Defiance issue 1

Transformers: Defiance #1 »
Primus bless mommy and daddy and Uncle Fallen.
Defiance issue 1
Publisher	IDW Publishing
First published	January 21, 2009
Cover date	January, 2009
Written by	Chris Mowry
Breakdowns by	Dan Khanna
Finishes by	Andrew Griffith
Colors by	Josh Perez
Letters by	Chris Mowry
Edits by	Denton J. Tipton
Continuity	Movie continuity

As the Cybertronians search for the secrets of their past, an ancient threat rises...

Synopsis

Commander Starscream returns to Cybertron after a patrol of the Eshems Nebula and is met by First Officer Ratchet. Starscream is sporting a wound from an encounter with a scout ship, the fourth one he's spotted so far. As Ratchet works on him, they chat about the science sector's latest archeological dig. With repairs complete, Starscream meets up with his captain, Ironhide, and the two go to meet "the boss". Meanwhile, Optimus is filling in Megatron on the dig's progress and recent unusual energy pulses being emitted by the AllSpark. Starscream and Ironhide interrupt, however, and Megatron has them report on the defense record of the past solar cycle.

In the Eshems Nebula, an alien fleet awaits, attracted by a mysterious signal. The aliens decide that they should launch an attack and try to claim the energy source.

In Simfur, Bumblebee and Cliffjumper are standing guard over the AllSpark. Bumblebee complains that Optimus is running off on a dig when he should be investigating the AllSpark energy spikes. Cliffjumper tells him to calm down and points out Bumblebee is just complaining because he'd rather be out fighting someone. Cliffjumper tells him the two of them are able for anything and are already Defense Force material, but that they'd be just as bored with the Defense Force, going on nothing but patrols.

Above Cybertron, the aliens ready for their attack.

At the dig site, Arcee's team finds something, and she rushes off to tell Optimus. Observing with Ratchet and Jazz, Optimus is considering whether or not the artifacts they keep finding might actually predate their race. His thoughts are interrupted as Megatron arrives and asks Optimus what he thinks the site contains. Optimus isn't ready to give any definite answers, and the pair quickly start arguing over procedure, culminating in Megatron telling Optimus that when he chooses to lead, he can make the decisions, not before. They're interrupted by Arcee, who tells them of her team's discovery, an intact artifact bearing an unknown marking. Following her to the site, they find a large, triangular slab bearing a strange symbol. Megatron wants the artifact removed at once, but Optimus says that they need time. Before the argument can kick off again, an explosion goes off in the nearby city of Metrotitan. Starscream calls in, confirming it to be an attack by the same species he encountered before. Megatron prepares for battle, but Optimus wants to have his division follow the same procedures as before: They will guard the site and the Simfur Temple, while the Defense Force fights directly. Megatron accepts this, but orders the artifact transported to his quarters in Trypticon.

In the Simfur Temple, Bumblebee and Cliffjumper are pinned down and desperate for help. It arrives in the form of Megatron coming through the city. He is disgusted that they haven't taken the fight to the enemy, but takes a serious wound while berating them. He quickly destroys his attacker, and as Starscream arrives, orders him to continue the battle and to keep Optimus' team out of their way.

Megatron returns to Trypticon, drawn to the artifact, feeling as if it calls out to him. He begins to scrape the dirt away from it, but his injury overwhelms him and he collapses. As he lies there, the artifact moves ever so slightly closer...

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Quotes

"I take it from your injury that you didn't keep a safe distance?"
"I did. They didn't."

—Starscream gets witty with Ratchet about the recent battle.

"Megatron, are you all right, sir?"
"I will continue to function. See to it that our attackers do not."

—And then Megatron takes a turn with Starscream

Notes

Continuity notes

• Contrary to IDW's prequel comic to the first movie and the opening of said movie, Defiance depicts Optimus as merely the leader of the Cybertronian science sector and an underling to Megatron, as opposed to a co-ruler of Cybertron. This would be explained two years or so later, with Foundation #2 - when Optimus refused to be the leading Prime of Cybertron, Sentinel Prime would instead implement a joint-ruling system of Optimus heading the science sector, and Megatron leading the Defense Force. Though this fair and firm balance lasted for two generations, Megatron would grow jealous of Sentinel's favoring Optimus, leading him to take dominance over the latter; explaining their strained relationship.
• IDW is dropping the Transformers: The Movie Guide idea that Ratchet started out as a political liaison for Optimus rather than a medic.
• Megatron's appearance in this issue resembles the early concept art and early CGI design that was used for the first live-action Transformers film, though with some minor differences. His eyes are white instead of red and his hands, while still very large, are more humanoid in shape, rather than the bestial claws he has in the film. Foundation would completely ignore this piece of continuity and depict Megatron as being the same throughout. Then again, Optimus Prime is colored red and blue which is significantly different to this story so....

Transformers references

• There are some generics that bear more than a passing resemblance to Generation 1 Runamuck and Huffer.
• The city where the battle occurs on page 17 is named after a Generation 1 character, Metrotitan.

Errors

• It's odd to see Cliffjumper telling Bumblebee to relax, considering the former is usually trigger-happy and the latter is more calm and sensical.

Other trivia

• Skywarp, Thundercracker, and Blackout make cameo appearances fighting off the aliens.
• As Megatron and Optimus turn their backs to discuss the find, in the background Ratchet gives Jazz a clip around the 'ear' for his earlier cheek.

Covers (3)

• Cover A: Megatron, bowing before an obelisk with a mysterious face on it; art by Alex Milne & colors by Josh Perez
• Cover B: Megatron grasping Cybertron in one hand; art & colors by Josh Nizzi
• Sketch Cover RI: Wrap around cover featuring Megatron grasping the AllSpark, surrounded by Optimus, Ironhide, Ratchet, Starscream, and Blackout; art by Alex Milne & colors by Joana Lafuente

• 

  Kneel before Zod!

• 

  Spoiler alert!

• 

  "I've figured out this accursed Rubik's Cube!"

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