Transformers: Unicron
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| The name or term "Unicron" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, seeUnicron (disambiguation). |
Transformers: Unicronis a six part, biweekly crossover miniseries[1]byIDW Publishingwhich debuted in May2018with issue #0 available as part of theFree Comic Book Daypromotion. The third part of a loose trilogy that began with 2016'sRevolutionand continued with 2017'sFirst Strike,the series serves as the grand finale to the2005 IDW continuityin advance ofthe 2019 reboot,introducingUnicronas the ultimate threat to theHasbro Universe.
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Unicron
Backup strips
Optimus Primetie-ins
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Contents |
Buildup
WhenSimon Furmanwas first brought aboard to pitch his vision of IDW's then-nascent Transformers mythos, he explicitly chose to eschew the traditionalPrimusand Unicron mythology that he himself had put forth during his run on the originalMarvel comic,due in part to the oversaturation of the concept in the then-concurrentUnicron Trilogy.Though no concrete origin was put forth for the Cybertronian species in the IDW universe, various authors would occasionally reference the creator gods as abstract religious beliefs rather than concrete deities—Unicron, specifically was never addressed by name, only fleetingly referred to as the "opposite" of Primus, who himself was not conclusively confirmed to exist.
In 2011, when figuring out there'd be an Autobot schism for 'phase two' to produce two comics,John BarberandJames Robertsfigured out a major threat would bring everyone together and considered using Unicron. They felt they weren't keen on using him...yet.[2]
In 2017, IDW began a ramp-up of the mythos as theHasbro Universetook shape;issue #10ofOptimus Primewould provide the most definite look into Cybertron's past, establishing a group of mythicalTitansas warriors who had once battled against Primus's "opposite". Finally, in October of that year, Unicron made his first physical appearance on the final page ofFirst Strike,having been awakened by Cybertron itself after exposure to themagicalpowers of theTalisman.
Overview
Unicronpicks up in the immediate aftermath of "The Falling";following the events ofJoe Colton's invasion of Cybertronand the subsequent clash betweenIacon and New Prysmos,the mysterious Talisman has successfully awoken Unicron, who begins an attack on the galaxy by devouring the scatteredCybertronian colonies.This monstrous attack has been orchestrated by "Onyx Prime"—now revealed asShockwave—in a gambit eons in the making; by unleashing Unicron to destroy Cybertronian civilization, Shockwave reasons, then he can rebuild Cybertronian society anew onEarth.
Optimus Primeleads a force toRom's homeworld ofEloniato try and evacuate the planet, discovering that each world has been targeted by Shockwave's oldRegenesisproject as part of his time-travelling exploits as Onyx Prime. Though Elonia is safely evacuated, the planet is not so lucky and is unceremoniously swallowed by Unicron. A subsequent attempt at stopping Unicron over the planetCaminussees Prime and a small group of allies unsuccessfully try to destroy the monster from within, though they discover an ancient relic in the process: a ruinedOmega Sentinel robot.On returning to Cybertron, Bumblebee links withOmega Supremeto learn the full story behind Unicron's creation: eons ago, during the reign of theThirteen Primes,"Onyx Prime" and his retinue led a colonization mission to the planetAntilla,the first planet to be colonized by the Cybertronian race. Thenative speciesfought back against Cybertron's imperialism, and adesperate scientistcreated a doomsday weapon designed to wreak ultimate vengeance upon Cybertron: the Talisman itself, the device twisting the fabric of reality to create Unicron and the monstrousDire Wraiths.
This respite is short-lived, however; having devoured twelve of the colonies, Unicron—having merged with theTitanNemesis—approaches Cybertron in his newrobot mode,intent on finishing the planet. Having double-crossedStarscream's "Decepticon Vengeance Division",Shockwave's lackeyBludgeonleads the mutated Decepticons and the bestialMaximalsinto an orbital dogfight over Cybertron, successfully destroyingCarcerandElita Onewith it. Though the Cybertronians fight their hardest, they are unable to prevent Unicron from beginning his attack on their homeworld.
Salvation comes from an unexpected source: theSpectral KnightsofNew Prysmosare capable of using their ownmagicto activate the Talisman, projecting a beam of energy which teleports the population of Iacon toEarth,withBlurrsacrificing himself to save as many people as possible before Unicron rips the planet in half.
Regrouping on Earth, Shockwave begins his final plan to transformTorontointo the capital of his "New Cybertron," believing that Unicron was felled by the Talisman when the Decepticon scientist tricked it into eating Cybertron. Little does he suspect that his plan has failed, and that Unicron now approaches Earth supported by Bludgeon and the Maximals, having turned on their former master for manipulating them over millennia.
Elsewhere on Earth, heroes and villains unite as Unicron's approach causes havoc, and as the Maximals descend on Earth to find and destroy the Talisman Optimus hatches a risky plan, recruiting Arcee and the threeSeekersfor a mission to activate the Talisman in the heart of Unicron and destroy the monster from within. Events culminate in a massive battle for Earth as heroes and villains from across theHasbro Universejoin forces to repel the Maximal invasion, and as the battle reaches its zenith Starscream sacrifices himself to bring the Talisman online.
Within the black hole heart of Unicron, Optimus is forced to make the ultimate sacrifice, willingly throwing himself intoinfraspacein the hopes of bringing Unicron down from within. Bolstered bySoundwave's own suicide play, tapping into the afterlife to bolster Optimus with the souls of the departed, Optimus relies on their faith inhimas he confronts the vengeful specter of Unicron's creator, eventually convincing the alien to let go of his hurt and move on. Renouncing his title asPrime,recognizing that the title was flawed from the start, the alien and Orion Pax die together, collapsing Unicron into a new black hole and ending the threat for good.
In the aftermath, the characters take stock of their victory; Shockwave is arrested byProwland brought into custody,Slidelearns to let go of her anger at the Prime,Pyra Magnasteps up to lead the Cybertronian refugees on Earth, and the Cybertronian species, freed from their dark past at last, settle into life on their new homeworld: Earth.
Creative team
The series is written byJohn Barber,with art byAlex Milne,and colors by bothSebastian ChengandDavid García Cruz.[3]Sara Pitre-Durocher,Andrew GriffithandKei Zamaprovided art in addition to Milne for the series' double-size final issue, which also featured coloring byJoana Lafuente.Six connecting B-covers were done byTransformersveteranJames Raiz.
Collections
- Transformers: Unicron(April 2,2019)ISBN 1684054230/ISBN 9781684054237
- Collects the Free Comic Book Day issue #0 andUnicronissues #1–6.
- Bonus material includes covers from each issue, as well as Hasbroverse backup comics and creator interviews originally published in the series' single issues.
- Trade paperback format.
- Transformers: The Definitive G1 CollectionVolume 88: Unicron(August 26,2020)
- CollectsUnicronissues #0–6,Optimus Prime#25,andLost Light#25.
- Bonus material includes a cover gallery, the Hasbroverse backup comics and creator interviews, and an intro bySimon Furman.
- Hardcover format.
Unicron– cover art byAndrew GriffithandThomas Deer
The Definitive G1 Collection Volume 88: Unicron– cover art byDreamwaveandAlex Milne
Notes
- The series was originally solicited asTransformers: Unicron: The Darkest Hour.It was also initially scheduled biweekly from July to September, but delays forced the last issue to be rescheduled for October, with it finally seeing release in November.
