comics: The War Within guide:

issue nr: Vol 1 000 series: The War Within cover date: 2002-08-01 writer: Simon Furman penciler: Don Figueroa inker: Don Figueroa colorist: Rob Ruffolo Autobots/Maximals featured: Grimlock, Emirate Xeon Decepticons/Predacons featured: Starscream, Skywarp, Thundercracker, Maul Locations featured: Kaon and Sector Six-Zero, Cybertron First appearance of: Emirate Xeon, Maul Death of: Maul

Story synopsis
Deep in the Decepticons’ orbital Torus state of Kaon, Grimlock sits alone with his thoughts. Suddenly he hears someone call out his name, and it turns out to be Starscream, who comes and lands next to him, accompanied by Skywarp and Thundercracker. Starscream asks Grimlock if he’s back in Kaon because he’s nostalgic about the good old days. Starscream then claims that the Decepticon army cannot be stopped, and that there is no hope for Grimlock now that he’s joined the Autobots.

Starscream reminds Grimlock of the gladiatorial games, where Grimlock always enjoyed the thrill of the fight. He tells Grimlock that he’s still one of them, but this makes Grimlock lash out in anger, and he grabs Starscream and hurls him away. But Starscream won’t give up, and informs Grimlock that he and the Seekers are on their way to destroy an Autobot command post in Sector Six-Zero, and he invites him along to follow his true calling. With that, the Decepticons depart.

Several thousand years earlier in Kaon, peace and harmony reigns over Cybertron. But beneath the surface of the planet the gladiatorial arenas are full of Decepticons honing their art in violent fashion. As Grimlock prepares for combat back stage, Starscream attempts to fire him up for the coming match. Grimlock makes clear that he doesn’t need his advice, and that he already knows how to hit, as Starscream’s not-quite-yet healed scars prove.

But Starscream starts to goad Grimlock, telling him the rumours that the Decepticons don’t think of him as inner circle material because he lacks what it takes to deliver the killing blow. Grimlock strongly disagrees, and begins to throttle Starscream. Starscream blurts out that he doesn’t share the others’ opinions, but that Megatron is keeping a close eye on Grimlock, and he can no longer afford to show weakness. He has to prove himself, and his opponent, Maul, will not be holding back.

As Grimlock heads up to the arena, Emirate Xeon approaches Starscream, requesting his pay. Starscream hands over the bribe, ensuring that Xeon will not inform the High Council about the growing prominence of the games. Meanwhile in the arena, Grimlock smashes his opponent into a pulp in a blur of violent action. The crowd cheer on, awaiting him to deliver the final blow…

Thousands of years later (mid civil war) and Starscream and the Seekers arrive at Sector Six-Zero. Skywarp berates Starscream for telling Grimlock their mission profile, and Thundercracker reminds him that Grimlock is now signed up to the Autobots and cannot be trusted. But Starscream assures them both that Grimlock is still one of them deep down.

But to Starscream’s surprise they find the command post is deserted. Suddenly they receive a transmission from Grimlock - he’s had everyone evacuate, wiped the mainframe and re-routed all tactical data. He signs off by informing Starscream that he may not like Optimus Prime and the Autobots that much, but he likes the Decepticons even less.

Starscream stands frozen to the spot. Skywarp grabs him, but the base is suddenly consumed by a huge explosion…

Remarks
The War Within marks a pivotal and positive turning point for Dreamwave for several key reasons. Firstly, the hiring of fan favourite and past master Simon Furman was a masterstroke. Long term fans disappointed with the flimsiness G1 Vol. 1 were delighted at this news, whilst others would benefit from a more expansive continuity, as Dreamwave’s Transformers Universe would be fleshed out by going back to the very beginning of the war. War Within proves the ideal sister comic to Dreamwave’s first G1 volume. In next to no time Dreamwave would have a huge back-story to give their present day Transformer stories more clout, and an epic feel harking back to the ferocity of Marvel’s G2 comic.

Secondly, the discovery of hot new talent Don Figueroa was critical. Whilst Pat Lee’s art style in G1 Vol. 1 certainly had a good following, it also had its fair share of detractors as well. Readers would be a lot less divided on Figueroa’s style, and this comic marks the debut of possibly the greatest Transformers artist since Geoff Senior.

After reading this preview, many fans of the original comic were justifiably excited. Decent air time is given to Grimlock and Starscream, two characters that Furman wrote so well at the end of the G1 run and throughout G2. Grimlock was on Cybertron, which alluded to his old comic (and not cartoon) origin, and was written in typical Furman style, as opposed to Chris Sarracini’s dim witted imposter in G1 Vol. 1 (a character that made Grimlock’s cartoon version look like Einstein). For UK fans there was also the tantalising possibility of finding out more about the gladiatorial games, a staple part of Marvel UK continuity, and also more about the rise to prominence of Optimus Prime.

Alas, many would eventually be disappointed on these counts, as the subsequent series would not only go some way to alienating cartoon fans (the aforementioned presence of Grimlock on Cybertron, and also the ditching of Prime’s Orion Pax creation story) but Furman would forge ahead in the face of previous comic continuity as well. Hence the Constructicons would later put in an appearance on Cybertron, and Prime would start out as an archivist, instead of a junior officer. Any hopes of finding out more about the state games were dashed – these games were simply secret underground arena battles where the Decepticons grew in stature, and the political intrigue would be replaced with a more mystical angle.

