THE TRANSFORMERS: COMICS, BOOKS AND MANGA

Cover Date: 12/11/88

Script: Bob Budiansky
Breakdowns: José Delbo
Finished Art: Dave Hunt
Letters: Bill Oakley
Colours: Nel Yomtov

Originally Printed In: Pages 12-22 of US Transformers #45, dated October 1988.

Synopsis: Skullgrin is befriended by a fellow film star named Carissa, while Circuit Breaker observes him. Skullgrin reveals his true form, and Circuit Breaker attacks. In the fight, Carissa is nearly killed, but Skullgrin saves her. Circuit breaker then turns on the greedy movie mogul, before heading off.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Skullgrin.

Notable Others: Circuit Breaker.

Back-Up Strips:
Action Force - "Unmaskings" Part 1
Combat Colin

Review: No better than the opener, with lots of intended humour and cynicism falling flat - being too broad to be amusing [e.g. the waaay OTT capitalism of the movie producer]. And there's more Circuit Breaker than there has been for a nice long while.

Synopsis: The mysterious Z Foundation hire four human bounty hunters - known as Roadhog, Burn-Out, Skunge and Felix to hunt Transformers. Meanwhile on Cybertron, the Sparkler Minibots and Triggerbots are prisoners of the Decepticons, but Sizzle, Fizzle and Backstreet are curiously released and sent to Earth. They split up, but Sizzle is attacked immediately by Roadhog.

Notes: Sizzle and Fizzle revert to their 'toy' colour schemes for this story - it's possible they swapped since #171 for some arcane reason. They and Guzzle have been captured at some point since then also. The Smelting Pool would still seem to be active on Cybertron. The line "A Transdimensional Spacebridge!" would seem to confirm there's more than one of them.

Errors: Once Sizzle, Fizzle and Backstreet are re-energised and armed, why not attack the Firecons? On page 10, Backstreet's head is red, as is Sizzle's face when the rest of him is block-coloured. Why do the Foundation keep up the masquerade when there's no-one else around? Why do the Autobots split up when there's obviously something suspicious going on? Where did Backstreet get his Earth mode from [possibly an unseen visit]?

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Dogfight [first appearance], Sizzle, Fizzle, Guzzle, Backstreet [first appearance], Override [first appearance], Flamefeather, Cindersaur, Sparkstalker.

Notable Others: Kreb ["Mr. K", first appearance], Brisko ["Mr. B", first appearance], Lokos ["Mr. L", first appearance], Zarak ["Mr. Z"]. No, don't think of it as spoiling the story for you. Think of it as saving you from the story...

Back-Up Strips:
Action Force - "Unmaskings" Part 2
Combat Colin

Review: Utter stupidity, bereft of the humour that often enlivens some of Budiansky's more ropey stories. The Roadjammers seem to be a desperate attempt to create a new archenemy, which is a bit silly when there's a perfectly good one [the bloody Decepticons] on the book already, and the comic has too many human baggage characters as it is.

Synopsis: Sizzle is soon disabled by Roadhog, using one of the Z Foundation's jamming devices. The same fate awaits Backstreet at the hands of Skunge, and Fizzle from Burn-Out. However, Fizzle warns them they could be pawns in a Decepticon plan, and the Roadjammers set off to find out the truth about the Z Foundation. Mr. L, Mr. K and Mr. B are actually the Nebulons paired with Squeezeplay, Horri-Bull and Fangry, but the Roadjammers have disabled their bodies. However, Zarak arrives, attacking with Scorponok. Felix then sets both the Decepticons and Autobots on Scorponok. Zarak is forced to free all six Transformers, and the Autobots take the Roadjammers to safety.

Notes: Considering the Transformer-unfriendly state of Nebulos in #177, it's likely that Kreb, Brisko and Lokos were friends of Zarak that either left alongside him in #145 without being bonded to Transformers, or followed on afterwards, and have since been combined with other Decepticons using replicated technology.

Errors: If Zarak heads the Z Foundation, why did he order the capture/destruction of Decepticons last issue? Backstreet's Porsche 962 mode is missing the rear fairing, and he's coloured all orange on page 10.

