Editing Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 2

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'' #2
|prev=Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 1
|next=Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 3
|image=LSotW 2cvrA.jpg
|caption=Kup has had a run-in with either [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] or [[Escargon]].
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[February 17]], [[2010]]
|coverdate=February 2010
|written by=[[Nick Roche]] & [[James Roberts]]
|pencils=Nick Roche
|inks=[[John Wycough]]
|colors=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters=[[Neil Uyetake]]
|editor=[[Andy Schmidt]]
|associate editor=[[Denton J. Tipton]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2010)]]
}}
'''The Wreckers land on Garrus-9.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:LastStandoftheWreckers2-teleconference.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.7]]
A long time ago, on the planet [[Caldoon 4]], [[Kup (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Kup]] and a team of [[Autobot]]s are being slaughtered by [[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]]. Breaking off from the attack, the giant [[Decepticon]] leaves to attend a holoconference with [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]], who informs him that he, [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]], and [[Black Shadow (Victory)|Black Shadow]] will be the [[Phase Sixer]]s, responsible for finishing planets on the brink of collapse. When Overlord states that he has other ambitions, he is given an ultimatum: obey Megatron or be hunted down and destroyed.

Back in the present, the new [[Wrecker]]s recruits discuss the arrival of [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]], and what it means for the mission. While Impactor is being repaired by [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] (whereupon an explosive [[deterrence chip]] is found in the ex-Wrecker's head), he reveals that he was freed by [[Snare]], who is having qualms about Overlord's sadistic actions. He also rails at [[Springer (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Springer]] for having sent him to [[Garrus-9]] in the first place.

[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] intends to make the trip back to [[Earth]] with [[Verity Carlo]] after having dropped off the team, having received a request from [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] to return. An eavesdropping Verity disagrees with this plan, however. Magnus also informs Springer that according to Prowl, someone or something called [[Aequitas]] is currently on Garrus-9.

The Wreckers convene for a mission briefing, and Kup reminisces that Overlord, having chosen to defy Megatron, left the survivors of his team alive back on Caldoon 4. The mission is to hit the prison, free the Autobot prisoners and deal with Aequitas. They plan to break the surrounding force-field by landing two drop pods, both to be controlled by Rotorstorm.

As the appointed time approaches, [[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]] equips [[Pyro (G1)|Pyro]] and [[Guzzle (G1)|Guzzle]] with [[cerebro-sensitive bullet]]s capable of homing onto a target's [[brain module]]. Impactor sits alone in reflection, while [[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]] and [[Twin Twist]] talk about the vicarious perception they are experiencing. Verity leaves a note for Ultra Magnus, while Magnus and Springer consider Ironfist's blackouts and [[Rotorstorm (G1)|Rotorstorm]] wallows in self-doubt.

Ultra Magnus releases the [[drop pod]]s above the planet, at which point Verity, now dressed in an exoskeleton, reveals herself as having stowed away aboard one of them. Despite a fierce Decepticon defense, the two teams make a crash landing on the planet. Emerging from the wreckage of her pod, Verity finds herself face to face with Overlord...

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.)<br />
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Kup (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Kup]] (2)
*[[Pyro (G1)|Pyro]] (6)
*[[Rotorstorm (G1)|Rotorstorm]] (7)
*[[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]] (8)
*[[Guzzle (G1)|Guzzle]] (9)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (10)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] (11)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] (12)
*[[Springer (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Springer]] (13)
*[[Twin Twist]] (15)
*[[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]] (16)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Overlord (Masterforce)|Overlord]] (1)
*''[[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]]'' (3)
*''[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]'' (4)
*''[[Black Shadow (Victory)|Black Shadow]]'' (5)
*''[[Snare]]'' (14)
|c3=
*[[Verity Carlo]] (14)
}}

==Quotes==
"Apologies, Megatron. Unlike Sixshot and Black Shadow, I have my hands full."
:—'''Overlord''' is just about the only 'bot that can insult Sixshot...and live.


"Freedom of thought, freedom of action, freedom... to be."<br>
"No. Too pompous."<br>
"Sentience is the guarantor of autonomy."<br>
"Pyro, I don't even know what that '''means'''."
:—'''Pyro''' harangues '''Ironfist''' with potential mottos


'''Rotorstorm:''' "It's not a motto you want, it's a '''war cry'''. Something to '''scare''' your enemy, not make 'em hate you more."<br>
'''Guzzle:''' "Me, I just show up, shoot, and shout. The less coherent the better."<br>
'''Ironfist:''' "You can't beat 'Wreck 'n' Rule.' Pure poetry." 
:— Ironfist: The next {{w|Walt Whitman}}


"Why should I trust you? You're a '''Decepticon'''. Called '''Snare'''."
:—'''Impactor''' asks a perfectly reasonable question of his liberator.


"Autobot? I'm a Wrecker, Snare. First and always." 
:—'''Impactor''' proudly announces where his loyalties lie.


