MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Talk:Plague of the Insecticons!

2025-05-22T18:36:16Z

Destron1:

What's so cute about an articulated lorry?[[User:Omegatron|omegatron]] ([[User talk:Omegatron|talk]]) 14:40, 20 August 2015 (EDT)
:It's a British term used in a story set in America. --[[User:Abates|abates]] ([[User talk:Abates|talk]]) 16:19, 20 August 2015 (EDT)
:: If it's an American character saying it then it belongs in the errors section, and should be actually descriptive. I'd do it myself if I knew who said it.[[User:Omegatron|omegatron]] ([[User talk:Omegatron|talk]]) 16:41, 20 August 2015 (EDT)

The strange coloring of the Insections probably originated from two UK advertisements that appeared in Marvel UK issues #11 & 17, in them the Insecticons have Brown limbs and Red chests (like the Diaclone toys) but Purple color instead of Red - Maybe those were based on Prototype colors. [[User:Destron1|Destron1]] ([[User talk:Destron1|talk]]) 21:34, 22 May 2025 (EDT)

Talk:Unofficial guidebooks

2022-04-23T11:15:28Z

Destron1: /* Transform and Roll Out */

You can likely tell that I logged on today just wanting to talk about Botcon Legends. The discussion at the CybGuide page said to create a page like this for such things, so here we are. --[[User:Thylacine 2000|Thylacine 2000]] 23:08, 11 September 2007 (UTC)
== New topic ==

Are you shore?

== Linking ==

I feel we should not be linking to any uncreated page that would only be created in junction with unofficial material. These authors and publishers have worked entirely in the unofficial realm and therefore should never have a page. We should only link to them if there is some official overlap, I.E. Rik Alverez. --[[User:Bluestreak7|Bluestreak7]] 22:38, 8 November 2009 (EST)

== Prime Targets ==
Sorry if this is a contentious section, and I'll gladly trim it down if it's too long, but that ''needed'' to be changed due to some factual errors: It doesn't cover anything from Blackthorne, and there ''is'' a bumping-bumpers section for The Agenda. [[User:Bumblevivisector|Bumblevivisector]] 18:42, 11 May 2013 (EDT)

== Transform and Roll Out ==
There is another good Transformers guide book that is not mention here. It is "Transform and Roll Out: The Unofficial and Unauthorised Guide to the Transformers Franchise 1984-1992 Paperback – October 14, 2018,by Ryan Frost.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1845839749/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I think it should be added to this page (EDT 23.4.22)

Talk:Unofficial guidebooks

2022-04-23T11:14:35Z

Destron1:

Talk:The Transformers (issue)

2020-08-31T17:35:58Z

Destron1:

Y'know, that cover art definitely looks like it was done by Bill Sienkiewicz, not Frank Springer. Should we list credits for cover artist? Or am I mistaken about who did the art? [[User:JW|JW]] 13:37, 10 August 2007 (UTC)

:It is absolutely a Sienkiewicz cover. I'll add a cover credit. --[[User:Steve-o|Steve-o]] 03:26, 13 August 2007 (UTC)

::I see Blackrock removed the cover credit . . . I would say that when the cover artist is different from the interior artist for a comic, the cover artist should get a credit on the page for the comic book, not just on the page for the image. Discussion? [[User:JW|JW]] 16:02, 26 September 2007 (UTC)
:::Yeah, I think the cover artist should get credit, and I'm not sure why they're being removed, despite being credited elsewhere. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 18:56, 26 September 2007 (UTC)

I'm not sure that my adding the UK cover credits below the US cover credit is the best solution, but I wanted to get them in there. Anyone have any better ideas? --[[User:Monzo|Monzo]] 12:11, 27 September 2007 (UTC)

::I think the standard on other pages where a small UK section of the bottom of the article listing such things as providing space for UK cover images to be posted, and details about covers, changes and letter pages (see [[Totaled!]] for a good example) seems to be best option [[User:Cyc|Cyc]] 22:59, 27 September 2007 (UTC)

== Release Date ==

If it was released on May 29, 1984, how come the first Usenet review is from May 22? [[User:JW|JW]] 20:33, 16 January 2008 (UTC)

:If you check out the United States Copyright Office [http://www.copyright.gov/records/ website], the publication dates of most Transformers comics can be found with a little searching. The first four issues are listed with publication dates of:

:* #1 - May 8, 1984
:* #2 - Jul 10, 1984
:* #3 - Sep 11, 1984
:* #4 - Nov 13, 1984

:As can be seen, they're consistently four months away from their cover dates. The last two dates are contradicted by the intended publication dates as listed in Marvel Age, but the listed publication date of #1 on the Copyrights website is quite definitively well before that first online review. -- [[User:Jon T|Jon T]] 21:38, 19 January 2008 (UTC)

== Cover gallery ==

Is there a way to force all five covers onto a single line? #5 looks ridiculous floating down there by itself in an otherwise empty row. -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 11:34, 12 May 2009 (EDT)

:There is a way, as per the formatting information at [http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Help:Images_and_other_uploaded_files#Gallery wikimedia]. You need to enter e.g. ''gallery perrow="X"'' as appropriate. I have done this; you can change it back if you feel it doesn't work on a narrower screen resolution. -[[User:Ashley Pomeroy|Ashley Pomeroy]] 13:21, 13 August 2009 (EDT)

== Autobot spread ==

Re: the Note about the two-page Autobot introduction spread. Are you sure? I have (sadly detached from its parent comic) this two-page spread in UK format. I'd have to actually find it to determine what's on the back, but the edges have, as I recall, a thick red border, and I never had either the first Annual or any of the Collected Comics. My memory of when I was a kid was that the spread was in issue #1, simply transplanted to the centerfold to take advantage of that being where the color printing was (which would help explain why I have it detached as a single piece). -[[User:LV|LV]] 21:55, 15 March 2011 (EDT)

:It's certainly absent from the Collected Comics edition and according to the TF Archive guide it was also cut from issue #2: [http://www.tfarchive.com/comics/marvel/?s=uk_001_010] The text covering the omission is "THEIR EXIT DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED" under the panel of two jets and an, erm, tape player flying and "THE AUTOBOTS, TOO, HAVE RISEN..." above the panel of Prime requesting a damage report from Huffer.
:My copy of the 1985/6 annual is presently elsewhere but ISTR that it has a red border - maybe it was reprinting the feature from somewhere in the regular comic? The ''second'' annual certainly got its checklist features from there. [[User:Timrollpickering|Timrollpickering]] 12:33, 16 March 2011 (EDT)
::I'll have to see if I can dig it up when I get home tonight. I definitely recall the "THE AUTOBOTS, TOO, HAVE RISEN" margin text, so we're agreed on that. Hopefully finding what's on the backs of the spread - probably ads? - will go some way to figuring out where it came from. -[[User:LV|LV]] 13:23, 16 March 2011 (EDT)

:::Might have something on this - according to the text in the recent Complete UK TPB (I don't have it, this is second-hand info) the two-page spread was instead used as a poster in #2, with the black-backed logo slapped over the top-left. My copy of #2 is missing the centre pages, which was where posters went in the first few issues (I'm the fella who did the TF Archive comic guide, a long time ago, and I didn't mean to state that the pages were cut ''quite'' so unilaterally), and frustratingly the TPB is missing an image of the poster. Not to doubt Roberts' word, but I'd love to hear from someone, anyone who has a copy of #2 with the poster actually in there for rock-solid confirmation. It makes sense when you think about it, though - holding it over for months until the first annual is daft when it would have taken up two handy pages in the comic. [[User:Street Heat|Street Heat]] 11:14, 30 October 2011 (EDT)

:::: Further thought - I don't think I'm missing the centre pages from any other issues... By process of elimination that means LV's spread (ooo-er!) has to be from #2, right? '''''RIGHT?''''' ;) [[User:Street Heat|Street Heat]] 11:16, 30 October 2011 (EDT)

::::: Managed to get a copy of #2 with the centre pages intact, and it is indeed the 'cut' pages - basically exactly the same as in the first annual (complete with logo plastered over the top-left frame). The pages are unnumbered and (obviously) situated smack in the middle of the drive-in scuffle, so it is ''technically'' not part of the story in the original UK printing [[User:Street Heat|Street Heat]] 10:47, 21 November 2011 (EST)

User talk:Destron1

2020-08-31T17:34:47Z

Destron1:

That is not Prowl in issue 1. That is Jazz. The details of his head and his car mode kibble indicate as such. He has simply been incorrectly drawn with two missile launchers. [[User:Escargon|Escargon]] ([[User talk:Escargon|talk]]) 13:22, 31 August 2020 (EDT)

Hello Escargon, no it is Prowl you can see the back parts of his legs that are from Prowls car mode + the launchers + Prowls place in the story (see page 8 4 panel). I have pictures of both toys. Destron1 31 August 2020 17:28 UTC
:...Prowl's head does not have three stubby horns. The Autobot in the picture has three stubby horns like Jazz. Prowl's legs turn around. The legs on the Autobots are turned backwards, like Jazz. Prowl's place in the story does not matter because the art is all over the fucking place. [[User:Escargon|Escargon]] ([[User talk:Escargon|talk]]) 13:32, 31 August 2020 (EDT)

OK, I'll change it back, Destron1 31 August 2020 17:34 UTC

User talk:Destron1

2020-08-31T17:28:40Z

Destron1:

User talk:Destron1

2020-08-31T17:27:49Z

Destron1:

The Transformers (issue)

2020-08-31T17:22:14Z

Destron1: /* Artwork and technical errors */

{{disambig2|the first comic issue of the first comic series about Transformers|other uses of ''The Transformers''|Transformers (disambiguation)}}
{{comicstory|
|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #1
|next=Power Play!
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #1–2
|next2=Power Play!
|image=MarvelUS-01.jpg
|caption=[[Smallest Transforming Transformers|Largest Transforming Transformers]] Optimus Prime! One of six blind-packed $500,000,000 toys!
|title="The Transformers"
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[May 8]], [[1984]] ("on sale" [[May 29]], 1984)
|coverdate=September 1984
|plot=[[Bill Mantlo]]
|script=[[Ralph Macchio]]
|pencils=[[Frank Springer]]
|inks=[[Kim DeMulder]]
|colors=[[Nelson Yomtov]]
|lettering=[[Michael Higgins]], [[Rick Parker]]
|editor=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
|packaged with=|packaged with=[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Optimus Prime]]
}}
'''A group of sentient warring robots crash-lands on Earth four million years ago. When they awake in the present day, their battle begins anew.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Marvel issue 1 Cybertron.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66]]
On the [[Saturn]]-sized mechanical world of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], life has evolved not through carbon bonding, but via "[[Atechnogenesis|naturally-occurring gears, levers, and pulleys]]". The resultant sentient robots, the [[Autobot]]s, live in peace for many eons, until some of their number fall victim to a lust for power. Rallying behind the banner of the powerful [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]], these "[[Decepticon]]s" rebuild their bodies, allowing them to [[transformation|transform]] into vehicles and weapons of destruction, and declare war on the Autobots, intending to conquer the planet and rebuild it as a cosmic dreadnought. The Autobots adopt the ability of transformation as well, but struggle to repel the Decepticon onslaught until a leader emerges from the city of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]: the wise and powerful [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]. Under his leadership, the scattered Autobots are successfully united to become an effective fighting force... and thus, an [[Great War (G1)|all-consuming war]] rages across the planet for a thousand years, while the planet itself—dislodged from its orbit by the titanic battles—spins out of control through the cosmos.

Eventually, the Autobots learn that an [[asteroid belt]] lies in Cybertron's path, threatening the planet with destruction. Optimus Prime and a specially-chosen group of Autobots set out aboard a huge spacecraft dubbed the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] to clear a path through the asteroids... but their preparations are observed by the Decepticon spy [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], allowing the Decepticons to plot against them. The Autobots go on to successfully complete their mission, after which the Decepticons launch an attack against them, boarding the Ark and easily overwhelming the weakened warriors. Facing inevitable defeat, Optimus Prime sets the Ark on a suicide course towards the third planet of the solar system: prehistoric [[Earth]]. The ship crashes into a [[Mount St. Hilary|volcano]], and all aboard are knocked offline.

[[File:Combat deck marvel 1.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.66|Combat Deck bought a junker lot from eBay.]]

Four million years later, the volcano erupts, reactivating the Ark's dormant [[Aunty|computer]]. Launching a probe to scan the planet, the computer proves unable to detect Earth's carbon-based [[human]] and animal life, believing instead that humanity's vehicles and machines are its dominant "life form." Under this mistaken belief, the computer sets about rebuilding and reactivating the ship's occupants, reconfiguring their alternate modes to match Earth's machines. Damaged, the computer is unable to tell friend from foe, and restores both Atobots and Decepticons alike. After [[Introdump|checking themselves over]], the Decepticons make a hasty exist to search for sources of [[Transformer fuel|fuel]], leaving the Autobots to set about attempting to repair the Ark. Reviewing the footage the ship's probe has gathered from across the planet, the Autobots learn of Earth's machines, and—still labouring under the misconception that they are living beings—Optimus Prime vows to protect these "lifeforms" and their planet from the Decepticon menaces he has accidentally unleashed upon them.

In a [[Portland|nearby city]], human teenager [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] returns home from school late, having stayed behind to catch up on the library work involved in his literary scholarship. His father, mechanic [[Sparkplug Witwicky]], despairs; he loves his son, but the Witwicky patriarch is a blue-collar guy who sees little value in literature and the arts, and wishes Buster would learn a manual trade so that he'll be able to make a living his his hands. Though a little annoyed that Buster has arrived home too late to help with work in the family auto-shop, Sparkplug gives the boy permission to head out and meet his friends at the [[Community Drive-In|drive-in theater]].

