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User:Some Dweeb/sandbox/Atlantic

2026-05-14T20:21:48Z

Some Dweeb:

'''Atlantic Förlags AB''' was a major comics publisher in Sweden, holding the license for [[Marvel Comics]] titles from 1978 to 1984.<ref>[https://seriewikin.serieframjandet.se/index.php/Atlantic_F%C3%B6rlags_AB Atlantic Förlags AB at Seriewikin]</ref>

Their Transformers output consisted of the equivalent of two American issues and a few [[The Transformers Universe (Marvel)|The Transformers Universe]] profiles per issue. Notably, this was the only Nordic publisher to reprint the US Marvel run in its entirety, along with reprinting some UK material due to catching up with the American edition. They printed a special issue, presumably to tie in with [[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|''Generation 2'']] in 1993 that reprinted four random issues of the original Marvel series. <ref>[https://seriewikin.serieframjandet.se/index.php/Transformers Transformers at Seriewikin]</ref> They also published ''The Transformers'' in Denmark and Norway for shorter periods of time, the latter after [[Schibsted|Bladkompaniet's]] run.

They were bought out by [[Egmont]] in 2000.

==Swedish==
This is a table for Atlantic Förlags AB's Swedish printing of [[Marvel Comics]]' ''[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|The Transformers]]''.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%" align="center"
! scope="col" style="width: 5px;" | Cover date
! scope="col" | Cover
! scope="col" | Contents
! scope="col" | Profiles
! scope="col" style="width: 200px;" | Release date
|-
|1/1987
|[[File:MarvelUS-01.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #1 "[[The Transformers (issue)|The Transformers]]" #2 "[[Power Play!]]" 
|Profiles: N/A
|[[January|??/01]]/[[1987]]
|-
|2/1987
|[[File:MarvelUS-03.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #3 "[[Prisoner of War!]]" #4 "[[The Last Stand]]" 
|Profiles: N/A
|[[March 12|12/03]]/1987
|-
|3/1987
|[[File:MarvelUS-06.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #5 "[[The New Order]]" #6 "[[The Worse of Two Evils!]]"
|Profiles: [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] [[Blades (G1)|Blades]]
|[[May 7|7/05]]/1987
|-
|4/1987
|[[File:MarvelUS-07.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #7 "[[Warrior School!]]" #8 "[[Repeat Performance!]]"
|Profiles:[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]<ref>Blitzwing and Bluestreak's bio texts were accidentally switched around.</ref>
|[[June 18|18/06]]/1987
|-
|5/1987
|[[File:MarvelUS-10.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #9 "[[DIS-Integrated Circuits!]]" #10 "[[The Next Best Thing to Being There!]]"
|Profiles: [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]
|[[August 6|06/08]]/1987
|-
|6/1987
|[[File:MarvelUS-12.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #11 "[[Brainstorm!]]" #12 "[[Prime Time!]]" 
|Profiles: [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]
|[[September 24|24/09]]/1987
|-
|7/1987
|[[File:TFUMarvel2-full.JPG|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #13 "[[Shooting Star!]]" #14 "[[Rock and Roll-Out!]]"
|Profiles:[[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]]
|[[November 26|26/11]]/1987
|-
|1/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-18.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #17 "[[The Smelting Pool!]]" #18 "[[The Bridge to Nowhere!]]" 
|Profiles: [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]]
|[[January 21|21/01]]/1988
|-
|2/1988
|[[File:TFTM1.jpg|100px]]
|''[[Transformers: The Movie (Marvel comic)|The Transformers: The Movie]]'' issues: #1 "[[The Planet-Eater!]]" #2 "[[Judgment Day!]]" #3 "[[The Final Battle!]]"
|Profiles: N/A
|[[February 19|19/02]]/1988
|-
|3/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-19.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #19 "[[Command Performances!]]" #20 "[[Showdown!]]"
|Profiles: [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] [[Superion (G1)|Superion]]
|[[March 17|17/03]]/1988
|-
|4/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-21.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #21 "[[Aerialbots over America!]] #22 "[[Heavy Traffic!]]"
|Profiles: [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]]
|[[April 14|14/04]]/1988
|-
|5/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-24.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #23 "[[Decepticon Graffiti!]]" #24 "[[Afterdeath!]]"
|Profiles: [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]]
|[[May 11|11/05]]/1988
|-
|6/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-27.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #25 "[[Gone but Not Forgotten!]]" #26 "[[Funeral for a Friend]]" #27 "[[King of the Hill!]]"
|Profiles: N/A
|[[June 9|09/06]]/1988
|-
|7/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-29.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #28 "[[Mechanical Difficulties!]]" #29 "[[Crater Critters]]"
|Profiles:[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] [[Gears (G1)|Gears]]
|[[July 7|07/06]]/1988
|-
|7 1/2 /1988
|[[File:MarvelHeadmasters-1.jpg|100px]]
|''[[The Transformers: Headmasters]]'' issues: #1 "[[Ring of Hate!]]" #2 "[[Broken Glass!]]" #3 "[[Love and Steel!]]" #4 "[[Brothers in Armor!!]]"
|Profiles: [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] [[Kranix (G1)|Kranix]] [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] Rodimus Prime
|[[July|08]]/1988
|-
|8/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-30.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #30 "[[The Cure!]]" #31 "[[Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom]]"
|Profiles:[[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] [[Groove (G1)|Groove]]
|[[August 11|11/08]]/1988
|-
|9/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-32.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #32 "[[Used Autobots]]" #35 "[[Child's Play (issue)|Child's Play]]"
|Profiles:[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]]
|[[September 8|08/09]]/1988
|-
|9 1/2 /1988
|[[File:JoeTF4.jpg|100px]]
|''[[G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]'' issues: #1 "[[Blood on the Tracks]]" #2 "[[Power Struggle]]" #3 [[Ashes, Ashes...]]" #4 "[[...All Fall Down!]]"
|Profiles: N/A
|09/1988
|-
|10/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-16.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #36 "[[Spacehikers]]" #37 "[[Toy Soldiers!]]"
|Profiles: [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]
|[[October 6|06/10]]/1988
|-
|11/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-38.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #38 "[[Trial by Fire!]]" #39 "[[The Desert Island of Space!]]"
|Profiles: [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]]
|[[November 3|03/11]]/1988
|-
|12/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-41.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #40 "[[Pretender to the Throne!]]" #41 "[[Totaled!]]"
|Profiles: [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]
|[[December 1|01/12]]/1988
|-
|1/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-42.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #42 "[[People Power!]]" #43 "[[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006]]"
|Profiles: [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] [[Octane]]
|[[January 12|12/01]]/[[1989]]
|-
|2/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-44.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #44 "[[The Cosmic Carnival]]" #45 "[[Monstercon from Mars!]]"
|Profiles: [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] [[Outback (G1)|Outback]] [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]
|[[February 9|9/02]]/1989
|-
|3/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-15.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #15 "[[I, Robot-Master!]]" #16 "[[Plight of the Bumblebee!]]"
|Profiles: [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] [[Eject (G1)|Eject]] [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]]<ref>The mention of Bumblebee in Huffer's profile was changed to Goldbug.</ref> [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]
|[[March 16|16/03]]/1989
|-
|4/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-47.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #46 "[[Ca$h and Car-nage!]]" #47 "[[Club Con!]]"
|Profiles: [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]] [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]
|[[April 13|13/04]]/1989
|-
|5/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-49.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #48 "[[The Flames of Boltax!]]" #49 "[[Cold War!]]" UK #145 "[[Kup's Story!]]"
|Profiles: [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]]
|[[May 11|11/05]]/1989
|-
|6/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-50.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #50 "[[Dark Star]]" UK #188 "[[Firebug!]]"
|Profiles: N/A
|[[June 8|08/06]]/1989
|-
|7/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-52.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: UK #96-97 "[[Prey!]]" UK #98 "[[...The Harder They Die!]]" UK #99 "[[Under Fire!]] UK #125 & [[Action Force (comic)|Action Force]] #24-27 "[[Ancient Relics!]]
|Profiles: N/A
|[[July 6|06/07]]/1989
|-
|8/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-51.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #51 "[[The Man in the Machine!]]" #52 "[[Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?]]"
|Profiles: [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]
|[[August 17|17/08]]/1989
|-
|9/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-53.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #53 "[[Recipe for Disaster!]]" #54 "[[King Con!]]"
|Profiles: [[Apeface|Apeface]] [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] [[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]]
|[[September 14|14/09]]/1989
|-
|10/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-55.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #56 "[[The Interplanetary Wrestling Championship!]]" #57 "[[Back from the Dead]]"
|Profiles: [[Headstrong (G1)|Headstrong]] [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hotspot]] [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]]
|[[October 12|12/10]]/1989
|-
|11/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-33.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: UK #9-12/US #33-34 "[[Man of Iron (issue)|Man of Rion]]"
|Profiles: [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] [[Sludge (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Sludge]] [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]]
|[[November 9|9/11]]/1989
|-
|12/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-57.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #57 "[[The Resurrection Gambit!]]" #58 "[[All the Familiar Faces!]]" #59 "[[Skin Deep]]"
|Profiles: N/A
|[[December 7|7/12]]/1989
|-
|1/1990
|[[File:MarvelUS-60.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: US #60 "[[Yesterday's Heroes!]]" UK #145 "[[Stargazing]]" US #61 "[[The Primal Scream]]"
|Profiles: [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]]
|[[February 22|22/02]]/[[1990]]
|-
|2/1990
|[[File:MarvelUS-61.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: UK #146-149 "[[The Legacy of Unicron!]]" parts 1-4
|Profiles: [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]
|[[April 19|19/04]]/1990
|-
|3/1990
|[[File:MarvelUS-62.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: UK #150-151 "[[The Legacy of Unicron!]]" parts 5-6 US #62 "[[Bird of Prey!]]"
|Profiles: [[Hosehead (G1)|Hosehead]] [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] [[Siren (G1)|Siren]] [[Backstreet (G1)|Backstreet]] [[Battletrap (G1)|Battletrap]] [[Goldbug (G1)|Goldbug]] [[Blot (G1)|Blot]] [[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]]
|[[June 14|14/06]]/1990
|-
|4/1990
|[[File:MarvelUS-63.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #63 "[[Kings of the Wild Frontier.]]" US #64 "[[Deadly Obsession]]"
|Profiles: [[Dogfight (G1)|Dogfight]] [[Override (G1)|Override]] [[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]] [[Rollbar (G1)|Rollbar]] [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] [[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcace]] [[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]]
|[[August 9|09/08]]/1990
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

User:Some Dweeb/sandbox/Atlantic

2026-05-14T20:15:24Z

Some Dweeb:

Atlantic Förlags AB was a major comics publisher in Sweden, holding the license for [[Marvel Comics]] titles from 1978 to 1984.<ref>https://seriewikin.serieframjandet.se/index.php/Atlantic_F%C3%B6rlags_AB</ref>

Their Transformers output consisted of the equivalent of two American issues and a few [[The Transformers Universe (Marvel)|The Transformers Universe]] profiles per issue. Notably, this was the only Nordic publisher to reprint the US Marvel run in its entirety, along with reprinting some UK material due to catching up with the American edition. They printed a special issue, presumably to tie in with [[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|''Generation 2'']] in 1993 that reprinted four random issues of the original Marvel series. <ref>https://seriewikin.serieframjandet.se/index.php/Transformers</ref> They also published ''The Transformers'' in Denmark and Norway for shorter periods of time, the latter after Bladkompaniet's run.

They were bought out by Egmont in 2000.

==Swedish==
This is a table for Atlantic Förlags AB's Swedish printing of [[Marvel Comics]]' ''[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|The Transformers]]''.
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%" align="center"
! scope="col" style="width: 5px;" | Cover date
! scope="col" | Cover
! scope="col" | Contents
! scope="col" | Profiles
! scope="col" style="width: 200px;" | Release date
|-
|1/1987
|[[File:MarvelUS-01.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #1 "[[The Transformers (issue)|The Transformers]]" #2 "[[Power Play!]]" 
|Profiles: N/A
|[[January|??/01]]/[[1987]]
|-
|2/1987
|[[File:MarvelUS-03.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #3 "[[Prisoner of War!]]" #4 "[[The Last Stand]]" 
|Profiles: N/A
|[[March 12|12/03]]/1987
|-
|3/1987
|[[File:MarvelUS-06.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #5 "[[The New Order]]" #6 "[[The Worse of Two Evils!]]"
|Profiles: [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] [[Blades (G1)|Blades]]
|[[May 7|7/05]]/1987
|-
|4/1987
|[[File:MarvelUS-07.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #7 "[[Warrior School!]]" #8 "[[Repeat Performance!]]"
|Profiles:[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]<ref>Blitzwing and Bluestreak's bio texts were accidentally switched around.</ref>
|[[June 18|18/06]]/1987
|-
|5/1987
|[[File:MarvelUS-10.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #9 "[[DIS-Integrated Circuits!]]" #10 "[[The Next Best Thing to Being There!]]"
|Profiles: [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]
|[[August 6|06/08]]/1987
|-
|6/1987
|[[File:MarvelUS-12.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #11 "[[Brainstorm!]]" #12 "[[Prime Time!]]" 
|Profiles: [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]
|[[September 24|24/09]]/1987
|-
|7/1987
|[[File:TFUMarvel2-full.JPG|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #13 "[[Shooting Star!]]" #14 "[[Rock and Roll-Out!]]"
|Profiles:[[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]]
|[[November 26|26/11]]/1987
|-
|1/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-18.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #17 "[[The Smelting Pool!]]" #18 "[[The Bridge to Nowhere!]]" 
|Profiles: [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]]
|[[January 21|21/01]]/1988
|-
|2/1988
|[[File:TFTM1.jpg|100px]]
|''[[Transformers: The Movie (Marvel comic)|The Transformers: The Movie]]'' issues: #1 "[[The Planet-Eater!]]" #2 "[[Judgment Day!]]" #3 "[[The Final Battle!]]"
|Profiles: N/A
|[[February 19|19/02]]/1988
|-
|3/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-19.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #19 "[[Command Performances!]]" #20 "[[Showdown!]]"
|Profiles: [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] [[Superion (G1)|Superion]]
|[[March 17|17/03]]/1988
|-
|4/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-21.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #21 "[[Aerialbots over America!]] #22 "[[Heavy Traffic!]]"
|Profiles: [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]]
|[[April 14|14/04]]/1988
|-
|5/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-24.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #23 "[[Decepticon Graffiti!]]" #24 "[[Afterdeath!]]"
|Profiles: [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]]
|[[May 11|11/05]]/1988
|-
|6/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-27.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #25 "[[Gone but Not Forgotten!]]" #26 "[[Funeral for a Friend]]" #27 "[[King of the Hill!]]"
|Profiles: N/A
|[[June 9|09/06]]/1988
|-
|7/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-29.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #28 "[[Mechanical Difficulties!]]" #29 "[[Crater Critters]]"
|Profiles:[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] [[Gears (G1)|Gears]]
|[[July 7|07/06]]/1988
|-
|7 1/2 /1988
|[[File:MarvelHeadmasters-1.jpg|100px]]
|''[[The Transformers: Headmasters]]'' issues: #1 "[[Ring of Hate!]]" #2 "[[Broken Glass!]]" #3 "[[Love and Steel!]]" #4 "[[Brothers in Armor!!]]"
|Profiles: [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] [[Kranix (G1)|Kranix]] [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] Rodimus Prime
|[[July|08]]/1988
|-
|8/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-30.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #30 "[[The Cure!]]" #31 "[[Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom]]"
|Profiles:[[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] [[Groove (G1)|Groove]]
|[[August 11|11/08]]/1988
|-
|9/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-32.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #32 "[[Used Autobots]]" #35 "[[Child's Play (issue)|Child's Play]]"
|Profiles:[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]]
|[[September 8|08/09]]/1988
|-
|9 1/2 /1988
|[[File:JoeTF4.jpg|100px]]
|''[[G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]'' issues: #1 "[[Blood on the Tracks]]" #2 "[[Power Struggle]]" #3 [[Ashes, Ashes...]]" #4 "[[...All Fall Down!]]"
|Profiles: N/A
|09/1988
|-
|10/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-16.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #36 "[[Spacehikers]]" #37 "[[Toy Soldiers!]]"
|Profiles: [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]
|[[October 6|06/10]]/1988
|-
|11/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-38.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #38 "[[Trial by Fire!]]" #39 "[[The Desert Island of Space!]]"
|Profiles: [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]]
|[[November 3|03/11]]/1988
|-
|12/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-41.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #40 "[[Pretender to the Throne!]]" #41 "[[Totaled!]]"
|Profiles: [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]
|[[December 1|01/12]]/1988
|-
|1/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-42.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #42 "[[People Power!]]" #43 "[[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006]]"
|Profiles: [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] [[Octane]]
|[[January 12|12/01]]/[[1989]]
|-
|2/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-44.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #44 "[[The Cosmic Carnival]]" #45 "[[Monstercon from Mars!]]"
|Profiles: [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] [[Outback (G1)|Outback]] [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]
|[[February 9|9/02]]/1989
|-
|3/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-15.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #15 "[[I, Robot-Master!]]" #16 "[[Plight of the Bumblebee!]]"
|Profiles: [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] [[Eject (G1)|Eject]] [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]]<ref>The mention of Bumblebee in Huffer's profile was changed to Goldbug.</ref> [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]
|[[March 16|16/03]]/1989
|-
|4/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-47.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #46 "[[Ca$h and Car-nage!]]" #47 "[[Club Con!]]"
|Profiles: [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]] [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]
|[[April 13|13/04]]/1989
|-
|5/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-49.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #48 "[[The Flames of Boltax!]]" #49 "[[Cold War!]]" UK #145 "[[Kup's Story!]]"
|Profiles: [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]]
|[[May 11|11/05]]/1989
|-
|6/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-50.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #50 "[[Dark Star]]" UK #188 "[[Firebug!]]"
|Profiles: N/A
|[[June 8|08/06]]/1989
|-
|7/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-52.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: UK #96-97 "[[Prey!]]" UK #98 "[[...The Harder They Die!]]" UK #99 "[[Under Fire!]] UK #125 & [[Action Force (comic)|Action Force]] #24-27 "[[Ancient Relics!]]
|Profiles: N/A
|[[July 6|06/07]]/1989
|-
|8/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-51.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #51 "[[The Man in the Machine!]]" #52 "[[Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?]]"
|Profiles: [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]
|[[August 17|17/08]]/1989
|-
|9/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-53.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #53 "[[Recipe for Disaster!]]" #54 "[[King Con!]]"
|Profiles: [[Apeface|Apeface]] [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] [[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]]
|[[September 14|14/09]]/1989
|-
|10/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-55.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #56 "[[The Interplanetary Wrestling Championship!]]" #57 "[[Back from the Dead]]"
|Profiles: [[Headstrong (G1)|Headstrong]] [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hotspot]] [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]]
|[[October 12|12/10]]/1989
|-
|11/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-33.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: UK #9-12/US #33-34 "[[Man of Iron (issue)|Man of Rion]]"
|Profiles: [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] [[Sludge (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Sludge]] [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]]
|[[November 9|9/11]]/1989
|-
|12/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-57.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #57 "[[The Resurrection Gambit!]]" #58 "[[All the Familiar Faces!]]" #59 "[[Skin Deep]]"
|Profiles: N/A
|[[December 7|7/12]]/1989
|-
|1/1990
|[[File:MarvelUS-60.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: US #60 "[[Yesterday's Heroes!]]" UK #145 "[[Stargazing]]" US #61 "[[The Primal Scream]]"
|Profiles: [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]]
|[[February 22|22/02]]/[[1990]]
|-
|2/1990
|[[File:MarvelUS-61.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: UK #146-149 "[[The Legacy of Unicron!]]" parts 1-4
|Profiles: [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]
|[[April 19|19/04]]/1990
|-
|3/1990
|[[File:MarvelUS-62.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: UK #150-151 "[[The Legacy of Unicron!]]" parts 5-6 US #62 "[[Bird of Prey!]]"
|Profiles: [[Hosehead (G1)|Hosehead]] [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] [[Siren (G1)|Siren]] [[Backstreet (G1)|Backstreet]] [[Battletrap (G1)|Battletrap]] [[Goldbug (G1)|Goldbug]] [[Blot (G1)|Blot]] [[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]]
|[[June 14|14/06]]/1990
|-
|4/1990
|[[File:MarvelUS-63.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #63 "[[Kings of the Wild Frontier.]]" US #64 "[[Deadly Obsession]]"
|Profiles: [[Dogfight (G1)|Dogfight]] [[Override (G1)|Override]] [[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]] [[Rollbar (G1)|Rollbar]] [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] [[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcace]] [[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]]
|[[August 9|09/08]]/1990
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

User:Some Dweeb/sandbox/European Marvel G1 Publishers

2026-05-14T20:08:58Z

Some Dweeb:

====Atlantic (1987-1991, 1993)====
Atlantic Förlags AB was a major comics publisher in Sweden, holding the license for [[Marvel Comics]] titles from 1978 to 1984.<ref>https://seriewikin.serieframjandet.se/index.php/Atlantic_F%C3%B6rlags_AB</ref>

Their Transformers output consisted of the equivalent of two American issues and a few [[The Transformers Universe (Marvel)|The Transformers Universe]] profiles per issue. Notably, this was the only Nordic publisher to reprint the US Marvel run in its entirety, along with reprinting some UK material due to catching up with the American edition. They printed a special issue, presumably to tie in with [[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|''Generation 2'']] in 1993 that reprinted four random issues of the original Marvel series. <ref>https://seriewikin.serieframjandet.se/index.php/Transformers</ref> They also published ''The Transformers'' in Denmark and Norway for shorter periods of time, the latter after Bladkompaniet's run.

They were bought out by Egmont in 2000.
====Semic (1987-1991)====
Semic was a major Swedish comic publisher, notable for publishing the Phantom, along with translations of both Marvel and [[DC Comics|DC]] before its Scandinavian comics publishing arm was sold to Egmont in 1997. Its Polish arm, TM-Semic, published isues #26-75 of Marvel's series in Finland and Poland.<ref>https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformers#Semic</ref><ref>https://seriewikin.serieframjandet.se/index.php/TM-Semic</ref>

Its imprint for American Superhero comics, Satellitförlaget, also published a translated version of [[Action Force (comic)|Action Force]].<ref>https://seriewikin.serieframjandet.se/index.php/Semic</ref>

====Schibsted (2003)====
Schibsted is a Norwegian media company that has published comic books, including those based on ''Transformers'', as well as publisher of Marvel titles (Read: [[Spider-Man]] and [[X-Men]]) in the Swedish market until 2010 and its remaining titles were continued or cancelled by Egmont.<ref>https://seriewikin.serieframjandet.se/index.php/Schibsted_F%C3%B6rlagen</ref>

Bladkompaniet, a Norwegian comics publisher purchased by Schibsted in 1999, was the second publisher of Marvel's ''The Transformers'' in Norwegian, after [[Gevion]] as well as the publisher of Dreamwave's ''Transformers: Armada'' series in Norwegian.

