Robot Round-Up: Transformers + 30 Years

THE TRANSFORMERS 203 – Cover Date 4th February 1989 "It's okay, Carnivac - we beat him. It's over! Carnivac..?" Cover art by Andy Wildman

30 years ago this week - Galvatron gets an extreme makeover as the Time Wars carnage continues.

This week we lose: Sandstorm and Roadbuster. RIP.

In the issue:

Transformers: Time Wars Script: Simon Furman / Art: Dan Reed / Letters: Glop/Glib / Colour: Euan Peters

Action Force: Hush Job Script: Larry Hama / Pencils: Ron Wagner / Inks: Kim DeMulder / Colour: Max Scheele

THE TRANSFORMERS 202 – Cover Date 28th January 1989 Twins of Evil! Cover art by Andy Wildman

30 years ago this week - the body count begins to rise in Time Wars! Although, really these are virtually indestructible repairable robots so who's to say how many of the Bots decommissioned by Galvatron and Megatron might be reactivated eventually. Apart from probably Topspin.

This week we lose: Battletrap, Topspin and the Deluxe Insecticons. RIP.

In the issue:

Transformers: Time Wars Script: Simon Furman / Art: Dan Reed / Letters: Glop / Colour: Euan Peters

Action Force: Hush Job Script: Larry Hama / Pencils: Ron Wagner / Inks: Kim DeMulder / Colour: Max Scheele

THE TRANSFORMERS 201 – Cover Date 21st January 1989 Autobot War! Cover art by Dougie Braithwaite & Dave Harwood

30 years ago this week - It's Autobot versus Autobot in a contrived fight that doesn't quite make sense given that the earthbound Autobots have seen time travel related displacement before. But things pick up as the combined Wreckers and Mayhem Attack Squad confront Galvatron and find Megatron backing him up. Next week things get messy.

In the issue:

Transformers: Time Wars Script: Simon Furman / Art: Robin Smith / Letters: Annie Halfacree / Colour: Euan Peters

Action Force: Hush Job Script: Larry Hama / Pencils: Ron Wagner / Inks: Kim DeMulder / Colour: Max Scheele

Combat Colin by Lew Stringer

THE TRANSFORMERS 200 – Cover Date 14th January 1989 200 Cover art by Lee Sullivan

30 years ago this week - It's a double length Transformers spectacular to celebrate the 200th issue this week. In Time Wars the story switches to present day earth. Ravage returns after falling down a mine shaft in issue 75 and almost immediately steals the show as he meets Galvatron and Galvatron's newest ally.

Meanwhile Optimus Prime's Autobots are preparing to move against the future Decepticon after learning that his presence in 1989 is causing catastrophic damage to time and space. The climax of the issue is the arrival of Rodimus Prime and his forces from 2009.

And a little trivia - my copy of issue 200 has no staples.

In the issue: Transformers: Time Wars Script: Simon Furman / Art: Robin Smith / Letters: Annie Halfacree / Colour: Euan Peters

Combat Colin by Lew Stringer

THE TRANSFORMERS 199 – Cover Date 7th January 1989 Time Wars Begins... Unleash The Apocalypse! Cover art by Art Wetherell and Dave Harwood

30 years ago this week - Time Wars is here! And I'm back to my regular weekly posts too! It took seven days of hard work to post nearly eight months of Transformers comics but I couldn't miss the start of the ultimate Transformers epic.

In the year 2009 both earth and Cybertron are plagued by a rift in spacetime and the cause has been traced to earth of the year 1989. To save the universe itself Rodimus Prime and his Autobots must travel but to the past for a final confrontation with Galvatron.

Action Force reprints GI Joe Yearbook #3 from 1987. Snake Eyes has fallen into the hands of Cobra and has been taken to their New York consulate building - but Scarlett is planning a rescue. This is a sequel to Silent Interlude from GI Joe #21 and like that story has no dialogue.

In the issue: Transformers: Time Wars Script: Simon Furman / Pencils: Andy Wildman / Inks: Stephen Baskerville / Letters: Glib / Colour: Euan Peters

Action Force: Hush Job Script: Larry Hama / Pencils: Ron Wagner / Inks: Kim DeMulder / Colour: Max Scheele

THE TRANSFORMERS #1988 Cover date 31st December 1988

THE TRANSFORMERS ANNUAL Published 1988

Cover art by Andy Wildman and Lee Sullivan

Merry Christmas! It’s the dying days of 1988 and the traditional Xmas issue of Transformers and the annual Annual would have hit me at roughly the same time. Cold Comfort and Joy in issue 198 is a Christmas story but it’s also the next piece in the pre-Time Wars build-up. The annual features a variety of strips but of particular import are Altered Image - Megatron v. Galvatron, and All In The Minds - Highbrow v. Scorponok both vital to the plot of Time Wars.

