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File:Tfannualsoftcover.jpg

2016-01-04T00:04:55Z

Adturnbull: Softcover reprint of the 1986 Transformers Annual by {{art |art=John Higgins }}

Softcover reprint of the 1986 Transformers Annual by {{art
|art=[[John Higgins]]
}}

Transformers Annual 1987

2016-01-03T23:54:10Z

Adturnbull:

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=[[Transformers Annual]]
|prev=Transformers Annual 1987
|next=Transformers Annual 1989
|prev2=The Mission
|next2=What's in a Name?
|title=Transformers Annual 1988
|image=Transformers annual 1988.jpg
|caption="You're a bad off-model likeness!"<br> "No, YOU'RE a bad off-model likeness!"
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=1st August [[1987]]
|coverdate=[[1988]]
|cover=[[Robin Smith]]
|price=£3.75
|ISBN=0-948936-09-6
|pagecount=64
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}

The '''Transformers Annual 1988''' was published by Marvel Comics Ltd on 1st August 1987.

==Contents==
* Front Papers: [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]
* "This book belongs to"
* "[[What's in a Name?]]"
* "[[Doomsday for Nebulos]]" - [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]] Saga (chapter 1)
* [[Transformer]]s Trivia Quiz
* "[[Vicious Circle!]]"
* "[[Stylor's Story]]" - Headmasters Saga (chapter 2)
* [[Transformers AtoZ|AtoZ]]: [[Brainstorm]], [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]], [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]], [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]]
* "[[Ark Duty]]"
* "[[The Final Conflict]]" - Headmasters Saga (chapter 3)
* [[Transformers AtoZ|AtoZ]]: [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]], [[Skullcruncher]], [[Weirdwolf (G1)|Weirdwolf]]

==Synopsis==

===Front Papers===
[[File:Transformers annual 1988 Poster.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|The Transformers remake of [[Wikipedia:Alas Smith and Jones|Alas Smith and Jones]] never took off ]]
Two page inside cover poster of the heads [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] gurning at each other. By [[Jeff Anderson]].

===This book belongs to===
A page for the lucky owner of the annual to fill out a mini tech spec entry for themselves. The fields given are ''Owner'', ''Allegiance'', ''SPD'', ''STR'' and ''INT''.
The page is filled out with a character model picture of [[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Gurrr]].

===What's in a Name?===
Having learned of the arrival of the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] on Earth, [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]] reflects on how he encountered one of their number, [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]], on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

===Doomsday for Nebulos===
Lord [[Mo Zarak|Zarak]] meets with a group of [[Decepticon]]s led by [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]], who he has summoned to [[Nebulos]], and soon begins to wonder if this was a mistake...

===Transformers Trivia Quiz===
Split into two sections, one about Autobots and one about Decepticons, with a slight numerical imbalance of 21 Autobot questions and 22 Decepticon. Most are general franchise questions (e.g. "[[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] is the team leader of which Autobot group?", "The Decepticon [[Triple Changer]] [[Octane (G1)|Octane]] can become which two vehicles?") but a few relate specifically to the comic (e.g.. "Which Autobot hosted the [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|Transformers comic letters page]] for just one issue?", "Three Decepticons appeared on the cover of [[Transformers Annual 1987|last year's Transformers Annual]]. Who were they?").
The answers are on the following page.

===Vicious Circle!===
[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], having survived falling into a volcano, must face [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] once again.

===Stylor's Story===
As the Decepticons attack the Nebulan city, [[Stylor]] decides to join the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]].

===Character bios===
Bios of [[Brainstorm]], [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]], [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] and [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]], similar in style to the ''[[Transformers AtoZ|A to Z]]'' features in the regular UK title (which are themselves cribbed from the US ''Transformers Universe''). The only difference is the addition of a "Chest Readout" category (although similar stats are available for all Transformers, they're just more visible with the Headmasters).

===Ark Duty===
A vital information tape is stolen from [[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]]; [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] disobeys orders to retrieve it.

===The Final Conflict===
Scorponok and [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] face off in a duel to the death!

