TransReview Note: Sadly we have none of these comics in our possession, so we are presenting you with this summary from Rob's Transformers Page.

As part of Hasbro's launch of the Transformers: Armada toy line, Panini got the rights to develop an Armada comic book for the European market. Unlike the Dreamwave Armada comic book series, the Panini comics were geared towards younger readers, with simple plots and bright, uncomplicated art. Though the comic was cancelled after only nine issues, this series is most notable to longtime fans for having longtime Transformers comic creators Simon Furman and Andrew Wildman as part of its creative team.


#1 - "First Encounter!"

On the war-torn planet of Cybertron, Optimus Prime and his Autobots are under attack by the Decepticons Starscream and Cyclonus. Though Starscream has Hotshot and Red Alert on the run, Prime manages to shoot him down, and the Autobots escape in the confusion.

Hotshot grouses about fleeing from the battle, but Prime reminds him that they're at a disadvantage without any power-boosting Minicons of their own. Most of the Minicons fled Cybertron years ago to parts unknown, and Prime admits it's better for them to be gone than for them to be in Megatron's hands.

On the planet Earth, the humans Rad and Carlos are exploring a cave that Rad found -- one that's filled with strange alien machinery. Outside, the local bullies Fred and Billy collapse the entrance; as Rad and Carlos dodge the cave-in, they bump the alien machines, which instantly sends a cosmic signal across the galaxy to Cybertron.

Outside the cave, a girl named Alexis checks up on Carlos and Rad -- who emerge from the cave with a strange robot in tow! As it is trying to learn their language, Megatron teleports nearby, and announces his intentions to raid the planet and sieze its Minicons. Scanning Rad's nearby bicycle, the robot then transforms into a bicycle itself and rides off with the kids. As Megatron gives chase, Optimus Prime teleports into the area, and the two begin to fight.

The three kids ride into a nearby clearing, where they run into other robots who introduce themselves as Minicons -- Sureshock, Grindor, Sparkplug, Jolt, Longarm, and High Wire. Sureshock explains that they had fled exploitation on Cybertron four million years ago, but during their escape, their ship crash-landed on the Moon, scattering Minicons across the Earth. And though Optimus Prime is getting crushed by Megatron, they won't intervene in the Cybertronian civil war once more...


#2 - "Friends and Foes!"

With his power augmented by the Minicon Leader-1, Megatron quickly defeats Optimus Prime. He then summons the Decepticons to Earth, and they begin their search for other Minicons.

Nearby, Rad tries to convince the Minicons to help Optimus Prime, but they steadfastly refuse to intervene. Rad then marches off to find Megatron, and distracts him from killing Optimus Prime by claiming to know where more Minicons can be found. Curious at first, Megatron soon grows impatient with Rad's stalling tactics, and threatens the human's life.

Rad is suddenly saved by High Wire and the Minicons, who've had a change of conscience. The Minicons hold off Megatron just long enough for Optimus to summon Hotshot and Red Alert; the three Autobots then link up with the Minicons, and quickly drive off the Decepticons.

As the Decepticons head off, Carlos comes up with news about something interesting in the Minicon cave...


#3 - "Deep Trouble!"

Despite Optimus Prime's misgivings, the kids and their Mini-Cons venture underground to investigate the Mini-Con ship. They find the Locator Log, which enables them to track the other Mini-Cons scattered across the Earth. As Carlos finds the log, Demolishor smashes through the cavern wall and quickly blasts High Wire and Sureshock!

Grindor, pinned under a boulder, tells Rad to destroy the log, but Rad has a better idea -- taking the log, he lures Demolishor into a neighboring cavern, which the thundering Decepticon inadvertently causes to collapse on himself! The kids and Mini-Cons escape, but the log has been lost in the cave-in...

#3 - "Just A Memory!"

As Carlos and Alexis leave school, Alexis has the feeling that she's been watched. Rad, meanwhile, has been kept after class along with Billy and Fred to finish an experiment in the science lab, and the two bullies tamper with his chemicals. High Wire, watching from a nearby window, is reminded of a time on Cybertron when he was experimenting on a cleaner way of processing waste fuel. Fearful of a disaster, High Wire drags Billy and Fred out of the room, then disappears with Rad before the other two can get their bearings.

Meanwhile, at a skate park, Grindor watches Carlos' skateboarding and is nostalgic for his stunts on Cybertron. Grindor then transforms into his skateboard mode and uses his rockets to perform some impressive moves, but Carlos insists they leave before he has to explain things to the spectators. They run into Rad and High Wire, then find Alexis and Sureshock, who's just overloaded the observatory's computer by uploading too much data into it!

