MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

What's in a Name?

2026-04-27T20:16:08Z

Skteosk: /* Quotes */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=[[Transformers Annual 1987]]
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]]
|prev=Transformers Annual 1987
|next=Doomsday for Nebulos
|next2=Grudge Match!
|title="What's in a Name?"
|image=SwoopVsDivebombUKAnnual87.jpg
|caption=Swoop gets the bird.
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[August 1|1st August]] [[1987]]
|coverdate=[[1987]]
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|art=[[Will Simpson]]
|inks=[[Dave Elliott|Elliott]]
|lettering=
|colours=
|editor=
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''Millions of years ago on Cybertron, an Autobot called Divebomb loses a battle and his name to a mysterious Decepticon.'''

==Synopsis==
Millions of years ago on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], the [[Swoop (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Autobot called Divebomb]] was beaten in combat by a [[Divebomb (G1)|Deception whose real name he never learned]]; the Decepticon then stole his name.

In an attempt to regain his name and his honour, Divebomb disobeys orders and goes hunting for the Decepticon. He eventually finds him deep in enemy territory and engages him in battle. Unfortunately, he is again defeated and would be killed if not for [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]], who had followed him and drove the Decepticon off. As he hates Prime, this simply made Divebomb's shame even worse.

In the present day, Divebomb, now known as Swoop, discovers that the Decepticon who stole his name has arrived on Earth as part of the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacon]] team. Having lied to the other [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s by telling them he beat Divebomb last time, he sets off to defeat him once and for all.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Swoop (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Swoop]] (1)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (3)
*[[Sludge (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Sludge]] (4)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] (5)
|c2=
*[[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] (2)
}}

==Quotes==
"I'm '''Divebomb''' now and you - you're nobody!" 
"'''No!''' I am Divebomb!" 
"Oh yeah? Easy to say - not so easy to back up. You want this name, you take it from me!" 
"I will!"
:—'''New Divebomb''' and '''Future Swoop''' engage in pre-fight banter

"Looking back, I wonder if death would have been preferable to what came next. I figure he must have come looking for me as soon as I went A.W.O.L. I also figure he saw enough of the battle to know how humiliatingly I'd been defeated. The shame was too much to bear. Especially as I'd been saved by the commanding officer I hated with a passion - '''Optimus Prime'''!"
:—'''Swoop''' has issues.

"I told him to forget it - that it was ancient history. And you know, for a moment, it looked as though he was gonna' tell me something - something that had been bothering him. But all he said was - 'He's still usin' my name.'"
:—'''Sludge''' is confused by Swoop's back story.

==Notes==
*Swoop and Divebomb's pre-Earth [[Alternate mode|alt modes]] are revealed here. Uniquely for this era they are also given distinctly new Cybertronian robot mode designs as well.
*On Cybertron Swoop (Divebomb) was a member of the [[Elite Flying Corps]].
*The story was inspired by a casual line in "[[The Icarus Theory]]" in which it was stated that Swoop's name on Cybertron was Divebomb (itself likely based on the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original ''The Transformers'' cartoon]] [[production bible|series bible]], wherein a description of the Dinobot was typed with the name "Divebomb", then crossed out by hand and rewritten "Swoop"). The opportunity this presented for conflict between Swoop and the Predacon Divebomb was almost certainly serendipitous.

===Foreign Localization===
*'''Swedish'''
:* ''Title:'' "'''Vad betyder väl ett namn?'''" ("What's in a Name?")

===Cover===
*'''''Transformers Annual 1987'' cover:''' [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] versus [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], by [[Robin Smith]].
<gallery>
File:Transformers annual 1988.jpg|'''''Transformers Annual 1987'''''
</gallery>

===Reprints===
*'''''[[Transformers: Prey]]'' TPB cover:''' Optimus Prime fends off Predacons while Ultra Magnus broods, by [[Lee Sullivan]].
*'''''[[The Transformers: Best of UK: Prey|Best of UK: Prey]]'' #3 Regular cover:''' Shockwave and Optimus, back to back, by [[Andrew Griffith]].
*'''''Best of UK: Prey'' #3 RI "Retro" cover:''' A surprised Swoop, by [[Will Simpson]] and [[Dave Elliott]].
*'''''Best of UK: Prey'' TPB cover:''' Predaking prepares to crush Prime, by Andrew Griffith.
*'''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 4|''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 4]] cover:''' [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus]] and Galvatron fight whilst [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] squeezes [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]] rides [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]], by [[Andrew Wildman]].
*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]], Volume 11: The Legacy of Unicron:''''' Wreck-Gar and Unicron by [[Don Figueroa]] and [[Dan Reed]].
* '''''[[Transformers 100-Page Giant: Power of the Predacons]]:''''' Predacons attack, by [[Don Figueroa]] and [[Josh Burcham]]

<gallery>
File:TitanPrey.jpg|'''''Transformers: Prey'' TPB''' (Titan Books, 2004)
File:BoUK Prey 3reg.jpg|'''''Best of UK: Prey'' #3 Regular''' (IDW Publishing, 2009)
File:BoUK Prey 3RI.jpg|'''''Best of UK: Prey'' #3 RI''' (IDW Publishing, 2009)
File:BoUK Prey TPB.jpg|'''''Best of UK: Prey'' TPB''' (IDW Publishing, 2010)
File:Classicuk4.jpg|'''''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 4''' (IDW Publishing, 2013)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v11.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection vol. 11: The Legacy of Unicron''''' (Hachette Partworks, Ltd., 2018)
File:100-Page-Power-Predacons.jpg|'''''Power of the Predacons''''' (IDW Publishing, 2020)
</gallery>

[[Category:Marvel UK Annual stories]]

What's in a Name?

2026-04-27T19:32:43Z

Skteosk:

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=[[Transformers Annual 1987]]
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]]
|prev=Transformers Annual 1987
|next=Doomsday for Nebulos
|next2=Grudge Match!
|title="What's in a Name?"
|image=SwoopVsDivebombUKAnnual87.jpg
|caption=Swoop gets the bird.
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[August 1|1st August]] [[1987]]
|coverdate=[[1987]]
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|art=[[Will Simpson]]
|inks=[[Dave Elliott|Elliott]]
|lettering=
|colours=
|editor=
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''Millions of years ago on Cybertron, an Autobot called Divebomb loses a battle and his name to a mysterious Decepticon.'''

==Synopsis==
Millions of years ago on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], the [[Swoop (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Autobot called Divebomb]] was beaten in combat by a [[Divebomb (G1)|Deception whose real name he never learned]]; the Decepticon then stole his name.

In an attempt to regain his name and his honour, Divebomb disobeys orders and goes hunting for the Decepticon. He eventually finds him deep in enemy territory and engages him in battle. Unfortunately, he is again defeated and would be killed if not for [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]], who had followed him and drove the Decepticon off. As he hates Prime, this simply made Divebomb's shame even worse.

In the present day, Divebomb, now known as Swoop, discovers that the Decepticon who stole his name has arrived on Earth as part of the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacon]] team. Having lied to the other [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s by telling them he beat Divebomb last time, he sets off to defeat him once and for all.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Swoop (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Swoop]] (1)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (3)
*[[Sludge (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Sludge]] (4)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] (5)
|c2=
*[[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] (2)
}}

==Quotes==
"I'm '''Divebomb''' now and you - you're nobody!" 
"'''No!''' I am Divebomb!" 
"Oh yeah? Easy to say - not so easy to back up. You want this name, you take it from me!" 
"I will!"
:—'''New Divebomb''' and '''Future Swoop''' engage in pre-fight banter

"Looking back, I wonder if death would have been preferable to what came next. I figure he must have come looking for me as soon as I went A.W.O.L. I also figure he saw enough of the battle to know how humiliatingly I'd been defeated. The shame was too much to bear. Especially as I'd been saved my the commanding officer I hated with a passion - '''Optimus Prime'''!"
:—'''Swoop''' has issues.

"I told him to forget it - that it was ancient history. And you know, for a moment, it look as though he was gonna' tell me something - something that had been bothering him. But all he said was - 'He's still usin' my name.'"
:—'''Sludge''' is confused by Swoop's back story.
==Notes==
*Swoop and Divebomb's pre-Earth [[Alternate mode|alt modes]] are revealed here. Uniquely for this era they are also given distinctly new Cybertronian robot mode designs as well.
*On Cybertron Swoop (Divebomb) was a member of the [[Elite Flying Corps]].
*The story was inspired by a casual line in "[[The Icarus Theory]]" in which it was stated that Swoop's name on Cybertron was Divebomb (itself likely based on the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original ''The Transformers'' cartoon]] [[production bible|series bible]], wherein a description of the Dinobot was typed with the name "Divebomb", then crossed out by hand and rewritten "Swoop"). The opportunity this presented for conflict between Swoop and the Predacon Divebomb was almost certainly serendipitous.

===Foreign Localization===
*'''Swedish'''
:* ''Title:'' "'''Vad betyder väl ett namn?'''" ("What's in a Name?")

===Cover===
*'''''Transformers Annual 1987'' cover:''' [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] versus [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], by [[Robin Smith]].
<gallery>
File:Transformers annual 1988.jpg|'''''Transformers Annual 1987'''''
</gallery>

===Reprints===
*'''''[[Transformers: Prey]]'' TPB cover:''' Optimus Prime fends off Predacons while Ultra Magnus broods, by [[Lee Sullivan]].
*'''''[[The Transformers: Best of UK: Prey|Best of UK: Prey]]'' #3 Regular cover:''' Shockwave and Optimus, back to back, by [[Andrew Griffith]].
*'''''Best of UK: Prey'' #3 RI "Retro" cover:''' A surprised Swoop, by [[Will Simpson]] and [[Dave Elliott]].
*'''''Best of UK: Prey'' TPB cover:''' Predaking prepares to crush Prime, by Andrew Griffith.
*'''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 4|''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 4]] cover:''' [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus]] and Galvatron fight whilst [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] squeezes [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]] rides [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]], by [[Andrew Wildman]].
*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]], Volume 11: The Legacy of Unicron:''''' Wreck-Gar and Unicron by [[Don Figueroa]] and [[Dan Reed]].
* '''''[[Transformers 100-Page Giant: Power of the Predacons]]:''''' Predacons attack, by [[Don Figueroa]] and [[Josh Burcham]]

<gallery>
File:TitanPrey.jpg|'''''Transformers: Prey'' TPB''' (Titan Books, 2004)
File:BoUK Prey 3reg.jpg|'''''Best of UK: Prey'' #3 Regular''' (IDW Publishing, 2009)
File:BoUK Prey 3RI.jpg|'''''Best of UK: Prey'' #3 RI''' (IDW Publishing, 2009)
File:BoUK Prey TPB.jpg|'''''Best of UK: Prey'' TPB''' (IDW Publishing, 2010)
File:Classicuk4.jpg|'''''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 4''' (IDW Publishing, 2013)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v11.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection vol. 11: The Legacy of Unicron''''' (Hachette Partworks, Ltd., 2018)
File:100-Page-Power-Predacons.jpg|'''''Power of the Predacons''''' (IDW Publishing, 2020)
</gallery>

[[Category:Marvel UK Annual stories]]

The Chain Gang!

2025-12-10T20:08:38Z

Skteosk:

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=[[Transformers Annual 1990]]
|prev=Dreadwing Down!
|next=Transformers Annual 1991
|title="The Chain Gang!"
|image=Chain_gang.jpg
|caption=
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[August 1|1st August]] [[1989]]
|coverdate=[[1990]]
|writer=[[Dan Abnett]]
|art=[[Dan Reed]]
|lettering=[[Gary Gilbert|Glib]]
|colours=[[Euan Peters]]
|editor=
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''Battle on an oil rig! Because [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1|we've never done that before]]!'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Cloudburst bomb-burst the chain gang.jpg|thumb|left]]
Three of the [[Decepticon]] [[Pretender]]s have taken the [[Keeler Oil Terminal]] in the [[Gulf of Mexico]] hostage. They plan on using a [[transmuter (G1)|transmuter]] to convert the oil into a more refined form of [[energon]] for them to partake of. As [[Skullgrin]] completes the device, though, three [[Autobot]] Pretenders emerge from the water, having been following the Decepticons for some time. A battle ensues between the two forces, as the [[human]] workers run for cover. As Skullgrin and [[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]] engage in explosive combat with their weapons, a stray shot clips a passing spotter plane, sending it crashing down towards the refinery.

[[Cloudburst]] breaks off the fight with his sparring partner [[Bomb-Burst (G1)|Bomb-Burst]], and convinces him to help save the plane and the humans on-board. After all, the plane will crash into the oil terminal and blow them to smithereens if they don't. Cloudburst and Bomb-Burst shed their shells and convert into flight modes, each catching one of the plane's wings and guiding it to a safe landing. Upon transforming, Cloudburst quickly gets his gun on Bomb-Burst, as the other Decepticons have been successfully disabled while they did their good deed. The Autobots then force their Decepticon prisoners to disable their device before taking them back to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to face trial.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Splashdown]] (4)
*[[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]] (5)
*[[Cloudburst]] (6)
|c2=
*[[Iguanus (G1)|Iguanus]] (1)
*[[Bomb-Burst (G1)|Bomb-Burst]] (2)
*[[Skullgrin]] (3)
}}

==Quotes==
"This a private party, Decepticons, or can anyone join in? I'm '''Cloudburst'''. The guys behind me are '''Landmine''' and '''Splashdown'''. We cordially invite you to surrender!"
:—'''Cloudburst''' worries that no-one remembers who the Autobot Pretenders are. Especially Splashdown.

"That plane's gonna hit the terminal! We have to stop it and save the humans!" 
"Are you '''mad'''? Why should I care about the humans?" 
"Well, for one thing, when the plane hits, it's gonna ignite the fuel and blow us all to kingdom come!" 
"'''I'LL HELP!'''"
:—'''Cloudburst''' finds a way to motivate '''Bomb-Burst'''.

"I noticed that my colleagues had subdued Skullgrin and Iguanus. That just leaves '''you'''!" 
"'''What?'''"
:—'''Cloudburst''' informs '''Bomb-Burst''' that the Decepticons have lost off-panel.

==Notes==
*No time table is given for this story. It could conceivably take place at just about any point after the Pretenders' debut, but at no point did those three Decepticons explicitly disappear from the main storyline, indicating that if this story ''is'' in continuity with the main comics, they escaped at some point.

===Courtesy of my...===
*Landmine namechecks his [[Laser saber|laser sabre]] as he takes care of a rig anchor with it.
*He also notes that Skullgrin is armed with a [[Shrapnel blaster|shrapnel cannon]] in tank mode.

===Cover===
*'''Transformers Annual 1990 cover:''' [[Powermaster]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] fights [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]], by [[Lee Sullivan]].
<gallery>
File:Transformers annual 1990.jpg|'''Transformers Annual 1990'''
</gallery>

===Reprints===
*'''''[[Transformers: Prey]]'' cover:''' Optimus Prime fends off [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] while [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] sulks, by Lee Sullivan.
*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]] Volume 17: Matrix Quest'' cover:''' Nightbeat (by Dreamwave) over Optimus Prime's corpse by [[Geoff Senior]].
<gallery>
File:TitanPrey.jpg|'''''Prey''''' (Titan Books, 2004)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection_v17.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection'' Volume 17: Matrix Quest''' (Hachette Partworks Ltd., 2018)
</gallery>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chain Gang!}}
[[Category:Marvel UK Annual stories]]

Crisis of Command!

2025-04-17T21:08:05Z

Skteosk: /* Continuity and plotting errors */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #42–44
|prev=Christmas Breaker!
|next=The Icarus Theory
|title="Crisis of Command!"
|image=MarvelUK-043.jpg
|caption=Bumblebee criticizes the size of the Decepticon's weapons!
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=Part 1: [[December 28|28th December]], 1985 Part 2: [[January 4|4th January]], 1986 Part 3: [[January 11|11th January]], 1986
|coverdate=Part 1: [[January 4|4th January]] Part 2: [[January 11|11th January]] Part 3: [[January 18|18th January]], 1986
|writer=[[Mike Collins]] (Part 1 & 3), [[James Hill]] (Part 2)
|art=[[Geoff Senior]] (Parts 1-2), [[John Stokes]] (Part 3)
|colour=[[Steve Whitaker]] (Part 1), [[John Burns]] and [[Stuart Place]] (Part 2), [[Gina Hart]] and Stuart Place (Part 3)
|letters=[[Mike Scott]]
|editor=[[Ian Rimmer]]
|chronology=[[Marvel Comics timeline|1986]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]] ([[Primax 984.20 Gamma|Marvel UK]])
}}
'''Optimus Prime struggles to maintain discipline when a group of Autobots want to use the Matrix to build an army of super warriors. Then Bumblebee is captured by the Decepticons.'''

==Synopsis==
===Part 1===
[[File:Prowlg1crisisofcommand.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.6|Prowl's gonna build his own Autobot army. With blackjack! And hookers!]]
A group of [[Autobot]]s led by [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] petition [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] to use the recently-reclaimed [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]] to create an army of [[Ultimate Autobot|super warriors]] to defeat the [[Decepticon]]s. Other Autobots, fronted by [[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]], disagree, and the argument becomes heated. Prime refuses to pervert the Matrix in such a manner, fearing what will become of the Earth if such warriors are unleashed upon it, but the Autobots' discontent with his ruling is evident. This only fuels the feelings of self-doubt that Prime has been dealing with, brought on by the Autobots' recent string of defeats by [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]], and he worries that he may no longer be fit to command.

Prime is unaware that his maudlin musings are being observed by [[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]], who has infiltrated the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] to learn the Autobots plans following their re-acquisition of the Matrix. He deliberately trips the Ark's alarms, alerting the Autobots to his presence, and after a short battle, he is deceived by [[Mirage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Mirage]]'s illusions and captured in an energy net by [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]. But Ravage's capture is all part of the Decepticons' scheme; [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] observes the whole scene and reports to acting commander [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] that things are going according to plan. Then, as night falls, Ravage escapes with ease, using his electromagnetic emission shield to simply walk through his cell's energy bars...

===Part 2: "Bumblebee Alone!"===
[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] discovers that Ravage has escaped and reports the matter to Optimus Prime. An already-low Prime is shaken even more by this revelation, and Prowl is quick to capitalize on his leader's state of mind, continuing to push for the creation of new warriors. Dismayed to see how low Prime has sunk, Bumblebee disobeys his leader's order to inform Hound and Mirage of Ravage's escape, and decides to try and recapture the Decepticon spy by himself. Unfortunately, Bumblebee does not realize that luring unsuspecting Autobots such as himself into an ambush was the very reason Ravage allowed himself to be captured in the first place, and when he follows the fleeing feline into a box canyon, he finds himself confronted by Soundwave and the other Decepticons. [[File:CrisisofCommand leader killer.jpg|thumb|250px]] Bumblebee attempts to escape, but is quickly subdued and captured, and his severed arm is dropped in front of the Ark by [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] as an invitation to Optimus Prime to come and recover the rest of him.

===Part 3: "Primed for Action!"===
As the Autobots react in horror to the sight of Bumblebee's severed limb, the hovering Laserbeak warns Optimus to come for Bumblebee alone. All indecision forgotten, Prime heads for the [[Fortress Sinister|Decepticon fortress]], but upon approach, is caught up in an earthquake generated by [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]. Optimus dispatches the little punk, but is then ambushed by [[Thundercracker (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Skywarp]]. It seems the Autobot leader has fallen, but just as [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] is closing in for the final blow—boasting about how he is a ''true'' leader of 'bots, unlike the "defeated" Prime—Optimus springs back to life and takes down all three of them with his bare hands, proving how empty Starscream's words truly are. Finally, Prime storms the fortress, defeats Soundwave and Laserbeak, and rescues Bumblebee.

After returning to the Ark, Prime addresses the Autobots on the issue of super-warriors once more. Crediting Starscream's show of false bravado with proving to him how a real leader should act, Prime formally declares that for the sake of the Earth, no such new warriors will be created—and the Autobots, moved by their commander's renewed passion and determination, accept his ruling without question.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ironhide]] (1)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (2)
*[[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] (3)
*[[Mirage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Mirage]] (4)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (5)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] (6)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (7)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] (8)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] (9)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (10)
*[[Ultimate Autobot]]s (11)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] (22)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (23)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (24)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (25)
|c2=
*[[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]] (12)
*[[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] (13)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (14)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] (15)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] (16)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Thundercracker]] (17)
*[[Skywarp (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Skywarp]] (18)
*[[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] (19)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (20)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (21)
}}

==Quotes==
"That is why Megatron, and Shockwave after him, were leaders, and you will never be anything more than '''battle fodder!''' You have no ''strategy'', no ''subtlty''. You are a missile with a mouth, '''Starscream!'''"
:—'''Soundwave'''

"[Optimus Prime]'s just waiting to be put out of his misery... waiting for the final blow from '''Starscream—the leader killer!'''" 
''<Optimus beats the tar out of everyone else in a matter of seconds>'' 
"Now, '''leader killer.''' We are '''alone.''' No lackeys to order or hide behind. Just you... just me... '''so kill me!'''"
:—'''Starscream's''' bluff is called by '''Optimus Prime''', a second before Prime punches him so hard his wings fly off

==Notes==
===Production notes===
[[File:CrisisofCommand hounds legs.jpg|thumb|275px|Upon entry to the US all Cybertronians are gifted with snazzy pairs of blue pants.]]
*In their interview in ''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 1]]'', writers [[Mike Collins]] and [[James Hill]] explained the story of "Crisis of Command!" was partially conceived as part of a planned new marketing campaign for the comic. Certain scenes were designed to "mirror" ones from [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the Generation 1 cartoon]], so that television adverts for the comic could show the cartoon clips and have them "morph" into the comic panels. These ads did not come to pass, as it was concluded that they contravened broadcast standards.
*In the same interview, they said Prowl got the job of being the heavy because he turned into a police car; specifically, they were inspired by the character of Lt. Hunter from ''Hill Street Blues''. The proposed arms race was inspired by bellicose rhetoric from Reagan and Thatcher at the time.
*Parts 1 and 2 of "Crisis of Command!" are the first published Transformers work by artist [[Geoff Senior]], who would go on to become one of the most celebrated artists on the UK title, and eventually move over to drawing the US series. Senior's two parts are also the closest the first-year UK stories come to clearly and properly drawing all the Transformers based on their finished [[character model]]s (while the third part, drawn by [[John Stokes]], defaults to the character model/[[package art|box art]]/toy mash-up designs previously used by the artist in "[[Decepticon Dam-Busters!]]"). As such, without past artistic ambiguities to cloud the matter, "Crisis of Command!" is the first story to clearly establish that the UK comic will be consistently ignoring some US coloring choices going forward and setting its own rules: namely, it will always colour Soundwave in his correct, toy-accurate blue (instead of the US comic's purple), and Hound's legs in cartoon-based white and green (as opposed to the solid blue used by the US comic, seen in the comparison at right).
{{--}}

===Continuity notes===
[[File:CrisisofCommand decepticon ambush.jpg|thumb|275px|"I've been expecting you, Mr. Bee!"]]
*The insecurities that plague Optimus Prime in this story—the product of his and the Autobots' recent string of defeats at the hands of Shockwave in [[The Last Stand|US issue #4]]-[[Prime Time!|12]], to which he flashes back—were first hinted at in [[Christmas Breaker!|the previous issue]]. This story was intended to show Prime getting 'back in the saddle' after all of those events, through the medium of having a badass ''Die Hard'' inspired fight.<ref>[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 1]], page 148</ref>
*Soundwave serves as acting commander of the Decepticons (right) following Shockwave's defeat at the hands of Optimus Prime in US issue #12, which saw him hurled into a swamp. Soundwave will retain this position for the subsequent run of UK stories, all set before Shockwave's return in [[Rock and Roll-Out!|US issue #14]].
*The Decepticons have relocated to base this operation out of their [[Fortress Sinister|old fortress base]], constructed in [[Power Play!|US issue #2]] and abandoned in [[The New Order|US issue #5]]. Oddly, Page 4 of Part 3 appears to give this base the name of "Fortress Sinister"—a name that is never used again, making one wonder if it was a mistake (as in, if the text "THE DECEPTICONS' FORTRESS SINISTER!" was meant to be the more descriptive "THE DECEPTICONS' SINISTER FORTRESS!"). Regardless, it is objectively an awesome-sounding name!
*While their last known status in US stories permits Soundwave and his cassettes to have relocated to the old fortress by the time of his story, the presence of Starscream, Skywarp, and Thundercracker is not a smooth fit with the upcoming US issue #14, which will present the three jets as having been trapped on the captured [[Oil-drilling platform|Blackrock oil-drilling platform]] since [[The Worse of Two Evils!|US issue #6]]. However, this itself seems to ignore Starscream having been shown on the mainland with the main Decepticon army in [[DIS-Integrated Circuits!|US issue #9]], so it would appear there was some travel back and forth.
*Though US writer [[Bob Budiansky]] had stopped writing Laserbeak and Ravage as possessing the power of speech by this point in the series, this story continues to present both as capable of talking. UK stories will eventually fall into line with Laserbeak, but Ravage will be a consistent talker.
*While facing the Decepticon jets, Optimus Prime remembers back to [[Xaaron|Emirate Xaaron]] appointing him supreme Autobot leader and telling him "the fate of the Autobots is in your hands now." This took place (precise dialogue and all) in the story "[[And There Shall Come...a Leader!]]", published in the [[Transformers Annual 1985|1985 Annual]], which many young readers would have received for [[Christmas]] not long before the publication of this story.
*It's not this story's fault so it's not fair to consider it an error, but Optimus Prime's decree that he will not use the Matrix to create super-warriors is turned into a lie six months later, when US stories require him to do ''exactly that'' to bring to life [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] in [[Command Performances!|US issue #19]], and later the [[Special Teams]] in [[Aerialbots over America!|issues #21]]-[[Afterdeath!|#24]]. This incongruity will be addressed in [[Transformers Annual 1986|the 1986 Annual]] story "[[The Return of the Transformers]]."

===Transformers references===
[[File:CrisisofCommand ravage captured.jpg|thumb|275px]]
*As a product of the above-mentioned advertising plan, Ravage's role in the first part of "Crisis of Command!" is loosely inspired by the cartoon episodes [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2|"More than Meets the Eye," Part 2]] and [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 3|Part 3]]. In the cartoon, Ravage and Soundwave infiltrate the Ark, only for Ravage to be captured in an energy net by the Autobots, then imprisoned and watched over by Mirage and Hound; in this story, Ravage infiltrates alone, and is captured in an energy net ''by'' Mirage and Hound (right). Later, in Part 2 of the comic, Bumblebee tracks Ravage using infra-red vision, which is how the Autobots found him to catch him in the cartoon, though there, it was Gears who used it, since infra-red vision is actually supposed to be one of his unique powers, per his [[bio]].
*Though less obvious, in-keeping with this understanding of how the story was written, it seems likely that the comic's scenes of Bumblebee fleeing through the desert from the Decepticons in vehicle mode, only to be stopped by Starscream, were inspired by similar material from "[[Transport to Oblivion (episode)|Transport to Oblivion]]."

===Continuity and plotting errors===
*When the Decepticons confront Bumblebee in the Hill-written Part 2, Buzzsaw and Frenzy are both part of the group, but the pair are unaccounted for in the Collins-penned Part 3, the only 'Cons not defeated by Optimus. Again, this probably has something to do with the cartoon influence on this story, as neither had appeared in it at the time this story would have been written and drawn.
*The start of Part 3 shows Sunstreaker among the Autobots present. Both [[The Wrath of Guardian!|issue #31]] and [[The Next Best Thing to Being There!|US issue #10]] stated Sunstreaker was too badly damaged for Ratchet to be able to repair him, and he won't be seen again until several inactive Autobots are brought back online in [[Totaled!|US issue #41]].
{{--}}

===Artwork and technical errors===
[[File:CrisisofCommand cartoon ark.jpg|upright=0.8|thumb]]
*Gina Hart is incorrectly credited with colouring Part 2; a correction published in [[Shooting Star!|issue #52]] clarified that [[John Burns]] and [[Stuart Place]] were responsible, and that Place also assisted Hart on Part 3.
*Presumably as a result of the cartoon being referenced for the new marketing plan, two artistic inconsistencies jump out: in part 1, page 10, panel 3, the Ark is drawn to match its cartoon appearance (though still coloured comic-accurate grey, as seen at right), and in Part 3, Rumble uses his piledriver arms, which are not a feature of the character in the Marvel comic (but which did previously appear in "Decepticon Dam-Busters!" for similar, cartoon-inspired reasons).
*Repeating a common recurring error from early Marvel UK stories, Optimus Prime has an all-blue [[mouthplate]] throughout part 1.
*Part 1, page 1: Mirage is missing his shoulder-mounted rocket launcher. Bluestreak's forehead crest is grey instead of red. Gears is colored as Sideswipe.
*Part 1, page 4:
**Panel 2: Mirage is still missing his launcher. Bumblebee is replaced in the Autobot group with... ''[[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]]??'' Colourist Gina Hart has coloured him black and yellow like 'Bee, but ''that'' error pales next to the fact the character is present at all; he has not yet debuted in the comics, and when he does (in [[The Smelting Pool!|US issue #17]]), it will be under circumstances that preclude him from ever having been here.
**Panel 3: Mirage now has his launcher, but he's coloured like Sideswipe.
*Page 7, panel 1: Bluestreak is coloured like Prowl.
*Throughout Part 2, Prowl's forehead crest is coloured entirely red, lacking the white portion in the middle.
*Part 2, page 4: Hound's thighs are colored green like the rest of his legs, instead of white.
*Part 2, page 6, panel 1: Rumble and Frenzy both have dark blue faces. Depending on how close the UK coloring is hewing to the limited palette of the US comic, these should be very pale blue at best, or the same greyish as their guns (though Rumble's gun is incorrectly colored black here, now you mention it). Skywarp's face is also blue, when it should be the roughly same black as the rest of him; the rest of the story gets it right.
*Part 2, page 11, panels 3-4: Prowl is coloured sort of like Bluestreak, but with a blue chest instead of grey, white thighs instead of red, and a grey forehead crest instead of red.
*Throughout Part 3, Bumblebee's horns (which are drawn more like blunt nubs) are colored green, and Soundwave has an all-blue mouthplate.
*Part 3, page 1:
**Wheeljack is coloured all-blue.
**Bluestreak is coloured like Bumblebee. The colours of Bumblebee's arm are partially inverted; it's got the correct black/blue forearm and fist, but a black/blue shoulder and yellow bicep, instead of vice versa.
**Hound is drawn far too short, only coming up to Jazz's chest.
*Part 3, page 2:
**Panel 4: Wheeljack's still all blue.
**Panel 5: Prowl's forehead crest is white.
*Part 3, page 3, panel 2: Ratchet is colored like Prowl.
*Part 3, page 11, panel 4: Ironhide is drawn to look like his headless toy. Well, we ''assume'' it's Ironhide; it might be a generic. It's all-white, which suggest Ratchet, but he's in the foreground of the panel already, so it's probably just block-colouring.
{{--}}

===Other Trivia===
[[File:BattleForCybertron vs UK44 Prime Shot.jpg|upright=1.0|thumb]]
*The first panel of Part 1 was (somewhat poorly) pasted onto the two-page spread of the Autobots introducing themselves in ''[[The Transformers: The Complete Works Part 1]]''. The original pair of panels (showing the Decepticons escaping the Ark and Prowl talking to Optimus Prime) had been omitted when the spread was turned into a pull-out poster for the UK's version of ''The Transformers'' issue #2, replaced with the series' logo. Evidently the original panels had become lost when it came time to reprint the story for ''Complete Works'', requiring the substitution.
*John Stokes swipes more art from other issues, and even a [[Battle for Cybertron|Big Looker storybook]] (see right).
*While the toy bio, cartoon and US issues all portrayed Soundwave as little more than a stoic loyalist to Megatron, this story is significant as the first instance of him being depicted as a strong, competent leader in his own right, focused on strategy and cunning over reckless offensives. This interpretation, despite being seemingly at odds with how he was characterized throughout much of the franchise, would go on to be the main portrayal for him in the UK stories, and eventually be solidified as the default characterization for the character, being utilized in both IDW continuities and the [[Energon Universe]].

===Back-up material===
'''Issue #42:'''
*'''[[Back-up strips]]:''' ''Machine Man'' ("Victory," Part 4), ''[[Robo-Capers]]'' and ''Matt and the Cat''. The ''Machine Man'' back-up concludes this issue.
*'''[[Fact File|Fact File Interface]]:''' [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] and [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]]
*Soundwave resumes control of the [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|letters page]] from Ratchet after a one-issue absence.
'''Issue #43:'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''[[Iron Man]]'' ("Night of the Octopus," Part 1), ''Robo-Capers'' and ''Matt and the Cat''
'''Issue #44:'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Iron Man'' ("Night of the Octopus," Part 2), ''Robo-Capers'' and ''Matt and the Cat''

===Covers (3)===
*'''Issue #42:''' Ravage infiltrating the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], by [[Will Simpson]].
*'''Issue #43:''' Bumblebee facing down Decepticon weapons, by [[John Ridgway]].
*'''Issue #44:''' Optimus Prime takes on the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] trio, by [[Jeff Anderson]].
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-042.jpg|'''Issue #42'''
File:MarvelUK-043.jpg|'''Issue #43'''
File:MarvelUK-044.jpg|'''Issue #44'''
</gallery>

===Reprints===
<gallery>
File:Tfcolcom08.jpg|'''[[Transformers Collected Comics#8 – Spring Special 1988|''Collected Comics'' #8]]'''; cover by [[Robin Smith]] (Marvel UK, 1988)
File:Classicuk1.jpg|'''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 1|''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 1]]''' (IDW Publishing, 2011)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v3.jpg|'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]], Vol. 3: Dinobot Hunt''''' (Hachette Partworks Ltd, 2018)</gallery>

The ''Classics UK'' reprint uses the version of the story from ''Collected Comics'', lacking the individual "next time" boxes that end each chapter, and concluding with one that says "Continued in Collected Comics #9."

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Edge of Impact

2025-03-25T19:48:56Z

Skteosk: /* Quotes */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #252
|prev=Yesterday's Heroes!
|next=Shadow of Evil
|title="Edge of Impact"
|image=MarvelUK-252.jpg
|caption=He actually ''was'' like that when Longtooth got there.
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[January 7|7th January]] [[1990]]
|coverdate=[[January 13|13th January]] 1990
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|art=[[Staz]]
|letterer=[[Gary Gilbert|Glib]]
|chronology=[[Marvel Comics timeline#Post-Time Wars future|Post-Time Wars future (2010)]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]] ([[Primax 984.20 Gamma|Marvel UK]])
}}
'''Kup hunts for an Autobot traitor.'''

==Synopsis==
The [[Future Autobot evacuation ship|Autobot ship]] is out of control, either going to burn up or crash into [[Earth]]—causing the [[energon]] goodwill gift to the [[human]]s to detonate like a multi-nuclear strike. [[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]] searches for the saboteur and for [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]], and seemingly finds both when he discovers [[Longtooth]] over Prime's body. [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] quickly reveals Longtooth can't have done it, and that the doors to the retro-engines are sealed shut. Rodimus, coming to, is unable to remember why he passed out.

Kup comes up with a plan, explaining to Rodimus Prime that Arcee is going to reach the retro engines via the coolant tank. In actual fact, she's going through the ship's ducts, and she's able to fire the retros and allow the ship to land (badly). But Kup's plan has caused the saboteur to reveal himself, as they try to intercept Arcee at the coolant tanks—and the saboteur is Rodimus himself, possessed by dark forces...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]] (1)
*[[Longtooth]] (2)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]] (3)
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (4)
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (5)
*[[Quickmix (G1)|Quickmix]] (6)
|c4=
*[[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] (7)
}}

==Quotes==
"Just stay very still, '''Longtooth'''...or I '''promise''' I'll blow '''a very big hole''' in you '''and''' your '''Pretender''' shell! Is he '''dead'''? If he '''is''', so are '''you'''!" 
"No, he's '''not''' dead! Look, what's--" 
"Stop it, '''Kup''', he's telling the '''truth'''. This is how we found things when we answered your '''alert call'''. The '''retro room's''' been '''sealed'''. It'd take '''longer''' than we've '''got''' to cut our way '''in''' there." 
"Oh. Sorry, '''Longtooth'''." 
"Huh."
:—'''Kup''' getting ahead of himself with '''Longtooth''', and '''Arcee''' providing the alibi just in time.

"And our '''goodwill''' gift of '''energon''' to the humans--" 
"Late '''Christmas''' present, '''Kup'''." 
"Whatever."
:—'''Kup''' brushes off '''Arcee''' trying to give him a lesson in diplomacy.

"Ohh...I hurt '''too much''' to be '''dead'''."
:—'''Arcee''' making a distressingly common deduction.

"You made me '''reveal''' myself before I was ready, '''Kup'''. Relish that '''small''' victory as I tear you '''limb''' from '''limb'''!"
:—'''Dark Rodimus''' reveals both his possession and his newfound love of the melodramatic.

==Notes==
===Artwork and technical errors===
*The story reveals a possessed Rodimus is the enemy as a twist. Transformation page ''tells us that Rodimus Prime is the saboteur and this is the 'Dark Rodimus' storyline.''

===Continuity errors===
*TBD

===Continuity notes===
*Rodimus has been possessed by the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]-trapped [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]], following on from [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]'s attempts to pervert the Matrix in "[[Aspects of Evil!]]". The story doesn't recap this though, relying on the reader's memory.
*Over 430 Autobots are fleeing to Earth.

===Real-life references===
*The "Dark Rodimus" name is likely a nod to the famous ''[[X-Men]]'' story {{W|The Dark Phoenix Saga}}.

===Other trivia===
*TBD

===Back-up material===
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Yesterday's Heroes!]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''[[Action Force (comic)|G.I. Joe the Action Force]]'' - "The Lower Depths" and ''[[Combat Colin]]''
*'''[[Transformers AtoZ|AtoZ]]:''' [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] and [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]]

===Cover===
*'''Issue #252 cover:''' Kup accuses Longtooth of being a traitor, by [[Gary Erskine]].
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-252.jpg|'''Issue #252'''
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''The Real [[Ghostbusters]]'' comic
*''[[Doctor Who]]'' Magazine
*''[[Punisher|The Punisher]]'' comic
*[[Micromaster]]s [[Sports Car Patrol]], [[Rescue Patrol (G1)|Rescue Patrol]] and [[Battle Patrol]] sets (back cover)

===Reprints===
*'''''[[Transformers: Aspects of Evil]]:''''' Rodimus Prime and Unicron fight, by [[Stephen Baskerville]]. Cropped version of [[White Fire|issue #254's]] cover.
*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Vol 19: Perchance to Dream:''''' [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (from early IDW promo art), by [[Guido Guidi]] above a retro scene of the [[Battlecharger]]s (from [[Worlds Apart!|Marvel UK #255]] cover), by Stephen Baskerville.
<gallery>
File:Titan B&W Compilation-Aspects of Evil.jpg|'''''Aspects of Evil'' TPB''' (Titan Books, 2005)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v19.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection'' Vol. 19''' (IDW Publishing, 2017)
</gallery>

[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Dawn of Darkness

2025-02-28T21:06:40Z

Skteosk: /* Quotes */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #247
|prev=Demons!
|next=Fallen Star!
|title="Dawn of Darkness"
|image=MarvelUK-247.jpg
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[December 2|2nd December]] [[1989]]
|coverdate=[[December 9|9th December]] 1989
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|art=[[Geoff Senior]]
|letterer=[[Gary Gilbert|Glib]]
|chronology=[[Marvel Comics timeline|1989]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]] ([[Primax 984.20 Gamma|Marvel UK]])
}}
'''How do you kill a Demon?'''

==Synopsis==
The [[Demon]]s attack [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]], who runs over to where the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s are fighting. [[Cindersaur (G1)|Cindersaur]] spits a jet of flame at one of the Demons, who merely returns an even larger one, the flame engulfing the [[Firecon]]. The Autobots wonder how to tackle the Demon.

Meanwhile, at [[Autobase]], [[Seawatch]] starts blabbering about how the Demons fed on the Decepticons' life-force, a point [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron]] finds interesting...

In the [[Underworld]], the Autobots fight the Demons with their blasters. The Decepticons discuss the situation and agree to help but it is to no avail—the Demons merely feed off the energy. Then Emirate Xaaron and [[Red Hot]] arrive with an artillery gun that fires pure [[energon]]. Xaaron's gambit works and the energon overloads the Demons who explode.

Xaaron explains that, according to legend, the Demons were the flipside of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]'s good creatures and were entombed by [[Primus]]. There may be thousands more below and if they attack again in force, "None of us will survive!"

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] (1)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] (4)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] (7)
*[[Xaaron|Emirate Xaaron]] (9)
*[[Seawatch]] (10)
*[[Fixit (G1)|Fixit]] (11)
*[[Red Hot]] (13)
|c2=
*[[Sparkstalker]] (3)
*[[Cindersaur (G1)|Cindersaur]] (5)
*[[Ruckus (G1)|Ruckus]] (6)
*[[Windsweeper]] (8)

|h3=Others
|c3=
*[[Demon]]s (2)
}}

==Quotes==
"Will you '''please''' stop fighting? We have something of a '''situation''' here!"
:—'''Bumblebee''' trying to get everyone's attention.

"'''Raagh!''' Dumb 'con! Now we '''munch demon'''!"
:—What '''Grimlock''' lacks in subtlety, he makes up for in enthusiasm.

"What do we do? I mean, the '''Autobots''' are our enemies, but if they're telling the '''truth''' about these creatures..." 
"...then we've gotta help them '''destroy''' these things! Well?"
:—'''Windsweeper''' and '''Ruckus''' unsure about their role in the overall narrative scheme of things.

==Notes==
===Artwork and technical errors===
*TBD

===Continuity errors===
*This story takes place between the US stories "[[Skin Deep]]" and "[[Yesterday's Heroes!]]" However it was reprinted before them, and consequently pre-empted the resurrection of Grimlock, Jazz and Bumblebee, due to the US material being interrupted by reprints of old UK stories and thus throwing off attempts to make the two strips tie into one another.

===Continuity notes===
*The Demons would return again in the US story "[[Still Life!]]".
*It's not clear if Cindersaur is dead or not, but he is mentioned as still functioning in the later US story "[[The Last Autobot?]]".

===Real-life references===
*The joke on the cover is lifted from {{w|Monty Python}}'s ''{{w|Monty Python's Life of Brian|Life of Brian}}''.

===Other trivia===
*TBD

===Back-up material===
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[All the Familiar Faces!]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''[[Action Force (comic)|Action Force]]'' - "Law of the Jungle!" and ''Combat Colin''
*'''[[Classic Covers Calendar]]''': The twelfth and final in a series of monthly calendars that showcased inks from covers of yesteryear with new colours. This December edition used [[Barry Kitson]]'s inks from [[Stargazing|issue 145]].

===Foreign Localization===
'''Swedish'''
:* ''Title:'' "'''Mörkrets Gryning'''" ("Dawn of Darkness")

===Cover===
*'''Issue #247 cover:''' The Demons interrupt the Autobots and Decepticons fighting, by [[Jeff Anderson]].
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-247.jpg|'''Issue #247'''
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*Classified ads
*''[[Punisher|The Punisher]]'' comic
*''Action Force Special Corps'' mailaway offer (back cover)

===Reprints===
*'''''[[Transformers: Aspects of Evil]]:''''' Rodimus Prime and Unicron fight, by [[Stephen Baskerville]]. Cropped version of [[White Fire|issue #254's]] cover.
*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Vol 19: Perchance to Dream:''''' [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (from early IDW promo art), by [[Guido Guidi]] above a retro scene of the [[Battlecharger]]s (from [[Worlds Apart!|Marvel UK #255]] cover), by Stephen Baskerville.
<gallery>
File:Titan B&W Compilation-Aspects of Evil.jpg|'''''Aspects of Evil'' TPB''' (Titan Books, 2005)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v19.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection'' Vol. 19''' (IDW Publishing, 2017)
</gallery>

[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Robot Buster!

2025-02-14T20:45:57Z

Skteosk: /* Quotes */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #59–60
|prev=Plight of the Bumblebee!
|next=Devastation Derby!
|title="Robot Buster!"
|image=MarvelUK-059.jpg
|caption=Buster takes Frenzy from behind.
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=Part 1: [[April 26|26th April]], [[1986]] Part 2: [[May 3|3rd May]], 1986
|coverdate=Part 1: [[May 3|3rd May]], 1986 Part 2: [[May 10|10th May]], 1986
|plot=[[Barry Kitson]]
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|art=[[Barry Kitson]]
|inks=[[Tim Perkins]] (Part 2 only)
|colours=[[Josie Firmin]] (Part 1), [[T.M. Cooks]] (Part 2)
|lettering=[[Annie Halfacree]]
|editor=[[Ian Rimmer]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''When Wheeljack and Ratchet build an exo-suit for Buster, an unsanctioned field test leads the human into a confrontation with Shockwave.'''

==Synopsis==
===Part 1===
[[File:Frenzy-RobotBuster.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.5|Frenzy was never cooler than at this moment.]]
[[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] and [[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] ask [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] to visit their lab to see their newest creation—a [[battlesuit|large mechanical suit]] for [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] that will allow him to fight alongside the [[Autobot]]s. Optimus Prime is outraged at the notion of endangering Buster's life in battle, prompting the indignant Buster himself to insist that he has a right to be allowed to help the Autobots after all he has done for them. Sad but resolute, Prime insists the suit be dismantled.

Regretting his angry words to Prime, Buster decides to prove to the Autobot leader that the suit has merit by secretly field-testing it. That night, before Ratchet and Wheeljack can start disassembling it, Buster commandeers the suit and heads for the Decepticons' [[Fortress Sinister|old abandoned fortress]], hoping to find some technology he can take back to the Autobots... but what he finds instead is [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]], in the midst of a salvage mission. Frenzy knows the task is just pointless busywork given to him by [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]], who is on edge thanks to rumours about the return of [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]], but that only means the small Decepticon is in a bad mood and ''more'' than ready for a fight when Buster ambushes him. Buster thinks that capturing a Decepticon will be even better evidence of his suit's capabilities, but Frenzy is unharmed by his attack and unleashes the full force of his sonic powers in retaliation. In agony, Buster tries to shut down the suit's audio input, but accidentally winds up triggering its "[[echo cell]]" feature, which absorbs Frenzy's sonic attack and blasts it back at him, knocking him out. Sensible enough to realize he only defeated one of the ''weakest'' Decepticons through sheer luck, Buster decides to depart post-haste... only to find himself confronted by Shockwave!
{{--}}

===Part 2: "Baptism of Fire!"===
[[File:RobotBuster my eye.jpg|right|thumb|upright=2]]
After spending most of the night running from Shockwave and making futile attempts to combat him, Buster is cornered by the Decepticon leader, but is able to escape again by hurling a handful of sand into Shockwave's [[Sensor|optic sensor]]. This brief moment of blindness causes Shockwave to remember his previous, more-prolonged immersions in darkness—his four-million year burial at the hands of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], and his recent submergence in a swamp by Optimus Prime—and for once, the normally cold and emotionless Decepticon's mask of logic slips away. As emotion takes hold, Shockwave furiously vows to hunt down and slay Buster.

As dawn breaks, Buster finishes reconfiguring his suit to channel all of its energy into one blast, hoping this will be enough to take Shockwave down. No sooner has he completed his work than Shockwave catches up to him and moves in for the kill. Buster opens fire at point blank range, and the resultant blast hurls Shockwave back, but also reduces the suit to a smoking wreck. Alas, as Buster crawls out of the suit's remains, he discovers his efforts were in vain when the still-functional Shockwave seizes him. Just before Shockwave can crush the life from the human, Optimus Prime and the Autobots arrive, having discovered the suit was missing from the lab. Prime offers to let Shockwave leave peacefully in return for Buster's safety, and, his logical mind reasserting itself, Shockwave agrees. Buster's experience has convinced him that fighting with the Autobots is not something he wants to be part of after all... but unfortunately for him, Shockwave is already plotting revenge, now knowing that the Autobots' friendship with Buster is a weakness he can exploit...
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] (2)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] (3)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (7)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] (8)
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (9)
*[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (10)
|c2=
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (5)
*[[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] (6)
|c3=
*[[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] (4)
}}

==Quotes==
"I will go...''for now.'' But I promise you this, '''Optimus Prime''': when you and I meet next it will be Shockwave who again walks away...'''leaving your charred and blackened corpse behind me.'''"
:—Just because '''Shockwave''' is cold and logical doesn't mean he can't have a dramatic flair

"What do you think of our newest Autobot?" 
"I—I...'''HAVE YOU ALL LOST YOUR MINDS?!'''"
:—'''Ratchet''' not getting the response he expected from '''Optimus Prime'''.

"If it took an accident to defeat one of the less powerful Decepticons, I'd sure hate to meet--" 
"'''HUMAN!'''" 
"'''Heck'''...was that ever a stupid thing to say!"
:—'''Buster''' summons '''Shockwave''' with the power of dramatic irony.

"Shockwave — the human you hold is under '''Autobot''' protection! Release him and you can leave. Harm him in any way and we will open fire. Not even you could survive our combined firepower. Your life for Buster Witwicky's. It is '''logical''', is it not?"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' being a badass papa wolf while trolling Shockwave mercilessly.

==Notes==
===Production notes===
[[File:RobotBuster-outofyourminds.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.75]]
*The plot of "Robot Buster!" is credited to artist Barry Kitson, with regular writer Simon Furman providing the script over his idea. In an interview in [[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 2|''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 2]], Furman recalls that the team had been having a "tough time keeping Barry interested" in continuing to work on the comic, since Kitson did not particularly enjoy drawing the robot characters, and "bringing him in on the plot side" was an attempt to do so. The two-parter was essentially thought of as being done "for Barry" in the offices, so it only tangentially ties in to the next few issues' storyline.
*The second part of this story marks Marvel UK's first attempt at colouring the comic using mechanical colour separation—the cheaper method by which the American comics were coloured—instead of the hand-painting used up to this point. The result is... ''rough'', and the team's dissatisfaction with it led to the use of the pseudonymous credit "T.M. Cooks" (short for "Too Many Cooks") for the issue. The series returns to painted colours for the remainder of the year, but the team would eventually get a handle on the process, and the comic will feature colour separation from [[The Gift|issue #93]] onwards.

===Continuity notes===
*Buster refers to the period of time during which he carried the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]] in his mind, as covered in [[The Worse of Two Evils!|US issues #6]]-[[Prime Time!|12]], and to his "pulling Optimus's fat out of the fire" at the close of the story when he used the Matrix to control [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] and save the day.
[[File:RobotBuster shockwave escapes swamp.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.75]]
*Though long since abandoned and never to reappear in the US stories, the Decepticons' original fortress (created in [[Power Play!|US issue #2]]) has previously been revisited in the UK comic in "[[Crisis of Command!]]", and will reappear again in future UK stories. In the [[Plight of the Bumblebee!|US issue immediately preceding this one]] Shockwave's Decepticons are described as operating out of a "makeshift fortress"; the appearance of the original fortress in this UK story might be an attempt by the UK comic to patch over this odd piece of US discontinuity by indicating that ''it'' is the base Shockwave is using.
*Frenzy mentions rumours that Megatron has returned, referring to television broadcasts showing the former Decepticon that hit the airwaves in [[I, Robot-Master!|US issue #15]]. Frenzy himself, incidentally, is unaccounted for by the US stories during this time of divided Decepticon leadership; only the UK stories depict him as explicitly being part of Shockwave's camp.
*Shockwave recalls his millions of years of entombment courtesy of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], as seen in [[Repeat Performance!|US issue #8]], complete with a recreation of a panel from that issue depicting his burial.
*Shockwave's submergence in the swamp took place in US issue #12. His absence was short-lived, as he quickly returned in [[Rock and Roll-Out!|US issue #14]] with no real remark passed, but the UK comic inserted several additional stories between those two adventures, making his disappearance from action a more protracted one. This issue fills in the gap through flashback, showing us how Shockwave was forced to spend "days or months" trapped in the blackness of the swamp, until he finally touched bottom and could boot-jet his way to freedom (right). In ''The Transformers Classics UK'' Vol.2, Furman would give this as an example of the little gaps in Budiansky's stories, the result of poor Bob having [[to sell toys|to promote a never-ending stream of new toys]], that the UK team looked for so they could plug in their stories.

===Real-life references===
*The story's title may be a reference to the British comic strip ''{{w|Ro-Busters}}''.

===Artwork and technical errors===
[[File:RobotBuster you stink.jpg|right|thumb|upright=2|Butthurt Witwicky.]]
*Several caption boxes and text balloons feature noticeably mis-aligned text in Part 1; on page 1, a lot of text is set too low inside the bubbles and boxes, and dialogue throughout the issue is shifted "up to and to the left" inside bubbles, and isn't even centered relative to itself.
*By this point in the US stories, Wheeljack has settled down into his finalized Marvel Comics colour scheme, but here, he's still got the early scheme from prior issues with red shoulder-fins. Additionally, he's missing his shoulder cannon, and on page 2 of part 1, he's got purple shoulders.
*Barry Kitson draws an oddly proportioned Shockwave, with an oversized head nearly as wide as his torso, and tiny hands.
*Part 1, page 4, panel 2: There's a second, blank speech bubble here after Buster pauses mid-sentence (right). It was probably supposed to contain something like "...then..." or "...well..." to bridge the boy's previous dialogue with his outburst in the next panel that Prime "stinks."
*Part 1, page 6, panel 3: Frenzy's rear-mounted thruster gun is miscoloured green, apparently mistaken by the colourist as part of the bundle of junk in his hands.
*Part 1, page 11: Shockwave says "Perish at the hands of Shockwave" when, well, he only has ONE hand. Oops!
*Part 2, page 3, panel 1: "Nonexistent" is misspelled as "nonexistant".
*Part 2, page 10, panel 3: Smokescreen is missing his door-wings, and has only one shoulder-mounted gun instead of two.

===Back-up material===
'''Issue #59:'''
*'''[[Back-up strips]]:''' ''Rocket Raccoon'' ("Masque of the Red Breath", Part 2), ''[[Robo-Capers]]'' and ''Matt and the Cat''.
**This issue's ''Robo-Capers'' is a [[Robo-Capers issue 59|special strip]] that shows [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] exacting retribution from [[Marvel Film Makers]] for the misprinted strip in [[Shooting Star!|issue #51]].
**Also featured is a half-page comic strip advert promoting the movie ''{{w|Biggles (film)|Biggles}},'' which will continue over the next four issues.
*'''[[Who's Who]]:''' Humans

'''Issue #60:'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Rocket Raccoon'' ("Masque of the Red Breath," Part 3) and ''Robo-Capers''. ''Matt and the Cat'' is replaced this issue by the next chapter of the ''Biggles'' advert/comic.

===Covers (2)===
*'''Issue #59:''' Robot Buster takes down Frenzy, by [[Geoff Senior]].
*'''Issue #60:''' Shockwave has Buster in his sinister hand, by [[Barry Kitson]].
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-059.jpg|'''Issue #59''' - Who ya gonna call? Not Buster!
File:MarvelUK-060.jpg|'''Issue #60''' - I spy with my little eye...
</gallery>

===Reprints===
<gallery>
File:Tfcolcom09.jpg|'''[[Transformers Collected Comics#9 – Summer Special 1988|''Collected Comics'' #9]]''' (Marvel UK, 1988)
File:TitanSG.jpg|'''''[[Transformers: Second Generation]]''''' (Titan Books, 2005)
File:Classicuk2.jpg|'''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 2|''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 2]]''' (IDW Publishing, 2012)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v4.jpg|'''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection|''The Definitive G1 Collection, Vol. 4: Second Generation'']]''' (Hachette Partworks, Ltd., 2018)
</gallery>

[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Aspects of Evil!

2024-10-14T19:27:40Z

Skteosk: /* Quotes */

{{disambig2|the original Marvel UK comics|the Titan Books trade paperback|Transformers: Aspects of Evil}}
{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #223–227
|prev=Survivors!
|next=(Double) Deal of the Century!
|title="Aspects of Evil!"
|image=MarvelUK-227.jpg
|caption=Tony Blair has really let himself go!
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|coverdate=[[June 24|24th June]] - [[July 22|22nd July]] [[1989]]
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|pencils=[[Art Wetherell]] (#224) [[Simon Coleby]] (#227)
|inks=Simon Coleby (#224) [[Cam Smith]] (#227)
|art=[[Jeff Anderson]] (#223) [[Andrew Wildman|Andy Wildman]] (#225) [[Lee Sullivan]] (#226)
|letterer=[[Helen Stone]] (#223) [[Gary Gilbert|Glib]] (#224-225, #227) [[Nick Abadzis]] (#226)
|chronology=[[Marvel Comics timeline#Post-Time Wars future|Post-Time Wars future]] (1990-1991, 2004, 2009-2010, 2356)
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]] ([[Primax 984.20 Gamma|Marvel UK]])
}}
'''An aged Rodimus remembers the evils of the Decepticon leaders, and a terrifying revelation is made.'''

==Synopsis==
In the year [[2356]], in a medbay on [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City: Earth]], a decrepit and sickly [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]] is visited by an [[Autobot]] [[Trachis|student]] who is researching the nature of evil.

Rodimus recalls...

===Scorponok===
[[File:MarvelUK-223.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|"AIM FOR THE NIPPLES!"]]
In the year [[1991]], the [[Decepticon]] [[Decepticon Civil War|civil war]] was nearly over, and a wounded, defeated [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] rampaged through a [[human]] town with the [[Air Strike Patrol]] pursuing with intent to kill. This turned out to be deliberate: It drew Hot Rod and his team to Scorponok, at which point he surrendered. Hot Rod was now forced by Autobot law to protect Scorponok from being killed. Since he also couldn't fight the Air Strike Patrol in a human settlement, he had to settle for leading them into the countryside, which meant Scorponok was left unguarded and was free to walk away to plot anew.
{{-}}

===Galvatron===
[[File:MarvelUK-224.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|"No, Prime! Parents will ''never'' buy a comic with ''this'' on the cover!"]]
When Rodimus Prime's Autobots returned to [[2009]] following the [[Time Wars]], they found the timeline had healed, revising history. Now [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] [[Fallen Angel|hadn't fled to 1987 Earth]], and because of this, the Decepticons had conquered [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Galvatron attacked Rodimus, taunting him with his defeat and with the revelation he'd murdered [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]]. His intention was to goad Rodimus into a fury, corrupting the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]] with his baser instincts so that Galvatron could control it. The other Autobots were able to pull Rodimus back from the brink, but in the process, Galvatron had awakened [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]], trapped in the Matrix since [[The Legacy of Unicron!|his last defeat]]...

{{note|This segment of the story is continued in "[[The Void! (UK)|The Void!]]".}}
{{-}}

===Shockwave===
[[File:MarvelUK-225.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb]]
Autobot City was officially opened in [[2004]], attended by various [[Earth]] heads of state. [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] attacked with a small army, logically working out that the Autobots would try to protect the humans before fighting back, that they would be slaughtered before they realised they had to fight back, that the death of human leaders would destroy Autobot/Earth relations, and that this act would lead to him taking command of the Decepticons again. His logic was undone by Hot Rod illogically attacking him directly, which caused the attack to break off and strengthened relations with Earth.
{{-}}

===Megatron===
[[File:MarvelUK-226.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb]]
On Cybertron in [[1990]], Hot Rod, [[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]], and [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] were freed from Decepticon captivity by an Autobot deep-cover agent named [[Warmonger]]. Recaptured, Hot Rod was forced to watch as [[Straxus (G1)|Megatron]] accused [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] of being the traitor responsible. Bludgeon demanded to prove his innocence through a traditional [[Trial by Combat]] against the other Decepticons, which is what Megatron had hoped for; Warmonger revealed himself as an Autobot when he couldn't bring himself to murder Bludgeon, and so Megatron killed him. Megatron showed casual disregard for the idea Bludgeon could have died first and mused it would have been simpler just to kill everyone.

Throughout this, the student gets more and more eager to learn of Unicron, leading to Rodimus to recall:
{{-}}

===Unicron===
Unicron's third coming was in [[2010]]. He devastated Cybertron and almost wiped out everyone before Rodimus Prime drew his spirit back into the tainted Matrix. But when Kup and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] found him, they realised Rodimus—screaming at them to stay back: "It's not safe!"—had been possessed by Unicron again...

The student sneers at this as a work of fiction, rips off his Autobrand and storms out, declaring he'll find Unicron himself and prove to Rodimus Prime what evil is. Rodimus realises he's unleashed the student's evil side and that Unicron is taking control again...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Landfill (G1)|Landfill]] (6)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime]] (7)
*[[Quickmix (G1)|Quickmix]] (8)
*[[Trachis|Student]] (9)
*[[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]] (11)
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (12)
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (16)
*[[Flak (G1)|Flak]] (17)
*[[Sunrunner (G1)|Sunrunner]] (18)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (19)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (22)
*[[Warmonger]] (28)
|c2=
*[[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (1)
*[[Whisper (G1)|Whisper]] (2)
*[[Tailwind (G1)|Tailwind]] (3)
*[[Nightflight (G1)|Nightflight]] (4)
*[[Storm Cloud (G1)|Storm Cloud]] (5)
*[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (10)
*[[Windsweeper]] (13)
*[[Ruckus (G1)|Ruckus]] (14)
*[[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] (15)
*[[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] (20)
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (21)
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (23)
*[[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]]-[[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] (24)
*[[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] (25)
*[[Octopunch (G1)|Octopunch]] (27)
*[[Stranglehold]] (26)
|c4=
*[[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] (29)
}}

==Quotes==
"At the time we thought he'd lost it - been driven '''mad''' by his injuries. We should have known better! '''Scorponok''''s evil needed no insanity to fuel it!"
:—'''Rodimus Prime''' sums up his first case study.

"There he is, '''Nightflight''' - we've '''got him'''!" 
"You mean '''I've''' got him, '''Whisper'''! One of my rockets and he's history!" 
"'''Hah!''' You're both just blowing exhaust fumes...When I nail Scorponok, Megatron will see '''I'm''' the real power in this group!"
:—'''Whisper''', '''Nightflight''' and '''Tailwind''' arguing over who get to kill Scorponok

<This goes right against the grain. I want to stay, help my comrades protect the humans. But I think this situation...> 
"...calls for a single act of '''bling stupidity'''! And I'm just the Autobot for the job!"
:—'''Hot Rod''' realises what he brings to the fight with Shockwave.

"I had narrowed down the traitor to one of four. I guessed correctly the ridiculous Autobot Code would flush him out. The one who '''couldn't''' kill to save himself would be the traitor!" 
"But-but one if one of the others had got to me '''first'''?" 
"You'd be '''dead'''...and I'd have to find another way to flush out the traitor. On reflection...it would have been far simpler to '''kill you all''' and have done with it!"
:—'''Megatron''' explains his man-management policies to '''Bludgeon'''.

"I come here to find out about Unicron and I get lectures on some evil has-beens and a work of '''fiction'''! Well, get this, '''Autobot fool'''! I'm going to find Unicron for myself. And when I do...you'll '''really''' understand '''the meaning of evil'''!"
:—'''The student''' outs himself as a Unicron groupie.

==Notes==
===Artwork and technical errors===
*On the cover of Issue #223, Tailwind's A-10 Warthog mode is factually incorrect.
*In part 2, Flak and Sunrunner are depicted as being the same size as their non-[[Micromaster]] comrades.
*Part 2, panel 3: "disarray" is misspelled as "dissaray".

===Continuity errors===
*TBD

===Continuity notes===
*It's 'round about this time UK continuity gets iffy.
*The Galvatron segment and the Rodimus Prime framing story follow on from both "[[Time Wars]]" and "[[The Legacy of Unicron!]]". Both are continued in [[The Void! (UK)|#251]] to [[White Fire|#254]].
*Scorponok and Megatron's segments don't fit "present-day" continuity at all, though. While it could be assumed that Rodimus's timeline diverges from the regular Marvel one around 1989 (due to [[The Primal Scream|the earlier arrival of Unicron]]), that would still mean Megatron was blasted into dimensional space and merged with [[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]]. While it's possible Megatron could be back in time for 1991, 1990 is pushing it a bit. More annoyingly, his story could fit after "[[The Fall and Rise of the Decepticon Empire.]]" ''if'' it was set in different year. Maybe Rodimus is getting his dates mixed up? However, if events diverged at "[[Skin Deep]]" or earlier so Megatron was defeated by other means, it would all fit, though what would cause that divergence is unknown. (Viewing these stories as apocryphal could be the easiest solution, but where's the fun in ''that''?)
*It's not explicitly stated that it's his time-jump to 1987 that Galvatron didn't do, but the narration refers to him as not having "fled to Earth": something that fits better for "[[Fallen Angel]]" than "[[Target: 2006]]".
*So if Galvatron never travelled back in time, that means [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]] can't have either and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] never became Goldbug! So argued a number of small children in ''Dread Tidings'' but [[Hi-Test (G1)|Hi-Test]] made it clear "the space-time framework ''repaired'' itself. That doesn't mean it went backwards. Nice try, though."<ref>[[Letters page (Marvel UK)|Dread Tidings]], issue [[Source:Dread Tidings#Issue 240|240]]</ref>
*The Decepticon civil war turns up in "[[Trigger-Happy!]]" in the [[Transformers Annual 1990]], released around the same time.
*In the US reprints, eventually a subplot will develop of Shockwave preparing to declare a Decepticon civil war against Scorponok, with the [[...All This and Civil War 2|resulting story]] being reprinted in 1991. This would hint Furman had the Decepticon civil war idea planned this far back but went on to change the details of it considerably.
*Pretty much the only thing Scorponok's segment foreshadowed correctly was the Decepticon Micromasters being allied with Megatron. This won't be properly revealed in the main timeline until the end of "[[Back from the Dead]]", a full 19 issues later.
*The "Autobot law" Scorponok uses against Hot Rod could be the [[Autobot Code]], though neither of them refers to it as such.
*Chronologically, the Shockwave portion is the third to feature the post-movie cast; it is preceded by "[[Ark Duty]]" and followed by "[[Target: 2006]]" (or [[The Transformers: The Movie|the Movie itself]], technically).
*The framing portion of this story is the next-to-last post-movie tale, chronologically. "[[Peace]]" is set some two hundred years after this story, though it is unclear if it is meant to be in continuity with this tale. The reader never sees how or if Unicron is driven out of the Matrix.
*All of the post-movie stories have been wiped from existence after the Time Wars, with a new revised history in place. The full effects of this—i.e. are dead characters still alive, did Cyclonus and Scourge go back in time (if they didn't, Death's Head would still be around too)—are never explored. However, Rodimus refers to "The Legacy of Unicron!" as still having happened.
*The same format of flashback-based character vignettes with a framing story will be used again in "[[...Perchance to Dream]]".
*In describing Shockwave, Rodimus repeatedly uses the term "inhuman" as an insult. Talk about being unclear on some core concepts!
*The student is never seen again.

