#53 - "Recipe for Disaster!"

Information provided by Robert E. Powers.

Credits

Writer - Bob Budiansky / Penciler - Jose Delbo / Inker - Dave Hunt / Lettering - Dave Moede / Colors - Nel Yomtov

Story

In the Mechannibals' lair, Landmine and Cloudburst learn that the microchips they stole (last issue) were made from the remains of the Mechannibals' previous victims. Though the Mechannibals want to eat the Autobots, Cloudburst forestalls their execution by decribing how much tastier he and Landmine could be if served with the proper adornments and relishes. The Mechannibals agree; keeping Berko as a hostage, they send the Autobots to a nearby world called Femax to get the ingredients. As the Autobots leave, they are secretly followed by Dreadwing, who is himself secretly followed by Sky Lynx...

On Femax, the Autobots drill into a mountain to retrieve the crystals they need. Inside the mountain, they find a perfectly-controlled paradise inhabited solely by women. Mistaken for men in their Pretender shells, the Autobots are quickly captured and brought before the Femax's leader, the First One. After Cloudburst explains their mission and begs for forgiveness, he is ordered to undergo a series of brutal physical tests to prove his worthiness.

"Are you trying to seduce me, Mrs. Robinson?"

Cloudburst passes the tests with ease, which impresses the First One. She takes him aside and explains that the males of her world are coarse, inferior and destructive. But Cloudburst is different -- intelligent, brave, strong -- and she wants him to be her mate. Cloudburst, opting for honesty, reveals his robotic nature to her. Infuriated, the First One decapitates him with a gigantic sword. When Landmine discovers this, he starts to attack -- but stops himself when he realizes that isn't Cloudburst's way. Putting down his weapons, Landmind explains that their mission is one of mercy. Realizing that emotion clouded her judgement, the First One has Cloudburst repaired, and the Autobots are allowed to leave with a generous supply of crystals.

As the Autobots return to the Mechannibals, they are ambushed by Dreadwind and Darkwing -- who are then knocked out by Sky Lynx. Sky Lynx explains that Hi-Test and Throttle, who have been working for the Mechannibals, are also robots.

Returning to the Mechannibals' ship, the Autobot suggest that the Mechannibals free themselves, Berko, and their "recycled" victims, in exchange for Sky Lynx sparing Hi-Test and Throttle. Not wanting to lose their "spotters," the Mechannibals agree. As the Autobots leave for the Ark, they reveal that Hi-Test, Throttle, and Dreadwing are actually robots, leaving the enraged Mechannibals to pursue the Decepticons.

Notes and Comments

• The cover for this issue was drawn by Jim Lee, one of the founding artists of Image Comics.
• This issue directly addresses the issue of genders in Transformers. When the First One talks to Cloudburst about being his mate, he replies, "Where I come from, there are no men, no women ... no mates!"
• Hi-Test and Throttle are robots? That contradicts their origins in issue #42, where they are shown to be binary-bonded Nebulans.
• You would think that after someone would be dead after being eaten by the Mechannibals, wouldn't you? But no -- in a clumsy attempt to blunt the unease of having people (robots) consumed, the story features Cloudburst implying that someone eaten by the Mechannibals can be restored back to normal. Yeah, right...
• Sky Lynx and Berko are not seen again after this issue.