The Flames of Boltax!: Difference between revisions
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|caption=This cover wins the award for "Most Blatant Case of False Promotion" in the history of the series. | |caption=This cover wins the award for "Most Blatant Case of False Promotion" in the history of the series. | ||
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] | |publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] | ||
| | |shippingdate=[[September 27]], [[1988]] | ||
|coverdate=January 1989 | |onsaledate=[[October 18]], 1988 | ||
|coverdate=January [[1989]] | |||
|writer=[[Bob Budiansky]] | |writer=[[Bob Budiansky]] | ||
|penciler=[[José Delbo]] | |penciler=[[José Delbo]] | ||
| Line 24: | Line 25: | ||
[[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] finds himself being chased by strange creatures through an alien landscape. He suddenly takes a laser blast to the chest... only to find no damage has been done at all. A moment later, [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] and the [[Decepticon]]s re-materialize around him. It seems they had developed a new full-sensory holographic projection system called [[Realvision]] and needed a guinea pig to test it. [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] announces that they are now prepared to review the [[Autobot]] tapes, which captures Buster's attention. Of course, Ratbat sends him back to his cell instead of letting him observe. | [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] finds himself being chased by strange creatures through an alien landscape. He suddenly takes a laser blast to the chest... only to find no damage has been done at all. A moment later, [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] and the [[Decepticon]]s re-materialize around him. It seems they had developed a new full-sensory holographic projection system called [[Realvision]] and needed a guinea pig to test it. [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] announces that they are now prepared to review the [[Autobot]] tapes, which captures Buster's attention. Of course, Ratbat sends him back to his cell instead of letting him observe. | ||
[[ | [[File:FlamesofBoltax-Triggerbots.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Eastbound and down, loaded up and truckin'...]] | ||
Ratbat and Starscream activate the Realvision and find themselves holographically present on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] more than four million years ago, near the dawn of the [[Cybertronian Civil Wars]]. They witness a convoy of Autobots, consisting of the [[Triggerbot]]s and [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] of the [[Autobot Fourth Computerized Division]]. Prime, it seems, has come up with the idea of enlisting the aid of High Circuitmaster [[Boltax (G1)|Boltax]] and his vast font of knowledge, in the hopes that it can be used to end the war before it grows out of control. As the Autobots negotiate their way through several traps on the road to Boltax, they remain unaware that [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] and the [[Triggercon]] | Ratbat and Starscream activate the Realvision and find themselves holographically present on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] more than four million years ago, near the dawn of the [[Cybertronian Civil Wars]]. They witness a convoy of Autobots, consisting of the [[Triggerbot]]s and [[Lieutenant Commander]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] of the [[Autobot Fourth Computerized Division]]. Prime, it seems, has come up with the idea of enlisting the aid of High Circuitmaster [[Boltax (G1)|Boltax]] and his vast font of knowledge, in the hopes that it can be used to end the war before it grows out of control. The Triggerbots question this, knowing it will violate a neutrality agreement and could escalate the war, but Prime thinks it's worth the risk. As the Autobots negotiate their way through several traps on the road to Boltax, they remain unaware that [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] and the [[Triggercon]]s—seeing the neutrality agreement is now off—are dogging their every move. | ||
Back in the real world, Buster uses the time-honored "air shaft trick" to break out of his cell in order to get a look at what's on the tapes. | Back in the real world, Buster uses the time-honored "air shaft trick" to break out of his cell in order to get a look at what's on the tapes. | ||
