War World: Hunt: Difference between revisions
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==Synopsis== | ==Synopsis== | ||
''On the planet [[Probat (planet)|Probat]], [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] flees in terror as a gigantic winged shadow swoops down upon him and rips him to shreds. As [[Energon]] drips from his talons, [[Deathsaurus ( | ''On the planet [[Probat (planet)|Probat]], [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] flees in terror as a gigantic winged shadow swoops down upon him and rips him to shreds. As [[Energon]] drips from his talons, [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]] says just one thing: "again."'' | ||
Outside [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Cybertron)|Decepticon Headquarters]], [[Crasher (G1)|Crasher]] spies [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] approaching and warns him that the old arena is off-limits to non-[[Decepticon]]s. Cyclonus has no interest in joining their movement, but if he's to confront [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]], he ''will'' need some extra firepower. When his attention turns to Crasher's own stolen weapons, the fiery young Decepticon dares Cyclonus to try and take them—a few seconds later, Cyclonus steps over her unconscious body and heads into the arena, intent on finally settling his score. | Outside [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Cybertron)|Decepticon Headquarters]], [[Crasher (G1)|Crasher]] spies [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] approaching and warns him that the old arena is off-limits to non-[[Decepticon]]s. Cyclonus has no interest in joining their movement, but if he's to confront [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]], he ''will'' need some extra firepower. When his attention turns to Crasher's own stolen weapons, the fiery young Decepticon dares Cyclonus to try and take them—a few seconds later, Cyclonus steps over her unconscious body and heads into the arena, intent on finally settling his score. | ||
Elsewhere in [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], still recuperating from his interrogation with [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], receives the latest report from his mole [[Reflector (G1)|Refraktor]] regarding recent developments in the Decepticon ranks. Refraktor fills him in: since his confrontation with [[Termagax]], Megatron appointed [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] to take over Iacon's [[energon storage field|energon field]]s. Though [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] and his compatriots made a stand, the [[Decepticon Guard]] soon dealt with them, and their defiance only ensured that the Decepticons enjoy preferential | Elsewhere in [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], still recuperating from his interrogation with [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], receives the latest report from his mole [[Reflector (G1)|Refraktor]] regarding recent developments in the Decepticon ranks. Refraktor fills him in: since his confrontation with [[Termagax]], Megatron appointed [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] to take over Iacon's [[energon storage field|energon field]]s. Though [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] and his compatriots made a stand, the [[Ascenticon Guard|Decepticon Guard]] soon dealt with them, and their defiance only ensured that the Decepticons enjoy preferential fueling privileges. A similar story played out at the [[Titan Net]] hub when [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]], [[Catgut]], and [[Treadshot (G1)|Treadshot]] forcibly removed [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] from command to make way for [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s lackeys. Finally, Refraktor himself joined [[Flywheels|Skytread]] as they attacked a lightly defended detention center to free the prisoners within, but discovered that someone had already beat them to it... | ||
Moments before the attack, [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] finds his solitude disturbed when a grappling drill tunnels through the wall of his holding cell, courtesy of [[Trickdiamond]] and [[Headlock (G1)|Headlock]]. Through the embedded microphone, Trickdiamond explain her plan to free her boss... ''if'' Swindle bumps her pay in return. One quick haggle later, Trickdiamond explains her plan: using the electro-conductive [[Thraal]] gizmo, Swindle can simultaneously short out the bars to his cell and blow out the back wall. The resulting explosion is anything but subtle... but when he hears the sounds of combat from outside, Swindle realizes that the guards are occupied, which gives him ample time to search the nearby cells for potential allies. Dismissing [[Storm Cloud (G1)|Storm Cloud]] and [[Singe]] out of hand, Swindle frees [[Roughstuff]] to fill in for [[Gutcruncher (G1)|Gutcruncher]], then springs [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]. Although