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The Transformers (Marvel comic)
Encyclopedia
The Transformers was an 80-issue American comic book
series published by Marvel Comics
telling the story of the Transformers. Originally scheduled as a four issue mini-series
, it spawned a mythology that would inform other versions of the saga
. It also had a UK
sister title that spliced in original stories into the continuity, running for 332 issues.
Issues # 1-4 - The Autobot
s and Decepticon
s land on Earth via the Ark
, paralleling the cartoon. The Autobots are reformatted by the Ark to resemble car
s and truck
s; the Decepticons take the form of jets
, weapon
s or in the case of Soundwave
, a cassette deck
with tapes.
The Decepticons wreak havoc, steal energy and build a fortress. The Autobots, seen here as very weak underdogs, unsuited for war, fight valiantly to stop their foes.
Ultimately, it's the human
s that the Autobots befriend that save the day. Buster Witwicky's father, captured by the Decepticons to formulate a fuel
for them, secretly poisons his captors.
In the final battle, five Autobots take on the entire Decepticon army. On the cusp of defeat, the tainted fuel concocted by Mr. Witwicky kicks in and the Decepticons fall.
The Autobots don't even have time to celebrate, however, as the 4-part mini-series ends with Shockwave
making an appearance, blowing the remaining Autobots to pieces. This cliffhanger led directly into the monthly Marvel run, which began 3 months after the miniseries ended. (Issue #4 had a cover date of Mar. 1985; issue #5 had a date of June.) The series was originally intended to end after issue #4 and the planned last page of issue #4 indicated as much, but with strong sales, Marvel was convinced to make the series ongoing and the ending was altered to have Shockwave show up and attack the Autobots prior to the issue being published.
Issues # 5-12 - In this story arc, Shockwave has control of the Ark. Most of the Autobots are non-functional, and Optimus Prime has been reduced to just a head. Shockwave wants Optimus Prime
to give life to Decepticons using the Creation Matrix that he possesses, but Optimus refuses and eventually passes the Matrix on to an unwitting Buster. Meanwhile, a weakened Megatron tries to regain command of the Decepticons, but Shockwave easily takes him down. Needing help against Shockwave, medical officer Ratchet
finds and enlists the help of the Dinobots
. Megatron soon winds up lost in the woods, stuck in gun
mode and without his memory.
Issues # 13-23 - Megatron is inadvertently reawakened and heads back to become leader of the Decepticons again. Meanwhile, the government hires a comic book writer named Donny Finkelberg to play Robot Master, a man supposedly behind all the robot attacks (making no distinction between Autobot or Decepticon). The point of the whole ruse is to put an easily identifiable face on the public's worries about the robots. Donny eventually becomes Megatron's pawn for a while, then escapes and tries to help the Autobots - but not before selling them out to the U.S. government. Eventually he realises the error of his ways and gives up all the money that the government paid him.
The Autobots meet more troubles in the form of Circuit Breaker
, a character first introduced in #8. A sweet and brilliant young lady who created advanced technology for oil magnate Mr. Blackrock
, she was crippled during an attack on one of Blackrock's oil rigs in issue #5. Using her technical know-how to create a suit that gives her control of her motor functions again, she adopts the Circuit Breaker persona and vows revenge on all Transformers, also making no distinction between Autobot and Decepticon - and unfortunately, more often than not her actions negatively affect the Autobots alone.
Issues #17 and #18 feature a two-parter that takes the reader back to Cybertron
. (This was prior to seeing Cybertron in the movie or the TV show.) New characters such as Blaster were introduced through this storyline, and the characters eventually crossed over onto Earth.)
In issue #19, the Dinobot
s (especially Grimlock
) begin to resent taking orders from Optimus Prime, so they strike out on their own. Omega Supreme
is introduced.
Issues # 24-37 - In events that parallel the happenings in the movie and TV show (though the events take place 20 years apart), many major characters make their final stand. Bumblebee
is destroyed by the unwitting members of G.I. Joe
in G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #1; Megatron succeeds in killing Optimus Prime (or does he?) in #24; Megatron is driven mad and runs into a space portal that destroys him in #25; etc. Bumblebee soon returns as Goldbug
.
A new human adversary named The Mechanic first appears in #26, a car thief
whose handiness with a wrench
can spell disaster for Autobots that get in his path.
The Dinobots return in issue #27 and Grimlock quickly asserts himself as the new leader of the Autobots. Many Autobots have strong reservations about his leadership skills, particularly his lack of concern for human life. Blaster
and Goldbug decide to defy orders after one mission and not return to the Ark, making them the subject of hunting by an enraged Grimlock.
Issues #33 and 34 took a break from the main storyline to reprint a Transformers UK story called "Man of Iron". Since this is outside the normal continuity, Optimus Prime is still alive and the leader of the Autobots at this time.
Starting in issue #35 (cover-dated December, 1987), the events became less Earth-centric, as the Transformers repaired their spacecraft and were able to revisit their homeworld Cybertron and other planets. This aspect was particularly prominent in the Matrix Quest
sub-plot.
Starting in issue #38, the Headmasters showed up, after appearing in their own four-issue miniseries. Optimus Prime returned, in a manner of speaking, in issue #40 when it was discovered that his personality had been saved on a floppy disk
. Unfortunately, he had no memory of working with the Autobots. However, by #42, he'd been given a new Powermaster body and his memory had been restored.
