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'''Optimus Prime finds that Cybertron is not the home he once knew.'''
'''Prime finds that Cybertron is not the home he once knew.'''
==Synopsis==
{{nonlinear}}
[[File:HarderTheyDie try your luck.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.5]]
[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] believes himself about to be savaged by [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] and [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]]—but surprisingly, rather than pounce on Prime, the pair leap ''over'' him and disappear into the woods. The watching [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] is baffled by their disobedience, and his momentary confusion allows the other Predacons to stun him and steal his [[fusion cannon]], before also disappearing. Megatron realises that [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] has set him up, evidently believing that in unarmed combat, Megatron will be no match for Optimus Prime, leaving Shockwave free to take his place as [[Decepticon]] leader. Unfortunately, Megatron is carrying a backup sidearm, and when he spots what he believes to be Optimus Prime standing by his [[Combat Deck (G1)|trailer]], he opens fire, blowing him to pieces. But what Megatron has destroyed is ''not'' Prime, but a [[facsimile construct]] constructed in Prime's image by [[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]], which the Autobot leader intended to use to fake his death so that he could test his Autobots' ability to function without him to command. Having used the construct to dupe Megatron, the real Prime tackles the Decepticon from behind, and the pair grapple. Realizing that Shockwave was right that he cannot beat Prime, Megatron summons the Decepticons' [[space bridge]]... but as it begins to appear, Prime makes a suicide play, hurling himself and Megatron through the bridge before it can fully materialize, causing an explosion. Presently, the Autobots arrive to find the shattered remains of Prime's facsimile construct, and—just as Prime had initially intended—assume their leader to have been destroyed. But with no evidence that the ''real'' Prime has survived either, even Wheeljack, who was in on the planned deception, believes that Optimus is no more.
[[File:Polyhexdecepticonstronghold.jpg|left|upright=0.85|thumb|And it was all going so well...]]
In truth, both Prime and Megatron survive the unstable transport through the bridge and arrive on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], but are separated in the process. In the ruined streets of one of the planet's cities, Prime discovers a [[well-armed Decepticon bully|Decepticon thug]] brutalizing the small [[Autobot]] [[Outback (G1)|Outback]]. Prime intervenes, seizing the Decepticon by the throat, only to be unexpectedly blasted by beams from the thug's eyes. Briefly blinded, Prime hurls his opponent away, and can only flail around, waiting for a new attack to come... but when nothing happens, he opens his eyes to discover that his throw wound up impaling the Decepticon on a large spike of debris, killing him. Outback is shocked to learn that his rescuer is ''the'' legendary Optimus Prime, and when Prime sets off, Outback discreetly follows him.
[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] is on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. He wanders the desolate streets of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], shocked at what has become of his beloved home planet. Finding a [[Decepticon]] holding an [[Autobot]] at gunpoint, he challenges [[Well-armed Decepticon bully|the bully]], only to find that his foe is powerful. Only a stroke of luck allows Prime to triumph. The Autobot, [[Outback (G1)|Outback]], thanks Prime for the help; when Prime heads off alone, Outback follows discreetly.
[[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] is also on Cybertron, specifically the [[Polyhex Decepticon stronghold|headquarters]] in [[Polyhex]], and congratulates the current Decepticon leader—Lord [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]], now reduced to a head in a jar—on having pushed the Autobots back and crushed their spirit. Straxus is furious at Megatron for bringing Optimus Prime to Cybertron. Megatron explains that he had little choice; the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] betrayed him, attacking him and leaving him vulnerable to a follow-up attack from a fighting-mad Optimus. Desperate to escape, Megatron summoned the [[space bridge]], only to have Prime hurl them both through the portal before it was stable.
Megatron, meanwhile, has made his way to the [[Polyhex Decepticon stronghold|Decepticon headquarters]] in [[Polyhex]]. He is pleased to see that the Decepticons are in power on the planet, but immediately clashes with the local Decepticon leader, Lord [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]]—reduced to a disembodied head kept alive by a life-support bubble, following the destruction of his body during his earlier battle with [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]—who is furious that Megatron has brought Optimus Prime to Cybertron. However, Megatron already has a plan for dealing with Optimus: via a series of informants, he has fed the Autobots on Cybertron disinformation, tricking them into believing that a Decepticon designed to look like Optimus Prime will be seeking to infiltrate their ranks...
