maximum dinobots|transformers maximum dinobots|transformers: maximum dinobots|the transformers maximum dinobots|the transformers: maximum dinobots=The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots
premierecollection|premiere collection|the transformers: the premiere collection=The Transformers: The Premiere Collection
all hail megatron|transformers all hail megatron|transformers: all hail megatron|the transformers all hail megatron|the transformers: all hail megatron=The Transformers: All Hail Megatron
the idw collection|the transformers: the idw collection=The Transformers: The IDW Collection
the transformers|the transformers (ongoing)=The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers vol. 1
wreckers|last stand of the wreckers|transformers last stand of the wreckers|transformers: last stand of the wreckers|the transformers last stand of the wreckers|the transformers: last stand of the wreckers=The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers
the idw collection|g.i. joe: the idw collection=G.I. Joe: The IDW Collection
infestation=Infestation (IDW)|Infestation
infestation 2=Infestation 2
heart of darkness|transformers heart of darkness|transformers: heart of darkness|the transformers heart of darkness|the transformers: heart of darkness=The Transformers: Heart of Darkness
tdoop|death of optimus prime|the death of optimus prime|transformers: the death of optimus prime=Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime
more than meets the eye|transformers: more than meets the eye|the transformers: more than meets the eye=The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye
robots in disguise|transformers: robots in disguise=The Transformers: Robots in Disguise
dark cybertron=Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron
drift:eos|drift: empire of stone|transformers drift: empire of stone|transformers: drift: empire of stone|the transformers drift: empire of stone|drift: empire of stone=The Transformers: Drift - Empire of Stone
the transformers: windblade=The Transformers: Windblade
sins of the wreckers|transformers sins of the wreckers|transformers: sins of the wreckers|the transformers sins of the wreckers|the transformers: sins of the wreckers=The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers
gijoe5|gijoevol5|g.i. joe vol. 5|gi joe vol 5=G.I. Joe vol. 5
hasbro heroes sourcebook=Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook
micronauts=Micronauts (comic)|Micronauts
wrath of karza|micronauts wrath of karza|micronauts: wrath of karza=Micronauts: Wrath of Karza
first strike=First Strike
ROM
rom dire wraiths|rom: dire wraiths=Rom: Dire Wraiths
romamn|rom&mn|rom and the micronauts|rom & the micronauts=Rom & the Micronauts
rom vs transformers|shining armor|rom vs. transformers|rom vs transformers: shining armor|rom vs transformers: shining armor=Rom vs. Transformers: Shining Armor
m.a.s.k.|m. a. s. k.|mask mobile armored strike kommand|m.a.s.k. mobile armored strike kommand|mask: mobile armored strike kommand|m.a.s.k.: mobile armored strike command=M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand
scarletts strike force|scarlett's strike force=Scarlett's Strike Force
transformers vs visionaries|transformers vs. visionaries=Transformers vs. Visionaries
requiem of the wreckers|transformers requiem of the wreckers|transformers: requiem of the wreckers=Transformers: Requiem of the Wreckers
war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic)
fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (comic)
transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)=Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)
prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Transformers: Prime (comic series)
primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots
fulloffire|full of fire|full of fire!=Full of Fire!
rid2015|robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015 comic)=Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic)
{{{series}}}
[[{{#switch:{{{series}}}
war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic)
fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (comic)
transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)=Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)
prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Transformers: Prime (comic series)
primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots
fulloffire|full of fire|full of fire!=Full of Fire!
rid2015|robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015 comic)=Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic)
#| }}{{#if: |issues:}}{{#ifeq: | Category
[[Category:IDW {{#switch:{{#switch:{{{series}}}
war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic)
fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (comic)
transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)=Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)
prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Transformers: Prime (comic series)
primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots
fulloffire|full of fire|full of fire!=Full of Fire!
