Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 1

« The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers #1 »
We peed a little.
Publisher	IDW Publishing
First published	January 27, 2010 February 10 (2nd printing)
Cover date	January 2010
Story	Nick Roche & James Roberts
Script	Nick Roche
Pencils	Nick Roche
Inks	Nick Roche & John Wycough
Colors	Josh Burcham
Letters	Neil Uyetake
Editor	Andy Schmidt
Associate editor	Denton J. Tipton
Continuity	2005 IDW continuity
Chronology	Current era (2010)

When Overlord turns Garrus-9 into his personal playground, it's time to call in the suicide mission specialists.

Synopsis

Yay, we get to join the team where everybody dies!

Three years ago, at Garrus-9 penitentiary, Fortress Maximus and his subordinate Kick-Off deal with a massive Decepticon assault on the prison. Kick-Off smells an inside job, while Fortress Maximus replies that only he has the codes to the Garrus-9 doors—good thing, too.

Decepticon general Skyquake intends to take the facility for Megatron, but is interrupted by the arrival of Overlord. All the Decepticons are in awe of him, terrified as well. Refusing Overlord's request for him to relinquish command, Skyquake is shot in the back; Overlord then leads the Decepticons in storming the prison and slaughtering its defenders. He offers the freed prisoners the entire planet as a source of entertainment, free from the narrow whims of Megatron. As a game, Overlord throws the battered body of Fortress Maximus to the mob, saying all they have to do is try not to kill him.

Eight months ago, Ironfist, Guzzle, Rotorstorm, and Pyro are scolded by annoying local reconstruction manager, Dipstick, for blowing up the fuel depot with their new guns. Guzzle says that's what Wreckers do. Ultra Magnus's ship arrives. Only Pyro farewells the manager Dipstick in a civil manner, but is blown off by Dipstick. The bots leave on Ultra Magnus's ship, becoming the newest Wreckers.

On board, they are greeted by Verity Carlo, one of the humans who made first contact with the Autobots on Earth. They're dubious as to her being a Wrecker, but Springer walks in (with Twin Twist, Kup, Perceptor, and Topspin) and informs them that none of them are, yet. The situation on Garrus-9 is explained; it's been overrun by the Decepticons, but any attempt by other Decepticons to get in has been blown out of orbit with extreme prejudice. The new Wreckers are there to investigate. Springer explains to the new guys the dangers of Wreckership: Being a Wrecker means your first day could be your last.

Two years ago, the Garrus-9 Decepticons start hunting Autobots as sport. A purple Decepticon subdues the Autobot being hunted, but his cockiness catches him off guard and the Autobot leaps at his throat. Overlord kills the Autobot and then the purple Decepticon, explaining to the others that any bot that careless is wasting his life and therefore wasting Overlord's time.

In the present day, Ironfist suffers a mysterious blackout on Ultra Magnus's ship. It's revealed he was a journalist who wrote the extensive Wreckers: Declassified datalogs on the Wreckers, under the alias Fisitron—to the amazement of Twin Twist and Topspin. Wreckers old and new talk, while Springer notices Ironfist may be hiding something. Springer himself seems burdened by the danger of Wreckership, wondering if there's any point to forming these teams for the Wreckers, only to have them blown apart at a moment's notice. Kup remarks that Springer can't stop thinking about Impactor. Springer replies that it's hard but not impossible, walking off scowling. They're then interrupted by a call to the bridge.

One month earlier, Overlord watches as Kick-Off battles the Decepticon Borehole in gladiatorial combat; the Autobot viciously beats his opponent, kicking him down. Borehole pleads with Kick-Off reminding him he's an Autobot. Kick-Off replies that being an Autobot means nothing on Garrus-9. With that, he rips Borehole's head off. Overlord is pleased and invites Kick-Off into his quarters, where he says Kick-Off may choose his reward.

On Ultra Magnus's ship in the present, the Wreckers discover the battered hull of a Decepticon dropship, which detonates even as they watch. They prepare to fire as a single form flies from the explosion towards them, but Kup stops them as they recognize the damaged Cybertronian before them. To their shock and amazement, they realize it is... Impactor. He asks permission to come aboard...

Featured characters

(Characters in italic text appear only in flashbacks.)
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots	Decepticons	Humans
Kick-Off (1) Turbofire (2) Fortress Maximus (3) Dipstick (8) Pyro (9) Guzzle (10) Ironfist (11) Rotorstorm (12) Twin Twist (14) Kup (15) Springer (16) Perceptor (17) Topspin (18) Spin-Out (20) Ultra Magnus (23) Impactor (24)	Skyquake (4) Overlord (5) Snare (6) Stalker (7) Fearswoop (19) Wingblazer (21) Borehole (22)	Verity Carlo (13)

Quotes

"All of you are to remain here with me. In return I will protect you. I will reward you. I will entertain you. Like this... Let us play a game. I will turn Fortress Maximus over to you. All you have to do is try not to kill him."

—Overlord lets us know he's a leader that appreciates the need for recreation.

"We'll be seeing you, sir."
"Hah! You think so? You're joining the Wreckers... what makes you think you're coming back?"

—Pyro hasn't read the Marvel UK material, but Dipstick sure has.

"Ultra Magnus has shrunk..."

—A confused Rotorstorm on Verity

"By the sacred spires! A human! Optimus Prime's data was right! They're so delicate and in need of our protection..."

—Pyro has strong maternal instincts.

