The Transformers: Headmasters

2008-01-11T03:15:05Z

24.158.157.209: /* Notes */

'''''Transformers: Headmasters''''' is a four-part mini-series published in 1987 by Marvel Comics, and set in [[Marvel Comics continuity|the same continuity]] as the regular [[Generation 1 (Marvel comic)|US Marvel comic]]. It tells the story of two groups of Transformers led by [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] and [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], and their adventures on the planet [[Nebulos]]; in the process, it introduces the [[Headmaster]] and [[Targetmaster]] gimmicks to the storyline.

The ''Headmasters'' plot merged with the ongoing Marvel storyline in [[Trial by Fire!|Transformers issue #38]].

{|style="margin:0 auto;padding:0 auto" align=center id=toc
!align=center bgcolor=#6699CC|'''<font color="white">Headmasters US issues:</font>'''
|-align=center
|| [[Ring of Hate!|#1]] | [[Broken Glass!|#2]] | [[Love and Steel!|#3]] | [[Brothers in Armor!!|#4]]
|}

==Overview==
A group of Autobots, led by Fortress Maximus, leaves [[Cybertron]] for the planet [[Nebulos]] hoping to forge a new, peaceful existance for themselves. But their arch foes, under the command of Scorponok, follow them, forcing the Autobots to join forces with the natives of that world in the most literal of ways. Soon Nebulos is being devastated by the Transformers' war, the Decepticons have found their own team of native allies, and the Autobots must leave the planet to keep from destroying it completely.

The mini-series was used [[To sell toys|to introduce the bulk of the 1987 toyline]] to the comics continuity. Many of those toys did not have Earthen [[altmodes]], and thus required a different origin than the predominantly Earth-centric forms of the previous three years. The series also introduced the year's primary toy gimmicks of Headmasters and Targetmasters, whose heads and weapons transformed to armored humanoids.

==Notes==
* Series artist [[Frank Springer]] had the unenviable task of drawing 62 new characters in this series. With 74 character models between them. Factoring in transformations that's 132 pieces of reference art to juggle. There were <strike>occasional</strike> frequent times when a character was accidentally illustrated looking like someone else. Perfectly understandable! Slightly ''less'' understandable was why [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]], the starring character, would change head designs ''between panels on the same page.'' The recreational use of [[Wikipedia:Benadryl|Benadryl]] has not been ruled out.

* Series colorist [[Nel Yomtov]] experienced a <strike>similar</strike> identical problem. The two problems combined can make Headmasters a ''mildly'' confusing read . . . but it's really not that bad.

* This shows [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] becoming Targetmasters, even though they don't exist until [[The Transformers: The Movie|2005]]. The [[Marvel UK#Marvel UK|Marvel UK]] series would explain this away, but not the US series.

==Creative Team==
[[Bob Budiansky]], writer for the main Transformers book, also penned ''Headmasters.'' [[Frank Springer]], the artist of the 4-issue miniseries that began ''Transformers'', did pencils.

==Collections==
* [[Titan_Books#US_Collections|Titan Books's Trial by Fire]] (2004)

[[Category:Generation 1]]
[[Category:Comics]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

Brothers in Armor!!

2008-01-11T03:04:51Z

24.158.157.209: /* Errors */

[[Image:MarvelHeadmasters-4.jpg|thumb|right|250px|To me, Spa- errr, Firebolt!!]]

'''To ensure the safety of Nebulos, Galen and Lord Zarak must each make a huge sacrifice.'''

{{comicnav | Headmasters (comic)| 4 | seriesname=''Headmasters''| prev=Love and Steel! | next= | series2=Generation 1 (Marvel Comics) | seriesname2=Generation 1 (Marvel UK) | issuenumber2=Issue #s 142-145 | prev2=Child's Play (comic issue) | next2=Stargazing }}

=''Headmasters'' #4=
''(Story also appears in: Marvel UK issues #142-145)''

'''Script:''' [[Bob Budiansky]] <br>
'''Pencils:''' [[Frank Springer]]<br>
'''Inks:''' [[Ian Akin]] & [[Brian Garvey]]<br>
'''Lettering:''' [[Jack Morelli]]<br>
'''Colors:''' [[Nelson Yomtov]]<br>
'''Editor:''' [[Don Daley]]<br>

*''Major characters (in order of appearance):'' [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], [[Snapdragon]], [[Mindwipe]], [[Apeface]], [[Spasma]], [[Vorath]], [[Krunk]], [[Monzo]], [[Lord Zarak]], [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]], [[Kup]], [[Hot Rod]], [[Galen]], [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]], [[Triggerhappy]], [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], [[Misfire]], [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], [[Duros]], [[Gort]], [[Arcana]], [[Stylor]], [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]], [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]], [[Highbrow]], [[Brainstorm]], [[Chromedome]]
*''Originally published:'' January, 1988

==Synopsis==
With most of their opposition incapacitated, the [[Decepticon]]s 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 [[Autobot]]s further experiment with Nebulan [[binary-bonding]] by creating the [[Targetmaster]]s, 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.

==Errors==
* Cover - Kup is miscolored as gold instead of teal.
* Page 3 - First panel: Spasma's dialogue is attributed to Zarak/Scorponok.
* Page 5 - Third panel: Pinpointer's dialogue is attributed to "Sparks."
* Page 16 - Eighth panel: Gort's suit is once again drawn as Chromedome's body.
* Page 18 - Second and third panels: And again, Fortress Maximus is drawn with Cerebros' head.
* Page 21 - Second panel: Pointblank is missing his head.
* Page 22 - The Decepticon ship is written as having been parked in orbit like the ''[[Steelhaven]]'', but Springer draws it as if it launches from the ground, complete with launching pad. (Consequently, this confused later artist [[Jose Delbo]], and thus the ship is drawn in its second appearance in "[[Trial by Fire!]]" with its launching platform attached to it.)
* Page 22 - First panel: As the Autobots leave and reboard their ship that is in orbit around Nebulos, several of the non-flying Autobots are given a friendly ride by Decepticons (Slugslinger, Misfire, Triggerhappy).

==Items of note==
* ''References to other Transformers continuities/issues:'' The message Hot Rod receives on page 6 was sent by Goldbug in Marvel US issue #37.
* Advertised as part 4 in a 4-issue limited series.
* ''Two'' exclamation points. Because it's ''that'' exciting.

[[Category:Marvel US issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>

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The Transformers: Headmasters

Brothers in Armor!!