MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Unknown Generation 1 animation studios

2020-04-21T17:39:22Z

Soundwaver: /* Season 2 */ spelling fix

[[File:Cheekbonescomparison.jpg|thumb|right|300px|'''Left:''' Examples of outdated character models (notice the "cheekbone" lines on the face) and flat coloring used by the unknown studio. '''Right:''' Examples of final character models (again, notice the sharper lines on the face) and shaded coloring used by Toei.]]

When producing animation for the original ''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|Transformers]]'' cartoon, [[Marvel Productions]] and [[Sunbow Productions]] utilized the services of [[Toei]], [[AKOM]], and at least two '''unknown animation studios.'''

==Episodes==
===Season 2===
The existence of work by a studio other than Toei or AKOM was first indicated by Toei's own website resume, which confirmed they produced only 39 of the second season's 49 episodes. Of the remaining 10 episodes, 3 are immediately identifiable as AKOM productions, leaving a remaining 7 to be the work of the unknown studio. Identifying exactly which episodes were done by this unknown studio has always posed a challenge, as the quality of their work does not differ significantly from that of Toei, but extensive research by your friendly neighborhood TFWiki editors has yielded the following list. The main identifying feature is the consistent use of outdated [[character model|animation models]] for a handful of the new season 2 cast members that are not seen anywhere else in the season outside of this limited group of episodes. Those episodes are:

*"[[Auto Berserk]]"
::Features alternate models for [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]], [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]], [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]], and [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]
*"[[A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court (episode)|A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court]]"
::Features the alternate model for Hoist
*"[[Make Tracks]]"
::Features alternate models for [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]], Hoist, and Inferno
*"[[The Secret of Omega Supreme (episode)|The Secret of Omega Supreme]]"
::Features alternate models for Tracks, [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], and [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]
*"[[Kremzeek!]]"
::Features alternate models for Inferno, Hoist, and Smokescreen
*"[[Triple Takeover]]"
::Features alternate models for Tracks, [[Skids (G1)|Skids]], Thrust, and Astrotrain

Immediately obvious features of the alternate models include: Red Alert being colored bright white instead of greyish off-white; a rounder head for Inferno, based on the one seen in his full-body character model, rather than the more toy-accurate design seen in other episodes from his close-up head turnaround model; a black helmet with orange horns for Grapple, as opposed to solid orange (which is, for the most part, actually toy-accurate); a green-and-orange hinge in the centre of Hoist's chest rather than solid orange, burgundy parts instead of red on Smokescreen; red pectorals and shoulder-vanes on Thrust instead of grey/black; black windows on Tracks's robot mode (but not vehicle mode); a grey helmet and shoulder-wheels on Astrotrain instead of purple; more toy-based tech-detailing all over Omega Supreme; and a pale blue torso instead of dark blue on Skids. There are other, more subtle differences, including "softer" facial designs; check the "Notes" section on each character's individual article for details. All of these early models appear in the original [[Commercial/Generation 1|commercial]]s advertising the toys; most of the Autobot characters did not reappear in later seasons, but Omega, Astrotrain, and Thrust's early models continued to be consistently used for all season three appearances by the characters that were animated by AKOM.

The remaining episode is harder to pin down, but exhaustive research indicates it is "[[A Prime Problem]]", which features the same general softness of line and warmth of color as "Auto Berserk," as well as some unique airbrushing effects seen in that episode, and in the aforementioned commercial. It also features a lot of very un-Toei block-shading lifted overly literally from character models.

Check out this article's talk page for our very thorough dissection of the particulars!

===Season 3===

Of the 30 episodes in season 3, at least 1, "[[Call of the Primitives]]", is definitely animated by a studio other than Toei or AKOM. Fandom scuttlebutt going back to the 1990s has identified this studio as [[Tokyo Movie Shinsha]], but no legitimate ''evidence'' for this claim has ever appeared. While it is often stated as fact, the truth is, we really don't know.

