The Worse of Two Evils!
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 Hum "Ride of the Valkyries" here. | |||||||||||||
| "The Worse of Two Evils!" | |||||||||||||
| Publisher | Marvel Comics | ||||||||||||
| First published | March 1985 | ||||||||||||
| Cover date | July 1985 | ||||||||||||
| Script | Bob Budiansky | ||||||||||||
| Art | Alan Kupperberg | ||||||||||||
| Colors | Nel Yomtov | ||||||||||||
| Lettering | Rick Parker | ||||||||||||
| Editor | Jim Owsley | ||||||||||||
| Continuity | Marvel Comics continuity | ||||||||||||
Shockwave captures an oil-drilling platform, then is challenged by Megatron for command of the Decepticons.
Synopsis
Shockwave single-handedly attacks a high-tech oil rig belonging to industrialist G.B. Blackrock. The rig's defenses are largely ineffective, and Shockwave quickly conquers the platform. During the attack, electronics designer Josie Beller is severely injured.
Meanwhile, inside the Ark, Optimus Prime's still-living head instructs Buster to connect two wires from Prime's forehead to Buster's own. This results in an electric shock, knocking Buster unconscious. However, he remains unnoticed by the Decepticons, and returns to Ratchet to report his findings.
Megatron is still fuming when Shockwave announces his conquest to the other Decepticons. Unable to control his temper, he breaks free from his repair systems, and attacks Shockwave, blasting him across the Oregon landscape and into Vallemont school. But Megatron's injuries are not healed, leaving him vulnerable. Shockwave quickly defeats him, but refuses to grant him an honorable warrior's death, saying he has more value alive than dead... for now.
As witnessed by Ratchet and Buster, Shockwave returns to the Ark carrying Megatron's injured form. Shockwave uses the broken ex-leader as a demonstration to the other Decepticons of what they can expect if they challenge him... while outside, Ratchet and Buster huddle in despair.
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Humans |
|---|---|---|
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Quotes
"I, Shockwave, claim this facility for myself!"
"What the --?! You want one? Build one yourself!"
- —Shockwave and G.B. Blackrock
"Humans, your actions seek to delay my reign! I have no time to trifle with you! Heed me now -- or feel the wrath of Shockwave!"
- —Shockwave opens fire
"Shockwave... you are relieved of command!"
BA-KROOM!!
- —Megatron's opening salvo
"I beg you, Shockwave... spare me the humiliat--"
"NO! I could tear your head from your body and reduce your remains to worthless slag, Megatron... but logic says you have significantly greater value to me alive than dead... for now! Your demise shall come at a time of my choosing... not yours."
- —Megatron can't even get Shockwave to kill him!
Notes
Artwork and technical errors
- Josie Beller looks about 10 years older (and about half as bubbly) than she did in the previous issue. Her look will change again for issues #7 and #8, then again for #9.
- The oil rig is already on fire on page 3, before Shockwave has even fired a shot. In the same panel, the "base" of Shockwave's gun mode handle is huge.
- Shockwave's handle is longer than his gun barrel as the harpoon debris snaps free.
- The harpoon cables, which should still be speared through Shockwave's gun barrel, have disappeared as he transforms and lands on the rig.
- Throughout the issue, the Seekers are drawn with the "Van Gogh" ear, later picked up by José Delbo.
- Skywarp is colored mostly blue on page 9; it's unclear whether this was a genuine mistake or the typical use of blue to represent black from the comics of the time. Also on this page, Frenzy (or Rumble) is depicted as larger than Soundwave.
- Megatron identifies Soundwave, Frenzy and Rumble as boarding Skywarp, but Laserbeak (or Buzzsaw) is shown with them.
- As Shockwave flies across the landscape, the spatial physics make it look like he's about an instant away from smashing into the commercial street below him. Instead he somehow flies onward into a football field. In the same panel, the toy-based pegs on his arms are on the outside of his arms; if the toy is transformed correctly, those pegs are on the inside—but they really shouldn't be there at all, not being part of his character model.
- Page 21:
- First panel: one of the Seekers has a bizarrely inflated head.
