Transformers Comic issue 2.17

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"Well I wasn't sure about doing puzzles, but if they're awesome puzzles..."
Publisher	Titan Comics
First published	9 September 2010
Editor	Steve White
Deputy editor	Den Patrick
Publishing manager	Darryl Curtis
Price	£2.50

Starscream's ego just got a whole lot BIGGER...

The Kingdom of Starscream

• Script: Robin Etherington
• Art: Jon Davis-Hunt
• Colours: Hi-Fi Design
• Lettering: Den Patrick
• Continuity: Revenge of the Fallen (sequel)

The Amazon rainforest in Peru may be a beautiful place, but that's not stopping Starscream from tearing his way through it in a rage that he can't find anything. When some local humans turn up, he eagerly prepares to take his anger out of them... until he sees what they just built...

Twelve weeks later, a conservation and ecological expedition under Doctor Redway has been sent to investigate the mass destruction of the rainforest... but, to her annoyance, NEST agents William Lennox, Ironhide, and Ratchet are going with her. Redway and Lennox wage verbal warfare, her annoyed at being "piggy-backed" and him annoyed by her questioning. He points out there's been no thermal imagery detected by satellites over the devastation and that this indicates something weird... but then Ratchet finds something weirder: a primitive statue of Starscream! Redway's co-worker Dan works out this was man-made, and Redway points out that none of the indigenous tribes have enough contact with the outside world to know what a Transformer looks like, and they must have seen Starscream in person. She apologises to Lennox, who orders the 'bots to keep an eye out.

The group move deeper through the jungle, finding more statues, until they reach an old Incan structure... with a hole in it that Ironhide identifies as being caused by a F-22's Vulcan cannon. That's enough proof that Starscream's there, but more proof comes when he launches a bombing run! Ratchet is hit but recovers, and commands Ironhide to return fire while he protects the human wounded. Lennox and Ironhide engage Starscream, who cheerfully refers to himself as "a god", and manages to grab hold of Ironhide and face-punch him repeatedly. He explains he has a plan: screw Megatron, he's going to raise his own army, and he's been searching for a source of energon to do so. After all, Earth has to have other secrets like the harvester or why would the Autobots still be there?

Ratchet retorts that the Autobots don't need ulterior motives, they're simply here to protect the humans from him. Starscream cackles that the natives worship him and keep making statues in his honour; he even thought about recruiting them, but he's still going to have fun crushing him. Ironhide points out the Decepticon is outgunned, while Redway calls out to Lennox to stop the firefight before they burn the whole jungle... causing Starscream to immediately ignite every tree around him so he can bug out. Lennox orders Ratchet to cut down the burning trees, stopping the fire spreading.

With that crisis averted, they can now safely ferry the wounded home. Redway thanks Lennox and his crew for averting a tragedy, but feels they may have helped contribute to the local tribe's loss of innocence.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots	Decepticons	Humans
Ironhide	Starscream	William Lennox

Quotes

"I am being systematic! I am working diligently! I am the very model of a loyal Cybertronian. And still... nothing!."

—Starscream

"Filthy creatures, I hope you're prepared to meet your maker! Oh? You are prepared."

—Starscream meets his fans

"You're much bigger than you look on TV."

—A stunned Dan on Ratchet

"This is a simple conservation and ecological expedition."
"No, actually, we don't know what it is yet. And by we I mean you... I've got a pretty good idea..."

—Doctor Redway and Lennox are getting along swimmingly!

"I know there are bigger secrets to be found! After all, there must be some reason you idiots haven't left yet!"
"Decepticons require ulterior motives -- Autobots do not! We simply protect the defenceless from the likes of you!"

—Starscream and Ratchet

Errors

• Redway's team seems to just be Dan, and then grows another dude in time for the bombing run. That's one small survey for such an important job!

Notes

• Starscream has basically gone rogue from the main Decepticon army. Coupled with Bludgeon's rogue militia, Megatron is really not on top of things.
• This is the first time Ironhide and Ratchet have appeared since #11, and that was just a cameo for Ironhide: his last speaking role was #8!
• Starscream puts up a quite impressive fight, landing some good blows and taking none himself.

Contents

Articles and Features

• Megatron's Mind Maulers: this time with a Generation 1 theme and stock images.
• Starscream Talks: An interview with Starscream! He views Soundwave as someone to be mocked, until you pretend Soundwave is behind him...
• Green Machine!: Colouring page version of the cover.
• Bumblebee's Guide: The Solar System. Various facts about Jupiter by Bumblebee, and a wordsearch.
• Lost in the Jungle!: A DIY board game, to retrieve a Peruvian mask before Starscream.
• Competitions.
• Poster of the cover.

Free gifts

• "AAA-MAZING FREE Magnet Sheet!!!"

Law and Disorder

"The Decepticon Campaign [of War for Cybertron] is particularly good, shame they had to include an Autobot Campaign. I'm certainly enjoying the chance to smash Bumblebee's stupid face again, and again, and again, and again."

—Barricade

"Shockwave is indeed in TRANSFORMERS 3, if reports are to be believed. Quite what this tyrant has in mind for Earth is anyone's guess."
"Well, it can't be any worse than working for Megatron. Can it? I hope not. Hey, maybe he'll need a second-in-command?"

—Ironhide and Barricade

Fan: "Did Cyclonus go by the name of Skywarp or Bombshell [before being transformed] ...?"
"I think it's fair to say we'll never know unless we ask Unicron himself, which I wouldn't wish on anyone."

—Ironhide

"Sometimes I see you driving around as a Saleen and I think, 'Hey, that's such a nice car, maybe I won't shoot!' but that thought only lasts for a second."

—Ironhide

Errors

• The characters section on the contents page (see below) list Optimus, Bumblebee, and Megatron... who aren't in this issue.

Notes

• This is the fourth cover in a row to feature a prominent Decepticon and no Autobots.

• The contents page and Law and Disorder get revamped designs this issue. The contents also has a little section stating who two key Autobots and two key Decepticons are, with jokey descriptions of their personalities.

• Barricade now enjoys War for Cybertron again, when last issue he was miffed about it.

• Barricade tells us there are so many Constructicons in the movieverse, that there's not enough space on the page to list them!