguise.

==30 Blasts from the Past!==
[[File:Top-Trumps-30-Blasts-From-The-Past.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb]]
Released in [[2015]], this pack celebrated 30 years of ''Transformers'' by featuring characters from the first couple of years of Generation 1. The cards feature reproductions of the original box art, and the five statistics included are Size, Speed, Power, Disguise and the enigmatic "Top Trumps Rating".

===Cards===
{{collist|2|
*Autobots
**[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]
**[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]]
**[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]
**[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]]
**[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]]
**[[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]]
**[[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]
**[[Hound (G1)|Hound]]
**[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]]
**[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]
**[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]]
**[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]
**[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]
**[[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]]
**[[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]]
**[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]]
*Decepticons
**[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]
**[[Barrage (Insecticon)|Barrage]]
**[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]
**[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]
**[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]]
**[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]]
**[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]
**[[Ransack (G1)|Ransack]]
**[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]]
**[[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]
**[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]
**[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]
**[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]
**[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]]
}}

===Notes===
*Cosmos has the highest size stat at 6, making him bigger than Devastator. Cosmos also has the highest power stat possible at 50, making him equal to both Optimus and Devastator.
*The disguise stat ranges from 1 (Cosmos and Grimlock) to 20 (Ransack, Ironhide, Barrage and... Devastator?!)
*Seaspray and Skywarp only get a Top Trumps Rating of 2, while Optimus and Grimlock get the maximum rating of 15.
*Grapple's bio notes that he turns into a "construction site roadhauler".
*Shockwave's bio notes that he is an [[Action Master]] partnered with [[Fistfight (G1)|Fistfight]].
*Topspin's bio calls out his membership in the [[Wreckers]].
*Despite all three having identical bodies, Skywarp has a lower Size stat than both Starscream and Thundercracker.

==Super Trunfo Transformers==
[[File:Super-Trunfo-Transformers-Grow.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb]]
'''Super Trunfo''' is the [[Brazil|Brazilian]] equivalent of Top Trumps produced by Grow. This version of the game traditionally comes with 32 cards and features a numbering system that marks them with a letter from A to D and a number from 1 to 8, giving each card a unique combination from 1A to 8D. One card is also marked as ''the'' "Super Trunfo", meaning it automatically wins against every other card—regardless of the stats—except for the ones marked with the letter A, to whom it always loses. The ''Transformers'' edition was released in [[2022]] with Strength, Skill, Firepower and Transformation as the stats.

===Cards===
{{collist|2|
*1A [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]
*2A Bumblebee vehicle
*3A [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]
*4A [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]
*5A [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]
*6A Ironhide vehicle
*7A [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]
*8A [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]
*1B [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (Super Trunfo)
*2B Optimus Prime vehicle
*3B [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]
*4B [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]
*5B [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]]
*6B [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]]
*7B Mirage vehicle
*8B [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]]
*1C [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]
*2C [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]]
*3C [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]
*4C Sunstreaker vehicle
*5C [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]]
*6C [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]
*7C [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]
*8C [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]]
*1D [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]
*2D [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]]
*3D [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]]
*4D [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]]
*5D Bonecrusher vehicle
*6D [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]]
*7D [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]]
*8D [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]
}}

===Notes===
* Most of the artwork used for the cards are taken from various ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]''-branded toylines, most notably ''[[Combiner Wars (toyline)|Combiner Wars]]'', with others coming from the ''[[Transformers Legends (mobile game)|Legends]]'' mobile game. The packaging and cover card, on the other hand, use [[evergreen]] images of Optimus Prime and Bumblebee.
* Due to how the rules work, Megatron ''always'' beats robot-mode Optimus Prime, and also beats vehicle-mode Optimus in three out of the four stats. That's not a good look for the Autobots.
* Blurr has the best stats at both skill and transformation, and robot-mode Ironhide is the best card at firepower.
* Brawl has the highest strength while Ravage has the lowest.
* [[Nightstick (G1)|Nightstick]] appears as part of Cyclonus' artwork.
* So Bonecrusher randomly gets to have two cards but Starscream of all people is completely absent from the game? Whose idea was this?

==See also==
*[[Transformers Mega Cards]], a similar card game to Top Trumps and Super Trunfo.

==External links==
*[http://toptrumps.com/ Top Trumps website]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3PwcPLxa7A Top Trumps advert demonstrating the 3D effect]

[[Category:Age of Extinction]]
[[Category:Card games]]
[[Category:Generation 1 merchandise]]
[[Category:Prime merchandise]]
[[Category:Movie]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen]]

The Landscape of Fear

2022-03-24T22:11:53Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Synopsis */

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2019 comic)|Transformers]]'' #41
|prev=A Dust of Crystals
|next=Transformers issue 42
|caption=
|image=TF2019 41 cvrB.jpg
|title="The Landscape of Fear"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[March 23]], 2022
|coverdate=March 2022
|written by=[[Brian Ruckley]]
|art by=[[Anna Malkova]] (pg. 1-11) [[Blacky Shepherd]] (pg. 19-20)
|colors=[[David García Cruz]]
|letters by=[[Jake M. Wood]]
|editor=[[David Mariotte]], [[Tom Waltz]] and [[Riley Farmer]]
|continuity=[[2019 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=
}}

'''Unexpected reinforcements shift the siege of Crystal City in favour of the Autobots, but with Cybertron itself under threat Optimus Prime must do the unthinkable.'''

==Synopsis==
Lesser [[Decepticon]]s flee from [[Lodestar (Titan)|Lodestar]] as the wounded [[Titan (group)|Titan]] touches down in the ruins of [[Crystal City]], but [[Strika (BM)|Strika]] and her [[Strika's Heavies|Heavies]] aren't so easily intimidated. As she and the remaining Decepticons regroup, Lodestar's [[cityspeaker]] [[Lightbright (G1)|Lightbright]] contacts [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]--although her Titan's all but comatose after suffering severe damage, that's not the ''only'' asset she's brought to the fight--with the pull of a lever, a cargo hatch disgorges her secret weapon: [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] and his [[Technobot (G1)|Technical Solutions team]], the five Autobots join the battle as the mighty [[combiner]] [[Computron (G1)|Computron]]!

Undeterred, Strika and her team quickly swing into action; despite their combined martial prowess, however, Computron easily shrugs off their attacks, and his retaliations afford [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] and the remaining Autobots the chance to arrest [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] and the other members of the Heavies. [[Apeface]] gives the giant Autobot trouble to the point where a single punch knocks him over, but the distraction gives enough time for Optimus and the other Autobots to regroup and order the remaining Decepticons to stand down. Strika defiantly sneers that it'll take more than ''that'' to convince her to stand down... but abruptly agrees to the temporary ceasefire when Lodestar summons enough energy to slam a building-sized fist into the ground.
While [[Pyra Magna]] excuses herself after receiving a distress call from the planet's [[Sonic Canyons]], Optimus considers how best to spin this unexpected development in his favor, and implores the Decepticon lieutenant to take a look at the damage they've caused: a piece of Cybertron's history has been reduced to shards, while [[rust worm]]s and [[Insecticon clone|Insecticlone]]s run rampant. As existential threats pile up, there's only one 'bot who can end this madness once and for all: [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]. When the Autobot leader turns his attention to Scattershot, the Autobot explains that a freak encounter with the [[Combination Core]] in deep space somehow allowed him to absorb its power; before he can explain more, however, Lightbright interrupts to point out that her Titan requires immediate medical attention. Optimus understands, but has one last request for the pair: can they make it to [[Darkmount (Cybertron)|Darkmount]]?

In Darkmount itself, [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] and his allies--including [[Tap-Out (Universe)|Tap-Out]], [[Road Rage (G1)|Road Rage]], [[Gears (G1)|Gears]], and even a few brave [[alien]] immigrants--have had their hands full bravely fending off increasingly bold Insecticon clones. No sooner do they mop up the remnants of one swarm before another darkens the sky... but before the latest swarm can descend, a blast of artillery blows the entire swarm apart. That artillery heralds the arrival of [[Termagax]]'s walking [[House (building)|House]], and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] pops his head from the top of the building to greet his allies.

Despite Ironhide's misgivings, Strika opens a diplomatic channel with Megatron in [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]: although the Decepticon leader initially has no patience for negotiating with his hated enemy, Optimus points out that his own life is immaterial compared to the problems that now threaten Megatron's grander ambitions: ravenous Insecticon swarms, rapacious [[rust worm]]s, and a reborn [[Exarchon]] all undermine Megatron's own plans for the planet. If solving these immediate problems requires temporary surrender to Megatron, that's a sacrifice Prime will willingly make; grudgingly, Megatron agrees to this unexpected truce.

On the outskirts of Darkmount, Hound outlines their situation to Wheeljack and Termagax: as Insecticon attacks ramp up, the city's supplies of [[energon]] continue to dwindle, while organic refugees go hungry. As the Insecticons continually probe their boundaries, Hound worries that a single coordinated Decepticon attack could push them over the brink. Their only hope is that [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]], and the other remaining scientists can get the last ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' operational, but not even that might be enough to stop the Insecticlones from pursuing them. The sight of one of the Insecticlones carrying a rust worm gives Termagax an idea: if the Autobots can capture a fully functional Insecticlone, and if [[Glyph (Universe)|Glyph]] can develop a sophisticated enough data package, the Autobots ''might'' have a way to cut the infestation off at its source--''if'' they can scrape together a strike team in time to carry out a suicide mission, deep into the heart of the [[Cybertronian Mountains]]...

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (6)
* [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (7)
* [[Computron (G1)|Computron]] (10)
* [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (15)
* [[Rust Dust]] (16)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (17)
* [[Pyra Magna]] (18)
* [[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]] (19)
* [[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]] (20)
* [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] (21)
* [[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)|Lightspeed]] (22)
* [[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]] (23)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (24)
* [[Tap-Out (Universe)|Tap-Out]] (26)
* [[Road Rage (G1)|Road Rage]] (27)
* [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (28)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (29)

|h2=[[Decepticon]]s/[[Decepticon|Ascenticon]]s|c2=
* [[Airwave (facility)|Airwave]] (1)
* [[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]] (2)
* [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] (3)
* [[Strika (BM)|Strika]] (4)
* [[Heavywait]] (5)
* [[Apeface]] (11)
* [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] (12)
* [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (13)
* [[Lugnut (TF 2010)|Lugnut]] (14)
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (30)
* [[Termagax]] (31)
* [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] (32)
* [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] (33)
* [[Shrapnel (G1)|Skrapnel]] (34)

|c4=
* [[Lightbright (G1)|Lightbright]] (8)
* [[Lodestar (Titan)|Lodestar]] (9)
* [[Insecticon clone|Insecticlone]]s (25)
* Alien civilian (28)

}}

==Quotes==
"The unfocused warrior is a blunted blade." 
"Whatever you say, Obsidian. Whatever you say."
:—'''Obsidian''' and '''Apeface'''

"At our source, and in the end, we are one. Cybertron itself is a part of that whole, or we a part of its unity. Jumpstream has seen a dark future for this planet. For us all. The present darkness may make even that darkness unreachable."
:—'''Optimus Prime'''

"We cannot blindly '''fight''' if the struggle itself consumes that which we claim to '''protect'''. But I surrender nothing, I promise you. I '''preserve''' what I can, for us to '''reclaim''' when that time comes." 
"Very well. A truce. Until other threats are overcome. We should discuss the practicalities of my '''inheritance'''..."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Megatron'''

"I was convinced that retiring to Darkmount might be wise. And that it would be... '''kind'''... to transport '''you''' back there. But I wasn't volunteering for companionship or constant chatter. Nothing personal, but I am unused to company." 
"Might be for the '''best''', since when you '''were''' used to it, you lit the forge that spat out the Decepticons."
:—'''Termagax''' and '''Wheeljack'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* [[Airwave (facility)|Airwave]] last appeared in [[Escape Part One|the first issue]] of 2021's ''[[Transformers: Escape|Escape]]'' miniseries.
* Heavywait remarks that Computron resembles "what the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s" turned into; as explained in the [[Constructicons Rising, Part 1|first arc]] of ''[[Transformers: Galaxies|Galaxies]]'', the Constructicons used their [[Devastator (G1)|combined form]] for the first time to reconstruct Iacon after the [[War of the Threefold Spark]] ravaged the city.
* Apeface's snippy remarks about Blitzwing carry on from their appearances in [[War World: Titans|issue #29]], where an argument over who had the better [[alternate mode]]s eventually culminated in Apeface "accidentally" shooting Blitzwing in the back.
* Upon capturing Strika and the other members of the Heavies, Ultra Magnus triumphantly tells Strika that it's her turn to see what it's like being a prisoner--the Decepticons captured Ultra Magnus in the final scene of [[Darkness, Once Gazed Upon: Part One|issue #37]], although the Autobots rescued him two issues later.
* Optimus refers to [[Jumpstream]]'s trip to an Exarchon-dominated future, which occurred in issues [[Lord of Misrule: Test Flight I|#31]] and [[Lord of Misrule: Test Flight II|#32]].
* In his conversation with Scattershot, Optimus notes that he witnessed the loss of the [[Enigma of Combination]] during the battle of the [[Rust Sea]] in [[Lord of Misrule: Enigmatic|issue #36]]. All is not lost for the combiners, however: as he notes here, the [[Light/Star|2021 annual]] ended with Scattershot falling into [[Airachnid (G1)|Airachnid]]'s artificial [[Combination Core]] and somehow absorbing its power.
* Hound, Gears, and Road Rage last appeared in the [[Escape Part Five|final issue]] of ''Escape'' where they defended Darkmount against a swarm of Insecticon clones. They're joined by one of the four-armed, helmeted aliens that appeared briefly in ''Escape'' wielding the same anti-Cybertronian technology seen in ''Escape'' #5, though it's not immediately clear if this is the same individual or just another member of the same species.
* In a later conversation with Termagax, Hound remarks that Highbrow, Perceptor, and other scientists are working to get the final ''Ark'' operational after its mothballed stardrive exploded at some point before the events of [[Escape Part Four|''Escape'' #4]]. As per dialogue in [[A Dust of Crystals|the previous issue]], Perceptor left Crystal City for Darkmount well in advance of the battle, presumably so that he could collaborate with the other scientists in the city.
* Tap-Out and Glyph were among the many Autobots ousted from Iacon after Megatron seized the city in [[War World: Hunt|issue #28]]; Tap-Out formally joined the Autobots in [[Lord of Misrule: Sea of Rust I|issue #34]], but must've left the city ahead of the Decepticon advance to join his romantic partner Glyph when she evacuated to Darkmount.
* Termagax's autonomous [[spectrosynth drone]]s make a brief appearance in this issue shooting down the Insecticlones--evidently, she must've been able to either salvage a few from the battle of the Rust Sea, or she's manufactured more in the time since.
* The Insecticons are still based out of the [[Cybertronian Mountains]], the Titan graveyard that first appeared all the way back in [[The World In Your Eyes Part One|issue #1]]. However, after the events of ''Escape'', the Titan's head has been burned away to reveal a skull-like visage, presumably the result of [[Emissary (IDW)|Emissary]] crashing into the mountains in ''Escape'' #4.

===Transformers references===
* In an odd bit of toy fidelity, Gears possesses an "M" shaped decal on his backside, an apparent reference to his the moulded detail on his [[Gears (G1)#The Transformers|original toy]] which was itself a remnant of the enigmatic "[[Mysterians]]" toyline.

===Errors===
* On page thirteen, one of the Bombshell-type Insecticlones possesses a black and red abdomen.

===Other trivia===
* Originally solicited for a March 16th release, this issue arrives just one week late.

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A:''' Our heroes entangled by rust worms, by [[Umi Miyao]] and [[Priscilla Tramontano]]
* '''Cover B:''' Computron versus the Heavies, by [[Ed Pirrie]]
* '''Retailer incentive cover:''' Lodestar approaches Darkmount, by [[Juan Samu]] and [[Thomas Deer]]

<gallery>
File:TF2019 41 cvrA.jpg
File:TF2019 41 cvrB.jpg
File:TF2019 41 cvrRI.jpg
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''[[Transformers: War's End]]''
* ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]: Saturday Morning Adventures''
* ''[[Godzilla]] vs. The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers''

==External links==
* [https://www.comicon.com/2022/03/22/preview-the-autobots-refuge-is-under-siege-in-transformers-41/ Preview]

[[Category:Transformers (2019) issues]]

The Transformers: The IDW Collection

2022-03-01T23:44:09Z

Shakalooloo Doom:

[[File:IDWCollection1.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb|The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume One]]
Beginning in 2010, [[IDW Publishing]] began a series of hardcovers titled '''''The Transformers: The IDW Collection''''', which aimed to reprint their [[2005 IDW continuity|original IDW Transformers stories]] in a "suggested reading order" up through ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'' and beyond. This order included some... questionable placements for certain stories.

The first eight volumes, retroactively labelled "Phase One", cover the stories released up through the end of [[The Transformers (IDW)|the 2009 ongoing series]]. "Phase Two" begins with "[[Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime]]" and carries over into the ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' and ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' ongoings. The presented reading order of Phase Two is even more haphazard than that of Phase One, frequently hopping back and forth between the two parallel ongoings while also juggling the various otherwise-disconnected miniseries. Phase Two concludes with the wrap ups of the two main ongoing. Phase Three, debuting in 2021 is the final phase. It begins with ''[[The Transformers: Till All Are One|Till All Are One]]'' and the ''[[Revolution]]'' event, as well as its various spinoffs.

For of the first eight volumes, [[E. J. Su]] provided brand new cover art of a specific character that plays a notable role in certain comic stories featured in each volume. The covers for Phase Two are provided by [[Saren Stone]] (first 2 volumes) and [[Marcelo Matere]] (with [[Tom B. Long]] on colors through volume 7). Phase Three features cover art by [[Sara Pitre-Durocher]].

In 2016, a softcover Compendium edition containing the first two volumes hit the shelves. No further Compendiums have been produced.

{{chapters
|title=''The Transformers: The IDW Collection'' volumes:'''
|content=
<div class="list-header">Phase One:</div>
*[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume One|#1]]
*[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Two|#2]]
*[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Three|#3]]
*[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Four|#4]]
*[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Five|#5]]
*[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Six|#6]]
*[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Seven|#7]]
*[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Eight|#8]]
 <div class="list-header">Phase Two:</div>
*[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 1|#1]]
*[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 2|#2]]
*[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 3|#3]]
*[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 4|#4]]
*[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 5|#5]]
*[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 6|#6]]
*[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 7|#7]]
*[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 8|#8]]
*[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 9|#9]]
*[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 10|#10]]
*[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 11|#11]]
*[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 12|#12]]
 <div class="list-header">Phase Three:</div>
*[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Three: Volume 1|#1]]
*[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Three: Volume 2|#2]]
 <div class="list-header">Compendium:</div>
*[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Compendium, Vol. 1|#1]]
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:IDW Collection}}
[[Category:IDW titles]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) comic compilations]]

Star Saber (G1)

2022-03-01T23:24:14Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* 2005 IDW continuity */

{{factions|autobot|decepticon|adaptus}}
{{disambig3|Star Saber}}
{{featured}}
{{suite}}
:''Star Saber is an [[Autobot]] [[Brainmaster]] from the [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (franchise)#Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory|Victory]] portion of the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[File:G1 Star Saber boxart.jpg|350px|thumb|Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs!]]
Famed throughout the length and breadth of the cosmos as the greatest swordsman in the universe, the heroic '''Star Saber''' (スターセイバー ''Sutā Seibā'') has ascended from humble beginnings to the lofty position of [[Supreme Commander]] of the [[Autobot]]s and head of the interplanetary [[Galactic Peace Alliance|Galactic Defense Force]]. Protector of the weak, defender of the defenceless and lover of life in all its forms, Star Saber's heart [[Burning justice|burns]] with an unending passion for justice and peace unequalled by any other, which drives him to quash evil wherever he finds it, with a cry of "Let's say go!"<ref>"Let's say go" is a Japanese language pun, as it is written with the English word, "Let's", and the Japanese word "seigō" (整合), meaning "coordinate" or "integrate" (as seen in print in "[[Shine, Five Stars of Victory]]"). As such, it's hard to preserve the pun in translation, so the official DVD releases of the series by [[Metrodome]] and [[Madman Entertainment]] didn't bother, rendering the phrase simply as "Let's say go".</ref> This idealism is perhaps best evidenced in his adoption of the orphaned human child, [[Jan Minakaze]], as his own son, for whom he cares deeply.

Star Saber is a member of the powerful subgroup known as the [[Brainmaster]]s, who possess incredible courage, strength, skill and intelligence. Star Saber exemplifies courage in particular: his smallest robot form is the '''Brain of Courage''' (勇気のブレイン ''Yūki no Brain''), which connects to a larger body to become the robot known as '''Saber''' (セイバー ''Seibā''). In either robot or jet mode, Saber connects to the mobile battle platform named the [[V-Star]] with a cry of "Battle Up!" to become Star Saber. Furthermore, in either mode, Star Saber is capable of linking up with his team-mate [[Victory Leo]] to become '''Victory Saber''' (ビクトリーセイバー ''Bikutorī Seibā''). In this form, Star Saber's speed and power are greatly enhanced, but at times, Victory Leo's savage personality can override his calm and collected nature.

==Fiction==
===Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''Victory'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[Hideyuki Tanaka]] (Japan)|[[John Culkin]] (English, Omni Productions dub)}}

[[File:Starsaber deathsaurus first battle.jpg|left|215px|thumb|I know that dragon guy is around here somewhere.]]
As a child, Star Saber was a paragon of good behaviour. He was never greedy, so he never had to sneak food, and he never once wet the bed and got scolded for it. He was, however, still a fun-loving kid, who would zoom around on a skateboard while wearing his bedsheet as a cape.<ref>This description of Star Saber's childhood comes from the lyrics of ''Victory''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s closing [[theme song|theme tune]], "[[Cybertron Banzai]]". While the very notion of Transformers having a childhood that they actually physically grow out of is rather bizarre, resulting in the temptation to not consider the song "canon", the ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (manga)|Victory]]'' manga ''also'' depicts Star Saber as a child, in an actual, in-story flashback. So if it can happen in the comics, there's really no reason to think that it can't also have been the case in the cartoon.</ref>

Around 500,000 years ago, when Star Saber was a commander in the Autobot army, the powerful [[Decepticon]] warrior [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]] threatened the galaxy with his colossal [[Planet-Destroying Fortress]]. Star Saber led a garrison of Autobots in an assault against the fortress, and battled Deathsaurus personally while his troops planted gravity boosters on the fortress's surface. The boosters de-energized the fortress and trapped it in a gravity cell at the heart of the [[Dark Nebula]], forever earning Star Saber the enmity of Deathsaurus. {{storylink|Resurrection!? The Decepticon Fortress}}

[[File:Starsaber and jean.jpg|215px|thumb|That's where I saw the leprechaun. He told me to burn things.]]
Several years before [[2025]], Star Saber was appointed Supreme Commander of the Autobots, and consulted his friend, [[Ginrai (robot)|God Ginrai]], on whether or not he should take the job. {{storylink|Ginrai Dies!!}} Star Saber accepted the role, and by extension, became head of the [[Galactic Peace Alliance]]'s Galactic Defense Force, dedicated to protecting planets all throughout the galaxy from the renewed threat of the Decepticons under the command of Deathsaurus, who had succeeded in his quest to become [[Emperor of Destruction]]. {{storylink|The Brave Hero of the Universe - Star Saber}} In one of these attacks, a [[human]] spacecraft was destroyed by the [[Dinoforce]], killing all on board, save for a baby that had been placed in an escape pod. Star Saber recovered the child, [[Jan Minakaze]], and adopted him as his own son. {{storylink|Attack! Leozack}}

[[File:Starsaber vehiclemode.jpg|left|215px|thumb|[[Steve Blum|Spike Spiegel's]] weekend ride.]]
In 2025, Deathsaurus's attacks on Earth's sector of space intensified, leading Star Saber to make preparations to leave the Autobots' base on [[Victory (planet)|Planet V]] and personally take command of the defense force unit stationed in Earth's sector. After saving the small frontier community of [[Iron Town]] from a pair of [[Decepticon desperadoes]], Star Saber returned to base to a report of an attack by the Dinoforce on the [[Lunar Base (Victory)|Lunar Base]] on Earth's [[Moon (moon)|moon]] and immediately headed to the scene. As he drew close to the moon, Deathsaurus appeared to bar his way, and the two old foes battled while [[Blacker]], [[Braver]] and [[Laster]] clashed with the Dinoforce. Star Saber broke the fight off when Jan alerted him to the worsening battle on the moon's surface, and he proceeded to dispatch the Dinoforce with ease before Deathsaurus caught up to him and their battle continued. Battling his way through Deathsaurus's [[Breast Animal]]s, Star Saber emerged victorious, and the Decepticons fled. {{storylink|The Brave Hero of the Universe - Star Saber}} The Autobots proceeded to transport the human staff of the damaged Lunar Base back to Earth aboard their [[Rocket Base|Shuttle Base]], but when they came under attack from the Dinoforce again, Star Saber split himself into Saber and the V-Star to defeat their combined robot form of [[Dinoking]]. {{storylink|Sneak Attack! Dinoking}}

[[File:Saber and vstar.jpg|215px|thumb|Anakin built it in a junk yard in a desert.]]
Operating out of the Shuttle Base, Star Saber's Autobots took Earth as a second home of sorts, and staged all their operations from there. Star Saber enrolled Jan at school, flying him there personally for his first day and giving the [[Mayville|headmistress]] quite a shock. Unfortunately for everyone, Star Saber's presence at the school attracted the attention of the Decepticon [[Breastforce]]r [[Leozack]], who put the student body in mortal danger when he attacked. Star Saber separated from the V-Star and had Jan use it to carry the students to safety while he tackled Leozack and the Dinoforce. When the students were safe, Saber recombined with the V-Star, and defeated Leozack and Dinoking with the aid of [[Road Caesar]]. {{storylink|Attack! Leozack}}

[[File:Starsaber vs dinoking.jpg|left|215px|thumb|And now we know what killed the dinosaurs.]]
Star Saber later battled Dinoking again at an energy plant, this time with the aid of [[Landcross (G1)|Landcross]], {{storylink|Unite!! Multiforce}} then went up against Leozack once more at the Ocean Exhibition amusement park, {{storylink|Move Out! Rescue Team}} before battling both opponents yet again at a uranium mine. {{storylink|Infiltration... The Uranium Mine}} Later, when Blacker and the [[Multiforce]] investigated a Decepticon energy base in the Amazon jungle, Star Saber became concerned when he was unable to contact them, and sped to their aid, helping them to dispatch the villains. {{storylink|Explosion!! The Energy Base}}

[[File:Starsaber vs breastanimals.jpg|215px|thumb|This is why you don't get out of the car in a safari park.]]
When the Breastforce began draining electrical energy from a major American subway system, Star Saber proved too large to venture into the tunnels to investigate, and had to divide into Saber and the V-Star to proceed. Investigating the power distribution centre, Saber was confronted by Deathsaurus, and in the cramped quarters of the building, proved to be no match for the villain's nimble Breast Animals. Directing the V-Star to crash into Deathsaurus, Saber forced the Decepticon to block the craft, thereby leaving his unprotected chest open for attack and allowing Saber to impale him with his sword. Thus wounded, Deathsaurus fled, leaving Saber victorious once more. {{storylink|Big City - Underground Terror}}

[[File:Saber robotmode.jpg|left|215px|thumb|Behold! Galva—wait, no.]]
When Leozack called in his newest Breastforce recruit [[Hellbat (G1)|Hellbat]], Star Saber went up against the pair several times, joining the other Autobots in battling through Hellbat's hypnotic waves, {{storylink|The New Warrior - Hellbat}} and splitting into Saber and the V-Star to take on the two at once when they stole energy from a Nevada spaceport. {{storylink|Attack the Shuttle Base!!}} Star Saber later joined with the Brainmasters in saving [[Marine City]] from the threat of a [[neutron bomb]], giving Blacker the V-Star so he could search for the bomb while he battled Leozack as Saber. {{storylink|Tanker Hijack Operation}} Later, while Star Saber was busy leading the Autobots in an attack against Leozack and most of the Breastforce, Hellbat kidnapped Jan and [[Holi]]. Jan proved resourceful enough to escape his cell and contact Star Saber, who came to his rescue, defeating Dinoking by collapsing a mountain on him. {{storylink|Rescue Jan!!}} Not long after, Star Saber and the Multiforce thwarted a Decepticon hydroelectric power-gathering scheme. {{storylink|Mach and Tackle}}

The strange disappearance of several spaceships while passing through the asteroid belt led Star Saber to investigate, disguising himself as an ordinary spacecraft with a large exoskeleton. Venturing into the asteroid belt, Star Saber discovered that the vanishing ships were the work of the Decepticons when the villains caught him in a tractor beam. Luckily, he avoided detection long enough to summon the other Autobots to his location, and bested the Breastforce single-handed in the ensuing battle. {{storylink|A Fierce Battle!! The Asteroid}}

[[File:Starsaber vs liokaiser.jpg|215px|thumb|It was at this moment Star Saber knew... he f**ked up.]]
When the occupied God Ginrai was unable to respond to an attack by Hellbat and [[Black Shadow (G1)|two]] [[Blue Bacchus|mercenaries]] in his employ on the planet [[Micro]], Star Saber was forced to travel to the planet to investigate. With the aid of [[Sixshot (G1)|Greatshot]], Star Saber defeated the villains, but had pushed his strength to its limit to wrench an overloading power plant from its moorings with his bare hands and fly it into space to prevent the devastation its explosion would have caused. {{storylink|Planet Micro - The Mysterious Warrior|Planet Micro - The Mysterious Warrior}} Soon after, the Breastforce attacked the [[Planet Micro Satellite Penitentiary]] in an attempt to free their comrade [[Guyhawk]], and despite fighting hard, Star Saber was unable to prevent the Decepticons' escape. {{storylink|Rescue! Guyhawk}} With all six of their members now together, the Breastforce were able to combine into the terrifying [[Liokaiser]], who was actually able to hand Star Saber his first real defeat. Indeed, Star Saber would have died at Liokaiser's hands had God Ginrai not arrived in time to rescue him. {{storylink|Unite! Liokaiser}}

[[File:Starsaber living metal destroying cannon.jpg|left|thumb|Not a Buster!]]
Star Saber stared death in the face once again on the return trip to Earth when he was attacked by Deathsaurus and confronted by the emperor's deadly [[Living-Metal-Destroying Cannon]]. Although Deathsaurus actually pulled the trigger on what would have been a fatal blast, it was simple luck for Star Saber that Deathsaurus had already used up too much of his personal energy supply, leaving the cannon unable to fire. {{storylink|Resurrection!? The Decepticon Fortress}} Once back on Earth, Star Saber steeled himself for another confrontation with Liokaiser, and found himself having to soothe the fears of Jan, who was having nightmares of his father's demise. When Liokaiser struck again at the [[Schaeffer Energy]] production plant, Star Saber held his own in the fight, but a definitive outcome was not to be had, since Deathsaurus ordered a retreat when the plant's energy was successfully stolen. {{storylink|Battle Up of Wrath!!}} Another battle between Star Saber and Liokaiser soon followed, this time at the South Pole, where Star Saber was again defeated by the combiner, and would have met his end had Deathsaurus not interrupted and attempted to claim the honor for himself. This momentary distraction allowed Star Saber to turn the tables and defeat Deathsaurus while an insulted Liokaiser did nothing but watch his leader lose. {{storylink|Fight to the Death!! Antarctic Battle}}

[[File:Victory30 victorysaber.jpg|thumb|Stand up to the Victory!]]
When a battle with Deathsaurus in the desert left Star Saber and Blacker wounded, {{storylink|Crisis! Ambush in the Desert}} the Decepticons capitalized upon the Autobots' lack of manpower by stepping up their attacks, until Star Saber was left with no option but to enter battle despite his injuries. Confronted by Deathsaurus and Liokaiser in a subterranean cave in Asia, Star Saber was once again saved from the brink of death by God Ginrai, who took the shot meant for his friend. {{storylink|A Deadly Battle}} Fatally wounded with no hope of repair, Ginrai insisted that Star Saber allow him to be deactivated and rebuilt using a power-up design the commander had created. Star Saber was revolted at the notion of using his friend's body in such a way, but Ginrai would not relent, {{storylink|Ginrai Dies!!}} and was reconstructed by [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and [[Minerva (G1 robot)|Minerva]] as Victory Leo. {{storylink|Fight!! Victory Leo}} Star Saber then had the scientists implant a combination circuit in his head, which would allow him to merge with Victory Leo. {{storylink|Awaken! Victory Leo}} The duo successfully accomplished this combination for the first time when Deathsaurus was bombarding the Earth with missiles from space; together, they became Victory Saber, outraced Deathsaurus's missiles, destroyed his launcher and defeated him in battle. {{storylink|The Tide Is Turned! The Ultimate Weapon, the Victory Unification}}

[[File:Victory31 dinoforcespared.jpg|left|215px|thumb|Remember kids, don't walk away from your problems.]]
Star Saber was in space seeing Perceptor off when the Dinoforce attacked Jan's school, leaving the boy to defend his friends as best he could in his mech, the [[Illumina II]], before Star Saber was able to come to his aid. After defeating Dinoking, however, Star Saber was surprised to have the battered Dinoforce troops clutch at his legs and throw themselves in his path in an attempt to save their leader, [[Goryu (G1)|Goryu]]. Touched by this genuine display of camaraderie, Star Saber sheathed his sword and told Goryu to be sure to heal properly for their next battle. {{storylink|Jan - Defend the Campus!!}}

While Star Saber was attending a Galactic Peace Alliance conference, Leozack attempted to exploit the Autobots' trust of their leader by donning an exoskeleton in his likeness and posing as him in order to obtain information on his combination with Victory Leo. As it happened, only Victory Leo smelled a rat, and in time, the real Star Saber returned to combine with his partner and expose the phoney to the other Autobots. {{storylink|A Mystery?! The Deception of the Base Bombs}} Later, Jan used the Illumina II to help save Star Saber from the Decepticons' latest threat, the metal-eating [[Doriya]] insects. {{storylink|The Death-Bringing Space Insects!!}}

[[File:Victory37 finalblow.jpg|215px|thumb|"Swords! My only weakness...for now."]]
A month later, after no further Decepticon attacks, Star Saber and the Autobots were suddenly forced to go into action when the Decepticons raised [[Atlantis]] off the coast of [[Portugal]]. Disasters caused by the tidal waves the raising of the continent had created kept the Autobots occupied with relief efforts, allowing the Decepticons to steal enough of Atlantis's energy to finally re-power Deathsaurus's fortress. {{storylink|The Terror of the Giant Tidal Waves}} Greatshot and the Brainmasters headed out to serve as the first line of defence against the fortress, while Star Saber and Victory Leo found themselves delayed by the Dinoforce, who had—unbeknownst even to themselves—been abandoned on Earth by Deathsaurus. As Victory Saber and Dinoking battled, the fortress began bombarding the Earth with meteor bombs, one of which struck Dinoking and ended the battle. Victory Saber proceeded to head into space to confront the fortress, but was blasted by its weapons and crashed on its surface, unconscious. {{storylink|The Wrath of the Resurrected Giant Fortress!}}

[[File:Victory37 saberfireguts.jpg|left|215px|thumb|Oh crap, Hate Plague!]]
Victory Saber did not regain consciousness until the fortress was nearly upon the Earth, and immediately renewed his attack on the massive weapon, leading Deathsaurus to dispatch Liokaiser to keep Victory Saber busy. Just as the two combatants engaged each other, Jan arrived on the scene in the Illumina II, having been giving information on the fortress's weak spot by Goryu, who had realized that Deathsaurus had abandoned him and his troops. Star Saber separated from Victory Leo, leaving his partner to deal with Liokaiser while he covered his son's entrance into the fortress. Within the fortress, Star Saber faced off against Deathsaurus for their final brutal battle, eventually besting his eternal foe just as Jan succeeded in destroying the fortress's weapon power core. Deathsaurus refused to accept defeat, and sealed Star Saber in the fortress, setting it on collision course with Earth, but with help from Victory Leo, Star Saber escaped. The pair then merged into Victory Saber and, burning with flaming energy, tore the fortress apart from within, causing it to explode in a cosmic firestorm before it collided with Earth. Although the pair initially seemed as through they were destroyed in the conflagration, both Star Saber and Victory Leo emerged from its ashes, just as victorious as their name. {{storylink|Showdown! The Fortress vs the Victory Unification}}
{{-}}

====''Super-God Masterforce'' cartoon====
When [[Shūta Gō|Shūta]] asked [[Grand Maximus|Grand]] if he could meet the new [[Supreme Commander]], Grand obliged by showing him clips of Star Saber. {{storylink|Shūta and Grand's Masterforce Super-Secrets!}}

====''Legends'' comic (1)====
In [[2021]], the [[Concurrence]] made plans to eliminate the Autobots in general and Star Saber in particular. {{storylink|Mutant Targetmaster Birth Chapter}} By manipulating the Galactic Peace Alliance, they had Star Saber arrested on false charges and imprisoned in the [[Planet Micro Satellite Penitentiary]] until he was broken out by [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] and [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]], who brought him to the [[Legends World]]. There he hid out at [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]]'s place and helped him draw manga until [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] showed up to arrest them, at which point Star Saber fled while Sixshot kept him busy. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 50|Bonus Edition Vol. 50}} Star Saber repaid Sixshot by gifting him a new [[transtector]], suggesting he use it to join the Autobots under the identity "Greatshot" to continue the illusion that he was dead. Once the Concurrence lost their influence over the Galactic Peace Alliance, Star Saber was cleared of all charges and returned home where he joined forces with Greatshot to destroy the Concurrence. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. EX (Greatshot)|Bonus Edition Greatshot}}

====''United EX''====
[[File:UnitedEX5 dragon dues.jpg|thumb|200px]]
Star Saber saved [[Kakuryu (G1)|Kakuryu]]'s life, influencing the Decepticon to later join the Autobots. {{storylink|The Dragon Pays His Dues}}
{{--}}

====''Kiss Players''====
At the instruction of the [[Sparkbot]]s, [[Shaoshao Li]] travelled forward in time from [[2007]] to witness Star Saber's final attack against Deathsaurus's fortress in 2025. She kissed the Autobot leader to obtain a fragment of what she believed was the [[AllSpark]] within him (but which was, in actuality, a splinter of Unicron's fractured [[Angolmois Energy|lifeforce]]). {{storylink|Transformers: Kiss Players (radio drama)|Kiss Players radio drama #44}}

====''Zone'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[Hideyuki Tanaka]] (Japanese)}}
[[File:Starsaber vs trypticon zone.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb]]
Some time after the end of the Victory war, a new energy source known as [[Energon Z]] was developed on planet Micro. Knowing that the Decepticons—who had since fallen under the command of the supernatural being [[Violengiguar]]—would want the energy for their own nefarious purposes, Star Saber ordered the fortification of Micro into a defense base that could properly protect its precious new innovation. Employing a process developed by the [[Super Car Patrol Team]], the Autobot space pioneers known as the Powered Masters rebuilt Micro as the planet "Zone". {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone (story page)|Zone story page #1}}

As the "[[Nine Great Demon Generals]]" that Violengiguar had assembled began attacking planets throughout the galaxy, Star Saber issued commands from his base on Planet V, directing the [[Micromaster]]s of Zone to respond to the threats. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone (story page)|Zone story page #2}} When [[King Poseidon]] and [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] attacked the planet [[Wall]], however, he and Victory Leo were forced to take action as Victory Saber, only to be ambushed b the two Decepticons, who tried to drag them beneath the watery surface of the planet. Luckily for them, a combined attack from [[Missile Bull]], [[Erector (G1)|Erector]], [[Overload (G1)|Overload]] and [[Skywave]] saw the villains off. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone (story page)|Zone story page #3}}

[[File:Victorysaber feminia destruction.jpg|215px|thumb|left|Alright, who ordered the barbecued Victory Saber extra fresh?]]
When the generals attacked the planet [[Feminia]], Star Saber and Victory Leo merged into Victory Saber and headed for the planet with [[Galaxy Shuttle]] and the [[Rescue Patrol Team]] to do what they could for the inhabitants. Victory Saber saved a native boy named [[Cain]] from falling into a pit of lava as the ground beneath his feet collapsed, and got him to the Galaxy Shuttle in time to evacuate, but he was unable to get to safety himself, and was caught in the planet's explosion and feared dead by his troops.

Two-and-a-half months later, Victory Saber's body was discovered floating in space, badly damaged but alive, by the Autobot [[Powered Master]]s [[Dai Atlas (G1)|Dai Atlas]] and [[Sonic Bomber]]. They brought him to planet [[Micro|Zone]] for medical treatment, before heading on to Earth to defeat the Demon Generals that were in the process of attacking the planet. Impressed by Dai Atlas's skill in battle, Star Saber held a ceremony to appoint Dai Atlas the new Supreme Commander of the Autobots. {{storylink|Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!}}
{{--}}

====''Robotmasters''====
Some time after Dai Atlas's eventual defeat of Violengiguar, Star Saber and Victory Leo set about tracking down the Decepticon criminal, [[Gigant Bomb]]. In the course of the pursuit, all three warriors travelled through the mysterious dimensional fissure known as the [[Blastizone]] and were cast through space and time, to arrive on Earth in [[2004]]. Star Saber and Victory Leo aligned themselves with [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and various other Autobots from throughout space and time to prevent the Decepticons from acquiring the power of [[Solitarium]], and eventually returned to their home time when the task was done.

{{note| ''Robotmasters'' is explicitly placed in the Japanese cartoon continuity, after ''Zone'', by [[Generation 1 cartoon timeline (Japan)|Takara's 2007 Transformers timeline]]. However, none of the three pieces of actual ''Robotmasters'' fiction tells the story of the line in its entirety, and each of them relate certain events in notably different ways. Precisely ''which'' of the three—covered individually below—should be considered the [[canon]] one for the cartoon timeline is unknown.}}

=====Pack-in manga=====
[[File:Starsaber robotmasters minicomic.jpg|left|upright=1.2|thumb|"Hey Primal, does Prime's chest look pointier than usual to you?"]]
A Solitarium-empowered Gigant Bomb, now partnered with the Decepticon [[Smokesniper]], had Optimus Prime, [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]], [[Bound Rogue]], and [[Mirage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Mirage]] on the ropes, until Star Saber and Victory Leo suddenly appeared on the battlefield and vowed to rip their bodies apart. The pair merged into Victory Saber and destroyed their Solitarium with a single strike, causing the two Decepticons to immediately flee the scene. Star Saber then properly introduced himself to Prime and Primal, declaring it an honor to meet them, and that together, they would surely defeat [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]]. {{storylink|The Victory Warriors Enter!!}}
{{-}}

=====Online manga=====
[[File:Victorysaber robotmasters online comic.jpg|thumb]]
Investigating the decay of planets across the galaxy, Star Saber and Victory Leo came across the [[Blastizone]], and a vortex of negative energy surrounding [[Earth]] on the other side of the Zone. After crossing the distortion into the year [[2004]], Star Saber surveyed Earth and came across the Decepticon [[Smokesniper]]. Star Saber battled Smokesniper one-on-one and defeated his opponent, only to be attacked from behind and disarmed by [[Gigant Bomb]]. Gigant Bomber and Smokesniper combined into [[Gigant Sniper]] and opened fire on Star Saber, {{storylink|Go! Star Saber}} but Victory Leo soon came to his aid, and the pair fused into Victory Saber for round two of the duel. The Decepticons were defeated and Victory Saber joined the Autobots native to the era. {{storylink|Bonds Stronger than Steel}}

[[File:Starsaber vs lioconvoy rm.jpg|left|thumb|"Let us fight kung fu-style! Ho! Ha! Ho!"]]
When [[Lio Convoy]] arrived through the Blastizone, Megatron directed him to attack Star Saber and Victory Leo, who once again combined to fight back. {{storylink|The Lio Convoy Typhoon Enters (issue)|The Lio Convoy Typhoon Enters}} Luckily, Optimus Prime arrived to break up the fight and make the combatants realize they belonged to the same side, and together, Star Saber, Victory Leo, Prime, Primal, and Lio Convoy sent the Decepticons packing. {{storylink|Together, the 4 Great Supreme Commanders}}

When an injured robot named "[[Reverse Convoy]]" appeared on Earth, Star Saber and the Autobots brought him to their base for medical aid. {{storylink|Strategic Meeting: The Mysterious New Warrior}} Their trusting natures proved to be their downfall, however, when this so-called Convoy turned out to be the original [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] in a new guise. In a trap, he captured Optimus Prime, Optimus Primal, Victory Leo, and Mirage, and shot down Star Saber when he attempted to rescue them, but was bested by the sudden entrance of Lio Convoy. {{storylink|The Dark Emperor of Destruction, Reborn}}

Victory Saber later joined Prime, Primal and Lio Convoy in battling both Megatrons, [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], and [[Thundercracker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Thundercracker]]. Unsurprisingly, they claimed victory once again and the power of [[solitarium]] allowed Star Saber and his contemporaries to return to their native time. {{storylink|And Then}}
{{-}}

=====Cartoon=====
{{voiceactor|[[Masahito Yabe]] (Japanese)}}
[[File:Victorysaber robotmasters cartoon.jpg|thumb]]
While investigating a mysterious explosion, Star Saber came under attack from Starscream, who scored two missile hits on the future-born Autobot. Unable to hit Starscream with his own guns, Star Saber summoned Victory Leo, and the pair combined into Victory Saber to take the fight up close and personal. It took the arrival of Optimus Prime for the Decepticon Air Commander to be defeated, but at that point, Megatron, Gigant Bomb, and Smokesniper arrived. Victory Saber kept Gigant Bomb and Smokesniper busy while Prime defeated Megatron with aid from the newly arrived Optimus Primal. After Megatron was defeated, the three commanders agreed to continue the fight against the new Decepticons/Predacons and protect Earth's Solitarium. {{storylink|Fight! The Group of the Strongest Commanders!}}

[[File:RM Star Saber.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb]]
Later, when the Decepticons attacked a city, Star Saber was a bit late to the game, arriving merged with Victory Leo to attack Gigant Bomb and Smokesniper. The pair promptly disengaged, only to be shot by new arrival Reverse Convoy, who revealed that he was, in fact, the original Megatron in disguise. Prime and Primal were able to defeat the two Megatrons with the aid of newcomer Lio Convoy, after which Star Saber and Victory Leo linked up in jet mode to carry Prime to the next battle. {{storylink|The Lio Convoy Typhoon Enters (episode)|The Lio Convoy Typhoon Enters}}
{{-}}

=====Victory Saber Limited Black Version bio=====
The Autobots were tasked by the [[United Nations]] to go undercover in the [[Middle East]] to uncover an underworld market working in alliance with the [[Decepticon]]s. Taking advantage of the Decepticons' ignorance of future Autobots, [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] sent Star Saber and Victory Leo, disguised with "optical camouflage" that could only last six hours. Their weapons were modulated as to not cause any unnecessary human causalities, and a cover story of the duo seceding from the Autobots was provided.<ref>''Robotmasters'' Victory Saber Limited Black Version bio</ref>

=====3D diorama manga=====
After assembling the [[Arsenal Force]], [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Beast Megatron]] used it to power-up [[Wingstun]], [[Air Hunter]], [[Psycho-Orb]], and [[Tow-Line (RID)|Wrecker Hook]]. Victory Saber got wind of this, however, and managed to destroy the Arsenal Force, thereby returning the other Decepticons to their usual loser selves. {{storylink|Robotmasters Vol. 3}}

Victory Saber was present at Autobot HQ when [[Reverse Convoy]] arrived with data stolen from the Decepticons. He helped protect his fellow Autobot from an attack by [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], who wanted the lost data back. {{storylink|Robotmasters Vol. 9}}

Bad move, as Reverse Convoy soon revealed himself to actually be [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rebirth Megatron]] incognito. Rebirth Megatron captured Victory Saber, Optimus Prime, and Optimus Primal, sapping them of their energy. Victory Saber and the others were soon rescued by [[Lio Convoy]] and [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|an alternate reality Optimus Prime]]. Together, they vanquished Rebirth Megatron, Beast Megatron, and all the other Decepticons with their Big Bang Cannon. {{storylink|Robotmasters Vol. 11}}

====''Legends'' comic (2)====
In [[2038]], Star Saber and Victory Leo responded to an attack on [[Micro|Zone]]. Victory Saber fought alongside [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], [[Ginrai (human)|God Ginrai]], [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]] & [[Grand Maximus]], and many others in defense of the Zone Base being assaulted by [[Dark Nova]]'s minions. {{storylink|The Road to Legends' Revival Chapter 4: LG-EX Big Powered Prologue Part One|LG-EX Big Powered Prologue Part One}} Dark Nova's [[Vok Galaman]] proved a devastating opponent, however, tearing through the various Supreme Commanders allied against him. With the encouragement of Optimus Prime, Victory Saber used his heart of burning justice to empower the Matrix within him, getting back into the fight. The Supreme Commanders each called upon their Matrix power to re-energize the [[Reconfiguration Matrix]] inside of Convoy, allowing him to evolve into a healed Star Convoy once more. Together, Star Convoy and Dai Atlas dealt a significant blow to Dark Nova. {{storylink|The Road to Legends' Revival Chapter 5: LG-EX Big Powered Prologue Part Two|LG-EX Big Powered Prologue Part Two}}

====''Generations Selects Special Comic''====
In the [[Precursor World]], Star Convoy did battle with [[King Poseidon]]. Through the power of the [[Silver Matrix]], he connected with the future Supreme Commanders he had met during the [[Robotmasters (franchise)|Solitarium Wars]], Lio Convoy, Star Saber, and Beast Convoy. With their strength feeding his own, Star Convoy healed his wounds and was revitalized. {{storylink|Seacons comic 5}}
{{--}}

===''TV Magazine'' comic continuity===
====''Victory'' comic====
[[File:MangaYoungDeathyStarSaber.jpg|left|upright=1.2|thumb]]
Star Saber and Deathsaurus's rivalry began when they were children 500,000 years ago, and argued all the time. {{storylink|Star of Friendship, Jan and Star Saber!}} That rivalry came to a true head in 2025, when Deathsaurus began attacking the Earth in pursuit of the energy required to keep his gigantic "Space Stronghold" powered up. {{storylink|The Grand Victory War}} In response to Deathsaurus's first attack, Star Saber led the Multiforce to Earth, and made short work of Deathsaurus by cleaving his shoulder with his Saber Blade. As the Decepticon emperor retreated, Star Saber made a vow to protect the beauty of Earth's nature for all mankind. {{storylink|So Cool! Our Ally, Star Saber!}}

[[File:Super saber meteor spin.jpg|thumb]]
Earth's nature proved to be the very next thing that Deathsaurus attacked, when he started a forest fire and defeated Landcross. Star Saber and Road Caesar came to their friend's aid, but were unprepared for the new strength Deathsaurus had drawn from the energy of the fire. Luckily, Deathsaurus was distracted when his own cyborg-human son, [[Solon Kitakaze (G1)|Solon]], arrived with Jan in a deadly hold, and Star Saber exploited the opening to flatten Deathsaurus with a "Super Saber Meteor Spin". {{storylink|Great Reversal! Star Saber}}

After Jan alerted him to an attack on an Earth city by the Decepticon Leozack, Star Saber came speeding to the rescue, only to be knocked from the sky by the villain's electromagnetic nunchaku. Unfortunately for Leozack, he had forgotten to bring his Breast Animal into battle with him that day, allowing Star Saber to puncture his unprotected torso with his sword and send him fleeing. {{storylink|Leozack's Rampage!}} The rest of the Breastforce didn't do much better in a later battle against Star Saber, and neither did inept Dinoforcer [[Kakuryu (G1)|Kakuryu]], who was hurled over a cliff by a "Saber Vacuum Tornado Pacifier" from the Autobot commander. As he dangled on the cliff's edge, however, Kakuryu was shocked when Star Saber pulled him to safety, displaying once more the compassion and love of life that made him worthy of the role of Supreme Commander. {{storylink|Star Saber, Warrior of Love!}}

[[File:Starsaber and jean manga.jpg|left|thumb]]
When Deathsaurus kidnapped Jan and took him to the Decepticons' ''[[Thunder Arrow]]'' out in space, an enraged Star Saber gave chase and came tearing through the ship's hull. Deathsaurus didn't take Jan's rejection well, but couldn't stand up to Star Saber's shattering "Planetary Impulse Sword Death-Strike" attack. {{storylink|Danger, Jan! Hurry, Star Saber!}} Although the reunion between Star Saber and Jan was a happy one, tempers soon flared between the two of them when they pursued the Decepticon to [[Energy Planet X]], only to lose their trail and start blaming each other. When they were attacked by the lurking Liokaiser, Star Saber disengaged from the V-Star, and allowed Jan to take control of it, transforming it into battle station mode and opening fire on Liokaiser. Saber delivered the final blow that drove the villains into retreat, and the two heroes apologized to each other, realizing that if they couldn't work together, they'd wind up like the Decepticons. {{storylink|Star of Friendship, Jan and Star Saber!}}

[[File:Victorysaber manga.jpg|thumb]]
Attacked by Deathsaurus, Dinoking and Liokaiser all at once, Star Saber was defeated and would have met his end if not for the sudden appearance of the new, feral Autobot, Victory Leo. Star Saber found he could combine with the newcomer, and together, they became Victory Saber and defeated the Decepticons with their "Flash Victory" attack. {{storylink|The Strongest Pair, the Combination of Victory!}} Deathsaurus tried to create a counter-force for this powerful new combination, creating a mech for Solon with which he could combine to become "Kingsaurus", but when Solon lost focus during a battle on the planet [[Guard]], Victory Saber destroyed his mech with a "Victory Boomberang" attack. {{storylink|Victory Saber Is Strong!}} Later, with the power of the Autobot boy-team, the [[Victories]], increasing their own energy, Victory Saber and Road Caesar combined their powers into the "Victory Caliber" attack, which grievously wounded Deathsaurus and Liokaiser in one shot. {{storylink|Shine, Five Stars of Victory}}

[[File:Starsaber deathsaurus truce.jpg|left|thumb]]
After this definitive battle, Deathsaurus withdrew his forces to the Space Stronghold and began bombarding Earth with meteorites. Star Saber engaged Deathsaurus in a battle in space while the rest of his troops entered the massive fortress, but the treacherous Leozack had been planning for this moment, and turned the power of the fortress's main cannon on Deathsaurus himself. Deathsaurus survived the blast and crippled the fortress with his own weapons, allowing Star Saber to come crashing through the control room window and unleash his Planetary Impulse Sword on Leozack. Leozack begged Star Saber not to destroy the fortress, at which point the injured Deathsaurus chose to reveal the true reason for his energy-gathering attacks on Earth to the Autobots: the fortress was, in fact, home to the Decepticon civilians, and they required the energy to keep the fortress functional for them to live in. Star Saber realized that it was time to set aside their warring ways and follow the example set by Jan and Solon. With a handshake between the two leaders, the [[Victory War]] came to an end, bringing peace to everyone—the truest victory of all! {{storylink|The Grand Victory War}}
{{-}}

====''Zone'' comic====
[[File:Starsaber vs trypticon zone.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb]]
Some time after the end of the Victory war, a new energy source known as [[Energon Z]] was developed on planet Micro. Knowing that the Decepticons—who had since fallen under the command of the supernatural being [[Violengiguar]]—would want the energy for their own nefarious purposes, Star Saber ordered the fortification of Micro into a defense base that could properly protect its precious new innovation. Employing a process developed by the [[Super Car Patrol Team]], the Autobot space pioneers known as the Powered Masters rebuilt Micro as the planet "Zone". {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone (story page)|Zone story page #1}}

[[File:Starsaber and daiatlas manga.jpg|left|thumb|"Take my job, New Toy! You've earned it!"]]
As the "[[Nine Great Demon Generals]]" that Violengiguar had assembled began attacking planets throughout the galaxy, Star Saber issued commands from his base on Planet V, directing the [[Micromaster]]s of Zone to respond to the threats. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone (story page)|Zone story page #2}} When [[King Poseidon]] and [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] attacked the planet [[Wall]], however, he and Victory Leo were forced to take action as Victory Saber, only to be ambushed b the two Decepticons, who tried to drag them beneath the watery surface of the planet. Luckily for them, a combined attack from [[Missile Bull]], [[Erector (G1)|Erector]], [[Overload (G1)|Overload]] and [[Skywave]] saw the villains off. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone (story page)|Zone story page #3}}

When the Demon Generals destroyed the planet Feminia, Star Saber was caught in the planet's eruption and feared dead by his troops. A month later, however, he was found floating in space by Powered Masters Dai Atlas and Sonic Bomber, who brought him back to Zone for medical attention. After Dai Atlas's successful defeat of the Demon Generals on Earth, Star Saber decided to pass the mantle of Supreme Commander on to the Powered Master. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone (manga)|Zone}}
{{--}}

===''PDTF Comic'' comic===
[[File:PDType-Star Saber tuna.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|I think we both know the answer to that.]]
While facing Liokaiser, Star Saber combined with Victory Leo to form Victory Saber! Victory Saber attempted to give a speech, only to be constantly interrupted by an odd growling noise, and he finally had to tell Victory Leo's lion head to keep the noise down. {{storylink|PDTF Comic##2 "He's Here! Victory Saber!!"|He's Here! Victory Saber!!}} Star Saber prepared to finish Deathsaurus off once and for all, only for the Decepticon leader to bring out Liokaiser. Star Saber attempted unsuccessfully to distract Liokaiser with some tuna, before resorting to hiding and trying to contact Victory Leo. {{storylink|PDTF Comic##5 "Don't Lose! Star Saber!!"|Don't Lose! Star Saber!!}}

Star Saber nominated [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] as his secondary defense while he battled Deathsaurus. The fight raged on for ages, but Star Saber finally triumphed, and Deathsaurus fell to the ground where he was nommed on by Grimlock. {{storylink|PDTF Comic##8 "Me Strongest! Me Grimlock!"|Me Strongest! Me Grimlock!}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers GT: Mission GT-R''===
[[File:GT-R Saber.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
In a world where the Transformers' war settled into a series of friendly competitive races known as the [[Transformers GT]], Star Saber became the [[GT Transformer]] known as '''GT-R Saber'''. A hot-blooded combatant, his main tactic in one-on-one races was to transform into [[robot mode]] and use his [[Gas-Fill-Blade]] to slice apart his opponent's drivetrain. Like other racers, GT-R Saber put a limit on his own strength by separating his Matrix into a [[GT Sister]], creating his partner [[Anna]].

====''Story of Transformers GT''====
On the day before the Transformers GT began, GT-R Saber went out for a test run and found himself racing with the similarly practicing [[Optimus Prime (G1)|GT-R Prime]]. Towards the end of the race, Prime transformed into robot mode: assuming he was preparing to fight, Saber transformed as well, only for Prime to turn back into car mode and finish the race while his opponent was distracted. {{storylink|Test Run Battle! –Prelude–}} Saber was determined to get back at Prime in the actual race the next day, finding support in Anna who advised him to target Prime as his victories had likely made him careless. As soon as the race started, Saber blindsided Prime and sent him flying, allowing him to take first place. {{storylink|First Fast Attack! –Whoever Strikes First Wins–}} Lagging behind as the race went on, he found himself behind [[Megatron (G1)|GT-R Megatron]] and sped towards him for an attack, only to be blasted by his opponent's [[EX. Cannon]] and spin out of control. {{storylink|One Shot and One Kill!! –Finishing Blow–}}

====Comic====
GT-R Saber was racing against [[Optimus Prime (G1)|GT-R Prime]] and [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|GT-R Maximus]], being goaded on by Anna on the sidelines, when the race was interrupted by the arrival of the ruthless [[Megatron (G1)|GT-R Megatron]]. An offended Saber threw a punch at the intruder, who effortlessly dodged it and declared his intent to crush all racers inferior to him. In the end, GT-R Prime put a stop to the battle by persuading Megatron to race the three of them instead. {{storylink|Transformers GT: Mission GT-R (comic)|Transformers GT: Mission GT-R}}

====Story pages====
Like other racers, GT-R Saber attended photo shoots alongside Anna in order to promote coexistence between humans and Transformers. {{storylink|Transformers GT: Mission GT-R (story page)|The Work of the GT Sister Race Queens?}} When a reincarnated [[Unicron]] attacked the Transformers GT finals and absorbed the huge [[energon]] pool saved up for the final prize, Saber restored his true power by using the "Matrix In" process to recombine with Anna. Together with the other powered up racers, he fought and defeated Unicron, saving Earth. {{storylink|Transformers GT: Mission GT-R (story page)|The True TFGT}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|''More Than Meets The Eye'' #18]]}}
{{quote|Pathetic, '''all''' of you! If God were on your side, you'd have stopped me by now! Will '''anybody''' pit their faith against mine?|Star Saber|"[[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|This Calamitous Life]]"}}
[[File:StarSaber TheDividedSelf.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|left|Not so much "[[burning justice|BURNING JUSTICE]]" anymore as "BURNING HERETICS".]]
Star Saber was part of the [[Circle of Light]] {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}} and known as a religious fanatic, proposing an "atheist holocaust". Part of his religious efforts included trying to turn the Circle over to his ideology, only to be rejected by [[Dai Atlas (G1)|Dai Atlas]]. Documentaries were made about his holy wars, giving him the nickname of the "Dark Evangelist". Circle of Light member [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] was aware of the stories surrounding him, relaying them to [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] when they were together on the ''[[Lost Light]]''. {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}}

Star Saber later fell in with [[Solomus|Chief Justice Tyrest]], betraying the Circle of Light by opening their [[Crystal City]] to an attack by Tyrest's [[Legislator]]s. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}} Once in Tyrest's inner circle, Star Saber helped him with his operations on [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]]. When Minimus Ambus disappointed Tyrest in his performance as [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]], the Chief Justice decided to appoint Star Saber as the new enforcer of the [[Tyrest Accord]] in Ultra Magnus's place. {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}}

[[File:StarSaber Primushatesyou ArmtheLonely.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"Nobody is innocent, there are merely varying levels of guilt."]]
When the ''Lost Light'' arrived on Luna 1, Star Saber joined the [[Legislator]] attack on the ship, seeking out the "criminal" and "apostate" [[Skids (G1)|Skids]]. After stabbing Skids through the torso and knocking out [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]], {{storylink|Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|House of Ambus}} he had both teleported to a Luna 1 jail cell containing Rodimus and some of the ''Lost Light'' crew. Star Saber was soon there to bring another prisoner from the [[variable voltage harness]]—Skids' partner in crime, [[Getaway]]. {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}}

Shortly after, the captive members of the Circle of Light broke free and Star Saber personally attended to the riot. There, he crossed [[Great Sword]]s with Dai Atlas before plunging a fist into his former leader's chest and coldly crushing his [[spark]]. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}}

Star Saber proceeded to tear through the members of the Circle of Light, demanding worthy challengers. [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] answered his call and engaged the enforcer, who quickly gained the upper hand. Star Saber was about to execute his opponent and questioned his reasons for fighting, to which Cyclonus answered to it being personal and turned the tables by stabbing one of Star Saber's eyes with his remaining horn. Cyclonus moved in for the killing blow as the blinded warrior held his damaged eye in pain, but Saber managed to teleport to safety before it could be delivered. {{storylink|Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|This Calamitous Life}}

[[File:JourneysEnd StarSaberKillsMirage.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|left|"To show you the power of [[Primus]], I sawed this heretic in half!"]]
When Getaway's reign over the ''[[Lost Light]]'' began to falter, he hired Star Saber to serve as the ship's new chief of security in spite of their past relationship, luring him with the promise of a rematch against Cyclonus. Star Saber arrived just as the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]], [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]], [[Mirage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Mirage]], and [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] were making their escape. He immediately shot Thunderclash, and then proceeded to hideously murder Mirage and cut down the non-believing [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]], but was prevented from finishing off [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]], Riptide, and the injured Thunderclash when [[Atomizer]] shot him with a [[nudge gun]]. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 3): Journey's End|Journey's End}}

Not long after, the ''Lost Light'' finally arrived at what ''appeared'' to be the mythical Cyberutopia, {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 3): Journey's End|Journey's End}} but what was actually the planet [[Mederi]], a planet-sized euthanasia clinic that operated by creating what its occupants ''wanted'' to see. {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here|You Are Here}} Having never formed a coherent vision of what "Cyberutopia" might be, the telepaths who operated the simulation were unable to process the crew's desire, revealing the planet in its default, barren state. They were then attacked by the forces of the [[Adaptus|Grand Architect]]; to save himself, Getaway struck a deal with the mysterious being, claiming that Rodimus and his loyalists were on their way to foil the Architect's plans. In exchange for a position of power among the Architect's retinue, Getaway was asked to prove his loyalty to the cause... and so allowed the Grand Architect's associate [[Scorponok (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Scorponok]] to transform the rest of the crew into [[Sparkeater (creature)|sparkeater]]s, {{storylink|Crucible (Part 2): Lūstrāre|Lūstrāre}} which were then unleashed on Rodimus's team when they arrived on Mederi. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 1): A Dance Before Dying|A Dance Before Dying}} Star Saber himself was spared. (Probably because his old boss Tyrest was also working for the Grand Architect.)

[[File:LL20-CyclonusKillsStarSaber.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"And He shall smite the wicked and plunge them into the fiery pit!"]]
Star Saber finally had his chance to get revenge on Cyclonus when he and Rodimus stormed the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s bridge, but Cyclonus immediately transformed and flew off upon seeing him. Thinking Cyclonus was fleeing like a coward, Star Saber transformed and chased after him. However, Cyclonus was in fact luring Star Saber into a narrow corridor in which his vehicle mode would not be able to maneuver properly, where he promptly transformed and brandished his Great Sword. Unable to dodge or react in time, Star Saber flew straight into the ancient warrior's sword and was sliced right down the middle. Cyclonus gave a brief eulogy for the fallen fanatic, praying that Primus would forgive his sins. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 2): Lūstrāre|Lūstrāre}}
{{-}}

===''Kre-O'' online manga===
[[File:KreO-webcomic-6-VictorySaber.jpg|thumb|75px|left]]
Victory Saber was one of several Autobots reeling from the appearance of the mighty [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. {{Storylink|A New Menace! The Giant Soldier Devastator Appears!}}

Later, Saber attempted to dry out some bedsheets that he had wet. {{storylink|Two Giant Bases! Everybody Getting Along, Come On, Fight!}}
{{-}}

===Ask Vector Prime===
When asked who was the greatest Cybertronian swordmaster he had met, [[Vector Prime]] noted Star Saber to be a master sword-user. Vector Prime also noted that though relatively rare in the multiverse, there were realities where Star Saber became a [[Prime (rank)|Prime]], or more commonly, was upgraded into '''Saber Convoy'''. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/08/26}}

===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
[[Preditron]] remembered Star Saber as a worthy Autobot who would inspire future generations of Transformers. {{storylink|The Predacon Manifesto}}

===''Power of the Primes'' marketing material===
[[File:POTP vote Star Saber.jpeg|thumb|left|upright=0.5]]

{{quote|The light of peace will illuminate the path to victory.}}
Star Saber was a potential bearer of the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. As a force for order, Star Saber vowed to use his supreme swordsmanship to become a champion of all of Cybertron's people, striving for a just peace. Instead, the Matrix went to [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]]. {{storylink|Fan polls#2017|''Power of the Primes'' fan poll}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers '84''===
[[File:Secrets-and-lies-84-Star-Saber.jpg|thumb|250px|I really hope being in the '80s again implies that maybe, this time, I won't be a crazy religious killer...]]

After [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]] had become the de facto [[Decepticon leader]], Star Saber was facing off against Deathsaurus's Decepticons only to eventually be surrounded. After insulting his enemy's cowardice, Star Saber flew off in the V-Star where he received a call from [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]], who requested him back to [[Autobase]]. {{storylink|Secrets & Lies issue 3|Secrets & Lies #3}}

Inspired by the [[Wreckers]]' explosive victory over [[Project Dreadnought]], Ultra Magnus decided to share command of the Autobots with Star Saber and [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Fortress Maximus]], opting for a decentralized response to the now fragmented war, augmented by a few autonomous units like the Wreckers. {{storylink|Secrets & Lies issue 4|Secrets & Lies #4}}
{{--}}

===2019 IDW continuity===
Star Saber had at some point encountered the [[Wreckers]] and earned their trust. Later on, [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] included him in a list of potential recruits for a new team of Wreckers. {{storylink|Tread & Circuits Part 4}}

==Games==
===''Transformers: Legends''===
Star Saber was a member of the Circle of Light on a quest to find a peaceful place to call home. He found the AWOL Decepticon Deadlock, whom he returned to the Circle's base. When [[Lockdown (G1)|Lockdown]] came looking for Deadlock, Star Saber and the other members of the Circle fought the bounty hunter, and as a result, Deadlock turned over a new leaf, changing his name to Drift and joining their group. {{storylink|Circle of Light (Legends)|Circle of Light}}
===''Transformers: Earth Wars''===
[[File:StarSaberEarthWars.jpg|thumb|upright=1.75| I fight for Peace! Justice! And better graphics!]]

Famed as one of the greatest cyber-swordsmen in the known universe, Star Saber fought his way up through the ranks, from footsoldier to commander, driven by a flaming passion for justice and peace, and a commitment to the Autobot cause to rival that of Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars| Star Saber Bio}}

When the Autobots broke through the [[trithyllium]] doors of the Deception [[Planet-Destroying Fortress]] in the Arctic, Blaster detected a faint signal from a spaceship in the vicinity. Star Saber gave a warning not to enter the fortress because [[Deathsaurus (G1)#Transformers: Earth Wars|Deathsaurus]] was in there, and Optimus Prime took heed. {{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars| Arctic Saga - What Lies Beneath}}

When Star Saber finally met the Autobots face to face, he explained to them who Deathsaurus was. Soon they detected that the fortress' energy levels were rising and about to self-destruct but they were all able to evacuate in time. {{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars| Arctic Saga - Monster Within}}

Later, after he joined the Autobots through the Space Bridge, he assumed that the planet was "covered in a brittle exo-skin". Prowl corrected him that the "exo-skin" was actually ice which covers only parts of the Earth. He's a bit dull as Ultra Magnus, as he ranted on how he will not rest in finding Deathsaurus, much to Prowl's chagrin, and mentioned that he lectured at the [[Autobot Academy]], much to Jazz's boredom.

He later told Prowl the reason he spent so much time in the Arctic was that he was looking for his Saber Blade, which is better than the spare he currently wields. So Prowl and Jazz go with Star Saber to find it.

In the Arctic, he was startled by a [[polar bear]], and prepared to defend the others. Jazz told him that it is more scared of him than he is of it, and he replied that he was Justice Warrior of the Year three years in a row.

Soon he ran into Deathsaurus, and he immediately assumed he remained on Earth to conquer and oppress. Deathsaurus responded he was just looking for his lost weapons, but Star Saber would not let him pass. It seemed to Deathsaurus that he was trying to talk him to death.

Months later after his return from the Arctic, he came across Grimlock and the Space Bridge, newly modified as a doorway through time. He felt the presence of a [[Optimus Primal (BW)#Transformers: Earth Wars|Prime]] in the making. {{storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars/Events|A Stitch in Time}}

*'''Class:''' Special
*'''Lowest Star Rating:''' 2 star
*'''Weapons''': Star Saber uses his Saber Blade and shield to attack opposing Decepticons!
*'''Ability: Blazing Storm''': Rush into battle spreading electrical fire over a large radius and deals damage to surrounding targets and disables them!
**'''Cost''': 12 Ability Points +3 cost increase.

[http://wiki.transformersearthwars.com/character:star-saber Star Saber at Transformers: Earth Wars Wiki]

==Toys==
{{main|Star Saber (G1)/toys}}

==Merchandise==
{{main|Star Saber (G1)/toys#Merchandise}}

==Notes==
[[File:Star Saber-Alex Milne-MTMTE.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]

*Star Saber's Brainmaster figure has for years been (and continues to be) incorrectly referred to by fans with the names "Yuki" and "Yukio", mistakenly derived from the Japanese word meaning "courage" (勇気 ''yūki''). In truth, like all Brainmaster units, it does not have a proper name, but is known simply by the title used in this article, the "Brain of Courage".
*After an initial pass in the usual Takara house style by [[Takashi Kunihiro]], Star Saber's final visual design was drafted by famous ''Mobile Suit Gundam'' mechanical designer [[Kunio Okawara]], who was also the design lead on the ''Victory'' cartoon. This resulted in Star Saber's classical "{{w|Mecha anime and manga#Super_robot|super robot}}" aesthetic fairly unique in the ''Transformers'' franchise.<ref> [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TGXJ0qrB1s Interview] with [[Hisashi Yuki]] on Star Saber at [[Hasbro Pulse]]</ref>
*The ''Robotmasters'' episode "[[Fight! The Group of the Strongest Commanders!]]" [[Japanese language|Romanizes]] Star Saber's name as "'''Star Saver'''"; both names are homonyms in Japanese.
*Star Saber as a brutal villain in the [[2005 IDW continuity]] is drawn from [[James Roberts]]'s days as part of the [[Transmasters UK|Transmasters UK fanfic group]], which depicted the character as such. His exact characterization is different, as Roberts wanted to respect his former collaborators and not poach their ideas. Star Saber was used because he was an existing Generation 1 character yet to be established in this continuity who would have had weight if he showed up as Tyrest's new right hand.<ref>[http://womenwriteaboutcomics.com/2015/02/26/james-roberts-on-idws-transformers-more-that-meets-the-eye/ Women Write About Comics: "James Roberts on IDW’s Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye" 19:24 - 31:07]</ref> Thematically, he fits with [[Solomus|Tyrest]] and [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]]'s theme of being one of the main pillars of society (in this case religion) going wrong.<ref>[http://www.fullmetalhero.com/t14540/ Moonbase2's second interview with James Roberts – 02:05:34 to 02:05:57]</ref>
*IDW's depiction of Star Saber depicts him as a normal robot, never incorporating the original figure's [[Brainmaster]] [[gimmick]]. During his climactic death scene, artist [[Casey Coller]] took some artistic liberties by depicting the head of a smaller robot lying amidst Star Saber's remains—a detail not requested in James Roberts's script.<ref>[https://twitter.com/CaseyWColler/status/1030391425941348352 Casey Coller on Twitter]</ref>
*Like all non-toy robot Kreons in the ''Kre-O'' comics, Victory Saber is made from existing ''Kre-O'' parts. He uses the [[Optimus Prime (Kre-O)#Toys|Optimus Prime]] helmet, and a backpack made from a 2x4 harness and a pair of 1x2 plates with side-bars, a pair of clip-on wings ''and'' a pair of clip-on rifles. Add to that a chestplate that's the [[Wheeljack (G1)/toys#Kre-O|Wheeljack]] wing-pack draped forward. He stands atop a pair of platform shoes, each made out of a 1x2 plate with a slope over one stud, and a 1x2 Combiner "lower limb" block. He carries a short-sword of the type most commonly carried by the [[Predaking (G1)#Kre-O|Predaking]] components. Whoof! Saber himself has a simpler assembly, using a shield piece and an unmasked version of Optimus Prime's helmet.

===Foreign names===
====Saber====
*''Mandarin:'' '''Star''' (China, 史达 ''Shǐdá'')

====Star Saber====
*''Mandarin:'' '''Wángzhězhījiàn Star''' (China, 王者之剑史达,"Excalibur Star"), '''Xīng Yǔ''' (Taiwan, 星宇, "Star Cosmos")
*''Russian:'' '''Istrebitel''' (Истребитель, "(Aircraft) Fighter")

====Victory Saber====
*''Mandarin:'' '''Shīwáng Star''' (China, 狮王史达, "Lion King Star")
*''Russian:'' '''Pobeditel'''' (Победитель, "Victor")

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising Autobots]]
[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Convoys]]
[[Category:GT characters]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Transformers]]
[[Category:IDW (2019) Transformers]]
[[Category:Japanese-original Transformers]]
[[Category:Kre-O Autobots]]
[[Category:Kreons]]
[[Category:Legends Autobots]]
[[Category:Matrix bearers]]
[[Category:Multi-component Transformers]]
[[Category:Primes]]
[[Category:Robotmasters Autobots]]
[[Category:United EX Autobots]]
[[Category:Victory Autobots]]
[[Category:Victory combiners]]
[[Category:Zone Autobots]]

Darkness, Once Gazed Upon: Part Two

2021-12-18T08:40:43Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Synopsis */

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2019 comic)|Transformers]]'' #38
|prev=Darkness, Once Gazed Upon: Part One
|next=Transformers issue 39
|caption=
|image=TF2019 38 cvrA.jpg
|title="Darkness, Once Gazed Upon: Part Two"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[December 15]], 2021
|coverdate=December 2021
|written by=[[Brian Ruckley]]
|art by=[[Anna Malkova]])
|colors=[[David García Cruz]]
|letters by=[[Jake M. Wood]]
|editor=[[David Mariotte]], [[Tom Waltz]] and [[Riley Farmer]]
|continuity=[[2019 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=
}}

'''Smokescreen leads a team of Autobots into enemy territory to rescue Ultra Magnus.'''

==Synopsis==
When molten plasma flooded the [[Forge Pyramid]] and destroyed it, all of the [[Spark|Titanspark]]s hidden under the building were annihilated... all of them, that is, except one. Salvaged by [[Decepticon]]s and delivered straight into [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s waiting hands, this nascent life will become Megatron's greatest weapon: a [[Titan (group)|Titan]] capable of toppling [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s [[Crystal City]] stronghold. Buoyed by his latest prize, Megatron orders [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] to bring the forges back online and call up as many sparks as possible, before [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] arrives to bring news to his leader: [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] has arrived at [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Cybertron)|Decepticon Headquarters]]. Manacled and hauled before the Decepticon leadership, Magnus refuses to break—and remains defiant even when brought before the leader of the Decepticons.

In Crystal City, [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] says her goodbyes to [[Greenlight]] and [[Gauge]] as she prepares for her latest mission. Despite Greenlight's concerns that she might not return home from a dangerous sortie into enemy territory Arcee's adamant: when they joined Optimus Prime's exodus out of Iacon, they chose a side—now, she has to honor that choice by giving this mission her all. With the Decepticons massing for an attack, Greenlight warns her that she ''has'' to come back alive, before the little family embrace one last time.

In Decepticon Headquarters, Ultra Magnus does his best to make Megatron understand the peril they all face: Megatron's narrow focus on conquest and war have blinded him to the ''real'' threat: [[Exarchon]] has returned, and has already claimed [[Ruckus (G1)|Ruckus]] as his first victim. Despite the gravity of these warnings, Megatron doesn't believe the general for an instant; despite Magnus's insistences, he's more interested in finding out about Crystal City's current defenses. Desperate to be heard, Magnus turns his attention to his former compatriot [[Strika (BM)|Strika]]; he finds that while Strika respects him, her loyalty to Megatron's ideology blinds her to the truth. Tired of the theatrics, Megatron announces he's done with this pointless interrogation: Magnus can join their other prisoners in the old [[Senate]] building. As [[Slipstream (G1)|Slipstream]], [[Blackjack (G1)|Blackjack]], and [[Flamewar (G1)|Flamewar]] haul him off, Strika offhandedly considers checking up on Ruckus as a precaution; [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] agrees, but Megatron has more important things to focus on—Starscream can chase rumors all he wants, but the impending siege of Crystal City is where the future will be written. In Iacon's medical center, Cyclonus has grown increasingly concerned regarding "[[Exarchon|Provoke]]"'s refusal to tear herself away from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s archives and interact with her old comrade. "Provoke" insists that she still has not fully recovered from her traumatic experience; when the conversation turns to the [[plasma pyre]]s that incinerated their fallen friends, however, Cyclonus quickly realizes that something's amiss when she remembers Gridlock's funeral: his body was never cremated.

In a disused tunnel underneath Iacon, Arcee has met up with the other [[Autobot]]s assigned to the rescue mission: [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]], [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]], and their leader [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]], whose espionage skills have made him an invaluable asset. Smokescreen last used this passageway when he and [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] worked together, which runs right into a secret room in [[Swindle's|Swindle's casino]]. Although long abandoned, it hasn't yet been sealed off; when Smokescreen abruptly pokes his head into Swindle's private quarters, he gives its proprietor a nasty surprise. Annoyed by this unwelcome surprise, Smokescreen has to persuade him not to sic his bodyguards on the Autobots; indeed, Smokescreen tells him that he's in the market for a discreet exit out of Iacon; if he shuts down the casino to expedite their speedy escape, he can make the effort worth the while...

Inside the ruins of the Senate building, defaced with Decepticon graffiti and repurposed into a crude prison, Ultra Magnus is horrified to see dozens of immobile, manacled Senators, all slowly rusting away. Among the prisoners is Senator [[Crisscross (G1)|Crisscross]], who explains that this is the sentence Megatron has reserved for all of the prisoners under his rule: a slow, agonizing execution via [[energon]] starvation. Thanks to a tipoff from Swindle, Smokescreen and his team have learned that this is where Ultra Magnus has been sent; from a nearby building, the team launch a grappling hook onto the Senate roof, easily dispatch the guards, and deactivate the laser grid that prevents them from accessing the interior of the building. Windblade's horrified at the sight of dozens of Senators slowly dying, while Smokescreen breaks Magnus free. Unfortunately, without the necessary manpower required to mount a full-scale rescue mission, this means that Magnus will have to leave Crisscross and the others to their fate.
At his casino, Swindle honors his end of the deal by closing up shop early, as [[Roughstuff]] shows some stragglers the door... but with profits continually trending downwards since the Decepticon takeover, [[Trickdiamond]] is furious at the idea of taking the rest of the cycle off and says as much. Not even Swindle's assurances that Smokescreen will reward them for their cooperation has any effect; snarling that his decision to negotiate with the Autobots will get them all killed, Trickdiamond stalks from the room and puts through a call on her personal communicator to [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]—as Head of Intelligence, he once promised her everything if Swindle ever went down. Now it's time to collect on that offer...

With no other way out, Magnus and his rescuers must make a conspicuous exit by first bashing down the prison door from the inside, then overwhelming the lightly-armed guards. Once they're free, the quintet race through the empty streets of Iacon, bulldoze through a Decepticon checkpoint, and make it back to the now-empty casino, where they're greeted by a furious Swindle and Roughstuff. Swindle insists that bringing Magnus ''here'' has only put a target on his head, but before he can order Roughstuff to throw out the trespassers, Arcee points her blaster at his head and orders him to summon and arm [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], who'll be coming with them back to Crystal City. Outside, meanwhile, the Decepticons have already caught on to the enemy in their midst: [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] and a battalion of Decepticons have already assembled outside the building, with orders to arrest—or kill—everyone inside...

