[cover]TRANSFORMERS ARMADA #2
Cover Date: August 2002
Story: Chris Sarracini
Pencils: James Raiz
Inks: Rob Armstrong
Lettering: Dreamer Design
Setting: Cybertron - Mini-Con Village C52, Cyber City, Garbage Disposal District and Decepticon Headquarters

Plot Summary:
Surveying the ruins of Mini-Con village C52, the Autobots find no sign of survivors. Optimus fears that an open conflict will occur if the Autobots cannot find out what the Decepticons are up to. Megatron, meanwhile takes his Decepticon warriors to Cyber City with the intent to conquer it. At the Garbage Disposal District, Sparkplug awakens to find that the Air Defense Team (Jetstorm, Runway and Sonar) have rescued him, and learn of their plans to free the captured Mini-Cons and escape from Cybertron, and reluctantly agree to help them. At Cyber City, the Autobots face off against the Decepticons, but are defeated due to the fact that the Decepticons powerlink with their captured Mini-Cons. As the battle occurs, the Air Defense Team (using Sparkplug as an unwilling decoy) break into Decepticon Headquarters and free the captured Mini-Cons. Back at Cyber City, the Mini-Con power boosted Decepticons lay waste to the Autobots, who reluctantly retreat in the face of their superior firepower. The Decepticon victory is short lived, as Megatron soon learns that the captured Mini-Cons back at their base have escaped. Reveling in their victory, the Mini-Cons fail to detect an explosion on one of the capture ship’s engines

Transformers Featured (in rough order of appearance):
Hot Shot, Optimus Prime, Scavenger, Red Alert, Smokescreen, Megatron, Cyclonus, Demolishor, Starscream, Runway, Sonar, Jetstorm, Sparkplug.

Other Notes:
The shields used by the Mini-Cons last issue are Filtrek-A Forceshields. Red Alert says that the new Filtrek-H would have been better. Cyclonus is misspelled “Cyclonis” in this issue. This is the first appearance of both Red Alert and Starscream in the comics (both of whom have bits of their Earth Alt. Modes in their robot forms). The Air Defense Team have the bits that allow them to combine into the Star Saber (Runway has the linkup points to Jetstorm, and Sonar has the sword handle). Runway is the leader of the Air Defense Team, having once lived in Mini-Con Village B13. Two robots among the crowd behind the Autobots as they return to Cyber City are colored like Blaster and Perceptor, and one is drawn like Hardhead. The Destruction Mini-Con team (Buzzsaw, Drill Bit, Dualor) are seen, although only Drill Bit is used by one of the Decepticons in the battle. (By Demolishor, in case you’re wondering.) Grindor, High Wire and Sureshock (The Street Action Team) can be seen in the background of the ship as it departs.

Review: The issue shows the first face to face meeting with the Autobots and Decepticons, as well as the departure of the Mini-Cons from Cybertron. A nice issue with tons going on and great artwork to support it. Too bad that #3 pretty much dragged the comic into Garbage Land.

Review by Bombshell