Editing Back from the Dead

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #56
|prev=The Interplanetary Wrestling Championship!
|next=The Resurrection Gambit!
|title=Back from the Dead
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #240–242
|prev2=A Savage Place!
|next2=Out to Lunch!
|image=MarvelUS-56.jpg
|caption=Oh boy! ''More'' Micromasters!
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=May 1989
|coverdate=September 1989
|story=[[Simon Furman]]
|pencils=[[José Delbo]]
|inks=[[Dave Hunt]]
|color=[[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]
|letters=[[Jim Massara]]
|editing=[[Don Daley]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}

'''Some British guy starts writing the title. This won't last...'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Zombiesbackfromthedead.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Blaster's not dead, he's just a Headmaster!]]
In Ratchet's nightmares, the dead walk. Because he has failed to restore them to life, they have become the un-life, and thirst for his spark. As the scrambling corpses pile over him, Ratchet decides he deserves to die for his failure, and gives in to his attackers as they violently — RATCHET!!

Suddenly, he startles awake. Optimus Prime has come into the medical bay and shaken Ratchet out of involuntary systems shut-down. Prime has been desperate to replenish his ranks after [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s rampage through their forces, but he starts to realize how much of an effect the stress has had on Ratchet. He orders the surgeon to take some downtime, but worries his demand for troops might have already damaged Ratchet's sanity. Ratchet, in turn, shows that he has hardly been comforted by Prime's pep-talk, and laments the lack of any real advanced medical technology, like he's heard exists on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] now.

Meanwhile, on that very planet, a mysterious figure is addressing the [[Micromaster]] [[Sports Car Patrol]]. As these tiny [[Decepticon|Decepticons]] demonstrate they are ready for their covert mission and show off their faction-switching insignias, the figure contacts his other agents on [[Earth]], the [[Air Strike Patrol]], and tells them to begin their part of the mission.

The Air Strike Patrol stages an attack at [[MacDill Air Force Base]], taking the humans hostage while making empty demands for the new mid-air refueling jet being unveiled. Unknown to all involved, their only true purpose is to get the [[Autobot|Autobots]]' attention. They succeed. Despite their low numbers, Optimus Prime feels compelled to gather a strike team and take a shuttle down to Earth to defend the humans.

With the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] virtually deserted, the Sports Car Patrol teleports in using a new [[Trans-Time Dimensional Portal|trans-time dimensional portal]]. Working from a nearby circuit panel, Blackjack reprograms some crucial systems to give him remote control over the fallen Autobots. He animates them and provides a voice in order to physically and psychologically batter Ratchet into submission. With his recent nightmares coming to life around him, Ratchet almost submits to his attackers, but manages to shake loose his guilt and fight back. He breaks free and prepares to hit the emergency cut-off switch to short-circuit the "zombies", but hesitates at doing any more damage to their systems.

Fortunately for Ratchet, the choice is taken out of his hands. Blackjack's psychological torture was supposed to force Ratchet to tear apart his fallen comrades with his bare hands in order to survive, breaking him mentally. Instead, the Micromaster is forced to shut down the reanimates before they kill Ratchet, and he ceases to be of any use. Time for Plan B. Stepping out of the shadows, Blackjack and friends introduce themselves as the Autobot Sports Car Patrol. Claiming to be on their way back to Cybertron, the Micromasters offer to take Ratchet with them and let him make use of their shiny new med-tech.

Ready to jump at the chance, Ratchet quickly attempts to contact Optimus Prime and receive permission. Static on the line prevents him from getting through, however. Ratchet decides to go to Cybertron anyway, and brings the bodies of [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], [[Bumblebee (G1)|Goldbug]], and [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] with him to be the first revitalized. He immediately realizes his mistake when the Patrol leaves Blackjack behind on the Ark, though, and his suspicions are confirmed when the Micromasters turn their guns on him as they rematerialize. Whatever worries he had, they are soon trumped by the arrival of his old nemesis... Megatron!

