The Transformers: Stormbringer
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The Transformers: Stormbringer is a comic book miniseries, published by IDW Publishing. The series debuted in July, 2006 and is set during the same time frame as IDW's The Transformers: Infiltration (the first issue shows Optimus Prime receiving Ironhide's call from Infiltration). The four-issue series is written by Simon Furman with art by Don Figueroa.
Contents |
[edit] Plot summary
[edit] Issue 1
The series opens with Jetfire and the Technobots on a routine scientific mission aboard the Calibi-Yau to observe the surface of Cybertron. An unusual energy reading prompts the group to investigate. Through flashbacks, it's revealed that the Transformers are scattered across the universe because Cybertron has been made uninhabitable by war. Adding to the problem was Thunderwing, who saw the coming devastation and engineered the first Pretender Shell to survive. The resulting fusion made him immensely powerful but drove him completely insane, forcing an alliance between the Autobots and Decepticons to stop him. The disaster finished Cybertron off. Jetfire, along with three of the Technobots are transported to Cybertron's surface to investigate the energy anomaly and are soon attacked by ghost-like Transformers and rendered unconscious while the Calibi-Yau is attacked by missiles and destroyed. Jetfire awakens later to find his attackers worshiping an inert Thunderwing.
[edit] Issue 2
The issue opens with a scene of a huge shadow over the surface of Nebulos. Continuing from the last issue, Jetfire is amongst his attackers, who are revealed to be a mysterious group of Decepticons. Their leader, Bludgeon is undergoing a "grafting process", along with the other cultists in an effort to replicate the effects that made Thunderwing such an unstoppable force - giving them Pretender Shells. Bludgeon has also hacked into what is left of Thunderwing's mind and later sends him taking off from the surface of Cybertron in his jet mode. The Decepticons are somehow using the captured Technobots as raw material for their grafting process and Jetfire is soon to join them. Jetfire attempts to attack but is quickly subdued. Receiving word of the energy signature and missile attack, Optimus Prime summons The Wreckers to meet Prime's crew at Cybertron's moon for possible combat. In flashbacks, Megatron tried to persuade Optimus Prime to blow up Cybertron in order to be sure that Thunderwing was destroyed, however Prime refuses. Away from the fracas, Afterburner and Nosecone are revealed to have survived the attack on their ship, making it to the escape pods just in time. On the surface of Cybertron, they are weak from the radiation and are eventually captured by a patrol of Centurions. The next scene cuts back to Nebulos as a group of Decepticons stationed there monitor an incoming craft. The issue closes with the revelation that the huge shadow over Nebulos is none other than Thunderwing, who menacingly transforms and appears ready to attack.
[edit] Issue 3
The issue opens with Thunderwing devastating the planet Nebulos. The local Decepticons debate whether to stop him or let him continue with his destruction. In order to preserve the planet's resources for their use, the Decepticons decide to attack, with Thrust left guarding their base. The attack fails and most of the team is destroyed in the melee. According to a backup plan, Darkwing and Dreadwind retreat and plan to rendezvous with Thrust and leave the planet while they still can. Meanwhile on Cybertron, Nosecone is about to be killed by the Centurions when the Wreckers arrive in the nick of time and rescue the 2 Technobots. The Wreckers locate the cultists' base and attack it, disabling most of the Decepticons. Iguanus speeds away from the attack to find Bludgeon, who has just entered his Pretender shell. When the Wreckers find Iguanus and Bludgeon, Iguanus has been severely attacked, while Bludgeon has apparently been driven mad, and is trying to tear off his Pretender face. The group is instructed by Jetfire to destroy the control panel for Thunderwing, but are surprised by an alarm, which reveals that Thunderwing is on his way to Cybertron. On Earth, Megatron is warned about the situation by Razorclaw. Megatron instructs him to do whatever it takes to stop Thunderwing, up to destroying Cybertron.
