Last Bot Standing issue 3: Difference between revisions

	{{#if: The Headmasters' gritty reboot. \|; The Headmasters' gritty reboot.}}}}
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Publisher	IDW Publishing}}
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First published	July 20, 2022}}
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Cover date	June 2022}}
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Written by	Nick Roche}}
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Art by	Nick Roche (pg. 1, 16),; E. J. Su (pg. 2-15, 17-30)}}
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Colors	Rebecca Nalty}}
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Letters by	Joanna Nattalie}}
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Editor	David Mariotte and Riley Farmer}}
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Revision as of 01:24, 5 August 2022

{{#if: LastBotStanding 3 cvrA.jpg | {{#if: IDW Publishing | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: July 20, 2022 | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: June 2022 | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: Nick Roche | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: Nick Roche (pg. 1, 16),
E. J. Su (pg. 2-15, 17-30) | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: Rebecca Nalty | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: Joanna Nattalie | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: David Mariotte and Riley Farmer | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: |

{{#switch:{{#sub:xx|2|14}}|dark cybertron=}}

Rodimus has an unwelcome reunion with an ancient survivor, but his efforts to rescue Shib from Steeljaw's forces threaten to expose the secret history of Donnokt.

Synopsis

Long, long ago, Shib Wallkis's remote ancestors inherited an ancient relic from a dying race of star-farers: in exchange for keeping their benefactors hidden and safe, an ancient tribe received an emergency weapon to be used only if other "visitors" threatened their way of life. Over hundreds of years, this unassuming box passed from parent to child, quietly sailing down through the generations until the day it finally came into Shib's possession... but, as he comes to in the middle of Steeljaw's base camp, Rodimus laments the bitter irony that, for all their careful years of preparation, he couldn't save Shib in her hour of need. As they watch the tableau from afar, the rest of Steeljaw's followers debate whether or not they should even bother inducting a broken-down heap like Rodimus into their "family", until a new voice cuts through the chatter and prompts all of the Transformers save Rodimus to kneel in respect: the Veteran is about to speak!

As it turns out, the fabled "Veteran" is none other than Rodimus's old compatriot Wheelie... or, at least, what's left of him—after untold eons of neglect in a universe drained of its resources, the little Autobot's been reduced to nothing more than a severed head, hardwired to a crude, biofuel-powered life-support system. Unlike Steeljaw and his followers, however, Wheelie's retained his memories and even adopted a new speech pattern based on ancient Earth haiku. Wheelie confirms that Rodimus is who he says he is; while Sharpclaw and the others welcome Rodimus to their little group, Rodimus vows that he'd sooner die than adopt their parasitic lifestyle: when Steeljaw insists that, in a post-energon universe, there can be no other way of life for their kind, he receives a glob of spit in his eye for his troubles. Annoyed, Steeljaw stalks off to put the rest of his followers to work: while Moon, Wildwheel, and Treadshock will guard Rodimus and prepare the "resource" for consumption, Steeljaw and the rest will head to the nearest population center—the town of Fembrance—and round up as many organics as they can. Some, they'll process into biofuel immediately; others will wind up in their "husbandry paddocks" to bring the next generation of potential resources into existence. As he leaves, Steeljaw reminds a horrified Rodimus that there just aren't enough resources left to pillage indiscriminately—they must be farmers now...

On the outskirts of Fembrance, on the Wallkis family ranch, Shib's brother Beets watch in horror as alderman Errold's lawmen, determined to find any connection between the family and the aliens, ransack their house for any kind of evidence. Travyon, who's already sustained a black eye for his troubles, warns his brother not to make a scene; although the two insist that they know nothing, Errold refuses to believe them and orders his men to keep searching.

Meanwhile, at Steeljaw's camp, Moon contemplates the prospect of actually befriending a primitive organic lifeform like Shib as he prepares to convert the helpless girl into biofuel, before an annoyed Wildwheel shouts for his compatriot to get a move on. As Moon carries her towards their processing plant, Shib begs her captors to let her say goodbye to Rodimus, one last time... and Wheelie, remembering happier times, allows her this small comfort. When Shib runs up to Rodimus, however, she secretly plunges her hand into her shirt, procures the small energon key she's been carrying, and jams it into a port on the Autobot's chest—this sudden surge of pure, life-giving fuel spontaneously repairs his injuries and restores Rodimus to full, vibrant life! The supercharged Rodimus easily dispatches his captors, then converts to alternate mode and annihilates their refinery with a burst of superheated exhaust. Wildwheel roars that Rodimus has betrayed his own species, grabs a girder, and hurls it at Shib—but Moon, who's quickly come to realize Rodimus might be right, dives into the path of the projectile and winds up fatally speared through the eye. While Rodimus dispatches Wildwheel, Wheelie orders the remaining two Cybertronians to warn Steeljaw immediately; as the pair transform and speed off, Wheelie screams that Rodimus's own ego has destroyed their future, but Rodimus coldly informs Wheelie that he's forgotten what being one of the "good guys" means—when Wheelie tries to take him out personally, Rodimus easily shrugs off Wheelie's anticlimactic assault and dropkicks his head into orbit.

