Editing Secrets & Lies issue 1

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers '84: Secrets & Lies]]'' #1
|prev=Transformers '84 issue 0
|next=Secrets & Lies issue 2
|caption=
|image=TF84 1 cvrA.jpg
|title=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[July 15]], 2020
|coverdate=July 2020
|written by=[[Simon Furman]]
|art by=[[Guido Guidi]]
|colors by=[[John-Paul Bove]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[David Mariotte]], [[Tom Waltz]] and [[Riley Farmer]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
|chronology=
}}

'''The launch of the''' '''''Nemesis''''' '''hides a secret power struggle in the Decepticon ranks—one with far-reaching consequences for Grimlock and the Dynobots.'''

==Synopsis==
''[[Punch (G1)|Counterpunch]] continues his story...''

On a war-stricken [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], the [[Decepticon]] advance threatens to overrun the [[Autobot]] line. But the Decepticons aren't as unified as the Autobots think: [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]'s growing vendetta against the upstart [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] has resulted in him diverting resources and manpower away from [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]]'s "[[Project Dreadnought]]", which aims to rebuild Cybertron itself into a planet-sized warship, and towards the ongoing war effort. Counterpunch enters Shockwave's project hub as [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] grimly contemplates Megatron's increasingly erratic behavior, and wonders if it'd be possible to refocus his mind on his original goal of galactic conquest. His friend [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] sardonically dismisses this possibility, but Counterpunch cuts the debate short by telling an irritated Shockwave that Megatron needs him immediately at the Decepticon [[Presidium (facility)|Presidium]].

At the Presidium, Megatron has gathered his top confidants as he plans his next attack on [[Stanix]], a move he hopes will push Prime's forces towards [[Kalis]]. But although [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] points out that their forces are over-committed and stretched thin, Megatron ignores his advice to redevelop their [[energon]] manufacturing capabilities instead—if they don't have the energon they need, then they need to take more, by force. Shockwave impassively watches from the sidelines, unaware that Counterpunch is observing him... 

When a massive explosion shakes Cybertron some time later, the effect it has proves disastrous: already shaken loose from its orbit by the Autobot-Decepticon conflict, the latest detonation diverts its trajectory and sends it hurtling towards the dangerous [[Stellae Cimeterium]]. At an emergency Presidium meeting, Skyfire informs Megatron that the explosion was likely the result of a stray missile hitting a fuel storage tank. Shockwave points out that a fully operational [[Planetary engine|planetary turbine]] array ''could'' correct their course, but Megatron declines: better first gauge Prime's response, then decide upon an appropriate course of action. Shockwave returns to his project hub, where he finds an accusing Ratbat with some suspicions of his own. The flier points out that the mystery explosion ''conveniently'' took place near one of the half-completed turbines, suggesting that Shockwave deliberately test-fired a turbine to force Megatron's hand. Shockwave refuses to play Ratbat's game, and the cassette-bot takes his leave—but warns Shockwave that although he has no real evidence of the double-cross, he's sure to find some.

[[The Transformers (issue)|Learning of Optimus Prime's plan to clear a path through an oncoming asteroid belt]], Megatron commissions the starship ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'', to ambush the Autobot's own ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]''. But while Megatron and his high-ranking Decepticons board the ship, Shockwave orders Skyfire, the vessel's architect, to stay behind as part of a contingency plan, to finish what they started. Though Ratbat can't only move against Shockwave, and can't prove his suspicions to Megatron, the sneaky fuel auditor devises a scheme to expose Shockwave's treachery—by giving the necessary information to Counterpunch, their deep-cover agent within the Autobots, he ensures that the intel finds its way to [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]]. With the ''Ark'' launch pending and Prime preoccupied, Prowl informs Punch that they'll take care of this one quietly, and dispatches [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] to investigate. But with the turbines located deep in Decepticon territory, he'll need an escort, comprised of the heaviest-hitting Autobots around: the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dynobot]]s!

