Another Time and Place

=Marvel UK Annual 1991=

Writer: Simon Furman Pencils: Statz Inkss: Lesley Dalton Colouring: Caroline Steeden


 * Characters: Optimus Prime (G1), Prowl (G1), Grimlock (G1), Swoop (G1), Sludge (G1), Slag (G1), Snarl (G1), Bludgeon (G1), Dreadwind (G1), Fangry (G1), Megatron (G1), Quake (G1), Stranglehold (G1), Octopunch (G1), Nightbeat (G1), Springer (G1), Ironhide (G1), Blaster (G1), Roadhandler (G1), Crankcase (G1), Silverbolt (G1), Air Raid (G1), Skydive (G1), Tote (G1).


 * Originally published: December 1990
 * Format: Text (prose) story with illustrations

Part One
Optimus Prime stands, depressed, looking out onto Cybertron. As Prowl, watching him, reflects, Prime had lost his ability to transform shortly after the Last Autobot had reconstructed him from HiQ's body, a result of HiQ's being "soaked" with Nucleon when he accelerated Grimlock's reconstruction. Of the "Nucleon generation" - those revived by Grimlock with Nucleon, plus Prime and Grimlock himself - Prowl was one of the few still able to transform, while the ashamed Grimlock had gone into hiding and most others, like Prime, were depressed and felt emasculated by the handicap.

Prowl interrupts Prime's thoughts to inform him that Grimlock had gone, and, after being shocked by a curt response, tells him that Grimlock was going to Hydrus Four, the Nucleon source. Prime is briefly shocked, but tells Prowl he "doesn't know" what to do.

Meanwhile, upon Grimlock's landing on Hydrus Four with the rest of the Dinobots - of whom only Slag was still able to transform - they get into a fight with a native monster, and Grimlock is almost killed by futilely trying to transform at a vital moment, before recklessly killing the beast. He then thinks of how he had heard a rumour of a cure for Nucleon's effects on the planet, but volunteers were needed to test it. Having told Prime, who had in turn told him not to go despite clearly wanting to due to the risk of Decepticons following them and reviving deactivated 'Cons, he proceeded to go anyway, out of hatred for what he had caused and become as a result of Nucleon.

Shortly after, the Dinobots are beaten and captured by Bludgeon, Dreadwind and Fangry; who plan to revive Megatron.

Part Two
Grimlock awakes, badly beaten and strung up on chains, to find himself in the midst of a Decepticon grouping chanting Megatrons name, and with the rest of the Dinobots in no better shape. Defeated, when Bludgeon notices his consciousness and tells him of his grand plan to revive Megatron, he managed a yawn, but was left still more crushed when Bludgeon laughs the reaction off.

Meanwhile, Prowl was shocked an embarrased when Optimus Prime apologised for his actions earlier, and reveals he had put together an assault team and medical crew since their talk, and humbly asks that he joins them.

The assault succeeds, and Grimlock discovers that the new version of Nucleon indeed allows him to transform once more, Swoop kills Bludgeon, and Grimlock and Optimus Prime team up to rip the half-alive Megatron in half.

Items of note

 * This is a direct sequel to the end of the Marvel US Transformers comic, serving to restore the transformation ability of those turned into "Action Masters" (a term never used in the comics at any point).