Three Monologues

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|- {{#if: IDW Publishing | |Publisher || IDW Publishing}} |- {{#if: | |Published by || }} |- {{#if: | |Imprint || }} |- {{#if: | |Published in || }} |- {{#if: August 7, 2013 | |First published || August 7, 2013}} |- {{#if: | |Shipping date || }} |- {{#if: | |On-sale date || }} |- {{#if: August 2013 | |Cover date || August 2013}} |- {{#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: Priscilla Tramontano | |Colors by || Priscilla Tramontano}} |- {{#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: Shawn Lee | |Letters by || Shawn Lee}} |- {{#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: | |Production by || }} |- {{#if: | |Designer || }} |- {{#if: | |Design by || }} |- {{#if: | |Designed by || }} |- {{#if: | |Design/editorial || }} |- {{#if: | |Book design by || }} |- {{#if: | |Collection designer || }} |- {{#if: | |Collection editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Collection Edits by || }} |- {{#if: | |Graphic design || }} |- {{#if: | |Graphic design by || }} |- {{#if: | |Collection Design by || }} |- {{#if: | |Creative Director{{#if: | / Layout}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Contributing editors || }} |- {{#if: | |Research editor{{#if: |s}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Managing editor || }} |- {{#if: | |{{#if: |Editor-in-chief|Editor in chief}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Editorial consultant || }} |- {{#if: | |Dinosaur consultant || }} |- {{#if: | |Publishing manager || }} |- {{#if: | |Cover || }} |- {{#if: | |Cover art{{#if: |ist}}{{#if: | by}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Cover Design {{#if: |and Elements }}by || }} |- {{#if: | |Inside cover || }} |- {{#if: | |Apologies to || }} |- {{#if: 2005 IDW continuity | |Continuity || 2005 IDW continuity}} |- {{#if: Current era (2013) | |Chronology || Current era (2013)}} |- {{#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:dark cybertron prelude|2|14}}|dark cybertron=}} A blackout, a do-gooder, and an opportunist which are all more than they appear make Starscream's first night leading Iacon a difficult one, as the former Decepticon finds that the only way he can speak without being reproached at every turn is to speak to those who cannot talk back.

Synopsis

1: Long Night

As Metalhawk's remains lie in state, Starscream visits his once and former friend to thank him for all the advice he gave him during their tumultuous attempts to forge a government alongside Bumblebee, and apologizes for killing him. He laments the lack of friends he has had in his life, but remarks that he knew Metalhawk would not have been any better at leading than Bumblebee was; now, Cybertron's destiny lies in the hands of someone who can and will do something.

Starscream ventures to the wrecked Maccadam's Old Oil House and petitions owner Blurr to use the bar as a meeting place to connect with the common Cybertronian. Blurr laughs in his face: as far as he is concerned, he did not pick Starscream as his leader, but merely chose not to be part of the war anymore, and wants nothing to do with the former Decepticons. Just as he is kicking Starscream out, the entire city is blanketed in darkness as a blackout knocks out power across the polity.

Circuit broadcasts a special report from the med-center on Scoop and his Construction Patrol, who are working diligently to help repair the damage caused by the previous night's battle and are now endeavoring to solve the blackout problem. Starscream drops in, more than a little miffed to see his spotlight being stolen away; medic Flatline assumes he's come to check on the status of the new body he's working on, but he's actually come to see Dirge, hoping the Seeker will stand at his side. Instead, Dirge slugs him good and hard. Starscream turns on his former subordinate, whispering threats of death, until he realizes that privacy is a thing of the past for him: Circuit is filming him, and he spins a quick lie. Power suddenly returns thanks to Scoop's efforts, and Circuit hands his broadcast off to Cloudraker, who is interviewing the hero of the hour. A sulking Starscream is then approached by Rattrap, a stinky little former Autobot who has previous experience with Scoop and has always distrusted him, calling him jealous and greedy. Rattrap shows Starscream the damaged power coupling responsible for the blackout, and points out the phosphex burn that makes it clear the power loss was no accident: it was sabotage.

