Transformers #64

The Matrix Quest continues in Deadly Obsession. On another distant planet, a lone Autobot Pretender named Longtooth is hunting a giant creature called a Klud. At the same time, his comrades are trying to find him to prevent this. Longtooth tells this story mostly through flashbacks (in fact, most of this issue is a flashback). He recalls himself, Pincher, and Double-Header leaving the Ark to aid in the quest for the lost Creation Matrix. They arrived on an alien planet, and apparently the energy of the Matrix revived an extinct, whale like species called the Klud. One of the animals bit off Longtooth's leg, and ever since he has been in a mad hunt to find him.

Meanwhile, Thunderwing has arrived on the planet to search for the Matrix as well. He learns how the Klud was reborn, and after establishing a mental link with the creature, he is able to discover the location of the Matrix itself. However, while on the planet, his Decepticons encounter the Autobots and a battle begins. Thunderwing desired for the creature to live in order to find the Matrix. During the battle, Pincher is able to reason with Longtooth that killing the Klud would cause him to lose his soul and honor as an Autobot. Longtooth then lowers his weapons as the Decepticons retreat in the wake of Thunderwing discovering the Matrix's location.

After two terrible issues of the Matrix Quest saga, this issue was a breath of fresh air. Simon Furman did incorporate another literary/cinematic allusion into this issue as this issue's story mirrored Captain Ahab's hunt for Moby Dick. The execution was a good one, and the story flowed well. While this issue wasn't the best, it was a vast improvement over the first two parts of the saga. The final two issues kick the story into high gear and feel like a return to the Simon Furman style of story telling.