Escalation issue 1

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|- {{#if: IDW Publishing | |Publisher || IDW Publishing}} |- {{#if: | |Published by || }} |- {{#if: | |Imprint || }} |- {{#if: | |Published in || }} |- {{#if: November 29, 2006 | |First published || November 29, 2006}} |- {{#if: | |Shipping date || }} |- {{#if: | |On-sale date || }} |- {{#if: November 2006 | |Cover date || November 2006}} |- {{#if: | |Credits || }} |- {{#if: | |By || }} |- {{#if: | |Manga || }} |- {{#if: | |Manga by || }} |- {{#if: | |Original story || }} |- {{#if: | |Story & art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Story and color art || }} |- {{#if: | |Story || }} |- {{#if: | |Story by || }} |- {{#if: | |Story consultants || }} |- {{#if: | |Story concept || }} |- {{#if: | |Screenplay by || }} |- {{#if: | |Screenplay || }} |- {{#if: | |Adaptation by || }} |- {{#if: | |Adapted by || }} |- {{#if: | |Adaptation || }} |- {{#if: | |Based on || }} |- {{#if: | |Writer || }} |- {{#if: | |Writers || }} |- {{#if: | |Writing || }} |- {{#if: Simon Furman | |Written by || Simon Furman}} |- {{#if: | |Written & art || }} |- {{#if: | |Plotter || }} |- {{#if: | |Plotters || }} |- {{#if: | |Plot || }} |- {{#if: | |Plot by || }} |- {{#if: | |Plot/Script || }} |- {{#if: | |Scripter || }} |- {{#if: | |Scripters || }} |- {{#if: | |Script || }} |- {{#if: | |Scripting || }} |- {{#if: | |Script by || }} |- {{#if: | |Script and art || }} |- {{#if: | |Sript [sic] consultant || }} |- {{#if: | |Translation by || }} |- {{#if: | |Artist || }} |- {{#if: | |Comic artist || }} |- {{#if: | |Artists || }} |- {{#if: | |Art || }} |- {{#if: E. J. Su | |Art by || E. J. Su}} |- {{#if: | |Additional art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Flashback art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Art assistant || }} |- {{#if: | |Art assist by || }} |- {{#if: | |Line-art || }} |- {{#if: | |Line-art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Line art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Penciller || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencillers || }} |- {{#if: | |Penciler || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencilers || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencil art || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencils || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencils by || }} |- {{#if: | |Penciled by || }} |- {{#if: | |Penciling || }} |- {{#if: | |Guest penciler || }} |- {{#if: | |Layouts || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencil breakdowns || }} |- {{#if: | |Breakdowns || }} |- {{#if: | |Breakdowns by || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustration || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustrations || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustrator || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustrated by || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustration by || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustrations by || }} |- {{#if: | |Finished pencils || }} |- {{#if: | |Finishes || }} |- {{#if: | |Finished art || }} |- {{#if: | |Finishes by || }} |- {{#if: | |Inker || }} |- {{#if: | |Guest inker || }} |- {{#if: | |Inkers || }} |- {{#if: | |Inks || }} |- {{#if: | |Inks by || }} |- {{#if: | |Ink finishes || }} |- {{#if: | |Ink assist by || }} |- {{#if: | |Additional inks || }} |- {{#if: | |Inking || }} |- {{#if: | |Backgrounds || }} |- {{#if: | |Backgrounds by || }} |- {{#if: | |Colorist || }} |- {{#if: | |Colorists || }} |- {{#if: | |Colourist || }} |- {{#if: | |Colourists || }} |- {{#if: | |Color || }} |- {{#if: | |Colors || }} |- {{#if: | |Color art || }} |- {{#if: | |Colour || }} |- {{#if: | |Colours || }} |- {{#if: | |Colored by || }} |- {{#if: | |Color by || }} |- {{#if: John Rauch | |Colors by || John Rauch}} |- {{#if: | |Color art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Colors assist by || }} |- {{#if: | |Color assists || }} |- {{#if: | |Color assistance by || }} |- {{#if: | |Additional colors || }} |- {{#if: | |Additional colors by || }} |- {{#if: Zac Atkinson & Aaron Myers | |Color assist by || Zac Atkinson & Aaron Myers}} |- {{#if: | |Colour/Computer FX || }} |- {{#if: | |Computer coloring/effects || }} |- {{#if: | |Color Reconstruction || }} |- {{#if: | |Flats || }} |- {{#if: | |Flats by || }} |- {{#if: | |MTMTE Profiles || }} |- {{#if: | |Letterer || }} |- {{#if: | |Letterers || }} |- {{#if: | |Lettering || }} |- {{#if: | |Letters || }} |- {{#if: Chris Mowry | |Letters by || Chris Mowry}} |- {{#if: | |Lettered by || }} |- {{#if: | |Lettering|Production || }} |- {{#if: | |Special Thanks{{#if: | To}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Collaborators || }} |- {{#if: | |Contributors || }} |- {{#if: | |Editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Editors || }} |- {{#if: | |Editing || }} |- {{#if: Chris Ryall & Dan Taylor | |Edits by || Chris Ryall & Dan Taylor}} |- {{#if: | |Compiled and Edited by || }} |- {{#if: | |Original series editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Original Edits by || }} |- {{#if: | |Deputy editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Assistant editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Editorial assistant{{#if: |s}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Editorial Assistance
provided by || }} |- {{#if: | |Senior editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Associate editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Story consultant || }} |- {{#if: | |Project manager || }} |- {{#if: | |Production by || }} |- {{#if: | |Designer || }} |- {{#if: | |Design by || }} |- {{#if: | |Designed by || }} |- {{#if: | |Design/editorial || }} |- {{#if: | |Book design by || }} |- {{#if: | |Collection designer || }} |- {{#if: | |Collection editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Collection Edits by || }} |- {{#if: | |Graphic design || }} |- {{#if: | |Graphic design by || }} |- {{#if: | |Collection Design by || }} |- {{#if: | |Creative Director{{#if: | / Layout}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Contributing editors || }} |- {{#if: | |Research editor{{#if: |s}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Managing editor || }} |- {{#if: | |{{#if: |Editor-in-chief|Editor in chief}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Editorial consultant || }} |- {{#if: | |Dinosaur consultant || }} |- {{#if: | |Publishing manager || }} |- {{#if: | |Cover || }} |- {{#if: | |Cover art{{#if: |ist}}{{#if: | by}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Cover Design {{#if: |and Elements }}by || }} |- {{#if: | |Inside cover || }} |- {{#if: | |Apologies to || }} |- {{#if: 2005 IDW continuity | |Continuity || 2005 IDW continuity}} |- {{#if: Escalation | |Chronology || Escalation}} |- {{#if: | |ISBN || }} |- {{#if: | |TPB ISBN || ISBN }} |- {{#if: | |UPC || }} |- {{#if: | |Page count || }} |- {{#if: | |Price || }} |- {{#if: | |Packaged with || }} |- {{#if: | |Printed in || }} |- {{#if: | |Animation || }} |- {{#if: | |Music || }} |}{{#switch:{{#sub:xx|2|14}}|dark cybertron=}} As Optimus Prime settles on Earth, the Decepticons prepare to destabilize the planet as the Machination makes its move.