- Second panel: Thundercracker is colored (mostly) like Skywarp, but with a red cockpit and blue face.
- Frenzy and Soundwave are shown in the assembly, even though they're supposed to be off repairing the oil rig. Shockwave does not list them among the troops.
- Soundwave is blue now, with a lavender head.
- As he mopes with Buster, Ratchet has a Decepticon symbol.
Continuity errors
- What the hell kind of oil platform is equipped with executive corporate offices, a fleet of single-man hovercopters (at least eight of them) along with the security force to man them, harpoon guns, and freaking mortar cannons? Were they just expecting a Decepticon attack?
Continuity notes
- Shockwave learned about the oil rig last issue while absorbing Earth television.
- Megatron is still recovering from the poisoned fuel he and the other Decepticons absorbed in issue #4. Curiously, he seems to be the only one still in recovery.
Real-life references
- The setting is still rural Oregon, with Shockwave's attack happening off the coast. His battle with Megatron is set in a fictional Oregon town near the volcano.
UK printing
Issue #24:
- Back-up strips: Machine Man - "Jolted by Jack O'Lantern" Part 3, Robo-Capers, Chromobots, Planet Terry and Matt and the Cat
Issue #25:
- Back-up strips: Machine Man - "Jolted by Jack O'Lantern" Part 4, Robo-Capers, Chromobots, Planet Terry and Matt and the Cat
- Fact File Interface: Warpath and Ramjet
- Planet Terry finishes in this issue.
- This issue included the first Fact File Interface - a revamp of the original Fact File
Other trivia
- The last panel on page 14 (Shockwave being blasted out of Mount St. Hilary and across town) looks like it was drawn by an entirely different artist. Indeed, a photograph of the original line art reveals the last panel has yellowed at a different rate. (This different artist is likely William Johnson, who draws Shockwave in a more toy-accurate style in the next two issues.)
- Transformation in this issue is portrayed by a monochrome colored burst of light around the character. This led to some problems when the issue was recolored for Transformers Comic-Magazin in Germany.
Covers (9)
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US Issue #6 - No, they're not fighting on top of the helicopter. -
UK Issue #24 - Shockwave shows his feelings about rising oil prices! -
UK Issue #25 - Cornflakes. Cornflakes cornflakes cornflakes, cornflakes. Cornflakes! Cornflakes cornflakes cornflakes... cornflakes. -
Collected Comics (US) #2 -
Transformers Comic-Magazin issue #1 - No really, this cover was used for this story!
- US issue #6 cover: Shockwave blasting Megatron, by Alan Kupperberg.
- UK issue #24 cover: Shockwave blasting oil rig, by Robin Smith.
- UK issue #25 cover: reuse of US art.
- The Transformers: Collected Comics (US) #2 cover: reuse of issue #5 cover, by M.D. Bright.
- Transformers Comic-Magazin #1 cover: recoloring of the cover to US issue #7.
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Beginnings TPB -
Beginnings hardback -
Classic Transformers Volume 1 -
The Transformers Classics, Vol. 1
- Beginnings TPB cover: the Ark, Prime, Ravage and half of Cybertron, by Andrew Wildman.
- Beginnings hardback cover: Shockwave stands over Blackrock's oil-drilling platform, by Ron Garney and Chris Blythe.
- Classic Transformers Volume 1 cover: featuring panels from this issue, "The Transformers", "Power Play!", "Brainstorm!" and "Prime Time!".
- The Transformers Classics, Vol. 1 cover: Optimus Prime, by Guido Guidi.
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- Reeses Pieces (inside front cover)
- Oreos (pg 5)
- Tootsie Roll Swap-a-Joke sweepstakes (pg 7)
- Secret Wars II (pg 10)
- Block of various Sketchy Things (pg 12)
- Power Pack and The Amazing Spider-Man with tips on ways to prevent sexual abuse (pg 21)
- Marvel Super Mart (pg 23)
- STAR Comics (pg 26)
- Bullpen Bulletins (pg 28)
- Fred Hembeck Destroys the Marvel Universe
- Comic subscriptions (pg 32)
- Huffy BMX bikes (rear inside cover)
- Young Astronaut Program (rear cover)
