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Rise of the Decepticons: Swindle's

2021-04-05T16:36:06Z

WhamBam51: /* Errors */

{{disambig3|Swindle}}
{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2019 comic)|Transformers]]'' #20
|prev=Rise of the Decepticons: All Fall Down
|next=Rise of the Decepticons: Tremors
|caption=
|image=TF2019 20 cvrA.jpg
|title="Rise of the Decepticons: Swindle's"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[June 17]], 2020
|coverdate=April 2020
|written by=[[Brian Ruckley]]
|art by=[[Anna Malkova]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Jake M. Wood]]
|editor=[[David Mariotte]], [[Tom Waltz]] and [[Riley Farmer]]
|continuity=[[2019 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=
}}

'''The search for The Rise leads the 'bots of Security Operations into Iacon's criminal underbelly, but who's hunting who amidst Swindle's hive of scum and villainy?'''

==Synopsis==
In his quarters, a dejected [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] tunes into [[Andromeda (G1)|Andromeda]]'s latest news broadcast: since the fall of the [[Tether]], [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] has denounced the [[Decepticon|Ascenticon]]s and put out a bounty on several key members of [[The Rise]] accused of involvement in the recent attacks, but the Ascenticons are now openly questioning the effectiveness of [[Security Operations]] against The Rise and the failure of the [[Autobot]]s to effectively govern. Not even the arrival of Prowl's old colleague [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] shakes him out of his funk; as tensions heighten and civil unrest sweeps [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Prowl admits that his inability to prevent the crisis has made him feel like a failure. Nightbeat tries to cheer up his friend by telling him that they might still have a chance to turn things around—there's someone in custody that Prowl might like to speak with...

Elsewhere, in [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]'s [[Xeno-Quarter]], [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] assesses the damage to the city's [[A'ovan habitat]], and [[A'ovan]] representative [[Pra'tyne]] reports that they may have lost a tenth of the arcology's native species during the Tether's destruction. Hound finds his somber condolences cut off when [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] bounds onto the scene to demand a place in Hound's new counterterrorism unit. Already turned down by [[Firestar (G1)|Novastar]], Sideswipe's crestfallen when Hound tactfully explains that he lacks the experience and discipline Hound requires from his troops, and warns him not to push himself into being something he's not ready to be. As Hound walks off, Sideswipe grumbles that he ''does'' want to be something: something ''useful''.

[[Strongarm (BWU)|Strongarm]] and [[Bumper (G1)|Bumper]] watch as Nightbeat introduces Prowl to [[Singe]], arrested for stealing energon during the Tether's collapse. Prowl's angry and straightforward tactics toe the line of what's acceptable, but Nightbeat assures a concerned Strongarm that Prowl knows what he's doing. Indeed, the interrogation proves fruitful; as Bumper and Strongarm gear up for their next major operation, Strongarm worries for her safety and the increasingly fraught political situation on Cybertron. With Security Operations overstretched so, hundreds of Ascenticons have formed a blockade around [[Ascenticon Headquarter]]s to keep out [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]]'s officers; thousands of protesters have convened outside of the [[Senate]], [[Lodestar (Titan)|Lodestar]] remains injured and unable to fly, the [[Winged Moon]]'s orbital trajectory has sent it spinning towards Cybertron's sun, and fighting between Autobot and Ascenticon supporters threatens to consume the [[Tagan Heights]]. But, as Sideswipe pulls up to join the team on their raid, Prowl encourages Strongarm to keep faith: thanks to Singe's tipoff, Security Operations might finally get the chance to get on the trail of The Rise to hit them ''before'' they strike... and that trail starts at [[Swindle's]], whose shady proprietors employed Singe as part of an energon fencing operation, and who might have willingly supplied Rise members with stolen energon. Prowl lays out the plan: the inconspicuous Bumper will infiltrate the clientele, Sideswipe will take watch on the roof, while he, Strongarm, and Nightbeat will stay in reserve until needed—overriding Sideswipe's moaning and Bumper's concerns, Prowl tells the two to get into position.

Inside Swindle's, Cybertronians mingle, enjoy contraband energon, and place extravagant bets on the rowdy [[skitter]] races. [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] officiates the latest such race from his skybox, [[Headlock (G1)|Headlock]] runs numbers, and [[Trickdiamond]] works the crowd, but their new business partner [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] and his compatriot [[Whisper (G1)|Visper]] have little patience for their black-market sleaze—they're just here for the stolen energon Swindle promised. Unfortunately for them, Swindle explains that he doesn't ''have'' the goods, not after Singe's arrest partway into the heist. Correctly deducing that the police must be onto him, Mindwipe promptly lays into Swindle for foolishly inviting him here despite the danger, and his suspicions are vindicated when he spies Bumper in the crowd below, intently watching Visper's every move. On his private comms channel, Bumper reports his findings back to Prowl—when he mentions that Visper's winged compatriot might be on to him, Prowl immediately recognizes Bumper's description of the suspect and warns him to keep his distance; Mindwipe's ability to emit data-loaded light pulses makes him an extremely dangerous foe. Bumper asks for more information, before a quiet voice from over his shoulder cuts him off: Mindwipe has taken advantage of his distraction to ambush him from behind!

Nightbeat, Prowl, and Strongarm promptly kick down the door, and, as the other patrons panic, Visper transforms and nails Nightbeat in the chest with his [[alternate mode]] while Mindwipe takes advantage of the sudden chaos to first order a hypnotized Bumper to kill Prowl, then call in [[Storm Cloud (G1)|Storm Cloud]] to scramble all nearby communications. Storm Cloud does so, then dives straight through the building's roof—but Sideswipe promptly leaps after Storm Cloud and stuns the Riser with a single jab of his [[thermal lance]]. Swindle, [[Gutcruncher (G1)|Gutcruncher]], and Trickdiamond feign innocence as Prowl and Strongarm struggle to pin down the brainwashed Bumper; Visper takes advantage of the distraction to escape, followed by Mindwipe. As the pair soar away, Mindwipe puts through a call to [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], cutting through his superior's furious bluster to warn him that Storm Cloud's capture might further compromise the Rise. With the situation now mostly under control, Prowl instructs Strongarm to keep Bumper pinned down until the hypnosis wears off, then storms off to confront Swindle. Brushing aside Swindle's fake outrage, Prowl warns him that, with a confirmed Riser now in police custody, Swindle's going away for a long time: Prowl ''will'' convince Storm Cloud to tell him everything he knows... and he's certain that the info will include the fact that Swindle's cut a deal with the terrorists.

