Trypticon decimates the Autobots, but Grimlock has more important concerns.
Writer: Simon Furman
Pencils: Andrew Wildman
Inks: Erik Sander
Colors: Espen Grundetjern, Rob Ruffolo & Ramil Sunga
Letters: Ben Lee
- Original release date: January 21st, 2004
- Preceded by: The Dark Ages, Part 3
- Followed by: The Dark Ages, Part 5
- Characters (In order of appearance): Prowl, Jazz, Trypticon, Sideswipe, Skids, Cliffjumper, Gears, Dynobots, Jetfire, Shockwave, Bludgeon, Mindwipe, Bugly, Hound, Trailbreaker, The Fallen
- Chronology: The Dark Ages
Synopsis
Prowl's team of Autobots scramble, overwhelmed by attacks from the talkative Trypticon. Prowl orders the Autobots to split up, but Trypticon is able to hunt his prey with his impressive arsenal. Prowl sends a desperate radio message for helo to anyone who might hear it. But when Hound receives the message, he can only bring a few Autobot reinforcements.
The Dynobots receive this message and debate with their leader, Grimlock, over whether they should respond to it or not. Grimlock maintains that it's more important to investigate the affairs of Jetfire and Shockwave.
The two aforementioned brains meet together, and pool their availible data. But before they can use it to find out the truth, the two come under attack from Bludgeon and his partners. Bludgeon uses dark science to disable Shockwave, and Jetfire's mind is locked into a trace by Mindwipe. The three start to take their bounty home, but soon as they wonder where Grimlock is, the angry Dynobot gets the drop on them. Grimlock quickly disables the three. Jetfire thanks Grimlock for the rescue, but Grimlock attacks Jetfire too.
The rest of the Dynobots assist Prowl's Autobots against Trypticon. Eventually, all their skidplates are saved when the behemoth is summoned away.
Grimlock attacks Jetfire, who only dodges. Grimlock ignores any reason Jetfire spouts. Grimlock explains it was he who summoned Trypticon away so he might save the Autobots. But before Grimlock can finish executing Jetfire, The Fallen arrives.
Quotes
"Let's face it. If I can snare a mind as analytical as Jetfire's..."
"Yours should only be protoform-play to contr-"
- -Mindwipe
THWAMM!
"Why everybody underestimate me?"
- -Grimlock
Errors
- When Jetfire asks Grimlock, "How did you -- ?", Grimlock responds, "Trade secret," but Jetfire is drawn answering instead of Grimlock.
Items of Note
- This issue contained advertisements for:
- Black Sunshine: G1 Ongoing #1 (interior front cover)
- G.I. Joe Season 1 part 1 DVD.
- Viewtiful Joe who is not a G.I.
- War and Peace Trade Paperback
- The Iron Fist: Transformers/G.I. Joe #6 which isn't Viewtiful
- Neon Genesis Evangelion: The Director's Cut
- What Lies Beneath: Transformers Energon #20 (back cover)
- "Declarations Of War" page has various fan-submitted artwork of characters in Cybertronian forms. The winner was Ansun Yan with a design for Ultra Magnus.
- Wavelengths contains an article from the desk of Rob Ruffolo.