Bumblebee is only interested in finding [[Barricade (IDW)|Barricade]], Swindle offers to cut him a deal—when [[Slapdash (G1)|Slapdash]] rounds the corner and shouts that the prisoners are escaping, however, Bumblebee impulsively throws his lot in with the criminals and joins them as they flee. | Moments before the attack, [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] finds his solitude disturbed when a grappling drill tunnels through the wall of his holding cell, courtesy of [[Trickdiamond]] and [[Headlock (G1)|Headlock]]. Through the embedded microphone, Trickdiamond explain her plan to free her boss... ''if'' Swindle bumps her pay in return. One quick haggle later, Trickdiamond explains her plan: using the electro-conductive [[Thraal]] gizmo, Swindle can simultaneously short out the bars to his cell and blow out the back wall. The resulting explosion is anything but subtle... but when he hears the sounds of combat from outside, Swindle realizes that the guards are occupied, which gives him ample time to search the nearby cells for potential allies. Dismissing [[Storm Cloud (G1)|Storm Cloud]] and [[Singe]] out of hand, Swindle frees [[Roughstuff]] to fill in for [[Gutcruncher (G1)|Gutcruncher]], then springs [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]. Although Bumblebee is only interested in finding [[Barricade (IDW)|Barricade]], Swindle offers to cut him a deal—when [[Slapdash (G1)|Slapdash]] rounds the corner and shouts that the prisoners are escaping, however, Bumblebee impulsively throws his lot in with the criminals and joins them as they flee. | ||
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Refraktor warns Starscream that Megatron and [[Strika (BM)|Strika]] are working on a new scheme... and because Megatron beat the information out of him, Starscream knows exactly what it is they're planning. Starscream's got some tricks of his own, however: Starscream ordered Refraktor to feed information to the [[Autobot]]s, and during the prison raid, his inside man did just that by telling [[Vibes]] to pass a message about [[Titan (group)|Titan]]sparks up the Autobot chain of command to [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]. Megatron got as far as he did by thinking two steps ahead of his disorganised political rivals and keeping up a steady barrage of curveballs and surprises—but perhaps, Starscream muses, it's time to see what happens when the Decepticon leader ''doesn't'' hold all the cards. Perhaps, Starscream muses, he might realize that he ''needs'' an ex-intelligence 'bot on his side to stay ahead of the Autobots... | Refraktor warns Starscream that Megatron and [[Strika (BM)|Strika]] are working on a new scheme... and because Megatron beat the information out of him, Starscream knows exactly what it is they're planning. Starscream's got some tricks of his own, however: Starscream ordered Refraktor to feed information to the [[Autobot]]s, and during the prison raid, his inside man did just that by telling [[Vibes]] to pass a message about [[Titan (group)|Titan]]sparks up the Autobot chain of command to [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]. Megatron got as far as he did by thinking two steps ahead of his disorganised political rivals and keeping up a steady barrage of curveballs and surprises—but perhaps, Starscream muses, it's time to see what happens when the Decepticon leader ''doesn't'' hold all the cards. Perhaps, Starscream muses, he might realize that he ''needs'' an ex-intelligence 'bot on his side to stay ahead of the Autobots... | ||
As Sixshot busies himself with setting up a training course at Decepticon Headquarters, Cyclonus catches him off-guard; striding down the seats of the old arena, he recites all the names of their old compatriots who perished in the final battle against [[Exarchon]], and accuses Sixshot of deliberately erasing their legacy before he finally goads the six-changer into battle. Cyclonus puts up a good fight against Sixshot's many modes, but he's not strong enough to put him down for good... and is taken aback when Sixshot reveals that he doesn't ''want'' to fight Cyclonus. The two are really on the same side, he explains: it was [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] released [[Pyra Magna]] from prison... and | As Sixshot busies himself with setting up a training course at Decepticon Headquarters, Cyclonus catches him off-guard; striding down the seats of the old arena, he recites all the names of their old compatriots who perished in the final battle against [[Exarchon]], and accuses Sixshot of deliberately erasing their legacy before he finally goads the six-changer into battle. Cyclonus puts up a good fight against Sixshot's many modes, but he's not strong enough to put him down for good... and is taken aback when Sixshot reveals that he doesn't ''want'' to fight Cyclonus. The two are really on the same side, he explains: it was [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] who released [[Pyra Magna (G1)|Pyra Magna]] from prison... and those words finally cause Cyclonus to flash back to his old lover [[Paragon]], Pyra Magna's final victim. Perhaps, Cyclonus rationalizes, if he kills Paragon's murderer then he can finally make peace with his past—and he quietly tells Sixshot that he can bring Pyra Magna's head to the Decepticons. | ||