| Line 31: | Line 32: | ||
In Realvision, Optimus Prime and his soldiers approach Boltax's [[Temple of Knowledge]]. The Circuitmaster's disciples allow Optimus alone to pass through and see Boltax. The Circuitmaster does not offer Prime any direct aid, but instead instructs him to seek what he's looking for inside the [[Underbase]]. (As each [[Transformer]] mind carries a [[database|DATAbase]], the Underbase is said to be a collection of knowledge that UNDERlies all dataBASEs.) | In Realvision, Optimus Prime and his soldiers approach Boltax's [[Temple of Knowledge]]. The Circuitmaster's disciples allow Optimus alone to pass through and see Boltax. The Circuitmaster does not offer Prime any direct aid, but instead instructs him to seek what he's looking for inside the [[Underbase]]. (As each [[Transformer]] mind carries a [[database|DATAbase]], the Underbase is said to be a collection of knowledge that UNDERlies all dataBASEs.) | ||
Buster enters the Realvision scenario just as Optimus Prime begins to bathe in the light of the Underbase and Megatron blasts his way in through Boltax and the disciples. Confronted by Megatron, Optimus Prime informs his enemy that the knowledge and power of the Underbase is too much for any one being to possess. Megatron blows Optimus Prime away and heads toward the Underbase. Badly injured, Optimus manages to manipulate the temple's controls and launch the Underbase on a never-ending course through space instead of letting Megatron claim it. | Buster enters the Realvision scenario just as Optimus Prime begins to bathe in the light of the Underbase and Megatron blasts his way in through Boltax and the disciples. Confronted by Megatron, Optimus Prime informs his enemy that the knowledge and power of the Underbase is too much for any one being to possess. Megatron blows Optimus Prime away and heads toward the Underbase. Badly injured, Optimus manages to manipulate the temple's controls and launch the Underbase on a never-ending course through space instead of letting Megatron claim it. While he's full of shame, Ratbat notes this is what made his career. | ||
With the Realvision over, Ratbat and Starscream review what they've learned and recognize the power of the Underbase is not a myth, as it is generally thought in the present. What's more, [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] informs them that the course calculations within the cassettes tell that the Underbase will be passing through the [[Earth]]'s solar system within a week's time. Ratbat and Starscream both begin to scheme on how to capture the power of the Underbase for themselves (though Starscream does show some rare discipline by using his inner monologue instead of broadcasting his treachery for everyone to hear). | With the Realvision over, Ratbat and Starscream review what they've learned and recognize the power of the Underbase is not a myth, as it is generally thought in the present. What's more, [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] informs them that the course calculations within the cassettes tell that the Underbase will be passing through the [[Earth]]'s solar system within a week's time. Ratbat and Starscream both begin to scheme on how to capture the power of the Underbase for themselves (though Starscream does show some rare discipline by using his inner monologue instead of broadcasting his treachery for everyone to hear). | ||
As Buster prepares to sneak off and try to warn the Autobots, he runs head-first into a wall and is discovered by the Decepticons... | As Buster prepares to sneak off and try to warn the Autobots, he runs head-first into a wall and is discovered by the Decepticons... | ||
==Featured characters== | ==Featured characters== | ||
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.)<br /> | |||
{{featuredcharacters|c1= | {{featuredcharacters|c1= | ||
* [[Raindance]] (8) | *[[Raindance]] (8) | ||
* [[Grand Slam (G1)| | *[[Grand Slam (G1)|Grandslam]] (9) | ||
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (10) | *''[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]'' (10) | ||
* [[Backstreet (G1)|Backstreet]] (11) | *''[[Backstreet (G1)|Backstreet]]'' (11) | ||
* [[Dogfight]] (12) | *''[[Dogfight (G1)|Dogfight]]'' (12) | ||
* [[Override (G1)|Override]] (13) | *''[[Override (G1)|Override]]'' (13) | ||
|c2= | |c2= | ||
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (2) | {{collist|2| | ||
