Maximals Strike Back, Part 3

	{{#if: \|; }}}}
	"Maximals Strike Back, Part 3" {{#if: \| {{#if: \|; (')}} {{#if:\|; ""}}}}
Publisher	IDW Publishing}}
Published by	}}
Imprint	}}
Published in	}}
First published	January 26, 2022}}
Shipping date	}}
On-sale date	}}
Cover date	January 2022}}
Credits	}}
By	}}
Manga	}}
Manga by	}}
Original story	}}
Story & art by	}}
Story and color art	}}
Story	}}
Story by	}}
Story consultants	}}
Story concept	}}
Screenplay by	}}
Screenplay	}}
Adaptation by	}}
Adapted by	}}
Adaptation	}}
Based on	}}
Writer	}}
Writers	}}
Writing	}}
Written by	Erik Burnham}}
Written & art	}}
Plotter	}}
Plotters	}}
Plot	}}
Plot by	}}
Plot/Script	}}
Scripter	}}
Scripters	}}
Script	}}
Scripting	}}
Script by	}}
Script and art	}}
Sript [sic] consultant	}}
Translation by	}}
Artist	}}
Comic artist	}}
Artists	}}
Art	}}
Art by	Josh Burcham}}
Additional art by	}}
Flashback art by	}}
Art assistant	}}
Art assist by	}}
Line-art	}}
Line-art by	}}
Line art by	}}
Penciller	}}
Pencillers	}}
Penciler	}}
Pencilers	}}
Pencil art	}}
Pencils	}}
Pencils by	}}
Penciled by	}}
Penciling	}}
Guest penciler	}}
Layouts	}}
Pencil breakdowns	}}
Breakdowns	}}
Breakdowns by	}}
Illustration	}}
Illustrations	}}
Illustrator	}}
Illustrated by	}}
Illustration by	}}
Illustrations by	}}
Finished pencils	}}
Finishes	}}
Finished art	}}
Finishes by	}}
Inker	}}
Guest inker	}}
Inkers	}}
Inks	}}
Inks by	}}
Ink finishes	}}
Ink assist by	}}
Additional inks	}}
Inking	}}
Backgrounds	}}
Backgrounds by	}}
Colorist	}}
Colorists	}}
Colourist	}}
Colourists	}}
Color	}}
Colors	}}
Color art	}}
Colour	}}
Colours	}}
Colored by	}}
Color by	}}
Colors by	}}
Color art by	}}
Colors assist by	}}
Color assists	}}
Color assistance by	}}
Additional colors	}}
Additional colors by	}}
Color assist by	}}
Colour/Computer FX	}}
Computer coloring/effects	}}
Color Reconstruction	}}
Flats	}}
Flats by	}}
MTMTE Profiles	}}
Letterer	}}
Letterers	}}
Lettering	}}
Letters	}}
Letters by	Jake M. Wood}}
Lettered by	}}
Lettering\|Production	}}
To}}	}}
Collaborators	}}
Contributors	}}
Editor	David Mariotte, Jazmine Joyner and Riley Farmer}}
Editors	}}
Editing	}}
Edits by	}}
Compiled and Edited by	}}
Original series editor	}}
Original Edits by	}}
Deputy editor	}}
Assistant editor	}}
s}}	}}
Editorial Assistance; provided by	}}
Senior editor	}}
Associate editor	}}
Story consultant	}}
Project manager	}}
Production by	}}
Designer	}}
Design by	}}
Designed by	}}
Design/editorial	}}
Book design by	}}
Collection designer	}}
Collection editor	}}
Collection Edits by	}}
Graphic design	}}
Graphic design by	}}
Collection Design by	}}
/ Layout}}	}}
Contributing editors	}}
s}}	}}
Managing editor	}}
Editor-in-chief\|Editor in chief}}	}}
Editorial consultant	}}
Dinosaur consultant	}}
Publishing manager	}}
Cover	}}
ist}}{{#if: \| by}}	}}
and Elements }}by	}}
Inside cover	}}
Apologies to	}}
Continuity	Transformers: Beast Wars}}
Chronology	}}
ISBN	}}
TPB ISBN	ISBN }}
UPC	}}
Page count	}}
Price	}}
Packaged with	}}
Printed in	}}
Animation	}}
Music	}}