At Rise headquarters, [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] unlocks a secure room, and informs [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and [[Quake (G1)|Quake]] that they're getting ready to scuttle their current base in anticipation of another security crackdown. With all of Cybertron out for their blood, Sixshot reminds them they'd ''better'' not give him any trouble during the move...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] (16)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]] (18)

|h2=[[Decepticon|Ascenticon]]s|c2=
* [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] (11)
* [[Flywheels|Skytread]] (12)
* [[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]] (12)
* [[Whisper (G1)|Visper]] (45)
* [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (46)
* [[Storm Cloud (G1)|Storm Cloud]] (47)
* [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] (48)
* [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (49)
* [[Quake (G1)|Quake]] (50)

|h4=Cybertronians|c4=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Andromeda (G1)|Andromeda]] (1)
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (3)
* [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (4)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (5)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (7)
* [[Bumper (G1)|Bumper]] (8)
* [[Strongarm (BWU)|Strongarm]] (9)
* [[Singe]] (12)
* [[Pointblank]] (13)
* [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] (14)
* [[Vibes]] (15)
* [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (17)
* [[Lightbright (G1)|Lightbright]] (19)
* [[Lodestar (Titan)|Lodestar]] (20)
* [[Voxpop]] (21)
* [[Vanquish (G1)|Vanquish]] (22)
* [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] (23)
* [[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]] (24)
*"[[Starscream (MW)|''Machine Wars'' Starscream]]" (25)

{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}

* [[Megaplex]] (26)
* [[Photon (G1)|Photon]] (27)
* [[Anode]] (28)
* [[Nucleon (Generations)|Nucleon]] (29)
* [[Headlock (G1)|Headlock]] (30)
* [[Gutcruncher (G1)|Gutcruncher]] (31)
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (32)
* [[Trickdiamond]] (33)
* [[Tentakil (G1)|Tentakil]] (34)
* [[Nautilator]] (35)
* [[Trip-Up]] (36)
* [[Big Daddy (G1)|Big Daddy]] (37)
* [[Hubs]] (38)
* [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] (39)
* [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] (40)
* [[Sledge (G1)|Sledge]] (41)
* [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] (42)
* [[Sharpclaw]] (43)
* [[Twirl (G1)|Twirl]] (44)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
{{!}}}

|h5=Others|c5=
* [[Green]] (2)
* [[Pra'tyne]] (6)
}}

==Quotes==
"I used to start every cycle wondering what I didn't know. Thinking about how I could find out. Now, I start each cycle wondering what I haven't done. And who'll '''die''' because of it."
:—'''Prowl'''

"I'm just saying, I've had two deployments since I graduated and on '''both''' of them I wound up getting shot at. '''I'm cursed, Bumper.'''" 
"Nah. Streetwise gave you a '''commendation''', didn't he? Primus just knows you can '''take''' getting shot at." 
"And how would that be different from a curse?"
:—'''Strongarm''' and '''Bumper'''

"Oh, no." 
"What's the problem?" 
"Sideswipe's here. I'm '''definitely''' going to get shot at again." 
:—'''Strongarm''' and '''Bumper'''

"That's against the natural order of things, Headlock. In a time of crisis, everyone should be looking for a '''escape'''. Trickdiamond, throw out some '''bargains'''. Gotta stamp on caution's shameful, unprofitable face whenever it shows itself."
:—'''Swindle'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* The Decepticons are rising! [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] has followed through on his threat to denounce the Ascenticons as liars—"''Decept''icons"—a threat he made in the [[Rise of the Decepticons: All Fall Down|previous issue]]. In [[The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Four|#10]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]] had previously encouraged the Senate to rebrand [[The Rise]] with a new name, although all he only got as far as "Dece-" before he got cut off.
* After more than a year in real-world time, Prowl's pet returns; last seen in [[The World In Your Eyes Part Five|issue #5]], this issue dubs her "[[Green]]" and notes that Prowl purchased her egg from a [[Voin]] trader. Prowl explains that her species, the [[flyt]]s, attach their egg strands to [[Leviathan (G1)|Leviathan]]; this is consistent with Leviathan's appearance in [[The World In Your Eyes Part Three|issue #3]], which saw the massive crawler surrounded by a flock of flyts as she trundled along.
* [[Rubble]] briefly passed by the [[A'ovan habitat]] in issue #5, while [[The World In Your Eyes Part Two|issue #2]] had [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] mention that the [[skitter]]s who appear here at an illegal (but also very cute!) gambling racetrack stowed away in [[A'ovan]] refugee ships and subsequently turned invasive after arriving on the planet.
* [[Singe]] last appeared in [[Arcee/Greenlight: Run|issue #18]], where he and [[Gutcruncher (G1)|Gutcruncher]] raided an energon storage yard; while Gutcruncher escaped, Singe got the snot knocked out of him after he shot at [[Gauge]] and attracted [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]]'s unwanted attention, leading to his arrest. ''This'' issue reveals that the pair weren't just randomly looting: they were deliberately trying to procure extra energon for [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]'s under-the-table operations.
* Strongarm mentions that she's seen action twice since joining Security Operations; her first mission took place in [[The Change In Your Nature Part Two|issue #15]], where she helped provide covering fire during a standoff in the [[Cybertronian Mountains]], and her second adventure occurred in issue #18, where she helped bring in Singe after Arcee took him down.
* Strongarm mentions receiving a commendation from [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]]; he received a previous namedrop in the last issue, which established that he ran one of Cybertron's police academies.
* Following her battle with [[Vigilem]] in [[The Change In Your Nature Part Five|issue #17]], [[Lodestar (Titan)|Lodestar]] remains wounded. Orion Pax tells [[Lightbright (G1)|Lightbright]] to prepare her Titan for a weaponized refit to pursue Vigilem, whom [[Skystalker (G1)|Skystalker]] observed had gone missing in the last issue.
* Sideswipe previously wielded his [[thermal lance]] in [[The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Three|issue #9]].
* [[Headlock (G1)|Headlock]]'s last chronological appearance was also in issue #9; however, it's not clear if he's ''always'' worked for Swindle or if this is a more recent job he's taken on since Prowl busted him. Either way, when Sideswipe takes down Storm Cloud, Headlock is shown to have already made his escape through a nearby door... presumably so that he doesn't repeat his encounter with Cybertronian law enforcement.
* Pipes appeared as a member of the [[Senate Guard]] in [[The Change In Your Nature Part Four|issue #16]] but attends the skitter race in this issue. Guess even civil servants have their vices.
* Ever since his infamous run-in with [[Rubble]] in issue #5, [[Quake (G1)|Quake]]'s absence has proven conspicuous; confirming what prior issues implied, this issue reveals that he's under the clandestine protection of The Rise along with [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]], the 'bot suspected of killing [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] just before the events of [[The World In Your Eyes Part One|issue #1]].
* An old poster in Frenzy's room reads "IACON ARENA: [[Apeface|APEFACE]] vs. [[Lugnut (TF 2010)|LUGNUT]]." The ''[[Transformers Valentine's Day Special]]'' one-shot touched upon Apeface's former [[gladiatorial combat|gladiator]] career, while [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] remembered a bout with Lugnut during a flashback in [[The Change In Your Nature Part Three|issue #16]].