rid2015|robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015 comic)=Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic)
{{{series}}}}}
{{#switch:prime
war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic)
fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (comic)
transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)=Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)
prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Transformers: Prime (comic series)
primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots
fulloffire|full of fire|full of fire!=Full of Fire!
rid2015|robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015 comic)=Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic)
{{#switch:primeadaptation
war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic)
fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (comic)
transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)=Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)
prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Transformers: Prime (comic series)
primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots
fulloffire|full of fire|full of fire!=Full of Fire!
rid2015|robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015 comic)=Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic)
{{#switch:ragedinobots
war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic)
fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (comic)
transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)=Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)
prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Transformers: Prime (comic series)
primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots
fulloffire|full of fire|full of fire!=Full of Fire!
rid2015|robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015 comic)=Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic)
ragedinobots}}=Prime
{{#switch:rid2015
war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic)
fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (comic)
transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)=Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)
prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Transformers: Prime (comic series)
primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots
fulloffire|full of fire|full of fire!=Full of Fire!
rid2015|robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015 comic)=Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic)
rid2015}}=Robots in Disguise (2015)
{{#switch:{{{series}}}
war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=War for Cybertron
fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Fall of Cybertron
transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)|primeadaptation|prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Prime
primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Prime – Rage of the Dinobots
maximum dinobots|transformers maximum dinobots|transformers: maximum dinobots|the transformers maximum dinobots|the transformers: maximum dinobots=The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots
premierecollection|premiere collection|the transformers: the premiere collection=The Transformers: The Premiere Collection
all hail megatron|transformers all hail megatron|transformers: all hail megatron|the transformers all hail megatron|the transformers: all hail megatron=The Transformers: All Hail Megatron
the idw collection|the transformers: the idw collection=The Transformers: The IDW Collection
the transformers|the transformers (ongoing)=The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers vol. 1
wreckers|last stand of the wreckers|transformers last stand of the wreckers|transformers: last stand of the wreckers|the transformers last stand of the wreckers|the transformers: last stand of the wreckers=The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers
the idw collection|g.i. joe: the idw collection=G.I. Joe: The IDW Collection
infestation=Infestation (IDW)|Infestation
infestation 2=Infestation 2
heart of darkness|transformers heart of darkness|transformers: heart of darkness|the transformers heart of darkness|the transformers: heart of darkness=The Transformers: Heart of Darkness
tdoop|death of optimus prime|the death of optimus prime|transformers: the death of optimus prime=Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime
more than meets the eye|transformers: more than meets the eye|the transformers: more than meets the eye=The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye
robots in disguise|transformers: robots in disguise=The Transformers: Robots in Disguise
dark cybertron=Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron
drift:eos|drift: empire of stone|transformers drift: empire of stone|transformers: drift: empire of stone|the transformers drift: empire of stone|drift: empire of stone=The Transformers: Drift - Empire of Stone
the transformers: windblade=The Transformers: Windblade
sins of the wreckers|transformers sins of the wreckers|transformers: sins of the wreckers|the transformers sins of the wreckers|the transformers: sins of the wreckers=The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers
gijoe5|gijoevol5|g.i. joe vol. 5|gi joe vol 5=G.I. Joe vol. 5
hasbro heroes sourcebook=Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook
micronauts=Micronauts (comic)|Micronauts
wrath of karza|micronauts wrath of karza|micronauts: wrath of karza=Micronauts: Wrath of Karza
first strike=First Strike
ROM
rom dire wraiths|rom: dire wraiths=Rom: Dire Wraiths
romamn|rom&mn|rom and the micronauts|rom & the micronauts=Rom & the Micronauts
rom vs transformers|shining armor|rom vs. transformers|rom vs transformers: shining armor|rom vs transformers: shining armor=Rom vs. Transformers: Shining Armor
m.a.s.k.|m. a. s. k.|mask mobile armored strike kommand|m.a.s.k. mobile armored strike kommand|mask: mobile armored strike kommand|m.a.s.k.: mobile armored strike command=M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand
scarletts strike force|scarlett's strike force=Scarlett's Strike Force
transformers vs visionaries|transformers vs. visionaries=Transformers vs. Visionaries
requiem of the wreckers|transformers requiem of the wreckers|transformers: requiem of the wreckers=Transformers: Requiem of the Wreckers
maximum dinobots|transformers maximum dinobots|transformers: maximum dinobots|the transformers maximum dinobots|maximum dinobots=Maximum Dinobots
all hail megatron|transformers all hail megatron|transformers: all hail megatron|the transformers all hail megatron|all hail megatron=All Hail Megatron
the transformers|the transformers (ongoing)|the transformers (idw)=IDW The Transformers
wreckers|last stand of the wreckers|transformers last stand of the wreckers|transformers: last stand of the wreckers|the transformers last stand of the wreckers|last stand of the wreckers=Last Stand of the Wreckers
transformers drift|transformers: drift|the transformers drift|drifteos|drift:eos|drift: empire of stone|transformers drift: empire of stone|transformers: drift: empire of stone|the transformers drift: empire of stone|drift: empire of stone|transformers drift: origins and empires|transformers drift: origins & empires|origins and empires|origins & empires=Drift
heart of darkness|transformers heart of darkness|transformers: heart of darkness|the transformers heart of darkness|heart of darkness=Heart of Darkness
tdoop|death of optimus prime|the death of optimus prime|transformers: the death of optimus prime=The Death of Optimus Prime
more than meets the eye|transformers: more than meets the eye=IDW More than Meets the Eye
robots in disguise|transformers: robots in disguise|ongoing2|exrid|the transformers (idw) vol. 2=IDW Robots in Disguise (2012)
dark cybertron=Dark Cybertron
the transformers: windblade|windblade2|windblade2015|the transformers: windblade vol. 2|the transformers: windblade (2015)=Windblade
transformers vs gi joe|transformers vs. g.i. joe=Transformers vs. G.I. Joe
sotw|wreckers2|sins of the wreckers|transformers sins of the wreckers|transformers: sins of the wreckers|the transformers sins of the wreckers|the transformers: sins of the wreckers=Sins of the Wreckers
lost light|transformers lost light|the transformers lost light|transformers: lost light|the transformers: lost light=Lost Light
till all are one|Till All Are One|transformers till all are one|transformers: till all are one|the transformers till all are one|the transformers: till all are one=Till All Are One
revolution=Revolution
revolutionaries=Revolutionaries
action man=Action Man
gijoe5|g.i. joe vol 5|g.i. joe vol. 5|g.i. joe volume 5|g.i. joe (vol. 5)|g.i. joe (volume 5)=G.I. Joe vol. 5
g.i. joe idw collection=G.I. Joe: The IDW Collection
first strike=First Strike
hasbro heroes sourcebook=Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook
micronauts=Micronauts
wrath of karza|micronauts wrath of karza|micronauts: wrath of karza=Micronauts: Wrath of Karza
rom=ROM
rom dire wraiths|rom: dire wraiths=Rom: Dire Wraiths
romamn|rom&mn|rom and the micronauts|rom & the micronauts=Rom & the Micronauts
rom vs transformers|shining armor|rom vs. transformers|rom vs transformers: shining armor|rom vs. transformers: shining armor=Rom vs. Transformers: Shining Armor
m.a.s.k.|m. a. s. k.|mask mobile armored strike kommand|m.a.s.k. mobile armored strike kommand|mask: mobile armored strike kommand|m.a.s.k.: mobile armored strike command=M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand
scarletts strike force|scarlett's strike force=Scarlett's Strike Force
transformers vs visionaries|transformers vs. visionaries=Transformers vs. Visionaries
requiem of the wreckers|transformers requiem of the wreckers|transformers: requiem of the wreckers=Requiem of the Wreckers
With the Enigma of Combination locked up tight following the Combiner Wars, several Autobots guard it in shifts, along with one of Starscream's Badgeless soldiers. Chromia arrives late to relieve Ironhide, as a result of celebrations that have been going on following the declaration of an official holiday by the Mistress of Flame to commemorate Cybertron and Caminus's alliance. Already grumpy because she has had to don ceremonial paint for the occasion, Chromia plops down on a box, and has no inclination towards small talk with the Badgeless standing guard alongside her... but no sooner has Ironhide left than the concept of small talk becomes moot, when Arcee suddenly appears and knocks the Badgeless out! Evading Chromia's attack, Arcee snatches the Enigma and peels out, nearly running Waspinator over in the process. Chromia radios Windblade, and the pair give chase as Arcee roars out of the city and heads into the Sea of Rust.
