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End of the Road! (US)

2010-01-16T21:21:24Z

99.91.193.154: /* Items of note */

{{disambig3|End of the Road}}
{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #80
|prev=The Last Autobot?
|next=Unfoldings!
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #331-332
|prev2=The Last Autobot?
|next2=Another Time and Place
|title=End of the Road!
|image=MarvelUS-80.jpg
|caption="I am victorious! Is there any who can challenge [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]?!" "[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Me]]." "...Oh, [[Slag (slang)|slag]]."
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=May 1991
|coverdate=July 1991
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|penciler=[[Andrew Wildman]]
|inker=[[Stephen Baskerville]]
|colorist=[[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]
|letterer=[[Rick Parker]]
|editor=[[Rob Tokar]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}

'''All good things...'''

==Synopsis==
Sometime after the end of the last issue, the [[Autobot|Autobots]] '''came''' to [[Klo]], '''saw''' a [[Decepticon]], and were '''conquered'''. As Octopunch leads a tracker team to hunt down the remaining survivors, Grimlock is trying to keep the last five Autobots alive. Unfortunately for him, Prowl is one of the survivors, and spares no breath berating Grimlock for the situation. It seems the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] were led into an obvious trap upon the Autobots' arrival on Klo, and the resulting melee was a slaughter. Prowl's pontificating is cut short when Fangry leads the hunting party to double-back, and the Decepticons move in for the kill.

Back at the scene of the first battle, Bludgeon is about to administer another execution when he and his warriors are suddenly caught off guard by the arriving [[Neo-Knights]]. The Decepticons quickly learn that the humans were only the first wave, and onto the battlefield drops the second wave — Optimus Prime, alive and kicking. Despite Bludgeon's disbelieving cries, Prime is indeed back, and he introduces his new friend, the legendary Last Autobot. The child of [[Primus]] relates how he first encountered Hi-Q and the [[Neo-Knights]] on Cybertron, and reformatted the [[Nebulos|Nebulan]] into a [[Nucleon]]-enhanced [[Action Master]] version of Optimus Prime.

The Decepticons dogpile on Prime, but prove less than effective. What's more, the Last Autobot begins using his powers to reanimate all of the fallen Autobots, increasing their forces by the minute. As Grimlock and his group of survivors charge over the hillside, the tide of battle quickly turns towards the Autobots, and Bludgeon's troops are put to retreat. As Bludgeon proclaims he will lead his troops into the voluntary exile that honor demands, he quietly tells Stranglehold to gather their forces, to live to fight another day.

As the Autobots wrap up, Optimus Prime informs his brethren that [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] survives, restored by the Last Autobot's power and the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] energy that washed over the planet in the final battle with [[Unicron]]. The Autobots prepare to help the Klozians rebuild, take the Neo-Knights home and, finally, return to their home planet for a new era of peace and enlightenment.

[['Til all are one]].

{{note|This story is continued in several mutually-exclusive directions:''
* The UK Annual story "[[Another Time and Place]]".
* The ''G.I. Joe'' issue "[[Unfoldings!]]", leading into the ''[[Generation 2 (Marvel Comics)|Generation 2]]'' series.
* The Fun Publications story "[[Crossing Over, Part 1]]".

''It never ends!''}}
==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Getaway]] (1)
* [[Siren]] (9)
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (14)
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (15)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (16)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (17)
* [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (18)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (19)
* [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]]
* [[Last Autobot]] (23)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (24)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] (29)
* [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (30)
|c2=
* [[Dreadwing (G1)|Dreadwing]] (2)
* [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] (3)
* [[Stranglehold]] (5)
* [[Battletrap]] (6)
* [[Snapdragon]] (7)
* [[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] (8)
* [[Fangry]] (10)
* [[Quake (G1)|Quake]] (11)
* [[Weirdwolf]] (12)
* [[Octopunch]] (13)
* [[Horri-Bull]] (25)
* [[Squeezeplay]] (28)
* [[Skullcruncher]]
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]]
|c3=
* [[Thunderpunch]] (20)
* [[Dynamo]] (21)
* [[Rapture]] (22)
* [[G.B. Blackrock]] (26)
* [[Circuit Breaker]] (27)
|h4=[[Nebulos|Nebulans]]
|c4=
* [[Hi-Q]] (26)
}}

==Quotes==
"Do you not understand? [[Furmanism|It's OVER—FINISHED!]]"
:—Bludgeon, executing Siren.

"And now... it is time for this mindless war to cease. It is [[Furmanism|done, finished.]]"
:—the Last Autobot.

"ENOUGH! Do you not understand, Decepticons? [[Furmanism|It is over—FINISHED!]]"<ref>There's a lot of uses for that [[Furmanism]] here.</ref>
:—Optimus Prime, in a mockery of Bludgeon.

"For me, personally, [[Furmanism|it never ends!]]"
:—Simon Furman, giving mixed messages as he concludes the letters page.

==Items of note==
* Optimus Prime appears in his Action Master design, but Nucleon is not explicitly mentioned here as being a part of his transformation. However, Hi-Q absorbed energy during Grimlock's metamorphosis to Action Master form in "[[Still Life!]]", an indirect appropriation of Nucleon that is confirmed in Transformers UK Annual #7, "[[Another Time and Place]]".
* If a (Fill in the Blank)master is killed with their partner, could the Last Autobot still resurrect them?
* Apparently Crankcase is perfectly fine surviving without a head.
* With typical Marvel humor, this issue is billed as '''#80''' in a '''four-issue''' limited series.
* Nobody gets the final US cover corner box; instead, an orange and yellow beveled [[Decepticon]] [[Insignia|insignia]] appears here, contrasting the [[Autobot]] symbol featured in the cover's logo.
* Simon Furman's "send-off" message at the end of the issue claims that this will almost certainly mark the end of Transformers as a story, but that he hopes to continue to write stories about the Neo-Knights. Wonder how that turned out?
* Game over, man — game over.

===Covers===
<gallery>
Image:MarvelUS-80.jpg|'''US issue #80''' - Wheeljack never gets a break.
Image:MarvelUK-331.jpg|'''UK issue #331''' - All action, no [[Powermaster|'Master]].
Image:MarvelUK-332.jpg|'''UK issue #332''' - It's the end... but the moment has been prepared for.
</gallery>
* '''US cover:''' Bludgeon about to dismember Wheeljack by [[Andrew Wildman]].
* '''UK issue #331 cover:''' Optimus Prime by Andrew Wildman; recolored version of page 12 of the story.
* '''UK issue #332 cover:''' recolored version of US cover.

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

==References==
<references/>

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

Exodus!

2010-01-16T21:13:02Z

99.91.193.154: /* Items of note */ corner box Grimlock

{{disambig3|Exodus}}
{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #77
|prev=Still Life!
|next=A Savage Circle
|title=Exodus!
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #325–326
|prev2=Still Life!
|next2=A Savage Circle
|image=MarvelUS-77.jpg
|caption=Don't poke me! My mother poked me once... ONCE!
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=February 1991
|coverdate=April 1991
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|penciler=[[Andrew Wildman]]
|inker=[[Stephen Baskerville]]
|colorist=[[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]
|letterer=[[Rick Parker]]
|editor=[[Rob Tokar]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}

'''Fangry gets FUBAR'ed.'''

==Synopsis==
As [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s weather continues to worsen in the aftermath of [[Unicron]]'s attack, Darkwing and Dreadwind are searching for cover. As the two [[Powermaster|Powermasters]] search for someone to blame for their current apocalyptic woes, the opportunity presents itself when a hanging [[Autobot]] [[Insignia|symbol]] shakes loose from the building and crushes Dreadwind like an ACME cartoon. Darkwing quickly jumps to the conclusion that everything must be the Autobots' fault... a conclusion rather representative of the [[Decepticon]] army as a whole.

Inside, Prowl is desperately trying to maintain the alliance, but is receiving little help from his co-commanders. Bludgeon and Krok are focused on feeling out the mood of their brethren, and don't want to commit to anything just yet, while Grimlock can't believe the 'Cons will ever be able to stand being at peace, and so makes no effort to avoid antagonizing them. Fangry, in particular, raises the ire of both Grimlock and Bludgeon with his insubordinate attitude. Everyone quiets down, though, when Blaster unveils his seismographic findings... the planet is literally tearing itself apart without [[Primus]]'s lifeforce to sustain it. They have no choice but to abandon the planet entirely before it destroys itself.

Meanwhile, Shockwave and Starscream have prepped the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] for take-off, unaware that they may have more than one uninvited stowaway...

