Editing Winners & Losers: Dark Cybertron Chapter 3

{{Comicstory|
|series=rid|issueno=23
|prev=Soundwaves (issue)
|next=Dark Cybertron Chapter 5
|seriesissue2=[[Dark Cybertron]]
|prev2=Black Metal: Dark Cybertron Chapter 2
|next2=Dark Cybertron Chapter 4
|caption=
|image=RID23 cvrA.jpg
|title="Winners & Losers"<br>Dark Cybertron Chapter 3
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[November 27]], [[2013]]
|coverdate=November 2013
|written by=[[John Barber]] and [[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Atilio Rojo]] and [[James Raiz]]
|colors by=[[Josh Perez]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2013)]]
}}

'''The power of the Necrotitan lays waste to Cybertron, while the ''Lost Light'' is pulled off-mission on an unexpected Titan Quest.'''

==Synopsis==

With the population of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] looking to him for guidance in the face of the [[Necrotitan]]'s appearance—misinterpreted by all as the return of the [[Crystal City Metrotitan|previous Metrotitan]]—[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] takes a moment to visit [[Metalhawk (Masterforce)|Metalhawk]]'s body as it lies in state, once again talking out loud to his departed friend. Unfortunately for Starscream, he is entirely unaware that [[Rattrap]] is eavesdropping on him and has overheard him apologize to Metalhawk for killing him. Departing the mausoleum, Starscream tries to calm the throng of citizens outside, informing them he is going to speak to the Titan; Rattrap comes scampering up, feigning concern for Starscream, but Iacon's ruler isn't falling for the act. He's aware of Rattrap's scheming nature and respects it, proceeding to leave for the Titan after offering the ex-Autobot a nuggest of wisdom: "don't make your first move until you're sure of your last one." Rattrap takes this to heart, and decides to visit [[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]] to get more information on the "Dark Cybertron" prophecy, talk of which which has somehow begun to spread among the populace despite Scoop's incarceration, and which he is starting to believe is much more than some random conspiracy theory,  Scoop has realized that Starscream has an important role to play in the prophecy's catastrophic fulfillment, and in this, Rattrap sees an opportunity...

On the ''[[Lost Light]]'', [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] is distracted from the unease he feels with his new captaincy when the ship is unexpectedly pulled off course. Magnus and [[Getaway]] are summoned to [[Brainstorm]]'s lab to witness the cause of their sudden change of direction: [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]'s severed thumb, on board since the ship's encounter with the [[Titan Hunters]], is levitating, pulling on the craft, and Brainstorm theorises that Metroplex is trying to call them to him.

At the Necrotitan's feet, the battle between [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]'s Autobots and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s Decepticons is brought to a halt by the appearance of Starscream overhead, heading for the Titan. [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] is infuriated by Bumblebee's willingness to compare notes with the Decepticons, insisting on immediate action, but before anyone can do anything, Starscream lands on the Titan's shoulder and tries to speak with it. The giant's eyes flare to life... and it emits a colossal energy wave that tears across the surface of the planet, devastating everything in its path. The shattered Autobots and Decepticons, many gravely wounded, try to take stock of the sudden, violent eruption, while Starscream rockets away, just ahead of the wave, trying to beat it back to Iacon. He calls for his subjects to flee, and tries to stand in the wave's path, but it sweeps over Iacon irresistibly, putting the city to ruin. The wave also has a second, unexpected effect: it brings Metalhawk back to life! The reanimated [[NAIL]] turns on Starscream, hungry for vengeance, but after trading a few blows, announces that now is not the time to settle old accounts. Instead, Metalhawk smashes into the vault holding the immobilized form of [[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]], deactivates the stasis field restraining the Decepticon leader, and absconds with his unconscious body. His departure is observed by Rattrap and a liberated Scoop, now conspiring against Starscream together, but for the moment, Scoop is more concerned with helping the victims of the disaster.

Back on the ''Lost Light'', [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] argues against looking for Metroplex, on the basis that [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Orion Pax]]'s request for them to hunt down [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] takes precedence. Brainstorm and [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], however, advocate following Metroplex's signal, and manage to bring Magnus around to their side. The ''Lost Light'' locks on to Metroplex's signal and [[quantum jump]]s to its source, materializing beneath a blood-red ocean on an unknown world, where it is immediately beset by a swarm of robotic lifeforms!

Metalhawk delivers Megatron to [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Shockwave]], who clearly has plans for the [[space bridge]] technology contained within his former leader's body. As Megatron awakes, Shockwave is confident that he will help fulfill their plans, as doing so will realize ''all'' their dreams...

