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Humans
Spike Witwicky
You know… family?… Then you know how much of a pain in the ass they can be.
A teenage boy who dreams of becoming an astronaut, like his older brother.- Adaptational Angst Upgrade: In the original G1 comics and cartoons, Spike's family life was shown to be relatively stable. In this comic, he has a deceased brother named Jimmy, and his father's become a depressed alcoholic in his grief. All the while Spike is desperately trying to become an astronaut as a way of processing his own trauma over his brother's death.
- Adaptational Dye-Job: In previous continuities, Spike has either brown or blond hair. Here, he has black hair.
- Adaptational Relationship Overhaul:
- In the G1 cartoon, Spike doesn't start dating Carly until partway through the second season. Here, they're established as dating before they even meet the Autobots.
- Spike usually bonds with Bumblebee in various adaptations. Here, the Autobot he bonds with is Optimus Prime due to Bumblebee being killed off in the first issue of the series.
- Ascended Fanboy: The boy who wants to become an astronaut winds up making friends with a bunch of aliens.
- Collateral Damage: In issue #3, Spike is accidentally shot by a stray bullet, leaving him on the brink of death. The hospital manages to stabilize him in issue #4 but he remains in a coma.
- It Began with a Twist of Fate: He and Carly end up in the center of the conflict just because Spike wanted to go star gazing on a whim.
- Put on a Bus: As of Issue #5, Spike has been left in a coma after being caught in the crossfire of the humans firing upon Optinus and Skywarp.
- And at the end of Isse #6 he wakes up asking where his dad is.
Carly
"New for you?! I'm sorry, last I checked, I'm the one who has to deal with the fact that there are apparently giant robots from space that now live on Earth."
Spike's girlfriend and an aspiring artist.- Action Girl: When the Decepticons attack the dam, she immediately uses a pistol to attack them, futile as that may be.
- Adaptational Dye-Job: In previous continuities Carly is blonde, but she has black hair in this series.
- Adaptational Early Appearance: Her original G1 incarnation was introduced early in Season 2, long after Spike had met the Autobots. Here, she's present from the start, even getting to meet the Transformers shortly after they reawaken.
- Adaptational Relationship Overhaul: In the G1 cartoon, Spike doesn't start dating Carly until partway through the second season. Here, they're established as dating before they even meet the Autobots.
- Adaptational Skill:
- Rather than being an electronics prodigy in MIT, she’s instead an artist.
- Issue #5 shows she also knows her way around a gun, something the original Carly was never hinted at being capable of.
- Ambiguously Absent Parent: While her father is shown and is killed by Starscream, the status of Carly's mother has yet to be divulged. Given Carly says in issue #5 that her family is "gone" it's very likely she's out of the picture.
- Bare Midriffs Are Feminine: She's the most prominent human female character and she wears a lavender shirt that shows her navel.
- Starving Artist: She's trying to get into art school, but her family's financial situation means they have to pull extra shifts just to fund her tuition.
- You Killed My Father: In Issue #5, she tries to go with Optimus and the Autobots in retaking The Ark, feeling she has nothing left to lose."Spike's in a coma. My family's gone. I deserve to see this to the end, Sparky."
Sparkplug Witwicky
"I’ve been in war, Carly. It doesn't matter whose team they're on, or what glorious cause they fight for. When the shooting starts, people die."
Spike's shell shocked father, an alcoholic veteran and factory worker who tries to drink away his trauma from warfare and grief of losing his eldest.- Adaptational Angst Upgrade: In the original G1 continuity, the Witwicky family was shown to be relatively stable. In this comic, his wife and son, Jimmy, are established as dead, and he's shown to have PTSD from his service in the military, becoming a depressed alcoholic to cope with his trauma.
- Adaptational Badass: Sparkplug is traditionally a mechanic who aids the Autobots through his repair skills. This Sparkplug is a war veteran who knows ways to physically damage Cybertronians.
- Commonality Connection: Optimus and Sparkplug come to an understanding with each other, as both recall their experiences in the wars they have fought in.
- Fantastic Racism: Downplayed. Sparkplug is at first terrified and murderous toward all Cybertronians after Starscream kills Davey, but gets over it when Optimus saves his son's life.
- Good Parents: Despite his alcoholism and trauma leaving him a wreck of a man, he still does everything he can for Spike, as he’s the only family he has left.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Gives his life to power the Matrix of Leadership back up to save Optimus from death, understanding and knowing the Autobots and Earth need him.
- Last Request: With his final words he begs Optimus and the Autobots to protect Earth and to tell his son Spike he's proud of him.
- Killed Off for Real: He sacrifices himself to power the Matrix of Leadership, not even leaving a body behind.
- My God, What Have I Done?: His reaction to Spike getting hit by a stray bullet when he orders the militia to fire on Optimus and Skywarp.
- My Greatest Second Chance: Views sacrificing himself to save Optimus as this."My men, Jimmy, Spike. Whenever something bad happened to them... I'd always think "If only I could have taken their place. If only it was me instead of them.". Maybe now is my chance.