In issue #75 (cover-dated February, 1991), the Autobots and Decepticons had united under one banner after Autobot commander Optimus Prime surrendered to Scorponok
, in order to end their civil war. United, they finally faced their ancient nemesis: Unicron
. The Transformers won, but with heavy losses, including the deaths of Scorponok and Optimus Prime (again). Peace between the two Transformers factions was short-lived after Unicron's death. Bludgeon
, the new Decepticon leader, tried to strand the Autobots on Cybertron, which was apparently destroying itself. His plan failed and the final confrontation between the two factions played out, with the Autobots lead again by Grimlock. Optimus Prime is united with Hi-Q (his Powermaster) and given life by The Last Autobot. He returns to battle to save the Autobots and then exiles the Decepticons forever (until Transformers: Generation 2). After the battle with Unicron, the comic ran for only five issues before being cancelled. The final issue had the mini series banner above the title; "#80 IN A FOUR ISSUE LIMITED SERIES".
, editor Bob Budiansky
was the one who contributed the most to the story, writing the character bios and backgrounds for the Transformers, even giving names to some of them. After the mini-series became an ongoing comic, Budiansky was promoted to constant writer. Except for issue #16 (Plight of the Bumblebee, written by Len Kaminski), issue #43 (The big broadcast of 2006, a Transformers cartoon episode adaptation by Ralph Macchio
) and the two-part story Man of Iron (imported from Transformers Marvel UK), Bob wrote all the Transformers comics until issue #55.
Most famous story arcs and issues are Warrior's school featuring the introduction of the Dinobots and the first clash between Autobot medic Ratchet and Megatron; Prime Time! when Optimus Prime is finally freed from captivity and battles current Decepticon commander Shockwave; Smelting Pool and The Bridge to Nowhere brought the story back to Cybertron where only a handful of Autobots fight an underground war against Straxus
's Decepticons, also introducing Blaster, Budiansky's most-used character who was radically different from his cartoon and Marvel UK version. Afterdeath and Gone but not forgotten saw the deaths (for a while, anyway) of Optimus Prime and Megatron, after which Grimlock took control of the Autobot forces in King of the Hill. Starting at issue #28, Blaster and Goldbug (a rebuilt Bumblebee) defected from the Autobots due to Grimlock's tyrannical leadership, which ended with Grimlock and Blaster having a duel in Totaled. The next issue, People Power saw the return of Optimus Prime, as a Powermaster. The "Underbase saga" began in issue #47 and ended in issue #50, Dark Star, where Starscream
, absorbing the power of the Underbase, kills most of the active Transformers of the time. (Budiansky admitted in an interview that Hasbro was forcing him to introduce new characters so quickly, he had to do an epic to "make room" for them.) Budiansky's last 5 stories were very mediocre, he himself said that he lost the interest in Transformers, and asked Hasbro to hand over the comics to a new writer.
From issue #56, the by then well-known writer of Transformers Marvel UK, Simon Furman
took over the reins, having been asked by Marvel US. Furman used the characterisation he used at Marvel UK for the Transformers, and introduced many characters to the US comic who have already appeared in the UK comic. He wrote all the issues until the comic's cancellation at issue #80.
Furman's most famous story arcs include Back from the Dead, the return of Megatron who kidnaps Ratchet to help him in his revenge against both Autobots and Decepticons; Primal Scream! which introduced Primus
and re-told the origin of the Transformer race to the US readers too; the "Matrix Quest
" which features the Autobots sending numerous teams to locate the Matrix that was lost when Optimus "died" and his body was shot into space; and the Unicron story arc from #67 to #75, featuring the Transformers' ultimate battle against the Chaos Bringer.
Sadly the comic was cancelled shortly after issue #75, so Furman had to "wrap up" the ending. According to some interviews with him, he planned to feature the Neo-Knights
and the "demons" inhabiting Cybertron's underground more in the never-written issues.
version of the original Transformers comics was produced by Marvel UK
(Marvel Comics's semi-independent UK imprint). It began as a simple reprint book with a single US story split across two or more UK issues, but differences in production schedules meant that additional locally sourced material was need to pad around the U.S. material. Over 160 new stories not included in the U.S. comic were produced for the UK market. They introduced characters such as Emirate Xaaron, and operated an expanded continuity parallel to main U.S. franchise. Classic storylines included Galvatron time-travelling in Target: 2006 and the introduction of the Transformer God, Primus
.
Initially, the UK exclusive stories were heavily tied into U.S. continuity and were not able to develop the characters. However, the release of the Transformers animated movie introduced a new generation of future characters (Hot Rod, Ultra Magnus
, Galvatron
, etc.) who were generally ignored by the U.S. title and could be developed by the UK title without contradicting the U.S. reprints.
The principal writer of the UK material was Simon Furman
. Many of his longer stories took a more epic approach to the Transformers than the U.S. title. The UK comic extensively developed the back-story world of the Transformers. Furman's epic semi-mythical and more sophisticated approach to the material had a significant impact on future Transformer imprints. His success on the title was such that he succeeded Bob Budiansky
as writer of the U.S. counterpart and has been associated with the succession of Transformers comic franchises, such as published by Dreamwave and IDW
.