Megatron has already put out word through certain networks that the Decepticons have created a fake Optimus Prime and set him loose on Cybertron. Prime, meanwhile, despairs at the ruins of Iacon. He doesn't have long to lament, however; the misinformation campaign has done its job, and Prime soon finds himself under attack, imprisoned, and sentenced to execution by the Autobot band known as the [[Wrecker]]s.
Optimus Prime finds his way to [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], but despairs at the ruined state of the city. As he mourns the fallen Autobot capital, he is blindsided by an attack from [[Rack'n'Ruin (G1)|Rack'n'Ruin]] and [[Guardian (Marvel)|Guardian]] unit, which knocks him out. Coming to a short while later, Prime finds himself held by energy bonds and surrounded by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] and the [[Wreckers]], who are all fired up to execute the 'bot they believe to be a Decepticon impostor!
{{--}}
{{--}}
==Featured characters==
==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.)<br>
{{featuredcharacters
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
|c1=
{{collist|2|
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (1)
"Provoke me and you will find I am still a formidable adversary!"<br>
"'''Hah!''' And you're big enough to teach me the error of my ways? Well, '''forget it!''' In my experience, the bigger they are..."<br>
"Calm yourself, Straxus. '''You''' have nothing to fear from me!"<br>
"'''The harder they die?'''"
"And Prime does?"<br>
:—The '''Decepticon thug''' and '''Optimus Prime'''
"'''Oh yes!''' You see I have passed word, through your known informants within the Decepticon ranks, to the Autobot resistance, telling of a brazen Decepticon, trying to infiltrate their movement. A Decepticon, designed to resemble - in every detail - their missing hero, Optimus Prime! I won't need to kill my greatest enemy... '''the Autobots will do it for me!'''"
:—'''Megatron''' tells '''Straxus''' his master plan
For long, pleasant moments his mind wanders once more through the glowing golden streets of Iacon. His world is at peace. He remembers a time when his thoughts turned only to life, never to death. But - as consciousness drags him screaming from his past - he realises, with dreadful certainty... '''that has all changed!'''<br>
'''Ultra Magnus:''' "'''Decepticon''' - the charges are spying and impersonating our greatest warrior."<br>
"'''Decepticon''' - the charges are spying and impersonating our greatest warrior."<br>
'''Springer:''' "The verdict of this court is '''guilty'''!"<br>
"The verdict of this court is '''guilty'''!"<br>
'''Roadbuster:''' "The sentence is '''death'''!"<br>
"The sentence is '''death'''!"<br>
'''Twin Twist:''' "And the '''Wreckers''' will be only too pleased to carry it out!"<br>
"And the '''Wreckers''' will be only too pleased to carry it out!"<br>
:—'''Optimus Prime''' awakes to find himself captured by the Wreckers
:—'''Optimus Prime''' awakes to find himself captured by the Wreckers
==Notes==
==Notes==
* Straxus's body was destroyed in "[[The Bridge to Nowhere!]]". The US comics left him for dead, but the UK series uses him as a major player for quite some time to come.
===Continuity notes===
[[File:HarderTheyDie mockery of life.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5]]
*Straxus's battle with Blaster (right) took place in [[The Bridge to Nowhere!|US issue #18]]. As written, that (American) story depicted him dying, but this UK-original tale shows that he has survived his apparent demise, after a fashion.
*The razing of Iacon was recounted in the "[[Cybertron: The Middle Years!]]" text feature in issue #83.
*Guardian battle-droids made their debut in [[Raiders of the Last Ark|issues #20-21]]; these issues introduced the sole Guardian unit kept aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], which later reappeared in [[Decepticon Dam-Busters!|issues #30]], [[The Wrath of Guardian!|31]] and [[The Wrath of Grimlock!|32]]. The one seen in this issue is a newer, sleeker model (right), evidently the product of four million of years of technical improvements.
*Ultra Magnus and the Wreckers were last seen in [[Target: 2006|issue #88]].
===Continuity and plotting errors===
*Gears is shown among the Autobots gathering up "Prime's" remains, but he should be offline in the repair bay, following injuries sustained at Decepticon hands in [[Dinobot Hunt!|issue #50]] (in accordance with his status in the American stories). He also previously erroneously appeared active in [[Target: 2006|issues #78 and 81]], so perhaps his appearance here is a knock-on effect of that initial mistake.