Behind enemy lines, the six Autobots trek through the ruins to find the turbines, but [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] has little patience for Perceptor's technical know-how. Indeed, he questions just how important they could be if they haven't encountered any resistance... unaware that he's tripped a silent proximity alarm that immediately alerts Shockwave, who promptly dispatches Skyfire to deal with the intruders. As Shockwave transforms and blasts off, Megatron, overseeing the boarding of the ''Nemesis'', fumes at the scientist's absence, and dispatches [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]], [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]], and [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] to find him.

At the smoldering rim of the turbine, the five Dynobots observe the landscape while Perceptor collects some samples for analysis. Grimlock can't shake his unease, however, and wonders where the Decepticons might be... but gets the answer to his question when Skyfire strafes their position! While [[Swoop (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Swoop]] takes to the skies, [[Sludge (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Sludge]], [[Slag (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Slag]], and [[Snarl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Snarl]] launch a surface-to-air barrage that Skyfire easily outmaneuvers. Skyfire assume he's got the upper hand as he makes another run on their position... but didn't wager on Grimlock, who charges forward, contemptuously cleaves the Decepticon's wing off, and sends him hurtling to the ground in a fiery wreck. The battle seems won... but as Perceptor peeks out of his hiding place while the Dynobots exchange congratulations, Shockwave arrives and easily annihilates Grimlock and the othe Dynobots in a single devastating blast!

Perceptor watches as Shockwave kneels by Skyfire's remains, seemingly in mourning.. only to extract the flier's [[brain module]] and promise that, someday, his subordinate will live again. His movements draw Shockwave's attention, but beore the Decepticon can blow his hiding place the three Seekers arrive and inform Shockwave that Megatron has ordered him to board the ''Nemesis''. His machinations in shambles, Shockwave grudgingly obliges and takes off with the fliers... but the experience has taught the cold, logical Decepticon that the ''real'' threat to the dream of a [[Decepticon Empire]] is ''not'' the Autobots—it is ''Megatron''. Shockwave keeps his cards close to his chest as he boards the ship and humbly accepts Megatron's furious admonishments, already hatching a new plan to ensure that only ''one'' of them will return to Cybertron.

Meanwhile, at the former battle site, a team of Autobots recover the badly injured Dynobots, as the ''Ark'' prepares for its own fateful launch...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Punch (G1)|Punch/Counterpunch]] (1)
* [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] (23)
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (24)
* [[Swoop (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Divebomb/Swoop]] (25)
* [[Sludge (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Sludge]] (26)
* [[Slag (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Slag]] (27)
* [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] (28)
* [[Snarl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Snarl]] (29)
* [[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] (33)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Clifjumper]] (34)
* [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (35)
* [[Outback (G1)|Outback]] (36)
* [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (37)

|c2=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Chop Shop (G1)|Chop Shop]] (2)
* [[Barrage (Insecticon)|Barrage]] (3)
* [[Ransack (G1)|Ransack]] (4)
* [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (5)
* [[Octane]] (6)
* [[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]] (7)
* [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] (8)
* [[Venom (G1)|Venom]] (9)
* [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (10)
* [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] (11)
* [[Deluge (G2)|Deluge]] (12)
* [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] (13)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] (14)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Thundercracker]] (15)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] (16)
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (17)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] (18)
* [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (19)
* [[Snaptrap (G1)|Snaptrap]] (20)
* [[Skywarp (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Skywarp]] (21)
* [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (22)
* [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (30)
* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (31)
* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (32)
{{!}}}
|c3=
}}

==Quotes==
"Accident... or '''design?''' I wonder." <br> 
"Ratbat. Perhaps you don't know me as well as you think, otherwise... you'd '''know''' I abhor spontaneity. Next time... schedule an appointment." 
:—'''Ratbat''' and '''Shockwave'''


"Let me get this straight. The 'Cons '''want''' us to know this... but it's intel you'd intended to bring us anyway?" <br>
"It's complicated." <br>
"Tell me about it."
:—'''Prowl''' and '''Punch'''


"Big."  <br>
"Deep." <br>
"Am I relieved I brought you boys along for a second opinion."
:—'''The Dinobots''' do not help '''Perceptor'''


