I'm unsure about this one, but the IDW Continuity needs more IA reps and I'd like to start small before I tackle the behemoth that's going to be Prowl's proposal
What's the Work?[]
The Transformers IDW Comics are one of the most widespread Transformers continuties which follow the beggining of the Great War on Cybertron due to the corrupt government and later follow the aftermath of all the loss. The series explores not only Cybertronian history and the events that lead to the war, as well as the war as a whole and it's many repercussions, but also the aftermath of the war and the rebuilding and recovery of Cybertronian society.
Who Is He?[]
Dai Atlas is a supporting character in the IDW Comics, debuting as a major character in the Drift comics. He is the leader of the religious Circle of Light, an unnafiliated group that left Cybertron during the war and settled on the legendary Crystal City as pacifists who preserve Cybertronian history.
What Makes Him Admirable?[]
- In his youth, Dei Atlas wished to one day find the Knights of Cybertron, who had in legend perfected the planet before leaving to parts unknown. This same dream would be taken up milennia later by Rodimus Prime, Megatron and other members of the Lost Light.
- He was a firm pacifist and became part of Nova Prime's inner circle, even joining him in the discovery of Crystal City and Omega Supreme to usher a new Golden Age on Cybertron, bringing peace for multiple years.
- As Nova began to lose himself and wished to expand Cybertron to space to release others from their own free will and authorized Combiner experimentation so that he could make sure that all are one, Dai was horrified and stood against him, confronting him in person after Crystal City was ravaged in Omega and Monstructor's duel, though Nova simply ignored him and revoked his place in the Ark.
- Omega trusted him enough to disclose only to him the location of one of the last Titans, Mecrotitan, and gave Atlas the warning that he'd one day have to leave Cybertron to preserve the Guiding Hand's teachings, giving him the aid of the Titans for when he needs it.
- After Nova and his Ark vanished, Atlas helped build the new society in Cybertron, becoming a senator in the newly established council and working with the new Prime, Nominus.
- While he was suspicious of Senator Shockwave, this was understandable as he had been an apprentice of Jhiaxus, and after knowing him they grew a genuine friendship over their dislike of functinosim. After Shockwave confided in Dai his worry over Cybertron becoming a metropolis and draining all their resources, they both decided to work together to prevent it.
- After Shockwave went through empurata and was devoid of emotions, Dai contacted Orion Pax to help talk some sense into him, unaware of the Shadowplay done in Shockwave's mind.
- He along with the rest of the council began to meet in order to plan how to handle Megatron's growing Decepticon Movement.
- Instead of joining Zeta Prime's new corrupt senate, Dai renounced his possition in the council and formed his own group called the Circle of Light per Omega's premonition, with the intent of preserving the ancient history of the Transformer race.
- While he did not think Optimus could help in the war against the Decepticons, he nonetheless assisted the Grand Convocation for respect to the Matrix which had chosen Orion.
- When Grimlock and the Dynobots were aprehended, he requested Optimus to hear them out and provide them with a safe passage out of the dying planet as they had requested.
- Believing that Cybertron was lost, he tried to get Optimus to join him in his quest to seek new resources off world.
- Before leaving Cybertron, he gave Optimus his respect for allowing the refugees to leave if they wanted, though the two still parted on bad terms.
- He took the Circle of Light as far away as possible from the war, into the planet Teophany, where he established a brand new Crystal City underground the planet's surface. Dai managed to create a new utopian society built on pacifism for non-affiliated Cybertronians who didn't want to involve themselves in the war. The society also managed to preserve all of Cybertron's history both modern and ancient which had been previously believed to be permanently lost after Cybertron was ravaged completely.
- Per Omega Supreme's request, Dai brought Metroplex with him and built the entire city on top of him, where he remained dormant for thousands of years.
- When Wing brought a lone Decepticon named Deadlock to the city, Dai refused to allow him safe haven knowing the destruction the Decepticons caused to their kind. In spite of his bias, he allowed Deadlock to stay and heal his wounds.
- Though he refused to participate in the battle against the Slavers along with Drift, Wing and the other Knights, he allowed them access to the Weapons Vault.
- After Wing was killed in battle, Dai Atlas finally decided to assist and join in, as he lifted the whole city out of the ground and commanded all the present Cybertronians into battle, turning the ties and defeating the Slavers. Having decided to no longer be hidden, Dai declared that their message would be heard across the galaxy.
- He named Drift a Knight and gifted him Wing's Great Sword, bidding the now reformed Decepticon farewell. He continued to influence Drift in later years, as his belief in the Knights of Cybertron would convince Drift to join Rodimus and the Lost Light on their quest to find them.
- After Star Saber and the legislators destroyed Crystal City and took the populace as prisoners, Dai remained imprisoned until he was discovered by Whirl and Cyclonus, joining the pair to organize a breakout which got Tyrest's attention.
- After Star Saber joined the battle, Dai confronted him for his betrayal. As Star Saber subdued him, Dai remained loyal to his ideas in his final moments until Star Saber killed him by punching through his chest.
- Dai would continue to possitively infuence Drift after his death, as he got face tatoos done to honor Atlas.
What Makes Him Inconsistent?[]
- His lack of support for Optimus after the Matrix chose him caused more problems in the long run as he refused to let Optimus ask the members of the Circle of Light to work as recruiters for the Autobot cause, which dwindled their numbers considerably in comparison to the Decepticons. He even reaffirmed his lack of belief in the young Prime when he was interviewed by Blaster after the exodus began. This also makes him slightly hypocritical as he critizied Optimus for staying to fight for Cybertron instead of leaving the planet, while this was exactly the type of thing that Dei wanted to prevent when the War started. Even worse, after the Autobots did succeed in locating new Energon sources, Atlas insisted that it would not save Cybertron, in spite of the fact that it gave them a chance, making him too corrupting for NPG.
- His pacifism while well meaning has gotten others in trouble quite a bunch of times. When Drift had gotten the Knights of Cybertron to listen to him so they could fight the Slavers off and protect Crystal City, he refused to allow them any access to the weapons vault, and while he ultimately relented, he initially refused to participate in the battle which led to multiple injuries and the death of Wing. Though it's understandable why he refuses to fight again, he was willing to leave all his warriors defenseless and condemn their society to being destroyed by slavers.
- While he couldn't have known the corruption that it would descend into, he still helped establish the new Council on Cybertron, which led by the corrupt Nominus Prime would install a caste system and lead to functionism, all of which were main causes in Megatron's hatred growing and him ultimately forming the Decepticon movement to overthrow the corrupt senate.
Final Verdict[]
Not fully sure but I'd give him a yes