Editing ...Perchance to Dream

{{disambig2|the original Marvel UK comic|the [[Titan Books]] trade paperback|Transformers: Perchance to Dream}}
{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #255–260
|prev=White Fire
|next=The Primal Scream
|title="...Perchance to Dream"
|image=MarvelUK-260.jpg
|caption=Galvatron admires his G1 collection
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=
|coverdate=[[February 3|3rd February]] - [[March 10|10th March]] [[1990]]
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|art=[[Andrew Wildman]] (#255, #257, #260)<br/>[[Staz]] (#256, #258)<br/>[[John Stokes]] (#259)
|inks=
|lettering=[[Gary Gilbert|Glib]] (#255-256)<br/>[[Stuart Bartlett]] (#257-260)
|editor=
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]/[[Earthforce]]
}}
'''Five Autobots remember their past mistakes, and Galvatron prepares to muck up UK continuity forever.'''

==Synopsis==
{{Earthforcefiction}}
The [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] is unoccupied for an unknown reason and, watching from his [[Galvatron's ship|ship]] nearby, an alternate-reality [[Galvatron II|Galvatron]] sneaks a "[[mind bug]]" on board. With this probe device, he looks through the memories of the injured and offline [[Autobot]]s, trying to find ones with dark sides that he can permanently unleash, now that he knows their brain patterns, creating a new army!

In turn, his device probes [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]], [[Ironhide (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ironhide]], [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]], [[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]], and [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], causing them all to dream about times on [[Earth]] when they committed questionable acts:

===Prowl===
[[File:MarvelUK-255.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|{{w|Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?|So, androids ''don't'' dream of electric sheep...}}]]
Prowl remembers trying to stop the [[Battlecharger]]s, when his aggressive approach and their response left a trail of devastation. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] stepped in, telling Prowl that, as an Autobot, he couldn't endanger humans like this, Prowl thought to himself, "Sometimes you have to fight fire with fire!"

Galvatron chuckles, musing to himself that with that thought, Prowl has become exactly what he's looking for, then turns to his next subject...
{{-}}

===Ironhide===
[[File:MarvelUK-256.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|If Prime can be John Wayne, I'll be Clint Eastwood!]]
Ironhide remembers finding himself near a siege in [[Los Angeles]], where [[Greater glory terrorists|unnamed terrorists]] were holding hostages. Believing the hostages would be killed if the police went in, Ironhide attacked in full force to intimidate the terrorists into surrendering. However, the police came in at the last moment and ruined the effect, prompting the lead terrorist to try and detonate his suicide bomb. Ironhide had to kill him by freezing him in place and berated the police as "dumb organisms".

This too, pleases Galvatron.
{{-}}

===Sunstreaker===
[[File:MarvelUK-257.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb]]
[[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] and Sunstreaker were on a covert recon mission to scout out [[Fortress Sinister]], but the Autobot pretty-boy blew it by showing off, attracting the attention of [[Thundercracker (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Thundercracker]] and [[Skywarp (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Skywarp]]. The [[Decepticon]]s attacked, injuring Jazz, and, scared at the thought of being made "a mess" himself, Sunstreaker abandoned his comrade and deliberately drew the Decepticons near the US military encampment so the humans would drive them off. Sunstreaker congratulated himself and admired how he'd saved his good looks, while many soldiers lay badly wounded as a result of his tactic.

Galvatron is amused by this and welcomes Sunstreaker to the team.
{{-}}

===Wheeljack===
[[File:MarvelUK-258.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|Please, Wheeljack. Let Nightbeat do the detective work.]]
Wheeljack remembers running into [[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]] at [[Blackrock Aerospace Assembly Plant Number One]], following the [[Dinobot Hunt!|Dinobot Hunt]]. He wanted to find the technology used to make [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] so he could repair the injured Autobots, and so made a deal with Ravage: In return for the technology, he'd brainwash Jetfire with Ravage's [[neuro-control helmet]] into returning to the Decepticons. Despite not trusting Jetfire, he backed out at the last minute. He later found out Ravage had destroyed the factory, meaning he'd almost betrayed his comrade for no end result.

