All Hail Megatron issue 12: Difference between revisions

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{{picsneeded|cover RI and panels}}
{{Comicstory|
{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[All Hail Megatron]]'' #12
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron]]'' #12
|prev=All Hail Megatron issue 11
|prev=All Hail Megatron issue 11
|next=All Hail Megatron issue 13
|next=Old Ways
|image=All Hail Megatron 12a.jpg
|image=AHM 12cvrA.jpg
|caption=Unlike issue 1, this ''sorta'' happened.
|caption=Unlike issue 1, this ''sorta'' happened.
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
Line 15: Line 13:
|letters by=[[Chris Mowry]]
|letters by=[[Chris Mowry]]
|edits by=[[Andy Schmidt]] and [[Denton J. Tipton]]
|edits by=[[Andy Schmidt]] and [[Denton J. Tipton]]
|continuity=[[IDW continuity]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|All Hail Megatron]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|All Hail Megatron]]
}}
}}
'''There's a nuclear bomb coming to blow up a city as Prime and Megatron trade blows and viewpoints, and somebody has to fly up and stop it! [[Prime Directive issue 6|Haven't we been here before?]]'''


'''There's a nuclear bomb coming to blow up a city as Prime and Megatron trade blows and viewpoints, and somebody has to fly up and stop it!  [[Prime_Directive_issue_6|Haven't we been here before?]]'''
==Synopsis==
 
In [[New York City]], the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s continue to battle. [[Sideswipe (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sideswipe]] swats [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] with a broken street light, wanting to avenge [[Sunstreaker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sunstreaker]]'s death. Suddenly, [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] surprises him and reveals that he was the one responsible for Sunstreaker's actions by toying with the mind of his former [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] partner, [[Hunter O'Nion]]. Before Bombshell can kill Sideswipe, though, [[Kup (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Kup]] punches him in the face. However, he, too, gets taken by surprise by [[Skywarp (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Skywarp]]. Skywarp is incredulous about Kup's presence, since he had heard that [[Spotlight: Kup|Kup had gone crazy]]. Kup, insulted by Skywarp's "scrap heap" joke, fires at his chest, and falls near the [[Statue of Liberty]], where [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] and [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] struggle. Devastator claims that nothing can stop him, but Omega proves otherwise by blasting straight through his chest (along with Lady Liberty), and Devastator falls into the ocean.
== Synopsis ==
 
In [[New York City]], the Autobots and Decepticons continue to battle. Sideswipe swats Kickback with a broken street light, wanting to avenge Sunstreaker's death. Suddenly, Bombshell surprises him and reveals that he was the one responsible for Sunstreaker's actions by toying with the mind of his former Headmaster partner, Hunter O'Nion. Before Bombshell can kill Sideswipe, though, Kup punches him in the face. However, he, too, gets taken by surprise by Skywarp. Skywarp is incredulous about Kup's presence, since he had heard that [[Spotlight: Kup|Kup had gone crazy]]. Kup, insulted by Skywarp's "scrap heap" joke, fires at his chest, and falls near the Statue of Liberty, where Omega Supreme and Devastator struggle. Devastator claims that nothing can stop him, but Omega proves otherwise by blasting straight through his chest (along with Lady Liberty's chest) and Devastator falls into the ocean.
 
At Central Park, Sparkplug Witwicky, Colonel Hawke, and the remaining army troops fire at Dropshot, but without success. Sparkplug orders Hawke to leave, with the European Union plane (secretly the Decepticon Tankor) heading its way to drop the nuke at the city. Hawke protests, but Sparkplug persists, saying that he might lose his son, and that he doesn't want any of his men to join him. Meanwhile, Spike and his "team" make it to the rooftop of a building and stay low, witnessing two of the large robots begin their duel. Armed with [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave's]] gun, Spike decides to target the silver one. Bridge asks Spike if the other one is on their side, and Spike replies that it might be, considering his size.