Swedish manga publisher Full Stop Media, which was purchased by Schibsted in 2006, put out a Swedish translation of [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave's]] ''[[Transformers: Armada (Dreamwave)|Transformers: Armada]]'' series, also featuring their [[Prime Directive]] and half of the [[Transformers: The War Within|War Within]] miniseries.

==References==
{{reflist}}

File:Breakdancing Optimus Prime.jpg

2026-05-14T19:51:34Z

Some Dweeb:

[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] gets down with his bad self. {{screencap|source=a Norwegian promo for the [[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|''Transformers: Cybertron'' cartoon]]}}

The Transformers (Marvel comic)

2026-05-13T10:06:04Z

Some Dweeb:

{{disambig2|the Marvel Comics series|other uses of ''The Transformers''|Transformers (disambiguation)}}
{{nav-G1|logo=MarvelTheTransformers Logo1.png}}

[[File:MarvelUS-01.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|The heroic Autobots fight to crush Earth's highways. [[Leonard McCoy|Doctor McCoy]] is very happy.]]
'''''The Transformers''''', the monthly comic book published in the U.S. by [[Marvel Comics]], was the very first original fiction to feature the famous robots in disguise, as well as the longest-running. It started life as [[The Transformers Four-Issue Limited Series|a four-issue, bimonthly limited series]] in 1984, but proved so popular that it continued publication as an ongoing monthly until spring of 1991. The series ultimately reached 80 issues and spun off several miniseries.

The series established the [[Marvel Comics continuity]], which would form the basis for several successor stories over the years. Marvel would publish the [[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|''Generation 2'' series]] only two years later, and [[IDW Publishing]] would later reunite several Marvel creatives for both [[The Transformers: Regeneration One|''Regeneration One'']], a continuation of the original Marvel comic, and the'' [[Transformers '84: Secrets & Lies|Transformers '84]]'' prequel miniseries.

Nearly all of the U.S. stories were later published by Marvel UK, along with new stories that fit between the gaps of the U.S. tales. See [[#Marvel UK|Marvel UK]] below.

{{bigquote|Four million years ago, they came from '''Cybertron''', a world composed entirely of machinery... a world torn by an age-old war between the heroic '''Autobots''' and the evil '''Decepticons'''. These incredibly powerful living robots, capable of converting themselves into land and air vehicles, weapons and other mechanical forms, continue their conflict here on '''Earth'''. They are...'''THE TRANSFORMERS'''|Marvel US introductory blurb}}

==Marvel U.S.==
{{chapters|title=''The Transformers'' US issues:|content=
* [[The Transformers (issue)|#1]]
* [[Power Play!|#2]]
* [[Prisoner of War!|#3]]
* [[The Last Stand|#4]]
* [[The New Order|#5]]
* [[The Worse of Two Evils!|#6]]
* [[Warrior School!|#7]]
* [[Repeat Performance!|#8]]
* [[DIS-Integrated Circuits!|#9]]
* [[The Next Best Thing to Being There!|#10]]
* [[Brainstorm!|#11]]
* [[Prime Time!|#12]]
* [[Shooting Star!|#13]]
* [[Rock and Roll-Out!|#14]]
* [[I, Robot-Master!|#15]]
* [[Plight of the Bumblebee!|#16]]
* [[The Smelting Pool!|#17]]
* [[The Bridge to Nowhere!|#18]]
* [[Command Performances!|#19]]
* [[Showdown!|#20]]
* [[Aerialbots over America!|#21]]
* [[Heavy Traffic!|#22]]
* [[Decepticon Graffiti!|#23]]
* [[Afterdeath!|#24]]
* [[Gone but Not Forgotten!|#25]]
* [[Funeral for a Friend!|#26]]
* [[King of the Hill!|#27]]
* [[Mechanical Difficulties!|#28]]
* [[Crater Critters|#29]]
* [[The Cure!|#30]]
* [[Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom|#31]]
* [[Used Autobots|#32]]
* [[Man of Iron (issue)|#33]]
* [[Man of Iron (issue)|#34]]
* [[Child's Play (issue)|#35]]
* [[Spacehikers!|#36]]
* [[Toy Soldiers!|#37]]
* [[Trial by Fire!|#38]]
* [[The Desert Island of Space!|#39]]
* [[Pretender to the Throne!|#40]]
* [[Totaled!|#41]]
* [[People Power!|#42]]
* [[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|#43]]
* [[The Cosmic Carnival|#44]]
* [[Monstercon from Mars!|#45]]
* [[Ca$h and Car-nage!|#46]]
* [[Club Con!|#47]]
* [[The Flames of Boltax!|#48]]
* [[Cold War!|#49]]
* [[Dark Star|#50]]
* [[The Man in the Machine!|#51]]
* [[Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?|#52]]
* [[Recipe for Disaster!|#53]]
* [[King Con!|#54]]
* [[The Interplanetary Wrestling Championship!|#55]]
* [[Back from the Dead|#56]]
* [[The Resurrection Gambit!|#57]]
* [[All the Familiar Faces!|#58]]
* [[Skin Deep|#59]]
* [[Yesterday's Heroes!|#60]]
* [[The Primal Scream|#61]]
* [[Bird of Prey!|#62]]
* [[Kings of the Wild Frontier.|#63]]
* [[Deadly Obsession|#64]]
* [[Dark Creation|#65]]
* [[All Fall Down|#66]]
* [[Rhythms of Darkness!|#67]]
* [[The Human Factor!|#68]]
* [[Eye of the Storm|#69]]
* [[The Pri¢e of Life!|#70]]
* [[Surrender!|#71]]
* [[...All This and Civil War 2|#72]]
* [[Out of Time!|#73]]
* [[The Void! (US)|#74]]
* [[On the Edge of Extinction!|#75]]
* [[Still Life!|#76]]
* [[Exodus!|#77]]
* [[A Savage Circle|#78]]
* [[The Last Autobot?|#79]]
* [[End of the Road! (US)|#80]]
}}

===Related mini-series===
* ''[[G.I. Joe and the Transformers (comic)|G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]''
* ''[[The Transformers: Headmasters]]''
* ''[[The Transformers Universe (Marvel)|The Transformers Universe]]''
* ''[[Transformers: The Movie (Marvel comic)|Transformers: The Movie]]'' (Though published by Marvel in the US and UK, is only related in the UK canon)

===Successor comics===
The different publishers' series are all mutually exclusive, effectively representing different branched timelines. The Collectors' Club and IDW efforts explicitly ignore the events of Marvel UK stories, although the latter takes copious characters and concepts from both the UK and ''Generation 2'' material.

* ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
* ''[[Transformers: Classics]]'' ([[Transformers Collectors' Club]])
* ''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One]]'', [[Transformers '84 issue 0|''Transformers '84'' #0]], and ''[[Transformers '84: Secrets & Lies|Secrets & Lies]]'' ([[IDW Publishing]])

===Overview===
[[File:MarvelUS01-AutobotLineup.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|After watching traffic reports for an hour, they finally decided to just stay home.]]
The story begins with a brief history of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and its [[Great War (G1)|civil war]], which eventually causes the planet to become lost in space. Battling aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], the original 28 characters crash-land on [[Earth]] four million years ago and awaken in the (then-) present day of 1984. The quest for [[Transformer fuel|fuel]] becomes their initial goal, driving the first several issues.

As the first fiction in the entire [[The Transformers (franchise)|franchise]], the initial issues of ''Transformers'' were breaking completely new ground. Early issues contain a variety of plot points and conventions, some of which would go on to shape the very mythos... and others that would fall by the wayside, forgotten and hilariously quaint. The concept of the life-giving [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]] is a good example of the former group; "[[Atechnogenesis|naturally occurring gears, levers and pulleys]]" comes to mind for the latter.

[[File:Newyorkunderbase.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|With a single wave of Starscream's hand, Hound, Bluestreak, Mirage, Hoist, Brawn, and Gears cease to occupy valuable page space!]]
The book soon built its own elaborate and wide-reaching universe, including hundreds of characters—[[Transformer]]s, [[human]]s, [[alien]]s—on Earth, Cybertron, and beyond. Late in the series, a long-running plot brought in the sinister menace of [[Unicron]], giving him a backstory and build-up that for many fans surpassed his original appearance in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' for storytelling and gravitas. This backstory would eventually go on to eclipse the origin given in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|cartoon]].

Because it was a book intended [[to sell toys]], ''Transformers'' featured an ever-rotating cast. New Transformers were often hastily brought in to meet the demands of [[Hasbro]], and older "product" was often swept aside or killed off ''en masse'' in [[Dark Star|epic, climactic battles]].

After some troubled times and steadily declining readership, the series was finally canceled at issue #80. A combination of factors was likely responsible: the Transformers toyline had become yesterday's fad, the core readership had grown older and moved on, and Hasbro seems to have pulled the plug.

Several subsequent series would build upon the series; see [[Marvel Comics continuity]] for more information.

===Creative team===
[[File:Bob_Budiansky_and_Simon_Furman.jpg|left|upright=1.40|thumb|Today, Bob and Simon live together in a big house like the ''Bananas in Pyjamas''.]]
The book featured two primary writers: [[Bob Budiansky]] edited [[The Transformers Four-Issue Limited Series|the original 4-part limited series]] and wrote the book from issue #5 to issue #55. After that, [[Simon Furman]], already heavily experienced from his work on the UK book, took up the reins until the book was cancelled at issue #80. Other writers balked at having to keep track of this massive, unfamiliar cast, which is the reason the original miniseries has three writers and is an admitted mess.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090728191104/http://rustingcarcass.yuku.com/topic/954/t/Bob-Budiansky.html Interview at Rusting Carcass]</ref>

''Transformers'' is a bit notorious for wild swings in writing quality, as serious plots alternated with such strange concepts as [[The Interplanetary Wrestling Championship!|Micromaster wrestling]] and [[Ca$h and Car-nage!|ridiculous bounty hunters]]. Some of this may be attributed to Bob Budiansky's eventual burn-out; after years of having to wrap his stories around to meet the latest toy-appearance demands from Hasbro, his later writing on the book showed a decline in quality. He is sometimes remembered unfavourably because of this period, perhaps unfairly so considering his fundamental role in shaping the Transformers universe and most of its characters, as well as some of the book's [[Warrior School!|most gripping early stories]]. Still, even such oddball stories as "[[Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom]]" and "[[Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?]]" have both their merits and their fans.

Budiansky himself proposed that Simon Furman take over as the U.S. series writer.<ref name="steveo otfcc2004">[http://www.camphortree.net/tf/tidbits/otfcc2004.txt Steve-o's OTFCC 2004 notes]</ref> With the changeover, the stories took on a more serious tone, relying on character conflict more than outlandish plot devices. Many fans regard Furman's run on the original book as one of the high points of all Transformers fiction.

The comic was written in "Marvel Style", where the writer gives the artist a plot outline instead of a full script. The artist then lays out the pages himself; afterward the writer comes back in and scripts the dialog based on the artist's work. This approach gives the artist a larger role in telling the story than simply drawing what the writer tells them to.<ref name="steveo otfcc2004" />

A number of artists worked on ''Transformers'', but the most frequent pencilers included [[Frank Springer]], [[Don Perlin]], [[José Delbo]], [[Geoff Senior]], and [[Andrew Wildman]]. Also of particular note is colorist [[Nelson Yomtov|Nelson "Nel" Yomtov]], who colored every single issue of the book, as well as all of the related mini-series.
{{--}}

===Publication and format===
As ''The Transformers'' title began life as a limited series, it was subject to the conventions Marvel had established for limited series at the time of its publication. "Standard" Marvel comics released concurrently in 1984 cost 60 cents and were printed on newsprint; in contrast, ''The Transformers'' sold for 75 cents and was printed on a whiter, higher-quality stock (for the time) known as "[[Mando paper]]".

Evidently considered a "deluxe format" book by Marvel, ''Transformers'' continued to be printed on Mando paper even after it became an ongoing series.<ref>''Marvel Age'' #23, November 1984</ref> It also remained at 75 cents—at least until [[King of the Hill!|issue 28]], when the price of the book rose to 1 dollar. With the exception of the double-sized [[Dark Star|issue 50]] and [[On the Edge of Extinction!|issue 75]], which were both priced at $1.50, ''The Transformers'' would remain at 1 dollar for the remainder of its original run.

===Cover dates===
The dates printed on the covers of ''The Transformers'' are not the months in which the issues were actually released. When the comic began in 1984, all Marvel comics had cover dates that were typically four months ''ahead'' of their release date. This was partially a holdover from the days of fiercer newsstand competition when each company tried to make its comics look newer than its rivals and partially a mechanism to compensate for slower distribution on newsstands and overseas sales. In effect, the cover date served as the "off-sale" date, at which point newsstand vendors could return any unsold copies to Marvel for credit. As such, although [[The Transformers (issue)|issue #1]] is cover dated September, it was actually released in May.

However, determining precisely ''what date'' in May requires explaining another bit of comics history. In the years leading up to the release of ''The Transformers'', comic book speciality shops had really begun to take off. This led to the emergence of the "direct market"—a new sales avenue by which comics publishers sold their products "directly" to these stores through dedicated comics distributors, instead of the traditional periodical distributors who serviced newsstands, grocery stories, conveniences stories, and many other forms of retail. The books shipped from Marvel to both direct and traditional distributors at the same time; thus, while it took the traditional distributors extra time to then ship out the comics to their very large base of clients, direct distributors could get them to their smaller base of comic stores much faster. The stores could then put them on sale as soon as they got them, which could be days or even ''weeks'' before the issues could be expected to appear on newsstands (with the trade-off being that, unlike newsstands, comics stores couldn't return unsold copies). As such, there's no "hard date" for the release of any given issue of ''The Transformers''; Marvel's promotional magazine ''Marvel Age'' provided both "shipping dates" (when Marvel dispatched the books) and "on-sale dates" (when the books would reach newsstands) for all its titles, thus we have these dates to serve as the "window" during which each issue would first appear in comic stores, and have included them on our individual articles of each issue of the series, up to issue #73, at which point ''Marvel Age'' stopped printing them. For instance, issue #1 "shipped" on [[May 8]], 1984, and went "on-sale" on newsstands on [[May 29]], but was available at comic stores sometime between these days—as evidenced by the fact that the first Usenet post about the series, a review of the first issue by Ted Nolan, was posted to net.comics on [[May 22]].<ref>Ted Nolan, "[http://groups.google.com/group/net.comics/msg/1cdaf7df610e0376?dmode=source&hl=en Year's worst?] in net.comics, 22-May-84 02:07:22 EDT</ref> The cover date is typically four months from the "shipping" date, so, for example, [[Prisoner of War!|issue #3]], which shipped in September, but reached newsstands in early October, is cover-dated January. The original ''Transformers'' mini-series shipped on the second week of the month; once the series went ongoing, it usually shipped on the fourth week.

In 1989, Marvel decided to change the cover dates on their comics so they were only ''two'' months in advance. In order to achieve this without simply having the cover dates suddenly skip two months, there was a three-month transition period in late 1989; issues shipped in August 1989 have the cover date "Mid November" instead of December, those in September 1989 have "December" instead of January, and those in October "Mid December" instead of February. The relevant ''Transformers'' issues were [[Skin Deep|#59]], [[Yesterday's Heroes!|#60]] and [[The Primal Scream|#61]].

===Comics Magazine===
{{main|The Transformers Comics Magazine}}
Marvel US released a bimonthly digest-sized magazine, which reprinted the first twenty issues of the main series - two issues per magazine - until cancelled with #10.

==Marvel UK==
'''Marvel UK''' produced a G1 comic which ran for 332 issues, reprinting the American stories and adding in many new stories built around them.
<div style="margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:-65px;width:100%;overflow-y:hidden;scrollbar-gutter: stable;position:relative;top:-13px;">
{| class="wikitable" style="float: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"
|-
! colspan=3 style="background:#6699cc;color:white;border-bottom:solid 1px white;"|''The Transformers'' UK issues<div style="position:relative; top:-15px; height:0; text-align:right; font-size:80%;"><nowiki>[</nowiki>[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)/List of UK issues|view]]<nowiki>]</nowiki></div>
|-
! scope="col" style="width: 2.5em;background:#6699cc;color:white;border:solid 1px white;border-left:solid 1px darkgrey" | Issue
! scope="col" style="width: 30em;background:#6699cc;color:white;border:solid 1px white;border-bottom:solid 1px darkgrey" | Main strip
! scope="col" style="width: 30em;background:#6699cc;color:white;border:solid 1px white;border-bottom:solid 1px darkgrey;border-right:solid 1px darkgrey" | Back-up strip(s)
|}
</div>
<div style="margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;border:none;border-bottom:solid 1px darkgray;width:100%;height:400px;overflow:auto;padding:0%">
{{:The Transformers (Marvel comic)/List of UK issues}}</div>

<center>
{| class="wikitable" style="width:64em;text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan=2 style="width: 2.5em;background:#6699cc;color:white;" | Key
|colspan=3 style="background:#f2f2f2;border-right:solid 2px black"|'''UK original material'''
|colspan=2 style="background:#C0C0C0;border-left:solid 2px black"|U.S. material
|-
|style="background:white"|'''B&W material'''
|style="background:palegoldenrod"|'''[[Earthforce]]'''
|style="background:lightskyblue;border-right:solid 2px black"|'''Gag strips'''
|style="background:lightcoral;border-left:solid 2px black"|''[[The Transformers: Headmasters|Headmasters]]''
|style="background:darkseagreen"|''[[G.I. Joe and the Transformers (comic)|G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]''
|}
</center>

===Overview===
{{bigquote|Dear [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]], To put it bluntly, the Marvel UK ''Transformers'' comic is 100% better than the American version we get over here. Your comics have beautiful covers, high quality artwork and very intelligent plots. Here in the States, Transformers comics are monthly instead of weekly and have bad artwork and stupid plots. Thank you for showing us the Autobots and Decepticons of the 21st Century. You guys in Britain are, as always, one step ahead when it comes to [[time travel]] (from Wells' Time Machine to [[Doctor Who]] — you always come through)! Bob Newell, Warren, MI.|Dread Tidings, issue #188}}

[[File:MarvelUK-244.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|This is the best Cracker Jack prize ever!]]
Though not without contradiction, the Marvel UK book managed to weave a number of highly complex stories "behind the scenes" of the Marvel U.S. tales. Topics included expanded stories and battles in the early days of the war (before [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave's]] arrival), more intrigue among the [[Decepticon]] commanders on Earth, the [[Autobot]] resistance on Cybertron, and the time-travelling exploits of [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], who arrives directly from the future world of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.

The UK book's weekly schedule and shorter format meant splitting stories into parts, often right in the middle of the action. Like the U.S. book, Marvel UK featured [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|a regular column of letters from readers]]; however, these were supposedly answered by various Transformers, including Grimlock, [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]], and others.

Exactly how many copies it sold is vaguely estimated at 200,000 at its height, though [[Ian Rimmer]] remembers 128,000 in 1986. Either way, it was the company's biggest hit and would establish a 'house style' that Marvel UK would use on their subsequent toy-and-cartoon licensed comics. <ref>''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 2]]'' page 6</ref> (None would reach ''Transformers'' height until ''The Real Ghostbusters''.) We know the comic began to drop about roughly 10,000 readers every sixth months from the summer of 1988 and by the time of #319, the comic's average weekly circulation was 19,839; but at this point, the sales had mostly stabilised due to the long-term fans sticking around. The older age of the readers can be noticed in the covers [[Harry Papadopoulos]] commissioned at the time: brighter covers with word balloons and puns were dropped for moodier painted covers and things like [[:Image:MarvelUK-309.jpg|Expressionist screaming heads and a reference to a King Crimson song]].<ref name=CheatedDeath>[[James Roberts]], [https://medium.com/@jamesroberts_96602/transformers-uk-the-comic-that-nearly-cheated-death-9ac69e7578d2 Transformers UK — the comic that (nearly) cheated death]</ref>

===Creative team===
[[File:Megatron-timewars-comparison.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Change of artists? Eh, who'll notice?]]
Most UK-specific stories were written by [[Simon Furman]], who was later assigned to write for the U.S. comic as well. Curiously, it was from this point that the divergences between the UK and U.S. stories became more pronounced.

Regular artists included [[Will Simpson]], [[Robin Smith]], [[Dan Reed]], [[Jeff Anderson]], [[Lee Sullivan]], [[Geoff Senior]], and [[Andrew Wildman]]. The large stable of artists resulted in some extreme contrasts of style throughout the book, such as Reed's highly organic art being followed by the clean, mechanical precision of Sullivan or Senior. Sometimes these changes occurred within the context of a single story.
{{--}}

===Complexity and contradiction in continuity===
[[File:Goldbugorigins.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|In no continuity was his face damaged. Maybe Bumblebee was just really ugly by Transformer standards.]]
Making the new stories align with the U.S. book occasionally involved some bending over backwards in storytelling terms. [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]], for example, winds up with partial amnesia at the end of [[Resurrection!|one story]], explaining why he doesn't remember the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] when he encounters them again in a [[Gone but Not Forgotten!|later U.S. story]]. U.S. reprints were sometimes physically edited as well; for example, a UK story has [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] being transported to [[Limbo]] after the events of U.S. #23, necessitating the removal of his occasional background appearances thereafter.

Another major change was the exclusion of the ''[[G.I. Joe and the Transformers (comic)|G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]'' crossover, which featured [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee's]] destruction and subsequent restoration as Goldbug. UK continuity accounted for the reformatting by showing Bumblebee destroyed by [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]] and rebuilt by [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] during "[[Hunters]]". Also, the UK comic continued to feature Megatron and Shockwave after their apparent deaths in the U.S. comic. While Megatron's appearance was eventually [[Two Megatrons!|reconciled]] (sort of, if you squint) with the U.S. continuity, Shockwave's was not.

The "[[...Perchance to Dream]]" story in UK #255-260 began the [[Earthforce]] storyline and heralded a nigh-irreconcilable division between U.S. and UK stories. This was in part a deliberate decision to not try to maintain continuity due to past problems.<ref name="furint1">{{citesocial|quote='''Question''' Why do you feel continuity suffered more instead of less, between Marvel UK and US when you took over the US book?" "The problem was, we were badly out of synch with the US material reprints by the time I was also writing the US comic. I was trying my hardest to craft semi-crossover stories (like the [[Deathbringer (issue)|Deathbringer two-parter]] with [[Dark Creation|US #65]]) and then the UK comic would run a batch of old UK reprint material and completely throw it out. I realised I was making matters worse (and more confusing) and not better, and pretty much stopped trying to directly tie the two together. Looking back, as I try my hardest not to do, it’s very hard to tie the Earthforce stories into a specific time frame (in terms of the US continuity), because (if I’m brutally honest) I didn’t try too hard to make it work in the first place. By that point, I was just trying to tell a bunch of fun UK stories that didn’t necessarily impact on the larger (US) storyline. How was I to know 15 or so years later people would be trying to reconcile it all?|link=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914233035/http://transfans.co.uk/interviews_furman.php|name=Simon Furman|site=TransFans.co.uk|year=2004}}</ref>

===Publication and format===
The Marvel UK book was published fortnightly from #1 to #26, weekly from #27 to #308, and fortnightly again from #309 to its conclusion in #332. These issues used a larger, magazine-sized format, compared to the traditional size for modern U.S. comic books. They contained 24 pages, numbered inclusive of advertising (unlike the U.S. comic). The color and paper quality was better than that of the U.S. comic, resulting in much whiter whites and, in UK-exclusive stories, no ugly dot artifacts in the colored regions.