- Outliving One's Offspring: His eldest son Jimmy died in a shuttle accident years ago and it's made clear he's still not over it.
- Shell-Shocked Veteran: His time in the military has clearly taken a toll on him, as he spends most of his days drinking at a bar to try and drown out the memories.
- Wrong Genre Savvy: Once he witnesses Starscream's attack on the power plant he rallies a militia made up of fellow veterans and takes steps to keep his family safe, but most human weaponry isn't very effective against Cybertronians and he doesn't realize that the Autobots are friendly until after a bullet he fires ricochets and hits his son and Optimus rushes them to a hospital.
Jimmy Witwicky
- Canon Foreigner: While Spike did have a brother in prior continuities named Buster, Jimmy is clearly meant to be a different character.
- Posthumous Character: Has been dead for some time.
Davey
- Canon Foreigner: Carly's parents have never been shown in previous continuities.
- Cruel and Unusual Death: The poor guy gets slowly squeezed to death by a callous Starscream, who takes a sadistic pleasure from seeing how 'squishy' and 'fragile' humans are.
- Good Parents: He supports his daughter's aspirations for art and also attempts to convince Sparkplug to reconcile with Spike.
- Sacrificial Lamb: Set up as Sparkplug's friend and gets brutally killed by Starscream to show the Decepticons are a major threat.
- Small Role, Big Impact: Killed off in the first issue but his death will undoubtedly hang over his daughter Carly's head long afterward. His death is also a huge factor in Sparkplug donning his old military garb and trying to fight back against the Transformers.
- We Hardly Knew Ye: Is killed off at the end of issue #1 at the hands of Starscream.
Autobots
As A Whole
- Death by Adaptation: It is confirmed that most of the Autobots were killed in the war, the ones on the Ark are pretty much the last ones.
- Specific 'Bots include Beachcomber and Blaster, who were shown being gunned down by the Decepticons in issues #2 and #5 respectively.
- Undying Loyalty: To Optimus Prime.
Optimus Prime
"I brought our war to this beautiful place… even if by accident. It is my duty to now defend it."
The heroic and noble leader of the Autobots, bearer of the Matrix, and the main protagonist of the series. A gentle soul who vows to do whatever it takes to protect Earth and defeat his enemies.- Accidental Murder: In the second issue, while being taken in by Earth's natural beauty, Optimus accidentally steps on a deer, killing it. Optimus is horrified by this action, causing him to state how fragile life on Earth is.
- Appendage Assimilation: After Optimus loses his right arm, Ratchet attaches Megatron's to him as a substitute, Fusion Cannon and all. He is still able to transform even with the replacement, with his new weapon ending up where his smokestack would be in truck mode.
- A Father to His Men: As seen with the death of Bumblebee by the hands of Starscream, Optimus regards all of his followers as if they are his family.
- A God I Am Not: When Optimus uses the power of the Matrix to restore energy to the hospital, potentially saving hundreds of lives, both the doctor treating Spike and Sparkplug himself begin to see Optimus as some sort of God. Optimus laughs it off, saying that it's humanity that impresses him.
- All-Loving Hero: As usual, Optimus cares deeply for the wellbeing of others at his own expense, even lifeforms different from himself. He grieves over accidentally stepping on a deer he had been unaware of, valiantly champions humanity almost immediately upon being introduced to them, and despite the conflict wearing him thin, he does still sought to show mercy to his enemies given how he was seeking to disable Skywarp from causing any more harm in their fight than outright kill him. It is only when Skywarp callously seeks to kill a wounded Spike for kicks that Optimus swears enough and beats the Decepticon an inch of his life.
- An Arm and a Leg: He gets his right arm critically injured and then rips it off to bludgeon Skywarp with in a desparate move to stop him.
- Arm Cannon: After losing his right arm, Ratchet offers to replace it with a little something to give them an edge against the Decepticons. A grey and black arm with a very familiar and large cannon mounted on it's side.
- Beware the Nice Ones: Optimus may be kind, selfless and filled with boundless compassion for every form of life, but woe to any Decepticon that endangers innocent lives.
- Big Good: As always, Optimus both serves this role and the role of The Hero in the series.
- Establishing Character Moment: The first thing he does when he's awoken from stasis is beating the absolute scrap out of Starscream to stop him from executing anymore Autobots. The second thing he does is notice the two humans in the room, and despite not even knowing what they are, he immediately tells them to get behind him for protection because of how much smaller and weaker they are than a Cybertronian. Even if you've never heard of Transformers before, you know instantly what kind of guy Prime is.
- Eye Scream: His stasis-locked body from when the Ark crashed into Earth and before Teletraan 1 repaired him is missing an eye. Issue #2 revealed through a flashback that Megatron jammed his thumb into that eye.
- Gentle Giant: Optimus towers over the other Autobots and even some of the Decepticons, and is a ferocious fighter. He's also a gentle, caring soul, who is horrified by his accidental killing of a deer. Even when critically injured, he obliges the request of a sick patient to see him transform
◊. - Grievous Harm with a Body: After getting his arm critically injured by both Sparkplug's Militia and Skywarp, plus the fact that Skywarp is about to kill an already critically injured Spike. In a moment of desperation, he actually rips off his injured arm and proceeds to bludgeon Skywarp with it.
