Editing New Cybertron Part 4: Dance Among the Shadows

{{Comicstory
|series=op|issueno=4
|prev=New Cybertron Part 3: Behind My Bleeding Back
|next=New Cybertron Part 5
|caption=
|image=OP4 regcvr.jpg
|title="New Cybertron Part 4:<br>Dance Among the Shadows"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[February 22]], 2017
|coverdate=February 2017
|written by=[[John Barber]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era]]
}}
'''Pyra Magna and Optimus Prime come to blows when Prime's dangerous gambit to bring Earth and the Junkions together reaches a tipping point.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]], [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]], and [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] desperately try to fight off the [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] that rain down upon them, but they are horrendously outnumbered, unable to get a signal out to call for help, and are soon swarmed by the beasts. Their defeat is watched over a bank of monitors by [[Rum-Maj]] and [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]], the latter of whom is still keen to make a deal with [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]] for [[Ore-13]] despite this act of deceit, while the former takes it as proof that they cannot work together and begins plotting reprisal.

''Four million years ago, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]] stands alongside [[Zeta Prime]] and watches as a pre-recorded announcement from Zeta is played for the populace promising that the questions about the integrity of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s police force will soon be put to rest. Orion is uncomfortable over Zeta's statements regard [[Hefter]]'s guilt and the potential effects such claims will have, but Zeta waves off his concerns, pointing out that everything he is doing is pageantry in the name of the greater good—a point he punctuates by revealing his phony [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], and promising Orion that one day, everything Zeta has built might become his...''

Optimus Prime and [[Aileron]] return to [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] from Cybertron through the [[space bridge]] and are immediately met by the colonist soldiers, whose persistent genuflection before Optimus continues to test Aileron's nerves. After receiving an update on current events from [[Jetfire (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Jetfire]], Optimus requests that he contact [[Soundwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Soundwave]] and have him invite the leaders of Earth to Autobot City the next morning. Soundwave, still visiting the [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] encampment on the [[Matterhorn]], agrees, though his reluctance to mention his current activities to his fellow Cybertronians tips [[Zilong Qian|Talon]] off to the fact that he is acting without Optimus's approval.

In [[Cairo]], [[Thundercracker (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Thundercracker]], [[Marissa Faireborn|Marissa]], and [[Buster (IDW)|Buster]] take in the sights at a bazaar, while Thundercracker wheedles more information out of Marissa about her estranged father, [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]]. He eventually convinces her that Flint's offer for her to join G.I. Joe was just a way to get to know her better, and, giving her little choice in the matter, carries her after Flint and [[Chameleon (G.I. Joe)|Chameleon]]'s departing [[Sky Hawk]]. Their fly-by interrupts a very similar awkward conversation going on between the two Joes, and they follow Marissa's directions to land in [[Sicily]], where father and daughter finally talk a little more openly about their complicated relationship. Marissa explains that she didn't turn down Flint's offer because she didn't want to work with him: she did it because she genuinely doesn't believe there's any way to win against the Transformers, and she just wants to enjoy life before the Earth pays the price for their presence.

Aileron takes Optimus Prime aside to ask him what he is planning, and Prime explains that, inspired by [[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]]'s words, he is going to ''force'' the [[Council of Worlds]] to vote on Earth's membership by actively brokering an unprecedented breach of the [[Tyrest Accord]] between humans and [[Junkion (species)|Junkion]]s. Aileron is distressed to hear that Prime is so willing to bring the two planets so close to a potential war; she accuses him of letting his Prime status go to his head, but Prime once again tells her that he does not pretend to divinity—he merely tries to steer the faith of those who blindly follow him and the Matrix toward "something constructive." Unfortunately, his and Aileron's conversation is overhead by [[Pyra Magna]], who, disgusted by the way she believes Prime toys with the beliefs of his followers, marches right up to Optimus and cracks his faceplate with a powerful punch! The sound of the fight brings all the Autobots in the city running, even though Optimus refuses to strike back. Pyra re-asserts her claim to the Matrix as a true believer in its power, and angrily recants her vow to help Optimus learn how to use it, previously having thought of him as a well-meaning ignorant, but now seeing that he is a ''user'' of others' beliefs, devoid of any of his own. Prime does not counter her arguments, but merely tells all assembled to gather on the deck at dawn to receive their human guests.

''[[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]] uncuffs Jetfire and sends him on his way, but the scientist does not leave without a parting sock to the cop's jaw. The punch is observed from the shadows by Decepticons [[Horri-Bull]] and [[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]], who take it as evidence of Jetfire's loyalty to their cause, and provide Jetfire with one of the new guns they have smuggled into the city to "defend" himself with in the future. A little later, Pax and Prowl meet at the deserted [[Cosmic Carnival]], where it turns out the scene was all a set up: Prowl and Jetfire's fight was an act, and Jetfire hands over the gun to Pax as evidence to help clear Hefter's name. Pax points out it will take more than this and Soundwave's word about what "true Decepticons" believe to convince anyone, to which Jetfire replies that he knows the time and location of the next gun shipment's arrival...''

