IDW Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers issue #2 Cover by Andrew Griffith

Directly from the floor at NYCC 2015, Tumblr user Rozzing It has shared a brief preview of the upcoming first issue of the Nick Roche and Josh Burcham IDW Sins of the Wreckers mini-series!

You can check out photos of the opening pages below, but be warned that they may contain spoilers for the current The Transformers ongoing series. If that does not concern you, read on.

Bout time Verity came back, and of all things she has to antagonize Prowl. This'll get good fast

Oh snap that's the data from G-9! No wonder Prowl wants her dead.

I'm stoked this is finally happening but when the hell is this taking place? Last we saw Prowl attacked Caminus, was captured, escaped, combined with Optimus, fought combines was captured again then escaped thanks to a fight with Optimus and was taken by Ratrap who said he had plans for him.

This is acting like Prowl has been back with the Autobots, being all "things are back to normal" and just goes missing from the Ark.

What the hell?

Randomhero wrote:I'm stoked this is finally happening but when the hell is this taking place? Last we saw Prowl attacked Caminus, was captured, escaped, combined with Optimus, fought combines was captured again then escaped thanks to a fight with Optimus and was taken by Ratrap who said he had plans for him.

This is acting like Prowl has been back with the Autobots, being all "things are back to normal" and just goes missing from the Ark.

What the hell?

Maybe after the latest story arc ends, Prowl bridges back to the Earth crew, joins back up with them considering they may be unaware he is wanted, and then all hell breaks loose?

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Randomhero wrote:I'm stoked this is finally happening but when the hell is this taking place? Last we saw Prowl attacked Caminus, was captured, escaped, combined with Optimus, fought combines was captured again then escaped thanks to a fight with Optimus and was taken by Ratrap who said he had plans for him.

This is acting like Prowl has been back with the Autobots, being all "things are back to normal" and just goes missing from the Ark.

What the hell?

Maybe after the latest story arc ends, Prowl bridges back to the Earth crew, joins back up with them considering they may be unaware he is wanted, and then all hell breaks loose?

No they're fully aware. Optimus filled Arcee in on everything and she's mentioned his current actions.

all that aside its really great to see josh coloring interiors again and not using his style he used in MTMTE. I know people enjoyed the flat almost pastel 80s look but I always felt he was stronger in all hail megaton.

I'm not feeling Kups look. It's nicks take on Andrews design but it's not doing it for me. Same with Arcee. I'm not a fan of how nick draws female transformers' faces. They just look fugly. Had the same problem on his covers with Nautica and I have it here too.

Prowl heals and somehow makes it secretly back to Earth, and his first action is to finish going after a threat he received a while back that really only damns the faction he's basically been kicked out of?

If he wanted her dead because it's just that big of a threat, he would've had a Constructicon swing by her place and kill her before going to Cybertron. Or did she in her amazing skill of sending the message straight to Prowl's quarters without otherwise detection also learn how to replicate Spike's methods of staying off the grid? Which didn't exactly last that long once Prowl started looking for him.

Probably should be asking yourselves that, Kup and Arcee, rather than make snap assumptions.

oly_chic wrote:Prowl heals and somehow makes it secretly back to Earth, and his first action is to finish going after a threat he received a while back that really only damns the faction he's basically been kicked out of?

If he wanted her dead because it's just that big of a threat, he would've had a Constructicon swing by her place and kill her before going to Cybertron. Or did she in her amazing skill of sending the message straight to Prowl's quarters without otherwise detection also learn how to replicate Spike's methods of staying off the grid? Which didn't exactly last that long once Prowl started looking for him.

Probably should be asking yourselves that, Kup and Arcee, rather than make snap assumptions.

Verity hasn't actually been off the grid as much as you think. Stakeout has been keeping tabs on her ever since the end of LSTOW

Randomhero wrote:

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Randomhero wrote:I'm stoked this is finally happening but when the hell is this taking place? Last we saw Prowl attacked Caminus, was captured, escaped, combined with Optimus, fought combines was captured again then escaped thanks to a fight with Optimus and was taken by Ratrap who said he had plans for him.

This is acting like Prowl has been back with the Autobots, being all "things are back to normal" and just goes missing from the Ark.

What the hell?

Maybe after the latest story arc ends, Prowl bridges back to the Earth crew, joins back up with them considering they may be unaware he is wanted, and then all hell breaks loose?

No they're fully aware. Optimus filled Arcee in on everything and she's mentioned his current actions.

