THE TRANSFORMERS: COMICS, BOOKS AND MANGA

JAPANESE TRANSFORMERS MANGA AND INFORMATION

Super Robot Life #3 (1986)

Summary:

Convoy instructs Metroflex (Metroplex) to transform to Battle City Formation, not knowing that Astrotrain and Reflector are lurking in the sky above. Reflector transforms to camera mode and Astrotrain photographs the transformation. They return to the Destron headquarters and deliver the information to a very pleased Megatron. He declares that with this information he can construct Dinobase (city mode Trypticon) and use the new weapon to counter Metroflex and destroy the Cybertrons. Glen (Hook) is ordered to begin working on the project.

Elsewhere, Kenji and a group of Cybertrons (Trailbreaker, Beachcomber, Brawn, Gears and Hound) are patrolling for Destron activity. Suddenly they are confronted by the Insectrons (Insecticons). They transform for battle but are instantly blown away by a landmine the Insectrons had placed as a trap. Weakened, the Cybertrons tumble into the smoking crater and vanish in the smoke. The Insectrons begin praising themselves when out of the dense smoke comes the shadowy figure of an apparently giant robot. The giant robot turns out to be the Cybertrons in some sort of a human pyramid. They combine their strength and let out a giant burst of energy called the “Scrambuster”. The Insectrons tumble to the ground and the Cybertrons finish them off with the “Grand Dash” attack. They trash the Insectrons who make a hasty retreat to the sky. Kenji gets out of Trailbreaker and suggests they get back to the base since the Destrons may know too much about Scramble City.

Review:

Well, it’s obvious this stuff wasn’t written with adults in mind, but c’mon! A human pyramid defeats the Insectrons? They have probably the largest assortment of different special attacks in the entire Destron army and a couple hits take them down?

Kenji’s starting to get a little irritating, barking orders at the other Cybertrons like he’s a superior officer or something. He also gets a little too much “screentime” than he deserves. A little like those Armada brats. This was thankfully a short issue compared to others. However, given its length and absurdness, it still manages to hold an important place in Japanese television continuity. It is revealed in this issue that Megatron was able to create Dinosaurer (Trypticon) from information stolen from Metroflex. That’s what makes the manga so different from the American comics. It has signifigance to the events in the tv series instead of being a completely separate continuity.

Also, in a surprising show of continuity Soundwave is seen with a small bandage over his chest. A nice touch seeing as how his chest got smashed in during the last issue.

► 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

◄ Return to the Japanese Transformers manga index