Man and Machine, Part Three

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Skywarp attempts to push Iron Man down the stairs.
"Man and Machine, Part Three"
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First published	September 12, 2007
Cover date	November 2007
Writer	Stuart Moore
Penciler	Tyler Kirkham
Inker	Sal Regla
Colorist	Annette Kwok
Letterer	Todd Klein
Editor	Bill Rosemann
Assistant editor	Alejandro Arbona
Editor-in-chief	Joe Quesada
Continuity	2005 IDW continuity
Chronology	Infiltration

Can the Autobot-Avenger alliance survive the Decepticons?

Synopsis

The Autobots and the Avengers enter battle with the Decepticons, who are in mirror response mode using Spider-Man's biology. A Transformer-sized Iron Man helps hold the line. Alas, the giant suit is quite the drain on power reserves. Ratchet checks on Optimus Prime, who notes the lack of overall unified strategy for the Autobot-Avenger force and the absence of Captain America. But he hasn't run away, merely just taking the time to grab a quinjet and use it against the airborne Decepticons. Ratchet confronts the Array's shields and finds a weak point in, and Luke Cage demands to accompany the Autobot inside, so he can save his friend.

As the two rush inside, they are followed by Prowl, who disapproves of Luke's presence. Luke tells him off, and Ratchet sends Prowl on a search for the Psycho-Prism. When they break into the room containing Spider-Man, they are confronted with Megatron, who easily knocks the two out. Elsewhere in the Array, Prowl finds the Psycho-Prism and its guard, Ramjet. Ramjet stands aside to allow Prowl to take the device, but, before he can do so, he is knocked out by the Decepticons' newest ally—Doctor Doom!

In the battle outside, Optimus Prime pumps his energies into Iron Man, allowing him to take down the Decepticon forces. But before they can celebrate their victory, Megatron informs his enemies through holographic projection of the Autobot's failure to capture the Prism or Spider-Man and his alliance with Doctor Doom, who has agreed to rule Earth after the Decepticons are done with it. The Autobots and the Avengers refuse Megatron's call to surrender, and a furious Megatron shocks Doom into unconsciousness. Walking out with Luke in hand, Megatron comes face to face with his opponents.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Quotes

"Represent-- X-Men style!"

—Luke Cage (not an X-Man) to Wolverine

"Save it, Ratchet. Go with the human-- keep him from getting his fleshy body crushed.
I'll save this planet myself."

—Prowl is full of many useful devices.

"Oh... ...Christmas!"

—Luke Cage is missing something other than a tiara.

Notes

Continuity notes

• Ratchet mentioned that Prowl had his authority diminished, through no fault of his own. This is in reference to Optimus Prime taking command over of the Earth Autobots from Prowl during Infiltration.

Errors

• As with the previous issue, the standard Marvel indicia is used by mistake, and so Marvel still claim to own all the Transformers characters therein.
• When Spider-Man is located by Ratchet and Cage, he has a large tear in his mask that does not appear elsewhere in the miniseries.
• As Megatron throttles Ratchet, there is a Decepticon in the background whose design doesn't match any of the other Decepticons present.

Other trivia

• During most of the fighting in the issue, all the car Transformers stay in their vehicle mode.

Covers (1)

• Skywarp vs a giant Iron Man; art by Ed McGuinness.

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Reprints

Other than collections of the full series:

• N/A