Synopsis

The Machination team, led by Drake, use a sophisticated VR simulator to train on different scenarios on how to destroy a Transformer. This setup turns out to be in the back of a large camper van parked near Lake Michigan, where the humans are monitoring the lake shore for Autobot activity.

At the bottom of said lake, aboard Ark-19, Ratchet is informing the humans that Prowl has decided to send them back to their normal lives. Hunter O'Nion and Jimmy Pink express their desire to stay, while Verity Carlo shrugs it off, saying that this is just one more rejection in her angst-prone life.

At the Decepticon Command Bunker in Oregon, Astrotrain briefs Megatron on the potency and proliferation of Ore-13 on Earth. Megatron marvels that it appears to be naturally occurring on this planet, but has suspicions that its existence isn't completely natural.

As the three humans pack up to leave, Jazz's holomatter avatar stops in to say goodbye. He and Ratchet have both grown fond of their human charges, but it is Sunstreaker and Ironhide who are tasked with ferrying the humans back home. Although Ratchet and the humans blame Prowl, it seems the Autobot lieutenant was acting on Optimus Prime's orders. Prime informs Prowl that they aren't the first Transformers to visit Earth; evidence has been uncovered that both Shockwave and Soundwave have been to the planet... but where are they now?

As Ironhide and Sunstreaker surface from the bottom of Lake Michigan, they are detected by Drake and his team. Other vehicles are deployed by the humans to track the Autobots. Unaware that they are being pursued, Ironhide chides Sunstreaker to drive the speed limit.

In the meantime, Megatron brings his wayward unit to heel and offers to overlook their traitorous actions under Starscream just this once. The Decepticons agree to this reprieve. Megatron then orders Astrotrain to begin Phase Two by activating the facsimiles.

Outside of Lebanon, Missouri, the humans tailing the Autobots make their move. While Ironhide and Sunstreaker are separated in traffic, Drake's team causes a jam, deploys a smokescreen, then temporarily immobilizes Ironhide while moving in on Sunstreaker with a disabling electrical charge.

Ironhide, with Verity and Jimmy aboard, frantically smashes and weaves through the other cars caught in the jam, but the humans deploy a bazooka. By the time Ironhide catches up with Sunstreaker, the yellow Autobot, with Hunter inside, is nothing more than a burning wreck.

