Prime Directive Preview

Lazarus and Mr. Ratzenberg walk in the Arctic. Ratzenberg complains about the conditions and the fact that he does not even know what they are going to see. Lazarus asks for patience, but Ratzenberg still complains, finally putting his hand on Lazarus' shoulder to ask if he's listening. Lazarus bends Ratzenberg's hand back, forcing him to the ground. Lazarus does most of the talking now, asking if Ratzenberg believes in second chances. He makes allusions to the Transformers, how great it would be to be allied with them, and how much people would pay to align themselves with them. Ratzenberg remains clueless. They finally reach the excavation site and see Soundwave partially revealed. Ratzenberg asks who to make his check out to.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Decepticons	Humans
Soundwave (3)	Lazarus (1) Ratzenberg (2)

Quotes

"Let me tell you something Lazarus..."
"What's that?"
"I hate football."

—Ratzenberg to Lazarus

Notes

Shhh! Top secret!

This six-page preview was initially released in March 2002 to retailers only.
The first edition included seven pages of Transformers sketches, including a sketch of "Pat's top secret Transformer" (see image).
Only around 4500 of the first edition were produced.
The reprint edition also featured the same sketches, but omitted a pencil rendering of the issue #1 Autobot cover.
The reprint also included an eight-page "Armada Preview", along with a written piece and four pages of art by James Raiz, mainly for Armada but including concept art for Robots in Disguise for proposal purposes for Hasbro.
The first edition had a pin-up of Starscream on the back cover which was later sold as a full-sized poster.
The inside cover of this issue marks the first official use of the term "Generation 1" outside of Japan.