The Art of War issue 3

'''The G.I.Joes and Autobots chase Serpent O.R. back to Cybertron, while Serpent O.R. expands his New Decepticon Army. '''

Writer: Tim Seely Pencils: Joe Ng & James Raiz Inks: Rob Ross with M3th Colors: Kevin Yan & Rob Ruffolo, with Tom Liu Letters: Brian Crowley Editor: Michael O'Sullivan Udon Chief: Erik Ko


 * Major characters (in order of appearance): Hawk, Perceptor, Grimlock, Bumblebee, Roadblock, Scarlett, Snake-Eyes, Mainframe, Dr. Li, Martin, Serpent O.R., Firewall, Arcee, Predaking, Piranacon, Dead End, Breakdown, Wildrider, Drag Strip, Optimus Prime,   Hot Rod, Razorclaw, Sandstorm, Springer, Rampage, Viewfinder, Rippersnapper, Divebomb, Motormaster, Hun-Grrr, Shrapnel, Tantrum, Skids, Laserbeak, Astrotrain, Sixshot, Blitzwing, Omega Supreme, Menasor


 * Release date: May 31st, 2006

Synopsis
In a quaint American household, young Clayton Abernathy plays with some toys, and concludes that in combat, humans are completely ineffective against much larger robots.

In the present, Hawk convinces Perceptor that G.I.Joe should be allowed to travel to Cybertron to aid in the battle against Serpent O. R. Perceptor argues that, without the G.I. Joe mechs, the humans are generally ineffective against the much larger Transformers. But Duke insists that G.I. Joe can help clean up the messes it creates.

Dr. Li meanwhile helps the Mainframe attempt to track down Serpentor's precise location after he relocated to Cybertron in the teleportal. When Dr. Li expresses concern for the safety of Serpent O.R., Mainframe punches the doctor out. Martin then explains the technical nature of Serpent O.R., the Serpent Organic Robot. The name "Serpent" chosen because the technicians couldn't resist the temptation to give the living weapon the personality of Megatron.

Firewall activates the transporter gate, and Mainframe starts to enlist some back-up to later aid the team of Joes and Autobots leaving for Cybertron.

Bumblebee, Grimlock, Arcee, Perceptor, Roadblock, Hawk, Snake-Eyes, and Scarlett arrive on Cybertron in an area that Bumblebee likens to a graveyard. Just then, the group is ambushed from all sides by cannibalizers, who look like the mechanical zombies. For the human's safety, Bumblebee and Scarlett lead a retreat out of the junkyard. But before reaching safety, Bumblebee literally crashes into Preadking and the rest of Serpentor's new Decepticon army. Serpent O.R. uses his tendrils to kill Bumblebee and orders his soldiers to take the Joes and Autobots prisoner

Elsewhere on Cybertron, Optimus Prime and Hot Rod receive a signal Perceptor sent from the Gladiator Zone. They decide that Optimus will proceed with preparations for the peace ceremony, while Hot Rod will go to the Gladiator Zone to find Perceptor and company.

In the Decepticon Army's temporary base, the Perceptor's team of Autobots and G.I.Joes are held captive. Locked in an ammo crate, Hawk and Roadblock have a tender moment together. In another crate, Snake-Eyes and Scarlett have another tender moment together, kissing each other after Snake-eyes shows Scarlett his hideously scarred face.

Sandstorm and Springer fail to notice the Decepticon congregation because of Serpeont O.R. scrambling their radars. Within the Bunker, Divebomb attempts to recruit Hun-Grrr and the Terrorcons into the New Decepticon army. Hun-Grrr has doubts about the qualifications of the relatively tiny Serpentor, but Serpent O.R. again uses his tendrils to show the Decepticons how he is a progeny of Megatron.

At the Autobot peace cermony, the Decepticons begin their attack. Omega Supreme transforms to defend the Autobots, but is surrounded by Menasor, Predaking, and Piranacon.

Items of note
Cover A, by Joe Ng, Espen Grundetjern & Tom Liu. Combines with the Cover A variants covers for issues 2-5 to form a single image. Cover B, by Omar Dogan Udon Exclusive Cover, by Joe Ng: Availible at Conventions and on the Club Udon website. Combines with Club Udon variant covers for issues 2-5 to form a single image.
 * This issue was availible with four different cover variants: