Primeless, Part 2

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|- {{#if: IDW Publishing | |Publisher || IDW Publishing}} |- {{#if: | |Published by || }} |- {{#if: | |Imprint || }} |- {{#if: | |Published in || }} |- {{#if: November 1, 2017 | |First published || November 1, 2017}} |- {{#if: | |Shipping date || }} |- {{#if: | |On-sale date || }} |- {{#if: October 2017 | |Cover date || October 2017}} |- {{#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: John Barber | |Written by || 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: Andrew Griffith | |Art by || Andrew Griffith}} |- {{#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: Josh Burcham | |Colors by || Josh Burcham}} |- {{#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 B. Long | |Letters by || Tom B. Long}} |- {{#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
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Aileron and the colonists join forces with Jazz to track the black market Cybertronian weapons to their source.

Synopsis

Following Aileron's instructions, Thundercracker and Buster head out to Sanctuary Station to check that all its Decepticon inhabitants are accounted for, to eliminate them as potential suspects in the attack on Cybertron. The pair are welcomed by Cosmos, Sky-Byte, Laserbeak and Buzzsaw, and Cosmos is quick to provide the necessary info: one shuttle is unaccounted for. Cosmos asks Slugslinger if he knows who took it, but Slugslinger says he has no idea...

In a series of ongoing solo interviews looking back on recent events, Slugslinger reveals he knew full well who took the shuttle, but kept it to himself, not wanting to get involved with the ongoing back-and-forth between Cybertron and Earth. Cosmos is of the opposite opinion, believing they should all work together. Needlenose has no desire to see a new war erupt, but worries about his brother, while Sky-Byte composes a poem about what he thinks is the start of a new conflict. Laserbeak cares nothing for Cybertron, having suffered under Functionism, and is glad to have left; Buzzsaw, on the other hand, despite his better judgement, still feels homesick for the planet sometimes and fears for its safety.

Down on Earth, in Mexico, Aileron orders the colonists into action to disarm the humans currently attacking Jazz with Cybertronian weaponry. With emotions already running high among them, the young soldiers prove overly vicious in their efforts, with Slide even opening fire, but they manage to send the humans fleeing without actually harming anyone. Aileron informs Jazz of the recent events on Cybertron, and the fact that they are here to bring him home—something that comes as a surprise to Jazz, since he figured they, like him, were searching for the origin point of the humans' alien weapons. Finding one of their attackers—an aerospace manufacturuer named Mateo Chavez—hiding nearby, Jazz coerces the man into taking them to the suppliers, and Aileron and the colonists go with him.

Several of the armed humans give their own video testimonials. Retired soldier Russell Hathaway believes humans need to work together across all borders to defend themselves against Cybertronians, while civil milita member Patricia Heaton doesn't trust governments to handle the issue and thinks it's up to the individual to arm themselves. College professor Leon Weaver can scarcely comprehend what the world has turned into, but believes in personal preparedness. Chavez doesn't want to fight, but will to protect his family. Ex-Skywatch soldier Lori Ha doesn't like arming civilians, but is willing to put her personal professional training to use, as she doubts the government will handle things correctly. And retiree Earl Howard is all set to go to war and kill him some robots.

Jazz, Aileron, and the colonists are led north by Chavez, openly crashing their way through the US/Mexico border as they go, with Jazz assuring them that they're making the right call regardless of how bad it looks. In a little ghost town, they find the weapon suppliers: two "real Nineties guys" in black suits. Aileron is horrified by Jazz when he appears to stomp one of the men dead... only to watch in shock as the human de-rezzes and fades away upon contact with Jazz's foot, revealed to be a holomatter avatar. Emotions are at war inside Aileron as she watches Jazz rip through the town, uncovering first the cache of weapons, and then the perpetrators: Rumble and Frenzy, whose attempted getaway an angry Aileron blocks. It turns out the two punks have been running guns for months, selling off the excess weaponry from Galvatron's army—not trying to agitate anything, just looking to make a buck. Gimlet threatens the pair with "Autobot justice", but that causes an argument that unravels the whole situation: the pair are Decepticons, and the stolen property belongs to the Decepticons, so Soundwave should have jurisdiction over them, and Autobots passing judgement on Decepticons, well... four-million-year-long wars have been fought over less, and if humanity finds out that sort of conflict is going on between Cybertronian factions, it's not going to look good. Aileron's heart sinks as she realizes they're going to have to cover it all up in the name of the greater good. A furious Slide tells Aileron that she won't be making any such decision, and that they will leave it up to Optimus... only for to Jazz to chime in and note that they all know that Optimus will make the same call. Jazz has already felt the sting of Optimus's dedication to the "greater good" after the Prime refused to stand by his side when he came under human scrutiny, and knowing that the colonists came to look for on their own, not on Optimus's orders, is the last straw. Aileron's offer of trying to secure a pardon for him from the president in reparation for the recent human attack on Cybertron doesn't interest Jazz; he informs Aileron he's going to be on his own for a while, and transforms and heads off into the sunrise. Slide takes the time to toss one last insult in Aileron's direction, and Aileron snaps, screaming at the Devisen to shut up, lest she shut her up. Slide scoffs and stalks off, knowing Aileron can't deliver on any threats.