- Good Is Not Soft: Optimus may be a kind hearted protector of all living things and an admirer of humanit and nature, but he is not to be taken lightly and has proven to be a skilled warrior.
- Intrigued by Humanity: On Optimus' relative short time on Earth, he becomes a devout advocate for humanity. Not only does he not regard them as insignificant compared to himself and his fellow Cybertronians, he in many ways regards them as superior.
- He Who Fights Monsters: Optimus fears that he'll lose sight of his ideals in the ever-continuing war against the Decepticons, especially after having Ratchet transplant Megatron's cannon arm onto him).
- Humble Hero: Optimus is an incredible warrior, a skilled leader who has earned the undying loyalty of his men, and the wields the Matrix of leadership- a powerful mystic artifact. None of that matters to Optimus, though, as he is far more impressed with humanity and what they are capable of.
- My Greatest Failure: Feels this way about failing to stop the war on Cybertron.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Feels immense guilt for not only failing to end the war on Cybertron, but in bringing it to Earth.
- Nature Lover: Optimus is enchanted by Earth's natural beauty when he first comes across it.
- Nice Guy: After several previous series depicted Optimus as a morally complicated hero, this series re-positions him back as the kind hearted, courageous and morally righteous hero he was established as in the 80's.
- One-Man Army: In the comics first arc, Optimus is the lead Autobot tackling the Decepticon threat. The other Autobots provide support where they can, but it's clear Optimus is the one doing most of the fighting on his own. And more often than not, it's enough.
- Wrestler in All of Us: This Optimus is prone to busting out wrestling moves against his opponents, performing a supplex on Starscream in issue 1, and hitting Skywarp with Kenta Kobashi's Burning Hammer (hoisting someone over their shoulders and slamming them into the ground head-first) in issue 3.
Ratchet
"If we lose you, we lose everything."
The chief medical officer of the Autobots and Optimus' closest ally in the ranks.- Adaptational Jerkass: Downplayed as he's still ultimately heroic, but Ratchet in most other continuities holds all life sacred and would often risk going against orders to save it. In contrast, going hand in hand with Ratchet being more of a Pragmatic Hero in this version, Ratchet disapproves of Optimus's use of the Matrix power to save innocent humans at a hospital, feeling the power could have been put to better use elsewhere.
- An Arm and a Leg: Gets his left leg sliced off by Scavenger in Issue #5 and the other one ripped off by Devastator in Issue #6.
- Combat Medic: Shows no qualms with getting involved with fights, his first panel even has him kicking Starscream in the face.
- The Medic: As per usual.
- Number Two: The old medic serves as this to Optimus.
- Pragmatic Hero:
- Whenever Optimus suggests using the Matrix to revive their fallen comrades, Ratchet stops him, as the Matrix is connected to his life force and they cannot risk losing their leader during a desperate situation.
- Ratchet had already been shown trying to resurrect Wheeljack, but in issue #4, when Optimus needs backup against the Decepticons, Ratchet decides to reactivate Jazz instead, as he’s much more capable in combat.
- He's the one who suggests Optimus use Megatron's severed arm and fusion cannon to replace the one he lost in the fight with Skywarp. Optimus refuses on moral grounds initially but concedes when Ratchet reminds him how desperate the situation is.
Cliffjumper
"Hey! This is all new for me! I'm used to metal and steel! There's too much— stuff here."
An overeager and excitable Autobot soldier.- Adaptational Nice Guy: Cliffjumper is usually one of the most bloodthirsty of the Autobots but in this he ultimately can't bring himself to kill Starscream when he's helpless.
- Ascended Extra: Most of the time, the franchise usually ignores Cliffjumper in favor of Bumblebee, leaving him in a background role if not quickly killing him off. Cliff gets the chance to become a main character, though this is due to Bee being killed in the first issue.
- Composite Character: Has Bluestreak's backstory of losing his home to the Decepticons and joining the war soon after, as well as a reluctance to fight as seen when he can't bring himself to kill Starscream.
- Dark and Troubled Past: Reveals in Issue #4 that his entire clan was murdered by Starscream.
- Fantastic Racism: Downplayed, Cliffjumper isn't as enthralled by terrestrial life as Optimus is, but after a dressing-down from Carly over his attitude and a proper introduction, he's much more cordial.
- Pint-Sized Powerhouse: Despite his size, he's not afraid to throw down with the Decepticons when needed.
- Second Episode Introduction: He’s properly introduced in Issue #2, having been reactivated by Ratchet off-panel.
Bumblebee (Spoilers!)
One of Optimus Prime's followers and closest friends. Killed off by Starscream in the first issue.
- Death by Adaptation: As a staple of the franchise, Bumblebee always lives to fight another day. Not in this continuity, since Starscream makes sure he doesn't even get a chance to come back online.
