General Information:
Synopsis: In the present day, Cybertron is a dead husk of a planet. But something is changing as a single light in a vacant building activates!
Four Million Years Ago... As Prime circles around, he is blasted by Soundwave and he quickly launches his Mini-Cons to attack Prime including Rumble and Ravage. Before the two can do anything however, Ironhide rolls onto the scene and smashes the Decepticons! Nearby, Ramjet, Long Haul, Mixmaster, Bonecrusher and Tankor are transporting the Energon. As Ramjet complains, he fails to notice Prime and Ironhide until it's too late! He tells the Decepticons to surrender. At first they refuse, until Prime points out that Ironhide has Soundwave's cannon aimed right at them, and the tons of Energon they are carrying!
Later... Back at the party, the celebration continues, but Ironhide notices an Autobot in the corner who appears out of place. Everyone else is a bit too busy partying to notice, but as Ironhide focuses he sees the Autobot take out a weapon and fire on Prime! He jumps in the way and takes the hit only to suddenly awaken in a darkened Cybertron in the present day! As Ironhide walks out of the building, he looks around to find himself on a devastated Cybertron and completely alone!
Story: While many know Ironhide as a warrior and "tough guy", some don't realize that he was partly intended as a security officer and Prime's bodyguard. His early G1 profiles indicate these functions, but the animated series never did much with it and the toys didn't emphasize it either. This issue plays up the biggest aspects of this character: his bravery, his tough attitude, his loyalty and his skills on and off the battlefield. I love the way this issue shows how he watched Prime's back on the battlefield and during a seemingly innocent social situation. It serves as a reminder of his loyalty and strength, but it also reminds us that Megatron had his forces everywhere, even infiltrating the enemy camp (as a side note, seeing Axer in action, albeit briefly, was cool). Focusing on the relationship between Optimus Prime and Ironhide was a great way to go. It gave the emotional anchor that the issue needed and reminds us that these Transformers have distinct personalities but still managed to work together as an effective army. With other Transformers titles seemingly hell bent on making sure no one gets along with anyone (even on the same side), seeing a cohesive army where everyone follows Optimus Prime loyally and with reason was a real treat. Of course, the big mystery of this issue is simply: why is Ironhide alive in the present day? Having died on Earth, how did he wind up on Cybertron? These are mysteries to be clarified in further issues, but I do appreciate the visual continuity between the way he took a hit for Hot Rod in the ongoing "Transformers" series and the way he takes a hit for Optimus here. It also sets up a situation where we know Ironhide is about to be tested in ways he never has before, and that makes for quite the exciting cliffhanger! Artwork: Casey Coller and Joana Lafuente have truly done something wonderful with the art in this issue. A lot of the art in many IDW titles so far have been rather dark in tone. We've seen Cybertron pretty much in ruins for the bulk of the series over the years while Earth is pretty dark and dangerous (and thrashed) so to see a bright, vibrant Cybertron with a united group of Autobots and Decepticons fighting each other felt familiar and comfortable in a good way. The intact buildings and vibrant golden hues used in the flashback sequences felt like they came right out of the G1 cartoon. Even the night time scenes are vibrant with their bluish tints and lighted landscapes. It was also cool to see so many Autobots we haven't seen together all in one place. In the IDW universe, the Autobots are spread out all over the galaxy, but in this issue getting to see Protectobots standing alongside guys like Blurr and Windcharger was really great. In terms of the individual character art, it ranks up there as some of my all time favorites in the IDW world. The characters have a nice, familiar look but they all are modernized, borrowing in part from their G1 incarnations, but also their "Classics/Universe" toys. Windcharger for instance looks just like his G1 cartoon incarnation, while Tankor (only seen in vehicle mode) looks just like the action figure released a couple years ago. Optimus Prime is of course a blending of different designs, mostly influenced by Dreamwave's "The War Within" design by Don Figueroa. Ironhide himself features a lot of G1 inspired bits including his head with a high central crest and the circle design at the center of his waist with parts angling out to the sides. The vehicle mode reminds me a lot of the design for Energon Roadblock with its chunky, rectangular designs. The characters are all very recognizable and I think it speaks well to the art that I could look at three Constructicons in their Cybertronian vehicle modes and identify each one without some type of text callout being provided. I also have to compliment Coller for the brilliant work on conveying action within the context of scenes in the book. I'm not just talking dramatic action like Ironhide running over Rumble, I also mean small gestures like Blurr smacking his palms together and extending his arm to convey an action, all done in one panel or Axer's weapon deploying and him reaching for it. The pictures may be still, but you feel movement in them which is brilliant.
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