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[[Image:MarvelUS-62.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Call me if you see this.]]
{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #62
{{Template:Comicnav | Generation 1 (Marvel Comics) | 62 | seriesname=Marvel U.S. | prev=Primal Scream | next=Kings of the Wild Frontier | series2=Generation 1 (Marvel Comics)#Marvel UK | seriesname2=Marvel UK | issuenumber2=Issue #262{{n-}}264 | prev2=Starting Over! | next2=Two Steps Back! }}
|prev=The Primal Scream
|next=Kings of the Wild Frontier.
|title="Bird of Prey!"
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #262–264
|prev2=Starting Over!
|next2=Two Steps Back!
|image=MarvelUS-62.jpg
|caption=Call me if you see this.
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|shippingdate=[[November 28]], [[1989]]
|onsaledate=[[December 19]], 1989
|coverdate=January [[1990]]
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|artist=[[Geoff Senior]]
|colorist=[[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]
|letterer=[[Jim Massara]]
|editor=[[Don Daley]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''The Matrix Quest begins, and dime novel detective stories make a comeback.'''
'''The Matrix Quest begins, and dime novel detective stories make a comeback.'''


==Synopsis==
==Synopsis==
[[Image:Toosnarky1.png|right|200px]]
The [[Autobot]] leaders of [[Earth]] and [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] have sent several teams to search one cluster of the galaxy for the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]], in the hopes of using it against the coming threat of [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]].


After last issue's disastrous events, the [[Autobot]] leaders of [[Earth]] and [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] have sent several teams to search one cluster of the galaxy for the [[Creation Matrix]], in the hopes of using it against the coming threat of [[Unicron]].
[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]], [[Siren (G1)|Siren]], and [[Hosehead (G1)|Hosehead]] have journeyed to the planet [[Pz-Zazz]], a planet apparently covered with seedy metropolitan areas and filled with lowlifes and mobsters. While interrogating some of those mobsters as to whether they've seen the Matrix, Nightbeat's conversational skills get the three [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] into hot water. Siren is belted through a nearby storefront window while Nightbeat and Hosehead are preparing to be "plugged" when thugs from a rival gang drive by and begin firing on their tormentors. The firefight hits a passing alien, who collapses into the storefront on top of Siren, passing on a mysterious [[Bird|bird statue]] to him with his dying breath.


Nightbeat, Siren, and Hosehead have journeyed to the planet [[Pz-Zazz]], a planet apparently covered with seedy metropolitan areas and filled with lowlifes and mobsters. While interrogating some of those mobsters as to whether they've seen the Matrix, Nightbeat's conversational skills get the three Headmasters into hot water. Siren is belted through a nearby storefront window while Nightbeat and Hosehead are preparing to be "plugged" when thugs from a rival gang drive by and begin firing on their tormentors. The firefight hits a passing alien, who collapses into the storefront on top of Siren, passing on a mysterious bird statue to him with his dying breath.
[[File:Hosehead2.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Despite appearances, the one called "Hosehead" is on the left.]]
Though Nightbeat's first instinct is to follow up on the textbook detective story that literally dropped into their laps, his comrades convince him to put the bird away in storage and focus on their primary mission to find the Matrix. Still, Nightbeat is frustrated, citing their historical database which claimed Pz-Zazz was a lush and prosperous world once, nothing like the cesspool they've been searching through. His detective's instincts assure him the bird has something to do with that discrepancy.


[[Image:hosehead2.jpg|left|thumb||Despite appearances, the one called "Hosehead" is on the ''left.'']]
[[File:Toosnarky1.png|upright=1.1|thumb|Touche, gunman.]]
In the meantime, their conversation is overheard by Miss [[Fatale]], who is willing to deal with the Autobots. She tells them of a legendary font of life that once sat atop a nearby mountain and, in exchange for leading them to that abandoned temple, she only asks for the return of the bird statue, which she claims is her property. Thinking that this healing object might be the Matrix, the Autobots agree—Siren and Hosehead go on ahead with Fatale, while Nightbeat goes to retrieve the bird from lock-up. While picking it up, though, he is confronted by the mobsters the Autobots met earlier, who also want the bird. Nightbeat clubs his way through the goons with the bird, only to get caught red-handed by another thug when he races outside. Moments from death, Nightbeat is saved by a mysterious energy blast that levels the thug before he can kill the Autobot.