- Mauve Shirt: Well known throughout the franchise as the resident Kid-Appeal Character, his death sets the tone that no one is safe.
- Sacrificial Lamb: Starscream casually kills Bumblebee off in the first issue, establishing the high stakes of the series and how it will differ from what came before.
- Walking Spoiler: Hard to discuss the series without mentioning killing off one of the most identifiable characters in the entire franchise.
- We Hardly Knew Ye: Casually shot in the face by Starscream without even having a chance to be reactivated.
Jazz
"Time to change up this tune baby!"
A smooth-talking Autobot soldier who likes to pepper his speech with musical terms.- The Ace: Ratchet clearly considers him this as he's his first choice for a temporary revival to help Optimus and Cliffjumper. Jazz shows his skills in action by taking down both Starscream and Soundwave in short order.
- Godzilla Threshold: The subject of this. The situation becomes so dire with the Decepticons, Ratchet revives Jazz early for a brief time for the ensuing fight.
- Pungeon Master: Loves to use musical-based references and puns whenever he can.Jazz: Time to wrap this ballad up!Cliffjumper: I don't understand that reference!
Arcee
"I don't know who you are… but if Optimus cares about you, then I care too."
An Autobot soldier and Ratchet's old friend, Optimus considers her one of his best warriors.- Action Girl: She keeps an incredibly cool head and springs into action when the Autobots are immediately attacked upon her revival. Worth noting is that out of all his warriors, Optimus chose to revive her first.
- Adaptational Early Appearance: Her original G1 incarnation first appeared in The Transformers: The Movie, long after the show began. Here, she's a part of the starting Autobot cast.
- Cool Car: Instead of the usual alien/futuristic car, Arcee's vehicle mode is a Lamborghini.
- Establishing Character Moment: Mere seconds after being woken up, she pushes Ratchet out of the way of a missile attack, helps him permanently revive Jazz, and rescues Carly by driving up the side of a dam.
- Reluctant Warrior: As she admits to Carly after the immediate crisis is over, she's not comfortable with the conflict.
- Sole Survivor: Like Cliffjumper, the rest of her clan was massacred by Decepticons.
Wheeljack
"Cybertronian ingenuity for ya!"
The Autobots' friendly and eccentric gadgeteer.- Advertised Extra: Was marketed in promotional material as being part of the main Autobot cast. He’s so far been shown deactivated for the first four issues, was finally reactivated in Issue #5 but missing his legs, and is completely absent from Issue #6.
- Disabled in the Adaptation: Wheeljack doesn’t have his legs at all, and had to replace them with treads in order to move around.
- Half the Man He Used to Be: When Wheeljack is first brought online, he's only functional as the top half at first. He seems chipper enough about it.
- Gadgeteer Genius: Of course; this is Wheeljack, after all. Such is his brilliance that the power converter he installs at the local dam is potent enough to power the nearby town for ten years.
Elita- 1
- Action Girl: Leads the rescue mission to save Ultra Magnus, and ends up being the sole survivor of her team.
Huffer
An Autobot soldier back on Cybertron, part of Elita-1’s team.
- Barrier Warrior: Can summon forcefields to shield his allies. It doesn’t save him, though.
- Composite Character: His role as the guy with a forcefield is usually Trailbreaker's.
- Dies Differently in Adaptation: In the original G1 continuity, he died offscreen during the events of the film defending Autobot City. In the comic, he instead perishes on Cybertron in a rescue mission to save Ultra Magnus.
Warpath
An Autobot soldier back on Cybertron, part of Elita-1’s team.
- Chest Blaster: Has a large turret protruding from his chest, which served as his primary weapon.
- Death by Adaptation: Is blown to bits in the opening of issue #7.
Kup
An old Autobot sergeant back on Cybertron, part of Elita-1’s team.
- Boom, Headshot!: How he dies.
Ultra Magnus
Arcee’s former teacher during the Cybertronian War. He saved her after her clan was eradicated and taught her how to fight.
- Body Horror: His body’s been stripped down to the skeleton, and it’s implied he’s still alive somehow.
- Mentor Occupational Hazard: Whether he's alive or not, his old student Arcee thinks he's dead and blames herself for it.
Decepticons
As a Whole
- Asskicking Leads to Leadership: To the Decepticons, Might Makes Right and the strongest lead them. Normally it's Megatron, but with him MIA, Starscream steps up to lead, but his actions have costed their forces. In issue 7, Soundwave challenges Starscream's position and the Decepticons all gather around to witness the trial by combat. Soundwave's victory places him in charge.
- The Social Darwinist: Starscream and Skywarp express a lot of contempt at the humans and the Autobots for either being weak or protecting the weak.
Starscream
"Do not say his name. I am leader of the Decepticons now."