Optimus Prime and Megatron throw down once again. Megatron once again questions Prime on why he cares about the humans when they're about to drop a nuke onto the city, not to mention Sunstreaker being captured and tortured by them, and believes Prime is a fool for returning to Earth. Prime retorts by saying that it's not about saving ''them'', it's about who the Transformers ''are'', what the difference between them is, and what makes Megatron a Decepticon, and himself and Autobot.
At Central Park, [[Sparkplug Witwicky]], [[Hawke|Colonel Hawke]], and the remaining army troops fire at [[Dropshot (G1)|Dropshot]], but without success. Sparkplug orders Hawke to leave, with the [[European Union]] plane (secretly the Decepticon [[Octane|Tankor]]) heading its way to drop the nuke at the city. Hawke protests, but Sparkplug persists, saying that he might lose his son, and that he doesn't want any of his men to join him. Meanwhile, [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Spike]] and his "team" make it to the rooftop of a building and stay low, witnessing two of the large robots begin their duel. Armed with the secret weapon [[All Hail Megatron issue 9|he stole]], Spike decides to target the silver one. [[Bridge]] asks Spike if the other one is on their side, and Spike replies that he hopes so, considering how big it is.


In Central Park, Sparplug fires a bazooka at Dropshot, who briefly staggers. Enraged and hurt, Dropshot declares that he was stuck the whole time doing some spy work for the Decepticons, and that nothing's going to stop him from tearing apart Sparkplug. However, what Dropshop doesn't know is that Kup, emerging from the water, is slowly sneaking up behind him...
[[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] continue to grapple, Megatron relentlessly questioning Prime on why he cares about the [[human]]s after they've tortured an Autobot and put plans in motion to kill millions of their own people in a nuclear strike against the Transformers. Prime retorts that it's not only about protecting the humans; it's about also about the difference between himself and Megatron – what makes one a Decepticon and one an Autobot.


Meanwhile, Prime and Megatron continue to exchange blows, but Megatron gets the upper hand by throwing Prime into a building. Megatron is impressed by Prime's willingness to struggle, while others had quit. Then, he orders Tankor to proceed with the bombing, to which Tankor, shedding his EU disguise, obliges. Bridge tells Spike to shoot fast, as the gun is almost finished charging up. Megatron orders Blitzwing to gather up the rest of the Decepticons and that the Autobots can die with the humans when the bomb drops. Bridge warns Spike that the Decepticons are about to flee, and Spike decides to act. Megatron tells Prime that he's going to take the Matrix with him, but before he can do anything else, a sudden laser blast is fired...
In [[Central Park]], Sparkplug fires a bazooka at Dropshot, who briefly staggers. Enraged and hurt, Dropshot declares that after having been stuck spying on the humans for so long, there's nothing that can stop him from tearing them all apart now. But in a silent, ironic counterpoint, Kup emerges from the water behind him.


...and hits Megatron right in the face. Seizing the opportunity, Prime grabs Megatron's fusion cannon off the ground and smashes it ''hard'' at Megatron's head.
Meanwhile, Prime and Megatron continue to exchange blows, but Megatron gets the upper hand by head-butting Prime and throwing him into a building. Megatron stands over Prime and tells him he respects him for his continued struggle. Nevertheless, Megatron orders Tankor to proceed with the bombing, and Tankor, shedding his European Union disguise, obliges. Bridge tells Spike to shoot fast, but Spike can only wait for it to charge up. Megatron orders the Decepticons to leave, but Blitzwing bemoans the loss of the [[space bridge]] and the city. Megatron replies that the Decepticons have other planets, and starting again is a price worth paying for the death of the Autobots alongside the humans. Bridge warns Spike that the Decepticons are about to flee, and Spike at last pulls the trigger.
Megatron, crackling with electricity, falls to the ground, defeated and broken. The Autobots begin to celebrate, but as Optimus advances towards Megatron, a voice stops him; it's Starscream! Optimus asks why he is here, and Starscream replies that he is fulfilling his role as a [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] by protecting Megatron, something the Autobots would never do. Prime, sensing that this isn't Starscream's usual behavior, asks to leave Megatron behind and take over leadership of the Decepticons, but Starscream, repeating what Megatron had told him, says that it must be taken, and not something that is magically given by chance, which is something Prime would never understand.