Though Nightbeat's first instinct is to follow up on the textbook detective story that literally dropped into their laps, his comrades convince him to put the bird away in storage and focus on their primary mission to find the Matrix. Still, Nightbeat is frustrated, citing their historical database which claimed Pz-Zazz was a lush and prosperous world once, nothing like the cesspool they've been searching through. His detective's instincts assure him the bird has something to do with that discrepancy.
Hosehead and the others reach the top of the mountain, but find the second gang-leader waiting there for them, interested in acquiring—you guessed it—the bird. Nightbeat races up then, revealing that the bird is a life-giving source of power, much like the Matrix itself. He discovered this when a piece of the statue's outer enamel was chipped off in his bar skirmish. After disabling the mobsters, Nightbeat makes a move to place the bird back in its special cradle on the temple. Fatale tries to stop him, pleading with him that they can keep the bird for themselves: she can stay forever young, and he can use it in place of the Matrix to restore his fallen comrades. Nightbeat admits having considered it, but ultimately decided that Pz-Zazz needs the bird to sustain itself, and however noble his motives, it would be selfish to keep for himself.
 
Nightbeat returns the bird to its proper place, and a wave of light and greenery spreads over the mountain. Pz-Zazz is given a second chance, but the Autobots are not: [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] and his [[Decepticon]]s shoot Nightbeat and the others in the back, taking them captive to find out just why so many Autobots are searching this neck of the galaxy...
 
==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.)<br />
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (1)
*[[Hosehead (G1)|Hosehead]] (2)
*[[Siren (G1)|Siren]] (3)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] (5)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (6)
*[[Xaaron (G1)|Xaaron]] (7)
*''[[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]]'' (8)
*''[[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]]'' (9)
*''[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]]'' (10)
|h2=[[Decepticon|Robot Mob]]|c2=
*[[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] (16)
*[[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] (17)
*[[Windsweeper]] (18)
*[[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] (19)
*[[Ruckus (G1)|Ruckus]] (21)
|c4=
*[[Louie (G1)|Louie]] (4)
*[[Keeper (Transformer)|Keeper]] (11)
*[[Primus]] (12)
*[[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] (13)
*[[Fatale]] (14)
*[[Gutt]] (15)
*[[B'hgdad]] (20)
}}
 
==Quotes==
"Oh dear, it's as I thought -- lights are on, but '''no one's home!'''"<br>
"Now listen up, '''slime bucket''' --"<br>
"Time to '''shut up''', Siren."<br>
"Pardon me, sir... madam... '''whatever!'''"<br>
"You're '''wrong''', fatso."
:— various lines from '''Nightbeat''' show the great depth of his people skills
 
 
"Erm, '''Nightbeat'''. How's about we ask '''someone else?''' These guys are probably '''busy'''... y'know, '''killing, maiming''' -- that sort of thing!"
:—'''Siren'''
 
 
"For the last time, Siren, I know what I'm doing here. Interrogation is a '''science''', combining psychology and bluff -- observation and -- ''[ducks a punch that decks Siren]'' -- '''reflexes!'''"
:— '''Nightbeat'''
 
 
"What does the '''detective manual''' advise in this kind of situation, Nightbeat?"<br>
"It mentions '''prayer''', Hosehead..."
:—'''Hosehead''' and '''Nightbeat''', surrounded by armed goons


In the meantime, their conversation is overheard by Miss Fatale, who is willing to deal with the Autobots. She tells them of a legendary font of life that once sat atop a nearby mountain and, in exchange for leading them to that abandoned temple, she only asks for the return of the bird statue, which she claims is her property. Thinking that this healing object might be the Matrix, the Autobots agree — Siren and Hosehead go on ahead with Fatale, while Nightbeat goes to retrieve the bird from lock-up. While picking it up, though, he is confronted by the mobsters the Autobots met earlier, who also want the bird. Nightbeat clubs his way through the goons with the bird, only to get caught red-handed by another thug when he races outside. Moments from death, Nightbeat is saved by a mysterious energy blast that levels the thug before he can kill the Autobot.