The cruel yet insecure leader of the Decepticons who seeks to destroy the Autobots and conquer Earth for its resources. But after his many failures to destroy the Autobots, Soundwave had challenge Screamer for the leadership over their faction, Starscream's seeming death places Soundwave in charge- Adaptational Dumbass: While most iterations of the character get blindsided by their ego and treachery, many of them also tend to be rather pragmatic and often demonstrates surprising moments of cunning and are capable to at least tolerate anyone who serves his interests. This Starscream however let his bloodthirsty desires to make him willing to make pointless cruel raids for the sake of hurt the autobots over the general benefit of the Decepticons (and himself by proxy) and doesn't even have the usual silver tongue that usually saves him from many problems, the only attempt to talk his way out done in his duel against Soundwave despite having nothing he cold use to bargain for his own life.
- Adaptational Personality Change: A minor case. In most Transformers media, Starscream is a Dirty Coward who prefers to hide from danger and only fights whenever he has the advantage. Here, he's a Blood Knight who starts fights whenever he can and is practically one of the most ruthless incarnations out there. Although when facing against someone who is actually stronger than him, like Soundwave, when he has had enough of his bullshit as leader, he defaults back to his classic cowardly behavior rather quickly and is groveling for mercy before being brutally beaten an inch of his life and thrown, seemingly to his death in the volcano.
- Adaptational Villainy: Most versions of Starscream pay humans no mind with them more as a means to an end. This Starscream happily kills humans just because he can to the point he calls them "squishy ones" compared to the more common "insects" or "vermin".
- Asshole Victim: There is not a single hint of remorse for Starscream as Soundwave guts him in their leadership deathmatch, which is just as well, considering that this Screamer is the epitome of Cybertron's worst.
- Bad Boss:
- Like usual, Starscream doesn't have any respect for those under his command. When Soundwave dares to mention Megatron's name in his presence, he smacks him to the ground.
- In issue #4, he tears apart a wounded Skywarp and recycles his components to repair Teletraan 1.
- Berserk Button: Starscream feels insecure about his leadership compared to Megatron's own style, causing him to react strongly to any mention of Megatron's name or actions.Soundwave: Megatron would have-
(Starscream smacks Soundwave to the ground)
Starscream: I told you! Do! Not! Say! His! Name! - Big Bad: Of the First Arc. Due to the absence of Megatron, Starscream became the new leader of the Decepticons. But despite being a powerful threat in his own right, Starscream is still Starscream
- Blood Knight: Old Screamer seems to have it out for just about anyone he can crush between his hands, killing without mercy.
- Card-Carrying Villain: As evidenced by this exchange at the start:Jetfire: (after Starscream kills Bumblebee) Stop! This is madness!
Starscream: Exactly. (shoots Jetfire) - Combat Pragmatist: Starscream fights dirty and does everything in his power to win.Optimus: "Shooting beings while they lie helpless? Starscream, I thought you were a warrior."Starscream: Unlike you, Optimus Prime, I do whatever it takes—"
- Dirty Coward: Despite being more aggressive, bloodthirsty, and cruel in this continuity, Starscream's underlying cowardice remains evident when things don't go his way. In Issue #7, when Soundwave challenges his leadership, Starscream attempts to weasel his way out. However, the other Decepticons, fed up with Starscream's bad decisions and nasty treatment, refuse to let him off the hook. Thundercracker takes matters into his own hands by pushing Starscream into the arena and telling him to face Soundwave in combat. When Soundwave starts to win with barely a scratch on him, Starscream, battered and injured, offers the prospect of co-leadership and says he'll look past Soundwave's "betrayal," claiming he can still choose the right path for their species. However, Soundwave, unmoved by Starscream's empty promises and still angry after he kicked Ravage, ruthlessly removes another one of his vital components before dropping Starscream's broken form into the fiery depths of a volcano.
- Evil Is Petty: Stops Soundwave before he can execute Optimus so he can have him watch as he shoots up a hospital.
- Eye Scream: Part of Soundwave's No-Holds-Barred Beatdown is to deploy Laserbeak and have him eat Starscream's left eye.
- Foil: To Soundwave. Starscream is hyper-fixated on destroying the Autobots above all else, abuses his allies as much as his enemies, constantly commits needless cruel acts for his own pleasure, and mentions of Megatron are his Berserk Button. Soundwave is focused on reviving the other Decepticons, caring for his cassettes, any rare cruel acts are out of pragmatism, and his loyalty to Megatron is apparent.
- For the Evulz: Likes to kill humans just because he can.
- Hate Sink: This Starscream is probably one of the most intentionally detestable versions of the character across the franchise, kicking dog after dog with a general disconcern for friend and foe alike. The very first thing he does on-panel is kill a helpless Bumblebee, and immediately after he fatally injures his old friend Jetfire— who revived him, mind you— for trying to stop him from hurting the rest of the Autobots. He only gets worse from there. Much worse.
- Hero Killer: He offlines Bumblebee in the first issue, and later does the same to Jetfire.
- Kick the Dog:
- Shoots up a hospital solely to spite Optimus because he was defending it.
- A literal example occurs when Soundwave opts to use the newly repaired Teletraan-1 to repair Ravage, only for Starscream to punt away the latter in favor of repairing Thundercracker first.
