The Worse of Two Evils!

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Hum "Ride of the Valkyries" here.
"The Worse of Two Evils!"
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First published	March 1985
Cover date	July 1985
Script	Bob Budiansky
Art	Alan Kupperberg
Colors	Nel Yomtov
Lettering	Rick Parker
Editor	Jim Owsley
Continuity	Marvel Comics continuity

Shockwave captures an oil-drilling platform, then is challenged by Megatron for command of the Decepticons.

Synopsis

Shockwave single-handedly attacks a high-tech oil rig belonging to industrialist G.B. Blackrock. The rig's defenses are largely ineffective, and Shockwave quickly conquers the platform. During the attack, electronics designer Josie Beller is severely injured.

Meanwhile, inside the Ark, Optimus Prime's still-living head instructs Buster to connect two wires from Prime's forehead to Buster's own. This results in an electric shock, knocking Buster unconscious. However, he remains unnoticed by the Decepticons, and returns to Ratchet to report his findings.

Megatron is still fuming when Shockwave announces his conquest to the other Decepticons. Unable to control his temper, he breaks free from his repair systems, and attacks Shockwave, blasting him across the Oregon landscape. But Megatron's injuries are not healed, leaving him vulnerable. Shockwave quickly defeats him, but refuses to grant him an honorable warrior's death, saying he has more value alive than dead... for now.

As witnessed by Ratchet and Buster, Shockwave returns to the Ark carrying Megatron's injured form. Shockwave uses the broken ex-leader as a demonstration to the other Decepticons of what they can expect if they challenge him... while outside, Ratchet and Buster huddle in despair.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots	Decepticons	Humans
Optimus Prime (9) Ratchet (11)	Shockwave (1) Megatron (4) Skywarp (5) Soundwave (6) Rumble (7) Frenzy (8) Thundercracker (12) Buzzsaw (13) Laserbeak (14) Ravage (15)	G.B. Blackrock (2) Josie Beller (3) Buster Witwicky (10)

Errors

• Josie Beller looks about 10 years older (and about half as bubbly) than she did in the previous issue.
• Skywarp is colored as Thundercracker on page 9. Also on this page, Frenzy (or Rumble) is depicted as larger than Soundwave.
• On page 16, on the third panel, Megatron's speech bubble was likely meant for Shockwave.
• On page 21, panel 2 Thundercracker is colored very oddly. His chest is colored white, his nosecone on his chest is colored orange instead of yellow, and his face inside his head is colored blue instead of grey. There are also little mistakes on his arms and legs.
• On page 22, Ratchet has a Decepticon symbol.
• Throughout the issue, the Seekers are drawn with the "Van Gogh" ear, later picked up by José Delbo.

Items of note

• Cameos: Blackrock oil rig employees and security, Vallemont football team.
• The last panel on page 14 (Shockwave being blasted out of Mount St. Hilary and across town) looks like it was drawn by an entirely different artist. Indeed, a photograph of the original line art reveals the last panel has yellowed at a different rate. (This different artist is likely William Johnson, who draws Shockwave in a more toy-accurate style in the next two issues.)

Covers (3)

• 
  US Issue #6 - No, they're not fighting on top of the helicopter.
• 
  UK Issue #24 - Shockwave shows his feelings about rising oil prices!
• UK Issue #25 - That helicopter is pretty buff.
  UK Issue #25 - That helicopter is pretty buff.

• US issue #6 cover: Shockwave blasting Megatron, by Alan Kupperberg.
• UK issue #24 cover: Shockwave blasting oil rig, by Robin Smith.
• UK issue #25 cover: reuse of US art.

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