THE TRANSFORMERS: COMICS, BOOKS AND MANGA

DEVIL'S DUE TRANSFORMERS COMIC ISSUE GUIDES

G.I.Joe vs The Transformers III: Art of War

| #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 |

Art of War #1

Released on 8th March 2006. Script by Tim Seeley. Pencils by Joe Ng. Inks by Rob Ross With M3TH. Colours by Kevin Yan, Rob Ruffolo and Tom Liu. Letters by Brian Crowley. Edited by Mike O'Sullivan. Art Production by Voon. $2.99 cover price, choice of covers.

Synopsis: Following the defeat of Shockwave and the liberation of Cybertron (see Volume 2) Optimus Prime sends a team to Earth to decommission all the Cybertronian technology still in the hands of GI Joe. But unbeknownst to both groups the American government has the remains of Soundwave and Megatron deep under the Joe base and has used them to retro engineer a new bio mechanical weapon: Serpent O.R. Zarana has infiltrated the scientists and given Cobra Commander information on the project, resulting in a full scale Cobra attack on the base. Though the combined Autobot/Joe force holds off the attack, the Commander makes it into the bunker and activates Serpent O.R. Unfortunately for him the weapon has access to Megatron's memories, and regards his liberator with little kindness. Taking out the remaining Cobra troops he decides to pursue the ultimate source of power in Megatron's memory... The Autobot Matrix of Leadership.

Characters Featured [in rough order of appearance]: Megatron [Head only, plus flashback to the first Gi Joe crossover and to War Within era Cybertron], Soundwave [Head and War Within flashback], Serpent O.R., Mainframe, Perceptor, Grimlock, Bumblebee [Back in his "G1" body following his 70's escapades in Vol 2.], Perceptor, Arcee, Optimus Prime [Pre-recorded message, now also in his G1 Body], Roadblock, Snake Eyes, Scarlett [All three also seen in the exo suits given to GI Joe at the end of Vol. 1], Cobra Commander, Zartan, Zarana. Plus, amongst Megatron's memories we see: Optimus Primal, Alpha Trion, some Quintessons and possibly Unicron. [See review.]

Reviews & Commentary: Reviewed by Inflatable Dalek

Art of War #2

Released on 19th April 2006. Script by Tim Seeley. Pencils by Joe Ng. Inks by Rob Ross. Colours by Kevin Yan, flats by Tom Liu. Letters: Brian Crowley. Edited by Mike O’Sullivan. Art production by Voon. $2.99 cover price, choice of covers.

Synopsis: On Cybertron preparations for a big party celebrating the end of the war are underway when Optimus Prime is notified of the Cobra attack on the Joe base. Meanwhile, the Autobots on Earth defeat the last of the B.A.T.s and move underground just in time to save Bumblebee from Cobra Commander's wrath. Under interrogation he reveals his plan to steal the new Serpent O.R. weapon, finishing just as it launches an all out attack on the Joes and Autobots. Serpent O.R. is able to override the Joe's battle suits but can’t affect the Autobot's bodies, so instead he brings the roof down and departs for Cybertron, planning to continue the legacy of his “father” Megatron. Upon arrival he commandeers the Predacons and Seacons, the first troops in his new army.

Characters Featured [in rough order of appearance]: Optimus Prime, Hot Rod, Grimlock, Arcee, Perceptor, Cobra Commander, Zarana, Zartan, Bumblebee, Roadblock, Snake Eyes, Scarlett, Serpent O.R., some girl Joe with a gun (any ideas people?), Nautilator, Razorclaw, Divebom, Tantrum, Rampage, Headstrong, Predaking, Piranacon.

Reviews & Commentary: Reviewed by Inflatable Dalek

Art of War #3

Released on 31st May 2006. Script by Tim Seeley. Pencils by Joe Ng and James Raiz. Inks by Rob Ross & M3TH. Colours by Kevin Yan & Rob Ruffolo (flats By Tom Liu.) Letters by Brian Crowley. Edited by Mike O'Sullivan. Art produced by Voon. $2.99 cover price, choice of covers.

