THE TRANSFORMERS: COMICS, BOOKS AND MANGA

"Child's Play" Part 1

Synopsis: The Protectobots radio back to the Ark, currently being prepared to be launched into space, but are spotted by a group of children at a rail depot. They are attacked by the Combaticons, and leave Blaster, who is found by one of the children. Meanwhile, the Combaticons have formed Bruticus.

Errors: On page 7, there's too much grey on Blaster.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Streetwise, First Aid, Blades, Groove, Blaster, Wheeljack, Grimlock, Powerglide, Cosmos, Beachcomber, Hotspot, Brawl, Swindle, Vortex, Blast-Off, Onslaught, Bruticus.

Notable Others: Allan, Jed, Sammy, Robin. No, no. It's bad enough I have to list these idiots, I'm not mentioning the bloody teddy bear.

Review: Argh... the kids are incredibly irritating, and the Transformers parts aren't anywhere near good enough to redeem the thing. Really the beginning of the end for Bob - sadly, the end would last another twenty stories...

"Love and Steel!" Part 4

Synopsis: Both sides fight, before Mindwipe hypnotises the delegation. The Autobots leave themselves wide open saving them, and are defeated by the Decepticons, with Llyra believing Zarak to be her saviour.

Errors: As Fortress Maximus catches Llyra, he has Cerebros' head.

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

Notable Others: Llyra, Soriza, Zarak.

Back-Up Strips:
Robo-Capers

Review: A middling instalment, with the good bit being Scorponok's waxing control, and the bad bit being Llyra's selective amnesia, which feels a bit too convenient.

"Child's Play" Part 2

Synopsis: The Protectobots form Defensor, and battle Bruticus. Meanwhile, an impatient Grimlock orders the Ark to be launched. Back at the train depot, the kids remove the transforming lock from Blaster. Bruticus defeats Defensor, but Blaster electrocutes the Decepticon. The Protectobots then let Blaster go, and he takes the kids into space in Blast Off, locked in his shuttle mode. However, once in space, they are attacked by the Ark.

Notes: The Ark goes into space in this issue for the first time since the middle of #1.

Errors: On page 3, in the top frame Bruticus' speech bubble is pointing at Defensor.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Defensor, Bruticus, Grimlock, Cosmos, Beachcomber, Wheeljack, Blaster, First Aid, Hotspot, Streetwise, Blades, Groove, Swindle, Blast Off.

Notable Others: Allan, Jed, Sammy, Robin.

Review: A decent fight scene, an amusingly OTT Grimlock, a surprisingly balanced Blaster, all spoiled by those bastard kids. Really, Blaster should have stamped Robin to paste after her sickening plea for Daisy's "life".

"Brothers in Armour!!" Part 1

Synopsis: The Decepticons attack the Mercury Gardens of Melanossus, driving back the Autobot defenders. Meanwhile, a team of Nebulons branded rebels by Zarak meet up with the Autobots, and are given armour that turns into weaponry. They receive a distress call from another Autobot, but resolve to rescue their friends before leaving the planet.

Notes: The distress call will be send in #155, by Goldbug. Ho-hum. Monzo is an ex-wrestler, and Grax a businessman. The names for the Nebulan rebels are codenames only.

Errors: As the three Decepticons reach robot mode on page 2, Snapdragon and Mindwipe swap schemes. On page 3, Weirdwolf's coloured wrong. Hot Rod is spelt 'Hot-Rod' on page 6. When the Targetmaster companions appear, Spoilsport and Recoil are coloured wrong.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Mindwipe, Doublecross, Weirdwolf, Grotusque, Snapdragon, Repugnus, Scorponok, Skullcruncher, Crosshairs, Kup, Hot Rod, Blurr, Pointblank, Sureshot.

Notable Others: Zarak, Vorath, Grax, Monzo, Krunk, Spasma, Peacemaker, Pinpointer, Firebolt, Recoil [first appearance], Haywire [first appearance], Spoilsport.

