Stormbringer issue 3: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 02:52, 2 May 2026

|- {{#if: StrombringerCover3.jpg | | colspan="2" style="font-size: 12px; background-color:#ffffff;" align="center" | {{#if: Comin' to wreck house in your neighborhood. |
Comin' to wreck house in your neighborhood.}}}} |-

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|- {{#if: IDW Publishing | |Publisher || IDW Publishing}} |- {{#if: | |Published by || }} |- {{#if: | |Imprint || }} |- {{#if: | |Published in || }} |- {{#if: September 6, 2006 | |First published || September 6, 2006}} |- {{#if: | |Shipping date || }} |- {{#if: | |On-sale date || }} |- {{#if: September 2006 | |Cover date || September 2006}} |- {{#if: | |Credits || }} |- {{#if: | |By || }} |- {{#if: | |Manga || }} |- {{#if: | |Manga by || }} |- {{#if: | |Original story || }} |- {{#if: | |Story & art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Story and color art || }} |- {{#if: | |Story || }} |- {{#if: Simon Furman | |Story by || Simon Furman}} |- {{#if: | |Story consultants || }} |- {{#if: | |Story concept || }} |- {{#if: | |Screenplay by || }} |- {{#if: | |Screenplay || }} |- {{#if: | |Adaptation by || }} |- {{#if: | |Adapted by || }} |- {{#if: | |Adaptation || }} |- {{#if: | |Based on || }} |- {{#if: | |Writer || }} |- {{#if: | |Writers || }} |- {{#if: | |Writing || }} |- {{#if: | |Written by || }} |- {{#if: | |Written & art || }} |- {{#if: | |Plotter || }} |- {{#if: | |Plotters || }} |- {{#if: | |Plot || }} |- {{#if: | |Plot by || }} |- {{#if: | |Plot/Script || }} |- {{#if: | |Scripter || }} |- {{#if: | |Scripters || }} |- {{#if: | |Script || }} |- {{#if: | |Scripting || }} |- {{#if: | |Script by || }} |- {{#if: | |Script and art || }} |- {{#if: | |Sript [sic] consultant || }} |- {{#if: | |Translation by || }} |- {{#if: | |Artist || }} |- {{#if: | |Comic artist || }} |- {{#if: | |Artists || }} |- {{#if: | |Art || }} |- {{#if: Don Figueroa | |Art by || Don Figueroa}} |- {{#if: | |Additional art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Flashback art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Art assistant || }} |- {{#if: | |Art assist by || }} |- {{#if: | |Line-art || }} |- {{#if: | |Line-art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Line art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Penciller || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencillers || }} |- {{#if: | |Penciler || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencilers || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencil art || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencils || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencils by || }} |- {{#if: | |Penciled by || }} |- {{#if: | |Penciling || }} |- {{#if: | |Guest penciler || }} |- {{#if: | |Layouts || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencil breakdowns || }} |- {{#if: | |Breakdowns || }} |- {{#if: | |Breakdowns by || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustration || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustrations || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustrator || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustrated by || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustration by || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustrations by || }} |- {{#if: | |Finished pencils || }} |- {{#if: | |Finishes || }} |- {{#if: | |Finished art || }} |- {{#if: | |Finishes by || }} |- {{#if: | |Inker || }} |- {{#if: | |Guest inker || }} |- {{#if: | |Inkers || }} |- {{#if: | |Inks || }} |- {{#if: | |Inks by || }} |- {{#if: | |Ink finishes || }} |- {{#if: | |Ink assist by || }} |- {{#if: | |Additional inks || }} |- {{#if: | |Inking || }} |- {{#if: | |Backgrounds || }} |- {{#if: | |Backgrounds by || }} |- {{#if: | |Colorist || }} |- {{#if: | |Colorists || }} |- {{#if: | |Colourist || }} |- {{#if: | |Colourists || }} |- {{#if: | |Color || }} |- {{#if: | |Colors || }} |- {{#if: | |Color art || }} |- {{#if: | |Colour || }} |- {{#if: | |Colours || }} |- {{#if: | |Colored by || }} |- {{#if: | |Color by || }} |- {{#if: Josh Burcham | |Colors by || Josh Burcham}} |- {{#if: | |Color art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Colors assist by || }} |- {{#if: | |Color assists || }} |- {{#if: | |Color assistance by || }} |- {{#if: | |Additional colors || }} |- {{#if: | |Additional colors by || }} |- {{#if: grungewerx | |Color assist by || grungewerx}} |- {{#if: | |Colour/Computer FX || }} |- {{#if: | |Computer coloring/effects || }} |- {{#if: | |Color Reconstruction || }} |- {{#if: | |Flats || }} |- {{#if: | |Flats by || }} |- {{#if: | |MTMTE Profiles || }} |- {{#if: | |Letterer || }} |- {{#if: | |Letterers || }} |- {{#if: | |Lettering || }} |- {{#if: | |Letters || }} |- {{#if: Robbie Robbins | |Letters by || Robbie Robbins}} |- {{#if: | |Lettered by || }} |- {{#if: | |Lettering|Production || }} |- {{#if: | |Special Thanks{{#if: | To}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Collaborators || }} |- {{#if: | |Contributors || }} |- {{#if: | |Editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Editors || }} |- {{#if: | |Editing || }} |- {{#if: Chris Ryall & Dan Taylor | |Edits by || Chris Ryall & Dan Taylor}} |- {{#if: | |Compiled and Edited by || }} |- {{#if: | |Original series editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Original Edits by || }} |- {{#if: | |Deputy editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Assistant editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Editorial assistant{{#if: |s}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Editorial Assistance
provided by || }} |- {{#if: | |Senior editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Associate editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Story consultant || }} |- {{#if: | |Project manager || }} |- {{#if: | |Production by || }} |- {{#if: | |Designer || }} |- {{#if: | |Design by || }} |- {{#if: | |Designed by || }} |- {{#if: | |Design/editorial || }} |- {{#if: | |Book design by || }} |- {{#if: | |Collection designer || }} |- {{#if: | |Collection editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Collection Edits by || }} |- {{#if: | |Graphic design || }} |- {{#if: | |Graphic design by || }} |- {{#if: | |Collection Design by || }} |- {{#if: | |Creative Director{{#if: | / Layout}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Contributing editors || }} |- {{#if: | |Research editor{{#if: |s}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Managing editor || }} |- {{#if: | |{{#if: |Editor-in-chief|Editor in chief}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Editorial consultant || }} |- {{#if: | |Dinosaur consultant || }} |- {{#if: | |Publishing manager || }} |- {{#if: | |Cover || }} |- {{#if: | |Cover art{{#if: |ist}}{{#if: | by}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Cover Design {{#if: |and Elements }}by || }} |- {{#if: | |Inside cover || }} |- {{#if: | |Apologies to || }} |- {{#if: 2005 IDW continuity | |Continuity || 2005 IDW continuity}} |- {{#if: 2006-7 | |Chronology || 2006-7}} |- {{#if: | |ISBN || }} |- {{#if: | |TPB ISBN || ISBN }} |- {{#if: | |UPC || }} |- {{#if: | |Page count || }} |- {{#if: | |Price || }} |- {{#if: | |Packaged with || }} |- {{#if: | |Printed in || }} |- {{#if: | |Animation || }} |- {{#if: | |Music || }} |}{{#switch:{{#sub:xx|2|14}}|dark cybertron=}} As the Decepticons try to stop Thunderwing, Optimus Prime and the Wreckers take on Bludgeon's cult.

