Editing Transformers: Shattered Glass (fiction)

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'''''Transformers: Shattered Glass''''' is a line of comics and prose stories published by [[Fun Publications]], with most of them currently set in a universe that is a strange and bizarre reversal of the ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' universe.<ref name="PeteSinclairAllspark">[http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?s=&showtopic=65580&view=findpost&p=1423553 Pete Sinclair talks about ''Shattered Glass'' on the Allspark]</ref> The main storyline details the war between the evil [[Autobot]]s and the heroic [[Decepticon]]s, as [[Optimus Prime (SG)|Optimus Prime]] makes plans to conquer [[Earth]].

{{bigquote|If you want a simple battle between good and evil, you have one right here! The players are just in different places than you expect.|[[Sideswipe (SG)|Sideswipe]]}}

==Shattered Expectations==
[[Image:Mayhem suppression squad.jpg|left|250px|thumb|]]
{{chapters|title="[[Shattered Expectations (SG)|Shattered Expectations]]"|style=3|content=
*[http://www.botcon.com/botcon08/08comicpreview/previewpage1.jpg Page 1]
*[http://www.botcon.com/botcon08/08comicpreview/previewpage2.jpg Page 2]
*[http://www.botcon.com/botcon08/08comicpreview/previewpage3.jpg Page 3]
}}
The first ''Shattered Glass'' story, retroactively dubbed "[[Shattered Expectations (SG)|Shattered Expectations]]", was "released" on [[April 1]]st, [[2008]], when Fun Publications "leaked" three pages of what was supposedly the upcoming [[BotCon 2008]] set's accompanying comic. The storyline was a vignette revolving around [[Goldbug (SG)|Goldbug]], [[Grimlock (SG)|Grimlock]], and [[Jazz (SG)|Jazz]] discovering [[Pretender]] technology in a Decepticon laboratory, only to be stopped by [[Starscream (SG)|Starscream]], [[Razorclaw (SG)|Razorclaw]], and the [[Mayhem Suppression Squad]].

It gave the "evil parallel universe" concept a highly campy treatment — including such gags as Grimlock being a genius, Jazz talking like Mr. T, and reverse-[[Furmanism]]s — rendered in [[Derek Yaniger]]'s style and even featuring flat, 1990s-era coloring.

The fandom response was virtually unheard-of, in that it was almost unanimously positive. Then, when it was revealed that the comic was actually an [[April Fools' Day]] gag, the fandom was in turn almost unanimously disappointed. Fun Publications took note of this...

The story was written by [[Trent Troop]] and [[Greg Sepelak]], with Sepelak also providing art and Troop also providing colors.
{{--}}

==''Shattered Glass''==
{{chapters|title=''Shattered Glass''|style=3|align=left|content=
<div class="list-header">Main stories:</div>
*"[[Shattered Glass]]"
*"[[Dungeons & Dinobots]]"
*"[[Do Over]]"
*"[[The Desert Heat!]]"
*"[[Eye in the Sky]]"
*"[[Blitzwing Bop]]"
*"[[Transhuman]]"
*"[[Invasion (issue)|Invasion]]"
*"[[Solar Requiem]]"
<br/><div class="list-header">''[[Reunification]]'':</div>
*[[Reunification: Part 1|Part 1]]
*[[Reunification: Part 2|Part 2]]
*[[Reunification: Part 3|Part 3]]
*[[Reunification: Part 4|Part 4]]
*[[Reunification: Part 5|Part 5]]
*[[Reunification: Part 6|Part 6]]
<br/><div class="list-header">''[[Beast Wars Shattered Glass]]'':</div>
*[[Shattered Time|Chapter One]]
*[[Shattered Expectations (BWSG)|Chapter Two]]
*Chapter Three
*Chapter Four
*Chapter Five
*Chapter Six
<br/><div class="list-header">Related Stories:</div>
*''[[Around Cybertron]]'' (strips #3-8)
*''[[Recordicons]]''
*"Ultimate Salvation" (currently on hold)<ref name="PeteSinclairTFCC">[http://www.transformersclub.com/members/transforum/msgs.cfm?msg=126072&forum=32 Pete Sinclair talks about the last two ''Shattered Glass'' stories on the TFCC forums]</ref>
*As-yet unnamed story highlighting [[Cyclonus (SG)|Cyclonus]] & [[Krunix (SG)|Krunix]]<ref name="PeteSinclairAllspark"/>
}}
[[Image:DungeonsandDinobots cover.jpg|right|thumb|250px|''World of Dinobotcraft'' was already taken.]]
===Overview===
The actual storyline started with the real BotCon comic, which took a more serious and by-the-numbers approach to the universe. Picking up right after the events of "[[Crossing Over]]", the inaugural issue followed [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] as he arrived in the ''Shattered Glass'' universe. When his confusion with the mirror Autobots' seemingly bizarre behavior caused him to have a violent falling-out with Optimus Prime, Cliffjumper found himself in the company of the more hospitable Decepticons instead. From there, he participated in a battle to stop Optimus Prime's ''[[Ark (SG)|Ark]]'' from leaving for Earth. When [[Megatron (SG)|Megatron]] endangered himself to block a blast from Prime meant for Cliffjumper, it led to the latter destroying the ''Ark''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s launch platform, deciding he would definitely fight for the Decepticons' side.