Underneath [[Swindle's|his casino]], Swindle leads his new crew into a hidden bunker concealed under the building, filled with illicit [[multiworld simulation]] couches. Bumblebee is shocked to see ''Deathsaurus'' in one of them, however; the ambassador has been missing for kilocycles! Swindle explains that after he'd been repaired, Deathsaurus made a deal with Swindle and immersed himself in a virtual world of his own devising. Swindle has no idea what he's doing in there; it must be pleasant, however, as he's never awoken from his dream. | Underneath [[Swindle's|his casino]], Swindle leads his new crew into a hidden bunker concealed under the building, filled with illicit [[Simultronic|multiworld simulation]] couches. Bumblebee is shocked to see ''Deathsaurus'' in one of them, however; the ambassador has been missing for kilocycles! Swindle explains that after he'd been repaired, Deathsaurus made a deal with Swindle and immersed himself in a virtual world of his own devising. Swindle has no idea what he's doing in there; it must be pleasant, however, as he's never awoken from his dream. | ||
''On the planet Probat, Cliffjumper flees in terror as a gigantic winged shadow swoops down upon him and annihilates him with a single blast of flame. Standing over his charred corpse, Deathsaurus says just one thing: "again..."'' | ''On the planet Probat, Cliffjumper flees in terror as a gigantic winged shadow swoops down upon him and annihilates him with a single blast of flame. Standing over his charred corpse, Deathsaurus says just one thing: "again..."'' | ||
| Line 53: | Line 53: | ||
* [[Stakeout (G1)|Stakeout]] (41) | * [[Stakeout (G1)|Stakeout]] (41) | ||
* [[Slapdash (G1)|Slapdash]] (42) | * [[Slapdash (G1)|Slapdash]] (42) | ||
|c2= | |c2= | ||
| Line 77: | Line 76: | ||
* [[Sparkstalker]] (34) | * [[Sparkstalker]] (34) | ||
* [[Bitstream (G1)|Bitstream]] (35) | * [[Bitstream (G1)|Bitstream]] (35) | ||
* [[Red Wing]] (36) | * [[Red Wing (G1)|Red Wing]] (36) | ||
* [[Battleslash]] (37) | * [[Battleslash]] (37) | ||
* [[Reflector (G1)|Refraktor]] (38) | * [[Reflector (G1)|Refraktor]] (38) | ||
| Line 92: | Line 91: | ||
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}} | {{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}} | ||
* ''[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]]'' (1) | * ''[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]]'' (1) | ||
* [[Deathsaurus ( | * [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]] (2) | ||
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (4) | * [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (4) | ||
* ''[[Grudge]]'' (5) | * ''[[Grudge]]'' (5) | ||
| Line 99: | Line 98: | ||
* ''[[Highfire]]'' (8) | * ''[[Highfire]]'' (8) | ||
* [[Glyph (Universe)|Glyph]] (25) | * [[Glyph (Universe)|Glyph]] (25) | ||
* [[Playback]] (27) | * [[Playback (G1)|Playback]] (27) | ||
* [[Wavelength (G1)|Wavelength]] (28) | * [[Wavelength (G1)|Wavelength]] (28) | ||
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}} | {{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}} | ||
| Line 113: | Line 112: | ||
* ''[[Paragon]]'' (53) | * ''[[Paragon]]'' (53) | ||
{{!}}} | {{!}}} | ||
}} | }} | ||
| Line 127: | Line 125: | ||
"Fifteen." <br> | "Fifteen." <br> | ||
"Eighteen." <br> | "Eighteen." <br> | ||
"'''Sixteen.''' <br> | "'''Sixteen.'''" <br> | ||
"Oooh, buzzy. I thought you'd stick at fifteen. Prepare yourself for liberation." | "Oooh, buzzy. I thought you'd stick at fifteen. Prepare yourself for liberation." | ||
:—'''Trickdiamond''' and '''Swindle''' | :—'''Trickdiamond''' and '''Swindle''' | ||
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"Don't start thinking you're a '''player''', Refraktor. Megatron—and you—don't even know all the '''rules''' yet. You don't know all the '''pieces'''." | "Don't start thinking you're a '''player''', Refraktor. Megatron—and you—don't even know all the '''rules''' of this game yet. You don't know all the '''pieces'''." | ||
:—'''Starscream''' | :—'''Starscream''' | ||
| Line 153: | Line 151: | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
===Continuity notes=== | ===Continuity notes=== | ||
* [[Deathsaurus ( | * [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]] and [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] last appeared in ''[[Transformers: Galaxies|Galaxies]]'' [[Wannabee, Part 2|#6]], where Cliffjumper fought Deathsaurus on the planet [[Probat (planet)|Probat]] and put him into a coma after learning of his plans to exploit the [[Probat (species)|native civilization]] for [[energon]]. In our notes for issue #6, we theorized that this adventure might have taken place at some point before [[The World In Your Eyes Part One|''Transformers'' issue #1]], and Bumblebee bears that theory out by noting that Deathsaurus disappeared kilocycles ago. | ||