Once you get round the fact that Furman (and Dreamwave) are discarding previous continuities and starting on a blank slate, there is a hell of a lot to enjoy in the War Within series, and this preview comic certainly whetted a lot of peoples’ appetites. The notion that Grimlock and Starscream were once comrades-in-arms is a fresh and fascinating one, putting a fresh spin on their relationship, as well as adding an extra layer to Grimlock’s character, and going some way to explaining his actions in later years. The focus for now is on Grimlock’s inner battle, though it would shift to Prime’s battle ‘within’ in upcoming issues. Grimlock and Starscream would later be a trifle overused for the rest of the mini-series, but Furman’s attention to character is welcome, and the use of only four main Transformers in this preview would definitely have the desired effect in leaving fans wanting more.

Figueroa’s artwork is a revelation. There’s so much to enjoy, from a brooding Grimlock and a smug Starscream, to the beautifully realised cityscapes of pre-war Cybertron. Furman certainly had the right man to help deliver his epic style of story telling. The new character designs are meticulous, and look fantastic. Grimlock’s face design recalls his Earthen dinosaur mode ever so subtly, whilst also being similar to Figueroa’s character of ‘Sawtooth’ who featured in his own online Macromasters comic (the fan work that no doubt helped Figueroa get picked up by Dreamwave’s radar). The only small downside is that Figueroa still has a little to learn when it comes to portraying action. Grimlock’s tussle in the arena looks a little static, and the instance when he grabs Starscream looks clumsy. But Figueroa would improve this aspect of his work in no time, and on the whole this preview comic is undeniably superb eye candy. The War Within would be Dreamwave’s best output so far at the time of its completion.

Character development
Grimlock has no time for Starscream at all. He seems to have hated him when he was in cahoots with the Decepticons, and he still hates him now. He rebuffs all of Starscream’s attempts to woo him back to the Decepticon cause. When Starscream asks him if he’s remembering the good old days, Grimlock simply retorts: “Good old days… yes. When I used to beat your face into tempered pulp.” Grimlock seems to have had little in common with the Decepticon agenda: “Before, in peace time, needed an outlet, but war change all that. All that anger, all that rage… has direction now.” Grimlock has no doubt got anger issues, and appears to walk the fine line between good and evil. But in truth his true nature is never in doubt, as even as a prize-fighter in the games he lacked the typical Decepticon bloodlust. Starscream puts it: “Word is, you haven’t got what it takes, for the kill. Can’t quite follow through.” Grimlock couldn’t fit in during the days of peace on Cybertron, where he suffered from “that cold, hard thing [that] makes you want to bust heads. But you have to hide it, smother it.” With the advent of war, Grimlock finds purpose, which makes him more dangerous than ever. We also find out that Grimlock doesn’t like Optimus Prime much.

Starscream tried to take Grimlock under his wing when they were on the same side thousands of years ago, and is still trying to get Grimlock to defect. His motives are vague, though no doubt Starscream sees the practicality of having a powerful ally like Grimlock on his side (possibly to take on Megatron, or simply to get in his good books). The fact that he wants Grimlock to join him must mean he respects the Dinobot to some extent. Starscream is reckless and too overconfident though, and ends up telling Grimlock his mission profile. “Deep down he knows… he’s one of us,” he claims, but Starscream is very wide of the mark. When he says, “I know exactly how to push Grimlock’s buttons,” it seems all he really knows is how to irritate him. He doesn’t understand him, and never did. Starscream’s stupidity becomes clear when Grimlock blows up the command post, nearly killing Starscream in the process.

Starscream seems to call the shots in regards to his Seeker colleagues Skywarp and Thundercracker, though they’re not afraid to question his judgement several times. Thundercracker comes across as the quieter of the other two Seekers.

Trivia
The events in this issue take place in between War Within Vol. 1 issues 2 and 3.

Before Grimlock’s arena battle, his energo-sword is visible without the energy field around it. According to More than Meets the Eye issue 8, Grimlock’s sword is an energon-based weapon, with an energon-powered fuel cell that enhances the cutting blade’s properties. Presumably this can be activated whenever necessary, as long as the cell is not out of power.

Cybertron once had a High Council.

The Decepticons held numerous games in secret beneath the surface of Cybertron before the war began.

Skywarp can apparently generate teleportation portals. This is the first instance that we see him teleport himself in this manner (rather than just vanishing as he has done in previous continuities). His More Than Meets The Eye profile states: “A design quirk bestows Subject with his most useful ability: instantaneous teleportation. He can transport himself up to 2.5 miles in one jump.”

Memorable quotes
“Grimlock. It is you. I thought I recognised that gargantuan, knuckle-scraping figure… even at alt. 30K.” Starscream.

Mistakes
Starscream says to Grimlock “I never could work out why you did throw in with Optimus Prime and not Megatron.” This is a clear continuity error, as in issue 1 prior to Optimus becoming Prime, Grimlock appears to be already 100% behind the Autobot cause and in a high position in the army. The quote would have read better if it referred to ‘Sentinel’ Prime instead.

reviewed by: spiderfrommars