If memory serves, the name came from one of the tie-in novels released around the same time as Dreamwave's G1.

 

Transformers The War Within #1
October 2002
Story - Simon Furman, Pencils - Don Figeroa, Inks - Don Figeroa, Elaine To, Colors - Rob Ruffalo

The opening G1 mini was hit and miss, but we're in good hands now. I am not someone who gripes about Simon Furman, I enjoy his Transformers writing, and Don Figeroa is absolutely my favorite Transformers artist of them all. Between the two of them they produced a superb early war Transformers story, and Rob Ruffalo's colors are bright and lush and really compliment the artwork. I think this is the first time we saw so many of the G1 characters redesigned en masse like this, so that's noteworthy. That triple gatefold cover is so good it should be a poster. I'm gushing with enthusiasm here, I know, but this remains one of my favorite Transformers mini-series.

The opening splash page is succinct: Sentinel Prime is dead. All we see is his forearm and hand, both damaged, and in the background smoke and flames and a half-toppled structure, with jets flying away in the distance, probably after a bombing run. The next page gives us Iacon, the capital city, still intact, and the death of Sentinel Prime is all Bluestreak wants to talk about, while an unnamed archivist, who will clearly be Optimus Prime, just wants to work. He's not interested in gossip, he's not interested in the war, and he doesn't care about the rumors. Bluestreak reprimands him for playing it safe while others are fighting and dying.

The story shifts to those fighting and dying out in the war zone, among them Kup, Ironhide, Wheeljack, Skids and Grimlock. This is Furman's Grimlock, so he's a very familiar figure in how he speaks and how he acts. Trailbreaker and Bumblebee witness an attack by Skywarp and Thundercracker on the neutral city of Altihex, and it's clear the Decepticons aren't going to respect that declaration. Grimlock declares that there's been too much retreating, and soon there will be nowhere left to go. It's time for a Prime who will take the fight to the enemy, and even if I hadn't read this before, I recognize the beginning of a conflict between that next Prime and Grimlock. Especially when the next page shows us the Ancients (in a chamber with a floor that looks like the Matrix of Leadership, and "Till All Are One" on the wall) informing the Archivist that he has been chosen by "the Source" to be the next Prime, and we've already seen that he's not too invested in the war and certainly doesn't think like Grimlock. Grimlock, meanwhile, meets with Jazz and Prowl and plainly states that they are out of time, and if the next Prime doesn't get it right, it's time to stage a coup. I think Grimlock is clearly thinking of himself as the candidate here.

In the oracle tank, Prime sees visions, and there's some fun details here. Omega Sentinels guard the tank, Sky Lynx, Starscream and Shockwave are seen, and a shadowy figure that may be Megatron is visible in the panel where the still unnamed Archivist floats the idea of just letting the Decepticons have Cybertron if they want it so badly.

The Archivist (and I keep calling him that because I don't think he's ever named until this scene) is invested with the Matrix with a solemn ceremony and proclaimed to be Optimus Prime, even as assassins creep towards the chamber. A fierce fight ensues and though the Autobots kill a few, Grimlock insists that Jazz wait and see what the new Prime is made of. Prime easily defeat the final assassin who commits suicide after taunting Prime. The Autobots cheer their new leader, but that stops quickly when his first command is to prepare for planetwide evacuation. That in and of itself would be a great cliffhanger, but the book ends with Megatron finally revealed, no doubt expecting his assassin's taunts to bring Prime to him. A caption on the next to last page reads "within" giving us one of a couple of meanings of the series title. It's going to be a physical war within the planet itself, beneath the surface, and ultimately a battle within Optimus Prime to be who he needs to be.

I did more plot summarizing and less commentary than I often like to do. I have to summarize some events to comment on them, though I try not to go overboard since people who want to know what happens can just read the issue. But if nothing else it demonstrates that this book is packed with plot. It puts Prime Directive to shame with just how much occurs in this one issue. The death of Sentinel Prime, the introduction of several main characters, the establishment of a character conflict between Prime and Grimlock, all interspersed with character moments from familiar faces who look a little different thanks to the redesigns. For the most part, those redesigns are excellent, leaving all the characters recognizable despite the changes. I even like the callback to some of the G1 toys with Ironhide's windshield in front of his face, even if it doesn't make a lot of sense. One of the Decepticon assassins becomes a pistol, which is a fun reference to G1 Megatron's alt mode later on. And I like this hint that there is something important about Cybertron, and that it is more than just a planet, and that the war is a test of the Transformers race, the first of many. Hints of some greater purpose do more to inspire the imagination than explanations, and I think Furman properly showed restraint in his storytelling here.

Just to comment on a few ads, we see what must have been the original plan for the G1 profile books. The copy mentions four issues, and of course we ultimately got eight. And then there's a Toys R Us ad for the first wave of the Commemorative Series reissues. There are solicits for War Within #2, Armada #5, the trade paperback of Prime Directive, and two posters: Devastator vs Superion and a G1 battle poster by James Raiz. Dreamwave really was all-in with the Transformers franchise at this point.

I rarely ever give a perfect 10 out of 10, and though there are no doubt flaws in this issue, it's so good I'm going to give that rare 10 of 10. Great story, great art, and the characters feel like themselves. It's good on its own, and looks even better compared with what we just finished. I'm not likely to give another 10 out for some time, but this issue deserves it.

 

Haven't been keeping up because college has been kicking my ass, but I'm officially tapping out from the read along.

