Editing Repeat Performance!

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #8
|prev=Warrior School!
|next=DIS-Integrated Circuits!
|title="Repeat Performance!"
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #27–28
|prev2=Warrior School!
|next2=Decepticon Dam-Busters!
|image=MarvelUS-08.jpg
|caption=Jurassic Spark
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[May 28]], [[1985]] ("on sale" [[June 18]], 1985)
|coverdate=September 1985
|script=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|pencils=[[William Johnson]]
|inks=[[Kyle Baker]]
|colors=[[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]
|letters=[[Rick Parker]]
|editor=[[Christopher J. Priest|Jim Owsley]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''Ratchet recovers the Dinobots, and together they fight Megatron.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Arkshuttle1.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|We have made... another commercial.]]
[[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] journeys by [[Ark shuttlecraft|shuttle]] to the [[Savage Land]] to locate the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]], who fought [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] there shortly after the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] crash-landed on [[Earth]] four million years ago. He uses his [[Mobile Autobot Repair Bay|M.A.R.B.]] to locate Cybertronian life deep in a tarpit. After a lot of digging, he locates [[Slag (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Slag]], and uses a memory probe to view the Dinobots' battle with Shockwave, and their subsequent entombment. Slag awakens and, after recognizing Ratchet as an [[Autobot]], readily agrees to help finish the job they'd started: destroying Shockwave.

Shockwave checks in on [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]], who has been left to guard the Ark alone and has prepared the head of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] for transport to the aerospace plant recently captured by the [[Decepticon]]s; Shockwave is pleased and comments that he may have to raise his odds-of-having-to-destroy-Megatron calculations.

Shockwave returns to the plant with Optimus Prime's head, effortlessly defeating an Army force that has surrounded the plant. Within, he prepares to begin the construction of a new generation of Decepticons, using the Matrix program within Prime.

Ratchet contacts Megatron, and shows him video footage of the Dinobots defeating Shockwave. With his end of the bargain fulfilled, he arranges for Megatron to meet him on a nearby mountain. When Ratchet arrives, Megatron promptly threatens to kill him. This breaks the bargain... and the hidden Dinobots burst forth from the snow. Turns out Ratchet knew Megatron wouldn't hold up his end of the [[Rite of Oneness]], and the video was from the Dinobots' tussle with Shockwave ''four million years ago''.

But despite the Dinobots' power, Megatron beats them all, leaving Ratchet to face him alone once more. Determined to fight like a warrior, even to the death, Ratchet tries to carry them both over a cliff edge. Though Megatron doesn't budge, the impact weakens the cliff beneath him, and Megatron is sent tumbling away. He transforms into his gun mode in a desperate effort to survive, but disappears into the snow and is not seen again. With Megatron thus defeated, the Ark and the Autobots are free.

Meanwhile, [[Circuit Breaker (G1)|Josie Beller]], a series of printed circuit strips laced onto her arm, fires an energy bolt that destroys her hospital room's television. She speculates that she's about ready to check out...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{collist|2|
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] (1)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] (2)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] (3)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (4)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (5)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (8)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] (9)
*[[Slag (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Slag]] (10)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] (11)
*[[Snarl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Snarl]] (12)
*[[Swoop (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Swoop]] (13)
*[[Sludge (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Sludge]] (14)
}}
|c2=
*[[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] (6)
*[[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] (7)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] (17)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (18)
|c3=
*[[G.B. Blackrock]] (15)
*[[Hawthorne]] (16)
*[[Circuit Breaker (G1)|Josie Beller]] (19)
*[[Eliot]] (20)
*[[Casey (G1)|Casey]] (21)
*[[Sue (G1)|Sue]] and friend (22)
}}

==Quotes==
[[File:Repeatperformance-preparedtheprisoner.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Shockwave: Decepticon, backstabber, Olympic gymnast.]]
"Uhh... I really haven't the time to find out what you want, tubular, carbon-based life form! Could you please find someone else to talk to?"
:—'''Ratchet''' vs. a snake


"You seem to be adjusting well to '''taking''' orders... instead of '''giving''' them! I had calculated only a 27.6% chance that I wouldn't have had to destroy you due to an act of insubordination. I may have to revise that figure upward."
:—Is '''Shockwave''' oblivious to how much he's egging on Megatron, or is he doing it on purpose?