The Transformers UK comic was equally home to two long standing backup humour strips. The first was Robo-Capers, written and produced by artist/creator Lew Stringer
. The second was Matt and the Cat, written and produced by artist/creator Mychailo "Mike" Kazybrid. Whilst originally created as the daily cartoon strip Matt in April 1979, and appearing for six years in the Bradford Telegraph & Argus newspaper, and later in The Manchester Evening News, the comic strip began in Transformers issue 5, November 1984, and continued until issue 73, August 1986. In order to fit in with the theme of the Transformers publication, the format and style was changed. Also, whilst starting as mainly a supporting character, Humph the Cat began to take more of a lead during his humorous encounters with robots, aliens, and his ongoing need to post his comic book subscription.
, which integrated into the story of the main title. The G.I. Joe comic
would also later introduce the 12-issue follow up, Generation 2.
has signed up Simon Furman
and Andrew Wildman
to make a continuation of the Marvel Transformers comic, consisting of 20 issues from #81 to #100.
American comic book
An American comic book is a small magazine originating in the United States and containing a narrative in the form of comics. Since 1975 the dimensions have standardized at 6 5/8" x 10 ¼" , down from 6 ¾" x 10 ¼" in the Silver Age, although larger formats appeared in the past...
series published by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
telling the story of the Transformers. Originally scheduled as a four issue 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....
, it spawned a mythology that would inform other versions of the saga
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...
. It also had a UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
sister title that spliced in original stories into the continuity, running for 332 issues.
Story Arcs
There were several main story arcs that ran through the Marvel comics.Autobot
Autobot, a faction of sentient robots from the planet Cybertron, are usually the main protagonists in the fictional universe of the Transformers, a collection of various toys, graphic novels, paperback books, cartoons and movies first introduced in 1984. In all but one Transformer story, the...
s and Decepticon
Decepticon
The Decepticons are usually depicted as the antagonists in the fictional universes of the Transformers stoyline and related comics and cartoons, and the enemies of the Autobots and the University of California Davis Aggies...
s land on Earth via the Ark
Ark (Transformers)
The Ark is an Autobot spacecraft in the Transformers Universe. It has appeared as a central fixture of the Transformers storyline ever since its creation, as the Autobots main method of transport to Earth and as a base once they arrive....
, paralleling the cartoon. The Autobots are reformatted by the Ark to resemble car
Čar
Čar is a village in the municipality of Bujanovac, Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the town has a population of 296 people.-References:...
s and truck
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
s; the Decepticons take the form of jets
Jet aircraft
A jet aircraft is an aircraft propelled by jet engines. Jet aircraft generally fly much faster than propeller-powered aircraft and at higher altitudes – as high as . At these altitudes, jet engines achieve maximum efficiency over long distances. The engines in propeller-powered aircraft...
, weapon
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
s or in the case of Soundwave
Soundwave (Transformers)
Soundwave is the name of several characters in the various series Transformers series. His most famous disguise is that of a microcassette recorder and has an iconic voice done by a vocoder.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
, a cassette deck
Cassette deck
A cassette deck is a type of tape recorder for playing or recording audio compact cassettes. A deck was formerly distinguished from a recorder as being part of a stereo component system, while a recorder had a self-contained power amplifier...
with tapes.
The Decepticons wreak havoc, steal energy and build a fortress. The Autobots, seen here as very weak underdogs, unsuited for war, fight valiantly to stop their foes.
Ultimately, it's the human
Human
Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...
s that the Autobots befriend that save the day. Buster Witwicky's father, captured by the Decepticons to formulate a fuel
Fuel
Fuel is any material that stores energy that can later be extracted to perform mechanical work in a controlled manner. Most fuels used by humans undergo combustion, a redox reaction in which a combustible substance releases energy after it ignites and reacts with the oxygen in the air...
for them, secretly poisons his captors.
In the final battle, five Autobots take on the entire Decepticon army. On the cusp of defeat, the tainted fuel concocted by Mr. Witwicky kicks in and the Decepticons fall.
The Autobots don't even have time to celebrate, however, as the 4-part mini-series ends with Shockwave
Shockwave (Transformers)
Shockwave is the name of several fictional characters in the various Transformers series. Throughout his incarnations, he is usually distinguished by a laser cannon in lieu of one of his hands and his distinctive face, which is featureless save a single robotic eye...
making an appearance, blowing the remaining Autobots to pieces. This cliffhanger led directly into the monthly Marvel run, which began 3 months after the miniseries ended. (Issue #4 had a cover date of Mar. 1985; issue #5 had a date of June.) The series was originally intended to end after issue #4 and the planned last page of issue #4 indicated as much, but with strong sales, Marvel was convinced to make the series ongoing and the ending was altered to have Shockwave show up and attack the Autobots prior to the issue being published.
