Maximum Dinobots issue 3

	; Peekaboo! Shockwave sees you!
Publisher	IDW Publishing
First published	February 18, 2009
Cover date	February 2009
Written by	Simon Furman
Art by	Nick Roche
Colors by	Joana Lafuente
Letters by	Robbie Robbins
Edits by	Denton J. Tipton
Continuity	2005 IDW continuity
Chronology	Maximum Dinobots

The Dinobots come apart at the seams, and the Headmasters hit Fallon.

Synopsis

Shockwave is brought online by Skywatch. Rather than try and usurp his will, Agent Red has placed a bomb in his head which will explode in 24 hours if a signal is not transmitted. This is how much time Shockwave has to hunt down the seekers and the Thunder-Lizards. Shockwave seems compliant, until he chillingly states that he could lay waste to a substantial portion of the planet in 24 hours, leaving Agent Red and his team to worry.

The Sunstreaker clones break through Skywatch's blockade and are ordered by Scorponok to concentrate on Grimlock, as he is curious to see whether or not the other Dynobots will come to his rescue. Regardless of the results, however, none of them are getting out of Fallon alive.

Grimlock, believing he's brought the others over to his side, is brought down to earth when Swoop, whose hard-won trust made him think they were all part of something bigger than themselves, accuses him of throwing all they had away on a whim. Swoop wonders if Grimlock ever cared about any of them and decides to abandon the team. Following his example, the others leave, despite Grimlock's pleas. Angered, Grimlock starts saying from now on he'll only look out for number one, but is blasted in the chest mid-sentence. The Headmasters arrive on scene in far greater numbers than their previous encounter, and Grimlock uses them to vent his frustrations as the other Dynobots watch on.

Hot Rod seems rather unimpressed with Scorponok's oh-so-grand plan of him becoming a CEO. An increasingly irritated Scorponok points out Hot Rod is well aware this is only the first stage of many, and if Hot Rod wants to remain alive, he should show a little more awe.

Grimlock is overwhelming the clones, but a massive volley from those out of biting range does serious damage. Repeated blasts look ready to finish him off, but Sludge barrels straight through them. Snarl, Slag and a returned Swoop quickly following suit. The attack on Grimlock has reminded them that they are always Dynobots, regardless of their differences, although Swoop makes certain Grimlock knows this time it's on Swoop's terms. The reconciliation is cut short, however, as more and more Headmasters appear, until the Dynobots find themselves at the business end of dozens of weapons. Scorponok gives the order to execute them.

In Dallas, Hunter O'Nion and Sunstreaker come up on the Machination HQ. Hunter takes over and forces Sunstreaker to hide while he transforms to his human body. He believes that of the two, he's the only one whose likely to keep a level head, and therefore he's going to be the one to check out the situation.

The Dynobots attack, but the sheer weight of numbers is too much. As they are overwhelmed, Swoop says he'd rather be in a fight with his team than on his own. Grimlock, in turn, admits that he created the Dynobots for all the wrong reasons, but he's glad that the five of them are together in the end. However, as the Headmasters swarm over them, an energy blast hits, freeing the Dynobots. A ship hovers overhead. Slag realizes who's inside and is less than happy over who Grimlock contacted to help fix the Skyfire, as the Monsterbots descend onto the battlefield. Repugnus, Doublecross, and Grotusque quickly take over the fight, telling Grimlock that their trip had better have been worth it and to remember that, while they're all outcasts, the Monsterbots are not a soft touch. Taking a breather, the Dynobots are extremely disgruntled by the Monsterbots' arrival, and Swoop wonders at them being referred to as outcasts, but Grimlock isn't about to let the Monsterbots take over the fight, and he orders the Dynobots to attack. Slag, Snarl and Sludge grin even as Swoop marvels that after all he's put them through, they don't hesitate to obey. As one, the Dynobots leap into the fray. The Headmasters' confidence is shattered, and they try to make a run for it.

