All Hail Megatron issue 12: Difference between revisions

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Revised bits of the summary, added quotes & notes. Also, Detour, check the Talk page. I really don't think this is the kind of "acceptable loss" referred to earlier.
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==Synopsis==
==Synopsis==


In [[New York City]], the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s continue to battle. [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] swats [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] with a broken street light, wanting to avenge [[Sunstreaker (G1)|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 (G1)|Kup]] punches him in the face. However, he, too, gets taken by surprise by [[Skywarp (G1)|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's chest) and Devastator falls into the ocean.
In [[New York City]], the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s continue to battle. [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] swats [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] with a broken street light, wanting to avenge [[Sunstreaker (G1)|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 (G1)|Kup]] punches him in the face. However, he, too, gets taken by surprise by [[Skywarp (G1)|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.


At Central Park, [[Sparkplug Witwicky]], [[Colonel Hawke]], and the remaining army troops fire at [[Dropshot (Universe)|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|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.
At Central Park, [[Sparkplug Witwicky]], [[Colonel Hawke]], and the remaining army troops fire at [[Dropshot (Universe)|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|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.


[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)|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 [[Transformer]]s ''are'', what the difference between them is, and what makes Megatron a Decepticon, and himself an Autobot.
[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)|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.


In [[Central Park]], Sparkplug 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 Dropshot doesn't know is that Kup, emerging from the water, is slowly sneaking up behind him...
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 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 European Union disguise, obliges. Bridge tells Spike to shoot fast, as the gun is almost finished charging up. Megatron orders [[Blitzwing (G1)|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 of Leadership|Matrix]] with him, but before he can do anything else, a sudden laser blast is fired...
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 contined 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.


...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. 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)|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.
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)|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.


Optimus asks Starscream if he's running, to which he replies that he's not; he's done playing instead. The Decepticons outnumber the Autobots on the other side of the galaxy, the Autobot army is in ruins, and 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...
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.


The voice belongs to [[Thundercracker (G1)|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 (G1)|Ironhide]] points out that Thundercracker is a Decepticon, but he states that there is no honor in the nuclear weapon. [[Drift (G1)|Drift]], a former Decepticon, tries to welcome Thundercracker into the Autobot ranks, but Thundercracker brushes 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 done to Earth was dishonorable. With that, Thundercracker takes off into the air and grabs the nuclear weapon as it falls, then flies it into space and fires at it, blowing up the nuke.
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.


With New York safe, the Autobots can finally celebrate their victory. [[Hound (G1)|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, of 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.
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 Skywarp and shoots him point-blank in the face.


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 any way he can. Spike, while appreciating it, honestly says that if mankind is going to accept them, they have another think coming—that the Transformers had brought their war to Earth, and 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...
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.
 
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.


==Featured characters==
==Featured characters==
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== 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!''"
"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''' shed absolutely no light on what the ''hell'' is up with that thing in Kup's mouth.


==Notes==
==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.
* Omega Supreme barely held his own against [[Monstructor]], the first IDWverse [[combiner]] in "[[Spotlight: Optimus Prime]]". However, in this issue, he easily defeats Devastator, who barely puts up much of a fight.  Either a) perfecting [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]'s gestalt technology has the drawback of a weaker gestalt, b) Omega has been pumping up, or c) McCarthy did not properly take the ''Spotlight'' into account.
* The Statue of Liberty has been the site of [[Cosmic Rust|battle]] and [[Decepticon Graffiti!|defacement]] in the Transformers mythos, but this is the first time it's been massively damaged — and certainly never before by an Autobot.
* [[Octane]], like his ''[[Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' toy, now goes by the name of Tankor. Poor guy.
* [[Octane]], like his ''[[Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' toy, now goes by the name of Tankor. Poor guy.
* Omega Supreme barely held his own against [[Monstructor]], the first IDWverse [[combiner]] in "[[Spotlight: Optimus Prime]]". However, in this issue, he easily defeats Devastator, who barely puts up much of a fight. Either a) perfecting [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]]'s gestalt technology has the drawback of a weaker gestalt, b) Omega has been pumping up, or c) McCarthy did not properly take the ''Spotlight'' into account.
* It was [[All Hail Megatron issue 9|previously established]] that Spike's weapon was reverse-engineered from [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s gun-arm.  Its use in felling Megatron is therefore loaded with thematic significance, given the intense rivalry between the two Decepticon leaders in [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|previous]] [[Dreamwave Generation One continuity|comic series]].
* Sideswipe's choice to pull the plug on Hunter is rather unilateral (though, assuming "[[Hail and Farewell]]" is fully non[[canon]]ical and Hunter has no surviving relatives, Sideswipe ''could'' qualify as his next of kin).  Perhaps more significantly, though, Hunter's death is a poignant manifestation of McCarthy's rejection of [[Simon Furman]]'s intents.  Furman had introduced the world of the [[Transformer]]s through Hunter's eyes, put him through the initial paces of an [[Wikipedia:Monomyth|archetypal heroic journey]], and forecasted his future adventures in the aforementioned [[Transformers: Mosaic|Mosaic]] story.  But McCarthy's tale cuts that mythic development short and negates Hunter's anticipated future, using him instead as a plot device and emotional endnote.
* Thundercracker's "betrayal" is a thematic twist on his character: Where his first [[bio]] established him as unsure of the Decepticon cause but able to be convinced by his fellows, this Thundercracker's personal sense of the Decepticon cause is actually stronger than his loyalty to any individual.
:*On that subject, Sideswipe pulling the plug on Hunter also grossly contradicts McCarthy's own change in Autobot ideology, where "acceptable losses" such as humans are no longer going to be allowed no matter what other cosmic threats there may be. Sideswipe could have just as well gone to Ratchet for help, but then that'd leave some remnant of Furman's stories in IDW's timeline, and we just can't have that.
* Sideswipe's choice to pull the plug on Hunter is rather unilateral (though, assuming "[[Hail and Farewell]]" is fully non[[canon]]ical and Hunter has no surviving relatives, Sideswipe ''could'' qualify as his next of kin).  Perhaps more significantly, though, Hunter's death poignantly manifests McCarthy's rejection of [[Simon Furman]]'s intent.  Furman had introduced the world of the [[Transformer]]s through Hunter's eyes, put him through the initial paces of an [[Wikipedia:Monomyth|archetypal heroic journey]], and forecasted his future adventures in the aforementioned [[Transformers: Mosaic|Mosaic]] story.  But McCarthy's tale cuts that mythic development short and negates Hunter's anticipated future, using him instead as a plot device and emotional endnote.
* This issue was released on the same day as the American release of ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]''.
* This issue was released on the same day as the American release of ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]''.
* 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.


