The Art of War issue 2

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Tough chicks.}}}} |-

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|- {{#if: Devil's Due Press | |Publisher || Devil's Due Press}} |- {{#if: | |Published by || }} |- {{#if: | |Imprint || }} |- {{#if: | |Published in || }} |- {{#if: April 19, 2006 | |First published || April 19, 2006}} |- {{#if: | |Shipping date || }} |- {{#if: | |On-sale date || }} |- {{#if: April 2006 | |Cover date || April 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 | |Pencils || Joe Ng}} |- {{#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 | |Inks || Rob Ross}} |- {{#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: Kevin Yan | |Colors || Kevin Yan}} |- {{#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: Tom Liu | |Flats by || Tom Liu}} |- {{#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=}}

Synopsis

On Cybertron, Optimus blissfully performs some data management tasks, until Hot Rod interrupts with news of the battle on Earth. Hot Rod dismisses Cobra's potential to be a threat to Cybertron's new-found era of peace, but Optimus advises Hot Rod to not underestimate them.

On Earth, the Autobots begin to track the missing Bumblebee, and Grimlock follows his faint life-signals into the tunnel Cobra excavated.

Underground, Cobra Commander awakes and resolves to beat on the unconscious Bumblebee with a nearby piece of pipe. Amazingly, he, Zartan and Zarana don't notice as Perceptor, Grimlock, Scarlett, Arcee, Snake-Eyes and Hawk sneak up behind them. Hawk explains to Perceptor that he was unaware of the underground laboratory, and the Decepticon components stored inside of it.

Cobra Commander explains the nature of the laboratory and how it was used to develop the Serpent Organic Robot. As if on cue, Serpent O.R. attacks the Transformers and the Joes. Using his tendrils, he seizes remote control of the Joes' mechs. In the confusion, Cobra Commander and the Dreadnoks escape.

Scarlett attacks Serpent O.R. directly, but is quickly tossed aside by the synthetic being. Tired of the skirmish, he brings down the ceiling upon everybody still in the underground laboratory. Making his way to level 6, Serpent O.R. brushes aside Mainframe and other Joe technicians and intimidates Firewall.

Back in the underground lab, the Autobots dig themselves out of the rubble and the G.I. Joes exit their buried mechs. Despite being outside of her mech during the collapse, Scarlett survives, and discovers Martin and Li.

Above, Serpent O.R. overrides the G.I. Joe computers, using them to transport him to Cybertron.

On Cybertron, in the Gladiator Zone, a battle between Razorclaw and Nautilator quickly escalates into a battle between Predaking and Piranacon. But before Predaking kills Piranacon, Serpent O.R. interrupts the battle to recruit the two teams into his new Decepticon army.

Featured characters

{{#if:* Optimus Prime (1)

Hot Rod (2)
Grimlock (3)
Arcee (4)
Perceptor (6)
Bumblebee (9)|

{{#if:* Optimus Prime (1)

Hot Rod (2)
Grimlock (3)
Arcee (4)
Perceptor (6)
Bumblebee (9)|| style="background:#ffdddd;" valign="top" |
Optimus Prime (1)
Hot Rod (2)
Grimlock (3)
Arcee (4)
Perceptor (6)
Bumblebee (9) }}{{#if:*Megatron (13)
Nautilator (20)
Razorclaw (21)
Divebomb (22)
Rampage (23)
Tantrum (24)
Headstrong (25)
Piranacon (26)
Predaking (27)|

Autobots }}{{#if:*Megatron (13) Nautilator (20) Razorclaw (21) Divebomb (22) Rampage (23) Tantrum (24) Headstrong (25) Piranacon (26) Predaking (27)\|	Decepticons }}{{#if:*Snake-Eyes (5) Scarlett (11) Hawk (12) Roadblock (15) Mainframe (16) Firewall (17)\|	G.I. Joe }}{{#if:*Zarana (7) Cobra Commander (8) Zartan (10)\|	Cobra }}{{#if:*Serpent O.R. (14) Professor Martin (18) Li (19)\|	Others }}{{#if:\|	Misc }}
Megatron (13) Nautilator (20) Razorclaw (21) Divebomb (22) Rampage (23) Tantrum (24) Headstrong (25) Piranacon (26) Predaking (27) }}{{#if:*Snake-Eyes (5) Scarlett (11) Hawk (12) Roadblock (15) Mainframe (16) Firewall (17)\|	Snake-Eyes (5) Scarlett (11) Hawk (12) Roadblock (15) Mainframe (16) Firewall (17) }}{{#if:*Zarana (7) Cobra Commander (8) Zartan (10)\|	Zarana (7) Cobra Commander (8) Zartan (10) }}{{#if:*Serpent O.R. (14) Professor Martin (18) Li (19)\|	Serpent O.R. (14) Professor Martin (18) Li (19) }}{{#if:\|	}}

Quotes

"Bumblebee? Oh, Primus, his energy levels are low!"
"Arcee... seeing you is all the recharge i need."

—Arcee and Bumblebee

Notes

Optimus Prime's references to his days as an archivist is a reference to the first issue of Dreamwave's series The War Within. This is consistent with the previous issue of The Art of War, when Megatron's War Within form was visible in Soundwave's memory files.
When Serpent O.R. ambushes the Joes and Autobots, the logo for Transformers website 'The Allspark' is visible on a wall panel.
There's graffiti on a wall inside the Gladiator Zone that reads "All Are Dead", homaging the cover of "The New Order" which featured a wall reading "[The Transformers] Are All Dead".

Covers (3)

Cover A: Arcee and Scarlett surrounded by 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: Optimus Prime and Snake-Eyes by Chris Lie, John Lowe and Jeremy Roberts.
UDON Exclusive Cover: Female Transformers with some female Joes 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.

Tough chicks.
They should make a statue of this.
Ladies' nite out!

Reprints

Other than collections of the full series

Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 96: G.I. Joe vs Transformers, Part 2 (July 15, 2020)

Collects G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers II and the first 2 issues of The Art of War
Bonus material includes a two-page sketchbook containing unused pencil art for the first 8 pages of The Art of War, a cover gallery and an intro by Simon Furman.

Definitive G1 Collection Vol. 96: G.I. Joe vs Transformers, Part 2;
art by E. J. Su/Tim Seeley and Margeaux Pepoy (retro art) and Dreamwave (Ramjet)

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