Optimus asks Starscream if he's running, to which he replies that he's not; he's done playing instead. The Decepticons outnumbers the Autobots on the other side of the galaxy, that the Autobot army is in ruins, and that the Decepticons are victorious. Nothing was gained by this battle, and Starscream gives him a choice before bidding farewell: go after them, or save New York City from nuclear devastation. The Autobots realize that no one has the capacity to fly and stop the nuke, but a voice says that he'll do the job...
Just as Megatron is telling Prime that he's going to take the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] with him, the blast from Spike's gun hits him square in the face. Seizing the opportunity, Prime grabs Megatron's [[fusion cannon]] off the ground and smashes it ''hard'' against Megatron's head. Megatron, crackling with electricity, falls to the ground, defeated and broken. The Autobots begin to celebrate, but as Optimus advances towards Megatron, a voice stops him; it's [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]]! Optimus asks him what he's doing, and Starscream replies that he is fulfilling his role as a [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] by "protecting the leader of the Decepticon Empire." Prime tells Starscream that this isn't like him; he could leave Megatron and assume leadership of the Decepticons himself. But Starscream, repeating what Megatron [[All Hail Megatron issue 11|had told him]], says that leadership must be taken, not magically given by chance, which Prime would never understand.


The voice belongs to Thundercracker! He decides to go and stop the bomb, because he is the only one that can fly. Optimus tries to say Omega Supreme's name, but Thundercracker replies that the job needs finesse, not brute force. Ironhide points out that Thundercracker is a Decepticon, but he states that there is no honor for the nuke. Drift, a former Decepticon, tries to welcome Thundercracker into the Autobot ranks, but Thundercracker bushes it off, saying that he doesn't want to speak to a traitor, and doesn't want to be one either. He goes on to say that killing innocent humans was not the Decepticons' way of battle; it was forged through combat, not slaughter, and that everything they done to Earth was dishonorable. With that, Thundercracker takes off into the air and grabs the nuke as it falls, then flies it into space and fires at it, blowing up the nuke.
Optimus asks Starscream if he's running, to which he replies that he's merely done playing. He claims the Decepticons outnumber the Autobots across the galaxy, the Autobot army is in tatters, and the Decepticons are victorious. Prolonging the battle would gain them nothing, and the Autobots wouldn't waste their time pursuing them when there's a [[Nuclear weapon|nuclear bomb]] on the way. As the Decepticons lift off, the Autobots ponder how to stop the bomb. They realize that someone needs to fly up to it, and they're shocked to hear [[Thundercracker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Thundercracker]] volunteer.


With New York safe, the Autobots can finally celebrate their victory. Hound interrupts Prime and introduces him to the mystery "sniper", Spike Witwicky. Prime praises Spike's remarkable skills, and Spike credits that to his "remarkable weapon". In Central Park, Sparkplug Witwicky and Kup have a chat about space and Kup's "cigar" while sitting on the fallen body of Dropshot. Meanwhile, Thundercracker is about to return to the Decepticons when Skywarp, using his teleportation ability, appears and accuses Thundercracker, a fellow Seeker, for betraying the Decepticons. Thundercracker tries to explain to Skywarp about how Megatron had lost his way, but Skywarp furiously calls him a "betrayer"... and fires point blank at Thundercracker's head.
Thundercracker declares that none of the Autobots can fly in [[robot mode]], and when Optimus brings up Omega Supreme, Thundercracker dismisses him as lacking the necessary finesse. Ironhide asks why a Decepticon would help, and Thundercracker explains that there is no honor in the bomb. Drift, a former Decepticon, tries to welcome Thundercracker into the Autobot ranks, but Thundercracker swats his offered hand aside, refusing to speak to a traitor. Thundercracker says that the humans were unworthy adversaries, that the Decepticons are creatures of combat, not slaughter, and that all of their actions on Earth have been dishonorable. With that, Thundercracker takes off and grabs the nuclear weapon as it falls, then flies it into space and fires at it, detonating it safely.


Optimus Prime tells Spike that his people are free, but they must rebuild and recover from the devastation. The humans need leaders like themselves, and heroes that can look up to them in times of need. The Autobots had traveled from their homeworld of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to free the humans from the Decepticons' tyranny. With that, Prime lets Spike know that he wants to help them in anyway he can. Spike, while appreciating it, honestly says that if mankind is going to accept them, they have another thing coming. The Transformers had brought their war to Earth, and that they had caused ''all'' of the damage to the planet, regardless of allegiance, and that any chance of a union between humans and Transformers is now long gone...
[[File:AHM12 Betrayer.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|"How ''dare'' you behave according to your bio!"]]
The Autobots finally celebrate their victory, and Hound introduces Prime to the mystery sniper, Spike Witwicky. Prime praises Spike's remarkable skills, but Spike passes the credit to his "remarkable weapon." In Central Park, Sparkplug and Kup have a chat about outer space and Kup's "[[cigar]]" while sitting on the fallen body of Dropshot. Meanwhile, Thundercracker is en route to join the Decepticons when Skywarp teleports behind him and accuses him of betrayal. Thundercracker tries to tell Skywarp that Megatron had lost his way, but the furious Skywarp shoots him point-blank in the face.