===Character bios===
Profiles of [[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]], [[Skullcruncher]] and [[Weirdwolf (G1)|Weirdwolf]], identical in style to the Autobot ones.

==Errors==
* Throughout the annual (in the latter two text stories and the profile on Highbrow), [[Gort]] is referred to as Grot. It's too consistent to be a typo and suggests that whoever wrote and/or edited the annual wasn't really familiar with the franchise. (The annual features no credits except on the first two comic strips.)

==Items of note==
* The three comic strips tie in well with the Marvel UK stories: "What's In a Name?" is set during the events of "[[Grudge Match!]]" (just after the scene of Swoop and [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] watching the television report), "Vicious Circle" carries on the story from "[[Fire on High!|Fire on High]]" (in what was either an attempt to make people buy the annual or a way of ensuring there was something in there worth reading, depending who you listen to) and "Ark Duty" ties in with the future timeline.
* The Headmaster Saga seems to be set during the events of the ''[[The Transformers: Headmasters|Headmaster]]'' mini-series. The first two stories are a faithful adaptation of "[[Broken Glass!]]" (with a recap of "[[Ring of Hate!]]"), but the third is new and must be set during "[[Brothers in Armor!!]]" (in the same gap as "[[Worlds Apart!]]", after the creation of the Targetmasters and before the Transformers left Nebulos).
* For no readily apparent reason, Fortress Maximus' Nebulan partner is called Kord rather than [[Galen]].
* Fortress Maximus apparently keeps his old head "inside a chamber in his massive robot structure".
* Bonded Headmasters are referred to on occasion by both Transformer and Nebulan names - e.g., Duros/Hardhead, even in dialogue, although this is less than consistent.
* The origin of the Targetmasters recounted in "The Final Conflict" states their partners are Nebulan weapons who have been engineered to transform into robots and then given minds duplicated from other Nebulans (implying the originals are still walking around).
* In "Doomsday for Nebulos", all dialogue for Scorponok (the only Transformer to speak) is written in '''CAPITALS AND BOLD'''. This practice is discontinued in the other stories.

[[Category:Annuals|1988]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Transformers Annual 1985

2016-01-03T23:53:02Z

Adturnbull:

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=[[Transformers Annual]]
|prev=
|next=Transformers Annual 1987
|prev2=
|next2=Plague of the Insecticons!
|title=Transformers Annual 1986
|image=Transformers annual 1986.jpg
|caption=BIG BOXES FROM SPACE!
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] in association with [[Grandreams]]
|date=December [[1985]]
|coverdate=[[1986]]
|cover=[[John Higgins]]
|price=£3.25
|ISBN=0-86227-331-5
|pagecount=64
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}

The '''Transformers Annual 1986''' was published in the UK by Marvel Comics Ltd. in association with Grandreams Ltd. in December 1985.

==Contents==
*Introduction to the main [[Decepticon]]s
*Introduction to the [[Autobot]] ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' crew (as seen in [[The Transformers (issue)|issue #1]] of the comic)
*[[Plague of the Insecticons!]] (Part 1)
*Puzzles: The Transformers Name and Face Match!, Find the outline of the fastest Autobot- Cliffjumper.
*[[Missing in Action]] (Part 1)
*Puzzles: Decepticon Word Scramble, Decepticon Match-Up!
*[[And There Shall Come...a Leader!]] (Part 1)
*Missing in Action (Part 2)
*[[And There Shall Come...a Leader!]] (Part 2)
*Puzzle: Match the Autobot Robot and Vehicle
*Game: Hexagonal Attack on Castle Decepticon!
*[[Hunted!]]
*Puzzles: Huffer's Word Maze, Hound's Scrambled Word Message
*Plague of the Insecticons! (Part 2)
*Puzzle: Ratchet to the Rescue!
*Puzzle Answer Page

==Synopsis==
===Decepticon Introduction===
The first two-page spread of the annual. Shows the box art with accompanying introductory text of the main Decepticon cast; [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]], [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]], [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], [[Skywarp (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Skywarp]], [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]], [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]], and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]].

===Autobot Introduction===
Two page Autobot roll-call as printed in issue #1 of the comic, introducing all of the [[1984]] Autobots.