Featured characters

{{#if:* Ratchet (7)

Ironhide (10)
Jazz (11)
Sunstreaker (17)
Optimus Prime (18)
Jetfire (19)
Springer (20)
Ultra Magnus (21)
Silverbolt (22)
Prowl (23)|

{{#if:* Ratchet (7)

Ironhide (10)
Jazz (11)
Sunstreaker (17)
Optimus Prime (18)
Jetfire (19)
Springer (20)
Ultra Magnus (21)
Silverbolt (22)
Prowl (23)|| style="background:#ffdddd;" valign="top" |
Ratchet (7)
Ironhide (10)
Jazz (11)
Sunstreaker (17)
Optimus Prime (18)
Jetfire (19)
Springer (20)
Ultra Magnus (21)
Silverbolt (22)
Prowl (23) }}{{#if:* Megatron (13)
Astrotrain (14)
Runabout (15)
Runamuck (16)
Thundercracker (24)
Skywarp (25)
Blitzwing (26)|

Autobots }}{{#if:* Megatron (13) Astrotrain (14) Runabout (15) Runamuck (16) Thundercracker (24) Skywarp (25) Blitzwing (26)\|	Decepticons }}{{#if:* Drake (1) Goss (2) Kamen (3) Schmidt (4) Creel (5) Weiss (6) Hunter O'Nion (8) Jimmy Pink (9) Verity Carlo (12)\|	Humans }}{{#if:\|	Others }}{{#if:\|	Misc }}{{#if:\|	Misc }}
Megatron (13) Astrotrain (14) Runabout (15) Runamuck (16) Thundercracker (24) Skywarp (25) Blitzwing (26) }}{{#if:* Drake (1) Goss (2) Kamen (3) Schmidt (4) Creel (5) Weiss (6) Hunter O'Nion (8) Jimmy Pink (9) Verity Carlo (12)\|	Drake (1) Goss (2) Kamen (3) Schmidt (4) Creel (5) Weiss (6) Hunter O'Nion (8) Jimmy Pink (9) Verity Carlo (12) }}{{#if:\|	}}{{#if:\|	}}{{#if:\|	}}

Notes

Continuity notes

Among the reports that Prime monitors in the issue's opening pages are:
- Ultra Magnus, bringing in Swindle.
- Jetfire (with his battle helmet), reporting on a finding, presumably at the site of Bludgeon's lab.
- Springer, reporting on an unknown battle.
- Silverbolt, reporting that a Decepticon infiltration unit is laying low.
The same cross-story technique is later used in Spotlight: Optimus Prime.
The Machination have little regard for human life, blowing up cars on the highway to get at the Transformers.
The crossover series New Avengers/Transformers most likely takes place during the last part of this issue, after Megatron reinstates infiltration protocol and while Ironhide and Sunstreaker are driving the humans home (accounting for their absence in that series).
First appearances: Ultra Magnus, Silverbolt (both seen as holographic heads only)

Transformers references

Real-life references

The action occurs near Lebanon, Missouri (misabbreviated as MI, Michigan), with a variety of other locations mentioned—see Errors, below.

Errors

On page 5, Weiss's line, "Standing by", is missing punctuation.
The VR room in the rear of Drake's van shows no evidence of the windows or external door seen from the outside of the vehicle. If you squint, the VR room, the computer room, and the driver's space can conceivably fit in the van, but one has to wonder where the team sleeps.
Geography in this issue does not quite add up:
- Infiltration #3 places Ark-19 in "Lake Michigan, about ten miles northeast of Chicago", a text box here originates the Machination's field unit in southwest Michigan, and Sunstreaker and Ironhide are shown driving south on an undeveloped stretch of I-94. This means either (a) Sunstreaker and Ironhide traveled forty miles underwater to the Michigan side even though none of the humans live east of the lake, or (b) they came ashore on the Illinois side, greater Chicago looks strangely empty, and the Machination are on the wrong side of the lake.
- Then again, the stretch of I-94 depicted on Drake's street map shows a location in Wisconsin, not Michigan.
- The narration boxes describe the Machination attack as occurring near "Lebanon, MI", which would be in Michigan, yet this is in central Michigan in the wrong direction from Tulsa. Next issue we learn that this is in Missouri (postal abbreviation MO), a far more logical location, but this also means that the Machination pursued Sunstreaker for over 500 miles along several interstate highways before attacking.
Keeping with the theme of errors in geography, St. Louis, Missouri is spelled "St. Luis" on Machination's digital map of Illinois and surrounding states.

Other trivia

The "Decepticomments" page has readers' mail answered by Chris Ryall and ads for Transformers: The Animated Movie #2 and Spotlight: Hot Rod.

Covers (4)

Cover A: Sunstreaker targeted for destruction; art by E. J. Su.
Cover B: Ironhide, Jimmy and Verity mourning over the fate of Sunstreaker and Hunter; art by Klaus Scherwinski.
Cover RI-A: cover A uncolored
Cover RI-B: cover B uncolored

Not Spotlight: Sunstreaker.
Captain Morgan}}]] in you?
Cover RI-A
Cover RI-B

Reprints

In addition to collections of the full series.

N/A

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