 

Well, the art sure has taken a leap for the better. I don't really like the Dreamwave "only ink the characters and / or foreground elements" deal, as good inking is much, much more than mere tracing; inking creates separation and depth. Sometimes I have a bit of a hard time understanding certain things here, but Don was basically a fan artist and is suddenly thrown into the real thing, and does great.

There are one or two things I don't like (he does odd panel breaks here and there, there are some poor storytelling decisions and I don't really like the coloring making everything have lights, be lit, etc.), but whatever, that's nitpicking. The character designs are all solid at the very least and more typically, really good, full of detail, but not to the point of distraction like you might see in early Alex Milne work. Don gets better as he goes, demonstrably better. I don't honestly recall if I had already seen Macromasters prior to this or not, but I love it when fan artists like Don (and later, Nick) made it to the big time.

The Furman script feels pretty lean, almost terse in places. Feels like he is almost channelling Larry Hama in places. I don't know if "Optronix"* being a file clerk / archivist / whatever really works for me; that's what Prowl should be doing, maybe. I do like that he thinks the Matrix is bunk. This may have been a bit too in media res for me, but I was so happy that

1) Furman was back
2) Furman was telling a story of the beginning of the war

which was something I always wanted. By this point I had kind of soured on the whole Earth thing for Transformers in general and just wanted stories about Cybertron so this hit me right where I wanted.

It's a little lean on detail and is relying on us knowing the personalities of certain characters, but if you ignore that, it's good stuff. It's certainly about seven hundred times better than the first issue (either first issue) of the Sarrinchi / Lee mini.


*ugh. I know they were unsure if they could use Orion Pax but Optronix is lame. Someone upthread pointed out that they don't even use it, here, so I guess he's just nameless data guy

 

"This, then, is the sign. The truth, the wisdom. This is...OPTIMUS PRIME!"

I still get shivers whenever I reach that page. Guys, sorry, but I wont be able to be analytical of this series either. I just have too many fond memories of finding this comic and reading it for the first time. I mean, I started working, with my first paychecks I went to a comic store and there was this. Something I didnt know it even existed! Not only a Transformers comic but a one called "The War Within" and with this sort of Optimus Prime in the cover? WTF, man!??!? xD I got it, I opened it, the cover did this thing to show a full image and it was mindblowing! Then you open it and you go "Holy sh-it! This is before they even come to Earth!!!" You see the war going full on Cybertron, Prime is not even Prime when the comic starts and then he gets the Matrix in this ceremony when some random Cons attack and Grimlock is all pissed and checking his reaction. And before that you see the Autobots trying to survive this thing! Prowl in there contemplating what was his home and it feels real? And then the issue end with Megatron calling for Optimus.
I mean, seriously, how can I analize this without my inner fanboy to get in the middle? I cant, I just cant.
Does it have a better start than the previous series? Yes, totally. You dont have some mistery from the get-go, here you are thrown in the war from page 1 and...they are leaving already??? Prime goes all "Nope! We pack and we leave Cybertron to the Cons". WHAT?!?!? xD
Again, SO SORRY!! xD I f--ing love these comics! xD And Don Figueroa's art. DON.F---ING.FIGUEROA!! Oh my god! The G1 first mini series had a decent/good art but this is something else. ITs so damn inspiring!
Nope, sorry, cant go on without. ....

I am gonna suffer every week, waiting to read the next issue. Right? xD

 

War Within #1:

I dug my floppies out of storage just in time for this first issue of War Within. Although I didn’t follow the series at the time it was released, this was the issue that got me back into Transformers comics again and persuaded me to go on to see what Furman was doing with IDW. So, I love this series and have a lot of fond memories for it. However, it has been roughly 10 years since I last read this and some of the other Dreamwave issues, so I’ve been very curious to see how this would land with me today.

The answer is: quite well. Following Prime Directive, there’s no question that this is a massive step up in overall quality. However, I would say that neither Furman nor Figueroa are swinging as hard as they did later with IDW’s Stormbringer mini-series. The sense of time and place is a little befuddling at times, and some of the action can be a little unclear (at least, to me).

For example, am I the only one who was confused by the last panel on this page?

Spoiler

After staring at it for a while, and flipping ahead to when he accepts the matrix, I now understand that Prime has turned and is looking into the glow of the matrix chamber (the hole in the center of the matrix platform he’s standing on), but at first glance it looks like he’s being lowered into a pool of lava or something. And the transitions between the Chamber of the Ancients to the Oracle Tank and back to the Chamber of the Ancients required a more scrutinizing eye to determine time and place – but that may just be my old man brain struggling to keep up!

Speaking of the Oracle Tank, wtf is that thing anyway? I can’t remember if it’s a reference to some prior piece of TF lore or if it’ll be explained more in this series, but we’re just dropped into it without any set up about what it does or anything.

The action sequence during the assassination attempt is another example of the action being difficult to parse. Thankfully, looking at the page for a bit ultimately cleared up my confusion, but it seems like it could have been made easier (and quicker) to read exactly what was happening.

Like @dj_convoy II mentioned, I think the overall look of the book is somewhat thrown off by the lack of inks on the backgrounds and effects. It leads to a disjointed feeling, sort of like playing an old PSX game where characters made of polygons move through pre-rendered environments.

