Heavy Traffic!

2009-07-25T04:24:59Z

71.60.9.30: /* Errors */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #22
|prev=Aerialbots over America!
|next=Decepticon Graffiti!
|title=Heavy Traffic!
|seriesissue2=[[Generation 1 (Marvel Comics)|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #91–92
|prev2=Aerialbots over America!
|next2=The Gift
|image=MarvelUS-22.jpg
|caption="Quit crowding around me, fleshlings!"
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=July 1986
|coverdate=November 1986
|writer=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|penciler=[[Don Perlin]]
|inkers=[[Ian Akin]] and [[Brian Garvey]]
|colorist=[[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]
|letterer=[[Hans IV]]
|editor=[[Don Daley]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}

'''While Skids and Donny Finkleberg attempt to locate the Cybertronian Autobots, Megatron sends the Stunticons to intercept.'''

==Synopsis==
Circuit Breaker and Walter Barnett reflect on how they captured the seven [[Autobot]]s recently arrived from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Barnett questions the need to use such force on them but Circuit Breaker rebuffs these concerns. Then, when Barnett attempts give Circuit Breaker a bonus check for the "job well done," she is insulted, proclaiming that "no amount of money could make up for what those robots did to me!"

[[Image:Stunticonsmarvelg1.jpg|left|200px|thumb|These guys were built from scratch and ready to go during the course of one eavesdropped conversation!]]
Back in the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], Ratchet continues working on a wound Optimus Prime received during a recent attack on the [[Decepticon]] base. Bombshell takes advantage of this opportunity to inject Prime with a [[cerebro-shell]]. However, Bombshell finds that he is unable to control Prime, just merely monitor his thoughts. This allows Bombshell to eavesdrop on a conversation whereby Prime sends Skids and Donny Finkleberg to find out what has become of the Autobots whom have recently arrived on [[Earth]] from Cybertron. Skids secures Finkleberg's participation by taking from him a check for $25,000 that Finkleberg was paid for his services as Robot-Master. Prime then proceeds to reactivate the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] using the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]]. Thanks to Bombshell's cerebro-shell, the Decepticons are able to take advantage of this use, and via Soundwave's internal receiver, Megatron is able to simultaneously use the Creation Matrix to give life to the [[Stunticon|Stunticons]].

As Skids and Finkleberg begin their search, they are delayed as they come upon a driver endangered in an accident near fallen power lines. Skids stops to save the driver (much to Finkleberg's chagrin), and the incident is reported by the local news, giving Barnett further reason to suspect that not all robots are bad. All Circuit Breaker sees is a robot on the loose that must be destroyed. She leaves to undertake this task.

Meanwhile, the Decepticons also see this news report, and send the Stunticons out to make sure that the PR damage done (by letting humans know that some Transformers are not threats) is minimalized. The Stunticons and [[Rapid Anti-robot Assault Team|RAAT]] converge upon Skids' position, and a battle ensues in the middle of heavy traffic. The Aerialbots arrive to offer Skids assistance, but they quickly become the targets of Circuit Breaker's attentions. She blasts Superion while Superion is fighting Menasor, who is left victorious. Circuit Breaker, weakened from the attack on Superion, is rescued by Barnett before Menasor can kill her, and Skids and Finkleberg escape in the confusion. Finkleberg, proclaiming himself tired, stops at a hotel, where he deactivates Skids, goes to a pay phone, and calls RAAT to turn the Autobot in for $50,000.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (4)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (5)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (6)
* [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (7)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (11)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (12)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (13)
* [[Slingshot]] (14)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (15)
* [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (22)
|c2=
* [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] (3)
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (9)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (10)
* [[Drag Strip]] (16)
* [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (17)
* [[Breakdown]] (18)
* [[Wildrider]] (19)
* [[Motormaster]] (20)
* [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] (21)
|c3=
* [[Circuit Breaker]] (1)
* [[Walter Barnett]] (2)
* [[Donny Finkleberg]] (8)
}}

==Errors==
* The checklist of Marvel comics released for this month has Stunticons misspelled in the description for this issue as Stuntacons.
* Various coloring errors.

==Items of note==
* The cover to this issue celebrates the 25th Anniversary of [[Marvel Comics]]. All Marvel Comics issues put out this month had this border and featured portrait shots of the main character in the comic. Rather than Optimus Prime or Megatron, Menasor was chosen as the character to represent ''Transformers''.
* Bombshell's cerebro-shell fails to allow Bombshell to control Optimus Prime. Instead, Bombshell can only monitor Prime's thoughts. This fits in with the description of Bombshell's abilities given in the four-issue limited series ''[[Transformers Universe (Marvel comic)|Transformers Universe]]'' which suggests that an individual of very strong will is able to resist the mind-controlling aspects of the cerebro-shell — as [[Ricky Vasquez]] did in the previous Marvel US issue.
* Apparently, the Autobots ''killed'' the Aerialbots (''including Silverbolt!'') after last issue, in order to complete their personality programming! (Silverbolt's programming was already completed, though.)
* The Stunticon bodies are already built. One must assume that part of Bombshell's purpose in controlling Optimus Prime was for the purpose of gaining control of the Creation Matrix.
* ''References to past issues:''
* The wound Bombshell uses to invade Prime with a cerebro-shell was the one he received in issue [[Command Performances!|#19]]. For more information about this injury, see issue [[Aerialbots over America!|#21]].

