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|series=op|issueno=23
|series=op|issueno=23
|prev=Unstopped and Unstoppable
|prev=Unstopped and Unstoppable
|next=
|next=A Sunrise Dark
|caption=
|caption=Rum-Maj...the Ever-LIVING!
|image=OP23 cvrA.jpg
|image=OP23 cvrA.jpg
|title="Time Will Rust"
|title="Time Will Rust"
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|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[David Mariotte]]
|editor=[[David Mariotte]]
|continuity=[[IDW Generation 1 continuity|IDW continuity]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era]]
}}
}}


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==Synopsis==
==Synopsis==
''Six months ago, on the planet [[Devisiun]], an elder of the planet's [[Native Devisen|native species]] recounts the planet's history for two children. Once Devisen was a lush, green world, until what they called the "Unyielding Shimmer" descended upon the planet—a fatally wounded [[Devisen Titan|Titan]] who fell from the sky. Cybertronian colonists emerged from the Titan and took Devisiun for their own, remaking the planet in their mechanical image.''
''Six months ago, on the planet [[Devisiun (planet)|Devisiun]], an elder of the planet's [[Native Devisen|native species]] recounts the planet's history for two children. Once Devisiun was a lush, green world, until what they called the "Unyielding Shimmer" descended upon the planet—a fatally wounded [[Devisiun (Titan)|Titan]] who fell from the sky. Cybertronian colonists emerged from the Titan and took Devisiun for their own, remaking the planet in their mechanical image.''


In [[Monument Valley]] on [[Earth]], [[Jazz (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Jazz]] finds himself in chains after surrendering to [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] in order to secure [[Rom]] passage to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] through [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]'s [[space bridge]]. While Jazz and his jailer [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] trade barbs over the past indiscretions that initially brought them to blows—Spike's illegal stockpiling of Cybertronian weaponry, Jazz's killing of police officer [[John Powell]]—senior Joe officer [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]] argues outside with teammates [[Mainframe (G.I. Joe)|Mainframe]] and [[Sanjay Bharwaney|Hi-Tech]], his own daughter [[Marissa Faireborn]], and the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] about the dangers Cybertronians pose to Earth. Unfortunately, Flint's negative views are only reinforced by what happens next, as [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] comes swooping out of the skies, and [[Slide]] and the other young colonist soldiers leap from his cargo bay! They are here with the intention of rescuing Jazz, as proof that they—unlike, Slide thinks, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]]—have not abandoned their comrades. While [[Slag (G1)|Slug]], [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]], and [[Strafe (IDW)|Strafe]] engage the impetuous youths, Mainframe and Hi-Tech ready non-lethal rounds in defiance of Flint's lethal force order, and Marissa tries to call [[Thundercracker (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Thundercracker]] in to help.
In [[South Dakota]] on [[Earth]], [[Jazz (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jazz]] finds himself in chains after surrendering to [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] in order to secure [[Rom]] passage to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] through [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]'s [[Space bridge|Spacebridge]]. While Jazz and his jailer [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Spike Witwicky]] trade barbs over the past indiscretions that initially brought them to blows—Spike's illegal stockpiling of Cybertronian weaponry, Jazz's killing of police officer [[John Powell]]—senior Joe officer [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]] argues outside with teammates [[Mainframe (G.I. Joe)|Mainframe]] and [[Sanjay Bharwaney|Hi-Tech]], his own daughter [[Marissa Faireborn]], and the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] about the dangers Cybertronians pose to Earth. Unfortunately, Flint's negative views are only reinforced by what happens next, as [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] comes swooping out of the skies, and [[Slide]] and the other young colonist soldiers leap from his cargo bay! They are here with the intention of rescuing Jazz, as proof that they—unlike, Slide thinks, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]]—have not abandoned their comrades. While [[Slag (G1)|Slug]], [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]], and [[Strafe (IDW)|Strafe]] engage the impetuous youths, Mainframe and Hi-Tech ready non-lethal rounds in defiance of Flint's lethal force order, and Marissa tries to call [[Thundercracker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Thundercracker]] in to help.


''Slide remembers the colonization of Devisiun less morbidly. In her memory, the natives were a poor people with little to live for, who the colonists saved from their feral existence. She remembers her happy life there, playing with the natives with her bonded partner [[Oiler]]... and how that life was taken away from her when Oiler died on Earth, thanks to following the words of Optimus Prime.''
''Slide remembers the colonization of Devisiun less morbidly. In her memory, the natives were a poor people with little to live for, who the colonists saved from their feral existence. She remembers her happy life there, playing with the natives with her bonded partner [[Oiler]]... and how that life was taken away from her when Oiler died on Earth, thanks to following the words of Optimus Prime.''


In [[New Cybertron]] on [[Marshall Islands|Bikini Atoll]], [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] and [[Rum-Maj]] eavesdrop on Marissa's phonecall to Thundercracker. Rum-Maj reflects that cyclical violence seems to be the way of Cybertronians, worsening now as the enormity of the threat of [[Unicron]] hastens everything on the way to its end. Neither of the two want to see another world they've come to call home die, but Wreck-Gar has no idea how to prevent it. Fortunately, Rum-Maj tells him as she looks over over the shoal of [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] swimming in the waters below, ''she'' does...  
In [[Little Cybertron]] on [[Marshall Islands|Bikini Atoll]], [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] and [[Rum-Maj]] eavesdrop on Marissa's phonecall to Thundercracker. Rum-Maj reflects that cyclical violence seems to be the way of Cybertronians, worsening now as the enormity of the threat of [[Unicron]] hastens everything on the way to its end. Neither of the two want to see another world they've come to call home die, but Wreck-Gar has no idea how to prevent it. Fortunately, Rum-Maj tells him as she looks over over the shoal of [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] swimming in the waters below, ''she'' does...