The Mini-Cons apologize, and explain that they just want to help. Rad tells them they have a lot to learn about Earth customs, but at least the humans are there to guide them.


#4 - "No Way Back!"

The Autobots have set up their Space Bridge to return the Mini-Cons to Cybertron. As the Mini-Cons say their farewells to the kids, the Decepticons attack! Megatron and Optimus Prime grapple, but -- augmented with Leader-1's strength -- Megatron quickly gets the upper hand. But before his victory is complete, Rad tricks Megatron into thinking the Mini-Cons have left, distracting him long enough for the Mini-Cons to Powerlink to the Autobots. The newly augmented Autobots fight back, but Megatron retreats, declaring victory -- for the Space Bridge has been destroyed...

#4 - "Into The Lion's Den!" In the middle of the night, beneath Silver Ridge, North Dakota, Sparkplug, Jolt and Longarm stage a raid to free their Mini-Con brethren from the Decepticon base. Avoiding the security systems, they soon find the Mini-Cons, but Leader-1 sees this as an opportunity to capture them and curry Megatron's favor! After a fierce struggle, Sparkplug breaks free, and the three would-be rescuers escape the base.

Safely outside, Sparkplug wonders if the captured Mini-cons were corrupted by the Decepticons, but Jolt believes the Decepticons might have simply released something that was already in their psyches. The Autobots then arrive to pick them up, and everyone leaves, even as Jolt tells Sparkplug that the Decepticons and their Mini-Cons deserve each other...




#5 - "Devices and Desires!"

A plumetting satellite is about to hit Chicago, but the city's saved by the timely arrival of the Air Defense Mini-Con team! They are then suddenly blindsided by Starscream, who tells them he brought it down as bait to capture them! Starscream subdues the Mini-Cons, but the Autobots arrive to their rescue, prompting Starscream to flee. The Air Defense Team thanks the Autobots for the rescue, but makes it clear they have no desire to join up with them. Unknown to everyone, though, is that Starscream managed to attach a homing device to Runway...

#5 - "We Are Not Alone!"

With some reluctance, the Air Defense Mini-Con team approaches a California NASA facility, hoping to steal some technology that'd enable them to return to Cybertron. However, they are suddenly attacked by base security, who easily takes them down with a scrambler device!

Reawakening in a holding facility, Sonar tends to Jetstorm while Runway scans the facility's computers, curious how they humans were able to capture them. As a security alarm sounds, the Mini-Cons escape, but not before Runways finds what he was looking for -- the humans have encountered Mini-Cons before, and captured the Land Minitary Mini-Cons back in the 1950's...!


#6 - No Title Given Using their own Space Bridge, the Decepticons transport themselves to the Moon, where they begin searching for Mini-Cons. Since the Autobots have no Space Bridge of their own (see issue #4), Optimus Prime radios Jetfire on Cybertron, and has him send Smokescreen and Scavenger to the Moon via the Space Bridge on Cybertron. At the same time, Optimus Prime and the Mini-Cons launch a rocket to the Moon, programmed to track down any fragments of the Mini-Con ship there.

Scavenger and Smokescreen arrive at the Moon, where they are suddenly attacked by Cyclonus and Demolishor! As Smokescreen falls, the Autobot rocket flies by, activating the Mini-Con Liftor. Liftor quickly Powerlinx with Smokescreen, giving him the strength to take out Demolishor, even as Prime informs Megatron that the rocket has beamed out all of the Mini-Cons on the Moon. Stymed, the Decepticons return to Earth.



#6 - "Blast From The Past!" In 1959, a fragment of the Mini-Con spacecraft is unearthed in Nevada, along with the Land Military Mini-Con Team inside. Captured by the US Military, they are reprogrammed by Dr. Grant and his assistants, Quint and Hathaway. The Mini-Cons impress the humans with their sheer power, but escape from the base a few hours later!

With their own programming on the verge of returning, the Land Military Team flee to the nearby town of Stillwater. Wreckage contacts a local priest, Amos Hume, and gives him a message code. The Mini-Cons are then recaptured by the military and taken away; Humes' demands for explainations are ignored.

In 2003, when Amos Hume sees news footage of the Air Defense Team's actions in Chicago (see last issue), he knows it's time to deliver the message...




#7 - "The Two-Edged Blade!"

Using his tracking device (see issue #5), Starscream ambushes the Air Defense Mini-Cons, and quickly forces them to combine and form the Star Saber! He then tracks down Rad, Carlos and Alexis, but the Street Action Team leaps to their defense by forming Perceptor. As Starscream and Perceptor do battle, the elements go wild, and a storm forms around the area.