Later on, Prowl tries to get Grimlock to agree to make an inspirational speech to the troops to rally their morale, just like [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] would do. Grimlock tells him to get bent. He makes it very clear to Prowl that even though Prime named him leader, that doesn't mean he'll be doing things like Optimus, or especially Prowl, might want things done. Leaving his unwanted second-in-command behind, Grimlock runs into Fangry, who's interested in a little selfish payback after their exchange back at the meeting. Grimlock's new [[Action Master]] body lets him take Fangry's punishment, and give much harder than he gets. The public and humiliating beating of a fellow Decepticon by the Autobot leader, though, is just what Bludgeon and Krok needed to swing their troops fully in favor of turning on their "allies". After getting the overly compliant Prowl to reveal HIS plans, they begin to make plans of their own.

Elsewhere on Cybertron, the [[Neo-Knights]] have found themselves in an unenviable position: trapped in a cell-box for eventual transit back to [[Earth]] with the catatonic Circuit Breaker and Hi-Q, who is still rambling on about being the real Optimus Prime, and the power of the [[Last Autobot]] to save Cybertron from destruction, yada yada yada. He's bald — who's gonna believe him?

And so, after telling the Decepticons all their plans and allowing them to be the first ones to safely leave the planet, Prowl suddenly developed a nagging feeling that he might just have screwed everyone. Grimlock does little to assuage his fears, as he has some secret plans of his own being prepped by the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]. Prowl's fears are quickly confirmed when Wheeljack checks out their getaway ships and realizes they've all been sabotaged beyond repair, leaving the Autobots stranded... on a dying world.

Meanwhile, the Ark has finally taken off, and Galvatron congratulates himself on having stowed away for the voyage. As he strides confidently down the hallway, however, he comes face-to-face with his own mirror image — Megatron!

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (3)
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (5)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (7)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (8)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (9)
* [[Rollout (G1)|Rollout]] (10)
* [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (11)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (12)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (13)
* [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (28)
|c2=
* [[Darkwing]] (1)
* [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] (2)
* [[Krok (G1)|Krok]] (4)
* [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] (6)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (14)
* [[Treadshot (G1)|Treadshot]] (15)
* [[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]]? (16)
* [[Fangry]] (17)
* [[Quake (G1)|Quake]] (18)
* [[Squeezeplay]] (19)
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (20)
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (21)
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (15)
* [[Galvatron II]] (29)
|c3=
* [[G.B. Blackrock]] (22)
* [[Circuit Breaker]] (23)
* [[Thunderpunch]] (24)
* [[Dynamo]] (25)
* [[Rapture]] (26)
|h4=[[Nebulos|Nebulan]]s|c4=
* [[Hi-Q]] (27)
}}

==Quotes==
"[The Autobot's] plan, fellow Decepticons, is weak! Ill-befitting a warrior race such as ours! Colonizing a barren world, starting from nothing, scratching a living from dust and dirt! This is not our way! We take, and any thing or one in our way is crushed! They would have us bury our heritage, bend our knees to their feeble-minded ways! Well, I say no! I say from this day on we begin afresh, with new wars to fight, new worlds to conquer! I mean, why fight it, it's in our oil!"
:—'''Bludgeon''' rallies the troops

==Errors==
* While carrying the Neo-Knights aboard, Quake is miscolored blue.

==Items of note==
* For simplicity's sake, the majority of the [[Transformer|Transformers]] seen here and in the remaining issues are from the Earthbound crews. However, there used to be thriving Autobot resistances and Decepticon hierarchies on Cybertron before the battle with Unicron, yet now the planet is portrayed as virtually empty except for the few troops under Grimlock and Bludgeon's command. One can assume they were destroyed by Unicron.
* Another "cast living in a bubble" plot device is the number of ships necessary to carry all Autobots and Decepticons on Cybertron to another world — six — and the Decepticons managing to destroy every other available ship on the planet to strand the Autobots — all three of them.
* This issue features the first appearances of [[Rollout (G1)|Rollout]] and [[Treadshot (G1)|Treadshot]]. Blink and you'll miss 'em.
* ''[[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|Transformers Universe]]'' profiles for [[Weirdwolf]] and [[Skullcruncher]] are found after the main story.
* With Grimlock in charge of the Autobots again, he moves back into the US cover's corner box, this time in his Action Master form as rendered by Andrew Wildman. Sadly, with the impending end of the US comic, ol' Grim only gets three issues of corner-box glory.

===Covers===
<gallery>
Image:MarvelUS-77.jpg|'''US issue #77''' - Green and blue pleased ''nobody''.
Image:MarvelUK-325.jpg|'''UK issue #325''' - They even have the comedy costumes!
Image:MarvelUK-326.jpg|'''UK issue #326''' - No-one likes the new fan-designed logo.
</gallery>
* '''US issue #77 cover:''' Bludgeon gets in Prowl's face by [[Andrew Wildman]].
* '''UK issue #325 cover:''' Grimlock punches out Fangry by Andy Wildman.
* '''UK issue #326 cover:''' recolored version of US cover.

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

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

Still Life!

2010-01-16T21:08:37Z

99.91.193.154: /* Items of note */ corner box Prime

{{Comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #76
|prev=On the Edge of Extinction!
|next=Exodus!
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel_UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #323–324
|prev2=On the Edge of Extinction!
|next2=Exodus!
|title=Still Life!
|image=MarvelUS-76.jpg
|caption=Stop breathing down my neck!
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=January 1991
|coverdate=March 1991
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|penciler=[[Andrew Wildman]]
|inker=[[Stephen Baskerville]]
|colorist=[[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]
|letterer=[[Rick Parker]]
|editor=[[Rob Tokar]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}

'''As their world lies dying, the Transformers attempt to maintain peace between themselves.'''

==Synopsis==
With [[Unicron]] destroyed, a small group of [[Autobot|Autobots]] and [[Decepticon|Decepticons]] gather around the shattered remains of Optimus Prime, somehow still clinging to life. As Prime gasps out his final words, his last request is that Prowl make sure Grimlock takes command of the Autobots in his absence.

Elsewhere on the planet, Prime's [[Nebulos|Nebulan]] partner Hi-Q is on the run, fleeing from the creatures who just devoured [[Runabout]]. He thinks to himself that he needs to get back to Prime, tell him about the miraculous changes they both are going through, thanks to the [[Powermaster]] process.

At the new United [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertronian]] compound, Prowl gives his news to a less than enthusiastic Grimlock. When Grimlock moves to go about his business with little more than a word, Prowl grabs him and tries to drill home his new responsibilities. Grimlock shoots back, telling him that the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] has been stolen, complete with several deactivated Autobots who were never fully brought back by the [[Nucleon]]. Grimlock was planning to lead his [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] on an expedition to track down and retrieve the lost ship. Prowl's not done, though. He reminds Grimlock that Optimus Prime upheld a code of ideals for the Autobots, including the notion that Autobots do not kill, unless as a last resort to save others. He makes Grimlock vow to carry on Prime's views.

As Grimlock and the Dinobots leave, Prowl receives some bad news from Blaster's seismology report, while Bludgeon and his lieutenant Krok agree to bide time and weigh their options before making any moves.

On the search for the Ark, Swoop questions Grimlock, submitting that Prowl may have been right, that preserving the peace was more important than their current mission. Cynically, Grimlock informs him that the peace has no chance of lasting anyway. As he goes on, Grimlock's body suddenly seizes up completely, leaving him totally paralyzed. Just then, Hi-Q catches up with the Dinobots, and his hunters find him as well. The monsters surround the Dinobots, who are forced into battle instead of running away, in order to defend their
helpless leader.

Meanwhile, at the stolen Ark, Starscream and Shockwave are attempting to enact repairs to the damaged ship. Starscream doesn't understand why it's necessary to repair the Ark, when they could easily hunt around and find another one. Shockwave explains to his partner that the Ark is still the best ship on Cybertron, and his calculations suggest they won't have time to hunt down and steal another ship. A shadowy observer silently agrees with his assessment.

Back at the battle, the Dinobots are having a rough time with the devil-creatures: they are incredibly resilient and continue to pop up by the dozen. As the Dinobots still refuse to abandon Grimlock, he silently laments that his rash use of Nucleon may leave them ALL frozen as he is... or worse. However, Hi-Q's Powermaster "energy vision" sees something else in Grimlock — a chrysalis of pure energy slowly building beneath his superstructure. Using his special abilities, Hi-Q manages to tap into and boost the process, pushing Grimlock's transformation to fruition in a matter of moments. In his new [[Action Master]] robot mode, Grimlock is now bursting with power. He single-handedly sends the devil-creatures packing, and then grabs one of the stragglers to beat him to death as revenge. Hi-Q stops him, however, speaking to Grimlock about the inner conflict in his circuits, and that he only truly wins a battle when he gives peace and chance, and stops himself from taking life needlessly.