Afterwards the storyline broke into two parallel branches. One branch was told in a series of online prose stories (and a single vignette comic), which followed the events of the war that Cliffjumper had some part in. The popularity of ''Shattered Expectations'' led to the prose stories taking a somewhat more campy approach to portraying the characters, and a more light-hearted and adventurous tone overall.

"Dungeons & Dinobots" revolved around the arrival of [[Wheeljack (SG)|Wheeljack]]'s [[Dinobot (SG)|Dinobot]]s. As both sides worked on capturing a squad of the beasts, Cliffjumper, [[Sideswipe (SG)|Sideswipe]], [[Blurr (SG)|Blurr]], and [[Rodimus (SG)|Rodimus]] had a strange encounter with the trap-filled chamber of the mysterious [[Omega Terminus]], which had granted Grimlock and the other beasts [[spark|embers]] and a raised level intelligence. The story was intended as a fantasy-adventure<ref name="TroopAllspark">[http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=64373&st=0&p=1390930#entry1390930 Trent Troop answers ''Shattered Glass''-related questions]</ref> (with many borrowings from [[wikipedia:Dungeons & Dragons|Dungeons & Dragons]]). It also was meant as a way to turn Grimlock from the brute beast of the BotCon issue to his popular "Shattered Expectations" genius self.

"Do Over" covered the transition from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to Earth, with Prime attempting to relaunch his ''Ark'' before all space travel was stopped by the [[Plait Expanse]]. [[Ricochet (SG)|Ricochet]] kidnapped Megatron as a ploy to try and delay the launch of the Decepticons' own newly-built ship, the ''[[Nemesis (SG)|Nemesis]]''. When Prime left the ''Ark'' to ensure Megatron would not be killed by any hand but his own, Rodimus took advantage by holding a mutiny and throwing everyone loyal to Prime off the ''Ark''. [[Whisper (SG)|Whisper]] and the [[Predacon (SG)|Predacon]]s in turn launched a rescue attempt that was ultimately successful, but not before the ''Nemesis'' was forced to launch to chase the ''Ark''. Prime and his loyalists and Megatron and his rescuers thus found themselves stranded on Cybertron.

Meanwhile, the remaining Cybertronians successfully reached Earth in their ships, but a combination of a pitched battle and a surprise attack by the [[human]]s caused both ships to crash-land on the planet below.

"The Desert Heat!" was a two-page comic made available for free online, intended as both a preview for "Eye in the Sky" and as a promotion of the upcoming Club Exclusive figure [[Heatwave (Timelines)|Heatwave]]. It followed Heatwave as he awoke from his emergency escape [[stasis pod]] and started a search for the other Decepticon pods, in a way that highlighted his technopathic abilities. His first discovery was [[Sir Soundwave|Soundwave]], whom he rescued from being a display in a [[Wyatt's Roadsideaganza|human tourist attraction]], after first engaging in pitched battle with some local "wildlife".

"Eye in the Sky" dealt with the Cybertronians' initial experiences on Earth. The Autobots encountered the [[Witwicky#Shattered Glass continuity family|Witwicky brothers]], and used their new allies' knowledge to hijack [[Burpleson Air Force Base|a military base]]. From there they gained control of a [[Global Orbiting Defense Satellite|potentially destructive satellite]] created by the fascist and power-hungry government of a post-World War III [[United States of America|United States]]. The Decepticons, meanwhile, fell in with the friendly and rebellious [[Henri Arkeville|Professor Arkeville]] and [[Sephie Beller|his]] [[Will Hayes|three]] [[Rick Ottman|interns]]. The humans helped the Decepticons find their remaining stasis pods and the crash site of the ''Nemesis'', then destroy the hijacked base and satellite.

