The World of Tomorrow

2022-01-26T22:16:36Z

Signal Lancer: /* Transformers references */

{{Comicstory|
|series=rid|issueno=33
|prev=Earthfall Chapter 5: I Dream of Wires
|next=The Crucible
|seriesissue2=''[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]'' #9
|prev2=Heavy Is the Head
|caption= "Shut up, Terry."
|image=RID33 regcvr.jpg
|title="The World of Tomorrow"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[September 24]], [[2014]]
|coverdate=September 2014
|written by=[[John Barber]]
|art by=[[Saren Stone]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline#2005|Current era (2014)]]
}}
'''Repaired and reactivated, Wheeljack is faced with a Cybertron unfamiliar to him, and must decide where his loyalties lie in this new world.'''

==Synopsis==
After months offline, the fully-repaired [[Wheeljack (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Wheeljack]] awakens at last, unceremoniously toppling out of his stasis tube in front of a waiting crowd. [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] is legitimately happy to see Wheeljack up and about again; that doesn't immediately endear the scientist to [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]], but Wheeljack is less concerned with her opinion of him, and more with the startling revelation that Starscream is now the ruler of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]!

[[File:IDWRID33-repairingsuperion.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]
After being caught up on the last six months, Wheeljack is shown around a shanty-town being built outside of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] by those who have elected to leave the city after the recent bombing—unfortunately, they are mostly [[Decepticon]]s, angry at what they see as the failings of Starscream's leadership, and Starscream and Wheeljack quickly find themselves being "encouraged" out of the area by a hail of debris thrown by furious civilians. Unfazed, Starscream proceeds to lead Wheeljack to a facility containing the bodies of [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] and [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], explaining the [[combiner]]'s origins to the shocked scientist and how he came to be injured by [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] and the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]]. Wheeljack swears to do what he can to help save the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]]' lives, but Starscream needs more: in order to protect his Cybertron against any potential threat that the Prowl-controlled [[Devastator (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Devastator]] might pose, he requires a combiner that will serve him. Already unconvinced that his friend Prowl could really be as dangerous as Starscream says, Wheeljack further points out that [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] seems beyond saving; in response, Starscream introduces him to [[Alpha Bravo]] and [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]], who have volunteered to become part of Superion in order to ensure the success of the project.

[[Blurr (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Blurr]] throws a party to celebrate Wheeljack's return at [[Maccadam's Old Oil House]], but the scientist is distracted throughout, surrounded by strangers and feeling very alone. Rising early the next morning, he pays a visit to Starscream in order to hash the matter out, but finds his way barred by [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]]. The smaller 'bot lets him pass with noticeably little argument... allowing Wheeljack to overhear Starscream seemingly arguing furiously with ''himself''. [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] appears, already aware of Starscream's apparent descent into insanity; she and Wheeljack properly introduce themselves to one another, and she takes him to Metroplex's damaged [[space bridge]], telling him a little more about recent events and her attempts to repair the bridge and help Cybertron's colony worlds. They both realize that it is difficult to trust Starscream, but that the current situation means that to help him is to help Cybertron, and that means they are both on the same side.

Seeking perspective, Wheeljack heads out to the badlands to regard the tiny singularity that [[Crystal City]] collapsed into when [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]]'s "[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]]" plot was foiled. There, he meets [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]], who has become withdrawn now that the vision of the future he saw has been rendered impossible by Shockwave's machinations. He despairs over the loss of the surety in the future that the vision had granted him, but with good humour, Wheeljack tells him that that state of uncertainty is just called "being alive".

Returning to Metroplex, Wheeljack walks into Starscream's chambers as he is in the middle of another rant... only to discover that this one isn't to himself, he's simply communicating with [[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]], his agent on [[Earth]], over a comm channel. Starscream shows Wheeljack a selection of images sent from Earth by Scoop of Devastator on the rampage, and gives one final speech: whatever anyone else may say about Starscream, whatever Wheeljack may ''think'' about him, his ''point'' is still true, and Cybertron needs a combiner on its side because all its potential enemies have one already. Wheeljack cannot disagree, and gets to work on Superion... because however untrustworthy Starscream may be, Wheeljack knows he has his friends Windblade and Ironhide to watch his back.

