The Energon Pub

A question for the Dreamwave sages in the forums. In War Within: The Dark Ages, when we first see Swoop fly in to the panel, Grimlock first refers to him as "Dive" then corrects himself and calls him Swoop. Was the reason behind this ever explained?

Not in the Darkages storyline, but maybe in the one that folowed?

It's a reference to the old Marvel UK material. Furman wrote a few stories dealing with a bitter rivalry between Swoop and the Predacon Divebomb. These clashes dated back to the good old days on Cybertron where Swoop's original name was Divebomb. After being savagely defeated by the Predacon Swoop was horrified to discover that he'd started using the name as his own as a way to taunt the Dynobot from afar.

waaaaghlord wrote:It's a reference to the old Marvel UK material. Furman wrote a few stories dealing with a bitter rivalry between Swoop and the Predacon Divebomb. These clashes dated back to the good old days on Cybertron where Swoop's original name was Divebomb. After being savagely defeated by the Predacon Swoop was horrified to discover that he'd started using the name as his own as a way to taunt the Dynobot from afar.

meanie!

waaaaghlord wrote:It's a reference to the old Marvel UK material. Furman wrote a few stories dealing with a bitter rivalry between Swoop and the Predacon Divebomb. These clashes dated back to the good old days on Cybertron where Swoop's original name was Divebomb. After being savagely defeated by the Predacon Swoop was horrified to discover that he'd started using the name as his own as a way to taunt the Dynobot from afar.

Ah hah! Thanks, Waaaghlord! That's tremendously cool.

Dead Metal wrote:

waaaaghlord wrote:It's a reference to the old Marvel UK material. Furman wrote a few stories dealing with a bitter rivalry between Swoop and the Predacon Divebomb. These clashes dated back to the good old days on Cybertron where Swoop's original name was Divebomb. After being savagely defeated by the Predacon Swoop was horrified to discover that he'd started using the name as his own as a way to taunt the Dynobot from afar.

meanie!

That's cause Divebomb's a trill OG. Ain't nuthin' more hardcore then stomping the **** out of someone and then stealing their name.

Goribus wrote:

Dead Metal wrote:

waaaaghlord wrote:It's a reference to the old Marvel UK material. Furman wrote a few stories dealing with a bitter rivalry between Swoop and the Predacon Divebomb. These clashes dated back to the good old days on Cybertron where Swoop's original name was Divebomb. After being savagely defeated by the Predacon Swoop was horrified to discover that he'd started using the name as his own as a way to taunt the Dynobot from afar.

meanie!

That's cause Divebomb's a trill OG. Ain't nuthin' more hardcore then stomping the **** out of someone and then stealing their name.

Let's see Megatron doing that with Prime!
"Oh yes mighty Optimus Prime, that is a good plan!"

The Divebomb/Swoop story takes place in the UK Dinobot Hunt book... I think.

It was one of those things that just worked out well for Furman.

There was mention of Swoop's vendetta when the Predacons first showed up in the (UK) comic, while the actual story of his defeat at Divebomb's hands appeared in one of the annuals - I forget the exact issue/number details right now but I could look it up easily enough.

The annual story was called 'What's in a Name?', I'd have to check on the stuff from the main comic. I'm good, but I'm not THAT good.

waaaaghlord wrote:The annual story was called 'What's in a Name?', I'd have to check on the stuff from the main comic. I'm good, but I'm not THAT good.

You might also find some more background in "Grudgematch".

Whoa, the plethora of knowledge here is awesome. Great detailed information.

That was indeed a cool nod to the old UK series events.

The issues in question to get the full story are:

UK 135 & 136
UK Annual 1988

It was briefly mentioned in the UK issue 46 - The Icarus Factor as Prime says he knew Swoop when he was on Cybertron but he was called Divebomb there, looking at the timing this was around the time the Predacons were being created (toy wise) so i dont know if Furman thought up the idea after hearing the name and using it...then had to work it into the story or if he planned it from the get go.

I'd guess the former.

It was a shame that it was never touched on again as it made for quite a deep story with Swoop and Grimlock protecting him.

What's in a name, from the 1987 annual:
http://www.tfarchive.com/comics/marvel/?s=1987#1

Grudge Match Pt 1:
http://www.tfarchive.com/comics/marvel/?s=uk_131_140#135

Grudge Match Part 2:
http://www.tfarchive.com/comics/marvel/?s=uk_131_140#136

tfarchive.com is great for comic synopsis's.