Eye of the Storm

2009-12-24T21:30:36Z

86.160.150.253: /* Items of note */

{{disambig2|the stand-alone issue|the anthology|Best of Transformers: Eye of the Storm}}
{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #69
|prev=The Human Factor!
|next=The Pri¢e of Life!
|title="Eye of the Storm"
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #306–308
|prev2=The Human Factor!
|next2=The Pri¢e of Life!
|image=MarvelUS-69.jpg
|caption=Finally, Wildman!!
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=June 1990
|coverdate=August 1990
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|penciler=[[Andrew Wildman|Andy Wildman]]
|inkers=[[Harry Candelario]] & [[Bob Lewis]] (pages 7-8, 15-17)
|colorist=[[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]
|letterer=[[Rick Parker]]
|editor=[[Don Daley]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}

'''Several plot threads begin, as the countdown to Unicron continues.'''

==Synopsis==
Grimlock mad. Grimlock smash. Grimlock want [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] back. Grimlock nearly kill stupid [[Pretender]] Waverider for tedious flashback exposition.

Meanwhile, Optimus Prime has become worried about the general mood of his soldiers aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. Despite the loss of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], they are still not taking the threat of Unicron very seriously, falling into the groove of serious relaxation and downtime between missions. He begins to consider that the only way to defeat Unicron may be with the [[Autobot|Autobots]] and [[Decepticon|Decepticons]] united as one.

In the meantime, Optimus checks in on Nightbeat, who he has assigned to a research project — looking into the apparent deaths of Megatron and Ratchet a few months back to see if there was any chance they survived. Nightbeat had indeed come up with a theory, as one or both of the Transformers could have fled into a trans-dimensional portal known to have been active at the time, only to have been caught between universes when the base exploded and deactivated the portal. To test his theory, Nightbeat constructed a sub-spatial "fishing line" to search the space between space for Ratchet's bio-mechanical readout and lifesigns.

Off in space, Galvatron II is brought before the present day Unicron, and demands to know why Unicron has broken the bargain they made. Unicron explains that that was a different Unicron's promise, and he needs Galvatron's strength in his own timeline now. He demands that Galvatron go forth and spread word of his coming to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]... forcefully. Galvatron agrees, for the moment.

Grimlock retrieve Dinobots from stasis pods. Grimlock sorry he have to "WHAMM!" Kup to do it, but he found way to save friends. Dumb Prime not trust Grimlock's suggestion, so Grimlock take matters into own hands.

Elsewhere on the Ark, Optimus Prime makes the shocking announcement over the ship's comms that he plans to offer an unconditional surrender to [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] and the Decepticons, in order to pave the way for an alliance against Unicron.

[[Image:US69EyeofStorm.JPG|left|300px|thumb|Rumble rumble rumble, mutiny mutiny mutiny.]]
The offer will come too late for two of Scorponok's troops, though. [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] and [[Triggerhappy]] were less than pleased when Scorponok offered the madman Starscream a place in his Decepticons, and him then losing track of that psychopath completely was the last straw. As they fly away from the Decepticons' [[New Jersey (Earth)|New Jersey]] headquarters, the two warriors are confronted by Starscream himself. Starscream, along with his partners Shockwave and Ravage, have joined forces to attempt a coup on Scorponok's command. They offer Mindwipe and Triggerhappy a place in their new order.

As Grimlock forcibly blasts free of the Ark, Optimus Prime explains to Nightbeat and Waverider the reasoning behind it. A new energy source called [[Nucleon]] had been discovered on [[Hydrus Four]], a power apparently capable of granting new and more powerful life to mechanical lifeforms. Unfortunately, there were stories of psychological side effects, dementia and paranoia attacking some of the earliest recipients of Nucleon's power. Prime dismissed it as too dangerous to use on the fallen Autobots, but Grimlock got hold of a copy of the report and wanted to check it out. It seemed Prime's objection wasn't enough to discourage him.

Suddenly, in the midst of Optimus's explanation, Nightbeat's probe returned... carrying the bizarre fusion of Megatron and Ratchet's form with it.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] (1)
* [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (2)
* [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (3)
* [[Waverider|Waverider]] (4)
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (5)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (6)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (10)
* [[Cloudburst|Cloudburst]] (17)
|c2=
* [[Galvatron II|Galvatron II]] (8)
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (11)
* [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (12)
* [[Triggerhappy|Triggerhappy]] (13)
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (14)
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (15)
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (16)
|c4=
* [[Unicron|Unicron]] (7)
* [[Hook, Line, and Sinker|Hook, Line, and Sinker]] (9)
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]/[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (18)
}}

==Errors==
* Triggerhappy mentions seeing Shockwave burn up in Earth's atmosphere, but Scorponok's Decepticons had not yet joined up with Shockwave and [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]'s forces by that point. Perhaps he saw a recording though...