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks or recorded images. 
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] (1)
*[[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] (2)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] (3)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Wheeljack]] (7)
*''[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]'' (9)
*''[[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]]'' (10)
*''[[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]]'' (11)
*[[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (12)
*[[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (13)
*[[Alpha Bravo]] (14)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (15)
*''[[Kup (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Kup]]'' (23)
*''[[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]]'' (24)
*''[[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]]'' (25)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*''[[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]]'' (8)
*''[[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]]'' (26)
*''[[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]]'' (27)

|h3=[[NAIL]]s|c3=
*[[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] (4)
*[[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] (5)
*[[Flatline (G1)|Flatline]] (6)
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (16)
*[[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] (17)
*[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (18)
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (19)
*[[Blurr (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Blurr]] (20)
*[[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]] (21)
*''[[Devastator (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Devastator]]'' (22)
}}

==Quotes==
"So, ah, should I call you 'glorious leader'? ''Ha ha''." 
"Please, just '''Lord Starscream.'''" 
"Uh ''huh''."
:—'''Wheeljack''' and '''Starscream'''

"'''Slingshot.''' We used to listen to '''Nebulon rock operas''' together. They were '''terrible.''' He had '''terrible''' taste in '''music'''."
:—'''Wheeljack''' laments

"The future you saw... was it '''good?'''" 
"I... I don't know. I can't tell anymore. I can't tell what's '''good''' or '''bad'''... and I don't know what's gonna '''happen.'''" 
"''Heh.'' Pal. You just described '''bein' alive.'''"
:—'''Wheeljack''' and '''Ironhide'''

"There's a '''war''' coming, and you can trust me on '''exactly''' one thing: I won't let Cybertron fall again."
:—'''Starscream'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Wheeljack mentions his friendship with [[Ferak]], an old relationship mentioned just once before, in Ferak's profile in the ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'' hardcover. However, see "Errors", below.
*Wheeljack also recalls the time he built a new body for Orion Pax, as seen in ''[[Omega's Conundrum|Spotlight: Orion Pax]]''.
*He also brings up a "trip to [[Las Vegas]]", which happened in ''[[Infestation (IDW)|The Transformers: Infestation]]''. He describes the experience as "kinda fuzzy", likely a reference to the story being a crossover with another property, or a gag about Wheeljack's non-presence in the story, as he essentially only ever appears on-panel during it in order to do something science-y, then disappears again. Of course, it could also be a reference to {{w|Sin City (description)|the kind of weekends}} that the city is well known for providing.
*Wheeljack appeared to die back in [[Before the Dawn|issue #14]]. He was revealed to have survived in [[Three Monologues|issue #20]].
*This story takes place a few weeks after the conclusion of the ''[[The Transformers: Windblade|Windblade]]'' mini-series; nobody really wants to tell Wheeljack exactly what went down during it, for obvious reasons (seriously, Chromia might want to check her 'tude).
*The Decepticon slums outside Metroplex were seen in the previously-released but chronologically-later ''[[The Transformers: Punishment|Punishment]]'' mini-series.
*Omega Supreme has been injured and offline since [[The End of the Beginning of the World|issue #11]]; Superion has been out of action since [[Plan for Everything|issue #15]].
*Slingshot is noted to have a fondness for Nebulon rock operas; [[Nebulos]], homeworld of the Transformers' [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]], [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmasters]], and [[Powermaster]]s in other fiction, hasn't appeared in IDW continuity since its early days, when it was ravaged in an attack by [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] during ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer|Stormbringer]]''.
*Powerglide was formerly a member of the ''[[Lost Light]]'' crew; here we see he left the ship to remain on Cybertron after "[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]]".
*Dirge turns up in Maccadam's, having last been seen back in issue #20. It's nice to see he's gettin' along okay!
*Crystal City was consumed by a black hole in ''[[...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|Dark Cybertron Finale]]''.
*The precise specifics of how Shockwave's actions altered the future Ironhide saw aren't gone into on-panel, but we as an audience know that the Decepticon's plan resulted in the destruction of [[Gorlam Prime]], which was the ''setting'' for Ironhide's future vision, rendering it impossible.
*Scoop is revealed to be with the Decepticons on Earth; he was last seen among their number on Cybertron in a flashback in [[Earthfall Chapter 4: Full Fathom Five|issue #31]].
*The images Starscream shows Wheeljack are of the Autobots' attack on the EDC's Bikini Atoll base last issue.
*Monstructor is revealed to still be at large; his components were last seen doing battle with the female Autobots during ''Dark Cybertron Finale''.
*Starscream recalls Swindle's creation of Menasor from the first arc of the [[The Transformers (IDW)|2009-2011 ongoing series]]. The Stunticons haven't combined again since that first story. As will be revealed later, they're pretty pissed about it, too.