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in hallucinatory form.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (7)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (11)
* [[Greenlight]] (12)
* [[Gauge]] (13)
* [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (20)
* [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] (21)
* [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] (22)

|h2=[[Decepticon]]s|c2=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (1)
* [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (2)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (3)
* [[Blackjack (G1)|Blackjack]] (4)
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (5)
* [[Strika (BM)|Strika]] (6)
* [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] (8)
* [[Flamewar (G1)|Flamewar]] (9)
* [[Slipstream (G1)|Slipstream]] (10)
* [[Twirl (G1)|Twirl]] (27)
* [[Tentakil (G1)|Tentakil]] (28)
* [[Cy-Kill (G1)|Cy-Kill]] (29)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Offroad (Generations)|Offroad]] (30)
* [[Triton]] (31)
* [[Gutcruncher (G1)|Gutcruncher]] (31)
* [[Catgut]] (32)
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (33)
* [[Treadshot (G1)|Treadshot]] (34)
* [[Jolt (G2)|Jolt]] (35)
* [[Nautilator]] (36)
* [[Cindersaur (G1)|Cindersaur]] (37)
* [[Flamefeather (G1)|Flamefeather]] (38)
* [[Scatterspike (G1)|Scatterspike]] (39)
{{!}}}

|h3=Threefold Spark|c3=
* [[Exarchon]] (14)

|c4=
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (15)
* ''[[Highfire]]'' (16)
* ''[[Grudge]]'' (17)
* ''[[Gridlock]]'' (18)
* ''[[Paragon]]'' (19)
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (23)
* [[Crisscross (G1)|Crisscross]] (24)
* [[Trickdiamond]] (25)
* [[Roughstuff]] (26)
}}

==Quotes==
"So you come back, Arcee. You come back safe and soon. Agreed?" 
"With every glimmer of my spark." 
"The only point in fighting is for us to be '''together''', safe and soon, in a better future."
:—'''Greenlight''' and '''Arcee'''

"You have to listen. '''All of you'''. This isn't just about your ambitions now. It's not about this '''war''' you seem to want." 
"Want? Or '''need?''' When an end is necessary—inevitable—the means become so, too."
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Megatron'''

"Am I not allowed a single cycle without a nasty surprise? Is that some new rule that no one told me about?" 
"Just stay calm, Swindle." 
"I'd '''rather''' call Roughstuff up here and have him try to break your head. He'd probably fail, but at least I'd feel like he was serving some sort of notional purpose."
:—'''Swindle''' and '''Smokescreen'''

"Yeah, I feel kind of bad. He'll never trust another word I say again. If he survives the consequences." 
"That's where we all live now. Hoping to survive the consequences."
:—'''Smokescreen''' and '''Arcee'''

"Damn Megatron. Senator Crisscross? Can you hear me? We'll be back for you and the rest. Somehow." 
"D-don't, General. We choose this resistance. You go, and fight your own way. But don't promise a dawn to those in darkness... unless you're in the sun."
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Crisscross'''

"Primus. This place is..." 
"The void Megatron has sculpted for his enemies. And a wound we cannot heal right now. So yes. If we are going, we go. And learn to live with the guilt of it."
:—'''Chromia''' and '''Ultra Magnus'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* The [[Forge Pyramid]] on Cybertron was destroyed back in [[War World: Titans|issue #29]]; the flood of molten plasma was said to have annihilated the sixteen [[Spark|Titanspark]]s that [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] had hidden beneath the building on the orders of [[Nominus Prime]]. The issue ended with the Decepticons forcibly de-orbiting all of the remaining Titans over Cybertron, and [[Light/Star|the 2021 annual]] revealed that [[Lodestar (Titan)|Lodestar]] was now the last Titan in existence... although, as we pointed out in the notes to that issue, it ''seemed'' likely that Megatron was fibbing when he told Optimus that all of the Titansparks were destroyed in [[War World: We Are Not Meant To Be Darkness|#30]].
* Arcee, Greenlight, and Gauge last appeared together in the "Gauging the Truth" arc of ''[[Transformers: Galaxies]]'', in which they clashed with [[Heretech]]'s rogue [[Reversionist]] faction. Arcee had previously reappeared during a flashback in [[Lord of Misrule: Test Flight I|issue #31]], which revealed that she'd reenlisted with [[Pyra Magna]]'s [[Companion]]s; this issue reveals that Gauge and Greenlight have relocated to [[Crystal City]] along with Arcee and joined the Autobots.
* While under interrogation, Ultra Magnus recounts multiple events from recent issues: the swarm of [[Insecticon clone]]s from [[Transformers: Escape|''Escape'']] [[Escape Part Five|#5]], the collapse of the [[Rust Sea]] in [[Lord of Misrule: Enigmatic|issue #36]], and the return of Exarchon from the same issue, although Magnus and Optimus only learned that he'd killed [[Ruckus (G1)|Ruckus]] and stolen his body after speaking with [[Codexa]] in the last issue. He also notes that Megatron followed him during the [[War of the Threefold Spark]]; [[Storm Horizon Part 1|''Galaxies'' #10]] opened with a flashback showing the two fighting back-to-back during the conflict.
* While standing next to Sixshot—whom she's taken a dislike to ever since the events of [[The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Three|issue #9]]—Flamewar makes faces at him before trying to act tough by attempting (and failing) to copy [[Shadow Striker (G1)|Shadow Striker]]'s threat from #9: "touch me and I'll rip your arm off and find out how much of it I can fit through one of your eye sockets."
* After his conversation with "Provoke", Cyclonus's hallucinatory ghosts all reminisce about what happened to their bodies after they'd died. While [[Highfire]] and [[Grudge]] note that their bodies were disposed of via [[plasma pyre]], the same machine used for [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]]'s funeral in [[The World In Your Eyes Part Four|issue #4]], Gridlock notes that [[Termagax]] took possession of his body in the hopes of finding out the weapon that'd killed him—and, in doing so, plugs a tiny loose end that goes all the way back to [[The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Two|issue #8]], in which his severed head could be glimpsed in Termagax's [[House (building)|private citadel]].
* As noted in his first appearance [[Rise of the Decepticons: All Fall Down|issue #19]], Smokescreen's top-secret missions have taken him far and wide across Cybertronian space in the service of multiple different branches of the Cybertronian government. Here, he reminisces about a time when he and Swindle helped bring [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] down, back when [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] ran Security Operations. Since then, however, he's stepped down to run one of Cybertron's police academies as per dialogue in [[Arcee/Greenlight: Run|#19]], allowing [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] to fill his position.
* When Swindle temporarily closes the casino, his bodyguard Roughstuff shoos [[Twirl (G1)|Twirl]] and [[Tentakil (G1)|Tentakil]] away—they're clearly regulars, having appeared in basically every scene set at Swindle's since its introduction in [[Rise of the Decepticons: Swindle's|issue #20]].
* After overthrowing the Senate and deposing Sentinel Prime in [[Rise of the Decepticons: We Have Deceived You|issue #23]], Megatron ordered Strika to turn the main [[Senate]] building into a prison for the remaining Senators in [[War World: Awakenings|#26]]. The building still shows scars from the attack—most notably, a jury-rigged laser grid over the ceiling covers the hole the three [[Rainmaker]]s created when they melted their way through the roof.
* Senator [[Crisscross (G1)|Crisscross]] first (and last) appeared as a hologram way back when in [[The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Four|issue #10]], although it remains unclear as to whether he represents the Autobot party, some other faction, or if he's an independent like [[Straxus (G1)|Straxxus]].

===Transformers references===
* Knickknacks in Swindle's apartment include a mounted version of [[Swindle (Animated)|''Animated'' Swindle]]'s [[scatter blaster]], plus the magnetic weapon he used in the ''Animated'' cartoon. Also present is what appears to be the [[Triptych Mask]] as it appeared in [[Lord of Misrule: Sea of Rust I|issue #34]].
* A [[Crasher (G1)|"Generation 1" version]] of the ''[[GoBots]]'' character [[Crasher (GoBots)|Crasher]] has been a supporting character for some time now, so perhaps it shouldn't be much of a surprise that the long-suffering [[Cy-Kill (G1)|Cy-Kill]] would eventually join the party. His one-panel cameo shows him moments before Ultra Magnus bashes down the door on his head—and while he's not explicitly ''killed'' on-panel like his other appearances, it's definitely the latest in a long string of unflattering defeats.
*[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel UK]]-original character [[Triton]] makes an appearance on the same page, guarding a security checkpoint opposite [[Offroad (Generations)|Offroad]], who'd previously filled the role in [[Lord of Misrule: Swindle's II|#33]].

===Other trivia===
* Originally solicited for a December 22nd release, this issue was later moved up one week to the 15th.

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A:''' Optimus Prime walks through the valley of the shadow of death, by [[Alex Milne]]
* '''Cover B:''' Megatron crushes Ultra Magnus, by [[Chris Panda]]
* '''Retailer incentive cover:''' Soundwave sneaks up on Optimus Prime, by [[Livio Ramondelli]]

<gallery>
File:TF2019 38 cvrA.jpg
File:TF2019 38 cvrB.jpg
File:TF2019 38 cvrRI.jpg
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''[[Star Trek]]: The Mirror War-Data''
* IDW Artist's Editions
* ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle'' issue #124

==External links==
* [http://majorspoilers.com/2021/12/14/preview-transformers-38/ Preview]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Darkness, Once Gazed Upon: Part 2}}
[[Category:Transformers (2019) issues]]

Darkness, Once Gazed Upon: Part Two

2021-12-18T08:39:58Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Synopsis */ No need for a repetition of 'hauled'

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2019 comic)|Transformers]]'' #38
|prev=Darkness, Once Gazed Upon: Part One
|next=Transformers issue 39
|caption=
|image=TF2019 38 cvrA.jpg
|title="Darkness, Once Gazed Upon: Part Two"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[December 15]], 2021
|coverdate=December 2021
|written by=[[Brian Ruckley]]
|art by=[[Anna Malkova]])
|colors=[[David García Cruz]]
|letters by=[[Jake M. Wood]]
|editor=[[David Mariotte]], [[Tom Waltz]] and [[Riley Farmer]]
|continuity=[[2019 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=
}}

'''Smokescreen leads a team of Autobots into enemy territory to rescue Ultra Magnus.'''

==Synopsis==
When molten plasma flooded the [[Forge Pyramid]] and destroyed it, all of the [[Spark|Titanspark]]s hidden under the building were annihilated... all of them, that is, except one. Salvaged by [[Decepticon]]s and delivered straight into [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s waiting hands, this nascent life will become Megatron's greatest weapon: a [[Titan (group)|Titan]] capable of toppling [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s [[Crystal City]] stronghold. Buoyed by his latest prize, Megatron orders [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] to bring the forges back online and call up as many sparks as possible, before [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] arrives to bring news to his leader: [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] has arrived at [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Cybertron)|Decepticon Headquarters]]. Manacled and hauled before the Decepticon leadership, Magnus refuses to break—and remains defiant even when brought before the leader of the Decepticons.

In Crystal City, [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] says her goodbyes to [[Greenlight]] and [[Gauge]] as she prepares for her latest mission. Despite Greenlight's concerns that she might not return home from a dangerous sortie into enemy territory Arcee's adamant: when they joined Optimus Prime's exodus out of Iacon, they chose a side—now, she has to honor that choice by giving this mission her all. With the Decepticons massing for an attack, Greenlight warns her that she ''has'' to come back alive, before the little family embrace one last time.

In Decepticon Headquarters, Ultra Magnus does his best to make Megatron understand the peril they all face: Megatron's narrow focus on conquest and war have blinded him to the ''real'' threat: [[Exarchon]] has returned, and has already claimed [[Ruckus (G1)|Ruckus]] as his first victim. Despite the gravity of these warnings, Megatron doesn't believe the general for an instant; despite Magnus's insistences, he's more interested in finding out about Crystal City's current defenses. Desperate to be heard, Magnus turns his attention to his former compatriot [[Strika (BM)|Strika]]; he finds that while Strika respects him, her loyalty to Megatron's ideology blinds her to the truth. Tired of the theatrics, Megatron announces he's done with this pointless interrogation: Magnus can join their other prisoners in the old [[Senate]] building. As [[Slipstream (G1)|Slipstream]], [[Blackjack (G1)|Blackjack]], and [[Flamewar (G1)|Flamewar]] haul him off, Strika offhandedly considers checking up on Ruckus as a precaution; [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] agrees, but Megatron has more important things to focus on—Starscream can chase rumors all he wants, but the impending siege of Crystal City is where the future will be written. In Iacon's medical center, Cyclonus has grown increasingly concerned regarding "[[Exarchon|Provoke]]"'s refusal to tear herself away from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s archives and interact with her old comrade. "Provoke" insists that she still has not fully recovered from her traumatic experience; when the conversation turns to the [[plasma pyre]]s that incinerated their fallen friends, however, Cyclonus quickly realizes that something's amiss when she remembers Gridlock's funeral: his body was never cremated.

In a disused tunnel underneath Iacon, Arcee has met up with the other [[Autobot]]s assigned to the rescue mission: [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]], [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]], and their leader [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]], whose espionage skills have made him an invaluable asset. Smokescreen last used this passageway when he and [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] worked together, which runs right into a secret room in [[Swindle's|Swindle's casino]]. Although long abandoned, it hasn't yet been sealed off; when Smokescreen abruptly pokes his head into Swindle's private quarters, he gives its proprietor a nasty surprise. Annoyed by this unwelcome surprise, Smokescreen has to persuade him not to sic his bodyguards on the Autobots; indeed, Smokescreen tells him that he's in the market for a discreet exit out of Iacon; if he shuts down the casino to expedite their speedy escape, he can make the effort worth the while...

Inside the ruins of the Senate building, defaced with Decepticon graffiti and repurposed into a crude prison, Ultra Magnus is horrified to see dozens of immobile, manacled Senators, all slowly rusting away. Among the prisoners is Senator [[Crisscross (G1)|Crisscross]], who explains that this is the sentence Megatron has reserved for all of the prisoners under his rule: a slow, agonizing execution via [[energon]] starvation. Thanks to a tipoff from Swindle, Smokescreen and his team have learned that this is where Ultra Magnus has been sent; from a nearby building, the team launch a grappling hook onto the Senate roof, easily dispatch the guards, and deactivate the laser grid that prevents them from accessing the interior of the building. Windblade's horrified at the sight of dozens of Senators slowly dying, while Smokescreen breaks Magnus free. Unfortunately, without the necessary manpower required to mount a full-scale rescue mission, this means that Magnus will have to leave Crisscross and the others to their fate.
At his casino, Swindle honors his end of the deal by closing up shop early, as [[Roughstuff]] shows some stragglers the door... but with profits continually trending downwards since the Decepticon takeover, [[Trickdiamond]] is furious at the idea of taking the rest of the cycle off and says as much. Not even Swindle's assurances that Smokescreen will reward them for their cooperation has any effect; snarling that his decision to negotiate with the Autobots will get them all killed, Trickdiamond stalks from the room and puts through a call on her personal communicator to [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]—as Head of Intelligence, he once promised her everything if Swindle ever went down. Now it's time to collect on that offer...

With no other way out, Magnus an his rescuers must make a conspicuous exit by first bashing down the prison door from the inside, then overwhelming the lightly-armed guards. Once they're free, the quintet race through the empty streets of Iacon, bulldoze through a Decepticon checkpoint, and make it back to the now-empty casino, where they're greeted by a furious Swindle and Roughstuff. Swindle insists that bringing Magnus ''here'' has only put a target on his head, but before he can order Roughstuff to throw out the trespassers, Arcee points her blaster at his head and orders him to summon and arm [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], who'll be coming with them back to Crystal City. Outside, meanwhile, the Decepticons have already caught on to the enemy in their midst: [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] and a battalion of Decepticons have already assembled outside the building, with orders to arrest—or kill—everyone inside...

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in hallucinatory form.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (7)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (11)
* [[Greenlight]] (12)
* [[Gauge]] (13)
* [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (20)
* [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] (21)
* [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] (22)

|h2=[[Decepticon]]s|c2=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (1)
* [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (2)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (3)
* [[Blackjack (G1)|Blackjack]] (4)
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (5)
* [[Strika (BM)|Strika]] (6)
* [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] (8)
* [[Flamewar (G1)|Flamewar]] (9)
* [[Slipstream (G1)|Slipstream]] (10)
* [[Twirl (G1)|Twirl]] (27)
* [[Tentakil (G1)|Tentakil]] (28)
* [[Cy-Kill (G1)|Cy-Kill]] (29)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Offroad (Generations)|Offroad]] (30)
* [[Triton]] (31)
* [[Gutcruncher (G1)|Gutcruncher]] (31)
* [[Catgut]] (32)
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (33)
* [[Treadshot (G1)|Treadshot]] (34)
* [[Jolt (G2)|Jolt]] (35)
* [[Nautilator]] (36)
* [[Cindersaur (G1)|Cindersaur]] (37)
* [[Flamefeather (G1)|Flamefeather]] (38)
* [[Scatterspike (G1)|Scatterspike]] (39)
{{!}}}

|h3=Threefold Spark|c3=
* [[Exarchon]] (14)

|c4=
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (15)
* ''[[Highfire]]'' (16)
* ''[[Grudge]]'' (17)
* ''[[Gridlock]]'' (18)
* ''[[Paragon]]'' (19)
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (23)
* [[Crisscross (G1)|Crisscross]] (24)
* [[Trickdiamond]] (25)
* [[Roughstuff]] (26)
}}

==Quotes==
"So you come back, Arcee. You come back safe and soon. Agreed?" 
"With every glimmer of my spark." 
"The only point in fighting is for us to be '''together''', safe and soon, in a better future."
:—'''Greenlight''' and '''Arcee'''

"You have to listen. '''All of you'''. This isn't just about your ambitions now. It's not about this '''war''' you seem to want." 
"Want? Or '''need?''' When an end is necessary—inevitable—the means become so, too."
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Megatron'''

"Am I not allowed a single cycle without a nasty surprise? Is that some new rule that no one told me about?" 
"Just stay calm, Swindle." 
"I'd '''rather''' call Roughstuff up here and have him try to break your head. He'd probably fail, but at least I'd feel like he was serving some sort of notional purpose."
:—'''Swindle''' and '''Smokescreen'''

"Yeah, I feel kind of bad. He'll never trust another word I say again. If he survives the consequences." 
"That's where we all live now. Hoping to survive the consequences."
:—'''Smokescreen''' and '''Arcee'''

"Damn Megatron. Senator Crisscross? Can you hear me? We'll be back for you and the rest. Somehow." 
"D-don't, General. We choose this resistance. You go, and fight your own way. But don't promise a dawn to those in darkness... unless you're in the sun."
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Crisscross'''

"Primus. This place is..." 
"The void Megatron has sculpted for his enemies. And a wound we cannot heal right now. So yes. If we are going, we go. And learn to live with the guilt of it."
:—'''Chromia''' and '''Ultra Magnus'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* The [[Forge Pyramid]] on Cybertron was destroyed back in [[War World: Titans|issue #29]]; the flood of molten plasma was said to have annihilated the sixteen [[Spark|Titanspark]]s that [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] had hidden beneath the building on the orders of [[Nominus Prime]]. The issue ended with the Decepticons forcibly de-orbiting all of the remaining Titans over Cybertron, and [[Light/Star|the 2021 annual]] revealed that [[Lodestar (Titan)|Lodestar]] was now the last Titan in existence... although, as we pointed out in the notes to that issue, it ''seemed'' likely that Megatron was fibbing when he told Optimus that all of the Titansparks were destroyed in [[War World: We Are Not Meant To Be Darkness|#30]].
* Arcee, Greenlight, and Gauge last appeared together in the "Gauging the Truth" arc of ''[[Transformers: Galaxies]]'', in which they clashed with [[Heretech]]'s rogue [[Reversionist]] faction. Arcee had previously reappeared during a flashback in [[Lord of Misrule: Test Flight I|issue #31]], which revealed that she'd reenlisted with [[Pyra Magna]]'s [[Companion]]s; this issue reveals that Gauge and Greenlight have relocated to [[Crystal City]] along with Arcee and joined the Autobots.
* While under interrogation, Ultra Magnus recounts multiple events from recent issues: the swarm of [[Insecticon clone]]s from [[Transformers: Escape|''Escape'']] [[Escape Part Five|#5]], the collapse of the [[Rust Sea]] in [[Lord of Misrule: Enigmatic|issue #36]], and the return of Exarchon from the same issue, although Magnus and Optimus only learned that he'd killed [[Ruckus (G1)|Ruckus]] and stolen his body after speaking with [[Codexa]] in the last issue. He also notes that Megatron followed him during the [[War of the Threefold Spark]]; [[Storm Horizon Part 1|''Galaxies'' #10]] opened with a flashback showing the two fighting back-to-back during the conflict.
* While standing next to Sixshot—whom she's taken a dislike to ever since the events of [[The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Three|issue #9]]—Flamewar makes faces at him before trying to act tough by attempting (and failing) to copy [[Shadow Striker (G1)|Shadow Striker]]'s threat from #9: "touch me and I'll rip your arm off and find out how much of it I can fit through one of your eye sockets."
* After his conversation with "Provoke", Cyclonus's hallucinatory ghosts all reminisce about what happened to their bodies after they'd died. While [[Highfire]] and [[Grudge]] note that their bodies were disposed of via [[plasma pyre]], the same machine used for [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]]'s funeral in [[The World In Your Eyes Part Four|issue #4]], Gridlock notes that [[Termagax]] took possession of his body in the hopes of finding out the weapon that'd killed him—and, in doing so, plugs a tiny loose end that goes all the way back to [[The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Two|issue #8]], in which his severed head could be glimpsed in Termagax's [[House (building)|private citadel]].
* As noted in his first appearance [[Rise of the Decepticons: All Fall Down|issue #19]], Smokescreen's top-secret missions have taken him far and wide across Cybertronian space in the service of multiple different branches of the Cybertronian government. Here, he reminisces about a time when he and Swindle helped bring [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] down, back when [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] ran Security Operations. Since then, however, he's stepped down to run one of Cybertron's police academies as per dialogue in [[Arcee/Greenlight: Run|#19]], allowing [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] to fill his position.
* When Swindle temporarily closes the casino, his bodyguard Roughstuff shoos [[Twirl (G1)|Twirl]] and [[Tentakil (G1)|Tentakil]] away—they're clearly regulars, having appeared in basically every scene set at Swindle's since its introduction in [[Rise of the Decepticons: Swindle's|issue #20]].
* After overthrowing the Senate and deposing Sentinel Prime in [[Rise of the Decepticons: We Have Deceived You|issue #23]], Megatron ordered Strika to turn the main [[Senate]] building into a prison for the remaining Senators in [[War World: Awakenings|#26]]. The building still shows scars from the attack—most notably, a jury-rigged laser grid over the ceiling covers the hole the three [[Rainmaker]]s created when they melted their way through the roof.
* Senator [[Crisscross (G1)|Crisscross]] first (and last) appeared as a hologram way back when in [[The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Four|issue #10]], although it remains unclear as to whether he represents the Autobot party, some other faction, or if he's an independent like [[Straxus (G1)|Straxxus]].

===Transformers references===
* Knickknacks in Swindle's apartment include a mounted version of [[Swindle (Animated)|''Animated'' Swindle]]'s [[scatter blaster]], plus the magnetic weapon he used in the ''Animated'' cartoon. Also present is what appears to be the [[Triptych Mask]] as it appeared in [[Lord of Misrule: Sea of Rust I|issue #34]].
* A [[Crasher (G1)|"Generation 1" version]] of the ''[[GoBots]]'' character [[Crasher (GoBots)|Crasher]] has been a supporting character for some time now, so perhaps it shouldn't be much of a surprise that the long-suffering [[Cy-Kill (G1)|Cy-Kill]] would eventually join the party. His one-panel cameo shows him moments before Ultra Magnus bashes down the door on his head—and while he's not explicitly ''killed'' on-panel like his other appearances, it's definitely the latest in a long string of unflattering defeats.
*[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel UK]]-original character [[Triton]] makes an appearance on the same page, guarding a security checkpoint opposite [[Offroad (Generations)|Offroad]], who'd previously filled the role in [[Lord of Misrule: Swindle's II|#33]].

===Other trivia===
* Originally solicited for a December 22nd release, this issue was later moved up one week to the 15th.

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A:''' Optimus Prime walks through the valley of the shadow of death, by [[Alex Milne]]
* '''Cover B:''' Megatron crushes Ultra Magnus, by [[Chris Panda]]
* '''Retailer incentive cover:''' Soundwave sneaks up on Optimus Prime, by [[Livio Ramondelli]]

<gallery>
File:TF2019 38 cvrA.jpg
File:TF2019 38 cvrB.jpg
File:TF2019 38 cvrRI.jpg
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''[[Star Trek]]: The Mirror War-Data''
* IDW Artist's Editions
* ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle'' issue #124

==External links==
* [http://majorspoilers.com/2021/12/14/preview-transformers-38/ Preview]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Darkness, Once Gazed Upon: Part 2}}
[[Category:Transformers (2019) issues]]

Darkness, Once Gazed Upon: Part One

2021-11-25T17:49:56Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Synopsis */

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2019 comic)|Transformers]]'' #37
|prev=Lord of Misrule: Enigmatic
|next=Darkness, Once Gazed Upon: Part Two
|caption=
|image=TF2019 37 cvrA.jpg
|title="Darkness, Once Gazed Upon: Part One"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[November 24]], 2021
|coverdate=November 2021
|written by=[[Brian Ruckley]]
|art by=[[Winston Chan]] (pg. 1-2, 4, 11-20), [[Guido Guidi]] (pg. 3, 7-10)
|colors=[[John-Paul Bove]]
|letters by=[[Jake M. Wood]]
|editor=[[David Mariotte]], [[Tom Waltz]] and [[Riley Farmer]]
|continuity=[[2019 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=
}}

'''The looming threat of Exarchon forces Optimus Prime and Cyclonus to confront their pasts in search of answers.'''

==Synopsis==
In the badlands beyond [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] hauls himself free from the ground and puts in a call to [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] to report that his long, boring stakeout has finally paid off: after cycles of waiting, [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] has finally returned to the outskirts of the city on a very specific mission. As [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], and three additional members of the [[Senate Guard|Prime Guard]] establish a defensive perimeter, Optimus and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] head deeper into the valley of [[immersant]] Cybertronians, pass through a pair of familiar double doors, and soon find themselves before the 'bot Optimus wants to speak to: his old mentor, [[Codexa]].

''Two megacycles ago, with the [[War of the Threefold Spark]] raging, [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and his lover [[Paragon]] hold the line at the [[Tagan Heights]] with the rest of their squad: [[Grudge]], [[Gridlock]], [[Provoke]], and [[Highfire]]. Although Paragon's already planning his future with Cyclonus on [[Neutronia]], Provoke reveals that Neutronia is no more, as [[Turmoil]] destroyed the planet on his way back to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Time passes, the war drags on, and as Cyclonus's squad continues to dwindle, the spectre of Turmoil looms ever larger—a battle on the [[Hydrax Plateau]] against a swarm of [[Skywarp drone]]s ends with Paragon captured and imprisoned aboard Turmoil's starship. As Turmoil's ship disappears into space, Gridlock assures him that they'll find a way to get Paragon back... moments before an unseen sniper blasts Gridlock in the head and instantly kills him.''

Ultra Magnus is impressed by the fact that they can still speak with Codexa at all after many kilocycles of immersion, but Optimus isn't quite sure that this really ''is'' Codexa. Perhaps, he wonders, they're communicating with the afterlife itself, an amalgamation of all of the many [[spark]]s who choose to abandon the material world and return to the place where all are one. Regardless of who's really controlling her body, the entity ''does'' recognize the [[Matrix of Leadership]] in his chest, but Optimus has more important problems to discuss: not only has the [[Rust Sea|Sea of Rust]]'s recent collapse released ravenous [[rust worm]]s into the planet's strata, [[Exarchon]] is alive, hiding out somewhere on Cybertron as he rebuilds his power. Codexa recognizes the name—after all, she was present the last time Exarchon threatened Cybertron, and there when the people of Cybertron learned the truth about what he'd become...

''With victory against Exarchon on the horizon, [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] presents his final report on the enemy to [[Nominus Prime]] and the [[Great General]]s. Highbrow's conclusions are disturbing, however: although he wears a Transformer body, Exarchon has become another kind of life entirely, a kind of living virus capable of infecting other Transformers with a fragment of his own [[spark]] and assimilating them into his being. Worse yet, all evidence suggests that his metamorphosis was not accidental—someone or something ''made'' him this way, armed him with the exotic weapons and [[cloning]] technologies required to effectively wage war, and unleashed him on Cybertron. Fortunately, Exarchon has an upper limit: he can only occupy three bodies at a time, but this isn't much consolation for Nominus, who growls that their impending victory has come at too high a cost.''

''In the final battle, Provoke and Cyclonus, the last two remaining members of their original squad—join the fight to end the war for good. Provoke urges a reluctant Cyclonus into action one last time, promising him he'll soon be reunited with Paragon... but seconds after the pair charge into battle, a stray cannon blast rips a hole through Provoke's body and sends her flying. A second explosion knocks Cyclonus away from her body; damaged but still alive, Cyclonus rises to his feet, swearing to kill them all, but as Exarchon's remaining forces advance he's forcibly dragged to safety by [[Shadow Striker (G1)|Shadow Striker]] and [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]]. Mentally and physically exhausted, Cyclonus weakly struggles against his comrades, even as the ghosts of his fallen comrades, urge him to finish what they started together and end the war for good.''

As Codexa mourns the many sparks who were usurped and evicted from their bodies by Exarchon, Optimus asks an important question: have ''new'' sparks returned to the whole because of Exarchon? Confused and weakened by her efforts to stay tethered in the here and now, it takes a few moments for Codexa to give a coherent answer, but she eventually manages to tell him that Exarchon ''has'' snuffed out another Spark: a Spark that belonged to a 'bot named [[Ruckus (G1)|Ruckus]].

At [[Swindle's]], Cyclonus pushes his way past [[Roughstuff]] to speak with "Ruckus" and get some straight answers regarding Provoke's situation. His unhelpful answers and vague assurances that everything is fine allow "Ruckus" to evade the questions long enough for [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] to drag him away, but Cyclonus is not convinced: something's ''very'' wrong.

As Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus leave Codexa's chamber, Optimus mourns the fact that Codexa has almost entirely slipped away from the material world, and will soon entirely rejoin the Allspark. Magnus puts through a call to Ironhide on his communicator; when he gets no response, however, Magnus transforms into his vehicle mode, rams his way through the doors... and finds a Decepticon ambush spearheaded by [[Soundblaster (G1)|Soundblaster]] and the other members of [[Team Stream]]! Magnus promptly charges into battle to rescue his fellow Autobots, but doesn't get far before the equally massive [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] wrestles him to the ground. Prime's altruism gets the better of him as he shrugs off [[Flamewar (G1)|Flamewar]] and Shadow Striker's electrical harpoons to rescue [[Groove (G1)|Groove]], but Magnus shouts for Prime and the others to get to safety—he'll hold off the remaining Decepticons. In the eight-on-one melee, Magnus manages to take out [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]]... but leaves himself open for a second harpoon from Flamewar, which paralyzes him just long enough for Astrotrain to get his second wind and bash Magnus unconscious. But when Slipstream contacts Shockwave to tell him that they've captured a Great General, a disappointed Shockwave gives the team their orders: Flamewar and Slipstream are to escort Ultra Magnus to Megatron in Iacon,while Soundblaster and Rumble seal Codexa's chamber away. Shockwave reminds them that he has no use for other Autobots: he needs the Matrix of Leadership if he's to accomplish what he's planning...

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (2)
* [[Backstreet (G1)|Backstreet]] (3)
* [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (4)
* [[Grotusque]] (5)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (6)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (7)
* ''[[Nominus Prime]]'' (17)

|h2=[[Decepticon]]s|c2=
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (1)
* [[Shadow Striker (G1)|Shadow Striker]] (19)
* [[Roughstuff]] (22)
* [[Tracer (Micromaster)|Tracer]] (24)
* [[Soundblaster (G1)|Soundblaster]] (25)
* [[Slipstream (G1)|Slipstream]] (26)
* [[Hyperdrive (Micromaster)|Hyperdrive]] (27)
* [[Blackjack (G1)|Blackjack]] (28)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (29)
* [[Flamewar (G1)|Flamewar]] (30)
* [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (31)

|h3=Threefold Spark|c3=
* ''[[Skywarp drone]]s'' (15)
* [[Exarchon]] (23)

|c4=
* [[Codexa]] (8)
* ''[[Grudge]]'' (9)
* ''[[Paragon]]'' (10)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (11)
* ''[[Provoke]]'' (12)
* ''[[Gridlock]]'' (13)
* ''[[Highfire]]'' (14)
* ''[[Dai Atlas (G1)|Dai Atlas]]'' (16)
* ''[[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]]'' (18)
* ''[[Quake (G1)|Quake]]'' (20)
* ''[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]]'' (21)
}}

==Quotes==
"Would you two '''please''' stop planning your post-war life? You're '''asking''' for bad luck." 
"You're just suffering a chronic shortage of affection in your life, Grudge. You're jealous of me and Cyc." 
"I'm suffering a chronic shortage of peace and quiet is what I'm suffering."
:—'''Grudge''' and '''Paragon'''

"Always so frail. All things are frail now... all the scattered fragments of the Allspark turn against one another. Cybertron aches. Breaks. And is consumed."
:—'''Codexa'''

"Positive? There is nothing in any of this... we have ruined half of Cybertron. We are winning, yes. Out there the last battle is being fought, and it will be won. But the '''cost'''! The '''dead''' are '''numberless'''. The burden unbearable."
:—'''Nominus Prime'''

"No '''Titans''' here though, are there? Just us fools."
:—'''Cyclonus'''

"I guess if we've got to take this lump to Iacon, we've got to. But I am '''not''' talking to Sixshot, just so you know. Maybe not anyone else, either. I hear they're all crazy there."
:—'''Flamewar'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Optimus Prime last made the pilgrimage to Codexa's chamber back in [[The World In Your Eyes Part Three|issue #3]], passing rows of other [[immersant]] Transformers along the way. Codexa herself made a cameo in [[Lord of Misrule: Enigmatic|the previous issue]], in which the tectonic disturbance responsible for collapsing the Sea of Rust jolted her from her slumber.
* Optimus has come to Codexa to share his concerns about Exarchon's possible return—although the "Mediator" within the [[Matrix of Leadership]] told him as much in [[War World: Prime|#25]], [[Jumpstream]] recently visited an alternate timeline in which Exarchon ruled over a dystopian future Cybertron in issues [[Lord of Misrule: Test Flight I|#31]] and [[Lord of Misrule: Test Flight II|#32]]. Presumably, at some point during the time skip between the last issue and the next, news of her misadventure has made it all the way up the chain of command, and Optimus has put two and two together.
* The flashbacks in this issue all take place at different points during the [[War of the Threefold Spark]], with the first depicting a hitherto-unseen campaign in the [[Tagan Heights]], a region previously glimpsed in [[Rise of the Decepticons: Swindle's|issue #20]], at some point relatively early in the war. In a conversation before the battle, Cyclonus and Paragon discuss a postwar vacation on [[Neutronia]], only to learn that [[Turmoil]] ravaged the planet while en route to Cybertron—an atrocity recounted by [[Pyra Magna]] in [[War World: We Are Not Meant To Be Darkness|issue #30]].
* The second battle ends with Paragon getting captured by the Threefold Spark and loaded onto Turmoil's ship; although Provoke insists that they'll get him back, we know that this optimism won't last; as per #30, the ship exploded and killed everyone aboard after Pyra Magna defied orders and went rogue in an attempt to bring Turmoil to justice after the end of the war.
* The final flashback is set during the last battle of the war, in the location that will one day become the [[Memorial Crater]] that lies just outside of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. In her conversation with Cyclonus, Provoke mentions [[Croaton (G1)|Croaton]], who was euthanized by fellow [[Titan (group)|Titan]] [[Citadel (Titan)|Citadel]] after Exarchon infected him. Though it's not entirely clear when Exarchon infected Provoke, the details of her "death" more or less line up with what Cyclonus told [[Flatline (G1)|Flatline]] in [[Lord of Misrule: Test Flight I|issue #31]], with one notable exception: although Cyclonus told Flatline that he simply lost track of the body after the enemy drove him back, this is a bit of a face-saving half-truth: in reality, Provoke's death drove him into a grief-stricken frenzy that forced [[Shadow Striker (G1)|Shadow Striker]] and [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] to physically drag him to safety.
* An exchange between Nominus Prime and Highbrow reveals a disturbing truth: someone changed Exarchon into his present form, and armed him with the advanced weapons and cloning technology he required to wage war against the people of Cybertron. A narration box in [[Lord of Misrule: Sea of Rust I|issue #34]] had previously alluded to a conspiracy theory that he'd been deliberately modified and unleashed upon Cybertron to end their colonial expansion, although who or what is still not clear.
* Ultra Magnus alludes to his last face-off with [[Soundblaster (G1)|Soundblaster]] in the "Storm Horizon" arc of ''[[Transformers: Galaxies|Galaxies]]'', when he and the crew of the ''[[Fist of Iacon]]'' ventured into the [[Black Sphere]] to save [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] from Soundblaster's clutches.
* Frenzy attacks Magnus with a set of hand-mounted drill weapons—the same ones he used to murder [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] offscreen shortly before the events of [[The World In Your Eyes Part One|issue #1]].
* Flamewar grouses about having to interact with Sixshot again; her intense dislike of her former boss has been a bit of a running gag since she cut ties, and she was last seen venting her spleen in [[Lord of Misrule: Test Flight I|issue #31]].

===Transformers references===
* In addition to [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] and the [[Tagan Heights]], which have both appeared elsewhere in this continuity, the second wartime flashback is set on the [[Hydrax Plateau]], a region of Cybertron first alluded to in the Dreamwave-era ''[[Transformers: The Ultimate Guide|Ultimate Guide]]'' reference book.
* Solicits for this issue mention that the end of the War of the Threefold Spark cleared the way for a "bold new era" of Cybertronian history—between issues [[The World In Your Eyes Part One|#1]] and [[Arcee/Greenlight: Run|#18]] and the first four issues of ''Galaxies'', "A Bold New Era" was the tagline associated with the [[2019 IDW continuity]].

===Real-world references===
* This arc takes its name from a famous {{w|John Milton}} quote: "Innocence, once lost, can never be regained. Darkness, once gazed upon, can never be lost."

===Errors===
* During the flashback on page six, Ultra Magnus is shown identical to his present-day self, wearing a blocky body based on his concurrent ''[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys#War for Cybertron: Siege|Siege]]'' toy. However, [[Storm Horizon Part 1|''Galaxies'' #10]] previously established that Magnus used a taller body based on the [[Magnus Armor]] (and, by extension, his [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys#Combiner Wars|2015 ''Combiner Wars'']] toy) from ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye| More than Meets the Eye]]''.
* On page ten, Shadow Striker is drawn without the extra "eyes" on her helmet she sports in the present day.

===Other trivia===
* Originally solicited for a November 17th release, this issue drops just one week late.
* This issue was originally solicited as "War Stories"—perhaps an attempt to maintain the ongoing "multi-part arc separated by individual spotlight issues" format of the series up till this point—but this must've been changed relatively late in development. The same solicit also mentions Pyra Magna playing a role in the story, who does not appear in the issue.

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A:''' Gridlock's corpse, by [[Aline Herzspalter Baumgartner]]
* '''Cover B:''' Optimus Prime, by [[Sebastian Piriz]]
* '''Retailer incentive cover:''' Optimus, by [[Freddie E. Williams II]] and [[Jeremy Colwell]]

<gallery>
File:TF2019 37 cvrA.jpg
File:TF2019 37 cvrB.jpg
File:TF2019 37 cvrRI.jpg
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''[[Godzilla]]'' graphic novels
* Pop Insider Holiday Gift Guide
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==External links==
* [http://majorspoilers.com/2021/10/26/preview-transformers-36/ Preview]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Darkness, Once Gazed Upon: Part 1}}
[[Category:Transformers (2019) issues]]

IDW Publishing

2021-11-13T09:00:53Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* IDW reprints */

[[File:IDW Logo2.svg|right|250px]]
'''Idea and Design Works, LLC''' currently holds the [[Transformers brand|Transformers]] [[Comics|comic book]] license as of May [[2005]], following the financial collapse of the previous license holder, [[Dreamwave Productions]], at the tail-end of [[2004]]. (IDW's license excludes [[manga]]; those rights are handled by [[Viz Media]] in the English-language market.)

IDW's flagship storyline was, for ''thirteen years'', [[2005 IDW continuity|a new ''Transformers'' continuity]], which started out in [[2005]] being written by longtime Transformers scribe [[Simon Furman]] and told through a succession of mini-series and one-shot [[The Transformers: Spotlight|''Spotlight''s]], before finally producing a monthly comic in [[2009]]. IDW has also been authorized to re-release trade paperbacks published by [[Dreamwave Productions]], such as the ''[[War and Peace]]'' mini-series and ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]'' and ''[[Transformers: War Within: The Dark Ages|War Within: The Dark Ages]]''. In May 2008, IDW's relationship with [[Hasbro]] proved to be quite healthy indeed as they snapped up the ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'' comic book license as well, and in 2010 obtained the license to ''Dungeons & Dragons''. Then in 2012 they started publishing ''[[My Little Pony|My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic]]'' comics. Hasbro definitely seems to like them.

In [[2016]], IDW and Hasbro decided to create a "shared universe" for many of its properties. The ''[[Revolution]]'' event merged the Transformer books with the recently acquired ''{{i|ROM (comic)|ROM}}'', ''[[Micronauts]]'', [[Action Man]], {{i|M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand|''M.A.S.K.''}} and currently-running ''G.I. Joe''. This met with tenuous levels of success, and all of the non-Transformers titles were consolidated and relaunched after [[2017]]'s ''[[First Strike]]'' crossover event, which led into a ''[[Visionaries]]'' [[Transformers vs. Visionaries|miniseries]]. For various reasons, IDW and Hasbro decided the Transformers universe needed a complete reboot; in 2018, the ''[[Transformers: Unicron]]'' crossover concluded IDW's first ''Transformers'' universe before a [[2019 IDW continuity|full continuity reboot]] debuted in 2019.

Other licensed comics published by the company include ''[[Doctor Who]]'', ''[[Ghostbusters]]'', ''[[Godzilla]]'', ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (character)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'', ''[[Star Trek]]'', ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'', ''[[The X-Files: Conspiracy: The Transformers|The X-Files]]'', and many, MANY others.

==Series published==
=== 2005 IDW continuity ===
{{main|2005 IDW continuity}}
Initial ideas for IDW's Transformer line included a ''Crisis on Infinite Earths''-style story crossing over with the new [[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|''Cybertron'' toyline]], starting ongoings in both G1 and ''Cybertron'' continuity. The G1 cast would suffer Cybertron's destruction and learn [[Unicron]]'s death had destabilized the entire [[omniverse]], forcing them to try and assemble an artifact called the "Decepticon Matrix" in order to ''resurrect'' Unicron. This would parallel with the ''Cybertron'' plot, in which the Autobots seek out the [[Cyber Planet Key]]s to revive [[Primus]], and [[Vector Prime]] would have appeared as a guide in both series. It seems that series would then have come together with the concurrent ''Cybertron'' comic as Transformers from across the [[multiverse]] were brought together for a final, epic clash.<ref>Pitch printed in ''[[The Transformers: The Best of Simon Furman]]''</ref>

This was considered too confusing for new readers, however, and dropped for a [[2005 IDW continuity|hard continuity reboot]], based on the Generation 1 characters. Furman mostly oversaw this, creating a more sophisticated universe around the familiar characters and tropes: Marvel Comics' ''Ultimate'' line was the inspiration, and Furman deliberately borrowed the more leisurely pacing of Ultimate Marvel.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSyBtqe67uk Moonbase 2m AA2010 interview]</ref>

Instead of an ongoing civil war on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] which spills over to [[Earth]] by accident, Furman presented us with an interstellar war between the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s, a war with a [[Code of Interplanetary Conflict]] and alt-form-and-dagger covert operations, with [[energon]] the prize and whole planets at stake. A surprising development on Earth heats up the war and turns our planet from just another proxy battleground into the ultimate prize.

This slow, measured storyline was eventually abandoned in an attempt to bring in more casual fans with a more G1 cartoon-inspired revamp in ''All Hail Megatron''. This failed to have the desired effect both in terms of sales and fan-response, so ''another'' revamp was attempted with the start of ''The Transformers'' ongoing series. It was met with sharp fan criticism as well.

Yet '''another''' revamp was attempted with two concurrent ongoing series, ''More Than Meets The Eye'' and ''Robots In Disguise'' beginning in 2012, later dubbed "Phase 2". Positive fan response came at last, and the writers of those books ([[James Roberts]] and [[John Barber]]) would continue to be the main writers of the universe until its conclusion in late 2018.

====Publications to date====
*'''''[[The Transformers: Infiltration]]'''''
:(October [[2005]] – July [[2006]])
:Establishes the presence of the Transformers on modern-day Earth and re-establishes the theme of "robots in disguise" as central to the new continuity; a seven-issue story arc (issues #0 to #6).
*'''''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer]]'''''
:(July – October 2006)
:A four-issue miniseries tie-in to ''Infiltration'', establishing Cybertron's current situation in the re-boot and focusing squarely on the Transformers.
*'''''[[The Transformers: Spotlight]]'''''
:(September 2006 – May [[2013]])
:A series of one-shot stories focusing on a single Transformer per issue; this series has no fixed publication format, and often jumps around in the universe's chronology. It went on a hiatus after "[[Spotlight: Metroplex]]" while the new ongoing series was getting established, returned with a tie-in to the [[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|''Generations'' toyline]] with several issues packed in with (usually) relevant toys, but petered out shortly after the toyline's format shift.
*'''''[[The Transformers: Escalation]]'''''
:(November 2006 – May [[2007]])
:The direct sequel to ''Infiltration''; a six-issue story arc detailing a conflict with the Decepticons in [[Brasnya]] and the abduction of [[Sunstreaker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sunstreaker]] and [[Hunter O'Nion]].
*'''''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin]]'''''
:(June – October 2007)
:A four-issue story arc detailing the events surrounding [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]'s rise to power and the founding of the Decepticon faction.
*'''''[[New Avengers/Transformers]]'''''
:(July – October 2007)
:A collaboration between [[Marvel Comics]] and IDW featuring the first ever crossover between the Transformers and New [[Avengers]]. Though it has minimal effects on the overall universe, it was specifically designed to fit into continuity between ''Infiltration'' and ''Escalation''. This series has been effectively rendered non-canon for both IDW and Marvel... or at least "yeah we don't talk about that" territory.
*'''''[[The Transformers: Devastation]]'''''
:(October 2007 – February [[2008]])
:The direct sequel to ''Escalation''; a six-issue story arc following up on what happened to Sunstreaker, as well as the Decepticons' battle with the [[Reaper]]s, and seeds are planted for the upcoming [[Dead Universe]] arc.
*'''''[[Revelation (IDW)|Revelation]]'''''
:(June – October 2008)
:The sequel to ''Devastation'' composed of four ''Spotlight''s in fairly direct continuity: "[[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]]", "[[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]]", "[[Doubledealer]]" and "[[Sideswipe (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sideswipe]]". This series wraps up the first set of [[Dead Universe]]-related events.
*'''''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron]]'''''
:(April 2008 – October [[2009]])
:A twelve-issue maxi-series, extended to sixteen to include the ''All Hail Megatron Coda'' series. Intended to be a "soft reboot" of the series, it chronicles the aftermath of the defeat of the Autobots and the Decepticon conquest of Earth. The publication schedule overlaps with ''Revelation'' and ''Maximum Dinobots''. Issues 13–16 each consist of two 11-page stories that help strengthen the flaws in ''All Hail Megatron'' and tie into the ongoing series.
*'''''[[The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots]]'''''
:(December 2008 – April 2009)
:A five-issue miniseries taking place chronologically between ''Revelation'' and ''All Hail Megatron'' (which it was published concurrently with). The series wraps up Furman's story arcs with the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dynobots]], Sunstreaker, the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]], [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]], [[Skywatch]] and the [[Machination]].
*'''''[[The Transformers Continuum]]'''''
:(November 2009)
:A one-shot intended as a 'catch-up' for new readers, ahead of the new ongoing series.
*'''''[[The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers]]'''''
:(November 2009 – December [[2011]])
:An ongoing series in the aftermath of ''All Hail Megatron''. The series is penned by [[Mike Costa]], with art on the first arc by [[Don Figueroa]], and eventually a string of different artists.
*'''''[[The Transformers: Bumblebee]]'''''
:(December 2009 – March [[2010]])
:A four-issue miniseries chronicling [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]]'s journey on Earth after the events of ''All Hail Megatron'', focusing on the conflicts and decisions 'Bee makes. Written by [[Zander Cannon]] with art by [[Chee Yang Ong]].
*'''''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'''''
:(January – May 2010)
:A five-issue miniseries chronicling the actions of the [[Wrecker]]s in deep space after ''All Hail Megatron''. A number of short supplemental stories were also released across a number of outlets. Written by [[Nick Roche]] and [[James Roberts]], drawn (mainly) by Roche with colors by [[Josh Burcham]].
*'''''[[The Transformers: Ironhide]]'''''
:(May – August 2010)
:A four-issue miniseries in which the thought-to-be-dead [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] wanders the wastelands of Cybertron. Story by Mike Costa and art by [[Casey Coller]].
*'''''[[The Transformers: Drift]]'''''
:(September – October 2010)
:A bi-weekly four-issue miniseries that chronicles [[Drift (G1)|Drift]]'s origins as the Decepticon Deadlock to becoming an Autobot. Written by Shane McCarthy, with art by Alex Milne and colors by Josh Perez.
*'''''[[Infestation (IDW)|The Transformers: Infestation]]'''''
:(February 2011)
:A two-issue story set within the larger ''Infestation'' series, a large-scale cross-over in which cross-dimensional zombies invade the universes of ''Transformers'', ''[[Star Trek]]'', ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'' and ''Ghostbusters''. The ''Transformers'' segment involves the Autobots teaming up with [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron's]] crew to stop the menace. Written by [[Dan Abnett]] and [[Andy Lanning]], with art by Nick Roche and colors by Joana Lafuente and Josh Perez. The entire series was released weekly over 10 weeks.
*'''''[[The Transformers: Heart of Darkness]]'''''
:(March – June 2011)
:A four-issue miniseries featuring Galvatron and crew, following the events in ''Infestation'', and leading into the final arc of [[The Transformers (IDW)|the Costa ongoing]] which marks the end of IDW's "phase 1" by ending the long-running Autobot-Decepticon war. Written by Abnett and Lanning, with art by [[Ulises Farinas]].
*'''''[[Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime]]'''''
:(December [[2011]])
:The start of IDW's "phase 2". [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] makes a decision about his role in a post-[[Great War (G1)|Great War]] Cybertron. IDW's 125th issue, written by James Roberts and John Barber, with art by Nick Roche.
*'''''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye]]'''''
:(January [[2012]] – September [[2016]])
: Following the revitalization of Cybertron and the departure of Optimus Prime, [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] sets out to find the legendary [[Knights of Cybertron]] with a crew of like-minded Autobots aboard the ''[[Lost Light]]''. Ended after issue #57 and rebranded as ''The Transformers: Lost Light''. Written by James Roberts, with art (mainly) by Alex Milne.
*'''''[[The Transformers: Autocracy]]'''''
:(January – June 2012)
:A bi-weekly twelve-issue digital comic set in the days just before the start of the Great War, focusing on Orion Pax's transformation into Optimus Prime. Written by [[Flint Dille]] and [[Chris Metzen]], with art by [[Livio Ramondelli]].
*'''''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise]] / The Transformers vol. 2'''''
:(January 2012 – September 2016)
:Bumblebee, [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]], and [[Metalhawk (G1)|Metalhawk]] attempt to forge a government and maintain control on the revitalized Cybertron, while personal mistrusts, old grudges, and new problems seek to shatter the fragile peace. This title was renamed to "''The Transformers'' vol. 2" at issue #35 to avoid confusion with the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 cartoon)|new ''Robots In Disguise'']] toy-and-TV-show franchise, which included [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic)|an IDW tie-in comic]]. Ended at issue #57 and rebranded as ''Optimus Prime''. Written by [[John Barber]], with art by [[Andrew Griffith]].
*'''''[[The Transformers: Monstrosity]]'''''
:(March – July [[2013]])
:The direct sequel to ''Autocracy'', set in the early days of the Great War. Released digitally bi-weekly, then later compiled into four print issues.
*'''''[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]]'''''
:(June 2013 – March [[2014]])
:A twelve-issue maxi-series primarily told within the ongoing ''Robots in Disguise'' and ''More Than Meets the Eye'' series, with a number of side-stories and setups. The series focuses on Shockwave's machinations to change the entire universe. Written by John Barber and James Roberts with a variety of artists.
*'''''[[The Transformers: Windblade]]'''''
:(April – July [[2014]])
:A four-issue miniseries focusing on [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] in the wake of the "Dark Cybertron" crossover event, as she tries to help rebuild a shattered Cybertron while dealing with the planet's duly-elected leader Starscream. Written by [[Mairghread Scott]] and drawn by [[Saren Stone]].
*'''''[[The Transformers: Punishment]]'''''
:(June 2014)
:A five-issue digital motion comic miniseries, eventually collected into a print one-shot. Optimus Prime investigates a series of murders on Cybertron after the events of "Dark Cybertron". Written by John Barber and illustrated by Livio Ramondelli.
*'''''[[The Transformers: Primacy]]'''''
:(August – November 2014)
:The direct sequel to ''Monstrosity'', concluding the Great War trilogy. [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] and [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] clash as Megatron discovers an ancient secret on a dilapidated planet. By the same creative team as the previous installments.
*'''''[[The Transformers: Drift - Empire of Stone]]'''''
:(November 2014 – February [[2015]])
:As Drift rights wrongs in the galaxy, he is joined by [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] and winds up facing an old enemy. Written by [[Shane McCarthy]] with artwork by the ''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One|Regeneration One]]'' team of penciller [[Guido Guidi]], inker [[Stephen Baskerville]], and colorist [[John-Paul Bove]].
*'''''[[The Transformers: Windblade]]'' vol. 2'''
:(March – September 2015)
:A seven-issue miniseries advancing the ''[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]'', trading issues with the main series. Windblade and Starscream seek out the lost Cybertronian colony worlds, with Windblade constantly trying to blunt and stymie Starscream's aggressive (and sometimes deadly) machinations. Written by Mairghread Scott and drawn by [[Corin Howell]].
*'''''[[An Uneventful Night|The Transformers: Combiner Hunters]]'''''
:(July 2015)
:A one-shot directly following ''Windblade'' vol. 2. On the trail of the stolen [[Enigma of Combination]], Windblade and [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] run afoul of both [[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]] and the [[Torchbearer]]s. Written by Mairghread Scott and drawn by [[Sara Pitre-Durocher]].
*'''''[[The Transformers: Redemption]]'''''
:(October 2015)
:The Dinobots head out into the Cybertronian wilderness on a secret mission. A one-shot story written by John Barber and drawn by Livio Ramondelli.
*'''''[[The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers]]'''''
:(November 2015 – June [[2016]])
:Five-issue miniseries. Dark secrets come to light when a mission to rescue the kidnapped [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] leads the Wreckers into a sinister web of shocking revelations. Written and drawn by Nick Roche.
*'''''[[The Transformers Holiday Special]]'''''
:(December 2015)
:A one-shot anthology of holiday-themed tales set on Earth, Cybertron, and deep space.
*'''''[[The Transformers: Till All Are One]]'''''
:(June 2016 – December [[2017]])
:A continuation of the ''Windblade'' miniseries as an ongoing book. Windblade tries to maintain the peace on Cybertron while dealing with the [[Council of Worlds]], and, of course, Starscream. Cancelled after issue #12, with a thirteenth "Annual" issue to wrap up the primary storylines. Written by Mairghread Scott and drawn by Sara Pitre-Durocher.
*'''''[[The Last Autobot|Titans Return]]'''''
:(July 2016)
:A one-shot issue setting up events in ''Till All Are One'', ''Transformers'' vol. 2 and ''More Than Meets the Eye''. [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] returns, but he's unhappy with what Cybertron has become in his absence. Written by Mairghread Scott, James Roberts, and John Barber, and drawn by Livio Ramondelli.
*'''''[[Revolution]]'''''
:(July – November 2016)
:A five-issue miniseries with associated one-shots and setups across several books, setting up the ''massive'' cross-property "shared universe" that will be the setting for the ''Transformers'' books from here til the end. [[Hasbro]]'s greatest heroes and villains collide in a battle for Earth's [[Ore-13]]. Written by John Barber and [[Cullen Bunn]], and drawn by [[Fico Ossio]].
*'''''[[Optimus Prime (comic)|Optimus Prime]]'''''
:(December 2016 – November [[2018]])
:The re-retitled continuation of ''Robots in Disguise''. Optimus Prime grapples with what it means to be a [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] as he defends his adopted homeworld of Earth. Written by John Barber and drawn (mainly) by [[Kei Zama]].
*'''''[[The Transformers: Lost Light]]'''''
:(December 2016 – November 2018)
:The retitled continuation of ''More than Meets the Eye''. The marooned crew of the ''Lost Light'' deal with new allies and surprising new enemies as they try to get back home. Written by James Roberts and illustrated by [[Jack Lawrence]].
*'''''[[G.I. Joe vol. 5|''G.I. Joe'' vol. 5]]'''''
:(December 2016 – March 2018)
:The [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe team]]'s adventures continue with the strangest member they've ever seen: the Decepticon [[Skywarp (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Skywarp]]! Written by Aubrey Sitterson and drawn by Giannis Milonogiannis. Ended at issue #9, rebranded as ''[[Scarlett's Strike Force]]'', which was cancelled after three issues.
*'''''[[Revolutionaries]]'''''
:(January – September [[2017]])
:[[Kup (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Kup]], [[G.B. Blackrock]], [[Action Man]], and [[Ayana Jones]] embark on a globetrotting adventure in search of an ancient [[Talisman (G1)|Talisman]] and uncover a globe-spanning conspiracy in the process. Sets up the upcoming ''First Strike'' miniseries. Written by John Barber and drawn by Fico Ossio.
*'''''[[Micronauts: Wrath of Karza]]'''''
:(April – September 2017)
:Five-issue miniseries. Wielding Cybertronian technology, Baron Karza returns to Earth to turn it into a new home for his people. Written by Cullen Bunn and [[Jimmy Johnston]] and drawn by Andrew Griffith.
*'''''[[The Transformers: Salvation]]'''''
:(June 2017)
:One-shot concluding the "Dinobot Trilogy" following on from ''Punishment'' and ''Redemption'' The Dinobots join forces with [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] to face the twin threats of [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] and Trypticon. From the same creative team as prior installments.
*'''''[[Rom vs. Transformers: Shining Armor]]'''''
:(July – November 2017)
:Five issue miniseries. Set two hundred years ago, the [[Solstar Order]] finds themselves caught up in the Cybertronian Great War, with their one-of-a-kind warrior [[Stardrive]] and an alliance between the [[Dire Wraith]]s and Decepticons in the center of it all. Written by John Barber and [[Christos Gage]], and drawn by Alex Milne.
*'''''[[First Strike]]'''''
:(June – October 2017)
:Six-issue multi-brand crossover miniseries with associated one-shots. The time has finally come for Earth to formally join the Council of Worlds... that is, if the Transformers and G.I. Joe can defeat the villainous [[Joe Colton|Baron Ironblood]] in time! Written by Mairghread Scott and [[David Rodriguez]] and drawn by [[Max Dunbar]].
*'''''[[Transformers vs. Visionaries]]'''''
:(January – May 2018)
:Five-issue miniseries. Science and [[magic]] clash as the forces of [[Prysmos]] emerge from Cybertron. Written by [[Magdalene Visaggio]] and drawn by Fico Ossio.
*'''''[[Transformers: Requiem of the Wreckers]]'''''
:(May 2018)
:One-shot ending the ''Wreckers'' trilogy. The few remaining Wreckers come under fire from an old foe and an anti-Cybertronian campaigner. Written and drawn by Nick Roche with other art duties by Josh Burcham, [[Geoff Senior]], and Guido Guidi.
*'''''[[Transformers: Unicron]]'''''
:(May – November 2018)
:Seven issue miniseries, wrapping up the first Generation 1 continuity in advance of 2019's ''Transformers'' ongoing. [[Unicron]] awakens and begins to consume all in its path. Written by John Barber and drawn by Alex Milne.

====See also====
*[[2005 IDW continuity|IDW continuity]]
*[[2005 IDW timeline]]
*[[Hasbro Universe]]

===2019 IDW continuity===
Four months after the end of ''Unicron'' and IDW's first ''Transformers'' continuity as a whole, IDW relaunched its ''Transformers'' continuity, a rebooted universe with no connections to IDW's previous output. Under the pen of writer [[Brian Ruckley]], IDW's new ''Transformers'' ongoing adopted a back-to-basics approach to the mythos, a single comic that established a "Year One"-style origin story for Optimus Prime, Megatron, and many other characters as the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]] unfolds against the backdrop of a utopian Cybertron.

Compared to IDW's previous ''Transformers'' output, the debut of the 2019 continuity marked a shift in IDW's approach to ''Transformers'' comics as a whole—while IDW's previous ''Transformers'' books pinballed between dozens of different miniseries and sometimes several simultaneous ongoings, the rebooted comic is confined to a single ongoing, with one companion miniseries at a time focusing on a different cast of characters set far away from the main story. Perhaps to compensate for this tightly focused storyline, IDW has shifted its approach to include multiple self-contained miniseries not set in this continuity, including crossover comics advertising Hasbro's ''[[Transformers Collaborative|Collaborative]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)#Shattered Glass Collection|Shattered Glass]]'' toylines.

*'''''[[Transformers (2019 comic)|Transformers]]'''''
:(March 2019-present)
:The first installment of IDW's new continuity, ''Transformers'' begins on a utopian Cybertron before the Autobot-Decepticon war. Written by [[Brian Ruckley]] and illustrated by [[Angel Hernandez]] and [[Cachét Whitman]].

*'''''[[Transformers: Galaxies]]'''''
:(September 2019-December 2020)
:A companion to ''Transformers'', ''Galaxies'' is an anthology series that ties into the ongoing, featuring a rotating creative cast and a variety of characters from across the new ''Transformers'' universe.

*'''''[[Transformers Valentine's Day Special]]'''''
:(February 2020)
:A special romance-themed one-shot.

*'''''[[Transformers: Escape]]'''''
*(December 2020-July 2021)
:[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]], [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] organize the evacuation of Cybertron. Written by Brian Ruckley and illustrated by [[Beth McGuire-Smith]].

*'''''[[I Have No Mouth And I Must Starscream|Transformers Halloween Special]]'''''
:(September 2021)
: A special horror-themed one shot.

*'''''[[Wreckers: Tread & Circuits]]'''''
:(October 2021-January 2022)
:A miniseries documenting the adventures of a new team of [[Wrecker]]s. Written by [[David Mariotte]] and illustrated by [[Jack Lawrence]].

====See also====
*[[2019 IDW continuity]]

===2006 ''Beast Wars'' continuity===
Taking place within the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' cartoon universe, this line eschews the previous [[3H Productions]] fiction that previously continued the show's story to strike out in a new direction, focusing mainly on the non-show toy characters.

*''[[Transformers, Beast Wars: The Gathering]]'' (2006)— A four-issue mini-series marking the 10th anniversary of the ''Beast Wars'' franchise.
*''[[Transformers: Beast Wars: The Ascending]]'' (2007–08) — A four-issue sequel to ''The Gathering'' that began publication in October 2007.
*''[[Transformers: Beast Wars Sourcebook]]'' (2007) — A profile series of the Beast Era.
*''[[Dawn of the Predacus]]'' (2016)— A [[BotCon]] exclusive comic prequel to ''The Gathering''.

====See also====
*[[Beast Wars timeline (IDW)]]

===2021 ''Beast Wars'' continuity===
A brand new retelling of Beast Wars, drawing inspiration from but not set in any previous continuity.

*''[[Transformers: Beast Wars]]'' (February 2021 – Present)

===''Evolutions''===
''Evolutions'' was originally intended to be a series of {{w|Elseworlds}}-like stories that existed in their own separate continuities, each taking different takes on Transformers. Only one miniseries – ''Hearts of Steel'' – was ever produced; reportedly, Hasbro asked IDW to hold back on ''Evolutions'' as to not confuse customers looking for merchandise based on the live action films.{{fact}} [[Chris Ryall]] stated that the subsequent focus on Movie and ''Animated'' meant that it was unlikely that ''Evolutions'' would continue further,<ref>[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?t=3845&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=30 Post by Chris Ryall at IDW's forums]</ref> though various comic stories over the years have sporadically revisited the ''Hearts of Steel'' universe.

In 2017, a version of the ''Hearts of Steel'' story was retroactively folded into the main IDW universe via [[Revolutionaries]]; the first two stories listed here are also canon in the ongoing G1 continuity.

*''[[Hearts of Steel]]'' (2006) — Places the Generation 1 Transformers in the American West during the Industrial Revolution.
*''[[Infestation 2]]'' (2012) — The sequel to ''Infestation''. This time, it's Lovecraftian demons that invade the various licensed properties. The Transformers-specific issues take place in the ''Hearts of Steel'' universe.
*''[[The X-Files: Conspiracy: The Transformers|The X-Files: Conspiracy]]'' (2014) — Another multi-brand crossover, this time involving ''The X-Files'' series, whose Transformers-specific issue takes place in the present day of the ''Hearts of Steel'' universe.

===Live-action film series===
*''[[Transformers: Movie Prequel]]'' (2007) — A 4-issue series detailing the lead-up to the [[Transformers (film)|2007 ''Transformers'' movie]].
*"[[Planetfall (Movie)|Planetfall]]" and "[[Interlude]]" (2007) — A [[Target]]-[[exclusive]] 2-issue prequel to the 2007 film.
*''[[Transformers: Movie Adaptation]]'' (2007) — A four-part comic adaptation of the film, released weekly in June 2007.
*''[[Transformers: The Reign of Starscream]]'' (2008) — A 5-issue sequel to the 2007 film dealing with [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]]'s return to Cybertron to take his place as the new leader of the Decepticons.
*''[[Transformers: Saga of the Allspark]]'' (2008) — IDW's Reprint of the [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|UK Movie comics]] from Titan Magazine.
*''[[Transformers: Destiny]]'' (2008–2009) — The 2-miniseries prequel to ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen]]''.
**''[[Transformers: Alliance]]'' (2008–2009) — A 4-issue series chronicling the formation of [[NEST]] in response to new waves of Decepticons arriving on Earth. The first prequel to ''Revenge of the Fallen''.
**''[[Transformers: Defiance]]'' (2009) — A 4-issue series set in the distant past on Cybertron, [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] comes under the sway of [[The Fallen]] and declares war on his former comrade [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus]]. The second prequel to ''Revenge of the Fallen''.
*''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Official Movie Adaptation]]'' (2009) — A four-part comic adaptation of the film, released weekly in May and June 2009.
*''[[Transformers: Tales of the Fallen]]'' (2009–2010) — A series of spotlights for six ''Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen'' characters.
*''[[Transformers: Nefarious]]'' (2010) — A 6-issue sequel to ''Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen'' dealing with a group of humans trying to create their own AllSpark.
*''[[Transformers: Sector 7]]'' (2010–2011) — A 5-issue series telling the history of Sector 7. The first prequel to ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Transformers: Dark of the Moon]]''
*''[[Transformers: Foundation]]'' (2011) — A 4-issue series telling the history of Optimus Prime and Megatron on Cybertron. The second prequel to ''Dark of the Moon''.
*''[[Transformers: Rising Storm]]'' (2011) — A 4-issue series dealing with [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] being tasked with reassembling the fractured Decepticons. The third prequel to ''Dark of the Moon''.
*[[Cyberglyphics pack-in comics]] (2011) — A Target-exclusive series of mini-comics.
*''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon Movie Adaptation]]'' (2011) — A four-part comic adaptation of the film, released weekly in June and July 2011.
**''[[Transformers: Convergence]]'' (2011) — A prose story published in the adaptation's individual issues chronicling some of [[Soundwave (ROTF)|Soundwave's]] adventures and also filling in the loose ends in preparation for what was assumed to be, at the time, the end of the live-action film series.
*''[[How to Ride a Dinobot!]]'' (2014) — One-shot digital comic based on a series of [[How to Ride Your Dinobot|web videos]] loosely related to ''[[Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction]]''.
*''[[A New Friend|Schick Hydrobot and the Transformers]]'' (2017) — One-shot digital promotional comic tying in to ''[[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight]]''.
*''[[Transformers: Bumblebee Movie Prequel]]'' (2018) — A 4-issue prequel to the film ''[[Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee]]''.

====See Also====
*[[Movie expanded universe timeline]]

===''Transformers Animated''===
*''[[Transformers Animated (IDW)|Transformers Animated]]'' (2008) — An ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Animated]]'' cartoon adaptation series with screenshots from the series.
*''[[Transformers Animated: The Arrival]]'' (2008) — A six-issue mini-series set in the same continuity as the ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Animated]]'' cartoon.
*''[[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac]]'' (2009) — Covers ''The Arrival'' and seasons 1 and 2 of the cartoon.
*''[[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II]]'' (2010) — Covers season 3 of the cartoon and other information.
*''[[Transformers Animated: The Complete AllSpark Almanac]]'' (2015) — An omnibus volume containing the two books and ''[[The AllSpark Almanac Addendum]]'' with some new information added.

====See also====
*[[Transformers Animated timeline]]

===Marvel Comics continuity===
*''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One]]'' (2012–2014) — A limited series set in the main [[Marvel Comics continuity]] that continues on from the [[End of the Road! (US)|final issue]] of the Marvel's original ''[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Transformers]]'' series 21 years later, ignoring the events of both of the Marvel UK material and the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|Generation 2]]'' comics.
* ''[[Transformers '84 issue 0|Transformers '84]]'' (2019) — A one-shot prequel to the 1980s Marvel comic series.
* ''[[Transformers '84: Secrets & Lies]]'' (2020) — Four-issue limited sequel series to the aforementioned one-shot.

===Aligned continuity family===
*''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic)|Transformers: War for Cybertron]]'' (2010) — A partial adaptation of the novel ''[[Transformers: Exodus]]''.
*''[[Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)|Transformers: Prime]]'' (2010) — A graphic novel prequel to the television series, later released as four issues.
*''[[Transformers: Prime (comic series)|Transformers: Prime]]'' (2011) — A ''Prime'' cartoon adaptation series with screenshots from the series.
*''[[Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (comic)|Transformers: Fall of Cybertron]]'' (2012) — A digital-first prequel/tie-in to the video game, focusing on the [[Dinobot (FOC)|Dinobots]].
*''[[Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots]]'' (2012–2013) — A four-part mini-series which continues the Dinobots' story and leads into the television series' third season.
*''[[Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters (comic)|Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters]]'' (2013) — An eight-part maxi-series depicting the Dinobots' efforts to survive on a desolate Cybertron.
*''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic)|Transformers: Robots in Disguise]]'' (2015–2016) — An six-issue series tying in the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 cartoon)|second]] ''Robots in Disguise'' TV series.

====See also====
*[[Aligned continuity family|Aligned continuity]]
*[[Aligned timeline]]

===Crossovers===
* ''[[Mars Attacks: The Transformers]]'' (2013) One-shot crossover comic with the trading card franchise.
* ''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' (2014–2017) — Crossover maxi-series set in a separate continuity.
* ''[[Angry Birds Transformers (comic)|Angry Birds Transformers]]'' (2014–2015) Four-issue limited series based on the crossover [[Angry Birds Transformers (mobile game)|video game]].
* ''[[Star Trek vs. Transformers]]'' (2018–2019) — Five-issue limited crossover series featuring the cast of ''[[Star Trek]]'''s 1974 {{w|Star Trek: The Animated Series|animated series}}.
* ''[[Transformers/Ghostbusters]]'' (2019) — Five-issue limited crossover series set in IDW's ''Ghostbusters'' comics continuity.
* ''[[Transformers vs. The Terminator]]'' (2020) — Four-issue limited crossover series.
* ''[[My Little Pony/Transformers: Friendship in Disguise!]]'' (2020) — Four-issue limited crossover series featuring the cast of ''[[My Little Pony|My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic]]''.
* ''[[Transformers/Back to the Future]]'' (2020-2021) — Four-issue limited crossover series.
* ''[[My Little Pony/Transformers: The Magic of Cybertron]]'' (2021) — Four-issue limited crossover series and direct sequel to ''Friendship in Disguise!''

===Reprint series===
====U.S. Marvel reprints====
*'''''[[The Transformers: Generations (comic)|The Transformers: Generations]]''''' (2006–2007) — [12 issues] Reprints old [[Marvel Comics]] issues, specifically ones that did not feature Marvel-owned characters such as [[Circuit Breaker (G1)|Circuit Breaker]].
*'''''[[Classic Transformers]]''''' (2008–2010) — [6 volumes] Collects old [[Marvel Comics]] issues in trade paperback format, starting with [[The Transformers (issue)|Transformers #1]] and summarizing those featuring Marvel-owned characters such as [[Spider-Man]] and [[Circuit Breaker (G1)|Circuit Breaker]] (until Volume 5, by which point the Marvel-owned characters are allowed).
*'''''[[The Transformers Classics]]''''' (2011–2015) — [8 volumes] Second run of ''Classic Transformers'' with the missing issues restored.
*'''''[[The Transformers Classics Compendium, Vol. 1]]''''' (2016) — The first 50 issues of the U.S. Marvel series in one volume.
====U.K. Marvel reprints====
*'''''[[The Transformers: Target: 2006]]''''' (2007) — [5 issues] Reprints the titular Marvel UK story.
*'''''[[The Transformers: Best of UK: Dinobots]]''''' (2007–2008) — [6 issues] Reprints of UK Dinobot stories.
*'''''[[The Transformers: Best of UK: Space Pirates]]''''' (2008) — [5 issues] Reprints the UK "[[Space Pirates!]]" saga and other stories.
*'''''[[The Transformers: Best of UK: Time Wars]]''''' (2008) — [5 issues] Reprints the UK "[[Time Wars]]" saga and other stories.
*'''''[[The Transformers: Best of UK: City of Fear]]''''' (2009) — [5 issues] Reprints the UK "[[City of Fear!]]" saga and related stories.
*'''''[[The Transformers: Best of UK: Prey]]''''' (2009) — [5 issues] Reprints the UK "[[Prey!]]" and related stories.
*'''''[[The Transformers Classics UK]]''''' (2011–2014) — [5 volumes] Aimed to reprint the Marvel UK stories in order of publication, including the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK#Marvel UK Annuals|Annuals]], but was cancelled after the fifth volume.
====Dreamwave reprints====
*'''''[[Transformers: War Within Omnibus]]''''' (2009) — Smaller sized TPB reprinting Dreamwave's ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]'' (including [[The War Within Preview|the preview]]) and ''[[Transformers: War Within: The Dark Ages|War Within: The Dark Ages]]''.
*Straight reprints of some of other collections previously released by Dreamwave.
====IDW reprints====
*'''''[[The Transformers: The Premiere Collection#Volume 1|The Transformers: The Premiere Collection, Volume 1]]''''' (2007) — Hardcover reprinting IDW's first three arcs plus the first volume of ''Spotlight''.
*'''''[[The Transformers: The Premiere Collection#Volume 2|The Transformers: The Premiere Collection, Volume 2]]''''' (2009) — Hardcover reprinting IDW's ''Devastation'', ''Revelation'' and volumes 2 and 3 of ''Spotlight''.
*'''''[[Transformers Movie Collection Volume 1]]''''' (Hardcover 2010), (TPB 2013) — Collects ''[[Transformers: Movie Prequel|Movie Prequel]]'', the 2007 ''[[Transformers: Movie Adaptation|Movie Adaptation]]'' and ''[[Transformers: The Reign of Starscream|The Reign of Starscream]]''.
*'''''[[Transformers Movie Collection Volume 2]]''''' (Hardcover 2010), (TPB 2013) — Collects ''[[Transformers: Defiance|Defiance]]'', ''[[Transformers: Alliance|Alliance]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Official Movie Adaptation|Revenge of the Fallen Movie Adaptation]]''.
*'''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection]]''''' (2010–2013) — [8 volumes] Hardcover collection reprinting the IDW Transformers stories in a "suggested reading order" up through the end of the [[The Transformers (IDW)|2009 ongoing series]].
*'''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection|The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two]]''''' (2014–2020) — [12 volumes] Hardcover collection reprinting the IDW Transformers stories in a "suggested reading order" starting with the one-shot "[[Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime]]".
*'''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection|The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Three]]''''' (2020–????) — [?? volumes] Hardcover collection reprinting the IDW Transformers stories in a "suggested reading order" starting with the crossover "[[Revolution]]".
*'''''[[The Transformers: Phase One Omnibus]]''''' (2014) — Smaller sized TPB reprinting IDW's ''[[The Transformers: Infiltration|Infiltration]]'', ''[[The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation]]'', and ''[[The Transformers: Devastation|Devastation]]''.

====Miscellaneous reprints====
*'''''[[The Transformers: Greatest Battles of Optimus Prime and Megatron]]''''' (2007) — TPB reprinting Prime vs Megatron fights from the Marvel, [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]], and IDW runs.
*'''''[[Transformers: Magazine]]''''' (2007) — [4 issues] Reprints three comics per issue from the Marvel, Dreamwave and IDW runs.
*'''''[[The Transformers: The Best of Simon Furman]]''''' (2007) — Hardcover collection reprinting [[Simon Furman]]-written stories from Marvel, Dreamwave and IDW.
*'''''[[The Transformers: The Best of Don Figueroa]]''''' (2007) — Hardcover collection reprinting [[Don Figueroa]]-illustrated stories from Dreamwave and IDW.
*'''''[[The Transformers: Best of Optimus Prime]]''''' (2010) — TPB collection reprinting Optimus Prime stories from Marvel, Dreamwave and IDW.
*'''''[[The Transformers: Best of Megatron]]''''' (2010) — TPB collection reprinting Megatron stories from Marvel, Dreamwave and IDW.
*'''''[[The Transformers: Best of Grimlock]]''''' (2010) — TPB collection reprinting Grimlock stories from Marvel, Dreamwave and IDW.
*'''''[[The Transformers: Best of Starscream]]''''' (2010) — TPB collection reprinting Starscream stories from Marvel, Dreamwave and IDW.
*In addition, there have been several "100-page" one-shot comics collecting a variety of material.

===Others===
* ''[[Transformers: The Animated Movie]]'' (2006) A four-issue adaptation of the original ''Transformers'' film, 1986's ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''; marks the film's 20th anniversary and new DVD release.
* ''[[Transformers: Cybertron: Balancing Act]]'' (2007)
* ''[[Transformers: The Ark]]'' (2007) — A complete compendium Of ''Transformers'' animation models.
* ''[[The Art of IDW's Transformers]]'' (2007)
* ''[[Transformers: The Ark II]]'' (2008) — Collected Japanese character designs.
* ''[[Transformers: The Complete Ark]]'' (2009) — Combines the first and second volumes.
* ''[[Alex Milne Sketchbook: The Transformers]]'' (2011)
* ''[[The Art of Transformers: Fall of Cybertron]]'' (2012)
* ''[[Transformers: The Art of Prime]]'' (2013)
* ''[[Transformers: Deviations]]'' (2016) — One-shot taking place in an alternate version of the G1 cartoon continuity.
* ''[[Aw Yeah Revolution!]]'' (2017) — Limited series goofing on the ''Revolution'' event with the distinguishing writing and art style of its creator, Art Baltazar.
* ''[[Transformers: Bumblebee - Win If You Dare]]'' (2018) — A self-contained graphic novel set in a version of the Generation 1 cartoon continuity.
* ''[[Transformers: Bumblebee - Go For the Gold]]'' (2018) — A one-shot prequel to the aforementioned graphic novel.
* ''[[Transformers: King Grimlock]]'' (2021) — A five-issue miniseries starring [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] in a pulp fantasy adventure.
* ''[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (IDW)|Transformers: Shattered Glass]]'' (2021) — A five-issue miniseries that returns to the fan-favorite ''Shattered Glass'' universe.

==Notes==
* From 2008 to 2011, IDW developed a reputation amongst the [[fandom]] for its cavalier approach to both visual and storytelling continuity in both ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'' and ''[[The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers]]'' ongoing—an attitude exemplified by then-Senior Editor [[Andy Schmidt]]'s infamous remark that suggested readers prioritized these things more than IDW's own editorial team.<ref>[http://boards.idwpublishing.com/3/viewtopic.php?p=214908#p214908 Andy Schmidt in a 2010 interview: "If I could go back to the 70s and 80s and stop Marvel and DC from ingraining in comics fans brains that continuity is paramount, I would."]</ref> Eventually, however, corporate shakeups resulted in new creative and editorial teams taking the reins, and [[John Barber]]'s subsequent tenure as Senior Editor resulted in a ''much'' tighter approach—indeed, IDW now regularly expects ''us'' to remember obscure details from previous stories.
* "Phase Three" of the [[Aligned continuity family|Aligned continuity]] was going to be IDW doing comics with Aligned backstories instead of the established ones. Hasbro first proposed a "[[Dan DiDio|New 52]]" reboot event (uh oh)... and then ''instead'' agreed that IDW had put five years of work in, upcoming plans would have to be cancelled, and it'd be too confusing for readers to do another reboot, so they let IDW carry on. Hasbro ''definitely'' seems to like them.<ref>[[Rik Alvarez]] panel at TFcon Charlotte in 2015 - [http://sunnybutte.tumblr.com/post/131367083128/that-explains-a-lot-of-the-mess-that-was See fan photos] of the slides.</ref>

==External links==
*[http://www.idwpublishing.com/ IDW Publishing]
*[http://www.tfarchive.com/comics/idw/guide.php?s=ongoing TF Archive's guide to the Ongoing ''Transformers'' comic]

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Idw Publishing}}
[[Category:Comics]]
[[Category:Companies]]
[[Category:IDW Publishing| ]]

Scarlett

2021-11-12T13:12:27Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Transformers vs. G.I. Joe */

{{factions|gijoe|{{factions/icons|custom=ActionForce Logo.png|cLink=Action Force (team)|cPretty=Action Force|cSize=180px}}|cobra}}
:''Scarlett is a [[human]] from the [[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe portion]] of the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[File:Scarlett.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|SWF, looking for SBM (Single Black-wearing Male), must be ninja, mute is a plus.]]
'''Shana O'Hara''', codename '''Scarlett''', a crossbow-toting southern belle with a history in martial arts, is a prominent member of the [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] team. She has a thing for [[Snake-Eyes]].

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====''G.I. Joe and the Transformers''====
[[File:Scarlettmarvel.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|Not the safest place to keep a grappling hook.]]
Scarlett and several other Joes were overseeing a test of [[Power Station Alpha]], which was interrupted by the appearance of a giant transforming robot. After [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|the Transformer]] was destroyed, it was followed by a much larger robot which called itself [[Superion (G1)|Superion]]. {{storylink|Blood on the Tracks}} G.I. Joe's forces were overwhelmed by Superion, so Scarlett called for backup. {{storylink|Power Struggle}}

The Transformer they destroyed was eventually determined to be their friend! Scarlett stood nearby while [[Mainframe (G.I. Joe)|Mainframe]] attempted to rebuild him. {{storylink|Ashes, Ashes...}} As the [[Autobot]] [[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] arrived to help, it was announced that [[Cobra]] would be teaming up with G.I. Joe and the Autobots against the [[Decepticon]]s to keep them from destroying the world with Power Station Alpha. The newly rebuilt Transformer, now named [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]], escorted Scarlett and the [[Baroness]] to Power Station Alpha with the intention of placing detonators inside. Without G.I. Joe's consent, Baroness set the timers prematurely, much to Scarlett's frustration. With the threat over, [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] told G.I. Joe to go away and stay out of the Autobots' business. {{storylink|...All Fall Down!}}
{{-}}

====Marvel ''Generation 2'' comic====
[[File:Scarlettg2.jpg|100px|thumb|"...Got to stop pretending this is a ninja outfit..."]]
While Scarlett was pretending to have defected to [[Cobra]], she had to fire on [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] and [[Stalker (G.I. Joe)|Stalker]]. Shortly after that, she and fellow new Cobra [[Sidney Biggles-Jones|Doctor Biggles-Jones]], a weapons scientist, hunted down [[Destro]] and the [[Baroness]]. Snake-Eyes was forced to stab her to convince the terrorist organization of her new allegiance. {{storylink|Unfoldings!}} None of her vitals were damaged, which made her new "comrade" [[Slice (G.I. Joe)|Slice]] suspicious. She was nevertheless hospitalized from this {{storylink|Realignments}} [[File:Scarlett slices suckerpunch.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.0]] and brought to the hospital at Cobra-controlled [[Milleville]], where Biggles-Jones confronted her about her true intentions. All the while this was going on, Cobra was engaged in a trade deal with [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] but Scarlett was too injured to have an impact on things. {{storylink|Goin' South}}

Just as Biggles-Jones had revealed that she too was a double agent, Megatron snatched her away, wishing to experiment on the scientist's brain. Scarlett, despite her wounds, fought her way out of the Cobra compound (battering Slice in the process) and confronted Megatron. {{storylink|Sucker Punch}} Her audacious ultimatum was cut short when a small group of Autobots sent by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] ([[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]], [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]], [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]], [[Chase (G1)|Chase]], [[Override (G1)|Override]], and [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]]) arrived to attack Megatron. While the large-scale battle raged, Scarlett used the opportunity to attack [[Cobra Commander]] and [[Zarana]]. A save by Snake-Eyes reunited the pair.

With most of the Autobots destroyed, Megatron stole the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' with Biggles-Jones in tow. {{storylink|Final Transformations}} It was Skydive and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] who managed to sneak aboard and bring the doctor home, though at the expense of Witwicky's life. Returned to safety, Biggles-Jones greeted Scarlett with a much-needed hug. {{storylink|All or Nothing!}}
{{-}}

===Marvel UK ''The Transformers'' comic===
[[File:Susan scarlett.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Scarlett loses friends in the sewers all the time and you don't hear her complaining.]]
One of [[Action Force (team)|Action Force]]'s American operatives [http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/comics/maf/001/013.html], Scarlett's spent several missions with the European group. She was part of the team that went under [[London]] to locate the monster that had killed [[Susan Hoffman]]'s team. Scarlett openly thought this was a waste of their time and Susan was talking crap, until the Transformers turned up and the monster was revealed to be the monstrous [[Straxus (G1)|(copy of) Megatron]]!