Jazz reflects on his first trip to Earth, sent by Optimus Prime as an advance scout on a mission of infiltration; on the escalation that followed as he called in the other Autobots; and on the devastation that resulted as the [[Decepticon]]s unleashed their fury upon the planet. Lost in thought, he does not notice the noise of battle outside until Spike brings it to his attention by cautioning him that it is not his problem. But as far as Jazz is concerned, it's ''absolutely'' his problem; he is responsible both for bringing the Autobots to Earth in the first place, and for the colonists being here, now, trying to rescue him. Revealing that he was only a prisoner because he allowed himself to be one, Jazz stands, easily snaps his chains, and smashes his way through the door outside, determined to stop the fighting.
Jazz reflects on his first trip to Earth, sent by Optimus Prime as an advance scout on a mission of infiltration; on the escalation that followed as he called in the other Autobots; and on the devastation that resulted as the [[Decepticon]]s unleashed their fury upon the planet. Lost in thought, he does not notice the noise of battle outside until Spike brings it to his attention by cautioning him that it is not his problem. But as far as Jazz is concerned, it's ''absolutely'' his problem; he is responsible both for bringing the Autobots to Earth in the first place, and for the colonists being here, now, trying to rescue him. Revealing that he was only a prisoner because he allowed himself to be one, Jazz stands, easily snaps his chains, and smashes his way through the door outside, determined to stop the fighting.


''[[Gimlet]] thinks back on his life on [[Eukaris]], a world founded as a haven for beastformers by [[Shockwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity#Onyx Prime|a Prime]] who worked to have his kind accepted by other Transformers. It was in the spirit of that noble goal that Gimlet and his friend [[Bump]] volunteered to join Optimus Prime and help bring peace to another organic world, Earth.''
''[[Gimlet]] thinks back on his life on [[Jungle Planet (colony)|Eukaris]], a world founded as a haven for beastformers by [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity#Onyx Prime|a Prime]] who worked to have his kind accepted by other Transformers. It was in the spirit of that noble goal that Gimlet and his friend [[Bump (BW)|Bump]] volunteered to join Optimus Prime and help bring peace to another organic world, Earth.''


Frustrated at being repeatedly shot by Mainframe, Gimlet crushes the [[VAMP]] he is driving. Too late, Gimlet realizes that in doing so, he has grievously wounded Mainframe himself—but that realization only lasts a moment before Slug, driven to a berserker fury by the young colonist's act, cleaves Gimlet in two with his sword, killing him. Lying in Hi-Tech's arms, Mainframe recalls how he blamed all Cybertronians for the destruction they brought to Earth, and how he learned the error of his ways upon getting to know some of them personally, realizing they were all individuals, just like humans. It is with this thought in his mind that Mainframe dies, using his last words to urge Hi-Tech not to let the entire Earth/Cybertron alliance fall apart because of what has happened.
Frustrated at being repeatedly shot by Mainframe, Gimlet crushes the [[VAMP]] he is driving. Too late, Gimlet realizes that in doing so, he has grievously wounded Mainframe himself—but that realization only lasts a moment before Slug, driven to a berserker fury by the young colonist's act, cleaves Gimlet in two with his sword, killing him. Lying in Hi-Tech's arms, Mainframe recalls how he blamed all Cybertronians for the destruction they brought to Earth, and how he learned the error of his ways upon getting to know some of them personally, realizing they were all individuals, just like humans. It is with this thought in his mind that Mainframe dies, using his last words to urge Hi-Tech not to let the entire Earth/Cybertron alliance fall apart because of what has happened.


Sky Lynx turns on Slug, blasting him with his flame breath, while Slide charges into the Dinobot from behind, angrily declaring him "the same as Optimus Prime." The words cut deep; Slug has long had issues with Prime and way Slug believes he has used the Dinobots to do the Autobots' dirty work and keep his own hands clean. Slug is reminded of the ''new'' purpose the Dinobots now have—defending the next generation of [[protoform]]s born within [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]—and the red mist lifts, leaving him horrified and numb at what he has done to Gimlet. Still the fighting rages on as Slide and Strafe grapple, and things seem poised to get even worse when Rum-Maj and Wreck-Gar descend from the heavens, riding at the front of the Sharkticon swarm. Fortunately, Jazz is able to get between the Junkions and everyone else and confirms that they are here as friends. Slide, of course, doesn't want to hear it; the Junkions killed Oiler, after all, and she still hates Optimus Prime for allying with them—just as he allied with killers like the Decepticons, and just as Slide believes he is now standing by and allowing the ultimate killer, the planet-eating Unicron, to destroy the colonies. It is then, as if on cue, that Unicron itself appears in the skies over Earth...!
Sky Lynx turns on Slug, blasting him with his flame breath, while Slide charges into the Dinobot from behind, angrily declaring him "the same as Optimus Prime." The words cut deep; Slug has long had issues with Prime and the way Slug believes he has used the Dinobots to do the Autobots' dirty work and keep his own hands clean. Slug is reminded of the ''new'' purpose the Dinobots now have—defending the next generation of [[protoform]]s born within [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]—and the red mist lifts, leaving him horrified and numb at what he has done to Gimlet. Still the fighting rages on as Slide and Strafe grapple, and things seem poised to get even worse when Rum-Maj and Wreck-Gar descend from the heavens, riding at the front of the Sharkticon swarm. Fortunately, Jazz is able to get between the [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]] and everyone else and confirms that they are here as friends. Slide, of course, doesn't want to hear it; the Junkions killed Oiler, after all, and she still hates Optimus Prime for allying with them—just as he allied with killers like the Decepticons, and just as Slide believes he is now standing by and allowing the ultimate killer, the planet-eating Unicron, to destroy the colonies.
 
It is then, as if on cue, that Unicron itself appears in the skies over Earth...!


==Featured characters==
==Featured characters==
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{{!}}-
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Jazz (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Jazz]] (4)
* [[Jazz (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jazz]] (4)
*[[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (10)
* [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (10)
*[[Slag (G1)|Slug]] (12)
* [[Slag (G1)|Slug]] (12)
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (14)
* [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (14)
*[[Gimlet]] (15)
* [[Gimlet]] (15)
*[[Bump]] (16)
* [[Bump (BW)|Bump]] (16)
*[[Roulette (Universe)|Roulette]] (17)
* [[Roulette (Universe)|Roulette]] (17)
*[[Midnight Express (RID)|Midnight Express]] (18)
* [[Midnight Express (RID)|Midnight Express]] (18)
*[[Slide]] (19)
* [[Slide]] (19)
*''[[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Optimus Prime]]'' (25)
* ''[[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]]'' (25)
*''[[Aileron]]'' (31)
* ''[[Aileron]]'' (31)
*''[[Grimlock (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Grimlock]]'' (34)
* ''[[Grimlock (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Grimlock]]'' (34)
*''[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]]'' (35)
* ''[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]]'' (35)
*''[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]]'' (36)
* ''[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]]'' (36)
{{!}}}
{{!}}}


