The Transformers: Regeneration One
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The Transformers: Regeneration One is a limited series published by IDW Publishing, set in a version of the main Marvel Comics continuity. It is set 21 years after the events of issue #80 (the final issue of the original Marvel US series).
The series is written by Simon Furman, who also wrote the final 24 issues of the US Marvel series. Joining him is Andrew Wildman on pencils and Stephen Baskerville on inks.[1] John-Paul Bove[2] provides colors.
Issue #80.5 was given away as part of Free Comic Book Day on May 5, 2012, and the series proper began being published monthly with issue #81 in July, ended with issue #100 in March, 2014.[3]
The overall series has seen polarizing reviews among the fanbase; particular praise went to the artwork and the finale, while the story pacing and structure has been criticized (particularly going in-or-out of focus with several storylines, and the speedy nature of their conclusions).
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Contents |
Overview
Loose Ends
Twenty-one years have passed since Cybertron's restoration by the Last Autobot and the world is at peace, but Soundwave gathers several Decepticons and inspires them to retake Cybertron. Optimus Prime refuses to let Kup and Ultra Magnus stop the uprising before it begins and Soundwave leads a Decepticon strike team to hijack an orbital defense satellite to fire upon Iacon, destroying the Last Autobot. Counterpoint A second terrorist attack is foiled by the Wreckers, prompting Kup to team up with them to clean up other worlds affected by the Great War. They head to Earth, which they discover has been devastated, and are attacked by Megatron while still in orbit. At the same time, Grimlock heads to Nebulos to find a cure for Nucleon. Loose Ends, Part 1 The Wreckers are left stranded on Earth, being hunted by Megatron's army, consisting of the re-animated corpses of Decepticons and Autobots alike. Meanwhile, Grimlock has landed on Nebulos and coming under attack by natives, he is felled by a strong blast. Back on Earth, Kup is captured by Megatron's forces, and discovers that Ratchet has been mounted on the front of Megatron's transport as a disembodied head, while the other Wreckers are attacked by a superhuman calling himself Circuit Smasher. Loose Ends, Part 2
They learn that Circuit Smasher is, in fact, the Autobots' former ally Spike Witwicky. Grudgingly, Spike tells the Wreckers what has happened since the Autobots left Earth, stating that Megatron had been accidentally revived by humans intruding into the Ark, and his Headmaster partner Fortress Maximus had been killed battling Megatron's forces, leaving Spike in a coma until G.B. Blackrock used technology created by Circuit Breaker to rebuild him. Back on Cybertron, Optimus Prime and the Autobots receive a transmission from Earth in which Megatron challenges them to come and face him. Prime does not hesitate to gather a team to stop Megatron. Meanwhile, Soundwave and Bludgeon scheme to retrieve the remains of Thunderwing. Loose Ends, Part 3 The Wreckers split up to take down the Ark's supercomputer Auntie and Megatron, but one by one they fall to the Ark's defenses and to Megatron's forces. On Cybertron, the Decepticons break into the Hall of Silence and steal Thunderwing's remains while back on Earth, Prime's forces arrive and Starscream, only semi-sentient thanks to Megatron's cruelty, tells Kup two words that will help end Megatron: "Kill Ratchet!". Loose Ends, Part 4 Prime and Megatron once again duke it out, as Circuit Smasher tries to shut down Auntie