===Plague of the Insecticons!===
[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]], [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]], and [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] travel to Washington D.C. to engage in peace talks with the President, but the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] arrive and attack the humans while posing as Autobots.

===Missing in Action===
[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] travels on a reconnaissance mission to Greater Portland, where he encounters and is critically wounded by Rumble in an alleyway behind Woolworth's. Left to go off-line, Tracks converts to [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] and is found by a young hooligan named J.D., who decides to use Tracks as a getaway car in the robbery he's about to participate in.

J.D. and his partner-in-crime, Mark, take Tracks to New York to continue their crime spree where Tracks's Autobot symbol is recognised by a young boy named Danny. Meanwhile, Prime hears of Tracks being used as a getaway car and sends [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]], [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] and [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] to retrieve him. After seeing the Autobot symbol on Tracks' hood, Danny follows the drivers into a bank to tell them what they were driving, only to find they're robbing the bank. Inferno, Grapple and Hoist arrive on the scene, and the sight of three giant robots causes J.D. to inadvertently set off the timer on the bomb he was holding.

The Autobots are thrown to the ground as the front of the bank is blown outwards. Upon hearing of the hostages inside, they begin to evacuate the building and get everyone but Danny clear. Inferno ignores the fact he is 30 foot tall and enters the burning building, shielding Danny with his heat-resistant body. Danny is taken to the hospital, J.D. and Mark are taken by the police, Tracks is brought home and given a lecture by Optimus Prime.

===And There Shall Come...A Leader!===
The Decepticons are staging a final assault on [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron]] campaigns the Council of Autobot Elders to relinquish command of the Autobot army to a warrior, Optimus Prime.

===Hunted!===
[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] is stuck on-base with Prowl monitoring news channels for Decepticon activity, complaining about being excluded from combat missions. Prowl spots a small piece of metal in the background of a news report, instantly recognising it as a piece of Ravage's hide. What a clever chap Prowl is.

Bumblebee and the [[Jumpstarter]]s convince Prowl to go to [[South America]], where the report originated, and investigate. After wrecking a military roadblock and wrestling with a Boa Constrictor, they discover Megatron has a secret crystal mine, mining for ultra-rare crystals which can be imbued with artificial intelligence, creating Megatron an army of soldiers! He also has a human expedition team held hostage.

Bumblebee attacks the mine-fortress alone, somehow avoiding Starscream, [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]], and [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]]'s fire power. The Jumpstarters manage to shoot down Starscream causing him to crash into the mine, destroying it instantly.

Megatron escapes, leaving the lone Bumblebee unscathed, and tells him there's a bomb in his fortress where the humans are held prisoner. Bumblebee saves them in the nick of time.

==Items of Note==
*This was the first annual, published for Christmas 1985. Due to the 1985 print date in the cover it is frequently referred to as the 1985 annual. As many annuals are printed at the end of the year before this has led to it being dated as such.
* A softcover edition of the annual was reprinted in 1986 which has 4 extra blank pages due to the binding. The internal contents are identical save for correcting the mislabeling of Page 47 as page 46! The front cover lacks the word annual.
*The Annual contains 8 one-page puzzles and a two-page game.
*Rumble is red and black, lending more credence to [[FIRRIB|FIBRIR]].
*President Ronald Reagan refers to Optimus as a "lorry".
*Page 47 is erroneously mis-labelled as page "46"
*In the puzzle answers page, the answer for the "Transformers Name and Face Match!" puzzle has Ravage and Laserbeak switched around.

[[Category:Annuals|1986]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Transformers Annual 1985

2016-01-03T23:46:00Z

Adturnbull: /* Items of Note */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=[[Transformers Annual]]
|prev=
|next=Transformers Annual 1987
|prev2=
|next2=Plague of the Insecticons!
|title=Transformers Annual 1986
|image=Transformers annual 1986.jpg
|caption=BIG BOXES FROM SPACE!
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] in association with [[Grandreams]]
|date=December [[1985]]
|coverdate=[[1986]]
|price=£3.25
|ISBN=0-86227-331-5
|pagecount=64
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}

The '''Transformers Annual 1986''' was published in the UK by Marvel Comics Ltd. in association with Grandreams Ltd. in December 1985.

