Everybody Hates Metroplex

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|colspan="2" style="font-size: 14px; background-color:#e7d492; color:black;font-weight:bold;" align="center" | "Everybody Hates Metroplex" {{#if: |

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|- {{#if: IDW Publishing | |Publisher || IDW Publishing}} |- {{#if: | |Published by || }} |- {{#if: | |Imprint || }} |- {{#if: | |Published in || }} |- {{#if: February 11, 2015 | |First published || February 11, 2015}} |- {{#if: | |Shipping date || }} |- {{#if: | |On-sale date || }} |- {{#if: December 2014 | |Cover date || December 2014}} |- {{#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: Tom Scioli and John Barber | |Written by || Tom Scioli and John Barber}} |- {{#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: Tom Scioli | |Art by || Tom Scioli}} |- {{#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: Tom Scioli | |Colors by || Tom Scioli}} |- {{#if: | |Color art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Colors assist by || }} |- {{#if: | |Color assists || }} |- {{#if: | |Color assistance by || }} |- {{#if: | |Additional colors || }} |- {{#if: | |Additional colors by || }} |- {{#if: | |Color assist by || }} |- {{#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: Tom Scioli | |Letters by || Tom Scioli}} |- {{#if: | |Lettered by || }} |- {{#if: | |Lettering|Production || }} |- {{#if: | |Special Thanks{{#if: | To}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Collaborators || }} |- {{#if: | |Contributors || }} |- {{#if: Carlos Guzman | |Editor || Carlos Guzman}} |- {{#if: | |Editors || }} |- {{#if: | |Editing || }} |- {{#if: | |Edits by || }} |- {{#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: Chris Mowry | |Production by || Chris Mowry}} |- {{#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: Transformers vs. G.I. Joe | |Continuity || Transformers vs. G.I. Joe}} |- {{#if: | |Chronology || }} |- {{#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 the forces of DeceptiCobra lay siege to Metroplex, a team of Joes and Autobots ventures inside Fortress Maximus to save their trapped teammates. Meanwhile, in the space between dimensions, Duke, Snake Eyes, and Optimus Prime are put on trial by the Quintessons.

Synopsis

Adrift in the space between dimensions, Optimus Prime, Duke, and Snake Eyes are captured by eldritch entities known as the Quintessons, who claim to be the creators of all life and consider their autonomy an affront to their grand design. Duke and Snake Eyes agree to set their differences aside to combat this unknowable terror from beyond.

On Cybertron, the situation has gone from bad to infinitely worse for the Autobots and G.I. Joe. Outraged at the Autobots' alliance with the human invaders, Megatron refuses to countenance their existence any further and launches a full-scale attack on Metroplex with Trypticon, while simultaneously, the stuporous, energy-starved Fortress Maximus has also shambled onto the scene and is causing just as much destruction. As the 'bots and Joes prepare a counter-attack, a small insertion team headed by Tunnel Rat heads out to intercept Maximus and venture inside the "living prison" to rescue U.S.7 who were swallowed by the giant earlier. In the midst of the chaos, the injured Wild Bill insists that Doc and Ratchet allow him to join the fight; when he is granted permission, he instead sneaks off and opens one of Metroplex's outer doors, allowing waiting Cobra troops to pour into the Autobot city! In truth, Wild Bill never returned to the Joe ranks after the crash of his 'copter... all along, it has been Zartan, Cobra master of disguise, who has lurked among their ranks!

At the same time, strange scenes play out on Earth: Tomax, Xamot, and Major Bludd are rescued from Blackwater Prison by parties unknown; Storm Shadow ambushes General Hawk in a failed attempt to steal his tomahawk, which has some strange connection to Cybertron and indicates a link between the two worlds stretching back to the time of the Vikings; and Destro and the Serpentress consider using Megatron's gift to Destro—an alien gun—to kill the comatose Cobra Commander, only to discover when they lift his mask that he is merely a "Fred" body-double, meaning that the Commander is still alive and at large.

