Escalation issue 4

From MediaWiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
« The Transformers: Escalation #4 »

Brains!
Publisher IDW Publishing
First published February 28, 2007
Cover date February 2007
Story by Simon Furman
Art by E. J. Su
Colors by Zac Atkinson
Letters by Neil Uyetake
Edits by Chris Ryall & Dan Taylor
Continuity IDW continuity
Chronology Escalation

As the Decepticons raise global tensions, the Autobots deploy to stop them. Meanwhile, the search for Sunstreaker and Hunter continues.

Synopsis

Hunter O'Nion is alive, and in a strange medical facility surrounded by masked medical personnel. Something is injected into his IV bag, and the last words he hears are "Prep him for surgery", before he loses consciousness.

Outside Idea & Design Works Custom Wheels in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Ironhide, Jimmy Pink, Ratchet, and Verity Carlo conclude that the store's sophisticated security system indicates it is more than it appears to be. To avoid detection, Verity and Jimmy insist that they go inside, since the security system might detect the Autobots' holomatter drivers. Ironhide agrees reluctantly.

In Brasnya, Blitzwing is camouflaged and in the perfect position to take a shot at Optimus Prime. Just before he fires, Roller, controlled by Prime, takes Blitzwing out with a cannon blast; he'd been tracking the Decepticon from his Combat Deck.

The facsimile Georgi Koska drives onto the scene with Megatron still in his alternate mode as a hand gun; the two of them are attacked by Prowl, Wheeljack, and Jazz. Megatron gives the order for Koska to self-terminate as the other Autobots scramble to preserve him for study. Skywarp and Astrotrain appear and attack the Autobots just as Hardhead and Hot Rod arrive on scene via orbital jump to help. Seeking termination, the Koska facsimile limps toward the enemy line.

Verity and Jimmy are inside the auto parts store and nose around. Verity discovers a secret door behind a shelf which the two of them manage to open. What's inside?

As Brasnyan troops watch in surprise and confusion, the Autobots have their hands full with Skywarp and Astrotrain, then get some help in the form of Hardhead. With that added firepower, Prowl is only seconds away from capturing Koska, but an impatient Hot Rod gets in his way, and the two tumble out of control. Meanwhile, Nightbeat reports to Optimus Prime that all transmissions in the area have gone dead. Prime has bigger fish to fry; Megatron has just transformed and landed right in front of him.

In Indiana, the secret entrance leads Jimmy and Verity to a large workshop filled with advanced tools that Jimmy doesn't recognize. Jimmy sifts through the trash for clues, while Verity starts searching a computer and desk, where a business card catches her eye. Without warning, the door locks and the vents start pumping a gas into the room. The two humans are overcome and fall to the floor. On the computer screen, a timer starts ticking down.

10:00...9:59...9:58...

Quotes

"We appear to have an American F-22 Raptor, being shot at by some kind of rally vehicle. And a police patrol car, also American... under attack from a space shuttle?"
— Captain Todorof observes the battle. Robots in disguise, folks!

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots Decepticons Humans Facsimilies

Notes

Continuity notes

Transformers references

  • When Verity and Jimmy are searching the auto shop, a Binaltech-brand air filter and "Seibertron Car Show" pamphlets can be seen on the shelves.
  • The word "Takara" can be seen on the book by Verity's hand as she sets off the trap.

Real-life references

  • The above references strangely make much more sense once you realize the auto shop's name is the "Idea and Design Works Custom Wheels". Could IDW be a front for the Machination? Maybe they just share the same secret hideaway.
  • Ironhide and company undertake their investigation in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Errors

Other trivia

  • The "Decepticomments" section did not answer readers' mail but did have an ad for the movie prequel comic.

Covers (3)

  • Cover A: Astrotrain vs Hardhead; art by E. J. Su. The cover was also reused for the TPB.
  • Cover B: Optimus Prime; art by Klaus Scherwinski.
  • Cover RI: cover A, uncolored
  • Cover A
    Cover A
  • Check out my guns...I mean, GUN.
    Check out my guns...I mean, GUN.
  • Cover RI-A
    Cover RI-A

Advertisements

Reprints

Retrieved from "https://tfwiki.duckdns.org/index.php?title=Escalation_issue_4&oldid=1211249"