- Shoots up a hospital
- Laser-Guided Karma: Starscream's hasty decisions, terrible treatment of the other Decepticons, and multiple losses against the Autobots finally rear its ugly head in Issue #7. Soundwave decides enough is enough and challenges Starscream to fight for a change in leadership. Starscream tries to chicken out, but the other Decepticons aren't having any of it, with Thundercracker shoving him into the arena. In the end, Soundwave comes out on top, with Starscream badly beaten and thrown into a burning volcano.
- Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: Starscream has no way of knowing this, but by killing Frosting in Issue #2, he's set in motion events that will lead to the formation of G.I. Joe.
- The Resenter: He has a massive chip on his shoulder towards Megatron. The other Decepticons prefer Megatron and his leadership over Starscream's, and the latter's reckless actions (i.e., killing humans and picking fights with the Autobots) aren't making Starscream a good leader in his subordinates' eyes.
- The Social Darwinist: Seems to have the most contempt for even the idea of helping weaker beings, be they Autobot or human, to the point that he shoots up a hospital just to spite Optimus Prime for defending it.Starscream: You fools are weaker than us in every way! You don't deserve to function!
- The Starscream: Downplayed. While he doesn't have Megatron to usurp due to already being the leader, he does detest living under his predecessor's shadow and tries to silence anyone who dares choose Megatron over him. This ironically cause Starscream to fall victim to his own trope as Soundwave, sick and tired of Starscream's incompetence, decides to challenge Screamer for leadership position. And unlike the Trope Namer, Soundwave easily usurps Starscream due to the latter's cowardice and lack of skills.
- Stupid Evil: Not only does he show no regard for stealth or subtlety, this Starscream spends a good amount of his time picking fights with Autobots and humans rather than focus on the more pressing issues his troops face (namely, a lack of resources).
- Uncertain Doom: We don't see much of Starscream after Soundwave throws him into the volcano, but he's definitely not coming back unscathed.
Soundwave
"Extermination protocol… active."
Starscream's former lieutenant and the Spymaster of the Decepticons. But after Starscream's many leadership blunders cost them victory over the Autobots, Soundwave defeats him in single combat, and takes command of the Decepticons- Badass Boast: He makes one to the assembled Decepticons in issue 7 after usurping Starscream."These pieces will help heal Ravage. But I will not just heal my own. We will rebuild. Together. We will conquer. Together. We will destroy. Together."
- A Father to His Men: After Optimus shoots Ravage, Soundwave is clearly distraught, and spends the rest of the issue cradling Ravage's body. When the repair tech is ready, he seems eager to fix Ravage first. In fact, Starscream's repeated stupidity in caring for their men when they are so few is what finally breaks Soundwave to usurp control of the Decepticons from him.
- Benevolent Boss: Unlike Starscream, he treats his cassettes well, serving as a father figure, much like Optimus. After taking leadership, Soundwave declares he will not just repair Ravage using parts gutted from Starscream, but will work to rebuild everyone in his faction.
- Big Bad: After Starscream's many leadership blunders cost them victory over the Autobots, Soundwave challenged him in single combat, and took command of the Decepticons. Before exterminating the rest of the Autobots, Soundwave aims to find a stable fuel source first and foremost.
- Composite Character: In addition to his G1 body, this Soundwave incorporates traits of other versions; he retains his original IDW self's care for his minions and the ruthless pragmatism and combat prowess from his Prime counterpart. This is all combined with Cyberverse Soundwave's intense dislike of Starscream.
- Foil: To Starscream. Soundwave is focused on reviving the other Decepticons, cares for his cassettes, any rare cruel acts are out of pragmatism, and his loyalty to Megatron is apparent. Starscream is hyper-fixated on destroying the Autobots above all else, abuses his allies as much as his enemies, constantly commits needless cruel acts for his own pleasure, and mentions of Megatron are his Berserk Button.
- Hope Spot: After the Autobots force the Decepticons to retreat from the Ark in Issue #6, Soundwave is one of the last to leave. Optimus faces Soundwave and offers him a truce with a chance to save their home together. For a brief moment, Soundwave considers it as he looks at Ravage in his arms, whom Optimus shot in Issue #1, and tries to punch him. Thundercracker picks up Soundwave shortly after. Peace was so damn close.
- It's Personal: Despite being the Only Sane Man of the Decepticons, when Optimus approaches him with the offer for peace between their factions after Starscream is incapacitated, because Optimus nearly killed Ravage when they first awoke on Earth, Soundwave forgoes any option of laying down arms and tries to attack Optimus after a brief consideration out of rage. Also, when he fights Starscream over leadership of the Decepticons, he makes a point of telling Starscream, to his face, that he's doing this because Starscream kicked Ravage.
- Only Sane Man: Of the initial Decepticons active, Soundwave is by far the most calm and professional of the lot.
- Not So Above It All: While he is the calmest and most rational Decepticon he's still the one who suggests ruthlessly tearing apart Skywarp for parts, to fix Teletraan 1. Although, given the desperation of their situation as Skywarp was left in such a critical state at Optimus's hands to begin with (cutting their active number by a very significant portion), it is probable he was being ruthlessly pragmatic to even their odds than simply the blatant cruelty the other Decepticons are shown to indulge in.