===Transformers references===
* Prowl watches a news broadcast that features [[Andromeda (G1)|Andromeda]]; although her [[Andromeda (TransTech)|original incarnation]] hailed from the multiversal city of [[Axiom Nexus]], subsequent ''[[Transformers: Wings Universe|Wings Universe]]'' tales eventually established the existence of a nigh-identical "[[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]]" version of the character. Continuing this unexpected [[Fun Publications]] homage, Andromeda specifically describes [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] and the other members of The Rise as "Cybertron's most wanted," in what's assuredly a reference to the [[Cybertron's Most Wanted|2015 BotCon comic of the same name]] (a comic in which, coincidentally, ''TransTech'' Andromeda appeared).
* Obscure female Autobot [[Vibes]], who last appeared in [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]'' miniseries, makes a cameo in this issue as a Security Operations member alongside [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] and [[Pointblank]] during a standoff with the [[Ascenticon Guard]].
* Features of Cybertron alluded to in this issue include the [[Tagan Heights]], which played a major role in the ''[[Transformers: War Within: The Dark Ages|The Dark Ages]]'', and the [[Rust Sea]].
* The riot at the Tagan Heights include a pair of dragon-ish Transformers who appear to be based on [[Doublecross]] and [[Grotusque]]. What's not clear is if they're actually meant to ''be'' these characters, as "Doublecross" is green and "Grotusque" is blue. Another robot in the same scene, meanwhile, sports [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]'s head, but isn't immediately recognizable as a pre-existing character.
* The splash panel on page ten features a ''huge'' variety of Transformers watching the skitter race. ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' original characters [[Anode]], [[Photon (G1)|Photon]], and [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] appear, and other prominent characters from the [[2005 IDW continuity|prior IDW universe]] include [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]], [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]]—drawn specifically to resemble [[Nick Roche]]'s concept art for the character as he appeared in ''More than Meets the Eye''—[[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]], based on his appearance in the ''[[The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers|Sins of the Wreckers]]'' miniseries, [[Vanquish (G1)|Vanquish]], who featured in ''[[The Transformers: Till All Are One|Till All Are One]]'', and a [[Voxpop|two-headed Transformer]] who cameoed in the earliest issues of ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]''. Other faces in the crowd include [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]], the [[Seacon (G1)|Seacon]]s [[Tentakil (G1)|Tentakil]] and [[Nautilator]], a mini-Megatron lookalike that's undoubtedly ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' character [[Nucleon (Generations)|Nucleon]], [[Megaplex]], who is modeled upon [[Starscream (Armada)|''Armada'' Starscream]]'s [[Starscream (Armada)/toys#Energon|''Energon'' toy]] based on a [https://i.pinimg.com/originals/be/7f/e6/be7fe653043cad56e7b4d7271c7ec271.jpg digital mockup], and the [[Micromaster]]s [[Big Daddy (G1)|Big Daddy]], [[Trip-Up]], [[Hubs]], [[Sledge (G1)|Sledge]], and [[Twirl (G1)|Twirl]] (phew!) Finally, the red dog-faced bot sitting next to Sledge on the bottom right is [[Sharpclaw]], an original ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 franchise)|Robots in Disguise]]'' character created by the daughter of prominent ''Transformers'' artist and writer [[Nick Roche]].<ref>[https://twitter.com/NickRoche/status/1113496674540953600 Nick Roche on Twitter, 3 April 2019]</ref>
* Non-specific characters in the crowd includes a character based [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s [[Starscream (G1)/toys#Machine Wars|''Machine Wars'' body]]; below them is an off-white Transformer who appears to sport [[Quark]]'s head. Another face in the crowd on page thirteen resembles [[Rung (G1)|Rung]], although he shares [[Toxitron (Universe)|Toxitron]]'s lime and purple paint job.
* [[Trickdiamond]] debuted in the ''[[Transformers Unite Warriors|Unite Warriors]]'' manga as part of [[Megaempress]]'s [[4 Guards]]. Although her [[bio]] noted that she possessed a connection to Swindle, this never really played a role in any of her adventures in the ''[[Transformers Unite Warriors|Unite Warriors]]'' or ''[[Transformers Legends (comic)|Legends]]'' comics, but her appearance here takes direct inspiration from her original profile and reimagines her as one of Swindle's business partners. Her design is heavily based on her ''Unite Warriors'' toy, but her profile and color patterns are taken from Jumpstream's design in IDW's previous continuity.
* Trickdiamond hawks double measures of [[engex]], an intoxicating beverage that appeared throughout the [[2005 IDW continuity]]; [[K-Juice]], [[Roller (IDW)|Roller]]'s drink of choice in ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]''; and illicit "multiworld simulations," a reference to [[Multi-World|the computer game]] that appeared in [[Afterdeath!|issue #26]] of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|US Marvel comic]].
* Mindwipe sardonically notes that Swindle probably pushes [[Nucleon (substance)|nucleon]], which in addition to its more famous [[Action Master]]-creating properties, has been used as a narcotic in various ''Transformers'' stories such as ''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]''; and [[syk]], an illegal circuit booster that debuted in Marvel UK's [[Earthforce]] stories.
* When Storm Cloud lands in front of Swindle and Trickdiamond, "[[Vortex_(G1)|Vortex]] Rulez" is scrawled on the wall behind him.

===Real-life references===
* One of the protest signs at the Senate reads "No Justice, No Rule," a variant on the "{{w|No justice, no peace}}" slogan often used during anti-racism protests.

===Errors===
* The credits page for this issue accidentally misspells artist [[Anna Malkova]]'s name as "Asnna Malkova."
* Issue #18 depicted Singe as all-black in keeping with his [[Singe#War for Cybertron: Siege|''Siege'' toy]]; ''this'' issue, however, colors him to resemble his [[Singe#The Transformers|original 1988 figure]], with white forearms and blue thighs. However, this issue ''also'' takes the liberty of depicting him with a white helmet and blue crest, a trait that none of his toys possess.
* On page 8, Prowl's line "Bumper take a look" is missing a comma.
*During the race scene, Pipes is drawn without a visor, just like his original G1 design. However, Pipes had already been shown to have a visor, and even shown with it in this same issue.

===Other notes===
* Originally solicited for April 1st, this issue was deliberately pushed back to mid-June as part of [[IDW Publishing]]'s response to the 2020 {{w|COVID-19 pandemic}}. Unfortunately, however, this meant that the comic ''also'' landed smack-dab in the middle of the historic {{w|George Floyd protests|George Floyd protests}}, an event that has led to many real-world institutions taking a frank look at issues of police brutality and race. While ''Transformers'' is no stranger to [[The Transformers: Autocracy|morally-questionable depictions of the police]], some of the imagery in this comic—which include Prowl implicitly abusing the limits of his power by roughing up a suspect in police custody, a later panel that depicts him pointing a gun at a prone, handcuffed Storm Cloud, and a sign at the Senate protests that reads "no justice, no rule"—provoked backlash due to the comic's (unintentional, but admittedly poor) timing. [[Brian Ruckley]] later apologized on Twitter; although he clarified that the issue had been finalized months in advance and that he did not intend his story to parallel real-world issues, he understood the criticism and promised to take it into account when writing. <ref>[https://twitter.com/brian_ruckley/status/1273536889237143552 Brian Ruckley on Twitter, 18 June 2020]</ref> Malkova apologized for including the sign, which was not a part of Ruckley's script. <ref>[https://twitter.com/anna__malkova/status/1273604045626839040 Anna Malkova on Twitter, 18 June 2020]</ref> Finally, editor [[David Mariotte]] issued a formal apology and promised to review future issues more stringently. <ref>[https://twitter.com/IDW_David_M/status/1273724000309370880 David Mariotte on Twitter, 18 June 2020]
</ref>
* On certain close ups on Singe's face, you can see that he has optics beneath his visor.