|c2=
|c2=
*''[[Starscream (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Starscream]]'' (24)
* ''[[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]]'' (24)
*''[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]'' (26)
* ''[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]'' (26)
*''[[Soundwave (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Soundwave]]'' (33)
* ''[[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]]'' (33)


|h3=[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]|c3=
|h3=[[Human]]s|c3=
*[[Zilong Qian|Talon]] (3)
'''[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]'''
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Spike Witwicky]] (5)
* [[Zilong Qian|Talon]] (3)
*[[Mainframe (G.I. Joe)|Mainframe]] (7)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Spike Witwicky]] (5)
*[[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]] (8)
* [[Mainframe (G.I. Joe)|Mainframe]] (7)
*[[Sanjay Bharwaney|Hi-Tech]] (9)
* [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]] (8)
*[[Marissa Faireborn]] (13)
* [[Sanjay Bharwaney|Hi-Tech]] (9)
*''[[John Powell]]'' (27)
* [[Marissa Faireborn]] (13)
*''[[Scarlett]]'' (32)
* ''[[Scarlett]]'' (32)
'''Others'''
* ''[[John Powell]]'' (27)


|c4=
|h4=[[Junkion (species)|Junkions]]|c4=
*''[[Native Devisen]]s'' (1)
* [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (21)
*''[[Devisen Titan]]'' (2)
* [[Rum-Maj]] (22)
*[[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] (6)
* Various [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] (23)
*[[Strafe (IDW)|Strafe]] (11)
* [[Vajra]] (37)
*''[[Oiler]]'' (20)
 
*[[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (21)
|h5=Others|c5=
*[[Rum-Maj]] (22)
'''Other Cybertronians'''
*Various [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticons]] (23)
* ''[[Devisiun (Titan)|Devisiun]]'' (2)
*''[[Snarl (BW)|Snarl]]?'' (28)
* [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] (6)
*''[[Longrack (BWN)|Longrack]]?'' (29)
* [[Strafe (IDW)|Strafe]] (11)
*''[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]'' (30)
* ''[[Oiler]]'' (20)
*[[Vajra]] (37)
* ''[[Tasmania Kid (BW)|Tasmania Kid]]'' (28)
*[[Unicron]] (38)
* ''[[Longrack (BW)|Longrack]]'' (29)
* ''[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]]'' (30)
 
'''Others'''
* ''[[Native Devisen]]s'' (1)
* [[Unicron]] (38)
}}
}}


==Quotes==
==Quotes==
"First it was an '''embassy,''' then a city, now a giant '''space dinosaur'''—the Cybertronians are turning out world into theirs."<br>
"First it was an '''embassy,''' then a city, now a giant '''space dinosaur'''—the Cybertronians are turning our world into theirs."<br>
"I kinda '''like''' the dinosaur."
"I kinda '''like''' the dinosaur."
:—'''Flint''' and '''Mainframe'''
:—'''Flint''' and '''Mainframe'''
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==Notes==
==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
===Continuity notes===
*As with last issue, the title of this story is a line from the [[Dark Cybertron (prophecy)|Dark Cybertron prophecy]].
* As with last issue, the title of this story is a line from the [[Dark Cybertron (prophecy)|Dark Cybertron prophecy]].
*The events of [[Unicron issue 1|''Unicron'' #1]]-[[Our Finest|3]] have occurred between last issue and this one; this issue takes place concurrently with [[Road's End|''Unicron'' #4]], released on the same day, which also concludes with Unicron arriving over Earth. Filnt notes "the president had more important places to be," with a footnote directing readers to ''Unicron'' #4; as seen in that issue, she's with the larger Joe force in Trinity Bay, [[Texas]].
* The events of [[Last Stand (Unicron)|''Unicron'' #1]]-[[Our Finest|3]] have occurred between last issue and this one; this issue takes place concurrently with [[Road's End|''Unicron'' #4]], released on the same day, which also concludes with Unicron arriving over Earth. Flint notes "the president had more important places to be," with a footnote directing readers to ''Unicron'' #4; as seen in that issue, she's with the larger Joe force in Trinity Bay, [[Texas]].
*The fact that the Titan who brought Cybertronian life to Devisiun did not survive its landing on the planet was originally revealed in [[Windblade vol. 2 issue 6|''Windblade'' vol. 2 #6]]. This Titan's name is never given, but the native Devisens refer to it as the "World Breaker," and all that came from it as the "Unyielding Shimmer."
* The fact that the Titan who brought Cybertronian life to Devisiun did not survive its landing on the planet was originally revealed in [[Windblade vol. 2 issue 6|''Windblade'' vol. 2 #6]]. This Titan's name is never given, but the native Devisens refer to it as the "World Breaker," and all that came from it as the "Unyielding Shimmer."
*Spike recalls the conversation he once had with Optimus Prime in a prison cell, in [[Things Fall Apart, Part 2: "A Rude Awakening"|''Transformers'' vol. 1 #3]].
* Spike recalls the conversation he once had with Optimus Prime in a prison cell, in [[Things Fall Apart, Part 2: "A Rude Awakening"|''Transformers'' vol. 1 #3]].
*The idea that Jazz was the first Autobot sent to Earth by Optimus Prime was introduced in [[Police Action: Part 1|''The Transformers'' Vol. 1 #25]] and clarified with more detail in [[What It's Really Like|issue #8]].  
* The idea that Jazz was the first Autobot sent to Earth by Optimus Prime was introduced in [[Police Action: Part 1|''The Transformers'' vol. 1 #25]] and clarified with more detail in [[What It's Really Like|''Optimus Prime'' #8]].
*Jazz is shown [[scanning]] an [[alternate mode]] on Earth; the mechanism by which Transformers in the IDW continuity assumed their alternate mode has always been somewhat nebulous, with several offhand comments implying manual reconstruction playing a role in the process. This scene finally clarifies that the process is similar to the on-board [[trans-scan]]ning used by Transformers of the live-action movies, involving an on-board set of optical scanners capable of nigh-instantaneously reconstructing a Transformer's alternate mode into an identical shape. Barring an off-panel scene in the now-canon ''[[Hearts of Steel]]'' miniseries, this is the first time we see a Transformer changing alternate modes in the space of a single issue.
* Jazz is shown [[scanning]] an [[alternate mode]] on Earth; the mechanism by which Transformers in the IDW continuity assumed their alternate mode has always been somewhat nebulous, with several offhand comments implying manual reconstruction playing a role in the process. This scene finally clarifies that the process is similar to the on-board [[scanning]] used by Transformers of the live-action movies, involving an on-board set of optical scanners capable of nigh-instantaneously reconstructing a Transformer's alternate mode into an identical shape. Barring an off-panel scene in the now-integrated ''[[Hearts of Steel]]'' miniseries, this is the first time we see a Transformer changing alternate modes in the space of a single issue.
*Other scenes seen in flashback include Optimus Prime arriving on Earth for the first time (which took place off-panel in [[Infiltration issue 6|''Infiltration'' #6]]), Devastator's rampage (from ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]''), and John Powell wielding a Megatron gun (from [[Revenge of the Decepticons Part 4: Burning Chrome|''The Transformers'' vol. 1 #17]]).
* Other scenes seen in flashback include Optimus Prime arriving on Earth for the first time (which took place off-panel in [[Infiltration issue 6|''Infiltration'' #6]]), Devastator's rampage (from ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]''), and John Powell wielding a Megatron gun (from [[Revenge of the Decepticons Part 4: Burning Chrome|''The Transformers'' vol. 1 #17]]).
*Mainframe recalls working with Soundwave in [[Valley Forge|''Revolution'' #6]].
* This is not the first time Gimlet's temper has landed him in trouble; in what might be called foreshadowing, [[Primeless, Part 1|''Optimus Prime'' #11]] had an emotional Gimlet ''almost'' flatten Mainframe.
*Slug's lonstanding issues with Optimus Prime were explored in ''[[The Transformers: Punishment|Punishment]]''.
* Mainframe recalls working with Soundwave in [[Valley Forge|''Revolution'' #5]].
*Slug flashes back to the Dinobots watching the emergence of the next generation of protoforms, from ''[[The Transformers: Salvation|Salvation]]''.
* Slug's longstanding issues with Optimus Prime were explored in ''[[The Transformers: Punishment|Punishment]]''.
* Slug flashes back to the Dinobots watching the emergence of the next generation of protoforms, from ''[[The Transformers: Salvation|Salvation]]''.