Typically, 11 pages would be devoted to a U.S. or UK Transformers story, while the remaining pages were divided between a [[Back-up strips|back-up strip]], a letters page, small humorous comic strips (most notably ''[[Robo-Capers]]'' and ''[[Combat Colin]]''), and advertisements. Between issues #213 and #289 the format was changed to accommodate three five-page strips: the US reprint (published in colour), a new UK story (published in black and white) and a back-up strip. Issue #289 was the last to contain new UK Transformers stories.

In issue #290 there was another format change, with the comic returning to full colour throughout and reprints of classic UK stories taking the place of new black and white material. The three-strip structure was then dropped for good with issue #309; issue #310 then returned to the traditional format of an 11-page US reprint and a back-up strip, albeit published fortnightly once more.

UK children's comics typically have a weekly or fortnightly publication schedule, and monthly publication is the preserve of more substantial magazines aimed at older readers. The decision to publish fortnightly necessitated the division of the U.S. storylines between two or more UK comics, otherwise the UK comic would run out of material. The back-up strip then bulked out the issue to an acceptable size. When the comic began to be published weekly, this required still more Transformers material, which led to longer runs of original UK stories.

The Marvel UK series ran for about a year longer than its American counterpart and altogether had about twice as many stories.

===Aborted monthly===
The last issues of the comic, when readers were aware the US monthly had ended, had 'Blaster' tell the readers that the comic may not be about to end after all. Someone at the Transmaster UK fanletter ''Trans Talk'' then just phoned up the offices and asked the editor what was going on, and Papadopoulos told them the comic was going monthly; this was something ''Action Force'', ''Thundercats'', and ''Real Ghostbusters'' had all done either before or at the same time.<ref>''Trans Talk'' November 1991</ref><ref name=CheatedDeath/> <strike>Papadopoulos</strike> Blaster then confirmed this in #330:

[[File:TransformersGoesMonthly.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Colin's hopes were prematurely raised like so many fans'...]]

"The BIG NEWS! From the mail, we know that you’ve all been a little glum about where Transformers has been going — into the trashcan seems to be the generally accepted view. Well, surprise, surprise! As of issue 333, Transformers will get a bright, polished new look. You’ll be getting a 36-page monthly containing 10 pages of newly coloured Transformers classic adventures, 11 pages that feature the return of G I Joe… plus five originated new pages of Transformers that will continue the saga of the relentless war between the heroic Autobots and evil Decepticons! What better way to kick off 1992?!"

(#330-1 contained recoloured "[[The Big Shutdown!]]" pages, a presumed 'dry run' for the recoloured strip. The only other strips from the black-and-white era to be colourised at the time were the [[Mayhem Attack Squad]] storyline told across "[[The Hunting Party (Marvel)|The Hunting Party]]", "[[Way of the Warrior]]", "[[Survival Run]]", "[[A Savage Place!]]", "[[Cry Wolf!]]", "[[Wolf in the Fold!]]", and "[[Where Wolf?]]", all in [[Transformers Annual 1992]]; the rest would have to wait to be colourised by [[John-Paul Bove]] for ''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection| The Definitive G1 Collection]]''.)

Alas! #332 revealed the planned monthly continuation had been abruptly cancelled, right when [[Combat Colin]] was promoting the change and everything!

The exact reason for this change is that doing ''new'' strips would've meant spending money, and Marvel UK's then-head Paul Neary didn't want to spend it on what he considered a 'dead end' of relying on licensed material. It's also possible he saw cancelling the comic as a way to shake things up. (He would later tell ''Comics World'' #33, regarding Death's Head's original self), "I didn't think there was much future in Transformers-based robots". Interestingly, Furman hadn't been asked to write the planned new tales and we don't know if that was due to timing or someone else would've been tapped.<ref name=CheatedDeath/>

===Cover dates===
Similar to the U.S. comic, the cover dates of the UK comic do not always reflect when the issue was actually released. The first 26 issues of the comic, though, were very clear, featuring both the on-sale and off-sale dates of the issue; for instance, issue #1 is cover-dated "20th Sept.—3rd Oct. 1984." It was only after the comic was revamped, going from fortnightly to weekly with [[Repeat Performance!|issue #27]], that the cover date changed to reflect solely the off-sale date; in the case of that issue, it was released on September 14th, but was cover-dated September 21st. This remained the norm even after the comic reverted to a fortnightly sechedule with [[The Pri¢e of Life!|issue #309]], released February 16th, cover-dated March 2nd.

''The Transformers'' was initially released on Thursdays, with the off-sale date being given as the Wednesday preceding the release of the next issue. The series switched to Saturdays from [[Prisoner of War!|issue #5]], with the off-sale being given as the Friday before the next issue, until the issue #26 revamp, whereupon the off-sale was changed to be the release date of the next issue itself. New issues continued to come out on Saturdays for the rest of the series, though anecdotally, some readers recall occasionally seeing a new issue arrive on the Friday before it was "due," typically placed during the Christmas/New Year period when distribution can be unsettled and overcompensated for.

===Related publications===
====Marvel UK Annuals====
{{main|Transformers Annual}}
Marvel UK's '''Transformers Annuals''' were published once yearly during the comic's lifespan, usually in summer to autumn in advance of Christmas. Each annual was made up of a combination of a comic strip, text stories and editorial content. Some annuals also contained crossover stories with the main weekly comic in an attempt to boost sales. Due to falling sales, later annuals mainly contained reprinted stories from the comic. The contents of each annual are listed below; the titles in '''bold''' are new material created for the annual, while other titles are reprinted from the main comic (though usually with all-new colours added to black-and-white material).

{{chapters|title=[[Transformers Annual 1985|Marvel UK Annual 1985]]|content=
* '''[[Plague of the Insecticons!]]'''
* '''[[Missing in Action]]'''
* '''[[And There Shall Come...a Leader!]]'''
* '''[[Hunted!]]'''
}}

{{chapters|title=[[Transformers Annual 1986|Marvel UK Annual 1986]]|content=
* '''[[In the Beginning...]]'''
* '''[[To a Power Unknown!]]'''
* '''[[The Return of the Transformers]]'''
* '''[[State Games]]'''
* '''[[Victory!]]'''
* '''[[The Mission]]'''
}}

{{chapters|title=[[Transformers Annual 1987|Marvel UK Annual 1987]]|content=
* '''[[What's in a Name?]]'''
* '''[[Doomsday for Nebulos]]'''
* '''[[Vicious Circle!]]'''
* '''[[Stylor's Story]]'''
* '''[[Ark Duty]]'''
* '''[[The Final Conflict]]'''
}}

{{chapters|title=[[Transformers Annual 1989|Marvel UK Annual 1989]]|content=
* '''[[The Saga of the Transformers — So Far!]]'''
* '''[[Altered Image!]]'''
* '''[[Prime Bomb!]]'''
* '''[[All in the Minds!]]'''
* '''[[Peace]]'''
}}

{{chapters|title=[[Transformers Annual 1990|Marvel UK Annual 1990]]|content=
* '''[[The Quest!]]'''
* '''[[Destiny of the Dinobots!]]'''
* '''[[Trigger-Happy!]]'''
* '''[[Dreadwing Down!]]'''
* '''[[The Chain Gang!]]'''
}}

{{chapters|title=[[Transformers Annual 1991|Marvel UK Annual 1991]]|content=
* [[Fallen Angel]]
* '''[[The Magnificent Six!]]'''
* [[Firebug!]]
}}

{{chapters|title=[[Transformers Annual 1992|Marvel UK Annual 1992]]|content=
* [[The Hunting Party (Marvel)|The Hunting Party]]
* '''[[Another Time & Place]]'''
* [[Way of the Warrior]]
* [[Survival Run]]
* [[A Savage Place!]]
* [[Cry Wolf!]]
* [[Wolf in the Fold!]]
* [[Where Wolf?]]
}}

====Collected Comics====
{{main|Transformers Collected Comics}}
Beginning in Summer 1985, Marvel UK also published a companion series of sorts as a series of "Collected Comics" Specials, reprinting stories from the main series, mostly UK-original material. Of note was that these volumes would sometimes fully-colourise strips that had originally been told partially in black-and-white, along with other minor corrections. This reprint series outlived the ongoing for a couple more years, tapping into the remaining supply of colour UK material.

====The Complete Works====
{{main|The Transformers: The Complete Works Part 1|The Transformers: The Complete Works Part 2}}
''The Transformers: The Complete Works'' was a two-part hardcover series reprinting the first four issues of the Marvel U.S. comic. Notably, the second volume concludes with an altered ending, excising the original limited series' cliffhanger.

====Poster Magazine====
{{main|The Transformers Poster Magazine}}
Released around December 1986/January 1987, ''The Transformers Poster Magazine'' tied into the release of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''. The magazine folded open to eight times its regular size, becoming a replica of the movie's UK theatrical poster. The other side featured a short summary of the film, paired with screenshots.

====Action Force====
{{main|Action Force (comic)}}
In 1987, to promote Marvel UK's other boys action comic, Megatron and pals crossed over into issues 24-27 of ''Action Force'' as part of the story "[[Ancient Relics!]]".

====The Transformers Universe====
{{main|The Transformers Universe (Marvel)}}
In December 1988, Marvel UK released a variant of this Marvel U.S. ''Transformers'' profile series, with minor edits made to the indicia such as adding "Vol. One" to the spine.

==International printings==
''The Transformers'' has been printed in many languages, most having been published in the 1980s, but with some doing it in the 21st century.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Publisher
!Country
!Language
!Years
|-
|[[Ledafilms]]
|Argentina
|Spanish
|1987?-?
|-
|[[RGE]]
|Brazil
|Portuguese
|1985-1986
|-
|[[Atlantic Förlags AB]]
|Denmark
|Danish
|1988-1989
|-
|[[Semic|TM Semic]]
|Finland
|Finnish
|1987-1991
|-
|[[SAGE]]
|France
|French
|1987
|-
|[[Condor Verlag]]
|Germany
|German
|1986-1992?
|-
|[[Hero-X]]
|Japan
|Japanese
|2018-present
|-
|[[Junior Press]]
|Netherlands
|Dutch
|1986-1991
|-
|[[Gevion]]
|Norway
|Norwegian
|1987
|-
|[[Schibsted|Bladkompaniet]]
|Norway
|Norwegian
|1988-1989
|-
|[[Atlantic Förlags AB]]
|Norway
|Norwegian
|1990
|-
|[[Semic|TM Semic]]
|Poland
|Polish
|1991-1995
|-
|[[Semic|Semic Slovart]]
|Slovakia
|Slovak
|1993
|-
|[[Comics Forum]]
|Spain
|Spanish
|1985-1992
|-
|[[Atlantic Förlags AB]]
|Sweden
|Swedish
|1987-1993
|-
|[[Ades Media]]
|Sweden
|Swedish
|2019-present
|}

==Notes==
* There was almost an entirely ''new'' Marvel continuity seperate from the other two, as a toy company in continental [[Europe]] had bought the licensing rights for some of the [[Japan|Japanese]] toys that Hasbro weren't releasing in Europe. Marvel UK were approached to create an extra comic about these toys, and [[Ian Rimmer]] got [[James Hill]] and [[Mike Collins]] to start work on ''It Wouldn't Be Called Transformers'' for the UK-and-European market before Hasbro just bought the other company out. <ref>''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 2]]'' page 18</ref>
* While Marvel US had some more involvement from Hasbro until the later years (when they'd lost interest), Marvel UK didn't even have to show Hasbro UK the scripts! This sort of laissez-faire attitude is very much ''not'' how licensed comics are done anymore.<ref>''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 2]]'' page 11</ref>
* [[The Night the Transformers Saved Christmas]] was a four-page comic special published in ''[[Woman's Day]]'' magazine. There were no credits, but it was obviously a Marvel Comics production.
* According to the third issue of ''All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z''{{'}}s entries on [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]], the events of the Marvel UK Generation 1 comics take place on Marvel Earth-120185. The universe is named after the publication date of the first Marvel UK-exclusive story, "[[Man of Iron (issue)|Man of Iron]]".
* According to the [http://www.marvunapp.com/master/earthteaz.htm Marvel Universe Appendix], the events of the Marvel US comics take place on Marvel Earth-91274.
{{--}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://www.oneshallstand.com/articles/overview.html Guide to TF UK by Crespo99]
* [http://groups.google.com/group/net.comics/browse_thread/thread/4eeba9a9b0fe0817/1cdaf7df610e0376 May, 1984 net.comics review]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Transformers (Marvel Comics), The}}
[[Category:Continuities]]
[[Category:Generation 1 comic series]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]
[[Category:Marvel US issues]]

Egmont

2026-05-10T20:22:28Z

Some Dweeb:

The '''Egmont Group''' (Known as '''Gutenbergshus Group''' until [[1992]]) is a Danish media company that publishes books and magazines, most notably Disney comics and {{w|the Phantom}}. Egmont published a [[Transformers (Egmont)|Transformers]] magazine in [[Russia]]n; its [[Finland|Finnish]] division published a translation of Dreamwave's ''Transformers: Armada'' series in 2003 <ref>https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformers#Egmont</ref> and in Swedish; [[IDW Publishing|IDW's]] ''[[Transformers: Movie Prequel|Movie Prequel]]'' series was published in 2008 as part of the comics magazine ''Banzai!''<ref>https://seriewikin.serieframjandet.se/index.php/Banzai!</ref> and [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 franchise)|''Robots in Disguise'']] comics were published in the April 2017 and June 2018 issues of the series ''Comic Pack''. <ref>https://seriewikin.serieframjandet.se/index.php/Comic_Pack</ref>

Egmont has also bought out various other publishers that also happened to print ''Transformers'' comics, such as [[Fleetway]], [[Atlantic förlags AB|Atlantic]] and [[Schibsted]].

==External links==
* [http://www.egmont.ru/search/?q=Трансформеры Transformers products] (Russian)

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Comics]]
[[Category:Companies]]

The Transformers (Marvel comic)

2026-05-10T18:24:37Z

Some Dweeb:

{{disambig2|the Marvel Comics series|other uses of ''The Transformers''|Transformers (disambiguation)}}
{{nav-G1|logo=MarvelTheTransformers Logo1.png}}

[[File:MarvelUS-01.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|The heroic Autobots fight to crush Earth's highways. [[Leonard McCoy|Doctor McCoy]] is very happy.]]
'''''The Transformers''''', the monthly comic book published in the U.S. by [[Marvel Comics]], was the very first original fiction to feature the famous robots in disguise, as well as the longest-running. It started life as [[The Transformers Four-Issue Limited Series|a four-issue, bimonthly limited series]] in 1984, but proved so popular that it continued publication as an ongoing monthly until spring of 1991. The series ultimately reached 80 issues and spun off several miniseries.

The series established the [[Marvel Comics continuity]], which would form the basis for several successor stories over the years. Marvel would publish the [[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|''Generation 2'' series]] only two years later, and [[IDW Publishing]] would later reunite several Marvel creatives for both [[The Transformers: Regeneration One|''Regeneration One'']], a continuation of the original Marvel comic, and the'' [[Transformers '84: Secrets & Lies|Transformers '84]]'' prequel miniseries.

Nearly all of the U.S. stories were later published by Marvel UK, along with new stories that fit between the gaps of the U.S. tales. See [[#Marvel UK|Marvel UK]] below.

{{bigquote|Four million years ago, they came from '''Cybertron''', a world composed entirely of machinery... a world torn by an age-old war between the heroic '''Autobots''' and the evil '''Decepticons'''. These incredibly powerful living robots, capable of converting themselves into land and air vehicles, weapons and other mechanical forms, continue their conflict here on '''Earth'''. They are...'''THE TRANSFORMERS'''|Marvel US introductory blurb}}

==Marvel U.S.==
{{chapters|title=''The Transformers'' US issues:|content=
* [[The Transformers (issue)|#1]]
* [[Power Play!|#2]]
* [[Prisoner of War!|#3]]
* [[The Last Stand|#4]]
* [[The New Order|#5]]
* [[The Worse of Two Evils!|#6]]
* [[Warrior School!|#7]]
* [[Repeat Performance!|#8]]
* [[DIS-Integrated Circuits!|#9]]
* [[The Next Best Thing to Being There!|#10]]
* [[Brainstorm!|#11]]
* [[Prime Time!|#12]]
* [[Shooting Star!|#13]]
* [[Rock and Roll-Out!|#14]]
* [[I, Robot-Master!|#15]]
* [[Plight of the Bumblebee!|#16]]
* [[The Smelting Pool!|#17]]
* [[The Bridge to Nowhere!|#18]]
* [[Command Performances!|#19]]
* [[Showdown!|#20]]
* [[Aerialbots over America!|#21]]
* [[Heavy Traffic!|#22]]
* [[Decepticon Graffiti!|#23]]
* [[Afterdeath!|#24]]
* [[Gone but Not Forgotten!|#25]]
* [[Funeral for a Friend!|#26]]
* [[King of the Hill!|#27]]
* [[Mechanical Difficulties!|#28]]
* [[Crater Critters|#29]]
* [[The Cure!|#30]]
* [[Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom|#31]]
* [[Used Autobots|#32]]
* [[Man of Iron (issue)|#33]]
* [[Man of Iron (issue)|#34]]
* [[Child's Play (issue)|#35]]
* [[Spacehikers!|#36]]
* [[Toy Soldiers!|#37]]
* [[Trial by Fire!|#38]]
* [[The Desert Island of Space!|#39]]
* [[Pretender to the Throne!|#40]]
* [[Totaled!|#41]]
* [[People Power!|#42]]
* [[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|#43]]
* [[The Cosmic Carnival|#44]]
* [[Monstercon from Mars!|#45]]
* [[Ca$h and Car-nage!|#46]]
* [[Club Con!|#47]]
* [[The Flames of Boltax!|#48]]
* [[Cold War!|#49]]
* [[Dark Star|#50]]
* [[The Man in the Machine!|#51]]
* [[Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?|#52]]
* [[Recipe for Disaster!|#53]]
* [[King Con!|#54]]
* [[The Interplanetary Wrestling Championship!|#55]]
* [[Back from the Dead|#56]]
* [[The Resurrection Gambit!|#57]]
* [[All the Familiar Faces!|#58]]
* [[Skin Deep|#59]]
* [[Yesterday's Heroes!|#60]]
* [[The Primal Scream|#61]]
* [[Bird of Prey!|#62]]
* [[Kings of the Wild Frontier.|#63]]
* [[Deadly Obsession|#64]]
* [[Dark Creation|#65]]
* [[All Fall Down|#66]]
* [[Rhythms of Darkness!|#67]]
* [[The Human Factor!|#68]]
* [[Eye of the Storm|#69]]
* [[The Pri¢e of Life!|#70]]
* [[Surrender!|#71]]
* [[...All This and Civil War 2|#72]]
* [[Out of Time!|#73]]
* [[The Void! (US)|#74]]
* [[On the Edge of Extinction!|#75]]
* [[Still Life!|#76]]
* [[Exodus!|#77]]
* [[A Savage Circle|#78]]
* [[The Last Autobot?|#79]]
* [[End of the Road! (US)|#80]]
}}

===Related mini-series===
* ''[[G.I. Joe and the Transformers (comic)|G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]''
* ''[[The Transformers: Headmasters]]''
* ''[[The Transformers Universe (Marvel)|The Transformers Universe]]''
* ''[[Transformers: The Movie (Marvel comic)|Transformers: The Movie]]'' (Though published by Marvel in the US and UK, is only related in the UK canon)

===Successor comics===
The different publishers' series are all mutually exclusive, effectively representing different branched timelines. The Collectors' Club and IDW efforts explicitly ignore the events of Marvel UK stories, although the latter takes copious characters and concepts from both the UK and ''Generation 2'' material.

* ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
* ''[[Transformers: Classics]]'' ([[Transformers Collectors' Club]])
* ''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One]]'', [[Transformers '84 issue 0|''Transformers '84'' #0]], and ''[[Transformers '84: Secrets & Lies|Secrets & Lies]]'' ([[IDW Publishing]])

===Overview===
[[File:MarvelUS01-AutobotLineup.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|After watching traffic reports for an hour, they finally decided to just stay home.]]
The story begins with a brief history of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and its [[Great War (G1)|civil war]], which eventually causes the planet to become lost in space. Battling aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], the original 28 characters crash-land on [[Earth]] four million years ago and awaken in the (then-) present day of 1984. The quest for [[Transformer fuel|fuel]] becomes their initial goal, driving the first several issues.

As the first fiction in the entire [[The Transformers (franchise)|franchise]], the initial issues of ''Transformers'' were breaking completely new ground. Early issues contain a variety of plot points and conventions, some of which would go on to shape the very mythos... and others that would fall by the wayside, forgotten and hilariously quaint. The concept of the life-giving [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]] is a good example of the former group; "[[Atechnogenesis|naturally occurring gears, levers and pulleys]]" comes to mind for the latter.

[[File:Newyorkunderbase.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|With a single wave of Starscream's hand, Hound, Bluestreak, Mirage, Hoist, Brawn, and Gears cease to occupy valuable page space!]]
The book soon built its own elaborate and wide-reaching universe, including hundreds of characters—[[Transformer]]s, [[human]]s, [[alien]]s—on Earth, Cybertron, and beyond. Late in the series, a long-running plot brought in the sinister menace of [[Unicron]], giving him a backstory and build-up that for many fans surpassed his original appearance in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' for storytelling and gravitas. This backstory would eventually go on to eclipse the origin given in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|cartoon]].

Because it was a book intended [[to sell toys]], ''Transformers'' featured an ever-rotating cast. New Transformers were often hastily brought in to meet the demands of [[Hasbro]], and older "product" was often swept aside or killed off ''en masse'' in [[Dark Star|epic, climactic battles]].

After some troubled times and steadily declining readership, the series was finally canceled at issue #80. A combination of factors was likely responsible: the Transformers toyline had become yesterday's fad, the core readership had grown older and moved on, and Hasbro seems to have pulled the plug.

Several subsequent series would build upon the series; see [[Marvel Comics continuity]] for more information.

===Creative team===
[[File:Bob_Budiansky_and_Simon_Furman.jpg|left|upright=1.40|thumb|Today, Bob and Simon live together in a big house like the ''Bananas in Pyjamas''.]]
The book featured two primary writers: [[Bob Budiansky]] edited [[The Transformers Four-Issue Limited Series|the original 4-part limited series]] and wrote the book from issue #5 to issue #55. After that, [[Simon Furman]], already heavily experienced from his work on the UK book, took up the reins until the book was cancelled at issue #80. Other writers balked at having to keep track of this massive, unfamiliar cast, which is the reason the original miniseries has three writers and is an admitted mess.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090728191104/http://rustingcarcass.yuku.com/topic/954/t/Bob-Budiansky.html Interview at Rusting Carcass]</ref>

''Transformers'' is a bit notorious for wild swings in writing quality, as serious plots alternated with such strange concepts as [[The Interplanetary Wrestling Championship!|Micromaster wrestling]] and [[Ca$h and Car-nage!|ridiculous bounty hunters]]. Some of this may be attributed to Bob Budiansky's eventual burn-out; after years of having to wrap his stories around to meet the latest toy-appearance demands from Hasbro, his later writing on the book showed a decline in quality. He is sometimes remembered unfavourably because of this period, perhaps unfairly so considering his fundamental role in shaping the Transformers universe and most of its characters, as well as some of the book's [[Warrior School!|most gripping early stories]]. Still, even such oddball stories as "[[Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom]]" and "[[Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?]]" have both their merits and their fans.

