Cover: Bruticus with Jazz in his fist, need I say more? Okay I will, here we see something that becomes typical of the G1 V3 series from Dreamwave, two or more Transformers either in battle, about to be in battle or just right after a battle. All in all though this is one of the better of these covers.

Story: We open on a royal Starscream introducing himself as the new Decepticon leader (see the Transformers Movie -- Flash Forward Dan) in his mind gloating over it, saying how he wishes Megatron could see him now. We pull back to see that it is in fact Starscream looking at reflections of the future in a lake. There's a loud noise in both the reflection (Galvatron's arrival -- Future Proofed Dan) and on the land. Something very big has arrived, bringing with it, Jazz. Jazz and Starscream threaten each other before Starscream becomes fed up and snapping his fingers gives the command to terminate Jazz. As Jazz is dumped on the ground Starscream comments that Autobots are much more tolerable when deactivated. We switch point of view to see the thing that brought Jazz is in fact Bruticus! Starscream congratulates Bruticus and then wonders which of his presents to open first, Wheeljack, Windcharger, Sunstreaker, Sideswipe or the current leader of the Autobots, Jazz. As he finishes the list of 'Bots Starscream realizes that two are missing! He orders Bruticus to do something! We switch to see Brawn and Ratchet looking very beat up but still mobile. Brawn points out that they might still be able to save the others if they can get to The Ark and alert the supply vessel that Prowl sent from Cybertron, Ratchet points out that that's easier said than done as The Ark's defense system is haywire from a Decepticon attack (presumably happened in G1: War & Peace -- Memory Bank Dan) and it's not differentiating between friend or foe. As Brawn makes a smokescreen cover, Ratchet gets past the guns by transforming and landing behind them out of their range. Brawn however was not so lucky and is staring point blank into one of the gun barrels, Ratchet tells him not to move, that the guns use thermal sensors as well as motion detectors. Brawn reminds him that he knows as he helped put them together. Ratchet tells him to stay still he may have a trick up his sleeve, but Brawn accidentally cracks a branch triggering the gun activation! Switch to Cybertron we see an Autobot on fire. We see the Battlechargers Runabout and Runamuck in what looks like a lab. Runabout (the black Battlecharger -- ID Agent Dan) tells Runamuck that there'll be plenty of time for fun once they objective at hand is completed. Runamuck goes on to wonder what someone was doing in the lab. While Runabout checks the mainframe he sends Runamuck to check the rest of the complex. Runamuck enters another chamber and is startled to see what looks like Ultra Magnus in a stasis pod! As Runamuck continues he sees other pods with what look like Hot Rod, Soundwave, and Perceptor. At the back we see a glowing pod! As Runamuck wonders what's going on a fist smashes the glowing pod from the inside and grabs the Battlecharger by the throat. Outside Runabout is looking at the computer wondering what was going on when he begins to feel weak, a voice from behind him tells him it's time to surrender and accept his fate. A glowing and sparking hand reaches for Runabout... Next we see Runabout's body laying very still, his head a smoldering ruin. The other being prays to the Ancient Oracle for guidance and wisdom to further his crusade and the power to vanquish his enemies. The being then becomes a ball of glowing yellow energy and shoots off into the sky. Switch to Earth, outside The Ark, and Starscream gives the order for Bruticus to attack, but he wants the Autobots, his Decepticon comrades and most importantly the ship intact. Inside The Ark we find out that Ratchet saved Brawn by covering them both in coolant to mask their heat signatures. As they proceed they pass a cell, in which we can see at least 4 Decepticons, two of the jets, Soundwave and Frenzy (because it's Ribfir Rumble is blue, Frenzy is red -- Color Co-ordinating Dan). As the 'Bots are riding an elevator upwards they hear a loud noise and rush to Trletran-1 to warn the others and hopefully find some way to stop Bruticus who is shown on the screen as he smashes the defense guns. Bruticus rips open The Ark and the bars to the cell and orders the Decepticons inside to get up and out. Switch to the Autobot supply vessel Orion commanded by the Autobot Bumblebee with a bridge crew of Cliffjumper, Powerglide, Seaspray, Cosmos and another Autobot who looks similar to Bumblebee. On the screen Brawn is telling Bumblebee what's happened. As Bumblebee tells Brawn to hang in there the signal dies. He orders Cliffjumper and Powerglide to engage hyperthrusters and Bumper (the unknown Autobot crewmember -- ID Agent Dan) to tell Warpath to prepare the others for battle. Switch to The Ark and we see why the signal cut out, there's a huge chunk of metal plate embedded in Teletran-1! As Ratchet goes to kick off plan B Brawn distracts Bruticus by throwing the chunk of metal plate back at him, smashing his right eye. We see Ratchet initiating The Ark's self destruct system and then both 'Bots getting the slag out of there. They do, just in time. But as they pick themselves up they see a shape emerging from the flames, but before they can do anything two blasts knock them out. Starscream reprimands Bruticus, saying he wanted the ship intact, but Bruticus is badly damaged and falls apart into his component pieces, Starscream complains that now they'll never make it back to the Nemesis (the Decepticon ship that crashed with The Ark -- Registrar Don). Switch to lunar orbit and the Orion exiting transwarp. Powerglide reports that they've got company, a small object moving extremely fast and straight for them! Suddenly a ball of shooting light flashes past the Orion, heading for Earth. We close in on the ball of energy and see at it's core a jet. The being thinks about pain and how it maintains his humility and keeps his spark (ghost or spirit -- Medium Dan) focused. He noted that the minor pain he's feeling will be nothing compared to what those who will stand against him will feel. While he's been thinking this the jet has transformed into his robotic form, a form that looks a lot like Starscream's ... To Be Continued...

Graphics: Oh my frakin' gawd these are amazing, I swear these are the best comic graphics ever seen on the face of the planet. You can almost feel the heat as The Ark explodes, the pain of the Starscream look-a-like at the end, it's amazing!

Bonuses: Nothing really this time, unless you count eh full page ads throughout the comic, but for this review, we won't be counting them.

Readers Letters: None this time, although we do have a Dreamwave Students Artist Search winner announcement and a small copy of the winning entry.

Scores

Cover 10/10
Story 10/10
Graphics 10/10
Bonuses 0/10
Readers Letters 1/10

Average Score: 6.2/10
Overall Score: 10/10