THE TRANSFORMERS: COMICS, BOOKS AND MANGA

Cover Date: 04/10/86

Script: Simon Furman
Art: Jeff Anderson
Letters: Annie Halfacree
Colours: Tony Jozwiak

Later Reprinted By: Transformers - Target 2006 [Worldwide], IDW Publishing: Target 2006 #2 plus a subsequent trade paperback [Worldwide], IDW Publishing: The Best of Simon Furman [Worldwide].

Synopsis: The Autobots make a disastrous attempt to rescue Jazz, which Magnus refuses to join, continuing his search for Prime. Galvatron humiliates them in battle, and in desperation Ironhide digs up Megatron and Soundwave. Back at the Ark, one of the Decepticon storage containers malfunctions, and someone breaks free...

Notes: Megatron and Soundwave were buried in #79.

Errors: On the last page, Grapple's back at the Ark despite presumably being knocked out in the assault on Galvatron. Why would Mirage, of all people, attack in vehicle mode? Scavenger has a purple chest. On page 3, Jetfire's missing his backpack in the bottom-left frame. As Scourge shoots Brawn on page 7, the Autobot's lower legs are grey instead of green.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Ironhide, Jetfire [flashback], Smokescreen [flashback], Hound [flashback], Grapple, Ultra Magnus [flashback], Mirage [flashback], Hoist [flashback], Bumblebee [flashback], Trailbreaker [flashback], Gears [flashback], Scourge [flashback], Cyclonus [flashback], Tracks [flashback], Galvatron [flashback], Long Haul [flashback], Scavenger [flashback], Bonecrusher [flashback], Hook [flashback], Megatron, Soundwave.

Extras: A Fact File on Ultra Magnus. Among other things we're not told in the comic itself, this states that Magnus was created after many years' work after the departure of the Ark. He was intended to be a new figurehead for Autobot resistance, and was given life by the Matrix Flame on Cybertron. All of this happened relatively close to the start of Operation Volcano. Whether this is canon or not is up to you to decide - I'm tempted to accept it, as it's not contradicted elsewhere in the Marvel continuity [remember, in the comic Magnus isn't Optimus' "old friend"], and would explain where Ultra Magnus came from.

There's also a free Panini Secret Wars sticker album.

Back-Up Strips:
Hercules - "Whom the Gods Would Destroy!" Part 4
Robo-Capers

Review: An impressive reinforcement of the power of the future Decepticons, showing that this one isn't just a matter of the Autobots knocking them out. The device of Ironhide narrating the demoralising assault in flashback really emphasises the depression, and Jeff Anderson rises to the occasion with what will remain some of his best work. Superb.

Cover Date: 11/10/86

Script: Simon Furman
Art: Ron Smith
Letters: [Richard] Starkings
Colours: John Burns

Later Reprinted In: Transformers - Target 2006 [Worldwide], IDW Publishing: Target 2006 #3 plus a subsequent trade paperback [Worldwide].

Notes: The Wreckers, led by Impactor, are Roadbuster, Whirl, Twin Twist, Topspin and Rack 'n' Ruin. The Decepticons targeted by Volcano are Thrust, Dirge, Ramjet, Blitzwing, Octane, Kickback, Bombshell and Shrapnel. Maccadam's Old Oil House is on Sub-Level 6.

Errors: Rack 'n' Ruin have green heads - in later stories, they'll be silver. The Autobot FCs of Thrust, Dirge and Ramjet are missing their black "caps", with each being coloured like their heads. Thrust's wing design is all over the place. In the flashback, Magnus' chest plate is white.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Impactor, Whirl, Rack 'n' Ruin [first appearance], Topspin [first appearance], Twin Twist [first appearance], Roadbuster, Shrapnel [flashback], Ultra Magnus [flashback], Xaaron, Fang [first appearance, killed by Twin Twist]. FCs of Dirge, Kickback, Octane, Thrust, Shrapnel, Bombshell, Blitzwing and Ramjet are seen.

Extras: A free packet of six Secret Wars stickers to go with the album given away last issue.

Back-Up Strips:
Hercules - "...Not Just Another Galactus Story!" Part 1
Robo-Capers

Review: A fine introduction proper for the Wreckers, with Furman using the FC concept to get across their power without resorting to using generics, or killing off a bunch of characters he's not meant to. The opening training sequence is dazzling, and somehow you don't doubt they could do it for real. Ron Smith's pencilling is generally fairly good, often enlivened by Burns' lush colours, though his use of toy designs for some characters hinders a little - such as when Twin Twist smashes Fang. The sideways move for Target 2006 is justified in a great issue, topped off by a marvellous cover.

