Transformers: The Movie Prequel #1

Credits

Story - Chris Ryall / Writer - Chris Ryall and Simon Furman / Art - Don Figueroa / Letters - Robbie Robbins / Colors - Josh Burcham

Story

From the surface of the planet Cybertron, a fireball erupts into deep space. At its core is a sole Autobot wrapped in a protective carapace, who begins a desperate search across the galaxy for the AllSpark...

In flashback, it is revealed that the AllSpark is the most sacred artifact on the metallic planet of Cybertron. Though its origins are unknown, the AllSpark is both the source of the planet's life-sustaining energy and its robot life forms. Unfortunately, the peaceful reign of Optimus Prime came to an end when Lord High Protector Megatron launched a planet-wide war, seeking to claim the AllSpark for his own ambitions.

As the war progressed, the AllSpark was secretly moved to Tyger Pax, a feint known only to a select few. Unfortunately, the gambit failed, and a Decepticon strikeforce soon attacked the region, resisted only by a squad of six Autobots. The one-sided battle takes a turn for the worse when Megatron himself joins the fray, and a massive explosion sends the last three Autobots underground. There, they draw the Decepticons into a subterranean chamber, just before the Autobots collapse the roof...

The plan fails; the Autobots are eventually awakened by the Decepticons, who torture them for the whereabouts of the AllSpark. Only the squad leader knows the plan: even as they speak, preparations are being completed to jettison the AllSpark into deep space, keeping it away from the Decepticons forever. Sensing that the AllSpark is nearby, Megatron himself interrogates the squad leader, tearing off an arm in the process.

With a thunderous roar, the AllSpark suddenly erupts from the ground! It quickly rockets away from the planet, flying towards a wormhole to send it across the universe. As Megatron prepares to follow, the Autobot squad leader tackles him, knocking the Decepticon down long enough for the artifact to disappear! Sneering at this pyrrhic victory, Megatron crushes the Autobot's voice capacitor, then flies off in pursuit with his interstellar jet form.

Autobot reinforcements eventually arrive and rescue the survivors. The squad leader is lauded for his heroic actions; but while his arm is repaired, Megatron's final wound has left him mute. He eventually joins the search for the AllSpark -- a search he performs while forever wondering if he could have done more...

Notes and Comments

• The text of the inside front cover reads:
  

  Cybertron! A wholly metallic planet populated by robotic beings given life and "Spark" by an energized Allspark of unknown origin. These sentient mechanoids existed in a state of peace that was ultimately shattered when one of their own sought to possess the Allspark for his own sinister purposes. As civil war overtook the planet, robots fought passionately on both sides, seeking to either protect or possess the life-giving Allspark. Now, all that stands between the malevolent Megatron and The Allspark is a cadre of six intrepid Autobots...

• The unnamed Autobot squad leader is Bumblebee.
• Aside from Megatron and Optimus Prime, the only other Transformer named in this issue is Arcee, who is a member of the unit at Tyger Pax.