The Sum and Its Parts: Difference between revisions
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|prev=Windblade issue 4 | |prev=Windblade issue 4 | ||
|next=Mistakes and Mayhem | |next=Mistakes and Mayhem | ||
|seriesissue2=[[Combiner Wars]]<br>Part 1 | |seriesissue2=[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]<br>Part 1 | ||
|prev2=First Contact (IDW) | |prev2=First Contact (IDW) | ||
|next2=The Possible Light | |next2=The Possible Light | ||
|image=Windbladev2_1_regcvr.jpg | |image=Windbladev2_1_regcvr.jpg | ||
|caption= | |caption= | ||
|title="The Sum and Its Parts" | |title="The Sum and Its Parts" | ||
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|story by=[[Mairghread Scott]] and [[John Barber]] | |story by=[[Mairghread Scott]] and [[John Barber]] | ||
|written by=[[Mairghread Scott]] | |written by=[[Mairghread Scott]] | ||
|art by=[[ | |art by=[[Saren Stone]] | ||
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]] | |letters by=[[Tom B. Long]] | ||
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]] | |editor=[[Carlos Guzman]] | ||
|continuity=[[ | |continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]] | ||
|chronology=[[IDW timeline|Current era (2015)]] | |chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2015)]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
| Line 24: | Line 24: | ||
==Synopsis== | ==Synopsis== | ||
[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] has been swindled! [[Caminus]] has turned out not to be the resource-rich world [[Starscream (G1)/IDW | [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] has been swindled! [[Caminus (planet)|Caminus]] has turned out not to be the resource-rich world [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] led him to believe he would be able to pillage, and the local law enforcement, led by [[Afterburner (G2)|Afterburner]], soon arrives to apprehend him. Unfortunately for them, their [[cityspeaker]]s have not been able to properly translate their [[Titan (group)|Titan]]'s warning about the [[Enigma of Combination]], and they are unprepared for [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]]. Afterburner tries to keep his cool in the face of the [[combiner]], but when he tries to arrest Menasor, the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticon]] giant stomps him to death. Menasor's rage begins to build, but Swindle tries to calm him, and moreover, to avoid any physical harm by reminding it was ''Starscream'', rather than Swindle himself, who promised them all a "big score". With mounting dread, Swindle realizes that Starscream has set them up—though what he does not know is that the addition of hot-tempered secret police officer [[Blackjack (G1)|Blackjack]] to the Stunticon ranks was also engineered by Starscream in service of this scheme, to "infect" Menasor with his anger. The ex-'Con tries to get Menasor to separate and retreat, but the combiner's fury is insurmountable, and he turns his anger on Caminus itself. | ||
On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Starscream is nonchalantly picking a color for his new body when a furious [[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW | On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Starscream is nonchalantly picking a color for his new body when a furious [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] summons him to the [[Space bridge|spacebridge]] chamber with the news that it has been used. Feigning shock and confusion, Starscream arrives on the scene and orders a squad of his secret police to join [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] and the suspicious [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] in going through the portal to help take Menasor down. The battle does not go well, and when Chromia is seized by Menasor, [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] is forced to traverse the bridge to help; [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] offers to join her, but she insists that he stay on Cybertron until she can explain some pertinent facts about Camien life to him. Windblade arrives just as Chromia frees herself from Menasor's clutches and saves her friend from a nasty fall, then requests Prime have Starscream call in the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], who they both know are fully functional, though Starscream tries to take the moral high ground by briefly denying it. In no time flat, the Aerialbots are through the bridge to Caminus, and combine into [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] to battle Menasor, displaying greater mental stability and dexterity that allows their combined form to easily best their Stunticon counterparts. When Menasor throws a haymaker, Superion is even able to reconfigure his body ''around'' the Decepticon's giant fist, causing him to fall forward, straight into a point-blank headshot from Superion's gun. Toppled by the shot, Menasor is quickly put down by a few more of Superion's earth-shaking punches. Swindle tries to sneak away in the chaos, but one of the [[Badgeless]] secretly arrests him, remarking that Starscream still has plans for Swindle.... | ||
