White Fire

« The Transformers (UK) #254 »
"Let Dinobot's Spark become one with the Matrix... so Unicron can eat it."
"White Fire"
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First published	21st January 1990
Cover date	27th January 1990
Writer	Simon Furman
Art	Cam Smith
Letterer	Stuart Bartlett
Continuity	Marvel Comics continuity (Marvel UK)
Chronology	Post-Time Wars future (2010)

Rodimus battles Unicron for the Matrix... and loses.

Synopsis

As the Autobots prepare to use lethal force on the Unicron-possessed Rodimus Prime, they notice the Matrix erupt with light—Rodimus has begun fighting back. Prime has realised that Unicron is using his doubts and fears to possess him, that he's turned the Matrix towards evil, but that the Matrix can be turned back.

Kup wrestles Rodimus Prime to the ground while, inside the Matrix, Rodimus drives Unicron into retreat. Unicron had to turn the Matrix so he could bear to be trapped inside it, and Rodimus will now cleanse it and destroy Unicron at the same time...

...at which point Kup, thinking the Matrix's lightshow was a sign from Rodimus Prime, rips the Matrix out of his chest. This stops the possession and returns Prime to normal, but it means they've lost their chance to destroy their enemy. He'll have to go back and face him again—and this time, Unicron will be ready...

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots	Others
Rodimus Prime (1) Arcee (2) Perceptor (3) Kup (4) Blaster (5) Strafe (7) Red Alert (8)	Unicron (6)

Quotes

"Aaah! No! Resistance is futile! You are mine -- mine!"

"N-no! Never! I know what you're doing! Using my doubts and fears to possess me! You're my dark side personified! But I can and will fight you! You showed me despair — and Matrix knows I've had plenty to despair about! The loss of our homeworld Cybertron, to Galvatron, and the deaths of many of my warriors and friends! You were waiting for that moment, weren't you? When I was weak enough for you to take control! The answer lies within the Matrix -- it became tainted with your evil! Like a living creature it can be turned, swayed! But it can be turned back! By resisting you, I'm also fighting for the Matrix!"

"Curse you! Fight if you want -- but I'll still destroy you all!"

—Rodimus Prime finds the strength to overcome Unicron, who responds by killing Strafe in the real world.

Notes

Artwork and technical errors

• TBD

Continuity errors

• TBD

Continuity notes

• The is the last published story featuring the movie cast. Chronologically, this story is followed by the Unicron segment of "Aspects of Evil!", and then by the Rodimus Prime framing story, both of which continue the Unicron-Matrix plotline. "Peace" may also be a followup.
• In "The Legacy of Unicron!", the big bad was made stronger by the presence of the Matrix in his mind. When he's within it, he suffers.
• Both here and in the previous issue, Arcee is the only Autobot shown to be completely willing to use lethal force on Rodimus to stop the massacre and advocates it even when Rodimus appears to be fighting back.
• As was shown earlier in "Aspects of Evil!", Unicron goes on to possess Rodimus again in 2010, reform his physical form, and demolish much of Cybertron. In the year 2356, Rodimus is still possessed and sick as a result, with the Chaos-Bringer's influence sneaking free to corrupt people. Tearing the Matrix out was a great idea - nice one, Kup.
• The theme of the Matrix being corruptible ties in with the earlier "Deathbringer" story and the then-upcoming "Matrix Quest" storyline.
• Add Strafe and possibly Afterburner (MIA since last issue) to the casualty list. Conversely, Red Alert shows up in a one-panel cameo at the end to show he's okay. Perhaps someone up there is looking out for him. Perhaps not.

Real-life references

• TBD

Other trivia

• TBD

Back-up material

• Additional Transformers story: "Yesterday's Heroes!"
• Other strips: G.I. Joe the Action Force - "Transit" and Combat Colin in Space!

Cover

• Issue #254 cover: Rodimus Prime and Unicron fight, by Stephen Baskerville.

• 
  Issue #254

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Reprints

• Transformers: Aspects of Evil: Rodimus Prime and Unicron fight, by Stephen Baskerville. Cropped version of issue #254's cover.
• Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection: Vol 19: Perchance to Dream: Megatron (from early IDW promo art), by Guido Guidi above a retro scene of the Battlechargers (from Marvel UK #255 cover), by Stephen Baskerville.
• Transformers: Best of Hot Rod: Hot Rod, by James Biggie.

• 
  Aspects of Evil TPB
  (Titan Books, 2005)
• 
  The Definitive G1 Collection Vol. 19
  (IDW Publishing, 2017)
• 
  Transformers: Best of Hot Rod
  (IDW Publishing, 2022)