"Turn up and shoot... 'Bout as fancy as it gets with us Wreckers. You wanna spend all day calculating 'tolerable margins of error'? Call '''Prowl'''." 
:—'''Springer''': Always the one to take cheap digs at Prowl


"Hold my legs, Topspin...I feel the urge to shoot someone." 
:—'''Perceptor''' reaches out to his inner psychopath

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*"[[Bullets]]" would state that cerebro-seeking bullets were ''banned'' and their use is a war crime under the [[Tyrest Accord]]. Those Wreckers, such scamps!
*Sixshot seems pretty enthusiastic about being a phase-sixer! He'll [[Spotlight: Sixshot|lose this enthusiasm later]] and then [[Spotlight: Metroplex|regain it]].
*On page 4, Pyro's attempts at a motto are just different ways of saying "Freedom is the right of all sentient beings", a further joke about his resemblance to [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]].
*On the same page, Ironfist drops references to [[Xaaron]] and the [[Sonic Canyons]].
*We learn here that Ultra Magnus is ''not'' with the Wreckers, he's just giving them a lift and then pretending he never saw them kill folks. Verity ''wasn't'' with the Wreckers, but she sure is now!
*The Wreckers' reaction to the news of Overlord's arrival and take over of Garrus-9 is nearly identical to that of the [[Predator (subgroup)|Predators]] in the previous issue.
*Verity has an old photo of her, [[Hunter O'Nion]], and [[Jimmy Pink]] in their '-ation' clothes, acting goofy. One could say they really never had time to have such a picture taken, but the Autobots ''did'' have a camera trained on them while they had the three in custody. 
* '''First appearances:''' Black Shadow

===Transformers references===
*On page 15, Ironfist refers to an old Wreckers mission known as "[[Operation: Volcano]]", named in homage to the mission that the team were to carry out in the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|Marvel UK]] storyline "[[Target: 2006]]" (which was the team's first appearance). The mission is coded 078/088, referring to the issue numbers which "Target: 2006" ran through.
*As the Wreckers roll into action, Ultra Magnus recites the old Cybertonian proverb, "May your wires never cross and your luster never dull," originally heard during the [[Rite of the Autobrand]] in the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel]] comic, "[[Rock and Roll-Out!]]"

===Real-life references===
*Vicarious perception is a real concept, referring to someone else perceiving your exertion and discomfort. 

===Errors===
*On page 10, [[Nick Roche]] originally drew Impactor scraping his harpoon hand along the corridor wall... unfortunately, Impactor isn't supposed to have his harpoon attached until the next page. The original pencils for the first panel can be found in the bonus materials in the trade paperback edition.
*On page 16, Verity sure has a large font setting on her computer screen. Either she needs glasses, or it's one of them [[tvtropes:Main/ViewerFriendlyInterface|viewer-friendly computers]] that keep getting used for television and movies. (This wouldn't usually be mentioned here, but hey, the trade paperback collection explicitly points it out.)
*The holo-projections of Megatron, Black Shadow, and Sixshot all change positions within two panels.

===Other trivia===
*As with the first issue, this one also comes [[Simon Furman|Furman]]-approved!<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20100422223100/http://totalscifionline.com/reviews/4722-comics-candy-march-2010 Comics Candy: March 2010] (archive copy)</ref>

===Production===
The hardcover trade of ''Last Stand'' reveals information about both Roche's original pitch and early Roche-Roberts scripts.

In Roche's pitch:
*The Wreckers first fight Overlord here, with Rotorstorm having a doomed midair strafe-and-brawl before dying.
*Springer's team run into "Fauxbots": Decepticon sparks implanted into Autobot bodies, pretending to be guards in need of 'rescue'. "Little tics give the game away a little, but the Green Team perceives it as trauma."
*Verity, with Perceptor's team, comes across "the trussed up necrotic form of [[Abraham Dante]]" being kept alive. Blaming the Decepticon Headmaster for Hunter O'Nion's death, Verity prepares to murder him.

In early scripts:
*Overlord narrates to us as he attacks Caldoon 4. This was considered unnecessary. Kup's narration was cut for reasons of space (and would reveal Overlord's 'Achilles virus').

In an interview for Moonbase 2, the creators said one draft would have the Wreckers smashing through the front door with their ship, and Overlord [[orbital jump|orbital bouncing]] every single Autobot prisoner into the ship's path so the Wreckers would kill them all. Roche cheerily says that'd have been "cool" to do.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9DPbginVXE Moonbase 2's AA2010 interview], 50:08 - 50:38</ref>

===Covers (3)===
*'''Cover A:''' A young Kup stares up at Overlord; art by [[Nick Roche]] and colors by [[Josh Burcham]].
*'''Cover B:''' Overlord presides over a pit fight; art and colors by [[Trevor Hutchison]].
*'''Cover RI:''' "Virgin" title-free edition of cover B.
<gallery>
File:LSotW 2cvrA.jpg|"Whoops! I think I hear my mother calling me so I'll be going now."
File:LSotW 2cvrB.jpg|The winner gets a <s>nice</s> terrible surprise.
File:LSotW 2cvrRI.jpg|RI cover
</gallery>

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===Reprints===
<small>Other than [[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers#Collections|collections of the full series]]</small>
* N/A

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Last Stand of the Wreckers issues]]