===Real-life references===
*TBD

===Other trivia===
*TBD

===Back-up material===
'''Issue #223'''
*'''Reprint ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Wanted: Galvatron — Dead or Alive!]]"
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''[[Action Force (comic)|Action Force]]'' - "Divergent Paths" and ''[[Combat Colin]]''
*'''[[Transformers AtoZ|AtoZ]]:''' [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] and [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]]
'''Issue #224'''
*'''Reprint ''Transformers'' story:''' "Wanted: Galvatron — Dead or Alive!"
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Action Force'' - "Divergent Paths" and ''Combat Colin''
*'''[[Classic Covers Calendar]]''': The seventh in a series of monthly calendars that showcased inks from covers of yesteryear with new colours. This July edition used [[Robin Smith]]'s inks from [[Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom|issue 129]].
*Instead of the usual strip, ''Combat Colin'' consisted of a number of cut out and keep badges. Due to the black and white printing, it was suggested the reader should colour them in.
'''Issue #225'''
*'''Reprint ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Headhunt]]"
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Action Force'' - "Cross Purposes" and ''Combat Colin''
'''Issue #226'''
*'''Reprint ''Transformers'' story:''' "Headhunt"
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Action Force'' - "Cross Purposes" and ''Combat Colin''
'''Issue #227'''
*'''Reprint ''Transformers'' story:''' "Headhunt"
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Action Force'' - "Cross Purposes" and ''Combat Colin''
*'''AtoZ:''' [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] and [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]]
*In ''[[Letters page (Marvel UK)|Dread Tidings]]'', [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] explains that Megatron has green fuel when others don't "because he's got royal blood. That's why it's green, innit?!"<ref>[[Letters page (Marvel UK)|Dread Tidings]], issue [[Source:Dread Tidings#Issue 227|227]]</ref>

===Covers (5)===
*'''Issue #223 cover:''' Scorponok waves at the Air Strike Patrol, by [[Geoff Senior]].
*'''Issue #224 cover:''' Rodimus really gets on top of Galvatron, by Geoff Senior.
*'''Issue #225 cover:''' your puny Earth bunting is no match for Shockwave, by [[Jeff Anderson]].
*'''Issue #226 cover:''' Megatron dominates Bludgeon in the ring, by Jeff Anderson.
*'''Issue #227 cover:''' Unicron chows down on Cybertron (again), by Geoff Senior.
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-223.jpg|'''Issue #223'''
File:MarvelUK-224.jpg|'''Issue #224'''
File:MarvelUK-225.jpg|'''Issue #225'''
File:MarvelUK-226.jpg|'''Issue #226'''
File:MarvelUK-227.jpg|'''Issue #227'''
</gallery>

===Reprints===
*'''''[[Transformers: Aspects of Evil]]'' TPB:''' Rodimus Prime and Unicron fight, by [[Stephen Baskerville]]. Cropped version of issue [[White Fire|#254]]'s cover.
*'''''[[The Transformers: Best of Megatron]]'':''' Megatron, by [[Livio Ramondelli]].
*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]], Volume 17: Matrix Quest:''''' Nightbeat and Prime's corpse by [[Makoto Ono]] and [[Geoff Senior]].
*'''''[[Transformers: Best of Arcee]]'':''' Arcee by [[James Biggie]]
*'''''[[Transformers: Best of Shockwave]]'':''' Shockwave by James Biggie
<gallery>
File:Titan B&W Compilation-Aspects of Evil.jpg|'''''Aspects of Evil'' TPB''' (Titan Books, 2005)
File:BestofMegatron.jpg|'''''Best of Megatron''''' (IDW Publishing, 2010)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v17.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection vol. 17: Matrix Quest''''' (Hachette Partworks, Ltd., 2018)
File:BestOfArcee_cvr.jpg|'''Transformers: Best of Arcee''' (IDW Publishing, 2022)
File:BestOfShockwave cvr.jpg|'''Transformers: Best of Shockwave''' (IDW Publishing, 2022)
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

A Small War!

2024-08-20T00:55:26Z

Skteosk: /* Quotes */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #232–233
|prev=King Con!
|next=Prime's Rib!
|title="A Small War!"
|image=MarvelUK-232.jpg
|caption=
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[August 19|19th August]] and [[August 26|26th August]] 1989
|coverdate=[[August 26|26th August]] and [[September 2|2nd September]] 1989
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|art=[[Jeff Anderson]] (#232) [[Geoff Senior]] (#233)
|letterer=[[Gary Gilbert|Glib]]
|cover=[[Lee Sullivan]] and [[Jeff Anderson]]
|editor=
|chronology=[[Marvel Comics timeline|1989]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]] ([[Primax 984.20 Gamma|Marvel UK]])
}}
'''Enter: The Micromasters!'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Generic decepticon marvel uk 230.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.85]]
On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], a [[Decepticon]] is interrupted from his guard duty by a small voice below him. He looks down, only to behold the tiniest [[Autobot]] he's ever seen! The little thing asks him to move out of the way, and the Decepticon just starts bellowing with laughter. He's still laughing when the little Autobot transforms into an assault vehicle and missile-blasts him right in the chest.

The [[Micromaster]] named [[Flak (G1)|Flak]] signals the rest of his team, the Autobot [[Battle Patrol]]. As they continue their infiltration mission, the small warriors brag to themselves about the usefulness of their unique designs—their low height and weight make covert missions a breeze, and they use much less precious [[energon]] than the larger [[Transformer]]s. Add in the fact that their firepower is barely less than a full-sized Autobot, and the Micromasters are definitely the wave of the future.

It seems the Decepticons agreed with the Battle Patrol, as the Autobot uncover the "secret weapon" they were sent to spy on: Decepticon Micromasters, being constructed under Lord [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]'s direction. Unfortunately, the entire set-up was a trap, designed by the Decepticons to lure a group of Micromasters into their lair, so that their scientists can dissect and reverse-engineer the micro construction. Realizing they are in dire straits, team leader [[Big Shot]] prepares to press his [[suicide button]], which would activate the explosive charges built into his team, designed to totally destroy the Micromasters in just such a situation. However, the Autobot fighting spirit is to never say die, so Big Shot ignores his orders and commands his team to go down fighting!

They do. And so, hours later, [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron]] sends [[Roadhandler (G1)|Roadhandler]] out with the rest of the Micromasters to locate the Battle Patrol. Instead of rescuing them, however, Xaaron commands that the Patrol be destroyed so that their secrets cannot be pilfered by the Decepticons.

[[File:Roadhandleruk.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Stop that. You do '''not'''.]]
Outside Thunderwing's base, Roadhandler reluctantly reviews the plan with his fellow Micromasters: to set a series of explosive charges around the base, leveling it to the ground and hopefully destroying the Battle Patrol inside, along with all the data cultivated from their systems. After a few minutes wrestling with the decision, however, Roadhandler and the Micromasters decide to disobey orders and risk courtmartial, breaking into the base itself in an attempt to rescue their comrades.

With [[Stakeout (G1)|Stakeout]]'s unit causing a disruption elsewhere on the base, Roadhandler and [[Powertrain]] break into the laboratory to free the Battle Patrol. Unfortunately, they discover they are too late to prevent the reverse-engineering process, as the Decepticon [[Air Strike Patrol]] are there to greet them. Roadhandler catches the new Micromasters off-guard with one of the deactivated bombs, and the Autobots overpower their opponents. The Battle Patrol are successfully rescued and brought back to [[Autobase]].

Roadhandler hands himself over to Emirate Xaaron for punishment, taking full responsibility for the team under his command, but Xaaron declines to court-martial him. After all, even the wisest of men and machines can be in error, and Xaaron realizes he needs to treat the Micromasters more as fellow soldiers, and not as mere weapons.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Flak (G1)|Flak]] (2)
*[[Big Shot]] (3)
*[[Sidetrack (G1)|Sidetrack]] (4)
*[[Sunrunner (G1)|Sunrunner]] (5)
*[[Xaaron]] (7)
*[[Roadhandler (G1)|Roadhandler]] (8)
*[[Stakeout (G1)|Stakeout]] (9)
*[[Seawatch]] (10)
*[[Swindler]] (11)
*[[Powertrain]] (12)
*[[Free Wheeler]] (13)
*[[Tailspin]] (14)
|c2=
*[[Thunderwing's expendable guard]] (1)
*[[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] (6)
*[[Whisper (G1)|Whisper]] (15)
*[[Nightflight (G1)|Nightflight]] (16)
*[[Blackjack (G1)|Blackjack]] (17)
*[[Detour (G1)|Detour]] (18)
*[[Storm Cloud (G1)|Storm Cloud]] (19)
*[[Tailwind (G1)|Tailwind]] (20)
}}

==Quotes==
"Now, I advise you to stand aside before you '''really''' get me '''angry'''!" 
"'''You've gotta be kidding! Haw! Haw!''' Watcha gonna do? Punch out my '''kneecaps'''? Tickle my '''feet? Haw!'''" 
"Ah well...'''DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU!'''"
:—'''Flak''' giving the '''expendable guard''' the option of not being blasted to bits and getting turned down.

"Rescue is nigh-on '''impossible'''. To prevent our Micromaster secrets falling into Decepticon hands...I want you to '''destroy''' the Battle Patrol!"
:—'''Emirate Xaaron''' being a bit scary.

"Is everyone clear what we have to do? Our leader, '''Emirate Xaaron''', has judged the '''Battle Patrol''' to be beyond rescue. In order to prevent the Micromaster design falling into Decepticon hands, we blow the '''whole place'''...'''including''' our captive colleagues. Understand?" 
<Long awkward silence> 
"'''No''', me neither."
:—'''Roadhandler''' struggles with his motivation.

"Your actions have helped me see the '''folly''' of my own edicts. The war against the Decepticons has got so big, so out of hand, that I've lost sight of the smaller, but '''more important''' aspects. Namely the lives of those who serve under me! I've been playing god, forgetting that the Autobot vow to preserve life wherever possible extends to my own troops. It's time that '''changed'''. We lost a '''small war''' today...but a larger battle has been '''won'''!"
:—'''Emirate Xaaron''' decides to stop being a bit scary.

==Notes==
===Artwork and technical errors===
[[File:Air strike patrol small war.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
*When the Air Strike Patrol appear, Tailwind's head is completely off-model; lacking his [[mouthplate]] and Prime-like "helmet", he's recognisable only by default as the one who isn't Storm Cloud, Nightflight or Whisper.
*On the second page of Part 2, the penultimate panel appears to show Tailspin standing immediately behind Roadhandler and starting to talk to him. The following panel continues to show Tailspin standing nearest to Roadhandler, posed as if talking, and Roadhandler addresses his reply to him...but the speech bubble for the remainder of the speech is pointing at Powertrain.
*Although the context seems to suggest all remaining 12 Micromasters from the [[Race Car Patrol]], Rescue Patrol, and [[Off Road Patrol]] are present for the raid, all the members are not clearly shown on the page.
*Some would say Roadhandler is incorrectly depicted as the same size as Xaaron at the end of the first chapter, but Jeff Anderson has always drawn [[:File:Xaaronimpactor.jpg|Xaaron much smaller compared to normal-sized Transformers]]. In the next issue, Geoff Senior depicts Xaaron just a little bit taller than the Micromasters.
*The [[Rescue Patrol (G1)|Rescue Patrol]] are displayed prominently on the cover of issue #232, although they don't appear until the second part of the story in issue #233 as supporting characters, and even then only two of them. Surely this should be the Battle Patrol's cover?

===Colored reprints===

*[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]], Volume 17: Matrix Quest, coloured by John-Paul Bove with colour assists by Ed Pirrie and Ben Pirrie

===Continuity errors===
*Fourteen months ago, the [[Triumvirate]], the unseen [[Decepticon Imperial Headquarters]], and [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] were all still alive (not to mention [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]]). How did Thunderwing nick power?!

===Continuity notes===
*The Decepticon [[Sports Car Patrol]] are seen under construction in the second part.
*Considering how much piss and vinegar the Micromasters give [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] in "[[King Con!]]", one has to wonder if Xaaron's change of heart really lasted.

===Continuity fun times===
*The story opens with a narration box stating the following events occurred "fourteen months ago". This was probably entered as a continuity reference, since "A Small War!" was first published in the UK packaged together with the US story "King Con!", where the Micromasters arrived on Earth and joined the Ark's crew. This then raises questions as Thunderwing's climb to power started in the previous UK story, "[[The Big Shutdown!]]", and ends with the later "[[Assault on the Ark!]]". This story ''has'' to take place either before them or after them, and if it's before then isn't Thunderwing presumably in charge anyway and if it's after... then, well, Optimus Prime's arrival as a [[Powermaster]] has to be happening in early summer of last year, which contradicts "[[Cold Comfort and Joy!]]"

===Real-life references===

===Other trivia===
*Issue [[The Hunting Party (Marvel)|#229's]] editorial said "[[Prime's Rib!]]" would be the next UK strip. The strips likely got shifted around to get a UK-original Micromasters story out faster.

===Back-up material===
'''Issue #232'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[King Con!]]"
*'''Reprint ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Resurrection!]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''[[Combat Colin]]''
*'''Free gift:''' magnifying glass
'''Issue #233'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "King Con!"
*'''Other strips:''' ''[[Action Force (comic)|Action Force]]'' - "Airshow" and ''Combat Colin''
*'''[[Transformers AtoZ|AtoZ]]:''' [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] and [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]
*'''Free gift:''' temporary [[tattoo]]

===Generics===
{{see|Thunderwing's expendable guard}}
This issue featured some notable [[generic]] Cybertronian Decepticons:
<gallery>
File:Generic decepticon 2 marvel uk 230.jpg|A Decepticon guard failed to notice the Battle Patrol (or at least pretended to).
File:Generic decepticon 3 marvel uk 230.jpg|The unsung scientist who created the Decepticon Micromasters.
</gallery>

===Foreign Localization===
'''Swedish'''
:* ''Title:'' "'''Ett Litet Krig!'''" ("A Small War!")
* Thunderwing is given the rank of Non-commissioned officer ("Underofficer") here, possibly as an attempt to smooth over the above contentious continuity.

===Covers (2)===
*'''Issue #232 cover:''' Thunderwing and Micromasters, by [[Lee Sullivan]].
*'''Issue #233 cover:''' [[Bomb-Burst (G1)|Bomb-Burst]], [[Submarauder (G1)|Submarauder]] and a friendly chap, by [[Jeff Anderson]].
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-232.jpg|'''Issue #232''':
File:MarvelUK-233.jpg|'''Issue #233''':
</gallery>

===Reprints===
*'''''[[Transformers: Perchance to Dream]]'':''' [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] gets smacked around by [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] - detail from cover of issue [[...Perchance to Dream|#259]], by [[Andrew Wildman]].
*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]], Volume 17: Matrix Quest:''''' Nightbeat and Prime's corpse by [[Makoto Ono]] and [[Geoff Senior]].
<gallery>
File:Titan B&W Compilation-Perchance to Dream.jpg|'''''Perchance to Dream''''' (Titan Books, 2006)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v17.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 17: Matrix Quest''''' (Hachette Partworks, Ltd., 2018)
</gallery>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Small War!}}
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Peace

2024-08-20T00:55:23Z

Skteosk:

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=[[Transformers Annual 1989]]
|prev=All in the Minds!
|next=Transformers Annual 1990
|title="Peace"
|image=Peace war begins anew.jpg
|caption=Rejected alternate title: ''Peace: You're Doing It Wrong''
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=October [[1988]]
|coverdate=[[1989]]
|writer=[[Richard Starkings|Richard Alan]]
|art=[[Robin Smith]]
|lettering=[[Gary Gilbert|Glib]]
|colours=[[Steve White]]
|editor=
|chronology=[[Marvel Comics timeline#2510|2510]] ([[Marvel Comics timeline#Post-Time Wars future|Post-Time Wars future?]] See [[#Notes|Notes]])
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]] ([[Primax 984.20 Gamma|Marvel UK]])
}}
'''In the far future the Autobots finally win the war against the Decepticons...but everything doesn't go as planned.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Rodimus technobots wreckers peace.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.8|“I hate the word, as I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee.”]]
In the year [[2510]], long after most can remember how the war started and when few can distinguish between the factions' motives, the final [[Decepticon]] falls in battle with the [[Wreckers]]. Relieved that [[Great War (G1)|the war]] is finally over, the fatigued [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]] decides to step down as leader and selects [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] as his replacement.

However, a Decepticon double agent called [[Triton]] has infiltrated the [[Autobot]] ranks and is determined to prevent the war from ending. When Rodimus announces Springer as his successor, Triton objects, saying that Springer is a warrior, not a leader. He suggests [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] would make a better leader.

Arguments break out amongst the Autobots over who should be leader, with Whirl demanding to know where Triton's "precious Ultra Magnus" was when the Wreckers were ending the war. Triton responds by hitting him; [[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]] responds by pulling a gun and threatening to kill him; and [[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] responds by gunning down Roadbuster in the back before he can.

A moment of horrified silence is broken by [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] blaming Triton for Roadbuster's death. The Decepticon is killed, the Autobots split into factions and a new war begins as Rodimus Prime wails in despair.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (1)
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (2)
*[[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] (3)
*[[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]] (4)
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (5)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]] (6)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (7)
*[[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)|Lightspeed]] (8)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] (10)
*[[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]] (11)
*[[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]] (12)
*[[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]] (13)
*[[Twin Twist (G1)|Twin Twist]] (14)
*[[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]] (15)
*[[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (16)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*[[Triton]] (9)
}}

==Quotes==
"With this news...I am stepping down as leader of the Autobots. I am...so '''very''' tired. It is time someone new took over."
:—'''Rodimus Prime''' having a last moment of peace before it all goes wrong.

"'''Watch your mouth shorty!''' Where was your precious Ultra Magnus while we were winning the war, eh?"
:—'''Whirl''' overreacting just a tad.

"Wrong, '''Roadbuster'''..." 
"'''Scattershot'''?" 
"'''Dead wrong!'''"
:—'''Scattershot''' guns down fellow Autobot '''Roadbuster''' and plunges Cybertron into a new hellish war. Yeah.

==Notes==
[[File:Peace THE END.jpg|thumb|center|upright=2|"...Boy, that escalated quickly."]]
*This is one of only a handful of stories from this era not to be written by [[Simon Furman]].
*Richard Starkings (AKA "Richard Alan") got the idea from a friend who ran a ''Doctor Who'' fanzine, and had a story planned where the [[Dalek]]s win and then wonder what they're going to do now. That made him wonder what would happen if the Autobots ever won.<ref>[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 5|''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 5]]</ref>
*The Decepticons had been holding out in the northern hemisphere.
*Triton cites Magnus' credentials by bringing up how he held the Matrix before Rodimus.
*Chronologically, this is the final story to feature the future Autobots, set two hundred years after the later "[[Aspects of Evil!]]". However, it seems this story was never intended to be "the" future of the Transformers timeline, as <s>the editor</s> [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] gives different explanations for it:
**When one reader wrote in to ask why the Wreckers are alive in "Peace" but dead in "[[Time Wars]]", Dreadwind told him that this was likely an alternate timeline where they didn't die.<ref>[[Letters page (Marvel UK)|Dread Tidings]], issue [[Source:Dread Tidings#Issue 212|212]]</ref>
**When another reader asked why Rodimus is healthy in "Peace" and not dead of Unicron, Dreadwind explained that Rodimus was just ill in "Aspects" and not dying ("which is a shame") — tacitly putting the stories in the same timeline.<ref>[[Letters page (Marvel UK)|Dread Tidings]], issue [[Source:Dread Tidings#Issue 236|236]]</ref>
**When someone asked if these were all the Autobots left, their concerns were dismissed by saying "Peace" was "just a story about the stupidity of war".<ref>[[Letters page (Marvel UK)|Dread Tidings]], issue [[Source:Dread Tidings#Issue 264|264]]</ref>
*A young [[James Roberts]] wrote in to the comic lamenting how bleak an ending this was!<ref>[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 5|''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 5]] — "Not surprisingly, I never got a reply."</ref>

===Cover===
*'''Transformers Annual 1989 cover:''' Scorponok, by [[Lee Sullivan]].
<gallery>
File:Transformers annual 1989.jpg|'''Transformers Annual 1989'''
</gallery>

===Reprints===
*'''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 5|''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 5]]:''' ([[August 6]], [[2014]]) ISBN 1613777140 / ISBN 978-1613777145
* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection|Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 22: Natural Selection]]''''' ([[September 20]], [[2017]])
:*Bonus material includes an overview of the [[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|Marvel ''Generation 2'' comic]] and several cover sketches.
*'''''[[Transformers: Best of Hot Rod]]''''' ([[May 4]], [[2022]])
<gallery>
File:Classicuk5.jpg|'''''Classics UK'' Volume 5'''; cover art by [[Andrew Wildman]].
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v22.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection: Chapter 22'''''; cover art by Andrew Wildman and [[Stephen Baskerville]]
File:BestOfHotRod cvr.jpg|'''''Transformers: Best of Hot Rod'''''; cover art by [[James Biggie]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Marvel UK Annual stories]]

Crisis of Command!

2024-08-03T16:40:39Z

Skteosk: /* Continuity notes */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #42–44
|prev=Christmas Breaker!
|next=The Icarus Theory
|title="Crisis of Command!"
|image=MarvelUK-043.jpg
|caption=Bumblebee criticizes the size of the Decepticon's weapons!
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=Part 1: [[December 28|28th December]], 1985 Part 2: [[January 4|4th January]], 1986 Part 3: [[January 11|11th January]], 1986
|coverdate=Part 1: [[January 4|4th January]] Part 2: [[January 11|11th January]] Part 3: [[January 18|18th January]], 1986
|writer=[[Mike Collins]] (Part 1 & 3), [[James Hill]] (Part 2)
|art=[[Geoff Senior]] (Parts 1-2), [[John Stokes]] (Part 3)
|colour=[[Steve Whitaker]] (Part 1), [[John Burns]] and [[Stuart Place]] (Part 2), [[Gina Hart]] and Stuart Place (Part 3)
|letters=[[Mike Scott]]
|editor=[[Ian Rimmer]]
|chronology=[[Marvel Comics timeline|1986]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]] ([[Primax 984.20 Gamma|Marvel UK]])
}}
'''Optimus Prime struggles to maintain discipline when a group of Autobots want to use the Matrix to build an army of super warriors. Then Bumblebee is captured by the Decepticons.'''

==Synopsis==
===Part 1===
[[File:Prowlg1crisisofcommand.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.6|Prowl's gonna build his own Autobot army. With blackjack! And hookers!]]
A group of [[Autobot]]s led by [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] petition [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] to use the recently-reclaimed [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]] to create an army of [[Ultimate Autobot|super warriors]] to defeat the [[Decepticon]]s. Other Autobots, fronted by [[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]], disagree, and the argument becomes heated. Prime refuses to pervert the Matrix in such a manner, fearing what will become of the Earth if such warriors are unleashed upon it, but the Autobots' discontent with his ruling is evident. This only fuels the feelings of self-doubt that Prime has been dealing with, brought on by the Autobots' recent string of defeats by [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]], and he worries that he may no longer be fit to command.

Prime is unaware that his maudlin musings are being observed by [[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]], who has infiltrated the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] to learn the Autobots plans following their re-acquisition of the Matrix. He deliberately trips the Ark's alarms, alerting the Autobots to his presence, and after a short battle, he is deceived by [[Mirage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Mirage]]'s illusions and captured in an energy net by [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]. But Ravage's capture is all part of the Decepticons' scheme; [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] observes the whole scene and reports to acting commander [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] that things are going according to plan. Then, as night falls, Ravage escapes with ease, using his electromagnetic emission shield to simply walk through his cell's energy bars...

===Part 2: "Bumblebee Alone!"===
[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] discovers that Ravage has escaped and reports the matter to Optimus Prime. An already-low Prime is shaken even more by this revelation, and Prowl is quick to capitalize on his leader's state of mind, continuing to push for the creation of new warriors. Dismayed to see how low Prime has sunk, Bumblebee disobeys his leader's order to inform Hound and Mirage of Ravage's escape, and decides to try and recapture the Decepticon spy by himself. Unfortunately, Bumblebee does not realize that luring unsuspecting Autobots such as himself into an ambush was the very reason Ravage allowed himself to be captured in the first place, and when he follows the fleeing feline into a box canyon, he finds himself confronted by Soundwave and the other Decepticons. [[File:CrisisofCommand leader killer.jpg|thumb|250px]] Bumblebee attempts to escape, but is quickly subdued and captured, and his severed arm is dropped in front of the Ark by [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] as an invitation to Optimus Prime to come and recover the rest of him.

===Part 3: "Primed for Action!"===
As the Autobots react in horror to the sight of Bumblebee's severed limb, the hovering Laserbeak warns Optimus to come for Bumblebee alone. All indecision forgotten, Prime heads for the [[Fortress Sinister|Decepticon fortress]], but upon approach, is caught up in an earthquake generated by [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]. Optimus dispatches the little punk, but is then ambushed by [[Thundercracker (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Skywarp]]. It seems the Autobot leader has fallen, but just as [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] is closing in for the final blow—boasting about how he is a ''true'' leader of 'bots, unlike the "defeated" Prime—Optimus springs back to life and takes down all three of them with his bare hands, proving how empty Starscream's words truly are. Finally, Prime storms the fortress, defeats Soundwave and Laserbeak, and rescues Bumblebee.

After returning to the Ark, Prime addresses the Autobots on the issue of super-warriors once more. Crediting Starscream's show of false bravado with proving to him how a real leader should act, Prime formally declares that for the sake of the Earth, no such new warriors will be created—and the Autobots, moved by their commander's renewed passion and determination, accept his ruling without question.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ironhide]] (1)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (2)
*[[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] (3)
*[[Mirage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Mirage]] (4)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (5)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] (6)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (7)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] (8)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] (9)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (10)
*[[Ultimate Autobot]]s (11)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] (22)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (23)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (24)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (25)
|c2=
*[[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]] (12)
*[[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] (13)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (14)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] (15)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] (16)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Thundercracker]] (17)
*[[Skywarp (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Skywarp]] (18)
*[[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] (19)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (20)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (21)
}}

==Quotes==
"That is why Megatron, and Shockwave after him, were leaders, and you will never be anything more than '''battle fodder!''' You have no ''strategy'', no ''subtlty''. You are a missile with a mouth, '''Starscream!'''"
:—'''Soundwave'''

"[Optimus Prime]'s just waiting to be put out of his misery... waiting for the final blow from '''Starscream—the leader killer!'''" 
''<Optimus beats the tar out of everyone else in a matter of seconds>'' 
"Now, '''leader killer.''' We are '''alone.''' No lackeys to order or hide behind. Just you... just me... '''so kill me!'''"
:—'''Starscream's''' bluff is called by '''Optimus Prime''', a second before Prime punches him so hard his wings fly off

==Notes==
===Production notes===
[[File:CrisisofCommand hounds legs.jpg|thumb|275px|Upon entry to the US all Cybertronians are gifted with snazzy pairs of blue pants.]]
*In their interview in ''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 1]]'', writers [[Mike Collins]] and [[James Hill]] explained the story of "Crisis of Command!" was partially conceived as part of a planned new marketing campaign for the comic. Certain scenes were designed to "mirror" ones from [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the Generation 1 cartoon]], so that television adverts for the comic could show the cartoon clips and have them "morph" into the comic panels. These ads did not come to pass, as it was concluded that they contravened broadcast standards.
*In the same interview, they said Prowl got the job of being the heavy because he turned into a police car; specifically, they were inspired by the character of Lt. Hunter from ''Hill Street Blues''. The proposed arms race was inspired by bellicose rhetoric from Reagan and Thatcher at the time.
*Parts 1 and 2 of "Crisis of Command!" are the first published Transformers work by artist [[Geoff Senior]], who would go on to become one of the most celebrated artists on the UK title, and eventually move over to drawing the US series. Senior's two parts are also the closest the first-year UK stories come to clearly and properly drawing all the Transformers based on their finished [[character model]]s (while the third part, drawn by [[John Stokes]], defaults to the character model/[[package art|box art]]/toy mash-up designs previously used by the artist in "[[Decepticon Dam-Busters!]]"). As such, without past artistic ambiguities to cloud the matter, "Crisis of Command!" is the first story to clearly establish that the UK comic will be consistently ignoring some US coloring choices going forward and setting its own rules: namely, it will always colour Soundwave in his correct, toy-accurate blue (instead of the US comic's purple), and Hound's legs in cartoon-based white and green (as opposed to the solid blue used by the US comic, seen in the comparison at right).
{{--}}

===Continuity notes===
[[File:CrisisofCommand decepticon ambush.jpg|thumb|275px|"I've been expecting you, Mr. Bee!"]]
*The insecurities that plague Optimus Prime in this story—the product of his and the Autobots' recent string of defeats at the hands of Shockwave in [[The Last Stand|US issue #4]]-[[Prime Time!|12]], to which he flashes back—were first hinted at in [[Christmas Breaker!|the previous issue]]. This story was intended to show Prime getting 'back in the saddle' after all of those events, through the medium of having a badass ''Die Hard'' inspired fight.<ref>[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 1]], page 148</ref>
*Soundwave serves as acting commander of the Decepticons (right) following Shockwave's defeat at the hands of Optimus Prime in US issue #12, which saw him hurled into a swamp. Soundwave will retain this position for the subsequent run of UK stories, all set before Shockwave's return in [[Rock and Roll-Out!|US issue #14]].
*The Decepticons have relocated to base this operation out of their [[Fortress Sinister|old fortress base]], constructed in [[Power Play!|US issue #2]] and abandoned in [[The New Order|US issue #5]]. Oddly, Page 4 of Part 3 appears to give this base the name of "Fortress Sinister"—a name that is never used again, making one wonder if it was a mistake (as in, if the text "THE DECEPTICONS' FORTRESS SINISTER!" was meant to be the more descriptive "THE DECEPTICONS' SINISTER FORTRESS!"). Regardless, it is objectively an awesome-sounding name!
*While their last known status in US stories permits Soundwave and his cassettes to have relocated to the old fortress by the time of his story, the presence of Starscream, Skywarp, and Thundercracker is not a smooth fit with the upcoming US issue #14, which will present the three jets as having been trapped on the captured [[Oil-drilling platform|Blackrock oil-drilling platform]] since [[The Worse of Two Evils!|US issue #6]]. However, this itself seems to ignore Starscream having been shown on the mainland with the main Decepticon army in [[DIS-Integrated Circuits!|US issue #9]], so it would appear there was some travel back and forth.
*Though US writer [[Bob Budiansky]] had stopped writing Laserbeak and Ravage as possessing the power of speech by this point in the series, this story continues to present both as capable of talking. UK stories will eventually fall into line with Laserbeak, but Ravage will be a consistent talker.
*While facing the Decepticon jets, Optimus Prime remembers back to [[Xaaron|Emirate Xaaron]] appointing him supreme Autobot leader and telling him "the fate of the Autobots is in your hands now." This took place (precise dialogue and all) in the story "[[And There Shall Come...a Leader!]]", published in the [[Transformers Annual 1985|1985 Annual]], which many young readers would have received for [[Christmas]] not long before the publication of this story.
*It's not this story's fault so it's not fair to consider it an error, but Optimus Prime's decree that he will not use the Matrix to create super-warriors is turned into a lie six months later, when US stories require him to do ''exactly that'' to bring to life [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] in [[Command Performances!|US issue #19]], and later the [[Special Teams]] in [[Aerialbots over America!|issues #21]]-[[Afterdeath!|#24]]. This incongruity will be addressed in [[Transformers Annual 1986|the 1986 Annual]] story "[[The Return of the Transformers]]."

===Transformers references===
[[File:CrisisofCommand ravage captured.jpg|thumb|275px]]
*As a product of the above-mentioned advertising plan, Ravage's role in the first part of "Crisis of Command!" is loosely inspired by the cartoon episodes [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2|"More than Meets the Eye," Part 2]] and [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 3|Part 3]]. In the cartoon, Ravage and Soundwave infiltrate the Ark, only for Ravage to be captured in an energy net by the Autobots, then imprisoned and watched over by Mirage and Hound; in this story, Ravage infiltrates alone, and is captured in an energy net ''by'' Mirage and Hound (right). Later, in Part 2 of the comic, Bumblebee tracks Ravage using infra-red vision, which is how the Autobots found him to catch him in the cartoon, though there, it was Gears who used it, since infra-red vision is actually supposed to be one of his unique powers, per his [[bio]].
*Though less obvious, in-keeping with this understanding of how the story was written, it seems likely that the comic's scenes of Bumblebee fleeing through the desert from the Decepticons in vehicle mode, only to be stopped by Starscream, were inspired by similar material from "[[Transport to Oblivion (episode)|Transport to Oblivion]]."

===Continuity and plotting errors===
*When the Decepticons confront Bumblebee in the Hill-written Part 2, Buzzsaw and Frenzy are both part of the group, but the pair are unaccounted for in the Collins-penned Part 3, the only 'Cons not defeated by Optimus. Again, this probably has something to do with the cartoon influence on this story, as neither had appeared in it at the time this story would have been written and drawn.
{{--}}

===Artwork and technical errors===
[[File:CrisisofCommand cartoon ark.jpg|upright=0.8|thumb]]
*Gina Hart is incorrectly credited with colouring Part 2; a correction published in [[Shooting Star!|issue #52]] clarified that [[John Burns]] and [[Stuart Place]] were responsible, and that Place also assisted Hart on Part 3.
*Presumably as a result of the cartoon being referenced for the new marketing plan, two artistic inconsistencies jump out: in part 1, page 10, panel 3, the Ark is drawn to match its cartoon appearance (though still coloured comic-accurate grey, as seen at right), and in Part 3, Rumble uses his piledriver arms, which are not a feature of the character in the Marvel comic (but which did previously appear in "Decepticon Dam-Busters!" for similar, cartoon-inspired reasons).
*Repeating a common recurring error from early Marvel UK stories, Optimus Prime has an all-blue [[mouthplate]] throughout part 1.
*Part 1, page 1: Mirage is missing his shoulder-mounted rocket launcher. Bluestreak's forehead crest is grey instead of red. Gears is colored as Sideswipe.
*Part 1, page 4:
**Panel 2: Mirage is still missing his launcher. Bumblebee is replaced in the Autobot group with... ''[[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]]??'' Colourist Gina Hart has coloured him black and yellow like 'Bee, but ''that'' error pales next to the fact the character is present at all; he has not yet debuted in the comics, and when he does (in [[The Smelting Pool!|US issue #17]]), it will be under circumstances that preclude him from ever having been here.
**Panel 3: Mirage now has his launcher, but he's coloured like Sideswipe.
*Page 7, panel 1: Bluestreak is coloured like Prowl.
*Throughout Part 2, Prowl's forehead crest is coloured entirely red, lacking the white portion in the middle.
*Part 2, page 4: Hound's thighs are colored green like the rest of his legs, instead of white.
*Part 2, page 6, panel 1: Rumble and Frenzy both have dark blue faces. Depending on how close the UK coloring is hewing to the limited palette of the US comic, these should be very pale blue at best, or the same greyish as their guns (though Rumble's gun is incorrectly colored black here, now you mention it). Skywarp's face is also blue, when it should be the roughly same black as the rest of him; the rest of the story gets it right.
*Part 2, page 11, panels 3-4: Prowl is coloured sort of like Bluestreak, but with a blue chest instead of grey, white thighs instead of red, and a grey forehead crest instead of red.
*Throughout Part 3, Bumblebee's horns (which are drawn more like blunt nubs) are colored green, and Soundwave has an all-blue mouthplate.
*Part 3, page 1:
**Wheeljack is coloured all-blue.
**Bluestreak is coloured like Bumblebee. The colours of Bumblebee's arm are partially inverted; it's got the correct black/blue forearm and fist, but a black/blue shoulder and yellow bicep, instead of vice versa.
**Hound is drawn far too short, only coming up to Jazz's chest.
*Part 3, page 2:
**Panel 4: Wheeljack's still all blue.
**Panel 5: Prowl's forehead crest is white.
*Part 3, page 3, panel 2: Ratchet is colored like Prowl.
*Part 3, page 11, panel 4: Ironhide is drawn to look like his headless toy. Well, we ''assume'' it's Ironhide; it might be a generic. It's all-white, which suggest Ratchet, but he's in the foreground of the panel already, so it's probably just block-colouring.
{{--}}

===Other Trivia===
[[File:BattleForCybertron vs UK44 Prime Shot.jpg|upright=1.0|thumb]]
*The first panel of Part 1 was (somewhat poorly) pasted onto the two-page spread of the Autobots introducing themselves in ''[[The Transformers: The Complete Works Part 1]]''. The original pair of panels (showing the Decepticons escaping the Ark and Prowl talking to Optimus Prime) had been omitted when the spread was turned into a pull-out poster for the UK's version of ''The Transformers'' issue #2, replaced with the series' logo. Evidently the original panels had become lost when it came time to reprint the story for ''Complete Works'', requiring the substitution.
*John Stokes swipes more art from other issues, and even a [[Battle for Cybertron|Big Looker storybook]] (see right).

===Back-up material===
'''Issue #42:'''
*'''[[Back-up strips]]:''' ''Machine Man'' ("Victory," Part 4), ''[[Robo-Capers]]'' and ''Matt and the Cat''. The ''Machine Man'' back-up concludes this issue.
*'''[[Fact File|Fact File Interface]]:''' [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] and [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]]
*Soundwave resumes control of the [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|letters page]] from Ratchet after a one-issue absence.
'''Issue #43:'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''[[Iron Man]]'' ("Night of the Octopus," Part 1), ''Robo-Capers'' and ''Matt and the Cat''
'''Issue #44:'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Iron Man'' ("Night of the Octopus," Part 2), ''Robo-Capers'' and ''Matt and the Cat''

===Covers (3)===
*'''Issue #42:''' Ravage infiltrating the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], by [[Will Simpson]].
*'''Issue #43:''' Bumblebee facing down Decepticon weapons, by [[John Ridgway]].
*'''Issue #44:''' Optimus Prime takes on the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] trio, by [[Jeff Anderson]].
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-042.jpg|'''Issue #42'''
File:MarvelUK-043.jpg|'''Issue #43'''
File:MarvelUK-044.jpg|'''Issue #44'''
</gallery>

===Reprints===
<gallery>
File:Tfcolcom08.jpg|'''[[Transformers Collected Comics#8 – Spring Special 1988|''Collected Comics'' #8]]'''; cover by [[Robin Smith]] (Marvel UK, 1988)
File:Classicuk1.jpg|'''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 1|''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 1]]''' (IDW Publishing, 2011)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v3.jpg|'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]], Vol. 3: Dinobot Hunt''''' (Hachette Partworks Ltd, 2018)</gallery>

The ''Classics UK'' reprint uses the version of the story from ''Collected Comics'', lacking the individual "next time" boxes that end each chapter, and concluding with one that says "Continued in Collected Comics #9."

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

A Small War!

2024-06-24T20:47:32Z

Skteosk: /* Artwork and technical errors */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #232–233
|prev=King Con!
|next=Prime's Rib!
|title="A Small War!"
|image=MarvelUK-232.jpg
|caption=
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[August 19|19th August]] and [[August 26|26th August]] 1989
|coverdate=[[August 26|26th August]] and [[September 2|2nd September]] 1989
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|art=[[Jeff Anderson]] (#232) [[Geoff Senior]] (#233)
|letterer=[[Gary Gilbert|Glib]]
|cover=[[Lee Sullivan]] and [[Jeff Anderson]]
|editor=
|chronology=[[Marvel Comics timeline|1989]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]] ([[Primax 984.20 Gamma|Marvel UK]])
}}
'''Enter: The Micromasters!'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Generic decepticon marvel uk 230.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.85]]
On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], a [[Decepticon]] is interrupted from his guard duty by a small voice below him. He looks down, only to behold the tiniest [[Autobot]] he's ever seen! The little thing asks him to move out of the way, and the Decepticon just starts bellowing with laughter. He's still laughing when the little Autobot transforms into an assault vehicle and missile-blasts him right in the chest.

The [[Micromaster]] named [[Flak (G1)|Flak]] signals the rest of his team, the Autobot [[Battle Patrol]]. As they continue their infiltration mission, the small warriors brag to themselves about the usefulness of their unique designs—their low height and weight make covert missions a breeze, and they use much less precious [[energon]] than the larger [[Transformer]]s. Add in the fact that their firepower is barely less than a full-sized Autobot, and the Micromasters are definitely the wave of the future.

It seems the Decepticons agreed with the Battle Patrol, as the Autobot uncover the "secret weapon" they were sent to spy on: Decepticon Micromasters, being constructed under Lord [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]'s direction. Unfortunately, the entire set-up was a trap, designed by the Decepticons to lure a group of Micromasters into their lair, so that their scientists can dissect and reverse-engineer the micro construction. Realizing they are in dire straits, team leader [[Big Shot]] prepares to press his [[suicide button]], which would activate the explosive charges built into his team, designed to totally destroy the Micromasters in just such a situation. However, the Autobot fighting spirit is to never say die, so Big Shot ignores his orders and commands his team to go down fighting!

They do. And so, hours later, [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron]] sends [[Roadhandler (G1)|Roadhandler]] out with the rest of the Micromasters to locate the Battle Patrol. Instead of rescuing them, however, Xaaron commands that the Patrol be destroyed so that their secrets cannot be pilfered by the Decepticons.

[[File:Roadhandleruk.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Stop that. You do '''not'''.]]
Outside Thunderwing's base, Roadhandler reluctantly reviews the plan with his fellow Micromasters: to set a series of explosive charges around the base, leveling it to the ground and hopefully destroying the Battle Patrol inside, along with all the data cultivated from their systems. After a few minutes wrestling with the decision, however, Roadhandler and the Micromasters decide to disobey orders and risk courtmartial, breaking into the base itself in an attempt to rescue their comrades.

With [[Stakeout (G1)|Stakeout]]'s unit causing a disruption elsewhere on the base, Roadhandler and [[Powertrain]] break into the laboratory to free the Battle Patrol. Unfortunately, they discover they are too late to prevent the reverse-engineering process, as the Decepticon [[Air Strike Patrol]] are there to greet them. Roadhandler catches the new Micromasters off-guard with one of the deactivated bombs, and the Autobots overpower their opponents. The Battle Patrol are successfully rescued and brought back to [[Autobase]].

Roadhandler hands himself over to Emirate Xaaron for punishment, taking full responsibility for the team under his command, but Xaaron declines to court-martial him. After all, even the wisest of men and machines can be in error, and Xaaron realizes he needs to treat the Micromasters more as fellow soldiers, and not as mere weapons.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Flak (G1)|Flak]] (2)
*[[Big Shot]] (3)
*[[Sidetrack (G1)|Sidetrack]] (4)
*[[Sunrunner (G1)|Sunrunner]] (5)
*[[Xaaron]] (7)
*[[Roadhandler (G1)|Roadhandler]] (8)
*[[Stakeout (G1)|Stakeout]] (9)
*[[Seawatch]] (10)
*[[Swindler]] (11)
*[[Powertrain]] (12)
*[[Free Wheeler]] (13)
*[[Tailspin]] (14)
|c2=
*[[Thunderwing's expendable guard]] (1)
*[[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] (6)
*[[Whisper (G1)|Whisper]] (15)
*[[Nightflight (G1)|Nightflight]] (16)
*[[Blackjack (G1)|Blackjack]] (17)
*[[Detour (G1)|Detour]] (18)
*[[Storm Cloud (G1)|Storm Cloud]] (19)
*[[Tailwind (G1)|Tailwind]] (20)
}}

==Quotes==
"Now, I advise you to stand aside before you '''really''' get me '''angry'''!" 
"'''You've gotta be kidding! Haw! Haw!''' Watcha gonna do? Punch out my '''kneecaps'''? Ticket my '''feet? Haw!'''" 
"Ah well...'''DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU!'''"
:—'''Flak''' giving the '''expendable guard''' the option of not being blasted to bits and getting turned down.

"Rescue is nigh-on '''impossible'''. To prevent our Micromaster secrets falling into Decepticon hands...I want you to '''destroy''' the Battle Patrol!"
:—'''Emirate Xaaron''' being a bit scary.

"Is everyone clear what we have to do? Our leader, '''Emirate Xaaron''', has judged the '''Battle Patrol''' to be beyond rescue. In order to prevent the Micromaster design falling into Decepticon hands, we blow the '''whole place'''...'''including''' our captive colleagues. Understand?" 
<Long awkward silence> 
"'''No''', me neither."
:—'''Roadhandler''' struggles with his motivation.

"Your actions have helped me see the '''folly''' of my own edicts. The war against the Decepticons has got so big, so out of hand, that I've lost sight of the smaller, but '''more important''' aspects. Namely the lives of those who serve under me! I've been playing god, forgetting that the Autobot vow to preserve life wherever possible extends to my own troops. It's time that '''changed'''. We lost a '''small war''' today...but a larger battle has been '''won'''!"
:—'''Emirate Xaaron''' decides to stop being a bit scary.

==Notes==
===Artwork and technical errors===
[[File:Air strike patrol small war.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
*When the Air Strike Patrol appear, Tailwind's head is completely off-model; lacking his [[mouthplate]] and Prime-like "helmet", he's recognisable only by default as the one who isn't Storm Cloud, Nightflight or Whisper.
*On the second page of Part 2, the penultimate panel appears to show Tailspin standing immediately behind Roadhandler and starting to talk to him. The following panel continues to show Tailspin standing nearest to Roadhandler, posed as if talking, and Roadhandler addresses his reply to him...but the speech bubble for the remainder of the speech is pointing at Powertrain.
*Although the context seems to suggest all remaining 12 Micromasters from the [[Race Car Patrol]], Rescue Patrol, and [[Off Road Patrol]] are present for the raid, all the members are not clearly shown on the page.
*Some would say Roadhandler is incorrectly depicted as the same size as Xaaron at the end of the first chapter, but Jeff Anderson has always drawn [[:File:Xaaronimpactor.jpg|Xaaron much smaller compared to normal-sized Transformers]]. In the next issue, Geoff Senior depicts Xaaron just a little bit taller than the Micromasters.
*The [[Rescue Patrol (G1)|Rescue Patrol]] are displayed prominently on the cover of issue #232, although they don't appear until the second part of the story in issue #233 as supporting characters, and even then only two of them. Surely this should be the Battle Patrol's cover?

===Colored reprints===

*[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]], Volume 17: Matrix Quest, coloured by John-Paul Bove with colour assists by Ed Pirrie and Ben Pirrie

===Continuity errors===
*Fourteen months ago, the [[Triumvirate]], the unseen [[Decepticon Imperial Headquarters]], and [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] were all still alive (not to mention [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]]). How did Thunderwing nick power?!

===Continuity notes===
*The Decepticon [[Sports Car Patrol]] are seen under construction in the second part.
*Considering how much piss and vinegar the Micromasters give [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] in "[[King Con!]]", one has to wonder if Xaaron's change of heart really lasted.

===Continuity fun times===
*The story opens with a narration box stating the following events occurred "fourteen months ago". This was probably entered as a continuity reference, since "A Small War!" was first published in the UK packaged together with the US story "King Con!", where the Micromasters arrived on Earth and joined the Ark's crew. This then raises questions as Thunderwing's climb to power started in the previous UK story, "[[The Big Shutdown!]]", and ends with the later "[[Assault on the Ark!]]". This story ''has'' to take place either before them or after them, and if it's before then isn't Thunderwing presumably in charge anyway and if it's after... then, well, Optimus Prime's arrival as a [[Powermaster]] has to be happening in early summer of last year, which contradicts "[[Cold Comfort and Joy!]]"

===Real-life references===

===Other trivia===
*Issue [[The Hunting Party (Marvel)|#229's]] editorial said "[[Prime's Rib!]]" would be the next UK strip. The strips likely got shifted around to get a UK-original Micromasters story out faster.

===Back-up material===
'''Issue #232'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[King Con!]]"
*'''Reprint ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Resurrection!]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''[[Combat Colin]]''
*'''Free gift:''' magnifying glass
'''Issue #233'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "King Con!"
*'''Other strips:''' ''[[Action Force (comic)|Action Force]]'' - "Airshow" and ''Combat Colin''
*'''[[Transformers AtoZ|AtoZ]]:''' [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] and [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]
*'''Free gift:''' temporary [[tattoo]]

===Generics===
{{see|Thunderwing's expendable guard}}
This issue featured some notable [[generic]] Cybertronian Decepticons:
<gallery>
File:Generic decepticon 2 marvel uk 230.jpg|A Decepticon guard failed to notice the Battle Patrol (or at least pretended to).
File:Generic decepticon 3 marvel uk 230.jpg|The unsung scientist who created the Decepticon Micromasters.
</gallery>

===Foreign Localization===
'''Swedish'''
:* ''Title:'' "'''Ett Litet Krig!'''" ("A Small War!")
* Thunderwing is given the rank of Non-commissioned officer ("Underofficer") here, possibly as an attempt to smooth over the above contentious continuity.

===Covers (2)===
*'''Issue #232 cover:''' Thunderwing and Micromasters, by [[Lee Sullivan]].
*'''Issue #233 cover:''' [[Bomb-Burst (G1)|Bomb-Burst]], [[Submarauder (G1)|Submarauder]] and a friendly chap, by [[Jeff Anderson]].
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-232.jpg|'''Issue #232''':
File:MarvelUK-233.jpg|'''Issue #233''':
</gallery>

===Reprints===
*'''''[[Transformers: Perchance to Dream]]'':''' [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] gets smacked around by [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] - detail from cover of issue [[...Perchance to Dream|#259]], by [[Andrew Wildman]].
*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]], Volume 17: Matrix Quest:''''' Nightbeat and Prime's corpse by [[Makoto Ono]] and [[Geoff Senior]].
<gallery>
File:Titan B&W Compilation-Perchance to Dream.jpg|'''''Perchance to Dream''''' (Titan Books, 2006)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v17.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 17: Matrix Quest''''' (Hachette Partworks, Ltd., 2018)
</gallery>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Small War!}}
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

A Small War!

2024-06-24T20:41:29Z

Skteosk: /* Quotes */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #232–233
|prev=King Con!
|next=Prime's Rib!
|title="A Small War!"
|image=MarvelUK-232.jpg
|caption=
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[August 19|19th August]] and [[August 26|26th August]] 1989
|coverdate=[[August 26|26th August]] and [[September 2|2nd September]] 1989
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|art=[[Jeff Anderson]] (#232) [[Geoff Senior]] (#233)
|letterer=[[Gary Gilbert|Glib]]
|cover=[[Lee Sullivan]] and [[Jeff Anderson]]
|editor=
|chronology=[[Marvel Comics timeline|1989]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]] ([[Primax 984.20 Gamma|Marvel UK]])
}}
'''Enter: The Micromasters!'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Generic decepticon marvel uk 230.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.85]]
On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], a [[Decepticon]] is interrupted from his guard duty by a small voice below him. He looks down, only to behold the tiniest [[Autobot]] he's ever seen! The little thing asks him to move out of the way, and the Decepticon just starts bellowing with laughter. He's still laughing when the little Autobot transforms into an assault vehicle and missile-blasts him right in the chest.

The [[Micromaster]] named [[Flak (G1)|Flak]] signals the rest of his team, the Autobot [[Battle Patrol]]. As they continue their infiltration mission, the small warriors brag to themselves about the usefulness of their unique designs—their low height and weight make covert missions a breeze, and they use much less precious [[energon]] than the larger [[Transformer]]s. Add in the fact that their firepower is barely less than a full-sized Autobot, and the Micromasters are definitely the wave of the future.

It seems the Decepticons agreed with the Battle Patrol, as the Autobot uncover the "secret weapon" they were sent to spy on: Decepticon Micromasters, being constructed under Lord [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]'s direction. Unfortunately, the entire set-up was a trap, designed by the Decepticons to lure a group of Micromasters into their lair, so that their scientists can dissect and reverse-engineer the micro construction. Realizing they are in dire straits, team leader [[Big Shot]] prepares to press his [[suicide button]], which would activate the explosive charges built into his team, designed to totally destroy the Micromasters in just such a situation. However, the Autobot fighting spirit is to never say die, so Big Shot ignores his orders and commands his team to go down fighting!

They do. And so, hours later, [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron]] sends [[Roadhandler (G1)|Roadhandler]] out with the rest of the Micromasters to locate the Battle Patrol. Instead of rescuing them, however, Xaaron commands that the Patrol be destroyed so that their secrets cannot be pilfered by the Decepticons.

[[File:Roadhandleruk.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Stop that. You do '''not'''.]]
Outside Thunderwing's base, Roadhandler reluctantly reviews the plan with his fellow Micromasters: to set a series of explosive charges around the base, leveling it to the ground and hopefully destroying the Battle Patrol inside, along with all the data cultivated from their systems. After a few minutes wrestling with the decision, however, Roadhandler and the Micromasters decide to disobey orders and risk courtmartial, breaking into the base itself in an attempt to rescue their comrades.

With [[Stakeout (G1)|Stakeout]]'s unit causing a disruption elsewhere on the base, Roadhandler and [[Powertrain]] break into the laboratory to free the Battle Patrol. Unfortunately, they discover they are too late to prevent the reverse-engineering process, as the Decepticon [[Air Strike Patrol]] are there to greet them. Roadhandler catches the new Micromasters off-guard with one of the deactivated bombs, and the Autobots overpower their opponents. The Battle Patrol are successfully rescued and brought back to [[Autobase]].

Roadhandler hands himself over to Emirate Xaaron for punishment, taking full responsibility for the team under his command, but Xaaron declines to court-martial him. After all, even the wisest of men and machines can be in error, and Xaaron realizes he needs to treat the Micromasters more as fellow soldiers, and not as mere weapons.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Flak (G1)|Flak]] (2)
*[[Big Shot]] (3)
*[[Sidetrack (G1)|Sidetrack]] (4)
*[[Sunrunner (G1)|Sunrunner]] (5)
*[[Xaaron]] (7)
*[[Roadhandler (G1)|Roadhandler]] (8)
*[[Stakeout (G1)|Stakeout]] (9)
*[[Seawatch]] (10)
*[[Swindler]] (11)
*[[Powertrain]] (12)
*[[Free Wheeler]] (13)
*[[Tailspin]] (14)
|c2=
*[[Thunderwing's expendable guard]] (1)
*[[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] (6)
*[[Whisper (G1)|Whisper]] (15)
*[[Nightflight (G1)|Nightflight]] (16)
*[[Blackjack (G1)|Blackjack]] (17)
*[[Detour (G1)|Detour]] (18)
*[[Storm Cloud (G1)|Storm Cloud]] (19)
*[[Tailwind (G1)|Tailwind]] (20)
}}

==Quotes==
"Now, I advise you to stand aside before you '''really''' get me '''angry'''!" 
"'''You've gotta be kidding! Haw! Haw!''' Watcha gonna do? Punch out my '''kneecaps'''? Ticket my '''feet? Haw!'''" 
"Ah well...'''DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU!'''"
:—'''Flak''' giving the '''expendable guard''' the option of not being blasted to bits and getting turned down.

"Rescue is nigh-on '''impossible'''. To prevent our Micromaster secrets falling into Decepticon hands...I want you to '''destroy''' the Battle Patrol!"
:—'''Emirate Xaaron''' being a bit scary.

"Is everyone clear what we have to do? Our leader, '''Emirate Xaaron''', has judged the '''Battle Patrol''' to be beyond rescue. In order to prevent the Micromaster design falling into Decepticon hands, we blow the '''whole place'''...'''including''' our captive colleagues. Understand?" 
<Long awkward silence> 
"'''No''', me neither."
:—'''Roadhandler''' struggles with his motivation.

"Your actions have helped me see the '''folly''' of my own edicts. The war against the Decepticons has got so big, so out of hand, that I've lost sight of the smaller, but '''more important''' aspects. Namely the lives of those who serve under me! I've been playing god, forgetting that the Autobot vow to preserve life wherever possible extends to my own troops. It's time that '''changed'''. We lost a '''small war''' today...but a larger battle has been '''won'''!"
:—'''Emirate Xaaron''' decides to stop being a bit scary.

==Notes==
===Artwork and technical errors===
[[File:Air strike patrol small war.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
*When the Air Strike Patrol appear, Tailwind's head is completely off-model; lacking his [[mouthplate]] and Prime-like "helmet", he's recognisable only by default as the one who isn't Storm Cloud, Nightflight or Whisper.
*Although the context seems to suggest all remaining 12 Micromasters from the [[Race Car Patrol]], Rescue Patrol, and [[Off Road Patrol]] are present for the raid, all the members are not clearly shown on the page.
*Some would say Roadhandler is incorrectly depicted as the same size as Xaaron at the end of the first chapter, but Jeff Anderson has always drawn [[:File:Xaaronimpactor.jpg|Xaaron much smaller compared to normal-sized Transformers]]. In the next issue, Geoff Senior depicts Xaaron just a little bit taller than the Micromasters.
*The [[Rescue Patrol (G1)|Rescue Patrol]] are displayed prominently on the cover of issue #232, although they don't appear until the second part of the story in issue #233 as supporting characters, and even then only two of them. Surely this should be the Battle Patrol's cover?

===Colored reprints===

*[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]], Volume 17: Matrix Quest, coloured by John-Paul Bove with colour assists by Ed Pirrie and Ben Pirrie

===Continuity errors===
*Fourteen months ago, the [[Triumvirate]], the unseen [[Decepticon Imperial Headquarters]], and [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] were all still alive (not to mention [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]]). How did Thunderwing nick power?!

===Continuity notes===
*The Decepticon [[Sports Car Patrol]] are seen under construction in the second part.
*Considering how much piss and vinegar the Micromasters give [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] in "[[King Con!]]", one has to wonder if Xaaron's change of heart really lasted.

===Continuity fun times===
*The story opens with a narration box stating the following events occurred "fourteen months ago". This was probably entered as a continuity reference, since "A Small War!" was first published in the UK packaged together with the US story "King Con!", where the Micromasters arrived on Earth and joined the Ark's crew. This then raises questions as Thunderwing's climb to power started in the previous UK story, "[[The Big Shutdown!]]", and ends with the later "[[Assault on the Ark!]]". This story ''has'' to take place either before them or after them, and if it's before then isn't Thunderwing presumably in charge anyway and if it's after... then, well, Optimus Prime's arrival as a [[Powermaster]] has to be happening in early summer of last year, which contradicts "[[Cold Comfort and Joy!]]"

===Real-life references===

===Other trivia===
*Issue [[The Hunting Party (Marvel)|#229's]] editorial said "[[Prime's Rib!]]" would be the next UK strip. The strips likely got shifted around to get a UK-original Micromasters story out faster.

===Back-up material===
'''Issue #232'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[King Con!]]"
*'''Reprint ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Resurrection!]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''[[Combat Colin]]''
*'''Free gift:''' magnifying glass
'''Issue #233'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "King Con!"
*'''Other strips:''' ''[[Action Force (comic)|Action Force]]'' - "Airshow" and ''Combat Colin''
*'''[[Transformers AtoZ|AtoZ]]:''' [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] and [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]
*'''Free gift:''' temporary [[tattoo]]

===Generics===
{{see|Thunderwing's expendable guard}}
This issue featured some notable [[generic]] Cybertronian Decepticons:
<gallery>
File:Generic decepticon 2 marvel uk 230.jpg|A Decepticon guard failed to notice the Battle Patrol (or at least pretended to).
File:Generic decepticon 3 marvel uk 230.jpg|The unsung scientist who created the Decepticon Micromasters.
</gallery>

===Foreign Localization===
'''Swedish'''
:* ''Title:'' "'''Ett Litet Krig!'''" ("A Small War!")
* Thunderwing is given the rank of Non-commissioned officer ("Underofficer") here, possibly as an attempt to smooth over the above contentious continuity.

===Covers (2)===
*'''Issue #232 cover:''' Thunderwing and Micromasters, by [[Lee Sullivan]].
*'''Issue #233 cover:''' [[Bomb-Burst (G1)|Bomb-Burst]], [[Submarauder (G1)|Submarauder]] and a friendly chap, by [[Jeff Anderson]].
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-232.jpg|'''Issue #232''':
File:MarvelUK-233.jpg|'''Issue #233''':
</gallery>

===Reprints===
*'''''[[Transformers: Perchance to Dream]]'':''' [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] gets smacked around by [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] - detail from cover of issue [[...Perchance to Dream|#259]], by [[Andrew Wildman]].
*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]], Volume 17: Matrix Quest:''''' Nightbeat and Prime's corpse by [[Makoto Ono]] and [[Geoff Senior]].
<gallery>
File:Titan B&W Compilation-Perchance to Dream.jpg|'''''Perchance to Dream''''' (Titan Books, 2006)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v17.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 17: Matrix Quest''''' (Hachette Partworks, Ltd., 2018)
</gallery>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Small War!}}
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

A Small War!

2024-06-24T20:40:38Z

Skteosk: /* Quotes */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #232–233
|prev=King Con!
|next=Prime's Rib!
|title="A Small War!"
|image=MarvelUK-232.jpg
|caption=
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[August 19|19th August]] and [[August 26|26th August]] 1989
|coverdate=[[August 26|26th August]] and [[September 2|2nd September]] 1989
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|art=[[Jeff Anderson]] (#232) [[Geoff Senior]] (#233)
|letterer=[[Gary Gilbert|Glib]]
|cover=[[Lee Sullivan]] and [[Jeff Anderson]]
|editor=
|chronology=[[Marvel Comics timeline|1989]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]] ([[Primax 984.20 Gamma|Marvel UK]])
}}
'''Enter: The Micromasters!'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Generic decepticon marvel uk 230.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.85]]
On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], a [[Decepticon]] is interrupted from his guard duty by a small voice below him. He looks down, only to behold the tiniest [[Autobot]] he's ever seen! The little thing asks him to move out of the way, and the Decepticon just starts bellowing with laughter. He's still laughing when the little Autobot transforms into an assault vehicle and missile-blasts him right in the chest.

The [[Micromaster]] named [[Flak (G1)|Flak]] signals the rest of his team, the Autobot [[Battle Patrol]]. As they continue their infiltration mission, the small warriors brag to themselves about the usefulness of their unique designs—their low height and weight make covert missions a breeze, and they use much less precious [[energon]] than the larger [[Transformer]]s. Add in the fact that their firepower is barely less than a full-sized Autobot, and the Micromasters are definitely the wave of the future.

It seems the Decepticons agreed with the Battle Patrol, as the Autobot uncover the "secret weapon" they were sent to spy on: Decepticon Micromasters, being constructed under Lord [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]'s direction. Unfortunately, the entire set-up was a trap, designed by the Decepticons to lure a group of Micromasters into their lair, so that their scientists can dissect and reverse-engineer the micro construction. Realizing they are in dire straits, team leader [[Big Shot]] prepares to press his [[suicide button]], which would activate the explosive charges built into his team, designed to totally destroy the Micromasters in just such a situation. However, the Autobot fighting spirit is to never say die, so Big Shot ignores his orders and commands his team to go down fighting!

They do. And so, hours later, [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron]] sends [[Roadhandler (G1)|Roadhandler]] out with the rest of the Micromasters to locate the Battle Patrol. Instead of rescuing them, however, Xaaron commands that the Patrol be destroyed so that their secrets cannot be pilfered by the Decepticons.

[[File:Roadhandleruk.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Stop that. You do '''not'''.]]
Outside Thunderwing's base, Roadhandler reluctantly reviews the plan with his fellow Micromasters: to set a series of explosive charges around the base, leveling it to the ground and hopefully destroying the Battle Patrol inside, along with all the data cultivated from their systems. After a few minutes wrestling with the decision, however, Roadhandler and the Micromasters decide to disobey orders and risk courtmartial, breaking into the base itself in an attempt to rescue their comrades.

With [[Stakeout (G1)|Stakeout]]'s unit causing a disruption elsewhere on the base, Roadhandler and [[Powertrain]] break into the laboratory to free the Battle Patrol. Unfortunately, they discover they are too late to prevent the reverse-engineering process, as the Decepticon [[Air Strike Patrol]] are there to greet them. Roadhandler catches the new Micromasters off-guard with one of the deactivated bombs, and the Autobots overpower their opponents. The Battle Patrol are successfully rescued and brought back to [[Autobase]].

Roadhandler hands himself over to Emirate Xaaron for punishment, taking full responsibility for the team under his command, but Xaaron declines to court-martial him. After all, even the wisest of men and machines can be in error, and Xaaron realizes he needs to treat the Micromasters more as fellow soldiers, and not as mere weapons.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Flak (G1)|Flak]] (2)
*[[Big Shot]] (3)
*[[Sidetrack (G1)|Sidetrack]] (4)
*[[Sunrunner (G1)|Sunrunner]] (5)
*[[Xaaron]] (7)
*[[Roadhandler (G1)|Roadhandler]] (8)
*[[Stakeout (G1)|Stakeout]] (9)
*[[Seawatch]] (10)
*[[Swindler]] (11)
*[[Powertrain]] (12)
*[[Free Wheeler]] (13)
*[[Tailspin]] (14)
|c2=
*[[Thunderwing's expendable guard]] (1)
*[[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] (6)
*[[Whisper (G1)|Whisper]] (15)
*[[Nightflight (G1)|Nightflight]] (16)
*[[Blackjack (G1)|Blackjack]] (17)
*[[Detour (G1)|Detour]] (18)
*[[Storm Cloud (G1)|Storm Cloud]] (19)
*[[Tailwind (G1)|Tailwind]] (20)
}}

==Quotes==
"Now, I advise you to stand aside before you '''really''' get me '''angry'''!" 
"'''You've gotta be kidding! Haw! Haw!''' Watcha gonna do? Punch out my '''kneecaps'''? Ticket my '''feet? Haw!'''" 
"Ah well...'''DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU!'''"
:—'''Flak''' giving the '''expendable guard''' the option of not being blasted to bits and getting turned down.

"Rescue is nigh-on '''impossible'''. To prevent our Micromaster secrets falling into Decepticon hands...I want you to '''destroy''' the Battle Patrol!"
:—'''Emirate Xaaron''' being a bit scary.

"Is everyone clear what we have to do? Our leader, '''Emirate Xaaron''', has judged the '''Battle Patrol''' to be beyond rescue. In order to prevent the Micromaster design falling into Decepticon hands, we blow the '''whole place'''...'''including''' our captive colleagues. Understand?" 
<Long awkward silence> 
"'''No''', me neither."
:—'''Roadhandler''' struggles with his motivation.

"Your actions have helped me see the '''folly''' of my own edicts. The war against the Decepticons has got so big, so out of hand, that I've lost sight of the smaller, but '''more important''' aspects. Namely the lives of those who serve under me! I've been playing god, forgetting that the Autobot vow to preserve life wherever possible extends to my own troops. It's time that '''changed'''. We lost a '''small war''' today...but a larger battle has been '''won'''!"
:–'''Emirate Xaaron''' decides to stop being a bit scary.

==Notes==
===Artwork and technical errors===
[[File:Air strike patrol small war.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
*When the Air Strike Patrol appear, Tailwind's head is completely off-model; lacking his [[mouthplate]] and Prime-like "helmet", he's recognisable only by default as the one who isn't Storm Cloud, Nightflight or Whisper.
*Although the context seems to suggest all remaining 12 Micromasters from the [[Race Car Patrol]], Rescue Patrol, and [[Off Road Patrol]] are present for the raid, all the members are not clearly shown on the page.
*Some would say Roadhandler is incorrectly depicted as the same size as Xaaron at the end of the first chapter, but Jeff Anderson has always drawn [[:File:Xaaronimpactor.jpg|Xaaron much smaller compared to normal-sized Transformers]]. In the next issue, Geoff Senior depicts Xaaron just a little bit taller than the Micromasters.
*The [[Rescue Patrol (G1)|Rescue Patrol]] are displayed prominently on the cover of issue #232, although they don't appear until the second part of the story in issue #233 as supporting characters, and even then only two of them. Surely this should be the Battle Patrol's cover?

===Colored reprints===

*[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]], Volume 17: Matrix Quest, coloured by John-Paul Bove with colour assists by Ed Pirrie and Ben Pirrie

===Continuity errors===
*Fourteen months ago, the [[Triumvirate]], the unseen [[Decepticon Imperial Headquarters]], and [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] were all still alive (not to mention [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]]). How did Thunderwing nick power?!

===Continuity notes===
*The Decepticon [[Sports Car Patrol]] are seen under construction in the second part.
*Considering how much piss and vinegar the Micromasters give [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] in "[[King Con!]]", one has to wonder if Xaaron's change of heart really lasted.

===Continuity fun times===
*The story opens with a narration box stating the following events occurred "fourteen months ago". This was probably entered as a continuity reference, since "A Small War!" was first published in the UK packaged together with the US story "King Con!", where the Micromasters arrived on Earth and joined the Ark's crew. This then raises questions as Thunderwing's climb to power started in the previous UK story, "[[The Big Shutdown!]]", and ends with the later "[[Assault on the Ark!]]". This story ''has'' to take place either before them or after them, and if it's before then isn't Thunderwing presumably in charge anyway and if it's after... then, well, Optimus Prime's arrival as a [[Powermaster]] has to be happening in early summer of last year, which contradicts "[[Cold Comfort and Joy!]]"

===Real-life references===

===Other trivia===
*Issue [[The Hunting Party (Marvel)|#229's]] editorial said "[[Prime's Rib!]]" would be the next UK strip. The strips likely got shifted around to get a UK-original Micromasters story out faster.

===Back-up material===
'''Issue #232'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[King Con!]]"
*'''Reprint ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Resurrection!]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''[[Combat Colin]]''
*'''Free gift:''' magnifying glass
'''Issue #233'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "King Con!"
*'''Other strips:''' ''[[Action Force (comic)|Action Force]]'' - "Airshow" and ''Combat Colin''
*'''[[Transformers AtoZ|AtoZ]]:''' [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] and [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]
*'''Free gift:''' temporary [[tattoo]]

===Generics===
{{see|Thunderwing's expendable guard}}
This issue featured some notable [[generic]] Cybertronian Decepticons:
<gallery>
File:Generic decepticon 2 marvel uk 230.jpg|A Decepticon guard failed to notice the Battle Patrol (or at least pretended to).
File:Generic decepticon 3 marvel uk 230.jpg|The unsung scientist who created the Decepticon Micromasters.
</gallery>

===Foreign Localization===
'''Swedish'''
:* ''Title:'' "'''Ett Litet Krig!'''" ("A Small War!")
* Thunderwing is given the rank of Non-commissioned officer ("Underofficer") here, possibly as an attempt to smooth over the above contentious continuity.

