The Last Stand



The Autobots make a desperate gamble to defeat the Decepticons.

=Marvel US issue #4= (Story also appears in: Marvel UK issues #7-8)

Writer: Jim Salicrup Pencils: Frank Springer Inks: Ian Akin, Brian Garvey Lettering: John Workman Colors: Nelson Yomtov Editor: Bob Budiansky


 * Major characters (in order of appearance): Buster Witwicky, Sparkplug Witwicky, Jazz, Ratchet, Optimus Prime, Megatron, Ironhide, Mirage, others TBA
 * Originally published: March, 1985

Synopsis
Some of the Autobots accuse Sparkplug of betraying them by giving the Decepticons the fuel conversion they needed. Panicked, Sparkplug and his son attempt to escape, but Sparkplug suffers a heart attack. He is rushed to the hospital by the Autobot Ratchet, and the remaining Autobots are forced to make a desperate gamble to fight the Decepticons one last time. All the Autobots sacrifice their remaining fuel resources to Optimus Prime, Huffer, Ironhide, Bluestreak and Mirage. These five fight the Decepticons within the volcano the Ark has crashed into, as the Decepticons arrive to destroy the Autobots once and for all. Although the Decepticons begin to win the battle by virtue of their greater numbers, at the moment of apparent victory, the Decepticons all begin to fall. Sparkplug has corrupted the fuel he provided to the Decepticons, and they are now poisoned. As Optimus Prime proclaims the debt that they and the entire world owes to Sparkplug Witwicky, a blast from above knocks out the Autobot troops. The Decepticon Shockwave stands supreme! "NOT the end..."

Errors

 * TBA

Items of note

 * Advertised as part 4 in a 4-issue limited series, but ending and letter column both make clear that issue 5 of what is now an ongoing is forthcoming.
 * An alternate ending was scripted and drawn, in case the series was unsuccessful; in this version, Shockwave never strikes, and the series ends with Optimus Prime declaring the Decepticons defeated once and for all. This ending was seen in some overseas printings of the issue.