As the Dinobots turn to go, they're treated to a pair of surprises. First, Grimlock reveals that with his new power comes the loss of his ability to transform. Then, Hi-Q makes the startling claim that he somehow '''is''' Optimus Prime.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters|c1=
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (1)
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (2)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (3)
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (7)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (8)
* [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (10)
* [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (11)
* [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (12)
* [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (13)

|c2=
* [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] (4)
* [[Krok (G1)|Krok]] (9)
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (14)
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (15)
* [[Galvatron II]] (16)

|h3=[[Nebulos|Nebulans]]|c3=
* [[Hi-Q]] (5)
|c4=
* [[Demon]]s (6)
}}
==Errors==
* In spite of having died by getting stepped on by Unicron while in his Pretender shell, [[Bomb-Burst]] is seen wrecked in altmode here. (Keep in mind though that the robots are long established as able to work outside their shells). Regardless, he's still dead.
* Pages nine and twelve of UK issue #324 have their color palettes reversed.

==Items of note==
* The demons had previously appeared in the UK comic stories "[[Underworld!]]", "[[Demons!]]" and "[[Dawn of Darkness]]".
* This is the second time that [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|Prime has died]] in the Marvel US continuity.
* This issue marks the first appearance for [[Rad (G1)|Rad]] and Krok.
* Bludgeon and Grimlock are officially identified as the new Decepticon and Autobot leaders.
* Grimlock's paralysis has been building since his exposure to Nucleon in US issue [[The Pri¢e of Life!|#70]], first with his leg in [[...All This and Civil War 2|#72]] and then his hand in [[The Void! (US)|#74]].
* ''[[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|Transformers Universe]]'' profiles for [[Grotusque]] and [[Horri-Bull]] are found after the main story.
* Optimus Prime's appearance in the US cover's corner box is finally updated from his [[The Transformers (issue)|original form]] to his Powermaster body... or, in this case, what's left of it (the artwork is, rather grotesquely, taken directly from the interior of this issue).

===References===
* The grand battle with Unicron concludes a storyline that began way back in US issue [[Yesterday's Heroes!|#60]].
* Grimlock's reinforcements were fueled with Nucleon in the previous issue.

===Covers===
<gallery>
Image:MarvelUS-76.jpg|'''US issue #76''' - Oh Grimlock you cad!
Image:MarvelUK-323.jpg|'''UK issue #323''' - What Transformers needs is more watercolours...
Image:MarvelUK-324.jpg|'''UK issue #324''' - Grimlock came last in the Dance Dance Revolution championship.
</gallery>

* '''US issue #76 cover:''' Frozen Grimlock, Swoop, Sludge and a Demon by [[Andrew Wildman]].
* '''UK issue #323 cover:''' Aftermath of Unicron's attack by Andy Wildman.
* '''UK issue #324 cover:''' recolored version of US cover by [[Robin Bouttell]].

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

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

Trial by Fire!

2010-01-16T20:50:51Z

99.91.193.154: /* Items of note */ stupid two exclamation points!!

{{disambig3|Trial by Fire}}
{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #38
|prev=Toy Soldiers!
|next=The Desert Island of Space!
|title=Trial by Fire!
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #156–157
|prev2=Toy Soldiers!
|next2=The Desert Island of Space!
|image=MarvelUS-38.jpg
|caption=Someone call the exterminator!
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=November 1987
|coverdate=March 1988
|writer=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|penciler=[[José Delbo]]
|inker=[[Dave Hunt]]
|colorist=[[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]
|letterer=[[Bill Oakley]]
|editor=[[Don Daley]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}

'''The death of Prince Valiant.'''

==Synopsis==
{{note|The story continues from "[[Brothers in Armor!!]]".}}
On their way from [[Nebulos]] to [[Earth]], the [[Autobot]] [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] aboard ''[[Steelhaven (G1)|Steelhaven]]'' have been hard at work reconstructing Fortress Maximus into an even more powerful state — he is now twice as large and four times as strong, connected to his binary-bonded partner Galen through an intermediary robot known as Cerebros. The peace-loving Nebulans are questioning Galen's choice of tactics in actively preparing himself for war. Their formerly pacifistic leader assures them it is necessary.

At their destination, the planet Earth, a young college student named Spike Witwicky has arrived at home only to find it completely totaled. He frantically rushes to locate his father in the rubble, only to be relieved when Sparkplug grabs him from behind, alive and well. After hearing about his family's past involvement with the [[Transformer|Transformers]], Spike takes his car up to [[Mount St. Hilary]] to make sure his brother [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster]] is okay. While exploring the gutted remains of the Autobots' former base, he finds and discards a small, banged-up toy car...

Having arrived in Earth's orbit, the ''Steelhaven's'' crew scans the planet. The Nebulans are amazed by the planet's beauty, and fearful of bringing their war to the inhabitants, but Galen remains cold and business-like, narrowly focused on nothing but the distress call. After triangulating the signal, the Headmasters depart for Oregon. At the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'s site, they find the universal transceiver and Goldbug's battered toy form.

As Spike watches on, Chromedome taps into Goldbug's [[brain module]], and holographically replays his recent experiences, including Buster being kidnapped by Ratbat. When Fortress Maximus coldly shoots down Brainstorm's suggestion that they rescue the Earthen in favor of finding the Ark's crew, Spike jumps out from hiding and confronts the Headmasters. He, quite reasonably, asks how they can just leave Buster in the [[Decepticon|Decepticons]]' clutches. Even after converting back to his human state, Galen still expresses little sympathy and no responsibility for Spike's situation. As Brainstorm detects a faint rocket emission signature, the Autobots depart and leave Spike to his problems.

In the meantime, Zarak and the Nebulan Decepticons have arrived in our solar system as well, chasing the crew of the ''Steelhaven''. As the Decepticon Headmasters transport down to the Ark's former cave, Spike sees them and wisely steps out of sight. As the Decepticons begin a search for the Autobots, Spike triggers the universal transceiver's message again, prompting the Autobots to return to the cave to see what caused the re-broadcasting. Spike's actions get him noticed by the Decepticons, though, and he is only saved from Scorponok's interrogations by the arrival of Fortress Maximus and the others.

As the battle rages, Spike skips out and begins running deeper into the volcano to escape the melee. Realizing Fortress Maximus's new size and power put them at a considerable disadvantage, Scorponok goes after Spike to take him as a hostage against the Autobots. In turn, Fortress Maximus follows Scorponok after seeing him leave the battlefield. Both Transformers quickly learn that bigger isn't necessarily better. As Scorponok chases Spike down a smaller passage, Fortress Maximus is forced to separate his Cerebros component to chase after them. Scorponok, in turn, finds it too precarious to follow Spike across a rocky bridge, and pursues him as Lord Zarak. Cerebros is forced to toss his head at Zarak to close the gap between them, and the transforming Galen wrestles his counterpart to the ground. Zarak plays dirty, though, and triggers Scorponok's guns to collapse the ceiling on top of Spike. Galen throws himself between Spike and the falling rocks, and is mortally wounded in the process. Laughing at the death of his enemy, Scorponok leaves to rejoin his troops.

As Galen begins to die, he asks Spike to forgive him for his earlier blindness, and asks the boy to take his control helmet so that Fortress Maximus will survive. Using the helmet, Spike guides Fortress Maximus back to the battle, and drives off the Decepticons. In the aftermath, the Autobots comment on how they may have lost one leader, only to find another...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (1)
* [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] (2)
* [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] (4)
* [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (5)
* [[Brainstorm]] (6)
* [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]] (9)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Goldbug]] (14)
|c2=
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (18)
* [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (19)
* [[Weirdwolf]] (20)
* [[Snapdragon]] (21)
* [[Skullcruncher]] (22)
* [[Apeface]] (23)
|c3=
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (10)
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (11)
|h4=[[Nebulos|Nebulans]]|c4=
* [[Galen]] (3)
* [[Gort]] (7)
* [[Duros]] (8)
* [[Arcana]] (12)
* [[Stylor]] (13)
* [[Vorath]] (15)
* [[Zarak (Nebulan)|Zarak]] (16)
* [[Krunk]] (17)
}}

==Errors==
* Zarak and Scorponok's colors are dramatically off on the cover.
* Skullcruncher is roughly miscolored as Mindwipe on page 14.
* On the double page spread in 16–17, Snapdragon is miscolored as Weirdwolf, Apeface is given a yellow head, and Stylor's hair is blonde instead of black.
* In the previous issue, Ratbat's goal was to make sure that the [[Throttlebot|Throttlebots]], including Goldbug, were actually destroyed. However, we learn in this issue that he left Goldbug's brain module intact after crushing his toy-car body. In the next issue, Barnett explains that Ratbat's true purpose was to kidnap Buster, which might explain why Ratbat did not fully destroy Goldbug. However, this explanation doesn't hold up, because Ratbat could not have anticipated that Barnett would seek Buster's help.