Synopsis: The Autobots and the Joes pursue Serpent O.R. through the space bridge — which is so badly damaged it can only manage one trip before breaking, leaving Hawk without backup to call on. Arriving in the Gladiator Zone they are attacked by Cannibalizers — derelict Transformers after spare parts. This soon becomes the least of their problems when Serpent O.R's new Decepticon army — now also including the Stunticons — arrives. Serpent O.R kills Bumblebee as a sadistic gesture and has the rest taken as potential hostages to the Predacon base he is using as a headquarters. An increasingly worried Optimus sends Hot Rod in charge of a team to investigate why his troops materialised in the Gladiator Zone and why they now seem to have vanished. But Springer and Sandstorm, already on a scout round, completely miss the gathering Decepticons thanks to Serpent O.R's inbuilt stealth technology. After adding the Terrorcons to his ranks, Serpent O.R. launches a full on attack on the Capital City, where the peace celebrations are underway. Omega Supreme sees off the Triple Changers and Six Shot, but seems certainly doomed when three combiners launch a full scale attack on him...

Characters Featured [in rough order of appearance]: Hawk (also seen as a young boy in flashback), Perceptor, Bumblebee (Killed by Serpent O.R.), Roadblock, Mainframe, Scarlett, Snake Eyes, Serpent O.R. (In flashback and the living synthetic flesh), Megatron (Flashback), Firewall, Grimlock, Shockwave's arm, Piranacon, Predaking, Dead End, Wildrider, Drag Strip, Breakdown, Motormaster, Optimus Prime, Hot Rod, Razorclaw, Sandstorm, Springer, Headstrong, Divebomb, Rampage, Hun Grrr, Tentakill, Nautilator, Viewfinder, Rippersnapper, Blot, Six Shot, Octane, Blitzwing, Laserbeak, Skids, Omega Supreme, Astrotrain, Menasor. We also see on a monitor screen file pics of: Quick Kick, Lady Jane, Storm Shadow, Beach Head plus two others yet to be identified. There are also two other characters in the Decepticon crown scene that could be any Combiner members really...

Reviews & Commentary: Reviewed by Inflatable Dalek

Art of War #4

Released on 28th June 2006. Script by Tim Seeley. Pencils by Joe Nig, James Raiz and Alex Milne. Inks by Rob Ross, M3TH and Alan Tam. Colours by Rob Ruffolo, Kevin Yan and Tom Liu. Letters by Brian Crowley. Edited by Mike O'Sullivan. Art produced by Voon. $2.99 cover price, choice of covers.

Synopsis: Omega Supreme falls, and Optimus Prime is presented with an ultimatum: surrender himself and the Matrix to SerpentO.R or the carnage continues. Prime agrees on the condition that the human hostages are released -- when this is agreed to, the Decepticons withdraw with him as their prisoner. At the Terrordrome in Siberia, Cobra Commander is now convinced what he has learnt of SerpentO.R will give him the power of a god. Back on Cybertron SerpentO.R visits Hawk, and admits confusion as to why he feels no emotion over his achievements; to date in his short life, only killing Bumblebee — and seeing his spark die — has given him any sort of emotional response. When Hawk points out he's a machine doing what he does not out of any desire but because he doesn't know how not to, SerpentO.R briefly looses control and angrily strikes his prisoner. He quickly regains his composure, however, and promises to consider what has been said — and to guarantee the Joes a quick death when the time comes. Snake Eyes is able to use his amazing Ninja powers to mentally take control of one of his cell guards — who promptly shoots the other and lets the captives go before falling asleep. The Joes them go and release Perceptor's team but are soon severely outgunned as more Decepticons arrive. As Hot Rod assembles a rescue team, Prime is brought before SerpentO.R — who reveals his ultimate goal isn't anything as grand as power over Cybertron or the universe; he wants to use the Matrix to give him a soul or spark, something that will allow him to experience the full range of emotions. When SerpentO.R is distracted by an alarm alerting him to the escape of the prisoners, Optimus frees himself and prepares to deliver a killing blow... On Earth the Warpgate has been repaired and a full scale Joe army has assembled. Even though they're limited in what they can take by the size of the portal they still intend to go to Cybertron as "GI Joe doesn't leave anyone behind... no matter what."

