Break-Away!
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![]() Grimlock kept failing his audition to be the new host of The Apprentice. | |||||||||||||
| "Break-Away!" | |||||||||||||
| Publisher | Marvel Comics | ||||||||||||
| First published | 24th March 1990 | ||||||||||||
| Cover date | 31st March 1990 | ||||||||||||
| Writer | Simon Furman | ||||||||||||
| Art | Staz | ||||||||||||
| Letterer | Stuart Bartlett | ||||||||||||
| Cover | Stephen Baskerville | ||||||||||||
| Continuity | Marvel Comics continuity/Earthforce | ||||||||||||
The different values of Optimus Prime and Grimlock go head to head
Synopsis
Aboard the Ark, Grimlock declares that he and the other Dinobots are again quitting from the Autobot army, perhaps for good this time. However, Optimus Prime doesn't react much, being more concerned with Unicron than tantrums. Highbrow is worried, as the Autobots need the Dinobots' raw strength, whilst Grimlock is furious that his attitude is dismissed as a mere tantrum. He picks up the table and throws it at the wall. Then as he and Prime once more argue their philosophies, Grimlock challenges Prime for the leadership and declares they will decide by combat.
The two Autobots fight each other and prove evenly matched. Ten minutes later, Getaway and Swoop look at the two still struggling and decide to call it a draw. Suddenly, Optimus Prime and Grimlock burst out laughing. Prime declares that Grimlock has beaten some sense into him and declares that the Dinobot leader is now appointed "Autobot Commander: Earth". He only asks for restraint. Grimlock responds that he accepts and will be restrained. Prime asks who will go with him as he will need more troops than the Dinobots.
At this point, Jazz, Bumblebee, Sunstreaker, Ironhide, and Silverbolt declare that they will go. They have just heard from Prowl and Wheeljack about how they stopped Megatron's plan to destroy Earth's atmosphere, but are in trouble and need help. Optimus Prime gives them his blessing and tells them to go quickly!
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots |
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Quotes
Notes
Artwork and technical errors

Continuity errors
- Grimlock says "I" instead of "Me, Grimlock" on the cover.
Continuity notes
- Clues to help or befuddle anyone trying to work out when the Earthforce stories are set include:
- The opening caption says "The time: Now."
- Optimus Prime is concerned about Unicron heading for Cybertron.
- Grimlock's likely reason for wanting to quit is the events of the previous issue, "Two Steps Back!".
- Optimus is flanked by a Headmaster, a Powermaster, a Targetmaster, a Pretender and a Micromaster.
Real-life references
Other trivia
Back-up Material
- Additional Transformers Story: Bird of Prey!
- Other strips: G.I. Joe the Action Force - "Manoeuvring for Position" and Combat Colin
Covers (2)
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Issue #263
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Titan TPB
- Issue #263 cover: Grimlock thumps a table in front of Optimus Prime, by Stephen Baskerville.
- Earthforce TPB cover: Cropped version of same.