"You suffer from the same flaw as the rest of your Autobot ilk -- you are not a '''true''' warrior! A warrior '''thinks''' like a warrior! He finds a way to '''fight''' his enemy, not a way to '''trust''' him! But being a warrior is a claim you never made!"<br>
"All you say about me is true, Megatron -- until now!"
:—'''Megatron''' faces off with '''Ratchet'''... who subsequently unleashes the Dinobots.


"You were willing to carry us both over this cliff to our doom, Autobot -- very admirable! You are a '''fool''', but it is still an honor for me to now destroy a warrior as '''brave''' as --"<br>
''[KKRAK!]''<br>
"--'''''NO!!'''''"
:—'''Megatron's''' last words before tumbling off a shattered cliff
{{-}}

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*At the time of this issue's publication, ''The Transformers'' was still being written as if it took place within the mainstream [[Marvel Comics]] universe. As such, a footnote on the first page informs readers that "the events of this story take place before ''[[Avengers]]'' #257," in which the alien [[wikia:marvel:Terminus (Destroyer) (Earth-616)|Terminus]] ravaged the Savage Land, destroying the alien machinery that maintained its tropical climate. This is the last such direct reference to the wider Marvel Universe in the comic.
*Slag's memories provide a more detailed account of the Dinobots' battle with Shockwave, originally partially seen in [[The Last Stand|issue #4]].
*Shockwave reveals that he has already used the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]] within Optimus Prime to program six new Decepticon lives, which he now intends to build bodies for using the aerospace plant's facilities. We didn't realize it at the time, but we saw this happening on the final page of [[The New Order|issue #5]], as energy was siphoned from Prime's head into a glowing cube. <!--Previous note here that claimed this was an error, not realizing Shockwave did this BEFORE Prime transferred the Matrix to Buster. Note said "Letter columns confirmed that some residual energy remained in Prime's head."--what issues? They were wrong and didn't need to anyway.-->
*The Dinobots disappear from the US series following this issue, only showing back up in a year's time in [[Command Performances!|issue #19]]. The UK series provided an explanation for their absence in a series of original stories that began in the following UK issue.
*Shockwave notes that he calculated a 27.6% chance that he wouldn't have to destroy Megatron in this issue. Back in [[The New Order|issue #5]], when checking on Megatron's recovery, he noted a 27.6% improvement in his operating capacity. What a coincidence!
*'''Bot Roster:'''
**''Autobots:'' 6 active, as the Dinobots return to the fold; 16 inactive plus Optimus Prime held captive (23 total)
**''Decepticons:'' 10 active; Megatron missing in action (11 total)

===Continuity and plotting errors===
*The machinery aboard the Ark that rebuilds the Dinobots does not resemble the [[:File:Combat deck marvel 1.jpg|revival drones]] that would rebuild the rest of the Transformers four million years later in [[The Transformers (issue)|issue #1]].
*Based on his actions during the Dinobots' battle with Shockwave, Snarl appears to have been confused for Sludge. Sludge's [[bio]] describes his low intelligence, and how he is often the victim of "self-inflicted calamities," having to be "dug out of the rubble he brings down upon himself."  In the issue, Snarl brings rubble down on the Dinobots and is repeatedly called dumb.
*Narration this issue claims Josie Beller "cannot move or lift (her right arm) on her own," but just last issue, her right arm was described as the one part of his body she ''could'' move.

