TRANSFORMERS ARMADA #15
Cover Date: September 2003
Story: Simon Furman
Pencils: Don Figueroa
Inks: Elaine To
Lettering: Paul Villafuerte
Setting: Decepticon Command HQ - Cybertron, Autobase - Earth, Silver Ridge, Earth Decepticon HQ, Alternate Universe Cybertron, Autobase - Cybertron.

Plot Summary:
The Decepticon command center has been thoroughly destroyed by the time traveling Decepticon team of Bludgeon, Dirge, Thunderwing and Scourge, who activate the Space Bridge portals, Dirge saying that Phase Two has begun. At Autobase, Hot Shot attempts to get Over-Run to reveal Optimus Prime's location, but he cannot. As Astroscope explains the mechanics of dimension travel, Over-Run says that if they can find Prime, he can help to return him. Red Alert arrives, however, with some disturbing news: the null reality pod Over-Run used to travel to this reality has been stolen. At the Decepticon base, Starscream and Demolisher take a verbal beating at the hands of Megatron, the null reality pod in front of him. As he rants, Leader-1 arrives with the information that the Autobots have begun to search for Optimus Prime. Meanwhile, on the alternate Cybertron, Optimus tries to information from Spinister about who is responsible for destroying this Cybertron, but all the Decepticon Targetmaster can say in reply is a stream of nonsensical rambling that only infuriates Prime, but before he can get anymore information, the ground begins to crumble, as Spinister shouts that "the devourer of worlds is here!" At "Armada" Cybertron, Blurr reports to Jetfire that space bridge portals are tearing away at local space, and that they are coming from Decepticon HQ. Jetfire orders Blurr to prepare a assault team, as the Decepticons at the Space Bridge Nexus prepare to depart for Earth, Scourge ordering Bludgeon to stay behind and guard them. As a Mini-Con group leaves Autobase bound for Silver Ridge, the Decepticons attack! The Autobots respond, but one by one are taken out. Arriving at the Decepticon base, Over-Run's Mini-Con group finds the base deserted, but not for long, as Scourge, Dirge and Thunderwing arrive through the Warp Gate. Megatron enters and defeats Hot Shot easily, but his victory is short lived as his own troops fall one by one. When Megatron goes to investigate, he finds none other than Galvatron waiting for him…

Transformers/Humans Featured (in rough order of appearance):
Scourge, Dirge, Thunderwing, Bludgeon, Over-Run, Astroscope, Payload, Sky Blast, Hot Shot, Red Alert, Megatron, Starscream, Demolisher, Leader-1, Optimus Prime, Spinister, Unicron, Blurr, Jetfire, High Wire, Commetor, Cyclonus, Longarm, Jolt, Smokescreen, Scavenger, Mirage, Galvatron.

Other Notes:
The other members of the Decepticon hit squad, seen only in the shadows last issue, are revealed here. The POV shot of Cybertron from Unicron's perspective is as close a shot of seeing him clearly in this story arc as possible. The ship the Mini-Cons use to travel to Silver Ridge has the number "2005" on it. The original Transformers movie took place on this year. Smokescreen's (very) gruesome death this issue raises the possibility for him to be rebuilt as Hoist later on. High Wire's character model in this issue is quite different from both the toy and cartoon. Whereas the two previous incarnations of the character (and indeed, his earlier comic appearances) have him walking on two legs, Don instead, made his bicycle tire his own legs, allowing him to travel on it. As Megatron stands over the defeated Hot Shot, the letters "ATT" can be seen behind him. "ATT" stands for "Alt-Toys-Transformers", the Transformers newsgroup. Interestingly, each of the characters that we see get damaged severely in this issue (Hot Shot, Red Alert) has become reincarnated in their "Powerlinx" forms in both the cartoon and toyline. For some reason, the caption of Megatron saying "…are you?" is repeated on both the last panel of the second to last page and the final page itself. Once again, none of the G1 characters are ever referred to by name.

Review: A great action issue that sets up a fight Transfans will be very happy to see. The only complaint I have is that they don't focus enough time on Optimus Prime and the alternate Cybertron, since the later two issues would show this to be of importance in the overall scheme of things. But other than that, a thoroughly entertaining issue. Recommended.

Review by Bombshell