The Smelting Pool!
| This article is about issue 17 of the Marvel US comic. For the Decepticon torture and recycling device, see Smelting pool. |
On Cybertron, an Autobot spy discovers a message sent to the Decepticons from Earth.
Marvel US issue #17
(Story also appears in: Marvel UK issues #66-67, IDW Transformers: Generations #5)
Script: Bob Budiansky
Pencils: Don Perlin
Inks: Keith Williams
Lettering: Janice Chiang
Colors: Nelson Yomtov
Editor: Michael Carlin
- Major characters (in order of appearance): Blaster, Scrounge, Shrapnel, Powerglide, Cosmos, Seaspray, Warpath, Beachcomber, Perceptor, Straxus, Kickback, Bombshell, Dirge, Ramjet, Thrust
- Originally published: June, 1986
Synopsis
On the Transformers' homeworld of Cyberton, Blaster is trying to meet up with his partner Scrounge, who has stumbled upon a transmission sent by the Decepticon Soundwave and is subsequently captured. Despite the misgivings of base commander Perceptor, Blaster convinces his fellow Autobots to try to find Scrounge. Their inquiries lead them to the Smelting Pool, a pit that serves the dual function of execution chamber and raw materials processing for the Decepticon war effort. Blaster allows himself to be captured by the Decepticons in order to be thrown into the Pool and find Scrounge. Although Scrounge is already too badly damaged to be saved, he is able to pass on a recording of the Decepticon message to Blaster, who is pulled out of the Pool by his Autobot teammates. When the Autobot return to the base, they play the recording to discover that Optimus Prime lives among the Autobots on Earth. This gives the team new hope, and Scrounge is remembered for his sacrifice.
Errors
The transmission received on Cybertron states that the Decepticons on Earth were led by Megatron and that the Autobots were led by Optimus Prime. However when Soundwave sent the message (in issue #10) Shockwave was leader of the Decepticons, with Megatron lost and presumed dead. At the time Optimus Prime was also a severed head, and captive of Shockwave.
Items of note
- References to other Transformers continuities/issues: Soundwave sent the message in issue #10.
- The title on the issue's first page is given as Return to Cybertron Part 1: The Smelting Pool!. Ostensibly, this would make The Bridge To Nowhere! Return to Cybertron Part 2, although it is not explicitly named as such.
- This issue features the Cybertronian alt modes of the 2nd year Mini Vehicles.
- The Titan reprint that contains this storyline, Cybertron Redux features Autobot cassette Ramhorn on the cover, who never appears in the story. Or does he? Could Ramhorn have been the red cassette Scrounge handed to Blaster?
- This issue was reprinted as issue 5 of IDW Publishing's Generations series.
- The picture of Blaster on the cover uses his cartoon and Marvel UK face (without his visor).