Budiansky himself proposed that Simon Furman take over as the U.S. series writer.<ref name="steveo otfcc2004">[http://www.camphortree.net/tf/tidbits/otfcc2004.txt Steve-o's OTFCC 2004 notes]</ref> With the changeover, the stories took on a more serious tone, relying on character conflict more than outlandish plot devices. Many fans regard Furman's run on the original book as one of the high points of all Transformers fiction.

The comic was written in "Marvel Style", where the writer gives the artist a plot outline instead of a full script. The artist then lays out the pages himself; afterward the writer comes back in and scripts the dialog based on the artist's work. This approach gives the artist a larger role in telling the story than simply drawing what the writer tells them to.<ref name="steveo otfcc2004" />

A number of artists worked on ''Transformers'', but the most frequent pencilers included [[Frank Springer]], [[Don Perlin]], [[José Delbo]], [[Geoff Senior]], and [[Andrew Wildman]]. Also of particular note is colorist [[Nelson Yomtov|Nelson "Nel" Yomtov]], who colored every single issue of the book, as well as all of the related mini-series.
{{--}}

===Publication and format===
As ''The Transformers'' title began life as a limited series, it was subject to the conventions Marvel had established for limited series at the time of its publication. "Standard" Marvel comics released concurrently in 1984 cost 60 cents and were printed on newsprint; in contrast, ''The Transformers'' sold for 75 cents and was printed on a whiter, higher-quality stock (for the time) known as "[[Mando paper]]".

Evidently considered a "deluxe format" book by Marvel, ''Transformers'' continued to be printed on Mando paper even after it became an ongoing series.<ref>''Marvel Age'' #23, November 1984</ref> It also remained at 75 cents—at least until [[King of the Hill!|issue 28]], when the price of the book rose to 1 dollar. With the exception of the double-sized [[Dark Star|issue 50]] and [[On the Edge of Extinction!|issue 75]], which were both priced at $1.50, ''The Transformers'' would remain at 1 dollar for the remainder of its original run.

===Cover dates===
The dates printed on the covers of ''The Transformers'' are not the months in which the issues were actually released. When the comic began in 1984, all Marvel comics had cover dates that were typically four months ''ahead'' of their release date. This was partially a holdover from the days of fiercer newsstand competition when each company tried to make its comics look newer than its rivals and partially a mechanism to compensate for slower distribution on newsstands and overseas sales. In effect, the cover date served as the "off-sale" date, at which point newsstand vendors could return any unsold copies to Marvel for credit. As such, although [[The Transformers (issue)|issue #1]] is cover dated September, it was actually released in May.

However, determining precisely ''what date'' in May requires explaining another bit of comics history. In the years leading up to the release of ''The Transformers'', comic book speciality shops had really begun to take off. This led to the emergence of the "direct market"—a new sales avenue by which comics publishers sold their products "directly" to these stores through dedicated comics distributors, instead of the traditional periodical distributors who serviced newsstands, grocery stories, conveniences stories, and many other forms of retail. The books shipped from Marvel to both direct and traditional distributors at the same time; thus, while it took the traditional distributors extra time to then ship out the comics to their very large base of clients, direct distributors could get them to their smaller base of comic stores much faster. The stores could then put them on sale as soon as they got them, which could be days or even ''weeks'' before the issues could be expected to appear on newsstands (with the trade-off being that, unlike newsstands, comics stores couldn't return unsold copies). As such, there's no "hard date" for the release of any given issue of ''The Transformers''; Marvel's promotional magazine ''Marvel Age'' provided both "shipping dates" (when Marvel dispatched the books) and "on-sale dates" (when the books would reach newsstands) for all its titles, thus we have these dates to serve as the "window" during which each issue would first appear in comic stores, and have included them on our individual articles of each issue of the series, up to issue #73, at which point ''Marvel Age'' stopped printing them. For instance, issue #1 "shipped" on [[May 8]], 1984, and went "on-sale" on newsstands on [[May 29]], but was available at comic stores sometime between these days—as evidenced by the fact that the first Usenet post about the series, a review of the first issue by Ted Nolan, was posted to net.comics on [[May 22]].<ref>Ted Nolan, "[http://groups.google.com/group/net.comics/msg/1cdaf7df610e0376?dmode=source&hl=en Year's worst?] in net.comics, 22-May-84 02:07:22 EDT</ref> The cover date is typically four months from the "shipping" date, so, for example, [[Prisoner of War!|issue #3]], which shipped in September, but reached newsstands in early October, is cover-dated January. The original ''Transformers'' mini-series shipped on the second week of the month; once the series went ongoing, it usually shipped on the fourth week.

In 1989, Marvel decided to change the cover dates on their comics so they were only ''two'' months in advance. In order to achieve this without simply having the cover dates suddenly skip two months, there was a three-month transition period in late 1989; issues shipped in August 1989 have the cover date "Mid November" instead of December, those in September 1989 have "December" instead of January, and those in October "Mid December" instead of February. The relevant ''Transformers'' issues were [[Skin Deep|#59]], [[Yesterday's Heroes!|#60]] and [[The Primal Scream|#61]].

===Comics Magazine===
{{main|The Transformers Comics Magazine}}
Marvel US released a bimonthly digest-sized magazine, which reprinted the first twenty issues of the main series - two issues per magazine - until cancelled with #10.

==Marvel UK==
'''Marvel UK''' produced a G1 comic which ran for 332 issues, reprinting the American stories and adding in many new stories built around them.
<div style="margin-left:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:-65px;width:100%;overflow-y:hidden;scrollbar-gutter: stable;position:relative;top:-13px;">
{| class="wikitable" style="float: center; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"
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! colspan=3 style="background:#6699cc;color:white;border-bottom:solid 1px white;"|''The Transformers'' UK issues<div style="position:relative; top:-15px; height:0; text-align:right; font-size:80%;"><nowiki>[</nowiki>[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)/List of UK issues|view]]<nowiki>]</nowiki></div>
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! scope="col" style="width: 2.5em;background:#6699cc;color:white;border:solid 1px white;border-left:solid 1px darkgrey" | Issue
! scope="col" style="width: 30em;background:#6699cc;color:white;border:solid 1px white;border-bottom:solid 1px darkgrey" | Main strip
! scope="col" style="width: 30em;background:#6699cc;color:white;border:solid 1px white;border-bottom:solid 1px darkgrey;border-right:solid 1px darkgrey" | Back-up strip(s)
|}
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{{:The Transformers (Marvel comic)/List of UK issues}}</div>

<center>
{| class="wikitable" style="width:64em;text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan=2 style="width: 2.5em;background:#6699cc;color:white;" | Key
|colspan=3 style="background:#f2f2f2;border-right:solid 2px black"|'''UK original material'''
|colspan=2 style="background:#C0C0C0;border-left:solid 2px black"|U.S. material
|-
|style="background:white"|'''B&W material'''
|style="background:palegoldenrod"|'''[[Earthforce]]'''
|style="background:lightskyblue;border-right:solid 2px black"|'''Gag strips'''
|style="background:lightcoral;border-left:solid 2px black"|''[[The Transformers: Headmasters|Headmasters]]''
|style="background:darkseagreen"|''[[G.I. Joe and the Transformers (comic)|G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]''
|}
</center>

===Overview===
{{bigquote|Dear [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]], To put it bluntly, the Marvel UK ''Transformers'' comic is 100% better than the American version we get over here. Your comics have beautiful covers, high quality artwork and very intelligent plots. Here in the States, Transformers comics are monthly instead of weekly and have bad artwork and stupid plots. Thank you for showing us the Autobots and Decepticons of the 21st Century. You guys in Britain are, as always, one step ahead when it comes to [[time travel]] (from Wells' Time Machine to [[Doctor Who]] — you always come through)! Bob Newell, Warren, MI.|Dread Tidings, issue #188}}

[[File:MarvelUK-244.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|This is the best Cracker Jack prize ever!]]
Though not without contradiction, the Marvel UK book managed to weave a number of highly complex stories "behind the scenes" of the Marvel U.S. tales. Topics included expanded stories and battles in the early days of the war (before [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave's]] arrival), more intrigue among the [[Decepticon]] commanders on Earth, the [[Autobot]] resistance on Cybertron, and the time-travelling exploits of [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], who arrives directly from the future world of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.

The UK book's weekly schedule and shorter format meant splitting stories into parts, often right in the middle of the action. Like the U.S. book, Marvel UK featured [[Letters page (Marvel UK)|a regular column of letters from readers]]; however, these were supposedly answered by various Transformers, including Grimlock, [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]], and others.

Exactly how many copies it sold is vaguely estimated at 200,000 at its height, though [[Ian Rimmer]] remembers 128,000 in 1986. Either way, it was the company's biggest hit and would establish a 'house style' that Marvel UK would use on their subsequent toy-and-cartoon licensed comics. <ref>''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 2]]'' page 6</ref> (None would reach ''Transformers'' height until ''The Real Ghostbusters''.) We know the comic began to drop about roughly 10,000 readers every sixth months from the summer of 1988 and by the time of #319, the comic's average weekly circulation was 19,839; but at this point, the sales had mostly stabilised due to the long-term fans sticking around. The older age of the readers can be noticed in the covers [[Harry Papadopoulos]] commissioned at the time: brighter covers with word balloons and puns were dropped for moodier painted covers and things like [[:Image:MarvelUK-309.jpg|Expressionist screaming heads and a reference to a King Crimson song]].<ref name=CheatedDeath>[[James Roberts]], [https://medium.com/@jamesroberts_96602/transformers-uk-the-comic-that-nearly-cheated-death-9ac69e7578d2 Transformers UK — the comic that (nearly) cheated death]</ref>

===Creative team===
[[File:Megatron-timewars-comparison.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Change of artists? Eh, who'll notice?]]
Most UK-specific stories were written by [[Simon Furman]], who was later assigned to write for the U.S. comic as well. Curiously, it was from this point that the divergences between the UK and U.S. stories became more pronounced.

Regular artists included [[Will Simpson]], [[Robin Smith]], [[Dan Reed]], [[Jeff Anderson]], [[Lee Sullivan]], [[Geoff Senior]], and [[Andrew Wildman]]. The large stable of artists resulted in some extreme contrasts of style throughout the book, such as Reed's highly organic art being followed by the clean, mechanical precision of Sullivan or Senior. Sometimes these changes occurred within the context of a single story.
{{--}}

===Complexity and contradiction in continuity===
[[File:Goldbugorigins.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|In no continuity was his face damaged. Maybe Bumblebee was just really ugly by Transformer standards.]]
Making the new stories align with the U.S. book occasionally involved some bending over backwards in storytelling terms. [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]], for example, winds up with partial amnesia at the end of [[Resurrection!|one story]], explaining why he doesn't remember the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] when he encounters them again in a [[Gone but Not Forgotten!|later U.S. story]]. U.S. reprints were sometimes physically edited as well; for example, a UK story has [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] being transported to [[Limbo]] after the events of U.S. #23, necessitating the removal of his occasional background appearances thereafter.

Another major change was the exclusion of the ''[[G.I. Joe and the Transformers (comic)|G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]'' crossover, which featured [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee's]] destruction and subsequent restoration as Goldbug. UK continuity accounted for the reformatting by showing Bumblebee destroyed by [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]] and rebuilt by [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] during "[[Hunters]]". Also, the UK comic continued to feature Megatron and Shockwave after their apparent deaths in the U.S. comic. While Megatron's appearance was eventually [[Two Megatrons!|reconciled]] (sort of, if you squint) with the U.S. continuity, Shockwave's was not.

The "[[...Perchance to Dream]]" story in UK #255-260 began the [[Earthforce]] storyline and heralded a nigh-irreconcilable division between U.S. and UK stories. This was in part a deliberate decision to not try to maintain continuity due to past problems.<ref name="furint1">{{citesocial|quote='''Question''' Why do you feel continuity suffered more instead of less, between Marvel UK and US when you took over the US book?" "The problem was, we were badly out of synch with the US material reprints by the time I was also writing the US comic. I was trying my hardest to craft semi-crossover stories (like the [[Deathbringer (issue)|Deathbringer two-parter]] with [[Dark Creation|US #65]]) and then the UK comic would run a batch of old UK reprint material and completely throw it out. I realised I was making matters worse (and more confusing) and not better, and pretty much stopped trying to directly tie the two together. Looking back, as I try my hardest not to do, it’s very hard to tie the Earthforce stories into a specific time frame (in terms of the US continuity), because (if I’m brutally honest) I didn’t try too hard to make it work in the first place. By that point, I was just trying to tell a bunch of fun UK stories that didn’t necessarily impact on the larger (US) storyline. How was I to know 15 or so years later people would be trying to reconcile it all?|link=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914233035/http://transfans.co.uk/interviews_furman.php|name=Simon Furman|site=TransFans.co.uk|year=2004}}</ref>

===Publication and format===
The Marvel UK book was published fortnightly from #1 to #26, weekly from #27 to #308, and fortnightly again from #309 to its conclusion in #332. These issues used a larger, magazine-sized format, compared to the traditional size for modern U.S. comic books. They contained 24 pages, numbered inclusive of advertising (unlike the U.S. comic). The color and paper quality was better than that of the U.S. comic, resulting in much whiter whites and, in UK-exclusive stories, no ugly dot artifacts in the colored regions.

Typically, 11 pages would be devoted to a U.S. or UK Transformers story, while the remaining pages were divided between a [[Back-up strips|back-up strip]], a letters page, small humorous comic strips (most notably ''[[Robo-Capers]]'' and ''[[Combat Colin]]''), and advertisements. Between issues #213 and #289 the format was changed to accommodate three five-page strips: the US reprint (published in colour), a new UK story (published in black and white) and a back-up strip. Issue #289 was the last to contain new UK Transformers stories.

In issue #290 there was another format change, with the comic returning to full colour throughout and reprints of classic UK stories taking the place of new black and white material. The three-strip structure was then dropped for good with issue #309; issue #310 then returned to the traditional format of an 11-page US reprint and a back-up strip, albeit published fortnightly once more.

UK children's comics typically have a weekly or fortnightly publication schedule, and monthly publication is the preserve of more substantial magazines aimed at older readers. The decision to publish fortnightly necessitated the division of the U.S. storylines between two or more UK comics, otherwise the UK comic would run out of material. The back-up strip then bulked out the issue to an acceptable size. When the comic began to be published weekly, this required still more Transformers material, which led to longer runs of original UK stories.

The Marvel UK series ran for about a year longer than its American counterpart and altogether had about twice as many stories.

===Aborted monthly===
The last issues of the comic, when readers were aware the US monthly had ended, had 'Blaster' tell the readers that the comic may not be about to end after all. Someone at the Transmaster UK fanletter ''Trans Talk'' then just phoned up the offices and asked the editor what was going on, and Papadopoulos told them the comic was going monthly; this was something ''Action Force'', ''Thundercats'', and ''Real Ghostbusters'' had all done either before or at the same time.<ref>''Trans Talk'' November 1991</ref><ref name=CheatedDeath/> <strike>Papadopoulos</strike> Blaster then confirmed this in #330:

[[File:TransformersGoesMonthly.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Colin's hopes were prematurely raised like so many fans'...]]

"The BIG NEWS! From the mail, we know that you’ve all been a little glum about where Transformers has been going — into the trashcan seems to be the generally accepted view. Well, surprise, surprise! As of issue 333, Transformers will get a bright, polished new look. You’ll be getting a 36-page monthly containing 10 pages of newly coloured Transformers classic adventures, 11 pages that feature the return of G I Joe… plus five originated new pages of Transformers that will continue the saga of the relentless war between the heroic Autobots and evil Decepticons! What better way to kick off 1992?!"

(#330-1 contained recoloured "[[The Big Shutdown!]]" pages, a presumed 'dry run' for the recoloured strip. The only other strips from the black-and-white era to be colourised at the time were the [[Mayhem Attack Squad]] storyline told across "[[The Hunting Party (Marvel)|The Hunting Party]]", "[[Way of the Warrior]]", "[[Survival Run]]", "[[A Savage Place!]]", "[[Cry Wolf!]]", "[[Wolf in the Fold!]]", and "[[Where Wolf?]]", all in [[Transformers Annual 1992]]; the rest would have to wait to be colourised by [[John-Paul Bove]] for ''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection| The Definitive G1 Collection]]''.)

Alas! #332 revealed the planned monthly continuation had been abruptly cancelled, right when [[Combat Colin]] was promoting the change and everything!

The exact reason for this change is that doing ''new'' strips would've meant spending money, and Marvel UK's then-head Paul Neary didn't want to spend it on what he considered a 'dead end' of relying on licensed material. It's also possible he saw cancelling the comic as a way to shake things up. (He would later tell ''Comics World'' #33, regarding Death's Head's original self), "I didn't think there was much future in Transformers-based robots". Interestingly, Furman hadn't been asked to write the planned new tales and we don't know if that was due to timing or someone else would've been tapped.<ref name=CheatedDeath/>

===Cover dates===
Similar to the U.S. comic, the cover dates of the UK comic do not always reflect when the issue was actually released. The first 26 issues of the comic, though, were very clear, featuring both the on-sale and off-sale dates of the issue; for instance, issue #1 is cover-dated "20th Sept.—3rd Oct. 1984." It was only after the comic was revamped, going from fortnightly to weekly with [[Repeat Performance!|issue #27]], that the cover date changed to reflect solely the off-sale date; in the case of that issue, it was released on September 14th, but was cover-dated September 21st. This remained the norm even after the comic reverted to a fortnightly sechedule with [[The Pri¢e of Life!|issue #309]], released February 16th, cover-dated March 2nd.

''The Transformers'' was initially released on Thursdays, with the off-sale date being given as the Wednesday preceding the release of the next issue. The series switched to Saturdays from [[Prisoner of War!|issue #5]], with the off-sale being given as the Friday before the next issue, until the issue #26 revamp, whereupon the off-sale was changed to be the release date of the next issue itself. New issues continued to come out on Saturdays for the rest of the series, though anecdotally, some readers recall occasionally seeing a new issue arrive on the Friday before it was "due," typically placed during the Christmas/New Year period when distribution can be unsettled and overcompensated for.

===Related publications===
====Marvel UK Annuals====
{{main|Transformers Annual}}
Marvel UK's '''Transformers Annuals''' were published once yearly during the comic's lifespan, usually in summer to autumn in advance of Christmas. Each annual was made up of a combination of a comic strip, text stories and editorial content. Some annuals also contained crossover stories with the main weekly comic in an attempt to boost sales. Due to falling sales, later annuals mainly contained reprinted stories from the comic. The contents of each annual are listed below; the titles in '''bold''' are new material created for the annual, while other titles are reprinted from the main comic (though usually with all-new colours added to black-and-white material).

{{chapters|title=[[Transformers Annual 1985|Marvel UK Annual 1985]]|content=
* '''[[Plague of the Insecticons!]]'''
* '''[[Missing in Action]]'''
* '''[[And There Shall Come...a Leader!]]'''
* '''[[Hunted!]]'''
}}

{{chapters|title=[[Transformers Annual 1986|Marvel UK Annual 1986]]|content=
* '''[[In the Beginning...]]'''
* '''[[To a Power Unknown!]]'''
* '''[[The Return of the Transformers]]'''
* '''[[State Games]]'''
* '''[[Victory!]]'''
* '''[[The Mission]]'''
}}

{{chapters|title=[[Transformers Annual 1987|Marvel UK Annual 1987]]|content=
* '''[[What's in a Name?]]'''
* '''[[Doomsday for Nebulos]]'''
* '''[[Vicious Circle!]]'''
* '''[[Stylor's Story]]'''
* '''[[Ark Duty]]'''
* '''[[The Final Conflict]]'''
}}

{{chapters|title=[[Transformers Annual 1989|Marvel UK Annual 1989]]|content=
* '''[[The Saga of the Transformers — So Far!]]'''
* '''[[Altered Image!]]'''
* '''[[Prime Bomb!]]'''
* '''[[All in the Minds!]]'''
* '''[[Peace]]'''
}}

{{chapters|title=[[Transformers Annual 1990|Marvel UK Annual 1990]]|content=
* '''[[The Quest!]]'''
* '''[[Destiny of the Dinobots!]]'''
* '''[[Trigger-Happy!]]'''
* '''[[Dreadwing Down!]]'''
* '''[[The Chain Gang!]]'''
}}

{{chapters|title=[[Transformers Annual 1991|Marvel UK Annual 1991]]|content=
* [[Fallen Angel]]
* '''[[The Magnificent Six!]]'''
* [[Firebug!]]
}}

{{chapters|title=[[Transformers Annual 1992|Marvel UK Annual 1992]]|content=
* [[The Hunting Party (Marvel)|The Hunting Party]]
* '''[[Another Time & Place]]'''
* [[Way of the Warrior]]
* [[Survival Run]]
* [[A Savage Place!]]
* [[Cry Wolf!]]
* [[Wolf in the Fold!]]
* [[Where Wolf?]]
}}

====Collected Comics====
{{main|Transformers Collected Comics}}
Beginning in Summer 1985, Marvel UK also published a companion series of sorts as a series of "Collected Comics" Specials, reprinting stories from the main series, mostly UK-original material. Of note was that these volumes would sometimes fully-colourise strips that had originally been told partially in black-and-white, along with other minor corrections. This reprint series outlived the ongoing for a couple more years, tapping into the remaining supply of colour UK material.

====The Complete Works====
{{main|The Transformers: The Complete Works Part 1|The Transformers: The Complete Works Part 2}}
''The Transformers: The Complete Works'' was a two-part hardcover series reprinting the first four issues of the Marvel U.S. comic. Notably, the second volume concludes with an altered ending, excising the original limited series' cliffhanger.

====Poster Magazine====
{{main|The Transformers Poster Magazine}}
Released around December 1986/January 1987, ''The Transformers Poster Magazine'' tied into the release of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''. The magazine folded open to eight times its regular size, becoming a replica of the movie's UK theatrical poster. The other side featured a short summary of the film, paired with screenshots.

====Action Force====
{{main|Action Force (comic)}}
In 1987, to promote Marvel UK's other boys action comic, Megatron and pals crossed over into issues 24-27 of ''Action Force'' as part of the story "[[Ancient Relics!]]".

====The Transformers Universe====
{{main|The Transformers Universe (Marvel)}}
In December 1988, Marvel UK released a variant of this Marvel U.S. ''Transformers'' profile series, with minor edits made to the indicia such as adding "Vol. One" to the spine.