While Spike is talking to Optimus, Sideswipe enters Bombshell's lab and what he finds is disturbing... Hunter O'Nion, Sunstreaker's former Headmaster partner, being placed on life support, due to Sunstreaker's death. Faced with a spark-wrenching decision, Sideswipe presses a switch, shutting down Hunter's life support, and  walks away while Hunter expires...
Optimus Prime tells Spike that his people are free, but they must rebuild and recover. He says that the humans will need leaders like Spike and his comrades, heroes they can turn to in desperate times. The Autobots had traveled from their homeworld of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to free the humans from the Decepticons' tyranny, and Prime offers whatever help he and the Autobots can give. Spike, while professing appreciation, says that he doesn't think humanity is going to accept them, given that the Transformers had brought their own war to Earth. As Spike declares the impossibility of a "union" between humans and Autobots, Sideswipe puts deed to word in Bombshell's lab: Stricken with horror at the sight of Hunter O'Nion's ravaged physical state, Sideswipe turns off the machines supporting his tortured life.
{{--}}


== Featured characters ==
==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
|c1=
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe ]] (1)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sideswipe]] (1)
*[[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (4)
* [[Kup (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Kup]] (4)
*[[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (6)
* [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (6)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (15)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] (15)
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (21)
* [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] (21)
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (22)
* [[Jazz (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Jazz]] (22)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (23)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]] (23)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (29)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (29)
*[[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (30)
* [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (30)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (31)
* [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] (31)
*[[Roadbuster]] (32)
* [[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]] (32)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (33)
* [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (33)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (34)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (34)
|c2=
|c2=
*[[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] (2)
* [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] (2)
*[[Bombshell|Bombshell]] (3)
* [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] (3)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (5)
* [[Skywarp (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Skywarp]] (5)
*[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (7)
* [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (7)
*[[Dropshot (Universe)|Dropshot]] (8)
* [[Dropshot (G1)|Dropshot]] (8)
*[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (16)
* [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] (16)
*[[Octane|Tankor]] (17)
* [[Octane|Tankor]] (17)
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (18)
* [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (18)
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (19)
* [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] (19)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (20)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Thundercracker]] (20)
*[[Spectro|Spectro]] (?) (24)
* [[Spectro]] (?) (24)
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (25)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Soundwave]] (25)
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (26)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (26)
*[[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] (27)
* [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] (27)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (28)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (28)
|c3=
|c3=
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky|Daniel "Sparkplug" Witwicky]] (9)
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Daniel Witwicky]] (9)
*[[Colonel Hawke]] (10)
* [[Hawke]] (10)
*[[Bridge]] (11)
* [[Bridge]] (11)
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (12)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Spike Witwicky]] (12)
*[[Sarah]] (13)
* [[Sarah (G1)|Sarah]] (13)
*[[Charles]] (14)
* [[Charles (G1)|Charles]] (14)
*[[Hunter O'Nion]] (35)
* [[Hunter O'Nion]] (35)
}}
}}


== Quotes ==
==Quotes==
* TBD
"Word is you went ''crazy.'' Figured you'd be in the ''scrap heap'' by now, Kup."
:—'''Skywarp''' read "[[Spotlight: Kup]]" just like the rest of us.
 
 
"No! You will ''not'' defeat Devastator! You are ''nothing!''"<br />
"Wrong. I am ''Omega Supreme!''"
:—'''Devastator''' and '''Omega Supreme's''' final exchange, wherein Omega continues to push his Transformer equivalent of "I'm Batman."
 


== Errors ==
"Leadership of the Decepticons must be ''taken,'' Prime. Not ''magically'' offered up by ''chance.'' Something your kind will ''never'' understand."
* In the description of the ''Coda'' issues, #16 has Bumblebee's story as a second "Story 1" rather than "Story 2".
:—'''Starscream''' disses the Matrix while also stealing it.


