Last Bot Standing issue 4

	{{#if: 'Cause I'm a cowboy; On a steel horse I ride; I'm wanted (wanted), dead or alive \|; 'Cause I'm a cowboy; On a steel horse I ride; I'm wanted (wanted), dead or alive}}}}
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Publisher	IDW Publishing}}
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First published	August 31, 2022}}
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Cover date	August 2022}}
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Written by	Nick Roche}}
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Art by	E. J. Su (pg. 1-9, 11-30) ; Nick Roche (pg. 10)}}
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Colors	Rebecca Nalty and Brittany Peer}}
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Letters by	Johanna Nattalie}}
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Editor	David Mariotte and Riley Farmer}}
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{{#if: LastBotStanding 4 cvrA.jpg | {{#if: IDW Publishing | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: August 31, 2022 | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: August 2022 | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: Nick Roche | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: E. J. Su (pg. 1-9, 11-30)
Nick Roche (pg. 10) | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: Rebecca Nalty and Brittany Peer | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: Johanna Nattalie | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: David Mariotte and Riley Farmer | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: |

{{#switch:{{#sub:xx|2|14}}|dark cybertron=}}

The last Autobot steps up to save the universe one final time.

Synopsis

When Rodimus's team first touched down on Donnokt, they made a shocking discovery: in a universe otherwise drained of its resources, this one inconspicuous planet concealed a vast seam of energon, so abundant and potent that a single spark could ignite the entire deposit and annihilate their entire world. Future generations might discover a way to harness this vast bounty to fuel a future civilization, but until that day Rodimus recorded a message to the natives: leave the energon alone. Should other "visitors" come calling, then the people of Donnokt will use the three energon keys bequeathed to the most trustworthy members of their tribe to activate their hidden guardians—but as Steeljaw crushes the video tablet in his fist, he berates Rodimus for keeping the planet all to himself, content to starve in the midst of plenty while Steeljaw and his followers struggled to subsist on inefficient biofuel. Rodimus growls that Steeljaw and his grotesque "family" aren't the victims here—the Cybertronian race has had too many chances, and recklessly exploiting Donnokt's energon could completely destabilize the planet. Sharpclaw wonders if using the three energon keys could give them the necessary stamina to begin processing energon again, but Rodimus corrects her—there are only two now, after he used the first to wipe out Steeljaw's base camp. The thought of real energon triggers something in his followers; as they desperately dogpile their leader, one of the keys slips from Steeljaw's hand and smashes on the ground.

As Steeljaw's minions squabble amongst themselves, Rodimus orders Shib to free the other citizens of Fembrance, while Sharpclaw pleads with her brother to share the last remaining key with her. When Steeljaw refuses, Sharpclaw pounces on her brother, and in doing so drops Travyon and Beets Wallkis from her grasp and they assist Shib as she opens the first livestock wagon. Steeljaw roars that they're letting their livestock escape, but Scylla and the rest are more interested in the last energon key, and the moment of confusion allows Rodimus to slip in and punt the key into Shib's waiting hand, who saddles up on Sparks and rides out. To buy time, Rodimus grabs Stambo and Brennet's steam cars, uses his flamethrowers to ignite their fuel, and hurls them at the onrushing Cybertronians, but the knockback sends the old Autobot flying into a nearby cliff and knocks him unconscious.

Not long after Rodimus, Strongarm, and Gripper landed on Donnokt, their first task was to eliminate the Decepticons who'd pursued them there until only Talon and Fangry remained: the first and last Decepticons to learn the secret of Donnokt mere moments before Rodimus kills them. Although Gripper and Strongarm have their doubts, Rodimus insists that this is the only way to keep the rest of the universe safe.

Energon key in hand, Shib rides up to the nearby mineshaft, with the intent of putting the device beyond the reach of the aliens—unfortunately for her, however, Sharpclaw and Steeljaw have followed her to the mine... but the sight of the mineshaft itself momentarily breaks their concentration. As Shib tries to make a quiet escape, Steeljaw catches her, opens fire, and ignites some of the nearby crystals in doing so—the resulting chain reaction causes the entire mountain to shudder. When Rodimus comes to, the black smoke makes finding Shib almost impossible, even before an enormous hand reaches down and grabs him by the head: using their remaining fuel, the surviving members of Steeljaw's crew have pooled their resources and merged into a twisted, ramshackle combiner: "Unstoppimus"!