==Items of note==
* Optimus Prime experiences the first of a series of mysterious pains in his gut. Though never truly spelled out for us, this is apparently the first indicator of the "metamorphosis" [[Hi-Q]] underwent in later issues.

* Though there are still a few glitches, this issue is the closest "turning point" where the UK [[Earthforce]] Saga could reasonably break off from the standard comic timeline.

* According to a retcon made by [[Fun Publications]], Unicron is a single entity who travels across the dimensions, meaning that the Unicron of Galvatron II's timeline and the Unicron of this timeline '''are''' the same entity. This means that Unicron lied to Galvatron II and ''did'' break his promise. Bear in mind, this should not surprise anyone.

* ''[[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|Transformers Universe]]'' profiles for [[Fastlane]] and [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] are found after the main story.

==References==
* Several characters mention the events of US issues [[Dark Creation|#65]]–[[All Fall Down (issue)|66]], where the [[Classic Pretender|Classic Pretenders]] were left to die on [[VsQs|VsQs]], and [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] assaulted the Ark with the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]], only for both to be lost in space.

* Nightbeat's investigation pertains to the explosion at the climax of US issue [[Skin Deep|#59]].

===Covers===
<gallery>
Image:MarvelUS-69.jpg|'''US issue #69''' - What's in the middle? I hope it's [[Rack'n'Ruin]]!
Image:MarvelUK-306.jpg|'''UK issue #306''' - Nice to see you, to see you nice.
Image:MarvelUK-307.jpg|'''UK issue #307''' - No more! No more Stan Bush!
Image:MarvelUK-308.jpg|'''UK issue #308''' - Even when he's trying to be cool, Shockwave is ''mean''.
</gallery>
* '''US cover:''' Major plot points of the story by [[Andrew Wildman]].
* '''UK issue #306 cover:''' A pensive Prime by [[Staz|Stewart Johnson]] and [[Robin Bouttell]].
* '''UK issue #307 cover:''' Unicron punishes Galvatron by [[Andrew Wildman]] and Robin Bouttell.
* '''UK issue #308 cover:''' Shockwave chokes Mindwipe by [[Stephen Baskerville]], [[Lesley Dalton]] and Robin Bouttell.

===Advertisements===
* None yet identified.

[[Category:Marvel US issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Shadow of Evil

2009-12-24T17:52:14Z

86.160.150.253:

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #253
|prev=Edge of Impact
|next=White Fire
|title="Shadow of Evil"
|image=MarvelUK-253.jpg
|caption=''You're MY WIFE now!''
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[January 14|14th January]] 1990
|coverdate=[[January 20|20th January]] 1990
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|art=[[Cam Smith]]
|inks=
|colours=
|letterer=[[Annie Halfacree]]
|editor=
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}

'''Unicron has possessed Rodimus - everyone's buggered...'''

==Synopsis==
{{note|This story follows on from [[Edge of Impact]].}}
The possessed Rodimus is slaughtering the [[Autobot|Autobots]] by the dozen, and, as they are reluctant to kill him, their weapons are set to stun. Kup has called for help from [[Autobot City]], and until it arrives, he feels they owe it to Rodimus to let him have a chance fighting against the real enemy...

Rodimus flees through a nightmare world, pursued by Unicron, now in the form of a walking shadow. Rodimus is running scared when he should be fighting, and he is lost.

The possessed Rodimus pauses due to this psychic battle, and as reinforcements arrive, Arcee makes Kup realise they have to take this chance and shoot to kill...

{{note|This story is continued in [[White Fire]].}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters|c1=
* [[Getaway]] ''(deactivated)'' (1)
* [[Quickmix (G1)|Quickmix]] ''(deactivated)'' (2)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] (3)
* [[Siren]] (4)
* [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (5)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (6)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (7)
* [[Doubleheader]] (8)
* [[Hosehead]] (9)
* [[Longtooth]] (10)
* [[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]] (12)
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (13)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (14)
* [[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]] (15)
|c4=
* [[Unicron]] (11)
}}

==Items of note==
* Unicron's name is not mentioned either here or in "White Fire".

* Rodimus/Unicron appears to take out a fair number of Autobots in this issue. As well as the deactivated Getaway and Quickmix, we see him blasting Siren, Doubleheader, Hosehead and Longtooth (along with some poor sod in silhouette who is pretty much ''disintegrated''). It would be the last time we would see these characters in the future timeline, leaving their eventual fates uncertain.

* The Autobots really are in trouble; the "heavy artillery" ordered in by Kup consists of Blaster, Perceptor, Afterburner and Strafe. We could be charitable and assume the other [[Technobot (G1)|Technobots]] are just off-panel, but they're still not more heavily armed than, say, any other group of random Autobots.

[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

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Eye of the Storm

Shadow of Evil