#67 - "Rhythms of Darkness"

Credits

Writer - Simon Furman / Penciler - Jose Delbo / Inker - Danny Bulanadi / Lettering - Jim Massara / Colors - Nel Yomtov

Story

It is the year 2009. Cybertron has been destroyed by Unicron, and the Decepticons run rampant on Earth's American continents. In the shattered ruins of New York City, a power-mad Galvatron leads the Monster Pretenders on a hunt for the last members of the Autobot army. Though they run into a few booby-traps, they are unable to find any of their foes.

In nearby New Jersey, seven surviving Autobots and a handful of humans sneak away from Galvatron's hunt. The situation is dire: to stop the Decepticons, the remaining world powers will bombard the Americas with nuclear weapons at midnight, and they will only stop the launch if the Autobots can show some sign of victory before then. Tempers flare; the Autobots bemoan the futility of their cause, and the humans blame them for bringing their war to Earth in the first place. Humbled, Jazz apologizes, and the Autobots commit themselves to the evening's desperate attack.

Later, at the Decepticon's main base, Scourge and Cyclonus await the nuclear attack with bored complacency. This allows the Autobots to storm the base as the rest of the world watches via spy satellites. Galvatron arrives to destroy Cyclonus out of spite, then he attacks the Autobots. During the confusion, Spike Witwicky climbs above the base, then raises the American flag and claims it for the United States. This symbolic victory is enough to convince the world powers to abort the nuclear launch.

Before Galvatron can destroy this token triumph, Hook, Line, and Sinker arrive (from last issue) and capture him for Unicron. They vanish into the folds of time; Galvatron's disappearance revitalizes the Autobots, leaving them with new hope against the Decepticons.

Notes and Comments

• The cover for this issue was drawn by Jim Lee, one of the founding artists of Image Comics.
• The seven surviving Autobots in this story are Jazz, Prowl, Inferno, Crossblades, Guzzle, Chainclaw, and Getaway. By the end of the issue, only Jazz, Prowl, and Inferno remain alive.
• Scott Hutchins notes that this issue is the first appearance of Inferno in the American comic book series -- four years after the toy was first introduced.
• I personally feel that the remaining world powers would want a resistance victory more substantial than raising a flag over the Decepticon base, myself.