Windblade calls a meeting of Caminus's political leaders, the [[Forgefire Parliament]], who wish to speak with Starscream to arrange that he put right the trouble his world has caused. While Starscream goes to speak with them, Windblade explains to Optimus Prime the reason for her earlier hesitancy. On Caminus, there is only one religion, the [[Way of Flame]], which deifies the [[Thirteen|Thirteen Primes]], and [[ | Windblade calls a meeting of Caminus's political leaders, the [[Forgefire Parliament]], who wish to speak with Starscream to arrange that he put right the trouble his world has caused. While Starscream goes to speak with them, Windblade explains to Optimus Prime the reason for her earlier hesitancy. On Caminus, there is only one religion, the [[Way of Flame]], which deifies the [[Thirteen|Thirteen Primes]], and [[Solus Prime]] above all. Since Optimus is a living Prime, and carries the [[Matrix of Leadership]], he will essentially be seen as a god to the Camiens—information Windblade wished Prime to have before he made any decision on how to act, given his recent struggles with bearing the title. Concerned, but unwilling to let Starscream play the naive Camiens, Prime decides to visit Caminus, where Windblade interrupts Starscream's meeting with Parliament to dramatically introduce him. Caminus's religious leader, the [[Mistress of Flame]], requests that proof of his "divinity" be shown, and Optimus graciously complies, opening his chest to reveal the Matrix. Starscream can only look on in silent outrage as all the Camiens bow before the living Prime... | ||
==Featured characters== | ==Featured characters== | ||
| Line 34: | Line 34: | ||
{{Featuredcharacters | {{Featuredcharacters | ||
|c1= | |c1= | ||
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/IDW | * [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] (10) | ||
*[[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] (11) | * [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] (11) | ||
*[[Ironhide (G1)/IDW | * [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] (12) | ||
*[[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] (13) | * [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] (13) | ||
*[[Alpha Bravo]] (15) | * [[Alpha Bravo]] (15) | ||
*[[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (16) | * [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (16) | ||
*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (17) | * [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (17) | ||
*[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (18) | * [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (18) | ||
*[[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (19) | * [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (19) | ||
*[[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (20) | * [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (20) | ||
|c2= | |c2= | ||
*[[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] (6) | * [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] (6) | ||
|c4= | |c4= | ||
*[[Hot Shot ( | * [[Hot Shot (G1)|Hot Shot]] (1) | ||
*[[Lightbright (G1)|Lightbright]] (2) | * [[Lightbright (G1)|Lightbright]] (2) | ||
*[[Afterburner (G2)|Afterburner]] (3) | * [[Afterburner (G2)|Afterburner]] (3) | ||
*[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (4) | * [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (4) | ||
*[[Alpha Squadron]] fliers (5) | * [[Alpha Squadron]] fliers (5) | ||
*[[Starscream (G1)/IDW | * [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] (7) | ||
*''[[Blackjack]]'' (8) | * ''[[Blackjack (G1)|Blackjack]]'' (8) | ||
*[[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]] (9) | * [[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]] (9) | ||
*The [[Badgeless]] (14) | * The [[Badgeless]] (14) | ||
* | * [[Strafe (IDW)|Strafe]] (21) | ||
*"[[Red Leader (Caminus)|Red Leader]]" (22) | * "[[Red Leader (Caminus)|Red Leader]]" (22) | ||
*[[Mistress of Flame]] (23) | * [[Mistress of Flame]] (23) | ||
*''[[ | * ''[[Solus Prime]]'' (23) | ||
}} | }} | ||
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"Starscream, call the Aerialbots. Get them down here—'''''Now!'''''"<br> | |||
