View source for The Beast Within

{{comicstory|seriesissue=''Transformers: The Beast Within''
|next=The Beast Within Part 2, Consequences
|title="The Beast Within"
|image=The Beast Within 1.jpg
|caption=Grimlock has a Chest Burster.
|publisher=[[Metrodome]]
|date=May 2004 <small style="line-height:1.2em;">(included with ''Season 2, Part 2'' DVD set)</small>
|script=[[Darren Jamieson]]
|art=[[Dylan Gibson]]
}}
A profound and moving narrative that forces the audience to re-evaluate all conceptions of their identity. Both thrilling and immersive, "'''The Beast Within'''" redefines the era as it forces a new standard of storytelling. Starting on an epic battle comparable to ''The Lord of the Rings'' or ''Akira'', but the conflict pales in comparison to the internal emotional struggle of Grimlock as he is forced to restrain his own emotions for the sake of his tactical ideology. Pushed to both physical and psychological limits, he and his compatriots do the unthinkable and fuse, physically and conceptually, into a unified truth that mirrors us all. But with the revelation of this most sacred ability comes a new threat to the Autobots… a threat that is somehow familiar.

==Synopsis==
[[Image:THE BEAST.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Yes, this thing is canon. I hate you all.]]
In the war-torn battlefields of an [[Autobot]]-[[Decepticon]] battle, [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] mediates on releasing his full power onto the ruthless Decepticons. But, alas, he cannot! For if he let go of any restraint, he would let loose the [[Beast (G1)|Beast]]! The casualties mount; despite losses on their side, the Decepticons are gaining victory! [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] is battered and surrounded by [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and his troops. 

Truly, Grimlock has no choice; he must release the Beast within! With Grimlock calling out, "Dinobots! UNITE!!!", a large number of wires sprout out from everywhere. The end result is an awesome titan of power! Stricken with fear, Megatron orders the Decepticons to destroy the massive creature! [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]] forms! The opposing titans battle, but it is already lost for Predaking, for a slash of the Beast's sword takes care of the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacon]] combiner. The [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] try to attack the Beast, but their attacks are pitiful! The Beast destroys them in one fell swoop! [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] and [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] are next, but the Beast simply tears them apart, and does the same for [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]], even though the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticon]] combiner pleads for his life, The Decepticons then retreat. 

With no Decepticons left to destroy, the Beast turns to the Autobots! Prime calls to Grimlock to regain mental control, but the Beast utters one thing… "K …I …L …L".
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (1)
* [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (3)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (4)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (12)
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (13)
* [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (14)
* [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] (15)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (16)
* [[Twin Twist (G1)|Twin Twist]] (17)
* [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (18)
* [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (20)
* [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (22)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (24)
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (26)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (27)
* [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (31)
* [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] (32)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (33)
* [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (38)
* [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (41)
* [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (42)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (45)
* [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (49)
* [[Beast (G1)|Beast]] (50)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (56)
* [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (66)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (67)
{{!}}}
|c2=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (2)
* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (5)
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (6)
* [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (7)
* [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] (8)
* [[Octane (G1)|Octane]] (9)
* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (10)
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (11)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (19)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (21)
* [[Headstrong (G1)|Headstrong]] (23)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (25)
* [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (28)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (29)
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (30)
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (34)
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (35)
* [[Tantrum (G1)|Tantrum]] (36)
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (37)
* [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (39)
* [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (40)
* [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] or [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (41)
* [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (44)
* [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (46)
* [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (47)
* [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (48)
* [[Viewfinder]] (51)
* [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] [[FIRRIB|or]] [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (52)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Spectro]] (53)
* [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] (54)
* [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (55)
* [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] (57)
* [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (58)
* [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]] (59)
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (60)
* [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (61)
* [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] (62)
* [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] (63)
* [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (64)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (65)
{{!}}}
}}

==Notes==
*The author, Darren Jamieson, has defended his writing, stating that "The Beast Within" is understandable to those who don't expect exposition, and the incoherence was a foregone conclusion of limited pages.<ref name="afraiddino">[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-general-discussion/267500-anyone-afraid-dinobot-combiner-4.html#post4149462 "Anyone afraid of the Dinobot combiner?"], TFW2005, September 2009.</ref> Because there's [[Earthforce|no way]] to tell [[(Double) Deal of the Century!|standalone]] [[Transformers: Energon (mini-comic)|stories]] with a [[Transformers: Mosaic|very limited page number]]. 
* This comic cannot take place in any previously-established continuity, due to the various characters being alive alongside other characters who were not around at certain times, the rampant gratuitous deaths, etc.
* As far as [[Hasbro]] is concerned, "There never was a Dinobot combiner."<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20090820093433/http://www.actionfigs.com/index.php?categoryid=21&p2_articleid=2471 Official Hasbro Q&A] (archive)</ref> While the most likely explanation for this comment is that this particular Hasbro representative is unaware of an obscure UK only DVD pack-in comic it's also possible Hasbro has tried to erase "The Beast Within" from [[canon]] entirely using special canon [[cannon]]s.<ref>Under {{SITENAME SHORT}}'s [[canon]] policies, once something is canon, it remains canon.</ref>
*[[Simon Furman]] is thanked for "help and support in the production of this comic." One can only wonder what "help" this was, but it's best not to contemplate what this comic might have been like without it.
* Gibson stated that he wanted the comic to look like a Transformers comic [[Dreamwave Productions|you could buy off the shelf]], which explains the [[Pat Lee]] like art. 
* This issue features digitally-applied lettering (in Comic Sans) that is rarely aligned correctly and features virtually no periods or commas.
* Grimlock's line "I cannot let him out…not again" hints at a prior appearance of the Beast that the world was fortunate enough to avoid witnessing. The second part to this story would confirm this, specifying that the Beast was let loose 4 million years ago in its prologue.
* [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]], [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]], [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]], [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] and [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] never appear as individuals, only as the component parts of their respective combined forms.

===Errors===
*This comic was produced.

===Covers===
[[Image:The Beast Within 1 full.jpg|thumb|200px|We made our love on wasteland...]]
*Grimlock goes all tentacley while Optimus watches, mocked by Megatron and Soundwave, and Starscream does his best chicken impression.

:Cover by Dylan Gibson.

==References==
<references />

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beast Within}}
[[Category:Generation 1 issues]]