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (1)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (2)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] (13)
* [[Getaway]] (14)
|c2=
* [[Detour (G1)|Detour]] (3)
* [[Hyperdrive (Micromaster)|Hyperdrive]] (4)
* [[Blackjack]] (5)
* [[Road Hugger (G1)|Road Hugger]] (6)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] (7)
* [[Tailwind (G1)|Tailwind]] (8)
* [[Whisper (G1)|Whisper]] (9)
* [[Nightflight (G1)|Nightflight]] (10)
* [[Storm Cloud]] (11)
|c3=
* General [[James Campbell]] (12)
}}

==Errors==
* There are several glitches on page 4. It is apparently supposed to be Road Hugger who says "Right on!", as the next text bubble suggests, and Blackjack discussing the need for subtlety and sneakiness in that panel and the next. Also, the text bubble about what Blackjack excels in would make more sense switched with the one about changing their symbols.
* Even assuming he got suspicious at the end, Ratchet is not very bright. Someone reanimates the fallen Autobots by remote control and turns them against him, then, out of nowhere, some Transformers he's never seen before step out of the hallway and offer to take him on a magical journey. Right — when was the last time you EVER saw an Autobot wearing purple? 
* There are a few problems with page 15 as well. The third panel seems to suggest Road Hugger remains on the Ark. However, two panels later, he is shown with Detour and Hyperdrive on Cybertron. Also, Ratchet asks "Why aren't ''they'' coming with us?", but only Blackjack is actually left behind.
* On the last page, Yomtov colored one of Ratchet's hands red and the other one black. Way to go, Nel.
* Blaster's corpse is consistently drawn with a damaged left arm, yet when he was killed in US issue [[Dark Star (issue)|#50]] (which was also penciled by Delbo) he only had a chest wound. 

==Items of note==
[[Image:DelboAirStrikePatrolSwipe1.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Well, at least he got a little creative with Tailwind's arms...]]
* This is the first US series issue scripted by [[Simon Furman]], who took over the run from [[Bob Budiansky]].
* Likewise, the [[Dan Reed]] cover of this issue marks the first time a UK Transformers artist would provide original material for the U.S. comic. Reed would later be followed on the book by true Brits [[Geoff Senior]] and [[Andrew Wildman]].
* The inactive bodies of [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], Goldbug, [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], Jazz, [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]], Grimlock, and [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] are shown in Ratchet's workshop.
* For [[Whisper (G1)|Whisper]] and [[Tailwind (G1)|Tailwind's]] first appearance in robot mode on page 7, [[José Delbo]] swiped their poses from the [[package art]] for the [[Micromaster]] [[Air Strike Patrol]], with the exception of Tailwind's arms, which are swiped from the package art for his teammate [[Nightflight (G1)|Nightflight]] instead.
* ''[[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|Transformers Universe]]'' profiles for [[Battletrap]], [[Blot (G1)|Blot]], [[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]], [[Rollbar (G1)|Rollbar]], Goldbug, and [[Wide Load]] are found after the main story.
* The page count for this issue drops from 22 to 16, with the difference made up with the aforementioned Universe profiles.
{{-}}

===References===
* Starscream's devastation of the Autobot forces occurred in US issue #50.
* Megatron installing flip-change faction symbols on his minions is suitably ironic, as [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] had the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] use the same trick on him in US issue [[Gone but Not Forgotten!|#25]].
* Ratchet's attempt to contact Optimus Prime will be shown from Prime's perspective next issue.

===Covers===
<gallery>
Image:MarvelUS-56.jpg|'''US issue #56''' - "Yes humans, flee from the power of my armpits."
Image:MarvelUK-240.jpg|'''UK issue #240''' - Some people see pink elephants. Others...
Image:MarvelUK-241.jpg|'''UK issue #241''' - Is it Thunderwing or a viking?
Image:MarvelUK-242.jpg|'''UK issue #242''' - SPAAAAAAAAACE!
</gallery>
* '''US cover:''' The Air Strike Patrol by [[Dan Reed]].
* '''UK issue #240 cover:''' Darkwing, Dreadwind and the Mecannibals by [[Andrew Wildman]].
* '''UK issue #241 cover:''' Thunderwing emerges from the sea by [[Geoff Senior]].
* '''UK issue #242 cover:''' Assault on the Ark by [[Jeff Anderson]].

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