WAR WITHIN: THE AGE OF WRATH #3

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

Plot Summary

Autobot Tactical Bunker

Slamdance tells the Turbomasters about how he escaped from Starscream’s rampage on the Autobot council (AOW #1) and discovered the mystical “Source”. However, his tale is interrupted by Perceptor, who sends him on a mission. As he leaves, Flash complains about the lack of action on their part, and that they should be doing something. Perceptor counters that they are indeed doing something: attempting to find Optimus Prime

Orbital Torus State: Nova Cronum

Nightbeat radios to Blaster that the Clone they had cornered (AOW #2) has now shut down, allowing them to place an inhibitor on it and take it back to base. As Nightbeat prepares to do so, however, the clone reactivates, rearms itself, grabs Nightbeat and tosses him against the nearest wall. He then proceeds to categorize by threat the other Autobots and begin to attack.

Iacon Command

Perceptor briefs the Turbomasters on their plan. Perceptor surmises that when Prime and Megatron disappeared in the Space Bridge accident (Dark Ages #1), they managed to make contact with some place in the universe instead of being “destroyed” as they thought. They are now trying to find the imprint of said portal transport and find out where Optimus is. Override then summons Perceptor to the command center, who tells the Turbomasters not to touch anything.

Orbital Torus State Praxus: Decepticon Command Aerie

Shockwave berates Rumble and Frenzy, whom he thinks disrupted his analysis of the Air Warrior Clones. (AOW #2) Rumble and Frenzy insist that they didn’t do it, having been counting the Autobot casualties. Shockwave, unimpressed, dismisses the two cassettes. As they go back to counting their casualties, they are thrown aside as something impacts against the wall.

Orbital Torus State: Nova Cronum

The Air Warrior Clone continues to trounce Nightbeat’s crew, taking out Hosehead and Siren. Joyride attempts to damage the clone’s weapons, but he discharges them from his body before they explode. As the clone prepares to take out Slapdash and end the battle, Getaway manages to place the inhibitor on it, shutting it down permanently.

Autobot Tactical Bunker

As Blaster and Perceptor begin to worry about the lack of response from Nightbeat’s team, Getaway makes contact, saying that they’ve managed to acquire it. Although Blaster is elated, Perceptor insists that was the easy part, and that the worse is soon to come.

Nearby, Boss, Scorch and Hurricane are trying to find Flash, but run into a dead end. Realizing that he has backtracked their course, they hurry back. But they are too late, as Flash arrives at the Space Bridge room just as it activates, sending him headlong to the planet Quintessa!

Review

I can liken this issue to a game of chess in its early stages: all the pieces are out, and now it’s time to make the moves. Flash’s transportation to Quintessa sets the stage for the rest of series, which will see the return of Prime and the battle to end all battles.

But before we get there, we run into a very interesting character piece. The battle between Nightbeat’s crew and the Clone serves to showcase each of them in turn as they each get a crack at taking the clone out and each of them failing at it. It’s only because of Getaway and his redundant systems that they manage to pull it off. I would not have liked this scene if it had involved more well known characters, as it’s something that we would have expected to happen immediately. With a cast of (relative) unknowns, we don’t know whether or not they’ll make it, which serves to make the scene a very memorable one.

One other thing of note is the Turbomasters and their inclusion in this story. Nightbeat and his crew may be unknown to most of the fandom, but at least people have heard of them. But I dare you to name anyone who has heard of these characters. Chances are there are very few people who do. The fact that one of them ends up playing a major role in the next issue is something that should prove to be interesting.

Artwise, Ng continues to impress me. There really isn’t anywhere that looks puffy or overblown. And of particular interest to me are the wonderfully done new designs for the Turbomasters, Siren and Joyride. As characters who never truly had “Earth” modes to begin with, it was interesting to see them have “Cybertronian” modes.

This series continues to impress me, and I hope that it will justify the faith that I’ve placed in it. The last time the War Within series had a Prime vs. Megs fight, it wasn’t at all interesting. I’m hoping it turns out differently this time.

Review by Bombshell