TRANSFORMERS ARMADA #1
Cover Date: July 2002
Story: Chris Sarracini
Pencils: James Raiz
Inks: Rob Armstrong and Erik Sander
Lettering: Dreamer Design
Setting: Cybertron - Cyber City and Mini-Con Village C52

Plot Summary:
Hot Shot races into Cyber City to deliver a message to Autobot leader Optimus Prime from the Mini-Con village D10. It’s the head of the village, Leader-1, says that a race of evil Transformers called the Decepticons are attacking the villages of the Mini-Con sector. Optimus fears that the Autobots have a problem on their hands. Meanwhile, at Mini-Con village C52, the resident Mini-Cons are preparing for the upcoming Decepticon assault by building shield projectors around the village, barely managing to get them online, but it is all for naught, as the Decepticons attack and capture all the Mini-Cons. And with the successful capture of all the Mini-Cons, Decepticon leader Megatron declares war on Cybertron.

Transformers featured (in rough order of appearance): Hot Shot, Smokescreen, Scavenger, Optimus Prime, Rollbar, Sparkplug, Jolt, Longarm, Incinerator, Cyclonus, Demolishor, Megatron.

Other Notes: Several characters (Hot Shot, Optimus, Demolishor, Cyclonus) look like they have their Earth modes already, while others (Smokescreen, Scavenger, Megatron) do not. The Autobots apparently act like the Avengers to the civilian Cybertron population. Several characters look different from their toy/cartoon representations. Both Leader-1 and Jolt lack face plates, while Sparkplug has a radically different design. (The first of many, sadly.) As of right now, this is Incinerator’s only appearance in the comic. Other Mini-Cons present at C52 include Swindle, Crumplezone and Blackout, the future Mini-Cons of the other Decepticons.

Review: The issue screams of build up, setting up for a conflict that will occur in the next issue. The artwork is done very well, and aside from having some of the characters in their Earth disguises, really works well here. It’s a good start to the latest Transformers comic.

Review by Bombshell