Funeral for a Friend

This article is about the IDW Transformers vs. G.I. Joe issue. For the Marvel Generation 1 issue, see Funeral for a Friend!{{#switch:{{#sub:Funeral for a Friend!|-1}}

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|colspan="2" style="font-size: 14px; background-color:#e7d492; color:black;font-weight:bold;" align="center" | "Funeral for a Friend" {{#if: |

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|- {{#if: IDW Publishing | |Publisher || IDW Publishing}} |- {{#if: | |Published by || }} |- {{#if: | |Imprint || }} |- {{#if: | |Published in || }} |- {{#if: October 8, 2014 | |First published || October 8, 2014}} |- {{#if: | |Shipping date || }} |- {{#if: | |On-sale date || }} |- {{#if: September 2014 | |Cover date || September 2014}} |- {{#if: | |Credits || }} |- {{#if: | |By || }} |- {{#if: | |Manga || }} |- {{#if: | |Manga by || }} |- {{#if: | |Original story || }} |- {{#if: | |Story & art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Story and color art || }} |- {{#if: | |Story || }} |- {{#if: | |Story by || }} |- {{#if: | |Story consultants || }} |- {{#if: | |Story concept || }} |- {{#if: | |Screenplay by || }} |- {{#if: | |Screenplay || }} |- {{#if: | |Adaptation by || }} |- {{#if: | |Adapted by || }} |- {{#if: | |Adaptation || }} |- {{#if: | |Based on || }} |- {{#if: | |Writer || }} |- {{#if: | |Writers || }} |- {{#if: | |Writing || }} |- {{#if: Tom Scioli and John Barber | |Written by || Tom Scioli and John Barber}} |- {{#if: | |Written & art || }} |- {{#if: | |Plotter || }} |- {{#if: | |Plotters || }} |- {{#if: | |Plot || }} |- {{#if: | |Plot by || }} |- {{#if: | |Plot/Script || }} |- {{#if: | |Scripter || }} |- {{#if: | |Scripters || }} |- {{#if: | |Script || }} |- {{#if: | |Scripting || }} |- {{#if: | |Script by || }} |- {{#if: | |Script and art || }} |- {{#if: | |Sript [sic] consultant || }} |- {{#if: | |Translation by || }} |- {{#if: | |Artist || }} |- {{#if: | |Comic artist || }} |- {{#if: | |Artists || }} |- {{#if: | |Art || }} |- {{#if: Tom Scioli | |Art by || Tom Scioli}} |- {{#if: | |Additional art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Flashback art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Art assistant || }} |- {{#if: | |Art assist by || }} |- {{#if: | |Line-art || }} |- {{#if: | |Line-art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Line art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Penciller || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencillers || }} |- {{#if: | |Penciler || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencilers || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencil art || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencils || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencils by || }} |- {{#if: | |Penciled by || }} |- {{#if: | |Penciling || }} |- {{#if: | |Guest penciler || }} |- {{#if: | |Layouts || }} |- {{#if: | |Pencil breakdowns || }} |- {{#if: | |Breakdowns || }} |- {{#if: | |Breakdowns by || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustration || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustrations || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustrator || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustrated by || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustration by || }} |- {{#if: | |Illustrations by || }} |- {{#if: | |Finished pencils || }} |- {{#if: | |Finishes || }} |- {{#if: | |Finished art || }} |- {{#if: | |Finishes by || }} |- {{#if: | |Inker || }} |- {{#if: | |Guest inker || }} |- {{#if: | |Inkers || }} |- {{#if: | |Inks || }} |- {{#if: | |Inks by || }} |- {{#if: | |Ink finishes || }} |- {{#if: | |Ink assist by || }} |- {{#if: | |Additional inks || }} |- {{#if: | |Inking || }} |- {{#if: | |Backgrounds || }} |- {{#if: | |Backgrounds by || }} |- {{#if: | |Colorist || }} |- {{#if: | |Colorists || }} |- {{#if: | |Colourist || }} |- {{#if: | |Colourists || }} |- {{#if: | |Color || }} |- {{#if: | |Colors || }} |- {{#if: | |Color art || }} |- {{#if: | |Colour || }} |- {{#if: | |Colours || }} |- {{#if: | |Colored by || }} |- {{#if: | |Color by || }} |- {{#if: Tom Scioli | |Colors by || Tom Scioli}} |- {{#if: | |Color art by || }} |- {{#if: | |Colors assist by || }} |- {{#if: | |Color assists || }} |- {{#if: | |Color assistance by || }} |- {{#if: | |Additional colors || }} |- {{#if: | |Additional colors by || }} |- {{#if: | |Color assist by || }} |- {{#if: | |Colour/Computer FX || }} |- {{#if: | |Computer coloring/effects || }} |- {{#if: | |Color Reconstruction || }} |- {{#if: | |Flats || }} |- {{#if: | |Flats by || }} |- {{#if: | |MTMTE Profiles || }} |- {{#if: | |Letterer || }} |- {{#if: | |Letterers || }} |- {{#if: | |Lettering || }} |- {{#if: | |Letters || }} |- {{#if: Tom Scioli | |Letters by || Tom Scioli}} |- {{#if: | |Lettered by || }} |- {{#if: | |Lettering|Production || }} |- {{#if: | |Special Thanks{{#if: | To}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Collaborators || }} |- {{#if: | |Contributors || }} |- {{#if: Carlos Guzman | |Editor || Carlos Guzman}} |- {{#if: | |Editors || }} |- {{#if: | |Editing || }} |- {{#if: | |Edits by || }} |- {{#if: | |Compiled and Edited by || }} |- {{#if: | |Original series editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Original Edits by || }} |- {{#if: | |Deputy editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Assistant editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Editorial assistant{{#if: |s}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Editorial Assistance
provided by || }} |- {{#if: | |Senior editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Associate editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Story consultant || }} |- {{#if: | |Project manager || }} |- {{#if: Chris Mowry | |Production by || Chris Mowry}} |- {{#if: | |Designer || }} |- {{#if: | |Design by || }} |- {{#if: | |Designed by || }} |- {{#if: | |Design/editorial || }} |- {{#if: | |Book design by || }} |- {{#if: | |Collection designer || }} |- {{#if: | |Collection editor || }} |- {{#if: | |Collection Edits by || }} |- {{#if: | |Graphic design || }} |- {{#if: | |Graphic design by || }} |- {{#if: | |Collection Design by || }} |- {{#if: | |Creative Director{{#if: | / Layout}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Contributing editors || }} |- {{#if: | |Research editor{{#if: |s}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Managing editor || }} |- {{#if: | |{{#if: |Editor-in-chief|Editor in chief}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Editorial consultant || }} |- {{#if: | |Dinosaur consultant || }} |- {{#if: | |Publishing manager || }} |- {{#if: | |Cover || }} |- {{#if: | |Cover art{{#if: |ist}}{{#if: | by}} || }} |- {{#if: | |Cover Design {{#if: |and Elements }}by || }} |- {{#if: | |Inside cover || }} |- {{#if: | |Apologies to || }} |- {{#if: Transformers vs. G.I. Joe | |Continuity || Transformers vs. G.I. Joe}} |- {{#if: | |Chronology || }} |- {{#if: | |ISBN || }} |- {{#if: | |TPB ISBN || ISBN }} |- {{#if: | |UPC || }} |- {{#if: | |Page count || }} |- {{#if: | |Price || }} |- {{#if: | |Packaged with || }} |- {{#if: | |Printed in || }} |- {{#if: | |Animation || }} |- {{#if: | |Music || }} |}{{#switch:{{#sub:xx|2|14}}|dark cybertron=}}

While the Joes on Cybertron face Autobot justice, the Earthbound Joe forces stage a phoney funeral in order to draw out Cobra, only to find that their enemies have allied with the Decepticons.