[[File:TheTransformers drivein battle.jpg|left|thumb|upright=2.25]]

As night falls, Optimus Prime sends a team of five Autobots, under the command of [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]], to scout out the new world and make contact with the natives. The group comes upon the drive-in theater, and, mistaking it for some kind of religious ritual, heads in to make contact with the "natives"—unaware that their movements have been spotted by Decepticon [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] and reported back to Megatron. Eager to be the first to greet an Earthling, the young [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] over-enthusiastically nudges the car in which Buster, his girlfiend [[Jesse (G1)|Jesse]], and his best friend [["O"]] are sitting, and just as the three kids climb out to see what has happened, the Decepticons attack, intent on keeping their foes from establishing an alliance with the planet's natives. The villains' opening salvo injures Bumbelbee, and the other Autobots reluctantly transform and defend themselves, turning the drive-in into a battlefield. During the battle, Prowl realizes that the automobiles are not alive at all, but the humans fleeing from them are; the Autobots retreat to draw the Decepticons' fire away from the apparently defenseless fleshlings, forced to leave Bumblebee behind.

Having heard the damaged Bumblebee cry out in pain when struck, a confused Buster tries to help, and ends up "driving" him away from the battlefield, back to his the Witwicky garage. The noise of their arrival awakens Sparkplug, who is at first delighted to find Buster apparently showing an interest in auto-repair... but not so amused when the car cries out that it needs help, because it is dying...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{collist|2|
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (4)
*[[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] (10)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ironhide]] (13)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Cliffjumper]] (14)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (15)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (16)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] (17)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (18)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (19)
*[[Mirage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Mirage]] (20)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (21)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] (22)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (23)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (24)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (25)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] (26)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] (27)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (28)
}}
|c2=
*[[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]] (1)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] (2)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] (3)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (5)
*[[Skywarp (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Skywarp]] (6)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (7)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (8)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] (9)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Thundercracker]] (11)
*[[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] (12)
|c3=
*[[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] (29)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (30)
*[[Jesse (G1)|Jesse]] (31)
*[["O"]] (32)}}

==Quotes==
[[File:TheTransformers decepticon boarding party.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.66]]
[[File:TheTransformers suicidal heading.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.66]]
[[File:Glassgas.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.66]]
"We have lived peacefully with the Autobots for eons, slowly, '''secretly''' gathering our strength and pursuing our technology. Now we shall strike at those who have brought the stagnation of peace and plenty to Cybertron. They shall learn the way of conflict... the way of war... the way of Megatron."
: — '''Megatron''', have you thought this through?

"'''Strike! Strike!''' With all the might at our command! Death to the Autobots and the decay they stand for!"
: — '''Megatron''' launches his war

"The Ark and its secrets must never fall into enemy hands, so I plotted an alternate course that would take us on a suicidal heading... directly into the third planet of this system. Farewell, my friend. Though we die, at least our enemies are taken with us."
: — '''Optimus Prime''' pushes the fatal button

"Let us never forget our primary purpose -- to spare this world from the scourge we have unwittingly unleashed upon it!"
: — '''Optimus Prime''''s "we" is more of an "I"

"Bumblebee, come back! We must reconnoiter first!" 
"You can't check the exuberance of youth, Prowl!"
: — '''Prowl''' and '''Hound'''

"I had hoped to Optimus we could avoid this, but... it seems our adversaries have left us little choice. Assume defensive configurations." 
"Now yer talkin' my lingo."
: — '''Prowl''' and '''Brawn'''

"So, '''Starscream''', you strike at me because you think isolation makes me vunerable? You have obviously never flown in the face of my glass-gas gun!" 
"Yarrgh! The gas coats me, making my metal brittle and breakable as glass!"
: — '''Cliffjumper''' and '''Starscream''' team up to tell the reader how CJ's special gun works

==Notes==
===Production notes===
[[File:Generic autobots marvel 1.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.5|Generic robots use the color schemes of Bumblebee, Trailbreaker, Sunstreaker, Hound, and Optimus Prime; the last of these, in the bottom right, bears a resemblance to Optimus and might be intended to represent a "pre-war" incarnation of him.]]
[[File:Generics marvel 1.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.5|Since he's called out in the caption box, it's probably fair to assume that the robot armed with the [[ion blaster]] represents Optimus Prime, albeit miscolored. On his right is a robot using Sideswipe's design, apparently armed with a [[fusion cannon]].]]
*''The Transformers'' was initially conceived as a [[The Transformers Four-Issue Limited Series|four-issue limited series]]. At the start of its production, [[character model]]s had not been finalized for the majority of the cast; as such, for the first two issues of the series, the appearances of the Autobots and Decepticons is quite variable, based either on early designs created for the first animated commercials (Optimus Prime, Sideswipe, Prowl, Jazz, Megatron, the three Decepticon jets, Soundwave, Laserbeak and Buzzsaw) or on the toys themselves, and their [[package art]] (most evident on characters like Ironhide and Ratchet). The finalized models were ready in time for [[Prisoner of War!|issue #3]], but the early color schemes used in these issues for certain characters—like Optimus Prime's lack of a silver stripe on his torso, Megatron's black helmet, Starscream's blue chest-vents, and the entirely-purple Soundwave—would persist throughout most if not all of the comic's run, in some cases becoming hallmarks of the characters' Marvel appearances.
*In addition to these teething troubles, artist [[Frank Springer]] and colorist [[Nelson Yomtov]] played fast and loose with what robot and technology designs they ''did'' have. Multiples of Optimus Prime's [[Combat Deck (G1)|Combat Deck]] are used to represent the "revival drones" that rebuilt the Ark's crew on pages 11-12, while a [[Onebox component]] like that used by Ironhide and Ratchet appears mounted to the hull of the Ark, firing on the asteroids, on page 6. Further, a range broad of [[generic]] Transformers appear throughout the issue; some are wholly original (such as the one prominently displayed on the title page that fans would go on to dub "[[Big Red (G1)|Big Red]]"), but others use and abuse existing characters' designs and/or color schemes (as seen in the images at right). As the brand was in its infancy at this stage, some of these might have been [[authorial intent|intended]] to represent actual characters, but whether they do so is probably best left [[Personal canon|up to you]].
* Both an early advertisement featured in comic news magazines (such as ''The Comic Reader'' #218) and the announcement for the miniseries in ''Marvel Age'' #17 stated ''The Transformers'' would begin in April of 1984 ('''possibly''' intended to ship April 3rd and be "on sale" April 24th, working backwards from other titles in the ''Marvel Age'' #17 checklist). However, the U.S. copyright office filing for the issue places its publication at May 8th, which in turn puts its "on sale" date at May 29th. '''Why''' the series apparently launched a whole month after it was '''supposed''' to come out, we dunno...

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Introdump decepticons marvelus01.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.5]]
*As is only natural, some of this issue's early details would be retconned away or simply ignored as the series progressed and expanded its mythology, including the idea of Cybertron as "Saturn-sized," and the idea that the Transformers had "naturally evolved". In particular, this origin would be source of much mockery in the earlier days of online fandom, but modern media went on to dub the idea of spontaneously-evolving mechanical life "[[atechnogenesis]]" and offer it up as one of several possible-but-unverified origins for the Transformers, who ''themselves'' did not know if it was true or not.
* Megatron's plan to turn the planet into a "cosmic dreadnought" would be further explored in the Marvel UK story "[[Legion of the Lost!]]".
*Megatron's statement that "one of our mightiest is missing" plants the seed for [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]]'s debut in [[The Last Stand|issue #4]]. This brief mention parallels the character's cameo appearance in cartoon's [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1|pilot episode]], which likewise set the stage for his full-fledged appearance in the [[Transport to Oblivion (episode)|first regular episode]] of the series proper. Shockwave was among the first, if not ''the'' first, of the second-year toys to be released.
*'''Bot Roster:'''
**''Autobots:'' 18 active
**''Decepticons:'' 10 active; Shockwave missing in action

===Real-life references===
*[[Mount St. Hilary]] is obviously inspired by the 1980 eruption of [[Mount St. Helens]].
*Unlike the contemporaneous cartoon, which was always shy about specifics, the comic immediately lets us know that the action is set in the state of [[Oregon]]. Issues #5 and #7 will later name [[Portland]] as the location of Sparkplug's garage, presumably making it the unnamed city we see here and elsewhere in the next few issues.
*A [[hitchhiker]] compares the sound of a team of Autobots driving down the highway to the [[Indy 500]].
*The Autobots visit a drive-in movie theater, which in the early 80s were still a thing.
*The cover for the Marvel UK ''Transformers'' #2 edition is an homage to the famous cover of EC's [http://www.comics.org/issue/10134/cover/4/ ''Weird Science'' #16]. The [[Martian]]s of ''[[Mars Attacks: The Transformers|Mars Attacks]]'' were inspired by the same cover.

===Continuity and plotting errors===
*It's said in this issue that the war between the Transformers ''knocked Cybertron out of its orbit'', which sounds...very improbable because of the sheer magnitude of force required for something like that to happen; Cybertron would have likely been completely obliterated before it would've been knocked out of its orbit.
*Numerous [[generic]]s show up aboard the Ark, when per story continuity, it should only have the 18 crew members shown here (plus, according to [[The Last Stand|issue #4]], the future Dinobots, whose characters presumably didn't exist yet in real-life terms). That said, the art on page 12 seems to provide a possible "out" for this by showing what looks to be a huge pile of unrepaired Transformers between behind Optimus and Megatron as they re-awaken.
*Page 10: "The drone swiftly plots its return to the Ark"—it's not clear from context if "it" is the jet scanned by the probe, or the probe itself. Neither makes a lot of sense.
*A solitary reference is made to "Aunty" as the name of the Ark's computer. This was an early name conceived by [[Jim Shooter]] when he wrote the original treatment for the Transformers backstory, at a time when the spaceship itself did not yet have a name. During hand-written re-writes of his treatment, Shooter replaced the name "Aunty" with "The Ark," which came to be treated as the name of the ship itself, with the apparent intent being to make the computer and ship synonymous with one another. Consequently, the inclusion of the outdated "Aunty" name in this issue appears to be in error; it would never be used in the US series again, but did reoccur in [[Raiders of the Last Ark|one early UK-original story]].

===Artwork and technical errors===
Hoo-boy.
[[File:Contentedfools.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5]]
*The iconic cover of this issue depicts Optimus Prime in a design that appears to have been based on a reference image in an early [[character model|model sheet]] that was offered on [[eBay]] in 2016<ref name="modelsheets">[http://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/93711-more-unseen-tftm-designs-plus-some-early-colors-and-some-show-design/?p=3191211 Early model sheets] at The Allspark.</ref>, which in turn is based on an early [[prototype]] or mock-up for his original toy's ''[[Diaclone]]'' predecessor depicted in an early ''Diaclone'' catalog.<ref name="diaclonecatalogs">[http://1501bc.com/pretf/diaclone_catalogs.html Diaclone catalog scans] at 1501bc.com.</ref>
*Page 1: The third sentence has an "its/it's" typo: "It's content was entirely--mechanical."
*Page 2: In his very first appearance, parts of Soundwave's backpack, arms and legs are colored red.
[[File:M01 tomaandi.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|Jazz experimented with [[electrum]] before [[The Golden Lagoon (episode)|it was cool]].]]
*Page 5: As he and Optimus Prime report to the Autobot Elders, Prowl is colored like Bumblebee. Additionally, he is drawn to be ''extremely'' toy-based, complete with Earthly car parts, right down to having the toy's conjoined uni-feet, and has two missile launchers instead of one.
[[File:Generic decepticons marvel 1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|...[[Nemesis Prime (G1)|Nemesis Prime]], is that you?]]
*Page 7:
**Panel 3: As the Decepticons first strike the Ark, Optimus Prime is colored almost entirely red.
**Panel 5: A blue-chested, red-legged Optimus Prime is among the invading Decepticons! In the same panel, Optimus himself is colored entirely red and is missing his chest windows. Prime's thought "Our firepower - no match" is missing its punctuation.
**None of the invading Decepticons resemble the ten Decepticons later shown to compose Megatron's crew.
*Page 8: Prowl is missing his door/wings, though one could retcon this as being his "Cybertronian" body.
*Page 12: The robots undergoing repair don't really correspond to any Transformer known to be present.
*Page 13: Soundwave converts to his tape player form and flies off with the jets! Or starts to, at least—he's not shown in the next panel as the Decepticons flee the volcano.
*In the giant two-page Autobot spread:
**Sideswipe seems to have a made-up or at least off-model head.
**Wheeljack's "ears" are kind of folded up against his head.
**Bluestreak is missing his door/wings and shoulder rockets.
**Gears is a strange alternate model bearing almost no resemblance to his toy or later design.
**Hound, Wheeljack, and Sideswipe are all missing their shoulder launchers.
**Trailbreaker is missing his force field projector.
**Due to the overhead perspective, Windcharger looks taller than Hound.
[[File:Gearsg1firstappearance.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|"Follow your dreams, you can reach your goals; I'm living proof. Beefcake. Beefcake!"]]
*Page 16:
**Panel 1: Bluestreak is colored like Prowl.
**Panel 1: Sideswipe is colored like Sunstreaker.
**Panel 1: Gears seems to have an entirely new, entirely different model.
**Panel 2: Bumblebee suddenly has the toy-based "backing plate" behind his head, whereas before he didn't.
**Panel 3: Not all of the silhouettes correspond to actual characters.
**Panel 4: Sunstreaker's "ears" are misshapen.
*Page 17:
**Panel 5: Sparkplug's "okay" is missing a period at the end.
**Panel 6: Sparkplug is meant to say "learnin'," to parallel the way he drops the g from the end of "readin'" in the first half of his sentence, but the word is written with the g... ''and'' the apostrophe meant to signify its absence.
*Page 19: When an Autobot asks Prowl "why would machines worship moving pictures of strange objects?", Prowl identifies the speaker as Bumblebee, but the art shows the speech bubble emanating from Brawn. It's not clear which is in error.
*Page 22: Starscream's entire cockpit cowling is colored as though it were a canopy.
*Page 23:
**Panel 2: When Ravage confronts him, Hound has ''two'' shoulder launchers.
**Panels 5-6: Soundwave is colored like Megatron as he attacks Prowl and Cliffjumper. His gun is missing its narrow tip, looking more like Megatron's fusion cannon, which is likely what caused the coloring error.
*Page 24: Cliffjumper's arms are colored white as Prowl orders the retreat.