Cover Date: 18/10/86

"The Devil You Know... Target 2006" Part 5
Script: Simon Furman
Art: Geoff Senior
Letters: [Richard] Starkings
Colours: Gina Hart

"Cybertron: The Middle Years!"
Text: Simon Furman
Illustration: ?

Later Reprinted By: Transformers - Target 2006 [Worldwide], IDW Publishing: Target 2006 #3 plus a subsequent trade paperback [Worldwide].

"Target 2006" Part 5 - "The Devil You Know..."

Synopsis: Starscream prowls around the Ark, shocked to find Megatron now leading the Autobots. He then sets off to form an alliance with Galvatron. Ultra Magnus is equally surprised by the Autobots' new alliance. The Autobots, under Megatron, pin Scourge down in a depot, and capture him. Meanwhile, Galvatron reveals to Jazz that he is Megatron.

Notes: Concentrated fire from the Autobots can damage Scourge. Starscream, Thundercracker, Skywarp, Buzzsaw, Rumble and Frenzy have been prisoners on the Ark since #71. Starscream woke up in #81. Megatron was dug up by Ironhide in the same issue.

Errors: There are a few glaring scale errors - Smokescreen on page 2 comes up to Ironhide's waist, while Hound comes up to Magnus' knee - previous issues have put him at around Magnus' waist-height. Rack 'n' Ruin has a totally inaccurate white and purple scheme in the flashback. Magnus' chest-thingy is white throughout - it should be blue. Brawn's rather brown in the limb department. As Trailbreaker's hit by Scourge's acid ray, Tracks' chest is completely white. On the next page,as he covers Brawn, his chest's blue, but so is his head. On page 8, Smokescreen has a red chin. How can we see Jazz' optics on page 11?

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Starscream, Frenzy, Thundercracker, Soundwave, Megatron, Trailbreaker, Smokescreen, Bumblebee, Jetfire, Grapple, Ultra Magnus, Hound, Impactor [flashback], Rack 'n' Ruin [flashback], Scourge, Brawn, Tracks, Hoist, Jazz, Galvatron, Cyclonus.

Review: Geoff Senior's art and layouts are truly breathtaking, the best seen on the book since... well, he last drew for it. It's something of a TF UK creative dream-team, and although all parties rise to the occasion gloriously, it somehow doesn't quite seem the sum of its parts. For one, the flashback pages, while a necessary evil of the book's format, are getting a little intrusive. However, some interesting twists and turns means Target 2006 continues to impress.

"Cybertron: The Middle Years!"

Synopsis: A short history of what happened on Cybertron between the departure of the Ark and now, covering the brutal decimation of the Autobots, Trannis' assassination by the Wreckers, and the rise of Straxus [Read].

Production Notes: A short, half-page text story printed to give background on Cybertron.

Notes: Following the disappearance of the Ark, the Autobots reverted to the authority of the Council of Elders, led by High Councillor Traachon. Trannis took control of the Decepticons. Trannis swept all before him, but could not take Iacon - a deadlock lasted hundreds of thousands of years. Trannis then decided to destroy the city rather than take it, and after bombardment, Traachon surrendered. Emirate Xaaron took loyal troops and fled underground, while Traachon and the others were executed. After this, Trannis grew complacent, and was on the verge of being overthrown when the Wreckers assassinated him. This led to the rise of Straxus.

Letters Page: Grimlock announces that the first of two super-sized specials, named The Transformers Universe, will be out in November. This won't happen - instead the Transformers Universe special will eventually emerge in August 1987, as a slightly altered version of the US trade paperback.

Back-Up Strips:
Hercules - "...Not Just Another Galactus Story!" Part 2
Robo-Capers

Review: A diverting fill-in on four million years of Cybertronian history. What's of more importance, though, is the seriousness with which the holes are filled, subtly laying down foundations for the Autobot underground resistance that will last for the rest of the comic's life, and giving vital background on Xaaron.

Cover Date: 25/10/86

Script: Simon Furman
Art: Geoff Senior
Letters: [Richard] Starkings
Colours: Gina Hart

Later Reprinted By: Transformers - Target 2006 [Worldwide], IDW Publishing: Target 2006 #4 plus a subsequent trade paperback [Worldwide].

