Formally Transformers: Armada (#1-18)
Written by Simon Furman, Penciled by Guido Guidi, Inked by Elaine To, Colored by David Cheung
That's right... Energon! Ten years on, Unicron is back and hungry... for Energon! Earth's right back in the firing line as the great devourer strikes a deal with current Decepticon commander, Skorponok! What about Megatron? Well, trapped within Unicron as a disembodied Spark, his only hope is his former adversary... Optimus Prime!
The first big Transformers: Energon arc kicks off with an all-out battle for Earth! In the past, subterfuge and covert infiltration were the order of the day, but Scorponok has no time for subtlety. He wants the planet stripped down, sucked dry, and spat out. The Autobots are on their way, but it may already be too late!
As SCORPONOK targets KICKER, convinced that he can fast-track their ENERGON program, so OPTIMUS PRIME faces off against UNICRON'S Four Horsemen on CYBERTRON. Trapped, outgunned, PRIME can only wonder helplessly at the fate of Earth. Unless, that is, he and his fellow AUTOBOTS get a helping hand from SIG OMEGA... and the Spark of Combination!
Even empowered by the Spark of Combination, Optimus Prime and the Autobots may already be too late to stop the Terrorcons' Energon-frenzied rampage across Earth. And the Terrorcon leader isn't Prime's only problem. Within Unicron's Spark Core, former Decepticon leader Megatron wants out... and now he's got the body to do it!
The first big Transformers: Energon story arc wraps up in explosive style as the Ominicons make their terrestrial debut, joining Optimus Prime and the Autobots' last desperate bid to rescue Kicker and Dr. Jones from Scorponok's Terrorcons. But now Kicker's incredible secret is out, will he ever be safe again?
What is the dark, dark secret raw Autobot recruit Ironhide is so desperate to see never comes to light? Back on Cybertron to oversee construction of planetary defenses (bound for Earth), Ironhide comes face to face with Tidal Wave... and the numbing terror and shame of his long years spent as a Decepticon prisoner of war!
(Series ends at issue #30)