Loose Ends, Part 4
From Transformers Wiki
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| "Loose Ends" Part 4 | |||||||||||||
| Publisher | IDW Publishing | ||||||||||||
| First published | October 10,2012 | ||||||||||||
| Cover date | October 2012 | ||||||||||||
| Writer | Simon Furman | ||||||||||||
| Penciler | Andrew Wildman | ||||||||||||
| Inker | Stephen Baskerville | ||||||||||||
| Colorist | John-Paul Bove | ||||||||||||
| Letterer | Chris Mowry | ||||||||||||
| Editor | John Barber | ||||||||||||
| Continuity | Marvel Comics continuity | ||||||||||||
The Wreckers make their move... and everything goes horribly wrong!
Contents |
Synopsis
Though lobotomized into a loyal zombie-like servant byMegatron,a small spark of consciousness remains withinStarscream,left intact by Megatron to allow him awareness of his agonizing situation. But even now, Starscream struggles against the inhibitors that suppress his mind, trying to say something important... but all he can manage is a choked "kllrtch!" At Megatron's command, he shuffles off to cover, to hide in waiting for the arrival of theWreckers,on their way to rescue the strickenKup.
The Wreckers, meanwhile, have divided into two groups:Springer,SandstormandWhirlmake for Megatron's location inWashington, D.C.,whileRoadbusterco-ordinates the allied forces of the remaining Wreckers and the humans under the command ofCircuit Smasherin their attempt to re-take theArkwhile theDecepticonleader is kept busy. As the zombie "Ex-Bots" engage his unit, Springer radios Roadbuster to give him the green light, andAutobotsand humans make their rush for the Ark, bravingautogunsand hidden mines in the process.Leadfootis badly injured in the charge, but Circuit Smasher instructs his troops to refrain from helping, considering the Transformers expendable in the face of their greater objective. The team manages to make it to the Ark, but are then confronted by a platoon ofGuardian unitsthat emerge from within!
OnCybertron,Hot Rodhas a vision of a primordial, lava-streaked version of the Transformers' homeworld. In this dreamscape, he finds himself stalked by aDemon,but is able to summon a sword with which he slays the creature, bringing his vision to an end. Initially believing it the product of insecurity caused byOptimus Primedeparting for Earth and leaving leadership in his hands, Hot Rod soon starts to consider the dream a premonition of something terrible... something that may soon come to pass, asBlurrrushes in to report a Decepticon attack on theHall of Silence,whereThunderwing's remains lie!
Back in Washington, Springer's unit fares poorly against the Ex-Bots, with Springer himself being the last to fall, brought down by Starscream. Megatron berates his brainwashed lieutenant for nearly killing Springer, wishing to do the job himself, though not before a brief monologue about killing: how it has lost its appeal for Megatron over the years, how he prefers to keep his enemies alive to suffer, like Starscream andRatchet,but how the power of killing to create an example, to serve as a deterrent cannot be ignored. Before he can finish Springer off, however, the voice of Optimus Prime rings out across the battlefield... and Megatron turns, overjoyed that his eternal foe has come to face him at last.
And as the battle of ancient enemies begins, Starscream kneels beside Kup, and struggles to give voice to that important thought pounding in his brain, letting Kup know what must be done to end Megatron's evil. He must "kllrtch"... kill Ratchet!
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Humans | Others |
|---|---|---|---|
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Quotes
"You existonlyto serve me - blindly, unquestioningly. For you, I imagine... it's like aliving death!
- —Megatronmocks Starscream
"This is reckless suicide, plain and simple."
"Iknow!What a great plan! "
- —SandstormandWhirl
"Remember, we'reWreckers.We don't die cheap! "
- —Whirl
Notes
Artwork and technical errors
Continuity errors
- Why didn't the Scraplets just jump from Kup to Starscream and any others that got near? Maybe they don't like the taste of zombies.
Continuity notes
- The Guardian drones were originally from the UK comic, and had a brief appearance the latter days of the original US run.
Real-life references
- Rob, Paula, and Nel are all named after Furman's former colleagues on the USMarvelcomic series,namely editorRob Tokar,his assistantPaula Foye,and coloristNel Yomtov.[1]
Other trivia
Transformers references
Furminated
- No one in this issue.
Covers (3)
- Cover A:Hot Rod on ravaged Cybertron, stalked by Demons, by Andrew Wildman andJason Cardy.
- Cover B:Megatron, Ratchet, and Starscream, byGuido Guidi.
- Cover RI:Megatron body-slams Springer, byGeoff SeniorandJosh Burcham.
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