THE TRANSFORMERS: COMICS, BOOKS AND MANGA

Synopsis: Skids is leading the Cybertron seven back to the Ark when he suddenly disappears. Meanwhile, Professor Morris, in Centurion, is patrolling when he comes across a crater. Galvatron leaps out of it, and tears Centurion apart. He then stumbles into the seven, and begins to battle them, knocking out all bar Blaster. The latter attempts to scramble Galvatron's brain, but only enrages him. Then, the Dinobots arrive.

Notes: Skids, Blaster, Perceptor, Cosmos, Seaspray, Beachcomber, Powerglide and Warpath were released by RAAT in #95. Centurion has been a nomad since #77. After returning to his own time, Galvatron was defeated by Rodimus Prime, and Unicron was destroyed, though Galvatron was then able to timejump back to 1987. Skids gets displaced into limbo by him. The Dinobots haven't been seen since #77.

Errors: Why didn't the Aerialbots take the other Autobots with them, or at least show them the way? Blaster's missing his visor - it's possible it's either retractable, or was lost during his internment and he hasn't yet found a new one.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Skids [displaced into limbo], Blaster, Perceptor, Beachcomber, Warpath, Seaspray, Cosmos, Powerglide, Galvatron, Rodimus Prime [flashback, first appearance], Shockwave, Soundwave, Razorclaw, Grimlock, Snarl, Sludge, Swoop, Slag.

Notable Others: Professor Morris and Centurion - the robot is torn apart by Galvatron. Unicron is seen in flashback.

Extras: A-Z profiles on Blaster and Blast-Off.

Letters Page: Asked about a second movie, Grimlock mentions a TV mini-series following on from the film - presumably "The Five Faces of Darkness", which would open the US third season [but would not be broadcast terrestrially in the UK].

Back-Up Strips:
Action Force - "Improvisation on a Theme" Part 3
Robo-Capers

Review: Astonishingly drawn by Senior, this is a fine action issue, carefully setting up the return of Galvatron and the Dinobots, bringing the Cybertronian Autobots into the main plot and proving a nice breather from the action on Cybertron. Galvatron's beginning to go off in the deep end, but unlike in the cartoon, it doesn't undermine his character, and Shockwave seems back on form also. Excellent.

Synopsis: The Dinobots and Blaster battle Galvatron, but with little success. Shockwave and the Decepticons observe the fight, and he muses that it may be in his own interests to aid the Dinobots. Meanwhile, Morris takes over Swoop briefly, allowing time for the Decepticons to arrive and bail the Autobots out. Galvatron withdraws rather than fight his own side.

Notes: Blaster didn't know the Dinobots on Cybertron. Morris levels with Swoop about everything.

Errors: Blaster definitely shouldn't be missing his visor in the flashback. As he zaps Galvatron, there's no red on his tapedeck mode. On page 6, Dirge is missing his wings, and they're missing on pages 10 & 11 too. As Galvatron decks them both Snarl and Sludge are missing the kibble on their backs, and Sludge has a yellow chest. In the final frame, the notch in the centre of Swoop's forehead is uncoloured.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Blaster, Skids [flashback], Galvatron, Grimlock, Sludge, Swoop, Snarl, Slag, Shockwave, Dirge, Razorclaw, Shrapnel, Soundwave, Rampage.

Notable Others: Professor Morris and Centurion - only the robot's head though. Circuit Breaker and Walter Barnett are seen in flashback.

Back-Up Strips:
Action Force - "Improvisation on a Theme" Part 4
Robo-Capers

Review: A decent enough conclusion, though it's not quite as dynamite as the first part. The art's not as tasty, but still pretty good, and both Blaster and Swoop get some fine work. The ending's pretty good as well, with Galvatron not as mad as he'll get and Shockwave showing there's no such thing as a good deed from a Decepticon.

