Can it be? Is that the final countdown I hear, as Regeneration One ticks towards its 100th — and final — anniversary issue? Oh yes, issue #97 (and part 2 of the final story arc of the series that kick-started everything TRANSFORMERS is today) hits the stands this week (Wednesday December 18th). The War to End All Wars continues, as the mysterious (and long-absent) Senator Jhiaxus makes his presence felt. And how! If you’d prefer to have no more tantalising teasers (and the odd spoiler) thrown your way, then cease and desist now. If you’d like your appetite whetted even further, read on. Okay, so we all know Rodimus Prime has a bunch of stuff he needs to fix (as revealed in our revelatory issue #0), and chief among them is a certain Cybertronian senator who not only deleted himself from Cybertronian history & everyone’s memory but also stole vital secrets (of life and death no less) from the Underbase mainframe. Phew, and now he’s back. But does he come as friend or foe? How does Rodimus Prime deal with a force committed to the grounding Cybertronian principle of Universal Order? Is there other stuff going on too? Of course… and, as usual, Grimlock and the Dinobots are in the thick of things. Since they rose from the underground depths of Cybertron, no one’s quite known what to do with the planet’s primordial ancestors. Well, the new Cybertronians of Jhiaxus’s second generation empire do. And the only thing standing between them and a total purge of these ancestors are the Dinobots! Oh yes, and there’ s the return of a certain… well, why spoil everything? Go see for yourself. You’ll be happy you did. Full preview for the issue can had here.
simon furman 
Just try and wrap all this up in three more issues. I dare you!
Okay. Aaaand… Done.
Bring it on!
A quick question Simon, is Fortress Maximus and Spike Whitwicky actually going to meet before the series end?
Yup. In the very next issue. Oooo.
Ed, #100 is double sized so there’s like four issues left.
It’s nice to see so many classic G1 veterans in the thick of things. Bumblebee and Nightbeat look like crucial characters in the whole story. Splendid!
Demons who were so powerful and dangerous in Marvel run look now like the victims who should be protected by Dinobots who almost die in their hands about 20 issues ago. Interesting turn of events.
Jhiaxus is huge as hell and his birds of prey are really tough. I want them to be destroyed which means, that they are well drawn bad guys 🙂 Great job, Simon!
I have so many questions, but I’ll try to keep it short…
1. Is there still more to “there’s a reason Rodimus looks like Primus” then simply he’s the chosen one?
2. Starscream looks to be getting the underbase etching he had back in issue 50. Did Jhiaxus recreate it in some form?
3. Are we going to learn more about how Jhiaxus created his army and what “incorporation” really entails?
Awesome work Simon. After seeing the solicitations for 100 I can’t wait for March.
Wow. Pondering your second question led me to comprehend the last page of the issue.
As we know, Starscream absorbed the Underbase in issue #50.
“He is of us. One of the five.”
Jhiaxus was one of the five greatest minds chosen to pool their wisdom into the Underbase. Based on the glowing circuitry you perceptively noticed, Starscream has the other four inside him from the Underbase. Sounds like revenge is about to be served!
When reading it, I didn’t put together that the other “4” were absorbed by starscream, but the dialogue makes so much more sense now. I guess my question now would be how much of starscream is in control vs the remnants of the underbase. Is this more of a possession or does he still have control?
5 just as in “Final Five”: it could be a nod to Battlestar Galactica. It wouldn’t be the first: when Ratchet first described the Decepticon Facsimiles in Infiltration, the words he used seemed carefully chosen to hint at the human-looking Cylons of BSG!
1. Or simply he’s a more direct line of descent from the creator. There’s a little more on this in #100.
2. Nope. But you’ll understand more by the end of #99.
3. Wait and see.
so what is this,rodimus is the chosen prime just because he looks like primus?so optimus is out because he doesn`t look like primus?optimus is the best,rodimus sucks,at best rodimus can be a soldier not a leader,in issue #79 hot rod didn`t even bother to look for the last autobot,he took off with the rest,optimus found the last autobot,so who`s the responsible one?
Eugenesis plaza? Anything to do with Eugenics? Or am I looking to deeply into a word/name?
Is Optimus going to die again? If so (not to be rude) but the whole Optimus Prime must die in every incarnation of Transformers (for the last 30 years) has gotten REALLY old. I hope you do something a little more satisfying with him than what everyone else has done ad nauseum.