===Artwork and technical errors===
*Repeating an error from issues [[Prisoner of War!|#3]], [[Last Stand|#4]], and [[Warrior School!|#7]], Megatron still has his off-center Decepticon [[insignia]], a result of the artist misinterpreting the geometry of his character model. See [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity#Notes|the note on Megatron's page]] for more information.
*In another repeating error, G.B. Blackrock is missing his mustache this issue.
*Shockwave finally settles into his finalized color scheme this issue, with his shoulders being colored in purple like the rest of his body. His hand and gun are typically a lighter purple than the rest of him, but in this issue, they are an especially light pink-purple.
*As in the previous issue, Optimus Prime's head is drawn as missing its antenna-ears.
*In dinosaur mode, Slag's head is colored golden yellow. Though this is how he looks in [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the cartoon]], it's the only time he'll look this way in the comic; future issues color his dino-head greyish-purple. Both are derived from the toy, the head of which is golden chrome inside translucent smokey-grey plastic.
*Page 1: There's a large yellow smear across Ratchet's pelvis, and the sides of his helmet are also colored yellow.
*Page 7, panels 3-4: Snarl is colored like Slag. In panel 4, bot his dino-mode tail [[kibble]], and Grimlock's "wings," are miscolored as if they are part of the shuttlecraft in the background.
*Pages 8-10: Grimlock's dino-mode neck is solid grey instead of yellow.
*Page 10, panels 1 & 3: Shockwave is colored like Megatron.
*Page 13, panels 4-5: Soundwave is initially alone when Shockwave arrives at the plant, only for Laserbeak to have suddenly appeared on his shoulder in the next panel. Laserbeak is oddly colored with an orange head, and Soundwave's mouthplate is the same strong purple color as the rest of his body.
*Page 15: Megatron's Decepticon insignia is uncolored.
*Page 18, panel 1: Ratchet's head crest looks like it's missing; we should be able to see it poking out on either side of his helmet. The same happens on page 22, panel 1.

===UK printing===
[[File:UKDinobotsPoster.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|]]
'''Issue #27:'''
*'''Published:''' [[September 14|14th September]], 1985
*'''Cover date:''' [[September 21|21st September]], 1985
*'''[[Back-up strips]]:''' ''Machine Man'' ("He Lives Again," Part 1), ''[[Robo-Capers]]'' and ''Matt and the Cat''; ''Robo-Capers'' debuts this issue.
*With this issue, the comic went from fortnightly to weekly, and changed from partially color/partially black-and-white to full color, a format change that would last all the way up to [[Race with the Devil|issue #215]]. As the price rose from 25p to 30p, the design and layout was revised and the number of pages shortened, settling on 12 pages of Transformer action, one 6 page backup strip and two half page funnies.

'''Issue #28:'''
*'''Published:''' [[September 21|21st September]], 1985
*'''Cover date:''' [[September 28|28th September]], 1985
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Machine Man'' ("He Lives Again," Part 2), ''Robo-Capers'' and ''Matt and the Cat''
*'''[[Fact File|Fact File Interface]]:''' [[Snarl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Snarl]]
*'''Free gift:''' A2 poster of the Dinobots, by [[John Higgins]] (pictured; later reprinted in the [[Transformers Annual 1986]])
*The epilogue featuring Josie Beller completing her cybernetic upgrade is cut from the UK printing, as there would be several issues' worth of UK-original strips between this story and the next US issue, which the epilogue is meant to lead directly into. The Snarl Fact File fills in the empty space left on the page.

===Other trivia===
*The cover features only Grimlock, Slag and Sludge—without Snarl and Swoop. These same three Dinobots were initially introduced in the animated series episode "[[S.O.S. Dinobots]]" before their remaining two companions, and the same three only were seen in the [[commercial]] animation for the Dinobot toys. Coincidence?
*IDW's ''[[Classic Transformers]]'' reprint censored the editor's note on page 1 that mentioned the Savage Land and ''Avengers'' #257.
*This issue is featured in the movie Vice Versa (1988), though the pages shown being read are from issue 9.

===Covers (3)===
*'''US issue #8:''' Sludge, Grimlock and Slag, by [[Mark Bright|M.D. Bright]] and [[Kyle Baker]].
*'''UK issue #27:''' Shockwave transforming, by [[Robin Smith]].
*'''UK issue #28:''' reuse of art from US cover.