Despite those criticisms, the positives of this book can’t be overstated. I feel like War Within is the most influential Transformers comic since the Marvel run – it feels foundational in its subject matter, tone, and art. IDW would go on to get a lot of mileage out of what Furman and Figueroa started here. Not only that, but was this the first time Orion Pax had been an “archivist/data clerk” as part of his origin story? If that originated with this comic, I feel that stuck around for a while, even working its way into Transformers: Prime.

Like many Transformers fans, I always wanted to know more about life on Cybertron before they left for Earth – all sparked by the short glimpse we got in the opening minutes of More Than Meets the Eye pt. 1 of the original cartoon. Even though what’s in this issue is brief compared to how much IDW would flesh out the era, it felt like an oasis in a desert when I first read it. A huge part of that is down to Figueroa’s art. His character models here are insanely good, even if sometimes quirky choices are made (I understand why Ironhide has a windshield over his face, but why does Kup as well?). I’m a big fan of Grimlock’s character design here, and I would really like a high-end toy version of it. Although, to be fair, pretty much all of the character designs are on point here - the design for Optimus Prime was so good they had to take it with them when they went to IDW!

Also, I didn’t realize it at the time, but Siege Ironhide’s alt mode definitely seems to take some inspiration from Don’s design (only less good):

Spoiler

Some other observations:

• Furman’s characters have some really nice characterization, especially compared to the vapid characterization provided by Sarracini in Prime Directive. Bluestreak and Prowl are highlights, offering compelling and sympathetic glimpses into how the war changed society on Cybetron.

• Furman is clearly seeding future conflicts, interpersonal drama, and plot points, but it’s all done so naturally and that utilizes characters in a believable, satisfying way. Again, compared to Prime Directive, it’s a noticeable improvement over things just happening because the script said so. A veteran writer can really make a huge difference.

• Why are the neutrals hanging out in a skyscraper chanting anti-war slogans to themselves?

• It’s amusing to see Furman using OCs, given his renowned penchant for killing characters. I imagine this is because it would interfere with the main Transformers series set in the “present” if he started killing characters in the ancient past. I’m sure there were obscure G1 characters he could have used that never would have appeared in the main series ala TF: ’84, but it’s kind of refreshing to see some new blood.

• That Toys R Us ad stings, especially today - $39.99 for G1 Prime with trailer!

Rating: 9 out of 10

 

Comic: It starts off with Bluestreak talking to Optronix about the war that has been started by Megatron, and that Megatron has killed Sentinel Prime. Optronix tells Bluestreak to stop interrupting while he's trying to file reports, and that he's basically not interested in what is going on beyond his workstation. Bluestreak admonishes Optronix, and tells him that he is now a soldier, and he isn't ready for it, and neither are any of the other Autobots.

Review: Okay, so the Artwork... BAM! It jumps right off of the dang page! From the first shot of Sentinel Prime's hand reaching up to a burning Metropolis, to a city sprawling with mechanical life, to the vaults where Optronix, and Bluestreak are- it all looks fantastic.

I'm not really liking Optronix's dismissive attitude towards the entire thing. That doesn't sit right with me. I am aware that this is not Optimus Prime yet, but I still don't like it. So far, I like the Orion Pax version of this character a lot more. that could change, but I'll have to see where this goes. However, Optronix is by far the better name!

Comic: We are now at Altihex, and straight into a battle between Grimlock, and his soldiers (Kup, Ironhide, Wheeljack, Tracks, Trailbreaker, Bumblebee) vs The Decepticon seekers. Altihex has a big sign written on the top of one of it's buildings that reads neutral. There are voices coming out of that building that are saying things like 'One planet, one race", "No to resistance". meanwhile,the Autobots are trying to evacuate the city, as they know that they have neither the firepower nor the numbers in order to save it. Grimlock is notified by Wheeljack that a Decepticon sky sled is about to take off from a nearby port. The Autobots save as man as they can while Grimlock gets angry about the Autobots not having a Prime to lead them anymore. Grimlock then states that he's tried of falling back, because pretty soon there will be nowhere left to fall back to.

Review: Oh wow! This small battle was great! The sheer enormity of the battle that is happening on Cybertron is conveyed in a very convincing manner. I can actually feel the desperation of the Autobots as they are trying to fight a losing battle.

This is the defining version of Grimlock. As much as he is Simon Furman's favorite character it was actually Bob Budiansky who gave him this try of a personality. I always found it odd how when Bob first started writing for him he made Grimlock a complete badass, and then turned him into a weirdo with a crown... It took Simon to fix that. I'm glad that he did. Because I think everyone who I ever turned onto Marvel's Transformers of Dreamwave's Transformers (excluding Prime Directive) always said that "This is how Grimlock always should have been written".

The Autobot redesigns are also great. I have to give a great deal of credit to Don for the great redesigns. From the seekers to the Autobots everyone looks great, and their alternate modes match their personalities. Also, Don redesigned Cybertron too. Yes, it's Cybertron, and it's existed in a lot of mediums before this, but this is HIS redesign of the planet. Great job so far!

Comic: Optronix is notified by Gravitas of the high council that the matrix has spoken, and that Optronix is to be the next prime. Optronix protests, but Gravitas assures him that he has been chosen.

Review: I don't really like this element of the comic. I really prefer the transferal of the Matrix from one Autobot to the next akin to how it occurred in the cartoon, and how it usually occurred on the battlefield, or by way of someone holding the Matrix until a proper leader arose. maybe that will happen. I'll have to keep reading.