In the battle itself, Scarlett mostly stood on the sidelines, at one point trying to get [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]] to ''not'' send in the Mauler tanks to get stepped on. {{storylink|Ancient Relics!}}
{{-}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
[[File:Scarlett GIJoevsTFs3.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|left]]
When [[Cobra]] unearthed and reprogrammed the dormant Transformers aboard the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' and used them to take over the world, Scarlett was among the first members of G.I. Joe, the anti-terrorist force created to stop them. After hearing from [[Doc (G.I. Joe)|Doc]] how [[Snake-Eyes]] had lost his voice, face and family in Cobra's initial attack, Scarlett wondered how the ninja could go on after suffering through so much in one day. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 2|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #2}} Her first duty as part of G.I. Joe was to guard the [[SPS Research Facility|SPS Center]] from an attack by Cobra's commandeered Transformers. The attack came, overwhelming and surrounding Scarlett's group until they were rescued by the free agents [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 3|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #3}} Scarlett was later part of the forces preparing for G.I. Joe's final raid on [[Cobra Island]]. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 4|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #4}} Despite some opposition from the US government, who would rather [[Nuclear weapon|nuke]] the island, the Joes left to battle Cobra in person. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 5|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #5}} As part of [[Mainframe (G.I. Joe)|Mainframe]]'s team, she defended the [[SPS Satellite]]'s controls from [[Storm Shadow]] and [[Firefly]], taking out the latter with a kick to the head. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 6|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #6}}

[[File:Scarlett GIJoevsTFsII1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3]]
Two years later, Scarlett was part of a G.I. Joe assault team attempting to stop an international arms ring affiliated with the [[Dreadnok]]s from selling Cybertronian technology on the black market. Together with [[Stalker (G.I. Joe)|Stalker]] and [[Beachhead]], she attacked the Dreadnoks in [[Boston]] and easily took out [[Ripper (G.I. Joe)|Ripper]], [[Torch (G.I. Joe)|Torch]], and [[Buzzer (G.I. Joe)|Buzzer]] despite their new cybernetic attack limbs. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 1|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #1}} She later ended up on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] alongside several other Joes and Cobra members. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 2|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #2}}

When the [[Autobot]]s and G.I. Joe made an agreement to decommission all Cybertronian technology on Earth, Scarlett wanted to take [[G.I. Joe battle mech|her giant battle mech]] out for one last spin, and offered Snake-Eyes a round of robo-tag. The game never came to pass, as [[Area 52 (G1)|Area 52]] was attacked by Cobra and Scarlett had to help fight off their [[Battle Android Trooper]]s. They were aided by a team of Autobots, and Scarlett was surprised to see a [[Arcee (G1)|female robot]]. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 1|The Art of War #1}} She left her mech after the team found [[Cobra Commander]] lurking around inside Area 52, but this proved to be a mistake when [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]] attacked them. Scarlett was believed to have died when the android brought the roof crashing down on everyone, but she soon reappeared and chastised her friends for thinking she'd die so easily. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 2|The Art of War #2}}

[[File:Scarlett and Snake Eyes AoW4.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]
After learning that Serpent O.R. had taken a warpgate to Cybertron, Scarlett and the other followed him. After a brief run-in with [[cannibalizer]]s, they found Serpent O.R., who promptly captured them with help from his new Decepticon friends. While imprisoned in the Decepticon base, she had a romantic moment with Snake-Eyes, making out with him even after seeing his horribly scarred face. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 3|The Art of War #3}} They later managed to escape when Snake-Eyes hypnotized a [[Breakdown (G1)|guard]]. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 4|The Art of War #4}} After freeing the Autobots, the Joes fought their way through the base and into Serpent O.R.'s control room, where [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] was being held. Upon arriving, they found Serpent O.R. under control of Cobra Commander, and Scarlett was quickly knocked out by his robotic tentacles. After the commander was defeated by [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]], Scarlett met with Snake-Eyes, who offered to continue their game of tag without mechs. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 5|The Art of War #5}}

A few months later, Scarlett was part of a team of Joes sent to [[Tibet]] to aid Hawk, [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]] and Optimus Prime in the fight against [[Cobra-La]]. {{storylink|Black Horizon, Part 2 of 2}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers/G.I. Joe''===
[[File:Scarlett-The Line.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7]]
In [[1939]], Scarlett and [[Lady Jaye]] were part of a team of intelligence agents sent to continental [[Europe]] to investigate [[Cobra]]'s ongoing conquest. They were the only members of the team to return to America alive, where they helped found [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]. She spent some time checking out [[Snake-Eyes]] before the Joes were all sent to assault Cobra's base on the [[Fera Islands]]. {{storylink|The Line}} As part of Strike Force One, Scarlett stumbled upon the dormant [[Autobot]]s, who were promptly reactivated. When [[Leatherneck]] opened fire on [[Ironhide (G1)|one of them]], Scarlett was almost hit by ricocheting bullets, but was saved by the Autobot. {{storylink|Transformed}}

The Autobots agreed to help G.I. Joe with their mission, allowing them to get rid of Cobra's [[Decepticon]] [[Seeker (body-type)|air forces]]. Scarlett was distraught to learn that Snake-Eyes had gone missing in the early stages of the battle, but [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] tried to comfort her. {{storylink|Trial by Fire}} When the Autobots were stopped in their tracks by [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]'s earthquakes, Scarlett commandeered Bumblebee's motorcycle form, noting how "sweet" it was that he had "never been driven before". Using Bumblebee, Scarlett jumped above Rumble and dropped a grenade in his face, destroying him. An impressed Bumblebee told her she could drive him any time she wanted to. {{storylink|Wolves}}

[[File:Scarlett-Trenches.jpg|thumb|left|upright=2.0]]
As the Joes approached the [[Terrordrome]], Scarlett started thinking about Snake-Eyes again, only to find that he had returned, with his face horribly scarred. She asked the ninja what had happened, but he merely left again, not wanting Scarlett to see his injuries. {{storylink|Trenches}} In spite of this, the two ended up infiltrating the Terrordrome together. As the duo searched for the enemy's [[Shockwave (G1)|rail gun]], they ended up staring right in the face of the gigantic [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]]. After locating and arresting [[Destro]] and the [[Baroness]] for crimes against humanity, Scarlett learned that the Autobots had sacrificed themselves in order to destroy Bruticus. Embracing Snake-Eyes, she reflected on [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]] saying that there's a fine line between being a hero and being a memory. {{storylink|The Iron Fist}}

A long time later, in [[1985]], the latest incarnation of G.I. Joe discovered [[Blaster (G1)|two]] [[Perceptor (G1)|new]] Autobots. Along with Duke and [[Stalker (G.I. Joe)|Stalker]], a retired Scarlett figured it was time to tell the new guys about their adventure with the Transformers. {{storylink|Targets of Opportunity}}

===''Unit:E'' comic===
Upon approaching the planet [[Earth]], the artificial intelligence [[Synergy]] presented footage of the Joes in action so that her crewmate, the young [[Microman|Acroyear]], could learn about his potential allies and enemies on the alien world. Scarlett could be seen charging into action alongside Duke and Roadblock on one of Synergy's viewscreens. {{storylink|Unit:E (issue)|Unit:E}}

===''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''===
[[Image:tfvsgi GI JUMP.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.3]]

Scarlett's parents were murdered by [[Cobra Commander]]. She dedicated her life to G.I. Joe, and vowed not get distracted by mundane activities that "normal" people did until the terrorist was brought down. She was part of a G.I. Joe strike force that stormed a Cobra hideout housing deadly [[G.I.Rocket|Creeper bombs]], where she announced that she would marry whichever Joe would bring her the helmet of Cobra Commander. Both Snake-Eyes and Duke accepted her challenge. The squad then apprehended [[Doctor Venom]], who informed the Joes that Cobra Commander was already on his way out of the base. The Joes split up to track down the head of Cobra before he escaped them once more.

Scarlett and Duke came upon Cobra Commander taking off in a Cobra [[Rattler]], and commandeered another of the planes to pursue him. Things were further complicated when [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] joined the fight, but Scarlett managed to get a shot off on Cobra Commander's plane with a Creeper arrow, allowing Snake-Eyes to stab the terrorist through the chest. Cobra Commander also managed to get a shot off, however, and Snake-Eyes was disfigured. Scarlett and Duke managed to rescue Snake-Eyes just as Cobra Commander's Rattler was blown out of the air, and brought their wounded comrade back to [[T.H.E. P.I.T.]]. Scarlett visited Snake-Eyes as he recovered, Cobra Commander's helm in hand. She asked Snake-Eyes if he was ready to set a date for their wedding, but Snake-Eyes was unresponsive. {{storylink|The Golden Boys}}

Snake-Eyes then left G.I. Joe, leaving Scarlett distraught. She nonetheless went back on active duty after a brief leave of absence, and met with other Joes to plan out a defense plan when it became known that the planet [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] was heading for the Earth. After war was declared between the two planets, Scarlett was assigned to lead a mission to Cybertron with the intent of invading it. {{storylink|I Saw Three Ships}}

[[Image:tfvsgi green bombs.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.3]]

The Joes began their attack on Cybertron by sending down "green bombs" from the air. Unfortunately, when Scarlett targeted [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], she found it protected by a forcefield. The Joes' attempt to bomb the mobile city provoked a counter-attack from the Decepticons, with both Trypticon and the giant [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] gunning for the humans. Though Scarlett managed to hold her own during the fight, it was [[Wild Bill]] that brought the confrontation to an end by crashing his helicopter into the [[Combiner|gestalt]]. Scarlett then led her remaining troops back to Green Zone 0-8-6, the Joes' temporary base on the alien world. In the dead of night, Scarlett and [[Snow Job]] found the badly-injured Wild Bill stumbling into the camp. The wounded Joe was closely followed by [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], who triggered a perimeter trap, becoming the Joes' first P.O.W. in the inter-planetary war. {{storylink|Targetmasters (issue)|Targetmasters}}

Scarlett then spearheaded a vivisection of their captive, believing the giant to be little more than an unfeeling machine. She changed her mind when Wheeljack began relaying snippets from a presidential speech. She ordered her Joes to put the Cybertronian together just as Wheeljack's friends stumbled onto the scene and launched an attack on the camp. The Joes returned fire, until blasts from both sides rendered all combatants unconscious. {{storylink|Funeral for a Friend}}

Scarlett was stirred from her slumber by [[Bazooka (G.I. Joe)|Bazooka]], with the rest of the combatant soon following suit. Both teams readied to take up arms once more when [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] showed up, accompanied by [[Breaker]], [[Jinx]], [[Cover Girl]] and [[Clutch (G.I. Joe)|Clutch]]. Grimlock declared a truce between the Joes and the Autobots had been reached, and both factions partied together to cement their alliance. {{storylink|Form Follows Function}} Henceforth, the Joes stationed themselves within [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], the mobile Autobot city. Scarlett was posted as a lookout atop its central tower when she spotted Trypticon stomping towards them. Legions of Cobra troops burst forth from the titanic Decepticon, many of which were felled by Scarlett. Just as she was about to be overwhelmed by the enemy's sheer numbers, Duke and Snake-Eyes materialized seemingly out of nowhere. The "three amigos" took care of the remaining Cobra soldiers until their attack eventually subsided. Scarlett then turned to Snake-Eyes to embrace him, but the ninja rebuffed her advances and departed. {{storylink|Everybody Hates Metroplex}}

In an offensive action, Scarlett slipped onboard [[Astrotrain (G1)|the Astrotrain]] in order to infiltrate a Decepticon base. She reached [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]...

[[Image:tfvsgi headmasters scarlett's hallucination.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.3|''THIS IS MY SERMON THIS IS MY SERMON THIS IS MY SERMON'']]

...and woke up in the psychiatric ward of a hospital. {{storylink|Expelled from the Garden}}

[[Doctor Mindbender|Dr. Mindelbender]] and his staff showed her that the "Transformers" and "Joes" were just 1980s children's toys and cartoons, made into part of an elaborate fantasy she'd constructed. She pretended to be 'cured' and recognising her delusions, and was released back to her husband Fred and their two children... but all the while, visions and the voices of the Neb'los clashed throughout her mind and intruded on her day-to-day life, to extent of thinking she had an implant in her head. Friends at her welcome home party looked just like the Joes in her mind. In the end, to "escape" what must be a villainous plot, she killed her family.

Good thing that ''was'' a big trick.

Scarlett helped other captive Joes bust out of the town of "Springfield"—really part of Scorponok—but returned herself to seek brutal revenge of Dr. Mindbender. After a swift interrogation (and fighting her robot "children" and herself) to learn Megatron was trying to study how human brains ticked, she killed Mindbender after strapping him inside his own [[Brainwave Scanner]]. The Neb’los—beings who once lived on the same site before “Springfield” was built—implored her to kill Scorponok's controller [[Zarak (G1)|Zarak]], which Scarlett obliged. Taking control of the city herself, she returned Bumblebee's still-living head to [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. {{storylink|Headmasters (issue)|Headmasters}}

Scorponok (and presumably Scarlett) were present when Prime resurrected Bumblebee {{storylink|Pax Megatronus}} and when Cybertron transformed into the body of [[Primus]]. {{storylink|Escape from Primus}}

Scarlett took on the name '''Zkarlett''', and she and Scorponok met up with Fortress Maximus, who was now controlled by Snake Eyes. Sharing an emotional moment with Snake Eyes, she encouraged him to trust her—trust he demonstrated by showing her his scarred face.

Zkarlett/Scorponok and Fortress Maximus encouraged Metroplex to transform into robot mode and stand with the Jotobots against the Decepticon horde. {{storylink|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe issue 12|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #12}}

During the ensuing battle, Zkarlett used the Brainwave Scanner to venture into the Matrix and retrieve the spirit of Optimus Prime. Zkarlett was also present when Snake Eyes killed Cobra Commander, and was one of a group of Joes who attempted to return the Matrix of Leadership to the reborn Optimus Prime.

When the battle was over, and Prime had healed Snake Eyes's face, Zkarlett asked whether the ninja was now truly happy. Snake Eyes finally accepted her marriage proposal, and the two embraced.

Returning to Earth, Scarlett attended Hawk's funeral in Arlington. Later still, she and Snake Eyes (now going by Francis Witwicky) retired to a little log cabin atop Scorponok's tail, where they looked after the also-retired [[U.S.7]]. The pair were invited to the wedding of Brawn and Covergirl, and Scarlett became godmother to the wedded couple's child. {{storylink|The War Never Ends}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
[[File:FirstStrike04-ScarlettJoinsGIJoe.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]
{{MainIDW|Scarlett}}

'''Shana M. O'Hara''' was born in [[Atlanta]] to a family of military men, including her father and three brothers. Proficient in martial arts, she graduated college and passed her Bar exams without even attending law school. Hoping to put both her mind and body to work, she joined the United States military. {{storylink|Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook issue 3|Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook #3}} Though she initially struggled under the auspices of an unsympathetic drill sergeant, she found a willing mentor in [[Joe Colton]], whom she came to respect. {{storylink|First Strike issue 4|First Strike #4}} By 2006, "'''Scarlett'''" had thus became one of the earliest members of G.I. Joe, the American government's top-secret military agency, having been handpicked by [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] as a potential recruit {{storylink|Secret Raiders: A Revolution Prelude|Secret Raiders}} {{storylink|First Strike issue 4|First Strike #4}} {{storylink|Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook issue 3|Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook #3}}

[[File:WhenEaglesScream-Scarlett.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

In one of their first missions, the newly minted Joes were deployed to [[Mount St. Helens]] to engage a [[Bugly (G1)|rogue mechanical alien]]. They struggled against the extraterrestrial until [[Sgt. Savage]] and [[Centurion (IDW)|Centurion]] arrived, the latter downing the rogue Decepticon and dragging him into [[Project Hot House|a refitted bunker]] overseen by [[Skywatch]]. Unlike [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]], Scarlett was alright with accepting that certain secrets were kept from the Joes. She was not alright with the fact that she, Hawk and [[Stalker (G.I. Joe)|Stalker]] lacked the security clearance to do deeper into the facility while Savage did. {{storylink|When Eagles Scream}}

Centurion and Bugly, it turned out, were only the beginning. Only two years later, [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] would lead a full-scale [[Decepticon]] invasion of Earth, culminating in an all-out battle in Manhattan where he was defeated by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]]. Scarlett and Joe Colton were among the Joe assets called in to assist with the cleanup, the latter lamenting the government's failure to listen to his warnings. {{storylink|Ghost in the Machine (IDW)|Ghost in the Machine}}

By the time the Transformers had departed Earth, G.I. Joe had become embroiled in a secret war against Cobra. To Scarlett's dismay, the conflict went nuclear and attempts to keep the Joes going fell apart, ending in the team's decommissioning. {{storylink|Secret Raiders: A Revolution Prelude|Secret Raiders}}

In 2016, shortly after the Transformers had returned to Earth and officially turned the planet into a protectorate of the [[Council of Worlds]], Scarlett was called back to action when [[Joe Colton]] took command of the [[Earth Defense Command]]. Scarlett and [[Roadblock (G.I. Joe)|Roadblock]] were tasked with escorting [[G.B. Blackrock|Garrison Blackrock]] to a classified location when their military convoy was attacked. Their incendiary rounds were ineffective against [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]], whose head had taken control of [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]]'s body and then kidnapped Blackrock. {{storylink|White Light}}

Sometime after that meeting, the real Joe Colton had been surreptitiously replaced by a [[Dire Wraith]] imposter. Unaware of the subterfuge, Scarlett met up with "[[Joe Colton (Dire Wraith)|Joe Colton]]" and his old [[Adventure Team]] friend [[Miles Mayhem|Miles Manheim]] to discuss the surge of extraterrestrial activity on Earth, starting with the Transformers. Scarlett lamented the trouble [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] had faced in their war against [[Cobra]]. While Colton and Manheim discussed [[Rom|a silver alien]] in [[California]], Scarlett expressed worry about [[Micronaut|alien]] [[Baron Karza|threats]] they are not yet aware of. Colton and Scarlett then revealed to Manheim that the worldwide deposits of Cybertronian super-fuel [[Ore-13]] were destabilizing, and on the verge of destructive nuclear fission. Believing this to be Optimus Prime's doing, they tasked Mannheim with using the technology of a captive and tortured [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] to disrupt Prime's plans. {{storylink|Secret Raiders: A Revolution Prelude|Secret Raiders}}

[[File:ConcordeHymn-ColtonsCorpse.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"Forget it, Scarlett. It's Chinatown."]]

G.I. Joe was later assigned to engage the Cybertronians in the city of [[Portland]] after the Ore-13 beneath [[Mount Olympus]] detonated. Scarlett gave [[Mainframe (G.I. Joe)|Mainframe]] the order to fire missiles at [[Jazz (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jazz]] which brought [[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]] to the G.I. Joe who began slicing the human war machines with ease. Scarlett noted how Arcee alone was overpowering G.I. Joe and that she needed to be taken down before she summoned reinforcements. Arcee already had called for reinforcements and Scarlett assumed Optimus Prime was trying to force G.I. Joe into surrendering. [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] then fired an EMP to force the humans to listen leaving Scarlett and Joe Colton to nearly be crushed by falling planes before [[Victorion]] intervened. What Scarlett assumed was [[Rom|a new Cybertronian]] arrived quickly atomized Joe Colton and three more Joes before it flew off just as suddenly. Scarlett took command of the squad and swore revenge on the Cybertronians for the death of their friends. {{storylink|Concorde Hymn}} In the aftermath, Mainframe and [[Agent Helix]] pointed out the inconsistencies between the actions of the silver human sized alien (how it only opened fire on four Joes and no one else) and the Cybertronians to Scarlett but she refused to hear it, determined to kill the Cybertronians.

[[File:DTA-ScarlettAndRoadblock.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

Back at G.I. Joe headquarters, she learned that [[Doc (Carla Greer)|Doc]] also suspected the new alien wasn't connected to Optimus Prime. She later met with [[Miles Mayhem]] who introduced her to [[Matt Trakker]] and [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], who begged to be killed. She began to feel sympathy for the Decepticon before Miles forced her away and showed her the specialized [[M.A.S.K.]] vehicles that would engage the Autobots in Greece. Scarlett noted that the instant they were deployed the Cybertronians would find a way to track them in the future but Mayhem brushed those concerns aside. {{storylink|The Divine Source of Liberty}} She was later confronted by an angry Matt Trakker as she'd withheld that the Cybertronians were living beings from him. She was later approached by Doc with the data that four Joes killed by the silver alien had non-human DNA. Realizing that the entire chain of command could be compromised, she put out a call to [[Snake-Eyes]] to infiltrate Autobot City. {{storylink|O Ship of State}} She later launched an all-out attack on the EDC's [[Marshall Islands|Bikini Atoll]] facility to fight off the Dire Wraiths there much to [[Marissa Faireborn]]'s frustration. {{storylink|Thundercracker & Buster Save the World}} On the mission, her team discovered the damaged [[Skywarp (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Skywarp]], who had been left behind by the EDC when they had abandoned the base. {{storylink|D.T.A.}}

[[File:TheNewColossus-YoJoe.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

Returning to [[Governor's Island]] with her team, Scarlett found that [[Action Man]] had broken in and liberated [[Kup (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Kup]] who was being held in the base on the orders of [[Miles Mayhem]]. The Joes then discovered that all the [[M.A.S.K.]] forces had launched an attack on [[Metrotitan (G1)|Autobot City]]. Without access to the M.A.S.K. technology, all G.I. Joe had was integrated network gear that Soundwave could easily shut down. Scarlett was prepared to throw in the towel before Mainframe revealed the classic G.I. Joe vehicles which were too low tech for Soundwave to hack. Striking a pose, Scarlett ordered her team into action. {{storylink|The New Colossus}} Scarlett led the charge into [[Monument Valley]] and deployed G.I. Joe's combined firepower against the monstrous [[Baron Karza]]. When [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] ordered Metrotitan to lift off, Scarlett evacuated along with her teammates, and rescued Rom and [[Matt Trakker]] from a massive Ore-13 explosion. Though it appeared that Mainframe had perished in the explosion, he had survived inside [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]]'s chest, much to her relief. Back at Governor's Island, Scarlett and Matt had a chat about what the future held for both of them now that G.I. Joe was no longer part of the US government. {{storylink|Valley Forge}}

WIth G.I. Joe now an international peacekeeping group, Scarlett relocated their headquarters to the sunken wreck of the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'', which G.I. Joe rechristened the ''Lemuria''. With Skywarp now a member of the team, Scarlett supervised numerous missions across the world, battling foes such as the [[Red Shadows]] and [[Dreadnok]]s. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vol. 5 issue 1|G.I. Joe vol. 5 #1}} {{storylink|G.I. Joe vol. 5 issue 2|G.I. Joe vol. 5 #2}} Following a disastrous mission in [[Verenya]], Scarlett authorized [[Ayana Jones|Ayana "Mayday" Jones]] to work outside the organization's parameters during the investigation into the mysterious [[Talisman (G1)|Talisman]]. {{storylink|Power and Glory}}

Following the arrival of the [[Junkion (species)|Junkion]]s on Earth and the threat of a worldwide [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]] invasion, Scarlett coordinated reinforcements to the [[Matterhorn]], where Optimus Prime's team battled the brunt of the Junkions. {{storylink|New Cybertron End: Feel Safe Without Regrets|Feel Safe Without Regrets}} When the Revolutionaries were preparing to storm [[Brasnya]] to capture [[Merklynn|Garrison Kreiger]], Scarlett arranged for [[Matt Trakker]] and [[Gloria Baker]] to join them. {{storylink|Power and Glory}} Not long afterwards, the real Joe Colton — thought dead since his Dire Wraith encounter — resurfaced as the villainous "Baron Ironblood", {{storylink|Ghost in the Machine (IDW)|Ghost in the Machine}} which left Scarlett deeply conflicted about the mentor whom she had once trusted. {{storylink|First Strike issue 4|First Strike #4}}

[[File:FirstStrike1-infiltration.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

When Marissa Faireborn was properly inducted as Earth's ambassador on the [[Council of Worlds]], G.I. Joe watched from the ''Lemuria'', where an on-edge Scarlett voiced her concerns about whether or not Earth was truly ready to join the cosmic community. Her concerns were proven right seconds later after Baron Ironblood and his team of villains revealed themselves and ran amok in [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], forcing [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] to shut down the Space Bridge connecting the two worlds. Scarlett ordered [[Dial-Tone|Dial Tone]] to analyze the data behind the attack, which led the Joes to storming a secure bunker in the [[Alps]] to try and find a clue behind Colton's motives. Breaching the compound, Scarlett discovered that Colton had deliberately baited her into the trap having left her a note explaining his motivations and asking her to consider them before pursuing him. {{storylink|First Strike issue 1|First Strike #1}} Having triggered the base's self-destruct mechanisms, Scarlett's team encountered stiff resistance as an army of Red Shadows nearly prevented them from escaping the detonation of the base. Armed with the knowledge of Colton's plans, Scarlett's Joes went to meet with Matt Trakker and Gloria Baker. Together, they travelled to [[Metrotitan (G1)|Autobot City]] to ask Soundwave for use of the Space Bridge. Though the Space Bridge was nonfunctional, the group came up with the idea of piggybacking the [[M.A.S.S. Device]] off the Space Bridge's signal as Ironblood's cabal had done. To do so, however, they required the M.A.S.S. Device itself, prompting the alliance to storm [[Castle Destro]]. {{storylink|First Strike issue 2|First Strike #2}}

[[File:FirstStrike4-ScarlettAndOptimus.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"Yeah I spent most of the last crossover trying to kill you, but I'm the main character this time around."]]

Riding on Soundwave's shoulder, Scarlett arrived just as [[Skyburst (G1)|Skyburst]] and [[Stormclash]] had finished rigging up the Space Bridge/M.A.S.S. Device hybrid that would allow them to travel to Cybertron. Emerging in the middle of the battlefield, Scarlett tackled Baron Ironblood... only to find [[Doctor Mindbender]] beneath the mask, a decoy to slow her down while the real Colton made off with the Talisman. Having hoped that Colton had been coerced into his villainous persona, Scarlett was dismayed to learn from Gloria Baker that Colton's real objective was to reach Cybertron's core. Hoping to stop him before he could put his scheme into play, the group headed for [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], only for their path to be barred by [[Strika (BM)|Strika]]. The situation was defused only after [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] and [[Sunstreaker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sunstreaker]] arrived. Placed before the [[Council of Worlds]], [[Vigilem|Carcer]]ian commander [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] promptly ordered them all executed. {{storylink|First Strike issue 3|First Strike #3}} Though Marissa vouched for their rights as Council citizens — prompting Scarlett to lay out what she knew of Colton's plan — the subsequent diplomatic bickering saw Starscream take control of the situation and detain Scarlett and her team in a holding cell. There, she was visited by Optimus Prime. The two shared their thoughts on recent events, prompting Scarlett to open up and explain her history with Colton to Optimus, confessing that she had come to Cybertron, in part, out of a desire to save the man she respected from himself. {{storylink|First Strike issue 4|First Strike #4}}

The humans were soon freed by Optimus, Arcee and Soundwave with the bi-species group making their way underground to follow Colton's trail. The group made steady progress through Colton's myriad of traps until they came upon a river of acid too potent to cross. Unwilling to accept that Colton could have made a mistake considering the specialization of his team and his meticulous planning, Scarlett bungee jumped into the river, revealing it to be harmless hologram planted by [[Miles Mayhem]]. The group pressed on arriving to the Cybertron's core ahead of Colton. When the [[Iron Ring]] arrived, Scarlett offered Coulson a chance to stand down before the two sides came to blows. {{storylink|First Strike issue 5|First Strike #5}} Engaging her former mentor in a knife fight, the two traded philosophy as Scarlett pointed out the futility of Colton's actions before the [[Council of Worlds]] arrived to arrest everyone. Kreiger fled in the chaos prompting Colton to follow him allowing Scarlett to approach him from behind only for Colton to reflexively impale her with his knife. Scarlett took advantage of his hesitation to remove the blade and beat him down before Kreiger uttered a rhyme that activated the [[Talisman (G1)|Talisman]], revealed him to be an alien wizard known as "Merklynn" and turned a portion of Cybertron into [[New Prysmos]] before teleporting everyone back to Iacon. On the surface, Starscream attempted to execute Colton before Scarlett intervened. As the humans waited for a Space Bridge back to Earth, Scarlett reflected on the bittersweetness of their victory and that Colton's unwillingness to kill might indicate that there might still be good in him. {{storylink|First Strike issue 6|First Strike #6}}

When [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] began its apocalyptic attack on the [[Cybertronian colonies]], ''Lemuria'' was attacked by [[Maximal]]s with Scarlett and Roadblock being saved by [[Agent Helix]], Snake Eyes and Skywarp. {{storylink|Last Stand (G.I. Joe)|Last Stand}} Returning to G.I. Joe Field Headquarters, Scarlett voiced her opinion that Unicron would soon its sights on Earth. {{storylink|Road's End}} After Unciron had destroyed Cybertron, the populace space bridged to Earth with the Chaos Bringer following. In preparation for the battle, Scarlett held a briefing in [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. {{storylink|Assembly (Unicron)|Assembly}} During the final battle, Scarlett went to [[Detroit]] to assist Matt Trakker. {{storylink|Ceremony}} Scarlett was later present as the G.I. Joe representative at Optimus Prime's funeral. {{storylink|Post}}

{{-}}

===''Aw Yeah Revolution!''===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Aw Yeah Revolution! issue 1|Aw Yeah Revolution! #1}}}}

===When Worlds Collide===
Scarlett joined [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and his allies in an attempt to stop [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Cobra Commander]] from stealing the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. Their fateful battle was interrupted when the kids who were playing with their various toys were called off to dinner. {{storylink|When Worlds Collide}}

==Toys==
{{Note|This character has many other toys that are not connected to ''Transformers''. See the external link to yojoe.com for more information.}}
===G.I. Joe and the Transformers===
[[File:ClubCrossoverExclusive.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*''' G.I. Joe featuring Ninja Force and Transformers''' (2016)
**''Accessories:'' display stand, back scabbard, 2 swords, 2 tegaki, nunchuks

:Scarlett was only available as part of a box set that was sold through both the [[Transformers Collectors' Club]] store and the G.I. Joe Collectors' Club store, both of them operated by [[Fun Publications]]. Other figures and accessories included in the box set were [[Blackcat (G1)|Blackcat]], [[Cobra Commander]], [[Sidney Biggles-Jones|Dr. Sidney Biggles-Jones]], [[Ratbat (G1)#Timelines|Ratbat]], [[Megatron (G1)/toys#G.I. Joe and the Transformers|Megatron]], [[Toaster]], and [[Crusticon|The Crusticons]].
{{-}}

*'''Scarlett vs Zartan & Autobot Powerglide vs Soundwave''' (Box set, 2016)
**''Accessories:'' display stand, web gear, bow, quiver, crossbow

: Exclusive to the [[Hasbro Toy Shop]] booth at [[San Diego Comic-Con]] 2016 and the Hasbro Toy Shop website, Scarlett is a new release composed of recolored parts of other ''G.I. Joe'' figures.

:This set features a redeco of a (non-transforming) [[Cobra]] [[Rattler]] vehicle colored as [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]], a [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] [[HISS tank]], and [[Zartan]].

==Notes==
*Her ''Action Force'' toy gives her birthplace as [[Belgium]] [http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/toys/003/af/031/index.html], though this wasn't canon in Marvel's ''Action Force'' comic due to its reprinting the ''G.I. Joe'' comic where she's American. Then, a few years later, the ''unrelated'' U.S. group G.I. Joe merged with Action Force. Feel free to feel confused.
*The IDW continuity stories [[White Light|''The Transformers'' #56]], [[Secret Raiders: A Revolution Prelude|''Revolution'' #0]], and [[The Divine Source of Liberty|''Revolution'' #2]] have Scarlett as a Colonel, but her ''[[Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook issue 3|Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook]]'' profile mistakenly ranks her as much lower a Master Sergeant.
*Scarlett has been voiced by Transformers alumni [[Grey Griffin]] in ''G.I. Joe: Resolute'' and by [[Lisa Ann Beley]] in both ''G.I. Joe Spy Troops'' and G.I. Joe: Valor vs. Venom.

==External links==
*[http://www.yojoe.com/action/82/scarlett.shtml Scarlett at YoJoe.com]
*{{i|Scarlett}} at The IDW Hasbro Wiki

[[Category:Action Force]]
[[Category:G.I. Joe]]
[[Category:Generation 1 humans]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) humans]]
[[Category:Marvel Generation 1 humans]]
[[Category:Marvel Generation 2 humans]]
[[Category:Ninjas]]

Scarlett

2021-11-12T13:12:01Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Notes */

{{factions|gijoe|{{factions/icons|custom=ActionForce Logo.png|cLink=Action Force (team)|cPretty=Action Force|cSize=180px}}|cobra}}
:''Scarlett is a [[human]] from the [[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe portion]] of the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[File:Scarlett.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|SWF, looking for SBM (Single Black-wearing Male), must be ninja, mute is a plus.]]
'''Shana O'Hara''', codename '''Scarlett''', a crossbow-toting southern belle with a history in martial arts, is a prominent member of the [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] team. She has a thing for [[Snake-Eyes]].

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====''G.I. Joe and the Transformers''====
[[File:Scarlettmarvel.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|Not the safest place to keep a grappling hook.]]
Scarlett and several other Joes were overseeing a test of [[Power Station Alpha]], which was interrupted by the appearance of a giant transforming robot. After [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|the Transformer]] was destroyed, it was followed by a much larger robot which called itself [[Superion (G1)|Superion]]. {{storylink|Blood on the Tracks}} G.I. Joe's forces were overwhelmed by Superion, so Scarlett called for backup. {{storylink|Power Struggle}}

The Transformer they destroyed was eventually determined to be their friend! Scarlett stood nearby while [[Mainframe (G.I. Joe)|Mainframe]] attempted to rebuild him. {{storylink|Ashes, Ashes...}} As the [[Autobot]] [[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] arrived to help, it was announced that [[Cobra]] would be teaming up with G.I. Joe and the Autobots against the [[Decepticon]]s to keep them from destroying the world with Power Station Alpha. The newly rebuilt Transformer, now named [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]], escorted Scarlett and the [[Baroness]] to Power Station Alpha with the intention of placing detonators inside. Without G.I. Joe's consent, Baroness set the timers prematurely, much to Scarlett's frustration. With the threat over, [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] told G.I. Joe to go away and stay out of the Autobots' business. {{storylink|...All Fall Down!}}
{{-}}

====Marvel ''Generation 2'' comic====
[[File:Scarlettg2.jpg|100px|thumb|"...Got to stop pretending this is a ninja outfit..."]]
While Scarlett was pretending to have defected to [[Cobra]], she had to fire on [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] and [[Stalker (G.I. Joe)|Stalker]]. Shortly after that, she and fellow new Cobra [[Sidney Biggles-Jones|Doctor Biggles-Jones]], a weapons scientist, hunted down [[Destro]] and the [[Baroness]]. Snake-Eyes was forced to stab her to convince the terrorist organization of her new allegiance. {{storylink|Unfoldings!}} None of her vitals were damaged, which made her new "comrade" [[Slice (G.I. Joe)|Slice]] suspicious. She was nevertheless hospitalized from this {{storylink|Realignments}} [[File:Scarlett slices suckerpunch.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.0]] and brought to the hospital at Cobra-controlled [[Milleville]], where Biggles-Jones confronted her about her true intentions. All the while this was going on, Cobra was engaged in a trade deal with [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] but Scarlett was too injured to have an impact on things. {{storylink|Goin' South}}

Just as Biggles-Jones had revealed that she too was a double agent, Megatron snatched her away, wishing to experiment on the scientist's brain. Scarlett, despite her wounds, fought her way out of the Cobra compound (battering Slice in the process) and confronted Megatron. {{storylink|Sucker Punch}} Her audacious ultimatum was cut short when a small group of Autobots sent by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] ([[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]], [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]], [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]], [[Chase (G1)|Chase]], [[Override (G1)|Override]], and [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]]) arrived to attack Megatron. While the large-scale battle raged, Scarlett used the opportunity to attack [[Cobra Commander]] and [[Zarana]]. A save by Snake-Eyes reunited the pair.

With most of the Autobots destroyed, Megatron stole the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' with Biggles-Jones in tow. {{storylink|Final Transformations}} It was Skydive and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] who managed to sneak aboard and bring the doctor home, though at the expense of Witwicky's life. Returned to safety, Biggles-Jones greeted Scarlett with a much-needed hug. {{storylink|All or Nothing!}}
{{-}}

===Marvel UK ''The Transformers'' comic===
[[File:Susan scarlett.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Scarlett loses friends in the sewers all the time and you don't hear her complaining.]]
One of [[Action Force (team)|Action Force]]'s American operatives [http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/comics/maf/001/013.html], Scarlett's spent several missions with the European group. She was part of the team that went under [[London]] to locate the monster that had killed [[Susan Hoffman]]'s team. Scarlett openly thought this was a waste of their time and Susan was talking crap, until the Transformers turned up and the monster was revealed to be the monstrous [[Straxus (G1)|(copy of) Megatron]]!

In the battle itself, Scarlett mostly stood on the sidelines, at one point trying to get [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]] to ''not'' send in the Mauler tanks to get stepped on. {{storylink|Ancient Relics!}}
{{-}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
[[File:Scarlett GIJoevsTFs3.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|left]]
When [[Cobra]] unearthed and reprogrammed the dormant Transformers aboard the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' and used them to take over the world, Scarlett was among the first members of G.I. Joe, the anti-terrorist force created to stop them. After hearing from [[Doc (G.I. Joe)|Doc]] how [[Snake-Eyes]] had lost his voice, face and family in Cobra's initial attack, Scarlett wondered how the ninja could go on after suffering through so much in one day. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 2|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #2}} Her first duty as part of G.I. Joe was to guard the [[SPS Research Facility|SPS Center]] from an attack by Cobra's commandeered Transformers. The attack came, overwhelming and surrounding Scarlett's group until they were rescued by the free agents [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 3|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #3}} Scarlett was later part of the forces preparing for G.I. Joe's final raid on [[Cobra Island]]. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 4|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #4}} Despite some opposition from the US government, who would rather [[Nuclear weapon|nuke]] the island, the Joes left to battle Cobra in person. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 5|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #5}} As part of [[Mainframe (G.I. Joe)|Mainframe]]'s team, she defended the [[SPS Satellite]]'s controls from [[Storm Shadow]] and [[Firefly]], taking out the latter with a kick to the head. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 6|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #6}}

[[File:Scarlett GIJoevsTFsII1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3]]
Two years later, Scarlett was part of a G.I. Joe assault team attempting to stop an international arms ring affiliated with the [[Dreadnok]]s from selling Cybertronian technology on the black market. Together with [[Stalker (G.I. Joe)|Stalker]] and [[Beachhead]], she attacked the Dreadnoks in [[Boston]] and easily took out [[Ripper (G.I. Joe)|Ripper]], [[Torch (G.I. Joe)|Torch]], and [[Buzzer (G.I. Joe)|Buzzer]] despite their new cybernetic attack limbs. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 1|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #1}} She later ended up on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] alongside several other Joes and Cobra members. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 2|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #2}}

When the [[Autobot]]s and G.I. Joe made an agreement to decommission all Cybertronian technology on Earth, Scarlett wanted to take [[G.I. Joe battle mech|her giant battle mech]] out for one last spin, and offered Snake-Eyes a round of robo-tag. The game never came to pass, as [[Area 52 (G1)|Area 52]] was attacked by Cobra and Scarlett had to help fight off their [[Battle Android Trooper]]s. They were aided by a team of Autobots, and Scarlett was surprised to see a [[Arcee (G1)|female robot]]. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 1|The Art of War #1}} She left her mech after the team found [[Cobra Commander]] lurking around inside Area 52, but this proved to be a mistake when [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]] attacked them. Scarlett was believed to have died when the android brought the roof crashing down on everyone, but she soon reappeared and chastised her friends for thinking she'd die so easily. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 2|The Art of War #2}}

[[File:Scarlett and Snake Eyes AoW4.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]
After learning that Serpent O.R. had taken a warpgate to Cybertron, Scarlett and the other followed him. After a brief run-in with [[cannibalizer]]s, they found Serpent O.R., who promptly captured them with help from his new Decepticon friends. While imprisoned in the Decepticon base, she had a romantic moment with Snake-Eyes, making out with him even after seeing his horribly scarred face. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 3|The Art of War #3}} They later managed to escape when Snake-Eyes hypnotized a [[Breakdown (G1)|guard]]. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 4|The Art of War #4}} After freeing the Autobots, the Joes fought their way through the base and into Serpent O.R.'s control room, where [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] was being held. Upon arriving, they found Serpent O.R. under control of Cobra Commander, and Scarlett was quickly knocked out by his robotic tentacles. After the commander was defeated by [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]], Scarlett met with Snake-Eyes, who offered to continue their game of tag without mechs. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 5|The Art of War #5}}

A few months later, Scarlett was part of a team of Joes sent to [[Tibet]] to aid Hawk, [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]] and Optimus Prime in the fight against [[Cobra-La]]. {{storylink|Black Horizon, Part 2 of 2}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers/G.I. Joe''===
[[File:Scarlett-The Line.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7]]
In [[1939]], Scarlett and [[Lady Jaye]] were part of a team of intelligence agents sent to continental [[Europe]] to investigate [[Cobra]]'s ongoing conquest. They were the only members of the team to return to America alive, where they helped found [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]. She spent some time checking out [[Snake-Eyes]] before the Joes were all sent to assault Cobra's base on the [[Fera Islands]]. {{storylink|The Line}} As part of Strike Force One, Scarlett stumbled upon the dormant [[Autobot]]s, who were promptly reactivated. When [[Leatherneck]] opened fire on [[Ironhide (G1)|one of them]], Scarlett was almost hit by ricocheting bullets, but was saved by the Autobot. {{storylink|Transformed}}

The Autobots agreed to help G.I. Joe with their mission, allowing them to get rid of Cobra's [[Decepticon]] [[Seeker (body-type)|air forces]]. Scarlett was distraught to learn that Snake-Eyes had gone missing in the early stages of the battle, but [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] tried to comfort her. {{storylink|Trial by Fire}} When the Autobots were stopped in their tracks by [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]'s earthquakes, Scarlett commandeered Bumblebee's motorcycle form, noting how "sweet" it was that he had "never been driven before". Using Bumblebee, Scarlett jumped above Rumble and dropped a grenade in his face, destroying him. An impressed Bumblebee told her she could drive him any time she wanted to. {{storylink|Wolves}}

[[File:Scarlett-Trenches.jpg|thumb|left|upright=2.0]]
As the Joes approached the [[Terrordrome]], Scarlett started thinking about Snake-Eyes again, only to find that he had returned, with his face horribly scarred. She asked the ninja what had happened, but he merely left again, not wanting Scarlett to see his injuries. {{storylink|Trenches}} In spite of this, the two ended up infiltrating the Terrordrome together. As the duo searched for the enemy's [[Shockwave (G1)|rail gun]], they ended up staring right in the face of the gigantic [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]]. After locating and arresting [[Destro]] and the [[Baroness]] for crimes against humanity, Scarlett learned that the Autobots had sacrificed themselves in order to destroy Bruticus. Embracing Snake-Eyes, she reflected on [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]] saying that there's a fine line between being a hero and being a memory. {{storylink|The Iron Fist}}

A long time later, in [[1985]], the latest incarnation of G.I. Joe discovered [[Blaster (G1)|two]] [[Perceptor (G1)|new]] Autobots. Along with Duke and [[Stalker (G.I. Joe)|Stalker]], a retired Scarlett figured it was time to tell the new guys about their adventure with the Transformers. {{storylink|Targets of Opportunity}}

===''Unit:E'' comic===
Upon approaching the planet [[Earth]], the artificial intelligence [[Synergy]] presented footage of the Joes in action so that her crewmate, the young [[Microman|Acroyear]], could learn about his potential allies and enemies on the alien world. Scarlett could be seen charging into action alongside Duke and Roadblock on one of Synergy's viewscreens. {{storylink|Unit:E (issue)|Unit:E}}

===''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''===
[[Image:tfvsgi GI JUMP.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.3]]

Scarlett's parents were murdered by [[Cobra Commander]]. She dedicated her life to G.I. Joe, and vowed not get distracted by mundane activities that "normal" people did until the terrorist was brought down. She was part of a G.I. Joe strike force that stormed a Cobra hideout housing deadly [[G.I.Rocket|Creeper bombs]], where she announced that she would marry whichever Joe would bring her the helmet of Cobra Commander. Both Snake-Eyes and Duke accepted her challenge. The squad then apprehended [[Doctor Venom]], who informed the Joes that Cobra Commander was already on his way out of the base. The Joes split up to track down the head of Cobra before he escaped them once more.

Scarlet and Duke came upon Cobra Commander taking off in a Cobra [[Rattler]], and commandeered another of the planes to pursue him. Things were further complicated when [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] joined the fight, but Scarlet managed to get a shot off on Cobra Commander's plane with a Creeper arrow, allowing Snake-Eyes to stab the terrorist through the chest. Cobra Commander also managed to get a shot off, however, and Snake-Eyes was disfigured. Scarlett and Duke managed to rescue Snake-Eyes just as Cobra Commander's Rattler was blown out of the air, and brought their wounded comrade back to [[T.H.E. P.I.T.]]. Scarlett visited Snake-Eyes as he recovered, Cobra Commander's helm in hand. She asked Snake-Eyes if he was ready to set a date for their wedding, but Snake-Eyes was unresponsive. {{storylink|The Golden Boys}}

Snake-Eyes then left G.I. Joe, leaving Scarlett distraught. She nonetheless went back on active duty after a brief leave of absence, and met with other Joes to plan out a defense plan when it became known that the planet [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] was heading for the Earth. After war was declared between the two planets, Scarlett was assigned to lead a mission to Cybertron with the intent of invading it. {{storylink|I Saw Three Ships}}

[[Image:tfvsgi green bombs.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.3]]

The Joes began their attack on Cybertron by sending down "green bombs" from the air. Unfortunately, when Scarlett targeted [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], she found it protected by a forcefield. The Joes' attempt to bomb the mobile city provoked a counter-attack from the Decepticons, with both Trypticon and the giant [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] gunning for the humans. Though Scarlett managed to hold her own during the fight, it was [[Wild Bill]] that brought the confrontation to an end by crashing his helicopter into the [[Combiner|gestalt]]. Scarlett then led her remaining troops back to Green Zone 0-8-6, the Joes' temporary base on the alien world. In the dead of night, Scarlett and [[Snow Job]] found the badly-injured Wild Bill stumbling into the camp. The wounded Joe was closely followed by [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], who triggered a perimeter trap, becoming the Joes' first P.O.W. in the inter-planetary war. {{storylink|Targetmasters (issue)|Targetmasters}}

Scarlett then spearheaded a vivisection of their captive, believing the giant to be little more than an unfeeling machine. She changed her mind when Wheeljack began relaying snippets from a presidential speech. She ordered her Joes to put the Cybertronian together just as Wheeljack's friends stumbled onto the scene and launched an attack on the camp. The Joes returned fire, until blasts from both sides rendered all combatants unconscious. {{storylink|Funeral for a Friend}}

Scarlett was stirred from her slumber by [[Bazooka (G.I. Joe)|Bazooka]], with the rest of the combatant soon following suit. Both teams readied to take up arms once more when [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] showed up, accompanied by [[Breaker]], [[Jinx]], [[Cover Girl]] and [[Clutch (G.I. Joe)|Clutch]]. Grimlock declared a truce between the Joes and the Autobots had been reached, and both factions partied together to cement their alliance. {{storylink|Form Follows Function}} Henceforth, the Joes stationed themselves within [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], the mobile Autobot city. Scarlett was posted as a lookout atop its central tower when she spotted Trypticon stomping towards them. Legions of Cobra troops burst forth from the titanic Decepticon, many of which were felled by Scarlett. Just as she was about to be overwhelmed by the enemy's sheer numbers, Duke and Snake-Eyes materialized seemingly out of nowhere. The "three amigos" took care of the remaining Cobra soldiers until their attack eventually subsided. Scarlett then turned to Snake-Eyes to embrace him, but the ninja rebuffed her advances and departed. {{storylink|Everybody Hates Metroplex}}

In an offensive action, Scarlett slipped onboard [[Astrotrain (G1)|the Astrotrain]] in order to infiltrate a Decepticon base. She reached [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]...

[[Image:tfvsgi headmasters scarlett's hallucination.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.3|''THIS IS MY SERMON THIS IS MY SERMON THIS IS MY SERMON'']]

...and woke up in the psychiatric ward of a hospital. {{storylink|Expelled from the Garden}}

[[Doctor Mindbender|Dr. Mindelbender]] and his staff showed her that the "Transformers" and "Joes" were just 1980s children's toys and cartoons, made into part of an elaborate fantasy she'd constructed. She pretended to be 'cured' and recognising her delusions, and was released back to her husband Fred and their two children... but all the while, visions and the voices of the Neb'los clashed throughout her mind and intruded on her day-to-day life, to extent of thinking she had an implant in her head. Friends at her welcome home party looked just like the Joes in her mind. In the end, to "escape" what must be a villainous plot, she killed her family.

Good thing that ''was'' a big trick.

Scarlett helped other captive Joes bust out of the town of "Springfield"—really part of Scorponok—but returned herself to seek brutal revenge of Dr. Mindbender. After a swift interrogation (and fighting her robot "children" and herself) to learn Megatron was trying to study how human brains ticked, she killed Mindbender after strapping him inside his own [[Brainwave Scanner]]. The Neb’los—beings who once lived on the same site before “Springfield” was built—implored her to kill Scorponok's controller [[Zarak (G1)|Zarak]], which Scarlett obliged. Taking control of the city herself, she returned Bumblebee's still-living head to [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. {{storylink|Headmasters (issue)|Headmasters}}

Scorponok (and presumably Scarlett) were present when Prime resurrected Bumblebee {{storylink|Pax Megatronus}} and when Cybertron transformed into the body of [[Primus]]. {{storylink|Escape from Primus}}

Scarlett took on the name '''Zkarlett''', and she and Scorponok met up with Fortress Maximus, who was now controlled by Snake Eyes. Sharing an emotional moment with Snake Eyes, she encouraged him to trust her—trust he demonstrated by showing her his scarred face.

Zkarlett/Scorponok and Fortress Maximus encouraged Metroplex to transform into robot mode and stand with the Jotobots against the Decepticon horde. {{storylink|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe issue 12|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #12}}

During the ensuing battle, Zkarlett used the Brainwave Scanner to venture into the Matrix and retrieve the spirit of Optimus Prime. Zkarlett was also present when Snake Eyes killed Cobra Commander, and was one of a group of Joes who attempted to return the Matrix of Leadership to the reborn Optimus Prime.

When the battle was over, and Prime had healed Snake Eyes's face, Zkarlett asked whether the ninja was now truly happy. Snake Eyes finally accepted her marriage proposal, and the two embraced.

Returning to Earth, Scarlett attended Hawk's funeral in Arlington. Later still, she and Snake Eyes (now going by Francis Witwicky) retired to a little log cabin atop Scorponok's tail, where they looked after the also-retired [[U.S.7]]. The pair were invited to the wedding of Brawn and Covergirl, and Scarlett became godmother to the wedded couple's child. {{storylink|The War Never Ends}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
[[File:FirstStrike04-ScarlettJoinsGIJoe.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]
{{MainIDW|Scarlett}}

'''Shana M. O'Hara''' was born in [[Atlanta]] to a family of military men, including her father and three brothers. Proficient in martial arts, she graduated college and passed her Bar exams without even attending law school. Hoping to put both her mind and body to work, she joined the United States military. {{storylink|Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook issue 3|Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook #3}} Though she initially struggled under the auspices of an unsympathetic drill sergeant, she found a willing mentor in [[Joe Colton]], whom she came to respect. {{storylink|First Strike issue 4|First Strike #4}} By 2006, "'''Scarlett'''" had thus became one of the earliest members of G.I. Joe, the American government's top-secret military agency, having been handpicked by [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] as a potential recruit {{storylink|Secret Raiders: A Revolution Prelude|Secret Raiders}} {{storylink|First Strike issue 4|First Strike #4}} {{storylink|Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook issue 3|Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook #3}}

[[File:WhenEaglesScream-Scarlett.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

In one of their first missions, the newly minted Joes were deployed to [[Mount St. Helens]] to engage a [[Bugly (G1)|rogue mechanical alien]]. They struggled against the extraterrestrial until [[Sgt. Savage]] and [[Centurion (IDW)|Centurion]] arrived, the latter downing the rogue Decepticon and dragging him into [[Project Hot House|a refitted bunker]] overseen by [[Skywatch]]. Unlike [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]], Scarlett was alright with accepting that certain secrets were kept from the Joes. She was not alright with the fact that she, Hawk and [[Stalker (G.I. Joe)|Stalker]] lacked the security clearance to do deeper into the facility while Savage did. {{storylink|When Eagles Scream}}

Centurion and Bugly, it turned out, were only the beginning. Only two years later, [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] would lead a full-scale [[Decepticon]] invasion of Earth, culminating in an all-out battle in Manhattan where he was defeated by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]]. Scarlett and Joe Colton were among the Joe assets called in to assist with the cleanup, the latter lamenting the government's failure to listen to his warnings. {{storylink|Ghost in the Machine (IDW)|Ghost in the Machine}}

By the time the Transformers had departed Earth, G.I. Joe had become embroiled in a secret war against Cobra. To Scarlett's dismay, the conflict went nuclear and attempts to keep the Joes going fell apart, ending in the team's decommissioning. {{storylink|Secret Raiders: A Revolution Prelude|Secret Raiders}}

In 2016, shortly after the Transformers had returned to Earth and officially turned the planet into a protectorate of the [[Council of Worlds]], Scarlett was called back to action when [[Joe Colton]] took command of the [[Earth Defense Command]]. Scarlett and [[Roadblock (G.I. Joe)|Roadblock]] were tasked with escorting [[G.B. Blackrock|Garrison Blackrock]] to a classified location when their military convoy was attacked. Their incendiary rounds were ineffective against [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]], whose head had taken control of [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]]'s body and then kidnapped Blackrock. {{storylink|White Light}}

Sometime after that meeting, the real Joe Colton had been surreptitiously replaced by a [[Dire Wraith]] imposter. Unaware of the subterfuge, Scarlett met up with "[[Joe Colton (Dire Wraith)|Joe Colton]]" and his old [[Adventure Team]] friend [[Miles Mayhem|Miles Manheim]] to discuss the surge of extraterrestrial activity on Earth, starting with the Transformers. Scarlett lamented the trouble [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] had faced in their war against [[Cobra]]. While Colton and Manheim discussed [[Rom|a silver alien]] in [[California]], Scarlett expressed worry about [[Micronaut|alien]] [[Baron Karza|threats]] they are not yet aware of. Colton and Scarlett then revealed to Manheim that the worldwide deposits of Cybertronian super-fuel [[Ore-13]] were destabilizing, and on the verge of destructive nuclear fission. Believing this to be Optimus Prime's doing, they tasked Mannheim with using the technology of a captive and tortured [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] to disrupt Prime's plans. {{storylink|Secret Raiders: A Revolution Prelude|Secret Raiders}}

[[File:ConcordeHymn-ColtonsCorpse.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"Forget it, Scarlett. It's Chinatown."]]

G.I. Joe was later assigned to engage the Cybertronians in the city of [[Portland]] after the Ore-13 beneath [[Mount Olympus]] detonated. Scarlett gave [[Mainframe (G.I. Joe)|Mainframe]] the order to fire missiles at [[Jazz (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jazz]] which brought [[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]] to the G.I. Joe who began slicing the human war machines with ease. Scarlett noted how Arcee alone was overpowering G.I. Joe and that she needed to be taken down before she summoned reinforcements. Arcee already had called for reinforcements and Scarlett assumed Optimus Prime was trying to force G.I. Joe into surrendering. [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] then fired an EMP to force the humans to listen leaving Scarlett and Joe Colton to nearly be crushed by falling planes before [[Victorion]] intervened. What Scarlett assumed was [[Rom|a new Cybertronian]] arrived quickly atomized Joe Colton and three more Joes before it flew off just as suddenly. Scarlett took command of the squad and swore revenge on the Cybertronians for the death of their friends. {{storylink|Concorde Hymn}} In the aftermath, Mainframe and [[Agent Helix]] pointed out the inconsistencies between the actions of the silver human sized alien (how it only opened fire on four Joes and no one else) and the Cybertronians to Scarlett but she refused to hear it, determined to kill the Cybertronians.

[[File:DTA-ScarlettAndRoadblock.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

Back at G.I. Joe headquarters, she learned that [[Doc (Carla Greer)|Doc]] also suspected the new alien wasn't connected to Optimus Prime. She later met with [[Miles Mayhem]] who introduced her to [[Matt Trakker]] and [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], who begged to be killed. She began to feel sympathy for the Decepticon before Miles forced her away and showed her the specialized [[M.A.S.K.]] vehicles that would engage the Autobots in Greece. Scarlett noted that the instant they were deployed the Cybertronians would find a way to track them in the future but Mayhem brushed those concerns aside. {{storylink|The Divine Source of Liberty}} She was later confronted by an angry Matt Trakker as she'd withheld that the Cybertronians were living beings from him. She was later approached by Doc with the data that four Joes killed by the silver alien had non-human DNA. Realizing that the entire chain of command could be compromised, she put out a call to [[Snake-Eyes]] to infiltrate Autobot City. {{storylink|O Ship of State}} She later launched an all-out attack on the EDC's [[Marshall Islands|Bikini Atoll]] facility to fight off the Dire Wraiths there much to [[Marissa Faireborn]]'s frustration. {{storylink|Thundercracker & Buster Save the World}} On the mission, her team discovered the damaged [[Skywarp (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Skywarp]], who had been left behind by the EDC when they had abandoned the base. {{storylink|D.T.A.}}

[[File:TheNewColossus-YoJoe.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

Returning to [[Governor's Island]] with her team, Scarlett found that [[Action Man]] had broken in and liberated [[Kup (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Kup]] who was being held in the base on the orders of [[Miles Mayhem]]. The Joes then discovered that all the [[M.A.S.K.]] forces had launched an attack on [[Metrotitan (G1)|Autobot City]]. Without access to the M.A.S.K. technology, all G.I. Joe had was integrated network gear that Soundwave could easily shut down. Scarlett was prepared to throw in the towel before Mainframe revealed the classic G.I. Joe vehicles which were too low tech for Soundwave to hack. Striking a pose, Scarlett ordered her team into action. {{storylink|The New Colossus}} Scarlett led the charge into [[Monument Valley]] and deployed G.I. Joe's combined firepower against the monstrous [[Baron Karza]]. When [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] ordered Metrotitan to lift off, Scarlett evacuated along with her teammates, and rescued Rom and [[Matt Trakker]] from a massive Ore-13 explosion. Though it appeared that Mainframe had perished in the explosion, he had survived inside [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]]'s chest, much to her relief. Back at Governor's Island, Scarlett and Matt had a chat about what the future held for both of them now that G.I. Joe was no longer part of the US government. {{storylink|Valley Forge}}

WIth G.I. Joe now an international peacekeeping group, Scarlett relocated their headquarters to the sunken wreck of the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'', which G.I. Joe rechristened the ''Lemuria''. With Skywarp now a member of the team, Scarlett supervised numerous missions across the world, battling foes such as the [[Red Shadows]] and [[Dreadnok]]s. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vol. 5 issue 1|G.I. Joe vol. 5 #1}} {{storylink|G.I. Joe vol. 5 issue 2|G.I. Joe vol. 5 #2}} Following a disastrous mission in [[Verenya]], Scarlett authorized [[Ayana Jones|Ayana "Mayday" Jones]] to work outside the organization's parameters during the investigation into the mysterious [[Talisman (G1)|Talisman]]. {{storylink|Power and Glory}}

Following the arrival of the [[Junkion (species)|Junkion]]s on Earth and the threat of a worldwide [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]] invasion, Scarlett coordinated reinforcements to the [[Matterhorn]], where Optimus Prime's team battled the brunt of the Junkions. {{storylink|New Cybertron End: Feel Safe Without Regrets|Feel Safe Without Regrets}} When the Revolutionaries were preparing to storm [[Brasnya]] to capture [[Merklynn|Garrison Kreiger]], Scarlett arranged for [[Matt Trakker]] and [[Gloria Baker]] to join them. {{storylink|Power and Glory}} Not long afterwards, the real Joe Colton — thought dead since his Dire Wraith encounter — resurfaced as the villainous "Baron Ironblood", {{storylink|Ghost in the Machine (IDW)|Ghost in the Machine}} which left Scarlett deeply conflicted about the mentor whom she had once trusted. {{storylink|First Strike issue 4|First Strike #4}}

[[File:FirstStrike1-infiltration.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

When Marissa Faireborn was properly inducted as Earth's ambassador on the [[Council of Worlds]], G.I. Joe watched from the ''Lemuria'', where an on-edge Scarlett voiced her concerns about whether or not Earth was truly ready to join the cosmic community. Her concerns were proven right seconds later after Baron Ironblood and his team of villains revealed themselves and ran amok in [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], forcing [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] to shut down the Space Bridge connecting the two worlds. Scarlett ordered [[Dial-Tone|Dial Tone]] to analyze the data behind the attack, which led the Joes to storming a secure bunker in the [[Alps]] to try and find a clue behind Colton's motives. Breaching the compound, Scarlett discovered that Colton had deliberately baited her into the trap having left her a note explaining his motivations and asking her to consider them before pursuing him. {{storylink|First Strike issue 1|First Strike #1}} Having triggered the base's self-destruct mechanisms, Scarlett's team encountered stiff resistance as an army of Red Shadows nearly prevented them from escaping the detonation of the base. Armed with the knowledge of Colton's plans, Scarlett's Joes went to meet with Matt Trakker and Gloria Baker. Together, they travelled to [[Metrotitan (G1)|Autobot City]] to ask Soundwave for use of the Space Bridge. Though the Space Bridge was nonfunctional, the group came up with the idea of piggybacking the [[M.A.S.S. Device]] off the Space Bridge's signal as Ironblood's cabal had done. To do so, however, they required the M.A.S.S. Device itself, prompting the alliance to storm [[Castle Destro]]. {{storylink|First Strike issue 2|First Strike #2}}

[[File:FirstStrike4-ScarlettAndOptimus.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"Yeah I spent most of the last crossover trying to kill you, but I'm the main character this time around."]]

Riding on Soundwave's shoulder, Scarlett arrived just as [[Skyburst (G1)|Skyburst]] and [[Stormclash]] had finished rigging up the Space Bridge/M.A.S.S. Device hybrid that would allow them to travel to Cybertron. Emerging in the middle of the battlefield, Scarlett tackled Baron Ironblood... only to find [[Doctor Mindbender]] beneath the mask, a decoy to slow her down while the real Colton made off with the Talisman. Having hoped that Colton had been coerced into his villainous persona, Scarlett was dismayed to learn from Gloria Baker that Colton's real objective was to reach Cybertron's core. Hoping to stop him before he could put his scheme into play, the group headed for [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], only for their path to be barred by [[Strika (BM)|Strika]]. The situation was defused only after [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] and [[Sunstreaker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sunstreaker]] arrived. Placed before the [[Council of Worlds]], [[Vigilem|Carcer]]ian commander [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] promptly ordered them all executed. {{storylink|First Strike issue 3|First Strike #3}} Though Marissa vouched for their rights as Council citizens — prompting Scarlett to lay out what she knew of Colton's plan — the subsequent diplomatic bickering saw Starscream take control of the situation and detain Scarlett and her team in a holding cell. There, she was visited by Optimus Prime. The two shared their thoughts on recent events, prompting Scarlett to open up and explain her history with Colton to Optimus, confessing that she had come to Cybertron, in part, out of a desire to save the man she respected from himself. {{storylink|First Strike issue 4|First Strike #4}}

The humans were soon freed by Optimus, Arcee and Soundwave with the bi-species group making their way underground to follow Colton's trail. The group made steady progress through Colton's myriad of traps until they came upon a river of acid too potent to cross. Unwilling to accept that Colton could have made a mistake considering the specialization of his team and his meticulous planning, Scarlett bungee jumped into the river, revealing it to be harmless hologram planted by [[Miles Mayhem]]. The group pressed on arriving to the Cybertron's core ahead of Colton. When the [[Iron Ring]] arrived, Scarlett offered Coulson a chance to stand down before the two sides came to blows. {{storylink|First Strike issue 5|First Strike #5}} Engaging her former mentor in a knife fight, the two traded philosophy as Scarlett pointed out the futility of Colton's actions before the [[Council of Worlds]] arrived to arrest everyone. Kreiger fled in the chaos prompting Colton to follow him allowing Scarlett to approach him from behind only for Colton to reflexively impale her with his knife. Scarlett took advantage of his hesitation to remove the blade and beat him down before Kreiger uttered a rhyme that activated the [[Talisman (G1)|Talisman]], revealed him to be an alien wizard known as "Merklynn" and turned a portion of Cybertron into [[New Prysmos]] before teleporting everyone back to Iacon. On the surface, Starscream attempted to execute Colton before Scarlett intervened. As the humans waited for a Space Bridge back to Earth, Scarlett reflected on the bittersweetness of their victory and that Colton's unwillingness to kill might indicate that there might still be good in him. {{storylink|First Strike issue 6|First Strike #6}}

When [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] began its apocalyptic attack on the [[Cybertronian colonies]], ''Lemuria'' was attacked by [[Maximal]]s with Scarlett and Roadblock being saved by [[Agent Helix]], Snake Eyes and Skywarp. {{storylink|Last Stand (G.I. Joe)|Last Stand}} Returning to G.I. Joe Field Headquarters, Scarlett voiced her opinion that Unicron would soon its sights on Earth. {{storylink|Road's End}} After Unciron had destroyed Cybertron, the populace space bridged to Earth with the Chaos Bringer following. In preparation for the battle, Scarlett held a briefing in [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. {{storylink|Assembly (Unicron)|Assembly}} During the final battle, Scarlett went to [[Detroit]] to assist Matt Trakker. {{storylink|Ceremony}} Scarlett was later present as the G.I. Joe representative at Optimus Prime's funeral. {{storylink|Post}}

{{-}}

===''Aw Yeah Revolution!''===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Aw Yeah Revolution! issue 1|Aw Yeah Revolution! #1}}}}

===When Worlds Collide===
Scarlett joined [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and his allies in an attempt to stop [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Cobra Commander]] from stealing the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. Their fateful battle was interrupted when the kids who were playing with their various toys were called off to dinner. {{storylink|When Worlds Collide}}

==Toys==
{{Note|This character has many other toys that are not connected to ''Transformers''. See the external link to yojoe.com for more information.}}
===G.I. Joe and the Transformers===
[[File:ClubCrossoverExclusive.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*''' G.I. Joe featuring Ninja Force and Transformers''' (2016)
**''Accessories:'' display stand, back scabbard, 2 swords, 2 tegaki, nunchuks

:Scarlett was only available as part of a box set that was sold through both the [[Transformers Collectors' Club]] store and the G.I. Joe Collectors' Club store, both of them operated by [[Fun Publications]]. Other figures and accessories included in the box set were [[Blackcat (G1)|Blackcat]], [[Cobra Commander]], [[Sidney Biggles-Jones|Dr. Sidney Biggles-Jones]], [[Ratbat (G1)#Timelines|Ratbat]], [[Megatron (G1)/toys#G.I. Joe and the Transformers|Megatron]], [[Toaster]], and [[Crusticon|The Crusticons]].
{{-}}

*'''Scarlett vs Zartan & Autobot Powerglide vs Soundwave''' (Box set, 2016)
**''Accessories:'' display stand, web gear, bow, quiver, crossbow

: Exclusive to the [[Hasbro Toy Shop]] booth at [[San Diego Comic-Con]] 2016 and the Hasbro Toy Shop website, Scarlett is a new release composed of recolored parts of other ''G.I. Joe'' figures.

:This set features a redeco of a (non-transforming) [[Cobra]] [[Rattler]] vehicle colored as [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]], a [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] [[HISS tank]], and [[Zartan]].

==Notes==
*Her ''Action Force'' toy gives her birthplace as [[Belgium]] [http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/toys/003/af/031/index.html], though this wasn't canon in Marvel's ''Action Force'' comic due to its reprinting the ''G.I. Joe'' comic where she's American. Then, a few years later, the ''unrelated'' U.S. group G.I. Joe merged with Action Force. Feel free to feel confused.
*The IDW continuity stories [[White Light|''The Transformers'' #56]], [[Secret Raiders: A Revolution Prelude|''Revolution'' #0]], and [[The Divine Source of Liberty|''Revolution'' #2]] have Scarlett as a Colonel, but her ''[[Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook issue 3|Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook]]'' profile mistakenly ranks her as much lower a Master Sergeant.
*Scarlett has been voiced by Transformers alumni [[Grey Griffin]] in ''G.I. Joe: Resolute'' and by [[Lisa Ann Beley]] in both ''G.I. Joe Spy Troops'' and G.I. Joe: Valor vs. Venom.

==External links==
*[http://www.yojoe.com/action/82/scarlett.shtml Scarlett at YoJoe.com]
*{{i|Scarlett}} at The IDW Hasbro Wiki

[[Category:Action Force]]
[[Category:G.I. Joe]]
[[Category:Generation 1 humans]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) humans]]
[[Category:Marvel Generation 1 humans]]
[[Category:Marvel Generation 2 humans]]
[[Category:Ninjas]]

Scarlett

2021-11-12T13:11:45Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* G.I. Joe and the Transformers */

{{factions|gijoe|{{factions/icons|custom=ActionForce Logo.png|cLink=Action Force (team)|cPretty=Action Force|cSize=180px}}|cobra}}
:''Scarlett is a [[human]] from the [[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe portion]] of the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[File:Scarlett.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|SWF, looking for SBM (Single Black-wearing Male), must be ninja, mute is a plus.]]
'''Shana O'Hara''', codename '''Scarlett''', a crossbow-toting southern belle with a history in martial arts, is a prominent member of the [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] team. She has a thing for [[Snake-Eyes]].

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====''G.I. Joe and the Transformers''====
[[File:Scarlettmarvel.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|Not the safest place to keep a grappling hook.]]
Scarlett and several other Joes were overseeing a test of [[Power Station Alpha]], which was interrupted by the appearance of a giant transforming robot. After [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|the Transformer]] was destroyed, it was followed by a much larger robot which called itself [[Superion (G1)|Superion]]. {{storylink|Blood on the Tracks}} G.I. Joe's forces were overwhelmed by Superion, so Scarlett called for backup. {{storylink|Power Struggle}}

The Transformer they destroyed was eventually determined to be their friend! Scarlett stood nearby while [[Mainframe (G.I. Joe)|Mainframe]] attempted to rebuild him. {{storylink|Ashes, Ashes...}} As the [[Autobot]] [[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] arrived to help, it was announced that [[Cobra]] would be teaming up with G.I. Joe and the Autobots against the [[Decepticon]]s to keep them from destroying the world with Power Station Alpha. The newly rebuilt Transformer, now named [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]], escorted Scarlett and the [[Baroness]] to Power Station Alpha with the intention of placing detonators inside. Without G.I. Joe's consent, Baroness set the timers prematurely, much to Scarlett's frustration. With the threat over, [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] told G.I. Joe to go away and stay out of the Autobots' business. {{storylink|...All Fall Down!}}
{{-}}

====Marvel ''Generation 2'' comic====
[[File:Scarlettg2.jpg|100px|thumb|"...Got to stop pretending this is a ninja outfit..."]]
While Scarlett was pretending to have defected to [[Cobra]], she had to fire on [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] and [[Stalker (G.I. Joe)|Stalker]]. Shortly after that, she and fellow new Cobra [[Sidney Biggles-Jones|Doctor Biggles-Jones]], a weapons scientist, hunted down [[Destro]] and the [[Baroness]]. Snake-Eyes was forced to stab her to convince the terrorist organization of her new allegiance. {{storylink|Unfoldings!}} None of her vitals were damaged, which made her new "comrade" [[Slice (G.I. Joe)|Slice]] suspicious. She was nevertheless hospitalized from this {{storylink|Realignments}} [[File:Scarlett slices suckerpunch.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.0]] and brought to the hospital at Cobra-controlled [[Milleville]], where Biggles-Jones confronted her about her true intentions. All the while this was going on, Cobra was engaged in a trade deal with [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] but Scarlett was too injured to have an impact on things. {{storylink|Goin' South}}

Just as Biggles-Jones had revealed that she too was a double agent, Megatron snatched her away, wishing to experiment on the scientist's brain. Scarlett, despite her wounds, fought her way out of the Cobra compound (battering Slice in the process) and confronted Megatron. {{storylink|Sucker Punch}} Her audacious ultimatum was cut short when a small group of Autobots sent by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] ([[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]], [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]], [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]], [[Chase (G1)|Chase]], [[Override (G1)|Override]], and [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]]) arrived to attack Megatron. While the large-scale battle raged, Scarlett used the opportunity to attack [[Cobra Commander]] and [[Zarana]]. A save by Snake-Eyes reunited the pair.

With most of the Autobots destroyed, Megatron stole the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' with Biggles-Jones in tow. {{storylink|Final Transformations}} It was Skydive and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] who managed to sneak aboard and bring the doctor home, though at the expense of Witwicky's life. Returned to safety, Biggles-Jones greeted Scarlett with a much-needed hug. {{storylink|All or Nothing!}}
{{-}}

===Marvel UK ''The Transformers'' comic===
[[File:Susan scarlett.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Scarlett loses friends in the sewers all the time and you don't hear her complaining.]]
One of [[Action Force (team)|Action Force]]'s American operatives [http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/comics/maf/001/013.html], Scarlett's spent several missions with the European group. She was part of the team that went under [[London]] to locate the monster that had killed [[Susan Hoffman]]'s team. Scarlett openly thought this was a waste of their time and Susan was talking crap, until the Transformers turned up and the monster was revealed to be the monstrous [[Straxus (G1)|(copy of) Megatron]]!

In the battle itself, Scarlett mostly stood on the sidelines, at one point trying to get [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]] to ''not'' send in the Mauler tanks to get stepped on. {{storylink|Ancient Relics!}}
{{-}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
[[File:Scarlett GIJoevsTFs3.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|left]]
When [[Cobra]] unearthed and reprogrammed the dormant Transformers aboard the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' and used them to take over the world, Scarlett was among the first members of G.I. Joe, the anti-terrorist force created to stop them. After hearing from [[Doc (G.I. Joe)|Doc]] how [[Snake-Eyes]] had lost his voice, face and family in Cobra's initial attack, Scarlett wondered how the ninja could go on after suffering through so much in one day. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 2|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #2}} Her first duty as part of G.I. Joe was to guard the [[SPS Research Facility|SPS Center]] from an attack by Cobra's commandeered Transformers. The attack came, overwhelming and surrounding Scarlett's group until they were rescued by the free agents [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 3|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #3}} Scarlett was later part of the forces preparing for G.I. Joe's final raid on [[Cobra Island]]. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 4|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #4}} Despite some opposition from the US government, who would rather [[Nuclear weapon|nuke]] the island, the Joes left to battle Cobra in person. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 5|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #5}} As part of [[Mainframe (G.I. Joe)|Mainframe]]'s team, she defended the [[SPS Satellite]]'s controls from [[Storm Shadow]] and [[Firefly]], taking out the latter with a kick to the head. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 6|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #6}}

[[File:Scarlett GIJoevsTFsII1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3]]
Two years later, Scarlett was part of a G.I. Joe assault team attempting to stop an international arms ring affiliated with the [[Dreadnok]]s from selling Cybertronian technology on the black market. Together with [[Stalker (G.I. Joe)|Stalker]] and [[Beachhead]], she attacked the Dreadnoks in [[Boston]] and easily took out [[Ripper (G.I. Joe)|Ripper]], [[Torch (G.I. Joe)|Torch]], and [[Buzzer (G.I. Joe)|Buzzer]] despite their new cybernetic attack limbs. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 1|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #1}} She later ended up on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] alongside several other Joes and Cobra members. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II issue 2|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II #2}}

When the [[Autobot]]s and G.I. Joe made an agreement to decommission all Cybertronian technology on Earth, Scarlett wanted to take [[G.I. Joe battle mech|her giant battle mech]] out for one last spin, and offered Snake-Eyes a round of robo-tag. The game never came to pass, as [[Area 52 (G1)|Area 52]] was attacked by Cobra and Scarlett had to help fight off their [[Battle Android Trooper]]s. They were aided by a team of Autobots, and Scarlett was surprised to see a [[Arcee (G1)|female robot]]. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 1|The Art of War #1}} She left her mech after the team found [[Cobra Commander]] lurking around inside Area 52, but this proved to be a mistake when [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]] attacked them. Scarlett was believed to have died when the android brought the roof crashing down on everyone, but she soon reappeared and chastised her friends for thinking she'd die so easily. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 2|The Art of War #2}}

[[File:Scarlett and Snake Eyes AoW4.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]
After learning that Serpent O.R. had taken a warpgate to Cybertron, Scarlett and the other followed him. After a brief run-in with [[cannibalizer]]s, they found Serpent O.R., who promptly captured them with help from his new Decepticon friends. While imprisoned in the Decepticon base, she had a romantic moment with Snake-Eyes, making out with him even after seeing his horribly scarred face. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 3|The Art of War #3}} They later managed to escape when Snake-Eyes hypnotized a [[Breakdown (G1)|guard]]. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 4|The Art of War #4}} After freeing the Autobots, the Joes fought their way through the base and into Serpent O.R.'s control room, where [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] was being held. Upon arriving, they found Serpent O.R. under control of Cobra Commander, and Scarlett was quickly knocked out by his robotic tentacles. After the commander was defeated by [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]], Scarlett met with Snake-Eyes, who offered to continue their game of tag without mechs. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 5|The Art of War #5}}

A few months later, Scarlett was part of a team of Joes sent to [[Tibet]] to aid Hawk, [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]] and Optimus Prime in the fight against [[Cobra-La]]. {{storylink|Black Horizon, Part 2 of 2}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers/G.I. Joe''===
[[File:Scarlett-The Line.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7]]
In [[1939]], Scarlett and [[Lady Jaye]] were part of a team of intelligence agents sent to continental [[Europe]] to investigate [[Cobra]]'s ongoing conquest. They were the only members of the team to return to America alive, where they helped found [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]. She spent some time checking out [[Snake-Eyes]] before the Joes were all sent to assault Cobra's base on the [[Fera Islands]]. {{storylink|The Line}} As part of Strike Force One, Scarlett stumbled upon the dormant [[Autobot]]s, who were promptly reactivated. When [[Leatherneck]] opened fire on [[Ironhide (G1)|one of them]], Scarlett was almost hit by ricocheting bullets, but was saved by the Autobot. {{storylink|Transformed}}

The Autobots agreed to help G.I. Joe with their mission, allowing them to get rid of Cobra's [[Decepticon]] [[Seeker (body-type)|air forces]]. Scarlett was distraught to learn that Snake-Eyes had gone missing in the early stages of the battle, but [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] tried to comfort her. {{storylink|Trial by Fire}} When the Autobots were stopped in their tracks by [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]'s earthquakes, Scarlett commandeered Bumblebee's motorcycle form, noting how "sweet" it was that he had "never been driven before". Using Bumblebee, Scarlett jumped above Rumble and dropped a grenade in his face, destroying him. An impressed Bumblebee told her she could drive him any time she wanted to. {{storylink|Wolves}}

[[File:Scarlett-Trenches.jpg|thumb|left|upright=2.0]]
As the Joes approached the [[Terrordrome]], Scarlett started thinking about Snake-Eyes again, only to find that he had returned, with his face horribly scarred. She asked the ninja what had happened, but he merely left again, not wanting Scarlett to see his injuries. {{storylink|Trenches}} In spite of this, the two ended up infiltrating the Terrordrome together. As the duo searched for the enemy's [[Shockwave (G1)|rail gun]], they ended up staring right in the face of the gigantic [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]]. After locating and arresting [[Destro]] and the [[Baroness]] for crimes against humanity, Scarlett learned that the Autobots had sacrificed themselves in order to destroy Bruticus. Embracing Snake-Eyes, she reflected on [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]] saying that there's a fine line between being a hero and being a memory. {{storylink|The Iron Fist}}

A long time later, in [[1985]], the latest incarnation of G.I. Joe discovered [[Blaster (G1)|two]] [[Perceptor (G1)|new]] Autobots. Along with Duke and [[Stalker (G.I. Joe)|Stalker]], a retired Scarlett figured it was time to tell the new guys about their adventure with the Transformers. {{storylink|Targets of Opportunity}}

===''Unit:E'' comic===
Upon approaching the planet [[Earth]], the artificial intelligence [[Synergy]] presented footage of the Joes in action so that her crewmate, the young [[Microman|Acroyear]], could learn about his potential allies and enemies on the alien world. Scarlett could be seen charging into action alongside Duke and Roadblock on one of Synergy's viewscreens. {{storylink|Unit:E (issue)|Unit:E}}

===''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''===
[[Image:tfvsgi GI JUMP.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.3]]

Scarlett's parents were murdered by [[Cobra Commander]]. She dedicated her life to G.I. Joe, and vowed not get distracted by mundane activities that "normal" people did until the terrorist was brought down. She was part of a G.I. Joe strike force that stormed a Cobra hideout housing deadly [[G.I.Rocket|Creeper bombs]], where she announced that she would marry whichever Joe would bring her the helmet of Cobra Commander. Both Snake-Eyes and Duke accepted her challenge. The squad then apprehended [[Doctor Venom]], who informed the Joes that Cobra Commander was already on his way out of the base. The Joes split up to track down the head of Cobra before he escaped them once more.

Scarlet and Duke came upon Cobra Commander taking off in a Cobra [[Rattler]], and commandeered another of the planes to pursue him. Things were further complicated when [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] joined the fight, but Scarlet managed to get a shot off on Cobra Commander's plane with a Creeper arrow, allowing Snake-Eyes to stab the terrorist through the chest. Cobra Commander also managed to get a shot off, however, and Snake-Eyes was disfigured. Scarlett and Duke managed to rescue Snake-Eyes just as Cobra Commander's Rattler was blown out of the air, and brought their wounded comrade back to [[T.H.E. P.I.T.]]. Scarlett visited Snake-Eyes as he recovered, Cobra Commander's helm in hand. She asked Snake-Eyes if he was ready to set a date for their wedding, but Snake-Eyes was unresponsive. {{storylink|The Golden Boys}}

Snake-Eyes then left G.I. Joe, leaving Scarlett distraught. She nonetheless went back on active duty after a brief leave of absence, and met with other Joes to plan out a defense plan when it became known that the planet [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] was heading for the Earth. After war was declared between the two planets, Scarlett was assigned to lead a mission to Cybertron with the intent of invading it. {{storylink|I Saw Three Ships}}

[[Image:tfvsgi green bombs.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.3]]

The Joes began their attack on Cybertron by sending down "green bombs" from the air. Unfortunately, when Scarlett targeted [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], she found it protected by a forcefield. The Joes' attempt to bomb the mobile city provoked a counter-attack from the Decepticons, with both Trypticon and the giant [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] gunning for the humans. Though Scarlett managed to hold her own during the fight, it was [[Wild Bill]] that brought the confrontation to an end by crashing his helicopter into the [[Combiner|gestalt]]. Scarlett then led her remaining troops back to Green Zone 0-8-6, the Joes' temporary base on the alien world. In the dead of night, Scarlett and [[Snow Job]] found the badly-injured Wild Bill stumbling into the camp. The wounded Joe was closely followed by [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], who triggered a perimeter trap, becoming the Joes' first P.O.W. in the inter-planetary war. {{storylink|Targetmasters (issue)|Targetmasters}}

Scarlett then spearheaded a vivisection of their captive, believing the giant to be little more than an unfeeling machine. She changed her mind when Wheeljack began relaying snippets from a presidential speech. She ordered her Joes to put the Cybertronian together just as Wheeljack's friends stumbled onto the scene and launched an attack on the camp. The Joes returned fire, until blasts from both sides rendered all combatants unconscious. {{storylink|Funeral for a Friend}}

Scarlett was stirred from her slumber by [[Bazooka (G.I. Joe)|Bazooka]], with the rest of the combatant soon following suit. Both teams readied to take up arms once more when [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] showed up, accompanied by [[Breaker]], [[Jinx]], [[Cover Girl]] and [[Clutch (G.I. Joe)|Clutch]]. Grimlock declared a truce between the Joes and the Autobots had been reached, and both factions partied together to cement their alliance. {{storylink|Form Follows Function}} Henceforth, the Joes stationed themselves within [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], the mobile Autobot city. Scarlett was posted as a lookout atop its central tower when she spotted Trypticon stomping towards them. Legions of Cobra troops burst forth from the titanic Decepticon, many of which were felled by Scarlett. Just as she was about to be overwhelmed by the enemy's sheer numbers, Duke and Snake-Eyes materialized seemingly out of nowhere. The "three amigos" took care of the remaining Cobra soldiers until their attack eventually subsided. Scarlett then turned to Snake-Eyes to embrace him, but the ninja rebuffed her advances and departed. {{storylink|Everybody Hates Metroplex}}

In an offensive action, Scarlett slipped onboard [[Astrotrain (G1)|the Astrotrain]] in order to infiltrate a Decepticon base. She reached [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]...

[[Image:tfvsgi headmasters scarlett's hallucination.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.3|''THIS IS MY SERMON THIS IS MY SERMON THIS IS MY SERMON'']]

...and woke up in the psychiatric ward of a hospital. {{storylink|Expelled from the Garden}}

[[Doctor Mindbender|Dr. Mindelbender]] and his staff showed her that the "Transformers" and "Joes" were just 1980s children's toys and cartoons, made into part of an elaborate fantasy she'd constructed. She pretended to be 'cured' and recognising her delusions, and was released back to her husband Fred and their two children... but all the while, visions and the voices of the Neb'los clashed throughout her mind and intruded on her day-to-day life, to extent of thinking she had an implant in her head. Friends at her welcome home party looked just like the Joes in her mind. In the end, to "escape" what must be a villainous plot, she killed her family.

Good thing that ''was'' a big trick.