In the Quintessons' realm, Optimus, Duke, and Snake Eyes are put on trial by the ancient horrors, who use their very minds as evidence against them, plucking memories from them for all to see. The group witnesses Snake Eyes's tutelage in the ninja arts from the Blind Master, Duke's troubled relationship with his step-father, and Optimus inheritance of the Matrix of Leadership from his dying mentor Alpha Trion. Found guilty by the Quintessons of "theft of their property"—their very bodies and souls—the trio flee the Quintesson hordes. As they escape, the two Joes tell Optimus how they witnessed the death of Bumblebee on Earth.

As Scarlett fends off Cobras and Decepticons alike from the peak of Metroplex, disgraced Autobot Rodimus arrives with the injured Blaster and Psych Out's Joe team. Leaving the wounded rebel fighter in Ratchet's hands, Rodimus takes command of the situation and attempts to get Metroplex to transform to robot mode, but Grimlock is outraged to find the youth in the control room and challenges him for leadership. Though Rodimus has a greater will to fight than when they last met in battle, the outcome of the confrontation is unclear, as moments later, Grimlock clambers up one of Metroplex's starfish-arms, into Trypticon's mouth itself, where he meets the waiting Megatron in fierce battle.

Meanwhile, Tunnel Rat and the rest of his team navigate the dangers inside Fortress Maximus, which include the Oktober Guard and the booby-traps their Russian rivals have set. Finding Clyde, the team the follow boar to Maximus's brain, where they discover that Maximus's zombified state is the work of Blackarachnia, a Decepticon thought to have been killed in ages past by Ultra Magnus, who is poisoning the giant's mind. Worse still, she has also taken control of the minds of U.S.7, who attack their human comrades at her command! The battle is a challenge for the Joes, but they triumph and purge Maximus's mind of Blackarachnia's influence; back in his right mind, Maximus joins in the attack on Trypticon. Though the Decepticon city bites Maximus's head off, it simply transforms into Cerebros within Trypticon's mouth, after which Cerebros's head transformed into Galen, and the Autobots, Joes and U.S.7 all come pouring out of Cerebros's body. A grim sight greets the warriors as they charge forward, though: Megatron, flanked by Cobra troops, has slain Grimlock and now wears his head as ornamentation.

Just as it appears that Scarlett will be overwhelmed by Cobras, Duke and Snake Eyes suddenly appear to aid her, deposited on Cybertron by Prime. Together, they triumph over the Cobra hordes, with Scarlett even ignoring a communication from General Flagg in favor of an emotional silent reunion with Snake Eyes. His allegiance remaining an enigma, his motives ever his own, Snake Eyes disappears into the Cybertronian night, but Duke does not pursue, their mind-sharing experience having granted him a greater understanding of the emotionless, isolated life the ninja has chosen for himself. But while this small battle has been won, the greater fight is lost: Maximus has fallen, and Metroplex slinks away, while Trypticon withdraws. Worse yet, though they have saved their animal friends, Tunnel Rat's team has been defeated and imprisoned. Cobra accountant Raptor visits their cells to bring their food... and a mysterious tome known as the "DeceptiCobranomicon"...

In the skies above Earth, the Coltonbolt orbiting satellite array targets an approaching Transformer, who easily slices his way through both the satellites and the Skystriker observing him. Optimus Prime, back in the physical world and in robot form once more, has arrived on Earth—and is headed straight for T.H.E. P.I.T.!

Featured characters

Characters in italic text appear only in flashbacks.
{{#if: ||(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)}}

{{#if:*Optimus Prime (2)

Perceptor (14)
Wheeljack (15)
Ratchet (17)
Metroplex (19)
Grimlock (25)
Fortress Maximus (27)
Inferno (28)
Arcee (31)
Seaspray (36)
Ironhide (37)
Jazz (38)
Brawn (44)
Alpha Trion (62)
Bumblebee's head (72)
Rodimus (73)
Blaster (74)
Sunstreaker (80)
Trailbreaker (81)
Hoist (87)
Powerglide (88)
Slag (89)
Swoop (91)
Cerebros (92)
Galen (93)|

