The Power and the Glory

Optimus Prime learns about the buds and the bees, while Megatron and Bludgeon duel to see who gets to destroy the Earth.

Generation Two #5
Originally published: March, 1994

This issue contains a main story, "The Power and the Glory", and a backup story, "Tales of Earth Part Two".

The Power and the Glory
Writer: Simon Furman Penciler: Manny Galan Inkers: Jim Amash "Letterbots": Richard Starkings with Gaushell "Colorbot": Chia-Chi Wang "Power" (Editor): Rob Tokar


 * Major characters (in order of appearance): Optimus Prime, assorted Venerable Ones, Jhiaxus, an unnamed Imperial flunky, Prima (in vision), Hot Rod, the Aerialbots, Groove, the Dinobots, Kup.

Synopsis
We open back on Cybertron, where the Venerable Ones are hooking Optimus Prime up to a psychic amplifier, prepatory to dropping him into the heart of the planet, the better to commune with the Matrix. Prime believes this will clarify his visions. Though he has doubts, he nevertheless tells the Venerable Ones to flip the switch.

Within Cybertron, he receives visions of the birth of the first Transformers from the body of Primus. . . and then learns, for the first time, how these early Transformers reproduced. This budding process is a sort of bio-mechanical mitosis. However, it becomes clear to Prime that in the present day, budding is no longer a safe method of reproduction. Primus intends for current Transformers to reproduce using the Creation Matrix. The continued use of budding by the Cybertronian Empire is what makes them ruthless and emotionless; their link to Primus has been attenuated by too many generations.

Prime tears himself out of the psychic link, more determined than ever to stop the Empire. However, we see that if he had stayed linked a few seconds more, he would have seen that Imperial budding, in addition to producing cold, hard Transformers, is also releasing a strange dark energy. Dark, and purposeful. ..

Meanwhile, Jhiaxus is overseeing the cyberforming of a (formerly) lush organic world, and wondering where the heck the Autobots got to. We also look in on Hot Rod and the other Autobots under Prime's command, who are engaging in training exercises at Autobase, and champing at the bit to kick some Imperial (or Decepticon) skidplate.

Quotes
"Cybertron. More than a homeworld, a living planet  the final form of Primus, first of our kind.  We were his army, soldiers created from the very substance of his 'self' to continue the fight against evil . . . Our bodies . . . complex reconfigurable bio-chanic structures, changeling figures able to mimic vehicles, machinery, and weapons.  Transformers!  These are not legends, these are facts  facts I have never sought nor thought to question . . . until now!"
 * Optimus Prime relates the origins of his species.

Tales of Earth Part Two
Writer: Simon Furman Penciler: Manny Galan Inkers: Jim Amash Letters: Richard Starkings with Gaushell Colors: Sarra Mossoff
 * Note: For this tale, the above creators did not get specific credits, but were instead lumped together under "By". The above job assignments are based on precedent.


 * Major characters (in order of appearance): Bludgeon, Stranglehold, Octopunch, Fangry, Megatron, Starscream, Darkwing.

Synopsis
Back on Earth, Bludgeon laments about how he created all this carnage to draw out Optimus Prime (and his tasty Creation Matrix), but instead all he got were Megatron and Starscream. The opposing leaders exchange some trash talk, then begin the fight. Though Bludgeon makes good use of his Pretender nature and tank altmode, he's truly no match for the new, upgraded Megatron, who decapitates him, then blows his inner robot to bits. Watching from a safe distance, the Autobot Skydive scampers off to report to Prime that Megatron is back as undisputed leader of the Decepticons.

Quotes
Bludgeon: You should have stayed dead. Starscream: We suffer from a disquieting knack, Megatron and I, of refusing to do just that. All "death" does is make us a little "meaner" and a little crankier.

"Strange. The only evidence I see of enhancement  is a bigger mouth!"
 * Bludgeon, to Megatron

Starscream (whispering): Five triliters of energon resin says Bludgeon's goin' down. Fangry (also whispering): You're on!

"Hear me, loyal Decepticons. The shallow pretender is dead  the reign of Megatron begins anew!"
 * Megatron makes a pun.

Errors

 * Bludgeon says, "I wanted Optimus Prime to come scurrying out from behind the protected ramparts Autobase to save his beloved mudball . . . " It should be "ramparts of Autobase".