== Items of note ==
 
* This issue was released on the same day as the American release of ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]''. Coincidence... yeeeaahhh.
"Brother. I'm glad you have seen the way, your choice is—"<br />
* With the overall moral of AHM being "Autobots will stop taking 'acceptable losses' in their war against the Decepticons", Sideswipe deciding to end Hunter's life rather than, say, take him back to Ratchet <strike>and Perceptor</strike> to try and save him really doesn't make a lot of sense.
"Do not ''speak'' to me. I'm no ''traitor'' to my ''kind.''"
:—'''Drift''' gets no love from '''Thundercracker''', either.
 
 
"So what's with the [[cigar]]?"<br />
"What's a 'cigar'?"
:—'''Sparkplug''' and '''Kup''' talk about Kup's "sparkplug," appropriately enough.
 
==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* While it has been obliquely hinted at [[Spotlight: Drift|before]], Kup's brush with insanity is finally acknowledged directly, though not in a way that actually ''addresses'' the disconnect.
* [[Octane]], like his ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' toy, now goes by the name of Tankor. Poor guy.
* Ironhide is particularly incredulous at Thundercracker's offer to save New York from the bomb. While it's unlikely it was a deliberate callback to this issue, a few years after its publication, [[Choices|''Autocracy'' #7]] would show that the Seeker had butted heads with Ironhide in the past.
 
===Errors===
* In the description of the ''Coda'' issues, #16 has [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]]'s story as a second "Story 1" rather than "Story 2". Also, Guido Guidi is misspelled as "Guido Guido". Ok, we ''get'' it, he's [[Italy|Italian]]!
* When Prime talks to Spike on page 21, he's probably supposed to start with "Your people are free," not "Our people".
* When Bombshell re-appears after being punched out by Kup, the damage to his face is missing.
 
===Trivia===
* The [[Decepticomments]] section describes the ''Coda'' issues and provides art from some of the covers.
* The [[Decepticomments]] section describes the ''Coda'' issues and provides art from some of the covers.
* Octane, like his Universe counterpart, now goes by the name of Tankor. Poor guy.
* Omega Supreme barely held is own against Monstructor, the first combiner in Spotlight Optimus Prime. However he easily defeats Devastator who barely puts up much of a fight. Either perfecting Jhiaxus gestalt technology has the drawback of a weaker gestalt, or Omega has been training.


== Covers (3)==
===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A:''' A "reverse" of issue 1's cover, with Prime holding an waving American flag and Megatron's fusion cannon; art by [[Casey Coller]] with colors by [[Joana Lafuente]].
* '''Cover A:''' A "reverse" of issue 1's cover, with Prime holding a waving American flag and Megatron's fusion cannon; art by [[Casey Coller]] with colors by [[Joana Lafuente]].
* '''Cover B:''' Prime vs Megatron; art and colors by [[Trevor Hutchison]].
* '''Cover B:''' Prime versus Megatron; art and colors by [[Trevor Hutchison]].
* '''Apocalypse Comics Exclusive Cover:''' Homage to ''Amazing Spider-Man'' #50, with Megatron in place; art by Casey Coller with colors by Joana Lafuente.
* '''Apocalypse Comics Exclusive Cover:''' Homage to ''Amazing [[Spider-Man]]'' #50, with Megatron in place of Spidey; art by Casey Coller with colors by Joana Lafuente.
 
<gallery>
<gallery>
Image:All Hail Megatron 12a.jpg|America loves Prime like France loves Jerry Lewis.
File:AHM 12cvrA.jpg|America loves Prime like France loves Jerry Lewis.
Image:All Hail Megatron 12b.jpg|All Hail Prime!
File:AHM 12cvrB.jpg|All Hail Prime!
Image:All Hail Megatron 12ri.jpg|Megatron No More!
File:AHM 12cvrRI.jpg|Who are you then, [[Frank Welker]]?
</gallery>
</gallery>


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===Reprints===
<small>Other than [[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron#Collections|full or partial collections of ''All Hail Megatron'']].</small>
* N/A


[[Category:IDW Generation 1 issues]]
[[Category:All Hail Megatron issues]]

Latest revision as of 01:09, 12 March 2026

« The Transformers: All Hail Megatron #12 »

Unlike issue 1, this sorta happened.
Publisher IDW Publishing
First published June 24, 2009
Cover date June 2009
Written by Shane McCarthy
Art by Guido Guidi
Colors by James Brown and Josh Burcham
Letters by Chris Mowry
Edits by Andy Schmidt and Denton J. Tipton
Continuity 2005 IDW continuity
Chronology All Hail Megatron

There's a nuclear bomb coming to blow up a city as Prime and Megatron trade blows and viewpoints, and somebody has to fly up and stop it! Haven't we been here before?