===Covers (2)===
*'''Issue #232 cover:''' Thunderwing and Micromasters, by [[Lee Sullivan]].
*'''Issue #233 cover:''' [[Bomb-Burst (G1)|Bomb-Burst]], [[Submarauder (G1)|Submarauder]] and a friendly chap, by [[Jeff Anderson]].
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-232.jpg|'''Issue #232''':
File:MarvelUK-233.jpg|'''Issue #233''':
</gallery>

===Reprints===
*'''''[[Transformers: Perchance to Dream]]'':''' [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] gets smacked around by [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] - detail from cover of issue [[...Perchance to Dream|#259]], by [[Andrew Wildman]].
*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]], Volume 17: Matrix Quest:''''' Nightbeat and Prime's corpse by [[Makoto Ono]] and [[Geoff Senior]].
<gallery>
File:Titan B&W Compilation-Perchance to Dream.jpg|'''''Perchance to Dream''''' (Titan Books, 2006)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v17.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 17: Matrix Quest''''' (Hachette Partworks, Ltd., 2018)
</gallery>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Small War!}}
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

A Small War!

2024-06-24T20:40:08Z

Skteosk: /* Quotes */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #232–233
|prev=King Con!
|next=Prime's Rib!
|title="A Small War!"
|image=MarvelUK-232.jpg
|caption=
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[August 19|19th August]] and [[August 26|26th August]] 1989
|coverdate=[[August 26|26th August]] and [[September 2|2nd September]] 1989
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|art=[[Jeff Anderson]] (#232) [[Geoff Senior]] (#233)
|letterer=[[Gary Gilbert|Glib]]
|cover=[[Lee Sullivan]] and [[Jeff Anderson]]
|editor=
|chronology=[[Marvel Comics timeline|1989]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]] ([[Primax 984.20 Gamma|Marvel UK]])
}}
'''Enter: The Micromasters!'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Generic decepticon marvel uk 230.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.85]]
On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], a [[Decepticon]] is interrupted from his guard duty by a small voice below him. He looks down, only to behold the tiniest [[Autobot]] he's ever seen! The little thing asks him to move out of the way, and the Decepticon just starts bellowing with laughter. He's still laughing when the little Autobot transforms into an assault vehicle and missile-blasts him right in the chest.

The [[Micromaster]] named [[Flak (G1)|Flak]] signals the rest of his team, the Autobot [[Battle Patrol]]. As they continue their infiltration mission, the small warriors brag to themselves about the usefulness of their unique designs—their low height and weight make covert missions a breeze, and they use much less precious [[energon]] than the larger [[Transformer]]s. Add in the fact that their firepower is barely less than a full-sized Autobot, and the Micromasters are definitely the wave of the future.

It seems the Decepticons agreed with the Battle Patrol, as the Autobot uncover the "secret weapon" they were sent to spy on: Decepticon Micromasters, being constructed under Lord [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]'s direction. Unfortunately, the entire set-up was a trap, designed by the Decepticons to lure a group of Micromasters into their lair, so that their scientists can dissect and reverse-engineer the micro construction. Realizing they are in dire straits, team leader [[Big Shot]] prepares to press his [[suicide button]], which would activate the explosive charges built into his team, designed to totally destroy the Micromasters in just such a situation. However, the Autobot fighting spirit is to never say die, so Big Shot ignores his orders and commands his team to go down fighting!

They do. And so, hours later, [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron]] sends [[Roadhandler (G1)|Roadhandler]] out with the rest of the Micromasters to locate the Battle Patrol. Instead of rescuing them, however, Xaaron commands that the Patrol be destroyed so that their secrets cannot be pilfered by the Decepticons.

[[File:Roadhandleruk.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Stop that. You do '''not'''.]]
Outside Thunderwing's base, Roadhandler reluctantly reviews the plan with his fellow Micromasters: to set a series of explosive charges around the base, leveling it to the ground and hopefully destroying the Battle Patrol inside, along with all the data cultivated from their systems. After a few minutes wrestling with the decision, however, Roadhandler and the Micromasters decide to disobey orders and risk courtmartial, breaking into the base itself in an attempt to rescue their comrades.

With [[Stakeout (G1)|Stakeout]]'s unit causing a disruption elsewhere on the base, Roadhandler and [[Powertrain]] break into the laboratory to free the Battle Patrol. Unfortunately, they discover they are too late to prevent the reverse-engineering process, as the Decepticon [[Air Strike Patrol]] are there to greet them. Roadhandler catches the new Micromasters off-guard with one of the deactivated bombs, and the Autobots overpower their opponents. The Battle Patrol are successfully rescued and brought back to [[Autobase]].

Roadhandler hands himself over to Emirate Xaaron for punishment, taking full responsibility for the team under his command, but Xaaron declines to court-martial him. After all, even the wisest of men and machines can be in error, and Xaaron realizes he needs to treat the Micromasters more as fellow soldiers, and not as mere weapons.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Flak (G1)|Flak]] (2)
*[[Big Shot]] (3)
*[[Sidetrack (G1)|Sidetrack]] (4)
*[[Sunrunner (G1)|Sunrunner]] (5)
*[[Xaaron]] (7)
*[[Roadhandler (G1)|Roadhandler]] (8)
*[[Stakeout (G1)|Stakeout]] (9)
*[[Seawatch]] (10)
*[[Swindler]] (11)
*[[Powertrain]] (12)
*[[Free Wheeler]] (13)
*[[Tailspin]] (14)
|c2=
*[[Thunderwing's expendable guard]] (1)
*[[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] (6)
*[[Whisper (G1)|Whisper]] (15)
*[[Nightflight (G1)|Nightflight]] (16)
*[[Blackjack (G1)|Blackjack]] (17)
*[[Detour (G1)|Detour]] (18)
*[[Storm Cloud (G1)|Storm Cloud]] (19)
*[[Tailwind (G1)|Tailwind]] (20)
}}

==Quotes==
"Now, I advise you to stand aside before you '''really''' get me '''angry'''!" 
"'''You've gotta be kidding! Haw! Haw!''' Watcha gonna do? Punch out my '''kneecaps'''? Ticket my '''feet? Haw!'''" 
"Ah well...'''DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU!'''"
:—'''Flak''' giving the '''expendable guard''' the option of not being blasted to bits and getting turned down.

"Rescue is nigh-on '''impossible'''. To prevent our Micromaster secrets falling into Decepticon hands...I want you to '''destroy''' the Battle Patrol!"
:—'''Emirate Xaaron''' being a bit scary.

"Is everyone clear what we have to do? Our leader, '''Emirate Xaaron''', has judged the '''Battle Patrol''' to be beyond rescue. In order to prevent the Micromaster design falling into Decepticon hands, we blow the '''whole place'''...'''including''' our captive colleagues. Understand?" 
<Long awkward silence> 
"'''No''', me neither."
:—'''Roadhandler''' struggles with his motivation.

"Your actions have helped me see the '''folly''' of my own edicts. The war against the Decepticons has got so big, so out of hand, that I've lost sight of the smaller, but '''more important''' aspects. Namely the lives of those who serve under me! I've been playing god, forgetting that the Autobot vow to preserve life wherever possible extends to my own troops. It's time that '''changed'''. We lost a '''small war''' today...but a larger battle has been '''won'''!"
:–'''Emirate Xaaron''' decides to stop being a bit scary.

==Notes==
===Artwork and technical errors===
[[File:Air strike patrol small war.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
*When the Air Strike Patrol appear, Tailwind's head is completely off-model; lacking his [[mouthplate]] and Prime-like "helmet", he's recognisable only by default as the one who isn't Storm Cloud, Nightflight or Whisper.
*Although the context seems to suggest all remaining 12 Micromasters from the [[Race Car Patrol]], Rescue Patrol, and [[Off Road Patrol]] are present for the raid, all the members are not clearly shown on the page.
*Some would say Roadhandler is incorrectly depicted as the same size as Xaaron at the end of the first chapter, but Jeff Anderson has always drawn [[:File:Xaaronimpactor.jpg|Xaaron much smaller compared to normal-sized Transformers]]. In the next issue, Geoff Senior depicts Xaaron just a little bit taller than the Micromasters.
*The [[Rescue Patrol (G1)|Rescue Patrol]] are displayed prominently on the cover of issue #232, although they don't appear until the second part of the story in issue #233 as supporting characters, and even then only two of them. Surely this should be the Battle Patrol's cover?

===Colored reprints===

*[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]], Volume 17: Matrix Quest, coloured by John-Paul Bove with colour assists by Ed Pirrie and Ben Pirrie

===Continuity errors===
*Fourteen months ago, the [[Triumvirate]], the unseen [[Decepticon Imperial Headquarters]], and [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] were all still alive (not to mention [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]]). How did Thunderwing nick power?!

===Continuity notes===
*The Decepticon [[Sports Car Patrol]] are seen under construction in the second part.
*Considering how much piss and vinegar the Micromasters give [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] in "[[King Con!]]", one has to wonder if Xaaron's change of heart really lasted.

===Continuity fun times===
*The story opens with a narration box stating the following events occurred "fourteen months ago". This was probably entered as a continuity reference, since "A Small War!" was first published in the UK packaged together with the US story "King Con!", where the Micromasters arrived on Earth and joined the Ark's crew. This then raises questions as Thunderwing's climb to power started in the previous UK story, "[[The Big Shutdown!]]", and ends with the later "[[Assault on the Ark!]]". This story ''has'' to take place either before them or after them, and if it's before then isn't Thunderwing presumably in charge anyway and if it's after... then, well, Optimus Prime's arrival as a [[Powermaster]] has to be happening in early summer of last year, which contradicts "[[Cold Comfort and Joy!]]"

===Real-life references===

===Other trivia===
*Issue [[The Hunting Party (Marvel)|#229's]] editorial said "[[Prime's Rib!]]" would be the next UK strip. The strips likely got shifted around to get a UK-original Micromasters story out faster.

===Back-up material===
'''Issue #232'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[King Con!]]"
*'''Reprint ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Resurrection!]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''[[Combat Colin]]''
*'''Free gift:''' magnifying glass
'''Issue #233'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "King Con!"
*'''Other strips:''' ''[[Action Force (comic)|Action Force]]'' - "Airshow" and ''Combat Colin''
*'''[[Transformers AtoZ|AtoZ]]:''' [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] and [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]
*'''Free gift:''' temporary [[tattoo]]

===Generics===
{{see|Thunderwing's expendable guard}}
This issue featured some notable [[generic]] Cybertronian Decepticons:
<gallery>
File:Generic decepticon 2 marvel uk 230.jpg|A Decepticon guard failed to notice the Battle Patrol (or at least pretended to).
File:Generic decepticon 3 marvel uk 230.jpg|The unsung scientist who created the Decepticon Micromasters.
</gallery>

===Foreign Localization===
'''Swedish'''
:* ''Title:'' "'''Ett Litet Krig!'''" ("A Small War!")
* Thunderwing is given the rank of Non-commissioned officer ("Underofficer") here, possibly as an attempt to smooth over the above contentious continuity.

===Covers (2)===
*'''Issue #232 cover:''' Thunderwing and Micromasters, by [[Lee Sullivan]].
*'''Issue #233 cover:''' [[Bomb-Burst (G1)|Bomb-Burst]], [[Submarauder (G1)|Submarauder]] and a friendly chap, by [[Jeff Anderson]].
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-232.jpg|'''Issue #232''':
File:MarvelUK-233.jpg|'''Issue #233''':
</gallery>

===Reprints===
*'''''[[Transformers: Perchance to Dream]]'':''' [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] gets smacked around by [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] - detail from cover of issue [[...Perchance to Dream|#259]], by [[Andrew Wildman]].
*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]], Volume 17: Matrix Quest:''''' Nightbeat and Prime's corpse by [[Makoto Ono]] and [[Geoff Senior]].
<gallery>
File:Titan B&W Compilation-Perchance to Dream.jpg|'''''Perchance to Dream''''' (Titan Books, 2006)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v17.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 17: Matrix Quest''''' (Hachette Partworks, Ltd., 2018)
</gallery>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Small War!}}
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Flashback!

2024-03-30T14:21:13Z

Skteosk: /* Quotes */

{{disambigr|Flashback|Blaster's bird partner|Blockrock}}

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #268
|prev=Snow Fun!
|next=Power Struggle
|seriesissue2=[[Earthforce]]
|next2=Mystery!
|title="Flashback!"
|image=MarvelUK-268.jpg
|caption=Oh boy!
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[April 28|28th April]] [[1990]]
|coverdate=[[May 5|5th May]] 1990
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|pencils=[[John Marshall]]
|inks=[[Stephen Baskerville]]
|colours=
|lettering=[[Gary Gilbert|Glib]]
|editor=
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]/[[Earthforce]]
}}
'''In pursuit of Megatron, Prowl goes back to his own death!'''

==Synopsis==
{{Earthforcefiction}}
[[File:Snaptrapflashback.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.3|Don't tell me you were a transforming car ''too'', Al! ]]
The [[Autobot]]s have discovered [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] is using a [[Flashback Doorway]] to project his mind into a being in the past. [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] steps through to follow him and arrives inside his own past body during the battle with the [[Underbase]] powered [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]].

Megatron is after extra troops and has possessed the body of [[Snaptrap (G1)|Snap Trap]] with the intention of altering history to ensure the [[Seacon (G1)|Seacons]] survive. Because of the consequences this could have to the timeline, Prowl seeks to stop him. Confronting them in the river, Prowl calls out Megatron's name and the latter, realising he has been followed, transforms into Snap Trap's [[robot mode]]. As the two [[time travel]]lers battle, Prowl drops hints that Megatron should know who he is and at a crucial moment, Megatron pauses in shock when he thinks it's [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]. Prowl takes advantage of this knocks out Megatron, whose consciousness returns to the present.

Prowl hangs around long enough to see Starscream destroy first the Seacons and then, despite his desire to run, himself. His consciousness returns to the present where [[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] tells him Megatron has fled.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] (1)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] (10)
|c2=
*[[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] (2)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] (3)
*[[Snaptrap (G1)|Snap Trap]] (4)
*[[Overbite (G1)|Jawbreaker]] (5)
*[[Skalor]] (6)
*[[Tentakil (G1)|Tentakil]] (7)
*[[Nautilator]] (8)
*[[Seawing (G1)|Seawing]] (9)
}}

==Quotes==
"That's right, '''Prowl''' -- '''Starscream''' is now a...'''god'''!"
:—'''Starscream''' reminds everyone he was a bit nuts in those days.

"I'm '''hurt''' you don't realise who I am, '''Megatron'''. We've fought enough '''battles''' over the years!" 
"What are you talking about? Why should I know-- No! '''Prime?!'''" 
"Nope - '''Prowl'''! But it was worth a '''try'''!"
:—'''Prowl''' psyches '''Megatron''' out

"I tell you, '''Jazz''', dying '''once''' is bad enough...'''twice''' is beyond a joke!"
:—'''Prowl''' has had a bad day.

==Notes==
===Artwork notes===
*The title of the story has the last four letters printed in mirror image.
*Every panel set in the past has the curved-edges look used to denote 'flashback' in regular strips!

===Continuity errors===
*A letter writer answers an earlier letter on 'who built Optimus' by recounting "[[War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn]]".<strike>The editor</strike> Dreadwind cheerfully says "there you go" as if it's comic canon, pausing only to say he's never heard of this [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] bloke "but then who am I?"<ref>[[Letters page (Marvel UK)|Dread Tidings]], issue [[Source:Dread Tidings#Issue 268|268]]</ref> Probably the editor didn't know this was a cartoon story and thought he was being nice by printing a young kid's story.

===Continuity notes===
*The events in the past take place during those of "[[Dark Star]]". However, in that story, only the death of the Seacons is seen on panel.
*Megatron just happens to have a time machine! How, we dunno (five pages gives no room) but chronologically this is the first time machine made in Marvel continuity.
*Megatron has frozen up or reacted with fear to a sudden Optimus Prime in "[[Gone but Not Forgotten!]]" and (sorta) "[[Salvage!]]".

===Real-life references===
*''[[Quantum Leap]]'' had recently started airing in the UK and the story gleefully pinches the idea of time-travelling into other people's bodies to change the outcome.

===Other trivia===
*This issue's ''Transformation'' doesn't promote "Flashback!" much except saying the art is "certainly interesting". The bulk of the section is devoted to promoting the upcoming ''The Knights of Pendragon'' miniseries (as ''Pendragon'' by mistake) and flagging up recurring ''Captain Britain'' character Dai Thomas ("of ''Excalibur'' fame!") rather than, er, the appearance of Cap.
*Good news, chums! Dreadwind explicitly says in the letters "Nobody is too old to read ''Transformers''!"

===Back-up material===
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Blood on the Tracks]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''[[Action Force (comic)|G.I. Joe the Action Force]]'' - "Shuttle Complex" and ''[[Combat Colin]]''

===Cover===
*'''Issue #268 cover:''' Megatron/Snap Trap tries to stab Prowl in the past, by [[Stephen Baskerville]].
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-268.jpg|'''Issue #268''' - Dark Star Redux
</gallery>

===Reprints===
*'''''[[Transformers: Fallen Star]]'' :''' Megatron and Shockwave fight at [[Memphis Airport]]. Cropped from the cover of issue [[Internal Affairs!|#277]], art by [[Staz|Stewart Johnson]].
*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 20: End of the Road:''''' Bludgeon (art reused from [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s ''[[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' profiles) above an interior scene of Grimlock punching through Fangry (from [[End of the Road! (US)|US issue #80]]), by [[Andrew Wildman]].
<gallery>
File:Titan B&W Compilation-Fallen Star.jpg|'''''Fallen Star''''' (Titan Books, 2005)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v20.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 20: End of the Road''''' (Hachette Partworks, 2018)
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Rage!

2023-08-10T01:17:38Z

Skteosk: /* Quotes */

{{disambig3|Rage}}
{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #241
|prev=Out to Lunch!
|next=Assault on the Ark!
|title="Rage!"
|image=MarvelUK-241.jpg
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[October 21|21st October]] [[1989]]
|coverdate=[[October 28|28th October]] 1989
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|art=[[Andrew Wildman|Andy Wildman]]
|letterer=[[Stuart Bartlett]]
|cover=[[Geoff Senior]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''Thunderwing's back, and he's not happy.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] has finally surfaced from the waters, after being nearly cooked alive inside his own [[Pretender]] shell by [[Siren (G1)|Siren]],
[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]], and [[Hosehead (G1)|Hosehead]]. Blinded by fury, he begins striking out at everything around him looking for the [[Autobot|Autobots]] who humiliated him, and even attacks a [[Decepticon]] shuttle coming to meet him. [[Ruckus (G1)|Ruckus]] and the other Decepticons approach him as representatives of the [[Decepticon High Council]], informing Thunderwing that his bid for leadership is still under review, and he is asked to return to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] for further deliberation. Instead, Thunderwing forcibly commandeers Ruckus and his crew for an assault on the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] to gain revenge on those who dared harm him.

==Featured characters==
''(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.)'' 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*''[[Siren (G1)|Siren]]'' (2)
*''[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (4)
*''[[Hosehead (G1)|Hosehead]]'' (5)
|c2=
*[[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] (1)
*[[Ruckus (G1)|Ruckus]] (6)
*[[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] (7)
*[[Flamefeather (G1)|Flamefeather]] (8)
*[[Windsweeper]] (9)
*[[Quake (G1)|Quake]] (10)
|c4=
*''[[Muzzle]]'' (3)
}}

==Quotes==
"'''WHERE ARE THEY?!''' Where are the '''Autobots?''' Answer me, '''human germs'''...or feel the wrath of '''Thunderwing'''!"
:—'''Thunderwing''' making an entrance.

"'''There''' he is - and he's... Aw, '''heck'''! He's '''attacking''' us!"
:—'''Decepticons''' having their first encounter with Thunderwing.

"Aww, come on. Just cause you fouled up the '''last''' test doesn't mean your bid for the '''Decepticon leadership''' has failed! There's been no verdict, as yet."
:—'''Ruckus''' sort-of but sort-of-not reassuring Thunderwing.

"The '''Ark''', eh? In that case, Ruckus, ready your men...for an '''assault on the Ark'''!"
:—'''Thunderwing''' anticipates the title of [[Assault on the Ark!|next week's strip]].

==Notes==
===Artwork and technical errors===
*TBD
===Continuity errors===
*TBD
===Continuity notes===
*Thunderwing totally kills those humans.
*Chronologically, this story predates issues [[A Small War!|#232–233]] and [[Out to Lunch!|#240]], which all show or reference Thunderwing having already achieved Decepticon leadership.

===Real-life references===
*TBD
===Other trivia===
*TBD

===Back-up material===
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Back from the Dead]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''[[Action Force (comic)|Action Force]]'' - "Evasion" and ''[[Combat Colin]]''

===Foreign Localization===
'''Swedish'''
:* ''Title:'' "'''Thunderwings vrede!'''" ("The Wrath of Thunderwing!")

===Cover===
* '''Issue #241 cover:''' Thunderwing emerges from the sea, by [[Geoff Senior]].
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-241.jpg|'''Issue #241'''
</gallery>

===Reprints===
*'''''[[Transformers: Perchance to Dream]]:''''' [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] smacks down [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], detail from the cover of [[...Perchance to Dream|issue #259]], by [[Andrew Wildman]].
*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Vol 19: Perchance to Dream:''''' [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (from early IDW promo art), by [[Guido Guidi]] above a retro scene of the [[Battlecharger]]s (from [[Worlds Apart!|Marvel UK #255]] cover) by [[Stephen Baskerville]].
<gallery>
File:Titan B&W Compilation-Perchance to Dream.jpg|'''''Perchance to Dream''''' (Titan Books, 2006)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v19.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection'' Vol. 19''' (Hachette Partworks, 2017)
</gallery>

[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Demons!

2023-06-02T23:57:47Z

Skteosk: /* Quotes */

{{disambig2|the comic story|the title character group|Demon}}

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #246
|prev=All the Familiar Faces!
|next=Dawn of Darkness
|title="Demons!"
|image=MarvelUK-246.jpg
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[November 25|25th November]] [[1989]]
|coverdate=[[December 2|2nd December]] 1989
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|art=[[Jeff Anderson]]
|letterer=[[Annie Halfacree]]
|chronology=[[Marvel Comics timeline|1989]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]] ([[Primax 984.20 Gamma|Marvel UK]])
}}
'''How do the Autobots prove they didn't slaughter a group of Decepticons?'''

==Synopsis==
The explosion in the [[Underworld]] has released [[Demon|creatures]] who have tasted for the first time in many millions of years. Now they want to taste more...

[[Seawatch]] has been caught alone by three unnamed [[Decepticon]]s. They rough him up a bit, but then they are attacked by unseen creatures. Seawatch survives but is so terrifed his mind shuts down.

In the repair bay at [[Autobase]], [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron]] details how all three Decepticons had their very life force sucked out of them, but, with Seawatch non-responsive, it is hard to devise a plan. He dispatches [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]], [[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]], and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] to investigate and find proof that the [[Autobot]]s were not responsible, in order to prevent Decepticon reprisals.

Deep underground, the Autobots discuss whether to search discreetly or try luring the creatures to them, when they encounter the Decepticons [[Ruckus (G1)|Ruckus]], [[Windsweeper]], [[Sparkstalker]], and [[Cindersaur (G1)|Cindersaur]]. As a fight breaks out, Bumblebee steps back and wonders how to stop the Decepticons from sending more in reprisals. But that can only be done if they can find the culprits...

Two of the [[demon]]s are not far away, standing right behind Bumblebee!

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Seawatch]] (2)
*[[Fixit (G1)|Fixit]] (3)
*[[Xaaron]] (4)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] (5)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] (6)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] (7)
|c2=
*[[Ruckus (G1)|Ruckus]] (8)
*[[Windsweeper]] (9)
*[[Sparkstalker]] (10)
*[[Cindersaur (G1)|Cindersaur]] (11)
|c4=
*[[Jackhammer (G1)|Jackhammer]] (1)
*[[Demon]]s (12)
}}

==Quotes==
"Now - some folks say you should only pick on people your own size. But we're '''Decepticons'''..." 
"We go out of our way to pick on people '''smaller''' than us!"
:—Two '''generic Decepticons''' showing why no-one will miss them

"Some-'''one''' or some-'''thing''' tore three '''vicious Decepticons''' apart before they could fire a '''shot'''! It '''sucked''' them dry, '''Fixit'''! There wasn't a '''trace''' of '''lifeforce''' left in them!"
:—'''Emirate Xaaron''', sounding like he's not quite sure whether to be upset or not.

"'''Huh'''! Hate this sneaking about! Make '''big noise''', bring the '''creature''' to us!" 
"Smart move, '''Grimlock'''! That way we bring the entire '''Decepticon army''' down on us too!"
:—'''Grimlock''' coming up with a characteristically intellectual plan and '''Bumblebee''' being fed up [[Mechanical Difficulties!|being under his command again]] already

==Notes==
===Artwork and technical errors===
*TBD

===Continuity errors===
*TBD

===Continuity notes===
*It is unclear how much time has elapsed since the events of "[[Underworld!]]"
*This story takes place between the US stories "[[Skin Deep]]" and "[[Yesterday's Heroes!]]". However it was reprinted before them, and consequently pre-empted the resurrection of Grimlock, Jazz and Bumblebee, due to the US material being interrupted by reprints of old UK stories and thus throwing off attempts to make the two strips tie into one another.

===Real-life references===
*TBD

===Other trivia===
*TBD

===Back-up material===
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[All the Familiar Faces!]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''[[Action Force (comic)|Action Force]]'' - "Law of the Jungle!" and ''[[Combat Colin]]''

===Foreign Localization===
'''Swedish'''
*: ''Title:'' "'''Demoner'''" ("Demons")

===Cover===
*'''Issue #246 cover:''' a Demon reflected in Seawatch's eye, by [[Staz|Stewart Johnson]].
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-246.jpg|'''Issue #246'''
</gallery>

===Generics===
The three Decepticons that attack Seawatch are typical [[generic]]s—they have no names or obvious [[alternate mode]]s, and are dead within six panels.
<gallery>
File:Seawatch generic decepticons marvel uk 246.jpg|They have presumably encountered Seawatch before; one even calls him by name.
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*{{w|Get Fresh|Gilbert the alien}} and the Sun-Pat peanut butter school survival kit mailaway offer
*[[Action Force (team)|Action Force]] Weapon Transport and [[Cobra]] Night Landing
*''[[Hulk|The Incredible Hulk]] Presents'' comic
*Spooky Wooky, one of the ''Fiendish Feet'' yoghurts and desserts (back cover)

===Reprints===
*'''''[[Transformers: Aspects of Evil]]:''''' Rodimus Prime and Unicron fight, by [[Stephen Baskerville]]. Cropped version of [[White Fire|issue #254's]] cover.
*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Vol 19: Perchance to Dream:''''' [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (from early IDW promo art), by [[Guido Guidi]] above a retro scene of the [[Battlecharger]]s (from [[Worlds Apart!|Marvel UK #255]] cover), by Stephen Baskerville.
<gallery>
File:Titan B&W Compilation-Aspects of Evil.jpg|'''''Aspects of Evil'' TPB''' (Titan Books, 2005)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v19.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection'' Vol. 19''' (IDW Publishing, 2017)
</gallery>

[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

The Greatest Gift of All!

2023-04-21T23:39:08Z

Skteosk: /* Continuity notes */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #250
|prev=Whose Lifeforce Is It Anyway?
|next=The Void! (UK)
|title="The Greatest Gift of All!"
|image=MarvelUK-250.jpg
|caption="Incidentally... a happy Christmas to ''all'' of you at home!"
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[December 23|23rd December]] [[1989]]
|coverdate=[[December 30|30th December]] 1989
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|art=[[Staz]]
|letterer=[[Helen Stone]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''Optimus Prime grants a gift to the Earth.'''

==Synopsis==
It's [[Christmas]] Day, [[1989]]. [[Longtooth]]'s piece of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]] has reached [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]. Now he can grant life to ''one'' of the many deactivated [[Autobot]]s. He considers [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] as they need a medic, [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] for his leadership, one of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] for their strength... Optimus is suddenly revolted at the idea of playing god, and briefly decides to choose a random person to revive—settling on [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]]—but cannot go through with such an arbitrary way of deciding who lives.

His dilemma is interrupted by a report: [[Stakeout (G1)|Stakeout]] and the [[Rescue Patrol (G1)|Rescue Patrol]] have cornered [[Whisper (G1)|Whisper]], who has an open-ended contract on all of Autobot High Command, and are closing in. As Optimus Prime monitors the battle—ordering no harm comes to human or animal life—he briefly considers reviving [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], only to wonder if he'd resent being chosen when others weren't. His musing is interrupted when the Rescue Patrol comes under attack by Whisper's [[Air Strike Patrol]] buddies. The resulting battle trashes a forest, and, in monitoring it, Optimus gets a computer report on the environmental knock-on damage being caused.

Optimus Prime suddenly realises how much damage their war has done to [[Earth]] without him realising. He calls the Rescue Patrol back to base and sends the Matrix fragment into Earth's atmosphere, causing rain that repairs the damage the battle has done to the environment. "He has a gift, the greatest gift of all... he gladly gives it to the Earth!"

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] (2)
*[[Stakeout (G1)|Stakeout]] (3)
*[[Seawatch]] (4)
*[[Fixit (G1)|Fixit]] (5)
*[[Red Hot]] (6)
*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (8)
|c2=
*[[Whisper (G1)|Whisper]] (7)
*[[Tailwind (G1)|Tailwind]] (9)
*[[Nightflight (G1)|Nightflight]] (10)
*[[Storm Cloud (G1)|Storm Cloud]] (11)
}}

==Quotes==
"When asked how he chose which Autobot to give life to, the Autobot's leader replied 'I flipped a coin.' No, I don't think so..."
:— '''Optimus Prime''' decides against random selection.

"We've got him cornered, Prime. With his wings clipped, there's nowhere left to go!"
:— '''Stakeout''' enjoying his work.

"He has a Christmas gift...the greatest gift of all...he gives it gladly to the Earth!"
:— '''Closing narration'''

==Notes==
===Artwork and technical errors===
*TBD
===Continuity errors===
*TBD

===Continuity notes===
*This is the last UK strip that ties into the US strip—after this comes a four-part (and last) post-movie strip, and then [[Earthforce]].
*It's also the last Marvel UK Christmas story in strip form! *sob* British fans would have to put up with "[[Dreadwind's Xmas!]]" the following year and then wait until [[Transformers Comic issue 2.19|2010]] for another one.
*Seaspray has been taken offline at some point since we saw him in issue [[The Man in the Machine!|#212]].
*The Air Strike Patrol appear to have gone AWOL from the Decepticons after "[[Skin Deep]]" - they're targeting Autobot leaders for money, not under orders.
*The Matrix can heal organic life if used properly.
*The scores of Autobot wounded are primarily from "[[Dark Star]]", when the [[Underbase]]-powered [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] decimated their ranks.
*This takes place after [[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] was presumed dead ("[[Skin Deep]]"), which is why Optimus needs a medic. However, Fixit, who is seen among the Earth Autobots in this story, has taken over the role by "[[Eye of the Storm]]".
*The Rescue Patrol arrived on Earth in "[[The Primal Scream|Primal Scream]]".

===Real-life references===
*TBD

===Other trivia===
*On the cover, [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] is playing with a [[toy]] of himself. This would not be the last time a Bumblebee would do [[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|such a thing]].

===Back-up material===
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Skin Deep]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''[[Combat Colin]]''
*'''[[Transformers AtoZ|AtoZ]]:''' [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]
*Combat Colin is in a [[Christmas with Combat Colin|full-colour strip]] that references the Transformers' party depicted on the cover.
*This issue also featured a competition where readers could win one of 30 [[Rocket Base|Micro-master pocket bases]]{{sic}} by identifying which six Transformers had been mixed up in the matter transmitter — they were [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]], Optimus Prime, [[Mirage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Mirage]], [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]], [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] and [[Headstrong (G1)|Headstrong]].

===Foreign Localization===
'''Swedish'''
:* ''Title:'' "'''Den största gåvan av alla'''" ("The Greatest Gift of All")

===Cover===
*'''Issue #250 cover:''' the Transformers' Christmas party, by [[Andrew Wildman]].
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-250.jpg|'''Issue #250'''
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*Kellogg's Rice Krispies
*[[Micromaster]]s [[Sports Car Patrol]], [[Rescue Patrol (G1)|Rescue Patrol]] and [[Battle Patrol]] sets
*Classified ads
*''[[Hulk|The Incredible Hulk]] Presents'' featuring [[Doctor Who]], {{w|Indiana Jones}} and [[Action Force (comic)|Action Force]] every week from [[Marvel Comics]]

===Reprints===
*'''Issue #332 cover:''' [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] about to dismember [[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]]
*'''''[[Transformers: Way of the Warrior]]'':''' Carnivac and Springer stand victorious over a [[Limbo]] nightmare creature, by [[Simon Coleby]].
*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Vol 19: Perchance to Dream:''''' [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (from early IDW promo art), by [[Guido Guidi]] above a retro scene of the [[Battlecharger]]s (from [[Worlds Apart!|Marvel UK #255]] cover) by [[Stephen Baskerville]].

<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-332.jpg|'''Issue #332'''; cover art by [[Andrew Wildman]]
File:Titan B&W Compilation-Way of the Warrior.jpg|'''''Way of the Warrior''''' (Titan Books, 2005)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v19.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection'' Vol. 19''' (Hachette Partworks, Ltd., 2017)
</gallery>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Greatest Gift of All!}}
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Talk:Ladies' Night (issue)

2023-03-23T01:43:11Z

Skteosk: /* Throttlebots present */

==Throttlebots present==
I was bemused to see Chase absent from the cast of characters and checked Issue 138 to make sure I hadn't been missing something all these years. As far as I can see, all three sports car Throttlebots are present...but confusingly, we never see all three in the same panel. I don't think any of them are referred to by name, so for the sake of argument I'm saying Chase is red, Freeway is blue and Searchlight is white. (I think the flipped colour scheme only appears in [[The Cure!|US #Issue 30]] and the G.I. Joe issue.) So:
* Page 8 Panel 2: Chase and Freeway in robot mode (with Blaster, Wideload, Rollbar and Goldbug)
* Page 8 Panel 5: Freeway and Searchlight in vehicle mode (with Wideload, Rollbar and Goldbug)
* Page 12 Panel 4: Chase and Searchlight in robot mode (with Goldbug and Wideload)
Am I right or is there something in the designs that means both of Chase's appearances are other characters miscoloured? [[User:Skteosk|Skteosk]] ([[User talk:Skteosk|talk]]) 21:30, 22 March 2023 (EDT)

Talk:Ladies' Night (issue)

2023-03-23T01:30:51Z

Skteosk: Created page with "==Throttlebots present== I was bemused to see Chase absent from the cast of characters and checked Issue 139 to make sure I hadn't been missing something all these years. As f..."

==Throttlebots present==
I was bemused to see Chase absent from the cast of characters and checked Issue 139 to make sure I hadn't been missing something all these years. As far as I can see, all three sports car Throttlebots are present...but confusingly, we never see all three in the same panel. I don't think any of them are referred to by name, so for the sake of argument I'm saying Chase is red, Freeway is blue and Searchlight is white. (I think the flipped colour scheme only appears in [[The Cure!|US #Issue 30]] and the G.I. Joe issue.) So:
* Page 8 Panel 2: Chase and Freeway in robot mode (with Blaster, Wideload, Rollbar and Goldbug)
* Page 8 Panel 5: Freeway and Searchlight in vehicle mode (with Wideload, Rollbar and Goldbug)
* Page 12 Panel 4: Chase and Searchlight in robot mode (with Goldbug and Wideload)
Am I right or is there something in the designs that means both of Chase's appearances are other characters miscoloured? [[User:Skteosk|Skteosk]] ([[User talk:Skteosk|talk]]) 21:30, 22 March 2023 (EDT)

Ladies' Night (issue)

2023-03-23T01:23:39Z

Skteosk: /* Featured characters */ See talk page

{{disambig2|the Marvel UK comic story|the fictional TV show mentioned within|Ladies' Night (programme)}}
{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #137–138
|prev=Grudge Match!
|next=Love and Steel!
|title="Ladies' Night"
|image=MarvelUK-138.jpg
|caption=The ''Transformers'' and ''Charlie's Angels'' crossover begins here!
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|coverdate=[[October 31|31st October]] - [[November 7|7th November]] [[1987]]
|script=[[Simon Furman]]
|art=[[Dan Reed]] (137), [[Geoff Senior]] (138)
|colours=[[Euan Peters]] (#137), [[Nick Abadzis]] (#138)
|letters=[[Annie Halfacree]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''Three human women take on the Combaticons, who are trying to dispose of Ultra Magnus and Galvatron.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Susanjoycindy.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.7|"Why it could be Grease Lightning!"]]
Archaeologist [[Susan Hoffman]] is investigating the dormant volcano [[Mount Verona]] and is shocked to discover the entombed bodies of [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]]. She is later interviewed on television by journalist [[Joy Meadows]]. The news report is later seen by the [[Decepticon]]s and by [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]], [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], and the [[Throttlebot]]s.

[[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]], seeing an opportunity to rid himself of Galvatron for good, dispatches [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] and the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] to blow the volcano up. Goldbug, Blaster, and the Throttlebots set out to rescue Ultra Magnus.

Also watching the news is [[Cindy Newell]], who had once befriended Ultra Magnus. Upon seeing his body, she sets out for Mount Verona herself and demands that Susan and Joy help her to free him.

It is just at that moment that the Combaticons attack. They plan to plant explosives around the volcano burying Galvatron and Ultra Magnus forever.

When they reach the volcano, Goldbug and Rollbar overhear the Combaticons' plan and decide that destroying Galvatron is ultimately more important than freeing Ultra Magnus. As they are about to leave they are confronted by Cindy with Joy and Susan in tow. She demands that they help her free Ultra Magnus but Goldbug refuses and tells her to go home. They then depart to keep an eye on things from a distance.

Cindy is unwilling to leave Ultra Magnus to his fate, however, and with the help of Susan and Joy takes on the Combaticons. Using an abandoned jeep that was left behind by the military when the Combaticons attacked, they first take down [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] before luring the other Combaticons to a second jeep loaded with explosives. They then attack them with a tank causing the jeep to explode violently.

All the Combaticons except [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] are brought down. He is just about to kill his attackers when the Throttlebots return, feeling guilty for having left the women to fight alone.

Onslaught and the Combaticons leave but the Autobots are nervous as they feel that everything was too easy. They realise that the Combaticons have lain explosives around the whole volcano and that they plan to detonate it from a distance. Fortunately, Blaster is able to jam Soundwave’s detonation signal giving them time to defuse the bomb. The Decepticons depart defeated.

Goldbug and the Throttlebots leave as well after expressing their admiration that mere humans could have defeated the Combaticons on their own. (Joy thought he was going to say "mere ''women''" and was not happy.)

Inside the volcano, the earlier explosion has weakened the hardened lava and Galvatron begins to stir.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (3)
*[[Rollbar (G1)|Rollbar]] (4)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]] (5)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (6)
*[[Chase (G1)|Chase]] (15)
*[[Wideload (G1)|Wideload]] (16)
*[[Freeway (G1)|Freeway]] (17)
*[[Searchlight (G1)|Searchlight]] (18)
|c2=
*[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (2)
*[[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] (8)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] (9)
*[[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (10)
*[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (11)
*[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (12)
*[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (13)
*[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (14)
|c3=
*[[Susan Hoffman]] (1)
*[[Joy Meadows]] (6)
*[[Cindy Newell]] (7)
}}

==Quotes==
"Well, '''Rollbar''', what do you reckon?" 
"It's '''great!''' We never had anything like this on our homeworld of '''Cybertron'''. What did you say it was, '''Goldbug?'''" 
"The humans call it '''tee-vee'''. As far as I can work out, it's some kind of '''emotion heightener'''. Very addictive!" 
"This is a particularly good moo-vee. My sort of hero, this '''Herbie!'''"
:—'''Goldbug''' and '''Rollbar'''

"Heck - you'd try and sell your own brain module if you thought you'd make a profit, wouldn't you, '''Swindle?'''"
:—'''Blast Off''' has Swindle's number.

"Is this wise? I've met other robots, and some of them-" 
"Are '''okay'''. Just be cool."
:—'''Susan Hoffman''' and '''Joy Meadows'''

"'''Jeez!''' It's comin' straight for me! I gotta - '''GHAA!'''"
:—'''Swindle''' channels his inner Uncle Jimbo.

"'''Yaay!''' Score one for the humans! I knew that edition of '''Ladies' Night''' I did on a woman tank driver would come in handy one day!"
:—'''Joy Meadows''', badass.

==Notes==
===Artwork and technical errors===
[[File:LadiesNightSwindleJeepScale.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Gee, I sure wish I had stayed that large.]]
*In part 1, Swindle picks up a military Jeep and holds it in one hand, dwarfing it by far. In part 2, the burning Jeep that crashes into him is in [[scale]] with Swindle's [[robot mode]]. What, can he choose the size of his robot mode at will?

===Continuity errors===
*How exactly does the discovery of two alien robots that were trapped inside a volcano only a few months ago (as explicitly confirmed by Cindy) constitute "the greatest find" of Susan's career? How would the destruction of those robots make her the "laughing stock of archaeological circles"?
*The Throttlebots walk off and leave Ultra Magnus entombed in the volcano at the end of the story rather than releasing him, despite this being the reason for their involvement in the first place.
*Even though they were defeated, why do the Decepticons not try to kill Galvatron again once the coast is clear?

===Continuity notes===
*This is a deliberate team-up of Marvel UK female supporting characters: Susan Hoffman had previously appeared in #125's "[[Ancient Relics!]]", Joy Meadows had befriended the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]] [[Sludge (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Sludge]] in #48's part of "[[Dinobot Hunt!]]" and had been macked on by him in "[[In the National Interest]]", and Cindy had befriended Ultra Magnus in #115-6's "[[Burning Sky!]]" before leaving in anger at his apparently suicidal need to keep fighting Galvatron.
*This story neatly ties together the UK "[[Wanted: Galvatron — Dead or Alive!]]" arc (which featured Goldbug) with the US Goldbug, Blaster and the Throttlebots arc. The [[Used Autobots|next US story]] would also feature the Combaticons hunting down the Autobot "rebels", which in the UK continuity now becomes a rematch between the two groups.
*Teased at the end of the story, it would take Galvatron a number of months before he finally breaks free in "[[Enemy Action!]]".

===Real-life references===
* Goldbug, Rollbar and Blaster are seen watching one of the ''{{w|Herbie}}'' movies.

===Back-up material===
'''Issue #137'''
*'''Back-up ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Broken Glass!]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''[[Robo-Capers]]''

'''Issue #138'''
*'''Back-up ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Love and Steel!]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''Robo-Capers''
*'''[[Transformers AtoZ|AtoZ]]:''' [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] and [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]]

===Covers (2)===
*'''Issue #137 cover: '''Susan Hoffman (looking like Susanna Hoffs from the Bangles) uncovering Ultra Magnus, by [[Lee Sullivan]].
*'''Issue #138 cover: '''Susan, Cindy and Joy telling Rollbar & Goldbug to stay back, by [[Barry Kitson]].
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-137.jpg|'''Issue #137'''
File:MarvelUK-138.jpg|'''Issue #138'''
</gallery>

===Reprints===
*'''[[Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 14|''Transformers Comic-Magazin'' #14]] cover:''' Optimus Prime shooting Iguanus.
*'''''[[Transformers: Legacy of Unicron]]'' cover: '''[[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] gazes at his pawns, by [[Geoff Senior]] & [[Oliver Harud]].
*'''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 4|''Classics UK'' Volume 4]] cover:''' [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus]] and Galvatron fight whilst [[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]] squeezes [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] and Goldbug rides [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]], by [[Andrew Wildman]].
*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]], Volume 11: The Legacy of Unicron:''''' Wreck-Gar and Unicron by [[Don Figueroa]] and [[Dan Reed]].
<gallery>
File:Tf commag 14.JPG|'''''Transformers Comic-Magazin'' #14''' (Condor Verlag, 1991)
File:TitanLoU.jpg|'''''Transformers: Legacy of Unicron''''' (Titan Books, 2003)
File:Classicuk4.jpg|'''''Classics UK'' Volume 4''' (IDW Publishing, 2013)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v11.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection vol. 11: The Legacy of Unicron''''' (Hachette Partworks, Ltd., 2018)
</gallery>

[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Chase (G1)

2023-03-23T01:22:06Z

Skteosk: /* Marvel The Transformers comics */

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2}}
{{disambigm|Chase (disambiguation)|Roadburner}}
:''Chase is an [[Autobot]] [[Throttlebot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:Chase g1 boxart.jpg|upright=1.0|thumb|Yes, but do his best stories feature [[wikia:left4dead:Ellis/Quotes#Stories|a guy named Keith?]]]]
As a warrior, '''Chase'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s (aka '''Roadburn''') only outstanding asset is his staunch courage, but it's his attitude that earns him his many friends in the [[Autobot]] ranks. Yes, he's a motormouthed braggart and rather full of himself, but his storytelling skills are so fantastic that few mind when he monopolizes the conversation. Combine that ability with the enthusiastic, superficial friendliness and charisma of a talented politician, and it's no wonder Chase is well liked, despite his flaws.

Many of Chase's missions are rather routine; radar is his specialty. He can detect objects as small as [[Toaster]] on the horizon, and see a tennis ball two miles away—three of them, in fact, at the same time, in three different directions. He seldom needs to engage the enemy closely, but even the least dangerous "milk run" comes alive with purpose and excitement when Chase is telling its story.

Impulsive and quick-thinking, Chase's 240 mph top speed often places him far ahead of his comrades on his scouting missions, and frequently he's the first to roar down a promising byway, heedless of possible ambush or hazards. Sometimes this leads him into trouble. Most often this trouble is mechanical; Chase's body, especially his drivetrain, just isn't engineered to keep up with his mind.

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
{{note|Throughout the Marvel comic, Chase has [[Searchlight (G1)|Searchlight]]'s white color scheme. See [[#Notes|Notes]] for more.}}
[[File:TheCure Searchlight.JPG|left|thumb|upright=1.1|"This one time, my buddy Keith, on a DARE, got a tattoo: "I'm a moron" right across his forehead, man. 'Course, he made two hundred bucks off that, so...You ask yourself: Who's the REAL moron?"]]
Thanks to a Decepticon [[Titanium-class Destruction Drone]], Chase and his fellow Throttlebots were captured during one of their attacks on fuel storage depot, and brought to the Chief Decepticon Fuel Auditor [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]. An outbreak of [[Scraplet]]s had begun on [[Earth]], and Ratbat ordered them to travel there and destroy all of the infected—or he would destroy the planet itself to prevent spread of the deadly disease. Given new Earth-style vehicle forms and canisters of corrosive acid, Chase and the others arrived on Earth. Chase stayed at the primary site of the infection with Freeway and Searchlight, while Rollbar and Wideload went to track another Transformer who'd left the scene. Rollbar and Wideload eventually returned with [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]], his human friend [[Charlie Fong|Charley Fong]], and a cure for Scraplets: the "rare chemical" [[water]]. With this knowledge, they managed to destroy all the Scraplets with help from another of the Earthbound Autobots' allies, [[G.B. Blackrock]]. {{storylink|The Cure!}}

''Chase and the other Throttlebots accompanied Goldbug in checking out [[Mount Verona]], where [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] had been found encased in lava. Goldbug initially decided to just monitor from a distance and let the Decepticons destroy Galvatron, but when it became clear humans could be in danger, he led Chase and the others to the scene, where they forced [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] to leave the humans alone and withdraw at gunpoint.'' {{storylink|Ladies' Night (issue)|Ladies' Night}}

Chase and the Throttlebots continued to travel on Earth with Goldbug and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], but that only made them targets for virtually everyone—the Decepticons, the Autobot faction Goldbug had gone AWOL from, and the humans who hated and feared all Cybertronians. After escaping one of the Combaticons, Goldbug suggested they hide in a used car lot (because that [[Plight of the Bumblebee!|worked so well for him before]]). Astonishingly the owner, [[Big Steve Ludwig (G1)|Big Steve Ludwig]], noticed a giant earthmover dump truck magically appearing on his lot, and soon put two-and-two together after receiving a notice from the local [[Rapid Anti-robot Assault Team|RAAT]] boys. After pouring sugar into the Autobots' gas tanks, he summoned the proper authorities. Chase and the other Throttlebots were carted off and taken prisoner by RAAT's parent organization, [[Intelligence and Information Institute|Triple-I]]. {{storylink|Used Autobots}}

[[File:DarkStar Throttlebots die.JPG|thumb|upright=1.1|"I ever tell you about the time Keith and I made fireworks? Now, I didn't know shit about chemistry, but Keith figured 'Gasoline burns, doesn't it?" Heh, third-degree burns on 95% of his body. Man, people in the next city over were calling to complain about the smell of burning skin."]]
Still not recognizing the difference between Autobots and Decepticons, III's bigwigs publicly threatened to execute their prisoners if any more robot attacks took place. Guess what—the Decepticons were willing to call their bluff. After the inevitable raid, [[Forrest Forsythe]] ordered the Autobots crushed into cubes. However, a sympathetic (and borderline competent) agent named [[Walter Barnett (G1)|Walter Barnett]] realized Chase and his friends were telling the truth about there being two factions of robots, and salvaged their cerebro-circuits before the execution, transferring their brain chips into electronic toy cars. Barnett then brought the Autobots in his care to meet with [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]], longtime friend of their Earthbound forces. The reunion was cut short by the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]], who had caught the Throttlebots' scent, and sought to crush them dead in their vulnerable state. The Throttlebots managed to outmaneuver their pursuers through a shopping center. Barnett and Buster were separated during the chase, with most of the Throttlebots winding up in Barnett's custody once more. {{storylink|Toy Soldiers!}}

Chase and the rest of the Throttlebots remained in Barnett's possession for some time. The human brought the five of them to consult on a hostage situation after Buster wound up on the Decepticons' [[Club Con|island base]]. Before any of them had the chance to dispense any advice, the island transformed into a spacecraft and launched, with Buster still on board. {{storylink|The Desert Island of Space!}} The Throttlebots were apparently returned to the Autobots at some point, and reconstructed into new bodies replicating their old ones. When an [[Underbase]]-powered [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] announced that he would "destroy the cities of [[New York City|New York]], [[Tokyo]], and [[Buenos Aires]]," Chase was among the allied Autobot/Decepticon teams sent ahead to [[Japan]] to try and stop him. He and the rest of the Throttlebots didn't get to put up much of a fight, as they were all destroyed by Starscream before even getting a chance to transform. {{storylink|Dark Star}}
{{-}}

=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
{{note|In this story, Chase is consistently miscolored as [[Rollbar (G1)|Rollbar]].}}
[[File:Chase perceptor space pirates.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2]]
In [[2008]], Chase was active at [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] on Earth when the [[Quintesson]]s raided the base. He was presumably disabled with the rest of the Autobots present. {{storylink|Space Pirates!}}
{{-}}

====Marvel ''Generation 2'' comic====
[[File:FinalTransformations Chase dies.JPG|thumb|upright=1.34|"I ever tell you about the time Keith tried to deep-fry a turkey? Third-degree burns over 90 percent of his body. His doctor called up, like, other doctors to look at him cause they'd never seen burns on top of existing burns!"]]
Years later, a resurrected Chase was part of a detachment sent to Earth to deal with the menace of a revived [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]. The team was very surprised to find that this Megatron guy was actually pretty powerful, and soon started making mincemeat out of them. Chase got his leg blown off, and told the rest of the team not to wait for him. He kept firing as Megatron approached, only to get blown to smithereens at point blank range for his troubles.

Megatron then examined Chase's snapped-off leg, looking for a soil sample that would let him locate the Autobots' starship. An enraged [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] would beat on Megatron, declaring one punch was "for Chase". {{storylink|Final Transformations}}
{{-}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[Rob Paulsen]] (English, casting only), [[Kunihiko Yasui]] (Japanese)}}
[[File:ReturnOptimusPrime1 Chase infected.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"My buddy Keith tried camping out inside this here lab once. He was shooting crows, but [[Mark Morgan|the]] [[Gregory Swofford|scientists]] were too busy teargassin' him to ask what he was doin' in there. He screamed for an entire year every single time he opened his optics! Oh, man! At first, it was funny; then it just got sad, but then it got funny again! Oh, man!"]]
Chase was with the [[Throttlebot]]s when they were ordered to retrieve the body of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], but they ended up being infected by the [[Hate Plague]], which made Chase even redder and also prone to attack his comrades. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1}} Chase and the Throttlebots were later cured when Optimus unleashed the wisdom of the [[Matrix of Leadership]] {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2}}, and helped defend [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] from a Decepticon attack. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 1}} Chase was later present as Cybertron was re-energized and a new Golden Age was ushered in. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 3}}

====Japanese cartoon continuity====
=====''The Headmasters'' cartoon=====
{{voiceactor|[[Tomomichi Nishimura]] (Japanese)}}
[[File:ApproachMeteorite Chase WideLoad twisted.JPG|left|thumb|upright=1.1|"Man, I love malls. I do. Once, I was in this mall, up in [[Metamorphose]], and these guys were dancing for like money and stuff and my friend [[Wideload (G1)|Wideload]] and I was all..."]]
Chase and his Throttlebot buddies were seen on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] during a Decepticon attack. They tried to fight back against the new Decepticon [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]], but didn't fare well against [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]]'s hypnosis. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} The Throttlebots were dispatched again to protect their home planet from the [[Madmachine]], but they couldn't even scratch its armor. Instead they opted for scrapping with the machine's Headmaster guards, and did remarkably better than in their first battle. {{storylink|The Great Cassette Operation}}

Later, the Throttlebots traveled to Earth to fight some Decepticons, but ended up sneaking into space to stop the Decepticon meteorite [[Metamorphose]] by themselves for the fame and glory. However, when Chase and [[Wideload (G1)|Wideload]] jumped out of their [[Autobot frigate|vessel]] to take care of the meteorite, they quickly learned about its power to twist and deform metal. {{storylink|Approach of the Demon Meteorite}} Chase and the Throttlebots were eventually twisted back into shape, as they reappeared much later on Earth. They challenged [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]], guardian of a [[Death Tower]], but were swiftly defeated. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 1)}}
{{-}}

=====''Legends'' comic=====
In [[2021]], a villain posing as [[Galactic Peace Alliance]] chairman [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] declared Goldbug a traitor and ordered the other Throttlebots to destroy him, bringing them to the [[Legends World]] to confront their leader. However, the Throttlebots were reluctant to go through with it and stayed out of the fight, with Chase commenting that even someone as impulsive as himself had trouble following such an order. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 54|Bonus Edition Vol. 54}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
:*''First Appearance:'' [[Spotlight: Metroplex]]
[[File:Spotlight Metroplex Chase.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"My buddy Keith started up a historic tour, on account of his mom took him to Colonial Williamsburg. And it's like a license to print money at them places. Now, you might ask yourself how an honest attempt to recreate the majesty of colonial times turned into raccoon fights at five bucks a pop in Keith's backyard, ha-ha."]]
Chase was assigned to a team known as the Throttlebots stationed on [[Orvus Base]], a research facility in orbit around [[Salvvatan VI]]. The research was classified several levels above top secret, and so the Throttlebots didn't even know what they were helping to safeguard. The point was apparently rendered moot when [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] arrived at Orvus, and slaughtered the entire research team. Chase and the Throttlebots took off in a tiny shuttle looking for a chance at survival. They found it a few planetary orbits away on [[Salvvatan VIII]]. Curiously, the nearby planet showed signs of life...Transformer life. The Throttlebots found a ghost town stocked full of energon and supplies. Fully refueled, Chase was more optimistic about their chances, but [[Searchlight (G1)|Searchlight]] spoke from experienced and told them that, with Sixshot, they were definitely still slagged. Sixshot soon arrived and proved as deadly as his reputation. Chase was the first of the Throttlebots taken down by the [[Six Changer]]'s attacks. They only survived thanks to the intervention of the mysterious and powerful [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. {{storylink|Spotlight: Metroplex}}

The departing Titan left the surviving Throttlebots a shuttle to leave, however they were pursued by Sixshot. Finally killing the Decepticon, the Autobots crashed onto a [[Regalis V|world of giant plants]] in the process. Still far from their home and failing to make contact with high command, the group came to the conclusion that the Autobots had lost the war.

After ten years, Chase noticed one of the trees move, but was not taken seriously by the rest of the group. However, it was soon undeniable that they were under attack. Under siege by [[beast mode]] Transformers, Chase carried Goldbug to safety long enough for them to be saved by an unlikely group led by [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]]. {{storylink|The Dead Come Home, Part 1 (of 2)}} While Prowl and [[Stardrive]] drove off the [[Maximal]]s, [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] and [[Garnak]] helped the Throttlebots onto the ''[[Peaceful Revolution]]''. Chase was shocked to find the planet had a proper name as they were carried away from it. {{storylink|The Dead Come Home, Part 2 (of 2)}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===''The Transformers''===
[[File:G1Chase toy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6]]
*'''Chase''' (Throttlebot, [[1987]])
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''C-94'''
:Chase transforms into a Ferrari Testarossa sports car. Like all [[Throttlebot]]s, Chase's primary gimmick is a pull-back motor that sends him zipping forward in either car or robot modes.

:The Throttlebots were part of the [[Decoy]] promotion in 1987, where the carded toys came with a soft-rubber figurine. The Throttlebots were the only team to come with either Autobot or Decepticon Decoys; the other toys in the promotion only came with Decoys of the same faction they belonged to.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1987/Autobot/Chase/chase.htm More information on Chase on TFU.info]''

{{anchor|1991Classic}}
*'''Chase''' ([[1991]])
:In 1991, Chase and the other Throttlebots were re-released in the European market as part of the "[[Classics (Europe)|Classics]]" line. This [[variant]] of Chase was [[retool]]ed to have the [[rubsign]] indent removed, the heat-sensitive decal replaced with a normal factory-applied paper faction sigil decal.
{{-}}

===''Titans Return''===
[[File:TF-Titans-Return-Roadburn.jpg|upright=1.6|thumb|''Chasing'' cons while he burns the road.]]
*'''Roadburn''' (Legends Class, [[2017]])
{{toydesigner|[[John Warden]] (Hasbro)}}

:Part of the fourth wave of ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' Legends Class figures, "Roadburn" is a retool of the previous wave's [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Titans Return|Bumblebee]] mold with a new head based on Throttlebot [[Searchlight (G1)|Searchlight]], in homage to the long-running mix-up between his and Chase's heads. As with some of the ''Titans Return'' Legends Class figures, Roadburn features an opening canopy for his cockpit, which allows any [[Titan Master]] figures to ride within his vehicle mode. He also features 5mm-compatible hands, although the red piece can prevent longer posts from going through his hands. Also, take note that the vehicle back wings/shoulder kibble can interfere with wielding weapons. Swapping the shoulder parts can improve tolerances for posing, but it can prevent the toy from fully transforming into vehicle mode.

:Roadburn features a sculpted [[license plate]] that says "100 STRA", a reference to Bumblebee's [[Bumblebee (Movie)|live-action movie counterpart]] which Roadburn retains due to that part being unchanged from Bumblebee.

:The decision to change Roadburn's name from Chase to his new monicker was likely made ''very'' late in the design process as the instruction booklet in some samples states his name as '''Autobot Chase'''. This was likely so that kids would not confuse him with [[Chase (RB)|a different Chase]].
{{--}}

==Notes==
*According to [[Marvel Comics]] documentation from May [[1985]], "'''Rough Rider'''" was a preliminary name proposed by [[Bob Budiansky]] for this character. Presumably, Hasbro rejected "Rough Rider" for being a (now-outdated) sexual term just as happened to "[[Searchlight (G1)#Notes|Highbeams]]".
*Chase's [[character model]] uses Searchlight's head, and vice versa. This mis-matched design was used for all his major appearances in classic media, including the Marvel comic, the animated series, and even Japan's ''The Headmasters'' anime. The Marvel comic gets an extra-special mention, though, for swapping his ''color scheme'' with Searchlight's, too, so he always appears white instead of red... but ''only in robot mode!'' When he's in car mode, he's still red!

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Chase''' (チェイス ''Cheisu'')
*''English:'' '''Carlo''' ([[Omni Productions]] dub)
*''French:'' '''Poursuite''' (Canada, "Pursuit")
*''Italian:'' '''Scoutbot'''
*''Mandarin:'' '''Zhuībǔ''' (追捕, "Chase")

==External links==
*[http://www.redshirt.co.uk/toys/chase-must-die/ Chase Must Die - A scholarly look at the Throttlebots.]

[[Category:Generation 1 cartoon Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 1 toy Autobots]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Autobots]]
[[Category:Legends Autobots]]
[[Category:Marvel Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Marvel Generation 2 Autobots]]
[[Category:Scouts]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Autobots]]
[[Category:Throttlebots]]
[[Category:Titans Return Autobots]]

...All Fall Down!

2023-03-15T01:34:29Z

Skteosk: /* Quotes */

{{disambig3|All Fall Down}}
{{Comicstory|
|title="...All Fall Down!"
|seriesissue=''[[G.I. Joe and the Transformers (comic)|G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]'' #4
|prev=Ashes, Ashes...
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #277–281
|prev2=Bugged!
|next2=Internal Affairs!
|image=JoeTF4.jpg
|caption=This year's WWF roster was looking especially promising.
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=December [[1986]]
|coverdate=April [[1987]]
|writer=[[Michael Higgins]]
|penciler=[[Herb Trimpe]]
|inker=[[Vince Colletta]]
|colorist=[[Nelson Yomtov]]
|letterer=[[Joe Rosen]]
|consulting editor=[[Don Daley]]
|editor=[[Bob Harras]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''The Autobots, Joe and Cobra devise a plan to deal with Power Station Alpha.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:JoeandTF4 blaster omega and the rest.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2]]
The [[Autobot]]s, together with their new allies from [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] and [[Cobra]], take refuge inside the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] as the area is shook with earthquakes from the effects of [[Power Station Alpha]]. At the Decepticon base, [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] instructs [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] to dispose of [[Doctor Mindbender]] but he is saved by the intervention of the [[Baroness]]. The two Cobra agents depart, taking Bombshell with them in insect mode, and depart for [[Seattle]], where they are due to rendezvous with a team from G.I. Joe.

[[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] arrives at the Joes' base to inspect the remains of [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] and is pleased to learn that not only is he still alive but that [[Mainframe (G.I. Joe)|Mainframe]] has already begun reconstructing him. With Ratchet's help, the work is soon completed and Bumblebee announces from now on he wishes to be known as Goldbug. Mindbender and Baroness arrive and Mainframe's investigation of the [[cerebro-shell]] retrieved from [[Anthony Duranti]] is shown to allow them to control Bombshell.

Meanwhile, debate ranges about the fate of Alpha. Both [[Serpentor]] and [[Ace]] think it should be destroyed but [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] is worried that, after the Decepticons' modifications, Alpha may now be a sentient being whilst [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] is concerned about the loss of life if Alpha is destroyed in a populated area. It is eventually decided that a small team consisting of Goldbug, [[Scarlett]] and Baroness will plant explosives on Alpha which can be detonated if necessary. In order to prevent the [[Decepticon]]s intervening, a combined Autobot, Joe and Cobra force will attack their base.

As the attack begins, Shockwave dispatches a group of Decepticon planes to counter the aircraft and also has the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] combine into [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. The [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] counter by becoming [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] and battling their opposite number.

Mainframe and Mindbender work out a way to use the cerebro-shell and electronic helmet to control Alpha and send the power station to an unpopulated area. Without permission, Baroness sets the timers on the charges and Alpha explodes harmlessly in orbit. Cobra hastily withdraw from the scene of the battle whilst Mindbender also slips away. Not entirely convinced the Joes weren't in on Cobra's plan, Blaster tells them that with the immediate crisis averted they should leave the Decepticons to them in the future. Ratchet signals that he and Goldbug are on their way back to the Ark.

Later, Hawk watches on as [[Barbara Larkin|Senator Larkin]] is taken into custody, only to be shot by a gunman working for Cobra.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (1)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (2)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] (16)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee/Goldbug]] (17)
*[[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (21)
*[[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (22)
*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (23)
*[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (24)
*[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (25)
*[[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (39)
|c2=
*[[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] (8)
*[[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] (9)
*[[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]] (10)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (27)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (28)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (29)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (30)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (31)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (32)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] (33)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Thundercracker]] (34)
*[[Skywarp (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Skywarp]] (35)
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (36)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (37)
*[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (38)
|h3=[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]|c3=
*[[Wild Bill]] (8)
*[[Slip-Stream]] (9)
*[[Ace]] (10)
*[[Mainframe (G.I. Joe)|Mainframe]] (12)
*[[Snake-Eyes]] (13)
*[[Scarlett]] (14)
*[[Beachhead]] (18)
*[[Roadblock (G.I. Joe)|Roadblock]] (19)
*[[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] (20)
|h4=[[Cobra]]|c4=
*[[Buzzer (G.I. Joe)|Buzzer]] (3)
*[[Torch (G.I. Joe)|Torch]] (4)
*[[Ripper (G.I. Joe)|Ripper]] (5)
*[[Zartan]] (6)
*[[Serpentor]] (7)
*[[Doctor Mindbender]] (11)
*[[Baroness]] (12)
|h5=[[Human]]s|c5=
*[[Anthony Duranti]] (40)
*[[Barbara Larkin]] (41)
*[[Mrs. Duranti]] (42)
}}

==Quotes==
"'''PLANET EARTH WILL DIE!''' And, in it's wake -- a furious '''fireball''' of energy that we will use to ensure our conquest of '''Cybertron''' and the obliteration of those annoying Autobots. And now it is time for the Decepticons to evacuate this planet, we shall return to our home world in '''victory'''!"
:— '''Shockwave''' counting his chickens before they've hatched.

"It is time for you to meet your manufacturer, Dr. Mindbender. Only I don't think I want to simply blast you away, Mindy. I think it would be more amusing to shoot you with a cerebro-shell and then watch you rip your limbs from your sockets at my command, imagine the fun!"
:— '''Bombshell''' being one sick dude.

"From now on, I'd like a name with a little more '''dignity''' -- one that may result in a little more '''respect'''! From this day forward, I will be known as '''Goldbug'''!"
:— '''Goldbug''' making sure he matches [[To sell toys|his toy]].

"The safety of the Earth is assured...and the Decepticons are retreating. For now...the fighting is over. We cannot ask you to get involved in '''our''' age-old struggle. It is a situation that need only concern the Transformers!"
:— '''Blaster''' brings the crossover to an end.

==Notes==
===Artwork and technical errors===
*In addition to [[Power Struggle|another anomalous appearance by Ravage]], Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp are all shown among the Decepticons at the base. All three of them were captured by the Autobots in "[[Command Performances!]]" and in US continuity they wouldn't be freed until "[[Totaled!]]".
*A total of seven [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] are seen taking off from the Decepticon base but only Starscream, Thundercracker, Skywarp, Thrust and Ramjet are named. Since [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] was killed in the previous issue, it's unclear who the other two are meant to be.
*As Devastator transforms, Scrapper appears to already partially be in his position as a leg, while he's also flying into the air.
*Although all six Constructicons are pictured, Shockwave only refers to Mixmaster, Hook, Long Haul, Bonecrusher and Scavenger.

===Continuity errors===
*Anthony recovered from what was basically full brain surgery ''incredibly'' quickly. Normally, a patient in his situation wouldn't be out of the hospital until 3 weeks later, at the earliest.
*In "Power Struggle", Mindbender was able to control Alpha with the helmet alone, but here he apparently also needs the cerebro-shell. This may be due to the Decepticon modifications to Alpha, however.