Clear of the city, Arcee transforms for battle and quickly proves herself a match for Windblade and Chromia together. The fight is then interrupted by the appearance of a group of six unknown female Transformers named the Torchbearers, who recognise Windblade as a cityspeaker and all train their weapons on Arcee. Arcee, however, is unfazed—her goal was to get the Enigma of Combination out of Starscream's hands, she explains, and she will happily just destroy it. Realizing that the Enigma is a holy artifact of the Primes, the Torchbearers immediately fall back, but when Arcee raises her blade over the talisman, Torchbearer Rust Dust lunges forward to snatch it away. The Enigma activates, and the Torchbearers are merged into Victorion! The newborn combiner immediately attacks Arcee for her heresy, and Windblade pulls her to safety, unwilling to see anyone die over the fight. Arcee grudgingly agrees to work with the two Camiens, taking out the giant's weapons so that Windblade can have an opportunity to speak to her. Recognizing the Torchbearers as fellow Camiens and servants of the Mistress of Flame, Windblade calms the combiner and has her explain the team's presence; they were sent, Victorion explains, to see if there were any artifacts or other items of value in the ruins of the Rust Sea that they could preserve. Successfully convincing Victorion that rampaging is not the way to preserve anything, Windblade talks the combiner into separating back into the Torchbearers, who apologize for their actions. The experience proved disorienting; the mental link has, for instance, allowed Jumpstream to learn something she previously never knew about Dust Up, but the latter refuses to talk about whatever it is right now.
With the Enigma back in Windblade's possession, the cityspeaker is moved to ask why Arcee is so bent on destroying it. Arcee decries combiners as abominations in a speech that makes her sound like Galvatron, but when confronted with the comparison, Arcee quietly admits it is not an issue of racism or "purity", but rather, an intimately-held belief that no 'bot should be changed against their will. At Windblade's behest, the Camiens all agree never to speak of the incident, keeping it secret from Starscream in the name of maintaining peace on Cybertron for as long as they can. Arcee, impressed to find that the supposedly-perfect Windblade is actually willing to fight dirty in the name of her goals, agrees to go along with the plan... but reminds them that if it backfires, she'll be expecting them to kill Starscream permanently.
Chromia returns to her post, replaces the Enigma, then wakes the Badgeless, claiming she saved his life by driving Arcee off. The officer wants to report the attack to Starscream, but Chromia dissuades him, pointing out that it'll look really bad that he let himself get knocked out. The Badgeless agrees, and, feeling a little more at ease with the stern Camien, asks if she can make him a box to sit on as well.
"Transformers are not meant to be gestalts. They are perversions."
"Why? Because 'bots like Galvatron say they are? We're all perversions to him. Not the right shape, not the right alt mode, not whatever he thinks of as pure. But, the thing is, I don't care what Galvatron thinks of me. Why do you?"
"I don't. I... I don't think 'bots should be changed against their will."
"Neither do I."
—Arcee and Windblade
"Exclusion is the first step in justifying war. That's why the Enigma has to go back. It's why we have to embrace Starscream as tightly as possible. If there are no "abominations," there is nothing to go to war against. And every day of this imperfect peace is a day Cybertronians cling to peace a little tighter."
