Transformers Comic issue 23

« Transformers Universe (Titan) #23 »
"Hi, I'm a friend of... Doug's I mean Keith I mean... look, just let me in, alright?!"
Publisher	Titan Magazines
First published	26 March 2009
Editor	Steve White
Deputy editor	Den Patrick
Designer	Danny Preston
Contributing editors	Natalie Clubb, Andrew James, and Ned Hartley
Publishing manager	Darryl Curtis

"Autobots, transform and bugger off!"

Contents

Revolution Part One

In ten major American population centres—including Devastator Brawl in Baltimore, Wreckage in Pittsburgh, and Barricade in Cincinnati—the Decepticons attack without warning! Each time, mass destruction is caused with the message that the Decepticons are content to live in peace in their new homeland, but until the United States boots out the Autobots there shall be no respite from attack!

At Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, General Seward and the Autobots monitor the reports, with Optimus noting these lightning attacks are hard to police. But Seward reveals that President Allen's orders are to not take action for the time being. Bumblebee is surprised anyone would believe that the Decepticons won't simply re-conquer North America the instant the Autobots leave, but Optimus knows—and has Seward confirm—that the government has already secretly decided to give the 'bots the boot. But he's already anticipated this, and has Ironhide head off (with a confused Bumblebee) to carry out a contingency plan...

The next day, Allen makes a speech to the American people, declaring there is a truce with the Decepticon Heartland and the Autobots are to leave American soil. Meanwhile, the Decepticons are massing for a full assault the instant the Autobots leave (SHOCK!). The Megatron in Starscream's head tells him everything is going to plan...

In Falls Church, Virginia, Mikaela wants to refuse to accept that Bumblebee is leaving but there's nothing she can do about it. As the two friends share a last moment, Dropkick appears to escort the stray Autobot to the launch site. Bumblebee immediately drives off at high speed, getting Dropkick to follow, and then lures him into damaging himself, because... well, cos he can, really.

The raised eyebrow saves you from yet another "dull surprise" joke.

Once Bumblebee arrives at Maryland, the Autobots depart from Earth in their ship. Seward is apologetic, and Mikaela considers the departure a terrible mistake. But as the ship takes off, Allen orders a Patriot missile—fitted with a nuclear warhead—fired at the departing Autobot ship! Mikaela, Seward and the Andrews Air Base staff have just enough time to identify what it is, plot the countdown, and note a second-long glitch on their monitoring equipment...

And then the Autobot ship is destroyed!

Continued Next Issue

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Divebomb

« Titan Animated comic »
Battle of the Furman faves!
Divebomb
Writer	Simon Furman
Art	John McCrea
Colours	John Burns
Lettering	Jimmy Betancourt/Comicraft
Continuity	Animated cartoon continuity

On Dinobot Island, Grimlock and Swoop are in mortal combat—Grimlock is tired of the challenges to his leadership, and violently evicts Swoop from the Dinobots! He then finds out Swoop was right about the quiz show on the telly, milk does come from a cow, but pettily refuses to take Swoop back anyway. Poor Snarl just sits there being told to keep his mouth shut.

On his way to Detroit, Swoop buzzes a USAF jet, causing an angry General Macadam to call up the Autobots and give Optimus Prime an earful about keeping his men in line. Optimus wants to sort this out to keep good relations with Earth's armies, and the Autobots wonder how they'll find Swoo— oh, wait, he just turned up outside. Optimus gives the guy a very stern rebuke... just in time for Bumblebee to work out Swoop turned up to join and help them, and for an affronted Swoop to fly off. Whoops!

The next day, at Battle Creek Airforce Base, Macadam oversees the launch of the automated stealth bomber Wraith-X. The instant it's launched, Starscream attacks, hacks the plane, and sends it to destroy Detroit! Macadam immediately calls up an amused Optimus to ask for help, and mentions the Wraith-X will probably be _targeting the exact location of the Autobot base—as someone's been sending encrypted transmissions from that vicinity. The Autobots decide to look into that, while also wondering how they can possibly find the Wraith-X... until Bumblebee hits on the idea of using Swoop!

He started it.

A sulky Swoop is met by Bumblebee, both hanging upside down from a bridge, who tells the Dinobot that he does owe them for Afterburn saving him from the Rage virus. If Afterburn wasn't on some super-cool Elite Guard Special Ops mission, why, he'd be there himself! Bumblebee then switches tactics to saying Swoop could be part of a big family... and that it'd be a good chance to show off what he can do to the other Autobots...

That gets Swoop into action, making visual contact with the Wraith-X and flying in to board it and manually access the guidance controls. He just barely manages to board and, struggling in the slipstream, just manages to reach the guidance in time... causing the Wraith-X to crash down in water and explode! Has Swoop survived?! Of course he has! Optimus Prime congratulates his heroism—yay Swoop!

Much later, at the Autobot base, Afterburn is back from his ops mission... communicating with Megatron, stating himself to have been the one behind the mysterious transmissions, and even referring to his special ops work as "special ops"?! Bumblebee walks in and has just enough time to be confused when Megatron personally attacks...

