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Blackrock's team arrives, and the resulting three-way fight between them, Starscream, and Circuit Breaker ends when Dialonzo calls time-out, and says he will listen to each proposal and then decide for himself. Starscream offers revenge against those who wronged him, Circuit Breaker offers adoration of the masses, but Blackrock simply offers the truth—the chance to be branded either hero or traitor by the public, but to ultimately do what is right. Starscream naturally attempts to cheat, but is blasted by Rapture's dream-power and then ultimately brought down by the rest of the team. In the end, Blackrock extends his offer to Josie as well, and she accepts.
Blackrock's team arrives, and the resulting three-way fight between them, Starscream, and Circuit Breaker ends when Dialonzo calls time-out, and says he will listen to each proposal and then decide for himself. Starscream offers revenge against those who wronged him, Circuit Breaker offers adoration of the masses, but Blackrock simply offers the truth—the chance to be branded either hero or traitor by the public, but to ultimately do what is right. Starscream naturally attempts to cheat, but is blasted by Rapture's dream-power and then ultimately brought down by the rest of the team. In the end, Blackrock extends his offer to Josie as well, and she accepts.


Sometime later, Starscream awakens to find himself eyes-to-eye with [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], who has an offer of his own...
Sometime later, Starscream awakens to find himself eyes-to-eye with [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]], who has an offer of his own...


==Featured characters==
==Featured characters==
Line 38: Line 38:
*[[Whisper (G1)|Whisper]] (8)
*[[Whisper (G1)|Whisper]] (8)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] (9)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] (9)
*[[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (10)
*[[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] (10)
*''[[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'' (dream sequence only) (12)
*''[[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'' (dream sequence only) (12)
|c3=
|c3=
Line 69: Line 69:
===Artwork and technical errors===
===Artwork and technical errors===
*Thunderpunch and Rapture's costumes are colored incorrectly on the cover.
*Thunderpunch and Rapture's costumes are colored incorrectly on the cover.
* Dwayne Turner's artwork on this issue is crude and sketchy, with the action often hard to follow, as when Dialonzo (seemingly) uses his powers to put down all the combatants. He also consistently draws Starscream's back as a single flat wing-shaped plane.
*Dwayne Turner's artwork on this issue is crude and sketchy, with the action often hard to follow, as when Dialonzo (seemingly) uses his powers to put down all the combatants. He also consistently draws Starscream's back as a single flat wing-shaped plane.


===Continuity errors===
===Continuity errors===


===Continuity notes===
===Continuity notes===
* The episode's events happen "a month or so" after the attack on MacDill Air Force Base (issues #56-59.)
*The episode's events happen "a month or so" after the attack on [[MacDill Air Force Base]] (issues #56-59.)
*The [[National Security Council|[National] Security Council]] is mentioned as having "grudgingly" accepted Autobots and Decepticons are separate factions, and scrapping RAAT afterwards.  
*The [[National Security Council|[National] Security Council]] is mentioned as having "grudgingly" accepted Autobots and Decepticons are separate factions, and scrapping RAAT afterwards.  
*This is the first appearance of the human super-beings who would become the [[Neo-Knights]]. In the UK reprints, however, the "Previously" recaps were already calling them the Neo-Knights.
*This is the first appearance of the human super-beings who would become the [[Neo-Knights]]. In the UK reprints, however, the "Previously" recaps were already calling them the Neo-Knights.
Line 88: Line 88:
===UK printing===
===UK printing===
'''Issue #302:'''
'''Issue #302:'''
*'''Additional Transformers Story:''' "[[Dreadwind's Xmas!]]"
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Dreadwind's Xmas!]]"
*'''Reprint Transformers Story:''' "[[In the National Interest]]"
*'''Reprint ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[In the National Interest]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''[[Action Force (comic)|G.I. Joe the Action Force]]'' - "Alliance of Convenience" and ''[[Combat Colin]]''
*'''Other strips:''' ''[[Action Force (comic)|G.I. Joe the Action Force]]'' - "Alliance of Convenience" and ''[[Combat Colin]]''
'''Issue #303:'''
'''Issue #303:'''
*'''Reprint Transformers Story:''' "In the National Interest"
*'''Reprint ''Transformers'' story:''' "In the National Interest"
*'''Other strips:''' ''G.I. Joe the Action Force'' - "Alliance of Convenience" and ''Combat Colin''
*'''Other strips:''' ''G.I. Joe the Action Force'' - "Alliance of Convenience" and ''Combat Colin''
'''Issue #304:'''
'''Issue #304:'''
*'''Reprint Transformers Story:''' "In the National Interest"
*'''Reprint ''Transformers'' story:''' "In the National Interest"
*'''Other strips:''' ''G.I. Joe the Action Force'' - "Alliance of Convenience" and ''Combat Colin''
*'''Other strips:''' ''G.I. Joe the Action Force'' - "Alliance of Convenience" and ''Combat Colin''
'''Issue #305:'''
'''Issue #305:'''
*'''Reprint Transformers Story:''' "In the National Interest"
*'''Reprint ''Transformers'' story:''' "In the National Interest"
*'''Other strips:''' ''G.I. Joe the Action Force'' - "Alliance of Convenience" and ''Combat Colin''
*'''Other strips:''' ''G.I. Joe the Action Force'' - "Alliance of Convenience" and ''Combat Colin''


