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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
Optimus Prime walks through a wood, marveling at the natural beauty of Earth. The plants, the animals, the scenery; he finds it all breathtaking. However, his serenity is interrupted upon hearing a crunch underneath his foot: he's stepped on a small deer, killing it. Optimus leans down, cradling the creature with remorse. Spike emerges from the woods and reassures Optimus that it was an accident. Optimus tells Spike that this world is so fragile compared to his own. Seeing the Autobot leader's despair, Spike decides to change the subject of the conversation and asks Optimus about his name. Optimus tells him that the Prime title denotes him as leader of the Autobots and was passed to him by the previous leader of their kind. Optimus in turn inquires about Spike's name, who reveals that his mom used to call him "Spikey" before she passed away due to his hair always sticking up as a child. Optimus is confused; he’s never heard the terms "mom" or "dad" before, though he does know the concept of "family." Spike then asks Optimus about where he comes from, prompting Optimus to tell him about Cybertron and the war between the Autobots and Decepticons that has raged for the past two centuries. The Autobots' forces eventually dwindled from the Decepticons' relentless onslaught to the point where they were forced to flee the planet aboard the Ark. However, their escape was attacked by Megatron and the Decepticons. The last thing Optimus saw before they crashed into the mountain was Earth. Optimus thanks Spike for assisting him during the battle, saying that he's not sure they would have escaped without him. Spike in turn offers condolences for Bumblebee.
Their somber heart-to-heart is soon interrupted by the newly reactivated Cliffjumper, whom Ratchet was able to successfully repair. Optimus warmly greets his old friend, but Cliffjumper is not nearly as taken with Earth as his commander, freaking out upon seeing Spike and Carly and bumping into the trees. Carly tells him to calm down. After all, if anyone should be freaking out about the giant robots from space, it's her. This gets Cliffjumper to calm down and the two shake hands. Inside the quarry, Ratchet has set about trying to revive the other Autobots, but has used up the last of their energon reserves fixing Cliffjumper. Optimus considers using the Matrix of Leadership to replenish their energon, but Ratchet says they can't. The Matrix is connected to Prime's own life force and if they lose him, they lose everything. Cliffjumper remarks that if they're running out of energon, the Decepticons will hopefully have the same problem.
Meanwhile, at the power plant Sparky and Davey work at, a police officer is surveying the damage caused by Starscream's attack and taking statements, not believing the plant manager's story about a giant robot. The officer says they'll get some detectives out here to investigate, but a panicked Sparky insists they need to call in the Army. As the officer tries to reassure Sparky, Skywarp drops from the sky, destroying his patrol car. Behind him descend Starscream and Soundwave carrying an energy transfer module stolen from the Ark, which will allow them to more efficiently convert energon from the plant. The police officer tries to shoot at Starscream, much to Sparky's protests, only for Starscream to step on him. As the Decepticons begin to drain the plant of its energy, Soundwave intercepts a transmission from the U.S. military asking a nearby pilot under the callsign "Frosting" to intercept their attack. Amused at the idea of the "squishies" trying to fight them, Starscream goes to intercept the fighter. He dogfights with them for a bit before transforming and smacking the jet down. The pilot and his ride-along eject, but Starscream catches up to Frosting and squashes him between his hands. The other soldier activates a button on his parachute, converting it into a winged jetpack. As Starscream advances, he pulls out his flare gun and fires at the Decepticon, getting a lucky shot at his eye before retreating. Starscream opts to give up on the minor annoyance and Duke flies away to fight another day.
Back at the plant, Sparky takes one of the patrol cars as he is chased down by Skywarp. Before he can catch the human, however, Frosting's F-18 comes crashing down on top of him and Soundwave, allowing Sparky to slip away. The resulting explosion is seen by the Autobots and Carly and Spike realize that the plant is under attack. Feeling responsible for bringing their war to this planet, Optimus opts to face the Decepticons, despite Ratchet's protest about their need to find their own energy sources. Optimus assigns Cliffjumper to stay with Ratchet and protect their sleeping comrades. Spike decides to come along to help his dad, which Optimus reluctantly allows. Carly tries to stop him, saying they need to get back home to their parents, but Spike insists. She decides to leave for home alone. As she drives back towards town, she is spotted by Laserbeak, who identifies the image of Optimus Prime Carly drew on her van earlier that day. She arrives home to find Sparky already there, dressed in his old Army fatigues and carrying several guns. Carly asks where her dad is, and Sparky answers that "they" killed him; Davey is dead.