"First off, '''you''' do not order '''me''' to do anything, Prime. Secondly, weren't you the one adamant that I '''not''' use '''Superion?''' That it was your friends and not a weapon, or some such nonsense?"<br> | |||
"And yet, I highly doubt you followed my advice. Now, unless you'd like me to ask Prowl to look into the convenience of this situation—particularly in your favor—you will help the Cybertronians who are dying for you right now '''every''' way you can. So... '''''Does''''' '''''SUPERION''''' <big>'''''FUNCTION?'''''</big><br> | |||
"Well, I wouldn't be me if I wasn't prepared." | "Well, I wouldn't be me if I wasn't prepared." | ||
:—'''Starscream''' | :—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Starscream''' | ||
"You done destroying this nice little city? | "You done destroying this nice little city?"<br> | ||
"'''''RAAH!'''''"<br> | |||
"Guess not."<br> | |||
"Dead 'bots... talk... useless!"<br> | "Dead 'bots... talk... useless!"<br> | ||
"That... didn't even make sense." | "That... didn't even make sense." | ||
| Line 86: | Line 91: | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
===Continuity notes=== | ===Continuity notes=== | ||
*Blackjack's addition to the ranks of the Stunticons is revealed to be Starscream's work; he's actually an officer in the secret police, a group introduced in [[Windblade issue 3|issue #3]] of the original ''Windblade'' mini-series. Of the various officers who appear this issue, only one is shown in [[robot mode]], but wears the same identity-obscuring mask as seen in that issue. It was said that these 'bots would come to be known as the "Badgeless" in the near future for their deliberate lack of obvious affiliation, though it doesn't appear they've picked that moniker up yet. | * Blackjack's addition to the ranks of the Stunticons is revealed to be Starscream's work; he's actually an officer in the secret police, a group introduced in [[Windblade issue 3|issue #3]] of the original ''Windblade'' mini-series. Of the various officers who appear this issue, only one is shown in [[robot mode]], but wears the same identity-obscuring mask as seen in that issue. It was said that these 'bots would come to be known as the "Badgeless" in the near future for their deliberate lack of obvious affiliation, though it doesn't appear they've picked that moniker up yet. | ||
*Starscream reminds Chromia of when Swindle broke her, Windblade and several others out of jail, also in ''Windblade'' vol. 1 #3. | * Starscream reminds Chromia of when Swindle broke her, Windblade and several others out of jail, also in ''Windblade'' vol. 1 #3. | ||
*Windblade, Chromia, and Nautica's brief time as part of [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]]'s crew is mentioned, as detailed in [[Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8|''More than Meets the Eye'' #26]] and [[A 'Bot and Her City|''Windblade'' vol. 1 #1]]. She explains that Thunderclash told them about Optimus's (temporary) abandonment of his Prime title, which took place in ''[[Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime]]'', only to be reversed just over two years later in [[Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|''Robots in Disguise'' #26]]. | * Windblade, Chromia, and Nautica's brief time as part of [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]]'s crew is mentioned, as detailed in [[Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8|''More than Meets the Eye'' #26]] and [[A 'Bot and Her City|''Windblade'' vol. 1 #1]]. She explains that Thunderclash told them about Optimus's (temporary) abandonment of his Prime title, which took place in ''[[Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime]]'', only to be reversed just over two years later in [[Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|''Robots in Disguise'' #26]]. | ||
* It's odd to see the Matrix of Leadership giving off the blinding light that it does at the end of this issue, since it was rendered non-functional at the climax of [[The Transformers (IDW)|the previous ongoing]], but [[Conquerors Part 2: Lagrange|issue #47]] would confirm that it was indeed happening in-universe. After all the years we have known him, there's ''still'' a lot more to Optimus than meets the eye! | |||
===Transformers references=== | ===Transformers references=== | ||
*The Badgeless attack using "pattern 3-3-1", which seems like a deliberate inversion of "[[113 (disambiguation)|113]]", [[James Roberts]]'s Easter-egg number. | * The Badgeless attack using "pattern 3-3-1", which seems like a deliberate inversion of "[[113 (disambiguation)|113]]", [[James Roberts]]'s Easter-egg number. | ||