One the artwork front, I found the council to be a bit odd looking. With one of them in one of the background shots looking like something out of a Sunday morning comic. I'm thinking that that was done on purpose though. I can't place where I have seen that type of design before, but I know that I have. If anyone knows what I am referring to please let me know.

Comic: Bluestreak and jazz await Grimlock, and his men at Praxus, Bluestreak laments about how beautiful this place use to be, but not it has been completely destroyed. Grimlock arrives, and states that a new Prime has been named, and that it it is a bad choice, they will seize his title, and his power, by way of force if need be.

Review: I REALLY like the parts with Grimlock, and his soldiers. Grimlock really plays the part of a battle hardened warrior very well. This is the type of personality that is befitting of a Tyrannosaurus Rex!

There's a really nice shot of Grimlock arriving, transforming, landing right in front of Bluestreak, and Grimlock is absolutely massive! You can see by the way Bluestreak is standing, and how he has his hand wide open, that he is intimidated. All those emotions were conveyed by the artwork. I could remove the dialog, and I would still see the intimidation! GREAT JOB DONBERG!

Comic: Now we arrive at Iacon. Optronix is questioning Gravitas about his own role in the war for Cybertron. Optronix remarks, that even though he lives on Cybertron, and it is a beautiful planet, it does not own him, and if the Decepticons want it so badly why not just let them have it.

Review: Like I have stated numerous times in this review, I don't really like this version of Pre-Optimus Prime. I understand that this is a different universe, but his indifference about the war, and its affect on him, and it's populace is off putting.

As Optronix is addressing the High Council, images of Starscream, Shockwave, and Ratbat, are shown. Then a silhouette of Megatron is shown. These are nice touches. As they are all of the REALLY important Decepticons. Each one is a schemer, and out for their own best interests- typical politicians if you ask me. I'm hoping to see more of all of them in future issues. Shockwave, and Ratbat are two of my favorite Decepticons, as they were beyond evil.

I really like seeing the Guardian Robots that are standing guard outside of Iacon. I was always a huge fan of Omega Supreme so the more of him, or others like him, the better (I always felt that Omega was a missed opportunity in Marvel comics. His origin stunk, and he was hardly ever used).

Comic: The new Prime is christened in a ceremony in which he has to contain the matrix fire. Optronix is given the Matrix, and grows in size and strength into Optimus Prime. It is then that three Decepticons attack. One one is given the name of Darklight (cool name). They attack Optimus Prime, with one of them Transforming into a gun so that one of the others can use it to try to blast Optimus. The attack is easily thwarted mostly by Optimus, but Hound does bring another one of them down all by himself. Grimlock restrains the other Autobots from helping as he wants to make sure that this new Prime is up to the task of handling himself against adversaries. Optimus is successful, and starts to question the final remaining Decepticon but the Decepticon kills itself using some kind of acid that melts its head. It is then that Optimus much to the chagrin of the other Autobots orders a planet wide evacuation. Grimlock, Bumblebee and Hound look on in disgust, and disbelief.

Review: The three generic Decepticons looked great. I would have thought that they were actual toys if I didn't know any better. I thought that it was a bit weird how they came out of the floor... do the Decepticons possess some kind of antimatter technology that enables them to walk though walls? I thought that the way the one generic melted its own head with acid was pretty nasty. It shows the fanatical devotion of some of the Decepticons. This kind of devotion to Megatron has been severely lacking in most continuities. As most of the Decepticons are always trying to usurp Megatron's command. As this series progresses I hope to see more of that type of fanatical devotion to their leader.

Optimus ordering a planet wide evacuation doesn't sit right with me. This Optimus/Optronix, is a bit off, but I know that that is the intention. I'm just not a big fan of people who sit by, and let others do the work, and then run away when the fight comes to them. I know that that was exactly the type of person that Simon Furman was intending Optronix to be. So, he definitely succeeded at making Optronix unlikable.

Something that I found odd was the Matrix ceremony itself. Did the High Council pass the matrix to Optimus, or is he the first bearer of this version of the Matrix? It was unclear exactly what took place.

Comic: We are Within... Megatron is aware that Optimus survived the attack, and now Megatron is ready to face Optimus.

Review: Megatron is literally underground, and ready for all out war. Why is he underground, and what is he planning on doing? There has to be a big plan, and it has to be better than asking Optimus Prime to join him... :-/


Overall Thoughts: I really liked the parts with Grimlock, and his crew of Autobot soldiers. I really can't say enough about how well Grimlock is written (This should have been how he was written in the cartoon too). It was nice seeing Grimlock with red eyes, and Hound with his toy accurate yellow eyes. What's interesting is that in this comic eye color does not equal allegiance. As one of the three generic Decepticons who attacked Optimus had blue eyes. It doesn't make much of a difference in the comic, but it's something worthy of note.

The redesigns are a stand out feature in this comic. Don did a great job with them, and I can't wait to see more. The colors are bright, and the eyes of the Transformers are actually glowing. I am not sure how that effect was accomplished, but it looks great. that effect was also on display as the Decepticon generic melted its own head- yuck!

I'm really looking forward to seeing the Decepticons who didn't show up in this issue. Which were just about all of them with the exception of Megatron, and he was only visible on the final page. We see Decepticon seekers, but we don't see them in their robot modes, and we only saw brief images of Starscream, Shockwave, and Ratbat. While initially Megatron was a mere silhouette, until the final reveal at the end.