Spike: "Um... Hi... Nice to meet y--" Cliffjumper: "Ah, we're not there yet, my man. Yeeesh... You're like a turborat-- creepy, little--" Carly: "Oh, please." Cliffjumper: "Yeow! How many of you are there?"
Spike identifies the town he and Carly live in as Farmingham.
Having been merely hinted at in the last issue, the flashback to the war on Cybertron gives us our first look at Megatron, though his whereabouts are still unknown. (#WhereIsMegatron)
While mentioned but not seen last issue, this issue gives us our first appearance of Laserbeak, still out scouting for new sources of energy.
This issue confirms what Jetfire alluded to last issue, that unlike most incarnations of the G1 story, the war has only been raging for two centuries instead of the more traditional four million years.
Ratchet refers to deactivated brothers and sisters. While Arcee has previously been seen on the cover of the last issue (which confirms female transformers exist in this continuity), this issue implies she's not the only female Autobot aboard the Ark... though exactly who these other female Autobots are is currently unknown.
The police cars of the FPD are quite clearly based on Prowl, retaining his Japanese police car color layout, twin red siren lights (as opposed to red and blue) and the “highway patrol” markings on the back (none of which really make sense on an American city patrol car, but we'll let that slide.)
Furthering the reference, in Daniel Warren Johnson's Director's Commentary for this issue, prior to Mike Spicer coloring the pages it is seen that DWJ had given a "PROWL" license plate to the police car Sparky steals to escape Skywarp and Soundwave. The car's license plate is blank in the final release.
First Sergeant Conrad S. Hauser, codename DUKE, makes his debut in the Energon Universe in this issue ahead of his own title debuting next month.
While G.I. Joe doesn’t exist yet in this continuity, it seems the U.S. military has been developing some hi-tech tools, such as the jetpack Duke uses. This could be a new take on Jet Mobile Propulsion Unit (J.U.M.P.) jetpack from the G.I. Joe toyline, which Duke famously used in the opening sequence of G.I. Joe: The Movie.
Frosting’s name is painted on the side of his jet’s cockpit, a real practice common on United States fighter aircraft. It’s worth noting, however, that the formatting is slightly off. His rank and full name should be on one line, with his callsign printed below. Instead, it lists simply his rank, first name, and callsign on the same line.
The issue's opening scene, where Optimus Prime accidentally steps on a deer, was one that Hasbro got cold feet about. DWJ's editor suggested changing the animal for a squirrel, but DWJ was able to fight for the scene as he'd envisioned it. Following on from last issue, the scene draws further inspiration from [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}The Iron Giant|{{#if:||The Iron Giant}}]], in which the Iron Giant sees a deer get killed.<ref>{{#if: Starting off with the [...] deer scene, which I wrote in the outline of the issue one outline to kind of give to everybody involved—Hasbro, Skybound—an idea of where I'm taking the story, and some of the beats. And this was initially totally fine, but, you know, I think maybe Hasbro read it a second time, and they were very nervous about Optimus stepping on a deer. So I definitely had to fight for this one. And to be fair to Hasbro, you know, I don't think they necessarily knew like the vibe that I was going to try and give this scene. In no way was I trying to do this for laughs, or to like... you know, be cheeky, or... in any way like disrespectful to the character of Optimus Prime. I honestly felt like this is the perfect 180 contrast to Starscream in issue one, squishing a dude. This just felt right. It felt like the perfect one-two of Starscream squishing and then Optimus accidentally hurting, not even a human but an innocent deer, and being completely wrecked. I've seen on Twitter, people are having a really hard time with the fact that Optimus Prime would accidentally step on a deer when a deer would run away... I don't know, what can I say, you know? A writer can't think of everything! So, yes, I remember one of my editors was like, "maybe he could step on a squirrel instead of a deer, to keep Hasbro happy?" and I was like, "Nope! Has to be a deer. Nobody feels the way they feel when they see a dead squirrel on the side of the road, versus a deer." This is also a subtle nod to one of my favorite films, The Iron Giant—it is a bit different, because Optimus is directly responsible for hurting the deer, whereas the Iron Giant in the movie just sees the deer get killed. And I didn't really... with The Iron Giant, it's very much that the robot in The Iron Giant is a little bit more of a baby, whereas Optimus Prime is of course way more like brainy, and able to process things in a more advanced way, that the Iron Giant was still just kind of grasping. So it is a different tone, but it is a little subtle homage to one of my favorite robot movies. So