Issue 60, 10 May 1986.
Written by: Simon Furman (story), Barry Kitson (plot)
Art by: Barry Kitson (pencils), Tim Perkins (inks)
Colours by: TM Cooks
Letters by: Annie Halfacree
Cover art: Well, judging by Shockwave's head, I'd say Barry Kitson.
Plot: Shockwave storms after the exo-suited Buster. His recent experience being trapped in a swamp again (as he was for around four million years before) have taken their toll, and emotion is driving him to kill the human, even if reason isn't. He damages the suit, and picks up Buster to do the same... then the Autobots show up and tell him to stop. He spares Buster so the Autobots will spare him. Buster's learnt an important lesson...but so has Shockwave. The human is the Autobots' weak point.
Brill!: Shockwave might be strangely proportioned, but the image of his stomping unharmed through a wall of flames is worth the price of admission (30p).
Wicked dialogue: Shockwave: 'In recognition of your creditable struggle, I shall make your death swift...and excruciatingly painful!'
Miserable glitches: Did Shockwave always have that big blue Decepticon badge on his gun arm?
Shockwave picks up a purple rock but crushes a grey one.
Buster reckons his options are to fight or hide, and chooses fight. He reckons that the best tactic is to start by staying of out Shockers' way for as long as possible. Makes sense, but...if that's the case, why not just fly away? He blinded Shockwave, so he'd be able to get a pretty good head start on him. (OK, so we don't know how far it is from Fortress Sinister to the Ark, but he made it here all right, and it's got to be worth a try.)
Tech specs: Shockwave's single eye is very sensitive - in every way. He's got pretty good vision, but Buster's volley of sand in the face puts him right out of it.
Back-up strip: Rocket Raccoon.
Notes: This story would be reprinted in Transformers Collected Comics in 1987.
Comments: Well, isn't it every fan's dream? To have a strong, giant robot body? To be able to rub shoulders with Optimus Prime and take on Decepticons? To many young readers - including a certain future Guide-writer circa 1986 - it certainly was, so Furman and Kitson give us that wish fulfilment...and turn it on its head. Sure, being part of the Autobot/Decepticon battles sounds fun, but it's dangerous. Well dangerous. Fighting a giant robot who can and will kill you is a less appealing idea, so this story delivers a lesson in not locking yourself in a giant Cybertronian fridge. (Which was probably a bit of a slap in the face at the time, but it makes sense to me...)