Synopsis

Below decks on the aircraft carrier USS Flagg, Doctor Venom is being guarded by Shipwreck and Dial-Tone as he works on a line of robotic troops for the Joes. Venom insists that the guard duty is not necessary, as he is on their side, but the two grunts don't buy it, already irritated to be missing the spectacle taking place on the deck of the Flagg: a funeral for Hawk, who has apparently died from gangrene. Just as the 21-gun salute is fired, the Flagg comes under attack from Cobra—or rather, "Decepticobra", the allied forces of the terrorists and the Decepticons the Joes previously battled! However, as Starscream—his facial injuries awkwardly repaired by Cobra—and Shockwave—furious at the death of his brother Soundwave—try to rip the Flagg in two, the funeral is revealed to be a sham designed to draw Cobra out when Hawk emerges from his coffin with a pair of gatling guns blazing. Even General Flagg gets in on the action, piloting a "Bumblecycle" battle platform made from Bumblebee's body in combat against the Serpentress, riding on Laserbeak's back.

On Cybertron, Brawn, Mirage and Perceptor return to Metroplex, the animate, starfish-like city of the exiled Autobots, which constantly crawls across the planet's surface. The three Autobots deposit their Joe prisoners at the feet of their tyrant-king Grimlock, then immediately depart to go to Wheeljack's aid. The Joes bravely try to threaten Grimlock into surrendering, but he sees through their bluff and in retribution for the bombing of Iacon, he drops them into a pit of Sharkticons. Arcee insists they be given a fighting chance, and tosses the Joes one of their satchels; they are able to use the explosives it contains to give the Sharkticons some severe indigestion, and manage to climb back out of the pit.

Back on the Flagg, Starscream and Shockwave tear their way into the vessel's science deck, searching for Soundwave's remains. Shipwreck and Dial Tone try to evacuate Doctor Venom, but they are quickly chased down by the phalanx of Cobra troopers, led by Buzzer, that the Decepticons insert into the carrier. The two Joes are shot down, but the Cobras quickly discover that Soundwave's body is not on the Flagg, and their forces begin to withdraw. Buzzer welcomes Venom back into the Cobra fold and hands him a gun so they can fight their way out... only for Venom to immediately shoot the Dreadnok in the head, point-blank! The blood-spattered Venom turns to his wounded Joe guards with a grin; he told them he was on their side.

Up top, the reason for the Joes' funeral façade is put into play as Duke, disguised as a scarred Cobra trooper, infiltrates the fleeing terrorists' ranks and has himself transported back to their headquarters, the island temple of Decepticobracropolis. Upon arrival, Duke spots Snake Eyes among the Cobras, apparent evidence that one the greatest Joes of all has changed sides, but this discovery pales in comparison to what follows: Cobra weaponsmaster Destro uses his M.A.S.S. Device to teleport himself and a squad of troops to Cybertron! Fortunately, Duke is not among their number, for as they arrive in Megatron's throneroom, all the Cobras save Destro are burnt to death by the M.A.S.S. transfer process. Megatron seeks a means to purge the organic contamination the Joes' green bombs have brought to Cybertron, and Destro proposes that he be allowed to take charge of the mission alone. Destro reveals that his mastery of technology has allowed him to extend his own life with cybernetic implants, and to construct a "secret cybernetic army"; amazed that a human has mastered mechanical life, Megatron agrees, and offers Destro a gift.

In the terraformed Iacon, Scarlett's Joes go about the grisly procedure of dissecting the still-functional Wheeljack, refusing to consider the giant robot a living being. Wheeljack cycles through recordings of old Earth transmissions in hopes of finding something that will convince the Joes to stop; just as they open his brain casing, he strikes gold with a speech from the President of the United States. Concluding that more than meets the eye is going on, Scarlett orders the Autobot reassembled. Just then, Brawn, Mirage and Perceptor storm Iacon, and a fierce firefight ensues. When the last shot is fired, all is still in Iacon, and both Joes and Autobots lie motionless...

Back on Earth, in T.H.E. P.I.T., General Flagg presents Doctor Venom with Soundwave's corpse, and instructs him to repair the alien and get him up and fighting on the side of America!