"Alas, poor Skyfire. Your '''mind'''... is a terrible thing to waste. Soon, old friend, you shall rise again. I will '''see''' to it."
:—'''Shockwave'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* This issue weaves in and around the Cybertron flashbacks from [[Transformers '84 issue 0|last year's issue #0]], and, by extension, the first few pages of [[The Transformers (issue)|the first issue of the Marvel US comic]]. Notably, Megatron is shown here planning the attack on [[Stanix]] which he spearheaded in issue #0, and the comic reveals that Shockwave ''deliberately'' sent Cybertron towards [[Stellae Cimeterium]] as part of a larger ploy to force Megatron's hand. While Punch narrated the last issue, Counterpunch narrates this one, likely due to the comic's Decepticon-centric plot.
* [[The Transformers (issue)|The very first installment]] of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|the original comic]] had Megatron pontificate about turning Cybertron into a mighty "cosmic dreadnought" to conquer the universe—a plot thread that never actually resurfaced the US run, although the UK-exclusive story "[[Meltdown!]]" revealed that Megatron had commissioned a set of [[planetary engine]]s in [[Kalis]] at some point before the launch of the ''Nemesis'', which we we return to here. This issue takes a stab at addressing the discrepancy by explaining that Megatron ''began'' the war with the intention of galactic subjugation, until his mounting obsession with Optimus Prime led him down an emotional, less rational path.
* This issue features Shockwave and Ratbat at loggerheads over Shockwave's subterfuge, suggesting an origin point for Ratbat's distaste for Shockwave and his wasteful fuel consumption that will mark Ratbat's tenure as a Decepticon leader on Earth.
* The [[Presidium (facility)|Presidium]] previously appeared as a government building in Furman's ''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One|Regeneration One]]'' series. Notably, this slightly deviates from Marvel US #1, where Megatron and his forces operated out of "[[Castle Decepticon]]". Perhaps one is an alternate name for the other?
* [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] appears as a Decepticon scientist on Cybertron; when Grimlock defeats him in battle, Shockwave plucks his [[brain module]] from his lifeless body and promises that he'll one day "rise again". The implication seems to be that,  after Shockwave gets his hands on the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]] in ''The Transformers'' [[The Next Best Thing to Being There!|#10]], he will use this brain module to recreate Skyfire on Earth as "Jetfire", explaining why Jetfire occasionally referenced details of Cybertronian life. In the author's commentary, Furman compares this to [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] using the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[mind bank]] to resurrect five Autobots from preexisting engrams in [[Rock and Roll-Out!|Marvel US #14]], and suggests that Shockwave might have had access to similar technology.
* Speaking of, [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (featuring a yellow paint job based on either his European Generation 1 toy or his American [[Hook (G1)#Generation 2|''Generation 2'' toy]]) makes an appearance as one of the scientists on Project Dreadnought. He and the other five [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s were also brought to life by Shockwave in Marvel US #10, so perhaps a similar fate will befall him and his teammates?
* Megatron notes that the ''Nemesis'' will launch in one "[[Units of time|orn]]," a unit of time based on Cybertron's lunar day that previously appeared in [[Yesterday's Heroes!|Marvel #US #60]].
* A few characters mistakenly call [[Swoop (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Swoop]] "Divebomb", and at one point Grimlock sarcastically addresses him by "whatever you're calling yourself these days". Evidently, this story must not take long after the events of "[[What's in a Name?]]" where Swoop, then Divebomb, lost an aerial battle to a [[Divebomb (G1)|Decepticon]] who stole his original name.
* The three Decepticon "[[Conehead]]s"—[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]], and [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]—are shown boarding the ''Nemesis'', when, as per [[The Smelting Pool!|Marvel US #17]], they explicitly ''didn't'' travel to Earth with Megatron, and served under [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]] during his reign over Cybertron. Furman advises us to "watch this space"...
* Counterpunch compares Project Dreadnought to a [[warworld]], [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]'s preferred mode of transit during the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|Generation 2]]'' comics; although while that was just one spaceship, Counterpunch describes them in the plural, evoking the ''many'' warworlds used by the [[Decepticon fleet]] over in the [[2005 IDW continuity]].
* As originally presented in [[The Last Stand|Marvel US #4]], the Dinobots were just five random 'bots who happened to receive dinosaur alternate modes, but a later [[retcon]] in [[A Savage Circle|Marvel US #78]] established that they were already a tight-knit team back on Cybertron. Here, the five "Dynobots" (see "Transformers references" for more on that) are badly injured in the fight; presumably, their offline bodies will be loaded into the ''Ark'' before it launches from Cybertron, and reactivated to fight Shockwave in the [[Savage Land]] as per Marvel US #4. This take on events also explains why Grimlock and company didn't take an active role in the asteroid-clearing mission or the battle between the ''Ark'' and ''Nemesis'' that precipitated their arrival on Earth.

