Transformers: Shattered Glass

On April 9, 2021, during Hasbro Pulse Fan Fest 2021, IDW Publishing announced a five-issue comic book series based on the Transformers: Shattered Glass brand, with new toys based on Blurr,[1] Megatron,[4] Starscream,[5] Goldbug[6] and Jetfire.[7] The series is written by Danny Lore, and was set for release in August 25, 2021.[2]

Lore said, "As a writer, I love exploring characterization, what the core elements are that make someone who and what they are. Creating these Shattered Glass versions of childhood favorites is like building the perfect Combiner for me: what are the nuts and bolts that we can swap out while still making them recognizable?"[2]

IDW assistant editor Riley Farmer also said, "Our wonderful partners at Hasbro made a huge splash with their recent announcement of new Megatron and Blurr action figures packaged with our Shattered Glass comics, and we’re proud to bring that story content -- and specifically three cover variants exclusively available to the comics retail channels -- to the wide audience of monthly comics readers".[2]

The series concluded on December 22, 2021, after five issues.[8]

In a parallel universe, the Autobots are tyrants that drove Cybertron and Earth into ruins. After most of the Decepticons are killed, Ratchet hires the bounty hunter Blurr to hunt down Starscream. While being chased by Chromedome and Hardhead, Starscream is saved by Blurr, who pretends to help him in order to capture him. After leaving the Gold City to the Static Zone's Chrome Ridge, Starscream manages to trick and injure Blurr enough to let him be surrounded by a volcano's lava. Starscream then continues his search for Megatron, the Decepticons' fallen leader.[9]

While traveling to the Sea of Rust, Starscream finds Megatron, but he faints in the process, leading Megatron to take him to his shelter. During that time, the two discuss the past events that lead them to found the Decepticons: the satiety they felt after enduring the Autobots' abuse over them, as well as the torture they made on former Senator Shockwave. Megatron alse remembers the many times Orion Pax/Optimus Prime, the Autobots' leader, got him out of jail after several protests, hoping for him to join the Autobots, to no avail. Starscream asks Megatron to regain leadership, but the latter refuses, feeling guilty of the destruction that Optimus caused on Earth in his search for rare energon. After being left for dead, Megatron barely survives and repairs a ship to return to Cybertron. In spite of all these events, Starscream still believes in Megatron, as he also remembers the day he sacrificed himself against the Autobots so many Decepticons could depart from Earth in order to regroup. Now reunited, Starscream shows Megatron a way they could defeat the Autobots and liberate Cybetron and Earth, by awakening the Titans.[10]

Starscream takes Megatron to the Decepticon Radio, a secret base within Gold City, where Soundwave tries to locate other Decepticons. Starscream remembers the time he and his former best friend Ratchet found the Titan Metroplex while being academic researchers. When Starscream joined the Decepticons, he cut ties with Jetfire and uploaded the communication code that he created on himself. Inside a bar, Megatron and Starscream have a fight with the party of Blaster, an Autobot spy, but Megatron buys time so Starscream can find Metroplex and upload the code, connecting himself with Metroplex. During the process, he gets captured by Jetfire and Bumblebee/Goldbug.[11]

Goldbug was an Autobot desperate to earn his place as Optimus Prime's second-in-command, but when Megatron shot him to save Starscream, his body barely survived, but he was reconstructed with a new body. When Skywarp searches for Starcream, Goldbug kills him and takes his head, but Slicer tells him there are Insecticons on the way. As Goldbug kills them too, he decides to kill Starscream himself, despite Jetfire's protests.[12]

As more Decepticons led by Megatron attack the fortress, Goldbug destroys Starscream's body and takes his spark, causing Jetfire to have enough of the Autobots and Decepticons. He then remembers the reason why Starscream always spared him during his battles. Jetfire reluctantly joins forces with Megatron to pursue Goldbug and take back Starscream's spark. Meanwhile, Slicer, who has been a spy of Ultra Magnus the whole time, reports to him about the current situation of Cybertron, with Magnus having his own plans to control the planet.[13]