Synopsis

Thunderwing, now firmly under the control of Bludgeon, has touched down on the once-peaceful planet of Nebulos, deploying a formidable arsenal of weaponry against its occupants to further Bludgeon's insane plan to scour the planet clean in the hopes of rejuvenating Cybertron. A pleased Bludgeon watches from Cybertron as his creation rampages through a Nebulan city, but other matters soon demand his attention; setting Thunderwing on auto-control, Bludgeon and his followers move on to the next phase of their plan: having continued Thunderwing's research on the polydermal grafting technology that ultimately drove him insane, the rogue Decepticons have improved on Thunderwing's findings and created the next generation of organic carapaces.

Up above, in the ruins of Nova Cronum, Nosecone and Afterburner struggle to overpower their Centurion attackers. It looks like the end for the duo... but luck's in their favor when Roadbuster and Topspin plough into the droids in the nick of time, gunning them down in a hail of fire! A few minutes later, Nosecone comes to amidst a group of Autobots; his rescuers were the vanguard for a larger detachment, one led by Optimus Prime himself and bringing the rest of the elite Wreckers with him. Optimus and Springer talk tactics while Topspin fills in the driller on their findings. Topspin tells him to stay topside: he's done enough, and now it's time for "the professionals" to take over.

As Thunderwing runs amok on Nebulos, the local Decepticon infiltration unit weigh up their options in the face of certain doom. Squad leader Darkwing makes the final call to attack the creature, ordering Thrust to stay behind and erase all trace of their presence if they can't control it. As the crew rolls out, however, Darkwing makes a secret agreement with his teammate Dreadwind to flee the scene if things get too rough.

Stormbringer coming down, meaning to stay; thunder and lightning heading your way!

On Cybertron, the Wreckers swing into action: Twin Twist and Scoop first use their earthmoving alternate modes to burrow straight down into Bludgeon's bunker, and then Optimus Prime leads the charge. Bludgeon's loyalists aren't prepared for the Wreckers' onslaught and swiftly fall; Iguanus, meanwhile, slips away from the carnage and makes a break for the pressure vats to alert Bludgeon... only to find Bludgeon's already there, clad in a new suit of polydermal armor and wielding a glowing sword!

Back on Nebulos, the terrified Decepticons make their last stand against Thunderwing, to predictable results: Ruckus is pulped in one hand, Roadgrabber is swatted out of the air and crashes into a building, and Crankcase is crushed underfoot. Darkwing and Dreadwing make a half-hearted pass against the beast, but as the atmosphere begins to ionize, the two opt to grab Thrust, cut their losses, and run.

Dark cloud gathering, breaking the day; no point running 'cause it's coming your way!

The Wreckers, meanwhile, have breached the pressure vat chamber and barge through, expecting a fight... only to find that Bludgeon has bisected Iguanus with his sword and suffered a system failure of his own, the flesh of his shell melting off his catatonic body. Optimus consoles the dying Iguanus as the Decepticon explains where Bludgeon went wrong: the exo-shell hadn't been properly aligned, and the resulting backlash has, in effect, trapped the mad Decepticon inside his own head. Roadbuster and Whirl successfully rescue Jetfire from one of Bludgeon's machines; he tells Optimus Prime to shut down Bludgeon's axis cradle, and Springer obliges by blowing the machine to bits.

Having escaped the ravaged Nebulos, Dreadwind and Darkwing send a message to Razorclaw, who in turn contacts the High Command. The message finds its way to Megatron, who has recently arrived on Earth; he authorizes Razorclaw to do whatever is necessary to stop Thunderwing... even if it means destroying Cybertron in the process.

And, on Cybertron, Jetfire gets to work decoding the data in Bludgeon's systems, discovering that Bludgeon has used a mysterious substance known as "Ultra-Energon" to awaken Thunderwing in the first place. Before he can get any further, however, an orbital perimeter alarm sounds—with Bludgeon's control system destroyed, Thunderwing is coming home...

Featured characters

{{#if:* Nosecone (8)

Afterburner (9)
Roadbuster (10)
Topspin (11)
Whirl (12)
Optimus Prime (13)
Springer (14)
Broadside (15)
Sandstorm (16)
Scoop (24)
Twin Twist (25)
Jetfire (26)|

Autobots }}{{#if:{\|border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
Thunderwing (1) Bludgeon (2) Skullgrin (3) Finback (4) Bomb-Burst (5) Iguanus (6) Centurion Drones (7) Ruckus (17) Darkwing (18) Dreadwind (19) Skullcruncher (20) Roadgrabber (21) Crankcase (22)	Thrust (23) Razorclaw (27) Megatron (28)

|

!! style="background:#ededff" | Decepticons }}{{#if:| !! style="background:#fbefde;" | Humans }}{{#if:| !! style="background:#ffeeb8;" | Others }}{{#if:| !! style="background:#d5e6d5;" | Misc }}{{#if:| !! style="background:#fedeb5;" | Misc }} |- {{#if:* Nosecone (8)