Autobots }}{{#if:*Megatron (7) Trypticon (8) Spyglass (10) Spectro (11) Viewfinder (12) Mixmaster (40) Scavenger (41) Bonecrusher (42) Octane (56) Blackarachnia (63) Flamefeather? (69) Ruckus (70) Straxus (97)\|	Decepticons }}{{#if:{\|border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
Duke (3) Spirit (5) Shipwreck (6) Scarlett (9) Sci-Fi (13) Doc (18) Gung-Ho (20) Cutter (21) Spearhead (22) Stalker (23) Cover Girl (24) Beachhead (26) Roadblock (29) Mutt (30) Dusty (32) Alpine (33) Lift-Ticket (34) Tunnel Rat (35) Jinx (39) Clutch (45) Breaker (46) Hawk (51) Clyde (57) Falcon* (60) Sandstorm (64)	Seasick/Polly (65) Max (66) Freedom (67) Junkyard (68) Mainframe (75) Chuckles (76) Barbecue (77) Psych Out (78) Frostbite (79) Steeler (82) Rock 'n Roll (83) Snow Job (90) Order (94) General Flagg (voice, 96) Ace (99)

|

!! style="background:#fbefde;" | G.I. Joe }}{{#if:*Snake Eyes (4)

Zartan (16)
Cobra troopers (43)
Firefly (47)
Tomax (48)
Xamot (49)
Major Bludd (50)
Storm Shadow (52)
Destro (84)
Serpentress (85)
"Cobra Commander"/Fred (deceased, 86)
Crimson Guardsmen (95)
Raptor (98)|

!! style="background:#ffeeb8;" | Cobra }}{{#if:*Quintessons (1)

Colonel Breakoff (53)
Dragun (54)
Münchnik (55)
Blind Master (58)
Duke's mother (59)
Duke's step-father (61)
Allicons (71)|

!! style="background:#d5e6d5;" | Others }}{{#if:| !! style="background:#fedeb5;" | Misc }} |- {{#if:*Optimus Prime (2)

Perceptor (14)
Wheeljack (15)
Ratchet (17)
Metroplex (19)
Grimlock (25)
Fortress Maximus (27)
Inferno (28)
Arcee (31)
Seaspray (36)
Ironhide (37)
Jazz (38)
Brawn (44)
Alpha Trion (62)
Bumblebee's head (72)
Rodimus (73)
Blaster (74)
Sunstreaker (80)
Trailbreaker (81)
Hoist (87)
Powerglide (88)
Slag (89)
Swoop (91)
Cerebros (92)
Galen (93)|| style="background:#ffdddd;" valign="top" |
Optimus Prime (2)
Perceptor (14)
Wheeljack (15)
Ratchet (17)
Metroplex (19)
Grimlock (25)
Fortress Maximus (27)
Inferno (28)
Arcee (31)
Seaspray (36)
Ironhide (37)
Jazz (38)
Brawn (44)
Alpha Trion (62)
Bumblebee's head (72)
Rodimus (73)
Blaster (74)
Sunstreaker (80)
Trailbreaker (81)
Hoist (87)
Powerglide (88)
Slag (89)
Swoop (91)
Cerebros (92)
Galen (93) }}{{#if:*Megatron (7)
Trypticon (8)
Spyglass (10)
Spectro (11)
Viewfinder (12)
Mixmaster (40)
Scavenger (41)
Bonecrusher (42)
Octane (56)
Blackarachnia (63)
Flamefeather? (69)
Ruckus (70)
Straxus (97)|

| style="background:#ededff;" valign="top" |

Megatron (7)
Trypticon (8)
Spyglass (10)
Spectro (11)
Viewfinder (12)
Mixmaster (40)
Scavenger (41)
Bonecrusher (42)
Octane (56)
Blackarachnia (63)
Flamefeather? (69)
Ruckus (70)
Straxus (97) }}{{#if:{|border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"

