Resurrection!

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« The Transformers (UK) #103–104 »

So we will walk through the fire
And let it
Burn
Let it burn
"Resurrection!"
Publisher Marvel Comics
First published Part 1: 28th February 1987
Part 2: 7th March 1987
Cover date Part 1: 7th March 1987
Part 2: 14th March 1987
Script Simon Furman
Art Part 1: Will Simpson
Part 2: Jeff Anderson
Colour Steve White
Letters Annie Halfacree
Editor Ian Rimmer
Continuity Marvel Comics continuity

Whilst Optimus Prime brings new life to the Autobots on Cybertron, Lord Straxus faces down Megatron.

Synopsis

Part 1

On Cybertron, Octane delivers a report about an Autobot attack on a Decepticon fuel store, led by Optimus Prime and the Wreckers. Octane states he threw himself into battle whilst other Decepticons were unnerved, but the sheer weight of numbers overwhelmed him. The Autobots took the energon cubes and slaves with them.

In actual fact, Octane tried to run like a coward and tripped over a fuel pipe, smashing into a wall.

Straxus is not fooled by Octane's report but the more important matter is that Optimus Prime's return has led to numerous successful attacks by the Autobot resistance. Straxus curses Prime, and also Megatron for bringing him here.

Straxus recalls the recent events of Optimus Prime and Megatron being thrown over the space bridge, Prime being nearly executed as an imposter, but successfully proving his identity.

As well as a renewed spirit in the Autobots, Straxus is also facing the problem of an unstable Megatron. Ratbat arrives, reporting how Megatron nearly tore two guards apart for betting on where Optimus Prime would strike next, and agrees that Megatron is becoming even more of a menace. Straxus declares he must act now and his technicians report that they have finished constructing a device.

Meanwhile, in Iacon, the Autobots are holding a rally celebrating the return of Optimus Prime. However, Prime himself announces that he will soon have to return to Earth to tackle the Decepticons there, as otherwise they will have an unlimited source of fuel and will triumph on Cybertron. He states he will return again to lead the Autobots to their final victory. At a private meeting afterwards, Emirate Xaaron unsuccessfully tries to convince Optimus Prime to stay. Prime also dismisses the offer of Ultra Magnus to come to Earth as well, even though the latter previously helped defeat Galvatron.

Galvatron has returned! This news is being discussed by the Autobots on Earth, now that Perceptor, Blaster, and the other arrivals from Cybertron have reached the Ark. They detail their encounter and how the Dinobots saved them. This makes Ironhide especially frustrated as the Dinobots' power is now needed the most, because the Autobots believe Optimus Prime is dead.

But Optimus Prime is very much alive, as Straxus reminds Megatron. He suggests Megatron return to Earth in the hope that Prime will follow. But Megatron gets angry and threatens to smash Straxus's life support machine and crush his head. Straxus decides to act. As his device blasts Megatron, he declares that they will be swapping bodies and then he will terminate Megatron completely. Megatron struggles as the device continues to blast him.

Finally, the body of Megatron rises and smashes the life support machine then crushes the head of Straxus. Octane pulls a gun and asks if that is Straxus in there. Megatron's body declares that Megatron is dead and Straxus lives on!

Part 2: "Whose Death Is It Anyway?"

On Earth, the Autobots have buried what they believe is the body of Optimus Prime (but is in fact a facsimile construct), in accordance with Earth tradition in honour of Prime's actions in saving many humans. Blaster whispers to Perceptor that he would rather the body was blasted into space in accordance with Cybertronian tradition, but Perceptor responds that the Autobots who decided on this course of action had spent the last few years fighting alongside Prime and said it was what he would have wanted.

What Optimus Prime wants is Megatron's head. He sends the Wreckers on a diversion to draw the Decepticon guards to the fuel store, so that he and Ultra Magnus can invade Polyhex.

Inside the Polyhex Decepticon stronghold the body of Megatron sits on a throne, racked by confusion. First he thinks he is Megatron, then he thinks he is Straxus. He thinks back to the mind transfer, first thinking it was a failure, then it was a success. The two personalities conflict inside his mind. Megatron/Straxus regains a sense of purpose when Ratbat reports an Autobot attack, but the cunning bat rapidly deduces that the experiment has only succeeded in creating a dual-minded being.

I hate it when he looks at me like that.

Megatron/Straxus wanders through the base, trying to remember recent events, but only recalling a battle with Optimus Prime. Suddenly, he is attacked by Prime and Magnus, the latter who feels he has a chance to redeem his failure to save Impactor. The two Autobots subdue Megatron/Straxus, who resorts to his little-used anti-matter channeling ability, causing a cloud of the volatile substance to emanate from his eyes. This causes an explosion that sends Prime and Magnus reeling, but Megatron stands unaffected, his anti-matter cloud growing larger. Monitoring the battle from elsewhere in the base, Ratbat realises that if unchecked, Megatron/Straxus will destroy them all. He orders Octane make the space bridge materialise right next to the combatants; another explosion results, sending Optimus Prime, Megatron, and Ultra Magnus to Earth. Ratbat turns to see that the Predacons have just returned to Cybertron, as Shockwave had correctly deduced that that was where Prime and Megatron had gone. Razorclaw realises that if Megatron is back on Earth again, then Shockwave is probably as good as dead.

