“Ummm…how do we get down from here?”
The Transformers #8
Marvel Comics (September, 1985)
“REPEAT PERFORMANCE” WRITER: Bob Budiansky PENCILER: William Johnson INKER: Kyle Baker LETTERER: Rick Parker COLORIST: Nel Yomtov EDITOR: Jim Owsley
Ratchet travels to the Savage Land to learn the fate of the Dinobots. There we see the memory from last night’s Friday Night Fight as the Dinobots awaken. Ratchet is no fool, however, and even with the ceremony he knows Megatron will betray him and uses the Dinobots to stop him. Ultimately, however, it’s Ratchet who wins the battle (with a bit of luck). Back at the hospital, Josie’s new project is nearing completion; one that will have bad results for the Transformers.
What they got right: I wish that Johnson and Baker had stayed on for the entire run. These two issues had the best art of the series, and even Yomtov’s usual cheating isn’t as obvious. It’s also Ratchet’s story and the fact that he is the one responsible for defeating Megatron and not the Dinobots would be revisited–interestingly in Furman’s run.
What they got wrong: How did Ratchet pull up a “commentary track” anyway? He says that he is also picking up Slag’s thoughts but it sounds more like narration. While the Dinobots in the comic were never as dumb as they were in the cartoon, I don’t see Slag narrating in his head like he’s Darkwing Duck.
Other notes: This would be the last time that the Transformers would be depicted as existing in the regular Transformers universe. Ratchet ends up in the Savage Land, the prehistoric jungle that exists in Antarctica in the Marvel Universe (there is also a note that this story takes place prior to Avengers #257). From this point on, while Marvel Comics exists, as seen in a later story, the Transformers would take place in a separate universe.
Recommendation: As my favorite story in the Marvel run you can guess that this comes with high recommendations.
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