==Contents==
*Introduction to the main [[Decepticon]]s
*Introduction to the [[Autobot]] ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' crew (as seen in [[The Transformers (issue)|issue #1]] of the comic)
*[[Plague of the Insecticons!]] (Part 1)
*Puzzles: The Transformers Name and Face Match!, Find the outline of the fastest Autobot- Cliffjumper.
*[[Missing in Action]] (Part 1)
*Puzzles: Decepticon Word Scramble, Decepticon Match-Up!
*[[And There Shall Come...a Leader!]] (Part 1)
*Missing in Action (Part 2)
*[[And There Shall Come...a Leader!]] (Part 2)
*Puzzle: Match the Autobot Robot and Vehicle
*Game: Hexagonal Attack on Castle Decepticon!
*[[Hunted!]]
*Puzzles: Huffer's Word Maze, Hound's Scrambled Word Message
*Plague of the Insecticons! (Part 2)
*Puzzle: Ratchet to the Rescue!
*Puzzle Answer Page

==Synopsis==
===Decepticon Introduction===
The first two-page spread of the annual. Shows the box art with accompanying introductory text of the main Decepticon cast; [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]], [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]], [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], [[Skywarp (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Skywarp]], [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]], [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]], and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]].

===Autobot Introduction===
Two page Autobot roll-call as printed in issue #1 of the comic, introducing all of the [[1984]] Autobots.

===Plague of the Insecticons!===
[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]], [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]], and [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] travel to Washington D.C. to engage in peace talks with the President, but the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] arrive and attack the humans while posing as Autobots.

===Missing in Action===
[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] travels on a reconnaissance mission to Greater Portland, where he encounters and is critically wounded by Rumble in an alleyway behind Woolworth's. Left to go off-line, Tracks converts to [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] and is found by a young hooligan named J.D., who decides to use Tracks as a getaway car in the robbery he's about to participate in.

J.D. and his partner-in-crime, Mark, take Tracks to New York to continue their crime spree where Tracks's Autobot symbol is recognised by a young boy named Danny. Meanwhile, Prime hears of Tracks being used as a getaway car and sends [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]], [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] and [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] to retrieve him. After seeing the Autobot symbol on Tracks' hood, Danny follows the drivers into a bank to tell them what they were driving, only to find they're robbing the bank. Inferno, Grapple and Hoist arrive on the scene, and the sight of three giant robots causes J.D. to inadvertently set off the timer on the bomb he was holding.

The Autobots are thrown to the ground as the front of the bank is blown outwards. Upon hearing of the hostages inside, they begin to evacuate the building and get everyone but Danny clear. Inferno ignores the fact he is 30 foot tall and enters the burning building, shielding Danny with his heat-resistant body. Danny is taken to the hospital, J.D. and Mark are taken by the police, Tracks is brought home and given a lecture by Optimus Prime.

===And There Shall Come...A Leader!===
The Decepticons are staging a final assault on [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron]] campaigns the Council of Autobot Elders to relinquish command of the Autobot army to a warrior, Optimus Prime.

===Hunted!===
[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] is stuck on-base with Prowl monitoring news channels for Decepticon activity, complaining about being excluded from combat missions. Prowl spots a small piece of metal in the background of a news report, instantly recognising it as a piece of Ravage's hide. What a clever chap Prowl is.

Bumblebee and the [[Jumpstarter]]s convince Prowl to go to [[South America]], where the report originated, and investigate. After wrecking a military roadblock and wrestling with a Boa Constrictor, they discover Megatron has a secret crystal mine, mining for ultra-rare crystals which can be imbued with artificial intelligence, creating Megatron an army of soldiers! He also has a human expedition team held hostage.

Bumblebee attacks the mine-fortress alone, somehow avoiding Starscream, [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]], and [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]]'s fire power. The Jumpstarters manage to shoot down Starscream causing him to crash into the mine, destroying it instantly.

Megatron escapes, leaving the lone Bumblebee unscathed, and tells him there's a bomb in his fortress where the humans are held prisoner. Bumblebee saves them in the nick of time.