Synopsis: On Cybertron, Prime leads the resistance to a number of glorious raids on Decepticon territory, much to Straxus' displeasure. However, Prime decides once Megatron is dealt with, he must return to Earth. At the Ark, Blaster's team inform Ironhide of the return of Galvatron, and themselves receive some bad news - that Optimus is believed dead. Back on Cybertron, Straxus attempts to take over Megatron's body. His head is destroyed by Megatron, but he appears successful.

Notes: There are Energon cubes on Cybertron too - either it's another case of parallel evolution, Shockwave's taking credit for someone else's idea [he claims to have designed them in #53], or the method was sent back over the Spacebridge. The Dinobots still haven't returned to the Ark, instead collecting Centurion's remains.

Errors: Magnus' eyes are tiny throughout. On page 10, Blitzwing's tank cannon is coming out of the top of his head. On the last page, Megatron's Decepticon insignia has gone AWOL. Prime calls Magnus "Magus" on page 9.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Octane, Topspin [flashback], Twin Twist [flashback], Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, Springer, Sandstorm, Roadbuster [flashback], Xaaron, Outback [flashback], Ratbat, Straxus [head, destroyed at the end], Broadside, Tailgate [first appearance] , Ironhide, Warpath, Seaspray, Powerglide, Perceptor, Blaster, Cosmos, Galvatron [flashback], Ratchet, Beachcomber, Megatron, Blitzwing, Astrotrain.

Back-Up Strips:
The Inhumanoids - "Coming of the Inhumanoids" Part 1
Robo-Capers

Review: A fine story, with Furman's Prime at his inspirational best, and Magnus' eager, determined character well-defined. There's also some wonderful development for Octane, and the genuinely suspenseful Straxus/Megatron mind fight. The only imperfection is the scene on the Ark, which seems engineered largely to show UK readers that the Earth Autobots still think Prime's dead.

Synopsis: On Earth, the Autobots conduct a memorial service for Optimus. Back on Cybertron, he and Magnus are preparing to take out Megatron, with the Wreckers providing a distraction to allow them easy access to Polyhex. Megatron and Straxus are battling for control of the Megatron's body, much to Ratbat's delight, when the Autobots arrive. They are easily beating him when he calls on his antimatter power, and Ratbat orders the trio to be transported away. Megatron arrives back at the Decepticon base, with his memory impaired, unaware of Shockwave's treachery, and Prime arrives back at his own memorial service, to the surprise and joy of the Autobots. Magnus is also on Earth, but alone and looking forward to what he'll experience.

Notes: The Predacons head back to Cybertron. Megatron can remember nothing of the Predacons, or Shockwave's betrayal. Straxus and Megatron are constantly fighting for control of Megatron's mind. Frenzy seems to have returned to the Decepticons, presumably following #88.

Errors: Ratchet's got red stockings again. Only 15 of the Autobots turn up for Optimus' memorial - among the indubitably absent are the other four Autobots, Hoist, Tracks, Grapple, Seaspray and Ironhide for starters. Cybertronian custom is to fire a body into space. Outback's missing his wound in the flashback. As in #20, Megatron's antimatter should blow most of Polyhex up on the spot. Why exactly do the Predacons return to Cybertron? I mean, aside from to fit in with their upcoming US appearance? Shockwave surely wouldn't seek Megatron out like this, instead of waiting to have the battle on his own terms, would he? In the top left frame of page 11, Bumblebee's horns are missing.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Beachcomber, Brawn, Bumblebee, Wheeljack, Cosmos, Powerglide, Perceptor, Blaster, Jetfire, Prowl, Silverbolt, Hound, Smokescreen, Jazz, Omega Supreme, Ratchet, Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, Springer, Sandstorm, Broadside, Twin Twist, Roadbuster, Topspin, Outback [flashback], Megatron, Straxus [head in flashback], Ratbat, Octane, Tantrum, Razorclaw, Headstrong, Frenzy, Soundwave, Shockwave.