===UK Printing===
* Page 12 of this story was edited to provide a better cliffhanger for issue #91. The order of the last couple of panels was changed, so that the issue ends with Motormaster slashing a semi's cargo trailer. There's also a slight text edit, so Motormaster doesn't repeat the line "I see him".

[[Image:Muk91 robocapers megrimlockmoviestar.jpg|right|180px|thumb|]]
* Issue #91 features a review of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' by [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]. As one would expect, it's very even-handed and unbiased. He was very careful to point out all the movie's good points, though. Like... uhmmm... ''the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] are in it''.
* The [[Robo-Capers]] comic strip in issue #91 also features Grimlock strutting his stuff (as seen to the left) since he's become a movie star. Pillock.

===Covers (3)===
<gallery>
Image:MarvelUS-22.jpg|'''US issue #22''' - When I drink, I see little people too.
Image:Marvel uk 091.jpg|'''UK issue #91''' - Grammar is not anyones strong point.
Image:Marvel uk 092.jpg|'''UK issue #92''' - The guns are just for show.
</gallery>
* '''US cover:''' Menasor, by [[Herb Trimpe]].
* '''UK issue #91 cover:''' Stunticons, by [[Phil Gascoine]].
* '''UK issue #92 cover:''' Superion and Menasor battle, by [[Lee Sullivan]].

===Advertisements===
* None yet identified.

[[Category:Marvel US issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

G.I. Joe and the Transformers (comic)

2009-07-24T01:34:08Z

71.60.9.30: /* Overview */

{{disambig2|the 1986 crossover by Marvel Comics|other stories with G.I. Joe|G.I. Joe crossovers}}

'''''G.I. Joe and the Transformers''''' is a four-issue limited series produced by [[Marvel Comics]] in 1986. Set in the main [[Marvel Comics continuity]], it follows the Transformers, [[G.I. Joe|the Joes]], and [[Cobra]] as they struggle for control of [[Power Station Alpha]].

{{chapters|title=G.I. Joe and the Transformers issues:|content=
*[[Blood on the Tracks|#1]]
*[[Power Struggle|#2]]
*[[Ashes, Ashes...|#3]]
*[[...All Fall Down!|#4]]
}}

==Overview==
The crossover begins around issue #23 of the original G1 series, and wraps up around issue #27. Scant reference is made to it by the main series, and apart from [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] becoming [[Goldbug (G1)|Goldbug]] and the disappearance of [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]], its influence is minimal. This crossover was not referenced in the G.I. Joe comic as it had no impact on the storyline in their main title.

The story is centered around Power Station Alpha, a mobile nuclear power plant that can beam energy across the globe. The Decepticons and Cobra both want it, and briefly ally themselves to steal it from the United States... until Cobra's agents discover that [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] has plans for the station that will bring about the destruction of the Earth itself.

The series was published at a time of considerable upheaval within the main Transformers book. During the course of the crossover, both [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] are killed off, which makes for a somewhat disjointed story. On the G.I. Joe side, Serpentor replaces Cobra Commander.

==Creative Team==
The series was written by [[Michael Higgins]]. Art is by [[Herb Trimpe]] and [[Vince Colletta]]. Regular Transformers colorist [[Nel Yomtov]] also worked on the series.

==UK (non) printing==

The mini-series is the only story from the Marvel US G1 cycle that was not immediately printed by the UK comic. Why this was is unclear, although as Marvel UK had only just acquired the licence to print ''[[Action Force]]'' (the UK counterpart to G.I. Joe) and their reprints were some way behind the events in this story, it's possible the crossover was considered to be too confusing.

The changes made by the series were substituted or ignored. [[Bumblebee (G1)#Conflicting Goldbug origins|An alternative origin for Goldbug]] would appear in "[[Wanted:Galvatron — Dead or Alive!]]" and "[[Hunters]]". Dirge would appear alive in the later UK story "[[Salvage!]]"

Marvel UK would later run their own ''Transformers''/''Action Force'' crossover in "[[Ancient Relics!]]" in ''Transformers'' #125 and ''Action Force'' #24-27.

In 1990 problems with publication deadlines resulted in the latest US comic stories not yet being available for the UK comic. This problem had occurred twice already in the last year and the previous solution of printing reprints of past UK stories had resulted in many letters of protest. So instead the decision was taken to run the ''G.I. Joe and the Transformers'' series, although modifying the series title to ''Transformers and G.I. Joe the Action Force'', in order to create a much larger gap between the US and UK printings. The series appeared in issues #265-281.

No attempt was made to incorporate the series into the UK continuity. Instead the story was presented from the off-set as a US tale that included their origin of Goldbug.

{{stub}}

[[Category:Comics]]
[[Category:Generation 1]]

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Heavy Traffic!

G.I. Joe and the Transformers (comic)