|- |style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"|

Duke (3)
Spirit (5)
Shipwreck (6)
Scarlett (9)
Sci-Fi (13)
Doc (18)
Gung-Ho (20)
Cutter (21)
Spearhead (22)
Stalker (23)
Cover Girl (24)
Beachhead (26)
Roadblock (29)
Mutt (30)
Dusty (32)
Alpine (33)
Lift-Ticket (34)
Tunnel Rat (35)
Jinx (39)
Clutch (45)
Breaker (46)
Hawk (51)
Clyde (57)
Falcon* (60)
Sandstorm (64)

|style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"|

Seasick/Polly (65)
Max (66)
Freedom (67)
Junkyard (68)
Mainframe (75)
Chuckles (76)
Barbecue (77)
Psych Out (78)
Frostbite (79)
Steeler (82)
Rock 'n Roll (83)
Snow Job (90)
Order (94)
General Flagg (voice, 96)
Ace (99)

|}| | style="background:#fbefde;" valign="top" |

Duke (3)
Spirit (5)
Shipwreck (6)
Scarlett (9)
Sci-Fi (13)
Doc (18)
Gung-Ho (20)
Cutter (21)
Spearhead (22)
Stalker (23)
Cover Girl (24)
Beachhead (26)
Roadblock (29)
Mutt (30)
Dusty (32)
Alpine (33)
Lift-Ticket (34)
Tunnel Rat (35)
Jinx (39)
Clutch (45)
Breaker (46)
Hawk (51)
Clyde (57)
Falcon* (60)
Sandstorm (64)

Seasick/Polly (65)
Max (66)
Freedom (67)
Junkyard (68)
Mainframe (75)
Chuckles (76)
Barbecue (77)
Psych Out (78)
Frostbite (79)
Steeler (82)
Rock 'n Roll (83)
Snow Job (90)
Order (94)
General Flagg (voice, 96)
Ace (99)

}}{{#if:*Snake Eyes (4)

Zartan (16)
Cobra troopers (43)
Firefly (47)
Tomax (48)
Xamot (49)
Major Bludd (50)
Storm Shadow (52)
Destro (84)
Serpentress (85)
"Cobra Commander"/Fred (deceased, 86)
Crimson Guardsmen (95)
Raptor (98)|

| style="background:#ffeeb8;" valign="top" |

Snake Eyes (4)
Zartan (16)
Cobra troopers (43)
Firefly (47)
Tomax (48)
Xamot (49)
Major Bludd (50)
Storm Shadow (52)
Destro (84)
Serpentress (85)
"Cobra Commander"/Fred (deceased, 86)
Crimson Guardsmen (95)
Raptor (98) }}{{#if:*Quintessons (1)
Colonel Breakoff (53)
Dragun (54)
Münchnik (55)
Blind Master (58)
Duke's mother (59)
Duke's step-father (61)
Allicons (71)|

| style="background:#d5e6d5;" valign="top" |

Quintessons (1)
Colonel Breakoff (53)
Dragun (54)
Münchnik (55)
Blind Master (58)
Duke's mother (59)
Duke's step-father (61)
Allicons (71) }}{{#if:|

| style="background:#fedeb5;" valign="top" |

}}

|}

*first appears as a baby in a flashback

Quotes

"Bumblebee!? You've seen Bumblebee?"
"We thought he was a Cobra drone, but yeah, that sounds right. He saved Snake Eyes's life back on Earth."
"Bumblebee on Earth!? Murdered?"
"I wouldn't call it murder. We have a word on Earth... 'collateral damage'."

—Optimus Prime and Duke

"Welcome ta Metroplex. Yinz guys are just in time, da stuff is hittin' da perverbial fan."

—Steeler, Pittsburgh native

"Who die and make you king? Me Grimlock king!"

—Grimlock, to Rodimus

"GRIMLOCK NO RUN! ME GRIMLOCK KING!"
"Autobot king!? You are a sad, miserable, deluded creature. Megatron's hand around your throat will be a rare act of kindness."