Scarlett helped other captive Joes bust out of the town of "Springfield"—really part of Scorponok—but returned herself to seek brutal revenge of Dr. Mindbender. After a swift interrogation (and fighting her robot "children" and herself) to learn Megatron was trying to study how human brains ticked, she killed Mindbender after strapping him inside his own [[Brainwave Scanner]]. The Neb’los—beings who once lived on the same site before “Springfield” was built—implored her to kill Scorponok's controller [[Zarak (G1)|Zarak]], which Scarlett obliged. Taking control of the city herself, she returned Bumblebee's still-living head to [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. {{storylink|Headmasters (issue)|Headmasters}}

Scorponok (and presumably Scarlett) were present when Prime resurrected Bumblebee {{storylink|Pax Megatronus}} and when Cybertron transformed into the body of [[Primus]]. {{storylink|Escape from Primus}}

Scarlett took on the name '''Zkarlett''', and she and Scorponok met up with Fortress Maximus, who was now controlled by Snake Eyes. Sharing an emotional moment with Snake Eyes, she encouraged him to trust her—trust he demonstrated by showing her his scarred face.

Zkarlett/Scorponok and Fortress Maximus encouraged Metroplex to transform into robot mode and stand with the Jotobots against the Decepticon horde. {{storylink|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe issue 12|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #12}}

During the ensuing battle, Zkarlett used the Brainwave Scanner to venture into the Matrix and retrieve the spirit of Optimus Prime. Zkarlett was also present when Snake Eyes killed Cobra Commander, and was one of a group of Joes who attempted to return the Matrix of Leadership to the reborn Optimus Prime.

When the battle was over, and Prime had healed Snake Eyes's face, Zkarlett asked whether the ninja was now truly happy. Snake Eyes finally accepted her marriage proposal, and the two embraced.

Returning to Earth, Scarlett attended Hawk's funeral in Arlington. Later still, she and Snake Eyes (now going by Francis Witwicky) retired to a little log cabin atop Scorponok's tail, where they looked after the also-retired [[U.S.7]]. The pair were invited to the wedding of Brawn and Covergirl, and Scarlett became godmother to the wedded couple's child. {{storylink|The War Never Ends}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
[[File:FirstStrike04-ScarlettJoinsGIJoe.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]
{{MainIDW|Scarlett}}

'''Shana M. O'Hara''' was born in [[Atlanta]] to a family of military men, including her father and three brothers. Proficient in martial arts, she graduated college and passed her Bar exams without even attending law school. Hoping to put both her mind and body to work, she joined the United States military. {{storylink|Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook issue 3|Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook #3}} Though she initially struggled under the auspices of an unsympathetic drill sergeant, she found a willing mentor in [[Joe Colton]], whom she came to respect. {{storylink|First Strike issue 4|First Strike #4}} By 2006, "'''Scarlett'''" had thus became one of the earliest members of G.I. Joe, the American government's top-secret military agency, having been handpicked by [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] as a potential recruit {{storylink|Secret Raiders: A Revolution Prelude|Secret Raiders}} {{storylink|First Strike issue 4|First Strike #4}} {{storylink|Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook issue 3|Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook #3}}

[[File:WhenEaglesScream-Scarlett.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

In one of their first missions, the newly minted Joes were deployed to [[Mount St. Helens]] to engage a [[Bugly (G1)|rogue mechanical alien]]. They struggled against the extraterrestrial until [[Sgt. Savage]] and [[Centurion (IDW)|Centurion]] arrived, the latter downing the rogue Decepticon and dragging him into [[Project Hot House|a refitted bunker]] overseen by [[Skywatch]]. Unlike [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]], Scarlett was alright with accepting that certain secrets were kept from the Joes. She was not alright with the fact that she, Hawk and [[Stalker (G.I. Joe)|Stalker]] lacked the security clearance to do deeper into the facility while Savage did. {{storylink|When Eagles Scream}}

Centurion and Bugly, it turned out, were only the beginning. Only two years later, [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] would lead a full-scale [[Decepticon]] invasion of Earth, culminating in an all-out battle in Manhattan where he was defeated by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]]. Scarlett and Joe Colton were among the Joe assets called in to assist with the cleanup, the latter lamenting the government's failure to listen to his warnings. {{storylink|Ghost in the Machine (IDW)|Ghost in the Machine}}

By the time the Transformers had departed Earth, G.I. Joe had become embroiled in a secret war against Cobra. To Scarlett's dismay, the conflict went nuclear and attempts to keep the Joes going fell apart, ending in the team's decommissioning. {{storylink|Secret Raiders: A Revolution Prelude|Secret Raiders}}

In 2016, shortly after the Transformers had returned to Earth and officially turned the planet into a protectorate of the [[Council of Worlds]], Scarlett was called back to action when [[Joe Colton]] took command of the [[Earth Defense Command]]. Scarlett and [[Roadblock (G.I. Joe)|Roadblock]] were tasked with escorting [[G.B. Blackrock|Garrison Blackrock]] to a classified location when their military convoy was attacked. Their incendiary rounds were ineffective against [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]], whose head had taken control of [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]]'s body and then kidnapped Blackrock. {{storylink|White Light}}

Sometime after that meeting, the real Joe Colton had been surreptitiously replaced by a [[Dire Wraith]] imposter. Unaware of the subterfuge, Scarlett met up with "[[Joe Colton (Dire Wraith)|Joe Colton]]" and his old [[Adventure Team]] friend [[Miles Mayhem|Miles Manheim]] to discuss the surge of extraterrestrial activity on Earth, starting with the Transformers. Scarlett lamented the trouble [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] had faced in their war against [[Cobra]]. While Colton and Manheim discussed [[Rom|a silver alien]] in [[California]], Scarlett expressed worry about [[Micronaut|alien]] [[Baron Karza|threats]] they are not yet aware of. Colton and Scarlett then revealed to Manheim that the worldwide deposits of Cybertronian super-fuel [[Ore-13]] were destabilizing, and on the verge of destructive nuclear fission. Believing this to be Optimus Prime's doing, they tasked Mannheim with using the technology of a captive and tortured [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] to disrupt Prime's plans. {{storylink|Secret Raiders: A Revolution Prelude|Secret Raiders}}

[[File:ConcordeHymn-ColtonsCorpse.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"Forget it, Scarlett. It's Chinatown."]]

G.I. Joe was later assigned to engage the Cybertronians in the city of [[Portland]] after the Ore-13 beneath [[Mount Olympus]] detonated. Scarlett gave [[Mainframe (G.I. Joe)|Mainframe]] the order to fire missiles at [[Jazz (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jazz]] which brought [[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]] to the G.I. Joe who began slicing the human war machines with ease. Scarlett noted how Arcee alone was overpowering G.I. Joe and that she needed to be taken down before she summoned reinforcements. Arcee already had called for reinforcements and Scarlett assumed Optimus Prime was trying to force G.I. Joe into surrendering. [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] then fired an EMP to force the humans to listen leaving Scarlett and Joe Colton to nearly be crushed by falling planes before [[Victorion]] intervened. What Scarlett assumed was [[Rom|a new Cybertronian]] arrived quickly atomized Joe Colton and three more Joes before it flew off just as suddenly. Scarlett took command of the squad and swore revenge on the Cybertronians for the death of their friends. {{storylink|Concorde Hymn}} In the aftermath, Mainframe and [[Agent Helix]] pointed out the inconsistencies between the actions of the silver human sized alien (how it only opened fire on four Joes and no one else) and the Cybertronians to Scarlett but she refused to hear it, determined to kill the Cybertronians.

[[File:DTA-ScarlettAndRoadblock.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

Back at G.I. Joe headquarters, she learned that [[Doc (Carla Greer)|Doc]] also suspected the new alien wasn't connected to Optimus Prime. She later met with [[Miles Mayhem]] who introduced her to [[Matt Trakker]] and [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], who begged to be killed. She began to feel sympathy for the Decepticon before Miles forced her away and showed her the specialized [[M.A.S.K.]] vehicles that would engage the Autobots in Greece. Scarlett noted that the instant they were deployed the Cybertronians would find a way to track them in the future but Mayhem brushed those concerns aside. {{storylink|The Divine Source of Liberty}} She was later confronted by an angry Matt Trakker as she'd withheld that the Cybertronians were living beings from him. She was later approached by Doc with the data that four Joes killed by the silver alien had non-human DNA. Realizing that the entire chain of command could be compromised, she put out a call to [[Snake-Eyes]] to infiltrate Autobot City. {{storylink|O Ship of State}} She later launched an all-out attack on the EDC's [[Marshall Islands|Bikini Atoll]] facility to fight off the Dire Wraiths there much to [[Marissa Faireborn]]'s frustration. {{storylink|Thundercracker & Buster Save the World}} On the mission, her team discovered the damaged [[Skywarp (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Skywarp]], who had been left behind by the EDC when they had abandoned the base. {{storylink|D.T.A.}}

[[File:TheNewColossus-YoJoe.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]

Returning to [[Governor's Island]] with her team, Scarlett found that [[Action Man]] had broken in and liberated [[Kup (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Kup]] who was being held in the base on the orders of [[Miles Mayhem]]. The Joes then discovered that all the [[M.A.S.K.]] forces had launched an attack on [[Metrotitan (G1)|Autobot City]]. Without access to the M.A.S.K. technology, all G.I. Joe had was integrated network gear that Soundwave could easily shut down. Scarlett was prepared to throw in the towel before Mainframe revealed the classic G.I. Joe vehicles which were too low tech for Soundwave to hack. Striking a pose, Scarlett ordered her team into action. {{storylink|The New Colossus}} Scarlett led the charge into [[Monument Valley]] and deployed G.I. Joe's combined firepower against the monstrous [[Baron Karza]]. When [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] ordered Metrotitan to lift off, Scarlett evacuated along with her teammates, and rescued Rom and [[Matt Trakker]] from a massive Ore-13 explosion. Though it appeared that Mainframe had perished in the explosion, he had survived inside [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]]'s chest, much to her relief. Back at Governor's Island, Scarlett and Matt had a chat about what the future held for both of them now that G.I. Joe was no longer part of the US government. {{storylink|Valley Forge}}

WIth G.I. Joe now an international peacekeeping group, Scarlett relocated their headquarters to the sunken wreck of the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'', which G.I. Joe rechristened the ''Lemuria''. With Skywarp now a member of the team, Scarlett supervised numerous missions across the world, battling foes such as the [[Red Shadows]] and [[Dreadnok]]s. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vol. 5 issue 1|G.I. Joe vol. 5 #1}} {{storylink|G.I. Joe vol. 5 issue 2|G.I. Joe vol. 5 #2}} Following a disastrous mission in [[Verenya]], Scarlett authorized [[Ayana Jones|Ayana "Mayday" Jones]] to work outside the organization's parameters during the investigation into the mysterious [[Talisman (G1)|Talisman]]. {{storylink|Power and Glory}}

Following the arrival of the [[Junkion (species)|Junkion]]s on Earth and the threat of a worldwide [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]] invasion, Scarlett coordinated reinforcements to the [[Matterhorn]], where Optimus Prime's team battled the brunt of the Junkions. {{storylink|New Cybertron End: Feel Safe Without Regrets|Feel Safe Without Regrets}} When the Revolutionaries were preparing to storm [[Brasnya]] to capture [[Merklynn|Garrison Kreiger]], Scarlett arranged for [[Matt Trakker]] and [[Gloria Baker]] to join them. {{storylink|Power and Glory}} Not long afterwards, the real Joe Colton — thought dead since his Dire Wraith encounter — resurfaced as the villainous "Baron Ironblood", {{storylink|Ghost in the Machine (IDW)|Ghost in the Machine}} which left Scarlett deeply conflicted about the mentor whom she had once trusted. {{storylink|First Strike issue 4|First Strike #4}}

[[File:FirstStrike1-infiltration.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

When Marissa Faireborn was properly inducted as Earth's ambassador on the [[Council of Worlds]], G.I. Joe watched from the ''Lemuria'', where an on-edge Scarlett voiced her concerns about whether or not Earth was truly ready to join the cosmic community. Her concerns were proven right seconds later after Baron Ironblood and his team of villains revealed themselves and ran amok in [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], forcing [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] to shut down the Space Bridge connecting the two worlds. Scarlett ordered [[Dial-Tone|Dial Tone]] to analyze the data behind the attack, which led the Joes to storming a secure bunker in the [[Alps]] to try and find a clue behind Colton's motives. Breaching the compound, Scarlett discovered that Colton had deliberately baited her into the trap having left her a note explaining his motivations and asking her to consider them before pursuing him. {{storylink|First Strike issue 1|First Strike #1}} Having triggered the base's self-destruct mechanisms, Scarlett's team encountered stiff resistance as an army of Red Shadows nearly prevented them from escaping the detonation of the base. Armed with the knowledge of Colton's plans, Scarlett's Joes went to meet with Matt Trakker and Gloria Baker. Together, they travelled to [[Metrotitan (G1)|Autobot City]] to ask Soundwave for use of the Space Bridge. Though the Space Bridge was nonfunctional, the group came up with the idea of piggybacking the [[M.A.S.S. Device]] off the Space Bridge's signal as Ironblood's cabal had done. To do so, however, they required the M.A.S.S. Device itself, prompting the alliance to storm [[Castle Destro]]. {{storylink|First Strike issue 2|First Strike #2}}

[[File:FirstStrike4-ScarlettAndOptimus.jpg|thumb|left|250px|"Yeah I spent most of the last crossover trying to kill you, but I'm the main character this time around."]]

Riding on Soundwave's shoulder, Scarlett arrived just as [[Skyburst (G1)|Skyburst]] and [[Stormclash]] had finished rigging up the Space Bridge/M.A.S.S. Device hybrid that would allow them to travel to Cybertron. Emerging in the middle of the battlefield, Scarlett tackled Baron Ironblood... only to find [[Doctor Mindbender]] beneath the mask, a decoy to slow her down while the real Colton made off with the Talisman. Having hoped that Colton had been coerced into his villainous persona, Scarlett was dismayed to learn from Gloria Baker that Colton's real objective was to reach Cybertron's core. Hoping to stop him before he could put his scheme into play, the group headed for [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], only for their path to be barred by [[Strika (BM)|Strika]]. The situation was defused only after [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] and [[Sunstreaker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sunstreaker]] arrived. Placed before the [[Council of Worlds]], [[Vigilem|Carcer]]ian commander [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] promptly ordered them all executed. {{storylink|First Strike issue 3|First Strike #3}} Though Marissa vouched for their rights as Council citizens — prompting Scarlett to lay out what she knew of Colton's plan — the subsequent diplomatic bickering saw Starscream take control of the situation and detain Scarlett and her team in a holding cell. There, she was visited by Optimus Prime. The two shared their thoughts on recent events, prompting Scarlett to open up and explain her history with Colton to Optimus, confessing that she had come to Cybertron, in part, out of a desire to save the man she respected from himself. {{storylink|First Strike issue 4|First Strike #4}}

The humans were soon freed by Optimus, Arcee and Soundwave with the bi-species group making their way underground to follow Colton's trail. The group made steady progress through Colton's myriad of traps until they came upon a river of acid too potent to cross. Unwilling to accept that Colton could have made a mistake considering the specialization of his team and his meticulous planning, Scarlett bungee jumped into the river, revealing it to be harmless hologram planted by [[Miles Mayhem]]. The group pressed on arriving to the Cybertron's core ahead of Colton. When the [[Iron Ring]] arrived, Scarlett offered Coulson a chance to stand down before the two sides came to blows. {{storylink|First Strike issue 5|First Strike #5}} Engaging her former mentor in a knife fight, the two traded philosophy as Scarlett pointed out the futility of Colton's actions before the [[Council of Worlds]] arrived to arrest everyone. Kreiger fled in the chaos prompting Colton to follow him allowing Scarlett to approach him from behind only for Colton to reflexively impale her with his knife. Scarlett took advantage of his hesitation to remove the blade and beat him down before Kreiger uttered a rhyme that activated the [[Talisman (G1)|Talisman]], revealed him to be an alien wizard known as "Merklynn" and turned a portion of Cybertron into [[New Prysmos]] before teleporting everyone back to Iacon. On the surface, Starscream attempted to execute Colton before Scarlett intervened. As the humans waited for a Space Bridge back to Earth, Scarlett reflected on the bittersweetness of their victory and that Colton's unwillingness to kill might indicate that there might still be good in him. {{storylink|First Strike issue 6|First Strike #6}}

When [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] began its apocalyptic attack on the [[Cybertronian colonies]], ''Lemuria'' was attacked by [[Maximal]]s with Scarlett and Roadblock being saved by [[Agent Helix]], Snake Eyes and Skywarp. {{storylink|Last Stand (G.I. Joe)|Last Stand}} Returning to G.I. Joe Field Headquarters, Scarlett voiced her opinion that Unicron would soon its sights on Earth. {{storylink|Road's End}} After Unciron had destroyed Cybertron, the populace space bridged to Earth with the Chaos Bringer following. In preparation for the battle, Scarlett held a briefing in [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. {{storylink|Assembly (Unicron)|Assembly}} During the final battle, Scarlett went to [[Detroit]] to assist Matt Trakker. {{storylink|Ceremony}} Scarlett was later present as the G.I. Joe representative at Optimus Prime's funeral. {{storylink|Post}}

{{-}}

===''Aw Yeah Revolution!''===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Aw Yeah Revolution! issue 1|Aw Yeah Revolution! #1}}}}

===When Worlds Collide===
Scarlett joined [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and his allies in an attempt to stop [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Cobra Commander]] from stealing the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. Their fateful battle was interrupted when the kids who were playing with their various toys were called off to dinner. {{storylink|When Worlds Collide}}

==Toys==
{{Note|This character has many other toys that are not connected to ''Transformers''. See the external link to yojoe.com for more information.}}
===G.I. Joe and the Transformers===
[[File:ClubCrossoverExclusive.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*''' G.I. Joe featuring Ninja Force and Transformers''' (2016)
**''Accessories:'' display stand, back scabbard, 2 swords, 2 tegaki, nunchuks

:Scarlett was only available as part of a box set that was sold through both the [[Transformers Collectors' Club]] store and the G.I. Joe Collectors' Club store, both of them operated by [[Fun Publications]]. Other figures and accessories included in the box set were [[Blackcat (G1)|Blackcat]], [[Cobra Commander]], [[Sidney Biggles-Jones|Dr. Sidney Biggles-Jones]], [[Ratbat (G1)#Timelines|Ratbat]], [[Megatron (G1)/toys#G.I. Joe and the Transformers|Megatron]], [[Toaster]], and [[Crusticon|The Crusticons]].
{{-}}

*'''Scarlett vs Zartan & Autobot Powerglide vs Soundwave''' (Box set, 2016)
**''Accessories:'' display stand, web gear, bow, quiver, crossbow

: Exclusive to the [[Hasbro Toy Shop]] booth at [[San Diego Comic-Con]] 2016 and the Hasbro Toy Shop website, Scarlett is a new release composed of recolored parts of other ''G.I. Joe'' figures.

:This set features a redeco of a (non-transforming) [[Cobra]] [[Rattler]] vehicle colored as [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]], a [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] [[HISS tank]], and [[Zartan]].

==Notes==
*Her ''Action Force'' toy gives her birthplace as [[Belgium]] [http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/toys/003/af/031/index.html], though this wasn't canon in Marvel's ''Action Force'' comic due to its reprinting the ''G.I. Joe'' comic where she's American. Then, a few years later, the ''unrelated'' U.S. group G.I. Joe merged with Action Force. Feel free to feel confused.
*The IDW continuity stories [[White Light|''The Transformers'' #56]], [[Secret Raiders: A Revolution Prelude|''Revolution'' #0]], and [[The Divine Source of Liberty|''Revolution'' #2]] have Scarlett as a Colonel, but her ''[[Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook issue 3|Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook]]'' profile mistakenly ranks her as much lower a Master Sergeant.
*Scarlet has been voiced by Transformers alumni [[Grey Griffin]] in ''G.I. Joe: Resolute'' and by [[Lisa Ann Beley]] in both ''G.I. Joe Spy Troops'' and G.I. Joe: Valor vs. Venom.

==External links==
*[http://www.yojoe.com/action/82/scarlett.shtml Scarlett at YoJoe.com]
*{{i|Scarlett}} at The IDW Hasbro Wiki

[[Category:Action Force]]
[[Category:G.I. Joe]]
[[Category:Generation 1 humans]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) humans]]
[[Category:Marvel Generation 1 humans]]
[[Category:Marvel Generation 2 humans]]
[[Category:Ninjas]]

Revolution

2021-11-11T08:16:04Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Collections */ Added cover artist credit for IDW collection 3.1

{{disambig2|the IDW Generation 1 crossover event|the Titan movie story arc of the same name|Transformers Comic issue 23}}
[[File:RevolutionLogo.jpg|center|500px]]
[[File:RoadtoRevolution1.jpg|thumb|right|375px|This is the ultimate showdown of ultimate destiny.]]
'''''Revolution''''' is a multi-property crossover event by [[IDW Publishing]] that includes many of [[Hasbro]]'s properties, aiming to amalgamate the separate IDW continuities into a [[Hasbro Universe|new shared universe]]. Running from September to November 2016, it consists of a main five-issue mini-series and eight one-shot tie-ins—one for each of the series crossing over in the story. The five issue mini-series was written by [[John Barber]] and [[Cullen Bunn]] (writer of IDW's ''[[Micronauts (comic)|Micronauts]]''), with art by [[Fico Ossio]]. The tie-ins were handled by each book's respective creative teams.

January 2017 saw the launch of ''[[Revolutionaries]]'', a team-book featuring various ''Transformers'' and ''Revolution'' characters, including [[Kup (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Kup]], [[G.B. Blackrock|Garrison Blackrock]], and [[Ayana Jones]].<ref>http://www.cbr.com/barber-ossios-revolutionaries-expands-the-idwhasbro-universe/</ref>

''Revolution'' was followed by the ''[[Reconstruction]]'' post-event branding, designed as a jumping-on point for new readers. Later on, ''Revolution'' received a sequel of sorts, ''[[First Strike]]''.

{{chapters|title=''Revolution'' issues:'''|prev=Titans Return (comic)|next=Reconstruction|content=
<div class="list-header">"Road to Revolution" - ''Till All Are One''</div>
*[[07:00:00|#1]]
*[[Applicable Skills|#2]]
*[[Things We Said We'd Never Do|#3]]
*[[The Line Between Us|#4]]
 <div class="list-header">"Road to Revolution" - ''Titans Return''</div>
*''Titans Return'' [[The Last Autobot|#1]]
*''The Transformers'' [[White Light|#56]]
*[[White Heat|#57]]
*''More than Meets the Eye'' [[Ten to Midnight|#56]]
*[[Last Light (issue)|#57]]
 <div class="list-header">''Revolution''</div>
*[[Secret Raiders: A Revolution Prelude|#0]]
*[[Concorde Hymn|#1]]
*[[The Divine Source of Liberty|#2]]
*[[O Ship of State|#3]]
*[[The New Colossus|#4]]
*[[Valley Forge|#5]]
 <div class="list-header">''Revolution'' one-shots</div>
*''[[Field Test|ROM]]''
*''[[M.A.S.K.: Revolution|M.A.S.K.]]''
*''[[Micronauts: Revolution|Micronauts]]''
*''[[Thundercracker & Buster Save the World|The Transformers]]''
*''[[The Modern World|Action Man]]''
*''[[Informed|Till All Are One]]''
*''[[D.T.A.|G.I. Joe]]''
*''[[Nothing Will Ever Be the Same Again!|More than Meets the Eye]]''
}}
{{note|Of the one-shot ''Revolution'' tie-in issues, TFWiki covers only those featuring [[Transformer]]s in a significant capacity.}}

==Conception==
According to John Barber's forward in the ''Revolution'' trade paperback, the shared universe concept came not from Hasbro, but from himself, [[Chris Ryall]], and [[David Hedgecock]]. The three of them came up with the idea and then contacted [[Michael Kelly]] to get Hasbro on-board. Barber talked with Cullen Bunn, who was already planning on sending the Micronauts to Earth, and suggested that it be the same Earth as the Transformers. From there they wove in the rest of Hasbro's properties, with [[Andrew Griffith]] establishing a timeline to make their already-established ''Transformers'' and ''G.I. Joe'' stories fit together.

==Build-up==
IDW's slate of new Hasbro licenses was announced from mid-2015 onwards: ''{{w|Rom (comics)|ROM}}'' and ''{{w|Micronauts}}'' in July [[2015]], ''{{w|Action Man}}'' in October 2015, and finally ''{{w|M.A.S.K.}}'' in May [[2016]]. The next month, ''Revolution'' was announced, a five-issue crossover that would unite those four properties with ''[[Transformers brand|Transformers]]'' and ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'' – not as a one-time-only deal, but to established a shared fictional world in which all those characters would co-exist. Much was made of the fact that no continuity was being discarded – the existing IDW ''Transformers'' and ''G.I. Joe'' stories were handwaved into having happened in the same universe all along, all their stories and characters intact; the ''Jem and the Holograms'' comic which began publishing in 2015 has been stated to have also been placed into the new shared universe, but did not appear in ''Revolution'' for "reasons of tone" compared to the other titles.

Whilst ''Micronauts'' was the first new book to debut, explicit build-up for ''Revolution''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s shared world began with the initial issues ''ROM'' and ''Action Man''. Both books made reference to the events happening at [[Monument Valley]] in the pages of ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]'', whilst ''ROM'' also incorporated a number of ''G.I. Joe'' characters into its debut storyline. Around this time, IDW also released a [[Secret Raiders: A Revolution Prelude|prelude issue]] of ''Revolution'' through various avenues, which recapped the essentials of the previous ''Transformers'' and ''G.I. Joe'' stories, and set the stage for the main crossover event.

On the ''Transformers'' side of things, both the debut arc of ''[[The Transformers: Till All Are One|Till All Are One]]'' and the ''[[Titans Return (comic)|Titans Return]]'' crossover were billed on their covers as being lead-ins to ''Revolution'', although only the latter featured any significant tie-ins to the event.

==Overview==
Several months have passed since [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s controversial annexation of [[Earth]] into the [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertronian]] [[Council of Worlds]]. On Earth, the political situation remains volatile as [[human]]ity struggles to come to terms with the actions of the Transformers, viewing them with distrust. The tensions heighten after Earth's deposits of [[Ore-13]] start to rapidly destabilize, threatening Earth with nuclear annihilation.

Believing the Transformers to be at fault, the [[President of the United States]] makes the decision to reactivate America's highly-trained special mission force [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] to counter the mechanical invaders. Unbeknownst to the government, G.I. Joe's ranks have been infiltrated by an entirely different race of alien shapeshifters: the evil wizards known as [[Dire Wraith]]s – also drawn to Earth's supplies of Ore-13 – in a conspiracy that spreads all the way up to [[Joe Colton]] himself. The Wraith masquerading as Colton contacts his old [[Adventure Team (G.I. Joe)|Adventure Team]] friend [[Miles Mayhem|Miles Manheim]], hoping to reverse-engineer [[Blitzwing (G1)|captured Cybertronian assets]] into a mechanical [[M.A.S.K.|strike force]] in order to fight back. Manheim, however, has cut a deal with the extradimensional conqueror [[Baron Karza]] - in exchange for Earth's deposits of Ore-13 to save Karza's [[Microspace|dimension]] from a destructive [[entropy storm]], Manheim will receive dominion over Earth.

When the Autobot base [[Metrotitan (G1)|Metrotitan]] abruptly goes silent, Optimus Prime calls [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] to Earth in the hopes of using her [[cityspeaker|cityspeaking]] skills to diagnose the problem. Before long, however, Prime and his allies are dispatched to [[Portland]] when Joe Colton takes the fight to Transformers. The battle is interrupted by [[Rom|Rom the Space Knight]], who annihilates the Wraiths within the ranks of the Joes and forces the Autobots to pursue the alien. Meanwhile, [[Kup (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Kup]] and [[Aileron]] discover the true problem with Ore-13, but are ambushed by M.A.S.K., with Miles Mayhem taking Kup prisoner.

Optimus and Rom reach an understanding and the Space Knight accompanies them back to Metrotitan, just as Windblade returns from a mental voyage into [[Microspace]], where she encountered its progenitor [[Micronus Prime]]. Her desire to save this dying dimension runs up against Optimus Prime's orders to protect Earth first, but Rom's recklessness prompts Prime to realize that both Earth and Microspace must be saved; meanwhile, in Microspace, the adventurous [[Micronaut]]s head into the fray as part of a deal with the devil.

Meanwhile, the restless Decepticon [[Thundercracker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Thundercracker]] finds himself protecting the President and her entourage from a team of Dire Wraiths. The extraterrestrial activity on Earth prompts the attention of the UK-based [[Action Man Programme]], prompting them to deploy their top agent [[Action Man]] to retrieve Kup from beneath [[Governor's Island]]. Ian and Kup form a friendship as they return to Monument Valley, now under siege by the combined forces of MASK and the Dire Wraiths. As the battle intensifies, Baron Karza finally reveals himself as the perpetrator behind it all, fusing with Wraith [[magic]] and M.A.S.K. technology to transform himself into a colossal monster. The arrival of G.I. Joe turns the advantage towards the Autobots and their allies; with the help of the Micronauts and repentant M.A.S.K. pilot [[Matt Trakker]], they succeed in forcing Karza back into his dimension, ending the threat to Earth.

A side story focuses on the adventures of the [[Scavenger (group)|Scavengers]] as they head to Earth so that [[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] can go on a date with [[CONS4EVA|someone he met online]].

==Recommended reading order==
*''Revolution'' #0-1
*''ROM: Revolution''
*''M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand: ''Revolution''
*''Revolution'' #2
*''The Transformers: Till All Are One: Revolution''
*''Micronauts: Revolution''
*''Revolution'' #3
*''G.I. Joe: Revolution''
*''The Transformers: Revolution''
*''Action Man: Revolution''
*''Revolution'' #4-5
*''The Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye: Revolution''

==Collections==
*'''''Revolution''''' ([[February 8]], [[2017]]) ISBN 163140816X / ISBN 978-1631408168 
:*Contains ''Revolution'' issues #0 to #5.
:*Bonus material includes a foreword by John Barber and a cover gallery.

*'''''Revolution: Heroes''''' ([[March 8]], [[2017]]) ISBN 1631408410 / ISBN 978-1631408410 
:*Contains the ''ROM'', ''M.A.S.K.'', ''Micronauts'', ''G.I. Joe'', and ''Action Man'' one-shots.
:*Bonus material includes a cover gallery.

*'''''Revolution: Transformers''''' ([[March 8]], [[2017]]) ISBN 1631408429 / ISBN 978-1631408427 
:*Contains the ''Till All Are One'', ''The Transformers'', and ''More than Meets the Eye'' one-shots, as well as ''[[The Transformers Holiday Special]]''.
:*Bonus material UNKNOWN.

*'''''Revolution''''' ([[March 29]], [[2017]]) ISBN 978-1631409370
**Hardcover, exclusively sold through the comic book direct market.
**Contains ''Revolution'' #0–5 and all one-shots.
**Bonus material includes a cover gallery.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 81: Revolution''''' ([[February 19]], [[2020]])
:* Hardcover collection of ''Revolution'' #0–5, and the tie-in one-shots for ''[[Thundercracker & Buster Save the World|The Transformers]]'', ''[[Informed|Til All Are One]]'' and ''[[Nothing Will Ever Be the Same Again!|More than Meets the Eye]]''.
:* Bonus content includes an intro from [[Simon Furman]].

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Three: Volume 1|The IDW Collection Phase Three: Volume 1]]''''' (September ???, [[2021]] ''*scheduled*'') ISBN 1684058422 / ISBN 978-1684058426
:* Contains ''Revolution'' [[Secret Raiders: A Revolution Prelude|#0]]–[[Valley Forge|5]], ''[[The Transformers: Till All Are One|Till All Are One]]'': [[Informed|Revolution one-shot]], ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]'': [[Thundercracker & Buster Save the World|Revolution one-shot]], [[The Modern World|''Action Man'': Revolution one-shot]], ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'': [[Nothing Will Ever Be the Same Again!|Revolution one-shot]], ''[[The Transformers: Till All Are One|Till All Are One]]'' [[Ping|#5]]–[[Rubicon|8]] and ''[[Revolutionaries]]'' [[Crisis Intervention|#1]]–[[The Iron Klaw|4]].

<gallery>
File:Revolution-TPB.jpg|''Revolution'' TPB cover by [[Tradd Moore]] and [[Felipe Subreiro]]
File:Revolution-Heroes.jpg|''Revolution: Heroes'' TPB cover by [[Brandon Peterson]]
File:Revolution-Transformers-TPB.jpg|''Revolution: Transformers'' TPB cover by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:Revolution-HC.jpg|''Revolution'' Direct Market Hardcover by [[James Biggie]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v81.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 81: Revolution'''''; cover art by [[Dreamwave Productions]] (Blitzwing) and [[Fico Ossio]] (retro)
File:IDWCollectionP3V1.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection, Phase Three, Vol. 1'''''; cover art by [[Sara Pitre-Durocher]]
</gallery>

==Toys==
[[File:SDCC Revolution.jpg|thumb|300px|What, no [[Ayana Jones|Mayday]]?]]
In a surprising move, as a tie into the crossover almost a year after it happened, Hasbro released a ''Revolution''-branded boxset as an [[exclusive]] at [[San Diego Comic-Con]] 2017. In addition to a re-release of [[Transformers Legends (franchise)|''Legends'']] [[Jetfire (G1)/toys#Legends|Jetfire]], the Revolution set includes ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]''-scaled toys of [[Roadblock (G.I. Joe)#Revolution|Roadblock]], [[Rom#Revolution|Rom the Space Knight]], a [[Dire Wraith#Revolution|Dire Wraith]], [[Action Man#Revolution|Action Man]], [[Matt Trakker#Revolution|Matt Trakker]], and — in a surprising, possibly [[Transformers vs. Visionaries|foreshadowing]] move — Leoric of the [[Visionaries]]. On top of that, the set also includes a large set of non-articulated [[Micronauts]] minifigures.

In a cute touch, Roadblock has a figure stand emblazoned with the ''G.I. Joe'' logo, while the other characters all have generic stands. The box's summary for the conflict it depicts is taken directly from the blurb of the ''Revolution'' TPB... which means that Leoric and the Visionaries don't get mentioned at all.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Crossovers]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) comic series]]
[[Category:Revolution issues| ]]

Lord of Misrule: Swindle's II

2021-08-04T06:57:17Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Synopsis */

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2019 comic)|Transformers]]'' #33
|prev=Lord of Misrule: Test Flight II
|next=Sea of Rust Part One
|caption=
|image=TF2019 33 cvrA.jpg
|title="Lord of Misrule: Test Flight II"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[August 4]], 2021
|coverdate=July 2021
|written by=[[Brian Ruckley]]
|art by=[[Beth McGuire-Smith]]
|colors=[[David García Cruz]]
|letters by=[[Jake M. Wood]]
|editor=[[David Mariotte]], [[Tom Waltz]] and [[Riley Farmer]]
|continuity=[[2019 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=
}}

'''A mission to rescue an old ally forces Bumblebee to make a difficult choice: avenge the past, or look to the future?

==Synopsis==
Ever the opportunist, [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] has pounced on the opportunities afforded by [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s coup and turned [[Swindle's|his casino]] into the number one watering hole for off-duty [[Decepticon]]s. While [[Decepticon Guard]] leader [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] observes his improvised wrestling arena from the skybox, and takes in the sight of [[Crasher (G1)|Crasher]] piledriving [[Tentakil (G1)|Tentakil]] into the floor, Swindle uses the match as an example of the many recreational opportunities available to his customers; despite his contempt for these theatric bouts, Sixshot grudgingly tells him that he can stay open, so long as he caters to Decepticons and Decepticons only. The moment Sixshot leaves, however, [[Trickdiamond]] tells her boss that she's identified a number of particularly rowdy customers, loose-lipped types who might say ''anything'' under the influence.

At a remote [[energon transmission station]], [[Windsweeper]] grumbles to himself as he fills up a a load of [[energon cube]]s, until a strange noise catches his attention. When the fussy Decepticon sees [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] approaching, begging him for a drop of energon, he initially mistakes Skywarp for a civilian and tells him that this energon is for Decepticons only... at which point Skywarp teleports on top of him, drops him with a single punch, and steals an energon cube. [[Gutcruncher (G1)|Gutcruncher]] arrives just in time to see Skywarp disappear, and groans that Skywarp couldn't have picked a worse time to return.

Trickdiamond climbs down the ladder into Swindle's secret basement and tells [[Roughstuff]] to keep watch while Swindle greases up his "special guests" with some complimentary samples of his private [[engex]] blend. Although [[Reflector (G1)|Refraktor]] can't hold his drink and promptly collapses, Swindle narrows in on [[Twirl (G1)|Twirl]] and [[Nautilator]], and asks them to repeat what they were saying about the [[Enigma of Combination]]...

As Swindle pumps his clients for information, Trickdiamond has a talk with [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] about his recent behaviour—he's grown increasingly fixated on [[mentor]]ship and his questions have made Roughstuff uncomfortable. Trickdiamond notes that ''her'' mentor, [[Big Wing]], was a laid-back sort who let her find her own path in life; when he went off to travel the galaxy, however, a [[Devastator (G1)|freak asteroid impact]] killed him and everyone else on the planet [[Mayalx]]. Trickdiamond muses that ''this'' was his final lesson: ''everyone'''s got an asteroid heading for them, so make the best of the time you have and don't take things too seriously. When Bumblebee points out that that probably wasn't what Big Wing meant to teach her, Trickdiamond asks why someone would've nominated ''him'' as a mentor; Bumblebee admits that he doesn't know for sure, but grimly muses that whoever nominated him probably regrets their decision.

Skywarp rematerializes just outside the city of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], and muses just how little Cybertron has changed since his exile in [[unspace]]—once more, the planet teeters on the brink of collapse, and his old enemies the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]s have returned to the skies. Still, he's intrigued by the "Decepticons", and teleports toward the city to see what fun can be had in this brave new world.

After hours, Swindle approaches Bumblebee from some new information he's gleaned from his customers: tonight, [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]] will be transferred to the prison inside the old [[Senate]] building. Although his top priority is still finding [[Barricade (IDW)|Barricade]], Bumblebee knows that he's responsible for getting her into trouble in the first place and realizes that he has to do something. Fortunately, Swindle's already thought that far ahead and called in his heavy-duty contractors [[Charger]] and [[Fire Beast]]. They don't come cheap, however, and Swindle warns that if Bumblebee goes through with this he'll owe Swindle a lot more than he already does. That evening, as [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], [[Jolt (G2)|Jolt]] and [[Barricade (G1)|Barricade]] move Elita from her holding cell to the Senate, Bumblebee and his new allies are already in place to intercept them—and take the trio completely off-guard when Charger uses his combined mode to crash through the wall and knock the guards flat! Elita punts Ravage into the wall and suplexes Barricade flat, and while Bumblebee didn't ''know'' that Barricade was here, he'll take any opportunity he can get to avenge [[Rubble]]. As Barricade begs for mercy, pinned and helpless, Bumblebee advances, gun in hand...

''On the day of Rubble's forging, a nervous Bumblebee speaks with [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]] moments before the customary forging ceremony begins. Bumblebee's sure that Orion was the one who nominated him to be chosen for mentorship, but the Senator evades the question and reminds Bumblebee that he was chosen from the pool on the strength of his own merits. All he has to do is be his best self, and as he steps forward to receive his new charge, Orion tells him to "be exemplary".''

Struck by this sudden memory, Bumblebee abruptly lowers his pistol and turns away: the last time he chose violence, his decision only made things worse. As he tells Elita, Bumblebee might not know what his best self looks like these days, but he's sure that ''this'' isn't it; he and Elita walk off, and Charger follows after first melting Barricade's hand off to ensure he won't shoot them in the back. Back at the bar, Bumblebee confronts Swindle over his willingness to rub elbows with the Decepticons, but Swindle retorts that he's in the business of staying alive and informed, even if that means trading Decepticon secrets with third parties like the [[Voin]]: secrets like how many troops Megatron has, how much energon he controls, and even information regarding the lost Enigma of Combination. Those last words give Bumblebee an idea: if he serves as an intermediary, Swindle can expand his network by telling Optimus Prime about the Enigma.

After surveying the ruins of Iacon from the wrecked [[Tether]], Skywarp teleports to a Decepticon checkpoint, and informs [[Offroad (Generations)|Offroad]] that he'd like to speak with their leader...

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks. 

{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* ''[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]]'' (29)
* ''[[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]'' (30)

|c2=
* [[Cindersaur (G1)|Cindersaur]] (1)
* [[Twirl (G1)|Twirl]] (2)
* [[Reflector (G1)|Refraktor]] (3)
* [[Nautilator]] (4)
* [[Crasher (G1)|Crasher]] (5)
* [[Slicer (Decepticon)|Slicer]] (6)
* [[Tentakil (G1)|Tentakil]] (7)
* [[Apeface]] (7)
* [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] (11)
* [[Catgut]] (12)
* [[Treadshot (G1)|Treadshot]] (13)
* [[Windsweeper]] (14)
* [[Charger]] (22)
* [[Fire Beast]] (23)
* [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]] (24)
* [[Jolt (G2)|Jolt]] (25)
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (26)
* [[Barricade (IDW)|Barricade]] (27)
* [[Offroad (Generations)|Offroad]] (31)

|h3=Threefold Spark|c3=
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (15)

|c4=
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (8)
* [[Headlock (G1)|Headlock]] (9)
* [[Trickdiamond]] (10)
* [[Gutcruncher (G1)|Gutcruncher]] (16)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (17)
* [[Roughstuff]] (18)
* [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]] (19)
* ''[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]'' (20)
* ''[[Big Wing]]''? (21)
* ''[[Proxima (G1)|Proxima]]'' (28)
}}

==Quotes==
"You'll like us fine when you get to know us. Huh. Joking. We're '''unknowable'''."
:—'''Fire Beast'''

"Barricade. You adding yourself to the list of those I'm never going to forgive or forget?" 
"Sure. Why not? List's probably long enough that you'll '''never''' work your way down to little me."
:—'''Elita-1''' and '''Barricade'''

"Remember, we're not trying to kill anyone. I just want Elita-1, and Swindle wants minimum provocation." 
"Swindle also wants us to kill '''you''' if it looks like you might get captured. So you don't talk." 
"'''What?!''' Wait—you're supposed to be good at keeping secrets. Why are you telling me '''that'''?" 
"Motivate you not to get captured." 
"I think I liked Treadshot more than you two."
:—'''Bumblebee''' and '''Charger'''

"Where '''are''' you, Ravage!" 
"Think he ran off. Which just leaves '''you''', Barricade." 
"No, no-'''yerk!'''" 
"And look at '''me''', working through that list of mine like a '''professional!'''"
:—'''Barricade''' versus '''Elita-1'''

"''Aah'', Cybertron. What's '''become''' of you? All this chaos, all this destruction. I love it. I know we didn't part on the best of terms, dear Cybertron... but let's give it another go, you and me."
:—'''Skywarp'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* After his arrest in [[Rise of the Decepticons: Swindle's|issue #20]], Swindle escaped from prison in [[War World: Hunt|issue #28]] and hired fellow inmates Roughstuff and Bumblebee to come work for him, and promsied the latter that he'd use his connections to find Barricade. Over the course of the forty-cycle timeskip between issues [[War World: We Are Not Meant To Be Darkness|#30]], and [[Lord of Misrule: Test Flight I|#31]], he's reopened [[Swindle's|his casino]] and turned it into a Decepticon hangout.
* Crasher had previously alluded to her brief stint as a gladiator back in #28, back before [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] closed down the arenas. Headlock notes that he could've made something of her back when he was a trainer; he'd previously been shown coaching [[Lugnut (TF 2010)|Lugnut]] during a flashback in [[The Change In Your Nature Part Three|issue #15]] in reference to his [[Headlock (RID)|''Robots in Disguise'' counterpart]]. Despite Crasher's bravado in the ring, Sixshot notes that [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] easily trounced her when they crossed paths in the prologue to #28.
* [[Twirl (G1)|Twirl]], [[Tentakil (G1)|Tentakil]], and [[Nautilator]] must be regulars down at Swindle's; they'd previously appeared in issue #20, gambling on a [[skitter]] race. Other returning Decepticons in the crowd include [[Treadshot (G1)|Treadshot]], [[Catgut]], and [[Apeface]].
* Though Trickdiamond notes that her mentor [[Big Wing]] was killed by a freak asteroid impact on the planet [[Mayalx]], the next panel makes it very clear this is a cover story meant to conceal [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]'s destructive rampage in ''[[Transformers: Galaxies|Galaxies]]'' [[Constructicons Rising, Part 4|#4]], which wiped out the entire colony and everyone in it. Presumably, Big Wing is the purple 'bot being squeezed in Devastator's fist—a similarly colored [[generic]] ''did'' appear in issue #4 as one of Devastator's victims, but the details and color arrangement are slightly different.
* [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]]'s been in jail since [[Rise of the Decepticons: All Fall Down|#19]]—after she conspired with Bumblebee in [[The Change In Your Nature Part One|#13]] to break into Soundwave's private records [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] removed her from the [[Ascenticon Guard]] and confined her to quarters. She's set to be moved to the [[Senate]] building, which has been repurposed into a prison as per an exchange between [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Strika (BM)|Strika]] in [[War World: Awakenings|issue #26]].
* Bumblebee's vendetta against [[Barricade (G1)|Barricade]] goes back to [[The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Five|issue #11]],where he learned that Barricade played a role in [[Rubble]]'s murder. However, Bee talks himself out of killing Barriacde by reminding himself that it'll likely only land him in deeper trouble, just as his killing of [[Quake (G1)|Quake]] in [[Rise of the Decepticons: Prisoners|#22]] got him arrested.
* Upon seeing a flight of [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]s, Skywarp dismisses them as "spoilers of fun"—as per ''[[Transformers: Escape|Escape]]'' [[Escape Part Three|#3]], we know that the vast majority of Seekers were purpose-built clone troopers designed to hunt down Skywarp's [[Skywarp drone|drone army]] during the [[War of the Threefold Spark]].
* Charger and Fire Beast are revealed to be members of the infamous "''[[Iron Hope (G1)|Iron Hope]]'' hundred", Cybertronians who lost their ability to transform after overexposure to [[Nucleon (substance)|nucleon]]. Bumblebee asks them if they're friends with [[Treadshot (G1)|Treadshot]], another Iron Hoper who tried to kill him in issue #19. The comic hasn't confirmed or denied this interpretation. but it's possible if not outright likely that ''all'' of the characters who originated as [[Action Master]]s or Action Master accessories—Charger, Treadshot, Catgut, Fire Beast, Gutcruncher, and [[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]]—are survivors of the ''Iron Hope''.
* [[Proxima (G1)|Proxima]] makes a cameo during Rubble's forging ceremony; [[Arcee/Greenlight: Run|issue #18]] revealed that she'd written a book for new mentors, and this issue expands on that by revealing that part of her job involves training prospective mentors to for their new duties.
* In issue #28, Megatron forced [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] to confess everything he knew regarding [[Spark|Titanspark]]s and the [[Enigma of Combination]]. Swindle notes that Megatron's plans regarding the artifact have somehow "leaked". It might not be a coincidence that Starscream's mole [[Reflector (G1)|Refraktor]], who deliberately fed information to the Autobots to throw Megatron off his game, was in the audience...
* To send a secure message to Optimus Prime, Swindle digs up a "rocket-communicator thing" that used to belong to [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]. Megatron previously utilized one of these secure, untraceable drones to contact [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] in issue #11.

===Transformers references===
* Bumblebee's current position as a neutral drifter with ties to Cybertron's criminal underworld likely owes something to his role in the [[Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy (cartoon)|''War for Cybertron'' cartoon]], which depicted him as an amoral energon scrounger who frequently dealt with [[Soundblaster (G1)|Soundblaster]]'s criminal empire.
* [[Windsweeper]] previously appeared in [[War World: Titans|issue #29]] using a slightly stylized version of his original 1988 toy. His second appearance here has him sporting an updated form based on [[Windsweeper#Generations|his most recent ''Generations'' toy]].
* [[Charger]]'s arsenal of fire-based weapons owes something to his original toy bio, which described him as a Decepticon flame-thrower. His partner [[Fire Beast]] incorporates the toy's original [[gimmick]] by transforming into a helmet-backpack-thing for Charger.

===Errors===
* On page one, Tentakil's squid mode is miscolored; his entire mantle is black instead of being mostly white with black highlights.
* Throughout the comic, Swindle's eyes are mistakenly colored red instead of purple.
* [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] is shown attending [[Rubble]]'s forging ceremony. However, as per dialogue in [[The World In Your Eyes Part Four|issue #4]] Sentinel Prime was off-planet at the time and Orion Pax filled in for him at both Rubble and [[Gauge]]'s forgings.

===Other trivia===
* Originally solicited for June 30th, this issue lands just two weeks late, in the first week of August.

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A''': Bumblebee's new friends, by [[Ed Pirrie]]
* '''Cover B''': Barricade triumphant, by [[Lane Lloyd]]
* '''Retailer incentive cover''': Swindle and the gang, by [[Alex Milne]]

<gallery>
File:TF2019 33 cvrA.jpg
File:TF2019 33 cvrB.jpg
File:TF2019 33 cvrRI.jpg
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''[[Transformers/Back to the Future]]'' TPB
* ''Road of Bones'' and ''Sea of Sorrows''
* ''Bermuda''

==External links==
* [http://majorspoilers.com/2021/08/03/preview-transformers-33 Preview]

[[Category:Transformers (2019) issues]]

The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Three: Volume 1

2021-01-30T00:28:36Z

Shakalooloo Doom:

{{comicstory|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection]]''
|prev=The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 12
|next=
|image=IDWCollectionP3V1.jpg
|title=''The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Three: Volume 1''
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[September 21]], [[2021]]
|writers=[[John Barber]], [[Mairghread Scott]] and [[Cullen Bunn]]
|artists=[[Fico Ostio]] and [[Sara Pitre-Durocher]]
|colours=]
|letterers=
|editors=
|pagecount=
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|price=$59.99 USD
|ISBN=ISBN 1684058422 ISBN 978-1684058426
}}
'''''The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Three: Volume 1''''', scheduled to be published by [[IDW Publishing]] in September, 2021, is the twenty-first in a series of hardcovers aiming to reprint the original IDW Transformers stories in a "suggested reading order". The material in this volume was first published between July, 2016 and March, 2017. As with "Phase Two," this book has a different cover style with new art (of [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]]).

==Contents==
* ''[[Revolution]]'' #0–5
* ''[[Informed|The Transformers: Till All Are One: Revolution]]'' one-shot
* ''[[Thundercracker & Buster Save the World|The Transformers: Revolution]]'' one-shot
* ''[[The Modern World|Action Man: Revolution]]'' one-shot
* ''[[Nothing Will Ever Be the Same Again!|The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye: Revolution]]'' one-shot
* ''[[The Transformers: Till All Are One]]'' #5–8
* ''[[Revolutionaries]]'' #1–4

{{DEFAULTSORT:IDW Collection Phase 3 Volume 01}}
[[Category:IDW (2005) comic compilations]]

War World: Moon

2021-01-24T22:52:29Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Synopsis */

{{disambig3|Moon}}

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2019 comic)|Transformers]]'' #27
|prev=War World: Awakenings
|next=War World: Hunt
|caption=
|image=TF2019 27 cvrB.jpg
|title="War World: Moon"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[January 20]], 2021
|coverdate=January 2021
|written by=[[Brian Ruckley]]
|art by=[[Fico Ossio]]
|colors=[[David García Cruz]]
|letters by=[[Jake M. Wood]]
|editor=[[David Mariotte]], [[Tom Waltz]] and [[Riley Farmer]]
|continuity=[[2019 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=
}}

'''Novastar's Autobots go up against Slipstream's Decepticons for control of the Winged Moon.'''

==Synopsis==
Not long ago, [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and his team rescued the [[Winged Moon]] from falling into [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s sun... now, it's up to [[Firestar (G1)|Novastar]] and her [[Autobot]]s to save it from [[Slipstream (G1)|Slipstream]] and her forces. Aboard [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]], the team prepares for the drop as Novastar runs over the environmental conditions they'll face below—fortunately, Novastar explains, the moon's damaged sensors mean that their enemies won't detect their arrival until it's too late.

On the surface, [[Flamewar (G1)|Flamewar]] and the other members of "[[Team Stream]]" have problems of their own: [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] and the remaining engineers barricaded themselves inside the central control room, and without access to the controls their specialist [[Hotlink (G1)|Hotlink]] can't deduce if the moon even has any [[energon]] left to steal. As Slipstream orders her team to open fire on the heavy access hatch, Huffer and [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] watch from the central video console—though Huffer's adamant that they're not getting in that way, he's worried that Slipstream might have split her forces to mount a surprise attack. [[Lancer]] pulls an unlucky [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] free from a tube, and when the young Transformer wonders why they need to block the pipes Huffer reminds him that not only do their attackers have access to [[Mini-Cassette|infiltration trooper]]s, but Hotlink himself worked on the moon—he'll find a way in eventually. Worse yet, amidst the chaos, the engineers had to abandon their prisoner [[Enemy (G1)|Enemy]] in another section of the moon—and when [[Shadow Striker (G1)|Shadow Striker]] and [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]] stumble upon his abandoned cell while detonating their way through the moon's inner workings, they're taken by surprise by the sight! At the same time, [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] contacts Slipstream to warn her that he's picked up signs of an incoming vessel; on her orders, the hulking Decepticon takes off to investigate. When he informs his leader that Sky Lynx is coming in hot, Slipstream orders Flamewar, Hotlink, and [[Hyperdrive (Micromaster)|Hyperdrive]] to dig in and prepare for a counterassault.

In lunar orbit, Sky Lynx detaches his lower body to make landfall, but warns his passengers that he won't be able to completely commit himself to the ground assault—to keep Astrotrain distracted, he'll need to transfer his higher functions to his other body and leave his ground-based form a mindless weapon of last resort. In the tunnels, Shadow Striker, Sunstorm, [[Blackjack (G1)|Blackjack]] and [[Tracer (G1 Decepticon)|Tracer]] take Enemy with them as they make their way through the tunnels as Sunstorm complains about their cramped environment. Enemy wonders why [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] didn't tell anyone about his mission, moments before Tracer stumbles over an electrical tripwire and collapses! The engineers have rigged every possible way in or out to the control room with booby-traps and obstacles, and their problems are compounded when Slipstream orders Shadow Striker back to the surface to assist her.

While Flamewar, Slipstream and Hyperdrive trade fire with the Autobots, [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] charges through the line of fire, kicks up a cloud of dust and debris, and baits Hyperdrive into charging his position before taking out the impulsive Decepticon. As Smokescreen trades banter with his old coworker Slipstream, Flamewar tries to get the drop on him before Windblade tackles the bike-bot and hurls her away. As Novastar and [[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]] take shelter under a communications dish and debate whether or not to give their enemies a chance to surrender, Shadow Striker answers their question for them when she blasts their improvised cover and takes them out! Ignoring [[Springer (G1)|Springer]]'s orders to stand down, Shadow Striker outfinesses the Autobot and uses the low gravity to trip him up.

In the maintenance shafts, Blackjack and Enemy spy Gears and Lancer setting up another series of traps and promptly give chase. The engineers barely escape capture by leaping into a hole in the floor, squeezing into a side door to the control room, then sealing the hatch behind them ... but the Decepticons now ''know'' where they are and promptly open fire on the unsecured doorway. With only minutes before the controls are breached Lancer has one final idea up her sleeve—if they sabotage the artificial gravity system, create an imbalance in the core's suspension cage, they can weaponize the miniature [[black hole]] that this maneuver will create... at the cost of igniting the moon's remaining energon and jeopardizing its structural integrity. Huffer has doubts, but Lancer's argument is simple: they're out of time, out of options, and with the enemy literally at their gate they can't afford to think of another plan.

As Tracer, Enemy, Sunstorm, and Blackjack try to hammer their way through the hatch, the desperation attack proves effective and destructive: the singularity pierces Sunstorm's head, and the massive explosion of energon that follows sends all three flying straight up onto the surface of the moon. Though the blast merely catches Tracer and Blackjack, it's Sunstorm who takes the brunt of the blast; bathed in a mixture of volatile energon and exotic radiation, the detonation knocks the flying Decepticon into orbit; as Sky Lynx breaks off from his combat with Astrotrain to investigate, Slipstream realizes they've lost and orders Astrotrain to prepare for an evacuation. The defeated Decepticons make a brief detour to pick up Sunstorm, but find that that the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] is still burning hot to the touch. Though Enemy's missing in action after the explosion, Slipstream announces that they're cutting their losses and returning to Cybertron: they lost the battle, but the war is only just beginning...

As the Autobots and the rescued engineers board Sky Lynx, Cosmos informs Huffer that he'll stay behind; despite Huffer's concerns, Cosmos insists that ''someone'' has to take care of the damaged station until it can be repaired. Before they leave, however, Cosmos takes Lancer aside—he wants her to take a comms package back to Cybertron for him. It's a message, he explains, but it's not ''just'' that... it's also an invitation for [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast-Off]] to join him.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Firestar (G1)|Novastar]] (1)
* [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] (2)
* [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (3)
* [[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]] (4)
* [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (5)
* [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (6)

|c2=
* [[Hyperdrive (Micromaster)|Hyperdrive]] (7)
* [[Flamewar (G1)|Flamewar]] (8)
* [[Slipstream (G1)|Slipstream]] (9)
* [[Hotlink (G1)|Hotlink]] (10)
* [[Enemy (G1)|Enemy]] (15)
* [[Shadow Striker (G1)|Shadow Striker]] (16)
* [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]] (17)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (18)
* [[Blackjack (G1)|Blackjack]] (19)
* [[Tracer (G1 Decepticon)|Tracer]] (20)

|c4=
* [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (11)
* [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (12)
* [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (13)
* [[Lancer]] (14)

}}

==Quotes==
"I say we get in there and '''powderulverize''' them!" 
"That's not even a word!" 
"Of '''course''' it's a word, Hyperdrive. I couldn't '''say''' it if it wasn't a word, could I?"
:—'''Flamewar''' and '''Hyperdrive'''

"Hah! '''Knew''' someone would come for me eventually! '''Knew''' the Rise wouldn't forget me!" 
"Who're you?"
:—'''Enemy''' and '''Shadow Striker'''

"You'll have to forego much of my verbal assistance shortly, as I'll be localizing my higher functions in my winged section. But you'll get down safely. And I get to fly some distracting rings around that lump of inertia Astrotrain, so everyone wins."
:—'''Sky Lynx'''

"First hit wins the bragging rights." 
"Fine by me, '''Hyperfail'''. Hyperdrivel? Missdrive? No... Hyperfail's the best of those, right?"
:—'''Hyperdrive''' and '''Flamewar'''

"Quite liked [Slipstream] back then, to be honest. Yet here she is, apparently trying to kill me. Crazy times... but we don't get to '''choose''' our times, do we? We just get to '''live''' in them."
:—'''Smokescreen'''

"Y'can stay if you want. I'm telling you, though, duty won't love you back."
:—'''Huffer'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* The [[Winged Moon]] last appeared in [[Wheeljack: Orbital Decay|issue #24]], where [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] and his engineering team prevented it from falling into the sun after [[Vigilem]] severed it from the [[Tether]]. In [[War World: Prime|issue #25]], [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] left the other four members of his engineering team behind to warn Cybertron that the Decepticons had attacked the moon, and [[Firestar (G1)|Novastar]] took her rapid response team to investigate.
* Novastar notes that the moon's external sensors are nonfunctional; in #24, the moon passed through the [[Croaton Cloud]], which knocked out most of its long-range communications equipment.
* [[Blades (G1)|Blades]] is missing from the Autobot roster—he's still recovering from the mauling [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] gave him in [[Rise of the Decepticons: Tremors|issue #21]], since [[Rise of the Decepticons: Prisoners|#22]] confirmed that he required medical attention.
* Throughout the comic, [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] and the other engineers refer to their attackers as members of "[[The Rise]]". They're not to know it, but since they left Cybertron, the Rise has effectively ceased to exist as a separate organization; [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] recruited many Risers directly into the [[Ascenticon Guard]] in [[Rise of the Decepticons: All Fall Down|#19]], and eventually rebranded his movement as the "Decepticons" in issue [[Rise of the Decepticons: We Have Deceived You|#23]] under the pretense that they had defeated the Rise.
* Cosmos met and courted [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast-Off]] in the [[Open Comms|backup story]] of the ''[[Transformers Valentine's Day Special]]'', and briefly mentioned his long-distance romantic partner in issue #24. However, ''[[Transformers: Galaxies|Galaxies]]'' [[Constructicons Rising, Part 4|issue #4]] revealed that Blast-Off had since become a member of the Rise, and is now presumably a Decepticon, so this could invite some unforeseen consequences...

===Transformers references===
* Flamewar's made-up word and suggestion to "powderulverize" their enemies was previously made by [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|''The Transformers'']] episode "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1]]."
* After taking the radiation blast head-on, [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]] is left glowing with energy and hot to the touch, suggesting that he's developing the corrosive, radioactive powers that some other iterations of the character have displayed. This trait originated in [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave Productions']] [[Transformers: Generation 1 (Dreamwave)|''Generation 1'' series]], and Sunstorm's mumbling that he "saw something" amid the light evokes his demented messiah complex from the Dreamwave era.

===Errors===
* Throughout the comic, [[Shadow Striker (G1)|Shadow Striker]] is missing two of her three helmet-mounted "eyes".

===Other trivia===
* After more than a year of delays, IDW starts 2021 on the right foot by releasing this comic on its original solicited date—the first ''Transformers'' comic to do so since [[The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Five|issue #11]], all the way back in August [[2019]].

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A''': Astrotrain, by [[Livio Ramondelli]]
* '''Cover B''': Cosmos on the moon, by [[Red Powell]]
* '''Retailer incentive cover''': Sunstorm flambé, by [[Nicole Goux]]

<gallery>
File:TF2019 27 cvrA.jpg
File:TF2019 27 cvrB.jpg
File:TF2019 27 cvrRI.jpg
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''Transformers'' hardcovers
*''[[Transformers: Escape]]''

===Reprints===
*'''''Transformers Volume 4: Declaration of War''''' ([[August 10]], 2021 **''scheduled''**) ISBN 1684058066 / ISBN 978-1684058068
**Hardcover.
**Collects ''Transformers'' issues #25–30, ''Transformers Valentine's Day Special'', and ''[[Transformers: Escape|Escape]]'' issues #1-5.
**Bonus material currently unknown, most likely alternate covers.

<gallery>
image:TF-IDW-2019v4.jpg|'''''Volume 4: Declaration of War'''''; cover art by [[Cryssy Cheung]]
</gallery>

==External links==
* [https://majorspoilers.com/2021/01/19/preview-transformers-27/ Preview]

[[Category:Transformers (2019) issues]]

Infiltration issue 2

2020-10-05T23:26:48Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Other trivia */ Corrected spelling of 'timekeeping'.

{{Comicstory
|series=infiltration|issueno=2
|prev=Infiltration issue 1
|next=Infiltration issue 3
|image=Infiltration_2b.jpg
|caption=Don't look up!
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[February 8]], [[2006]]
|coverdate=February 2006
|written by=[[Simon Furman]]
|art by=[[E. J. Su]]
|colors by=[[John Rauch]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|edits by=[[Chris Ryall]] & [[Dan Taylor (IDW)|Dan Taylor]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline#2006-7|2006-7]]
}}
'''On the run from the Decepticons, Ratchet and the humans find safety with the Autobots... or do they?'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Infiltration2-innow.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]
Confronted by [[Battlecharger|two menacing robots]] demanding that she turn over her stolen [[SM-40|palmtop computer]], [[Verity Carlo]] and her companions [[Hunter O'Nion]], and [[Jimmy Pink]] can only stand and gawk in horror at the spectacle. Their mysterious ambulance driver companion has other ideas, however: using [[holomatter|a holographic decoy]] of the computer, he feigns surrender... and then disappears in a blaze of electricity when the two robots reach for the prize. The trick stuns [[Runabout (G1)|one of the robots]], who topples into the garage wall, sending collapsing rubble everywhere. Just in time, their ambulance transforms into [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|a third giant robot]], who uses his massive body to shield the humans from the debris!

As [[Runamuck (G1)|the white robot]] draws a weapon, their robotic rescuer deploys an ink spray to blind his attacker; with his opponents on the backfoot, the ambulance decides to get out while the going's good and, ordering his passengers to get inside, reassumes his [[alternate mode]] to ferry the three [[human]]s to safety. As the ambulance peels out, heading for the interstate, Jimmy can't help but lament the destruction of his garage. In [[Arizona]], a police detachment finds the dead body of the [[Stoker|businessman]] who had previously possessed the computer. The corpse has no ID of any kind, confusing the officers. One member of the forensics team, however, surreptitiously places a call to a faraway boardroom to report the death—a boardroom adorned with [[Machination|a massive letter "M"]].

[[File:Infiltration2-symphonyofdestruction.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

The ambulance hightails it along the freeway, weaving in and out of the traffic as the three humans struggle to get to grips with the situation as the ambulance fills them in. His team had been tracking a coded [[Decepticon]] pulsewave, noting that a specific human, the former carrier of the palmtop, had been targeted by the Decepticons for elimination. But before their rescuer can tell them ''why'' he'd been selected, a massive sonic boom alerts them to the return of [[Thundercracker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|the blue jet fighter]]. The sonic boom causes a massive pileup, forcing the ambulance to swerve around one car after the next, and the chaos creates the perfect opening for the two sports cars, who identify themselves as [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] and [[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]], to catch up and deploy an arsenal of hidden weapons as they try to run the ambulance off the road. This is a bad sign, the humans learn: Decepticons ''never'' break cover, and this brazen aggression means that Verity's picked up something that they ''really'' need....

In [[Oregon]], [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] and [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] marvel at the [[Ore-13|ore]] that they have discovered. Starscream is eager to refine more—even if means breaking [[Infiltration protocol|protocol]], the Decepticon leader is confident that he'll have enough time to prepare a response.

Pursued by the two Decepticons, the ambulance manages to shake its pursuers by swerving hard into an oncoming tanker-trailer. While the medical vehicle manages to get out of the way in time, the two Battlechargers aren't so lucky and don't get out of the way in time, and the ensuing collision send both Decepticons flying off the highway to crash in a fiery conflagration. It's all too much for Verity, and as the ambulance rounds a cliff she screams for it to stop so that she can get some air. Jimmy follows to try and calm her down, while Hunter tries to pry more details out of their rescuer, who finally introduces himself at "[[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]]. Before he can get any more information out of Ratchet, the jet comes back for another pass and fires a homing missile at the group.

[[File:Siege mode bunker.jpg|thumb|left|200px|It is an avatar of apocalyptic prose, the herald... of overwrought narration!]]

As everyone scrambles aboard, Ratchet deliberately waits until the last second to escape, pouring on a burst of speed to outrun the explosion as the homing missile impacts against the cliff. As they zoom through the desert with the jet on their tail, unexpected help arrives in the shape of three more automobiles—a [[Sunstreaker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|yellow sports car]], a [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|red minivan]], and a [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|police car]]—who deploy some concealed weapons of their own to blast the airborne Decepticon until he retreats.

Ratchet reveals to the grateful humans that they're his allies, who he'd covertly summoned while he was receiving maintenance in Jimmy's garage... but their jubilation is short lived when the three cars transform into more robots and draw their weapons. Their leader [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] lays into Ratchet for dereliction of duty and violating he statutes of the [[Code of Interplanetary Conflict]]. Having glimpsed the photos on Verity's computer, Ratchet has finally realized why the Decepticons were so intent on recovering the device, and so he offers two words in his defense: "[[Infiltration protocol|siege mode]]"...
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (5)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] (12)
*[[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] (13)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sunstreaker]] (14)
|c2=
*[[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]] (1)
*[[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] (6)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Thundercracker]] (9)
*[[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] (10)
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (11)
|c3=
*[[Hunter O'Nion]] (2)
*[[Jimmy Pink]] (3)
*[[Verity Carlo]] (4)
*[[Stoker]]'s corpse (7)
*[[Abraham Dante]] (8)
}}

==Quotes==
"'''No disintegrator ray?!''' What kind of aliendeathwarmachine '''are''' you?"
: '''Verity'''

"You and me, we belong out here, on the '''edge.''' There's a '''word''' for our sort, some new-age, PC bit of psychobabble... oh yeah, that's it... '''freak!'''"
:- '''Jimmy''' tries to console '''Verity'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
[[File:Infiltration2-secretweapons.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Maybe this is where [[Miles Mayhem]] [[The Divine Source of Liberty|got the idea.]]]]
* In what might be called a [[Stealth Force|vision of things to come]], this issue and the one that precedes it establishes a new power for all Transformers: every Autobot and Decepticon features a suite of [[M.A.S.K.]]-style weaponry accessible while in their [[alternate mode]]s: Runabout and Runamuck possess recessed battering rams, Prowl sports machine guns behind his headlamps, and so on. This isn't an entirely new idea in the ''Transformers'' franchise — the Autobot [[Triggerbot]]s and Decepticon [[Triggercon]]s possessed similar gimmicks, for instance — but this is the first time that the power's been extended to every Cybertronian, regardless of subgroup affiliation. The concept nicely ties into the "cloak and dagger" themes of the early IDW universe, but this "power" will eventually be dropped with little fanfare as the universe changes writers.

===Transformers references===
* On page 12, Ratchet gets himself between two oncoming semitrucks — one black with a gray trailer, and the other red with a gray tanker trailer. It's not too much of a stretch to think someone was recalling Motormaster and Optimus Prime.

===Other trivia===
*Ratchet mentions "chronoticks" as a method of timekeeping on page 1; it seems that this was an abortive attempt to establish an alternate method of Transformer timekeeping in the IDW continuity.
*The "Decepticomments" section featured mail answered by Chris Ryall and short ads for next month's issues: [[Infiltration issue 3|''Infiltration'' #3]], [[The Gathering issue 2|''The Gathering'' #2]], [[The Transformers: Generations|''Generations'' #1]], and the ''[[War and Peace]]'' reprint.

===Covers (7)===
<gallery>
File:Infiltration 2a.jpg|'''''Infiltration'' #2 cover A''' - Everyone do "The Jerk"!
File:Infiltration 2b.jpg|'''''Infiltration'' #2 cover B''' - Can I have a ride?
File:Infiltration 2c.jpg|'''''Infiltration'' #2 cover C''' - Prowl, being his usual self.
File:Infiltration 2d.jpg|'''''Infiltration'' #2 cover D''' - This will teach those meddling kids!
</gallery>
*'''''Infiltration'' #2 cover A:''' the Battlechargers, by [[E. J. Su]]. Half of the RI-B cover.
*'''''Infiltration'' #2 cover B:''' Thundercracker attacks Ratchet, by [[Guido Guidi]].
*'''''Infiltration'' #2 cover C:''' Prowl threatens Ratchet, by [[Andrew Wildman]].
*'''''Infiltration'' #2 cover D:''' Thundercracker attacks humans, by [[James Raiz]].
<gallery>
File:Infiltration 2ria.jpg|'''''Infiltration'' #2 cover RI-A''' - Half a [[conehead]].
File:Infiltration 2rib.jpg|'''''Infiltration'' #2 cover RI-B''' - Do "The Jerk" and kill the doc!
File:Infiltration 2ric.jpg|'''''Infiltration'' #2 cover RI-C''' - If the G1 toy merged with the [[character model]].
</gallery>
*'''''Infiltration'' #2 cover RI-A:''' Starscream, by Guido Guidi.
*'''''Infiltration'' #2 cover RI-B:''' Battle wraparound cover, by E. J. Su. First part of a continuous image.
*'''''Infiltration'' #2 cover RI-C:''' Ratchet, by Guido Guidi (includes 4 mini-prints).

===Advertisements===
*''[[Transformers: Beast Wars 10th Anniversary|10th Anniversary Beast Wars]]'' toys
*[[Infiltration issue 3|''Infiltration'' #3]], including a 2-page B&W sketch preview
*3-page preview of ''[[Transformers, Beast Wars: The Gathering|The Gathering]]''
*''Angel'': "City Of" scriptbook
*''[[Transformers, Beast Wars: The Gathering|The Gathering]]'' (back cover)

===Reprints===
Other than [[The Transformers: Infiltration#Collections|reprints of the full series]]
* N/A

The Gloaming

2020-09-15T00:11:12Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Continuity notes */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=16
|prev=Under Cold Blue Stars
|next=Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon
|caption=Not to be confused with "The Glomping".
|image=MTMTE16 cvrA.jpg
|title="The Gloaming"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[April 24]], [[2013]]
|coverdate=April 2013
|story by=[[James Roberts]]
|pencils by=[[Agustin Padilla]]
|inks by=[[Jose Aviles]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|assistant editor=[[Toni Korde]] and [[Mariel Romero]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline#2012-2013|Current era (2013)]]
}}
'''Rodimus and Chromedome wrestle with their emotions in the wake of Overlord's rampage, as Ultra Magnus hovers at death's door and Drift makes a fateful decision.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Magnus shock ore powerdashers the gloaming.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.8|Badge is looking a little crooked there, Mags.]]
''Then:''

''At the [[Battle for Hell's Point]], amidst a raging firefight, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] tries to bluff the [[Warriors Elite]], only to be blasted point blank by [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] himself, sending him tumbling to the ground far below...''

''On the planet [[Clemency]], amidst the struggle over the [[Nightmare Engine]], Ultra Magnus issues orders to his troops - and then takes a direct hit from an explosive [[K-Class]] [[Torque (G1)|Decepticon]]...''

''During the battle known as the [[Simanzi Massacre]], Rotorstorm and Ultra Magnus pick their way through a swamp, trying to elude a troop of [[Cybernought]]s - but one Cybernought has found them, and unleashes its full firepower on Ultra Magnus...''

Now:

Fatally wounded by [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]], Ultra Magnus lies on [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]]'s operating table aboard the ''[[Lost Light]]''. [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] sits by his bedside and plays his [[The Empyrean Suite|favorite song]] for him, and [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] cleans his body. Neither of the little bots' efforts are particularly appreciated by Ratchet, nor is [[Drift (G1)|Drift]]'s disgust at his use of what he calls a "[[death clock]]": a medical scanning field that monitors the rate of contraction of Magnus's shrinking [[spark]] to calculate a time of death. With the clock giving Magnus only ten more days, Tailgate grows increasingly distraught, partially at the clinical approach the others are taking to the situation. Punctuating this sentiment, Swerve shushes him so they can hear an announcement over the tannoy by [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]], who vows to discover who is responsible for Overlord's being on the ship.

Worried about [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]]'s emotional state following [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]]'s death, [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] goes looking for him, and finds him outside the ship, on the hull, watching the stars as he used to do with Rewind. Discovering him to be quite calm and collected—eerily so—Skids leaves. Someone who is ''not'' so calm and collected, however, is Rodimus, who has just finished trashing his office in a rage when [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] enters. The pair talk about Magnus and the source of Rodimus's fury; Rung opines that his anger is not over his failure to protect his crew, but rather, over the fact that ''he himself'' was not responsible for defeating Overlord. The psychiatrist's words evidently strike too close to home, and Rodimus menacingly invites Rung to vacate his office, which he does with all due haste.

[[File:Brainstorm brings briefcase to funeral.jpg|thumb]]
Presently, a group funeral is held for those who died during Overlord's rampage, and as everyone settles into place for the speeches, Swerve resolves to distract himself from Rewind's death by finding out what's inside [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]]'s briefcase. Proceedings soon get underway; Rodimus delivers a eulogy for popular crew member [[Tripodeca]], then invites Chromedome to say a few words for Rewind, noting—after a stern glare from Rung—the little archivist's central role in saving the ship. Chromedome delivers a brief, unemotional farewell for his partner and returns to his seat, piquing Brainstorm's attention. After the deceased's bodies are given a space burial, the scientist follows Chromedome back to his quarters, where he finds him sorting through Rewind's belongings and disposing of them. It turns out Brainstorm has seen Chromedome like this before: the surgeon has had several [[Conjunx Endura]]e in his life, and after the deaths of each one, the intensity of the emotional connections he forged with them repeatedly led him to use his [[mnemosurgery]] skills on himself, removing his memories of them in order to escape the hurt. Chromedome has been so disconnected because he has been planning to do this to himself; this, Brainstorm explains, is why he does not have any [[innermost energon]]—not because he was born without it, but because he has loved and lost so many that he has given it all up as deathbed offerings. Chromedome half-heartedly promises Brainstorm he won't go through with it, but Brainstorm knows better, having had this conversation with him before. The scientist sadly leaves the room after giving him one final gift: a [[data slug]] thrown through the doors of the [[slow cell]] by Rewind before they closed. [[File:TheGloaming-iloveyou.jpg|thumb|left|They're totally NOT gay, you guys. They're just bros. With vows.]] Left alone, Chromedome plays the slug to discover a farewell message from Rewind, edited together from his database of video and audio clips in the final moments of this life, which entreats Chromedome to be strong, to go on without Rewind, and to allow himself to be happy. Rewind signs off by telling Chromedome he loves him, and Chromedome, after a moment, retracts his mnemosurgery needles back into his fingers.

As Chromedome is playing the message, much of the rest of the crew gathers in the shuttle bay, where Rodimus addresses them. An investigation into the culprit behind Overlord's presence was not necessary, as Drift has admitted responsibility and explained everything. With barely restrained fury, Rodimus strips him of his Autobot symbol and exiles him from the ship. As he walks towards [[Drift's shuttle|the shuttle]] prepared for him, Drift is knocked down by a piece of debris hurled by an angry crew member; Ratchet helps him up, and Drift departs on his little ship.

Down in the medical bay, as Rodimus's announcement plays over the tannoy, Ultra Magnus's arm moves, and his hand clenches into a fist. A little later, Ratchet and Tailgate return to find that he has disappeared! Half-jokingly suggesting they look under the table, Tailgate leans forward, into the path of the scanning field... then looks up to see that the "death clock" is giving him just under three-and-a-half days to live!
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks and/or Rewind's video clips.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*''[[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]]'' (1)
*''[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]]'' (2)
*''[[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]]'' (3)
*''[[Grimlock (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Grimlock]]'' (4)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (5)
*''[[Ore]]'' (12)
*''[[Shock (G1)|Shock]]'' (13)
*''[[Zetar (G1)|Zetar]]'' (14)
*''[[Cromar]]'' (15)
*''[[Rotorstorm (G1)|Rotorstorm]]'' (18)
*[[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (19)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (20)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (22)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (23)
*[[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (24)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (25)
*[[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (26)
*[[Xaaron]] (27)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (29)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] (30)
*[[Tripodeca]] (31)
*"[[Toxin]]" (32)
*[[Atomizer]] (33)
*''[[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]]'' (34)
*''[[Slamdance (G1)|Slamdance]]'' (35)
*''[[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]]'' (36)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*''[[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]]'' (37)
*''[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]]'' (38)
*''[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]'' (39)
*''[[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]]'' (40)
*''[[Kick-Off (G1)|Kick-Off]]'' (43)
*''[[Skyfall (G1)|Skyfall]]'' (44)
*''[[Ambulon]] (45)
*''[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]]'' (46)
*''[[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] (47)
*''[[Springer (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Springer]]'' (48)
*''[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (49)
*''[[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]]'' (50)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] (6)
*''[[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]]'' (7)
*''[[Heretech]]'' (8)
*''[[Killmaster]]'' (9)
*''[[Black Shadow (Victory)|Black Shadow]]'' (10)
*''[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]'' (11)
*''Numerous [[K-Class]] 'bots'' (16)
*''[[Torque (G1)|Torque]]'' (17)
*''[[Snaptrap (G1)|Snaptrap]]'' (41)
|c4=
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (21)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (28)
*''[[Nova Prime]]'' (42)
}}

==Quotes==

"At the risk of sparking an '''ontological argument''', certain machines—machines like that—are an '''affront to nature'''."
:—'''Drift''', on the "death clock"

"Look, I know you want me to tell you it's going to be okay, but—" 
<big>"'''Yes!'''</big> Yes, I '''do'''! Because it's '''not''' okay! I '''know''' 'okay'—I '''specialize''' in 'okay'—and I can tell you pretty emphatically that '''none''' of this—none of this business with '''Overlord''' and '''Magnus''' and '''Rewind'''—none of this even '''approaches''' my definition of 'okay'!" 
"Maybe you should see '''Rung'''. You could be suffering from some kind of '''stress-related disorder'''..." 
"I'm '''upset'''! Doesn't anyone '''do''' upset anymore? What's '''wrong''' with you people? Is this a '''war thing'''?"
:—'''Ratchet''' and '''Tailgate'''

"Rewind and I used to come out here a lot. Mapping the constellations... Heh—that makes it sound too grand. We used to make pictures with stars. Over there—look—we have the ''[[Vis Vitalis]]''. And there's '''Prowl''' being hit over the head by a [[fusion cannon]]. Whack!" 
"I'm struggling to see that one." 
"Yeah, I just made that one up for '''old time's sake'''. Prowl being battered was a Rewind special."
:—'''Chromedome''' and '''Skids'''

"Sir, I don't think you did this to your office because of Ultra Magnus. You're angry, but not about that." 
"I'm angry because I failed the crew." 
"Or maybe... maybe what's '''really''' making you angry is the fact that you didn't defeat Overlord yourself. Fortress Maximus and Chromedome and Rewind—dear Rewind—'''they''' got him off the ship. '''They''' saved everyone; not you. And you hate it, and you hate that you hate it." 
"I think you'd better leave now." 
"But my point is that you '''shouldn't''' hate yourself for feeling—" 
"'''Quickly.'''"
:—'''Rung''' gets a little too close to the truth with '''Rodimus'''

'''Skids:''' "I can't believe Brainstorm brought his '''briefcase''' to a funeral. Ever wonder what's in—" 
'''Swerve:''' "'''Absolutely all the time.'''" 
'''Whirl:''' "It'll be '''exquisite''', whatever it is. Brainstorm's a frikkin' '''artist'''." 
'''Swerve:''' "Okay, that's it, '''new mission:''' open the briefcase. It'll distract me from Rewind." 
'''Skids:''' "Great. I look forward to the crippling anticlimax." 

"It always ends the same way. I'll leave the room and you'll stick your fingers in your neck; and later, when I ask you how you're feeling, you'll give me that blank look. The '''worst''' look. Because then Rewind really '''will''' be dead."
:—'''Brainstorm''', to Chromedome

"Your attention for a moment. This is Rewind, showing you edited footage from my database. I've probably got about 0.8 seconds before game over, so hear me out. I've always been terrified that you'd die before I did, because you and me apart strikes me as intensely wrong. So promise me something. Be brave. And be strong. And keep going without me. And another thing: no more injecting. It '''will''' kill you. And remember: you deserve to be happy. The New Institute was the old you. You're a better person now—stubborn and frustrating, but wonderful. And to think, I will never see you again. One more thing—one last thing—because I don't say it enough: I love you."
:—'''Rewind'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s final message (edited together for readability)

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
[[File:Gloaming-warriors-elite.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.8|Ultra Magnus smiled once and regretted it ever since.]]
*Magnus's first flashback is to the [[Battle for Hell's Point]], a conflict previously mentioned in [[Chaos Theory Part 1|"Chaos Theory," Part 1]] and Impactor's [[Autopedia]] profile in [[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|''Last Stand of the Wreckers'' #5]] (and sure enough, Impactor does cameo on the first page).
*The [[Warriors Elite]] were the subgroup from which the later [[Phase Sixer]]s would be chosen; they were first mentioned by name back in [[Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|issue #2]] and had their origins properly explained in [[Remembrance Day|issue #14]]. This issue gives us our first look at Heretech, only previously mentioned in #14, and reveals that the wand-wielding [[Killmaster]] (intermittently mentioned through Roberts's works starting with [[How Ratchet Got His Hands Back|issue #5]]) is also a member of the group. He was not listed among them in #14, leaving it ambiguous whether he also underwent the Ununtrium process.
*It was noted in "Chaos Theory" that the Battle for Hell's Point was Megatron's first outing with his pistol [[alternate mode]], reflected in this issue when Magnus doesn't realize the gun Heretech is holding is Megatron until he speaks.
*Magnus's second flashback is to the battle on the planet [[Clemency]] which we saw the Decepticon side of in [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|issue #8]]. Clemency is revealed to be the location of the [[Nightmare Engine]], a mysterious Decepticon weapon mentioned in [[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 4|''Last Stand of the Wreckers'' #4]].
*Magnus's team is on Clemency to save [[Pious Maximus]], a religious figure who appeared in [[Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism|issue #10]].
*The K-Class Decepticon with Magnus's name written on his side is [[Torque (G1)|Torque]], who appeared in issue #8 with Magnus's name on display even then.
*The third flashback takes us to [[Simanzi]], home to the [[Crucible]] and site of a famous massacre first mentioned in [[Rotorstorm (G1)|Rotorstorm]]'s Autopedia profile from [[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 1|''Last Stand of the Wreckers'' #1]].
*Magnus's team falls foul of a [[Cybernought]] on Simanzi; one of these gigantic battle mechs previously appeared in issue #8.
[[File:MTMTE16 magnus on simanzi.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.8|Just a speck of dirt. - DIRT?!]]
*We ''thought'' Magnus's flashbacks were offering us some insight into a few of his foibles in the ''More than Meets the Eye'' series: he smiles at the Warriors Elite (the "one time" that he smiled "and regretted it" referred to in his short bio on the "Meet the Cast" page), his Autobot symbol is crooked at Clemency, he's waist-deep in filth and called "Mags" at Simanzi. Rotorstorm even refers to Magnus' wisecracks, something Skids mentioned in [[Interiors|issue #6]]. All these ran counter to the grim, dirt-hating, badge-obsessive protocol freak we'd seen for the past year, and every time something horribly violent happened to him. Actually, the real reason was [[Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|something else entirely]]. At the time, an evil James Roberts said the flashbacks were so we could [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|"remember him as he was"...]] <ref>http://tformers.com/transformers-more-than-meets-the/19940/news.html</ref>
*Swerve is playing "[[The Empyrean Suite]]" for Magnus, a piece of music that we learned was running through Skids's head back in issue #8. There, we learned the music has a sinister connotation that we are not yet aware of, but which, per Swerve's dialogue, is evidently common knowledge.
*Skids refers to Trailbreaker's change of name (to Trail''cutter''), referred to previously in-dialogue in ''More than Meets the Eye'' in [[Interiors|issue #6]], which was explained the same month this issue was published in ''[[The Reluctant Specialist|Spotlight: Trailcutter]]''.
*We get our first glimpse of the decorative flames painted on Rodimus's doorframe, in imitation of those on his chest. They were previously described in the prose story "[[Signal to Noise]]".
*Unseen Autobots [[Spoke]] and [[Lockstock]] get another mention, having first been spoken of in [[Before & After|issue #12]]. The running gag is that they're clearly a big noise on the ship, but we never get to see or hear from them; here, they're established to be friends with the super-popular Tripodeca.
*Chromedome's lack of innermost energon was mentioned in issue #12.
*Brainstorm implies that he has loved and lost as well in his life, a point which will be revisited in [[Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|issue 39]] as an explanation for his actions in that arc.
*Five previously-seen scenes from the past issues of MTMTE can be spotted among Rewind's collage of video clips:
**Rodimus addressing the crew after the accident with the quantum engines ([[Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|issue #2]])
**Prowl urging Rewind to change Chromedome's mind ([[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|issue #1]])
**Brainstorm placing a bet on when Rodimus would say "Till all are one" ([[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|Annual 2012]])
**Tailgate inquiring about the ending of Rewind's "epic story" ([[Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|issue #11]])
**Trailbreaker holding Shock's extracted [[brain module]] ([[Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|issue #3]])
*Rewind's clips also include a "deleted scene" of sorts, of Swerve saying "this is" with Tailgate behind him. This is from when he introduced Tailgate to Rewind (obviously saying "This is Tailgate") which took place in issue #2, but only Rewind's response is actually in the issue itself.
*Also among Rewind's clips is a shot of [[Snaptrap (G1)|Snap Trap]] behind bars. He's obviously in the brig of the ''Lost Light'' following his capture in issue #12, and is still sporting the stab-wound in his faceplate he sustained in that issue.