Optimus told Arcee Prowl was in Starscreams custody, but he may have never told her he stabbed him and escaped and is now a wanted fugitive? IDK, I'm trying here

Guys, this is gonna be soooooo good.

Are we finally seeing the payoff from the AHM Coda? Where Prowl resurrected Kup in the first place and installed those other sub-programs to make him say what Prowl wanted him to say?

Nemesis Maximo wrote:Guys, this is gonna be soooooo good.

Are we finally seeing the payoff from the AHM Coda? Where Prowl resurrected Kup in the first place and installed those other sub-programs to make him say what Prowl wanted him to say?

Considering Prowl wants the wreckers called into this, and that fact that I had forgot about that and so much other stuff that was long forgotten is returning, i would not rule it out!

D-Maximus_Prime wrote:

Nemesis Maximo wrote:Guys, this is gonna be soooooo good.

Are we finally seeing the payoff from the AHM Coda? Where Prowl resurrected Kup in the first place and installed those other sub-programs to make him say what Prowl wanted him to say?

Considering Prowl wants the wreckers called into this, and that fact that I had forgot about that and so much other stuff that was long forgotten is returning, i would not rule it out!

They basically said this will drag every skeleton out of the closet for Prowl, so I'm expecting AHM Coda plus more. I'm wonder if Zeta's weapons will come up, since the comic left it ambiguous whether he destroyed them as ordered.

I get the impression this will be as much Prowl bashing as they can get in with "look at all his evil deeds!" Nick Roche said Prowl will "get his comeuppance." It explains the casting list and Arcee's apparent anger and desire to hurt Prowl. In ex-RID she's just irritated with him on Earth, indifferent of him on Cybertron. In one shot Combiners she refers to Prowlestator as a monster. This progression of her anger to him in offshoots feel like build up to making her a supposed victim of Prowl.

I always thought Verity was smart enough not to taunt the smart bots. I assume she has a plan...

IDW artist and regular colourist for Transformers titles Josh Burcham has shared three tiny panel previews from the upcoming Sins of the Wreckers mini-series on his Facebook page. Check out Impactor, Arcee, Kup and tank Roadbuster below, and head here to find out more about the series from author Nick Roche himself!

This art is definitely different from what we've gotten in the past. It still looks really cool though! I can dig it

These look good. I like the more 'gritty' look.

Very excited. Been waiting for this for a long time. LSOTW is probably my favourite TF book EVER. Been dying to find out what happens to Springer and I loved how Impactor and Guzzle were written. The gritty look suits The Wreckers perfectly.

STOP TEASING US!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So true about being gritty, this looks like art from a graphic novel out of the nineties or early 2K's. I like it it suits this kind of darker mature themed story.

Guys - I think I'm in love...

Should be obvious at this point, but Previews finally posted an official release date of 11/25/15 for Sins of the Wreckers.

Previews World - TRANSFORMERS SINS OF WRECKERS #1 (OF 5)

Item Code: SEP150370
In Shops: 11/25/2015
SRP: $3.99

Dumb question: Is Sins of the Wreckers available digitally? I've checked IDW and Comixology but can't seam to find digital versions. Thanks

ciberw0lf wrote:Dumb question: Is Sins of the Wreckers available digitally? I've checked IDW and Comixology but can't seam to find digital versions. Thanks

It should be available on the 25th or maybe the 24th of November. I'm not 100% sure on when digital comics get released.

The second release for the week by IDW Publishing brings the long-awaited return of the most ill-fitting crew of Cybertronian mercenaries around - Sins of the Wreckers starts here! Check out the full preview below, and make sure to drop by the Energon Pub for our review and discussion once it's released.

Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers #1 (of 5)—SPOTLIGHT
Nick Roche (w & a & c)
THE WRECKERS RETURN! Somebody’s kidnapped PROWL… but does anybody want him back? A lifetime of messing with everybody’s lives comes around to haunt him. Fortunately, he’s always got a plan. In this case… the one team of brutal, broken heroes… the WRECKERS!
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet Points:
The sequel to LAST STAND OF THE WRECKERS—one of the most acclaimed comics in TRANSFORMERS history!
PROWL gets his comeuppance!
Features ARCEE and KUP… and the WRECKERS!
The secret history of PROWL revealed, leaving everybody hurt.
Variant cover by Alex Milne!

Some people just can't live without a war.

Loving this so far.

Glad to see and hear about all these guys again. I'm looking forward to the storyline

Man MMC timed their spartan release just right. I wasn't going to get it, but after reading this little preview I think I might.

So much hype!!! I am pumped for this.

