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THE TRANSFORMERS: COMICS, BOOKS AND MANGA

Marvel Comics
(1984-1994)
Japanese
Manga
Other Books
and Titles
Titan Books
(2001-2010)
Club/Con
(2001-2016)
Dreamwave
(2002-2004)
Devil's Due
(2003-2007)
IDW Publishing
(2005-now)

MARVEL TRANSFORMERS COMICS GUIDE

Marvel UK nav: UK Intro | Story List | #1-10 | #11-20 | #21-30 | #31-40 | #41-50 | #51-60 | #61-70 | #71-80
#81-90 | #91-100 | #101-110 | #111-120 | #121-130 | #131-140 | #141-150 | #151-160 | #161-170
#171-180 | #181-190 | #191-200 | #201-210 | #211-220 | #221-230 | #231-240 | #241-250 | #252-260
#261-270 | #271-280 | #281-290 | #291-300 | #301-310 | #311-320 | #321-330 | #331-332 | Cover Images
Annuals: 1985 Annual | 1986 Annual | 1987 Annual | 1988 Annual | 1989 Annual | 1990 Annual | 1991 Annual
Other titles / G2: Action Force #24-27 | Specials & Collected Comics | UK G2 Intro | UK G2 #1-5 | UK G2 Annual

UK #131 - #140

| #131 | #132 | #133 | #134 | #135 | #136 | #137 | #138 | #139 | #140 |

#131 - "Worlds Apart!" Part 2 & "Ring of Hate" Part 2

[cover]
Cover: Lee Sullivan
Cover Date: 19/09/87

"Worlds Apart!" Part 2

Script: Simon Furman
Pencils: Will Simpson
Inks: Tim Perkins
Letters: Annie H [Halfacree]
Colours: Steve White

Later Reprinted By: Transformers #257 -#258 [UK, split into two parts], Titan Books: Time Wars [Worldwide], IDW Publishing: Space Pirates #4 plus a subsequent trade paperback [Worldwide].

"Ring of Hate!" Part 2

Script: Bob Budiansky
Pencils: Frank Springer
Inks: Ian Akin & Brian Garvey
Letters: Diana Albers
Colours: Nel Yomtov
Originally Printed In: Pages 7-11 of US Transformers Headmasters #1, cover date July 1987

"Worlds Apart!" Part 2

Synopsis: Scorponok captures Highbrow, and leaves the Decepticon Targetmasters to finish off the other three Autobot Headmasters. However, they free their own Targetmaster brethren. Meanwhile, Scorponok is trying to get refinements of the Headmaster process from Highbrow, but the Autobot is constantly struggling with Gort. Chromedome arrives to help, but is beaten around by Scorponok until Highbrow and Gort pull themselves together and get Scorponok to run away.

Errors: On page 3, Scourge and Cyclonus are badly coloured, and Hardhead's missing the yellow on his face. Crosshairs and Sureshot still have switched colour schemes. Hardhead also calls Crosshairs "Triggerhappy". A couple of shots and Scorponok decides that the whole plan's a mess and the best option is to scarper? And people say Budiansky undermined the character...

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Chromedome, Hardhead, Brainstorm, Highbrow, Scorponok, Triggerhappy, Cyclonus, Slugslinger, Scourge, Misfire, Pointblank, Crosshairs, Sureshot.

Notable Others: Pinpointer [first appearance], Spoilsport [first appearance], Peacemaker [first appearance, flashback], Gort.

Review: Ooooh wow, a glorified toy advert, again. And that climax - who'd have thought sticking to the task in hand and saving your buddy was the right thing to do? It's horribly tired-feeling, and the way everyone goes around saying things everyone else should know and constantly calls each other by name feels dreadful. The ending's pathetic, and the story really feels like a desperate attempt for the UK team to steal the thunder for introducing the new characters, at all costs, ahead of the US reprints, at least in the eyes of the UK readership. The thing functions, just about, as a crash course to the Headmasters characters, but if you have any sense, taste or patience, it's much more rewarding to check out Budiansky's fine limited series.

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"Ring of Hate!" Part 2

Synopsis: Fortress Maximus gathers the Autobots tired of the war, and they set out for Nebulos. On arrival, Highbrow scouts out the local area, but accidentally hurts a Nebulan native named Gort. In the Nebulan capital of Koraja, a politician named Zarak lobbies for the mobilisation of Nebulos' armed forces to stop the robots, but Galen disagrees.