===Transformers references===
*Among Magnus's team on Clemency are the [[Powerdasher]]s, of whom the drill and jet types appear on-panel (but more are indicated to be present). Magnus issues orders to a character named "[[Cromar]]"—while this name is not explicitly attached to a character on-page, it was the name given to the jet Powerdasher when it was released by [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] in the United States (under ''[[Diakron]]'') and by both [[GiG]] and [[Joustra]] in Europe (under ''[[Diaclone]]'').
*Brainstorm names three of Chromedome's past lovers as [[Pivot]], [[Scattergun]], and [[Mach (Victory)|Mach]]. The first two are new names, while Mach was the name of a member of the [[Multiforce]] from ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (franchise)|Victory]]''. Same dude? Why not!
*Tripodeca's design seems strongly influenced by [[Mini-Con]] [[High Wire (Armada)|High Wire]] from ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Transformers: Armada]]''.
*Artist Agustin Padilla accidentally drew Chromedome amongst the Autobots gathered in the shuttle bay on page 17. With a quick edit to the lineart and a new blue, green, and white paintjob, colorist Josh Burcham turned the figure into "Toxin", an unofficial redeco of Chromedome created for fan-run Canadian convention [[Unofficial conventions|TFCon 2011]].
*The last clip in Rewind's message features a [[scraplet]] in a Petri dish. While they've previously been mentioned, this is the species's first on-panel appearance in the IDW continuity.

===Real-life references===
*"Gloaming" is an old Scottish word meaning "twilight". That it is also the name of a Radiohead song from their 2003 album ''{{w|Hail to the Thief}}'' is only coincidence [http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?t=13702], despite Roberts' [[Dissolution Part 6: This Machine Kills Fascists|predilection]] [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|for]] [[Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|dropping]] [[Momus|musical]] [[Under Cold Blue Stars|references]] into his work.
*The death clock may or may not be a reference to Professor Farnsworth's [http://theinfosphere.org/Death_clock invention of the same name and purpose] in the ''{{w|Futurama}}'' episode "{{w|A Big Piece of Garbage}}."
*The name Chromedome gives a constellation, the "Vis Vitalis", is the name of a classical alchemical principle of a "life force" possessed by living creatures. It was later revealed that famed Autobot [[Thunder Clash]] has a ship named the ''Vis Vitalis''.

===Errors===
*In both past and present sequences, Ultra Magnus is consistently drawn with his original Generation 1 body, a look he's never worn in 2005 IDW continuity.
*Other consistent drawing errors include Rodimus having two "claws" per arm instead of the usual three, and Brainstorm's main wings being attached to his backpack rather than his shoulders.
*The name of the Decepticons' giant battle mechs is spelled "Cybernaught" here, but was spelled "Cybern'''o'''ught" back in issue #8. The TPB retains the 'Cybernaught' spelling despite correcting all other typos.
*Swerve and Tailgate are both drawn at around the same height as Ratchet, when they should be much shorter.
*When Chromedome and Skids are standing on the Lost Light's outer hull, neither is wearing magna-clamps on his feet.
*The five coffins at the funeral are each marked by a colored flame. On page 11, they are red, green, white, and two are blue. On page 12, however, Tripodeca's flame is none of these colors, appearing yellow instead.
*As he contemplates playing Rewind's data disc, Chromedome's finger-needles are not shown. He extended them just before this scene, and he has them extended in the very next panel.
*The final image in Rewind's message is one of him and Chromedome, taken by himself in a reflective surface—but his head-cam is still on the left-hand side of his head, when it should be mirrored.

===Other trivia===
*James Roberts cites this issue as the one he's most proud of, particularly the scenes with Chromedome and Brainstorm and Rewind's final message. He'd wanted to end the Chromedome/Rewind story with ''those'' three words but only told IDW & Hasbro late in the day, vaguely worried that this would be controversial. As it turned out, both were supportive.<ref>[http://www.fullmetalhero.com/t14540/ Moonbase2's second interview with James Roberts - 01:40:04 to 01:40:30]</ref>
*When it was initially released through digital retailer Comixology, buyers of this issue found they received a copy of [[Heavy Is the Head|''Robots in Disguise'' #16]] instead. The comic was fortunately updated to the correct one within just over an hour.
*Rewind's shattered head-camera is among the drifting debris at the top of page 5.
*Chromedome is wearing a black Autobot [[insignia]] in mourning.
*Page 7 includes a shot of Overlord's smashed body drifting in space. He's pretty clearly making a fist, but a conspicious piece of space debris floating past in the foreground obscures his hand, and what he may or not may not be holding, leaving open the possibility that Rewind has survived the events of last issue, and remains in the villain's clutches. This was entirely deliberate; it was indeed initially planned for Rewind to survive with the intent that he would return several years later, during the book's "[[The Transformers: Lost Light|third season]]," but in the end, these plans never came to fruition.
*Among Rewind's belongings seen on pages 14 and 15 is a black tablet with a blank label. This is a copy of Rewind's ''Lost Light'' documentary, "[[Little Victories]]", which wound up not getting labelled before the issue went to print.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-comics-discussion/959698-mtmte-22-now-ibooks-here-spoilers-13.html#post10161727 Josh Burcham posts on TFW2005]</ref>
*The "Meet the Crew" page is completely overhauled this issue, with new mini-bios for everyone. The red "x" implying his death last issue is removed from Ultra Magnus's entry, while the dispatched [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] and Rewind are replaced with Fortress Maximus and Perceptor. Chromedome's position is listed as "lamentatorem", Latin for "mourner".
*For the first time in the series, the last names of the inker and colorist of the issue were on the front cover.

===Crew manifest===
*Tripodeca is revealed to have been among those killed in Overlord's rampage. Four other caskets are jettisoned along with his; assuming one contains Pipes, and that Rewind didn't get one since he left no remains to jettison, that would mean three other unnamed crewmembers were victims of Overlord too.
*Ultra Magnus has ten days of life remaining.
*Tailgate's only got three! Wha-huh?
*11 deaths, 1 fatal wounding, 5 new arrivals (plus 20 or so Faders), and 1 boxed since the launch.

===Soundtrack===
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn_uWqlbdOM "Your Funny Uncle"] by {{w|Pet Shop Boys}}
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_2c_E_c-U0 "Holes"] by {{w|Mercury Rev}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/322681873677574145 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3uIwEY27DQ "Tracy"] by {{w|Mogwai}}
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-B4cXLagkk "Les Jour Tristes"] by {{w|Neil Hannon}} & {{w|Yann Tiersen}}
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zH29SOVADBE "The Sadness of Things"] by {{w|Momus (musician)|Momus}}
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpBnX27eF_w "Embers"] by Byrne
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOBs8dU4Pb8 "Run"] by {{w|Snow Patrol}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/325551925049323520 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A80czw4uz60 "Lullaby"] by {{w|Arco (band)|Arco}}<ref>[https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/326788231821676545 James Roberts on Twitter]</ref>

===Covers (3)===
*'''Cover A:''' Drift turns from a shattered Autobot [[insignia]], by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Joana Lafuente]].
*'''Cover B:''' Rodimus, post-tantrum, in his wrecked office, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Priscilla Tramontano]].
*'''Cover RI:''' Monochrome white (with a few red highlights) bust shot of Drift, by [[Marcelo Matere]], continuing the previous three months' "bust" theme for the RI covers, paralleling the RI cover to ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Heavy Is the Head|#16]].

<gallery>
File:MTMTE16 cvrA.jpg|Did Drift leave the Autobots, or did the Autobots leave Drift?
File:MTMTE16 cvrB.jpg|Rodimus is such a prat.
File:MTMTE16 cvrRI.jpg|Howdy, Drift!
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Heavy Is the Head|#16]]
*''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One|Regeneration One]]'' [[Natural Selection, Part Five|#90]]
*[[Free Comic Book Day]]
*''Regular Show''
*''Danger Girl: Trinity'' (back cover)

===Reprints===
*'''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 4''''' ([[July 17]], 2013) ISBN 1613776918 / ISBN 978-1613776919 
:*Contains issues #12 to #16.
:*Bonus material includes art from most covers, and the prose story ''[[Signal to Noise]]''.

*'''''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 4|The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 4]]''''' ([[October 12]], [[2016]]) ISBN 1631407155 / ISBN 978-1631407154
:* Contains issues #14 to #16, ''[[The Transformers: Monstrosity|Monstrosity]]'' series, and ''Robots in Disguise'' #12 to #18.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 57: Remain In Light''''' ([[August 21]], [[2019]])
:* Hardcover collection of ''More than Meets the Eye'' #14 to #21, plus the prose stories "[[Signal to Noise]]" and "[[The Sound of Breaking Glass]]".
:* Bonus content includes a cover gallery and introduction by [[Simon Furman]].

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol4.jpg|'''''More than Meets the Eye'' Volume 4'''; cover art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
File:MTMTE boxset.jpg|'''''More than Meets the Eye'' Box Set'''; cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V4.jpg|'''''IDW Collection Phase 2 Vol. 4'''''; cover art by Marcelo Matere and [[Tom B. Long]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v57.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 57: Remain In Light'''''; cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] (Skids) and Alex Milne (Overlord)
</gallery>

==External links==
*[http://www.fullmetalhero.com/t12365/ Preview]
*[http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/creator-commentary-with-james-roberts-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-ongoing-16/27146/ Creator Commentary with James Roberts]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gloaming}}

Gauging the Truth, Part Three: Moment of Truth

2020-09-15T00:06:05Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Synopsis */

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers: Galaxies]]'' #9
|prev=Gauging the Truth, Part Two: A Truth for a Truth
|next=Storm Horizon Part 1
|caption=''Do you have anything worth living for?''
|image=TFGalaxies 9 cvrA.jpg
|title="Gauging the Truth, Part Three: Moment of Truth"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[September 2]], 2020
|coverdate=August 2020
|written by=[[Sam Maggs]]
|art by=[[Beth McGuire-Smith]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Jake M. Wood]]
|editor=[[David Mariotte]], [[Tom Waltz]], and [[Riley Farmer]]
|continuity=[[2019 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=
}}

'''Arcee and Greenlight fight to stop Heretech and his Reversionists, but Gauge's status as a child of two worlds may be the key to saving Cybertron.'''

==Synopsis==
Plenary [[Heretech]] and the [[Reversionist]]s who follow him have come full circle—as the ''[[Exodus (G1 ship)|Exodus]]'' arrives over [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], [[Greenlight]], and [[Gauge]] observe the grim panorama below, and Arcee deduces that this is a deliberate move on Heretech's part. The mad Senator intends to take advantage of the chaos on Cybertron for his own ends. Arcee and Greenlight hatch a plan: Gauge will rejoin Heretech's ranks in the hopes of slowing down his plan from the inside, while Arcee and Greenlight will flee to the surface using a launch bay to warn as may people as they can. The three share a quick hug before Gauge returns to the upper levels of the ship, where [[Accelerator]] waits to return her to custody. Gauge accepts Accelerator's many threats and admonishments... but is shocked when Accelerator informs her that the only reason she's still alive is because Heretech has a special destiny for her!

Heretech parades Gauge before the assembled Reversionists for one final ceremony—she will be their messenger, chosen spread their holy word across Cybertron. ''All'' Transformers will renounce their former allegiances and join the Reversionists on their "true path"... and those who do not will return to [[Primus]] when the ''Exodus'' fires its plasma engines directly onto the surface, igniting a vein of naturally-ocurring [[energon]] that Gauge will find for her people. Gauge knows that this will only accelerate the burgeoning crisis below, but doesn't dare speak up. If she refuses to comply, Heretech warns her, she too will perish with the other sinners. Once again, Gauge finds herself caught between two worlds: the religious world of the Reversionists and the secular existence of her mentors. Has her Reversionist upbringing ''really'' enlightened her, or duped her into following a maniacal false prophet? All her life, Gauge has followed instructions, Arcee's, Greenlight's, Heretech's, Accelerator's... but Gauge has her epiphany—she may have been raised in two different worlds, raised and conditioned to advance two different causes—but there is only ''one'' Gauge, and only ''she'' can decide what that means.

As the Reversionists leap from the ''Exodus'' to begin their attack on the local communications outpost, Gauge follows, [[transformation|transforming]] as she falls and landing in her mobile digger [[alternate mode]]. As the Reversionists overwhelm the defenders, Gauge reports to Arcee that she's heading towards the communications tower, ignoring her mentor's demands to tell her what she's up to. The Reversionists don't ''want'' to kill, she realizes, they want converts... and perhaps Arcee and Greenlight might ''not'' have the right answer to this problem. Gauge reaches the tower, slips past the Reversionists outside, then locks herself in the broadcast center. Once she activates the array, Gauge delivers her impassioned speech: the Reversionists want the people of Cybertron to join them, and the Cybertronians want her to denounce their movement. Today, however, she'll do neither. If a Cybertronian wants to become a Reversionist, then they should have the freedom to choose... but the Reversionists must also respect the wishes of others who might ''not'' wish to join them. The Reversionists didn't ''give'' Gauge that choice; every minute of every day, they told her how to live, how to act, how to think—but now that Gauge can think for herself and make her own decisions, she wants to stop them from inflicting that abuse onto anyone else. As the crowd outside pounds on the doors, Heretech himself descends from on high, rips his way into the comms tower, and prepares to rip Gauge apart for her disobedience. But Arcee and Greenlight aren't far behind, and promptly leap to their mentee's defense!

Determined to prove that nothing can stop will of Primus, Heretech transforms, intent on using his hulking drill-tank alternate mode to bulldoze right over the three. Using their own vehicle forms, however, Arcee and Greenlight outmaneuver their foe and keep the religious fanatic at bay while Gauge transforms and uses her scoop to dig up a mass of raw [[energon crystal]]s. For the first time in her life, Gauge stands up for herself by pitching the crystals directly at him; a crack shot from Arcee ignites the energon, and the subsequent explosion leaves the 'bot she once worshipped broken and defeated. Her actions have finally broken Heretech's godly façade—his mystique lost forever, Heretech stands revealed as just an ordinary Cybertronian. Greenlight asks Gauge what they should do with the villain, and Gauge suggests they leave him for the other Reversionists to deal with—just like her, they should let Heretech's former followers decide what ''they'' should want to be.

Although Heretech's defeat means that the [[Senate]]'s Reversionist party no longer exists, its members are quick to bounce back, and elect Accelerator as their new plenary. She and most of her followers will return to space once the ''Exodus'' has been repaired, but not all. Some choose to stay behind on Cybertron, in the hopes of joining other factions and steering their homeworld towards a brighter tomorrow... including Gauge. But despite her many adventures, she's not ''quite'' ready to go it alone, and approaches Arcee and Greenlight to ask if she can stay with them. The two happily agree, but Gauge has one condition: just because they're her mentors, ''doesn't'' mean that she can't question their judgment. Greenlight agrees, joking that she ''always'' questions Arcee's judgement. As the sun rises over the Cybertronian skyline, the reunited family walks off into the dawn, ready to begin their new life—together.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters

|h4=[[Reversionist]]s|c4=
* [[Accelerator]] (4)
* [[Heretech]] (5)

|h5=Others|c5=
* [[Greenlight]] (1)
* [[Gauge]] (2)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (3)
}}

==Quotes==
"The Reversionists wanted me to have faith in the process. But I have faith in myself. I make my '''own''' decisions, now. I '''choose''' who I'm going to be. Sure, there may be some beauty in repetition. But I think the '''real''' beauty... is in the unknown."
:—'''Gauge'''

"They took me from my family. '''Told''' me how to live. I can make my '''own''' decisions now. And I've decided to fight '''back''' against their plan to rob you all of your free will, head-on. And now I am almost certainly going to be ripped to shreds so if you'll '''excuse''' me, Cybertron-"
:—'''Gauge''' makes a speech

"Just because you're my mentors '''doesn't''' mean that I can't question you. Right?" 
"'''I''' question Arcee all the time." 
"Only because I'm '''nearly always''' right and she just can't accept that."
:—'''Gauge''', '''Greenlight''', and '''Arcee'''

"To a new life. To '''my''' new life. To find a new routine."
:—'''Gauge''' closes us out

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* It's not entirely clear how far along the timeline this adventure is set relative to what's going down in IDW's [[Transformers (2019 comic)|main ''Transformers'' ongoing]]. As the war doesn't appear to have broken out yet, it'd likely take place at some point during the concurrent "Rise of the Decepticons" story arc that began in [[Rise of the Decepticons: All Fall Down|#19]]—possibly just before, as Cybertron still seems to be reeling from the destruction of the [[Tether]].
* In this universe, newborn Transformers like Gauge and [[Rubble]] don't have [[alternate mode]]s when they emerge from the [[Pyramid (Cybertron)|Pyramid]]; in [[Arcee/Greenlight: Run|''Transformers'' issue #18]], Gauge specifically laments the fact that she hadn't chosen one yet. By process of elimination, this must mean that she scanned her alternate mode at some point ''after'' leaving Cybertron during her time as [[Accelerator]]'s mentee. Since Heretech specifically praises her "unique skills" in finding energon, maybe having her choose ''this'' specific vehicle mode was always a part of his overarching "kill all who disagree" plan?

===Transformers references===
* Heretech's big fight scene marks the first time he's transformed in either IDW continuity, but his depiction as a fanciful drill-tank is in keeping with [[James Roberts]]' vision for the character in his script for ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' [[The Gloaming|#16]], which described him as a tunnel-boring machine. <ref>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/a-look-into-james-roberts-scripting-part-2-introducing-megatrons-gun-mode/43054/ James Roberts's script for ''More than Meets the Eye'' #16: "He transforms into a digging machine (tunnel boring machine)."]</ref>

===Errors===
* On page twelve, there’s a comma missing from Gauge’s speech bubble, between "now" and "I".

===Other trivia===
* Originally solicited for May, the comic slipped to June before IDW Publishing’s two-month hiatus and further delays pushed it all the way back to September.

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A''': Gauge, Arcee, and Greenlight make a stand, by [[Umi Miyao]]
* '''Cover B''': Gauge gets up to mischief, by [[Sara Pitre-Durocher]]
* '''Retailer incentive cover''': Stuck in the middle with Gauge, by [[Kei Zama]] and [[Josh Burcham]]

<gallery>
File:TFGalaxies 9 cvrA.jpg
File:TFGalaxies 9 cvrB.jpg
File:TFGalaxies 9 cvrRI.jpg
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''The Last Ronin''
* ''Voyage to the Stars''
* IDW digital comics

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://popculthq.com/2020/09/01/preview-idws-9-2-release-transformers-galaxies-9/ Preview]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gauging the Truth Part 3: Moment of Truth}}
[[Category:Galaxies issues]]

Transformers '84 issue 0

2020-01-25T00:40:56Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Real-world references */

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''Transformers '84'' #0
|prev=
|next=Secrets and Lies issue 1
|caption=The closest thing we'll ever get to ''[[Legacy of Rust]]''
|image=TF84-cvrA.jpg
|title=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[August 21]], 2019
|coverdate=June 2019
|written by=[[Simon Furman]]
|art by=[[Guido Guidi]]
|colors by=[[John-Paul Bove]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[David Mariotte]] and [[Tom Waltz]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
|chronology=
}}

'''Privy to the terrible secret behind the doomed voyage of the Ark, an Autobot spy learns that war can tarnish even the most heroic figure....'''

==Synopsis==
{{note|This story is told in non-linear form. This synopsis presents it in chronological order for ease of reading.}}

[[Punch (G1)|Punch]] remembers...

''Millions of years ago, war rages on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] between the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s: torn loose from its orbit, the planet hurtles through interstellar space, on a course that will take it directly towards the dangerous region of the galaxy known as the [[Stellae Cimeterium]]. Regardless of the danger, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] and his Autobots continue their work on the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. The Autobot leader maintains that the ''real'' threat to their war-torn world is [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]], whose Decepticon armies continue to gain ground—but Councillor [[Traachon]] disagrees, arguing that their planet must be saved. Optimus points out that a sufficiently powerful detonation on Cybertron's surface will nudge the planet towards [[Ursa Major (star)|Ursa Major]] as it passes that star, but his words fail to have the desired effect—Traachon demands to know why Optimus's forces are still pouring their resources into the construction of the Ark instead of saving their planet, but Prime says nothing...''

''As launch day draws near, Prime's handpicked crew of Autobots—his most elite and trusted warriors—prepare for departure on the Ark's first flight, to shoot down the oncoming field of meteors that threatens their world. [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] is awestruck by the size of the ship, [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] and [[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] are excited at the prospect of a journey into the unknown, the impulsive [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] signed up at the first opportunity, [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] wants a chance to get away from his homeworld, and [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] is motivated by his sense of duty. [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] will be staying behind, however, and Optimus informs the stalwart Autobot that, if something happens to him or his shipmates, then he trusts Magnus to assume control of the Autobots. Taken aback by Prime's apparent fatalism, Magnus wonders if the Autobot leader even ''intends'' to return... and, once again, Prime falls silent.''

''The Autobots are unaware that their plans have been intercepted by the Decepticon spy [[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]], who immediately reports his findings to the Decepticon headquarters. A jubilant Megatron congratulates his deep cover agent [[Punch (G1)|Counterpunch]], whose report has just been corroborated by Ravage's spying. Megatron lays out his plan: once the Autobots have exhausted themselves clearing a safe path through the asteroid field, the Decepticons will strike!''

''His deception complete, Punch retreats to the wartorn [[Badlands (Cybertron)|Badlands]], where he's met by Optimus Prime, and reports that Megatron has taken the bait. As the other Autobots board the Ark for its inaugural flight, and wonder what's taking their leader so long, Prime tells his double-agent that he's done well... but he has one last deep-cover job for his faithful spy. Prime lays out the full, terrible scope of his plan for the confused Punch: the Ark is a distraction: a juicy target of opportunity designed to lure Megatron and his most powerful underlings offworld. When they're inevitably boarded, Prime will deliberately crash the ship on a distant world, stranding them all—but leaving their homeworld free from Megatron's evil. But this plan hinges on no-one finding them, wherever they are in the universe; Punch's job is to make sure that no-one ever does.''

''When the Ark launches not long afterwards, Megatron and his Decepticon cadre attack, just as predicted. Optimus Prime pulls off his master plan without a hitch... and Punch's long game begins.''

[[File:Canute_TF84.jpg|thumb|left|upright=.5|From whom we get the term "canoodle"]]
In the year [[1017]], a smaller but no less ferocious war plays out on [[Earth]]: The [[Viking]] [[Canute]], king of [[United Kingdom|England]], is under siege in [[Stansham Castle]] by [[Godwin the Strongarm|Godwin]] and his Vikings from northern [[France]], who are intent on seizing the throne. Early one morning, their attention is drawn to a mysterious shooting star... a shooting star that's really the [[Autobot]] scout ship ''[[Mantlo]]'', which makes an undignified crash-landing in the woods beyond. Occupants [[Cloudraker (G1)|Cloudraker]] and [[Fastlane]] are unhurt, and, more importantly, undeterred from their mission: to find the Ark. The pair transform and race off... unaware that they're being watched by Punch; in his Decepticon persona, he's worked his way into a Decepticon cell that's been covertly following the two Autobots on their mission.

As the sun rises, Canute's men, led by [[Hakon]], ride out to investigate the mysterious celestial omen. They're not the ''only'' ones interested, however: the two Autobots have been trailed by a Decepticon unit led by [[Wingspan]], just as intent on locating the lost starship. While the lunkheaded [[Duocon]]s race off to scout out the terrain around their reconnaissance post, Counterpunch takes the opportunity to fade into the background. As he does so, Wingspan crunches data and discovers the truth: the Ark exists here, buried on another continent... but before he can share the truth with his teammates, he finds Counterpunch pointing his rifle against the back of his head, and the [[Clone (subgroup)|Clone]] is swiftly executed.

[[File:VikingsVsClones_TF84.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.5|Scared straight, the warriors turned their lives to designing inexpensive furniture and awarding prizes for achievements in science and diplomacy.]]
Cloudraker and Fastlane watch as the two [[human]] armies clash outside of their ship, and despite their initial decision not to interfere, the sight of Hakon's grievously outnumbered forces up against the savage Vikings compels the two Autobots into action, and their intervention quickly turns the tide of the fight.

Back at their makeshift base, the Decepticons gather around Wingspan's dead body, and the two Duocons immediately suspect the two Autobots. The Autobot Clones are, of course, completely unaware of all this... which is why they're shocked when, after helping to trounce the primitive Vikings, they're taken by complete surprise by the Decepticon attack! Though Cloudraker is able to crush Battletrap with his [[gravity-rod rifle]], he's badly wounded by a fusillade from Flywheels' jet half. Fastlane's [[sonic boom rifle]] temporarily takes out both Flywheels and Counterpunch, and he carries the unconscious Cloudraker back to their vessel for [[CR chamber|CR]] treatment.

[[File:FastlaneCloudraker_CrashingAgain_TF84.jpg|thumb|left|Always a good idea to use a flight as an opportunity to get some rest]]
The ship takes to the air again, but below it Counterpunch rises from the ground, gun in hand. With a muttered request for forgiveness, he fires a crippling blast at the ship. Aboardship, Cloudraker is still out cold on a medical table while Fastlane urgently radios for help. They plummet directly into Stansham Castle, demolishing a portion of it.

From Cybertron to Earth, Punch remembers it all: his own betrayals and Prime's own guilt at having abused the trust of his men in the service of the greater good. The business of war is a dirty one, he admits... a business that ensures that even the most heroic 'bots of all have dark secrets to hide.
{{--}}
==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"{{!}}
*[[Punch (G1)|Punch/Counterpunch]] (1)
*''[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]]'' (2)
*''[[Ironhide (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ironhide]]'' (3)
*''[[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]]'' (7)
*''[[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]]'' (8)
*''[[Quickmix (G1)|Quickmix]]'' (9)
*''[[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]]'' (10)
*''[[Erector (G1)|Erector]]'' (11)
*''[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]'' (12)
*''[[Crumble]]'' (13)
*''[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]'' (14)
*''[[Traachon]]'' (15)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Fastlane]] (20)
*[[Cloudraker (G1)|Cloudraker]] (21)
*''[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]'' (22)
*''[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]]'' (23)
*''[[Mirage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Mirage]]'' (24)
*''[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]'' (25)
*''[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]]'' (26)
*''[[Gears (G1)|Gears]]'' (33)
*''[[Hound (G1)|Hound]]'' (34)
*''[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]]'' (35)
*''[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]]'' (39)
*''[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]'' (40)
{{!}}}

|c2=
*''[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]]'' (4)
*''[[Acid Storm (G1)|Acid Storm]]'' (5)
*''[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]'' (6)
*''[[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]'' (16)
*''[[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]]'' (17)
*''[[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]]'' (18)
*''[[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]]'' (27)
*''[[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]]'' (28)
*[[Battletrap]] (30)
*[[Wingspan]] (31)
*[[Flywheels]] (32)
*''[[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]]'' (36)
*''[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]]'' (37)
*''[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]'' (38)

|c3=
*[[Canute]] (19)
*[[Hakon]] (29)
}}

==Quotes==
"'''Wow!''' It's really something. There's never been a ship this big since... well, the era of the Titans!" 
"Everything's big to you, Bumblebee."
:—'''Bumblebee''' and '''Prowl'''

"Counterpunch, Flywheels... let's get '''medieval''' on their afts!"
:—'''Battletrap''' goes ''Pulp Fiction''

"Abominations?" 
"Ehh, been called far worse."
:—'''Cloudraker''' and '''Fastlane'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
Released to commemorate the 35th anniversary of [[The Transformers (issue)|the original ''Transformers'' comic]] that started it all, ''Transformers '84'' returns to the [[Marvel Comics continuity]], the first comic to do so since 2014's ''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One|Regeneration One]]''. While that series served as a straight sequel to the original 80-issue US comic, this issue is a prequel, tying into both the [[The Transformers (issue)|first issue]] of the series and the first original story produced for the expanded UK version of the comic, "[[Man of Iron (issue)|Man of Iron]]," which was reprinted in the US series in 1987. ''Transformers '84'' was written by [[Simon Furman]], who also wrote ''Regeneration One'', the latter half of the Marvel US comics, and a vast majority of the Marvel UK comics (but, uh, not either of the two issues that this one ties into). In some ways, the story hews quite closely to specific details of the original comics, and in other ways it clearly deviates.
*The coloring for this issue faithfully replicates many of the idiosyncrasies of the original Marvel comics, including [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]'s helmet being black, the Ark being silver rather than gold, Optimus Prime missing the distinctive silver stripe around his torso, and [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] being purple rather than blue.
*Several panels are recreations of ones from the first Marvel issue:
**Page 10, panel 2 recreates the scene of Ravage spying on Optimus's meeting with the elders seen on page 5, panel 5 of the original issue (including dialogue from the preceding panel 4)
**Page 20, panel 2 recreates the Autobots blasting asteroids from page 6, panel 5 of the original (complete with an out-of-place [[Onebox component]] appearing as a piece of artillery mounted on the Ark's hull)
**Page 20, panel 3 recreates the Decepticons storming the Ark from page 8, panel 2 of the original. Optimus Prime's dialogue as he sets the Ark on its crash course is cribbed from page 8, panel 6 of the original.
*Optimus calls [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] "Cybertron's greatest warrior," an appellation frequently used in the UK series. Prime goes on to say that he trusts Magnus to continue the fight in his potential absence, alluding to Magnus's leadership of the Autobot resistance on Cybertron alongside Emirate Xaaron in the UK series.
*The [[Council of Autobot Elders]] appears, led by the Marvel-original character [[Traachon]]. The block-colored [[generic]] councillors don't really match up to any of their prior appearances, however, so it's not clear if [[Xaaron]] or [[Tomaandi]] are among them.
*The countdown to the Ark's launch is measured in "[[Units of time|breems]]," a semi-regular unit of timekeeping in the Marvel comics.
*The medieval portion of the story is set shortly before the flashback sequence in "Man of Iron." It takes place in the year 1017, around the time of Godwin the Strongarm's siege of Stansham Castle, and details how the Autobot ship seen in the story came to be buried beneath the castle. Though not without problems (see "Continuity discrepancies" below), ''Transformers '84'' implicitly states that the ship was the ''Mantlo'', and the two Autobots featured in the original story—the titular "[[Man of Iron (Autobot)|Man of Iron]]" (as he was called by the humans who encountered him) and [[Navigator (Autobot)|Navigator]]—are Fastlane and Cloudraker, respectively. Points of continuity include:
**The clones came to Earth in search of the Ark, which is also said to be the mission of the Man of Iron and Navigator.
**Though the two clones' don't look anything ''like'' the Man of Iron and Navigator, when Clouraker is wounded, portions of his armor are broken off to reveal white plates underneath that match the look of the character in the original story, indicating that the damage the pair sustain in the crash alters their appearance.
**When the ''Mantlo'' crashes a second time, it hits Stansham Castle, destroying a portion of it that was seen to be crumbled in the modern day in "Man of Iron".
**During the same scene, Fastlane starts sending out a distress call. In "Man of Iron", the Earthbound Transformers are tipped off to the buried ship's existence by receiving a signal from it that's being continuously broadcast.
*Prime isn't to know it, but future events seen in the Marvel series will show that his plan to lure Megatron off Cybertron in the hope that they'll take the war with them was always doomed to fail. As described in [[Cybertron: The Middle Years!|UK issue #83]], Megatron's absence will lead to a power vacuum that numerous other Decepticon warlords will scramble to fill, culminating in the horrifically brutal reign of [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]], under whose leadership Cybertron will re-establish contact with Megatron on Earth, as seen in [[The Smelting Pool!|US issue #17]] and [[The Bridge to Nowhere!|#18]].

====Continuity additions====
*Optimus Prime's secret intent for the Ark mission—to lure Megatron away from Cybertron and defeat him in a potentially suicidal action—is a new concept introduced in this story. His directive that any search parties be thwarted even at the cost of killing them seems aimed at explaining why "Man of Iron" had him ordering the destruction of the buried ship without checking it for occupants, thereby killing Navigator. As the narration in that story explained, Navigator knew the location of Cybertron – and as ''Transformers '84'' establishes, Optimus is intent on keeping Megatron isolated from Cybertron even if that means sacrificing a whole ''shipful'' of Autobots.
*Who exactly occupied Stansham Castle at the time of Godwin's siege was not stated in "Man of Iron"; this issue reveals that it's Canute, king of England. ''[See [[#Real-world references|"Real-world references"]] below.]'' Likewise, Godwin's army being Vikings from northern France is new information.
*The Transformers in the Earth-based portion of the story are all from the [[1987]] lineup and had been missing from the Marvel US comics at the time: [[Punch (G1)|Punch/Counterpunch]], the [[Duocon]]s, the Autobot [[Clone (subgroup)|clones]] [[Fastlane]] and [[Cloudraker (G1)|Cloudraker]], and Decepticon clone [[Wingspan]]. (Well, technically the aerial halves of the Duocons showed up in [[Broken Glass!|one panel]] that year, and the complete Battletrap was seen [[The Void! (US)|a few years later]], but still.) Interestingly, the US reprint of "Man of Iron" came out in mid-1987, shortly after the rest of the lineup had appeared—so if this issue were inserted at that point, it would fit right in as a rounding-out of the [[To sell toys|obligatory introductions]]. This also means the death of Wingspan and the retconning of the Autobot clones as other characters (who also died) have no narrative repercussions for the original continuity. However, all three ''did'' appear alive and well in ''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One|Regeneration One]]'', set after the original series.
*The story also makes use of more modern ''Transformers'' terms and concepts like "[[Titan (group)|Titan]]" and "[[CR chamber]]," which did not exist in the original Marvel continuity. See "Transformers refernces," below, for more on these.

====Continuity discrepancies====
*[[Micromaster]]s [[Erector (G1)|Erector]] and [[Crumble]] appear as workers building the Ark, when per both [[A Small War!|UK issue #232]] and [[King Con!|US issue #54]], Micromasters did not yet exist at this point in time.
*Ultra Magnus's profile in [[Target: 2006|UK issue #81]] states that he was built by the Autobot elders on Cybertron in the mid-'80s; thus he had never met Optimus Prime, and couldn't have been present for the Ark launch four million years prior.
*As indicated by statements from Optimus Prime and the narration in the original story, it was the intent of "Man of Iron" that the Autobot spacecraft beneath Stansham Castle had already been buried there for millions of years, and that the castle had simply been built over the top of it. The story describes how a "great shaking" preceded the coming of the Man of Iron each time he appeared throughout history, which was explained to be an earth tremor caused by an elevator mechanism transporting him from the buried ship to the surface. ''Transformers '84'', on the other hand, claims that the ''Mantlo'' only arrived on Earth less than a thousand years ago, and acts as if the initial "great shaking" was the ''Mantlo'' crashing ''into'' the castle.
*The ''Mantlo'' is noticeably undersized compared to the ship in the original story, which was described as "the size of an ocean-going liner." It's pretty implausible that a ship ''that'' size could crash into the castle with enough force to bury itself, yet leave most of the castle intact.
*In the original story, Godwin's men were clad in armor typical of western Europe, but the ones in ''Transformers '84'' are wearing Scandinavian garb. However, this could have a historical justification; see "[[#Real-world references|Real-world references]]" below.
*The revelation of Optimus's willingness to sacrifice shiploads of unwitting Autobots to defeat or even just isolate Megatron is hard to reconcile with the events of [[Afterdeath!|US issue #24]], in which he orders that he be killed instead of Megatron because he'd brought about the deaths of "innocent" video-game-character bystanders in the process of winning his deathmatch against the Decepticon leader. Maybe he picked the worst time to let his guilty conscience get the better of him?
*In "Man of Iron", the castle was called Stenshame during this time period, only being called Stansham in the modern era.

===Transformers references===
*Punch/Counterpunch's vehicle mode looks like a [[Watchdog (G1)|Watchdog]] from [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the Sunbow cartoon]].
*Bumblebee says there hasn't been a ship as big as the Ark since "the era of the Titans". The term "[[Titan (group)|Titan]]" was introduced by [[Titan (group)#2005 IDW_continuity|IDW Publishing's comics]] to refer to an ancient race of city-spaceship Transformers, which is clearly what's being referred to here, though Hasbro have subsequently adopted the term as a name to refer to all city-sized Transformers. The idea of there being any kind of "age" of Titans doesn't really square with existing Marvel continuity, in which the ''only'' city-Transformers are Metroplex and Trypticon, who are basically just regular dudes who just happen to be really big.
*Counterpunch meets with Prime in the ruined wasteland known as the [[Badlands (Cybertron)|Badlands]]; this geographical feature didn't appear in the original Marvel run, though Furman did use it as a setting in his ''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One|Regeneration One]]'' comics.
*As the Autobots wait for Prime to board the Ark, Hound tells the impatient Bumblebee that Optimus has "a lot of [[Golden Disk (disambiguation)|golden disks]] spinning". This is the real-world idiom "a lot of plates spinning", modified in reference to the {{w|MacGuffin}}s from the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon that have also appeared in many other cartoons and comics, including ''Regeneration One''.
*Fastlane notes that the wounded Cloudraker needs "some urgent C.R. time." [[CR chamber]]s first appeared in the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars cartoon]]'' and have gone on to appear in a wide variety of other ''[[Transformers brand|Transformers]]'' media.

===Real-world references===
*Canute was indeed king of England at the time, and moreover he ''was'' overthrown at one point by forces including other Vikings. Immediately after Canute was crowned in 1014, {{w|Æthelred the Unready|a deposed English king}} who had been in exile in {{w|Duchy of Normandy|northern France}} invaded with the help of {{w|Olaf II of Norway|another Viking king}}, driving Canute back to his homeland of {{w|Denmark}}. This is the best match for the events of the comic, though the year is off. By 1017, Canute had returned with a vengeance, retaken the throne definitively, and ushered in a peaceful period of stable rule.<ref>{{w|Cnut the Great|Canute}} at Wikipedia</ref>
*The "Vikings from northern France" were an actual people, and the armor they wore is consistent with how Godwin's men were drawn in "Man of Iron".<ref>{{w|File:1000-1100,_Norman._-_033_-_Costumes_of_All_Nations_(1882).JPG|Norman armor}} at Wikipedia</ref> However, in this issue they're drawn in {{w|Viking Age arms and armour#Armor|Scandinavian garb}} instead! This could still have a historical justification, though: As mentioned in the previous note, the real-world contemporary war against Canute involved the aid of the Norwegian King Olaf II, so his soldiers could've looked the way this issue's Vikings do.
*Canute's soldiers seem to be {{w|Christians}}, calling their enemies "heathens" and referring to the Autobots as "{{w|Devil in Christianity|devilry}}". In contrast, Godwin's men are depicted as {{w|Old Norse religion|Norse pagans}}, invoking "the beard of {{w|Odin|Woden}}" and calling the Autobots "{{w|Niflheim}}-spawned". In the real-world contemporary battle for the English throne, the distinction wasn't as stark as this might imply; all the major players were in fact Christian. However, Viking culture was {{w|Christianization of Scandinavia|still in the process of Christianization}}, and smaller groups did indeed hold varieties of beliefs as seen here.
*Fastlane's assessment that "the natives definitely fall into the restless category" paraphrases the famous line from the movie ''{{w|Island of Lost Souls (1932 film)|Island of Lost Souls}}'', "The natives are restless."
*An irate Battletrap threatens to "get medieval on their [[anatomic euphemism|afts]]", a slight modification of a line from the movie ''{{w|Pulp Fiction}}''.
*The starship ''[[Mantlo]]'' is named after [[Bill Mantlo]], who wrote the first two issues of the original Marvel series.
*Punch's grim assessment of Prime's plan, "The needs of the many...", is of course a reference to [[Spock]]'s famous line from ''{{w|Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan|The Wrath of Khan}}'', though it ''was'' also spoken by [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]], voiced by [[Leonard Nimoy]], in ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]''. Likewise, Prime's declaring that his plan will give Cybertron "a fighting chance" is taken from another quote spoken by [[Doctor McCoy]] in ''{{w|Star Trek III: The Search for Spock|The Search for Spock}}'', drawing further parallels between Optimus's plan to sacrifice the Ark with Megatron aboard it and [[James Kirk]]'s similar decision to destroy the [[Klingon]]-boarded ''[[USS Enterprise]]''.

*Flywheel's line "All Contemplating my fuel intake an' no mayhem makes (Himself) A Dull Bot" is a play on Jack Nicholson's Character Jack Torrence's "All work and no play makes Jack a Dull Boy" line from the 1980 Film The Shining

===Errors===
*Optimus Prime speaks of [[Ursa Major (star)|Ursa Major]] as a star; in real life, however, this is the name given to an entire constellation, a grouping of multiple stars. Perhaps Prime just means that they'll be able to send Cybertron to a star ''within'' the constellation?

===Other trivia===
*The line-art takes heavy inspiration from the styles of the Marvel artists who worked on the original series. This is backed up by the colors, which evoke the look of contemporary printing via a somewhat limited palette, block coloring, and liberal use of {{w|Ben Day process|Ben Day dots}}.
*It's not a Marvel comic without a good old-fashioned [[introdump]], and we get an abridged one on page 8, where all of the members of the Ark crew stand around and talk about why they decided to join the mission.
*Not an ''error'', per se, but for a comic that namechecks pretty much all of the other original members of the Ark from issue #1 of the Marvel comic and then some, [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] is conspicuous by his absence.
*Originally solicited for early August, this issue arrived two weeks late, on August 21st.

===Covers (1)===
*'''Cover A''': Optimus and Megatron have it out, by [[Guido Guidi]]

<gallery>
File:TF84-cvrA.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''[[Transformers (2019 comic)|Transformers]]'' [[#13]]
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*''[[Transformers: Galaxies]]'' (back cover)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
[https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2019/08/comic-book-preview-transformers-84-0/ Preview]

[[Category:Marvel Comics continuity issues]]

S.O.S. Dinobots

2019-12-11T23:36:27Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Home video releases */ Added the version I got seventeen years ago!

{{disambig2|the cartoon episode|the mobile game event|S.O.S. Dinobots (Legends)}}
{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=8
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=7
|prev2=Divide and Conquer
|next2=War of the Dinobots
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=4
|prev3=More than Meets the Eye, Part 3
|next3=Heavy Metal War
|image=SOSDinobots fossilcavern.jpg
|caption=Wheeljack? Consult the Book of Armaments.
|title="S.O.S. Dinobots"
|production code=#700-05
|airdate=[[October 27]], 1984
|written by=[[Donald F. Glut]]
|animation studio=[[Toei Animation|Toei]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''The Autobots create the Dinobots, but can barely control these new powerful warriors.'''

==Synopsis==
As the [[Autobot]]s discuss whether or not the [[Decepticon]]s are behind the tremors they've been experiencing recently, [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] notices the tremors are stronger near one of the rock walls of the Autobot base. [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]]'s sensors detect something odd behind the wall, so the Autobots break through, finding a cavern. Spike explains to the surprised Autobots that the bones scattered around the cave are [[dinosaur (dinosaur)|dinosaur]] fossils, which pique the curiosity of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]].

Elsewhere, [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] and [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] stake out the [[Great Falls]] hydroelectric power facility, and return to the Decepticon base once they have enough information.

Spike takes [[Hound (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hound]] on a tour of a natural history museum to further illustrate his paleontological crash-course. Hound snaps a few holograms of dinosaur bone displays, which he played back for the other Autobots. Wheeljack and [[Ratchet (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ratchet]] are inspired, believing that they could construct robot versions to use against the Decepticons, and Optimus gives them permission. A laborious construction ensues, based on designs drawn up on [[Teletraan I]], with all of the Autobots taking part.

[[File:SOSDinobots Grimlockwrecks Teletraan.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|left|When the [[television|TV]] no work, Me know how to fix it!]]
Meanwhile [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] announces that the Great Falls constitute a perpetual power source that will let them take over the [[Universe (universe)|universe]] forever. On his order, the Decepticon forces fly out to take the dam.

Wheeljack unveils the three new additions to their ranks: the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]], [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] and [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]]. Impressed by the giant Dinobots and their ability to transform into dinosaurs, Optimus asks for a demonstration of their other abilities, and Wheeljack has them disintegrate the rubble from the earlier excavation. As Wheeljack explains that he's looking to upgrade the Dinobots' limited intelligence, the trio suddenly start attacking the Autobots. Grimlock heads for the control room, pursued by [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] and Spike, but the pair are unable to prevent the Dinobot from trashing Teletraan I. Bumblebee does manage to lure Grimlock away from the room so Ratchet can start the long repair job. As the fight continues, Optimus orders the Dinobots destroyed, but Wheeljack manages to disable them with his [[magnetic inducer]]. Despite Wheeljack's pleas, Optimus orders them decommissioned, and the three Dinobots are sealed in the rock cavern, never to be activated again.

[[File:SOSDinobots Ravage window.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Holy Hell!]]
The Decepticons arrive at the Great Falls, and the humans try to reach the Autobots via Teletraan I. Their distress signal goes unheard, as Teletraan I is currently offline thanks to the Dinobot rampage. [[Ravage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ravage]] trashes the humans' communication equipment, and the facility falls under Decepticon control.

With Teletraan I out of commission, it's up to individual Autobot scouts like Hound to be on the lookout for Decepticon activity. Hound's sensors detect the ransacking of the Great Falls plant, and he alerts Optimus. Optimus leaves with a strike force, ordering Bumblebee to stay behind to guard the base.

The Decepticons are gathering energy from the dam as [[energon cube]]s, and Megatron assures [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] that he has a plan for when the Autobots arrive. When the Autobots do arrive on a cliff overlooking the falls, they're unable to detect any Decepticons, but the foe soon pops out of their hiding places and attack. As his warriors keep the Autobots occupied, Megatron connects his [[fusion cannon]] directly into the Great Falls' power output. He blasts the cliff-face where the Autobots stand while [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] bashes at the ground, causing the cliff to crumble and sending the Autobots falling into the raging waters below.

Disobeying orders, Bumblebee arrives at the Great Falls and picks up Spike, as Megatron orders the Autobots retrieved and prepared for destruction. Bumblebee and Spike return to the Ark, informing Wheeljack and Ratchet of the Autobots' failure at the Great Falls. Wheeljack decides to reactivate the Dinobots. He has secretly developed a series of memory components that would upgrade the Dinobots' brains. Despite Bumblebee's protests that it goes against Optimus's orders, they install the new components, and the Dinobots awaken. Still relatively simple-minded, they are now much more intelligent than the mindless monsters that first appeared. Sludge, Slag and Grimlock agree to follow Wheeljack's orders, and blast their way out of the side of the volcano.

[[File:SOSDinobots Megatron falls.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|I've warned you about that, mighty Megatron.]]
The Decepticons have the Autobots trussed up with [[energon chains]]. Just as the Decepticons are about to execute the captives, the Dinobots arrive with Wheeljack. Wheeljack takes out Megatron with a [[gyro-inhibitor shell]], resulting in Starscream declaring himself leader on the grounds that Megatron has literally just fallen. The Decepticons take to the air, but even with air superiority, they find themselves being tossed around and battered by the Dinobots. As Megatron transforms and latches onto Starscream's jet mode, Wheeljack spots his fellow Autobots' weapons, and uses them to free his friends. The Dinobots blast Megatron, who finds himself faced with both the Dinobots and the freed Autobots. He quickly calls a retreat, and the Decepticons turn tail. Wheeljack and Bumblebee brace themselves for reprimands for disobeying Prime's direct orders, but Prime concedes he was wrong. He accepts the Dinobots as the newest members of the Autobot forces. The Autobots cheer the decision, and the Dinobots growl their approval.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{collist|2|
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sideswipe]] (2)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ratchet]] (3)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (4)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] (6)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (7)
*[[Hound (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hound]] (8)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (11)
*[[Prowl (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Prowl]] (12)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (13)
*[[Mirage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Mirage]] (14)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (19)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sunstreaker]] (20)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (21)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cliffjumper]] (22)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (23)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (24)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (25)
*[[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (27)
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (28)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (29)
}}
|c2=
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (8)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (9)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (15)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Thundercracker]] (16)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (17)
*[[Skywarp (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Skywarp]] (18)
*[[Ravage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ravage]] (30)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (31)
|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] (5)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (26)
}}

==Quotes==
"Well I'll be a Cybertronic [[bolt-bat]]!"
:—'''Sideswipe'''

[[File:SOSDinobots buildingSludge.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"Heck, robot satanic hellspawn nuclear explosive suicide troops might be useful too. Whip us up some of those while you're at it."]]
"Robot dinosaurs might be useful. You have my authorization."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' gives the okay to make the Dinobots, because sure, why not?

"Maybe Hound's got [[Glitch mouse|glitch mice]] in his databanks again!"
:—'''Bluestreak''', mocking Hound's radar accuracy, to the amusement of no one

"Nice shootin', if you were aimin' for the sky!"
:—'''Rumble''' goading Bluestreak

[[File:SOSDinobots-Sludge Insignia.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Rubsigns save lives!]]
"Which ones... friends?" 
"Ones with... face like this... uh, I think." 
"That... good enough for Slag."
:—'''Slag''' and '''Sludge''' determine friend from foe by using faction symbols.

"If on Decepticon turf you happen to tumble, look out robot, 'cause here comes Rumble!"
:—'''Rumble'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s clever combat banter

"Heat seeking missiles seek heat!"
:—'''Skywarp'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s slightly less clever combat banter

==Notes==
===Animation or technical glitches===
[[File:SOSDinobots-Miscolors.jpg|thumb|center|600px|[[Nelson Yomtov|Yomtov]]-licious!]]
[[File:SOSDinobots bluePrime.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Don't even think about [[redeco|it]], [[e-HOBBY]]!]]
[[File:SOSDinobots Soundwave shoots Gears.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*Coloring errors:
**Wheeljack's ears flash orange in this episode, rather than the usual blue. It's a convention that also appeared in "[[Roll for It]]" (an episode which has a similar art style to this one.)
**Ironhide's cheekguards are gray instead of red as he explains his sonadar sensor.
**The exposition-spouting tourist visiting the Great Falls hydroelectric power plant has hair that turns from red to black from one shot to the next.
**In his introductory shot, Slag's head is miscolored, mostly gray instead of all-red. This is the first of many, many, many times that his head and face will get the wrong colors.
**Another frequent coloring error has Sludge with gray on the sides of his dino head, which should be all-gold. It pops up numerous times in this episode.
**When the Decepticons arrive at the Great Falls plant, Rumble is colored like Brawn.
**As Skywarp and another Decepticon land, a foreground Decepticon Seeker's leg is colored a deep yellow (an error, but as close as [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]] ever came to appearing on Earth in a Generation 1 cartoon.)
**As Megatron claims control of the dam and the Decepticons strike silly poses, two background Seekers appear to have Bluestreak's colors.
**As Skywarp and Thundercracker strafe the Autobots, ''every single Autobot is miscolored'', including Sideswipe painted as Sunstreaker, Bluestreak as Trailbreaker, Brawn as Hound, Optimus Prime as Sideswipe, Hound as Ironhide, Trailbreaker as Gears, and Mirage as Bluestreak.
**Rumble's pile driver tips are the same blue-purple as the rest of him when he lands, but are red in a close-up shot a second later.
**Sunstreaker's hands are yellow in the shot of him, Jazz, etc. reacting to Rumble's earthquake.
**As Prime rolls toward the falls, his smokestacks are red.
**"Nice shootin'!" Rumble's eyeband is gray instead of red.
**When Gears flies up to Soundwave, his truck roof (on his back) is red instead of blue.
**Optimus's chest is the same blue as his head as he struggles in the water. As the Autobots move past camera, he morphs into his usual red.
**Ratchet's head crest is white instead of gray as he works on Teletraan-1.
**While the Autobots are trapped in Energon Chains, Optimus is colored entirely blue and Trailbreaker is a light grey rather than black.
**Starscream's entire cockpit cowling is yellow after the transforms, rather than just the canopy.
**Rumble's shin is all-yellow as he and the rest of the Decepticon group take off.
**When Skywarp drops bombs on Grimlock, Grimlock's an overly-dark shade of gray.
**Rumble's colors are reversed as Sludge's crevasse knocks him over.
**After they transform to retreat, all three Seekers have entirely gold nosecones. A pan across the three jets shows Starscream, Thundercracker, and a second Starscream in place of Skywarp.
**Sludge's face is black after he returns to [[robot mode]].
*Brawn's lines don't quite time up with the animation; he says "let's clean up this mess" while in the middle of tossing rocks everywhere; and he says "Hey, there's a cavern in there!" while gaping at a huge opening that must have been revealed much earlier in their dig.
*Wheeljack likewise says "Feels like stone" before he's even picked up one of the dinosaur bones. His ears don't flash for the first part of his line. And the top of his chest is colored windshield blue when it should be metal armor white.
*Jazz clearly isn't with the group that enters the cave; yet he abruptly pops up out of nowhere to say his line.
*Only the front of Wheeljack's ears flash for his "I'd sure like to know more about 'em" line.
*Spike identifies a ''Brontosaurus'' during his tour of the museum's dinosaur exhibit, though there does not appear to be a ''Brontosaurus'' on display. Though, to be fair, it may just be Spike's error, or the ''Brontosaurus'' skeleton might be out of the camera's view. (Also, at the time this episode took place, {{w|Brontosaurus|''Brontosaurus'' was a deprecated genus}}, but that's just picking nits, especially since the genus has now been reinstated.)
*Wheeljack's ears are drawn as mishapen white blobs as he and Prime first call up the image of the dinosaurs on Teletraan 1.
*Wheeljack is missing his wings as he works on the helmet-brain units.
*The Decepticon Headquarters docking tower is rather clumsily animated against the background matte, shaking a bit as it lowers. When the tower lowers, the source of the streaming bubbles lowers with it!
*"I suppose you've devised a brilliant plan..." Starscream's intakes are shown behind his shoulders, rather than on top of them.
*The top of the docking tower is missing as the Decepticons fly out it.
*Wheeljack's line of dialogue, "Autobots, meet Dinobots" is delivered by Ratchet.
*As Wheeljack introduces the Dinobots, the foreground characters slide magically against the background scenery due to an error in animation.
*As the Autobots react with shock upon seeing the Dinobots, all three audible lines in the scene—"Look at the size of those things", "Great Cybertron", and "Holy heterodyne"—are animated as being spoken by Bluestreak. The lines were evidently not scripted as belonging to any specific characters, as they are provided respectively by [[Peter Cullen]] (using neither Prime nor Ironhide's voice), [[Dan Gilvezan]] (sounding like himself) and [[Gregg Berger]] (who shouldn't be voicing ''any'' of the assembled Autobots!).
*Wheeljack is missing his wings as he's introducing the Dinobots.
*As Huffer mocks the Dinobots, he says: "Dinobots, huh? I thought you were supposed to make ''dino''saurs!" The emphasis, of course, should be on the "saurs".
*Optimus Prime's line, "Interesting, but what else can they do?" is delivered by Cliffjumper.
*As he opens his mouth to clear the rubble, Grimlock's dinosaur head has whole bunch of extra joint lines, based on his toy's detail. This detail never appears again.
*Bluestreak gets Optimus Prime's laser rifle sound effect for his shoulder launcher blasts.
*As Slag shoots him, Sideswipe cries out in Bluestreak's voice.
*As Grimlock heads into the control room, he just slides across the frame, rather than being animated with leg motion, etc.
*Grimlock clearly destroys the big main screen with the lolipop next to it. Yet as Bumblebee tries to get away, he passes this same screen, totally intact, while the explosion comes from somewhere else (unless there's ''two'' big screens with lolipops?)
*Ratchet rights a tipped-over Bumblebee in the thick of the Dinobot rampage. After Bumblebee drives away, the section of Ratchet obscured by a foreground Bumblebee is still missing.
*As often happens, Prowl has Sideswipe's voice as he asks "Doesn't anything get to this guy?"
*Prime's missing his grille lines as he declares that the Dinobots must be destroyed.
[[File:SOSDinobots magnetic inducer.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*As he fires to deactivate the Dinobots, Wheeljack's missile launcher swings around and clicks into place, pointing forward. Only... it was already pointing forward just a second earlier. In fact, it's never shown pointing in any other direction.
*After standing in front of the cave lamenting the loss of his creations (aw, poor Wheeljack!), Wheeljack moves out of the way as the Autobots open fire to seal the cavern. Yet as the rocks come down, he's back in front of the cave.
*After Optimus signs off from Hound's transmission, his head does a strange little back-and-forth bob. As the view pans out from him, we see Bluestreak, whose headcrest is gray instead of red.
*As the Autobots roll out, they kind of slide sideways across the floor of Autobot Headquarters.
[[File:SOSDinobots Autobots in chains.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|They just left Gears and the others at the bottom of the river.]]
*Appearing/disappearing Autobots:
**Wheeljack is shown in the lineup of Autobots leaving HQ; yet a moment later, it's shown that he stayed behind to continue working on stuff.
**Not nearly enough Autobots are shown in the energon chain lineup.
*"Endless energy, Starscream!" Megatron is missing his waist details.
*When Optimus tells the Autobots to fight, his line is clipped off at the end, telling the Autobots to "fight ba-".
*Just before Gears tumbles into him, Bluestreak is standing there waving a fist in the air. It looks like he was supposed to be shooting, but the laser fire wasn't animated.
*Bluestreak is knocked over by Gears, but is standing and firing in the next shot.
*Megatron is shown laughing, but there's no vocalization to go with it.
*Megatron's missing his insignia as he and Starscream look down from the cliff.
*"We shall retrieve their short-circuited carcasses..." Megatron's slow-moving lip-flap doesn't keep pace with his speech.
*"I've been working on a little research project." Once again, only the front of Wheeljack's ears flash.
*As the Autobots struggle against the chains, Megatron suffers another severe lip-flap malfunction. The energon chains to bounce and move like a single solid object; this is apparently supposed to show the Autobots struggling against their bonds, but it doesn't really work very well.
*Yet another vocal malfunction for Megatron after Wheeljack shoots him; he makes a falling-over "Whauurrrrrr!" sound long after he's already fallen over.
*"And whatever punishment you have in mind..." Bumblebee is missing his insignia, has yellow "cheeks" instead of white, and appears to have borrowed [[Bumper (G1)|Bumper]]'s rectangular chest.
*The closing scene features Optimus announcing that the Dinobots... will stay! And everyone is happy, and everybody cheers! Everybody except the background music, which is a tense, frantic piece normally reserved for cliffhanging crises and catastrophes.

===Continuity errors===
*So, why ''didn't'' Wheeljack just give the Dinobots their cognitive upgrades ''before'' he activated them and showed them off?
*The data gathered by Reflector and Soundwave leads Megatron to conclude with relish that the Great Falls contain enough energy to vanquish the Autobots and control the universe... but that's really nothing new. The Decepticons have targeted hydroelectric power sources before.
*What is it about falling into the river that is so devastating to the Autobots? We've seen that Autobots can deal with being in the water (Hound in "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2]]", various Autobots in "[[The Ultimate Doom]]", [[Springer (G1)|Springer]], [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]], and [[Arcee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Arcee]] in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', etc.). It's possible that the fall itself damaged them, but the Autobots are clearly shown struggling around in the water. Then again, Optimus Prime needed Jazz's help to escape the rushing river in "More Than Meets the Eye, Part 2".
*It's possible the editorial pace of the show plays with time and space, but taken at face value, the Autobots build three Dinobots in the span of time it takes the Decepticons to decide to attack the Great Falls.
*So... what caused the tremors? Once the Autobots found the dinosaur bones, they completely lost interest in the mystery that kickstarted the whole thing in the first place.

===Rhino DVD release===
[[File:dvd broadcast.jpg|thumb|Pretty colors are more important than things making sense!]]

*The chapter stops for this episode on the Rhino DVD are: Opening / Old Bones / "Dinobots Must Die" / Fusion Power / Permanent Dysfunction / Dinobots Will Stay.
*Though all G1 episodes released on DVD by Rhino were altered in some way, both with additional sound effects and unintentional changes induced by not using the finalized broadcast masters, this one is particularly screwed up:
**The Rhino version uses a faulty take for the shot where the Dinobots demonstrate their power by clearing rubble. In the DVD, the blasts from the Dinobots' mouths are missing, and the rubble does not vanish. The broadcast version, though, has both effects, which were reinstated on the Shout! Factory release. (See illustration).
**"Look at the size of those things!" In the shot where Bluestreak speaks the three lines in three different voices, the Rhino version features an additional error: Huffer's mouth is also moving in unison with Bluestreak's for all three lines.
**As the Autobots walk around the unnamed museum, they pass a pair of street punks looking at a display. While divided into grey and blue parts in the broadcast version, the display was [[:File:SOSDinobotsPunksDisplay.jpg|rendered entirely blue]] in the Kid Rhino version of the episode, making it look a bit like a computer terminal. This random color change was ''not'' undone in the Shout! Factory version.
**When Hound contacts Autobot Headquarters with a recon report, the glowing lights on his chest and forehead are blue in the broadcast version, but red in the DVD version. This was changed back in the Shout! Factory release.
**…When Spike says the line "Is it much farther, Hound" the broadcast version has his mouth move with his speech but the Rhino version has his mouth stop at the word "much" with his mouth hanging open in the rest of the sentence and this error is uncorrected in Shout! Factory's version.
**When the Autobots arrive at the Great Falls and they transform from [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] to [[robot mode]], the shot of Bluestreak is reversed, and he is shown transforming from robot to car. The broadcast version used the correct take, as does the Shout! Factory release.
**Not so much a goof, but the Rhino DVD version of this episode has a rainbow visible at the Great Falls when Megatron lands. This is not in the broadcast version and was removed when Shout Factory corrected the scene.
**When Megatron transforms into a gun to attack the Dinobots, the background matte is misaligned, showing only the sky and not the ground.
**And before the shot mentioned in the previous error, the camera pan from the Dinobots to Megatron is jumpy.

===Continuity notes===
*The natural history museum that Spike and Hound visit might be assumed to be in [[Central City (Earth)|Central City]], later shown in "[[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1]]" to be located near Autobot Headquarters.
*After being almost totally ignored (or completely absent) for the first seven episodes, Windcharger finally gets his first speaking line.
*Wheeljack is shown working on the memory upgrades for the Dinobots before they're even built!
*Flying Autobots:
**Gears takes to the air to attack the Decepticons at the power plant, and Wheeljack flies alongside the Dinobots. These abilities are never explained within the cartoon itself. However, according to the [[Tech Spec]]s, these two (along with Sideswipe) are the original Autobots who are SUPPOSED to be flight-capable; Gears is equipped with compressed air boosters and Wheeljack has solid-fuel rockets in his arms. Gears would never be shown to use his flight capabilities again; Wheeljack, however, will fly again in "[[A Plague of Insecticons]]" and actually use his arm-rockets in "[[The Core]]" and "[[The Autobot Run]]".
**The Dinobots are also shown to be able to fly in robot mode under their own power; they will consistently retain this ability all the way through Season 2 and the Movie.
*"We do... as told... for now." Grimlock's first lines already foretell the trouble that the Autobots will have keeping the Dinobots in line.
*The Dinobots are shown to be incredibly tough and resistant to damage. Nothing the Decepticons do leaves so much as a scratch or scorch mark, not even shots from gun mode Megatron. This too is consistent through Season 2 and the Movie.
**Slag's neck frill can reflect Optimus Prime's laser rifle blast back at him.
[[File:Sosdinos sonadar sensors.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
[[File:SOSDinobots Trailbreaker in force field.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
[[File:SOSDinobot Hound radios in.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|As noted [[#Rhino_DVD_release|above]], Hound's glowy bits were bright blue in the original broadcast version.]]
*Powers and gadgets:
**Ironhide is equipped with a [[sonodar]] sensor array that extends from his forearm, capable of penetrating solid rock. The findings of the sensor are displayed in the windshield in his chest.
**Sideswipe is equipped with piston arms, that allow him to punch through stone walls. Here, they are simply heavy protrusions that he slams into the rock to break it up, but when they show up again in "[[A Plague of Insecticons]]" they actually operate like pneumatic jackhammers. His pistons are also misinterpreted as a ''hand-held'' jackhammer in "[[Fire on the Mountain (episode)|Fire on the Mountain]]".
**Trailbreaker's force field is rendered as a glowing yellow sphere that comes from the space between his upraised hands. (Well, hand, since the other one is a gun.)
**Wheeljack fires a "magnetic inducer" from his shoulder cannon to stop the rampaging Dinobots, and later nails Megatron with a "[[gyro-inhibitor shell]]", launched from the same. Both of these are weapons Wheeljack's tech spec says he has and fires from his shoulder cannons.
**Hound uses a cheekguard-mounted communicator to contact Autobot Headquarters, along with a button on his stomach that lights up parts of his helmet while he's transmitting.
**Optimus has a similar cheekguard communicator, along with little antennae which slide out of the larger antennae on his head.
**Thundercracker attempts to torch the Dinobots with a flamethrower, which shows up again in "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 2]]". This weapon is probably based on his tech spec's mention of incendiary guns.
**Skywarp still packs heat-seeking missiles, per his tech spec bio.
**Starscream drops small bomb-missiles on the Dinobots. These may or may not be the from the launchers concealed in his air ducts, which are used in "[[Fire on the Mountain (episode)|Fire on the Mountain]]".
[[File:Sosdinos rumble broken piledrivers.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*Megatron actually refers to his [[fusion cannon]] by that name.
*Laserbeak does not appear but is mentioned in this episode, as Megatron credits him for gathering intelligence at the Great Falls.
*Per his tech spec bio, Sludge proves adept in the water. He also uses his seismic stomp to retaliate against Rumble's earthquake power.
*Rumble getting hit by Sludge's quake while using his piledrivers causes them to break off.
*'''[[Transport to Oblivion (episode)|< <]]''' What makes Starscream the leader? Megatron's lost his equilibrium! '''[[Countdown to Extinction (episode)|> >]]'''

===Real-world references===
*Dinosaurs, obviously. And a natural history museum, and a lame joke about "heavy metal" in reference to Hound.
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
**[[Death Star]] turbolasers are used as the sound of Bluestreak firing at Rumble.
**[[Luke Skywalker|Luke]] repelling Seeker bolts with his [[lightsaber]] is used as the sound of the Decepticons lifting off under Starscream's command.
**Clashing lightsabers are used as the sound of Slag's horns powering up.
**More lightsabers as the Dinobots fire on Megatron and Starscream.

===Trivia===
[[File:SOSDinobots Great Falls.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|The rules of Decepticon fashion dictate that no two members of a flying group can use the same arm pose.]]
*Though the holographic dinosaurs illustrated in the episodes matched some of the concepts of the early ‘80s, their depiction is outdated by today's standards. The dinosaurs in the show are the sluggish, tail-dragging cold-blooded variety not in keeping with more modern theories of warm-blooded, bird-like animals.
**Also when the holographic dinosaurs are shown, a ''Brontosaurus'' is seen living alongside a ''Triceratops'' and a ''Tyrannosaurus''. In reality, ''Brontosaurus'' lived in the Jurassic Period, while ''Triceratops'' and ''Tyrannosaurus'' lived during the Cretaceous Period. So basically, they were separated by millions of years, {{w|Fantasia (film)|but apparently}}, {{w|The Flintstones|in a cartoon}}, {{w|The Land Before Time|that doesn't matter}}.
*This episode shares the slightly stylized artistic style of "[[Roll for It]]". Note the strange poses that the Decepticons strike while flying, Optimus's unusually rounded head, Bumblebee's somewhat flattened head, and the little bits of shading seen on characters's faces in closeup.
*This was one of the six episodes featured on the ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (video games)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)|console game]], and the three on the [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (PSP)|PSP game]].
*Prime's characterization is a bit off in this episode; Wheeljack has just created living, sentient beings... and once they show they have free will by attacking the Autobots, he orders them sealed in a cave. Once they wipe the floor with the Decepticons, their brutality is a-okay. Apparently, freedom is the right of all sentient beings that fight on his side.

===Foreign localization===

'''German'''
:*''Title (Generation 2 dub):'' "'''Die Dinobots'''" ("The Dinobots")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[May 21]], [[1994]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''La nascita dei Dinorobot'''" ("Birth of the Dinobots")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''S.O.S. Dinobots'''"
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Dinobot Tanjō!'''" (ダイノボット誕生!, "The Dinobots Are Born!")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[August 17]], [[1985]]
:*The Dinobots' roars are replaced with library tracks of classic movie kaiju roars (mostly an altered version of Baragon's roar from Toho's ''Frankenstein Conquers the World'').
:*'''Cut:''' Following Spike's line, "There goes an Autobot with guts" and Ratchet charging, the close-up of Spike's head and Ratchet repairing Teletraan-1 have been cut. The sequence resumes at Sludge firing his laser eyes.
:*'''Cut:''' After Prime yells "Roll out!" and transforms, the following footage of the Autobots driving out of the Ark behind him, the pan across the base interior and the footage of Wheeljack working on the Dinobot brain upgrades have all been cut.

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Jǐnjí Hūjiào '''" (紧急呼叫, "Emergency Calls")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Na pomoshch, Dinoboty!'''" (На помощь, Диноботы!, "Help us, Dinobots!")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Serbian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''S.O.S Dinoboti'''" (С.О.С Диноботи, "S.O.S Dinobot")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

===Toys inspired by this episode===
[[File:MP27-Ironhide.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right]]
*'''''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' MP-27 [[Ironhide (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|Ironhide]] ([[TakaraTomy]], 2016)'''
:Included with ''Masterpiece'' Ironhide is a wrist-mounted sonadar dish, as well as a readout image of dinosaur bones that can be slipped behind his windshield based on the tools he uses in this episode.
{{-}}

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1985 — ''The Transformers'' — Volume 3: "S.O.S. Dinobots" ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1997 — ''The Transformers'' — War of the Dinobots ([[Malofilm]])
;{{w|LaserDisc}}
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 - ''Transformers: The Complete Original Series'' ([[Maverick]])<ref>https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00006JY0B/</ref> 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers: Generation 2'' ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Original Series: Volume Three (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Complete Original Series: Deluxe Edition (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — First Season Collector's Edition ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume Two (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 1: Series 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — The Best of ''The Transformers'' (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Episodes (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Classic Transformers'' — Series One: Part One (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 01: Stagione Uno Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season One (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete First Season: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Original Series (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2014 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete First Season: 30th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2014 — ''The Transformers'' — Roar of the Dinobots (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Animated Series (Metrodome)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/season-1/synopses/700-05.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sos Dinobots}}
[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Some Of My Best Friends Are Autobots

2019-12-10T21:44:25Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Errors */

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=45
|prev=The Not Knowing
|next=Animals
|image=MTMTE45_regcvr.jpg
|title="Some Of My Best Friends Are Autobots"
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[September 30]], [[2015]]
|coverdate=September 2015
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|pencils by=[[Alex Milne]]
|inks by=[[Brian Shearer]] and Alex Milne
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2015)]]
}}
'''They're ba-aack!'''

==Synopsis==
It's been a funny old time for the [[Scavenger (group)|Scavengers]]. Ever since learning that [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] has defected to the [[Autobot]]s and that [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] now rules [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], their plans to return home have been abandoned, and they have been pottering around the galaxy having wacky adventures: being cursed to speak only in song, accidentally raising eldritch horrors, dealing with the image of [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]] coming alive from a datapad, holomatter escapades on [[Magisteria VI]], playing [[Jenga]] against a giant space jellyfish for the fate of the universe, falling into a [[perspective trap]], and even, somehow, getting turned into [[toy]]s! Today, though, the crew are just enjoying a simple game of "[[Cybertronian games#Shoot Shoot Bang Bang|Shoot Shoot Bang Bang]]", hunting each other around their ship, the ''[[Weak Anthropic Principle]]'', with dart guns. [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] lets his internal monologue run away with him, allowing [[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] to get the drop on him, but [[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] jumps in at the last second to score the winning shot. Unfortunately, in order to do so, Crankcase has left the bridge unmanned, and the ship promptly crashes into [[Tebris VII]].

[[File:Krok crankcase fulcrum some of my best friends are autobots.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.6]]
Four hours later, the battered [[Krok (G1)|Krok]] wakes up to find Crankcase and [[Fulcrum]] lounging around watching television—specifically, the stand-up routine of Krok's old shipmate [[Skullcruncher (G1)|Skullcruncher]], who has made a mint in the post-war era by rebranding himself as a "self-hating Decepticon" comedian. Heartily cheesed off to see Skullcruncher and so many other Decepticons finding new jobs and new successes while he and the rest of the Scavengers are just bumming around the galaxy living hand-to-mouth, Krok chucks a Skullcruncher souvenir through the television, and starts lecturing his crewmates about taking control of their lives... only to be almost immediately interrupted when a rampaging [[Grimlock (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Grimlock]] comes tearing into the room, with Misfire holding onto his back for dear life. Misfire has been attempting to "house-train" the mentally-damaged [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]], but after his biggest success to date—managing to write the first letter of his own name—Grimlock has had another in an escalating series of "fits" that forces the Scavengers to blast him into submission. Tiring of Krok's bossy tone, Misfire is about to rip into him about the "clicker" in his hand, but before anyone says anything they can't take back, Spinister enters to inform the team a communication is coming through.

[[File:Demus some of my best friends are autobots.jpg|thumb]]
The communication is from [[Demus]], a Decepticon scrap merchant on Tebris VII, who Krok knows from the [[Militant Monoform Movement|Triple M]] sub-group on the Decepticon social networking site, [[The Big Conversation]]. Demus invites the Scavengers to his scrapyard, and, thinking they are going to be offered jobs, they even agree to inject themselves with temporary [[Inhibitor/deterrence chip|inhibitor chip]]s upon arrival due to Demus's condition—he is so militantly monoform that the very ''sight'' of transformation makes him sick. The group are led by the noticeably skittish Demus through his stockyard, full of merchandise from his profitable side-business making "[[Roboid]]" toys, before arriving at his office, where it turns out he does not want to ''employ'' them: he wants to buy Grimlock from them. He steps out to take a call while the Scavengers talk the proposal over amongst themselves; the obscene amount of money on offer all it takes to sway Krok, Crankcase, and Spinister into selling, outvoting the more compassionate Misfire and Fulcrum, the latter also healthily suspicious of Demus's motives. And it seems Fulcrum is right to be suspicious—out in the stockyard, Demus talks on his communicator in a panicked whisper about being on a list, and needing help from the caller... but he realizes that such concerns have become moot when a huge shadowy figure appears in front of him. Demus is hurled back through his office window and then has his brains blown out right in front of the Scavengers... as the Duly Appointed Enforcer of the [[Tyrest Accord]], [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Fortress Maximus]], steps through the door and inquires which of them will be next!
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Grimlock (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Grimlock]] (7)
*[[Fortress Maximus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Fortress Maximus]] (10)
|c2=
*[[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] (1)
*[[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] (2)
*[[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] (3)
*[[Fulcrum]] (4)
*[[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]] (image of hand, 5)
*[[Krok (G1)|Krok]] (6)
*[[Skullcruncher (G1)|Skullcruncher]] (8)
*[[Demus]] (9)
}}

==Quotes==
"Crankcase! That was '''my''' shot! You're not even playing!" 
"True. But I can't listen to someone else's party without wanting to '''pop their balloons'''."
:—'''Spinister''' isn't happy that '''Crankcase''' has stolen his win

"—and we used to say to him, 'Megatron, mate, why not get all the Phase Sixers and throw 'em at the Autobots?' Like, 'Forget the planets! You can cyberform as many planets as you like once you've killed all your enemies! '''You're not making the best use of your assets.'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>"
:—'''Skullcruncher''' likes to claim he spoke truth to power, but somehow, we doubt it

"Are you sure you won't let Spinister fix your head? He's a brilliant surgeon." 
"He's a brilliant surgeon who classifies random objects as 'goodies' or 'baddies' based on the sound they make when he punches them. I don't want him anywhere near my brain."
:—'''Krok''' and '''Crankcase'''

"When we found you on '''Clemency''', we didn't know '''what''' was going on. Now we '''do''', and it's worse than we thought. The Autobots have won, Megatron's '''flipped''', and Starscream's in charge of Cybertron! '''Starscream!''' At least the Autobots were '''upfront''' about wanting to kill us! I wouldn't trust Starscream to tell me my own name!"
:—'''Krok'''

"You must be the Scavengers." 
"It's pronounced '''<big>SCAVENGERS.</big>'''"
:—'''Demus''' and '''Misfire'''

"Are we gonna kill him and steal his money? <big>'''HA!'''</big> Joking. But seriously, are we gonna kill him and steal his money?"
:—'''Crankcase''', on dealing with '''Demus'''

'''Demus:''' "I'd like to buy [Grimlock] off you." 
'''Misfire:''' "You '''what'''?" 
'''Crankcase:''' "'''Buy''' him?" 
'''Fulcrum:''' "Bizarre." 
'''Spinister:''' "'''WHAT AM I REACTING TO AND IS ANGER APPROPRIATE?!'''"

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
[[File:Magisteria vi some of my best friends are autobots.jpg|thumb]]
*The single panel that shows the Scavengers' holomatter adventure on Magisteria VI has one of them remark that the holomatter program is struggling with the native species's gender; [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] had the same problem back in [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|issue #13]].
*The Scavengers were seen playing Jenga when they last popped up in [[Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|issue #20]].
*Misfire highlights the mystery of Grimlock's current condition; found by the Scavengers on [[Temptoria]] in [[Rules of Disengagement (issue)|issue #7]], the last time he had appeared before that was when he was being taken to [[Garrus-9]] at the climax of the ''[[The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots|Maximum Dinobots]]'' miniseries.
* Misfire also mentions that he has a 'contact' within the Autobots who told him what happened on Garrus-9, informing us that Grimlock "went missing". It's likely that he's talking about [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]], who worked as an insider for the Decepticons, but never divulged any information that was actually ''useful''.
*Krok mentions that the Scavengers sometimes vandalize [[Autopedia]], the Autobots' free-to-edit database.
*During his stand-up routine, Skullcruncher talks about his having been part of infiltration squads during the war. We know he's speaking from experience, as he was last seen way back in ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer|Stormbringer]]'' as a member of one such squad—alongside Crankcase, no less—on the planet [[Nebulos]] where they were both apparently killed by [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]], though obviously not.
*The "clicker" in Krok's hand was last seen in issue #7, or rather, it was ''heard''. He claimed it was a device that he clicked to keep rebooting the ship's continually failing communications systems, but in [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|issue #8]], Misfire strongly implied that whatever the device was, it wasn't that. The way Fulcrum takes Krok's hand to stop him clicking it as he rants this issue certainly indicates it's an uncontrolled expression of anxiety like a nervous tic, and Misfire is just about to broach the clearly-taboo subject of what the thing is, but they get interrupted by Demus's communication.
*Krok makes reference to the planet [[Troja Major]], first (and last) heard of in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|issue #28]]. This was the world on which [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] picked up the original, unedited version of "[[Towards Peace]]"; perhaps the Decepticon antiquarian, [[Agonizer]], who Krok notes set up shop on the planet, had something to do with that.
*Demus previously served under [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]], who gave him an honorable discharge after the war. Surprising to hear about a Decepticon, perhaps, but we saw in [[The Permanent Revolution|issue #39]] that Deathsaurus is the sort to treat his men right.
*Crankcase is swayed into selling Grimlock by the possibility of using the money to buy his own spaceship, something we know from issue #8 that he always wanted to have.
*We last saw Fortress Maximus in [[The Sound of Breaking Glass|issue #21]], in which he took on the position of enforcer of the Tyrest Accord following the defeat of then-current holder of the title, [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]].

===Transformers references===
*We see the ''Weak Anthropic Principle'' for the first time, and it turns out to be a Decepticon-purple version of the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'s [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] [[character model|animation model]]. The sequence of it crashing, complete with "Four Hours Later" caption, is styled directly after the scene of the Ark crashing from "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]"; the shot of the post-crash bridge, with rocks bulging in through the windows, is likewise styled after the interior of the cartoon's Autobot Headquarters.
*When Spinister places his gun against Misfire's head to end their game of "Shoot Shoot Bang Bang", he paraphrases [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'': "I would've waited an eternity for this. It's over, Misfire."
*Krok is revealed to be a [[Monoformer]]—the IDW continuity term for a Transformer that does not transform—referencing the fact that his original Generation 1 toy was a non-transforming [[Action Master]].
*According to Skullcruncher's routine, Krok named himself after "his dead pet", an allusion to Krok's Action Master parter [[Gatoraider]]—who was, of course, a crocodile.

===Real-life references===
*The Decepticon website "The Big Conversation" (established by an [[M.T.O.]] named [[Biteback]], Krok says) is likely named for the (now defunct) real-life website of the same name, launched in 2003 by the Labour government of the [[United Kingdom]].
*The comment about killing off the name Scavengers because it is too close to the word "scroungers" is a reference to the 2015 Tory government of the United Kingdom's policy on the use of the word in their political rhetoric.

===Errors===
*On page 2's final panel, Misfire thinks that 'all hell broke lose'. This should be 'all hell broke LOOSE'. This was not corrected for the trade.
*In panel 4, page 11, Krok's second speech bubble ("We should be taking control of our lives!"...) is coming from Crankcase. This is corrected in the trade.

===Other trivia===
[[File:Scavengers_IRL.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|"Poor Fulcrum. Missing out on such an awesome scene."]]
*The final panel on the "recap" page, showing the Scavengers turned into toys, was taken by Maziar Shahsafdari using the original Generation 1 Spinister, Crankcase, Krok, and Misfire toys. [http://tfsquareone.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/idw-mtmte-45-that-scavengers-photo.html Read about the photo shoot here!]
*Skullcruncher's routine involves pointing out that nobody actually knows what phases 3 through 5 of [[infiltration protocol]] are, a joke based on the fact that they were never detailed back during [[Simon Furman]]'s "-ations" era on the IDW books, and that it's a little tricky to imagine what three distinct stages between "Instigating conflict" and "killing everything" would actually be.
*Crankcase mixes up the concepts of [[copyright]] and [[trademark]] and is promptly made fun of for it by Fulcrum, a common occurrence in online discussions among the ''Transformers'' [[fandom]].

