Headhunt

« The Transformers (UK) #133–134 »
Rodimus fails to return the book he borrowed from Death's Head.
"Headhunt"
Publisher	Marvel Comics
Cover date	3rd - 10th October 1987
Script	Simon Furman
Art	Dan Reed (#133), Geoff Senior (#134)
Colour	Steve White
Letters	Richard Starkings
Continuity	Marvel Comics continuity (Marvel UK)
Chronology	Original future (2007)

Shockwave hires Death's Head to kill Rodimus Prime in a plan to rid himself of Cyclonus and Scourge.

Synopsis

In the year 2007, Shockwave, tiring of Galvatron's former lieutenants Cyclonus and Scourge, plans to eliminate them. He hatches a plan to hire the bounty hunter freelance peacekeeping agent Death's Head to assassinate Rodimus Prime.

Shockwave then reveals this to Cyclonus and Scourge, knowing that in their arrogance they will try to interfere and kill Rodimus Prime themselves in an attempt to get back at Death's Head for the injuries he inflicted on them while hunting for Galvatron.

Death's Head ambushes Rodimus Prime as he makes a tour of the Autobase's trench defences. Quickly dispatching his bodyguards, Death's Head overpowers Rodimus and prepares to strike the killing blow, only to be shot in the back by Scourge.

In the confusion, Rodimus Prime escapes down the trench, followed by Cyclonus and Scourge, who leave Death's Head for dead. A game of cat and mouse ensues as Rodimus tries to shake his pursuers. Eventually he manages to evade them and they come face to face with Death's Head, who survived their attack. Enraged at their interference, he attacks them and they are forced to flee.

As they escape, they accidentally lead Death's Head to Rodimus Prime's location, causing the bounty hunter to change his target. Rodimus briefly overcomes Death's Head and makes his escape out of the trench, closely followed by his attacker. Death's Head is shocked to find that he has come out in the middle of the Autobase and is surrounded by heavily armed Autobots.

Rodimus Prime agrees to let Death's Head leave if he will kill Cyclonus and Scourge and pays him 10,000 Shanix in advance for the job. Wanting revenge, Death's Head agrees.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots	Decepticons	Nebulans	Others
Rodimus Prime (3)	Blot (1) Cyclonus (5) Scourge (6) Shockwave (7)	Firebolt (4)	Death's Head (2)

Quotes

"We Decepticons offer you safe passage to Cybertron, detailed information on Prime's movements. We offer you revenge!"

"And where's the profit in that, eh? Revenge may be satisfying on one level but it doesn't pay the rent, right?"

—Blot is no Swindle when it comes to making deals, especially with Death's Head.

"Cyclonus and Scourge may have saved me, but you can bet it wasn't out of the kindness of their hearts. They'll keep after me till I'm dead! Huh - for a moment there, when Death's Head pressed that gun against my head, I almost felt relieved. At last - an end to the constant burden of leadership! Perhaps I should just wait here - accept my fate. I'm tired, so very tired of this endless war... But if I die, what then? What then?!"

—Rodimus Prime, thinking more like his cartoon self.

"It's time we settled this... ...out in the open - yes? Or at least inside Autobase! You see, those 'A' markings chart the route we use when we want to leave Autobase undetected. It became a simple matter to follow them back here. Still want my head, bounty-hunter..?"

"Hmm. Maybe I let you off, yes?"

"I've a better idea. Seems we've both got scores to settle with Cyclonus and Scourge, so I'll make you a business proposition. Here's ten thousand Shanix - in advance. All you have to do to earn it is bring me the heads of Scourge and Cyclonus! Do us both a favour - yes?

"Do Shockwave a favour too. Maybe that's why he let 'em come after me, eh..? Still - I accept. Through I rarely mix the two... this particular bit of business... will be a pleasure!"

—Rodimus Prime finally learns how one successfully makes deals with Death's Head.

Notes

Continuity notes

• This story is the start of a story arc that concludes in "The Legacy of Unicron!".
• The Autobots' trench defences don't seem to be very good. Not only can a bounty hunter and two heavily armed Decepticons wander in and attack the Autobot leader undetected, they also provide an easy access hatch (cryptically marked with the letter A) right inside the Autobot base.

Back-up Material

Issue #133

• Backup Transformers story: "Ring of Hate!"
• Other strips: Robo-Capers
• AtoZ: Defensor and Devastator

Issue #134

• Backup Transformers story: "Broken Glass!"
• Other strips: Robo-Capers

Covers (8)

• 
  Issue #133
• 
  Issue #134

• Issue #133 cover: Death's Head stands over Rodimus Prime, by Dave Gibbons.
• Issue #134 cover: Scourge & Cyclonus, by Lee Sullivan.

• 
  Issue #225
• 
  Issue #226
• 
  Issue #227
• 
  Issue #228

• Issue #225 cover: Shockwave takes on some humans, by Jeff Anderson.
• Issue #226 cover: Megatron takes on Pretenders, by Jeff Anderson.
• Issue #227 cover: Unicron, by Geoff Senior.
• Issue #228 cover: Doubledealer, Optimus Prime & Scorponok, by Jeff Anderson.

• 
  Legacy of Unicron
• 
  The Transformers Classics UK Volume 4

• Legacy of Unicron cover: Unicron and his manipulated pawns, by Geoff Senior & Oliver Harud.
• The Transformers Classics UK Volume 4 cover: Rodimus and Galvatron fight whilst Scorponok squeezes Highbrow and Goldbug rides Wreck-Gar, by Andrew Wildman

Reprints

• 1989 — The Transformers #225–228
• 2003 — Transformers: Legacy of Unicron
• 2013 — The Transformers Classics UK Volume 4

External links

• The generics of issue #134 at the Obscure Transformers Website