The Art of War issue 1

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|- {{#if: Devil's Due Press | |Publisher || Devil's Due Press}} |- {{#if: | |Published by || }} |- {{#if: | |Imprint || }} |- {{#if: | |Published in || }} |- {{#if: March 8, 2006 | |First published || March 8, 2006}} |- {{#if: | |Shipping date || }} |- {{#if: | |On-sale date || }} |- {{#if: March 2006 | |Cover date || March 2006}} |- {{#if: | |Credits || }} |- {{#if: | |By || }} |- {{#if: | |Manga || }} |- {{#if: | |Manga by || }} |- {{#if: | |Original story || }} |- {{#if: | |Story & art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Story and color art || }} |- {{#if: | |Story || }} |- {{#if: | |Story by || }} |- {{#if: | |Story consultants || }} |- {{#if: | |Story concept || }} |- {{#if: | |Screenplay by || }} |- {{#if: | |Screenplay || }} |- {{#if: | |Adaptation by || }} |- {{#if: | |Adapted by || }} |- {{#if: | |Adaptation || }} |- {{#if: | |Based on || }} |- {{#if: | |Writer || }} |- {{#if: | |Writers || }} |- {{#if: | |Writing || }} |- {{#if: | |Written by || }} |- {{#if: | |Written & art || }} |- {{#if: | |Plotter || }} |- {{#if: | |Plotters || }} |- {{#if: | |Plot || }} |- {{#if: | |Plot by || }} |- {{#if: | |Plot/Script || }} |- {{#if: | |Scripter || }} |- {{#if: | |Scripters || }} |- {{#if: Tim Seeley | |Script || Tim Seeley}} |- {{#if: | |Scripting || }} |- {{#if: | |Script by || }} |- {{#if: | |Script and art || }} |- {{#if: | |Sript [sic] consultant || }} |- {{#if: | |Translation by || }} |- {{#if: | |Artist || }} |- {{#if: | |Comic artist || }} |- {{#if: | |Artists || }} |- {{#if: | |Art || }} |- {{#if: | |Art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Additional art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Flashback art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Art assistant || }} |- {{#if: | |Art assist by || }} |- {{#if: | |Line-art || }} |- {{#if: | |Line-art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Line art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Penciller || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencillers || }} |- {{#if: | |Penciler || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencilers || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencil art || }} |- {{#if: Joe Ng | |Pencils || Joe Ng}} |- {{#if: | |Pencils by || }} |- {{#if: | |Penciled by || }} |- {{#if: | |Penciling || }} |- {{#if: | |Guest penciler || }} |- {{#if: | |Layouts || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencil breakdowns || }} |- {{#if: | |Breakdowns || }} |- {{#if: | |Breakdowns by || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustration || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustrations || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustrator || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustrated by || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustration by || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustrations by || }} |- {{#if: | |Finished pencils || }} |- {{#if: | |Finishes || }} |- {{#if: | |Finished art || }} |- {{#if: | |Finishes by || }} |- {{#if: | |Inker || }} |- {{#if: | |Guest inker || }} |- {{#if: | |Inkers || }} |- {{#if: Rob Ross with M3th | |Inks || Rob Ross with M3th}} |- {{#if: | |Inks by || }} |- {{#if: | |Ink finishes || }} |- {{#if: | |Ink assist by || }} |- {{#if: | |Additional inks || }} |- {{#if: | |Inking || }} |- {{#if: | |Backgrounds || }} |- {{#if: | |Backgrounds by || }} |- {{#if: | |Colorist || }} |- {{#if: | |Colorists || }} |- {{#if: | |Colourist || }} |- {{#if: | |Colourists || }} |- {{#if: | |Color || }} |- {{#if: Kevin Yan & Rob Ruffolo, with Tom Liu | |Colors || Kevin Yan & Rob Ruffolo, with Tom Liu}} |- {{#if: | |Color art || }} |- {{#if: | |Colour || }} |- {{#if: | |Colours || }} |- {{#if: | |Colored by || }} |- {{#if: | |Color by || }} |- {{#if: | |Colors by || }} |- {{#if: | |Color art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Colors assist by || }} |- {{#if: | |Color assists || }} |- {{#if: | |Color assistance by || }} |- {{#if: | |Additional colors || }} |- {{#if: | |Additional colors by || }} |- {{#if: | |Color assist by || }} |- {{#if: | |Colour/Computer FX || }} |- {{#if: | |Computer coloring/effects || }} |- {{#if: | |Color Reconstruction || }} |- {{#if: | |Flats || }} |- {{#if: | |Flats by || }} |- {{#if: | |MTMTE Profiles || }} |- {{#if: | |Letterer || }} |- {{#if: | |Letterers || }} |- {{#if: | |Lettering || }} |- {{#if: Brian Crowley | |Letters || Brian Crowley}} |- {{#if: | |Letters by || }} |- {{#if: | |Lettered by || }} |- {{#if: | |Lettering|Production || }} |- {{#if: | |Special Thanks{{#if: | To}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Collaborators || }} |- {{#if: | |Contributors || }} |- {{#if: Mike O'Sullivan | |Editor || Mike O'Sullivan}} |- {{#if: | |Editors || }} |- {{#if: | |Editing || }} |- {{#if: | |Edits by || }} |- {{#if: | |Compiled and Edited by || }} |- {{#if: | |Original series editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Original Edits by || }} |- {{#if: | |Deputy editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Assistant editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Editorial assistant{{#if: |s}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Editorial Assistance
provided by || }} |- {{#if: | |Senior editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Associate editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Story consultant || }} |- {{#if: | |Project manager || }} |- {{#if: | |Production by || }} |- {{#if: | |Designer || }} |- {{#if: | |Design by || }} |- {{#if: | |Designed by || }} |- {{#if: | |Design/editorial || }} |- {{#if: | |Book design by || }} |- {{#if: | |Collection designer || }} |- {{#if: | |Collection editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Collection Edits by || }} |- {{#if: | |Graphic design || }} |- {{#if: | |Graphic design by || }} |- {{#if: | |Collection Design by || }} |- {{#if: | |Creative Director{{#if: | / Layout}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Contributing editors || }} |- {{#if: | |Research editor{{#if: |s}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Managing editor || }} |- {{#if: | |{{#if: |Editor-in-chief|Editor in chief}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Editorial consultant || }} |- {{#if: | |Dinosaur consultant || }} |- {{#if: | |Publishing manager || }} |- {{#if: | |Cover || }} |- {{#if: | |Cover art{{#if: |ist}}{{#if: | by}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Cover Design {{#if: |and Elements }}by || }} |- {{#if: | |Inside cover || }} |- {{#if: | |Apologies to || }} |- {{#if: G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers continuity | |Continuity || G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers continuity}} |- {{#if: | |Chronology || }} |- {{#if: | |ISBN || }} |- {{#if: | |TPB ISBN || ISBN }} |- {{#if: | |UPC || }} |- {{#if: | |Page count || }} |- {{#if: | |Price || }} |- {{#if: | |Packaged with || }} |- {{#if: | |Printed in || }} |- {{#if: | |Animation || }} |- {{#if: | |Music || }} |}{{#switch:{{#sub:xx|2|14}}|dark cybertron=}}