{{#if: BW21 12 cvrA.jpg | {{#if: IDW Publishing | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: January 26, 2022 | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: January 2022 | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: Erik Burnham | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: Josh Burcham | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: Jake M. Wood | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: David Mariotte, Jazmine Joyner and Riley Farmer | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: Transformers: Beast Wars | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: | {{#if: |

{{#switch:{{#sub:xx|2|14}}|dark cybertron=}}

The remaining Maximals seize the Golden Disk at the same time that Megatron springs his latest trap... but to make it off the battlefield alive, both sides might have to lose to win.

Synopsis

Outside the Darksyde, Optimus Primal tries to keep Megatron's attention long enough for Nyx and Rattrap to complete their respective missions without drawing undue attention—while Megatron ruthlessly pummels the Maximal commander, Nyx successfully shoots out the stolen starship's transwarp drive; when an enraged Tarantulas pounces, Nyx incapacitates him with a custom-built taser weapon designed to keep the mad scientist at arm's length. Meanwhile, Rattrap finds himself caught in a difficult situation: removing the Golden Disk from the ship's optical drive has tripped the Darksyde's defences and locked Rattrap in Megatron's private quarters. Nyx races to rescue her comrade as Cheetor finally gets even with Blackarachnia by baiting her into accidentally firing on Scorponok instead, allowing an enraged Skold, still reeling from Razorbeast's death, to grab his paralyzed body and uses it as an improvised bludgeon to hit Rhinox in the face. While a wounded Dinobot uses his optical lasers to eliminate Waspinator from the fight, Nyx struggles to free Rattrap and radios Primal for backup. Rescuing his comrades will clue Megatron into their real game, but there's no other way—the Maximal leader feigns weakness long enough for an overconfident Megatron to close in for the kill; when he recieves a gorilla fist in the face for his troubles, Megatron charges up his weapons moments before Optimus impales him through his beast mode head. The catastrophic explosion immolates Megatron's beast body in a fiery explosion, and knocks him unconscious just long enough for Primal to abandon the fight and break into the Predacon base.

Watching from afar, a horrified Blackarachnia realizes that her new leader isn't unbeatable: as she scuttles away to reconsider her allegiances, an enraged Skold continues pummelling Rhinox and screams at him to fight back. Despite everything that's transpired, however, Rhinox won't raise a hand against her: Rhinox has befriended and even loved Predacons, and despite everything that's transpired between their two factions on this planet he understands her loss. If hurting him helps her to come to terms with that pain, then he'll gladly take a few punches... but those words cause Skold to close her eyes and admit that she'd find no satisfaction in killing him. Furious with the Maximals, the Predacons, and herself, Skold quietly tells him to leave now, before she changes her mind.

In the Darksyde, Optimus and Nyx struggle to rescue Rattrap; although they just barely manage to force the doors open long enough for Rattrap to make it out with the Golden Disk, they're not far from the exit when a force field bars their way. On the other side of the field, Tarantulas and a damaged but still-functioning Megatron bar their way, and Megatron gloats that as soon as he's out of a CR chamber he'll annihilate the three of them. Optimus, however, has a different play in mind, and calmly informs the Predacons that, if they don't walk free, then he'll destroy the disk entirely. Without a functioning transwarp drive, they'll be stuck on this planet forever... and if Megatron tries to hijack their ship, the Axalon, then they'll trip the self-destruct mechanism and kill everyone. Tarantulas hisses that Primal's bluffing—the ship has no automated self-destruct function—but Rattrap reminds him that the last time he broke into their computer system, Rattrap threw him out the window before he could access the ship's primary network. Optimus calmly offers a compromise: he'll return the Golden Disk, if Megatron lets him and all of the other Maximals walk freely. A furious Megatron screams in rage... but ultimately accepts their terms.