The episodes "[[Starscream's Ghost]]" and "[[Only Human]]" are prominent candidates for work produced by a studio other than Toei or AKOM. Both were widely accepted as being Toei's work by fans in the 1990s simply because they are visibly of vastly superior animation quality than any AKOM offering, but when Toei's aforementioned website resume revealed that the studio produced only 13 of the season's episodes, the numbers didn't add up, and these 2 episodes were relegated to being considered AKOM productions by default, despite their drastically different visuals. In reality, it is much more likely that they were the work of the same unknown studio from season 2; in addition to using outdated color models for [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] and [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] (like AKOM), they also ''consistently'' use the incorrect, outdated designs for Rodimus, Galvatron, [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], and [[Springer (G1)|Springer]], which doesn't happen anywhere else in the season. Even AKOM was more up-to-date in their reference material than that!

==Possible locations==
Series production co-ordinator [[Paul Davids]] referred to a third studio in a 2002 interview, noting it was only used "a few times" and claiming it was in the [[Philippines]]. Davids appears to be mistaken in his recollection, however; the only animation studios open in the Philippines at the time ''Transformers'' season 2 was animated were Optifex, who worked exclusively for Hanna-Barbera, and Burbank Animation. While Burbank did work on Sunbow/Marvel shows made around the same time, like ''[[Jem]]'', ''[[My Little Pony]]'' and ''Defenders of the Earth''<ref>http://goforlaunchproductions.com/mainBio2.html</ref>, their resume does not appear to include any ''Transformers'' episodes.

[http://www.philippinecompanies.com/companyprofile/1427/toei-animation-phils-inc Although Toei has a Filipino branch], they were not established until November 1986, ''well'' after production of both season 2 ''and'' 3 of ''The Transformers'' (bar "[[The Return of Optimus Prime]]") had already been completed.

As such, there has been no luck in determining the identity of this mysterious studio.

==External links==

*[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/60-astrominutes/paul-davids/paul-davids-3.html Interview with production coordinator Paul Davids at the Cybertron Chronicle], suggesting the use of a studio from the Philippines: "Three to four weeks 'in-house' to prepare character designs, backgrounds, color models, record voices and edit soundtrack, complete the storyboard, and ship the show to Korea or Japan (and a few times we used an animation facility in the Philippines)."

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category: Animation companies]]

Kindred

2019-08-31T17:46:11Z

Soundwaver: /* Continuity notes */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[Alone Together]], Chapter 3
|prev=Perception
|next=Delirious
|seriesissue2=''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]''
|title="Kindred"
|publisher=[[Fun Publications]]
|published in=[[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 58|''Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club'' #58]]
|writers=[[Trent Troop|S. Trent Troop]] & [[Greg Sepelak]]
|pencils=[[Naoto Tsushima]]
|inks=Naoto Tsushima
|colors=[[Evan Gauntt]]
|letters=[[Jesse Wittenrich]]
|managing editor=[[Pete Sinclair]]
|continuity=''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]''
|chronology=Circa [[2384]]
}}

'''Trans-Mutate and Rampage find they're not as alone as they thought.'''

