The Art of War issue 4

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Ninjas, Dinosaurs and robots, a geek's dream!}}}} |-

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|- {{#if: Devil's Due Press | |Publisher || Devil's Due Press}} |- {{#if: | |Published by || }} |- {{#if: | |Imprint || }} |- {{#if: | |Published in || }} |- {{#if: June 28, 2006 | |First published || June 28, 2006}} |- {{#if: | |Shipping date || }} |- {{#if: | |On-sale date || }} |- {{#if: June 2006 | |Cover date || June 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, James Raiz, & Alex Milne | |Pencils || Joe Ng, James Raiz, & Alex Milne}} |- {{#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, M3th, & Alan Tam | |Inks || Rob Ross, M3th, & Alan Tam}} |- {{#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: Rob Ruffolo, Kevin Yan, & Tom Liu | |Colors || Rob Ruffolo, Kevin Yan, & 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=}}

Serpent O.R. moves forward in his plans to bring a quick end to Cybertron's era of peace and return the planet to its history of war.

Synopsis

With the Autobot peace ceremony compromised by attacking Decepticons, Optimus Prime takes action, helping to save an innocent from the falling Omega Supreme. Prime hitches a ride on the attacking Sixshot and crashes the Decepticon into Piranacon's face. Falling away from the explosion, Prime cushions his landing by landing on top of Astrotrain. With Astrotrain crushed, Prime attempts to escort an injured bystander to safety. But the innocent is soon stomped by Menasor, who holds Prime at gunpoint, while Viewfinder relays a holographic message from the Decepticons' new leader: Serpent O.R.

After Prime instructs the Autobots to hold their fire, Prime and Serpent O.R. come to a deal: the Decepticons will fall back if Prime remains their captive.

On Earth, in Cobra's Siberian base, Zartan and the Baroness spy on Cobra Commander. The Commander is aware of their eavesdropping but doesn't care, as he's more concerned with the activities of Serpent O.R.

On Cybertron, within the Decepticon base, Serpent O.R. consults his human prisoners Hawk and Roadblock. Roadblock doesn't accomplish much by punching Serpent O.R's metal armor. Serpent O.R. explains his problem to Hawk: although Serpent O.R. is able to obey his pre-programmed militaristic desires, he lacks personal emotional fulfillment from his successful conquests. Hawk concludes that the synthetic man's lack of emotion is because he has no personal investment; he is effectively a slave to his own programming.

In a nearby ammo case, Snake-Eyes meditates, until the guard Breakdown looks into Snake-Eye's eyes, falling victim to an Arashikage form of hypnotism that forces Breakdown to shoot the other guard, Nautilator, and free the captive humans.

Outside, Hot Rod organizes a large search and rescue party.

Meanwhile, at Decepticon HQ, Divebomb discusses how he's satisfied with Serpent O.R.'s leadership abilities. Rampage, however, just wants to relocate to Earth soon as possible, so he can start hunting humans. As they talk, the four freed Joes sneak behind the two Predacons.

Prime, chained up, is brought to Serpent O.R., who has a surprising amount of respect for the leader of his enemies. Serpent O.R. asks Prime if he thinks that he would be worthy of accessing the Autobot Matrix of Leadership, but Prime argues that Serpent O.R.'s inability to appreciate the preciousness of life renders him incompatible with the power of the Matrix as much as Megatron was. When Serpent O.R. is momentarily distracted by the escaping prisoners, Prime escapes his chains and attacks Serpent O.R. directly.

Elsewhere, the newly liberated Autobots and Joes face a withering Decepticon assault. On Earth, G.I. Joe prepares to once again open their warp gate to Cybertron to send all the reinforcements they can muster.

