Crisis of Command!

<table class="infobox" style="width: 20em;">

<tr style="background-color:#e7d492;text-align:center;font-size:12px;"> <td colspan="2" style="font-size: 14px; background-color:#e7d492; color:black;font-weight:bold;" align="center"> <table width="100%" style="background-color:transparent">

<tr style="font-size:14px;"> <td class="tti_buttonlink">« </td><td align="center">The Transformers (UK) #42-44 </td><td align="right" class="tti_buttonlink">» </td></tr> <tr class="tt1_secondarynav"> <td class="tti_buttonlink"> </td><td align="center"> </td><td align="right" class="tti_buttonlink"> </td></tr></table> </td></tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="font-size: 12px; background-color:#ffffff;" align="center"> <img alt="" src="/w2/images2/thumb/a/a7/MarvelUK-043.JPG/230px-MarvelUK-043.JPG" width="230" height="303" border="0" /><br />Bumblebee criticises the size of the Decepticon's weapons! </td></tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="font-size: 14px; background-color:#e7d492; color:black;font-weight:bold;" align="center"> "Crisis of Command" </td></tr> <tr> <td>Publisher </td><td> Marvel Comics </td></tr>

<tr> <td>Cover date </td><td> 4th January 1986 – 18th January 1986 </td></tr>

<tr> <td>Writer </td><td> Mike Collins (42 & 44), James Hill (43) </td></tr>

<tr> <td>Art </td><td> Geoff Senior (42-43), John Stokes (44) </td></tr>

<tr> <td>Colour </td><td> Steve Whitaker (42), Gina Hart (43-44) </td></tr>

<tr> <td>Letters </td><td> Mike Scott </td></tr>

<tr> <td>Editor </td><td> Ian Rimmer </td></tr>

<tr> <td>Continuity </td><td> Marvel Comics continuity </td></tr>

</table> Optimus Prime struggles to maintain discipline when a group of Autobots want to use the Matrix to build an army of super warriors. Then Bumblebee is captured by the Decepticons.

Synopsis

A group of Autobots led by Prowl petition Optimus Prime to create an army of super warriors to defeat the Decepticons. Things become heated when they confront those who are against the plan. Optimus Prime is riddled with doubt after recent events. He eventually turns down the proposal but feels that those in favour are dissatisfied with his decision. He is unaware that he is being observed by Ravage who has infiltrated the Ark.

Amazed to see Optimus Prime uncertain, Ravage becomes careless and sets off the alarms. After a short battle Ravage is captured by the Autobots. He quickly manages to escape his cell and returns to the Decepticons.

Bumblebee discovered that Ravage had escaped and reported the matter to Optimus Prime, giving Prowl and his group even more ammunition to use against Prime. Upset at how low Prime has sunk, Bumblebee decides to try and recapture Ravage by himself. Unfortunately he is quickly captured by the Decepticons who have come out in search of their missing spy. They plan to use him to draw Optimus Prime to them. They rip off Bumblebee’s arm and have Laserbeak deliver it to the Ark and instruct Prime to come and recover the rest of him alone.

Prime agrees and sets off alone, only to be ambushed by the Seekers and Rumble. Prime single-handedly defeats his attackers and makes his way to the Decepticon Fortress. He then defeats Soundwave and Laserbeak and rescues Bumblebee.

After returning to the Ark, Prime feels better about himself and officially ends all discussion of super warriors.

Featured Characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

<table border="5" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5" align="center" style="border:#800000"> <tr> <th style="background:#FFEEEE"> Autobots</th><th style="background:#EEEEFE"> Decepticons </th></tr> <tr> <td style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top">

• Ironhide (1)
• Jazz (2)
• Prowl (3)
• Mirage (4)
• Optimus Prime (5)
• Ratchet (6)
• Bluestreak (7)
• Bumblebee (8)
• Gears (9)
• Hound (10)
• Ultimate Autobots (11)
• Wheeljack (21)

</td><td style="background:#EEEEFE" valign="top">

• Ravage (12)
• Shockwave (13)
• Laserbeak (14)
• Soundwave (15)
• Starscream (16)
• Thundercracker (17)
• Rumble (18)
• Frenzy (19)
• Skywarp (20)

</td></tr></table>

Errors

• Optimus Prime is sporting a blue faceplate in part 1.

Items of note

• Prime is here feeling insecure following the events of "Prime Time!".

• Soundwave has taken temporary control of the Decepticons following the disappearance of Megatron and Shockwave’s sinking into the swamp in Prime Time!. He also regained control of Letters Pages after Ratchet's fun from last issue.

• Optimus ends all discussion on super-warriors. He will later go on to build Omega Supreme and the Special Teams.

Back-Up Stories

Issue #42:

• Machine Man - "Victory" Part 4
• Matt and the Cat
• Robo-Capers

Issue #43:

• Iron Man - "Night of the Octopus" Part 1
• Matt and the Cat
• Robo-Capers

Issue #44:

• Iron Man - "Night of the Octopus" Part 2
• Matt and the Cat
• Robo-Capers

Reprints

• This story was reprinted in Collected Comics #8 in Spring 1988. A new cover was drawn for the issue.

Covers (4)

<table class="gallery" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td><div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0; width: 150px;"><div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><img alt="" src="/w2/images2/thumb/b/b8/MarvelUK-042.jpg/90px-MarvelUK-042.jpg" width="90" height="120" border="0" /></div></div> <div class="gallerytext"> Issue #42

</div> </div></td> <td><div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0; width: 150px;"><div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><img alt="" src="/w2/images2/thumb/a/a7/MarvelUK-043.JPG/91px-MarvelUK-043.JPG" width="91" height="120" border="0" /></div></div> <div class="gallerytext"> Issue #43

</div> </div></td> <td><div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0; width: 150px;"><div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><img alt="" src="/w2/images2/thumb/d/db/MarvelUK-044.jpg/90px-MarvelUK-044.jpg" width="90" height="120" border="0" /></div></div> <div class="gallerytext"> Issue #44

</div> </div></td> <td><div class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px;"> <div class="thumb" style="padding: 13px 0; width: 150px;"><div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 120px;"><img alt="" src="/w2/images2/thumb/d/da/Tfcolcom08.jpg/90px-Tfcolcom08.jpg" width="90" height="120" border="0" /></div></div> <div class="gallerytext"> Collected Comics #8

</div> </div></td> </tr> </table>

• Issue #42 cover: Ravage infiltrating the Ark, by Will Simpson
• Issue #43 cover: Bumblebee facing down Decepticon weapons, by John Ridgway
• Issue #44 cover: Optimus Prime takes on the Seeker trio, by Jeff Anderson
• Collected Comics #8 cover: Optimus Prime kicking skidplate & taking names by Bryan Hitch