As the remaining Maximals board their improvised shuttlecraft, Nyx laments that they went through all that for nothing; they're no closer to retrieving the disk than they were when they set out. Fortunately, Rattrap has a surprise for them—before their faceoff with Megatron, Rattrap took the precaution of copying all the files on the disk! Dinobot growls that they should've taken Megatron prisoner while they had the chance, but Optimus reminds him that they're not going to jail Megatron aboard their ship until they're certain that they can fly it back to Cybertron to face justice. Rattrap demands to know when Primal planned to tell the rest of them about this self-destruct mechanism... but Primal reveals that the entire ploy was a very convincing bluff.

As Tarantulas and Megatron watch them leave, Megatron growls that he's once again underestimated the Maximals, and that bad habit has cost him the best chance yet to dispose of Optimus and his crew permanently. For the moment, Megatron will put aside his dreams of galactic conquest: all that matters now, he vows, is impaling Optimus Primal's severed head on a pike. Tarantulas, meanwhile, has plans of his own: as night falls, he lays Terrorsaur's mangled body on a slab and gets to work, musing that death does not necessarily mark the end of one's usefulness...

Featured characters

{{#if:* Optimus Primal (2)

Nyx (4)
Rattrap (5)
Cheetor (6)
Rhinox (9)
Dinobot (11)|

{{#if:* Optimus Primal (2)

Nyx (4)
Rattrap (5)
Cheetor (6)
Rhinox (9)
Dinobot (11)|| style="background:#ffdddd;" valign="top" |
Optimus Primal (2)
Nyx (4)
Rattrap (5)
Cheetor (6)
Rhinox (9)
Dinobot (11) }}{{#if:* Megatron (1)
Tarantulas (3)
Blackarachnia (7)
Scorponok (8)
Skold (10)
Waspinator (12)
Terrorsaur's corpse (13)|

Maximals }}{{#if:* Megatron (1) Tarantulas (3) Blackarachnia (7) Scorponok (8) Skold (10) Waspinator (12) Terrorsaur's corpse (13)\|	Predacons }}{{#if:\|	Humans }}{{#if:\|	Others }}{{#if:\|	Misc }}{{#if:\|	Misc }}
Megatron (1) Tarantulas (3) Blackarachnia (7) Scorponok (8) Skold (10) Waspinator (12) Terrorsaur's corpse (13) }}{{#if:\|	}}{{#if:\|	}}{{#if:\|	}}{{#if:\|	}}

Quotes

"A long time ago, there was a warrior from an alien race. He'd let his opponents hammer away at him until he had them where he wanted them, and then he fought back. I think he called the strategy rope-a-dope. No idea why."

—Optimus Primal

"I believe that Cybertronians are more alike than different. I've befriended some Predacons, loved some. I'd be devastated to see them die, so I understand your pain. And if a few free punches help you cope...then I can take them."

—Rhinox

"So when were you going to tell me that the Axalon had a self-destruct there, cap? I don't want someone to accidentally trip it while we rewire the bridge..."
"Self-destruct? We don't have one of those. You should know that."
"But you--... I am never playing cyber poker with you again."

—Rattrap and Optimus Primal

"Deciphering this disk is no longer my top priority. Nor is the conquest of Cybertron. Now, more than anything else... I want Optimus Primal's head on a pike. I want to watch the light fade from his eyes and to decorate my throne room with this trophy as a warning. I will have this, Tarantulas. So swears Megatron."

—Megatron

"There can be life beyond death, oh yes... shall we see how long it takes to get there?"