*The long-predicted connection between Solus Prime and Caminus is officially established this issue, with Solus appearing on-panel for the first time, based on her design in ''[[Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus]]''. Though we have seen that the [[Thirteen|Thirteen Primes]] are decidedly ''un''-divine in IDW continuity, the people of Caminus nonetheless subscribe to their myth as seen in the ''Covenant'' and other corners of the Transformers multiverse, including the belief that the Matrix of Leadership once rested on the hilt of the [[Star Saber ( | * The long-predicted connection between Solus Prime and Caminus is officially established this issue, with Solus appearing on-panel (albeit only as a statue) for the first time, based on her design in ''[[Transformers: The Covenant of Primus|The Covenant of Primus]]''. Though we have seen that the [[Thirteen|Thirteen Primes]] are decidedly ''un''-divine in IDW continuity, the people of Caminus nonetheless subscribe to their myth as seen in the ''Covenant'' and other corners of the Transformers multiverse, including the belief that the Matrix of Leadership once rested on the hilt of the [[Star Saber (Thirteen)|Star Saber]]. Afterburner is even heard to swear by [[Prima]] when Menasor's attack is detected. | ||
===Errors=== | ===Errors=== | ||
* | * The [[First Contact (IDW)|previous chapter]] showed Optimus's Matrix-half on the right side of his chest, but in this issue, it's on the left. | ||
===Other trivia=== | ===Other trivia=== | ||
*Just as Drag Strip was missing from the Stunticons in the previous ''Combiner Wars'' chapter, [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] is not in evidence among the Aerialbots before the team combines. Notably, Drag Strip and Air Raid are the team members who are sold in separate waves of the [[ | * Just as Drag Strip was missing from the Stunticons in the previous ''Combiner Wars'' chapter, [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] is not in evidence among the Aerialbots before the team combines. Notably, Drag Strip and Air Raid are the team members who are sold in separate waves of the ''[[Combiner Wars (toyline)|Combiner Wars]]'' toyline to their teammates, so this might be a deliberate, if rather odd, omission. | ||
*Blackjack is drawn with a mouth and goggles in this issue, closer to his original toy's depiction, rather than the ''Combiner Wars'' toy-accurate head he got last issue. Perhaps it is detachable? | * Blackjack is drawn with a mouth and goggles in this issue, closer to his original toy's depiction, rather than the ''Combiner Wars'' toy-accurate head he got last issue. Perhaps it is detachable? | ||
===Covers (10)=== | |||
* '''Regular cover:''' Superion and Windblade, by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Joana Lafuente]] | |||
* '''Subscription cover:''' Starscream and Windblade leg it as Menasor gets ready for battle, by [[Livio Ramondelli]]; combines with subscription cover to [[First Contact (IDW)|''The Transformers'' #39]] to create a complete image. | |||
* '''Retailer incentive cover:''' Windblade fist-bumps Superion, by [[Sara Pitre-Durocher]] | |||
* '''Hasbro exclusive cover:''' Artwork of [[Mirage (G1)/toys#Generations|Mirage]], based on his ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]] [[Combiner Wars (toyline)|Combiner Wars]]'' Deluxe Class toy, available with said toy in the United States, Australia, and Asia. Rebranded as ''[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]'' #16. | |||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
File:Windbladev2_1_regcvr.jpg| | File:Windbladev2_1_regcvr.jpg| | ||
File:Windbladev2_1_subcvr.jpg| | File:Windbladev2_1_subcvr.jpg| | ||
File:Windbladev2_1_cvrRI.jpg| | File:Windbladev2_1_cvrRI.jpg| | ||
File:CW Mirage cvr.jpg| | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
A piece of art by [[Travis Sengaus]], with colors by [[Josh Burcham]], of Devastator was used as the basis for a number of store-exclusive covers. Credits below reflect who illustrated the store on the cover: | A piece of art by [[Travis Sengaus]], with colors by [[Josh Burcham]], of Devastator was used as the basis for a number of store-exclusive covers. Credits below reflect who illustrated the store on the cover: | ||
*'''BuyMeToys exclusive cover:''' [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] smashes the [http://buymetoys.com/catalog/ BuyMeToys] store; art by Sengaus, colors by Burcham | * '''BuyMeToys exclusive cover:''' [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] smashes the [http://buymetoys.com/catalog/ BuyMeToys] store; art by Sengaus, colors by Burcham | ||