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A''': The shadow of Mindwipe looms over Nightbeat, Strongarm, and Bumper, by [[Ed Pirrie]] and [[John-Paul Bove]]
* '''Cover B''': Hound makes a friend, by [[Jack Lawrence]] and [[Josh Perez]]
* '''Retailer incentive cover''': Prowl and Nightbeat make a raid on Swindle's, by [[Blacky Shepherd]] and [[Josh Burcham]]

<gallery>
File:TF2019 20 cvrA.jpg
File:TF2019 20 cvrB.jpg
File:TF2019 20 cvrRI.jpg
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection]]'' [[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 11|#11]]
* ''[[Transformers vs. The Terminator]]''
* ''[[Transformers '84: Secrets & Lies]]''

===Reprints===
*'''''Transformers Volume 3: All Fall Down''''' ([[February 24]], [[2021]]) ISBN 1684057396 / ISBN 978-1684057399
**Hardcover.
**Collects ''Transformers'' issues #19–24 and ''Galaxies'' issues #7–12.
**Bonus material currently unknown, most likely alternate covers.

<gallery>
image:TF-IDW-2019v3.jpg|'''''Volume 3: All Fall Down'''''; cover art by [[Cryssy Cheung]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.allspark.com/2020/06/idw-transformers-20-full-preview/ Preview]

[[Category:Transformers (2019) issues]]

The World In Your Eyes Part Three

2021-04-04T15:49:50Z

WhamBam51: /* Transformers references */

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2019 comic)|Transformers]]'' #3
|prev=The World In Your Eyes Part Two
|next=The World In Your Eyes Part Four
|caption=
|image=TF2019 03 cvrA.jpg
|title="The World In Your Eyes Part Three"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[April 17]], 2019
|coverdate=April 2019
|written by=[[Brian Ruckley]]
|art by=[[Angel Hernandez]] (pg. 3-18), [[Cachét Whitman]] (pg. 1-2, 19-20)
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[David Mariotte]] and [[Tom Waltz]]
|continuity=[[2019 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=
}}

'''Orion Pax's concerns mount as Megatron unveils his new counterterrorism unit, while Rubble's tour of Cybertron takes an unexpected detour.'''

==Synopsis==
A concerned [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]] and his compatriots watch as [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] broadcasts a new proclamation for all of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to hear: announcing that the [[Autobot]]-controlled [[Senate]] and its [[Security Operations]] are no longer capable of keeping the planet safe in the wake of [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]]'s death and the recent attack at his latest [[Decepticon|Ascenticon]] rally in [[Tarn (polity)|Tarn]], Megatron unveils his new [[Ascenticon Guard]], a selection of volunteers who will police Ascenticon gatherings for any potential threats—internal or external. [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] is immediately alarmed by the presence of [[Quake (G1)|Quake]] amidst the guardsmen, chilled by the prospect of Megatron hiring a such violent 'bot as his private enforcer.

While Orion heads out to an emergency [[Senate]] meeting, [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] and Chromia lay out their findings so far: Chromia informs Pax that twenty members of [[The Rise]] are now in Autobot custody, though Prowl points out that none of them are part of the group's innermost members, leading him to conclude that, since the leadership have conclusively gone to ground in anticipation of a police crackdown, the group is ''definitely'' implicated in the murder.

The tense conversation is interrupted by a hysterical [[Froid]]; believing Orion to be at fault, the psychologist demands an explanation for why Quake has resurfaced as a member of Megatron's militia. Froid briskly reminds Orion of Quake's dark history: a veteran of the war against the [[Threefold Spark]], Quake's sociopathic love of violence fueled his ability to spread destruction, but rendered him unable to cope with the realities of peacetime—thus making Quake one of the very few patients that Froid and his myriad therapies were unable to conclusively treat. Orion manages to keep Froid's concerns at bay by telling him that he'll investigate the matter, but as soon as they're out of earshot the Senator reminds his compatriots that solving Brainstorm's murder comes first. Chromia prepares to lead a conclusive sweep of the [[energon transmission station]] for clues while Prowl reports on his progress with Cybertron's [[Voin]] community in the hopes of tracking down the unlicensed scavenger [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] encountered on the night of the murder, though the highly individualistic nature of the species has impeded his inquiries.

With Senate head [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] offworld, and with Cybertron now caught between a paralyzed Senate and increasingly riled Ascenticon sympathizers, Orion takes command and orders [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] to keep Sentinel updated on the situation as it unfolds. As Ironhide departs to do so, he points out the remarkable luck of the rally crashers, who were able to strike at Megatron ''and'' slip away unscathed, and Orion can only agree...

Elsewhere, at a deserted testing track, [[Rubble]] is supposed to be learning about potential [[alternate mode]]s and watches as [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] puts his own vehicle form through its paces, though ''he<nowiki>'</nowiki> s'' more interested in taking in the sight of the [[Winged Moon]] as it concludes its nightly [[energon]] harvest. Undeterred, Bumblebee decides to approach the topic from another perspective, drawing Rubble's attention to another of Cybertron's denizens as she trundles past the outskirts of the city. Though Rubble initially mistakes the colossal crawler for a [[Titan (group)|Titan]], Bumblebee explains that her name is [[Leviathan (G1)|Leviathan]]: an immense Cybertronian who uses her own alternate mode to endlessly traverse the plains of Cybertron and harvest ore to be melted down and processed into usable materials, including the [[living metal]] from which all Transformers, including Rubble, are forged.

The lesson imparted, Bumblebee turns Rubble's attention back to the task at hand and asks if he wants to [[Scanning|scan]] any of the model vehicles kept on the track for this purpose, but when 'Bee soon realizes that Rubble's attention is starting to wander again, he concludes that his time with [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] has inspired the little 'bot. Next time they visit Wheeljack, he assures Rubble, they'll take the [[Tether]] all the way up to the moon itself... but Rubble doesn't have time to respond before Windblade arrives with an urgent message for Bumblebee, telling him that he's needed at the Senate building. Windblade promises to take Rubble back to his quarters, and as he transforms and speeds off Bumblebee tells his protégé to use their private channel on his communicator if he needs to talk.

As the pair walk through the busy streets, crowded with Cybertronians and [[alien]]s alike, Rubble confides in her that he's worried that Bumblebee is disappointed in him. Windblade emphatically refutes this: with the [[Nominus Edict]] limiting the forgings of new Cybertronians, newborn Transformers like Rubble are a rare sight, and Bumblebee was overjoyed to be selected as a mentor. His attitude, she opines, is due to the fraught situation with the Ascenticons and the unpleasant business with Brainstorm; a long-lived species such as theirs has not had to grapple with the concept of death in a long, long time.