===Transformers references===
===Transformers references===
*Rum-Maj's description of Unicron (quoted above) as "the black hole at time's end" is certainly very evocative of the [[Unicron Singularity]] from ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)|Transformers: Cybertron]]'', a black hole created by Unicron's destruction which was, in the episode "[[Guardian (episode)|Guardian]]", even described as "the end of time."  
* Rum-Maj's description of Unicron (quoted above) as "the black hole at time's end" is certainly very evocative of the [[Unicron Singularity]] from ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)|Transformers: Cybertron]]'', a black hole created by Unicron's destruction which was, in the episode "[[Guardian (episode)|Guardian]]", even described as "the end of time."  
*Wreck-Gar says he fell in love with Rum-Maj on the planet [[Thrull]], a world that first appeared in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] episode "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1]]."
* Wreck-Gar says he fell in love with Rum-Maj on the planet [[Thrull]], a world that first appeared in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] episode "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1]]."
* Appearing as Gimlet and Bump's friends on Eukaris are fellow Japanese ''Beast Wars'' characters [[Tasmania Kid (BW)|Tasmania Kid]] and [[Longrack (BW)|Longrack]].
 
===Other Hasbro franchise references===
* The G.I. Joe base near Trypticon is based on the "Headquarters Command Center" playset from the '80s ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero'' toyline. The [[Dragonfly]] and [[VAMP]] vehicles from the same line can be seen outside.


===Real-life references===
===Real-life references===
*Wreck-Gar's sounding a little more like his classic self with the number of pop-culture references he makes this issue, including:
* Wreck-Gar's sounding a little more like his classic self with the number of pop-culture references he makes this issue, including:
**"Second verse as the first"—a phrase popularized by the band {{w|Herman's Hermits}} in their song "{{w|I'm Henery the Eighth, I Am}}"
** "Second verse - same as the first"—a phrase popularized by the band {{w|Herman's Hermits}} in their song "{{w|I'm Henery the Eighth, I Am}}", although Wreck-Gar ''may'' be more directly referencing its later homage in the {{w|Ramones}} song "{{w|Judy Is a Punk}}", given his punk-rock contextualization.
**"Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent"—from the opening narration to ''{{w|Dragnet (franchise)|Dragnet}}'' <!--No clue about the "But Garret" that follows it.-->
** "Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent"—from the opening narration to ''{{w|Dragnet (franchise)|Dragnet}}'' <!--No clue about the "But Garret" that follows it.-->
**"No one is innocent"—probably an allusion to the {{w|Sex Pistols}} song {{w|No One Is Innocent (song)|of the same name}}
** "No one is innocent"—probably an allusion to the {{w|Sex Pistols}} song {{w|No One Is Innocent (song)|of the same name}}
**He refers to Rum-Maj as "Honey Bunches of Oats", the name of a breakfast cereal by Post.
** He refers to Rum-Maj as "Honey Bunches of Oats", the name of a breakfast cereal by Post.
*Rum-Maj's Sharkticon steed is given the name "Vajra," a {{w|Vajra|Sanskrit word}} meaning "thunderbolt" and "diamond," which is the name of a clubbed weapon wielded by the Vedic deity Indra.
* Rum-Maj's Sharkticon steed is given the name "Vajra," a {{w|Vajra|Sanskrit word}} meaning "thunderbolt" and "diamond," which is the name of a clubbed weapon wielded by the Vedic deity {{w|Indra}}.