Line 108: Line 108:


===Bot Roster===
===Bot Roster===
* Autobots: 30 active; 8 rogue Micromasters; 1 in storage, 31 offline, 25 presumed offline. (95 total)
*Autobots: 30 active; 8 rogue Micromasters; 1 in storage, 31 offline, 25 presumed offline. (95 total)
* Decepticons: 22 active, 2 gone rogue; 26 offline, 25 presumed offline, 3 offline/missing. The Air Strike team is taken out of the picture for good. (78 total)
*Decepticons: 22 active, 2 gone rogue; 26 offline, 25 presumed offline, 3 offline/missing. The Air Strike team is taken out of the picture for good. (78 total)


===Covers (9)===
===Covers (9)===
Line 117: Line 117:
File:MarvelUK-303.jpg|'''UK issue #303''' - All he wants is the funny hat.
File:MarvelUK-303.jpg|'''UK issue #303''' - All he wants is the funny hat.
File:MarvelUK-304.jpg|'''UK issue #304''' - Sheeargh!
File:MarvelUK-304.jpg|'''UK issue #304''' - Sheeargh!
File:MarvelUK-305.jpg|'''UK issue #305''' - No-one remembers the last time we used this pic? Good!
</gallery>
</gallery>
*'''US issue #68 cover:''' Starscream punched by Thunderpunch, by [[Dwayne Turner]].
*'''US issue #68 cover:''' Starscream punched by Thunderpunch, by [[Dwayne Turner]].
*'''UK issue #302 cover:''' Dreadwind's Christmas, by [[Staz|Stewart Johnson]] and [[John Burns]].
*'''UK issue #302 cover:''' [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]]'s [[Christmas]], by [[Staz|Stewart Johnson]] and [[John Burns]].
*'''UK issue #303 cover:''' Peeping Tom Starscream, by Stewart Johnson and [[Robin Bouttell]].
*'''UK issue #303 cover:''' Peeping Tom Starscream, by Stewart Johnson and [[Robin Bouttell]].
*'''UK issue #304 cover:''' Starscream vs Circuit Breaker, by [[John Marshall]], [[Bambos Georgiou]] and Robin Bouttell.
*'''UK issue #304 cover:''' Starscream vs Circuit Breaker, by [[John Marshall]], [[Bambos Georgiou]] and Robin Bouttell.
*'''UK issue #305 cover:''' Shockwave, by [[Richard Fisher]].
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-305.jpg|'''UK issue #305''' - No-one remembers the last time we used this pic? Good!
File:Titan-MatrixQuestSC.jpg|'''''Matrix Quest'' TPB'''
File:Titan-MatrixQuestSC.jpg|'''''Matrix Quest'' TPB'''
File:Titan-MatrixQuestHC.jpg|'''''Matrix Quest'' HC'''
File:Titan-MatrixQuestHC.jpg|'''''Matrix Quest'' hardback'''
File:Classic Transformers Vol5.jpg|'''''Classic Transformers'' Volume 5'''
File:Classic Transformers Vol5.jpg|'''''Classic Transformers'' Volume 5'''
File:TFClassicsVol6.jpg|'''''The Transformers Classics,'' Vol. 6'''
</gallery>
</gallery>
*'''UK issue #305 cover:''' Shockwave, by [[Richard Fisher]].
*'''''Matrix Quest'' TPB cover:''' [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]], [[Hot Rod/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]], Shockwave and half of [[Primus]], by [[Andrew Wildman]].
*'''''Matrix Quest'' TPB cover:''' Thunderwing, [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]], [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] and half of [[Primus]], by [[Andrew Wildman]].
*'''''Matrix Quest'' hardback cover:''' Thunderwing with the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]], by [[Pat Lee]].
*'''''Matrix Quest'' hardback cover:''' Thunderwing with the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]], by [[Pat Lee]].
*'''''Classic Transformers'' Volume 5 cover:''' panels from "[[Eye of the Storm]]", "[[Deadly Obsession]]", "[[All Fall Down]]" and "[[...All This and Civil War 2]]".
*'''''Classic Transformers'' Volume 5 cover:''' panels from "[[Eye of the Storm]]", "[[Deadly Obsession]]", "[[All Fall Down]]" and "[[...All This and Civil War 2]]".
<gallery>
*'''''The Transformers Classics,'' Vol. 6 cover:''' [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], by [[Guido Guidi]].
File:TFClassicsVol6.jpg|'''''The Transformers Classics'', Vol. 6'''
</gallery>
*'''''The Transformers Classics'', Vol. 6 cover:''' [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], by [[Guido Guidi]].