Inside Rubble's apartment, however, the pair are surprised to see Chromia and her consultant [[Geomotus]]. Rubble is initially confused when Geomotus bluntly asks him to move so that he can see his "shapes", a set of geometric blocks that he carries with him at all times, until Chromia and Windblade take it in turns to explain to Rubble that Geomotus is another of Froid's clients, a neurodivergent 'bot whose knowledge of Cybertron's geology lets him pick up details that others might miss. Indeed, Geomotus has used his unusual talents to assist with police investigations as a specialist more than once in the past—so long as he limits his interactions with the notoriously abrasive Prowl.

With security short-staffed, Chromia explains, she needs Windblade by her side as they conduct another sweep of the energon transmission station, in the hopes that Geomotus's expertise might be able to turn up a new lead. After linking Rubble's communicator to Windblade and Chromia's, the three head out. Once out of Rubble's apartment, however, Windblade pointedly asks Chromia if she's installed a tracker in the communicator link. Windblade is understandably shocked when the answer is a "yes", but Chromia cuts her off—the tracker will only activate if they have a good reason to do it. After all, she reminds Windblade, the odds are that Rubble is completely innocent, but they can't take any chances, and ''anyone'' could be a suspect...

As night falls, Orion is on a mission of his own out in the barrens. Passing the silent bodies of those Transformers who have chosen to merge with their homeworld, he forces open a heavy vault door and strides inside. It's not long before Orion comes face to face with the looming shape of [[Codexa]], her still-living body almost completely ensconced by the fabric of Cybertron itself... and tells her that they need to talk.

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks. 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]] (10)

|h2=[[Decepticon|Ascenticon]]s|c2=
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (1)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (2)
* [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]] (3)
* [[Flywheels|Skytread]] (4)
* [[Reflector (G1)|Refraktor]] (5)
* [[Quake (G1)|Quake]] (6)
|c4=
* [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] (7)
* [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (8)
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (9)
* [[Froid]] (11)
* ''[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]'' (12)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (13)
* [[Rubble]] (14)
* [[Leviathan (G1)|Leviathan]] (15)
* [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] (16)
* [[Geomotus]] (17)
* [[Codexa]] (18)
}}

==Quotes==
"Killing other Cybertronians ought to be anathema to the so-called 'Rise'. We should take that name '''away''' from them. It has too much of a hopeful tone for my liking."
:—'''Orion Pax'''

"I've been talking to their representative, but you know what the Voin are like. Radical individualists, if they're feeling friendly. I think the 'representative' thing might be some sort of humorous '''punishment''' for the nominee."
:—'''Prowl'''

"Cybertron provided our bodies. It provided the '''spark''', that rose from the core to shape and fill them. We're '''made''' of Cybertron. And as it lives and changes, so can we. Change isn't just in our nature, it's what we're '''made''' of."
:—'''Bumblebee''' to Rubble

"Bumblebee was '''so''' excited when he was chosen. He acted calm, but you could tell he felt like a '''Titan''' on the inside. He wants more than '''anything''' to be a good mentor to you."
:—'''Windblade''' gives Rubble a pep talk

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Elita-1 made some crowdfilling cameo appearances in both of the preceding issues before making a full appearance here, while Skytread also appeared as a participant in Megatron's rally in [[The World In Your Eyes Part Two|issue #2]].
* Our first hint that this version of Cybertron isn't quite as idyllic at it seems comes from Froid's mention of a prior war against the forces of the "[[Threefold Spark]]". It's not yet clear what this conflict entailed, and if it somehow connects to the [[Nominus Edict]], though it's likely we'll find out sooner rather than later. From context, Windblade makes it sound as though one aspect of the Nominus Edict is population control, since she attributes the rarity of new sparks like Rubble to it.
* Rubble mentioned [[The World In Your Eyes Part Two|in the previous issue]] that Transformers could choose to merge with Cybertron in lieu of dying; Codexa—and the many comatose Cybertronians that flank her chamber—have presumably chosen to do so.

===Transformers references===
* Megatron's new "Ascenticon Guard" are a bit of a toyetic hodgepodge; in addition to concurrently-released ''[[War for Cybertron: Siege|Siege]]'' toys [[Flywheels|Skytread]] and [[Reflector (G1)|Refraktor]]—both specifically introduced with their [[trademark]]-friendly ''Siege'' monikers—there's also [[Quake (G1)|Quake]], who's drawn to resemble his 2017 ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' toy, and a new body for [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]]. The origin of this design was not originally clear, and it would take another year before we realized that this was our first look at her then-unannounced [[Elita_One (G1)#War for Cybertron Trilogy|''War for Cybertron Trilogy'' toy]].
* Quake's characterization as a violence-addicted berserker is a character trait established all the way back in his ''[[The Transformers Universe|Universe]]'' profile in [[All Fall Down|issue #66]] of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel comic]], though it's not something any depictions of the character had really leaned into until now.
* Hey, it's [[Froid]]! Debuting as a minor antagonist in the pages of ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' and ''[[The Transformers: Lost Light|Lost Light]]'', Froid has the honour of being the first IDW-original character to appear in the reboot. While this version of Froid ''seems'' to be more benevolent—noted to have treated a wide variety of clients that include both Quake and Geomotus—Orion's comments that the Senate has barred him from visiting a certain, unnamed prisoner ''do'' seem to hint at a shadier side...and remember that in ''More than Meets the Eye'', Froid enjoyed a decidedly twisted partnership with [[Sunder (G1)|Sunder]], a convicted serial killer...
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] also puts in an appearance as one of the participants in the war against the Threefold Spark, hearkening back to his ''More than Meets the Eye'' depiction as an ancient Cybertron-born warrior, rather than his more "traditional" origin as a modern creation of [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]].
* [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]] is name-dropped as head of the Senate; surprisingly, this is a reference that's ''not'' lifted from the [[2005 IDW continuity|original IDW continuity]], as that version of Sentinel (or, rather, [[Infinitus]]) was merely an ''employee'' of the Senate, serving as head of security. ''This'' take on the character hews closer to the [[Aligned continuity family]], where both the ''[[Transformers: Exodus|Exodus]]'' novel and the [[Transformers: War for Cybertron (games)|2010 ''War for Cybertron'']] games depicted [[Sentinel Zeta Prime]] as the ''de facto'' leader of Cybertron. That said, the aforementioned Nominus Edict ''does'' seem to hint at the existence of a broadly similar "lineage" of Primes, as per the first IDW universe.
* Bumblebee's alternate mode is revealed to be based on his [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|G1 cartoon counterpart's]] Cybertronian form: a manta ray-like hovercar which made a brief, if memorable, appearance in "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]."
*A bot that has a similar design to Cliffjumper appears ion page 14, panel 4, behind Rubble and Windblade as they walk through the streets. It is not confirmed to be Cliffjumper, but the character appears to be at least based off of his Legion Class toy from 2015, a retool of the toy used as the basis for Bumblebee's design in the series.

===Errors===
* Another art/dialogue mismatch on page eight: as he shows off his altmode, Bumblebee notes that he's "got some heat in [his] wheels"... though his vehicle mode is depicted as a hovering saucer.

===Trivia===
* Originally solicited for April 10th, this issue arrives a week late, the first (and hopefully last!) delayed book in the new IDW continuity.

