Cover: The James Raiz cover I have features in the foreground Verity, Hunter and Jimmy (the mechanich who was working on Ratchet (see last issue -- Damage Control Dan)) being attacked by Thundercracker. Behind them are three Transformers, first is an unknown Decepticon, then Prowl and lastly in the very back is Starscream. Overall a good cover, teh bots are well crafted, if somewhat different from their normal looks, the humans are good, and look real.

Story: Picking up right where issue 1 left off we find Verity, Hunter, Jimmy and Ratchet's hologram in a garage that's been ripped open by the Battlechargers, Runabout and Runamuck, who want the palm computer stolen by Verity. Smiling Ratchet's hologram hands over what looks like the palm computer, but it's a trap, and knocks Runabout out cold, and fries Ratchet's holo-matter generators. Ratchet, deciding the time for subterfuge is over transforms and stops the collapsing garage from crushing the humans. As Runamuck pulls his gun and takes aim Ratchet uses a built in blaster to blind him long enought to get the three humans into him and drive out of there. Switch to the desert, the sherifs have found a dead body. As they turn it over we see it's teh man Verity stole the palm computer from. One of the officers radios in telling someone that the guy they're after is there, deader than General Custer. We see the people he's talking to in a boardroom type arrangement dominated by a large M that looks almost curcit like. Back to Ratchet and the humans, Ratchet explains that the reason the man was killed and they're being hunted is because the man had managed something the Autobots hadn't been able to. Suddenly Thundercracker flies overhead, his sonic boom causing havoc with other cars, fortunately Ratchet engaged his mufflers. Following hot on their heels again are the two Battlechargers smashing cars to get to them. Ratchet tells the humans that this is bad, the Decepticons operate in complete secrecy, by acting so openly the palm computer must be more valuable than they all thought. Somewhere in Oregon Starscream is told by Blitzwing that they can begin, Starscream believing that destiny is within his grasp. The humans and Ratchet manage to avoid the Battlechargers, and are safe, or mostly safe, when Verity panics and demands to be let out. Jimmy follows her to talk and is almost knocked off a cliff by a black cabed grey trailered truck while Ratchet and Hunter talk. Then Verity and Jimmy race to them and say they need to go. Now. Thundercracker's found them and launches a missile which thanks to Ratchet's speed misses them, barely. As they race on we see three vehicles approaching them from the desert, a red van, a ploice car and a yellow sports car. With mechanichal noises gun mounts raise out of compartments in the vehicles and fire at Thundercracker, damaging his wing and sending him running. As Ironhide, Prowl, and Sunstreaker transform they list the charges Ratchet is facing including 7 counts of misconduct and disobeying a superior officer, Prowl asks if Ratchet would like to say anything. Ratchet answers "Two words... Seige Mode" at those words Prowls fase turns to one of shock. The last frame shows us a shot from the palm computer, a huge Decepticon instalation build into the side of a mountain ... To Be Continued...

Graphics: Okay, honestly, I think I'm falling in love with these graphics, they're smoothed out a little, but still amazing. The mecha graphics are spot on with what you'd expect, and the colors are bright and shiny. Which is where the only downside so far comes in, the blemishes on the Transformer "skin" are not as well detailed as they could be.

Bonuses: As with issue 1 there's a 2 page black and white sketch preview of the next issue alog with a blurb about it, including Ratchet's plan that involves a certain Autobot called Optimus Prime! The other bonus is a three page preview of Transformers Beast Wars issue 1 which shows a Predacon commander giving a signal to activate a beacon that triggers the activation sequences on many stasis pods, giving rise to at least 4 Predacons... Or did it...

Readers Letters: Here once again we're presented with a good cross-section of views on The Transformers from IDW, and a 4 panel "Coming Next Month" bit with Transforemers #3, Transformers: Beast Wars #2, Transformers: Generations #1 and Transformers: Generation 1 Volume 2 TPB.

Scores

Cover 8/10
Story 10/10
Graphics 9/10
Bonuses 6/10
Readers Letters 8/10

Average Score: 8.2/10
Overall Score: 9/10