yeah, but anyway, so I definitely had to fight for this scene. And again, Hasbro I think had a right to be nervous, but I remember like writing, like in the conversation, about whether or not to do this scene, I was like, "Hey, I'm going to treat this with the utmost respect, and I think that this scene will be talked about as an Optimus Prime moment for a very long time to come, and I know I can pull it off." It's not like me stroking my back or whatever, inflating my own ego, I was just so confident, this scene screamed out to me as one of the absolute necessary scenes in the entire series. It just had to be in there. [...] I really did try and make this something to, you know, you could like ruminate over. |"Starting off with the [...] deer scene, which I wrote in the outline of the issue one outline to kind of give to everybody involved—Hasbro, Skybound—an idea of where I'm taking the story, and some of the beats. And this was initially totally fine, but, you know, I think maybe Hasbro read it a second time, and they were very nervous about Optimus stepping on a deer. So I definitely had to fight for this one. And to be fair to Hasbro, you know, I don't think they necessarily knew like the vibe that I was going to try and give this scene. In no way was I trying to do this for laughs, or to like... you know, be cheeky, or... in any way like disrespectful to the character of Optimus Prime. I honestly felt like this is the perfect 180 contrast to Starscream in issue one, squishing a dude. This just felt right. It felt like the perfect one-two of Starscream squishing and then Optimus accidentally hurting, not even a human but an innocent deer, and being completely wrecked. I've seen on Twitter, people are having a really hard time with the fact that Optimus Prime would accidentally step on a deer when a deer would run away... I don't know, what can I say, you know? A writer can't think of everything! So, yes, I remember one of my editors was like, "maybe he could step on a squirrel instead of a deer, to keep Hasbro happy?" and I was like, "Nope! Has to be a deer. Nobody feels the way they feel when they see a dead squirrel on the side of the road, versus a deer." This is also a subtle nod to one of my favorite films, The Iron Giant—it is a bit different, because Optimus is directly responsible for hurting the deer, whereas the Iron Giant in the movie just sees the deer get killed. And I didn't really... with The Iron Giant, it's very much that the robot in The Iron Giant is a little bit more of a baby, whereas Optimus Prime is of course way more like brainy, and able to process things in a more advanced way, that the Iron Giant was still just kind of grasping. So it is a different tone, but it is a little subtle homage to one of my favorite robot movies. So yeah, but anyway, so I definitely had to fight for this scene. And again, Hasbro I think had a right to be nervous, but I remember like writing, like in the conversation, about whether or not to do this scene, I was like, "Hey, I'm going to treat this with the utmost respect, and I think that this scene will be talked about as an Optimus Prime moment for a very long time to come, and I know I can pull it off." It's not like me stroking my back or whatever, inflating my own ego, I was just so confident, this scene screamed out to me as one of the absolute necessary scenes in the entire series. It just had to be in there. [...] I really did try and make this something to, you know, you could like ruminate over."—|}}{{#if: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMmTay0C-zg&t=201s |Daniel Warren Johnson|Daniel Warren Johnson}}{{#if: YouTube |, YouTube|}}{{#if: TRANSFORMERS #2 DIRECTOR'S COMMENTARY |, "TRANSFORMERS #2 DIRECTOR'S COMMENTARY"|}}{{#if: 2023 |, 2023{{#if: 11 |/{{#switch:{{#len:11}}|1=011|11}}{{#if: 29|/{{#switch:{{#len:29}}|1=029|29}}|}}}}|}}{{#if: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMmTay0C-zg&t=201s ||}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMmTay0C-zg&t=201s%7C7%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMmTay0C-zg&t=201s%7C8%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMmTay0C-zg&t=201s%7C7%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMmTay0C-zg&t=201s%7C8%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#if: | (dead link)}}</ref>