===Errors===
===Errors===
*On page 3, Marissa's surname is misspelled "Fairborne" instead of "Faireborn."  
* On page 3, Marissa's surname is misspelled "Fairborne" instead of "Faireborn."  
*Wreck-Gar refers to Rum-Maj as "mon chère," which is grammatically incorrect French; he ought to be using the feminine determiner, "ma chère" (while the male would be "mon cher").
* Wreck-Gar refers to Rum-Maj as "mon chère," which is grammatically incorrect French; he ought to be using the feminine determiner, "ma chère" (while the male would be "mon cher").
*Swoop's eyes are miscolored as blue instead of their usual yellow
* Swoop's eyes are miscolored as blue instead of their usual yellow.
*Perhaps not ''strictly'' an error, but during the flashback to Gimlet and Bump's days on Eukaris, Bump is depicted as wearing a faceplate. Unlike Gimlet, who was always be-faceplated, Bump's original toy had a normal mouth and it had also been previously implied he and the other colonists only began wearing faceplates as a tribute to Optimus. By contrast, Slide's flashback depicts both her and Oiler with mouths before they met Optimus. In the same vein, Soundwave's faceplate is drawn slightly differently from his other appearances, having a raised point in the center like his G1 cartoon counterpart instead of sloping down to the center.
* Perhaps not ''strictly'' an error, but during the flashback to Gimlet and Bump's days on Eukaris, Bump is depicted as wearing a faceplate. Unlike Gimlet, who was always be-faceplated, Bump's original toy had a normal mouth and it had also been previously implied he and the other colonists only began wearing faceplates as a tribute to Optimus. By contrast, Slide's flashback depicts both her and Oiler with mouths before they met Optimus. In the same vein, Soundwave's faceplate is drawn slightly differently from his other appearances, having a raised point in the center like his G1 cartoon counterpart instead of sloping down to the center.
* During Gimlet's flashback to his days on Eukaris, a native Devisen can be seen perched on a tree.
* Slug's flashback is something of an anachronism; it depicts the Dinobots in their dinosaur bodies, battling Decepticons during the height of the Great War — when the team only adopted those same dinosaur modes ten thousand years ago on Earth. It's not clear if this is an artist or authorial error!


===Other trivia===
===Other trivia===
*Originally solicited for released in August 2018, this issue arrived a little late, in the first week of September.
* Originally solicited for released in August 2018, this issue arrived a little late, in the first week of September.


===Covers (3)===
===Covers (3)===
*'''Cover A:''' Rum-Maj, Wreck-Gar, and the Sharkticons, by [[Kei Zama]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
* '''Cover A:''' Rum-Maj, Wreck-Gar, and the Sharkticons, by [[Kei Zama]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
*'''Cover B:''' The colonist soldiers by [[Priscilla Tramontano]]
* '''Cover B:''' The colonist soldiers by [[Priscilla Tramontano]]
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Black-and-white lineart version of Cover A
* '''Retailer incentive cover:''' Black-and-white lineart version of Cover A
 
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:OP23 cvrA.jpg|
File:OP23 cvrA.jpg|
Line 149: Line 166:


===Advertisements===
===Advertisements===
*''Optimus Prime'' #24
* ''Optimus Prime'' #24
*''[[Transformers: Unicron]]''
* ''[[Transformers: Unicron]]''
*''TMNT: Bebop and Rocksteady Hit the Road'' mini-series
* ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles|TMNT]]: Bebop and Rocksteady Hit the Road'' mini-series
*[[Win If You Dare|''Transformers: Bumblebee - Win If You Dare'' graphic novel]]
* ''[[Transformers: Bumblebee - Win If You Dare]]'' graphic novel
*In Memoriam: Harlan Ellison
* In Memoriam: Harlan Ellison
*''Wynonna Earp'' Season 3
* ''Wynonna Earp'' Season 3
 
===Reprints===
* '''''Optimus Prime Volume 5''''' <small>([[February 6]], [[2019]]) ISBN 1684054117 / ISBN 978-1684054114</small>
** Collects ''Optimus Prime'' issues #22–25 and Annual 2018.
** Bonus material includes art from most covers.
** Trade paperback format.
 
* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]] Volume 85: The Falling Part 2''''' <small>([[June 3]], [[2020]])</small>
** Collects ''Optimus Prime'' issues #18–24.
** Bonus material includes a cover gallery and an intro by [[Simon Furman]].
** Hardcover format.
 
<gallery>
File:OP_V5_TPB.jpg|'''''Volume 5''''' – cover art by [[Casey Coller]] and [[John-Paul Bove]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v85.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection Volume 85: The Falling Part 2''''' – cover art by [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] and [[Kei Zama]]
</gallery>


==External links==
==External links==
*[https://www.comiccrusaders.com/exclusive-preview-optimus-prime-23/ Preview]
* [https://www.comiccrusaders.com/exclusive-preview-optimus-prime-23/ Preview]


[[Category:Optimus Prime issues]]
[[Category:Optimus Prime issues]]

Latest revision as of 18:46, 14 May 2026

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Joe sotw|wreckers2|sins of the wreckers|transformers sins of the wreckers|transformers: sins of the wreckers|the transformers sins of the wreckers|the transformers: sins of the wreckers=Sins of the Wreckers combiner hunters|combiner hunters (comic)=Combiner Hunters titans return|titans return (comic)=Titans Return optimus prime|optimus prime (comic)=Optimus Prime annual2017|2017 Annual|Annual 2017=Transformers Annual 2017 lost light|transformers lost light|the transformers lost light|transformers: lost light|the transformers: lost light=Lost Light till all are one|Till All Are One|transformers till all are one|transformers: till all are one|the transformers till all are one|the transformers: till all are one=Till All Are One revolution=Revolution revolutionaries=Revolutionaries action man=Action Man gijoe5|g.i. joe vol 5|g.i. joe vol. 5|g.i. joe volume 5|g.i. joe (vol. 5)|g.i. joe (volume 5)=G.I. Joe vol. 5 g.i. joe idw collection=G.I. 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} 		{{#if: A Sunrise Dark|»}}
{{#if: |[[|«]]}} {{#if: |[[|»]]}}
{{#if: |[[|«]]}} {{#if: |[[|»]]}}
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|- {{#if: OP23 cvrA.jpg | | colspan="2" style="font-size: 12px; background-color:#ffffff;" align="center" | {{#if: Rum-Maj...the Ever-LIVING! |
Rum-Maj...the Ever-LIVING!}}}} |-

|colspan="2" style="font-size: 14px; background-color:#e7d492; color:black;font-weight:bold;" align="center" | "Time Will Rust" {{#if: |