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (3) | *[[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (2) | ||
* [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] (4) | *[[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] (3) | ||
* [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (5) | *[[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] (4) | ||
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (6) | *[[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (5) | ||
* [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (7) | *[[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (6) | ||
* [[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] (14) | *[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (7) | ||
* [[Windsweeper]] (15) | *''[[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]]'' (14) | ||
* [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] (16) | *''[[Windsweeper]]'' (15) | ||
* [[Ruckus (G1)|Ruckus]] (17) | *''[[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]'' (16) | ||
* [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (19) | *''[[Ruckus (G1)|Ruckus]]'' (17) | ||
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (19) | |||
}} | |||
|c3= | |c3= | ||
* [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] (1) | *[[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] (1) | ||
|c4= | |c4= | ||
* [[Boltax (G1)|Boltax]] (18) | *''[[Boltax (G1)|Boltax]]'' (18) | ||
}} | }} | ||
==Quotes== | |||
"Notice the peace, the harmony, the pristine state that still existed, Starscream."<br> | |||
"Yeah, it's not a pretty sight, Commander." | |||
:—'''Ratbat''' and '''Starscream''' upon viewing pre-war Cybertron | |||
"At this stage in his career, Optimus is clearly but a young, foolish officer. The Optimus of '''today''' would never endanger an innocent like Boltax!"<br> | |||
"Then he became even '''more''' foolish with '''age'''!" | |||
:—'''Ratbat''' and '''Starscream''' | |||
"They survived '''again!''' Watching screws '''rust''' is more entertaining than this!" | |||
:—'''Starscream''' | |||
"Step aside, Boltax!"<br> | |||
"Please... you must turn back. I cannot allow you to pass."<br> | |||
"I didn't come to ask for your '''permission!''' | |||
:—'''Megatron''', as he puts his fist right through '''Boltax''''s avatar | |||
"Cybertron's greatest treasure--gone. All because I let pride and glory--not reason--dictate my actions. All because of '''me'''. I shall live with this shame for the rest of my existence." | |||
:—'''Optimus Prime''' starts down the path of eternal angst | |||
"What--?! The '''fleshling!''' How long have '''you''' been here?!"<br> | |||
"Perhaps long enough to have heard Optimus Prime's warning -- that too much knowledge can lead to madness... even '''death?!''' | |||
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Ratbat''' catch Buster eavesdropping | |||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
* | ===Production notes=== | ||
* In the UK printing, the US cover is used as an interior page that is placed immediately after Megatron shoots Optimus Prime. This page doesn't mesh well with the other pages, since it exaggerates Optimus's injury, and since the art style is completely different from that of the other pages. | *The reduction in page count begun last issue continues, dropping again from the already-reduced 20 pages to only 18. | ||
===Artwork and technical errors=== | |||
[[File:FlamesofBoltax-SoundwaveRatbat.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Soundwave rocks the shades-and-mouth combo. A classic fashion statement.]] | |||
*Page 2, panel 3: Starscream's face is colored half silver, half dark gray. (Together with his yellow eyes, he looks like he's cosplaying as [[Silverbolt (Fuzor)|Silverbolt]]!) | |||
*Jose Delbo misinterpreted the badly-drawn faceplate on Soundwave's character art as a mouth, and drew him accordingly several times during his run. This issue is by far the most prominent example. | |||
*Optimus Prime is given a Cybertronian truck mode, yet his robot form is unchanged, sporting Earthly truck details (a common error in G1 stories.) This alternate mode is different from the Cybertronian alt mode he had in [[The Transformers (issue)|issue #1]]. In addition, Backstreet, Dogfight and Overdrive all have Earthly alt-modes while on Cybertron, with the creative team apparently hoping their toyetic imperfections will make them pass as alien. | |||
