The Hanging Sword

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The Transformers: Bumblebee #1 »

I picked out the new carpet... does the leader do anything else?
"The Hanging Sword"
Publisher IDW Publishing
First published December 16, 2009
Cover date December 2009
Writer Zander Cannon
Artist Chee Yang Ong
Colorist Moose Baumann
Letterer Neil Uyetake
Editor Andy Schmidt
Associate editor Denton J. Tipton
Continuity IDW continuity
Chronology Current era (2010)

Bumblebee adjusts to his unexpected role and tries to forge a new alliance.

Synopsis

And there was much rejoicing

The election of Bumblebee as Autobot leader is full of cheer, but within a few days, Bumblebee wishes he could give up the title. Tensions are high as the Autobots either stay in hiding, or forge out on their own. Ratchet rebukes a disrespectful Wheeljack, who later receives a transmission from Colonel Gordon Horiuchi. While Bumblebee is explaining to Omega Supreme that he must hide in a very uncomfortable cave, Wheeljack listens to the Colonel, who states that he is part of a small group of rebels within Skywatch who want to work with the Autobots to capture Decepticons. Wheeljack decides to make contact.

Bumblebee and Ratchet are furious when they find out, but agree to meet the Colonel anyway. At a neutral location, Horiuchi meets with Bumblebee, explains the desire to work with the Autobots. He cites Skywarp as an example, who has recently attacked two defense suppliers. Unbeknownst to them, Skywarp is secretly stockpiling weapons for the day when Megatron returns. Horiuchi gives Bumblebee a set of badges that will mask Transformer signals from Skywatch's scanners. Bumblebee takes the badges back to base where they are soon installed on each Autobot.

Shortly, the Autobots capture six Decepticons, the latest being Frenzy, who's lost without Soundwave. The next on the list is Scavenger, but instead, Horiuchi wants them to capture Blurr, who had earlier left the team. Cliffjumper blusters out that the Colonel is crazy if he thinks they will capture one of their own. Horiuchi has his tech activate an immobilizer built into Cliffjumper's badge, locking him into vehicle mode. The Autobots are aghast, but Horiuchi explains it is merely until he calms down. The Autobots all realize that with these badges installed on all of them, they are now pawns for Horiuchi, essentially salves, to be used as the Colonel sees fit, to capture friend and foe alike.

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots Decepticons Humans

Errors

  • Silverstreak was listed as having left with Hot Rod in Ongoing # 2, but a very Bluestreak-looking Autobot is among those cheering for Bumblebee on the second page. Perhaps Silverstreak is a different character? Or maybe it's supposed to be Smokescreen?
  • Bumblebee lists six Decepticons captured (with mugshots of six Decepticons behind him), but just a few panels later, Cnl. Horiuchi says it's five Decepticons captured, with the sixth mugshot (Scavenger) representing the next target.

Items of note

  • Cindersaur, Gutcruncher, Axer and Squawkbox somehow made it to Earth within the last three years.
  • This is also Cindersaur's first appearance in the IDW continuity.
  • Though the character designs for this miniseries are very different from the ongoing title, it's still odd that Cliffjumper retained his All Hail Megatron design while Bumblebee has been changed to his Generation One design.
  • Blurr deserted in Ongoing #3.
  • Soundwave left Earth three years ago. You'd think Frenzy would be used to it by now.
  • The title is a reference to the ancient Greek story of the sword of Damocles.

Covers (3)

Let's see what you can see...

This article is in need of images.

Specifics: cover RI
  • Cover A: Happy Bumblebee and a mad Hot Rod; art by Guido Guidi with colors by Josh Burcham.
  • Cover B: Unhappy Bumblebee standing on the Autobot symbol; art by Chee Yang Ong with colors by Moose Baumann.
  • Cover RI: Black and white sketch version of cover B.
  • Back to my G1 character model—YES!
    Back to my G1 character model—YES!
  • Ok, I'm small, get over it!
    Ok, I'm small, get over it!
  • RI cover
    RI cover

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