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Goldbugorigins.jpg|thumb|One of these happens in the issue.]]
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] is mentioned but not seen.
*Blaster is clearly implied to be in acting command of the Autobots following the death of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]].
*Ratchet rebuilds Bumblebee as Goldbug. He will [[Skin Deep|later rebuild Goldbug as Bumblebee]], saying he preferred him that way. [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity#Conflicting Goldbug origins|Maybe he decided he'd made a mistake, turned him back into Bumblebee while he was asleep, only for him to be destroyed again and rebuilt by Wreck-Gar.]] Stranger things have happened...
*Baroness seemingly wanders into Decepticon base, takes out Bombshell with a single shot (an achievement in itself), then wanders out again with Mindbender. That's great security.
*Similarly, the Decepticons have a massive force assembled around their base but don't bother to leave anyone guarding Alpha.
*Senator Larkin's grave stone gives the date as December 1986.
*By a happy coincidence, the encounter with [[Snake-Eyes]] that Mindbender referred to was printed in the UK Transformers comic, simplifying the footnote no end when they printed the story.

===Real-life references===
*The title, along with the title of last issue, are from the children's nursery rhyme "{{w|Ring a Ring o' Roses}}" (specifically the American version).

===UK printing===
'''Issue #277'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Internal Affairs!]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''[[Action Force (comic)|G.I. Joe the Action Force]]'' - "Cold Snap" and ''[[Combat Colin]]''
*'''[[Transformers AtoZ|AtoZ]]:''' [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] and [[Snarl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Snarl]]

'''Issue #278'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[The House that Wheeljack Built!]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''G.I. Joe the Action Force'' - "Cut and Freeze Dried" and ''Combat Colin''
*'''AtoZ:''' [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] and [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]]

'''Issue #279'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Divide and Conquer!]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''G.I. Joe the Action Force'' - "Cut and Freeze Dried" and ''Combat Colin''
*'''AtoZ:''' [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] and [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]

'''Issue #280'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[The 4,000,000 Year Itch!]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''G.I. Joe the Action Force'' - "Cut and Freeze Dried" and ''Combat Colin''
*'''AtoZ:''' [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] and [[Superion (G1)|Superion]]

'''Issue #281'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Makin' Tracks!]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''G.I. Joe the Action Force'' - "Cut and Freeze Dried" and ''Combat Colin''
*'''AtoZ:''' [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] and [[Swoop (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Swoop]]

===Other trivia===

===Covers (6)===
<gallery>
File:JoeTF4.jpg|'''''G.I. Joe and the Transformers'' #4'''
File:MarvelUK-277.jpg|'''UK issue #277'''
File:MarvelUK-278.jpg|'''UK issue #278'''
File:MarvelUK-279.jpg|'''UK issue #279'''
File:MarvelUK-280.jpg|'''UK issue #280'''
File:MarvelUK-281.jpg|'''UK issue #281'''
</gallery>
*'''''G.I. Joe and the Transformers'' #4 cover:''' G.I. Joe, Cobra and the Autobots pose next to Power Station Alpha, by [[Tom Morgan]].
*'''Marvel UK #277 cover:''' [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] and Shockwave wrestle at [[Memphis Airport]], by [[Staz|Stewart Johnson]].
*'''Marvel UK #278 cover:''' [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] are ambushed, by [[Jeff Anderson]].
*'''Marvel UK #279 cover:''' [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] and Starscream duel in the skies, by [[Bryan Hitch]].
*'''Marvel UK #280 cover:''' [[Swoop (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Swoop]] tries to keep [[Slag (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Slag]] from smashing through a door; art by ???
*'''Issue #281 cover:''' [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] glowers while [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus]] and Wheeljack puzzle over the sabotage, by John Marshall and Pete Venters.

===Advertisements===
====US====
*[[M&M's]] - inside front cover
*Brach's candy - between pages 4 & 5
*MPC Model Kits - between pages 5 & 6
*The Amazing [[Spider-Man]] Free the Cap'n Mystery - between pages 7 & 8
*Sales Leadership Club - between pages 8 & 9
*Various comics dealers - between pages 16 & 17
*Brach's candy - between pages 17 & 18
*Century Martial Art Supply, Inc. / Marvel Super Mart - between pages 19 & 20
*''Dungeons & Dragons Set #1: Basic Rules'' - inside back cover
*TSR ''Marvel Super Heroes'' RPG (back cover)

====UK====
????

===Reprints===
Other than [[G.I. Joe and the Transformers (comic)#Collections|reprints of the full series]]
* N/A

{{DEFAULTSORT:All Fall Down}}
[[Category:G.I. Joe and the Transformers issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

(Double) Deal of the Century!

2022-12-15T02:12:22Z

Skteosk: /* Quotes */

{{Comicstory|
|title="(Double) Deal of the Century!"
|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #228
|prev=Aspects of Evil!
|next=The Hunting Party (Marvel)
|image=MarvelUK-228.jpg
|caption=
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[July 22|22th July]] [[1989]]
|coverdate=[[July 29|29th July]] 1989
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|art=[[Andrew Wildman|Andy Wildman]]
|letterer=[[Stuart Bartlett]]
|cover=[[Jeff Anderson]]
|editor=
|chronology=[[Marvel Comics timeline|1989]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]] ([[Primax 984.20 Gamma|Marvel UK]])
}}
'''Never make a deal with a guy named Doubledealer.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Doubledealerofthecentury.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Little does Roadhandler know that you can get faction symbols online.]]
[[Chainclaw (G1)|Chainclaw]] is in the process of bringing [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] battle plans from the Autobot resistance on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to be evaluated, when he is attacked by a [[Decepticon]] falcon named [[Doubledealer|Dealer]], who carries him off right before the optics of Prime and the [[Race Car Patrol]] who were coming to meet him. Dealer radios Prime with an offer: meet him and his price to retrieve the plans, or he'll sell them to the Decepticons. Optimus agrees and, while considering who to send as a courier, is met by the Autobot named [[Doubledealer|Double]]. Double claims to have been Chainclaw's back-up, and wants to take the meeting to make amends for his failure. After a [[Micromaster]] scans his Autobrand as authentic, Optimus Prime agrees to send Double to the exchange.

Dealer meets with [[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]] already at an abandoned barn, and sells him the Autobot resistance's plans. A short distance away, Optimus Prime and the [[Micromaster]]s are waiting for Double to return from the exchange, only to have him stagger into view carrying Chainclaw. He claims the Decepticon double-crossed him and took the plans, pointing to the barn and saying the enemy is still inside. As Optimus and the Race Car Patrol charge into the building to avenge their comrades on the unsuspecting Scorponok, Doubledealer chuckles to himself about a good day's work and takes to the skies, as the sounds of battle echo behind him.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Chainclaw (G1)|Chainclaw]] (2)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (3)
*[[Roadhandler (G1)|Roadhandler]] (4)
*[[Tailspin]] (5)
*[[Swindler]] (6)
*[[Free Wheeler]] (7)
|c2=
*[[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]] (8)
*[[Weirdwolf (G1)|Weirdwolf]] (9)
*[[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (10)
|h3=Both|c3=
*[[Doubledealer]] (1)
}}

==Quotes==
"You're right, Autobot. Close...'''but no steam valve!'''"
:— '''Doubledealer''' taunts Chainclaw.

"Well, we have the energon...and it seems we have no option but to pay. Right then, '''Race Car Patrol'''...which of you wants to be '''courier'''?"
:— '''Optimus Prime''', not exactly overwhelmed with volunteers.

"I have to say, '''Doubledealer''', old boy...that was one of the best so far. It's amazing what you can accomplish...when you're '''both''' Autobot '''and''' Decepticon! You can even pull off the '''double deal of the century'''!"
:— '''Doubledealer''' gloats in title drops.

==Notes==
[[File:Tf comextrachainclaw.JPG|thumb|upright=0.85|"Um, what colour is [[Chainclaw (G1)|Chainclaw]]?" "He is EVERY COLOUR!"]]
===Artwork and technical errors===
*Chainclaw's shell really looks more like a giant rat than an imposing grizzly bear.
*Roadhandler's name is spelled as "Road Handler".
*Weirdwolf is misspelled as "Wierdwolf" on page 13.

===Continuity errors===

===Continuity notes===
*Doubledealer and Chainclaw make their first appearances. Technically, so do the Race Car Patrol, although the later stories "[[A Small War!]]" and "[[King Con!]]" in UK #232–235 take place prior to this one.
*Doubledealer is depicted here as a standard [[Triple Changer]], with no mention of any [[Powermaster]] gimmick or partners.
*Chainclaw gets completely battered in this story, and would continue to do so in [[Fallen Star!|subsequent]] [[Rhythms of Darkness!|appearances]].

===Real-life references===

===Other trivia===
*The title page of this comic renders the name as "[DOUBLE]DEAL OF THE CENTURY!" An [http://i42.tinypic.com/34zwnj6.jpg introductory paragraph] calls it "(Double) Deal Of The Century". {{SITENAME SHORT}} formatting is unfriendly to square brackets in the title of articles, so we stick with the second version, but with more conventional capitalization and the exclamation point.
*Doubledealer would again be known as "Dealer" in the [[2005 IDW continuity]].

===Back-up material===
*'''Reprint ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Headhunt]]"
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''[[Action Force (comic)|Action Force]]'' - "Cross Purposes" and ''[[Combat Colin]]''

===Foreign Localization===

'''Swedish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Århundradets Dubbelspel'''" ("Double-Deal of the Century")

===Covers (1)===
*'''UK issue #228 cover:''' Doubledealer, Optimus Prime, and Scorponok, by Jeff Anderson.
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-228.jpg|'''UK issue #228'''
</gallery>

===Reprints===
*'''[[Transformers Extra Comic-Sonderheft issue 1|''Transformers Extra Comic-Sonderheft'' #1]] cover:''' Optimus Prime, some [[human]] children, a mis-coloured [[Skullgrin]], a mis-coloured [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] or [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] and some dude wearing [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]'s helmet, by ???
*'''''[[Transformers: Earthforce]]'' cover:''' [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] thumps a table, by [[Stephen Baskerville]].
*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]], Volume 17: Matrix Quest:''''' Nightbeat and Prime's corpse by [[Makoto Ono]] and [[Geoff Senior]].
<gallery>
File:Tf comextra 01.JPG|'''''Transformers Extra Comic-Sonderheft'' #1''' (Condor Verlag, 1989)
File:Titan B&W Compilation-Earthforce.jpg|'''''Earthforce''''' (Titan Books, 2005)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v17.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection vol. 17: Matrix Quest''''' (Hachette Partworks, Ltd., 2018)
</gallery>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Double Deal of the Century!}}
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

(Double) Deal of the Century!

2022-12-15T02:11:34Z

Skteosk: /* Quotes */

{{Comicstory|
|title="(Double) Deal of the Century!"
|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #228
|prev=Aspects of Evil!
|next=The Hunting Party (Marvel)
|image=MarvelUK-228.jpg
|caption=
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[July 22|22th July]] [[1989]]
|coverdate=[[July 29|29th July]] 1989
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|art=[[Andrew Wildman|Andy Wildman]]
|letterer=[[Stuart Bartlett]]
|cover=[[Jeff Anderson]]
|editor=
|chronology=[[Marvel Comics timeline|1989]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]] ([[Primax 984.20 Gamma|Marvel UK]])
}}
'''Never make a deal with a guy named Doubledealer.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Doubledealerofthecentury.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Little does Roadhandler know that you can get faction symbols online.]]
[[Chainclaw (G1)|Chainclaw]] is in the process of bringing [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] battle plans from the Autobot resistance on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] to be evaluated, when he is attacked by a [[Decepticon]] falcon named [[Doubledealer|Dealer]], who carries him off right before the optics of Prime and the [[Race Car Patrol]] who were coming to meet him. Dealer radios Prime with an offer: meet him and his price to retrieve the plans, or he'll sell them to the Decepticons. Optimus agrees and, while considering who to send as a courier, is met by the Autobot named [[Doubledealer|Double]]. Double claims to have been Chainclaw's back-up, and wants to take the meeting to make amends for his failure. After a [[Micromaster]] scans his Autobrand as authentic, Optimus Prime agrees to send Double to the exchange.

Dealer meets with [[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]] already at an abandoned barn, and sells him the Autobot resistance's plans. A short distance away, Optimus Prime and the [[Micromaster]]s are waiting for Double to return from the exchange, only to have him stagger into view carrying Chainclaw. He claims the Decepticon double-crossed him and took the plans, pointing to the barn and saying the enemy is still inside. As Optimus and the Race Car Patrol charge into the building to avenge their comrades on the unsuspecting Scorponok, Doubledealer chuckles to himself about a good day's work and takes to the skies, as the sounds of battle echo behind him.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Chainclaw (G1)|Chainclaw]] (2)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (3)
*[[Roadhandler (G1)|Roadhandler]] (4)
*[[Tailspin]] (5)
*[[Swindler]] (6)
*[[Free Wheeler]] (7)
|c2=
*[[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]] (8)
*[[Weirdwolf (G1)|Weirdwolf]] (9)
*[[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]] (10)
|h3=Both|c3=
*[[Doubledealer]] (1)
}}

==Quotes==
"You're right, Autobot. Close...'''but no steam valve!'''"
:— '''Doubledealer''' taunts Chainclaw.

"Well, we have the energon...and it seems we have no option but to pay. Right then, '''Race Car Patrol'''...which of you want to be '''courier'''?"
:— '''Optimus Prime''', not exactly overwhelmed with volunteers.

"I have to say, '''Doubledealer''', old boy...that was one of the best so far. It's amazing what you can accomplish...when you're '''both''' Autobot '''and''' Decepticon! You can even pull off the '''double deal of the century'''!"
:— '''Doubledealer''' gloats in title drops.

==Notes==
[[File:Tf comextrachainclaw.JPG|thumb|upright=0.85|"Um, what colour is [[Chainclaw (G1)|Chainclaw]]?" "He is EVERY COLOUR!"]]
===Artwork and technical errors===
*Chainclaw's shell really looks more like a giant rat than an imposing grizzly bear.
*Roadhandler's name is spelled as "Road Handler".
*Weirdwolf is misspelled as "Wierdwolf" on page 13.

===Continuity errors===

===Continuity notes===
*Doubledealer and Chainclaw make their first appearances. Technically, so do the Race Car Patrol, although the later stories "[[A Small War!]]" and "[[King Con!]]" in UK #232–235 take place prior to this one.
*Doubledealer is depicted here as a standard [[Triple Changer]], with no mention of any [[Powermaster]] gimmick or partners.
*Chainclaw gets completely battered in this story, and would continue to do so in [[Fallen Star!|subsequent]] [[Rhythms of Darkness!|appearances]].

===Real-life references===

===Other trivia===
*The title page of this comic renders the name as "[DOUBLE]DEAL OF THE CENTURY!" An [http://i42.tinypic.com/34zwnj6.jpg introductory paragraph] calls it "(Double) Deal Of The Century". {{SITENAME SHORT}} formatting is unfriendly to square brackets in the title of articles, so we stick with the second version, but with more conventional capitalization and the exclamation point.
*Doubledealer would again be known as "Dealer" in the [[2005 IDW continuity]].

===Back-up material===
*'''Reprint ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Headhunt]]"
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''[[Action Force (comic)|Action Force]]'' - "Cross Purposes" and ''[[Combat Colin]]''

===Foreign Localization===

'''Swedish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Århundradets Dubbelspel'''" ("Double-Deal of the Century")

===Covers (1)===
*'''UK issue #228 cover:''' Doubledealer, Optimus Prime, and Scorponok, by Jeff Anderson.
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-228.jpg|'''UK issue #228'''
</gallery>

===Reprints===
*'''[[Transformers Extra Comic-Sonderheft issue 1|''Transformers Extra Comic-Sonderheft'' #1]] cover:''' Optimus Prime, some [[human]] children, a mis-coloured [[Skullgrin]], a mis-coloured [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] or [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] and some dude wearing [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]'s helmet, by ???
*'''''[[Transformers: Earthforce]]'' cover:''' [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] thumps a table, by [[Stephen Baskerville]].
*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]], Volume 17: Matrix Quest:''''' Nightbeat and Prime's corpse by [[Makoto Ono]] and [[Geoff Senior]].
<gallery>
File:Tf comextra 01.JPG|'''''Transformers Extra Comic-Sonderheft'' #1''' (Condor Verlag, 1989)
File:Titan B&W Compilation-Earthforce.jpg|'''''Earthforce''''' (Titan Books, 2005)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v17.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection vol. 17: Matrix Quest''''' (Hachette Partworks, Ltd., 2018)
</gallery>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Double Deal of the Century!}}
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Resurrection!

2022-11-30T01:01:27Z

Skteosk: /* Continuity notes */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #103–104
|prev=Fallen Angel
|next=Afterdeath!
|title="Resurrection!"
|image=MarvelUK-103.jpg
|caption=So we will walk through the fire And let it Burn Let it burn
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=Part 1: [[February 28|28th February]] [[1987]] Part 2: [[March 7|7th March]] 1987
|coverdate=Part 1: [[March 7|7th March]] 1987 Part 2: [[March 14|14th March]] 1987
|script=[[Simon Furman]]
|art=Part 1: [[Will Simpson]] Part 2: [[Jeff Anderson]]
|colour=[[Steve White]]
|letters=[[Annie Halfacree]]
|editor=[[Ian Rimmer]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''Whilst Optimus Prime brings new life to the Autobots on Cybertron, Lord Straxus faces down Megatron.'''

==Synopsis==
===Part 1===
[[File:Resurrection autobot raid.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.5]]
On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Octane]] delivers a report to [[Straxus (G1)|Lord Straxus]] concerning a recent [[Autobot]] attack on a [[Transference Station Two|Decepticon fuel storehouse]], led by [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] himself. Though Octane alleges that he threw himself into the battle, only to be overwhelmed by sheer numbers, Straxus isn't fooled; in reality, the [[Triple Changer]] tried to run away, but tripped over a pipe and knocked himself out. Still, it doesn't change the fact that the Autobots made off with the facility's [[energon cube]]s—just the latest in a series of successful raids the Autobot resistance has been able to carry out, emboldened by the return of Optimus Prime to Cybertron. Straxus places the blame for Prime's return on [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]], who is also proving to be a problem to his fellow Decepticons himself, as his mental state continues to deteriorate... an issue punctuated by the arrival of [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]], who informs Straxus that Megatron has nearly torn two guards apart for betting on where Prime would strike next. As a group of technicians finish attaching some kind of device to his life-support bubble, Straxus declares that the time has come to act, and calls for Megatron to be summoned before him.

Meanwhile, in [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], the Autobots celebrate their successful mission. Optimus Prime cautions them that he will soon have to go back to [[Earth]] to stop the Decepticons' energy-gathering efforts there, but promises to return to lead the Autobots to their final victory. This news doesn't thrill [[Xaaron|Emirate Xaaron]], who unsuccessfully tries to convince Prime to stay; [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]], on the other hand—his confidence shaken by recent mistakes—asks to join Prime in returning to Earth, thinking he can do more good there than on Cybertron, but Prime insists he must stay to help on their homeworld.

Back on Earth, [[Cybertron Seven|Perceptor, Blaster, and the other arrivals from Cybertron]] finally reach the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], and inform [[Ironhide (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ironhide]] of their recent encounter with [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] and the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]. The new arrivals are shocked to learn that the Autobots believe Optimus Prime is dead.

[[File:Resurrection mind transfer.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.75]]

When Megatron arrives in response to Straxus's summons, Straxus gives Megatron one final chance: he urges him to return to Earth, in the hope that Prime will follow. But when this suggestions only causes Megatron to fly into a rage and threaten to kill Straxus, Straxus blasts Megatron with the device attached to his life-support bubble. As Megatron howls in agony, Straxus explains that the device will exchange their minds, placing Straxus in control of Megatron's body, and trapping Megatron in Straxus's, after which Straxus will terminate him completely. Megatron struggles against the process, and manages to smash the life support machine, then crushes Straxus's head. But then, holding the his rival's ruined remains aloft, he announces that the process was a success, and that Lord Straxus now lives in Megatron's place!

===Part 2: "Whose Death Is It Anyway?"===

On Earth, the Autobots hold a funeral for Optimus Prime, and in accordance with Earth customs, they dig a grave and bury what they believe to be his body (but which, unbeknownst to them, is actually a [[facsimile construct]]). [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] whispers to [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] that he would rather the body was blasted into space in accordance with Cybertronian tradition, but Perceptor responds that the Autobots who know Prime better have decided that this is what he would have wanted.

On Cybertron, Optimus Prime lays out the details of the Autobots' next mission. While the [[Wrecker]]s stage a diversionary attack on a fuel store to draw out the Decepticons' security forces, he and Ultra Magnus will invade [[Polyhex]], so that he can take down Megatron once and for all. Ultra Magnus feels the attack is risky, but Prime can wait no longer; he ''must'' end Megatron's threat now so that he can return to Earth.

Inside the [[Polyhex Decepticon stronghold]], Megatron's body sits on a throne, racked by confusion. Memories explode across his mind... first those of Megatron himself, then those of Straxus, and it becomes apparent that the mind-transferrence procedure has not worked all the way: thanks to Megatron resisting the process, now, ''both'' Megatron ''and'' Straxus's minds are sharing Megatron's body, fighting for dominance. The strain is almost too much to bear, until Ratbat suddenly appears with news of the Autobots' new attack. While this snaps Megatron/Straxus out of his spiral, Ratbat takes notice of his peculiar behaviour, and is quick to realise what has really happened to his leader.

[[File:Resurrection antimatter attack.jpg|left|thumb|upright=2]]

Megatron/Straxus wanders through the base, trying to remember recent events, but his memories are jumbled, and he can't even remember how he came to Cybertron, only vaguely recalling a battle with Optimus Prime. Suddenly, he is confronted by Prime and Magnus, and is quickly subdued by the powerful Magnus, still seeking to make amends for his recent failures. Before Prime can finish him off, however, Megatron brings his [[antimatter]] channeling ability to bear, causing a cloud of the volatile substance to emanate from his eyes. This causes an explosion that sends Prime and Magnus reeling, but Megatron stands unaffected, his anti-matter cloud growing larger. Monitoring the battle from elsewhere in the base, Ratbat realises that if unchecked, Megatron/Straxus will destroy them all. With the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] just having coming across the [[space bridge]] from Earth, Ratbat instructs Octane to redirect the bridge so that it materialises right next to the combatants; another explosion results, hurling Optimus Prime, Megatron, and Ultra Magnus to Earth. Unfortunately, it turns out that the Predacons had actually come to ''find'' Megatron and Prime, as [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] had deduced their location... but now that Ratbat has sent Megatron ''back'' to Earth, [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] figures that Shockwave will soon be destroyed for his treachery.

But Shockwave is in luck. A confused Megatron materialises in the [[Wyoming base|Decepticons' coal mine base]], and merely berates Shockwave for doing nothing in his absence. [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] discreetly reads Megatron's thoughts and discovers that the clashing personalities within his mind have affected his memories, and he has forgotten Shockwave and the Predacons' betrayal. Shockwave realises he is back to square one, but that he will have other chances to overthrow Megatron.

Optimus Prime, meanwhile, appears atop his own grave just as his "funeral" is ending. He compliments the confused Autobots on their choice of headstone, and begins to answer their questions... while, somewhere else on Earth, Ultra Magnus finds himself alone in the woods, excited at the prospect of exploring the Earth as he searches for the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]].
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{collist|2|
*[[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]] (2)
*[[Twin Twist]] (3)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (4)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (5)
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (6)
*[[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] (7)
*[[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]] (8)
*[[Xaaron]] (10)
*[[Outback (G1)|Outback]] (11)
*[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (13)
*[[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (14)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ironhide]] (15)
*[[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (16)
*[[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] (17)
*[[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (18)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (19)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (20)
*[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (21)
*[[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (23)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (27)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] (28)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] (29)
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (30)
*[[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] (31)
*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (32)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (33)
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (34)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] (35)
*[[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (36)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] (37)
}}
|c2=
*[[Octane]] (1)
*[[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]] (9)
*[[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (12)
*[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (22)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] (24)
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (25)
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (26)
*[[Tantrum (G1)|Tantrum]] (38)
*[[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (39)
*[[Headstrong (G1)|Headstrong]] (40)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (41)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] (42)
*[[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] (43)
}}

==Quotes==
[[File:Primefuneralnumberone.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.5]]
"But fear not. When I return here, it will be to lead you to our ultimate victory over tyranny and oppression! '''And all will be one!'''"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' inspires the Cybertron Autobots.

"'''Galvatron!''' Aww no, tell me it isn't so! I thought we'd got rid of him for good after his last visit." 
"Sadly, your analysis was an evident misconception, considering the variables inherent in traversing the time stream." 
"Huh?"
:—'''Ironhide''' is confounded by '''Perceptor'''.

"Optimus Prime still lives! What are you going to do about it, eh? Render a few more of my troops inoperative, perhaps?"
:—'''Straxus''' gets his sass on.

"Hmm...I approve of the headstone, Autobots. It's a nice touch."
:—'''Optimus Prime'''
{{--}}
==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
[[File:Resurrection allwillbeone tailgate.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.5]]
[[File:Resurrection magnus vs megatron.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.5]]
*After a two-issue break, the comic returns to the story of Optimus Prime and Megatron on Cybertron. Flashbacks recap the earlier chapters of the story, as seen in [[Prey!|issues #96]]-[[Distant Thunder!|100]].
*The device Straxus uses to attempt his mind-exchange with Megatron is the "equipment" he ominously referred to back in [[Under Fire!|issue #99]].
*Autobot scout [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] makes his first appearance in the comic in Part 1, as a member of the audience for Optimus Prime's speech (right). He isn't named, and doesn't speak; he will not reappear until [[Underworld!|issue #245]].
*Ultra Magnus recalls his previous visit to Earth in [[Target: 2006|issues #78-88]]. He wants to return to the planet because he previously enjoyed success there, helping to defeat Galvatron, while on Cybertron, he has experienced only failure, having caused by inaction the death of Impactor (as seen in issue #88). His desperate need to make up for the failing has led to him making errors in judgement, as previously seen in issue #99 (right).
*The American stories never actually showed [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] and the "[[Cybertron Seven]]" reaching the Ark and joining the Earth-based Autobot forces; they just appeared among them in [[Funeral for a Friend!|issue #109]] (US issue #26), having arrived between issues. The UK series is thus able to fill that gap by showing the group's arrival in this story, following their encounter with [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] in the [[Fallen Angel|previous two issues]].
*Blaster's remark that Optimus's body should have been "blasted off into space in accordance with Cybertronian customs" is written with foreknowledge of upcoming American stories, which will see Prime ''actually'' die, and his body launched into space in [[Funeral for a Friend!|issue #110]] (US issue #26). The UK comic never actually offers an explanation for the difference between the two funerals; we can only presume that Prime must inform the Autobots between issues that he ''would'' actually prefer to be launched into space rather than buried on Earth.
*Megatron's little-used ability to tap into [[antimatter]] was previously seen in [[Raiders of the Last Ark|issues #20-21]].
*Ratbat's inclusion in this story as a member of Straxus's court is another story point written with knowledge of the upcoming US stories that will depict the fuel auditor as the top 'Con on Cybertron, a position he will now be able to slip into following Straxus's departure. He will first appear in this role in [[King of the Hill!|issue #111]] (US issue #27).
*There's a noticeable amount of "putting the toys back in the box" at the end of this story, with the Predacons returning to Cybertron and Megatron losing his memory of their betrayal—necessary moves to get things in line with the next batch of US reprints, which will see Megatron summon the Predacons (back) to Earth for a new mission in [[Gone but Not Forgotten!|issues #107-108]] (US issue #25).
*This issue marks the last appearances of Jazz, Brawn, Prowl, Hound, and Ironhide as operational members of the Autobot forces for the next year or so. In US stories, these characters were taken offline in [[Prime Time!|issue #40]] (US issue #12), but UK stories have continued to present them as fit and functional. This belated phasing-out brings their status in the UK stories into line with US continuity, but is given no in-universe explanation. Most of them will not reappear until [[Totaled!|issue #174]], when the US stories reintroduce all the various offlined characters. Prowl will be temporarily brought back online in issue #110, before being shown to be active again in [[Spacehikers!|issue #144]].

===Transformers references===
[[File:Resurrection whosedeathisitanyway.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.5]]
*Optimus Prime vows that "all will be one," alluding to the Autobot mantra, "[['Til all are one]]," introduced in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
*In another reference to the movie, as in issue #101, Perceptor is again speaking with the overdeveloped vocabulary that confuses those around him, a running gag from the film.

===Real-life references===
*The title of Part 2, "Whose Death Is It Anyway?", given by the "next issue" box at the end of Part 1, is a riff on the name of the 1981 movie, ''{{w|Whose Life Is It Anyway? (film)|Whose Life Is It Anyway?}}''

===Artwork and technical errors===
[[File:Resurrection optimus funeral.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.5]]
'''Part 1:'''
*'''Page 1:'''
**'''Panel 4:''' The flashback to Megatron and Prime crossing the space bridge shows Megatron with his [[fusion cannon]], which has been stolen by [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] at that point.
**'''Panel 6:''' Repeating a recurring error from issue #100, also drawn by Will Simpson, Outback's injury is on the right side of his torso instead of the left.
*'''Page 7:'''
**'''Panels 2-3:''' Ultra Magnus is missing his shoulder launchers.
**'''Panel 4:''' Ultra Magnus's name is misspelled as "Ultra Magus."
'''Part 2:'''
*Wheeljack and Ratchet appear throughout this issue with the alternate colour schemes seen in past issues; Wheeljack's shoulder fins are red instead of blue, while Ratchet's boots are red instead of white.
*'''Page 1:''' Arist Jeff Anderson always has a tendency to draw character who aren't meant to be absolutely ''gigantic'' as all being the same sort of height, but it's especially pronounced in the shoulder-to-shoulder Autobot line-up at Optimus's funeral (right), which shows characters as diverse as regular [[Autobot Cars]], [[Mini Vehicle|Mini-Bots]], and even [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] all being all tall as each other.
*'''Page 3:''' Ultra Magnus is missing his shoulder launchers again.
*'''Page 4, panel 1:''' Outback's wound is missing.
*'''Page 8, panel 4:''' Ultra Magnus's right arm is miscoloured; his bicep is blue, as if it were his shoulder, while his shoulder is white, as if it were the pylon that sits on top of it. He also seems to be missing his launcher again.
*'''Page 9:'''
**'''Panel 2:''' Magnus. Launchers.
**'''Panel 5:''' Razorclaw's lion-head is red instead of yellow.
*'''Panel 10:'''
**'''Panel 1:''' Megatron is missing the buttons on his midriff.
**'''Panel 4:''' Soundwave is missing his shoulder cannon, but the borderless bust-shot nature of the panel suggests this ''might'' be for deliberate artistic effect.
*'''Page 11, panel 2:''' Bumblebee's horns are missing.

===Back-up material===
'''Issue #103:'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''[[Inhumanoids|The Inhumanoids]]'' ("The Coming of the Inhumanoids," Part 1) and ''[[Robo-Capers]]''
*'''Other features:''' A competition to win one of 25 copies of [[Video Gems]]' VHS release of "[[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1|The Key to Vector Sigma]]" and "[[War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn]]." Entrants are asked to name "any three" Transformers who have appeared on the covers of any Video Gems ''Transformers'' tapes, though in reality, ''only'' three characters had appeared on the four releases up to that point: Optimus Prime, Megatron, and Silverbolt.
'''Issue #104:'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''The Inhumanoids'' ("The Coming of the Inhumanoids," Part 2) and ''Robo-Capers''
*'''Other features:''' A competition to win one of 200 ''[[Beastformers|Battle Beasts]]'' action figure two-packs. Entrants must answer three "Fire, Wood, and Water" themed questions, identifying the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobot]] you call in case of a fire ([[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]]), the Decepticon cassette who can slice through wood ([[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]]), and the [[Mini Vehicle|Mini Autobot]] who can race over water as well as land ([[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]]).

===Covers (2)===
*'''Issue #103:''' Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus fight through the flames, by [[Martin Griffiths]] & [[Robin Bouttell]].
*'''Issue #104:''' Prime and Magnus give Megatron a damn good thrashing, by [[Geoff Senior]].
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-103.jpg|'''Issue #103'''
File:MarvelUK-104.jpg|'''Issue #104'''
</gallery>

===Reprints===
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-229.jpg|'''[[The Hunting Party (Marvel)|Issue #229]]''' (Marvel UK, 1989; reprints first half of #103)
File:MarvelUK-230.jpg|'''[[The Big Shutdown!|Issue #230]]''' (Marvel UK, 1989; reprints second half of #103)
File:MarvelUK-231.jpg|'''[[The Big Shutdown!|Issue #231]]''' (Marvel UK, 1989; reprints first half of #104)
File:MarvelUK-232.jpg|'''[[King Con!|Issue #232]]''' (Marvel UK, 1989; reprints second half of #104)
File:Tf commag 10.JPG|'''[[Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 10|''Transformers Comic-Magazin'' #10]]''' (Condor Verlag, 1990)
File:TitanPrey.jpg|'''''[[Transformers: Prey]]'' TPB''' (Titan Books, 2004)
</gallery>
<gallery>
File:BoUK Prey 4reg.jpg|'''[[The Transformers: Best of UK: Prey#Issue 4|''Best of UK: Prey'' #4]] regular cover''' (IDW Publishing, 2009)
File:BoUK Prey 4RI.jpg|'''[[The Transformers: Best of UK: Prey#Issue 4|''Best of UK: Prey'' #4]] RI cover''' (IDW Publishing, 2009)
File:BoUK Prey TPB.jpg|'''''[[The Transformers: Best of UK: Prey#Collections|Best of UK: Prey]]'' TPB''' (IDW Publishing, 2010)
File:Classicuk3.jpg|'''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 3|''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 3]]:''' (IDW Publishing, 2012)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v7.jpg|'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection|The Definitive G1 Collection, Vol. 7: The Harder They Die]]''''' (Hachette Partworks, Ltd. 2017)
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
'''Issue #103'''
*''[[Action Force (comic)|Action Force]]'' #1 (includes issue #2 free!)
*The [[Special Teams]]
*Miscellaneous classifieds
*''ThunderCats'' crunchy potato snacks! (back cover)

'''Issue #104:'''
*''ThunderCats'' #1
*''Action Force:'' "Operation Prisoner Release" - Double-page spread photocomic advert for the toyline, centering on the [[Dragonfly]] assault copter
*[[S.T.A.R.S.]] Membership Kit (back cover)

[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Dinobot Hunt!

2022-11-30T00:51:53Z

Skteosk: /* Continuity notes */

{{disambig3.5|the Marvel UK story|the trade paperback from Titan Books|Transformers: Dinobot Hunt|Dinobot Hunt}}
{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #47–50
|prev=The Icarus Theory
|next=Shooting Star!
|next2=Victory!
|title="Dinobot Hunt!"
|image=MarvelUK-050.jpg
|caption=Where's Mothra when you need her?
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=Part 1: [[February 1|1st February]] Part 2: [[February 8|8th February]] Part 3: [[February 15|15th February]] Part 4: [[February 22|22nd February]], [[1986]]
|coverdate=Part 1: [[February 8|8th February]] Part 2: [[February 15|15th February]] Part 2: [[February 22|22nd February]] Part 4: [[March 1|1st March]], [[1986]]
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|art=[[Will Simpson]] (Parts 1 & 3), [[Barry Kitson]] (Parts 2 & 4)
|art assistant=[[Tim Perkins]] (Part 4)
|inks=[[Marc Griffiths]] (Part 3)
|colours=[[Stuart Place]] (Parts 1-4), [[Jeff Anderson]] (Part 2)
|lettering=[[Annie Halfacree]] (Part 1-2, 4), [[Mike Scott]] (Part 3)
|editor=[[Ian Rimmer]]
|chronology=[[Marvel Comics timeline|1986]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]] ([[Primax 984.20 Gamma|Marvel UK]])
}}
'''The Autobots attempt to round up those crazy Dinobots but the Decepticons interfere....'''

==Synopsis==
===Part 1===
After finding out that the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] have probably lost control of themselves and reverted to their primal instincts due to their primary [[cybo-dendron]]s having burnt out, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] assigns the [[Autobot]]s into teams to capture [[Snarl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Snarl]], [[Slag (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Slag]], [[Sludge (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Sludge]], and [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] before they can harm any [[human]]s.
[[File:DinobotHunt snarl versus soldiers.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.5]]
Snarl has gone to ground in the [[Black Rock Desert]], burying himself beneath the sands, but his protruding spinal plates are discovered by a human [[United States military|army]] patrol, who awaken the Dinobot with their poking and prodding. The Autobots' B-Team—[[Mirage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Mirage]], [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]], and [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]—arrive in time to save the soldiers, but Snarl escapes, stampeding toward the covert army base in which the soldiers are stationed. Base commander General [[Carl Thompson]] sees the silver living in Snarl's attack; long having sought to be reassigned to a different post, he orders the facility evacuated, then triggers the prototype molecular disintegration bomb being developed there. The Autobots and Thompson watch as Snarl is caught in the blast and knocked unconscious... but they are not only the witnesses to this scene, as [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] has also been observing from nearby...

===Part 2: "Swamp-Thing!"===
In the waterways of [[Littlewood]], [[California]], A-Team—[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]], [[Gears (G1)|Gears]], and [[Cliffjumper (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Cliffjumper]]—search for Sludge, but the mission is not going well, as the swampy terrain is causing all sorts of trouble for the Autobots. Fortunately, the local humans face no immediate danger from Sludge; he has been found by reporter [[Joy Meadows]], whose presence proves calming to him, and who now films him as he contentedly wallows in the swamp.

The Autobots, meanwhile, come under attack from a trio of police boats responding to reports of the "murdering robots" in the swamp, but Cliffjumper is able to scare them off with a harmless application of his [[glass gas]]. The group's attention is caught by blaster fire nearby, and they head to its source to discover that both Joy and Sludge have been blasted into submission by parties unknown. Caught by surprise, the Autobots are ambushed and taken captive by those same attackers: a Decepticon group consisting of [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]], [[Skywarp (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Skywarp]], and [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]]!

===Part 3: "Robot Rustlers!"===
[[File:DinobotHunt3-Slag.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.5]]
In [[Old River Valley]], [[Idaho]], Slag rampages through a cattle ranch, and is pursued by the over-eager young rancher [[Greg (G1)|Greg]] and his brother. Also on Slag's tail are the Autobot D-Team of [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]], [[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]], and [[Ironhide (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ironhide]], though their mission is hampered somewhat by Ironhide's distrust of Jetfire, who has only just recently been brought online by the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]] and still bears the Decepticon insignia he was built with. Jazz smooths things over between the pair, and together, they all catch up to Slag just as Greg manages to mount him. As Jetfire wrestles Slag to the ground (his Decepticon symbol being gouged off by the Dinobot's horn in the process), Jazz gets Greg to safety. Ironhide spots Laserbeak monitoring the battle and snatches up the snooping Decepticon, tossing him to Jetfire, who stuffs him into Slag's mouth, blocking the Dinobot's flame-breath and causing an explosive backfire that knocks him offline.

A little later, Soundwave, Skywarp, and Scavenger arrive to find the wrecked Laserbeak, who fills them in on what has transpired. Soundwave is unconcerned by the Autobots' successful recovery of Slag; the Decepticons have Sludge in their clutches, and he will suffice for Soundwave's plan...

A few hours later, back at the Ark, Optimus Prime receives a call from the wounded [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] calling for backup... only for his transmission to abruptly cut out!

===Part 4: "The Final Rage!"===
[[File:Grimlock sludge dinobot hunt.jpg|right|thumb]]
Hour earlier, the Decepticons successfully located the last of the Dinobots, Grimlock, near the small town of [[Doonstown]], [[Canada]], and unleash Sludge—controlled by a [[sonic lance]]—on him. Doonstown is devastated by the Dinobots' battle, and the Autobot C-Team of Sideswipe, [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]], and [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] wind up caught in the middle upon their arrival. Bluestreak and Huffer are knocked offline, while the wounded Sideswipe returns to their shuttlecraft and makes his call to Optimus—but the Dinobots are not far behind, and wind up chewing through the ship's fuel tank, causing the blast that cut off the transmission.

Optimus Prime, [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]], and [[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] speed to the scene in response to Sideswipe's S.O.S., with [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] in a second shuttle not far behind them. While Ratchet goes to tend the members of C-Team, and Bumblebee scouts the area in an effort to learn how Sludge wound up in Canada, Prime tries to keep the two Dinobots contained to the frozen lake in which they are now grappling. It seems a losing prospect; Prime overloads his gun, leaving himself at the Dinobots' mercy, until Prowl arrives, transfers the electrical systems of his shuttle to its hull, and crashes it into the lake. The shock knocks out Grimlock, but Sludge remains functional...

Concurrently, Bumblebee's search turns up A-Team's cloaked [[Ark shuttlecraft|shuttle]], containing both the captive A-Team members and the sonic lance that is controlling Sludge. Realizing that the lance is probably booby-trapped, rather than try to turn it off, Bumblebee gets A-Team to safety and then blows the shuttle up, deactivating the lance and causing Sludge to pass out before he can attack Prime.

Nearby, the Decepticons are almost done stealing energy from an [[oil rig]] when they hear the explosion, signalling the end of their little venture. They have wreaked chaos and destruction, and injured multiple Autobots—all in all, a wholly successful exercise in mayhem. Soundwave addresses the heavens and declares the Decepticons victorious... and across the tundra, Optimus Prime hears his words and grimly realizes he is correct.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{collist|2|
*[[Snarl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Snarl]] (1)
*[[Mirage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Mirage]] (2)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (3)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (4)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (5)
*[[Swoop (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Swoop]] (6)
*[[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] (7)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (8)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (9)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] (10)
*[[Slag (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Slag]] (11)
*[[Sludge (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Sludge]] (12)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ironhide]] (15)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] (16)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] (17)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (18)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] (19)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] (20)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (21)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Cliffjumper]] (22)
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (31)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (32)

}}
|c2=
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (14)
*[[Skywarp (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Skywarp]] (26)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (27)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] (28)
|c3=
*[[Carl Thompson]] (13)
*[[Joy Meadows]] (23)
*[[Rick (Marvel)|Rick]] (24)
*[[Tony (G1)|Tony]] (25)
*[[Greg (G1)|Greg]] (29)
*Greg's brother (30)
}}

==Quotes==
'''Optimus Prime:''' "Prowl, how long till you and your shuttlecraft get here?" 
'''Prowl:''' (''via radio'') "A matter of minutes now, Prime. Can you keep them in that lake until then?" 
'''Optimus Prime:''' "Yes—yes I will. '''Or I will die in the attempt!'''" 
:—'''Optimus Prime''' goes big or goes home

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*The four Dinobots were last seen leaving the Ark to "pursue their own destiny" in [[The Wrath of Grimlock!|issue #32]]. The unfortunate circumstances that have befallen them since, we are reminded by a footnote in part 1, were established in the [[The Icarus Theory|previous issue]].
*Jetfire was last seen in [[Prime Time!|US issue #12]], at which point he was still a non-living robot. Off-panel between that story and this one, Optimus Prime has brought him to life using the Creation Matrix. This is another case of a UK comic story being written with foreknowledge of an upcoming US issue—when Jetfire is next seen in the US series, in [[Rock and Roll-Out!|US issue #14]], he will already have been given life between issues. That issue begins with his receiving an Autobot symbol in the [[Rite of the Autobrand]], a development set up in this story by having Jetfire lose his Decepticon symbol beforehand.
[[File:DinobotHunt i want you.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1]]
*Ironhide and Jazz pursue Slag aboard a [[Mobile Autobot Repair Bay|M.A.R.B.]], one of which was previously used by Ratchet in [[Repeat Performance!|US issue #8]].
*"Dinobot Hunt" serves to partially patch a gap in continuity between the US and UK stories. The majority of the Autobot forces were taken offline during the final battle in [[Prime Time!|US issue #12]], but this was not immediately obvious at the time, and all of them were depicted as fully functional and active in the UK stories that followed it. To reconcile this with the upcoming [[Rock and Roll-Out!|US issue #14]], which opens with the offline Autobots in the repair bay, "Dinobot Hunt" features many of these 'bots being badly wounded by the Dinobots, providing a "new" explanation for their injured status for UK readers. That said, only Gears, Cliffjumper, Windcharger, Huffer, Bluestreak, and Sideswipe are taken off the table in "Dinobot Hunt"; in the US stories, Bluestreak is ''not'' one of the offline characters (although he will be removed from the active roster without explanation by [[Command Performances!|US issue #19]], ironically bringing them into line with the UK storyline), while Prowl, Hound, Trailbreaker, Brawn, Jazz, and Ironhide are also deactivated. "Dinobot Hunt" does not subject those extra characters to such serious injuries, and in fact, they will all continue to appear in future UK-exclusive stories, even though the US stories treat them as being offline.

===Real-life references===
*In Part 1 (page 6, panel 2), Optimus Prime looks straight into the "camera" and points, declaring "The humans need '''you!'''" (pictured at right)—a riff on the famous {{w|Lord Kitchener Wants You}} British Army recruitment poster.
*The title for Part 2, "Swamp-Thing!" (as given by the "next issue" box at the end of Part 1), is a reference to the {{w|Swamp Thing|DC Comics character of the same name}}.
*The cover to issue #50 seems to be drawn in a style that evokes the brawling monster battles of a ''[[Godzilla]]'' series film poster.
{{--}}
===Continuity and plotting errors===
[[File:DinobotHunt glassgun.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.75]]
*It's not an ''error'' but... Part 3 is staged and paced in such a way as to try and make the audience believe that Windcharger, Gears, and Cliffjumper are the ones attacking humans in pursuit of information about Sludge, expecting us to be "surprised" when the Decepticons turn out to have been involved on the final page. We mean, Gears is a bit of an arsehole, but... who'd actually be taken in by that attempted storytelling trick? The scenes of human "interrogation" are so uncommonly brutal—with bodies lying limply in the water and clutched in Decepticons hands, and a child even being cradled in an adult's arms, all of them looking for all the world like they could well be ''dead''—that the idea the Autobots could be behind it never seems credible.
*That said, the three Autobots come off as about as dumb as the story wants the readers to be, as ''they'' can't figure out what's going on either when they see blaster fire and find Sludge zapped into unconsciousness, standing around until they get blasted themselves.
*Cliffjumper uses his [[glass gas]] to actually turn one of the police boats ''into glass'' (right). That's not how that's supposed to work! It doesn't actually turn things ''into'' glass, it just makes them ''brittle'' like glass! The dialogue refers to the weapon as his "glass gun" (no "gas"), indicating the writer had missed that particular bit of info.
*Repeating an error seen before in [[The Last Stand|US issue #4]] and [[Raiders of the Last Ark|UK issue #18]], Jazz uses his flamethrower, which is ''supposed'' to be the shoulder-mounted weapon included with his toy, only for the story to depict his hand-held [[photon rifle]] in its place.

===Artwork and technical errors===
[[File:DinobotHunt decepticon victory.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.5]]
*Throughout all four parts of this story, the Dinobots continue to be coloured with the early colour schemes seen in previous UK appearances; Snarl has a grey dino-mode head instead of a golden one (though the title page of Part 1 does colour his upper jaw gold), Slag has a golden dino-head instead of a grey/purple one, and Swoop has a blue dino-head instead of silver/white.
*Trailbreaker's shoulders are solid yellow throughout Part 1, instead of blue-black like the rest of him. That's a weird one.
*Part 1, Page 5:
**Panel 2: Bluestreak's head is coloured solid red.
**Panel 4: The words "[[California]]" and "[[Colorado]]" are misspelled on the Autobots' map of the [[United States of America|United States]], the states' partially-visible names appearing as "Calaf-" and "Colara-".
*Laserbeak has a yellow beak and feet throughout this story, when they should be blue-black. Additionally, on the final page of Part 1, his... well, uh, his ''butt'' is yellow too.
*Part 2 neglects to credit Stuart Place, who assists Jeff Anderson with colours; a correction printed in [[Shooting Star!|issue #52]] would remedy this.
*Part 2, page 3, panel 3: Windcharger's grey parts are coloured blue.
*Part 2, page 8, panel 6: Skywarp is coloured like Scavenger. Colouring error notwithstanding, the fact that he (and Soundwave, in the background) appears so ''clearly'' in this panel must surely be an error in its own right, since at this point, the story has not yet "revealed" that the Decepticons are involved.
*Part 2, page 11 (right):
**Skywarp's colours are all over the place. He's got solid purple wings instead of black with purple stripes; black forearms instead of purple; black shoulder intakes instead of silver/white; a grey cockpit canopy instead of orange; and red vents on his knees instead of purple. Plus, he's missing his traditional arm guns, and is holding a small hand-held pistol instead.
**From his introduction on this page onward, Scavenger's head is coloured green instead of blue-black throughout the story.
*Unsurprisingly, Jetfire remains coloured in the early colour scheme seen in his previous US appearances, which makes his jet mode largely red, and gives him red wings in robot mode.
*During Part 3, Slag's horn pierces Jetfire in the chest straight through the middle of his Decepticon insignia. Yet when Soundwave finds the torn-off insignia later, it is only "buckled," but otherwise in one piece.
*At the end of Part 3, Sideswipe's right arm is hanging limp, barely connected to his body by a few wire, but at the start of Part 4, it's in working condition, and he's using it to speak into the comm.
*Part 4, page 2: Grimlock's head is ''cartoonishly'' huge in proportion compared to both the rest of his body, and especially to Sludge.
*Part 4, page 3, panel 2: Grimlock's neck turns grey for this one panel, instead of gold.
*Part 4, page 4, panels 3-5: After being drawn and coloured correctly in Part 3, Skywarp's colours have gone wrong again; he's got the correct orange cockpit canopy, but his guns are once again absent and he's still got the black shoulder intakes, and now ''every bit'' of purple is missing from his body.
*Part 4, page 5, panel 4: The centre of Prowl's forehead crest is coloured red instead of white. It remains coloured this way throughout Part 4.
*Part 4, page 8, panel 4: Prowl's bumper turns red.
*Part 4, page 10, panel 6: Bluestreak is drawn with his right leg severed at the knee, when it was intact on page 1.
*Part 4, page 11:
**Panel 1: Skywarp's shoulder intakes are now the correct silver/white, but his cockpit canopy has become black, his thighs white, and his wings solid purple (with still no other purple accents visible anywhere else).
**Panel 4: Prowl's got a red bumper again.

===Other trivia===
[[File:Dinobothunt jazz subspace.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2]]
*Jazz is seen removing his "flamethrower" from a hollow inside his hip, revealing the weapon is stored in a shrunken form that then expands to full size in his hand (right). This is one of the earliest in a small number of visual "cheats" used in the comic and [[The Transformers (cartoon)|cartoon]] to explain where Transformers store their weapons while not in use, which would be rolled together by fans to create the idea of the [[subspace storage pocket]] that later crossed over into official canon.
*Bumblebee mentions that he has eight other senses besides sight. It's not clear what these are; towards the end of this year, ''[[The Transformers Universe]]'' would be published by Marvel, in which the profile for [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] would note that Transformers only have ''seven'' standard senses, rather than nine. Either Bumblebee's packing a little something extra, or we can call this one retconned.

===Back-up material===
'''Issue #47:'''
*'''[[Back-up strips]]:''' ''[[Iron Man]]'' ("From the Ashes," Part 1), ''[[Robo-Capers]]'' and ''Matt and the Cat''
'''Issue #48:'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Iron Man'' ("From the Ashes," Part 2), ''Robo-Capers'' and ''Matt and the Cat''
*'''[[Who's Who]]:''' Decepticons
'''Issue #49:'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Iron Man'' ("From the Ashes," Part 3), ''[[Robo-Capers]]'' and ''Matt and the Cat''
'''Issue #50:'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Iron Man'' ("From the Ashes," Part 4), ''Robo-Capers'' and ''Matt and the Cat''. The first run of the ''Iron Man'' back-up concludes this issue; the strip will return in [[Fire on High!|issue #119]].

===Covers (4)===
*'''UK issue #47:''' Snarl, Slag, Sludge and Grimlock, by [[David Lloyd]].
*'''UK issue #48:''' Sludge, by [[Jeff Anderson]].
*'''UK Issue #49:''' Jetfire vs Slag, by [[Geoff Senior]].
*'''UK issue #50:''' Grimlock vs Sludge, by [[John Higgins]].
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-047.jpg|'''UK issue #47''' - The Dinobot singing group was never a hit.
File:MarvelUK-048.jpg|'''UK issue #48''' - Not '''that''' {{w|Swamp Thing}}.
File:MarvelUK-049.jpg|'''UK issue #49''' - Someone get Jetfire a rope.
File:MarvelUK-050.jpg|'''UK issue #50''' - Me Grimlock say Sludge getting too close for comfort.
</gallery>

===Reprints===
<gallery>
File:Tfcolcom07.jpg|'''[[Transformers Collected Comics#7 – Winter Special 1987|''Collected Comics'' #7]]''' (Marvel UK, 1987)
File:TitanDH.jpg|'''''[[Transformers: Dinobot Hunt]]''''' (Titan Books, 2004)
File:BoUK Dinobots 2a.jpg|'''[[The Transformers: Best of UK: Dinobots#Issue #2|''The Transformers: Best of UK: Dinobots'' #2]] cover A'''; reprints Parts 1-2 (IDW Publishing, 2007)
File:BoUK Dinobots 2b.jpg|'''[[The Transformers: Best of UK: Dinobots#Issue #2|''The Transformers: Best of UK: Dinobots'' #2]] cover B'''; reprints Parts 1-2 (IDW Publishing, 2007)
File:BoUK Dinobots 2ri a.jpg|'''[[The Transformers: Best of UK: Dinobots#Issue #2|''The Transformers: Best of UK: Dinobots'' #2]] cover RI-A'''; reprints Parts 1-2 (IDW Publishing, 2007)
File:BoUK Dinobots 2ri b.jpg|'''[[The Transformers: Best of UK: Dinobots#Issue #2|''The Transformers: Best of UK: Dinobots'' #2]] cover RI-B'''; reprints Parts 1-2 (IDW Publishing, 2007)
File:BoUK Dinobots 3a .jpg|'''[[The Transformers: Best of UK: Dinobots#Issue #3|''The Transformers: Best of UK: Dinobots'' #3]] cover A'''; reprints Parts 3-4 (IDW Publishing, 2007)
File:BoUK Dinobots 3b.jpg|'''[[The Transformers: Best of UK: Dinobots#Issue #3|''The Transformers: Best of UK: Dinobots'' #3]] cover B'''; reprints Parts 3-4 (IDW Publishing, 2007)
File:BoUK Dinobots 3ri a.jpg|'''[[The Transformers: Best of UK: Dinobots#Issue #3|''The Transformers: Best of UK: Dinobots'' #3]] cover RI-A'''; reprints Parts 3-4 (IDW Publishing, 2007)
File:BoUK Dinobots 3ri b.jpg|'''[[The Transformers: Best of UK: Dinobots#Issue #3|''The Transformers: Best of UK: Dinobots'' #3]] cover RI-B'''; reprints Parts 3-4 (IDW Publishing, 2007)
File:BoUK Dinobots TPB.jpg|'''''[[The Transformers: Best of UK: Dinobots]]''''' TPB (IDW Publishing, 2008)
File:IDWBofUKOmnibus.jpg|'''''[[The Transformers: Best of UK]]'' Omnibus''' (IDW Publishing, 2009)
File:Classicuk2.jpg|'''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 2|''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 2]]''' (IDW Publishing, 2012)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v3.jpg|'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]], Vol. 3: Dinobot Hunt''''' (Hachette Partworks Ltd, 2018)</gallery>

[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

The Greatest Gift of All!

2022-10-28T00:45:03Z

Skteosk: /* Quotes */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #250
|prev=Whose Lifeforce Is It Anyway?
|next=The Void! (UK)
|title="The Greatest Gift of All!"
|image=MarvelUK-250.jpg
|caption="Incidentally... a happy Christmas to ''all'' of you at home!"
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[December 23|23rd December]] [[1989]]
|coverdate=[[December 30|30th December]] 1989
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|art=[[Staz]]
|letterer=[[Helen Stone]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''Optimus Prime grants a gift to the Earth.'''

==Synopsis==
It's [[Christmas]] Day, [[1989]]. [[Longtooth]]'s piece of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]] has reached [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]. Now he can grant life to ''one'' of the many deactivated [[Autobot]]s. He considers [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] as they need a medic, [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] for his leadership, one of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] for their strength... Optimus is suddenly revolted at the idea of playing god, and briefly decides to choose a random person to revive—settling on [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]]—but cannot go through with such an arbitrary way of deciding who lives.

His dilemma is interrupted by a report: [[Stakeout (G1)|Stakeout]] and the [[Rescue Patrol (G1)|Rescue Patrol]] have cornered [[Whisper (G1)|Whisper]], who has an open-ended contract on all of Autobot High Command, and are closing in. As Optimus Prime monitors the battle—ordering no harm comes to human or animal life—he briefly considers reviving [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], only to wonder if he'd resent being chosen when others weren't. His musing is interrupted when the Rescue Patrol comes under attack by Whisper's [[Air Strike Patrol]] buddies. The resulting battle trashes a forest, and, in monitoring it, Optimus gets a computer report on the environmental knock-on damage being caused.

Optimus Prime suddenly realises how much damage their war has done to [[Earth]] without him realising. He calls the Rescue Patrol back to base and sends the Matrix fragment into Earth's atmosphere, causing rain that repairs the damage the battle has done to the environment. "He has a gift, the greatest gift of all... he gladly gives it to the Earth!"

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] (2)
*[[Stakeout (G1)|Stakeout]] (3)
*[[Seawatch]] (4)
*[[Fixit (G1)|Fixit]] (5)
*[[Red Hot]] (6)
*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (8)
|c2=
*[[Whisper (G1)|Whisper]] (7)
*[[Tailwind (G1)|Tailwind]] (9)
*[[Nightflight (G1)|Nightflight]] (10)
*[[Storm Cloud (G1)|Storm Cloud]] (11)
}}

==Quotes==
"When asked how he chose which Autobot to give life to, the Autobot's leader replied 'I flipped a coin.' No, I don't think so..."
:— '''Optimus Prime''' decides against random selection.

"We've got him cornered, Prime. With his wings clipped, there's nowhere left to go!"
:— '''Stakeout''' enjoying his work.

"He has a Christmas gift...the greatest gift of all...he gives it gladly to the Earth!"
:— '''Closing narration'''

==Notes==
===Artwork and technical errors===
*TBD
===Continuity errors===
*TBD

===Continuity notes===
*This is the last UK strip that ties into the US strip—after this comes a four-part (and last) post-movie strip, and then [[Earthforce]].
*It's also the last Marvel UK Christmas story in strip form! *sob* British fans would have to put up with "[[Dreadwind's Xmas!]]" the following year and then wait until [[Transformers Comic issue 2.19|2010]] for another one.
*Seaspray has been taken offline at some point since we saw him in issue [[The Man in the Machine!|#212]].
*The Air Strike Patrol appear to have gone AWOL from the Decepticons after "[[Skin Deep]]" - they're targeting Autobot leaders for money, not under orders.
*The Matrix can heal organic life if used properly.
*The scores of Autobot wounded are primarily from "[[Dark Star]]", when the [[Underbase]]-powered [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] decimated their ranks.
*This takes place after [[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] was presumed dead ("[[Skin Deep]]"), which is why Optimus needs a medic.
*The Rescue Patrol arrived on Earth in "[[The Primal Scream|Primal Scream]]".

===Real-life references===
*TBD

===Other trivia===
*On the cover, [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] is playing with a [[toy]] of himself. This would not be the last time a Bumblebee would do [[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|such a thing]].

===Back-up material===
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Skin Deep]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''[[Combat Colin]]''
*'''[[Transformers AtoZ|AtoZ]]:''' [[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]
*Combat Colin is in a [[Christmas with Combat Colin|full-colour strip]] that references the Transformers' party depicted on the cover.
*This issue also featured a competition where readers could win one of 30 [[Rocket Base|Micro-master pocket bases]]{{sic}} by identifying which six Transformers had been mixed up in the matter transmitter — they were [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]], Optimus Prime, [[Mirage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Mirage]], [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]], [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] and [[Headstrong (G1)|Headstrong]].

===Foreign Localization===
'''Swedish'''
:* ''Title:'' "'''Den största gåvan av alla'''" ("The Greatest Gift of All")

===Cover===
*'''Issue #250 cover:''' the Transformers' Christmas party, by [[Andrew Wildman]].
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-250.jpg|'''Issue #250'''
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*Kellogg's Rice Krispies
*[[Micromaster]]s [[Sports Car Patrol]], [[Rescue Patrol (G1)|Rescue Patrol]] and [[Battle Patrol]] sets
*Classified ads
*''[[Hulk|The Incredible Hulk]] Presents'' featuring [[Doctor Who]], {{w|Indiana Jones}} and [[Action Force (comic)|Action Force]] every week from [[Marvel Comics]]

===Reprints===
*'''Issue #332 cover:''' [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] about to dismember [[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]]
*'''''[[Transformers: Way of the Warrior]]'':''' Carnivac and Springer stand victorious over a [[Limbo]] nightmare creature, by [[Simon Coleby]].
*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Vol 19: Perchance to Dream:''''' [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (from early IDW promo art), by [[Guido Guidi]] above a retro scene of the [[Battlecharger]]s (from [[Worlds Apart!|Marvel UK #255]] cover) by [[Stephen Baskerville]].

<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-332.jpg|'''Issue #332'''; cover art by [[Andrew Wildman]]
File:Titan B&W Compilation-Way of the Warrior.jpg|'''''Way of the Warrior''''' (Titan Books, 2005)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v19.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection'' Vol. 19''' (Hachette Partworks, Ltd., 2017)
</gallery>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Greatest Gift of All!}}
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Constructicon (G1)

2021-11-19T01:04:29Z

Skteosk: /* Notes */

{{disambig3|Constructicon}}
{{factions|decepticon|decepticong2|ultracon|cobra}}
:''The Constructicons are a [[Decepticon]] [[subgroup]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

<div class="center">[[File:Lineup.jpg|none|750px|thumb|From left to right: Scavenger, Mixmaster, Long Haul, Bonecrusher, Hook and myself... uh, I mean Scrapper.]]</div>
The '''Constructicons''' are the Decepticons' foremost designers, engineers and builders. They are also particularly notable for their status as the very first combining subgroup of Transformers. The individual members of the team are:

*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]], (usually) the leader, a modest but masterful designer - front-end loader.
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]], a destructive berserker - bulldozer (and later front-end loader).
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]], the materials detector with some major self-esteem issues - power shovel.
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]], a manic and somewhat crazed chemist - cement mixer.
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]], a snobbishly perfectionist engineer - crane.
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]], a hard-working transporter who longs to be on the battlefield - dump truck (and later crane).

They are able to merge their bodies and minds together to form the gigantic [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]].

In several continuities, there are more Constructicons in addition to or in lieu of the primary six. The named ones include:

*[[Gravedigger]], younger brother of Bonecrusher - dump truck.
*[[Hauler]], an Autobot ex-Constructicon - crane.
*[[Erector (G1)|Erector]], an Autobot ex-Constructicon - cab and crane trailer.
*[[Hightower (Classics)|Hightower]], a stand-in for Mixmaster and Hook whose personality is a merger of the two - crane.
*[[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]], a religious fanatic and stand-in for Scrapper drafted into the team by [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] - front-end loader.

In ''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]'' continuity, the original six Constructions (excluding Skavenger) die and are replaced over time by:

*[[Buckethead]], late-model Decepticon who joined shortly before the Micromaster Upgrade - front-end loader.
*[[Hightower (RID)|Hightower]], former Autobot placed in charge of the group - crane truck.
*[[Quickmix (G1)|Quickmix]], former Autobot chemist - cement mixer.
*[[Wideload (G1)|Wideload]], former Throttlebot who joined the Decepticons in defiance of Rodimus's poor leadership - dump truck.
*[[Steam Hammer]], surprisingly gifted laborer - steam shovel.

Members' color schemes are [[:File:G2Devastator toy.jpg|required]] to include green.<ref>[[Erector (G1)|Erector]]'s [[Transformers Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]] [[bio]]</ref>

{{bigquote|Really. That has to be the ''stupidest'' color for a 'disguise'...|[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Spike Witwicky]]|"[[Scrapper (issue)|Scrapper]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics====
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:Constructiconsbornmarvel.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|"I'm green!" "I'm green!" "I'm green!" "I'm green!" "I'm green!" "I'm green!"]]
Seeking to bolster the size of his forces on Earth in [[1985]], Decepticon Commander [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] arranged for the construction of six new Decepticon bodies, which were then infused with life by the power of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]], tapped from the head of the imprisoned [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]. Thus, the Constructicons were born, and were immediately put to work building a massive radio transmission dish that [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] used to beam a message to Cybertron. When the Autobots attempted to interfere, the Constructicons revealed their hidden power and merged into Devastator to fight them off, allowing the message to successfully go through. {{storylink|The Next Best Thing to Being There!}}

The Autobots, intrigued by Devastator's unique combining power, attempted to replicate it with the construction of Omega Supreme. However, Omega was composed of only three components, unlike the six Constructicons that made up Devastator. The Autobots, needing additional data on combiner technology, conducted a raid on the [[Wyoming base|Decepticon base]], luring out Devastator so that they could study him further. {{storylink|Command Performances!}} This led to the construction of the new combiner team, the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], capable of forming [[Superion (G1)|Superion]]. {{storylink|Aerialbots over America!}} ''The Constructicons were later charged with hunting down [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]],'' {{storylink|Devastation Derby!}}

''The Constructicons were sent into frigid [[Yukon]] territory to work on a secret project. They were discovered by [[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] and [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], only for the two Autobots to accidentally betray their presence with an accidental weapons discharge. The Constructicons chased down the interlopers, blasting at them through a nearby forest. During the chase, they merged into Devastator in an attempt to overtake the pair. While in this form, they were duped into blasting a hydro-electric dam. Realizing what was coming, the Constructicons only had time enough to separate before the concrete structure collapsed, unleashing a torrent of water. The Constructicons were submerged in the flood, allowing the Autobots to escape.'' {{storylink|The Mission}}''They were called upon once more when the time-travelling [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] co-opted their services to build a gigantic laser cannon.'' {{storylink|Target: 2006}}

Devastator battled Superion during the Transformers' adventure alongside [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]. {{storylink|...All Fall Down!}}

The team's special talents were not required again until they and the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] stole large amounts of rocket fuel and raw materials, with which the Constructicons rebuilt the Decepticons' mobile island headquarters as a spaceship. {{storylink|Toy Soldiers!}} With the entire Earth-based Decepticon army aboard the ship, under the command of [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]], they attacked an Autobot congregation on the moon. While the battle raged, the Constructicons penetrated the Ark and recovered the deactivated bodies of several Decepticons defeated in an earlier clash with Omega Supreme. {{storylink|Totaled!}}

=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
''In an alternate [[2008]], Mixmaster was briefly indicated to have ascended to leadership of the Constructicons.'' {{storylink|Space Pirates!}}

=====Earthforce=====
{{earthforcefiction}}
At one point the team had lost the ability to combine, and attempted to rebuild Devastator as a singular, separate entity. The Autobots [[Ironhide (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ironhide]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] arrived on the island to investigate, and Ironhide was able to bypass the security grid and plant explosives to destroy the site, and Devastator with it. {{storylink|Desert Island Risks!}}

The main Constructicon team worked for [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] during the [[Decepticon Civil War]], and Mixmaster happily dealt [[Syk]] to everyone - happily until Soundwave happily blackmailed him over it... {{storylink|Secrets (G1)|Secrets}}

{{note|Bonecrusher is the only member of the Constructicons who did not appear in the [[Earthforce]] stories.}}

====Marvel ''Generation 2'' comic====
The Constructicons resurfaced among the Decepticons after Megatron reclaimed the army from [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]. Bonecrusher appeared with the Cons who confronted [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] when he arrived on Earth. {{storylink|The Gathering Darkness}}

Scavenger and Hook stood with the assembled Decepticons as Megatron rallied them for war with the Cybertronian Empire. {{storylink|New Dawn}}

In preparation for the final battle with the Swarm, Scrapper, Bonecrusher, and Long Haul helped establish fortifications at the combined Autobot and Decepticon base. {{storylink|A Rage in Heaven!}}

====''Classics''====
{{noteclassics}}
[[File:CrossingOverGrimlockConstructicons.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
The Constructicons were among the troops that Megatron covertly rebuilt on Earth after [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]'s defeat and exile. Both Hook and Mixmaster were curiously absent from the team, with the enigmatic Hightower in their place. It's unclear why this was, but Hightower himself joked about stripping enough spare parts off of [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] to "build a new Hook." {{storylink|Crossing Over: Part 6}}
{{-}}

===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
[[File:Megatronffod.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|And so, one night, over pizza and beer, far below the city... continuity nightmares were born.]]
The Constructicons' origins are clouded. They were reportedly on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] millions of years ago, though the accounts gel poorly. When [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] took a near-death trip into the [[Matrix of Leadership]], he saw a vision of [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]'s creation - by eight(!) apparent Constructicons. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} But according to [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], at the time that Megatron was building up his Decepticon army, the Constructicons were ''not'' Decepticons at all (though they were seen bearing the Decepticon symbol). They were the peaceful creators of the beautiful [[Crystal City]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], and Omega was both its guardian and their friend. However, Megatron secretly used the [[Robosmasher]] to reprogram the Constructicons into Decepticons, then he had them send Omega away on a fool's errand so they could demolish Crystal City.