==Items of note==
* The cast of the [[Headmasters (comic)|''Headmasters'' comic]] is officially added to the main book and largely replaces the previous characters.
* Galen's thought process over this issue may have been intended to mirror [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s guilty conscience for having brought some Decepticons to Earth. But while Prime's actions were totally inadvertent, initiated millions of years before humanity even existed, Galen's actions were completely intentional, driven by callous monomania until he suddenly had a change of heart when confronted directly with the consequences of his actions. The parallelism wasn't the best ever, here.
* Like the toy, Cerebros can recombine with Fortress Maximus without being binary-bonded to his own head at the time.
* The US cover corner box has replaced [[Grimlock]] with Fortress Maximus removing his head, artwork from the interior of ''[[Headmasters (comic)|Headmasters]]'' [[Ring of Hate!|issue 1]], which was previously used on [[Love and Steel!|issues 3]] and [[Brothers in Armor!!|4]] of the miniseries. Fort Max decapitating himself would remain on the cover for 11 more issues.

===References===
* Galen recaps ''Headmasters'' for anyone who had been living under a rock.
* Sparkplug and Buster's encounters with Ratbat occurred [[Toy Soldiers!|last issue]], as did Goldbug's message.

===UK Printing===
* In Grim Grams for issue #156, Grimlock backpedals on the idea of killing [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] by trawling the Thames to try and destroy [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s remains (probably to avoid stealing [[Richard Branson]]'s thunder), and accept the praise for ''[[The Legacy of Unicron!|Legacy of Unicron]]''.
* In Grim Grams for issue #157, Grimlock claims [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] was really truly killed by [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]] and continues to accept more praise of ''Legacy of Unicron''.

===Covers (3)===
<gallery>
Image:MarvelUS-38.jpg|'''US issue #38''' - Luckily Max had an extra-large can of Raid
Image:MarvelUK-156.jpg|'''UK issue #156''' - "Cheapest background we've ever done!"
Image:MarvelUK-157.jpg|'''UK issue #157''' - No, shoot AT him
</gallery>
* '''US issue #38 cover:''' Scorponok Battles Fort Max, by [[Frank Springer]].
* '''UK issue #156 cover:''' Hardhead, by [[Dougie Braithwaite]].
* '''UK issue #157 cover:''' Highbrow faces off against Scorponok, by [[Lee Sullivan]].

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

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

The Cure!

2010-01-16T20:50:20Z

99.91.193.154: /* Items of note */ corner box - minor edit

{{picsneeded|IDW Generations covers}}
{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #30
|prev=Crater Critters
|next=Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom
|title="The Cure!"
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #126–127
|prev2=Ancient Relics!
|next2=Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom
|image=MarvelUS-30.jpg
|caption=[[The New Order|Monday, you can fall apart / Tuesday, Wednesday, break my heart]]
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=March 1987
|coverdate=July 1987
|writer=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|breakdowns=[[Don Perlin]]
|finishes=[[Ian Akin]] & [[Brian Garvey]]
|colorist=[[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]
|letterer=[[Janice Chiang]]
|editor=[[Don Daley]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}

'''Ratbat sends a team of Autobot prisoners to kill all Transformers infected with the Scraplets. If they don't comply, the Earth will be destroyed.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Goldbugthecure.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Gold Metal Syndrome.]]
Ratbat captures the [[Throttlebot]]s during a fuel raid on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Rather than have them executed, he sends them to [[Earth]] on a mission to destroy all [[Transformer|Transformers]] infected with [[Scraplet]]s, using canisters of acid. They are given 10 hours to complete this mission, after which Ratbat threatens to destroy the Earth. Arriving at the crater, they find Goldbug's tire tracks heading off into the desert. Rollbar and Wideload take an acid canister and follow them.

Meanwhile, an exhausted Charlie Fong pushes the decrepit Goldbug to a filling station, where the attendants are alarmed by his condition. They offer him some water, some of which spills on Goldbug. Instantly, the Scraplets there wither and die. The legendary cure is nothing more than [[water]]! Before Charlie can "wash his car", however, Rollbar and Wideload arrive, intent on slagging Goldbug. Once Charlie demonstrates the cure on Wideload, the two Throttlebots are more than happy to back down.

Goldbug arranges for G.B. Blackrock to have water transported to the crater to cure all the infected Transformers, but when Goldbug prepares to cure Blaster and the Triple Changers, Blaster tells Goldbug to kill him rather than save the Decepticons. During Goldbug's hesitation, the Scraplets merge into a conglomerate monster to fight back. The Scraplet monster proves more than a match for the weaponless Throttlebots, and Goldbug decides to cure Blaster and the [[Decepticon|Decepticons]] to provide enough firepower to fight against the monster. The gambit proves effective, and Blaster finishes the Scraplets off with the acid that Throttlebots brought with them. Goldbug uses the last of the water Blackrock brought to the crater to remove the Scraplets that had infected the Throttlebots during the fight.

Astrotrain learns enough about Blackrock to believe him to be of use to the Decepticons, and attaches a small microchip to Blackrock's forehead. The chip flashes a light pattern in front of Blackrock's eyes, then falls away unseen by anyone else. The Decepticons then escape, carrying the cargo from the freighter which brought the Scraplets to Earth.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Chase (G1)|Chase]] (1)
* [[Searchlight (G1)|Searchlight]] (2)
* [[Wide Load]] (3)
* [[Freeway (G1)|Freeway]] (4)
* [[Rollbar (G1)|Rollbar]] (5)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (9)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Goldbug]] (12)
|c2=
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (6)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (7)
* [[Octane]] (8)
* [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (10)
|c3=
'''Regulars'''
* [[G.B. Blackrock]] (14)
'''Guests'''
* [[Charlie Fong]] (11)
* [[Jim and Ernie]] (13)
}}

==Errors==
* Despite Ratbat's threat to destroy the Earth, no effort is made by the Autobots to contact him after the Scraplets threat is averted. Apparently, the Earth does not get destroyed.
* The color schemes for the three sports car Throttlebots are constantly confused in this issue. Searchlight, Chase, and Freeway all switch color schemes on the opening splash page. They're drawn and colored correctly after that, but later Chase is shown with Searchlight's head and colors. Someone must have referenced this issue for the later GI Joe/''[[Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]'' crossover, because the same error repeats there.
* On page 20, a rear view of Astrotrain shows him with his wings attached to the front of his torso instead of the back, and no arms.

==Items of note==
* The Transformers' discussions of the "[[water|rare chemical]]" that cures [[scraplet]]s have caused a great deal of confusion (and amusement) in the fandom over the years. Many fans interpret various lines in isolation as meaning that the Transformers consider water to be a rare chemical, have never heard of it, and/or don't believe in its existence, all of which would be patently ridiculous beliefs for a spacefaring race (and would contradict Bumblebee's statement way back in issue #1 that he is excited that Earth is covered in water because he loves a good swim.) However, much of this interpretation hinges on the idea that the Transformers know exactly what the cure's chemical formula is, and simply don't believe it exists. This notion is flatly contradicted by various statements in this issue and the previous one, which make it clear that they don't know the identity of the chemical:
** Octane: "Legend has it that, thousands of vorns ago during an outbreak on Cybertron, a rare chemical was found that killed the scraplets! But I doubt any of us will live long enough to rediscover it."
** Ratbat: "The only cure is a chemical so ''rare'' that its very existence is suspect! But whether the ancient legends about this substance are true matters not."
** Wideload: "I never ''heard'' of such a substance!" Rollbar: "Hmm... maybe it doesn't ''exist'' on our world!" The only thing the Transformers have been told about the cure is that it's rare, which fits with most of what we've seen and been told of Cybertron (Bumblebee never claims that there IS water on Cybertron.) Nobody denies the existence of water; they just don't know that it's the cure. In fact, the very next issue reveals that Ratbat's entire operation is centered around an evil, hypnotic, ''water-using'' car wash! At best, we can chastise Rollbar and Wideload for not knowing much about water, which isn't too surprising since 1) they're scouts and 2) they spend most of their time fighting for their lives on Cybertron.
* [[Grimlock]] occupies the Marvel corner box space for the next eight US issues, beginning with this one, reflecting his current status as leader of the Earth-bound Autobots in the series, even though he doesn't actually appear in this issue.
* On page 13, Goldbug refers to Blackrock's company as "Blackrock Enterprises".
* ''References to other Transformers continuities/issues:'' The freighter was sent by Ratbat on a secret mission in issue [[Crater Critters|#29]] before becoming infected by Scraplets. The nature of its secret cargo will be revealed in issue [[Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom|#31]].
* This issue was reprinted by [[IDW Publishing]] as ''[[Generations (comic reprints)|Generations]]'' #11. It featured a new cover by [[Nick Roche]].

