TRANSFORMERS ARMADA #18
Cover Date: December 2003
Story: Simon Furman
Pencils: Guido Guidi
Inks: Elaine To
Lettering: Ben Lee
Setting: Black Mesa - Arizona. Cybertron - Autobase, Cyber City.

Plot Summary:
Optimus Prime and Rhinox stand before the assembled Mini-Cons on Earth, as Alexis, Carlos and Rad watch nearby. The sudden arrival of the Decepticons sets the Mini-Cons off, but Optimus tells them that they have joined forces to combat the force that is Unicron. The assembled Transformers then depart for Cybertron, leaving Alexis, Carlos and Rad behind. On Cybertron, Optimus and Jetfire make final preparations, as Unicron breaks through the dimensional wall and arrives in the Armada universe. Unfortunately, his appearance does not go unnoticed, as the combined fleets of the Cybertronians head out to meet him. Among them is Megatron, seeking to strike a deal with the Chaos Bringer. His departure does not go unnoticed, however, as Laserbeak sends the image to Hot Shot, Red Alert and Scavenger, seeking to repay the Decepticon leader for what he did to Smokescreen. As Optimus Prime and Jetfire combine into Jet Prime and head out to lead the assault, Rhinox leads the beast Transformers into battle on Unicron's surface. Unfortunately, they are caught and absorbed by the Chaos Bringer. At the abandoned Cyber City, Over-Run gathers the Mini-Cons together, and uses their combined energies, along with the Mini-Con matrix, to deliver a thundering blast to Unicron, sending him reeling. As the Cybertronian fleet departs, Megatron lands on Unicron's surface. He is greeted by Hot Shot, Scavenger and Red Alert, however, and is sent plummeting into Unicron by a blast from Hot Shot. The Autobots depart from Unicron as he tumbles back through the dimensional rift, disappearing from the Armada universe. As the Transformers celebrate their victory, Jetfire, Optimus looks towards the future, knowing that while they must rebuild, the lingering threat of Unicron means that they must remain prepared, should he ever return.

Transformers/Humans Featured (in rough order of appearance):Powerlinx Optimus Prime, Firebot, Makeshift, Prowl, Incinerator, Downshift, Dirt Boss, Mirage, Nightbeat, Inferno, Crosswise, Rook, Rollbar, Jetstorm, Runway, Sonar, Ransack, Dune Runner, Iceberg, Corona Sparkplug, Longarm, Backtrack, Oval, Spiral, Over-Run, Wind Shear, Powerlinx Commetor, Liftor, Jolt, Astroscope, Payload, Sky Blast, Bonecrusher, Wreckage, Jolt, Refute, Highwire, Grindor, Sureshock, Rhinox, Alexis, Carlos, Rad, Knock-Out, Megatron, Demolisher, Cyclonus, Thrust, Starscream, Blackout, Leader-1, Crumplezone, Swindle, Powerlinx Jetfire, Blurr, Side Swipe, Overload, Tidal Wave, Wheeljack, Sideways, Airazor, Cheetor, Terrorsaur, Ramjet, Skywarp

Other Notes:
As befitting the last issue of the series, all of the characters that have appeared in the comic run make at least one appearance in this issue, the exception being the members of the Emergency Team and Tidal Wave. This is the first appearance of Carlos, Alexis and Rad since issue #11. Two of the ships in the Cybertronian fleet are in the same style as the Autobot Axalon ship from the show. Megatron's takeoff to Unicron mimics Galvatron's in Marvel #75.

Review: I can sum up this issue with three words: A Big Letdown. Of course, I knew when I went out to buy it that it would be a big letdown, because, from how #17 ended, I knew that there would be no way for Simon Furman to wrap up Armada with a single 22 page comic book with as big a build up as "World's Collide" was. Of course, I held steadfast that it could be pulled off. This is, of course, Simon Furman we're talking about here. The guy whose managed to treat Unicron right in whatever medium he's done him. I was expecting a battle scene the likes of Marvel #75. Instead, we get ten pages or so of yet more setup, follow by five pages or so of battle that goes absolutely nowhere, followed by the really anticlimatic wasting of both Megatron and Unicron. (Where, once again, Unicron's ultimate downfall is brought by a Matrix of one kind or another...) To top it off, there was the completely pointless use of characters in one shot cameos (ranging from Sideways and Wheeljack, last seen in #12, to Tidal Wave, The Beast Wars repaints, Wind Sheer and the Emergency Team, who, with the execption of Rhinox, have NEVER been seen or even mentioned up till now), and the complete lack of a robot mode Unicron. All in all, although the seeds for Energon have been planted, this was a very weak ending to Armada. (Although giving Unicron the letters page was funny as hell.)

Review by Bombshell