Back-Up Strips:
The Inhumanoids - "Coming of the Inhumanoids" Part 2
Robo-Capers

Review: On first read, it's a fine conclusion, though on close examination there's probably a bit too much happening for expediency - Megatron losing just that particular set of memories, Prime landing on his own memorial service, Prime and Magnus' rather easy entry to Polyhex [Megatron literally walks into them]. There are some fine sequences, mainly from Megatron's mental battles with Straxus, and the suitably determined Autobots - Prime allowing Magnus to pound Megatron is great. It's not perfect, but a fair read. Glorious cover, though.

Synopsis: Megatron takes the Combaticons to attack a powerplant, but Optimus Prime intercepts him with the Protectobots. After a brief stand-off, the plant's computer whizz, Ethan Zachary, persuades both sides to have their battle via the plant's computer system, with Megatron stipulating that the leader of the losing side is destroyed. The combatants then enter the computer landscape of Multiworld.

Notes: Bombshell's Cerebro-Shell [from #94] is removed from Optimus. It was presumably via this that Megatron created the Combaticons, piggybacking the creation of the Protectobots, or somehow reusing information from the creation of the Aerialbots. Streetwise's comment about the game's lack of resemblance to Cybertron is interesting... it's possible that the Matrix programs some knowledge of the planet into new Transformers - they have knowledge, but probably no attachment to Cybertron [so this doesn't mess up #93].

Errors: When Brawl questions why Autobots are never called cheats, Prime replies to... Blades? Streetwise has no red on him in the last frame, and Groove has a red face. You have to ask, seeing as it's blatant who's the evil guy and who's the good guy, why Ethan doesn't just blow Megatron up anyway...

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Vortex [first appearance], Optimus Prime, Wheeljack, Onslaught [first appearance], Swindle [first appearance], Brawl [first appearance], Megatron, Hotspot [first appearance], Streetwise [first appearance], Groove [first appearance], First Aid [first appearance], Blades [first appearance], Blast Off [first appearance], Defensor [first appearance], Bruticus [first appearance].

Notable Others: Ethan Zachary [first appearance].

Back-Up Strips:
The Inhumanoids - "Coming of the Inhumanoids" Part 3
Robo-Capers

Review: If you excised the "boy look at these shiny new toys" stand-off, this'd be quite fun in a Plan 9 from Outer Space kinda way. It's totally balmy - Megatron has the most bizarre characterisation he's received yet, and there's some gloriously prosaic lines throughout - my personal favourite has to be the Optimus/Wheeljack exchange as they overhear Megatron. Then you've got Janet and Ethan telling each other the purpose of the plant, the bizarre Groove/Brawl argument and Op and Megs playing Top Trumps. It's madness... yet strangely readable.

Cover Date: 28/03/87

Script: Bob Budiansky
Pencils: Don Perlin
Inks: Ian Akin & Brian Garvey
Letters: Janice Chiang
Colours: Nel Yomtov

Originally Printed In: Pages 12-23 of US Transformers #24, cover date January 1987.

Synopsis: In the game, the Protectobots help the game's inhabitants, and thus easily beat the Combaticons. Megatron is defeated, but cheats. Prime still beats him, but kills some of the game's inhabitants while doing so. Aggrieved at the thought of harming innocents, Prime requests he be destroyed instead. Ethan reluctantly complies. However, he has his character backed up on disk.

Notes: Both Streetwise and First Aid have the extra vehicle-mode cannons that came with the toys.

Errors: Again, you have to ask why Ethan doesn't just blow Megatron up anyway... Okay, the suicide. Surely Op wouldn't throw the whole war on a matter of principle? Surely he'd weigh up the amount of real innocents who'd die as a result of the leaderless Autobots not being quite on the ball? He's seen what a mess they'd make to start with. Oh well, it was kinda going that way... Oh, and Op's personality fits on a 5¼ floppy disk. Again, it's that kind of story.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Optimus Prime, Hot Spot, Blades, Streetwise, Groove, Megatron, Onslaught, Swindle, Brawl, Vortex, Blast Off. Defensor is seen in the game too.