* In [[The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Three|issue #9]], Sixshot helped scuttle an subterranean Rise bunker, which also destroyed the [[Memorial Crater]] above the base. Cyclonus learned what had happened to his beloved monument in [[The Change In Your Nature Part Five|issue #17]]; he arrived in Iacon with the intentions of paying Sixshot a visit in [[Rise of the Decepticons: We Have Deceived You|issue #23]], and learned that Megatron appointed his former war buddy to take over the Decepticon Guard in [[War World: Awakenings|#26]]. | * In [[The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Three|issue #9]], Sixshot helped scuttle an subterranean Rise bunker, which also destroyed the [[Memorial Crater]] above the base. Cyclonus learned what had happened to his beloved monument in [[The Change In Your Nature Part Five|issue #17]]; he arrived in Iacon with the intentions of paying Sixshot a visit in [[Rise of the Decepticons: We Have Deceived You|issue #23]], and learned that Megatron appointed his former war buddy to take over the Decepticon Guard in [[War World: Awakenings|#26]]. | ||
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s shown recovering from the injuries he received from [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] in [[War World: Awakenings|issue #26]]. He notes that he'll soon be transferred to [[Flatline (G1)|Flatline]] for some cosmetic repairs—his minor role in ''[[Transformers: Escape|Escape]]'' [[Escape Part One|#1]] suggests that Flatline's not a Decepticon ''yet'', but that situation might soon change... | * [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s shown recovering from the injuries he received from [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] in [[War World: Awakenings|issue #26]]. He notes that he'll soon be transferred to [[Flatline (G1)|Flatline]] for some cosmetic repairs—his minor role in ''[[Transformers: Escape|Escape]]'' [[Escape Part One|#1]] suggests that Flatline's not a Decepticon ''yet'', but that situation might soon change... | ||
* [[Twirl (G1)|Twirl]] last appeared in [[Rise of the Decepticons: Swindle's|issue #20]] as one of [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]'s many patrons, but she's taken an active role as a Decepticon since we last saw her. | * [[Twirl (G1)|Twirl]] last appeared in [[Rise of the Decepticons: Swindle's|issue #20]] as one of [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]'s many patrons, but she's taken an active role as a Decepticon since we last saw her. | ||
* [[Catgut]] and [[Treadshot (G1)|Treadshot]] last appeared in in [[Rise of the Decepticons: All Fall Down|issue #19]], where the duo tried and failed to assassinate [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] on Megatron's orders. [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] flags up Catgut's missing eye; he lost it in the same issue after Bumblebee smashed him in the face with a rock, but he's fitted a new blaster into the empty socket. | * [[Catgut]] and [[Treadshot (G1)|Treadshot]] last appeared in in [[Rise of the Decepticons: All Fall Down|issue #19]], where the duo tried and failed to assassinate [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] on Megatron's orders. [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] flags up Catgut's missing eye; he lost it in the same issue after Bumblebee smashed him in the face with a rock, but he's fitted a new blaster into the empty socket. | ||
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] arrested [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] in [[Rise of the Decepticons: Swindle's|#20]] after a raid on his [[Swindle's|casino]] turned up evidence that he was collaborating with [[ | * [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] arrested [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] in [[Rise of the Decepticons: Swindle's|#20]] after a raid on his [[Swindle's|casino]] turned up evidence that he was collaborating with [[the Rise]]. His business partners [[Trickdiamond]] and [[Headlock (G1)|Headlock]] successfully break him out, but note that their associate [[Gutcruncher (G1)|Gutcruncher]] "ran off to join the revolution"—since #20, Gutcruncher has made a few notable appearances as one of [[Flywheels|Skytread]]'s goons over in ''Escape''. | ||