==Synopsis==
Having found [[Transmutate (character)|Trans-Mutate]], [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] takes a lunge at his supposed stalker. Trans-Mutate insists she doesn't want to fight, and the quickly recognize each other from [[Ferromax Detention Center]]. Trans-Mutate inquires at to who and what Rampage is; the former Maximal begins to rant, but quickly falls over, having drained most of his [[energon]] reserves. Trans-Muate uses the navicomp's gathered solar radiation to convert it to energon, powering Rampage upright once more. Trans-Mutate ignores his ramblings, telling him that they need each other to survive, and she wants to know why he's taken such an interest in her. Rampage explains that they are both [[Point One Percenter]]s; Cybertronians with rare, super-powerful sparks, and that their jailers feared and exiled them when they prove uncontrollable. Trans-Mutate tells him thatt Maximals and Predacons are capable of supporting such a spark, but Protoform X claims that those are lies, and that it is why he was selected for the experiments that made him what he is today. He asks her if she too has felt different from others all her life, and Trans-Mutate, stuck by this revelation, confirms that she has. Rampage moves on, figuring that there is probably wreckage from the ''[[Claustrum]]'' they can salvage for shelter and energy. After sniping with the navicomp, Rampage asks why Trans-Mutate hid from him. Trans-Mutate replies that she thought he was hiding from her, and the pair quickly realize they are not alone. Suddenly, two strange robots-[[Bruton]] and [[Medusa]]-attack the pair, having come to capture the two "lantern-chests." Rampage attempts to protect his companion, but he too is wanted, and eventually the two are both knocked offline, much to the navicomp's delight. Medusa and Bruton drag the pair away, and Bruton recovers the navicomp...

The next morning, the pair come back online. A voice is disappointed; he expected so much more out of the Cybertronians, the so-called "scourge of the cosmos", and here he is with two broken and starved robots. And that is no way to present oneself to [[Lord Imperious Delirious]], ruler of the [[Destructon]]s!

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s
|c1=
*[[Transmutate (character)|Trans-Mutate]] (2)

|h3=[[Destructon]]s
|c3=
*[[Bruton]] (3)
*[[Medusa]] (4)
*[[Psychokhan]] (5)
*[[Lord Imperious Delirious]] (6)
|c4=
*[[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] (1)
}}

==Quotes==
"I do not wish to fight you!" 
"How '''precious'''. You think that '''matters'''!"
:—'''Trans-Mutate''' and '''Rampage'''

"A '''misnomer''', an '''aberration''', a '''curse'''. Our [[spark]]s burn brighter than most, rare pulsars among the billions of stars... and just as deadly."
:—'''Rampage''' on being a Point One Percenter.

"The aberration proposes a life bond. This unit is programmed to perform the ceremony in case of emergency." 
"Silence, '''box''', or I shall see if '''simulated''' screams are as delicious as natural ones!"
:—The '''navicomp''' and '''Rammpage'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Rampage and Trans-Mutate first encountered each other at [[Ferromax Detention Center]], in "[[Alone Together: Prologue]]".
* The slender, feminine figure stalking Protoform in part [[Paranoia|two]] and the large figure Trans-Mutate saw in part [[Perception|three]] are revealed to be Medusa and Bruton, respectively.

===Transformers references===
*Point One Percenters originate from IDW Publishing's ''More than Meets the Eye'' comic, a super-powerful spark-type that made Transformers who had it able to do feats normal Cybertronians couldn't, like survive processes that made them near indestructible as with Rampage. The spark is typically presented as green, as Rampage's profile noted, hinting at his true power.
*The Destructons were created for [[Blackthorne Publishing]]'s ''Transformers in 3-D'' issue [[The War Against the Destructons, Chapter 1 of 3|#3]], a story which was never completed. They appear here for the first time in color.

[[Category:Beast Wars issues]]
[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising media]]

Alone Together: Prologue

2019-08-31T17:39:22Z

Soundwaver: /* Transformers references */ grammar fix

{{comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Alone Together]]''
|prev=Shattered Destiny
|next=Paranoia
|seriesissue2=''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]''
|prev2=Identity Politics
|title="Alone Together: Prologue"
|publisher=[[Fun Publications]]
|published in=[[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 55|''Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club'' #55]]
|writers=[[Jesse Wittenrich]] & [[Pete Sinclair]]
|pencils=[[Naoto Tsushima]]
|inks=Naoto Tsushima
|colors=[[Evan Gauntt]]
|letters=[[Jesse Wittenrich]]
|managing editor=Pete Sinclair
|chronology=Circa [[2384]]
|continuity=''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]''
}}

'''As a Maximal team stages a breakout, one of their number encounters someone familiar.'''