==Items of Note==
*This was the first annual, published for Christmas 1985. Due to the 1985 print date in the cover it is frequently referred to as the 1985 annual. As many annuals are printed at the end of the year before this has led to it being dated as such.
* A softcover edition of the annual was reprinted in 1986 which has 4 extra blank pages due to the binding. The internal contents are identical save for correcting the mislabeling of Page 47 as page 46! The front cover lacks the word annual.
*The Annual contains 8 one-page puzzles and a two-page game.
*Rumble is red and black, lending more credence to [[FIRRIB|FIBRIR]].
*President Ronald Reagan refers to Optimus as a "lorry".
*Page 47 is erroneously mis-labelled as page "46"
*In the puzzle answers page, the answer for the "Transformers Name and Face Match!" puzzle has Ravage and Laserbeak switched around.

[[Category:Annuals|1986]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Transformers Annual 1985

2016-01-03T23:44:18Z

Adturnbull: /* Items of Note */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=[[Transformers Annual]]
|prev=
|next=Transformers Annual 1987
|prev2=
|next2=Plague of the Insecticons!
|title=Transformers Annual 1986
|image=Transformers annual 1986.jpg
|caption=BIG BOXES FROM SPACE!
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] in association with [[Grandreams]]
|date=December [[1985]]
|coverdate=[[1986]]
|price=£3.25
|ISBN=0-86227-331-5
|pagecount=64
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}

The '''Transformers Annual 1986''' was published in the UK by Marvel Comics Ltd. in association with Grandreams Ltd. in December 1985.

==Contents==
*Introduction to the main [[Decepticon]]s
*Introduction to the [[Autobot]] ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' crew (as seen in [[The Transformers (issue)|issue #1]] of the comic)
*[[Plague of the Insecticons!]] (Part 1)
*Puzzles: The Transformers Name and Face Match!, Find the outline of the fastest Autobot- Cliffjumper.
*[[Missing in Action]] (Part 1)
*Puzzles: Decepticon Word Scramble, Decepticon Match-Up!
*[[And There Shall Come...a Leader!]] (Part 1)
*Missing in Action (Part 2)
*[[And There Shall Come...a Leader!]] (Part 2)
*Puzzle: Match the Autobot Robot and Vehicle
*Game: Hexagonal Attack on Castle Decepticon!
*[[Hunted!]]
*Puzzles: Huffer's Word Maze, Hound's Scrambled Word Message
*Plague of the Insecticons! (Part 2)
*Puzzle: Ratchet to the Rescue!
*Puzzle Answer Page

==Synopsis==
===Decepticon Introduction===
The first two-page spread of the annual. Shows the box art with accompanying introductory text of the main Decepticon cast; [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]], [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]], [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], [[Skywarp (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Skywarp]], [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]], [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]], and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]].

===Autobot Introduction===
Two page Autobot roll-call as printed in issue #1 of the comic, introducing all of the [[1984]] Autobots.

===Plague of the Insecticons!===
[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]], [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]], and [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] travel to Washington D.C. to engage in peace talks with the President, but the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] arrive and attack the humans while posing as Autobots.

===Missing in Action===
[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] travels on a reconnaissance mission to Greater Portland, where he encounters and is critically wounded by Rumble in an alleyway behind Woolworth's. Left to go off-line, Tracks converts to [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] and is found by a young hooligan named J.D., who decides to use Tracks as a getaway car in the robbery he's about to participate in.

J.D. and his partner-in-crime, Mark, take Tracks to New York to continue their crime spree where Tracks's Autobot symbol is recognised by a young boy named Danny. Meanwhile, Prime hears of Tracks being used as a getaway car and sends [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]], [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] and [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] to retrieve him. After seeing the Autobot symbol on Tracks' hood, Danny follows the drivers into a bank to tell them what they were driving, only to find they're robbing the bank. Inferno, Grapple and Hoist arrive on the scene, and the sight of three giant robots causes J.D. to inadvertently set off the timer on the bomb he was holding.