==International printings==
''The Transformers'' has been printed in many languages, most having been published in the 1980s, but with some doing it in the 21st century.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Publisher
!Country
!Language
!Years
|-
|[[Ades Media]]
|Sweden
|Swedish
|2019-present
|-
|[[Atlantic förlags AB]]
|Denmark
|Danish
|1988-1989
|-
|[[Atlantic förlags AB]]
|Sweden
|Swedish
|1987-1993
|-
|[[Schibsted|Bladkompaniet]]
|Norwegian
|Norway
|1988-1989
|-
|[[Comics Forum]]
|Spain
|Spanish
|1985-1992
|-
|[[Condor Verlag]]
|Germany
|German
|1986-1992?
|-
|[[Hero-X]]
|Japan
|Japanese
|2018-present
|-
|[[Junior Press]]
|Netherlands
|Dutch
|1986-1991
|-
|[[RGE]]
|Brazil
|Portuguese
|1985-1986
|-
|[[Semic|TM Semic]]
|Finland
|Finnish
|1987-1991
|-
|[[Semic|TM Semic]]
|Poland
|Polish
|1991-1995
|}

==Notes==
* There was almost an entirely ''new'' Marvel continuity seperate from the other two, as a toy company in continental [[Europe]] had bought the licensing rights for some of the [[Japan|Japanese]] toys that Hasbro weren't releasing in Europe. Marvel UK were approached to create an extra comic about these toys, and [[Ian Rimmer]] got [[James Hill]] and [[Mike Collins]] to start work on ''It Wouldn't Be Called Transformers'' for the UK-and-European market before Hasbro just bought the other company out. <ref>''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 2]]'' page 18</ref>
* While Marvel US had some more involvement from Hasbro until the later years (when they'd lost interest), Marvel UK didn't even have to show Hasbro UK the scripts! This sort of laissez-faire attitude is very much ''not'' how licensed comics are done anymore.<ref>''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 2]]'' page 11</ref>
* [[The Night the Transformers Saved Christmas]] was a four-page comic special published in ''[[Woman's Day]]'' magazine. There were no credits, but it was obviously a Marvel Comics production.
* According to the third issue of ''All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z''{{'}}s entries on [[Death's Head (G1)|Death's Head]], the events of the Marvel UK Generation 1 comics take place on Marvel Earth-120185. The universe is named after the publication date of the first Marvel UK-exclusive story, "[[Man of Iron (issue)|Man of Iron]]".
* According to the [http://www.marvunapp.com/master/earthteaz.htm Marvel Universe Appendix], the events of the Marvel US comics take place on Marvel Earth-91274.
{{--}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://www.oneshallstand.com/articles/overview.html Guide to TF UK by Crespo99]
* [http://groups.google.com/group/net.comics/browse_thread/thread/4eeba9a9b0fe0817/1cdaf7df610e0376 May, 1984 net.comics review]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Transformers (Marvel Comics), The}}
[[Category:Continuities]]
[[Category:Generation 1 comic series]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]
[[Category:Marvel US issues]]

User:Some Dweeb/sandbox/Atlantic

2026-05-10T15:01:59Z

Some Dweeb:

This is a table for Atlantic förlag AB's Swedish printing of [[Marvel Comics]]' ''[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|The Transformers]]''.

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%" align="center"
! scope="col" style="width: 5px;" | Cover date
! scope="col" | Cover
! scope="col" | Contents
! scope="col" | Profiles
! scope="col" style="width: 200px;" | Release date
|-
|1/1987
|[[File:MarvelUS-01.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #1 "[[The Transformers (issue)|The Transformers]]" #2 "[[Power Play!]]" 
|Profiles: N/A
|[[January|??/01]]/[[1987]]
|-
|2/1987
|[[File:MarvelUS-03.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #3 "[[Prisoner of War!]]" #4 "[[The Last Stand]]" 
|Profiles: N/A
|[[March 12|12/03]]/1987
|-
|3/1987
|[[File:MarvelUS-06.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #5 "[[The New Order]]" #6 "[[The Worse of Two Evils!]]"
|Profiles: [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] [[Blades (G1)|Blades]]
|[[May 7|7/05]]/1987
|-
|4/1987
|[[File:MarvelUS-07.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #7 "[[Warrior School!]]" #8 "[[Repeat Performance!]]"
|Profiles:[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]<ref>Blitzwing and Bluestreak's bio texts were accidentally switched around.</ref>
|[[June 18|18/06]]/1987
|-
|5/1987
|[[File:MarvelUS-10.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #9 "[[DIS-Integrated Circuits!]]" #10 "[[The Next Best Thing to Being There!]]"
|Profiles: [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]
|[[August 6|06/08]]/1987
|-
|6/1987
|[[File:MarvelUS-12.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #11 "[[Brainstorm!]]" #12 "[[Prime Time!]]" 
|Profiles: [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]
|[[September 24|24/09]]/1987
|-
|7/1987
|[[File:TFUMarvel2-full.JPG|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #13 "[[Shooting Star!]]" #14 "[[Rock and Roll-Out!]]"
|Profiles:[[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]]
|[[November 26|26/11]]/1987
|-
|1/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-18.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #17 "[[The Smelting Pool!]]" #18 "[[The Bridge to Nowhere!]]" 
|Profiles: [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]]
|[[January 21|21/01]]/1988
|-
|2/1988
|[[File:TFTM1.jpg|100px]]
|''[[Transformers: The Movie (Marvel comic)|The Transformers: The Movie]]'' issues: #1 "[[The Planet-Eater!]]" #2 "[[Judgment Day!]]" #3 "[[The Final Battle!]]"
|Profiles: N/A
|[[February 19|19/02]]/1988
|-
|3/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-19.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #19 "[[Command Performances!]]" #20 "[[Showdown!]]"
|Profiles: [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] [[Superion (G1)|Superion]]
|[[March 17|17/03]]/1988
|-
|4/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-21.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #21 "[[Aerialbots over America!]] #22 "[[Heavy Traffic!]]"
|Profiles: [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]]
|[[April 14|14/04]]/1988
|-
|5/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-24.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #23 "[[Decepticon Graffiti!]]" #24 "[[Afterdeath!]]"
|Profiles: [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]]
|[[May 11|11/05]]/1988
|-
|6/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-27.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #25 "[[Gone but Not Forgotten!]]" #26 "[[Funeral for a Friend]]" #27 "[[King of the Hill!]]"
|Profiles: N/A
|[[June 9|09/06]]/1988
|-
|7/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-29.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #28 "[[Mechanical Difficulties!]]" #29 "[[Crater Critters]]"
|Profiles:[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] [[Gears (G1)|Gears]]
|[[July 7|07/06]]/1988
|-
|7 1/2 /1988
|[[File:MarvelHeadmasters-1.jpg|100px]]
|''[[The Transformers: Headmasters]]'' issues: #1 "[[Ring of Hate!]]" #2 "[[Broken Glass!]]" #3 "[[Love and Steel!]]" #4 "[[Brothers in Armor!!]]"
|Profiles: [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] [[Kranix (G1)|Kranix]] [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] Rodimus Prime
|[[July|08]]/1988
|-
|8/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-30.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #30 "[[The Cure!]]" #31 "[[Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom]]"
|Profiles:[[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] [[Groove (G1)|Groove]]
|[[August 11|11/08]]/1988
|-
|9/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-32.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #32 "[[Used Autobots]]" #35 "[[Child's Play (issue)|Child's Play]]"
|Profiles:[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]]
|[[September 8|08/09]]/1988
|-
|9 1/2 /1988
|[[File:JoeTF4.jpg|100px]]
|''[[G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]'' issues: #1 "[[Blood on the Tracks]]" #2 "[[Power Struggle]]" #3 [[Ashes, Ashes...]]" #4 "[[...All Fall Down!]]"
|Profiles: N/A
|09/1988
|-
|10/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-16.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #36 "[[Spacehikers]]" #37 "[[Toy Soldiers!]]"
|Profiles: [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]
|[[October 6|06/10]]/1988
|-
|11/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-38.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #38 "[[Trial by Fire!]]" #39 "[[The Desert Island of Space!]]"
|Profiles: [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]]
|[[November 3|03/11]]/1988
|-
|12/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-41.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #40 "[[Pretender to the Throne!]]" #41 "[[Totaled!]]"
|Profiles: [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]
|[[December 1|01/12]]/1988
|-
|1/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-42.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #42 "[[People Power!]]" #43 "[[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006]]"
|Profiles: [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] [[Octane]]
|[[January 12|12/01]]/[[1989]]
|-
|2/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-44.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #44 "[[The Cosmic Carnival]]" #45 "[[Monstercon from Mars!]]"
|Profiles: [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] [[Outback (G1)|Outback]] [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]
|[[February 9|9/02]]/1989
|-
|3/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-15.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #15 "[[I, Robot-Master!]]" #16 "[[Plight of the Bumblebee!]]"
|Profiles: [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] [[Eject (G1)|Eject]] [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]]<ref>The mention of Bumblebee in Huffer's profile was changed to Goldbug.</ref> [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]
|[[March 16|16/03]]/1989
|-
|4/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-47.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #46 "[[Ca$h and Car-nage!]]" #47 "[[Club Con!]]"
|Profiles: [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]] [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]
|[[April 13|13/04]]/1989
|-
|5/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-49.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #48 "[[The Flames of Boltax!]]" #49 "[[Cold War!]]" UK #145 "[[Kup's Story!]]"
|Profiles: [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]]
|[[May 11|11/05]]/1989
|-
|6/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-50.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #50 "[[Dark Star]]" UK #188 "[[Firebug!]]"
|Profiles: N/A
|[[June 8|08/06]]/1989
|-
|7/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-52.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: UK #96-97 "[[Prey!]]" UK #98 "[[...The Harder They Die!]]" UK #99 "[[Under Fire!]] UK #125 & [[Action Force (comic)|Action Force]] #24-27 "[[Ancient Relics!]]
|Profiles: N/A
|[[July 6|06/07]]/1989
|-
|8/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-51.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #51 "[[The Man in the Machine!]]" #52 "[[Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?]]"
|Profiles: [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]
|[[August 17|17/08]]/1989
|-
|9/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-53.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #53 "[[Recipe for Disaster!]]" #54 "[[King Con!]]"
|Profiles: [[Apeface|Apeface]] [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] [[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]]
|[[September 14|14/09]]/1989
|-
|10/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-55.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #56 "[[The Interplanetary Wrestling Championship!]]" #57 "[[Back from the Dead]]"
|Profiles: [[Headstrong (G1)|Headstrong]] [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hotspot]] [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]]
|[[October 12|12/10]]/1989
|-
|11/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-33.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: UK #9-12/US #33-34 "[[Man of Iron (issue)|Man of Rion]]"
|Profiles: [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] [[Sludge (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Sludge]] [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]]
|[[November 9|9/11]]/1989
|-
|12/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-57.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #57 "[[The Resurrection Gambit!]]" #58 "[[All the Familiar Faces!]]" #59 "[[Skin Deep]]"
|Profiles: N/A
|[[December 7|7/12]]/1989
|-
|1/1990
|[[File:MarvelUS-60.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: US #60 "[[Yesterday's Heroes!]]" UK #145 "[[Stargazing]]" US #61 "[[The Primal Scream]]"
|Profiles: [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]]
|[[February 22|22/02]]/[[1990]]
|-
|2/1990
|[[File:MarvelUS-61.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: UK #146-149 "[[The Legacy of Unicron!]]" parts 1-4
|Profiles: [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]
|[[April 19|19/04]]/1990
|-
|3/1990
|[[File:MarvelUS-62.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: UK #150-151 "[[The Legacy of Unicron!]]" parts 5-6 US #62 "[[Bird of Prey!]]"
|Profiles: [[Hosehead (G1)|Hosehead]] [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] [[Siren (G1)|Siren]] [[Backstreet (G1)|Backstreet]] [[Battletrap (G1)|Battletrap]] [[Goldbug (G1)|Goldbug]] [[Blot (G1)|Blot]] [[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]]
|[[June 14|14/06]]/1990
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

The Transformers UK Compendium Volume 1

2026-05-07T18:13:36Z

Some Dweeb:

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers Compendium]]''
|next=The Transformers UK Compendium Volume 2
|image=TF UK Compendium 1.jpg
|caption=Why does Cyclonus look like Scourge just ripped a nasty fart?
|title=''The Transformers UK Compendium Volume 1''
|publisher=[[Image Comics]] [[Skybound Entertainment]]
|date=[[February 25]], [[2026]]
|writers=[[Steve Parkhouse]], [[Simon Furman]], [[James Hill]], [[Mike Collins]], [[Barry Kitson]], [[Ian Mennell]], [[Wilf Prigmore]], [[Jamie Delano]], [[Ian Rimmer]]
|pencils=[[John Ridgway]], Mike Collins, [[John Stokes]], Barry Kitson, [[Will Simpson]], [[Geoff Senior]], [[David Hine|Dave Hine]], [[Jeff Anderson]], [[Ron Smith]], [[Martin Griffiths]], [[Dan Reed]], [[Stephen Baskerville]]
|inks=John Ridgway, Mike Collins, Jeff Anderson, John Stokes, Barry Kitson, [[Mark Farmer]], Will Simpson, Geoff Senior, [[Marc Griffiths]], [[Tim Perkins]], [[Andrew Leary]], Ron Smith, Dan Reed, Stephen Baskerville, [[Dave Harwood]], [[Dave Elliott]]
|colors=[[Josie Firmin]], [[Gina Hart]], [[John-Paul Bove]], [[Steve Whitaker]], [[Stuart Place]], [[John Burns]], Jeff Anderson, [[T.M. Cooks]], [[Tony Jozwiak]], [[Steve White]], [[Euan Peters]], [[Nick Abadzis]]
|letters=[[Richard Starkings]], [[John Aldrich]], [[Annie Halfacree]], [[Mike Scott]], [[Robin Riggs]]
|editors=[[Sheila Cranna]], Ian Rimmer
|collection editor=[[Sean Mackiewicz]]
|collection designer=[[Andres Juarez]]
|consultants=[[Jim Wilson]], [[Stuart Vivian]], [[Jonathan Chan]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
|pagecount=1064
|price=$64.99 USD
|ISBN=ISBN 1534330593 / ISBN 978-1534330597
}}

'''''The Transformers UK Compendium Volume 1''''', published by [[Skybound Entertainment]] in February [[2026]], is the first in a two-volume series intended to reprint the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|original ''Transformers'' series]] from [[Marvel Comics]] published exclusively in the United Kingdom.

==Contents==
* [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' UK]] [[Man of Iron (issue)|#9]]–[[Raiders of the Last Ark|21]], [[Decepticon Dam-Busters!|#29]]–[[The Wrath of Grimlock!|32]], [[Christmas Breaker!|#41]]–[[Dinobot Hunt!|50]], [[Robot Buster!|#59]]–[[Second Generation!|65]], [[In the National Interest|#74]]–[[Target: 2006|88]], [[Prey!|#96]]–[[Resurrection!|104]], [[Wanted: Galvatron — Dead or Alive!|#113]]–[[Fire on High!|120]], [[Ancient Relics!|#125]], [[Worlds Apart!|#131]]–[[Ladies' Night (issue)|138]], and [[Stargazing|#145]]. Whew!
* Stories from [[Transformers Annual|''The Transformers'' UK Annuals]] [[Transformers Annual 1985|1985]], [[Transformers Annual 1986|1986]], and [[Transformers Annual 1987|1987]].

{{DEFAULTSORT:Compendium}}
[[Category:Marvel Generation 1 comic compilations]]
[[Category:Skybound titles]]

The Transformers Compendium Volume 2

2026-05-07T18:12:15Z

Some Dweeb:

{{comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers Compendium]]''
|prev=The Transformers Compendium Volume 1
|next=
|image=TF Compendium 2.jpg
|caption=
|title=''The Transformers Compendium Volume 2''
|publisher=[[Image Comics]] [[Skybound Entertainment]]
|date=[[October 21]], [[2025]]
|coverdate=
|writer=
|pencils=
|inks=
|colors=
|letters=
|edits by=
|cover=
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
|pagecount=1208
|price=$64.99 USD
|ISBN=ISBN 978-1534331976
}}

'''''The Transformers Compendium Volume 2''''', published by [[Skybound Entertainment]] October [[2025]], is the second in a two-volume series intended to reprint the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|original ''Transformers'' series]] from [[Marvel Comics]]. This volume collects the later years of the comics days, originally published from July 1988 to August 1994.

A hardcover version of the book, under the alternate title '''''The Transformers Complete US Edition Compendium 2''''', was produced as part of Skybound's crowdfunded hardcover compendium line and released in December 2025.

==Contents==
* ''[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|The Transformers]]'' [[Club Con!|#47]]–[[End of the Road! (US)|80]]
* ''[[Transformers: The Movie (Marvel comic)|Transformers: The Movie]]'' [[The Planet-Eater!|#1]]–[[The Final Battle!|3]]
* ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|Transformers: Generation 2]]'' [[War Without End!|#1]]–[[A Rage in Heaven!|12]]

==Covers==
* '''Trade paperback (standard cover):''' Decepticons, by [[Daniel Warren Johnson]] & [[Mike Spicer]].
* '''Trade paperback (direct market exclusive):''' ''The Transformers'' #67 cover art, by [[Jim Lee]].
* '''Trade paperback (DCBS exclusive):''' ''The Transformers'' #53 cover art, by Jim Lee.
* '''Hardcover:''' Optimus Prime, from ''[[The Transformers Universe (Marvel)|The Transformers Universe]]'' #2 cover art by [[Herb Trimpe]], [[Ian Akin]] & [[Brian Garvey]].
<gallery>
File:TF Compendium 2.jpg
File:TF Compendium 2 DM Cover.jpg
</gallery>

[[Category:Marvel Generation 1 comic compilations]]

Transformers (2023 comic)

2026-05-06T20:40:30Z

Some Dweeb:

{{Disambig3|Transformers}}

[[File:Transformers 2023 1 cvr.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|You don't have to be the greatest Prime ever. You just have to be the greatest you.]]

'''''Transformers''''' is an ongoing comic series from [[Skybound Entertainment]] that debuted on [[October 4]], [[2023]]. It is the first ''Transformers'' title released under Skybound, following previous publisher [[IDW Publishing]]'s loss of the license in [[2022]]. The series is part of the [[Energon Universe]], sharing continuity with Skybound's ''[[Void Rivals]]'' and ''[[G.I. Joe (2024 comic)|G.I. Joe]]'' comics.

{{chapters|align=center|title=''Transformers'' issues:|content=
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 1|#1]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 2|#2]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 3|#3]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 4|#4]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 5|#5]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 6|#6]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 7|#7]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 8|#8]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 9|#9]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 10|#10]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 11|#11]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 12|#12]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 13|#13]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 14|#14]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 15|#15]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 16|#16]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 17|#17]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 18|#18]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 19|#19]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 20|#20]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 21|#21]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 22|#22]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 23|#23]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 24|#24]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 25|#25]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 26|#26]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 27|#27]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 28|#28]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 29|#29]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 30|#30]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 31|#31]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 32|#32]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 33|#33]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 34|#34]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 35|#35]]
* [[Transformers (2023) issue 36|#36]]
}}

==Overview==
While coping with losing his older brother, [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]], and his girlfriend, [[Carly (G1)|Carly]] discover the derelict ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' spacecraft just as the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s have reactivated. With Decepticon leader [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] mysteriously missing, the Cybertronian [[Great War (G1)|civil war]] resumes on [[Earth]], forcing [[human]]ity to reckon with the alien invaders. With the Decepticons seeking to suck Earth dry of its energy to fuel their conquest of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], and his few remaining troops are forced to utilize what limited resources they have to protect the planet. Meanwhile, tensions among the Decepticons are high; [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] clash for leadership and slowly drive the faction to split down the middle.

==Creative team==
''Transformers'' began with [[Daniel Warren Johnson]] writing and drawing the series for the first six issues, with colors provided by Johnson's longtime collaborator, [[Mike Spicer]]. At issue #7, Johnson shifted into purely scripting the series, with [[Jorge Corona]] taking over as the primary artist. Johnson and Corona's tenure would conclude with issue #24, allowing Skybound founder and ''Void Rivals'' writer [[Robert Kirkman]] to take over beginning with issue #25. Kirkman was joined by [[Dan Mora]] for his initial six-issue arc before [[Jason Howard]] took over as the main artist starting with issue #32. Mike Spicer remains onboard as the series' primary colorist.

The series has also featured several guest artists and fill-ins for some issues: the aforementioned Jason Howard was the artist for the "Origin of Starscream" arc in issues #13 and #14; [[Sarah Stern]] served as colorist for issues #15, #16 and #29; issues #19 and #31 featured art by [[Ludo Lullabi]] for two Megatron spotlight stories (with colors provided by [[Adriano Lucas]] for issue #19).

==Collections==
* '''''Transformers Volume 1: Robots in Disguise''''' ([[May 8]], [[2024]]) ISBN 1534398171 / ISBN 978-1534398177
** Collects ''Transformers'' issues #1–6.
** Trade paperback format.
** Variant covers:
*** '''Blackbird Comics & Coffeehouse Exclusive:''' by [[Matthew Allison]]. Limited to 300 copies. ISBN 978-1534327818
*** '''Comics Etc. Exclusive:''' by [[Stewart McKenny]] & [[John Law]]. Limited to 300 copies.
*** '''Direct Market Exclusive:''' by [[Jonboy Meyers]]. Exclusively sold through the comic book direct market. ISBN 978-1534327726
*** '''Gotham City Limit Exclusive:''' by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer. Limited to 300 copies. ISBN 978-1534327771
*** '''Jonathan Comics Exclusive:''' by Jason Howard. Limited to 300 copies.
*** '''Things From Another World Exclusive:''' by [[Frédéric Pham Chuong]]. Limited to 400 copies. ISBN 978-1534327887
*** '''TopShelfComic Fan Expo Dallas Exclusive:''' by [[Pasquale Ferrara]]. Limited to 300 copies.

* '''''Transformers Volume 2: Transport to Oblivion''''' ([[November 13]], [[2024]]) ISBN 1534345272 / ISBN 978-1534345270
** Collects ''Transformers'' issues #7–12.
** Trade paperback format.
** Variant covers:
*** '''Direct Market Exclusive:''' by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer. Exclusively sold through the comic book direct market. ISBN 978-1534354869
*** '''TopShelfComic Exclusive:''' by [[David Mack]]. Limited to 300 copies.
*** '''Verse Comics Exclusive:''' by [[Kei Zama]]. ISBN 978-1534326729

* '''''Transformers Deluxe Edition Book 1''''' ([[April 30]], [[2025]]) ISBN 1534328238 / ISBN 978-1534328235
** Collects ''Transformers'' issues #1–12.
** Hardcover format.
** Variant covers:
*** '''Bookdelivery Exclusive:''' by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer. Limited to 200 copies. ISBN 978-1534328679
*** '''Direct Market Exclusive:''' by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer. Exclusively sold through the comic book direct market. ISBN 978-1534329607
*** '''[[Hasbro Pulse]] Exclusive:''' by [[Tom Whalen]]. ISBN 978-1534398414
*** '''TopShelfComic Exclusive:''' by [[Marcelo Matere]]. Limited to 200 copies.