===Advertisements===
===Advertisements===
Line 143: Line 141:
*[[2002]] — ''[[Transformers: Matrix Quest]]''
*[[2002]] — ''[[Transformers: Matrix Quest]]''
*[[2009]] — [[Classic Transformers Volume 5|''Classic Transformers'' Volume 5]]
*[[2009]] — [[Classic Transformers Volume 5|''Classic Transformers'' Volume 5]]
*[[2013]] — [[The Transformers Classics, Vol. 6|''The Transformers Classics'', Vol. 6]]
*[[2013]] — [[The Transformers Classics, Vol. 6|''The Transformers Classics,'' Vol. 6]]


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 19:24, 29 January 2016

This article is about issue #68 of The Transformers. For the episode of Transformers: Prime, see The Human Factor.
« The Transformers (US) #68 »
« The Transformers (UK) #302–305 »

Not Starscream's best moment.
"The Human Factor!"
Publisher Marvel Comics
First published May 1990
Cover date July 1990
Writer Simon Furman
Artist Dwayne Turner
Colorist Nel Yomtov
Letterer Rick Parker
Editor Don Daley
Continuity Marvel Comics continuity

Puny flesh creatures fight to protect a world that hates and fears them.

Synopsis

In the aftermath of the RAAT debacle, G.B. Blackrock has been given carte blanche to assemble a new team to deal with Transformer-related incidents. He has focused on gathering super-humans, people with a unique genetic quirk that gives them powers beyond normal men. His first two recruits, Thunderpunch and Rapture, are given special codenames and costumes to appeal to the public. Their first mission is to hunt down a third potential member, referred to as Mister X, who wiped out the Air Strike Patrol in Louisiana.

Unfortunately, Starscream wants Mister X too. He sees the human's power as a bottomless fountain of energy, giving him enough power to challenge and defeat Scorponok for leadership of the Decepticons. Starscream finds Mister X, Hector Dialonzo, just as Circuit Breaker is making her own pitch to him. She begins tearing his circuitry apart, but is struck down from behind by a mysterious assailant.

Blackrock's team arrives, and the resulting three-way fight between them, Starscream, and Circuit Breaker ends when Dialonzo calls time-out, and says he will listen to each proposal and then decide for himself. Starscream offers revenge against those who wronged him, Circuit Breaker offers adoration of the masses, but Blackrock simply offers the truth—the chance to be branded either hero or traitor by the public, but to ultimately do what is right. Starscream naturally attempts to cheat, but is blasted by Rapture's dream-power and then ultimately brought down by the rest of the team. In the end, Blackrock extends his offer to Josie as well, and she accepts.

Sometime later, Starscream awakens to find himself eyes-to-eye with Shockwave, who has an offer of his own...

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Decepticons Humans

Quotes

"The second Decepticon -- Stormcloud, I think he says his name is -- explains colorfully what he's going to do to Mister X for acing his pal."

—Blackrock narrates the Air Strike Patrol's last stand.


