iTunes has just uploaded the brief, three-page preview for Transformers #50 – the beginning of All Hail Optimus!
“Transformers #50
ALL HAIL OPTIMUS—PART 1! Backed by an army of zealous followers, OPTIMUS PRIME declares Earth to be a part of CYBERTRON’S Council of Worlds—and the DECEPTICONS and the people of Earth don’t won’t take it laying down! The story starts here, but the repercussions will last forever.”
Check it out if you’re not averse to any potential spoilers, and be sure to pick up the full issue when it’s released on next Wednesday, February 24th!
ZeroiaSD
I think to an extent, because the Cybertronians were split into two factions, but note Ironhide's vision- Push comes to shove, Cybertron won.
I wonder if the Benign Intervention is their flagship- it was *huge*. And their troops were *really* scared of fighting the Cybertronians.
And it was actually a BBC/GC teamup that forced them in retreat with, reportedly, thousands of ships. And mere retreat from that!
I think part of the infiltration protocols are so they can take on relatively tough targets without taking the militaries head on.
Iirc some of the one-panel flashbacks of a Phase Sixer in action showed them definitely hitting a developed world. Scorponok was on Nebulon, a definitely developed world.
I wouldn't think there are many/any at the moment- at least not in worst danger than Earth.
If Decepticons have been in charge for awhile, then the locals are likely to be gone/almost gone. If they haven't then, just by luck and by how long it takes in the phases to get to 'overt,' most of them likely aren't going to be overt.
And then on top of that, odds are quite high of the 'Cons just up and leaving for Cybertron too, either after Chaos or at the least Dark Cybertron.
And none of said groups are likely to be as threatening as Galvatron's.
Deathsaurus, even if he engages in such things, wasn't seen on one at the time we saw him, and I think Tarn referred to his actions of making mini-cybertrons in the past-tense.
Extremely high explosive potential, Galvatron was certainly preparing for renewed war.
Plus, Earth is a very populated world, likely much more populated than most that a small band of 'cons would squat on.
Autovolt 127
I would.
He will Make Earth Great Again!
Ahahahaha that's gonna be awkward.
Hopefully the plot with the Galactic Council will finally start going somewhere.
Pretty Much.
YES! Make it so Barber!
SMOG
It's pretty unclear. From comments that have been made over the run, it seems like the balance of power between Cybertron and organic organizations has shifted back and forth.
I think there's no question that Cybertronians are dangerous, especially in personal combat with squishies (unless you're Spike Witwicky, of course ). But they certainly pwned the Lost Light pretty hard in ship-to-ship action. And more recently, the Black Box Consortium (whoever they are) drove the DJD into retreat.
So I'm not sure if Cybertronians are exactly the top dogs in the universe. And with the infiltration protocols, it seems like the Cons were mostly targeting 'underdeveloped' worlds… probably pretty far off the grid.
I'm thinking more in terms of planets that are currently under the domination of overt Decepticon aggressors, and in immediate threat of annihilation.
Infiltration was a slow, purposeful military operation that relied on the larger Decepticon war machine (which is now currently defunct). But we have seen other kinds of aggression before, from fringe or remnant factions. I imagine that guys like Deathsaurus weren't just taking a War World on an extended cruise, but more likely actively marauding.
On Earth lately, it's more of a detente (with some explosive potential of course).
zmog
WilyMech
Thundercracker: "Can I be Earth's ambassador, please."
I just hear him saying that.
NoiseMaker
…and somewhere else there's Gigatron and his followers too…
ZeroiaSD
Drift seems like he got a couple teams like that too. I'd be surprised if Thunderclash's ship didn't as well.
Meanwhile, the ones who came out into the open are making money in the peacetime economy
Haywired
Last known Decepticon cell that tried a planetary conquest got steamrolled by Rodimus's "WHO'S UP FOR SHOOTING SOME CONS?!?!1111111111" approach.
ZeroiaSD
Yes, it's in the same continuity as All Hail Megatron and Combiner Wars.
And, hm, the recommended reading…
Short version, the Earth arc leading to this begins in issue 28 of the comic (called 'Robots in Disguise' at the time, changed the name to just 'The Transformers' with 35), where the Transformers return to Earth after an absence, things runs through Combiner Wars (which has a little spinoff called 'Windblade' which introduces some characters and groups who play a big role here. Like, that Combiner you see), and then finally this happens.
That's the quick and dirty version, though it'll leave you with some questions as to what's going on elsewhere and what lead to the situation.
