TRANSFORMERS ARMADA #17
Cover Date: November 2003
Story: Simon Furman
Pencils: Don Figueroa
Inks: Elaine To
Lettering: Paul Villafuerte
Setting: Silver Ridge - Decepticon Earth HQ, Alternate Universe Cybertron, Decepticon Command HQ - Cybertron, Lincoln, South Dakota, Autobase - Cybertron, Autobase - Cybertron.

Plot Summary:
Over-Run and the other Mini-Cons stand around the null reality pod. Over-Run tells the others that the power of three Mini-Cons is needed to bring Optimus Prime back. He and Sparkplug decide to go, with Commetor agreeing to join them. All that is needed now are the spatial coordinates. On the alternate Cybertron, Spinister finally succumbs to the influence of Unicron, and allows himself to be sucked into his maw. As Optimus tries to figure out what to do, Spinister reappears…as a mouthpiece for Unicron. He demands to know why Prime is not of this reality, but Optimus has no answer. Unicron goes on to explain that this world also had an "Optimus Prime", one that he brought to the brink of death and sent ahead of him as a calling card to the Armada universe. He concludes by saying that the gateway is beginning to open. At the Decepticon Command HQ on Armada Cybertron, Jetfire's team arrives at the Space Bridge Nexus. As Jetfire looks at the space bridge and sees multiple realities, a passing image of Optimus goes by, too quick for him to really notice. Blurr interrupts his thoughts by stating that the Nexus cannot be shut down. Jetfire opts to destroy it instead. At the Decepticon base on Earth, the time traveling Decepticons stand over the battered body of Thrust. As they discuss their next course of action, Thunderwing states that the Nexus has been breached. They decide to return to Cybertron, Dirge stating that Megatron can wait his turn. Outside the Autobase, Megatron's victory celebration is cut short as the Land Military Team knocks the Star Saber out of his hands. As it splits back into the Air Defense Team, Sonar radios Payload for an update. Payload replies by saying they've found Optimus, and send the coordinates to the others, as the null reality pod takes off. Back on Cybertron, as the Autobots make final preparations to destroy the Nexus, Rhinox and Overload come under attack by Bludgeon's vehicle form, as Side Swipe sees the others return. Jetfire orders the others to leave, before setting the charge and flying through one of the portals. The Nexus goes up in flames as the Autobots escape, taking the Decepticons with it. Jetfire comes to and sees Optimus, who introduces him to Unicron and the chaos that surrounds them. As they contemplate what to do next, the null reality pod arrives. Sparkplug powerlinks with Prime as Over-Run hands him the Matrix. As Optimus takes it, both he and Jetfire undergo a metamorphosis into their Powerlinx forms. They then combine into Jet Optimus and fire at Unicron, damaging him, but not by much. Commetor and Over-Run then powerlink to Jet Optimus, and they all return to their proper reality. As they all regroup on Cybertron, Overload makes contact with Red Alert on Earth, who says that things are in pretty bad shape, with Smokescreen taking the most damage. Optimus orders for Smokescreen to be taken to Cybertron, and then orders him to tell Longarm to issue a general Mini-Con call to arms, saying that "the future ends now!"

Transformers/Humans Featured (in rough order of appearance):
Over-Run, Sparkplug, Commetor, Mirage, High Wire, Astroscope, Spinsiter, Unicron, Optimus Prime, Jetfire, Side Swipe, Blurr, Rhinox, Overload, Scourge, Dirge, Thunderwing, Thrust, Megatron, Bonecrusher, Knock Out, Wreckage, Jetstorm, Runway, Sonar, Payload, Sky Blast, Bludgeon, Powerlinx Optimus Prime, Powerlinx Jetfire, Jet Optimus, Corona Sparkplug, Powerlinx Commetor, Red Alert.

Other Notes:
A Japanese Kanji (apparently his Japanese name) appears on Spinister's back as he calls on Unicron to take him. The realities that Jetfire looks into include a Beast Wars reality (featuring Rattrap and Tigatron) a Robots In Disguise reality (featuring Super Mode Optimus Prime and Prowl) and a Beast Machines reality (featuring Tankor/Tank Drone). When Jetfire looks at the portal that shows Armada Optimus Prime, he instead sees Big Convoy, the leader of the Cybertrons (Maximals) in the Beast Wars Neo reality. The Air Defense Team regain their normal colors after being separated. Once Optimus and Jetfire become Powerlinxed, their respective Mini-Cons also gain their Powerlinx colors, most evident in that Sparkplug gains a gold finish. The scene in which Optimus becomes Powerlinx is reminiscent of the scene from the movie in which Megatron is reformed into Galvatron. This is Jet Optimus' first appearance in the regular comic, having made an appearance in the third toy comic. Red Alert looks amazing well off considering that Megatron supposedly destroyed him last issue. Even though Unicron is radically different in appearance in his Armada incarnation, his shadowy appearances in this issue seem to indicate that his appearance is based on his Generation One character model.

Review: This issue is both the conclusion of the "World's Collide" story arc and a setup for the conclusion of the Armada comic in general. In that sense, it both works and does not. On the one hand, as the conclusion to this storyline, it does a good job of wrapping up all the loose threads. By the end of the issue, all of the time traveling Decepticons have been killed, Optimus Prime is back, and everything appears to be back to normal with the Armadaverse. On the other hand, with Unicron's appearance and his forthcoming arrival in the Armada universe, and as a setup for the final Armada issue, it fails to work for the simple reason that it sets up a situation that I believe the final issue will be unable to handle effectively. In the end, the issue works as a conclusion to the "World's Collide" storyline, but fails as a setup to the end of Armada in general.

Review by Bombshell  sense, it both works and does not. On the one hand, as the conclusion to this storyline, it does a good job of wrapping up all the loose threads. By the end of the issue, all of the time traveling Decepticons have been killed, Optimus Prime is back, and everything appears to be back to normal with the Armadaverse. On the other hand, with Unicron's appearance and his forthcoming arrival in the Armada universe, and as a setup for the final Armada issue, it fails to work for the simple reason that it sets up a situation that I believe the final issue will be unable to handle effectively. In the end, the issue works as a conclusion to the "World's Collide" storyline, but fails as a setup to the end of Armada in general.