Transformers: Stormbringer #3

Credits

Writer - Simon Furman / Art - Don Figureroa / Letters - Robbie Robbins / Colors - Josh Burcham and grungewerx

Story

As planned, the resurrected Thunderwing arrives on Nebulos, razing everything in sight with mindless efficiency. From his underground base beneath Cybertron, Bludgeon relinquishes control to check on his other project, a new and improved bio-cybernetic shell to grant him unlimited power and invulnerability.

Topside, Nosecone and Afterburner are getting badly beaten by a pair of Centurion drones, but are saved by the sudden arrival of the Wreckers. When Nosecone is revived, he is greeted by Optimus Prime and the Wreckers, who're almost finished drilling down to Bludgeon's Decepticon base.

As Thunderwing continues his rampage on Nebulos, Darkwing orders his Decepticon infiltration unit to fight back, refusing to face Megatron's wrath if they lose the planet. After ordering Thrust to remain behind to destroy the bunker if they fail, Darkwing secretly confides to Dreadwind that they'll escape if the battle turns against them.

The Autobots finally break into the Decepticon base, and quickly take down Bludgeon's forces. Bomb-burst flees in panic, then runs into Bludgeon, fully decked out in his new Pretender armor and cybernetic shell...

Darkwing's Decepticons attack Thunderwing, who easily swats them aside. Within minutes, Ruckus, Roadgrabber, and Crankcase have fallen, prompting Darkwing and Dreadwind to retreat. Meanwhile, on Earth, Megatron is briefed by Razorclaw on Thunderwing's resurrection; Megatron ends the exchange by ordering him to do whatever's necessary to stop Thunderwing, even if it requires destroying Cybertron itself!

On Cybertron, the Autobots catch up to Bludgeon, who's now locked in an immobile, agonizing ricus. With his dying breath, Bomb-burst explains that Bludgeon's exo-shell wasn't neurologically aligned, causing a psychic backlash that's crippling him. The Wreckers rescue Jetfire, who orders them to destroy Thunderwing's controls. Having done so, the Autobots begin to search Bludgeon's records for more information on the Decepticons' works.

Just then, Broadside reports that the perimeter alarm has picked up a rapidly-approaching target --- Thunderwing!

Notes and Comments

• Megatron's communication with Razorclaw was previously seen (partially) in Transformers: Infiltration #4.