*Wheeljack was in on Optimus's plan to fake his death, so he shouldn't really be so quick to believe that Prime has actually died. The story justifies his belief with the fact that he receives no sign that the real Optimus has survived (presumably, Optimus would have called him to check in, but his communicator was destroyed last issue), but no time is taken to explore Wheeljack's thoughts, so it leaves things a bit vague. Does Wheeljack believe that the facsimile construct actually is Prime? Is his work so good that it is completely indistinguishable from the real thing? If so, what does he think happened to the construct? If not, what does he think has happened to Prime? If he believes he's ''really'' dead, you'd think he'd mention the plan to the other Autobots.
===Artwork and technical errors===
*'''Page 2, panel 6:''' Optimus Prime's neck is green.
*'''Page 3, panel 5:''' Hoist's head is uncoloured white. The orange portion of his legs are coloured the same yellow as Bumblebee.
*'''Page 4, panel 1:''' As in the previous two issues, Ratchet and Wheeljack are still coloured in outdated, early colour schemes; Ratchet has a red frame around his chest-window, Wheeljack has red shoulder-fins.
*'''Page 7, panel 1:''' The central portion of Megatron's fusion cannon is white instead of blue.
*'''Page 11, panel 3:''' Springer is still using the early colour model seen in his earlier appearances during "[[Target: 2006]]," which makes his helmet and face the same shade of green, and gives him grey forearms and fists. Additionally, there are some telltale lines and shading artifacts around Roadbuster's head which suggest that artist Geoff Senior initially drew and inked it incorrectly, and had to paste a small piece of paper with the corrected drawing over it.
===Back-up material===
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''[[Back-up strips#Spitfire and the Troubleshooters|Spitfire and the Troubleshooters]]'' ("Counterattack", Part 4) and (according to the ''Transformation'' contents page) ''[[Robo-Capers]]'' (or [[Not Robo Capers|not]]); ''Spitfire'' concludes this issue.
*'''Free Gift:''' [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] sticker badge, featuring art by Geoff Senior; this issue's ''Not Robo-Capers'' offers some tips on where ''not'' to stick it!
*'''Competition:''' Win a copy of [[Ladybird Books]]' [[Transformers the Movie (Ladybird adaptation)|''Transformers: The Movie'']] "Tell-A-Tale" storybook and cassette pack by finding the hidden Autobot and Decepticon insignias in a drawing of the movie's poster.
*Reader Robert Hughes sends a letter in to this issue's [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|"Grim Grams"]] asking what [[Macabre]]'s alternate mode is; Grimlock says it's a "bat-winged air current glider."
===Errors===
===Courtesy of my...===
* Hoist's head is missing its colors on page 3.
*Megatron has his fusion cannon taken by Divebomb.
* Prime's plan was to get Wheeljack to build a duplicate of his body, have it appear to be blown up and discovered by the Autobots and hopefully teach them to function without him. Wheeljack was in on this plan. And although there were [[Predacon (G1)|complications]] in how the plan was executed, the end result was the same: the [[facsimile construct]] was destroyed and the Autobots believed it to be the real thing. So why does Wheeljack (who, remember, was in on the plan) assume that the real one is dead? Granted, there was greater than expected destruction at the scene of the "crime", but to think "OMG PRIME MUST BE DEADED FOR REAL!" rather than "wow, Prime sure was thorough" is a bit odd. At the very least, you'd expect him to mention the plan to the other Autobots if he's unsure, or maybe check the remains of the recovered body? Or did he do such an amazing job that the duplicate is completely indistinguishable from the real thing?
*Fortunately he always carries a small back-up pistol as an "equaliser".
===Back-up stories===
===Foreign Localization===
* Spitfire and the Troubleshooters - "Counterattack" Part 4
*'''Swedish'''
* [[Robo-Capers]]
:*''Title (1989):'' "'''Dödens planet'''" ("The Planet of Death")
:*''Title (2021):'' "'''...Desto större blir fallet'''" ("...The Harder They Fall")
===Covers (4)===
===Covers===
*'''Issue #98:''' Megatron on Cybertron, by [[Phil Gascoine]].
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-098.jpg|TFUK #98 cover
File:MarvelUK-098.jpg|'''Issue #98'''
File:Tfcolcom12.jpg|Collected Comics 12 cover
File:Tf commag 08.JPG|'''Transformers Comic-Magazin issue #8:''' Ultra Magnus always brought a child with him.
