THE TRANSFORMERS: COMICS, BOOKS AND MANGA

Cover Date: 09/02/85

Writer: [Steve] Parkhouse
Art: [Mike] Collins
Letters: [Richard] Starkings
Colours: Gina Hart

Later Reprinted By: Transformers Collected Comics #3 [UK, full colour], Transformers #34 [US, recoloured].

Synopsis: Jazz takes Sammy to meet Mirage and Trailbreaker, and the team sets off. But they are jumped by Skywarp and Thundercracker. Skywarp takes out Trailbreaker before hitting a bridge, while Bluestreak arrives and takes care of Thundercracker. Jazz takes Sammy to the Autobot ship, where he meets Optimus Prime. Prime tells him they are there following a beacon from a Cybertronian vessel from under Stansham castle, and must reach it before the Decepticons.

Notes: Jazz says his real name is unpronounceable to humans... Dunno, machine code maybe? Jazz trying to act cool and alien, rather than like the robot equivalent of Chris Tucker? The 'Man of Iron' would appear to be a Transformer. Trailbreaker seems to get it pretty bad, and no-one goes back for him. Not that Skywarp or Thundercracker get off very lightly either...

Errors: Mirage's rear wing is coloured blue throughout.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Jazz, Mirage, Trailbreaker, Skywarp, Thundercracker, Optimus Prime.

Production Notes: Pages 4-8 were printed in black & white. The price goes up to 27p, something for which Cranna apologises in Openers.

Extras: The Fact File covers Sunstreaker. There are more Design-a-Decepticon winners, including Soundblaster from Peter Grainger. Any grounds Peter has for legal action against Takara are sadly tempered by the design being blatantly stolen from the Micro Change MC-21 Soundreceiver Radiocassette Robo, which had been released in the UK beforehand, either knocked-off or licensed.

Back-Up Strips:
Machine Man - "Kill Me or Cure Me" Part 2
Matt and the Cat
Chromobots [a two-page b&w strip, made in house by Mike Kazybrid]

Review: A bit more action-orientated than the last two, and it's slightly disappointing as it's almost trying to be a normal Transformers comic. Collins' art isn't anywhere near as powerful as Ridgway's, though on the colour pages Gina Hart is able to give it extra punch. The chase sequence is insanely violent, and fairly well done, though Bluestreak's ice-cool elimination of Thundercracker, complete with wry remark, steals the show. The Autobots are starting to act a bit more heroically, at least. Nice stuff on the whole.

Cover Date: 23/02/85

Writer: [Steve] Parkhouse
Art: [Mike] Collins
Letters: [Richard] Starkings
Colours: Gina Hart

Later Reprinted By: Transformers Collected Comics #3 [UK, full colour], Transformers #34 [US, recoloured].

Synopsis: The army have uncovered the vessel, which is alien, carrying an Autobot insignia. However, they awaken the 'Man of Iron', who fires on them. Starscream arrives, and guns him down. The Autobot shuttle then arrives, and with Jazz on the ground, makes short work of the Decepticons. The Autobots are forced to destroy the vessel under the castle to avoid it falling into Decepticons, unaware that an Autobot sleeps within with information about the location of Cybertron, while Sammy returns to his family, to once again dream of men of iron.

Notes: The Autobot vessel would seem to be a search mission for the Ark that also crashed. The unnamed first Autobot would appear to be guarding it. The second, sleeping one is possibly called Navigator, or it could just be a title [the Soundwaves letters page in #63 says it's his name, for what that's worth].

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: The unnamed Autobot co-pilot [destroyed by Starscream], Starscream, Jazz, Bluestreak, Laserbeak, Skywarp, Thundercracker, Buzzsaw, Optimus Prime, Navigator [see Notes; unwittingly destroyed by Jazz].

Production Notes: Pages 3-8 & 10-11 were printed in black & white.

Extras: Skywarp gets a Fact File. Jazz gets the March Calendar.

