Internal Affairs!

« The Transformers (UK) #277 »
"Internal Affairs!"
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First published	30th June 1990
Cover date	7th July 1990
Writer	Simon Furman
Pencils	Simon Coleby
Inks	Michael Eve
Lettering	Stuart Bartlett
Continuity	Marvel Comics continuity/Earthforce

The Decepticon Civil War ends as Megatron and Shockwave battle for the last time.

Synopsis

These stories do not fit into the normal Marvel continuity. See Earthforce for details.

Megatron has discovered that Shockwave is undertaking a mission at Memphis Airport and the two Decepticon leaders fight whilst the humans cancel planes and start betting on the outcome. From the skies, Starscream observes what is going on and is pleased. He then notes that as "a law-abiding citizen" he must report it.

The Autobots receive an anonymous message about the fight and put together a force, but Grimlock and Prowl are both uneasy, suspecting a set-up.

At Megatron's base in Louisiana, Soundwave has brought all the Decepticons outside to meet Starscream. The two second-in-commands explain that they feel it is essential to take matters in their own hands and reunite the Decepticons under their joint leadership. Soundwave thinks to himself that he has no choice because otherwise Starscream would have exposed him as a double agent but the plan suits him. Each plans to doublecross and destroy the other.

Back in Memphis, the Autobots arrive. Megatron and Shockwave each radios for reinforcements only to learn that they have been deposed. As the two Decepticons flee, Shockwave proposes an alliance to destroy their usurpers, to which Megatron agrees.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots	Decepticons
Grimlock (4) Jazz (5) Prowl (6)	Megatron (1) Shockwave (2) Starscream (3) Soundwave (7) Hook (8) Motormaster (9) Dead End (10) Bombshell (11)

Quotes

"'That's the trouble with being a Decepticon — you never know who to trust!"

— Megatron on his race's flaws.

Notes

Artwork and technical errors

• Megatron's base has changed from a giant metal insect in "Secrets" into some chimneys. It will revert to being a giant metal insect under Starscream and Soundwave's command in "External Forces!".
• Like Megatron's base, Earthbase also appears to have rather more chimneys here than would be depicted in its subsequent appearances.

Continuity errors

• This issue repeats the location of the Autobots' base (first given in "Once upon a Time...") as sixteen miles east of Churchill, which would place it in Hudson Bay—however the area around the base is drawn as mountainous and forested, not frozen ice.

Continuity notes

• This follows directly from last issue.
• As mentioned above, this issue marks the first appearance of the newly completed Autobot Earthbase. Wheeljack has been working on it since issue #269, when Skydive described it as a "mess of foundations and a few girders", and it will be unveiled properly in the next issue.
• The Autobots apparently lack a system for monitoring Earth media reports and are instead reliant on phone tip-offs.
• Soundwave was revealed as a spy in "Secrets".

Back-up material

• Additional Transformers story: "...All Fall Down!"
• Other strips: G.I. Joe the Action Force - "Cold Snap" and Combat Colin
• AtoZ: Smokescreen and Snarl

Covers (2)

• 
  Issue #277 - Camera 1
• 
  Fallen Star - Camera 2

• Issue #277 cover: Megatron and Shockwave wrestle at Memphis Airport, by Stewart Johnson.
• Fallen Star cover: oddly similar.

Reprints

• 2005 — Transformers: Fallen Star