The Autobots are thrown to the ground as the front of the bank is blown outwards. Upon hearing of the hostages inside, they begin to evacuate the building and get everyone but Danny clear. Inferno ignores the fact he is 30 foot tall and enters the burning building, shielding Danny with his heat-resistant body. Danny is taken to the hospital, J.D. and Mark are taken by the police, Tracks is brought home and given a lecture by Optimus Prime.

===And There Shall Come...A Leader!===
The Decepticons are staging a final assault on [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron]] campaigns the Council of Autobot Elders to relinquish command of the Autobot army to a warrior, Optimus Prime.

===Hunted!===
[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] is stuck on-base with Prowl monitoring news channels for Decepticon activity, complaining about being excluded from combat missions. Prowl spots a small piece of metal in the background of a news report, instantly recognising it as a piece of Ravage's hide. What a clever chap Prowl is.

Bumblebee and the [[Jumpstarter]]s convince Prowl to go to [[South America]], where the report originated, and investigate. After wrecking a military roadblock and wrestling with a Boa Constrictor, they discover Megatron has a secret crystal mine, mining for ultra-rare crystals which can be imbued with artificial intelligence, creating Megatron an army of soldiers! He also has a human expedition team held hostage.

Bumblebee attacks the mine-fortress alone, somehow avoiding Starscream, [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]], and [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]]'s fire power. The Jumpstarters manage to shoot down Starscream causing him to crash into the mine, destroying it instantly.

Megatron escapes, leaving the lone Bumblebee unscathed, and tells him there's a bomb in his fortress where the humans are held prisoner. Bumblebee saves them in the nick of time.

==Items of Note==
*This was the first annual, published for Christmas 1985. Due to the 1985 print date in the cover it is frequently referred to as the 1985 annual. As many annuals are printed at the end of the year before this has led to it being dated as such.
* A softcover edition of the annual was reprinted in 1986 which has 4 extra blank pages due to the binding. The internal contents are identical save for correcting the mislabeling of Page 47 as page 46!
*The Annual contains 8 one-page puzzles and a two-page game.
*Rumble is red and black, lending more credence to [[FIRRIB|FIBRIR]].
*President Ronald Reagan refers to Optimus as a "lorry".
*Page 47 is erroneously mis-labelled as page "46"
*In the puzzle answers page, the answer for the "Transformers Name and Face Match!" puzzle has Ravage and Laserbeak switched around.

[[Category:Annuals|1986]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Transformers Annual 1985

2016-01-03T23:41:58Z

Adturnbull: /* Items of Note */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=[[Transformers Annual]]
|prev=
|next=Transformers Annual 1987
|prev2=
|next2=Plague of the Insecticons!
|title=Transformers Annual 1986
|image=Transformers annual 1986.jpg
|caption=BIG BOXES FROM SPACE!
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] in association with [[Grandreams]]
|date=December [[1985]]
|coverdate=[[1986]]
|price=£3.25
|ISBN=0-86227-331-5
|pagecount=64
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}

The '''Transformers Annual 1986''' was published in the UK by Marvel Comics Ltd. in association with Grandreams Ltd. in December 1985.

==Contents==
*Introduction to the main [[Decepticon]]s
*Introduction to the [[Autobot]] ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' crew (as seen in [[The Transformers (issue)|issue #1]] of the comic)
*[[Plague of the Insecticons!]] (Part 1)
*Puzzles: The Transformers Name and Face Match!, Find the outline of the fastest Autobot- Cliffjumper.
*[[Missing in Action]] (Part 1)
*Puzzles: Decepticon Word Scramble, Decepticon Match-Up!
*[[And There Shall Come...a Leader!]] (Part 1)
*Missing in Action (Part 2)
*[[And There Shall Come...a Leader!]] (Part 2)
*Puzzle: Match the Autobot Robot and Vehicle
*Game: Hexagonal Attack on Castle Decepticon!
*[[Hunted!]]
*Puzzles: Huffer's Word Maze, Hound's Scrambled Word Message
*Plague of the Insecticons! (Part 2)
*Puzzle: Ratchet to the Rescue!
*Puzzle Answer Page

==Synopsis==
===Decepticon Introduction===
The first two-page spread of the annual. Shows the box art with accompanying introductory text of the main Decepticon cast; [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]], [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]], [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], [[Skywarp (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Skywarp]], [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]], [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]], and [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]].