- Pragmatic Villainy: Unlike his comrades, Soundwave prioritizes finding a stable fuel source first and foremost, and doesn’t see the point in needlessly killing humans.
- Shoot the Dog: Compared to his allies committing random acts of violence for the hell of it, Soundwave's first major act of violence, using a wounded Skywarp as raw material to repair Teletraan 1, was done to help his allies overall.
- The Starscream: He not only becomes Starscream's second-in-command, he ends up usurping Starscream himself as the leader of the Decepticons after one too many bad decisions from his leadership.
Skywarp
"Starscream was right. This is fun!"
A thuggish Decepticon soldier with teleportation powers.- Adaptational Badass: Skywarp's teleportation ability has always been limited to being able to teleport himself and sometimes a few others in the near vicinity. In this series Skywarp can teleport parts of his body to a different location without fully teleporting there. Such as when he teleports his hand behind Optimus's head to throw him down.
- Adaptational Intelligence: Skywarp's original bio mentioned that he was pretty much useless without constant supervision. To the point where he didn't know how to use his power of teleportation most effectively. While Skywarp is still depicted as a lovable moron he's shown in issue 3 to make clever use of his teleportation powers.
- Asshole Victim: He's very cruel and commits random violence comparable to Starscream, so it's unlikely anyone was shedding tears when Starscream and Soundwave cannibalize him for parts.
- Cruel and Unusual Death: Nothing more cruel than being ripped apart by your own allies with their bare hands just for spare parts. Subverted later when, it's revealed that Skywarp is still technically alive as a part of Teletraan.
- Defiant to the End: Even while being barely alive, half-conscious, and at the Autobots' mercy as part of Teletraan-1, he still has the will to halt their efforts at reviving their comrades, all while cursing them.
- Human Resources: Starscream and Soundwave tear him to shreds to obtain the necessary parts to repair Teletraan-1.
- Oh, Crap!: He understandably freaks out as soon as Starscream and Soundwave start tearing him apart for parts to fix Teletraan-1 with.
- Kick the Dog: He doesn't have as many as Starscream but he still has his moments. Notably trying to finish off a gravely wounded Spike who had been shot in the crossfire.
- Not Quite Dead: Issue 7 reveals that Skywarp is still alive and integrated into Teletraan-1. It's not a pleasant existence and he's "not all there" but he is stopping the computer from reviving more Autobots.
- Palette Swap: As is tradition, Skywarp has the same body as Starscream, but purple and black.
- Undying Loyalty: Even as basically a flicker of a spark left deep within the Teletraan-1 after being cannibalized for parts and energy by his fellow Decepticons he begged his life for, he still defends the Decepticon cause firmly as he keeps the Autobots from being revived to fight them.
- You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Or rather, he's more useful as dead spare parts than he is alive, as Starscream and Soundwave conclude in issue #4.
The Cassettes
"Ravage, activate."
Soundwave's minions, consisting of Laserbeak, Rumble, Frenzy, and Ravage. They are smaller Transformers who deploy from his chest to do his bidding.- Adapted Out: Ratbat and Buzzsaw don’t seem to be present in this incarnation.
- Brutal Bird of Prey: Laserbeak serves as this.
- Feathered Fiend: Laserbeak is a bird-like Decepticon.
- Palette Swap: As usual, Frenzy and Rumble are the same body in red and blue colors respectively. This comic follows the "FIRRIB"note color scheme, in keeping with the Sunbow cartoon.
- Spy Bot: Laserbeak serves as this for the Decepticons, scouting potential fuel sources and tracking down enemies. In issue #2, it begins hunting down Carly after spotting a picture of Optimus Prime she drew on her van earlier.
- Undying Loyalty: To Soundwave.
- Villainous Friendship: In addition to Soundwave and his fellow Cassettes, Frenzy is shown to be friends with Reflector, shouting his name in horror as Optimus vaporizes him, even calling him "buddy".
Thundercracker
"Justice For Skywarp!"
The Token Good Teammate of the Decepticons and Soundwave's lieutenant.- Avenging the Villain: Thundercracker is dead set on avenging his fellow Seeker, unaware it was Starscream and Soundwave, not the Autobots.
- Early-Bird Cameo: In issue #1, Thundercracker was briefly seen about to be revived by Teletraan 1, until Optimus destroyed the computer, preventing his reactivation. Thundercracker is later revived in issue #5.
- Establishing Character Moment: Upon being reactivated, he is horrified to see Skywarp's remains installed into Teletraan 1 and asks what "evil Autobot" did this to him, showing him to have a stronger moral compass than his allies but still on the wrong side of the war.
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones: He cares a great deal for his fellow Decepticons, being horrified at Skywarp's death and setting out to avenge him during the attack on the dam.
- Even Evil Has Standards: He is immediately horrified upon seeing Skywarp's current state as components for Teletraan 1.