===UK printing===
[[File:TheTransformers action transfers.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.5]]
'''Issue #1:'''
*'''Published:''' [[September 20|20th September]], 1984
*'''Backup strips:''' ''Machine Man'' ("Introducing Machine Man" & "Byte of the Binary Bug," Part 1)
*'''Free gift:''' "Action Transfers"; page 16 of the comic is a full-page pin-up of a street featuring Sparkplug's garage that the transfers can be stuck on to create action scenes ''(right)''
*'''Other features:''' Spot-the-difference contest to win a Jazz figure; pin-up of Prowl, Jazz, and Sideswipe, made using a screengrab from the original ''Transformers'' comic book animated commercial; "Robot Round-Up," a two-page text feature looking at modern advancements in robotics
*The letters printed in issue #1 of the UK comic were provided by pupils from Greycourt School (in Ham, near Richmond in South West London) who were visiting the Marvel UK offices. Their visit was written up in a magazine published at the school. The teacher who arranged the visit was Stephen Payne, former president of the [[Doctor Who]] Appreciation Society and soon to be publisher of Visual Imagination Magazines (Starburst & TV Zone).<ref>Extract from Greycourt school 1984 sci fi mag detailing visit to the Marvel UK comics offices that resulted in comments appearing in the letters page of Marvel UK Transformers #1 http://www.flickr.com/photos/48819633@N05/5297859701/</ref>
[[File:TheTransformers autobot introdump.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.5]]
'''Issue #2:'''
*'''Published:''' [[October 4|4th October]], 1984
*'''Backup strips:''' ''Machine Man'' ("Byte of the Binary Bug," Part 2)
*'''Free Gift:''' More "Action Transfers"
*'''Other features:''' "Design a Decepticon" contest to win a Decepticon jet figure; "Robot Round-Up"
*While the first issue was published in full-colour, this issue introudces the half-colour, half-black-and-white format the UK series will adhere to until [[Repeat Performance!|issue #27]]. Almost the entire ''Transformers'' strip is in black-and-white, with only the two pages of Buster returning home after school, and the Autobots departing on their survey mission, appearing in colour.
*The two-page spread of the Autobots introducing themselves ''(right)'' is omitted from the story, probably because the way the comic is laid out would have resulted in half of it being in black and white, and half in colour. New text captions added to the end of the preceding page and the start of the next to link them together. The spread ''is'' included in the issue, however, repurposed to become a full-colour pull-out poster, with the Transformers logo pasted over the two panels in the top-left corner (showing the Decepticons escapsing, and Prowl and Optimus watching them go). The spread would also be printed in this edited form in the [[Transformers Annual 1985|the 1985 annual]]. In a sense, this means the early UK continuity initially lacks an in-story list of the Autobots originally on Earth, making appearances by [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] in "[[The Enemy Within!]]" and [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] in "[[Decepticon Dam-Busters!]]" a ''weeeee'' bit easier to reconcile.

===Other trivia===
*This mini-series was printed on high-quality [[Mando paper]].
*On [[May 22]], the [http://groups.google.com/group/net.comics/msg/1cdaf7df610e0376?dmode=source&hl=en first Usenet post about Transformers] is posted by Ted Nolan to net.comics, regarding this issue. Capsule review? "Worst comic of the year."
**In 2018, [https://youtu.be/_AKb1Xw0ZbA?list=PLVlwyeBOK67ywYrd05wzdjcBoIl4XS4HS&t=1633 TFU.INFO interviewed Ted Nolan about the post].
*The cover price is 75 cents, which would be about $1.80 when adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars. Comics as an industry are rather notorious for their price increases over and above standard inflation; today, a standard [[IDW Publishing]] ''Transformers'' comic costs $3.99.
*The cover corner box, a staple of Marvel's covers from the 1970s through the mid-1990s, features a [[character model]] of Optimus Prime. A new, more dramatic pose would debut with the first ongoing issue ([[The New Order|issue #5]]).
*The cover banner that promotes this issue as "#1 IN A FOUR ISSUE LIMITED SERIES" would be spoofed for the [[End of the Road! (US)|final issue of the series]] ("#80 IN A FOUR ISSUE LIMITED SERIES"), and again for the [[The War to End All Wars, Part 5|final issue]] of the modern-day sequel ''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One|Regeneration One]]'' ("#100 IN A FOUR ISSUE LIMITED SERIES").
* Other latter-day references to this issue include:
** A loving homage in IDW's ''Robots in Disguise'' [[Primus: All Good Things|2012 Annual]]
** Various parodies and homages to its distinctly surreal cover art including [[:File:TDOOP cvrRIA.jpg|an incentive cover]] of "[[Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime]]", [[:File:RG1_100_cvrB.jpg|Cover B]] of the [[The War to End All Wars, Part 5|final issue]] of ''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One|Regeneration One]]'', a convention exclusive cover for [[:File:TAAO1 cvrREB.jpg|''Till All Are One'' #1]], the "cover" for "[[The Inexorable March]]", and a retailer incentive cover [[:File:TFUnicron1 cvrRIC.jpg|to ''Unicron'' #1]].

===Covers (3)===
*'''US issue #1:''' gigantic Optimus Prime, tiny Starscream, Gears, Laserbeak and the Witwickys, by [[Bill Sienkiewicz]].
*'''UK issue #1:''' Soundwave and Buzzsaw kick Prime's ass, by [[Jerry Paris]].
*'''UK issue #2:''' the Autobots depart the Ark, by [[John Ridgway]]; inspired by the cover of ''{{w|Weird Science (comics)|Weird Science}}'' [[wikia:eccomics:Weird Science Vol 1 16|issue #16]] (November, 1952)
<gallery>
File:MarvelUS-01.jpg|'''US issue #1''' - First he will crush the planes, then he will crush the giant floating heads.
File:MarvelUK-001.jpg|'''UK issue #1''' - Is Soundwave on [[Ore-13|Ultra-Energon]]?
File:MarvelUK-002.jpg|'''UK issue #2''' - Is this girl '''that''' into her doll that she didn't see the [[Michael Bay|giant f*cking robots]]?
</gallery>

===Reprints===
<gallery>
File:Tfcolcom01.jpg|'''''[[Transformers Collected Comics|Collected Comics]]'' (UK) #1''' (Marvel UK, 1985)
File:TFUSCollectedComics1StoryBegins.jpg|'''''[[The Transformers: Collected Comics 1 - The Story Begins...|''Collected Comics'' (US) #1: The Story Begins...]]''' (Marvel US, 1985)
File:FederalSuperSpecial.jpg|'''''The Transformers: A Federal Super Special''''' (Federal Publishing Company, 1985)
File:Complete works 1 cover.jpg|'''[[The Transformers: The Complete Works Part 1|''The Transformers: The Complete Works'' Part 1]]''' (Marvel UK, 1986)
File:Die tf 01.jpg|'''[[Die Transformer issue 1|''Die Transformer'' #1]]''' (Condor Verlag, 1986)
File:Transformers Digest 01-cover.jpg|'''[[The Transformers Comics Magazine issue 1|''The Transformers Comics Magazine'' #1]]:''' (Marvel US, 1986)
File:Titan-BeginningsSC.jpg|'''[[Transformers: Beginnings (G1)|''Transformers: Beginnings'']] paperback''' (Titan Books, 2003)
File:Titan-BeginningsHC.jpg|'''[[Transformers: Beginnings (G1)|''Transformers: Beginnings'']] hardback''' (Titan Books, 2003)
File:MarvelUS-01-25years.jpg|Pack-in with [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Generation 1 Series|25th Anniversary Optimus Prime]] toy (Hasbro, 2009)
File:Classic Transformers Vol1.jpg|'''[[Classic Transformers Volume 1|''Classic Transformers'' Volume 1]]''' (IDW Publishing, 2008)
File:TFClassicsVol1.JPG|'''[[The Transformers Classics, Vol. 1|''The Transformers Classics'', Vol. 1]]''' (IDW Publishing, 2011)
File:TF 30thAnniversaryColl.jpg|'''''[[The Transformers 30th Anniversary Collection]]''''' (IDW Publishing, 2013)
File:TF1_100PennyPress.jpg|'''One Hundred Penny Press Edition''' (IDW Publishing, 2014)
File:ClassicComicCollection1.jpg|'''''Transformers: Classic Comic Collection, Vol. 1''''' (Chrirpy Bird, 2015)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v1.jpg|'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]], Vol. 1: Power Play''''' (Hachette Partworks Ltd, 2017)
File:HXClassicsVol1.jpg|'''''[[The Transformers Classics#Japanese reprints|The Transformers: Classics]], Vol. 1''''' ([[Hero-X]], 2018)
</gallery>
====Reprint notes====
*The UK ''Collected Comics'' #1 omits the double-page Autobot roll-call scene, as the original UK printing of the issue did (see [[#UK printing|UK printing]], above).
*''The Complete Works'' reinstates the Autobot roll-call spread, but replaces the two panels in the corner with a single exterior shot of the Ark, re-used from [[Crisis of Command!|UK issue #42]], drawn by [[Geoff Senior]]. Presumably, this had to be done because Marvel UK either damaged or lost the original panels after removing them to edit the page into a poster for their original printing of the issue (again, see [[#UK printing|UK printing]]).

====IDW ''Transformers Classics'' edits====
For ''[[The Transformers Classics]]'' series of trade paperbacks, IDW Publishing "remastered" the coloring of the series with varying degrees of success. These changes were sometimes to fix errors, but often to alter characters' color schemes to make them resemble their toy and/or cartoon selves, and were rarely applied with consistency. IDW's recolored version was also used for Hachette's ''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection|Definitive G1 Collection]]''.
*Soundwave is recolored blue throughout the issue, erasing his standard Marvel purple color scheme, as well as correcting the coloring errors on pages 2 and 23.
*Page 1, panel 5: The blue thighs of the generic red robot (second from the left) are recolored to also be red.
*Page 5: Jazz's colors are corrected as best they can be, changing him from incorrect yellow to white and blue.
*Page 7: Optimus's colors in panels 3 and 5 are largely corrected, though his pelvis remains blue.
*Page 15: Wheeljack is recolored to add a patch of green to his chest.
*Page 22, panel 4 and page 23, panel 1: For these two panels alone, Starscream is recolored into his finalized, predominantly white color scheme, as opposed to the early blue scheme he has in the rest of the issue.
*Page 23-24: For these two pages, Hound's legs are recolored from their standard Marvel solid blue to green with white thighs.

===Advertisements===
====US====
*''The Last Starfighter'' (Inside front cover)
*Free [[Spider-Man]] Comic from Fig Newtons - between pages 4 & 5
*Olympic Sales Club - between pages 5 & 6
*Mile High Comics (2-page spread) - between pages 13 & 14
*Block of various Sketchy Things (I.E. Charles Atlas) - between pages 16 & 17
*Helen of Toy mail-in military scenes - between pages 22 & 23
*Marvel bonus certificate
*''Muppets Take Manhattan'' storybook & record (Inside rear cover)
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' home console video arcade cassette (Rear cover)

====UK====
'''Issue #1'''
*The ''Transformers'' toyline, spotlighting the [[Autobot Cars]], Autobot [[Mini Vehicle]]s, [[Decepticon Planes]], and [[Mini-Cassette]]s.
*''Indiana Jones'' #1
*''The Savage Sword of Conan'' #85
*''The Best Pals Club''

'''Issue #2'''
*Mail-away "[[Autobot (G2)|Robot Watch]]" offer
*Weetabix cereal home computer competition
*Grandreams 1985 hardback annuals
*The ''Transformers'' toyline
*Mail-away [[Spider-Man]] watches offer

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Transformers (issue)}}
[[Category:Marvel US issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]
[[Category:Pack-in material]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]

The Transformers (issue)

2020-08-31T17:20:29Z

Destron1: /* IDW Transformers Classics edits */

{{disambig2|the first comic issue of the first comic series about Transformers|other uses of ''The Transformers''|Transformers (disambiguation)}}
{{comicstory|
|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #1
|next=Power Play!
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #1–2
|next2=Power Play!
|image=MarvelUS-01.jpg
|caption=[[Smallest Transforming Transformers|Largest Transforming Transformers]] Optimus Prime! One of six blind-packed $500,000,000 toys!
|title="The Transformers"
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[May 8]], [[1984]] ("on sale" [[May 29]], 1984)
|coverdate=September 1984
|plot=[[Bill Mantlo]]
|script=[[Ralph Macchio]]
|pencils=[[Frank Springer]]
|inks=[[Kim DeMulder]]
|colors=[[Nelson Yomtov]]
|lettering=[[Michael Higgins]], [[Rick Parker]]
|editor=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
|packaged with=|packaged with=[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Optimus Prime]]
}}
'''A group of sentient warring robots crash-lands on Earth four million years ago. When they awake in the present day, their battle begins anew.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Marvel issue 1 Cybertron.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66]]
On the [[Saturn]]-sized mechanical world of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], life has evolved not through carbon bonding, but via "[[Atechnogenesis|naturally-occurring gears, levers, and pulleys]]". The resultant sentient robots, the [[Autobot]]s, live in peace for many eons, until some of their number fall victim to a lust for power. Rallying behind the banner of the powerful [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]], these "[[Decepticon]]s" rebuild their bodies, allowing them to [[transformation|transform]] into vehicles and weapons of destruction, and declare war on the Autobots, intending to conquer the planet and rebuild it as a cosmic dreadnought. The Autobots adopt the ability of transformation as well, but struggle to repel the Decepticon onslaught until a leader emerges from the city of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]: the wise and powerful [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]. Under his leadership, the scattered Autobots are successfully united to become an effective fighting force... and thus, an [[Great War (G1)|all-consuming war]] rages across the planet for a thousand years, while the planet itself—dislodged from its orbit by the titanic battles—spins out of control through the cosmos.

Eventually, the Autobots learn that an [[asteroid belt]] lies in Cybertron's path, threatening the planet with destruction. Optimus Prime and a specially-chosen group of Autobots set out aboard a huge spacecraft dubbed the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] to clear a path through the asteroids... but their preparations are observed by the Decepticon spy [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], allowing the Decepticons to plot against them. The Autobots go on to successfully complete their mission, after which the Decepticons launch an attack against them, boarding the Ark and easily overwhelming the weakened warriors. Facing inevitable defeat, Optimus Prime sets the Ark on a suicide course towards the third planet of the solar system: prehistoric [[Earth]]. The ship crashes into a [[Mount St. Hilary|volcano]], and all aboard are knocked offline.

