The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots

Me Grimlock coming for you!

The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots is a 5-issue miniseries published by IDW Publishing, set in the 2005 IDW continuity. The miniseries was originally published from December 2008 to April 2009. It features Scorponok, his Machination organization and Headmaster army, Sunstreaker/Hunter, Hot Rod, Skywatch, Shockwave, Soundwave, and the Dynobots.

Maximum Dinobots is written by Simon Furman and penciled by Nick Roche (with help from James Raiz). Colors were handled by Josh Burcham and Joana Lafuente.

Overview

Scorponok manipulates Grimlock and the Dynobots to cause chaos in Fallon, Nevada so that he can send in his Headmasters to save the day. He hopes this would give his company the government contracts to protect against extraterrestrial attacks, and eventually worm his way into the secret levels of society, thus allowing him to take control of Earth.

Hot Rod tracks him down and he is beaten to a pulp for his efforts. Sunstreaker and Hunter are also after the Machination to recover Sunstreaker's real head, which would also stop the Headmaster army. Scorponok gives the Dynobots too much mental control and they recover their personalities, but the group is overwhelmed by the Headmaster army until help arrives from the Monsterbots, whom Grimlock contacted earlier.

Skywatch activates Shockwave and, using a bomb implanted in his head, coerces him to hunt down the renegade Transformers. Shockwave doublecrosses them however, tracks down Soundwave and makes a deal to free them both from their respective "prisons". The Dynobots, badly injured, have the Monsterbots take them to Scorponok's base, where a prideful Grimlock leads an attack on the Sunstreaker clones. Sunstreaker himself meets up with Hot Rod, and breaks in, searching for his head. Scorponok damages his new body, but Hunter escapes, and seemingly sacrifices Sunstreaker to deactivate the clones. The Dynobots are attacked by both Shockwave and Scorponok. Sludge is deactivated.

Grimlock is overcome with grief, and orders the other Dynobots to pull out without him. As he tries to revive Sludge, Scorponok and Shockwave battle. Shockwave emerges the victor and allows Scorponok to escape. An enraged Grimlock attacks Shockwave. Sludge revives and the Dynobots return. Grimlock sends them after Scorponok. They meet up with Hot Rod and disable Scorponok. Shockwave is freed from Skywatch's control by Soundwave, who is in turn released from his transformation lock. Shockwave attempts to abandon the battle, but Grimlock disables both himself and Shockwave with a grenade. Ultra Magnus arrives on the scene, taking Grimlock and the Decepticons into custody. Sunstreaker survives, and Hunter is separated from him by Ratchet. Verity and Jimmy are revealed to be alive and well. The Dynobots repair their ship and Grimlock makes a deal for their continued freedom.

At least, for now...

Notes

• Originally, the series was intended to be issues #27–31 in the IDW overarching "sub-numbering", filling more than half of the previously confirmed eight-issue gap between the four Revelation Spotlights and All Hail Megatron. However, Simon Furman later threw doubt on this plan,^[1] and Chris Ryall eventually confirmed its abandonment.^[2] The numeration of the TPB now remain the only indication of an actual reading order of the different arcs. Though Revelation was numbered with the other Spotlights, both it and Maximum Dinobots spin directly out of Devastation.
• The series nicely wraps up most of the outstanding plots created by Simon Furman. In 2010 he said that while he'd had to condense the Dead Universe plots, all the Dinobot and Machination stories got to be handled more or less how he'd intended thanks to Maximum.^[3]
• Other than an issue of All Hail Megatron Coda, this series represents Simon Furman's last work for the IDW G1 Universe he created. Maybe it really is OVER, FINISHED?
• Shane McCarthy has said he heard of Maximum when he was writing #9 of All Hail Megatron, and believes Simon was writing this mini-series with the plot of All Hail Megatron in mind.^[4] This did mean Hunter ends up with a nasty fate in All Hail around the same time Maximum Dinobots is coming out!
• The Monsterbots finally got some action. About time.
• Nick Roche's designs for the Dinobots are so anatomically accurate that Klobiodon rochei was named after him.^[5]

Collections

• The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots (July 8, 2009) ISBN 1600104789 / ISBN 978-1600104787
  • Collects Maximum Dinobots issues #1–5.
  • Bonus material includes covers from each issue, art of the Dynobots and a Dynobots size comparison page.
  • Trade paperback format.

• The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Four (May 25, 2011) ISBN 978-1600109386
  • Collects Spotlight: Cyclonus, Hardhead, Doubledealer, Sideswipe, Drift, Metroplex & Jazz, Maximum Dinobots issues #1–5, and Drift issues #1–4.
  • Hardcover format.

• Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 40: Maximum Dinobots (September 6, 2017)
  • Collects Maximum Dinobots issues #1–5, and Spotlight: Grimlock & Wheelie.
  • Bonus material includes Dinobot sketches by Nick Roche and Klaus Scherwinski's Spotlight: Wheelie sketchbook.
  • Hardcover format.

• 

  Maximum Dinobots – cover art by Marcelo Matere and Priscilla Tramontano

• 

  The IDW Collection Volume Four – cover art by E. J. Su

• 

  The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 40: Maximum Dinobots – cover art by Don Figueroa and Nick Roche

References