THE TRANSFORMERS: COMICS, BOOKS AND MANGA

Notes: The Dinobots struck out on their own in #70. Ratbat has taken over the Decepticons on Cybertron following #104. The Earth Decepticons' fuel turnover isn't matching the use of resources on the Spacebridge.

Errors: Slag has a grey dino head, and Swoop a red one. In the bottom-left frame of page, Sludge's dino head is uncoloured. In the middle-top frame of page 6, Shockwave's head is a different tone of purple to his body.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Swoop, Sludge, Grimlock, Snarl, Slag, Shockwave, Soundwave, Dead End, Ratbat, Jetfire, Perceptor, Blaster, Hotspot, Ratchet, Silverbolt, Trypticon [first appearance].

Back-Up Strips:
The Inhumanoids - "Coming of the Inhumanoids" Part 9
Robo-Capers

Review: Pretty good stuff. Grimlock's bullish, but still believable, and Ratbat's anal tendencies are nicely illustrated. Shockwave's beginning his US fade, but Perceptor standing up to Grimlock is wonderful. An interesting start.

Errors: Slag and Swoop still have inaccurate, block-coloured heads. What exactly happens with the sonic-scrambler mines isn't explained.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Trypticon, Wipe-Out [first appearance, smashed apart by Snarl], Powerglide, Warpath, Beachcomber, Blaster, Cosmos, Seaspray, Perceptor, Snarl, Grimlock, Slag, Sludge, Swoop, Omega Supreme, Wheeljack, Streetwise, Jetfire, Hotspot, Silverbolt, Ratchet.

Production Notes: Cover adapted from US #27, but recoloured by Tim Perkins.

Back-Up Strips:
The Inhumanoids - "Coming of the Inhumanoids" Part 10
Robo-Capers

Review: A fun action story spoiled by a few problems - Trypticon's withdrawal is a big anticlimax, the Autobots' about-turn with Grimlock doesn't feel right, and the Dinobots are implausibly callous. This masks a nicely-written Grimlock, some good fight scenes and the genuine menace of Trypticon.

Synopsis: 2007 - on Elpa505, a mechanoid named Death's Head enquires about the bounty on the head of the Decepticon leader Galvatron. The bounty has been set by Rodimus Prime, too tied up with the war on Cybertron to hunt himself. Death's Head tracks Cyclonus and Scourge to Cybertron, and finds out Galvatron time-jumped back to 1987. Death's Head follows.

Notes: The story follows on from the defeat of Unicron in 2006. Since then, Galvatron has gone missing in 2007, having time-jumped in #102, and Shockwave has led the Decepticons to retaking half of Cybertron. Scourge and Cyclonus seem to be free agents. Death's Head has a removable right hand, and is a sentient mechanoid of currently unknown origin. The bounty on Galvatron is 10,000 Shanix.

The arc from this issue to #120 firmly replaces Marvel USA's GI Joe and The Transformers mini-series in UK continuity.

Errors: In the bottom left frame of page 9, Cyclonus is missing his purple.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Galvatron [flashback], Hot Rod [flashback], Rodimus Prime [flashback], Blurr [flashback], Kup [flashback], Shockwave [flashback], Cyclonus, Scourge.

Notable Others: Death's Head [first appearance], Unicron [flashback].

Back-Up Strips:
The Inhumanoids - "Coming of the Inhumanoids" Part 11
Robo-Capers [covering more of the Transformers who didn't make the grade - Handlebars (a bicycle, who looks a lot like Armada High Wire, but better...), Fireplace (erm... a fireplace. I'd suggest Lew was running out of ideas, but then Robo-Capers proves that he's been short for ages), Ticker (an alarm clock) and Balloon (go on, guess...)]

Review: A great scene setter for the UK future stories, enlivened by the magnetic Death's Head. It says volumes for the character, art and scripting that this is basically exposition, and yet it's superb. Cyclonus and Scourge are really starting to grow too, from Galvatron's muscle into a classic double-act.

Synopsis: Rodimus continues the battle against the Decepticons on Cybertron when an undercover agent named Nautilus informs him of Death's Head's timejump. On Earth in 1987, First Aid disappears, and Bumblebee realises the significance - he's been sent to Limbo. He runs into the new arrival, Death's Head, who kills him.

Errors: Rodimus' chest symbol disappears a lot, and at one point on page 3 he's got a completely yellow torso. His rage at Kup seems a little odd - he didn't have to shoot that final Decepticon in the face... On page 10, as Bumblebee resolves to warn the other Autobots, he's minus an Autobot symbol too.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Rodimus Prime, Kup, Blurr, Jazz, Ultra Magnus, Cliffjumper, Bumblebee [2007 and 1987 versions; the '87 version is destroyed by Death's Head], Shockwave [flashback], Nautilus [first appearance], Cyclonus [flashback], Scourge [flashback], First Aid [flashback]. All 2007 versions except First Aid and the '87 Bumblebee.

