The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots
The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots is a 5-issue miniseries published by IDW Publishing, set in the primary IDW continuity. The miniseries was originally published from December 2008 to April 2009. It features Scorponok, his Machination and Headmaster army, Sunstreaker/Hunter, Hot Rod, Skywatch, Shockwave, Soundwave and the Dynobots.
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Overview
Scorponok manipulates Grimlock and the Dynobots to cause chaos in Fallon, Nevada so that he can send in his Headmasters in to save the day. He hopes this would give his company the government contracts to protect against extraterrestrial attacks, and eventually worm his way into the secret levels of society, thus allowing him to take control of Earth.
Hot Rod tracks him down and he is beaten to a pulp for his efforts. Sunstreaker and Hunter are also after the Machination to recover Sunstreaker's real head, which would also stop the Headmaster army. Scorponok gives the Dynobots too much mental control and they recover their personalities, but the group is overwhelmed by the Headmaster army until help arrives from the Monsterbots, whom Grimlock contacted earlier.
Skywatch's Agent Red activates Shockwave to clean up the mess of several uncontrolled Transformers running about. Shockwave connects with Soundwave (who was rescued from his "owner" by Ravage and Laserbeak) and the two come to an agreement—Soundwave will clone Shockwave's disarm code if Shockwave frees him from his transformation lock. Sunstreaker makes it into Machination HQ and finds his real head, but is blasted by Scorponok, but not before Hunter escapes. As the Dynobots battle the Machination horde, Hunter pulls the plug on Sunstreaker's head, disabling all of the Headmasters. Scorponok blasts Sludge and declares war on Grimlock and the Dynobots for ruining his plans. Shockwave also arrives on the scene for revenge, but Ultra Magnus, who was alerted by a distress call from Hot Rod, is on his way as well, and ready for a reckoning with Scorponok.
Scorponok and Shockwave do battle, while Grimlock attempts to resurrect Sludge, the remaining Dinobots fall back to the Monsterbots' ship, and Hot Rod takes Sludge's SLAGGIN' HUGE energy sword inside the Machination HQ. Meanwhile, Agent Red and Skywatch have reacquired Ravage and Laserbeak. Red is holding off on transmitting the disarm code to the bomb inside Shockwave's head. Shockwave gains the upper hand against Scorponok and allows him to escape, since his true beef is against the Dynobots. Grimlock, seemingly unable to revive Sludge, futilely tries to kill Scorponok. Enraged, he attacks Shockwave, just as Sludge reawakens.
Hot Rod discovers Scorponok's original head, and Hunter, but Scorponok arrives, proceeding to continue beating Hot Rod to a pulp. Grimlock, on the verge of Shockwave defeating him, is saved by the Dynobots(including Sludge). Shockwave's disarm code is transmitted, who in turn gives Soundwave the instructions on how to free himself. Doing so, he reactivates Laserbeak and Ravage, who have their sweet revenge on their Skywatch captors.
Shockwave overpowers Grimlock, and walks away from the fight, but Grimlock detonates a small bomb, which blows the building they are in—which looks a lot like an ammunition storehouse—sky high. Meanwhile, back at Machination HQ, the Dinobots arrive to stop Scorponok from squishing Hot Rod's head. Swoop severs the connections to Scorponok's original head, immobilizing him and shutting him down. Snarl is about to kill Scorponok, but is stopped by the arrival of Ultra Magnus, saying Scorponok must stand trial. He takes everyone back to his ship.
Three days later, on Ark-32, Sunstreaker is in the CR chamber, repairing. Ratchet was able to sever the connections of him with Hunter. Verity and Jimmy—back to full health—embrace Hunter (they hadn't seen him since the beginning of Escalation). No trace of the Transformers remain Fallon, unfortunately for Skywatch. Grimlock's penal sentence has been shortened, due to helping Magnus capture Scorponok and Shockwave, and the other Dinobots are free. All is well.
At least, for now...
Creative team
Maximum Dinobots is written by Simon Furman and penciled by Nick Roche (with help from James Raiz). Colors were handled by Josh Burcham and Joana Lafuente.
Items of note
- Originally, the series was intended to be issues #27–31 in the IDW overarching "sub-numbering", filling more than half of the previously confirmed eight-issue gap between the four Revelation Spotlights and All Hail Megatron. However, Simon Furman later threw doubt on this plan[1], and Chris Ryall eventually confirmed its' abandonment.[2] The numeration of the TPB now remain the only indication of an actual reading order of the different arcs. Though Revelation was numbered with the other Spotlights, both it and Maximum Dinobots spin directly out of Devastation.
- The series nicely wraps up all of the outstanding plots created by Simon Furman.
- Shane McCarthy has said he heard of Maximum when he was writing #9 of All Hail Megatron, and believes Simon was writing this mini-series with the plot of AHM in mind. [3]
Collections
- Maximum Dinobots TPB (July 9, 2009) ISBN 1600104789 / ISBN 978-1600104787
- Bonus material includes covers from each issue, art of the Dynobots and a Dynobots size comparison page.
References
- ↑ http://simonfurman.wordpress.com/2008/06/26/script-wrap-%E2%80%94-max/#comment-3651 Simon Furman: "...those three issues remain very much 'To be confirmed' at the moment. If, indeed, the sub-numbering still applies. Plans should firm up in the next few months."
- ↑ http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?t=4270&start=53#81142 Chris Ryall: "The sub-numbering was just getting too confusing, so we decided it best to stop that before everyone's heads exploded trying to keep track. Overlapping storylines set at different points in the continuity seemed confusing enough."
- ↑ Shane McCarthy podcast interview
