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
{{#if: Oh my god, space aliens! Don't eat me, I have a wife and kids! Eat them! | Oh my god, space aliens! Don't eat me, I have a wife and kids! Eat them!}}}}
Feeling underappreciated, Trailbreaker must face down a group of invading Decepticons alone after the rest of the ship's crew are felled by one of Brainstorm's cock-ups.
The Lost Light suffers a hull breach when it scrapes against debris floating in space, but Brainstorm, Chromedome, Highbrow and Trailbreaker are able to fix the damage before it tears the ship apart. While working, Trailbreaker praises the others for their skills, but Chromedome responds that none of it would be possible without Trailbreaker's forcefield to seal the breach until they can finish their parts.
36 hours later, Rodimus is holding a ceremony to honor the ship's saviors: Brainstorm, Chromedome, and Highbrow. He awards each with the Rodimus Star, a medal in the likeness of his own visage. Trailbreaker, bitter at being passed over, drowns his misery in drink at Swerve's. He confesses the source of his unhappiness to Whirl, who then, against Trailbreaker's protests, asks Rodimus the reason for the omission. Rodimus explains to Trailbreaker that generating forcefields is just what he does, like Drift carrying swords, and thus doesn't warrant special recognition.
Hearing all this, Whirl takes it upon himself to help Trailbreaker re-make his image. Among his suggestions is a name change, since "break" makes him sound like a screw-up, and Trailbreaker decides on "Trailcutter." Trailbreaker/Trailcutter contends his real problem is that everybody only thinks of him as "forcefield guy," not as an individual, so Whirl suggests he get a new weapon. Towards that end, they find Brainstorm, currently in Shuttle Bay 3 examining the stowed space debris, but the weapons engineer's creations are all back in his workshop. Besides, Brainstorm asks, why would Trailbreaker want some handheld weapon when he has his built-in... "magnawheels"?
A tired Trailcutter heads back to his habitation suite to recharge. With his roommate Hoist away on a mission, he savours the solitude... only to be interrupted by a video call from Swerve. The ship's resident chatterbox has been promised a Rodimus Star if he can get through a sponsored silence, and he'd like the aid of a forcefield to cover his vocal synthesizer. Trailcutter angrily hangs up and goes to sleep, truly unhappy to be "forcefield guy."
Twelve hours later, he wakes up to find that things are amiss. Everyone else on the ship is frozen in place, in some kind of mysterious stasis. Worse, Decepticons have boarded the Lost Light! He encounters the bloodthirsty pair of Chop Shop and Venom, only to discover that his forcefield's inexplicably not working. Instead, he escapes the duo by means of his magnawheels—magnetic wheels that let him drive on walls—and leads the hunters to the medibay, where he's able to take them out with the equipment on hand.
He then heads off to confront the remaining Decepticons, who number practically a small army and are gathered in Shuttle Bay 3. Their leader, Lockdown, explains their M.O.: They're Titan hunters. They hunt space for Titans, kill them, and then scavenge the mythic giants' technology for their employer, who goes unidentified. They're here because the space debris is actually part of Metroplex's body, shed in transit.
Trailcutter bluffs that he's an incredibly powerful Autobot with amazing forcefield capabilities, so they had better retreat. To lend credence to his lie, he secretly hits a remote he grabbed from Brainstorm's lab, deactivating the artificial gravity for a few moments. With his magnawheels to keep him grounded, this gives off the illusion that he levitated the Decepticons with forcefields. He tells Lockdown that he's also generated a tiny forcefield in his spark, which he can expand to kill him. Psyched into believing he can feel the forcefield's pressure, Lockdown agrees to retreat.
Later, after everything's gone back to normal, a battered Hoist returns from his away mission. Trailcutter explains what happened: The ship-wide stasis was the result of one of Brainstorm's inventions acting up. Trailcutter had fallen asleep while angrily making forcefields, so there was one protecting him when the effect occurred. His forcefield generator shorted out in the process, but it's been fixed now. He proudly shows off the Rodimus Star he's earned for his little adventure... only for Hoist to one-up him: He pulls out a giant crest emblazoned with Rodimus's full figure. Hoist explains that everyone who was frozen received one for "exceptional endurance in the face of adversity." He's about to explain why he himself received one as well, but Trailcutter stomps off. He's going to Swerve's to get drunk... but first he intends to give Rodimus a piece of his mind.
"Fantastic job, Chromedome! You too, Brainstorm! No wonder everyone calls you The Genius Twins!"
"No one calls us the Genius Twins."
—Trailbreaker and Chromedome
"I had this friend called Scalp..."
