All in the Minds!

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"All in the Minds!"
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First published	September 1988
Script	Simon Furman
Art	Dan Reed
Colour	Euan Peters
Letters	Tom Frame
Continuity	Marvel Comics continuity

Another round of Scorponok vs Highbrow.

Synopsis

Highbrow has been led into the woods by humans, only to discover they were hypnotised by Mindwipe and Scorponok has laid a trap for him. Highbrow tries to fight back, but Scorponok is too powerful. Highbrow stuns Scorponok by blowing up his gun, but comes under fire from the Horrorcons Apeface and Snapdragon and so takes off. In the woods, Highbrow takes advantage of Apeface's poor flying to send him crashing into a tree, then flies high whilst Snapdragon transforms to beast mode and proceeds to tear up trees. However, Highbrow suddenly comes face to face with the hypnotism of Mindwipe.

Mindwipe gives Highbrow a bad case of amnesia and Scorponok tears off Highbrow's Autobot symbol. When Highbrow recovers he cannot remember much so Scorponok and Mindwipe tell him that he is a Decepticon serving under Scorponok and fighting the evil Autobots. Highbrow is not quite sure if he should accept this or not, but without his memory he has no option but to trust Scorponok. To put him at ease, Scorponok suggests that all three transform their heads into their Nebulan forms.

But Gort knows exactly who he is, and knocks out Vorath. Mindwipe forgot that Highbrow and Gort have two separate minds and neglected to brainwash both of them. Gort couldn't do much when merged with Highbrow, but now his mind is clear. Unfortunately, Zarak has recombined with Scorponok and Gort is left facing either death in his small form or amnesia if he recombines with Highbrow.

Gort transforms back and Highbrow admits he was confused. He turns to Scorponok and suddenly rips off his head. The sudden shock without the prerequisite mental commands causes both Scorponok and Zarak to black out. Highbrow/Gort explains that, because Gort has ultimate control over their joint actions, he was able to keep control of Highbrow—two heads are better than one. Highbrow heads for home.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots	Decepticons	Nebulans
Highbrow (2)	Scorponok (1) Snapdragon (3) Apeface (4) Mindwipe (5)	Zarak (6) Vorath (7) Gort (8)

Notes

Artwork and technical errors

• Scorponok's "third claw" appears variously on either arm and not at all.

Continuity errors

• Apeface is said to be put out of action, a point repeated in "Time Wars", but here he is only shown crashing into a branch.

Continuity notes

• Highbrow and Gort were previously targeted by Scorponok in the earlier story "Worlds Apart!"
• Highbrow keeping hold of Scorponok's head will be picked up again in Time Wars

Cover

• 
  Transformers Annual 1989

• Transformers Annual 1989 cover: Scorponok, by Lee Sullivan.

Reprints

• 
  Time Wars TPB
• 
  Best of UK: Time Wars #1 cover A
• 
  Best of UK: Time Wars #1 cover RI
• 
  Best of UK: Time Wars TPB
• 
  Best of UK Omnibus
• 
  Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 15: Time Wars

• Transformers Annual 1989 cover: Scorponok, by Lee Sullivan.
• Time Wars TPB cover: Optimus Prime and Galvatron fight, by Geoff Senior and Oliver Harud.
• Best of UK: Time Wars #1 cover A: Straxus/Megatron and Galvatron fight, by Dan Khanna and Liam Shalloo.
• Best of UK: Time Wars #1 cover RI: reuse of a panel from "Altered Image!", by Lee Sullivan and Steve White.
• Best of UK: Time Wars TPB cover: reuse of issue #1 cover A.
• Best of UK Omnibus cover: crop of Best of UK: Time Wars issue #4 cover A.
• Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 15: Time Wars; art by Lee Sullivan (pencils retro), Stephen Baskerville (inks, retro) and Don Figueroa? (Highbrow)

Reprints

• 2003 — Transformers: Time Wars
• 2008 — The Transformers: Best of UK: Time Wars #1
• 2009 — The Transformers: Best of UK: Time Wars TPB
• 2009 — The Transformers: Best of UK Omnibus