Internal Affairs!
| |||||||||||||
![]() Touching down in the land of the Delta Blues. | |||||||||||||
| "Internal Affairs!" | |||||||||||||
| Publisher | Marvel Comics | ||||||||||||
| First published | 30th June 1990 | ||||||||||||
| Cover date | 7th July 1990 | ||||||||||||
| Writer | Simon Furman | ||||||||||||
| Pencils | Simon Coleby | ||||||||||||
| Inks | Michael Eve | ||||||||||||
| Lettering | Stuart Bartlett | ||||||||||||
| Continuity | Marvel Comics continuity/Earthforce | ||||||||||||
The Decepticon Civil War ends as Megatron and Shockwave battle for the last time.
Synopsis
[edit]
Megatron has discovered that Shockwave is undertaking a mission at Memphis Airport and the two Decepticon leaders fight whilst the humans cancel planes and start betting on the outcome. From the skies, Starscream observes what is going on and is pleased. He then notes that as "a law-abiding citizen" he must report it.
The Autobots receive an anonymous message about the fight and put together a force, but Grimlock and Prowl are both uneasy, suspecting a set-up.
At Megatron's base in Louisiana, Soundwave has brought all the Decepticons outside to meet Starscream. The two second-in-commands explain that they feel it is essential to take matters in their own hands and reunite the Decepticons under their joint leadership. Soundwave thinks to himself that he has no choice because otherwise Starscream would have exposed him as a double agent but the plan suits him. Each plans to doublecross and destroy the other.
Back in Memphis, the Autobots arrive. Megatron and Shockwave each radios for reinforcements only to learn that they have been deposed. As the two Decepticons flee, Shockwave proposes an alliance to destroy their usurpers, to which Megatron agrees.
Featured characters
[edit](Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons |
|---|---|
|
Quotes
[edit]"This is the end, Shockwave! There can be only one Decepticon leader - and his name is Megatron!"
- —Megatron, who else?
"Fifty says the purple one wins!"
"I'll take that! The big guy with the cannon'll take it easy!"
- —Air traffic controller #1 and air traffic controller #2 are enjoying this way too much.
"'That's the trouble with being a Decepticon — you never know who to trust!"
- — Megatron on his race's flaws.
Notes
[edit]Artwork and technical errors
[edit]- Megatron's base has changed from a giant metal insect in "Secrets" into some chimneys. It will revert to being a giant metal insect under Starscream and Soundwave's command in "External Forces!".
- Like Megatron's base, Earthbase also appears to have rather more chimneys here than would be depicted in its subsequent appearances.
Continuity notes
[edit]- This follows directly from last issue.
- As mentioned above, this issue marks the first appearance of the newly completed Autobot Earthbase. Wheeljack has been working on it since issue #269, when Skydive described it as a "mess of foundations and a few girders", and it will be unveiled properly in the next issue.
- The Autobots apparently lack a system for monitoring Earth media reports and are instead reliant on phone tip-offs.
- Soundwave was revealed as a spy in "Secrets".
Real-life references
[edit]- TBD
Other trivia
[edit]- TBD
Back-up material
[edit]- Additional Transformers story: "...All Fall Down!"
- Other strips: G.I. Joe the Action Force - "Cold Snap" and Combat Colin
- AtoZ: Smokescreen and Snarl
Cover
[edit]- Issue #277 cover: Megatron and Shockwave wrestle at Memphis Airport, by Stewart Johnson.
-
Issue #277 - Camera 1
Reprints
[edit]- Transformers: Fallen Star : Megatron and Shockwave fight at Memphis Airport. Cropped from the cover of issue #277, art by Stewart Johnson.
- Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 20: End of the Road: Bludgeon (art reused from Dreamwave's More than Meets the Eye profiles) above an interior scene of Grimlock punching through Fangry (from US issue #80), by Andrew Wildman.
- Transformers: Best of Shockwave: Shockwave by James Biggie
-
Fallen Star
(Titan Books, 2005) -
The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 20: End of the Road
(Hachette Partworks, 2018) -
Transformers: Best of Shockwave
(IDW Publishing, 2022)





