The Art of War issue 2

Writer: Tim Seely Pencils: Joe Ng Inks: Rob Ross Colors: Kevin Yan (flats by Tom Liu) Letters: Brian Crowley Editor: Michael O'Sullivan Udon Chief: Erik Ko

Snake-Eyes, Perceptor, Zarana, Cobra Commander, Bumblebee, Scarlett, Hawk, Megatron, Serpent O.R., Mainframe, Firewall, Martin, Dr. Li, Nautilator, Razorclaw, Divebomb, Rampage, Tantrum, Headstrong, Piranacon, Predaking
 * Major characters (in order of appearance): Optimus Prime, Hot Rod,Grimlock, Arcee,


 * Release date: April 19, 2006

Synopsis
On Cybertron, Optimus blissfully performs some data management tasks, when Hot Rod interupts 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 Cobra's threat.

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 that Perceptor, Grimlock, Scarlett, Arcee, Snake-Eyes, and Hawk sneak up behind them. Hawk Explains to Perceptor that he was unaware of the underground labratory, and the Decepticon components stored inside of it.

Cobra Commander explains the nature of the lobratory and how is was used to develop the Serpent Organic Robot. And soon as he's named, Serpent O.R. attacks the Transformers and the G.I.Joes. Using his tendrils, he seizes remote control of the G.I.Joe mechs. In the confusion of Joes attacking Autobots, Cobra Commander and the Dreadnoks break through Hawk's leg and escape.

Scarlett, having not been in her mech when SerpentOR started his attack, attacks Serpentor directly. She is quicly tosses aside by the synthetic being. SerpentOR, tired of the skirmish, literally brings down the ceiling upon everybody still in the underground labratory. Making his way to level 6, Serpentor brushes aside Mainframe and other G.I.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. Since Scarlett wasn't protected inside of a mech at the time, there is a moment of uncertainty wether she survived or not so Snake-Eues punches a piece of debris without even looking at it. But Scarlett reveals that she did survive the cave-in, and has discovered the scientists Martin and Doctor Li.

Above, Serpentor overrides the G.I.Joe computers and walks into the portal to Cybertron.

On Cybertron, in the Galdiator zones, a battle between Razorclaw and Nautilator quickly escalates into a battle between Preadaking and Piranacon. But before Predaking kills Piranacon, Serpentor. interupted the battle to recruit the two teams into his new Decepticon army.

Items of note
Cover A, by Joe Ng, Espen Grundetjern & Tom Liu. Combines with the Cover A variants covers for issues 1, 3-5 to form a single image. Cover B, by Chris Lie, John Lowe & Jeremy Roberts Udon Exclusive Cover, by Joe Ng: Availible at Conventions and on the Club Udon website. Combines with Club Udon variant covers for issues 1, 3-5 to form a single image.
 * This issue was availible with three different cover variants:
 * 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 Art of War, when Megatron's War Within form was visible in Soundwave's memory files.
 * When Serpent O.R. ambushes the G.I.Joes and Autobots, the logo for Transformers webside The Allspark is visible on a wall panel.