I will say this right off the bat, that this was a better first issue to a series than all of Prime Directive combined. The art is consistent, the situation grim, the action high, and the conflict is real. Heck, we didn't even see any non-generic Decepticons, but their presence, and their threat was felt all throughout the issue.

I have to say that Furman did a better job here than I thought he did all those years ago when I read this series. Despite my issue with Optronix/Optimus, the issue served its purpose of getting invested in these characters, and believing that they are in a really terrible war and that lives are at stake. Also, there wasn't any filler. Everything that was featured here was logical, and made sense.

Final Verdict 8/10​

My appologies if this review is so long. There was A LOT to review in this issue!

 

I bought the first book, Hardwired. If memory serves me correct, its absolute bobbins.

 

Yes, finally A Grimlock that IS Grimlock instead of whatever that thing we got in Prime Directive was!

I think that the assassins were just a warning to Optimus that he is now a target. I think the reason for them being genericons is that killing any real characters in the past would have made them unusable in the (then) current story line.

Optimus didn't win any fans on his first day on the job...

I forgot to look for Furmanisms.

The art certainly has taken a big step up.

Furman REALLY knows how to write Grimlock. The entire time I was reading this issue I wanted to get back to what he was doing. Two of Furman's most definitive characters are Grimlock, and the UK version of Galvatron.

I strongly dislike this Optimus so far, and I know that I am suppose to.

I had issues with this too.

You know, I've heard about those novels, but I have also heard that they are so bad that they aren't worth investing the time to read them...

When I read this series when it first came out I was disappointed. However, (for all the reasons you listed above) I am enjoying it a lot more than I did back in 2002.

I grip about two things that Furman did. Generation 2, and Regeneration One. I didn't like either of them, and I actually completely despised Regeneration one.

This REALLY put Prime Directive to shame. As I commented on earlier, I didn't really care for The War Within when it initially came out. Now that I read through all of Prime Directive, and then went right into reading The War Within, I REALLY have a newfound appreciation for The War Within. There was so much going on, and it felt like the Transformers were really in a dire situation. Those feelings were enabled with hardly a glance of any Decepticons. All we were privy to were a few Genericons. So the feelings of desperation were put into effect by a tight story, and great visuals.

I remember hunting all over to buy Transformers reissues around this time. I bought so many of them it was insane. During this time period I was making massive amounts of money at my job. So, I invested in buying Transformers. It was a good investment. I made a lot when I sold them all back in 2016. It was also a good time hunting for a lot of that stuff at toy stores, and such.

Yeah, I think by this point it seems like the company was finding their footing with the franchise. It's a shame that it ended the way that it did.

I know all about that dilemma! Good luck.

Optimus being a file clerk doesn't really work for me either. I actually preferred his role in The Sunbow Cartoon more, and yes a file clerk seems like much more of a Prowl thing to me also. Thanks for pointing that out.

I was originally really disappointed that Dreamwave didn't ask Furman to pen their first foray into The Transformers. I was also kind of miffed about what we got. I'm glad I stuck with it as Once Brad Mick came onboard the G1 series got a lot better, and now reading The War Within I have to say that Furman seems like the prefect guy to write about a bleak depressing war.

LoL. I do think that it sounds better than Orin Pax...

Thanks for sharing the excitement that you had when you first bought, and read this issue when it first came out. I too remember the excitement that I had. I don't come across that type of excitement that much nowadays, so it's nice to remember (or read someone else's take about) what it was like during that time.

I can relate to all of what you have written here. This issue was really good- to great, but the entire Optronix/Matrix thing was either a bit hard to understand or the only part that wasn't really well written/ though out. I wish that there had been more to Optronix being chosen to become a Prime. he should have had to have proven himself somehow. At least that's how I felt about it.

I always like the Cybertron episodes of the original cartoon. Those, and the origin stories were always a highlight! The season two episodes that take place on Cybertron were all some of my favorite episodes of all of the seasons, and I am not a very big fan of a lot of season two. Many of those episodes I felt were straight up goofy!

I think just about anything would be an improvement over the characterizations that were in Prime Directive. No one acted like themselves in that series. Optimus talking about how he wants Decepticon heads, and Grimlock being a jobber were pretty terrible writing choices.

You know, I never considered how much actual writing experience that Sarracini had prior to Prime Directive. It didn't seem like he really knew the characters that he was writing for at all.

I was in that situation for about 8 years. I believe that that was Stony Brook University. ;-P

I guess that the price for a brand new Optimus Prime in 2022 is probably a lot more than in 2002. I'm afraid to look and see what Hasbro is charging now. I'll just stick with mine that I've had since I was a kid. It's used and not a non-touchable museum piece  

 

I still have the book and yes, it's utter garbage. Also seems to confuse itself as a horror novel given how graphic some human deaths get.

 

The War Within Movie Issue #1​

I wanted to comment on the two part movie versions of this issue of the comic. I like the way that they used the actual comic. I believe that at the time the person who edited it used some kind of program in order to copy, and paste the characters so that they appeared to be moving. The way in which it was rendered reminds me of the old Primeval Dawn short that is still on the original Bot Con website.

Some of the voices are good, while some aren't- Grimlock, and jazz being the standouts. While some of the conversations didn't match the pacing that I had in my head when I read the comic to myself. Bluestreak's banter with Optronix at the beginning of the movie comes to mind. I read Bluestreak voice (at least at the end) in a more solemn manner.