The son of Megatron... behold, Serpent O.R.!

Synopsis

The tyrannical Megatron, scourge of Cybertron and leader of the Decepticons, currently is deactivated, his head removed and being mocked by Professor Martin. Martin's boss, Dr. Li, reprimands Martin for his antics. A scientific project to harvest Cybertronian technology and utilize it to develop a sentient earth-based peace-keeping weapon shouldn't be taken lightly.

Twelve stories above this secret development facility, the G.I. Joes Hawk, Mainframe, and Firewall prepare for their latest guests: Perceptor, Bumblebee, Grimlock and Arcee. When the Autobots arrive, Perceptor relays a message to Hawk from Optimus Prime; Prime explains that after Shockwave's downfall, Cybertron is enjoying a moment of peace, and as a precautionary measure, the four Autobots have been sent to Earth to prevent Cybertronian technology from falling into the wrong hands.

Roadblock, Snake-Eyes and Scarlett prepare to have one last game of tag in their giant mechs before the Autobots decommission them. Their exercise becomes genuine combat when a giant army of Battle Android Troopers led by Cobra Commander and Zartan attacks the Joes' base. The three Joes fight vigilantly, but are outclassed when Zartan gives the order for the B.A.T.s to combine into the gigantic Cobratron. Luckily, Hawk and the Autobots enter the battle and defeat the metal monstrosity.

Back underground, Zarana (disguised as 'Dr. Wise') communicates with Cobra Commander and reveals the location of the underground bunker by installing a signal beacon.

Bumblebee notices Zartan and the Commander sneaking away from the battle in a Buzz Boar and follows them into the secret development facility. But before Bumblebee can stop the Cobra agents, Zartan incapacitates the small Transformer. With the Autobot no longer a concern, Cobra Commander proceeds to free the scientist's masterpiece: Serpent O.R.

Serpent O.R. awakens and promptly tries to kill the Commander, forcing Zartan to neutralize the creature. Waking up quickly, Serpent O.R. unleashes his tendrils and tosses the three Cobra agents aside.

Above ground, G.I. Joe and the Autobots take care of the rest of Cobra's mechanical army, but then Mainframe contacts them with news of Cobra's entry into the underground facility.