* As he looks for potential allies, Swindle passes by a number of supporting characters who've been arrested: his former contractor [[Singe]] ran afoul of [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] in issue [[Arcee/Greenlight: Run|#18]]; Swindle snarks that [[Storm Cloud (G1)|Storm Cloud]] "owes him a new roof" after he crashed through it in issue #20, [[Roughstuff]] wound up in Autobot custody after [[Triggerhappy (G1)|Triggerhappy]] shot him in [[Rise of the Decepticons: Tremors|issue #21]], and [[Stakeout (G1)|Stakeout]] arrested [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] after he murdered [[Quake (G1)|Quake]] in [[Rise of the Decepticons: Prisoners|#22]]. | * As he looks for potential allies, Swindle passes by a number of supporting characters who've been arrested: his former contractor [[Singe]] ran afoul of [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] in issue [[Arcee/Greenlight: Run|#18]]; Swindle snarks that [[Storm Cloud (G1)|Storm Cloud]] "owes him a new roof" after he crashed through it in issue #20, [[Roughstuff]] wound up in Autobot custody after [[Triggerhappy (G1)|Triggerhappy]] shot him in [[Rise of the Decepticons: Tremors|issue #21]], and [[Stakeout (G1)|Stakeout]] arrested [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] after he murdered [[Quake (G1)|Quake]] in [[Rise of the Decepticons: Prisoners|#22]]. | ||
* Bumblebee asks if Swindle can get him close to [[Barricade (IDW)|Barricade]]—he learned that Barricade was partially responsible for [[Rubble]]'s death in [[The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Five|issue #11]], and expressed his desire to repay the favor in #22. | * Bumblebee asks if Swindle can get him close to [[Barricade (IDW)|Barricade]]—he learned that Barricade was partially responsible for [[Rubble]]'s death in [[The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Five|issue #11]], and expressed his desire to repay the favor in #22. | ||
* Froid first alluded to the existence of Cyclonus's repressed memories of [[Paragon]] in [[The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Two|issue #8]]. Though this initial exchange left his nature and relationship to Cyclonus ambiguous, this issue finally reveals that Paragon was the name of Cyclonus's lover during the [[War of the Threefold Spark]]. Despite receiving amnesty after the end of the conflict, Cyclonus notes that Pyra Magna killed him during her "pursuit of | * Froid first alluded to the existence of Cyclonus's repressed memories of [[Paragon]] in [[The Cracks Beneath Your Feet Part Two|issue #8]]. Though this initial exchange left his nature and relationship to Cyclonus ambiguous, this issue finally reveals that Paragon was the name of Cyclonus's lover during the [[War of the Threefold Spark]]. Despite receiving amnesty after the end of the conflict, Cyclonus notes that Pyra Magna killed him during her "pursuit of [[Turmoil]]", a Decepticon who first appeared as the antagonist of IDW's ''[[The Transformers: Drift|Drift]]'' miniseries. | ||
* While working the crowd in issue #20, Trickdiamond namedropped multiworld simulators as some of the many recreational services available for purchase. | * While working the crowd in issue #20, Trickdiamond namedropped multiworld simulators as some of the many recreational services available for purchase. | ||
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<!--IF YOU ADD "CLIFFJUMPER DYING IS A REFERENCE TO PRIME AND/OR BUMBLEBEE MOVIE" I WILL ENSURE THAT THE NEXT MEME ABOUT CHARACTERS DYING WILL BE ABOUT **YOU**.--> | <!--IF YOU ADD "CLIFFJUMPER DYING IS A REFERENCE TO PRIME AND/OR BUMBLEBEE MOVIE" I WILL ENSURE THAT THE NEXT MEME ABOUT CHARACTERS DYING WILL BE ABOUT **YOU**.--> | ||
* [[Red Wing]] makes a cameo on page six as a member of [[Flywheels|Skytread]]'s team: born from multiple miscommunications between [[Hasbro]] and its subsidiaries, this literally-named Seeker finally received a toy in 2020 as part of the ''[[Generations Selects (toyline)|Generations Selects]]'' toyline. | * [[Red Wing (G1)|Red Wing]] makes a cameo on page six as a member of [[Flywheels|Skytread]]'s team: born from multiple miscommunications between [[Hasbro]] and its subsidiaries, this literally-named Seeker finally received a toy in 2020 as part of the ''[[Generations Selects (toyline)|Generations Selects]]'' toyline. | ||
* Whether by coincidence or intent, several of the fallen soldiers Cyclonus mentions share names with other characters from the ''Transformers'' mythos: [[Outsider]] appeared in the cancelled ''[[Transformers Universe]]'' video game, while Kickstart and Bruteforce were both members of the "[[Disappeared]]" | * Whether by coincidence or intent, several of the fallen soldiers Cyclonus mentions share names with other characters from the ''Transformers'' mythos: [[Outsider (Prime)|Outsider]] appeared in the cancelled ''[[Transformers Universe (Jagex)|Transformers Universe]]'' video game, while [[Kickstart (G1)|Kickstart]] and [[Bruteforce]] were both members of the "[[Disappeared]]" in ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]''. | ||
===Errors=== | ===Errors=== | ||
* Something's gone seriously wonky with Wheel Blaze on page four: he's colored in shades of grey and olive brown instead of blue and yellow. | * Something's gone seriously wonky with Wheel Blaze on page four: he's colored in shades of grey and olive brown instead of blue and yellow. | ||
* On page five, panel three, Wavelength's face is white instead of yellow. | * On page five, panel three, Wavelength's face is white instead of yellow. | ||
* On panel four of page | * On panel four of page nine, Bumblebee is missing his Decepticon insignia as he and the others escape from jail. | ||
