Editing To the Deathâ€”and Beyond!

{{comicstory|seriesissue=''[[Transformers: The Animated Movie]]'' #2
|prev=The Gathering Storm
|next=Terror on Two Worlds!
|title="To the Death—and Beyond!"
|image=TAM 2.jpg
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[November 22]], [[2006]]
|coverdate=November 2006
|writer=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|designer=[[Neil Uyetake]]
|artist=[[Don Figueroa]]
|colorist=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letterer=[[Robbie Robbins]]
|editor=[[Chris Ryall]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 (cartoon)|Cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''Optimus Prime dies, while a new Decepticon menace is born.'''

== Synopsis ==
A dying Optimus Prime designates Ultra Magnus to be the next [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]-bearer.  He prepares to hand it to him but as he dies, the Matrix falls from his hands and Hot Rod catches it. He hands it to Magnus, who stores it in his chest.  Unicron is not happy.

Aboard Astrotrain, the [[Decepticon]]s must jettison some weight to make it to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] so they decide to cast off those who were badly injured in battle.  Starscream takes a particular pleasure in disposing of Megatron.  This, however, sparks a fight over who will be new Decepticon leader.  Unicron finds the cast-off Decepticons and makes Megatron an offer to be restored in order to destroy the Matrix.  He agrees and is reformatted as Galvatron, with the others reformatted as Scourge, the Sweeps, Cyclonus and [[Cyclonus's Armada|his armada]].  Unicron also provides them a ship and sends them to destroy the Matrix.  Galvatron's first act is revenge, however, as he disrupts Starscream's coronation and promptly kills him.  The other Decepticons have no argument.

Unicron attacks [[Moonbase One]] and Jazz and Cliffjumper attempt to escape, but are sucked into the monster's maw.  Unicron then attacks [[Moonbase Two]]; it is consumed as well.  Galvatron is angered but Unicron forces him to obey.  He travels to Earth and attacks the [[Autobot]]s, who escape in two shuttles.  Cyclonus damages the shuttle containing Hot Rod, Kup and the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]; it crashes over a strange planet.  The other shuttle's crew fakes their destruction by blowing up part of the ship. In pain, Galvatron returns to Unicron while the damaged shuttle heads toward the [[Junkion (planet)|Planet of Junk]].  The first shuttle breaks up in the planet's atmosphere and its passengers free-fall to the planet.  Hot Rod lands in a body of liquid filled with mechanical tentacles and hungry looking mechanical fish.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (1)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] (2)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (3)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (4)
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (6)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (7)
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (8)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (33)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (34)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (35)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (36)
* [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (37)
* [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (38)
* [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (39)
* [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (40)
* [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (41)
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (42)
|c2=
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (10)
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (11)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (12)
* [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (13)
* [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (14)
* [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (15)
* [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (16)
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (17)
* [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (18)
* [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (19)
* [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] / [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (20)
* [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] / [[Sweep]] (21)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] / [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (22)
* [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] / [[Sweep]] (23)
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] / [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (24)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (25)
* [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (26)
* [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (27)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (28)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] / [[Cyclonus's Armada]] (29)
* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (30)
* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (31)
|c3=
* [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] (5)
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (32)
|c4=
* [[Unicron]] (9)
}}

== Errors ==
* None yet identified.

== Items of note ==
* Somewhat ambiguous in the movie itself, this issue identifies Thundercracker as becoming Scourge, Bombshell becoming Cyclonus, Skywarp becoming "the armada" and the other Insecticons becoming the Sweeps.

===Covers (2)===
* '''Regular Cover''': Megatron reformatted into Galvatron by Don Figueroa and Josh Burcham
* '''Retailer Incentive''': Uncolored sketch of regular cover

===Advertisements===
* ''[[Infiltration]]'' TPB
* ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' 20th Anniversary DVD
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* ''[[Escalation (IDW)|Escalation]]'', including a 3-page preview
* Transformers posters
* Manga editions of ''The Gathering'' and ''Stormbringer'' 
* ''[[Spotlight (comics)|Transformers: Spotlight]]'', first 5 issues
* [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] with Kung Fu Grip toy (back cover)

[[Category:IDW Generation 1 issues]]