[[File:Combat deck marvel 1.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.66|Combat Deck bought a junker lot from eBay.]]

Four million years later, the volcano erupts, reactivating the Ark's dormant [[Aunty|computer]]. Launching a probe to scan the planet, the computer proves unable to detect Earth's carbon-based [[human]] and animal life, believing instead that humanity's vehicles and machines are its dominant "life form." Under this mistaken belief, the computer sets about rebuilding and reactivating the ship's occupants, reconfiguring their alternate modes to match Earth's machines. Damaged, the computer is unable to tell friend from foe, and restores both Atobots and Decepticons alike. After [[Introdump|checking themselves over]], the Decepticons make a hasty exist to search for sources of [[Transformer fuel|fuel]], leaving the Autobots to set about attempting to repair the Ark. Reviewing the footage the ship's probe has gathered from across the planet, the Autobots learn of Earth's machines, and—still labouring under the misconception that they are living beings—Optimus Prime vows to protect these "lifeforms" and their planet from the Decepticon menaces he has accidentally unleashed upon them.

In a [[Portland|nearby city]], human teenager [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] returns home from school late, having stayed behind to catch up on the library work involved in his literary scholarship. His father, mechanic [[Sparkplug Witwicky]], despairs; he loves his son, but the Witwicky patriarch is a blue-collar guy who sees little value in literature and the arts, and wishes Buster would learn a manual trade so that he'll be able to make a living his his hands. Though a little annoyed that Buster has arrived home too late to help with work in the family auto-shop, Sparkplug gives the boy permission to head out and meet his friends at the [[Community Drive-In|drive-in theater]].

[[File:TheTransformers drivein battle.jpg|left|thumb|upright=2.25]]

As night falls, Optimus Prime sends a team of five Autobots, under the command of [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]], to scout out the new world and make contact with the natives. The group comes upon the drive-in theater, and, mistaking it for some kind of religious ritual, heads in to make contact with the "natives"—unaware that their movements have been spotted by Decepticon [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] and reported back to Megatron. Eager to be the first to greet an Earthling, the young [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] over-enthusiastically nudges the car in which Buster, his girlfiend [[Jesse (G1)|Jesse]], and his best friend [["O"]] are sitting, and just as the three kids climb out to see what has happened, the Decepticons attack, intent on keeping their foes from establishing an alliance with the planet's natives. The villains' opening salvo injures Bumbelbee, and the other Autobots reluctantly transform and defend themselves, turning the drive-in into a battlefield. During the battle, Prowl realizes that the automobiles are not alive at all, but the humans fleeing from them are; the Autobots retreat to draw the Decepticons' fire away from the apparently defenseless fleshlings, forced to leave Bumblebee behind.

Having heard the damaged Bumblebee cry out in pain when struck, a confused Buster tries to help, and ends up "driving" him away from the battlefield, back to his the Witwicky garage. The noise of their arrival awakens Sparkplug, who is at first delighted to find Buster apparently showing an interest in auto-repair... but not so amused when the car cries out that it needs help, because it is dying...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{collist|2|
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (4)
*[[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] (10)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ironhide]] (13)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Cliffjumper]] (14)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (15)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (16)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] (17)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (18)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (19)
*[[Mirage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Mirage]] (20)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (21)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] (22)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (23)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (24)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (25)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] (26)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] (27)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (28)
}}
|c2=
*[[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]] (1)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] (2)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] (3)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (5)
*[[Skywarp (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Skywarp]] (6)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (7)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (8)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] (9)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Thundercracker]] (11)
*[[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] (12)
|c3=
*[[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] (29)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (30)
*[[Jesse (G1)|Jesse]] (31)
*[["O"]] (32)}}

==Quotes==
[[File:TheTransformers decepticon boarding party.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.66]]
[[File:TheTransformers suicidal heading.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.66]]
[[File:Glassgas.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.66]]
"We have lived peacefully with the Autobots for eons, slowly, '''secretly''' gathering our strength and pursuing our technology. Now we shall strike at those who have brought the stagnation of peace and plenty to Cybertron. They shall learn the way of conflict... the way of war... the way of Megatron."
: — '''Megatron''', have you thought this through?

"'''Strike! Strike!''' With all the might at our command! Death to the Autobots and the decay they stand for!"
: — '''Megatron''' launches his war

"The Ark and its secrets must never fall into enemy hands, so I plotted an alternate course that would take us on a suicidal heading... directly into the third planet of this system. Farewell, my friend. Though we die, at least our enemies are taken with us."
: — '''Optimus Prime''' pushes the fatal button

"Let us never forget our primary purpose -- to spare this world from the scourge we have unwittingly unleashed upon it!"
: — '''Optimus Prime''''s "we" is more of an "I"

"Bumblebee, come back! We must reconnoiter first!" 
"You can't check the exuberance of youth, Prowl!"
: — '''Prowl''' and '''Hound'''

"I had hoped to Optimus we could avoid this, but... it seems our adversaries have left us little choice. Assume defensive configurations." 
"Now yer talkin' my lingo."
: — '''Prowl''' and '''Brawn'''

"So, '''Starscream''', you strike at me because you think isolation makes me vunerable? You have obviously never flown in the face of my glass-gas gun!" 
"Yarrgh! The gas coats me, making my metal brittle and breakable as glass!"
: — '''Cliffjumper''' and '''Starscream''' team up to tell the reader how CJ's special gun works

==Notes==
===Production notes===
[[File:Generic autobots marvel 1.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.5|Generic robots use the color schemes of Bumblebee, Trailbreaker, Sunstreaker, Hound, and Optimus Prime; the last of these, in the bottom right, bears a resemblance to Optimus and might be intended to represent a "pre-war" incarnation of him.]]
[[File:Generics marvel 1.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.5|Since he's called out in the caption box, it's probably fair to assume that the robot armed with the [[ion blaster]] represents Optimus Prime, albeit miscolored. On his right is a robot using Sideswipe's design, apparently armed with a [[fusion cannon]].]]
*''The Transformers'' was initially conceived as a [[The Transformers Four-Issue Limited Series|four-issue limited series]]. At the start of its production, [[character model]]s had not been finalized for the majority of the cast; as such, for the first two issues of the series, the appearances of the Autobots and Decepticons is quite variable, based either on early designs created for the first animated commercials (Optimus Prime, Sideswipe, Prowl, Jazz, Megatron, the three Decepticon jets, Soundwave, Laserbeak and Buzzsaw) or on the toys themselves, and their [[package art]] (most evident on characters like Ironhide and Ratchet). The finalized models were ready in time for [[Prisoner of War!|issue #3]], but the early color schemes used in these issues for certain characters—like Optimus Prime's lack of a silver stripe on his torso, Megatron's black helmet, Starscream's blue chest-vents, and the entirely-purple Soundwave—would persist throughout most if not all of the comic's run, in some cases becoming hallmarks of the characters' Marvel appearances.
*In addition to these teething troubles, artist [[Frank Springer]] and colorist [[Nelson Yomtov]] played fast and loose with what robot and technology designs they ''did'' have. Multiples of Optimus Prime's [[Combat Deck (G1)|Combat Deck]] are used to represent the "revival drones" that rebuilt the Ark's crew on pages 11-12, while a [[Onebox component]] like that used by Ironhide and Ratchet appears mounted to the hull of the Ark, firing on the asteroids, on page 6. Further, a range broad of [[generic]] Transformers appear throughout the issue; some are wholly original (such as the one prominently displayed on the title page that fans would go on to dub "[[Big Red (G1)|Big Red]]"), but others use and abuse existing characters' designs and/or color schemes (as seen in the images at right). As the brand was in its infancy at this stage, some of these might have been [[authorial intent|intended]] to represent actual characters, but whether they do so is probably best left [[Personal canon|up to you]].
* Both an early advertisement featured in comic news magazines (such as ''The Comic Reader'' #218) and the announcement for the miniseries in ''Marvel Age'' #17 stated ''The Transformers'' would begin in April of 1984 ('''possibly''' intended to ship April 3rd and be "on sale" April 24th, working backwards from other titles in the ''Marvel Age'' #17 checklist). However, the U.S. copyright office filing for the issue places its publication at May 8th, which in turn puts its "on sale" date at May 29th. '''Why''' the series apparently launched a whole month after it was '''supposed''' to come out, we dunno...

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Introdump decepticons marvelus01.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.5]]
*As is only natural, some of this issue's early details would be retconned away or simply ignored as the series progressed and expanded its mythology, including the idea of Cybertron as "Saturn-sized," and the idea that the Transformers had "naturally evolved". In particular, this origin would be source of much mockery in the earlier days of online fandom, but modern media went on to dub the idea of spontaneously-evolving mechanical life "[[atechnogenesis]]" and offer it up as one of several possible-but-unverified origins for the Transformers, who ''themselves'' did not know if it was true or not.
* Megatron's plan to turn the planet into a "cosmic dreadnought" would be further explored in the Marvel UK story "[[Legion of the Lost!]]".
*Megatron's statement that "one of our mightiest is missing" plants the seed for [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]]'s debut in [[The Last Stand|issue #4]]. This brief mention parallels the character's cameo appearance in cartoon's [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1|pilot episode]], which likewise set the stage for his full-fledged appearance in the [[Transport to Oblivion (episode)|first regular episode]] of the series proper. Shockwave was among the first, if not ''the'' first, of the second-year toys to be released.
*'''Bot Roster:'''
**''Autobots:'' 18 active
**''Decepticons:'' 10 active; Shockwave missing in action

===Real-life references===
*[[Mount St. Hilary]] is obviously inspired by the 1980 eruption of [[Mount St. Helens]].
*Unlike the contemporaneous cartoon, which was always shy about specifics, the comic immediately lets us know that the action is set in the state of [[Oregon]]. Issues #5 and #7 will later name [[Portland]] as the location of Sparkplug's garage, presumably making it the unnamed city we see here and elsewhere in the next few issues.
*A [[hitchhiker]] compares the sound of a team of Autobots driving down the highway to the [[Indy 500]].
*The Autobots visit a drive-in movie theater, which in the early 80s were still a thing.
*The cover for the Marvel UK ''Transformers'' #2 edition is an homage to the famous cover of EC's [http://www.comics.org/issue/10134/cover/4/ ''Weird Science'' #16]. The [[Martian]]s of ''[[Mars Attacks: The Transformers|Mars Attacks]]'' were inspired by the same cover.

===Continuity and plotting errors===
*It's said in this issue that the war between the Transformers ''knocked Cybertron out of its orbit'', which sounds...very improbable because of the sheer magnitude of force required for something like that to happen; Cybertron would have likely been completely obliterated before it would've been knocked out of its orbit.
*Numerous [[generic]]s show up aboard the Ark, when per story continuity, it should only have the 18 crew members shown here (plus, according to [[The Last Stand|issue #4]], the future Dinobots, whose characters presumably didn't exist yet in real-life terms). That said, the art on page 12 seems to provide a possible "out" for this by showing what looks to be a huge pile of unrepaired Transformers between behind Optimus and Megatron as they re-awaken.
*Page 10: "The drone swiftly plots its return to the Ark"—it's not clear from context if "it" is the jet scanned by the probe, or the probe itself. Neither makes a lot of sense.
*A solitary reference is made to "Aunty" as the name of the Ark's computer. This was an early name conceived by [[Jim Shooter]] when he wrote the original treatment for the Transformers backstory, at a time when the spaceship itself did not yet have a name. During hand-written re-writes of his treatment, Shooter replaced the name "Aunty" with "The Ark," which came to be treated as the name of the ship itself, with the apparent intent being to make the computer and ship synonymous with one another. Consequently, the inclusion of the outdated "Aunty" name in this issue appears to be in error; it would never be used in the US series again, but did reoccur in [[Raiders of the Last Ark|one early UK-original story]].

===Artwork and technical errors===
Hoo-boy.
[[File:Contentedfools.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5]]
*The iconic cover of this issue depicts Optimus Prime in a design that appears to have been based on a reference image in an early [[character model|model sheet]] that was offered on [[eBay]] in 2016<ref name="modelsheets">[http://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/93711-more-unseen-tftm-designs-plus-some-early-colors-and-some-show-design/?p=3191211 Early model sheets] at The Allspark.</ref>, which in turn is based on an early [[prototype]] or mock-up for his original toy's ''[[Diaclone]]'' predecessor depicted in an early ''Diaclone'' catalog.<ref name="diaclonecatalogs">[http://1501bc.com/pretf/diaclone_catalogs.html Diaclone catalog scans] at 1501bc.com.</ref>
*Page 1: The third sentence has an "its/it's" typo: "It's content was entirely--mechanical."
*Page 2: In his very first appearance, parts of Soundwave's backpack, arms and legs are colored red.
[[File:M01 tomaandi.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|Jazz experimented with [[electrum]] before [[The Golden Lagoon (episode)|it was cool]].]]
*Page 5: As he and Optimus Prime report to the Autobot Elders, Jazz is colored like Bumblebee. Additionally, he is drawn to be ''extremely'' toy-based, complete with Earthly car parts, right down to having the toy's conjoined uni-feet, and has two missile launchers instead of one.
[[File:Generic decepticons marvel 1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|...[[Nemesis Prime (G1)|Nemesis Prime]], is that you?]]
*Page 7:
**Panel 3: As the Decepticons first strike the Ark, Optimus Prime is colored almost entirely red.
**Panel 5: A blue-chested, red-legged Optimus Prime is among the invading Decepticons! In the same panel, Optimus himself is colored entirely red and is missing his chest windows. Prime's thought "Our firepower - no match" is missing its punctuation.
**None of the invading Decepticons resemble the ten Decepticons later shown to compose Megatron's crew.
*Page 8: Prowl is missing his door/wings, though one could retcon this as being his "Cybertronian" body.
*Page 12: The robots undergoing repair don't really correspond to any Transformer known to be present.
*Page 13: Soundwave converts to his tape player form and flies off with the jets! Or starts to, at least—he's not shown in the next panel as the Decepticons flee the volcano.
*In the giant two-page Autobot spread:
**Sideswipe seems to have a made-up or at least off-model head.
**Wheeljack's "ears" are kind of folded up against his head.
**Bluestreak is missing his door/wings and shoulder rockets.
**Gears is a strange alternate model bearing almost no resemblance to his toy or later design.
**Hound, Wheeljack, and Sideswipe are all missing their shoulder launchers.
**Trailbreaker is missing his force field projector.
**Due to the overhead perspective, Windcharger looks taller than Hound.
[[File:Gearsg1firstappearance.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|"Follow your dreams, you can reach your goals; I'm living proof. Beefcake. Beefcake!"]]
*Page 16:
**Panel 1: Bluestreak is colored like Prowl.
**Panel 1: Sideswipe is colored like Sunstreaker.
**Panel 1: Gears seems to have an entirely new, entirely different model.
**Panel 2: Bumblebee suddenly has the toy-based "backing plate" behind his head, whereas before he didn't.
**Panel 3: Not all of the silhouettes correspond to actual characters.
**Panel 4: Sunstreaker's "ears" are misshapen.
*Page 17:
**Panel 5: Sparkplug's "okay" is missing a period at the end.
**Panel 6: Sparkplug is meant to say "learnin'," to parallel the way he drops the g from the end of "readin'" in the first half of his sentence, but the word is written with the g... ''and'' the apostrophe meant to signify its absence.
*Page 19: When an Autobot asks Prowl "why would machines worship moving pictures of strange objects?", Prowl identifies the speaker as Bumblebee, but the art shows the speech bubble emanating from Brawn. It's not clear which is in error.
*Page 22: Starscream's entire cockpit cowling is colored as though it were a canopy.
*Page 23:
**Panel 2: When Ravage confronts him, Hound has ''two'' shoulder launchers.
**Panels 5-6: Soundwave is colored like Megatron as he attacks Prowl and Cliffjumper. His gun is missing its narrow tip, looking more like Megatron's fusion cannon, which is likely what caused the coloring error.
*Page 24: Cliffjumper's arms are colored white as Prowl orders the retreat.