Also, you have said that a happy ending is not in store. This worries me. I am not looking for a Disney ending and lord knows I don’t want that, but I also don’t want something so miserable and depressing that it completely sours me on the series (including Marvel US and Marvel UK) as a whole. I have encountered that in many movie sequels. The Alien franchise, Jaws, Star Wars, Indiana Jones etcetera. These “sequels” don’t diminish the originals, but they sure a heck sour me on the concept. I am just hoping that you don’t go that route here. We are all human. So, no one is infallible when it comes to something that they are usually good at.
Sorry, I don’t mean to be a downer, but I am readily admitting my concern over something that has always meant a lot to me-a heck of a lot more than the 1984 animated series. THIS always was (for me) THE definitive version of The Transformers. While some of the others were good and entertaining- that’s all that they were to me. This IS The Transformers.
Eugenesis plaza likely refers to James Roberts Transformers fan fiction novel Eugenesis 😉
I like my interpretation better.
It kind of depends what you term a happy ending. It’s not all doom and gloom, there’s definitely an upbeat side to what happens. But neither is it exactly a bundle of joy and cute puppies either. It involves a very BIG sacrifice.
Optimus Prime die? I wouldn’t… not again… would I?
I hope not
Heya Simon! 3 to go. This looks to be one hell of a last ride out. The art is amazing. Story-phenomenal. Just a few questions this time around.
1. Can you give us an issue # for Scorponok’s return?
2. Last we saw Magnus, he was interrogationg Unicron Acolytes.
Will it be revealed what happened between then and when we see him encounter the Jhiaxus guys?
3. Will Galvatron have any kills before its all over? I don’t think he has taken out anyone yet and I was kind of hoping he would get some kind of retribution.
4. You said before that Bludgeon won’t fight again but will we see him again at all?
5. Will Soundwave be able to fight again?
I think that’s it for this month. After seeing the cover for 100, I don’t know what to think, but it saddens me that Prime may die.
Another one down. Great work, man.
1. Mmm. May not happen. Sorry. So much else to fit in.
2. Yep. More on Magnus. More on Unicron acolytes.
3. Galvatron gets a good old rampage in #100. Count on it.
4. No.
5. Soundwave’s kind of out of the rest of RG1. Sorry.
Another fantastic issue!! Still can’t believe that there are only 3 issues to go until the finale, I never thought it would get here 😦
Also the cover to issue 100 looks we are gonna have a big battle between Rodimus Prime and several versions of Optimus Prime!! Can not wait!
Just had an idea ? Wonder if Spike’s immortality is his contribution to the impending disaster ?
Humans have a finite life span and maybe his continued presence is upsetting Universal laws .
Jhiaxus has also been tampering with life and death , perhaps in the process , he unbalanced something ?
Perceptor’s observation to Scorponok about forced conformity running contrary to the Universe and having unforseen consequences , rings true .
Guess we will see ?
Thanks for a job well done .
I wonder if with Spike we’re supposed to make the connection with Chromedome and Stylor. Spike was never properly brought back from the binary bonding. He’s alive, Fort Max died, now Fort Max is alive again. My guess is that it has something to do with that.
You maybe right . Thanks Tim 😉
Reblogged this on wildwords and commented:
Simon Furman’s ‘Script Wrap’ for the the latest Transformers issue. Miss it and miss out on the build up to the end of the end.
Lookin’ forward to seeing your art for issue 100. You’ve been missed.
Me too! Messrs. Guidi and Baskerville have carried on a similar style beautifully, but I hope you’re still coming back for #100?
Any complaints that the Autobots were winning too many of the skirmishes can well and truly be put to rest.
If anything Jhiaxus and his navy seem even more powerful and foreboding than they did back in Generation 2 – incidentally, this is imo by FAR the most powerful incarnation of Jhiaxus himself making him a strong contender for the most powerful Decepticon ever to grace the pages of Mavel continuity TF.
Whilst on the subject of the 2nd gen cons (aka Primum Fugae), their attempted slaughter of the primal Cybertronians was utterly sickening. I hope either Starscream or Galvatron have a hand in their demise because they are the only two I can think of offhand who are sadistic enough to dish out an appropriate form of retribution.
