Issue 19, 1 June 1985.
Written by: Simon Furman.
Art by: Mike Collins & Jeff Anderson.
Colours by: Uncredited, but my guess is the ever-creative Gina Hart.
Letters by: Aldrich.
Cover art: Looks like Mike Collins to me.
Plot: As the conflict continues, Optimus Prime is inspired to reactivate Auntie, the Ark's computer. Using the power of the Ark, she brings the battle to a halt and gives Prime and Megatron an ultimatum: the leader who best justifies their cause will live, the other will die.
Wicked dialogue: After Optimus gives her a speech straight off the back of a toy box, and Megatron tries to stick his own oar in, Auntie cuts them off with, 'Nobody built me. Nobody's fooling me. I shall judge your case. One group walks away, the other doesn't. It's as simple as that.'
First appearances: Auntie, the computer of the Ark (or at least her sentient self).
Miserable glitches:
When the fighting Transformers are all thrown against the wall, right at the front is Frenzy (or Rumble), coloured all white, black and blue, like Prowl.
Megatron seems to be wearing two fusion cannons when he sees Auntie for the first time.
Fact-file: Rumble.
Back-up strip: Machine Man - Alone Against Alpha Flight, Planet Terry - Malt Shop Menace.
Notes: I read this issue via the scans on Lizzard's site. Go here and you can read it for yourself!
Comments: Hmmm...I'm not sure what to say about this instalment, because there really doesn't seem to be much to it. Actually, Auntie's pretty nifty, but when I'm reading this in 1999, the 'powerful being that tells you to justify yourself' thing is so been there done that - and I doubt it was that super-original in 1985, either. Let's face it, it's been in Doctor Who, Star Trek, Red Dwarf...and that's just the series I can remember straight off. I guess the problem is here, like most places, it's presented as if it's a major unexpected and new concept. And it's not.