2: Young Evening

Starscream gives himself a pick-me-up by visiting Megatron, still held immobile in the forcefield that was responsible for his defeat. He gloats over his victory and the new horizons he will lead the people towards, and then, feeling suitably reinvigorated, heads out to the city's comm array, which Scoop's team are about to start fixing, finally restoring Cybertron's communication with the galaxy. Rattrap points out Scoop's suspicious, ever-present toolbox, which he and Starscream figure would be a good place to stash anything incriminating, so Starscream calls Scoop over before he climbs the array... only to be suitably taken aback when Scoop dramatically genuflects before him. The engineer expresses his disillusionment in his former Autobot brothers, and his new faith in Starscream born of the words of the Titan, leading Starscream to realize that the Construction Patrol are actually following him because they're religious fanatics. Decidedly disarmed, Starscream can stall Scoop no longer and he leaves to head up the array, but his words prompt a line of inquiry from Circuit, who chats with Starscream about the divided opinion on his first few hours of leadership. In short order, Scoop has repaired the array, but as he descends, Rattrap deliberately gets under his feet and causes him to drop his toolbox, which spills its contents for all to see... including a canister of phosphex. As Circuit broadcasts live, Starscream reveals Scoop's deception and has him carted away for incarceration, assuring the viewers that he, at least, will not let them down.

3: Early Dawn

Some time later, as Rattrap returns to the dingy little den he calls home, he finds Starscream waiting for him. Being a professional liar, Starscream calmly explains, means he can also spot a liar quite easily. Scoop was no liar—he genuinely wanted to do good. Rattrap is the prevaricator here, the one who was always jealous of other 'bots, and the one responsible for the sabotage and for planting the phosphex on Scoop. Rattrap wants to know what this means for him: a self-serving, out-for-number-one response that Starscream applauds. With a grin, he offers Rattrap a job in his government.

Later still, Starscream retires to a tower elsewhere in the city and watches as the sun begins to rise, even if it does feel a little early. He speaks to an unseen listener, ruminating on the lessons he has learned about the nature of power, and the fact that, really, the people are just looking for someone to blame. What, he wonders, will the listener do when he is better, free of the CR chamber in which he now heals? Starscream hopes he'll stand with him, since he trusted him when they began the city. But for now... Starscream bids Wheeljack good night.

Featured characters

For this list and all others going forward, we are assuming that anyone who has stayed in Iacon of their own free will has discarded their faction in the process, as per Starscream's decree. {{#if: ||(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)}}

{{#if:* Superion (12)

Wheeljack (23)|

Autobots }}{{#if:* Megatron (21)\|	Decepticons }}{{#if:\|	Humans }}{{#if:{\|border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
Metalhawk (1) Starscream (2) Sky-Byte (3) Tappet (4) Swindle (5) Blurr (6) Scoop (7)	Landfill (8) Boomer (9) Quickmix (10) Ricochet (11) Longtooth (13) Circuit (14) Holepunch (15)	Tracer (16) Flatline (17) Dirge (18) Cloudraker (19) Rattrap (20) Fastlane (22)

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!! style="background:#ffeeb8;" | Others }}{{#if:| !! style="background:#d5e6d5;" | Misc }}{{#if:| !! style="background:#fedeb5;" | Misc }} |- {{#if:* Superion (12)

Wheeljack (23)|| style="background:#ffdddd;" valign="top" |
Superion (12)
Wheeljack (23) }}{{#if:* Megatron (21)|

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

Megatron (21) }}{{#if:|

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

}}{{#if:{|border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"

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

Metalhawk (1)
Starscream (2)
Sky-Byte (3)
Tappet (4)
Swindle (5)
Blurr (6)
Scoop (7)

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

Landfill (8)
Boomer (9)
Quickmix (10)
Ricochet (11)
Longtooth (13)
Circuit (14)
Holepunch (15)

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

Tracer (16)
Flatline (17)
Dirge (18)
Cloudraker (19)
Rattrap (20)
Fastlane (22)

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

Metalhawk (1)
Starscream (2)
Sky-Byte (3)
Tappet (4)
Swindle (5)
Blurr (6)
Scoop (7)

Landfill (8)
Boomer (9)
Quickmix (10)
Ricochet (11)
Longtooth (13)
Circuit (14)
Holepunch (15)

Tracer (16)
Flatline (17)
Dirge (18)
Cloudraker (19)
Rattrap (20)
Fastlane (22)

}}{{#if:|

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

}}{{#if:|

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

}}

|}

Quotes

"I'm not... I wasn't used to having friends. Accomplices, and people in my way, sure. But there have not been many friends of Starscream."

—Starscream sets the ovaries of fangirls far and wide tingling

"I need somebody I can trust. I mean, even if you hate me, you're still a Seeker, right?"
"You know what?"
(Dirge decks Starscream with a mighty POW!)
"Huh. I thought you'd at least give me a snazzy one-liner. 'Seek this,' or something."

—Starscream and Dirge

"Altruism is unpredictable."

—Starscream

Notes

This is the first issue of Robots in Disguise to not feature narration in the form of an internal character monologue delivered through caption boxes. Instead, Starscream—the one character who is so rarely legitimately truthful when interacting with others—gets to actually speak his true thoughts aloud, without being suspected, rebuked or second-guessed, but only by talking to the dead, the paralyzed, and the comatose. He mighta killed that dude, but it's actually sort of tragic.