Back-Up Strips:
Machine Man - "Kill Me or Cure Me" Part 3
Matt and the Cat
Chromobots

Review: An enjoyable end to a story which deserves a much better reputation. There's another well-realised, surprisingly full-blooded battle, a reaffirmation of the Autobots' priority to protect humans even to their own detriment and some sound character-work for Jazz. While Collins still isn't quite as dramatic as Ridgway, his steady, consistent art gets the job done. A fun read if you're in the right state of mind. It's a shame Titan looks like never publishing this one, though - a nice Prestige format 44-page version, with the Collected Comics full-colour pages, would be a lovely thing for fans.

Cover Date: 09/03/85

Writer: Simon Furman
Art: John Ridgway
Letters: Richard Starkings
Colours: Gina Hart

Later Reprinted By: Transformers Collected Comics #4 [UK, full colour], Transformers #308 [UK, full colour version].

Synopsis: Megatron is unhappy at Starscream's treacherous behaviour, and the latter leaves the Decepticons. Megatron sends Ravage to track him. On the Ark, brawn receives a huge electric shock from some equipment. Ravage finds Starscream, but the latter notices him, and badly damages him. Brawn, meanwhile, flies into a rage, his personality destabilised, and nearly kills Sideswipe before charging off. Elsewhere, Starscream attacks a US Airbase to force the Autobots into combat.

Notes: This one's another continuity problem, and without an easy solution given the cast. "Raiders of the Last Ark", which follows on from this story, strongly insinuates that the story happens somewhere between #6 and #7, but once again this seems unlikely because of the compact narrative of the first eight issues, and the lack of fuel etc. to allow these events. After #8, Megatron won't return to lead the Decepticons until after #56. The only possibility is that it happens between #40 and #63, with the revived characters such as Jetfire and the second set of Autobot cars off on some sort of training mission at the time the Autobots attack, with the likes of Sunstreaker revived. The only problem is the reference in #32 to Windcharger defeating Guardian in #20...

Errors: Sideswipe's character design.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Megatron, Starscream, Rumble, Skywarp, Ravage, Jazz, Bumblebee, Mirage, Brawn, Prowl, Sunstreaker, Windcharger, Sideswipe.

Production Notes: Pages 5-8 & 11 were printed in black & white.

Extras: More Design-a-Decepticon winners. Windcharger is this issue's Fact File.

Letters Page: Anthony Temple pops in again, this time to plug the Jumpstarters and mail-away Autobot Watch [i.e. Time Warrior].

Back-Up Strips:
Machine Man - "Kill Me or Cure Me" Part 4
Matt and the Cat
Chromobots

Review: A fast-paced, interesting story from newcomer Furman with some surprising ideas, a great battle between Starscream and Ravage, and good character work on both Decepticons and Brawn. The art's... bizarre, with everyone in toy artwork mode bar Megatron, who's wearing a gold vest, and Sideswipe, who looks like... no-one else on Cybertron. Still, it's very engaging stuff.

Cover Date: 23/03/85

Writer: [Simon] Furman
Art: [Mike] Collins
Letters: [Richard] Starkings
Colours: [Gina] Hart

Later Reprinted By: Transformers Collected Comics #4 [UK, full colour], Transformers #309 & #313 [UK, full colour version, split in half].

Synopsis: Ravage is alive, but badly damaged. He manages to find Megatron, though, and informs him of Starscream's plan. Brawn, meanwhile, is tearing up chunks in the town of St. Petersburg. The Decepticons set out to combat Starscream, while the Autobots will try to bring Brawn in.

Notes: Sideswipe's got a fairly recognisable head back. Alright, he hasn't, but it's got a face on it now.

Errors: How does Starscream not recognise Megatron's voice on page 10? I know it's dramatic but still...