File:TitanPrey.jpg|Prey TPB cover
File:Classicuk3.jpg|'''''The Transformers Classics UK Volume 3'''''
</gallery>
</gallery>
*'''UK issue 98 cover:''' Megatron on Cybertron, by [[Phil Gascoine]]
*'''Collected Comics 12 cover:''' The Predacons surround Optimus Prime, by [[Jeff Anderson]]
* '''[[Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 8|Transformers Comic-Magazin issue #8]] cover:''' Optimus Prime, a miscolored Ultra Magnus and Guardian, and a random small child.
*'''Prey TPB cover:''' Optimus Prime staves off Razorclaw while Ultra Magnus broods, by [[Lee Sullivan]]
*'''''The Transformers Classics UK Volume 3:''''' [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]], [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] vs [[Guardian (Marvel)|Guardian]], [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]]'s head, [[Xaaron]], [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] riding [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Outback (G1)|Outback]] by [[Andrew Wildman]].
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v7.jpg|'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection|The Definitive G1 Collection, Vol. 7: The Harder They Die]]''''' (Hachette Partworks, Ltd. 2017)
File:Target2006_SWECover.jpg|'''''Transformers: I siktet 2006''''' (Ades Media, 2021)
</gallery>
===Advertisements===
*[[S.T.A.R.S.]] Battle Pack
*"Four Fabulous Winter Specials"—[[Transformers: The Movie (Marvel comic)|''Transformers: The Movie'']], ''Doctor Who Magazine'', ''Doctor Who Collected Comics'', ''Zoids''
*"Mad Bix: Beyond Rumbledome"—three-panel comic strip advertising Weetabix cereal, in a parody of ''Mad Max''
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hasbro heroes sourcebook=Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook
micronauts=Micronauts (comic)|Micronauts
wrath of karza|micronauts wrath of karza|micronauts: wrath of karza=Micronauts: Wrath of Karza
first strike=First Strike
ROM
rom dire wraiths|rom: dire wraiths=Rom: Dire Wraiths
romamn|rom&mn|rom and the micronauts|rom & the micronauts=Rom & the Micronauts
rom vs transformers|shining armor|rom vs. transformers|rom vs transformers: shining armor|rom vs transformers: shining armor=Rom vs. Transformers: Shining Armor
m.a.s.k.|m. a. s. k.|mask mobile armored strike kommand|m.a.s.k. mobile armored strike kommand|mask: mobile armored strike kommand|m.a.s.k.: mobile armored strike command=M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand
scarletts strike force|scarlett's strike force=Scarlett's Strike Force
transformers vs visionaries|transformers vs. visionaries=Transformers vs. Visionaries
requiem of the wreckers|transformers requiem of the wreckers|transformers: requiem of the wreckers=Transformers: Requiem of the Wreckers
maximum dinobots|transformers maximum dinobots|transformers: maximum dinobots|the transformers maximum dinobots|maximum dinobots=Maximum Dinobots
all hail megatron|transformers all hail megatron|transformers: all hail megatron|the transformers all hail megatron|all hail megatron=All Hail Megatron
the transformers|the transformers (ongoing)|the transformers (idw)=IDW The Transformers
wreckers|last stand of the wreckers|transformers last stand of the wreckers|transformers: last stand of the wreckers|the transformers last stand of the wreckers|last stand of the wreckers=Last Stand of the Wreckers
transformers drift|transformers: drift|the transformers drift|drifteos|drift:eos|drift: empire of stone|transformers drift: empire of stone|transformers: drift: empire of stone|the transformers drift: empire of stone|drift: empire of stone|transformers drift: origins and empires|transformers drift: origins & empires|origins and empires|origins & empires=Drift
heart of darkness|transformers heart of darkness|transformers: heart of darkness|the transformers heart of darkness|heart of darkness=Heart of Darkness
tdoop|death of optimus prime|the death of optimus prime|transformers: the death of optimus prime=The Death of Optimus Prime
more than meets the eye|transformers: more than meets the eye=IDW More than Meets the Eye
robots in disguise|transformers: robots in disguise|ongoing2|exrid|the transformers (idw) vol. 2=IDW Robots in Disguise (2012)
dark cybertron=Dark Cybertron
the transformers: windblade|windblade2|windblade2015|the transformers: windblade vol. 2|the transformers: windblade (2015)=Windblade
transformers vs gi joe|transformers vs. g.i. joe=Transformers vs. G.I. Joe
sotw|wreckers2|sins of the wreckers|transformers sins of the wreckers|transformers: sins of the wreckers|the transformers sins of the wreckers|the transformers: sins of the wreckers=Sins of the Wreckers
lost light|transformers lost light|the transformers lost light|transformers: lost light|the transformers: lost light=Lost Light
