Editing Primal Rage

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers: Beast Wars]]'' #14
|prev=The Speedway of Central Consciousness
|next=Beast Wars issue 15
|title="Primal Rage"
|image=BW21 14 cvrA.jpg
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[March 23]], 2022
|coverdate=March 2022
|written by=[[Erik Burnham]]
|art by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Jake M. Wood]]
|editor=[[David Mariotte]], [[Jazmine Joyner]] and [[Riley Farmer]]
|continuity=''[[Transformers: Beast Wars]]''
}}

'''A plot to turn the Maximals against their own leads to the discovery of two mysterious Cybertronians with their own agenda.'''

==Synopsis==
While searching for [[energon]] in the jungle, [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] and [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] come under assault from more of the strange hybrid creatures that inhabit this planet—although their teeth and claws can't dent Cybertronian armor, Waspinator's disturbed by their highly aggressive behaviour. Scorponok wonders if some external stimuli might've triggered this berserker state, and he's proven correct when the pair find a nearby energon deposit: unlike the other [[energon crystal]]s they've discovered thus far, ''this'' particular outcrop glows with a strange, red energy. Back aboard the ''[[Darksyde (BW)|Darksyde]]'', [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] analyzes a sample of the new energon: this specific variety posseses a number of unusual psychoactive effects that increase the anger and aggression of any nearby lifeforms. Intrigued, [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] wonders if this find could be weaponized somehow...

A few days later, [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]] and a skeptical [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] plant a series of early-warning sensors in the jungles beyond the  ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]''. However, when Optimus activates one of the sensors, the machine unexpectedly lights up, moments before Tarantulas and [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] ambush the pair! Before either [[Maximal]] can retaliate, Tarantulas plants a bomb on Dinobot's beast mode back, where his arms can't reach; as Optimus tries to dislodge and disarm the device, it explodes!

Optimus Primal comes to aboard the ''Axalon''; when [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] detects an abnormal amount of [[energon]] radiation, however, Primal bursts free from his restraints, punches Rhinox in the face, and shouts that Dinobot ''let'' Tarantulas get the drop on him while everyone else hid in the ship. As he storms off, Rhinox points out that Dinobot's unharmed by the same radiation—perhaps his [[beast mode]] shielded him from the worst of the blast? Dinobot has an alternate theory: he already hated most of his [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] shipmates, and since joining the Maximals he's had to suppress his burning desire to murder [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]], so perhaps he's simply learned to control his anger naturally. The same cannot be said for Optimus Primal, however—as he stomps through the ship, he smacks [[Nyx]] while berating her for her previous mistakes; when Rattrap and [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] intervene, they're nearly drawn into the brawl before Rhinox finally steps in and restrains Optimus. Although Optimus lashes out at his crew, Dinobot finally admits that the Maximals ''are'' warriors, good as any Predacon. The real problem is Megatron... and if Optimus wants to end the Beast Wars decisively, he should use that anger to take him out as soon as possible. As Primal dashes off, Nyx and Rattrap worry, but Rhinox remains certain that overexerting himself like this will help him burn through the energon radiation faster than usual.

Aboard the ''Darksyde'', Waspinator interrupts Megatron as the Predacon leader repairs the ship's damaged [[Transwarp Drive|transwarp drive]] to inform his leader that a Maximal's blundered into a trap! All too eager to take in the sight of their helpless victim, Megatron quickly follows Waspinator into the woods beyond the crash site... and promptly rounds on Waspinator when his subordinate leads him into a dead end. Suddenly, "Waspinator" sneers that Megatron's far too trusting, blasts him with a burst of energy and drops his disguise to reveal that he's ''not'' one of Megatron's Predacons at all! With Megatron compromised, [[Saberback]] contacts his masters to inform them that there's still one 'bot left to capture...

As Optimus swings through the jungle in his gorilla mode, a sudden blast of energy sends him spinning out of control and onto the forest floor. His attacker introduces himself as [[Polar Claw]] and announces that he's to come with him. When the still-enraged Optimus refuses, however, the larger Cybertronian dodges his incautious blows, transforms, and blasts the Maximal leader unconscious!

==Featured characters== 
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in Cheetor's dream.)<br> 
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
* [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (5)
* [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]] (6)
* [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (8)
* [[Nyx]] (9)
* [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] (10)
* [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (11)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s|c2=
* [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] (1)
* [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (2)
* [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] (3)
* [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] (4)
* [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (7)
* [[Skold]] (12)

|c4=
* [[Saberback]] (13)
* [[Polar Claw]] (14)

}}

==Quotes==
"This crystal's radiation has unique properties, including an unexpected '''psychoactive effect'''—it '''increases''' aggression an anger. Oh! It's beautiful!" <br>
"It didn't affect '''us'''." <br>
"Yeah". <br>
"Perhaps you should consider what that says about you two, hm?"
:—'''Tarantulas''', '''Scorponok''', and '''Waspinator'''