Notes: Among Maximus' expeditionary force are Highbrow, Brainstorm, Chromedome, Hardhead, Kup, Blurr, Hot Rod, Pointblank, Sureshot, Crosshairs, Doublecross, Repugnus, Grotusque , Scattershot, Lightspeed, Afterburner, Strafe, Nosecone, Cerebros, Landmine, Cloudburst, Waverider, Splashdown, Sky High, Groundbreaker, Getaway, Slapdash and Joyride, though not all will be revealed just yet. The number of casualties suffered by the Autobots during this arc hints at a much larger number, as do the scenes where they hand on the planet [there are at least eight 'jet' Autobots], and there is the outside possibility of the later Headmasters [Nightbeat, Siren and Hosehead] being on board, though you have to ask when they'd have got chance to undergo the process as such a big deal will be made of the five original Headmasters. More of this when we get there, though. Cybertron is still spinning through space [which probably explains why there are no attempts to conventionally fly from there to Earth].

Errors: First of all, I don't buy this rubbish along the lines of "Why's Afterburner seeking peace? His tech-spec says he's a maniac". Broadly, in any Transformers continuity, a character is as they're portrayed by the writer, not from what a card on the back of a toy says. Sure, it's nice when someone alludes to something mentioned in their tech-spec profile, but the things have never been rigidly adhered to - Blaster is nothing like his, neither [thankfully] are Broadside or Ratchet, and there are scores which are totally ignored. It's like criticising "SOS Dinobots" for having Grimlock act out of character as he's nothing like his tech-spec, when [sadly], the idiotic lame comedy relief persona is the way he is in that medium. All-in-all what I'm saying is how can someone like Afterburner be acting out of character when it's all we know about their character in this medium? Scattershot has too much blue on him. Grotusque is named 'Grotesque' - the only other strip he appears in, in #142, uses the former, and in a tie the toyline has casting vote...

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Fortress Maximus, Optimus Prime [flashback], Highbrow, Hardhead, Crosshairs, Blurr, Chromedome, Nosecone [first appearance], Afterburner [first appearance], Scattershot [first appearance], Repugnus [first appearance], Grotesque [first appearance], Doublecross [first appearance], Brainstorm.

Notable Others: Gort, Marika [first appearance], Zarak [first appearance], Galen [first appearance].

Back-Up Strips:
Robo-Capers

Review: Another good instalment, even if the UK printing method is really breaking up the flow. There's some pathos as Maximus sadly leaves, and the handling of the first meeting is fairly well handled - Highbrow seems as freaked out as Gort. It's another good script from Budiansky.

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#132 - "Kup's Story!" & "Ring of Hate" Part 3

[cover]
Cover: Dan Reed
Cover Date: 26/09/87

"Kup's Story!"

Script: Simon Furman
Art: Dan Reed
Letters: Annie H [Halfacree]
Colours: Steve White

Later Reprinted By: Titan Books: City of Fear [Worldwide].

"Ring of Hate!" Part 3

Script: Bob Budiansky
Pencils: Frank Springer
Inks: Ian Akin & Brian Garvey
Letters: Diana Albers
Colours: Nel Yomtov

Originally Printed In: Pages 12-16 of US Transformers Headmasters #1, cover date July 1987

"Kup's Story!"

Synopsis: The setting is long ago, and Kup has opted out of the war, and now drifts nomadically, alone in a spaceship, but is roused saving a ship from an alien attack. Onboard the ship is Hot Rod, who asks him to help save Blurr. Kup refuses to help, so Hot Rod goes alone. Kup eventually helps, and the trio set off for Cybertron.

Notes: The story is set "several hundred years ago". Kup's met neither Blurr nor Hot Rod, and doesn't seem to have heard of Fortress Maximus. We're not told how long he's been drifting on the retirement ship.

Errors: At the bottom of page 9, Hot Rod has a mauve nose.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Kup, Hot Rod, Blurr.

Review: Thankfully, Dan Reed's hideous renders of the Transformers are kind-of counterbalanced by his style being perfect for wobbly, unrealistic, B-movie style aliens and backdrops, and rather overcome by a winning script. It adds some nice background for Kup, and some broad "Hot Head" strokes for Hot Rod, but it feels a little inconsequential.

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"Ring of Hate!" Part 3

Synopsis: Galen lobbies for peace, but Zarak plots with those loyal to him, and when Blurr arrives in the city as the Autobot envoy, Zarak sets him up to look violent, triggering a riot. Galen then agrees the robots are dangerous, and unlocks Nebulos' locked weapon dumps, attacking the Autobots.