[[File:Robo-Smasher and Omega Supreme.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Omega Supreme battling Devastator with the Robo-Smasher on his back.]]
The enraged Omega tracked the Constructicons down and reprogrammed them again, intending to return them to their previous state. But as the group returned to rebuild Crystal City, they attacked Omega while his back was turned. Megatron's programming was not to be undone, and he had also given them the ability to merge into Devastator. As they wrestled with Omega in their combined form, the Robosmasher latched onto Omega Supreme's head. Omega was able to fend off both his attackers, but his mental brush with the Robosmasher left him filled only with hate for the Constructicons, whom he pursued across the galaxy for millions of years. While this tale was only conveyed second-hand, some details would be corroborated in conversation between Omega and the Constructicons in the modern day. {{storylink|The Secret of Omega Supreme (episode)|The Secret of Omega Supreme}}

{{note|Immediately after the crew of the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] reawakened on Earth, a [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]]-lookalike named "Hauler" was briefly seen among them. He would be [[retcon]]ned into "[[Hauler|RoadHauler]]" nearly 20 years later by that toy's on-package [[bio]], which confirmed the Crystal City origin and made him a Constructicon who had escaped the Robosmasher and joined the Autobots.}}

[[File:Heavymetalwar constructicons target teletraan.jpg|upright=1.1|left|thumb]]
In [[1984]], the Constructicons bolstered Megatron's forces on Earth (and Megatron referred to "the time we spent building them in these caverns," adding to the origin ambiguities). Scrapper designed a machine to transfer the other Decepticons' offensive powers to Megatron. While Megatron battled [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], holding the attention of the Autobots, the Constructicons invaded the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] to destroy [[Teletraan I]]. Unfortunately for them, the Ark was protected by the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], but by merging into Devastator, they became more than a match for their prehistoric foes. The return of the other Autobots and the discovery of Megatron's deception spelled the end of the battle, however. [[Hound (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hound]] distracted Devastator with a gigantic hologram, and Optimus Prime blasted the giant at just the right spot to force the Constructicons to disengage. They and the other Decepticons were then forced into a river of lava. {{storylink|Heavy Metal War}}

[[File:Autobotrun ironhide carcrusher.jpg|upright=1.1|right|thumb]]
The Constructicons all managed to survive their magma bath mostly unscathed, except possibly for Mixmaster, who developed a manic personality and a fondness for repeating his words, which he had not displayed before. Regardless, the team was soon back at work again, performing such varied tasks as assisting in Megatron's reconstruction of [[New York City]] (which also involved turning Optimus Prime's scrapped remains into a [[Alligaticon|robotic alligator]]) {{storylink|City of Steel (episode)|City of Steel}} and building [[Transfixatron|a device to paralyze Transformers in their vehicular modes]], as well as another to crush them. {{storylink|The Autobot Run}}

[[File:TheCore ConstructiconsMegatronPoint.jpg|upright=1.1|left|thumb]]
The Constructicons' history of mental manipulation continued when the Autobots planted [[dominator disk]]s on them, which the Autobots activated when the Constructicons merged into Devastator. He instantly began fighting against the Decepticons, and Autobots took him back to their base. However, Megatron was secretly aware of the whole plot, even spying on the Autobots ''through the Constructicons' own eyes.'' Meanwhile, the Constructicons contentedly helped fix the battle-damaged Autobots and then accompanied them on a raid against the Decepticons, who were trying to drill into the [[Earth's core]]. During the battle, Megatron used a "control switch" to deactivate the disks, and as Devastator turned back against the Autobots, Wheeljack boosted the disks' power. This drove Devastator mad, and he began attacking everyone indiscriminately. The only thing that brought him back to sanity was the threat of the Decepticons' drill, which was seconds away from destroying the planet. He dove into the drilled hole and wrenched the bit to a standstill, saving the world. {{storylink|The Core}}

[[File:MasterBuilders devastator under attack.jpg|upright=1.1|right|thumb]]
Afterwards, the Constructicons returned to their Decepticon roles, but treachery remained a running theme. Upon learning of the Autobot [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]]'s solar power tower design, Scrapper and the Constructicons pretended to have defected from the Decepticons in order to help him and [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] construct it. But upon its completion, they turned it and the two Autobots over to Megatron. In a demonstration of Scrapper's motto, Grapple and Hoist were imprisoned in the very structure of their tower. {{storylink|The Master Builders (episode)|The Master Builders}}

Later, when the other Decepticons began to suffer from [[Cybertonium]] degeneration, the Constructicons, apparently working fine, took delivery of a shipment of the mineral via the [[space bridge]], and as Devastator, failed to stop [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike]] and [[Carly]] from getting by them and traveling to Cybertron. {{storylink|Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1}}

[[File:SecretofOmega devastator vs omega.jpg|upright=1.1|left|thumb]]
When Omega Supreme learned that the Constructicons were active on Earth, he arrived on the planet and joined Optimus Prime's forces, biding his time until he could face his former friends again. That chance arose when the Constructicons were discovered mining an asteroid, and Omega was dispatched to investigate. Ignoring Optimus Prime's orders, Omega Supreme engaged the Constructicons, and in the battle, split the asteroid in two, revealing that it was an egg of sorts, incubating a monstrous alien creature, which promptly attacked [[San Francisco]] while Omega, ignoring the plight of the city, continued to battle the Constructicons. Optimus Prime then entered the fray, convincing Omega that saving the city was more important than revenge, and forcing the Constructicons to retreat. {{storylink|The Secret of Omega Supreme (episode)|The Secret of Omega Supreme}}

[[File:TFTM Devastator.jpg|upright=1.1|right|thumb]]
The building skills of the Constructicons remained in demand; other creations around this time included an army of drone Transformers created from common Earth cars; {{storylink|Make Tracks}} various constructs for [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], including a throne constructed from deactivated Autobots and a massive maze; {{storylink|Triple Takeover}} and a giant ruby-powered laser cannon. {{storylink|Masquerade}} It's unclear how unique their combining ability actually was (especially if Devastator had been around since the [[Golden Age]]), but their gestalt-monopoly on Earth was undone with the creation of the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] and their Autobot counterparts, the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]]. These were soon followed by the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] and [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]], the latter even defeating Devastator in battle as their merged form, [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]]. {{storylink|Starscream's Brigade}}

[[File:TFTM Constructicon trumpets.jpg|upright=1.1|left|thumb]]
Still, twenty years later in the Earth year [[2005]], Devastator was the Decepticons' primary weapon in the great [[Battle of Autobot City]], tearing through the defenses and walls of the city and battling the Dinobots once more. On the return trip to Cybertron, it was Bonecrusher who advocated the "survival of the fittest" policy that saw many wounded Decepticons ejected from the shuttle, among them Megatron, prompting Scrapper to vote for the Constructicons as the new leaders of the Decepticons, arguing that Devastator was the most powerful robot. Hook took great offense to the notion that [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] would make a better leader than them. In the end, [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] became the new leader of the Decepticons, and the Constructicons, as a sign of no hard feelings, provided the music by playing horns at his coronation. Starscream, desperate to get on with the ceremony, eventually shot their horns, showing that he still had hard feelings. How they were able to play the horns, as a number of them don't have mouths, is unknown. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}

[[File:FightorFlee Constructicon vehicle.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|The Constructicons got an [[Action Master]] vehicle before it was fashionable!]]
In the remainder of this year and throughout [[2006]], the Constructicons maintained a smaller, but still present, role in the Decepticon army, lending their talents to the Decepticon/[[Quintesson]] alliance by constructing [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] out of a populated human city in only one night. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4|FFOD, Part 4}} Later, they built a planetary engine on an asteroid and battled on the planet [[Eurythma]], {{storylink|Carnage in C-Minor}} aided in the overthrow of [[Paradron]] {{storylink|Fight or Flee (episode)|Fight or Flee}} and took part in an attack on [[Japan]]. {{storylink|The Burden Hardest to Bear}} Although brief, the Constructicons even played a part in the battle for the [[Plasma Energy Chamber]] in [[2007]], seen firing on Autobots with the [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcons]]. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 3}}

=====Origin inconsistency=====
As seen above, the cartoon presented several conflicting origins for the Constructicons. The series bible described the Constructicons as having "no explained origin",<ref>[http://tfarchive.com/cartoons/bible/#057 Cartoon series bible page on the Constructicons]</ref> but this only seemed to promote variant portrayals.

A straight reading of the "facts" appears to go: the Constructicons started out Decepticons, built Megatron, left the Decepticons, built the Crystal City, were Robosmashed back into Decepticons, ran around the galaxy for umpteen million years, ended up on Earth, and were (re)built by Megatron. However, there are issues with that narrative:

*There was no hint in Omega's flashback that they had ever been Decepticons before; their treachery was entirely unexpected. On the other hand, they ''did'' have Decepticon symbols throughout. Another possibility is that the Constructicons had built Megatron without realizing how evil he would be, which allows their early insignia to be chalked up as the animation error they most likely are.
*Even if Megatron's claim of "building" them just means "rebuilding", their Crystal City flashback showed them anachronistically ''already'' in their Terran vehicle forms, so what would he have rebuilt them into? On the other hand, that's just one more reason to doubt the veracity of Omega's flashback.

Making the issue either simpler or more complicated, depending on your view, the {{w|unreliable narrator}} rationale could negate much of the Constructicons' supposed history, between the vengeance-driven Omega's tale and the tripping Rodimus' near-death mystical vision. But the real-world truth of the matter is that different writers and haphazard animators gave us a mix of possibilities with no clear [[canon]] answer.

====Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity====
=====eHobby RoadHauler bio=====
[[Hauler]] was originally one of the Constructicons during their days on Cybertron. He eventually defected from his comrades and joined the Autobots, taking on a new color scheme in the process.

=====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' manga=====
The Constructicons helped Megatron secure an island paradise as the staging ground for their new fortress, [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. When [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] and the Autobots arrived to kick them off the island, the Constructicons formed Devastator to fight back, but were swatted aside by Trypticon who wanted the kill for himself. After the Autobots tricked Trypticon into defeating himself, they forced the Constructicons to rebuild the forest they destroyed. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 6|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #6}}

=====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' story pages=====
[[File:FSRLstorypage devastator.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
The Constructicons formed Devastator and confronted the Autobots in the skies over Cybertron. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (story page)|F!SRL Transformers Part 6}} Later, the Constructicons teamed up with the Stunticons in the form of Devastator and Menasor to make trouble for the Autobots. Unfortunately for the Decepticons, the Autobots unleashed their new combiner warrior: [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]]! Defensor quickly sent the bad robots packing. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (story page)|F!SRL Transformers Part 12}}
{{-}}

=====''Scramble City'' cartoon=====
[[File:Constructicons mode2.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Can we break it, then rebuild it into a device of hideous destructive power? YES WE CAN.]]
The Constructicons were among the first Decepticons dispatched to destroy an Autobot factory building [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. In the form of Devastator, they were also among the first Decepticons defeated. {{storylink|Scramble City: Mobilization}}
{{-}}

=====''The Story of the Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers'' manga=====
In 2010, on the planet [[Feminia]], Devastator joined with all the other Decepticon Combiner warriors in an assault on the [[Prime Energy Tower]]. Their victory seemed assured until the [[Omnibot (G1)|Omnibot]]s showed up and caused all the Combiners to trip into one another and disassemble. {{storylink|The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers issue 5|The Story of Super Robot Lifeforms: The Transformers #5}}

=====''The Headmasters'' cartoon=====
[[File:Hm1 Constructicons Attack.jpg|thumb|200px]]
In [[2011]], the Constructicons were among those assembled by Galvatron for an all-out assault on Cybertron. After arriving individually through the space bridge, they joined the fight as Devastator. The once mighty Combiner would appear to have fallen on hard times, however, as he was defeated by Optimus Prime, who dispatched him with a single jump-kick. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}}

The Constructicons would have many more embarrassing skirmishes as Devastator, until their intellect would finally be exploited to oversee the production of [[crysmagnetal]] in [[Lemuria (myth)|Lemuria]], a component needed to blow up the Earth. They would be thwarted and driven off into space alongside the other Decepticons. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}

=====''Unite Warriors''=====
In [[2021]], the Constructicons tricked [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] into helping them rebuild Crystal City on Earth. {{storylink|Unite Warriors Offshot#Crystal City Reconstruction Project|Crystal City Reconstruction Project}}

=====''Zone'' catalog storypage=====
[[File:DarkEmperorDeathsaurusZone01.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85]]
Along with other Combiners, Devastator joined the newly revived "[[Emperor of Destruction|Dark Emperor]]" [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]] for an attack on the Autobots. This time, it was a full-on assault on planet [[Micro|Zone]] in an attempt to seize the Micro Zone's [[Energon Z]]. The [[Micromaster]]s repelled his attack and sent the Decepticons into retreat.{{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone (story page)#Catalogue story page 1|Zone Project Story}}

=====''Zone'' cartoon, manga, and story pages=====
Seeking to create a [[Decepticon Zone]] to counter the [[Micro|Autobot Zone]], [[Emperor of Destruction|Decepticon Emperor]] [[Violengiguar]] gathered together the Nine Great Demon Generals, upgrading them with powerful new armor and weaponry, then sent them forth to conquer planets. The Constructicons were among those summoned, but only in the form of Devastator. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone (story page)|Zone Part 1}}

While in some accounts of their fateful battle with [[Dai Atlas (G1)|Dai Atlas]] for the power of [[Energon Z]], the Constructicons survived the altercation,{{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone (manga)|Zone}} other accounts were less generous, having Devastator killed in a flood of lava. {{storylink|Enter the New Supreme Commander, Dai Atlas!}}

=====''United EX'' storyline=====
Seeking to restore his older brother Bonecrusher to life, long-forgotten Constructicon [[Gravedigger]] gained control of [[Power Core Combination]] technology and combined with several Constructicon drones to become Buildmaster. During one encounter with the Autobot Power Core Combiners, he defended a Decepticon base alongside [[Onslaught (G1)|Combatmaster]] and discovered a strange [[Predacon (BW)|relic]] from the future left buried in the past. {{storylink|Unearthed Future}}

=====eHobby post-''G-2'' storyline=====
The Constructicons were eventually revived, by the looks of things. Hook and Bonecrusher were stationed on an undersea research facility being commanded by Megatron (who himself was being commanded by [[Galvatron II]]). Things went sour when strange monsters attacked the facility, shortly before the Autobots and an [[Eldedroid]] arrived to clean up their mess. {{storylink|MP-1B Cybertron Commander / Convoy Black Ver.}}

====''Wings Universe''====
{{Wingsnote}}
Nine million years before the Transformers came to Earth, the Cybertronian "race" known as the Constructicons decided to side with the Decepticons. {{storylink|Flames of Yesterday}}

Hook, leader of the Constructicons, had a seat at the council table of [[Decepticon Warlord]]s. The Warlords had an acrimonious relationship with each other at best, but agreed to meet for War Councils to discuss the Decepticon movement and, particularly, the rising threat of the [[Elite Guard|Autobot Elite Guard]] to all of them. He and [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]], leader of the [[Photon]]s, carried a motion for the assembled Warlords to share their plans and information with each other, for the greater glory of the Decepticons.

Or, rather, for the greater glory of [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]. By the next council meeting, Hook, Reflector and Megatron's representative [[Shockwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Shockwave]] were no longer present, having united under Megatron's banner after claiming the Warlords' secrets. {{storylink|A Team Effort}}

A group of Constructicons worked for [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]] on the repairs of the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]]s. {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 2}} Following Megatron's conquering of Deathsaurus's territory, Deathsaurus's [[Combiner]] technology was applied to Hook and his team to create Devastator, who joined in an attack on [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. {{storylink|Battle Lines, Part 5}} The Autobots were able to take down Devastator using a combination of live cables and shooting him in the knees. {{Storylink|Battle Lines, Part 6}}

Millennia later, during the [[Battle of Autobot City]], Devastator breached a wall and faced [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] with a small group of Autobots. The Autobots used a barrage of rockets to separate the Constructicons, who began fighting back, taking out [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] as the Autobots retreated. {{storylink|A Flash Forward}}

During the third Cybertronian war, the Constructicons were ambushed at [[Elevation Recostalus]] by a group of Autobots including [[Hauler]] and [[Erector (G1)|Erector]], who disabled them before they could form Devastator. The group remained offline until 1984, when Megatron rebuilt them on Earth and appointed Scrapper as leader in Hook's place. {{storylink|Transformers I.Q.#issue 45|Transformers I.Q. last issue review}}

====Ask Vector Prime====
In [[Primax 1185.04 Alpha]], the Constructicons entered the war Megatron waged against [[Cobra]] on Earth. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/06/13}}

In a different universe manipulated by [[Gong (GoBots)|Gong]] and [[Sideways (RID)|Sideways]], the Constructicons participated in the siege of [[Autobot City (G1)|Guardian City]] by forming Devastator. Later after history blipped again, the Constructicons were replaced by the [[Puzzler]] team. {{storylink|Echoes and Fragments}}

===''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers''===
[[File:Constructicons GIJoevsTFs4.jpg|thumb|upright=1.9]]
The Constructicons were among the Transformers aboard the ''Ark'' when it crashed on Earth at some point in the past. In the present, it was discovered by the terrorist organization [[Cobra]], who reprogrammed the Transformers for their own needs. Naturally, the Constructicons were used for construction on [[Cobra Island]], until [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] hacked Cobra's computers and freed everyone. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 3|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #3}} After enacting some revenge on their former captors, the Constructicons were ordered to defend the [[SPS Satellite]] controls from the Autobot and [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] troops attacking the island. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 4|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #4}} However, not even Devastator's strength was enough to stop the attackers, and the combiner was defeated. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 5|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #5}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
{{notekeepers}}
[[File:DW devastator.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|"Devastator use ocean as bathtub!"]]
Eight million years before the modern era, the Constructicons were tasked by Megatron to activate Cybertron's planetary engines. {{storylink|The War Within issue 2|The War Within #2}} When Megatron disappeared into the depths of the planet fighting [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], Starscream temporarily took command and had Scrapper prepare a process for the resurfacing of Cybertron, which would transform it into a mobile war-world. Scrapper cautioned against such an action, but Starscream ignored him, and prevented him from stopping it when the process was underway. {{storylink|The War Within issue 5|The War Within #5}} After this, the Constructicons worked on the theory of [[mass intellect]], and succeeded in stabilizing the neural-meshing, creating Devastator. However, the process was not as efficient as the Constructicons believed, as the technical geniuses of the Constructicons did not translate into Devastator, causing him to suffer from a serious "dumbing down" problem. Despite the drawbacks, Megatron was impressed with Devastator's destructive potential. Besides, being intelligent ''and'' powerful was overrated in Megatron's opinion. {{storylink|Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye #8}} When Megatron and Optimus Prime were thought to have died in an early test of the [[space bridge]] transport system, and the Autobots and Decepticons splintered into several smaller factions, the Constructicons broke the treaty that had downgraded the combining teams to non-combat status by siding with Ratbat's [[Ultracon]]s and battling [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]]. {{storylink|Escalation}}

It is apparent that the Constructicons were not aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] when it crashed on Earth four million years before the modern era, but they did eventually find their way to Earth and joined Megatron's forces there after they awoke in 1984. All the Transformers were rendered inactive in the explosion of the ''[[Ark II]]'' in 1999, but when they reactivated in 2001, Devastator was the main weapon in Megatron's attack on [[San Francisco]]. Rampaging through the city, he battled and defeated [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 4|Prime Directive #4}} but was defeated by Optimus Prime who blasted the titan point-blank in the face, sending him plunging into the ocean. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 5|Prime Directive #5}}

''Over the following months, Starscream had the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] secretly rebuild Devastator and the Constructicons without Megatron's knowledge. When Megatron vanished off the face of the Earth, Starscream took the opportunity to bring his secret weapon back into the light. Devastator made his return debut in the canyons of Nevada, where Starscream led the unwitting Autobot named [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] right into a blast from Devastator's [[solar energy rifle]]. He was a major force in Starscream's control of [[Las Vegas]] as well, and battled [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] when the Dinobot commander attempted to free the city from Decepticon domination. {{storylink|Transformers: Hardwired|Hardwired}}''

''When Megatron returned from deep space, Devastator unhesitatingly remained at Starscream's side, and was prepared to tear his former leader limb from limb at Starscream's command. When the Decepticons split into two factions between Megatron and Starscream, the Constructicons were steadfastly loyal to Starscream. They were captured, along with the rest of Starscream's men, when the [[Keeper (species)|Keepers]] settled in Las Vegas. Trapped inside an energy net, Devastator tried to bludgeon his way out at first, until [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] convinced the Constructicons to separate so they could dig their way out from underneath the field. Once they were freed, the Constructicons reformed Devastator as the Autobots and Decepticons united in an attempt to destroy the Keepers before the American government carried out the final solution and nuked Las Vegas off the map. Didn't work—the xenophobic [[President of the United States|President]] jumped the gun and fired off the nuclear missile early in the hopes of eliminating the Transformers as well as the Keepers. Still, the impending nuclear holocaust wasn't enough to deter Devastator's one-track mind, and he continued to hunt down the Keeper-possessed [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (since that was the one Autobot [[Starscream (G1)|mommy]] and [[Megatron (G1)|daddy]] would let him destroy at the moment). During the fight, the Keepers managed to trap Devastator and his massive comrade [[Omega Sentinel (G1)|Omega Sentinel]] outside a protective field, while they engaged the smaller Transformers inside. This eventually meant that Devastator was too far away to be protected by Optimus Prime's [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]-constructed shields when the nuclear missiles finally struck. The combined Constructicons suffered massive damage as a result. {{storylink|Transformers: Annihilation|Annihilation}}''

''In the aftermath of the nuclear assault on Las Vegas, the Constructicons were trapped permanently in their Devastator form as a result of their injuries. Devastator was present in the Nevada desert when the American military forces ambushed the Autobots and Decepticons. After that, Megatron sent him and Omega Sentinel to keep watch on the Void gateway being built on [[Allister Greaves]]' property to allow the Keepers back into normal space. Optimus Prime and Megatron soon joined them there, and began the final battle against the Keepers' pawn, [[Franklin Townsend]], and his puppets Bluestreak and Starscream. Devastator attempted to swat Starscream out of the sky, but eventually stopped when the Keepers' power faded and Starscream returned to his ever-so-likeable self. Instead, he was forced to contend with the far more formidable Omega Sentinel, who had broken free from Megatron's control and returned to his original Guardian programming. Ultimately, the Omega Sentinel sacrificed himself to stop the Keepers by plunging into the Void, and pulled Devastator with him. When the Keepers' control crystal was shattered, the Void was destroyed and Devastator fell back out into real space. He floated in the vacuum between Mars and Jupiter, in deep stasis lock. A secret American space venture, the starship ''[[Bounty]]'', happened across the gigantic Decepticon on their mission, and made plans to bring him back to Earth. {{storylink|Transformers: Fusion|Fusion}}''

Devastator eventually came to be possessed by the [[Earth Defense Command]], and he was dissected and studied in their underground base. {{storylink|Generation 1 issue 0|Generation One #0}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
[[File:MegsOrigin2 Constructicons.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
The Constructicons started out as the builders of the [[Forge]], the arena for the illegal [[gladiatorial combat]] that [[Clench (G1)|Clench]] ran, and continued in that role when [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] took over. They did not move the parts for the arena between venues, but rather built them on site, using any materials available—and that included [[Empty|Empties]]. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}} After Megatron began his preparations for the [[Decepticon]] insurrection, the Constructicons turned their talents to modifying the gladiators into warriors. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3|Megatron Origin #3}} Once the rebellion began in full, the Constructicons helped conquer [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]]. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 4|Megatron Origin #4}}

The Constructicons participated in an attack on [[Zeta Prime (G1)|Zeta Prime]]'s [[Citadel]] during a temporary alliance between the Decepticons and [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Orion Pax]]'s Autobots. {{storylink|Overthrown}} They were later stationed in the industrial slagwerks of [[Galaxxon]], where they watched a broadcast in which Orion Pax, now Optimus Prime, asked all Cybertronians to unite and fight against the new Decepticon rule. {{storylink|Broadcast}}

As the war began in earnest between the Autobots and Decepticons, the Constructicons remained loyal followers of Megatron. At one point they were stationed on [[Varas Centralus]] alongside [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] and [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]], where they committed some atrocity that was enough to cause Sky-Byte to abandon the Decepticon cause. {{storylink|A Better Tomorrow}} Four million years ago, several Constructicons were part of a convoy bringing energon to the war effort, but the shipment was intercepted and captured by Optimus Prime and [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]]. {{storylink|The Iron Age}}

Millions of years later, the Constructicons were granted the ability to combine into Devastator by [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]], who had completed [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]]'s combiner research. {{storylink|Before the Dawn}} They joined Megatron on Earth, where they used their new combined form to defeat the local Autobot troops. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 7|All Hail Megatron #7}} The Decepticons subsequently attacked [[New York City]], where the Constructicons briefly pretended to "come in peace" before they started killing everybody. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 1|All Hail Megatron #1}} As Devastator, they made sure to destroy all the tunnels leading in and out of the city. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 2|All Hail Megatron #2}} [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] subsequently convinced the Constructicons to join him in his rebellion against Megatron, and they attacked their former leader in the form of Devastator. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 10|All Hail Megatron #10}} The battle was interrupted by incoming human jets and the returning Autobots, and Devastator was faced with the mighty [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 11|All Hail Megatron #11}} The Constructicons were defeated when Omega blasted a hole in Devastator's torso. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 12|All Hail Megatron #12}}

As the battered Decepticons fled Earth, the Constructicons seemed to have been left behind. Two years later, Scrapper joined a few other Decepticons trying to get off the planet {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 1: "New Arrivals, Old Encounters"|New Arrivals, Old Encounters}}, while Scavenger was targeted for capture by [[Skywatch]] and the Autobots. {{storylink|The Hanging Sword}} He managed to stay hidden and think of a plan to get out of the country. {{storylink|The Impossible Knot}} Unlike Scavenger, Hook and Mixmaster ended up captured by Skywatch, but were rescued by Scrapper's group who had allied themselves with some rogue Autobots. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 2: "A Rude Awakening"|A Rude Awakening}} The three reunited Constructicons then started building a starship for everyone to leave Earth with. [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] wanted to speed things up by collecting some more of the construction experts, but [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus Prime]] refused as his Autobots feared that they might form Devastator again. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 3: "Seasons in Flight"|Seasons in Flight}} The Decepticons eventually betrayed the Autobots and tried to take the ship for themselves (with help from [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] instead of Devastator), but were defeated. Skywatch captured most of them, but several Constructicons got away. {{storylink|Things Fall Apart, Part 5: "Earthworks"|Earthworks}} Among them was Scrapper, but he was soon hunted down and executed by [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Spike Witwicky]], who was intent on ending the threat of Devastator forever. {{storylink|Scrapper (issue)|Scrapper}}

As the Decepticon army returned to Earth in full force under Megatron's command, one of their first acts was to lay siege to Skywatch and recover all the imprisoned 'Cons on the premises, including Scrapper's deactivated body. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 1: The Demolished Man|The Demolished Man}} Hook and Mixmaster were later seen among Megatron's assembled troops before he faced off against Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Revenge of the Decepticons Part 5: Enemy Mine|Enemy Mine}} After Megatron and the Autobots traveled to Cybertron for war against [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]]'s army, the Decepticons eventually followed via [[space bridge]]. The Constructicons traveled with Scrapper's deactivated form and, despite his current state, were still able to combine and form Devastator, albeit with a dead limb. Devastator was still a force to be reckoned with, and so [[Sunstreaker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sunstreaker]] armed his hoverchair with a copious amount of explosives, tricking Devastator into stepping on it. After a titanic blast, Devastator prepared to take revenge on the little Autobot when [[D-Void]] pulled him and the other Decepticons present into the mass of its "[[Deceptigod]]" construct. {{storylink|Chaos Part Three: Kings}}

The monster was defeated by Megatron, but the Decepticons were left weakened from the experience, and the Autobots soon captured and contained them. Fitted with [[inhibitor/deterrence chip]]s to keep them under control, they were used to reinforce the Autobots during a [[NAIL]] riot. {{storylink|Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime}} The Constructicons later helped look for survivors in a blast crater after a mysterious explosion happened there. {{storylink|Stick Together}} They were then put to work building things for the Autobots and working in the reclamation tunnels, but eventually turned on them to aid Bombshell, who was on the run. After beating up his pursuer, [[Blurr (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Blurr]], the Constructicons fought with [[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]] until [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]] showed up and threatened to detonate their I/D chips. They just taunted him since [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] had made sure their chips didn't work down in the tunnels, only for Prowl to use a secret passcode to reactivate them, seemingly blowing the Constructicons' heads off. {{storylink|Devisive}}

However, Prowl was in fact under the control of Bombshell, who had merely faked the Constructicons' death and hidden them away for the purpose of improving Devastator. He fixed the problem of Scrapper's death by modifying their combination into a modular design that moved Hook to Scrapper's old position as right leg and would allow others built with compatible forms to serve as the combiner's head. After Megatron returned to conquer Cybertron, he had the Constructicons combine with the mind-controlled Prowl, using him as the new head for Devastator. {{storylink|Before the Dawn}} Devastator was initially under Bombshell's direct control, but after the Insecticon's death, Prowl's mind was freed and happened to stray to thoughts of Spike Witwicky. Since the Constructicons shared his hatred of Witwicky for his murder of Scrapper, this caused Devastator's mind to unify under his own control, and he went on a rampage. {{storylink|Plan for Everything}} Prowl was eventually able to separate from the Constructicons, only for Megatron to reveal his ultimate plan: turning ''himself'' into Devastator's head. Fortunately he was prevented from doing so, and in the aftermath the Constructicons were banished from Iacon alongside most other Autobots and Decepticons. {{storylink|Heavy Is the Head}}

[[File:DetonationBoulevard-Constructicons.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.67|We are green and very, very mean!]]
Outside the city, the Constructicons approached the exiled Autobots and, after a brawl with the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], explained that they wanted to be on Prowl's side, having seen into his mind during their time as Devastator and having been ''very'' impressed by what they saw. They were allowed to stay at the Autobot camp, where they had a rematch with Arcee before it was broken up by the Dinobots, who made peace with the Constructicons after realizing they had a lot in common (namely violence and chugging energon). {{storylink|Second Exodus}}

The team fell victim to the [[Quintessa (IDW)|Necrotitan]]'s corrosive "death wave", but were cured from its effects when the Titan was brought down by [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}} After that they continued to follow their new idol Prowl around, praising him at every opportunity and cheering him on during a fight with [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]]. {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} When Cybertron was invaded by Shockwave's army of [[Ammonite]]s, the Constructicons talked Prowl into willingly forming Devastator and fighting [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]]. {{storylink|Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|Black Planet}} They were victorious and went on to witness Megatron defect to the Autobots. {{storylink|...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|...And the Damage Done}}

The Constructicons were subsequently fashioned by Prowl into his own private unit, the Autobot having realized how useful Devastator could be. He brought the team with him on a mission to Earth, where they saved the ''[[Ark-7]]'' from burrowing human missiles and formed Devastator to fight the Decepticons under Galvatron's command. {{storylink|Earthfall Part 2: Detonation Boulevard|Detonation Boulevard}} After the battle they returned to the ''Ark-7'' alongside the Autobots, though Scavenger sneaked off to leak information to the Decepticons {{storylink|Earthfall Chapter 3: The Mind Bomb|The Mind Bomb}} on Prowl's orders, who wanted to lure the Decepticons to the [[Marshall Islands]]. Prowl then had the Constructicons coated in stealth paint, allowing them to show up out of nowhere at the battle's climax and form Devastator, who destroyed the [[Earth Defense Command]] base on the island. {{storylink|Earthfall Chapter 5: I Dream of Wires|I Dream of Wires}} When the Autobots began hunting for the [[Enigma of Combination]], Prowl was all too eager to mobilize the Constructicons so that they could hunt down Spike Witwicky. {{storylink|Onyx Interface Part One: Signals, Calls, and Marches|Signals, Calls, and Marches}} Their search took them to [[Tokyo]], where they secured their asset but ran afoul of Galvatron. {{storylink|Onyx Interface Part Two: Vs.|Vs.}} Prowl and Spike entered into a temporary truce, and with the help of [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] the team stormed the [[Onyx]] facility by forming Devastator. Devastator revealed that the alliance was a lie, and that Prowl still still hated the human. Devastator ultimately went berserk and ruined the mission, allowing [[Scoop (G1)|Scoop]] to abscond with the Enigma. Defeated and angry with each other, Prowl ordered his team to retreat back to the ''Ark-7''. {{storylink|The Onyx Interface Conclusion: The Obliterati|The Obliterati}}

[[File:CombinerWars5-disappointed.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|"You are GROUNDED GROUNDED GROUNDED GROUNDED."]]
After Prowl learned that Optimus Prime had helped Starscream form a permanent [[Council of Worlds|alliance]] with [[Caminus (planet)|Caminus]], the team hijacked the ship's new spacebridge to travel to Cybertron {{storylink|The Possible Light}}, where they formed Devastator. Prowl threatened to destroy the space bridge to keep Cybertron and its warlike inhabitants isolated from the rest of the galaxy; he was ultimately challenged by Superion. Devastator managed to best the combiner, but was defeated after Starscream created Defensor from a group of bystanders. {{storylink|Mistakes and Mayhem}} Seeking a new edge, Starscream drafted Scoop into the team, knowing that Scoop's fanaticism would force Devastator to obey his orders. {{storylink|You, Me, and the Universe}} Ultimately, however, Devastator wound up losing control in a fight with [[Optimus Maximus (G1)|Optimus Maximus]]; the Constructicons and Scoop were defeated and quickly re-imprisoned. {{storylink|All That Remains}}

The Constructions were later released and allowed to recombine so that they could be safely extricated off Cybertron, with Optimus Prime noting that the group had to regularly combine. {{storylink|Now and On Earth}} They were later called on to deal with a violent riot at the spacebridge but Devastator's violent solution only exacerbated the problem. {{storylink|All Hail Optimus Part 1: Once Upon a Time on Earth|Once Upon a Time on Earth}}

Some months later, the Constructions formed Devastator to act as a distraction during an attempt to seize control of [[Vigilem|Carcer]]. {{storylink|Desperate Times}}

After Starscream had been arrested and Windblade became ruler of Cybertron, [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Onyx Prime]] returned to Cybertron. Scoop eagerly informed his teammates of Starscream somehow becoming aware of this but they were less than impressed and frankly they agreed with Onyx's anti-[[human]] attitude. The world was ending so they were off to get drunk. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 2: Another Mine|Another Mine}} When Onyx proved to be another elitist Prime, the Constructions rallied around Scoop and formed Devastator to break Starscream out of prison. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 3: The Ground|The Ground}} At Starscream's command, Devastator then engaged [[Victorion]] in combat, {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 4: The Hallowing|The Hallowing}} only to wind up ripped to atoms by her gravikinesis, ending the Constructicons. {{storylink|The Falling, Chapter 6: Unforgivable|Unforgivable}}
{{-}}

===Hall of Fame bios===
[[Erector (G1)|Erector]] was kicked out of the Constructicons for not being green. {{storylink|Transformers Hall of Fame}}

===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
The Constructicons took heavy losses during the Great War; in the era of the [[Pax Cybertronia]] and the [[Builder Assembly]], the surviving members joined [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] in his quest to reform the corrupt and stagnant [[Builder of Cybertron|Builder]] society from within. Hot Rod rebuilt the team, instituting a one-third Autobot roster, appointing [[Hightower (RID)|Hightower]] as team leader, and convincing the group to downsize into fuel-efficient [[Micromaster]] bodies. {{Storylink|Micro-Aggressions}} {{storylink|Cultural Appropriation}}

By the time of the [[Grand Uprising]], the Constructicons found themselves embroiled in a new war as [[Buckethead]] joined with [[Overshoot]]'s motley team on a mission to defend Cybertron from the [[Monster GoBot|Antares Eight]]. The other Constructicons came to her aid as the fighting spilled over into [[Proximax]], forming Devastator and battling [[Monsterous]]. In the aftermath, the Constructicons abandoned the Builders and decided to join [[Stiletto (BW)|Stiletto]]'s new team of "[[Ex-Bot (BWU)|Ex-Bots]]". {{storylink|Cultural Appropriation}} Buckethead took command of the team from Hightower; when the [[Vehicon Apocalypse]] threatened Cybertron, they headed to [[Nova Cronum]], where they joined the forces of Cybertron as they marched on the [[Grand Mal]]. As Devastator, they battled [[Lord Imperious Delirious]] until their combined form suffered critical damage, killing half of the team and knocking the gestalt unconscious from the backlash. {{storylink|Derailment}}

As soon as peace had been declared, Buckethead set about recruiting new Constructicons to fill their losses. Though [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bone Crusher]], [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]], and Hightower had perished, Buckethead found fresh talent in [[Steam Hammer]], [[Wideload (G1)|Wideload]], and [[Hauler|Road Hauler]], who underwent the combination process to become the newest incarnation of Devastator. {{storylink|The Inexorable March}}

10,000 years after the Grand Uprising, they were misremembered as a [[Resistance]] combiner group under [[Lio Convoy]]'s command. {{storylink|Lio Convoy: Unity Through Tyranny}}

===''Prime Wars Trilogy'' cartoons===
[[File:TR-Ep1-Aftermath-and-Rebirth-Constructicons-cleaning-up.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
After the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]] had ended, the exiled Megatron tossed the Constructicons around in a gladiator pit on an alien planet. {{storylink|Unforgotten}}

In the aftermath of the [[Combiner Wars (event)|Combiner Wars]], the Constructicons helped clean up the rubble. {{storylink|Aftermath and Rebirth}}

They presumably died when Devastator was killed by [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Cron]]. {{storylink|Volcanicus (episode)|Volcanicus}}
{{-}}

===''Win If You Dare''===
[[File:GoForTheGold-Constructicons.jpg|thumb|left|250px]]
[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] press-ganged the Constructicons into excavating a fallen [[cybertonium]] meteorite. After taking a beating from [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], the Constructicons formed Devastator in order to grab a fragment of the meteor before the substance went critical, but the explosion knocked the combiner apart and the team made an embarrassing retreat aboard Astrotrain, bickering with Starscream all the while. {{storylink|Transformers: Bumblebee - Go For the Gold}}

{{-}}

===''Mazinger Z versus Transformers''===
Transported to the Japan of an alternate universe, the Constructicons rolled out to take part in Megatron and [[Doctor Hell]]'s combined attack on the [[Photon Power Laboratory]] where they were first pummeled by Grimlock and [[Boss Borot]]. The team then formed Devastator to take on [[Kōji Kabuto]] inside the [[Mazinger Z]], and although Devastator's raw strength nearly overpowered the heroic super robot at first, the Mazinger's rocket punch ultimately knocked Devastator back into his components. {{storylink|Mazinger Z versus Transformers}}

===''Transformers/Ghostbusters''===
As Devastator, the Constructicons joined the rest of the Decepticon army in their desperate battle to stop [[Gozer]] from destroying their homeworld, but quickly fell to the extradimensional deity. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 2}}

===2019 IDW continuity===
[[File:ConstructiconsRisingPart1-EngimaOfCombination.jpg|thumb|right|300px|By your powers combined...]]

The Constructicons were a team of architectural prodigies who left their mentors just after the end of the [[War of the Threefold Spark]] to help with the rebuilding of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] under the supervision of [[Termagax]]. An accomplished philosopher, engineer, and architect in her own right, Termagax saw that this new generation of fresh minds shared a goal—not just to ''rebuild'' the ravaged city as it had been, but to create something new and better in its place, even though this new approach alienated Termagax's own second-in-command [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]].

While digging for resources in what remained of [[Rivets Field]], the team came across the mythical [[Enigma of Combination]], their sense of purpose resonating with the artifact. At Termagax's urging, the six 'bots allowed the Enigma to change their bodies, merging them into a new [[Devastator (G1)|combiner]]; united in their common goal of creation, Termagax hoped that her new students would, despite their struggles, pool their minds and bodies together to create the ultimate building tool. {{storylink|Constructicons Rising, Part 1}} The team took time to master this new form, however, and struggled with the combiner's own urges to indiscriminately destroy—a struggle that eventually led Wheeljack to bring the problem to the Cybertronian [[Senate]]. Although Termagax's coaching eventually helped the team ''embrace'' this indiscriminate anger and use it to fuel the power of the combiner, [[Nominus Prime]] worried that Termagax's pet experiment might pose a threat to a still-recovering Cybertron and decided that the Senate would arrange a means by which the Constructicons could safely contribute to the planet's well-being. Not long after the Constructicons had rebuilt Iacon into a beautiful metropolis, Nominus Prime arranged a half-hearted ceremony to honor their contributions and told them that their next assignment would be on the barren world of [[Mayalx]] to work on the colony's [[energon]] refinery. {{storylink|Constructicons Rising, Part 3}}

[[File:ConstructiconsRisingPart1-Constructicons.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

The Constructicons tried to make the best of their bad situation, even reconstructing the colonial refinery into an effigy of old Iacon, but the menial work and heavily rationed energon supplies quickly took a toll on their morale, and the group spent most of their time off-hours pining for their glory days while grousing about their current working conditions. {{storylink|Constructicons Rising, Part 1}} After eventually coming to the realization that Cybertron might have forgotten them entirely, Scrapper—worrying that the future might not include a stable Cybertron to return to—began training his team for combat while Hook devised a foul but functional energon recycler. It was at this point that the team encountered [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] and his [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]]s, who had been similarly exiled from Cybertron by Nominus Prime—but unbeknownst to Scrapper and his team, the Insecticons had been sent to Mayalx deliberately by [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] in the hopes that the Constructicons could be turned to the side of [[The Rise]] and contribute to [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s burgeoning [[Decepticon|Ascenticon]] faction. {{storylink|Constructicons Rising, Part 2}} Encouraged to recapture their past glory by striking back at the [[Autobot]]s responsible for their banishment, the Constructicons overcharged themselves on the Insecticon's energon and combined for the first time since their banishment, tapping into the resentment they all shared. Declaring themselves Devastator, the combiner razed the colony to the ground, while the Insecticons feasted on the ruins and converted it all into usable energon to be shipped back to The Rise. Although the five other Constructicons realized that they could never go back to Cybertron now, Scrapper assured them that they could go anywhere and do whatever they liked—they were truly free. {{storylink|Constructicons Rising, Part 4}}

===''Transformers/Back to the Future''===
After the Decepticons had conquered Earth, the Constructicons were assigned to patrol [[Hill Valley]]. {{storylink|Transformers/Back to the Future issue 1|Transformers/Back to the Future #1}} In 2015, Scrapper was chastising [[Lorraine Baines-McFly|Lorraine]] and [[George McFly]] before he was knocked out by [[Doc Brown]]'s [[alpha-wave ionic nullifier]]. {{storylink|Transformers/Back to the Future issue 2|Transformers/Back to the Future #2}}

Pointing fingers, the Constructicons decided to blame [[Biff Tannen]]. When Bonecrusher attempted to inflict punishment, he too was disabled by Doc Brown before Biff turned on his fellow humans and brought them to the four remaining Constructicons and Starscream. When the Autobots arrived to stop the execution, the Constructicons attempted to swat [[Marty McFly]] and [[Skilz]] out of the sky but fell victim to either Marty's expert aim with the nullifier or Bumblebee. {{storylink|Transformers/Back to the Future issue 3|Transformers/Back to the Future #3}}

==Commercial appearances==
The Constructicons were contentedly allowing gullible humans to operate them on a construction site in the desert, until they abruptly decided to transform and merge into Devastator, sending the humans fleeing. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 1#Constructicons|Constructicons commercial}}

Years later, the Constructicons barreled into a power plant facility and started smashing stuff. Unfortunately, when they merged into Devastator and smashed open the ground, they prompted the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] to come out of the earth's depths and attack. Grimlock grabbed Devastator in his jaws and tossed him aside. {{storylink|Commercial/Generation 2|G2 Constructicons commercial}}

==Toys==
===''The Transformers''===
[[File:Mixmaster toy.JPG|thumb|upright=1.6|Generation 1 Mixmaster]]
*'''Constructicons''' ([[1985]]/[[1986]])
**[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]]
**[[Hook (G1)|Hook]]
**[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]]
**[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]]
**[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]]
**[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]]

:The Constructicons are the first ever Combiner team in the history of the Transformers toyline. The Constructicons were originally from [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]'s [[Pre-Transformer]]s ''[[Diaclone]]'' toyline, specifically the Construction Vehicle Robot subset. In the [[The Transformers (toyline)|''The Transformers'' toyline]], they were sold individually as carded figures at the $6 price point, and also as a six-figure [[giftset]]. Each carded figure came with one or two pieces of combiner kibble for Devastator, which could also attach to the figure's [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] to form an attack mode.

:The individual figures feature limited articulation, typical of smaller G1 figures; most can only swivel their arms at the shoulder, and cannot move their legs at all. Each came with a small [[laser pistol]] for the individual robot to use in addition to various Devastator pieces.

:In the [[United States of America|United States]], [[Canada]] and [[Japan]], the Constructicon toys were originally available both individually on blister cards (with the additional Devastator parts split up between them) and as a boxed Devastator [[Giftset|gift set]] that contained all six Constructicons and their accessories. On the [[Europe]]an continent, the individual Constructicons were initially released individually by Hasbro's subsidiary [[Milton Bradley]] (MB) in 1985. Rumors are that an MB-branded Devastator giftset was also released in continental Europe, but thus far no packaged sample has surfaced.<ref name="mbredtr">[http://www.tf-1.com/articles/eurous/mb_template.html "Milton Bradley and the red TF Tracks"] at TF-1.com.</ref><ref name="mbcollection">[http://20thcenturytoycollector.com/transformers/mb-transformers-collection/ "MB Transformers Collection"] at 20th Century Toy Collector.</ref> In 1986, the Constructicons were re-released in Europe, albeit this time in "Hasbro"-branded packaging (but manufactured by [[Joustra]]). The main difference with all other releases thus far was that the Constructicons' main color was now ''yellow'' instead of green.<ref name="frenchcon">[http://tfsource.com/blog/french-connection/ "French Connection"] at the TF Source blog.</ref><ref name="europestrange">[http://tfsource.com/blog/europes-strangest-attractions/ "Europe's Strangest Attractions"] at the TF Scource blog.</ref><ref name="frenchconst">[http://www.fredsworkshop.com/vjap6.html "French TFs: G1 Yellow Constructicons"] at Fred's Workshop.</ref> These are ''not'' to be confused with the later, ''non''-combining yellow European Constructicons, nor with the yellow ''Generation 2'' Constructicons (see below).

:The original Constructicons have the dubious honor of being the most heavily [[Knockoff|bootlegged]] Transformers toys in existence. Individually carded and packaged sets have persisted at Walgreens and other [[market six]] stores for years, both in the original green and purple and in entirely new decos, often without the kibble required for their combined form. Occasionally they receive delightfully creative new names like "[[Scrapper (G1)|Building]]", "[[Long Haul (G1)|Feeding]]", "[[Scavenger (G1)|Picking]]", "[[Hook (G1)|Sanitation]]", "[[Mixmaster (G1)|Disguise]]", and "[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Ravage]]". Sometimes, they have their sized bootlegged to be oversized (some bootlegged Mixmaster have their size about 6 inch in length).
{{-}}

[[File:ActionMaster Devastor.gif|upright=1.4|thumb|Action Master Devastator]]
*'''Devastator with Scorpulator''' ([[Action Master]], [[1990]])
{{main|Devastator (G1)#Action Master}}
:A non-transforming action figure of the Constructicons' combined form was released in the second wave of carded Action Master figures. Devastator came with his small animal [[Action Master partner|partner]], [[Scorpulator]], who transformed into an acid spray gun that Devastator could wield and a "Gripper Backpack" that plugged into Devastator's back.
{{-}}

[[File:G1 euro Long Haul.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|European Yellow Long Haul]]
*'''Constructicons''' ([[1992]])

:Another yellow set of European exclusive versions of the Constructicons, in colors very similar to the previous yellow European releases. The main differences were that these versions came with no Devastator parts, Hook and Scavenger were [[retool]]ed so they could neither connect to each other nor to Bonecrusher, and several of them featured gray plastic parts exclusive to these versions (although there were [[variant]]s for some of them that changed those gray parts back to yellow).<ref name="eurovar">[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-toy-discussion/595256-1992-european-yellow-constructicons-variant.html "1992 European Yellow Constructicons Variant"] at TFW2005.</ref> These toys were also not individually named, as they came on standardized cards used for all six team members.
{{-}}

===''Generation 2''===
[[File:Scavenger_Generation_2_toy.gif|upright=1.6|thumb|''Generation 2'' Yellow Scavenger]]
*'''Constructicons''' ([[1993]])
:[[Redeco]]s of all six Constructicons were released individually as part of the first assortments of ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' products. The first—and seemingly more common—versions were yellow like the European version from 1986, but featured a lighter purple plastic, had all spring-loaded accessories (such as Devastator's forearms and fists) [[retool]]ed to remove the firing [[gimmick]], Mixmaster didn't include the single-tabbed missile, and all six Constructicons featured a ''Generation 2''-style Decepticon [[insignia|logo]] and the word "DECEPTICON" [[tampograph]]ed on them. Aside from that, the ''Generation 2'' Constructicons were functionally identical to their Generation 1 predecessors.

:A later and seemingly less common run changed the yellow plastics to rich orange. It has been rumored that this release was only available in [[KB Toys]] stores, but not verified.

:Neither color version was available as a gift set.
{{-}}

===''Universe'' (2003)===
[[File:TFU03-toy DevastatorMicro.jpg|right|upright=1.6|thumb|If there's only one original Constructicon left, does it ''really'' count?]]
*'''Constructicons''' (Micromasters, 2004)
{{note|The ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 franchise)|Universe]]'' [[Constructicon (Universe)|Constructicons]] were [[Repurposing|repurposed]] as the ''Beast Wars: Uprising'' version of the G1 Constructicons in "[[Cultural Appropriation]]".}}
:A [[redeco]] of [[Sixbuilder]] in [[The Transformers (franchise)|Generation 1]] Constructicon-inspired colors. While similar to the [[Decepticon Sixbuilder|Destron Sixbuilder]] redeco, this version is molded in distinctly different colors with far more purple and black paint applications. When separated into his component robots, the leftover combiner [[kibble]] can combine to form a single-pilot jet.

:The six component Constructicons were packaged separately, available originally as [[KB Toys|K•B Toys]] [[exclusive]]s, but later appearing in {{w|Sears, Roebuck and Company|Sears}} stores during the Christmas season. (K•B partnered with Sears, a chain that usually doesn't have a toy department.) They were also sold on [[Kmart|K-Mart]]'s web site.

===''Energon''===
*'''Constructicon Devastator''' (Micromasters, 2004)

:Devastator was also released under the ''Energon'' line in Europe, albeit with modified packaging and instructions to reflect the different line.
{{-}}

===''Classics''===
*'''Constructicon Devastator''' ([[2007]])
[[File:Devastatorclassics.jpg|upright=1.6|thumb|And then there were five.]]
{{main|Devastator (G1)#Classics}}
:Redecos of the ''[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' [[Construction Team]] released as a [[Walmart]] exclusive gift set, with the individual components named Scrapper, Bonecrusher, Long Haul, Scavenger, and [[Hightower (Classics)|Hightower]]. The combined form is named "Constructicon Devastator" for [[trademark]] reasons.
{{-}}

===''United EX''===
[[File:UnitedEXtoy buildmaster.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.6|''United EX'' Buildmaster Prime Mode]]
*'''Buildmaster Prime Mode''' ([[2012]])

: Buildmaster is a [[redeco]] of ''[[Power Core Combiners]]'' [[Steamhammer (PCC)#Power Core Combiners|Steamhammer]].

: He comes with four construction vehicle drone-limbs:

:* '''Decimator Drone''' (drill)
:* '''Dominator Drone''' (front end loader)
:* '''Eradicator Drone''' (plow)
:* '''Annihilator Drone''' (steamroller)
{{-}}

===''Combiner Wars''===
[[File:CombinerWarsBonecrusher.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|''Generations'' Bonecrusher]]
*'''Devastator''' (Gift Set, [[2015]])
:''[[Combiner Wars (toyline)|Combiner Wars]]'' Devastator is an all-new mold combiner formed from six Voyager sized Constructicons. All his components are sold together in a massive box. He holds the record of being the tallest combiner toy.
{{-}}

===''Unite Warriors''===
[[File:TakaraTomy-Unite-Warriors-Devastator.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Devastator]]
*'''Devastor''' (Gift Set, [[2015]])

:''[[Transformers Unite Warriors|Unite Warriors]]'' Devastor is a redeco and slight retool of Hasbro's version, the most notable differences being the inclusion of individual handguns for the Constructicons and a new combiner head that can switch between visored and non-visored faces. Every member has been retooled in some manner from the Hasbro versions: Hook, Mixmaster, Long Haul, and Scrapper have been remolded to sport better elbows, and Bonecrusher and Scavenger have been remolded to sport better knees. In addition to this, Devastator utilizes ratchet joints in his shoulders. Each Constructicon features a G1 style gun that pegs into an existing slot or hole.
{{-}}

===''Vintage G1''===
[[File:Walmart-Vintage-G1-Constructicons.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
*'''Devastator''' (Walmart exclusive reissue, 2018)
:The original Devastator toy was once again available, this time in the [[Walmart]] exclusive ''[[Vintage G1]]'' series. The set features numerous small changes in molding, assembly, and deco; see the individual toys' articles for details.
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
===Kids Nations===
*'''Constructicons''' (2015)
**''ID Number:'' '''TF04'''
**''Accessories:'' Batteries.

:The Kids Nations Constructicons is a set of approximately 3" tall [[super deformed]] figures including all six classic Constructicons: Scavenger, Scrapper, Mixmaster, Long Haul, Hook and Bonecrusher. While they are largely static figures with limited articulation and neither transform nor combine, they include LED light up eyes.

<div class="center">[[File:tf04-constructicons.jpg|450px]]</div>

===Mecha Nations===
[[File:Mn08-devastator.jpg|thumb]]
*'''Devastator''' (2016)
**''ID Number:'' '''MN07'''
**''Accessories:'' Alternate hands, gun, 6 x magnetic infrared LED modules, display stand.

:Created by [[Kids Logic]], this [[super deformed]], non-transforming and non-separating G1 Devastator stands approximately 8" tall and is articulated, featuring a shiny metallic color scheme, articulated hands, LED light up eyes, Decepticon insignia on his chest, and windows in his component vehicle modes. He includes a flip-down visor for if you prefer this look over separate eyes. Pressing the button on Devastator's gun causes all his LEDs to light up simultaneously (achieved via infrared receivers), accompanied by the classic transformation sound.

:While he was released as part of the Mecha Nations line of larger sized figures, he is intended to tower over the smaller Kids Nations 3" figures, and can be regarded as the combined form of the contemporaneously released Kids Nations TF04 Constructicons mini-figures set (above).

{{-}}

==Notes==
*About a billion freaking other toys have been [[redeco]]ed in the Constructicons' familiar green-and-purple livery. Pretty much every construction vehicle mold to come down the pike has at some point been given a Constructicon-themed color scheme, been turned into some alternate universe version of a Constructicon, or has been subject to regular clamoring by the [[fandom]] for a Constructicon-themed rerelease. "Constructicon colors" is up there with "[[black repaint]]" as popular choices for redecoes go.
*The Constructicons are the only Decepticons to appear in all four seasons of the American G1 Cartoon.
*The character [[profile]]s written for the Constructicons do not identify any of them as the team leader, which has led to the role being filled by different characters in different pieces of media.
**Scrapper was, by all appearances, always intended to be the leader. His [[Tech Spec]]s give him the highest "Rank" of the team, and he is unambiguously depicted as their leader in the Generation 1 cartoon, the influence of which has resulted in him filling the role in most modern media.
**However, because Hook forms the head and much of the torso of Devastator, a trait shared by other combiner leaders, there's been a tendency among fans to believe he "should" be the leader, just because. This resulted in the [[Transformers: Wings Universe|''Wings Universe'']] identifying him as the group's ''former'' leader, replaced by Scrapper on Megatron's orders.
**In the [[The Next Best Thing to Being There!|issue #10]] of the Marvel comic, Shockwave gives the Constructicons' orders to Scavenger as if he were the leader. However, in [[Toy Soldiers!|issue #38]], Hook is shown giving the orders, then in [[Totaled!|issue #41]], it is Bonecrusher who leads the team on their mission to recover fallen Decepticons from the Ark. Then, in the UK-exclusive story "[[Space Pirates!]]", the Constructicons are represented by Mixmaster at a gathering of combiner-team leaders; he was also seen giving the orders in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]" as well.
**Sorry, Long Haul, you lose again...
*In ''[[Transformers: Devastation]]'', Scrapper and Long Haul are the only two Constructicons whose voice actors from the original cartoon, [[Michael Bell]] and [[Gregg Berger]] respectively, reprised their roles. Despite the fact [[Frank Welker]] returned to voice Megatron and Soundwave, he did not reprise his role as Mixmaster.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Buildron''' (ビルドロン ''Birudoron'')
*''French:'' '''Constructican''' (France, TV series dub), '''Constructitor''' (France, ''The Movie'' dub)
*''Hungarian:'' '''Szerkesztettek''' (Marvel Comics), '''Konsztruktorok''' (second ''The Movie'' dub)
*''Italian:'' '''Excavators'''
*''Mandarin:'' '''Wā Dì Hǔ''' (挖地虎, "Earth-digging Tiger")
*''Portuguese:'' '''Constructors''' (Brazil comic)
*''Russian:'' '''Конструктиконы''' (''Constructicons'')

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising subgroups]]
[[Category:Classics subgroups]]
[[Category:Combiner teams]]
[[Category:Constructicons| (G1)]]
[[Category:Decepticon subgroups]]
[[Category:Engineers]]
[[Category:Generation 1 subgroups]]
[[Category:Generation 2 subgroups]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) subgroups]]
[[Category:Ultracons]]
[[Category:Unite Warriors subgroups]]
[[Category:Wings Universe subgroups]]

Devastation Derby!

2021-07-25T19:16:21Z

Skteosk: /* Reprints */ Collected Comics 9 reprinted Robot Buster, this strip was left out of the series

{{comicstory|
|prev=Robot Buster!
|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #61–62
|next=Second Generation!
|image=MarvelUK-061.jpg
|caption=Constructicheerleaders
|title="Devastation Derby!"
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=Part 1: [[May 10|10th May]], 1986 Part 2: [[May 17|17th May]], 1986
|coverdate=Part 1: [[May 17|17th May]], 1986 Part 2: [[May 24|24th May]], 1986
|script=[[Simon Furman]]
|art=[[Will Simpson]]
|colours=[[John Burns]]
|lettering=[[Mike Scott]]
|editor=[[Ian Rimmer]]
|chronology=[[Marvel Comics timeline|1986]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]] (Marvel UK)
}}
'''Soundwave and the Constructicons attempt to abduct Buster Witwicky.'''

==Synopsis==
===Part 1===
[[File:DemolitionDerby buster draws superion.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.5]]
In a junkyard, [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] trains [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] to improve his combat performance after his disappointing first outing. Presently, [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] arrives with new orders for the group: to capture a human. Soundwave is incredulous at the thought of wasting [[Decepticon]] resources on so frivolous a matter, but Shockwave silences him by revealing that his particular human can be used against the [[Autobot]]s... for Shockwave seeks the capture of their enemies' human friend, [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]]!

That night, at the Witwicky household, [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] is brought running by the sound of Buster's screams: the boy has had a vivid nightmare, and in his sleep, has drawn the image of a huge, unfamiliar robot on his bedroom door. The experience leaves Buster rattled and unenthusiastic about accompanying his girlfriend [[Jesse (G1)|Jesse]] to the annual demolition derby the next day, but Sparkplug encourages him to go enjoy himself, and Buster reluctantly acquiesces. Sparkplug has an ulterior motive, though; with Buster gone, his father is able to remove his bedroom door and take it to the Autobots, suspecting they may have some answers about what is plaguing him. A fascinated [[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] is able to identify the drawing as an "[[combiner|amalgam model]]" Transformer made up of multiple other robots—a technology only the Decepticons have thus far been able to master. At a loss to explain the phenomenon, a wary Optimus Prime orders a squad of Autobots to go with Sparkplug to the demolition derby and keep an eye on Buster.

At the derby, Buster seems to be in better spirits, and the Autobots enjoy watching the action. After [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] demonstrates his [[facsimile construct]] driver for Sparkplug (accidentally releasing it while the man is ''sitting on the seat it pops out of''), he decides he'd like to take part in the derby himself, and drives right into the midst of it with Sparkplug inside. His fun is short-lived, however: the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] soon arrive, smashing their way into the arena and sending panicked people running everywhere. The Autobots transform for battle, but in response, the Constructicons combine into Devastator... the mere sight of whom causes Buster to have a fit and pass out!

===Part 2: "Devastated!"===
[[File:DemolitionDerby the bigger they are.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.75]]
The Autobots engage Devastator in battle, with [[Ironhide (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ironhide]] and [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] firing on him and Smokescreen getting under his feet and unbalancing him, while [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] tries to find Buster and Jesse in the panicked crowd. He is beaten to the punch by Soundwave, who uses his mind-reading powers to determine what has befallen Buster, wanting him to be in "perfect condition" for delivery to Shockwave. Spotting the Decepticon communications officer and realizing that he must be after Buster, Sparkplug orders Smokescreen to make a beeline for him; a moment later, a well-timed blast of black light from Tracks blinds Devastator, buying Smokescreen the time to break away from the fight and take on Soundwave. In the short length of time it takes Smokescreen to reach him, however, Soundwave has completed his scan of Buster's mind, and been shocked at what he has found. He immediately apologizes to the Autobots for his "mistake" and orders the Constructicons to retreat with him.

The baffled Autobots radio the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], summoning medical assistance for Buster. Sparkplug would rather take his son to a human hospital, but when an ambulance arrives minutes later, he fails to realize that it is [[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] before loading his son aboard. With Sparkplug protesting all the way, the Autobots return to the Ark with Buster, who begins to suffer another nightmare...

At the Decepticon base, Shockwave is incensed to learn that Soundwave has refused to carry out his orders. Before Shockwave blasts him for insubordination, Soundwave calmly explains his reasons: within Buster's mind, he saw a vision left by the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]] when it temporarily resided there... a vision that foretells the future evolution of the Transformer race!

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] (13)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (14)
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (15)
*[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (16)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ironhide]] (17)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (18)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] (19)
|c2=
*[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (1)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] (2)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (3)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (4)
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (5)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (6)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (7)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (8)
*[[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] (9)
|c3=
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (10)
*[[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] (11)
*[[Jesse (G1)|Jessie]] (12)
}}

==Quotes==
"By the Matrix! Literally!"
:—'''Soundwave''' discovers the secret within Buster's mind

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
[[File:UK62 Devastator.JPG|right|thumb|upright=1.5]]
*This issue marks the first appearance of the Constructicons as a team since their debut in [[The Next Best Thing to Being There!|US issue #10]], in which the less-than-stellar initial performance by Devastator that both Soundwave and Ironhide recall took place. Barring Scavenger, who appeared in "[[Dinobot Hunt!]]", they've been in off-panel limbo ever since, and the US series does not account for their whereabouts during the current period of instability that has seen the Decepticons break into two groups. "Devastation Derby" places them with Shockwave's group.
*Speaking of which, over in the US stories, Soundwave is not part of Shockwave's Decepticons. When last seen in [[I, Robot-Master!|US issue #15]], Soundwave was with Megatron in [[Wyoming]], having previously been undercover in alternate mode in a human electronics shop for some time. Conversely, when this story begins, Soundwave is already part of Shockwave's group; he is not surprised to see Shockwave, indicating that they have had an off-panel reunion prior to this. This will be clarified in [[Second Generation!|issue #65]], in which it is explained that Soundwave left Megatron to feel out Shockwave in advance of organizing a meeting between the two leaders.
*Shockwave's fixation on Buster comes about as the result of the preceding story, "[[Robot Buster!]]," the events of which Optimus recounts for Sparkplug.
*The Autobots use their [[facsimile construct]]s, introduced in [[Rock and Roll-Out!|US issue #14]]. Brawn and Ironhide are revealed to also have been equipped with them; having survived "[[Dinobot Hunt!]]" unscathed, these two Autobots remain active in the UK stories despite being on the injured list in the US ones.
*Regarding the base in which Soundwave meets Shockwave at the end of the story: The [[Plight of the Bumblebee!|most recent US story]] made the anomalous claim that Shockwave had a "makeshift fortress," so it may be that; on the other hand, "Robot Buster!" reintroduced the [[Fortress Sinister|original Decepticon fortress]], so it might be ''that''. It's also possible the UK comic intended for the original fortress and the makeshift fortress to be the same place.
*Soundwave reminds Shockwave that Buster's mind previously held the Creation Matrix, as seen in [[The Worse of Two Evils!|US issues #6]]-[[Prime Time!|12]].
{{--}}
===Transformers references===
*The "amalgam model" Transformer Buster draws is [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], combined form of the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]]. These characters are still quite some way from being introduced in the US stories, but readers of the UK series are likely to recognize the character from the special bonus comic, "[[The Special Teams Have Arrived]]", included with [[Rock and Roll-Out!|issue #54]] a few months earlier.

===Artwork and technical errors===
[[File:DevastationDerby swaves.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.5]]
[[File:DevastationDerby ironhide transform.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.5]]
*Shockwave's eye is purple instead of yellow throughout part 1 (right).
*Part 1, page 2, panel 3:
**Long Haul's name is spelled "Longhaul."
**In addition to Long Haul's abdomen being purple instead of green, all six of the Constructicons' heads are purple, when they should be blue-black. This continues into the next panel for Bonecrusher and Hook, but Long Haul's is corrected; they're then the right colour on the next page.
*Part 1, page 3:
**Panel 3: Soundwave's eyes are uncoloured white instead of yellow.
**Panel 4: There's a blank speech bubble coming from Soundwave. Presumably he was supposed to be yelling "WHAT?" or somesuch, interrupting Shockwave and leading into his dialogue in the next panel.
*Part 1, page 4: The tip of the marker Buster uses to draw Superion is left white, but it should obviously be black.
*A pair of strange speech bubbles appear on both page 6, panel 7 (Sparkplug exclaiming "OOOW!") and page 7, panel 1 (the ticket booth attendant going "YIII!"), in which the dialogue is printed type, rather than hand-lettering like the rest of the issue. This feels like it's connected to Soundwave's blank balloon from page 3 in some way (it too is a "starburst" balloon to indicate shouting), but it's not clear why these are rendered this way.
*Tracks's face is black instead of red throughout part 2, a coloration derived from his toy [[package art]]. Artist Will Simpson commonly referenced the toy art for his work on the series; it looks like colorist John Burns was following suit here.
*Part 2, page 6, panel 7 and page 7, panel 1: Soundwave's eyes are again uncoloured white.

===Other trivia===
*A poster singles out "[[Mike Mayhem]]" as one of the drivers at the demolition derby. No relation to [[Miles Mayhem|Miles]], we're fairly certain!
*Ironhide's transformation sequence at the end of Part 1 is drawn based on Ratchet's from [[Warrior School!|US issue #7]] (right)
*In issue #61's [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|letters page]], Soundwave shares his thoughts on the recent ''[[Robotix]]'' backup strip, remarking: "I have to admit my sympathies lie with the [[Terrakor]]s."
{{--}}
===Back-up material===
'''Issue #61:'''
*'''[[Back-up strips]]:''' ''Rocket Raccoon'' ("Masque of the Red Breath," Part 4), ''[[Robo-Capers]]'' and ''Matt and the Cat''. The first page of ''Rocket Racoon'' is misprinted, with the magenta and cyan inks switched. The third installment of the comic strip advert for ''{{w|Biggles (1986)|Biggles}}'' also runs this issue.
*'''[[Fact File|Fact File Interface]]:''' [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]
'''Issue #62:'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Rocket Raccoon'' ("The Book of Revelations," Part 1) and ''Robo-Capers''. The advert for next issue is a whole page instead of the usual half-page, so ''Matt and the Cat'' sits this issue out; the fourth part of ''Biggles'' also appears.

