It starts with Grimlock vs. Fruitloop Multipuck, but things never end that simply do they?
Marvel US issue #41
(Story also appears in: Marvel UK issues #174-175)
Writer: Bob Budiansky
Pencil Art: Jose Delbo
Ink Art [Danny Bulanadi]
Letterer Bill Oakley
Colorist: Nelson Yomtov
Editor: Don Daley
- Major Characters (in order of appearance):
Fortress Maximus, Goldbug, Optimus Prime, Brainstorm, Highbrow, Hot Rod, Ratchet, Sludge, Grimlock, Slag, Snarl, Grimlock's Crown, Swoop, Point Blank, Scattershot, Landmine, Grotusque, Cerebros, Spike Witwicky, Blaster, Wheeljack, Sandstorm, Omega Supreme, Cosmos, Sky Lynx, Soundwave, Ratbat, Onslaught, Bonecrusher
- Originally published: June, 1988
Synopsis
Having acquired Optimus Prime's mind on a disc, the Autobots on Steelhaven were attempting to build a new body for the Autobot leader, and failing. Realising they didn't have the resources to rebuild Prime they approached Grimlock, leader of the Autobots on Earth.
Grimlock didn't want to help, and instead demanded Fortress Maximus hand over the fugitive Goldbug. Once he had Golbug he challenged Fortress Maximus to one-on-one battle for the leadership of the Autobots.
In the brig Goldbug found Blaster, strapped to an energy-sucking Variable Voltage Harness. Goldbug talked Blaster into fighting in the injured Fortress Maximus' place.
On the Eath's moon the Autobots assembled, the crews from both the Ark and the Steelhaven, to watch Grimlock and Blaster fight it out.
The battle soon drew Blaster and Grimlock away from the rest of the Autobots. This was rather unfortunate because Ratbat's Decepticons had been watching and chose this moment to attack the Autobots' combined forces.
Onslaught lead the Decepticon assault on the Autobots, while Bonecrusher (!) lead the Constructicons in an attack on the Ark, to retrieve Decepticon prisoners
Without strong leadership, the Autobots were losing the battle, so (rather than taking command) Fortress Maximus ordered the skeleton crew on the Steelhaven to depart the moon to get some help in rebuilding Optimus Prime.
Grimlock and Blaster were still fighting when Blaster noticed the battle going on far in the ditance. Setting their differences aside, the two Autobots rejoined the battle. Working together Grimlock and Blaster managed to turn back the Decepticons and damaged their ship enough to force a full Decepticon retreat.
Errors
NONE! Not even colouring errors! None!! Okay, find some yourself, then!
Items of note
- Unlike in the cartoon, writer Bob Budiansky always made sure sound didn't travel in space sequences in the Transformers comics. To this end there's no 'sound effects' during the entire 13 page moon battle sequence. The Transformers used radio to communicate over these pages.
This even plays a part in the plot -- Grimlock and Blaster don't notice the Decepticon attack on their fellows immediately because they can't hear the battle.
- This is the first (and only) US Generation 1 appearance of the Triple Changer Broadside.
- How can one not love the nick-names all through this issue? Doc Ratchet, Grimbo, and of course Grimlock's constant reworking of Fortress Maximus' name. He calls him "Fruitloop Multipuck," "Forktongue Maxiface" and even the ever-classic "Fullstrength Motleypuss."
- The letters page of this issue featured two competitions, Spot the Shingo and a competition to name all the Transformers pouring from the Ark on page 10 of the issue. The prizes were not really disclosed.
References
- The Decepticons retrieved by the Constructicons in this issue were captured in battle with Omega Supreme way back in issue #19.
- Optimus Prime was put on a disc after his death in issue 24, After Death.
- There are numerous references to the previous issue, including the acquiring of the Prime disc, the rebuilding of Goldbug, and the creation of the Pretenders.
- Fortres Maximus was still recovering from his battle with Shockwave in issue #39.
UK Printing
UK Issue 174
- This issue featured a Grimlock cover by Jeff Anderson, and included Transformers A-Z's for Jazz and Jetfire.
- In a flashback to issue #144, Sandstorm appears in the background of a shot of Blaster surrounded by other Autobots. Unfortunately Sandstorm, as a Wrecker, was actually meant to be on Cybertron at this time.
- In the Grim Grams for issue #174, Grimlock states that he doesn't want a toy of his Cybertronian form to be created and that people should be happy with him as he is!
UK Issue 175
- This issue featured a Grimlock and Blaster cover by Lee Sullivan.
- In the Grim Grams for issue #175, Grimlock identified the a generic transformer from the openning splash page of UK issue #164 as "Chuffer".
- This issue features some of the biggest art edits done to a US story to bring it into line with UK continuity. Broadside's cameo headshot was editted, his head partially redrawn and his blue parts coloured green turning him into a generic robot. This was done because Broadside was a memeber of the Wreckers, who were meant to be on Cybertron at the time.
- The boxes of rescued Decepticons seen in this issue were editted because many of the Decepticons defeated by Omega Supreme had been revived already during Target: 2006. The Constructicons' mission only freed Rumble and Buzzsaw in the UK continuity. In US continuity they freed Buzzsaw, Thundercracker, Skywarp, Rumble, Frenzy and Starscream.