by Erin Hatch, Editor-At-Large

Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters is off to an explosive start, and “Prey,” the third episode of this season picks up where the second installment left off: The Autobots are scattered, the Decepticons are desperate to find them, and two new players have joined the fray.

The new addition to Team Prime is Ultra Magnus (played by Michael Ironside – Total Recall, Starship Troopers), a by-the-books commander trained by Optimus himself. Magnus found our heroes by tracking the Omega beam from Cybertron at the end of season 2, arriving just in time to reunite the Autobots and take the fight back to the Decepticons. But the Decepticons have their own new tricks, specifically a prehistoric Cybertronian creature called a Predacon, bred in a lab by Shockwave and unleashed to track the Autobots down. These two new additions to the series collide in an exciting air battle that shows just how powerful the Predacon can be, and how skilled Ultra Magnus has to be to try to take it down.

But it isn’t just the newcomers that get in on the action this week: We see some cool Wrecker action as Wheeljack and Bulkhead get to take on the Predacon too, and Smokescreen infiltrates the Decepticon starship looking for a way to save the incapacitated Optimus Prime. The story builds on the elements introduced in the first two episodes of the season and starts having some fun with them, but it also brings the Autobots back together and sets the stage for a showdown as Ultra Magnus prepares to lead the Autobots in an assault on the Decepticon citadel.

There are plenty of fun moments in between, and the reunion of the Autobots’ human companions was particularly touching. Also notable were the references to Gen 1 Transformers, particularly the similarity between Optimus Prime’s near death appearance with his death in the 1986 movie, as well as Arcee’s subtle reference to her past incarnation through her comments on Bumblebee’s new paint job: “At least you had something to work with, if I reversed my colors, I’d be pink.”

With plenty of action and excitement, “Prey” continues the momentum of Transformers Prime’s third season, and sets up for even more exhilaration in episode four. Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters airs Fridays at 7:30 pm ET on the Hub.

ComicsOnline gives Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters “Prey” five out of five Autobot arsenals.

Transform and Roll Out with ComicsOnline.com and head back for more Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters coverage, and for everything geek pop culture!