History ComicBook / TransformersAutocracy

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Autocracy_1_5413.jpg]]
-->''Before Optimus became a Prime... he fought for order. Before Megatron became a conqueror... he fought for freedom. Before they were enemies... They stood against - AUTOCRACY''

''The Transformers: Autocracy'' is a twelve-part miniseries, published by IDW Publishing in 2012.

The series focuses on the days just before the Great War. It is set after ''Megatron Origin'', and presents the Decepticons as an established force, sowing dissent across Cybertron primarily through terrorist actions. The series focuses on Orion Pax, an Autobot commander charged with rooting out these cells.

The series is written by [[Creator/ActivisionBlizzard Chris Metzen]] and Flint Dille, with Livio Ramondelli providing art.

!!This series provides example of
* AxCrazy: Zeta Prime
* BadBoss: Zeta
* BadGuysDoTheDirtyWork: Megatron [[spoiler: kills Zeta when Optimus is incapacitated]].
* BigBad: Zeta Prime, then Megatron.
* BigDamnHero: Metroplex. Emphasis on '''BIG'''
* TheCaligula: Zeta
* CantStopTheSignal
* TheChainsOfCommanding: Orion Pax feels them, and he's not even Optimus Prime yet! He also takes time to explain to Hot Rod what it means, as Hot Rod was the rebel leader of a failed rebellion.
-->'''Optimus Prime''':''Leadership is making hard choices. The price we pay is carrying the '''guilt''', the '''loneliness'''... '''self-doubt'''. You give it your '''all''', but sometimes it seems like the world just gets darker.''
* ContinuityNod: It happens after the events of ''Megatron Origins'' and the flashback portions of ''[[ComicBook/TheTransformersIDW Chaos Theory]]'' and ''[[ComicBook/TransformersMoreThanMeetsTheEye Shadowplay]]''
** Optimus mentioned that bonding with the Matrix hurt back in ComicBook/TheTransformersIDW.
* DoomedByCanon: [[spoiler: The Ultra Magnus that appears here is the original one, and ComicBook/TransformersMoreThanMeetsTheEye confirms that he's dead in the present day.]]
* DoomedHometown: [[spoiler: Hot Rod's home of Nyon.]]
* EnemyMine: Zeta to Orion Pax and Megatron
* ExactlyWhatIAimedAt: Hot Rod firing at Thundercracker, or rather the panel behind him.
* {{Foreshadowing}}: Optimus Prime telling Hot Rod that he may one day carry the Matrix.
* HeWhoFightsMonsters: Zeta and Megatron Zig Zag this. They both resort to Extreme Methods to fight each other, but deep down, they are just power hungry tyrants with ambitions to control.
* IDidWhatIHadToDo: Hot Rod [[spoiler:blowing up Nyon]].
* KickTheSonOfABitch: Swindle has a long history of being TheChewToy in the IDW continuity. Here, Zeta Tests the weapon on him because, hey, they need a volunteer, and no one's gonna miss the con-man. Orion's PoliceBrutality may be this, if he's just venting frustration at him, but it's more likely PayEvilUntoEvil, as he's fighting a Decepticon.
** [[spoiler: Megatron's murder of Zeta]] is this because, he did it to open a power vacuum and seize it for himself, instead of any noble reason.
* KnightInSourArmor: [[spoiler:Orion Pax, despite being somewhat of an idealist]].
* KnightTemplar: Zeta-Prime
* MookLieutenant: Blitzwing leads the ground forces, as well as several Decepticon detachments.
* MythologyGag: To WesternAnimation/TransformersTheMovie
** Optimus [[spoiler: getting the Matrix and being reformatted]] is similar to how Megatron was reformatted into Galvatron.
** Optimus Vs. Megatron plays out like the scene in the movie, Megatron holds Hot Rod hostage and is about to shoot Prime [[spoiler: Hot Rod breaks free and Optimus shoots Megatron]].
** Megatron is rescued by Soundwave and escapes in Astrotrain like in the movie.
* ObviouslyEvil: Zeta Prime doesn't even try to look like a good-guy. He's permanently cast with shadows on him, has numerous SpikesOfVillainy, and his face invokes HelmetsAreHardlyHeroic and resembles a BeardOfEvil. His appearance in [[ComicBook/TransformersMoreThanMeetsTheEye Shadowplay]] had him in a different and friendlier form, and when he upgraded in Spotlight Orion Pax, he looked like he does now, but being cast in light and a friendlier tone made him look considerably less evil.