and Kup, infected with Scraplets, crawls to Ratchet. Due to hesitation on Prime's part, Megatron prepares to kill him just as Kup shoots Ratchet, causing Megatron to become weakened due to their shared neural link and giving Prime the opportunity to take down his old foe once and for all. In the Yukon, Circuit Smasher successfully takes down Auntie, leaving the Autobots to deal with the repercussions of Megatron's actions as, unknown to them, Galvatron bursts from the ice near the Ark. Meanwhile, on Nebulos, Grimlock is in a conversation with his captor, the resurrected Scorponok, who asks Grimlock to join him as he prepares to rewrite Cybertronian history. Loose Ends, Part 5
Natural Selection
On Cybertron, the Autobots' temporary leader Hot Rod decides to destroy the Hall of Silence to prevent Thunderwing's remains falling into Decepticon hands, not realising that Soundwave has already teleported away with them, perfectly covering his tracks. Similarly unaware that the rogue Starscream and Galvatron have already snuck aboard the Ark, the Earthbound Autobots begin the long-overdue task of cleaning up their mess and prepare to leave the planet, while back on Nebulos, Scorponok shows Grimlock his newest invention—a Gene Key capable of rewriting a Transformer's CNA and unlocking their basest desires! Natural Selection, Part One As the Autobots leave Earth aboard the Valiant, Optimus Prime informs Ultra Magnus that he will be staying behind and, acting on a hunch, he travels to the Yukon to inspect the remains of the Ark. As Grimlock returns to Cybertron in a new, Nucleon-free, transformable body, Hot Rod has a team apprehend him, unaware that the Dinobot heralds the arrival of Scorponok and the three Gene-Key infected Autobots Highbrow, Hardhead and Brainstorm. With Grimlock in Perceptor's custody, Hot Rod heads into the heart of Cybertron to seek the Primus Chamber. Natural Selection, Part Two
Scorponok commandeers Soundwave's "Neo-Decepticons" while their leader is off-world and sets them to work on his own plans—infecting every available Autobot with the Gene Key while building a planet-sized version of it in the Sonic Canyons. A small Autobot resistance gathers at the Senate Forum but with Grimlock and Perceptor helping Scorponok and Hot Rod still missing, the situation looks bleak. Beneath the planet's surface, Hot Rod is attacked by Demons and discovers a hidden chamber where he is apparently given the choice between a book and a sword. Natural Selection, Part Three As Scorponok's plans proceed apace in the Sonic Canyons, the erstwhile Dinobots attack the Nursery, hoping to attract Grimlock's attention. This succeeds, although they are surprised by more of Scorponok's troops as they confront their former leader and are only saved by unleashing Inferno's Nucleon powers. They rendez-vous with the Autobot resistance and plan to strike back at the Civil Defense Hub, where unbeknownst to them, the Decepticon Clones have just been ordered to blow the approaching Valiant out of the sky. Natural Selection, Part Four After storming the Civil Defense Hub, the Autobots quickly convince the Clones to give up the launch codes while Grimlock and the Dinobots leave to confront Scorponok at the Sonic Canyons. They arrive seemingly too late, as Scorponok has ordered the activation of his planet-scaled Gene Key, but its effect is to revert everyone to their normal selves—Perceptor had never been infected in the first place and was merely playing along. Furious, Scorponok attacks Perceptor, but is intercepted by Grimlock, who sacrifices himself to throw them both to the bottom of the Canyons' depths.