Hosehead and the others reach the top of the mountain, but find the second gang-leader waiting there for them, interested in acquiring — you guessed it — the bird. Nightbeat races up then, revealing that the bird is a life-giving source of power, much like the Matrix itself. He discovered this when a piece of the statue's outer enamel was chipped off in his bar skirmish. After disabling the mobsters, Nightbeat makes a move to place the bird back in its special cradle on the temple. Fatale tries to stop him, pleading with him that they can keep the bird for themselves: she can stay forever young, and he can use it in place of the Matrix to restore his fallen comrades. Nightbeat admits having considered it, but ultimately decided that Pz-Zazz needs the bird to sustain itself, and however noble his motives, it would be selfish to keep for himself.
"'''Gutt's boys!''' That fat, cheatin' '''slug''' -- da next gang war ain't till da '''weekend!'''"
:— one of '''B'hgdad's goons''' does not appreciate a breach of gangland protocol


Nightbeat returns the bird to its proper place, and a wave of light and greenery spreads over the mountain. Pz-Zazz is given a second chance, but the Autobots are not: Thunderwing and his [[Decepticon]]s shoot Nightbeat and the others in the back, taking them captive to find out just why so many Autobots are searching this neck of the galaxy...


==Credits==
"May I make a suggeston?"<br>
'''Script:''' [[Simon Furman]] <br>
"I'm way ahead of you. When surrounded by two hostile forces, firing randomly at one another, the manual describes a process known crudely -- as '''running away!'''"
'''Art:''' [[Geoff Senior]]<br>
:—'''Hosehead''' and '''Nightbeat'''
'''Colors:''' [[Nelson Yomtov]]<br>
'''Lettering:''' [[Jim Massara]]<br>
*''Originally published:'' January, 1990


===Major characters===
==Notes==
(''Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
[[File:BirdOfPrey-Thunderwingandpals.jpg|right|upright=1.15|thumb|Now this is a group shot to instill fear.]]
{|border=5 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=5 align=center style="border:#800000"
===Artwork and technical errors===
! style="background:#FFEEEE" | [[Autobot]]s
*TBD
! style="background:#EEEEFE" | [[Decepticon]]s
! style="background:antiquewhite" | Others
|-
| style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top" |
* [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (1)
* [[Hosehead]] (2)
* [[Siren]] (3)
* [[Hot Rod]] (4)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (5)
* [[Emirate Xaaron]] (6)


| style="background:#EEEEFE" valign="top" |
===Continuity errors===
* [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] (10)
* Optimus says the Autobots had no idea the Matrix was a physical object. Considering Ratchet spent something like 10 days putting Optimus's destroyed body back together back in [[Funeral for a Friend!|issue #26]]... how could he not have noticed the Matrix in there?
* [[Needlenose]] (11)
* Back in issue [[Totaled!|#41]], Goldbug claimed that Prime's old body was launched into the sun - obviously not the case here.
* [[Windsweeper]] (12)
* [[Spinister]] (13)
* [[Ruckus]] (15)


| style="background:antiquewhite" valign="top" |
===Continuity notes===
* [[Fatale]] (7)
* This issue kicks off the five-part [[Matrix Quest]] story arc.
* [[Louie]] (8)
* Nightbeat, Siren, Hosehead, Needlenose and Spinister appear here for the first time in US continuity.
* [[Gutt]] (9)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron (G1)|Xaaron]] recap the relevant events, including the encounter with [[Primus]] and the [[Mayhem Attack Squad]] from US issue [[The Primal Scream|#61]], and the unwitting loss of the Matrix when Prime's original body was shot into space in US issue [[Funeral for a Friend!|#26]].
* [[B'hgdad]] (14)
* The people of Pz-Zazz knew Thunderwing's crew as the "Robot Mob", but they still preferred to be called "[[Decepticon]]s".
|}
* Optimus Prime's belief that the Matrix could be used to revive dead Transformers is fairly ironic given that it technically causes the death and injury of several Autobots at the end of the Matrix Quest.
* Miss Fatale told Nightbeat that she wanted the Bird for eternal youth, because unlike Nightbeat, she was finite. She didn't know she was also talking to [[Muzzle]].
* Thunderwing's [[cyclone cannon]] makes its US debut, having previously appeared in [[The Big Shutdown!|several]] [[Rage!|UK]] [[Assault on the Ark!|stories]].


