Transformers Summer Special #1

Transformers: Generation 1 - "Welcome to the Jungle"

Credits

Writers - Brad Mick with Adam Patyk / Pencils - Pat Lee / Inks - Rob Armstrong / Backgrounds - Edwin Garcia / Lettering - Ben Lee / Colors - Alan Wang

Story

After leaving the planet of Junk (see Transformers: Generation 1 (ongoing) #4), Megatron searches the galaxy for warriors to rebuild his army. He proceeds to the planet Beest, where the long-lost Predacons are residing, and is immediately attacked by Razorclaw! Razorclaw, believing himself to be a native creature of Beest, savagely wounds Megatron, but runs into the woods when Megatron remains defiant. Leaving his weapons behind, Megatron follows him into the jungle, and soon subdues the Predacon leader. After hours of work, Megatron has managed to retool the Predacons into a combiner team, a hunter of unbridled primal fury called ... Predaking.

Transformers: Energon - "Perspective"

Credits

Writers - Simon Furman (based on an idea by Aaron Archer) / Pencils - James Raiz / Inks - Erik Sander / Lettering - Ben Lee / Colors - Elliot Kravchik with Sigmund Torre

Story

At Decepticon HQ, Megatron is interrogating three of his troops on their failure to infiltrate the Autobots' Ocean City base. Snow Cat describes his effort as a stealthy infiltration that was derailed by a sub-sea earthquake, when in reality he blasted in under heavy fire and was incapacitated by a load of dropped pipes. Slugslinger says he bravely sneaked into the base but was thwarted by an electromagnetic security perimeter, when he timidly entered the base and got flushed out by a sewage drain. And Sharkticon claims to have bypassed the underwater defenses but got stopped by a strategic lockdown protocol, when he was handily stopped by Kicker and the Autobots.

After hearing all three stories, Megatron tells them collectively that he knew they were lying to cover up their failures. However, he spares them all, simply because is resources are limited. Slugslinger is singled out for cleverly devising an excuse which was the most well-reasoned and difficult to dispute; for his efforts at twisting the truth, he is promoted to Senior Lieutenant.

Transformers: Robots In Disguise - "Ultra Magnus ... To The Rescue?"

Credits

Writers - Adam Patyk with Brad Mick / Pencils - Rob Ruffolo / Inks - Erik Sander / Lettering - Shaun Linsao / Colors - David Cheung with Josh Perez

Story

While Megatron creates diversionary attacks to draw out the Autobots, Sky-Byte and Scourge are sent to Arizona to steal an experimental nuclear generator. T-A.I. informs the Autobots of the attack, and Optimus Prime responds -- not knowing that Ultra Magnus is also on his way to the scene.

Optimus arrives as the Predacons and Decepticons bicker among themselves. Ultra Magnus shows up a moment later and immediately attacks, oblivious to the humans in the vicinity. Seizing on this, Scourge threatens to attack a helpless human to force the Autobots to surrender, and Sky-Byte realizes that this victory will humiliate the Predacons before Megatron. Ultra Magnus reluctantly agrees to surrender, and Scourge prepares to deliver a killing blow...

...just as the Predacons scurry by with the generator! With Scourge distracted, Optimus and Magnus attack, denying Scourge a victory even as the Predacons escape with the prize. As Optimus Prime tends to the humans, Ultra Magnus leaves, and the Autobot brothers arrive. Sideburn congratulates Optimus for fending off seven Decepticons, but Prime points out that he had help -- from another Autobot...

Beast Wars - "Ain't No Rat"

Credits

Writers - Brad Mick with Adam Patyk / Pencils - Don Figueroa / Inks - Elaine To / Lettering - Shaun Linsao / Colors - Espen Grundetjern

Story

With Megatron strapped to the outside of their shuttle, the Maximals are finally returning to Cybertron, victors in the Beast Wars. Inside the ship, Rattrap is navigating while everyone else is asleep, but he soon succumbs to exhaustion...

Rattrap is taking a land crawler vehicle for a late-night drive when he is suddenly attacked by Dinobot II, who quickly has the Maximal in his clutches. Despite his appeals to Dinobot's honor, the Predacon clone is about to kill him when three other Maximals -- Bonecrusher, Optimus Minor, and Wolfang -- rescue him. A relieved Rattrap tries to get them to return with him to the Maximal base, but they refuse, telling him they wish to simply stay on Earth in peace.

Rattrap's dream ends as Optimus Primal nudges him awake. Primal asks if he's distressed about something, but Rattrap brushes it off, simply glad to be heading home.

Notes and Comments

• In "Welcome to the Jungle," the other creatures attacking Megatron's forces are the Battle Beasts. In Japan, the toys were known as "Beastformers," and appeared briefly in the Japanese Transformers: Masterforce cartoon series.