Long version, there's a one shot called 'The Death of Optimus Prime' (figurative death. Obviously, he's still alive in the present. Short of it is, after All Hail Megatron and some stuff in it's wake, war's over, to the shock of many), which leads to two ongoing series, Robots in Disguise and More than Meets the Eye, following what happens on Cybertron and it's politics (RiD) and a space ship lead by Rodimus called the Lost Light (MtMtE) respectively. These two books run parallel until a big event call Dark Cybertron, where major plot stuff happens which leads to the current situation. RiD returns to Earth and becomes 'The Transformers,' MtM goes off to do it's own thing (It doesn't get involved in combiner wars and is not involved in All Hail Optimus), and there's a 'Windblade' spinoff directly after Dark Cybertron, then Combiner Wars happens, and the aforementioned Windblade spinoff there, and then just follow 'The Transformers' til now.
ZeroiaSD
G1 Optimus would even be eligible, he was in America before it became a country…
And the offer here of bringing them into the wider community is good- it means he's giving them space tech, which governments *will* be interested in.
Hmmmm…. oh hey, thought. If Optimus does get the humans really close with the TFs, then it could help them with the galactic council by being able to approach through their squishy allies.
I do get the impression that the GC did not have the *power* to do much more than defend themselves for much of it's history, and couldn't exactly keep track of where all the stealth infiltration were happening as it's not like those are advertises. They've caught up weapon wise recently, but they still seem pretty nervous taking on Cybertronians, who are the sole occupants of their highest threat level.
Considering it has Galvatron acting openly and was attacked within the last decade, probably.
Any worlds with infiltration squads don't need liberation, they just need the squads recalled. Not many likely got to face the final phases and still be around to safe.
SMOG
True.
Also, the colonies seem to be pretty far-flung… on the one hand, they may actually have had more contact with organics. On the other hand, they seem pretty insular too.
I was thinking more in terms of awkward for Earth… to be in a very small galactic community of Cybertronian colonies, which collectively are despised by every other species in the universe.
I really hope not. I'm firmly in the Japanese Headmasters camp in terms of approaches. For some reason I always HATED the whole idea of cyborg Nebulans.
zmog
Slingshot
He's load better than what Scott or Robert can try to write.
Anyway, this issue is really getting my excited. I cannot wait to see how this arc plays out.
Lovecraft
It's logically sound speculation, tho.
trence5
Don't forget Tarn and his Decepticon faction is still out there – and their philosophy is bit more extreme when it comes organics rather than Galvatron who just wanted to conquer us.
vproject
Even though Roberts denied it, this can be a starting seed for Titan Returns, especially the Headmasters.
Earth become part of the GC
Humans can't be around giant robots before being squished
Exo-suits are developed. To further Cybertron-human alliance, certain members volunteer to be partners.
Headmasters / Titan Masters arc.
All in speculation of course…lol.
MisterGuyMan
I haven't been following the comics. I assume from the preview scans that this is a followup to "All Hail Megatron" which I'm somewhat familiar with. Does this also belong in the same continuity as Combiner Wars? Also what's the recommended reading material for this?
I'm very interested in how a black/white boy scout like Optimus is going to tip toe a sea of gray.
Matt_M
Hey, look: A can of worms! What would happen if I opened it?
Autovolt 127
Mindwipe's showing up just in time for Titan Returns, hope he gets to be a mnemosurgeon.
Optimus just made the Earth Governments BTFO!
He's going to Make Earth Great Again!
Haywired
Seems like they might even not care.
Difference between organics and mechanics was completely lost on Mistress of Flame. She didn't mention it at all. Beastformers from Eukaris look like they may even have organic components themselves.
This split between Cybertron and its colonies was even before Nova Prime, so they may or may not see it as something important.
SMOG
Not their problem. Membership has its privileges.
Though it raises the question of whether there might be some OTHER planets out there that are in more serious need of protection or 'liberating'. Is Earth really the biggest moral priority, Prime?
Or Marissa Fairborne at least. All of this cooperation with the Decepticons has been pretty stupid.
What, you mean Earth actually joining the Cybertronian colony alliance?
That seems… awkward. Wonder how those other colonies feel about organics?
zmog
l0te
Because I actually like the idea and design of the Torchbearers, but after An Uneventful Night and with TAAO still likely on the horizon, I thought Scott might get her claws onto another set of female characters to ruin. I'm glad to see they're remaining in ExRID.