Notable Others: Ethan Zachary.

Production Notes: Cover adapted from US #24, recoloured by Bouttell.

Back-Up Strips:
The Inhumanoids - "Coming of the Inhumanoids" Part 4
Robo-Capers

Letters Page: Grimlock gives his weight as "70-75 tonnes". Plus a letter from an Australian fan club.

Review: Even with the silly suicide [which, incidentally, is quite dynamically drawn], I really can't find it in myself to hate this thing. It's just too damn funny. The game's inhabitants are hilarious, the idea of Vortex and Blast Off being brought down by a cloud, Megatron beating up the Combaticons for being rubbish at computer games - it all reaches a kind of kitsch grandeur. There's also a few great bad lines - First Aid's "Maybe you're just strange" to Streetwise, and Blades' "I'm a warrior, not a safety net" are just two examples of delightfully random scripting. Still, at least the UK stories gave Prime some sort of a great last romp - though it's a shame Furman didn't have the courage to slap a 'dream' framework around this one, and maybe kill Op off in a different way...

Cover Date: 04/04/87

Script: Bob Budiansky
Pencils: Don Perlin
Inks: Ian Akin & Brian Garvey
Letters: Janice Chiang
Colours: Nel Yomtov

Originally Printed In: Pages 1-11 of US Transformers #25, cover date February 1987.

Synopsis: Shockwave is planning a move to a new island base, while Megatron is sinking into a stupor, paranoid that Optimus isn't dead. He even smashes Brawl up, and Shockwave decides he's a liability, and begins to push him further over the edge, raising the possibility that Prime's death was faked. Megatron leads the remaining Combaticons and the Stunticons to attack Optimus. Shockwave, meanwhile, calls on the Predacons.

Notes: Megatron appears to actually kill Brawl - he's carefully not shown for the rest of the story. He's not seen again for a while, so it's possible he gets repaired.

Errors: Laserbeak's power of speech [which has been diminishing pretty steadily since somewhere in the 40s] has now disappeared altogether... In the flashbacks to "Afterdeath", Ethan's trousers have changed colour, from green to brown.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Shockwave, Soundwave, Laserbeak, Megatron, Onslaught, Swindle, Blast Off, Brawl, Optimus Prime [flashback], Wildrider, Dead End, Breakdown, Motormaster, Dragstrip, Vortex, Razorclaw.

Notable Others: Walter Barnett, Ethan Zachary [flashback].

Back-Up Strips:
The Inhumanoids - "Coming of the Inhumanoids" Part 5
Robo-Capers

Production Notes: A reference to the GI Joe and the Transformers crossover [the hydrothermocline was destined for Cobra] was excised for the UK, where the story wasn't yet printed, and sat outside of regular continuity.

Review: A fair story. Megatron's insanity is actually well portrayed by both Budiansky and Perlin, although why's Shockwave so scared of Megatron lately? The only real problem is the army's attack on the Decepticons, which feels like padding, and the way they get scared off by some random firing from Megs is pretty poor - just planning to talk to them sternly, lads?

Synopsis: The Predacons arrive from Cybertron, and attack Megatron, masquerading as Autobots. Even when they combine as Predaking, though, he defeats them, and finds the disk with Shockwave's orders. Just as he is about to execute him, the possibility of Prime being saved to disk hits him. He staggers onto the Spacebridge, enraged, and a random blast from his cannon causes the bridge to disappear, taking him with it, and leaving Shockwave in command.

Notes: Megatron can use his cannon like a standard gun [i.e. there's a conventional trigger on it somewhere].

Errors: On page 2, Dead End's head is uncoloured. Wildrider's totally miscoloured on page 6.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Razorclaw, Tantrum, Rampage, Headstrong, Divebomb, Megatron, Dead End, Vortex, Shockwave, Vortex, Wildrider, Breakdown, Predaking, Soundwave.