[edit] Issue 4
The Autobots plan for the return of Thunderwing while Jetfire researches the "Ultra-Energon" which powers him. Meanwhile, the Decepticons, led by Razorclaw plan to stop Thunderwing also - by destroying Cyberton. Razorclaw hopes it will be a last resort though. In a flashback, Thunderwing has recently discovered the Pretender process, designed to protect the Transformers from the dying Cybertron. Megatron finds the research ill-conceived and declares it over. The present-day Thunderwing is remembering this insult and enraged, emits a huge energy blast. The Autobots take this as the signal to attack but are easily repelled. Razorclaw respects their tenacity and instructs his team to help the Autobots, but to pull back before the bombardment is scheduled. Jetfire and the Technobots discover that Ultra-Energon is unstable and will be rapidly consumed with a large enough attack. The Autobots receive assistance from the Decepticons and also the help of an army of reprogrammed Centurion drones. Thunderwing starts to weaken but deploys a secondary Ultra mode in which his jet parts surround him as battle armor. The Decepticons withdraw for the impending bombardment and Optimus Prime, armed to the teeth attacks Thunderwing at point blank range. The ferocious onslaught drains Thunderwing's energy and stops him cold with seconds to spare for the Decepticons to abort Cybertron's destruction. Jetfire's research discovers Shockwave's Regenesis project (seen in the first issue of The Transformers: Spotlight) and that it leads to Earth. That, combined with the message received in Infiltration causes Prime to set a course for Earth and the tale is continued in The Transformers: Escalation.
[edit] Notes
- The conversation between Razorclaw and Megatron in Stormbringer #3 also takes place at the end of Infiltration #4, although we do not hear the full conversation until Stormbringer.
- Thunderwing in phase 2 battle form can be seen here [1] fighting both Autobots and Decepticons.
- It's unknown whether the Decepticons on Nebulos are binary-bonded yet. However, since they are acting in "Siege Mode" (IE covertly) it is unlikely.
- All the Decepticon cultists seen here are Pretenders in the toy line. While they have not received their shells, the Decepticons are drawn so that their robot forms somewhat resemble their Pretender shells.
- In Prime's flashback to Megatron rousing him in Stormbringer #1, the Matrix is semi-visible under Prime's cracked chest plate.
[edit] Trade paperback
The trade paperback (TPB), originally slated for release in November 2006, was eventually released in February 2007, with a pocket sized "Manga" volume to be released in April 2007. [2]. The TPB includes all the different covers used throughout the series and some additional art by artist Don Figueroa. Included are robot and alternate modes for Optimus Prime, Megatron and Bludgeon, all of which were only seen in robot mode in the series. Concept art (in both modes) was included for Iguanus and Bomb-Burst. In addition, art was included for several characters not featured in the series such as Cosmos (robot mode), one of the Seekers (with 2 different robot and alternate modes) and Astrotrain (3 modes).
[edit] Trivia
- The miniseries was promoted with the tagline "Nothing but robots on Cybertron!", referring to many fans' discontent over the human cast of Infiltration. The tagline wasn't entirely true - events also occurred on the planet Nebulos, a world populated by aliens of semi-humanoid appearance who feature in the Headmasters, Targetmasters and Powermasters Transformers toyline.
- Jetfire's design for Stormbringer was used for his toy in the Transformers Classics toy line in 2006.
- Writer Simon Furman and artist Don Figueroa had previously collaborated on several Transformers projects for Dreamwave Productions, the now-bankrupt company that formerly was granted the Transformers license from Hasbro. They also reunited for IDW's Beast Wars: The Gathering miniseries.
- Optimus Prime is seen in a pre-Earth form, which appears similar to his pre-Earth form in Dreamwave's The War Within series. Furman has said such a similarity is only coincidental [3]
![[1]](http://www.tfarchive.com/comics/covers/IDW/Stormbringer/4%20Figueroa.jpg){kind=link}