The Transformers: Cold Comfort and Joy! Plot: Simon Furman / Script: Ian Rimmer / Pencils: Andy Wildman / Inks: Stephen Baskerville / Letters: Glib / Colour: Euan Peters

The Transformers: Altered Image Plot: Simon Furman / Script: Ian Rimmer / Art: Lee Sullivan / Letters: Tom Frame / Colour: Steve White

THE TRANSFORMERS #190 - 197 Cover dates 5th November 1988 to 24th December 1988

Cover art by Stephen Baskerville, Art Wetherell, Andy Wildman, Bob Budiansky, Kevin Nowlan, Anthony Williams

A quartet of US issues - Monstercon From Mars and Ca$h and Car-Nage are one-offs while Club Con and The Flames of Boltax act as prologue to the Underbase Saga - a saga that will have to wait as 1989 must first bring us… Time Wars!

In the back-up spot Visionaries abruptly concludes leaving the story unresolved. As with the Inhumanoids the US series was cancelled out from under us. But that means that Action Force is back as Cobra Commander and Destro escape from the ruins of The Pit.

THE TRANSFORMERS #188 - 189 Cover dates 22nd October 1988 to 29th October 1988 Cover art by Jeff Anderson

This pair of issues feature two one-off UK stories that put more of the pieces in place for the upcoming epic Time Wars. In Firebug the Cybertronian Autobots set-up a covert recon base on earth. Their mission is to track Galvatron’s movements in preparation for the Wreckers to have another attempt at taking the future Decepticon on.

Meanwhile in Dry Run Shockwave tests his mind controlled pawn Megatron prior to his own confrontation with Galvatron. The test subjects are the unfortunate Cyclonus and Scourge and the outcome makes the time rift plaguing the year 2008 even worse.

The Transformers: Firebug Plot: Simon Furman / Script: Dan Abnett / Art: Jeff Anderson / Letters: Tom Frame / Colour: Euan Peters

THE TRANSFORMERS #180 - 187 Cover dates 27th August 1988 to 15th October 1988 Cover art by Lee Sullivan, Andy Wildman, Jerry Paris

Space Pirates! I love this story, especially the bit where Metroplex bursts out of Autobot City. The prologue, The Big Broadcast of 2006 is a bit dodgy - but thanks to some clever writing by Simon Furman it becomes part of the story in an unusual and entertaining way.

Transformers also gets a makeover with issue 183. The Transformation page gets a new look and Dreadwind takes over the letters page from Grimlock. Action Force also takes a break as Visionaries joins the titles in the back-up spot.

Transformers: The Big Broadcast of 2006 Prologue/Epilogue Script: Simon Furman / Art: Lee Sullivan / Letters: Glib / Colour: Steve White

Transformers: The Big Broadcast of 2006 Script: Ralph Macchio / Pencils: Alan Kupperberg / Dave Elliott / Letters/: Kurt Hathaway / Colour: Nel Yomtov

THE TRANSFORMERS #174 - 179 Cover dates 16th July to 20th August 1988 Cover art by Jeff Anderson, Lee Sullivan, Kev Hopgood, Stephen Baskerville and Jerry Paris

Optimus Prime lives! Months after his original body was destroyed on earth - the Autobot commander is reborn on Nebulos as a Powermaster. Meanwhile Fortress Maximus’ Headmasters and Targetmasters meet the earthbound Autobots led by Grimlock and get into a massive battle with Ratbat’s Decepticons on the moon.

In the Action Force back-up strip Cobra invade The Pit resulting in it’s destruction and the presumed death of Cobra Commander.

THE TRANSFORMERS #172-173 Cover dates 2nd July 1988 to 9th July 1988 Cover art by Jerry Paris and Jeff Anderson

Having traveled to earth with Scorponok future Decepticons Cyclonus and Scourge track down and confront their old boss Galvatron. But this unhappy reunion is interrupted by the arrival of crack Autobot commandos The Wreckers. Fight! Fight! Fight!

Bit of bonus trivia about this story line - I missed issue 173 back in 1988 so had to wait until eBay was invented before finally getting to read part two.

THE TRANSFORMERS #164 - 171 Cover dates 7th May 1988 to 25th June 1988 Cover art by Dan Reed, Lee Sullivan,Jerry Paris, Jeff Anderson

Ultra Magnus returns to Cybertron to confront an army of zombie Transformers led by the insane Autobot scientist Flame, and the gladiatorial arena of the alien Zabra.

In the back up strip Action Force win the battle of Springfield but with no evidence of Cobra in the town it may be a win they won’t walk away from.

Transformers: City of Fear / Legion of the Lost / Meltdown Script: Simon Furman / Pencils: Dan Reed, Jeff Anderson, Robin Smith / Inks: Dan Reed, Dave Elliot, Robin Smith / Letters: Annie Halfacree, Tom Frame, Glib, Glop / Colour: Euan Peters

THE TRANSFORMERS 163 - Cover date 30th April 1988 Cover art by Lee Sullivan

Pretenders - The Ultimate Warriors!