Issues # 5-12 - In this story arc, Shockwave has control of the Ark. Most of the Autobots are non-functional, and Optimus Prime has been reduced to just a head. Shockwave wants Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime is a fictional character from the Transformers franchise. Prime is the leader of the autobots, a faction of transforming robots from the planet Cybertron. The autobots are constantly waging war against a rival faction of transforming robots called Decepticons...
to give life to Decepticons using the Creation Matrix that he possesses, but Optimus refuses and eventually passes the Matrix on to an unwitting Buster. Meanwhile, a weakened Megatron tries to regain command of the Decepticons, but Shockwave easily takes him down. Needing help against Shockwave, medical officer Ratchet
Ratchet (Transformers)
Ratchet is the name of several characters in the Transformers universes. According to the original creator of the Transformers names, Bob Budiansky, Ratchet was named after the character of Nurse Ratched from the film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. The name Ratchet is almost always portrayed as...
finds and enlists the help of the Dinobots
Dinobots
Dinobots is the name of several teams of characters in the fictional Transformers Universe. The groups are made up of several robots, each of whose transformed mode is that of a dinosaur or similar prehistoric animal. They are called Dinotrons in the Japanese version; and ' in the Japanese dub of...
. Megatron soon winds up lost in the woods, stuck in gun
Gun
A gun is a muzzle or breech-loaded projectile-firing weapon. There are various definitions depending on the nation and branch of service. A "gun" may be distinguished from other firearms in being a crew-served weapon such as a howitzer or mortar, as opposed to a small arm like a rifle or pistol,...
mode and without his memory.
Issues # 13-23 - Megatron is inadvertently reawakened and heads back to become leader of the Decepticons again. Meanwhile, the government hires a comic book writer named Donny Finkelberg to play Robot Master, a man supposedly behind all the robot attacks (making no distinction between Autobot or Decepticon). The point of the whole ruse is to put an easily identifiable face on the public's worries about the robots. Donny eventually becomes Megatron's pawn for a while, then escapes and tries to help the Autobots - but not before selling them out to the U.S. government. Eventually he realises the error of his ways and gives up all the money that the government paid him.
The Autobots meet more troubles in the form of Circuit Breaker
Circuit Breaker (Transformers)
Circuit Breaker is a fictional comic book character in the 1980s Marvel Comics Transformers series.-Fictional character biography:After being severely injured in a raid for Earth oil by the Decepticon Shockwave, computer genius Josie Beller was left paralyzed in both legs and one arm...
, a character first introduced in #8. A sweet and brilliant young lady who created advanced technology for oil magnate Mr. Blackrock
G. B. Blackrock
G. B. Blackrock is a fictional character in the Marvel Transformers comic.-Fictional character biograph:He is a millionaire who owns several companies, facilities and arenas, the most notable being a petroleum company that manufactures and distributes fuel to cars...
, she was crippled during an attack on one of Blackrock's oil rigs in issue #5. Using her technical know-how to create a suit that gives her control of her motor functions again, she adopts the Circuit Breaker persona and vows revenge on all Transformers, also making no distinction between Autobot and Decepticon - and unfortunately, more often than not her actions negatively affect the Autobots alone.
Issues #17 and #18 feature a two-parter that takes the reader back to 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...
. (This was prior to seeing Cybertron in the movie or the TV show.) New characters such as Blaster were introduced through this storyline, and the characters eventually crossed over onto Earth.)
In issue #19, the Dinobot
Dinobot
Dinobot is a fictional character from the Beast Wars Transformers universe.-Beast Wars:Dinobot originally debuts in the series' premiere as a subordinate of Megatron, leader of the villainous Predacons. However, Dinobot challenges Megatron's leadership, and is shortly expelled from his crew. He...
s (especially Grimlock
Grimlock
Grimlock is the name of several fictional characters in the Transformers universes. He is usually portrayed as a tough leader who turns into a mechanical dinosaur...
) begin to resent taking orders from Optimus Prime, so they strike out on their own. Omega Supreme
Omega Supreme
Omega Supreme is the name of a fictional character from the Transformers franchise. He is always an Autobot and is often depicted as a gigantic transformer with vast strength and/or overwhelming firepower.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
is introduced.
Issues # 24-37 - In events that parallel the happenings in the movie and TV show (though the events take place 20 years apart), many major characters make their final stand. Bumblebee
Bumblebee (Transformers)
Bumblebee is the name of several fictional characters from the various Transformers universes. In most incarnations, Bumblebee is a small, yellow Autobot with the altmode of a compact car.- Transformers: Generation 1 :...
is destroyed by the unwitting members of G.I. Joe
G.I. Joe
G.I. Joe is a line of action figures produced by the toy company Hasbro. The initial product offering represented four of the branches of the U.S. armed forces with the Action Soldier , Action Sailor , Action Pilot , Action Marine and later on, the Action Nurse...
in G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers #1; Megatron succeeds in killing Optimus Prime (or does he?) in #24; Megatron is driven mad and runs into a space portal that destroys him in #25; etc. Bumblebee soon returns as Goldbug
Goldbug (Transformers)
Goldbug is a fictional character in the various Transformers series.-1980s comics and animated series:In the comic book series published by Marvel Comics from 1984 to 1991, Goldbug is a new identity taken on by Bumblebee after he is rebuilt in issue #28 following his destruction in G.I. Joe and...
.
A new human adversary named The Mechanic first appears in #26, a car thief
Car Thief
Car Thief is the 11th track on the album Paul's Boutique by American hip hop group the Beastie Boys, released on July 25, 1989. It heavily samples "Rien Ne Va Plus" by Funk Factory...
whose handiness with a wrench
Wrench
A wrench or spanner is a tool used to provide grip and mechanical advantage in applying torque to turn objects—usually rotary fasteners, such as nuts and bolts—or keep them from turning....
can spell disaster for Autobots that get in his path.