==Errors==
===Real-life references===
* None yet identified.
* This story is an ode to the hard-boiled detective genre, a favorite of [[Simon Furman]]. In particular, many references are made to ''{{w|The Maltese Falcon (1941 film)|The Maltese Falcon}}'':
** Nightbeat's initial encounter with B'hgdad's thugs occurs beneath a billboard featuring what appears to be {{w|Humphrey Bogart}}, who played the detective {{w|Sam Spade}} in the 1941 movie.
** An alien dying of gunshot wounds gives Siren the [[bird]] (heh) wrapped in paper. Likewise, Spade receives the wrapped-up Falcon from a bullet-riddled man who stumbles into his office and dies.
** The bird sculpture bears a heavy resemblance to the Falcon, the principal difference being that the former's wings are partly outstretched instead of lying flat against its back. Well, and that it's ''enormous,'' as it's scaled up to be proportionate with the robots and aliens handling it.
** The immensely fat ganglord, Gutt, is an echo of Kasper Gutman, ''Falcon's'' rotund antagonist.
** Gutt's counterpart, B'hgdad, seems to be a more oblique parallel to Gutman's associate Joel Cairo. The name is certainly reference enough, though B'hgdad is a more authoritative and independent character than Cairo. The homage does get reinforced when Nightbeat tells him, "If you're its real owner, I'm [[Peter Lorre]]!" (referring to {{w|Peter Lorre|the actor}} who played Cairo in the Bogart film).
** That conversation occurred while Nightbeat was retrieving the bird from a storage service. Spade similarly stowed the Falcon away in a bus terminal's lost-and-found.
** And that ''line'' occurred while Nightbeat was clobbering B'hgdad with the bird, chipping a piece of enamel coating off and revealing its true, luminous nature. The jewel-encrusted Falcon's true worth was also concealed beneath an enamel coating.
* Geoff Senior gets in on the fun with a city that harkens to ''{{w|Blade Runner}}''—complete with [[Japan|cod Japanese kanji]]—which was itself doing a sci-fi noir.


==Items of note==
===UK printing===
* ''Part 1 of the [[Matrix Quest]]''
'''Issue #262:'''
* This story is an ode to the hard-boiled detective genre, a favorite of [[Simon Furman]].  In particular, many references are made to ''[[Wikipedia:The Maltese Falcon|The Maltese Falcon]]'':
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Two Steps Back!]]"
** Nightbeat's initial encounter with B'ghdad's thugs occurs beneath a billboard featuring what appears to be [[Wikipedia:Humphrey Bogart|Humphrey Bogart]], who played the detective [[Wikipedia:Sam Spade|Sam Spade]] in the 1941 movie.
*'''Other strips:''' ''[[Action Force (comic)|G.I. Joe the Action Force]]'' - "Manoeuvring for Position" and ''[[Combat Colin]]''
** An alien dying of gunshot wounds gives Siren the bird (heh) wrapped in paper.  Likewise, Spade receives the wrapped-up Falcon from a bullet-riddled man who stumbles into his office and dies.
*In ''[[Letters page (Marvel UK)|Dread Tidings]]'', [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] supplies the missing motto for [[Micromaster]] [[Battle Patrol]] member [[Flak (G1)|Flak]], while expressing his dislike of the smaller guys, and debates what [[Pincher (G1)|Pincher]]'s level 5 endurance rating means.<ref>[[Letters page (Marvel UK)|Dread Tidings]], issue [[Source:Dread Tidings#Issue 262|262]]</ref>
** The bird sculpture bears a heavy resemblance to the Falcon, the principle difference being that the former's wings are partly outstretched instead of lying flat against its back.  Well, and that it's ''enormous,'' as it's scaled up to be proportionate with the robots and aliens handling it.
'''Issue #263:'''
** The immensely fat ganglord, Gutt is an echo of Kasper Gutman, ''Falcon's'' rotund antagonist.
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Break-Away!]]"
** Gutt's counterpart, B'ghdad, seems to be a more oblique parallel to Gutman's associate Joel Cairo.  The name is certainly reference enough, though B'ghdad is a more authoritative and independent character than Cairo.  The homage does get reinforced when Nightbeat tells him, "If you're its real owner, I'm [[Wikipedia:Peter Lorre|Peter Lorre]]!" (referring to the actor who played Cairo in the Bogart film).
*'''Other strips:''' ''G.I. Joe the Action Force'' - "Manoeuvring for Position" and ''Combat Colin''
** That conversation occurred while Nightbeat was retrieving the bird from a storage service. Spade similarly stowed the Falcon away in a bus terminal's lost-and-found.
'''Issue #264:'''
** And that ''line'' occurred while Nightbeat was clobbering B'ghdad with the bird, chipping a piece of enamel coating off and revealing its true, luminous nature.  The jewel-encrusted Falcon's true worth was also concealed beneath an enamel coating.
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Desert Island Risks!]]"
* This issue is the first U.S. appearance for Nightbeat, Siren, Hosehead, [[Needlenose]] and [[Spinister]].
*'''Other strips:''' ''G.I. Joe the Action Force'' - "Manoeuvring for Position" and ''Combat Colin''
* In the [[Dread Tidings]] for issue #262, [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] supplies the missing motto for [[Micromaster]] [[Battle Patrol]] member [[Flak]], while expressing his dislike of the smaller guys, and debates what [[Pincher]]'s level 5 endurance rating means.
* ''[[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|Transformers Universe]]'' profiles for [[Hosehead]], [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]], [[Siren]], and [[Backstreet]] are found after the main story.