===Transformers references===
*The build-up to ''[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]'' begins here; new Superion component [[Alpha Bravo]], whose toy was debuted at [[Hasbro's Transformers 30th Anniversary San Diego Comic-Con Press Breakfast|San Diego Comic Con 2014]], is introduced, and Powerglide, whose new ''Generations'' toy becomes an extra piece for Superion's gun, puts in an appearance.
*Powerglide's got his [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original ''The Transformers'' cartoon]] speech patterns, dropping his Jackie Gleason-inspired catchphrase, "Awaaaaay we go!"
*Whilst he retains his pre-existing IDW design above the waist, Superion's legs (i.e. [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] and [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]]) have already been rebuilt to the specifications of the ''Combiner Wars'' toys, with forward-facing jet parts.
*Ironhide tells Wheeljack that he always thought a black hole would eat up the solar system. This is likely a reference to [[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Transformers: Cybertron]], where a black hole threatened to do just that.

===Real-life references===
*The title of this issue seems to be a reference to ''{{w|Futurama}}''; in the debut episode "{{w|Space Pilot 3000}}", upon emerging from stasis to find that the world has changed, like Wheeljack does in this issue, series protagonist {{w|Fry (Futurama)|Philip J. Fry}} is greeted by [http://theinfosphere.org/Terry a cryogenic scientist] who proclaims "WELCOME TO THE WOOOORLD OF TOMORROOOW!"

===Errors===
*Ferak is misspelled "Ferax". This is fixed for the trade and the version of this comic included with the ''Generations'' Deluxe Class Streetwise toy.
*On page three, as the water in Wheeljack's tube drains away, it drains ''upward''.
*In the flashback of Starscream's coronation, he is depicted in his Armada body. Of course, he doesn't get this body until the [[Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1|first issue of Dark Cybertron]].
*That Slingshot, Superion's left arm, has suffered the greatest injuries perhaps stretches credulity, considering that Devastator tore through the combiner from the ''right'' side in issue #15. Not to mention that Silverbolt, the torso, was explicitly ''ripped in half''... Well, what can we say? [[Hasbro]]'s just [[To sell toys|being itself.]]
**Superion's visible damage does not line up with damaged he received from Devastator. Superion was ripped in half diagonally from the upper right to the lower down, whereas in this issue it appears as though his entire upper half was ripped out of the lower half, including his spine, while his left arm hangs barely connected at the shoulder.
*In the final panel of page 14 (page 13 without the "Previously" page), Windblade is misspelled "Windblae". This is also fixed in the trade, but is still present in the version of this comic included with the ''Generations'' Deluxe Class Streetwise toy.
*Menasor appears in his new ''Combiner Wars'' design, which he logically shouldn't have yet.

===Edits===
[[File:TheWorldofTomorrowP1-2Comp.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|right|Decompressed storytelling vs. compressed storytelling.]]
Similar to the [[pack-in material|pack-in]] versions of various other existing IDW comics, the version of this issue available with the ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]] Combiner Wars'' Deluxe Class [[Streetwise (G1)#Generations|Streetwise]] toy was also subject to some changes:
*The first page (not counting the "Previously" page that's also missing in the trade paperback collection and the pack-in version), featuring four completely black panels with captions containing Wheeljack's inner monologue, is omitted entirely. The captions are moved to what's originally the second page in the original version (but page 1 in the pack-in version), with all the captions rearranged so that two panels' worth of captions are contracted into one panel each.
*Two edits on the double page 5/6 (pages 4/5 in the pack-in version): Wheeljack's eighth caption has "He died '''savin'''' the '''universe'''" changed to "He went out '''savin'''' the '''universe'''", and Starscream's fifth speech bubble in the lower double-page panel has "Somebody '''blew up''' some people, tried to '''kill''' Metroplex." changed to "Somebody '''blew up''' some people, tried to '''destroy''' Metroplex."
*On page 8 (page 7 in the pack-in version), Wheeljack's speech bubble in panel 1 is changed from "Shot in the head?" to "Blasted in the head?"
*On page 12 (page 11 in the pack-in version), Wheeljack's third caption in panel 1 is changed from "I mean, '''Bee's''' dead." to "I mean, '''Bee's''' gone."
*On page 13 (page 12 in the pack-in version), Starscream's second speech bubble in panel 6 has "Rattrap wants me '''dead'''" changed to "Rattrap wants me '''out of the way'''", with the speech bubble itself resized accordingly.