* OutOfCharacterMoment: Which two Decepticons show the most interest in killing the Autobots? [[NobleDemon Thundercracker]] and [[PunchClockVillain Dirge]]. [[spoiler: Both having made a HeelFaceTurn in the present]]. Thundercracker especially, as he was shown to be more merciful than his colleagues during this time.
** Orion Pax's brutal arrest of Swindle, although this might have been caused by all the frustration dealing with [[spoiler:the [[ComicBook/TransformersMoreThanMeetsTheEye loss of Senator Shockwave as an ally]], and his own brush with death and the realization that he's working for a corrupt system during the events of [[ComicBook/TheTransformersIDW ''Chaos Theory'']]]].
* PetTheDog: After Soundwave and Frenzy have made their getaway, Frenzy feels sorry they left Ravage, and asks if they can go back. Optimus attacks them before he can respond.
* PoliceBrutality: Swindle's arrest at the hands of Orion Pax at the beginning of the mini-series borders on it.
* RememberTheNewGuy: Invoked, Soundwave, Starscream, and much of the Decepticons got together in Megatron Origin, but Shockwave just appears. This was intentional, as we learn how he joined up in RID.
* SeriesContinuityError: Starscream's cover as a decepticon had been blown during the events of ''Megatron Origins'' but here Zeta accepts his presence as a Delegate in the Senate.
** Rumble and Frenzy have their colors changed here. While this has always been a point of contention with the fandom; for most of the IDW series, Rumble has been red and Frenzy has been blue. ComicBook/TheTransformersIDW flipped their colors. Their appearance could have been explained as having changed their colors in the present, but here it shows that they were colored that way pre-war. Probably best not to think about it.
** Grimlock is portrayed with his VerbalTic, which he's never actually had in this continuity.
** Back in ComicBook/TheTransformersIDW Megatron and Optimus recall their first meeting and their first fight, and never mentioned anything remotely resembling the events of this series.
** In the early issues of ComicBook/TransformersMoreThanMeetsTheEye there was a lot of implications that Megatron killed Zeta Prime with a sniper rifle. Here, he instead kills him at point-blank range.
* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVsCynicism: Optimus on one side, Megatron on the other.
* SpannerInTheWorks: Optimus and his team for Zeta.
** [[spoiler: Shockwave is one unintentionally for Megatron's plan, he was the one who guessed Optimus's ascension to Prime, and even gave him the matrix cavity just in case.]]
* TitleDrop: While Megatron tries to convince Orion Pax to join him in taking down Zeta
-->'''Megatron''':''Together we can bring down '''Zeta''' and his '''Autocracy'''!''
* WellIntentionedExtremist: Zeta is a subversion. While trying to kill the Decepticons is a Well Intentioned goal, he's more of a KnightTemplar as he believes that his way is right, and wants total control.
* WithAllDueRespect: Orion to Zeta.
* VillainExitStageLeft: Soundwave flies down in Astrotrain to rescue Megatron while Shockwave orders a withdrawal.
* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: [[SarcasmMode Spoiler Alert]]: Megatron to Optimus
* YourHeadASplode: [[spoiler:How Zeta dies at the hands of Megatron]]

* TheRebel: Hot Rod

* RememberTheNewGuy: Invoked, Soundwave, Starscream, and much of the Decepticons got together in Megatron Origin, but Shockwave just appears. [[spoiler: Given his backstory, and the upcoming Shockpoint event comic going into more detail]] this was probably intentional.

The Transformers: Autocracy is a twelve-part miniseries, published by IDW Publishing in 2012.

The series focuses on the days just before the Great War. It is set after Megatron Origin, and presents the Decepticons as an established force, sowing dissent across Cybertron primarily through terrorist actions. The series focuses on Orion Pax, an Autobot commander charged with rooting out these cells.