Devastation issue 1

« The Transformers: Devastation #1 »
Well, what do we have here?
Publisher	IDW Publishing
First published	October 3, 2007
Cover date	September 2007
Written by	Simon Furman
Art by	E. J. Su
Colors by	Zac Atkinson
Letters by	Chris Mowry
Edits by	Dan Taylor
Continuity	IDW continuity
Chronology	Devastation

As the Autobots discover their base is compromised, Megatron ups the stakes.

Synopsis

In examining the data storage device that Verity Carlo swiped from Rogue-1, Nightbeat discovers a high-tech tracking device. He sends Bumblebee to scout the Lake Michigan area and he reports that they are surrounded with surveillance equipment. Nightbeat recommends moving the Ark-19 and Optimus Prime agrees. Hot Rod (who has been reformatted into an Earth car) and Wheeljack receive word from Ratchet that Ironhide is scheduled to be crushed in a compactor, so they rush to rescue him.

Megatron briefs Sixshot that he wants the Autobots eliminated. Sixshot is confused, believing it to be too early for Phase Six but Megatron doesn't care—he just wants the job done. The other Decepticons seem to think that Megatron has lost it and is destroying their efforts at infiltration but are unwilling to confront him. Astrotrain and Blitzwing later go to consult with Starscream, who is being repaired in a CR chamber.

Skywatch has reprogrammed Ravage and plans to use him to track down the other Transformers.

Sideswipe interrupts a transmission between Hound and Optimus Prime and states that with Thunderwing gone, they should be assisting the Autobots on Earth. Hound apologizes for Sideswipe's outburst, but Optimus agrees, giving the order for Hound's unit to travel to Earth and assigning Jetfire to supervise the decommissioning of Bludgeon's base.

The Autobots plan to move the Ark-19 to the Gulf of Mexico, but they are reported on by Ratbat, who informs Megatron. Megatron sends Sixshot to destroy the Autobots, and he blasts a hole in the Ark-19, sending it down over Knoxville, Tennessee.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots	Decepticons	Humans
Nightbeat (1) Bumblebee (2) Optimus Prime (3) Prowl (4) Hot Rod (10) Wheeljack (11) Ratchet (12) Jazz (19) Sideswipe (21) Hound (22) Hardhead (25)	Thundercracker (6) Runamuck (7) Runabout (8) Megatron (13) Sixshot (14) Astrotrain (15) Skywarp (16) Ravage (18) Blitzwing (23) Starscream (24) Ratbat (26)	Stoker (5) Verity Carlo (9) Joshua Red (17) Jimmy Pink (20)

Notes

Continuity notes

• The main cover pictured above depicts an event that happens off-panel but is not otherwise shown - Bumblebee searching around Ark 19 for surveillance equipment per Nightbeat's request.
• Thunderwing was abducted from Hound's unit in "Spotlight: Galvatron".

• Ratbat has his familiar "bat" mode, unlike how he appeared in Megatron Origin. However his alternate mode is not a cassette, likely due to the fact that Soundwave had been missing for over a decade. Originally thought to be a portable CD player, E.J. Su revealed he's actually a Sony Mylo MP3 player.(1) At least until Shane McCarthy got ahold of him.
• Hardhead has been reformatted into a heavy gun-armed Earth APC.

Transformers references

• When Ravage is released from his crate, the operator's computer reads the word "BINALTECH" at the top of the screen.

Other trivia

• On page 18, the car doors on Nightbeat's hands are on the wrong way.

Covers (3)

• Cover A: Bumblebee discovering the Machination's spying equipment on the shores of Lake Michigan, art by E. J. Su.
• Cover B: Prime, Ratchet, Verity and Jimmy with the Ark-19; art by Nick Roche.
• Cover RI: Sketch cover (black and white of cover B)

• 
  Bumblebee's headlights are on. Must be cold out.
• 
  Can someone get these kids some new clothes?
• 
  RI Cover

Advertisements

• Devastation #2 (2 pages plus a 3-page black and white sketch preview)
• The Transformers Cover Gallery Volume 2
• Transformers movie toys (3 pages)
• CGC Grading, feat. Grimlock
• Greatest Battles of Optimus Prime and Megatron
• Beast Wars: The Ascending (back cover)

Reprints

• The Transformers: Devastation TPB (May 14, 2008) ISBN 1600101682 / ISBN 978-1600101687
• The Transformers: The Premiere Collection Volume 2 HC (June 17, 2009) ISBN 1600104371 / ISBN 978-1600104374
• The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Three HC (March 2, 2011) ISBN 1600108563 / ISBN 978-1600108563
• The Transformers: Phase One Omnibus (September 10, 2014) ISBN 1631401130 / ISBN 978-1631401138