The Energon Pub

Hey, everyone.

One of my favorite G1 characters is Smokescreen (I loved "The Gambler" as a kid), and I noticed on various Transformers wikis that Smokescreen and Inferno are supposed to be members of Grimlock's Lightning Strike Coalition in the War Within comics series.

Now, I've read the omnibus released by IDW and don't recall Smokescreen and/or Inferno ever being shown or mentioned.

As far as I can tell, the LSC consists of Grimlock, Swoop, Snarl, Sludge, Slag, Kup, Ironhide, and Wheeljack. That's all.

Yet again, several wikis keep reporting that within the pages of the second War Within series (Dark Ages?), Smokescreen and Inferno are indeed members.

So where are they? Or where are they mentioned?

Thanks in advance!
-Harlock999

They weren't in the comics, as far as I know. I own the original single issues of all the War Within, as well as the Omnibus. I didn't see them anywhere.

Thanks, Rodimus Prime.

I guess the question now becomes "Should I (or someone else) edit the War Within entries over at tfwiki.net?"

Or were Smokescreen and Inferno shown to be members of the LSC in another series or one-shot? And maybe it's just the source (Dark Ages) that's wrong ... as opposed to the information?"

I don't remember them being in it, either. I have the comics and omnibus, too. Perhaps they were shown in the Age of Wrath? A lot of new and obscure characters got a chance to shine in that series... which was cancelled mid-way, if I recall correctly.

Is there any chance they were referenced as being former members in the G1 comic? It's been far too long since I've read those to remember.

They werent referenced at all in G1 comics. They were shown in age of wrath. I think they are the group that later became known as the Wreckers and the LSC was a a mid-civil war group which was expanded.

Grimlock (leader)
Kup
Ironhide
Wheeljack
Smokescreen
Inferno
Slag
Sludge
Snarl
Swoop

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Lightning_Strike_Coalition

Hellstriker, you've told us nothing new. You've simply swiped info from the same wiki that I have issues with...

Until you (or someone else) can tell me - definitively - where you saw Smokescreen and/or Inferno as part of the LSC? Or where another character mentioned these two were part of Grimlock's group? Well, then I'm not buying it.

Because as other posters have already pointed out, neither Smokescreen nor Inferno are seen in the Dark Ages, which is the point of reference from the wiki.

Harlock999 wrote:Hellstriker, you've told us nothing new. You've simply swiped info from the same wiki that I have issues with...

Until you (or someone else) can tell me - definitively - where you saw Smokescreen and/or Inferno as part of the LSC? Or where another character mentioned these two were part of Grimlock's group? Well, then I'm not buying it.

Because as other posters have already pointed out, neither Smokescreen nor Inferno are seen in the Dark Ages, which is the point of reference from the wiki.

They werent seen as far as I remember, but I seem to recal their names being mentioned as part of Grimlocks team by either Prowl or Grimlock.

when I get the chance I'll see if I casn dig out the books and check.

I grabbed my copy of Dreamwave's WW Dark Ages trade, remembering that it had a big list of who was part of which factions in the bonus material section. It does list Smokescreen & Inferno as part of the LSC, despite not being seen anywhere; so I think that's where the confusion of "are they or aren't they?" is coming from. As for not being seen, you could argue that "They were off-panel and we just didn't see them".

There are some other characters with some placements that are a little odd: Grotusque & Catilla, both Autobots, are part of two of the Decepticon splinter factions. Ones like Submarauder, Birdbrain, Dirge, and the the Pretender Beasts seem like they were just tossed in randomly to pad the rosters. I dunno, maybe I'm reading too far into it.

But here's a list of who is part of which factions in the back of the Dark Ages TPB:

LSC:

Grimlock and the Dynobots
Kup
Ironhide
Wheeljack
Inferno
Smokescreen

Wreckers:

Springer
Broadside
Sandstorm
Topspin
Twin Twist
Roadbuster
Whirl

Autobots:

Prowl
Bluestreak
Bumblebee
Blaster
Gears
Hound
Huffer
Jazz
Jetfire
Mirage
Ratchet
Sideswipe
Skids (IMO I think he was included as an homage to Bob Budiansky)
Sunstreaker
Tracks
Trailbreaker

Predacons:

Starscream
Astrotrain
Barrage
Carnivac
Dead End
Dirge
Grotusque
Motormaster
Octane
Runabout
Runamuck
Slugslinger
Snarler

Ultracons:

Ratbat
Birdbrain
Constructions/Devastator
Catilla
Chop Shop
Quake (He got a lot of play at the end of the US Marvel series)
Ransack
Squeezeplay
Submarauder
Venom

Decepticons:

Shockwave
Insecticons
Buzzsaw
Laserbeak
Frenzy
Rumble
Ravage
Soundwave
Ramjet
Thrust
Trypticon
Thundercracker
Skywarp