===Errors===
===Errors===
* Sparkplug worries that he's "about to lose [his] son" due to the incoming nuke, but he had [[All Hail Megatron issue 5|previously thought]] that Spike was already dead.
* In the description of the ''Coda'' issues, #16 has Bumblebee's story as a second "Story 1" rather than "Story 2".
* In the description of the ''Coda'' issues, #16 has Bumblebee's story as a second "Story 1" rather than "Story 2".


Revision as of 08:15, 6 July 2009

Let's see what you can see...

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Specifics: cover RI and panels
« The Transformers: All Hail Megatron #12 »
File:All Hail Megatron 12a.jpg
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 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

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 contined 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.

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 Skywarp and 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.

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots Decepticons Humans

Quotes

"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 shed absolutely no light on what the hell is up with that thing in Kup's mouth.

Notes

  • 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.
  • Omega Supreme barely held his own against Monstructor, the first IDWverse combiner in "Spotlight: Optimus Prime". However, in this issue, he easily defeats Devastator, who barely puts up much of a fight. Either a) perfecting Jhiaxus's gestalt technology has the drawback of a weaker gestalt, b) Omega has been pumping up, or c) McCarthy did not properly take the Spotlight into account.
  • The Statue of Liberty has been the site of battle and defacement in the Transformers mythos, but this is the first time it's been massively damaged — and certainly never before by an Autobot.
  • Octane, like his Universe toy, now goes by the name of Tankor. Poor guy.
  • It was previously established that Spike's weapon was reverse-engineered from Shockwave's gun-arm. Its use in felling Megatron is therefore loaded with thematic significance, given the intense rivalry between the two Decepticon leaders in previous comic series.
  • Thundercracker's "betrayal" is a thematic twist on his character: Where his first bio established him as unsure of the Decepticon cause but able to be convinced by his fellows, this Thundercracker's personal sense of the Decepticon cause is actually stronger than his loyalty to any individual.
  • Sideswipe's choice to pull the plug on Hunter is rather unilateral (though, assuming "Hail and Farewell" is fully noncanonical and Hunter has no surviving relatives, Sideswipe could qualify as his next of kin). Perhaps more significantly, though, Hunter's death poignantly manifests McCarthy's rejection of Simon Furman's intent. Furman had introduced the world of the Transformers through Hunter's eyes, put him through the initial paces of an archetypal heroic journey, and forecasted his future adventures in the aforementioned Mosaic story. But McCarthy's tale cuts that mythic development short and negates Hunter's anticipated future, using him instead as a plot device and emotional endnote.
  • This issue was released on the same day as the American release of Revenge of the Fallen.
  • The Decepticomments section describes the Coda issues and provides art from some of the covers.

Errors

  • Sparkplug worries that he's "about to lose [his] son" due to the incoming nuke, but he had previously thought that Spike was already dead.
  • In the description of the Coda issues, #16 has Bumblebee's story as a second "Story 1" rather than "Story 2".

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 B: Prime vs 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.

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