===Other trivia=== | ===Other trivia=== | ||
* Originally solicited for a February release, this issue was initially delayed to March | * Originally solicited for a February release, this issue was initially delayed to March 3... and then, at the eleventh hour, pushed all the way back to March 31. | ||
===Covers (3)=== | ===Covers (3)=== | ||
| Line 191: | Line 189: | ||
===Advertisements=== | ===Advertisements=== | ||
*''[[Transformers: Beast Wars|Beast Wars]]'' [[Savage Landing Part 1|#1]] | * ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars|Beast Wars]]'' [[Savage Landing Part 1|#1]] | ||
*''[[Transformers: Escape]]'' | * ''[[Transformers: Escape]]'' | ||
===Reprints=== | ===Reprints=== | ||
*'''''Transformers Volume 4: Declaration of War''''' <small>([[ | * '''''Transformers Volume 4: Declaration of War''''' <small>([[January 19]], [[2022]]) ISBN 1684058066 / ISBN 978-1684058068</small> | ||
** Collects ''Transformers'' (2019) issues #25–30, ''Transformers Valentine's Day Special'', and ''[[Transformers: Escape|Escape]]'' issues [[Escape Part One|#1]]–[[Escape Part Five|5]]. | |||
**Collects ''Transformers'' issues #25–30, ''Transformers Valentine's Day Special'', and ''[[Transformers: Escape|Escape]]'' issues #1 | ** Bonus material includes alternate covers. | ||
**Bonus material | ** Hardcover format. | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
File:TF-IDW-2019v4.jpg|'''''Volume 4: Declaration of War''''' – cover art by [[Cryssy Cheung]] | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
Latest revision as of 21:48, 6 March 2026
| |||||||||||||
 New followers are joining us aboard the ship Megastar. | |||||||||||||
| "War World: Hunt" | |||||||||||||
| Publisher | IDW Publishing | ||||||||||||
| First published | March 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Cover date | February 2021 | ||||||||||||
| Written by | Brian Ruckley | ||||||||||||
| Art by | Anna Malkova | ||||||||||||
| Colors | David García Cruz | ||||||||||||
| Letters by | Jake M. Wood | ||||||||||||
| Editor | David Mariotte, Tom Waltz and Riley Farmer | ||||||||||||
| Continuity | 2019 IDW continuity | ||||||||||||
Megatron consolidates his power, Bumblebee meets an unexpected benefactor, and Cyclonus settles a score—but Starscream's got a scheme of his own, and everyone's playing right into his hands...
Synopsis
[edit]On the planet Probat, Cliffjumper flees in terror as a gigantic winged shadow swoops down upon him and rips him to shreds. As Energon drips from his talons, Deathsaurus says just one thing: "again."
Outside Decepticon Headquarters, Crasher spies Cyclonus approaching and warns him that the old arena is off-limits to non-Decepticons. Cyclonus has no interest in joining their movement, but if he's to confront Sixshot, he will need some extra firepower. When his attention turns to Crasher's own stolen weapons, the fiery young Decepticon dares Cyclonus to try and take them—a few seconds later, Cyclonus steps over her unconscious body and heads into the arena, intent on finally settling his score.
Elsewhere in Iacon, Starscream, still recuperating from his interrogation with Megatron, receives the latest report from his mole Refraktor regarding recent developments in the Decepticon ranks. Refraktor fills him in: since his confrontation with Termagax, Megatron appointed Ratbat to take over Iacon's energon fields. Though Grapple and his compatriots made a stand, the Decepticon Guard soon dealt with them, and their defiance only ensured that the Decepticons enjoy preferential fueling privileges. A similar story played out at the Titan Net hub when Mindwipe, Catgut, and Treadshot forcibly removed Blaster from command to make way for Shockwave's lackeys. Finally, Refraktor himself joined Skytread as they attacked a lightly defended detention center to free the prisoners within, but discovered that someone had already beat them to it...
Moments before the attack, Swindle finds his solitude disturbed when a grappling drill tunnels through the wall of his holding cell, courtesy of Trickdiamond and Headlock. Through the embedded microphone, Trickdiamond explain her plan to free her boss... if Swindle bumps her pay in return. One quick haggle later, Trickdiamond explains her plan: using the electro-conductive Thraal gizmo, Swindle can simultaneously short out the bars to his cell and blow out the back wall. The resulting explosion is anything but subtle... but when he hears the sounds of combat from outside, Swindle realizes that the guards are occupied, which gives him ample time to search the nearby cells for potential allies. Dismissing Storm Cloud and Singe out of hand, Swindle frees Roughstuff to fill in for Gutcruncher, then springs Bumblebee. Although Bumblebee is only interested in finding Barricade, Swindle offers to cut him a deal—when Slapdash rounds the corner and shouts that the prisoners are escaping, however, Bumblebee impulsively throws his lot in with the criminals and joins them as they flee.
