#4 - "The Last Stand"

Credits

Writer - Jim Salicrup / Penciler - Frank Springer / Inker - Akin & Garvey / Lettering - John Workman / Colors - Nel Yomtov

Story

Shocked at learning that Sparkplug Witwicky has given the Decepticons a supply of fuel, the Autobots begin a heated arguement. The Witwickys try to run away, but Jazz tries to stop them with a fireball. Sparkplug collapses, so Buster and Ratchet rush him to a hospital in the city.

At the Decepticon fortress, Megatron laughs off a barrage from the U.S. Army, berates Starscream for questioning his plans, then sends Ravage to spy on the Autobots.

Back at the Ark, Huffer informs Optimus Prime about the Dinobots, a missing group of Autobots. He explains that, after the Ark's crash four million years ago, a Decepticon named Shockwave followed them. Shockwave landed in the Savage Land, a volcano-ringed region of Antarctica filled with prehistoric life. The Ark modified five Autobots into dinosaur shapes, then sent them to battle Shockwave. But their fate is unknown, so Ratchet has sent a probe to investigate. Optimus dismisses the news, worried more about the Autobots' fuel crisis. Ravage reports this to Megatron, who decides to attack.

Most of the Autobots are put into stasis chambers, and their remaining fuel is used to revitalize Optimus, Huffer, Ironhide, Bluestreak, and Mirage. Then the Decepticons attack, and despite their efforts, the Autobots start to fall. But before the Autobots are defeated, the Decepticons collapse -- thanks to the corrosive acid that Sparkplug had placed in the fuel he gave them.

The Autobots' celebration is short lived, as they are suddenly knocked out by an all-powerful blast from the cavern ceiling. When the smoke clears, it is revealed that the attacker is Shockwave...

Notes and Comments

• The cover was labeled "#4 in a four-issue limited series."
• The letter column, "Transmissions," premiered in this issue. It printed raves for issue #1, and announced the formation of the regular Transformers comic book series.
• Why is the Ark able to recognize the dinosaurs as native life here (to rebuild the Dinobots into dinosaur-shaped forms), but unable to recognize organtic life forms in issue #1?
• Additional information about the relationship of the mainstream Marvel comic-book continuity and the Transformers can be found in the "Notes and Comments" for issue #3.