THE TRANSFORMERS: COMICS, BOOKS AND MANGA

JAPANESE TRANSFORMERS MANGA AND INFORMATION

Super Robot Life #2 (1986)

The issue opens in the Oregon desert as the Destron and the Cybertron armies are caught in a massive battle. Megatron is screaming at Convoy when Ratchet and Gears arrive with news that the Cassettetrons (Decepticon Cassettes) are loose in Japan. Convoy tells Kenji and Bumble (Bumblebee) to keep watch for the Cassettetrons while he sends backup.

In Tokyo Kenji and Bumble are on patrol when a pair of Japanese police officers spot Kenji behind the wheel. Concerned about the boy’s age they yell at him to get out of the car. Kenji gets out and Bumble transforms to robot mode. He salutes the two startled officers who nervously salute him back. Kenji and Bumble get back to work looking for Destron activity when they receive a message from Ironhide that back-up has arrived. Just then Jaguar (Ravage) pounces on Bumble’s hood and begins smashing at the windshield trying to get to Kenji. Kenji tries to radio Convoy but only hears him and Megatron fighting. Just then Powerglide swoops down from the sky and knocks Jaguar to the ground. Powerglide orders Kenji to get in his cockpit and flies off, informing the boy that Bumble can handle himself.

As he flies away Bumble gets to his feet only to be surrounded by Jaguar, Ratbat, Condor (Laserbeak) and a giggling Frenzy. Soundwave accompanies them and tells Bumble his time is up. Taking the threat in stride Bumble leaps into the air and backflips away to safety. From a distance he pulls down his eyelid (“eyelid”?) and sticks out his tongue (“tongue”?) to taunt Soundwave. Enraged, Soundwave orders the Cassettetrons to go retrieve Bumble. They reply “Okay!” and Frenzy suggests they all split up. Angered, Soundwave goes on the hunt for Bumble (who happens to be hiding just around the corner). As Soundwave peers in the other direction Bumble leaps from behind the corner and administers his powerful “Bumble Kick” to Soundwave’s chest. The blow crushes Soundwave’s tape deck and renders him unconscious. Near by the Cassettetrons encounter Ironhide and Cliff (Cliffjumper). Outclassed, they transform to cassette mode and try to find safe haven in Soundwave’s chest. Unfortunately for them Soundwave’s chest has been crushed and they can’t get inside. Cliff jokingly picks them up, pulls out their tape and tosses them to the ground. Bumble regroups with the rest of the Cybertrons and Kenji reports their success to Convoy.

Review:

Well, there are a few things wrong with this issue. The most major one being the fact that a midget like Bumble takes out Soundwave with a single attack (I don’t care what fancy name he gives it, the “Bumble Kick” is just a jumpkick). They also played the Cassettetrons off as total pansies, fleeing back to Soundwave the moment they encounter only two Cybertrons. The story is also a little lacking. There’s no resolve to the battle between the Destrons and Cybertrons in Oregon, but I guess that wasn’t the focus of the story.

Also, why does Bumble keep getting stuck with the kids? In the tv series he was eternally paired with Spike and now he’s got Kenji to deal with. Maybe his tech spec function should be changed from “espionage” to “baby-sitter”.

Also, the scene with Kenji and Bumble getting attacked by Jaguar is remarkably similar to the scene in the episode “The Immobilizer”. In that scene Spike is sitting behind the wheel of Bumblebee when a police officer pulls him over concerned about Spike’s driving age. Bumblebee transforms and gives the cop a scare. Immediately after that Bumblebee is attacked by Ravage. Hmmm…these manga writer’s seem to have had a lapse in originality.

► Super Robot Life #1 (1986)
► Super Robot Life #2 (1986)
► Super Robot Life #3 (1986)
► Super Robot Life #4 (1986)
► Super Robot Life #5 (1986)
► Super Robot Life #6 (1986)
► Battlestars: Return of Convoy #1 (1991)

Reviews by DrSpengler

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