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
Long ago, before the war, Autobot spy Punch was an actor from Harmonex, the city of the singing crystals-a profession no one has had on Cybertron for years now. Punch reveled in the magic of making characters on a script come to life, becoming them—but then the Decepticons came. Punch was the first to sign up from his city, and before he left, he celebrated with his acting colleagues, promising to be back soon. 27 solar cycles later, Harmonex was utterly destroyed by the Decepticons. Flooded with rage, Punch promised to make the Decepticons pay, and in his first engagement, a routine scout patrol encountered the Decepticons. Unfortunately, his whole unit was slaughtered, and Punch was heavily damaged, losing his mobility. Approached by a crimson-clad doctor, Punch was told how his transformation cog was special-it allowed him to take on another robot mode. And so, Punch was re-engineered and rebuilt, and on the orders of Autobot High Command, began to play one final role: the Decepticon warrior, Counterpunch. These days, Punch lets his role subsume him, distracting him from the grief, and the feeling that the worse thing to ever happen to Cybertron wasn't the war—but its people.
Or, at least, that's what he believes his past to be.
On the secret Autobot base on Gargoid, Punch is woken from his dreams by a knock on his door. At first, he's afraid that the base has been attacked, but his aggressive comrade, Firecracker, lets the Autobot spy know that the commander wants to see him. Uncharacteristically shaky, Punch makes his way to the commander's office, where the untrusting Suppressor is waiting for him. Suppressor informs the spy that the Autobot's outpost on Athenia, where the potential last hope of the Autobots was being built, was razed by the Decepticons 24 megacycles ago, and that he and Autobot High Command have been investigating how the location was leaked. Punch tells his commander that he hadn't found anything in the Decepticon channels indicating Athenia was compromised, but as it turns out, Suppressor hasn't called him here for that—instead, Suppressor lets Punch know that he doesn't trust him, and that the only reason that he's not yet in the brig is that High Command wishes to let the spy provide an alibi for himself. He then provides Punch with a datapad, showing security footage from Athenia. Punch watches in disbelief as he sees a figure shoot the security officer and input codes to disable the base's defenses...his own figure. Suppressor tells the shocked Punch that the footage is authentic, and that the codes imputed were his specific access codes. Punch tries to protest, telling his commander that he just saw him yesterday—but Suppressor tells him it's been four days. Punch tries to convince him there's some explanation for what has happened, but Suppressor, convinced of the spy's guilt, sends him to the brig.
In his cell, Punch tosses and turns, trying to come up with an explanation for what happened, when a voice mocks him. Bolting upright, he is shocked as a figure steps out into the lit portion of the brig: his Decepticon alter-ego, Counterpunch! Punch doubles over in pain as the apparition tells him that his life is a lie; it was Counterpunch who created Punch, not the other way around. Counterpunch then reveals that there's a reason why nobody talks about or remembers Harmonex the way that Punch does: it never existed, having been made up by the Decepticons as a great tragic backstory for their spy, knowing no one would ever question the Decepticons doing such a thing, and making Punch seem all the more trustworthy. As Punch tries to fight off the mental anguish, Counterpunch bids farewell to his Autobot identity, and with the shot of his blaster, seemingly kills Punch.
Sometime later, Counterpunch wakes up on the floor of his cell with a massive headache, as loud explosions sound off outside. Dazed and confused, the Decepticon watches as the wall in front of his energy-cell explodes, and a squadron of the Decepticon files in to rescue him: the boisterous Crash Test, fliers Skyfire and Wind Sheer, the quiet Rotorbolt, and the aggressive Six Changer Killswitch, now rechristened Hexadeathimal. Initially confused, Counterpunch is shocked back to reality when Wind Sheer mentions his name, realizing that he's now "free" of Punch. Counterpunch trades some light banter with his Decepticon comrades, then has Rotorbolt disable his cell, and goes with the others to raze the base. The Decepticons quickly begin slaughtering the Autobots, and Counterpunch reflects on how, if everything goes to plan, the Autobots will be gone once and for all. Suddenly, he is stricken by a sense of sadness over all the silence, allowing the heavily damaged Firecracker to attack his former comrade. Firecracker accuses him of being a traitor, but Counterpunch gleefully informs him that he was never with the Autobots, and that for all his talk, Firecracker would never kill another Autobot, not even one he didn't trust. Furious, Firecracker rushes forth, and Counterpunch tries to aim his gun at the Autobot...but finds he can't. Counterpunch is saved when Crash Test shoots Firecracker in the back, who then falls into Counterpunch's arms toppling them both over. Unsettled, Counterpunch turns to look at the dying Autobot, who slowly raises his head and gives Counterpunch a smile, before falling offline for good. Counterpunch is suddenly overcome, as he loses control of himself; Firecracker's death has allowed Punch to reassert control, and he declares he isn't sure what is real anymore, but knows one thing for sure: that he'd rather die an Autobot than live as a Decepticon! Punch shoots Crash Test point blank, sending her offline, and the others, unaware of what is happening, quickly return fire. Punch/Counterpunch falls as the ceiling collapses on him, and as he shuts down, he dreams of Harmonex...