{{#if: |
(')}} {{#if:|
""}}

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|- {{#if: IDW Publishing | |Publisher || IDW Publishing}} |- {{#if: | |Published by || }} |- {{#if: | |Imprint || }} |- {{#if: | |Published in || }} |- {{#if: September 5, 2018 | |First published || September 5, 2018}} |- {{#if: | |Shipping date || }} |- {{#if: | |On-sale date || }} |- {{#if: August 2018 | |Cover date || August 2018}} |- {{#if: | |Credits || }} |- {{#if: | |By || }} |- {{#if: | |Manga || }} |- {{#if: | |Manga by || }} |- {{#if: | |Original story || }} |- {{#if: | |Story & art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Story and color art || }} |- {{#if: | |Story || }} |- {{#if: | |Story by || }} |- {{#if: | |Story consultants || }} |- {{#if: | |Story concept || }} |- {{#if: | |Screenplay by || }} |- {{#if: | |Screenplay || }} |- {{#if: | |Adaptation by || }} |- {{#if: | |Adapted by || }} |- {{#if: | |Adaptation || }} |- {{#if: | |Based on || }} |- {{#if: | |Writer || }} |- {{#if: | |Writers || }} |- {{#if: | |Writing || }} |- {{#if: John Barber | |Written by || John Barber}} |- {{#if: | |Written & art || }} |- {{#if: | |Plotter || }} |- {{#if: | |Plotters || }} |- {{#if: | |Plot || }} |- {{#if: | |Plot by || }} |- {{#if: | |Plot/Script || }} |- {{#if: | |Scripter || }} |- {{#if: | |Scripters || }} |- {{#if: | |Script || }} |- {{#if: | |Scripting || }} |- {{#if: | |Script by || }} |- {{#if: | |Script and art || }} |- {{#if: | |Sript [sic] consultant || }} |- {{#if: | |Translation by || }} |- {{#if: | |Artist || }} |- {{#if: | |Comic artist || }} |- {{#if: | |Artists || }} |- {{#if: | |Art || }} |- {{#if: Priscilla Tramontano | |Art by || Priscilla Tramontano}} |- {{#if: | |Additional art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Flashback art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Art assistant || }} |- {{#if: | |Art assist by || }} |- {{#if: | |Line-art || }} |- {{#if: | |Line-art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Line art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Penciller || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencillers || }} |- {{#if: | |Penciler || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencilers || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencil art || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencils || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencils by || }} |- {{#if: | |Penciled by || }} |- {{#if: | |Penciling || }} |- {{#if: | |Guest penciler || }} |- {{#if: | |Layouts || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencil breakdowns || }} |- {{#if: | |Breakdowns || }} |- {{#if: | |Breakdowns by || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustration || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustrations || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustrator || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustrated by || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustration by || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustrations by || }} |- {{#if: | |Finished pencils || }} |- {{#if: | |Finishes || }} |- {{#if: | |Finished art || }} |- {{#if: | |Finishes by || }} |- {{#if: | |Inker || }} |- {{#if: | |Guest inker || }} |- {{#if: | |Inkers || }} |- {{#if: | |Inks || }} |- {{#if: | |Inks by || }} |- {{#if: | |Ink finishes || }} |- {{#if: | |Ink assist by || }} |- {{#if: | |Additional inks || }} |- {{#if: | |Inking || }} |- {{#if: | |Backgrounds || }} |- {{#if: | |Backgrounds by || }} |- {{#if: | |Colorist || }} |- {{#if: | |Colorists || }} |- {{#if: | |Colourist || }} |- {{#if: | |Colourists || }} |- {{#if: | |Color || }} |- {{#if: | |Colors || }} |- {{#if: | |Color art || }} |- {{#if: | |Colour || }} |- {{#if: | |Colours || }} |- {{#if: | |Colored by || }} |- {{#if: | |Color by || }} |- {{#if: Josh Burcham | |Colors by || Josh Burcham}} |- {{#if: | |Color art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Colors assist by || }} |- {{#if: | |Color assists || }} |- {{#if: | |Color assistance by || }} |- {{#if: | |Additional colors || }} |- {{#if: | |Additional colors by || }} |- {{#if: | |Color assist by || }} |- {{#if: | |Colour/Computer FX || }} |- {{#if: | |Computer coloring/effects || }} |- {{#if: | |Color Reconstruction || }} |- {{#if: | |Flats || }} |- {{#if: | |Flats by || }} |- {{#if: | |MTMTE Profiles || }} |- {{#if: | |Letterer || }} |- {{#if: | |Letterers || }} |- {{#if: | |Lettering || }} |- {{#if: | |Letters || }} |- {{#if: Tom B. Long | |Letters by || Tom B. Long}} |- {{#if: | |Lettered by || }} |- {{#if: | |Lettering|Production || }} |- {{#if: | |Special Thanks{{#if: | To}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Collaborators || }} |- {{#if: | |Contributors || }} |- {{#if: David Mariotte | |Editor || David Mariotte}} |- {{#if: | |Editors || }} |- {{#if: | |Editing || }} |- {{#if: | |Edits by || }} |- {{#if: | |Compiled and Edited by || }} |- {{#if: | |Original series editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Original Edits by || }} |- {{#if: | |Deputy editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Assistant editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Editorial assistant{{#if: |s}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Editorial Assistance
provided by || }} |- {{#if: | |Senior editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Associate editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Story consultant || }} |- {{#if: | |Project manager || }} |- {{#if: | |Production by || }} |- {{#if: | |Designer || }} |- {{#if: | |Design by || }} |- {{#if: | |Designed by || }} |- {{#if: | |Design/editorial || }} |- {{#if: | |Book design by || }} |- {{#if: | |Collection designer || }} |- {{#if: | |Collection editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Collection Edits by || }} |- {{#if: | |Graphic design || }} |- {{#if: | |Graphic design by || }} |- {{#if: | |Collection Design by || }} |- {{#if: | |Creative Director{{#if: | / Layout}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Contributing editors || }} |- {{#if: | |Research editor{{#if: |s}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Managing editor || }} |- {{#if: | |{{#if: |Editor-in-chief|Editor in chief}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Editorial consultant || }} |- {{#if: | |Dinosaur consultant || }} |- {{#if: | |Publishing manager || }} |- {{#if: | |Cover || }} |- {{#if: | |Cover art{{#if: |ist}}{{#if: | by}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Cover Design {{#if: |and Elements }}by || }} |- {{#if: | |Inside cover || }} |- {{#if: | |Apologies to || }} |- {{#if: 2005 IDW continuity | |Continuity || 2005 IDW continuity}} |- {{#if: Current era | |Chronology || Current era}} |- {{#if: | |ISBN || }} |- {{#if: | |TPB ISBN || ISBN }} |- {{#if: | |UPC || }} |- {{#if: | |Page count || }} |- {{#if: | |Price || }} |- {{#if: | |Packaged with || }} |- {{#if: | |Printed in || }} |- {{#if: | |Animation || }} |- {{#if: | |Music || }} |}{{#switch:{{#sub:xx|2|14}}|dark cybertron=}}

The consequences prove fatal when Slide leads the other colonists in an attempt to rescue Jazz from G.I. Joe.