==Synopsis==
''On a dystopian [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], a Maximal records an entry into his personal journal. On this Cybertron, the war never really ended; when the Autobots and Decepticons grew too old to continue fighting, the Maximals and Predacons were built in their place. These "[[Builder of Cybertron|Builders]]" encouraged hostilities between their descendants, and much to the Maximal's shame, he fell for it all. That all changed after one mission, where his utterly loyal [[Optimus Primal (BW)|commander]] led his squadron into a slaughter against the Predacon [[Darksyder]]s. His friends [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] and [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] were killed almost immediately, and when he was nearly killed himself, the rest of his squad turned on their leader. That day, he realized that there was no honor in this "war," and abandoned the cause. Now a renegade, the Maximal plans to free his Predacon friend, [[Dinobot (BW)|Dynobot]], from the [[Ferromax Detention Center]]. [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] sets down his recorder, as he goes to join the others...'''

Outside the Ferromax, Maximals [[Botanica (BM)|Botanica]], [[Jawbreaker]], [[Geckobot|Gecko-Bot]], and [[Transmutate (character)|Trans-Mutate]] grapple up the side of the prison. Botanica has Gecko-Bot activate the [[Impercepton shield]], hiding them from the guards. It doesn't hide them from Rattrap, however, who has already managed to get inside. Explaining to Botanica's soldiers that he faked his death and that he plans to broadcast after they free Dynobot, Rattrap leads them into the vents. Unable to use the shield in close quarters, Botanica activates a drone previously given to her by Rattrap, which hacks into the security cameras. Botanica is ready to push forward, but Rattrap holds her back, having far more experience than the younger Maximals, much to her consternation.

Eventually reaching the Maximum Security level, the Maximals go to free Dynobot from his cell. Trans-Mutate, however, is held up, when a voice from one cell begins to speak to her; the cell of [[Rampage (BW)|someone familar]]. The prisoner can tell there's something different about her, and that she's holding back her true strength. The other Maximals call to her as they escape with Dynobot; the voice urges her to go with them, but also to show them what she's truly capable of. The voice tells her not to worry about him; after all...

[[Alone Together|It won't be long before Trans-Mutate and Rampage meet once again.]]

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s
|c1=
*[[Geckobot]] (1)
*[[Botanica (BM)|Botanica]] (2)
*[[Transmutate (character)|Trans-Mutate]] (3)
*[[Jawbreaker]] (4)
*[[Torca (BW)|Torca]] (5)
*[[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] (6)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]
|c2=
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dynobot]] (8)

|h3=Others
|c3=
*[[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] (7)
}}

==Quotes==
"Your spark, it's not like the others. It speaks of your pain. Such sorrow; sorrow blessed with fury. It has a darkness I can taste."
:—'''Rampage'''

==Notes==
* Characters mentioned but not seen include: [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]], the "[[Optimus Primal (BW)|Boss-Gasket]]", the [[Darksyder]]s, [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]], [[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]], [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]], [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]], and [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]].

===Continuity notes===
* The first proper fiction for ''Beast Wars: Uprising'', the universe was first mentioned in Blackarachnia's profile in issue [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 25|#25]] of the Club magazine, which told the story of Blackarachnia's dystopian Cybertron, and the assault on her squad by the Predacons that got Rhinox and Silverbolt killed, and made Cheetor, Nightscream, and her defect. Rattrap was also mentioned as having been killed, but as he says here, reports of his death were greatly exaggerated. Rampage, meanwhile, was first mentioned in ''Timelines'' [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]]'s tech specs and profile.