===Covers (5)===
* '''Cover A:''' Orion opens the door to Codexa's chamber, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
* '''Cover B:''' Windblade and Bumblebee pass by a mural of Megatron and Orion, by [[Anna Malkova]]
* '''Retailer incentive cover:''' A Marvel-styled clash between Bumblebee and Starscream to commemorate the franchise's 35th anniversary, by [[Guido Guidi]]
* '''The Fellowship exclusive cover:''' [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] and [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], by [[John Gallagher]].
* '''Second printing cover:''' Uncolored background version of cover A, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]

<gallery>
File:TF2019 03 cvrA.jpg|"Open, sez-a me!"
File:TF2019 03 cvrB.jpg|Bee's got a girlfriend!
File:TF2019 03 cvrRI.jpg|Pew! Pew!
File:TF2019 03 cvrRE.jpg|Jetfire hates him some Starscream!
File:TF2019 03 2ndptng.jpg|Second printing
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''Clue: Candlestick'' comic
* Various ''[[Ghostbusters]]'' comics
* ''Usagi Yojimbo'' comic
* ''[[Star Trek]]: Year Five'' comic (back cover)

===Reprints===
*'''''Transformers Volume 1: The World In Your Eyes''''' ([[January 22]], [[2020]]) ISBN 1684055318 / ISBN 978-1684055319
**Hardcover.
**Collects issues #1–12.
**Bonus material includes alternate covers.

*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]] Volume 98: The World In Your Eyes''''' ([[October 7]], 2020)
:*Contains ''Transformers'' issues #1–7.
:*Bonus material includes a cover gallery, a Q&A with series writer [[Brian Ruckley]], and an intro by [[Simon Furman]].

<gallery>
TF-IDW-2019v1.jpg|'''''Volume 1: The World In Your Eyes'''''; cover art by [[Cryssy Cheung]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v98.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection Volume 98: The World In Your Eyes''''' cover by [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] (Quake) and [[Cachét Whitman]]
</gallery>

==External links==
* [https://www.allspark.com/2019/04/transformers-3-full-preview/ Preview]

{{DEFAULTSORT:World In Your Eyes Part 3}}
[[Category:Transformers (2019) issues]]

Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc

2021-04-02T16:33:46Z

WhamBam51: /* Errors */

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It's also worth noting that the title is {{w|Shadowplay (song)|also a song}}, by the 1980s English band {{w|Joy Division}}.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

==References==

{{reflist}}

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

Transformers: Rescue Bots Academy (cartoon)

2019-08-15T20:08:12Z

WhamBam51: /* Cast */

{{disambig2|the 2018 animated series|the 2015 ''Rescue Bots'' episode|Rescue Bots Academy}}
{{nav-RescueBotsAcademy}}
[[File:RescueBotsAcademyPoster.jpeg|thumb|right|250px|More rescues, more bots.]]
'''''Transformers: Rescue Bots Academy''''' is an animated cartoon series developed by [[Boulder Media Studio]] as a sequel to ''[[Transformers: Rescue Bots (cartoon)|Transformers: Rescue Bots]]'', with [[Ben Ward]] as the lead writer. The series had a special advance premiere on [[December 8]], [[2018]], with the remaining episodes scheduled to begin airing on [[January 5]], [[2019]] on [[Discovery Family]] in the US and [[Pop TV]] in the UK. Two 52 episode seasons are currently planned, and like ''[[Transformers: Cyberverse (cartoon)|Transformers: Cyberverse]]'', each episode runs for 11 minutes.<ref>https://tvshowscancelled.com/transformers-rescue-bots-academy-renewed-for-season-2-by-discovery-family/</ref> The voice cast of ''Rescue Bots'' did not reprise their roles, with existing characters being re-cast with voice actors from the same [[New York]]-based casting pool as ''Cyberverse''.

Intended for more of a preschool audience than its predecessor, the series follows the first class of the new [[Rescue Bot Training Center|Rescue Bot Training Academy]], learning from the more experienced [[Rescue Bot]]s how to respond to emergency situations and become heroes.

{{bigquote|''Earth needed help and they answered the call,'' ''No rescue too big, no hero too small.'' ''Recruits come to learn from the best of the best,'' ''They'll be Rescue Bots too, if they pass the test!'' |The [[theme song]].}}

==Cast==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
'''Trainees'''
*[[Hot Shot (Prime)|Hot Shot]] ([[Pierce Cravens]])
*[[Whirl (RBA)|Whirl]] ([[Courtney Shaw]])
*[[Hoist (RB)|Hoist]] ([[Alan Trinca]])
*[[Medix (RB)|Medix]] ([[Adam Andrianopoulous]])
*[[Wedge (RBA)|Wedge]] ([[Mason Hensley]])

'''Rescue Bots'''
*[[Heatwave (RB)|Heatwave]] ([[Paul Guyet]])
*[[Chase (RB)|Chase]] ([[Frank Cwiklik]])
*[[Boulder]] ([[Keyon Williams]])
*[[Blades (RB)|Blades]] ([[Michael Hansen]])

'''Others'''
*[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] ([[Hiro Diaz]]/[[Jake Tillman]])
*[[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] ([[Jeremy Levy]])
|c3=
*[[Cody Burns]] ([[Andy Zou]])
*[[Wes]] ([[Xander Crowell]])
|c4=
*[[Tough Luck Chuck]] ([[Todd Perlmutter]])

|nonumbering=true}}

==Episodes==
{{see|List of Rescue Bots Academy episodes}}
===Season 1 (2018-2019)===
{{collist|4|
#"[[Recruits Part I]]"
#"[[Recruits Part II]]"
#"[[If at First...]]"
#"[[Tough Luck Chuck (episode)|Tough Luck Chuck]]"
#"[[Whirl'd View]]"
#"[[Plan Bee]]"
#"[[The Bot Who Cried Rescue]]"
#"[[Mount Botmore]]"
#"[[Mission Inaudible]]"
#"[[Glitch (episode)|Glitch]]"
#"[[Five Into Four]]"
#"[[Rescue Promo]]"
#"[[Blame Game]]"
#"[[Surprise, Medix!]]"
#"[[The TX3000]]"
#"[[Little Bot Peep]]"
#"[[Driving a Wedge]]"
#"[[The Big, Small Rescue]]"
#"[[Battle of the Bots]]"
#"[[About a Rock]]"
#"[[Dog Stray Afternoon]]"
#"[[Lucky Ducky]]"
#"[[The Secret of Flight]]"
#"[[Go Team, Go!]]"
#"[[Screen Time]]"
#"[[Fright at the Museum]]"
#"[[Space Case (episode)|Space Case]]"
#"[[At Sea]]"
#"[[All Washed Up]]"
#"[[Who's Teaching Who?]]"
#"[[Balloon Up a Tree]]"
#"[[The Mystery of Dragon Mountain]]"
#"[[Hack Attack]]"
#"[[Life of the Party]]"
#"[[Tyrannosaurus Wrecked]]"
#"[[Dino Hard]]"
#TBA
#TBA
#TBA
#TBA
#TBA
#TBA
#TBA
#TBA
#TBA
#TBA
#TBA
#TBA
#TBA
#TBA
#TBA
#TBA
}}