Notable Others: Wreck-Gar [Junkion leader, first appearance], Death's Head.

Back-Up Strips:
The Inhumanoids - "Coming of the Inhumanoids" Part 12
Robo-Capers

Review: Not quite as good as the first part, though Rodimus gets a fine intro, roughly defining his character as sometimes more decisive than Optimus, but also more unsure after his actions, with Kup providing good support. Nautilus is a nice idea, and Death's Head is quite the villain, giving Bumblebee an incredibly violent death, even though Will Simpson's art does the script no justice.

Synopsis: Ultra Magnus is enjoying life on Earth in 1987, but is disturbed by an accident. He saves three human women, Cindy, Judy and Corrinne, and takes them to see a volcano. In 2007, that era's Magnus oversees Rodimus' sortie to 1987, taking Blurr and Kup with him, though Wreck-Gar also follows, intend on seeing some 20th century TV. Meanwhile, the present Magnus and his friends stumble onto a forest fire. Magnus begins to set up a firebreak, when Galvatron leaps out of the flames and attacks him.

Errors: Magnus has been on Earth since #104. The Autobots of 2007 have timejump equipment. Magnus visited Impactor's body at some point between #88 and #98.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Ultra Magnus [1987 and 2007 versions], Impactor [flashback], Rodimus Prime, Kup, Blurr, Galvatron. All 2007 versions bar Magnus and Impactor.

Notable Others: Wreck-Gar, Cindy [first appearance].

Back-Up Strips:
The Inhumanoids - "Coming of the Inhumanoids" Part 13
Robo-Capers

Review: Pretty shoddy, with a hokey feel to it - especially the rescue of the girls, who aren't very well written. Dan Reed's ugly art isn't helped by some shocking colouring work from Steve White, and it all feels a little pointless.

Synopsis: Ultra Magnus and Galvatron battle. Magnus wins, but lets his guard down, and is knocked out. Meanwhile, Cindy passes out in the forest fire. Galvatron shows Magnus what he's up to - a siphon on Mount Verona to convert the power of the volcano into him, recharging him to the level he was at when Unicron lived. Elsewhere, Cindy has been saved by Rodimus, Kup and Blurr, who resolve to stop Galvatron.

Notes: Ultra Magnus in unaware of Optimus Prime's death.

Errors: Rodimus has white hands on the last page. Where have Judy and Corrinne buggered off to?

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Ultra Magnus [1987 version], Galvatron, Rodimus Prime, Blurr, Kup. 2007 versions unless noted.

Notable Others: Cindy.

Extras: A-Z covers Bombshell and Bonecrusher.

Back-Up Strips:
The Inhumanoids - "Coming of the Inhumanoids" Part 14
Robo-Capers

Review: A lot better. Geoff Senior really captures the fight scene beautifully, it's nearly the equal of the one in "Target 2006", with Galvatron cracking Magnus' optics a memorable visual. Magnus' determination and care for Cindy is illustrated well, but truth be told there's not really a lot beyond the fight scene and the volcano revelation.

Synopsis: Death's Head ambushes Soundwave at the Decepticons' base to gain information about Galvatron. Meanwhile, Rodimus prepares to make his move against Galvatron. They attack the siphon, but Kup and Blurr are taken out. Rodimus and Galvatron prepare to fight, when Death's Head arrives.

Notes: The Decepticon Island Base is in the Florida Keys. Laserbeak must spend a long time out of commission after what Death's Head does to him... he's actually not seen again until #128.

Errors: Magnus' eyes have got all tiny again. It must be a Will Simpson thing... How does Death's Head travel around so fast? What could Soundwave have possibly told him that would lead him to the siphon?

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Soundwave [1987 version], Laserbeak [1987 version], Galvatron, Ultra Magnus [1987 version], Rodimus Prime [2007 version], Kup [2007 version], Blurr [2007 version].

Notable Others: Death's Head, Cindy, Unicron [flashback].

Extras: A-Z covers Brawl and Brawn.

Back-Up Strips:
The Inhumanoids - "Coming of the Inhumanoids" Part 15
Robo-Capers

Review: The story continues to plod a little, with a bit too much waiting around going on. Still, the appearance of Soundwave is welcome, as is the return of Death's Head to the main storyline. Will Simpson's art isn't too bad, and he's slowly getting the hang of both DH, and decent character models.

Synopsis: Wreck-Gar finds Bumblebee's remains, and sets about rebuilding him. Meanwhile, Rodimus and Death's Head argue about Galvatron, but the Decepticon then attacks them both. Death's Head withdraws for repairs, and Galvatron is batting Rodimus around when Magnus revives, and begins shooting the syphon, allowing Rodimus the chance to escape. Meanwhile Wreck-Gar looks at his new creation - Goldbug.