Meanwhile, on Earth, Optimus Prime arrives at the Ark's crash site just in time to see Galvatron abscond with the ship, and for a moment he believes Megatron has returned. Natural Selection, Part Five
Destiny
Following the devastating effects of the Gene Key on Cybertron's population, Hot Rod has a crisis of confidence in his leadership but is convinced by the Dinobots to hold his course. As they venture back into the planet's core to seek out Primus and the missing Grimlock, he orders Ultra Magnus to hold the peace and begin rebuilding Iacon. Elsewhere, Soundwave is impressed by Bludgeon's Blitz Engine drones, powered by the residual Matrix energy held within Thunderwing's remains, and the Decepticon forces head towards Cybertron in the Warworld. However, Bludgeon's demonstration of the Blitz Engines' martial capabilities on Cresta Superior has been noticed by a Cybertronian scout, who reports in to his commander, Jhiaxus. Destiny, Part One Back on Earth, Optimus Prime is unsuccessfully trying to make peace with the Circuit Smasher and the super-powered human is only prevented from killing the Autobot by the arrival of his wife, Linda Chang, who agrees to hear Prime out. At the Garage on Cybertron, the Autobots use the technology acquired by Grimlock to repair their brethren still suffering from Nucleon's side-effects, though unrest continues to grow in the rest of the city. The newly repaired Blaster discovers that it is due to a signal being broadcast by Soundwave, but his actions are noticed and he and his companions have to fend off an assassination attempt by the Mayhem Attack Squad. Subsequently, Prowl orders the intracom systems to be taken down for "routine maintenance", noting that it will leave them blind to any outside threats... as Bludgeon's Warworld and Galvatron's Ark approach Cybertronian space. Destiny, Part Two
As Ultra Magnus co-ordinates strikes against the Neo-Decepticons, he quickly realises that all the key players have gone to ground and so he withdraws his forces to conserve energy. Deep within Cybertron, Hot Rod and the Dinobots find the Primus Chamber and are approached by Grimlock, who appears to be possessed by none other than Primus himself. Aboard the Ark, Starscream has been restored to full operational capacity by Shockwave and the two conspire to eject Galvatron from the vessel above the skies of Cybertron. On the planet's surface, Magnus checks in with Cosmos who is patrolling Cybertronian space in lieu of an early-warning system, but the spacefaring Autobot is surprised by the sudden arrival of the Warworld and destroyed before he can warn his commander. In any case, Magnus has no time to respond as he is immediately set upon by an enraged Galvatron, falling from above. Destiny, Part Three As Magnus and Galvatron begin an epic fight that takes them across Iacon, the Warworld begins disgorging hordes of Blitz Engines onto the planet's surface and at the Presidium, the Autobots make battle plans—while the Wreckers will strike at the Warworld itself, Omega Supreme is unleashed to deal with the Blitz Engines on the ground. However, the Decepticons have anticipated this strategy and Soundwave sends Monstructor to engage the Autobot giant before attempting to slip away unnoticed himself, instead finding his path blocked by Blaster. Meanwhile, deep beneath their feet, Primus sends Hot Rod on a journey into the mysterious realm known as "Zero Space" then departs Grimlock's body, leaving the Dinobots with no memory of what transpired. Destiny, Part Four
Less Than Zero
Hot Rod is sent through Zero Space to witness four pivotal events that have led to this point. The first is the battle of the Autobots against the Deathbringer in Denver, Colorado where he sees that after the mechanoid is defeated, a kind of Dark Matrix creature rises from its remains. He's quickly shunted to Cybertron's past to witness Jhiaxus meeting with Boltax, Decanus, Rokan, and Tallus in Nova Cronum as part of a "Brain Trust" to create the Underbase. Jhiaxus betrays the others, stealing the Underbase's knowledge for himself and erasing all memory or knowledge of his existence from Cybertron. Hot Rod barely has time to ponder how much damage he could have done in that time before being transported to Megatron's reign of terror on Earth, where he witnesses Buster and Jessie Witwicky fleeing a zombie horde and calling Spike for help before being killed by Ratbat. Once more Hot Rod is whisked away, this time to an unfamiliar planet of Junk, where he sees an upgraded version of himself, carrying the Matrix of Leadership, fighting Galvatron. Hot Rod tries to warn his other self but can only watch as he is killed, leaving the Matrix to fall free within Hot Rod's grasp. He takes it, being transformed into Rodimus Prime and transported to the bridge of the Warworld to face Bludgeon. Less Than Zero