* '''''Transformers Volume 3: Combiner Chaos''''' ([[May 14]], [[2025]]) ISBN 1534329897 / ISBN 978-1534329898
** Collects ''Transformers'' issues #13–18 and the [[Transformers Energon Universe 2024 Special story|''Transformers'' story]] from ''[[Energon Universe 2024 Special]]''.
** Trade paperback format.
** Variant covers:
*** '''Direct Market Exclusive:''' by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer. Exclusively sold through the comic book direct market. ISBN 978-1534332683

* '''''Transformers Volume 4: Conquer and Control''''' ([[November 26]], [[2025]]) ISBN 1534332588 / ISBN 978-1534332584
** Collects ''Transformers'' issues #19–24 and the [[Transformers Energon Universe 2025 Special story|''Transformers'' story]] from ''[[Energon Universe 2025 Special]]''.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''Transformers Volume 5: Generation One''''' ([[June 2]], [[2026]]) ISBN 153433355X / ISBN 978-1534333550
** Collects ''Transformers'' issues #25–30
** Trade paperback format.

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 V1.jpg|'''''Volume 1: Robots in Disguise''''' – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer
File:Transformers 2023 V1 Blackbird Comics & Coffeehouse Cover.jpg|'''''Volume 1: Robots in Disguise'' Blackbird Comics & Coffeehouse Exclusive''' – cover art by [[Matthew Allison]]
File:Transformers 2023 V1 Comics Etc. Cover.jpg|'''''Volume 1: Robots in Disguise'' Comics Etc. Exclusive''' – cover art by [[Stewart McKenny]] & [[John Law]]
File:Transformers 2023 V1 DM Cover.jpg|'''''Volume 1: Robots in Disguise'' Direct Market Exclusive''' – cover art by [[Jonboy Meyers]]
File:Transformers 2023 V1 Gotham City Limit Cover.jpg|'''''Volume 1: Robots in Disguise'' Gotham City Limit Exclusive''' – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer
File:Transformers 2023 V1 Jonathan Comics Cover.jpg|'''''Volume 1: Robots in Disguise'' Jonathan Comics Exclusive''' – cover art by Jason Howard
File:Transformers 2023 V1 Things From Another World Cover.jpg|'''''Volume 1: Robots in Disguise'' Things From Another World Exclusive''' – cover art by [[Frédéric Pham Chuong]]
File:Transformers 2023 V1 Pasquale Ferrara Cover.jpg|'''''Volume 1: Robots in Disguise'' TopShelfComic Fan Expo Dallas Exclusive''' – cover art by [[Pasquale Ferrara]]
File:Transformers 2023 V2.jpg|'''''Volume 2: Transport to Oblivion''''' – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer
File:Transformers 2023 V2 DM Cover.jpg|'''''Volume 2: Transport to Oblivion'' Direct Market Exclusive''' – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer
File:Transformers 2023 V2 TopShelfComic Cover.jpg|'''''Volume 2: Transport to Oblivion'' TopShelfComic Exclusive''' – cover art by [[David Mack]]
File:Transformers 2023 V2 Verse Comics Cover.jpg|'''''Volume 2: Transport to Oblivion'' Verse Comics Exclusive''' – cover art by [[Kei Zama]]
File:Transformers 2023 B1.jpg|'''''Deluxe Edition Book 1''''' – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer
File:Transformers 2023 B1 Bookdelivery Cover.jpg|'''''Deluxe Edition Book 1'' Bookdelivery Exclusive''' – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer
File:Transformers 2023 B1 DM Cover.jpg|'''''Deluxe Edition Book 1'' Direct Market Exclusive''' – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer
File:Transformers 2023 B1 Hasbro Pulse Cover.jpg|'''''Deluxe Edition Book 1'' [[Hasbro Pulse]] Exclusive''' – cover art by [[Tom Whalen]]
File:Transformers 2023 B1 TopShelfComic Cover.jpg|'''''Deluxe Edition Book 1'' TopShelfComic Exclusive''' – cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:Transformers 2023 V3.jpg|'''''Volume 3: Combiner Chaos''''' – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer
File:Transformers 2023 V3 DM Cover.jpg|'''''Volume 3: Combiner Chaos'' Direct Market Exclusive''' – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer
File:Transformers 2023 V4.jpg|'''''Volume 4: Conquer and Control''''' – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer
File:Transformers 2023 B2.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 V5.jpg|'''''Volume 5: Generation One''''' – cover art by [[David Nakayama]]
File:Transformers 2023 V6.jpg|'''''Volume 6: Decepticons Attack''''' – cover art by David Nakayama
</gallery>

===International Printings===
====China====
The Chinese version was translated by [[NOTRAB]] and released by Tiandi Press in China.

* '''''Transformers: Reignition of War''''' ([[November]], [[2024]]) ISBN 978-7545586046
** Collects ''Transformers'' issues #1–6.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''Transformers: No Way Home''''' ([[November]], [[2024]]) ISBN 978-7545586053
** Collects ''Transformers'' issues #7–12.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''Transformers: Hope in the Abyss''''' (TPA) ISBN 978-7545536027
** Collects ''Transformers'' issues #13–18 and the [[Transformers Energon Universe 2024 Special story|''Transformers'' story]] from ''[[Energon Universe 2024 Special]]''.
** Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 V1 Chinese.JPG|'''''Transformers: Reignition of War''''' (变形金刚：战火重燃)
File:Transformers 2023 V2 Chinese.JPG|'''''Transformers: No Way Home''''' (变形金刚：故土难归)
</gallery>

====Germany====
* '''''Transformers Band 1: Roboter unter uns!''''' ([[February 26]], [[2025]]) ISBN 1534398171 / ISBN 978-1534398177
** Collects ''Transformers'' issues #1–6.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''Transformers Band 2: Der Durchbruch''''' ([[July 29]], [[2025]])
** Collects ''Transformers'' issues #7–12.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''Transformers Band 3: Tödliches Chaos!''''' ([[October 21]], [[2025]])
** Collects ''Transformers'' issues #13–18.
** Trade paperback format.
<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 V1 German.jpg|'''''Band 1: Roboter unter uns!'''''
</gallery>

====Hungary====
* '''''Energon Universe: A Teljes Gyűjtemény 1.''''' ([[August 27]], [[2025]]) ISBN TBA
** Collects ''[[Void Rivals]]'' issues #1-6, ''Transformers'' issues #1–6, and ''[[Duke (comic)|Duke]]'' issues #1-5.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''Energon Universe: A Teljes Gyűjtemény 2.''''' ([[2025]], TBA) ISBN TBA
** Collects ''[[Cobra Commander]]'' issues #1-5, ''Transformers'' issues #7–12, ''Void Rivals'' issues #7-12, and the ''[[Energon Universe 2024 Special]]''.
** Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:Energon Universe C1 Hungarian.jpg
File:Energon Universe C2 Hungarian.jpg
</gallery>

====Poland====
The Polish version was released by Nagle Comics.

* '''''Transformers. Tom 1: Zamaskowane roboty''''' ([[September 11]], [[2024]]) ISBN 9788367725392
** Collects ''Transformers'' issues #1–6.
** Trade paperback format.

* ''''' Transformers. Tom 2: Wyprawa w otchłań''''' ([[February 26]], [[2025]]) ISBN 9788367725521
** Collects ''Transformers'' issues #7–12.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''Transformers. Tom 3: Pojedynek Combinerów''''' ([[September 24]], [[2025]]) ISBN 9788367725781
** Collects ''Transformers'' issues #13–18 and the [[Transformers Energon Universe 2024 Special story|''Transformers'' story]] from ''[[Energon Universe 2024 Special]]''.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''Transformers. Tom 4: Podbić i podporządkować''''' ([[February 25]], [[2026]]) ISBN 9788367725897
** Collects ''Transformers'' issues #19–24 and the [[Transformers Energon Universe 2025 Special story|''Transformers'' story]] from ''[[Energon Universe 2025 Special]]''.
** Trade paperback format.

<gallery>
File:Transformers_2023_V1_Polish.jpg|'''''Tom 1: Zamaskowane roboty''''' – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer
File:Transformers_2023_V2_Polish.jpg|'''''Tom 2: Wyprawa w otchłań''''' – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer
File:Transformers_2023_V3_Polish.jpg|'''''Tom 3: Pojedynek Combinerów''''' – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer
File:Transformers_2023_V4_Polish.jpg|'''''Tom 4: Podbić i podporządkować''''' – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer
</gallery>

====Sweden====
* '''''Transformers 1/2024''''' ([[October 16]], [[2024]])
** Collects ''Transformers'' issue #1 and ''Void Rivals'' #1.
** Magazine format.

* '''''Transformers 1/2025''''' ([[January 15]], [[2025]])
** Collects ''Transformers'' issue #2 and ''Duke'' #1.
** Magazine format.

* '''''Transformers 2/2025''''' ([[April 16]], [[2025]])
** Collects ''Transformers'' issue #3, ''Duke'' #2 and ''Void Rivals'' #2.
** Magazine format.

* '''''Transformers 3/2025''''' ([[July 16]], [[2025]])
** Collects ''Transformers'' issue #4-5 and ''Duke'' #3.
** Magazine format.

* '''''Transformers 4/2025''''' ([[October 15]], [[2025]])
** Collects ''Transformers'' issue #6 and ''Duke'' #4-5.
** Magazine format.

* '''''Transformers 1/2026''''' ([[March 18]], [[2026]])
** Collects ''Transformers'' issue #7, ''Void Rivals'' #3 and ''[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|The Transformers]]'' [[Burning Sky!|#115-116]].
** Magazine format.

====Ukraine====
* '''''Трансформери Том 1: Замасковані Роботи ''''' ([[November]], [[2025]]) ISBN 9786170999559 
** Collects ''Transformers'' issues #1–6.
** Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 V1 Urkanian C1.jpg |'''Трансформери Том 1: Замасковані Роботи ''' cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer
File:Transformers 2023 V1 Urkanian C2.jpg |'''Трансформери Том 1: Замасковані Роботи ''' cover art by by [[Ian Bertram]] & [[Gus Storms]]
</gallery>

====Brazil====
The Brazilian version was released by [[Panini|Panini Comics]].

* '''''Transformers Volume 1: Robôs Disfarçados''''' ([[March]], [[2026]]) ISBN 9786525954257
** Collects ''Transformers'' issues #1–6.
** Trade paperback format.

<gallery>
File:Transformers_2023_V1_Brazilian.jpg|'''''Volume 1: Robôs Disfarçados''''' – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer
</gallery>

==Awards and nominations==
===2024 Eisner Awards===
* Best Continuing Series '''(WINNER)'''
* Best Writer/Artist - Daniel Warren Johnson '''(WINNER)'''
* Best Lettering - [[Rus Wooton]]; shared nomination with 10 other series, including ''Void Rivals''

==Notes==
* [[FIRRIB|Frenzy is red, Rumble is blue.]]
* Before the comic's release, the first issue of ''Void Rivals'' laid the groundwork for the series, featuring a guest appearance by Jetfire. Skybound hadn't formally announced their license acquisition and the aforementioned Jetfire appearance was a surprise reveal.

[[Category:Energon Universe media]]
[[Category:Skybound titles]]

The Not Knowing

2026-05-05T21:00:17Z

Some Dweeb:

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=44
|prev=The One Where They Go to Earth
|next=Some Of My Best Friends Are Autobots
|image=MTMTE44_regcvr.jpg
|title="The Not Knowing"
|caption="Forty-two! Is that all you've got to show for seven and a half million years' work?"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[September 2]], [[2015]]
|coverdate=August 2015
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|pencils by=[[Hayato Sakamoto]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2015)]]
}}
'''Following the trail of Agent 113's bullet, the ''Lost Light''ers make their way to the Necrobot's base of operations, where both Rewind and Chromedome's relationship, and Nightbeat's hope in the existence of a greater power, are tested.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:MTMTE44 a lot of banter.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.7|Take the second panel out of context, things don't look quite right...]]
The message bullet extracted from [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]]'s shoulder proves largely corrupted by rust, but of the data sent by [[Dominus Ambus|Agent 113]]—now revealed to have been the previous holder of the "[[Vos (G1)|Vos]]" codename—one intact piece of information gives the crew of the ''[[Lost Light]]'' a startling new objective to explore: the location of the supposedly-mythical [[Mortilus|Necrobot]]'s [[Necroworld|base of operations]]. [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] has a revelation of his own, however—it turns out that the doodles he has been carving into his desk since the ship's launch are, in fact, a map to [[Cyberutopia]] just like the one [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] drew, and he is much more interested in following it than looking for the Necrobot. When [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] and [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] explain that they want to visit the Necrobot's world in hopes of learning the fate of Rewind's old partner [[Dominus Ambus]], [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] agrees to their request, and the ''Lost Light'' sets off. [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] takes Rewind aside to talk about his departed spark brother in order to caution him to not get his hopes up for Dominus's survival, but it turns out that Rewind has already had this discussion with ''his'' Magnus, on the quantum duplicate ''Lost Light'', and refuses to believe his claim that he can sense his brother's absence.

Presently, the ''Lost Light'' arrives at the Necrobot's rather unassuming planet, and a small group heads down to the surface in the [[Rodpod]]. They are greeted by the sight of a beautiful garden, full of holographic statues surrounded by [[Cybertronian remembrance flower|sparkling blue flowers]], and soon deduce that the statues represent those Transformers who are still living, while the empty plinths are for the dead. Homing in on the solitary life sign on the planet, the Rod Pod sets down outside a huge complex, where a noticeably jumpy [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] immediately spots some movement in the building's doorway, only for the door to be slammed shut before he can reach it. While the others split up to wander about the garden and investigate, Nightbeat stands outside the door and calls to whoever or whatever may be inside... at which point, the door opens a crack, and the imposing form of the Necrobot appears to invite Nightbeat inside!

[[File:Censere nightbeat the not knowing.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2]]
[[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] dismisses the exercise as a waste of time, but Megatron confides that that was precisely his rationale for allowing the trip: although he will accept his fate when the time comes, he is in no hurry to rush toward that final judgement. Regardless of Megatron's intent, Chromedome and Rewind are here for a purpose: soon, they have hacked into the central database that powers the holographic statues, so that they can search for Dominus's name to learn what has become of him. But before Chromedome presses "search", Rewind hesitates, unsure if, after all this time, he ''really'' wants to know the truth. Chromedome assures him that whatever choice he makes, he will stand by him, and help him continue his search in other ways—a show of dedication that convinces Rewind that the past must be put behind him. The search begins, and the result appears... Dominus Ambus of Ambustus Minor is, indeed, deceased.

Within the Necrobot's complex, the mysterious robot explains to Nightbeat that he is, actually, a totally ordinary—if very long-lived—Cybertronian named [[Mortilus|Censere]]. A forensic pathologist, Censere was moved to begin chronicling deaths when the death of his friend [[Tusk]] went unreported, and simply uses the machines in his complex to keep track of spark signatures and to teleport him around the universe to carry out his tasks. Nightbeat is dismayed and furious; in spite of his rationalist nature, he had truly hoped to learn that the Necrobot was proof of a higher power, a reaffirmation of the notion of life after death that Nightbeat had come to doubt since his own death years beforehand. Censere reassures him that just because ''he'' is not "magic" does not mean that the [[Transformer afterlife|Afterspark]] does not exist, and explains that his understanding of life and death is not absolute: he was, for instance, alarmed to see Nightbeat and many of the other ''Lost Light''ers, as he believed they were already dead. Censere takes him to a monolith labelled "In Honor of the [[Disappeared]]", upon which he has carved the names of those whose deaths he cannot verify; Nightbeat sees his own name on the slab (his body having been stolen away into the [[Dead Universe]] before Censere reached him), but then spots another one of great interest. He calls the crew together, and while everyone is marvelling over the once-legendary Necrobot, Nightbeat takes Chromedome and Rewind to the monolith, where it is revealed that Dominus Ambus's name is also engraved on its surface!

A little later, as everyone prepares to depart, Nightbeat says farewell to Censere, but not without grimly informing him that he should use his skills to save the living, rather than record the dead. Rodimus realizes that Megatron has disappeared, and is informed by [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] that he slipped away with Ravage a little while ago, after the Necrobot explained the significance of his garden's flowers: they contain the residual [[spark]] energy of the deceased, and he plants them around the statue of the Transformer who was responsible for ending that life. Thus it is that Megatron receives a grim reminder that he cannot put off his day of reckoning forever, as he visits his own statue and sees a beautiful blue field of sparkling flowers, stretching in every direction, far and away into the horizon...
[[File:MTMTE44-MegatronLookAtTheFlowers.jpg|450px|center|thumb|[[Our Finest|"Maybe he needed to do a genocide to figure out it's bad?"]]]]

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (2)
* [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (3)
* [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (4)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]]/[[Minimus Ambus]] (5)
* [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] (6)
* [[Dominus Ambus|Agent 113]] (video message, 7)
* [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (8)
* [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (9)
* [[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] (10)
* [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (11)
* [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (12)
* [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (13)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Getaway]] (14)
* [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (16)
* [[Ube-in]] (statue, 17)
* [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] (statue, 18)
* [[Cyber (G1)|Cyber]] (statue, 19)
* [[O-G]] (statue, 20)
* [[Yamada-3]] (statue, 21)
* [[Action]] (statue, 22)
* [[Indead]] (statue, 23)
* [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] (statue, 26)
* [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] (27)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (28)
* [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] (29)
{{!}}}
|c2=
* [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] (15)
* [[Wheezing Arrow]] (statue, 24)
|c4=
* [[Mortilus|Censere]] (1)
* [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] (statue, 25)
}}

==Quotes==
"You know, I can just about accept that the '''D.J.D.''' was infiltrated by an Autobot, but what I find '''bizarre''' is that this '''"Agent 113"''' thinks it practical to deliver his field reports by firing bullet-shaped data-slugs into '''three-fingered metallurgists'''." 
"It's not '''exclusively''' metallurgists. When I said that, I didn't... I was attempting to make a joke." 
"Yes—I know—I was '''running with it'''. There's a lot of banter on this ship; I thought I was ready to take the plunge." 
"I think we've both learned something from this."
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Ultra Magnus'''

"If you caught '''me''' spilling that many beans, you'd give me a '''dressing down''' so epic, so protracted—so narratively dense—it would have subplots, callbacks, and a finale that would provide closure whilst leaving the door open for future '''tellings off'''."
:—'''Rodimus''', to Magnus, when Magnus tells Megatron about Agent 113

"Is it too soon to have '''"Chosen One"''' engraved on my forehead?" 
"I can think of more appropriate words."
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Megatron'''

"Don't take offense, but it's quite difficult—sitting here, looking at you... you look so '''similar'''." 
"I know. Why do you think I've spent most of my life trying to look like someone else?"
:—'''Rewind''' and '''Minimus Ambus'''

"I don't know what you were expecting. I don't know what a '''non-boring''' planet looks like to you." 
"What." 
"Describe it. I'm genuinely interested. Describe your perfect planet." 
"Let's see... stripped of organic life, relieved of energy, coated in metal... oh—wait—that's '''your''' perfect planet."
:—'''Megatron''' might want some cold water for that burn, courtesy of '''Rodimus'''

"Don't '''touch''' anything, don't '''steal''' anything, and definitely don't '''desecrate''' anything."
:—'''Rodimus''' warns the crew to behave

"Once you press "search", that's it—I'll know. And I don't know if I'm '''ready''' to know. ...I'm sorry. This is stupid. I'm being stupid." 
"It's not. And you're not." 
"Tell me what to do." 
"Rewind—my love—it's not for me to say." 
"But this affects '''both''' of us. If I don't do this... if we leave here not knowing, we could spend the next four million years searching for someone who's..." 
"I know. But at least we'd be doing it together."
:—'''Rewind''' and '''Chrome—''' * sniff* ...and '''Chromedome'''... look, I just have something in my eye, okay?!

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* The Necrobot was introduced in the "Scavengers" two-parter in [[Rules of Disengagement (issue)|issue #7]] and [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|#8]]. It was in the second of those issues that he actually physically appeared, and in which we saw his datapad containing a list of deceased ''Lost Light'' crewmembers; this issue confirms the earlier implication that these were the quantum duplicate crewmembers from the second ''Lost Light'', seen in the "Slaughterhouse" two-parter in [[slaughterhouse|issue #32]] and [[slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|#33]].
* Agent 113, first mentioned in the "[[Bullets]]" prose story in 2010, is finally revealed to not be a current member of the DJD, but rather, the previous holder of the "Vos" codename—the one with hooks for hands and feet, whose existence was established in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|issue #29]]. He was replaced so recently that nobody on the ''Light'', not even Megatron, knew he'd been replaced until they found the 'other' ''Light''.
* Magnus mentions that the crew learned how to juggle during a three-week stay at the Cosmic Carnival, and Skids was seen demonstrating his juggling skills back in issue [[The Sensuous Frame|#41]].
* We first learned Rodimus has been carving doodles into his desk in [[Signal to Noise|issue #13]], and were reminded of that fact recently in issue #41. Turns out he's been drawing a map to Cyberuptopia like the one we saw [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] had drawn in that same issue, complete with the gear-like hieroglyphs from [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|issue #21]].
* Ultra Magnus has a figure of [[Ten]] under his desk, recalling how their friendship began in [[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|issue #40]] when Ten gave him a Minimus Ambus figure.
* When Skids remarks that he is a "recovering believer", he strokes his cheek, where we know from issues [[Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|#11]] and [[Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|#36]] that he used to have a tattoo of the [[Matrix of Leadership]] as a symbol of his faith.
* Nightbeat refers to his death from all the way back in ''[[Spotlight: Hardhead]]'' (see "Errors", below).
* Swerve takes a selfie with the Necrobot; we've seen Swerve using his "cell phone", before, back in "[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]]", when he went on about his ringtone.
* Skids says "who doesn't want to survive the dying of the light?" to Nightbeat, both people who will be part of a little story in #50 called... [[The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|"The Dying of the Light"]]!
* Nightbeat is haunted by the idea that there is no afterlife for his kind. His use of the phrase "nothing to ascend to" forshadows his [[The Everlasting Voices (2): The God War|final fate]].
* Swerve's opening recap monologue contains the first hints of his relationship with Velocity.

===Transformers references===
* Ultra Magnus mentions that the ''Lost Light''ers once spent three weeks at the [[Cosmic Carnival]], the greatest show in the galaxy that appeared in [[The Cosmic Carnival|issue #44]] of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|original Marvel Transformers comic]].
* Rodimus jokes about having "Chosen One" engraved on his forehead, the title that Rodimus was referred to with in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]].

===Real-life references===
* Rodimus describes Rewind's way of telling him about the Necrobot as they walk through the ship's corridors as "''West Wing''-ing", a reference to the TV show ''{{w|The West Wing}}'' and its famous tracking shots of characters talking with one another as they walk down long hallways.
* The Necrobot's real name, "Censere" (see "Errors", below), is a [[Latin language|Latin]] word meaning "to appraise" or "to assess".
* The endless blue sparkflowers that symbolise the sparks of dead Cybertronians bear close resemblance to the poppy fields of Flanders, where hundreds of thousands of soldiers died during World War I, and to the legend that there are as many flowers as soldiers who died there. Poppies are also used to remember fallen, and veteran, soldiers in Britain and several Commonwealth nations, though this comic puts a darker spin on it here. This will take on an extra significance with "The Dying Of The Light" and especially [[The Dying of the Light Part 4: At Close of Day|#53]], which will give an explicit nod at the end to the First World War and the memorial poem "In Flanders Fields". In an extra nod, the gravestones on the special cover resemble the rows of hundreds of thousands of gravestones of Unknown soldiers lying in World War I and II cemeteries.