===Covers (2)===
*'''UK issue #61:''' the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] discuss Buster's fate, by [[Will Simpson]].
*'''UK issue #62:''' Jesse cradles a prone Buster while the [[Autobot]]s fight Devastator, by [[Robin Smith]].
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-061.jpg|'''Issue #61'''
File:MarvelUK-062.jpg|'''Issue #62'''
</gallery>

===Reprints===
<gallery>
File:TitanSG.jpg|'''''[[Transformers: Second Generation]]''''' (Titan Books, 2005)
File:Classicuk2.jpg|'''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 2|''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 2]]''' (IDW Publishing, 2012)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v4.jpg|'''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection|''The Definitive G1 Collection, Vol. 4: Second Generation'']]''' (Hachette Partworks, Ltd., 2018)
</gallery>

[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

The Gift

2021-03-03T03:00:04Z

Skteosk: /* Continuity notes */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #93
|prev=Heavy Traffic!
|next=Decepticon Graffiti!
|title="The Gift"
|image=MarvelUK-093.jpg
|caption=Come with me if you want to BWAH.
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[December 20|20th December]] [[1986]]
|coverdate=[[December 27|27th December]] [[1986]]
|writer=[[James Hill]]
|pencils=[[Martin Griffiths]]
|inks=[[Tim Perkins]]
|colours=[[Steve White]]
|lettering=[[Robin Riggs]]
|editor=[[Ian Rimmer]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''At Christmastime, Jetfire struggles with his place amongst his peers.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:TheGift jetfire and buster.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.75]]
[[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] is spending the [[Christmas]] holidays studying for a test on the [[American War of Independence]] when he is disturbed first by a news report on recent [[Transformer]] activity at a [[Blackrock Enterprises]] [[Blackrock's chemical plant|chemical plant]] in [[Portland]], and then by the appearance of [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] at his window. Jetfire has come seeking Buster's advice on a problem he is having, and begins to tell his story...

''Shortly after the [[Target: 2006|defeat of Galvatron]], the [[Autobot]]s learn that the [[Decepticon]]s have taken over a [[NASA]] facility. [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] and [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] use their vehicle modes to slip past the police cordon surrounding the facility, while Jetfire is kept in reserve as their back-up. The pair discover that [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] is in the process of using the the base's radio telescope to transmit a message to the Decepticons on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. With [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] and [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] barring the two Autobots' way, Prowl contacts Jetfire to come to their aid. Jetfire responds, but caught up in the moment, winds up ignoring Prowl's orders to stop Soundwave, and instead tries to help his comrades. The Decepticons easily evade his attack and quickly escape, leaving an angry Prowl to reprimand Jetfire for giving them the villains time to complete their objective.''

Buster tries to reassure Jetfire that Prowl was just cranky over the loss, but Jetfire insists that Prowl was right about his failure. Jetfire ''knows'' he can do better, and to illustrate, tells Buster the story about the recent chemical plant attack...

[[File:TheGift jetfire vs thrust.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.75]]

''Jetfire and [[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] are at the planet to take delivery of a fresh a shipment of [[Transformer fuel]] from [[G.B. Blackrock]] when they are caught by surprise by an attack from [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] and [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]. The Autobots are quickly overcome, and worse yet, Blackrock realises that a fire started during the battle is in danger of causing an explosion that will flood the atmosphere over Portland with toxic chemical fumes, killing thousands. Hearing this, Jetfire is galvanized into action, easily defeating the Decepticons and putting out the fire with the contents of a water tank.''

Buster congratulates Jetfire on the win, but Jetfire goes on to explain that he believes he reacts smartly and more efficiently when ''[[human]]s'' are in danger, compared to when his fellow Autobots are imperiled, because he was created on [[Earth]]. These experienced having given him cause to worry that, if he was ever forced to choose between helping humans and helping Autobot, he would end up betraying his comrades. Buster tells him not to worry; [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] already knows where Jetfire's loyalties lie, and values his outlook on life, and Jetfire should be proud to think of Earth as his home. Buster tells Jetfire that these words of support are his Christmas gift to the Autobot, and Jetfire takes them to heart, jetting off into the sky with a smile on his face.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (2)
*''[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]'' (3)
*''[[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]]'' (4)
*''[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]'' (5)
*''[[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]]'' (6)
*''[[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]]'' (10)
|c2=
*''[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]]'' (7)
*''[[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]]'' (8)
*''[[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]]'' (9)
*''[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]'' (12)
*''[[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]'' (13)
|c3=
*[[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] (1)
*''[[G.B. Blackrock]]'' (11)
}}

==Quotes==
[[File:TheGift standing still.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.75]]
"You're supposed to be able to fly at Mach 4.2—but when Dirge takes off you almost break the world record... '''for standing still!'''"
:—'''Prowl''' takes Jetfire to task

"You're the first of a generation of '''Terran Transformers.''' Earth is your home planet... don't worry about that—be '''proud''' of it!"
:—'''Buster''' reassures Jetfire
{{--}}
==Notes==
===Production notes===
*Following an abortive first attempt in [[Robot Buster!|issue #60]], "The Gift" marks the point at which the UK comic permanently switches from hand-painted colours to using mechanical colour separation. This cheaper method—the customary way in which all American comic books were coloured at the time—involved manually cutting sheets of coloured acetate and overlaying them to create different colours. There were three colours (cyan, magenta, and yellow) and each was available in three levels of opacity (25%, 50%, and 100%), which combined to create a palette of 64 available colours, but which essentially eliminated the ability to create subtler artistic effects the painted colouring had allowed for up to now, like gradiated light and shadow.

===Continuity notes===
[[File:TheGift be proud of it.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.75]]
[[File:TheGift autobot fuel.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.75]]
*Though [[Donny Finkleberg]] has severed his association with the Decepticons as of [[Command Performances!|US issue #19]], a radio news report heard in the first panel of this issue shows at the media still believe him to be responsible for the Transformers.
*Jetfire's refers back to his creation on Earth, and the role Buster played in it, as seen in [[Brainstorm!|US issues #11]]-[[Prime Time!|12]]. While moping about how this makes him different from the other Autobots, Jetfire laments the fact he doesn't "know anything about the [[Primal Program]]" and that he has "never seen the [[Celestial Spires]]," two revered aspects of Cybertronian culture that the comic has seen Transformers typically swear by in moments of shock; the Primal Program was first sworn by in US issue #12, while the Celestial Spires were first sworn by in [[Decepticon Dam-Busters!|UK issue #30]].
*Jetfire also refers back to making "errors of judgement" during the Autobots' battles against Galvatron, as chronicled in [[Target: 2006|"Target: 2006" in UK issue #78-88]].
*Trailbreaker and Jazz are explicitly noted to have been recently repaired following the injuries sustained in the battle with Galvatron's forces (Trailbreaker took a blast from [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] in UK issue #83, while Jazz was lobotomized by Galvatron in UK issue #85). It is, however, a little ''odd'' to see that they've been repaired; over in the US stories, the two characters have been in the repair bay since sustaining injuries in US issue #12, and by taking them offline, "Target: 2006" brought their status in the UK stories into synch with the US... only for them to now be revived only a few issues later. Their resurrections are barely felt outside this issue; the pair effectively vanish from the UK comic after this point (although Jazz can be seen in [[Resurrection!|issue #104]]) and don't reappear until they are brought back in the US stories. All in all, it seems safe to say that if the more continuity-minded regular writer [[Simon Furman]] had penned this Christmas story, Jazz and Trailbreaker wouldn't have been revived.
*Blackrock made a deal to supply the Autobots with fuel (right) in [[DIS-Integrated Circuits!|US issue #9]].
*Jazz remarks that the Decepticon now "have a [[Special Teams|Special Team]] in the field," referring to the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]], who the Autobots encoutnered [[Heavy Traffic!|last issue]].

===Real-life references===
*Buster is studying the {{w|American Revolutionary War|American War of Independence}}, specifically the {{w|Siege of Yorktown (1781)|Battle of Yorktown}}.

===Continuity and plotting errors===
*Fire safety basics! Putting water on a chemical fire will ''not'' put it out. Instead it'll probably cause a large explosion and make things ''much'' worse.
*Buster says that Jetfire is the "first of a generation of Terran Transformers," but he's wrong; the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] were also built on Earth, and were activated before him.

===Artwork and technical errors===
[[File:TheGift locked in battle.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.75]]
*'''Page 3, panel 7:''' Trailbreaker's pelvis is magenta instead of blue-black. Wheeljack's got red shoulder-wings, a prototypical colour scheme seen in early issues of the comic.
*'''Page 4:'''
**'''Panel 1:''' Jetfire's Autobot insignia is yellow instead of red.
**'''Panel 4:''' The bottom half of Kickback's yellow chest door is left uncoloured white (right).
**'''Panel 5:''' "Soundwave" is misspelled as "Sounwave".
*'''Page 5, panel 1:''' There are some incongruous red panels on the back of Soundwave's cassette-player mode.
*'''Page 6, panel 5:''' Jazz is missing his Autobot insignia.
*'''Page 8:''' Thrust is missing the purple decals on his knees, which are left the same red as the rest of his boots.
**'''Panel 1:''' Bombshell's Decepticon insignia is red instead of purple.
**'''Panel 2:''' Thrust is missing his left arm.
**'''Panels 2, 5, and 6:''' The sides of Thrust's abdomen, as well as his feet, are white instead of grey.
**'''Panel 6:''' Portions of Thrust's pelvis and left arm are incorrectly coloured magenta.
**'''Panel 7:''' The sides of Thrust's abdomen are now coloured red instead of grey.

===Other trivia===
*Despite appearing on the issue's cover, Galvatron plays no part in the story. He does, however, threaten that he'll "be back," and would keep this promise, returning in [[Fallen Angel|issue #101]].
*For this special Christmas issue, the title of the "Transformation" editorial page is (adorably) made up of letter-shaped Christmas puddings, flanked by gift-wrapped Autobot and Decepticon [[insignia]].

===Back-up material===
[[File:TheGift xmas robocapers.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.75]]
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''[[Back-up strips#Spitfire and the Troubleshooters|Spitfire and the Troubleshooters]]'' ("Behemoth," Part 3) and ''[[Robo-Capers]]''
*'''[[Transformers AtoZ|AtoZ]]:''' [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] and [[Blades (G1)|Blades]]; as Beachcomber already had a [[Fact File]] printed in [[The Icarus Theory|issue #45]], a note on the "Transformation" page explains that the A-Z entries are intended to supplant the earlier format, and that some repetition will occur.
*'''Other features:''' Competition to win one of twenty sets of "[[More than Meets the Eye (mini-series)|Arrival from Cybertron]]," "[[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1|Megatron's Master Plan]]," and "[[Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1|Desertion of the Dinobots]]" on VHS from [[Video Gems]]. To enter, readers were shown three speech bubbles (from "[[Dinobot Hunt!]]", "[[Devastation Derby!]]" and "[[Target: 2006]]") and had to identify which Transformer spoke them.
*This issue's ''Robo-Capers'' is another of the small number to feature actual Transformers (right). Continuing the issue's festive theme, it sees two children unwrapping their presents on Christmas morning to find that they have received [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Galvatron (G1)/toys|Galvatron]] toys. After five hours of non-stop battle the kids are called to dinner, at which point the toys come alive and complain about the rough treatment they've suffered.
*This issue's letters page includes a missive from eagle-eyed Alasdair Morrison from Stirling, who, while scrutinizing the [[stock photography]] on [[Octane]]'s toy packaging, has spotted a box of Kodak film being used to prop the figure up, which the designer failed to edit out of the photograph.
{{--}}
===Covers===
*'''Issue #93:''' Galvatron spreading some holiday cheer, by [[Robin Smith]].
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-093.jpg|The Treebots were a massive failure on the battlefield.
</gallery>

===Reprints===
<gallery>
File:Tfcolcom11.jpg|'''[[Transformers Collected Comics|''Collected Comics'' #11]]''' (Marvel Comics, 1988)
File:TitanSG.jpg|'''''[[Transformers: Second Generation|Second Generation]]''''' (Titan Books, 2004)
File:Classicuk3.jpg|'''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 3|''The Transformers Classics UK'' Volume 3]]''' (IDW Publishing, 2012)
</gallery>

====Reprint notes====
*This issue was printed out of sequence in IDW's ''Classics UK'' Volume 3, appearing between [[Distant Thunder!|issue #100]] and [[Fallen Angel|issue #101]].
*This issue was accidentally omitted from [[Hachette]]'s [[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection|''Definitive G1 Collection'']].

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gift}}
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Talk:The Transformers (European toyline)

2017-12-29T22:01:19Z

Skteosk: /* UK 1987/1988 Releases */

When were the classic green-and-purple Constructicons (in original packaging) released in the UK? I believe it was around 1990-91, but don't know for certain. There were also some Minibots that showed up around this time, again in original packaging: Bumblebee, Seaspray, Beachcomber and possibly others. These might just have been rediscovered stock from 1985/6, but the Constructicons were only available in the UK at this time so they must have been a release of some kind.--[[User:Tribimat|Tribimat]] 14:01, 25 March 2006 (UTC)
:Those might have been the imported Mexican toys that plagued Europe in 1989.--[[User:Nevermore|Nevermore]] 19:20, 19 November 2006 (UTC)

::The US Constructicons DID come out in the UK at that time with a host of other G1 toys with the Chinese stickers in the corner. Constructicons, Combaticons, Protectobots and several (possibly all) Minibots were being sold alongside the G1/G1.5 stuff in 1991-93 in original G1 packaging at major stores like Woolworths. There may have been other figures too but I didn't see them. --[[User:Specimen-17|Specimen-17]] 13:10, 30 September 2007 (UTC)

Started making this page something other than "Toys We Never Got In The USA". Will try to keep details about language variations as short as possible.

I consider a toy "confirmed" released in a specific version when I have seen it in packaging, or at least the corresponding instructions. Exceptions are combiner teams where I haven't seen all members (Hasbro didn't start making a habit out of releasing incomplete combiner teams until Energon), or Italian Astrotrain, where Blitzwing being named "Triplex Due" makes it pretty reasonable that Triplex Uno (Astrotrain) also existed.--[[User:Nevermore|Nevermore]] 23:01, 18 November 2006 (UTC)

I'll have to remember next time I go to my parents' house but I'm pretty damn sure my Skystalker came in Italian packaging, which if nothing else, has the I-names for some of the other MM bases. (Countdown's was... Uranius, I think. One of 'em was definitely Uranius.) [[User:Hooper X|-hx]] 19:40, 30 November 2006 (UTC), got it sealed for $40 at BC... '01, maybe?

A few things. There was no Gen1 Classics version of Slag? I remember getting all four land Dinobots (poor Swoop) as Classics -- of course my memory isn't evidence... and he might have only seen the light of day in Australia, anyway. Secondly -- Windmill? In what way does he resemble Ultra Magnus? And where does the rumour about Turbo Master come from? Seems like bollocks and speculation based on the design drawings in Generations: Deluxe, to me. --Jhiaxus.

Between this article and the one on Euro Classics, I'm really starting to wonder if someone at Hasbro thought that Australia was in Europe... --[[User:Ratbat|Ratbat]] 03:47, 7 January 2007 (UTC)

==Scandinavia==
Anyone want to take a stab at adding some info about the Scandinavian countries to this article?--[[User:TVsGrady|TVsGrady]] 23:09, 19 December 2007 (UTC)

== Japanese mini-franchises ==

I've mocked up a central page for the Japanese mini-franchises at [[User: Khajidha/sandbox]]. It would serve as a main page to place in the franchise nav-box. I'd like to hear any input. [[User:Khajidha|Khajidha]] 21:16, 4 April 2010 (EDT)

== Commercials as proof? ==

In my efforts to construct the page for [[Commercial/International|international commercials]], I listed several ads that could be considered proof that certain toys had European releases. After all, why produce and release a commercial for toys you aren't selling? The ads in question would be the [http://www.ina.fr/pub/culture-et-loisirs/video/PUB3784153101/hasbro-transformers-action-masters-jouet-vehicule-figurine-combat.fr.html French ad for Action Master Vehicles] and the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQwnSrnGxOc German ad for Action Master Optimus Prime]. Since they appear to include brand new footage for Optimus Prime and Megatron, I think we could safely add those as confirmed releases. Not so sure about the other Action Master vehicles though. --[[User:Tigerpaw28|Tigerpaw28]] 13:10, 2 August 2010 (EDT)

== UK release ==

The initial release of Transformers here in the UK was in 1984. Argos were selling Optimus Prime, Autobot cars and Decepticon 'strike planes' (Seekers) in their autumn/winter 1984 catalogue (I got Optimus Prime and Sideswipe for Christmas in 1984) and Decepticon cassettes were available in WHSmith (I got them up just after Christmas in December 1984). [[User:J'mie|J'mie]] 14:03, 28 August 2010 (EDT)

:This is very true. The UK comic launched in mid-September '84, and given that TFs appear in the [http://www.flickr.com/photos/16628151@N03/2958326804/in/faves-66347557@N00/ 1984 Autumn/Winter Argos] they would have to have been available by at least August of that year to be on-sale upon its launch. I've added a 1984 section just for the UK range, and also expanded the 1985 section to document the toys released and unreleased in that year.

:Regarding yellow & red Cliffjumpers & Bumblebees. I know CJ was definitely available in both colours in 1984 and 1985 as I've owned both rub-and pre-rub yellow versions, and they seem common enough. It seems a reasonable extrapolation that the same is true of Bumblebee, since they would be sourced from the same old Microchange toys that were used for the US, but did anyone ever see or own a red Bumblebee that was bought at UK retail? I've never even seen them on eBay UK, nor Bumblejumper for that matter.

:Finally, as far as I can tell Cejii Revel Prime is a weird aberration compared to the rest of the 1984/85 toys. If you check his trailer he's not just a repackaged Takara-produced toy, the figure itself is actually stamped "MADE IN FRANCE". I've never seen any other year 1 TFs with this distinction, or the corresponding change to the packaging. Cejii Revel were already selling the figure as part of [http://1501bc.com/pretf/fr_diaclone.html their own Diaclone line], so I guess they were making Convoy figs in-house for whatever reason, and Hasbro struck some sort of deal to use what they'd produced as TF Primes.

:This must have cut both ways, with TFs being sold as Ceji Revel Diaclones. In a Poundstretcher in Glasgow in the Summer of '88 I purchased a [http://www.toyarchive.com/Diaclone/Joustra/JoustraGearsMOSC.html "Diaclone" Gears on a Ceji Joustra card]. As you can see in the photograph, he has Autobot stickers! There must have been some "grace period" where Ceji Revel / Joustra Diaclone toys and Hasbro Transformers were being produced side by side.--[[User:Asukasboy|Asukasboy]] 18:01, 21 December 2010 (EST)

== UK 1987/1988 Releases ==

Ok, taking a look at these [http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-toy-discussion/1018470-g1-argos-catalogue-uk-1984-1990-a.html Argos catalogue scans], there's not a lot to go on for 1987. Is there a confirmed list for Headmasters from this year, released in UK? In fact there's nothing on the page at all about '87 UK releases. Taking a look at the 1988 scan, Quickswitch is in the catalogue, does this confirm his status as a UK toy for the year? He's not mentioned on the page.

I've found a very good resource of [http://issuu.com/retromash/docs/argossuperstore-1987-autumnwinter online scans of old Argos catalogues]. Do we want to assume that if they made it into Argo, that they were ull, proper UK releases?
:Looking through my Marvel UK issues from 1987, I can see adverts confirming the availability that year of Rodimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, Galvatron, Wreck-Gar, all 1987 Targetmasters, Highbrow, Chromedome, Hardhead, Brainstorm, Mindwipe, Skullcruncher and Weirdwolf. (There's also an advert in an early issue for the Aerialbots, Stunticons, Protectobots and Combaticons, so I'd they were still available that year.) I can personally confirm that Rollbar and Wideload were released in the UK, because I've got them. Not 100% sure about other Throttlebots. I'm almost certain Scorponok, Snapdragon and Apeface were released here, especially given their spotlight in [[Worlds Apart!]], but haven't got any evidence to hand. [[User:Skteosk|Skteosk]] ([[User talk:Skteosk|talk]]) 17:01, 29 December 2017 (EST)

== El Greco 1985 ==
I see the autobot minibots are listed as a 1985 release in Greece here. This is however incorrect. The back of the card has an image of the glow in the dark TF:TM poster that was inserted in the US boxes for the 86 line. As Europe was usually a year later in releases in those days these toys are 86-87 at the earliest and probably even 88. Further proof of this are the GS versions for combiners that feature european classic style molds. The same holds true for second wave Italian Gig GS releases. The 'classic' re-release by Gig of the Devastator set for instance features chinese stampings. (It also replaces the rubsigns for silver stickers btw)--[[User:Argus|Argus]] 07:16, 7 September 2011 (EDT)

== "Swideswipe" ==

I assume it's a typo, but it wouldn't be the weirdest name a foreign Transformer has had, so I thought I'd better check. --[[User:Flicky1991|flicky]][[User talk:Flicky1991|1991]] 12:30, 18 June 2013 (EDT)

Funeral for a Friend!

2017-11-23T22:56:56Z

Skteosk: /* UK printing */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #26
|prev=Gone but Not Forgotten!
|next=King of the Hill!
|title="Funeral for a Friend!"
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #109–110
|prev2=Gone but Not Forgotten!
|next2=King of the Hill!
|image=MarvelUS-26.jpg
|caption="I don't care for the term 'grease [[Optimus Primal|monkey]]'."
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=November [[1986]]
|coverdate=March [[1987]]
|writer=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|penciler=[[Don Perlin]]
|inker=[[Brett Breeding]]
|colorist=[[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]
|letterer=[[Janice Chiang]]
|editor=[[Don Daley]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''While most the Autobots pay their last respects to Optimus Prime, Ratchet is left alone to face a new human threat.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] has worked non-stop for the last ten days to repair the fallen [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]. At last his work is finished, and before the assembled Autobots within the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], he flips the switch to send a power surge through Optimus's body. But to the grief of all, no spark of life returns to the Autobot leader, and Ratchet declares that Optimus Prime is beyond repair.

[[File:Powerboosterrod.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.7]]
Omega Supreme arranges a variety of heavy armaments, remotely activated via a remote-controlled [[power booster rod]], to defend the Ark so that the [[Autobot]]s can carry out a full [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertronian]] [[Transformer funerary practices|funeral service]] for Prime. Ratchet chooses to stay behind rather than face another of his failures; First Aid leaves him with some words of comfort and encouragement before departing with the other Autobots.

Alone in the Ark, Ratchet pays a morose visit to the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'s life support bay, despairing that he lacks both the parts and the equipment to effect proper repairs on the many off-line Autobots stored there. Gazing on Prowl's inert form, Ratchet decides to stop moping and be more proactive about repairing his comrades. He drives to [[A-1|a nearby used auto parts junkyard]], and begins scavenging parts to fit his patients.

While he works, however, a nearby police sting unfolds, as the local police attempt to bring in the head of a stolen car ring who calls himself "the [[Mechanic (G1)|Mechanic]]". Hiding in ambulance mode, Ratchet is discovered by the Mechanic and his assistant [[Juan (thief)|Juan]], who promptly use him as an escape vehicle. Forced to aid the Mechanic lest he blow his cover, Ratchet is pursued by local police authorities, and in an effort to evade them, he uses some of his Autobot weaponry (namely, a [[cryogenic sprayer]] and a [[laser scalpel]]) on the pursing vehicles, hoping that the Mechanic - paralyzed by his crippling fear of the police - won't notice. The Mechanic does indeed see the power of these weapons, however, and removes them for his own use.

The two thieves return to their home base garage and began examining the strange ambulance and discussing what to do with their find. Ratchet finally decides he's had enough - but when he transforms and attempts to retrieve his surgical instruments, the Mechanic uses the cryogenic sprayer to freeze him solid.

Deep in the Cascades, Omega Supreme lays Optimus Prime's body in a funeral bier. After a heartfelt eulogy from Perceptor, the bier is launched into space, to return to the cosmos.

[[File:Ratchetmechanic.jpg|thumb]]
When Ratchet thaws out, he returns to the Ark, only to be followed by the Mechanic and Juan, who hope to follow Ratchet to the source of more Cybertronian weaponry. Before Ratchet realizes that he has led the [[human]]s right to the Ark, the Mechanic has stolen the power booster rod from the Ark's defense systems, in addition to Ratchet's weapons.

Using these devices, the Mechanic injures Ratchet and reactivates the Ark's automatic defenses so that the Autobots are prevented from offering assistance as they return from Optimus Prime's funeral. Crippled, Ratchet drives off to the repair bay, doing what he can to restore his fallen friends with the junkyard parts. The Mechanic arrives, and is on the verge of crushing Ratchet with a piece of machinery when a police car arrives! The terrified Mechanic flees... never realizing that the police car is actually the partially-restored Prowl.

The Mechanic escapes with the power booster rod and Ratchet's tools; Ratchet deactivates the defenses and ends the assault on his comrades. Outside, he and First Aid take stock of the damage - nothing too serious. His spirits lifted, Ratchet reflects that he's had no time to think about the dead - he's focused on helping the living.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{collist|2|
*[[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (1)
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (2)
*[[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] (3)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (4)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (5)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (6)
*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (7)
*[[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (8)
*[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (9)
*[[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (10)
*[[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (11)
*[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (12)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (13)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] (14)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (15)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] (16)
*[[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] (17)
*[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (18)
*[[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (19)
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (20)
*[[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] (21)
*[[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (22)
*[[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (23)
*[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (24)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (25)
*[[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (26)
*[[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] (27)
*[[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] (28)
}}
|c3=
*[[Juan (thief)|Juan]] (8)
*[[Farley]] (9)
*[[Mechanic (G1)|Mechanic]] (10)
}}

==Quotes==
"He wasn't just another gun-toting conscript to me, First Aid. He was my friend. I'm staying." 
"I understand your grief, Ratchet. But remember -- we doctors must concern our selves with those we can still help -- the living. Where there's life, there's hope."
:—'''Ratchet''' and '''First Aid'''

"We are gathered to pay final tribute to Optimus Prime -- commander, leader... friend. His courage was the beacon that guided us through the dark wilderness of this alien world. His love and kindness inspired us when our prospects seemed most bleak. His wisdom washed over us in unending waves. If we each retained but a drop we would each be immeasurably the better for it. We thank you, Optimus Prime. Farewell. We send you to join with the universe -- to return to the cosmic duest from which all life began... and from which it will begin again."
:—'''Perceptor''' delivers a euology for Optimus Prime

"That human was right. I suppose courage '''wasn't''' included in my programming -- why would a doctor need it? And I'm not much of a doctor either. I've '''lost''' more lives than I've '''saved!''' I can't even save '''myself!''' Guess I'll never have a chance to repair everyone here. Sorry, Prowl. But at least you're still alive. And.... where there's life, there's hope."
:—'''Ratchet''', crippled and hunted

"I'm glad you're in much better spirits than a few hours ago, Ratchet. Have you finally put the loss of Optimus Prime behind you?" 
"No, not yet. But I guess I've been too busy to think about the dead... I've been too concerned with helping the living."
:—'''First Aid''' and '''Ratchet'''

==Notes==
===Artwork and technical errors===
*Page 4, panel 3: block coloring gives us a white Skids, a blue Hoist, and a white Fireflight.
*Ratchet's amublance mode is consistently colored all-white - even the light bars!
*Omega Supreme isn't nearly as huge as he was in #19; now he's maybe twice the height of an average Transformer. (and how did he get to the funeral, anyway?)
*Page 10, panel 2: Omega's arm is colored orange instead of gray.
*Page 21, panel 6: Powerglide is colored like Seaspray.

===Continuity errors===
*Assuming the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] were granted life via the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]] (since the Autobots currently have no means of getting reinforcements from Cybertron), First Aid's words to Ratchet on pages 3 and 4 seem to be words of long experience that he shouldn't really have yet.
**Speaking of whom, why wasn't First Aid aiding Ratchet in repairing Prime in the first place?
*It's not real clear how Omega Supreme - who has a gun for one arm and a claw for the other - could construct ''anything at all'', let alone an elaborate defence system.
*The choice of Perceptor to deliver the eulogy is a... curious one. He and his group didn't join the Ark's Autobots until after the events of issue #23, and Optimus was killed almost immediately afterwards, in issue #24! We never saw the two characters together; in fact, this is the first time we've seen Perceptor's group with the Ark Autobots.
*The Mechanic removes Ratchet's weapons from his interior with an ordinary screwdriver. Did the Ark adapt the [[Transformer]]s ''that'' much to [[Earth]]?
**Similarly, the 'on' and 'off' positions for the Ark's defence systems are marked in English. That certainly makes it easier for the Mechanic to figure out how they work. Maybe Omega Supreme marked them that way because he was created on Earth?

===Continuity notes===
*In [[Power Struggle|''G.I. Joe and the Transformers'' #2]], Blaster ordered all Autobots to return to the Ark due to Prime's death - meaning the roll call at the start of the issue should be a complete tally of active Autobots:
**26 Autobots are shown (including Ratchet)
**[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] is missing, since he got blown up by G.I. Joe in issue #1 of the crossover
**The [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]s have been AWOL since #19
**[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] and [[Mirage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Mirage]] are both missing, and were likewise missing from a similar roll call in issue #19; presumably they were both taken out of action some time after their last appearances in issue #16 and #14, respectively.
**Prowl is shown up and about after some repairs...but we don't see him again until #36. His absence from next issue's leadership conference would seem to indicate his repairs were not complete.
*Further overlap with the G.I. Joe crossover: [[Ashes, Ashes...|issue #3]] repeats the end of Perceptor's eulogy; it also adds some additional dialog from Blaster and Omega Supreme.
*Ratchet notes that he's managed to keep ''most'' of the Autobots alive in the Ark's life support bays.
*As he scavenges in the junkyard, Ratchet finds parts for [[Ironhide (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ironhide]] and [[Gears (G1)|Gears]], as well as Prowl.
*Portland businesses visible in the backgrounds include A-1 Used Auto Parts (Domestic & Foreign), Jeanies, a liquor store, Paint World, a sub store, Bar O, Gursky's, and of course, Forbe's Garage.

===Real-life references===
*The Ark sits in rural [[Oregon]]; the funeral happens elsewhere within the [[Cascades]]. The junkyard is off Route 26 in the Southeast area of [[Portland]], where the Portland Police Department springs their trap. (Our Google Maps pedant-o-vision tells us that there actually are several junkyards a mile or so off of Route 26 in the city's Southeast neighborhood!)

===UK printing===
[[File:MarvelUS26vsUK109SkidsnoSkids.jpg|thumb|Once again, poor Skids gets shafted.]]
'''Issue #109'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''[[Inhumanoids|The Inhumanoids]]'' - "I Left My Monsters in San Francisco" and ''[[Robo-Capers]]''
*When US page 2 was printed, Skids' appearance and caption were blacked out. This was because according to the UK comic's continuity, he'd been displaced to Limbo by a time-traveling [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] eight issues earlier.
*The order of US pages 10 and 11 was reversed when they were printed in the UK comic to provide the issue with a more poignant cliffhanger—the beginning of the funeral of Optimus Prime.
*In ''[[Letters page (Marvel UK)|Grim Grams]]'', one reader asks for people to send ''him'' nominations for the 1986 Transformers Awards and another reader requests Comic Exchange to be added alongside Stock Exchange.

'''Issue #110'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''The Inhumanoids'' - "I Left My Monsters in San Francisco" and ''[[Robo-Capers]]''
*According to [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] (in the letters page), Galvatron has a weakness for [[chocolate covered oil drum]]s.
*In the US continuity, Prowl has been damaged since "[[Prime Time!]]". In the UK continuity he recovered and was seen last attending (fake) Optimus' funeral in "[[Resurrection!]]". What caused the injuries seen in this episode for the UK continuity is never mentioned.
{{-}}

===Other trivia===
*Hoist drives Optimus Prime to his funeral on a special trailer.

===Bot Roster===
*Autobots: 27 active (again discounting Optimus Prime as he's officially dead); 5 rogue Dinobots, 14 in repair bay. (46 total)
*Decepticons: 31 active; 9 offline. (40 total)

===Covers (7)===
<gallery>
File:MarvelUS-26.jpg|'''US issue #26''' - How manly!
File:MarvelUK-109.jpg|'''UK issue #109''' - The UK really liked their lime green. The editor was [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]].
File:MarvelUK-110.jpg|'''UK issue #110''' - Now this is more like it! If only we could see what was going on.
</gallery>
*'''US cover:''' the Mechanic in front of dead Autobots, by [[Herb Trimpe]].
*'''UK issue #109 cover:''' reuse of art from US cover, slightly recolored with new captions.
*'''UK issue #110 cover:''' Autobots attacked by the Ark, by [[Jeff Anderson]].
<gallery>
File:Titan-BreakdownSC.jpg|'''''Breakdown'' TPB'''
File:Titan-BreakdownHC.jpg|'''''Breakdown'' hardback'''
File:Classic_Transformers_Vol2.jpg|'''''Classic Transformers'' Volume 2'''
File:TFClassicsVol3.jpg|'''''The Transformers Classics,'' Vol. 3'''
</gallery>
* '''''Breakdown'' TPB cover:''' [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]], [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]], Ratchet and half of [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]], by [[Andrew Wildman]].
*'''''Breakdown'' hardback cover:''' Grimlock fighting [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], by [[Kev Walker]], [[Simon Coleby]] and [[Chris Blythe]].
*'''''Classic Transformers'' Volume 2 cover:''' panels from US issues [[Showdown!|#20]] and [[Gone but Not Forgotten!|#25]].
*'''''The Transformers Classics,'' Vol. 3 cover:''' Bumblebee, by [[Guido Guidi]].

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

====UK: #109====
*Action Force (toy range)
*The incredible [[Special Teams|New Teams]]

===Reprints===
*[[2004]] — ''[[Transformers: Breakdown]]''
*[[2008]] — [[Classic Transformers Volume 2|''Classic Transformers'' Volume 2]]
*[[2012]] — [[The Transformers Classics, Vol. 3|''The Transformers Classics,'' Vol. 3]]

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

Totaled!

2017-11-23T22:48:41Z

Skteosk: /* Continuity notes */

{{featured}}
{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #41
|prev=Pretender to the Throne!
|next=People Power!
|title="Totaled!"
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #174–175
|prev2=Wrecking Havoc
|next2=People Power!
|image=MarvelUS-41.jpg
|caption=My money's on Cosmos.
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=February [[1988]]
|coverdate=June 1988
|writer=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|pencils=[[José Delbo]]
|inks=[[Danny Bulanadi]]
|colorist=[[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]
|letterer=[[Bill Oakley]]
|editor=[[Don Daley]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''It starts with Grimlock vs. Fruitloop Multipuck, but things never end that simply, do they?'''

==Synopsis==
[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] explodes! Having acquired Prime's [[core consciousness|mind]] on a [[floppy disk]], the [[Autobot]]s on the ''[[Steelhaven (G1)|Steelhaven]]'' have initiated [[Project Prime]], an attempt to build a new body for the Autobot leader. [[Project Prime team|The team]] isn't having much luck, as the ship's resources have been depleted by reconstructing [[Fortress Maximus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Fortress Maximus]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]] and creating the Autobot [[Pretender]]s. [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]], however, has tracked down the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]; Fortress Maximus decides to approach [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]], leader of the Autobots on [[Earth]], for help.

[[File:Snarladjustscrown.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Grimlock: Tyrant, bully, metrosexual.]]
Grimlock doesn't want to help, and instead demands Fortress Maximus hand over the fugitive Goldbug. Maximus refuses, but to avoid a conflict, Goldbug surrenders. Grimlock is still not satisfied; he challenges Fortress Maximus to one-on-one battle for the leadership of the Autobots under the archaic [[Code of Combat]].

In the brig, Goldbug finds [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], strapped to an energy-sucking [[variable voltage harness]]. Blaster has become apathetic from his time wasting away, but Goldbug talks him into fighting in the injured Fortress Maximus's place.

Elsewhere, [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] has been tracking the ''Steelhaven''... which has led him to the Ark as well. [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] is pleased at the chance to destroy all of Earth's Autobots at once.

The two ships land on the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]]. The crews from both the Ark and the ''Steelhaven'' assemble to watch Grimlock and Blaster fight it out.

The battle soon draws Blaster and Grimlock away from the rest of the Autobots. In their absence, Ratbat's [[Decepticon]]s unleash their attack. [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] leads the Decepticon assault on the Autobots, while [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] leads the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] in an attack on the unmanned Ark, to retrieve Decepticon prisoners.

Without strong leadership, the Autobots are losing the battle, so (rather than taking command) Fortress Maximus orders Goldbug to take the skeleton crew on the ''Steelhaven'' and leave the scene.

[[File:Grimlockokeydokeyblaster.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|Grimlock goes from brutal tyrant to doofus in 22 pages.]]
[[File:Omegasupreme-blasterandgrimlock.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|So much for democracy!]]
Grimlock and Blaster are still fighting when Blaster notices the battle going on far in the distance. Setting their differences aside, the two Autobots rejoin the battle. Working together, Grimlock and Blaster manage to turn back the Decepticons and damage their ship enough to force a full Decepticon retreat.

Grimlock finally accepts the possibility of working with others, noting that he and Blaster are an effective team. With the Ark and many Autobots damaged, repair work is urgent. But Fortress Maximus notes that the ''Steelhaven'' will be unable to help; seeing the need for a true great leader, he has sent the ship to [[Nebulos]], the one place with the technology to properly rebuild Optimus Prime.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{collist|3|
*[[Fortress Maximus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Fortress Maximus]] (1)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Goldbug]] (2)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (3)
*[[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] (4)
*[[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] (5)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] (6)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] (7)
*[[Sludge (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Sludge]] (8)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] (9)
*[[Slag (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Slag]] (10)
*[[Snarl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Snarl]] (11)
*[[Swoop (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Swoop]] (12)
*[[Pointblank]] (13)
*[[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] (14)
*[[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]] (15)
*[[Grotusque]] (16)
*[[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]] (17)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (19)
*[[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] (20)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (21)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (22)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] (23)
*[[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] (24)
*[[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (25)
*[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (26)
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (27)
*[[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (34)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (35)
*[[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] (36)
*[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (37)
*[[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (38)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (39)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Cliffjumper]] (40)
*[[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] (41)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (42)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (43)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (44)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] (45)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (46)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (47)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (48)
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (49)
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] (50)
*[[Mirage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Mirage]] (51)
*[[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (52)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (53)
*[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (54)
*[[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (55)
*[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (56)
*[[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (57)
*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (58)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (59)
*[[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] (60)
*[[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] (61)
*[[Waverider]] (62)
*[[Lightspeed (G1 Technobot)|Lightspeed]] (63)
*[[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]] (64)
*? (65)
*[[Doublecross]] (66)
*? (67)
*[[Crosshairs (G1)|Crosshairs]] (68)
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (69)
*[[Sky High (Pretender)|Sky High]] (70)
*[[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]] (71)
*? (72)
*[[Afterburner (G1)|Afterburner]] (73)
*[[Repugnus (G1)|Repugnus]] (74)
*[[Slapdash (G1)|Slapdash]] (75)
*[[Joyride (G1)|Joyride]] (76)
*[[Getaway]] (77)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ironhide]] (78)
*[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (80)
}}
|c2=
{{collist|2|
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] (29)
*[[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (30)
*[[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] (31)
*[[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] (32)
*[[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] (33)
*[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (79)
*[[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (81)
*[[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (82)
*[[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (83)
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (84)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (85)
*[[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (86)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (87)
*? (88)
*[[Tantrum (G1)|Tantrum]] (89)
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (90)
*[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (91)
*[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (92)
*[[Headstrong (G1)|Headstrong]] (93)
*[[Octane]] (94)
*[[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (95)
*[[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (96)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (97)
*[[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (98)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (99)
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (100)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (101)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (102)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (103)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] (104)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (105)
*[[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] (106)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Thundercracker]] (107)
*[[Skywarp (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Skywarp]] (108)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (109)
}}
|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (18)
*[[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] (28)
}}

==Quotes==
==Notes==
===Artwork and technical errors===
*Cover: Red Alert is colored like Sideswipe; Nosecone is block colored orange when everyone around him is colored normally.
*Page 9, panel 5: Ratbat's face panel is colored all-yellow, as if it were a huge eye.
*In what is almost certainly an art error rather than a scripted appearance, [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] and [[Outback (G1)|Outback]] make brief appearances, their first in the US. This is a bit of an oddity since characters tended not to 'just appear' in the Marvel comics without ''some'' explanation of how they got there. Artist [[José Delbo]], who had to draw over 120 ''different'' Transformers for this issue's 3-way battle — many of them in multiple modes — may simply have "oopsied," while trying to cram them all in. In the ''UK'' stories both characters were active on Cybertron, and changes were made when the story was reprinted to accommodate this. (see below)
*A huge crowd of Decepticons is shown surrounding the Autobots... but the combined forces of the Ark and the ''Steelhaven'' should outnumber Ratbat's Decepticons by 2 to 1 or more.
*In the far back of the huge disembarking group shot, Slingshot is drawn with his nosecone on both shoulders. [[:File:Slingshot TFU.jpg|Slingshot's character art]] is drawn from an extreme worms eye angle, putting the nosecone seemingly on Slingshot's left shoulder, and apparently Delbo duplicated one on his other shoulder to make him symmetrical.

===Continuity errors===
*Helicopters should not be able to fly in a vacuum, but obviously no one ever told Vortex.
*None of Fortress Maximus's Autobots are seen after they exit the ''Steelhaven''. It's only the older toys shown getting their butts kicked.

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Totaledarkdisembark.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Protectobots, where art thou?]]
*Unlike in the cartoon, writer Bob Budiansky always made sure sound didn't travel in space sequences in the ''Transformers'' comic. To this end there's no 'sound effects' during the entire 13-page moon battle sequence. The Transformers used radio to communicate over these pages.
*This even plays a part in the plot—Grimlock and Blaster don't notice the Decepticon attack on their fellows immediately because they can't hear the battle.
*The big group shot of the disembarking Autobots is the first real appearance some characters have had for dozens of issues. Sunstreaker, in particular, was last seen in issue [[The Next Best Thing to Being There!|#10]], still deactivated from [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]]'s demonstration in issue [[The New Order|#5]], and hadn't been online since [[The Transformers Four-Issue Limited Series|the original miniseries]]. Many of the other Autobots who are seen exiting the Ark had "disappeared" long ago to make room for newer characters.
*The [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] are curiously absent. The last time they were relevant to the story, they were on [[Earth]], disobeying Grimlock's orders to bring in Blaster for execution... for disobeying orders. With this conspicuous omission from a groupshot that is otherwise so completist, it's tempting to conclude they never returned to the fold!
**It's not clear-cut, however. [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]], [[Blades (G1)|Blades]] and [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] were all shown on board the Ark in [[Spacehikers!]]. First Aid even seems to get a speaking line in a crowd shot. It's entirely possible that these were art errors: within the story, the Protectobots were last seen watching Blast Off take off from Earth. The Ark immediately starts pursuing Blast Off and takes him on board; shortly thereafter, the various Protectobots are seen on the ship - there's hardly any time for them to get back to the ship. (It's also worth noting that Spacehikers! has something of a reputation for featuring Autobots aboard the Ark who [[Sandstorm (G1)|shouldn't]] [[Twin Twist|be]] [[Skids (G1)|there]].)
*There's also no [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] for absolutely no reason.
*The massed Autobots apparently sit around on the Moon licking their wounds until issue [[Club Con!|#47]], at the beginning of which they are all back on Earth. It's implicitly clear that Optimus Prime eventually picks them up using the ''Steelhaven'' (after rescuing [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] from the [[The Cosmic Carnival|Cosmic Carnival]]), re-assumes command, and then they all return to Earth, but it's not depicted outright.
*Though not mentioned, [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] and [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] were among the Decepticons in Autobot custody, and may have been retrieved as well. Blast Off had been captured in [[Spacehikers!]], and Dirge (US continuity only) was blown out of the sky in [[Ashes, Ashes...]]. Neither showed up for the remainder of the G1 continuity except for crowd scenes, but it's worth noting.
*This issue marks the last appearance of the Constructicons in the Marvel U.S. continuity.
*The opening splash page of Optimus Prime's would-be new body blowing up is a direct homage to his death scene in US [[Afterdeath!|#24]].
*The Decepticons retrieved by the Constructicons in this issue were captured in battle with Omega Supreme way back in US [[Command Performances!|#19]].
*Optimus Prime was put on a disc after his death in US [[Afterdeath!|#24]].
*There are numerous references to the [[Pretender to the Throne!|previous issue]], including the acquiring of the Prime disc, the rebuilding of Goldbug, and the creation of the Pretenders.
*Fortress Maximus was still recovering from his battle with [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] in issue [[The Desert Island of Space!|#39]].

===UK printing===
*The title was given a second "L." (Because that's the correct spelling in the Queen's English, you colonial fools.)

'''Issue #174'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''[[Action Force (comic)|Action Force]]'' - "Pit-Fall" and ''[[Combat Colin]]''
*'''[[Transformers AtoZ|AtoZ]]:''' [[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] and [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]
*In ''[[Letters page (Marvel UK)|Grim Grams]]'', Grimlock states that he doesn't want a toy of his Cybertronian form to be created and that people should be happy with him as he is!
*A flashback to the events of "[[Spacehikers!]]" (actually re-drawing a panel from that story) again includes an appearance by [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]], among the Autobots encouraging Blaster to assume leadership of the Autobots. Unfortunately, in the ''UK''-originated material, Sandstorm was with the [[Wrecker]]s on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and could not possibly have been present on the Ark at this time. It's possible that this non-speaking [[Block coloring|block colored]] Autobot was instead a [[Generic]] lookalike (from a pure continuity standpoint,) though artist [[José Delbo]] certainly ''intended'' it to be Sandstorm.

'''Issue #175'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Action Force'' - "Pit-Fall" and ''Combat Colin''
*In ''Grim Grams'', Grimlock identified the [[Generic]] transformer from the opening splash page of UK issue #164 as "[[Chuffer]]".
[[File:Broadsidetotaled.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|In the UK, I was replaced by some other dude!]]
*Issue #175 features some of the most aggressive art edits done to a US story to bring it into line with UK continuity. Because Broadside was a member of the [[Wrecker]]s, (and on Cybertron at this time,) Broadside's close-up had to be edited to turn him a new character; the head partially redrawn and his blue parts colored green, creating a new, generic robot. (detail at right)
*Likewise, [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] was in [[Limbo]] at this point in UK continuity, so the image of him leaving the Ark with the other Autobots was given a new head and headlamps. Ironically his new head resembles that of [[Crosscut (Autobot)|Crosscut]], which is how Skids would come to be portrayed in later UK stories anyway.
*The boxes containing the rescued Decepticons were edited to remove and rearrange the names, since most of the "inactive" Decepticons [[Command Performances!|defeated by Omega Supreme]] had already been revived during the UK's "[[Target: 2006]]" storyline. The Constructicons' mission now only freed Rumble and Buzzsaw (and possibly Blast Off and Skywarp, the latter of whom had been absent since his "destruction" in Target 2006 but back among Ratbat's forces in their next appearance.) Long Haul's dialog to his fellow Constructicons was also altered, discarding a statement about the many Decepticons they had to free and replacing it with a much vaguer "We have a lot more work to do!" In US continuity the rescued Decepticons were: Buzzsaw, Thundercracker, Skywarp, Rumble, Frenzy and Starscream (and possibly Blast Off and Dirge).

===Other trivia===
*How can one not love the nicknames all through this issue? "Doc Ratchet", "Grimbo", and of course Grimlock's constant reworking of Fortress Maximus's name. He calls him "Fruitloop Multipuck", "Forktongue Maxiface", and even the ever-classic "Fullstrength Motleypuss".
*The letters page of this issue featured two competitions, [[Shingo|Spot the Shingo]] and a competition to name all the Transformers pouring from the Ark on page 10 of the issue. The prizes were not really disclosed.
*This was the last issue reprinted in the Danish run of the series published by Atlantic ApS.

===Bot Roster===
*Ark Autobots: 46 active as all the long-inert 1984 Autobots suddenly show up again, and Goldbug is restored; 5 bodyless Throttlebots. (51 total)
*''Steelhaven'' Autobots: 28 active.
*Ratbat's Decepticons: 32 active; 8 presumably rescued from the Ark; 4 offline/missing. (44 total)
*Scorponok's Decepticons: 25 active.

===Covers (7)===
<gallery>
File:MarvelUS-41.jpg|'''US issue #41''' - Or: How to give [[José Delbo]] a nervous breakdown
File:MarvelUK-174.jpg|'''UK issue #174''' - Use the FLAT of your blade, Grimlock!
File:MarvelUK-175.jpg|'''UK issue #175''' - Grimlock won't stop dancing for anyone.
</gallery>
*'''US issue #41 cover:''' battle royal, by [[José Delbo]].
*'''UK issue #174 cover:''' Grimlock and Spike, by [[Jeff Anderson]].
*'''UK issue #175 cover:''' Grimlock and Blaster, by [[Lee Sullivan]].
<gallery>
File:Titan-MaximumForceSC.jpg|'''''Maximum Force'' TPB'''
File:Titan-MaximumForceHC.jpg|'''''Maximum Force'' hardback'''
File:Classic Transformers Vol3.jpg|'''''Classic Transformers'' Volume 3'''
File:TFClassicsVol4.jpg|'''''The Transformers Classics,'' Vol. 4'''
</gallery>
*'''''Maximum Force'' TPB cover:''' [[Scorponok (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Scorponok]], a [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] gun, the ''Steelhaven'' and half of [[Skullgrin]]'s head, by [[Andrew Wildman]].
*'''''Maximum Force'' hardback cover:''' Skullgrin, by [[Peter Snejbjerg]].
*'''''Classic Transformers'' Volume 3 cover:''' panels from US issues [[Child's Play (issue)|#35]], [[Spacehikers!|#36]] and [[People Power!|#42]]. Art and pencils by [[José Delbo]], pencils by [[Don Perlin]], finishes by [[Dave Hunt]] & [[Don Hudson]], inks by [[Ian Akin]] & [[Brian Garvey]], colours by Nel Yomtov.
*'''''The Transformers Classics'', Vol. 4 cover:''' Starscream, by [[Guido Guidi]].

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

===Reprints===
*[[2004]] — ''[[Transformers: Maximum Force]]''
*[[2009]] — [[Classic Transformers Volume 3|''Classic Transformers'' Volume 3]]
*[[2012]] — [[The Transformers Classics, Vol. 4|''The Transformers Classics'', Vol. 4]]

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

Still Life!

2016-07-17T14:20:39Z

Skteosk: /* Real-life references */

{{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==
[[File:Pmoptimusprimedeath.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.3]]
With [[Unicron]] destroyed, a small group of [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s gather around the shattered remains of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]], somehow still clinging to life. As Prime gasps out his final words, his last request is that [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] make sure [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] takes command of the Autobots in his absence.

Elsewhere on the planet, Optimus Prime's [[Nebulan]] partner [[Hi-Q]] is on the run, fleeing from the creatures who just devoured [[Runabout (G1)|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 (substance)|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 (G1)|Blaster]]'s seismology report, while [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] and his lieutenant [[Krok (G1)|Krok]] agree to bide time and weigh their options before making any moves.

On the search for the Ark, [[Swoop (G1)|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.

[[File:G1 Grimlock vs demons.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5]]
Meanwhile, at the stolen Ark, [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] and [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|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 [[Demon]]s: 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=
*[[Cloudburst]] (3)
*[[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]] (5)
*[[Hosehead (G1)|Hosehead]] (6)
*[[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]] (9)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] (10)
*[[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] (11)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (12)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (13)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] (19)
*[[Rad (G1)|Rad]] (20)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (21)
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (22)
*[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (24)
*[[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] (25)
*[[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (26)
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (27)
|c2=
*[[Apeface]] (1)
*[[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (2)
*[[Bomb-Burst (G1)|Bomb-Burst]] (4)
*[[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] (7)
*[[Darkwing]] (8)
*[[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] (14)
*[[Quake (G1)|Quake]] (15)
*[[Krok (G1)|Krok]] (23)
*[[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] (28)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] (29)
*[[Galvatron II|Galvatron]] (30)
|h3=[[Nebulan]]s
|c3=
*[[Hi-Q]] (17)
|c4=
*[[Unicron]] (16)
*[[Demon]]s (18)
}}

==Quotes==
"nnn... noh time... get '''Grimlock''' tell hm..." 
"But, Prime --" 
"Nuh! Make... mmmake him... underst-- uh *"
:—'''Optimus Prime''''s last words to '''Prowl'''

"Do you '''understand''' what I'm saying, Grimlock? Prime named '''you''' the new Autobot leader!" 
... 
"Fine. Me get right on it."
:— if '''Prowl''''s message impresses '''Grimlock''', he's not about to let it show.

"Me remember you, Prowl -- remember how you like to think you '''smart!''' Always have plan, clever scheme! But you just soldier with brain, '''nothing more!''' You think you know it all, but you see only '''small picture!'''"
:—'''Grimlock'''

"Prime had a '''message''' for you. He wanted you to remeber that whateve the provocation, whatever the circumstances, the foes we fight are ''still living beings!'' We are '''Autobots''', we kill '''only''' as a last option, and then only to save other lives! Mercy and compassion are what set us '''apart''' from those we fight! We forget that and we are '''lost!''' As Autobot leader, do you vow to follow this '''code''', uphold Prime's ideals?"
 ...
 "Yes."
:—'''Prowl''' may or may not have gotten through to '''Grimlock'''

"Opinion, Bludgeon?" 
"I think, '''Krok''', we should examine... '''options!'''"
:—Unicron's been dead five seconds, and '''Krok''' and '''Bludgeon''' are already scheming

"I dunno -- I just don't see the '''point''' in this! I mean, Unicron's been defeated.... there's no hurry to get off-planet now. We could wait awhile, steal a spacecraft '''without''' big holes in it!"
:—'''Starscream''' grouses about being on Ark repair duty

"As regards the immediacy of our departure, I have a '''hypothesis'''..." 
"What a '''surprise!'''"
:—'''Shockwave''' and '''Starscream'''

"I '''understand''' you, Grimlock -- I always have. Like Scorponok, you walk the fine line between good and evil, Autobot and Decepticon! Your mind is a perpetual battleground, your war a lonely struggle against your own nature! Give in to hate and anger and you '''lose!''' Part of you dies! But every time you find peace, stay the hand that slays, you '''win!''' That is why you must remember that whatever shape it wears, it is '''still life'''. And life is the most '''precious''' thing of all!"
:—Optimus Prime gives one of his ennobling speeches via '''Hi-Q'''

==Notes==
===Artwork and technical errors===
*The highly damaged Optimus Prime is in his super robot form, but there isn't much in the artwork to indicate he has a [[:File:PeoplePower-reprogrammed.jpg|smaller robot]] inside.
*In spite of having died by getting stepped on by Unicron while in his Pretender shell, [[Bomb-Burst (G1)|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.

===Continuity errors===
*The ''[[The Transformers Universe|Transformers Universe]]'' profile for Grotusque says that his first appearance is "right here", when he actually first appeared in [[Ring of Hate!|Headmasters #1]].

===Continuity notes===
*This is the second time that [[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|Prime has died]] in the Marvel US continuity.
*Bludgeon and Grimlock are officially identified as the new Decepticon and Autobot leaders.
*The demons had previously appeared in the UK comic stories "[[Underworld!]]", "[[Demons!]]", and "[[Dawn of Darkness]]".
*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]].

===Real-life references===
*Slag's line "Frying tonight!" hearkens back to an old Britishism from the shortages surrounding World War II, when fish & chip shops would only offer fried fish on certain days of the week. (It is also a famous [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nike7BNrJ5A quote] from the film ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carry_On_Screaming! Carry on Screaming]'.)

===UK printing===
'''Issue #323:'''
*'''Other strips:''' ''Machine Man'' - "Rime of the Ancient Wrecker!" and ''[[Combat Colin]]''
*'''[[Transformers AtoZ|AtoZ]]:''' [[Grotusque]]

'''Issue #324:'''
*'''Other strips:''' ''Machine Man'' - "Rime of the Ancient Wrecker!" and ''Combat Colin''
*'''AtoZ:''' [[Horri-Bull]]

===Other trivia===
*''[[The Transformers Universe|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).

===Covers===
<gallery>
File:MarvelUS-76.jpg|'''US issue #76''' - Oh Grimlock you cad!
File:MarvelUK-323.jpg|'''UK issue #323''' - What Transformers needs is more watercolours...
File:MarvelUK-324.jpg|'''UK issue #324''' - Grimlock came last in the Dance Dance Revolution championship.
File:End of the road tpb cover.jpg|'''''End of the Road'' TPB'''
File:Titan-EndOfTheRoadHC.jpg|'''''End of the Road'' hardback'''
</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]].
*'''''End of the Road'' TPB cover:''' Galvatron, Grimlock, Bludgeon, Prowl and half of Unicron, by Andrew Wildman.
*'''''End of the Road'' hardback cover:''' Galvatron and generic Decepticons, by [[Bryan Hitch]], [[Andrew Currie]] & [[Chris Blythe]].
<gallery>
File:Classic Transformers Vol6.jpg|'''''Classic Transformers'' Volume 6'''
File:RG1 76-80 100pgSpectacular.jpg|'''''Regeneration One'' 100-Page Spectacular cover A'''
File:RG1 76-80 100pgSpectacular B.jpg|'''''Regeneration One'' 100-Page Spectacular cover B'''
File:TFClassicsVol6.jpg|'''''The Transformers Classics,'' Vol. 6'''
</gallery>
*'''''Classic Transformers'' Volume 6 cover:''' a scrapbook of images from issues #76-80, all by Andrew Wildman and Stephen Baskerville.
*'''''Regeneration One'' 100-Page Spectacular cover A:''' Action Master Grimlock smashes, by Andrew Wildman and [[Jason Cardy]].
*'''''Regeneration One'' 100-Page Spectacular cover B:''' Hi-Q writhes in pain with the memories of Optimus Prime, surrounded by (anti-clockwise from top) The [[Last Autobot]], Grimlock, Prowl, [[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]], Galvatron, [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]], Shockwave, [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] and Bludgeon, by [[Guido Guidi]].
*'''''The Transformers Classics,'' Vol. 6 cover:''' [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], by Guido Guidi.

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

===Reprints===
*[[2002]] — ''[[Transformers: End of the Road]]''
*[[2010]] — [[Classic Transformers Volume 6|''Classic Transformers'' Volume 6]]
*2010 — ''[[The Transformers: Best of Grimlock]]''
*[[2012]] — [[Transformers: Regeneration One 100-Page Spectacular|''Transformers: Regeneration One'' 100-Page Spectacular]]
*[[2013]] — [[The Transformers Classics, Vol. 6|''The Transformers Classics,'' Vol. 6]]

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

Doomsday for Nebulos

2008-06-09T21:12:27Z

Skteosk: /* Errors */ Changing it back to what I originally wrote, so it makes sense

'''Zarak wonders if he's done the right thing...'''

'''Published in:''' '''[[Transformers Annual 1988]]''' 
'''Preceded by:''' [[What's in a Name?]] 
'''Followed by: ''' [[Vicious Circle!]] 

'''''N.B.''' No credits are given at all.''

==Featured characters==
(''Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
{|border=5 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=5 align=center style="border:#800000"
! style="background:#FFEEEE" | [[Autobot]]s
! style="background:#EEEEFE" | [[Decepticon]]s
! style="background:antiquewhite" | [[Nebulos|Nebulans]]
|-
| style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top" |
* [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] or [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]] (see below) (7)

| style="background:#EEEEFE" valign="top" |
* [[Apeface]] (3)
* [[Skullcruncher]] (4)
* [[Triggerhappy]] (5)
* [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] (6)

| style="background:antiquewhite" valign="top" |
* [[Zarak|Lord Zarak]] (1)
* [[Krunk]] (2)

|}

==Synopsis==

Lord Zarak keeps thinking he's made a mistake. The Nebulans around him won't say it but he knows. Then the Decepticons arrive outside the gates of his estate. Zarak studies them - over fifteen in total - with the most impressive being the leader, Scorponok.

Scorponok recalls how his enemy, Fortress Maximus, had disappeared and Scorponok located the Autobots' secret base. But the Autobots had gone. Then a signal from Zarak came through asking for Decepticon help to rid Nebulos of a group of Autobots - including Fortress Maximus! But since arriving Scorponok hasn't seen any sign of the Autobots and wonders if perhaps the Nebulans have dealt with them - but that's impossible isn't it? Upon meeting Nebulans for the first time he realises the absurdity of the suggestion.

Zarak starts to welcome the Decepticons but Scorponok asks him why he thinks they're here. Zarak recounts how the Autobots turned up uninvited on Nebulos sparking fear, even though they claimed to just want to live in peace. A visit by an emissary was a disaster causing chaos. [[Galen|Kord]], head of the governing [[World Watchers]], bowed to the majority viewpoint and reactivated ancient weapons to defend the capital city. The Nebulans attacked the Autobots and drove them deeper into the forest. Then a group of Autobots removed their heads from their shoulders, whilst others surrendered their weapons. {{storylink|Ring of Hate!}} Kord was taken in by this but Zarak realised that the Autobots were trying to corrupt the Nebulans and turn them to war. He talked to the Autobots and learned of the war on Cybertron, then contacted the Decepticons and asked them to come and help the cause. {{storylink|Broken Glass!}}

Scorponok tries to comprehend this, finding the idea of the Autobots attacking innocent Nebulans preposterous, though can believe that Autobots like Fortress Maximus would resort to suc a ridiculous idea as removing their heads. Zarak offers to discretely procure the heads and headless bodies whilst the Decepticons attack the Autobot encampment, but Scorponok will have none of this. The Decepticon commander declares that Fortress Maximus is the main threat and they will attack the Nebulan city.

Zarak is horrified at the potential casualties and protests. Scorponok picks him up and tightens the claws on him, but not fatally. He tells Zarak that the Decepticons are not here to help but to destroy the Autobots and seize the planet's resources. He stoops down and drops Zarak. The Nebulan shouts to his guards but the Decepticons raise their weapons. Scorponok announces he will deal with the Autobots and then come back for Zarak. Zarak says out loud "You've made a mistake."

{{note|This story is continued in ''[[Stylor's Story]]'' later in the annual.}}

==Errors==

* Skullcruncher is spelled "Skullcrusher". Athough...
* ...in the first illustration showing Zarak facing several Decepticons, Skullcruncher is present in both robot and crocodile modes. So maybe he has a twin brother?
* Scorponok is referred to as "almost unoticeably flexing those enormous cruel claw hands". It should be "unnoticeably".
* The flashback illustration of Fortress Maximus removing his head depicts the head and body of [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]]. But then the regular ''[[Headmasters (comic)|Headmasters]]'' series made this kind of mistake all the time so perhaps it's a homage? Alternatively this could be evidence of Cerebros having his own existence before being bonded to Fortress Maximus et al.
* Lord Zarak's hair is consistently coloured blonde, rather than grey in the regular comics.
* Although the text states Scorponok is stooped when he drops Zarak, the accompanying illustration depicts him standing upright. (Perhaps he straightened up ''really quickly''.)

==Continuity==

This tells a slightly altered version of the first meeting between the Decepticons and Nebulans in "[[Broken Glass!]]". However the Decepticons do not take Zarak and his allies prisoner immediately. Other than this and the use of the name "Kord" instead of "Galen" (see below) the story is a pretty accurate recounting of the events of "[[Ring of Hate!]]" and "[[Broken Glass!]]".

==Items of note==

* All of Scoponok's dialogue is written in '''BOLD AND CAPITALS'''.
* Throughout the annual the character elsewhere called Galen is here called "Kord". No-one knows why.

[[Category: Marvel UK issues]]
[[Category:Text stories]]<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>

...All Fall Down!

2008-06-05T00:07:16Z

Skteosk: /* Items of note */ Correcting character name

{{disambig2|the G.I. Joe and the Transformers issue|the Transformers issue|All Fall Down}}

[[Image:JoeTF4.jpg|thumb|right|This year's WWF lineup was looking especially promising.]]

'''.'''

{{comicnav | G.I. Joe and the Transformers | 4 | seriesname= | prev=Ashes, Ashes... | next= }}

=G.I. Joe and the Transformers #4=
''(Story also appears in: Marvel Transformers UK issue #277-281)''

'''Script:''' [[Michael Higgins]] 
'''Pencils:''' [[Herb Trimpe]] 
'''Inks:''' [[Vince Colletta]] 
'''Lettering:''' [[Joe Rosen]] 
'''Colors:''' [[Nelson Yomtov]] 
'''Editor:''' [[Bob Harras]] and [[Don Daley]] 

*''Major Transformers characters (in order of appearance):'' [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]], [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], [[Bumblebee (G1)|Goldbug]], [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]], [[Hook]], [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]], [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]], [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]], [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]], [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]], [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]], [[Mixmaster]], [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], [[Fireflight]], [[Slingshot]], [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]], [[Air Raid]], [[Superion]]
*''Originally published:'' April, 1987

==Synopsis==

The [[Autobots]], together with their new allies from [[G.I. Joe]] and [[Cobra]], take refuge inside [[the Ark]] as the area is shook with earthquakes from the effects of [[Power Station Alpha]]. At the Decepticon base, Shockwave instructs Bombshell to dispose of [[Doctor Mindbender]] but he is saved by the intervention of the [[Baroness]]. The two Cobra agents depart, taking Bombshell with them in insect mode, and depart for [[Seattle]], where they are due to rendezvous with a team from GI Joe.

Ratchet arrives at the Joes' base to inspect the remains of Bumblebee and is pleased to learn that not only is he still alive but that [[Main Frame]] has already begun reconstructing him. With Ratchet's help, the work is soon completed and Bumblebee announces from now on he wishes to be known as Goldbug. Mindbender and Baroness arrive and Main Frame's investigation of the [[cerebro shell]] retrieved from [[Anthony Duranti]] is shown to allow them to control Bombshell.

Meanwhile, debate ranges about the fate of Alpha. Both [[Serpentor]] and [[Ace]] think it should be destroyed but Blaster is worried that after the Decepticons' modifications Alpha may now be a sentient being whilst [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] is concerned about the loss of life if Alpha is destroyed in a populated area. It is eventually decided that a small team consisting of Goldbug, [[Scarlett]] and Baroness will plant explosives on Alpha which can be detonated if necessary. In order to prevent the [[Decepticons]] intervening, a combined Autobot, Joe and Cobra force will attack their base.

As the attack begins, Shockwave despatches a group of Decepticon planes to counter the aircraft and also has the [[Constructicons]] combine into Devastator. The [[Aerialbots]] counter by becoming Superion and battling their opposite number.

Main Frame and Mindbender work out a way to use the cerebro shell and electronic helmet to control Alpha and send the power station to an unpopulated area. Without permission, Baroness sets the timers on the charges and Alpha explodes harmlessly in orbit. Cobra hastily withdraw from the scene of the battle whilst Mindbender also slips away. Not entirely convinced the Joes weren't in on Cobra's plan, Blaster tells them that with the immediate crisis averted they should leave the Decepticons to them in the future. Ratchet signals that he and Goldbug are on their way back to the Ark.

Later, Hawk watches on as [[Senator Barbara Larkin|Senator Larkin]] is taken into custody, only to be shot by a gunman working for Cobra.

==Errors==
*The issue starts with a massive infodump of Blaster and Omega Supreme telling each other the story so far. Only slightly better is Shockwave making a big speech about his Evil Plan to ''himself''.
*In addition to [[Power Struggle|another anomalous appearance by Ravage]], Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp are all shown among the Decepticons at the base. All three of them were captured by the Autobots in "[[Command Performances]]" and in US continuity they wouldn't be freed until "[[Totalled]]".
*A total of seven [[Seekers]] are seen taking off from the Decepticon base but only Starscream, Thundercracker, Skywarp, Thrust and Ramjet are named. Since [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] was killed in the previous issue, it's unclear who the other two are meant to be.
*Although all six Constructicons are pictured, Shockwave only refers to Mixmaster, Hook, Long Haul, Bonecrusher and Scavenger.
*In "Power Struggle", Mindbender was able to control Alpha with the helmet alone but here he apparently also needs the cerebro shell.
*Baroness seemingly wanders into Decepticon base, takes out Bombshell with a single shot (an achievement in itself), then wanders out again with Mindbender. That's great security.
*Similarly, the Decepticons have a massive force assembled around their base but don't bother to leave anyone guarding Alpha.

