That cover. So awesome.

 

I think a character dying would carry so much more weight if it wasn't advertised.

 

Love this series! Can't wait.

 

You could say he's had it since Animated and Prime. Both series have kinda shrunk the headcrest. And MTMTE's style has a hint of Prime to it (though only a hint).

 

Yes, I have an irrational reaction to Ratchet being harmed too, and while it's possible, I came to the same conclusion as you here.

The example that springs to my mind is the All Hail Megatron cover with said Decepticon, and Optimus Prime's head on a pike -effectively - or flagpole. While some may rationalise the cover you mentioned as something that happened 'off camera' but that says more about my need to catch up on the RiD and MTMTE comics. Were a casual fan to spend a little time reading up on a Transfrmers wiki, they'd ffigure out the AHM cover was, how would one put it? Symbolic? Fantastical? Anyway it wasn't in the story and there's a fair chance that's what is happening here.