Timeless

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"Timeless"
Publisher	Fun Publications
First published	September 12,2013(online)
Writers	Jesse Wittenrich&Pete Sinclair
Pencils	Hayato Sakamoto&Will Mangin
Inks	Hayato Sakamoto &Jake Isenberg
Colors	Josh Burcham,Sam Palmer,& Jesse Wittenrich
Letters	Jesse Wittenrich
Managing editor	Pete Sinclair
Continuity	TransTech

Heinrad speaks of the future and other universes with acquaintances.

Contents 1Synopsis 2Featured characters 3Notes 3.1Continuity notes 3.2Transformers references 3.3Real world references 3.4Trivia 4References 5External links

Synopsis

In his monitoring room,Rhinoxobserves the continuing multiversal chaos withHeinrad,aTransTechfrom the future, telling him that without a plan, they can only hope for events to occur in their favor. Heinrad, too, is having trouble, as his usual precognitive abilities are overflowed with all the chaotic possibilities. Even the events of the prehistoric EarthDepth Chargewas sent to inPrimax -408.24 Epsilon's past is unclear, as if it were happening in real-time. Disturbed by this, Rhinox decides to monitor other regions of the multiverse.

On one world, Decepticon enforcersBarricadeandFrenzyhave corneredFisitron,charging him with various crimes including the dispersal ofcosmic rustonOutpost Thetarus.Fisitron objects, claiming that he's never even been to Thetarus, and that Decepticon scientistOilslickis a much more likely candidate. Barricade concurs, but figures that his superiors are much more likely to listen to him than an Autobot. Back in the observation room, Heinrad tells Rhinox to turn up the gain, but is too late to prevent the loss of signal. Rhinox notes that he's never seen this universe, and that it's much further than any universe he's seen before. Rhinox gripes about Heinrad looking into his future, even though he told him he wouldn't, and goes onto another universe.

On another world,Rewind,Chromedome,andStylorhave found the supposedVestigial Cortical Complex,a warehouse that stores the memories of thousands of ancient Decepticons. Chromedome is unconvinced, believing that there would be guards to protect the complex, but Rewind tells him that Decepticons want nobody to find their secrets, not even those protecting them. Their discussion is cut short whenTreadshot,their hired gunslinger, blasts open a hole in the wall. Rewind heads on right on in; Chromedome asks if Treadshot is coming with them, and Treadshot gruffly informs them that if it doesn't have to do with guns, he's not interested. Back at the observation room, Rhinox explains that thisuniverseloops aroundPrimax 1005.19 Gamma,adopting aspects from it. Heinrad tries to appear interested.

Some time later, Heinrad goes to meet with his partner, happy to be done with all the research. His partner asks if they're done here in the past, but Heinrad insists on staying, feeling as if time is more fluid here, and that they were here for a reason. Heinrad's companion nags at him, having told him it wasn't his fault and that he doesn't appreciate him. Heinrad, feeling guilty, explains to his friend that his temporary bond withStarscream's spark gave him his temporal powers, powers that Heinrad has used to master his own, for which he is forever grateful. Heinrad promises that he'll help his partner get back home, much to his companion's delight; after all, it's been so long sinceThrustinator's been home!

Featured characters

(Characters initalic textappear only on computer screens.)
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Notes

• Characters mentioned include:Oilslick,Shockwave,andStarscream.

Continuity notes

• This comic continues to follow on the set-up from "Invasion Prologue"and"Invasion: Epilogue",with Rhinox continuing to deal with the fallout from the events of"Invasion".
• Events from "Shattered Destiny"show up on screen, which had not yet been published when" Timeless "was first released.

Transformers references

• Multiple versions ofUltra Magnusappear on Rhinox's screen:Generation 1Ultra Magnus (two in his original form and one in his Ultra Mammoth form; the two original Magnus differ in deco slightly, one being cartoon accurate and the other being toy accurate);AnimatedUltra Magnus;Robots in DisguiseUltra Magnus; and anotherUltra Mammoththat has since been declared to be his own character.
• Heinrad is obviously based on hisBeast Wars Neocounterpart.
• Fisitron's aliases include Ironfist, which was theactualname of theIDW PublishingandAnimatedincarnations of Fisitron; Fistitron, a common misspelling of Fisitron in thefandom;and Bullethead, a reference to the original Ironfist's head injury inLast Stand of the Wreckers,where he had acerebro-sensitive bulletlodged in his head, inexorably moving closer to his brain module.
• One of Fisitron's charges is the engineering of "instruments of destruction," named for thesongfromThe Transformers: The Movie.
• Cosmic Rustoriginated in the SunbowThe Transformersepisode of the same name.The idea that a Decepticon chemist namedOilslickuses it as a weapon hearkens back toAnimatedOil Slick,who used it as such in "Bots of Science"and"TransWarped".In the former, he uses it on fellow Decepticons, as is suggested here.
• Fisitron refers to hisT-cog,theAligned-specific term for the transformation cog first given in "Operation Bumblebee, Part 1".
• Rhinox notes Fistron's universe as being farther than any other, in reference toHasbro's assertions that 'Aligned continuity' is separate to the pre-existingTransformersmultiverse.
  • Two years later, entries of the Facebook edition ofAsk Vector Primewould explain that theUnienduniversal cluster was separated by a barrier from the rest of the multiverse untilrecentlywhen theDark Sparkbroke down that barrier.
• Chromedome and Rewind hanging around together springs from their relationship inIDW'sMore than Meets the Eye.Indeed,their universeis described as looped aroundPrimax 1005.19 Gamma,the2005 IDW continuity,named here per the publication date ofInfiltration#0.
• The DoopSpeak records in the V.C.C. (see real-world references below) contains the names of several Decepticons:Preditron,originally seen in theWings Universestory "A Team Effort",based on the evil version ofBeast-Botfrom the PlayskoolGo-Botstoyline—fittingly, he is described as "childish";Bloodron,one of the previous Decepticon leaders seen in theHall of HeroesinThe Transformers: The Movie;and new charactersRagnarokandVerminator.There's more of a story to Verminator – see again real life references below.
• Heinrad notes thatStarscream'ssparktouched that of Thrustinator (then Waspinator), as seen in theBeast Wars"Possession",giving him his longevity and time traveling abilities.
• Thrustinator's dialogue combines Waspinator's distinctive speech patterns with Thrust's "cool" language.

Real world references

• Heinrad's chatty, rambling dialogue evokes theTenth DoctorfromDoctor Who,as played byDavid Tennant.
• The text contained in the Vestigial Cortical Complex is rendered inDoopSpeak,the language spoken byDoop,the mascot of theX-Statixteam fromMarvel Comics.
• Verminatoris described as a rabbit, with "big sharp pointy teeth," a reference to theKiller Rabbit of CaerbannogfromMonty Python and the Holy Grail.

Trivia

• This comic functions as an advertisement for the toys ofFun Publications'ssubscription service(except the seventh, bonus figure, which had not been revealed yet).
• Co-writerJesse Wittenrichwould later reveal his intention that the Rewind depicted in "Timeless" was being projected into Chromedome's mind by Stylor, and that the actual Rewind was deceased. Vestigial remnants of this plot point remain in the published comic, in the form of Stylor's constant physical contact with Chromedome, and Treadshot never acknowledging Rewind.^[1]Whether this holds true in the completed comic or is merelyauthorial intentis an exercise left to the reader.

References

External links

• "Timeless" at Transformersclub.com