As dawn breaks, the [[President of the United States]] and various other world leaders gather on the deck of Autobot City before Optimus Prime and his forces. Together, they watch as a Junkion shuttle arrives overhead... but no-one is prepared when, rather than land, the shuttle merely hovers overhead so Rum-Maj can toss Cosmos's battered body out of its hatchway! Panic breaks out among the 'bots and humans as, at Rum-Maj's order, the Sharkticon horde begins pouring out of the Junkions' spacecraft, ready to destroy everything in its path!

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.<br>
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{Collist|2|
*[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (4)
*''[[Zeta Prime]]'' (7)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime/''Orion Pax'']] (8)
*[[Aileron]] (9)
*[[Roulette (Universe)|Roulette]] (10)
*[[Midnight Express (RID)|Midnight Express]] (11)
*[[Oiler]] (12)
*[[Slide]] (13)
*[[Gimlet]] (14)
*[[Bump]] (15)
*[[Pyra Magna]] (16)
*[[Jetfire (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Jetfire]] (17)
*[[Arcee (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Arcee]] (18)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (19)
*[[Metrotitan (Zone)|Metrotitan]] (23)
*''[[Prowl (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Prowl]]'' (29)
*[[Skyburst (G1)|Skyburst]] (34)
*[[Rust Dust]] (35)
*[[Stormclash]] (36)
*[[Jumpstream]] (37)
*[[Dust Up]] (38)
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (39)
}}
|c2=
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (1)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (2)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Soundwave]] (21)
*''[[Horri-Bull]]'' (30)
*''[[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]]'' (31)

|h3=[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]|c3=
*[[Mainframe (G.I. Joe)|Mainframe]] (22)
*[[Zilong Qian|Talon]] (24)
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Spike]] (25)
*[[Chameleon (G.I. Joe)|Chameleon]] (32)
*[[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]] (33)
*[[Sanjay Bharwaney|Hi-Tech]] (41)

|c4=
*[[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] (3)
*[[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (5)
*[[Rum-Maj]] (6)
*[[D.0.C.]] (20)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Thundercracker]] (26)
*[[Marissa Faireborn]] (27)
*[[Buster (IDW)|Buster]] (28)
*[[President of the United States]] (40)
}}

==Quotes==
"All creatures '''do''' is destroy. '''All''' living creatures in the galaxy. Do you want to see '''us?''' We are the '''trash''' that has been built—from what creatures '''destroyed'''. '''That''' is the meaning of civilization. All it is good for... is spare parts."
:—'''Rum-Maj'''


"Sir—it's not '''real.''' The Matrix is just a '''prop'''."<br>
"Well, I had '''lights''' installed."
:—'''Orion Pax''' and '''Zeta Prime'''


"Flint's '''some guy''' who got my '''mom''' pregnant, and '''she's''' no prize."<br>
"Where '''is''' she?"<br>
"The bottom of a '''bottle''', I imagine."<br>
"Is she very '''tiny''', or is the bottle—"
:—'''Marissa''' and '''Thundercracker'''


"Why '''shouldn't''' the Matrix reside with a '''Camien?''' With a '''believer?''' Why shouldn't it reside with '''me?''' This isn't arrogance. I '''understand''' the burden of leadership. I have watched '''mentors''' and '''friends''' die. I '''know''' what I ask for, and I don't do it for '''glory.''' I believe in the '''Way of Flame.''' Whatever disagreements I have with the '''Mistress'''... I exist to '''light''' the '''way'''. There's nothing wrong with wanting to light the entire '''galaxy.'''"
:—'''Pyra Magna'''


"'''Nice dent.''' Jetfire?"<br>
"Yeah."<br>
"Well, you '''deserve''' it for the '''interrogation room.'''"<br>
"Oh, I'm sure I deserve it for more than '''that.'''"
:—'''Orion Pax''' and '''Prowl''' discuss Prowl's shiner