Carly is seen adding Optimus Prime to her van's mural, following on from the previous issue, where she remarked that the painting was missing something. According to DWJ, this was primarily a mercenary bit of plotting to give Laserbeak a reason to follow her at the end of the issue<ref>{{#if: So here, I was trying to give Carly some personality, and also later on in the issue it's important storywise that Laserbeak finds Carly—otherwise, you know, the story has trouble progressing. And this matters an issue #3, which I will not give away. But Laserbeak somehow needed to follow Carly, and I was like racking my head, I was like, "Why would he follow Carly from the Autobot base?" Like, what would give him a reason to follow this heavy metal van, where he would probably just like leave it and go look at something else. So I was like, "Well, what if Carly was like, an artist, and she painted on her heavy metal van a picture of Optimus Prime, which like, would obviously attract the attention of an evil Decepticon." So that was written in- this, right here, her working with the airbrush, was directly just so that I would have a fun way for Carly to be followed by a bad guy. And I drew the heck out of this airbrush—you know, I do love airbrushes—drawing Optimus here. It's a very subtle detail, but of course, it's important, you know? |"So here, I was trying to give Carly some personality, and also later on in the issue it's important storywise that Laserbeak finds Carly—otherwise, you know, the story has trouble progressing. And this matters an issue #3, which I will not give away. But Laserbeak somehow needed to follow Carly, and I was like racking my head, I was like, "Why would he follow Carly from the Autobot base?" Like, what would give him a reason to follow this heavy metal van, where he would probably just like leave it and go look at something else. So I was like, "Well, what if Carly was like, an artist, and she painted on her heavy metal van a picture of Optimus Prime, which like, would obviously attract the attention of an evil Decepticon." So that was written in- this, right here, her working with the airbrush, was directly just so that I would have a fun way for Carly to be followed by a bad guy. And I drew the heck out of this airbrush—you know, I do love airbrushes—drawing Optimus here. It's a very subtle detail, but of course, it's important, you know?"—|}}{{#if: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMmTay0C-zg&t=1543s |Daniel Warren Johnson|Daniel Warren Johnson}}{{#if: YouTube |, YouTube|}}{{#if: TRANSFORMERS #2 DIRECTOR'S COMMENTARY |, "TRANSFORMERS #2 DIRECTOR'S COMMENTARY"|}}{{#if: 2023 |, 2023{{#if: 11 |/{{#switch:{{#len:11}}|1=011|11}}{{#if: 29|/{{#switch:{{#len:29}}|1=029|29}}|}}}}|}}{{#if: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMmTay0C-zg&t=1543s ||}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMmTay0C-zg&t=1543s%7C7%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMmTay0C-zg&t=1543s%7C8%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMmTay0C-zg&t=1543s%7C7%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMmTay0C-zg&t=1543s%7C8%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#if: | (dead link)}}</ref>—from Laserbeak's POV, we can see him zooming in on the drawing of Prime, with his heads-up-display reading "!!".
The Energon converter is another plot device, as DWJ needed a quick-and-dirty way of solving the Decepticons' fuel problem. After the fact, he realised they resembled the scream canisters from [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Monsters, Inc.|{{#if:||Monsters, Inc.}}]]!<ref>{{#if: Talk about a McGuffin! Having to draw like this technological thing that can, like, harvest energy... You know, we're all doing our best here, you know? I'm writing genre fiction, I'm writing The Transformers, we got to find a way to get Energon, I got to figure out a way to make this work, I'm under a deadline, I'm writing a script, you got some great ideas, you got some whatever ideas... Here we've got this, like, Energon harvester, that just is like totally random! And I was like, "Yeah, this is in the Autobots' Ark, so." You know, don't want to give away the trade secrets too much, but what can I say, uh... This is like a bit of a way to get me out of trouble, 'cause I was like, "I'm not sure how they're going to get Energon. I guess I'll draw something that looks relatively cool." Definitely did not realize that these look like the scream canisters from Monsters, Inc.! You know, there is no origin originality anymore, I don't know. I'm doing my best here. |"Talk about a McGuffin! Having to draw like this technological thing that can, like, harvest energy... You know, we're all doing our best here, you know? I'm writing genre fiction, I'm writing The Transformers, we got to find a way to get Energon, I got to figure out a way to make this work, I'm under a deadline, I'm writing a script, you got some great ideas, you got some whatever ideas... Here we've got this, like, Energon harvester, that just is like totally random! And I was like, "Yeah, this is in the Autobots' Ark, so." You know, don't want to give away the trade secrets too much, but what can I say, uh... This is like a bit of a way to get me out of trouble, 'cause I was like, "I'm not sure how they're going to get Energon. I guess I'll draw something that looks relatively cool." Definitely did not realize that these look like the scream canisters from Monsters, Inc.! You know, there is no origin originality anymore, I don't know. I'm doing my best here."—|}}{{#if: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMmTay0C-zg&t=1783s |Daniel Warren Johnson|Daniel Warren Johnson}}{{#if: YouTube |, YouTube|}}{{#if: TRANSFORMERS #2 DIRECTOR'S COMMENTARY |, "TRANSFORMERS #2 DIRECTOR'S COMMENTARY"|}}{{#if: 2023 |, 2023{{#if: 11 |/{{#switch:{{#len:11}}|1=011|11}}{{#if: 29|/{{#switch:{{#len:29}}|1=029|29}}|}}}}|}}{{#if: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMmTay0C-zg&t=1783s ||}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMmTay0C-zg&t=1783s%7C7%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMmTay0C-zg&t=1783s%7C8%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMmTay0C-zg&t=1783s%7C7%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMmTay0C-zg&t=1783s%7C8%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#if: | (dead link)}}</ref>