Errors: In the flashback, Magnus hits Kup and Blurr headfirst [he actually hit them side-on]. In the bottom right panel of page 6, Blurr's torso seems huge - he's twice as fat as Magnus. There's too much orange on the cab of Rodimus' alt mode - there should be, oh, none. Goldbug can't be more than 20 foot from Wreck-Gar, meaning he really isn't much shorter than he looks... Why does he change the name too? I know it's really for the toy, but elsewhere [especially later in the series] we'll see Transformers change bodies a fair bit [Optimus Prime, Grimlock, Starscream etc.] without feeling the need for a new moniker.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Rodimus Prime, Galvatron, Ultra Magnus, Kup, Blurr, Goldbug [first appearance].

Notable Others: Death's Head, Cindy, Wreck-Gar.

Letters Page: Grimlock explains the differing US & UK Blaster character models by claiming Blaster has a retractable visor. Good enough for me.

Back-Up Strips:
The Inhumanoids - "Coming of the Inhumanoids" Part 16
Robo-Capers

Review: The pace is thankfully starting to pick up, and Anderson's art really fits. Wreck-Gar bookends the tale nicely, allowing a believable but still impressive passage of time for the creation of Goldbug. The sequence where Rodimus and Death's Head debate who gets to kill Galvatron, with Galvy listening in growing disbelief, is a joy to read. A great issue.

Synopsis: The Autobots regroup with Cindy, who tells them of the geological consequences of Galvatron's syphon. Rodimus and Wreck-Gar capture Galvatron's timejump mechanism while the others distract him, but Magnus is seemingly thrown into the volcano.

Notes: Cindy has a PhD in Geology. Wreck-Gar's cycle mode appears not to go under any "subspace" shrinking.

Errors: Why is Rodimus actually needed for modifying the timejump mechanism? He's got no technical skills that we know of, and when we see him, he's blatantly doing nothing... It's especially harsh seeing as he's the only proven Galvatron-beater the Autobots have, and instead he sends Magnus to his death...

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Rodimus Prime, Kup, Blurr, Goldbug, Ultra Magnus, Galvatron.

Notable Others: Cindy, Wreck-Gar.

Extras: A-Z covers Breakdown and Bruticus.

Letters Page: Philip Crowther-Green announces the results of the 1986 Transformers awards, with results he collated from a notice in #109 's Grim-Grams. The results were: -
Best Story - "Target 2006"
Best Writer - Simon Furman
Best Artist - Geoff Senior
Best Colourist - Gina Hart
Best Letterist - Annie Halfacree
Best Cover - #74 and #82 [tie]
Best New Character - Galvatron and Centurion [tie]
Best Autobot - Grimlock
Best Decepticon - Galvatron
Best Back-Up Strip - Spitfire & the Trouble-Shooters
Best Fact-File - Omega Supreme

Back-Up Strips:
The Iron Man of 2020 - "Man of the Year" Part 1
Robo-Capers

Review: Considering they let Dan Reed draw it, this isn't too bad. Actually, Dan's a bit better than his dire debut, and here he's really not helped by some real sub-Marvel US background colouring. It's well scripted, even if the Autobots' battle-plan of "charge up the hill and hit Galvatron" is slightly less than imaginative, seeing as it's what they did three issues ago. Magnus' defeat is suitably crushing too, keeping Galvatron as the benchmark for Transformers power.

Cover Date: 04/07/87

Script: Simon Furman
Art: Geoff Senior
Letters: [Richard] Starkings
Colours: Steve White

Later Reprinted By: Titan Books: Fallen Angel [Worldwide].

Synopsis: Galvatron realises the timejump mechanism is missing, and sets out to battle Rodimus. The Autobot stuns him, but seems doomed, until Death's Head, still after his bounty, arrives and attacks Galvatron. By then, Wreck-Gar's device is ready, taking all those from 2007 back to their rightful time. Goldbug is seemingly left alone... but Galvatron is still there too.

Notes: Galvatron has seemingly disabled the timejump device from being used against him. The storyline was concluded in the 1987 Transformers Annual story "Vicious Circle". Galvatron tears off one of Death's Head's arms, and can absorb large amounts of electricity with little damage.

Errors: If he's disabled the timejump, what's the big deal about losing the device?

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Galvatron, Ultra Magnus [flashback], Rodimus Prime, Goldbug.

Notable Others: Wreck-Gar, Death's Head.

Back-Up Strips:
The Iron Man of 2020 - "Man of the Year" Part 2
Robo-Capers

Review: A mixed instalment, with Senior once again really rising to the occasion - the showdown between Rodimus and Galvatron is superb, as is Death's Head's dynamic entry. It's well scripted, though the 'conclusion' feels like a really cheap shot.