Sometime later, Counterpunch wakes back up in an operating room on Paradron, confused as the two lives he lived blur together. A medic explains to him that he was brought here by a "friend", and that he suffered excessive damage to his robot mode, which should have killed him. However, because of his other robot mode, they were able to save him by removing the damaged form's parts. She notes that, rather peculiarly, it wasn't just his transformation cog that was special; it was as though his spark chamber and his brain powered both robot forms separately, as if there were two robots inhabiting one body. She then sends Counterpunch into induced stasis sleep, preparing to tell his "friend" the good news. As it turns out, his "friend" isn't someone he expects: Wrecker leader Impactor. The Autobot commando bluntly tells him that he should have left Counterpunch to die, now that he knows the seeming truth about Counterpunch. But with the threat of Thunder Mayhem and the death of much of the Cybertronian race, he'll need all the help he can get, even from a Decepticon. Initially, Counterpunch doesn't respond; he remembers his two backstories, but can no longer tell which is the fiction, and which is the reality. Eventually, Counterpunch speaks, asking Impactor if he remembers Harmonex. Taken aback, the Wrecker leader remembers the tragedy that befell the city, one of the worst examples of Decepticon brutality. Impactor asks the Decepticon if he ever visited, and Counterpunch, unsure, tells him that he thinks a part of himself came from there. Watching out over the city, Impactor takes a moment to think, and tells Counterpunch he thinks he went to the city once before the war... but it's been so long, he isn't sure whether or not his memories of Harmonex were real, or just a dream.
"Harmonex never existed. We made it up, and then we carved a scar into the planet where we claimed it stood. We made a tragedy so terrible that nobody would dare question it, all to make a spy so believable that nobody would question him, either."
"That’s not possible. I remember it."
"You remember it because to you, it happened. You live with a story for long enough and it becomes indistinguishable from truth. You tell the world that a few thousand innocents were erased off the face of the planet... who would dare argue with that? Who would do those sparks such a disservice? The truth is, everything about your life is a work of fiction, created to make you seem real. Unfortunately, along the way you became a little too real, somehow. But it’s over now. It’s time for your story to end. Goodnight, Punch."
Impactor was shown to have brought Punch/Counterpunch to Paradron in "Insight", where Lifeline (who appears unnamed in this story) saved him by removing the most heavily damaged robot mode, as recounted here.
The idea that Counterpunch was an actual separate personality, more Decepticon than Autobot, came from the long version of his bio, published in the back-up The Transformers Universe profile in issue #71 of the Marvel The Transformers comic. Virtually all fiction prior to this story ignored this idea, instead simply depicting Punch as having full control of himself in both forms, going off the shortened version of his bio published in his toy's Tech Specs, which simply depicted him as vaguely mysterious, but ultimately an Autobot.
Punch notes that those constructed cold after the war began might not believe that Cybertron once had actors and musicians. "Constructed cold" is a term for one of the two ways Transformers were created in the IDW Publishing comics continuity, primarily featured in the writings of James Roberts in More than Meets the Eye. Those who were constructed cold during the war were called M.T.O.s: Made to Order soldiers.
Punch's supposed home city, Harmonex, was introduced in IDW Publishing's Monstrosity series, where it was known as the "Singing City" due to lithic crystals that grew within it, which "sang" in a perfect harmonic frequency. Sadly, it was ravaged by the rampaging Trypticon.
The "crimson-clad doctor" that Punch has trouble remembering is a Generation 1 version of the Decepticon medic from Transformers: Prime, Knock Out. Author Justin Severson noted that he included him as an homage to an unrealized story he had written for the Club with Jesse Wittenrich featuring Lyzack, which would have repurposed the Club's Shattered GlassDrift toy as Knock Out (at that point, the toy's color scheme hadn't yet been finalized, and was potentially going to be based on Prime Knock Out, rather than the [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Deadpool|{{#if:||Deadpool}}]]-based color scheme the final toy went with). Severson noted that he was unaware that Knock Out was to appear with a different physical appearance in "The Toxic Transformer". Given the unreliable nature of Punch/Counterpunch's narration, however, it could quite simply be a false memory anyway!