The Dinobots return in issue #27 and Grimlock quickly asserts himself as the new leader of the Autobots. Many Autobots have strong reservations about his leadership skills, particularly his lack of concern for human life. Blaster
Blaster (Transformers)
Blaster is the name of several fictional characters in the Transformers television and comic series based on the popular toy line produced by Takara Tomy and Hasbro. Due to trademark reasons, he is sometimes called Autobot Blaster...
and Goldbug decide to defy orders after one mission and not return to the Ark, making them the subject of hunting by an enraged Grimlock.
Issues #33 and 34 took a break from the main storyline to reprint a Transformers UK story called "Man of Iron". Since this is outside the normal continuity, Optimus Prime is still alive and the leader of the Autobots at this time.
Starting in issue #35 (cover-dated December, 1987), the events became less Earth-centric, as the Transformers repaired their spacecraft and were able to revisit their homeworld Cybertron and other planets. This aspect was particularly prominent in the Matrix Quest
Matrix Quest
The Matrix Quest is the official collective name for issues #62 through #66 in Marvel's Transformers comics, written by UK writer Simon Furman. Each chapter of the story pays homage to a classic movie or book....
sub-plot.
Starting in issue #38, the Headmasters showed up, after appearing in their own four-issue miniseries. Optimus Prime returned, in a manner of speaking, in issue #40 when it was discovered that his personality had been saved on a floppy disk
Floppy disk
A floppy disk is a disk storage medium composed of a disk of thin and flexible magnetic storage medium, sealed in a rectangular plastic carrier lined with fabric that removes dust particles...
. Unfortunately, he had no memory of working with the Autobots. However, by #42, he'd been given a new Powermaster body and his memory had been restored.
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:...
, in order to end their civil war. United, they finally faced their ancient nemesis: Unicron
Unicron
Unicron is a fictional character from the Transformers universe and toyline. Created by Floro Dery, he was introduced in the 1986 animated film The Transformers: The Movie as the film's main antagonist. Unicron is a prodigiously large robot whose scale reaches planetary proportions, and he is also...
. The Transformers won, but with heavy losses, including the deaths of Scorponok and Optimus Prime (again). Peace between the two Transformers factions was short-lived after Unicron's death. Bludgeon
Bludgeon (Transformers)
Bludgeon is the name of several fictional characters in the Transformers universes. For trademark reasons, he is now marketed by Hasbro as Decepticon Bludgeon. They are all Decepticon warriors who turn into tanks.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
, the new Decepticon leader, tried to strand the Autobots on Cybertron, which was apparently destroying itself. His plan failed and the final confrontation between the two factions played out, with the Autobots lead again by Grimlock. Optimus Prime is united with Hi-Q (his Powermaster) and given life by The Last Autobot. He returns to battle to save the Autobots and then exiles the Decepticons forever (until Transformers: Generation 2). After the battle with Unicron, the comic ran for only five issues before being cancelled. The final issue had the mini series banner above the title; "#80 IN A FOUR ISSUE LIMITED SERIES".
Writers
Most of the issues of Transformers Marvel US were written by two writers. Although the first four issues were written by Jim SalicrupJim Salicrup
Jim Salicrup is an American comic book editor, known for his tenures at Marvel Comics and Topps Comics. At Marvel, where he worked for twenty years, he edited books such as The Uncanny X-Men, Fantastic Four, Avengers and various Spider-Man titles...
, editor 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:...
was the one who contributed the most to the story, writing the character bios and backgrounds for the Transformers, even giving names to some of them. After the mini-series became an ongoing comic, Budiansky was promoted to constant writer. Except for issue #16 (Plight of the Bumblebee, written by Len Kaminski), issue #43 (The big broadcast of 2006, a Transformers cartoon episode adaptation by Ralph Macchio
Ralph Macchio (comics)
Ralph Macchio is an American comic book editor and writer, who has held many positions at Marvel Comics, including executive editor. Macchio is commonly associated with Daredevil, the Spider-Man line of comics and the popular Ultimate Marvel line...
) and the two-part story Man of Iron (imported from Transformers Marvel UK), Bob wrote all the Transformers comics until issue #55.
Most famous story arcs and issues are Warrior's school featuring the introduction of the Dinobots and the first clash between Autobot medic Ratchet and Megatron; Prime Time! when Optimus Prime is finally freed from captivity and battles current Decepticon commander Shockwave; Smelting Pool and The Bridge to Nowhere brought the story back to Cybertron where only a handful of Autobots fight an underground war against Straxus
Straxus
Lord Straxus is a fictional character from the Transformers series. A toy based on his Marvel comic appearance was released in 2010 under the name Darkmount.-Marvel Comics:Straxus was the Decepticon governor of a province of Cybertron known as Polyhex...
's Decepticons, also introducing Blaster, Budiansky's most-used character who was radically different from his cartoon and Marvel UK version. Afterdeath and Gone but not forgotten saw the deaths (for a while, anyway) of Optimus Prime and Megatron, after which Grimlock took control of the Autobot forces in King of the Hill. Starting at issue #28, Blaster and Goldbug (a rebuilt Bumblebee) defected from the Autobots due to Grimlock's tyrannical leadership, which ended with Grimlock and Blaster having a duel in Totaled. The next issue, People Power saw the return of Optimus Prime, as a Powermaster. The "Underbase saga" began in issue #47 and ended in issue #50, Dark Star, where Starscream
Starscream (Transformers)
Starscream is a fictional character in the Transformers franchise. He is one of the most prolific characters in the Transformers fictional work, appearing in almost all incarnations of the story. Starscream is usually portrayed with the same characterization...