==Items of note==
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] is mentioned but not seen.
*Blaster is clearly implied to be in acting command of the Autobots following the death of [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]].
*Ratchet rebuilds Bumblebee as Goldbug. He will later rebuild Goldbug as Bumblebee, saying he preferred him that way.{{storylink|Skin Deep}}[[Bumblebee (G1)#Conflicting Goldbug origins|Maybe he decided he'd made a mistake, turned him back into Bumblebee while he was asleep, only for him to be destroyed again and rebuilt by Wreck-Gar.]] Stranger things have happened...
*Senator Larkin's grave stone gives the date as December 1986.
*By a happy coincidence, the encounter with [[Snake-Eyes]] that Mindbender referred to was printed in the UK Transformers comic, simplifying the footnote no end when they printed the story.

[[Category:Marvel US issues|All Fall Down]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues|All Fall Down]]
{{issuestub}}<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>

...All Fall Down!

2008-06-05T00:04:56Z

Skteosk: Adding another error

{{disambig2|the G.I. Joe and the Transformers issue|the Transformers issue|All Fall Down}}

[[Image:JoeTF4.jpg|thumb|right|This year's WWF lineup was looking especially promising.]]

'''.'''

{{comicnav | G.I. Joe and the Transformers | 4 | seriesname= | prev=Ashes, Ashes... | next= }}

=G.I. Joe and the Transformers #4=
''(Story also appears in: Marvel Transformers UK issue #277-281)''

'''Script:''' [[Michael Higgins]] 
'''Pencils:''' [[Herb Trimpe]] 
'''Inks:''' [[Vince Colletta]] 
'''Lettering:''' [[Joe Rosen]] 
'''Colors:''' [[Nelson Yomtov]] 
'''Editor:''' [[Bob Harras]] and [[Don Daley]] 

*''Major Transformers characters (in order of appearance):'' [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]], [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], [[Bumblebee (G1)|Goldbug]], [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]], [[Hook]], [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]], [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]], [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]], [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]], [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]], [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]], [[Mixmaster]], [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], [[Fireflight]], [[Slingshot]], [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]], [[Air Raid]], [[Superion]]
*''Originally published:'' April, 1987

==Synopsis==

The [[Autobots]], together with their new allies from [[G.I. Joe]] and [[Cobra]], take refuge inside [[the Ark]] as the area is shook with earthquakes from the effects of [[Power Station Alpha]]. At the Decepticon base, Shockwave instructs Bombshell to dispose of [[Doctor Mindbender]] but he is saved by the intervention of the [[Baroness]]. The two Cobra agents depart, taking Bombshell with them in insect mode, and depart for [[Seattle]], where they are due to rendezvous with a team from GI Joe.

Ratchet arrives at the Joes' base to inspect the remains of Bumblebee and is pleased to learn that not only is he still alive but that [[Main Frame]] has already begun reconstructing him. With Ratchet's help, the work is soon completed and Bumblebee announces from now on he wishes to be known as Goldbug. Mindbender and Baroness arrive and Main Frame's investigation of the [[cerebro shell]] retrieved from [[Anthony Duranti]] is shown to allow them to control Bombshell.

Meanwhile, debate ranges about the fate of Alpha. Both [[Serpentor]] and [[Ace]] think it should be destroyed but Blaster is worried that after the Decepticons' modifications Alpha may now be a sentient being whilst [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] is concerned about the loss of life if Alpha is destroyed in a populated area. It is eventually decided that a small team consisting of Goldbug, [[Scarlett]] and Baroness will plant explosives on Alpha which can be detonated if necessary. In order to prevent the [[Decepticons]] intervening, a combined Autobot, Joe and Cobra force will attack their base.

As the attack begins, Shockwave despatches a group of Decepticon planes to counter the aircraft and also has the [[Constructicons]] combine into Devastator. The [[Aerialbots]] counter by becoming Superion and battling their opposite number.

Main Frame and Mindbender work out a way to use the cerebro shell and electronic helmet to control Alpha and send the power station to an unpopulated area. Without permission, Baroness sets the timers on the charges and Alpha explodes harmlessly in orbit. Cobra hastily withdraw from the scene of the battle whilst Mindbender also slips away. Not entirely convinced the Joes weren't in on Cobra's plan, Blaster tells them that with the immediate crisis averted they should leave the Decepticons to them in the future. Ratchet signals that he and Goldbug are on their way back to the Ark.

Later, Hawk watches on as [[Senator Barbara Larkin|Senator Larkin]] is taken into custody, only to be shot by a gunman working for Cobra.

==Errors==
*The issue starts with a massive infodump of Blaster and Omega Supreme telling each other the story so far. Only slightly better is Shockwave making a big speech about his Evil Plan to ''himself''.
*In addition to [[Power Struggle|another anomalous appearance by Ravage]], Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp are all shown among the Decepticons at the base. All three of them were captured by the Autobots in "[[Command Performances]]" and in US continuity they wouldn't be freed until "[[Totalled]]".
*A total of seven [[Seekers]] are seen taking off from the Decepticon base but only Starscream, Thundercracker, Skywarp, Thrust and Ramjet are named. Since [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] was killed in the previous issue, it's unclear who the other two are meant to be.
*Although all six Constructicons are pictured, Shockwave only refers to Mixmaster, Hook, Long Haul, Bonecrusher and Scavenger.
*In "Power Struggle", Mindbender was able to control Alpha with the helmet alone but here he apparently also needs the cerebro shell.
*Baroness seemingly wanders into Decepticon base, takes out Bombshell with a single shot (an achievement in itself), then wanders out again with Mindbender. That's great security.
*Similarly, the Decepticons have a massive force assembled around their base but don't bother to leave anyone guarding Alpha.

==Items of note==
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] is mentioned but not seen.
*Blaster is clearly implied to be in acting command of the Autobots following the death of [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]].
*Ratchet rebuilds Bumblebee as Goldbug. He will later rebuild Goldbug as Bumblebee, saying he preferred him that way.{{storylink|Skin Deep}}[[Bumblebee (G1)#Conflicting Goldbug origins|Maybe he decided he'd made a mistake, turned him back into Bumblebee while he was asleep, only for him to be destroyed again and rebuilt by Wreck-Gar.]] Stranger things have happened...
*Senator Larkin's grave stone gives the date as December 1986.
*By a happy coincidence, the encounter with [[Snakes Eyes]] that Mindbender referred to was printed in the UK Transformers comic, simplifying the footnote no end when they printed the story.

[[Category:Marvel US issues|All Fall Down]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues|All Fall Down]]
{{issuestub}}<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>

...All Fall Down!

2008-06-03T12:02:56Z

Skteosk: Correcting links

{{disambig2|the G.I. Joe and the Transformers issue|the Transformers issue|All Fall Down}}

[[Image:JoeTF4.jpg|thumb|right|This year's WWF lineup was looking especially promising.]]

'''.'''

{{comicnav | G.I. Joe and the Transformers | 4 | seriesname= | prev=Ashes, Ashes... | next= }}

=G.I. Joe and the Transformers #4=
''(Story also appears in: Marvel Transformers UK issue #277-281)''

'''Script:''' [[Michael Higgins]] 
'''Pencils:''' [[Herb Trimpe]] 
'''Inks:''' [[Vince Colletta]] 
'''Lettering:''' [[Joe Rosen]] 
'''Colors:''' [[Nelson Yomtov]] 
'''Editor:''' [[Bob Harras]] and [[Don Daley]] 

*''Major Transformers characters (in order of appearance):'' [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]], [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], [[Bumblebee (G1)|Goldbug]], [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]], [[Hook]], [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]], [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]], [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]], [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]], [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]], [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]], [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]], [[Mixmaster]], [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], [[Fireflight]], [[Slingshot]], [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]], [[Air Raid]], [[Superion]]
*''Originally published:'' April, 1987

==Synopsis==

The [[Autobots]], together with their new allies from [[G.I. Joe]] and [[Cobra]], take refuge inside [[the Ark]] as the area is shook with earthquakes from the effects of [[Power Station Alpha]]. At the Decepticon base, Shockwave instructs Bombshell to dispose of [[Doctor Mindbender]] but he is saved by the intervention of the [[Baroness]]. The two Cobra agents depart, taking Bombshell with them in insect mode, and depart for [[Seattle]], where they are due to rendezvous with a team from GI Joe.

Ratchet arrives at the Joes' base to inspect the remains of Bumblebee and is pleased to learn that not only is he still alive but that [[Main Frame]] has already begun reconstructing him. With Ratchet's help, the work is soon completed and Bumblebee announces from now on he wishes to be known as Goldbug. Mindbender and Baroness arrive and Main Frame's investigation of the [[cerebro shell]] retrieved from [[Anthony Duranti]] is shown to allow them to control Bombshell.

Meanwhile, debate ranges about the fate of Alpha. Both [[Serpentor]] and [[Ace]] think it should be destroyed but Blaster is worried that after the Decepticons' modifications Alpha may now be a sentient being whilst [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] is concerned about the loss of life if Alpha is destroyed in a populated area. It is eventually decided that a small team consisting of Goldbug, [[Scarlett]] and Baroness will plant explosives on Alpha which can be detonated if necessary. In order to prevent the [[Decepticons]] intervening, a combined Autobot, Joe and Cobra force will attack their base.

As the attack begins, Shockwave despatches a group of Decepticon planes to counter the aircraft and also has the [[Constructicons]] combine into Devastator. The [[Aerialbots]] counter by becoming Superion and battling their opposite number.

Main Frame and Mindbender work out a way to use the cerebro shell and electronic helmet to control Alpha and send the power station to an unpopulated area. Without permission, Baroness sets the timers on the charges and Alpha explodes harmlessly in orbit. Cobra hastily withdraw from the scene of the battle whilst Mindbender also slips away. Not entirely convinced the Joes weren't in on Cobra's plan, Blaster tells them that with the immediate crisis averted they should leave the Decepticons to them in the future. Ratchet signals that he and Goldbug are on their way back to the Ark.

Later, Hawk watches on as [[Senator Barbara Larkin|Senator Larkin]] is taken into custody, only to be shot by a gunman working for Cobra.

==Errors==
*The issue starts with a massive infodump of Blaster and Omega Supreme telling each other the story so far. Only slightly better is Shockwave making a big speech about his Evil Plan to ''himself''.
*In addition to [[Power Struggle|another anomalous appearance by Ravage]], Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp are all shown among the Decepticons at the base. All three of them were captured by the Autobots in "[[Command Performances]]" and in US continuity they wouldn't be freed until "[[Totalled]]".
*A total of seven [[Seekers]] are seen taking off from the Decepticon base but only Starscream, Thundercracker, Skywarp, Thrust and Ramjet are named. Since [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] was killed in the previous issue, it's unclear who the other two are meant to be.
*Although all six Constructicons are pictured, Shockwave only refers to Mixmaster, Hook, Long Haul, Bonecrusher and Scavenger.
*In "Power Struggle", Mindbender was able to control Alpha with the helmet alone but here he apparently also needs the cerebro shell.
*Baroness seemingly wanders into Decepticon base, takes out Bombshell with a single shot (an achievement in itself), then wanders out again with Mindbender. That's great security.

==Items of note==
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] is mentioned but not seen.
*Blaster is clearly implied to be in acting command of the Autobots following the death of [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]].
*Ratchet rebuilds Bumblebee as Goldbug. He will later rebuild Goldbug as Bumblebee, saying he preferred him that way.{{storylink|Skin Deep}}[[Bumblebee (G1)#Conflicting Goldbug origins|Maybe he decided he'd made a mistake, turned him back into Bumblebee while he was asleep, only for him to be destroyed again and rebuilt by Wreck-Gar.]] Stranger things have happened...
*Senator Larkin's grave stone gives the date as December 1986.
*By a happy coincidence, the encounter with [[Snakes Eyes]] that Mindbender referred to was printed in the UK Transformers comic, simplifying the footnote no end when they printed the story.

[[Category:Marvel US issues|All Fall Down]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues|All Fall Down]]
{{issuestub}}<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>

...All Fall Down!

2008-06-03T11:51:38Z

Skteosk: Filling in details

{{disambig2|the G.I. Joe and the Transformers issue|the Transformers issue|All Fall Down}}

[[Image:JoeTF4.jpg|thumb|right|This year's WWF lineup was looking especially promising.]]

'''.'''

{{comicnav | G.I. Joe and the Transformers | 4 | seriesname= | prev=Ashes, Ashes... | next= }}

=G.I. Joe and the Transformers #4=
''(Story also appears in: Marvel Transformers UK issue #277-281)''

'''Script:''' [[Michael Higgins]] 
'''Pencils:''' [[Herb Trimpe]] 
'''Inks:''' [[Vince Colletta]] 
'''Lettering:''' [[Joe Rosen]] 
'''Colors:''' [[Nelson Yomtov]] 
'''Editor:''' [[Bob Harras]] and [[Don Daley]] 

*''Major Transformers characters (in order of appearance):'' [[Omega Supreme]], [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]], [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], [[Bumblebee (G1)|Goldbug]], [[Scavenger]], [[Hook]], [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]], [[Long Haul]], [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], [[Ramjet]], [[Thrust]], [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], [[Thundercracker]], [[Skywarp]], [[Scrapper]], [[Mixmaster]], [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], [[Fireflight]], [[Slingshot]], [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], [[Skydive]], [[Air Raid]], [[Superion]]
*''Originally published:'' April, 1987

==Synopsis==

The [[Autobots]], together with their new allies from [[G.I. Joe]] and [[Cobra]], take refuge inside [[the Ark]] as the area is shook with earthquakes from the effects of [[Power Station Alpha]]. At the Decepticon base, Shockwave instructs Bombshell to dispose of [[Doctor Mindbender]] but he is saved by the intervention of the [[Baroness]]. The two Cobra agents depart, taking Bombshell with them in insect mode, and depart for [[Seattle]], where they are due to rendezvous with a team from GI Joe.

Ratchet arrives at the Joes' base to inspect the remains of Bumblebee and is pleased to learn that not only is he still alive but that [[Main Frame]] has already begun reconstructing him. With Ratchet's help, the work is soon completed and Bumblebee announces from now on he wishes to be known as Goldbug. Mindbender and Baroness arrive and Main Frame's investigation of the [[cerebro shell]] retrieved from [[Anthony Duranti]] is shown to allow them to control Bombshell.

Meanwhile, debate ranges about the fate of Alpha. Both [[Serpentor]] and [[Ace]] think it should be destroyed but Blaster is worried that after the Decepticons' modifications Alpha may now be a sentient being whilst [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] is concerned about the loss of life if Alpha is destroyed in a populated area. It is eventually decided that a small team consisting of Goldbug, [[Scarlett]] and Baroness will plant explosives on Alpha which can be detonated if necessary. In order to prevent the [[Decepticons]] intervening, a combined Autobot, Joe and Cobra force will attack their base.

As the attack begins, Shockwave despatches a group of Decepticon planes to counter the aircraft and also has the [[Constructicons]] combine into Devastator. The [[Aerialbots]] counter by becoming Superion and battling their opposite number.

Main Frame and Mindbender work out a way to use the cerebro shell and electronic helmet to control Alpha and send the power station to an unpopulated area. Without permission, Baroness sets the timers on the charges and Alpha explodes harmlessly in orbit. Cobra hastily withdraw from the scene of the battle whilst Mindbender also slips away. Not entirely convinced the Joes weren't in on Cobra's plan, Blaster tells them that with the immediate crisis averted they should leave the Decepticons to them in the future. Ratchet signals that he and Goldbug are on their way back to the Ark.

Later, Hawk watches on as [[Senator Barbara Larkin|Senator Larkin]] is taken into custody, only to be shot by a gunman working for Cobra.

==Errors==
*The issue starts with a massive infodump of Blaster and Omega Supreme telling each other the story so far. Only slightly better is Shockwave making a big speech about his Evil Plan to ''himself''.
*In addition to [[Power Struggle|another anomalous appearance by Ravage]], Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp are all shown among the Decepticons at the base. All three of them were captured by the Autobots in "[[Command Performances]]" and in US continuity they wouldn't be freed until "[[Totalled]]".
*A total of seven [[Seekers]] are seen taking off from the Decepticon base but only Starscream, Thundercracker, Skywarp, Thrust and Ramjet are named. Since [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] was killed in the previous issue, it's unclear who the other two are meant to be.
*Although all six Constructicons are pictured, Shockwave only refers to Mixmaster, Hook, Long Haul, Bonecrusher and Scavenger.
*In "Power Struggle", Mindbender was able to control Alpha with the helmet alone but here he apparently also needs the cerebro shell.
*Baroness seemingly wanders into Decepticon base, takes out Bombshell with a single shot (an achievement in itself), then wanders out again with Mindbender. That's great security.

==Items of note==
*[[Laserbeak]] is mentioned but not seen.
*Blaster is clearly implied to be in acting command of the Autobots following the death of [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]].
*Ratchet rebuilds Bumblebee as Goldbug. He will later rebuild Goldbug as Bumblebee, saying he preferred him that way.{{storylink|Skin Deep}}[[Bumblebee (G1)#Conflicting Goldbug origins|Maybe he decided he'd made a mistake, turned him back into Bumblebee while he was asleep, only for him to be destroyed again and rebuilt by Wreck-Gar.]] Stranger things have happened...
*Senator Larkin's grave stone gives the date as December 1986.
*By a happy coincidence, the encounter with [[Snakes Eyes]] that Mindbender referred to was printed in the UK Transformers comic, simplifying the footnote no end when they printed the story.

[[Category:Marvel US issues|All Fall Down]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues|All Fall Down]]
{{issuestub}}<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>

Sideswipe (G1)

2008-05-26T21:40:11Z

Skteosk: /* Trivia */ Adding reference to Earthforce

{{disambig3|Sideswipe}}

:''Sideswipe is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:G1Sideswipe_MTMTE.jpg|thumb|right|250px|I've never done anything important, but people love me anyway! Sweet!]]

'''Sideswipe''' is not nearly as much of a sociopath as his brother [[Sunstreaker]], but he is every bit as skillful. He's more into battle for the sport of it. A bit of a jock, Sideswipe most craves a glorious fight to the finish as a test of his mettle.

There is a reckless edge to Sideswipe's tactics. He makes rash decisions that may endanger him, all in the name of possible victory. Cheating is also not out of the question. When everything is on the line, for Sideswipe, nothing is out of the question. However, Sideswipe is not without his humor. It's long accepted that Sideswipe is the resident prankster of the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'', along with the occasional prank from [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]].

''Italian name:'' '''Freccia''' 
''French-Canadian name:'' '''Frérot''' 
''Japanese name:'' '''Lambor''' (ra-n-bo-ru, ランボル)'' 
''Hungarian name'': '''Csatár''' (meaning Striker)

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 Cartoon===
:''Voice Actor:'' [[Michael Bell]] (US), [[Kōki Kataoka]] (Japan)

{{charstubfiction}}
Sideswipe was part of the initial crew of Autobots aboard the ''Ark'' when it crash-landed on [[Earth]] four million years ago. He awoke along with his fellow Transformers in 1984, with both he and brother being reformatted into Lamborghini sports cars. Sideswipe loaned [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] the use of his rocket pack when the Decepticons nearly escaped from Earth with a starship full of [[Energon]]. {{Storylink|More Than Meets the Eye, Part 3|MTMTE Part 3}}

[[Image:Sideswipe FakeBreakdown.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Maybe someday [[e-Hobby|there]] will be a Sideswipe toy [[redeco]] with [[Breakdown]]'s color scheme.]]

Sideswipe and Sunstreaker often operated together. When [[antimatter]]-fueled [[Decepticon]]s attacked the ''Ark'' on one occasion, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker took to the air to battle with the incoming [[Seeker]] jets, in a rambunctious, if ultimately ineffective, display of "[[jet judo]]." {{Storylink|Roll For It}}

When investigating tremors that were shaking the [[Ark|Autobot base]], [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]'s scanner found some interesting objects inside a rock wall. Sideswipe, using his piston-like arms, helped [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] remove the rock wall and found a cave full of dinosaur bones, the discovery of which would lead to the development of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]. {{Storylink|S.O.S. Dinobots}}

Sideswipe once disguised himself as [[Breakdown]] in order to stop [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s evil plan, along [[Windcharger|with]] [[Jazz (G1)|four]] [[Mirage (G1)|other]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Autobots]]. {{Storylink|Masquerade}}
{{-}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====''Generation 1''====
Sideswipe, along with his brother Sunstreaker, was part of the original crew of Optimus Prime's ''Ark''. When the Decepticons attacked the ship it crashed on Earth and Sideswipe, along with the rest of the combatants, lay dormant for 4 million years. When the volcano that housed the ''Ark'' erupted, the ''Ark''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s internal mechanisms revived all Transformers, making no distinction between [[Autobot]] and [[Decepticon]]. Sideswipe was alive again.

When the Autobots went to retrieve their fallen comrade [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] from [[Sparkplug Witwicky]]'s garage, they were attacked by Decepticons. Against his brother's better judgment, Sideswipe employed his energon-gobbling rocket pack to take the fight right to the Decepticon jets. The 'Cons were driven off, but without a source of fuel to recharge on, several Autobots, including Sideswipe, were left virtually empty after the battle, and were sidelined. {{Storylink|Power Play!}} ''Though he could not go on missions, Sideswipe was still able to defend the ''Ark'' from invasion when the Decepticons came right to his doorstep. He was confronted by that junk-punk [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]'s earthquake-making ability and turned the tables on him, overpowering Rumble with his pile-driver punches. {{Storylink|Raiders of the Last Ark}}''

Sideswipe's inactivity continued even longer after [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] took over the ''Ark'' and deactivated all the Autobots in the ship. After [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] regained control of the ''Ark'' for the Autobots, he was able to revive Sideswipe to full functionality in short order, and their new deal for fuel with [[G.B. Blackrock]] kept them energized. ''During the Dinobot Hunt, Sideswipe traveled to [[Doonstown]] with [[Huffer]] and [[Bluestreak]] on a mission to capture the feral [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]. It... didn't go so well, and the various gnawed-upon pieces of Sideswipe were not seen again for some time. {{Storylink|Dinobot Hunt}}''

Sideswipe would eventually be seen again at the feud fight between [[Blaster]] and Grimlock on Earth's [[Moon (moon)|Moon]]. {{Storylink|Totaled!}}

====''Generation 2''====
Sideswipe was part of Grimlock's firestormers, acting as a raiding party against territories controlled by [[Jhiaxus]]' [[Cybertronian]]s. {{storylink|War Without End!}} He had a more prominent role in subsequent events than he had had in the past. Sideswipe was present for the last battle against the [[Swarm]], but his final fate is uncertain. {{storylink|A Rage in Heaven!}}

====Generation Two Comics (UK)====
Sideswipe was part of [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]]'s Special Commando Unit, summoned to Earth along with Optimus Prime by Grimlock when [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] began open war on the humans.

===3H ''[[Universe (comic)|Universe]]'' comics===
Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, [[Trailbreaker]], [[Roulette]] and [[Shadow Striker]] returned to the [[technorganic]] [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] after a prolonged journey and were welcomed by the [[Maximal]]s. [[Unicron]] abducted these newly-returned Transformers, in addition to many others from different times and universes, to start a final confrontation against [[Primus]]. Sideswipe and Sunstreaker were rebuilt into new forms, corrupted by Unicron's influence, and set against one another in the [[Cauldron]]. Before either brother could land a killing blow, however, the fight was broken up by [[Optimus Primal]]. Sideswipe then fought his way out of Unicron alongside many other Transformers rescued by Primal and returned to Cybertron.

===Dreamwave ''Generation 1'' Comics===
Sideswipe was one of the few Autobots to continue operating under that title during the [[Dreamwave timeline#The Dark Ages|Dark Ages]] of Cybertron. Sideswipe was one of the elite warriors serving under [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] and as such was chosen for the mission that sent him against the newly constructed Decepticon battle station, [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. Of course the mission was a failure, but that isn't likely to have discouraged Sideswipe.

Sideswipe was part of Operation Liberation in 1998, a joint human-Autobot effort to defeat the Earth-bounded Decepticons. At the end it was a success, and the captured Decepticons along with the Autobots and a human crew departed Earth en route to Cybertron in the ''[[Ark II]]''. The ship, however, was sabotaged and exploded upon liftoff.

A few years later, Megatron and other Transformers, including Autobots, were seen causing havoc. It was discovered that [[Lazarus]], a scientist who participated in the ''Ark II'' project, was responsible for the sabotage of the ship and the resurrection of several Transformers under his control via technological tampering. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 1}}

[[Robert Hallo|General Hallo]] of the [[United States Military|US Military]] contacted [[Spike Witwicky]] to ask him if he could do something to help them reactivate Optimus Prime, whom they had recovered locked in a state of stasis. Spike managed to reactivate Optimus with a portion of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] that Optimus had given him prior the ill-fated journey of the ''Ark II''. Optimus subsequently went to the Arctic and used the Matrix to reactivate several Transformers, including Sideswipe. {{Storylink|Prime Directive issue 2}}

Sideswipe accepted the new task at hand and fought alongside his brother when the Autobots faced the Decepticons at Lazarus' ruined base (punching Starscream in the face for attacking Wheeljack) before Hallo betrayed the Autobots by attempting to destroy both factions with a nuclear weapon. {{Storylink|Prime Directive issue 3}} The Autobots survived when Megatron's technovirus absorbed the blast, and Sideswipe helped his comrades recover the captive Autobots imprisoned inside the base. {{Storylink|Prime Directive issue 4}}

As Jazz's unit worked on Megatron's virus, Sideswipe followed Optimus Prime to [[San Francisco]] for the last battle against Megatron and his Decepticons. When [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] was taken down, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker heroically (though foolishly) charged at [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], and they were smashed between the giant Constructicon's palms for their trouble. After Optimus Prime brought Devastator down with a blast to the head, Sideswipe was restrained by the surviving Decepticons. {{Storylink|Prime Directive issue 5}} However, through [[human]] intervention, Optimus Prime freed his Autobots and the battle was rejoined. Sideswipe tag-teamed with his brother to pummel [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], though the Decepticons eventually escaped when Superion sacrificed his life to save the city from General Hallo's unauthorized nuclear missile launch. {{Storylink|Prime Directive issue 6}}

[[Image:G1_Sideswipe_Sunstreaker_DWissue7.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Hi, I'm a jock.]]

Sideswipe remained on Earth as part of Jazz's unit, while Optimus Prime returned to Shockwave's united Cybertron. He was deactivated in battle with [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] when Starscream and his followers returned to Earth, and was left to rust at the bottom of a lake. {{Storylink|Night of the Combaticons}} [[Warpath]] and [[Bumper]] later dredged him and the others up, only to be taken into custody by [[Earth Defense Command]]. Jazz, Sideswipe, and Sunstreaker were reactivated to help [[Marissa Faireborn]] and her team in investigating an outbreak of [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]]s in small-town America. {{Storylink|Infestation}} After routing and capturing the Decepticons, Sideswipe and the other Autobots joined up with the returning team from Cybertron under Prowl's command, and began construction of [[Autobot City]]. {{Storylink|The Route of All Evil}}
{{-}}

===IDW comics continuity===
[[Image:MegsOrigin3_Sunstreak_Sideswipe_glory.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Sideswipe's just feeling small standing under [[Nova Prime]]'s crotch.]]

Before the war, Sideswipe appears to have attended illegal underground arena [[gladiatorial combat|deathmatches]] alongside his brother Sunstreaker, witnessing Megatron's 54th victory.{{Storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2}} When Sunstreaker wanted to join Megatron's underground fighting team, Sideswipe went along to try and talk him out of it. Whether they stuck around and were caught up in the Autobot security raid is unknown. {{Storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3}}

Later, as war engulfed Cybertron, Sideswipe was one of the many Autobots trained by [[Kup]]. {{Storylink|Spotlight: Kup}}

[[Image:SpotlightGalvatron_Sideswipe_rocketfist.jpg|thumb|left|250px|This hand of mine glows with an awesome power!]]

Much to his dismay, Sideswipe was recently stationed at [[Thunderhead Pass]] on Cybertron guarding [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]]'s remains. Sideswipe wanted action, something he wasn't going to get standing guard over comatose Decepticons. His desire to "bust some heads" became even stronger after Sunstreaker was apparently kidnapped during his duties on Earth, and Sideswipe began actively disregarding his squadron leader, [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], to routinely contact High Command and demand a transfer. His need for action was alleviated, however, when [[Galvatron (G1)|a mysterious and powerful Transformer]] attacked Cybertron. Sideswipe blew off part of the being's head, but he recovered almost immediately and knocked Sideswipe and the rest of the Autobots offline, then stole Thunderwing away. {{Storylink|Spotlight: Galvatron}}

Soon after, Optimus Prime apparently caved in to Sideswipe's pleading and put [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] in charge of Thunderhead Pass, transferring Hound's entire team, including Sideswipe, to Earth once Megatron began breaking [[Infiltration protocol]]. {{Storylink|Devastation issue 1}} However, once word of the break-in at [[Garrus-9]] reached his audio sensors, Prime directed his team and Hound's to head there instead of Earth. {{storylink|Devastation issue 6}}

Somehow, Sideswipe makes it to Earth. {{storylink|Spotlight: Sideswipe}}

===IDW ''[[Hearts of Steel]]'' continuity===
Sideswipe participated in the pursuit of [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], and partially transformed from artillery boxcar mode to robot mode in order to shoot down [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]]. He is the only Autobot other than [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], and [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] to speak in the whole story, and he only gets one line: "The name is Sideswipe." {{Storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 4}}

{{note|For unclear reasons, in the original comic book issue, the Autobot who shoots down Scourge identifies himself as [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], not Sideswipe. Sideswipe only appears in the trade paperback collection.}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
*'''Sideswipe''' (Autobot Car, 1984/1985, 2001/2002/2003)
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''04''', '''TFC-07'''
**''Accessories:'' Gun, missile launcher, 3 missiles

[[Image:G1sideswipe.jpg|right|thumb|200px|He had the look before it was [[Spy Changer|trendy]].]]

: Originally a ''[[Diaclone]]'' "New Countach LP500S", Sideswipe transforms... well, into that. In robot mode he is armed with a white rifle and a missile launcher that can clip onto either of his shoulders. The launcher can fire one of three included white missiles, in theory, as the springs were weakened for the US release. The original 1984 US release did not have the [[rubsign]] found on later releases.

: In 2001, Sideswipe was re-released by [[Takara]], bundled with the mold-sharing [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]], as a show-[[exclusive]] set, but his license plate decal was changed from the infringing "COUNTACH" to "CAR MACHINE". Sideswipe and Red Alert were re-re-released together in 2002 as an [[e-Hobby]] "New Year" set, with several factory-applied decals replaced with [[paint application]]s, the "CAR MACHINE" plate-decal now blank, plus an additional recolored alternate sticker sheet for each one. This version, minus the extra decal sheet, was re-re-''re''-released as part of the [[Transformers Collection]] "book-box series". Finally, this version, albeit with its spring-loaded launcher de-sprung [[for safety reasons]], was released in the US as part of [[Hasbro]]'s [[Commemorative Series]] VIII line, one of the last American reissues. In fact, despite the Commemorative Series' exclusivity to Toys "R" Us stores, CS Sideswipe ended up at Kay-Bee stores, and at heavy discount.

: This mold was also used to make [[Clamp Down]], [[Deep Cover]] and [[Tigertrack]].

*'''Sideswipe w/ Vanguard''' (Action Master, 1991)
**''Accessories:'' Gun, Vanguard partner accessory

[[Image:ActionmasterSideswipe_toy.jpg|left|thumb|I have a hat!]]

: A non-transforming action figure, [[Action Master]] Sideswipe is compatible with any other Action Master weapon or vehicle. His partner-unit [[Vanguard]] forms a backpack and battle helmet, and complements Sideswipe's color scheme quite well.

:''Action Master'' Sideswipe was only available in Europe.
{{-}}

===Generation 2===
*'''Sideswipe''' (Autobot Heroic, 1993)
**''Accessories:'' Gun, missile launcher, 1 missile

[[Image:G2Sideswipe_toy.jpg|right|thumb|150px|He got dressed in the dark and accidentally put his colors on backwards.]]

: Part of the first assortment of Autobot cars, Sideswipe's original toy had his colors re-arranged to a black car mode with red and white robot parts. His original rocket launcher was removed, and replaced with a large spring-loaded launcher that could be hand-held or mounted on his [[retool]]ed car-mode roof.

:His new spring-loaded missile launcher was taken from [http://www.yojoe.com/action/91/snowserpent2.shtml Snow Serpent] from the [[G.I. Joe]] toyline.

*'''Sideswipe''' (Go-Bot, 1995)
**''Accessories:'' Gun

[[Image:G2GobotSideswipe.jpg|left|thumb|120px|He shrank and faded in the wash.]]

: A redeco of [[Go-Bot (G2)|Go-Bot]] [[Firecracker]], Sideswipe transforms into a blue Lamborghini Diablo with through-axle construction for super-fast rolling in car mode.

: This mold was also used to make Go-Bot Optimus Prime and ''[[Robots in Disguise (franchise)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[R.E.V. (RID)|R.E.V.]]

{{-}}

===Universe===
*'''Sideswipe''' (Deluxe, 2003)
**''Accessories:'' 2 launchers (left & right), 2 flame missiles

[[Image:UniverseSideswipe_toy.jpg|right|thumb|I should've had a [[Wheeljack (Armada)|Wheeljack]] retool!]]

: One of several [[exclusive]]s to [[OTFCC 2003]], ''[[Universe]]'' Side Swipe is a redeco of the ''[[Robots in Disguise (franchise)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Prowl (RID)|Prowl]] mold, once again transforming into a Lamborghini Diablo. A pair of add-on thrusters become arm-mounted launchers for robot mode; each one being a pressure-launch missile launcher.

: It is notable that the part that connects the toy's windshield to the main body uses a red decal rather than paint, as that part is made out of [[unpaintable plastic]]. The police lights from the original mold were removed, leaving this area bare.

: This mold was also used to make ''Universe'' [[Inferno (TFU)|Inferno]] and Sunstreaker.

===Smallest Transforming Transformers===
*'''Lambor''' (2003)
:''Japanese ID number:'' '''GTF-02'''
[[Image:STFLambor.jpg|left|thumb|Yet another release Sunstreaker just wasn't cool enough for.]]

: ''[[Smallest Transforming Transformers]]'' Lambor is a very small-scale, extensively simplified replica of the original Sideswipe toy. He has very little articulation, he has no weapons, and his vehicle mode wheels cannot roll.

: This mold was [[retool]]ed to make ''Smallest Transforming Transformers'' [[Red Alert (G1)|Alert]].

{{-}}

===Alternators===
*'''Side Swipe''' (2003, 2004)
**''Alternator ID number:'' '''2'''
**''Japanese ID number:'' '''BT-02'''
**''Accessories:'' Dodge Viper Engine/gun

[[Image:AlternatorsSide_Swipe_toy.jpg|right|thumb|Not [[Side Burn (RID)|Side Burn]].]]

: The second ''[[Alternators]]'' toy released, Side Swipe transforms into a licensed 1:24 scale [[wikipedia:Dodge Viper|Dodge Viper]] featuring opening doors, a detailed interior, and a hood that opens to reveal an engine bay holding a replica Viper V-10 engine. The vehicle mode also features movable steering and rubber tires with vacuum-metalized wheels. His removable engine becomes a blaster.

: The main difference between the American ''Alternators'' and the Japanese ''Binaltech'' releases is that the Japanese version has die-cast metal parts for most of the car's outer body shell, with the exception of the rear end, and the entire red exterior of the car is fully painted, unlike the ''Alternator's'' flat red plastic.

: This mold was [[retool]]ed to make [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] and [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]].

===Titanium Series===
*'''Side Swipe''' (Robot Master, 2006)
**''Accessories:'' Engine blaster

[[Image:TitaniumRM_Side_Swipe.jpg|left|thumb|110px|Sideswipe turns small a lot.]]

: ''Titanium'' Side Swipe is based upon Sideswipe's ''Alternators'' toy. Constructed partially of die cast metal, Side Swipe has limited articulation located in his shoulders and neck. He comes with a removable engine blaster and an Autobot symbol display stand.

{{-}}

===Attacktix===
*'''Sideswipe''' (2007)

{{-}}

===Universe (2008)===
*'''Sideswipe''' (Deluxe, 2008)
**''Accessories:'' Blaster, engine intakes

:Sideswipe is a [[retool]] of [[Universe (2008)|''Universe'' (2008)]] Sunstreaker, with a new headsculpt. He transforms into a modified [[Wikipedia:Lamborghini_Gallardo|Lamborghini Gallardo]]. Though the car is mostly based upon the Gallardo, to avoid legal problems it also incorporates details from other cars such as the rear end of the [[Wikipedia:Lamborghini Diablo|Lamborghini Diablo]].

{{comingsoontoy}}

===Merchandise===

==Trivia==
* Sideswipe's Japanese name, "Lambor" is derived from the name of his vehicle mode, a Lamborghini. It may also be a word play on the Japanese word "Ranbou", which means "reckless, violent, rough". Wouldn't be the [[Autrooper|last]] [[Nine Great Demon Generals|time]] Takara's done such [[Romanization|word puns]]. By the way, it's ''Lambor'', not ''[[Wikipedia:Rambo|Rambo]]''.

* Sideswipe's [[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|TFU]] bio text describes features of Sunstreaker's toy, leading many to believe Sideswipe's original toy was supposed to be created from Sunstreaker's mold and vice-versa, with the colors swapped between the molds. The [[Diaclone]] Sunstreaker toy was available in red<ref>[http://diaclone.net/orid/dia036/index.html "Countach-LP500S/Super Tuning" at Diaclone.net (Japanese site)]</ref> and police<ref>[http://diaclone.net/orid/dia038/index.html "Countach-LP500S/Super Tuning Policecar Type" at Diaclone.net (Japanese site)]</ref> versions, but not yellow. The mold used for Sideswipe, on the other hand, was released in ''Diaclone'' in both red and yellow decos.<ref>[http://diaclone.net/orid/dia050/index.html " New Countach-LP500S" at Diaclone.net (Japanese site)]</ref>

* During the 1990s, another company held the "Sideswipe" trademark in the "toys" field, even though Hasbro still released two toys using that name as part of the [[Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]] line (it's unclear if this resulted in any legal repercussions for Hasbro). When Hasbro finally managed to reclaim the name for the [[Robots in Disguise (toyline)|Robots in Disguise]] line, the name was now parsed as "[[Side Swipe (RID)|Side Swipe]]", in two words, for whatever reason. The only two toys since then to spell "Sideswipe" as one word again were the OTFCC 2003 exclusive and the [[Side Swipe (Armada)|Armada Super-Con]]. However, the former was referred to as "Side Swipe" when featured as a cross-sell on the packaging for the OTFCC 2003 [[Shadow Striker]]/[[Roulette]] two-pack, whereas a packaging variant for the latter released as part of the "Unicron Battles" refresh of the [[Armada (toyline)|''Armada'']] line also saw the name changed to "Side Swipe".

* The ''Alternators'' Dodge Viper mold was originally designed to be a new body for [[Tracks]] after the first attempt to secure the Corvette license had fallen through. Eventually, though, Chevrolet had a change of mind and granted Hasbro and Takara the license for the Corvette design after all. As a result, the Viper mold was slightly redesigned, was given a new head sculpt and released as Sideswipe (or "Side Swipe") instead. This explains why, unlike most of the early Alternators toys, Side Swipe's robot mode bears little resemblance to his G1 self. The most noticeable redesign from the "Tracks" design was the vehicle mode's doors being moved from the "backpack" [[kibble]] (where they would have resembled the G1 Tracks toy's wings) to the sides of the arms, thus being the most obvious visual cue taken from the G1 Sideswipe toy.

*Sideswipe has the dubious distinction of being the only one of the European Autobot Classic Heroes range not to feature in Marvel UK's [[Earthforce]] stories, not even making a late appearance like fellow 1991 addition Tracks.

==External links==
* [http://www.tfu.info/1984/Autobot/Sideswipe/sideswipe.htm Sideswipe at TFU.info]
* [http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Sideswipe Sideswipe's Universe profile at NTFA.net]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category: Action Masters]]
[[Category: Alternators]]
[[Category: Attacktix]]
[[Category: Autobots]]
[[Category: Convention exclusives]]
[[Category: E-Hobby]]
[[Category: Generation 1 characters]]
[[Category: Generation 2 characters]]
[[Category: Headmasters characters]]
[[Category: Go-Bots]]
[[Category: MyClone]]
[[Category: Titanium Series]]
[[Category: Toys "R" Us exclusives]]
[[Category: Universe characters]]<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>

Power Struggle

2008-05-26T17:32:35Z

Skteosk: /* Items of note */

[[Image:JoeTF2.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Why can't this happen to a Carnival Cruise?]]

'''.'''

{{comicnav | G.I. Joe and the Transformers | 2 | seriesname= | prev=Blood on the Tracks | next=Ashes, Ashes...}}

=G.I. Joe and the Transformers #2=
''(Story also appears in: Marvel Transformers UK issue #269-272)''

'''Script:''' [[Michael Higgins]] 
'''Pencils:''' [[Herb Trimpe]] 
'''Inks:''' [[Vince Colletta]] 
'''Lettering:''' [[Joe Rosen]] 
'''Colors:''' [[Nelson Yomtov]] 
'''Editor:''' [[Bob Harras]] and [[Don Daley]] 

*''Major Transformers characters (in order of appearance):'' [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], [[Blaster]], [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], [[Bombshell]]

*''Originally published:'' February, 1987

==Synopsis==

Superion accuses the [[G.I. Joe]] team of killing [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and demands what is theirs. Which is more enough for the Joes to react the way every other branch of the human military reacts when confronted with a giant robot. Superion is forced to return their fire but just as things are escalating to the point where he may have to use lethal force he receives a message that [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] has been killed and all [[Autobot|Autobots]] are to return to [[the Ark]]. Abruptly, he abandons the battle.

At the [[Decepticon]] base, a disinterested Megatron watches as the [[cerebro shell]] planted by Bombshell causes [[Power Station Alpha]] to take off on remote control (while [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] is busy canoodling with [[Senator Barbara Larkin]]). Noting his leader's lethargy, Shockwave comes to the conclusion that he will have to take command of the Decepticons.

The theft of Station Alpha is also observed by [[Cobra]] and [[Doctor Mindbender]] uses an electronic helmet to take control of the cerebro shell and redirect the station towards them. A group of Cobra aircraft is sent to escort it but come under attack from the Joes. The air battle is observed from a nearby pleasure cruiser by [[G.B. Blackrock]] and a group of anonymous bikini-clad beauties. [[Serpentor]] notices the boat and tells the Joes that he will destroy it if they don't stand down. Senator Larkin advises destroying Alpha but Hawk knows that this will cause a dangerous radioactive plutonium fallout and orders his men to stand down. Cobra then fire on the boat anyway, forcing the Joes to spend time evacuating its occupants. Blackrock overhears them discussing their recent encounter with "giant, shape-changing vehicles" and tells them he might be able to help them.

Meanwhile, [[Anthony Duranti]], the boy Bombshell used as a decoy, has been left in a catatonic state by the cerebro shell. An x-ray shows it lodged in his brain and the doctors elect to try and remove it by surgery.

Serpentor and Mindbender witness the arrival of Station Alpha but it is closely followed by Dirge and Bombshell, who explains the Decepticons' interest in the station. Mindbender hastily suggests an alliance, after planting a listening device on Dirge. Later, he overhears Shockwave informing the two Decepticons of his plan to convert Alpha into a device to tap into the earth's natural energie...a plan Mindbender realises will destroy the planet.

==Errors==
*Ravage somehow manages to be with Megatron and Shockwave watching the theft of Alpha when he has been stuck down a mineshaft since "[[Showdown]]".
*Blaster is colored in red with a black head and forearms in his one-panel appearance.
*Dirge is colored mostly blue with an orange cockpit are and wings.
*Rattlers are colored green at times.
*The X-14 Skystriker is repeatedly colored green.

==Items of note==
*The reference to the death of Optimus Prime places the early part of this issue, and the late stages of the previous one, at the same time as "[[Afterdeath]]".
*In addition to the hasty disappearance of Optimus Prime and Megatron from the storyline, [[Cobra Commander]] has apparently been killed since the last issue.
*Anthony has a toy Bumblebee. Maybe this story takes place in the same universe as the [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|Marvel UK letters page]].
*Although the existence of Transformers seems to be fairly common knowledge, the Joes act as though they have never heard of them.

[[Category:Marvel US issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]
{{issuestub}}<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>

Power Struggle

2008-05-26T17:31:50Z

Skteosk: /* Items of note */

[[Image:JoeTF2.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Why can't this happen to a Carnival Cruise?]]

'''.'''

{{comicnav | G.I. Joe and the Transformers | 2 | seriesname= | prev=Blood on the Tracks | next=Ashes, Ashes...}}

=G.I. Joe and the Transformers #2=
''(Story also appears in: Marvel Transformers UK issue #269-272)''

'''Script:''' [[Michael Higgins]] 
'''Pencils:''' [[Herb Trimpe]] 
'''Inks:''' [[Vince Colletta]] 
'''Lettering:''' [[Joe Rosen]] 
'''Colors:''' [[Nelson Yomtov]] 
'''Editor:''' [[Bob Harras]] and [[Don Daley]] 

*''Major Transformers characters (in order of appearance):'' [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], [[Blaster]], [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], [[Bombshell]]

*''Originally published:'' February, 1987

==Synopsis==

Superion accuses the [[G.I. Joe]] team of killing [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and demands what is theirs. Which is more enough for the Joes to react the way every other branch of the human military reacts when confronted with a giant robot. Superion is forced to return their fire but just as things are escalating to the point where he may have to use lethal force he receives a message that [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] has been killed and all [[Autobot|Autobots]] are to return to [[the Ark]]. Abruptly, he abandons the battle.

At the [[Decepticon]] base, a disinterested Megatron watches as the [[cerebro shell]] planted by Bombshell causes [[Power Station Alpha]] to take off on remote control (while [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] is busy canoodling with [[Senator Barbara Larkin]]). Noting his leader's lethargy, Shockwave comes to the conclusion that he will have to take command of the Decepticons.

The theft of Station Alpha is also observed by [[Cobra]] and [[Doctor Mindbender]] uses an electronic helmet to take control of the cerebro shell and redirect the station towards them. A group of Cobra aircraft is sent to escort it but come under attack from the Joes. The air battle is observed from a nearby pleasure cruiser by [[G.B. Blackrock]] and a group of anonymous bikini-clad beauties. [[Serpentor]] notices the boat and tells the Joes that he will destroy it if they don't stand down. Senator Larkin advises destroying Alpha but Hawk knows that this will cause a dangerous radioactive plutonium fallout and orders his men to stand down. Cobra then fire on the boat anyway, forcing the Joes to spend time evacuating its occupants. Blackrock overhears them discussing their recent encounter with "giant, shape-changing vehicles" and tells them he might be able to help them.

Meanwhile, [[Anthony Duranti]], the boy Bombshell used as a decoy, has been left in a catatonic state by the cerebro shell. An x-ray shows it lodged in his brain and the doctors elect to try and remove it by surgery.

Serpentor and Mindbender witness the arrival of Station Alpha but it is closely followed by Dirge and Bombshell, who explains the Decepticons' interest in the station. Mindbender hastily suggests an alliance, after planting a listening device on Dirge. Later, he overhears Shockwave informing the two Decepticons of his plan to convert Alpha into a device to tap into the earth's natural energie...a plan Mindbender realises will destroy the planet.

==Errors==
*Ravage somehow manages to be with Megatron and Shockwave watching the theft of Alpha when he has been stuck down a mineshaft since "[[Showdown]]".
*Blaster is colored in red with a black head and forearms in his one-panel appearance.
*Dirge is colored mostly blue with an orange cockpit are and wings.
*Rattlers are colored green at times.
*The X-14 Skystriker is repeatedly colored green.

==Items of note==
*The reference to the death of Optimus Prime places the early part of this issue, and the late stages of the previous one, at the same time as "[[Afterdeath]]".
*In addition to the hasty disappearance of Optimus Prime and Megatron from the storyline, [[Cobra Commander]] has apparently been killed since the last issue.
*Anthony has a toy Bumblebee. Maybe this story takes place in the same universe as the [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|Marvel UK letters page]].
*Although the existence of Transformers seems to be fairly common knowledge, the Joes acts as though they have never heard of them.

[[Category:Marvel US issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]
{{issuestub}}<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>

Power Struggle

2008-05-23T06:54:01Z

Skteosk: Correcting a link

[[Image:JoeTF2.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Why can't this happen to a Carnival Cruise?]]

'''.'''

{{comicnav | G.I. Joe and the Transformers | 2 | seriesname= | prev=Blood on the Tracks | next=Ashes, Ashes...}}

=G.I. Joe and the Transformers #2=
''(Story also appears in: Marvel Transformers UK issue #269-272)''

'''Script:''' [[Michael Higgins]] 
'''Pencils:''' [[Herb Trimpe]] 
'''Inks:''' [[Vince Colletta]] 
'''Lettering:''' [[Joe Rosen]] 
'''Colors:''' [[Nelson Yomtov]] 
'''Editor:''' [[Bob Harras]] and [[Don Daley]] 

*''Major Transformers characters (in order of appearance):'' [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], [[Blaster]], [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], [[Bombshell]]

*''Originally published:'' February, 1987

==Synopsis==

Superion accuses the [[G.I. Joe]] team of killing [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and demands what is theirs. Which is more enough for the Joes to react the way every other branch of the human military reacts when confronted with a giant robot. Superion is forced to return their fire but just as things are escalating to the point where he may have to use lethal force he receives a message that [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] has been killed and all [[Autobot|Autobots]] are to return to [[the Ark]]. Abruptly, he abandons the battle.

At the [[Decepticon]] base, a disinterested Megatron watches as the [[cerebro shell]] planted by Bombshell causes [[Power Station Alpha]] to take off on remote control (while [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] is busy canoodling with [[Senator Barbara Larkin]]). Noting his leader's lethargy, Shockwave comes to the conclusion that he will have to take command of the Decepticons.

The theft of Station Alpha is also observed by [[Cobra]] and [[Doctor Mindbender]] uses an electronic helmet to take control of the cerebro shell and redirect the station towards them. A group of Cobra aircraft is sent to escort it but come under attack from the Joes. The air battle is observed from a nearby pleasure cruiser by [[G.B. Blackrock]] and a group of anonymous bikini-clad beauties. [[Serpentor]] notices the boat and tells the Joes that he will destroy it if they don't stand down. Senator Larkin advises destroying Alpha but Hawk knows that this will cause a dangerous radioactive plutonium fallout and orders his men to stand down. Cobra then fire on the boat anyway, forcing the Joes to spend time evacuating its occupants. Blackrock overhears them discussing their recent encounter with "giant, shape-changing vehicles" and tells them he might be able to help them.

Meanwhile, [[Anthony Duranti]], the boy Bombshell used as a decoy, has been left in a catatonic state by the cerebro shell. An x-ray shows it lodged in his brain and the doctors elect to try and remove it by surgery.

Serpentor and Mindbender witness the arrival of Station Alpha but it is closely followed by Dirge and Bombshell, who explains the Decepticons' interest in the station. Mindbender hastily suggests an alliance, after planting a listening device on Dirge. Later, he overhears Shockwave informing the two Decepticons of his plan to convert Alpha into a device to tap into the earth's natural energie...a plan Mindbender realises will destroy the planet.

==Errors==
*Ravage somehow manages to be with Megatron and Shockwave watching the theft of Alpha when he has been stuck down a mineshaft since "[[Showdown]]".
*Blaster is colored in red with a black head and forearms in his one-panel appearance.
*Dirge is colored mostly blue with an orange cockpit are and wings.
*Rattlers are colored green at times.
*The X-14 Skystriker is repeatedly colored green.

==Items of note==
*The reference to the death of Optimus Prime places the early part of this issue, and the late stages of the previous one, at the same time as "[[Afterdeath]]".
*In addition to the hasty disappearance of Optimus Prime and Megatron from the storyline, [[Cobra Commander]] has apparently been killed since the last issue.
*Anthony has a toy Bumblebee. Maybe this story takes place in the same universe as the [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|Marvel UK letters page]].

[[Category:Marvel US issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]
{{issuestub}}<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>

Power Struggle

2008-05-23T06:16:25Z

Skteosk: Fleshing out

[[Image:JoeTF2.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Why can't this happen to a Carnival Cruise?]]

'''.'''

{{comicnav | G.I. Joe and the Transformers | 2 | seriesname= | prev=Blood on the Tracks | next=Ashes, Ashes...}}

=G.I. Joe and the Transformers #2=
''(Story also appears in: Marvel Transformers UK issue #269-272)''

'''Script:''' [[Michael Higgins]] 
'''Pencils:''' [[Herb Trimpe]] 
'''Inks:''' [[Vince Colletta]] 
'''Lettering:''' [[Joe Rosen]] 
'''Colors:''' [[Nelson Yomtov]] 
'''Editor:''' [[Bob Harras]] and [[Don Daley]] 

*''Major Transformers characters (in order of appearance):'' [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], [[Blaster]], [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], [[Dirge]], [[Bombshell]]

*''Originally published:'' February, 1987

==Synopsis==

Superion accuses the [[G.I. Joe]] team of killing [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] and demands what is theirs. Which is more enough for the Joes to react the way every other branch of the human military reacts when confronted with a giant robot. Superion is forced to return their fire but just as things are escalating to the point where he may have to use lethal force he receives a message that [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] has been killed and all [[Autobot|Autobots]] are to return to [[the Ark]]. Abruptly, he abandons the battle.

At the [[Decepticon]] base, a disinterested Megatron watches as the [[cerebro shell]] planted by Bombshell causes [[Power Station Alpha]] to take off on remote control (while [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] is busy canoodling with [[Senator Barbara Larkin]]). Noting his leader's lethargy, Shockwave comes to the conclusion that he will have to take command of the Decepticons.

The theft of Station Alpha is also observed by [[Cobra]] and [[Doctor Mindbender]] uses an electronic helmet to take control of the cerebro shell and redirect the station towards them. A group of Cobra aircraft is sent to escort it but come under attack from the Joes. The air battle is observed from a nearby pleasure cruiser by [[G.B. Blackrock]] and a group of anonymous bikini-clad beauties. [[Serpentor]] notices the boat and tells the Joes that he will destroy it if they don't stand down. Senator Larkin advises destroying Alpha but Hawk knows that this will cause a dangerous radioactive plutonium fallout and orders his men to stand down. Cobra then fire on the boat anyway, forcing the Joes to spend time evacuating its occupants. Blackrock overhears them discussing their recent encounter with "giant, shape-changing vehicles" and tells them he might be able to help them.

Meanwhile, [[Anthony Duranti]], the boy Bombshell used as a decoy, has been left in a catatonic state by the cerebro shell. An x-ray shows it lodged in his brain and the doctors elect to try and remove it by surgery.

Serpentor and Mindbender witness the arrival of Station Alpha but it is closely followed by Dirge and Bombshell, who explains the Decepticons' interest in the station. Mindbender hastily suggests an alliance, after planting a listening device on Dirge. Later, he overhears Shockwave informing the two Decepticons of his plan to convert Alpha into a device to tap into the earth's natural energie...a plan Mindbender realises will destroy the planet.

==Errors==
*Ravage somehow manages to be with Megatron and Shockwave watching the theft of Alpha when he has been stuck down a mineshaft since "[[Showdown]]".

==Items of note==
*The reference to the death of Optimus Prime places the early part of this issue, and the late stages of the previous one, at the same time as "[[Afterdeath]]".
*In addition to the hasty disappearance of Optimus Prime and Megatron from the storyline, [[Cobra Commander]] has apparently been killed since the last issue.
*Anthony has a toy Bumblebee. Maybe this story takes place in the same universe as the [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|Marvel UK letters page]].

[[Category:Marvel US issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]
{{issuestub}}<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>

Mystery!

2008-05-18T21:33:54Z

Skteosk: Removing the most obviously incorrect of the many commas that have popped up

'''An Aerialbot gets confused. And so does the editor.'''

{{comicnav | Generation 1 (Marvel Comics)#Marvel UK | 269 | seriesname=Generation 1 (Marvel UK) | prev=Flashback! | next=The Bad Guy's Ball!}}

==Credits==
===Issue 269===
'''Script:''' [[Simon Furman]] 
'''Pencils:''' [[Pete Knifton]] 
'''Inks:''' [[Pete Venters]] 
'''Letters:''' [[Glib]] 

{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (1)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (2)
* [[Air Raid]] (3)
|c2=
|c3 =
}}

==Synopsis==
'Twas a dark and stormy night.... Skydive arrives for guard duty at the partially built Autobot [[Earthforce]] base, only to find no sign of Wheeljack, whom he was supposed to be relieving. What he does find is a table overturned, a lamp smashed, Wheeljack's blaster lying abandoned outside, and both robot and animal tracks. Suspecting they belong to a [[Predacon (G1)|Predacon]], Skydive quickly comes to the only conclusion: A Decepticon has attacked and killed Wheeljack and, judging by the footprints, is now heading towards the Autobot shuttle.

Skydive gives chase and discovers someone has blown their way into the shuttle. Seeing what he believes is a Decepticon carrying Wheeljack's body, he tackles the figure, only to discover it is Wheeljack carrying a thermo-heating unit. Seconds later, a bemused Air Raid turns on the lights and asks for an explanation.

After Skydive has related his story, Wheeljack explains he was cold and retrieved the heating unit from storage, only for it to overheat. While attempting to shut it off, he knocked over the table and the lamp and ended up fleeing from a polar bear. Embarrassed, he tried to dispose of the evidence, but he'd lost his key in the confusion and so had to force the door. Air Raid decides they're better off keeping the incident quiet, but advises Wheeljack to learn to bear with the cold and Skydive to lay off the human mystery videos.

==Errors==
*Although the Aerialbot who relieves Wheeljack is referred to as Skydive three times during the strip and is drawn as such, the inside cover blurb claims it is Air Raid. An enquiry to "Dread Tidings" confirmed that it was indeed Skydive.
*It is not adequately explained how Wheeljack forced his way into the Autobot shuttle without his blaster.
==Items of note==
*This story marked the first appearance of Air Raid in the Earthforce saga. No explanation is given for his resurrection, but it is possible he was revived with [[nucleon]](as it is implied happened with the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]) or repaired by Wheeljack (as later happened with [[Tracks]]).
*Skydive recalls [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] saying there were Predacons in the area, probably after the events of "[[Snow Fun]]".
*No Decepticons appear in this story, apart from in Skydive's imagined view of what happened to Wheeljack. It isn't entirely clear who the attacker is meant to be, but of the five Predacons, it most closely resembles [[Tantrum]].
==UK printing==
*Back-up stories: ''[[G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]'':"[[Power Struggle]]", ''GI Joe The Action Force'', ''Combat Colin''
*Issue #269 contains ''A to Z''s on [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] and [[Skids (G1)|Skids]].
*In the issue's "Dread Tidings", it is reported that a sign outside a pub in Middlesex is advertising "[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], Live here on Monday", and [[Unicron]] writes in to ask [[Dreadwind]] to say hello to his friends Johnny and Iain. Dreadwind also attempts to answer the age-old question of what [[Emirate Xaaron]] transforms into, saying that as he hasn't done it for millions of years the shock would probably kill him but it's probably something wimpy like a toaster.

==Covers(2)==
'''Issue 269:''' A worried-looking Skydive by Pete Knifton and Pete Venters.

[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>

Mystery!

2008-05-18T21:07:09Z

Skteosk: New page: '''An Aerialbot gets confused.And so does the editor.''' {{comicnav | Generation 1 (Marvel Comics)#Marvel UK | 269 | seriesname=Generation 1 (Marvel UK) | prev=Flashback! | next=The Bad G...

'''An Aerialbot gets confused.And so does the editor.'''

{{comicnav | Generation 1 (Marvel Comics)#Marvel UK | 269 | seriesname=Generation 1 (Marvel UK) | prev=Flashback! | next=The Bad Guy's Ball!}}

==Credits==
===Issue 269===
'''Script:''' [[Simon Furman]] 
'''Pencils:''' [[Pete Knifton]] 
'''Inks:''' [[Pete Venters]] 
'''Letters:''' [[Glib]] 

{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (1)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (2)
* [[Air Raid]] (3)
|c2=
|c3 =
}}

==Synopsis==
'Twas a dark and stormy night...Skydive arrives for guard duty at the partially built Autobot [[Earthforce]] base only to find no sign of Wheeljack, who he was supposed to be relieving.What he does find is a table overturned, a lamp smashed, Wheeljack's blaster lying abandoned outside and both robot and animal tracks. Suspecting they belong to a [[Predacon (G1)|Predacon]], Skydive quickly comes to the only conclusion:a Decepticon has attacked and killed Wheeljack and, judging by the footprints, is now heading towards the Autobot shuttle.

Skydive gives chase and discovers someone has blown their way into the shuttle.Seeing what he believes is a Decepticon carrying Wheeljack's body, he tackles the figure only to discover it is Wheeljack carrying a thermo-heating unit.Seconds later, a bemused Air Raid turns on the lights and asks for an explanation.

After Skydive has related his story, Wheeljack explains he was cold and retrieved the heating unit from storage, only for it to overheat.While attempting to shut it off, he knocked over the table and the lamp and ended up fleeing from a polar bear. Embarassed, he tried to dispose of the evidence, but has lost his key in the confusion so had to force the door.Air Raid decides they're better off keeping the incident quiet but advises Wheeljack to learn to bear with the cold and Skydive to lay off the human mystery videos.
==Errors==
*Although the Aerialbot who relieves Wheeljack is referred to as Skydive three times during the strip and drawn as such, the inside cover blurb claims it is Air Raid.An enquiry to Dread Tidings confirmed that it was indeed Skydive.
*It is not adequately explained how Wheeljack forced his way into the Autobot shuttle without his blaster.
==Items of note==
*This story marked the first appearance of Air Raid in the Earthforce saga.No explanation is given for his resurrection but it is possible he was revived with [[nucleon]](as it is implied happened with the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]])or repaired by Wheeljack(as later happened with [[Tracks]]).
*Skydive recalls [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] saying there were Predacons in the area, probably after the events of "[[Snow Fun]]".
*No Decepticons appear in this story, apart from in Skydive's imagined view of what happened to Wheeljack.It isn't entirely clear who the attacker is meant to be but of the five Predacons it more closely resembles [[Tantrum]].
==UK printing==
*Back-up stories: ''[[G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]'':"[[Power Struggle]]", ''GI Joe The Action Force'', ''Combat Colin''
*Issue #269 contains ''AtoZ''s on [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] and [[Skids (G1)|Skids]].
*In the issue's Dread Tidings, it is reported that a sign outside a pub in Middlesex is advertising "[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], Live here on Monday" and [[Unicron]] writes in to ask [[Dreadwind]] to say hello to his friends Johnny and Iain.Dreadwind also attempts to answer the age-old question of what [[Emirate Xaaron]] transforms into, saying that as he hasn't done it for millions of years the shock would probably kill him but it's probably something wimpy like a toaster.
==Covers(2)==
'''Issue 269:''' A worried looking Skydive by Pete Knifton and Pete Venters.

[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>

Megatron (G1)

2008-05-18T18:35:51Z

Skteosk: /* Earthforce */ Correcting a link

{{featured}}{{disambig3|Megatron}}

:''Megatron is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Generation 1]] [[continuity family]]. He is also known as Lord Megatron and sometimes nicknamed the Slag Maker.''

[[Image:Megatronguido.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Baby, you know I don't mean to hurt you.]]

'''Megatron''' is the founder of the Decepticon uprising, and their most well-known and feared [[Decepticon leader|leader]]. As a young, charismatic leader forged in battle and the heritage of war, he began to believe in a grand purpose for his race—it is the [[Transformer]]s' glorious destiny to rule an [[Decepticon Empire|empire]] which will span the universe. The opposite of his mortal enemy [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], he feels great contempt for other Transformers who, he feels, betray their proud heritage by demanding peace and cooperation with weaker life forms. It is the destiny of the Decepticons to bring order to the universe through conquest, though in the millions of years since coining this purpose it remains to be seen how much of his mission statement is altruistic... and how much of it is mere words built to fuel warriors to further his desire for personal power.

Megatron will attempt almost anything to achieve his goals, but his schemes are rarely in any way subtle. This is perhaps due to his arrogance, but his pride is not so strong as to dissuade him from abandoning a battle he is losing. Some would question his sanity, though these few are mostly now dead by his hands...or his [[Fusion cannon]], depending on his mood. Sometimes he uses his [[energon mace]] to strike them down. It does not matter how they die. Death by the hands of Megatron is an honor.

Sometimes, Megatron is later reborn as [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]].

{{quote|You destroy everything you touch, Megatron!|Optimus Prime|"[[More Than Meets the Eye, Part 2]]"}}
{{quote|That's because everything I touch is food for my hunger. My hunger for ''power''!|Megatron|"[[More Than Meets the Eye, Part 2]]"}}

:''Chinese name (Taiwan):'' '''Mei-jia Wang''' (Literally: "Major Wang" or "King Mega" or "Mega Throne") / '''Jü Wu Ba''' ("Extremely huge") / '''Megatron''' (pronounced in French)
:''Chinese name (China):'' '''Wei Zhen Tian''' ("Extremely prestigious", literally "Heaven-shaking Might")

==Fiction==
===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}

[[Image:Megatrong1marvelarmy.jpg|left|thumb|250px|No, not fascist at all.]]

Four million years ago, ''rising from his beginnings as a gladiator for the city-state of [[Tarn]],'' Megatron and the Decepticons developed the ability of transformation, using it to begin the war against the Autobots, who fought back by mimicking the technology. Megatron declared his intent to transform [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] into a "cosmic dreadnought" to conquer the universe. {{storylink|The Transformers (comic issue)|The Transformers}} ''However, he would only get as far as building massive engines deep beneath the planet's surface. {{storylink|Legion of the Lost}}''

Megatron also vowed to possess the planet's superdatabase, the [[Underbase]], for himself, so he followed a young Optimus Prime on his quest into the [[Temple of Knowledge]], where he destroyed the temple's curator, [[Boltax]]. In order to keep the Underbase out of Megatron's hands, Optimus Prime destroyed the temple and launched the Underbase into space. {{storylink|The Flames of Boltax!}}

[[Image:Megatrong1earlymarvel.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Check out my awesome preproduction model!]]

''After the death of [[Sentinel Prime]], Megatron's troops poised themselves around the Autobot capital city of [[Iacon]], slowly disintegrating its defenses. [[Emirate Xaaron]] chose [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], a warrior, to take the [[Council of Autobot Elders]]' place as leader of the Autobot forces. Optimus Prime and Megatron's armies then met in battle, and Megatron's forces were defeated - with help from an exploding bridge. {{storylink|And There Shall Come...A Leader!}}''

In time, the war grew so fierce that Cybertron itself was shaken from its orbit, and set adrift in the cosmos. Eventually, over a thousand years after Megatron's war had begun <ref>The length of the war is given as "over a thousand years" in [[The Transformers (comic issue)|Marvel Comics #1]], but it's said to be just a hundred years in Marvel UK's [[Legion of the Lost, Part 1]].</ref>, the planet fell into the path of an asteroid cluster in the Sol system that threatened to destroy it, and so Optimus Prime led a contingent of his troops in the Ark to reduce the asteroids to rubble, saving Cybertron. The plan was a success, but immediately afterwards, Megatron and his troops attacked, forcing Optimus Prime to crash the Ark into prehistoric Earth.

Four million years later, in 1984, the Transformers were reawakened, and Megatron immediately set about trying to locate a source of fuel for the Decepticons. Unable to ingest common Earth gasoline, the Decepticons kidnapped [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] and forced him to develop a conversion process. Megatron soon found his Decepticons and his base of operations under siege by the Autobot [[Gears]] and a strange super-powered human named [[Spider-Man]]. The pair escaped with Sparkplug, but not before he had managed to convert Earth fuel into usable energy.{{storylink|Prisoner of War!}}

[[Image:Megatrong1marvelblackhole.jpg|thumb|left|250px|In early Marvel UK stories, Megatron's colors were blinged up to match his box art.]]