At Decepticon Headquarters, a testy Andromeda snaps at Soundwave for interfering with her regular broadcast schedule; the Decepticon senator has little patience for her complaints and warns her that she'll stick to her prewritten script—or else. As Megatron arrives, Andromeda activates her cameras and launches into a cheery "interview" with the new leader of Iacon. In the staged exchange, the Decepticon leader announces that, effective immediately, he has decommissioned Security Operations and replaced it with his Decepticon Guard. To oversee the transition, he has appointed the famous war hero Sixshot—when Andromeda asks about Sixshot's Rise connections, Megatron "explains" that the old Autobot government had deliberately framed Sixshot and many other upstanding citizens to discredit them. Megatron continues: former Ascenticon Guard leader Elita-1 is the real traitor, and Megatron warns that there can be no compromise with those who seek to undermine Cybertron from within.
Refraktor warns Starscream that Megatron and Strika are working on a new scheme... and because Megatron beat the information out of him, Starscream knows exactly what it is they're planning. Starscream's got some tricks of his own, however: Starscream ordered Refraktor to feed information to the Autobots, and during the prison raid, his inside man did just that by telling Vibes to pass a message about Titansparks up the Autobot chain of command to Perceptor. Megatron got as far as he did by thinking two steps ahead of his disorganised political rivals and keeping up a steady barrage of curveballs and surprises—but perhaps, Starscream muses, it's time to see what happens when the Decepticon leader doesn't hold all the cards. Perhaps, Starscream muses, he might realize that he needs an ex-intelligence 'bot on his side to stay ahead of the Autobots...
As Sixshot busies himself with setting up a training course at Decepticon Headquarters, Cyclonus catches him off-guard; striding down the seats of the old arena, he recites all the names of their old compatriots who perished in the final battle against Exarchon, and accuses Sixshot of deliberately erasing their legacy before he finally goads the six-changer into battle. Cyclonus puts up a good fight against Sixshot's many modes, but he's not strong enough to put him down for good... and is taken aback when Sixshot reveals that he doesn't want to fight Cyclonus. The two are really on the same side, he explains: it was Optimus Prime who released Pyra Magna from prison... and those words finally cause Cyclonus to flash back to his old lover Paragon, Pyra Magna's final victim. Perhaps, Cyclonus rationalizes, if he kills Paragon's murderer then he can finally make peace with his past—and he quietly tells Sixshot that he can bring Pyra Magna's head to the Decepticons.
Underneath his casino, Swindle leads his new crew into a hidden bunker concealed under the building, filled with illicit multiworld simulation couches. Bumblebee is shocked to see Deathsaurus in one of them, however; the ambassador has been missing for kilocycles! Swindle explains that after he'd been repaired, Deathsaurus made a deal with Swindle and immersed himself in a virtual world of his own devising. Swindle has no idea what he's doing in there; it must be pleasant, however, as he's never awoken from his dream.
On the planet Probat, Cliffjumper flees in terror as a gigantic winged shadow swoops down upon him and annihilates him with a single blast of flame. Standing over his charred corpse, Deathsaurus says just one thing: "again..."
Featured characters
[edit]Characters in italic text appear only in hallucinatory form.
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Others | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Quotes
[edit]"Rrrr. Catgut. You've lost an eye and acquired a toy blaster since I last saw you."
"I'll sting ya with it, if y'like. See if it's a toy then."
- —Steeljaw and Catgut get into a catfight
"You want out?"
"I guess so. Is it safer out there than in here, though?"
"Hard to say, but opportunity's running wild. You'll love it. Up my percentage to twenty percent."
"Fifteen."
"Eighteen."
"Sixteen."
"Oooh, buzzy. I thought you'd stick at fifteen. Prepare yourself for liberation."
- —Trickdiamond and Swindle
"Gutcruncher felt his prospects took a downturn when you got grabbed. He ran off to join the revolution."
"Not as stupid as he looked. And sounded. And acted."
- —Trickdiamond and Headlock
"Don't start thinking you're a player, Refraktor. Megatron—and you—don't even know all the rules of this game yet. You don't know all the pieces."
- —Starscream
"I know every name that was on that memorial. Everyone who fell in the last battle. Do you?"
"Now, Cyclonus..."
"Did you memorize them before you destroyed it? Or did you just decide Cybertron didn't need to remember?"