===Soundtrack===
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wf73xqZvk6k Loaded]" by {{w|Primal Scream}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBsazIACpYM Fool's Gold]" by {{w|The Stone Roses}}
*"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6Jt-o8OGBc Shake Your Money]" by {{w|Black Grape}}

===Covers (4)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Scavengers group shot, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' The other Scavengers don't appreciate whatever Misfire is laughing about, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]].
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' [[Solomus|Tyrest]], [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]], and [[Star Saber (Victory)|Star Saber]], by [[Kei Zama]] and Josh Burcham; one of September's series of retailer incentive covers by Zama.
*'''Giant Robot Comics exclusive cover:''' Wraparound cover of Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Cliffjumper, Wheeljack, Arcee, and Omega Supreme battle Megatron, Soundwave, Rumble, Swindle, Onslaught, and Devastator at [http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g780595-d209840-Reviews-Peggy_s_Cove_Lighthouse-Peggy_s_Cove_Halifax_Region_Nova_Scotia.html Peggy's Cove Lighthouse] in Halifax, Nova Scotia, by [[Casey Coller]] and [[John-Paul Bove]]. Available exclusively from [http://www.giantrobotcomics.com/ Giant Robot Comics], who are based in Halifax; third in [[Less Than Zero|a]] [[The World of Tomorrow|series]] of exclusive covers for the retailer by Coller and Bove, which all feature Halifax landmarks.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE45 regcvr.jpg|"Who loves ya, baby?"
File:MTMTE45 subcvr.jpg|Misfire is the Jerry Lewis of the Scavengers.
File:MTMTE45 cvrRI.jpg|What have these guys been up to?
File:MTMTE45 cvrRE.jpg|For Primus's sake, save the lighthouse!
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''More than Meets the Eye'' #46
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]'' [[The Nothing Man|#45]]
*''[[The Transformers: Windblade|Windblade]]'' [[The Will of the Few|#7]]
*''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' [[Stick To Your Guns|#9]]
*IDW ''Skylanders SuperChargers'' comic
*[[Mickey Mouse]] is back in action at IDW!
*''{{i|Jem and the Holograms (comic)|Jem and the Holograms}}'' Vol. 1 TPB
*"More than Meets the iPad" - IDW Transformers Comics app
*IDW ''[[Back to the Future]]'' comic (back cover)

===Reprints===
*'''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 9''''' ([[May 4]], [[2016]]) ISBN 1631406159 / ISBN 978-1631406157
:*Contains issues #45 to #49.
:*Bonus content includes covers of each issue.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 10|The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 10]]''''' ([[December 4]], 2019 ''SCHEDULED'') ISBN 1684055849 / ISBN 978-1684055845
:* Contains [[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|''The Transformers'' vol. 2]] issues [[The Transgressors|#44]] to [[The Nothing Man|#45]], ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #45 to #49, [[The Transformers: Windblade|''Windblade'' vol. 2]] issues [[Windblade vol. 2 issue 6|#6]] to [[The Will of the Few|#7]], the ''[[The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers|Sins of the Wreckers]]'' miniseries, and the one-shots for ''[[An Uneventful Night|Combiner Hunters]]'' and ''[[The Transformers Holiday Special]]''.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol9.jpg|'''Volume 9'''; cover art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V10.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Vol. 10'''''; cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]]
</gallery>

==External links==
*[http://www.newsarama.com/26050-decepticons-do-battle-in-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-45-preview.html Preview]

Constructicons Rising, Part 3

2019-12-01T00:26:20Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Synopsis */

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers: Galaxies]]'' #3
|prev=Constructicons Rising, Part 2
|next=Constructicons Rising, Part 4
|caption=
|image=TFGalaxies 3 cvrA.jpg
|title="Constructicons Rising, Part 3"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[November 27]], 2019
|coverdate=November 2019
|written by=[[Tyler Bleszinski]]
|art by=[[Livio Ramondelli]]
|colors by=
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[David Mariotte]] and [[Tom Waltz]]
|continuity=[[Transformers (2019 comic)|2019 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=
}}

'''Termagax finds her ambitions eclipsed when the Senate becomes involved in the case of the increasingly-unstable Constructicons.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] is on the mend—as [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] watches, [[Devastator (G1)|the Constructicon combiner]] is hard at work at a tower. It's a magnificent scene to the crowds of Cybertronian workers who gather to watch the titan at work, but the reality is something entirely different: within the combiner's head, the six disparate personalities of the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s bicker how to best control their new form, a struggle for control that's made all the worse as all six members are overtaken by ''something'', a black void of rage they can't control. As they succumb, one after the next, the combiner abruptly topples its own creation with one furious swing, and smiles at the devastation...

The observers flee for cover save for [[Termagax]], who orders the combiner to lift her to eye level. Barely suppressing its own anger, the combiner does so; Termagax orders them to disengage, and the gestalt collapses back into its component parts. Wheeljack immediately chews out the six 'bots for their inexplicable recklessness, but none of them can explain the bizarre episode. Ignoring Wheeljack's complaints of the danger that the Constructicons seemingly pose to everyone around them, Termagax, fascinated by the concept, asks the team to explain what happened. [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] and [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] try to explain: they've had to deal with the presence ''every'' time they've combined, but this is the first time that they've let it ''win''.

Wheeljack warns them that it isn't worth the risk, but [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] disagrees—the [[Enigma of Combination]] they've found has imprinted on them a deep need to combine, to be together at all times. Termagax muses on this new development as Hook begs their leader for another chance, and warns the team that they'll have one more shot to make things right, ignoring Wheeljack's sullen protests. As the builders regroup, Scrapper confides in Termagax that the presence is more powerful than anything he or his team has ever encountered before, forcing them to fight its influence every step of the way. Termagax suggests another solution: rather than fight the seventh personality for control, they need to work ''with'' it, as fighting the anger only makes it stronger. The team members are hesitant to try again, but Long Haul is the one who gets them into motion by pointing out that, presence or no presence, there's work to be done.

At the [[Senate]], Wheeljack argues his case in front of the body of Senators: while Termagax meant well, her pet experiment grows increasingly dangerous, and the six Constructicons should be forbidden from ever combining again. Termagax defends herself, explaining that the latest incident is but a minor stumble. After all, she insists, the Constructicons sacrificed ''everything'' they ever knew to become the greatest builders on Cybertron. [[Nominus Prime]], head of the Senate, thanks Termagax for supporting the team through their tumultuous development, but has his own concerns about the combiner. Both he and Termagax are old enough to remember the war against the "[[Abominus (G1)|abomination]]" that ravaged their home, the rapacious fuel-guzzler that drained their world of [[energon]]. Now, with Cybertron recovering from the [[War of the Threefold Spark]], what happens if this new combiner starts this cycle all over again? The Constructicons will be allowed to repair the damage they've caused, complete their sector of Iacon... and then, Nominus decrees, the Senate will find an alternate way for the Constructicons to contribute to society.

Days later, the Constructicons complete their masterwork: having finally mastered their combined form, the city of Iacon is completed, brighter and better than ever before. Termagax congratulates them on their hard work—a sentiment shared by Nominus Prime himself, who heartily congratulates the team on a job well done. Scrapper whispers to Termagax that her suggestion to let the other consciousness into their shared psyche allowed them to finally unlock the combiner's ''true'' power; Hook mumbles that something ''still'' doesn't feel right about the new strategy. As a tribute to their heroic efforts, Nominus presents the team with six badges of honor... but the subsequent toast to their accomplishments is quickly spoiled when Scrapper realizes that ''every'' 'bot responsible, no matter how minor their contribution, has been given the exact same badge.

Time passes, and the Constructicons prepare for their next assignment. Scrapper hopes that they'll be tasked with rebuilding another Cybetronian city, but Nominus informs them that this new job is ''far'' more important: they'll be heading to the distant world of [[Mayalx]] to help supervise the construction of an energon-harvesting colony. Nominus thanks them for their sacrifice, and Termagax bids her proteges goodbye, confessing that they've allowed her to realize that ''every'' Cybertronian has the ability to ascend beyond their expectations. And so, as the Constructicons leave their homeworld behind, the team wonders just what their future might bring...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Nominus Prime]] (10)

|h4=Cybertronians|c4=
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (1)
* [[Devastator (G1)|Constructicon combiner]] (2)
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (3)
* [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (4)
* [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (5)
* [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (6)
* [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (7)
* [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (8)
* [[Termagax]] (9)
}}

==Quotes==
"It's finally happened. They '''lost''' control! I hate being right all the time."
:—'''Wheeljack'''

"You know from experience that you don’t stop experimenting when you have one failure." 
"If it threatens your life, you '''do'''."
:—'''Termagax''' and '''Wheeljack'''

"The Constructicons, in their combined form and as individuals, sacrificed so much, all so that we could look out upon a rebuilt city today and argue about their fate."
:—'''Termagax'''

"Thank you for your unrelenting faith and commitment to Cybertron. The Constructicons will never be forgotten."
:—'''Nominus Prime''' speaks too soon...

==Notes==
*'''First appearances:''' [[Nominus Prime]]

===Continuity notes===
* This story is set between the two preceding issues, and serves to explain how the Constructicons went from rebuilding Iacon to their current low-ranking job on Mayalx.
* First alluded to all the way back in [[The World In Your Eyes Part Two|issue #2]], [[Nominus Prime]] finally makes his long-awaited debut! The former leader of the Senate has been succeeded by [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] in the present day at the time of publication, but the effects of his reign have been felt far and wide in the form of his [[Nominus Edict]], a historic piece of legislation that limits the production and consumption of [[energon]]. True to form, Nominus's appearances in this issue depict him as very concerned about fuel usage and energy consumption, going so far as to scold Scrapper for letting his men waste energon on frivolous activities. Appearance-wise, Nominus is drawn using the same body he wore in ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' in [[2005 IDW continuity|the original IDW continuity]].
* The badges of honor that Nominus gives out to the Constructicons appear to be based on a simplified [[Autobot]] insignia, suggesting that this may be the in-universe origin for the faction symbol.
* Nominus Prime mentions that the Constructicons aren't the only 'bots responsible for rebuilding Iacon, specifically flagging up [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s mining teams and the archivists—this had previously been alluded to in [[Constructicons Rising, Part 1|''Galaxies'' issue #1]], and we saw both of these teams in action in [[Orion Pax: Free Fall|issue #6]] of the main ''Transformers'' ongoing.
* As the Constructicons depart Cybertron, Termagax warns them that "not all Cybertronians who leave Cybertron do so for noble reasons," which feels like a deliberate call-forward to the team's eventual encounter with the similarly-exiled [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] that occurred in [[Constructicons Rising, Part 2|the previous issue]].
* Following up from similar dialogue in issue 1, Termagax declares that the Constructicons have allowed her to see how all Cybertronians have the ability to ascend beyond expectations, again foreshadowing her eventual founding of the [[Decepticon|Ascenticon]] movement
* Termagax was noted to have something of a dislike for Nominus Prime, to the point where, as per [[The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Two|issue #8]] of ''Transformers'', she will eventually sequester herself off from Cybertronian civilization entirely until the Nominus Edict was overturned. This issue suggests that her dislike of the Prime may have started when the leader of Cybertron not-so-subtly exiled her six star pupils to a distant world and (deliberately or not) permanently put them beyond her reach.

===Transformers references===
* The shot of the six Constructicons fighting to coordinate their movements within their combined form's head is evocative of a similar scene in ''[[The Transformers: Till All Are One|Till All Are One]]'' [[The Line Between Us|#4]], which saw the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]]s struggling to control a newly-created [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]].
* Long Haul describes the Enigma of Combination as, essentially, addictive, giving the team a deep need to be connected. A similar phenomenon occurred in the original IDW continuity; during the 2015 ''[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]'' crossover, [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] mused that it was the fate of ''all'' combiners to naturally become addicted to the process, losing their individuality and eventually more-or-less permanently merging into a combined form.
* The final timeskip is measured in "breems", a unit of timekeeping that first appeared in the [[Marvel Comics continuity]]. As this continuity has only thus far used "cycles" as the primary timekeeping unit, it's not entirely clear how much time has actually passed; its traditional designation of 8.3 minutes seems ''waaaaaaay'' too short a timeskip between the two scenes, which begins with Bonecrusher having completed more than ''44,000'' pushups in the interim... unless Bonecrusher is just ''that'' good at athletics. (You decide!)

===Real-world references===
* Nominus Prime's bodyguards consist of a pair of red, visored 'bots wielding elaborate bladed spears; they appear to be Transformer-ized versions of the [[wikia:starwars:Emperor's Royal Guard|Imperial guards]] from the ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' franchise.

===Errors===
* During his first appearance in the Senate, Nominus Prime's face is miscoloured pale yellow instead of orange.

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A''': Devastator and his components, by [[Livio Ramondelli]]
* '''Cover B''': Termagax and Devastator, by [[Winston Chan]]
* '''Retailer incentive cover''': Devastator weighs heavily on Wheeljack and Termagax, by [[Angel Hernandez]] and [[Josh Burcham]]

<gallery>
File:TFGalaxies 3 cvrA.jpg
File:TFGalaxies 3 cvrB.jpg
File:TFGalaxies 3 cvrRI.jpg
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* TBD

==External links==
* [http://graphicpolicy.com/2019/11/26/preview-transformers-galaxies-3/ Preview]

[[Category:Galaxies issues]]

Constructicons Rising, Part 3

2019-12-01T00:17:38Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Synopsis */

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers: Galaxies]]'' #3
|prev=Constructicons Rising, Part 2
|next=Constructicons Rising, Part 4
|caption=
|image=TFGalaxies 3 cvrA.jpg
|title="Constructicons Rising, Part 3"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[November 27]], 2019
|coverdate=November 2019
|written by=[[Tyler Bleszinski]]
|art by=[[Livio Ramondelli]]
|colors by=
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[David Mariotte]] and [[Tom Waltz]]
|continuity=[[Transformers (2019 comic)|2019 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=
}}

'''Termagax finds her ambitions eclipsed when the Senate becomes involved in the case of the increasingly-unstable Constructicons.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] is on the mend—as [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] watches, [[Devastator (G1)|the Constructicon combiner]] is hard at work at a tower. It's a magnificent scene to the crowds of Cybertronian workers who gather to watch the titan at work, but the reality is something entirely different: within the combiner's head, the six disparate personalities of the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s bicker how to best control their new form, a struggle for control that's made all the worse as all six members are overtaken by ''something'', a black void of rage they can't control. As they succumb, one after the next, the combiner abruptly topples its own creation with one furious swing, and smiles at the devastation...

The observers flee for cover save for [[Termagax]], who orders the combiner to lift her to eye level. Barely suppressing its own anger, the combiner does so; Termagax orders them to disengage, and the gestalt collapses back into its component parts. Wheeljack immediately chews out the six 'bots for their inexplicable recklessness, but none of them can explain the bizarre episode. Ignoring Wheeljack's complaints of the danger that the Constructicons seemingly pose to everyone around them, Termagax, fascinated by the concept, asks the team to explain what happened. [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] and [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] try to explain: they've had to deal with the presence ''every'' time they've combined, but this is the first time that they've let it ''win''.

Wheeljack warns them that it isn't worth the risk, but [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] disagrees—the [[Enigma of Combination]] they've found has imprinted on them a deep need to combine, to be together at all times. Termagax muses on this new development as Hook begs their leader for another chance, and warns the team that they'll have one more shot to make things right, ignoring Wheeljack's sullen protests. As the builders regroup, Scrapper confides in Termagax that the presence is more powerful than anything he or his team has ever encountered before, forcing them to fight its influence every step of the way. Termagax suggests another solution: rather than fight the seventh personality for control, they need to work ''with'' it, as fighting the anger only makes it stronger. The team members are hesitant to try again, but Long Haul is the one who gets them into motion by pointing out that, presence or no presence, there's work to be done.

At the [[Senate]], Wheeljack argues his case in front of the body of Senators: while Termagax meant well, her pet experiment grows increasingly dangerous, and the six Constructicons should be forbidden from ever combining again. Termagax defends herself, explaining that the latest incident is but a minor stumble. After all, she insists, the Constructicons sacrificed ''everything'' they ever knew to become the greatest builders on Cybertron. [[Nominus Prime]], head of the Senate, thanks Termagax for supporting the team through their tumultuous development, but has his own concerns about the combiner. Both he and Termagax are old enough to remember the war against the "[[Abominus (G1)|abomination]]" that ravaged their home, the rapacious fuel-guzzler that drained their world of [[energon]]. Now, with Cybertron recovering from the [[War of the Threefold Spark]], what happens if this new combiner starts this cycle all over again? The Constructicons will be allowed to repair the damage they've caused, complete their sector of Iacon... and then, Nominus decrees, the Senate will find an alternate way for the Constructicons to contribute to society.

Days later, the Constructicons complete their masterwork: having finally mastered their combined form, the city of Iacon is completed, brighter and better than ever before. Termagax congratulates them on their hard work—a sentiment shared by Nominus Prime himself, who heartily congratulates the team on a job well done. Scrapper whispers to Termagax that her suggestion to let the other consciousness into their shared psyche allowed them to finally unlock the combiner's ''true'' power; Hook mumbles that something ''still'' doesn't feel right about the new strategy. As a tribute to their heroic efforts, Nominus presents the team with six badges of honor... but the subsequent toast to their accomplishments is quickly spoiled when Scrapper realizes that ''every'' 'bot responsible, no matter how minor their contribution, has been given the exact same badge.

Time passes, and the Constructicons prepare for their next assignment. Scrapper hopes that they'll be tasked with rebuilding another Cybetronian city, but Nominus informs them that this new job is ''far'' more important: they'll be heading to the distant world of [[Mayalx]] to help supervise the construction of an energon-harvesting colony. Nominus thanks the for their sacrifice, and Termagax bids her proteges goodbye, confessing that they've allowed her to realize that ''every'' Cybertronian has the ability to ascend beyond their expectations. And so, as the Constructicons leave their homeworld behind, the team wonders just what their future might bring...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Nominus Prime]] (10)

|h4=Cybertronians|c4=
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (1)
* [[Devastator (G1)|Constructicon combiner]] (2)
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (3)
* [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (4)
* [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (5)
* [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (6)
* [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (7)
* [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (8)
* [[Termagax]] (9)
}}

==Quotes==
"It's finally happened. They '''lost''' control! I hate being right all the time."
:—'''Wheeljack'''

"You know from experience that you don’t stop experimenting when you have one failure." 
"If it threatens your life, you '''do'''."
:—'''Termagax''' and '''Wheeljack'''

"The Constructicons, in their combined form and as individuals, sacrificed so much, all so that we could look out upon a rebuilt city today and argue about their fate."
:—'''Termagax'''

"Thank you for your unrelenting faith and commitment to Cybertron. The Constructicons will never be forgotten."
:—'''Nominus Prime''' speaks too soon...

==Notes==
*'''First appearances:''' [[Nominus Prime]]

===Continuity notes===
* This story is set between the two preceding issues, and serves to explain how the Constructicons went from rebuilding Iacon to their current low-ranking job on Mayalx.
* First alluded to all the way back in [[The World In Your Eyes Part Two|issue #2]], [[Nominus Prime]] finally makes his long-awaited debut! The former leader of the Senate has been succeeded by [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] in the present day at the time of publication, but the effects of his reign have been felt far and wide in the form of his [[Nominus Edict]], a historic piece of legislation that limits the production and consumption of [[energon]]. True to form, Nominus's appearances in this issue depict him as very concerned about fuel usage and energy consumption, going so far as to scold Scrapper for letting his men waste energon on frivolous activities. Appearance-wise, Nominus is drawn using the same body he wore in ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' in [[2005 IDW continuity|the original IDW continuity]].
* The badges of honor that Nominus gives out to the Constructicons appear to be based on a simplified [[Autobot]] insignia, suggesting that this may be the in-universe origin for the faction symbol.
* Nominus Prime mentions that the Constructicons aren't the only 'bots responsible for rebuilding Iacon, specifically flagging up [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s mining teams and the archivists—this had previously been alluded to in [[Constructicons Rising, Part 1|''Galaxies'' issue #1]], and we saw both of these teams in action in [[Orion Pax: Free Fall|issue #6]] of the main ''Transformers'' ongoing.
* As the Constructicons depart Cybertron, Termagax warns them that "not all Cybertronians who leave Cybertron do so for noble reasons," which feels like a deliberate call-forward to the team's eventual encounter with the similarly-exiled [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] that occurred in [[Constructicons Rising, Part 2|the previous issue]].
* Following up from similar dialogue in issue 1, Termagax declares that the Constructicons have allowed her to see how all Cybertronians have the ability to ascend beyond expectations, again foreshadowing her eventual founding of the [[Decepticon|Ascenticon]] movement
* Termagax was noted to have something of a dislike for Nominus Prime, to the point where, as per [[The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Two|issue #8]] of ''Transformers'', she will eventually sequester herself off from Cybertronian civilization entirely until the Nominus Edict was overturned. This issue suggests that her dislike of the Prime may have started when the leader of Cybertron not-so-subtly exiled her six star pupils to a distant world and (deliberately or not) permanently put them beyond her reach.

===Transformers references===
* The shot of the six Constructicons fighting to coordinate their movements within their combined form's head is evocative of a similar scene in ''[[The Transformers: Till All Are One|Till All Are One]]'' [[The Line Between Us|#4]], which saw the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]]s struggling to control a newly-created [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]].
* Long Haul describes the Enigma of Combination as, essentially, addictive, giving the team a deep need to be connected. A similar phenomenon occurred in the original IDW continuity; during the 2015 ''[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]'' crossover, [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] mused that it was the fate of ''all'' combiners to naturally become addicted to the process, losing their individuality and eventually more-or-less permanently merging into a combined form.
* The final timeskip is measured in "breems", a unit of timekeeping that first appeared in the [[Marvel Comics continuity]]. As this continuity has only thus far used "cycles" as the primary timekeeping unit, it's not entirely clear how much time has actually passed; its traditional designation of 8.3 minutes seems ''waaaaaaay'' too short a timeskip between the two scenes, which begins with Bonecrusher having completed more than ''44,000'' pushups in the interim... unless Bonecrusher is just ''that'' good at athletics. (You decide!)

===Real-world references===
* Nominus Prime's bodyguards consist of a pair of red, visored 'bots wielding elaborate bladed spears; they appear to be Transformer-ized versions of the [[wikia:starwars:Emperor's Royal Guard|Imperial guards]] from the ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' franchise.

===Errors===
* During his first appearance in the Senate, Nominus Prime's face is miscoloured pale yellow instead of orange.

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A''': Devastator and his components, by [[Livio Ramondelli]]
* '''Cover B''': Termagax and Devastator, by [[Winston Chan]]
* '''Retailer incentive cover''': Devastator weighs heavily on Wheeljack and Termagax, by [[Angel Hernandez]] and [[Josh Burcham]]

<gallery>
File:TFGalaxies 3 cvrA.jpg
File:TFGalaxies 3 cvrB.jpg
File:TFGalaxies 3 cvrRI.jpg
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* TBD

==External links==
* [http://graphicpolicy.com/2019/11/26/preview-transformers-galaxies-3/ Preview]

[[Category:Galaxies issues]]

The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Three

2019-08-03T22:44:37Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Covers (3) */ Ultra Magnus made me do it

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2019 comic)|Transformers]]'' #9
|prev=The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Two
|next=The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Four
|caption=
|image=TF2019 09 cvrB.jpg
|title="The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Three"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[July 17]], 2019
|coverdate=July 2019
|written by=[[Brian Ruckley]]
|art by=[[Angel Hernandez]] (pg. 1-3, 6-9, 11-20), [[Anna Malkova]] (pages 4-5, 10)
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[David Mariotte]] and [[Tom Waltz]]
|continuity=[[Transformers (2019 comic)|2019 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=
}}

'''Chromia's investigation into The Rise takes a deadly turn when the 'bots of Security Operations investigate a seemingly-abandoned bunker.'''

==Synopsis==
Aboard a [[carrier]], [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]], and [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] approach the [[Iacon Memorial Crater]], ready to investigate the potential [[The Rise|Rise]] hiding spot. Chromia remotely confers with [[Geomotus]] to ask him for his opinion regarding the size and scale of any potential underground installation; the geologist points out that—owing to the patterns of microfissures that surround the site—the Risers have been busy, and any excavations would have to be large-scale.

As Windblade and Sideswipe ready their weapons, Chromia wonders why [[Barricade (IDW)|Barricade]] hasn't responded to her summons, before Windblade interrupts her to point out their way in: a disguised hatch cut into the metal surface of the crater. As Chromia gives her marching orders, Windblade wonders if they should call in [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] or the trainees, but Chromia refuses. Prowl is busy with his own investigation, she reminds her, and they're not risking trainees until they're certain what they're dealing with.

Elsewhere, the black market dealer [[Headlock (G1)|Headlock]] makes his way through the streets of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], only to come face-to-face with Prowl himself! Out of patience, the police-bot quickly overpowers the smaller Cybertronian, and presses him for information regarding one of his ex-affiliates: the recently-murdered [[Voin]] scavenger. Headlock tires to wheedle his way out of any potential conflict, desperately telling Prowl that he's already given the 'bots of [[Security Operations]] everything he knew about the Voin. Prowl—out of patience after grilling his way through the Iaconian underworld—warns him that he hadn't given him ''any'' useful knowledge the last time they met. Headlock immediately backpedals and shocks Prowl: it wasn't ''Prowl'' with whom he shared information regarding the Voin scavenger, but Prowl's affiliate ''Barricade''... the same Barricade who's abruptly dropped off the map...

Beyond the city, Chromia's detachment attempts to probe the doorway with a group of drones, to no avail; the builders of the base have wired their base against remote probing, and when the drones abruptly drop to the ground Chromia decides that the only way is for her and Windblade to scope out the site on foot while Sideswipe stands guard. As the pair enter, they're unaware that they're being watched on camera by [[Sixshot]] and his two underlings, [[Flamewar (G1)|Flamewar]] and [[Shadow Striker (G1)|Shadow Striker]]. Chromia and her team are also unaware that Sixshot has ''already'' evacuated the base; although Shadow Striker is eager to join them, Sixshot reminds them that they'll need to scuttle the facility to ensure that the trespassers get nothing useful. While Flamewar runs guard duty, and Shadow Striker primes the charges, Sixshot sets off to deal with the intruders himself.

Not far away, the two security 'bots continue their tour of the abandoned bunker, finding increasingly disturbing signs of the scope and scale of Rise activity: armories and repair bays, stripped clean in anticipation of the raid. Chromia laments that they're too late: had they raided the site earlier, they surely would have found the murderers of both [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] and [[Rubble]], but as they walk, they discover the base's power source: a receiving array for microwave-beamed energon, connected to a series of stolen [[energon station]]s. Though the base is seemingly empty, Chromia has a breakthrough: the Rise members who set up the station never bothered to disable the monitoring hardware... meaning that Chromia can extract data on everyone who's ever refueled there. Before she can begin the extraction process, however, Windblade abruptly gets a signal from Sideswipe and races off, leaving Chromia all alone—all alone, that is, except for Sixshot, who's caught up with the intruders!

In Iacon itself, business is booming for the 'bots of the [[Ascenticon Guard]], as [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] arrives to find Guard leader [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]] assessing some new recruits... recruits that include Barricade, who's decided to leave his old career behind and start afresh as a member of the Ascenticons. Brushing off Bumblebee's incredulity, the ex-cop smirks that while Bumblebee had to win over both Elita and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], they ''clearly'' recognize that Barricade has more to offer them.

Windblade and Sideswipe regroup at the top of the crater, but as Sideswipe sees the shape of Flamewar come into view, he warns her to keep her distance with the help of an antique [[thermal lance]]...but Flamewar has more firepower on her side, as she unleashes a fiery blast that knocks the red 'bot off his feet.

Underground, Chromia tries to stay one step ahead of Sixshot as the hulking 'bot pursues her through the abandoned facility, trading fire as they go, only for a thrown explosive from Sixshot to send her flying. It looks like the end for Chromia—just before Windblade arrives in time to hurl her sword through Sixshot's chest. Wounded but still upright, Sixshot flees as Shadow Striker announces the base is set to detonate. With time running short, Chromia orders Windblade to retrieve as much data as she can from the energon station, and though she takes a few potshots at Sixshot's retreating shape, she's unable to stop him from boarding an escape ship and blasting off.

On the surface, Sideswipe trades fire with Flamewar, until the sight of the ship flying overhead catches his attention-and while he's distracted, Flamewar takes advantage of the split-second lapse in concentration to [[Transformation|transform]] into her alternate mode and peel out. A disheveled Chromia bursts out of the hatch and asks Sideswipe where Windblade is, moments before the ground beneath their feet starts to crumble and the entire crater erupts in a colossal explosion! A lone shape is hurled out of the blast and crashes back to the ground: Windblade's battered body...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=

|h2=[[Decepticon|Ascenticon]]s|c2=
* [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]] (10)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (11)
* [[Barricade (IDW)|Barricade]] (12)

'''[[The Rise]]'''
* [[Shadow Striker (G1)|Shadow Striker]] (7)
* [[Sixshot]] (8)
* [[Flamewar (G1)|Flamewar]] (9)

|c4=
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (1)
* [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] (2)
* [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] (3)
* [[Geomotus]] (4)
* [[Headlock (G1)|Headlock]] (5)
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (6)
}}

==Quotes==
"Hey, '''hey!''' Calm yaself!" "Oh. I should calm myself? No, Headlock. I don't '''think so'''. I'm way past the point of '''calm'''. It's way too '''late''' for '''calm'''. Calm is for people who don't have two new '''dead''' bodies!"
:—'''Headlock''' and '''Prowl'''

"I'm touring the black market, and you're my fourth stop. I'm getting '''bored'''. So either you tell me you traded with that dead Voin, or I'll see if I can put a you-shaped hole in this wall. Pretty sure I can, if I really '''commit'''."
:—'''Prowl''' plays bad cop

"And you—" "Touch '''me''' and I'll rip your arm off and find out how much of it I can fit through one of your eye sockets."
:—'''Sixshot''' finds that '''Shadow Striker''' isn't so easy to threaten

"Is that a thermal lance?" "'''Yes!''' Yes, it is." -FWOOSH- "I've got that beat."
:—'''Flamewar''' versus '''Sideswipe'''

==Notes==
*'''First appearances:''' [[Sixshot]], [[Headlock (G1)|Headlock]]

===Continuity notes===
* Sideswipe wields a [[thermal lance]], a weapon that he informs Windblade is a relic from the [[Age of Expansion]]. Of course, this does throw into question how closely law enforcement is cooperating with the terms of the [[Nominus Edict]], which stated that all non-integrated weapons with lethal capacity would be prohibited on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].
* Geomotus bluntly informs Chromia that he did not enjoy his last trip to the Memorial Crater; that occurred in [[The World In Your Eyes Part Four|issue #4]], in which he accompanied Chromia and Windblade to the wilderness and encountered [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]].
* In the same call, Geomotus mentions that he's doing research alongside another 'bot named Landmine... though, given this comic's habit of introducing some decidedly unexpected characters, it's not yet clear if it's the [[Landmine (G1)|Generation 1 incarnation]], his [[Landmine (Energon)|Unicron Trilogy incarnation]], or an all-new original character.
* Prowl was previously noted to have turned to his underworld contacts for information regarding the murder of the Voin scavenger in [[The World In Your Eyes Part Five|issue #5]]. Barricade, meanwhile, was also investigating the case of the murdered Voin as per issue #4, though that issue did not specifically depict any prior encounter with Headlock. Ominously, the Voin itself was then murdered by [[Quake (G1)|Quake]] in the very next issue, despite Prowl's assertion that the aliens are normally impossible to tell apart.
* The notion that energon can be beamed remotely from place to place was first introduced in [[The World In Your Eyes Part Two|issue #2]] as one of the key features of the [[Winged Moon]]. Issue #5 had Chromia learn from Sideswipe that more than two hundred Cybertronians had vanished; presumably, this facility was how they were able to keep themselves fueled without attracting the attention of law enforcement.
* Barricade muses that he could've made it as a [[gladiatorial combat|gladiator]], which was established to be a popular sport on antebellum Cybertron in [[Orion Pax: Free Fall|issue #6]]. His comments that the sport was "shut down" at some point suggest that there's more to be learned about how Megatron rose from miner to senator...

===Transformers references===
* Sideswipe's weapon of choice in this issue is, at least allegedly, a [[thermal lance]] (though Windblade disputes this), and although it's not specifically called out as such, his usage of the staff-like weapon specifically evokes his [[Sideswipe (RID)|2015 ''Robots in Disguise'' incarnation]], who wielded the nigh-identical [[Decepticon Hunter]] on a regular basis.
* The unexpected ''Robots in Disguise'' homages continue with the introduction of [[Headlock (G1)|Headlock]], who's identical to the [[Headlock (RID)|the 2015 ''Robots in Disguise'' Decepticon of the same name]]. It's not clear if his partner-in-crime [[Groundpounder (RID)|Groundpounder]] exists in this universe... but we wouldn't be surprised if he showed up in a future issue!
* One of the potential Ascenticon recruits on page 10 is drawn to resemble a [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] as per their appearance in the ''[[War for Cybertron: Siege (toyline)|Siege]]'' toyline, clad in a made-up burgundy color scheme that doesn't seem to gel to any preexisting Seeker.
* Barricade's gladiatorial aspirations reference his [[Barricade (WFC)|"Aligned"]] incarnation, who was a supporting member of [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]]'s gladiatorial corps as per the ''[[Transformers: Exodus|Exodus]]'' novel.

===Errors===
* On page three, a comma is missing from Sideswipe's dialogue: "A thing of beauty don't you think?"

===Other trivia===
* The contents of this issue must have changed relatively late in production: solicits for issue #9 mentioned [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] making his return to Cybertron, and [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]] investigating the situation...when the former doesn't actually happen in the book, at least not on-panel, and the latter character doesn't show up at all.

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A''': Sentinel Prime, his retinue, and Bumblebee, by [[Umi Miyao]], in direct contravention of sub-section 11 (3) of the Autobot Code (appendix D: Entertainment)
* '''Cover B''': Prowl and Chromia interrogate [[Froid]], by [[Priscilla Tramontano]]
* '''Retailer incentive cover''': A cartoon-styled [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and the [[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]], by [[Guido Guidi]]

<gallery>
File:TF2019 09 cvrA.jpg
File:TF2019 09 cvrB.jpg
File:TF2019 09 cvrRI.jpg
</gallery>

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[[Category:Transformers (2019) issues]]

The World In Your Eyes Part Four

2019-08-03T22:28:36Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Synopsis */

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2019 comic)|Transformers]]'' #4
|prev=The World In Your Eyes Part Three
|next=The World In Your Eyes Part Five
|caption=
|image=TF2019 04 cvrA.jpg
|title="The World In Your Eyes Part Four"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[May 1]], 2019
|coverdate=April 2019
|written by=[[Brian Ruckley]]
|art by=[[Sara Pitre-Durocher]] (pg. 1-6), [[Angel Hernandez]] (pg. 7-16), [[Andrew Griffith]] (pg. 17-20)
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[David Mariotte]] and [[Tom Waltz]]
|continuity=[[Transformers (2019 comic)|2019 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=
}}

'''Celebrations of life and death go hand in hand on a divided Cybertron, while Chromia's investigation turns up a new lead.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]], [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]], and [[Geomotus]] pick their way through the badlands of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] as Geomotus uses his skills to search for any new potential evidence. It's not long, however, before a figure in the distance draws Windblade's attention—a figure that Chromia immediately recognizes as [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], a reclusive hermit who's chosen to cut ties with modern Cybertronian civilization. The two police-bots give chase; Windblade is able to quickly subdue the fleeing bot, informing him that they just need to ask a few questions about [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]]'s recent murder. Cyclonus initially evades their questions, but finally reveals that he did see Brainstorm arrive at the [[energon transmission station]] not long before his death. Chromia isn't convinced, however, and asks him to come to [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] so that they can conduct a proper interview. If he ''doesn't'' show up in one cycle, she warns, then [[Security Operations]] will be back with reinforcements to bring him in.

As Cyclonus watches the three depart, he mumbles to an unseen voice that he has no intention of going to Iacon, intent on continuing his self-imposed exile. The voice, it turns out, belong to ghostly figments of Cyclonus's imagination; the mangled remains of his old wartime compatriots chide each other, and Cyclonus, for not telling Chromia the truth—for Cyclonus really ''did'' see another 'bot on the night of the murder...

In Iacon itself, joyful crowds gather at the great [[Pyramid (Cybertron)|Pyramid]] to celebrate the unveiling of a newly forged [[Transformer]], among them [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and [[Rubble]]. Rubble is captivated by the sheer size of the crowd, but Bumblebee isn't quite as moved: it feels wrong, he concludes, to have a new forging so soon after Rubble's own creation and Brainstorm's murder. The conversation comes to end when Rubble spies the new Transformer leaving the Pyramid; just like Rubble was, she is greeted by [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]]—filling in for the still-absent [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]—and introduced to her mentor [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], ready to begin her own journey of self-discovery.

As the crowd disperses, Bumblebee and Rubble pass by a gaggle of fervent [[Reversionist]]s; Bumblebee is quick to dismiss their religious fanaticism, but a nearby confrontation between an [[Autobot]] and an [[Decepticon|Ascenticon]] threatens to turn ugly, and Bumblebee intervenes before anyone can get seriously injured. Unfortunately, the scuffle has caught the attention of an already irritated [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] and his partner [[Barricade (IDW)|Barricade]], annoyed with having been pulled off more pressing assignments to run security duty. Rubble pipes up: perhaps ''he'' could be of use in identifying the [[Voin]] he encountered?

Bumblebee gently reminds his ward that the compound nature of the species makes an individual Voin are almost impossible to identify, and an uninterested Prowl snaps at the both of them to leave. On their way back to Rubble's apartment, Bumblebee tells the young 'bot that he needs to leave him again: a funeral is being held that night for Brainstorm, and Bumblebee will be attending, though when Rubble wonders if this is connected to his previous leave of absence, Bumblebee brushes off the question and tells him not to worry about it.

Evening falls as the mourners prepare themselves; that night, a Reversionist orator presides over the ceremony that will see Brainstorm's remains cremated within a [[plasma pyre]], metaphorically returning his body to Cybertron. [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] whispers to Orion that the notably atheistic Brainstorm would've hated having a Reversionist speak at his funeral; and his words prompt Orion to grimly reflect on his recent history of compromise with his fellow Autobots: compromise to allow the Reversionists to preside over the funeral, lest the group feel antagonized and join the Ascenticons, compromise to allow the recent forging to take place over his concerns that the ceremony was a calculated political move to paper over the rising tension in Cybertronian society... as Brainstorm's coffin is guided toward the pyre, Orion wonders if it's ''him'' who can't keep up with changing times. Orion turns his thoughts to his fellow senator, [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], and pointedly wonders aloud how [[Termagax]] would feel about the way her ideas have been co-opted by Megatron's leadership of her Ascenticons and the recent actions of [[The Rise]].

Exasperated, Megatron snaps that he's already denounced the actions of The Rise, and will gladly do so again if needed; when Orion suggests that Termagax speak publically to weigh in on the question, Megatron reminds his fellow senator that she has voluntarily gone into seclusion, and a 'bot with such deep-held convictions will not be easily persuaded to return. But when Ironhide suggests that Termagax is ''afraid'' of seeing what Megatron and his followers have done with her movement, Megatron nearly raises his hand in anger and is only stopped by Orion. Megatron tersely reminds Ironhide of his place and suggests that they ''both'' respect this somber occasion; as the Cybertronians look on, Brainstorm's coffin is consumed by light as his coffin enters the pyre.

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in hallucinatory form. 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]] (12)

|h2=[[Decepticon|Ascenticon]]s|c2=
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (18)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (19)

|c4=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] (1)
* [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] (2)
* [[Geomotus]] (3)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (4)
* ''[[Gridlock]]'' (5)
* ''[[Highfire]]'' (6)
* ''[[Grudge]]'' (7)
* ''[[Provoke]]'' (8)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (9)
* [[Rubble]] (10)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (11)
* Newly forged Cybertronian (13)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (14)
* [[Greenlight]] (15)
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (16)
* [[Barricade (IDW)|Barricade]] (17)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (20)
* [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (21)
* Reversionist funeral director (22)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (23)
{{!}}}
}}

==Quotes==
"I was '''trying''' to start a '''conversation'''." 
"Very kinetic approach you've got to that."
:—'''Windblade''' and '''Cyclonus'''

"It's not important. If they think '''one''' death matters, they've forgotten what real trouble looks like."
:—One of '''Cyclonus<nowiki>'</nowiki>s''' hallucinations

"What did you think, though, when you met me for the first time?" "It really was all pretty confusing, you know. I'm not sure how much of it I understood. I... uh... I do remember thinking you were very yellow. I mean... you '''are''' quite yellow, aren't you? Overall."
:—'''Bumblebee''' and '''Rubble'''

"They could make tripping over your own feet into a mystical experience. Sacred, even."
:—'''Bumblebee''' on the Reversionists

==Notes==
*'''First appearances:''' Barricade, Arcee, Greenlight, Perceptor, conspicuously unnamed new Transformer, Ratchet
*'''Mentioned but not yet seen:''' [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]], [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]

===Continuity notes===
* Cyclonus put in a cameo appearance [[The World In Your Eyes Part Three|in the previous issue]], which established that, like [[Quake (G1)|Quake]], Cyclonus is a veteran of the war against the [[Threefold Spark]]. Keeping that in mind, it's likely that his ghostly compatriots are based on his memories of the fallen 'bots who perished in said war.
* The nature of the "blue bot" that Cyclonus allegedly glimpsed at the energon transmission station is not expounded on; it ''might'' be another, as yet unseen, individual... or could it be Rubble himself?
* Bumblebee namedropped the Reversionists in [[The World In Your Eyes Part Two|issue #2]].
* This issue clarifies the nature of the [[Voin]], first glimpsed in [[The World In Your Eyes Part One|issue #1]]; the ape-like creatures are revealed to be "slaved organics," nonsentient beings bound to the will of the floating octopus... though author [[Brian Ruckley]] had previously revealed this fact in an interview during the leadup to issue #1.

===Transformers references===
* As with most preexisting characters in the comic thus far, Cyclonus is largely based on a recently released action figure—in his case, his 2015 ''[[Cyclonus (G1)/toys#Generations|Combiner Wars]]'' toy—however, artist [[Sara Pitre-Durocher]] has added a few artistic embellishments to make him closer resemble his [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|''More than Meets the Eye'' counterpart]], most notably his long, claw-like fingers.
* Other character designs have been grabbed from all over the place: Arcee's brief cameo is based on [[:File:Synergy-Coralus-Arcee.jpg|the body]] [[Umi Miyao]] designed for her in the recent ''[[Synergy: A Hasbro Creators Showcase|Synergy]]'' [[An Arcee Sort of Day|anthology strip]] (immediately recognizable due to the inset "square" in her chestplate), while [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] provides the first glimpse we've gotten at his ''Siege'' toy, which—unsurprisingly—appears to be a retool of [[Ironhide (G1)/toys#War for Cybertron: Siege|Ironhide]]. [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], meanwhile, is drawn to resemble his [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|original IDW self]], much like Brainstorm.
* One of the fallen warriors that Cyclonus hallucinates resembles [[Moonracer (G1)|Moonracer]] as she appeared in ''[[The Transformers: Till All Are One|Till All Are One]]''.
* Bumblebee notes that this unnamed new Cybertronian will be entrusted to Arcee, who's had a few notable stints as a teacher in both the [[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|''Animated'' cartoon]] and the [[Post|final issue of the original IDW continuity]]. Moreover, he muses that the new Transformer will essentially get a second mentor, describing Arcee and Greenlight as "inseparable." Now... it's not stated ''outright'', but a tweet from Brian Ruckley stated that he would try to "echo" the LGBTQ themes that won IDW's original ''Transformers'' universe such recognition, with the "first mention of a couple" slated for issue #4, <ref> [https://twitter.com/brian_ruckley/status/1113172778725801986 "Think the first mention of such a couple might be in dialog in 4, but don't hold me to that, cos I'm not at my computer!"]</ref> so it's not ''that'' much of a leap to conclude that the two are romantically involved. Whether through coincidence or design, both characters were also in lesbian relationships in the original IDW continuity—Arcee got together with [[Aileron]] in the pages of ''[[Optimus Prime (comic)|Optimus Prime]]'', while Greenlight and her partner [[Lancer]] were a double-act in ''Till All Are One''.
* Rubble mentions that, like all Transformers, he began as a [[Spark]], rising up from the core of Cybertron via the [[Well of All Sparks]]. This is an idea that began with the [[Dreamwave Generation One continuity|Dreamwave continuity]], but it would be the [[Aligned continuity family]] that expounded on the concept and crystallized it into its modern form, depicting it as a very literal "well" connected to the core of the planet and the mechanism by which new Sparks could be ignited.
* Ironhide's position as head of Senate security is a trait based on his original [[bio]], which established him as the chief security officer among the Autobots. This characteristic hadn't gotten much traction until 2016, when it was revisited in the pages of ''Till All Are One''.

===Real-world references===
* The fate of one of the warriors Cyclonus hallucinates, her disintegrating body crumbling away to dust, seemingly evokes the infamous finale of ''{{w|Avengers: Infinity War}}''.

===Errors===
* On page nine, Perceptor's legs are blue with silver thighs, rather than their proper red-and-blue colouration.
* The generic Autobot on page eleven sports a miscoloured grey insignia on his left shoulder.
* On page sixteen, the first "i" in "insistent" is not bolded.

===Covers (6)===
* '''Cover A:''' Orion Pax's allies and enemies watch as he walks down the street, by [[Sara Pitre-Durocher]]
* '''Cover B:''' Prowl's on the case, by [[Umi Miyao]]
* '''Retailer incentive cover:''' A tourism poster advertising [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], by [[Jeffrey Veregge]]
* '''The Fellowship exclusive cover A:''' A battle-damaged [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], by [[John Gallagher]].
* '''The Fellowship exclusive cover B:''' A clean version of Shockwave, by John Gallagher.
* '''Second printing cover:''' Uncolored background version of cover B, by [[Umi Miyao]]

<gallery>
File:TF2019 04 cvrA.jpg|Let's do "The Walk"!
File:TF2019 04 cvrB.jpg|Where's Nightbeat?
File:TF2019 04 cvrRI.jpg
File:TF2019 04 cvrRE1.jpg
File:TF2019 04 cvrRE2.jpg
File:TF2019 04 2ndptng.jpg|Second printing
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
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==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.allspark.com/2019/04/full-preview-for-transformers-4/ Preview]

[[Category:Transformers (2019) issues]]

Termagax

2019-08-03T22:20:30Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Notes */

:''Termagax is an [[Decepticon|Ascenticon]] from the [[Transformers (2019 comic)|2019 IDW portion]] of the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[File:TheCracksBeneathYourFeetPartTwo-Termagax.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]

'''Termagax''' is the founder of the [[Decepticon|Ascenticon]] movement and a firm believer in forging one's own future.

==Fiction==
===2019 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Two]]}}

A well-known figure in contemporary Transformer society, Termagax's writings emphasized the importance of freedom and the right to be in charge of one's own destiny: by ignoring the traditions of the past, she opined, a 'bot could pave the way for a free and open future for the next generation. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part One}} An accomplished engineer and scientist, Termagax concieved of a moon-sized [[energon]] harvester capable of drawing the precious fuel from the very fabric of spacetime to forever fuel [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Over many kilocycles, two thousand labourers turned her vision into a reality, constructing both the "[[Winged Moon]]" and the [[Tether]] that connected it to Cybertron three hundred kilocycles before the outbreak of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Two}}

A fierce critic of [[Nominus Prime]] and the [[Nominus Edict]] that restricted Cybertron's ability to expand, Termagax eventually came to believe that the Cybertronian race had become encumbered by rules and fearful of the past; until the nature of Cybertronian society changed, Termagax vowed to live a life of seclusion out in the wilderness, busying herself with a bohemian lifestyle and many projects. [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] was known to pop by every few kilocycles to see if the visionary would return to society, her forcing him away on one occasion by detonating a shock drone beside his head. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Four}} {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Two}} In her new role, Termagax would found a political movement known as the [[Decepticon|Ascenticons]], which in turn idolized her as the first of their number. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part One}}

Just before the completion of the Winged Moon, Termagax would send her protege, a promising young 'bot named [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], to take in the sight of her masterpiece. {{storylink|Orion Pax: Free Fall}} In time, the Ascenticons would become increasingly violent, a shift marked by the rise of Megatron as the active face of the movement. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part One}}

At [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]]'s funeral, Orion wondered how Termagax would view the recent surge in violent acts and if she might be open to giving a public statement denouncing the violence only for Megatron to remind him of the visionary's seclusion. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Four}}

After [[Rubble]]'s death, Megatron went to visit Termagax to make an appraisal of her state and whether or not she would be coming out of seclusion anytime soon. Barely looking up from her work, Termagax saw her pupil out, dryly that noting she'd been right in saying that the government would never change. Once he'd left, Megatron called [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and told him that Termagax would not interfere with their upcoming plans. {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Two}}

==Notes==
*"Termagax" may be a play on "{{w|termagant}}", an English stage theatre term meaning either 'stock bully character' or 'pagan god'.
*Termagax's name is very similar to a character that served as a mentor to Megatron in another continuity: [[Terminus]]. Coincidence..?

[[Category:Comic-only Transformers]]
[[Category:Female Transformers]]
[[Category:IDW (2019) Transformers]]

Termagax

2019-08-03T22:20:11Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Notes */

:''Termagax is an [[Decepticon|Ascenticon]] from the [[Transformers (2019 comic)|2019 IDW portion]] of the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[File:TheCracksBeneathYourFeetPartTwo-Termagax.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]

'''Termagax''' is the founder of the [[Decepticon|Ascenticon]] movement and a firm believer in forging one's own future.

==Fiction==
===2019 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Two]]}}

A well-known figure in contemporary Transformer society, Termagax's writings emphasized the importance of freedom and the right to be in charge of one's own destiny: by ignoring the traditions of the past, she opined, a 'bot could pave the way for a free and open future for the next generation. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part One}} An accomplished engineer and scientist, Termagax concieved of a moon-sized [[energon]] harvester capable of drawing the precious fuel from the very fabric of spacetime to forever fuel [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Over many kilocycles, two thousand labourers turned her vision into a reality, constructing both the "[[Winged Moon]]" and the [[Tether]] that connected it to Cybertron three hundred kilocycles before the outbreak of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Two}}

A fierce critic of [[Nominus Prime]] and the [[Nominus Edict]] that restricted Cybertron's ability to expand, Termagax eventually came to believe that the Cybertronian race had become encumbered by rules and fearful of the past; until the nature of Cybertronian society changed, Termagax vowed to live a life of seclusion out in the wilderness, busying herself with a bohemian lifestyle and many projects. [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] was known to pop by every few kilocycles to see if the visionary would return to society, her forcing him away on one occasion by detonating a shock drone beside his head. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Four}} {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Two}} In her new role, Termagax would found a political movement known as the [[Decepticon|Ascenticons]], which in turn idolized her as the first of their number. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part One}}

Just before the completion of the Winged Moon, Termagax would send her protege, a promising young 'bot named [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], to take in the sight of her masterpiece. {{storylink|Orion Pax: Free Fall}} In time, the Ascenticons would become increasingly violent, a shift marked by the rise of Megatron as the active face of the movement. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part One}}

At [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]]'s funeral, Orion wondered how Termagax would view the recent surge in violent acts and if she might be open to giving a public statement denouncing the violence only for Megatron to remind him of the visionary's seclusion. {{storylink|The World In Your Eyes Part Four}}

After [[Rubble]]'s death, Megatron went to visit Termagax to make an appraisal of her state and whether or not she would be coming out of seclusion anytime soon. Barely looking up from her work, Termagax saw her pupil out, dryly that noting she'd been right in saying that the government would never change. Once he'd left, Megatron called [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and told him that Termagax would not interfere with their upcoming plans. {{storylink|The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Two}}

==Notes==
*"Termagax" may be a play on "{{w|termagant}}", an English stage theatre term meaning either 'stock bully character' or 'pagan god'.
*Termagax's name is very similar to a character that served as a mentor to Megatron in another continuity: ''Terminus''. Coincidence..?

[[Category:Comic-only Transformers]]
[[Category:Female Transformers]]
[[Category:IDW (2019) Transformers]]

Needlenose (G1)

2019-07-15T22:48:02Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Fiction */ Trigger-Happy! is a UK story

{{factions|decepticon}}
{{disambig2|the evil Decepticon|his heroic mirrorverse counterpart|Needlenose (SG)}}
:''Needlenose is a [[Decepticon]] [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[File:Needlenose-boxart.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Project Runway.]]
'''Needlenose''' is a fly airplane-bot who used to design the [[Chic Chips|most righteous fashion microchips]] in all Cybertron, until a bunch of bogus dorks said they were totally last ''year''. What''ever''! This supreme dissage led to supreme pissage, and the cheesed-off designer joined the uber-bad Decepticons for revenge.

A willing if clueless soldier, Needlenose always keeps it fresh and fly. When he found out about [[Nebulan]]s, he was all over that, and snagged himself two: [[Sunbeam (G1)|Sunbeam]], a gnarly surfer dude, and [[Zigzag]], a cool old geezer whose black armor goes with absolutely ''ev''erything. These two dudes can even combine into a single weapon, which is not at all weird. Telling Needlenose that this weapon is smarter than him is totally not cool. He'd, like, deck you in the locknuts for that.

He's bad-aft, is Needlenose. Not. Straight up, he's a big tin dweeb who thinks he's the bomb. He even plays video games. LAME.

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:HuntingParty-Mayhem Attack Squad small.JPG|thumb|left|upright=1.2|"Needlenose Ned"? "Ned the Head"? C'mon, buddy.]]
''Needlenose was sponsored by [[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] as a potential recruit for the new [[Mayhem Attack Squad]], being gathered by [[Snarler]] to hunt down the traitors from the [[Time Wars]], [[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]] and [[Catilla (G1)|Catilla]]. Unfortunately, Needlenose was less than prepared for the stress of combat. During a training exercise in a simulation of [[Slaughter City]], he abandoned the fight, an act punishable by death under Decepticon military code. In order to save him from this fate, Spinister deliberately allowed himself to be overcome by an Autobot [[solid light simulation]], hoping the sight of a fellow Decepticon in trouble would be enough to snap Needlenose back into action. It was, and Needlenose "saved" Spinister from his attacker. When Snarler asked if the new Mayhems were ready, Spinister refrained from mentioning Needlenose's problems, and pushed the team forward to their active assignment.'' {{storylink|The Hunting Party (Marvel)|The Hunting Party}}

[[File:Deadly Obsession Needlenose Spinister.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8]]
''On Earth, Needlenose and the Mayhems caught Carnivac alone with their robotic [[Hellhound]],'' {{storylink|Way of the Warrior}} ''and began hunting him down through the American desert. To better corner their prey, the group split up. This only served to embolden Carnivac, as he tried to pick off his pursuers one-by-one, starting with Needlenose. Before the Pretender got to do any damage, Octopunch threatened a nearby group of humans, forcing Carnivac to break off his attack and exit his shell.'' {{storylink|Survival Run}} ''Carnivac's fellow deserter Catilla came to his rescue, only to be skewered and killed by the Mayhem [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]. The other [[Survivors]] arrived and chased off the Mayhems, and Carnivac swore revenge for the death of his friend.'' {{storylink|A Savage Place!}}

{{note|This particular strand of the Marvel UK continuity branched off into the Earthforce timeline—see below.}}

When Lord Thunderwing learned of a series of Autobot teams being launched into one small cluster of the universe, Thunderwing brought Needlenose, [[Windsweeper]], [[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]], and [[Ruckus (G1)|Ruckus]] to investigate. Their pursuit brought them to [[Pz-Zazz]], where Needlenose's team became known as the "Robot Mob." After quickly subduing and capturing [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]], [[Siren (G1)|Siren]], and [[Hosehead (G1)|Hosehead]], {{storylink|Bird of Prey!}} they then turned their attentions towards an Autobot search team on the planet [[Cheyne]]. En route to Cheyne, after Thunderwing learned of the Autobots' [[Matrix Quest|quest for the lost Creation Matrix]]. Upon arriving at Cheyne, Needlenose accompanied the others to the planet's surface, where they discovered the Autobot team there had fallen victim to a family of [[Vrobian|psychic vampires]], and thus useless to the Decepticons' mission. {{storylink|Kings of the Wild Frontier.}}

Their next stop was [[Pequod]], where Thunderwing sent Needlenose and Spinister to attack the Autobots there while Thunderwing could mind-link to the [[Klud]] that had traces of the Matrix inside. As they were recalled when Thunderwing found what he needed to know, Needlenose and Spinister began quietly questioning the sanity of their commanding officer, and what he was willing to sacrifice to acquire the Matrix (i.e., them). {{storylink|Deadly Obsession}}

[[File:DarkCreation-howyouwantit.jpg|left|thumb|300px]]

Thunderwing's team next went to the moon [[VsQs]], where they found another Autobot team looking for the Matrix. Unfortunately, a [[Matrixspawn|creature]] had absorbed part of the Creation Matrix's energies and attacked them, starting with Windsweeper. Needlenose wanted to gun down the creature as it tore Windsweeper apart, but Thunderwing forbade him—the Matrix energies had to be preserved. The creature fled when the Matrix sensed Thunderwing's affinity for the Matrix. Realizing how little their leader cared for their well-being, Needlenose, Spinister, and Windsweeper opted to stay behind and allow Thunderwing to take care of his quest himself. {{storylink|Dark Creation}} But Needlenose's worst fears were realized after Thunderwing was possessed by the Matrix and went on a rampage through the Autobots' [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]—their former commander was a threat to Autobot and most importantly themselves. Thunderwing quickly proved this by firing upon Spinister when the latter tried to make him see that he was losing control of his own mind. Before things could go further, Thunderwing was cast out into space by the trio of Autobots captives, who had secretly escaped. Needlenose and the other Decepticons surrendered themselves into Autobot custody afterwards. {{storylink|All Fall Down}}
{{-}}

=====Trigger-Happy!=====
''Needlenose, [[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]], and [[Windsweeper]] accompanied [[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] and [[Ruckus (G1)|Ruckus]] in delivering battle plans to Megatron, the former three acting as the group's rear guard. The Autobots learned of the delivery and planned to ambush them, but their mission was botched by [[Backstreet (G1)|Backstreet]], who gave away his faction's presence prematurely. Needlenose and the other Decepticons were provoked into starting a firefight that endangered the inhabitants of nearby [[Rivers' Town]]. Panicked over his mistake, Backstreet wound up going on the run from his fellow Autobots. Learning of the situation, [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] had his troops track down the fugitive in the hopes of recruiting him to their faction. They found him squatting in an abandoned amusement park. Needlenose and the rest of the Decepticon rank-and-file were told to wait at a distance while Megatron personally saw to Backstreet's defection. While his leader was delivering his recruitment pitch, Needlenose was greatly amused over the idea that Backstreet might think the offer was genuine; in reality, Megatron planned to rid himself of Backstreet once he had outlived his usefulness. This didn't pan out; [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] interrupted Megatron's spiel and convinced Backstreet to return to the Autobots.'' {{storylink|Trigger-Happy!}}

=====Earthforce=====
{{earthforcefiction}}
[[File:Cry Wolf Needlenose.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.7]]
Following Catilla's death, the Mayhem Attack Squad set up base on a deserted island, preparing themselves for the inevitable retaliation for the assassination. Unfortunately, the waiting was seriously stressing Needlenose's circuits. He staged a false Carnivac alert in order to time his fellow Decepticons' response times, and they were none too pleased with his antics. After Snarler and Spinister chided his lack of discipline, Needlenose returned to his quarters only to find Carnivac lying in wait, having slipped through the Mayhems' defenses during the ruckus. Needlenose cried out for help, but his fellow warriors ignored his death-screams, believing it to be merely another "test". {{storylink|Cry Wolf!}}
{{-}}

====''Transformers Comic-Magazin''====
Needlenose was present when [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] made peaceful gestures to humanity in [[New York City]]; and the Decepticons gave a "statue" of [[Snaptrap (G1)|Snaptrap]] as a gift to the city. Unsurprisingly, once Humanity was off-guard, the Decepticons struck, and the Autobots barely stopped them. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 4#Transformers in Action: The Troy Principle|The Troy Principle}} Those events were recorded on a videotape that was later found and watched by Autobots on Cybertron after a [[City of Fear!|nuclear disaster]] in [[Kalis]]. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 21|In Memory of Earth}}

In [[1973]], {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 17|Powermaster Optimus Prime - A Robot, a Hero}} Needlenose, [[Darkwing (G1)|Darkwing]], and [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] were hiding in an airbase in Nevada, before revealing their [[Rubsign|liquid crystal]] Decepticon insignia and flying off. He then used the distraction of a hijacked tanker to attack oil fields and refineries. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 6#Transformers in the Battle for Peace: A Big Day for Powermaster Optimus Prime|A Big Day for Powermaster Optimus Prime}} Those events would later be observed via log recording by Autobots in the year [[2008]]. {{storylink|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 17|Powermaster Optimus Prime - A Robot, a Hero}}

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

====''Classics''====
{{noteclassics}}
[[File:Minervaneedlenose.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Bonjour, baka!]]
Needlenose joined [[Ruckus (G1)|Ruckus]] with his revised Mayhem Attack Squad in order to seek revenge on Nightbeat and Siren because they, like, totally threw him out into space once. They used an A.I. ship named [[Amory]] to lure their Autobot victims into an ambush. Unfortunately, Amory was only helping them because Ruckus was holding her pilot hostage and Ruckus, being an idiot, brought the hostage to the ambush for show-and-tell. One quick slash of [[Slag (G1)|Slag]]'s sword and the hostage (and Ruckus's arm) were no longer in his possession. Now facing a group of Autobots AND a teed-off warship, Needlenose and the other Mayhems decided to beat a hasty retreat. {{storylink|Cheap Shots}}
{{-}}

====''Regeneration One''====
{{NoteRG1}}
[[File:Neo-decepticons counterpoint.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]
Twenty-one years after the defeat at [[Klo]], Needlenose was one of the "Neo-Decepticons" who rallied to Soundwave's banner at [[Fort Scyk]]. {{storylink|Counterpoint}} Soundwave was off-planet when the resurrected [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] returned to Cybertron with a [[Gene Key]] capable of turning Autobots into Decepticons. Arriving at Fort Syck, the former Headmaster ordered the assembled troops to follow him and Needlenose readily agreed...after witnessing what happened to [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] for questioning him. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Three}}

Needlenose was subsequently tasked with tracking down the missing [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]], [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]], and [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]]. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Four}} He evidently failed to find them as he was next seen with Spinister alongside Scorponok at the [[Sonic Canyons]], preparing to make his Gene Key's effects permanent, when [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] and the Dinobots attacked. When Grimlock's mole [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] neutralised the Gene Key's effects on the Autobots, turning the odds against Scorponok, Needlenose and Spinister chose the better part of valour, transformed to their aerial modes and fled. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part Five}}

[[File:Decepticons attack destiny.jpg|thumb|upright=1.95]]
Later, Needlenose and Spinister convinced a few agitated Cybertronians to lob a grenade at [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] as he was giving a speech at the [[Eugenesis Plaza]]. {{storylink|Destiny, Part One}} Now once more part of the Neo-Decepticons under Soundwave's command, Needlenose destroyed a communications facility as part of the plan to blind Cybertron's Autobots to the arrival of [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]'s forces. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Two}} When those forces arrived, they sent out an army of [[Blitz Engine]]s to soften up the opposition while Soundwave dispatched [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]] engage the Autobots' heavy hitter [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. Though Bludgeon chose to remain on the ''Warworld'', a group of his warriors descended to the planet's surface and engaged the Autobots directly alongside Needlenose and the other Neo-Decepticons, with Needlenose bagging [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]]. The tide of battle soon turned against them, however, when the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] and [[Demon]]s destroyed the Blitz Engines, Omega Supreme tore Monstructor apart, [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]] threw Bludgeon through the ''Warworld''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s windscreen and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] took down Soundwave in single combat, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] was able to rally the Autobot forces with a rousing speech and they easily defeated the remaining Decepticons. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Five}}
{{-}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
:*''First Appearance:'' [[Spotlight: Blaster]]; [[All His Engines|''Transformers vol. 1'' #7]] (modern era)

[[File:Transgressors patronising Tracks.jpg|left|upright=0.6|thumb]]
Prior to the war, Needlenose was in business with his overbearing brother [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] selling [[Chic Chips]], which Needlenose had designed. However Needlenose began to dislike the fact that the chips he designed for everyone were being marketed and priced by Tracks for only the higher classes, and felt that his brother was hijacking his dream and ignoring him. After meeting [[Horri-Bull]] and becoming interested in the Decepticons' anti-class rhetoric, Needlenose, after an argument, dissolved the partnership and left, giving Tracks a warning about being on the wrong side of history. {{storylink|The Transgressors}}

[[File:FutureGloriesLost-NeedlenoseAndHorri-Bull.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

Needlenose subsequently fell in with the Decepticons and became a gun-runner for the cause along with his new partner Horri-Bull {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 4: Dance Among the Shadows|Dance Among the Shadows}}, whom he developed a secret [[Transformer romance|infatuation]] with. {{storylink|The Transgressors}} Following [[Jetfire (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jetfire]]'s altercation with the law, they provided the conflicted Decepticon with a gun for self-defense reasons, unaware that Jetfire was secretly working with [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]] to bring the arms dealers to justice. {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 4: Dance Among the Shadows|Dance Among the Shadows}} The two later met with Jetfire again; when Jetfire wondered if [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] was aware of their shady dealings, Needlenose revealed that Soundwave had authorized the arms-dealing in the first place, which shocked the idealistic Jetfire. {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 5: Future Glories Lost|Future Glories Lost}} When Orion arrived to arrest them, Needlenose and Horri-Bull fled while Pax gunned down the third member of their group. Frustrated at the loss of their weapons, Needlenose berated Soundwave for letting their hard work go to waste, but Soundwave lied to them by telling them that their supply of weapons had been detonated by the Autobots rather than a pragmatic Starscream. {{storylink|New Cybertron End: Feel Safe Without Regrets|Feel Safe Without Regrets}}

A few days later, the two Decepticons joined [[Deluge (G1)|Deluge]], who lured Jetfire into an ambush to get revenge. The three Decepticons quickly started beating the "traitor" to death, but were scared off when [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] arrived. {{storylink|The Next Day, and the Next}}

Hundreds of years ago, when a Decepticon [[Beachcomber (G1)|sleeper agent]] silenced [[Blaster (G1)|"The Voice"]] just as the Autobot troops were waiting for a broadcast, Needlenose and a squadron of Decepticons under [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]]'s command moved in for the kill. {{storylink|Spotlight: Blaster}}

[[File:Needlenose IDWongoing7.jpg|thumb|left|Cannibalism was very on-trend at that point.]]
Much later, Needlenose answered [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]]'s rallying cry as the latter assumed the Decepticon leadership. However soon over one hundred Decepticons were filling up the moon base and everything there began to degrade. Razorclaw made the base into a deadly place where the strong fed on the weak. Needlenose eventually gave into this way of thinking and showed it when he helped to brutally murder and then cannibalize Dreadwind after the soldier stole some energon. {{Storylink|All His Engines}} Fortunately, [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] soon took back leadership and announced to the gathered Decepticons that they'd take up arms once again... though Needlenose meekly pointed out that he might have trouble taking up anything, having fallen into such disrepair that he'd lost his hands. {{storylink|Spotlight: Megatron}}

When the Decepticons were captured after [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]]'s defeat (being weak after forming the [[Deceptigod]]), Needlenose was amongst the prisoners locked up and applied with an [[inhibitor/deterrence chip]]. Later, agreeing to [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]]'s terms, he went on to 'discipline' the rioting [[NAIL]]s. {{Storylink|Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime}}

[[File:Needlenose Autonomy Lesson.jpg|right|upright=1.95|thumb|"You guys are just SO [[1984]]."]]
Later, he and [[Horri-Bull]] were made "enforcers of the peace" and beat up [[Tappet]], a NAIL who was drawing graffiti on a wall. They were caught in the act by Prowl and taken to [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]], who berated them for their willingness to serve the Autobots. Needlenose was curious to know whether Ratbat had a plan, which he did and told them to stay out of trouble until the next night. However, that night, Horri-Bull and Needlenose were caught bullying [[Zetca|another NAIL]]. After being spotted and threatened by [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]], Needlenose tried to calm down Horri-Bull, but the latter kept defying Bumblebee, resulting in the detonation of his I/D chip. Needlenose stared in shock at his deceased friend. {{Storylink|The Autonomy Lesson (issue)|The Autonomy Lesson}} To avenge Horri-Bull, Needlenose picked Zetca as the NAIL to take the fall for Ratbat and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]'s planned assassination of [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]]. {{storylink|The World & Everything in It}} Needlenose was later part of an angry Decepticon crowd who demanded answers from the Autobots for Ratbat's death. {{storylink|Stick Together}}

[[File:Needlenose sideswipe a better tomorrow.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.95]]
Needlenose later helped [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] watch over [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], who had witnessed Prowl murdering the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] and was afraid he'd be hunted down. While Swindle was bringing new arrival [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] up to speed with recent events, their hiding spot was discovered by the Autobots. Needlenose fought back with a flamethrower, injuring [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]], as Swindle and Dirge made a quick getaway. Unfortunately, Needlenose and Sky-Byte were arrested and about to be lynched in public when [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] intervened and let them go, trying to make a better future between Autobot and Decepticon. {{storylink|A Better Tomorrow}}

When Megatron reappeared from Cybertron's wilderness, Needlenose and the other Decepticons were horrified to see that the Autobots immediately attacked him. Acting as spokesman for the leaderless Decepticons, he interrupted the Autobots' assault and argued that Megatron was a hero for his actions during the battle with Galvatron, convincing Bumblebee to imprison him instead of kill him. Bumblebee then had him go look for survivors at the newly destroyed Decepticon pen, but by the time Starscream found him and the other Decepticons, they had instead formed an angry mob prepared to riot against the Autobot government in the name of Megatron. {{storylink|City on Fire}} As part of this mob, Needlenose led an attack on the Autobot prison, freeing Megatron and following him to the [[Black Room]]. {{storylink|The Verge}} Under Megatron's command, the Decepticons fell back into their old army role and moved to conquer Cybertron once again. {{storylink|Before the Dawn}} During the battle for Iacon, Needlenose stood by [[Turmoil]]'s side and got himself bitten and flame-breathed when the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] joined the fight. {{storylink|Plan for Everything}}

[[File:Needlenose shockpoint.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]
Finding Swindle to be ''helping'' injured Autobots, Needlenose was unimpressed and prepared to kill both the traitor and his friends, only to be confronted by a group of NAILs led by his old victim, Zetca. Fortunately for him the neutrals were merciful despite their grudges and let Needlenose escape with his life. {{storylink|Heavy Is the Head}} After Megatron lost the battle, the Decepticons were banished from Iacon into the wilderness, where [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], and [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] began fighting over leadership. Needlenose broke them up to speak on behalf of all the grunts who were sick of the fighting: all they wanted was peace, but trusting their leaders in Iacon had only led to more war. Telling them he missed Horri-Bull and his peaceful life before the war, Needlenose declared that the Decepticons were done being soldiers. {{storylink|Shockpoint}}

In spite of Needlenose's little speech, Soundwave was able to rally him and the other Decepticons into battle for the sake of saving Cybertron from [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]]'s machinations. {{storylink|Soundwaves (issue)|Soundwaves}} They marched on Shockwave's [[Quintessa (IDW)|Necrotitan]], only to end up in battle with the Autobots who were already there. {{storylink|Black Metal: Dark Cybertron Chapter 2|Black Metal}} The battle came to an end when the Titan emitted a deadly energy wave, injuring Autobot and Decepticon alike and convincing the two sides to team up against Shockwave. {{storylink|Winners & Losers: Dark Cybertron Chapter 3|Winners & Losers}} Needlenose joined the others in attacking Shockwave's [[Crystal City]] base, but the battle was lost when the rogue Decepticon summoned the Necrotitan to his side. {{storylink|Finest Hour: Dark Cybertron Chapter 5|Finest Hour}}

[[File:IDreamOfWires-Needlenose.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]

Needlenose ended up falling in with Soundwave again after all, {{storylink|Earthfall Chapter 4: Full Fathom Five|Full Fathom Five}} this time under a plan to set up a free and conflict-free Decepticon commune rather than fight. {{storylink|The Transgressors}} Led by both Soundwave and Galvatron, the band of Decepticons went to Earth and formed an alliance with the [[Earth Defense Command]] so that the humans could help them build their commune. Needlenose was among those Decepticons who ambushed a small group of Autobots that had also come to Earth and been lured to [[Thundercracker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Thundercracker]]'s shack. As the Autobots fled towards [[Poverty Flat]], Needlenose gave chase with his comrades and tried firing on [[Sideswipe (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sideswipe]], but the Autobot was quick to dodge. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 2: Detonation Boulevard|Detonation Boulevard}} When [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] joined the battle, Needlenose opened fire on him alongside Blitzwing and [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]], but it had little effect on the behemoth. {{storylink|Earthfall Chapter 3: The Mind Bomb|The Mind Bomb}} Not long after, Needlenose joined his fellow Decepticons in engaging the Autobots when they attacked the EDC's [[Marshall Islands|Bikini Atoll]] base. {{storylink|Earthfall Chapter 5: I Dream of Wires|I Dream of Wires}}

[[File:TheTransgressors-familycomesfirst.jpg|thumb|right|250px|You can't commit omnicide just because your sibling's a dick, Needlenose. Then everyone would be doing it.]]

Needlenose took a shuttle back to Cybertron with [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] to make contact with the disgruntled Decepticons and teamed up with [[Dreadwing (G2)|Dreadwing]]. The trio whipped up anger in the ghetto and tried to intimidate [[Caminus (planet)|Camien]] Prime evangelists into fleeing. Needlenose believed the Autobots were deliberately forming diplomatic relations with peopled who "served the Primes" in order to tighten their grip on the body politic and that Starscream's was a "puppet regime", and he berated [[Sparkstalker]] for putting up with this just because Camiens had done the bare minimum of treating Decepticons like people. What goes around comes around though, as in a bar meeting, Needlenose struggled to convince Dreadwing of Soundwave's agenda and his chat only enraged Brawl into an off-message roar that the Decepticons should just ''take'' what they want. And Brawl spilled his drink! What'd make this worse?

Then Tracks showed up for a chat, after having never visited him in giant-gun jail. Tracks' very presence angered the bar and it only deteriorated as the brothers talked, both wanting no war but both blaming the other's faction for it, unable or unwilling to get common ground. After Tracks said they'd had their chance for a proper deal under Bumblebee and blew it, Needlenose snarled back at his brother that he'd never have worked with the robot who'd killed ''the only'' person he'd ever loved. Tracks ''decked him'' for that; Needlenose spat out that his brother had never cared and only taken; and the Decepticon bar almost exploded into open violence when a [[Badgeless]] came in to arrest Needlenose. Luckily, [[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]] arrived to defuse things (by brutalising the Badgeless first) and Needlenose told his brother to tell Prime that the Decepticons didn't want to fight but would if they 'had' to.

[[File:TheTransgressors-NeedlenoseRally.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]

After, Needlenose looked wistfully at a pile of old Chic Chips before crushing them and going on stage to lead a Decepticon rally. {{storylink|The Transgressors}} After the rally, Needlenose and his allies approached Starscream about getting unfettered access to the spacebridge for their people. {{storylink|Conquerors Part 1: Aphelion|Aphelion}} That night, Needlenose led the Decepticons through Iacon Spaceport 1. However Tracks embarrassed Needlenose again by showing up, how rude. Despite offering to let Tracks see the peace they were going to bring for themselves, Tracks instead opted to try and call Optimus. After Brawl shot him, Needlenose kicked his brother aside before leading his fellow Decepticons through the space bridge to the ''[[Ark-7]]'', where they confronted the Autobots trapped inside [[G.B. Blackrock|Garrison Blackrock]]'s force field. He gave orders for them to ''kill'' opposition, telling a shocked [[Swift (G1)|Swift]] a few more bodies wouldn't make a difference this close to peace. {{storylink|Conquerors Part 2: Lagrange|Lagrange}}

Needlenose led the Decepticons through the Space Bridge, and they captured the Autobot ship. Needlenose was prepared to bring his people to [[Sanctuary Station]] near Jupiter, announcing they'd achieved their raid was cleanly as was possible (while ignoring Sideswipe's execution) but Brawl revealed they had secret orders from Galvatron to begin conquest of Earth instead. The ''Ark-7'' crashed down in Shanghai, China. Although this went against his plans with Soundwave, Needlenose reluctantly went along with Brawl's direction. When Brawl cheerfully said he was glad Needlenose hadn't gone soft and it was time to kill some humans, Needlenose looked away in shame but did not oppose the massacre. {{storylink|Conquerors Part 4: Perihelion|Perihelion}}

[[File:NewWorldsOrder-needlenoseandswift.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

The resulting battle was a debacle and the Decepticons willingly fled onto [[Peace Without Tyranny|a shuttle]] Soundwave had sent, though Needlenose put up a token whinge about [[Cosmos (G1)|an Autobot]] being there. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 1: Once Upon a Time on Earth|Once Upon a Time on Earth}} During the retreat, he tried to shrug off the whole affair was just being an honest mistake from picking Galvatron, much to Swift's dismay. The two ended up talking about Optimus, where Needlenose 'explained' that Optimus had started overthrowing the hierarchy like they had but then prevented the Decepticons going much further, fighting to keep them under a Primacy. And Optimus wasn't even a true Prime since he didn't even do miracles and junk! {{storylink|New Worlds Order}} Feeling regretful over the Decepticons' violent treatment of Tracks, Needlenose made amends by agreeing to organize a meeting between Optimus Prime and Soundwave. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 3: The Medium and the Message|The Medium and the Message}} Needlenose was part of the combined forces of Prime and Soundwave that went to attack the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' in the [[Indian Ocean]], with Arcee intending to use him as a guide because of his knowledge of the Decepticon ship's layout. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 4: It's Beginning To And Back Again|It's Beginning To And Back Again}} Needlenose did indeed lead Arcee and several others, including Tracks, through the ''Nemesis'', arguing with his brother all the way to the control room. Needlenose thought they had little to fear upon finding Garrison Blackrock, but he was soon proven wrong as [[Marissa Faireborn]] fired at him; Tracks pushed Needlenose out of the way, with Needlenose also yelling for his brother to watch out. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 5: As Above...So Below|As Above...So Below}} In the aftermath of the battle, Needlenose helped round up the wounded combatants; when the EDC showed up and started blitzing their position, Needlenose loaded his unconscious brother onto Sky Lynx as the team prepared to evacuate. {{storylink|White Light}} {{storylink|White Heat}}

[[File:OpAnnual2018 NeedleVSlug.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|[[Michael Bay|Remember the heart and the magic]]!]]
Returning to Sanctuary Station, Needlenose was later interviewed during the [[Iron Ring]]'s assault on Cybertron and shared his concerns for his brother's safety, wishing that he could be there. {{storylink|Primeless, Part 2}} Needlenose was present in archived footage used for Thundercracker's ''[[Starscream: The Movie (film)|Starscream: The Movie]]'', but got to actually make his mark as a movie star in [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]]'s own directorial debut, ''[[Dark Invasion]]'', where he engaged in an epic, thought-provoking duel with [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]]. {{storylink|Starscream: The Movie (comic)|Starscream: The Movie}}

Deciding to visit Tracks on Cybertron for a week not long afterwards, Needlenose was subsequently present when [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Onyx Prime]] made his return. The two brothers, Dreadwing, and Swift then met with Soundwave to discuss the Prime's return, and when Soundwave tried to argue that Optimus wasn't corrupt like the Primes of the past, Needlenose brought up how he had turned a blind eye to the I/D chips and the actions of groups like the Dinobots and the [[Wrecker]]s during the war, as well as how he had only turned against [[Zeta Prime]] at the last possible minute. The group then went with Soundwave when he invited them to join him on a trip to the [[Spire]] and see the captive [[Liege Maximo]], Needlenose expressing his doubts all the way; while peering into the thoughts of those around him during this visit, Soundwave found that Needlenose wished he acted more like a Decepticon. Needlenose was subsequently in the Spire when it was rocked by a mysterious explosion, although he made it out with minimal damage. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 2: Another Mine|Another Mine}}.

[[File:TheGround NeedlenoseAttacksSoundwave.jpg|right|upright=1.7|thumb|]]
In the aftermath of the blast, Needlenose became outraged by Onyx's claim that Soundwave was responsible, and even defended Optimus against the ancient Prime's slandering by pointing out how he had joined the Decepticons in fighting against Zeta and had given them a second chance after Galvatron's failed conquests. However, nothing could prepare Needlenose for what Onyx revealed next: security footage of Soundwave activating Horri-Bull's I/D chip to make sure the Autobots wouldn't discover that the Decepticons had taken control of the chips. Horrified that the 'bot he looked up to had murdered the 'bot he loved, Needlenose became ''enraged'' and attacked Soundwave, causing a massive riot to begin throughout Iacon. Needlenose was soon knocked away by Soundwave, who realized the Constructicons were up to something. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 3: The Ground|The Ground}} Needlenose was soon distracted by his attempts at revenge by [[Nemesis (BWII)|Onyx's craft]], which had just blown a hole through [[Metrotitan (Zone)|Metrotitan]]. {{storylink|The Falling, Interlude: The First Who Was Named|The First Who Was Named}}

[[File:Unforgivable NeedlenoseCallsSoundwaveOut.jpg|left|upright=1.3|thumb|]]
Needlenose followed Soundwave when the latter went into hiding as a mob of disenfranchised Decepticons tried to track him down. Soundwave threatened Needlenose at gunpoint after he was told he was no longer worthy to be their leader, but Needlenose didn't flinch. The tense confrontation between the two was interrupted when the aimless Starscream appeared among the Decepticons, who quickly rallied around him and asked the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] to lead them once again. Taken aback at the prospect of Starscream retaking command, Soundwave targeted him from the shadows. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 5: Endless Forever|Endless Forever}} Needlenose stopped Soundwave from firing, angrily pointing out that Soundwave was really no better than Starscream for trying to use lies and murder to get his way. Having given Soundwave pause, Needlenose departed the scene with the newly-arrived Tracks, who had been looking for him in the chaos of the day. Needlenose declared that he only wanted to be around people who truly cared about him from now on and the brothers walked off together. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 6: Unforgivable|Unforgivable}} Despite this, Needlenose still found himself hanging out with Starscream's group of Decepticons after they set up shop in Metrotitan's corpse. {{storylink|Unstopped and Unstoppable}}

[[File:OurFinest NeedlenoseElbowsTracks.jpg|right|upright=1.0|thumb|]]
When [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] appeared above Cybertron, Needlenose and his fellow Decepticons hurried to [[Metroplex (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Metroplex]] for a mass evacuation of the planet. Needlenose thought he could approach the on-duty Tracks to get the full measure of the situation, but before he could, all Decepticons in the area received a mental message from Soundwave. Soundwave informed everyone that they wouldn't make it off the planet in time, and that Starscream was planning to leave without them. This sparked a riot at the spaceport and Needlenose elbowed Tracks out of his way to try and board Metroplex. Before they could reach safety, everyone was suddenly terrified into inaction, looking up to watch Unicron sink its massive hands into Cybertron's surface. {{storylink|Our Finest}}

[[File:Post-MistressPyra.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|thumb|]]
As the monster began tearing the planet apart, Needlenose and many others were rescued by [[Blurr (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Blurr]], who shoved them into a ribbon of magical energy created by the [[Talisman (G1)|Talisman]] that teleported them directly to Earth. {{storylink|Road's End}} Needlenose took stock of his new surroundings alongside a stray [[turbofox]] that had also been rescued. {{storylink|A Sunrise Dark}} Needlenose and the [[Octane|two]] [[Tankor (BM)|Tankors]] soon located Starscream and accosted him for attempting to abandon them to die on Cybertron, but were forced to drop their grievances because of the more pressing concern that Unicron was now approaching Earth. Needlenose subsequently boarded Metroplex and joined an attack force that directly opposed Unicron in Earth's orbit. {{storylink|Assembly (Unicron)|Assembly}} He fought alongside Tracks and his fellow Decepticons, and ultimately Unicron was vanquished. {{storylink|Ceremony}}

In the post-Unicron world, Tracks and Needlenose sought the blessing of the new Mistress of Flame- [[Pyra Magna]], to restart their Chic Chips business. Needlenose doubted she would even understand the purpose of Chic Chips, and Pyra was indeed perplexed as to what use they had to either Cybertronian or human. Nevertheless, Pyra gave her blessing, telling the brothers that their Chic Chips might make a difference in the life of SOMEONE out there, before "gently" ordering them to leave. Needlenose and Tracks were later seen in attendance at Optimus Prime's funeral. {{storylink|Post}}

===''TransTech''===
In [[Axiom Nexus]], Ruckus, Needlenose, and [[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] assaulted what they thought was an [[energon]] refinery, but it turned out to be a waste fuel storage depot. Eyuw. {{storylink|Around Cybertron#Around Cybertron #1|Around Cybertron #1}}

Another Needlenose was a fashionista in Axiom Nexus. With the help of his assistants [[Sunbeam (Armada)|Sunbeam]] and [[Zigzag]], Needlenose was making waves in the fashion world, even outside of the Offworld Zone. He was interviewed by [[Andromeda (TransTech)|Andromeda]]. {{storylink|Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News Reporter|Andromeda - Axiom Nexus News, 2015/05/19}}

===''Of Masters and Mayhem''===
Needlenose and the rest of the Mayhem Attack Squad were drawn to a cavern on Earth by a Decepticon signal, finding upon their arrival that the extra-dimensional [[Ramjet (Universe)|Ramjet]] was the one broadcasting it. Upon seeing him, Needlenose was unimpressed by Ramjet's color scheme, commenting that it was rather meretricious. Bludgeon spoke with their new acquaintance, who in short order showed that he had power that rivaled the Squad's. Agreeing to work together, the Decepticons began to plot the destruction of the universe. {{storylink|History}}

==Commercial appearances==
Needlenose used his Targetmasters [[Sunbeam (G1)|Sunbeam]] and [[Zigzag]] to chase down a group of Autobot-allied Nebulans. The Nebulans' Autobot allies then showed up, and used their own partners' gun modes to retaliate! Needlenose and [[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] transformed to robot mode to continue the fight on foot. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Double Targetmasters|Double Targetmasters commercial}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[File:G1-toy Needlenose.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|He stole Super Grover's helmet!]]
*'''Needlenose''' (Targetmaster, 1988)
**''Accessories:'' "Sunbeam" and "Zig-Zag" Targetmaster partners/guns

:Needlenose transforms into the {{w|General Dynamics F-16XL|F-16XL variant of the F-16 Fighting Falcon}}. Zig-Zag and Sunbeam are mounted on [[5mm post|5mm hardpoints]] under his wingtips in this mode. In [[robot mode]], Needlenose's articulation is located entirely in his shoulders, which can move up and down as well as swing out to the sides.