*'''Giant Robot Comics exclusive cover:''' Devastator smashes the [http://www.giantrobotcomics.com/ Giant Robot Comics] store; art and colors by Burcham | * '''Giant Robot Comics exclusive cover:''' Devastator smashes the [http://www.giantrobotcomics.com/ Giant Robot Comics] store; art and colors by Burcham | ||
*'''Midtown Comics exclusive cover:''' Devastator smashes the [http://www.midtowncomics.com/ Midtown Comics] store; art by Sengaus, colors by Burcham | * '''Midtown Comics exclusive cover:''' Devastator smashes the [http://www.midtowncomics.com/ Midtown Comics] store; art by Sengaus, colors by Burcham | ||
*'''4 Color Fantasies Comics exclusive cover:''' Devastator smashes the [http://www.4colorfantasies.com/ 4 Color Fantasies Comics] store; art and colors by Burcham | * '''4 Color Fantasies Comics exclusive cover:''' Devastator smashes the [http://www.4colorfantasies.com/ 4 Color Fantasies Comics] store; art and colors by Burcham | ||
*'''St. Mark's Comics exclusive cover:'''Devastator smashes the [http://www.stmarkscomics.com/ St. Mark's Comics] store; art by Sengaus, colors by Burcham | * '''St. Mark's Comics exclusive cover:'''Devastator smashes the [http://www.stmarkscomics.com/ St. Mark's Comics] store; art by Sengaus, colors by Burcham | ||
*'''G & B Comics exclusive cover:''' Devastator smashes the [http://comic.com.sg G & B Comics] store; art and colors by Burcham | * '''G & B Comics exclusive cover:''' Devastator smashes the [http://comic.com.sg G & B Comics] store; art and colors by Burcham | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
File: | File:Windbladev2_1_cvrRE A.jpg| | ||
File: | File:Windbladev2_1_cvrRE B.jpg| | ||
File: | File:Windbladev2_1_cvrRE C.jpg| | ||
File: | File:Windbladev2_1_cvrRE D.jpg| | ||
File: | File:Windbladev2_1_cvrRE E.jpg| | ||
File: | File:Windbladev2_1_cvrRE F.jpg| | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
===Advertisements=== | ===Advertisements=== | ||
*''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]'' [[The Possible Light|#40 - Combiner Wars, Part 2]] | * ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]'' [[The Possible Light|#40 - Combiner Wars, Part 2]] | ||
*''Windblade'' #2 - Combiner Wars, Part 3 | * ''Windblade'' #2 - Combiner Wars, Part 3 | ||
*''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets The Eye]]'' [[The Permanent Revolution|#39]] | * ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets The Eye]]'' [[The Permanent Revolution|#39]] | ||
*''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' [[Expelled from the Garden|#6]] | * ''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' [[Expelled from the Garden|#6]] | ||
*''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The IDW Collection'' Vol. 1 (back cover) | * ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]: The IDW Collection'' Vol. 1 (back cover) | ||
===Reprints=== | |||
* '''''[[Combiner Wars (comic)|The Transformers: Combiner Wars]]''''' <small>([[August 12]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631403869 / ISBN 978-1631403866</small> | |||
** Collects [[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|''The Transformers'' (2012)]] issues [[First Contact (IDW)|#39]]–[[You, Me, and the Universe|41]], and ''Windblade'' (2015) issues #1–3. | |||
** Bonus material includes covers from each issue. | |||
** Trade paperback format. | |||
* '''''Transformers: Windblade - The Last City''''' <small>([[February 14]], [[2018]]) ISBN 978-1684052240</small> | |||
** Collects ''Windblade'' (2014) issues #1–4, and ''Windblade'' (2015) issues #1–7, but not the alternating chapters of ''Combiner Wars'' from ''The Transformers'' vol. 2 needed to complete the story. Um. | |||
** Bonus material includes covers from each issue. | |||
** Trade paperback format. | |||
* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 65: Combiner Wars''''' <small>([[October 31]], 2018)</small> | |||
** Collects ''The Transformers'' (2012) issues #39–[[Now and On Earth|42]], and ''Windblade'' (2015) issues #1–4. | |||
** Bonus material includes an article about the ''[[Prime Wars Trilogy]]'', a cover gallery and an intro by [[Simon Furman]]. | |||
** Hardcover format. | |||
* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 9]]''''' <small>([[June 19]], [[2019]]) ISBN 1684054842 / ISBN 978-1684054848</small> | |||
** Collects ''The Transformers'' (2012) issues #39–41, #42–[[South of Heaven|43]], ''Windblade'' (2015) issues #1–3 & #4–5, and ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' issues [[The Sensuous Frame|#41]]–[[The Not Knowing|44]]. | |||
** Hardcover format. | |||
<gallery> | |||