Most bafflingly, since when did the Decepticons need human bounty hunters to their dirty work?

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Sizzle, Backstreet, Fizzle, Horri-Bull [first appearance], Fangry [first appearance], Squeezeplay [first appearance], Scorponok.

Notable Others: Kreb, Brisko, Lokos, Zarak.

Letters Page: Toby Garrick subjects us to his comedy stylings...

"How did Rodimus Prime catch and cook fish at the same time?"
"He used a Hot-Rod!"

Back-Up Strips:
Action Force - "Unmaskings" Part 3
Combat Colin

Review: Nice cover, shame about the story. More implausible feats from the risible Roadjammers, a very out-of-character and needlessly indirect Zarak and some insipid art.

Synopsis: The Decepticons have returned their island to Earth, and are now seemingly using it as a holiday resort for humans. The Autobots are naturally suspicious of this, especially when they find that Buster is apparently King of the island. Blaster is sent to investigate, and is smuggled onto the island by Jessie. She takes a dive in the ocean, and finds the Seacons travelling into the island.

Notes: Starscream has joined up with Ratbat's Decepticons since #145. Sparkplug smokes cigars. The Seacons have defected to Ratbat's faction since #161. Jessie's dyed her hair since #129, and is an excellent swimmer.

Optimus Prime has returned to the Autobots since #179, taking over leadership from Grimlock - presumably without a hitch as the pair seem to be getting on fine. The Autobots have also repaired the Ark, and returned from Earth's moon.

Errors: Considering the last time the island-base was on Earth it was the target of a huge naval assault, it's pretty astonishing that the Decepticons are publicly promoting a successful holiday resource without any interference... Outback [who should still be on Cybertron - in #245 he's still at the Academy] and a Battlecharger are in the Ark's drill room. By page 8, Ramjet has morphed into an F16 Falcon upon landing. Blaster's without his insignia throughout - though it's possible he removes it to go undercover. Though not that likely, as not even Ratbat would be that stupid. "Hmm, that looks like the Autobot scum, Blaster! No, wait, no insignia, must be Soundwave up to one of his zany pranks". I think not...

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Starscream, Dragstrip, Breakdown, Swindle, Fortress Maximus, Optimus Prime, Grimlock, Mirage, Blaster, Grapple, Jazz, First Aid, Ratbat, Ramjet, Soundwave, Wildrider, Skalor, Jawbreaker, Tentakil, Nautilator, Snaptrap, Seawing.

Notable Others: Buster, Sparkplug, Jessie.

Production Notes: The cover is based on US #47, recoloured for the UK by Kevin Nowlan. This was the first US cover used since that for US #27, which was used for #112.

Back-Up Strips:
Action Force - "Unmaskings" Part 4
Combat Colin

Review: Once you've got past the absolutely absurd central concept [I won't say 'plot'...] there's actually some good stuff here. Both Starscream and Blaster are on great form, and Delbo's art isn't too bad, although it is ruined by the truly massive amounts of block-colouring utilised. Not good by any stretch of the imagination, but certainly better than its reputation.

Synopsis: Jessie fetches Blaster, and heads into the Decepticon base. They find Buster, but can't free him. He tells them the Decepticons are looking for the Autobots Grandslam and Raindance, sent to warn the Autobots of something approaching the planet. The Seacons find the Autobot tapes, but Jessie swipes them. The Seacons follow, and Blaster tries to fight them before leaving the tapes to stop the holidaying humans from getting hurt. He then hides, and Jessie gets him off the island.

Notes: Grandslam and Raindance were dispatched to contact Optimus Prime "a few hundred years ago" - they were definitely on Earth in the 18th century, when their forms were part of a pirate crew's treasure stash. It's fair to infer they lost the ability to transform during their ordeal. Blaster knows Seawing, and the Seacons, most likely from Cybertron.