—Grimlock and Megatron

"Trypticon dines this night on the sweetbreads of a goliath!"

—Trypticon, as he bites Fortress Maximus's head off

Notes

Continuity notes

The mystery of Hawk's tomahawk began in issue #1, when it was mysteriously able to cleave Ravage's skull. This issue offers a one-panel flashback that shows it in the hand of Hawk's Viking ancestor, who commands a crew and a fleet of ships all adorned with combined Autobot/Decepticon/Cobra iconography.
The mysterious gun is the "gift" Megatron offered Destro back in issue #3.
Cobra Commander appeared to perish in issue #0.
A copy of the strange book Raptor brings the captive Joes was used by Doctor Venom in his experiments last issue.

Transformers references

The Quintessons were the creators of the Transformers in the original Generation 1 cartoon. It's nice to see the idea get some face time here, as the Primus mythology has long since eclipsed the Quints as the "accepted" Transformer origin for most other continuities. Their words, however, imply that they are claiming to be the creators of not just the Transformers, but all life!
Arcee's "file card" gives her the function of guardian of the Plasma Energy Chamber, which originally featured in the Generation 1 cartoon three-parter, "The Rebirth".
Blackarachnia makes the jump from Beast Wars to this little continuity, though beyond name and spider-like appearance, there's little similarity—she's very monstrous in appearance, and her mind-control powers are a new twist.
Galen was the Nebulan who was the smallest component of Fortress Maximus in the original Marvel Transformers series, before he died and was replaced with Spike Witwicky. This issue's commentary mentions the possibility of his Nebulan background, and Tom Scioli would later release preview art of the next issue describing Galen as "alien, even among his fellow Autobots."
Megatron wears Grimlock's Tyrannosaurus head around his wrist and over his hand, as well as having Grimlock's tail sticking out of his fusion cannon barrel, homaging the similar look of Beast Wars Megatron.
Optimus's sword shows abilities similar to the Star Saber while his jetpack recalls his film counterpart's trailer upgrades in Dark of the Moon.

G.I. Joe references

For his one-panel appearance here, as he shape-shifts into his normal form, Zartan appears with blue skin. Colour-changing skin was a feature of Zartan's original action figure, activated by heat, not unlike a Transformer rubsign; the Joe cartoon adapted it into the idea that Zartan would change colour when exposed to sunlight.
Blackwater Prison originally appeared in the second G.I. Joe animated mini-series, "The Revenge of Cobra". Transformers Animated paid homage to it in the episode "Black Friday".
The identity of Xamot, Tomax and Bludd's rescuer goes unrevealed this issue but the grey camo-pattern gloves handling the bomb that blows their cell open identify their liberator as Cobra demolitions expert Firefly.
After appearances last issue by the Hard Master and Soft Master, the third of Snake Eyes's teachers, the Blind Master, appears in the flashback the Quintessons pluck from his mind. Sciloi notes in the commentary that he based this version of the Blind Master on "a vet who taught Kung Fu down by the railroad tracks" he knew from his childhood.
In Duke's flashback, as he argues with his step-father, he also denounces his baby half-brother. Though the issue goes into no more detail, Joe fans will realise that the baby is a young Lt. Falcon, who was Duke's half-brother in the G.I. Joe animated series continuity. Alluding to this, Scioli notes in the story commentary that Duke's step-father's surname is "Falcone".
The face under Cobra Commander's hood is that of a "Fred", the shared face and identity used by many of the Crimson Guard, which we briefly glimpsed on a billboard back in issue #1. In the original Marvel G.I. Joe series, one of the Freds—"Fred VII", specifically—impersonated Cobra Commander for an extended period of time.

