The intense four-part epilogue to IDW’s introductory Transformers trilogy that sets a new continuity for the Robots in Disguise!
There’s been a breakout on the prison world, Garrus-9, and numerous Autobot teams are hurtling through space to deal with it directly. Nightbeat continues to investigate the mystery of Gorlam Prime, unaware he’s already been there himself…
See the Fallout section to find out what to read next!
Crossover: The four one-shots make up a standard four-part crossover.
Spoilers: The issue descriptions and fallout section contain spoilers, so be warned!
Did we miss something? Let us know!
Previous events that directly impact this story:
- INFILTRATION (2005-2006) – The Autobots investigate the Decepticons’ invasion of Earth
- ESCALATION (2006-2007) – Optimus Prime and Megatron’s forces clash
- DEVASTATION (2007-2008) – The Decepticons initiate their final plan for Earth
Want to keep it simple? Here’s the chronological reading order without story descriptions, or spoilers; must-read chapters are in bold:
- Transformers Spotlight: Cyclonus
- Transformers Spotlight: Hardhead
- Transformers Spotlight: Doubledealer
- Transformers Spotlight: Sideswipe
| Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| Transformers Spotlight: Cyclonus Having left the Dead Universe, Cyclonus deviates from his mission and visits what’s left of his beloved Cybertron. He takes his reignited rage out Hound’s ship, the Ark-12. Cyclonus appears to be unstoppable. Ultra Magnus answers Hound’s distress call and chases Cyclonus off. Optimus Prime’s team arrive on Garrus-9 to find the Monstructor-Six have been broken out. Continuing to go solo, Arcee believes Banzaitron has the Monstructor-Six. Cyclonus reaches Corata-Vaz where his mission to prepare the Nega-Core and activate the ‘guardian’ is almost interrupted by the arrival of Hound’s crew and Ultra Magnus. Before his rage can claim him again, Cyclonus activates Thunderwing! Escaping, he rejoins his master, Nemesis Prime. 1st appearance: Cyclonus, Grindcore |
| Transformers Spotlight: Hardhead Nightbeat realises someone has tampered with his memories. He meets Hardhead on Gorlam Prime where a legion of Micromasters block their path. Jhiaxus takes control of Nightbeat, reveals Gorlam Prime is a prototype world able to survive the Dead Universe and the living one and shoots Hardhead in the face. As agreed, Hardhead shoots Nightbeat in the head and dives into the portal to the Dead Universe. Jhiaxus failed – Nightbeat was meant to kill Optimus Prime. On Corata-Vaz, the Wreckers take on Thunderwing. On Garrus-9, Jetfire reports to Optimus that Cyclonus and Galvatron were both aboard Nova Prime’s first Ark. Dealer contacts Prime to tell him the legendary item known as the Magnificence might hold the answers. In the Orcibe Cluster, Arcee finds Banzaitron near-dead after Monstructor was activated early. She agrees to an alliance. 1st appearance: Landmine, Cloudburst, Waverider, Groundbreaker, Micromasters |
| Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| Transformers Spotlight: Doubledealer In China, Jhiaxus’s agents, Straxus and Grindcore, start drilling for Energon. In space, Galvatron and Cyclonus exit the Dead Universe with orders to kill anyone who knows Nemesis Prime’s plans. On Garrus-9, Optimus Prime is confronted by the former Nova Prime… now Nemesis Prime, who unleashes a power he calls ‘the Darkness‘ on Optimus. Dealer leads Hot Rod to Ki-Aleta where they find the Magnificence which confirms ‘Dealer’, aka Doubledealer, is a traitor, so Hot Rod kills him. The Magnificence reveals the three Nega-Cores were built to expand the portal to the Dead Universe located in the Benzuli Expanse. Thunderwing, Monstructor and Sixshot act as their guards. Jhiaxus takes full control of his back-up guardian, Bludgeon. |