===References===
===Other trivia===
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Xaaron|Emirate Xaaron]] recap the relevant events, including the encounter with [[Primus]] and the [[Mayhem Attack Squad]] from [[Primal Scream|U.S. #61]], and the unwitting loss of the Matrix when Prime's original body was shot into space in [[Funeral for a Friend|U.S. #26]].
*''[[The Transformers Universe (Marvel)|Transformers Universe]]'' profiles for [[Hosehead (G1)|Hosehead]], [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]], [[Siren (G1)|Siren]], and [[Backstreet (G1)|Backstreet]] are found after the main story.
* "Timely", the apparent publishers of the book shown on the cover, was the original name of [[Marvel Comics]].


===Covers===
===Foreign Localization===
{{picsneeded|UK covers}}
'''Swedish '''
* '''U.S. cover:''' Dime store novel of the [[Headmaster Junior]]s by [[Rod Ramos]]
:* ''Title (1990):'' "'''Rovfåglarna'''" ("Birds of Prey")
* '''UK issue 262 cover:''' Grimlock chewing on Shockwave by [[Stephen Baskerville]]
:* ''Title (2019):'' "'''Rovfågeln'''" ("Bird of Prey")
* '''UK issue 263 cover:''' Bumblebee and Ironhide by Stephen Baskerville
* '''UK issue 264 cover:''' Dragstrip, Dead End, Soundwave, Megatron and Mixmaster vs Prowl and Wheeljack by [[Jeff Anderson]]


{{Columnlist|3|
===Covers (4)===
[[Image:MarvelUK-262.jpg|thumb|200px|center|262 cover]]
*'''US issue #62 cover:''' dime store novel with Nightbeat, Siren, and Hosehead, pencils by [[Rodney Ramos]] and inks by [[Eliot Brown]].
[[Image:MarvelUK-263.jpg|thumb|200px|center|263 cover]]
*'''UK issue #262 cover:''' Grimlock chewing on [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]], by [[Stephen Baskerville]].
[[Image:MarvelUK-264.jpg|thumb|200px|center|264 cover]]
*'''UK issue #263 cover:''' Grimlock quits on Optimus Prime, by Stephen Baskerville.
}}
*'''UK issue #264 cover:''' Bumblebee and [[Ironhide (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ironhide]], by [[Pete Knifton]].
<gallery>
File:MarvelUS-62.jpg|'''US issue #62''' - Seen THIS?
File:MarvelUK-262.jpg|'''UK issue #262''' - Why having an arm shaped like a drumstick is a bad idea.
File:MarvelUK-263.jpg|'''UK issue #263''' - Grimlock - Autobot union leader.
File:MarvelUK-264.jpg|'''UK issue #264''' - No, it's a giant Constructicon gameshow!
</gallery>


===Advertisements===
===Advertisements===
* None yet identified.
====US====
*Trix cereal - inside front cover
*Instant Quaker Oatmeal presents ''Popeye'' - between pages 4 & 5 and between pages 5 & 6
*Acclaim Douple Player wireless head-to-head system - between pages 7 & 8
*Capcom ''Bionic Commando'' - between pages 8 & 9
*''Airwolf'' engine powered model helicopter - between pages 16 & 17
*Mister Bubble - between pages 17 & 18
*Star Signals and Checklist - between Hosehead and Nightbeat profiles
*''WCW'' video game for Nintendo - between Nightbeat and Siren profiles
*[[Letters page|Transmissions]]
*Marvel subscription service
*Chips Ahoy! cookies - inside back cover
*Lucky Charms cereal (back cover)
 
====UK====
????
 
