Spotlight: Metroplex

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File:Spotlight metroplex cover A.jpg "Metroplex is my kinda town!"
"The Transformers Spotlight: Metroplex"
Publisher	IDW Publishing
First published	July 1, 2009
Cover date	July 2009
Written by	Andy Schmidt
Art by	Marcelo Matere
Colors by	Priscilla Tramontano
Letters by	Chris Mowry
Edits by	Denton J. Tipton
Continuity	IDW continuity
Chronology	Pre-All Hail Megatron

While on the run from Sixshot, the Throttlebots come across a mysterious Cybertronian ghost town.

Synopsis

The Throttlebots are stationed on the Orvus Base laboratory orbiting Salvvatan VI, serving as couriers for a top-secret research project, when the base is attacked and destroyed by Sixshot. They escape in a ship as the only survivors of the attack—with Sixshot in hot pursuit—eventually making their way to Salvvatan VIII, which they are surprised to discover has signs of Cybertronian life. They land and make their way into the giant city on the planet, hoping to find someone who can help.

But as they drive through the city they discover it's eerily empty, though there's still supplies of energon available. Their searching and scavenging is eventually cut short when Sixshot catches up with them, and he promises that if they hand over the information on the destroyed lab's research he'll give them a merciful death. The Throttlebots decide to transform and make a break for it again, and Sixshot chases after them.

Final Smash! LANDMASTER!

His robot mode blasters send Chase crashing hard into a wall. He transforms into his tank mode and lands on Freeway, running him over and crushing him, then blasts Wideload with his turrets. He returns to robot mode and hauls the injured Freeway up, asking him if he's going to talk. All Freeway can do is groan in pain, so he tosses the Throttlebot aside and addresses the remaining three, telling them to come out and face him.

As the three follow his command, Searchlight asks how Sixshot can be back to normal again when he last saw the Decepticon as a zombie on Bhul's moon. Sixshot explains that he traded some of Jhiaxus's technology—specifically the space bridge schematics and failsafe overrides—to Megatron in return for being restored to his normal self.

The Throttlebots tell Sixshot they're determined to go down fighting, and Sixshot starts to boast about how that will cost them, when Rollbar transforms and sideswipes Sixshot's leg, knocking him off balance. Sixshot grabs onto the Throttlebot with a hand, and Rollbar pulls Sixshot along behind him before deliberately crashing them both hard into a wall.

The impact causes an alarm to sound, with a voice calling out about an intruder alert and perimeter breach. Sixshot is distracted and confused for a moment, prompting Searchlight and Goldbug to try to get the jump on him. But the unimpressed Sixshot quickly rounds on and shoots both of them. He then approaches Searchlight and is about to finish him off with a close range headshot when a giant arm emerges from an opening in the city and pounds Sixshot into the ground. To Searchlight's amazement, Sixshot not only survives the impact but manages to stand up again, only to have the city—really Metroplex—transform into robot mode and step on him.

As Searchlight, Goldbug, and Rollbar recover and stare up in amazement at the giant city-bot, Metroplex states that his position has been compromised and they all need to leave. When Rollbar asks why, Metroplex explains that they need to hide, that since they found him there will be others who will come. Rollbar protests that there's a war going on, and that they need Metroplex's help, but the city-bot simply looks away sadly and tells them where they can find a shuttle and supplies. When Goldbug asks what kind of Autobot would abandon his own, Metroplex explains that he has a mission to protect "it", then transforms into a gigantic space vessel and takes off.

As the three Throttlebots head off to try and find the rest of their little group, they speculate what "it" might be. Searchlight has a theory, but refuses to share any details, much to Rollbar's irritation. Meanwhile, back in the impact crater of Metroplex's initial stomp, the crushed and battered Sixshot clenches one of his outstretched hands into a fist...

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots	Decepticons
Scrounge (1) Chase (3) Searchlight (4) Freeway (5) Goldbug (6) Rollbar (7) Wideload (8) Metroplex (9)	Sixshot (2)

Quotes

"Surrender. Hand over the lab's information. Die without pain. You don't want the alternative."

—Sixshot gives the Throttlebots a choice between death and worse death.

"You're leaving us to die? What kind of Autobot are you?"
"I HAVE A MISSION. A PURPOSE. TO KEEP IT SAFE. I WEEP FOR MY FELLOW AUTOBOTS BUT I CANNOT HELP THEM."

—Goldbug and Metroplex

Notes

• An editor's note at the beginning states that the events in this issue start right before All Hail Megatron #1.
• The issue consists of mainly 2-page spreads to illustrate Metroplex's sheer size.
• Due to IDW's subsequent relaunch of the series as a proper ongoing, as well as Last Stand of the Wreckers and the Bumblebee miniseries, the Spotlights took a hiatus after this issue.
• Goldbug is not Bumblebee.
• Searchlight is altered from his Stormbringer appearance to look more like the other Throttlebots.

Errors

• On page 4, Goldbug mistakenly addresses Chase as Freeway. This was corrected in the trade paperback collection.
• Jhiaxus's name is consistently misspelled "Jiaxus". This was also corrected in the trade paperback collection.

Transformers references

• A lamppost resembling Soundwave's Cybertronian alternate mode from the Sunbow cartoon is seen on the side of the road leading to the city.
• Cover B references the cover of Marvel UK comic #186 Space Pirates!
• The Throttlebots' guns are based on the ones they carried in their first Marvel Comics appearance, in "The Cure!".

Covers (3)

• Cover A: Wraparound cover of an angry Metroplex and the Throttlebots vs Sixshot; art by Marcelo Matere and colors by Priscilla Tramontano.
• Cover B: Metroplex's GIGANTIC hand emerging from the ground, while the Throttlebots watch; art by Guido Guidi and colors by Josh Burcham.
• Cover RI: Virgin (title-free) alternate of cover A.

• "You guys are making me itch!"
  "You guys are making me itch!"
• Just before 'Plex flips the bird.
  Just before 'Plex flips the bird.
• Metroplex a virgin? I believe it. Who could satisfy him?!
  Metroplex a virgin? I believe it. Who could satisfy him?!

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Reprints

• 2009 — The Transformers: All Hail Megatron Volume 3
• 2011 — The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Four
• 2011 — The Transformers: The Complete All Hail Megatron