===UK printing===
[[File:TheTransformers action transfers.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.5]]
'''Issue #1:'''
*'''Published:''' [[September 20|20th September]], 1984
*'''Backup strips:''' ''Machine Man'' ("Introducing Machine Man" & "Byte of the Binary Bug," Part 1)
*'''Free gift:''' "Action Transfers"; page 16 of the comic is a full-page pin-up of a street featuring Sparkplug's garage that the transfers can be stuck on to create action scenes ''(right)''
*'''Other features:''' Spot-the-difference contest to win a Jazz figure; pin-up of Prowl, Jazz, and Sideswipe, made using a screengrab from the original ''Transformers'' comic book animated commercial; "Robot Round-Up," a two-page text feature looking at modern advancements in robotics
*The letters printed in issue #1 of the UK comic were provided by pupils from Greycourt School (in Ham, near Richmond in South West London) who were visiting the Marvel UK offices. Their visit was written up in a magazine published at the school. The teacher who arranged the visit was Stephen Payne, former president of the [[Doctor Who]] Appreciation Society and soon to be publisher of Visual Imagination Magazines (Starburst & TV Zone).<ref>Extract from Greycourt school 1984 sci fi mag detailing visit to the Marvel UK comics offices that resulted in comments appearing in the letters page of Marvel UK Transformers #1 http://www.flickr.com/photos/48819633@N05/5297859701/</ref>
[[File:TheTransformers autobot introdump.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.5]]
'''Issue #2:'''
*'''Published:''' [[October 4|4th October]], 1984
*'''Backup strips:''' ''Machine Man'' ("Byte of the Binary Bug," Part 2)
*'''Free Gift:''' More "Action Transfers"
*'''Other features:''' "Design a Decepticon" contest to win a Decepticon jet figure; "Robot Round-Up"
*While the first issue was published in full-colour, this issue introudces the half-colour, half-black-and-white format the UK series will adhere to until [[Repeat Performance!|issue #27]]. Almost the entire ''Transformers'' strip is in black-and-white, with only the two pages of Buster returning home after school, and the Autobots departing on their survey mission, appearing in colour.
*The two-page spread of the Autobots introducing themselves ''(right)'' is omitted from the story, probably because the way the comic is laid out would have resulted in half of it being in black and white, and half in colour. New text captions added to the end of the preceding page and the start of the next to link them together. The spread ''is'' included in the issue, however, repurposed to become a full-colour pull-out poster, with the Transformers logo pasted over the two panels in the top-left corner (showing the Decepticons escapsing, and Prowl and Optimus watching them go). The spread would also be printed in this edited form in the [[Transformers Annual 1985|the 1985 annual]]. In a sense, this means the early UK continuity initially lacks an in-story list of the Autobots originally on Earth, making appearances by [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] in "[[The Enemy Within!]]" and [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] in "[[Decepticon Dam-Busters!]]" a ''weeeee'' bit easier to reconcile.

===Other trivia===
*This mini-series was printed on high-quality [[Mando paper]].
*On [[May 22]], the [http://groups.google.com/group/net.comics/msg/1cdaf7df610e0376?dmode=source&hl=en first Usenet post about Transformers] is posted by Ted Nolan to net.comics, regarding this issue. Capsule review? "Worst comic of the year."
**In 2018, [https://youtu.be/_AKb1Xw0ZbA?list=PLVlwyeBOK67ywYrd05wzdjcBoIl4XS4HS&t=1633 TFU.INFO interviewed Ted Nolan about the post].
*The cover price is 75 cents, which would be about $1.80 when adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars. Comics as an industry are rather notorious for their price increases over and above standard inflation; today, a standard [[IDW Publishing]] ''Transformers'' comic costs $3.99.
*The cover corner box, a staple of Marvel's covers from the 1970s through the mid-1990s, features a [[character model]] of Optimus Prime. A new, more dramatic pose would debut with the first ongoing issue ([[The New Order|issue #5]]).
*The cover banner that promotes this issue as "#1 IN A FOUR ISSUE LIMITED SERIES" would be spoofed for the [[End of the Road! (US)|final issue of the series]] ("#80 IN A FOUR ISSUE LIMITED SERIES"), and again for the [[The War to End All Wars, Part 5|final issue]] of the modern-day sequel ''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One|Regeneration One]]'' ("#100 IN A FOUR ISSUE LIMITED SERIES").
* Other latter-day references to this issue include:
** A loving homage in IDW's ''Robots in Disguise'' [[Primus: All Good Things|2012 Annual]]
** Various parodies and homages to its distinctly surreal cover art including [[:File:TDOOP cvrRIA.jpg|an incentive cover]] of "[[Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime]]", [[:File:RG1_100_cvrB.jpg|Cover B]] of the [[The War to End All Wars, Part 5|final issue]] of ''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One|Regeneration One]]'', a convention exclusive cover for [[:File:TAAO1 cvrREB.jpg|''Till All Are One'' #1]], the "cover" for "[[The Inexorable March]]", and a retailer incentive cover [[:File:TFUnicron1 cvrRIC.jpg|to ''Unicron'' #1]].

===Covers (3)===
*'''US issue #1:''' gigantic Optimus Prime, tiny Starscream, Gears, Laserbeak and the Witwickys, by [[Bill Sienkiewicz]].
*'''UK issue #1:''' Soundwave and Buzzsaw kick Prime's ass, by [[Jerry Paris]].
*'''UK issue #2:''' the Autobots depart the Ark, by [[John Ridgway]]; inspired by the cover of ''{{w|Weird Science (comics)|Weird Science}}'' [[wikia:eccomics:Weird Science Vol 1 16|issue #16]] (November, 1952)
<gallery>
File:MarvelUS-01.jpg|'''US issue #1''' - First he will crush the planes, then he will crush the giant floating heads.
File:MarvelUK-001.jpg|'''UK issue #1''' - Is Soundwave on [[Ore-13|Ultra-Energon]]?
File:MarvelUK-002.jpg|'''UK issue #2''' - Is this girl '''that''' into her doll that she didn't see the [[Michael Bay|giant f*cking robots]]?
</gallery>

===Reprints===
<gallery>
File:Tfcolcom01.jpg|'''''[[Transformers Collected Comics|Collected Comics]]'' (UK) #1''' (Marvel UK, 1985)
File:TFUSCollectedComics1StoryBegins.jpg|'''''[[The Transformers: Collected Comics 1 - The Story Begins...|''Collected Comics'' (US) #1: The Story Begins...]]''' (Marvel US, 1985)
File:FederalSuperSpecial.jpg|'''''The Transformers: A Federal Super Special''''' (Federal Publishing Company, 1985)
File:Complete works 1 cover.jpg|'''[[The Transformers: The Complete Works Part 1|''The Transformers: The Complete Works'' Part 1]]''' (Marvel UK, 1986)
File:Die tf 01.jpg|'''[[Die Transformer issue 1|''Die Transformer'' #1]]''' (Condor Verlag, 1986)
File:Transformers Digest 01-cover.jpg|'''[[The Transformers Comics Magazine issue 1|''The Transformers Comics Magazine'' #1]]:''' (Marvel US, 1986)
File:Titan-BeginningsSC.jpg|'''[[Transformers: Beginnings (G1)|''Transformers: Beginnings'']] paperback''' (Titan Books, 2003)
File:Titan-BeginningsHC.jpg|'''[[Transformers: Beginnings (G1)|''Transformers: Beginnings'']] hardback''' (Titan Books, 2003)
File:MarvelUS-01-25years.jpg|Pack-in with [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Generation 1 Series|25th Anniversary Optimus Prime]] toy (Hasbro, 2009)
File:Classic Transformers Vol1.jpg|'''[[Classic Transformers Volume 1|''Classic Transformers'' Volume 1]]''' (IDW Publishing, 2008)
File:TFClassicsVol1.JPG|'''[[The Transformers Classics, Vol. 1|''The Transformers Classics'', Vol. 1]]''' (IDW Publishing, 2011)
File:TF 30thAnniversaryColl.jpg|'''''[[The Transformers 30th Anniversary Collection]]''''' (IDW Publishing, 2013)
File:TF1_100PennyPress.jpg|'''One Hundred Penny Press Edition''' (IDW Publishing, 2014)
File:ClassicComicCollection1.jpg|'''''Transformers: Classic Comic Collection, Vol. 1''''' (Chrirpy Bird, 2015)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v1.jpg|'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]], Vol. 1: Power Play''''' (Hachette Partworks Ltd, 2017)
File:HXClassicsVol1.jpg|'''''[[The Transformers Classics#Japanese reprints|The Transformers: Classics]], Vol. 1''''' ([[Hero-X]], 2018)
</gallery>
====Reprint notes====
*The UK ''Collected Comics'' #1 omits the double-page Autobot roll-call scene, as the original UK printing of the issue did (see [[#UK printing|UK printing]], above).
*''The Complete Works'' reinstates the Autobot roll-call spread, but replaces the two panels in the corner with a single exterior shot of the Ark, re-used from [[Crisis of Command!|UK issue #42]], drawn by [[Geoff Senior]]. Presumably, this had to be done because Marvel UK either damaged or lost the original panels after removing them to edit the page into a poster for their original printing of the issue (again, see [[#UK printing|UK printing]]).

====IDW ''Transformers Classics'' edits====
For ''[[The Transformers Classics]]'' series of trade paperbacks, IDW Publishing "remastered" the coloring of the series with varying degrees of success. These changes were sometimes to fix errors, but often to alter characters' color schemes to make them resemble their toy and/or cartoon selves, and were rarely applied with consistency. IDW's recolored version was also used for Hachette's ''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection|Definitive G1 Collection]]''.
*Soundwave is recolored blue throughout the issue, erasing his standard Marvel purple color scheme, as well as correcting the coloring errors on pages 2 and 23.
*Page 1, panel 5: The blue thighs of the generic red robot (second from the left) are recolored to also be red.
*Page 5: Prowl's colors are corrected as best they can be, changing him from incorrect yellow to white and blue.
*Page 7: Optimus's colors in panels 3 and 5 are largely corrected, though his pelvis remains blue.
*Page 15: Wheeljack is recolored to add a patch of green to his chest.
*Page 22, panel 4 and page 23, panel 1: For these two panels alone, Starscream is recolored into his finalized, predominantly white color scheme, as opposed to the early blue scheme he has in the rest of the issue.
*Page 23-24: For these two pages, Hound's legs are recolored from their standard Marvel solid blue to green with white thighs.

===Advertisements===
====US====
*''The Last Starfighter'' (Inside front cover)
*Free [[Spider-Man]] Comic from Fig Newtons - between pages 4 & 5
*Olympic Sales Club - between pages 5 & 6
*Mile High Comics (2-page spread) - between pages 13 & 14
*Block of various Sketchy Things (I.E. Charles Atlas) - between pages 16 & 17
*Helen of Toy mail-in military scenes - between pages 22 & 23
*Marvel bonus certificate
*''Muppets Take Manhattan'' storybook & record (Inside rear cover)
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' home console video arcade cassette (Rear cover)

====UK====
'''Issue #1'''
*The ''Transformers'' toyline, spotlighting the [[Autobot Cars]], Autobot [[Mini Vehicle]]s, [[Decepticon Planes]], and [[Mini-Cassette]]s.
*''Indiana Jones'' #1
*''The Savage Sword of Conan'' #85
*''The Best Pals Club''

'''Issue #2'''
*Mail-away "[[Autobot (G2)|Robot Watch]]" offer
*Weetabix cereal home computer competition
*Grandreams 1985 hardback annuals
*The ''Transformers'' toyline
*Mail-away [[Spider-Man]] watches offer

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Transformers (issue)}}
[[Category:Marvel US issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]
[[Category:Pack-in material]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]

Talk:The Transformers (issue)

2020-08-31T17:18:35Z

Destron1:

Talk:The Transformers (issue)

2020-08-31T17:16:26Z

Destron1:

The Transformers (issue)

2020-08-31T17:14:01Z

Destron1: /* IDW Transformers Classics edits */

{{disambig2|the first comic issue of the first comic series about Transformers|other uses of ''The Transformers''|Transformers (disambiguation)}}
{{comicstory|
|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #1
|next=Power Play!
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #1–2
|next2=Power Play!
|image=MarvelUS-01.jpg
|caption=[[Smallest Transforming Transformers|Largest Transforming Transformers]] Optimus Prime! One of six blind-packed $500,000,000 toys!
|title="The Transformers"
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[May 8]], [[1984]] ("on sale" [[May 29]], 1984)
|coverdate=September 1984
|plot=[[Bill Mantlo]]
|script=[[Ralph Macchio]]
|pencils=[[Frank Springer]]
|inks=[[Kim DeMulder]]
|colors=[[Nelson Yomtov]]
|lettering=[[Michael Higgins]], [[Rick Parker]]
|editor=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
|packaged with=|packaged with=[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Universe (2008)|Optimus Prime]]
}}
'''A group of sentient warring robots crash-lands on Earth four million years ago. When they awake in the present day, their battle begins anew.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Marvel issue 1 Cybertron.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.66]]
On the [[Saturn]]-sized mechanical world of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], life has evolved not through carbon bonding, but via "[[Atechnogenesis|naturally-occurring gears, levers, and pulleys]]". The resultant sentient robots, the [[Autobot]]s, live in peace for many eons, until some of their number fall victim to a lust for power. Rallying behind the banner of the powerful [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]], these "[[Decepticon]]s" rebuild their bodies, allowing them to [[transformation|transform]] into vehicles and weapons of destruction, and declare war on the Autobots, intending to conquer the planet and rebuild it as a cosmic dreadnought. The Autobots adopt the ability of transformation as well, but struggle to repel the Decepticon onslaught until a leader emerges from the city of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]: the wise and powerful [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]. Under his leadership, the scattered Autobots are successfully united to become an effective fighting force... and thus, an [[Great War (G1)|all-consuming war]] rages across the planet for a thousand years, while the planet itself—dislodged from its orbit by the titanic battles—spins out of control through the cosmos.

