DW TF vs Joe 1: #6
Enfilade
***
The cover of this one is rather odd. In the initial solicitation, it
showed Megatron holding Prime's decapitated head by the neck-wires.
Later ads had Prime's head hidden by a cloud of fog. I wondered if
this was to avoid spoiling a surprise. However, in the actual cover,
once again Prime's head is completely obscured by fog and it is
impossible to see what he is holding.
Prime's head looked much better visible :)
Anyway, Roadblock touches on a historical issue when he mentions one
of the things he likes about the Joe team is that no one cares what
colour anyone else is.
The slaves are in danger as the Joes attack. Megatron tries to warn
Cobra Commander of impending collateral damage, but CC replies "That's
what they're there for."
Four Joes fall into the water--Grunt, Lifeline, Leatherneck and Beach
Head. One helps the others to the surface, but in so doing, tires
himself out and drowns. Wheeljack remarks that the others survive
"thanks to the little guy." Much to my annoyance though, the art
makes it impossible for me to tell WHICH of the four characters it is,
which ruins the otherwise striking imagery.
Lady Jaye uses a crude spear to take on Major Bludd and "his
mercenaries the Dreadnoks." Zartan shows up disguised as Flint and
tells her to stand down. By doing so, she knows it's not Flint, and
strikes.
The Autobots and Decepticons face off! Grimlock accuses Soundwave of
being weak and a coward by striking and then running. Soundwave
reports. "Guerilla warfare minimizes risk, conserves resources.
Assessment of weakness: incorrect." And blasts him!
The Autobots tear up the Decepticons, and then wonder to
themselves--have the Decepticons gotten weaker or have the AUtobots
become harder, more merciless?
Cobra Commander tells Megatron to do something. Megatron refuses,
stating the Autobots and Joes "are YOUR enemies now." Shockwave is
exhausted, wrecked by constant firing and the fact that CC did not
give him time to repair and recalibrate. CC won't give Megatron the
matrix to let him fix Shockwave though, not trusting him.
Scarlett and Snake Eyes go into the castle where Destro and Starscream
prepare to wake Bruticus. Baronness arrives and shoots STarscream in
a fatal weak spot, knocking him out, and then goes to strike CC as
Destro begins his plan--using Bruticus, a fusion of Destro's and
Cybertronian tech.
Rocks fall. Megatron stands by, permitting them to half-crush CC and
pin him, crippling his legs. Megatron's only response is to transform
into gun mode...allowing CC the only mercy Megatron will give him.
(I rather like this Megatron, who neither rages nor bows...you can
tell his "servility" is all faked, and that he's getting private
amusement out of his waiting game.)
Prime tries to find the Matrix to stop Bruticus while the other Bots
evacuate the humans from his path.
Before CC can shoot himself, the Baroness arrives and finishes the job
herself...only to be ambushed by Scarlett as Snake Eyes takes the
Matrix. Prime tells Snake Eyes to crush the Matrix, and he does...
Destro and the Baroness are told they will face war-crimes trials, but
then...then it is noticed that none of hte TFs are moving. Not
Bruticus, not Megatron, not Destro...because the Matrix somehow
powered all TF tech, and with it destroyed, all the TFs are
deactivated. The Joes realize that the Autobots made a deliberate
sacrifice play in order to take out Bruticus and the
Decepticons..."there's a fine line between being a hero and being a
memory, and sometimes there's no line at all."
THE END