In their interviews, the colonists share their feelings. A cheery-faced Slide talks about how "inspiring" Optimus Prime was for her and Oiler. Gimlet believes in Optimus Prime and loves him, but can't help but wonder why he doesn't love the colonists back. Bump has begun to wonder if the tales of the Primes' divinity are true. Roulette explains that she believes in Optimus because he lived his life as a normal 'bot, as "Orion Pax," before taking on the mantle of Primehood. Midnight Express is indifferent to Cybertron's fate, and thinks the colonies can survive on their own. And Aileron... Aileron just wants to build a better future.

Aileron's team return to Autobot City with the captured weapons. They find that Jetfire is in charge now, with Soundwave having left on a mission to Castle Destro, and all Aileron can tell him is that they found the source of the weapons, without naming names. Exhausted, Aileron retires to her recharge slab, but, haunted by everything she has seen and done, finds herself unable to sleep.

Featured characters

{{#if:* Jazz (11)

Gimlet (12)
Aileron (13)
Slide (14)
Midnight Express (15)
Bump (16)
Roulette (17)
Metrotitan (26)
Jetfire (27)|

{{#if:* Jazz (11)

Gimlet (12)
Aileron (13)
Slide (14)
Midnight Express (15)
Bump (16)
Roulette (17)
Metrotitan (26)
Jetfire (27)|| style="background:#ffdddd;" valign="top" |
Jazz (11)
Gimlet (12)
Aileron (13)
Slide (14)
Midnight Express (15)
Bump (16)
Roulette (17)
Metrotitan (26)
Jetfire (27) }}{{#if:* Laserbeak (3)
Buzzsaw (4)
Sky-Byte (6)
Squawkbox (7)
Squeezeplay (8)
Needlenose (9)
Slugslinger (10)
Rumble (24)
Frenzy (25)|

Autobots }}{{#if:* Laserbeak (3) Buzzsaw (4) Sky-Byte (6) Squawkbox (7) Squeezeplay (8) Needlenose (9) Slugslinger (10) Rumble (24) Frenzy (25)\|	Decepticons }}{{#if:* Mateo Chavez (18) Russell Hathaway (19) Patricia Heaton (20) Leon Weaver (21) Lori Ha (22) Earl Howard (23)\|	Humans }}{{#if:* Thundercracker (1) Cosmos (5)\|	Other Cybertronians }}{{#if:\|	Misc }}{{#if:* Buster (2)\|	Others }}
Laserbeak (3) Buzzsaw (4) Sky-Byte (6) Squawkbox (7) Squeezeplay (8) Needlenose (9) Slugslinger (10) Rumble (24) Frenzy (25) }}{{#if:* Mateo Chavez (18) Russell Hathaway (19) Patricia Heaton (20) Leon Weaver (21) Lori Ha (22) Earl Howard (23)\|	Mateo Chavez (18) Russell Hathaway (19) Patricia Heaton (20) Leon Weaver (21) Lori Ha (22) Earl Howard (23) }}{{#if:* Thundercracker (1) Cosmos (5)\|	Thundercracker (1) Cosmos (5) }}{{#if:\|	}}{{#if:* Buster (2)\|	Buster (2) }}

Quotes

"Oh, wow, is that Sky-Byte? You made any good poems lately, S.B.?"
"Have I—why of course I—I am always composing—why would you ask that? Did someone say I didn't?"

—Thundercracker and Sky-Byte

"Squawk! Now we've got two Decepticons who think they're writers."
"Quick! Somebody find an editor!"

—Laserbeak and Buzzsaw, on the above

Slide: "This is a bad idea."
Gimlet: "Transgressing national borders with impunity, or listening to Aileron?"
Aileron: "I can hear you guys."

"You can't just go off on your own again."
"Here's the thing—you make a mistake when you're playing jazz, you do that mistake again, then again. You make it part of the tune... until it's not a mistake anymore."

