Creators: Joshua Williamson (writer), Andrea Milana (artist), Lee Loughridge (colorist), Rus Wooton (letter)
Story: After a training exercise at the Pitt, the Baroness wishes to have 48 hours of leave (even though she's technically a prisoner). Clutch brings Autobot Hound into the base. Cobra Commander and Destro look at the Transformers battle in Seattle and decide to try to retrieve whatever they can from the devastation, though Cobra Commander wants a fully functioning Cybertronian. Baroness is allowed a leave but Cover Girl needs to go with her. They get to know each other a bit and enjoy some time in Paris until Major Bludd sends his agents after the Baroness.
Writing: This is a good character-driven issue, especially for the Baroness and Cover Girl. We get some background on them and they seem to really start to bond over a few shared similarities. Cobra Commander is still cryptic with Destro but a larger picture is starting to form, connecting the Transformers comic with G.I. Joe and we'll see that play out eventually. I do find it hard to believe that Duke didn't hear Hound transform at all or Clutch talking to someone else when he showed up. And there is a pretty cool introduction of a, traditionally speaking, not so cool character.
Art: While the art is pretty good throughout the issue, a lot of sections get an oversaturation of background colors. The first part has a lot of dark reds, then some dark blues and finally some lighter oranges. I just feel this takes away a bit from the art in this issue.
Overall: A good character-driven issue. While not a lot, overall, happens with the plot, we get some set-up for later issues and it starts to connect a bit more to the larger Energon Universe.