===Reprints===
* '''''Primal Scream'' TPB cover:''' Grimlock, Goldbug, [[Pretender]] [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] and half of [[Primus]], by [[Andrew Wildman]].
* '''''Primal Scream'' hardback cover:''' Grimlock victorious over the [[Sports Car Patrol]], by [[Dave Gibbons]].
*'''''The Best of Simon Furman'' cover:''' Cybertron, by [[Don Figueroa]].
*'''''Best of Transformers: Eye of the Storm'' cover:''' Optimus Prime, [[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]] and [[Skywarp (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Skywarp]], by Andrew Wildman.
<gallery>
File:Titan-PrimalScreamSC.jpg|'''''Primal Scream'' TPB''' (Titan Books, 2002)
File:Titan-PrimalScreamHC.jpg|'''''Primal Scream'' hardback''' (Titan Books, 2002)
File:BestofSimon.jpg|'''''The Best of Simon Furman''''' (IDW Publishing, 2007)
File:Best of Transformers.jpg|'''''Best of Transformers: Eye of the Storm''''' (Titan Books, 2008)
</gallery>
*'''[[Classic Transformers Volume 5|''Classic Transformers'' Volume 5]]:''' panels from this issue, "[[Eye of the Storm]]", "[[Deadly Obsession]]" and "[[...All This and Civil War 2]]".
*'''[[The Transformers Classics, Vol. 5|''The Transformers Classics,'' Vol. 5]] cover:''' [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], by [[Guido Guidi]].
*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]], Volume 17: Matrix Quest:''''' Nightbeat and Prime's corpse by [[Makoto Ono]] and [[Geoff Senior]].
<gallery>
File:Classic Transformers Vol5.jpg|'''''Classic Transformers'' Volume 5''' (IDW Publishing, 2009)
File:TFClassicsVol5.jpg|'''''The Transformers Classics,'' Vol. 5''' (IDW Publishing, 2013)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v17.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection vol. 17: Matrix Quest''''' (Hachette Partworks, Ltd., 2018)
</gallery>
 
==References==
{{reflist}}


[[Category:Marvel US issues]]
[[Category:Marvel US issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Latest revision as of 00:10, 8 February 2026

« The Transformers (US) #62 »
« The Transformers (UK) #262–264 »

Call me if you see this.
"Bird of Prey!"
Publisher Marvel Comics
Shipping date November 28, 1989
On-sale date December 19, 1989
Cover date January 1990
Writer Simon Furman
Artist Geoff Senior
Colorist Nel Yomtov
Letterer Jim Massara
Editor Don Daley
Continuity Marvel Comics continuity

The Matrix Quest begins, and dime novel detective stories make a comeback.

Synopsis

[edit]

The Autobot leaders of Earth and Cybertron have sent several teams to search one cluster of the galaxy for the Creation Matrix, in the hopes of using it against the coming threat of Unicron.

Nightbeat, Siren, and Hosehead have journeyed to the planet Pz-Zazz, a planet apparently covered with seedy metropolitan areas and filled with lowlifes and mobsters. While interrogating some of those mobsters as to whether they've seen the Matrix, Nightbeat's conversational skills get the three Headmasters into hot water. Siren is belted through a nearby storefront window while Nightbeat and Hosehead are preparing to be "plugged" when thugs from a rival gang drive by and begin firing on their tormentors. The firefight hits a passing alien, who collapses into the storefront on top of Siren, passing on a mysterious bird statue to him with his dying breath.

Despite appearances, the one called "Hosehead" is on the left.

Though Nightbeat's first instinct is to follow up on the textbook detective story that literally dropped into their laps, his comrades convince him to put the bird away in storage and focus on their primary mission to find the Matrix. Still, Nightbeat is frustrated, citing their historical database which claimed Pz-Zazz was a lush and prosperous world once, nothing like the cesspool they've been searching through. His detective's instincts assure him the bird has something to do with that discrepancy.

Touche, gunman.

In the meantime, their conversation is overheard by Miss Fatale, who is willing to deal with the Autobots. She tells them of a legendary font of life that once sat atop a nearby mountain and, in exchange for leading them to that abandoned temple, she only asks for the return of the bird statue, which she claims is her property. Thinking that this healing object might be the Matrix, the Autobots agree—Siren and Hosehead go on ahead with Fatale, while Nightbeat goes to retrieve the bird from lock-up. While picking it up, though, he is confronted by the mobsters the Autobots met earlier, who also want the bird. Nightbeat clubs his way through the goons with the bird, only to get caught red-handed by another thug when he races outside. Moments from death, Nightbeat is saved by a mysterious energy blast that levels the thug before he can kill the Autobot.

