Dirty Tricks: Robots in Disguise # 30!

Now that’s more like it. After rolling through the first parts of a plot that made the humans look genuinely dumb and the Cybertronians acting out of character, “Transformers: Robots in Disguise” (“TF: RID”) seems to be finding its rhythm again with issue # 30. Written by John Barber and illustrated by Andrew Griffith (with flashback sequences by Casey Coller), “Earthfall Chapter 3: The Mind Bomb” has Prowl rejoining the Constructicons in forming Devastator 2.0 in order to turn the tide of the battle between the Autobots and the Decepticons in Poverty Flats. As the battle threatens to spiral out of control, Earth Defense Command director Marissa Faireborn reveals that the humans have an ace up their sleeve: A mind bomb that can deactivate Cybertronian brains. Unfortunately, it only works on minds the humans have scanned—so it will only work on the humans’ allies, the Decepticons (It was developed by Dr. Bharwaney, last seen helping out Bumblebee a few story arcs ago). Faireborn does it anyway, ordering Skywarp to teleport the Decepticons away as she tries to contain the reappearance of the Cybertronians now that their cover seems blown.

Strange Positions: Robots in Disguise # 29!

AT the end of “Transformers: Robots in Disguise” (“TF: RID”) # 28, the Autobots—led by Optimus Prime—return to Earth for the first time in a long time in search of ancient sage Alpha Trion. But upon finding the reformed Thundercracker, the Autobots find themselves trapped by the combined, allied forces of the Earth Defense Command (EDC) and the Galvatron-commanded Decepticons! How did that happen? Written by John Barber and illustrated by Andrew Griffith, “TF: RID” # 29 begins with the tense and confused face-off between Prime’s troops and the Decepticon/human forces. The back-and-forth soon leads to a firefight and a pursuit. “TF: RID” # 29 then goes back and employs two distinct flashback sequences. The first flashback sequence explains how the Decepticons, helped along by a disillusioned Soundwave, manage to find common ground and convince the EDC to ally with them. EDC leader Marissa Faireborn (introduced in the Generation 1 Sunbow cartoon) believes this to be their best option. The second flashback sequence explains how Prowl and the Constructicons wound up involved in Prime’s Earth mission immediately after the trial of Megatron on Cybertronian moon Luna 2.