The War to End All Wars
War raged across Cybertron. As Bludgeon's forces leave the bridge in search of a fight on the planet below, Blugeon knows he need not search. On cue, The Wreckers infiltrated the Warworld, their landing masked by Jetfire. Below Cybertron's surface, Grimlock awakens in the Primus chamber, surrounded by his less confused teammates. Charged by demons, Grimlock's battle cry removes whatever hostility they carried towards the Dinobots. With demons in tow, Grimlock wonders if there is something greater at work. Back in the sky, Shockwave tries to convince the indecisive Starscream to fight for their planet. Ambushed, The Wreckers are quickly made short work of by Bludgeon. Kup's attempt to continue the mission is noticed by the Decepticon, who leaves the battle to dispose of him. Arriving at the surface to find the Decepticons overrunning the defending Autobots, the Dinobots see how far their new allies will follow them, charging into battle. Rodimus Prime returns, finishing Bludgeon. Kup's discovery of Thunderwing is interrupted as The Ark fires upon the Warworld. As the tide turns, Rodimus is worried by what Primus showed him, of the war to come. Destiny, Part Five
A future Rodimus Prime, surrounded by ruin, ponders the effects of a decision made long ago, while in the present, Kup discusses with Rodimus Prime what he saw in Zero Space as a different wreckage is cleaned up. Amongst it is Bludgeon, having survived his plummet to the planets surface, begs Rodimus Prime to finish him. Falling on death ears, the new Prime requests a medic for him. With two threats eliminated, Rodimus turns Magnus' attention onto Galvatron. In Oklahoma, Optimus Prime's work on a space bridge is interrupted by a disapproving Circuit Smasher. Trying again to make peace with him, the mention of Buster only angers Witwicky. Expecting a delivery of parts, Optimus quickly adapts to recent events and grants Rodimus Prime approval to step up as leader without hesitation or question. Rodimus informs Optimus, Prowl, Jetfire, Perceptor, Nightbeat and Bumblebee of the four threats shown to him, to be investigated by the Zero unit; Bumblebee and Nightbeat. Galvatron meanwhile, is already being dealt with by a team led by Magnus. As he investigates the rubble Galvatron is buried under, Blurr and Rapido fall under attack by hordes of Unicron Acolytes, who leave after scooping up Galvatron, declaring the end of all. As the Zero Team investigate Jhiaxus' history, on Nebulos the head of Fortress Maximus is corrupted by Dark Matrix energy. Shockwave suggests the Ark is moved before the two are detected, but that thought is interrupted as Starscream manages to speak, as he sees Jhiaxus, with an invasion force above Cybertron. The War to End All Wars, Part 1
Grimlock watches over the demons in resettlement camp zero, angry with their shoddy accommodation. Swoop speculates on their meekness as the demons gather around a drawing of Primus. With no attack from the invading force, Rodimus Prime meets with Jhiaxus at the Eugenesis Plaza, with snipers at the ready. Noting this, Jhiaxus and Rodimus take the meeting somewhere private as Tracks keeps an eye on Jhiaxus' soldiers. As Scoop finishes the Earth Space bridge, Fortress Maximus awakens in a moment of pain. It passed, and something sinister takes its place.. At Nova Point, Jhiaxus dismisses Rodimus' mention of Primus, replacing talk of their 'flawed' deity with The Hub Network. The Primum Fugae begin their 'cleansing' of the demons, making short work of the Dinobots. Jhiaxus offers Cybertron a place in The Hub, angering Rodimus with his disregard for other life. He easily overpowers the Prime and the subsequent reinforcements. As Magnus led a charge against Jhiaxus' guard, they were summoned by their master. As Rodimus is pulled from the rubble, he is determined to make the next move in this battle. Shockwave inquires who Jhiaxus is. Starscream declares him one of the five that he has been waiting a long time for. That there will be a reckoning. The War to End All Wars, Part 2