"You know, I hated most of my Predacon crewmates... and I've wanted '''nothing''' more than to murder Rattrap since I've joined you, Rhinox, yet '''he still lives'''. So maybe I was affected... but I am at this point '''well-practiced at handling '''aggression'''." 
:—'''Dinobot'''


"Hkk—let me go, Rhinox! That's an '''order'''!" <br>
"Why, so you can attack your loyal crew?" <br>
"They're not-" <br>
"Oh, but they are. They are as good and true as any warriors I've met. Your anger doesn't lie with them... it lies with you." 
:—'''Optimus Primal''' and '''Dinobot'''


"What is this? Who are you? A Maximal assassin?" <br>
"Nope. I'm just the one who '''fooled you'''. But then—that's what I do."
:—'''Megatron''' meets '''Saberback'''


"You think so small, Optimus. There is more to the world than you and Megatron and your Maximals and Predacons. As to how I found you? I was sent by '''gods'''."
:—'''Polar Claw'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* The nature of the planet's strange and often aggressive wildlife has been a long-running mystery since the early days of the comic. While at least some, such as [[Thicker Skin|issue #10]]'s [[Ironwolf|ironwolves]], are explicitly alien in appearance, the creatures in this issue appear to be hybrids that incorporate traits from both hammerhead sharks and the horned, cat-like monster that attacked Nyx in [[Savage Landing Part 4|issue #4]].
* Throughout the comic, Dinobot reminds Optimus of their assault on the ''Darksyde'', which played out in the three-part "Maximals Strike Back" story arc that ran from issues [[Maximals Strike Back, Part 1|#10]] to [[Maximals Strike Back, Part 3|#12]].
* While enraged, Optimus berates Nyx for getting captured and leading the Predacons straight to their base—a succinct, if biased, recap of issues [[Savage Landing Part 2|#2]] through [[Savage Landing Part 4|#4]].
* When Primal lays into Rattrap and Cheetor over their perceived lack of strength, Rattrap points out that if Primal wants a fight, Rattrap can get "his suit" in reference to the [[GCMG-Five|cargo-loading exoskeleton]] he used to fight Tarantulas in [[Savage Landing Part 6|issue #6]].
* Megatron's working to repair his ship's [[Transwarp Drive|Transwarp drive]], which Nyx sabotaged in [[Maximals Strike Back, Part 3|issue #12]] during the Maximal assault on the ''Darksyde''.
* The two new Cybertronians dispatched to capture the leaders of their respective factions both sport glowing green eyes; they're likely products of [[Vok]] experimentation on some of the crashed [[stasis pod]]s and their [[protoform]] occupants: as per [[The Speedway of Central Consciousness|the previous issue]], the Vok sent [[Pakak]] into Cheetor's mind to learn how to reprogram protoforms.

===Transformers references===
* The concept of the Predacons turning Optimus into an out-of-control berserker shares many similarities with the [[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|''Beast Wars'' cartoon]] episode "[[Gorilla Warfare]]". Perhaps not coincidentially, a minor plot point from the beginning of that episode involved Dinobot unable to reach a seed pod stuck on his back with his scrawny beast mode arms, similar to his predicament in this issue.
* Optimus Primal swears by the Matrix, which was a semi-frequent oath in the original ''Beast Wars'' cartoon.
* [[Saberback]] originally debuted as one of several new Predacons in the Japanese-exclusive ''[[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (cartoon)|Beast Wars Neo]]'' cartoon.
* [[Polar Claw]], on the other hand, never appeared in any cartoon, but ''did'' play a memorable role in "[[Terminus (issue)|Terminus]]" and IDW's own ''[[Transformers, Beast Wars: The Gathering|The Gathering]]'' miniseries. "Terminus" and ''Gathering'' author [[Simon Furman]]'s professed love for polar bears might explain why this incarnation of Polar Claw appears to have picked up a speech quirk from Furman's breakout character [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]], yes?

===Real-world references===
* The issue's title "Primal Rage" may be a reference to the 1994 {{w|Primal Rage|video game of the same name}}, which featured prehistoric creatures (specifically various giant primates and dinosaurs) engaging in one-on-one combat on a post-apocalyptic Earth.

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A:''' Optimus versus Polar Claw, by [[Winston Chan]]
* '''Cover B:''' Optimus goes berserk, by [[Brenda Chi]]
* '''Retailer incentive cover:''' Optimus versus Megatron, by [[Camila Fortuna]]

<gallery>
File:BW21 14 cvrA.jpg
File:BW21 14 cvrB.jpg
File:BW21 14 cvrRI.jpg

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==External links==
* [https://www.comicon.com/2022/03/22/preview-everyone-is-acting-strange-in-transformers-beast-wars-14/ Preview]

[[Category:Beast Wars (2021) issues]]