"Why? Why the costumes?"
"Did you never read comics as a kid? It's the done thing! If you're going to be heroes-- you have to look the part!"

—Lee Gruber and J.B. Blackrock lampshade


"I want you two ready for anything! Well, are you?"
"Ready? Yeah, I'm ready... ready to dance Swan Lake in this gear!"

—J.B. Blackrock and Lee Gruber


"Josie Beller died years ago, Blackrock. There's only Circuit Breaker. Now stand aside and let me do the job I was built for!"

—Circuit Breaker

Notes

Artwork and technical errors

  • Thunderpunch and Rapture's costumes are colored incorrectly on the cover.
  • Dwayne Turner's artwork on this issue is crude and sketchy, with the action often hard to follow, as when Dialonzo (seemingly) uses his powers to put down all the combatants. He also consistently draws Starscream's back as a single flat wing-shaped plane.

Continuity errors

Continuity notes

  • The episode's events happen "a month or so" after the attack on MacDill Air Force Base (issues #56-59.)
  • The [National] Security Council is mentioned as having "grudgingly" accepted Autobots and Decepticons are separate factions, and scrapping RAAT afterwards.
  • This is the first appearance of the human super-beings who would become the Neo-Knights. In the UK reprints, however, the "Previously" recaps were already calling them the Neo-Knights.
  • Circuit Breaker has gone even loopier, now saying Josie Beller "died years ago" and referring to herself as being "built for" killing robots. Blackrock is disturbed by this.
  • We learn that Transformers cannot power up to maximum energy levels using Earth fuels.
  • The Air Strike Patrol is apparently killed off permanently here.
  • Blackrock makes the first official mention that RAAT was permanently shut down some time ago.
  • Starscream remembers fighting Circuit Breaker from back in US issue #9... after being killed twice. Now that's a good memory!
  • Starscream wants to use Dynamo as an upgrade of the Powermaster process, tying the plot in to established power boosts.

Real-life references

UK printing

Issue #302:

Issue #303:

  • Reprint Transformers story: "In the National Interest"
  • Other strips: G.I. Joe the Action Force - "Alliance of Convenience" and Combat Colin

Issue #304:

  • Reprint Transformers story: "In the National Interest"
  • Other strips: G.I. Joe the Action Force - "Alliance of Convenience" and Combat Colin

Issue #305:

  • Reprint Transformers story: "In the National Interest"
  • Other strips: G.I. Joe the Action Force - "Alliance of Convenience" and Combat Colin

Other trivia

  • This issue is the first and only time Dwayne Turner would work on the US comic. (And for good reason.)
  • Simon Furman describes this issue as the only one in his whole career where he has been "disappointed with the way [it] came out."[1]
  • The UK cover of #305 is a reprint of interior artwork from #29.[2]
  • A Transformers Universe profile for Slapdash is found after the main story.

Bot Roster

  • Autobots: 30 active; 8 rogue Micromasters; 1 in storage, 31 offline, 25 presumed offline. (95 total)
  • Decepticons: 22 active, 2 gone rogue; 26 offline, 25 presumed offline, 3 offline/missing. The Air Strike team is taken out of the picture for good. (78 total)

Covers (9)

  • US issue #68 - At least put some shoes on!
    US issue #68 - At least put some shoes on!
  • UK issue #302 - Strangely, this cover relates to the letters page. Even stranger, the middle guy is supposed to be Blaster.
    UK issue #302 - Strangely, this cover relates to the letters page. Even stranger, the middle guy is supposed to be Blaster.
  • UK issue #303 - All he wants is the funny hat.
    UK issue #303 - All he wants is the funny hat.
  • UK issue #304 - Sheeargh!
    UK issue #304 - Sheeargh!
  • UK issue #305 - No-one remembers the last time we used this pic? Good!
    UK issue #305 - No-one remembers the last time we used this pic? Good!
  • Matrix Quest TPB
    Matrix Quest TPB
  • Matrix Quest hardback
    Matrix Quest hardback
  • Classic Transformers Volume 5
    Classic Transformers Volume 5
  • The Transformers Classics, Vol. 6
    The Transformers Classics, Vol. 6

Advertisements

  • None yet identified.

Reprints

References

  1. ↑ Simon Furman Q&A, 2008, IDW forums.
  2. ↑ Shockwave calendar for October from UK issue 29.
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