#1 - "Abduction"

Credits

Story - Glen Hallit and Dan Khanna / Script - Simon Furman / Pencils - Dan Khanna / Inks - Chuck Gibson, Serge Lapointe, Terry Pallot / Colors - Blond, Hi-Fi Design, Dan Khanna / Letters - Richard Starkings & Comicraft

Story

Following the events of the Beast Machines television show, Cybertron is a techno-organic paradise. At the memorial spaceport, a crowd has gathered for the landing of an Autobot ship, carrying a number of veterans from the Great Wars -- Trailbreaker, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, Roulette and Shadow Striker. While Silverbolt greets them, Sideswipe is confused by Cybertron's new look, and Cheetor demonstrates organic transformations to Trailbreaker. But before the veterans can be welcomed, balls of lightning strike the arena -- and when the light clears, several Transformers have disappeared!

Elsewhere, beyond the bounds of space and time, the Autobots and Maximals are transported into a cage. Blackarachnia is immediately uneasy, feeling evil creeping into her spark. The cage suddenly slams shut, and an ominous voice welcomes them to The Pit...

Meanwhile, on Cybertron, the spirit of Alpha Trion confers with Primus, creator of the Transformers. Primus realizes that the Autobots have been captured by his eternal foe, who is launching a new, multi-reality struggle against the forces of light. Despite this threat, Primus believes they can prevail.

Back in The Pit, Silverbolt is being painfully torn apart and rebuilt by dark forces. After his reformatting, he is returned with the others; all of them have been changed as well, except for Trailbreaker. Surveying their surroundings, they find themselves in a strange but oddly familiar landscape. Roulette and Shadow Striker suggest going to a nearby building and get under some cover.

Before they can do so, they are attacked by bizarre constructs crawling out of nearby pits! The heroes struggle to fight them off, but are quickly overwhelmed, and the mysterious beings begin to transform into various shapes, even as two dark figures watch from overhead in obvious glee. Unable to win the battle, the Autobots and Maximals surrender, whereupon their foes stop attacking and allow them to enter a nearby building.

Inside is a massive stadium, filled with numerous caged Transformers of all factions and types. The constructs try to cage Blackarachnia, but she struggles against them; she is immediately knocked unconscious by Tankor, even as Striker, Reptilion, Obsidian and Razorclaw appear as well. Silverbolt names a few Transformers for Trailbreaker, but misidentifies Razorclaw for Tigerhawk, who tersely corrects him. Obsidian explains that all the Transformers here are from different realities, and they have been gathered here -- the Cauldron -- to fight!

To demonstrate how the Cauldron corrupts all within, Obsidian orders Armada Smokescreen and the original Smokescreen to battle each other to the death. The two fight ferociously, without regard for each other, and Armada Smokescreen soon destroys his namesake. Obviously pleased, Obsidian identifies his master, the Dark God Unicron! Obsidian explains that while Unicron is currently damaged, the fights in the Cauldron will renew his strength, enabling him to be reborn once more...

On Cybertron, Primus realizes the situation has become truly desperate, and summons from the depths of reality a new leader for the Autobots -- Optimus Primal.

Notes and Comments

• The comic book was published by 3H Productions, the organizers of The Official Transformers Collectors' Convention. It was available exclusively to attendees of OTFCC 2003.
• The comic includes character profiles for Razorclaw, Reptilion, Rook, Roulette, Sideswipe, Snarl, and Sunstreaker.
• Roulette and Shadow Striker are based on convention-exclusive toys that were available at OTFCC 2003.