After putting on some fashionable yellow body armor, Serpent O.R. plugs into Soundwave's nearby head and downloads information on the history of Cybertron. After evaluating his objectives, he determines what his goal must be: obtain the Matrix of Leadership.

Featured characters

{{#if:*Bumblebee (10)

Grimlock (11)
Arcee (12)
Perceptor (13)
Optimus Prime (14)
Alpha Trion (21)|

{{#if:*Bumblebee (10)

Grimlock (11)
Arcee (12)
Perceptor (13)
Optimus Prime (14)
Alpha Trion (21)|| style="background:#ffdddd;" valign="top" |
Bumblebee (10)
Grimlock (11)
Arcee (12)
Perceptor (13)
Optimus Prime (14)
Alpha Trion (21) }}{{#if:*Megatron (1)
Soundwave (2)|

Autobots }}{{#if:*Megatron (1) Soundwave (2)\|	Decepticons }}{{#if:*Hawk (7) Mainframe (8) Firewall (9) Scarlett (15) Roadblock (16) Snake-Eyes (17)\|	G.I. Joe }}{{#if:*Zarana (5) Cobra Commander (18) Zartan (19)\|	Cobra }}{{#if:*Professor Martin (3) Li (4) Serpent O.R. (6) Quintessons (20) Optimus Primal (22)\|	Others }}{{#if:\|	Misc }}
Megatron (1) Soundwave (2) }}{{#if:*Hawk (7) Mainframe (8) Firewall (9) Scarlett (15) Roadblock (16) Snake-Eyes (17)\|	Hawk (7) Mainframe (8) Firewall (9) Scarlett (15) Roadblock (16) Snake-Eyes (17) }}{{#if:*Zarana (5) Cobra Commander (18) Zartan (19)\|	Zarana (5) Cobra Commander (18) Zartan (19) }}{{#if:*Professor Martin (3) Li (4) Serpent O.R. (6) Quintessons (20) Optimus Primal (22)\|	Professor Martin (3) Li (4) Serpent O.R. (6) Quintessons (20) Optimus Primal (22) }}{{#if:\|	}}

Notes

Firewall has a TFW2005 coffee mug.
The images in Soundwave's memory are very fascinating. Normally readers wouldn't expect Soundwave to have memory of Unicron or Primal; however, since the G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers crossovers take place in their own continuity, the presence of these figures in Soundwave's memory isn't an error, but rather an indication of a differing history. It's possible that in this continuity, Soundwave has met Primal and Unicron.
Soundwave's history of Cybertron files include:
- The Quintessons building the Transorganics
- The pre-Transformers as gladiator and slave races
- "Mechanoid worlds of junk"
- A-3 becoming Alpha Trion
- Megatron and Soundwave in their War Within bodies.
- Optimus Primal in his original Beast Wars body
- Optimus Prime with the Matrix in his chest
- A portion of Unicron's planet mode
When Hawk and Arcee break apart the last Battle Android Trooper and Hawk gets the bigger part, he says he gets to make a wish. Arcee doesn't get what he means by that. If this is supposed to imply Transformers are unfamiliar with the concept of wishbones, it's a continuity error, since Hook and Scrapper were eager to play wishbone with Doctor Mindbender in G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #4. Unless it's just Arcee who's unfamiliar.

Covers (4)

Cover A: Bumblebee surrounded by Decepticons by Joe Ng, Espen Grundetjern, and Tom Liu. Combines with the Cover A variant covers for issues 2–5 to form a single image.
Cover B: Bumblebee being beaten by Cobra members (poor Bumblebee) by Tim Seeley and Rob Ruffolo.
Cover C: Giant Optimus Prime (with plenty of Easter eggs) by Don Figueroa and Sunder Raj. Incentive: dealers were only able to order one copy of this cover for every 20 copies of covers A and B ordered.
UDON Exclusive Cover: Autobots and Joes by Joe Ng: Available at Conventions and on the Club Udon website. Combines with Club Udon variant covers for issues 2–5 to form a single image.

Cobra being mean to Bumblebee.
Cobra being even meaner to Bumblebee.
Easter eggs a-plenty.
Udon cover

Reprints

Other than collections of the full series

Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 96: G.I. Joe vs Transformers, Part 2 (July 15, 2020)

Collects G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II and the first 2 issues of The Art of War
Bonus material includes a two-page sketchbook containing unused pencil art for the first 8 pages of The Art of War, a cover gallery and an intro by Simon Furman.

Definitive G1 Collection Vol. 96: G.I. Joe vs Transformers, Part 2;
art by E. J. Su/Tim Seeley and Margeaux Pepoy (retro art) and Dreamwave (Ramjet)

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