, absorbing the power of the Underbase, kills most of the active Transformers of the time. (Budiansky admitted in an interview that Hasbro was forcing him to introduce new characters so quickly, he had to do an epic to "make room" for them.) Budiansky's last 5 stories were very mediocre, he himself said that he lost the interest in Transformers, and asked Hasbro to hand over the comics to a new writer.
From issue #56, the by then well-known writer of Transformers Marvel UK, Simon Furman
Simon Furman
Simon Christopher Francis Furman is a comic book writer, particularly associated with of a number of notable Transformers comics for Marvel UK, Marvel US, Dreamwave, and most recently, IDW...
took over the reins, having been asked by Marvel US. Furman used the characterisation he used at Marvel UK for the Transformers, and introduced many characters to the US comic who have already appeared in the UK comic. He wrote all the issues until the comic's cancellation at issue #80.
Furman's most famous story arcs include Back from the Dead, the return of Megatron who kidnaps Ratchet to help him in his revenge against both Autobots and Decepticons; Primal Scream! which introduced Primus
Primus (Transformers)
Primus is the "benevolent" godlike entity in the fictional Transformers comic universe who fought against the Chaos-Bringer Unicron. The Lord of the Light, Primus is the being who created the Transformers to help him defeat Unicron.-Primus and Unicron:...
and re-told the origin of the Transformer race to the US readers too; the "Matrix Quest
Matrix Quest
The Matrix Quest is the official collective name for issues #62 through #66 in Marvel's Transformers comics, written by UK writer Simon Furman. Each chapter of the story pays homage to a classic movie or book....
" which features the Autobots sending numerous teams to locate the Matrix that was lost when Optimus "died" and his body was shot into space; and the Unicron story arc from #67 to #75, featuring the Transformers' ultimate battle against the Chaos Bringer.
Sadly the comic was cancelled shortly after issue #75, so Furman had to "wrap up" the ending. According to some interviews with him, he planned to feature the Neo-Knights
Neo-Knights
The Neo-Knights are fictional characters, a team of superheroes in the Marvel Transformers comics.- Fictional character background :Managed by G. B. Blackrock. The team includes the following members:* Circuit Breaker...
and the "demons" inhabiting Cybertron's underground more in the never-written issues.
UK title
The U.K.United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
version of the original Transformers comics was produced by Marvel UK
Marvel UK
Marvel UK was an imprint of Marvel Comics formed in 1972 to reprint US produced stories for the British weekly comic market, though it later did produce original material by British creators such as Alan Moore, John Wagner, Dave Gibbons, Steve Dillon and Grant Morrison.Panini Comics obtained the...
(Marvel Comics's semi-independent UK imprint). It began as a simple reprint book with a single US story split across two or more UK issues, but differences in production schedules meant that additional locally sourced material was need to pad around the U.S. material. Over 160 new stories not included in the U.S. comic were produced for the UK market. They introduced characters such as Emirate Xaaron, and operated an expanded continuity parallel to main U.S. franchise. Classic storylines included Galvatron time-travelling in Target: 2006 and the introduction of the Transformer God, Primus
Primus (Transformers)
Primus is the "benevolent" godlike entity in the fictional Transformers comic universe who fought against the Chaos-Bringer Unicron. The Lord of the Light, Primus is the being who created the Transformers to help him defeat Unicron.-Primus and Unicron:...
.
Initially, the UK exclusive stories were heavily tied into U.S. continuity and were not able to develop the characters. However, the release of the Transformers animated movie introduced a new generation of future characters (Hot Rod, Ultra Magnus
Ultra Magnus
Ultra Magnus is the name of several fictional characters from the various Transformers storylines.-Transformers: Generation 1:The greatest Transformer of them all. A commander could want no finer a soldier than Ultra Magnus...
, Galvatron
Galvatron
Galvatron is the name of several fictional Transformers, most often the recreated version of Megatron, the Decepticon leader. He was voiced by Leonard Nimoy in the 1986 Transformers movie, and then by Frank Welker in season 3 and 4 of the animated television series. Since then, other Transformers...
, etc.) who were generally ignored by the U.S. title and could be developed by the UK title without contradicting the U.S. reprints.
The principal writer of the UK material was Simon Furman
Simon Furman
Simon Christopher Francis Furman is a comic book writer, particularly associated with of a number of notable Transformers comics for Marvel UK, Marvel US, Dreamwave, and most recently, IDW...
. Many of his longer stories took a more epic approach to the Transformers than the U.S. title. The UK comic extensively developed the back-story world of the Transformers. Furman's epic semi-mythical and more sophisticated approach to the material had a significant impact on future Transformer imprints. His success on the title was such that he succeeded 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:...
as writer of the U.S. counterpart and has been associated with the succession of Transformers comic franchises, such as published by Dreamwave and IDW
IDW Publishing
IDW Publishing, also known as Idea + Design Works, LLC and IDW, is an American publisher of comic books and comic strip collections. The company was founded in 1999 and has been awarded the title "Publisher of the Year Under 5% Market Share" for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Diamond Comic...
