The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7

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« The Transformers: Robots in Disguise #25 »
« Dark Cybertron
Chapter 7 		»
"The Dead Are Not Enough"
Dark Cybertron Chapter 7
Publisher IDW Publishing
First published January 22, 2014
Cover date January 2014
Written by John Barber and
James Roberts
Art by James Raiz, Atilio Rojo and Livio Ramondelli
Colors by Josh Perez and Livio Ramondelli
Letters by Tom B. Long
Editor Carlos Guzman
Continuity IDW continuity
Chronology Current era (2014)

The Lost Lighters have a close encounter of the unexpected kind deep within Metroplex, while old allies are found and won back in the Dead Universe. All this, plus: Megatron vs. Galvatron!

Synopsis

The battle between the Lost Light crew and the Ammonites continues, with Hound leading his crewmates in the fight. Swerve comes to the aid of Crosscut, but is mildly affronted to learn that the former-senator-turned-playwright doesn't know who he is. Moments later, the Ammonites appear to retreat, but Waverider, observing from above, realizes they are actually heading for the dormant Metroplex. Within the Titan, meanwhile, Ultra Magnus's team discover that they have been protected against the explosion of the Rodpod by a wall that sprang up to shield them. Just as Skids is deducing that Metroplex's constantly-shifting interior was the reason for the confusing pattern of arrows they followed earlier, Brainstorm shushes him to point out that Whirl has vanished. When Getaway's communicator rings, they think Whirl is contacting them, but it's actually Swerve responding to Getaway's earlier message with some alarm. The metallurgist explains that the Admium flakes found in Metroplex's interior indicate he has contracted a contagious alchemical virus that is breaking down his metal... but that even this "death plague" is the least of the team's worries with the Ammonites bearing down on them!

In the Dead Universe, Nova Prime uses his control over the collapsing reality to bring Orion Pax's captive team to his citadel, crafted in the image of his own head and protected by an army of undead Sweeps. He presents them with Kup, on the verge of death, who Nova has sliced open and transformed into a fledging space bridge. Mocking Rodimus's suggestions for how they could overpower him and escape, Nova orders Nightbeat to take them to a cell. As he locks them up, Nightbeat explains that Nova intends to take their sparks to strengthen the space bridge and allow him to cross over. Remembering his previous reaction, Rodimus shows Nightbat the mysterious contents of his palm once more, explaining that in order to break Nova's control over him, they must force the detective to engage the part of his brain that Nova has shut off: the part that represents his true nature, the part that loves mystery. Rodimus challenges Nightbeat to solve the mystery of what lies in his hand: the numbers "89/101", carved into his palm. Rodimus permits him to ask one question, and Nightbeat struggles to think the conundrum through, finally succeeding in breaking Nova's control by deducing that the sum of the numbers represents the 190 active crew members of the Lost Light. Nightbeat releases them, but Orion remains confused, and Rodimus grimly prepares to explain the truth to him...

In Crystal City, Galvatron angrily advocates pursuing the escaping Autobots and Decepticons, his ancient warrior spirit disgusted by Shockwave's passive, big-picture attitude. Jhiaxus soon arrives in his stolen timeship, and while he and Shockwave prepare to discuss their plan, Galvatron brusquely takes up Waspinator's given task of taking Megatron's body back to Shockwave's lab, distrustful of the current generation of Transformers. On the way, Galvatron and Waspinator find their way barred by Bumblebee, who demands they had Megatron over. Galvatron is highly amused, and proceeds to beat the stuffing out of Bumblebee... until Megatron revives, takes down Waspinator despite lacking his own legs, and knocks Galvatron out with a barrage of fusion cannon fire. Bumblebee carries the Decepticon leader out of the city, and while the sight of Iacon burning in the distance affords Megatron no pleasure, he does smile at the thought of Starscream's suffering. And life is indeed hard for his traitorous lieutenant right now, as he sits in the ruins of Iacon and endures Scoop's vitriolic fire-and-brimstone pontifications.

Back inside Metroplex, Whirl rejoins the team, having tracked down their Ammonite stowaway and tortured him for information, discovering that the Ammonites were recruited by Shockwave in case "the dead were not enough". The Ammonite further explains that the Decepticon ordered them to track the Lost Light and prevent the crew from interfering with his plans in exchange for his bringing an end to the Ammonite/Terradore war; this confession triggers a failsafe that causes the little 'bot to involuntarily self-destruct. Deducing the connection between "the dead" and the Dead Universe and realizing Shockwave is behind everything, the Autobots are planning what to do next when a hooked cable suddenly drops through a hole in the ceiling and clocks Ultra Magnus on the head. Two figures slide down the cable, warning (with some uncertainty) the Autobots not to move: two figures that reveal themselves to be Nautica and Chromia, a pair of female Transformers!

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots Decepticons Others

Quotes

Brainstorm: "Something's not right."
Skids: "What it is, Brainstorm? Trouble?"
Brainstorm: "The opposite. There's a sudden lack of tension in the room. I can't explain it."
Ratchet: "It's Whirl. Where's he gone?"
(Getaway's communicator rings.)
Ratchet: "I bet that's him, and I bet he's done something."
Brainstorm: "If he needs help disposing of a body, tell him I'm not bailing him out. Not again."


"In my time, being a warrior meant something. How do you stand it, Shockwave? This planet, and the cowards who live here."
"I am a scientist, not a warrior. I suppose other principles govern my actions."
"Hmpf. A world ruled by scientists..."

—Galvatron and Shockwave


"This scratch? I've had worse."

—Megatron, on getting his legs ripped off

Notes

Continuity notes

  • Given that Hound has spent the last five years in IDW continuity filling out crowd scenes and little else, it may be surprising to see him taking charge of the Lost Light crew in Rodimus and Magnus's absence, but he was actually a unit commander back during Simon Furman's tenure, first seen in Spotlight: Galvatron.
  • Swerve is wielding his My First Blaster, previously seen in More than Meets the Eye #18.
  • Unable to recall Swerve's name, Crosscut wonders if he's Rung, the gag being that nobody outside of the "main guys" ever seems able to remember the psychiatrist's name.
  • The presence of the Sweep army in the Dead Universe implicitly confirms that when Galvatron and his army were thwarted at the climax of "Chaos" and disintegrated, they were just being sucked back into the Dead Universe.
  • The Ammonites referred to potentially teaming up with the "Dark Cyclops" back in More than Meets the Eye #22.

Errors

  • Nautica's line in the second-to-last page is attributed to Chromia's silhouette.

Trivia

  • The title of this chapter was accidentally left out of the finished issue.
  • Artist breakdown continues as as normal this issue, with Rojo on Cybertron, Ramondelli on the Dead Universe, and Raiz on the Lost Light crew.
  • This is the first story in this continuity where Transformers characters pass the Bechdel Test.

Covers (3)

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