—Aileron and Jazz

Notes

Continuity notes

Cosmos is labelled only as an "Autobot ally," and says he only "feels" like an Autobot, indicating that he has formally resigned from the Autobot ranks to live on Sanctuary Station, where he has been staying since the events of The Transformers #55.
Sky-Byte and Slugslinger were some of the first Decepticons to arrive on Sanctuary Station, back in The Transformers #46, and have been hanging around in crowd scenes and group shots ever since. By contrast, the two characters name-checked as being absent, Acid Storm and Squeezeplay, were formerly on the side of Galvatron's evil Decepticons; Squeezeplay was revealed to have defected in The Transformers #53, but this is the first time we're hearing of Acid Storm's change of heart. He was, in fact, last seen being taken into custody by the Earth Defense Command in The Transformers #56.
Aileron catches herself before saying the name "G.I. Joe" out loud; she obviously knows Jazz won't want to hear it after they tried to ambush him in issue #8.
Jazz recalls the time he discovered Spike was stealing Cybertronian technology and went on a similar "rampage," in issue #29 of the 2009-2011 Transformers comic.
Rumble and Frenzy are using the motorcycle alternate modes they previously employed in The Transformers #36. In fact, it doesn't appear the pair ever formatted out of those bodies after that issue, they just haven't transformed since then.
Aileron specifically recalls the riot in Mexico City from issue #1 as she realizes Rumble and Frenzy were responsible for selling humans the weapons involved in it. Midnight Express remains angry about being shot during the events of that issue.
Aileron recounts the time she told Optimus Prime "foundations must be strong," which happened in The Transformers #52.
Slide's description of Optimus — "a charismatic ideologue with a cause" — mirrors Soundwave's description of Megatron as "a charismatic ideologue who believed in himself more than the cause", from Robots in Disguise #29.
Just as last issue ran roughly concurrently with First Strike #1, this one runs parallel to First Strike #2 and on into First Strike #3. By the time Aileron returns to Autobot City, Soundwave has departed for Castle Destro with G.I. Joe, which happened at the end of issue #2, and Jetfire notes he has lost contact with him, indicating this scene is occurring some time after Soundwave and the Joes used the M.A.S.S. Device to teleport to Cybertron in issue #3.

Transformers references

Bump admits to having a personal crisis of faith regarding his colony's belief in the divinity of the Primes, which seems like a nod to the character's original depiction in the Beast Wars Neo series, where he was portrayed as an empirically-minded — and decidedly atheistic — academic.
Slugslinger is labelled as a "Master of Targets," an unsubtle reference to his original designation as a Targetmaster.

Real-life references

The screen Cosmos reads is written in the "Ancient Autobot" font, and mostly consists of words like "shuttle bay" and "Liberty One" (the shuttle Rumble and Frenzy took), and portions of those words and phrases, repeating over and over again. But the last line translates as "Quinjet," the personal aircraft of Marvel Comics superheroes, the Avengers.
Rumble and Frenzy's "real Nineties guys" holomatter disguises are Vincent Vega and Jules Winnfield, the characters played by [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}John Travolta|{{#if:||John Travolta}}]] and [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Samuel L. Jackson|{{#if:||Samuel L. Jackson}}]] in the 1994 movie [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Pulp Fiction|{{#if:||Pulp Fiction}}]].
- It's never specified which of the two avatars is Frenzy's and which is Rumble's. So... Rumble is white, Frenzy is black, anyone?

Errors

Squeezeplay makes a small cameo on page 1 on Sanctuary Station, when he is supposedly out in a shuttle with Acid Storm.
On page 19, Slide refers to her colony as "Divisen", rather than "Devisiun". This is corrected in the trade.

Other trivia

Originally solicited for release in October this issue arrives just a little late, on the first of November.
Midnight Express thinks the colonies will be fine on their own, without Cybertron? That's pretty rich coming from a Camien, given that his world was in the throes of energy deprivation and needed Cybertron to help it, to the point that a Camien representative was sent out to get that help. Stow that attitude, Midnight!

Covers (4)

Cover A: Aileron, Pyra Magna, and Optimus Prime through a mirror crack'd, by Kei Zama and Josh Burcham
Cover B: Jazz at gunpoint, by Casey Coller and John-Paul Bove
Cover C: Thundercracker and Buster iiiinnn spaaaace! by Andrew Griffith and Josh Perez
Retailer incentive cover: Wheeljack, Rodimus, Ironhide, Windblade, Optimus Prime, and Bumblebee versus Megatron, Starscream, and Soundwave, with everyone in their Evergreen character designs, by Joana Lafuente; part of a matching pair with Lafuente's retailer incentive cover for Lost Light #11, which shows the scene from the opposite angle

Not Shattered Glass.
"Hey man, lay down the gats. I just wanna jam on the bass, dig?"
Thundercracker better not hurl that ball too hard.
Let's sell some more toys!

Reprints

Optimus Prime Volume 3 (June 6, 2018) ISBN 168405270X / ISBN 978-1684052707
- Collects Optimus Prime issues #11–14 & First Strike #1, and Transformers: First Strike #1.
- Bonus material includes art from most covers.
- Trade paperback format.

Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection Volume 79: Primeless (November 14, 2018)
- Collects Optimus Prime issues #9–12, and Lost Light issues #9–12.
- Bonus material includes information about the end of the IDW Universe, a cover gallery and an intro by Simon Furman.
- Hardcover format.

Volume 3 – cover art by Casey Coller and John-Paul Bove
The Definitive G1 Collection Volume 79: Primeless – cover art by Don Figueroa and Livio Ramondelli

External links

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