till all are one|Till All Are One|transformers till all are one|transformers: till all are one|the transformers till all are one|the transformers: till all are one=Till All Are One
revolution=Revolution
revolutionaries=Revolutionaries
action man=Action Man
gijoe5|g.i. joe vol 5|g.i. joe vol. 5|g.i. joe volume 5|g.i. joe (vol. 5)|g.i. joe (volume 5)=G.I. Joe vol. 5
g.i. joe idw collection=G.I. Joe: The IDW Collection
first strike=First Strike
hasbro heroes sourcebook=Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook
micronauts=Micronauts
wrath of karza|micronauts wrath of karza|micronauts: wrath of karza=Micronauts: Wrath of Karza
rom=ROM
rom dire wraiths|rom: dire wraiths=Rom: Dire Wraiths
romamn|rom&mn|rom and the micronauts|rom & the micronauts=Rom & the Micronauts
rom vs transformers|shining armor|rom vs. transformers|rom vs transformers: shining armor|rom vs. transformers: shining armor=Rom vs. Transformers: Shining Armor
m.a.s.k.|m. a. s. k.|mask mobile armored strike kommand|m.a.s.k. mobile armored strike kommand|mask: mobile armored strike kommand|m.a.s.k.: mobile armored strike command=M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand
scarletts strike force|scarlett's strike force=Scarlett's Strike Force
transformers vs visionaries|transformers vs. visionaries=Transformers vs. Visionaries
requiem of the wreckers|transformers requiem of the wreckers|transformers: requiem of the wreckers=Requiem of the Wreckers
This story is told in nonlinear form. This synopsis presents it in chronological order for ease of reading.
Optimus Prime believes himself about to be savaged by PredaconsRazorclaw and Rampage—but surprisingly, rather than pounce on Prime, the pair leap over him and disappear into the woods. The watching Megatron is baffled by their disobedience, and his momentary confusion allows the other Predacons to stun him and steal his fusion cannon, before also disappearing. Megatron realises that Shockwave has set him up, evidently believing that in unarmed combat, Megatron will be no match for Optimus Prime, leaving Shockwave free to take his place as Decepticon leader. Unfortunately, Megatron is carrying a backup sidearm, and when he spots what he believes to be Optimus Prime standing by his trailer, he opens fire, blowing him to pieces. But what Megatron has destroyed is not Prime, but a facsimile construct constructed in Prime's image by Wheeljack, which the Autobot leader intended to use to fake his death so that he could test his Autobots' ability to function without him to command. Having used the construct to dupe Megatron, the real Prime tackles the Decepticon from behind, and the pair grapple. Realizing that Shockwave was right that he cannot beat Prime, Megatron summons the Decepticons' space bridge... but as it begins to appear, Prime makes a suicide play, hurling himself and Megatron through the bridge before it can fully materialize, causing an explosion. Presently, the Autobots arrive to find the shattered remains of Prime's facsimile construct, and—just as Prime had initially intended—assume their leader to have been destroyed. But with no evidence that the real Prime has survived either, even Wheeljack, who was in on the planned deception, believes that Optimus is no more.
In truth, both Prime and Megatron survive the unstable transport through the bridge and arrive on Cybertron, but are separated in the process. In the ruined streets of one of the planet's cities, Prime discovers a Decepticon thug brutalizing the small AutobotOutback. Prime intervenes, seizing the Decepticon by the throat, only to be unexpectedly blasted by beams from the thug's eyes. Briefly blinded, Prime hurls his opponent away, and can only flail around, waiting for a new attack to come... but when nothing happens, he opens his eyes to discover that his throw wound up impaling the Decepticon on a large spike of debris, killing him. Outback is shocked to learn that his rescuer is the legendary Optimus Prime, and when Prime sets off, Outback discreetly follows him.
Megatron, meanwhile, has made his way to the Decepticon headquarters in Polyhex. He is pleased to see that the Decepticons are in power on the planet, but immediately clashes with the local Decepticon leader, Lord Straxus—reduced to a disembodied head kept alive by a life-support bubble, following the destruction of his body during his earlier battle with Blaster—who is furious that Megatron has brought Optimus Prime to Cybertron. However, Megatron already has a plan for dealing with Optimus: via a series of informants, he has fed the Autobots on Cybertron disinformation, tricking them into believing that a Decepticon designed to look like Optimus Prime will be seeking to infiltrate their ranks...