Optimus Prime is drawn mid-transformation in remarkable detail. DWJ was never satisfied by on-panel depictions of transformation in the Marvel or IDW comics.<ref>{{#if: Here we have Optimus transforming. And this is the first time I really tried to make it intentional, like... I don't know, like, I really wanted this to be cool, so I just drew the heck out of it. I gotta be honest, I was never a fan of either the- I was not a fan of like, in the Marvel Comics, when it would be like, either Optimus in robot form having just transformed, with a bunch of lines—just like random, like, you know, parallel lines against his body, implying that he just finished transforming—or the opposite where he's like a truck, and there's just a bunch of lines. And I was just like, "Ah... it just feels so... just feels like a missed opportunity!" Or in some of the, like, IDW comics, where it's like, they don't really draw transforming much at all. So I was like, "Well, it's a huge part of the vibe, I want to like... draw it!" And it's also really fun to get like, really out there with it, you know like? Just make things look weird in passing, and like an opportunity to show some really fun tech, that's a little messier than what the G1 designs are really known for. |"Here we have Optimus transforming. And this is the first time I really tried to make it intentional, like... I don't know, like, I really wanted this to be cool, so I just drew the heck out of it. I gotta be honest, I was never a fan of either the- I was not a fan of like, in the Marvel Comics, when it would be like, either Optimus in robot form having just transformed, with a bunch of lines—just like random, like, you know, parallel lines against his body, implying that he just finished transforming—or the opposite where he's like a truck, and there's just a bunch of lines. And I was just like, "Ah... it just feels so... just feels like a missed opportunity!" Or in some of the, like, IDW comics, where it's like, they don't really draw transforming much at all. So I was like, "Well, it's a huge part of the vibe, I want to like... draw it!" And it's also really fun to get like, really out there with it, you know like? Just make things look weird in passing, and like an opportunity to show some really fun tech, that's a little messier than what the G1 designs are really known for."—|}}{{#if: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMmTay0C-zg&t=2954s |Daniel Warren Johnson|Daniel Warren Johnson}}{{#if: YouTube |, YouTube|}}{{#if: TRANSFORMERS #2 DIRECTOR'S COMMENTARY |, "TRANSFORMERS #2 DIRECTOR'S COMMENTARY"|}}{{#if: 2023 |, 2023{{#if: 11 |/{{#switch:{{#len:11}}|1=011|11}}{{#if: 29|/{{#switch:{{#len:29}}|1=029|29}}|}}}}|}}{{#if: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMmTay0C-zg&t=2954s ||}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMmTay0C-zg&t=2954s%7C7%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMmTay0C-zg&t=2954s%7C8%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMmTay0C-zg&t=2954s%7C7%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMmTay0C-zg&t=2954s%7C8%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#if: | (dead link)}}</ref>
As mentioned above, the wildlife on the first page is miscolored; the Goldfinch is colored blue, while the pink rhododendron is skewed towards red.
On page 4, 'millennia' is mis-spelled as 'millenia'.
Amongst the deactivated Autobots in the quarry is Sideswipe who appears to be miscolored as Mirage, and a bot who appears to be either Inferno or Grapple (with their wheels on the side of their legs rather than their foot) in the colors of Prowl.
On page 11, when Duke is alerting Frosting about an incoming bogey on their radar, his flight helmet is miscolored pink as if he were Frosting. Duke is sitting in the weapon systems officer's seat behind Frosting's pilot seat, therefore he would be the one to see Starscream on the radar screen, and not Frosting telling his passenger of an unidentified aircraft.
On page 12, the round speech bubble is mistakenly pointed to Starscream instead of Frosting's F-18. If it were Starscream saying the line, then the speech bubble would be angular and boxy, plus Starscream was the one taking shots the previous panel, not Frosting.
{{#if: Once you pop, you can’t stop. |
Volume 1: Robots in Disguise – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer
Blackbird Comics & Coffeehouse Exclusive – cover art by Matthew Allison
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