Notes: The Wreckers' base is called Debris. For notes on how the events of TF:TM fit in with the UK comic, see here. Shockwave's been off on his own since some point after #71. Frenzy and Thundercracker awoke in #83. This part of the story clearly takes place on the 11th of October, 1986 [well, presuming the time machine is DD-MM-YYYY - which would seem likely, as this is a British strip. Yeh, I know they're aliens and are thus just as likely to use the American system, but it's not real...].

Errors: Broadside's all grey.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Impactor, Springer, Sandstorm, Broadside, Xaaron, Galvatron, Jazz, Megatron [flashback], Optimus Prime [flashback], Cyclonus, Shockwave, Thundercracker, Frenzy, Kup, Hot Rod, Blurr.

Notable Others: Unicron [first appearance].

Back-Up Strips:
Hercules - "...Not Just Another Galactus Story!" Part 3
Robo-Capers

Review: Target 2006 gets even better. The intrigue picks up, with Galvatron's plan made clear but no less dangerous, with his plan and origin nicely explained [it would be another six weeks until TF:TM arrived in the UK]. There's also even more elements added to the bubbling plot, with the Autobots getting help from the future at the expense of Shockwave, and reinforcements for the Wreckers. The whole thing is majestically drawn by Senior, who's really found his feet, portraying emotions, scale and dynamics superbly, with Hart not putting a foot wrong with the colouring. Another classic issue.

Cover Date: 01/11/86

Script: Simon Furman
Pencils: Will Simpson
Inks: [Tim] Perkins
Letters: [Richard] Starkings
Colours: [Tony] Jozwiak

Later Reprinted By: Transformers - Target 2006 [Worldwide], IDW Publishing: Target 2006 #4 plus a subsequent trade paperback [Worldwide].

Notes: I'm presuming that's Shockwave's ship he followed the Decepticons in as briefly alluded to in #23. Magnus has the Matrix at the point in the future where Hot Rod, Kup and Blurr travelled back from.

Errors: Starscream's face is white. He claims that the Decepticons arrived on Earth via the starship - but all bar Shockwave and those built on Earth arrived in the Ark. Blurr has a green chest throughout, and is missing colour to his head and legs on page 8. Hot Rod gets a blue face on the same page. Tracks again has his black face - another differing colour scheme used by the UK squad. Smokescreen's launcher design has changed, being a lot more like Bluestreak's. Brawn has no green on him, and Jazz has no silver on his face. The latter's shoulder launcher also keeps disappearing and reappearing.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Galvatron, Starscream, Cyclonus, Ultra Magnus, Hot Rod, Kup, Blurr, Jazz, Brawn, Smokescreen, Jetfire, Scourge, Tracks, Soundwave, Megatron.

Back-Up Strips:
Hercules - "...Not Just Another Galactus Story!" Part 4 [Herc gets a pin-up to mark his final issue as the back-up strip]
Robo-Capers

Review: Will Simpson's clumsy designs, not aided by the distracting, ineffective "polished" look bestowed on the characters, jars especially badly coming of four such fine issues, but there's a lot of good stuff in here. Galvatron's still relying on brains over brawn, subtly manipulating everyone and accounting for every loose thread, and Kup especially is well characterised for the Autobots. The plot's ticking over nicely, and there's genuine suspense as Magnus is finally mixed into the main plot.

Cover Date: 08/11/86

Script: Simon Furman
Art: Geoff Senior
Letters: Annie H [Halfacree]
Colours: Gina Hart

Later Reprinted By: Transformers - Target 2006 [Worldwide], IDW Publishing: Target 2006 #4 (pages 1-10) and IDW Publishing: Target 2006 #5 (page 11) plus a subsequent trade paperback [Worldwide], IDW Publishing: The Best of Simon Furman [Worldwide].

Notes: Grapple and Trailbreaker were knocked out by Scourge in #83.

Errors: Magnus' chest adornment is white again.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Jazz, Smokescreen, Jetfire, Brawn, Grapple, Trailbreaker, Soundwave, Megatron, Galvatron, Ultra Magnus, Kup [flashback], Blurr [flashback], Hot Rod [flashback].

