Raiders of the Last Ark

Part 4

Issue 21, 29 June 1985.

Written by: Simon Furman
Art by: Mike Collins and Jeff Anderson
Colours by: Gina Hart
Letters by: Richard Starkings
Cover art: Mike Collins and Jeff Anderson

Plot: Megatron plans to use his ability to leak anti-matter from a black hole to stop Auntie. However, before he can do so, Windcharger and Ravage burst in. Ravage takes out Auntie, Windcharger takes out Megatron, and then, uh, they all go home.

Technobabble: Apparently your common or garden anti-matter is 'the energy of a black hole'. So, gravity just doesn't enter into it, does it?

International Interest: Ah, here we are. When the Decepticons leave at the end, they're 'We'll be back' message leads us to a caption that places this story before the events of issue 8. I know Prime here says that they're lower on fuel than ever, but when we'd last seen them around then, the Autobots were all but crippled for lack of fuel, which certainly isn't the case here.

Miserable glitches: Optimus Prime thinks that Megatron's plan may be dangerous. I know he's no Wheeljack, but Megatron's starting to leak anti-matter into the room. Lots of it. Assuming that it's the stasis field calming it down (and it creates even more problems if it's not), it more than 'may' be a problem. Matter + Anti-matter = BOOOM!
As Windcharger flings Megatron away, he's got a Decepticon symbol on his hip that I don't think he has normally. And, the side of his leg is gold instead of silver.
Also, Optimus Prime has his blue woober again, which I'm not sure if I'm still mentioning, but there you are. And the Autobot insignia on Windcharger's chest is now grey like the rest of him instead of coloured red.

Notes: This would be the last original British Transformers tale to be in black and white until issue 215.

Comments: Well, as an ending, that was...adequate. We knew what had to happen and it happened. Maybe just because this tale (just about enough for a single full-length comic today) was chopped up into chunks, it felt like it was going somewhere. Simon Furman was still finding his feet a bit, at least on this title - looking back, in later days it might have been quite a move to put two leaders of opposing factions on trial and asking them to justify themselves...only to kill the judge before any such enquiry can get underway. Here it was a bit 'oh'. Nice to read nonetheless, maybe we're just feeling a bit spoilt.