Production Notes: For the UK printing, the spelling was Anglicised from "Brothers in Armor!!", the US title. Also, the character of Sparks had a name change to Firebolt, to tie in with both the UK comic's recent reference, and the toyline.

Back-Up Strips:
Robo-Capers

Review: A moderate start, though it's a bit stodgy. Zarak's character is beginning to settle down, and the conclusion to his interview with the Nebulan TV crew is actually rather chilling. However, the rapid introduction of the Targetmasters isn't too impressive.

"Spacehikers!" Part 1

Synopsis: Sky Lynx receives a call for help from Wheeljack, while Grimlock tries to capture Blaster. Sammy throws Blaster overboard just before the Ark captures Blast Off. The kids are captured, but Wheeljack gives them environment suits. However, they are summoned to Grimlock.

Notes: Sky Lynx had taken a nomadic life over civil war. Wheeljack saved his life several times.

Errors: Wildrider is shown in the flashback to Cybertron - but he was created on Earth, and has yet to leave. There's an absolute corker on page 7, when Sammy throws Blaster out of... Sky Lynx. Skids is visible on page 8 - it's not Jose's fault, but in the UK continuity he's been in limbo since #101 and won't return until after #205.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Sky Lynx [first appearance], Bombshell [flashback], Razorclaw [flashback], Wildrider [flashback], Wheeljack, Slag, Sludge, Snarl, Grimlock, Blast Off, Blaster, Grapple, Wheeljack, Cosmos, Tracks.

Notable Others: Allan, Jed, Sammy, Robin.

Review: At this stage Delbo's art isn't that bad - probably a tribute to just how good Akin and Garvey are. Sadly, the story's diabolical. The kids are slightly less appealing than Satan's bile, and the environment suit for Daisy is a serious contender for the absolute nadir of Transformers. The childish scripting and unnecessarily central role of these four sacks of excrement, added to the lengthy recap of the end of last issue, easily outweighs the fact that Sky Lynx is actually rather good.

"Brothers in Armour!!" Part 2

Synopsis: The distress call is also intercepted by Vorath, who tells Zarak. Galen pleads with Zarak and Llyra, but then they hear of an Autobot sighting, and Zarak takes Scorponok and the Terrorcons to face them. There they ambush the seemingly unarmed Autobots.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Blot, Cutthroat, Sinnertwin, Scorponok, Hun-Grr, Rippersnapper, Pointblank, Crosshairs, Sureshot, Hot Rod, Kup, Blurr.

Notable Others: Vorath, Zarak, Galen, Llyra, Duros, Stylor, Arcana, Peacemaker, Pinpointer, Firebolt, Recoil, Haywire, Spoilsport.

Production Notes: For the UK printing, the spelling was Anglicised from "Brothers in Armor!!", the US title.

Extras: A-Z profiles on First Aid and Frenzy.

Back-Up Strips:
Robo-Capers

Review: Galen and Zarak arguing is the main attraction, with not a lot else happening.

"Spacehikers!" Part 2

Synopsis: Grimlock sentences the kids to death, much to the shock of many of the Autobots. Sky Lynx saves them, while Blaster boards the Ark. Sky Lynx shelters in an asteroid storm, but the Dinobots follow. The Autobots side with Blaster, but he's forced to surrender to allow the humans to be spared.

Notes: The Protectobots have returned to the Ark since #142. Blaster mentions the Polyhex smelting pools - see #67. Presumably Sky Lynx can dispatch one or the other of his modules to subspace when he's not using it.