Hot Rod bursts out laughing, reveling in the fact that Scorponok's master plan hinged on one of the most unpredictable and uncontrollable bunch of Cybertronians there is. Scorponok has had enough, and he orders two Headmasters to take Hot Rod outside and shoot him. Hot Rod continues to laugh as he's dragged out, and his executioners wonder if he's snapped. As they enter the elevator to the surface, one notices it getting hotter, which makes sense, as Hot Rod suddenly bursts into flame, killing them both. As the elevator door opens, Hot Rod tries to stumble out, but his crippled leg gives way and he collapses. Hot Rod seems resigned to his fate, and Hunter stares into the compound.

In Portland, Shockwave tracks down who was interfering with Skywatch's seekers: Soundwave!

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots	Decepticons	Humans	Others
Grimlock (5) Slag (6) Sludge (7) Snarl (8) Swoop (9) Hot Rod (10) Sunstreaker (11) Repugnus (13) Doublecross (14) Grotusque (15)	Shockwave (1) Scorponok (4) Soundwave (16)	Joshua Red (2) Hunter O'Nion (12)	Sunstreaker clones (3)

Quotes

"Twenty-four hours. Agent Red, do you have any conception of how much damage I could do to this insubstantial world in that time?"

—A scary Shockwave

"Say we get off this planet. What then? Can you honestly tell me there's one single, solitary bridge... that hasn't been burned!"

—A bitter Swoop

"Swoop, wait! Don't--We're... a team.
Fine. Frag you all. I don't need you. I never needed you."

—A pissy Grimlock

"I would caution you, Hot Rod, to maintain a degree of awe in any future vocalizations. For when you cease to be impressed...you cease to be."

—Scorponok taking bad-guy exposition to the next level.

"I was wrong, Grimlock. Better in battle with warrior brothers than in quiet solitude."
"I pulled us together for all the wrong reasons. But at least we're together... one last time."

—Swoop and Grimlock, making up

"All I'll say, Grimlock, is whatever it is you've got for us... it'd better be good!"
"It's not like we do this stuff for fun! Okay, we do, but there's a principle here, you understand."

—Repugnus and Grotusque

Notes

Continuity notes

Grimlock bisects a Sunstreaker drone with his sword... including the head! Great, now someone's gotta explain this to that head's family.
Grimlock's quote is surprisingly accurate -- in the subsequent ten years of published IDW stories, Grimlock never reunited with the other Dinobots.

Transformers references

The artwork on Cover B bears a striking similarity to the cover of the final issue of Marvel's run, but it is unknown if this was intentional.

Real-world references

James Roberts E.

Grimlock's interrupted line "it's all about me, griml-" is likely a reference to his caveman-like speech pattern from the original cartoon, where he'd frequently refer to himself as "me, Grimlock".
Among the books perched on the shelf in the final panel of the issue is a tome by James Roberts, its title mostly off-panel but beginning with an E. This is a reference to Eugenesis, an unofficial Transformers novel published in the United Kingdom in 2001, penned by fan James Roberts, which grew out of the "Transmasters" circle of authors and artists of which Nick Roche was originally part and in which he rose to prominence.
In addition to Eugenesis, Soundwave's 80s-obsessed "owner" has a book titled "Kneedeep in the Hoopla" by "Marcus Benatar". Knee Deep in the Hoopla is the mid-80s Starship album that gave us the power-schlock classic "We Built This City". The author's name is presumably a sidelong reference to 80s icon Pat Benatar.

Errors

Hey, Repugnus, wasn't your Spark in jail back in "Spotlight: Arcee"?
An incorrect copy-paste ends Hot Rod's internal monologue incorrectly. "Face it, Hot Rod..." should end with some kind of observation about the trouble he's currently in; instead, the concluding bubble repeats Swoop's "...we still do." from a few pages back.

Trivia

When the Headmasters first blast Grimlock, they shoot right through the torso of one of their own. Damn.

Covers (3)

Cover A: Swoop hovering over a "Welcome to Fallon" sign, by Nick Roche and Joana Lafuente.
Cover B: Grimlock holding a clone's severed head, with Shockwave looming behind, by Marcelo Matere and Priscilla Tramontano.
Cover RI: B&W version of cover A