No Exit

This article is about the last published Dreamwave Energon issue. For the Dark Cybertron issue, see No Exit: Dark Cybertron Chapter 6.

« Transformers Energon #30 »
Battle of the homages
"No Exit"
Publisher	Dreamwave Productions
First published	December 8, 2004
Cover date	December, 2004
Writer	Simon Furman
Pencils	Marcelo Matere
Inks	Ferd Poblete, Erik Sander, Elaine To
Additional inks	Rob Armstrong
Colors	Jong-Im Lee, Sigmund Torre, Rob Ruffolo
Letters	Ben Lee
Continuity	Dreamwave Armada continuity

With the Terrorcon armies defeated, Megatron challenges Scorponok to a fight to the death.

Synopsis

In a flashback from during the Great War, Scorponok, Terrorsaur, Predacon, and Wheeljack battle against the Autobots, while Megatron, Starscream, Cyclonus, Demolishor, and Thrust watch from above. Starscream mentions that while his tactics are far more crude and brutal than Megatron's policy of subtlety and stealth, it's certainly a crowd pleaser, and he suggests that Megatron watch his back.

In the present, in the Yukon, Megatron and Scorponok exchange some unfriendly banter before Scorponok takes the first swing, somehow missing Megatron entirely. He transforms into his hyper mode and blasts Megatron. Satisfied that the smoking crater is all that remains of him, he turns his attention back to the Autobots, sending a transmission to Alpha Quintesson to ask if he should leave a single survivor alive to tell the tale. He finds himself unable to reach him, though, and Megatron, flying up from behind, suggests that either Alpha Quintesson is screening his calls, or the signal's being jammed.

Scorponok, arrogant as ever, insists that the enhanced weaponry given to him by Unicron will make short work of Megatron. Megatron evades his attacks and assaults Scorponok from both sides with the use of the tank-drone. Meanwhile, Ironhide comes to his senses and, seeing the two titans duking it out, realizes that whoever wins will probably come after the Autobots next and looks for a way to protect the base. Scorponok focuses all his fire directly on Megatron, ultimately burying him in an avalanche of snow and rock. As he gloats over the icy tomb, Megatron teleports out to behind Scorponok and impales him through the chest with his sword, killing him.

"Ow! That's gonna sting tomorrow!"

Before leaving, Megatron briefly introduces himself to Ironhide, who has erected an energy barrier just strong enough to keep the Autobots and the shield generator in and Megatron out. He tells Ironhide that he's impressed, but he really didn't need to go through the trouble; Megatron doesn't want Ironhide dead or even harmed. In fact, he wants him in possession of all his faculties so that he can tell everyone that Megatron is back!

On Cybertron, in the High Halls, Jetfire speaks to the Council of Elders, informing them of Megatron's return, and wondering about what Megatron meant with his "belly of the beast" remark about Optimus Prime. Councilor Avalon ends his transmission to the Council and tells Alpha Quintesson that he is sure Optimus Prime is within Unicron. Though Alpha Quintesson is unable to detect him due to the large areas of Unicron that are still offline, he says that as Unicron powers back up, the hiding places will become fewer and fewer. He tells Avalon that if Unicron's systems haven't already destroyed Optimus Prime, they soon will.

The issue (and, as it happened, the entire series) closes with a full-page image of Optimus Prime, various cracks and holes in his frame crudely patched, hefting an enormous gun and saying, "Ready or not, Unicron, here I come!"

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots	Decepticons	Others
Ironhide (12) Overload (13) Dropshot (14) Jetfire (15) Avalon (16) Optimus Prime (19)	Predacon (2) Terrorsaur (3) Wheeljack (4) Thrust (5) Cyclonus (6) Megatron (7) Starscream (8) Demolishor (9) Thundercracker (10) Skywarp (11) Terrorcons Scorponok (1)	Alpha Quintesson (17) Unicron (18)

Quotes

"My philosophy of war is simple. Never ask someone to do something you wouldn't do yourself...and never shirk direct confrontation. It's-- oh."
"My philosophy...always keep something in reserve!"

—Scorponok's last words before he's run through by Megatron

"Right. Ready or not, Unicron...HERE I COME!"

—Optimus Prime unknowingly closes out the series and Dreamwave altogether

Notes

Continuity notes

• This was the final issue of the Energon comic series published before the dissolution of Dreamwave. Details about subsequent issues were only known vaguely, gleaned from solicitations and touched upon the writers at conventions, until finally, six years later, in late 2010, author Simon Furman posted detailed summaries of the remaining six issues on his blog. TFWiki has created articles for each of the issues based on these summaries; click that right-arrow up at the top of the article to keep on a-readin'!
• Scorponok initially mistakes Megatron's new tank drone partner for a Mini-Con- an easy assumption to make, considering Megatron spent so long trying to collect as many as possible.
• A six-month gap was to occur between the stories in this issue and the next; "Perspective", the Energon story in the 20th Anniversary Transformers Summer Special, takes place during this time.
• The Collectors Club comic makes reference to events that would have happened in the upcoming issues. Some fans have assumed that, by extension, the Cybertron cartoon would have also taken place after the comic.

Transformers references

• During his fight with Scorponok, Megatron gives a familiar "Ye-esss..." Considering this Megatron was voiced by David Kaye as well, it seems entirely intentional.
• When Jetfire speaks to the holograms of the High Council, two of the holographic heads appear to be of Sky Garry and Star Convoy.

Errors

• On the two-page spread showcasing Scorponok leading his troops on Cybertron in the past, Thundercracker and Skywarp's colors are swapped.
• Following that, when we see Megatron and his inner circle surveying the battle, they are all sporting their Earth mode kibble/designs, despite the flashback taking place long before they ever travelled to Earth.
• Megatron's entire wing assembly is colored bright green in various panels throughout the issue. Only the Energon weapons mounted on it should have that particular gleam.

Other trivia

• First appearance of Predacon. Just his luck.
• Scorponok's corpse remains standing upright after Megatron kills him. Nice.
• Readers' mail is answered by Matthew Hansen. Appropriately, the letter column ends with "Time to pack it up and turn off the lights!"
• The Wavelengths page has a short interview with Simon Furman about Energon and contains an article from the desk of Candice Chan. Furman speaks about the final arc of the Energon series, its transition into a Cybertron series (after issue 36) and the More Than Meets The Eye: Energon profiles.
• Being published a week after The Age of Wrath #3 and Generation 1 (Ongoing) #10, this was in fact the final Transformers comic of any description that Dreamwave published before they dissolved.

Covers (1)

• Megatron faces off against Scorponok by Alex Milne

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