It looks nice. Not a fan of the coloring and the continuity is a giant mess. Maybe it takes place before combiner wars? Be terrible especially since that's been almost a year from where we are now. Maybe after this conquers arc? Who knows. Bugs the hell out of me though.

I'm sure it will be explained during the story when this actually takes place.

Randomhero wrote:It looks nice. Not a fan of the coloring and the continuity is a giant mess. Maybe it takes place before combiner wars? Be terrible especially since that's been almost a year from where we are now. Maybe after this conquers arc? Who knows. Bugs the hell out of me though.

How is it a mess? This takes place after Combiner Wars, directly after the Barber arc we are in now as far as I know. The preview also states it's been 1467 days since Springer was injured so that right there is the exact timeline.

Doctor McGrath wrote:

Randomhero wrote:It looks nice. Not a fan of the coloring and the continuity is a giant mess. Maybe it takes place before combiner wars? Be terrible especially since that's been almost a year from where we are now. Maybe after this conquers arc? Who knows. Bugs the hell out of me though.

How is it a mess? This takes place after Combiner Wars, directly after the Barber arc we are in now as far as I know. The preview also states it's been 1467 days since Springer was injured so that right there is the exact timeline.

Because Prowl is a wanted Fugitive. Issue 42 ended with him escaping custody being taken by Rattrap. Issue 44 revealed he is a wanted fugitive with no allies and with Wanted posters everywhere. Arcee was even filled in with what he did during Combiner Wars and Prowl is not in this current story at all. This comic shows that Prowl was on the Ark-27 and just disappeared from his quarters. 1. hes not with the Earth Autobots right now because hes a wanted fugitive everywhere and 2. The Ark is demolished right now. it is beat to hell and here, its fine. I even asked Nick personally on facebook "when does this take place?" he was kind enough to reply back to me but all he said "the current timeline of IDW" i responded back my points. "but Prowl is a wanted fugitive at the moment. he has no allies with any Autobots, especially Arcee and Kup because they know he went too far in Combiner Hunters" sadly nick did not reply to that.

Honestly? I dont think Nick knew what was going on with Prowl in John's book when he started Sins of the Wreckers. I'm not saying this is all nicks fault because thats something the editor should inform him on. Prowl is a huge character in this series, its essentially about him being missing but we know where he is and he wasnt captured. he escaped custody by Rattrap.

some have tried to justify this saying 'obviously Arcee snuck him back to Earth and he joined back up" no, thats a scene that would require being shown in John's Transformers book especially with Autbots like Kup, Jazz and Sideswipe on Ark-27 who are mroe loyal to Optimus than Arcee. Prowl is an important character to what John Barber has been doing and thats a cop-out to try explain whats going on and I have more respect for IDW and the people creating these books to do something that unprofessional. thats the equivalent of skipping Brainstorm's trial after Elegant Chaos and him just appearing as part of the crew again. Everyone would be screaming "What the is he doing hanging out with everyone again"

It could be possible that this was set in the time between Prime's departure and Prowl taking the bridge to cybertron, where his events happened. This could be a going back in time to explain stuff story

I wouldn't over think it. This is the preview for the first issue in a mini-series. It will all work out.

I honestly hope so. I'm not trying to be a wet blanket but the comics are my medium with transformers anymore. I don't watch the cartoons anymore, I collect only classics/generations and I'm picky with continuity, Andy Schmidt just left me so jagged and John has been so damn good running IDW for the past 4 years I just get nitpicky when I know this universe so well and when something doesn't doesn't fit, I get a little "hold on a second" lol. I do have faith in this book. I just don't want this to be something that someone has to fix later. IDW transformers has become better than that in the recent years with their own stories. Yeah they fixed a lot of mess ups the previous did but John hasn't had to fix anything he's been in charge of.

For people wondering about the timeline, I would recommend listening to Nick Roche talking about it directly on the 129th Twincast Podcast.

http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/ ... ers/34136/

He addresses this point really early on, too.

Synopsis
THE WRECKERS RETURN! Somebody’s kidnapped PROWL… but does anybody want him back? A lifetime of messing with everybody’s lives comes around to haunt him. Fortunately, he’s always got a plan. In this case… the one team of brutal, broken heroes… the WRECKERS!



Story

It has taken some time to convince Nick Roche and the editorial team over at IDW to bring a bunch of clutch munching piston-lickers back to the stage - but years later, here we are again, sans James Roberts, looking at a very different status quo, a similar roster of names and faces, and a much, much darker (if possible) storyline.