With no time to lose, Rodimus transforms and orders Shib to climb aboard as the pair race back to town to find and destroy the other two keys before Steeljaw's minions can warn their leader. Shib insists that she and her family have worked to keep the secrets of the Cybertronians hidden, and Rodimus explains the full story behind their presence on Donnokt: many millions of years ago, in the aftermath of the Great War, Rodimus, Strongarm, and Gripper touched down on Donnokt, a remote backwater where they could quietly fade away. There, they found the beginnings of intelligent life; eventually, the three made contact with the most trustworthy individuals they could find, and gave them a gift—a way to wake the three Autobots should other Cybertronians find their world. However, Gripper later died in an accident; some time after, Strongarm snapped, and Rodimus accidentally killed her when she tried to steal their ship and flee the planet. With nowhere else to go, Rodimus opened contact with the Wallkis family and found a quiet new life as the family wagon... but now, it's time to make good on his end of the deal and protect them from those who would do them harm. Rodimus catches up with the two other Cybertronians as they race through a canyon, sends them spinning out of control, and takes out the first by crushing him under his weight—although Treadshock tries to put up a fight, he's no match for the rejuvenated Rodimus, who sends him tumbling into a gully and executes him with a heavy boulder when he tries to climb back out.

In Fembrance, Steeljaw's arrival throws off Errold's attempts to prosecute the Wallkis brothers. The aliens quickly set to work rounding up as many organics as they can find, until Steeljaw's enhanced olfactory sensors detects the unmistakable scent of Transformer technology. When he and the other Decepticons investigate, they're shocked to see Nitro's headless corpse! Steeljaw briefly euologizes his fallen comrade—when Riotgear wonders if the townsfolks were organized enough to take him out, an exasperated Steeljaw snaps that Rodimus did this. At that moment, however, Sharpclaw picks up the trail of more Cybertronian tech... a trail that leads them straight to the standoff outside the Wallkis ranch. While Errold ignores the Wallkis brothers pleas to do something, the two Transformers set about demolishing the building, and eventually extract the box and its contents from the wreckage of the house. Though the two don't immediately recognize the two remaining energon keys for what they are, they're intrigued to find that they're not the only things hidden: an ancient, still-functioning Cybertronian data pad, with a message for whoever activates it...

Rodimus and Shib arrive in Fembrance too late—already, the Cybertronians have ransacked the town and herded its inhabitants into prison wagons. When Riotgear, Wedge, and Override see the old Autobot, they assume that he owes his rejuvenated appearance to their biofuel... until they see the still-alive Shib in his hands! Rodimus sets the girl down and orders her to find her family, but Steeljaw informs her that won't be necessary: Steeljaw already has the Wallkis brothers in her hands. A furious Rodimus warns Steeljaw he won't be leaving Donnokt alive, but his foe just smiles: Rodimus has been hiding a secret, and Steeljaw's just learned what it is...

Featured characters

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

{{#if:* Rodimus (6)

Strongarm (23)
Gripper (24)|

{{#if:* Rodimus (6)

Strongarm (23)
Gripper (24)|| style="background:#ffdddd;" valign="top" |
Rodimus (6)
Strongarm (23)
Gripper (24) }}{{#if:|

Autobots }}{{#if:|

Decepticons }}{{#if:* Shib's ancestors (1-4)

Donnokt }}{{#if:* Riotgear (7)

Scylla (8)
Wedge (9)
Wildwheel (10)
Cyberwarp (11)
Steeljaw (12)
Wheelie (13)
Sharpclaw (14)
Vex? (15)
Treadshock (16)
Lunaclub (17)
Override (18)
Moon (22)
Nitro (25)|

Others }}{{#if:|

Misc }}{{#if:|

Misc }}

}}{{#if:* Shib's ancestors (1-4)

Shib's ancestors (1-4)
Shib Wallkis (5)
Beets Wallkis (19)
Travyon Wallkis (20)
Errold (21) }}{{#if:* Riotgear (7)
Scylla (8)
Wedge (9)
Wildwheel (10)
Cyberwarp (11)
Steeljaw (12)
Wheelie (13)
Sharpclaw (14)
Vex? (15)
Treadshock (16)
Lunaclub (17)
Override (18)
Moon (22)
Nitro (25)|

Riotgear (7)
Scylla (8)
Wedge (9)
Wildwheel (10)
Cyberwarp (11)
Steeljaw (12)
Wheelie (13)
Sharpclaw (14)
Vex? (15)
Treadshock (16)
Lunaclub (17)
Override (18)
Moon (22)
Nitro (25) }}{{#if:|

}}{{#if:|

}}

Quotes

"A verse of measured
Sounds from Earth provide coping
Communication."
"I remember Earth. I remember thinking, the day it blew up, 'we did that.'"

—Wheelie and Rodimus

"In order to live, we simply had to do the one thing our race is famous for, and change."
"I think if you ask the trillions dead, they'll tell you we're known for something else entirely."

—Steeljaw and Rodimus

"Energon. The stuff that we're supposed to use as fuel. Not mulched-up carbon-based life like your good self. But if that's the only option for these guys, then all that's left for them to eat—is my burn. Kitchen's closed, losers."