<gallery>
File:MarvelUS-08.jpg|'''US issue #8''' - What IS Grimlock doing to Slag?
File:MarvelUK-027.jpg|'''UK issue #27''' - ... that shaked when he laughed like a bowl full of purple jelly.
File:MarvelUK-028.jpg|'''UK issue #28''' - "We'll defeat Shockwave with the Dinobots. And a free poster. And an elephant."
</gallery>

===Reprints===
<gallery>
File:Transformers Digest 04-cover.jpg|'''[[The Transformers Comics Magazine issue 4|''The Transformers Comics Magazine'' #4]]''' (Marvel US, 1987)
File:Titan-NewOrderSC.jpg|'''''[[Transformers: New Order]]'' paperback''' (Titan Books, 2003)
File:Titan-NewOrderHC.jpg|'''''[[Transformers: New Order]]'' hardback''' (Titan Books, 2003)
File:Classic Transformers Vol1.jpg|'''[[Classic Transformers Volume 1|''Classic Transformers'' Volume 1]]''' (IDW Publishing, 2008)
File:BoUK Dinobots 6a.jpg|'''[[The Transformers: Best of UK: Dinobots#Issue #6|''The Transformers: Best of UK: Dinobots'' #6]] cover A''' by [[Josh Burcham]] (IDW Publishing, 2008)
File:BoUK Dinobots 6b.jpg|'''[[The Transformers: Best of UK: Dinobots#Issue #6|''The Transformers: Best of UK: Dinobots'' #6]] cover B''' by [[Josh Burcham]] (IDW Publishing, 2008)
File:BoUK Dinobots 6ri.jpg|'''[[The Transformers: Best of UK: Dinobots#Issue #6|''The Transformers: Best of UK: Dinobots'' #6]] retailer incentive cover''' (IDW Publishing, 2008)
File:TFClassicsVol1.JPG|'''[[The Transformers Classics, Vol. 1|''The Transformers Classics,'' Vol. 1]]''' (IDW Publishing, 2011)
File:ClassicComicCollection1.jpg|'''''Transformers: Classic Comic Collection, Vol. 1''''' (Chrirpy Bird, 2015)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v2.jpg|'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]], Vol. 2: New Order''''' (Hachette Partworks Ltd, 2018)
File:HXClassicsVol2.jpg|'''''[[The Transformers Classics#Japanese reprints|The Transformers Classics]], Vol. 2''''' ([[Mediaboy Mook]], 2018)
</gallery>

====IDW ''Transformers Classics'' edits====
For ''[[The Transformers Classics]]'' series of trade paperbacks, IDW Publishing "remastered" the coloring of the series with varying degrees of success. These changes were sometimes to fix errors, but often to alter characters' color schemes to make them resemble their toy and/or cartoon selves, and were rarely applied with consistency. IDW's recolored version was also used for Hachette's ''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection|Definitive G1 Collection]]''.
*Page 7, panel 2: A yellow printing haze around Snarl's grey forehead crest is misinterpreted, and the whole crest winds up recolored yellow. Snarl himself is still the wrong colors.
*Page 10: Shockwave's colors are corrected.
*Page 13: As is standard for the reprint series, Soundwave continues to be colored blue, erasing his standard purple Marvel color scheme.

===Advertisements===
*''Secret Wars II'' #4 (inside front cover)
*Fig Newtons/Apple Newtons Treasure Chest - between pages 4 & 5
*[[Nestlé]] Quik free Steve Garvey baseball - between pages 5 & 6
*Reese's Pieces "Glubgrafutz" - between pages 7 & 8
*Bonkers! new watermelon flavor - between pages 8 & 9
*Mile High Comics - between pages 16 & 17 and between pages 17 & 18
*various comics dealers - between pages 19 & 20
*Bullpen Bulletins, with notice of death of Morrie  - between pages 20 & 21
*''The Sword of Solomon Kane'' limited series
*Marvel subscriptions
*Star Comics subscriptions (inside back cover)
*Young Astronaut Program (back cover)

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