The video also cleared up two things that I had a hard time understanding in the comic. The first was when Grimlock shot his claw at a steel girder, and brought it towards him in order to crush it. I didn't really understand what was going on when I read/ looked at that in the comic. The movie actually made that part a bit clearer. The second is when the Genericons attack Optimus, this comic has them cutting holes in the floor, whereas the comic has them (appearing to be) materializing through the floor.

The music is well done. However, I did think that it was funny when the death metal double bass drum kicked in and the distorted generic metal riffs began playing while the Genericons began attacking. It did work though! I'm not admonishing it. I just thought that it was funny. It may have been done on purpose due to the Decepticons being Genericons. So, the composer may have wanted generic sounding metal in response to the Genericons. That actually makes it even more funny.

I really liked that the credits rolled, and then afterwards it went to Megatron. I thought that that was a good idea.

I think that it's too bad that the entire series was never completed. It was probably (at the time) the most violent Transformers cartoon I ever saw outside of the movie. However, Beast wars could get kind of violent at times. "Code of Hero" was pretty nasty. Dinobot really ended up living up to his namesakes in that series.

Wrap Around Cover​

Drawn by Donberg​

I thought that the wrap around cover was fantastic. It's nice to see an Optimus Prime that isn't overly rounded. This was probably the first time in Dreamwave comics that Optimus is drawn normally... even if it is a redesign.

I can see what appears to be the Nemesis in the background. Although I don't recall that ship ever making an appearance in this comic...

Bumblebee, and Jazz both look better here, in their Cybertron modes, than they did in "More than Meets the Eye Part 1". Donberg seemed to have tweaked their designs just enough to make them look even cooler than they looked back in 1984. Nice Job!

Starscream looks like he's scheming.

Grimlock looks menacing.

Lenticular Cover​

Drawn by Donberg​

I bought this cover when it came out. I still have it. I was going to sell it, as it has never been removed from its bag. So, it's dead mint, but the last time I looked up what it was selling for it was so little that I opted to keep it.

I haven't looked up what Dreamwave stuff goes for in a LONG time. So, perhaps their stuff is worth more now.

It's a shame that Pat Lee soured the name of the company so badly as there was a lot of great stuff coming out from them once they found their footing with the franchise.

New Dimension Comics Exclusive​

Drawn By Pat Lee​

The Cover has a profile shot of War Within Optimus that was drawn by Pat Lee.

There were 450 copies had the profile in gold foil, and there were 99 copies which were available in "platinum foil".

These issues came with a postcard showing the lenticular image.

I'd be interested in seeing what the image was of that was on the postcard.

I'm still not a fan of Pat Lee's rounded Optimus Prime. To be honest it looks NOTHING like The War Within version of Optimus Prime. However, It looks just like the Prime Directive version of Optimus Prime.

Dreamwave Sales Ranking​

I have to admit that it is very sad that a comic this good debuted at number 3 on Diamond Comics Sales Chart whereas just about every issue of Prime Directive debuted at number 1.

I firmly believe that if Dreamwave would have had a better writer, and Pat Lee had maintained the high level of art that he was able to produce in the Preview issue, that Dreamwave would have held onto the number one spot.

Sadly, I think Prime Directive turned fans away from the product. It just wasn't very good, and as it progressed the art got worse and worse.

I think that Pat Lee was probably doing too much on the managerial front at the time, and as a result, he had a hard time meeting the deadlines for when the art was due to be released. As a result, he rushed most of the later artwork... And yes, I know, I am giving him the benefit of the doubt on that front.

I read the synopsis of the books on TFwiki... No wonder Dreamwave went in another direction entirely after those novels, and Prime Directive. All of that stuff seemed to have been written by people who didn't have the proper feel for the franchise as a whole. There were some good ideas here and there, but the execution on both fronts was really poor.

 

Read up on the Pat Lee article on the TFWiki, dude really didn't have a clear picture about the franchise and to this day is still an asshole who hasn't paid people the thousands he owes them from the Dreamwave days.

 

Terrible isn't it? It continues the paint him in an awful light, and it continues to put a really bad light on Dreamwave as a whole. If he had simply paid people what he owed them I think that (by this point in time) Dreamwave would be more fondly remembered by the fandom. Unfortunately, a good percentage of the time, when someone brings up the company, the usual reply will be "F, that company! Pat Lee sucks A$$! That no good F'n, Shat Suckin' Jack Off! He never had any talent, and Every Thing that Dreamwave did Sucked!"

It's a real shame to be honest. As there was a great deal of good that came out of that company, but sadly, a lot of people simply let their anger at Pat Lee blind them to that.

In the weekly post about the next issue I should really start including links to TFwiki. There's a lot of great information on there. And discussing the internal workings of the company is actually really interesting.

 

Dreamwave G1 The War Within Issue #2
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Up for review starting on 9-30-2022 is the second issue of Dreamwave's G1 Transformers The War Within. It was originally released on November 6, 2002, and had a cover date of November 2002. It was written Simon Furman, drawn by Don Figueroa, Inks by Elaine To, colors by Rob Ruffolo, letters by Dreamer Design, assistant editor Matt Moylan, graphic design by Kevin Lee, the editor-in-chief was Roger Lee.

With 82,174 pre-orders for November, Dreamwave takes quite a tumble as they plunge all the way down to number 12 on Diamond Comics sales chart.