| Transformers Spotlight: Sideswipe Hound’s crew and Fortress Maximus take on Straxus and Grindcore in China. Three Autobot teams take on the guardians and successfully transport the Nega-Cores via Space-Bridge to the Benzuli Expanse. There, the Technobots outfit Cloudburst, Groundbreaker, Landmine and Waverider with Exo-Shells that allow them to send the Nega-Cores into the Dead Universe. Arcee tracks Jhiaxus down on Gorlam Prime and kills him, which she plans on doing over and over. Hardhead emerges from the Dead Universe. On Garrus-9, Galvatron assassinates Nemesis Prime, causing the Heart of Darkness to leap to Optimus Prime. Optimus willingly gives Galvatron the Darkness as a ploy to throw him to catch him off guard and hurl him into a solar pool. |
| Must Read | Issue & Fallout | Event/ Crossover |
| Transformers: Maximum Dinobots #1-5 (2008-2009) Ultra Magnus returns to Earth to apprehend Grimlock, Shockwave and Skorponok; the three bots are taken to Garrus-9 for imprisonment; the Machination is shut down. | ||
| ✔ | Transformers: All Hail Megatron #14-15 (2009) Galatron emerges from the pool, fully bonded to the Heart of Darkness; Bludgeon returns, having utilised Monstuctor as the crew of his personal ship. Transformers: Metroplex (2009) Free of Jhiaxus’ control, Sixshot returns to Megatron’s side. | ALL HAIL MEGATRON |
| ✔ | Transformers: Heart of Darkness #1-4 (2011) Galvatron returns to the Dead Universe and resurrects Cyclonus and Scourge; after being killed over and over again by Arcee, Jhiaxus finally excales his fate; Jhiaxus is restored to full life by the Heart of Darkness; Hardhead and Arcee witness the mass exodus of Gorlam Prime into a portal to the Dead Universe; Nemesis Prime also returns, confronting Galvatron over his betrayal. Transformers #30 (2011) The Heart of Darkness is destroyed by the power of the Matrix, unleashed by Optimus Prime. | CHAOS |
| Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye Annual 2012 (2012) The Magnificence is revealed to have been a Cybertronian called Epistimus. | PRIMUS | |
| Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye #25 (2014) Hardhead meets his fate in battle with Nemesis Prime, now calling himself Nova Prime. Transformers: Robots in Disguise #27 (2014) It’s revealed Nemesis Prime’s corpse was originally taken back to Cybertron where Brainstorm discovered Nemesis wasn’t truly dead. Transformers: Dark Cybertron Finale (2014) The Dead Universe collapses in on itself. | DARK CYBERTRON | |
| Transformers: Lost Light #14 (2018) It’s revealed that Grimlock unknowingly become the host of the Magnificence. | ||
| Transformers: Lost Light #23 (2018) The Magnificence is destroyed by Nickel. |
| Collected Edition Title | Collects… |
| Transformers: The IDW Collection vol.4 | Transformers: Drift #1-4 Transformers: Maximum Dinobots #1-5 Transformers Spotlight: Cyclonus Transformers Spotlight: Drift Transformers Spotlight: Doubledealer Transformers Spotlight: Hardhead Transformers Spotlight: Jazz Transformers Spotlight: Metroplex Transformers Spotlight: Sideswipe |
| Transformers Spotlight vol.4: Revelation | Transformers Spotlight: Cyclonus Transformers Spotlight: Doubledealer Transformers Spotlight: Hardhead Transformers Spotlight: Sideswipe |
| Transformers Spotlight Omnibus vol.2 | Transformers Spotlight: Blurr Transformers Spotlight: Cliffjumper Transformers Spotlight: Cyclonus Transformers Spotlight: Doubledealer Transformers Spotlight: Drift Transformers Spotlight: Hardhead Transformers Spotlight: Jazz Transformers Spotlight: Metroplex Transformers Spotlight: Mirage Transformers Spotlight: Prowl Transformers Spotlight: Sideswipe Transformers Spotlight: Wheelie |
| Transformers: The Premiere Collection vol.2 | Transformers: Devastation #1-6 Transformers Spotlight: Arcee #1 Transformers Spotlight: Blaster #1 Transformers Spotlight: Cyclonus #1 Transformers Spotlight: Doubledealer #1 Transformers Spotlight Galvatron #1 Transformers Spotlight: Grimlock #1 Transformers Spotlight: Hardhead #1 Transformers Spotlight: Kup #1 Transformers Spotlight: Mirage #1 Transformers Spotlight: Optimus Prime #1 Transformers Spotlight: Ramjet #1 Transformers Spotlight: Sideswipe #1 Transformers Spotlight: Soundwave #1 Transformers Spotlight: Wheelie #1 |
Reading Order © Omniverse Comics Guide, 2025
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