===Errors===
* Rewind worries about Rodimus poking someone's eye out with a table leg, but the table he's carrying doesn't really ''have'' legs — it's just a huge metal block with little stubs at each corner.
* As the crew disembark the Rodpod it appears that Skids has been coloured as Hound.
* The Necrobot introduces himself as "Censere", but when Nightbeat speaks his name during their farewell, it's incorrectly spelled "Censerre", with an extra "r". This is corrected for the trade paperback.
* When Nightbeat talks about his death, the footnote states he died in ''[[Spotlight: Nightbeat]]'', rather than ''Spotlight: Hardhead''. This is corrected for the trade paperback.
* Dominus Ambus's name is described as being "three from the bottom" on the monolith, but the art shows it being on the bottom line. The trade paperback changes this to "Right column, on the bottom".
* Rewind's second "Oh my god!" is attributed to Nightbeat erroneously.
* In "After the Necrobot explained about the flowers," Necrobot's word balloon is pointing at Riptide.

===Other trivia===
* This issue arrived a teensy bit late, landing in the first week of September rather than the last week of August.
* Megatron correctly deduces that the former holder of the Vos codename (who we now know was also Dominus Ambus) was the Autobot mole within the Decepticon Justice Division. While this does imply he was the appointed Vos as of Megatron's last meeting with the DJD, he was previously seen using the current Vos, originally known as Forestock, in his sniper rifle mode in a flashback panel of ''[[Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things]]''. Additionally, he seems aware of Forestock's new identity in ''[[The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle]]''. This may not necessarily be an error, as Megatron may have plausibly been familiar with Forestock as a soldier and a weapon prior to his induction into the DJD.
* Several statues in the Necrobot's garden are not immediately recognizable; though Rodimus mentions two Transformers named [[Raptor (G1)|Raptor]] and [[Scissorkick]], their statues are said to be near [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] and [[Xaaron (G1)|Xaaron]], who are not pictured.
* While Xaaron has always been best known by the rank he carried in the Marvel comics, "Emirate", he's never had that rank in the IDW universe. As Rodimus spots a statue of him in the Necrobot's garden, he notes that his full title in this universe is "Advocate Xaaron".
* Ironhide died way back in [[...For All Mankind|''The Transformers'' #1]]; presumably the Necrobot turned his statue back on after learning that he was up and about again thanks to his [[Ironing Out the Details|resurrection]] at the hands of [[Alpha Trion]].
* During Nightbeat's conversation with Censere, he reveals that he tracks the lives and deaths of ''Cybertronians'', yet there is a statue for Windblade, who is a [[Caminus (planet)|Camien]]. Roberts later clarified that the Necrobot does not record the lives and deaths of those living on the colony worlds, only those on Cybertron, so since Windblade had made Cybertron her new home, she fell under that purview.<ref>
{{citesocial|quote=In response to lots of questions: there aren't statues of TFs living on colonies, only those now on Cybertron and therefore 'recorded'.|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/639375882449195008|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=09|day=03|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* Full names learned for Transformers in this issue include: [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee of Iacon]], [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] of [[Pescus Hex]], Dominus Ambus of [[Ambustus Minor]] (and thus by extension, Minimus Ambus of Ambustus Minor), Chromedome of Iacon, Hound of [[Lower Monoplex]], and Nightbeat of [[Yuss]]. Additionally, [[Ambulon]] is revealed to have been an [[M.T.O.]]; a speech-bubble obscures his full name, but we see that it partially reads "Ambulon of Operation Split Infin--" something (a crack about "{{w|split infinitive}}s" and Ambulon's status as part of a [[combiner]], if not a reference to his grisly demise). This makes Ambulon the first confirmed example of a Decepticon M.T.O.
* Bumblebee's plinth puts in an appearance, but note that the scene is drawn in such a way that we can't tell if his statue is on or off...

===Soundtrack===
* "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaoCEdZnyFk Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want]" by {{w|The Smiths}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=The first song for MTMTE #44 is a classic and a personal favourite, but it absolutely sums up the issue: https://t.co/ItfddtusQs|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/635846980078583810|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=08|day=24|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjeCgsNrvCw Song for the Leftovers]" by {{w|A Camp}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Certain songs REALLY fit an issue. This is one of them https://t.co/BSiI1piEmj (It's also kind of the theme to the end of Season 2) #MTMTE44|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/635847872236396544|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=08|day=24|(defunct=)}}</ref>

'''Swedish:'''
* ''Title:'' "'''Att inte veta'''" ("To Not Know")
* The footnotes when Nightbeat talks about his death have been changed to refer to the then-upcoming ''Transformers: Stormvarning''... which featured ''Spotlight: Nightbeat''.

===Covers (3)===
* '''Regular cover:''' Chromedome and Rewind stare up at an imposing monolith, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
* '''Subscription cover:''' Megatron amid a field of gravestones, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]].
* '''Retailer incentive cover:''' Megatron wails after Nautica steals his Rodimus action figure, while Swerve looks on; one of a series of super-deformed covers by [[Agnes Garbowska]] that make up the Retailer Incentive covers on IDW's August ''Transformers'' titles.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE44 regcvr.jpg|
File:MTMTE44 subcvr.jpg|
File:MTMTE44 cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''More than Meets the Eye'' #45
* ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]'' [[The Transgressors|#44]]
* ''[[The Transformers: Windblade|Windblade]]'' [[Race Against the Light|#5]]
* ''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' [[Stick To Your Guns|#9]]
* ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]: Amazing Adventures''
* "You Must Shop at These Fine Stores!" - classic-style advert promoting multiple comic shops
* IDW ''Transformers'' comic app
* ''Uncle Scrooge'' Vol. 1 TPB (back cover)

===Reprints===
* '''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 8''''' ([[October 21]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631404520 / ISBN 978-1631404528
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #39–44.
** Bonus material includes covers of each issue.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 9]]''''' ([[June 19]], [[2019]]) ISBN 1684054842 / ISBN 978-1684054848
** Collects [[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|''The Transformers'' (2012)]] issues [[First Contact (IDW)|#39]]–[[You, Me, and the Universe|41]], [[Now and On Earth|#42]] & [[South of Heaven|#43]], [[The Transformers: Windblade|''Windblade'' (2015)]] issues [[The Sum and Its Parts|#1]]–[[All That Remains|3]] & [[Windblade vol. 2 issue 4|#4]]–[[Race Against the Light|5]], and ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #41–44.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 66: Speak, Memory''''' ([[December 25]], 2019)
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #43–49.
** Bonus material includes a one-page article about the [[Scavengers (G1)|Scavengers]], a cover gallery and a forward by [[Simon Furman]].
** Hardcover format.

* '''''Transformers: Några av mina bästa vänner är Autoboter''''' ([[November]], [[2025]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #39 & #41-46, ''Drift: Empire of Stone'' issues #1-4 and the ''Revolution'' one-shot.
** Swedish reprint. Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol8.jpg|'''''More Than Meets the Eye Volume 8''''' – cover art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V9.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 9''''' – cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v66.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 66: Speak, Memory''''' – cover art by [[Dan Khanna]] (Getaway) and [[Hayato Sakamoto]] (retro)
File:MTMTE SWE 05.jpg|'''''Några av mina bästa vänner är Autoboter''''' – cover art by Alex Milne and Josh Perez
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.newsarama.com/25708-preview-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-44.html Preview]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Not Knowing}}

The Transformers: Spotlight

2026-05-05T20:55:48Z

Some Dweeb:

[[File:TF Spotlight v1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Extremely logical that I was given the first ''Spotlight''!]]
'''''The Transformers: Spotlight''''' (later '''''The Transformers Spotlight'''''), published since [[2006]], is an semi-ongoing series of one-shot comics published by [[IDW Publishing]] and set in the [[2005 IDW continuity]]. Each issue focuses on a particular [[Transformer]].

Initially intended only to consist of five issues, the series evolved into an intermittent "ongoing" of sorts until the end of 2009, at which point it was shelved. One additional issue, ''[[Ride-Along|Spotlight: Prowl]]'', was published in April [[2010]]. The series returned for a final six issues starting in December 2012 as part of a tie-in with the ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' toyline.

{{chapters|align=left|style=3|title=''Transformers: Spotlight'' issues:|content=
* [[Spotlight: Shockwave|Shockwave]]
* [[Spotlight: Nightbeat|Nightbeat]]
* [[Spotlight: Hot Rod|Hot Rod]]
* [[Spotlight: Sixshot|Sixshot]]
* [[Spotlight: Ultra Magnus|Ultra Magnus]]
* [[Spotlight: Soundwave|Soundwave]]
* [[Spotlight: Kup|Kup]]
* [[Spotlight: Galvatron|Galvatron]]
* [[Spotlight: Optimus Prime|Optimus Prime]]
* [[Spotlight: Ramjet|Ramjet]]
* [[Spotlight: Blaster|Blaster]]
* [[Spotlight: Arcee|Arcee]]
* [[Spotlight: Mirage|Mirage]]
* [[Spotlight: Grimlock|Grimlock]]
* [[Spotlight: Wheelie|Wheelie]]
* [[Spotlight: Cyclonus|Cyclonus]]
* [[Spotlight: Hardhead|Hardhead]]
* [[Spotlight: Doubledealer|Doubledealer]]
* [[Spotlight: Sideswipe|Sideswipe]]
* [[Spotlight: Blurr|Blurr]]
* [[Spotlight: Jazz|Jazz]]
* [[Spotlight: Drift|Drift]]
* [[Spotlight: Cliffjumper|Cliffjumper]]
* [[Spotlight: Metroplex|Metroplex]]
* [[Ride-Along|Prowl]]
* [[Omega's Conundrum|Orion Pax]]
* [[The Hunting Party (IDW)|Thundercracker]]
* [[Spotlight: Megatron|Megatron]]
* [[The Question|Bumblebee]]
* [[The Reluctant Specialist|Trailcutter]]
* [[The Waiting Game|Hoist]]
}}

==Overview==
The ''Spotlight'' series is set within the [[2005 IDW continuity]]. The format allows more free-ranging story settings—many issues are set on alien worlds—and serve to give a wider view of the overall IDW Transformers universe. As such, the issues are not set in any kind of absolute chronological order, taking place at various points in the [[2005 IDW timeline]], sometimes expanding upon pre-existing plot points, sometimes setting up ideas to be explored later, and sometimes—''get this''—just telling a story.

For the vast majority of its first three years, during [[Simon Furman]]'s tenure as the chief Transformers writer at IDW, in addition to spotlighting singular characters, the series served to visibly set up plot points that would tie into the main ongoing story Furman was telling at the time. Roughly speaking, five issues were released per year across 2006, 2007 and 2008, collected into three trade paperbacks; Nightbeat, Hot Rod, Sixshot, Ultra Magnus, Soundwave and Kup were also reprinted in hardback library editions and sold through [[ABDO Publishing Group]] and its aptly named subsidiary, Spotlight. After this, when Furman's run on the Generation 1 universe was truncated, four additional ''Spotlight'' issues published at the end of 2008 played home to the finale of his story, "[[Revelation (IDW)|Revelation]]".

''Spotlight'' continued to run concurrently with the new "main" series, ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'', publishing another set of five issues in 2009 which were collected as ''All Hail Megatron Vol. 3'', despite having almost nothing to do with that series itself. Following this, the launch of the [[The Transformers (IDW)|ongoing series]], ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'', and ''[[The Transformers: Bumblebee]]'' miniseries led to ''Spotlight'' being put on hold. A planned spotlight for [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] was canceled, and only one further issue was published in 2010: "[[Ride-Along|Spotlight: Prowl]]", containing a story intended for the ongoing series itself which was only released in this format as a means of quickly addressing fandom concerns about the characterization of the title character.

The ''Spotlight'' series returned in late 2012 as part of a joint effort between IDW and Hasbro, developed first for release to comic book stores, and then as pack-in comics included with new ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' figures of the IDW characters' designs. These six issues again told stories that fleshed out moments of characters' lives at various points in the IDW timeline—broadly speaking, two of the six were set in the distant past, two during the ongoing series, and two in the "present" era of publishing—filling in key moments in their history with a connecting thread between issues that centered on a Decepticon search for [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] and the [[space bridge]] technology in his body. In addition to promoting the high-profile new ''Generations'' Metroplex toy, the six issues together served as something of a stealth prequel to the "[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]]" crossover event.

==Creative teams==

Of the first nineteen ''Spotlight''s, all but three were written by Simon Furman: the exceptions were ''Spotlight: Kup'' by [[Nick Roche]], ''Spotlight: Ramjet'' by [[Stuart Moore]] and ''Spotlight: Mirage'' by [[George Strayton]]. [[Klaus Scherwinski]] co-wrote "Spotlight: Wheelie" with Furman.

''All Hail Megatron'' writer [[Shane McCarthy]] penned three of the ''Spotlight''s that accompanied that series—''Spotlight: Blurr'', ''Spotlight: Drift'' and ''Spotlight: Cliffjumper''—while [[Josh van Reyk]] & [[Shaun Knowler]] wrote ''Spotlight: Jazz'' and editor [[Andy Schmidt]] handled ''Spotlight: Metroplex''. The writer of the ongoing series, [[Mike Costa]], wrote ''Spotlight: Prowl''.

When ''Spotlight'' returned in 2012, writing duties were predominantly shared between the two writers of the current series: ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[James Roberts]], who scripted ''Orion Pax'', ''Trailcutter'' and ''Hoist'', and ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[John Barber]], who penned ''Thundercracker'' and ''Bumblebee''. Nick Roche wrote and drew the sixth, ''Megatron''.

The list of artists throughout the series is diverse; please see each issue for credits.

==Collections==
* '''''The Transformers: Spotlight Volume 1''''' ([[May 30]], [[2007]]) ISBN 1600100686 / ISBN 978-1600100680
** Collects ''Spotlight: Shockwave'', ''Nightbeat'', ''Hot Rod'', ''Sixshot'' and ''Ultra Magnus''.
** Trade paperback format. The spine bears the number '''1'''.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The Premiere Collection]] Volume 1''''' ([[December 5]], 2007) ISBN 1600101186 / ISBN 978-1600101182
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Infiltration|Infiltration]]'' issues [[Infiltration issue 0|#0]]–[[Infiltration issue 6|6]], ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer|Stormbringer]]'' issues [[Stormbringer issue 1|#1]]–[[Stormbringer issue 4|4]], ''[[The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation]]'' issues [[Escalation issue 1|#1]]–[[Escalation issue 6|6]], and ''Spotlight: Shockwave'', ''Nightbeat'', ''Hot Rod'', ''Sixshot'' & ''Ultra Magnus''.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''The Transformers: Spotlight Volume 2''''' ([[February 20]], [[2008]]) ISBN 1600101542 / ISBN 978-1600101540
** Collects ''Spotlight: Soundwave'', ''Kup'', ''Galvatron'', ''Optimus Prime'' and ''Ramjet''.
** Includes covers art for each issue and bonus art for each issue.
** Trade paperback format. The spine bears the number '''2'''.

* '''''The Transformers: Spotlight Volume 3''''' ([[September 17]], 2008) ISBN 160010245X / ISBN 978-1600102455
** Collects ''Spotlight: Blaster'', ''Arcee'', ''Mirage'', ''Grimlock'' and ''Wheelie''.
** Includes covers art for each issue and bonus art for each issue. The cover is an unused incentive cover from ''Spotlight: Grimlock'', art by [[Marcelo Matere]].
** Trade paperback format. The spine bears the number '''3'''.

* '''''The Transformers: Spotlight Volume 4: Revelation''''' ([[February 4]], [[2009]]) ISBN 1600104215 / ISBN 978-1600104213
** Collects ''Spotlight: Cyclonus'', ''Hardhead'', ''Doubledealer'' and ''Sideswipe''.
** Bonus material includes each A and B cover, and sketches of the 4-part image, Cyclonus, Nightbeat, Doubledealer (including a dragon-like alternate mode), [[Grindcore (G1)|Grindcore]] and [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]] (the last 2 in robot and alt mode).
** Trade paperback format. The spine bears the number '''4''', putting it clearly in the ''Spotlight'' series rather than in the "-ation" series.

* '''''The Transformers: The Premiere Collection Volume 2''''' ([[June 17]], 2009) ISBN 1600104371 / ISBN 978-1600104374
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Devastation|Devastation]]'' issues [[Devastation issue 1|#1]]–[[Devastation issue 6|6]], and ''Spotlight: Soundwave'', ''Kup'', ''Galvatron'', ''Optimus Prime'', ''Ramjet'', ''Blaster'', ''Arcee'', ''Mirage'', ''Grimlock'', ''Wheelie'', ''Cyclonus'', ''Hardhead'', ''Doubledealer'' & ''Sideswipe''.
** Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:TF Spotlight v1.jpg|'''''Spotlight Volume 1''''' – cover art by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Rob Ruffolo]]
File:Premier Collection 1.jpg|'''''The Premiere Collection Volume 1''''' – cover art by [[Klaus Scherwinski]]
File:TF Spotlight v2.jpg|'''''Spotlight Volume 2''''' – cover art by [[Gabriel Rodríguez]]
File:TF Spotlight v3.jpg|'''''Spotlight Volume 3''''' – cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:TF Spotlight v4.jpg|'''''Spotlight Volume 4: Revelation''''' – cover art by Nick Roche
File:Premier Collection 2.jpg|'''''The Premiere Collection Volume 2''''' – cover art by Nick Roche and [[Josh Burcham]]
</gallery>

* '''''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron]] Volume 3''''' ([[October 28]], [[2009]]) ISBN 1600105416 / ISBN 978-1600105418
** Collects ''Spotlight: Blurr'', ''Jazz'', ''Drift'', ''Cliffjumper'' and ''Metroplex''.
** Bonus material includes the alternate covers of each issue, as well as art of each [[Throttlebot]] by [[Marcelo Matere]] and new cover art by [[Trevor Hutchison]].
** Trade paperback format. Instead of being Volume 5 of the Spotlights, the TPB is labeled as part of the ''All Hail Megatron'' series. For some reason, the Drift and Cliffjumper issues were swapped from their original order.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume One]]''''' ([[May 26]], [[2010]]) ISBN 978-1600106675
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin]]'' issues [[Megatron Origin issue 1|#1]]–[[Megatron Origin issue 4|4]], ''Spotlight: Blurr'', ''Cliffjumper'', ''Shockwave'', ''Nightbeat'', ''Hot Rod'' & ''Soundwave'', and ''[[The Transformers: Infiltration|Infiltration]]'' issues [[Infiltration issue 0|#0]]–[[Infiltration issue 6|6]].
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: Best of Optimus Prime]]''''' ([[June 2]], 2010) ISBN 1600106668 / ISBN 978-1600106668
** Collects [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (1984)]] [[The Flames of Boltax!|#48: "The Flames of Boltax!"]], [[Transformers Annual|''Transformers'' Annual]] [[Transformers Annual 1985|1985]]: "[[And There Shall Come...a Leader!]]", ''[[Transformers: The Animated Movie]]'' [[The Gathering Storm|#1: "The Gathering Storm"]], ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]'' [[The War Within issue 1|#1]], ''Spotlight: Optimus Prime'', and ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer|Stormbringer]]'' [[Stormbringer issue 4|#4]].
** Bonus material includes an art gallery.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Two]]''''' ([[October 6]], 2010) ISBN 978-1600107511
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer|Stormbringer]]'' issues [[Stormbringer issue 1|#1]]–[[Stormbringer issue 4|4]], ''[[The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation]]'' issues [[Escalation issue 1|#1]]–[[Escalation issue 6|6]], and ''Spotlight: Sixshot'', ''Ramjet'', ''Ultra Magnus'', ''Kup'', ''Mirage'' & ''Optimus Prime''.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: Best of Grimlock]]''''' ([[November 24]], 2010) ISBN 1600107869 / ISBN 978-1600107863
** Collects ''The Transformers'' (1984) issues [[The Wrath of Guardian!|#31: "The Wrath of Guardian!"]], [[The Wrath of Grimlock!|#32: "The Wrath of Grimlock!"]] & [[The 4,000,000 Year Itch!|#280: "The 4,000,000 Year Itch!"]], ''Transformers'' Annual [[Transformers Annual 1986|1986]]: "[[Victory!]]", ''The Transformers'' (1984) issues [[King of the Hill!|#27: "King of the Hill!"]] & [[Still Life!|#76: "Still Life!"]], ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|Generation 2]]'' [[Devices and Desires! (Marvel)|#4: "Devices and Desires!"]], and ''Spotlight: Grimlock''.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Three]]''''' ([[March 2]], [[2011]]) ISBN 978-1600108563
** Collects ''Spotlight: Galvatron'', ''Blaster'', ''Arcee'', ''Grimlock'' & ''Wheelie'', ''[[New Avengers/Transformers]]'' issues [[Man and Machine, Part One|#1]]–[[Man and Machine, Part Four|4]], and ''[[The Transformers: Devastation|Devastation]]'' issues [[Devastation issue 1|#1]]–[[Devastation issue 6|6]].
** Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:AHM v3.jpg|'''''All Hail Megatron Volume 3''''' – cover art by [[Trevor Hutchison]]
File:IDWCollection1.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Volume One''''' – cover art by [[E. J. Su]]
File:BestofOptimus.jpg|'''''The Best of Optimus Prime''''' – cover art by [[Livio Ramondelli]]
File:IDWCollection2.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Volume Two''''' – cover art by E. J. Su
File:BestofGrimlock.jpg|'''''The Best of Grimlock''''' – cover art by Klaus Scherwinski
File:IDWCollection3.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Volume Three''''' – cover art by E. J. Su
</gallery>

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Four]]''''' ([[May 25]], 2011) ISBN 978-1600109386
** Collects ''Spotlight: Cyclonus'', ''Hardhead'', ''Doubledealer'', ''Sideswipe'', ''Drift'', ''Metroplex'' & ''Jazz'', ''[[The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots|Maximum Dinobots]]'' issues [[Maximum Dinobots issue 1|#1]]–[[Maximum Dinobots issue 5|5]], and ''[[The Transformers: Drift|Drift]]'' issues [[Drift issue 1|#1]]–[[Drift issue 4|4]].
** Hardcover format.