===Covers (3)===
<gallery>
Image:MarvelUS-30.jpg|'''US issue #30''' - Yay, Throttlebots, so... ineffective.
Image:MarvelUK-126.jpg|'''UK issue #126''' - Well, that's what they told Goldbug afterwards...
Image:MarvelUK-127.jpg|'''UK issue #127''' - Throttlebots - easy on the eye AND the stomach!
</gallery>
* '''US cover:''' Rollbar punching through the Scraplet monster, by [[Herb Trimpe]].
* '''UK issue #126 cover:''' the Throttlebots attack Goldbug, by [[Lee Sullivan]].
* '''UK issue #127 cover:''' the Scraplet monster attacks the Throttlebots, by [[Robin Smith]].

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

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cure!}}
[[Category:Marvel US issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Trial by Fire!

2010-01-16T20:48:25Z

99.91.193.154: /* Items of note */ cover box

{{disambig3|Trial by Fire}}
{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #38
|prev=Toy Soldiers!
|next=The Desert Island of Space!
|title=Trial by Fire!
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #156–157
|prev2=Toy Soldiers!
|next2=The Desert Island of Space!
|image=MarvelUS-38.jpg
|caption=Someone call the exterminator!
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=November 1987
|coverdate=March 1988
|writer=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|penciler=[[José Delbo]]
|inker=[[Dave Hunt]]
|colorist=[[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]
|letterer=[[Bill Oakley]]
|editor=[[Don Daley]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}

'''The death of Prince Valiant.'''

==Synopsis==
{{note|The story continues from "[[Brothers in Armor!!]]".}}
On their way from [[Nebulos]] to [[Earth]], the [[Autobot]] [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] aboard ''[[Steelhaven (G1)|Steelhaven]]'' have been hard at work reconstructing Fortress Maximus into an even more powerful state — he is now twice as large and four times as strong, connected to his binary-bonded partner Galen through an intermediary robot known as Cerebros. The peace-loving Nebulans are questioning Galen's choice of tactics in actively preparing himself for war. Their formerly pacifistic leader assures them it is necessary.

At their destination, the planet Earth, a young college student named Spike Witwicky has arrived at home only to find it completely totaled. He frantically rushes to locate his father in the rubble, only to be relieved when Sparkplug grabs him from behind, alive and well. After hearing about his family's past involvement with the [[Transformer|Transformers]], Spike takes his car up to [[Mount St. Hilary]] to make sure his brother [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster]] is okay. While exploring the gutted remains of the Autobots' former base, he finds and discards a small, banged-up toy car...

Having arrived in Earth's orbit, the ''Steelhaven's'' crew scans the planet. The Nebulans are amazed by the planet's beauty, and fearful of bringing their war to the inhabitants, but Galen remains cold and business-like, narrowly focused on nothing but the distress call. After triangulating the signal, the Headmasters depart for Oregon. At the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'s site, they find the universal transceiver and Goldbug's battered toy form.

As Spike watches on, Chromedome taps into Goldbug's [[brain module]], and holographically replays his recent experiences, including Buster being kidnapped by Ratbat. When Fortress Maximus coldly shoots down Brainstorm's suggestion that they rescue the Earthen in favor of finding the Ark's crew, Spike jumps out from hiding and confronts the Headmasters. He, quite reasonably, asks how they can just leave Buster in the [[Decepticon|Decepticons]]' clutches. Even after converting back to his human state, Galen still expresses little sympathy and no responsibility for Spike's situation. As Brainstorm detects a faint rocket emission signature, the Autobots depart and leave Spike to his problems.

In the meantime, Zarak and the Nebulan Decepticons have arrived in our solar system as well, chasing the crew of the ''Steelhaven''. As the Decepticon Headmasters transport down to the Ark's former cave, Spike sees them and wisely steps out of sight. As the Decepticons begin a search for the Autobots, Spike triggers the universal transceiver's message again, prompting the Autobots to return to the cave to see what caused the re-broadcasting. Spike's actions get him noticed by the Decepticons, though, and he is only saved from Scorponok's interrogations by the arrival of Fortress Maximus and the others.

As the battle rages, Spike skips out and begins running deeper into the volcano to escape the melee. Realizing Fortress Maximus's new size and power put them at a considerable disadvantage, Scorponok goes after Spike to take him as a hostage against the Autobots. In turn, Fortress Maximus follows Scorponok after seeing him leave the battlefield. Both Transformers quickly learn that bigger isn't necessarily better. As Scorponok chases Spike down a smaller passage, Fortress Maximus is forced to separate his Cerebros component to chase after them. Scorponok, in turn, finds it too precarious to follow Spike across a rocky bridge, and pursues him as Lord Zarak. Cerebros is forced to toss his head at Zarak to close the gap between them, and the transforming Galen wrestles his counterpart to the ground. Zarak plays dirty, though, and triggers Scorponok's guns to collapse the ceiling on top of Spike. Galen throws himself between Spike and the falling rocks, and is mortally wounded in the process. Laughing at the death of his enemy, Scorponok leaves to rejoin his troops.

As Galen begins to die, he asks Spike to forgive him for his earlier blindness, and asks the boy to take his control helmet so that Fortress Maximus will survive. Using the helmet, Spike guides Fortress Maximus back to the battle, and drives off the Decepticons. In the aftermath, the Autobots comment on how they may have lost one leader, only to find another...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (1)
* [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] (2)
* [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] (4)
* [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (5)
* [[Brainstorm]] (6)
* [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]] (9)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Goldbug]] (14)
|c2=
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (18)
* [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (19)
* [[Weirdwolf]] (20)
* [[Snapdragon]] (21)
* [[Skullcruncher]] (22)
* [[Apeface]] (23)
|c3=
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (10)
* [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (11)
|h4=[[Nebulos|Nebulans]]|c4=
* [[Galen]] (3)
* [[Gort]] (7)
* [[Duros]] (8)
* [[Arcana]] (12)
* [[Stylor]] (13)
* [[Vorath]] (15)
* [[Zarak (Nebulan)|Zarak]] (16)
* [[Krunk]] (17)
}}

==Errors==
* Zarak and Scorponok's colors are dramatically off on the cover.
* Skullcruncher is roughly miscolored as Mindwipe on page 14.
* On the double page spread in 16–17, Snapdragon is miscolored as Weirdwolf, Apeface is given a yellow head, and Stylor's hair is blonde instead of black.
* In the previous issue, Ratbat's goal was to make sure that the [[Throttlebot|Throttlebots]], including Goldbug, were actually destroyed. However, we learn in this issue that he left Goldbug's brain module intact after crushing his toy-car body. In the next issue, Barnett explains that Ratbat's true purpose was to kidnap Buster, which might explain why Ratbat did not fully destroy Goldbug. However, this explanation doesn't hold up, because Ratbat could not have anticipated that Barnett would seek Buster's help.

==Items of note==
* The cast of the [[Headmasters (comic)|''Headmasters'' comic]] is officially added to the main book and largely replaces the previous characters.
* Galen's thought process over this issue may have been intended to mirror [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s guilty conscience for having brought some Decepticons to Earth. But while Prime's actions were totally inadvertent, initiated millions of years before humanity even existed, Galen's actions were completely intentional, driven by callous monomania until he suddenly had a change of heart when confronted directly with the consequences of his actions. The parallelism wasn't the best ever, here.
* Like the toy, Cerebros can recombine with Fortress Maximus without being binary-bonded to his own head at the time.
* The US cover corner box has replaced [[Grimlock]] with Fortress Maximus removing his head, artwork from the interior of ''[[Headmasters (comic)|Headmasters]]'' [[Ring of Hate!|issue 1]], which was previously used on [[Love and Steel!|issues 3]] and [[Brothers in Armor!|4]] of the miniseries. Fort Max decapitating himself would remain on the cover for 11 more issues.

===References===
* Galen recaps ''Headmasters'' for anyone who had been living under a rock.
* Sparkplug and Buster's encounters with Ratbat occurred [[Toy Soldiers!|last issue]], as did Goldbug's message.