*Dogflight flies around with his front landing gear down. | |||
*In the UK printing, the US cover is used as an interior page that is placed immediately after Megatron shoots Optimus Prime. This page doesn't mesh well with the other pages, since it exaggerates Optimus's injury, and since the art style is completely different from that of the other pages. This is probably due to the UK needing filler due to the shortening of the US stories. | |||
===Scientific errors=== | |||
*Assuming the "molten mercury mines" are literally molten mercury, they're not much of a hazard to Transformers, since mercury is "molten" at room temperature and boils well below the melting point of steel. The worst it might do is cause a short-circuit if it gets at live wires. | |||
=== | ===Continuity notes=== | ||
* | *Following functions given on their toys' bio cards, for the Realvision experience, [[Raindance]] provides the video and [[Grand Slam (G1)|Grand Slam]] the audio. This will be the last we ever see of the pair in the Marvel continuity. | ||
*Optimus Prime is still a callow youth, to the extent that the Triggerbots will openly question his orders (and be right). Megatron is already aware of him and he's already Prime, so bearing the Matrix did ''not'' make him automatically leader. | |||
* | *This seems to be the event that makes Marvel Optimus the guilt-ridden depression sufferer we know so well. | ||
*Backstreet refers to "[[circuit sects]]" as creepy weirdos, up to who-knows-what. | |||
===Character profiles=== | ===Character profiles=== | ||
{{collist|4| | {{collist|4| | ||
*[[Brainstorm]] | *[[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] | ||
*[[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] | *[[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] | ||
*[[Crosshairs (G1)|Crosshairs]] | *[[Crosshairs (G1)|Crosshairs]] | ||
| Line 83: | Line 126: | ||
*[[Searchlight (G1)|Searchlight]] | *[[Searchlight (G1)|Searchlight]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
===Other notes=== | |||
*The highly simplified [[Floro Dery|Dery-ized character models]] of Optimus and Megatron contrast quite markedly with the very toy-accurate designs of the Triggerbots and Triggercons. The former look like they don't actually transform; the latter look like they shouldn't be able to walk. | |||
*Starscream and Buster both come across as really, REALLY thick considering how hard it is for them to grasp the Realvision concept. We bet they both shout "Don't go upstairs!!" during horror flicks, too. | |||
*The Realvision device itself is most likely inspired by the Holodeck from the ''[[Star Trek]]: The Next Generation'' television series, which debuted roughly a year before this issue was published. | |||
===Bot Roster=== | |||
*Autobots: 75 active; 5 bodyless Throttlebots. (80 total) | |||
**The two captive Autobot tapes are never shown active and never join up with the Earth crew and are not tallied here. | |||
*Ratbat's Decepticons: 46 active; 4 offline/missing. (50 total) | |||
*[[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'s Decepticons: 25 active. | |||
===Courtesy of my...=== | |||
*Override uses his [[particle beam cannon]]s to deactivate the molten mercury minefield. | |||
===UK printing=== | ===UK printing=== | ||
* ''' | '''Issue #196''' | ||
* ''' | *'''Back-up strips:''' ''[[Action Force (comic)|Action Force]]'' - "Jungle Moves" and ''[[Combat Colin]]'' | ||
*'''[[Transformers AtoZ|AtoZ]]:''' [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] | |||
'''Issue #197''' | |||
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Action Force'' - "Jungle Moves" and ''Combat Colin'' | |||
===IDW ''Classics'' reprinting=== | |||
[[File:FlamesofBoltax-SoundwaveRatbatIDW.jpg|right|300px|thumb|aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]] | |||
*Page 2: Soundwave is recolored in blue and his mouth is edited out, while his nose and cheekbones remain intact. This is true for most of his appearances in this issue. | |||
*Page 3: See image on right. Seriously, the whole issue is like that. | |||
*Page 15: Panel 1, the top of the cylinder of light which Optimus Prime is standing in is now yellow. Green remains intact in other panels. | |||
{{-}} | |||
===Covers (3)=== | ===Covers (3)=== | ||
*'''US issue #48 cover:''' Megatron and a defeated Prime, by [[José Delbo]] and [[Dave Hunt]]. | |||
*'''UK issue #196 cover:''' Dogfight and Optimus Prime attacked, by [[Art Wetherell]] and [[Stephen Baskerville]]. | |||