With Shib captured, Steeljaw considers using the last remaining energon key on himself, only for an indignant Sharpclaw cuts in: although she's thankful for Steeljaw for leading them to this point, she won't scrounge for any more biofuel, not when the energon key rightfully belongs to both of them. If he wants it, he'll have to take it from her...

Meanwhile, as Rodimus faces off against Unstoppimus, he discovers that the temporary boost of energy afforded by the key has already begun to wear off—draining his ammunition in the process. Undaunted, the old Autobot shifts tactics by transforming into alternate mode, then races up the combiner's arm and transforms in mid-air to wrench Unstoppimus's head off; as the combiner collapses into its components, Rodimus nearly executes Lunaclub before he remembers Shib and races off. By the time that Rodimus reaches the mine, however, Steeljaw, having absorbed Shib's last energon key, and a badly wounded Sharpclaw have already arranged an ambush; while Sharpclaw slashes Rodimus in the throat, a furious Steeljaw continues the assault, and, as he does so, swears to turn everyone on Donnokt into biofuel before they strip-mine the planet. Despite his injuries, Rodimus just laughs, and Shib tells Steeljaw that Rodimus has already destroyed their refinery—without that fuel, the energon is worthless to them. As Sharpclaw collapses in despair, Steeljaw screams in rage, rams his fist through Rodimus's torso, and hurls his body down into the mineshaft. Although Sharpclaw tries to convince her brother that they can salvage something from their landing shaft, Steeljaw's too tired: the Cybertronian race is finished, and when he ignites the entire planet, he'll be the one to end the story. Sharpclaw wonders if, perhaps, Rodimus was right: even if their own people are functionally extinct, the people of Donnokt might have a chance, but Steeljaw won't listen, and Sharpclaw winds up taking a shot to the back when she dives to block Steeljaw from igniting the energon vein. An enraged Steeljaw reaches for Shib, determined to crush her for her impudence... but as he readies the shot that will end the planet, an empowered Rodimus—healed by exposure to pure energon and temporarily supercharged by its power—leaps from the shaft, punches Steeljaw's blaster arm off, and finally blows the ex-Decepticon's head apart as he makes one futile grab for Shib. The job done, Rodimus, victor of the very last battle his species will ever fight, finally rips the blasters from his wrists. As the sun sets, Rodimus and Shib take a moment to unwind outside the mine. Now that their secret is out, Rodimus won't be living with Shib anymore; before he leaves, he takes a moment to thank her for being the best boss he's ever had.

Time passes, and Rodimus turns his attention to helping the citizens of Fembrance: with his knowledge, the townsfolk learn how to better harness their planet's supplies of energon, and before long the townsfolk enjoy the conveniences of an electrical grid and a second generation of efficient steamramblers—while Shib and her family receive a pair of souped-up steam cars that will allow the Wallkis family to efficiently compete with their business rivals. Rodimus himself, meanwhile, eventually turns his attention to salvaging whatever he could from Steeljaw's vessel, then cobbles together a crude ship capable of housing both him and the stasis locked remnants of Steeljaw's followers. As his fuel supplies dwindle, Rodimus, content to slip back into stasis himself, launches his new ship on a one-way trip into orbit.

In this far-distant future, long after the end of the Great War, in a time when even the stars themselves have burned out, the people of Fembrance can just make out the light of Rodimus's starship as it slowly slides across the night sky. As Shib gazes up into an empty sky, and remembers how Rodimus once told her that his people took the stars away, she muses that—sometimes—bringing back just one star can be enough.

Featured characters

(Characters in italic text appear only in flashbacks.)
{{#if: ||(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)}}

{{#if:* Rodimus (1)

Strongarm (2)
Gripper (3)|

{{#if:* Rodimus (1)

Strongarm (2)
Gripper (3)|| style="background:#ffdddd;" valign="top" |
Rodimus (1)
Strongarm (2)
Gripper (3) }}{{#if:* Talon (18)
Fangry (19)|