Real-life references

The Quintessons as eldritch abominations that live outside of space and time for whom the mortal mind is a plaything is a clear homage to H. P. Lovecraft's [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Cthulhu Mythos|{{#if:||Cthulhu Mythos}}]]. The Transformers franchise has played in these waters before, with Lovecraft's Elder Gods having received veiled mentions in various Fun Publications stories before showing up in IDW's Infestation 2.
While their name was always a play on the word "[[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}quintessence|{{#if:||quintessence}}]]", it never meant anything for the Quintessons beyond the fact they have five faces (from the Latin quintus, meaning "five"). This higher-dimensional take on the aliens plays with multiple meanings of the word: the mythological definition, which described it as the fifth classical element and the substance the made up the realm of the gods, and the present dictionary definition, "the pure and concentrated essence" of something, which is reflected in the way they strip their captives down to their minds.
Scarlett calls Trypticon [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Barney & Friends|{{#if:Barney|Barney|Barney & Friends}}]].
You see, Brad Garrett voiced Trypticon in The Transformers. He also played Ray's brother Robert in [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Everybody Loves Raymond|{{#if:||Everybody Loves Raymond}}]]. So the title to this issue, "Everybody Hates Metroplex", is a reference to Trypticon's opposite, Metroplex, whom everybody normally loves, but you see, because everything is opposite, they actually hate him instead, and... and... Aw jeez, is this really even a reference?
Tunnel Rat called Trypticon "Mechagodzilla", a reference to the robotic counterpart of Godzilla.
As Snake Eyes silently departs, Duke muses to Scarlett that "A ninja strikes hard and fades into the night", paraphrasing the final line of the original Mirage Studios Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic: "We are the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles... we strike hard and fade away... into the night!"

Errors

Megatron's eyes are blue instead of red on page 14.
The Firecon attacking Scarlett on page 10 appears to be Flamefeather (the chest details match up), but colored like Cindersaur.
Last time we saw Mutt, he was back on Earth. Now, he's suddenly on Cybertron.
But, y'know, in a book like this that strives to recreate a Silver Age visual experience, "errors" like these could be entirely deliberate, so...

Other notes

This issue was originally solicited for release in December, but production delays meant it did not come out until mid-February.
While every issue of Transformers vs. G.I. Joe is full of title-like declarations for small scenes and panels, this issue does not have an obvious "overall" title like past ones. We've gone with "Everybody Hates Metroplex", from the page 2-3 spread, as it seems to best encapsulate the events of the issue.
According to the story commentary, the unusual form Prime appears in for most of this issue is called "Optimal Prime", as it's the "optimal" form for survival in transwarp space. Continuing the book's wacky adaptation of his classic G1 form, in this issue, when he assumes his recognizable robot mode on the final page, his trailer forms a large pair of wings.
Seen briefly last issue, the "Russian" alphabet used for Colonel Breakoff's dialogue this issue is just a substitution cypher made up mostly of stylized English letters. His one speech balloon, directed at Dusty, reads "Your dog can take care of himself. We were bred for deep space survival. You G.I. Joke <Boxes?> were not. You are inferior. Give up! Go home! Leave Cybertron to the capable hands of the Oktober Guard."
Generic Decepticons of note appearing in this issue include a yellow Conehead and a blue Cyclonus.

Covers (4)

Standard cover: "Tunnel Rat's Fantastic Journey to the Center of Fortress Maximus", by Tom Scioli
Subscription cover: Joes clamber over Soundwave as he removes a Cold Slither cassette from his chest, by Nick Pitarra and Megan Wilson
Cover RI: Snake Eyes, Roadblock, Bazooka and Shipwreck ride Rodimus's spoiler as he launches into action, by Derek Charm
Yesteryear Comics exclusive cover: Zarana in front of a Wanted poster for Shockwave, by Jamie Tyndall and Ula Mos, available exclusively from Yesteryear Comics

Reprints

Transformers vs. G.I. Joe Volume 2 TPB
Transformers vs. G.I. Joe Quintessential Collection Hardcover
Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 73: Transformers vs. G.I. Joe, Part 1

Volume 2; cover art by Tom Scioli
Quintessential Collection; cover art by Scioli
Definitive G1 Collection: Vol. 74: Transformers vs. G.I. Joe, Pt. 1; cover art by Don Figueroa and Scioli

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