Errors: Defensor and Sunstreaker are shown in the flashback on Cybertron - Defensor was created on Earth in 1986, and Sunstreaker would have been dormant on Earth. Why sent two messengers for a leader who could well be dead when Grandslam and Raindance could investigate the Underbase themselves? Buster's line about a king giving the island immunity is absolute nonsense. Drag Strip's visor is miscoloured on page 3. On the last page, Vortex and Thrust's alt modes are huge - Thrust also has too much black on him. Why on Earth do the Decepticons go to such bother to cover hunting the tapes? If they'd just done it subtly with the Seacons there would be no need for all the pesky humans, or attracting the Autobots' attention. Jawbreaker retains his US name of Overbite due to lazy editing. Cybertronian technology is very similar to 1980s Earth, if the cassettes' alt modes are anything to go by...

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Blaster, Dragstrip, Vortex, Beachcomber [flashback], Perceptor [flashback], Raindance [first appearance], Grandslam [first appearance], Jawbreaker, Nautilator, Tentakil, Skalor, Seawing, Snaptrap, Ratbat, Wildrider, Starscream, Thrust.

Notable Others: Buster, Jessie.

Extras: A-Z profiles Long Haul and Menasor.

Back-Up Strips:
Action Force - "Jungle Moves" Part 1
Combat Colin

Review: Despite some serious logic shutdowns [Ratbat once again needlessly complicates a straightforward mission], and that silly bit with the kid, this again isn't too bad, with Blaster getting a nice scuffle. While the main plot is both opaque and oblique, there's enough got across to attract some interest.

Synopsis: Ratbat uses his new Realvision 3D hologram playback system to view the information carried by Grandslam and Raindance. They see a young Optimus Prime leading the Triggerbots to see a scientist named Boltax on Cybertron, stalked by Megatron and the Triggercons. Upon reaching Boltax' citadel, his disciples warn the Autobots to leave.

Notes: Optimus Prime is Optimus Prime at this stage, and presumably has the Matrix [or is at least the Matrix holder]. He gives his rank as 'Lieutenant Commander of the Fourth Autobot Computerised Division', which may or may not be something to do with Swoop/Divebomb's old unit. The flashback is therefore positioned somewhere between "State Games" and "And There Shall Come... A Leader!". This must mean that either the Matrix doesn't, or didn't at the time, automatically constitute leadership, or for some reason it was kept quiet [though him being Optimus Prime is a bit of a giveaway if this was the plan]. My take on it is that the Matrix doesn't equate leadership in itself. It's possible the Council of Elders consider it an archaic method of selection [maybe one of the preceding Primes made unpopular decisions], or just want to consolidate their own power by keeping the Matrix holder away from an authority position.

Errors: Optimus has a totally different Cybertronian mode to the one shown in #1. It is possible he used more than one mode, though. The Triggerbots all have clearly recognisable Earth-based alt modes, which makes you wonder why Delbo bothered with a new model for Prime. Soundwave has a mouth once more. On page 2, Starscream has a white chin. On page 4, Raindance is miscoloured yellow.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Ratbat, Starscream, Soundwave, Grandslam, Raindance. Optimus Prime, Backstreet, Override, Dogfight, Megatron, Ruckus [first appearance], Crankcase [first appearance] and Windsweeper [first appearance] all appear in the Realvision flashback.

Notable Others: Buster.

Extras: A-Z covers Megatron.

Back-Up Strips:
Action Force - "Jungle Moves" Part 2
Combat Colin

Review: Rather dodgy, with the traps bad padding designed to show off a skill for each Triggerbot, which feels especially bad as they've already had an introductory story as far as British readers are concerned. It's also very gaudy, with silly commentary from Starscream.

Synopsis: In the Realvision playback, Prime sets off towards Boltax alone, pursued by Megatron and the Triggercons. Boltax tells Prime he has created the Underbase, a huge database of knowledge. Back in reality, Buster has escaped, and is also watching the playback. Megatron catches up with Prime, who has found that the knowledge in the Underbase is too great for any one Transformer. The Decepticons attack him, but Prime sends the Underbase into space. Back in the present, the Decepticons work out the Underbase's course, and that it is due to pass Earth in a week. Buster hears this, but is then recaptured.

Errors: Why put all that information on the tapes if all Optimus needs to know is that the Underbase is passing the solar system? He was there, he can remember everything else... On page 5, Starscream's chest is entirely red. As he leaves the citadel, Optimus' chest is all red, and his lower torso is all grey.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Ratbat, Starscream, Soundwave. Optimus Prime, Backstreet, Override, Dogfight, Megatron, Ruckus, Crankcase, Windsweeper and Boltax [first appearance] all appear in the Realvision flashback.