Autobots }}{{#if:* Talon (18) Fangry (19)\|	Decepticons }}{{#if:* Beets Wallkis (9) Shib Wallkis (13) Errold (14) Sparks (15) Firebolt (16) Travyon Wallkis (17)\|	Donnokt }}{{#if:* Steeljaw (4) Lunaclub (5) Scylla (6) Cyberwarp (7) Sharpclaw (8) Riotgear (10) Override (11) Wedge (12) Unstoppimus (20) Wheelie (21)\|	Others }}{{#if:\|	Misc }}{{#if:\|	Misc }}
Talon (18) Fangry (19) }}{{#if:* Beets Wallkis (9) Shib Wallkis (13) Errold (14) Sparks (15) Firebolt (16) Travyon Wallkis (17)\|	Beets Wallkis (9) Shib Wallkis (13) Errold (14) Sparks (15) Firebolt (16) Travyon Wallkis (17) }}{{#if:* Steeljaw (4) Lunaclub (5) Scylla (6) Cyberwarp (7) Sharpclaw (8) Riotgear (10) Override (11) Wedge (12) Unstoppimus (20) Wheelie (21)\|	Steeljaw (4) Lunaclub (5) Scylla (6) Cyberwarp (7) Sharpclaw (8) Riotgear (10) Override (11) Wedge (12) Unstoppimus (20) Wheelie (21) }}{{#if:\|	}}{{#if:\|	}}

Quotes

"We have no idea how long we've lived this way because we've had to overwrite and overwrite our memories, just to conserve resources. Never enough fuel to feel full. Never enough fuel to build lasting technology that could guide our spacecraft to search for the next source. Just star charts, guesswork, and space capsules fired into the cosmos, hoping our calculations are correct. Pooling our lifeblood to send a scout ahead—like poor Nitro—as the rest of us travel in stasis within a giant sarcophagus, praying that the fuel we carry is enough to harvest the produce at our destination. And here you are. Living here, in unearned retirement, while we 'live' like that."

—Steeljaw

"We've run out of choices. And time. And... worlds. They don't get to take what's in this planet. They don't have the right to start this whole mess over again. And if there's anyone out there who wants to come looking, they don't either."

—Rodimus

"Hrrk—knew our species was out of fuel—hadn't realized we were—hrr—out of names, too..."

—Rodimus versus Unstoppimus

"We can... there might be enough of them... the resources, I mean. Maybe we can have enough reserve supplies to build something that can... look. Let's go back to the camp. Try to salvage some equipment. Start again to... and then we can begin to mine this ore, a-a-and..."
"Sharpclaw, sister—let us die like Cybertronians. Let us die like Decepticons. It's over."

—Sharpclaw and Steeljaw

"She was your sister... and she had your back, up to the end. So you shoot her in hers."
"Shut up."

—Shib and Steeljaw

"Before your kind were food to me, you were sport. I've forgotten so much. But not what it's like to end something like you between my fingers. Purely to know how it feels. This moment is all we have. Let's make it last before I turn out the light."

—Steeljaw

"What good is a Cybertronian? What good are any of us if we can't change? You can't win, Steeljaw."

—Rodimus versus Steeljaw

"When you came out of that mine, all fired up... whooo! You looked like a god. Godimus."
"Please don't call me that. Okay, maybe just one more time."

—Shib and Rodimus

"My time with Rodimus was short, and scary, and exciting. And he fought so hard against his own people, his own past, 'cos of the guilt he had for what they'd done. Stuff that's hard to win against. But I think he done it. I think he was a good guy. A good... person. He used to talk about the stars. How the sky used to be full of 'em before his kind took 'em all. He wished he coulda filled the sky up again. Brought back the stars. He knew he couldn't. But he managed one. One's enough."

—Shib's final monologue

Notes

Continuity notes

Back in issue #1, Shib made a few references to a substance the locals called "fizzbang" being mined up in the hills beyond Fembrance, inadvertently kickstarting an industrial revolution as the natives began to use it to fuel steam-powered machines. This issue reveals what this "fizzbang" actually is—the last source of pure energon in the universe.
To buy time while Shib escapes, Rodimus uses his flamethrowers on the steam cars used by local rich kids Stambo and Brennet to annoy the townsfolk in issue #1.
The first and only flashback in this issue fills in a final bit of missing detail between the flashbacks in issues 1 and #2—while the brief shot in issue 1 showed Rodimus and his crew under fire from a group of Decepticons as they fled through space, this issue reveals that, just after landing, the three spent some time hunting down all the Decepticons who'd followed them, ensuring that none could ever discover the secret of Donnokt.
On the second-to-last page, you can just barely spot Wheelie's severed head drifting past, still stranded in space after Rodimus booted him into orbit in issue #3.

