WAR WITHOUT END (1993)

As G.I.Joe's 'Ninja Force' story arc comes to a close, things take an unexpected turn. Writer Larry Hama had previously dismissed G.I.JOE VS THE TRANSFORMERS as being outside of G.I.Joe continuity, but WAR WITHOUT END shows him taking a u-turn and confirming that the Joes categorically share their universe (Earth-91274) with the Transformers.

The intention of the storyline was to promote the new Transformers: Generation 2 series (as well as the new G2 toy line). But it seemed the golden age was over for both G.I.Joe and Transformers, as far as Marvel was concerned. By the end of 1994, both G.I.Joe and Transformers: Generation 2 had both been canceled. The characters would later return under other publishers and gain new levels of popularity and acclaim.

The story itself feels like it's been written under editorial duress. Snake Eyes now leads a band of brightly coloured ninjas called Ninja Force. Scarlett is pretending she's defected to Cobra, not that anyone believes her. Destro and the Baroness are defecting to G.I.Joe. And as for those Cybertronian 'robots in disguise', their story ended some time ago with the Autobots defeating the Decepticons and the Ark crashing back to Earth with Megatron on board. Of course everyone assumed he was dead...

Previous events directly impacting this story:

• G.I.JOE VS THE TRANSFORMERS - The Joes & Cybertronians first meet

Crossover: The Transformers return, first in the pages of G.I.Joe which leads to the launch of a new Transformers series.

• Transformers: Generation 2 - Halloween Special Edition
• G.I.Joe #138-140
• Transformers: Generation 2 #1
• G.I.Joe #141-142
• Transformers: Generation 2 #2

Transformers: Generation 2 - Halloween Special Edition
Optimus Prime leads his team of Autobots through space, rounding up rogue factions of Decepticons. They discover Bludgeon and his fellow Pretenders on an alien planet. A giant alien creature emerges and scares Bludgeon's group into submission, but the Autobots soon realise it's a threat to them, too. The Autobots decide to abandon their search for that world's advanced technology...

G.I.Joe #138
Cobra Commander has taken Destro's Silent Castle, only for Destro and the Baroness to break free of the cells and set the transforming castle to a logic-defying MC Escher-esque setting. Scarlett, Dr Sidney Biggles-Jones and a crew of Vipers give chase. Snakes Eyes and Storm Shadow help Destro and Baroness make their escape, though Snake Eyes is forced to give Scarlett a near-fatal wound to convince Cobra that she really has defected. A severely damaged Megatron is drawn to the transforming castle, believing it could be a fellow Cybertronian. When Megatron realises his mistake and decides to leave, Cobra Commander makes him an offer...

G.I.Joe #139
Insulted, Megatron attacks the Silent Castle. Dr Biggles-Jones fires her experimental weapon at Megatron, though he's more intrigued by the weapon's power and snatches the doctor. In return for Cybertronian weapons from the Ark, Cobra Commander offers to fix up Megatron and upgrade him with a new tank mode. Scarlett is taken to the infirmary. G.I.Joe take Destro and Baroness to the former-Cobra Island where they learn Zartan has also defected and Cobra Commander may have cloned the deceased Dr Mindbender...


G.I.Joe #140
Megatron takes Cobra Commander to the Ark, giving Zartan, Destro and Baroness a chance to break into the Silent Castle and reclaim it. Cobra Commander leads Megatron and his Cobra forces to Milleville (a town controlled by Cobra). The cloned of Dr Mindbender breaks out of his pod and forgoes killing Cobra Commander in favour of seeing where his deal with Megatron goes. G.I.Joe infiltrate Milleville and send a message through space to Optimus Prime when they realise they're facing Megatron...

Transformers: Generation 2 #1
Optimus Prime's team reunite with Grimlock's band of Decepticon hunters, having aggressively wiped out Jhiaxus' forces as they continue their efforts to colonise other worlds. Jhiaxus arrives in a warship and overpowers both groups, taking them prisoner and revealing that the war between Autobots and Decepticons long since ended on Cybertron. Without a sense of right and wrong, Jhiaxus has managed to colonise seventeen planets, turning them into mechanised versions of Cybertron at the expense of the indigenous  inhabitants. Grimlock convinces the defeated Optimus Prime to break out and the duo lead their Autobot comrades to freedom. Back on Earth, G.I.Joe send a message into space asking for assistance against Megatron.

G.I.Joe #141
Milleville goes on high alert when Megatron senses G.I.Joe's presence. As the Joes fight their way through Vipers, Eels and BATs, Snake Eyes faces their greatest ninja warrior, the Night Creeper Leader, who he defeats with a secret technique. Megatron takes Dr Biggles-Jones when Scarlett arrives (having learned the doctor has also infiltrated Cobra), ready to take on the giant robot and save her life...

G.I.Joe #142
Before Megatron can crush Scarlett, a band of Autobots arrives, though the upgraded Megatron despatching Chase, Skydive, Override, Brawn and Steeljaw with ease. Scarlett beats Cobra Commander and Zarana in the street, but is saved from a squad of Alley-Vipers by Snake Eyes. Spike Witwicky sneaks aboard the Ark just before Megatron breaks his half of the deal with Cobra Commander, takes Dr Biggles-Jones and the unconscious body of Skydive aboard the Ark and leaves Earth in the direction of Cybertron...

Transformers: Generation 2 #2[1/2]
Aboard the Ark, Spike Witwicky dons his armour and becomes the head of Fortress Maximus once again. Fortress Maximus confronts Megatron, giving Skydive (who faked his own system shutdown) to free Dr Sidney Biggles-Jones and escape. Fortress Maximus is completely outmatched by Megatron, but sacrifices himself by blowing up the Ark in an effort to permanently stop him. On the ground, Hotspot attacks the Cobra convoy carrying the few scraps of Cybertronian weapons Cobra Commander managed to obtain. He succeeds in forcing the vehicle off the road and destroying the weapons, but Cobra Commander kills him for it. Skydive reunites Dr Biggles-Jones with G.I.Joe and the heroes salute their fallen comrades.

Transformers: Generation 2 #3-6 (1994)
Unlike Fortress Maximus, Megatron survives the explosion aboard the Ark; Bludgeon's attempt to build a new army for himself on Earth is foiled when Megatron tears his head off; Optimus Prime and Jhiaxus form an uneasy truce; Optimus Prime and his team travel to Earth, reunite with G.I.Joe; Optimus attempts to form an alliance with Megatron against the despotic Jhiaxus, but Megatron almost kills Optimus instead.

G.I.Joe #145-150 (1994)
Dr Mindbender reveals a program he installed in Zartan and Destro that will make them loyal to Cobra again; Cobra Commander activates the program and Destro kidnaps Baroness; Cobra Commander uses a brainwave scanner to make Baroness and Storm Shadow loyal to Cobra again.

Transformers: Generation 2 #7-12 (1994)
Jhiaxus defeats Megatron who reluctantly turns to Optimus Prime for help; Megatron and Optimus Prime stand as allies against Jhiaxus, a Matrix-infused Starscream and the Swarm (as seen in Prime's visions).

G.I.Joe #155 (1994)
G.I.Joe are shut down by the US Government.  

See how this story fits into these characters' overall stories with these reading orders:

• TRANSFORMERS: More Than Meets The Eye (1984-1994)

Classic G.I.Joe vol.14 (IDW)
G.I.Joe/Transformers vol.1 (IDW)
Include... 

G.I.Joe #139-142

Transformers: Dark Designs (Titan Books)
Includes... 

Transformers: Generation 2 #1-2

Transformers: Generation 2 - Halloween Special Edition