===UK Printing===
* In Grim Grams for issue #156, Grimlock backpedals on the idea of killing [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] by trawling the Thames to try and destroy [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s remains (probably to avoid stealing [[Richard Branson]]'s thunder), and accept the praise for ''[[The Legacy of Unicron!|Legacy of Unicron]]''.
* In Grim Grams for issue #157, Grimlock claims [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] was really truly killed by [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]] and continues to accept more praise of ''Legacy of Unicron''.

===Covers (3)===
<gallery>
Image:MarvelUS-38.jpg|'''US issue #38''' - Luckily Max had an extra-large can of Raid
Image:MarvelUK-156.jpg|'''UK issue #156''' - "Cheapest background we've ever done!"
Image:MarvelUK-157.jpg|'''UK issue #157''' - No, shoot AT him
</gallery>
* '''US issue #38 cover:''' Scorponok Battles Fort Max, by [[Frank Springer]].
* '''UK issue #156 cover:''' Hardhead, by [[Dougie Braithwaite]].
* '''UK issue #157 cover:''' Highbrow faces off against Scorponok, by [[Lee Sullivan]].

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

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

The Cure!

2010-01-16T20:45:13Z

99.91.193.154: /* Items of note */

{{picsneeded|IDW Generations covers}}
{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #30
|prev=Crater Critters
|next=Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom
|title="The Cure!"
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #126–127
|prev2=Ancient Relics!
|next2=Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom
|image=MarvelUS-30.jpg
|caption=[[The New Order|Monday, you can fall apart / Tuesday, Wednesday, break my heart]]
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=March 1987
|coverdate=July 1987
|writer=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|breakdowns=[[Don Perlin]]
|finishes=[[Ian Akin]] & [[Brian Garvey]]
|colorist=[[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]
|letterer=[[Janice Chiang]]
|editor=[[Don Daley]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}

'''Ratbat sends a team of Autobot prisoners to kill all Transformers infected with the Scraplets. If they don't comply, the Earth will be destroyed.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Goldbugthecure.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Gold Metal Syndrome.]]
Ratbat captures the [[Throttlebot]]s during a fuel raid on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Rather than have them executed, he sends them to [[Earth]] on a mission to destroy all [[Transformer|Transformers]] infected with [[Scraplet]]s, using canisters of acid. They are given 10 hours to complete this mission, after which Ratbat threatens to destroy the Earth. Arriving at the crater, they find Goldbug's tire tracks heading off into the desert. Rollbar and Wideload take an acid canister and follow them.

Meanwhile, an exhausted Charlie Fong pushes the decrepit Goldbug to a filling station, where the attendants are alarmed by his condition. They offer him some water, some of which spills on Goldbug. Instantly, the Scraplets there wither and die. The legendary cure is nothing more than [[water]]! Before Charlie can "wash his car", however, Rollbar and Wideload arrive, intent on slagging Goldbug. Once Charlie demonstrates the cure on Wideload, the two Throttlebots are more than happy to back down.

Goldbug arranges for G.B. Blackrock to have water transported to the crater to cure all the infected Transformers, but when Goldbug prepares to cure Blaster and the Triple Changers, Blaster tells Goldbug to kill him rather than save the Decepticons. During Goldbug's hesitation, the Scraplets merge into a conglomerate monster to fight back. The Scraplet monster proves more than a match for the weaponless Throttlebots, and Goldbug decides to cure Blaster and the [[Decepticon|Decepticons]] to provide enough firepower to fight against the monster. The gambit proves effective, and Blaster finishes the Scraplets off with the acid that Throttlebots brought with them. Goldbug uses the last of the water Blackrock brought to the crater to remove the Scraplets that had infected the Throttlebots during the fight.

Astrotrain learns enough about Blackrock to believe him to be of use to the Decepticons, and attaches a small microchip to Blackrock's forehead. The chip flashes a light pattern in front of Blackrock's eyes, then falls away unseen by anyone else. The Decepticons then escape, carrying the cargo from the freighter which brought the Scraplets to Earth.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Chase (G1)|Chase]] (1)
* [[Searchlight (G1)|Searchlight]] (2)
* [[Wide Load]] (3)
* [[Freeway (G1)|Freeway]] (4)
* [[Rollbar (G1)|Rollbar]] (5)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (9)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Goldbug]] (12)
|c2=
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (6)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (7)
* [[Octane]] (8)
* [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (10)
|c3=
'''Regulars'''
* [[G.B. Blackrock]] (14)
'''Guests'''
* [[Charlie Fong]] (11)
* [[Jim and Ernie]] (13)
}}

==Errors==
* Despite Ratbat's threat to destroy the Earth, no effort is made by the Autobots to contact him after the Scraplets threat is averted. Apparently, the Earth does not get destroyed.
* The color schemes for the three sports car Throttlebots are constantly confused in this issue. Searchlight, Chase, and Freeway all switch color schemes on the opening splash page. They're drawn and colored correctly after that, but later Chase is shown with Searchlight's head and colors. Someone must have referenced this issue for the later GI Joe/''[[Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]'' crossover, because the same error repeats there.
* On page 20, a rear view of Astrotrain shows him with his wings attached to the front of his torso instead of the back, and no arms.

==Items of note==
* The Transformers' discussions of the "[[water|rare chemical]]" that cures [[scraplet]]s have caused a great deal of confusion (and amusement) in the fandom over the years. Many fans interpret various lines in isolation as meaning that the Transformers consider water to be a rare chemical, have never heard of it, and/or don't believe in its existence, all of which would be patently ridiculous beliefs for a spacefaring race (and would contradict Bumblebee's statement way back in issue #1 that he is excited that Earth is covered in water because he loves a good swim.) However, much of this interpretation hinges on the idea that the Transformers know exactly what the cure's chemical formula is, and simply don't believe it exists. This notion is flatly contradicted by various statements in this issue and the previous one, which make it clear that they don't know the identity of the chemical:
** Octane: "Legend has it that, thousands of vorns ago during an outbreak on Cybertron, a rare chemical was found that killed the scraplets! But I doubt any of us will live long enough to rediscover it."
** Ratbat: "The only cure is a chemical so ''rare'' that its very existence is suspect! But whether the ancient legends about this substance are true matters not."
** Wideload: "I never ''heard'' of such a substance!" Rollbar: "Hmm... maybe it doesn't ''exist'' on our world!" The only thing the Transformers have been told about the cure is that it's rare, which fits with most of what we've seen and been told of Cybertron (Bumblebee never claims that there IS water on Cybertron.) Nobody denies the existence of water; they just don't know that it's the cure. In fact, the very next issue reveals that Ratbat's entire operation is centered around an evil, hypnotic, ''water-using'' car wash! At best, we can chastise Rollbar and Wideload for not knowing much about water, which isn't too surprising since 1) they're scouts and 2) they spend most of their time fighting for their lives on Cybertron.
* Grimlock occupies the Marvel corner box space for the next eight US issues, beginning with this one, reflecting his current status as leader of the Earth-bound Autobots in the series.
* On page 13, Goldbug refers to Blackrock's company as "Blackrock Enterprises".
* ''References to other Transformers continuities/issues:'' The freighter was sent by Ratbat on a secret mission in issue [[Crater Critters|#29]] before becoming infected by Scraplets. The nature of its secret cargo will be revealed in issue [[Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom|#31]].
* This issue was reprinted by [[IDW Publishing]] as ''[[Generations (comic reprints)|Generations]]'' #11. It featured a new cover by [[Nick Roche]].

===Covers (3)===
<gallery>
Image:MarvelUS-30.jpg|'''US issue #30''' - Yay, Throttlebots, so... ineffective.
Image:MarvelUK-126.jpg|'''UK issue #126''' - Well, that's what they told Goldbug afterwards...
Image:MarvelUK-127.jpg|'''UK issue #127''' - Throttlebots - easy on the eye AND the stomach!
</gallery>
* '''US cover:''' Rollbar punching through the Scraplet monster, by [[Herb Trimpe]].
* '''UK issue #126 cover:''' the Throttlebots attack Goldbug, by [[Lee Sullivan]].
* '''UK issue #127 cover:''' the Scraplet monster attacks the Throttlebots, by [[Robin Smith]].

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

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cure!}}
[[Category:Marvel US issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

The Cure!