Will OP ever get a break?! No sooner has he absolved himself of being the Prime Autobot than it looks like he’s gonna have to tackle a matrix-maddened, factory sealed Fort Max – and in his current condition, I don’t like his chances one iota. Then again he is still Optimus Prime so I guess you can’t count him out of any potential showdown either.
Overall another classic issue, incredible art and superb drama throughout. This is THE best run of TF I have ever enjoyed and once again, a big thanks Simon for making it a reality.
One question if I may; is there any chance that Regeneration One will become available in one single volume after issue 100 has finished retailing?
I don’t know what IDW’s plans are after publishing the final TPB. Hope we get some (or one) nice hardcover editions.
Why does ReGeneration have to be the Transformers Comic that is drawing to a close? Not knocking the other comics out there currently. But It’s ReGeneration where I truely feel like I am reading an ACTUAL Transformers story!
I feel the same. The last few few issues have felt like the old comic at its best. Now that it’s back, I don’t want it to go away again so soon. But perhaps it’s best to go out on a high.
I am curious if the 5 prima fugae are actually members of previously mech-formed planets that were judged worthy to live by Jhiaxus…instead of being created by him. I always thought that the only thing that can grant life is the matrix b/c it was the essence of Primus, while the Underbase may have details about creating life, but would not allow you to do so by itself…
I had the same thought, plus the way the word ‘incorporated’ kept being used.
I really don’t want to see this series go. It has been the BEST TF writing for me ever. Simon is like a great wine, he gets better with age.
I expect the title for #100 to be “End of the Road” and the final words to be “It never ends.”
Hi Simon!
I’m curios what your opinon is on this topic:
http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/comics-16/mairghread-scott-comments-on-idw-windblade-comic-178990/
🙂
She’s entitled to her opinion. It’s just a shame she lacks the professional courtesy not to air it all over the internet.
At least you saw the mess it caused anyways… Too many problems with this article from a storytelling pov, from a marketing pov and as you said, from a collegiality pov as well imo.
BTW, changing a bit of subject here for something nicer, do you read other writers’ TF comics in general?
Hello simon I`m back to give you more hard questions,#1.why is nebulos helping out the transformers when they made it clear before that they didn`t want anymore transformers on their planet?#2.why would the autobots and decepticons leave their original heads on nebulos with all the hate towards them from the inhabitants?plus the heads would have been useless by now anyway since their essence was already merged with their nebulan partners.#3.whatever happened to the poisoned fuel deal on nebulos that would have killed transformer life?#4.is the liege maximo in this comic?and last but not least#5. are you planning to off optimus prime again?remember he knows where you live.
There’s been a gradual thawing of attitudes between Cybertron and Nebulos, hinted at back in #82 (just with loads of restrictions). But post-Scorponok, they needed help from Cybertron. And that in turn led to a final truce, returning of heads, etc. It’s all a bit like the end of the Cold War and dismantling of nuclear stockpiles.
I enjoyed this issue as usual: the confrontation between Rodimus Prime and Jhiaxus is as epic as metaphors go (G1 meets G2)!
The fact that an evil (?) Fortress Maximus is ready to go back in action can only promise even more titanic confrontations in the future. Poor Decepticons: they are so leaderless that no one cares about them now!
A side note about the hyper-advanced Space Bridge tech that Jhiaxus is employing: we already saw something like that is G1 Marvel US #54 (albeit that transportation device is called “Trans-Dimensional Warp” in that issue).
I thought about that . That was the same device that sent Grimlock , Jazz , Bumblebee and Bludgeon and co to the Primus chamber .
I figure Rodimus was just pretending to be impressed with it to appease Jhiaxus’s ego and loosen his tongue .
That meeting was for gathering intelligence and maybe was fishing for info on their technological capabilities in case of war ?
hey simon where you at to answer all our crazy questions for us to speculate some more on what`s going to happen on this comic?
Yeah, been busy. A small matter of writing #100. Boy, that was a biggie. So… so much to pull together.
Can’t wait to see how it all turns out but a small part of me doesn’t ever want this series to end. What are all of us Regeneration One fans supposed to do??
a question about issue 80 was that ravage or weirdwolf getting blasted by grimlock at the end can’t tell.
Weirdwolf.