Top 300 Comics--November 2002​

The TFWiki link to Dreamwave's The War Within issue #2 is below for more available information about the issue as a whole.​

The War Within issue 2 - Transformers Wiki​

Follow the rules (see this threads first post if you need to review them) be as critical, or as complimentary as you like, and don't hold anything back! Have fun everyone, and remember NO SPOILERS FOR FUTURE ISSUES

Reviews of previous issues in this thread begin at the numbers below
#14, #35, #51, #68, #82. #102, #133,​

Where's Waldo/Goldbug for this issue

Dreamwave had a penchant for "hiding" some of the more obscure Transformers in their comics. This issue is no exception. Although in this issue many of them are not particularly hard to find. The following is a list of some of the "hidden" Transformers that are in this issue. If you can find any others, let us know where they are, and who they are.



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Below is additional Dreamwave content that is up for review​

1.) The War Within The Movie Episode 2 part 1!

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2.) The War Within The Movie Episode 2 Part 2!

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3.) The War Within Cover for issue #2​

Drawn by Don Figueroa

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4.) Solicitation For The War Within Issue #3

Drawn by Don Figueroa



5.) Solicitation for Transformers Armada issue #6

Drawn by Pat Lee




6.) Solicitation for Transformers Profiles Book #1

Unknown Artist


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Lets Transform And Read Out!​

 

So, my memory isn't clear on the timing, but just going back to my PT job in the context of War Within

The owner was big on reading Wizard magazine and reading Lying in the Gutters, and I'm not sure if it was around about this time that things were beginning to sound a little sus on the Dreamwave front. We ordered big on War Within. For UK kids like myself, raised on the Marvel UK stuff (itself enjoying a renaissance due to the afore-mentioned Titan books), Furman was a big draw. We weren't so keen on ordering any other DW books, and weren't looking actively at RIs (if memory serves correct we got one of the hologram ones to issue 1 and charged about £20 for it).

One other thing (and again my memory may be clouded) - space on the shelves was really at a premium. Marvel had launched (i think) three Ultimate books by now -of which Ultimate Spider-Man frequently double-shipped, Grant Morrison was writing X-Men and the Baman: Hush storyline by Jim Lee and Jeph Loeb was around this time too, as well as the Masters of the Universe reboot (another 80s nostalgia cash-grab).

I bought War Within issue 1, remembered enjoying it and subsequently didnt buy another issue for reasons which escape me (likely lack of cash).

 

Apologies for not participating more in the read. I just didn’t feel I had anything to add to the already excellent reviews of issue #5 and #6. And like most of you I appreciate Prime Directive for what it is and what it set in motion, but as TF fiction is just not that remarkable. The memorable thing about it is it put Transformers back in the spotlight. And it wasn’t bad, but almost everything that came after it was a lot better.

So on to War Within. Like others have said Furman knows the characters and it shows. I think the only one that doesn’t feel quite right to me is Bluestreak, but apart from that I think all characters are spot on. And Furman does a good job in getting to the point and setting up things. I remember back then I didn’t like that. I was really into Bendis, The Ultimates and stuff like that and I felt that this first issue of War Within was too old fashioned, old school comic storytelling and a step backward compared to the more modern cinematic slow burn style of Sarracini. It’s funny how I quite like it now because of its classic storytelling approach.

The story of how Optimus became a Prime up until this point hadn’t been told yet. Of course we’ve seen Orion Pax being rebuild into Optimus Prime, but we never saw how he became the leader of the Autobots. I don’t know if I fully understand or like Furman’s take on it with the ceremony and all, but I like aspects of it like the council of the ancients and making it more a mystical ritual. But why a data clerk who’s seems to be following the logic of numbers and data (like a Shockwave light) decides to accept to be crowned in a mystical ceremony.. I don’t know it feels off.

Highlight of this issue (and this series) for me is the art. If Wildman was the McFarlane of early Transformers then Don is the Jim Lee of these reimagined Transformers. He really gave the series a modern edge. Man did he bring in a lot of creativity! Absolutely love his Cybertonian takes on the characters. And every panel looks fresh and dynamic. For me when we talk about Dreamwave it’s never Pat Lee I think of. But it are Don’s passionately drawn panels. You can just feel his love for the franchise in this book. Glad to be revisiting his work. Overall a very satisfying issue with good script and excellent art!

 

The War Within #2
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General Commentary:

• I have to admit, Don Figueroa draws a very good decapitated head.
• War Within Starscream is definitely my favorite design for the character, blows the Siege version out of the water as far as I'm concerned.
• And Soundwave looks like he does not skip arm and chest day!
• Nope, no getting off Megatron's Wild Ride, Optimus Prime!
• Grimlock just doesn't seem to be a fan of Optimus in any continuity (except Cyberverse).
• This isn't the first time Megatron is shown trying to turn Cybertron into a cosmic dreadnaught, though it appears he has a little help in Dreamwave since the engines are already there.
• I mean Optimus is ultimately right, Cybertron is going to be a ravaged hellscape they'll all eventually have to evacuate, so why not just cut to the chase and get going while the getting's good?
• I'm surprised Prowl wasn't on Optimus's side, he's usually a facts-before-feelings type of guy.

Featured Furmanisms:

• "For years, we fight and die...and for what? To run and hide?"

Questions and Continuity Concerns:

• Why didn't Optimus take some backup with him when he went underground? He didn't know what he was walking into, he definitely could've used an extra pair of optics.
• What's turning Cybertron into a giant spaceship going to do that building a fleet of ships can't?