- Noble Demon: Of all the Decepticons introduced so far, Thundercracker seems to be the one who has the strongest sense of mortality. He's the only one who seems to be bothered and appalled by what had been done to Skywarp.
- Palette Swap: As is tradition, Thundercracker has the same body as Starscream, but black and blue.
Reflector
"It is good to be back in focus Starscream!"
A Decepticon who likes to speak in camera-based puns.- Adaptational Wimp: Usually Reflector is three guys (Sometimes joined by a single mind) but here he's just one bot.
- Dropped a Bridge on Him: Optimus obliterates him with a fusion cannon blast.
- Early-Bird Cameo: In issue #1, Reflector was briefly seen about to be revived by Teletraan 1, until Optimus destroyed the computer, preventing his reactivation. Reflector is later revived in issue #5 but it doesn’t last very long.
- Oh, Crap!: Realizing his target sees him and is set to vaporize him, Reflector's last words and expression indicate his regret at having made himself an easy target.
- Pungeon Master: Most of his lines incorporate some sort of photography-related pun.
- We Hardly Knew Ye: Shortly after being reactivated, he tries to jump Optimus…and is swiftly vaporized by laser fire.
Constructicons/Devastator
The Constructicons
Devastator
A group of Decepticon engineers. They can all combine with one another to form the towering powerhouse known as Devastator.
- Adaptational Badass: Par for the course as most adaptations beef up Devastator from the Jobber he was in the cartoon. In this version he beats Optimus so badly that Prime would have died had Sparkplug not sacrificed himself to revive him whereas in Devastator's debut in the cartoon, Optimus put him out of commission with one shot. Granted, Optimus still beats him one-on-six-in-one as soon as he recovers and the combiner no longer has the element of surprise.
- Adaptational Early Appearance: They weren't part of the initial line up of the Decepticons in the original Marvel comic and cartoon.
- The Brute: Devastator is easily the strongest of the current Decepticon forces and primarily acts as their muscle.
- Combining Mecha: The six Constructicons can combine to form Devastator.
- Dynamic Entry: Long Haul introduces himself and the group by ramming Optimus off the road.
- Fingore: Optimus rips off the ring finger of Devastator's right hand and uses it to bludgeon Thundercracker.
- Godzilla Threshold: Starscream resurrects all six in a last-ditch attempt to destroy the Autobots.
Megatron
- Adaptational Late Appearance: Unlike most depictions of Generation 1, he is not part of the first active batch of Decepticons.
- An Arm and a Leg: Thanks to him being partially embedded in ice, offline, and badly damaged. Ratchet decides to make him an unknowing "donor" for Prime's new right arm. While being studied in Cobra-La, the scientists removed his other arm.
- Asshole Victim: Cobra Commander reveals he’s been found by the citizens of Cobra-La where he’s routinely tortured by the future Cobra Commander. Considering what little we’ve seen of him show that he’s nothing but a brutal tyrant that made the situation on Cybertron worse, led the Decepticons on a near successful genocide on the Autobots, and clearly has very sinister plans for Earth, it’s hard to feel bad for him.
- Captured Super-Entity: Cobra-La obtained his body for study and experimentation.
- Eye Scream: Among his many injuries, either from what left him stranded and on ice in the first place or by the hands of Cobra Commander's experiments on him, Megatron is missing a significant chunk of his right eye leaving a skull-like impression where it once was.
- Greater-Scope Villain: While he’s currently held captive by Cobra-La he's the founder of the Decepticons and Optimus's Arch-Enemy. His threat looming in the background for now.
- Psychotic Smirk: The moment Cobra Commander leaves the lab holding Megatron, the Decepticon leader lifts his head and smiles. Why Megatron is smiling is unclear, but it could imply he's not as helpless as everyone thinks.
Unaffiliated Cybertronians
Jetfire (Spoilers!)
"I have failed in my mission. Cybertron will die. Everything will die..."
An old friend of Starscream and Optimus before the war who laid dormant for centuries. Having recently awakened, he tracked them down to Earth and resurrected them, whereupon he soon realized he made a grave mistake in doing so.- Death by Adaptation: Unlike in the G1 cartoon, where he survived his apparent demise, Jetfire perishes at Starscream's hands.
- It's All My Fault: His last moments are spent apologizing to Optimus for unleashing the Decepticons on Earth.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Despite being wounded, he still fights Starscream and Skywarp to allow the Autobots to escape, which gets him fatally injured in the process, and he dies not long after.
- Locked Out of the Loop: As he had been deactivated for centuries, he was unaware that the Autobot-Decepticon War occurred, and that Starscream had become a murderous tyrant.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: As he was unaware of the war, he resurrected Starscream, who then proceeded to revive the other Decepticons.
- Small Role, Big Impact: Dies after one issue (Two if you count Void Rivals) but his actions are what lead to the Autobots and Decepticons awakening on Earth.
- We Used to Be Friends: After Starscream reveals his true colors by executing Bumblebee, Jetfire immediately turns on him. Later, when the Autobots are fleeing, Jetfire provides cover fire for their escape and laments that he’s forced to fight his former friend.