.
The Transformers UK comic was equally home to two long standing backup humour strips. The first was Robo-Capers, written and produced by artist/creator Lew Stringer
Lew Stringer
-Biography:Stringer began his career from the late 1970s with a series of fanzines, many featuring his popular Brickman character; these were read by several pro creators who encouraged Stringer to try comics as a profession and Stringer recalls that "Alan Moore actually introduced me to one of...
. The second was Matt and the Cat, written and produced by artist/creator Mychailo "Mike" Kazybrid. Whilst originally created as the daily cartoon strip Matt in April 1979, and appearing for six years in the Bradford Telegraph & Argus newspaper, and later in The Manchester Evening News, the comic strip began in Transformers issue 5, November 1984, and continued until issue 73, August 1986. In order to fit in with the theme of the Transformers publication, the format and style was changed. Also, whilst starting as mainly a supporting character, Humph the Cat began to take more of a lead during his humorous encounters with robots, aliens, and his ongoing need to post his comic book subscription.
Other titles
There were two 4-issue mini-series, G.I. Joe and the Transformers, and The Transformers: HeadmastersThe Transformers: Headmasters
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....
, which integrated into the story of the main title. The G.I. Joe comic
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero is a military-themed line of action figures and toys in Hasbro's G.I. Joe franchise. The toyline lasted from 1982 to 1994, producing well over 500 figures and 250 vehicles and playsets. The line reappeared in 1997 and has continued in one form or another to the...
would also later introduce the 12-issue follow up, Generation 2.
Continuation of the comic
In July 2011, it was announced that IDW PublishingIDW Publishing
IDW Publishing, also known as Idea + Design Works, LLC and IDW, is an American publisher of comic books and comic strip collections. The company was founded in 1999 and has been awarded the title "Publisher of the Year Under 5% Market Share" for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 by Diamond Comic...
has signed up Simon Furman
Simon Furman
Simon Christopher Francis Furman is a comic book writer, particularly associated with of a number of notable Transformers comics for Marvel UK, Marvel US, Dreamwave, and most recently, IDW...
and 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...
to make a continuation of the Marvel Transformers comic, consisting of 20 issues from #81 to #100.
Autobots
- Optimus Prime: Revived as a Powermaster, and again as an Action Master.
- Prowl
- Ironhide
- Cliffjumper
- Sideswipe
- Huffer
- Bumblebee/Goldbug
- Sunstreaker
- Trailbreaker
- Brawn
- Mirage
- Bluestreak
- Jazz
- Gears
- Hound
- Ratchet
- Windcharger
- DinobotsDinobotsDinobots is the name of several teams of characters in the fictional Transformers Universe. The groups are made up of several robots, each of whose transformed mode is that of a dinosaur or similar prehistoric animal. They are called Dinotrons in the Japanese version; and ' in the Japanese dub of...
- Grimlock
- Slag
- Sludge
- Snarl
- Swoop
- Jetfire
- Grapple
- Hoist
- Smokescreen
- Skids
- Tracks
- Blaster
- Powerglide
- Cosmos
- Seaspray
- Warpath
- Beachcomber
- Perceptor
- Omega SupremeOmega SupremeOmega Supreme is the name of a fictional character from the Transformers franchise. He is always an Autobot and is often depicted as a gigantic transformer with vast strength and/or overwhelming firepower.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
- AerialbotsAerialbotsThe Aerialbots are a group of Autobots that transform into aircraft and combine to form the giant robot Superion. They were introduced into the Transformers toyline in 1985 and sold as a Superion gift set, and then sold separately in 1986 in most department stores...
/Superion- Silverbolt
- Air Raid
- Fireflight
- Skydive
- Slingshot
- ProtectobotsProtectobotsThe Protectobots are a fictional emergency, search and rescue team of five Autobots in the Transformers toyline. They transform into civilian service and emergency vehicles and combine to form the combiner Defensor...
- Hot Spot
- Streetwise
- First Aid
- Groove
- Blades
- Throttlebots
- Chase
- Searchlight
- Wide Load
- Freeway
- Rollbar
- Sky Lynx
- Jumpstarters
- Twin Twist
- Autobot Triple Changers
- Sandstorm
- Autobot Headmasters
- Fortress Maximus
- Cerebros
- Galen
- Spike Witwicky
- Cerebros
- Highbrow
- Gort
- Hardhead
- Duros
- Chromedome
- Stylor
- Brainstorm
- Arcana
- Nightbeat
- Muzzle
- Hosehead
- Lug
- Siren
- Quig
- Fortress Maximus
- Autobot Targetmasters
- Crosshairs
- Pinpointer
- Pointblank
- Peacemaker
- Kup
- Recoil
- Hot Rod
- Sparks
- Sureshot
- Spoilsport
- Blurr
- Haywire
- Scoop
- Holepunch
- Tracer
- Quickmix
- Boomer
- Ricochet
- Crosshairs
- Autobot Pretenders
- Landmine
- Cloudburst
- Groundbreaker
- Sky High
- Splashdown
- Doubleheader
- Longtooth
- Pincher
- Chainclaw
- Crossblades
- Waverider
- Autobot Powermasters
- Slapdash
- Lube
- Joyride
- Hotwire
- Getaway
- Rev
- Slapdash
- Backstreet
- Dogfight
- Sparkabots
- Sizzle
- Fizzle
- Guzzle
- Triggerbots
- Override
- Autobot Micromasters
- Off Road Patrol
- Powertrain
- Mudslinger
- Highjump
- Tote
- Race Car Patrol
- Free Wheeler
- Roadhandler
- Swindler
- Tailspin
- Rescue Patrol
- Fixit
- Red Hot
- Seawatch
- Stakeout
- Off Road Patrol
- InfernoInferno (Transformers)Inferno is the name of several fictional characters from the various Transformers universes. Despite having different alternate modes, the character name has been most associated with the form of a fire engine.-Transformers: Generation 1:...
