Under Fire!
| |||||||||||||
 Were you one of the unfortunate few NOT to get a sword with Ultra Magnus? | |||||||||||||
| "Under Fire!" | |||||||||||||
| Publisher | Marvel Comics | ||||||||||||
| Cover date | 7th February 1987 | ||||||||||||
| Script | Simon Furman | ||||||||||||
| Art | Jeff Anderson | ||||||||||||
| Colour | Steve White | ||||||||||||
| Letters | Annie Halfacree | ||||||||||||
| Editor | Ian Rimmer | ||||||||||||
| Continuity | Marvel Comics continuity (Marvel UK) | ||||||||||||
| Chronology | 1986 | ||||||||||||
Prime and Outback make a desperate bid for freedom.
Synopsis
Outback is fretting that he's going to die, but that this doesn't stop him as he feels a kinship with Optimus Prime. He races to the scene where Ultra Magnus and the Wreckers are about to execute Prime because of Decepticon disinformation stating that Prime is in actuality a disguised Decepticon agent. Interrupting proceedings, Outback argues that the Autobots are acting in haste on disinformation and that Ultra Magnus is reckless because he feels guilty about the death of Impactor. This comment riles Magnus who threatens to execute Outback as well.
Outback discreetly neutralises Optimus Prime's energy restraints before throwing a gas particle bomb. In the confusion, Outback and Prime transform and escape, observed from the shadows by Ratbat. Ultra Magnus declares that he has once again caused defeat through his own errors and demands twenty breems to bring back the prisoners with the aid of three Guardian units.
In Polyhex, Megatron is furious that Optimus Prime has escaped, and orders that Decepticon search parties be dispatched to kill Prime, with disinformation leaked to the Autobots that this is only to punish their agent for his failure. Neither Ratbat nor Straxus are impressed with Megatron's anger and instability, and Straxus announces that he is having equipment assembled, and when complete he will strike at Megatron and "truly live again!"
Ultra Magnus is still searching, his thoughts wondering if Outback is right that he is trying to use the whole affair to make amends for his failure to return to Cybertron in time to save Impactor. He also regrets splitting up his search party because Guardian units can interpret orders too literally. Suddenly he sees an explosion as two of the Guardian units catch up with Prime and Outback.
The two fugitive Autobots fight and destroy the Guardians, but, in the process, Outback is severely wounded. Optimus Prime sits with his wounded comrade and contemplates the situation out loud, declaring that he must do everything he can to save Outback's life. In his thoughts, Outback wishes he had the strength to speak so he could tell Prime this is a waste of time. In the shadows, Ultra Magnus listens but does not approach.
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons |
|---|---|
|
Quotes
"That's me alright. Outback - the only Autobot born to be a casualty!"
- —Outback is a pessimist.
"I don't get it, Magnus! It's not like you to be so reckless. What are you trying to prove? Is it guilt? Do you still blame yourself for not getting back from Earth in time to save Impactor? Is that it? There's a thin line between atonement and revenge, you know. And revenge, as they say, is a two edged - blade? Urrk!"
"Enough! One more word and I'll have you executed alongside him! Do you undertand?!"
- —Outback tries to reason with Ultra Magnus and almost gets a faceplate of sword for his trouble.
"But it's not the end is it? It's never the end. It just goes on and on - one battle blurring into the next. Are we no better than those two mindless creatures we have just committed to the scrap heap? They fought without question, without mercy. Where is the difference between them and us?
- —Optimus Prime
Notes
Artwork and technical errors
- The cover scene shows six separate guns pointed at Prime (with Ultra Magnus in the foreground) but in the strip itself only three of the Wreckers are present at the execution.
- Cover artist Lee Sullivan went toy-accurate with the six guns portrayed - from left to right, the firing squad consists of Twin Twist, Sandstorm, Roadbuster, Broadside, Springer and Topspin.
Continuity errors
Continuity notes
- This is Ratbat's first appearance in the UK comic, taking place before his first appearance in the US comic in "King of the Hill!".
- Optimus Prime appeared to leave his trailer behind on Earth in issue #97. This issue confirms it when he transforms and does not have his trailer with him.
Real-life references
- TBD
Other trivia
- TBD
Back-up material
- Back-up strips: Action Force - "Improvisation on a Theme" Part 1 and Robo-Capers
Covers
- Issue #99 cover: Optimus Prime trapped by the Wreckers, by Lee Sullivan.
-
Issue #99
Reprints
- Transformers Collected Comics #13 cover: a big Transformers brawl, by Alan Davis.
- Transformers Comic-Magazin #8 cover: Optimus Prime, a miscolored Ultra Magnus and Guardian, and a random small child.
- Transformers: Prey TPB cover: Optimus Prime staves off Razorclaw while Ultra Magnus broods, by Lee Sullivan.
- Best of UK: Prey #2 Regular cover: Optimus Prime and Outback fend against the Wreckers, by Andrew Griffith.
-
Collected Comics #13 (Marvel Comics, 1989) -
Transformers Comic-Magazin #8 - It all makes sense now.
(Condor Verlag, 1990) -
Transformers: Prey TPB (Titan Books, 2004) -
Best of UK: Prey #2 (Regular)
(IDW Publishing, 2009)
- Best of UK: Prey #2 RI cover: Optimus Prime, by Geoff Senior (art) and Steve White (colours).
- Best of UK: Prey TPB cover: Predaking prepares to crush Optimus Prime, by Andrew Griffith.
- Classics UK Volume 3 cover: Impactor, Megatron vs Guardian, Straxus's head, Xaaron, Galvatron riding Ultra Magnus and Outback, by Andrew Wildman.
-
Best of UK: Prey #2 (RI) (IDW Publishing, 2009) -
Best of UK: Prey TPB (IDW Publishing, 2010) -
Classics UK Volume 3 (IDW Publishing, 2012)