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Megatron, Ravage, Rumble, Skywarp, Starscream, Huffer, Prowl, Jazz, Optimus Prime, Mirage, Sideswipe, Brawn, Soundwave, Laserbeak, Buzzsaw, Gears.

Production Notes: Pages 5-8 & 11 were printed in black & white.

Extras: The Fact File is on the execrable Humph, star or the utterly pathetic Matt and the Cat. Starscream gets the April calendar.

Back-Up Strips:
Machine Man - "Kill Me or Cure Me" Part 5
Matt and the Cat
Chromobots

Review: Another ripping story. Superb pacing, and some amazing layouts, hide some still-clunky character models, though some of the art is surprisingly dynamic. The best parts are the characterisations, though - Brawn's insanity is well illustrated, as is Starscream's frustration, while Megatron and Ravage's friendship is briefly hinted at. A great read.

Cover Date: 06/04/85

Writer: [Simon] Furman
Art: [Mike] Collins
Letters: [Richard] Starkings
Colours: [Gina] Hart

Later Reprinted By: Transformers Collected Comics #4 [UK, full colour], Transformers #314-#315 [UK, split in half, full colour version].

Synopsis: Brawn throws off the Autobots until Red Alert takes him down. Starscream is similarly knocked out, by Thundercracker and Skywarp. Starscream calls for a trial of combat to prove his worth, and save his own life. Brawn appears to have stabilised thanks to Ratchet giving him a neuro-tranquiliser, while Mirage has something important to tell Optimus Prime. Megatron is inspired by an old record of trial by combat to rig the contest so both Starscream and his opponent die. Ravage suggest Brawn as an opponent, and the Autobot accepts, eager to redeem himself. Ravage is sent as the Decepticons' observer, and Mirage for the Autobots.

Notes: Red Alert shows up out of nowhere, and won't be seen again until #199 [aside from appearing in Ratchet's story in #29], and then he's in 2009. It's possible he was originally on the Ark, and so badly damaged he couldn't be revived until now, and after this simply keeps a low profile - from the recommencing of the US storyline in #22 onwards, there's generally a few new characters per story or so, and the likes of Bluestreak, Trailbreaker and Windcharger will simply be forgotten about, so I don't see why it's not plausible for Red Alert. The combatants Megatron watches a recording of are Tornado [who has he power of causing tornadoes] and Earthquake [who has the power of causing... earthquakes! da da DAH!]. They're both killed, but Tornado has a nice cameo in the 1986 Annual story "State Games" to look forward to.

Errors: When Red Alert clobbers Brawn, his arm and body aren't even close to each other.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Gears, Brawn, Windcharger, Prowl, Bumblebee, Red Alert [first appearance, see Notes], Ratchet, Optimus Prime, Mirage, Starscream, Megatron, Skywarp, Thundercracker, Megatron, Tornado [first appearance, flashback, destroyed], Earthquake [first appearance, flashback, destroyed], Ravage.

Production Notes: Pages 5-8 & 11 were printed in black & white.

Extras: A free cover-mounted Transformers badge, and a giant poster. The Fact File is on Laserbeak.

Back-Up Strip:
Machine Man - "Arms and the Robot" Part 1
Matt and the Cat
Chromobots
Robo-Capers [a short in-house strip by Lew Stringer]
Tales from the Fact Files - "Trapped Beneath the Waves!"

Review: Still fairly good, with big pluses for characterisation and layout, with the dialogue getting better by the issue. The art's still something of an acquired taste, and with both Starscream and Brawn having their rampages cut short, the story's lapsed into something of a cliché with the old "trial by combat" routine trotted out, though it's still enjoyable.

Cover Date: 20/04/85

Writer: [Simon] Furman
Art: [Mike] Collins
Letters: [Richard] Starkings
Colours: [Gina] Hart

Later Reprinted By: Transformers Collected Comics #4 [UK, full colour], Transformers #316 [UK, full colour version].