*'''UK issue #197 cover:''' Optimus Prime being blasted, by Anthony Williams and Stephen Baskerville. | |||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
File:MarvelUS-48.jpg|'''US Issue #48''' - And if you believe this... | |||
File:MarvelUK-196.jpg|'''UK Issue #196''' - Aunt Ethel's knitting went unrecognized as a potent Decepticon weapon | |||
File:MarvelUK-197.jpg|'''UK Issue #197''' - And for an encore, this was a FOUR-STAR story! Ha! Ha! Ha! | |||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
* ''' | ===Advertisements=== | ||
* ''' | ====US==== | ||
* ' | *Ultra Games - inside front cover | ||
*Freedom Stick (wireless joystick) - between pages 4 & 5 | |||
*''Magmax'' and ''Seicross'' video games - between pages 5 & 6 | |||
*Nintendo Game and Watch - between pages 7 & 8 | |||
*''Top Gun'' remote controlled airplane - between pages 8 & 9 | |||
*TSR ''Forgotten Realms'' (''AD&D'' campaigns) - between pages 16 & 17 | |||
*TSR ''Dungeons & Dragons: Set #1: Basic Rules'' - between pages 17 & 18 | |||
*Bullpen Bulletins and checklist / Quickshot joystick - between Hardhead and Brainstorm profiles | |||
*''Marvel Action Universe'' cartoons - between Brainstorm and Chromedome profiles | |||
*Marvel subscription service | |||
*''Yummy Mummy'' monster cereal - inside back cover | |||
*Nintendo games: ''Bubble Bobble'', ''Renegade'', ''Sky Shark'', ''Operation Wolf'' (back cover) | |||
====UK==== | |||
'''Issue 196''' | |||
*Action Force WHALE and Dreadnok Thunder Machine - page 9 | |||
*Ever Ready [[Powermaster Torch]] - page 16 | |||
*Weeto's circus games promotion - back cover | |||
'''Issue 197''' | |||
* | *Ever Ready Powermaster Torch - page 9 | ||
*Death's Head - page 14 | |||
*Captain Britain trade paperback - page 16 | |||
*Action Force Official Collector Card album - back cover | |||
===Reprints=== | ===Reprints=== | ||
* | *'''''[[Transformers: Dark Star]]'' TPB:''' Starscream, [[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]], Overbite, [[Dogfight (G1)|Dogfight]], and half a [[Mecannibal]] by [[Andrew Wildman]]. | ||
* | *'''''Dark Star'' hardcover:''' Starscream victorious by [[Seth Fisher]] and [[Chris Blythe]]. | ||
* | *'''''[[Classic Transformers]]'' [[Classic Transformers Volume 4|Volume 4]]:''' Panels from US issues [[Skin Deep|#59]] and [[Yesterday's Heroes!|#60]], pencils by José Delbo, inks by [[Dave Hunt]] and colours by Nel Yomtov. | ||
*'''''[[The Transformers: Best of Optimus Prime|Best of Optimus Prime]]'':''' Optimus Prime, by [[Livio Ramondelli]]. | |||
*'''''[[The Transformers Classics]]'', [[The Transformers Classics, Vol. 4|Vol. 4]]:''' Starscream by [[Guido Guidi]]. | |||
*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]] Volume 13: City of Fear:''''' [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] / [[Zombie]] killing [[Chuffer]] by [[Don Figueroa]] / [[Dan Reed]]. | |||
<gallery> | |||
File:Titan-DarkStarSC.jpg|'''''Dark Star'' TPB''' | |||
File:Titan-DarkStarHC.jpg|'''''Dark Star'' hardback''' | |||
File:Classic Transformers Vol4.jpg|'''''Classic Transformers'' Volume 4''' | |||
File:BestofOptimus.jpg|'''''Best of Optimus Prime''''' | |||
File:TFClassicsVol4.jpg|'''''The Transformers Classics'', Vol. 4''' | |||
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v13.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection Vol. 13: City of Fear''''' | |||
</gallery> | |||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Flames of Boltax!}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Flames of Boltax!}} | ||
[[Category:Marvel US issues]] | [[Category:Marvel US issues]] | ||
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]] | [[Category:Marvel UK issues]] | ||
Latest revision as of 12:54, 6 October 2025
| |||||||||||||
 This cover wins the award for "Most Blatant Case of False Promotion" in the history of the series. | |||||||||||||
| "The Flames of Boltax!" | |||||||||||||
| Publisher | Marvel Comics | ||||||||||||
| Shipping date | September 27, 1988 | ||||||||||||
| On-sale date | October 18, 1988 | ||||||||||||
| Cover date | January 1989 | ||||||||||||
| Writer | Bob Budiansky | ||||||||||||
| Penciler | José Delbo | ||||||||||||
| Inker | Danny Bulanadi | ||||||||||||
| Colorist | Nel Yomtov | ||||||||||||
| Letterer | Bill Oakley | ||||||||||||
| Editor | Don Daley | ||||||||||||
| Continuity | Marvel Comics continuity | ||||||||||||
Read on, but only if you're willing to tempt madness... even death.