File:CW-TPB.jpg|'''''Combiner Wars''''' – cover art by [[Casey Coller]] and [[Joana Lafuente]] | |||
File:Windblade-Last-City.jpg|'''''Windblade - The Last City''''' – cover art by [[Sara Pitre-Durocher]] | |||
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v65.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 65: Combiner Wars''''' – cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] and [[Livio Ramondelli]] | |||
File:IDWCollectionP2V9.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 9''''' – cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]] | |||
</gallery> | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
*[http://www.newsarama.com/23873-combiner-wars-begin-in-this-transformers-windblade-1-exclusive-preview.html Preview] | * [http://www.newsarama.com/23873-combiner-wars-begin-in-this-transformers-windblade-1-exclusive-preview.html Preview] | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sum and Its Parts}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Sum and Its Parts}} | ||
[[Category:Combiner Wars issues]] | |||
[[Category:Windblade issues]] | [[Category:Windblade issues]] | ||
Latest revision as of 05:34, 27 September 2025
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| "The Sum and Its Parts" | |||||||||||||
| Publisher | IDW Publishing | ||||||||||||
| First published | March 25, 2015 | ||||||||||||
| Cover date | March 2015 | ||||||||||||
| Story by | Mairghread Scott and John Barber | ||||||||||||
| Written by | Mairghread Scott | ||||||||||||
| Art by | Saren Stone | ||||||||||||
| Letters by | Tom B. Long | ||||||||||||
| Editor | Carlos Guzman | ||||||||||||
| Continuity | 2005 IDW continuity | ||||||||||||
| Chronology | Current era (2015) | ||||||||||||
As Menasor rampages on Caminus, Superion enters the fray, and Optimus Prime discovers the significance of the role he must play in bringing the two worlds together.
Synopsis
[edit]Swindle has been swindled! Caminus has turned out not to be the resource-rich world Starscream led him to believe he would be able to pillage, and the local law enforcement, led by Afterburner, soon arrives to apprehend him. Unfortunately for them, their cityspeakers have not been able to properly translate their Titan's warning about the Enigma of Combination, and they are unprepared for Menasor. Afterburner tries to keep his cool in the face of the combiner, but when he tries to arrest Menasor, the Stunticon giant stomps him to death. Menasor's rage begins to build, but Swindle tries to calm him, and moreover, to avoid any physical harm by reminding it was Starscream, rather than Swindle himself, who promised them all a "big score". With mounting dread, Swindle realizes that Starscream has set them up—though what he does not know is that the addition of hot-tempered secret police officer Blackjack to the Stunticon ranks was also engineered by Starscream in service of this scheme, to "infect" Menasor with his anger. The ex-'Con tries to get Menasor to separate and retreat, but the combiner's fury is insurmountable, and he turns his anger on Caminus itself.
On Cybertron, Starscream is nonchalantly picking a color for his new body when a furious Optimus Prime summons him to the spacebridge chamber with the news that it has been used. Feigning shock and confusion, Starscream arrives on the scene and orders a squad of his secret police to join Ironhide and the suspicious Chromia in going through the portal to help take Menasor down. The battle does not go well, and when Chromia is seized by Menasor, Windblade is forced to traverse the bridge to help; Optimus Prime offers to join her, but she insists that he stay on Cybertron until she can explain some pertinent facts about Camien life to him. Windblade arrives just as Chromia frees herself from Menasor's clutches and saves her friend from a nasty fall, then requests Prime have Starscream call in the Aerialbots, who they both know are fully functional, though Starscream tries to take the moral high ground by briefly denying it. In no time flat, the Aerialbots are through the bridge to Caminus, and combine into Superion to battle Menasor, displaying greater mental stability and dexterity that allows their combined form to easily best their Stunticon counterparts. When Menasor throws a haymaker, Superion is even able to reconfigure his body around the Decepticon's giant fist, causing him to fall forward, straight into a point-blank headshot from Superion's gun. Toppled by the shot, Menasor is quickly put down by a few more of Superion's earth-shaking punches. Swindle tries to sneak away in the chaos, but one of the Badgeless secretly arrests him, remarking that Starscream still has plans for Swindle....
