Line #18 ComicBook/TransformersTheWarWithin


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dw_tww_tpb_5.jpg]]
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3	->''"Have you ever wondered...what came before?. We are ageless, timeless, and yet we have no memory of creation, no concept of who or what we truly are. Or what we can be!"''
4	-->--'''Megatron'''
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7	''Transformers: The War Within'' is a Franchise/{{Transformers}} miniseries put out by Dreamwave Comics in 2002, written by Creator/SimonFurman and art by Don Figueroa. Set in Dreamwave's ''[[ComicBook/TransformersGenerationOne Transformers G1]]'' continuity, the story begins in the early days of the Great War with the ascension of Optimus Prime to leader of the Autobots. The young Prime finding his leadership contested by both the Decepticons and doubtful Autobots.
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9	The series saw two sequels; ''War Within - The Dark Ages'', which introduced [[TheAntichrist The Fallen]], and ''War Within - Age of Wrath'', which went unfinished due to Dreamwave's bankruptcy.
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11	!!This series contains examples of;
12	* AdaptationAmalgamation: While a prequel to G1 media, as with most Transformer media concepts not original to the G1 era are inserted into it here, most notably the Golden Disk {{MacGuffin}} from the [[WesternAnimation/BeastWars Beast era]].
13	* AlasPoorYorick: Megatron is introduced monologuing to the head of a corrupt Senator he's implied to have recently killed.
14	* AllThereInTheManual: The Fallen's enigmatic backstory was fleshed out in ''Transformers: The Ultimate Guide'' and the profile of his ''Titanium'' figure and later works would establish his true name as ''Megatronus'' Prime.
15	* CallForward: During their climatic battle, the Matrix gives Optimus and Megatron visions of the future that include;
16	** Their famous battle on the Sherman Dam from the three part pilot of the original ''[[WesternAnimation/TheTransformers The Transformers]]'' G1 cartoon.
17	** Rodimus Prime, Optimus' successor, leading Fortress Maximus into battle.
18	* CutShort: The ''Age of Wrath'' series, the third installment under the "War Within" branding, was cancelled at three issues due to Dreamwave's filing for bankruptcy.
19	* CreepySouvenir: Issue 2 opens with Megatron monologuing to the head of a corrupt politician he killed.
20	* {{Expy}}: The Fallen as an evil Prime serves as one for the Liege Maximo another evil Prime Creator/SimonFurman created in ''ComicBook/TransformersGeneration2''.
21	* FlatEarthAtheist: Optimus, at the start of the story, doesn't give much credence to the Matrix having any mystical abilities.
22	* MacGuffin:
23	** Unsurprisingly, the Matrix of Leadership. It's what chooses who leads the Autobots and it's the object of Megatron's desire as he believes it will allow him to transform Cybertron into a mobile battle station.
24	** The Golden Disk also. Given to Optimus upon his ascension to leader of the Autobots, it's supposed to contain the wisdom of all previous Primes. At the end of the series, Optimus tosses it into space saying he'll make his own destiny.
25	* MayItNeverHappenAgain: ''The Dark Ages'': Taking place during a time period when both [[BigGood Optimus Prime]] and [[BigBad Megatron]] have gone missing and the Autobot and Decepticon armies have fractured into multiple smaller factions, the mysterious and [[TheJuggernaut nigh-unstoppable]] Transformer only known as The Fallen attacks and kidnaps four Transformers (Hot Spot, Grimlock, Jetfire and Blitzwing) as part of some sort of plot. He also recruits the Chaos Trinity, a trio of Transformers who believe in magic, to his cause by granting them actual powers. In the aftermath of the Fallen's defeat (brought about by a literal DeusExMachina as the Creator God of the Transformers briefly manifested and annihilated him with a gesture), the various factions place several locks on the seal he was trying to open to ensure no one faction would ever be able to try to finish the job.
26	* MerchandiseDriven: An interesting aversion in the context of the larger franchise, this was one of the first pieces of Transformers media that wasn't conceived to promote, or based off, a pre-existing toy line. All the designs here were for the comic. Though toys would later come based off the designs from this series due to its success.
27	* MirrorCharacter: Grimlock and Starscream. Both being characters who think they could do a better job as leader of their respective factions than their current boss, as well as also being the resident {{Jerkass}} of their respective faction. Grimlock however comes to gain respect for Optimus by the end, while Starscream nearly destroys the planet in an attempt to kill Megatron.
28	* MythologyGag:
29	** During Shockwave's attack on Iacon, "Are All Dead" is burned into the wall. A reference to the iconic cover of issue #5 of the Creator/MarvelComics ''[[Comicbook/TheTransformersMarvel Transformers]]'' series.
30	** Megatron's plan to use the Matrix to transform Cybertron into a mobile planet-sized battle station is one to the original goal of Megatron from the [[ComicBook/TheTransformersMarvel Marvel comic from the 80s]].
31	* {{Prequel}}: To Dreamwave's ongoing Transformers comics at the time, as well as in the BroadStrokes to the Franchise/TransformersGenerationOne era.
32	* ReluctantRuler: Optimus' attitude when he's told the Matrix has selected him as the new Autobot leader.

Context ComicBook / TransformersTheWarWithin