Continuity notes

Scoop has made a brief entry into IDW continuity before now, battling alongside the Wreckers in Stormbringer. Whether he was a member of the group wasn't clear at the time; his personality as portrayed does not seem like Wrecker material.
Mentioned in passing in issue #18, Flatline makes an on-panel appearance this issue. Artist Andrew Griffith designed him as a retool of the Generations Trailcutter toy, but did so on his own initiative without instruction from Hasbro, so don't get too excited.
Rattrap of Beast Wars fame debuts in his semi-regular Robots in Disguise role in this issue. He previously made a brief appearance in the pre-war era in More than Meets the Eye #9, though in his Beast Machines design, not his Beast Wars design.
Phosphex is the primary chemical component of the assorted variations of glass gas; "cold phosphex" was mentioned in Last Stand of the Wreckers #4, while Bullets gave us "black phosphex".
Starscream references his disastrous previous attempt at leading the Decepticons, as seen during the 2009–2011 ongoing series.
Judging by Rattrap's presence, the cold-constructed Starscream feels the effects of Tyrest's universal killswitch between pages 20 and 21 of this issue, as seen briefly in More than Meets the Eye #20.
Wheeljack appeared to die back in issue #14. He lives! Yaay! He will be completely healed, conscious, and ready to repair some combiners in issue #33.
The reason why the sunrise feels early is probably because it's not a sunrise, as shown in issue #18.

Transformers references

Scoop's got a new Generations toy coming up soon, hence his slightly surprising prominent role here, alongside his fellow "Double" Targetmasters Quickmix and Landfill. His Targetmaster partners Holepunch and Tracer appear too, redesigned with construction vehicle alternate modes rather than weapon forms; logically, they're Cybertronians here, rather than Nebulans.

Errors

Blurr is still wearing his Autobot symbol when he should have abandoned it if he was staying Iacon. However, given that every single other character is devoid of a symbol, and Blurr appears consistently with his symbol in every panel he appears in, coupled with his comments about staying and allegiance, this might not actually be a mistake.
Holepunch and Tracer are miscolored as Takedown and Groundpounder respectively, two members of the original Micromaster Construction Patrol.

Foreign localization

Japanese

Title: "Mittsu no Monologue" (三つのモノローグ, "Three Monologues")
- "Nagai Yo" (長い夜, "Long Night")
- "Yoi no Kuchi" (宵の口, "Early Evening")
- "Yoake Mae" (夜明け前, "Before Dawn")

Covers (3)

Cover A: Starscream stands over Metalhawk's remains, by Andrew Griffith and Josh Perez.
Cover B: Starscream (with crown) poses dramatically, while Scoop and Rattrap hang back in the shadows, by Casey Coller and Joana Lafuente. This image would later be used for the fifth TPB volume.
Cover RI: Starscream by Livio Ramondelli, in the first part of a three-part image formed with the RI covers of issues #21 and #22.

Need a hand, Metalhawk?
This is bad comedy.
Retailers' Incentive cover

Reprints

The Transformers: Robots in Disguise Volume 5 (December 4, 2013) ISBN 1613778368 / ISBN 978-1613778364
- Collects Robots in Disguise issues #17–22.
- Bonus material includes a cover gallery.
- Trade paperback format.

Transformers: Robots in Disguise Box Set (December 2, 2015) ISBN 1631404261 / ISBN 978-1631404269
- Collects Robots in Disguise Volumes 1–5.
- Bonus material unknown at this time.

The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 5 (February 22, 2017) ISBN 1631408445 / ISBN 978-1631408441
- Collects Primacy issues #1–4, Robots in Disguise issues #19–20 & #21–22, and More than Meets the Eye issues #17–21, #22 & "The Sound of Breaking Glass".
- Hardcover format.

Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 58: Shockpoint (May 15, 2019)
- Collects Robots in Disguise issues #15–22.
- Bonus material includes a 2-page history of IDW Shockwave's history-setting plans.
- Hardcover format.

Transformers: Best of Starscream (September 21, 2022)
- Collects Infiltration #6, Robots in Disguise #20: "Three Monologues", The Transformers Holiday Special: "Choose Me", Till All Are One #12: "Your First Mistake", and Shattered Glass #3.
- Bonus material includes an art gallery.
- One-shot format.

Robots in Disguise Volume 5 – cover art by Casey Coller and Joana Lafuente
Robots in Disguise Box Set – cover art by ???
The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 5 – cover art by Marcelo Matere and Tom B. Long
The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 58: Shockpoint – cover art by Don Figueroa (Monstructor) and Livio Ramondelli
Best of Starscream – cover art by James Biggie