Introducing the Decepticons' deadly new weapon - the fly swatter!

Marvel UK issue #276

Writer: Simon Furman
Pencils: Jeff Anderson
Inks: Michael Eve
Lettering: Stuart Bartlett

• Major characters (in order of appearance): Bombshell, Kickback, Shrapnel and Starscream.

• Minor characters (in order of appearance): Frenzy or Rumble (FIBRIR doesn't work in black and white), Blitzwing and Divebomb.

• Originally published: 23 June 1990. Cover date ("off sale") 30 June 1990.

Synopsis

The Insecticons have penetrated Shockwave's base. Meanwhile, Starscream is on security duty, despite being second-in-command, and annoyed, thinking that even Megatron treated him better. He rants about how Shockwave recruited him with promises, and now decides to overthrow his leader at the first opportunity. Then he spots the Insecticons on the monitor screen and decides to deal with them himself, first visiting the armoury.

The Insecticons reach the room next to the war room and proceed to eavesdrop on Shockwave, when Starscream enters the room. The Insecticons attack but Starscream first brushes them aside then pulls out a Rustbug Hoop and swats them all.

Then Starscream releases them, telling them that they have done a good job in discovering Shockwave will be on a solo mission tomorrow. Bombshell knows that the Insecticons can't admit defeat so they have to play along and deduces that Starscream wants Megatron to destroy Shockwave to create a vacuum so he can take over. Starscream confirms this and tells the spies to "Buzz off!"

Errors

Items of note

• Shockwave's base is a Decepticon spaceship located on a sea bed, similar to the Decepticon Headquarters in the cartoon. The ship also appears as Shockwave's base in the US strips in "Surrender!". It cannot be the Nemesis as in the UK continuity this was destroyed in "Target: 2006".

Reprints

• This story was reprinted in the Titan Books trade paperback "Fallen Star".