We start from where we left in Last Stand, with the passing of time having passed, and done its thing, Springer still in a coma, Impactor and whatever is left of the Wreckers trying to find their place in the new reality of Cybertron and the Council of Worlds. The transition is seamless, in accounting for the time that sits between the two stories.



We also identify the two majorly major players of the story - from this point, at least - in Verity Carlo and Kup, two people who have all the reasons to dislike Prowl, with a passion, though not necessarily with the knowledge to do so especially in Kup's case.



One concern I do have, though it has been addressed by Roche and IDW more in general, is to do with the exact placing of this story. There are significant scenes with the Ark that do not coincide with The Transformers #47, and something seems to have shifted in Prowl's disappearance, too. That said, in John Barber we trust.


Art

The visual team, linework and layouts at least, is still concentrated in the hands and floppy hair of Roche himself, and he brings, in my opinion, something quite different to the previous Wreckers outing in Last Stand, and something perhaps more fitting to the tone he has set for his own story this time round. That, and a combination of some really dynamic work in the layouts.



A tone, of course, that has been perfectly captured and even enhanced in the chromatic wonders of Josh Burcham, who delivers a variety of lonelinesses depending on the scenes, characters, and environments. Blending a very dirty, gritty colouring and lighting for indoor conversations, and cold colours for outdoors Nome, the isolation is palpable.



Unsurprisingly, Tom B. Long is taking up lettering duties, and there is nothing I have to say that the lettering doesn't do for itself. Tone aside, we get snippets into the dark humour of the book, and the dynamics established among the cast. A cast which is, for the most part, highlighted on the covers with Roche and Burcham giving a cinematographic feel to the main one, guests Declan Shalvey and Jordie Bellaire offering a magnificent Impactor, and Alex Milne teaming up with Josh Perez for a Springer-tastic LSTOW variant (thumbnailed).


Thoughts
Spoilerish ahead

We've seen it with Redemption, we've seen it in recent issue of The Transformers, it has been running in the Scavengers arc, and more so in this week's release of MTMTE - the status quo for the TFverse has changed. Some characters have not. Some characters are trying to adapt. Some cannot. This is their story, as told by cruel Nick Roche.



Tight editing on the book will ensure that everything slides into place, I'm sure, removing the only major criticism I have of the issue. There are some surprisingly poignant, powerful, ominous, intriguing moments which you just need to enjoy. Make sure you take a break between this and MTMTE, too.

Oh sweet primus, was that cop car at the end of LSOTW Stakeout the whole time!? MINDBLOWN!

Jesus, Guzzle. No wonder they were keeping you in that box.
Look at those freaking shoulders.
And the freaking cannon.

Double-post

Well, Arcee's a greedy bitch. But then, hasn't she always been a useless character in IDW? Springer's back. Awesome! I've got an idea for the song when Springer is shown to be alive and well. Jurassic Park theme. And Stakeout and Hubcap are making their second appearance!

Genericon #378 wrote:Well, Arcee's a greedy bitch. But then, hasn't she always been a useless character in IDW? Springer's back. Awesome! I've got an idea for the song when Springer is shown to be alive and well. Jurassic Park theme. And Stakeout and Hubcap are making their second appearance!

My issue with IDW's Arcee is that I wouldn't have as much issue with her if her sole purpose wasn't killing and slapping around bots I have more stock in.

It's basically a case of Barber's favorite character kicking around other people's favorite character. I know people hated Drift at one point but Arcee in my opinion is far worse. Combat wise IDW puts her too high up on a pedestal for my taste.

YoungPrime wrote:

Genericon #378 wrote:Well, Arcee's a greedy bitch. But then, hasn't she always been a useless character in IDW? Springer's back. Awesome! I've got an idea for the song when Springer is shown to be alive and well. Jurassic Park theme. And Stakeout and Hubcap are making their second appearance!

My issue with IDW's Arcee is that I wouldn't have as much issue with her if her sole purpose wasn't killing and slapping around bots I have more stock in.

It's basically a case of Barber's favorite character kicking around other people's favorite character. I know people hated Drift at one point but Arcee in my opinion is far worse. Combat wise IDW puts her too high up on a pedestal for my taste.

I have a list of characters Arcee has fought and (more or less) beat: Ratbat, Sunstorm, Blast Off, Blot, Triggerhappy, Ravage, Frenzy and Rumble, the triple changers and Shockwave. Oh, and Bombshell. Skywarp. Five characters that should have kicked her ass in battle are on that list. What a waste.

I, for one, think that the betrayal that Arcee feels in the issue is entirely legitimate, given the amount of shit she's been getting and doing from and for Prowl up to this point, only to be sidelined by Springer.