- —Cyclonus and Sixshot
"Your presence was always the greatest... comfort. Being reminded of its absence... too much."
"We loved each other. That's what love is, in the end. Comfort. The sheltering wing."
- —Cyclonus and Paragon
Notes
[edit]Continuity notes
[edit]- Deathsaurus and Cliffjumper last appeared in Galaxies #6, where Cliffjumper fought Deathsaurus on the planet Probat and put him into a coma after learning of his plans to exploit the native civilization for energon. In our notes for issue #6, we theorized that this adventure might have taken place at some point before Transformers issue #1, and Bumblebee bears that theory out by noting that Deathsaurus disappeared kilocycles ago.
- In issue #9, Sixshot helped scuttle an subterranean Rise bunker, which also destroyed the Memorial Crater above the base. Cyclonus learned what had happened to his beloved monument in issue #17; he arrived in Iacon with the intentions of paying Sixshot a visit in issue #23, and learned that Megatron appointed his former war buddy to take over the Decepticon Guard in #26.
- Starscream's shown recovering from the injuries he received from Soundwave in issue #26. He notes that he'll soon be transferred to Flatline for some cosmetic repairs—his minor role in Escape #1 suggests that Flatline's not a Decepticon yet, but that situation might soon change...
- Twirl last appeared in issue #20 as one of Swindle's many patrons, but she's taken an active role as a Decepticon since we last saw her.
- Catgut and Treadshot last appeared in in issue #19, where the duo tried and failed to assassinate Bumblebee on Megatron's orders. Steeljaw flags up Catgut's missing eye; he lost it in the same issue after Bumblebee smashed him in the face with a rock, but he's fitted a new blaster into the empty socket.
- Prowl arrested Swindle in #20 after a raid on his casino turned up evidence that he was collaborating with the Rise. His business partners Trickdiamond and Headlock successfully break him out, but note that their associate Gutcruncher "ran off to join the revolution"—since #20, Gutcruncher has made a few notable appearances as one of Skytread's goons over in Escape.
- As he looks for potential allies, Swindle passes by a number of supporting characters who've been arrested: his former contractor Singe ran afoul of Arcee in issue #18; Swindle snarks that Storm Cloud "owes him a new roof" after he crashed through it in issue #20, Roughstuff wound up in Autobot custody after Triggerhappy shot him in issue #21, and Stakeout arrested Bumblebee after he murdered Quake in #22.
- Bumblebee asks if Swindle can get him close to Barricade—he learned that Barricade was partially responsible for Rubble's death in issue #11, and expressed his desire to repay the favor in #22.
- Froid first alluded to the existence of Cyclonus's repressed memories of Paragon in issue #8. Though this initial exchange left his nature and relationship to Cyclonus ambiguous, this issue finally reveals that Paragon was the name of Cyclonus's lover during the War of the Threefold Spark. Despite receiving amnesty after the end of the conflict, Cyclonus notes that Pyra Magna killed him during her "pursuit of Turmoil", a Decepticon who first appeared as the antagonist of IDW's Drift miniseries.
- While working the crowd in issue #20, Trickdiamond namedropped multiworld simulators as some of the many recreational services available for purchase.
Transformers references
[edit]- Red Wing makes a cameo on page six as a member of Skytread's team: born from multiple miscommunications between Hasbro and its subsidiaries, this literally-named Seeker finally received a toy in 2020 as part of the Generations Selects toyline.
- Whether by coincidence or intent, several of the fallen soldiers Cyclonus mentions share names with other characters from the Transformers mythos: Outsider appeared in the cancelled Transformers Universe video game, while Kickstart and Bruteforce were both members of the "Disappeared" in More than Meets the Eye.
Errors
[edit]- Something's gone seriously wonky with Wheel Blaze on page four: he's colored in shades of grey and olive brown instead of blue and yellow.
- On page five, panel three, Wavelength's face is white instead of yellow.
- On panel four of page nine, Bumblebee is missing his Decepticon insignia as he and the others escape from jail.
Other trivia
[edit]- Originally solicited for a February release, this issue was initially delayed to March 3... and then, at the eleventh hour, pushed all the way back to March 31.
Covers (3)
[edit]- Cover A: Starscream whispers to Megatron, by Casey Coller and John-Paul Bove
- Cover B: Sixshot versus Cyclonus, by Adam Bryce Thomas
- Retailer incentive cover: Cyclonus spies on Sixshot, by Thomas Deer
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[edit]Reprints
[edit]- Transformers Volume 4: Declaration of War (January 19, 2022) ISBN 1684058066 / ISBN 978-1684058068
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Volume 4: Declaration of War – cover art by Cryssy Cheung
