THE TRANSFORMERS: COMICS, BOOKS AND MANGA

Cover Date: 04/01/92

Script: Simon Furman
Pencils: Andy Wildman
Inks: Stephen Baskerville
Letters: Rick Parker
Colours: Nel Yomtov

Originally Printed In: Pages 1-10 of US Transformers #80, dated July 1991.

NB: For the back-up strip, "The Big Shutdown!" was reprinted, now in colour [provided by Euan Peters]. #331 contained #231.

Synopsis: Thanks to a lack of tactical appraisal from Grimlock, the Autobots walked straight into an ambush on Klo, and are now being wiped out. Only Grimlock, Prowl, Blaster, Slag and Kup seem to have escaped, and they are found by one of the Decepticon hunter squads. A short distance away, Bludgeon and another group of Decepticons are attacked by the Neo-Knights, who then say the main event is about to arrive.

Notes: Bad fanfic writers might want to note that Stranglehold dreams of giant women when under Rapture's power.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: Getaway [destroyed by Dreadwing], Dreadwing, Bludgeon, Battletrap, Snapdragon, Horri-Bull, Crankcase, Strangehold, Horri-Bull, Siren [killed by Bludgeon], Fangry, Quake, Weirdwolf, Octopunch, Grimlock, Prowl, Blaster, Slag, Kup, Sludge [flashback], Snarl [flashback], Swoop [flashback], Wheeljack. Slapdash, Sky-Fall, Silverbolt, Inferno, Air Raid, Sludge, Snarl, Hot Rod and Nightbeat can all be seen in the wreckage on page 3.

Notable Others: Thunderpunch, Dynamo, Rapture.

Production Notes: The cover is based on page 12 of US Transformers #80.

Back-Up Strip:
Combat Colin [two pages]

Review: A well-structured script helps, though it's frustrating that so much has happened on Klo which could have been told in the last two issues. Bludgeon is really coming into his own here, and the crushing defeat of the Autobots really sets up a barnstorming finish.

Cover Date: 18/01/92

Script: Simon Furman
Pencils: Andy Wildman
Inks: Stephen Baskerville
Letters: Rick Parker
Colours: Nel Yomtov

Originally Printed In: Pages 11-20 of US Transformers #80, dated July 1991.

NB: For the back-up strip, "The Greatest Gift of All!" from #250 was reprinted.

Synopsis: The Last Autobot is also on Klo, with Optimus Prime - the Last Autobot having completed Hi Q's transition to being Optimus, and build the Autobot a new body. Elsewhere, Grimlock's team battle furiously against the Decepticon hunting party. Bludgeon claims the Last Autobot is a lie, meant to be a destroyer of worlds. Prime argues that this is simply a Decepticon distortion of the truth, and Bludgeon sets his troops on Optimus. As Prime battles, the Last Autobot uses his powers to revive the fallen Autobots on the battlefield. Optimus contains the Decepticons until Grimlock's group arrives, and the Autobots and Neo-Knights rout the Decepticons. Bludgeon orders the retreat, promising to take the Decepticons into exile, but planning to regroup off-planet. Prime reveals to the jubilant Autobots that Cybertron was not destroying itself, but rebuilding. The Autobots can go home.

Notes: The Last Autobot is the last repository of Primus' power. Optimus Prime's new body is modelled on the Action Master figure. It's fair to assume all the casualties on Klo are revived by the Last Autobot. The Last Autobot is the last repository of Primus' power. Optimus Prime's new body is modelled on the Action Master figure. It's fair to assume all the casualties on Klo are revived by the Last Autobot.

Errors: Blaster is much less damaged than #331 made him seem. Yomtov signs off by not bothering to colour Prime's head or left shoulder in the third frame of the last page.

Transformers featured [in rough order of appearance]: The Last Autobot, Optimus Prime, Snapdragon [destroyed by Blaster], Horri-Bull, Battletrap, Fangry [destroyed by Grimlock], Grimlock, Octopunch, Stranglehold, Squeezeplay, Wheeljack, Horri-Bull [killed by Optimus Prime], Ravage [killed by Grimlock], Blaster, Slag, Kup, Prowl, Inferno, Hot Rod, Crankcase, Sludge.

Notable Others: Rapture, Dynamo, Thunderpunch, Hi Q [flashback, used as the core of the new Optimus Prime], Circuit Breaker [flashback], GB Blackrock [flashback].

Production Notes: The cover is based on US Transformers #80. Trans Formation announces that issue #333 will not be emerging.

Back-Up Strip:
Combat Colin [two pages. Colin and Steve both die, and there's a reference to the monthly Transformers, which Combat Colin wouldn't have been part of.]

Review: Furman manages a fitting end for the Transformers, and introduces new ideas to the book right to the very end. That religion would be a plot-point in a comic which began by claiming Cybertron had naturally occurring gears, levers and pulleys creating sentient life is amazing work. Everything's measured just right, and while a lot's not tied up, that's not really the point.