Notes: Duros is head of the Council Guard, while Krunk leads Zarak's personal militia. The Nebulons have been at peace for years, but have stockpiled all their weapons in the Arvassian Range.

Errors: Wouldn't magnetising Blurr's arm just mash up half the circuitry inside? On page 5, Maximus refers to Highbrow as Brainstorm. Kup really shouldn't have been on the mission, as he's spoiling for a fight. Snap decision maybe? In Nebulos' arsenal, there's a Vought F4U Corsair WWII fighter-plane.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Fortress Maximus, Blurr, Brainstorm, Sureshot, Afterburner, Chromedome, Highbrow, Hardhead, Kup.

Notable Others: Galen, Zarak, Marika, Krunk [first appearance], Duros [first appearance].

Letters Page: Grimlock confirms that, aside from Swoop [who was Divebomb, see #46], the other Dinobots to be had the same individual names on Cybertron.

Back-Up Strips:
Spider-Man - "Children in Danger" [a four-page insert warning kids of the danger of going off with strangers... written by Simon Furman, drawn by Barry Kitson and Dave Harwood, and coloured by Steve White]
Robo-Capers

Review: A slight step down. The undoing of Blurr seems a bit, well, convenient, especially with Zarak having easy access to a magnetic gun [though he does look a bit like Magneto]. The fine art is also severely undone by all the block-colouring. It's still fairly intriguing, though.

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#133 - "Headhunt" Part 1 & "Ring of Hate!" Part 4

[cover]
Cover: Dave Gibbons
Cover Date: 03/10/87

"Headhunt" Part 1

Script: Simon Furman
Art: Dan Reed
Letters: [Richard] Starkings
Colours: Steve White

Later Reprinted By: Transformers #225 -226 [UK, split into two parts], Titan Books: Legacy of Unicron [Worldwide].

"Ring of Hate!" Part 4

Script: Bob Budiansky
Pencils: Frank Springer
Inks: Ian Akin & Brian Garvey
Letters: Diana Albers
Colours: Nel Yomtov

Originally Printed In: Pages 17-22 of US Transformers Headmasters #1, cover date July 1987

"Headhunt" Part 1

Synopsis: 2007 - Blot hires Death's Head to kill Rodimus. Scourge and Cyclonus are angry about this, and set off to do the deed themselves. Rodimus is then jumped by Death's Head while inspecting Autobot lines, and their battle goes underground, where Rodimus seems certain to die.

Notes: Firebolt dies at some point on Earth, presumably before "Ark Duty".

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Blot, Rodimus Prime, Hot Rod [flashback], Cyclonus, Scourge.

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

Review: Reed's gradually getting the hang of things, with Transformers beginning to slowly take the look of robots, rather than multicoloured aliens. Death's Head's return is welcome, and there's some superb work on Rodimus by Furman - though it is a bit off of him to get so depressed about the war after a year, when Optimus went 15,000 years in the same, or worse, situation.

[*][*][*][*][*][*][*][*][0][0]

"Ring of Hate!" Part 4

Synopsis: The Autobots retreat rather than fight the Nebulans, and discuss their next move in a swamp. Fortress Maximus then leads a small force to the Nebulan capital, where he, Highbrow, Brainstorm, Chromedome and Hardhead remove their heads in a gesture of peace. It is enough for Galen, who orders the city's defences to stand down.

Errors: In the middle-top frame of page 3, there's a very faulted Autobot behind Maximus, to our left. Hmm, Kup looks like the sort that's after a peaceful life...

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Lightspeed, Crosshairs, Fortress Maximus, Kup, Cerebros [first appearance], Brainstorm, Pointblank, Highbrow, Hardhead, Chromedome, Blurr, Kup, Hot Rod, Sureshot, Crosshairs

Notable Others: Galen, Zarak, Duros.

Extras: A-Z covers Defensor and Devastator.

Back-Up Strips:
Robo-Capers

Review: Well, that's certainly a novel way of proving peaceful intentions... Still, it maintains the interest, although it's odd how quickly Galen changes his mind.

[*][*][*][*][*][0][0][0][0][0]

#134 - "Headhunt" Part 2 & "Broken Glass!" Part 1

[cover]
Cover: Lee Sullivan

Cover Date: 10/10/87

"Headhunt" Part 2

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

Later Reprinted By: Transformers #227 -228 [UK, split into two parts], Titan Books: Legacy of Unicron [Worldwide].

