As I stated this afternoon I don’t like comic Grimlock. He’s a bully, practically a Decepticon in nature. But while Budiansky gave him a redemption, fall, and re-redemption between the time he took control of the Autobots and Optimus Prime’s Powermaster resurrection, Furman just made him automatically right no matter who got hurt in the process. So yeah, I don’t like him.

Today’s fight features that first redemption I mentioned, as the Dinobots take on another dinosaur Transformers…namely Trypticon!

Assassin round 4

The Battlefield: The Transformers #27 (Marvel Comics; April, 1987) “King Of The Hill!”

The Promoters: Bob Budiansky (writer), Don Perlin (penciler), Ian Akin & Brian Garvey (inkers), Janice Chiang (letterer), and Nel Yomtov (colorist)

Here’s the short version of our setup: Optimus Prime is dead and Grimlock wants his command. However, considering their recent falling out, the Autobots are less than agreeable, so the Dinobots plan to take command the hard way. (Like I said, Decepticon.) However, the Decepticons send out Trypticon ahead of them to scrap all the Autobots permanently. The Dinos plan to just waste Trypty and assume command once he’s “softened up” the Autobots, but Grimlock is having pangs of conscience. Then Scamper, Trypticon’s overly-devoted follower stumbles upon a human who surprised Grimlock earlier by not being afraid of him. This doesn’t sit well with Grimlock…

Trypticon as a weird diet.

But if there’s one thing the Dinobots like, it’s smashing their enemies.

“Sorry, Scamper, but you don’t have a toy counterpart. Even at conventions.”

Of course they’re fighting a walking arsenal. Not that it helps him much.

Like I said, weird diet.

Sadly we’ll never get a decisive victory. The fight ends with Ratbat calling Trypticon back because he extended their fuel budget. But considering who they’re fighting, I still call this a win by the Dinobots by ring-out.

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