===Transformers references===
* Jawbreaker and Gecko-Bot were chosen to appear probably due to the fact that they were practically the only two Beast Era characters in America who hadn't got fiction aside from their tech specs.
* Aside from Trans-Mutate and Rampage, who both have their ''Timelines'' toy bodies, the other characters in this chapter all have Cybertronian forms that are "virtual redecoes" of other toys:
** Botanica is a virtual retool of ''Beast Hunters'' [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]], with a new head. Rather than the [[Ravage (WFC)|Ravage]] figure that release of Soundwave has, her drone is based on the original ''Prime'' [[Laserbeak (WFC)|Laserbeak]] toy.
** Jawbreaker (originally a [[Transmetal 2]] Maximal hyena from the ''Beast Wars'' toyline) is a virtual redeco of ''Beast Hunters'' [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]].
** Gecko-Bot (a [[technorganic]] Maximal flying lizard from the ''Beast Machines'' toyline) is a virtual redeco of ''Beast Hunters'' [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]], with the ''Prime'' [[Dead End (WFC)|Dead End]] head. Their impercepton shield is a virtual redeco of Wheeljack's [[Falcon Spear]].
** Rattrap is a virtual retool of ''Prime'' [[Rumble (WFC)|Rumble]], with a new head and color scheme based on his ''Beast Machines'' incarnation.
** Dynobot is a virtual redeco of ''Generations'' "Thrilling 30" [[Springer (G1)|Springer]].
** Torca (a Maximal orca/elephant [[Fuzor]] from the ''Beast Wars'' toyline) is a virtual redeco of ''Universe'' [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] with the [[BotCon 2010]] [[Clench (G1)|Clench]] head.
* Rattrap mocks [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s "freedom is the right of all sentient beings" motto.
* Rattrap mentions war slogans like "Once a Predacon, always a Predacon" (something he said a lot of times in the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon) and "Better dead than Pred" (something Cheetor said in "[[Dark Designs]]".)
* The Predacon group Rattrap and his squad fought are called the Darksyders, after the name given to the Predacon [[Darksyde (BW)|ship]] by the fandom and various pieces of ancillary media.

===Real-world references===
* Gecko-Bot believes Rattrap died on the road to [[Damaxus]], referring to the story of the {{w|Conversion of Paul the Apostle}} from the Bible, where Paul, who persecuted early Christians, was converted to the religion. Bit on the nose, there.
* Rattrap claims that "reports of [his] demise were greatly exaggerated," a quote from [[Mark Twain]].
*Botanica says "Like a leaf on the wind..." as she released the drone, paraphrasing a line from the film ''{{w|Serenity (2005 film)|Serenity}}''.

===Proto-typical weirdness===
* Not quite errors, but being an early installment in the ''Beast Wars: Uprising'' universe, several concepts and ideas here differ with later stories.
* As with all the pre-Sorenson and Bishop ''Beast Wars: Uprising'' stories, the Maximals and Predacons are presented as being soldiers fighting each other in a war, rather than their depiction as civilians who fought their proxy war in gladiatorial games.
* The concept of the [[Builder of Cybertron|Builders]] is first mentioned here. Rather than the co-faction group the prose stories presented them as, the term Builders here appears to solely refer to the Autobots, with the Decepticons being mentioned separately. Rampage's profile (published in the same issue) is a bit more explicit on the matter, referring to the Builder's "fight with the Decepticons".

===Errors===
*The impercepton shield should probably be "''imperception'' shield."

[[Category:Beast Wars issues]]
[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising media]]

The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Four

2019-08-08T11:09:30Z

Soundwaver: /* Continuity notes */

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2019 comic)|Transformers]]'' #10
|prev=The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Three
|next=The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Five
|caption=
|image=TF2019 10 cvrB.jpg
|title="The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Four"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[August 7]], 2019
|coverdate=July 2019
|written by=[[Brian Ruckley]]
|art by=[[Angel Hernandez]] (pg. 1-3, 6-13), [[Anna Malkova]] (pages 4-5, 19-20) [[Beth McGuire-Smith]] (pages 14-18)
|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=
}}

'''The divides in Cybertronian society grow ever larger as tensions boil over in the Cybertronian Senate.'''