"Broken Glass!" Part 1

Script: Bob Budiansky
Pencils: Frank Springer
Inks: Ian Akin & Brian Garvey
Letters: Pat Brosseau
Colours: Nel Yomtov

Originally Printed In: Pages 1-5 of US Transformers Headmasters #2, cover date August 1987

"Headhunt" Part 2

Synopsis: Scourge shoots Death's Head, inadvertently saving Rodimus, and all four are now in Cybertron's utility ducts. The three parties hunt each other before Rodimus leads Death's Head into Autobase. There, he pays him in advance for the killing of Scourge and Cyclonus.

Notes: There are underground entrances into Autobase. Scourge still has his wound from #113.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Cyclonus, Scourge, Rodimus Prime.

Notable Others: Death's Head.

Review: A fairly mild chase story given extra punch by some fine dialogue from Furman [Scourge and Cyclonus bitching while Death's Head lies in between them is hilarious]. The weakest part is Rodimus' rather brief phase of self-doubt, but Geoff Senior's striking visuals and the sharp writing makes up for it.

[*][*][*][*][*][*][*][*][0][0]

"Broken Glass!" Part 1

Synopsis: Civil unrest grips Nebulos over what to do with the Autobots. Galen talks to Fortress Maximus' head, and learns of the war on Cybertron, then wonders what to do next.

Notes: Llyra is Zarak's daughter. It would seem a controlled head removal does no damage to Transformers whatsoever. There's no solid evidence to show that the five Autobots can't control their bodies, a la Optimus Prime in #40, or Scorponok in #312, they just probably don't to prove they're peaceful. Unless there's no-one around and one of them has an itchy nose or something, anyway.

Errors: Chromedome's body is holding his gun wrong...

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Brainstorm, Highbrow, Hardhead, Chromedome, Fortress Maximus.

Notable Others: Spasma [first appearance], Galen, Duros, Zarak, Krunk, Llyra [first appearance], Grax [first appearance], Vorath [first appearance].

Back-Up Strips:
Robo-Capers

Review: The series is developing into quite a fine light-politics story, superbly written by Budiansky, and well rendered by Springer, who shows what he can do when character models aren't changed every few pages. Maximus offering his life to preserve Nebulan peace is a great scene.

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#135 - "Grudge Match!" Part 1 & "Broken Glass!" Part 2

[cover]
Cover: Jeff Anderson
Cover Date: 17/10/87

"Grudge Match!" Part 1

Script: Simon Furman
Pencils: Jeff Anderson
Inks: [Stephen] Baskerville
Letters: [Richard] Starkings
Colours: Steve White

Later Reprinted By: Transformers 1992 Summer Special [UK], Titan Books: Prey [Worldwide].

"Broken Glass!" Part 2

Script: Bob Budiansky
Pencils: Frank Springer
Inks: Ian Akin & Brian Garvey
Letters: Pat Brosseau
Colours: Nel Yomtov

Originally Printed In: Pages 6-11 of US Transformers Headmasters #2, cover date August 1987

"Grudge Match!" Part 1

Synopsis: The Predacons trash a circus, but Divebomb pines for Cybertron. Swoop sees this on TV, and has long hidden the memory of his humiliating defeat at the hands of the Predacon, who stole his name to rub it in. He sets out to battle Divebomb. The pair battle, but then the other Predacons arrive.

Notes: The whole story of how Divebomb took his name from the Autobot now known as Swoop is in the 1987 annual story "What's in a Name?". Divebomb's Cybertronian form is seen here, it's another bird, but actually a lot closer to Swoop in design. He is the only Predacon we see in his original form, though it would seem to hint that the Predacons had similar modes to their Earthen forms. Swoop's former identity as Divebomb was revealed in #46. Swoop told the other Dinobots he defeated and killed Divebomb on Cybertron. In fact he was saved from death himself by someone else, at this point unnamed.

Errors: The Predacons look too big on the opening few pages, though it's possible they haven't shifted mass into subspace or some-such as there's no pint in disguising yourself as a red and yellow rhino. On page 10 Swoop appears to have hands as well as claws in his alt mode. While this could be taken as an artistic variation, they shouldn't be red.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Headstrong, Rampage, Razorclaw, Tantrum, Divebomb, Predaking [flashback], Swoop, Sludge.

Review: Nice, if straightforward, art from Anderson, and the sequence of the Predacons smashing up the circus is great - good to see what 'Cons get up to in their spare time. Also more work on Swoop, who is a very interesting character under Furman, and contrasts nicely with big dumb Sludge. Divebomb too is very well written, the first real development he gets.