2010-01-16T20:35:17Z

99.91.193.154: /* Items of note */

{{picsneeded|IDW Generations covers}}
{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #30
|prev=Crater Critters
|next=Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom
|title="The Cure!"
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #126–127
|prev2=Ancient Relics!
|next2=Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom
|image=MarvelUS-30.jpg
|caption=[[The New Order|Monday, you can fall apart / Tuesday, Wednesday, break my heart]]
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=March 1987
|coverdate=July 1987
|writer=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|breakdowns=[[Don Perlin]]
|finishes=[[Ian Akin]] & [[Brian Garvey]]
|colorist=[[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]
|letterer=[[Janice Chiang]]
|editor=[[Don Daley]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}

'''Ratbat sends a team of Autobot prisoners to kill all Transformers infected with the Scraplets. If they don't comply, the Earth will be destroyed.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Goldbugthecure.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Gold Metal Syndrome.]]
Ratbat captures the [[Throttlebot]]s during a fuel raid on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Rather than have them executed, he sends them to [[Earth]] on a mission to destroy all [[Transformer|Transformers]] infected with [[Scraplet]]s, using canisters of acid. They are given 10 hours to complete this mission, after which Ratbat threatens to destroy the Earth. Arriving at the crater, they find Goldbug's tire tracks heading off into the desert. Rollbar and Wideload take an acid canister and follow them.

Meanwhile, an exhausted Charlie Fong pushes the decrepit Goldbug to a filling station, where the attendants are alarmed by his condition. They offer him some water, some of which spills on Goldbug. Instantly, the Scraplets there wither and die. The legendary cure is nothing more than [[water]]! Before Charlie can "wash his car", however, Rollbar and Wideload arrive, intent on slagging Goldbug. Once Charlie demonstrates the cure on Wideload, the two Throttlebots are more than happy to back down.

Goldbug arranges for G.B. Blackrock to have water transported to the crater to cure all the infected Transformers, but when Goldbug prepares to cure Blaster and the Triple Changers, Blaster tells Goldbug to kill him rather than save the Decepticons. During Goldbug's hesitation, the Scraplets merge into a conglomerate monster to fight back. The Scraplet monster proves more than a match for the weaponless Throttlebots, and Goldbug decides to cure Blaster and the [[Decepticon|Decepticons]] to provide enough firepower to fight against the monster. The gambit proves effective, and Blaster finishes the Scraplets off with the acid that Throttlebots brought with them. Goldbug uses the last of the water Blackrock brought to the crater to remove the Scraplets that had infected the Throttlebots during the fight.

Astrotrain learns enough about Blackrock to believe him to be of use to the Decepticons, and attaches a small microchip to Blackrock's forehead. The chip flashes a light pattern in front of Blackrock's eyes, then falls away unseen by anyone else. The Decepticons then escape, carrying the cargo from the freighter which brought the Scraplets to Earth.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Chase (G1)|Chase]] (1)
* [[Searchlight (G1)|Searchlight]] (2)
* [[Wide Load]] (3)
* [[Freeway (G1)|Freeway]] (4)
* [[Rollbar (G1)|Rollbar]] (5)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (9)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Goldbug]] (12)
|c2=
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (6)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (7)
* [[Octane]] (8)
* [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (10)
|c3=
'''Regulars'''
* [[G.B. Blackrock]] (14)
'''Guests'''
* [[Charlie Fong]] (11)
* [[Jim and Ernie]] (13)
}}

==Errors==
* Despite Ratbat's threat to destroy the Earth, no effort is made by the Autobots to contact him after the Scraplets threat is averted. Apparently, the Earth does not get destroyed.
* The color schemes for the three sports car Throttlebots are constantly confused in this issue. Searchlight, Chase, and Freeway all switch color schemes on the opening splash page. They're drawn and colored correctly after that, but later Chase is shown with Searchlight's head and colors. Someone must have referenced this issue for the later GI Joe/''[[Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]'' crossover, because the same error repeats there.
* On page 20, a rear view of Astrotrain shows him with his wings attached to the front of his torso instead of the back, and no arms.

==Items of note==
* The Transformers' discussions of the "[[water|rare chemical]]" that cures [[scraplet]]s have caused a great deal of confusion (and amusement) in the fandom over the years. Many fans interpret various lines in isolation as meaning that the Transformers consider water to be a rare chemical, have never heard of it, and/or don't believe in its existence, all of which would be patently ridiculous beliefs for a spacefaring race (and would contradict Bumblebee's statement way back in issue #1 that he is excited that Earth is covered in water because he loves a good swim.) However, much of this interpretation hinges on the idea that the Transformers know exactly what the cure's chemical formula is, and simply don't believe it exists. This notion is flatly contradicted by various statements in this issue and the previous one, which make it clear that they don't know the identity of the chemical:
** Octane: "Legend has it that, thousands of vorns ago during an outbreak on Cybertron, a rare chemical was found that killed the scraplets! But I doubt any of us will live long enough to rediscover it."
** Ratbat: "The only cure is a chemical so ''rare'' that its very existence is suspect! But whether the ancient legends about this substance are true matters not."
** Wideload: "I never ''heard'' of such a substance!" Rollbar: "Hmm... maybe it doesn't ''exist'' on our world!" The only thing the Transformers have been told about the cure is that it's rare, which fits with most of what we've seen and been told of Cybertron (Bumblebee never claims that there IS water on Cybertron.) Nobody denies the existence of water; they just don't know that it's the cure. In fact, the very next issue reveals that Ratbat's entire operation is centered around an evil, hypnotic, ''water-using'' car wash! At best, we can chastise Rollbar and Wideload for not knowing much about water, which isn't too surprising since 1) they're scouts and 2) they spend most of their time fighting for their lives on Cybertron.
* Grimlock occupies the Marvel corner box space for the next eight issues, beginning with this one, reflecting his current status as leader of the Earth-bound Autobots in the series.

* On page 13, Goldbug refers to Blackrock's company as "Blackrock Enterprises".
* ''References to other Transformers continuities/issues:'' The freighter was sent by Ratbat on a secret mission in issue [[Crater Critters|#29]] before becoming infected by Scraplets. The nature of its secret cargo will be revealed in issue [[Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom|#31]].
* This issue was reprinted by [[IDW Publishing]] as ''[[Generations (comic reprints)|Generations]]'' #11. It featured a new cover by [[Nick Roche]].

===Covers (3)===
<gallery>
Image:MarvelUS-30.jpg|'''US issue #30''' - Yay, Throttlebots, so... ineffective.
Image:MarvelUK-126.jpg|'''UK issue #126''' - Well, that's what they told Goldbug afterwards...
Image:MarvelUK-127.jpg|'''UK issue #127''' - Throttlebots - easy on the eye AND the stomach!
</gallery>
* '''US cover:''' Rollbar punching through the Scraplet monster, by [[Herb Trimpe]].
* '''UK issue #126 cover:''' the Throttlebots attack Goldbug, by [[Lee Sullivan]].
* '''UK issue #127 cover:''' the Scraplet monster attacks the Throttlebots, by [[Robin Smith]].

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

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cure!}}
[[Category:Marvel US issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Crater Critters

2010-01-16T20:32:58Z

99.91.193.154: /* Items of note */ corner box

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #29
|prev=Mechanical Difficulties!
|next=The Cure!
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #123–124
|prev2=Mechanical Difficulties!
|next2=Ancient Relics!
|title="Crater Critters"
|image=MarvelUS-29.jpg
|caption=Hoooooobgoblins. Hoooooobgoblins. What'cha gonna do with those hoooooobgoblins.
|publisher= [[Marvel Comics]]
|date=February 1987
|coverdate=June 1987
|writer= [[Bob Budiansky]]
|breakdowns= [[Don Perlin]]
|finishes= [[Ian Akin]] & [[Brian Garvey]]
|penciler=
|inker=
|colorist=[[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]
|letterer=[[Janice Chiang]]
|editor=[[Don Daley]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}

'''A secret shipment from the Decepticons carries an infection that threatens Decepticon and Autobot alike.'''

==Synopsis==
Believing that they can better fight the [[Decepticon|Decepticons]] on their own, Goldbug and Blaster seek information from G.B. Blackrock that might lead them to Decepticon activity. Blackrock tells them of a mysterious meteor that crash-landed in Northern [[Arizona]]. The [[Autobot]] pair goes to investigate.

The meteor was actually a space freighter sent by the Decepticons from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] as part of a secret scheme to steal [[Earth]]'s energy, but the [[freighter pilot]] did not contact Cybertron upon arrival as planned. Ratbat sends the [[Triple Changer|Triple Changers]] Astrotrain, Octane, and Blitzwing to investigate. They arrive on Earth near a crater caused by the crash, and frighten away a group of scientists who had planned to study the "meteor." The Decepticons find the freighter, but learn only too late why the freighter crashed: the pilot has been infected with [[scraplet]]s, a group of tiny [[Transformer]]-like robots who can change into innocent-looking nuts, bolts, screws and the like, but which attach themselves to mechanical lifeforms and replicate quickly, causing great damage to the larger robot.