As Starscream begins to panic, he tries to release the Star Saber -- but cannot! Suddenly, Optimus Prime breaks through the storm and wrenches the Star Saber free, re-engaging the Mini-Cons' personality chips and allowing them to separate. As Starscream leaves, Rad notes that they never knew the Street Action Mini-Cons could combine, and High Wire admits they prefer to keep their secrets to themselves.

Observing the battle from nearby, an old man has come to deliver a message...

#7 - "Sale of the Century!"

In Nevada, news has arrived that the Extra-Terrestrial Response Division is being shut down. Quint, one of Dr. Hathaway's assistants, responds by trying to illegally auction off the Land Military Mini-Cons. Unfortunately, the Mini-Cons' inhibitor clamps begin to malfunction, and Wreckage goes on a rampage!

As the humans flee the carnage, the Autobots arrive with the Air Defense Team, and quickly restore the minds of the Land Military Team. Then the Autobot Shuttle arrives, releasing Rad, Carlos, Alexis, and the old man -- Amos Hume (see last issue). Despite his bad experiences with humans, Wreckage is pleasantly surprised Amos remembered them. The Transformers withdraw, leaving Quint to the approaching military.


#8 - "Earthshaker!"

The Decepticons have built a new base on the Moon, complete with a missile silo targeted at Autobase on Earth! In response, Optimus Prime contacts Smokescreen and Red Alert (who're still on the Moon, from issue #6) to stop it, but the silo is locked down tight and they can't get near it. Red Alert curses the fact that the Autobot Space Bridge is still down, but Optimus Prime has an idea...

In the Moon base, the Decepticons receive a transmission from the Autobot's Mini-Cons: If the Decepticons will spare the Autobots, the Mini-Cons will surrender themselves. Planning a double-cross, Megatron accepts, and sends Cyclonus to retrieve them. While the Autobots on Earth work to jury-rig their Space Bridge to functionality, Smokescreen and Scavenger break into the Decepticon Space Bridge control center.

Just after Cyclonus picks up the Autobot Mini-Cons, Megatron launches his missiles at Autobase! In response, Smokescreen and Scavenger activate the Decepticon Space Bridge, and Hot Shot generates a portal with the damaged Autobot Space Bridge on Earth. Aligning the signals of both bridges, the Autobots send the missiles through their portal and back into the Decepticon base, destroying it!

Unfortunately, the Autobot Mini-Cons are still heading for the moon...

#8 - "Lost in Space!"

Cyclonus is towing a barge containing the Autobot Mini-Cons back to the Moon, but the Mini-Cons have planned a breakout. As the group escapes their cells, Sparkplug and High Wire activate magnetic clamps so they can walk on the surface of the barge and disconnect it from Cyclonus. They succeed, but the recoil sends Sparkplug hurling off through space! Cyclonus turns on the Mini-Cons, but Jolt uses his electric powers to scramble his guidance systems, then grabs Sparkplug, leaving the Mini-Cons free to return to Earth.


#9 - "Dawn of Destruction!"

After the events of last issue, Cyclonus crashes on the surface of the Moon, and is discovered by the Destruction Mini-Con Team. Megatron, meanwhile, is angered by the destruction of his base, but falls silent when Cyclonus arrives with his power readings off the scale!

Before anyone can react, Cyclonus opens fire on his fellow Decepticons! As he destroys the rest of the base, Cyclonus begs for Megatron's mercy -- he's being controlled by the Destruction Team! While Starscream sneaks off, Megatron and Demolishor Powerlink with their Mini-Cons to battle the empowered Cyclonus, but with no success. Starscream returns and attacks Cyclonus with an experimental sonic destabilizer, which severs all Mini-Con Powerlinx. Forced to disengage, the Destruction Team beat a hasty retreat...

Later, at their own hideout, the Destruction Team receives a message from someone who wants to team up with them -- Starscream!

#9 - "Counter-Strike!"

In a flashback to Cybertron's past, Dualor of the Destruction Team addresses a Mini-Con summit, and announces his plan to permanently remove the threat of Megatron. He's leaked falsified information to the Decepticons that will lure them to an Autobot stronghold; once there, Dualor will detonate the hidden explosives planted therein, allowing the Mini-cons to take out both Autobots and Decepticons in one swoop! Sparkplug disagrees with the plan, but is overruled by the enthusiastic support of the others.

Soon, as the Autobots and Decepticons battle as planned, Sparkplug is unable to go through with the ambush. He warns Optimus Prime before Dualor can trigger the bombs -- this prompts the Autobots to retreat, and the explosions only manage to do partial damange to the pursuing Decepticons! Angry at the failure of his scheme, Dualor vows revenge on the one who betrayed him...