"Blitzwing Bop" continued the Cybertronians' adventures on Earth. An accident and fight involving the Autobots' attempt at building a [[Stellar Spanner]] led to both Heatwave being sent back to Cybertron, and [[Blitzwing (SG)|Blitzwing]] granted the ability to broadcast disruptive Earth music over the Autobots' emergency frequency. While at first this proved to be a useful deterrent against the Autobots, the ability started growing uncontrollably in power. Both sides eventually were affected to the point of possible physical damage, forcing almost everyone into emergency [[stasis lock]]. [[Blaster (SG)|Blaster]] and Soundwave, immune thanks to their communications abilities, fought over the increasingly put-upon Blitzwing, while [[Beachcomber (SG)|Beachcomber]], immune due to being completely insane, attacked the Decepticon base. However, the interference of Officer [[Thunderwing (SG)|Thunderwing]] on one front and Arkeville and his interns on the other, led to the Decepticons eventually being able to fend off Blaster and Beachcomber's attacks and cure Blitzwing. This story was intended to be in the style of a "'Shattered Glass' [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Sunbow episode]]". <ref name="TroopAllspark"/>

The second branch of the ''Shattered Glass'' storyline was told in the [[2009]] [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club (magazine)|Transformers Collectors' Club magazine]] comic ''Reunification'', which tended to have the more serious tone of the original BotCon comic (though with [[Dirge (SG)|a few]] [[Aquarius (SG)|exceptions]]). Following on from the events of ''[[Transcendent]]'', [[Landquake (Timelines)|Landquake]], [[Breakaway (Classics)|Breakaway]], [[Topspin (Classics)|Topspin]], and [[Alpha Trion (SG)|Alpha Trion]] traveled with [[Skyfall (Cybertron)|Skyfall]]'s body to the ''Shattered Glass'' universe, and found themselves mixed up in the universe's strange politics, running in roughly the same time period as between "Do Over" and "Blitzwing Bop".

Trion embarked on his plans to assassinate both Prime and Megatron and take control of Cybertron, while leaving Rodimus in control of Earth. He also revealed his true plans to use his four interdimensional "guests" as tools to aid his conquest, then kill them, which led to Landquake, Breakaway, and Topspin having to escape with Skyfall's body. They eventually met up with a strange ally in the form of [[Aquarius (SG)|Aquarius]], who urged them to seek both refuge and their last group member by going to Megatron. Prime, meanwhile, had his own plans to use new superweapon [[Omega Doom]] to destroy the Decepticons and embark on galactic conquest, after first successfully using Omega to deal with an assassination attempt by Trion.

The plot threads eventually came to a single point as Omega Doom and the fleeing interdimensional travelers converged on Megatron's doorstep. Megatron's assassination by [[Cyclonus (SG)|Cyclonus]] eventually led to Landquake, Breakaway, Topspin, Skyfall, and Heatwave being finally reunited as [[Nexus Prime]], who then resurrected Megatron as Galvatron, and defeated Omega Doom.

The final prose story of the main arc, "Transhuman", wrapped up (some) loose ends and tied the two parallel storylines together, while leaving some plot elements for future installments to deal with.

''Around Cybertron'', meanwhile, was a series of comic strips which involved [[Rook (SG)|Rook]] and his Autobot journalist crew reporting either on the events of "Reunification", or on side stories featuring minor characters in the ''Shattered Glass'' universe.

===Creative team===
The "Shattered Glass" comic featured a return of the then-retired Transformers artist [[Don Figueroa]], with [[Espen Grundetjern]] on colors, and was written by [[Pete Sinclair]] and [[Ben Yee|Benson Yee]].

The prose stories were all written by [[Trent Troop]] and [[Greg Sepelak]], but with a different set of artists on each story:
*"Dungeons & Dinobots" & "The Desert Heat!": [[Evan Gauntt]]
*"Do Over": [[Yūki Ōshima]] (art) & [[Drew Eiden]] (colors)
*"Eye in the Sky": [[Tom Whalen]]
*"Blitzwing Bop": [[Chad Porter]]
*"Transhuman": [[Casey Coller]] & Greg Sepelak (art), S. Trent Troop (colors)

''Reunification'' was written by [[Forest Lee]], with art by [[Robby Musso]] and colors by [[Josh Perez]].

''Around Cybertron'' was written and illustrated by [[Jesse Wittenrich]].

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Shattered Glass| ]]