==Synopsis==
Outside [[Decepticon|Ascenticon]] headquarters, [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] join [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] for their latest assignment: as members of the [[Ascenticon Guard]], they'll be providing security as they escort their leader to the [[Senate]]—but their route takes them over a bridge, and, below, the streets swarm with Cybertronians of all shapes and sizes as they march on the Senate. Elita explains the situation to their leader: this is a silent protest, a march to honor the memories of [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] and [[Rubble]]. A downcast Bumblebee says nothing in the face of Megatron's token condolences except for a brief "thank you;" as the trio arrive at the doors of the Senate, Megatron orders his two bodyguards to remain outside. Elita watches the march, and explains to Bumblebee that this is but one of ''many'' marches, all across [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], and while Bumblebee worries that some of the marchers will be blaming the Ascenticons for the recent unrest, Elita remains steadfast in her convictions: the Ascenticons are, at their core, a peaceful movement, and violent extremists like [[The Rise]] cannot be allowed to hijack their message. If the leaders of Cybertron listened to the Ascenticons, she continues, then groups like The Rise would have no reason to exist, and vanish. Of course, Elita admits, that's what she ''hopes'' will happen... but, it seems, nothing in this world is quite so simple—a statement that Bumblebee can only grimly agree with.

Elsewhere in Iacon, [[Froid]] bustles down the hallway of a medical facillity, passing [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]]'s unconscious body and [[Flatline (G1)|Flatline]] tending to the decidedly more lively [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] before he reaches his patient of interest: the sullen [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], still recovering from his injuries sustained in the [[Memorial Crater]]. The old warrior isn't happy to be there, and even ''less'' happy to see Froid again, despite the psychiatrist's best attempts to mend fences with his former patient: when Froid asks why Cyclonus regularly "talks" with his dead friends, but refuses to do the same with [[Paragon]], the 'bot who was far ''more'' than his friend, Cyclonus snaps at Froid: Paragon did not merely die, he was ''killed'' by [[Pyra Magna]]—and with that, he stalks out of the room.

In the Senate building, the latest meeting of the Senate begins poorly; while both [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]] and [[Reversionist]] leader [[Heretech]] call for peace harmony, Megatron brushes them off, snarling that "harmony" is just a word: even under the restrictive terms of the [[Nominus Edict]], you cannot ''force'' people with different views to agree... and, he points out, the Ascenticons have ''also'' been the victims of politically-motivated violence in recent days. Orion fires back: Rubble and Brainstorm are both dead, Windblade was badly wounded in a recent investigation, and Megatron continues to hurl fiery rhetoric, his words providing the fuel for further and further violence across a divided Cybertron.

Senator [[Crisscross (G1)|Crisscross]] agrees: if Megatron cares at all about the future of the planet he purports to love, then Megatron needs to help create a united front: the only way to possibly calm the increasingly volatile political situation on Cybertron, and quell the looming threat of The Rise. Megatron growls that his love of Cybertron should not be questioned--Orion agrees with this, but reminds his opponent that the Autobots hold the majority in the Senate, and that, until the next election, First Senator [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]'s will holds: the [[Nominus Edict]] will not be overturned. All Megatron needs to do is suspend his rallies and disband the Ascenticon Guard—and then, when Sentinel Prime returns, every member of The Senate will denounce The Rise and give its followers a new name, a more accurate moniker that properly brands them as the deceitful liars and killers they are... but before Orion can finish his sentence, Megatron rises from his seat, having heard enough. Tired of Orion's rhetoric, Megatron stalks from the Senate, warning his fellow Senators that bad ideas can be just as dangerous as an improperly handled weapon—neither know friend from foe.

Outside, Megatron rejoins his two subordinates, but finds that the situation has turned ugly: the protest march has turned into a restless crowd, milling in front of the main Senate building... and, on spying Megatron, that crowd turns into a mob, breaking pieces from a nearby statue and hurling the masonry at the Ascenticon leader. Megatron bellows a warning to the crowd, while Bumblebee's ineffective protests fall on deaf ears . Elita-1 performs crowd control while Bumblebee escorts Megatron to safety... but there are too many for one 'bot to handle, and Bumblebee is forced to join the melee alongside Elita-1. Though they have numbers on their side, the crowd isn't prepared for a full-on fight, and the mob quickly disperses—and when Bumblebee asks Elita if ''this'' level of violence feels right to her, Elita admits that she doesn't know...