Decepticons
- Megatron
- GalvatronGalvatronGalvatron is the name of several fictional Transformers, most often the recreated version of Megatron, the Decepticon leader. He was voiced by Leonard Nimoy in the 1986 Transformers movie, and then by Frank Welker in season 3 and 4 of the animated television series. Since then, other Transformers...
- Shockwave
- Seekers
- Starscream
- Skywarp
- Thundercracker
- Ramjet
- Dirge
- Thrust
- Soundwave
- Ravage
- Rumble
- Frenzy
- Laserbeak
- Buzzsaw
- Reflector
- Spyglass
- Spectro
- Viewfinder
- ConstructiconsConstructiconsright|thumb|Scavenger, Bonecrusher, Longhaul, Scrapper & Mixmaster - five of the original six Constructicons The Constructicons are a group of fictional characters from the various Transformers continuities...
: Creations of Shockwave, can combine into DevastatorDevastator (Transformers)Devastator is the name of several fictional characters in the various Transformers universes. For legal-political reasons, Hasbro now adds a modifier to the character's name on newer toy packages, such as Constructicon Devastator....
.- Scrapper
- Scavenger
- Mixmaster
- Long Haul
- Bonecrusher
- Hook
- InsecticonsInsecticonsInsecticons is the name given to a sub-group of fictional characters in the Transformers Universes, referred to as Insectrons in the Japanese version. The name was also used for several fictional characters in the Transformers Universes...
- Shrapnel
- Bombshell
- Kickback
- Stunticons/Menasor
- Motormaster
- Dead End
- Breakdown
- Drag Strip
- Wildrider
- Battlechargers
- Runabout
- Runamuck
- CombaticonsCombaticonsThe Combaticons are a group of Decepticon military vehicles in the assorted fictional universes of the Transformers.- Transformers: Generation 1 :...
/Bruticus- Onslaught
- Brawl
- Swindle
- Blast Off
- Vortex
- Predacons/Predaking
- Razorclaw
- Rampage
- Headstrong
- Divebomb
- Tantrum
- RatbatRatbatRatbat is the name of several fictional characters who appeared in various Transformers universes.-Transformers: Generation 1:As is the case with many Transformers characters, the various continuities in which Ratbat has appeared have portrayed him widely differently in terms of size, personality,...
- TrypticonTrypticonTrypticon is a fictional character in the Transformers toyline.-Transformers: Generation 1:Trypticon is the Decepticons' principal command base. He has three modes: a city, a mobile battle station, and a Tyrannosaurus rex. In each mode, he has a variety of weapons...
- Wipe-Out
- Decepticon Triple Changers
- Astrotrain
- Octane
- Blitzwing
- Decepticon Headmasters
- Scorponok
- Zarak
- Mindwipe
- Vorath
- Weirdwolf
- Skullcruncher
- Horri-Bull
- Kreb
- Squeezeplay
- Lokos
- Fangry
- Brisko
- Scorponok
- Horrorcons
- Snapdragon
- Krunk
- Apeface
- Snapdragon
- Decepticon Pretenders
- Iguanus
- Submarauder
- Skullgrin
- Bugly
- Finback
- Carnivac
- Snarler
- Bludgeon
- Thunderwing
- Stranglehold
- Octopunch
- Bomb-Burst
- Decepticon Powermasters
- Dreadwing
- Darkwing
- Throttle
- Dreadwind
- Hi-Test
- Darkwing
- Dreadwing
- Firecons: Rivals of the Sparkabots
- Flamefeather
- Cindersaur
- Sparkstalker
- Seacons/Piranacon
- Snaptrap
- Overbite
- Nautilator
- Seawing
- Skalor
- Tentakil
- Triggercons: Rivals of the Triggerbots
- Crankcase
- Windsweeper
- Ruckus
- Terrorcons/Abominus
- Hun-Grr
- Rippersnapper
- Blot
- Sinnertwin
- Cutthroat
- Decepticon Micromasters
- Sports Car Patrol
- Blackjack
- Detour
- Hyperdrive
- Road Hugger
- Air Strike Patrol
- Nightflight
- Storm Cloud
- Tailwind
- Whisper
- Sports Car Patrol
- Decepticon Targetmasters
- Needlenose
- Sunbeam
- Zig-Zag
- Triggerhappy
- Needlenose
- Cyclonus
- Scourge
Humans
- Witwicky family
- Buster Witwicky
- Sparkplug Witwicky
- G.B. Blackrock
- Josie Beller
- Donny Finkleberg
- Walter Barnett