Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?

In a mission to secure spare parts for their comrades, a couple of Autobot Pretenders bite off more than they can chew.

=Marvel US issue #52= (Story also appears in: Marvel UK issues #213-216)

Writer: Bob Budiansky Pencil Art: Jose Delbo Ink Art: Dave Hunt Letterer: Manny Manos Colorist: Nelson Yomtov Editor: Don Daley

Landmine, Cloudburst, Optimus Prime, Berko, Sky Lynk, Throttle, Hi-Test, Dreadwing
 * Major Characters (in order of appearance):


 * Originally published: May, 1989

Synopsis
Optimus Prime sends Landmine and Cloudburst on a mission to secure microchips from the black market on Grand Central Space Station, where robots are not welcome. The Pretenders soon find dealers, not realizing that dealers are actually Nebulan Powermasters Hi-Test and Throttle. They also discover that a fellow Autobot, Sky Lynx, has recently been to the station, but who went missing soon after Sky Lynx's partner, Berko, attempted to make a deal with the shady pair. Landmine attempts to recover Sky Lynx by insisting that the "dealers" take them to the suppliers directly. Hi-Test and Throttle agree, and the Pretenders soon find themselves face to face with the Mecannibals, who agree to do business while consuming the imprisoned Sky Lynx.

Landmine's inner robot form, which had stayed outside at the beginning of the "deal," arrives to free Sky Lynx, who escapes, and Landmine's inner robot recombines with his outer shell in the confusion, unseen by the Mecannibals. They complete the deal for the microchips, and return to the space station. All would be well if the Pretenders didn't decide to reveal themselves to Berko afterward. This is seen by Hi-Test and Throttle, who notify the bartender, J'oh. The Pretenders are quickly overwhelmed by the station's robot-hating populace, and are shoved out of an airlock. Before Landmine and Cloudburst can re-orient themselves, they are knocked out by Dreadwing, and transported back to the Mecannibals. It seems that the Mecannibals are eager to replace the meal they just lost, and two Autobots in synthetic flesh shells will do just fine!

Errors

 * If Landmine destroys the vial of Energon Cubes he used to pay for the chips (creating the flash of light he uses to recombine with his outer shell unnoticed), what vial is that on the next page? The Mecannibals certainly still seem to think that they've been paid for the transaction.

Items of note

 * Size-shifting is pretty much assumed here, since Cloudburst's inner robot transforms into a spacecraft large enough to transport both his own outer shell and Landmine (his is also wearing his shell) to the space station.