Synopsis
[edit]Buster Witwicky finds himself being chased by strange creatures through an alien landscape. He suddenly takes a laser blast to the chest... only to find no damage has been done at all. A moment later, Ratbat and the Decepticons re-materialize around him. It seems they had developed a new full-sensory holographic projection system called Realvision and needed a guinea pig to test it. Starscream announces that they are now prepared to review the Autobot tapes, which captures Buster's attention. Of course, Ratbat sends him back to his cell instead of letting him observe.
Ratbat and Starscream activate the Realvision and find themselves holographically present on Cybertron more than four million years ago, near the dawn of the Cybertronian Civil Wars. They witness a convoy of Autobots, consisting of the Triggerbots and Lieutenant Commander Optimus Prime of the Autobot Fourth Computerized Division. Prime, it seems, has come up with the idea of enlisting the aid of High Circuitmaster Boltax and his vast font of knowledge, in the hopes that it can be used to end the war before it grows out of control. The Triggerbots question this, knowing it will violate a neutrality agreement and could escalate the war, but Prime thinks it's worth the risk. As the Autobots negotiate their way through several traps on the road to Boltax, they remain unaware that Megatron and the Triggercons—seeing the neutrality agreement is now off—are dogging their every move.
Back in the real world, Buster uses the time-honored "air shaft trick" to break out of his cell in order to get a look at what's on the tapes.
In Realvision, Optimus Prime and his soldiers approach Boltax's Temple of Knowledge. The Circuitmaster's disciples allow Optimus alone to pass through and see Boltax. The Circuitmaster does not offer Prime any direct aid, but instead instructs him to seek what he's looking for inside the Underbase. (As each Transformer mind carries a DATAbase, the Underbase is said to be a collection of knowledge that UNDERlies all dataBASEs.)
Buster enters the Realvision scenario just as Optimus Prime begins to bathe in the light of the Underbase and Megatron blasts his way in through Boltax and the disciples. Confronted by Megatron, Optimus Prime informs his enemy that the knowledge and power of the Underbase is too much for any one being to possess. Megatron blows Optimus Prime away and heads toward the Underbase. Badly injured, Optimus manages to manipulate the temple's controls and launch the Underbase on a never-ending course through space instead of letting Megatron claim it. While he's full of shame, Ratbat notes this is what made his career.
With the Realvision over, Ratbat and Starscream review what they've learned and recognize the power of the Underbase is not a myth, as it is generally thought in the present. What's more, Soundwave informs them that the course calculations within the cassettes tell that the Underbase will be passing through the Earth's solar system within a week's time. Ratbat and Starscream both begin to scheme on how to capture the power of the Underbase for themselves (though Starscream does show some rare discipline by using his inner monologue instead of broadcasting his treachery for everyone to hear).