Notable Others: Buster.

Production Notes: The original cover [without the title and other indica, and an added speech bubble] for US Transformers #48, also by Delbo, is inserted between pages 6 and 7 - it actually works rather well [this was probably to pad out the page count].

Letters Page: Dreadwind advises readers to act with caution when purchasing Mexican Transformers, which were imported into the country at around this time.

Back-Up Strips:
Action Force - "Jungle Moves" Part 3
Combat Colin

Review: Still not very good, with the better parts undone by the silly Ratbat/Starscream Greek chorus [they should both realise that Prime and Megatron make it through unscathed]... The whole thing feels like 18 pages for about a page's worth of plot advancement, though the slightly rasher Prime is a nice angle.

Cover Date: 31/12/88

Plot: Simon Furman
Script: Ian Rimmer
Pencils: Andrew Wildman
Inks: Stephen Baskerville
Letters: Glib
Colours: Euan Peters

Later Reprinted By: Transformers - Collected Comics #19 [UK], Titan Books: Second Generation [Worldwide].

Synopsis: Optimus Prime is on Earth, trying to rekindle his feelings for the planet. Back on the Ark, the Powermasters hear of a Transformer attack on a human town nearby, and set out to investigate. They catch up with the perpetrators - the Cybertronian Advance Surveillance Unit, who accidentally ruined the town while trying to enjoy the Christmas spirit. Prime then arrives, announcing the accident pales in comparison with him sending the Autobots to Earth in the first place, and they'll start with clearing up the town.

Notes: This story is set between #193 and #194, and after the annual story "All in the Minds!". The Cybertronian Advance Surveillance Unit - Broadside, Inferno and Sandstorm - have been on Earth since #188. This would appear to be Optimus' first visit to Earth since his return to a body in #177.

Errors: The humans don't seem especially bothered about the Indycar which plainly has no driver. Inferno's face is white in the penultimate frame. Earth's continents are in present-day position four million years ago.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Optimus Prime, Joyride, Slapdash, Getaway, Broadside, Sandstorm, Inferno.

Notable Others: Hi Q, Hotwire, Rev, Lube.

Letters Page: Dreadwind announces the release of the Transformers Universe TPB.

Back-Up Strips:
Action Force - "Jungle Moves" Part 4
Combat Colin

Review: Not especially good, but then to be the best of the Christmas stories by some considerable margin, it doesn't have to be. On the plus side there's very animated artwork from Wildman, and a fine redefinition of Optimus' character from Furman. On the other hand, the plot resolution is extraordinarily pat.

Synopsis: 2009 - the timestorm began when Cyclonus was killed is gathering power, while on Earth the Decepticons are preparing to leech Earth's energy. Kup and Spike confront Rodimus about the state of the planet, but he is too busy preparing to timejump to 1989, planning to tackle the source of the timestorm. Eventually, though, he does send a team to destroy the device. When the Decepticons do follow to Autobot City, they find it abandoned - the Autobots have already time-jumped. Soundwave and the Terrorcons follow.

Notes: Cyclonus was killed in #189, and Quintesson was destroyed in #187. Blaster has been repaired since #187. Soundwave has been "future" Decepticon leader since #151. Sadly, even in the comic continuity, Spike [still alive in 2009] has a son named Daniel.

Errors: Why does Rodimus Prime has so few troops at his disposal? Only six are seen, which seems incredibly low even after the battle in "Space Pirates" [ #183] - where does Blaster go after Rodimus timejumps? Cyclonus was created in 2006, eighteen years after his destruction, not twenty, as given on page 1.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Scourge [flashback], Cyclonus [flashback], Galvatron [flashback], Megatron [clone, flashback], Rippersnapper, Sinnertwin, Blot, Cutthroat, Hun-Grr, Kup, Blaster, Rodimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, Soundwave, Arcee, Red Alert, Blurr.

Notable Others: Spike, Daniel [first appearance].