Errors: These file among 'Not the artist's fault, but in the context of the UK series, are errors nonetheless' - Twin Twist [page 1] and Sandstorm [page 10] both appear when they should be on Cybertron, and on page 11 Skids gets another appearance when he should be in limbo [it's a mystery why the UK team didn't obscure him as they did in #109 - it's possible they didn't spot him]. In the top frame of page 3, Beachcomber, Seaspray, Slag, Hoist, Warpath and Tracks are all standing casually on bugger-all. On page 9, Omega Supreme's hardly taller than Prowl or Blaster, and the next page he's not to a much better scale. Would the Dinobots really be more agile in dinosaur modes? Swoop? Maybe. The other four? No.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Wheeljack, Grimlock, Snarl, Sludge, Swoop, Beachcomber, Slag, Cosmos, First Aid, Skydive, Hotspot, Fireflight, Seaspray, Smokescreen, Silverbolt, Sky Lynx, Hoist, Warpath, Tracks, Blaster, Powerglide, Blades, Prowl, Omega Supreme, Perceptor, Ratchet, Swerve [[first appearance - okay, it's almost certainly a miscoloured Gears, but it's bit of a coincidence, and I really like Swerve...], Sideswipe, Jetfire.

Notable Others: Allan, Jed, Sammy, Robin.

Review: Totally stupid. A horrid mess of coincidences, tackiness, those bloody kids, unrealistic characters and plot elements [hopping around on asteroids, the sudden total animosity towards Grimlock and adoration of Blaster] and terrible dialogue. The only good bit is Grimlock condemning the kids to death. Delbo's renders are still solid, though he succumbs to what will be a trademark - the random character model insertion syndrome. Read this before slagging "Buster Witwicky and the Carwash of Doom".

"Brothers in Armour!!" Part 3

Synopsis: The Autobots reveal their Targetmaster abilities, but withdraw to protect the nursery. Zarak then realises he's destroying what he wanted to protect. Back at Zarak's HQ, Vorath has perfected Targetmasters for the Decepticons. Wracked by guilt and schizophrenia brought on by Scorponok, Zarak musters enough of himself to free Galen and the others, and the Autobot Headmasters break free.

Notes: Peacemaker partners Pointblank, Pinpointer partners Crosshairs, Spoilsport partners Sureshot, Firebolt partners Hot Rod, Recoil partners Kup and Haywire partners Blurr. For the Decepticon Targetmasters, Aimless partners Misfire, Blowpipe partners Triggerhappy, Caliburst partners Slugslinger, Nightstick partners Cyclonus and Fracas partners Scourge. Hun-Grr can swallow and redirect projectiles.

Errors: Zarak's helmet switches from teal to purple. On page 2, in the first frame featuring Hun-Grr, Fortress Maximus' base/tank mode replaces Scorponok. When the Targetmasters retreat, Crosshairs is coloured like Pointblank, and Sureshot appears twice in the same frame - one time all in yellow, and one time with his detail in the wrong place - replacing Hot Rod. Krunk's armour is the wrong colour. As Zarak frees them, the captions for Gort and Stylor are the wrong way round [it's not the art, as they both clearly have the correct faces/hair to match their armour]. As they return to their robot bodies, Fortress Maximus is drawn too small, and Highbrow's too large and miscoloured.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Blurr, Crosshairs, Hot Rod, Kup, Pointblank, Sureshot, Rippersnapper, Hun-Grr, Scorponok, Blot, Cutthroat, Sinnertwin, Slugslinger, Triggerhappy, Scourge, Misfire, Cyclonus, Fortress Maximus, Brainstorm, Hardhead, Highbrow, Chromedome.

Notable Others: Zarak, Vorath, Blowpipe [first appearance], Caliburst [first appearance], Fracas [first appearance], Aimless [first appearance], Llyra, Krunk, Galen, Duros, Gort, Stylor, Arcana.

Production Notes: For the UK printing, the spelling was Anglicised from "Brothers in Armor!!", the US title. Also, with Cyclonus now assuming his normal character model, the UK team didn't edit his name.

Back-Up Strips:
Robo-Capers

Review: Zarak's meandering character, and the smart explanation for it, lifts this segment of the series, though the Targetmaster battle is rather limp.