Windblade calls a meeting of Caminus's political leaders, the Forgefire Parliament, who wish to speak with Starscream to arrange that he put right the trouble his world has caused. While Starscream goes to speak with them, Windblade explains to Optimus Prime the reason for her earlier hesitancy. On Caminus, there is only one religion, the Way of Flame, which deifies the Thirteen Primes, and Solus Prime above all. Since Optimus is a living Prime, and carries the Matrix of Leadership, he will essentially be seen as a god to the Camiens—information Windblade wished Prime to have before he made any decision on how to act, given his recent struggles with bearing the title. Concerned, but unwilling to let Starscream play the naive Camiens, Prime decides to visit Caminus, where Windblade interrupts Starscream's meeting with Parliament to dramatically introduce him. Caminus's religious leader, the Mistress of Flame, requests that proof of his "divinity" be shown, and Optimus graciously complies, opening his chest to reveal the Matrix. Starscream can only look on in silent outrage as all the Camiens bow before the living Prime...
Featured characters
[edit]Characters in italic text appear only in flashbacks or stories.
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Others |
|---|---|---|
|
|
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Quotes
[edit]"Starscream said I'd get rich robbing these Camiens blind... and what do I find? No fuel! No weapons! Not even any metal! We're made of freakin' metal! How do you slag heaps not have any?"
- —Swindle
"Nice planet, by the way."
"It looks a lot nicer when some impossibly tall Cybertronian freak show isn't wrecking it."
"No worries. Combiners get a lot shorter once you take out their legs."
- —Ironhide and Chromia
"Starscream, call the Aerialbots. Get them down here—Now!"
"First off, you do not order me to do anything, Prime. Secondly, weren't you the one adamant that I not use Superion? That it was your friends and not a weapon, or some such nonsense?"
"And yet, I highly doubt you followed my advice. Now, unless you'd like me to ask Prowl to look into the convenience of this situation—particularly in your favor—you will help the Cybertronians who are dying for you right now every way you can. So... Does SUPERION FUNCTION?
"Well, I wouldn't be me if I wasn't prepared."
- —Optimus Prime and Starscream
"You done destroying this nice little city?"
"RAAH!"
"Guess not."
"Dead 'bots... talk... useless!"
"That... didn't even make sense."
- — Superion and Menasor
Notes
[edit]Continuity notes
[edit]- Blackjack's addition to the ranks of the Stunticons is revealed to be Starscream's work; he's actually an officer in the secret police, a group introduced in issue #3 of the original Windblade mini-series. Of the various officers who appear this issue, only one is shown in robot mode, but wears the same identity-obscuring mask as seen in that issue. It was said that these 'bots would come to be known as the "Badgeless" in the near future for their deliberate lack of obvious affiliation, though it doesn't appear they've picked that moniker up yet.
- Starscream reminds Chromia of when Swindle broke her, Windblade and several others out of jail, also in Windblade vol. 1 #3.
- Windblade, Chromia, and Nautica's brief time as part of Thunderclash's crew is mentioned, as detailed in More than Meets the Eye #26 and Windblade vol. 1 #1. She explains that Thunderclash told them about Optimus's (temporary) abandonment of his Prime title, which took place in The Death of Optimus Prime, only to be reversed just over two years later in Robots in Disguise #26.
- It's odd to see the Matrix of Leadership giving off the blinding light that it does at the end of this issue, since it was rendered non-functional at the climax of the previous ongoing, but issue #47 would confirm that it was indeed happening in-universe. After all the years we have known him, there's still a lot more to Optimus than meets the eye!
Transformers references
[edit]- The Badgeless attack using "pattern 3-3-1", which seems like a deliberate inversion of "113", James Roberts's Easter-egg number.
