Second Generation!

"...and he must let the world think that he is dead until he can find a way to control the raging spirit that dwells within him."

The Autobots and Decepticons learn the secrets of the next generation of combining Transformers due to a message left in Buster’s mind by the Creation Matrix.

Marvel UK issues #63-65

Writer: Simon Furman
Art: John Stokes (63) Kitson/Perkins (64), Jeff Anderson (65)
Lettering: Mike Scott(63 & 64), Annie Halfacree (65)
Colors: J. Firmin (63), W & P (64), T. Jozwiak (65)
Editor: Ian Rimmer

• Characters: Buster Witwicky, Shockwave, Optimus Prime, Ratchet, Jazz, Superion, Menasor, Bruticus, Sparkplug Witwicky, Jessie, Megatron, Soundwave, Donny Finkleberg, First Aid, Blades, Hot Spot, Streetwise, Groove, Motormaster, Dead End, Mixmaster, Defensor, Vortex, Silverbolt, Air Raid, Blast Off, Fireflight, Ravage, Hound, Grimlock

• Originally published: 31st May 1986 – 14th June 1986

Synopsis

After discovering that the Creation Matrix had left a message in the head of Buster Witwicky giving details of future Transformers, the Autobots attach him to scanning equipment to try and decipher the message. This causes Buster to dream that he is being chased across a desert by Shockwave. Buster is eventually rescued by Superion, who blasts Shockwave, only to be floored by Menasor. During the confusion Buster escapes but is ambushed by the Combaticons who combine into Bruticus. The fear causes Buster to jolt awake.

In order to better interpret and control the dreams Buster and Optimus Prime are linked together mentally. Little do they know that the Decepticons are tapping into the images by using the equipment that Shockwave designed to extract the Matrix from Prime’s disembodied head. The Next Best Thing to Being There!

The new vision shows the Protectobots evacuating an unnamed power plant. Blades then spots what he believes to be a group of human vehicles heading towards the plant. The Protectobots move to head them off only to find that it is the Stunticons. The Stunticons combine into Menasor, much to the delight of the watching Shockwave, who is impressed with the quality of the combination compared to the Constructicons.

The Protectobots combine into Defensor and quickly gain the upper hand. Soon however the Combaticons arrive and merge into Bruticus. Menasor and Bruticus overpower Defensor but are caught unawares when the Aerialbots arrive and combine into Superion. Superion and Defensor quickly gain the upper hand and defeat the Decepticons. At this point Optimus Prime and Buster awake impressed by what they have seen.

Meanwhile Soundwave is reporting events to Megatron who he is secretly in contact with. Megatron decides that it is time he retook control of the Decepticons from Shockwave. Megatron and Shockwave engage in battle that only ends when Soundwave impertinently tells them to stop. Equally outraged, Megatron and Shockwave allow Soundwave to show them how similar they are and they agree to a joint leadership.

Errors

• At one point Menasor orders Dead End (as his right arm) to shoot Superion. However it is Drag Strip that is drawn. This was corrected in reprints.

• Vortex appears colorized as Blades on his arrival. Soundwave explained in a letters page that he has special circuitry which allows him to change his color to disguise himself as Blades, but also made it clear that he had just made that explanation up on the spot.

Items of note

On a single page, you can find three John Stokes panels (above) swiped from panels from a single page of Herb Trimpe's work in Prime Time!.

• Reprinted in Collected Comics 10.

• Reprinted by Titan Books.

• Issue 63 came with a free gift, a fold out pamphlet themed around the Special Teams. The pamphlet had spaces to stick collectors cards which were included in the following issues up to issue 70.

• Artist John Stokes constantly "swipes" art from previous US issues, such as panels from Ricardo Villamonte's work in The Next Best Thing to Being There!, Herb Trimpe's work in Prime Time!, and Don Perlin's work in I, Robot-Master!.

• Seriously, these swipes litter the book.

• The power plant section of this story was used along with elements from the cartoon series episodes, The Key to Vector Sigma, War Dawn and Starscream's Brigade to produce the UK audio story The Special Teams.
  
  
  From Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki, a Wikia wiki.