However, back on the Ark, the mind bug has awoken Wheeljack from his slumber...
{{-}}

===Silverbolt===
[[File:MarvelUK-259.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|Those be some mighty big humans.]]
Silverbolt remembers battling [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]], a battle where [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] was needed, despite (still!) not being fully tested. [[Aerialbots over America!|This time, the process worked]], but it also caused the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] to see inside one another's minds. His secret fear of heights revealed, Silverbolt caused Superion to go savagely berserk.
{{-}}

===Galvatron===
[[File:PerchanceToDream2.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Prowl and Wheeljack > Wreckers and Mayhems.]]
Galvatron's probe accidentally causes all the Autobots to revive. Boarding the Ark himself, he uses his mind-control device on Wheeljack and Prowl. However, as Autobots, they're easily able to deny their baser instincts, and they shoot him down without warning. Galvatron is then sent into a comatose state by a device Wheeljack created, leaving him trapped in Autobot custody and dreaming of being defeated over and over again.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks or dreams.<br />
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] (3)
*''[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]'' (4)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ironhide]] (6)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (8)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (9)
*''[[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]]'' (10)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] (15)
*''[[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]'' (16)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (18)
*''[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]]'' (19)
*''[[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]]'' (20)
*''[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]]'' (21)
*''[[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]]'' (22)
*''[[Superion (G1)|Superion]]'' (23)
*''[[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]]'' (24)
{{!}}}
|c2=
*''[[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]]'' (1)
*''[[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]]'' (2)
*[[Galvatron II|Galvatron]] (5)
*''[[Thundercracker (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Thundercracker]] (11)
*''[[Skywarp (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Skywarp]]'' (12)
*''[[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]'' (13)
*''[[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]]'' (14)
*''[[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]]'' (17)
|c3=
*''[[Greater glory terrorists|Terrorists]]'' (7)
}}

==Quotes==
"Do I detect a certain...'''hostility''' emanating from these vehicles, '''Runamuck?'''"<br>
"Yep."<br>
"'''Good!'''"
:—'''Runabout''' and '''Runamuck'''


"That does it, ''''Cons''' - I'm '''through''' playin' by the rules!"
:—Who are you and what have you done with '''Prowl'''?


"[''Bursts through a wall''] '''Surprise, surprise!'''"
:—'''Ironhide''' channels the Kool-Aid Man.


"Kee-keep back! I will-"<br>
"'''Will you?''' You'll only make me '''mad''', and you don't want '''that''' do you?"
:—'''Terrorist''' intimidated by '''Ironhide'''


"How'd I look '''Jazz?''' I know '''great''', but '''how great?'''"
:—'''Sunstreaker''' in a nutshell.


"'''No!''' Look at me! This worse than '''slow torture!''' But what can I '''do?''' If I '''don't''' run, I'll have to stand and fight. They'll pick me off - '''fender''' by '''fender''', '''hubcap''' by '''hubcap!''' I've abandoned '''Jazz''', lost my communicator - there's '''no hope!'''"
:—'''Sunstreaker''' is no ray of sunshine, ironically.


"'''Looking''' for something, '''Autobot?'''"<br>
"'''WAAAH!'''"
:—'''Ravage''' spooks '''Wheeljack'''


"Okay, I'm not averse to a little '''lube job''' now and then. I'm all yours, doc!"
:—'''Jetfire''' says questionable things.


"They'll '''kill''' us all!"
:—'''Bystander'''


"So! My little '''toy''' did '''more''' than '''read''' and '''relay''' your dreams! '''It woke you up!'''"
:—'''Galvatron''''s plan has gone more than a little pear-shaped.


"Soon you will call me '''Master!'''"<br>
"Oh yeah?"<br>
"'''Yeah!'''"<br>
"'''SHEEAGH!'''"
:—'''Galvatron''' clobbers poor '''Wheeljack''', who just can't catch a break in this issue.


"Nice idea, '''Galvatron''', but it's like '''Ironhide''' said - we're '''Autobots!''' We're '''dedicated''' to ignoring our '''baser instincts!''' It's what sets us '''apart''' from '''scum''' like '''you!''' It takes '''more''' than a '''bit of machinery''' to change that!"<br>
"UK-[''Prowl slams Wheeljack's device onto his head'']"<br>
"But don't fret. '''Here's''' a device '''Wheeljack''' rigged up. Call it '''poetic justice!'''"
:—'''Prowl''' is badass and '''Galvatron''' is screwed.