===Autobot Introduction===
Two page Autobot roll-call as printed in issue #1 of the comic, introducing all of the [[1984]] Autobots.

===Plague of the Insecticons!===
[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]], [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]], and [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] travel to Washington D.C. to engage in peace talks with the President, but the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] arrive and attack the humans while posing as Autobots.

===Missing in Action===
[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] travels on a reconnaissance mission to Greater Portland, where he encounters and is critically wounded by Rumble in an alleyway behind Woolworth's. Left to go off-line, Tracks converts to [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] and is found by a young hooligan named J.D., who decides to use Tracks as a getaway car in the robbery he's about to participate in.

J.D. and his partner-in-crime, Mark, take Tracks to New York to continue their crime spree where Tracks's Autobot symbol is recognised by a young boy named Danny. Meanwhile, Prime hears of Tracks being used as a getaway car and sends [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]], [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] and [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] to retrieve him. After seeing the Autobot symbol on Tracks' hood, Danny follows the drivers into a bank to tell them what they were driving, only to find they're robbing the bank. Inferno, Grapple and Hoist arrive on the scene, and the sight of three giant robots causes J.D. to inadvertently set off the timer on the bomb he was holding.

The Autobots are thrown to the ground as the front of the bank is blown outwards. Upon hearing of the hostages inside, they begin to evacuate the building and get everyone but Danny clear. Inferno ignores the fact he is 30 foot tall and enters the burning building, shielding Danny with his heat-resistant body. Danny is taken to the hospital, J.D. and Mark are taken by the police, Tracks is brought home and given a lecture by Optimus Prime.

===And There Shall Come...A Leader!===
The Decepticons are staging a final assault on [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron]] campaigns the Council of Autobot Elders to relinquish command of the Autobot army to a warrior, Optimus Prime.

===Hunted!===
[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] is stuck on-base with Prowl monitoring news channels for Decepticon activity, complaining about being excluded from combat missions. Prowl spots a small piece of metal in the background of a news report, instantly recognising it as a piece of Ravage's hide. What a clever chap Prowl is.

Bumblebee and the [[Jumpstarter]]s convince Prowl to go to [[South America]], where the report originated, and investigate. After wrecking a military roadblock and wrestling with a Boa Constrictor, they discover Megatron has a secret crystal mine, mining for ultra-rare crystals which can be imbued with artificial intelligence, creating Megatron an army of soldiers! He also has a human expedition team held hostage.

Bumblebee attacks the mine-fortress alone, somehow avoiding Starscream, [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]], and [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]]'s fire power. The Jumpstarters manage to shoot down Starscream causing him to crash into the mine, destroying it instantly.

Megatron escapes, leaving the lone Bumblebee unscathed, and tells him there's a bomb in his fortress where the humans are held prisoner. Bumblebee saves them in the nick of time.

==Items of Note==
*This was the first annual, published for Christmas 1985. Due to the 1985 print date in the cover it is frequently referred to as the 1985 annual. As many annuals are printed at the end of the year before this has led to it being dated as such.
* A softcover edition of the annual was reprinted in 1986.
*The Annual contains 8 one-page puzzles and a two-page game.
*Rumble is red and black, lending more credence to [[FIRRIB|FIBRIR]].
*President Ronald Reagan refers to Optimus as a "lorry".
*Page 47 is erroneously mis-labelled as page "46"
*In the puzzle answers page, the answer for the "Transformers Name and Face Match!" puzzle has Ravage and Laserbeak switched around.

[[Category:Annuals|1986]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Transformers: Generation 2 (Fleetway)

2016-01-03T23:22:38Z

Adturnbull: /* Notes */

{{nav-G2}}

'''''Transformers: Generation 2''''' was a short-lived title in 1994–5, in support of the [[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|''Generation 2'' toyline]] re-launch. With [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel UK]] having collapsed, the company [[Fleetway]] (now Egmont Fleetway) published the title; it followed on from the Marvel title and reprinted stories from the [[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|Marvel ''Generation 2'' comic]]. The first two issues were original strips, promoting European exclusive toys and introducing the concept, the [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronians]] and Megatron's new form in place of the first few Marvel issues & the ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'' crossover (the ''Joe'' toyline was dead in Europe at the time).