===Transformers references===
* This issue takes some inspiration from the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Sunbow animated series]] in its decision to depict Skyfire and [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] as scientists and coworkers, a backstory established for the pair in the ''The Transformers'' episode "[[Fire in the Sky]]." 
*[[Deluge (G2)|Deluge]], a lesser-known Decepticon scientist, cameos as one of the scientists working on Project Dreadnought. 
* Grimlock and the other members of his pre-Earth team go by the "Dynobots", a neologism that originally appeared in [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s ''[[Transformers: War Within: The Dark Ages|Dark Ages]]'' miniseries and reappeared in the [[2005 IDW continuity]]. 
* Grimlock's battlecry, "Dynobots-traumatize!" evokes the [[Maximal]] and [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] [[activation code]]s—"maximize" and "terrorize", respectively—in the [[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|''Beast Wars'' cartoon]].

===Real-life references===
* In the author's commentary, Furman notes that his instructions to artist [[Guido Guidi]] were to model Slag's Cybertronian [[alternate mode]] on a {{W|Nimr}} armored jeep, Sludge's on a {{w|IDF Caterpillar D9|D9R military bulldozer}}, and Snarl's on a {{w|BDM-1|BDM-1}} amphibious vehicle—although the final art buries any direct inspiration beneath a layer of sci-fi Cybertronian detail and various dinosaurian embellishments.
* "Alas, poor Skyfire," muses Shockwave as he eulogizes his fallen friend, evoking the famous monologue from ''{{w|Hamlet}}''.
* While extracting Skyfire's mind from his corpse, Shockwave additionally specifies, "your mind is a terrible thing to waste."  As it happens, the motto "a mind is a terrible thing to waste" happens to be the motto of UNCF, and American-based philanthropy organization dedicated to enriching post-secondary education for African-Americans.

===Errors===
* On page 20, "Warworld" is erroneously spelled with a hyphen.

===Other trivia===
* Backmatter for this issue includes a writer's commentary, where miniseries author [[Simon Furman]] explains some of the more obscure references or writing choices while also teasing upcoming issues.
* Originally solicited for release on April 29th, the miniseries was deliberately pushed back to July as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

===Covers (8)===
* '''Cover A:''' Starscream and Skyfire, by [[Guido Guidi]]
* '''Cover B:''' The Decepticons, by [[Casey Coller]] and [[John-Paul Bove]]
* '''Retailer incentive cover A:''' Optimus Prime and Megatron, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
* '''Retailer incentive cover B:''' Dinobots on the rampage, by [[Geoff Senior]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
* '''Gem City Comic Con exclusive cover A:''' Optimus Prime, by [[Stuart Sayger]]
* '''Gem City Comic Con exclusive cover B:''' Soundwave, by Stuart Sayger
* '''East Side Comics exclusive cover A:''' Optimus Prime, by [[Josh Giang]]
* '''East Side Comics exclusive cover B:''' Megatron, by Josh Giang

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==External links==
*[https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2020/07/comic-book-preview-transformers-84-secrets-and-lies-1/ Preview]

[[Category:Transformers '84 issues]]