The Enemy Within!

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This article is about the Marvel UK story. For the unproduced Dreamwave issue, see The Enemy Within.
« The Transformers (UK) #13–17 »

What have you done with the real Sideswipe?
"The Enemy Within!"
Publisher Marvel Comics
Cover date 9th March – 17th May 1985
Script Simon Furman
Art John Ridgway (13) & Mike Collins (14–17)
Colours Gina Hart
Letters Richard Starkings
Editor Sheila Cranna
Continuity Marvel Comics continuity

Brawn and Starscream both fall foul of their friends.

Synopsis

After challenging Megatron's authority and being savagely reprimanded, Starscream plots Megatron's downfall. He plans to attack humans indiscriminately until the Autobots come to their defense. This will force the other Decepticons to come to his aid, and together they will destroy the Autobots, proving that Starscream's methods are superior to Megatron's. Unfortunately, Ravage overhears Starscream's plotting and rushes to tell Megatron, but he is spotted, and Starscream attacks him and leaves him for dead.

"Ravage's ALIVE!"

At the same time, in the Ark, the Autobots are moving a heavy piece of machinery when it slips, and a short-circuit shocks Brawn, knocking him unconscious. After his recovers, he begins to act strangely before eventually violently attacking Sideswipe and then abandoning the Ark.

The Best Laid Plans...

Some time later, as Starscream attacks US Air Force Base Oregon Four-Alpha, the other Decepticons discover the badly damaged Ravage, who reveals Starscream’s treachery. Enraged, the Decepticons race off and capture Starscream during his attack. Starscream demands his right to trial by combat.

Brawn, meanwhile, has gone on a rampage in the small town of St. Petersburg, believing their cars to be enslaved robots... and when the immobile vehicles just sit there, he throws a wobbly and smashes them.

Crime...and Punishment!

The Autobots try to subdue Brawn but are overwhelmed, only winning due to an ambush by Red Alert. The Autobots, unwilling to harm him in battle, use a neuro-tranquillizer to keep him down and take him back to base. Megatron, unwilling to let Starscream off so easily, plans to take advantage of the situation and suggests to Optimus Prime that they allow Starscream and Brawn to fight each other. Desperate to redeem himself, the now repaired Brawn agrees.

Trial...and Error!

The two battle, unaware that Megatron has stationed Ravage nearby with orders to blast Starscream if he wins the battle.

Endings...and Beginnings!

The battle goes against Brawn, and it appears that he has been destroyed. Following his orders, Ravage blows Starscream out of the sky, gaining revenge on him. He then lets the other Decepticons believe that it was the Autobots who attacked Starscream, motivating them to get behind Megatron and attack the Autobots.

Unknown to the Decepticons, Brawn was not destroyed. Instead, Mirage projected a hologram showing his death while the real Brawn was taken to safety: the same electric shock that harmed Brawn boosted Mirage's hologram powers!

Back at the Decepticon fortress, Megatron is preparing to launch an all-out attack on the Autobots.

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots Decepticons Humans

Notes

“ If someone had told me back in 1985 that I'd still be writing TF in 2002, I'd have laughed. ”

—Simon Furman, Altered States Q&A... and he's still doing it in 2011!

  • This was the first Transformers to be written by Simon Furman. He has gone on record as saying that he does not think much of this early work and does not wish to see it reprinted, which may explain the story's absence from the Titan Books reprints.
  • Brawn runs someone off the road and they have a fiery crash. No one ever says that he's been pulled out alive...
  • The first panel of part three's seventh page, in which Starscream shoots down a human military jet, is an homage to Roy Lichtenstein's painting, Whaam!, complete with sound effect.
  • Like "Man of Iron" and "Raiders of the Last Ark", it is unclear where this story fits in the Marvel UK continuity. It was originally printed between "The Last Stand" and "The New Order", when the Autobots and Decepticons were deactivated after Shockwave's arrival. It is generally assumed to take place somewhere in US issue #3 or #4, as the Decepticons' encounter with Spider-Man is mentioned.
  • First appearance of OBTV News.
  • The odd character model used for Sideswipe throughout issue #13 (and indeed on the cover) bears a striking similarity to that used for Gears in the famous center-spread 'roll call' sequence in US issue #1 (below left) - note especially the designs of the face, chest, and the shoulder-wheels.


Errors

Back-up stories

Issue #13:

  • Machine Man - "Kill Me or Cure Me" Part 4
  • Matt and the Cat
  • Chromobots

Issue #14:

  • Machine Man - "Kill Me or Cure Me" Part 5
  • Matt and the Cat
  • Chromobots

Issue #15:

  • Machine Man - "Arms and the Robot" Part 1
  • Matt and the Cat
  • Chromobots
  • Robo-Capers
  • Tales from the Fact Files - "Trapped Beneath the Waves!"

Issue #16:

  • Machine Man - "Arms and the Robot" Part 2
  • Matt and the Cat
  • Chromobots
  • Robo-Capers
  • Planet Terry

Issue #17:

  • Machine Man - "Arms and the Robot" Part 3
  • Matt and the Cat
  • Chromobots
  • Robo-Capers
  • Planet Terry
  • Tales from the Fact Files - "The Truth about Alcatraz"

Covers (14)

Reprints

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