:Like all of the smaller Targetmasters, Needlenose was never released in [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]'s ''Transformers'' line.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1988/Decepticon/Needlenose/needlenose.htm More information on Needlenose at TFU.info]''

{{-}}
===Generations===
[[File:CombinerWarstoy-Needlenose.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Super Grover's helmet went out of style.]]
*'''Needlenose''' (TFSS 4.0, 2016)
**''Accessories'': long-range rifle, Sunbeam and Zputty Targetmaster partners, 4C Cryo Coolant Concussion Cannon/Combiner extremity

:Part of the [[Transformers Figure Subscription Service#Series 4.0 (2016)|Figure Subscription Service 4.0]], ''[[Combiner Wars (toyline)|Combiner Wars]]'' Needlenose is a [[redeco]] of Deluxe Class [[Fireflight (G1)#Generations|Firefly]], transforming into a modified Harrier jump-jet. He includes his Targetmaster partners [[Sunbeam (G1)#Generations|Sunbeam]] and [[Zigzag#Generations|Zputty]] (renamed from Zigzag, likely due to trademark restrictions), who are redecoes of [[Tracer (Targetmaster)#Generations|Caliburst]] and [[Holepunch (G1)#Generations|Holepunch]] respectively. He was the first figure to ship in the series.

:Needlenose can also form either an arm or a leg for any standard-issue ''Combiner Wars''-style gestalt (or into one of [[Godbomber#Legends|''Legends'' Godbomber's]] legs), though he was intended to combine with [[Bludgeon (G1)#Generations|Bludgeon]] to form [[Thunder Mayhem#Toys|Thunder Mayhem]].

{{CWFireflyMold}}
{{--}}

==Notes==
*For whatever odd reason, Needlenose's entry in Marvel's ''[[The Transformers Universe|Transformers Universe]]'' depicts him with [https://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Needlenose a positively gigantic head and feet.]
*His [[alternate mode]] in the IDW's Robots in Disguise comics, is obviously a {{w|Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II|F-35 Lightning II}}.
*Needlenose was a possible candidate for the [[War for Cybertron: Siege (toyline)|War for Cybertron: Siege toyline]] as a part of a fan-vote along with [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]], but ultimately lost the vote.

[[Category:Combiner Wars Decepticons]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Decepticons]]
[[Category:Mayhem Attack Squad]]
[[Category:Merchants]]
[[Category:Regeneration One Decepticons]]
[[Category:Targetmasters]]
[[Category:TransTech Decepticons]]

Matrix of Leadership

2019-02-23T00:47:14Z

Shakalooloo Doom:

{{disambig3.5|the MacGuffin|the titular cartoon episode|Matrix of Leadership (episode)|Matrix}}
{{featured}}
{{suite}}
[[File:Matrix.jpg|375px|thumb|You put the life in the coconut.]]
The '''Autobot Matrix of Leadership''' (also known as the '''Creation Matrix''' or rarely, the '''Autobot Matrix of Power'''<ref>[[The Autobots Have a Special Mission for:]]</ref> or the '''Matrix of Light'''<ref>For the majority of the ''Transformers: The Movie'' sticker book (see right), though it is also referred to as the "Matrix of Leadership" once or twice.</ref>) is an [[sacred implement|artifact of great power]], traditionally carried by the [[Prime (rank)|leader]] of the [[Autobot]]s. Although its appearance differs slightly from [[universal stream]] to universal stream, it generally appears as a glowing crystal sphere encased within a [[Matrix holder|hollow metal shell]], with a handle on either side.

By most accounts, the Matrix is a conduit for the power of [[Primus]], the creator-god of the [[Transformer]]s, serving as a means of access to the [[Transformer afterlife]], through which it can either bestow new Transformer life, or provide its wielder with a means of communicating with the deceased leaders who have come before them. These divine powers put it at the centre of much Autobot [[religion]], spirituality, and prophecy; while many [[Decepticon]]s are less inclined to believe in its divinity, they certainly covet the increased physical power it is known to convey upon its holders, and several have made obtaining the Matrix one of their primary goals. As one of the embodiments of the power of Primus, the Matrix is antithesis to [[Unicron]], and one of the very few things the chaos-bringer fears.

{{quote|But one day... an Autobot shall rise from our ranks... and use the power of the Matrix... to light... our [[darkest hour]].|A [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|dying Optimus Prime]]|''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''}}

==Conceptual history==
[[File:SecondGeneration prime gives buster matrix.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|The Matrix made its fictional debut when [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] transferred it to [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]], an event recounted in this scene from "[[Second Generation!]]".]]
The Matrix and the concepts associated with it have continuously evolved over the history of the brand, with different pieces of ''Transformers'' fiction creating new ideas centred on it, which have in turn influenced its representation in ''other'' fiction, and so on. The current nature of the Matrix as it is understood is beholden to quite a few different sources, and its development is described here to minimize confusion. For the specifics on the different interpretations of the Matrix in various continuities, see the "Fiction" section below.

The concept of the Matrix originates from the brain of [[Marvel Comics]] writer [[Bob Budiansky]] and is a result of the "no girls"/"no gender" policy enforced by [[Hasbro]] regarding their then-new robot brand. Because there were no female robots/the robots had no gender, Budiansky came up with an asexual method of reproduction in the form of the Creation Matrix, a "[[Primal Program]]" housed within the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] that could bring new Transformers to life, which would also prove a helpful plot device when he was required to introduce new characters to the series.<ref>[http://www.bwtf.com/interviews/bb204/ Bob Budiansky Interview at BWTF.com]</ref><ref>[http://www.metalmachine.net/blog/2009/11/21/todds-take-with-bob-budiansky-the-architect-of-the-transformers/ Metal Machine interview with Bob]</ref><ref>[http://rustingcarcass.yuku.com/topic/954 Rusting Carcass interview]</ref>

The appearance of the Matrix in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 animated series]] originated with early script drafts of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', which introduced the idea of "Life Sparks", very similar to the [[spark]]s that would later be introduced with ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]''. The Matrix was not present in the earliest known incarnation of the movie; instead, upon his death, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] transferred his own Life Spark to [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]], with the implication that this was standard practise among Autobot leaders. This idea was eventually discarded, replaced with a physical object known as the "Matrix of Leadership", which evidently derived its name from the Creation Matrix of the comic book. The episode "[[Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust]]" attempted to introduce the concept of the Matrix to the animated universe before the movie, but the dialogue containing the reference was deleted during production. The line, which dated the creation of the Matrix to 4.5 million years ago, would ultimately have conflicted greatly with what would be learned of the Matrix in the future.

[[File:FFOD4 passing the matrix.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|[[Zeta Prime]] inherits the Matrix from [[Guardian Prime]] in the first recounting of the Prime lineage from "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4]].]]
Virtually nothing of the Matrix's nature was actually divulged in the finished film, where it was treated as simply a magic talisman of prophecy that was the antithesis of [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]]. The idea that had originated with the Life Spark concept—that of dying Autobot leaders merging their lifeforces with others—remained, albeit in a vague way, as Optimus Prime intoned upon his deathbed that he would soon be "one with the Matrix". The mini-series "[[Five Faces of Darkness]]" fully expanded on the meaning of his line, revealing that the Matrix contained the lifeforces of all the deceased [[ancient Autobots|Autobot leaders]] who had previously held it, collectively known as the "Wisdom of the Ages," which could be consulted for aid in moments of need.

[[File:Sentinel prime lou.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1|The dying [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] passes the Matrix to Optimus Prime in this flashback scene from "[[The Legacy of Unicron!]]".]]
Having already cannibalized many of the movie's best elements for use in his comic book stories, writer [[Simon Furman]] contradicted Bob Budiansky's US comic book stories by presenting the Matrix as it had appeared in the film, as a physical object, in his own UK storylines, and carried this over to the US comic when he later began writing it. This alteration was also reflected in a ''[[The Transformers Universe|Universe]]'' profile written for Powermaster Optimus Prime around the time, where Budiansky's "program" concept and the cartoon's "physical object" idea were merged with the explanation that the program was encoded in light patterns in the Matrix's crystal core. As Furman's run progressed, the "lifeforces of previous holders" concept was also adapted into the comics, with the Matrix possessing a genetic memory of those that had held it. Most notably, in both UK and US books, Furman crafted a story to explain the origins of the Matrix, why Unicron was vulnerable to it, and how it could create new life, ultimately revealing it to be the essence of the Transformers' creator-god, [[Primus]].

It was the [[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|''Beast Machines'' animated series]] which made the next big addition to the growing mythology of the Matrix when it introduced the [[Transformer afterlife|Allspark]], the extradimensional source of all Transformers sparks living or dead, which was also known as "the Matrix." Although it did not explicitly make any callbacks to the Matrix as seen in the Generation 1 cartoons or comics, the implication was obvious—rather than ''contain'' anything, the physical Matrix object from those continuities was a ''gateway'' to the Allspark. Where the animated "Matrix of Leadership" and the comic book "Creation Matrix" had previously seemed incompatible, this revelation united them conceptually—the lifeforces of the dead from the cartoon and the ability to bring new life from the comics could now both be tied to the features of the Allspark dimension. [[Dreamwave Productions]]' comics proceeded to cement this concept, depicting a Matrix of Leadership that possessed both these traits, and explicitly identifying it not as a holder of Primus's power, but a ''conduit'' for it.

The Matrix took something of a back seat in major fiction in the latter years of the 2000s, effectively replaced in the worlds of the [[live-action film series|live-action movies]] and ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'' by the [[AllSpark]]—a mystical object that, while physically distinct from the Matrix, possessed its life-giving powers and record of Transformer history. Before long, however, both these continuities reintroduced the idea of the Matrix: In both universes, the AllSpark was destroyed and its knowledge and power was reincarnated in an object either specifically named, or designed to look like, the Matrix, thereby bringing the whole concept full-circle.

Finally, the recent revelation (implied in the movies, confirmed by [[Fun Publications]]' "[[Crossing Over]]" and reiterated in ''[[Transformers: Exodus]]'') that the energy that is the basis of Transformer life is actually the rarefied form of the Transformers' fuel, [[energon]] itself, suggests that the energy of the Matrix is also (a form of) energon. This had actually been portrayed as the case in some formerly-questionable pieces of fiction such as ''[[The Transformers Trilogy]]'' novels, which retroactively make sense now.
{{-}}

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:Prima.jpg|thumb|275px|Intel Inside!]]

When Primus created the Transformer race, before entering voluntary systems shutdown, he bestowed upon them a genetic matrix containing his essence and the majority of his power, which could be used to give life to more Transformers so that the race might grow without his direct involvement. {{storylink|The Primal Scream}} Later named the "Creation Matrix", this divine gift took the form of a "[[Primal Program]]" encoded in intricate patterns of light within a crystal,<ref>[http://ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Optimus_Prime_PM Powermaster Optimus Prime's Marvel comic profile]</ref> which was passed from leader to leader down through the millennia. The first holder of the Creation Matrix was the first Transformer, [[Prima]], then subsequently [[Prime Nova]], [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] and in the modern era, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]. {{storylink|Dark Creation}} The Autobot leaders evidently elected to keep the true nature of the Matrix a secret, since most other Transformers were shown to believe it was a program stored within the mind of Optimus Prime himself, rather than housed within a separate physical object. This mistaken belief gave rise to a legend that claimed that the Program was encoded into a new Autobot leader once every ten millennia. {{storylink|The New Order}}

[[File:WhoseLifeforce prime and longtooth.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb]]
''At one point during his tenure as Autobot leader, Optimus Prime came across [[Longtooth]] struggling to save the life of [[Clockwise|a fallen comrade]] on the battlefield after a particularly ferocious conflict. Mistakenly believing he was witnessing a great show of Autobot spirit (when in actuality, Longtooth was simply terrified of being the last one left alive), Prime extracted a tiny portion of the Creation Matrix's energy and gave it to Longtooth, telling him to use it wisely. Once Prime had left, however, Longtooth gave into his fear and kept the Matrix energy for himself, to serve as a "spare life" that allowed him to be daring and brave on the battlefield without fearing death.'' {{storylink|Whose Lifeforce Is It Anyway?}}

[[File:DisintegratedCircuits buster uses matrix.jpg|thumb|275px]]
When the Transformers' war moved to [[Earth]] in [[1984]], current Decepticon leader [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] elected to increase his forces by creating new Transformers with the power of the Creation Matrix. Capturing the [[Autobot]]s and decapitating Optimus Prime, Shockwave tapped the energies of the Matrix and brought the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] to life. {{storylink|The Next Best Thing to Being There!}} Prime was able to transfer the Matrix into the mind of the Autobots' human ally, [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]], {{storylink|The Worse of Two Evils!}} thereby preventing Shockwave from animating his newest construct, [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]], but the presence of the Matrix within Buster's mind gave the boy incredible powers over machinery. {{storylink|DIS-Integrated Circuits!}} {{storylink|Brainstorm!}} Deducing that Buster possessed the Matrix, Shockwave programmed the unliving Jetfire to capture the boy, but Buster used the Matrix to bring Jetfire under his control and used him to thwart Shockwave's plan and save Optimus Prime. With Prime and the Autobots rescued, Buster transferred the Creation Matrix back to the Autobot leader, {{storylink|Prime Time!}} and Prime subsequently used the Matrix to give Jetfire true life. {{storylink|Rock and Roll-Out!}}

''Residual energy from the Matrix that lingered in Buster's brain soon began to give the youth nightmarish visions, causing him to black out and create strange images of previously-unheard of Transformers.'' {{storylink|Devastation Derby!}} ''Seeking to help Buster, the Autobots hooked him up to equipment that would allow them to monitor his dreams, and discovered that the Matrix was showing them all them a vision of the future, and the creation of the [[Special Teams]].'' {{storylink|Second Generation!}}

[[File:Matrixflame.jpg|left|thumb|275px|If the Autobots were Jewish, it would have burned another six days.]]
''The Matrix was also known to have an analog on Cybertron, the [[Matrix Flame]], which burned constantly as long as the Matrix still existed, no matter where in the universe it was. It could also be used to channel the energy of the Matrix, which the Autobots on Cybertron did to bring life to their new warrior, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]].<ref>Ultra Magnus profile page in Marvel UK [[Target: 2006#Defeat!|#81]]</ref> Not long after, however, the Matrix Flame flickered out when Optimus Prime was shunted into [[limbo]] by time-travelling Decepticons, leading the Autobots on Cybertron to send Magnus to Earth to investigate. Prime was returned in due time, and the Matrix Flame re-ignited.'' {{storylink|Target: 2006}}

''Following the earlier vision from the Matrix,'' the Autobots created the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], and Optimus Prime used the Matrix to bring them to life. Little did the Autobots realise, however, that [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] had deduced a way to usurp the Matrix's power, using a [[cerebro-shell]] previously planted in Prime's body by [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] to siphon off some of the life-giving energy, which he employed it to animate his own new creations, the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]]. {{storylink|Heavy Traffic!}}

[[File:DarkCreation we would know more.jpg|thumb|275px]]
When Optimus Prime died following a video-game duel with Megatron a short time later, {{storylink|Afterdeath!}}, the Autobots loaded his body into a funeral bier and launched it into space in accordance with Cybertronian tradition. {{storylink|Funeral for a Friend!}} Unfortunately, having been unaware of the existence of the physical Creation Matrix crystal within the corpse's chest, this meant that they unwittingly set the sacred lifeforce of their race adrift in the sea of stars. After some time, the craft eventually crashed on the distant moon of [[VsQs]], where it lay undisturbed for a time. Left in solitude, the rudimentary consciousness of the Matrix formed from the genetic memory of its past holders began to desire new sensations. {{storylink|Dark Creation}}

It got its chance when a [[Deathbringer (Marvel)|Deathbringer]], a medical mechanoid created to painlessly end the life of the terminally ill, crashed on VsQs. Critically wounded, the dying robot reached out to touch the Matrix, and in its hunger for new experiences, the talisman used its powers of creation to disassemble and rebuild the Deathbringer, inadvertently warping its programming and transforming it into a powerful being who sought to destroy ''all'' life. A trace of its energy remaining in its body, the Matrix revelled in its first experience of "evil" as the Deathbringer cut a swathe of destruction across the galaxy, ultimately finding its way to Earth. ''Sensing the Matrix's power within the creature, Optimus Prime—since resurrected by the technology of [[Nebulos]]—was hesitant to destroy the only link they had discovered to the lost Matrix, but [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] solved the problem by convincing the Deathbringer that since the Matrix's power was eating away at it, it should destroy itself.'' {{storylink|Deathbringer (issue)|Deathbringer}}

[[File:Creation Matrix 65.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.15|The Creation Matrix was the Leader-1's-head of the Marvel comic. Can't be drawn the same way twice.]]
Back on VsQs, the Matrix's curiosity found new expression when an insectoid creature crawled into Prime's corpse's chest cavity and became the next recipient of the Matrix's power. Dissecting and studying the beast, the Matrix was fascinated that the creature seemed to be meant to do nothing but destroy, so it re-created the thing into a [[Matrixspawn|larger, more powerful predator]]. {{storylink|Dark Creation}} The monster attacked a team of astronauts that had set up a research station on VsQs, killing nearly all of them, but at least one escaped and crashed in the seas of the nearby planet [[Pequod]]. His body infused with Matrix energy from the beast that had attacked him, the astronaut was swallowed by a [[klud]], which ingested the energy. {{storylink|Deadly Obsession}}

Meanwhile, Optimus Prime became aware of the threat of Unicron, and, realizing that the Matrix would be necessary to defeat the Chaos-Bringer, arranged for search parties to scour the cosmos for any trace of it. ''Longtooth was among the Autobots recruited for the search mission, and was forced for the first time to truly confront the selfishness of what he had done with the Matrix energy Prime had given him millennia before. In hopes of redemption, he loaded the energy fragment into a pod and sent it back to Optimus Prime.'' {{storylink|Whose Lifeforce Is It Anyway?}} [[File:Thunderwing with matrix.jpg|thumb|215px]] ''Prime agonized over how to best use the Matrix energy, knowing that it had the power to revive only one of the deactivated Autobots on the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], and ultimately, elected to disperse it the Earth's atmosphere to rejuvenate damage done to the ecosystem by the Transformers' warring on the planet.'' {{storylink|The Greatest Gift of All!}}

In the meantime, the search parties seeking the Matrix had piqued the curiosity of new Decepticon leader [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]], who possessed an affinity with the Matrix and a desire to possess its power for his own. As the opposing teams dodged each other, they eventually set their sights on Pequod, where the klud had been attracting attention because its species was supposed to have been extinct. Thunderwing used his Matrix affinity to psychically link with the Matrix-infused beast and see the memory of swallowing the dying scientist. Recognizing the "VsQs" stamp on his equipment, Thunderwing set out for that moon. {{storylink|Deadly Obsession}} Once there, both sides battled the creature the Matrix had created, which had grown to enormous size, with Thunderwing ultimately killing the beast and taking the Matrix. {{storylink|Dark Creation}} The Decepticon immediately attacked the spaceborne Ark, manifesting the Matrix power in the form of a giant, vaguely humanoid energy field around himself. Soon, however, the Matrix began to speak through Thunderwing, delighting in the firsthand experience of evil, and the Decepticon realized he was being possessed. Thunderwing tried to mentally battle the Matrix, to no avail, but the Autobots exploited his erratic behaviour to impale him with a harpoon and blow him out the Ark's airlock into space. {{storylink|All Fall Down}}

[[File:EdgeofExtinction-sothatallmaylive.jpg|left|thumb|275px|It cures what ails ya.]]
Thunderwing's body came to rest on the surface of a planet, where the Matrix began to heal his battered frame. {{storylink|Out of Time!}} Repairs took time, but once completed, the Matrix set out for Cybertron, {{storylink|The Void! (US)|The Void!}} coincidentally arriving just as Unicron was trying to destroy the planet. The Matrix-creature fought Unicron, but Unicron soon realized that the Matrix had been tainted with evil, and that it was no longer a threat to him, given the infinitely greater magnitude of his own evil nature. Thunderwing was destroyed by Unicron's attack and Optimus Prime was able to recover the Matrix, cleansing it of the taint of evil and restoring its purity. Rocketing into Unicron's gaping maw, Prime released the Matrix's energy within the planet-eater's body, destroying him. {{storylink|On the Edge of Extinction!}} The explosion should have killed Prime as well, but his devastated body was saturated with Matrix energy, keeping it alive long enough for the suffering Prime to pass on leadership of the Autobots to [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]]. {{storylink|Still Life!}}
{{-}}

=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
[[File:MatrixCoconut1.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"Will I become a great Autobot leader?" "All signs point to no."]]
In an alternate future timeline, a dying Optimus Prime passed the Matrix to Ultra Magnus in [[2006]]. {{storylink|The Planet-Eater!}} It was then used by [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] to destroy Unicron, in the process transforming the young Autobot into Rodimus Prime. {{storylink|The Final Battle!}}

In the year [[2008]], Unicron attempted to engineer his resurrection by mentally controlling the [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]] into building him a new body. Drawn into the conflict by [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]], Rodimus Prime used the power of the Matrix to battle Unicron on his own mindscape, while [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] set explosives to destroy the portion of Unicron's body that had been constructed. The explosion tore Unicron's body apart, but did not destroy him; instead, with no physical shell to inhabit, his essence wound up trapped within the Matrix. {{storylink|The Legacy of Unicron!}}

[[File:MarvelUK-187.jpg|left|thumb|215px]]
Later in 2008, the [[Quintesson]]s invaded and conquered [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] while Rodimus Prime was absent, and set a trap for the Autobot leader by leaving the wounded [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] at the city entrance. Arriving to find the one-time object of his affections in dire straits, Rodimus opened his chest cavity in order to heal Arcee with the energy of the Creation Matrix, only to be blindsided by the Quintessons and have the Matrix plucked from him, transforming him back into Hot Rod. The Matrix wound up the hands of Quintesson [[Ghyrik|General Ghyrik]], who was able to harness its power and boost his strength for a throwdown with Hot Rod. A bout of impromptu ventriloquism from the young Autobot distracted Ghyrik, allowing Hot Rod to rip the Matrix from his body and transform back into Rodimus Prime, handing Ghyrik an ignominious defeat. {{storylink|Space Pirates!}}

When disruption to the fabric of space and time forced Rodimus and several other Autobots to travel back in time from [[2009]] to [[1989]] in order to discover the source of the disturbance, the presence of the Matrix within his body required that Optimus Prime once again be shunted into limbo in order to maintain balance. Rodimus was able to use the power of the Matrix they shared to allow Optimus to communicate with the other Autobots, and when Rodimus was then defeated in battle, Optimus risked the security of the space-time continuum by using the Matrix as a stepping stone to return to reality for a final battle with [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|Time Wars}}

[[File:WhiteFire kup yanks matrix.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|I honestly can't tell if it's the Matrix, or a weird kind of saucepan...]]
Returning to Cybertron after their time-travel adventure, Rodimus and the Autobots found that the disruption of space and time had altered their future, and that Galvatron was waiting for them. Galvatron attempted to force Rodimus Prime into a savage battle, hoping to force him to unleash his basest, most violent impulses, and by extension, lead them to corrupt the Matrix. Fortunately, Rodimus realized his plan and stopped. {{storylink|Aspects of Evil!}} However, it soon became apparent that the Matrix required no external corruption; Unicron's essence, still trapped within the talisman following the events of 2008, slowly began to take hold of Rodimus Prime's mind, forcing him to sabotage the guidance systems of the Autobots' craft when they were on a hyperspace trip to Earth in [[2010]]. {{storylink|The Void! (UK)|The Void!}} {{storylink|Edge of Impact}} Rodimus battled within Unicron inside the Matrix in an attempt to win back control of his mind and body, but it took [[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]] deducing what was going on and wrenching the Matrix from Rodimus's chest to free him from the chaos-bringer's influence. But now, Rodimus knew that the evil of Unicron would be waiting for him within it... {{storylink|Shadow of Evil}} {{storylink|White Fire}}

Alas, later in 2010, Unicron's essence succeeded in taking over Rodimus's body, transforming it into a duplicate of his own and attacking Cybertron once more, until Rodimus was able to defeat him from within and re-seal him within the Matrix. {{storylink|Aspects of Evil!}}

When last seen, in the far future of [[2356]], Unicron's essence remained sealed within the Matrix, causing Rodimus's body to steadily wither and weaken. {{storylink|Aspects of Evil!}}
{{-}}

====Marvel ''Generation 2'' comic====
[[File:G210 starscream warworld.jpg|left|thumb]]
When Optimus Prime was recreated by the [[Last Autobot]], the Matrix was also restored. {{storylink|End of the Road! (US)|End of the Road!}} {{storylink|Escalation!|Generation 2 #8 letters page}} Years later, it became a target for Megatron, who required it to bring to life an army of new warriors created by [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]. Besting Prime in battle, Megatron tore the Matrix from his body with an energy siphon, {{storylink|The Gathering Darkness}} and used it to give life to the [[Laser Rod]]s and [[Rotor Force]]. {{storylink|New Dawn}}

Subsequently, Prime and Megatron were forced into an uneasy alliance against the massed forces of the [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian Empire]], and [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] exploited the chaos of the huge battle to take the power of the Matrix for himself. Using it, he merged his mind and body with the Decepticons' [[Warworld]], becoming a colossal living weapon able to reshape himself at will. {{storylink|Total War!|Tales of Earth, Part Seven}} However, unlike with Thunderwing, Starscream found his own evil being subverted by the Matrix's goodness, {{storylink|Dark Shadows!|Tales of Earth, Part Eight}} and he returned the Matrix to Prime, for fear of being changed beyond recognition.

Soon after, when Prime was consumed by the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]], he channelled the Matrix's energy into the dark force, enlightening and completing it with the purity of Primus's vision. Suddenly transformed from a destructive force into a force for life, the Swarm re-created Prime and departed into space. {{storylink|A Rage in Heaven!}}
{{-}}

====''Regeneration One''====
{{noterg1}}
With the Creation Matrix lost following the destruction of Unicron, the last reservoir of Matrix energy the Autobots had access to consisted of what traces still clung to the remains of Thunderwing, stored within the high-security [[Hall of Silence]]. When [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] was able to penetrate the Hall in [[2012]], acting commander [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] anguished over whether or not to follow protocol and destroy the Hall, and the last of the Matrix's energy with it. He was convinced it was necessary by [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]], but Soundwave was able to teleport out with Thunderwing just before the building blew. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part One}} He delivered the remains to Bludgeon, who used the Matrix energy within them to animate his new army of self-regenerating [[Blitz Engine]]s. {{storylink|Destiny, Part One}}

After Primus revealed to Hot Rod that he still existed, and sent Hot Rod through a portal into [[Zero Space]], {{storylink|Destiny, Part Four}} the young Autobot found himself tumbling through time and space. He observed the battle with the Deathbringer, only to discover that the fragment of corrupted Matrix energy survived the battle. After observing two more time periods, Hot Rod found himself on a [[Junkion (planet)|planet of junk]], witnessing the final confrontation between [[Galvatron II|Galvatron]] and "Rodimus Prime"—an alternate version of himself! As Rodimus fell at the hands of Galvatron, the Matrix landed at the feet of Hot Rod, who reached for it...

... only to find himself back in his own time and place, on the deck of Bludgeon's ''[[Warworld]]'', having himself been transformed into Rodimus Prime! {{storylink|Less Than Zero}}

====''Classics''====
The Matrix was destroyed along with Unicron. Decades later, while displaced in another universe, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] briefly confused the [[Origin Matrix]] for the Creation Matrix while speaking with [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]]. {{storylink|Shattered Paths}}

====''Unite Warriors''====
[[File:Baldigus Chapter Galvatron II.jpg|thumb|200px]]
[[Galvatron II]] stole the Creation Matrix in his native universe and carried it with him to another reality, where its power allowed him to endure as a ghost when his body was destroyed. Unfortunately, it also made him a target of [[Grand Scourge]], who, as a Matrix Hunter, could manhandle even ghosts if they were in possession of a Matrix. While Scourge was fighting Galvatron for the Creation Matrix, both of them were knocked into a rift in space-time by [[Megaempress]], and the Matrix disappeared along with them to places unknown. {{storylink|Baldigus Chapter, Part Two}}
{{-}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
[[File:OracleMatrix.jpg|225px|thumb|"This Ming...is a psy-cho."]]
The origins of the Matrix of Leadership are almost entirely unknown. The only hint of its beginnings was given in an account from near the dawn of time, soon after the ancient genius [[Primacron]] and [[Oracle (G1)|his assistant]] created the colossal robot, Unicron. Unicron turned on his creators and destroyed the assistant's body, but seen to rise from his remains and disappear into space was an object that appeared identical to the Matrix. If this was truly the Matrix, it is wholly unknown how it came to be held by the Autobots and how it was elevated to the position of power it became known for. {{storylink|Call of the Primitives}}

However it came to be in Autobot hands, the Matrix came to be at the centre of the robots' belief system and was safeguarded by each successive generation of Autobot leaders. Upon the passing of its holder, the Matrix became a receptacle for the deceased Autobot's lifeforce, which cumulatively became known as the "Wisdom of the Ages", a storehouse of knowledge and experience stretching back to the dawn of Cybertronian history (and potentially beyond) that could be consulted by the Matrix's living wielders in times of need. The spirits of many Autobots have been seen within the Matrix, but the names of only a select few are known: The oldest entity within the Matrix is known only as "[[It]]" {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2}}; [[File:Matrix 5faces4 7.jpg|left|225px|thumb|My preciousssss!]] following this entity, the next oldest known was [[Primon]], who possessed the Matrix in the early days of the Cybertronian race around twelve million years ago; [[Prima]] bore it at the height of their oppression by the [[Quintesson]]s about a million years later; [[Prime Nova]] was its wielder during the eventual rebellion against the five-faced aliens; [[Guardian Prime]] and his successor [[Zeta Prime]] carried it during the first war between the Autobots and Decepticons, before it was passed to Sentinel Prime, under whose leadership the war came to an end.

Around nine million years ago, the Autobot/Decepticon war was reignited by the creation of [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]], who killed Sentinel Prime as one of his first actions. In his death throes, Sentinel entrusted the Matrix to the ancient Autobot [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], who kept it hidden until a damaged young robot was brought to his workshop, another victim of Megatron's wrath. Trion recreated him as [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], new leader of the Autobots, and gave him the Matrix. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

[[File:Optimusg1passingthematrix.jpg|thumb|225px]]
Fatally wounded by Megatron in the year [[2005]], Optimus Prime passed the Matrix and leadership of the Autobots to his chosen successor, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]]. Before passing away, Prime spoke of a prophecy—that one day, a "Chosen One" would rise from the ranks of the Autobots, and use the power of the Matrix to light the Transformers' darkest hour. When Prime's strength faltered at the last moment and he dropped the Matrix, the young Autobot [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] stooped to catch it before it hit the floor. The Matrix glowed brightly in response to his touch, signifying what none of the Autobots present would realize until later: that Hot Rod was the Chosen One.

[[File:Tftm1986e.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4]]
When word of Unicron's approach on Cybertron reached the Autobots on Earth, Ultra Magnus believed (and Hot Rod agreed, based on nothing more than a feeling) that the Matrix might be able to stop the world-eater. Knowing that this was indeed the case, Unicron recreated Megatron as [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] and dispatched him to steal the Matrix, leading to a confrontation on the [[Junkion (planet)|Planet of Junk]] in which Ultra Magnus tried in vain to open the Matrix and use it to fend off the attacking Decepticons. Galvatron bested him and took the Matrix, believing he could use it to subjugate Unicron himself, but he had no more luck opening it than Magnus did. Unicron swallowed Galvatron whole as punishment, and it was within Unicron's body that the Decepticon leader engaged Hot Rod in the battle that saw the young Autobot claim his destiny. Seizing the Matrix from around Galvatron's neck, Hot Rod was transformed by its power into Rodimus Prime, then proceeded to fulfil the prophecy by opening the talisman and releasing its power, which tore Unicron apart from within. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}

Later, when injured in battle, Rodimus's consciousness briefly entered the Matrix itself and witnessed a vision that led him to believe that the answer to the mystery of the alien Quintessons currently plaguing the Autobots was held within it. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2}} To find his answer, Rodimus deliberately short-circuited himself and entered the Matrix a second time. Guided by the ancient Autobots within, Rodimus was shown the history of Cybertron and discovered the Quintessons' role in the creation of the Transformers. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

[[File:Darkawakening matrix pain.jpg|225px|thumb|The zombified Optimus Prime reacts in pain from the light of the Matrix.]]
The burden of leadership weighed heavily upon Rodimus, and he was all too eager to return the Matrix to Optimus Prime when it seemed that the Autobot leader had returned from the dead in 2006. It transpired, however, that Optimus had only been reanimated as a robotic zombie by the Quintessons, with the intent of luring the assembled Autobot forces into a trap. Fortunately, with the Matrix now back within him, its energies overrode the evil intentions the aliens had programmed him with, and he returned it to Rodimus before apparently sacrificing himself again to trigger the Quintessons' trap alone. {{storylink|Dark Awakening (episode)|Dark Awakening}}

[[File:BurdenHardest Hot Rod retrieves matrix.jpg|left|thumb|225px]]
Still struggling with leadership, Rodimus tried to forget his woes with a bout of drag-racing in the hills of [[Japan]], only to be ambushed by [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] and [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]]. The two Stunticons stole the Matrix and brought it back to Galvatron, but when the Decepticon leader attempted to use its energy to power his cannon, he was instead tormented by the spirits of the Autobots within it. The terrified Galvatron instructed [[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]] to dispose of the Matrix, but Scourge grasped the true nature of its power where his leader could not, and instead placed it within his own chest. The Matrix's energies warped his body into a powerful, misshapen hulk, increasing his power to the point that he was able to oust Galvatron and take control of the Decepticons himself. Scourge proceeded to lead the Decepticons in an attack on Earth, only to be bested by Hot Rod, who had since learned the importance of "the burden hardest to bear", and reclaimed the Matrix once more. {{storylink|The Burden Hardest to Bear}}

[[File:ReturnOptimusPrime2 Matrix open.JPG|thumb|225px]]
When Optimus Prime was at last truly resurrected, he was forced to battle the [[Hate Plague]]-infected Rodimus in order to reclaim the Matrix from him, in hopes of consulting the Wisdom of the Ages to find a cure for the disease. Communicating with the mysterious It, he learned that the only way combat the madness of the plague was with wisdom, and opened the Matrix, expelling all of the wisdom within it to extinguish the disease (in the process claiming that this was also the Autobots' "darkest hour"). Although the Matrix was emptied, leaving only a shell, Optimus claimed they would have to start filling it with wisdom again, from that moment on. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2}}

In [[2007]], Optimus Prime used the shell of the Matrix as a substitute key to access [[Vector Sigma]], where he consulted Alpha Trion on the mystery of the [[Plasma Energy Chamber]]. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 2}}
{{-}}

====Madman ''The Transformers'' comic====
[[File:Madman comic PrimeHotrod.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|Optimus's proposal to Hot Rod.]]
The significance of the Matrix to the Autobots was such that when Optimus Prime prepared to lead the Autobots in an evacuation of Cybertron in the year 2001, he hid the Matrix in a bunker at the construction site of the future Autobot City. Unfortunately, [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] had monitored the Autobot leader's meeting with Ultra Magnus, and moved to steal the Matrix for the Decepticons. Fate intervened in the form of Hot Rod, who defeated the Decepticons and took back the ancient Autobot relic, and at the same time received a vision of his future as the Autobot who would light Cybertron's darkest hour. {{storylink|The Transformers (Madman)|The Transformers}}

====Rodimus vs. Cyclonus====
After their adventure on [[Quintessa (planet)|Quintessa]], while Hot Rod, [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] and the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s were searching space for Ultra Magnus's team, they were attacked by [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]. A flash of ancient knowledge he had received from the Matrix upon catching it when Optimus Prime had passed it to Magnus inspired Hot Rod to invoke the [[Challenge of Aria-Bellum]]. {{storylink|Rodimus vs. Cyclonus}}
{{-}}

====''Wings Universe''====
{{Wingsnote}}
Nine million years ago, the Matrix of Leadership was being transported aboard the Autobot cargo hauler ''[[Van De Graaff]]'' when the ship was attacked by the Quintessons and crash-landed on the planet [[Beta-Nine]]. All aboard perished, but the Matrix was soon recovered by the crew of the ''[[Eight Track (G1)|Eight Track]]'', who safely delivered it back to Cybertron. There, the Matrix was passed into the care of Alpha Trion, who granted it to his new choice for Autobot leader, Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Wings of Honor}}

====''Deviations''====
After viewing the massive death toll at [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]], [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hot Rod]] claimed all the deceased had found peace in the Matrix. [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] slapped him upside the head for speaking blasphemy about the Matrix. When [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] arrived at Cybertron, he made a baragin with [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] that the newly minted Decepticon leader would destroy the Matrix in exchange for upgrades. ''En route'' to Cybertron, Hot Rod confessed to [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]] that whenever he came near Optimus, he saw visions of the Prime dying as if the Matrix was trying to tell him something. Starscream, now "Megascream", then attacked but withdrew when Unicron devoured [[Moonbase One]]. The Autobots regrouped on [[Moonbase Two]] when Unicron began attacking Cybertron directly where Optimus Prime took a shuttle to the Chaos Bringer's shell, believing the Matrix could stop him. Still haunted by visions, Hot Rod secretly climbed aboard. Megascream was waiting for Optimus and combined with several of his troops to steal the Matrix. Hot Rod saved Prime from certain death and teleported him away before he opened the Matrix, destroying Unicron at the cost his own life and the talisman. In the aftermath, Optimus Prime saw a vision of [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] and the newest addition to the rank of great Autobots within the Matrix: Rodimus Prime. {{storylink|Transformers: Deviations}}

====Japanese cartoon continuity====
{{note|The events of the Generation 1 cartoon occur in Japanese animated continuity as described above, except that the events of 2006 are moved forward to 2010, and "The Rebirth" does not occur. A 2007 [[retcon]] built upon the original cartoon's confusing hints to create a full origin for the Matrix in this continuity.}}

What would become known as the Matrix was a device created by Primacron to convert its wielders' accumulated experiences and wisdom into a powerful all-purpose energy. It was originally built into his assistant (also known as the "Oracle") who was then targeted and destroyed by Unicron when he realized the power of the Matrix was a threat to him. However, the Oracle's lifeforce persisted within the Matrix and fled to a dead world at the centre of the galaxy, which he used his powers to transform into a lush, green world. In time, however, the alien Quintessons came to the Oracle's world and were able to bring him under their power, transforming him into the mega-computer, Vector Sigma. Using the [[Key to Vector Sigma]], the Quintessons cyber-formed the Oracle's world into [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], and the Oracle's life-giving powers were harnessed to produce a race of robotic slaves. They also found and held onto the now empty shell of the Matrix, which absorbed their malevolent brand of wisdom and filled up with corrupted, evil energy. When the Quintessons were kicked off the planet by the robots that would become the Autobots, they claimed the Matrix and, repulsed by its contents, emptied it out again. The discarded energy would one day grow sentient and become [[Devil Z]]. {{storylink|Generation 1 cartoon timeline (Japan)|2007 TakaraTomy Transformers timeline}} {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. EX (Grand Maximus)|Bonus Edition Vol. EX}}

=====''The Battle of the Star Gate''=====
[[File:StargateBattles matrix powered megatron.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Ka-me-ha-me-ha~!]]

In the mid-1990s, Optimus Prime put the power of the Matrix to an unconventional use when a battle in space forced him to team up with Megatron in order to stop the rampage of [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], who had fused himself with the space station known as the ''[[Trigger]]''. With Megatron in gun mode clutched in his arms, Prime summoned up the Matrix's energy and channelled it through his body, into the Decepticon leader, who unleashed it all in one colossal shot of cosmic proportions. The blast obliterated Starscream's new ''Trigger''-body, but the backwash of the explosion was so great that it sent Prime, Megatron, and all the Transformers observing the battle on a fiery plummet into Earth's atmosphere. {{storylink|The Battle of the Star Gate}}

=====''Story of Binaltech''=====
In a parallel timeline that diverged off from this one thanks to the flow of history being altered by the time-tossed [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], Optimus Prime did not die in 2005, and was prepared to confront Unicron himself. However, after sustaining serious injuries in the opening salvo of the battle with the chaos-bringer, Prime passed the Matrix to Ultra Magnus. Despite knowing he was not the Chosen One, Magnus bravely petitioned the Matrix to allow him to wield its power anyway, as otherwise, the Autobots' destruction was assured. The Matrix granted Magnus his wish, and its energy was used to destroy Unicron. {{storylink|Binal Time}}
{{-}}

=====''Kiss Players''=====
After inheriting the Matrix in 2005, Rodimus Prime was horrified to discover that when he threw Galvatron out of Unicron, the Decepticon leader had wound up crash-landing on Earth, destroying [[Tokyo]]. Seeking to atone for his sins, Rodimus returned the Matrix to Ultra Magnus and became Hot Rod again, leaving both the talisman and the role of leadership in Magnus's hands for five years until he returned to his post in 2010. {{storylink|Transformers: Kiss Players (radio drama)|A Big Catch Tonight?!}}

=====''The Headmasters'' cartoon=====

After emptying the Matrix to cure the Hate Plague, Optimus Prime sought to restore the lifeforce that had been lost by filling it with energy drawn from the lifeforce of [[Earth]] itself. To this end, the Matrix was secreted away in the lower levels of one of many Autobot energy-gathering facilities on Earth, where Prime hoped it would steadily recharge. Whether or not this odd-sounding plan would have ''worked'' is an area of some debate, but ultimately, a different set of circumstances soon came into play...

[[File:DoublePrime matrix recharged.jpg|left|upright=1.45|thumb|Alpha Trion's spirit re-enters the Matrix, recharging it.]]

In the year 2011, a catastrophic side-effect of the Matrix's energy being released became apparent—without the Matrix to act as a controlling force, Vector Sigma began to destabilize, putting all of Cybertron in great danger. The Decepticons took this opportunity to invade the planet, hoping to take control of the unstable computer and by extension, the planet itself. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} During the battle that followed, Optimus Prime headed for Vector Sigma's chamber to try and bring the computer back under control, but without the Matrix—which remained hidden on Earth, its location known only to Prime himself—the only recourse would be to give up his own life. To stop Prime from making this sacrifice, Hot Rod led the Autobot [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] in a methodical search across Earth, checking every Autobot energy facility. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}} After successfully locating the Matrix in the last possible hiding place and evading his pursuers, Hot Rod returned to Cybertron, arriving in Vector Sigma's chamber just as Optimus Prime was facing off against the Decepticons. The ghost of Alpha Trion, who had survived the emptying of the Matrix and who had led Prime safely to the computer chamber, merged with the Matrix, restoring its lost lifeforce and giving it the power to once again transform Hot Rod into Rodimus Prime. The two Primes dispatched the Decepticons, but before Rodimus could use the Matrix to stabilize Vector Sigma, Optimus Prime sacrificed himself by merging with the computer to bring it back under control. {{storylink|Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime}}

Some time later, when Cybertron was subsequently devastated thanks to the machinations of Decepticon Headmaster leader [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], Rodimus Prime voyaged into space to search for a new homeworld for the Transformers, taking the Matrix with him. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2}}
{{-}}

=====''The Headmasters'' comic=====

On his many travels through space, the Matrix gave Rodimus Prime courage to face every challenge that presented itself. In addition to the teachings of the ancient Autobots, the energy of Earth's lifeforce that now dwelled within the Matrix as well truly opened Rodimus's eyes to the beauty of Earth and humanity. Believing that Transformers should aspire to be more like human beings, he returned to Earth and announced his desire for humans and Transformers to live and work together to move forward and evolve. {{storylink|The Headmasters issue 8|The Headmasters #8}}

=====''G-2'' story pages and pack-in manga=====

[[File:G2StoryPageReconfigurationMatrix1.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb]]

Presumably, Rodimus Prime must have returned the Matrix to Optimus Prime when he was restored to life as Star Convoy, since Prime had the talisman back in his chest when he adopted his "Hero" body at the beginning of the renewed war against Megatron some number of years after 2025. {{storylink|Transformers: G-2 (story page)|G-2 Part 1}} A research team led by [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]], [[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]], and [[Perceptor (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Perceptor]] later discovered new properties of the Matrix, which prompted Megatron to duel Optimus Prime in the [[Mirtonian constellation]] in order to steal the Matrix for himself. {{storylink|Transformers: G-2 (story page)|G-2 Part 4}} Megatron fatally wounded Prime, but the ancient Autobots within the Matrix were able to restore him thanks to the newly discovered power Jetfire's team had learned of: the [[Reconfiguration Matrix]], which repaired and restored Prime in a new Laser Rod body. {{storylink|Transformers: G-2 (story page)|G-2 Part 5}}

=====e-HOBBY storyline=====
Having briefly held the Matrix, Ultra Magnus's spark was among the chosen few which retained autonomy within the Allspark. Sensing the threat [[Galvatron II]] posed to the universe with his fleet of [[Warworld]]s, Magnus used the powers of the Reconfiguration Matrix to resurrect himself in a new body based on Prime's Laser Rod form so that he could battle the Decepticon leader. It didn't go very well. {{storylink|Hybrid Style Convoy Black Version}}
{{-}}

=====''Legends'' comic=====
Alpha Trion and the Matrix played a role in Hot Rod's conversion to a [[Micromaster]]. {{storylink|Transformers 2015 Tailgate/G1 Micron Chapter|Tailgate/G1 Micron Chapter}} During the rise of Galvatron II, Optimus Prime contacted the spirit of Alpha Trion within the Matrix and asked him to locate and bring back Ultra Magnus's spark. The process of resurrecting Magnus also brought Trion himself back in a diminutive body connected to the powers of the Matrix. {{storylink|LG14 Ultra Magnus Prologue#Resurrection Chapter|Resurrection Chapter}} Scourge later captured Alpha Trion to draw upon the Matrix's energy, but it ended up overloading his [[transtector]], which exploded. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 26|Bonus Edition Vol. 26}}

===Start Your Own Decoy Collection===
[[File:Decoy comic matrix.jpg|left|thumb]]
Through unknown means, the Decepticons were able to steal the Creation Matrix and holed it up in their headquarters. In order to stage a recovery, the Autobots created an army of [[Decoy]]s to distract the Decepticon forces, while Ultra Magnus, Hot Rod, Kup and [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] secretly penetrated the base. Fighting their way through a slew of [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]], the team discovered the Matrix in a transparent case. Blurr blasted it open at Hot Rod's direction, and the Autobots successfully escaped with the talisman back in their possession. {{storylink|Start Your Own Decoy Collection|The Decepticon Deception}}
{{-}}
===Beast Era===
====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
[[File:OptimalSituation spark holder.jpg|thumb|The similarity between Prime's "spark holder" and the Matrix was a source of some confusion.]]
Several enigmatic references were made to the Matrix by the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Warriors]] at various points, though it is never precisely clear if they are referring to the Matrix of Leadership, the Allspark dimension, [[Matrix (facility)|the protoform production facility on Cybertron]] that also goes by that name, or some theoretical conglomeration of any of the above that they only speak of out of misconception.

When the body of Optimus Prime was fatally wounded by [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]], [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] opened Prime's chest compartment in order to take the Autobot leader's spark into his own body for safety. Prime's spark was shown to be contained within a holder shaped just like the Matrix of Leadership, and Rhinox remarked that Prime's spark had "the Matrix with it". {{storylink|Optimal Situation}}
{{-}}

====3H comics====
While experiencing a swirl of visions from throughout history, the [[Covenant (group)|Covenant]] witnessed the Matrix being torn by the [[Liege Maximo]] from the body of the enigmatic [[Primon]], its first holder. {{storylink|Covenant (story)|Covenant}}

[[File:Sparkholderprimevaldawn.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|The Matrix, beneath Prime's "spark holder".]]

The confusion surrounding the Matrix-like "spark holder" in Prime's chest and its relation to the actual Matrix of Leadership was clarified when it was revealed that the Matrix was actually concealed in a compartment beneath Prime's own spark, a deception specifically designed to protect the Matrix and keep it from those who would misuse its power.

[[File:Primevaldawn2 tarantulas matrix.jpg|215px|I'm not sure how I'll get this in my chest. Maybe I'll carry it with a sheath of some sort?|thumb]]

Following the end of the Beast Wars, the deceased [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] was resurrected, having harnessed the powers of the alien [[Vok]] with the intention of stealing the Matrix and delivering it to his master, Unicron. Seeking to keep the Matrix out of Tarantulas's hands, the Vok took the talisman from the sleeping Optimus Prime and used its power to transform the discarded control suit the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] had previously used to manipulate Optimus Primal into [[Primal Prime]]. Primal Prime was made guardian of the Matrix, and filled with all the wisdom of the past leaders within it. {{storylink|Primeval Dawn Part 1}} Unfortunately, the Vok had miscalculated: While it was within Optimus Prime, the Matrix had been safe, but once they had broken the forces that had bound it to Prime in order to transfer it to their creation, it had become vulnerable. This was proven in drastic fashion when, in the following battle, Tarantulas was able to overpower Primal Prime and rip the Matrix from his body. {{storylink|Primeval Dawn Part 2}} The shock threw Primal Prime into a comatose state, while Tarantulas took the Matrix back to his lab to await the completion of the [[Transwarp]] portal that would take him and his prize to Unicron. {{storylink|Primeval Dawn Part 3}}

{{note|"Primeval Dawn" was never finished as a result of [[3H Productions]] losing the Transformers license. Obviously enough, its finale would have seen our heroes recover the Matrix from Tarantulas and replace it in Optimus Prime's chest.}}
{{-}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[File:Ancients.jpg|left|thumb|225px|The Matrix-shaped platform above the Oracle Tank.]]
Most modern Cybertronians eschew the mythology of the Matrix as set out by the [[Council of Ancients]], which claims that it is a conduit for the energies of Primus, choosing instead to believe in [[atechnogenesis]]. Despite this, Transformer society still holds the Matrix itself in great reverence, as, product of a deity or not, it is indisputably the most effective source of new Transformer life. Many conflicting stories and rumors swirl about the Matrix's true nature, born of claims that the Council actively prevented Alpha Trion from telling the general public more about it, but what ''is'' known about the talisman is that it is a virtually limitless source of energy. Only those with an affinity for the Matrix can wield its power; these Transformers are typically those chosen to be the next Prime, who often receive physical augmentation when the Matrix is taken into their bodies. {{storylink|Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More Than Meets The Eye #8}} The Ancients claim that the Matrix contains the wisdom of all sparks that return to it after death, though they do keep a more tangible version of that sort of thing in the form of a [[Golden Disk (council)|golden disk]] that holds the knowledge of past Primes. {{storylink|The War Within issue 6|The War Within #6}}
[[File:TWW1 prime gets matrix.jpg|225px|thumb|150 points to Gryffindor!]]

The earliest known bearer of the Matrix was [[Primon|Alpha Prime]], who was succeeded by Guardian Prime, and then Sentinel Prime. {{storylink|Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More Than Meets The Eye #8}} Around 8.2 million years ago, seeking to use the Matrix to power the planetary turbine engines he had discovered beneath Cybertron's surface, Megatron attacked and killed Sentinel Prime, only to discover upon tearing his victim open that the Matrix was gone, having already been given by Sentinel Prime to the Council of Ancients for unknown reasons (perhaps having foreseen his own death). The Council subsequently chose a data archivist named Optronix to be the new bearer of the Matrix, and brought him to the [[Oracle Tank]], in which both he and the Matrix were immersed. Optronix was enlarged and strengthened by the Matrix, and transformed into Optimus Prime. {{storylink|The War Within issue 1|The War Within #1}}

Soon after, Megatron attacked Prime in the catacombs beneath Cybertron and cracked open his form, exposing the Matrix. A blinding flash burst from the Matrix, showing Prime and Megatron visions of future conflicts on Earth and [[Nebulos]], but it was implied that Optimus somehow used the Matrix to force Megatron to forget these visions. How much knowledge he himself retained is unknown. {{storylink|The War Within issue 5|The War Within #5}}
[[File:PrimeDirective2 spike replaces matrix.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb]]

Millions of years later, after their war on Earth, the Transformers were set to return to Cybertron aboard the [[Ark II]] in 1999, at which point Optimus Prime gave [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] a piece of the Matrix as a promise that he would be back. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 2|Prime Directive #2}} The Ark II proved to have been sabotaged, however, and exploded in mid-flight, leaving the world to believe that the Transformers were dead until 2002, when the terrorist [[Lazarus]] recovered several of their bodies and reprogrammed them for use as weapons that he would sell on the black market. The American military recovered the body of Optimus Prime and [[Robert Hallo|General Hallo]] drafted Spike to help in bringing him back to life, {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 1|Prime Directive #1}} which Spike accomplished by returning the portion of the Matrix Prime had given him. Thus restored, Prime revived the other surviving Autobots by casting the light of the Matrix across the Arctic landscape where their bodies lay, melting away the ice that held them and bringing them back online. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 2|Prime Directive #2}}
[[File:G1 Vol.2 Issue6 2.jpg|thumb]]
When the Autobots and Decepticons were finally able to return to Cybertron, a chain of events ultimately led Optimus Prime into a confrontation with Shockwave in Vector Sigma's chamber. Knocking Prime out and blasting his chest open, Shockwave harnessed the energy of the Matrix and used it to access Vector Sigma's databanks in an attempt to learn all of the dark secrets at the heart of Cybertron. {{storylink|Countdown to Extinction (issue)|Countdown to Extinction}} Before Shockwave could complete his dark experiments, enemy forces converged on his lab, so the Decepticon logician tore the Matrix from Prime's body, intending to flee, only to be stopped and defeated by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]. Grimlock recovered the Matrix and returned it to Prime, {{storylink|Revelation (War and Peace)|Revelation}} but the trauma of its forceful removal necessitated that Prime spend an extended session in a CR chamber to recover. {{storylink|Black Sunshine}}

====''The Transformers Trilogy'' novels====
Captured by the enigmatic aliens known as the [[Keeper (species)|Keepers]] and imprisoned inside their giant techno-organic bodies, Optimus Prime found himself forced into a suicide ploy, using a torrent of energon from the Matrix to destroy the creatures from within, willing to take himself with it. The gateway back to Earth was opened by Spike at the last moment, allowing Prime to hold off on his sacrifice, but unfortunately, the Keepers came through the portal as well. {{storylink|Transformers: Hardwired|Hardwired}} During the battle that ensued against the Keepers in [[Las Vegas]], a pool of pure energon was uncovered beneath the city, which Prime combined with the energon of the Matrix to temporarily imbue himself with incredible power. Simultaneously, the American government launched a nuclear missile at Las Vegas in order to destroy both the Transformers and the Keepers, but the super-charged Prime was able to capture the missile's explosion in a net of Matrix energy, hurling it at the Keepers and blasting them through their portal. {{storylink|Transformers: Annihilation|Annihilation}}

Following the Keepers' apparent defeat, Megatron called Prime in on a favour he had extracted from him in order to ensure his co-operation when they had been captives of the Keepers: Prime was to hand over the Matrix itself. Prime complied, partially out of honor, and partially due to the fact that he knew Megatron, as a Decepticon, would be unable to use the Matrix's power. Unfortunately, Prime had not reckoned with Megatron's giant soldier, [[Omega Sentinel (G1)|Omega Sentinel]], who was actually a reprogrammed Autobot whose non-Decepticon circuitry could interface with the Matrix to some extent. Omega Sentinel used his new Matrix-powered strength to destroy the White House, but the talisman's effect on his systems was immediately apparent by the fact that no life was lost in the attack. When the Sentinel refused to kill the Keeper-controlled [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] and Starscream on Megatron's orders, the Decepticon leader realized that the Matrix was influencing the giant and had him remove it from his body. The Matrix was recovered by the Keepers' agent [[Franklin Townsend]] and brought to the pocket-dimension into which the aliens had been transported, but Optimus Prime pursued Townsend and recovered the Matrix, once again intending to use it to destroy his alien enemies by collapsing the pocket dimension, at the cost of his own life. And once again the portal opened, leaving Prime content to force the Keepers back with the Matrix's light while he himself returned to Earth. However, Prime was unable to shut the portal off, required as he was to devote his attention to using the Matrix to keep the creatures from passing through the gateway. Salvation came in the form of the Omega Sentinel, the Matrix's effect on his systems persisting even after its removal: the giant threw himself and [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] into the portal just as Prime shut off the Matrix, collapsing the gate and sealing the Keepers away forever. {{storylink|Transformers: Fusion|Fusion}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
[[File:ArtofWar1 matrix.jpg|left|thumb]]
Optimus Prime was formerly a simple data archivist until the Matrix chose him to be the new leader of the Autobots. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 2|The Art of War #2}}

Renegade military artificial intelligence [[Serpentor|Serpent O.R.]] learned about the Matrix whilst downloading information on the history of Cybertron from Soundwave, and ''really'' liked the bit about "bestowing great power". {{storylink|The Art of War issue 1|The Art of War #1}} He subsequently captured Optimus Prime and tried to convince him to give up the Matrix peacefully. From Serpent O.R.'s point of view, he was a great and respected leader too, so surely the Matrix would deem him a worthy bearer. In addition, he was sure the ancient relic would provide him with a spark so he could finally understand what life and death really meant. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 4|The Art of War #4}}
[[File:ArtofWar5 hawk serpentor matrix.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
Unfortunately, Prime disagreed, so Serpent O.R. ended up having to take the Matrix by force. As he had planned, the Matrix did deem him worthy and did give him a soul, all while transforming him into a new form to boot. However, with his newfound wisdom, "Serpentor Prime" quickly saw the error of his ways, and would've committed suicide if it weren't for [[Cobra Commander]] hijacking his body. In order to stop the commander, [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] tried to take the Matrix away from him, and was deemed worthy of it as well. This caused a power feedback that destroyed Serpent O.R., fried Cobra Commander's mind, and imbued Hawk with all the knowledge of the Matrix. While the artifact was unharmed and was returned to Optimus Prime when everything was over, the knowledge that now filled Hawk's mind gave him visions of future conflicts to come. {{storylink|The Art of War issue 5|The Art of War #5}}

In addition to vision, the Matrix also gave Hawk the ability to control machinery with his mind, converse with Transformers telepathically, and force enough information into Transformers to incapacitate them with a single touch. Unfortunately, it also gave him recurring nightmares about an [[Unicron/Generation 1|angry god]]. {{storylink|Black Horizon, Part 1 of 2}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers/G.I. Joe''===
[[File:DWTFJoe3 cobra commander matrix.jpg|left|thumb|125px]]
As the Autobots and Decepticons on Earth lay deactivated among the [[Fera Islands]], the Matrix was discovered by local [[human]]s, and became the sacred relic of a group of monks, who built it into the chest of a statue. Unfortunately, a rumour spread that the glowing blue orb possessed by the monks was an "ultimate weapon", and in 1938, [[Cobra]] massacred the monks and stole the Matrix. When [[Major Bludd]] touched the relic, the Decepticons who laid dormant on the island were reactivated. {{storylink|The Line}}

The Matrix subsequently came into the possession of [[Cobra Commander]], who learned that he could use it to hurt and weaken [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]. Using this method, he blackmailed the Decepticons into serving him. {{storylink|Trial by Fire}} In the end, Cobra Commander was killed, and [[Snake-Eyes]] grabbed the Matrix. By this time, the Autobots and [[G.I. Joe (team)|Joes]] were under attack by the unstoppable [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]], so [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] urged Snake-Eyes to smash the Matrix, in hopes that the destruction of the life-giving artifact would take away Bruticus's lifeforce. Snake-Eyes complied and let Bruticus crush the Matrix with his wildly swinging fists, causing a flash of blue light that killed all Transformers present. {{storylink|The Iron Fist}}
{{-}}

===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
[[File:MTMTEannual solomus matrix.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
According to religious legend, the core of the Matrix was created from [[Solomus]], the god of wisdom, trapped in the form of a crystal by [[Mortilus]], the god of death. Following the defeat of Mortilus, Solomus managed to transform his crystal prison into the Matrix—a conduit for the energies of [[Primus]], who had himself transformed into the life-giving computer Vector Sigma. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}} {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (2): The God War|The God War}}

In actuality, the Matrix was created by [[Rung (G1)|Primus]], {{storylink|Crucible (Part 5): The Unremembering|The Unremembering}} and passed onto the [[Knights of Cybertron]] when they left to explore new worlds. {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here|You Are Here}} Legend says that they called it the "Creation Matrix" for the life-giving abilities they believed its connection to Vector Sigma granted it. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}} When the Knights landed on the medical hub of [[Mederi]], the moon's telepathic field, intended to induce happiness in euthanasia patients so they could die in peace, inadvertently convinced them they had discovered a perfect mechanical world, which they dubbed "[[Cyberutopia]]." To share this discovery with their homeworld, they inscribed a map to Mederi inside the Matrix's crystal core, and sent it back to Cybertron (via currently-unknown means), hoping the rest of their kind would follow it and join them in eternal happiness. {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here|You Are Here}}

It was, perhaps, fortunate that this roadmap to a peaceful death was never discovered by contemporary Cybertronians; upon its return to Cybertron, the Matrix was used by [[Solus Prime]] in the construction of the mighty [[Star Saber (Prima)|Star Saber]] sword, becoming the jewel on the hilt of the blade, which came to be wielded by [[Prima]]. {{storylink|The Falling, Interlude: The First Who Was Named|The First Who Was Named}} The Matrix's integration into the Saber survived in the folklore of both Cybertron and [[Caminus (planet)|Caminus]], {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 1: To Walk Among the Chosen|To Walk Among the Chosen}} with the latter culture regarding it as the "Matrix of Light". {{storylink|The Sum and Its Parts}} {{storylink|Conquerors Part 2: Lagrange|Lagrange}} {{storylink|O Ship of State|Victorion profile in Revolution #3}} In [[Velocitron]]ian culture, the device remained known as the Creation Matrix. {{storylink|Primeless, Part 2}}

[[File:Tyrest and the matrix.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]

Those capable of bearing the Matrix within them are marked by certain [[Signs of Affinity|signs of affinity]]: having optics the same shade of "liberty blue" as the [[Matrix Flame]], finding ''[[Living metal#IDW Generation 1 continuity|sentio metallico]]'' wet to the touch, becoming giddy when standing on a [[hot spot]], and the ability to make a [[photonic crystal]] "snap" when placed in their chest. {{storylink|The Plotters' Club (Part 3): Journey's End|Journey's End}}

The cruel supremacist [[Nova Prime]], a former lieutenant of Prima's, is the earliest known bearer of the Matrix in recent history, though exactly how he came to carry it after Prima's death is unknown. Nova observed that the pulsewaves from Vector Sigma which generated new sparks from the substance of Cybertron and its moon were lessening in regularity, and, fearing (correctly) that they would one day stop entirely, tasked his scientists with studying the Matrix, hoping that the life-giving power the legends said it possessed could be tapped into. A team led by [[Solomus|Tyrest]] set to the task, and succeeded in finding a way to generate sparks from the Matrix in abundance, producing a vast reservoir of them which were stockpiled and steadily rolled out into society as new bodies were constructed for them. The true origin of these "Matrixed" sparks was hidden from the general public, and a cover story was put into place that claimed they were created via "spark splicing", using the energy of an existing spark to ignite a new one. Transformers created in this manner were described as "constructed cold", while those born naturally were "forged". {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}}

Eventually, the Matrix would yield no more sparks, causing Tyrest and his team to believe it had run dry. In reality, one of the scientists had had an attack of conscience and stolen the Matrix, replacing it with a facsimile and hiding the real one away in the subterranean labyrinth of the [[Undergrid]]. {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}} Once Nova Prime left the planet aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark-1]] and vanished into the [[Benzuli Expanse]],<ref>Author Simon Furman implied in a [http://simonfurman.wordpress.com/2007/12/12/another-quick-qa/ December 2007 Q&A on his blog] and in the narration of ''[[Spotlight: Galvatron]]'' that in his original plans for this story, Nova ''did'' take the Matrix into the Dead Universe (Optimus Prime is never shown to carry it in Furman's stories), where it would have "become" something. Presumably, it was his intention for it to become the Darkness itself, which would not have been the separate entity it was in the finished story. These plans were cut short and wrapped up when Furman left the series, and subsequent writers established that Optimus had indeed been carrying the Matrix all along.</ref> the fake Matrix was protected by the presumably-unwitting [[Primal Vanguard]], carried by its leader [[Delta Magnus]] during a period known as the [[Interregnum]] until a new bearer was chosen. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}} [[Nominus Prime]] is the earliest recorded Matrix-bearer after Nova, but whether he was his direct successor or not is unknown. It's also unclear whether Nominus Prime was aware that the Matrix was a fake. It's likely he did, since Nominus presumably falsified an "affinity for the Matrix" somehow in order to be named Prime.

Many Transformers embraced the religion surrounding the Matrix during the time of Nominus's reign, though with exceptions, such as police captain [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]], who remained sceptical of its touted divinity. Some Transformers would even "tattoo" an image of the Matrix on their bodies as evidence of their faith, such Orion's co-worker [[Springarm]] {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}} and the trainee theoretician [[Skids (G1)|Skids]]. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}} Nominus's reign was a time of great civil unrest, however; a senator named [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]] hoped that a new Matrix-bearer might steer the planet off the path to self-destruction the corrupt [[Senate]] had placed it upon, and so began selecting promising young Cybertronians like [[Zeta Prime|Zeta]] and Orion Pax, befriending and rebuilding them with Matrix chambers in their chests. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}} {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}}

[[File:Autocracy9 pax finds matrix.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
In order to take control of the Matrix's life-giving powers, the corrupt forces within the Senate arranged for an attack upon Nominus Prime, moving him into hiding so they could gain unfettered access to the talisman. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}} Upon opening Nominus's chest, however, the Senate at last discovered that the Matrix had been replaced with a fake. Furious, they had Nominus killed, establishing a cover story that he had died of a rust infection, and announcing that their security head [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel]] was showing signs of Matrix affinity, paving the way for him to become Sentinel Prime. {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|Post Hoc}} The fake Matrix was then transformed into a bomb as part of a plot to incriminate and round up the burgeoning Decepticon faction, {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism|Patternism}} but a team led by Orion Pax uncovered the scheme, broke into the [[Primal Basilica]] and removed the Matrix-bomb, which Orion then detonated to win a battle with the [[Heavies]]. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}} It was not long after this that tensions exploded in the outbreak of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]; {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|Post Hoc}} {{storylink|The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin}} when reflecting back on this time, Kup distilled the reasons behind the outbreak of the conflict down to blaming the Matrix as the root cause. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 6|All Hail Megatron #6}}

[[File:AHM7 megs rips out matrix.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1]]

Sentinel was succeeded by Zeta Prime, who much like his predecessor used a new fake Matrix (with lights installed!) to claim the title, and only those involved with Sentinel's scheme were aware of the truth. {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 1: To Walk Among the Chosen|To Walk Among the Chosen}} {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 4: Dance Among the Shadows|Dance Among the Shadows}} Zeta was subsequently killed by [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]], who then hurled Orion Pax into the Undergrid, where Orion found the hiding place of the true Matrix. The damaged Pax was called out to by Matrix, which asked him to take hold of it. Upon doing so, he was linked to the sparks of every single Cybertronian alive and was overcome by the pain, fear and loneliness his people were experiencing. As power of the Matrix repaired his body, he realized that it was not only a symbol of leadership or creation, but a "Matrix of our sparks" in which [['Til all are one|all were one]]. With his newfound clarity and the Matrix in his chest, Orion declared his name to be Optimus Prime and set out to bring freedom to Cybertron. {{storylink|Transformation (issue)|Transformation}} Just thereafter, the Matrix guided him to the ruins of [[Nyon]] and allowed him to sense and awaken the dormant lifeforce of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], who was in deep slumber below the city. {{storylink|Rise}}

Optimus Prime would later try to unleash the power of the Matrix in an attempt to vanquish the ancient monster [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], but was for some reason unable to open it. {{storylink|Annihilation}} He revealed his possession of the Matrix to [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] as proof of his Primehood, {{storylink|Primacy issue 1|Primacy #1}} and later used its cleansing powers to purge the influence of [[Pentius]]'s spark from Megatron's body. {{storylink|Primacy issue 4|Primacy #4}} At some point Prime took a sabbatical and left the Matrix in the care of [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]], whom it took to so well legend says it had to be surgically removed from his chest. {{storylink|Little Victories}}

After the Transformers' conflict moved to Earth in the present day, Megatron determined to separate Optimus Prime from the Matrix. He was unaware of what the Matrix was actually capable of, but viewed any unknown element as a potential threat, and rationed that even if he could not use it himself, it would still be safer in his hands than in those of his enemies. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}} To this end, Megatron staged a trap for the Autobots with the aid of the traitorous [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], catching them off-guard with his newly created gestalt Devastator. Defeated, the Autobots were dumped via space bridge in the ruins of Cybertron, but not before Megatron tore the Matrix from Prime's chest himself. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}}
[[File:IDW13 hotrod starscream matrix.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
When Megatron was defeated a year later and his forces were routed off of Earth, Starscream took up the role of leader and "inherited" the captive Matrix. Frustrated by his failure to find any "ultimate power" within it after several cycles of study, he decided to throw it away, only to be caught by [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] just before blowing it out an airlock. Scrabbling for an explanation as to why he had the Matrix and reminded by the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]] of its massive symbolic importance to the Autobots, Starscream claimed he had been "chosen" by the talisman and now wielded its power. He went on to make this declaration before all the Decepticons, boosting morale and rallying them beneath him, but immediately regretted the decision. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 13|Uneasy Lies the Head}} And rightfully so: with the Matrix hung around his neck on a chain, its subtle influence on his mind over the next three years made the Decepticon air commander subdued and withdrawn, lost in contemplation of its mysteries, lashing out violently at any Decepticons who tried to touch it. This left him open to a brash attack by Hot Rod, who infiltrated the Decepticons' asteroid base in order to recover the Matrix. Hot Rod actually ''shot'' the Matrix to cause a discharge of energy that knocked Starscream out, then attempted to escape with the Matrix in hand, but was confronted by the newly repaired Megatron. He proceeded to blast both the Matrix and Hot Rod through the base wall, setting them adrift in the void of space. {{storylink|Heart Like a Wheel}} Starscream's possession of the "potentially threatening" Matrix had previously made Megatron hesitant to take back leadership of the Decepticons, but with the artifact lost in space, he had nothing to fear and quickly reclaimed his position. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|Altered Carbon}}
[[File:IDW19 matrix in chest.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.67]]
As they drifted through space together, the Matrix fused itself to Hot Rod's chest, keeping him alive and healing the damage Megatron had done. Eventually, Hot Rod crash-landed on the planet [[LV-118]], where he was taken captive by the [[Ilxian]] "[[Admiral]]", a stranded alien who sought to use the Matrix as a power source for his ship. With help from [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]], another Autobot stranded on the planet, Hot Rod was able to seize control of the Admiral's ship, and allowed Wheelie to tap the energy of the Matrix to get them off the planet. {{storylink|Space Opera Part 1: The Stars My Destination|The Stars My Destination}} Knocked unconscious by the process, Hot Rod awoke some time later to find that Wheelie had been able to remove the Matrix from his chest, and had piloted the ship to Cybertron. Knowing that the planet was overrun by the [[Insecticon swarm]], Hot Rod tried to convince Wheelie that they needed to leave right away, but that proved impossible, as the Matrix had ceased providing power to the ship. Things on Cybertron turned out to be better than Hot Rod had thought, though, as they met up with [[Ironhide (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ironhide]] and [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], who provided a fuel cell for their ship. {{storylink|Space Opera Act 2: Out of the Silent Planet|Out of the Silent Planet}} The entire group returned to Earth, where Hot Rod made his first duty the return of the Matrix to Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Space Opera—Final Tableaux: Orphans of the Helix|Orphans of the Helix}}

Departing for Cybertron aboard [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] with Megatron a captive, Prime removed the Matrix from his chest in order to prove to himself that even without its wisdom, he still had the ability to make rational judgements under his own power. Ratchet watched over the talisman while Prime deliberated on Megatron's fate, and was holding it while he examined the damaged [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], whose ability to walk was suddenly restored by its power. Although Prime ultimately concluded that Megatron's fate should be left for Megatron himself to decide, he did experience one disquieting revelation: Hot Rod revealed that when the Matrix had bonded with him, he had experienced not pain, as Optimus had felt, but unbridled elation. {{storylink|Chaos Theory Part 2}}
[[File:DoOP split matrix.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|"Where'd you get the Matrix?" "We found it." "Found it? In Altihex? The Matrix is tropical!"]]
Upon the Autobots' return to Cybertron, they were faced with the threat of Galvatron, latest carrier of the Heart of Darkness, who combined it with Vector Sigma in order to allow D-Void to emerge into the universe through Cybertron. To prevent this, Optimus Prime opened the Matrix, which succeeded in stopping D-Void, but also left the Matrix spent, its crystal core darkened and split in two. {{storylink|Chaos Part Four: Genesis|Genesis}} With unrest growing between the Autobots and the unaligned Transformers in the process of returning to the planet, Prime brought the two halves of the Matrix to [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] for study, and the scientist discovered that the crystal was artificial, designed to [[photonic crystal|split in two]], and contained a map of the stars. [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] believed the map would lead the way to the long-lost Knights of Cybertron, and Rodimus elected to gather a crew and follow the path it charted, much to acting leader [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]]'s consternation. Optimus Prime gave each of them one of the Matrix-halves, before departing Cybertron himself in hopes of ending the civil unrest. {{storylink|Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime}} Optimus kept the shell of the Matrix and returned it to within his chest cavity. {{storylink|First Contact (IDW)|First Contact}}

When Rodimus set foot on [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]], a billion sparks suddenly lit up on the moon's surface, something he credited to the Matrix half he was carrying. {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}} Having developed a belief that Cybertronians born from the Matrix were inherently evil, Tyrest used his knowledge of the talisman to construct the [[universal killswitch]]—a device capable of killing all cold constructed Transformers in existence by scrambling their unique sparkcode. Rodimus was able to put a stop to the process by hooking himself up to the machine and using his Matrix half to reinstate the code, but the crystal was shattered in the process. {{storylink|Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|This Calamitous Life}} He later scattered the dust of the Matrix on Luna 1 in honor of the sparks that were lost before they could be harvested. {{storylink|The Sound of Breaking Glass}} Optimus was...displeased when he learned of this. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}}

[[File:ForeverIsALongTimeComing-MatrixofLeadership.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.67]]
The other half of the Matrix remained in Bumblebee's care until his death, after which it fell back into the hands of Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 2: Detonation Boulevard|Detonation Boulevard}} On his anniversary of becoming Prime, he returned to where he had found it all those years ago, hoping to find some of the same hope to press forward. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming (issue)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}} He later spoke with [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] about the Matrix where she made said if the Matrix chose him, it had a good reason. {{storylink|First Contact (IDW)|First Contact}} When contact with [[Caminus (planet)|Caminus]] was established, Optimus was unwilling to let Starscream exploit it and all the other colonies. With Windblade at his side he passed through [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'s [[Space bridge|spacebridge]] to the chamber of the [[Forgefire Parliament]] where Windblade proclaimed him to be a Prime. The [[Mistress of Flame]] demanded proof of this and Optimus revealed the glowing Matrix to all. The natives of the planet bowed in his presence and revered him as a god, equal to [[Primus]] and the [[Thirteen]] Primes. {{storylink|The Sum and Its Parts}} After being immobilized by [[Victorion]], Optimus recounted the history of the Matrix but stated he believed to simply be a piece of advanced technology not a mystical artifact while also expressing confusion over why it had flared on Caminus. {{storylink|Conquerors Part 2: Lagrange|Lagrange}}

[[File:ToWalkAmongTheChosen-Ore13Matrix.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
When Optimus had his chest ripped open by a mutated [[Baron Karza]], the Matrix shone through the damages. {{storylink|Valley Forge}}

Atop the [[Matterhorn]], waiting for [[Quintesson Cruiser|an alien spacecraft]], Optimus regarded the Matrix only for it to suddenly glow. An unimpressed [[Pyra Magna]] simply revealed that the Matrix was simply reacting to the nearby [[Ore-13]]. {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 1: To Walk Among the Chosen|To Walk Among the Chosen}} When talking to [[Aileron]], Optimus again expressed that he did not believe the Matrix to be a divine artifact, calling it a "pulsewave generator". He noted however that could he use its symbolic importance to do good. Pyra Magna overheard his comment and was... displeased. {{storylink|New Cybertron Part 4: Dance Among the Shadows|Dance Among the Shadows}} After the Autobots and Junkions had gone to war, Optimus realized the precariousness of the situation and revealed the Matrix to all, allowing the assembled species to begin a peaceful resolution to the conflict. {{storylink|New Cybertron End: Feel Safe Without Regrets|Feel Safe Without Regrets}}

When Optimus Prime was thrown into the [[Crystal City]] [[black hole]], Starscream amusedly observed the remains of the Matrix be shattered by the gravitational forces. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 4: The Hallowing|The Hallowing}} Though the physical object had been destroyed, the powerful idea that the Matrix represented survived with Optimus when he found himself in [[infraspace]]. Realizing the symbolism that the artifact carried could represent a means to escape the realm of pure information, Optimus began to channel its power, {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 5: Endless Forever|Endless Forever}} expanding the black hole and allowing his and Bumblebee's minds to escape infraspace. This came at the heavy cost of disintegrating the Matrix's avatar, destroying the talisman once and for all. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 6: Unforgivable|Unforgivable}} {{storylink|Unicron issue 1|Unicron #1}}

[[File:LL24 Matrix Opening Pt1.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.45]]

Though the original Matrix was no more, Rung would rediscover his ancient memories and his alternate mode's ability to manufacture more Matrices. Though the [[Omega Guardian]]s pushed for him to forge three duplicates as part of their evil plan to blow up the Functionist Council's false Primus avatar, [[Team Rodimus]] hit on the plan to use twelve duplicates to overload [[Vector Sigma]] via the [[hot spot]]s. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 5): The Unremembering|The Unremembering}} Though Rung managed to produce the Matrices, doing so claimed his life. His sacrifice would not be in vain however as all twelve were opened and used to free Cybertron from the Council's tyranny. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 6): A Spark Among Embers|A Spark Among Embers}}

In Megatron's [[Galactic Council]] presided trial, Rodimus would falsely testify that Megatron had opened one of the duplicate Matrices, swaying some of the more religious races on the jury. {{storylink|How To Say Goodbye And Mean It: Part 2}}
[[File:LL24 Matrix Opening Pt2.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.45]]
{{-}}

====The Functionist Universe====
[[File:ModesOfProduction-SixOfTwelveAndMatrix.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.67]]
When the [[Functionist Council]] overthrew the [[Senate]], [[Twelve-of-Twelve]] obtained the false Matrix from Nominus and gave it to [[Six-of-Twelve]]. After obsessively studying the artifact, Six-of-Twelve came to believe Primus was speaking to him through it and integrated it into his head casing. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 3: A World Misplaced|A World Misplaced}}

When the council discovered Rung's ability to produce [[photonic crystal]]s, Six-of-Twelve tried to tap the Matrix to reignite Nova Prime's old cold construction program, but discovered that the Matrix was a useless fake. Undaunted, he turned the Matrix into a weapon that was able to suspend Cybertronians in a field of agonizing energy. When Rodimus was caught in this field, he immediately knew that Six-of-Twelve's Matrix was a false due to being familiar with the energies of the genuine article. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 5: Modes of Production|Modes of Production}}
{{-}}

===''Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun'' manga===
[[File:Henkei11 matrix.jpg|thumb|left|IT BURNS!!]]