Synopsis: Starscream and Brawn battle it out. The Autobot has more strength, but Starscream has speed and flight. Starscream's agility and hit and run tactics eventually pay off, and Brawn seems doomed as the Decepticon knocks him down and fires a pair of missiles at him.

Errors: Brawn, of all people, really shouldn't be drawn like his toy, hurling lumps of rock around with those ridiculous claws and leaping on those spindly legs...

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Brawn, Starscream, Prowl, Bumblebee, Cliffjumper, Optimus Prime, Ravage.

Production Notes: The strip is down to six pages, with pages 5-6 printed in black & white.

Extras: Another free badge, a Fact File on Prowl and the May calendar features Sideswipe.

Back-Up Strip:
Machine Man - "Arms and the Robot" Part 2
Matt and the Cat
Chromobots
Robo-Capers
Planet Terry [not to be confused with Planetary, this title is a reprint from Marvel's Star imprint that was aimed at a very young readership - even compared with the 7-10 audience the Transformers comic was pitched towards at this point. It's regularly claimed to be the worst ever Transformers back-up, and it is, but don't let this make you think Kazybrid's stuff is any good either].

Review: An entertaining enough fight hindered by the clumsy Brawn design used, though possibly the cards of the observers having more active roles is played too early. It lacks substance somewhat, no doubt not helped by the tiny page count.

Cover Date: 04/05/85

Writer: [Simon] Furman
Art: [Mike] Collins
Letters: [Richard] Starkings
Colours: [Gina] Hart

Later Reprinted By: Transformers Collected Comics #4 [UK, full colour], Transformers #317 [UK, full colour version].

Synopsis: Brawn seems to have been destroyed. Starscream flies away, but is shot down by Ravage. Megatron claims it was the Autobot observer, redoubling his troops' hatred for the Autobots. Then Brawn arrives back at the Ark with Mirage. The same electric shock that deranged Brawn had boosted Mirage's hologram ability, and he projected a hologram of Brawn to deceive Starscream. Meanwhile, the Decepticons plan to attack the Ark for revenge...

Notes: Mirage's abilities have been considerably boosted. Initially, he could just project an image of himself a small distance to confuse a foe as to his location. Now he can project an image of anyone he wants a considerably further distance.

Errors: Why not just use Hound? [Possibly because the Decepticons would suspect something].

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Prowl, Sideswipe, Optimus Prime, Starscream, Ravage, Soundwave, Frenzy, Skywarp, Megatron, Jazz, Mirage, Brawn, Gears, Rumble.

Production Notes: The strip is down to five pages, with page 5 printed in black & white.

Extras: Another free badge, a Fact File on Soundwave, and an A4 poster, again taken from an early animation cel, showing Thundercracker and Skywarp.

Back-Up Strips:
Machine Man - "Arms and the Robot" Part 3
Matt and the Cat
Chromobots
Robo-Capers
Planet Terry
Tales from the Fact Files - "The Truth about Alcatraz"

Review: Not bad, but not great either. A slightly convenient end as far as Brawn is concerned, with a pat ending, with the Autobots showing surprising cunning. A fair conclusion to the second UK story, though possibly the narrative went on a little bit longer than was merited - it's almost two plots welded together.

Cover Date: 16/05/85

Writer: Simon Furman
Art: Mike Collins & Jeff Anderson
Letters: [Richard] Starkings
Colours: Gina Hart

Synopsis: The Decepticons attack the Ark, and battle ensues, with both sides fighting hard. Laserbeak is shot down by Prime, Frenzy guns down Gears, Jazz is taken out by Soundwave and Sideswipe gives Rumble a pounding.

Notes: The story follows on directly from "The Enemy Within". The Ark's computer is named as Auntie, even though Prime called it "Ark" in #3. However, "Aunty" was the name given to the Ark's computer in a pre-release piece from Marvel Age #17 in March 1984. Ravage's electromagnetic cloak protects him from the magnetic powers of Windcharger, and presumably anyone else with the same abilities.