As night falls, Megatron races through the badlands of Cybertron until he reaches a remote location, protected by a [[shimmer field]].... a shimmer field that dissolves to reveal [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], leader of The Rise! A furious Megatron lays into his ambitious subordinate: Megatron deliberately put him in charge of The Rise in order to bring some much-needed organization to the rabble-rousers; under Shockwave's command, The Rise would inflame preexisting societal tensions and spread disorder—but outright murder was ''not'' part of the deal. Megatron reminds Shockwave of his place: ''he'' was the one who smuggled Shockwave back to the planet after his exile at the hands of [[Nominus Prime]], and if things get out of control, then it'd be all too easy for Megatron to simply hand Shockwave back over to the authorities. The Ascenticon leader gives Shockwave his marching orders: take The Rise underground for a while, keep the most violent 'bots out of sight, and ''only'' cause the kind of trouble Megatron wants him to cause—but, as Megatron transforms and heads out, Shockwave murmurs that he has other ideas...

Back in Iacon proper, [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] and a team of rookie [[Security Operations]] bots find themselves at an impasse outside of Ascenticon headquarters, their way barred by [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and his followers: Prowl requests to see [[Barricade (G1)|Barricade]] for questioning... and is furious when Soundwave calmly refuses.

That's not the only conflict brewing, however. At a nearby spaceport, a [[Titan (group)|Titan]] touches down and disgorges her occupants... and while [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] welcomes them back to Cybertron, there's no time for pleasantries: Sentinel Prime has arrived, and he is ''not'' happy!

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]] (9)
* [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] (22)

|h2=[[Decepticon|Ascenticon]]s|c2=
* [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]] (1)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (2)
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (3)
* [[Flywheels|Skytread]] (15)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (16)
* [[Acid Storm (G1)|Acid Storm]] (17)
'''[[The Rise]]'''
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (12)

|c4=
* [[Froid]] (4)
* [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] (5)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (6)
* [[Flatline (G1)|Flatline]] (7)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (8)
* [[Heretech]] (10)
* [[Crisscross (G1)|Crisscross]] (11)
* Female [[Titan (group)|Titan]] (13)
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (18)
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (19)
* [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (20)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (21)
* [[Firestar (G1)|Firestar]] (23)
* [[Road Rage (G1)|Road Rage]] (24)
* [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (25)
}}

==Quotes==
"And then she called me '''Slowswipe'''! Can you '''believe''' that?" "The attempt to kill you seems a touch '''more''' injurious."
:—'''Sideswipe''' and '''Flatline'''

"Since Nominus exiled everyone who might cause trouble, you insist on pretending there is some eternal, unquestionable consensus. Silence is not consensus when it is '''enforced''', and when you are not '''listening'''."
:—'''Megatron''' says so much for the tolerant left

"Every distortion, every exaggeration you propagate, The Rise adopt. They turn your grievance into fuel."
:—'''Orion Pax''' retorts

"Ideas are like shrapnel. They do not know '''friend''' from '''foe'''."
:—'''Megatron'''

"Welcome back, Sentinel Prime. Starscream, Naut-" "Never mind all '''that''', Ironhide. We are going to the Senate. There are some heads I want to smash together. '''Now'''."
:—'''Ironhide''' discovers that '''Sentinel Prime''' is in a mood

==Notes==
*'''First appearances:''' [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]], [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], [[Flatline (G1)|Flatline]], [[Heretech]], [[Crisscross (G1)|Crisscross]], [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], [[Firestar (G1)|Firestar]], [[Road Rage (G1)|Road Rage]], [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]]

