Dark Shadows!



Starscream has gained ultimate power (again) - and Jhiaxus brings out the big guns...

Generation 2 #11
Originally published: September, 1994

This issue contains a main story, "Dark Shadows!", and a backup story, "Tales of Earth Part Eight".

Swarm
Writer: Simon Furman Penciler: Manny Galan Inker: Jim Amash Letterbots: Starkings/Comicraft Colorbot: Sarra Mossoff Editor: Rob Tokar


 * Major characters (in order of appearance): Starscream, Megatron, Optimus Prime, Jhiaxus, Rook,

Synopsis
Starscream has bonded with the Matrix and the Warworld, creating one super-powerful entity - with the intention of conquering the universe! Now possessing the ability to shape & mould the Warworld into anything his twisted imagination desires, he obliterates the attacking Cybertronian Empire craft. Now he intends to make Optimus and Megatron suffer for all the humiliations they made him suffer - they face "quite literally - for a whole world of pain!".

On Earth, Jhiaxus finds out the Empire has lost control of the Warworld because one of his subordinates was thick enough to leave Starscream on it. Enraged by this and the inability of his troops to defeat the Autobot-Decepticon forces, declares he will personally take charge of the situation and kill everyone on the Warworld if it's not returned to him. Rook is smashed aside when he tries to offer input, and realises Jhiaxus is increasingly slipping back into the sadistic tyranny of his early days - the existence of the older generations is getting to him. Rook does the only thing he can: he contacts the Liege Maximo.



Megatron and Optimus continue to be tormented by Starscream, with no way to fight back - Optimus can no longer contact the Matrix mentally, thanks to Megatron seperating it from him physically. The two leaders are swept towards a plasma energy core, with Megatron saving his old enemy (preoccupied with the desire to contact Jhiaxus and make him realise the threat of the Swarm) from death. However, this still leaves them dangling and at risk, and Starscream swiftly impales Megatron. Determined not to lose to Starscream, he throws Optimus high up to some cables so they can split up and divide the traitor's attention. Optimus almost doesn't make it, only for a cable to swing towards him; further down, Megatron gives Starscream the worst case of indigestion he ever had.

Admiring his nemesis' direct tactics and desiring for the alliance to be more than one of convinience, Optimus wanders through the unfamiliar corridors of the Warworld, knowing it'll take a miracle for him to get where he wants to go. Meanwhile, Megatron fights on and remains dismissive of Starscream even as he's about to be killed, but the traitor's attention is diverted before he can finish the job: Jhiaxus is leading the Imperial fleet in a co-ordinated assault! The Warworld is slaughtering wave after wave of Jhiaxus' men, but he just keeps sending fresh waves in...

Optimus reaches the Warworld's control centre, bewildered at how the corridors seemed to shift around him as if they wanted him to reach here. Putting that aside, he contacts Jhiaxus to beg for a ceasefire and an alliance against the Swarm. Jhiaxus listens...

...and then orders the Twilight to fire upon Earth.

Quotes
"Spikes again, Starscream? Is that the limit of your imagination? You control an entire world - try, at least, to be original!"
 * Megatron

"Better - uuu! - but hardly original!"
 * Megatron, three panels later, being crushed to death

Imperial: "We're losing a... staggering amount of troops. I believe it would be wise to withdraw the Twilight to a safe position and-" Jhiaxus: "Is the second legion ready? Imperial: "Y-Yes, but-" Jhiaxus: "Send them in!"

Tales of Earth Part Eight
Writer: Simon Furman Artist: Geoff Senior "Letterbots": Starkings and Comicraft "Colorbot": Sarra Mossoff Editor: Tokar


 * Major characters (in order of appearance): Optimus Prime, Razorclaw, Grimlock, Jhiaxus, Starscream, Swarm

Synopsis
San Francisco is wiped off the face of the Earth in a single, devastating blast. Optimus Prime screams at Jhiaxus to talk to him, that this serves no purpose, before collapsing at the enormity of how many have died because he took the alliance to Earth. At the Nevada basin, the Autobots and Decepticons watch the distant light and mushroom cloud in stunned horror.



On the Twilight, Jhiaxus orders for their guns to be fired again - even if it will kill his own troops on Earth. However, without warning, the Twilight is stopped in its attack by the Warworld. Starscream isn't corrupting the Matrix, it's corrupting him and making him protect all life on Earth! Optimus realises that the Matrix-influenced Starscream had subconsciously been ensuring Prime survived & reached the control centre, and that the Matrix cannot be truly influence. There is hope...

And that's it gone. "The Swarm is here!"

Quotes
"No! - no! - no! - no! - NO! Jhiaxus, why? What possible good can this do? I beg you, break off your attack! Talk to me! Oh, Primus, how many lives? ....how many have I killed?"
 * Optimus Prime, witnessing the obliteration of San Francisco

"What's happening to me, Prime? Help me! I don't want to be good!"
 * Starscream