Ancient Relics!
Megatron comes face to face with Action Force, the international arm of G.I. Joe.
Marvel UK issues #125 and continued in Action Force #24-27
Writer: Simon Furman
Pencillers: Geoff Senior
Inks: Dave Harwood
Lettering: Annie Halfacree
Colors: Steve White
- Characters Susan Hoffman, Megatron, Grimlock, Wheeljack, Centurion, Blades, Airtight, Barbecue, Bazooka, Crankcase, Dusty, Flint, Heavy Metal, Scarlett, and Wild Bill
- Originally published: 8th August 1987 - 5th September 1987
Synopsis
Archaeologist Susan Hoffman is exploring ancient Roman sewers under London when she and her associates are attacked by the ex-Decepticon leader Megatron. Susan manages to escape but her friends are left behind. In an attempt to find them she returns with a team from Action Force an international special mission force.
At the same time the Protectobot, Blades is in London investigating an unknown Transformer signal as the Autobots continue to hunt for the deserters Blaster and Goldbug.
He enters the tunnels looking for the source of the signal and is attacked by Action Force who have mistaken him for Susan’s attacker. Blades manages to convince them that he doesn’t mean them any harm, but the noise has attracted the attention of Megatron who launches an enraged attack on Blades and Action Force.
Action Force and Susan manage to make their way out of the sewer only to meet Grimlock and the newly rebuilt Centurion who have arrived to capture what they think is Blaster and Goldbug.
Megatron breaks through the ground hunting for his prey and then attacks Grimlock and Centurion, quickly overcoming them. Flint calls in reinforcements from Action Force who attack Megatron. Enraged Megatron lashes out at his attackers making short work of them.
Centurion who has been racked with doubts and guilt since he was rebuilt by Wheeljack at the expense of other Autobots, launches a suicidal attack on Megatron and holds him at bay long enough for an Action Force air strike to detonate a cluster of fuel storage containers. Megatron and Centurion are engulfed in flames. A burning shape is seen leaving the conflagration and leaping into the river Thames. Blades and Flint salute the courage of Centurion and the sacrifice he made.
Errors
- Centurion was originally created as a mindless automaton by the Intelligence and Information Institute to be controlled by Professor Morris. He was later destroyed by Galvatron in Fallen Angel. Here he is rebuilt by Wheeljack but appears to be a sentient being.
Items of note
- This story involved a cross over with the UK Action Force comic. The first part was published in Transformers #125 while the remaining issues were published in Action Force #24-27. This was an attempt to boost interest in Transformers sister title. The plan didn't work however as Action Force comic folded less the six months later. Ironically after this it merged with Transformers from issue #153.
- At this stage the US, G.I. Joe and the Transformers had not been published in the UK making this the Transformers first meeting with the anti-terrorist unit.
- Susan Hoffman would return in Ladies' Night and again in Race with the Devil.
- Despite what is said in this story and the following 119 issues the "Megatron" found in this story is not the real Megatron deposited here by the space bridge after Gone But Not Forgotten, but a clone created by Lord Straxus. See Two Megatrons for more information.
- Megatron and Centurion are brought out of the Thames in Salvage!