===Season 2 (2020)===
{{coming soon}}

==Notes==
*The series uses a different art style from its predecessor, and of all the Autobots featured, Blades and Heatwave are so far the only instructors shown in vehicle mode.
*Unlike ''Rescue Bots'', the robot characters in this series have full optics instead of large gaps around an iris.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rescue Bots Academy}}
[[Category:Rescue Bots Academy| ]]
[[Category:Preschool franchises]]
[[Category:Rescue Bots media]]
[[Category:Television series]]

Transformers: Rescue Bots Academy (cartoon)

2019-08-15T20:07:52Z

WhamBam51: /* Cast */

{{disambig2|the 2018 animated series|the 2015 ''Rescue Bots'' episode|Rescue Bots Academy}}
{{nav-RescueBotsAcademy}}
[[File:RescueBotsAcademyPoster.jpeg|thumb|right|250px|More rescues, more bots.]]
'''''Transformers: Rescue Bots Academy''''' is an animated cartoon series developed by [[Boulder Media Studio]] as a sequel to ''[[Transformers: Rescue Bots (cartoon)|Transformers: Rescue Bots]]'', with [[Ben Ward]] as the lead writer. The series had a special advance premiere on [[December 8]], [[2018]], with the remaining episodes scheduled to begin airing on [[January 5]], [[2019]] on [[Discovery Family]] in the US and [[Pop TV]] in the UK. Two 52 episode seasons are currently planned, and like ''[[Transformers: Cyberverse (cartoon)|Transformers: Cyberverse]]'', each episode runs for 11 minutes.<ref>https://tvshowscancelled.com/transformers-rescue-bots-academy-renewed-for-season-2-by-discovery-family/</ref> The voice cast of ''Rescue Bots'' did not reprise their roles, with existing characters being re-cast with voice actors from the same [[New York]]-based casting pool as ''Cyberverse''.

Intended for more of a preschool audience than its predecessor, the series follows the first class of the new [[Rescue Bot Training Center|Rescue Bot Training Academy]], learning from the more experienced [[Rescue Bot]]s how to respond to emergency situations and become heroes.

{{bigquote|''Earth needed help and they answered the call,'' ''No rescue too big, no hero too small.'' ''Recruits come to learn from the best of the best,'' ''They'll be Rescue Bots too, if they pass the test!'' |The [[theme song]].}}

==Cast==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
'''Trainees'''
*[[Hot Shot (Prime)|Hot Shot]] ([[Pierce Cravens]])
*[[Whirl (RBA)|Whirl]] ([[Courtney Shaw]])
*[[Hoist (RB)|Hoist]] ([[Alan Trinca]])
*[[Medix (RB)|Medix]] ([[Adam Andrianopoulous]])
*[[Wedge (RBA)|Wedge]] ([[Mason Hensley]])
*[[Blurr (RB)|Blurr]]
'''Rescue Bots'''
*[[Heatwave (RB)|Heatwave]] ([[Paul Guyet]])
*[[Chase (RB)|Chase]] ([[Frank Cwiklik]])
*[[Boulder]] ([[Keyon Williams]])
*[[Blades (RB)|Blades]] ([[Michael Hansen]])

'''Others'''
*[[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] ([[Hiro Diaz]]/[[Jake Tillman]])
*[[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] ([[Jeremy Levy]])
|c3=
*[[Cody Burns]] ([[Andy Zou]])
*[[Wes]] ([[Xander Crowell]])
|c4=
*[[Tough Luck Chuck]] ([[Todd Perlmutter]])

|nonumbering=true}}

==Episodes==
{{see|List of Rescue Bots Academy episodes}}
===Season 1 (2018-2019)===
{{collist|4|
#"[[Recruits Part I]]"
#"[[Recruits Part II]]"
#"[[If at First...]]"
#"[[Tough Luck Chuck (episode)|Tough Luck Chuck]]"
#"[[Whirl'd View]]"
#"[[Plan Bee]]"
#"[[The Bot Who Cried Rescue]]"
#"[[Mount Botmore]]"
#"[[Mission Inaudible]]"
#"[[Glitch (episode)|Glitch]]"
#"[[Five Into Four]]"
#"[[Rescue Promo]]"
#"[[Blame Game]]"
#"[[Surprise, Medix!]]"
#"[[The TX3000]]"
#"[[Little Bot Peep]]"
#"[[Driving a Wedge]]"
#"[[The Big, Small Rescue]]"
#"[[Battle of the Bots]]"
#"[[About a Rock]]"
#"[[Dog Stray Afternoon]]"
#"[[Lucky Ducky]]"
#"[[The Secret of Flight]]"
#"[[Go Team, Go!]]"
#"[[Screen Time]]"
#"[[Fright at the Museum]]"
#"[[Space Case (episode)|Space Case]]"
#"[[At Sea]]"
#"[[All Washed Up]]"
#"[[Who's Teaching Who?]]"
#"[[Balloon Up a Tree]]"
#"[[The Mystery of Dragon Mountain]]"
#"[[Hack Attack]]"
#"[[Life of the Party]]"
#"[[Tyrannosaurus Wrecked]]"
#"[[Dino Hard]]"
#TBA
#TBA
#TBA
#TBA
#TBA
#TBA
#TBA
#TBA
#TBA
#TBA
#TBA
#TBA
#TBA
#TBA
#TBA
#TBA
}}

===Season 2 (2020)===
{{coming soon}}

==Notes==
*The series uses a different art style from its predecessor, and of all the Autobots featured, Blades and Heatwave are so far the only instructors shown in vehicle mode.
*Unlike ''Rescue Bots'', the robot characters in this series have full optics instead of large gaps around an iris.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rescue Bots Academy}}
[[Category:Rescue Bots Academy| ]]
[[Category:Preschool franchises]]
[[Category:Rescue Bots media]]
[[Category:Television series]]

Constructicon (Animated)

2019-08-13T18:46:44Z

WhamBam51: /* Notes */

{{factions|autobot|decepticon}}
{{disambig3|Constructicon}}

:''The Constructicons are a [[Decepticon]] [[subgroup]] from the [[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]] [[continuity family]].''

[[File:TFAni Threes a Crowd Constructicons.jpg|right|upright=1.67|thumb| "We're the robot mafia. The ENTIRE robot mafia."]]
The '''Constructicons''' (briefly known as '''Constructobots''') are a trio of construction vehicles given life by [[AllSpark#Animated continuity family|AllSpark]] fragments. Though they wear the badge of the Decepticons, they are largely disinterested in the war with the [[Autobot]]s, and are out for their own selfish interests... mostly the acquisition of oil, though there's some argument between them as to just what they'll ''do'' with it.

The Constructicons are

* [[Dirt Boss (Animated)|Dirt Boss]] the forklift
* [[Mixmaster (Animated)|Mixmaster]] the cement truck
* [[Scrapper (Animated)|Scrapper]] the excavator
* [[Skipjack (Animated)|Skipjack]]

==Fiction==
===''Animated'' cartoon===
{{Idw-tfa}}
The first two "Constructobots", Mixmaster and Scrapper, came to life when two stray AllSpark shards were embedded in a cement mixer and an excavator at a human construction site. After some initial confusion about no longer being inanimate vehicles, the pair named themselves and quickly figured out how to [[Transformation|transform]]. After saving [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] from a construction accident, they befriended him and were invited to the [[Autobot]] headquarters. However, their behavior left much to be desired, and the two found themselves kicked out by [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] after nearly decapitating [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari Sumdac]].

