Alliance issue 3

« Transformers: Alliance #3 »
Is my lipstick on crooked?
Publisher	IDW Publishing
First published	February 18, 2009
Cover date	February 2009
Written by	Chris Mowry
Art by	Alex Milne
Colors by	Josh Perez
Letters by	Chris Mowry
Edits by	Denton J. Tipton
Continuity	Movie continuity

The alliance between humans and Autobots grows as a Decepticon threat arrives on Earth.

Synopsis

All around the world—in Italy, San Francisco, Africa, China, the South American rain forest and Sydney, Australia—Decepticons land on Earth in comet form. On the devastated Sector Seven base in the Nevada desert, Ironhide has arrived and is tending Bumblebee, whose vocal processor has been damaged in battle with Starscream. Meanwhile, Salani, the soldier Lennox had assigned to stay at the base, is retrieving injured Sector Seven operatives, while Agent Simmons is sitting nearby, silently complaining about those robots' manners. When Salani calls him, Simmons secretly hides Frenzy's head, which is lying nearby. Salani informs Simmons that many Sector Seven personnel have been killed, among them Professor Vine. Simmons, however, is mostly interested in finding the AllSpark fragment. At this moment, Lennox, Epps, Optimus Prime and Ratchet arrive at the devastated base. Lennox hands Simmons a radio that connects him to Defense Secretary Keller, who informs Simmons that Sector Seven has been disbanded with immediate effect, and he has put Lennox in charge of the operation. Simmons drives off, keeping Frenzy's head with him. Shortly afterward, Salani returns with the Allspark fragment, which he has found in the lab, and hands it back to Optimus Prime. The remains of Wreckage and the Landmine units are loaded onto flatbed trucks.

Two weeks later, Lennox has to explain himself to his superiors via video conference, because he wants to cooperate with the Autobots—the military still has a problem telling Autobots and Decepticons apart. Lennox and the Autobots are on board of an aircraft carrier. A crane dumps Optimus Prime's trailer in the ocean, which contains the remains of Jazz. Optimus thanks the soldier for participating in his first lieutenant's funeral. Afterwards, the Decepticons' remains are dumped in the ocean. Back under deck, Lennox informs Optimus that many comets have entered Earth's atmosphere recently. Lennox's superiors want the Autobots and the US armed forces to form a defense alliance against the Decepticons. As a basis for their cooperation, Lennox demands mutual trust, which Optimus willingly agrees to.

Meanwhile, in Italy, a racing car breaks through the barrier of a military base, followed by two Decepticons in robot form. Fracture informs her two partners that she has found suitable alternate modes for them. At the same time, Decepticons also destroy military bases in other parts of the world and scan new disguises—Overcast in Japan, Jetstorm in the Middle East and Dropkick and Incinerator in Florida. Back in Italy, Gunbarrel and Reverb have assumed their new Earth forms and join Fracture, who informs the other Decepticons that they will need a distraction while they search for Megatron. In San Francisco, Swindle and Dead End are driving on the Golden Gate Bridge, letting each other know how much they hate each other, and prepare for the distraction Fracture asked about.

On the island Diego Garcia, a US military base in the Indian Ocean, Lennox, Epps and other soldiers are training together with the Autobots. While Ironhide congratulates Bumblebee for a good shot, a promoted Major Lennox discusses the future of their alliance with Optimus Prime. The Allspark fragment is also stored in a facility on the island. When Lennox asks Optimus about the Autobots he called to Earth, Optimus replies that he hopes they will arrive soon. At the same time, what appears to be an Autobot probe has landed on a scrap yard near Mission City. Suddenly, Lennox receives a distress call: An explosion has occurred at a gas station in San Francisco, and footage from a surveillance camera shows a Decepticon whom Ironhide instantly identifies as Swindle. Lennox promptly orders his team to roll out.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Notes

Transformers references

• Gunbarrel and Reverb are based on redecos of Energon Kickback and Stormcloud, respectively. They were intended to be released as part of wave 5 of the Target Exclusive Scouts from the Movie toyline, but even though leaked samples surfaced in June 2008, they were never officially released. The names were later officially confirmed by an updated checklist on Hasbro's public website.

Other notes

• Given Optimus Prime's belief of freedom being the right of all sentient beings, he might be unimpressed with his human allies if he investigated the history of Diego Garcia.

Covers (2)

• Cover A: Fracture, Jetstorm, Gunbarrel and Reverb looking at their own reflections in Optimus Prime's chest window. Pencils by Alex Milne, colors by Josh Perez.
• Cover B: Bumblebee in his new Revenge of the Fallen body towering over Sam Witwicky and Mikaela Banes. Art by Josh Nizzi.

• 

  Window shopping

• 

  You two want another makeout session?

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