Synopsis

[edit]

In New York City, the Autobots and Decepticons continue to battle. Sideswipe swats Kickback with a broken street light, wanting to avenge Sunstreaker's death. Suddenly, Bombshell surprises him and reveals that he was the one responsible for Sunstreaker's actions by toying with the mind of his former Headmaster partner, Hunter O'Nion. Before Bombshell can kill Sideswipe, though, Kup punches him in the face. However, he, too, gets taken by surprise by Skywarp. Skywarp is incredulous about Kup's presence, since he had heard that Kup had gone crazy. Kup, insulted by Skywarp's "scrap heap" joke, fires at his chest, and falls near the Statue of Liberty, where Omega Supreme and Devastator struggle. Devastator claims that nothing can stop him, but Omega proves otherwise by blasting straight through his chest (along with Lady Liberty), and Devastator falls into the ocean.

At Central Park, Sparkplug Witwicky, Colonel Hawke, and the remaining army troops fire at Dropshot, but without success. Sparkplug orders Hawke to leave, with the European Union plane (secretly the Decepticon Tankor) heading its way to drop the nuke at the city. Hawke protests, but Sparkplug persists, saying that he might lose his son, and that he doesn't want any of his men to join him. Meanwhile, Spike and his "team" make it to the rooftop of a building and stay low, witnessing two of the large robots begin their duel. Armed with the secret weapon he stole, Spike decides to target the silver one. Bridge asks Spike if the other one is on their side, and Spike replies that he hopes so, considering how big it is.

Optimus Prime and Megatron continue to grapple, Megatron relentlessly questioning Prime on why he cares about the humans after they've tortured an Autobot and put plans in motion to kill millions of their own people in a nuclear strike against the Transformers. Prime retorts that it's not only about protecting the humans; it's about also about the difference between himself and Megatron – what makes one a Decepticon and one an Autobot.

In Central Park, Sparkplug fires a bazooka at Dropshot, who briefly staggers. Enraged and hurt, Dropshot declares that after having been stuck spying on the humans for so long, there's nothing that can stop him from tearing them all apart now. But in a silent, ironic counterpoint, Kup emerges from the water behind him.

Meanwhile, Prime and Megatron continue to exchange blows, but Megatron gets the upper hand by head-butting Prime and throwing him into a building. Megatron stands over Prime and tells him he respects him for his continued struggle. Nevertheless, Megatron orders Tankor to proceed with the bombing, and Tankor, shedding his European Union disguise, obliges. Bridge tells Spike to shoot fast, but Spike can only wait for it to charge up. Megatron orders the Decepticons to leave, but Blitzwing bemoans the loss of the space bridge and the city. Megatron replies that the Decepticons have other planets, and starting again is a price worth paying for the death of the Autobots alongside the humans. Bridge warns Spike that the Decepticons are about to flee, and Spike at last pulls the trigger.

Just as Megatron is telling Prime that he's going to take the Matrix with him, the blast from Spike's gun hits him square in the face. Seizing the opportunity, Prime grabs Megatron's fusion cannon off the ground and smashes it hard against Megatron's head. Megatron, crackling with electricity, falls to the ground, defeated and broken. The Autobots begin to celebrate, but as Optimus advances towards Megatron, a voice stops him; it's Starscream! Optimus asks him what he's doing, and Starscream replies that he is fulfilling his role as a Seeker by "protecting the leader of the Decepticon Empire." Prime tells Starscream that this isn't like him; he could leave Megatron and assume leadership of the Decepticons himself. But Starscream, repeating what Megatron had told him, says that leadership must be taken, not magically given by chance, which Prime would never understand.

Optimus asks Starscream if he's running, to which he replies that he's merely done playing. He claims the Decepticons outnumber the Autobots across the galaxy, the Autobot army is in tatters, and the Decepticons are victorious. Prolonging the battle would gain them nothing, and the Autobots wouldn't waste their time pursuing them when there's a nuclear bomb on the way. As the Decepticons lift off, the Autobots ponder how to stop the bomb. They realize that someone needs to fly up to it, and they're shocked to hear Thundercracker volunteer.