Punch/Counterpunch's transformation cog (the part of a Transformer's body responsible for allowing them their transformation abilities, introduced in the opening mini-series of the third season of The Transformers, "Five Faces of Darkness") is noted to be special, allowing for "extraneous segmentation" for a secondary robot mode. Later in the story, Lifeline notes that Punch/Counterpunch's body also seems to have separate connections in his spark chamber and brain for both of his robot forms, referring to the concept of "Rossum's Trinity" from More than Meets the Eye. The word transformation cog is consistently rendered as "t-cog" throughout the story, the shortened version of the term introduced in the Transformers: Prime cartoon.
Firecracker was one of the Generation 2Go-Bots. He was chosen for this story due to his Tech Specs' description of his temper, which manifests in this story as constant aggression towards Punch. Punch notes early on in the story that his bright red armor sometimes gives off an "eerie glow" in the right light, referencing the fact that Firecracker's toy was translucent. Punch jokingly wonders whether or not he's contracted a strain of Hate Plague, a madness inducing disease from the two-part season 3 finale of The Transformers, "The Return of Optimus Prime".
Suppressor was the small partner of the Legends Class Cliffjumper toy in the GenerationsThrilling 30 toyline. Author Justin Severson noted his inclusion in this story was a bit of a happy accident; he was a hold-over from the aforementioned unused Lyzack story, where he would have been a Decepticon based on the Mini-ConSuppressor from the 2008 Transformers: Universe toyline, whom the Generations character was also based on. Severson notes that Cliffjumper's bio, which indicated that the Autobot believed his small partner was a Decepticon spy, helped him decide to use the character in this story, since the unclear allegiance of the character adds to the mysterious background of Punch/Counterpunch.
Athenia was a planet seen in season 3 premier of The Transformers, "Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1", where the Autobots held the Galactic Olympics. It was named in pre-production materials, but the name only made it into the Japanese dub of the episode. The cartoon's Japanese-exclusive sequel series, The Headmasters, reimagined the planet as main Autobot headquarters after the destruction of Cybertron.
Suppressor notes that Counterpunch was one of Scorponok's "most trusted advisors," a broad homage to Punch/Counterpunch's role in The Headmasters.
The Decepticons who rescue Counterpunch include:
Crash Test, a new identity given here to the "GTP Racer" Go-Bot, one of several unreleased Go-Bots from the tail end of Generation 2. Seeding her appearance here, the then-current Spy Changer storyline on the Transformers: Renegade Rhetoric Facebook page had her appear a few days before the publication of this story as part of a group of Decepticons who used upgrades to become Go-Bots. Severson originally wanted to name her "Oil Slick", but when he was told that a Decepticon scientist was to show up with that name in "The Toxic Transformer", he gave her the name Crash Test instead.
Skyfire and Wind Sheer, Generation 1 versions of Decepticons from the 2001 Robots in Disguise toyline.
Killswitch, who has recently been renamed Hexadeathimal after mastering his sixth mode. He's based on an alternate Decepticon color scheme for the 1988 Autobot Six Changer Quickswitch (he was originally named Killswitch in homage to the similarity between the names of fellow cross-faction Six Changer redecoes Sixshot and Greatshot), first revealed in the IDW Publishing artbook, Legacy: The Art of Transformers Packaging. He claims that he was rechristened by the "clan of the six," referencing the Six Clan, a mysterious group of Six Changer ninjas who are said to rule the galaxy, first mentioned in Greatshot's tech specs.
Paradron was a peaceful Cybertronian colony world from the season 3 The Transformers episode, "Fight or Flee".
Among Counterpunch's Decepticon memories include the "painful surgery that turned [him] into a Doublespy," referring to the unique class his original toy was sold under.
Gargoid, the planet on which Punch is stationed, is named for "JGargoyle220", the screen-name of a friend of Severson's.
Suppressor asks Punch to provide an alibi for himself "from 43462.5 through today"; 43462.5 is the stardate of the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "[[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}The Defector (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|{{#if:The Defector|The Defector|The Defector (Star Trek: The Next Generation)}}]]", in which a Romulan tries to defect to the Federation, only to find that the other Romulans have used him as a pawn to lure the Enterprise to them.
Dan Khanna provided the lineart for the cover, but is uncredited.
Suppressor's name is misspelt "Supressor" throughout. This was corrected in a later revision.
On page 10, in Counterpunch's line beginning "“First of all", "that’s doesn’t really" should be "that doesn't really". This was also corrected in a later revision.
A few days after the story was released, an updated version of it was released on the Club's website. Aside from fixing the aforementioned errors, it expanded the last few paragraphs of the story, clearing up some confusion about who was speaking which lines of dialogue, and adding a more ambiguous tone about whether or not Harmonex existed.
{{#if: |