That, and I really like what Barber has done with the character, and how Roche is handling her so far.

"A polar bear is dropkicked by a robot that turns into a police car." The next time I need to defend my love of Transformers to somebody, I will simply say those words. This entire issue could have been crap and it still would have been worth it to get to read that sentence.

Well i gave it a go. Still not my kinda thing. Still not a fan of Roche's artwork for the most part (the weird goblin faces still a thing particularly on Kup) but the gritty colours from Burcharm look great. Just not sure who I was supposed to care about enough in this issue to warrant reading the next.

Great to see my favourite Micromaster get some screen time.

Randomhero wrote:

Doctor McGrath wrote:

Randomhero wrote:It looks nice. Not a fan of the coloring and the continuity is a giant mess. Maybe it takes place before combiner wars? Be terrible especially since that's been almost a year from where we are now. Maybe after this conquers arc? Who knows. Bugs the hell out of me though.

How is it a mess? This takes place after Combiner Wars, directly after the Barber arc we are in now as far as I know. The preview also states it's been 1467 days since Springer was injured so that right there is the exact timeline.

Because Prowl is a wanted Fugitive. Issue 42 ended with him escaping custody being taken by Rattrap. Issue 44 revealed he is a wanted fugitive with no allies and with Wanted posters everywhere. Arcee was even filled in with what he did during Combiner Wars and Prowl is not in this current story at all. This comic shows that Prowl was on the Ark-27 and just disappeared from his quarters. 1. hes not with the Earth Autobots right now because hes a wanted fugitive everywhere and 2. The Ark is demolished right now. it is beat to hell and here, its fine. I even asked Nick personally on facebook "when does this take place?" he was kind enough to reply back to me but all he said "the current timeline of IDW" i responded back my points. "but Prowl is a wanted fugitive at the moment. he has no allies with any Autobots, especially Arcee and Kup because they know he went too far in Combiner Hunters" sadly nick did not reply to that.

Honestly? I dont think Nick knew what was going on with Prowl in John's book when he started Sins of the Wreckers. I'm not saying this is all nicks fault because thats something the editor should inform him on. Prowl is a huge character in this series, its essentially about him being missing but we know where he is and he wasnt captured. he escaped custody by Rattrap.

some have tried to justify this saying 'obviously Arcee snuck him back to Earth and he joined back up" no, thats a scene that would require being shown in John's Transformers book especially with Autbots like Kup, Jazz and Sideswipe on Ark-27 who are mroe loyal to Optimus than Arcee. Prowl is an important character to what John Barber has been doing and thats a cop-out to try explain whats going on and I have more respect for IDW and the people creating these books to do something that unprofessional. thats the equivalent of skipping Brainstorm's trial after Elegant Chaos and him just appearing as part of the crew again. Everyone would be screaming "What the is he doing hanging out with everyone again"

They didn't say Prowl disappeared from his quarters. They said they had his signal on the screen for a moment and then it disappeared. They went into his quarters to look for any sort of indication why.

I thought this issue was good, but it just missed a certain something. I wasn't expecting it to blow me out of the water like Last Stand did, but I was still expecting something more. I think it's probably because Last Stand was quite a high octane, thrill ride for the most part, whereas this issue seemed a lot more...subdued.

I think a massive factor is the lack of a charismatic villain. From the get-go Overlord was large and in charge, he oozed charisma and made for a brilliant pantomime villain. This time round we have a mysterious villain lurking in the shadows. I guess we'll just have to wait and see how it pans out.

I didn't actually like the way it jumped quickly from being on Debris with Guzzle locked in the box and Springer disappearing from the life support unit, to suddenly seeing all of them on Earth assembled and ready to kick the proverbial. Thought it jumped too quickly, but I assume the next issue will show what happened in between.

The positives - it was great seeing Roadbuster again, I've missed him. I liked the
introduction of Stakeout, dropkicking the bear, that was a good touch. Arcee seems to be in everything these days, but I do like her, and I hope Roche is going to open up a bit more of her character.


I like the art style, I was a big fan of Roche's work in Spotlight: Kup as it really brought out the dark, gritty feel of the story. I feel that it'll play a part in this story, as it certainly looks to be a darker story than Last Stand. The inks and colours suited the visceral tone of Last Stand and after reading the first issue of Sins I totally get why it's been done the way it has been.

Overall I liked this issue, but the writing was a bit janky and jerky. I'm fully aware of the previous series, but even I was left thinking "Whoa, where are we now?".