''After an argument with Megatron, [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] left their headquarters and set about on a plan to position himself above Megatron in the eyes of his comrades. [[Ravage]], sent by Megatron to spy on Starscream, was discovered overhearing Starscream's treachery, and so Starscream tried to eliminate the elusive jaguar. This enraged Megatron, who punished Starscream by having him duel the Autobot [[Brawn]]. {{storylink|The Enemy Within!}} Soon, Megatron and the full fury of the Decepticons under his command, sieged the Ark itself, but his attack was stopped short by a malfunctioning [[Auntie]], the Ark's computer system. Captured with Optimus Prime in a stasis field, Auntie's fatal intentions towards them prompted Megatron to activate his rarely-used ability to tap into the power of a black hole. This proved unnecessary after [[Ravage]] and [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] saved them, so Megatron moved to use his cosmic power on Prime - until Windcharger magnetically launched him out of the Ark and into the stratosphere. {{storylink|Raiders of the Last Ark}}''

While Sparkplug was kidnapped, this had only afforded him the chance to poison their fuel, and the Decepticons were forcibly deactivated at the end of a climactic fight between the two factions. The Autobots were not saved, however, as [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] suddenly arrived and defeated the Autobots with a single blast. He brought the Decepticons back online to serve him - including Megatron. Chafing under his command, Megatron battled Shockwave, but was soundly defeated.

[[Image:Megatrong1marvelhumiliation.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Get used to this, Megatron.]]

This forced Megatron him into an alliance with [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]], who located and reactivated the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], who had defeated Shockwave in the past. However, Ratchet loosed them on Megatron, and was willing to sacrifice himself to knock Megatron off a cliff. While Ratchet survived, Megatron disappeared for some time.

Soon, however, Megatron re-emerged, trapped in pistol mode, his higher brain functions disconnected. Used as a weapon by wannabe gangster, [[Joey Slick]], Megatron eventually restored himself, and was impressed enough with Slick for standing up to him that he allowed him to live. But at this point, Megatron was desperately low on fuel, and attacked a coal mine, attempting to locate some, when he eventually completely ran out, and froze in place. He was soon located by [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], who brought him back online, and they subsequently entered into an alliance with the human [[Donny Finkleberg]], who used the alias of "Robot-Master" to con humankind into thinking the Transformers worked for him.

Shockwave and Megatron entered into a period of shared leadership, but when a two-pronged attack by the Autobots saw Megatron defeated by [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], and Shockwave allowing the Autobots to capture the secrets of [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], Megatron was able to spin the situation and reclaim his leadership.

[[Image:Megatrong1marveltarget2006.jpg|left|thumb|250px|SPOILERS!]]

''A mysterious Decepticon called [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], along with his henchmen [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], entered the Decepticon camp and claimed he was the future Decepticon leader from the year 2006. Megatron found this preposterous, but though he tried to destroy the alleged impostor, he and Soundwave were buried under rubble by the powerful newcomers. Megatron was retrieved from the rubble by [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], and he and the Autobots forged an uneasy alliance against Galvatron. This was still not enough, as Galvatron (who was revealed to be Megatron himself from the future) easily disposed of all of them, and was only deterred when he was tricked into believing he had traveled back in time to a past that would not become his own future. {{storylink|Target 2006}}''

''Megatron summoned the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacon]]s to Earth with the intention of having them hunt down Optimus Prime, but Shockwave used the opportunity to try and remove Megatron from the picture. After trailing Prime through a forest and bringing him to his knees, the Predacons turned on Megatron, blindsiding him, stealing his fusion cannon, and absconding. When Megatron came to, he continued hunting Prime, but when the Autobot leader attacked him, he summoned the [[space bridge]] in hopes of escaping to Cybertron, only for Prime to be transported with him. On Cybertron, Megatron established contact with local Decepticon commander Lord [[Straxus]], whose body had been destroyed by [[Blaster]], leaving him a head floating in a jar.''

''Straxus soon came to consider the irrational Megatron a liability and sought to dispose of him by transplanting his mind into Megatron's body, giving him mobility again while trapping Megatron in his remains. Megatron resisted the transfer, however, and the process went awry, leaving both Straxus and Megatron's minds trapped in Megatron's body together. Outwardly, Megatron seemed to become more and more unstable as the two personalities inside him battled for control; when attacked by Prime and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], he even proved desperate enough to use his [[antimatter]] manipulation powers, nearly destroying the entire Decepticon complex, until [[Ratbat]] activated the space bridge and sent him back to Earth. Straxus's consciousness fled Megatron's body, and Megatron himself was left with no memory of the whole affair.''

[[Image:Megatrong1marveltooclever.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Yes, you're very smart. Shut up.]]

In order to attain possession of a new energy-generating device, the hydrothermacline, Megatron battled Optimus Prime in a video game duel, using a cheat code to continue the fight after he had lost. Prime defeated him again, but at the expense of some of the game's characters, and ruled himself the loser because he would not have committed such an act in real life. Prime was destroyed, and Megatron's elation soon turned into paranoia, as he had not killed Prime with his own hands, and believed he could still be alive. Bringing the Predacons ''back'' to Earth, Shockwave had them pose as Autobots and attack Megatron in another attempt to remove his threat, but the plan failed when the deranged Megatron defeated even [[Predaking]]. Believing (correctly, as it would turn out) that Prime's mind could have been preserved on computer disk, Megatron descended into outright insanity, and boarded the space bridge, vowing to go where Prime could not follow - right before he blew it up with his fusion cannon, apparently killing himself.

[[Image:Megatrong1marveltwomegatrons.jpg|left|thumb|200px|buggabuggaWHA?]]

''Megatron's absence allowed a contingency plan arranged by Lord Straxus to be put into motion. In the event that his attempt to seize Megatron's body failed, Straxus had had a clone of Megatron created, complete with a copy of his brain patterns, into which his consciousness retreated following the previous debacle. Straxus lay dormant within the clone, which was activated following Megatron's seeming demise, and sent to Earth, to the sewers beneath [[London]]. There, the clone - believing itself to be the genuine article - battled the Autobots, [[G.I. Joe|Action Force]], and the mechanoid [[Centurion (Marvel)|Centurion]], and wound up submerged in the Thames river.''

''Some time later, it was salvaged by Shockwave, who brainwashed it and unleashed it on [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], a recreated future version of Megatron who had traveled back in time from the year 2006 and posed a threat to Shockwave's leadership. The clone Megatron, however, saw a possible partner in Galvatron, and the two teamed up to battle Autobots and Decepticons from both present and future in the apocalyptic [[Time Wars]]. Subsequently, the clone returned to Cybertron, where it defeated the ruling Decepticon Triumvirate, but was then confronted with the ''real'' Megatron - ''the Spacebridge explosion had deposited him in [[Dead End (place)|the Dead End]] region of Cybertron, where he had wandered, with no recollection of who he was, until he had saved [[Blackjack|a Decepticon]] from Autobots and regained his memories.'' The clone Megatron subsequently destroyed itself to prevent Straxus, buried inside its mind, from taking over.''

[[Image:Megs_ratch.jpg|right|thumb|200px|As you can tell, the Marvel Comics weren't very good to Megatron. Or Ratchet for that matter...]]

While Megatron's [[Micromaster]] [[Air Strike Patrol]] created a diversion which pitted Optimus Prime's forces against [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'s, Megatron sent his Micromaster [[Sports Car Patrol]] to capture Ratchet from the Ark, bringing him to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|Back from the Dead}} Threatening Ratchet with the destruction of the Ark and all of his patients aboard, Megatron forced him to recreate Starscream as a [[Pretender]]. Ratchet did so, but also restored [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]], [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] in the same manner, thwarting his scheme, and also bringing the explosives on board the Ark through a [[Trans-Time Dimensional Portal|trans-time dimensional portal]] into Megatron's base. When Megatron then attempted to flee through the portal, Ratchet tackled him as the Decepticon's base exploded around them, apparently killing them both. {{storylink|Skin Deep}}

Soon after, however, Autobot detective [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] discovered that the explosion had actually blown them through the portal, and he dispatched a probe to pull them back from the gaps between reality. However, when they rematerialized, it was revealed that the explosion had fused the two enemies together, into a hideous, twisted mockery of a being, which ran rampant through the Ark. The half that was Ratchet begged Optimus Prime to kill them, but Prime could not, and had the Micromaster [[Fixit]] separate their bodies. Unfortunately, Fixit could not separate their minds, as they were bonded at a molecular level; one could not survive without the other.

Their separated bodies lay in the Ark's medbay until Grimlock pumped them full of [[Nucleon]], though the revitalizing effect took some time to help Ratchet and Megatron come to. Megatron awoke to find [[Galvatron II]], another version of him from the future, wandering the halls of the Ark as it returned to Earth. Galvatron II, driven to insanity, initially tried to kill Megatron to purge the memory of him that haunted his mind. Megatron was in no state to comprehend what was going on around him, and began interpreting Galvatron II's blows as coming from Ratchet.

Though Galvatron II and Megatron eventually came to terms with each other while beating up Shockwave (he and Starscream had stolen the ship), vowing to join forces and take over the galaxy, Ratchet doomed them all by igniting the Ark's engines and spiraling the Autobot spacecraft into the Earth below. Megatron was presumed dead among the remains that constituted the crash site in northern [[Canada]]. {{storylink|A Savage Circle}}

=====Marvel UK future timelines=====

''In an alternate 1990, Megatron was control of Decepticon forces on Cybertron, including [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]], [[Stranglehold]], [[Octopunch]], and [[Warmonger]]. After they captured a trio of Autobots, the heroes somehow managed to escape custody. They were recaptured, but Megatron realized there must be a traitor in his midst. Accusing Bludgeon of the crime, he attempted to beat the [[Pretender]] into confessing. Instead, Bludgeon demanded a trial by combat, as was his right as a Decepticon. Megatron agreed, and sent him out into the wreckage surrounding the base, with his three fellow Decepticons chasing after him, eager for the kill. Octopunch and Stranglehold both tried and failed to destroy Bludgeon, but Warmonger managed to get the drop on him. When Warmonger hesitated to kill a helpless foe, however, Megatron executed him as the REAL traitor. He then revealed this was his plan all along, to draw out the traitor by trusting in the sickeningly honorable Autobot code to make the spy reveal himself. Megatron also made it clear he would have had no regrets if Bludgeon had died in the "testing" process. {{storylink|Aspects of Evil!}}''

{{note|The above story is the earliest known account from the Marvel UK alternate "Movie" timeline. The split between the main comic and the future stories almost certainly took place in 1989, either due to the Time Wars, the events of [[Primal Scream]] where Primus alerted Unicron to his location 15 years early, or both.}}

=====Earthforce=====
{{earthforcefiction}}
[[Image:Megs_earthforce.jpg|left|thumb|150px|The real culprit behind global warming.]]

''In an offshoot of the Marvel timeline following the restoration of the Autobots aboard the Ark with Nucleon, but before... uh ... ''(okay, see [[Earthforce]] for continuity notes, it's pretty complicated...)''

''Somewhere in the Arizona desert, Megatron and the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s built a rocket that would launch into Earth's atmosphere and detonate, converting the atmosphere into [[energon]]. The Decepticons were interrupted by [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], and though Megatron insisted they were too late to stop the rocket, {{storylink|Starting Over!}} Prowl rode the rocket into the atmosphere, and was able to destroy the satellite the rocket carried before it released its gas canisters. {{storylink|Desert Island Risks!}}''

''Now that [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]'s [[Earthforce]] had installed itself to counter Megatron and [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]'s Decepticons on Earth, the two leaders decided to hold an [[Enclave]] to foster unity. This event was sabotaged by the Earthforce by staging an assassination attempt on Megatron, and once again, Megatron and Shockwave's respective groups were at each other's throats. {{storylink|The Bad Guy's Ball!}}''

''After being ambushed at a secret energon drop by Shockwave and the [[Triple Changer]]s, and enraged Megatron demanded that Soundwave use his mind-reading powers to find the traitor who betrayed his location to the enemy. Of course, Soundwave WAS the traitor, so this proved difficult. He managed to satisfy Megatron, though, by framing the [[Stunticon]] named [[Wildrider]] for leaking the information, knowing Megatron would destroy Wildrider before he could explain himself. {{storylink|Secrets}} When Megatron learned information as to Shockwave's whereabouts, Megatron ambushed him, unaware the information had been deliberately leaked by [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]. Starscream and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] subsequently deposed their respective leaders and when they came under attack from the Autobots (who had been alerted to their position by Starscream) Megatron and Shockwave were forced to join forces to escape. {{storylink|Internal Affairs}}''

''Megatron and Shockwave soon hired a group of inept assassins to attack Starscream, knowing he would believe Soundwave had sent them and thus initiate a confrontation between the pair. They then hired the surviving members of the [[Mayhem Attack Squad]] - Bludgeon, Octopunch and Stranglehold - to kill whichever one of the two survived. The plan failed thanks to the intervention of the Autobots, who needed Starscream's help to save [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]], and Megatron and Shockwave were forced to retreat again. {{storylink|Assassins}} {{storylink|External Forces!}} {{storylink|The Lesser Evil}}''
{{-}}

=====''Another Time And Place''=====
[[Image:Megatrong1anothertime.jpg|right|thumb|50px|Yuk!]]

:''"Another Time and Place" was retconned out of continuity a few years later by the Generation 2 comic books.''

Trapped in non-transforming Action Master bodies, Grimlock and the Dinobots snuck a shuttle to [[Hydrus Four]], where rumor had it a new, less destructive brand of [[Nucleon]] had been developed. However, the allegedly defeated Decepticons were waiting for just such a trip, and followed the Dinobots to the planet's surface, where they were ambushed and captured. Grimlock woke up to hear endless chants of "Megatron! Megatron! Megatron!" as technicians had strung up the late Decepticon leader's body, culled from his supposed doom on Earth, for repairs. Bludgeon would revive him, revive their fallen, and then the war would begin anew.

But Bludgeon wouldn't get the chance. The cavalry arrived, and Optimus Prime's Autobots quickly quelled the Decepticons' would-be resurgence. As Bludgeon was taken apart to pieces by a vicious repair spider, a partially-restored Megatron, a visual monstrosity, lunged half-alive at Grimlock and Optimus Prime. With a double-teamed punch, Megatron's undead corpse was easily defeated. The war was truly over. {{storylink|Another Time and Place}}

====Generation 2====
[[Image:Megatrong2cobra.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Green with evil!]]

Although thought dead for a year or two, Megatron had actually survived the Ark crash (though his mental link with Ratchet was forgotten), and had quietly worked to repair it, concealing it beneath the ground. From there, Megatron tracked a signal, mistakenly believing it was another Transformer, but instead he found the shape-shifting castle of the terrorist organization, [[Cobra]]. He entered into a bargain with its leader, [[Cobra Commander]], offering him the technology of the Ark in exchange for the new weapons his organization was developing. {{storylink|Realignments}} Reconstructed into a new tank body with a powerful rail gun, Megatron defeated a squad of Autobots sent to stop him, and then turned on Cobra, capturing the scientist who had developed his gun, [[Dr. Biggles-Jones|Doctor Biggles-Jones]] and escaping in the Ark. {{storylink|Final Transformations}}

Both [[Skydive (G1)|Skydive]] and [[Spike Witwicky]] had snuck on board, and following a clearly one-sided battle with Spike's [[Headmaster]] partner, [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]], Megatron was seemingly killed again when Fortress Maximus threw himself into the Ark's power core, destroying it once and for all. {{storylink|All or Nothing!}} But Megatron (and a repaired Starscream) rejoined the Decepticons on Earth to challenge the current Decepticon leader, Bludgeon. {{storylink|The Power and the Glory}} Bludgeon was deposed, fatally, though Megatron continued many of the Pretender's ongoing projects, such as calling the attentions of Optimus Prime to Earth by indiscriminately rampaging across it. When Prime finally showed up, Megatron's old foe at first attempted to talk and join forces against the new threat of [[Jhiaxus]] and his [[Advanced-Decepticon]]s, but Megatron ignored him, ripped the [[Creation Matrix]] from his chest, and left to infuse a new generation of warriors with life. {{storylink|The Gathering Darkness}} His warriors proved to be highly successful, and helped Megatron secure the galvanizing additive known as [[Rheanimum]]. Immediately thereafter, however, Megatron's Decepticons came into conflict with Jhiaxus's forces. Many of Megatron's troops were killed in the resulting battle, and Megatron himself was humbled brutally in battle against Jhiaxus, getting knocked out of space and crashing with immense force into the planet below. {{storylink|New Dawn}}

[[Image:megatrong2idiot.jpg|thumb|300px|Megatron's getting a little too self-aware.]]

In order to gain revenge, Megatron entered into an alliance with the Autobots to "put their house in order." He was forced to deal with Prime's more altruistic streak, but toughed it out for the sake of the alliance. {{storylink|Escalation}} But, of course, they were betrayed by Starscream, who joined forces with Jhiaxus' troops, alerted Jhiaxus to the location of the Autobot/Decepticon camp on Earth, and then again betrayed both sides by using the opportunity to steal the Creation Matrix and Megatron's [[Warworld]]. {{storylink|Total War}} Starscream, using the powers of the Matrix, fused himself with the Warworld, which gave Megatron and Optimus Prime great difficulty as they fought their way through its shifting insides. {{storylink|Dark Shadows!}} Ultimately, Starscream relinquished the Creation Matrix to Optimus Prime when it was discovered that the artifact was making him nice, allowing Megatron to load a ship with canisters of [[Rheanimum]] gas and head back to Earth, where the [[Swarm]] was beginning its attack. Megatron arrived just in time to coat the remaining Transformers with the gas, which protected them from the Swarm long enough for Optimus Prime to defeat the Swarm with the Matrix. The Swarm departed, changed into a force for good, leaving both Autobot and Decepticon seemingly united for good. {{storylink|A Rage in Heaven!}}

{{-}}

====Fun Publications ''Classics'' comics====

{{note|The Classics comic takes place after the end of the original Marvel Comic, but in a [[splinter timeline]] that does not include the events of the Marvel UK-exclusive stories or Generation 2.}}

[[Image:Megatronclassicscrossingover.jpg|left|thumb|175px|I got your child safety right here pal!]]

Fifteen years had passed since Megatron supposedly died along with Shockwave, Starscream, and Ratchet when the Ark crashed violently into the Yukon. The defeated Decepticon army scattered, and the Autobots were able to return to a peaceful Cybertron.

Inexplicably, Megatron returned (in a new body) and once again stalked the Earth, rallying the remaining Decepticons to him. Megatron rebuilt many of these Decepticons using altered specifications created by [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], shortly before Megatron presumably had Shockwave decommissioned in an unspecified way. Eventually, Megatron, roaming free, stumbled across [[Skyfall (Cybertron)|Skyfall]] and [[Landquake (Timelines)|Landquake]], who had travelled from [[Unicron Trilogy|their universe]] in a fantastic energon/forcefield explosion, but his evil intentions for them were interrupted by human-piloted [[Armored Robot Hunters]] (or RUNTs) and subsequently a small team of Autobots led by Optimus Prime. {{storylink|Crossing Over, Part 1}}

Megatron managed to escape with Landquake and return with him to the Decepticons' base of operations, where he had Landquake restrained, interrogated, and inspected. Megatron was intrigued by Landquake's claims of being from another dimension. He was further intrigued by a radiation wavelength signature detected in South America that exactly matched Landquake's readouts, and so Megatron led his Decepticons to the source of the signature. {{storylink|Crossing Over, Part 2}} There, he encountered not only a fleet of jet-piloting RUNTs, but also the Autobots again. This time, with the might of his Decepticons behind him, he eagerly engaged in battle. {{storylink|Crossing Over, Part 3}}

{{-}}

===English animated continuity===

:''Voice Actor:'' [[Frank Welker]] (English), [[Seizō Katō]] (Japanese), [[José Santacruz]] (Portuguese), [[Gernot Duda]](Generation 1, German), [[Manfred Erdmann]] (German), [[Thomas Rauscher]] (Generation 2, German)

[[Image:Megatronffod.jpg|right|250px|thumb|And then in 1984, Megatron creates the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s. It all comes full circle.]]

Following a war between the Decepticons and the other robot race, the [[Autobot|Autobots]], the Decepticons were defeated by the Autobots' invention of transformation, which allowed them the advantage of stealth. The Autobot victory in the war began the [[Golden Age of Cybertron]], but a viper lurked within this paradise. Eventually, Decepticons too developed transformation, leading to the creation of Megatron. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}}

Megatron quickly gathered a small group of like-minded warriors together beneath him, and began his mission to restore the Decepticons to glory and overthrow the Autobots. In these early, shadowy days, Megatron is known to have attacked at least one of [[Iacon]]'s outer cities, {{storylink|War Dawn}} and was responsible for the death of the [[U-Haul Robot|Autobot leader]] at the time. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4}} Using a device called the [[Robo-Smasher]] to permanently reprogram Autobots and Decepticons into servitude of his cause, Megatron swelled the Decepticons ranks into a true army. Among the robots forced into servitude were the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]]. {{storylink|The Secret of Omega Supreme}}

For whatever reason, the agressive actions of Megatron and the Decepticons were not made public knowledge, and young robots like the naive [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Orion Pax]] still looked up to Megatron and his followers because of their new robot-mode flight powers. However, Pax soon learned the error of his ways when Megatron approached him about the possibility of using one of his warehouses to store, only to turn on him once he had gained access to the [[energon]] stored within the facilitiy. Megatron fatally injured Pax in a scuffle, but thanks to the actions of the time-displaced [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]], the young Autobot was rebuilt by [[Alpha Trion]] into a new configuration that could truly stand up to Megatron's power. Now, Orion Pax was [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], leader of the Autobots and Megatron's sworn opponent as the civil war erupted again. {{storylink|War Dawn}}

[[Image:G1Megatron-Flail.jpg|left|thumb|Megatron and his energy flail/mace/morning star/thingamajig.]]

Under Megatron's leadership, the Decepticons conquered a large portion of Cybertron, but the war drained Cybertron of most of its energy, necessitating that both factions seek out new worlds and new sources of power. Megatron and his elite forces pursued the [[Ark (G1)|Autobot's craft]] in their [[Nemesis (G1)|space cruiser]] and attacked and boarded the craft, causing it to crash on a prehistoric planet, entombing all on the ship in emergency stasis as it crashed into a dormant volcano.

Four million years later, a volcanic eruption reactivated jarred the ship's computer, [[Teletraan I]], which in turn brought [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] back on-line. Skywarp proceeded to drag Megatron into the computer's reconfiguration beam, and the Decepticon leader was restored, with the Autobots soon to follow. Realizing that the Transformers were far from Cybertron, Megatron immediately arranged for construction of a new space cruiser, which would be fuelled with by energy pillaged from Earth's many natural resources. {{storylink|More Than Meets the Eye, Part 1}} Early in his campaign against Earth, Megatron engaged Optimus Prime in a famous battle atop [[Sherman Dam]], where he defeated the Autobot leader and absconded with the plant's energy. {{storylink|More Than Meets the Eye, Part 2}} After several further energy raids, the space cruiser was refuelled and the Decepticons blasted off from Earth, but an attempted coup by Megatron's treacherous lieutenant [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] abord the ship allowed Autobot stowaway [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] the opportunity to sabotage the vessel and send it crashing back to Earth. {{storylink|More Than Meets the Eye, Part 3}}

The Autobots believed the Decepticons to be destroyed, but in reality, they had survived the crash and repurposed the hulk of their spaceship as a sub-oceanic staging base and bunker. Megatron re-established contact with the guardian of Cybertron, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], and began construction of an intergalactic transport system called a "[[space bridge]]," although the early tests nearly resulted in his destruction when he was sucked into the portal and teleported to Cybertron. {{storylink|Transport to Oblivion}} The technology was eventually stabilized, however, and used in a grand scheme to transport Cybertron through space into Earth's orbit, where the natural disasters its gravity wreaked created tremendous energy that Megatron and the Decepticons gathered. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 1}} The Earth was saved, however, the stockpile of energy aboard a transport craft being piloted by Megatron was detonated by the Autobots, the explosion forcing Cybertron out of orbit. {{storylink|The Ultimate Doom, Part 3}} Although caught in the explosion and left adrift in space, Megatron was again able to cheat death, and soon found himself forced to team up with Optimus Prime in order to stop Starscream's attempt to destroy Earth. {{storylink|Countdown to Extinction}}

In his next scheme, Megatron absorbed all the separate powers of the other Decepticons into himself, and challenged Optimus Prime to one-on-one combat. With the added abilities of all his minions, Megatron easily defeated Prime in the battle, but when his deception was revealed, he and his followers were defeated in a group attack. {{storylink|Heavy Metal War}}

Over the following years, Megatron's schemes to obtain Earth's energies continued, growing ever more convoluted, imaginative and outlandish. His assorted plans included various attempts to harness the power of Earth's core, {{storylink|Fire in the Sky}} {{storylink|Fire on the Mountain}} {{storylink|The Core}} the manipulation of the Autobots minds and bodies to his own evil ends, {{storylink|Changing Gears}} {{storylink|Attack of the Autobots}} {{storylink|The Autobot Run}} stealing or taking control of various new weapons, devices and energy sources from both humans and the Autobots, {{storylink|Traitor}} {{storylink|The Immobilizer}} {{storylink|Day of the Machines}} {{storylink|Enter the Nightbird}} {{storylink|Blaster Blues}} trying to conquer key human cities, {{storylink|City of Steel}} {{storylink|Atlantis, Arise!}} the draining of energy from a time-lost prehistoric island, {{storylink|Dinobot Island, Part 1}} supercharging himself with the [[Heart of Cybertron]], {{storylink|Microbots}} partnership with a [[Shawn Berger|human politician]] that actually allowed him to force the Autobots off Earth and temporarily conquer [[Central City (G1)|Central City]], {{storylink|Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1}} the creation of many new creatures, weapons and Transformers, {{storylink|Kremzeek!}} {{storylink|Aerial Assault}} {{storylink|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1}} {{storylink|Masquerade}} {{storylink|B.O.T.}} and many, many others. Also, at one undefined point, he was known to have battled Optimus Prime in a laboratory, causing an explosion that disfigured [[Gregory Swofford]]. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1}}

[[Image:Megatron1986movie.jpg|left|thumb|250px|No, not drawn by [[Pat Lee]]—that's actually battle damage.]]

Eventually, at some point over the following twenty years, Megatron turned his attention away from Earth, and succeeded in completely conquering Cybertron by the Earth year 2005. The Autobots, however, were able to maintain control of two of Cybertron's moons, while the majority of their forces were relocated to the new [[Autobot City]] on Earth. Learning the Autobots were planning a decisive strike against the Decepticons, Megatron and the Decepticons intercepted the shuttle sent to Earth to acquire energy to power the raid, and unleashed a [[Battle of Autobot City|mighty assault]] on Autobot City. In the course of the conflict, word was sent to Optimus Prime, who arrived the following morning after the slaughter and confronted Megatron in another one-on-one struggle. Megatron appeared beaten, but spying a discarded pistol, stalled for time by pleading for mercy as he attempted to reach it. The young Autobot [[Hot Rod]] then intervened, tackling Megatron, but the powerful Decepticon proved too much for him, seizing him and using him as shield as he grabbed the pistol and opened fire on Prime. The wounds were fatal and sent Prime to the grave - but not before he delivered his own final blow to Megatron, seriously damaging him and forcing the Decepticons to flee.

On the return trip to Cybertron aboard [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotran]], it became necessary to jettison excess mass, or the Decepticons would be unable to reach the planet. The wounded Decepticons were voted out, and set adrift in space, with Starscream personally jettisoning Megatron. Before long, however, Megatron's drifting body was found by the planet-eating [[Unicron]], who offered to rebuild his body if he would destroy the Autobot [[Matrix of Leadership]] for him. Although Megatron initially refused, unwilling to be anyone's servant, Unicron tortured him into accepting the bargain, and Megatron was recreated as [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}

===Japanese animated continuity===

{{Note|The events of the American animated series occur in Japanese continuity as noted above. This timeline, however, inserts a large number of additional storylines, told through various different media, into the timeline (in particular, between Season 2 and the movie), as detailed below.}}

====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' manga====

In the late 1980s, Megatron turned his attention away from North America, and chose to focus on stealing the energy of Japan. In addition to ordering many attacks, he transformed himself into the gigantic "Super Megatron Gun" (a non-shrunken version of his pistol mode, operated by Starscream riding atop [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]!) {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformer issue 4|F!SRLF #4}} and ordered the construction of the Decepticon city, [[Trypticon]], to counter the Autobots' [[Metroplex (G1)|Scramble City]]. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformer issue 3|F!SRLF #3}} {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformer issue 6|F!SRLF #6}}

====''Scramble City'' OVA====

To hide the continuing construction of Scramble City from prying Decepticon optics, the Autobots moved the project to a concealed cavern, but when the Decepticons detected magnetic fluctuations emanating from the caves, Megatron dispatched [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'s cassettes to investigate, and [[Ratbat]] discovered the facility. Hoping to destroy the fortress before it was completed, Megatron sent his entire army of [[combiner]]s to attack the Autobots. The plan met with failure, as the Autobots and their combiners were able to hold off the Decepticons long enough for Scramble City to be completed and transformed into its robot mode of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. Metroplex dispatched the Decepticons, but Megatron then revealed his trump card - Trypticon! {{storylink|Scramble City}}

{{note|This storyline was never concluded, as a second installment of ''Scramble City'' was never produced.}}

====''Super Robot Magazine'' manga====

Continued Autobot and human interaction led to a joint project to create an [[warp gate|interstellar transport system]] in the late 1990s. When Starscream fused with the mechansm and attempted a coup, Megatron and Prime were forced to team up to stop him, and went missing following the battle that ensued. {{storylink|Super Robot Magazine}}

{{Note|This manga's cliffhanger was never resolved, but was retroactively exploited to insert the ''[[Robots in Disguise (cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'' animated series into the Japanese Generation 1 continuity, by claiming that its events took place when Prime and Megatron were absent and most of the Autobots and Decepticons were injured and off-planet.}}

====Binaltech====

After the Autobot's Earth-based forces were decimated by a [[Cosmic Rust]] plague unleashed by [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] in 2003, Megatron made his big push to fully take over Cybertron in 2004. The vast majority of the Autobots were occupied battling Megatron's forces on Cybertron, leading to the creation of new "Binaltech" bodies for the injured Autobots on Earth to protect the planet.

In the midst of this Binaltech affair, the time-tossed Decepticon [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] attempted to alter history by using the [[Kronosphere]] time-machine. In the middle of a decisive battle between the Autobots and Decepticons, Ravage used the Kronosphere to transport Megatron and the Decepticons through time, altering history so that the Autobots were left to face the looming threat of [[Unicron]] alone. This disruption of the natural order of time proved almost catastrophic, but reality was saved by the appearance of a mysterious entity known only as "The Protector," which restored the timeline as it should have been, but also preserved the "Binal-Time" timeline as an alternate universe.

In this alternate universe, Unicron was ultimately defeated, but the weakened Autobot forces were then overwhelmed by the fighting-fit Megatron and the Decepticons when they reappeared in 2006, and Cybertron was conquered by them once again. Megatron then turned his attention on the Sol system, and launched an attack on the [[Earth Defense Command]] base on [[Mars]]. At the same time, however, the Autobot spy Mirage had been dispatched to Cybertron, where he was instructed to locate and throw a [[large switch]] that the Autobots had received information on. This switch effectively froze every non-Binaltech Transformer throughout the entire universe, including Megatron and his armada on Mars. The only active Decepticons in the area, [[Nemesis Prime (Alternators)|Nemesis Prime]] and Shockwave, staged a full retreat while using drones to gather up as many of the frozen Decepticons as possible. Since Nemesis Prime was last seen taking Megatron's throne for himself, it is unknown if he took the frozen Megatron to safety, or left the former Decepticon leader to be taken into custody.

====''Robot Masters''====

[[Image:Rmrebirthmegatron.JPG|thumb|right|HAH! I fooled you for all of five seconds!]]

:''Voice Actor:'' [[Jirō Saitō]] (Japanese)

In the year 2004, Megatron disappeared through unknown circumstances, leaving his time-displaced descendant from the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]] to take his place as Decepticon leader in the battle for the mysterious element [[solitarium]]. Precisely what happened to Megatron was never explained, but the Decepticon leader was later able to effect his return by using his inter-dimensional black hole uplink powers to take over the body of [[Reverse Convoy]] from the planet [[Vehicon (RM)|Vehicon]]. Posing as an ally to the Autobots, Megatron proceeded to betray them by revealing himself as the aptly-named "Rebirth Megatron". Eventually, however, Optimus Prime returned all the Autobots and Decepticons to proper place in time and space through the power of solitarium and rid the Earth of Decepticons.

====''The Transformer'' manga====

{{note|[[The Transformer (manga)|The Transformer]] manga takes place concurrently with the third season of the animated animated series. However, while that series took place in 2006 in American continuity, in Japan, its events were moved back to 2010.}}

At some point in 2010, Galvatron attempted to destroy the Autobots with a legion of Megatron clones dubbed [[Megatron Military|"The Megatron Military"]]. Each clone was equipped with its own unique fusion cannon and they were capable of combining the blasts into an intense attack. As a unified force, the Megatron Military crushed [[Hot Rod|Rodimus Prime]], [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], [[Springer]], [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] and [[Kup]]. Their victory was assured until Rodimus managed to deduce that the Megatron Military was being controlled by Galvatron, who was, as it turned out, actually disguised as one of the Megatron clones himself. Once Rodimus defeated Galvatron, all the Megatron clones lost power and were easily vanquished. {{storylink|The Transformer issue #2}}

====''The Battlestars''====

{{note|With his transformation into Galvatron, Megatron departed from the animated continuity until this storyline, five years later.}}

[[Image:SuperAndUltraMegatron.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Mister and Mister Overdesigned, 1991.]]

During his time as Galvatron, Megatron had been seemingly vanquished forever when he was crushed beneath an iceberg. {{storylink|The Emperor of Destruction Vanishes on an Iceberg}} Over fifteen years later, an evil force named [[Dark Nova]] recovered Galvatron's body from its ice tomb, and recreated him as '''Super Megatron''', pitting him against [[Optimus Prime (G1)#The Battlestars|Star Convoy]], the reborn Optimus Prime, and his Autobots. Super Megatron didn't fare too well against his old adversary and was swiftly defeated by the [[Battlestar]]s and their [[Triple Combination Battlestar Attack]]. Dark Nova then upgraded him into '''Ultra Megatron''', who had a similar success rate.

For the final battle, Dark Nova merged with the remains of Ultra Megatron and formed the massive [[Dark Nova|Star Giant]]. Star Giant was virtually invincible from the outside, so Star Convoy, [[Grandus]] and [[Sky Garry]] traveled inside his body and began tearing up the joint. As soon as they'd inflicted enough damage, the trio escaped just as Star Giant detonated, leaving only his head some-what intact. Fortunately for Megatron, his body was stored within the head, allowing him to survive the explosion.

{{-}}

====''Generation 2'' story pages and mini-comics====

[[Image:JapG2Meg.jpg|left|250px|thumb|He hasn't lost his knack for monologuing in his old age]]

Recovering from the Star Giant incident, Megatron abandoned his evil ways and was upgraded into a new [[Action Master]] body. His new peaceful intentions were genuine, and he joined with Optimus Prime to form the [[Cybertron Alliance]], ushering in the Second Generation of Transformers. However, after human soldiers killed one of his dearest comrades, he adopted a new body and began the war anew.

Megatron coordinated an onslaught of attacks which mortally wounded Optimus Prime (who had adopted a new missile trailer mode to counter Megatron). Megatron then delivered the fatal blow personally and believed his enemy dead. Killing Optimus Prime wasn't so easy, as the [[spark|essences]] of the previous Autobot Supreme Commanders within the [[Matrix of Leadership]] used the [[Reconfiguration Matrix]] to transform Optimus into Laser Optimus Prime. The fight raged on for a while until Prime managed to drive the Decepticon forces to retreat into outer space.

====Comic Bom Bom ''Generation 2'' manga====

In the year 199X, the Decepticons had learned of a powerful new energy source known as [[forestonite]] which just happened to be located (surprise surprise) on [[Earth]]. Megatron sent his trio of [[Cyberjet]]s to Earth first to draw out the enemy Autobots. The Cyberjets made quick work of [[Electro]] but were soon halted by the appearance of Optimus Prime.

Megatron then entered the fray and fired his Black Hole Burn attack from his fusion cannon, narrowly missing Optimus Prime but vaporizing [[Hooligan]] in the process. Prime fought fiercely but Megatron began to take the upper-hand in battle.

However, Prime was encouraged to keep fighting by the cheers of a human boy named [[Junpei]]. Megatron, surprised at Prime's resiliance, attempted to finish his foe off with his Tornado Axe attack. Prime countered with his Double Wheel-Torque Mega-Ton, which trumped Megatron's attack and injured the Decepticon badly. Megatron teleported back to his ship and left Earth's atmosphere, vowing to return.

====''Beast Wars II'' cartoon====
The Predacon [[Galvatron (BWII)|Galvatron]] attempted to use a time-and-space-warping gate to summon Megatron to his aid. [[Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger#Which Megatron?|It is not clear]] whether he was searching for the Predacon [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] or the original Decepticon to bear that name.

Galvatron's brother [[Megastorm]] screws up the calculations and instead summons the titanic [[Majin Zarak]]. Galvatron proudly declares "we obtained a weapon far superior to Megatron".

Dissed, Megsey. ''Dissed''! {{storylink|Lio Convoy in Imminent Danger}}

===Kid Stuff Talking Story Books continuity===
:''Voice actor: Earl Hammond(?)''

Megatron calls Soundwave a "blundering tape-filled idiot." {{storylink|When Continents Collide}} This is notable because it is hilarious. Also, Megatron totally sounds like "Mumm-Ra" from ''Thundercats''. Megatron had an odd obsession with drills, mole machines, and other burrowing devices, as he used them frequently in his plans for energy gathering and conquest.

===Marvel Books Big Looker Storybook continuity===

[[Image:KidsCliff1.jpg|right|150px|thumb|MTV pimps Megatron's ride.]]

A bunch of humans set up a race for charity, and the victor would received a year's supply of oil and gasoline. Well, the Decepticons desperately wanted that bounty, so rather than just steal it, they decided to sneak into the race. [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] was one of the Autobots driving in the rally and was unaware that the scary black Cadillac was actually being driven by Megatron! Megatron dogged Cliffjumper for quite a while but ended up losing to the Minibot. Cliffjumper won the race and everybody smiled, even Optimus Prime. {{storylink|The Great Car Rally}}

Frighteningly.

===Dreamwave comics continuity===
[[Image:Megatrong1gladiator.jpg|left|thumb|150px|Gladiators can afford extra paint applications.]]

Young Megatron was a gladiatorial combatant in the depths of [[Cybertron_(planet)|Cybertron]]’s underworld. As victory upon victory mounted, he began to realize that the games were nothing more than an elaborate conspiracy by the [[Council of Ancients]] to divert the attentions of the masses from the dangerous truth of Cybertron’s history. When Megatron began to show interest in Cybertron's buried past through exploration and research, the Council of Ancients attempted to have him assassinated - a plan that only resulted in stirring up even more discontent among Cybertronians, allowing Megatron to begin recruiting for the Decepticon movement.

First his "inner circle," then many of the gladiators, and then finally disgruntled civilians answered his call to action. The Decepticons were born. {{storylink|The Route of All Evil}}

[[Image:Fledglingcause.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Megatron is so grass-roots.]]

Megatron's forces began a civil war of Autobot against Decepticon in order to mask his reactivation of the ancient planetary engines buried beneath Cybertron’s surface. As a result, Cybertron would be transformed into a massive warworld that would cut a swathe of destruction through the galaxy. What he required, however, was a power source for the engines, which he believed could be found in the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]. He personally killed [[Sentinel Prime]], but found the Matrix was not with him. He sent two assassination squads after [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], the new [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]], before going for him personally. During the fight, Megatron's lieutenant [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], shot both leaders into a deep hole. During their subsequent battle, Megatron explained his goals, and urged Prime to join him. His attack on Prime also cracked the Matrix's casing, causing both Transformers to see visions of the future. Unfortunately for Megatron, Starscream activated the planet mechaforming process too soon, resulting in the destruction of the machinery, and Prime erased Megatron's memories of the future, and of the engines. {{storylink|The War Within}}

Roughly 7.4 million years BCE, Megatron and Optimus Prime disappeared in an early test of the then-unstable [[Space Bridge]] matter-transport system. Spending an undisclosed time on the planet [[Quintessa]], Megatron returned with an overwhelming army of lifeless [[Air Warrior|seeker clones]], quickly subjugating Cybertron. ''(This story was never finished due to the closure of Dreamwave, though the seekers and presumably Megatron as well were eventually defeated.)''

Four million years BCE, Cybertron was threatened by a massive approaching asteroid, so Optimus Prime led a contingent of Autobots aboard the [[Ark]] to blow the rock to fragments, which were transported away by an orbital Space Bridge network. When this task was completed, Megatron chose this moment to strike, attacking the Ark with his troops. Crippled, the craft flew through one of the Space Bridge portals, and was transported to prehistoric Earth, where it crashed, entombing the occupants in stasis for four million years.

The Autobots and Decepticons were reactivated in 1984, but specific details of their battles in the 1980s and 1990s are unrecorded. (Presumably, they broadly resembled the G1 cartoon and comic books.) In 1999, when a Autobot/Human military alliance succeeded in capturing and deactivating the Decepticons. However, the [[Ark II]] spaceship carrying them back to Cybertron exploded shortly after liftoff, and the Transformers were believed destroyed. In actuality, they had been scattered back to Earth, where they lay in [[stasis lock]] across the globe for three years. This slumber was brought to an end when [[Lazarus|Adam Rook]] (aka Lazarus), a rogue military scientist who had devised a method of controlling Transformers, salvaged many of the fallen Cybertronians and reprogrammed them as mass killing machines, which he then attempted to sell on the black market. Megatron was first to break free of the human's control, overriding the new programming and capturing Lazarus during an auction. Megatron forced Lazarus to watch as he unleashed a technorganic virus designed to transform all of Earth into a new Cybertron. It also served to lure Optimus Prime and the Autobots, also now reactivated, to his location. Megatron, tired of the war, continuously asked Prime to join him. After his first failed attempt, Megatron unleashed [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] on [[San Francisco]], ensuing in mass slaughter, in an attempt to show Prime the humans were not worth fighting for. However, the selfless sacrifice of several firemen restored Prime's faith in humanity and allowed him and the Autobots to beat back Megatron.

[[Image:Shockwavedwwarandpeace.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Megatron's a bottom.]]
Several months later. Megatron was subliminally summoned to a remote area in Alaska along with the other Earthbound Transformers. There they battled until Megatron's former second-in-command, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], arrived and revealed that in their absence the war on Cybertron had ended. He arrested Megatron, Prime, and their troops as war criminals. Megatron, weakened by battle, was quickly defeated by Shockwave and loaded aboard his shuttle for return to Cybertron, only to have Starscream seize the opportunity by jettisoning him into space on the return trip. Megatron used the time floating in space to contemplate his existence and the Decepticon goal. Realizing that he had wasted millennia in his feud with Prime, Megatron resolved to once again conquer Cybertron as a means of enhancing the Transformer race and strengthening it from outside threats. It seemed as through he would not live to accomplish this goal, however, as death closed in on him... only for him to be retrieved by the [[Junkion]] [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]]. Wreck-Gar took Megatron to the planet [[Junkion (planet)|Junkion]] and repaired and re-armed him, as well as digging up and reactivating a number of seeker clones that had wound up there after being dumped through space bridge portals. Megatron returned the favor by stabbing him in the back with an energy dagger.

Traveling to the Planet [[Beest]], Megatron defeated the exiled Decepticon warlords, the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]], and rebuilt them into the mightiest of all combiners, [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]], to serve as his ace in the hole in his quest to reclaim leadership of the Decepticons. Moving in stealth on Cybertron, Megatron defeated Shockwave, severing his laser arm and forcing him into servitude. He then returned to Earth to collect the remaining Decepticons under Starscream's command, and to teach Starscream a lesson long in coming.

''While it was alluded that Megatron had a grand goal in mind that also included the subjugation of the [[Quintessons]], the remainder of the story has yet to be told due to the closure of Dreamwave. However it has been stated by representatives of IDW publishing, the current holders of the Transformer comic license, that once Dreamwave has exited bankruptcy court, they intend to finish the story.''

===Dreamwave ''Transformers/G.I. Joe'' continuity===
Megatron and the other Decepticons were unintentionally revived by [[Major Bludd]]. Bludd's leader, [[Cobra Commander]] used Megatron as a weapon of global conquest. Megatron took the opportunity to harvest energy from the conquered human establishments. To enforce Megatron's loyalty, the Commander was willing to use his possesion of [[The Matrix]] as a weapon capable of causing Megatron great pain. Megatron eagerly awaited the Commander's death.

When Cobra Commander's legs were crushed during Bruticus's rampage, Megatron suggested the Commander use Megatron's gun mode as a means of killing himself to relieve the pain, but it was Baroness who was bold enough to fire the killing shot.

Then Snake-Eyes broke the Matrix and Megatron died. He remained dead.
{{storylink|Transformers/G.I. Joe}}

===Devil's Due ''G.I. Joe vs. The Transformers'' continuity===
[[Image:Megatronddjoe.jpg|right|thumb|250px|[[Joey Slick]] > [[Cobra Commander]]]]
After [[Cobra]], a ruthless terrorist organization determined to rule the world, found a crashed spaceship full of Transformers in [[stasis lock]], these beings were rebuilt into Cobra vehicles and reprogrammed to serve Cobra. One exception to the latter detail was Megatron, who was rebuilt to transform into a Walther P38 handgun, but only was locked in this mode and not reprogrammed. He mocked [[Cobra Commander]]'s decisions, especially deciding [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], Megatron's traitorous lieutenant, would serve as the Commander's choice of transport.

Megatron was able to bargain for his freedom when the Transformers were cleared of their reprogramming, including a very stern [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]. The two leaders clashed, but ultimately Megatron was defeated. Unbeknownst to the victors, Megatron's remains were seized by the United States government. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers}}

Megatron's remains were eventually used to create [[Serpent O.R.]], a synthetic creature that combined the personalities of several of [[Earth]]'s most famous warmongers and Megatron. During a Cobra raid, Serpent O.R. was prematurely activated. After discerning his origins, Serpent O.R. considered himself the son of Megatron. {{storylink|G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers: The Art of War|The Art of War}}

=== IDW comics continuity ===

Long ago, before the war, Megatron was an [[Energon]] miner, a member of the lower class, in [[Mine C-12]]. One day [[Decimus|Senator Decimus]] arrived at the mine to announce that the mine was being closed immediately and the workers would be relocated. However, one of the Senator's guards killed a worker for insubordination and claims of Senate corruption, which spurred Megatron into action. He attacked Senator Decimus and killed the guard in self-defense, and was shocked to find he had done so. He and the other miners were en route to imprisonment when [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] broke free and started a riot aboard their ship. They escaped and made their way to [[Kaon]]. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 1}}

After evading law enforcement, Megatron joined a team of underworld gladiators under the tutelage of [[Clench]]. Initially repulsed by killing his opponents, the games eventually turned him more brutal & excessive and he took control of the entire operation from Clench. The opportunistic Senator [[Ratbat]], after seeing how much money there was in the underworld matches, sent his agent [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] to offer Megatron weaponry and technology to upgrade himself and his comrades. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2}} [[Sentinel Prime]]'s Autobots were sent to investigate the gladiatorial games, but when two Autobots were personally killed by Megatron, Prime's forces stepped up their pursuit. Megatron recruited used the gladiatorial games to drum up an army of violent malcontents and spread chaos throughout Cybertron. He then deliberately allowed Sentinel Prime's forces to capture his burgeoning army, {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 3}} so that [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (pretending to defect) and Soundwave and his hidden cassette army could exterminate the Kaon Senate and then free every last prisoner. Megatron led the army of prisoners against the Autobots, beat Sentinel Prime to death, and took control of Kaon. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 4}}

[[Image:Megatrong1idwpreearth.jpg|left|thumb|150px|450 years ago, his helmet was black, but now it's gray. The difference time makes, huh?]] Over time, the war between Megatron's Decepticon army and [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s Autobots covered the entire planet and soon beyond to the rest of the galaxy. Optimus grew to respect & fear Megatron as a calm, calculating and measured opponent, a contrast to his almost sociopathic personality in ''Origin'' {{storylink|Escalation issue 5}}. Megatron also constructed [[Sixshot]], a living weapon with frightening amounts of power that only he had the "off-switch" for. {{storylink|Devastation issue 5}} The conflict became so great that it created an impending energy crisis and threatened the stability of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] itself. When [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] left Cybertron, secretly pursuing alternate energy sources, Megatron ordered [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] to investigate his files, secretly assigning Soundwave to investigate Bludgeon. {{storylink|Spotlight: Shockwave}}

Later, a Decepticon scientist, [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]], came to Megatron with a revolutionary, controversial plan to stave off this energy death by [[Pretender|polydermal grafting]], a process where they encased themselves in "symbiotic carapaces," or shells created from living tissue. When Megatron dismissed him angrily and cut him down, Thunderwing did not abandon his research, but instead experimented on himself. As a result, this made Thunderwing so powerful that Megatron had to join forces with Optimus Prime to stop him. This battle at [[Thunderhead Pass]] accelerated the apocalypse destined to befall Cybertron, leaving it an uninhabitable, radioactive husk and forcing both armies to continue their war on other worlds. Megatron advocated that they simply destroy Cybertron to ensure that Thunderwing was destroyed, but Prime refused, and threatened to stop Megatron if he tried. Megatron agreed not to destroy the planet, but warned Prime that whatever happened was on his head.

[[Image:Megatrong1idwgunbody.jpg|right|thumb|150px|I ''also'' wonder.]]

Seven hundred [[Units of time|stellar cycles]] later, in current times, it was discovered that as a result of digging through Shockwave's files, Bludgeon had resurrected Thunderwing's dangerous project, as well as Thunderwing himself. After being informed of Thunderwing's attack on [[Nebulos]], Megatron dispatched the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacon]]s in a ship to Cybertron, authorizing [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] to do whatever was necessary to destroy Thunderwing, including the destruction of Cybertron. However, Optimus Prime and the [[Wreckers]] were able to thwart both Bludgeon and Thunderwing, and so destruction of the planet was averted. {{storylink|Stormbringer (comics)|Stormbringer}}

Megatron, meanwhile, was on Earth, investigating Starscream's infiltration team. He discovered that Starscream had stumbled across [[Ore-13]], an incredible energy source which had been [[Spotlight: Shockwave|mysteriously seeded there]], and that the [[Air Commander]] was planning to use it to usurp Megatron's command — this annoyed him as he thought they were beyond such power games. After seriously damaging the hesitantly rebellious [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], Megatron ordered the AWOL team to stand down and then took on a super-powered Starscream. Though the Ore-13 made Starscream a formidable adversary, Megatron was still more deadly than he, and Starscream was destroyed. All throughout, he acted eerily calm & measured and made both Autobot and Decepticon wet themselves in fear. {{storylink|Infiltration}}

Megatron took stock of Starscream's progress on Earth in light of the discovery of Ore-13, repaired Skywarp and Blitzwing, and made Starscream's former troops aware, in no uncertain terms, that any further insurrections would be met with deadly force. But instead of leaving Earth in the hands of a new commander, Megatron stayed to guide the second stage of the Decepticons' plans, wishing to try out his new [[size changing|mass-displacing]] handgun [[alt mode]] and the Ore-13 power. He personally took charge of the Decepticon subterfuge in [[Brasnya]], guiding the facsimile of [[Georgi Koska]] in an attempt to escalate an international incident into a full polarizing war, and acting as Koska's personal weapon. (His alt-mode only works when a human is holding and firing him, which left him at a disadvantage against the Autobots who could simply pin him down in that form. Maybe Megs just wants to be held)

When Optimus Prime arrived, Megatron transformed and started a full-blown to-the-death melee with his longtime foe for all the nuts and bolts - this surprised Optimus, who accused Megatron of letting the Ore-13 power go to his head and causing him to be "some raging braggart". Even with his fusion cannon disabled almost right away, Megatron gained the upper hand due to his Ore-13 high. Beating his foe down, he squeezed Prime's Spark and seemingly killed him; aghast, the Autobots moved into a full but ineffective counterattack, their only edge being that Megatron had no long-range guns left. However, Prime's death was a desperate ruse, and the Autobot leader countered with a surprise attack on Megatron, able to exploit Ore-13's weakness — the more it's used, the faster it burns itself out. Megatron almost collapsed from power loss and was forced to have Skywarp take him to safety before the Autobots could kill him.

Upon returning to base and being refueled and repaired, Megatron was hopping mad. Mad enough to prematurely call in his ultimate living weapon{{m-}}[[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]]{{m-}}despite [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]'s panic attack on hearing that. {{storylink|Escalation}}

During this time, he discovered a plot by [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] to overthrow him. Without saying a word, he beat the living [[slag]] out of the attempted traitor. {{storylink|Spotlight: Ramjet}}

Upon Sixshot's arrival, Megatron ordered him to utterly destroy the Autobots, throwing out the methodical "Phase" stragy. The other Decepticons were worried that Megatron was losing his grip - and since they were too scared to tell him that, they decided to revive Starscream to do it for them. {{storylink|Devastation issue 1}} Before Sixshot could obliterate the Autobots, Megatron recalled him to deal with a new threat—the [[Reapers]]. {{storylink|Devastation issue 4}} Megatron deduced that the other Decepticons betrayed him by awakening Starscream, but decided not to punish them '''yet''', due to the present task of destroying the Reapers. {{storylink|Devastation issue 5}} After the Reapers were destroyed {{storylink|Devastation issue 6}}, he apparently did not destroy them, because a year later they were all still functional. {{storylink|All Hail Megatron issue 1}}

===IDW ''[[Hearts of Steel]]'' continuity===
He is referred to (as a leader [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] wants to replace, big surprise), but does not appear. {{Storylink|Hearts of Steel issue 2}}
====IDW ''Hearts of Steel'' Concept Art micro-continuity====
Megatron is depicted with three different altmodes: a giant cannon (with big studded wheels that become shoulder-shields), a 19th-century Colt revolver, possibly a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colt_1851_Navy_Revolver Colt 1851 Navy], and another very similar revolver, with an anachronistic scope and a bulkier muzzle. Since these altmodes have no place in the story, these sketches constitute a [[micro-continuity]] in which [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus]] and Megatron are active in the late 19th century.

===''Beast Wars''===
:''Voice actor:''  [[Gary Chalk]]  (English)

[[Image:G1Megatron_MasterBlaster_stasislock.jpg|left|thumb|150px|I know we all need our beauty sleep, but 4 million years, now that's taking the pee.]]

After the Autobot/Decepticon war moved to Earth, Megatron hunted down the [[Voyager probe]] as it traveled through the [[Solar System]] and encoded a message on its disc. Should his efforts fail, he left detailed instructions to any Decepticon descendants who recovered the disc, instructions which apparently condoned use of [[transwarp]] technology to alter history in his favor by locating the ''Ark'' before it is reactivated, with access codes to the ''Ark'' stored in the disk, and killing Optimus Prime before the Autobots and Decepticons reawaken. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 2)}}

[[Image:G1Megatron_Disc_Agenda_part2.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Now that's what I call a smile.]]

The disk (dubbed the [[Golden Disk (Voyager)|Golden Disk]]) eventually fell into Cybertronian hands and was stolen by a [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] who shared Megatron's name. {{storylink|Beast Wars (Part 1)}} This new [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], later stranded in Earth's past, was able to use a recording of the original Megatron to sway one of the original Megatron's most loyal troops, [[Ravage]], to his cause. {{storylink|The Agenda (Part 2)}}

[[Image:G1Megs_Nemesis_part2_deletedclip.jpg|left|thumb|150px|I was cut out?! This is Starscream's doing!]]

The original Megatron himself was stranded in Earth's past on board the ''Ark'', offline. Before long, Predacon Megatron was able to approach the comatose body of his namesake and steal his [[Spark]], integrating it into his own system. Almost immediately, however, during Predacon Megatron's painful reaction to this integration, he was thrown into a pool of lava by his treacherous underlings. In spite of{{m-}}or perhaps because of{{m-}}this, Predacon Megatron emerged from the lava, with a new body that could now transform into a fire-breathing dragon. It is unknown how much influence the original Megatron's Spark had in this metamorphosis. {{storylink|Master Blaster}} At the end of the ''Beast Wars'', after Predacon Megatron was succumbed, the original Megatron's Spark was returned to his body, restoring the flow of history. <ref>This scene was cut out of "[[Nemesis Part 2]]" for air-time reasons, but its occurrence is still implied by [[Optimus Primal]]'s note that all was as it should be. The clip was added as a special feature to [[Kid Rhino]]'s and [[Madman Entertainment]]'s ''Beast Wars'' season 3 DVD box sets.</ref>

A Megatron is mentioned in the [[Covenant of Primus]], an ancient sacred text which claims to prophesize future events, including the Beast Wars. It is implied that both Megatrons took their name from here. {{storylink|Nemesis Part 2}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
{{main|Megatron (G1) toys}}

==Trivia==
[[Image:Earlymegatron.jpg|right|thumb|120px|The [[fusion cannon]]'s got that handle because... well, we're not sure.]]

[[Image:P-Megatron.jpg|thumb|right|120px|Microman Megatron's concept model. Back then, he was a little less happy to see you.]]

* Early in the ''Transformers'' series preproduction, Megatron's look was based not on the toy, but on concept art for an unproduced prototype version. This early version, sporting a different, black head, a very different scope/fusion cannon, and the gun's barrel on his back, managed to make its way into not only early commercial animation and licensed material, but into the art of the early Marvel Comics. Though the model was altered before the animated series was produced, elements from the first model were perpetuated such as the back-mounted barrel in both the comic and the cartoon. The Marvel Comics continued to color Megatron's helmet black (well, blue) until the end of its run.

* The name "Megatron" was originally used by Marvel Comics for ''another'' robot that appeared long before the Transformers toyline came about, in issue 18 of the ''Shogun Warriors'' series (written by Doug Moench, art by Herb Trimpe, released in July 1980)<ref>[http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix2/droneracecharter.htm#Megatron Megatron and the "Drones" from Marvel's ''Shogun Warriors'' comic at the Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe]</ref>. [[Bob Budiansky]] suggested the name "Megatron" for the Transformers line (it's unclear if he was aware of the existing Marvel character, though as an editor it seems likely that he at least had a subconscious memory of it) but [[Hasbro]] initially rejected it, claiming that "mega" conjured images of nuclear bombs. Budiansky reminded them that the name was supposed to sound evil, because he's the leader of the bad guys. Hasbro responded, "Oh, right," and then approved the name. <ref>[http://www.alteredstatesmag.com/features/qanda/bbudiansky_2.php ASM: A Little Q&A with... Bob Budiansky]</ref>

* In the UK comics, [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] explains that Megatron is the equivalent of a 'blueblood,' possessing some royal lineage.<ref>[[Letters page (Marvel UK)]] #227</ref>

* After his fight with Optimus Prime in the animated movie, Megatron appears to have energon leaking from his eyes and mouth. Either that or he's been crying, which seems unlikely.

*In Megatron: Origins #2, we see that Megatron's helmet is, in fact, a helmet and not part of his head. Upon removing his helmet, Megatron then briefly unfurls a crest. The significance of this moment is not explained, nor is it ever revisited.

*Megatron [[Gone But Not Forgotten!|once]] crushed [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl's]] head with his bare hands!
{{-}}

*Some Canadian Frogs loved his shiny body so much they named their postal service after him http://www.megatron.net/quebec/

==Footnotes==
<references/>

==External links==
* [http://tfu.info/1984/Decepticon/Megatron/megatron.htm Megatron at TFU.info]
* [http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&char=Megatron Megatron's Universe profile at NTFA.net]

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[[Category: Universe (2008)]]
[[Category: Unreleased toys]]<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>

Transformers Annual 1987

2008-05-17T20:18:12Z

Skteosk: /* Items of Note */ Correcting a link

[[Image:Transformers annual 1988.jpg|thumb|250px|"You're a bad off-model likeness!" "No, YOU'RE a bad off-model likeness!"]]

{{comicnav|Generation 1 (Marvel Comics)|Transformers Annual 1988|seriesname=Marvel UK|prev=Transformers Annual 1987|next=Transformers Annual 1989}}

The '''Transformers Annual 1988''' was published by Marvel Comics Ltd in December 1987.

==Contents==
* [[What's in a Name?]]
* [[Doomsday for Nebulos]] - Headmasters Saga (chapter 1)
* Transformers Trivia Quiz
* [[Vicious Circle!]]
* [[Stylor's Story]] - Headmasters Saga (chapter 2)
* Bios: Brainstorm, Chromedome, Hardhead, Highbrow
* [[Ark Duty]]
* [[The Final Conflict]] - Headmasters Saga (chapter 3)
* Bios: Mindwipe, Skullcruncher, Weirdwolf

==Synopsis==

===[[What's in a Name?]]===
Having learned of the arrival of the [[Predacons (G1)|Predacons]] on Earth, [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] reflects on how he encountered one of their number, [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]], on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

===[[Doomsday for Nebulos]]===
[[Lord Zarak]] meets with a group of [[Decepticons]] led by [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], who he has summoned to [[Nebulos]]. He tells them of the recent arrival of a group of [[Autobots]] led by Scorponok's old nemesis, [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]], of how their emissary destroyed a symbol of peace and how when the Nebulans fought with them many of them, including Fortress Maximus, removed their heads in order to deactivate themselves and others surrendered their weapons. Worried about the influence the Autobots were having on his rival [[Galen|Kord]] and his supporters, Zarak summoned the Decepticons.

Zarak is horrified, however, when instead of going after the Autobots still active, Scorponok considers Fortress Maximus the greatest threat and orders an attack on the Nebulan city.

====Errors====
*Along with some curious colouring decisions, the opening illustration depicts [[Skullcruncher]] standing alongside Scorponok in robot form and towards the back of the group in alligator form.
*Scorponok is referred to as "almost unoticeably flexing those enormous cruel claw hands".It should be "unnoticeably".
*Although the text states Scorponok is stooped when he drops Zarak, the accompanying illustration depicts him standing upright. (Perhaps he straightened up ''really quickly''.)

===Transformers Trivia Quiz===
Split into two sections, one about Autobots and one about Decepticons, with a slight numerical imbalance of 21 Autobot questions and 22 Decepticon. Most are general franchise questions (eg. "[[Scattershot]] is the team leader of which Autobot group?", "The Decepticon [[Triple Changer]] [[Octane]] can become which two vehicles?") but a few relate specifically to the comic (eg. "Which Autobot hosted the [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|Transformers comic letters page]] for just one issue?", "Three Decepticons appeared on the cover of [[Transformers Annual 1987|last year's Transformers Annual]]. Who were they?").

===[[Vicious Circle!|Vicious Circle]]===
[[Ultra Magnus]], having survived falling into a volcano, learns from [[Bumblebee (G1)|Goldbug]] that [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] is about to use an energy siphon to harness the power of the volcano, destroying most of the surrounding area. Ultra Magnus eventually confronts his old enemy and both of them apparently perish when the volcano erupts unmolested.

===[[Stylor's Story]]===
As the Decepticons attack the Nebulan city, [[Stylor]] sees Kord and [[Duros]] heading towards the vault where the headless Autobots are kept and follows them. He hears them talking with the Autobots' heads about the best way to stop the Decepticons, with [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] mentioning the possibility of integrating Nebulans and Autobots.

Stylor later goes to see [[Arcana]] to find Kord, Duros and [[Gort|Grot]] already there and ends up volunteering to join the four in binary bonding with the headless Autobots, becoming [[Headmasters]]. Once the process is complete, they engage the Decepticons and easily defeat them, before reuniting with their fellow Nebulans.

====Errors====
*There is an odd illustration on page 35 which appears to depict Stylor following Kord and Duros whilst wearing his Headmaster armour, some time before he actually acquires it. (The only alternative, since the story is told in the first person in the form of a recollection after the fact, is that he's supposed to be "watching" his own flashback.)
*"[[Chromedome]] and I had a similar role, but as we were lighter and faster than Kord with Maximus and our hit and run strikes were more frequent." And someone seems to have and gone a bit "and" happy and.

===Character bios===
Bios of Brainstorm, Chromedome, [[Hardhead]] and [[Highbrow]], similar in style to the ''A to Z'' features in the regular UK title (which are themselves cribbed from the US ''Transformers Universe''). The only difference is the addition of a "Chest Readout" category (although similar stats are available for all Transformers, they're just more visible with the Headmasters).

===[[Ark Duty]]===
When [[Kup]] is assigned the task of delivering information on the new Autobot City to the Earth Government, he is ambushed by the [[Stunticons]] and the vital tape is stolen. [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] makes a failed attempt to retrieve it, only to learn the tape was a dummy designed to fool the Decepticons.

===[[The Final Conflict]]===
While Fortress Maximus worries about the appearance of a new dial on the astronomy computer, Highbrow reports they have discovered the position of [[Earth]], another planet that has become a refuge for Autobots and Decepticons. He thinks they should relocate there, where their arrival will easily alter the balance of power in their behaviour, but Fortress Maximus is worried about what will happen to Nebulos if they leave the Decepticons behind.

After binary-bonding with Kord, Fortress Maximus witnesses the arrival of the Decepticon [[Targetmasters]], acting as heralds to Scorponok. As other Autobots join them, Scorponok offers Fortress Maximus a deal - the pair will duel to the death with the loser's followers having to surrender. As soon as Maximus agrees, Scorponok attacks, announcing the duel has begun. Maximus mounts a defence but Scorponok still ends up nearly tearing him in half until Kord (in defiance of the rules) fires a hand blaster into Scorponok's eyes, temporarily blinding him. As first the other Decepticons and then the Autobots pile in, it is revealed the whole thing was a charade: [[Slugslinger]] has taken advantage of the distraction to steal the Autobots' new fuel converter, which the Decepticons plan to use to travel to Earth.

Maximus realises the new dial was a bugging device, which the Decepticons used to learn about the fuel converter and Earth. He decides the Autobots have no option but to follow the Decepticons.

====Errors====
*Arcana is referred to as Brainstorm's "Nebulan Headmaster", rather than "Nebulan Headmaster partner".
*The illustrations of Fortress Maximus and especially Brainstorm look so unlike them you wonder if the artist was looking at the right reference.
*It was "exactly the same situation Maximus had sort to escape." He probably sought to escape it too.
*Scorponok is able to grab hold of Maximus in mid-transformation. Not exactly impossible but a rare if not unique occurence.
*[[Weirdwolf]] is referred to as Weird-Wolf.

===Character bios===
Profiles of [[Mindwipe]], Skullcruncher and Weirdwolf, identical in style to the Autobot ones.

==Errors==
*Throughout the annual (in the latter two text stories and the profile on Highbrow), Gort is referred to as Grot. It's too consistent to be a typo and suggests that whoever wrote and/or edited the annual wasn't really familiar with the franchise. (The annual features no credits except on the first two comic strips.)

==Items of Note==
*The three comic strips tie in well with the Marvel UK stories: "What's In a Name?" is set during the events of "[[Grudge Match]]" (just after the scene of Swoop and [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] watching the television report), "Vicious Circle" carries on the story from "[[Fire on High!|Fire on High]]" (in what was either an attempt to make people buy the annual or a way of ensuring there was something in there worth reading, depending who you listen to) and "Ark Duty" ties in with the future timeline.
*The Headmaster Saga seems to be set during the events of the ''[[Headmasters (comic)|Headmaster]]'' mini-series. The first two stories are a faithful adaptation of "[[Broken Glass]]" (with a recap of "[[Ring of Hate]]"), but the third is new and must be set during "[[Brothers in Armor!|Brothers in Armour]]" (in the same gap as "[[Worlds Apart!|Worlds Apart]]", after the creation of the Targetmasters and before the Transformers left Nebulos).
*For no readily apparent reason, Fortress Maximus' Nebulan partner is called Kord rather than Galen.
*Fortress Maximus apparently keeps his old head "inside a chamber in his massive robot structure".
*Bonded Headmasters are referred to on occasion by both Transformer and Nebulan names{{-m}}e.g., Duros/Hardhead, even in dialogue, although this is less than consistent.
*The origin of the Targetmasters recounted in "The Final Conflict" states their partners are Nebulan weapons who have been engineered to transform into robots and then given minds duplicated from other Nebulans (implying the originals are still walking around).
*In "Doomsday for Nebulos", all dialogue for Scorponok (the only Transformer to speak) is written in '''CAPITALS AND BOLD'''. This practise is discontinued in the other stories.

==Stats==
ISBN: 0-948936-09-6 
Pages: 61 
List Price: £3.75 
Printed in Italy

{{stub}}

[[Category: Annuals]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]<div id="wikia-credits"> From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</div>