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"Broken Glass!" Part 2

Synopsis: Gort speaks to the Nebulan council, explaining the alleged attack from Highbrow was an accident. The council agrees to upholding the pact with the Autobots, and a delegation goes to meet the rest of their forces. Meanwhile, Zarak's group contact the Decepticons. However, once Scorponok arrives, he immediately plans attacking the Nebulan capital to kill Fortress Maximus.

Notes: Transformer computers have universal translators.

Errors: In the third frame of page 2, Kup's hideously miscoloured. Mindwipe's character model is pretty messed up - at possibly the one for Vorath was used? Slugslinger's also replaced by a Nebulan Headmaster on the last page. There's another odd bit on the last page, as a guy who looks like Misfire but is coloured like Mindwipe, and gives his name as such, then transforms into Misfire's jet mode [it's also worth noting the jet just lies there]. Which is the error? Well, both characters appear elsewhere in the issue, so I don't care ^_^.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Kup, Pointblank, Sureshot, Blurr, Hot Rod, Triggerhappy, Slugslinger, Scorponok, Mindwipe, Snapdragon, Krunix [first appearance], Misfire, Apeface, Battletrap [first appearance], Skullcruncher, Blot.

Notable Others: Gort, Galen, Zarak, Vorath, Krunk, Duros.

Production Notes: Now, throughout the Headmasters mini-series the character models tend to leap about a bit, often with a character replaced by their to-be Nebulan partner. Generally this is left to be, but the UK team decided that a Nebulan coloured as Cyclonus calling himself Cyclonus, when Cyclonus looking normal had appeared last week, was a bit too much, and so for the UK reprints where Cyke does appear looking totally different than he should, he's renamed Krunix [not to be confused with the Lithone Kranix], with the text altered, in effect creating a new character.

Letters Page: Grimlock states that Professor Morris is still in control of Centurion for #125 / Action Force #24-27. He also claims Megatron had an escape route prepared in #108... something blown clear out of the water in #244.

Back-Up Strips:
Robo-Capers

Review: It seems a little odd that Zarak would call in another army of robots he can't control when he's not doing too bad manipulating Galen as it is. It's fairly well done, but hardly spectacular.

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#136 - "Grudge Match!" Part 2 & "Broken Glass!" Part 3

[cover]
Cover: Robin Smith
Cover Date: 24/10/87

"Grudge Match!" Part 2

Script: Simon Furman
Pencils: Jeff Anderson
Inks: [Stephen] Baskerville
Letters: Annie H [Halfacree]
Colours: Steve White

Later Reprinted By: Transformers 1992 Summer Special [UK], Titan Books: Prey [Worldwide].

"Broken Glass!" Part 3

Script: Bob Budiansky
Pencils: Frank Springer
Inks: Ian Akin & Brian Garvey
Letters: Pat Brosseau
Colours: Nel Yomtov

Originally Printed In: Pages 12-17 of US Transformers Headmasters #2, cover date August 1987

"Grudge Match!" Part 2

Synopsis: The Predacons begin to beat Swoop, much to Divebomb's distaste, until the Dinobots arrive. Battle ensues, and Swoop is once again bested by Divebomb, and so tricks him into attacking Grimlock. The Autobot leader pounds the Predacon, who tells Grimlock why Swoop's afraid to face him. Grimlock already knows, though, and prepares to kill Divebomb. Swoop, wracked with guilt, intervenes, and at his behest they let the Predacons go.

Notes: The Autobot who saved Swoop from Divebomb the second time they met is revealed to be Optimus Prime [see #46]. This is an additional source of Swoop's hatred for him other than the dislike for authority given then. Prime kept private logs of such incidents, which have become available to Grimlock since he took over leadership of the Autobots. He has been in command for "months".

Errors: The same frame of Divebomb is used in the middle top of page 5, and as the last frame of the story. Yeh, not an error I know, making sure you know I'm being sharp and thorough. I bet there's a frame with Sentinel Prime in a tutu I've missed now I've said that...

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Swoop, Razorclaw, Rampage, Tantrum, Headstrong, Divebomb, Grimlock, Snarl, Sludge, Slag.

Review: More superb character work from Furman helped by simple artwork, letting the story do the work. How come under Furman Grimlock is a believable leader, while under Budiansky he's a boring, bombastic stereotype? An excellent example of Furman capitalising on a fluke [the name Divebomb being used on a toy] and turning it to his advantage. There's a great ending too, and it's a shame this interesting rivalry won't be returned to.