Eventually, the pair stumbled upon [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] and [[Lugnut (Animated)|Lugnut]] stealing construction supplies, and saved the former from being crushed by his own loot. Impressed by their strength, Blitzwing decided to let them do the heavy lifting, then take them offline once they reached the [[Decepticon]] base. However, once [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] found out about their existence, he had other plans: to let the Constructobots build his [[space bridge]] for him, something the two had no problem with.

While out stealing supplies for the bridge, Mixmaster and Scrapper met with Bulkhead again, and told him about their new job. Outraged, Bulkhead explained in detail the evil and deceitful nature of the Decepticons, and the Constructobots confronted Megatron about it. However, the Decepticon leader simply used that very deceitful nature, along with his "private blend" of oil, to convince the two that he was a good guy, fighting back against Autobot oppression. Not knowing who to believe, Mixmaster and Scrapper simply decided to join the ones with the better oil.

Taking on the title of "Constructicons", the pair went to steal the Autobots' AllSpark fragments for Megatron, but ended up being tricked by Bulkhead into drinking some contaminated oil. This scrambled their memory chips, and the Constructicons forgot all about Autobots, Decepticons and space bridges. {{storylink|Rise of the Constructicons}}

Going back to their usual pastime, the Constructicons started stealing and drinking oil around [[Detroit]] until the Autobots decided to put a stop to it. However, while they were out looking for the pair, Mixmaster and Scrapper found their way to Autobot headquarters. While the two were just looking for something to drink, the left-behind Sari took it as a Decepticon attack and managed to attack and repel them. Shortly afterwards, the Constructicons encountered Blitzwing, who had been ordered by Megatron to retrieve them. After being offered some oil, Mixmaster recognized it as the "really good stuff" he had vague memories of, and the pair followed Blitzwing back to the Decepticons. {{storylink|Sari, No One's Home}}

Mixmaster and Scrapper soon completed work on Megatron's space bridge, and were officially [[Branding|branded]] as Decepticons. Once Bulkhead was kidnapped by Megatron to put a finishing touch on the space bridge, he called out to the Constructicons for help, but they didn't recognize him. When the Autobots arrived to save Bulkhead and wreck Megatron's plans, Scrapper and Mixmaster managed to incapacitate all four of them. {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part I}}

Within seconds [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] and [[Starscream clone (Animated)|his clones]] attacked, and Mixmaster joined in on the battle whilst Scrapper went off to fetch Lugnut and Blitzwing. The battle was eventually won, and the Constructicons cheered on Megatron's speech about conquering [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], despite having no idea what a "Cybertron" was supposed to be. When the Decepticon base came crumbling down due to the malfunctioning space bridge, the Constructicons desperately tried to save the oil inside it. They were last seen trying to cover it as the cavern collapsed. {{storylink|A Bridge Too Close, Part II}}

[[File:Three'saCrowdConstructiconsOilrefinery.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|The whole combiner thing is a little over their heads.]]
Somehow escaping from the cavern, Scrapper and Mixmaster retired to a junkyard, where they lounged around drinking oil and watching cars being dismantled while waiting for the other Decepticons to come and find them. [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] surprised them by showing up in the middle of the night, and they promptly attacked him. Fortunately, they were willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and backed off to hear his proposition: Sumdac Towers had suffered some damage recently, and Bulkhead needed somebody to fix the holes. The promise of honest work, plus a little manipulation by Bulkhead, got the two Constructicons to agree, but on the strict provision that this favor was "off the books".

Once back at the Tower, the Constructicons set to work, Bulkhead taking this as an opportunity to try and persuade them to quit being Decepticons and join the Autobots. Their resolve was starting to weaken, until Scrapper accidentally fished up something from the bottom of the Tower. During the original accident, a bunch of AllSpark shards, a forklift and a damaged Headmaster Unit had fallen down the hole—and merged to create a new Constructicon, [[Dirt Boss (Animated)|Dirt Boss]]. The belligerent Transformer wasted no time in asserting his dominance over his "fellow" Constructicons, using his ability to control machines to hijack Scrapper's body and intimidate them into obeying his orders.

Under Dirt Boss's command, the Constructicons began to hijack oil, attacking fuel trucks, petrol stations and any other source of energy. Bulkhead tried to persuade Mixmaster and Scrapper to stop listening to Dirt Boss, but failed. This led to the Autobot trying to take on all three Constructicons singlehandedly at the Fossil Fuels plant, which Dirt Boss planned to destroy. This resulted in him first getting his wrecking ball stuck in Mixmaster's chemical thrower, then getting controlled by Dirt Boss, who planned to sacrifice both Bulkhead and Mixmaster to set the plant on fire and blow it sky high. Fortunately for Bulkhead, the other Autobots showed up to help, freeing him from both Dirt Boss and Mixmaster. Unfortunately for the Constructicons, the spilled oil was set alight during the battle, and all three were transwarped to just off the shore of Dinobot Island...atop a burning oil tank, which exploded seconds after they arrived. {{storylink|Three's a Crowd}}

Scrapper managed to wash ashore on Dinobot Island, and lived there for forty-eight days, unsure of what had become of his two fellow Constructicons. He "adopted" and named the Dinobot [[Snarl (Animated)|Snarl]], and the pair became part of the [[Substitute Autobot]]s to help Sari fight [[Soundwave (Animated)|Soundwave]]. Exhausted from the fight, he and Snarl went back to Dinobot Island for a long vacation. {{storylink|Human Error, Part II}}

''Later, after the Autobots captured the Decepticons and returned to Cybertron, however, it was revealed that the other two Constructicons had also survived, though where they had been wasn't explained. Hooking back up with Scrapper, Dirt Boss put his two subordinates to work on his newest construction project: building something called "[[Devastator (Animated)|Devastator]]"...'' {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}}

''Getting in on the cloning racket, Dirt Boss had [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]] acquire some Autobot CNA. The process was successful, and [[Skipjack (Animated)|Skipjack]] joined the roster.'' {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The Complete AllSpark Almanac|The Complete AllSpark Almanac}}

== Notes ==
[[Image:Mixmasterbutt.JPG|right|95px|thumb|Feels like I'm wearing nothing at all!]]
* The Constructicons follow the true blue-collar construction worker tradition of showing their buttcracks.
* [[Derrick J. Wyatt]] has stated that Scrapper and Mixmaster are both brothers and friends.<ref>http://www.formspring.me/DerrickJWyatt/q/645211771</ref>
* Many concepts of different Constructicons can be found on the internet but have not been officially confirmed. The designs include Rampage, Long Haul, Hightower, and Bonecrusher.

== References ==
<references/>

[[Category:Animated subgroups]]
[[Category:Constructicons| (Animated)]]
[[Category:Decepticon subgroups]]