The Transformers: Headmasters
Encyclopedia
The Transformers: Headmasters was a four-issue comic book
mini-series
based in the fictional universe of the Transformers
. The bi-monthly series was published by Marvel comics and was originally printed July 1987
through January 1988
.
Written by Bob Budiansky
, the miniseries was devised to introduce the characters from the 1986 Transformers movie and the 1987 toyline into the ongoing comic, which happened in issue #38.
, Targetmaster
s, some of the 1986 movie
Transformers, the Monsterbots
, Headmaster Horrorcons, Technobots
and Terrorcons.
, weary of the war on Cybertron
, leads a group of Autobots to another world in search of peace. They decide to make their new home on the peaceful world of Nebulos; however their arrival is met with fear and mistrust. After a series of conflicts, several of the Autobots offer their weapons as an act of goodwill. Still not convincing the Nebulans, five Autobots make the ultimate sacrifice, offering their own heads to the Nebulans. This act allows them to live in peace for the time being.
Various groups of Nebulans are upset by the presence of the Autobots, and stage demonstrations of protest. Councilmember Galen looks for a solution to ease the tension, however rival councilmember Lord Zarak, wishes to discredit Galen and contacts the Decepticons to rid Nebulos of the Autobots.
The Decepticons, commanded by Scorponok
arrive and demand the surrender of the Autobots. The Nebulans do not comply so the Decepticons begin to attack the city. The Nebulans are desperate, but refuse to grant control back to the headless autobots. Instead, a group of Nebulans undergo a binary-bonding process to transform into the Autobots' new heads. The Nebulans control the Autobots' bodies while, the original heads maintain radio contact, offering fighting skills and advice. The results are much-improved Autobot warriors, who efficiently repel their Decepticon rivals. However, the Nebulans begin to realize they are becoming violent warriors which they attempted to avoid by controlling the Autobots.
The Autobots and Decepticons stage continuous battles on Nebulos, though the Autobots' efforts are still mistrusted by the Nebulans. Scorponok captures a group of Nebulans led by Lord Zarak, and uses them as laboratory animals for experiments, by which they intend to dispose of the humanoid populace of the planet. Lord Zarak successfully bargains for his life and convinces the Decepticons to duplicate the Headmaster process.
Luring the Autobots into a trap, the newly enhanced Decepticons prove to be a match for the Headmaster Autobots. Further distracting the Autobots by attacking innocent Nebulans, the Decepticons are able to defeat the Headmaster Autobots and imprison their humanoid binary-partners.
With most of their opposition incapacitated, the Decepticons continue their conquest of Nebulos. Lord Zarak finds himself torn by his loyalties to the world he loves and his link to the Headmaster leader, Scorponok. As the Autobots further experiment with Nebulan binary-bonding by creating the Targetmasters, Galen pleads with Zarak to see what the Decepticons are doing to their world.
After being defeated in an attack by the Autobot Targetmasters, Zarak begins to see that Galen was right, and while the Decepticons escalate the conflict by creating their own Targetmasters, Zarak frees his prisoners, pleading with them to take the battle offworld to join Transformers already on the planet Earth. Zarak knows that if the Autobots leave Nebulos, the Decepticons will follow, and his world might yet be saved. The Autobots agree to this proposal, and abandon the planet, leaving a war-torn Nebulos to rebuild once the Transformers have left.
in 2004
–2005
. The TPBs had new cover art Andrew Wildman
, who illustrated several issues toward the end of the original ongoing series.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
mini-series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
based in the fictional universe of the Transformers
Transformers universes
is an entertainment franchise. It began with the Hasbro Transformers toy line, centered on two factions of warring alien robots which are called the Autobots and the Decepticons...
. The bi-monthly series was published by Marvel comics and was originally printed July 1987
1987 in comics
- Year overall :* Independent publishers continue to enter the comics arena, including Amazing, CFW Enterprises, Imperial Comics, Matrix Graphic Series, New Comics Group, and Rebel Studios...
through January 1988
1988 in comics
-Events and publications:* Jack Binder, creator of the original Daredevil, dies at c. age 86.* Tarpé Mills, creator Miss Fury, dies at c. age 73....
.
Written by Bob Budiansky
Bob Budiansky
Bob Budiansky is an American comic book writer, editor, and penciller, best known for his work on Marvel's Transformers comic. He also created the Marvel character Sleepwalker and wrote all 33 issues of that comic.-Career:...
, the miniseries was devised to introduce the characters from the 1986 Transformers movie and the 1987 toyline into the ongoing comic, which happened in issue #38.
Characters introduced
The series introduces the HeadmastersHeadmaster (Transformers)
Headmasters are a sub-group of characters from the Transformers meta-series, distinguished by their ability to detach their heads when transforming into their alternate modes, with the heads then transforming themselves into a humanoid form...
, Targetmaster
Targetmaster
Targetmaster is a subline of the Transformers toyline that include Nebulan sidekicks who can transform into the Transformers' weapons.-1987 Targetmasters:...
s, some of the 1986 movie
The Transformers: The Movie
The Transformers: The Movie is a 1986 animated feature film based on the animated series of the same name. It was released in North America on August 8, 1986 and in the UK on December 5, 1986....