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"Broken Glass!" Part 3

Synopsis: The Decepticons attack the city, and after an attempt to radio control the Autobots' bodies fails, Galen agrees to Arcana making them armour to binary-bond them to each Transformer as both heads and secondary operators, and they set out to meet the Decepticons.

Notes: Galen bonds to Fortress Maximus, Duros to Hardhead, Gort to Highbrow, "society dandy" Stylor to Chromedome, and Doctor of Bioengineering Arcana to Brainstorm.

Errors: On page 5, Stylor's armour has Chromedome's head. On page 6, Fortress Maximus has Cerebros' head.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Fortress Maximus, Slugslinger, Skullcruncher, Chromedome, Brainstorm, Hardhead, Highbrow, Triggerhappy, Snapdragon, Apeface, Scorponok.

Notable Others: Galen, Duros, Gort, Arcana [first appearance], Stylor [first appearance], Llyra.

Back-Up Strips:
Robo-Capers

Review: A mildly entertaining piece of gimmick-driven plot convenience.

[*][*][*][*][*][0][0][0][0][0]

#137 - "Ladies' Night" Part 1 & "Broken Glass!" Part 4

[cover]
Cover: Lee Sullivan

Cover Date: 31/10/87

"Ladies' Night" Part 1

Script: Simon Furman
Art: Dan Reed
Letters: Annie Halfacree
Colours: Euan Peters

Later Reprinted By: Titan Books: Legacy of Unicron [Worldwide].

"Broken Glass!" Part 4


Script: Bob Budiansky
Pencils: Frank Springer
Inks: Ian Akin & Brian Garvey
Letters: Pat Brosseau
Colours: Nel Yomtov

Originally Printed In: Pages 18-23 of US Transformers Headmasters #2, cover date August 1987

"Ladies' Night" Part 1

Synopsis: Susan Hoffman is reporting from inside Mount Verona, but is shocked when she finds Galvatron and Ultra Magnus encased in the lava. Later, Goldbug, Blaster and the Throttlebots arrive in town. They see the report. Cindy and Soundwave also see it. Shockwave orders Galvatron destroyed. Cindy heads to the volcano, and then the Combaticons arrive, to carry out Shockwave's orders. Goldbug and Rollbar watch, but decide to leave Ultra Magnus in order to allow Galvatron to be killed, much to Cindy's chagrin.

Notes: Cindy's surname is Newell. Blaster and Goldbug have been on the run from Grimlock since #122, and picked up the Throttlebots since #127. Brawl has been repaired since #107.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Ultra Magnus, Galvatron, Goldbug, Rollbar, Blaster, Soundwave, Shockwave, Vortex, Swindle, Onslaught, Brawl, Blast Off.

Notable Others: Joyce Meadows, Susan Hoffman, Cindy.

Review: It's competent, but a little inconsequential... Cindy really isn't a strong enough character to warrant a return, and Dan Reed does just fine until he's required to draw robots. It's nice to see the Combaticons, but it'd be even nicer if they got a decent story at some point.

[*][*][*][*][0][0][0][0][0][0]

"Broken Glass!" Part 4

Synopsis: The Autobot Headmasters easily push back the Decepticon forces. However, Llyra is angry with Galen, and walks away.

Notes: Marika's recovered from the injuries suffered in #132.

Errors: On page 3, it really looks like Scorponok has a hybrid mode. The next frame, as the Decepticons leg it, Misfire's coloured like Triggerhappy. Poor chap still hasn't been coloured right by Nel's Crayolas... Between Scorponok and Snapdragon in the same frame is Skullcruncher, coloured wrong. Why don't Misfire and Snapdragon fly away? On page 4, Highbrow is holding Cerebros' head, which then reverts to being Maximus' head on page 5. To be fair to Frank, the model sheet probably gave the full three-stage Galen/Spike > Cerebros > Fortress Maximus sequence rather than the current one, used for scripting purposes by Bob. When the Nebulans revert to humanoid modes, they all switch places. Marika becomes "Marita".

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Scorponok, Fortress Maximus, Chromedome, Hardhead, Highbrow, Brainstorm, Snapdragon, Misfire, Skullcruncher.

Notable Others: Duros, Gort, Stylor, Arcana, Galen, Marika, Llyra.

Back-Up Strips:
Robo-Capers

Review: A fair fight scene, enlivened slightly by Llyra's dismissal of Galen at the end.