"Stargazing"

Synopsis: Starscream awakes from the capsule Hot Rod, Kup and Blurr placed him in, and wanders the countryside on Christmas Eve. He meets a human who insists on showing him the spirit of Christmas, and helps a stranded bus. However, he's been followed by Streetwise, who attacks him. The human berates Streetwise, who leaves, but Starscream tells his follower that he only helped the humans to humiliate Streetwise, but still wishes him a merry Christmas.

Notes: It's not explained why Starscream woke up - most likely Hot Rod, Kup and Blurr stuffed something up. He must have slipped out somewhere before #142, when the Ark took off.

Errors: Starscream was clearly put back into storage on the Ark in #87. How on Earth can Streetwise outmanoeuvre Starscream's weapons on snow?

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Starscream, Hot Rod [flashback], Blurr [flashback], Streetwise.

Review: Some good character work for Starscream and Streetwise is lost in a dull "teach the aliens the meaning of Christmas" 'plot'. What's also annoying is the pointless spanner this throws in continuity... For Starscream's legion of blinkered fans only.

"Brothers in Armour!!" Part 4

Synopsis: The Autobot Headmasters break past the Decepticon Targetmasters and head out into their base in the swamp. Zarak, struggling with Scorponok, lets them go, planning to follow them to Earth to quench the Decepticon's warlike desires while saving Nebulos. Llyra, seeing the truth, meets Galen, but he tells her she was right so she'll let him go. The Autobots then leave Nebulos, swiftly followed by the Decepticons.

Notes: "Worlds Apart!" presumably happens between the penultimate and last pages - there's nowhere else, really.

Errors: In the first frame of page 1, Blurr is fleeing with the Autobot Headmasters. In the next frame, Fortress Maximus once again has Cerebros' head. On page 4, Hot Rod and Kup are too small - the Nebulans would come up to their waist if they were standing, and Arcana's switched to civvies. In the next frame, Pointblank's head is AWOL. On page 5, Triggerhappy, Slugslinger and Misfire are shown leaving with the Autobots.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Hardhead, Brainstorm. Fortress Maximus, Highbrow, Chromedome, Triggerhappy, Slugslinger, Scourge, Misfire, Cyclonus, Scorponok, Hot Rod, Kup, Pointblank, Grotusque, Doublecross.

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

Production Notes: For the UK printing, the spelling was Anglicised from "Brothers in Armor!!", the US title.

Back-Up Strips:
Robo-Capers

Review: A rather rushed conclusion embellished by some wonderful character-work for Zarak and Galen - his rejection of Llyra is a splendid scene. Overall, Headmasters really doesn't work in its UK format, where the epic narrative is broken into too many pieces, which really disrupts the flow. Considering the amount of ground needed to be covered, it's fantastic the amount of background and intrigue Budiansky adds, and it's far better than the work he was turning out on the regular series at the time.

Synopsis: 2008 - Death's Head chases Scourge and Cyclonus to Junk. He knocks them both out, when a Junkion appears and says the planet is being mind-controlled. Deaths' Head agrees to consider being hired to help. Back on Cybertron, Rodimus bids farewell to Wreck-Gar, who is being flown back to his own planet by Inferno and Smokescreen. Meanwhile, Death's Head makes a deal with Cyclonus and Scourge, who agree to help in return for the mechanoid abandoning his chase of them. Before they can put their plan into action, though, their minds are taken over too - by Unicron, whose head is now controlling the planet.

Notes: Scourge has repaired his wound since #134. Wreck-Gar helped the Autobots during Unicron's attack on Cybertron. Unicron's head has survived, and he can still control minds.

Errors: If the Junkion was under Unicron's control all along, why does he warn Death's Head?

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Scourge, Cyclonus, Rodimus Prime, Inferno [first appearance], Smokescreen, Galvatron [flashback].

Notable Others: Death's Head, Wreck-Gar, Unicron [head].

Production Notes: With the conclusion of the Headmasters reprints, the back-up strip reverted to non-Transformers material.

Extras: The A-Z profiles Gears and Grapple.