The Autobot Pretenders are all well and good but the big news this issue is the return of Storm Shadow - back from the dead!

In this issue:

The Transformers: Pretender to the Throne! Script: Bob Budiansky / Pencils: Jose Delbo / Inks: Dave Hunt / Letter: Bill Oakley / Colours: Nel Yomtov

Action Force: The Battle of Springfield Script: Larry Hama / Pencils: Rod Whigham / Inks: Andy Mushynsky / Letters: Joe Rosen / Colour: George Roussos

Combat Colin versus the Gwanzulums by Lew Stringer

THE TRANSFORMERS 162 - Cover date 23rd April 1988 Cover art by Jeff Anderson and Dave Elliot

Introducing The Pretenders - Inside!

So much in this issue! Optimus Prime returns! Except he's a computer generated character and don't even ask how he fits on a 3.5 inch floppy disc. He does hacking!

We also get the debut of the Decepticon Pretenders! Skullgrin! Bomb-Burst! Sub-Marauder! The other three who's toys weren't released in the UK!

In this issue:

The Transformers: Pretender to the Throne! Script: Bob Budiansky / Pencils: Jose Delbo / Inks: Dave Hunt / Letter: Bill Oakley / Colours: Nel Yomtov

Action Force: The Battle of Springfield Script: Larry Hama / Pencils: Rod Whigham / Inks: Andy Mushynsky / Letters: Joe Rosen / Colour: George Roussos

Combat Colin versus the Gwanzulums by Lew Stringer

THE TRANSFORMERS 161 - Cover date 16th April 1988 Cover art by Bryan Hitch

"No! It can't be you... You're dead!"

We interupt our previously scheduled Battle of Springfield to bring you a PSA and a nice little competition win. Firstly two kids nearly get themselves run over by Lady Jaye and as a reward get to go on a ride in a Dragonfly helicopter? I should be less careful when I cross the road.

We also get the winner of a WH Smith competition to write and draw the final panels of an Action Force story. The winner is Wayne Clarke of Gosport who does a pretty good job. Well done, Wayne!

In this issue:

The Transformers: Salvage! Script: Simon Furman / Art: Lee Sullivan / Letters: Glib / Colours: Euan Peters

Action Force: Road Safety From The Air Script: Ian Rimmer / Pencils: Kev Hopgood / Inks: Dave Hine / Letters: Zed / Colour: Steve White

Action Force: Battle Island Script: Ian Rimmer / Pencils: Kev Hopgood / Inks: Tim Perkins / Letters: Glib / Colour: Steve White - with Wayne Clarke

Combat Colin versus The Gwanzulums by Lew Stringer

For Sale: The Star Wars Legend Continues.. The Ewoks and Droids on VHS - including The Great Heep. Very exciting.

THE TRANSFORMERS 160 - Cover date 9th April 1988 Cover art by Bryan Hitch

Molten Madness!

A classic Bryan Hitch cover this week. Inside we start a new run of UK strips as Shockwave (now separated from Ratbat's forces in orbit) starts to prepare his defence against Galvatron.

The very special guest star this issue is one Richard Branson who has dreged up Megatron and Centurion from the bottom of the Thames (where they have laid non-functional since the end of the Transformers/Action Force crossover). A bit odd but a fun real life crossover I guess?

In this issue:

The Transformers: Salvage! Script: Simon Furman / Art: Lee Sullivan / Letters: Tom Frame / Colours: Euan Peters

Action Force: Serpentor Script: Larry Hama / Pencils: Frank Springer / Inks: Andy Mushynsky / Letters: Rick Parker / Colour: George Roussos

Combat Colin versus The Gwanzulums by Lew Stringer

For Sale: Transformers: Headmasters - The Rebirth - out on video and only 8.99!

THE TRANSFORMERS 159 - Cover date 2nd April 1988 Cover art by Will Simpson and David Elliot

Dead in Space?

It's a big issue for plot this week. The earth-bound Decepticons finally return to space as their Floridian island base undergoes it's transformation into a rocket ship; and after tackling with Fortress Maximus Shockwave loses his command and maybe his life as he plummets into the atmosphere.

Meanwhile over in Action Force the assault on Springfield begins and Serpentor awakens!

In this issue:

The Transformers: The Desert Island of Space! Script: Bob Budiansky / Pencils: Jose Delbo / Inks: Dave Hunt / Letter: Bill Oakley / Colours: Nel Yomtov

Action Force: Serpentor Script: Larry Hama / Pencils: Frank Springer / Inks: Andy Mushynsky / Letters: Rick Parker / Colour: George Roussos

Combat Colin by Lew Stringer