#49 - "Cold War"

The Underbase Saga, part 3

Information provided by Robert E. Powers.

Credits

Writer - Bob Budiansky / Penciler - Jose Delbo / Inker - Danny Bulanadi / Lettering - Bill Oakley / Colors - Nel Yomtov

Story

At the Decepticon island base -- now relocated to the Arctic -- Ratbat leads the Decepticons to intercept an unidentified approaching spacecraft. Piranacon is about to destroy the vessel when Starscream arrives and frantically tells him to stop. Ratbat is miffed, but confirms the order.

Scorponok and his Decepticons disembark from the ship. Scorponok is furious -- after learning about Ratbat's forces from the Club 'Con commercials, he had agreed to consolidate their forces. It's revealed that in the rush to move their base after Blaster's intervention (in issue #47), Starscream forgot to inform Ratbat about this alliance. When Scorponok reveals his part-Nebulan Headmaster nature, Ratbat is unpleasantly surprised.

In the Caribbean, Optimus, Blaster, and Spike Witwicky stand on the floating Fortress Maximus as they search for the Decepticons. They find nothing; Blaster berates himself for alerting the Decepticons to his presence. Prime assures him that he did well, that the Autobots are ready to stop the Decepticons' next move, and that they will soon find Buster.

Starscream leads Scorponok and the Headmasters on a tour of the base. When Scorponok asks about their plans to destroy the Autobots, Starscream dodges the question by introducing Buster Witwicky, and mentions that he is scheduled for execution. Buster asks if it's because he knows about the Underbase -- and Scorponok, recognizing the name, angrily goes looking for Ratbat. Starscream thanks Buster for his help, then takes the human away.

After a brief and angry exchange, Scorponok concludes that Ratbat has no desire to join forces. He and the Headmasters leave for their ship, but are intercepted by the Predacons. While the two sides fight, Starscream merrily watches, then leaves the base with Buster. He drops Buster off in the distance with an Autobot emergency rescue signal, then leaves. But Buster, shivering from exposure, refuses to activate the signal, since the Autobots' arrival would cause them to be attacked by the Decepticons.

As the Decepticons' battle continues, Starscream steals Scorponok's ship and lifts off. Ratbat and Scorponok end their battle as they realize that it was all just a distraction. Buster also sees this, and -- realizing that only the Autobots can stop Starscream -- activates the signal...

Notes and Comments

• This is one of the better Budiansky stories. Nothing silly about it, but a straightforward Transformer story with Starscream in classic form, manipulating all the pieces to suit his own ends. Though there isn't much personality to the other characters, several scenes -- such as Scorponok confronting Ratbat, and Buster's chat with Starscream -- are memorable.
• Lord Zarak is identified as a human, even though technically he's a Nebulan from the planet Nebulos (see the Headmasters limited series). Apparently, "human" encompasses anybody who has a humanoid form, regardless of their origin (Nebulans) or size (Pretenders). Co-evolution? Or just unimaginative writing? You decide...
• The battle between the Decepticons is unusually brutal for the series. Scenes include Horribull being sliced in half by Blitzwing, Cutthroat and Apeface having their arms torn off, and Tantrum getting ripped apart by Scorponok. One wonders, though, if this was to lend a stark tone to the story, or because it's acceptable to brutalize the combatants when they're all Decepticons...
• It isn't explained where Starscream got the Autobot emergency signal, though perhaps he stole it when he escaped from the Ark in issue #41.