When the demented [[Galvatron (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun manga|Galvatron]] went on a rampage in [[Hoshinochō]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun manga|Optimus Prime]] and his Autobots were forced to abandoned the secrecy with which they had been operating on Earth in order to confront the villain and save the human lives he was threatening. Just as Galvatron targeted the Autobots' human ally [[Wataru Hoshinoumi]], Optimus Prime threw himself into the path of the villain's attack, and was knocked unconscious by the force of the attack. In addition to rendering Prime insensate, however, Galvatron's blow had also shattered his chest, exposing the Matrix of Leadership that was kept within. Responding to Wataru's ability to manipulate [[energon]], the Matrix surged to life, restoring Prime and boosting his strength. The light of the Matrix also revealed an unexpected deception: the Autobots were not merely fighting Galvatron, but [[Cyclonus (G1)#Henkei! Henkei! Bun Bun manga|Cyclonus]], possessed by Galvatron's disembodied spark! {{storylink|A Nightmare, Once Again}} Summoning up the Matrix's energy, Prime struck Cyclonus with one almighty Matrix-powered punch, utterly obliterating his body and causing Galvatron's spark to dissipate. {{storylink|To the Sea of Stars}}
{{-}}

===''Robot Heroes''===
[[File:Robotheroes primus and matrix.jpg|thumb|By the power of Grayskull! I AM OPTIMUS PRIME!]]
The Matrix is a glowing crystal that gives the Autobots knowledge. It was created by the first Transformer, Primus, who gave it to Optimus Prime. {{storylink|I Am Optimus Prime (Robot Heroes)|I Am Optimus Prime}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''===
The Matrix was passed down to [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] by [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] before his death. {{storylink|Everybody Hates Metroplex}} [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] later defeated Prime and stole the Matrix, which he bonded with his [[black hole]] spark and used to subjugate [[Primus]] himself, allowing him to shape Cybertron according to his wishes. {{storylink|Pax Megatronus}}

Atop the Dyson Sphere above the Sun, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] managed to rip the Matrix from Megatron before a reborn Optimus Prime hurled Megatron into the sun. The Decepticon managed to hold onto the Matrix however, taking it with him only for [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] to seize the Matrix for himself. It was then snatched by [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] beginning a game of "hot potato" before [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] managed to return it to Optimus. {{storylink|The War Never Ends}}

===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
To save Earth from the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]], Optimus Prime sacrificed himself and the Matrix. {{storylink|Book of Logos}} With the talisman lost to the Transformers, [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] was instead felled by the [[Point One Percenter]]s, prompting [[Deluge (G2)|Deluge]] to genetically engineer more of them. {{storylink|The Inexorable March}}

===''Prime Wars Trilogy'' cartoons===
In the aftermath of the [[Combiner Wars (event)|Combiner Wars]], [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] no longer felt worthy to carry the Matrix of Leadership and instead decided to return it to the [[Chorus of the Primes]], reverting back to Hot Rod. {{storylink|Aftermath and Rebirth}} The [[Mistress of Flame]] criticized his decision, claiming they would need the Matrix to stop [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]'s rampage. {{storylink|Our Heroes Respond}} The Matrix projected a message to Optimus Prime, granting him a vision of future events, including the role the Matrix itself would play, prompting Optimus to head back towards the battlefield. {{storylink|The Fight Begins}} Learning from [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] that Rodimus had given up the Matrix, Optimus entered the Chorus chamber in the [[Primal Basilica]] and asked to take back the Matrix, which the Chorus obliged. {{storylink|Desperate Actions}} Guiding Perceptor to a secret exit below the Basilica, Optimus asked him to take the Matrix and get as far away as possible, lest Trypticon obtain it and use it's power to become unstoppable. {{storylink|Run for Our Lives}}

After running only a short while, the Matrix spoke to Perceptor and detailed its own plan; despite his apprehension, Perceptor did as it asked and tricked Trypticon into swallowing both himself and the Matrix. {{storylink|Consumed}} However, because the Matrix could only be used by its chosen wielder, Trypticon could not contain its power and ejected it and Perceptor from his body, along with the previously-swallowed [[Victorion]] and the [[Enigma of Combination]] and the ghost of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] possessing the Titan. Before Victorion could reclaim the Matrix and Enigma, they were surrounded by a barrier of flame as [[The Fallen|Megatronus]] revealed himself. After killing Optimus and issuing a series of vague threats, Megatronus grabbed the Matrix and the Enigma for himself and blasted off into the sky. {{storylink|All Things Must Pass}}

Megatronus later removed the Matrix from its storage and installed it and the Enigma into an unknown device in the [[Well of All Sparks|Well of Sparks]]. {{storylink|Without Warning}} Megatron eventually realized that Megatronus planned to use the Enigma to merge the Matrix's energy with the [[Requiem Blaster (Megatronus)|Requiem Blaster]], creating a weapon capable of killing every Transformer in the universe. Learning of Megatronus's use of the Matrix, the Unicron-controlled Rodimus Cron turned on him, declaring the Matrix must be destroyed. {{storylink|Consequences}} Megatronus returned to the [[Well of All Sparks|Well of Sparks]] and installed the Blaster into his doomsday weapon, beginning siphoning the life force from every Transformer's spark. Perceptor attempted to remove the Matrix and the other relics, but his efforts proved unsuccessful as Solus Prime began to return. {{storylink|Collision Course}} Unicron appeared, now fully in possession of Rodimus, and attempted to take the Matrix while Megatronus attempted to stop him. [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]], [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] and [[Grimlock G1)|Grimlock]] resumed attacking the machine until it finally released the relics, and the Matrix interfaced with Primal, creating a shield protecting them from Megatronus. Having been chosen by the Matrix as its new bearer, Primal placed it in his chest, transforming him into Optimal Optimus. {{storylink|Megatronus Unleashed}}

In the aftermath of Megatronus's and Unicron's defeats, Optimus Prime was resurrected thanks to his connection to the Matrix. He praised the Matrix's choice of Optimal as the new Prime, and agreed to guide him in his newfound role as the leader of Cybertron. {{storylink|Saga's End}}

===''Star Trek vs. Transformers''===
While mind-melded with Optimus Prime, [[Spock]] glimpsed a memory of the Matrix. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part Two}}

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===2001 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon===
[[File:PowerToBurn prime matrix.jpg|left|225px|thumb|My chestplate glows for you, Hotrod]]
Simply known as just 'the Matrix',<ref>The Matrix is never once called the 'Matrix of Leadership' in the ''Robots in Disguise'' 2001 cartoon. Though, it was initially called Optimus's 'Cyber Matrix' in "[[The Test (episode)|The Test]]", it was never again referred to as such afterward. It would not be until Optimus's profile published in [[The Official Transformers Collectors' Club Magazine issue 1|The OTFCC Magazine issue 1]] that this Matrix would be formally referred to as the "Matrix of Leadership".</ref> [[Optimus Prime (RID)|Optimus Prime]] was chosen by Vector Sigma to be its bearer and lead the Autobots as Commander-in-Chief of Cybertron. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus: Forced Fusion!}} Less a physical object and more an energy that suffused his form, Prime could call on the power of the Matrix in moments of great emotion, at which point his body would glow with its green light. {{storylink|The Test (episode)|The Test}}
[[File:TwoFaces magnus matrix.jpg|215px|thumb|I set my chestplate from studly to kill. Go nipple blasters!]]
Unfortunately for Prime, his brother [[Ultra Magnus (RID)|Ultra Magnus]] was furious at being passed over for the leadership role, and about halfway through Prime's campaign against [[Megatron (RID)|Megatron]] on Earth, Magnus arrived on the planet with the intent to take the Matrix for himself. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus (episode)|Ultra Magnus}} When he attempted to absorb the energy of the Matrix from Prime's body, however, a bizarre fusion occurred instead, merging the two brothers into [[Omega Prime]] and revealing that the intention had always been for them to ''share'' the energy of the Matrix between them. {{storylink|Ultra Magnus: Forced Fusion!}} Magnus later inadvertently used this link to channel the energy of the Matrix into the [[Autobot Brothers]], supercharging them. {{storylink|The Two Faces of Ultra Magnus}}

In the final battle against Megatron—now Galvatron—at the [[Earth's core]], [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] channeled all his energy into Omega Prime to give his leader the power boost that he hoped would ensure triumph. The extra energy combined with that of the Matrix and it burst forth, coalescing into the colossal [[Matrix Blade]], which Omega Prime used to claim victory. {{storylink|The Final Battle (RID)|The Final Battle}}
{{note|In ''Car Robots'', the original Japanese version of ''Robots in Disguise'', Prime does not possess a version of the Matrix of Leadership, instead carrys an [[Energon Matrix]].}}
{{--}}

====''Cybertron'' comic====
[[File:OptimusPrimeRIDprimuschamber.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Oops! Sorry. I had a premature matrix-ejaculation....]]
Teleported into the midst of a battle in another universe, Prime and Magnus found themselves on Cybertron, where the evil [[Nemesis Prime (Universe)|Nemesis Prime]] was attempting to use his [[Dead Matrix]] to destroy Primus. The brothers took him down, then separated so that Optimus could use his own Matrix to negate the evil energies released by the Dead Matrix. Opening the chamber in his Super Mode chest, he projected a beam of the Matrix's pure light into the Dead Matrix's swirling darkness, eliminating it. {{storylink|Revelations Part 1}}
{{note|This was the first fictional use of the detail sculpted into the ''Robots in Disguise'' Prime toy's Super Mode chest as the Matrix, as the ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon only implied it to be such but never actually made explicit use of it in this manner.}}
{{-}}

===Shell Game===
After the [[Optimus Prime (RID)|Optimus Prime]] of [[Viron 704.31 Epsilon]] was killed by [[Megazarak (Universe)|Megazarak]], once-leader of the [[Protection Team]] [[Defensor (OTFCC)|Hot Spot]] was passed the Matrix of Leadership by [[Ultra Trion]], becoming his team's combined form [[Defensor (OTFCC)|Defensor]] himself. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/07}} Megazarak sought the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]], believing that it would yield the location of [[Base Sigma]], the last outpost of Autobot resistance and the hiding place of the Matrix-bearer. He failed, being slightly delayed by Ultra Trion's final gambit. {{storylink|Shell Game}} Defensor would eventually triumph over Megazarak and begin to rebuild his world. However, the Matrix gave him visions of another Megazarak, one who had succeeded in conquering [[Viron 403.0 Beta|his own universe]] and spreading out to other universes. Defensor felt the duty to seek out this Megazarak and stop him as well. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/07}}

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===Unicron Trilogy cartoon continuity===
{{note|Plot points derived only from the original Japanese versions of the Unicron Trilogy cartoons, lost to the slipshod dubbing that plagued the series, are in italics.}}
====''Armada'' cartoon====
[[File:Crisis Hot Shot Matrix.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1|Optimus said that I could drive this up somewhere....]]
When [[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Megatron]] threatened to destroy the Earth with the [[Hydra Cannon]], [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], not expecting to survive the battle ahead, tried to pass the Matrix on to [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] before entering the conflict. Hot Shot refused, not feeling himself worthy, and Prime subsequently died throwing himself into the path of the Hydra Cannon blast meant for Earth. Prime's body was reduced to ashes, and the Matrix was all that remained, clung onto by his [[Mini-Con]] partner [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], floating helplessly until rescued. {{storylink|Crisis (Armada)|Crisis}}

[[File:Miracle sparkplug and matrix.jpg‎|thumb|''in your eyes, the light, the heat 
''in your eyes, I am complete]]

Not long thereafter, as the Autobots and Decepticons battled in space on their way back to Cybertron, Sparkplug and [[Perceptor (Armada)|Perceptor]] presented the Matrix to the large armada of Mini-Cons who had joined the Autobots on their journey. Many Mini-Cons plunged themselves into the Matrix, using their powers to recreate Prime's body and restore him to life. {{storylink|Miracle}}

Some time later, in the midst of the Transformers' battle with Unicron, Optimus Prime was confronted by the evil demi-god with the suggestion that, on some level, he enjoyed the thrill of combat as much as Megatron did, ''and that the only difference between the two leaders was the Matrix in Prime's chest.'' {{storylink|Origin}} Following Unicron's defeat, when Megatron (now Galvatron) challenged Optimus to one final battle, these words led Prime to discard the Matrix, that he might battle Galvatron not as the leader of the Autobots, ''but as an individual, and the equal of his foe''.

[[File:ArmadaMatrix.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1|A unicorn designed this. (See the pretty rainbows?)]]
Prime flung the Matrix through Unicron's hide, out into space, where it later drifted by the two combatants as their fight moved to Unicron's surface. Soon, however, it became apparent that Prime and Galvatron's fight was sustaining and re-energizing Unicron, and Galvatron allowed himself to die into order to destroy the chaos-bringer. As the battered Prime hung in space afterwards, the Matrix floated past him. Prime turned to look at it, but, having revelled in his battle with Galvatron and in a way proven Unicron correct, shifted his glance away, pronouncing himself unworthy to carry it.

Prime did not return to his fellow Autobots immediately, as Cybertron was now at peace. Instead, he apparently embarked on some sort of soul-searching space voyage, seeking to find worthiness once again. {{storylink|Mortal Combat}}
{{-}}

====''Energon'' cartoon====
[[File:MysteriousMercenary matrix generates blaster.jpg‎|thumb|Also, it does not go anywhere in the robot mode. Get outta here, blaster. No one likes your style.]]
Prime returned to reclaim the Matrix and leadership of the Autobots at some point over the next ten years. ''Despite the talisman being back in his hands once more, its power was employed but once during the war for [[energon]] of 2020, when Prime was badly injured by [[Starscream (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Starscream]] during a battle on Earth's Moon and fell unconscious. When Prime was infused with a massive jolt of Energon in an attempt by the [[Omnicon]] [[Skyblast (Energon)|Skyblast]] to revive him, the interaction of the element with the Matrix brought forth the [[Energon Blaster]], which coalesced out of a sphere of light that burst out of Prime's chest. Prime considered the weapon a gift from the previous commanders within the Matrix and fended off the Decepticons with it, then proceeded to never use or even mention it again.'' {{storylink|Starscream the Mysterious Mercenary}}
{{-}}

====''Cybertron'' cartoon====
[[File:Cybertron matrix of leadership.jpg|left|thumb|225px|Good grief, Prime! There are KIDS present!]]
A further ten years later, during the quest to stop the [[Unicron Singularity]] in [[2030]], Optimus Prime used the Matrix of Leadership in concert with [[Vector Prime]]'s [[Rhisling|sword]] to open dimension gates to the various colony worlds that held the [[Cyber Planet Key]]s. It was only through the stabilizing powers of both objects that safe transit through the gates was made possible. {{storylink|Landmine (episode)|Landmine}} The Matrix influenced Optimus Prime's [[Cyber Key]], giving it a unique shape that mimicked the Matrix's own as opposed to the standard design shared by the other Autobots. {{storylink|Savage}}

[[File:Unfinished matrix glow prime.jpg‎|thumb|225px]]
After the Autobots had obtained the Cyber Planet Keys from [[Velocitron]], [[Animatron|Jungle Planet]] and Earth and placed them in the [[Omega Lock]] on Cybertron, Optimus Prime substituted the energy of the Matrix for the still-missing fourth key. This proved enough to initiate Cybertron's transformation into the body of Primus, but without the key from [[Gigantion]], the god's power remained at an ebb, unable to close the black hole. {{storylink|Cybertron (episode)|Cybertron}} Before departing for Gigantion to obtain the final key, the Autobots were able to develop a method that allowed Primus to use the energy of the three keys and the Matrix to at least halt the singularity's growth, giving them the time the needed to complete their mission. {{storylink|Titans}} In order for the Autobots to safely traverse the tunnel in space-time that led to Gigantion, [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] created a "vaccine" program based on the stabilizing properties of the Matrix and Vector Prime's sword. {{storylink|Family}}

The Matrix would often glow with energy when Prime poised himself to unleash powerful combat moves; during his final battle with Galvatron, the golden glow of the Matrix surrounded Prime's entire body. {{storylink|Unfinished}}
{{-}}

===Ask Vector Prime===
In [[Aurex 404.11 Kappa]], Vector Prime held the Matrix during Cybertron's [[Golden Age]]. He led the Autobots for many years until he received a higher calling from the [[Chronarchitect]] to lead the [[Time Warrior (AVP)|Time Warrior]]s in protecting space and time. Vector passed the Matrix on to his trusty lieutenant, [[Guardian Major]]. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/07/12}}

===''Galaxy Force'' manga===
[[File:GFmanga matrix.jpg|left|thumb|RESPECT MAH AUTHORITAH!]]
With the Earth besieged by the [[Ancient Decepticon]]s under the command of [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]], and the treacherous air commander himself transformed into a skyscraper-sized giant by the power of Primus, things were looking grim for the Autobots. Taking a direct hit from the giant Starscream, [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]]'s chest was smashed open, exposing the Matrix within. Reviving after only a few moments of unconsciousness to find that [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]] had arrived on the planet with news that Primus had reawakened, Prime doubted how important he was to the battle if their god was now restored. Wing Saber pointed to his open chest, telling him that the Matrix within him signified him as the true leader of the Autobots, and Prime, his resolve restored, plucked the talisman from within himself and called upon its power to initiate his and Wing Saber's combination into Sonic Wing Mode for the first time. {{storylink|Galaxy Force Mission.9}}
{{-}}

===''Hot Shot's Bot Thoughts''===
During an interview with [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], Hot Shot proved it was easy to get hold of a Matrix by telling Optimus Prime that his shoes were untied, and then yonking the Matrix right out of his chest while he was distracted. The Matrix upgraded Hot Shot into Shotimus Prime. During a later interview with [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]], the exasperated interviewee grabbed the Matrix, reverting Shotimus back to Hot Shot, and then beat him with it. {{storylink|Hot Shot's Bot Thoughts}}
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===Live-action film series===
[[File:Tf2009 mol.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Now...how do you open this thing, dammit?]]
Created by the [[Dynasty of Primes]], the '''Matrix of Leadership''' is required to operate the [[Star Harvester]]. It can only be properly utilized by one who shares the lineage of the Primes.

====Sector Seven ARG====
The Matrix was mentioned in passing.{{fact}} {{storylink|Sector Seven (game)|Sector Seven}}

====Titan movie comic====
According to [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]], [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] carries the Matrix of Leadership. Not quite yet, he doesn't, Screamer! {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 8|Star Screams #2}}

====''Revenge of the Fallen'' film====
[[File:ROTF Matrix crumbles.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|And Unicron breathed a sigh of relief.]]
The [[Dynasty of Primes#Revenge of the Fallen movie|Seven Primes]] had agreed never to use a [[Star Harvester]] on a [[Sun]] that fed intelligent life. But in 17,000 BC, [[the Fallen]] chose to activate it on [[Earth]], for he hated [[human]]s, so the other Primes fought him and stole the Matrix. They sealed it away in a [[Tomb of the Primes|tomb]] made of their own bodies in a secret location. In 2009 AD, following the death of [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]], the last Prime, the Fallen had returned to Earth and was seeking the Matrix to finish what he'd started.

[[File:TheFallen-ROTFMatrix.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Hot Rod's gonna have trouble gettin' his fingers in this one.]]
[[Sam Witwicky]], having deciphered the only clue to the tomb's location, found the Matrix in [[Petra (Earth)|Petra]], but it crumbled to dust. He stuffed its remains into a sock and took it to the [[Pyramid]]s of [[Egypt]], where he still hoped it could resurrect Optimus, who was being protected by the human-Autobot alliance [[NEST]]. The Fallen's pupil, [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]], shot and killed Sam, but the [[spark]]s of the Primes came and revived him. They also revealed the Matrix could not be found but only earned, and they restored its shape. Sam then used the Matrix to resurrect Optimus by shoving its sharp end into his chest. Almost immediately afterward, the Fallen teleported in and stole the Matrix, then used it to activate the harvester. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}

{{Note|The [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (novel)|novelization]] reveals the Matrix was created by the AllSpark to help the Primes in their search for energon. After Sam Witwicky conversed with the Dynasty of Primes in the afterlife, the intent was that the power and knowledge of the AllSpark moved from his mind into the remains of the Matrix, reconstituting it; ''this'', then, was why it was able to bring Prime back to life. In turn, this essentially transforms this universe's version of the Matrix (initially entirely distinct from the other depictions of the object seen in this article) into the same life-giving, knowledge-holding object from other Transformers fiction. Additionally, Prime was to recover the Matrix from the sun harvester and carry it within himself in traditional Matrix fashion. While none of these events were seen to play out explicitly on-screen, the Matrix's continued presence in ''Dark of the Moon'', within Prime's body, and the reverence it receives suggests that these events still "happened" within the continuity of the films, even if they didn't explicitly talk about them.}}

====''Dark of the Moon'' film====
[[File:DOTM-SentinelOptimusMatrix.jpg|left|upright=1.66|thumb|You thought they forgot about it already, didn't you?]]
After the dormant body of [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]] was retrieved from the [[Moon (moon)|moon]], the Autobots' former leader was brought to [[NEST]] headquarters on Earth. Optimus Prime removed the Matrix of Leadership from his chest (which he was able to manipulate as it hovered through the air) and inserted it into Sentinel Prime's chest, similarly to how Sam Witwicky used it to resurrect Optimus three years prior.

Optimus later offered it to Sentinel, as he felt that Sentinel was the rightful leader of the Autobots. Sentinel refused it, citing that he was the wiser on their own homeworld, but on this strange new planet, Optimus was the more experienced.

Megatron later explained to Starscream that he wanted Prime to use the Matrix on Sentinel as he was vital to Megatron's plan for invasion. {{storylink|Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon}}
{{-}}

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===''Animated'' cartoon===
[[File:Tfanimated matrix.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
Following [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] and [[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]]'s successful reconstruction of a substantial portion of the shattered [[AllSpark#Animated|AllSpark]], [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] used the [[Magnus Hammer]] to forge a new containment vessel for the crystal sphere. He termed the resultant holder the "[[AllSpark Matrix]]", and wore it on a chain around his neck upon the Autobots' return to Cybertron. {{storylink|Endgame, Part II}} {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}}
{{-}}

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===Aligned continuity family===
====''The Covenant of Primus''====
The Matrix was created by the Primes sometime after Unicron's defeat and before the War of the Primes though according to [[Alpha Trion (WFC)|Alpha Trion]] it was a very different device at its creation then in the present day. It formed the hilt of the [[Star Saber (Prima)|Star Saber]] but [[Prima]] surrendered it to [[Primus]] in the [[Core]] after the Primes fought.

During the [[Age of Rust]], Alpha Trion went to [[Vector Sigma]] to try and retrieve the Matrix in hopes that it could reignite the fire of Cybertronian society. The supercomputer denied his request saying the time was not right but it gave him the [[Badge of Vector Prime]].

When [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] had poisoned the core of Cybertron with [[Dark Energon]], Primus inserted a portion of his Spark into the Matrix and gave it to [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] to carry and guard. This had the effect of restoring Optimus' memories of his earlier life among the [[Thirteen]]. {{storylink|Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus}}

====Aligned novels====
[[File:TransformersVault-Prima.jpg|left|thumb|Prime lucked out. Feel bad for the guy who has to carry that blade around in his chest.]]
Originally the jewel in the hilt of [[Prima]]'s [[Star Saber (Prima)|Star Saber]] sword in the distant past of Cybertron, the Matrix had been missing for billions of cycles by the time data clerk [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Orion Pax]] met the charismatic gladiator named [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]]. Unbeknownst to Orion, Megatron plotted revolution, and, desiring the Matrix's power to fuel his ambition, had [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] send [[Rumble (WFC)|Rumble]] and [[Frenzy (WFC)|Frenzy]] to search for the Matrix in [[Crystal City]] to no avail.

Later, when the [[Autobot High Council|High Council]] appointed Orion as Cybertron's leader, Optimus Prime, they ordered him to find the Matrix, and Megatron's true motives stood revealed as he also declared it would be his. War erupted across Cybertron and raged for millions of years, until, during the conflict's dying days, Optimus purged Cybertron's [[core]] of a [[Dark Energon]] infection that Megatron had wrought upon it. Speaking directly into Prime's mind, the core explained that Prime's predecessor, [[Sentinel Zeta Prime|Sentinel Prime]] had been unworthy of the Matrix, but as long as he had survived in [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]]'s prisons, Optimus was technically not [[Prime (rank)|Prime]] and could not receive it. With Sentinel's death and the core's purification, however, the time had at last come: the Matrix emerged from the core, and Optimus accepted it into his body. Subsequently, the Autobots left Cybertron on the ''[[Ark (WFC)|Ark]]'', but Optimus knew that the Matrix would guide them home one day, where it would act in concert with the core to fully restore their ravaged homeworld. {{storylink|Transformers: Exodus|Exodus}}
{{-}}

====''Prime'' cartoon====
[[File:OneShallRise3-unleash.jpg|thumb|275px|Care Bear Stare!]]
During the Great War, the core of Cybertron, which contained the Spark of the Transformers' creator Primus, became poisoned with [[Dark Energon]]. Orion Pax journeyed there hoping to cure the god, but instead was given the Matrix of Leadership by Primus himself, becoming [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus]], the last of the Primes. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 3}}

When the Autobots discovered that Unicron's spark dwelt at the center of the Earth, Optimus Prime gambled that the Matrix held the power to destroy the dark god. {{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 2}} Led to the core of the planet by [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]], Prime emptied the full power of the Matrix into Unicron's spark. [[File:OrionPax3 Matrix of Leadership.jpg|thumb|left|275px]] The chaos-bringer responded by possessing Megatron in an attempt to stop him, but the Matrix generated a shield to protect Prime so that the mission could be completed, and Unicron was successfully returned to stasis. Unfortunately, in draining the Matrix of its energy, Optimus lost not merely the wisdom of the Primes, but all of his own memories since becoming a Prime.{{storylink|One Shall Rise, Part 3}} Fortunately, Optimus had left a solution to this problem in the hands of the Autobot's human ally [[Jack Darby]]: the [[Key to Vector Sigma]], which would allow the Matrix to be refilled, and Optimus's memory restored, via the mega-computer Vector Sigma on Cybertron. {{storylink|Orion Pax, Part 1}} Jack and [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] travelled to Cybertron to load the key, then returned to Earth in the midst of a battle between Orion and Megatron. Though the archivist was hesitant at first, Jack convinced him that he was in fact worthy and used the key to restore the Matrix's power and Optimus's memories. {{Storylink|Orion Pax, Part 3}}

When Optimus Prime lay dying after the destruction of the Autobot base, he told [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] that the Matrix would choose someone else to be leader, whom he believed to be Smokescreen. When Optimus did die, his chest ejected the Matrix as it began to search for a successor, but Smokescreen simply put the [[Forge of Solus Prime]] in Optimus's hand which, combined with the Matrix, revived and reformatted Optimus at the cost of draining the Forge of all its power. {{storylink|Rebellion (Prime)|Rebellion}}

Optimus used the Matrix of Leadership to guide him to the location of the AllSpark. While engaging the army of Terrorcon Predacons on the Nemesis, Smokescreen finally confessed to Bumblebee that he was the original choice for new leader. To safeguard the [[AllSpark]] from [[Unicron/Aligned|Unicron]], Optimus merged it with the Matrix. Unfortunately that meant when he restored the AllSpark to its rightful place, both he and the Matrix had to be sacrificed to do so, ending the age of Primes. {{storylink|Predacons Rising (Prime)|Predacons Rising}}
{{-}}

====''Rescue Bots'' cartoon====
[[File:OddBotOut Optimus Matrix.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
Optimus located an [[Liquefier|Iacon relic]] that was threatening [[Griffin Rock]], and used the Matrix to shut it down. {{storylink|Odd Bot Out}}
{{-}}

----

===''Knights of Unicron''===
[[File:Dark Side of the Matrix album cover.jpg|thumb|left|]]
The Matrix of Leadership served as inspiration for the legendary rock band the [[Knights of Unicron (band)|Knights of Unicron]], immortalized on the cover of their studio album "Dark Side of the Matrix". {{storylink|Knights of Unicron (band)|Knights of Unicron}}
{{-}}

----
===''Cyberverse'' cartoon===
[[File:MatrixOfLeadership-OPglows.jpg|thumb|300px]]
{{stub|{{storylink|Matrix of Leadership (episode)|Matrix of Leadership}}}}

==Games==
===''The Transformers'' (PS2)===
[[File:TFPS2 matrix.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1]]
The quest for the [[Zel Quartz]], a powerful crystal upon which the fate of the future hinged, led groups of Autobots and Decepticons from both the present day and time-travellers from the near-future to converge on the planet Zel Samine, culminating in a two-way showdown between Optimus Prime and Rodimus Prime and Megatron and Galvatron in the complex housing the planetary power generator [[ELTA]]. When the battle threatened to cause the computer to overload, it appeared that all four Transformers were doomed, until the twin Primes opened both their Matrices, using their power to bring the computer under control and win the day. {{storylink|The Transformers (PS2)|The Transformers}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers Battle Universe''===
[[File:Netjetmatrix.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
The Matrix would appear following the successful defeat of an opponent. Picking it up would initiate the next round of combat, accompanied by a burst of music from ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]''. {{storylink|Transformers Battle Universe}}
{{-}}

===''Transformers: War for Cybertron'' (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)===
[[File:WFC Matrix of Leadership.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1|How are you supposed to hold it up and release its cleansing flame if the handles aren't even attached to the sphere?]]
Though [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] and his Autobots helped purge the [[Core|Core of Cybertron]] of the [[Dark Energon]] infection, its spark had been corrupted and had to shut itself down completely if it was to survive. For the millions of years that this process would take, Cybertron would be left cold and barren, meaning the Transformers would be forced to take to the stars. However, the Core bestowed a portion of its spark within the Matrix of Leadership to Optimus Prime, leader of the free Autobots. For as long as the Matrix survived, Cybertron's spark would remain. {{storylink|Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|Transformers: War for Cybertron}}
{{--}}

===''Angry Birds Transformers''===
{{storylink|Angry Birds Transformers (mobile game)|Angry Birds Transformers}}
{{charstubgame|Does it do anything, game-play wise? How about adding to the note how much it costs?}}

===''Transformers: Devastation''===
In the past, [[Nova Prime]] bore the Matrix of Leadership but parted with the artifact when he left Cybertron aboard the ''[[Proudstar]]''. When Optimus Prime explored the scuttled ''Proudstar'' millions of years later, the Matrix reacted to [[Unicron/Generation 1|a dark presence]] in the ship, shutting down for a second. As the Autobots ventured deeper into the ship, [[Teletraan Alpha]] used the Matrix to see their future. As the Autobots neared the ship's core and discovered the same dark presence, the Matrix allowed Optimus to learn that the entity responsible for corrupting Nova was searching and destroying its way to Cybertron. {{storylink|Transformers: Devastation}}

==Toys==
{{main|Matrix of Leadership/toys}}

==Notes==
[[File:G1toon matrix strings.jpg|thumb|Strings connect the Matrix's core to its holder in the Generation 1 cartoon.]]
*Bob Budiansky's original pitch for the Transformers comic book included an event known as the "[[Ceremony of the Unending Circuit]]", held by the Autobots every ten millennia to commemorate the passing of the Creation Matrix from one Autobot leader to the next, according to Autobot Law. If an Autobot is not brave, strong, or wise enough, the program would either drive him insane or lobotomise him.<ref name="BC10">[http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc10/bc10bb.html griffin's 2010 BotCon report]</ref> Although the "ten millennia" bit made it into the comic, the rest of it was never realized. (Budiansky also left a note that the Matrix isn't the only way of making new Transformers, which was never touched on until ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]''.)
*When asked about the visual design of the Matrix in an interview, [[Floro Dery]]'s reply was, "The inspiration for the Matrix of Leadership is a thermonuclear bomb."<ref>[http://transformersph.blogspot.com/2007/06/interview-with-floro-dery.html TransFormers Philippines: Interview With Floro Dery]</ref> "Light our darkest hour", indeed.
*Blink and you'll miss it—the crystal core of the original Generation 1 cartoon incarnation of the Matrix is connected to the two halves of its holder by a string! This oddity of design is visible during the two instances the Matrix is opened in the cartoon, in ''The Transformers: The Movie'' and "The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2".
*The body-mod shop "[[Swindle, Swindle and Swindle]]" has empty Generation 1 Matrix containers for sale, as seen in an illustration from the prose story "[[I, Lowtech]]".
*The Matrix of Leadership [[:File:The Arrival 4 Lockdown's cabinet.jpg|makes a cameo]] as one of ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated]]'' [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]]'s possessions in "[[The Arrival issue 4|A Few Loose Strands]]".

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Matrix''' (マトリクス ''Matorikusu''), '''Leader no Matrix''' (''Revenge'', リーダーのマトリクス, "Matrix of Leader"), '''Matrix of Leadership''' (マトリックスオブリーダーシップ ''Matorikkusu obu Rīdāshippu'')
*''Arabic:'' '''Masfufat Alqiada''' (مصفوفة القيادة, "Command Matrix")
*''English:'' '''Power Pack''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub)
*''French'': '''Matrice de Commandement''' ("Command Matrix")
*''German:'' '''Hauptprogramm''' ("Core Program", used once in fiction), '''Matrix der Führerschaft''' ("Matrix of Leadership")
*''Indonesian:'' '''Matriks Kepemimpinan''' ( "Matrix of Leadership")
*''Italian:'' '''Matrice''' ("Matrix"), '''Scettro del Comando''' (first ''The Transformers'' dub, "Scepter of Command"), '''Matrix''' (second ''The Transformers'' dub)
*''Mandarin:'' '''Mǔtǐ''' (Taiwan, 母體, "Matrix" or "Mother Body"), '''Jǔzhèn''' (China Mainland, 矩阵, "Matrix"), '''Lǐngdǎo Mókuài''' (China Mainland, 领导模块, "Module of Leader")
*''Polish:'' '''Matryca Przywództwa''', '''Matryca Przywódcy''' (''War for Cybertron'' PC, "Matrix of Leadership")
*''Portuguese:'' '''Matriz da Liderança''' ("Matrix of Leadership")
*''Spanish'': '''Matriz de Liderazgo''' ("Matrix of Leadership")

==Footnotes==
[[File:DiamondStickerbookMatrixOfLight.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Not shown: Anything in the caption.]]
<references />

[[Category:Animated]]
[[Category:Armada]]
[[Category:Artifacts of the Primes]]
[[Category:Beast Wars]]
[[Category:Classics]]
[[Category:Crystals]]
[[Category:Cybertron franchise]]
[[Category:Cyberverse (2018)]]
[[Category:Energon franchise]]
[[Category:Generation 1 objects]]
[[Category:Generation 2]]
[[Category:Henkei! Henkei!]]
[[Category:Interjections]]
[[Category:Legends franchise]]
[[Category:MacGuffins]]
[[Category:Matrices]]
[[Category:Movie]]
[[Category:Prime]]
[[Category:Primus]]
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise (2001)]]
[[Category:Transformers (2010)]]
[[Category:Universe (2003)]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron]]
[[Category:Wings Universe]]

Transformers: Historia

2019-02-03T21:19:07Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Continuity notes */ 'Preceded', not 'precluded'; the swarm came before the smart Insecticons, they did not prevent them.

{{disambig2|the well-researched IDW recap comic|the poorly-researched IDW recap comic|The Transformers Continuum}}
{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''Transformers: Historia''
|title=
|image=Historia.jpg
|caption=
|next=
|prev=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|written by=[[Chris McFeely]]
|date=[[January 9]], [[2019]] (UK) [[January 16]], [[2019]] (US)
|illustrated by=various.
|pagecount=59
|ISBN=
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity]]
}}

'''''Transformers: Historia''''' is a double-sized one-shot book that documents the [[IDW Generation 1 continuity]]. A "capstone" released after the finale of said continuity, ''Historia'' serves as a retrospective guide to the universe, documenting its chronological history from beginning to end.

{{quote|The year was 2005. The treacherous Decepticons and their heroic Autobot counterparts descended upon the Earth and unleashed a new era of Transformers comics through IDW Publishing. Thirteen years and hundreds of issues later, that universe has come to a close. Join Transformers historian Chris McFeely on a guide distilling the past 13 years of publishing history and remember the masterful storytelling of the first IDW Transformers run.|Solicitation blurb}}

==Synopsis==
''Historia'' is a prose guide to [[IDW Publishing]]'s first ''Transformers'' continuity in advance of [[Transformers (2019 comic)|the 2019 reboot]]. In rough chronological order, the book describes:
* The origins of the [[Guiding Hand]] and the rise of the Cybertronian species, as documented in [[Crucible (Part 5): The Unremembering|''Lost Light'' #23]]
* The age of the [[Thirteen]], the [[First Cybertronian Civil War]] and the ascension of [[Nova Prime]], from ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots In Disguise]]'' and ''[[Optimus Prime (comic)|Optimus Prime]]''
* [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]]'s early life and the foundation of the Decepticons, as seen in the "[[Chaos (IDW)|Chaos Theory]]" two-parter and ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin]]''
* The outbreak of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], from the ''[[The Transformers: Autocracy|Autocracy]]'', ''[[The Transformers: Monstrosity|Monstrosity]]'', and ''[[The Transformers: Primacy|Primacy]]'' trilogy
* The galaxy-spanning wartime events of [[Strange Visitors|''Revolutionaries'' #5]], ''[[Spotlight: Shockwave]]'', ''[[The Transformers: Drift|Drift]]'', ''[[Rom vs. Transformers: Shining Armor|Rom vs. Transformers]]'', ''[[Spotlight: Soundwave]]'', and [[The Secret of the Mummy's Tomb|''Revolutionaries'' #3]]
* The adventures of the Autobots on Earth and beyond, from ''[[The Transformers: Infiltration|Infiltration]]'', ''[[The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation]]'', ''[[The Transformers: Devastation|Devastation]]'', ''[[The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots|Maximum Dinobots]]'', and ''[[Revelation (IDW)|Revelation]]''
* The Decepticon [[Surge (event)|Surge]] and Megatron's all-out attack on Earth, from ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'', and the [[Wrecker]]s' doomed mission to [[Garrus-9]] in ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]''
* The Autobot-[[Skywatch]] conflict, Hot Rod's adventures in space, and [[D-Void]]'s attack on Cybertron, from ''[[The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers]]''
* The launch of the ''Lost Light'' and political turmoil on Cybertron in ''[[Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime]]'', ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye]]'', and ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise]]''
* [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]]'s attack on the universe, in ''[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]]''
* Megatron's trial and co-captaincy of the ''Lost Light'', as seen in "season 2" of ''More than Meets the Eye'', and Optimus Prime's new mission to Earth, in ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]''
* [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]]'s arrival on Cybertron and the formation of the [[Council of Worlds]], from ''[[The Transformers: Windblade|Windblade]]'' and ''[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]''
* The events of ''[[The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers]]''
* The mutiny that sees "Team Rodimus" stranded in the [[Functionist Universe]] and their quest to find [[Getaway]], from "[[The Dying of the Light]]" and ''[[The Transformers: Lost Light]]''
* Windblade vs. [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] and [[Vigilem]], from ''[[The Transformers: Till All Are One|Till All Are One]]''
* Optimus Prime's annexation of [[Earth]], the revenge of [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] and the battle against [[Baron Karza]] for Earth's [[Ore-13]], as seen in "[[All Hail Optimus]]", ''[[The Last Autobot|Titans Return]]'', and ''[[Revolution]]''
* The Junkion refugee crisis, from "[[New Cybertron (IDW)|New Cybertron]]"
* [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] and the next generation of Cybertronian life, from ''[[The Transformers: Salvation|Salvation]]'' and "[[The Dead Come Home, Part 2 (of 2)|The Dead Come Home]]" and the final battle of the Wreckers from ''[[Transformers: Requiem of the Wreckers|Requiem of the Wreckers]]''
* [[Joe Colton]]'s attack on Cybertron in ''[[First Strike]]'', and the events of "[[The Falling]]" and ''[[Transformers vs. Visionaries]]''
* The grand finale: the ''Lost Light'' crew's battle against Getaway, Adaptus, and the [[Functionist Council]], and, finally, the world-shattering events of ''[[Transformers: Unicron|Unicron]]''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
As the final sendoff for the original [[IDW Generation 1 continuity]], ''Historia'' takes the opportunity to engage in some last-minute smoothing of continuity, plugging in some lingering discrepancies and unanswered questions.
* ''[[The Transformers: Lost Light|Lost Light]]'' never stated ''how'' [[Epistemus]]'s head wound up in the care of the [[Omega Guardian]]s and became the Magnificence; ''Historia'' reveals that, following the [[God War]], Epistemus joined up with the Knights of Cybertron and voluntarily stayed behind with the Omega Guardians during the early days of the Knights' quest across the galaxy, eventually giving up his body in pursuit of knowledge. Shockwave was noted to have theorized a similar sequence of events in [[The Ties That Bind|''Lost Light'' #14]].
* The Omega Guardians are specifically noted to have been organic, which suggests that they might have been one of the vectors for the outbreak of [[atrophosia]] that drove the Knights of Cybertron to [[Mederi]].
* The concept of the "thirteen colonies" formed an integral part of the IDW mythos in the final years of the continuity; however, thanks to some loose-end tying by [[John Barber]], the concept was folded in with Shockwave's thirteen Regenesis planets in ''Unicron'', and as a result only a handful of these thirteen planets could truly be called "[[Cybertronian colonies|colonies]]" that had been inhabited by Cybertronian settlers: [[Caminus]], [[Devisiun (planet)|Devisiun]], [[Eukaris]], [[Velocitron]], and (possibly) [[Arduria]]. ''Historia'' smooths over this discrepancy by noting that this idea of "thirteen colonies" was merely a ''legend'', one that conflated the existence of these five planets with the seven other worlds that had been touched by the dark legacy of the Primes.
* Seemingly corroborating Centurion's profile in ''[[Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook]]'' [[Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook issue 1|#1]], the narration notes that the Maximals came to Earth in search of the Enigma of Combination... though it's as vague as ever if that was ''truly'' why "Onyx Prime" sent the crew of the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'' into space, or if it was simply a pretext so that they could be shot down over Earth and fulfill the ontological paradox posed by Shockwave's younger self.
* ''Why'' exactly [[Merklynn]] came to Earth, of all planets, was never expounded on; here, it's established that he came in search of sufficient magical energy in order to restore his lost homeworld of [[Prysmos]], finding such an artifact in the [[Talisman (G1)|Talisman]].
* According to the ''Historia'', the reason why the [[Senate]] had their men break into the [[Rodion]] police station in [[Chaos Theory Part 2|''Chaos Theory'' #2]] was to eliminate [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]], not rescue him.
* Following on from revelations in the ''Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook'' and ''[[First Strike]]'' [[First Strike issue 5|#5]], ''Historia'' explicitly confirms that the Decepticon [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]]s and the [[Insecticon swarm|"swarm" of failed clones]] that preceded their creation were the product of genetic experimentation on a naturally-occurring subterranean subspecies.
* The two non-[[Hasbro Universe]] crossover stories, ''[[New Avengers/Transformers]]'' and ''[[Infestation (IDW)|Infestation]]'', are ignored entirely, presumably for reasons of space and them not really having much to do with the main IDW storyline.
* The discrepancy between the timeframes of ''Lost Light'' versus ''Till All Are One'' and ''Optimus Prime''—the former playing out over a matter of weeks, the latter two over a much longer timeframe—is not addressed, though (as we humbly propose elsewhere on this wiki) travel through the [[Warren]] might go a ways towards no-prizing this error.
* The exact correlation between the "real" Unicron—the transformed [[Antilla]]—and the mythical Unicron, the dreaded "uncreator" of Cybertronian legend, had not previously been made clear in the IDW continuity; ''Historia'' posits that the Talisman's energy burst in ''[[Transformers vs. Visionaries]]'' [[The Curtain|#5]], revealed in [[Our Darkest|''Unicron'' #0]] to have transmitted the word "Unicron", bestowed that legendary name upon the monster planet.
* The book ends with the events of [[Ceremony|''Unicron'' #6]], with the [[Lunarian]]s of [[Moonbase One|Luna One]] receiving a mention, but otherwise omitting [[How To Say Goodbye And Mean It: Part 2|''Lost Light'' #25]]'s quantum duplication of the ''[[Lost Light]]'' and that issue's glimpse into the far-distant future.

===Transformers references===
* The origins of the [[Enigma of Combination]] had never been stated in any actual issue; ''Historia'' confirms that it was forged by Solus Prime, hearkening to her incarnation in the [[Aligned continuity family]], who was explicitly responsible for the creation of all of the [[Artifacts of the Primes]].
* Unicron and Functionist Cybertron are described as "monster planet[s]", a description used by [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' and prominently featured in the ''{{w|Star Wars}}''-style "opening crawl" of the film's [[United Kingdom]] release.

===Hasbro franchise references===
* [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] is introduced as a "daring, highly-trained special mission force", the description of the team given in the opening sequence of the original 1980s ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'' cartoon.

===Errors===
* [[Vivian Grannell]], who [http://twitter.com/chrismcfeely/status/1083334406788530176 acted as a sensitivity reader] in regards to Arcee's origins, goes uncredited.
* The [[Darkness (G1)|Darkness]] is consistently referred to as the "Heart of Darkness", even though it didn't gain that name until it fused with Galvatron.
* In the first paragraph of page 15, the phrase "the Maximals true memories" is missing a possessive apostrophe.

===Other trivia===
* Originally solicited for December 19, this issue was delayed by nearly a month, releasing halfway through January.
* Backmatter includes reprinted profiles from the ''Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook'' series: print copies include just [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]], while digital copies feature [[Arcee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Arcee]], [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] and [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]] as well. Arcee's profile is tweaked to note her sibling relation to Galvatron, which had not been revealed at the time of the ''Sourcebook's'' publication.
* The book also includes a reading guide to the continuity for the benefit of new Transformers fans looking to catch up.

===Cover===
* A smattering of characters and concepts from across the continuity within [[photonic crystal]]s, spewing from the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], by [[Sara Pitre-Durocher]]. The list of characters include [[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]], [[Aileron]], [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]], [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], [[Arcee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Arcee]], [[Drift (G1)|Drift]], [[Springer (G1)|Springer]], [[Minimus Ambus]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]], [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]], one of [[Mortilus]]'s spark-flowers, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]], [[Thundercracker (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Thundercracker]] and [[Buster (IDW)|Buster]], [[Pyra Magna]], [[Chromedome (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Chromedome]]'s hand on [[Rewind (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rewind]]'s shoulder, [[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]], [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] as both an Autobot and Decepticon, [[Nova Prime]], [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]], [[Soundwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Soundwave]] and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]], [[Bumblebee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Bumblebee]], [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]], [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]], [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]], [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], [[Anode]], [[Verity Carlo]] and [[Ratchet (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ratchet]], and last but not least, [[Rung (G1)|Rung]].

==See also==
*[[IDW timeline]]

==External links==
* [http://www.newsarama.com/43338-the-history-of-cybertron-is-told-in-transformers-historia.html Preview]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Historia}}
[[Category:IDW Generation 1 issues]]
[[Category:IDW titles]]
[[Category:Reference texts]]

The War to End All Wars, Part 5

2018-10-22T16:27:04Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Errors */

{{Comicstory|
|series=rg1|issueno=100
|prev=The War to End All Wars, Part 4
|next=King of Shadows
|title="The War to End All Wars" Part 5
|image=RG1 100 cvrA.jpg
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[March 19]], [[2014]]
|coverdate=March 2014
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|pencils=[[Andrew Wildman]] (1-10) [[Geoff Senior]] (11-20) [[Guido Guidi]] (21-32)
|finishes=[[Stephen Baskerville]] (1-10, 21-32) Geoff Senior (11-20)
|colorist=[[John-Paul Bove]]
|letterer=[[Chris Mowry]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''The Autobots fight the foes across Cybertron, Nebulos and Earth as Rodimus Prime returns to Zero Space and finds himself in the fight of his life against the corrupted power of the Matrix.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Shadow-leeches the war to end all wars.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.7|"We're not based on an active toyline! Anyone could die at any moment! I'M FREAKING OUT!"]]
Returning to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] following their defeat of [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] and his forces, [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]] and the [[Autobot]]s are aghast to discover that their homeworld has been reduced to a barren wasteland during their time away. As they explore the deserted streets, events suddenly crystallize for Rodimus: their absence, he realizes, was orchestrated by someone—specifically, the dark entity that has recently been posing as [[Primus]]. Punctuating this realization, the Autobots come under attack from streamers of living shadow that suck the life from anyone unfortunate enough to feel their touch. [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] corrals one of these "[[shadow-leech]]es" in a sonic bubble long enough for [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] to examine it, leading to the horrifying revelation that it ''used'' to be [[Iguanus (G1)|Iguanus]], and that ''all'' the leeches are former Transformers, transfigured into this new form along with their world. With conventional weaponry having no effect on the creatures, Rodimus sends [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] to fetch the [[Sword of Primus]], but just after he departs, help arrives in the form of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]; [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]]'s prior possession by the dark entity has granted him a form of immunity against the leeches, and the power to slay them, with the other Dinobots having been saved from transfiguration by their proximity to their leader. Appalled at Grimlock's willful slaughter of creatures that used to be fellow Transformers, Rodimus vows to find another way; when Jetfire returns with the sword, Rodimus is able to use its energies to hold the leeches at bay. The Dinobots explain that [[Galvatron II|Galvatron]] has taken the [[space bridge]] network offline, save for the portal linking Cybertron to [[Earth]] and [[Nebulos]], which reminds Rodimus of a passage from the [[Covenant of Primus]] that spoke of a trinity of planets that served as a gateway to the [[multiverse]] he previously glimpsed through [[Zero Space]]. He orders [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] to lead a team in retaking the space bridge network in the [[Star Chamber]], while he prepares to confront the architect of their situation.

[[File:Sparkplug the war to end all wars.jpg|thumb|He chose...poorly.]]
Within the void of Zero Space, the voiceless presence continues to torment [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]], this time appearing before him in the form of his father [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] and subject him to guilt over his abandonment of his family. As Spike howls in despair, the crack in Zero Space widens, though which glimpses of many other universes become visible, the barriers between worlds slowly being broken down by the chaos the dark entity has instigated. That chaos spreads now, as the entity directs Galvatron to Nebulos, there to raze the last of the three planets that it requires be reduced to rubble to facilitate its crossing!

Now aware that the dark entity has been manipulating him all along, stoking his rages with visions of slaughter, Rodimus uses the Covenant of Primus to open a portal to Zero Space to confront the creature, which now stands revealed as the fragment of corrupted energy from the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]] that possessed the [[Deathbringer (Marvel)|Deathbringer]]. The entity explains to Rodimus that, left on Earth after the Deathbringer's destruction, it returned to Cybertron along with all the other Transformers when [[Primus]] recalled them there prior to the battle with [[Unicron]]. Possessing an [[Acolyte of Unicron]], the entity discovered a subterranean graveyard of Transformers who had made pilgrimages to Primus's chamber, and learned that it could drain the lingering traces of their [[spark]] energy. It controlled the [[Demon|Primordials]] into abducting more victims for it to feed upon, and thrived in the chaos of Cybertron's recreation, integrating itself inextricably into the planet, becoming as one with it as Primus once was. But peace did not suit its plans, and so it whispered in [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]]'s ear, leading him to re-ignite the war, and even manipulated [[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]] into his [[Gene Key]] experiments. Now, the creature has grown as much as it can within this universe, and so seeks to ascend into the multiverse—but to do that, it requires a Matrix, and so Rodimus Prime must die! From throughout this timeline, the entity summons three versions of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] and orders them into battle.

Magnus leads a team of Autobots to the Star Chamber, with Kup and the Dinobots electing to merely blast their way in rather than wait for [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] to hack the system. The complex proves to be alive with shadow-leeches, but the Dinobots hold them off while the other Autobots split into two squads; Magnus's takes a unit to Nebulos, while [[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]] takes his squad to Earth, where they immediately come under fire from [[Linda Chang]]'s forces. Fortunately, Roadbuster recognizes the [[human]]s and is able to quickly explain the situation to them, leading Chang to propose they join forces to head back through the space bridge and rescue Spike, who they believe to be on Nebulos.

[[File:WarToEndAllWars5-HotRodimusPrimesAnswer.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.7|And your second wish is?]]
Faring poorly in his battle with the three iterations of Optimus Prime and unable to reach Spike to snap him out of his trance of despair, Rodimus recalls the previous glimpse of the multiverse the entity offered him, and uses the Covenant to send out ripples through space and time. The Optimuses descend upon him, the entity mocking his actions as a last, desperate gasp... until suddenly, in response to his call, a small army of other incarnations of Rodimus from through the multiverse arrive to join the fight!

On Nebulos, Ultra Magnus's team tracks down Galvatron, whose rampage has halted briefly as Rodimus's actions in Zero Space draw all of the entity's attention for a moment. Magnus engages Galvatron hand-to-hand, and with brutal finality, snaps his neck, and crushes his head, killing the future Decepticon at last. The corrupted [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Fortress Maximus]] suddenly appears and almost shoots Magnus in the back, but the other Autobots, together with Chang's forces, arrive to join the fight.

As the army of Rodimuses turn their weapons on the entity, its control over Optimus falters, and the former Autobot leader is able to shake it off long enough to give Rodimus advice. The entity cannot be destroyed, Optimus warns, merely contained—Primus's grand plan will ultimately result in the creation of an optimum universe from the best elements of all realities, so to prevent the plan from being contaminated by the dark entity, ''this'' reality must be severed from the multiverse. Though hesitant, Rodimus realizes this truly is the only course of action, and succeeds in reaching Spike and making him understand that the death of his family was not his fault. As the furious entity descends upon them, Spike breaks free of his bonds, and the crack in Zero Space begins to close. The entity makes a last dash for the fissure, but Rodimus brings down the Sword of Primus upon the crack, and in one flash of energy, the crack, the entity, and the alternate Rodimus and Optimus Primes vanish, and "our" Rodimus, Optimus, and Spike reappear on Cybertron in Primus's chamber. With his final words, Optimus thanks Rodimus for saving Primus's dream, then passes away in his protege's arms.

[[File:Ravage starscream shockwave war to end all wars.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2]]
Eons pass...

Far in the future, an aged, withered Rodimus Prime walks the molten surface of a dead Cybertron. He reflects upon the millenina past, on how the Transformers, cut off from the multiverse and Primus himself, have slowly died out. But it has not been a wasted life... the inhabitants of Earth and Nebulos have been brought together and have thrived, rebuilding their broken worlds, while the Transformers, with Cybertron lost to them, spread out across the galaxy, bringing peace to other races. Even enemies like [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]], [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]], and [[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]] were changed, the lust for war having left them. But now, Rodimus is the last Cybertronian left, and has returned to their homeworld to die. As he collapses, the last traces of energy leave his body, and surge across the planet's surface... into the only structures yet remaining: the cocoons into which the primordials sealed themselves so long ago. Like a blooming flower, an energized cocoon opens... and the [[Botanica (BM)|first]] of a new breed of Cybertronian emerges.

For after all... it never ends.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks. 
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Autobot]]s/[[Maximal]]s|c1=
{{collist|3|
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]] (2)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (3)
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (4)
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (5)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (6)
*[[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] (7)
*[[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]] (8)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] (9)
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (10)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] (11)
*[[Hosehead (G1)|Hosehead]] (12)
*[[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (13)
*[[Mirage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Mirage]] (14)
*[[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (15)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (16)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (17)
*[[Swoop (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Swoop]] (18)
*[[Slag (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Slag]] (19)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] (20)
*[[Snarl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Snarl]] (21)
*''[[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]]'' (23)
*''Animated'' [[Jetstorm (Animated)|Jetstorm]] (27)
*''Cybertron'' [[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Leobreaker]] (28)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] (32)
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (33)
*[[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] (34)
*[[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] (35)
*[[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]] (36)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (37)
*''[[Last Autobot]]'' (43)
*[[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]] (44)
*[[Backstreet (G1)|Backstreet]] (45)
*''Animated'' [[Rodimus Prime (Animated)|Rodimus Prime]] (47)
*''Galaxy Force'' [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Exillion Red Version]] (48)
*IDW [[Hot Rod (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Rodimus]] (49)
*''Classics'' [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus]] (50)
*[[Fortress Maximus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Fortress Maximus]] (51)
*[[Botanica (BM)|Botanica]] (58)
}}
|h2=[[Decepticon]]s/[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c2=
*[[Iguanus (G1)|Iguanus]] (17)
*[[Galvatron II|Galvatron]] (22)
*''Robots in Disguise'' [[Gas Skunk]] (24)
*''Beast Wars'' [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (26)
*''Prime'' [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] (29)
*''[[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]]'' (39)
*''[[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]]'' (40)
*''[[Darkwing (G1)|Darkwing]]'' (41)
*''[[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]]'' (42)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] (55)
*[[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]] (56)
*[[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] (57)
|h3=[[Human]]s/[[Nebulan]]s|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Circuit Smasher]] (24)
*''[[Sparkplug Witwicky]]'' (25)
*[[Linda Chang]] (46)
*[[Gordon Kent]] (52)
*[[G.B. Blackrock]] (53)
*[[Borx]] (54)
|h4=Others|c4=
*''[[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]'s corpse'' (1)
*''[[Demon]]s'' (30)
*[[Dark Matrix (G1)|Dark Matrix]] creature (31)
*[[Acolyte of Unicron|Acolytes of Unicron]] (38)
}}

==Quotes==
"Grimlock! The Dinobots! Boy am I glad to see your ugly mugs!" 
"Stand back. When it come to shadow-leeches, me have the touch."

:—'''Blaster''' and '''Grimlock'''

"Everyone-- Max up your molecular cohesion. There's no telling what...UNH!" 
"HEFF! What? '''Humans'''?" 
"Not just any humans, robot. Mean and ticked-off humans... with big guns!"

:—'''Prowl''' and '''Kup''', surprised that '''Linda Chang''' isn't happy to see them

"What? Have... you...done.. I am- the- the-" 
'''WHOOM''' 
"Oh, sorry. Thought you'd finished. Our bad."

:—'''Galvatron''' is rudely interrupted by a direct shot to the chest from '''Swoop'''.

"When first we met, you threw down a gauntlet. Insisting that somehow, you and I are destined to fight again and again and ''again''. Win or lose. Live or die. Well, '''no more'''. It's '''over'''...'''finished'''!"

:—'''Ultra Magnus''' slips in one last [[Furmanism]] before finally killing '''Galvatron'''.

"Do not grieve, Rodimus Prime. You...have...'''saved''' us. Thanks to you, the dream-- will not--die-"

:—'''Optimus Prime''''s last words

==Full Circle==
This oversized issue contains "Full Circle", a bonus section with several extra features:
*Lineart and a script extract describing a panel of Prime and Megatron's battle from [[Loose Ends, Part 5|issue #85]]
*"[[King of Shadows]]", a short prose story by Simon Furman describing [[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]]'s activities during the Dark Matrix creature's takeover of Cybertron, featuring an illustration by John-Paul Bove
*Pin-up by Stephen Baserkville
*"It Never Ends", a farewell letter from Andrew Wildman
*"The Feeling", reflections on the series from John-Paul Bove
*Pin-up by Jason Cardy
*Complete cover gallery of the entire Marvel series and ''Regeneration One''
*"End Words", a closing letter from Simon Furman

==Notes==

===Continuity notes===
*The dark entity possessed Grimlock back in issues [[Destiny, Part Three|#93]] and [[Destiny, Part Four|#94]].
*The entity is also revealed to have been responsible for awakening Galvatron from his icy tomb in [[Loose Ends, Part 5|issue #85]].
*The Transformers were recalled to Cybertron by Primus at the climax of [[Out of Time!|issue #73]].
*Rodimus found the graveyard in the Primus chamber in issue #93.
*The dark Matrix entity is revealed to have been behind the attacks carried out by the Primordials in issues [[On the Edge of Extinction!|#75]] and [[Still Life!|#76]]. The scene of Runabout's capture from the end of #75 is recreated here, complete with Ben-Day dot color effects.
*Also recreated is Dreadwind and Darkwing's rush for cover amid the planet's chaotic recreation from the start of [[Exodus!|issue #77]].
*The flashback to Soundwave's subtle corruption shows him in his original Marvel purple coloration; the same was true of flashbacks to earlier Marvel stories in [[Counterpoint|#80.5]], firmly indicating that his change to his more recognizable blue scheme was an actual in-universe change the character underwent at some point after this, and not just a coloring whim.
*The versions of Optimus Prime that the entity summons up represent three of his forms from throughout the Marvel continuity: his original body, his [[Powermaster]] form, and his battered present-day form (distinguished form his original body by, among other things, his white biceps).
*Rodimus glimpsed other incarnations of himself back in #93.
*Ravage is shown with Starscream and Shockwave; the details of how he hooked up with the pair following their last appearance in the previous issue are covered in "[[King of Shadows]]", the short story included in this issue's bonus section.

===Transformers references===
[[File:Grimlock kup mirage war to end all wars.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3]]
*As he slices into the shadow-leeches, Grimlock professes to have [[The Touch|the touch]].
*Grimlock instructs Slag to "Melt metal!", paraphrasing the famous Dinobot quote "Munch metal!" from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
*All the various Rodimuses who appear in this issue also showed up in issue #93, with one change: Exillion Red Version swapped in for Powerlinx Hot Shot.
*As he brings down the Sword of Primus on the crack, Rodimus declares: "I am Alpha. I am Omega. I am the beginning... and the end!" While a biblical quote in and of itself, it is also a paraphrasing from the Covenant of Primus previously heard in the Furman-penned ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' episode "[[Nemesis Part 2]]".
*"Do not grieve," Optimus tells Rodimus as he lies dying, a direct lift from his dying speech in the movie.
*The idea of a wizened Rodimus reflecting on the Transformers' past is evocative of the UK storyline, "[[Aspects of Evil!]]".
*When Grimlock tells Kup, "This my specialty! GO!", his energo-sword crackles with a "[[Zarak (G1)|Zarak]]" sound effect.
{{--}}

===Errors===
*The number of Autobots present in this story varies wildly. When they are first surrounded by shadow-leeches, only ten robots are visible. Later, in the Star Chamber, closer to FIFTY heads can be counted.
*Scattershot's presence at the Star Chamber appears to be erroneous, given that he was also present during the attack on the Hub with the ''Lancer One'' crew in [[The War to End All Wars, Part 3|#98]].
*During Rodimus' final, dying monologue, he laments how he "denied susentance and renewal" - obviously, that should be "sustenance and renewal".

===Furminated===
*Hosehead, Slingshot, and Tailgate are taken out by the shadow-leeches; Streetwise goes down later as well.
*Iguanus is revealed to be one of the undead shadow-leeches.
*Sparkplug Witwicky is revealed to be dead, to nobody's surprise.
*Scattershot, last seen outside the Star Chamber, is heavily implied to be one of the shadow-leech victims.
*Magnus kills Galvatron.
*Prowl and Kup take out the possessed Fortress Maximus.
*Optimus Prime dies from his wounds, inflicted by Fortress Maximus in the real world and possibly by the Hot Rod Squad in Zero Space.
*ARE ALL DEAD, as the many Transformers converted to shadow-leeches are killed off by the Primus sword (see ''[[Shadow-leech]]'' for a list of known victims), and the remaining survivors eventually die off over the eons, culminating in the aged Rodimus doing a faceplant onto Cybertron's surface. His essence causes one of the Demons to evolve into [[Botanica (BM)|Botanica]] though, so IT NEVER ENDS.

===Other trivia===
*The cover gallery is selectively edited when it comes to the first 80 issues, due to the fact that they were published by [[Marvel Comics]] and not IDW Publishing. Obviously, the Marvel logo from the top left of each issue is missing. A generic border is shown for [[Heavy Traffic!|#22]] instead of the original Marvel Comics 25th Anniversary border used for every Marvel comic released that month in 1986, showcasing their universe of characters. Other elements that are intrinsically part of the original covers remain, such as [[Man of Iron (issue)|#33–#34]] referencing "The House of Ideas" and "Marvel Majesty!" [[Prisoner of War!|And yeah...]] [[Spider-Man]].
*Continuing the humor from [[End of the Road! (US)|issue #80]] of the original Marvel series, this issue was billed as '''#100''' in a [[The Transformers Four-Issue Limited Series|'''four-issue''' limited series]].

===Covers (6)===
<gallery>
File:RG1 100 cvrA.jpg|'''Cover A'''
File:RG1 100 cvrB.jpg|'''Cover B'''
File:RG1 100 cvrRIA.jpg|'''Cover RI-A'''
File:RG1 100 cvrRIB.jpg|'''Cover RI-B'''
File:RG1 100 subcvr.jpg|'''Subscription cover'''
File:RG1 100 concvr.jpg|'''Convention cover'''
</gallery>
*'''Cover A:''' Rodimus Prime versus three versions of Optimus Prime in Zero Space, by [[Andrew Wildman]] and [[Jason Cardy]].
*'''Cover B:''' an homage to [[The Transformers (issue)|issue #1]], by [[Guido Guidi]].
*'''Cover RI-A:''' Fortress Maximus and Galvatron consumed by the Dark Matrix energy, by [[Geoff Senior]] and [[Josh Burcham]].
*'''Cover RI-B:''' blank cover for unique [[Herb Trimpe]] sketches.
*'''Subscription cover:''' the Autobots and [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] versus the Decepticons and [[Cobra]], by [[Robert Atkins]], [[Juan Castro]] and [[Romulo Fajardo Jr.]]
*'''Convention cover:''' an homage to [[The Transformers (issue)|Transformers (UK) issue #1]], by Andrew Wildman, [[Stephen Baskerville]], and [[John-Paul Bove]].

==External links==
*[https://simonfurman.wordpress.com/2014/03/18/transformers-regeneration-one-100-script-wrap/ Simon Furman's Script (W)rap]
*[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=50570 Simon Furman interview on issue #100]

{{DEFAULTSORT:War to End All Wars, Part 5}}

Less Than Zero

2018-10-21T08:24:54Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Errors */

{{Comicstory|
|series=rg1|issueno=0
|prev=Destiny, Part Four
|next=Destiny, Part Five
|title="Less Than Zero"
|image=RG1 0 cvrB.jpg
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[September 18]], [[2013]] [[October 9]], 2013 (second printing)
|coverdate=September 2013
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|artist=[[Casey Coller]] (pages 1 & 22), [[Geoff Senior]] (pages 2–6), [[Nick Roche]] (pages 17–21)
|penciler=[[Jeff Anderson]] (pages 7–11), [[José Delbo]] (pages 12–16)
|inker=[[Stephen Baskerville]] (pages 7–16)
|colorist=[[John-Paul Bove]]
|letterer=[[Chris Mowry]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''From Zero Space, Hot Rod looks in on four key moments from all across time, leading him to an incredible transformation.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:LessThanZero yow siren.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.3]]
Set adrift in [[Zero Space]], the void that exists at the end of creation where all of time has collapsed to a single point, [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] is barely able to keep his thoughts coherent as he tumbles through the emptiness. Then, inexplicably, ground solidifies beneath his feet: ground that Hot Rod's data-files identify as that of [[Colorado|Denver, Colorado]], over twenty years in his relative past, at the time of the [[Autobot]]s' battle with the [[Deathbringer (Marvel)|Deathbringer]]. Though he was not present for the battle originally, Hot Rod is aware of the creature's history as a medical mechanoid warped by the power of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]], and watches as the battle plays out according to history, with [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] acquiring the information that allows [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] to turn the creature's prime directive back upon it, convincing it to kill itself. But after the battle is done and the Autobots have departed, Hot Rod waits, and in time, discovers that the fragment of corrupted Matrix energy within the Deathbringer was not destroyed, and still lives...

Next, Hot Rod is whisked to [[Nova Cronum]] during the pre-war days of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], and observes as a Transformer who he has never heard of, identifying himself as [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] meets with the High Circuitmaster [[Boltax (G1)|Boltax]] and three other members of a "Brain Trust". These five, dubbed the "five greatest minds" on the planet by Boltax, are uploading their combined knowledge into a database they call the [[Underbase]]—but Jhiaxus, tired of Cybertron's policy of isolationism, takes control of the process and "slays" the others' mental projections, incapacitating them. Before they can recover, Jhiaxus obtains from the Underbase the data he requires to begin the creation of a cosmic empire, then erases all memory of himself from his fellows' minds and all other records.

In another whirl of nothingness, Hot Rod finds himself back on [[Earth]], during the opening stages of [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]'s conquest of the planet. As the [[zombie]] "Ex-Bots" devastate a busy highway, [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster]] and [[Jesse (G1)|Jessie]] Witwicky try to escape in their car, but are pursued. Buster has Jessie call [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]] in hopes of calling upon the help of [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Fortress Maximus]], but the dejected Spike does not pick up the phone. Taking cover in a car wash, the pair are hunted down by [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] and slain. Hot Rod has only a moment to wonder if the takeaway from this vision is the loss of Buster, or the present situation of Spike, before he is again pulled away across the void...

...and lands on an unfamiliar [[Junkion (planet)|world of junk]], which Hot Rod's painful landing indicates is a lot more tangible than the other locales he had visited. Following the sound of an explosion nearby, Hot Rod discovers the crashed remains of an Autobot shuttle of a design he does not recognize and its crew, and watches as [[Galvatron II|Galvatron]] battles another version of ''himself'', transfigured by the power of the Matrix into "Rodimus Prime". Recalling [[Primus]]'s words that he "is Prime", Hot Rod believes that what he is seeing is his own destiny, be it the future or some parallel reality, and calls out a warning to his other self as [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] fly in on the attack. Rodimus Prime hears and turns in amazement, but is struck by the Decepticons' blasts, which break the chain holding the Matrix around his neck and send it flying. As Galvatron delivers the killing shot to Rodimus's fallen form, Hot Rod reaches out to touch the Matrix...

On the bridge of the ''[[Warworld]]'', [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] turns from the fallen [[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]], his attention caught by a flash of light behind him. Hot Rod has returned to his home time, and introduces himself to the Decepticon with the new name the Matrix has given him: now, he has become Rodimus Prime!
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Getaway]] (2)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (3)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime]] (5)
*[[Siren (G1)|Siren]] (11)
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (12)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (24)
*[[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]] (25)
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (26)
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (27)
*''[[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]]/[[Primus]]'' (28)
|c2=
*[[Galvatron II|Galvatron]] (4)
*[[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (8)
*[[Octane]] (16)
*[[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (17)
*[[Skalor]] (18)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (19)
*[[Skywarp (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Skywarp]] (20)
*[[Bugly (G1)|Bugly]] (21)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Thundercracker]] (23)
*[[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (29)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (30)
*[[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] (31)
|c3=
*[[Jesse (G1)|Jessie Witwicky]] (9)
*[[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] (10)
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (22)
|h4=Others|c4=
*[[Deathbringer (Marvel)|Deathbringer]] (1)
*[[Boltax (G1)|Boltax]] (6)
*[[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] (7)
*[[Rokan|"Brain Trust" member #3]] (13)
*[[Decanus]] (14)
*[[Tallus|"Brain Trust" member #5]] (15)
*''[[Primus]]/[[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]]'' (28)
}}

==Quotes==
"This unorthodox meeting of the minds would have been infinitely poorer for my absence, don't you agree? Hardly worth having at all!" 
"You always did have an inflated opinion of yourself, Jhiaxus."
:—'''Jhiaxus''' and '''Decanus''' engaging in a bit of back and forth

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
[[File:Denver less than zero.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|Deathbringer Redux]]
*The first of this issue's four sections tells the story of the Autobots' battle with the Deathbringer, which was alluded to in [[Dark Creation|issue #65]]. That issue was itself referring to the two-part "[[Deathbringer (issue)|Deathbringer]]" story published in the Marvel UK series, in which the full battle was told in detail; this was the biggest allusion any of the US stories made to the UK material, but since ''Regeneration One'' has been established as ''not'' counting the UK stories for its continuity, this fills that storytelling gap in. Everything is functionally identical to the UK story, including some very similar and paraphrased dialogue.
*Boltax and the Underbase were introduced in [[The Flames of Boltax!|issue #48]], while Jhiaxus (who has put in some cameo appearances in ''Regeneration One'' up until now) debuted in the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|Generation 2]]'' comic. An important distinction between the two depictions of Jhiaxus is introduced: in ''Generation 2'', the modern day Transformers were not aware of his existence because he was not created until they left Cybertron, but here, he did exist before then, and has erased all knowledge of himself from all records.
*With the [[Transformers: The Movie (Marvel comic)|movie adaptation]] not a part of the regular Marvel continuity, Arcee makes her first appearance in said continuity, though as part of Hot Rod's time travel to an alternate timeline, and only as a corpse. Girl can't catch a break.
*Buster intimates that he and Jessie got married some time between their last appearances during the [[Underbase Saga]] and now.
*While Bugly's appearance amongst Megatron's zombie horde may seem incongruous given that as a [[Pretender]] he survived the [[Underbase]] incident, the last time we saw him was as part of [[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]]'s crew way back in [[The Interplanetary Wrestling Championship!|issue #55]]. Presumably he was deactivated off-panel at some point between then and when Primus summoned the Transformers to Cybertron in [[Out of Time!|issue #73]] and left behind on Earth for Megatron to find.
*Throughout all four sections, Hot Rod remains colored in the standard modern style of ''Regeneration One'', as he's merely a traveler and not an occupant of those times.
*Buster perishing in a car wash by Ratbat's hands (claws?) alludes to their previous battle in such a locale, in the infamous issue #31, "[[Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom]]".

===Transformers references===
*On Cover B the car Buster and Jessie are fleeing the Decepti-Zombies in has T2006 UK on the tag, a reference to "[[Target: 2006]]".
*The first and third sections of this issue, drawn by regular Marvel US contributors Geoff Senior and Jose Delbo, are colored in the classic Marvel comics style of Nel Yomtov, complete with faux {{w|Ben-Day dots}} and block-colored crowds.
*The second section, illustrated by Marvel UK alumnus Jeff Anderson, is rendered in a painted watercolor style, like that used by the first ninety-or-so issues of the Marvel UK series, with particular inspiration drawn from [[Tony Jozwiak]]'s work on "Target: 2006."
*The fourth section depicts an alternate version of the shuttle crash on Junkion portion of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' (a work which was, of course, a huge influence on the UK series). In keeping with this, the coloring recreates the look of the movie's animation, with bold, cel-shaded figures and painted-looking backgrounds; Rodimus is even colored in his cartoon color scheme, while Galvatron remains in his Marvel colors. Furman has [http://simonfurman.wordpress.com/2013/08/26/script-wrap-regeneration-one-94/#comment-8921 noted] that this section is set in the alternate "[[Rhythms of Darkness!]]" timeline, but it contradicts that story on some points (such as the manners in which Kup and Rodimus die).
*Nova Cronum was a Cybertronian polity introduced in [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s ''[[Transformers: War Within: The Dark Ages|War Within: The Dark Ages]]'' series.

===Real-life references===
*This issue is named for the {{w|Less Than Zero (song)|Elvis Costello song of the same name}}.<ref>https://simonfurman.wordpress.com/2013/09/15/script-wrap-transformers-rg1-zero/#comment-9051</ref>

===Errors===
*In the first panel he appears in, Rodimus Prime has a red boot, in accordance with his Marvel character model, but in all others—including the final page appearance by "our" Rodimus—his boots are grey, as in the cartoon.
*Boltax's 'wings' seem to come and go between panels.

===Furminated===
*We discover that Buster and Jessie were killed in a Car Wash by zombie Ratbat during Megatron's initial onslaught.
*Alternate reality versions of Rodimus, Magnus, Arcee, Springer, and Kup are killed on Junkion.

===Covers (4)===
<gallery>
File:RG1 0 cvrA.jpg|
File:RG1 0 cvrB.jpg|
File:RG1 0 cvrRI.jpg|
File:RG1 0 cvrRE.jpg|
</gallery>
*'''Cover A:''' Jhiaxus mentally attacks Boltax, by [[Andrew Wildman]] and [[Jason Cardy]].
*'''Cover B:''' Buster and Jessie flee the Ex-Bots, by [[Guido Guidi]].
*'''Cover RI:''' Galvatron destroys Ultra Magnus on Junkion, by [[Geoff Senior]] and [[Josh Burcham]].
*'''Cover RE:''' Megatron and the Decepticons in front of the {{w|Halifax Town Clock|Town Clock}} in {{w|Halifax Regional Municipality|Halifax, Nova Scotia}}. Exclusive to [http://www.giantrobotcomics.com/ Giant Robot Comics] (who are based in Halifax), by Casey Coller and John-Paul Bove.

===Advertisements===
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Shockpoint|#21]]
*''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|#21]]
*''[[The Transformers: Monstrosity|Monstrosity]]'' [[Monstrosity issue 4|#4]]
*''[[Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters (comic)|Beast Hunters]]'' [[Beast Hunters issue 5|#5]]
*''The Bureau''
*''Danger Girl: The Chase'' (back cover)

==External links==
*[https://simonfurman.wordpress.com/2013/09/15/script-wrap-transformers-rg1-zero/ Simon Furman's Script (W)rap]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/comics-16/transformers-regeneration-one-0-full-preview-178438/ Preview]
*[http://simonfurman.wordpress.com/2013/09/15/script-wrap-transformers-rg1-zero/ Simon Furman's "Script (w)rap" for the issue]
*[http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/transformers-regeneration-one-0-colourist-insight-by-jp-bove/28405/ John-Paul Bove on colouring the issue]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Less Than Zero}}

Destiny, Part Four

2018-10-21T08:23:37Z

Shakalooloo Doom: /* Continuity errors */

{{Comicstory|
|series=rg1|issueno=94
|prev=Destiny, Part Three
|next=Less Than Zero
|title="Destiny" Part Four
|image=RG1 94 cvrRI.jpg
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[August 28]], [[2013]]
|coverdate=August 2013
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|penciler=[[Guido Guidi]]
|inker=[[Stephen Baskerville]]
|colorist=[[John-Paul Bove]]
|letterer=[[Shawn Lee]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''It's a knock-down, drag-out slugfest for the ages as Ultra Magnus and Galvatron square off in the midst of Bludgeon's attack on Cybertron!'''

==Synopsis==
[[Galvatron II|Galvatron]] descends through the skies over [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] like a comet, streaking straight toward [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]]. A momentary sense of ''déjà vu'' causes Magnus to hesitate, and Galvatron rockets into him, toppling both of them off a bridge, through a building and into the traffic below. Galvatron boasts of having slain Magnus before, causing Magnus to suspect he is insane—but regardless of his foe's mental stability, his strength is self-evident, and Magnus's reputation as "Cybertron's greatest warrior" is set to take a beating at the time-displaced Decepticon's hands!

[[File:Grimlock primus hot rod destiny.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.6]]
Deep beneath Cybertron's surface, in [[Primus]]'s chamber, the Transformers' creator-god communicates with [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] through [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]]'s body, explaining that he [[multiversal singularity|exists across all space and time]], and thus did not perish during the battle with [[Unicron]] as his children believed. Primus informs Hot Rod that he is "Prime", and that in order to fulfil that destiny, he must come to understand a "disease" eating away at reality. Primus casts Hot Rod through a portal to the mysterious realm of [[Zero Space]], before departing Grimlock's body, leaving the onlooking [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] with no memory of what has happened.

As Ultra Magnus and Galvatron grapple, the Autobot commander hurls his foe off him by firing one of his shoulder-rockets into him at point-blank range, hurling him off the overpass they are fighting on. [[Blades (G1)|Blades]] then appears, having been sent to find Magnus when he failed to respond to the call to arms against the Decepticons' ''[[Warworld]]'', which floats overhead. The ''Warworld'' disgorges a swarm of [[Blitz Engine]]s, which begin tearing through the Autobots that attempt to stop them, but when Magnus transforms to roll out so that he can join the fight, Galvatron bursts from the rubble and lands atop the [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] Autobot.

At the Autobots' command center in the [[Presidium (building)|Presidium]], [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]], [[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]] and [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] try to co-ordinate a counterattack against the Blitz Engines. Kup insists that he and the [[Wrecker]]s be allowed to take the field, but Prowl refuses, insisting that the commando squad needs to be applied strategically, only he does not yet know ''where''. Perceptor, at least, has an idea: his scans have revealed that the Blitz Engines are not self-sustaining, and are, in fact, being powered by [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] energy from a remote source. This source has to be aboard the ''Warworld'', and that is where the Wreckers will strike.

[[File:Ultra magnus galvatron ii destiny.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
Ultra Magnus barrels down the highway with Galvatron atop him, angrily declaring that he has no time for the Decepticon with the greater threat of the ''Warworld'' and its forces hanging over them. Galvatron insists that he will destroy the other Decepticons once he is done with Magnus, but Magnus is above caring—he blasts the road bridge ahead, and slams on his breaks, screeching to a halt at the bridge's broken edge, momentum hurling Galvatron's forward. But as he falls, Galvatron manages to grab Magnus's bumper, and drags him over the edge with him.

Up above, aboard the ''Warworld'', [[Krok (G1)|Krok]] advocates the use of the vessel's own weapons, and although [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] is opposed to devastating the world he wishes to rule, he agrees that a single, symbolic strike is a good idea, selecting the fallen Magnus and Galvatron as his target. The resultant blast is miles in diameter, wiping out whole city blocks... but the Autobots have some "big guns" of their own to roll out in retaliation, as Prowl activates [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] to take on the Blitz Engines! However, Bludgeon has anticipated Omega's involvement, and [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] is on hand to order [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]] into the fray to take on the giant Autobot. Soundwave is about to withdraw before the titanic conflict kicks off, but finds his way barred by [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]!

Fire sweeps the Cybertronian landscape, the ''Warworld''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s blast having set it ablaze. For long moments, the inferno rages unabated... until at last, a victor emerges from the conflagration...

...and it is Ultra Magnus, who has decided it's time to start living up to his own hype!
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks or visions.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{collist|3|
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (1)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]]/[[Primus]] (3)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] (4)
*[[Swoop (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Swoop]] (5)
*[[Sludge (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Sludge]] (6)
*[[Slag (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Slag]] (7)
*[[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (8)
*[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (9)
*[[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (10)
*[[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (11)
*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (12)
*[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (13)
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (14)
*[[Dogfight (G1)|Dogfight]] (15)
*[[Doubleheader]] (16)
*[[Skyhammer (G1)|Skyhammer]] (17)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (18)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (19)
*[[Siren (G1)|Siren]] (20)
*[[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (21)
*[[Mirage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Mirage]] (22)
*[[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]] (23)
*[[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] (24)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (25)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] (26)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] (27)
*[[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] (28)
*[[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (29)
*[[Chainclaw (G1)|Chainclaw]] (30)
*[[Catilla (G1)|Catilla]] (31)
*[[Meanstreak]] (32)
*[[Turbofire]] (33)
*[[Windbreaker]] (34)
*[[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (41)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (45)
}}
|c2=
*[[Galvatron II|Galvatron]] (2)
*[[Horri-Bull]] (35)
*[[Octopunch (G1)|Octopunch]] (36)
*[[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] (37)
*[[Krok (G1)|Krok]] (38)
*[[Stranglehold]] (39)
*[[Fangry (G1)|Fangry]] (40)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] (42)
*[[Wingthing (G1)|Wingthing]] (43)
*[[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]] (44)
|h4=Others|c4=
*[[Primus]]/[[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] (3)
}}

==Quotes==
"Blades! About time! Did nobody notice me fighting for my life here?" 
"Uh....no."
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Blades'''

"Just like Bludgeon said..." 
"Indeed, Wingthing. Every move the Autobots have made, he has anticipated...and countered. '''Monstructor''', terminate Omega Supreme- with extreme prejudice!" 
"Hold up, Soundwave- this is one party you ''ain't'' leavin'..least not 'til the fat lady sings!"
:— '''Wingthing''' and '''Soundwave''', the latter of whom is caught monologuing by '''Blaster'''.

==Notes==
===Artwork and technical errors===

===Continuity errors===
*Despite being shown making it to safety under Primus's visage in the last issue, along with the other Dinobots and Hot Rod, [[Snarl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Snarl]] is nowhere to be seen in this issue. (Another [[The Transformers: The Movie|TFTM]] homage, maybe?)
*Ultra Magnus remarks that it was possibly [[Emirate Xaaron]] that coined the term 'Cybertron's greatest warrior'. Ultra Magnus had not appeared in the comic until after Xaaron was dead, so it seems a little strange that Magnus had not been seen or heard of before Regeneration One if he was considered the 'greatest warrior'. Unless the emirate was being sarcastic?

===Continuity notes===
*In Simon Furman's original Marvel UK stories, Galvatron and Ultra Magnus had a running rivalry that never got the chance to be fully resolved. In a spiritual sense, this story serves as that resolution, even though a) the Marvel UK stories aren't part of ''Regeneration One'' continuity (as made clear by Magnus's comments in this issue that he's never met Galvatron), and b) even if they were, this is a different Galvatron from another timeline and not the one who fought Magnus (however, it seems that this Galvatron has previously defeated Magnus in his own timeline).
*This issue is full of subverted homages to Galvatron and Magnus's classic blow-out brawl from the eighth chapter of "[[Target: 2006]]". As in the original story, Galvatron clings to the roof of Magnus's [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]], and Magnus screeches to a halt to throw him off a broken overpass... except where Galvatron was sent flying in the original story, here, he seizes Magnus's bumper on the way down and drags him with him. Then, at the issue's climax, both combatants are consumed in a fireball, but where "Target: 2006" saw Galvatron emerge triumphant, here, Magnus is the victor, appearing through the flames in a direct full-page, three-panel homage.
*[[Zero Space]] has been lurking on the fringes of the ''Regeneration One'' storyline since the very beginning, with [[Counterpoint|issue #80.5]].
*Little-seen [[Action Master]] character [[Krok (G1)|Krok]] puts in another brief appearance serving as confidant and adviser to Bludgeon, as he did in the last few issues of the original Marvel series.
*Prowl swears by [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]] and his [[smelting pool]]s, artifacts of Marvel continuity from back in issues [[The Smelting Pool!|#17]] and [[The Bridge to Nowhere!|#18]].
*Omega Supreme's got his reputation back as a world-shakingly powerful tool of destruction, as he was back in his debut in [[Command Performances!|issue #19]]; this rep took a [[Buzzsaw (G1)|bit of a beating]] as the original series rolled on.
*The idea that Primus [[multiversal singularity|exists simultaneously across all of time and space]] has been knocking around for a while, and is here used as an explanation for his continued existence after his apparent death in [[On the Edge of Extinction!|issue #75]]—which was something most fans had [[fanon|taken as read]] for a while, too.

===Real-life references===
[[File:RegenerationOne94WarworldMissiles.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Next: Megatron in safety colors.]]
*The [[missile]]s the [[Warworld]] fires on page 9 are drawn to resemble the [[for safety reasons|safety]] "bopper" [[:File:GiGmissiles.jpg|missiles]] used by Italian toy company [[GiG]] for their [[Pre-Transformer]]s ''[[Trasformer]]'' {{sic}} line, down to the coloring. Italian artist [[Guido Guidi]], who drew this issue, grew up with the GiG toys.
*When Windbreaker is killed by a Blitz Engine, his death is accompanied by the sound effect "PARP". That's... a-heh... that's a bit of British onomatopoeia for farting. 'cause, well... y'know. ''Windbreaker''. (giggle) [[Simon Furman]] noted on his blog that it was an homage to long-running character {{w|List of Viz comic strips#F_-_J|Johnny Fartpants}} from the "adult" comic {{w|Viz (comic)|Viz}} and that he had considered "HONK", "CHUFF" and "QWOFF" as alternatives.<ref>[http://simonfurman.wordpress.com/2013/08/26/script-wrap-regeneration-one-94/#comment-8923 Simon Furman's Wordpress]</ref>

===Other trivia===

===Transformers references===
*Galvatron threatens to "crush the life from [Magnus] with [his] cold bare hands!", an extended paraphrasing of Megatron/Galvatron's famous line from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'': "I will crush you with my bare hands!"
*Ultra Magnus swears by the "Great God Ginrai", the story repurposing the ''[[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (franchise)|Super-God Masterforce]]'' character's name as that of some kind of deity (since we assume he's not swearing by a [[Ginrai (human)|teenage human truck driver]]).
*Omega Supreme going up against Monstructor seems to be a reference to the characters' history together over the in the mainstream [[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]], as established in Furman's own ''[[Spotlight: Optimus Prime]]'' (and later in more detail in [[Primus: All Good Things|the 2012 ''Robots in Disguise'' annual]]).

===Furminated===
*A couple of generics are killed in the Blitz Engines' initial volley.
*Catilla gets fried by a Blitz Engine; maybe Chainclaw too.
*Windbreaker gets a huge spike shot through him by a Blitz Engine.

===Covers (3)===
<gallery>
File:RG1 94 cvrA.jpg|'''Cover A'''
File:RG194 cvrB.jpg|'''Cover B'''
File:RG1 94 cvrRI.jpg|'''Cover RI'''
</gallery>
*'''Cover A:''' The Aerialbots attack the ''Warworld'', by [[Andrew Wildman]] and [[Jason Cardy]].
*'''Cover B:''' Omega Supreme versus the Blitz Engines, by [[Guido Guidi]].
*'''Cover RI:''' Galvatron atop a [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] Ultra Magnus, by [[Geoff Senior]] and [[Josh Burcham]].

===Advertisements===
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Three Monologues|#20]]
*''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' [[Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|#20]]
*''[[The Transformers: Monstrosity|Monstrosity]]'' [[Monstrosity issue 3|#3]]
*''[[Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters (comic)|Beast Hunters]]'' [[Beast Hunters issue 4|#4]]
*''KISS Kids''
*''[[My Little Pony]]: The Magic Begins'' (back cover)

==External links==
*[https://simonfurman.wordpress.com/2013/08/26/script-wrap-regeneration-one-94/ Simon Furman's Script (W)rap]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Destiny, Part 4}}