Hosehead and the others reach the top of the mountain, but find the second gang-leader waiting there for them, interested in acquiring—you guessed it—the bird. Nightbeat races up then, revealing that the bird is a life-giving source of power, much like the Matrix itself. He discovered this when a piece of the statue's outer enamel was chipped off in his bar skirmish. After disabling the mobsters, Nightbeat makes a move to place the bird back in its special cradle on the temple. Fatale tries to stop him, pleading with him that they can keep the bird for themselves: she can stay forever young, and he can use it in place of the Matrix to restore his fallen comrades. Nightbeat admits having considered it, but ultimately decided that Pz-Zazz needs the bird to sustain itself, and however noble his motives, it would be selfish to keep for himself.

Nightbeat returns the bird to its proper place, and a wave of light and greenery spreads over the mountain. Pz-Zazz is given a second chance, but the Autobots are not: Thunderwing and his Decepticons shoot Nightbeat and the others in the back, taking them captive to find out just why so many Autobots are searching this neck of the galaxy...

[edit]

(Characters in italic text appear only in flashbacks.)
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots Robot Mob Others

Quotes

[edit]

"Oh dear, it's as I thought -- lights are on, but no one's home!"
"Now listen up, slime bucket --"
"Time to shut up, Siren."
"Pardon me, sir... madam... whatever!"
"You're wrong, fatso."

— various lines from Nightbeat show the great depth of his people skills


"Erm, Nightbeat. How's about we ask someone else? These guys are probably busy... y'know, killing, maiming -- that sort of thing!"

—Siren


"For the last time, Siren, I know what I'm doing here. Interrogation is a science, combining psychology and bluff -- observation and -- [ducks a punch that decks Siren] -- reflexes!"

— Nightbeat


"What does the detective manual advise in this kind of situation, Nightbeat?"
"It mentions prayer, Hosehead..."

—Hosehead and Nightbeat, surrounded by armed goons


"Gutt's boys! That fat, cheatin' slug -- da next gang war ain't till da weekend!"

— one of B'hgdad's goons does not appreciate a breach of gangland protocol


"May I make a suggeston?"
"I'm way ahead of you. When surrounded by two hostile forces, firing randomly at one another, the manual describes a process known crudely -- as running away!"

—Hosehead and Nightbeat

Notes

[edit]
Now this is a group shot to instill fear.

Artwork and technical errors

[edit]
  • TBD

Continuity errors

[edit]
  • Optimus says the Autobots had no idea the Matrix was a physical object. Considering Ratchet spent something like 10 days putting Optimus's destroyed body back together back in issue #26... how could he not have noticed the Matrix in there?
  • Back in issue #41, Goldbug claimed that Prime's old body was launched into the sun - obviously not the case here.

Continuity notes

[edit]
  • This issue kicks off the five-part Matrix Quest story arc.
  • Nightbeat, Siren, Hosehead, Needlenose and Spinister appear here for the first time in US continuity.
  • Optimus Prime and Emirate Xaaron recap the relevant events, including the encounter with Primus and the Mayhem Attack Squad from US issue #61, and the unwitting loss of the Matrix when Prime's original body was shot into space in US issue #26.
  • The people of Pz-Zazz knew Thunderwing's crew as the "Robot Mob", but they still preferred to be called "Decepticons".
  • Optimus Prime's belief that the Matrix could be used to revive dead Transformers is fairly ironic given that it technically causes the death and injury of several Autobots at the end of the Matrix Quest.
  • Miss Fatale told Nightbeat that she wanted the Bird for eternal youth, because unlike Nightbeat, she was finite. She didn't know she was also talking to Muzzle.
  • Thunderwing's cyclone cannon makes its US debut, having previously appeared in several UK stories.

