TRANSFORMERS ARMADA #7
Cover Date: December 2003
Story: Simon Furman
Pencils: Pat Lee
Inks: Rob Armstrong
Lettering: Dreamer Design
Setting: Earth - Silver Ridge, Nebraska. Lincoln, South Dakota

Plot Summary:
Outside the Decepticon base, Alexis, Carlos and Rad are debating to activate the device given to them by Sparkplug last issue, Alexis saying that the situation cannot get any worse. Inside, Megatron, holding the completed Star Saber, gathers Starscream, Demolishor and Cyclonus to attack the Autobase. Seein no other alternative, they activate the device. Inside, Sparkplug, Jolt and Longarm try to get out of the rubble left after their confrontation with Starscream, Sparkplug wondering why he bothered to do this. Longarm say that they had to do it, saying that help should be on the way. Back outside, the kids continue to debate on what to do when three Mini-Cons appear, demanding what is going on. Meanwhile, the Decepticons have arrived at the Autobase, and begun their attack. Back at the Decepticon base, Rad tries to convince the three Mini-Cons to help, but they refuse. Rad, angry about that, tells the Mini-Cons that, while they may have brought the war to Earth by accident, they still have a responsibility, and that it is their fight. He then storms off, the other kids following. As the kids discuss going in on their own, the Mini-Cons introduce themselves to the kids as Wreckage, Bonecrusher and Knock-Out, the Land Military Team, and offer to help. As Megatron lays waste to the area, Starscream sits back and sulks, seeing himself as “yesterday’s muscle”. Suddenly, the Autobots arrive, and Leader-1 powerlinks with Megatron, so that he can destroy Prime once and for all. Back at the base, Longarm is in the process of trying to free themselves, when Wreckage appears and digs them out. Sparkplug then asks for their help. Back in Lincoln, Optimus grabs the Star Saber, and tries to convince the Air Defense Team to break Megatron’s brainwashing. Megatron takes this time to attack Prime from behind, but as he prepare to deliver the killing blow, Sparkplug appears, powerlinks to Prime, and gives him an added boost. Jolt, Longarm, and the Land Military Team arrive soon after, Jolt and Longarm powerlink to Hot Shot and Red Alert. Then, suddenly, the Star Saber separates back to the Air Defense Team, who begin to attack. Megatron, enraged by these events, orders a retreat. As the Decepticons retreat, the Land Military and Air Defense Teams take their leave. While Rad is surprised about this, Optimus sees it as the best thing to do, considering that each side is evenly balanced at the moment, and that it’s not best to tip the scales.

Transformers/Humans Featured (in rough order of appearance):
Rad, Carlos, Alexis, Megatron, Demolishor, Cyclonus, Starscream, Leader-1, Sparkplug, Jolt, Longarm, Wreckage, Bonecrusher, Knock-Out, Jetstorm, Runway, Sonar, Optimus Prime, Hot Shot, Red Alert.

Other Notes:
The Street Action Team joins Smokescreen, Scavenger, Liftor and Rollbar on the “Autobot’s Inactive List.” The difference being is that they return in the next issue, while the latter remain missing. Hot Shot says that all of the Decepticons have their Mini-Cons, and yet we only ever see Leader-1 and the Air Defense Team. The fact that the Air Defense Team changes their color means that they have changed to the Air Assault Team. (Whose toys appeared on the shelves at the same time this issue appeared.) The Land Military Team are missing their missles.

Review: This issue does a bit better in the art department, as Lee’s art is definitely better than in the last issue. Still, it’s a mixed bag. Some of the art (such as shots of Red Alert, Sparkplug, Jolt and Longarm) look nice, while shots of Hot Shot, Optimus and Starscream, look positively bad. Also, Lee’s usage of near-identical frames shows up again in this issue. The shot of Megatron holding the Star Saber from last issue shows up twice here, while the group shot of the Land Military Team shows up an annoying FOUR times. Still, the story is good enough that such ignorance of the artwork is forgivable…

Review by Bombshell