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Articles & features

• Character Profile: Magmatron.
• Cybertronian Residency Exam: Starscream tests us to see if the Decepticons want us to emigrate. (Get them all right and they kill you for being a square.)
• Bumblebee's Way Past Cool Reviews: Video game reviews.
• Top Gear: Transformers competition and product placement, as well as other competitions.
• Competitions to win Transformers bedsheets and a Sonic the Hedgehog video game.
• Transdoku: A Transformers Animated puzzle
• Art Envelope: A pull-out page that folds into an envelope addressed to Titan, and which will have on it a caption competition, a blank space for your drawings, and a reader's survey on the comic.
• Star Screams: Letters, art and photos from readers, answered by Starscream.

Free Gift

• "2 FAB FREE GIFTS!!!"—a pen and two lots of stickers

Reprints

Reprinted stories are only a portion of their respective issues.

• Megatron Origin, part 3c (7 pages)
• Beast Wars: The Ascending part 3c (8 pages)

Errors

• The "Previously" sections for both strips mentions plot points of this issue's strips. Gah!
• We're used to artists drawing the characters differently in this comic, but why does Allen now have glasses?
• How does Starscream hack the Wraith-X? Er... it's not shown at all, he just says things to it and it flies off for no reason.
• Prowl thinks Sari is the only non-Autobot who knows their HQ's location. Er... Starscream knows, and you know he knows.
• Optimus is missing his nose in one panel.

Quotes

Revolution

"There are those who... see you as part of the problem, rather than the solution."
"I understand. I take it our ultimate fate has already been decided?"
"Well... the President is due to address Congress in an emergency session this evening. But, yeah, the die is cast. I'm sorry..."

—Seward and Optimus

"Our great nation has endured much these past two years, and we owe our current liberty—in part—to the valiant Autobots who fought alongside us. But the war is over. We have peace now, a truce. And we can allow nothing to threaten this newfound stability. And so, with deep regret, we feel it's time for those selfsame Autobots to move on."

—President Allen to the nation

"Since Sam d— since Sam, you've been a friend. Every time I needed you... you were there."
"And I will be again."

—Mikaela and Bumblebee

"If you need us... we'll be back."

—Optimus Prime

"Impact in three, two..."
"... They're gone."

—Seward and Mikaela witness the end...

Divebomb

"So you right about quiz show, Swoop, you still not right about many other things. Fly away then! Fah. Good riddance. Looong list of applicants for Dinobots position. *turns to completely-silent Snarl* Shut up, Snarl. When Grimlock want your opinion, he ask for it."

—Grimlock to a silent Snarl

"Finding Swoop's easy, Bumblebee."
"Oh? And where exactly do you suggest we look, old timer?"
"*points out window at Swoop* Try... outside, kid."

—Ratchet and Bumblebee

"I should have realised a sparkless drone would never get the job done. Luckily for you, I always intended to finish things in person. Let me start by cleaning up my mistake..."

—Megatron to Afterburn

Star Screams

"I can say nothing on the subject of the [second] film due to the official secrets act. Any information I give away now could harm the Decepticon war effort. Careless talk costs sparks."

"The issue you are referring to is 'scale' and how different robots compare to each other. Clearly, the pitiful humans at Hasbro are so overwhelmed by the awesomeness of Cybertronian life forms that they can't get the scale right."

"When my toy was in production I offered Hasbro a free interview—I even offered to sign the first 100 boxes, but no one returned my calls ... they're now on the list..."

"Seeing that many Optimus Primes in one place has made me feel distinctly queasy. It's enough to make any self-respecting Decepticon blow Energon cubes."

Notes

Continuity notes

• We know it's Brawl and not Devastator solely because of the cover text. Where Devastator is remains unknown.
• Allen outright places the first film as being in 2007 and the comic as being in 2009, making it sort-of real time. This is not uncommon in British comics.
• The Animated Autobots, or at least Optimus, appear to be familiar with Macadam and have had some dealings with the military.
• Swoop and Snarl have talked in previous Titan strips and are presented as talking, unlike in the cartoon where they seem mute. Here, Swoop only talks once off-panel, while Snarl stays silent for humorous effect.

Alternate timeline notes

• The Decepticons are said to be capable of "re-taking the entirety of North America!", which implies Canada and Mexico may have been conquered before as well even though we haven't seen or heard of their post-occupation rebuilding.

Transformers references

• G1 homages in this issue include the "Wreck and Rule" plate on Wreckage, the Autobot craft looking like the Ark, and General Macadam.
• A story about Swoop is called Divebomb? That sounds like a reference to something...

Real life references

Letters page notes

• Starscream isn't being nasty to the letter writers. Is he ill?

Production notes

• The cover preview in #22 had different cover text in different places, including last issue's generic "WIN!!! Lots of cool stuff!!!". It also didn't mention the Animated strip or free gifts on the cover, indicating this was a last-minute decision. Poor Brawl went unidentified.
• The Animated strip comes in a "pull out" section, complete with cover, allowing it to turn into a smaller comic.
• The "Megatron Origin" recap again says that corrupt senators withholding Energon is forcing people to join fight clubs, but also specifically says it's just Kaon this is happening too. That's a boo-boo because the recap says this on a page where Megatron lists the many city-states the fighters come from!
• The Beast Wars recap says angolmois is "derived from the life-force of Unicron" for the first time (which the comic itself never explains). It also greatly simplifies things to say Shokaract has "seize[d] control" of Cybertron already.

Errors

• The Previously section for "Revolution" hints that Megatron may just be a delusion of Starscream, rather than the guy's mind actually being in his head.
• The cover says that "Brawl causes a scene!". Brawl appears for all of one page. In fairness, he was causing a scene on that page.