Synopsis

[edit]

Six months ago, on the planet Devisiun, an elder of the planet's native species recounts the planet's history for two children. Once Devisiun was a lush, green world, until what they called the "Unyielding Shimmer" descended upon the planet—a fatally wounded Titan who fell from the sky. Cybertronian colonists emerged from the Titan and took Devisiun for their own, remaking the planet in their mechanical image.

In South Dakota on Earth, Jazz finds himself in chains after surrendering to G.I. Joe in order to secure Rom passage to Cybertron through Trypticon's Spacebridge. While Jazz and his jailer Spike Witwicky trade barbs over the past indiscretions that initially brought them to blows—Spike's illegal stockpiling of Cybertronian weaponry, Jazz's killing of police officer John Powell—senior Joe officer Flint argues outside with teammates Mainframe and Hi-Tech, his own daughter Marissa Faireborn, and the Dinobots about the dangers Cybertronians pose to Earth. Unfortunately, Flint's negative views are only reinforced by what happens next, as Sky Lynx comes swooping out of the skies, and Slide and the other young colonist soldiers leap from his cargo bay! They are here with the intention of rescuing Jazz, as proof that they—unlike, Slide thinks, Optimus Prime—have not abandoned their comrades. While Slug, Swoop, and Strafe engage the impetuous youths, Mainframe and Hi-Tech ready non-lethal rounds in defiance of Flint's lethal force order, and Marissa tries to call Thundercracker in to help.

Slide remembers the colonization of Devisiun less morbidly. In her memory, the natives were a poor people with little to live for, who the colonists saved from their feral existence. She remembers her happy life there, playing with the natives with her bonded partner Oiler... and how that life was taken away from her when Oiler died on Earth, thanks to following the words of Optimus Prime.

In Little Cybertron on Bikini Atoll, Wreck-Gar and Rum-Maj eavesdrop on Marissa's phonecall to Thundercracker. Rum-Maj reflects that cyclical violence seems to be the way of Cybertronians, worsening now as the enormity of the threat of Unicron hastens everything on the way to its end. Neither of the two want to see another world they've come to call home die, but Wreck-Gar has no idea how to prevent it. Fortunately, Rum-Maj tells him as she looks over over the shoal of Sharkticons swimming in the waters below, she does...

Jazz reflects on his first trip to Earth, sent by Optimus Prime as an advance scout on a mission of infiltration; on the escalation that followed as he called in the other Autobots; and on the devastation that resulted as the Decepticons unleashed their fury upon the planet. Lost in thought, he does not notice the noise of battle outside until Spike brings it to his attention by cautioning him that it is not his problem. But as far as Jazz is concerned, it's absolutely his problem; he is responsible both for bringing the Autobots to Earth in the first place, and for the colonists being here, now, trying to rescue him. Revealing that he was only a prisoner because he allowed himself to be one, Jazz stands, easily snaps his chains, and smashes his way through the door outside, determined to stop the fighting.

Gimlet thinks back on his life on Eukaris, a world founded as a haven for beastformers by a Prime who worked to have his kind accepted by other Transformers. It was in the spirit of that noble goal that Gimlet and his friend Bump volunteered to join Optimus Prime and help bring peace to another organic world, Earth.

Frustrated at being repeatedly shot by Mainframe, Gimlet crushes the VAMP he is driving. Too late, Gimlet realizes that in doing so, he has grievously wounded Mainframe himself—but that realization only lasts a moment before Slug, driven to a berserker fury by the young colonist's act, cleaves Gimlet in two with his sword, killing him. Lying in Hi-Tech's arms, Mainframe recalls how he blamed all Cybertronians for the destruction they brought to Earth, and how he learned the error of his ways upon getting to know some of them personally, realizing they were all individuals, just like humans. It is with this thought in his mind that Mainframe dies, using his last words to urge Hi-Tech not to let the entire Earth/Cybertron alliance fall apart because of what has happened.

Sky Lynx turns on Slug, blasting him with his flame breath, while Slide charges into the Dinobot from behind, angrily declaring him "the same as Optimus Prime." The words cut deep; Slug has long had issues with Prime and the way Slug believes he has used the Dinobots to do the Autobots' dirty work and keep his own hands clean. Slug is reminded of the new purpose the Dinobots now have—defending the next generation of protoforms born within Trypticon—and the red mist lifts, leaving him horrified and numb at what he has done to Gimlet. Still the fighting rages on as Slide and Strafe grapple, and things seem poised to get even worse when Rum-Maj and Wreck-Gar descend from the heavens, riding at the front of the Sharkticon swarm. Fortunately, Jazz is able to get between the Junkions and everyone else and confirms that they are here as friends. Slide, of course, doesn't want to hear it; the Junkions killed Oiler, after all, and she still hates Optimus Prime for allying with them—just as he allied with killers like the Decepticons, and just as Slide believes he is now standing by and allowing the ultimate killer, the planet-eating Unicron, to destroy the colonies.

It is then, as if on cue, that Unicron itself appears in the skies over Earth...!

[edit]

Characters in italic text appear only in flashbacks.
{{#if: ||(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)}}

{{#if:{|border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
|

!! style="background:#ffdddd;" | Autobots }}{{#if:* Starscream (24)

!! style="background:#ededff" | Decepticons }}{{#if:G.I. Joe

Others

!! style="background:#fbefde;" | Humans }}{{#if:* Wreck-Gar (21)

!! style="background:#ffeeb8;" | Junkions }}{{#if:Other Cybertronians

Others

!! style="background:#d5e6d5;" | Others }}{{#if:| !! style="background:#fedeb5;" | Misc }} |- {{#if:{|border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent" |- |style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"|

|}|| style="background:#ffdddd;" valign="top" |

}}{{#if:* Starscream (24)

| style="background:#ededff;" valign="top" |

Others

| style="background:#fbefde;" valign="top" | G.I. Joe

Others

| style="background:#ffeeb8;" valign="top" |

Others

| style="background:#d5e6d5;" valign="top" | Other Cybertronians

Others

| style="background:#fedeb5;" valign="top" | 

}}
|}

Quotes

[edit]

"First it was an embassy, then a city, now a giant space dinosaur—the Cybertronians are turning our world into theirs."
"I kinda like the dinosaur."