The Autobots engage the Hub Network, finding little resistance on the section they landed on. Using data from a probe launched by him and Bumblebee, Nightbeat believes to have found a weak that will cause a chain reaction to shut off the network. In Oklahoma, Optimus, Blackrock, Circuit Smasher and others await the arrival of the Nebulan delegate, to be greeted by a hostile Fortress Maximus. He easily grabs Circuit Smasher, frozen in horror, before smashing Optimus back to the ground and heading back to Nebulos. The Autobot base on the Hub world prepares to strike despite the uneasy feeling from some. Kup's fear that Jhiaxus anticipated them came to be as the strike did nothing and Jhiaxus ordered his own attack on the fleet above. The Autobots on the ground flee in groups, hoping to lose their pursuers. Failing that, the survivors make their stand. Rodimus Prime surrenders to the mocking Jhiaxus, seeing the death around him. Through Starscream, the four-of-five commands the Ark to land and grants Shockwave a restored, mobile body. In the Primus chamber, the Unicron Acolytes bow before Primus, having brought him Galvatron. Their lifeless bodies dropped to the floor as Primus claimed all would be one. The War to End All Wars, Part 3
In Zero Space, Circuit Smasher is restrained and haunted by visions of his brother by an entity who would use him to cross into the multiverse. On the Hub's Throne World, the surrendered Prime is brought before Jhiaxus, who wished the Prime to willingly join him. They are interrupted by Rook, who reports targeted strikes that have affected Hub connectivity. Rodimus correctly presumes it is probably The Wrecker's doing and that they would fight and die before taking an order to stand down, so Jhiaxus instead orders the Slam Tubes shut down and the group found. Watching the search parties from the surface, Shockwave thought their presence to be known. Starscream, or rather the Underbase, pins it correctly on a different party. The enigma of Shockwave's curiosity leaves as Shockwave readies himself for his task. Linda Chang prepares ordinance to rescue Spike as Blackrock tries to repair Optimus Prime. Back at camp Zero, the remaining demons enter a cocoon-like state and Grimlock makes an unsavory realisation about the 'dark' on Vs-Qs. In the Star Chamber, as the operators prepare to shut down the Dimensional Interface, Galvatron attacks. In the slam tubes, another section is detonated by The Wreckers, watching their thirty-odd pursuers get blown out the tube. Jhiaxus is angered by this lack of control, threatening Rook and sending Prime away, cursing the chaos. Shockwave too worked to dismantle the hub, attacking the same vulnerabilities both directly and through the Ark. The Underbase confronted Jhiaxus, reuniting the five and parting him with his body. Rodimus, having escaped, freed the captured Autobots and organised an evacuation. With the Hub crippled, Shockwave pondered his reasoning as he was compelled to ignore logic and rescue the collapsed Starscream. Out of harms way for a moment, Rodimus dreaded something he could not predict...The War to End All Wars, Part 4
The Autobots return to Cybertron to find a dead city, courtesy of the darkness that has taken Primus' place. While Grimlock was effective in dispatching the shadows, Rodimus was determined to help their transmutated brethren. Having learned from Swoop of Galvatron's actions in the Star Chamber, Rodimus sends Ultra Magnus to deal with him. The entity continued its torture of Spike in Zero Space with more ghosts of the past, splitting the seams of the multiverse. Rodimus confronted the entity that had manipulated him, recognising Zero as the void Primus left and that it inhabited. Entering Zero Space, the entity confronted Prime. As Grimlock held off the shadow leeches, teams went to Nebulos and Earth in hopes of disrupting the Dark Matrix Entity's plan. The entity had flamed the spark of conflict to thrive as it once did, with ambitions to feed on the multiverse. As Rodimus fought with three Optimus Primes, he tried to get Spike to hear him. To assist, a multiverse's share of Hot Rods and Rodimus Primes came to the Prime's aid. While the Earth team found no trace of the entity, Magnus' team on Nebulos ended the entity-corrupted Galvatron, only to be ambushed by a similarly corrupted Fortress Maximus. The Earth team arrived on Nebulos and Kup killed Maximus. For a moment, Optimus regains control tells Rodimus the entity can not be destroyed. Rodimus gets through to Spike, freeing him of his guilt and empowering him to give meaning to their deaths. Rodimus cuts their universe off from the rest of the multiverse. Optimus thanks Rodimus, and passes. While Cybertron was forever tainted by the Dark Matrix, Earth and Nebulos thrived together. Cybertronians spread peace throughout the galaxy, having given all the fight they had. In the future, a lone Rodimus Prime reflects on this as he passes. His remaining energy surges through the dead planets surface and a cocoon brung about new life.The War to End All Wars, Part 5
Collections
- Transformers: Regeneration One 100-Page Spectacular (July 11, 2012)
- Reprints issues #76–80 of the original Marvel series.
