Issue 30, 12 October 1985.
Written by: Simon Furman.
Art by: John Stokes.
Colours by: Steve Whitaker.
Letters by: Richard Starkings.
Cover art: I don't know, but it looks like this might be John Stokes also.
Not a reprint, but only so original...
Plot: Ratchet completes his story about why humans mistrust Transformers, a tale about Autobots being blamed for the Decepticon's raid on a dam. The story complete, the gang arrive back at the Ark to find Swoop (who flew on ahead) taken out by Guardian.
Strange cliffju-- er, hangers: This one isn't strange at all. In fact, we've seen it before. Back in issue 20.
First appearances: Inferno, but see glitches below.
Miserable glitches: Last issue the dam where Ratchet's story took place was Sherman Dam. Here, right in the very second caption, it's called Boulder Dam. (Named after the Rock Lord leader, maybe?)
In the recap from last issue, Megatron strikes Prime from his (Meg's) left and inward and says, 'Start saying your prayers, Autobot!' Last issue, however, he struck him backhand (or backmorningstar, anyway) and said, 'Sloppy, Prime - Sloppy!'
And, in that very panel, Megatron's morning-star is on his left wrist instead of his right!
Megatron's been missing his fusion cannon since the fight with Prime last issue. Why he took it off, I have no idea. Also, it's mysteriously back to form part of his gun mode when he transforms.
Add to that little lot the continuing glitch from last issue that this story can't have happened anyway, and I'm really starting to wonder if Ratchet knows what he's talking about, telling this story.
And did Megatron really just run off, having put Optimus Prime in a vulnerable state? Why not stick around to finish the job?
Remember last issue, when I said John Stokes was drawing a unique blend of toy designs and Romita designs on the characters? Well, he's certainly done it here - Ratchet's just as we usually know him (ie, he's a proper robot with a head), and Ironhide's still the window-faced toy!
Inferno's here, as opposed to Cybertron (he doesn't come to Earth until issue 188).
Prime tells Prowl to take the fastest (including Mirage and Bumblebee) off to the nearest human settlement. Yet, a few panels later, Mirage and the Bumbster are clearly still with Optimus' group. And while we're on the subject, didn't the boss call for the fastest? OK, Jazz, Mirage and Sideswipe I could understand...but Ironhide and Bumblebee?
Bumblebee goes through a few character designs: he has a visor when he's runnign away from the wave, no visor when it sweeps him up, and a different head again on the next page (actually, judging from the design on that third one, it could be a miscoloured Cliffjumper).
Why does Swoop refer to the Ark's mountain as 'still Mount St Hilary'? It certainly wasn't last time he was there!
Notes: The flashback parts of this tale are inspired by the middle of the TV series' first story, More Than Meets the Eye. And the ending's the same as the one ten issues ago! What, couldn't they afford any new story for this issue?
Comments: Like the Decepticons in The Enemy Within, it's good to see a story that focusses pretty much on one side here. Simon Furman's very much settled in as far as character and dialogue go - there's no overtly clumsy words to remind us that these several-metre-tall metal being are robots. Sadly, though, why pinch the plot from a TV episode? Or is it all just a big ol' coincidence?