Back-Up Strips:
Spitfire and the Troubleshooters - "Beginnings" Part 1
Robo-Capers

Review: Another triumphant issue. Galvatron's again shown to be equal to anything that the Autobots can throw at him, and for all the hope Magnus offers he falls, just like everyone else has. The excellent narrative, with another great flashback structure designed for maximum impact, is topped off by Senior's superb renderings, on a par with any other Transformers artwork, and a fair amount of comic art full stop. It's just one long fight scene, true, but what a fight scene. When you're five and you're reading this, Galvatron's pretty much the scariest thing imaginable. He's still pretty impressive now.

Cover Date: 15/11/86

Script: [Simon] Furman
Art: [Jeff] Anderson
Letters: [Annie] Halfacree
Colours: [Tony] Jozwiak

Later Reprinted By: Transformers - Target 2006 [Worldwide], IDW Publishing: Target 2006 #5 plus a subsequent trade paperback [Worldwide].

Notes: Galvatron will kill Starscream in 2006 in revenge for his betrayal.

Errors: If Galvatron is trying to escape Unicron, what's the harm in being stuck in [what he believes to be] an alternate dimension anyway? He's also not too good on Transformer death anyway - he should know that Starscream could have been repaired at some point before 2006 [as, indeed, Skywarp will be - see #175]. Magnus' face design has completely changed, and his chest-thing's white again. When he thinks of the Wreckers, he "sees" Springer, Broadside and Sandstorm on Cybertron - who he probably has never met, and certainly doesn't know are Wreckers. Why, exactly, does Galvatron drag Magnus back to the weapon?

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Hot Rod, Skywarp, Kup, Blurr, Starscream, Scourge, Cyclonus, Galvatron, Ultra Magnus, Soundwave, Megatron, Sandstorm [flashback], Springer [flashback], Impactor [flashback], Broadside [flashback], Tracks, Jetfire, Smokescreen, Brawn, Jazz.

Extras: A Fact File on Galvatron. This is much more expanded than the Transformers Universe profile, though the backstory doesn't give anything not covered in "Target 2006" or Transformers the Movie [which was still not out until December 12th in the UK].

Back-Up Strips:
Spitfire and the Troubleshooters - "Beginnings" Part 2
Robo-Capers [starring Swoop, with a Megatron cameo. Still rubbish]

Review: A disappointing, though worthy, conclusion. The destruction of the weapon, and Galvatron's departure, both seem a little bit too neat. The former is just unimaginative, while the latter seems out of character for Galvatron - what's the rush? If he can time-travel, why worry about heading back in a hurry? Still, there's some good character work on the others, even if it seems Furman lost his nerve a little and rushed things.

Cover Date: 22/11/86

Script: Simon Furman
Pencils: Will Simpson
Inks: Tim Perkins
Letters: [Richard] Starkings
Colours: Gina Hart

Later Reprinted By: Transformers - Target 2006 [Worldwide], IDW Publishing: Target 2006 #5 plus a subsequent trade paperback [Worldwide].

Notes: Impactor appoints Springer his successor as Wreckers leader. Optimus, Prowl and Ratchet presumably returned to the present after Galvatron's departure, with the same happening with Shockwave, Thundercracker and Frenzy following after Hot Rod, Blurr and Kup leave. Unicron wipes the Autobots' memories of their trip to the past. Starscream is placed back in stasis on the Ark. Prime notes that Grapple and Jazz will recover, but Trailbreaker's fate is less certain.

Errors: It seems hard to believe Magnus would forget about Cybertron, seeing as it was on his mind last issue. Where exactly will the Decepticon reinforcements Roadbuster is worried about come from? There's clearly some space between Polyhex and the Amphitheatre. Astrotrain has a purple head. Why do Dirge, Thrust, Ramjet and the Triplechangers need to turn back? Why does Impactor appoint Springer as Wreckers leader when he's known him a few days, as opposed to Roadbuster? Grapple and Trailbreaker have switched medibays, and someone's smashed up Grapple's chest since #86.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Ultra Magnus, Jetfire, Smokescreen, Brawn, Tracks, Galvatron [flashback], Scourge [flashback], Cyclonus [flashback], Hot Rod [flashback], Kup [flashback], Blurr [flashback], Starscream [flashback], Xaaron, Kickback, Impactor [killed by Macabre], Springer, Topspin, Broadside, Sandstorm, Roadbuster, Laserbeak, Megatron, Soundwave, Thrust, Blitzwing [first appearance], Octane [first appearance], Macabre [first appearance, killed by the Wreckers], Shrapnel, Ramjet, Bombshell, Dirge, Whirl, Astrotrain [first appearance], Prowl, Ratchet, Optimus Prime, Wheeljack, Smokescreen, Brawn, Hoist, Jazz, Grapple, Trailbreaker, Sideswipe.