""Scalp"? Ha! Did he turn into like a massive head or something?"
"Hey, that was his real name."
"Why was he called that, then?"
"'Cos he turned into a massive head."
—Tailgate and Brainstorm
"I'm not in the mood, Whirl."
"I can tell. You people with mouths - you're so transparent."
—Trailbreaker and Whirl
"Whirl's Life Lesson Number 1: The ruder you are, the more people will respect you. Why d'you think everyone listens to Ultra Magnus?"
"Because he's second-in-command?"
"Wrong! Because he doesn't care. I hate him. But I kinda think he's amazing too. I get confused feelings."
—Whirl and Trailbreaker
"Never mind that. Trailcutter's looking for a new weapon - Preferably something so powerful you'll need to take a week off after firing it."
"All my newest inventions are in the workshop - Magma frag launchers, scatter blasters, static rays, laser lancers..."
"Don't stop. I could listen to you all day."
—Whirl would be so empty without Brainstorm in his life.
"What do people without forcefields do? Oh yeah! They use guns!"
—Trailbreaker
"I'm the Autobot who lands the final punch. I'm the Autobot who gets to decide if you live. I'm a force of nature. An apocalypse on legs. The furious sound of symphonic brutality."
As noted on the inside front cover of the issue, this story takes place between issue #5 and issue #6 of More than Meets the Eye. Even if the comic hadn't outright stated it, there are more than enough chronological signposts in the story itself to help us figure this out, including:
Fortress Maximus isn't in the brig, but Rewind is still around, making between #5 and #6 literally the only place the story can fit in continuity up to this point.
Ratchet is seen taking stock of boxed medical equipment on page 6, which he has presumably brought back from his trip to Delphi in issue #5.
When frozen, Rodimus is in the middle of chewing Rewind out over a pair of golden disks, obviously the "snuff movies" he got from Swindle in #1 for which he was being punished in issue #6. He also stated in that issue that it was Red Alert who tattled on him, and sure enough Red's frozen self can be seen watching in the background.
Whirl is frozen in the same room, listening and presumably about to talk to Rodimus about compulsory therapy with Rung, which happens in issue #6.
Trailcutter refers to Nightmare Fuel, which he'll be shown to have in his "private stash" in More than Meets the Eye #11.
The issue ends with Trailcutter heading off to get plastered at Swerve's, leading directly into his appearance in issue #6.
Issue #14 revealed that Chromedome received his name at the New Institute, where he worked alongside Brainstorm. As such, this issue's revelation that the two and Highbrow all received their current names while working together would seem to indicate that Highbrow also worked there.
Name change? What name change?
Transformers fiction is not usually beholden to the character name changes that Hasbro has been forced to use on various toys in the past for reasons of trademark. However, since this issue was produced with the specific intent of being packed with the 2013 Generations Trailcutter toy, it obviously needed to use the name that was going to be printed on the package, and so the change is explained in-story. This change was previously alluded to in the (chronologically later-occurring) More than Meets the Eye2012 Annual, in which "Trailcutter" was noted to be an alternate name for Trailbreaker; but other characters' use of it is erratic, for instance, while Swerve was seen using it in More than Meets the Eye#11, he slipped back to "Trailbreaker" in #17.
While Trailguy would eventually do as Whirl suggested and "get some new bang-bang sticks", he would also follow Brainstorm's advice not to "weigh [him]self down with a handheld" - the new guns, seen in More than Meets the Eye#12, were strapped to his legs in imitation of Fortress Maximus.
Hoist and Trailcutter, revealed to be roommates here, can also be seen chumming it up in that issue.
Barrage, Chop Shop, and Venom's roles in Lockdown's group can be seen as a continuation of their positions in Bludgeon's Titan-hunting party from millions of years back, seen in "Spotlight: Thundercracker".
It's probably not a coincidence that in his sole previous IDW appearance in the Drift mini-series, Lockdown visited the planet Theophany—the only known resting place of a Titan other than Metroplex.
Hoist's away mission and injured state on return from it was elaborated on in his own Spotlight, out one month from this issue.
As the issue begins, Trailbreaker is delivering some rather over-the-top words of encouragement to Chromedome, Brainstorm and Highbrow as they go about their task. This would appear to be perhaps the first instance in fiction of him actually playing the role that his original Generation 1 character profile credited him with: that of a cheerleader for the other Autobots.
Evil Harry Pottertron.
