Transformers: War Within: The Age Of Wrath #1

Credits

Writer - Simon Furman / Pencils - Joe Ng / Inks - Tracy Ho / Letters - Ben Lee / Colors - Josh Burcham, David Cheung, Rob Ruffolo

Story

After years of war, the Autobots have finally managed to retake most of Cybertron, and have negotiated a peace with the Decepticons and Ultracons. Even so, Ultra Magnus is frustrated, and broods at a hologram of Optimus Prime about all the self-doubt and skepticism he's put himself through over the years. Magnus' tirade ends when Grimlock arrives to take him to the final peace-signing ceremony with the Decepticons.

As preparations for the peace are taking place, Starscream broods from a hiding plce on Moon Alpha. He has no intention of honoring the peace, and his small Predacon force is ready to attack the ceremonies. Leaving Motormaster in charge of the main attack, Starscream departs...

While the Autobot High Council watches from Iacon, the disarmament ceremony begins at Tyger Pax, where Grimlock frets about the possibility of attack. Shockwave, Ratbat, and the other Decepticons are clearly unhappy with this turn of events, leaving it to Barrage to silence the nosy reporter Slamdance. In tense unison, the factions begin their final disarmament protocol...

Grimlock gets a security alert from the Dinobots as two shuttles breach the security lines! The Autobots initiate countermeasures, but to no avail, and the shuttles fly into the forum and explode! Then, as the High Council watches in confusion, Starscream breaks into the chambers and slaughters the Council on live video.

At Tyger Pax, Motormaster's team is hunting for survivors when they run into a united front of Autobots, Decepticons, and Ultracons. Motormaster's Predacons are quickly overwhelmed, leaving only Motormaster to escape. But as the Autobots prepare to recover from the attack, Motormaster snipes at Ultra Magnus...

...and Grimlock leaps in the way, taking the fatal shot instead. While Shockwave and Ratbat take down Motormaster, Grimlock dies in Magnus' arms.

As the smoke clears, a legion of grey Seekers emerge from the shadows, surrounding the remaining Transformers with quiet efficiency. Introducing them as heralds of a new order, their master stands revealed... as the long-missing Decepticon leader, Megatron!

Notes and Comments

• Optimus Prime and Megatron both disappeared from Cybertron in issue #1 of the Transformers: The War Within: The Dark Ages limited series.