"Please, Kick-Off... you're an Autobot!"
"Know what that means in this place, Borehole? NOTHING."

—As his head gets brutally separated from its body, Borehole learns just how depraved Kick-Off has become.

"All weapons are trained on them in case they try something 'hilarious'."

—Ultra Magnus rocks the sarcasm.

Notes

Continuity notes

• Skyquake and Overlord's assault on Garrus-9 was part of the galaxy-wide offensive occurring mostly off-panel during All Hail Megatron.
• You might be wondering why Ironfist is drawn with that little scar on his head. Keep it in mind...
• Verity now sports a small tattoo of a green alien head on the back of her right shoulder. This is in tribute to her departed friend Hunter O'Nion, who throughout Infiltration wore a shirt with a similar green alien head on it.
• We learn the Autobots have their own Transformers wiki!
• The issue comes with an in-universe profile of Rotorstorm, written by Roberts, and presented in-universe by Rung.
• Pyro really has copied Prime's look, and #5 will reveal why.
• First appearances: This is Overlord's second appearance; he was a crowd extra back in Megatron Origin #2. Actual firsts include Ironfist, Pyro, Rotorstorm and Guzzle; Dipstick; Stalker, Fearswoop and Snare; and Rung (as the Autopedia narrator.)

Transformers references

• The Action Master Kick-Off declares that "alt modes are for wimps!" In-universe, this could mean he's a Monoformer. His role in the story also alludes to the Tech Spec bio of Kick-Off's original toy, which described him as a shell-shocked veteran who was forced to do terrible things to survive in a Decepticon prison. The implication seemingly being that Overlord's takeover of Garrus-9 led Kick-Off to fall back on the ruthless habits that kept him alive the first time he was in such a situation.
• Ironfist brings up the "siege of T'Muk", a reference to Transmasters UK (TMUK for short, get it?), the fan club and circle of authors and artists that Roberts and Roche are longtime members of, and in which they originally rose to prominence.
• On page four, there are a pair of Autobots, one green and one orange, beheaded by Snare. These were colored by Josh Burcham in Revenge of the Fallen's Skids and Mudflap's decos as an "homage", if you can call it that.
• The Autobot captured by Wingblazer is named Spin-Out (so named in the script), which was the working name of G1 Sunstreaker.

Real-life references

• While attempting to hail a Decepticon ship, Verity makes a reference to Uhura from Star Trek.
• Verity calls Rotorstorm "Hitman", a reference to professional wrestler Bret "Hitman" Hart, who is known for pink wrap-around sunglasses.
  • Rotorstorm is the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be.
• Verity references an album title from the British band The Darkness with the words, "One way ticket to hell... and back".

Errors

• On page 2, the handle bit on the top of Overlord's gun is missing.
• On page 14, on Ironfist's POV shot of the Wreckers checking on him, Topspin is colored with a black helmet and a red visor, apparently mistaken for Rotorstorm by colorist Josh Burcham. This error is corrected in the trade paperback.
• Between pages 15 and 16, Twin Twist and Topspin switch positions while talking to the new recruits.

Other trivia

• This story comes Furman-approved!

Production

The hardcover trade of Last Stand reveals information about both Roche's original pitch and early Roche-Roberts scripts.

In Roche's pitch:

• Springer, Kup, and Perceptor would be taking a trip to Earth to pick up underwear, White Castle burgers, and DVDs for Verity (who is introduced as a mechanoid before she takes the armour off). Ratchet procures it for them via his holomatter avatar.
• Ultra Magnus is dealing with an 'escapee' and so Verity is greeting the Wreckers.
• We see Springer taking a deep breath about meeting the soon-to-die recruits before heading in with a game face on.

In early scripts:

• The opening was a version of the Snare and Impactor scene from next issue.
• It was going to be explicitly stated that the new recruits aren't being picked because they're The Best: it's because at this point in the war, especially after All Hail Megatron, they're The Best of the Autobots still alive.
• Verity is deliberately signing up for the mission and is approved. "Ultra Magnus vouches for her."
• We learn here that Overlord's offering people to fight him rather than be killed. When taunted that he's developed "a taste for carnage", Kick Off spits back that "maybe" he already had one.

Covers (4)

• Cover A: The Wreckers looking like they just blew something up; art by Nick Roche and colors by Josh Burcham. This cover art was reused for the TPB.
• Cover B: Perceptor, Kup, Springer, Topspin, and Twin Twist in heroic poses; art and colors by Trevor Hutchison.
• Cover RI: "Virgin" title-free edition of cover B.
• 2nd Printing Cover: Impactor riding an explosion with a grin (art taken from last page of this issue), art by Nick Roche and colors by Josh Burcham.

• 
  Naturally, Nick's Irish pride means he puts the green guy in the front.
• 
  The Magnificent SevenFive.
• 
  "Title? We don't need no steenking title!"
• 
  "Woo, I'm back from the dead, skidplates!"

Advertisements

• The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers #2
• The Transformers #3
• G.I. Joe: Operation Hiss
• G.I. Joe: Cobra II
• The Adventures of Digger and Friends
• The Adventures of Simone and Ajax
• Star Trek Captain's Log: Sulu
• Star Trek Alien Spotlight: Cardassians
• The Family Circus Library, vol. 1
• Bringing Up Father
• Little Adventures in Oz, vol. 1 (back cover)

Reprints

Other than collections of the full series

• N/A