—Flint and Mainframe


"This is the nature of Cybertronians. A cycle repeating, only more rapidly, as history approaches its finale. Unicron is the black hole—the singularity—the strange attractor at time's end. Events are recycled, faster and faster. This is, through conspiracy, what Shockwave wrought. This is what, through brashness, Optimus wrought. This is what, through intrigue, Pyra wrought. In their desire to forestall the collapse of all things, they have done little but escalate the chaos. Junkions know of such things as endings. You and I stood by while our homeworld died, my love. I refuse to do so again."

—Rum-Maj


"Prime never wanted the how of it all... he just wanted results. I'm sure it was a lot easier if he didn't know. His finger pulled the trigger. He blamed the bullet for what came next."

—Slug

Notes

[edit]

Continuity notes

[edit]
  • As with last issue, the title of this story is a line from the Dark Cybertron prophecy.
  • The events of Unicron #1-3 have occurred between last issue and this one; this issue takes place concurrently with Unicron #4, released on the same day, which also concludes with Unicron arriving over Earth. Flint notes "the president had more important places to be," with a footnote directing readers to Unicron #4; as seen in that issue, she's with the larger Joe force in Trinity Bay, Texas.
  • The fact that the Titan who brought Cybertronian life to Devisiun did not survive its landing on the planet was originally revealed in Windblade vol. 2 #6. This Titan's name is never given, but the native Devisens refer to it as the "World Breaker," and all that came from it as the "Unyielding Shimmer."
  • Spike recalls the conversation he once had with Optimus Prime in a prison cell, in Transformers vol. 1 #3.
  • The idea that Jazz was the first Autobot sent to Earth by Optimus Prime was introduced in The Transformers vol. 1 #25 and clarified with more detail in Optimus Prime #8.
  • Jazz is shown scanning an alternate mode on Earth; the mechanism by which Transformers in the IDW continuity assumed their alternate mode has always been somewhat nebulous, with several offhand comments implying manual reconstruction playing a role in the process. This scene finally clarifies that the process is similar to the on-board scanning used by Transformers of the live-action movies, involving an on-board set of optical scanners capable of nigh-instantaneously reconstructing a Transformer's alternate mode into an identical shape. Barring an off-panel scene in the now-integrated Hearts of Steel miniseries, this is the first time we see a Transformer changing alternate modes in the space of a single issue.
  • Other scenes seen in flashback include Optimus Prime arriving on Earth for the first time (which took place off-panel in Infiltration #6), Devastator's rampage (from All Hail Megatron), and John Powell wielding a Megatron gun (from The Transformers vol. 1 #17).
  • This is not the first time Gimlet's temper has landed him in trouble; in what might be called foreshadowing, Optimus Prime #11 had an emotional Gimlet almost flatten Mainframe.
  • Mainframe recalls working with Soundwave in Revolution #5.
  • Slug's longstanding issues with Optimus Prime were explored in Punishment.
  • Slug flashes back to the Dinobots watching the emergence of the next generation of protoforms, from Salvation.

Transformers references

[edit]

Other Hasbro franchise references

[edit]
  • The G.I. Joe base near Trypticon is based on the "Headquarters Command Center" playset from the '80s G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero toyline. The Dragonfly and VAMP vehicles from the same line can be seen outside.

Real-life references

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  • Wreck-Gar's sounding a little more like his classic self with the number of pop-culture references he makes this issue, including:
    • "Second verse - same as the first"—a phrase popularized by the band [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Herman's Hermits|{{#if:||Herman's Hermits}}]] in their song "[[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}I'm Henery the Eighth, I Am|{{#if:||I'm Henery the Eighth, I Am}}]]", although Wreck-Gar may be more directly referencing its later homage in the [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Ramones|{{#if:||Ramones}}]] song "[[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Judy Is a Punk|{{#if:||Judy Is a Punk}}]]", given his punk-rock contextualization.
    • "Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent"—from the opening narration to [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Dragnet (franchise)|{{#if:Dragnet|Dragnet|Dragnet (franchise)}}]]
    • "No one is innocent"—probably an allusion to the [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Sex Pistols|{{#if:||Sex Pistols}}]] song [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}No One Is Innocent (song)|{{#if:of the same name|of the same name|No One Is Innocent (song)}}]]
    • He refers to Rum-Maj as "Honey Bunches of Oats", the name of a breakfast cereal by Post.
  • Rum-Maj's Sharkticon steed is given the name "Vajra," a [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Vajra|{{#if:Sanskrit word|Sanskrit word|Vajra}}]] meaning "thunderbolt" and "diamond," which is the name of a clubbed weapon wielded by the Vedic deity [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Indra|{{#if:||Indra}}]].

Errors

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  • On page 3, Marissa's surname is misspelled "Fairborne" instead of "Faireborn."
  • Wreck-Gar refers to Rum-Maj as "mon chère," which is grammatically incorrect French; he ought to be using the feminine determiner, "ma chère" (while the male would be "mon cher").
  • Swoop's eyes are miscolored as blue instead of their usual yellow.
  • Perhaps not strictly an error, but during the flashback to Gimlet and Bump's days on Eukaris, Bump is depicted as wearing a faceplate. Unlike Gimlet, who was always be-faceplated, Bump's original toy had a normal mouth and it had also been previously implied he and the other colonists only began wearing faceplates as a tribute to Optimus. By contrast, Slide's flashback depicts both her and Oiler with mouths before they met Optimus. In the same vein, Soundwave's faceplate is drawn slightly differently from his other appearances, having a raised point in the center like his G1 cartoon counterpart instead of sloping down to the center.
  • During Gimlet's flashback to his days on Eukaris, a native Devisen can be seen perched on a tree.
  • Slug's flashback is something of an anachronism; it depicts the Dinobots in their dinosaur bodies, battling Decepticons during the height of the Great War — when the team only adopted those same dinosaur modes ten thousand years ago on Earth. It's not clear if this is an artist or authorial error!

Other trivia

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  • Originally solicited for released in August 2018, this issue arrived a little late, in the first week of September.

Covers (3)

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  • Cover A: Rum-Maj, Wreck-Gar, and the Sharkticons, by Kei Zama and Josh Burcham
  • Cover B: The colonist soldiers by Priscilla Tramontano
  • Retailer incentive cover: Black-and-white lineart version of Cover A

Advertisements

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Reprints

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  • Optimus Prime Volume 5 (February 6, 2019) ISBN 1684054117 / ISBN 978-1684054114
    • Collects Optimus Prime issues #22–25 and Annual 2018.
    • Bonus material includes art from most covers.
    • Trade paperback format.
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