Optimus Prime finds his way to Iacon, but despairs at the ruined state of the city. As he mourns the fallen Autobot capital, he is blindsided by an attack from Rack'n'Ruin and Guardian unit, which knocks him out. Coming to a short while later, Prime finds himself held by energy bonds and surrounded by Ultra Magnus and the Wreckers, who are all fired up to execute the 'bot they believe to be a Decepticon impostor!
"Hah! And you're big enough to teach me the error of my ways? Well, forget it! In my experience, the bigger they are..."
"The harder they die?"
—The Decepticon thug and Optimus Prime
Ultra Magnus: "Decepticon - the charges are spying and impersonating our greatest warrior." Springer: "The verdict of this court is guilty!" Roadbuster: "The sentence is death!" Twin Twist: "And the Wreckers will be only too pleased to carry it out!"
—Optimus Prime awakes to find himself captured by the Wreckers
Straxus's battle with Blaster (right) took place in US issue #18. As written, that (American) story depicted him dying, but this UK-original tale shows that he has survived his apparent demise, after a fashion.
Guardian battle-droids made their debut in issues #20-21; these issues introduced the sole Guardian unit kept aboard the Ark, which later reappeared in issues #30, 31 and 32. The one seen in this issue is a newer, sleeker model (right), evidently the product of four million of years of technical improvements.
Ultra Magnus and the Wreckers were last seen in issue #88.
Gears is shown among the Autobots gathering up "Prime's" remains, but he should be offline in the repair bay, following injuries sustained at Decepticon hands in issue #50 (in accordance with his status in the American stories). He also previously erroneously appeared active in issues #78 and 81, so perhaps his appearance here is a knock-on effect of that initial mistake.
Wheeljack was in on Optimus's plan to fake his death, so he shouldn't really be so quick to believe that Prime has actually died. The story justifies his belief with the fact that he receives no sign that the real Optimus has survived (presumably, Optimus would have called him to check in, but his communicator was destroyed last issue), but no time is taken to explore Wheeljack's thoughts, so it leaves things a bit vague. Does Wheeljack believe that the facsimile construct actually is Prime? Is his work so good that it is completely indistinguishable from the real thing? If so, what does he think happened to the construct? If not, what does he think has happened to Prime? If he believes he's really dead, you'd think he'd mention the plan to the other Autobots.
Page 3, panel 5: Hoist's head is uncoloured white. The orange portion of his legs are coloured the same yellow as Bumblebee.
Page 4, panel 1: As in the previous two issues, Ratchet and Wheeljack are still coloured in outdated, early colour schemes; Ratchet has a red frame around his chest-window, Wheeljack has red shoulder-fins.
Page 7, panel 1: The central portion of Megatron's fusion cannon is white instead of blue.
Page 11, panel 3: Springer is still using the early colour model seen in his earlier appearances during "Target: 2006," which makes his helmet and face the same shade of green, and gives him grey forearms and fists. Additionally, there are some telltale lines and shading artifacts around Roadbuster's head which suggest that artist Geoff Senior initially drew and inked it incorrectly, and had to paste a small piece of paper with the corrected drawing over it.
Free Gift:Galvatron sticker badge, featuring art by Geoff Senior; this issue's Not Robo-Capers offers some tips on where not to stick it!
Competition: Win a copy of Ladybird Books' Transformers: The Movie "Tell-A-Tale" storybook and cassette pack by finding the hidden Autobot and Decepticon insignias in a drawing of the movie's poster.
Reader Robert Hughes sends a letter in to this issue's "Grim Grams" asking what Macabre's alternate mode is; Grimlock says it's a "bat-winged air current glider."
{{#if: Megatron: Homecoming Queen |
Issue #98
Collected Comics #12 (Marvel Comics, 1989)
Transformers Comic-Magazin #8 (Condor Verlag, 1990)
Transformers: Prey TPB (Titan Books, 2004)
Best of UK: Prey #2 regular cover
Best of UK: Prey #2 RI cover (IDW Publishing, 2009)
Best of UK: Prey TPB (IDW Publishing, 2010)
The Transformers Classics UK Volume 3 (IDW Publishing, 2012)
The Definitive G1 Collection, Vol. 7: The Harder They Die (Hachette Partworks, Ltd. 2017)
Transformers: I siktet 2006 (Ades Media, 2021)
