JAPANESE TRANSFORMERS MANGA AND INFORMATION

Transformers G2 Japanese Mini-Comics

These mini-comics were originally released in Japan along with the instruction manuals to accompany the toys. The art for these mini-comics intentionally mimicked the art used in the American Transformers: Generation 2 comic published by Marvel Comics. This art style was also used for the Japanese G2 story-pages published in the likes of TV Magazine, which continued and fleshed-out the story of Generation 2 in Japan. There was also a 36-page proper manga published, titled “The Earth is in Danger!” However, the art style for this manga story did not attempt to reproduce the art style of the Marvel Comic or the Mini-Comics.

Although they are Japanese, these comics read from LEFT to RIGHT. They read like a Western comic, NOT a Japanese manga. It’s only an assumption, but I figure it was done to further mimic the style of the Marvel Comic.

As it is, these comics were originally numbered and released out of coherent continuity. For the most part, this does not affect the story too fiercely, as most of the issues are self-contained battles which introduce the toys they accompanied. The only major head-scratcher happens in the beginning of the series.

As you’ll notice, Effectro gets his face grabbed by Megatron at the end of #2. In #3 he’s fighting the Destron Laser Rods, and in #4 he’s got his face in Megatron’s palm again.

So, if you want to read these things coherently (or, at least, as coherent as they actually GET), then read them like so: 1, 2, 4, 5, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16.

After #13 there really isn’t much of an actual “story” left, and the rest are just random encounters and introductions.

Name changes...

Many of the characters went through slight or major name changes on their way to Japan. Here is a list of the characters who had altered names for the Japanese mini-comics. Western names on the left and Japanese names on the right.

Optimus Prime (Hero) = Convoy (Missile Trailer)
Optimus Prime (Laser Rod) = Convoy (Battle Convoy)
Electro = Effectro
Volt = Autovolt
Air Raid = Aero Raid (I know, I spelled it “Arrow” in the translation. Do’h!)

Megatron (Hero) = Megatron (Missile Tank)
Jolt = Hot Row
Sizzle = Firebot
Roadpig = Roadbig

Which comics came with which toys?

Each comic has a picture of the toy they were released with (in space-age CGI, no less!) at the very top, but for the sake of a handy guide, it goes…

1-Missile Trailer Convoy
2-Missile Tank Megatron
3-Effectro
4-Autovolt
5-Hot Row
6-Firebot
7-Sky Jack
8-Space Case
9-Hooligan
10-Dreadwing & Smokescreen
11-Road Rocket
12-Roadbig
13-Battle Convoy
14-Aero Raid
15-Strafe
16-Jetfire

Now, enjoy the comics!

—DrSpengler

 

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