Figures the one time he gets a gravestone is one of the few times he's not actually dead.

All three Transformers materialise in different places. Megatron arrives at the Decepticon coal mine base and merely berates Shockwave for doing nothing in his absence. Soundwave discreetly reads Megatron's mind and notes that the entire incident with the Predacons has been erased by amnesia stemming from the two conflicting personalities. Shockwave realises he is back to square one but there will be another time...

Optimus Prime materialises by his grave stone, of which he approves. He starts to answer the Autobots' questions.

Ultra Magnus finds himself alone in woods. He realises he will have a chance to explore as he seeks the Ark—a prospect he likes.

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots Decepticons

Quotes

"But fear not. When I return here, it will be to lead you to our ultimate victory over tyranny and oppression! And all will be one!"

—Optimus Prime inspires the Cybertron Autobots.


"Galvatron! Aww no, tell me it isn't so! I thought we'd got rid of him for good after his last visit."
"Sadly, your analysis was an evident misconception, considering the variables inherent in traversing the time stream."
"Huh?"

—Ironhide confounded by Perceptor.


"What I want is Megatron's head!"

—Optimus Prime inspires the Wreckers


"Optimus Prime still lives! What are you going to do about it, eh? Render a few more of my troops inoperative, perhaps?"

—Straxus gets his sass on.


"Hmm...I approve of the headstone, Autobots. It's a nice touch. My thanks."

—Optimus Prime

Notes

Continuity notes

  • After a two-issue break, the comic returns to the story of Optimus Prime and Megatron on Cybertron. Flashbacks recap the earlier chapters of the story, as seen in issues #96-100.
  • The device Straxus uses to attempt his mind-exchange with Megatron is the "equipment" he ominously referred to back in issue #99.
  • Autobot scout Tailgate makes his first appearance in the comic in Part 1, as a member of the audience for Optimus Prime's speech. He isn't named, and doesn't speak; he will not reappear until issue #245.
  • The American stories never actually showed Blaster and the "Cybertron Seven" reaching the Ark and joining the Earth-based Autobot forces; they just appeared among them in issue #109 (US issue #26), having arrived between issues. The UK series is thus able to fill that gap by showing the group's arrival in this story, following their encounter with Galvatron in the previous two issues.
  • Blaster's remark that Optimus's body should have been "blasted off into space in accordance with Cybertronian customs" is written with foreknowledge of upcoming American stories, which will see Prime actually die, and his body launched into space in issue #110 (US issue #26). The UK comic never actually offers an explanation for the difference between the two funerals; we can only presume that Prime must inform the Autobots between issues that he would actually prefer to be launched into space rather than buried on Earth.
  • Megatron's little-used ability to tap into antimatter was previously seen in issues #20-21.
  • Ratbat's inclusion in this story as a member of Straxus's court is another story point written with knowledge of the upcoming US stories that will depict the fuel auditor as the top 'Con on Cybertron, a position he will now be able to slip into following Straxus's departure. He will first appear in this role in issue #111 (US issue #27).
  • There's a noticeable amount of "putting the toys back in the box" at the end of this story, with the Predacons returning to Cybertron and Megatron losing his memory of their betrayal—necessary moves to get things in line with the next batch of US reprints, which will see Megatron summon the Predacons (back) to Earth for a new mission in issues #107-108 (US issue #25).

Transformers references

  • As in issue #101, Perceptor is again speaking with the overdeveloped vocabulary that confuses those around him, a running gag from The Transformers: The Movie.

Real-life references

  • The title of Part 2, "Whose Death Is It Anyway?", given by the "next issue" box at the end of Part 1, is a riff on the name of the 1981 movie, "Whose Life Is It Anyway?

Artwork and technical errors

  • Megatron has his fusion cannon in the flashback when he and Prime crossed the space bridge, but Divebomb had stolen it at that point.
  • Outback's wound in the flashback is on the right side of his body, not the left.
  • Optimus Prime calls Ultra Magnus "Ultra Magus".
  • Like last issue, Blaster is still drawn with his cartoon head instead of his visored comic head.
  • Ultra Magnus's shoulder rockets appear and disappear across different panels in both parts.
  • Soundwave's shoulder cannon also vanishes in his brief appearance in part two.
  • Even Bumblebee's horns are not immune.

Back-up material

Issue #103:

  • Back-up strips: The Inhumanoids ("The Coming of the Inhumanoids," Part 1) and Robo-Capers
  • Other features: A competition to win one of 25 copies of Video Gems' VHS release of "The Key to Vector Sigma" and "War Dawn." Entrants are asked to name "any three" Transformers who have appeared on the covers of any Video Gems Transformers tapes, though in reality, only three characters had appeared on the four releases up to that point: Optimus Prime, Megatron, and Silverbolt.

Issue #104:

  • Back-up strips: The Inhumanoids ("The Coming of the Inhumanoids," Part 2) and Robo-Capers
  • Other features: A competition to win one of 200 Battle Beasts action figure two-packs. Entrants must answer three "Fire, Wood, and Water" themed questions, identifying the Protectobot you call in case of a fire (Hot Spot), the Decepticon cassette who can slice through wood (Buzzsaw), and the Mini Autobot who can race over water as well as land (Seaspray).

Covers (2)

  • Issue #103
    Issue #103
  • Issue #104
    Issue #104

Reprints

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