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

===Continuity notes===
[[File:PerchanceToDream6-Galvatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7|Surprise, I'm [[Galvatron II]]!]]
*The flashbacks all take place before "[[Afterdeath!]]". With the exception of Ironhide's, they make specific reference to past stories, either directly placing themselves at a certain time (Prowl, Sunstreaker and Wheeljack) or being more vague (Silverbolt). They can all slot into past continuity with no problem.
*The ''framing story'', by contrast, doesn't fit with contemporary continuity. As the Ark is flying, it has to be before "[[On the Edge of Extinction!]]", but there is no point when these characters could be revived and then killed again in time for their [[Nucleon (substance)|Nucleon]] revival. Furthermore, the story starts off the [[Earthforce]] run, which sidesteps the US continuity entirely and in 2015 was officially listed as [[Primax 290.03 Gamma|an alternate timeline]].
*The Galvatron in this story doesn't fit into continuity any better. The ''[[Dinobot Hunt!]]'' trade paperback from [[Titan Books|Titan]] pegs him as "the alternate-reality Galvatron from US #67," aka [[Galvatron II]]. That's frankly impossible to reconcile without that handy alternate timeline ruling. Now we can say that instead of/after/before going to Cybertron like he was told to, in Earthforce's timeline he flies off to the Ark. That still leaves us with the question of what happened to [[Hook, Line, and Sinker]] (who should be following him) and why [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] just leaves him there.
*Sunstreaker was shot point blank by [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] way back in "[[The New Order]]", leaving him offline until "[[Totaled!]]" many issues later -- after which he vanished from the story ''again'', presumably deactivated during "Totaled!" or the Underbase slaughter in "[[Dark Star]]". He doesn't know who Galvatron is, suggesting he was only brought online shortly before "Totaled!" and not briefed on anything. This is the first story to have him back for any length of time.
*"Perchance to Dream" follows the same format—flashback-based character vignettes with a framing story—as the earlier "[[Aspects of Evil!]]". That story had another Galvatron too, leaving us with the possibility that ''this'' Galvatron was originally meant to be ''that'' Galvatron.
*At one point, Galvatron's mind bug examines [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] as a possibility, before Galvatron rejects him as unsuitable, regretfully noting that Brawn's brute strength would have been an asset. From Galvatron, that's quite a compliment!

===Real-life references===
*Galvatron has read [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]], or at least the start of ''{{w|Hamlet}}'', Act III.

===Other trivia===
*Prowl's reactivation by Galvatron's mind bug is referenced in his ''[[Transformers AtoZ]]'' profile update in the [[Transformers Annual 1991]].
*Reprinted as a self-titled, digest-sized trade paperback by [[Titan Books]] in August 2006. It was collected with the UK [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] stories and the 3-part [[Irwin Spoon]] story that ended the [[Earthforce]] run.
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] is part of Galvatron's chess set on the cover despite only appearing in flashback. He was part of the [[Classics (Europe)|''Classics'']] toyline that these stories were pimping and turns up [[Break-Away!|quite abruptly in three issues' time]]; perhaps he was originally planned to have a spotlight story of his own?

===Back-up material===
'''Issue #255:'''
*'''Reprint ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Worlds Apart!]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''[[Action Force (comic)|G.I. Joe the Action Force]]'' - "Transit" and ''[[Combat Colin]] in Space!''
'''Issue #256:'''
*'''Reprint ''Transformers'' story:''' "Worlds Apart!"
*'''Other strips:''' ''G.I. Joe the Action Force'' - "Transit" and ''Combat Colin in Space!''
'''Issue #257:'''
*'''Reprint ''Transformers'' story:''' "Worlds Apart!"
*'''Other strips:''' ''G.I. Joe the Action Force'' - "Transit" and ''Combat Colin Meets Combat Kate!''
'''Issue #258:'''
*'''Reprint ''Transformers'' story:''' "Worlds Apart!"
*'''Other strips:''' ''G.I. Joe the Action Force'' - "Going Under" and ''Combat Colin Meets Combat Kate!''
'''Issue #259:'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[The Primal Scream]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''G.I. Joe the Action Force'' - "Going Under" and ''Combat Colin Meets Combat Kate!''
*'''Free gift:''' Transformers sticker
'''Issue #260:'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "The Primal Scream"
*'''Other strips:''' ''G.I. Joe the Action Force'' - "Going Under" and ''Combat Colin''
*'''Free gift:''' Autobot Classic Heroes poster
*This issue featured the first part of a competition to win a set of the [[Classics (Europe)|Classic Heroes]] toys Prowl, Sunstreaker, Ironhide, Wheeljack, Jazz and [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]].