Real-life references

[edit]
  • This story is an ode to the hard-boiled detective genre, a favorite of Simon Furman. In particular, many references are made to The Maltese Falcon:
    • Nightbeat's initial encounter with B'hgdad's thugs occurs beneath a billboard featuring what appears to be Humphrey Bogart, who played the detective Sam Spade in the 1941 movie.
    • An alien dying of gunshot wounds gives Siren the bird (heh) wrapped in paper. Likewise, Spade receives the wrapped-up Falcon from a bullet-riddled man who stumbles into his office and dies.
    • The bird sculpture bears a heavy resemblance to the Falcon, the principal difference being that the former's wings are partly outstretched instead of lying flat against its back. Well, and that it's enormous, as it's scaled up to be proportionate with the robots and aliens handling it.
    • The immensely fat ganglord, Gutt, is an echo of Kasper Gutman, Falcon's rotund antagonist.
    • Gutt's counterpart, B'hgdad, seems to be a more oblique parallel to Gutman's associate Joel Cairo. The name is certainly reference enough, though B'hgdad is a more authoritative and independent character than Cairo. The homage does get reinforced when Nightbeat tells him, "If you're its real owner, I'm Peter Lorre!" (referring to the actor who played Cairo in the Bogart film).
    • That conversation occurred while Nightbeat was retrieving the bird from a storage service. Spade similarly stowed the Falcon away in a bus terminal's lost-and-found.
    • And that line occurred while Nightbeat was clobbering B'hgdad with the bird, chipping a piece of enamel coating off and revealing its true, luminous nature. The jewel-encrusted Falcon's true worth was also concealed beneath an enamel coating.
  • Geoff Senior gets in on the fun with a city that harkens to Blade Runner—complete with cod Japanese kanji—which was itself doing a sci-fi noir.

UK printing

[edit]

Issue #262:

Issue #263:

  • Additional Transformers story: "Break-Away!"
  • Other strips: G.I. Joe the Action Force - "Manoeuvring for Position" and Combat Colin

Issue #264:

  • Additional Transformers story: "Desert Island Risks!"
  • Other strips: G.I. Joe the Action Force - "Manoeuvring for Position" and Combat Colin

Other trivia

[edit]

Foreign Localization

[edit]

Swedish

  • Title (1990): "Rovfåglarna" ("Birds of Prey")
  • Title (2019): "Rovfågeln" ("Bird of Prey")

Covers (4)

[edit]
  • US issue #62 - Seen THIS?
    US issue #62 - Seen THIS?
  • UK issue #262 - Why having an arm shaped like a drumstick is a bad idea.
    UK issue #262 - Why having an arm shaped like a drumstick is a bad idea.
  • UK issue #263 - Grimlock - Autobot union leader.
    UK issue #263 - Grimlock - Autobot union leader.
  • UK issue #264 - No, it's a giant Constructicon gameshow!
    UK issue #264 - No, it's a giant Constructicon gameshow!

Advertisements

[edit]

US

[edit]
  • Trix cereal - inside front cover
  • Instant Quaker Oatmeal presents Popeye - between pages 4 & 5 and between pages 5 & 6
  • Acclaim Douple Player wireless head-to-head system - between pages 7 & 8
  • Capcom Bionic Commando - between pages 8 & 9
  • Airwolf engine powered model helicopter - between pages 16 & 17
  • Mister Bubble - between pages 17 & 18
  • Star Signals and Checklist - between Hosehead and Nightbeat profiles
  • WCW video game for Nintendo - between Nightbeat and Siren profiles
  • Transmissions
  • Marvel subscription service
  • Chips Ahoy! cookies - inside back cover
  • Lucky Charms cereal (back cover)

UK

[edit]

????

Reprints

[edit]
  • Primal Scream TPB (Titan Books, 2002)
    Primal Scream TPB (Titan Books, 2002)
  • Primal Scream hardback (Titan Books, 2002)
    Primal Scream hardback (Titan Books, 2002)
  • The Best of Simon Furman (IDW Publishing, 2007)
    The Best of Simon Furman (IDW Publishing, 2007)
  • Best of Transformers: Eye of the Storm (Titan Books, 2008)
    Best of Transformers: Eye of the Storm (Titan Books, 2008)
  • Classic Transformers Volume 5 (IDW Publishing, 2009)
    Classic Transformers Volume 5 (IDW Publishing, 2009)
  • The Transformers Classics, Vol. 5 (IDW Publishing, 2013)
    The Transformers Classics, Vol. 5 (IDW Publishing, 2013)
  • Definitive G1 Collection vol. 17: Matrix Quest (Hachette Partworks, Ltd., 2018)
    Definitive G1 Collection vol. 17: Matrix Quest (Hachette Partworks, Ltd., 2018)

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ Dread Tidings, issue 262
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