One of the scientists, Charlie Fong, doesn't scare away easily, and when he meets Goldbug and Blaster, they work out a plan to get to the crater and find out what's going on. When they arrive, they are quickly attacked by the Decepticons, and Goldbug and Fong are separated from Blaster. Although Goldbug is able to escape infection from the Scraplets, Blaster is not so lucky.

[[Image:ScrapletMarvel.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Don't get them wet or feed them Autobots after midnight.]]
Although Blaster, noting that the Triple Changers are weakened more by the Scraplets than he is, wishes to fight the Decepticons with Goldbug's help, Goldbug is convinced by Fong that Blaster's only hope now is to find a cure for the Scraplets. Fong proposes taking a crushed Scraplet out of the crater for experimentation, and Goldbug reluctantly agrees. As Goldbug leaves the crater, Blaster, believing himself abandoned, swears revenge. Goldbug pauses out of guilt, only to become infected himself. Now he has no choice. He and Fong ''must'' find a cure, or they are all lost...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Goldbug]] (2)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (3)

|c2=
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (5)
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (6)
* [[Octane]] (7)
* [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (8)

|c3=
'''Regulars'''
* [[G.B. Blackrock]] (4)

'''Guests'''
* [[Charlie Fong]] (9)
* [[Walter Huddleston]] (10)

|c4=
*[[Freighter pilot]] (1)
}}

==Errors==
* Halfway through this issue, Goldbug is finally drawn correctly, where previously he was Bumblebee with Goldbug's head. After the switch, Goldbug's windows on his chest randomly appear and reappear.

==Items of note==
[[Image:Scraplets.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Do I have something on my face?]]
[[Image:Budianskyscrapletsconcept.jpg|left|200px|thumb|MONDAY FIRM AT THE LATEST! AND FOR THE LAST TIME, WE ARE *NOT* DOING A 'THIS MAN, THIS MAYONNAISE' GRAPHIC NOVEL SO *QUIT* *PITCHING* *IT*!]]
* In this issue, the little Autobot [[Scrounge (G1)|Scrounge]], is seen in a flashback. Scrounge is shown carrying a rifle — he never used a gun in his original appearance.
* This issue features the debut appearance of the Decepticon Triple Changers.
* While this was the Triple Changers' debut story for the U.S. market, the Decepticon and Autobot Triple-changers were both introduced way back in "[[Target: 2006]]" in the UK.
* This issue was reprinted by [[IDW Publishing]] as ''[[Generations (comic reprints)|Generations]]'' #10. It featured a new cover by [[Nick Roche]].
*In an unusual mixture of standard sci-fi faster-than light technologies, the freighter in this story can "warp" into "hyper-light speed".
* ''References to other Transformers continuities/issues:''
:* On page 5, Blaster remembers the sacrifice of his friend Scrounge, from "[[The Smelting Pool!]]".
:* On page 6, Blackrock mentions "some suspicious activity in the Caribbean lately," no doubt the Decepticons at their new base of operations, where they relocated to in "[[Gone but Not Forgotten!]]".
* The corner box image of Optimus Prime, first used on the cover of [[The Transformers (issue)|issue 1]], makes its last appearance on the US covers for a while; the next issue replaces it with Grimlock's alt-mode [[Character model|character model]]. It does appear next month on ''[[Headmasters (comic)|Headmasters]]'' [[Ring of Hate!|issue 1]], before going away completely; Prime would return to the corner box with [[Dark Star (issue)|issue 50]].
{{-}}
===Covers (3)===
<gallery>
Image:MarvelUS-29.jpg|'''US issue #29''' - In Japan, this is a ''fetish''.
Image:MarvelUK-123.jpg|'''UK issue #123''' - Octane's the camp one...
Image:MarvelUK-124.jpg|'''UK issue #124''' - He looks SO happy!
</gallery>

* '''US cover:''' Scraplets attacking Blaster by [[Bob Budiansky]], [[Ian Akin]], and [[Brian Garvey]].
* '''UK issue #123 cover:''' Triple Changers, by [[Lee Sullivan]].
* '''UK issue #124 cover:''' Blaster beating eaten by Scraplets, by [[Will Simpson]].

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

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

Blood on the Tracks

2010-01-16T20:24:40Z

99.91.193.154: corner box

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''[[G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]'' #1
|next=Power Struggle
|title="Blood on the Tracks"
|image=JoeTF1.jpg
|caption=Oops!
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=September 1986
|coverdate=January 1987
|writer=[[Michael Higgins]]
|penciler=[[Herb Trimpe]]
|inker=[[Vince Colletta]]
|colorist=[[Nelson Yomtov]]
|letterer=[[Joe Rosen]]
|consulting editor=[[Don Daley]]
|editor=[[Bob Harras]] and [[Don Daley]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''The struggle for control of Power Station Alpha begins...'''

==Synopsis==
The [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] team has been assigned the task of protecting [[Power Station Alpha]], the world's first mobile solar/nuclear power station. The [[Autobot]]s also recognize the potential of the station, and believe that the [[Decepticon]]s will attempt to steal it. Optimus Prime sends Bumblebee to be on the lookout for any signs of Decepticon activity.

When the [[Dreadnok]]s stage an attack on Power Station Alpha, the Joes are able to fight them off, but Cobra Commander is outraged. He has lost the element of surprise, and is already worried about the threat of Serpentor to his command of Cobra. Megatron also witnesses the attack, thanks to news reports, and sends Dirge and Bombshell to the station for a more subtle attack. As the station prepares to launch, Bombshell injects a cerebro-shell into young Tony Duranti, who Bombshell commands to step in front of the station's treads. Bumblebee, watching covertly in vehicle mode, is forced to break his cover to save the boy, but his actions are misinterpreted as threatening by the Joes, who open fire on Bumblebee, tearing him to shreds.

The situation threatens to grow even worse as Bombshell invades Power Station Alpha, and the gigantic form of Superion arrives to collect the body of his fallen comrade.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (16)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (17)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (18)
*[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (19)
*[[Slingshot]] (20)
*[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (21)
*[[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (22)
*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (23)
*[[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (33)
|c2=
*[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (29)
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (30)
*[[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] (31)
|h3=[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]s|c3=
* [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] (6)
* [[Roadblock (G.I. Joe)|Roadblock]] (7)
* [[Snake-Eyes]] (8)
* [[Beach Head]] (9)
* [[Scarlett]] (13)
* [[Junkyard (G.I. Joe)|Junkyard]] (14)
* [[Mutt]] (15)
|h4=[[Cobra]]s|c4=
* [[Ripper]] (3)
* [[Torch (Dreadnok)|Torch]] (4)
* [[Buzzer]] (5)
* [[Zartan]] (24)
* [[Baroness]] (25)
* [[Cobra Commander]] (26)
* [[Doctor Mindbender]] (27)
* [[Serpentor]] (28)
* [[Zarana]] (32)
|h5=Other humans|c5=
* [[Mrs. Duranti]] (1)
* [[Tony Duranti]] (2)
* [[Barbara Larkin]] (10)
* Congressman (11)
* [[Senator Garcia]] (12)
}}

==Errors==
*On page 19, when Optimus Prime calls for the Aerialbots, he calls for "Superion" when he apparently means "Silverbolt."

==Items of note==
*This story also appears in [[Generation 1 (Marvel Comics)#Marvel UK|Marvel Transformers UK issues]] #[[Once upon a Time...|265]]-[[Flashback!|268]]. However, it's not actually in continuity with Marvel UK, who had [[Ancient Relics!|their ''own'']] crossover and [[Death's Head|killer of Bumblebee]].
*''References to other Transformers continuities/issues:''
**On page 4, Optimus Prime references Bumblebee's assistance in gaining gestalt technology in [[Command Performances!]].
**On page 5, Optimus Prime reflects on the message from Megatron, sent in [[Decepticon Graffiti!]], challenging Prime to a duel to the death.
*''Real World References''
**The title may be a reference to Bob Dylan's album of the same name.
*The cover corner box for this series uses Marvel's convention for many of its team-based comics at the time, by showing heads of prominent characters. For ''G.I. Joe and the Transformers'', Marvel used the head of Snake-Eyes from the cover of ''G.I. Joe'' issue 53, slightly altered, and the head from Bumblebee's [[Character model|character model]] from [[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|Transformers Universe]] issue 1.
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]
[[Category:Marvel US issues]]