Transformers references

Obscure Decepticon Predator Talon appears alongside Fangry as one of the two Decepticon stragglers Rodimus kills.
"Unstoppimus" is made up of characters who were part of combiner teams in other franchises: Riotgear and Cyberwarp formed Galvatronus in the 2015 Robots in Disguise cartoon, Scylla and the other Seacons combined into God Neptune in Beast Wars II; Lunaclub became Megatronia with Megaempress and the other 4 Guards, while Wedge formed the core of Landfill in the 2001 Robots in Disguise cartoon. Appropriately, Unstoppimus seems to share a transformation scheme with Landfill, most notably in how Lunaclub transforms by splitting herself in half and wrapping around Wedge's torso, Robots in Disguise Grimlock-style.
After Rodimus defeats Unstoppimus, the dying Lunaclub begs for her life, which Rodimus (abortively) responds with "Request denied" before attempting to finish her. He memorably said the same (and followed through on the threat) to the airborne hunter squad leader in Marvel UK's Transformers #114.
To incapacitate Rodimus, Sharpclaw uses her, well, sharp claws to slash at Rodimus's throat and damage his voice box, which might be a reference to "Movie" Bumblebee's famous backstory. Immediately afterwards, the shot of Steeljaw pointing his wrist-mounted blaster at Rodimus's prone body evokes Ironhide's death at the hands of Megatron in The Transformers: The Movie.
Moments later, as an energized Rodimus leaps from the mineshaft, Steeljaw's surprised scream of "Sheearggh!" homages one of Simon Furman's most-used (and beloved) sound effects.
Rodimus' gold, Super Saiyan-esque form when charged up on energon and Shib referring to that form as "Godimus" might be a reference to the Lucky Draw figure of Primus, which was a gold chrome recolored version of Rodimus' original Generation One toy.

Real-world references

As Steeljaw berates a fatally wounded Rodimus on page 20, their poses deliberately mimic a memetic screencap from the television series [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Invincible (TV series)|{{#if:Invincible|Invincible|Invincible (TV series)}}]]. This reference was inserted by artist E. J. Su as a nod to Invincible writer Robert Kirkman,<ref>{{#if: All credit to EJ! Little callout to his buddy R-Kirkz! |"All credit to EJ! Little callout to his buddy R-Kirkz!"—|}}{{#if: https://twitter.com/NickRoche/status/1565068838689030144 |Nick Roche|Nick Roche}}{{#if: Twitter |, Twitter|}}{{#if: |, ""|}}{{#if: 2022 |, 2022{{#if: 08 |/{{#switch:{{#len:08}}|1=008|08}}{{#if: 31|/{{#switch:{{#len:31}}|1=031|31}}|}}}}|}}{{#if: https://twitter.com/NickRoche/status/1565068838689030144 ||}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://twitter.com/NickRoche/status/1565068838689030144%7C7%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://twitter.com/NickRoche/status/1565068838689030144%7C8%7C11}}%7Cweb.archive= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://twitter.com/NickRoche/status/1565068838689030144%7C7%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#switch:{{#sub:https://twitter.com/NickRoche/status/1565068838689030144%7C8%7C10}}%7Carchive.is= (archive link)|}}{{#if: | (dead link)}}</ref> for whom Su had illustrated [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Tech Jacket|{{#if:||Tech Jacket}}]], a comic set in the same continuity as Invincible.
Empowered by raw energon, the overcharged Rodimus resembles the Super Saiyans of [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Dragon Ball Z|{{#if:||Dragon Ball Z}}]] fame—right down to a glowing yellow "hairpiece" of flames.

Errors

Scylla as part of Unstoppimus is partially colored purple.

Other trivia

Originally solicited for an August 10th release, this significantly delayed issue finally drops on the very last day of August.
Backmatter for this issue includes both black-and-white and colored art depicting Rodimus's climactic confrontation with Steeljaw, by E. J. Su.

Covers (5)

Cover A: A fiery Rodimus mirrors the cover of issue #1, by Nick Roche and Josh Burcham
Cover B: Life and death hang in Rodimus's hands, by Kei Zama and Josh Burcham
Cover C: Rodimus, by Saren Stone
Cover D: Steeljaw and Rodimus have it out in homage to the cover of Captain America Annual #8 by Mike Zeck and John Beatty, by Ochopante
Retailer incentive cover: Roddy's roundup, by E. J. Su

References

External links

Preview

Last Bot Standing issue 4

Contents

Synopsis

Featured characters

Quotes