===Covers (5)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Wheeljack's hand emerges as Ironhide, Blurr, Starscream, and Windblade look on, by [[Andrew Griffith]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Subscription cover:''' Starscream and Rattrap perch on the fallen Superion, by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Priscilla Tramontano]]
*'''30th Anniversary cover:''' Ironfist declares "Bang", as seen during his showdown with [[Overlord (G1)|Overlord]] in [[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|''Last Stand of the Wreckers'' #5]], by Saren Stone; the third in September's series of 30th Anniversary covers commemorating moments from IDW history.
*'''Giant Robot Comics exclusive cover:''' Optimus Prime, Arcee, Ironhide, Prowl, Jazz, and Sideswipe on {{w|Angus L. Macdonald Bridge}} in Halifax, Nova Scotia, by Casey Coller and [[John-Paul Bove]]. Exclusive to Giant Robot Comics (who are based in Halifax); a companion piece to their exclusive cover to [[Less Than Zero|''Regeneration One'' #0]] from the previous September.
*'''Hasbro exclusive cover:''' Artwork of [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] from the ''[[Transformers Legends (mobile game)|Transformers Legends]]'' mobile game by [[Ken Christiansen]] and [[Volta]], exclusively available with ''Generations Combiner Wars'' Deluxe Class [[Streetwise (G1)#Generations|Streetwise]]. Rebranded as ''[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]'' #9.
<gallery>
File:RID33 regcvr.jpg|It... is... ALIVE!
File:RID33 subcvr.jpg|Don't worry, he'll be OK in time for ''[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]''.
File:RID33 cvrRI.jpg|Bang.
File:RID33 cvrRE.jpg|Aaaand we're back to our [[Character model|Animation Models]] again.
File:CW Streetwise cvr.jpg|Exclusive comic with Streetwise toy.
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''Robots in Disguise'' #34
*''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' [[Slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|#33]]
*''[[The Transformers: Primacy|Primacy]]'' [[Primacy issue 2|#2]]
*''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' [[Funeral for a Friend|#3]]
*IDW Transformers graphic novel library
*''[[My Little Pony]]'' Annual 2014 (back cover)

===Reprints===
*'''''The Transformers Volume 7: Combiner Wars First Strike''''' ([[April 8]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631402854 / ISBN 978-1631402852
:*Contains issues #33 to #38
:*Bonus material: cover gallery.

*'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 7''''' ([[March 21]], [[2018]]) ISBN 1684051495 / ISBN 978-1684051496
:*Contains issues #28 to 34, and ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #28 to #34.

*'''''Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 62: Earthfall''''' ([[August 8]], [[2018]])
:*Hardcover collection of ''Robots in Disguise'' issues #28 to 34, ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #26 to #27 and ''Dark Cybertron'': Finale one-shot.
:*Bonus content includes the lowdown on the (new) human cast and rare promotional posters for the [[Dawn of the Autobots]] event.

<gallery>
File:RID vol7.jpg|'''''The Transformers Volume 7: Combiner Wars First Strike'''; cover art by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V7.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 7'''''; cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]] and [[Tom B. Long]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v62.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 62: Earthfall'''''; cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] (Galvatron) and [[Andrew Griffith]] (retro)
</gallery>

==External links==
*[http://www.comicosity.com/preview-transformers-robots-in-disguise-33/ Preview]
{{DEFAULTSORT:World of Tomorrow}}
[[Category:Combiner Wars issues]]

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The World of Tomorrow