Notable Others: Ethan Zachary [flashback].

Production Notes: Cover adapted from US #25, but recoloured by Bouttell. Also, references in the US version to new Earth modes for the Predacons were altered so the dialogue accounts of "Prey"; similarly, everything is altered to show that it's their second visit to Earth, rather than their first.

Extras: A-Z profiles on Blitzwing and Bluestreak [spelt as Blue Streak].

Back-Up Strips:
The Inhumanoids - "Coming of the Inhumanoids" Part 6
Robo-Capers

Review: The fight scene between Megatron and the Predacons is nicely done, and despite being waaay off the scale in the nutcase stakes, Megs actually gets a decent send-off. It's quite engaging, and Perlin does well with the heavy battle-damage to Megatron.

Synopsis: Ratchet is unable to revive Optimus Prime. Omega Supreme then reveals his new security system for the Ark, and the Autobots set out for Prime's memorial service. Ratchet doesn't go, depressed at his failure. He sets out to scavenge some spare parts to repair other Autobots from a scrapyard. From there, circumstances force him to help a criminal named The Mechanic, and his sidekick Juan, escape from the local police. Ratchet reveals himself to the thieves when they plan to use his technology to commit more crime.

Notes: Prime's body is to be sent into space as per Cybertronian tradition. Prowl has been knocked out at some point since #97, and Gears since #98.

Errors: On page 2, Warpath's missing his cannon, and Groove's head is white. In the bottom-left frame of page 3, Ratchet's head is yellow. Ratchet takes some police lights for Prowl... erm, completism maybe? Why does Ratchet go along with the Mechanic's escape? Why not stall his engine? What'd be so bad about driving away? The cops aren't likely to care... Why not let the cops catch him? Ratchet's missing the red stripe on his ambulance mode throughout.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Omega Supreme, Jetfire, Hotspot, Slingshot, Silverbolt, Skydive, Perceptor, Blaster, Beachcomber, Powerglide, Warpath, Cosmos, Ratchet, Wheeljack, Skids [see Errors], Tracks, Smokescreen, First Aid, Groove, Streetwise, Blades, Air Raid, Hoist, Grapple, Fireflight. The bodies of Optimus Prime and Prowl are seen.

Notable Others: The Mechanic [first appearance], Juan [first appearance].

Production Notes: The cover is adapted from US #26. On page 2, Skids is 'airbrushed' out of the picture due to having disappeared in #101.

Back-Up Strips:
The Inhumanoids - "Coming of the Inhumanoids" Part 7
Robo-Capers

Review: Hmmm... there's a fair atmosphere early on, totally ruined by the Mechanic and Ratchet's bizarre behaviour. Very cheesy.

Synopsis: The Mechanic freezes Ratchet with the cryogenic spray, and plans to head to the Ark to loot it. Meanwhile, the Autobots finish the ceremony and head home. Juan, meanwhile, follows the thawed Ratchet into the Ark. He then shoots Ratchet, and turns the Ark's defences on the returning Autobots. Ratchet escapes and repairs Prowl, who scares the Mechanic off. He then deactivates the defences, and greets the Autobots with renewed confidence.

Notes: Prime's body is fired off into the cosmos.

Errors: Why don't the Autobots move out of the range of the guns?

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Ratchet, Perceptor, Cosmos, Blaster, Seaspray, Wheeljack, Omega Supreme, Beachcomber, Prowl [revived by Ratchet], Powerglide, First Aid.

Notable Others: The Mechanic, Juan.

Back-Up Strips:
The Inhumanoids - "Coming of the Inhumanoids" Part 8
Robo-Capers

Review: Again, some fine scenes [Perceptor's eulogy, Prowl's brief appearance, the ending] are totally undermined by the sheer inanity of the Mechanic. The weakest of Budiansky's loose four-part arc marking the passing of the original Transformer leaders.