"The difference between '''Optimus''' and me is simple. I am '''honest''' about my ambitions. Optimus cloaks his '''crusade''' in the trappings of a holy endeavor. Belief is a '''means''' to an end for him—a '''path''' to victory. But that is not the way of a '''true''' Prime. Victory is the '''path''' to '''belief'''. And I '''know''' the path fate demands '''I''' walk."
:—'''Pyra Magna'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*Frenzy generates his signature sonic attack with the wrist-drills unique to the IDW version of the character, which were introduced with his debut in [[All Hail Megatron issue 2|''All Hail Megatron'' #2]], but haven't been seen since 2012's [[The End of the Beginning of the World|RID # 11]].
*Pyra Magna's narration in this issue recounts her team's major roles in IDW stories up to now, including their arrival on Cybertron in the [[Rust Sea|Sea of Rust]] ("the worst, most desolate region") in [[An Uneventful Night|the ''Combiner Hunters'' one-shot]], and her meeting with and agreement to help Optimus Prime from [[Conquerors Part 2: Lagrange|''The Transformers'' #47]].
*Soundwave considers humans his favorite creatures on Earth, after [[elephant]]s. He was previously seen admiring elephants in [[The Onyx Interface Conclusion: The Obliterati|''The Transformers'' #38]].
*Marissa mentions how G.I. Joe "pretended to be dead for a while"; this was standard operating procedure for the team in IDW continuity until their existence was made public, with each member abandoning their civilian life, leaving their friends and loved ones to believe them dead, fake funeral and all.
*Optimus refers to the Matrix as a "pulsewave generator"; "pulsewaves" were the name used to refer to the waves of life-giving energy released by [[Vector Sigma]] in [[Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|''More than Meets the Eye'' #19]], alluding to the Matrix's life-giving capabilities.
*Needlenose and Horri-Bull were a double-act in the [[The Autonomy Lesson (issue)|first issue]] of ''Robots in Disguise'', and their history together was expanded on in [[The Transgressors|''The Transformers'' #44]], in which it was revealed that Horri-Bull had brought Needlenose over to the Decepticon side. Here, Horri-Bull blames Needlenose's brother for him being "uptight"; he's referring to [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]], whose familial connection to Needlenose was revealed in that same issue.

===Transformers references===
*Wreck-Gar mentions his "[[Nebulos|Nebulan]] headlights" and "[[Parthus|Parthan]] mudflaps." That last one's a Transformers reference by virtue of the planet having been named in sources like ''[[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac|The AllSpark Almanac]]'' and ''[[Ask Vector Prime]]'', but it's originally a ''[[GoBots]]'' reference—the planet appeared in the ''Challenge of the GoBots'' episode "Et Tu, Cy-Kill". The correct adjective should be "Parth''i''an," though!
*Though its origin isn't expounded on here, the [[Cosmic Carnival]] was a non-Cybertronian business that originated in [[The Cosmic Carnival|issue #44]] of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|original Marvel Generation 1 comic book]]. Almost everything seen in this issue is a faithful recreation of a feature of the carnival seen in that original story, from the cannon, the red two-wheeled apparatus, the red and yellow podiums, the yellow ramp, the yellow curved units that link up to form the carnival ring, the cylindrical cages, and the high-dive water pit. The carnival is not seen from the outside, but fliers lying on the ground show it as it appeared in the Marvel issue, as a metallic, serpentine spacecraft.
*Decorations seen on carnival equipment depict the ever-present Milne easter egg [[Kremzeek]], and a [[Mecannibal]], a kind of metal-eating alien that also appeared in the Marvel series.

===Real-life references===
*As with all chapters of "New Cybertron," this issue's subtitle is taken from the lyrics to the {{w|Covenant (band)|Covenant}} song, "Babel."
*Wreck-Gar's erratic speech this issue trends a little more toward the traditional Junkion style, using quotes and slogans from popular culture. His references include:
**"They're outta there!" — a baseball umpire's call
**"Now '''that's''' revenge! This time it was '''personal!'''" — alluding to the movie ''{{w|Jaws: The Revenge}}'', and its tagline "This time, it's personal"
**"Guess you got stuck in the middle with them" — from the {{w|Stealer's Wheel}} song "{{w|Stuck in the Middle with You}}"
**"Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the air..." — another ''Jaws'' reference, this one to the tagline of ''{{w|Jaws 2}}'', "Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water..."

===Errors===
* Zeta refers to Orion Pax as "Optimus", before he ever got that name.

===Covers (4)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Wreck-Gar by [[Kei Zama]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Subscription cover A:''' Aileron tries to separate Pyra Magna and Optimus Prime, by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
*'''Subscription cover B:''' Jazz plays [[Aghartan electro-bass]] in front of the {{w|Angel of Independence}} in [[Mexico City]], by [[Andrew Griffith]] and [[Josh Perez]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Optimus Prime and Prowl, by [[Nelson Daniel]]; one of a series of robot mode/alt mode covers by Daniel for February's ''Transformers'' titles

<gallery>
File:OP4 regcvr.jpg|
File:OP4 subcvrA.jpg|
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===Advertisements===
*''Optimus Prime'' #5
*"The Hasbro Tribune" editorial page promoting January's [[Hasbro Universe]] titles, including this issue, [[Dissolution Part 3: A World Misplaced|''Lost Light'' #3]], ''Till All Are One'' #8, [[Enter the Shadow|''Revolutionaries'' #2]], and [[G.I. Joe vol. 5 issue 3|''G.I. Joe'' #3]].
*''Transformers'' 2017 Annual
*''[[Aw Yeah Revolution!]]''
*{{i|The Deathstone|''M.A.S.K.'' 2017 Annual}}
*IDW at the NC Comicon

==External links==
*[http://www.newsarama.com/33231-sharkticons-run-wild-in-optimus-prime-4.html Preview]

[[Category:Optimus Prime issues]]