- The long-predicted connection between Solus Prime and Caminus is officially established this issue, with Solus appearing on-panel (albeit only as a statue) for the first time, based on her design in The Covenant of Primus. Though we have seen that the Thirteen Primes are decidedly un-divine in IDW continuity, the people of Caminus nonetheless subscribe to their myth as seen in the Covenant and other corners of the Transformers multiverse, including the belief that the Matrix of Leadership once rested on the hilt of the Star Saber. Afterburner is even heard to swear by Prima when Menasor's attack is detected.
Errors
[edit]- The previous chapter showed Optimus's Matrix-half on the right side of his chest, but in this issue, it's on the left.
Other trivia
[edit]- Just as Drag Strip was missing from the Stunticons in the previous Combiner Wars chapter, Air Raid is not in evidence among the Aerialbots before the team combines. Notably, Drag Strip and Air Raid are the team members who are sold in separate waves of the Combiner Wars toyline to their teammates, so this might be a deliberate, if rather odd, omission.
- Blackjack is drawn with a mouth and goggles in this issue, closer to his original toy's depiction, rather than the Combiner Wars toy-accurate head he got last issue. Perhaps it is detachable?
Covers (10)
[edit]- Regular cover: Superion and Windblade, by Casey Coller and Joana Lafuente
- Subscription cover: Starscream and Windblade leg it as Menasor gets ready for battle, by Livio Ramondelli; combines with subscription cover to The Transformers #39 to create a complete image.
- Retailer incentive cover: Windblade fist-bumps Superion, by Sara Pitre-Durocher
- Hasbro exclusive cover: Artwork of Mirage, based on his Generations Combiner Wars Deluxe Class toy, available with said toy in the United States, Australia, and Asia. Rebranded as Combiner Wars #16.
A piece of art by Travis Sengaus, with colors by Josh Burcham, of Devastator was used as the basis for a number of store-exclusive covers. Credits below reflect who illustrated the store on the cover:
- BuyMeToys exclusive cover: Devastator smashes the BuyMeToys store; art by Sengaus, colors by Burcham
- Giant Robot Comics exclusive cover: Devastator smashes the Giant Robot Comics store; art and colors by Burcham
- Midtown Comics exclusive cover: Devastator smashes the Midtown Comics store; art by Sengaus, colors by Burcham
- 4 Color Fantasies Comics exclusive cover: Devastator smashes the 4 Color Fantasies Comics store; art and colors by Burcham
- St. Mark's Comics exclusive cover:Devastator smashes the St. Mark's Comics store; art by Sengaus, colors by Burcham
- G & B Comics exclusive cover: Devastator smashes the G & B Comics store; art and colors by Burcham
Advertisements
[edit]- The Transformers #40 - Combiner Wars, Part 2
- Windblade #2 - Combiner Wars, Part 3
- More than Meets The Eye #39
- Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #6
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The IDW Collection Vol. 1 (back cover)
Reprints
[edit]- The Transformers: Combiner Wars (August 12, 2015) ISBN 1631403869 / ISBN 978-1631403866
- Collects The Transformers (2012) issues #39–41, and Windblade (2015) issues #1–3.
- Bonus material includes covers from each issue.
- Trade paperback format.
- Transformers: Windblade - The Last City (February 14, 2018) ISBN 978-1684052240
- Collects Windblade (2014) issues #1–4, and Windblade (2015) issues #1–7, but not the alternating chapters of Combiner Wars from The Transformers vol. 2 needed to complete the story. Um.
- Bonus material includes covers from each issue.
- Trade paperback format.
- Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 65: Combiner Wars (October 31, 2018)
- Collects The Transformers (2012) issues #39–42, and Windblade (2015) issues #1–4.
- Bonus material includes an article about the Prime Wars Trilogy, a cover gallery and an intro by Simon Furman.
- Hardcover format.
- The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 9 (June 19, 2019) ISBN 1684054842 / ISBN 978-1684054848
- Collects The Transformers (2012) issues #39–41, #42–43, Windblade (2015) issues #1–3 & #4–5, and More than Meets the Eye issues #41–44.
- Hardcover format.
-
Combiner Wars – cover art by Casey Coller and Joana Lafuente -
Windblade - The Last City – cover art by Sara Pitre-Durocher -
The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 65: Combiner Wars – cover art by Don Figueroa and Livio Ramondelli -
The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 9 – cover art by Marcelo Matere