Featured characters

{{#if:*Metroplex (21)

Mirage (22)
Perceptor (23)
Brawn (24)
Grimlock (29)
Arcee (30)
Swoop (31)
Slag (32)
Wheeljack (33)
Bumblebee's head (44)|

Autobots }}{{#if:*Laserbeak (16) Starscream (18) Shockwave (20) Sharkticons (34) Scorponok (39) Trypticon (40) Cyclonus (41) Straxus (42) Megatron (43) Darkwing (45) A conehead (46) Soundwave (69)\|	Decepticons }}{{#if:{\|border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
Dial-Tone (1) Doctor Venom (2) Polly (3) Shipwreck (4) B.A.T.s (5) Sealegs (6) Spirit (7) Mutt (8) Flash (9) Law (10) Duke (11) Lady Jaye (12) General Austin (13) General Flagg (14)	Hawk (19) Breaker (25) Jinx (26) Cover Girl (27) Clutch (28) Crazylegs (47) Alpine (48) Roadblock (49) Gung-Ho (50) ? (51) Rock 'n Roll (52) Blowtorch (53) Recondo (54) Dusty (55)	Deep Six (56) Scoop (57) Tripwire (58) Snow Job (59) Beachhead (60) Scarlett (61) Stalker (62) Sci-Fi (63) Charbroil (64) Taurus (65) Quick Kick (66) Steeler (67) Torpedo (68)

|

!! style="background:#fbefde;" | G.I. Joe }}{{#if:*Serpentress (15)

Buzzer (17)
Cobra troopers (35)
Destro (36)
Snake Eyes (37)
Crimson Guardsmen (38)|

!! style="background:#ffeeb8;" | Cobra }}{{#if:| !! style="background:#d5e6d5;" | Misc }}{{#if:| !! style="background:#fedeb5;" | Misc }} |- {{#if:*Metroplex (21)

Mirage (22)
Perceptor (23)
Brawn (24)
Grimlock (29)
Arcee (30)
Swoop (31)
Slag (32)
Wheeljack (33)
Bumblebee's head (44)|| style="background:#ffdddd;" valign="top" |
Metroplex (21)
Mirage (22)
Perceptor (23)
Brawn (24)
Grimlock (29)
Arcee (30)
Swoop (31)
Slag (32)
Wheeljack (33)
Bumblebee's head (44) }}{{#if:*Laserbeak (16)
Starscream (18)
Shockwave (20)
Sharkticons (34)
Scorponok (39)
Trypticon (40)
Cyclonus (41)
Straxus (42)
Megatron (43)
Darkwing (45)
A conehead (46)
Soundwave (69)|

| style="background:#ededff;" valign="top" |

Laserbeak (16)
Starscream (18)
Shockwave (20)
Sharkticons (34)
Scorponok (39)
Trypticon (40)
Cyclonus (41)
Straxus (42)
Megatron (43)
Darkwing (45)
A conehead (46)
Soundwave (69) }}{{#if:{|border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"

|- |style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"|

Dial-Tone (1)
Doctor Venom (2)
Polly (3)
Shipwreck (4)
B.A.T.s (5)
Sealegs (6)
Spirit (7)
Mutt (8)
Flash (9)
Law (10)
Duke (11)
Lady Jaye (12)
General Austin (13)
General Flagg (14)

|style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"|

Hawk (19)
Breaker (25)
Jinx (26)
Cover Girl (27)
Clutch (28)
Crazylegs (47)
Alpine (48)
Roadblock (49)
Gung-Ho (50)
? (51)
Rock 'n Roll (52)
Blowtorch (53)
Recondo (54)
Dusty (55)

|style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"|

Deep Six (56)
Scoop (57)
Tripwire (58)
Snow Job (59)
Beachhead (60)
Scarlett (61)
Stalker (62)
Sci-Fi (63)
Charbroil (64)
Taurus (65)
Quick Kick (66)
Steeler (67)
Torpedo (68)

|}| | style="background:#fbefde;" valign="top" |

Dial-Tone (1)
Doctor Venom (2)
Polly (3)
Shipwreck (4)
B.A.T.s (5)
Sealegs (6)
Spirit (7)
Mutt (8)
Flash (9)
Law (10)
Duke (11)
Lady Jaye (12)
General Austin (13)
General Flagg (14)