Eventually, the Autobots learn that an [[asteroid belt]] lies in Cybertron's path, threatening the planet with destruction. Optimus Prime and a specially-chosen group of Autobots set out aboard a huge spacecraft dubbed the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] to clear a path through the asteroids... but their preparations are observed by the Decepticon spy [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]], allowing the Decepticons to plot against them. The Autobots go on to successfully complete their mission, after which the Decepticons launch an attack against them, boarding the Ark and easily overwhelming the weakened warriors. Facing inevitable defeat, Optimus Prime sets the Ark on a suicide course towards the third planet of the solar system: prehistoric [[Earth]]. The ship crashes into a [[Mount St. Hilary|volcano]], and all aboard are knocked offline.

[[File:Combat deck marvel 1.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.66|Combat Deck bought a junker lot from eBay.]]

Four million years later, the volcano erupts, reactivating the Ark's dormant [[Aunty|computer]]. Launching a probe to scan the planet, the computer proves unable to detect Earth's carbon-based [[human]] and animal life, believing instead that humanity's vehicles and machines are its dominant "life form." Under this mistaken belief, the computer sets about rebuilding and reactivating the ship's occupants, reconfiguring their alternate modes to match Earth's machines. Damaged, the computer is unable to tell friend from foe, and restores both Atobots and Decepticons alike. After [[Introdump|checking themselves over]], the Decepticons make a hasty exist to search for sources of [[Transformer fuel|fuel]], leaving the Autobots to set about attempting to repair the Ark. Reviewing the footage the ship's probe has gathered from across the planet, the Autobots learn of Earth's machines, and—still labouring under the misconception that they are living beings—Optimus Prime vows to protect these "lifeforms" and their planet from the Decepticon menaces he has accidentally unleashed upon them.

In a [[Portland|nearby city]], human teenager [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] returns home from school late, having stayed behind to catch up on the library work involved in his literary scholarship. His father, mechanic [[Sparkplug Witwicky]], despairs; he loves his son, but the Witwicky patriarch is a blue-collar guy who sees little value in literature and the arts, and wishes Buster would learn a manual trade so that he'll be able to make a living his his hands. Though a little annoyed that Buster has arrived home too late to help with work in the family auto-shop, Sparkplug gives the boy permission to head out and meet his friends at the [[Community Drive-In|drive-in theater]].

[[File:TheTransformers drivein battle.jpg|left|thumb|upright=2.25]]

As night falls, Optimus Prime sends a team of five Autobots, under the command of [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]], to scout out the new world and make contact with the natives. The group comes upon the drive-in theater, and, mistaking it for some kind of religious ritual, heads in to make contact with the "natives"—unaware that their movements have been spotted by Decepticon [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] and reported back to Megatron. Eager to be the first to greet an Earthling, the young [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] over-enthusiastically nudges the car in which Buster, his girlfiend [[Jesse (G1)|Jesse]], and his best friend [["O"]] are sitting, and just as the three kids climb out to see what has happened, the Decepticons attack, intent on keeping their foes from establishing an alliance with the planet's natives. The villains' opening salvo injures Bumbelbee, and the other Autobots reluctantly transform and defend themselves, turning the drive-in into a battlefield. During the battle, Prowl realizes that the automobiles are not alive at all, but the humans fleeing from them are; the Autobots retreat to draw the Decepticons' fire away from the apparently defenseless fleshlings, forced to leave Bumblebee behind.

Having heard the damaged Bumblebee cry out in pain when struck, a confused Buster tries to help, and ends up "driving" him away from the battlefield, back to his the Witwicky garage. The noise of their arrival awakens Sparkplug, who is at first delighted to find Buster apparently showing an interest in auto-repair... but not so amused when the car cries out that it needs help, because it is dying...

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{collist|2|
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (4)
*[[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] (10)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ironhide]] (13)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Cliffjumper]] (14)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (15)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (16)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] (17)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (18)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (19)
*[[Mirage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Mirage]] (20)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (21)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] (22)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (23)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (24)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (25)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] (26)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] (27)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (28)
}}
|c2=
*[[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]] (1)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] (2)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] (3)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (5)
*[[Skywarp (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Skywarp]] (6)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (7)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (8)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] (9)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Thundercracker]] (11)
*[[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] (12)
|c3=
*[[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] (29)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (30)
*[[Jesse (G1)|Jesse]] (31)
*[["O"]] (32)}}

==Quotes==
[[File:TheTransformers decepticon boarding party.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.66]]
[[File:TheTransformers suicidal heading.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.66]]
[[File:Glassgas.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.66]]
"We have lived peacefully with the Autobots for eons, slowly, '''secretly''' gathering our strength and pursuing our technology. Now we shall strike at those who have brought the stagnation of peace and plenty to Cybertron. They shall learn the way of conflict... the way of war... the way of Megatron."
: — '''Megatron''', have you thought this through?

"'''Strike! Strike!''' With all the might at our command! Death to the Autobots and the decay they stand for!"
: — '''Megatron''' launches his war

"The Ark and its secrets must never fall into enemy hands, so I plotted an alternate course that would take us on a suicidal heading... directly into the third planet of this system. Farewell, my friend. Though we die, at least our enemies are taken with us."
: — '''Optimus Prime''' pushes the fatal button

"Let us never forget our primary purpose -- to spare this world from the scourge we have unwittingly unleashed upon it!"
: — '''Optimus Prime''''s "we" is more of an "I"

"Bumblebee, come back! We must reconnoiter first!" 
"You can't check the exuberance of youth, Prowl!"
: — '''Prowl''' and '''Hound'''

"I had hoped to Optimus we could avoid this, but... it seems our adversaries have left us little choice. Assume defensive configurations." 
"Now yer talkin' my lingo."
: — '''Prowl''' and '''Brawn'''

"So, '''Starscream''', you strike at me because you think isolation makes me vunerable? You have obviously never flown in the face of my glass-gas gun!" 
"Yarrgh! The gas coats me, making my metal brittle and breakable as glass!"
: — '''Cliffjumper''' and '''Starscream''' team up to tell the reader how CJ's special gun works

==Notes==
===Production notes===
[[File:Generic autobots marvel 1.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.5|Generic robots use the color schemes of Bumblebee, Trailbreaker, Sunstreaker, Hound, and Optimus Prime; the last of these, in the bottom right, bears a resemblance to Optimus and might be intended to represent a "pre-war" incarnation of him.]]
[[File:Generics marvel 1.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.5|Since he's called out in the caption box, it's probably fair to assume that the robot armed with the [[ion blaster]] represents Optimus Prime, albeit miscolored. On his right is a robot using Sideswipe's design, apparently armed with a [[fusion cannon]].]]
*''The Transformers'' was initially conceived as a [[The Transformers Four-Issue Limited Series|four-issue limited series]]. At the start of its production, [[character model]]s had not been finalized for the majority of the cast; as such, for the first two issues of the series, the appearances of the Autobots and Decepticons is quite variable, based either on early designs created for the first animated commercials (Optimus Prime, Sideswipe, Prowl, Jazz, Megatron, the three Decepticon jets, Soundwave, Laserbeak and Buzzsaw) or on the toys themselves, and their [[package art]] (most evident on characters like Ironhide and Ratchet). The finalized models were ready in time for [[Prisoner of War!|issue #3]], but the early color schemes used in these issues for certain characters—like Optimus Prime's lack of a silver stripe on his torso, Megatron's black helmet, Starscream's blue chest-vents, and the entirely-purple Soundwave—would persist throughout most if not all of the comic's run, in some cases becoming hallmarks of the characters' Marvel appearances.
*In addition to these teething troubles, artist [[Frank Springer]] and colorist [[Nelson Yomtov]] played fast and loose with what robot and technology designs they ''did'' have. Multiples of Optimus Prime's [[Combat Deck (G1)|Combat Deck]] are used to represent the "revival drones" that rebuilt the Ark's crew on pages 11-12, while a [[Onebox component]] like that used by Ironhide and Ratchet appears mounted to the hull of the Ark, firing on the asteroids, on page 6. Further, a range broad of [[generic]] Transformers appear throughout the issue; some are wholly original (such as the one prominently displayed on the title page that fans would go on to dub "[[Big Red (G1)|Big Red]]"), but others use and abuse existing characters' designs and/or color schemes (as seen in the images at right). As the brand was in its infancy at this stage, some of these might have been [[authorial intent|intended]] to represent actual characters, but whether they do so is probably best left [[Personal canon|up to you]].
* Both an early advertisement featured in comic news magazines (such as ''The Comic Reader'' #218) and the announcement for the miniseries in ''Marvel Age'' #17 stated ''The Transformers'' would begin in April of 1984 ('''possibly''' intended to ship April 3rd and be "on sale" April 24th, working backwards from other titles in the ''Marvel Age'' #17 checklist). However, the U.S. copyright office filing for the issue places its publication at May 8th, which in turn puts its "on sale" date at May 29th. '''Why''' the series apparently launched a whole month after it was '''supposed''' to come out, we dunno...

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Introdump decepticons marvelus01.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.5]]
*As is only natural, some of this issue's early details would be retconned away or simply ignored as the series progressed and expanded its mythology, including the idea of Cybertron as "Saturn-sized," and the idea that the Transformers had "naturally evolved". In particular, this origin would be source of much mockery in the earlier days of online fandom, but modern media went on to dub the idea of spontaneously-evolving mechanical life "[[atechnogenesis]]" and offer it up as one of several possible-but-unverified origins for the Transformers, who ''themselves'' did not know if it was true or not.
* Megatron's plan to turn the planet into a "cosmic dreadnought" would be further explored in the Marvel UK story "[[Legion of the Lost!]]".
*Megatron's statement that "one of our mightiest is missing" plants the seed for [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]]'s debut in [[The Last Stand|issue #4]]. This brief mention parallels the character's cameo appearance in cartoon's [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1|pilot episode]], which likewise set the stage for his full-fledged appearance in the [[Transport to Oblivion (episode)|first regular episode]] of the series proper. Shockwave was among the first, if not ''the'' first, of the second-year toys to be released.
*'''Bot Roster:'''
**''Autobots:'' 18 active
**''Decepticons:'' 10 active; Shockwave missing in action

===Real-life references===
*[[Mount St. Hilary]] is obviously inspired by the 1980 eruption of [[Mount St. Helens]].
*Unlike the contemporaneous cartoon, which was always shy about specifics, the comic immediately lets us know that the action is set in the state of [[Oregon]]. Issues #5 and #7 will later name [[Portland]] as the location of Sparkplug's garage, presumably making it the unnamed city we see here and elsewhere in the next few issues.
*A [[hitchhiker]] compares the sound of a team of Autobots driving down the highway to the [[Indy 500]].
*The Autobots visit a drive-in movie theater, which in the early 80s were still a thing.
*The cover for the Marvel UK ''Transformers'' #2 edition is an homage to the famous cover of EC's [http://www.comics.org/issue/10134/cover/4/ ''Weird Science'' #16]. The [[Martian]]s of ''[[Mars Attacks: The Transformers|Mars Attacks]]'' were inspired by the same cover.

===Continuity and plotting errors===
*It's said in this issue that the war between the Transformers ''knocked Cybertron out of its orbit'', which sounds...very improbable because of the sheer magnitude of force required for something like that to happen; Cybertron would have likely been completely obliterated before it would've been knocked out of its orbit.
*Numerous [[generic]]s show up aboard the Ark, when per story continuity, it should only have the 18 crew members shown here (plus, according to [[The Last Stand|issue #4]], the future Dinobots, whose characters presumably didn't exist yet in real-life terms). That said, the art on page 12 seems to provide a possible "out" for this by showing what looks to be a huge pile of unrepaired Transformers between behind Optimus and Megatron as they re-awaken.
*Page 10: "The drone swiftly plots its return to the Ark"—it's not clear from context if "it" is the jet scanned by the probe, or the probe itself. Neither makes a lot of sense.
*A solitary reference is made to "Aunty" as the name of the Ark's computer. This was an early name conceived by [[Jim Shooter]] when he wrote the original treatment for the Transformers backstory, at a time when the spaceship itself did not yet have a name. During hand-written re-writes of his treatment, Shooter replaced the name "Aunty" with "The Ark," which came to be treated as the name of the ship itself, with the apparent intent being to make the computer and ship synonymous with one another. Consequently, the inclusion of the outdated "Aunty" name in this issue appears to be in error; it would never be used in the US series again, but did reoccur in [[Raiders of the Last Ark|one early UK-original story]].

