WAR WITHIN: THE AGE OF WRATH #1

Cover Date: September 2004
Story: Simon Furman
Pencils: Joe Ng
Inks: Tracy Ho, Ferd Poblete
Lettering: Ben Lee

Plot Summary

Cybertron: Hub-Captical Iacon

After the defeat of the Fallen, the Autobots rally together to drive the Decepticon forces to defeat. As he laments to the holo image of the lost Optimus Prime, Autobot leader Ultra Magnus reflects on his position, saying that when it is all over, the forces under his command will see him as little more than “the leader that never was”. Grimlock interrupts his rant by saying that it’s time to bring the war to an end.

Moon Alpha: Predacon Staging Base

Starscream lays out his plan to disrupt the Autobot/Decepticon peace talks. After silencing protests from Dead End, Starscream instructs them to head out, reminding Motormaster about some secret mission he has planned.

Iacon: The New High Council Pavilions

Broadcasting live from the floor of the High Council chamber and by live video feed from Tyger Pax, Slamdance sets out the plans for the peace talks between the Autobots, Decepticons and Ultracons. He also takes the opportunity to announce the ascension of three new Autobot Council Members, and states that Ultra Magnus does not appear to show any pressure.

Tyger Pax

As Ratbat and Shockwave arrive, Grimlock comments that it would be too easy for someone to attack them at this critical point. Magnus counters this by saying that due to the current situation, a concerted effort by both sides for a lasting peace is the only way to ensure their continued survival.

Slamdance, meanwhile, attempts to ask Shockwave and Ratbat for comments. He gives up after being assaulted by Barrage, and the peace talks begin. They are about to reach their conclusion when two unidentified ships arrive, heading straight for their position. Grimlock orders them shot down as Magnus protests and Ratbat claims that it’s a trap. The ships are brought down by Wheeljack’s detonation of an explosive device.

Iacon: The New High Council Pavilions

The explosion cuts off the video feed from Tyger Pax. As Slamdance wonders what’s going on, Starscream bursts through the ceiling, kills the High Council members, and orders Slamdance to “bear witness to the dark glory of the dawn of devastation!”

Tyger Pax

The Predacon forces run roughshod over the area, and appear to win the fight, when from out of the smoke come the combined forces of the Autobots, Decepticons and Ultracons, who quickly subdue them. Motormaster, meanwhile, sets up position to take out Ultra Magnus, but his fire is blocked by Grimlock, who passes into stasis lock.

As the forces regroup after the attack, the area is suddenly surrounded by dozens of Seeker drones and the return of an old enemy…MEGATRON!

Interesting Facts/Notes: Ultra Magnus has taken command of the Autobots after having left them sometime during the Dark Ages. The Predacon forces under Starscream’s command are Motormaster, Dead End, Runamuck, Runabout, Astrotrain, Octane, Dirge, Carnivac, Snarler and two unnamed bots. The new High Council members introduced (and killed) in this issue are Eronus, Neo and Templar, who replace Kudon, Vraz and Gravitas, seen in the first War Within series. The events of the flashback scene seen in Generation One #4 appear to occur sometime between this issue and the next one. Two nods to the fan community can be found on page 9 (Seibertron is a reference to Seibertron.com, the website artist Joe Ng regularly frequents) and page 13 (NgBoy is Joe Ng’s nickname.)

Review: I never got a chance to read “The Dark Ages” until recently, and before I did, I wondered how this series would play out. Even after I did, I was interested in seeing how writer Simon Furman would continue the story, as things seemed to wrap up pretty well at the end of the Dark Ages. There is a lot of potential that this issue shows that may very well lead to one of the best story arcs that Simon Furman has done. Unfortunately, Simon Furman’s Dreamwave work has, by this point, convinced me that he can start off a story arc well only to have it come crashing down from all corners by its conclusion. Both previous War Within series, the Armada “World’s Collide” and Energon’s “What Lies Beneath” are perfect examples of this. The great potential that this story arc has makes me wish that it will not happen this time.

Review by Bombshell