Hawk (19)
Breaker (25)
Jinx (26)
Cover Girl (27)
Clutch (28)
Crazylegs (47)
Alpine (48)
Roadblock (49)
Gung-Ho (50)
? (51)
Rock 'n Roll (52)
Blowtorch (53)
Recondo (54)
Dusty (55)

Deep Six (56)
Scoop (57)
Tripwire (58)
Snow Job (59)
Beachhead (60)
Scarlett (61)
Stalker (62)
Sci-Fi (63)
Charbroil (64)
Taurus (65)
Quick Kick (66)
Steeler (67)
Torpedo (68)

}}{{#if:*Serpentress (15)

Buzzer (17)
Cobra troopers (35)
Destro (36)
Snake Eyes (37)
Crimson Guardsmen (38)|

| style="background:#ffeeb8;" valign="top" |

Serpentress (15)
Buzzer (17)
Cobra troopers (35)
Destro (36)
Snake Eyes (37)
Crimson Guardsmen (38) }}{{#if:|

| style="background:#d5e6d5;" valign="top" |

}}{{#if:|

| style="background:#fedeb5;" valign="top" |

}}

|}

Quotes

"No, Dial-Tone, not "Venom"--it's pronounced "Phe-nom" as in "phe-nomenon--"
"We're in American waters. V is V, like victory. Like venomous snake. In my phonebook, your name is mud."

—Doctor Venom and Dial-Tone

"Green ones destroy Grimlock holy place. Grimlock demand payback. Punishment is death."
"You're big and loud, but you don't scare us for a second. If you think we're going to beg for mercy--"
"Grimlock no have mercy. Grimlock have Sharkticons!"

—Grimlock and Breaker (or is it Clutch?)

"Look at me now... Sergeant Conrad Hauser. Code name: Duke. Jack-booted goose-stepping para-fascist super-soldier. What would Bubbe and Zayde say?"

—Duke goes undercover

"Gun Maker. Life Taker. Dream Breaker. Earth Shaker. Money Raker."

—The narration sings the praises of Destro

"What I do have is a secret army--something my allies only barely understand. Cybernetic life, like here."
"Impossible! You, a lowly fleshbag, have mastered the secret of true life?"
"I had great teachers, the metal gods themselves. By your reckoning, I am but a zygote. Compared to my people, I am very long-lived indeed. I mastered your technology and made it my own. I made it part of my biology. In a way, we are brothers, mighty Megatron. I am your future, as you are mine. Both our races are headed toward the same endpoint, a fusion of man and machine. Each indistinguishable from the other."

—Destro and Megatron

"NO MERCY FROM PERCY"

—The narration on Perceptor

Notes

Continuity notes

Soundwave, Starscream and Shockwave were blasted by the Coltonbolt back in issue #1. Starscream and Shockwave are revealed to have survived—with Starscream now wearing a Cobra-created "mask" to hide the injuries inflicted on his face—while Soundwave's remains have been recovered by the Joes.
Hawk's death is quickly revealed to be a farce, but is stated to be a result of gangrene, following on the from the injury he sustained in issue #1.
G.I. Joe are revealed to have salvaged Bumblebee's body following his demise in issue #0.

Transformers references

This issue is named after issue #26 of the original Marvel series.
Grimlock appears as the tyrannical king of the Autobots, a role he also enjoyed for an extended period of time during the Marvel run.
The Dinobots speak with their usual primitive "caveman" style of speech, which Arcee blames on them not having learned Earth language properly yet.
Sharkticons are, of course, normally servants of the Quintessons; while Grimlock has himself a pit of them here, a Decepticon insignia is visible on one of their fins.
Decepticobracropolis is cast a shape similar to that of the combined Decepticon/Cobra insignia designed for the Devil's Due G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers crossover.
Wheeljack's method of communication through song and speech snippets is similar to how Bumblebee in the live-action films communicates.