Characters Featured [in rough order of appearance]: Omega Supreme [Deactivated], Optimus Prime, Sixshot [Deactivated — smashed into Piranacon's face], Piranacon [Deactivated by Sixshot smashing into his face], Astrotrain, Menasor, Reflector, Jetfire [In his War Within/Stormbringer design], SerpentO.R, Zartan, the Baroness, Cobra Commander, Dr. Knox, Hawk, Roadblock, Breakdown ["Ninja'd" by Snake Eyes], Nautilator [Deactivated — shot by a "ninja'd" Breakdown], Snake Eyes, Scarlett, Hot Rod, Sideswipe, Ultra Magnus, Tracks, Kup, Ratchet [In his "Dark future" design from volume 2], Prowl, Clifjumper, Warpath, Ironhide, Tantrum, Rampage [Deactivated by Grimlock], Hun-Grrr, Motormaster, Grimlock, Perceptor, Arcee, Buzzsaw, Headstrong, Divebomb, Drag Strip, Rippersnapper, Firewall, Mainframe, Stalker, Duke, Lady Jane, Storm Shadow, Beach Head, Sci-Fi, Flash, Gung-Ho.

Reviews & Commentary: Reviewed by Inflatable Dalek

Art of War #5

Released on 30th August 2006. Script by Tim Seeley. Pencils by Joe Nig, James Raiz and Alex Milne. Inks by Rob Ross. Colours by Rob Ruffolo, Kevin Yan. Letters by Brian Crowley. Edited by Mike O'Sullivan. Art produced by Voon. $2.99 cover price, choice of covers.

Synopsis: Optimus quickly bests Serpent O.R before the combined forces of the Decepticons overcome him — but not before he has chance to order Hot Rod to begin the joint Autobot/Joe attack. Serpent O.R takes the Matrix, and is changed into Serpentor Prime, a Transformer sized mechanoid. However the change is more than just physical, the Matrix has given him new perspective on life and he now sees the error of his ways. Unfortunately he gets little chance to enjoy his new outlook as a device planted on him by Zarten in issue one kicks into effect, giving Cobra Commander complete control of his body. He quickly takes great pleasure in attacking the Transformers in the vicinity, including the Autobots who have just beaten the bulk of the Decepticon forces. As the Commander prepares to deliver a killing blow on Arcee, Hawk rushes forward and climbs the mechanical body in order to reach and touch the Matrix, which instantly finds him a more worthy host. This leaves Cobra Commander a vegetable back in his mind control chair in Siberia, and Hawk a mystical being of unknown powers, even after the Matrix is returned to Optimus. As things return to normal on Cybertron a monument is built to Bumblebee, Scarlett and Snake Eyes pursue their relationship and Optimus knows that even though the current threat has passed there will be others, but the combined Human/Autobot forces will be more than able to handle it.

Characters Featured [in rough order of appearance]: Optimus Prime, Serpent O.R/ Serpentor Prime [mindwiped By Cobra Commander], Razorclaw, Motormaster, Hun Grrr, Octane, Onslaught, Hot Rod, Ultra Magnus, Kup, Jetfire, Ironhide, Cliffjumper, Stalker, Duke, Lady Jane, Storm Shadow, Beach Head, Sci-Fi, Flash, Gung-Ho, Hawk, Roadblock, Rippersnapper, Overkill, Snake Eyes, Scarlett, Grimlock, Runamuck [arm torn off by Grimlock], Perceptor, Arcee, Trypticon, Scourge (or possibly a sweep), Four Sweeps (one of whom may be Scourge...), Shrapnel, Brawl, Vortex, Blast-Off, Swindle, Barrage, Venom, Thrust, Rumble/Frenzy (take your pick), Wildrider, Snarl, Kickback, Cobra Commander [in possession of Serpentor Prime's body and in person as a mindless vegetable], Omega Supreme [reactivated since last issue], Doctor Mindbender [in a "flash-forward" of the threats Optimus imagines they will face in the future. He's wearing a kinky Cobra-La outfit], Nemesis Enforcer [flash-forward], Several Royal Guard, Iron Klaw, Dusty, Spirit, Flint, Rock'N'Roll, Fast Draw, Cover Girl.

Reviews & Commentary: Reviewed by Inflatable Dalek