===Artwork and technical errors===
Hoo-boy.
[[File:Contentedfools.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5]]
*The iconic cover of this issue depicts Optimus Prime in a design that appears to have been based on a reference image in an early [[character model|model sheet]] that was offered on [[eBay]] in 2016<ref name="modelsheets">[http://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/93711-more-unseen-tftm-designs-plus-some-early-colors-and-some-show-design/?p=3191211 Early model sheets] at The Allspark.</ref>, which in turn is based on an early [[prototype]] or mock-up for his original toy's ''[[Diaclone]]'' predecessor depicted in an early ''Diaclone'' catalog.<ref name="diaclonecatalogs">[http://1501bc.com/pretf/diaclone_catalogs.html Diaclone catalog scans] at 1501bc.com.</ref>
*Page 1: The third sentence has an "its/it's" typo: "It's content was entirely--mechanical."
*Page 2: In his very first appearance, parts of Soundwave's backpack, arms and legs are colored red.
[[File:M01 tomaandi.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|Jazz experimented with [[electrum]] before [[The Golden Lagoon (episode)|it was cool]].]]
*Page 5: As he and Optimus Prime report to the Autobot Elders, Jazz is colored like Bumblebee. Additionally, he is drawn to be ''extremely'' toy-based, complete with Earthly car parts, right down to having the toy's conjoined uni-feet, and has two missile launchers instead of one.
[[File:Generic decepticons marvel 1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|...[[Nemesis Prime (G1)|Nemesis Prime]], is that you?]]
*Page 7:
**Panel 3: As the Decepticons first strike the Ark, Optimus Prime is colored almost entirely red.
**Panel 5: A blue-chested, red-legged Optimus Prime is among the invading Decepticons! In the same panel, Optimus himself is colored entirely red and is missing his chest windows. Prime's thought "Our firepower - no match" is missing its punctuation.
**None of the invading Decepticons resemble the ten Decepticons later shown to compose Megatron's crew.
*Page 8: Prowl is missing his door/wings, though one could retcon this as being his "Cybertronian" body.
*Page 12: The robots undergoing repair don't really correspond to any Transformer known to be present.
*Page 13: Soundwave converts to his tape player form and flies off with the jets! Or starts to, at least—he's not shown in the next panel as the Decepticons flee the volcano.
*In the giant two-page Autobot spread:
**Sideswipe seems to have a made-up or at least off-model head.
**Wheeljack's "ears" are kind of folded up against his head.
**Bluestreak is missing his door/wings and shoulder rockets.
**Gears is a strange alternate model bearing almost no resemblance to his toy or later design.
**Hound, Wheeljack, and Sideswipe are all missing their shoulder launchers.
**Trailbreaker is missing his force field projector.
**Due to the overhead perspective, Windcharger looks taller than Hound.
[[File:Gearsg1firstappearance.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|"Follow your dreams, you can reach your goals; I'm living proof. Beefcake. Beefcake!"]]
*Page 16:
**Panel 1: Bluestreak is colored like Prowl.
**Panel 1: Sideswipe is colored like Sunstreaker.
**Panel 1: Gears seems to have an entirely new, entirely different model.
**Panel 2: Bumblebee suddenly has the toy-based "backing plate" behind his head, whereas before he didn't.
**Panel 3: Not all of the silhouettes correspond to actual characters.
**Panel 4: Sunstreaker's "ears" are misshapen.
*Page 17:
**Panel 5: Sparkplug's "okay" is missing a period at the end.
**Panel 6: Sparkplug is meant to say "learnin'," to parallel the way he drops the g from the end of "readin'" in the first half of his sentence, but the word is written with the g... ''and'' the apostrophe meant to signify its absence.
*Page 19: When an Autobot asks Prowl "why would machines worship moving pictures of strange objects?", Prowl identifies the speaker as Bumblebee, but the art shows the speech bubble emanating from Brawn. It's not clear which is in error.
*Page 22: Starscream's entire cockpit cowling is colored as though it were a canopy.
*Page 23:
**Panel 2: When Ravage confronts him, Hound has ''two'' shoulder launchers.
**Panels 5-6: Soundwave is colored like Megatron as he attacks Prowl and Cliffjumper. His gun is missing its narrow tip, looking more like Megatron's fusion cannon, which is likely what caused the coloring error.
*Page 24: Cliffjumper's arms are colored white as Prowl orders the retreat.

===UK printing===
[[File:TheTransformers action transfers.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.5]]
'''Issue #1:'''
*'''Published:''' [[September 20|20th September]], 1984
*'''Backup strips:''' ''Machine Man'' ("Introducing Machine Man" & "Byte of the Binary Bug," Part 1)
*'''Free gift:''' "Action Transfers"; page 16 of the comic is a full-page pin-up of a street featuring Sparkplug's garage that the transfers can be stuck on to create action scenes ''(right)''
*'''Other features:''' Spot-the-difference contest to win a Jazz figure; pin-up of Prowl, Jazz, and Sideswipe, made using a screengrab from the original ''Transformers'' comic book animated commercial; "Robot Round-Up," a two-page text feature looking at modern advancements in robotics
*The letters printed in issue #1 of the UK comic were provided by pupils from Greycourt School (in Ham, near Richmond in South West London) who were visiting the Marvel UK offices. Their visit was written up in a magazine published at the school. The teacher who arranged the visit was Stephen Payne, former president of the [[Doctor Who]] Appreciation Society and soon to be publisher of Visual Imagination Magazines (Starburst & TV Zone).<ref>Extract from Greycourt school 1984 sci fi mag detailing visit to the Marvel UK comics offices that resulted in comments appearing in the letters page of Marvel UK Transformers #1 http://www.flickr.com/photos/48819633@N05/5297859701/</ref>
[[File:TheTransformers autobot introdump.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.5]]
'''Issue #2:'''
*'''Published:''' [[October 4|4th October]], 1984
*'''Backup strips:''' ''Machine Man'' ("Byte of the Binary Bug," Part 2)
*'''Free Gift:''' More "Action Transfers"
*'''Other features:''' "Design a Decepticon" contest to win a Decepticon jet figure; "Robot Round-Up"
*While the first issue was published in full-colour, this issue introudces the half-colour, half-black-and-white format the UK series will adhere to until [[Repeat Performance!|issue #27]]. Almost the entire ''Transformers'' strip is in black-and-white, with only the two pages of Buster returning home after school, and the Autobots departing on their survey mission, appearing in colour.
*The two-page spread of the Autobots introducing themselves ''(right)'' is omitted from the story, probably because the way the comic is laid out would have resulted in half of it being in black and white, and half in colour. New text captions added to the end of the preceding page and the start of the next to link them together. The spread ''is'' included in the issue, however, repurposed to become a full-colour pull-out poster, with the Transformers logo pasted over the two panels in the top-left corner (showing the Decepticons escapsing, and Prowl and Optimus watching them go). The spread would also be printed in this edited form in the [[Transformers Annual 1985|the 1985 annual]]. In a sense, this means the early UK continuity initially lacks an in-story list of the Autobots originally on Earth, making appearances by [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] in "[[The Enemy Within!]]" and [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] in "[[Decepticon Dam-Busters!]]" a ''weeeee'' bit easier to reconcile.

===Other trivia===
*This mini-series was printed on high-quality [[Mando paper]].
*On [[May 22]], the [http://groups.google.com/group/net.comics/msg/1cdaf7df610e0376?dmode=source&hl=en first Usenet post about Transformers] is posted by Ted Nolan to net.comics, regarding this issue. Capsule review? "Worst comic of the year."
**In 2018, [https://youtu.be/_AKb1Xw0ZbA?list=PLVlwyeBOK67ywYrd05wzdjcBoIl4XS4HS&t=1633 TFU.INFO interviewed Ted Nolan about the post].
*The cover price is 75 cents, which would be about $1.80 when adjusted for inflation to 2017 dollars. Comics as an industry are rather notorious for their price increases over and above standard inflation; today, a standard [[IDW Publishing]] ''Transformers'' comic costs $3.99.
*The cover corner box, a staple of Marvel's covers from the 1970s through the mid-1990s, features a [[character model]] of Optimus Prime. A new, more dramatic pose would debut with the first ongoing issue ([[The New Order|issue #5]]).
*The cover banner that promotes this issue as "#1 IN A FOUR ISSUE LIMITED SERIES" would be spoofed for the [[End of the Road! (US)|final issue of the series]] ("#80 IN A FOUR ISSUE LIMITED SERIES"), and again for the [[The War to End All Wars, Part 5|final issue]] of the modern-day sequel ''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One|Regeneration One]]'' ("#100 IN A FOUR ISSUE LIMITED SERIES").
* Other latter-day references to this issue include:
** A loving homage in IDW's ''Robots in Disguise'' [[Primus: All Good Things|2012 Annual]]
** Various parodies and homages to its distinctly surreal cover art including [[:File:TDOOP cvrRIA.jpg|an incentive cover]] of "[[Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime]]", [[:File:RG1_100_cvrB.jpg|Cover B]] of the [[The War to End All Wars, Part 5|final issue]] of ''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One|Regeneration One]]'', a convention exclusive cover for [[:File:TAAO1 cvrREB.jpg|''Till All Are One'' #1]], the "cover" for "[[The Inexorable March]]", and a retailer incentive cover [[:File:TFUnicron1 cvrRIC.jpg|to ''Unicron'' #1]].

===Covers (3)===
*'''US issue #1:''' gigantic Optimus Prime, tiny Starscream, Gears, Laserbeak and the Witwickys, by [[Bill Sienkiewicz]].
*'''UK issue #1:''' Soundwave and Buzzsaw kick Prime's ass, by [[Jerry Paris]].
*'''UK issue #2:''' the Autobots depart the Ark, by [[John Ridgway]]; inspired by the cover of ''{{w|Weird Science (comics)|Weird Science}}'' [[wikia:eccomics:Weird Science Vol 1 16|issue #16]] (November, 1952)
<gallery>
File:MarvelUS-01.jpg|'''US issue #1''' - First he will crush the planes, then he will crush the giant floating heads.
File:MarvelUK-001.jpg|'''UK issue #1''' - Is Soundwave on [[Ore-13|Ultra-Energon]]?
File:MarvelUK-002.jpg|'''UK issue #2''' - Is this girl '''that''' into her doll that she didn't see the [[Michael Bay|giant f*cking robots]]?
</gallery>

===Reprints===
<gallery>
File:Tfcolcom01.jpg|'''''[[Transformers Collected Comics|Collected Comics]]'' (UK) #1''' (Marvel UK, 1985)
File:TFUSCollectedComics1StoryBegins.jpg|'''''[[The Transformers: Collected Comics 1 - The Story Begins...|''Collected Comics'' (US) #1: The Story Begins...]]''' (Marvel US, 1985)
File:FederalSuperSpecial.jpg|'''''The Transformers: A Federal Super Special''''' (Federal Publishing Company, 1985)
File:Complete works 1 cover.jpg|'''[[The Transformers: The Complete Works Part 1|''The Transformers: The Complete Works'' Part 1]]''' (Marvel UK, 1986)
File:Die tf 01.jpg|'''[[Die Transformer issue 1|''Die Transformer'' #1]]''' (Condor Verlag, 1986)
File:Transformers Digest 01-cover.jpg|'''[[The Transformers Comics Magazine issue 1|''The Transformers Comics Magazine'' #1]]:''' (Marvel US, 1986)
File:Titan-BeginningsSC.jpg|'''[[Transformers: Beginnings (G1)|''Transformers: Beginnings'']] paperback''' (Titan Books, 2003)
File:Titan-BeginningsHC.jpg|'''[[Transformers: Beginnings (G1)|''Transformers: Beginnings'']] hardback''' (Titan Books, 2003)
File:MarvelUS-01-25years.jpg|Pack-in with [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Generation 1 Series|25th Anniversary Optimus Prime]] toy (Hasbro, 2009)
File:Classic Transformers Vol1.jpg|'''[[Classic Transformers Volume 1|''Classic Transformers'' Volume 1]]''' (IDW Publishing, 2008)
File:TFClassicsVol1.JPG|'''[[The Transformers Classics, Vol. 1|''The Transformers Classics'', Vol. 1]]''' (IDW Publishing, 2011)
File:TF 30thAnniversaryColl.jpg|'''''[[The Transformers 30th Anniversary Collection]]''''' (IDW Publishing, 2013)
File:TF1_100PennyPress.jpg|'''One Hundred Penny Press Edition''' (IDW Publishing, 2014)
File:ClassicComicCollection1.jpg|'''''Transformers: Classic Comic Collection, Vol. 1''''' (Chrirpy Bird, 2015)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v1.jpg|'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]], Vol. 1: Power Play''''' (Hachette Partworks Ltd, 2017)
File:HXClassicsVol1.jpg|'''''[[The Transformers Classics#Japanese reprints|The Transformers: Classics]], Vol. 1''''' ([[Hero-X]], 2018)
</gallery>
====Reprint notes====
*The UK ''Collected Comics'' #1 omits the double-page Autobot roll-call scene, as the original UK printing of the issue did (see [[#UK printing|UK printing]], above).
*''The Complete Works'' reinstates the Autobot roll-call spread, but replaces the two panels in the corner with a single exterior shot of the Ark, re-used from [[Crisis of Command!|UK issue #42]], drawn by [[Geoff Senior]]. Presumably, this had to be done because Marvel UK either damaged or lost the original panels after removing them to edit the page into a poster for their original printing of the issue (again, see [[#UK printing|UK printing]]).

====IDW ''Transformers Classics'' edits====
For ''[[The Transformers Classics]]'' series of trade paperbacks, IDW Publishing "remastered" the coloring of the series with varying degrees of success. These changes were sometimes to fix errors, but often to alter characters' color schemes to make them resemble their toy and/or cartoon selves, and were rarely applied with consistency. IDW's recolored version was also used for Hachette's ''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection|Definitive G1 Collection]]''.
*Soundwave is recolored blue throughout the issue, erasing his standard Marvel purple color scheme, as well as correcting the coloring errors on pages 2 and 23.
*Page 1, panel 5: The blue thighs of the generic red robot (second from the left) are recolored to also be red.
*Page 5: Prowl's colors are corrected as best they can be, changing him from incorrect yellow to white and blue.
*Page 7: Optimus's colors in panels 3 and 5 are largely corrected, though his pelvis remains blue.
*Page 15: Wheeljack is recolored to add a patch of green to his chest.
*Page 22, panel 4 and page 23, panel 1: For these two panels alone, Starscream is recolored into his finalized, predominantly white color scheme, as opposed to the early blue scheme he has in the rest of the issue.
*Page 23-24: For these two pages, Hound's legs are recolored from their standard Marvel solid blue to green with white thighs.