===Continuity notes===
* The protest march is held in honor of both [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] and [[Rubble]]; the former was killed shortly before the events of [[The World In Your Eyes Part One|issue #1]], while the latter died in [[The World In Your Eyes Part Five|issue #5]].
* Cyclonus is recovering from the injuries that he sustained in [[The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Two|issue #8]]; in that same issue, Froid alluded to Paragon, though it wasn't clear at the time that Paragon had been dead for a while.
* During the Senate meeting, Megatron refers to the attack on his rally, which occurred in [[The World In Your Eyes Part Two|issue #2]]... though the reveal in this issue definitely suggests that it may have been staged.
* Megatron claims that the Nominus Edict was responsible for the exile of various 'bots, though Orion and the other members of the Senate deny this. Then again, Megatron ''does'' also claim later in the issue that Shockwave had been banished from Cybertron by Nominus Prime.... so who's telling the truth here?!?
* Among the many rioters in the crowd outside the senate is a 'bot who sports the distinctive green-and-red livery of the [[Torchbearer]]s. They're not the ''first'' Cybertronian to have this color scheme, however: another 'bot with a similar colour scheme appeared in [[The World In Your Eyes Part Two|issue #2]]; [[The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Two|issue #8]] , meanwhile, revealed that Pyra Magna was a political prisoner of sorts, while this issue reveals that she was responsible for killing at least ''one'' Transformer... so we're wondering if there's some kind of connection here...
* Organic creatures that Megatron passes by while travelling the wasteland include a [[skitter]], an invasive species that first appeared in [[The World In Your Eyes Part Two|issue #2]], and one of the unnamed pterosaur-like aliens that Prowl had as a pet in [[The World In Your Eyes Part Five|issue #5]], which were established to eat skitters in the same issue.
* As first revealed in [[The World In Your Eyes Part Three|issue #3]], Sentinel Prime was revealed to be on a tour of Cybertron's colonies; [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] and [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] were said to have been among his retinue in [[The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part One|issue #7]].

===Transformers references===
* Cybertronian cities Elita namedrops as sites for concurrently-occurring protests include [[Uraya]], from the [[Dreamwave Generation One continuity]], and [[Crystal City]] from [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the original cartoon]].
* Oddball characters for this issue include the surprise return of [[Heretech]], a minor Decepticon from the [[2005 IDW continuity|original IDW continuity]] by way of ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye]]'', reimagined here as the leader of Cybertron's [[Reversionist]] faction, and [[Flatline (G1)|Flatline]], who originally appeared in IDW's ''Revenge of the Fallen'' comics before he was transplanted into IDW's first ongoing universe via ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]''.
* And, of course, we get our first hint of where things are going to go from here: Orion suggests that the Senate officially rebrand the members of the Rise as something else, though all we get out of him before Megatron cuts him off is "Dece-"

===Errors===
* On page 10, a comma is missing from Bumblebee's dialogue "Time to move along I think."
* On the second-to-last page, Soundwave's dialogue is written in the normal white word balloons, rather than the distinctive blue "electronic" speech bubbles that he's previously used.

===Other trivia===
* Both this issue and [[The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Three|the previous]] must have been shuffled around ''very'' late in production; the solicits for both issues describe the events of the other, and the covers more or less fit better the other way around.

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A''': Sixshot looms over Chromia, by [[Beth McGuire-Smith]]
* '''Cover B''': Starscream does some graffiti art, by [[Thomas Deer]]
* '''Retailer incentive cover''': A retro-styled tourism poster advertising the [[Memorial Crater]], by [[Jeffrey Veregge]]

<gallery>
File:TF2019 10 cvrA.jpg
File:TF2019 10 cvrB.jpg
File:TF2019 10 cvrRI.jpg
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
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==External links==
*[https://leagueofcomicgeeks.com/comic/5621572/the-transformers-10 Preview]

[[Category:Transformers (2019) issues]]