Errors: The Ark is referred to in the text, as well as the title, as the last of it's kind [which reminds me of Battlestar Galactica...], when in fact it's one of a kind.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Frenzy, Megatron, Starscream, Ravage, Mirage, Optimus Prime, Rumble, Skywarp, Thundercracker, Hound, Laserbeak, Jazz, Gears, Huffer, Buzzsaw, Prowl, Sideswipe, Soundwave, Windcharger.

Notable Others: Auntie [flashback].

Production Notes: The strip is six pages, with pages 5-6 printed in black & white.

Extras: Jazz gets the Fact File treatment. Laserbeak takes the June calendar, and the art, for the first time, is rather good.

Back-Up Strips:
Machine Man - "Alone Against Alpha Flight" Part 1
Matt and the Cat
Chromobots
Robo-Capers
Planet Terry

Review: Just a big, mindless, badly-drawn fight scene with a very out of character Optimus Prime ["Call yourselves warriors? Arm up and follow me!"]. Pointless.

Cover Date: 01/06/85

Writer: [Simon] Furman
Art: [Mike] Collins & [Jeff] Anderson
Letters: [John] Aldrich
Colours: Gina Hart [uncredited]

Synopsis: Optimus sets off to reactivate Auntie, and thus the Ark's automated defences. Megatron follows him. Auntie comes back online, and magnetises both factions, fixing them to the Ark's walls. Auntie then tells Prime and Megatron to state their respective cases, and she will eradicate the faction she believes to be in the wrong.

Errors: Auntie has a female appearance, and is referred to as 'she', which is interesting considering that #234 will later confirm that in the comic, at least, Transformers aren't gendered.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Optimus Prime, Megatron, Gears, Frenzy, Prowl, Huffer, Bumblebee, Mirage.

Notable Others: Auntie.

Production Notes: The strip is five pages, with page 5 printed in black & white.

Extras: A Fact File on Rumble.

Back-Up Strips:
Machine Man - "Alone Against Alpha Flight" Part 2
Matt and the Cat
Chromobots
Robo-Capers
Planet Terry
From the Fact Files - "Battle of Hastings - The True Story" [which doesn't quite do what it says on the tin as Harold takes an arrow in the... neck]

Review: Argh - a mindless sci-fi staple dragged up, the old 'powerful being puts warring parties to trial"'plotline. Very dull. Auntie's a bloody stupid name for an alien computer, too.

Cover Date: 15/06/85

Writer: [Simon] Furman
Art: [Mike] Collins & [Jeff] Anderson
Letters: [Richard] Starkings
Colours: Gina Hart

Synopsis: The powers of Ravage and Windcharger have protected them, and they agree to work together, and face Auntie's defences. Meanwhile, Optimus tries to persuade Auntie of the truth, while Megatron lies to try and win for himself. Prime then convinces Megatron they're both set to die, and need to work together. Auntie then sends her greatest defence, the automaton Guardian, to stop Windcharger and Ravage.

Notes: Auntie has clearly been damaged in the crash, having no memory of the Cybertronian civil war. All Transformers must have some magnetic protection to a certain extent to survive being polarised.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Ravage, Windcharger, Trailbreaker [flashback], Soundwave [flashback], Megatron, Optimus Prime.

Notable Others: Auntie, Guardian [first appearance].

Production Notes: The strip is six pages, with pages 5-6 printed in black & white.

Extras: Part One of an updated Transformers Checklist - nicely produced.

Back-Up Strips:
Machine Man - "Alone Against Alpha Flight" Part 3
Matt and the Cat
Chromobots
Robo-Capers [complete with a bad Transformers reference]
Planet Terry

Review: A lot better, though still too much Auntie. The best parts are the Windcharger/Ravage sequences, building characterisation for both, notably when Ravage is unable to kill the unconscious Windcharger.