Prime Directive issue 3

« Transformers: Generation 1 #3 »
We all get to be in this issue? What do you mean, no?
Publisher	Dreamwave Productions
First published	June 5, 2002
Cover date	June 2002
Writer	Chris Sarracini
Penciler	Pat Lee
Inker	Rob Armstrong, Erik Sander, Ferdinand Poblete
Backgrounds	Edwin Garcia
Colorist	Ramil Sunga, Gary Yeung, Alan Wang, Talent Pun
Letterer	Dreamer Design
Editor	Roger Lee
Continuity	Dreamwave continuity
Chronology	Modern era

Spike acts whiny, Transformers do what Transformers do, Lazarus goes heavy metal, and Hallo drops a bomb.

Synopsis

Spike Witwicky and Optimus Prime stand at the scene of the Smitco Oil Refinery attack and survey the damage. Spike accuses Prime of being responsible for the recent deaths, and all human casualties resulting from the Transformer war. Optimus is trying to figure out how that even begins to make sense when General Hallo receives a call about an explosion at Lazarus's headquarters, Optimus demands to know the location. He then rallies the revived Autobots to fight on, and refuses Spike's insistence that they get help from the human military.

And where's me Lucky Charms??

At the northern tip of the Northwest Territories, Megatron has Lazarus on a leash and is preaching to the human about evolution. At Megatron's order, Soundwave pulls the switch on a glowing, spherical device that releases a metallic-looking liquid. The liquid coats Lazarus's body, apparently solidifying him into a metal statue. The liquid continues to coat everything in sight as Megatron and the Decepticons leave the building to face off against the Autobots.

Optimus Prime arrives on scene and, while trading barbs with Megatron, the Decepticon leader reveals his plan to turn Earth into a new Cybertron-like planet using a cyber-virus. Megatron tries to convince Optimus Prime that the humans aren't worth defending, and reveals that one of Optimus's own troops has defected to his way of thinking.

The two groups start fighting outright when a human helicopter appears overhead. Hallo gives the order to initiate Operation Clean-Up, despite Spike's protests. The helicopter releases a missile above the battlefield and a massive explosion envelopes the combatants below.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Quotes

"What's Megatron's plan this time?"
"Who cares? You just know it's going to be evil. And evil is always fun."

—Skywarp and Starscream ponder what lies ahead

"You pathetic bags of flesh...wandering around this tiny rock...thinking you're in control...waiting for the next ice age to wipe you out. It's going to be a pleasure speeding up the process."

—Megatron

Notes

• This was the third issue in a row to top Diamond Comic Distributors' sales charts. With 131,586 copies ordered for June 2002, this marked the peak of the Generation 1 mini-series's success.^[1]
• The middle of the comic contains a two-page spread by James Raiz and Alan Wang with Kenny Li featuring Beast Era Transformers.
• Following the story is a two-page spread by Pat Lee and Alan Wang with Kenny Li featuring a group of Generation 1 Decepticons and members of Cobra. A companion piece to this spread, featuring Autobots alongside members of G.I. Joe and drawn by Steve Kurth, was published in Image Comics' G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #6.

Covers (2)

—All covers by Pat Lee

• Cover A: Autobots
• Cover B: Decepticons

• 

  All that is missing is a small bicycle for Bumblebee to ride on.

• 

  The Insecticons, just moments before a hilarious anime pratfall.

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References