As Buster prepares to sneak off and try to warn the Autobots, he runs head-first into a wall and is discovered by the Decepticons...
Featured characters
[edit](Characters in italic text appear only in flashbacks.)
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Humans | Others |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
Quotes
[edit]"Notice the peace, the harmony, the pristine state that still existed, Starscream."
"Yeah, it's not a pretty sight, Commander."
- —Ratbat and Starscream upon viewing pre-war Cybertron
"At this stage in his career, Optimus is clearly but a young, foolish officer. The Optimus of today would never endanger an innocent like Boltax!"
"Then he became even more foolish with age!"
- —Ratbat and Starscream
"They survived again! Watching screws rust is more entertaining than this!"
- —Starscream
"Step aside, Boltax!"
"Please... you must turn back. I cannot allow you to pass."
"I didn't come to ask for your permission!
- —Megatron, as he puts his fist right through Boltax's avatar
"Cybertron's greatest treasure--gone. All because I let pride and glory--not reason--dictate my actions. All because of me. I shall live with this shame for the rest of my existence."
- —Optimus Prime starts down the path of eternal angst
"What--?! The fleshling! How long have you been here?!"
"Perhaps long enough to have heard Optimus Prime's warning -- that too much knowledge can lead to madness... even death?!
- —Starscream and Ratbat catch Buster eavesdropping
Notes
[edit]Production notes
[edit]- The reduction in page count begun last issue continues, dropping again from the already-reduced 20 pages to only 18.
Artwork and technical errors
[edit]
- Page 2, panel 3: Starscream's face is colored half silver, half dark gray. (Together with his yellow eyes, he looks like he's cosplaying as Silverbolt!)
- Jose Delbo misinterpreted the badly-drawn faceplate on Soundwave's character art as a mouth, and drew him accordingly several times during his run. This issue is by far the most prominent example.
- Optimus Prime is given a Cybertronian truck mode, yet his robot form is unchanged, sporting Earthly truck details (a common error in G1 stories.) This alternate mode is different from the Cybertronian alt mode he had in issue #1. In addition, Backstreet, Dogfight and Overdrive all have Earthly alt-modes while on Cybertron, with the creative team apparently hoping their toyetic imperfections will make them pass as alien.
- Dogflight flies around with his front landing gear down.
- In the UK printing, the US cover is used as an interior page that is placed immediately after Megatron shoots Optimus Prime. This page doesn't mesh well with the other pages, since it exaggerates Optimus's injury, and since the art style is completely different from that of the other pages. This is probably due to the UK needing filler due to the shortening of the US stories.
Scientific errors
[edit]- Assuming the "molten mercury mines" are literally molten mercury, they're not much of a hazard to Transformers, since mercury is "molten" at room temperature and boils well below the melting point of steel. The worst it might do is cause a short-circuit if it gets at live wires.
Continuity notes
[edit]- Following functions given on their toys' bio cards, for the Realvision experience, Raindance provides the video and Grand Slam the audio. This will be the last we ever see of the pair in the Marvel continuity.
- Optimus Prime is still a callow youth, to the extent that the Triggerbots will openly question his orders (and be right). Megatron is already aware of him and he's already Prime, so bearing the Matrix did not make him automatically leader.
- This seems to be the event that makes Marvel Optimus the guilt-ridden depression sufferer we know so well.
- Backstreet refers to "circuit sects" as creepy weirdos, up to who-knows-what.
Character profiles
[edit]Other notes
[edit]- The highly simplified Dery-ized character models of Optimus and Megatron contrast quite markedly with the very toy-accurate designs of the Triggerbots and Triggercons. The former look like they don't actually transform; the latter look like they shouldn't be able to walk.
- Starscream and Buster both come across as really, REALLY thick considering how hard it is for them to grasp the Realvision concept. We bet they both shout "Don't go upstairs!!" during horror flicks, too.
- The Realvision device itself is most likely inspired by the Holodeck from the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series, which debuted roughly a year before this issue was published.