We get a single flashback panel of Whirl versus one truly hulking, scary-looking Decepticon. The monstrosity goes unnamed, but if we look carefully, we can see that he's holding a wand, marking him as the much-touted Killmaster, previously mentioned in More than Meets the Eye #5, Spotlight: Orion Pax and, explaining this particular recollection, noted by Whirl to be his arch-enemy in More than Meets the Eye #13.
The image of Rodimus on Hoist's huge crest is based directly on the package art of the original Rodimus Prime toy.
The silhouette of the unnamed Titan shown as Lockdown elaborates to Trailcutter bears a massive resemblance to Fall of CybertronMetroplex. (Oh, the puns!)
Another of Lockdown's group of 'Cons is based directly on Japanese tokusatsu superhero [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Kamen Rider V3 (character)|{{#if:Kamen Rider V3|Kamen Rider V3|Kamen Rider V3 (character)}}]].
The Spotlight's title could very well be based on the novel, [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}The Reluctant Fundamentalist|{{#if:||The Reluctant Fundamentalist}}]], by [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Mohsin Hamid|{{#if:||Mohsin Hamid}}]].
Trailcutter name-checks several of Brainstorm's weapons... and gets each name slightly wrong. His ignorance is understandable when we consider two factors:
As established earlier in the issue, he's never much needed guns because his forcefields have always sufficed.
In the prose story "Bullets", he is shown to be a member of the Autobots' Ethics Committee and depicted with a particular distaste for inhumane weapons technology, a.k.a. Brainstorm's specialty.
In the version of the issue packed in with Trailcutter's GenerationsThrilling 30 toy, several edits to the speech bubbles are made:
Any reference to the name "Trailbreaker" is removed. The dialogue on page 6 regarding his name change is cut, and any prior uses of his original name are changed to "Trailcutter".
Cussing is toned down, such as replacing "damn" with "insufferably" on page 5, panel 8.
Mentions of guns and killing are replaced with blasters and destroying/hurting/etc... most of the time. Some instances of "die" and "dead" are left unaltered, though, as is Swerve's figurative mention of his sponsored silence "killing" him on page 8, while an already very technical "I'm the only one who's fully... active" gets changed to "I'm the only one who's fully functional", so there's no real consistency to it.
Overt references to Energon consumption as a metaphor for alcohol consumption are removed, such as Trailcutter's offer to share a bottle of Nightmare Fuel, and his resolution to "get fendered" at the end of the issue.
Some less explicable changes to the narration, such as moving the narration from page 8, panel 5 one panel earlier, and omitting the entirely harmless first narration box on page 9, panel 4.
Sunstreaker sports his Universetoy body rather than his (admittedly rarely seen) newer Cybertronian form.
Page 7, panel 3: "Preferably" is spelled "prefferably." This was fixed neither for the TPB nor for the Hasbro exclusive cover variant.
Page 8, panel 1: "Mission" is spelled "misison." This was fixed neither for the TPB nor for the Hasbro exclusive cover variant.
A scripted appearance for Landmine, helping with Metroplex's debris, is instead drawn as Energon Landmine in his Brute Mode, although without the missile launcher on his left shoulder, thanks to Matt Frank being unaware of the G1 character's existence. Landmine had previously appeared in issue #10 of More than Meets the Eye, where regular series artist Alex Milne drew him based on his original inner robot body. The error is telegraphed by his working on space debris, something in line with G1 Landmine's tech specs, which identify him as an asteroid miner.<ref>Thread on TFW2005</ref>
Title: "Den Ofrivillige Specialisten" ("The Involuntary Specialist")
In this story and all other More than Meets the Eye reprints to date, Trailbreaker is not renamed Trailcutter, likely due to the sticky trademark situation no longer being relevant. This is noted here due to the sheer irony of this story originally facilitating the name change.
Cover RE: Dynamic Forces exclusive, cropped-in version of cover RI with DF logo.
Hasbro exclusive cover: Cropped-in version of cover RI, exclusively available with Generations Deluxe Class Trailcutter. While the other pack-in comics in the line feature covers with background insignia appropriate to the characters, notice that Trailcutter has a Decepticon insignia behind him.
Force-field face!
Get ready for a surprise!
New toy, different name.
I'm undersized, but the best Trailbreaker you will get for a long time.
{{#if: Oh my god, space aliens! Don't eat me, I have a wife and kids! Eat them! |
Force-field face!
Get ready for a surprise!
New toy, different name.
I'm undersized, but the best Trailbreaker you will get for a long time.
Error, or foreshadowing?
Dark Prelude – cover art by Nick Roche & Josh Perez
The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 2 – cover art by Saren Stone
The Definitive G1 Collection Volume 53: Liars, A to D – cover art by Don Figueroa & Alex Milne
