Hearts of Steel issue 2

Written By: Chuck Dixon Pencils By: Guido Guidi Inks By: Aaron Leach Additional Art By: Antonio Vasquez, Luis Czerniawski, and Sulaco Studios Covers By: Guido Guidi Edits By: Chris Ryall, Dan Taylor Colors By: Jay Fotos Letters By: Robbie Robbins Additional Colors By: Josh Burcham Design By: Josh Burcham Collection Edits By: Justin Eisinger


 * Original release date: ???
 * Preceded by: Hearts of Steel, Part 1
 * Followed by: Hearts of Steel, Part 3
 * Major Characters (in order of appearance): Bumblebee, John Henry, Mister Vanflint, Shockwave, Tobias Muldoon, Starscream, Octane, Kickback, Bombshell, Shrapnel, Ratchet, Prowl, Skywarp, Kitty Merriweather, Stanford Merriweather.

Synopsis
Somwhere along the Denver-Cheyenne rail line, a strange yellow locomotive (Bumblebee in his new altmode) is driving spikes using a built-in, fully automated steam hammer. John Henry's crew, Brawley and Cletus, are favorably impressed, but Henry considers it a "smelly pile of bolts", and worries about man serving machine, rather than the other way around. Meanwhile, the overseer of the rail-laying project, Mister Vanflint, orders his assistant Smythe to find out where the yellow locomotive came from; he wants to order a dozen more. (Presumably so he can then fire John Henry and the rest of the human workers.)

Meanwhile, Shockwave has conveyed Tobias Muldoon to the Decepticons' base on the bottom of San Francisco Bay. Muldoon is astounded and impressed. Starscream and Octane politely interrogate Muldoon, and offer to help him bring a new technological golden age to Earth, by combining Muldoon's imagination with their science. Muldoon is flabbergasted by this opportunity, but points out that this will require a lot of money. Starscream asks him to explain further. (At this point, of the Decepticons, only Shockwave has adopted a mechanical altmode; the others are still wearing their "Ice Age Wars" bodies.)

That night, Henry inspects the little yellow locomotive, and muses aloud about how steel will never replace muscle. Bumblebee transforms to robot mode, and reassures him that he is not here to replace humanity, but to help. Henry realizes Bumblebee is a person, not a device, and replies that he can respect anyone who wants to do an honest day's work. They shake hands.

Elsewhere, a train is carrying a shipment of cash and bullion from the Federal mint in Denver to Sacramento, guarded by soldiers. It is rammed by a bizarre locomotive bearing a variant Decepticon symbol. It breaks apart into the Insecticons: Kickback, Bombshell, and Shrapnel. (In the concept art in the trade paperback collection, the combined "battle train mode" of the Insecticons is called "Insectrain", but this name does not appear in the comic itself. Whether Insectrain is a true gestalt combiner like Devastator, or just three robots in a train, is unknown.)  The Insecticons proceed to rob the train, commenting that they are working under Starscream's orders, and knew of the shipment through decoded telegraph messages.

The next morning, Muldoon and the Decepticons are picking out a site for their new factory, somwhere in the desert. Muldoon complains that the chosen location is remote; Starscream emphasizes the need for secrecy. The Insecticons arrive (burrowing up from underground), and present Muldoon with the purloined cash. Starscream evades telling Muldoon where they got it from. (Most of the Decepticons are still wearing their "Ice Age Wars" bodies at this point.)

Sometime later (presumably weeks), the first shipment of goods is delivered to the Decepticon railhead, a single shack in the middle of nowhere. The deliverymen find the situation odd.

Back at John Henry's crew, Brawley and Cletus read the news of the train robbery, and are amused by the soldier's reports of transforming locomotives. Henry pretends to think it's "booshwah", but (off-screen) tells Bumblebee about it. Bumblebee brings the news to Ratchet, Prowl, and the rest of the Autobots. (Bumblebee is still the only one to have taken a vehicle altmode.) They decide not to wake Optimus Prime, but agree that, if the Decepticons are active, something must be done.

Sometime later (again, presumably weeks), the Decepticon railhead has become a giant factory. (The Decepticons have apparently all switched to vehicle altmodes by this point.) Muldoon overhears Starscream talking to Skywarp about his plans for the subjugation of Earth &mdash; and, of course, the destruction of Megatron. His plans involve riding Astrotrain to New York and seizing control of the "great eklectrical power generator" there. Muldoon flees unnoticed.

A week later, he shows up on Stanford Merriweather's doorstep, bedraggled and bearded. Kitty Merriweather welcomes him in, but her father is about to throw him out, ignoring his tales of a threat to the entire human race. However, Stanford's houseguest, Mark Twain, convinces him to let Muldoon stay and tell his story.

Quotes
"Shake the hand of a hammerin' man, Bumblebee." "Thank you, John Henry."
 * -John Henry and Bumblebee

Errors

 * The timing of events is a bit odd in places. It would presumably take some time for a huge order of lumber and steel to be ordered, packed, and delivered to the Decepticon railhead, but the news of the robbery is only just making it to John Henry's crew, and the Autobots talk to Bumblebee as if he only revealed himself to John Henry recently.

Items of Note

 * This issue was available with three covers.
 * Cover A, Shockwave and Tobias Muldoon.
 * Cover B, Starscream wraparound sketch (one engine per wing).
 * Retailer incentive cover, Starscream wraparound sketch (two engines per wing).