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (8)
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (10)
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (16)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (17)
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (18)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (19)
*[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (20)
*[[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (22)
*[[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] (23)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (24)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (25)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (26)
*[[Brainstorm]] (27)
*[[Getaway]] (28)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]] (29)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (32)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Megatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Megatron]] (6)
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (9)
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (11)
*[[Needlenose]] (12)
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (13)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (14)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (15)
*[[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (33)
|c4=
*[[Metalhawk (Masterforce)|Metalhawk]] (1)
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (2)
*[[Rattrap]] (3)
*[[Tracer (Nebulan)|Tracer]] (4)
*[[Holepunch (G1)|Holepunch]] (5)
*[[Necrotitan]] (7)
*[[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]] (20)
*[[Sky-Byte (G2)|Sky-Byte]] (30)
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (31)
}}

==Quotes==

"Well then! Leadership. Leading. Being a leader. What's it like so far?"<br>
"Meh."<br>
"'Meh'?"<br>
"Sorry, '''Getaway'''—Earth word. Friend of mine used to say it a lot."<br>
"What does it mean?"<br>
"I think it means—I think it just means 'meh.'"
:—'''Getaway''' and '''Ultra Magnus'''


"Rung says that if I relax my self-imposed ban on idioms, metaphors, and slang it'll help '''soften my image.'''"<br>
"Whatever floats your boat."<br>
"No need to show off."
:—'''Magnus''' and '''Getaway'''


"Don't just let this—this—'''Decepticon''' control you!"
:—Attention '''Prowl''', this is the kettle. Stop calling me black.

==Notes==

===Continuity notes===

*Starscream killed Metalhawk in [[Heavy Is the Head|issue #16]]. We previously saw him visiting his dead body and talking to it in [[Three Monologues|issue #20]].
*Scoop's Targetmaster partners Tracer and Holepunch were conspicuous by their absence from his company in issue #20, but they appear among the citizens of Iacon on page 3. And ''right'' when word of something only Scoop knows about is spreading through the citizenry! What ''are'' the odds?
*While discussing conspiracies, Rattrap refers to the explosion of the [[Toraxxis mega-refinery]], which occurred in [[Rage (IDW)|''Monstrosity'' #4]]. Popular conspiracy theory apparently blames Optimus Prime for triggering the explosion, when it was actually [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'s doing.
*He also notes another conspiracy theory: that Ultra Magnus is really a "[[Minimus Ambus|little guy]] in armor". Little does he know that ''that'' one is true, as we learned in ''[[Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|More than Meets the Eye'' #19]]!
*Magnus refers to an unnamed friend from [[Earth]] from whom he learned the word "meh"; clearly, he's talking about [[Verity Carlo]], whose association with him was covered in ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]''.
*Magnus's dislike of ambiguity in speech is flagged up by Getaway, previously explored in "[[Signal to Noise]]".
*The ''Lost Light'' brought Metroplex's thumb on board in ''[[The Reluctant Specialist|Spotlight: Trailcutter]]''.
*Turns out that when Megatron transferred his [[spark]] et al into his new body back in [[Before the Dawn|issue #14]], the space bridge technology that had been a defining feature of his previous form (seen in the [[The Transformers (IDW)|2009-2011 ongoing series]]) was also tranplanted along with it.

===Real-life references===
*Ravage paraphrases the classic opening from the 1950s ''[[Superman]]'' TV series—"Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superman!"—when he spots Starscream heading for the Titan: "'''Up'''. In the sky... it's a '''plane'''..."

===Trivia===
*As in Chapter 2, Rojo illustrates the scenes on Cybertron, while Raiz lends his lines to those on the ''Lost Light''.

===Covers (3)===
*'''Cover A:''' Starscream on his knees in the ruins of Iacon, by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
*'''Sub cover:''' Brainstorm, Ultra Magnus and Ratchet superimposed over a starscape, as the ''Lost Light'' flies off in the direction indicated by an image of Metroplex's hand, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Cover RI:''' Skywarp by [[Phil Jimenez]] and [[Romulo Fajardo Jr.]]
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===Advertisements===

*"[[Dark Cybertron]]" checklist, highlighting [[Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|''More than Meets the Eye'' #24]]
*Thanks to VIP Attendees to IDW Studios during [[BotCon 2013]]
*''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Color Classics'' Vol. 2
*IDW ''Ben 10'' comic (back cover)