What I Liked:

• I'm absolutely loving these Cybertronian designs.
• After years of having nothing but soft and cuddly Troubled Revolutionary Megatrons, it's good to go back to a Megatron that acts like Megatron again.

What I Disliked:

• The background elements aren't as crisp as they should be. The characters themselves look fully inked, but the backgrounds look like they were just done in pencil.

FINAL VERDICT: 8/10 ​

 

Yeah. To me, it almost felt like Prowl's lines of dialogue in that conversation were originally intended for Bluestreak, especially since he and Prime were established to have something of a repertoire in the first issue.

 

Transformers The War Within #2
November 2002
Story - Simon Furman, Pencils - Don Figeroa, Inks - Elaine To, Colors - Rob Ruffalo

We all think it right? For years, we fight and die... and for what? To run, hide? This slap in face for all those who die for cause, for all those still willing to carry on. - Grimlock, not in agreement with Optimus Prime

We open with another forearm and hand, as we did last issue, and with a Hamlet reference as Megatron holds the decapitated head of Xeon (who looks like he has a proto-Decepticon insignia on his forehead) as a crowd watches. We're in Kaon, in the Decepticon fortress of Kolkular, which resembles a giant mushroom to me. I love that Cybertron geography is being established and that we get a little history from Megatron about how the Decepticons rose to power, in part by using Xeon's greed. Since Xeon was an Emirate, feels like a trademark friendly reference to Emirate Xaaron. As always with Don Figeroa's art there are cameos in the background, among them Trypticon. Starscream objects to Megatron's course of action and points out that the Autobots are evacuating the planet. There is so much information conveyed in these few pages that we're immediately caught up not only on events since last issue, but more history of the war as well.

So the Autobots are following the new Prime's orders, but they don't like it or agree. There are so many familiar faces here, and even in redesigned forms the color schemes and basic design tell us exactly who they are: Grapple, Ironhide, Hound, Powerglide, Outback and Brawn. Grimlock is still talking about another leader, just as he was last issue. He may well take matters into his own hands, and while this could be construed as breaking his oath, Grimlock clearly has a good point.

Back with Megatron, it becomes clear that the war and wiping out the Autobots is only part of the plan as Megatron intends to turn Cybertron into a "Cosmic Dreadnought", so he already has his sights set beyond Cybertron to larger conquests. The role of the Constructicons here is perfect, and I love the hints of a deeper history here with "planetary turbines" that someone unknown built.

Prowl, unlike Grimlock, doesn't consider replacing Prime behind his back, he comes right out and says that the evacuation decision is not popular, and he makes it clear that he doesn't agree with it either. Prime explains the numbers he saw in his past job, and that there will be no winners in this war, only the total destruction of Cybertron. We get a partial title drop as Prowl tells him he can't go by numbers, he has to look "within". What happens next ups the stakes, as even in a planetwide war with untold death and destruction, Megatron fires one of those engines and destroys a huge chunk of the surface, something everyone witnesses, including Grimlock who has gone to Kaon. Nice "Dark Knight Returns" reference there, Don.

There Megatron is making it clear to Soundwave, Ravage (in an interesting humanoid design) and the future Insecticons that the subjugation of Cybertron was a feint. When Optimus Prime arrives, as Megatron remains sure that he will, they will be there to greet him. And in true Optimus Prime fashion, he goes alone, and by the time he rethinks his actions, it's too late to go back as he is attacked by the Insecticons and sent hurtling further underground. I've always loved Shrapnel's line here that Megatron wants Prime's "twitching corpse!"

Then we get a stellar cliffhanger as Shockwave leads an attack on Iacon. I've grown so used to seeing all the characters redesigned that it was a a surprise on first reading (but a good one) to see Shockwave unchanged as he declares to the Autobots that "the hour of your eradication is at hand!"

Another great issue. More redesigned Transformers are revealed and they look great. Don Figeroa's art is still my favorite, and Furman shows his skill at writing this type of comic as he reveals bits and pieces of the larger plot while still providing some good lines and good characterization. These characters feel like themselves, unlike the previous miniseries, they behave and sound largely as I expect them to. I really don't have anything to pick apart here, and I'm just as enthused as I was for last issue. I keep telling myself that I can't give two 10 out of 10s in a row, but I'm going to do it. Curious to see if I will feel the same for next issue. I've always enjoyed this series, but it's been years since I've read it, and I'm discovering that it's probably one of my favorites from the last twenty years worth of Transformers comics.

 

Issue 2, here we go.

Another fine read. There's not that much to say. The issue flows quite nicely. Maybe a bit too many "withins" in the dialogue. Last issue had one, this issue has two. Will issue 3 have three? It's almost as if Furman made it a game including the word.

Most of the characters are spot on. Though I would've changed some minor bits. Longhaul I'd expect to complain about just carrying heavy load and not doing something important. The dialogue between Prime and Prowl feels a bit off since you'd think Prowl of all bots would understand. Shrapnel not repeating the last word in a sentence. Small bits.. no big deal...

The art is exceptional. From the backgrounds to the redesigned bots. You can tell Don was having a blast redesigning all these classic characters. And some have real clever alt modes like Shrapnel.

Also noticed that Cybertron isn't overly 'blue' yet, but it isn't golden anymore either. And the bases of each fraction aren't purple or orange yet. It gives this war within Cybertron a really unique feel.

All in all a fine issue.