"How many of these dirty little secrets are you willing to bury, Windblade?"
"As many as I have to."
"Hnn. So you're not the perfectly[sic] idealist everyone says you are. Okay. I guess if you're willing to fight a little dirty, I'm willing to have a little faith."
Victorion explains that the Torchbearers are out in the Sea of Rust (see "Transformers references" for more on that) because the Crystal City and its Metrotitan once dwelled there, as originally introduced in the 2012 Robots in Disguise annual. It was left in ruins after the events of "Dark Cybertron", though there's no sign here of the miniature singularity that should be located in the area, per Robots in Disguise #33.
If the weight of Arcee's statement about 'bots being changed against their will being perversions is lost on you, recall that, per her original Spotlight, she was changed against her will by Jhiaxus to become the female 'bot she is now. Although the rarity of female Transformers has been a prominent subject in the comics for some time now, the squicky circumstances of Arcee's "conversion" haven't really been brought up for years.
Arcee, Windblade, and Chromia all have new color schemes in the story, based on the "Combiner Hunters" redecos of their Generations: Thrilling 30 toys that were available as an exclusive set at San Diego Comic Con. Windblade and Chromia's new looks and weapons are here explained to be temporary ceremonial regalia, while Arcee's new colours were shown to be the product of color-changing stealth paint in The Transformers #42. In contrast to that issue, though, here, she is drawn to resemble her Generations toy, but we can hardly call that bit of deliberate toy-promoting synergy an "error".
The Sea of Rust is a landmark seen in various other pieces of Transformers fiction, but this is the first time it has been referred to has such in the IDW continuity. The Transformers vol. 2 #47 would reveal that "Sea of Rust" is the modern name for the "Rust Spot", a location featured in Spotlight: Orion Pax. During the poll that led to her creation fan votes determined that Victorion would come from the Sea of Rust; we guess she sort of does, as she was effectively "born" there, but the Torchbearers themselves are visiting Camiens.
The story's called "An Uneventful Night", but, uh, the whole thing sure seems to be set in broad daylight. (Perhaps it is because the following night was definitely less eventful than the day preceding it?)
Just like Defensor before her, Victorion shows no sign of the "chest armor" component (Groove in Defensor, Rust Dust in Victorion) that is meant to integrate with the torso of each respective combiner. Instead, she's drawn with a gun that has two wheels on it, indicating that Rust Dust became a weapon instead of armor.
This issue was first available at San Diego Comic Con 2015 with an exclusive cover (see below), as part of a tie-in with the "Combiner Hunters" toys also exclusive to the show, and to introduce Victorion, winner of the 2015 Fan Built Bot poll, who was also revealed in full by Hasbro at the convention.
None of the Torchbearers are actually referred to by name in the story, presumably because their names hadn't been finalized at the time it was being written. A slide of the comic shown at a panel during the convention featured Dustup being referred to with the preliminary name "Crash Test".
The story is followed by a letter to the readers from John Barber, detailing the history of the comic's development, and introducing new readers to the rest of the IDW universe.
Subscription cover: Arcee, Windblade, and Chromia by Livio Ramondelli
Retailer incentive cover: One of a series of "Pan Cybertronian Spaceways" travel posters by James Biggie that make up the Retailer Incentive covers on IDW's July Transformers titles; this one promotes the Rust Sea.
Convention cover: Arcee, Windblade, and Chromia by Sara Pitre-Durocher, available exclusively from IDW at San Diego Comic-Con 2015.
{{#if: That's why the people of this world believe in... |
Arcee,
Chromia,
Windblade,
and Steven!
Windblade - Distant Stars – cover art by Naoto Tsushima and Jet Enter
The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 67: Conquerors – cover art by Don Figueroa and Andrew Griffith
The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 10 – cover art by Marcelo Matere
Best of Arcee – cover art by James Biggie