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#138 - "Ladies' Night" Part 2 & "Love and Steel!" Part 1

[cover]
Cover: Barry Kitson

Cover Date: 07/11/87

"Ladies' Night" Part 2

Script: Simon Furman
Art: Geoff Senior
Letters: Annie Halfacree
Colours: Abadzis

Later Reprinted By: Titan Books: Legacy of Unicron [Worldwide].

"Love and Steel!" Part 1

Script: Bob Budiansky
Pencils: Frank Springer
Inks: Ian Akin & Brian Garvey
Letters: Pat Brosseau
Colours: Nel Yomtov

Originally Printed In: Pages 1-6 of US Transformers Headmasters #3, cover date September 1987

"Ladies' Night" Part 2

Synopsis: Joy, Susan and Cindy are able to prevent Swindle from setting charges by knocking him out with a tank. They attack the rest of the Combaticons, and Susan is briefly captured by Onslaught before the Autobots arrive. Blaster is then able to block Soundwave's detonation signal. Down below, though, Galvatron stirs.

Errors: Blaster once again loses his visor for a UK appearance. Wideload's dropped his extra height too.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Swindle, Galvatron, Ultra Magnus, Onslaught, Vortex, Blast Off, Brawl, Blaster, Goldbug, Chase, Freeway, Wideload, Rollbar, Searchlight.

Notable Others: Joyce, Susan, Cindy.

Review: A rather ham-fisted female enpowerment message overwhelms lots of little good bits, such as the flecks of characterisation given to the Combaticons, Soundwave once again being a pragmatic leader, and the rare use of Blaster's alt mode abilities. It just feels too much like a bridge to reviving Galvatron. Proof that even handsome Geoff Senior art can't save a sub-par script.

[*][*][*][*][*][0][0][0][0][0]

"Love and Steel!" Part 1

Synopsis: The Horrorcons and Terrorcons attack the Nebulan city of Splendora, until the Technobots, Hardhead and Brainstorm arrive. The Terrorcons form Abominus, but are defeated by the Technobots as Computron. Meanwhile, the Decepticons hold Zarak's sect, planning to run tests on them.

Errors: On page 2, there's too much white on Lightspeed. On the same page, Rippersnapper's missing his guns as he runs off. Why does Rippersnapper give the combining order? As the Decepticons retreat, Triggerhappy and Slugslinger have appeared out of nowhere, Blot's blue and purple are the wrong way round, and Nel isn't even that close for Sinnertwin.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Apeface, Cutthroat [first appearance], Snapdragon, Rippersnapper [first appearance], Hun-Grr [first appearance], Blot, Nosecone, Lightspeed, Hardhead, Brainstorm, Scattershot, Abominus [first appearance], Computron [first appearance], Scorponok, Mindwipe, Skullcruncher, Weirdwolf.

Notable Others: Duros, Arcana, Soriza [first appearance], Zarak, Krunk, Vorath, Grax, Spasma.

Extras: A-Z covers Dirge and Divebomb.

Back-Up Strips:
Robo-Capers

Review: A moderately well-done start, with a decent battle but little else of interest.

[*][*][*][*][*][0][0][0][0][0]

#139 - "Used Autobots!" Part 1 & "Love and Steel!" Part 2

[cover]
Cover: Robin Smith
Cover Date: 14/11/87

"Used Autobots!" Part 1

Script: Bob Budiansky
Pencil Breakdowns: Don Perlin
Inks: Ian Akin & Brian Garvey
Letters: Pat Brosseau
Colours: Nel Yomtov

Originally Printed In: Pages 1-11 of US Transformers #32, cover date September 1987

"Love and Steel!" Part 2

Script: Bob Budiansky
Pencils: Frank Springer
Inks: Ian Akin & Brian Garvey
Letters: Pat Brosseau
Colours: Nel Yomtov

Originally Printed In: Pages 7-11 of US Transformers Headmasters #3, cover date September 1987

"Used Autobots!" Part 1

Synopsis: Blaster, Goldbug and the Throttlebots are pursued across California by Vortex, who Blaster shoots down, and later by a RAAT team, who they escape from. Back at the Ark, news reaches Grimlock, and he sends the Protectobots to find out what's going on. The fugitives shelter in a used car dealership, where Blaster is taken by a human. The lot owner, Big Steve, plans to sell the cars, aside from Rollbar, who was damaged by Vortex. He plans to junk him, but is interrupted.

Errors: On page 2, Goldbug's Autobot badge is uncoloured. Wideload's mad if he thinks the blast from Vortex "nearly nicked his fender"... Would Big Steve really miss a whacking great big dumper truck?