Thundercracker declares that none of the Autobots can fly in robot mode, and when Optimus brings up Omega Supreme, Thundercracker dismisses him as lacking the necessary finesse. Ironhide asks why a Decepticon would help, and Thundercracker explains that there is no honor in the bomb. Drift, a former Decepticon, tries to welcome Thundercracker into the Autobot ranks, but Thundercracker swats his offered hand aside, refusing to speak to a traitor. Thundercracker says that the humans were unworthy adversaries, that the Decepticons are creatures of combat, not slaughter, and that all of their actions on Earth have been dishonorable. With that, Thundercracker takes off and grabs the nuclear weapon as it falls, then flies it into space and fires at it, detonating it safely.

"How dare you behave according to your bio!"

The Autobots finally celebrate their victory, and Hound introduces Prime to the mystery sniper, Spike Witwicky. Prime praises Spike's remarkable skills, but Spike passes the credit to his "remarkable weapon." In Central Park, Sparkplug and Kup have a chat about outer space and Kup's "cigar" while sitting on the fallen body of Dropshot. Meanwhile, Thundercracker is en route to join the Decepticons when Skywarp teleports behind him and accuses him of betrayal. Thundercracker tries to tell Skywarp that Megatron had lost his way, but the furious Skywarp shoots him point-blank in the face.

Optimus Prime tells Spike that his people are free, but they must rebuild and recover. He says that the humans will need leaders like Spike and his comrades, heroes they can turn to in desperate times. The Autobots had traveled from their homeworld of Cybertron to free the humans from the Decepticons' tyranny, and Prime offers whatever help he and the Autobots can give. Spike, while professing appreciation, says that he doesn't think humanity is going to accept them, given that the Transformers had brought their own war to Earth. As Spike declares the impossibility of a "union" between humans and Autobots, Sideswipe puts deed to word in Bombshell's lab: Stricken with horror at the sight of Hunter O'Nion's ravaged physical state, Sideswipe turns off the machines supporting his tortured life.

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(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots Decepticons Humans

Quotes

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"Word is you went crazy. Figured you'd be in the scrap heap by now, Kup."

—Skywarp read "Spotlight: Kup" just like the rest of us.


"No! You will not defeat Devastator! You are nothing!"
"Wrong. I am Omega Supreme!"

—Devastator and Omega Supreme's final exchange, wherein Omega continues to push his Transformer equivalent of "I'm Batman."


"Leadership of the Decepticons must be taken, Prime. Not magically offered up by chance. Something your kind will never understand."

—Starscream disses the Matrix while also stealing it.


"Brother. I'm glad you have seen the way, your choice is—"
"Do not speak to me. I'm no traitor to my kind."

—Drift gets no love from Thundercracker, either.


"So what's with the cigar?"
"What's a 'cigar'?"

—Sparkplug and Kup talk about Kup's "sparkplug," appropriately enough.

Notes

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Continuity notes

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  • While it has been obliquely hinted at before, Kup's brush with insanity is finally acknowledged directly, though not in a way that actually addresses the disconnect.
  • Octane, like his Universe toy, now goes by the name of Tankor. Poor guy.
  • Ironhide is particularly incredulous at Thundercracker's offer to save New York from the bomb. While it's unlikely it was a deliberate callback to this issue, a few years after its publication, Autocracy #7 would show that the Seeker had butted heads with Ironhide in the past.

Errors

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  • In the description of the Coda issues, #16 has Bumblebee's story as a second "Story 1" rather than "Story 2". Also, Guido Guidi is misspelled as "Guido Guido". Ok, we get it, he's Italian!
  • When Prime talks to Spike on page 21, he's probably supposed to start with "Your people are free," not "Our people".
  • When Bombshell re-appears after being punched out by Kup, the damage to his face is missing.

Trivia

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  • The Decepticomments section describes the Coda issues and provides art from some of the covers.

Covers (3)

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  • Cover A: A "reverse" of issue 1's cover, with Prime holding a waving American flag and Megatron's fusion cannon; art by Casey Coller with colors by Joana Lafuente.
  • Cover B: Prime versus Megatron; art and colors by Trevor Hutchison.
  • Apocalypse Comics Exclusive Cover: Homage to Amazing Spider-Man #50, with Megatron in place of Spidey; art by Casey Coller with colors by Joana Lafuente.
  • America loves Prime like France loves Jerry Lewis.
    America loves Prime like France loves Jerry Lewis.
  • All Hail Prime!
    All Hail Prime!
  • Who are you then, Frank Welker?
    Who are you then, Frank Welker?

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