—Tarantulas dissects Terrorsaur

Notes

Continuity notes

As she battles Tarantulas, Nyx reminds him of their last confrontation back in issue #3. The exchange reveals that she's added a new, electrified taser weapon as a back-up weapon, should the Predacons ever capture her again.
When Blackarachnia pulls a stun beam on Cheetor, the Maximal notes that he suggested taking a full complement of stun guns board their ship before their fateful voyage—although it hasn't really come up since issue #1, that installment did show him acting as the ship's primary gunner and weapons specialist.
While talking down an enraged Skold, Rhinox notes that he's befriended and even loved Predacons—he's spent most of the series thus far advocating a non-violent approach to their problems; in issue #4, he pointed out that Maximals and Predacons have cooperated for centuries.
With Optimus Primal caged behind a force field, Megatron gloats that he got the idea from their last encounter—in the climax of issue #6, Optimus and his forces retreated by using the Axalon's force field to deflect enemy fire. In the same exchange, Rattrap recalls his fight against Tarantulas in the same issue, which ended when he used a cargo-loading exoskeleton to punt the Predacon out the window.
Two issues ago, in issue #10, Tarantulas saved Terrorsaur from Megatron; as he reminded Terrorsaur then, however, this was simply out of a practical concern that if Megatron atomized him then there'd be nothing left for him to salvage. Now that Terrorsaur's gone, it seems as though Tarantulas will make good on that promise...

Transformers references

Shocked by the sight of Megatron's defeat, Blackarachnia skitters away and grumbles that she'll have to reconsider her allegiances. That's exactly what she did in the third season of the original Beast Wars cartoon, when she joined the Maximals after realizing that Megatron's attempt to change history would erase her from existence as well.
Buoyed by Optimus's victory over Megatron, Cheetor gloats that his commander has the spark of a "big bot" after all—this was, of course, his nickname for the Maximal leader in the Beast Wars cartoon.
Although Megatron survives the catastrophic failure of his weapons system, the explosion burns away all of the synthetic flesh on his tyrannosaur head and reduces it to a metallic endoskeleton. As it happens, the metallic head is drawn to resemble Animated Grimlock, who began life as a rubbery theme park animatronic who later lost his outer coating. Coincidentally, both characters were voiced by David Kaye.
Megatron's fantasy features another glimpse of Cybertron's unique "gashed" moon, an astronomical feature that first appeared in the Beast Machines cartoon and later appeared in issue #1 of this comic.

Real-world references

In his battle with Megatron, Optimus feigns exhaustion, then hits back at a surprised Megatron to catch him off-guard. He notes that he got the idea from a legendary "alien warrior" who called the tactic "rope-a-dope"—he's likely referring to the human boxer [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Muhammad Ali|{{#if:||Muhammad Ali}}]], who popularized the strategy in his famous [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}The Rumble in the Jungle|{{#if:1974 match|1974 match|The Rumble in the Jungle}}]] against [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}George Foreman|{{#if:George Foreman|George Foreman|George Foreman}}]].
"Alas, poor Terrorsaur", quips Tarantulas as he holds his comrade's severed head, paraphrasing the famous monologue from Dinobot's beloved [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Hamlet|{{#if:||Hamlet}}]]. Ironically, Dinobot said the same thing about Tarantulas himself when the Predacons faked their deaths in the cartoon episode Victory.

Other trivia

Notably, this issue's "Maximal Mailbag" feature includes editor David Mariotte teasing the possibility of a crossover between IDW's Beast Wars comic and their 2019 Transformers reboot. However, the crossover miniseries that would've brought them together, intended for release at some point late in 2022, never made it to publication.

Covers (3)

Cover A: Optimus and Megatron do King Kong, by John Yurcaba
Cover B: Optimus and Nyx try to rescue Rattrap, by Philip Murphy
Retailer incentive cover: Optimus and Megatron, by Jamel Jones and Ronda Pattison

Reprints

The Transformers: Beast Wars Volume 2 (June 29, 2022) ISBN 1684059038 / ISBN 978-1684059034
- Collects Beast Wars issues #7–12.
- Bonus material includes alternate covers, and an one-page sketch by Burcham.

Beast Wars, Vol 2; cover art by John Yurcaba

External links

Preview

Search