Back-Up Strips:
Action Force - "Hush Job" Part 1
Combat Colin

Review: A fair start, with a nice tinge of apocalypse for Earth and both Rodimus and Soundwave well characterised, both having to make difficult choices. That said, the destruction of the Decepticons' energy leech is pathetically easy, and the platitudes of saving Earth versus beating the Decepticons feel rather second-hand.

Synopsis: 1989, and Ravage is recruited by Galvatron to fight alongside himself, Megatron and Scourge. Meanwhile, Optimus Prime is explaining the situation to his Autobots - where Galvatron is based, and how he may be central to the time disruption. He calls on Highbrow to put forward a theory, but he is outside, and is soon attacked by the Decepticons, who want Scorponok's head returned. They recombine it with his body, and the Autobots try to drive them off, but then the Autobots of 2009 arrive, causing Optimus Prime and five other Autobots to disappear. Confused by this, Fortress Maximus leads his comrades against Rodimus' troops.

Notes: This issue, and the rest of "Time Wars", follows on from #198 more-or-less [ "Altered Image!" may happen in-between - it takes place before all of The Underbase Saga]. Ravage has been underground since falling down a mineshaft in #73. Megatron and Galvatron have been allies since the annual story "Altered Image!", with Scourge joining them at some point since. Highbrow captured Scorponok's head, and injured Apeface, in "All in the Minds!". Rodimus Prime takes Ultra Magnus, Kup, Blurr, Red Alert and Arcee with him to 1989, deposing Optimus Prime, Snarl, Blaster, Hardhead, Highbrow and Brainstorm.

Errors: Lots and lots of insignia missing. Goldbug's got a blue head all of a sudden. Blaster's face is haywire on page 4 - looks as though Robin drew his 'US' visor, but Euan used the 'UK' colour scheme. As Broadside saves him on page 7, Inferno's waist goes green. On the same page, Galvatron [in a spit of his Transformers Universe pose] has a shin go pink, and his purple looks rather washed out. Considering in the last frame that Max is declaring "Destroy the imposters!", it seems a little odd that he's shoving Rodimus to one side, seemingly to get at the others...

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Ravage, Scourge, Galvatron, Rodimus Prime, Grimlock, Optimus Prime, Fortress Maximus, Wheeljack, Ironhide, Brainstorm, Goldbug, Scattershot, Swoop, Blaster, Hoist, Hardhead, Highbrow, Scorponok, Snapdragon, Triggerhappy, Misfire, Slugslinger, Inferno, Sandstorm, Broadside, Megatron [clone], Skullcruncher, Weirdwolf, Mindwipe, Kup [2009 version], Arcee, Blurr [2009 version], Red Alert [2009 version], Ultra Magnus [2009 version], Snarl, Sludge, Slag.

Notable Others: Fracas.

Extras: As well as the cover being a wraparound, there was a cover-mounted A5 booklet detailing some interesting facts about the Transformers. According to this, Rack 'n' Ruin, composed of two Transformers who turned into Cybertronian mini-jets, can no longer transform, while Xaaron transforms into a Cybertronian combat tank. The origin story is recapped briefly. The strongest Transformer of normal size is revealed as Grimlock; the biggest is Metroplex [at 698ft, or nearly seven times the height of Devastator]; the fastest is Blurr; the most deadly is Galvatron.

Regular artists Jeff Anderson, Stephen Baskerville, Barry Kitson [by this time, with DC in America], Dan Reed, Geoff Senior, Robin Smith, Lee Sullivan and Andy Wildman all contribute self-portraits. Geoff looks just like Dragon from Dragon's Claws, while Robin looks like a psychopath.

There's also a two-page "pictorial history of the Transformers", briefly recapping the storyline, plus a new feature - the Classic Covers Calendar. January's features the cover to #116. These features pad out the Transformers content so there's no back-up feature.

Back-Up Strips:
Combat Colin [promoted to full-page]

Review: Some decent scripting, with some nice work for Highbrow, and decent plot advancement. Smith's renders are pretty good, though he lacks any real dynamics - the opening page, for example, looks like he was drawing from the toy. It's nice to see Ravage again, but the plot's taking its time to really get into its stride.