Afterburner (9)
Roadbuster (10)
Topspin (11)
Whirl (12)
Optimus Prime (13)
Springer (14)
Broadside (15)
Sandstorm (16)
Scoop (24)
Twin Twist (25)
Jetfire (26)|| style="background:#ffdddd;" valign="top" |
Nosecone (8)
Afterburner (9)
Roadbuster (10)
Topspin (11)
Whirl (12)
Optimus Prime (13)
Springer (14)
Broadside (15)
Sandstorm (16)
Scoop (24)
Twin Twist (25)
Jetfire (26) }}{{#if:{|border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"

|- |style="background:transparent; border:0px" valign="top"|

|style="background:transparent; border:0px" valign="top"|

Thrust (23)
Razorclaw (27)
Megatron (28)

|}| | style="background:#ededff;" valign="top" |

Thrust (23)
Razorclaw (27)
Megatron (28)

}}{{#if:|

| style="background:#fbefde;" valign="top" |

}}{{#if:|

| style="background:#ffeeb8;" valign="top" |

}}{{#if:|

| style="background:#d5e6d5;" valign="top" |

}}{{#if:|

| style="background:#fedeb5;" valign="top" |

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Quotes

"Suppose there's no point in asking you to stay up here, out of the firing line."
"No."

—Springer and Optimus Prime.

"Damn! Damn! Damn! It's all gone to Hell!"

—Iguanus is having a bad day.

Notes

Continuity notes

They sure look dead in this issue, but under the pen of James Roberts both Crankcase and Skullcruncher would be revealed to have survived their encounter with Thunderwing in More than Meets the Eye: Crankcase would go on to join the misfit Scavengers, while Skullcruncher got off better and started a new life as a stand-up comedian.
In a similar vein, several of Bludgeon's cultists sure look as though they've been killed, but The Transformers: Lost Light would suggest that at least three members — Bomb-Burst, Skullgrin, and Finback — had merely been subdued and eventually imprisoned in the Autobot's infamous Garrus-9 prison facility.
Megatron's brief appearance in this issue links directly to the concurrent Infiltration miniseries, where we see Megatron's side of the conversation in the pages of issue #4 and #5.
First appearances: Razorclaw

Transformers references

Optimus Prime's hand-held rifles are pretty obviously those from his Powermaster body. This in mind, his arm-mounted twin-cannons could be inspired by the same toy.
Bludgeon's new suit of polydermal armor is heavily based on his toy's Pretender shell. Unlike the original, however, its design suggests that, like the Mega and Ultra Pretenders, it's able to assume an alternate mode all its own; in Bludgeon's case, some kind of treaded ground vehicle.

Errors

In the recap, Thunderwing is called Bludgeon.
Iguanus has a different design for his face during his death scene with Prime.

Other trivia

Japanese characters can be seen on the monitor in the last panel, suggesting that someone didn't want to go to the trouble of coming up with suitably alien letters...
The Decepticomments section had readers' mail answered by Chris Ryall.

Covers (3)

Cover A: Wreckers wraparound cover by Don Figueroa and Josh Burcham. This cover can be combined with similar ones from the other three issues to form a giant battle scene.
Cover B: Cybertron sketch wraparound cover by Don Figueroa; this was later colored for The Best of Simon Furman trade paperback and the Madman Entertainment-exclusive comic.
Cover RI: Cover A uncolored.

Who ya gonna call? The Wreckers!
Cybertron is a spiky ball!
Cover RI-A

Reprints

In addition to collections of the full series.

N/A

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 |chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline#2006-7|2006-7]]
 }}
-'''As the Decepticons try to stop Thunderwing, Optimus Prime and the Wreckers take on Bludgeon's cabal.'''
+'''As the Decepticons try to stop Thunderwing, Optimus Prime and the Wreckers take on Bludgeon's cult.'''
 ==Synopsis==

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