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Goldbug, Blaster, Chase, Rollbar, Searchlight, Freeway, Vortex, Wheeljack, Grimlock, Hotspot, Blades, Slag.

Review: Actually fairly enjoyable, depending on your appreciation of the 'Throttlebot-skates' sequence. Blaster's mildly more likeable, and Grimlock's more bumbling than tyrannical. Big Steve, sadly, is a horrid cardboard stereotype.

[*][*][*][*][*][0][0][0][0][0]

"Love and Steel!" Part 2

Synopsis: Scorponok learns of the defeat, and Zarak tries to bargain with him. Meanwhile, Soriza insists a delegation of Nebulans accompany all Autobot missions.

Errors: On page 4, Gort and Stylor say each other's lines. Why is Scorponok bothering with the polymer machine? Why not just kill the Nebulans?

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Scorponok, Skullcruncher, Mindwipe, Snapdragon, Apeface, Highbrow, Hardhead, Chromedome, Fortress Maximus, Brainstorm.

Notable Others: Monzo [first appearance], Zarak, Gort, Stylor, Galen, Arcana, Duros, Soriza, Llyra.

Extras: A-Z covers Dragstrip and Fireflight.

Back-Up Strips:
Robo-Capers

Review: Some fine dialogue and a nice realistic approach to the impact of the Transformers on a bureaucratic society, though it's a bit plodding.

[*][*][*][*][*][*][0][0][0][0]

#140 - "Used Autobots!" Part 2 & "Love and Steel!" Part 3

[cover]
Cover: Lee Sullivan
Cover Date: 21/11/87

"Used Autobots!" Part 2

Script: Bob Budiansky
Pencil Breakdowns: Don Perlin
Inks: Ian Akin & Brian Garvey
Letters: Pat Brosseau
Colours: Nel Yomtov

Originally Printed In: Pages 12-22 of US Transformers #32, cover date September 1987

"Love and Steel!" Part 3

Script: Bob Budiansky
Pencils: Frank Springer
Inks: Ian Akin & Brian Garvey
Letters: Pat Brosseau
Colours: Nel Yomtov

Originally Printed In: Pages 12-17 of US Transformers Headmasters #3, cover date September 1987

"Used Autobots!" Part 2

Synopsis: The Autobots are forced to reveal themselves to the car dealer. He agrees to give them shelter, but then sabotages them and calls RAAT. Then both the Combaticons and Protectobots arrive. Blaster then intervenes, but RAAT take Goldbug and the Throttlebots. The Combaticons withdraw, and Hotspot reveals he's been sent to bring Blaster in.

Errors: On page 1, Goldbug has his "toy" blue head.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Searchlight, Freeway, Chase, Goldbug, Blaster, Wideload, Brawl, Onslaught, Swindle, Blast Off, Vortex, First Aid, Groove, Hotspot, Streetwise, Blades, Rollbar.

Notable Others: Walter Barnett.

Review: If not for Big Steve, this would actually be a middling action story. As it is, the third-rate comedy undermines a well-executed battle.

[*][*][*][*][0][0][0][0][0][0]

"Love and Steel!" Part 3

Synopsis: Zarak and his minions have undergone the Headmaster process, and lure the Autobots into a trap, unaware that Llyra will accompany them. Both sets of Headmasters fight as the council delegation looks on.

Notes: Zarak bonds to Scorponok, Vorath to Mindwipe, Grax to Skullcruncher, Monzo to Weirdwolf, Krunk to Snapdragon and Spasma to Apeface.

Errors: On page 3, Apeface and Weirdwolf are miscoloured. The following page, as the Nebulans transform, they switch places. In the bottom frame, Apeface is coloured like Mindwipe.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Brainstorm, Highbrow, Hardhead, Chromedome, Fortress Maximus, Apeface, Mindwipe, Scorponok, Weirdwolf, Skullcruncher, Snapdragon.

Notable Others: Llyra, Galen, Arcana, Gort, Duros, Zarak, Stylor, Soriza, Spasma, Grax, Vorath, Krunk, Monzo.

Extras: The centre pages form an A3 poster version of Hasbro's Targetmaster advertisment.

Back-Up Strips:
Robo-Capers

Review: Something of a means to an end, with Zarak's character tending to bend to the needs of the greater narrative, but at least the arrival of the Decepticon Headmasters is out of the way now.

[*][*][*][*][0][0][0][0][0][0]

 

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