===Covers (6)===
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-255.jpg|'''Issue #255'''
File:MarvelUK-256.jpg|'''Issue #256'''
File:MarvelUK-257.jpg|'''Issue #257'''
File:MarvelUK-258.jpg|'''Issue #258'''
</gallery>
*'''Issue #255 cover:''' Prowl dreams about the Battlechargers, by [[Stephen Baskerville]].
*'''Issue #256 cover:''' Ironhide threatens some terrorists, by Stephen Baskerville.
*'''Issue #257 cover:''' Sunstreaker admires himself, by [[Art Wetherell]].
*'''Issue #258 cover:''' Wheeljack is surprised by the sudden appearance of Ravage's [[Character model#Model sheet poses used in fiction|character model]], by [[Jeff Anderson]].
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-259.jpg|'''Issue #259'''
File:MarvelUK-260.jpg|'''Issue #260'''
</gallery>
*'''Issue #259 cover:''' Menasor puts the smackdown on Superion, by Andrew Wildman.
*'''Issue #260 cover:''' Galvatron plays [[chess]] with the Autobots, by [[Geoff Senior]].

===Advertisements===
'''Issue #255:'''
*''[[Punisher|The Punisher]]'' comic
*''The Real [[Ghostbusters]]'' comic
*[[Micromaster]]s [[Sports Car Patrol]], [[Rescue Patrol (G1)|Rescue Patrol]] and [[Battle Patrol]] sets (back cover)

'''Issue #256:'''
*''The Punisher'' comic
*''The Real Ghostbusters'' comic
*[[Classic Pretender|Pretender Classics]] [[Starscream (G1)/toys|Starscream]], [[Grimlock (G1)/toys|Grimlock]], [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys|Bumblebee]] and [[Jazz (G1)/toys|Jazz]] (back cover)

'''Issue #257:'''
*''The Punisher'' comic
*''The Real Ghostbusters'' comic
*[[Action Force (team)|Action Force]] Weapon Transport and [[Cobra]] Night Landing (back cover)

'''Issue #258:'''
*''The Real Ghostbusters'' comic
*''The Punisher'' comic
*[[Classics (Europe)|Classic Heroes]] [[Prowl (G1)/toys|Prowl]], [[Sunstreaker (G1)/toys|Sunstreaker]], [[Ironhide (G1)/toys|Ironhide]], [[Wheeljack (G1)/toys|Wheeljack]], Jazz and [[Inferno (G1)/toys|Inferno]] (back cover)

'''Issue #259:'''
*''[[Doctor Who]]'' Magazine
*''The Real Ghostbusters'' comic
*Findus Crispy Pancakes announce [[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1|the Return of Optimus Prime]] (back cover)

'''Issue #260:'''
*''The Punisher'' comic

===Reprints===
*'''''[[Transformers: Perchance to Dream]]:''''' [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] smacks down [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], detail from the cover of 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]].
*'''''[[Transformers: Best of the Rarities]]:''''' [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] "cassette" by [[James Biggie]].
<gallery>
File:Titan B&W Compilation-Perchance to Dream.jpg|'''''Perchance to Dream'''''<br>(Titan Books, 2006)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v19.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection'' Vol. 19''' (Hachette Partworks, 2017)
File:TF RaritiesCover.jpg|'''''Transformers: Best of the Rarities'''''<br>(IDW Publishing, 2022)
</gallery>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Perchance to Dream}}
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]