Final Transformations
Megatron breaks a deal . . . and a few Autobots.
G.I. Joe A Real American Hero 142
Script: Larry Hama
Pencils: Jesse Orozoco & William Rosado
Inks: Chip Wallace, Tim Tuony, Arienne Steve Alexandron
Letters: Rick Parker
Colors: Andre Ani & Chi
Editor: Mike Lackey
- Major Transformers characters (in order of appearance): Megatron, Hot Spot, Skydive, Steeljaw, Override, Chase, Brawn.
- Originally published: November, 1993
Synopsis
In the Cobra-dominated town of Milleville, Megatron is about to squish Scarlett like the puny fleshling she is, when he is distracted by the arrival of a squad of Autobots, led by Hot Spot. The assorted humans scatter as Megatron starts kicking their tailpipes. Cobra Commander protests to Megatron about the damage to his real estate. Megatron grants that he has a point about protecting valuable assets, and tucks Doctor Biggles-Jones into a compartment in his chest. As Cobra begins to attack the Autobots, Megatron takes the opportunity to kill Steeljaw and Chase. The remaining Autobots retreat to make sure their vessel is secure.
Megatron locates their ship, but is attacked by Brawn as he approaches it. Megatron sneers at him. He announces he now has the ability to excite electrons and implode neutrons, then demonstrates, killing Brawn and destroying the Autobots' ship. The surviving Autobots team up with the Joes to form a plan for getting on board the Ark. While Override distracts Megatron, Skydive deactivates himself, and allows to Joes to ferry him (and Spike Witwicky onto the Ark, thus not setting off the Autobot-detectors.
The plan works, though Override is ripped to pieces by Megatron. The Joes and Scarlett rescue Doctor Biggles-Jones, but are pursued by Megatron. Impressed by Override's selflessness, the doctor gives herself up to save the rest. Megatron takes her in hand, proceedes into the Ark, and lifts off, ignoring Cobra Commander's protests. Megatron muses about how the doctor had introduced a computer virus into the OS for his new railgun . . . which he promptly removed and implanted into the Cybertronian technology he gave to Cobra.
Quotes
Megatron: You'll be safer inside, Dr. Biggles-Jones!
Doctor Biggles-Jones: Safer for what? All you want is my central nervous system!
Errors
- Hot Spot is called "Hotshot" at one point.
- Steeljaw's name is parsed as "Steel-Jaw".
- Chase is consistently miscolored as white and drawn with Searchlight's head, repeating (and possibly copying) an error first seen in issue #30 of the Generation 1 book.
- Megatron locates the Autobots' ship by comparing mud caked on Chase's leg to a soil analysis of the entire region. He then locates the ship in.... a warehouse district.
Notes
- The cover title of this issue is "G.I. Joe Starring Snake-Eyes Featuring Transformers Generation 2", while the title in the indicia is "G.I. Joe A Real American Hero".
- In "Goin' South" Optimus Prime strongly implied that he and Bumblebee would be coming to Earth themselves, but apparently he changed his mind.
- The Autobot team that arrives instead is very random, consisting of one Protectobot, one Aerialbot, one Mini-Cassette, one Triggerbot, one Throttlebot, and one Mini Vehicle. Only Hot Spot and Brawn are even close to the strength and endurance needed to take on Megatron.
- Megatron determines that that the Autobots' ship is located in "Sector Seven". This is probably a big ol' coincidence.
- The title of this story was probably inspired by this being the last appearance of the Transformers in the G.I. Joe comic.
- While the plot of this issue continues in "War Without End!", the first issue of the Generation 2 comic, this arguably represents a branching point in G.I. Joe continuity. While many Joe characters appear in the G2 comic, the Earthwide devastation seen there (e.g., the annihilation of San Francisco) is not reflected in the regular G.I. Joe comic.
- Cobra Commander's vocabulary lessons for the day:
- hebetation: The state of being dull or obtuse.
- resipiscence: Recovering one's senses.
- rampallion: A good-for-nothing scoundrel.
- fustilarian: A low fellow; a stinkard.
- oligophrenic: Exhibiting mental deficiency.
- megapod: Having large feet.