—Rodimus destroys the biofuel refinery

"Moon, I—you idiot! Why!"
"Us... all of... us... dying... he had a point... I just got it—"

—Wildwheel and Moon

"Goodbye, Wheelie. This was your last stanza."

—Rodimus

"Like I said... good guys make the hard choices... I hate that I had to choose... not to be a good guy anymore."

—Rodimus

"He shouldn't have been here. Neither should I. None of us should."
"You don't get to decide that. You don't get to decide if our race lives or dies. We could've been brothers, Rodimus. But families don't keep secrets from one another... and there's something you've been hiding from us."

—Rodimus versus Steeljaw

Notes

Continuity notes

During a conversation with Shib in the previous issue, Rodimus remembered humans as some of the many victims of the Cybertronian war. This issue expands on that, by revealing that he was stationed on Earth when the planet, in his words, “blew up”.
Issue #2 began with a brief flashback of a grieving Rodimus kneeling in the wreckage of a burning starship—the wordless scene didn’t immediately clarify what’d happened, but this issue reveals that Rodimus accidentally killed Strongarm when his friend went rogue and tried to steal their starship. Gripper’s also shown to have perished in an accident; his predilection for reckless driving was hinted at during issue #2’s third flashback, when he suggested a drive in the mountains.
Rodimus killed Steeljaw's advance scout Nitro in issue #1 when the disoriented Transformer stumbled into Fembrance, and left his headless corpse lying on the outskirts of the town. As we pointed out in our article for issue #2, Override and Riotgear would have run into his remains when they arrived in Fembrance, but this issue reveals that the pair were running on fumes at the time and thus didn't divert any energy to the sensors that might've detected him otherwise.

Transformers references

New members of Steeljaw's militia in this issue include Wildwheel, the cowboy Decepticon who originally debuted in the Cyberverse cartoon, but who'd previously made the jump to the Generation 1 continuity family in 2021 via the second My Little Pony crossover. This version of the character, however, lacks his hat, poncho, and most of his cowboy accoutrements, perhaps as a result of the passage of time.
It shouldn't come as a surprise that the critically damaged Wheelie's found a new way to eke out a living in a dying universe—since his introduction in 1986, he's been depicted as a hardcore survivalist, and this take on the character stretches that trait to its ultimate endpoint. Rodimus note that while Wheelie once rhymed, as per most depictions of the character; he's shifted over to communicating via haiku since the two last crossed paths.
While investigating the Wallkis brothers, Errold insists that there's "more than meets the eye" to the pair.
We'd be remiss if we didn't point out that the three "energon keys"—which involve Shib plugging a key-shaped device into a port in Rodimus's chest, releasing a burst of energy that miraculously returns the old 'bot to fighting shape—evokes both the Cyber Keys from Transformers: Cybertron, and Sari Sumdac's supernatural AllSpark Key from Transformers Animated—in particular, the way Rodimus's Autobot insignia opens to reveal a key port hearkens back to Animated.
While mourning the destruction of their biofuel refinery, Wheelie twists Optimus Prime's traditional motto into something more ghoulish: "feeding is the right of all sentient beings".

Real-world references

Rodimus refers to two of Steeljaw's goons as "jabronis", an insult popularized by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
Steeljaw sardonically calls Rodimus the "last son of Cybertron", in reference to one of Superman's many appellations: "the Last Son of Krypton".

Errors

In this issue, Steeljaw's forces include an unnamed, reddish-orange Cybertronian who transforms into a six-wheeled vehicle. Given that Sharpclaw explicitly stated that they only numbered a dozen in issue #2—Steeljaw, Nitro, Wedge, Override, Treadshock, Wildwheel, Moon, Scylla, Lunaclub, Cyberwarp, and herself (presumably Wheelie's severed head is a half-qualifier)—it's possible that this is actually Vex, who'd been mentioned in the previous issue. However, that comic depicted them as a slender, purple-and-yellow 'bot (one who notably does not appear in this issue) so it's possible that their appearance in that issue stemmed from some kind of miscommunication between the writer, artist, and colorist.

Other trivia

Originally solicited for a July 13th release, this issue arrives just one week late.

Covers (5)

Cover A: Wheelie gets ahead in life, by Nick Roche and Josh Burcham
Cover B: Rodimus remembers happier times, by John Allison
Cover C: Rodimus, Steeljaw, and Shib, by Evan Gauntt
Cover D: Rodimus and Shib, by Mina Won
Retailer incentive cover: Rodimus the defender, by E. J. Su

External links

Preview

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Last Bot Standing issue 3: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 01:24, 5 August 2022

Contents

Synopsis

Featured characters

Quotes

Notes

Continuity notes

Transformers references

Real-world references

Errors

Other trivia

Covers (5)

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External links

Navigation menu

Last Bot Standing issue 3: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 01:24, 5 August 2022

Synopsis

Featured characters

Quotes

Notes

Continuity notes

Transformers references

Real-world references

Errors

Other trivia

Covers (5)

Advertisements

External links

Navigation menu

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