Transformers, the Monsterbots
Monsterbots
The Monsterbots is the name for a sub-group of three fictional characters from the Transformers universes. Released in 1987, the unifying characteristic of the three Monsterbots - Doublecross, Grotusque and Repugnus - is evident from the group's name: they all transform into monstrous creatures of...
, Headmaster Horrorcons, Technobots
Technobots
The Technobots are a subgroup of five Autobots that transform into futuristic vehicles in the Transformers universe. Their counterparts are the Terrorcons.-Transformers: Generation 1:The five Technobots combine into Computron....
and Terrorcons.
Plot synopsis
Fortress MaximusFortress Maximus
Fortress Maximus is the name of several fictional characters from several of the various Transformers universes. Fortress Maximus appeared in the season 4 finale of the US Transformers animated series voiced by Stephen Keener. He was one of the stars of the Japanese Transformers: Headmasters...
, weary of the war on Cybertron
Cybertron
Cybertron is a fictional planet, the homeworld of the Transformers in the various fictional incarnations of the metaseries and toyline by Hasbro. In the Japanese series, the planet is referred to as "Cybertron" pronounced as セイバートロン Seibātoron...
, leads a group of Autobots to another world in search of peace. They decide to make their new home on the peaceful world of Nebulos; however their arrival is met with fear and mistrust. After a series of conflicts, several of the Autobots offer their weapons as an act of goodwill. Still not convincing the Nebulans, five Autobots make the ultimate sacrifice, offering their own heads to the Nebulans. This act allows them to live in peace for the time being.
Various groups of Nebulans are upset by the presence of the Autobots, and stage demonstrations of protest. Councilmember Galen looks for a solution to ease the tension, however rival councilmember Lord Zarak, wishes to discredit Galen and contacts the Decepticons to rid Nebulos of the Autobots.
The Decepticons, commanded by Scorponok
Scorponok
Scorponok is the name shared by several fictional characters in the various Transformers universes. All are Decepticons that turn into Scorpoins.- Transformers: Generation 1:...
arrive and demand the surrender of the Autobots. The Nebulans do not comply so the Decepticons begin to attack the city. The Nebulans are desperate, but refuse to grant control back to the headless autobots. Instead, a group of Nebulans undergo a binary-bonding process to transform into the Autobots' new heads. The Nebulans control the Autobots' bodies while, the original heads maintain radio contact, offering fighting skills and advice. The results are much-improved Autobot warriors, who efficiently repel their Decepticon rivals. However, the Nebulans begin to realize they are becoming violent warriors which they attempted to avoid by controlling the Autobots.
The Autobots and Decepticons stage continuous battles on Nebulos, though the Autobots' efforts are still mistrusted by the Nebulans. Scorponok captures a group of Nebulans led by Lord Zarak, and uses them as laboratory animals for experiments, by which they intend to dispose of the humanoid populace of the planet. Lord Zarak successfully bargains for his life and convinces the Decepticons to duplicate the Headmaster process.
Luring the Autobots into a trap, the newly enhanced Decepticons prove to be a match for the Headmaster Autobots. Further distracting the Autobots by attacking innocent Nebulans, the Decepticons are able to defeat the Headmaster Autobots and imprison their humanoid binary-partners.
With most of their opposition incapacitated, the Decepticons continue their conquest of Nebulos. Lord Zarak finds himself torn by his loyalties to the world he loves and his link to the Headmaster leader, Scorponok. As the Autobots further experiment with Nebulan binary-bonding by creating the Targetmasters, Galen pleads with Zarak to see what the Decepticons are doing to their world.
After being defeated in an attack by the Autobot Targetmasters, Zarak begins to see that Galen was right, and while the Decepticons escalate the conflict by creating their own Targetmasters, Zarak frees his prisoners, pleading with them to take the battle offworld to join Transformers already on the planet Earth. Zarak knows that if the Autobots leave Nebulos, the Decepticons will follow, and his world might yet be saved. The Autobots agree to this proposal, and abandon the planet, leaving a war-torn Nebulos to rebuild once the Transformers have left.
Reprintings
The Headmasters series was reprinted along with the 80-issue Marvel series in a series of 14 trade paperbacksTrade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
in 2004
2004 in comics
-February:*February 6: Marvel Enterprises and Electronic Arts announce a multi-year agreement in which EA will develop a new generation of fighting video games pitting Marvel superheroes against a new, original set of EA heroes....
–2005
2005 in comics
- January :* January 3: Will Eisner, creator of The Spirit, dies at age 87.-April:*April 13:**DC Comics announces the discontinuation of its Humanoids and 2000 A.D. titles....
. The TPBs had new cover art Andrew Wildman
Andrew Wildman
Andrew Wildman is a British artist, best known for his work in comics, mainly for Marvel Comics. Wildman cut his teeth on Marvel UK's titles in the late 1980s, including Galaxy Rangers, Thundercats, The Real Ghostbusters and, perhaps most notably, Transformers...
, who illustrated several issues toward the end of the original ongoing series.