Friends and Foes!

« Transformers: Armada (Panini) #2 »
Oh no, not again.
"Friends and Foes!"
Publisher	Panini
First published	May 22, 2003
Writer	Simon Furman
Penciler	Andrew Wildman
Inker	Bambos Georgiou
Colorist	Junior Tomlin
Letterer	Neil Porter
Continuity	Panini Armada comic

The comic book Panini Armada issue 2 contains multiple stories or features.

Panini Armada issue 2

Contents

• Friends and Foes!, Part 1 (comic, 8 pages)
• Screen Scramble! (Cyber-Puzzle)
• Data File #3: Megatron
• Incoming Fire! (Colour Sector)
• Hot Pursuit Power Poster
• Grid-Locked! (Cyber-Puzzle)
• Win Starscream!
• Cruel Intentions? (Flow chart- what faction do you belong in?)
• Data File #4: Leader-1
• Friends and Foes!, Part 2 (comic, 6 pages)
• Motorway Mayhem (Cyber-Puzzle)

Free Gift

• Gigantic Toy Poster and Cyber Sketch Console

A huge poster featuring most of the Armada toyline, including plenty of toys not yet released by this point in 2003. One of note is Wheeljack, who ended up seeing no general retail release in the UK. Also Skywarp's Mini-Con partner is listed as "Sky Dive". Several Mini-Con teams have their members' names mixed up as well, but unlike most coverage up to this point, Sideways' partners are correctly identified.
The Cyber Sketch Console is one of those plastic film pads you write on with a stylus and then erase what you did by sliding down a piece that flattens it out. The front cover is emblazoned with an Autobot sigil.

Friends and Foes!

Synopsis

After using his Mini-Con-boosted strength to defeat Optimus Prime, Megatron summons Starscream, Cyclonus and Demolishor via space bridge, and orders them to scour the planet for Mini-Cons. The Mini-Cons and their human friends watch Prime fall, but refuse to help as their involvement would only invite more disaster. Rad won't have any of this attitude, however, and decides to take matters into his own hands. He interrupts Megatron, who has figured out that there must be Mini-Cons on the moon as well, and offers him a deal: he can have the Mini-Cons' ship if he lets Optimus Prime live.

Unfortunately, Megatron doesn't do "deals", instead opting to capture Rad and force him to take him to the ship. Meanwhile, Carlos makes his way into the Mini-Con ship in search of someone who can help his friend. Ultimately, Rad is saved by High Wire and the other Mini-Cons, who have decided to take action after all. While they fail to do much damage to Megatron, they keep him busy long enough for Optimus Prime to open a space bridge, from which Hot Shot and Red Alert appear. As a battle breaks out, the Mini-Cons power-link with the Autobots, granting them the power they need to vanquish the Decepticons.

In the aftermath, Optimus Prime is complimenting Rad for his brave actions when Carlos suddenly reappears, claiming that he has found something interesting at the Mini-Cons' ship.

Credits

Script: Simon Furman
Pencils: Andrew Wildman
Inks: Bambos Georgiou
Colours: Junior Tomlin
Lettering: Neil Porter

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Quotes

"It's a nightmare... A never-ending, waking nightmare!"

- Sparkplug isn't happy.

"Ah... HA-HA-HA. Deal? I don't deal... I take!"

- Megatron nearly vaporizes Rad.

Errors

• Starscream begins his long run of not folding his wings up in robot mode.

Items of note

• Hot Shot wields a large gun that looks nothing like his double-barreled engine block.
• Sparkplug attaches to Optimus' side when they combine, part of a trend of comics shying away from showing where he actually would attach on the toy - Optimus' backside.

Hot Shot's Hot Mail!

• The mail featured in this issue seems to originate from actual human children this time.

"Greetings, Earth-dudes! Nice of you to stop by! I just love looking at your post - it sure beats the boring stuff Optimus Prime gets me to do! Fix this, move that! Sheesh! Give a bot a break!"

- Hot Shot enjoys the diversion.

Notes

• While this issue is cover dated June the 18th 2003, it actually went on sale on May the 22nd.