Back-Up Strips:
Iron Man - "Stratosfire" Part 1
Robo-Capers

Review: A wonderful scene setter, with some of Furman's best characters - Death's Head, Scourge and Cyclonus. The plot is intriguing despite the careful devotion to a dramatic build-up towards the last page, all dressed up beautifully in Geoff Senior's art. Excellent.

Synopsis: Death's Head travels to the Decepticon base on Cybertron under Unicron's control, pretending to be delivering Scourge and Cyclonus to Shockwave. The Decepticon is wary, and escapes into the depths of the base when Death's Head tries to kill him. Deaths' Head follows, leaving Scourge and Cyclonus to hold off reinforcements. On Junk, Wreck-Gar, Smokescreen and Inferno have stumbled onto Unicron. Deaths' Head kills Shockwave, and Scourge and Cyclonus are installed in command of the Decepticons, allowing Unicron to launch them into an attack that will decimate both factions.

Notes: Shockwave was first shown to be in command of the post-2006 Decepticons in #113. He contracted Death's Head to kill Rodimus Prime in #133. Soundwave is his second-in-command. Death's Head destroys Shockwave's brain module. The Audience Chamber contains a statue of Megatron, amongst others. The target range contains likenesses of Blurr, Grimlock, Kup and Rodimus Prime.

Errors: In the bottom-left frame of page 5, Cyclonus is coloured red and blue.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Shockwave [killed by Death's Head], Scourge, Cyclonus, Soundwave, Smokescreen, Inferno, Menasor, Dead End, Breakdown.

Notable Others: Death's Head, Wreck-Gar, Unicron [head].

Letters Page: Matt Packer expounds on his rather bizarre theory that Unicron is an evolution of Galactus, who has merged with his spacecraft.

Back-Up Strips:
Iron Man - "Stratosfire" Part 2
Robo-Capers

Review: Fantastic - great Soundwave, great Shockwave, great Death's Head, great art, superb plot, remarkable dialogue, honour, pathos, wit... The target range sequence is one of the very best set pieces Transformers has ever produced, while Death's Head vowing to avenge Shockwave as he kills him sums the character up perfectly. It doesn't get much better than this.

Synopsis: The Decepticons attack the Autobots en masse on Cybertron, while Rodimus tries to work out to reason behind this illogical action. On Junk, Wreck-Gar, Smokescreen and Inferno decide to head back and warn Rodimus of Unicron's return, but Unicron sends Death's Head after them. Inferno is injured, and Wreck-Gar holds off Death's Head while the Autobots escape. Death's Head then fights Unicron's control for long enough for the Junkion to escape.

Notes: Sandstorm's presumably been repaired since #202, Blitzing since #209, Perceptor since whatever hit him between #208 and #258, and Seaspray since whatever knocked him out between #211 and #250 [you'll see when we get there].

Errors: There's a slight timescale problem - Inferno, Smokescreen and Wreck-Gar have been watching Unicron for a fairly long amount of time, enough for the Decepticons to mobilise the huge assault, and Death's Head to return to Junk, which stretches credibility a little. On page 5, Blades' colour scheme is reversed. Hotspot is miscoloured on the battle spread - there's also a miscoloured Hook, seemingly fighting on the Autobot side. Kup calling Rodimus "Rodimus Prime" on the first page feels a little forced. Not really an error, it just feels out of character for the rather paternal Kup. Actually, Kup moaning about the lack of combat seconds before a huge Decepticon assault is a bit tacky too. It's also pretty surprising that there's no advanced warning of the attack... even a lookout forward of Rodimus' citadel... even if it's a matter of the Decepticons being only a few miles away, surely the Autobots would have had some sort of observation to notice such a huge fleet massing.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Rodimus Prime, Kup, Cyclonus, Scourge, Perceptor, Seaspray, Blurr, Grimlock, Blades, Hotspot, Grapple, Blitzwing, Springer, Slag, Sandstorm, Inferno, Smokescreen.

Notable Others: Death's Head, Wreck-Gar, Unicron [head].

Extras: A-Z covers Grimlock and Groove.

Letters Page: Grimlock suggests that Autobot City's battle mode being known as 'Fortress Maximus' in the Transformers the Movie Special is due to it being named in his honour.

Back-Up Strips:
Iron Man - "Stratosfire" Part 3
Robo-Capers

Review: The plot's still dynamite, with Furman at the height of his powers, steadily turning Death's Head from villain to [anti]hero in a very convincing fashion. However, Reed's art is pretty dire, and he really botches most of the action sequences.

Synopsis: As they reach Cybertron, Smokescreen and Inferno's shuttle is badly damaged by Cyclonus and Scourge. Inferno then hurls Smokescreen overboard so he can inform Rodimus, before piloting the crippled ship into the Decepticon forces. Meanwhile, Unicron has constructed a time portal so he can recover Galvatron from 1988. On hearing of the events on Junk, Rodimus takes a small Autobot force to the planet, while Death's Head attempts to combat Unicron on the astral plane.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Smokescreen, Cyclonus, Scourge, Inferno, Rodimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, Kup, Grimlock.

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

Back-Up Strips:
Iron Man - "Stratosfire" Part 4
Robo-Capers

Review: The weight given to Inferno and Smokescreen's friendship, given the little of it we've seen, is amazing, and the former's sacrifice rates as one of the most emotional moments the series would produce. To allow for this, the plot slows a little, but there's fine characterisation for others, notably Rodimus and Death's Head, and given the smaller-scale events, Reed's art isn't quite as annoying as the visuals aren't as important in carrying the story.

Synopsis: Wreck-Gar is able to sneak under Unicron and lay charges while Death's Head meets him on the astral plane. Meanwhile, Rodimus' shuttle approaches the planet. Unicron tells Death's Head the origin of the Transformers - how at the dawn of the universe, he, a Chaos God, had fought Primus, a Light God, and nearly won before Primus tricked them into materialising inside space junk. Both were able to psionically alter their prisons - Unicron made his a giant transforming planet, with Primus becoming Cybertron, creating Transformers and storing his essence in the Creation Matrix. Just then, back on the physical plane, the Autobots attack Unicron, but Wreck-Gar is trapped underground with the explosives.

Notes: Presumably that's Sentinel Prime in flashback [see #290]. Before the battle with Unicron in 2006, Ultra Magnus held the Matrix, but Galvatron took it from him. Scattershot's presumably been repaired since #209. The Matrix would appear to be a solid artefact, which will become the norm from now on. Originally it's a computer programme, but this isn't a huge problem. One possible explanation is that the data was transferred to Prime's body for security reasons at the height of the civil war, but was then transferred back to its original casing when Optimus' own mortality was made clear several times over, so it could be passed on to the next leader.

Errors: More of a bugbear, but Rodimus thinking dark thoughts about Smokescreen leaving Wreck-Gar in a bit of bother at Wreck-Gar's choice is a bit harsh seeing as Smokescreen's best friend just died...

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Rodimus Prime, Grimlock, Scattershot, Smokescreen, Sentinel Prime [flashback], Optimus Prime [flashback], Galvatron [flashback], Scourge [flashback], Cyclonus [flashback], Ultra Magnus [flashback].

Notable Others: Death's Head, Wreck-Gar, Unicron [head, full body in flashback, energy form in flashback], Primus [flashback].

Extras: Paris' cover is a full wraparound. Plus a special A-Z entry on Rodimus Prime.

Back-Up Strips:
Iron Man - "Stratosfire" Part 5
Robo-Capers

Review: A dazzling display of imagination from Furman. It's easy to take the origin now for granted, but this is an amazing piece of work for a weekly kids' toyline comic. The story still stands up well together, adding real depth to the Transformers universe, and the issue is a cornerstone for all that would come, beyond the end of the UK comic. Does mean the plot goes for a Burton for most of it, though...