Bot Roster
[edit]- Autobots: 75 active; 5 bodyless Throttlebots. (80 total)
- The two captive Autobot tapes are never shown active and never join up with the Earth crew and are not tallied here.
- Ratbat's Decepticons: 46 active; 4 offline/missing. (50 total)
- Scorponok's Decepticons: 25 active.
Courtesy of my...
[edit]- Override uses his particle beam cannons to deactivate the molten mercury minefield.
UK printing
[edit]Issue #196
- Back-up strips: Action Force - "Jungle Moves" and Combat Colin
- AtoZ: Megatron
Issue #197
- Back-up strips: Action Force - "Jungle Moves" and Combat Colin
IDW Classics reprinting
[edit]
- Page 2: Soundwave is recolored in blue and his mouth is edited out, while his nose and cheekbones remain intact. This is true for most of his appearances in this issue.
- Page 3: See image on right. Seriously, the whole issue is like that.
- Page 15: Panel 1, the top of the cylinder of light which Optimus Prime is standing in is now yellow. Green remains intact in other panels.
Covers (3)
[edit]- US issue #48 cover: Megatron and a defeated Prime, by José Delbo and Dave Hunt.
- UK issue #196 cover: Dogfight and Optimus Prime attacked, by Art Wetherell and Stephen Baskerville.
- UK issue #197 cover: Optimus Prime being blasted, by Anthony Williams and Stephen Baskerville.
-
US Issue #48 - And if you believe this... -
UK Issue #196 - Aunt Ethel's knitting went unrecognized as a potent Decepticon weapon -
UK Issue #197 - And for an encore, this was a FOUR-STAR story! Ha! Ha! Ha!
Advertisements
[edit]US
[edit]- Ultra Games - inside front cover
- Freedom Stick (wireless joystick) - between pages 4 & 5
- Magmax and Seicross video games - between pages 5 & 6
- Nintendo Game and Watch - between pages 7 & 8
- Top Gun remote controlled airplane - between pages 8 & 9
- TSR Forgotten Realms (AD&D campaigns) - between pages 16 & 17
- TSR Dungeons & Dragons: Set #1: Basic Rules - between pages 17 & 18
- Bullpen Bulletins and checklist / Quickshot joystick - between Hardhead and Brainstorm profiles
- Marvel Action Universe cartoons - between Brainstorm and Chromedome profiles
- Marvel subscription service
- Yummy Mummy monster cereal - inside back cover
- Nintendo games: Bubble Bobble, Renegade, Sky Shark, Operation Wolf (back cover)
UK
[edit]Issue 196
- Action Force WHALE and Dreadnok Thunder Machine - page 9
- Ever Ready Powermaster Torch - page 16
- Weeto's circus games promotion - back cover
Issue 197
- Ever Ready Powermaster Torch - page 9
- Death's Head - page 14
- Captain Britain trade paperback - page 16
- Action Force Official Collector Card album - back cover
Reprints
[edit]- Transformers: Dark Star TPB: Starscream, Carnivac, Overbite, Dogfight, and half a Mecannibal by Andrew Wildman.
- Dark Star hardcover: Starscream victorious by Seth Fisher and Chris Blythe.
- Classic Transformers Volume 4: Panels from US issues #59 and #60, pencils by José Delbo, inks by Dave Hunt and colours by Nel Yomtov.
- Best of Optimus Prime: Optimus Prime, by Livio Ramondelli.
- The Transformers Classics, Vol. 4: Starscream by Guido Guidi.
- Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection Volume 13: City of Fear: Trypticon / Zombie killing Chuffer by Don Figueroa / Dan Reed.
-
Dark Star TPB -
Dark Star hardback -
Classic Transformers Volume 4 -
Best of Optimus Prime -
The Transformers Classics, Vol. 4 -
Definitive G1 Collection Vol. 13: City of Fear