G.I. Joe references

The robots Doctor Venom constructs are Battle Android Troopers, which are normally a Cobra venture in G.I. Joe continuity, but have here been reinterpreted as Joe constructs.
A naval Joe named "Sealegs" appears here—he's actually a brand new character, but Joe has seen some use of the name before, as the Cobra amphibious assault craft, the "S.E.A. Legs".
The Cobra trooper disguise Duke dons includes an elaborate scar running down his face, over his right eye—highly reminiscent of "Scarface", a Cobra trooper from the early issues of the Marvel G.I. Joe series who featured two such scars. However, see "real-life references".
The M.A.S.S. Device ("Molecular Assembler Scrambler Sender") and its three "catalytic elements" were the central plot device of the original G.I. Joe cartoon mini-series.

Real-life references

Clutch (or is it Breaker? They're friggin' identical!) holds a Sharkticon's jaws open with his legs by doing the splits, crying "Van Damme!", referring to actor [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Jean-Claude Van Damme|{{#if:||Jean-Claude Van Damme}}]], known for his ability to do impressive splits.
In addition to referring to "Scarface", Duke's single-scarred disguise also references a disguise worn by Bruce Wayne in the graphic novel Batman: Year One.
Duke's undercover role incorporates overtones of Quentin Tarantino films [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Inglorious Basterds|{{#if:||Inglorious Basterds}}]] and [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Reservoir Dogs|{{#if:||Reservoir Dogs}}]]. As a further reference, Lady Jaye wishes Duke luck by saying "Come home in a body bag" (rather than "Break a leg"); "Coming Home in a Body Bag" was the name of a fictional movie in the Tarantino-scripted film [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}True Romance|{{#if:||True Romance}}]].
In Duke's thoughts while going undercover (quoted above), he uses the terms "bubbe" and "zayde", which are yiddish terms for grandmother and grandfather, respectively.
Among the sound-bytes Wheeljack rattles off are:
- The lyrics to the [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Bee Gees|{{#if:||Bee Gees}}]] song, "[[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}How Can You Mend a Broken Heart|{{#if:||How Can You Mend a Broken Heart}}]]", slightly misquoted as "How do you keep the sun from shining?", rather than the correct "How can you stop the sun from shining?"
- A cry of "[[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Gary Dell'Abate|{{#if:Baba Booey!|Baba Booey!|Gary Dell'Abate}}]]"
- President Barack Obama's [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Barack Obama election victory speech, 2008|{{#if:2008 election victory speech|2008 election victory speech|Barack Obama election victory speech, 2008}}]]
As Doctor Venom thanks General Flagg in the most creepy way possible, Flagg orders him to "Stow the [[wikipedia:{{#if:|:}}Tales from the Crypt (TV series)|{{#if:Crypt Keeper|Crypt Keeper|Tales from the Crypt (TV series)}}]] patter".

Covers (4)

Standard cover: Wheeljack is surrounded by the G.I. Joes, by Tom Scioli
Subscription cover: Optimus Prime, Duke, Snake-Eyes, Roadblock and Scarlet in the middle of a firefight, by Jim Rugg
Cover RI: The Joes rolls into battle with backup from Hot Rod, by Tom Scioli; connects to cover RI from issue #2 to form a larger image
Yesteryear Comics exclusive cover: Megatron on a throne, holding Optimus Prime's severed head, by Jamie Tyndall and Ula Mos, available exclusively from Yesteryear Comics

Reprints

Transformers vs. G.I. Joe Volume 1 TPB
Transformers vs. G.I. Joe Quintessential Collection Hardcover
Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 73: Transformers vs. G.I. Joe, Part 1

Volume 1; cover art by Tom Scioli
Quintessential Collection; cover art by Scioli
Definitive G1 Collection: Vol. 73: Transformers vs. G.I. Joe, Pt. 1; cover art by Don Figueroa and Scioli

External links

Preview

Funeral for a Friend

Contents

Synopsis

Featured characters

Quotes