Power Play!

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Nuclear weapons are the right of all sentient beings, Prime!
Power Play!
Publisher Marvel Comics
First published July 10, 1984
Cover date November 1984
Plot Bill Mantlo
Script Jim Salicrup
Pencils Frank Springer
Inks Kim DeMulder
Colors Nel Yomtov
Lettering Janice Chiang
Editor Bob Budiansky
Continuity Marvel Comics continuity

The Decepticons attack a nuclear power plant in an attempt to secure fuel. Meanwhile, Bumblebee makes contact with some humans.

Synopsis

In an effort to secure fuel sources and raw materials, the Decepticons attack a half-completed nuclear power plant. They walk off with stripped machine parts, leaving stunned humans in their wake.

Meanwhile, an injured Bumblebee has been taken to the garage of Sparkplug Witwicky by his son, Buster. After much pleading, Buster convinces his dad to fix the car, even though it's the middle of the night. Once repaired, Bumblebee transforms in front of the startled humans and enlists Buster's help to find fuel for the Autobots. As they drive back to the Ark, Bumblebee explains the war between the Transformers. Buster runs into his friends Jesse and O, and explains that his car is from another planet (who knew?). They speculate with Bumblebee on the recent attack on the nuclear power plant, while Ravage, disguised as a cassette in O's boom box, listens in on their conversation.

At the Ark, the Autobots are debating about whether they should just take the energy they need or offer humans Cybertronian technology in exchange. A distress signal from Bumblebee inspires Optimus Prime to lead an Autobot group to the Witwicky garage. Sparkplug agrees to help the Autobots convert human fuel sources into a form Transformers can use. However, the introductions between Prime and the humans are barely finished when the Decepticons attack.

The Autobots appear to gain the upper hand as a battle rages in Sparkplug's scrapyard, but Megatron arrives, makes short work of Bumblebee, and nabs Sparkplug. Optimus Prime forces the Decepticon leader to release the human. As he and Megatron throw car parts at each other, Starscream grabs Sparkplug and takes off. Their objective obtained, the rest of the 'Cons retreat. Buster begs the Autobots to follow and rescue his father, but the fuel-depleted bots fall to their knees, unable to even help themselves.

Quotes

"Is he healed?"
"Blast it, son! I'm a mechanic, not a doctor! All I did was fix a broken fuel line and tune up some parts! It wasn't easy! I've never seen a car quite like it, and I've—"
KLIK
"Huh?"
KLIK
"What the—? ...Oh, no! It's falling apart!"

—Buster and Sparkplug meet Bumblebee


(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots Decepticons Humans

Errors

Sideswipe and Sunstreaker began sharing their body molds sooner than most believe.
  • The portion of Harrison Nuclear Plant which Laserbeak attacks looks a lot like a steel mill, but not at all like a nuke plant.
  • The narrative describes Buzzsaw "slashing" open a concrete wall, but the art shows him just flying straight through it.
  • Starscream and Thundercracker are missing their wings as they transform at the end of the attack.
  • Soundwave is colored blue with white limbs as he rips pieces of the plant loose.
  • Bumblebee has yet another design, a strange alien face that looks more like a Cyberjet than his toy.
  • How does Ravage know that the Autobots have "established contact" with Buster? At most, he might have seen Buster drive off in Bumblebee.
  • As the Autobots debate strategy, Windcharger has a strange made-up face atop his usual character model. Optimus appears to have goggles instead of standard optics.
  • Jazz is colored like Hound in the next panel.
  • As the Autobots transform, Prowl and Sunstreaker switch places for one panel.
  • Megatron orders all five of his fliers into the air, while standing around and watching them go. So how does he get to the subsequent battle himself?
  • As the Decepticons attack, Thundercracker and Skywarp's cockpit cowlings are colored entirely orange.
  • As the junkyard battle starts, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker's car modes are switched. When they transform, they share the same body model (Sideswipe's), although Sideswipe is sporting the "jet pack" seen on Sunstreaker's toy as he flies off. (This may be due to the uncertainty as to which toy represented which character, detailed here.) Both characters use the same character model throughout the issue.
  • Jesse is spelled "Jessie" in this issue.
  • Despite being left behind at the base, Ratchet still appears at Sparkplug's garage in one panel.
  • Starscream's early, all-blue color scheme continues to show up at times, such as when he and Skywarp transform and land during the junkyard battle. The panel is copied (traced?) from the Harrison Nuclear Power Plant battle, and consequentially both Seekers are missing their wings when they land.
  • The lower half of Prime's right leg is missing as he throws the engine block at Megatron.
  • Next-to-last panel: Jazz is colored like Hound again.


Items of note

  • Cameos: various nuclear plant workers, citizens and police.
  • Advertised as part 2 in a 4-issue limited series.
  • Sparkplug states that he's "a mechanic, not a doctor", an homage to Star Trek's Doctor McCoy.
  • During the entire battle at the Witwicky's house, Optimus Prime's trailer sits parked, frequently in view. Prime had yet to learn how to make it conveniently disappear.

Covers (5)

  • US issue #2 cover: Megatron blasts Prime, by Michael Golden.
  • UK issue #3 cover: Bumblebee with the Witwickys, by Jerry Paris.
  • UK issue #4 cover: reuse of art from US cover.
  • Collected Comics #1 cover: Reuse of US issue #2's cover.
  • The Complete Works Part 1 cover: reuse of UK issue #1's cover.

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