===Advertisements===
====US====
*''The Last Starfighter'' (Inside front cover)
*Free [[Spider-Man]] Comic from Fig Newtons - between pages 4 & 5
*Olympic Sales Club - between pages 5 & 6
*Mile High Comics (2-page spread) - between pages 13 & 14
*Block of various Sketchy Things (I.E. Charles Atlas) - between pages 16 & 17
*Helen of Toy mail-in military scenes - between pages 22 & 23
*Marvel bonus certificate
*''Muppets Take Manhattan'' storybook & record (Inside rear cover)
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' home console video arcade cassette (Rear cover)

====UK====
'''Issue #1'''
*The ''Transformers'' toyline, spotlighting the [[Autobot Cars]], Autobot [[Mini Vehicle]]s, [[Decepticon Planes]], and [[Mini-Cassette]]s.
*''Indiana Jones'' #1
*''The Savage Sword of Conan'' #85
*''The Best Pals Club''

'''Issue #2'''
*Mail-away "[[Autobot (G2)|Robot Watch]]" offer
*Weetabix cereal home computer competition
*Grandreams 1985 hardback annuals
*The ''Transformers'' toyline
*Mail-away [[Spider-Man]] watches offer

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Transformers (issue)}}
[[Category:Marvel US issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]
[[Category:Pack-in material]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]

Talk:Prime Time!

2014-03-25T21:59:37Z

Destron1: /* Error */

== Error ==

The jet that Shockwave smashed was a Blackrock jet, not a Decepticon. That line of Shockwaves about a hundred Decepticons is strange, but I doubt Budiansky intended to introduce a hundred Decepticons then changed his mind. Maybe Shockwave didn't know Rumble let the humans (including Buster) escape? He didn't seem to be listening to Rumble. - [[User:Starfield|Starfield]] 08:56, 26 February 2010 (EST)

Do anyone knows which Autobots were injured's and who remained operational this issue?

Injured on page 11:Prowl, Trailbreaker, Cliffjumper, Sideswipe
Injured on page 15: Brawn, ? (Red Autobot with his back to the reader), Ironhide, Sideswipe, Jazz, ? (Blue arm)

Functional on page 20: Sunstreaker, Ironhide
Functional on page 21: nine Autobots (3 are Ironhide, Hound and Sunstreaker)

Thanks in advance, 23:59, 25.3.14, Destron1

Talk:Rock and Roll-Out!

2014-03-25T21:41:33Z

Destron1:

== Identification needed ==

Can somebody identify the injured guy to the right of Hound? [[User:Interrobang|—Interrobang]] 16:23, 3 September 2011 (EDT)
:Cliffjumper. [[Special:Contributions/95.148.10.210|95.148.10.210]] 08:35, 21 October 2011 (EDT)
:Looks like the question mark'd character from the same panel is Bluestreak. Aside from the central pelvis piece being more of a rectangle than a trapezoid, it matches the animation model pretty closely, save the lack of doors. And arms. [[User:Aurax|aurax]] 09:51, 28 February 2012 (EST)

The injureds are (From top left to right): Hound, Cliffjumper, Prowl, Gears, Sideswipe, Jazz and Huffer), 23:40, 25.3.14, Destron1

Talk:The Autobots' Secret Weapon

2011-12-02T20:40:15Z

Destron1:

==Caption Contest==

This [http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Image:Autobots_secret_weapon_trojan_devastator.jpg image] has so many possibilities that I think we need a contest to decide what to use as a caption. --[[User:Tigerpaw28|Tigerpaw28]] 23:44, 10 November 2009 (EST)

Anyone knows if this book can be read/viewd online? I'm trying for a while to find it with no success? (Destron1, Israel, 2.12.11)

Talk:The Autobots' Secret Weapon

2011-12-02T20:39:25Z

Destron1:

Talk:The Bridge to Nowhere!

2011-11-15T09:09:48Z

Destron1:

The inker is surely longtime Marvel inker Vince Colletta - [[User:RolonBolon|RolonBolon]]

"Notably, the UK comic inserted an additional seven issues between US #16 and #17, wherein Soundwave and the cassettes served under Shockwave but manipulated events to bring him together with Megatron to resolve the Decepticon leadership issue. The dialogue in this story was edited in the UK reprint to reflect this".....

How was the dialogue changed? (Destron1,15.11.2011,Israel)

Talk:Repeat Performance!

2011-11-05T07:16:25Z

Destron1:

>> If Optimus Prime transferred the Creation Matrix to Buster in "The Worse of Two Evils," why is Shockwave able to begin the new lives (eventually to become the Constructicons) in this issue on page 13? Indeed, this is the first verifiable evidence we have that Shockwave has proven that Prime has (had) the Creation Matrix, as opposed to just suspects that he has it.

It's clarified in the strip "Wrath of Guardian" that when the Constructicons were created it used up the last vestiges of Matrix power that was in Prime's mind. {{unsigned|82.41.82.183|27 March 2006}}

Talk:Totaled!

2011-10-20T13:36:59Z

Destron1:

Totalled! (two 'L's) is the Marvel UK-reprinted name for this story. It was originally Totaled! (one 'L'). [[User:J'mie|J'mie]] 22:34, 24 April 2007 (UTC)

==absence of the Protectobots?==

From [[Child's Play (issue)]]: "Hot Spot chooses not to arrest Blaster, realizing that to do so would be to go against his own principles. The mode lock is instead attached to the Combaticon Blast Off, enabling Blaster to treat the children to a ride in space. No sooner do they achieve orbit than Blaster and the children find themselves fired upon. The Ark is spaceworthy once again, and Grimlock is using it to make sure Blaster is brought to justice! "

Doesn't this explain the abscence of the Protectobots better than that they were "disobeying orders"? They were still on Earth after the Ark was launched again, and from the text ot doesn't sound like there was time for the Ark to return to earth, pick them up, and then intercept Blaster before he had achieved orbit in Blast Off?

I would rewrite this section but I don't have either issue to hand, if someone can confirm this is the sequence of events I'll change that bit. [[Special:Contributions/80.176.139.71|80.176.139.71]] 12:42, 17 December 2009 (EST)

:Blaster's surrender to the Dinobots in space occurred in #36, ending that continuous sequence of events. Goldbug sent a message into space in #37, which was picked up by the Headmasters, who had to travel all the way from Nebulos to Earth, then Spike was rebuilt into a Headmaster, Goldbug was recovered and his body restored, they had adventures at the Decepticon island base and against the Pretenders, and several attempts to rebuild Optimus Prime's body had failed...by the start of this issue, #41. I think there was plenty of time during all those events for the Ark to send a shuttle down for the Protectobots. --[[User:Xaaron|Xaaron]] 12:55, 17 December 2009 (EST)

::Cool - I though that Goldbug's message and all that stuff happened more or less simultanesly. Guess I need to re-read the comics. Thanks for clarifying! [[Special:Contributions/80.176.139.71|80.176.139.71]] 13:03, 17 December 2009 (EST)

Can anyone help I.D. the UNKNOWN Transformers who stands behind Fort Max when he leaves the Steelhaven? (page 11)

I can I.D. To the left: Chromedome, Hardhead, Highbrow, Brainstorm, behind them are Waverider, Lightspeed, Hot Rod, Pointblank, Sureshot, UNKNOWN1, Grotusque, Doublecross, UNKNOWN2

To the right: Scattershot, Crosshairs, Blurr, Kup, Skyhigh, behind them are Nosecone, UNKNOWN3, Afterburner and behind them Repugnus walking down from the Steelhaven

+ there are at least 2 TF that are behind Fort Max and can't be identified

Missing TF that should be there: Strafe, Cloudburst (who appears on the cover), Outback and Broadside (who appear in the issue)

(Destron1, Israel, 20.10.2011)

Talk:Totaled!

2011-10-20T09:08:07Z

Destron1:

Talk:Totaled!

2011-10-20T09:06:53Z

Destron1:

Talk:Repeat Performance!

2011-07-17T21:56:31Z

Destron1:

Talk:The Last Stand

2011-05-14T08:55:48Z

Destron1:

==Alternate version==

Is that alternate ending available anyplace?

It showed up in a Collected Comics book that contained the first four issues, but that was 20 years ago and in a not-widely-sold format. A scan is online somewhere, gotta be. --[[User:ItsWalky|ItsWalky]] 16:19, 16 March 2006 (UTC)

*[http://tfarchive.com/comics/marvel/alternate.jpg]There you go. -hx
** Awesome. Thanks!

About that... has anyone ever speculated what that whole bit with the Dinobots (alluded to in issue #3, and specifically mentioned in issue #4) would have been like if there were no ongoing series? Were these elements always to be included? What would have come of them?--[[User:G.B. Blackrock|G.B. Blackrock]] 18:18, 16 March 2006 (UTC)

-I imagine that what would have happened with the Dinobots and Shockwave is... uh... Nothing. Being as the series would have been over. [[User:Hooper X|-hx]] 18:34, 16 March 2006 (UTC)

You miss the point. Why was it included? Continuing a series beyond the limited series was rather uncommon. Were they already thinking that the series would continue by the time issue #3 came out? Or might the comment Ratchet made in that issue have been originally intended to be something else? Is there an "alternate" set of pages to issue 4 (where our current version has the first details about the Dinobots) out there? Although we've not yet seen direct evidence of such, it seems that this is a likely possibility.--[[User:G.B. Blackrock|G.B. Blackrock]] 21:43, 16 March 2006 (UTC)

There is indeed an alternate part to US issue 4. To the end, at least. In at least one Australian and one UK printing I can think of, the story ends with the Autobots up and about with Optimus giving a speech. The Shockwave bit? Simply not there. --[[User:Ratbat|Ratbat]] 15:48, 17 March 2006 (AEDST)

Sorry, Ratbat, but that's not what I'm talking about. We already know this, and it's already on the main article for this issue. What I'm talking about are two scenes: one on page 8 of issue #3. At the bottom of the page, when Prime and the other Autobots return to the Ark, Ratchet tells Prime that he "discovered something in the computer's memory banks that [he] think[s Prime] should..." at which point Prime cuts him off. The next issue, on pages 10-11, Huffer fills Prime in on what "Ratchet had tried to tell [him] earlier," and recounts the Ark's memory banks in reference to Shockwave and the Dinobots. Page 12 has a couple of frames at the top of the page in reference to this, as well. Had this series been, as originally intended, only a "4 issue limited series," these references would have never been resolved. Is it reasonable to assume that they were always intended to appear this way, on the unlikely chance that the series would be picked up as an ongoing?--[[User:G.B. Blackrock|G.B. Blackrock]] 14:37, 17 March 2006 (UTC)

I think you're right, G.B. - the comics seem to have been written with nore than four issues in mind. But Ratbat has a point too - in the Australian Federal Comic Super Special those references to the Dinobots and Shockwave just aren't there. As someone who only had the Australian version until 1990 (when I finally found a copy of US #4) I was pleasantly surprised to find those Dinobot bits in there - I'd never seen them before.--[[User:58.106.146.170|58.106.146.170]] 07:35, 4 October 2007 (UTC)

:It's been years since I last saw the Complete Works edition but my recollection is that the Shockwave and Dinobots references ''are'' included in them. (The Collected Comics has the standard version, including the cliffhanger.) My best guess is that the original plan was to throw in a few more of the toys and a flashback was reckoned as the best way to show the Dinobots, hence the dialogue in issue 3, then by the time issue 4 was done they knew they were going further. (Alternatively given the length of time an individual issue takes from start to finish, that speech bubble may have been a late in the day addition before seeing print.) [[User:Timrollpickering|Timrollpickering]] 14:27, 3 September 2009 (EDT)

The appearance of at least Shockwave later in the miniseries/series was planned from issue 1, as Megatron mention that one of their (the Deceptions) mightiest is missing (Issue #1, page 13) - Destron1 - 11:38, 14.5.2011 (Israel)

==Cover Artist==
Marvel Age #23 credits Michael Golden with issue #4's cover, but Megatron clearly has TEXEIRA written on his back. Presuming that this signature is Mark Texeira's, I've contacted him to find out if he inked Golden's pencils or he did the cover entirely himself and Marvel Age reported wrong (as I think we determined Golden did do the covers to #2-#3). For now - since the Golden credit is from a secondary source - I've solely credited Texeira until I hear back from him. --[[User:Monzo|Monzo]] 12:42, 29 September 2007 (UTC)

== Offline Decepticons ==

I think we can allow that the Decepticons finished repairing all their warriors between the damage report scene and the attack on the Ark. Why would Megatron attack the Ark with only 5 guys? -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 17:41, 3 September 2009 (EDT)

:Over confidence and expectations that the Autobots are too low on fuel to offer much resistance? In issues #5 & #6 Skywarp, Soundwave, Frenzy and Rumble are shown as a distinctly separate group from the others, with a different set of injuries sustained, and these four recover first whilst the others take longer because of the fuel corosion. Also none of the four gets a name check in the battle when all the other intended fighters do. [[User:Timrollpickering|Timrollpickering]] 22:19, 3 September 2009 (EDT)

::Hrm, that's actually a pretty good point. It just goes against assumptions I've held for like 25 years, heh. I mean, Frenzy's right there on the cover. In any case, I kinda feel like we should note it collectively -- "these guys shouldn't be in the battle" -- rather than panel-by-panel. Maybe we should do the Autobots the same way. -- [[User:Repowers|Repowers]] 01:11, 4 September 2009 (EDT)

== MASH reference? ==

I noticed in that Sparkplug's flashback to the Korean war, his army buddy says they were heading to the 4067th MASH unit. The long-running TV show MASH was based around the 4077th unit. Does anyone think this might be a nod to the series (and if so, is it worth adding to the Items of Note?), or is it more likely to be just a coincidence? [[User:Shafau|Shafau]] 04:36, 11 February 2010 (EST)