Extras: A Fact File on Galvatron. This is much more expanded than the Transformers Universe profile, though the backstory doesn't give anything not covered in "Target 2006" or Transformers the Movie [which was still not out until December 12th in the UK].

Back-Up Strips:
Spitfire and the Troubleshooters - "Beginnings" Part 3
Robo-Capers [the first of the occasional 'Transformers who didn't make the grade' strips - including Bozo (a Sinclair C5), Busby (a bus), Lamphead (erm, a lamp) and Gogglebox (a TV set)]

Review: As a bookend for Target 2006 it's fairly successful, with Prime and Unicron neatly summing up the arc. However, the poignancy of Impactor's death, and the fact that after all the fuss, Operation: Volcano is a non-event, is undermined somewhat by the insertion of Macabre into the Cybertronian Decepticons' upper ranks, a somewhat cheap twist... It certainly hints at a lack of forward planning, as Macabre could at least have been put in #82. Otherwise, though, it's a fitting end to what has been a superb saga, a prime example of something to show people that think it's a kids' comic.

Cover Date: 29/11/86

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 #21, cover date October 1986.

Notes: Skids and Donny set out for the Ark in #73. Skids was left for dead by the Autobots in #71. Megatron called the Insecticons to Earth last issue, and they arrived three days before the story starts. The Aerialbots were first conceived in #64, and construction started in #65.

Errors: Ricky walks past the security guard holding a bloody gun. Why do the Decepticons even need him if security is so lax? The Insecticons could easily sneak by. Heck, the four could just clobber their way in...

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Bombshell, Kickback, Megatron, Shrapnel, Jetfire, Ratchet, Optimus Prime, Skids, Bumblebee, Wheeljack, Silverbolt [first appearance], Air Raid [first appearance], Fireflight [first appearance], Slingshot [first appearance], Skydive [first appearance], Ramjet, Dirge, Thrust.

Notable Others: Donny Finkelberg.

Extras: It is announced that the Transformers Universe profile series won't appear due to "unforeseen problems". Instead, Inter Face is revamped as The Transformers A-Z, with Universe profiles and art. The first pair covered are Air Raid and Astrotrain.

Back-Up Strips:
Spitfire and the Troubleshooters - "Beginnings" Part 4
Robo-Capers

Review: Fairly diverting, this sits more comfortably on the back of the preceding set of US stories rather than on the back of Target 2006, as this is very much a kids' story. Ricky's wildly clichéd, and the Insecticons are given rather heavy-handed characterisations, but it's readable.

Cover Date: 06/12/86

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 #21, cover date October 1986.

Notes: The Cybertronian Autobots [Perceptor, Blaster, Beachcomber, Powerglide, Cosmos, Seaspray and Warpath] were last seen in #70. Circuit Breaker was last seen in #41. Megatron can't fire himself in gun mode. RAAT, Circuit Breaker's new project, stands for Rapid Anti-Robot Assault Team.

Errors: It seems astonishing that Megatron can't fire himself, and that he also doesn't transform and just use the ol' fusion cannon. Idiot. Far from being powerful, it appears Bombshell's control is pretty damn useless, seeing as Ricky, hardly a superman, is gaining control throughout. On page 5, the white parts of Ramjet are coloured red. On page 6, Slingshot is coloured like Air Raid. On the last page, Blaster's head is blue.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Jetfire, Silverbolt, Air Raid, Fireflight, Skydive, Slingshot, Ramjet, Dirge, Thrust, Megatron, Bombshell, Kickback, Shrapnel, Superion [first appearance]. Blaster's body and head, and the heads of Perceptor, Powerglide, Seaspray, Beachcomber, Cosmos and Warpath are seen.

Notable Others: Donny Finkelberg, Circuit Breaker.

Production Notes: The cover is adapted from US #21, recoloured by Bouttell.

Back-Up Strips:
Spitfire and the Troubleshooters - "Beginnings" Part 5
Robo-Capers

Review: The denouement is terrible, between Megatron's dumbfounding disability, and the horribly saccharine sequence with Ricky and his daughter, undermining the ever-improving art of Perlin, and some incredibly cool stuff from Air Raid.