Wrecking Havoc
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| File:TFUK 172 COVER.JPG Cyclonus and Scourge hate Tom Cruise too! | |||||||||||||
| Wrecking Havoc | |||||||||||||
| Publisher | Marvel Comics | ||||||||||||
| First published | July 2– July 9, 1988 | ||||||||||||
| Cover date | July 2–9, 1988 | ||||||||||||
| Script | Simon Furman | ||||||||||||
| Art | Bryan Hitch | ||||||||||||
| Colour | Euan Peters | ||||||||||||
| Letters | Steve Parkhouse (#172) Annie Halfacree (#173) | ||||||||||||
| Continuity | Marvel Comics continuity | ||||||||||||
The Wreckers find out that humans always get in the way.
Synopsis
Northern Oregon: A group of USAF pilots on a routine exercise are attacked by Cyclonus and Scourge, who are looking for some target practice. Although the two Decepticons down most of the fighters, Cyclonus is nearly tricked into flying into a mountain and the pair are forced to flee from a counter-attack. Scourge notes it bodes ill for their forthcoming meeting with their old commander, Galvatron.
The city-state of Kalis, Cybertron: Twin Twist is drilling the Wreckers for their forthcoming mission against Galvatron whilst Emirate Xaaron and Springer look on in concern as they will be undertaking the mission without Ultra Magnus. Deadly Games!
Earth, the Decepticon fortress base: Shockwave reflects on his recent meeting with Cyclonus and Scourge. The pair aim to defeat Galvatron and reclaim the trigger device which could return them to their own time but have asked Shockwave for sanctuary if they fail. In return, they will serve him.
Cyclonus and Scourge arrive in the middle of a human settlement, where they had arranged to meet Galvatron. Their former commander had intended to invite them to serve him and is amused to learn of their plans. Even though he no longer has the trigger device, he doesn't inform them of that fact but all their plans are interrupted by the arrival of the Wreckers through the dimensional portal. Springer is horrified to realize they have arrived in an area full of humans, fearing their mission is doomed.
Reluctantly, the Wreckers engage all three Decepticons, while Sandstorm attempts to usher the humans to safety. Broadside and Rack'n'Ruin engage Galvatron, who mentions the fact Cyclonus and Scourge were after a trigger device that no longer exists. Springer overhears the comment and, after overpowering Cyclonus and lifting a human straggler to safety, he knocks Galvatron to the ground and runs off, shouting that he has the time jump trigger. As he hoped, Scourge (who has been battling the Jumpstarters) and Cyclonus both chase after him, away from the humans. Galvatron instantly realizes what Springer is doing and tells the other Wreckers they have a choice of trying to capture him or saving their leader, who won't last long on his own against Cyclonus and Scourge.
Cyclonus and Scourge quickly take down Springer and realize he doesn't have the trigger device, at which point the other Wreckers arrive and force them to flee. Broadside notes that in the confusion Galvatron has disappeared, presumably transformed to his minuscule pistol form. Springer is forced to concede defeat, vowing to return to Cybertron and plan anew.
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Humans | Nebulons |
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Errors
- Having arrived on Earth, Cyclonus and Scourge have apparently deserted their commander, Scorponok. They're never seen with his troops after the Headmasters limited series, not even in the US issues. This may be why they seek sanctuary from Shockwave, instead of their own forces... but the issue of their desertion is never directly addressed.
- On page 7 of part 1, one of Xaaron's speech bubbles is attributed to Springer.
Items of note
- Galvatron's trigger jump device was dismantled by Wreck-Gar in "Fire on High!".
- Neither Galvatron nor the Wreckers seem to be familiar with the concept of Targetmasters. This actually creates a minor continuity issue, as Rodimus Prime is shown to have been a former Targetmaster in "Headhunt", indicating that the technology existed in the Marvel UK future timeline (and that Galvatron should be familiar with it).
- The Wreckers would keep their promise to return for Galvatron in "Time Wars" (and sort of succeed, albeit with a lot of help).
- By an unspecified method of coercion, Galvatron persuades an anonymous human to carry him to his rendezvous in gun mode. This is the second of only two occasions when he is shown in this mode (the other being "Target: 2006" part 1).
- This is one of the rare stories that feature Springer using the ability his name derives from: he jumps hella high to lure Cyclonus and Scourge away from the human settlement.
- Issue subtitles:
- Issue #172—
- Issue #173—Smalltown Nightmare!
Covers(7)
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He blew up real good!
172 -
Galvatron sucks at Jenga.
173 -
Transformers Comic-Magazin issue #24
- UK issue 172: Cyclonus and Scourge destroy an Earth jet; art by Bryan Hitch.
- UK issue 173: Galvatron busts through wall; art by Jeff Anderson.
- Transformers Comic-Magazin issue #24 cover Springer, Scourge and a strange-looking Cyclonus
- Collected Comics #16 cover:
- Titan's Space Pirates cover:
- Best of UK: Space Pirates #5 cover A: Galvatron, Cyclonus and Scourge among frightened humans — actually a redrawing of the RI cover but including Galvatron; art by Dan Khanna (art) and Liam Shalloo (colors)
- Best of UK: Space Pirates #5 cover RI: "Retro" Incentive cover — panel from page 9 of part 1.
- Best of UK: Space Pirates TPB cover:
UK printing
- No items yet identified.
Reprints
- This story was reprinted in Collected Comics #16 as an emergency replacement when the pages for continuing the reprint of "Target: 2006" were lost in the post. Given that the cover reuses that of issue #84, depicting Galvatron and Unicron (who isn't seen in either story), it seems likely it was unchanged.
- The reprint was modified to remove a footnote explaining the absence of Ultra Magnus. It originally linked to the previous "Deadly Games!".
- The story was reprinted again in the Titan Books trade paperback, Space Pirates. The above footnote was present, suggesting the original printing was used.
- It was reprinted once again as the final part of IDW Publishing's Best of UK: Space Pirates.
