The Planet Eater!



Ratchet discovers the fate of the other Autobots, and must fight Megatron on his own.

=Transformers: The Movie issue #1=

Adaptation: Ralph Macchio Breakdowns: Don Perlin Finishes: Ian Akin and [Brian Garvey]] Lettering: Janice Chiang Colors: Nelson Yomtov Editor: Bob Budiansky


 * Major characters (in order of appearance): Unicron, Ironhide, Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Spike Witwicky, Laserbeak, Megatron, Soundwave, Starscream, Prowl, Hot Rod, Daniel Witwicky, Perceptor, Ultra Magnus, Springer, Arcee, Devastator, Grimlock, Astrotrain, Scourge, Cyclonus, Galvatron
 * Originally published: December, 1986

Synopsis
In deep space, the planet Lithone is under attack from the planet-eater, Unicron. As the world is devoured, only one Lithonian, Kranix, manages to escape. Unicron now turns his sights on Cybertron....

The year is 2005, and although the Decepticons still rule Cybertron, the Autobots are preparing to retake the planet. But all is not yet ready. Optimus Prime sends a group of Autobots on a mission to Autobot City on Earth. Unfortunately, plans for this mission are overheard by Laserbeak, who reports the findings to Megatron. Megatron leads a group of Decepticons to intercept the Earth-bound shuttle, murder its crew, and attempt to invade Autobot City using the Autobot's own ship.

The Autobots are given the most minimal of advance warnings when Hot Rod, playing with Spike Witwicky's son, Daniel outside Autobot City, notices something wrong with the ship. The Autobots scramble to prepare their base for battle, but being unprepared for this head-on assault, they are soon overwhelmed.

Optimus Prime arrives to join the battle, and knows that the only way the battle can be won is to face Megatron directly in mortal combat. Both leaders battle, and sustain heavy injuries. Although Optimus Prime is fatally wounded, he has turned the tide of the battle, and the Decepticons retreat using Astrotrain as transport. Before Prime dies, he passes the Autobot Matrix of Leadership to his choice for Autobot leader, Ultra Magnus.

As the embattled Decepticons journey through space, Astrotrain informs them that they must jettison dead weight or they'll never make it back to Cybertron. Starscream sees an opportunity. All the most wounded Decepticons are tossed out into deep space, including Megatron.

The wounded Decepticons float through space, and are gathered toward Unicron. Unicron offers Megatron a deal: destroy the Autobot Matrix of Leadership in exchange for a new body and troops. Megatron resists at first, but ultimately agrees. Unicron reshapes some of fallen Decepticon warriors into Cyclonus, Scourge, and the Sweeps. Megatron himself is reformed into the powerful Galvatron!

Errors
TBA

Items of note

 * Unlike in the movie, Hot Rod has nothing to do with Prime's death in the comic adaptation.