Featured characters

{{#if:*Optimus Prime (1)

Omega Supreme (2)
Jetfire (12)
Hot Rod (23)
Tracks (24)
Sideswipe (25)
Prowl (26)
Kup (27)
Ultra Magnus (28)
Cliffjumper (29)
Warpath (30)
Ratchet (31)
Ironhide (32)
Grimlock (37)
Perceptor (38)
Arcee (39)|

{{#if:*Optimus Prime (1)

Omega Supreme (2)
Jetfire (12)
Hot Rod (23)
Tracks (24)
Sideswipe (25)
Prowl (26)
Kup (27)
Ultra Magnus (28)
Cliffjumper (29)
Warpath (30)
Ratchet (31)
Ironhide (32)
Grimlock (37)
Perceptor (38)
Arcee (39)|| style="background:#ffdddd;" valign="top" |
Optimus Prime (1)
Omega Supreme (2)
Jetfire (12)
Hot Rod (23)
Tracks (24)
Sideswipe (25)
Prowl (26)
Kup (27)
Ultra Magnus (28)
Cliffjumper (29)
Warpath (30)
Ratchet (31)
Ironhide (32)
Grimlock (37)
Perceptor (38)
Arcee (39) }}{{#if:*Sixshot (3)
Predaking (4)
Piranacon (5)
Astrotrain (6)
Menasor (7)
Viewfinder (8)
Spyglass (9)
Spectro (10)
Breakdown (19)
Nautilator (20)
Divebomb (33)
Rampage (34)
Hun-Grr (35)
Motormaster (36)
Buzzsaw (40)
Tantrum (41)
Headstrong (42)|

Autobots }}{{#if:*Sixshot (3) Predaking (4) Piranacon (5) Astrotrain (6) Menasor (7) Viewfinder (8) Spyglass (9) Spectro (10) Breakdown (19) Nautilator (20) Divebomb (33) Rampage (34) Hun-Grr (35) Motormaster (36) Buzzsaw (40) Tantrum (41) Headstrong (42)\|	Decepticons }}{{#if:*Hawk (17) Roadblock (18) Snake-Eyes (21) Scarlett (22) Stalker (43) Barbecue (44) Beachhead (45) Lady Jaye (46) Sci-Fi (47) Duke (48) Tripwire (49) Storm Shadow (50) Firewall (51) Mainframe (53)\|	G.I. Joe }}{{#if:*Baroness (13) Zartan (14) Knox (15) Cobra Commander (16)\|	Cobra }}{{#if:*Serpent O.R. (11) Professor Martin (52)\|	Others }}{{#if:\|	Misc }}
Sixshot (3) Predaking (4) Piranacon (5) Astrotrain (6) Menasor (7) Viewfinder (8) Spyglass (9) Spectro (10) Breakdown (19) Nautilator (20) Divebomb (33) Rampage (34) Hun-Grr (35) Motormaster (36) Buzzsaw (40) Tantrum (41) Headstrong (42) }}{{#if:*Hawk (17) Roadblock (18) Snake-Eyes (21) Scarlett (22) Stalker (43) Barbecue (44) Beachhead (45) Lady Jaye (46) Sci-Fi (47) Duke (48) Tripwire (49) Storm Shadow (50) Firewall (51) Mainframe (53)\|	Hawk (17) Roadblock (18) Snake-Eyes (21) Scarlett (22) Stalker (43) Barbecue (44) Beachhead (45) Lady Jaye (46) Sci-Fi (47) Duke (48) Tripwire (49) Storm Shadow (50) Firewall (51) Mainframe (53) }}{{#if:*Baroness (13) Zartan (14) Knox (15) Cobra Commander (16)\|	Baroness (13) Zartan (14) Knox (15) Cobra Commander (16) }}{{#if:*Serpent O.R. (11) Professor Martin (52)\|	Serpent O.R. (11) Professor Martin (52) }}{{#if:\|	}}

Notes

Covers (3)

Cover A: Grimlock and Snake-Eyes vs the Decepticons by Joe Ng, Espen Grundetjern and Tom Liu. Combines with the Cover A variant covers for issues 1–5 to form a single image.
Cover B: G.I. Joe vs Predaking by Josh Medors and Rob Ruffolo.
UDON Exclusive Cover: Destro and the Baroness with Soundwave and his cassettes by Joe Ng: Available at Conventions and on the Club Udon website. Combines with Club Udon variant covers for issues 1–5 to form a single image.