- 2 new covers:
- Regular Cover: Grimlock smashes through a wall of events from this collection; art by Andrew Wildman and colors by Jason Cardy.
- RI Cover: A suffering Optimus Prime and Hi-Q surrounded by the major players of this collection; art by Guido Guidi.
- Regeneration One Volume 1 (January 23, 2013) ISBN 1613775555 / ISBN 978-1613775554
- Contains issues 80.5–85.
- 132 pages
- Extras include a cover gallery.
- Regeneration One Volume 2 (May 1, 2013) ISBN 161377642X / ISBN 978-1613776421
- Contains issues 86–90.
- 128 pages
- Extras include a cover gallery.
- Regeneration One Volume 3 (December 31, 2013) ISBN 1613778570 / ISBN 978-1613778579
- Contains issues 91–95, including issue #0.
- 152 pages
- Extras include a cover gallery.
- Regeneration One Volume 4 (May 14, 2014) ISBN 1613779631 / ISBN 978-1613779637
- Contains issues 96–100.
- 132 pages
- Extras include a cover gallery and comments from some of the series creators.
100-Page Spectacular, Regular cover; art by Andrew Wildman and Jason Cardy.
100-Page Spectacular, RI cover; art by Guido Guidi.
Volume 1; cover art by Andrew Wildman, Stephen Baskerville and John-Paul Bove
- Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 21: Regeneration One (May 3, 2017)
- Contains issues #80.5–85.
- Bonus material includes a commentary on issue #81 by Simon Furman, an overview on production leading up to Regeneration One, and several cover sketches.
- Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 22: Natural Selection (September 20, 2017)
- Contains issues #86–90, plus the Marvel Annual 1989 story, "Peace".
- Bonus material includes an overview of the Marvel Generation 2 comic and several cover sketches.
- Contains issues #91–95, including issue #0, plus the Marvel Annual 1990 story, "Destiny of the Dinobots!".
- Bonus material includes a feature on issue #0 and rare/unseen sketchbook art.
- Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 24: The War to End All Wars (September 19, 2018)
- Contains issues #96–100.
- Bonus material includes the prose story "King of Shadows" and rare/unseen sketchbook art.
- Transformers: Best of Hot Rod (May 4, 2022)
- Collects The Transformers: Autocracy #10: "Rise", Spotlight: "Hot Rod", Marvel Comics' The Transformers (UK) #254: "White Fire", Lost Light #20: "Crucible (Part 2): Lūstrāre", Regeneration One #100, and Marvel Comics' Transformers Annual 1989: "Peace".
Definitive G1 Collection: Chapter 21; cover art by Don Figueroa (Prime) and retro art by Andrew Wildman and Stephen Baskerville
Definitive G1 Collection: Chapter 23; cover art by Figueroa (Blaster) and retro art by Guido Guidi and Baskerville.
Transformers: Best of Hot Rod; cover art by James Biggie
Notes
- Regeneration One continues from the Marvel US The Transformers series, but does not include the events of the contemporary Marvel UK stories or any subsequently published stories, including Transformers: Generation 2.
- It does however borrow some elements from the UK and G2 stories, such as featuring the Wreckers, Ultra Magnus and Jhiaxus. Going further, "Less Than Zero" revisits the events of the UK story "Deathbringer", which had been alluded to in US issue #65.