The original strips were twelve pages in length, with the reprints being ten to fifteen pages; the rest of the comic contained character profiles, letters pages, competitions and the like.

It was canceled by #5 due to low sales, though an [[The Official Transformers: Generation 2 Annual|annual]] had been produced by [[Grandreams]]; this annual is famed for being hilariously bad.

{{chapters|title=''Transformers: Generation 2'' issues:|content=
*[[War Without End (issue)|#1]]
*[[War Zone|#2]]
*[[Devices and Desires! (Marvel)|#3]]
*[[The Power and the Glory#Tales of Earth Part Two|#4]]
*[[The Power and the Glory|#5]]
}}

{{chapters|title=''[[The Official Transformers: Generation 2 Annual]]'':|content=
*[[From Cybertron to Earth the War Continues...]]
*[[Day of the Decepticons]]
*[[The Dinobots!]]
*[[Moving Day Planet Earth]]
}}

==Overview==
Without warning, [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] leads his Decepticons in a massed attack on [[London]], restarting the Transformer war - he intends to draw [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] into a trap, so he can steal the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] and create a new generation of Decepticons. However, Optimus and three of his men have already arrived on Earth, having been called there by [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] (who hasn't shown) for reasons unknown. The Autobots battle the Decepticons, who have used up their fuel on devastating London, and Optimus is able to fell Bludgeon. Too late, he discovers why Grimlock hadn't arrived to meet him: [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] is back in a new and deadlier form. The two leaders fight, but Megatron is distracted when Bludgeon's troops—out to protect their leader and not recognising his authority—attack him, giving the Autobots time to regroup with the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] and defeat the Decepticon forces.

As Megatron retreats, Grimlock reveals why he called in Optimus: his team have discovered a new race of Decepticons, and their leader [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] delivered them a vicious beating. Optimus orders that they wait instead of engaging this Empire, as he is being plagued by apocalyptic visions.

Following this, Grimlock leads a raid on the Empire and fails; Bludgeon attacks Earth again and is killed & his army usurped by Megatron; and Optimus discovers the origin of the Cybertronian Empire.

==Notes==
* Issues one and two have original cover art; #3 and #4 use the covers from Marvel's Generation 2 (#4 and #5 respectively), and #5 uses redrawn interior panel images originally by [[Manny Galan]] credited to Rob on the cover, presumably the same Rob who did the centre-spread poster in the same issue.
* The comic proudly proclaimed "Remember: this comic also transforms!" - as a gimmick, the cover folded out into a gatefold image.
* Bludgeon mentions in #1 that this campaign has continued for a "few short days".
* Bludgeon succeeds in drawing Prime to Earth, but then is beaten back... yet he comes back to try the same plan, while the Autobots have left nothing in place on Earth to stop him. The reprints and the original strip do not logically connect here.
* Everyone who has a Generation 2 toy is in their G2 colour scheme - which means that, thanks to the reprints, the Dinobots took the time to change back for no apparent reason.
* In #2, Optimus Prime says "Skydive reported our spacecraft, the Ark - and all aboard her - destroyed", while Megatron refers to being rebuilt by "human scientists". This would suggest the events of [[All or Nothing!|Marvel's GI Joe/G2 crossover]] happened in this continuity (though the US ''War Without End'', for some reason, didn't despite them occurring near the same time).
* Bludgeon's Decepticons show no fear, respect or deference to Megatron, calling him a "relic".
* In the fifth and final issue, the editorial page promoted UK fan-club [[Transmasters UK]].

==Creative Team==
The original strips are credited to [[Simon Furman]] and [[Robin Smith]], though Furman has previously claimed he did not write it (and later said otherwise).

{{DEFAULTSORT:Generation 2 (Fleetway)}}
[[Category:Generation 2 comic series]]
[[Category:Marvel Generation 2 issues| ]]