* '''''The Transformers: The Complete All Hail Megatron''''' ([[July 27]], 2011) ISBN 1600109551 / ISBN 978-1600109553
** Collects ''All Hail Megatron'' issues [[All Hail Megatron issue 1|#1]]–[[All Hail Megatron issue 16|16]], and ''Spotlight: Blurr'', ''Jazz'', ''Drift'', ''Cliffjumper'' & ''Metroplex''.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''The Transformers Volume 6: Police Action''''' ([[February 15]], [[2012]]) ISBN 1613771649 / ISBN 978-1613771648
** Collects [[The Transformers (IDW)|''The Transformers'' (2009)]] issues [[Police Action: Part 1|#25]], [[Police Action Part 2: Only Forward|#27]] & [[Police Action Part 3: A Second Chance at Eden|#29]], and ''Spotlight: Prowl''.
** Bonus material includes art from most covers, and a B&W art page from [[Police Action: Part 1|#25: "Police Action: Part 1"]].
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Six]]''''' ([[May 9]], 2012) ISBN 1613771835 / ISBN 978-1613771839
** Collects ''The Transformers'' (2009) issues [[...For All Mankind|#1]]–[[Things Fall Apart, Part 5: "Earthworks"|6]], ''[[The Transformers: Bumblebee|Bumblebee]]'' issues [[The Hanging Sword|#1]]–[[Wings of Wax|4]], ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'' issues [[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 1|#1]]–[[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|5]], and ''Spotlight: Prowl''.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: Complete Drift]]''''' ([[January 30]], [[2013]]) ISBN 1613775393 / ISBN 978-1613775394
** Collects ''Spotlight: Drift'', and ''Drift'' issues #1–4.
** Bonus material includes all covers and bonus art.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''The Transformers: Dark Prelude''''' ([[August 14]], 2013) ISBN 1613777167 / ISBN 978-1613777169
** Collects ''Spotlight: Orion Pax'', ''Thundercracker'', ''Megatron'', ''Bumblebee'', ''Trailcutter'' and ''Hoist''.
** New cover art by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Perez]].
** Each of the characters receiving the Spotlight also had new Deluxe Class toys as part of the 2012–2013 ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' line, '[[Thrilling 30]]'.
** Cover gallery.
** Trade paperback format.

<gallery>
File:IDWCollection4.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Volume Four''''' – cover art by E. J. Su
File:Allhailmegatronhc.jpg|'''''The Complete All Hail Megatron''''' – cover art by Trevor Hutchison
File:IDW ongoing tpb6.jpg|'''''Volume 6: Police Action''''' – cover art by [[Brendan Cahill]] and [[Priscilla Tramontano]]
File:IDWCollection6.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Volume Six''''' – cover art by E. J. Su
File:TheTransformersCompleteDrift.jpg|'''''Complete Drift''''' – cover art by Trevor Hutchison
File:TFDarkPrelude tpb.jpg|'''''Dark Prelude''''' – cover art by Nick Roche and [[Josh Perez]]
</gallery>

* '''''The Transformers: Spotlight Omnibus Volume 1''''' ([[April 15]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631402463 / ISBN 978-1631402463
** Collects ''Spotlight: Shockwave'', ''Nightbeat'', ''Hot Rod'', ''Sixshot'', ''Ultra Magnus'', ''Soundwave'', ''Kup'', ''Galvatron'', ''Optimus Prime'', ''Ramjet'', ''Blaster'', ''Arcee'' and ''Grimlock''.
** Bonus material unknown at this time.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 2]]''''' ([[August 12]], 2015) ISBN 1631403648 / ISBN 978-1631403644
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Autocracy|Autocracy]]'' issues [[Law and Disorder|#1]]–[[Endgame|12]], ''Spotlight: Trailcutter'', ''Hoist'' & ''Orion Pax'', ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' issues [[Interference Patterns|#7]] & [[Dinobot Hunt (IDW)|#8]]–[[Night and the City|9]], and ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' issues [[Interiors|#6]]–[[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|8]].
** Bonus material includes alternate covers.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''The Transformers: Spotlight Omnibus Volume 2''''' ([[September 9]], 2015) ISBN 1613779429 / ISBN 978-1613779422
** Collects ''Spotlight: Mirage'', ''Wheelie'', ''Cyclonus'', ''Hardhead'', ''Doubledealer'', ''Sideswipe'', ''Blurr'', ''Jazz'', ''Drift'', ''Cliffjumper'', ''Metroplex'' and ''Prowl''.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 3]]''''' ([[February 24]], [[2016]]) ISBN 1631405403 / ISBN 978-1631405402
** Collects ''Spotlight: Thundercracker'', ''Bumblebee'' & ''Megatron'', ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|Annual 2012]], issues [[Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|#9]]–[[Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|11]], [[Before & After|#12]]–[[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|13]] & "[[Signal to Noise]]", and ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Primus: All Good Things|Annual 2012]] & issues [[Syndromica (2)|#10]]–[[The End of the Beginning of the World|11]].
** Bonus material includes alternate covers.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Compendium, Vol. 1]]''''' ([[July 6]], 2016) ISBN 163140637X / ISBN 978-1631406379
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection|The IDW Collection]] [[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume One|One]]'' and ''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Two|Two]]''.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 36: Stormbringer''''' ([[January 11]], [[2017]])
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer|Stormbringer]]'' issues [[Stormbringer issue 1|#1]]–[[Stormbringer issue 4|4]], and ''Spotlight: Shockwave'', ''Soundwave'', ''Nightbeat'' & ''Hot Rod''.
** Bonus material includes an article on the beginning of IDW-verse production and several sketches by Figueroa.
** Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:TF Spotlight Omnibus v1.jpg|'''''Spotlight Omnibus Volume 1''''' – cover art by [[Jeffrey Veregge]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V2.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 2''''' – cover art by [[Saren Stone]]
File:TF Spotlight Omnibus v2.jpg|'''''Spotlight Omnibus Volume 2''''' – cover art by Jeffrey Veregge
File:IDWCollectionP2V3.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 3''''' – cover art by Marcelo Matere
File:IDWCollectionCompendiumV1.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Compendium, Vol. 1''''' – cover art by Jeffrey Veregge
File:DefinitiveG1Collection_v36.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 36: Stormbringer''''' – cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] and [[Guido Guidi]]
</gallery>

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 37: Escalation''''' ([[March 8]], 2017)
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation]]'' issues [[Escalation issue 1|#1]]–[[Escalation issue 6|6]], and ''Spotlight Sixshot'' & ''Ultra Magnus''.
** Bonus material includes Sketches by [[E. J. Su]], bios on IDW Ultra Magnus & IDW Sixshot, an article on creating the IDW ''Spotlights'', and an interview with Su.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 39: Hearts of Steel''''' ([[April 5]], 2017)
** Collects ''[[Hearts of Steel]]'' issues [[Hearts of Steel issue 1|#1]]–[[Hearts of Steel issue 4|4]], and ''Spotlight: Galvatron'', ''Optimus Prime'' & ''Mirage''.
** Bonus material includes concept art by [[Guido Guidi]] and an article about the creation of ''Hearts of Steel''.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 40: Maximum Dinobots''''' ([[September 6]], 2017)
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots|Maximum Dinobots]]'' issues [[Maximum Dinobots issue 1|#1]]–[[Maximum Dinobots issue 5|5]], and ''Spotlight: Grimlock'' & ''Wheelie''.
** Bonus material includes Dinobot sketches by Nick Roche and Klaus Scherwinski's ''Spotlight: Wheelie'' sketchbook.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 33: Megatron Origin''''' ([[November 1]], 2017)
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin]]'' issues [[Megatron Origin issue 1|#1]]–[[Megatron Origin issue 4|4]], and ''Spotlight: Blurr'' & ''Orion Pax''.
** Bonus material includes a discussion of the production stages on ''Megatron: Origin'' by [[Eric Holmes]].
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[Transformers Drift: Origins & Empires]]''''' ([[December 27]], 2017) ISBN 1684052238 / ISBN 978-1684052233
** Collects ''Spotlight: Drift'', ''Drift'' issues #1–4, and ''[[The Transformers: Drift - Empire of Stone|Drift - Empire of Stone]]'' issues [[Drift - Empire of Stone issue 1|#1]]–[[Drift - Empire of Stone issue 4|4]].
** Bonus material includes covers and bonus art.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 45: Last Stand of the Wreckers''''' ([[May 16]], [[2018]])
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'' issues [[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 1|#1]]–[[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|5]], ''Spotlight: Prowl'', and [[The Transformers (IDW)|''The Transformers'' (2009)]] [[...For All Mankind|#1]].
** Bonus material includes an interview with Nick Roche, pre-production sketches and story drafts for ''Last Stand''.
** Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:DefinitiveG1Collection_v37.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 37: Escalation''''' – cover art by Don Figueroa and E. J. Su
File:DefinitiveG1Collection_v39.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 39: Hearts of Steel''''' – cover art by Don Figueroa, Guido Guidi and [[Aaron Leach]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection_v40.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 40: Maximum Dinobots''''' – cover art by Don Figueroa and Nick Roche
File:DefinitiveG1Collection_v33.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 33: Megatron Origin''''' – cover art by Don Figueroa and [[Alex Milne]]
File:Drift-Origins-and-Empires.jpg|'''''Origins & Empires''''' – cover art by [[Livio Ramondelli]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection_v45.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 45: Last Stand of the Wreckers''''' – cover art by Don Figueroa and Nick Roche
</gallery>

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 42: Revelation''''' ([[October 17]], 2018)
** Collects ''Spotlight: Arcee'', ''Cyclonus'', ''Hardhead'', ''Doubledealer'', ''Sideswipe'', ''Jazz'' and ''Metroplex''.
** Bonus material includes an "-Ations" retrospective, sketchbook art from Alex Milne and E. J. Su reprinted from individual ''Spotlights''.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 53: Liars, A to D''''' ([[December 26]], 2018)
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' issues [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|#1]]–[[Interiors|6]], and ''Spotlight: Trailcutter'' & ''Hoist''.
** Bonus material includes an all-new interview with James Roberts, rare archive material from the dawn of ''More than Meets the Eye'', and Alex Milne's sketchbook.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 41: Drift''''' ([[February 6]], [[2019]])
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Drift|Drift]]'' issues [[Drift issue 1|#1]]–[[Drift issue 4|4]], and ''Spotlight: Drift'' & ''Blaster''.
** Bonus material includes an article on the creation of Drift, and [[Guido Guidi]]'s Drift sketchbook.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 48: Revenge of the Decepticons''''' ([[April 17]], 2019)
** Collects ''The Transformers'' (2009) issues [[Heart Like a Wheel|#13]]–[[Revenge of the Decepticons Part 5: Enemy Mine|18]], and ''Spotlight: Megatron''.
** Bonus material includes a ''Spotlight: Megatron'' sketchbook.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 38: Devastation''''' ([[August 7]], 2019)
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Devastation|Devastation]]'' issues [[Devastation issue 1|#1]]–[[Devastation issue 6|6]], and ''Spotlight: Kup'', ''Ramjet'' & ''Cliffjumper''.
** Bonus material includes a cover gallery and an introduction by Simon Furman.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 34: Autocracy''''' ([[October 16]], 2019)
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Autocracy|Autocracy]]'' issues [[Law and Disorder|#1]]–[[Endgame|12]], and ''Spotlight: Thundercracker''.
** Bonus material includes "Creating the IDW-Verse - Optimus Origin" — a one-page article on ''Autocracy'', including an interview with co-writer [[Chris Metzen]], a cover gallery and an introduction by Simon Furman.
** Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:DefinitiveG1Collection_v42.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 42: Revelation''''' – cover art by Don Figueroa and Nick Roche
File:DefinitiveG1Collection_v53.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 53: Liars, A to D''''' – cover art by Don Figueroa and Alex Milne
File:DefinitiveG1Collection_v41.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 41: Drift''''' – cover art by Alex Milne and Josh Burcham
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v48.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 48: Revenge of the Decepticons''''' – cover art by Don Figueroa, Nick Roche and [[Len O'Grady]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection_v38.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 38: Devastation''''' – cover art by Don Figueroa and [[Robby Musso]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection_v34.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 34: Autocracy''''' – cover art by [[Dreamwave Productions]] and [[Livio Ramondelli]]
</gallery>

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 51: Chaos Theory''''' ([[December 11]], 2019)
** Collects [[The Transformers (IDW)|''The Transformers'' (2009)]] issues [[Police Action: Prologue|#21: "Police Action: Prologue"]], [[Chaos Theory Part 1|#22]]–[[Chaos Theory Part 2|23]], [[Police Action: Part 1|#25]], [[Police Action Part 2: Only Forward|#27]] & [[Police Action Part 3: A Second Chance at Eden|#29]], and ''Spotlight: Bumblebee''.
** Bonus material includes a one-page article exploring the origins of the "[[Chaos (IDW)|Chaos]]" arc and beyond, a cover gallery and an intro by [[Simon Furman]].
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[Transformers: Best of Hot Rod]]''''' ([[May 4]], [[2022]])
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Autocracy|Autocracy]]'' [[Rise|#10: "Rise"]], ''Spotlight: Hot Rod'', [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (1984)]] [[White Fire|#254: "White Fire"]], ''[[The Transformers: Lost Light|Lost Light]]'' [[Crucible (Part 2): Lūstrāre|#20: "Crucible (Part 2): Lūstrāre"]], ''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One|Regeneration One]]'' [[The War to End All Wars, Part 5|#100: "The War to End All Wars, Part 5"]], and [[Transformers Annual|''Transformers'' Annual]] [[Transformers Annual 1989|1989]]: "[[Peace]]".
** Bonus material includes an art gallery.
** Comic format.

* '''''[[Transformers: Best of Shockwave]]''''' ([[November 9]], 2022)
** Collects ''Spotlight: Shockwave'', ''The Transformers'' (1984) issues [[The New Order|#5: "The New Order"]], [[Aspects of Evil!|#225: "Aspects of Evil!"]] & [[Internal Affairs!|#277: "Internal Affairs!"]], ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Shockwaves|#17: "Shockwaves"]], and ''[[Optimus Prime (comic)|Optimus Prime]]'' [[The Falling, Interlude: The First Who Was Named|#18: "The Falling, Interlude: The First Who Was Named"]].
** Bonus material includes an art gallery.
** Comic format.

<gallery>
File:DefinitiveG1Collection_v51.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 51: Chaos Theory''''' – cover art by Don Figueroa and Alex Milne
File:BestOfHotRod cvr.jpg|'''''Best of Hot Rod''''' – cover art by [[James Biggie]]
File:BestOfShockwave cvr.jpg|'''''Best of Shockwave''''' – cover art by James Biggie
</gallery>

===International Printings===

====Spain====
''Transformers: Spotlight'' was translated and released in Spain by [[NORMA Editorial]]

<gallery>
File:TF-Spotlight-v1-norma.jpg|'''''Spotlight Volume 1''''' ISBN 978-84-9847-862-4
File:TF-Spotlight-v2-norma.jpg|'''''Spotlight Volume 2''''' ISBN 978-84-9847-945-4
File:TF-Spotlight-v3-norma.jpg|'''''Spotlight Volume 3''''' ISBN 978-84-9847-810-5
File:TF-Spotlight-v4-norma.jpg|'''''Spotlight Volume 4: Revelación''''' ISBN 978-84-679-0039-2
</gallery>

====Japan====
* '''''The Transformers: The Complete All Hail Megatron''''' ([[March 23]], [[2015]]) ISBN 978-4796875141
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'' issues [[All Hail Megatron issue 1|#1]]–[[All Hail Megatron issue 16|16]], and ''Spotlight: Blurr'', ''Jazz'', ''Drift'', ''Cliffjumper'' & ''Metroplex''.
** Bonus material includes a cover gallery and the art sketches from previous collections.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin]]''''' ([[June 29]], [[2018]]) ISBN 978-4864913836
** Collects ''Megatron Origin'' issues [[Megatron Origin issue 1|#1]]–[[Megatron Origin issue 4|4]], and ''Spotlight: Shockwave'' & ''Soundwave''.
** Bonus material includes art from all covers, appearance character commentary.
** Includes a booklet with a commentary written by [[Akihisa Koike]] and [[Eugene Ishikawa]].
** [[Cy-Kill (G1)|Cy-Kill]] has been modified to become another bot, possibly due to rights conflicts with ''{{w|Machine Robo}}''.
** Trade paperback format.

<gallery>
File:Shopro AHM Cover.jpg|'''''The Complete All Hail Megatron''''' – cover art by [[Trevor Hutchison]] 
File:Villagebooks Megatron Origin cover.jpg|'''''Megatron Origin''''' – cover art by [[Kei Zama]] and [[Josh Burcham]] 
</gallery>

====Sweden====
* '''''Transformers: Wreckers sista strid''''' ([[June 8]], [[2018]]) ISBN 978-91-88131-23-2
** Collects ''Last Stand of the Wreckers'' issues #1–5.
** Swedish reprint volume published from [[Ades Media]], translated by [[Johan Boström]].
** Includes all extras from the English hardcover, as well as ''Spotlight: Kup'' and "[[Everything in Its Right Place]]" plus ''Wreckers: Sweclassified'', a short article from Boström.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''Transformers: Mer än ögat kan se''''' ([[June 15]], [[2019]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #1–8 & Annual 2012, ''Spotlight: Trailcutter'' & ''Hoist'', and a special illustrated edition of "[[Bullets]]".
** Hardcover format.

* '''''Transformers: Krig och hågkomst''''' ([[July]], [[2021]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #14–22, a special illustrated version of "[[The Sound of Breaking Glass]]", and ''Spotlight: Orion Pax''.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''Transformers: Stormvarning''''' ([[April]], [[2026]])
** Collects ''Spotlight:'' ''Shockwave'', ''Nightbeat'', ''Hot Rod'', ''Sixshot'', ''Ultra Magnus'' & ''Soundwave'' and the ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer|Stormbringer]]'' miniseries.
** Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:LSOTW SWECover.jpg|'''''Wreckers sista strid''''' – cover art by Trevor Hutchison.
File:MTMTE_SWE_01.jpg|'''''Mer än ögat kan se''''' – cover art by Alex Milne and Joana Lafuente.
File:MTMTE SWE 03.jpg|'''''Krig och hågkomst''''' – cover art by Alex Milne and Josh Perez.
File:Stormbringer SWE.jpg|'''''Stormvarning''''' – cover art by Nick Roche and Josh Burcham
</gallery>

==Unreleased==
[[File:Spotlight_Octane_unused.jpg|upright=0.6|thumb]]
* In [[2007]], [[Nick Roche]] and [[James Roberts]] pitched an Octane-based issue of ''The Transformers: Spotlight'' to IDW.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=In 2007, @jroberts332 and I attempted to pitch Spotlight: Octane. Here's the cover and character design. https://t.co/5fS4W2grfz|link=https://twitter.com/NickRoche/status/737318150660886529|name=NickRoche|site=Twitter|year=2016|month=5|day=30|(defunct=)}}</ref> Some of the concepts from the pitch were later used in ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]''.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Not a script, but James wrote a very extensive outline which he then hacked down. Some of it has shown up in MTMTE. https://t.co/7sjztgmVv5|link=https://twitter.com/NickRoche/status/737321240428486656|name=NickRoche|site=Twitter|year=2016|month=5|day=30|(defunct=)}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spotlight}}
[[Category:IDW (2005) comic series]]

The Transformers: Stormbringer

2026-05-05T20:51:49Z

Some Dweeb:

{{disambig3|Stormbringer}}

[[File:Stormbringer tpb.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Thunderwing's so badass, there's ''two'' of him!]]
'''''The Transformers: Stormbringer''''' is a 4-issue limited series published by [[IDW Publishing]] and set in the [[2005 IDW continuity]]. Occurring roughly during the same period of time as the ''[[The Transformers: Infiltration|Infiltration]]'' arc, it establishes the situation of Cybertron and the rest of the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s not on Earth.

It is issues #7–10 in the IDW overarching "sub-numbering" (shown by a number in an Autobot-sigil shaped shield beside the barcode on each issue), and was originally published between July and October, [[2006]].

''Stormbringer'' was scripted by Transformer veteran [[Simon Furman]] and penciled by [[Don Figueroa]]—the pair also worked together on [[Dreamwave Productions]]' ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]'' and IDW's ''[[Transformers, Beast Wars: The Gathering]]''.

Originally, this was meant to come after [[The Transformers: Escalation|''Escalation'']], and it and "STORM BRINGER" would have events that weaved in between them. However, it was moved up due to some of the feedback to ''Infiltration''; quoth Furman, "people wanted a big bunch of giant robots hitting each other." <ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060629235142/http://fractalmatter.com/main/?p=201 Furman & Wildman interview at Fractal Images (archived)]</ref> (It initially had ads trumpeting "Nothing But ROBOTS On Cybertron!")

{{chapters |style=3 |prev=The Transformers: Infiltration |next=The Transformers: Escalation
|series=stormbringer|content=
* [[Stormbringer issue 1|#1]]
* [[Stormbringer issue 2|#2]]
* [[Stormbringer issue 3|#3]]
* [[Stormbringer issue 4|#4]]
}}

== Overview ==
''Stormbringer'' gives readers their first look at the larger war beyond Earth. [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] is a dead, wasted world, victim of some distant cataclysm that elder Transformers, including [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]], were present at. Prime's musings establish that the long war between the Autobots and Decepticons was directly responsible for the cataclysm, and in flashback we discover that a single demonic figure was somehow the focus for or avatar of the event; this being was so powerful that only the combined might of the Autobots and Decepticons could stop it.

Both Autobots and Decepticons appear to have large, star-spanning armies. Similar Decepticon infiltration cells to the one portrayed in ''Infiltration'' are seen on the planets [[Nebulos]] and [[Varas Centralus]]. The Autobots' main base is a space station orbiting a planet at least nineteen megacycles away from Cybertron via foldspace travel, and they possess at least one space battlecruiser, the ''[[Xantium (G1)|Xantium]]''.

Stormbringer was proudly advertised with the tagline "NOTHING BUT ROBOTS ON CYBERTRON", seemingly in response to fandom outcries over [[Hunter O'Nion|those]] [[Verity Carlo|horrible]] [[Jimmy Pink|humans]] and general lack of robot-on-robot action which had infested IDW's initial ''Infiltration'' storyline. Nice goin' there, [[fandom]].

The image assembled from the four "A" covers has a small but interesting error: [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] appears twice. At the top right, he is in the middle of the blue energy burst, while he is in his Ultra Mode at the bottom right. To be fair though, the group of Transformers fighting Thunderwing in the energy burst appear to represent the battle prior to him being reawakened, as it includes several Transformers that are currently on Earth and not in the story itself.

==Foreign Localization==
'''Swedish'''
* ''Title:'' "'''Stormvarning'''" ("Storm Warning")

==Collections==
* '''''The Transformers: Stormbringer''''' ([[February 28]], [[2007]]) ISBN 160010018X / ISBN 978-1600100185
** Collects ''Stormbringer'' issues #1–4.
** Bonus material includes images of each cover and concept art of many characters, several of which would not appear in the story.
** Trade paperback format. It bears the number #2 on its side.

* '''''The Transformers: Stormbringer Manga'' {{sic}}''' ([[April 11]], 2007) ISBN 1600100422 / ISBN 978-1600100420
** Collects ''Stormbringer'' issues #1–4.
** Trade paperback format. B&W small (7.1 x 5.3 in.).

* '''''[[The Transformers: The Premiere Collection]] Volume 1''''' ([[December 5]], 2007) ISBN 1600101186 / ISBN 978-1600101182
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Infiltration|Infiltration]]'' issues [[Infiltration issue 0|#0]]–[[Infiltration issue 6|6]], ''Stormbringer'' issues #1–4, ''[[The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation]]'' issues [[Escalation issue 1|#1]]–[[Escalation issue 6|6]], and ''[[The Transformers: Spotlight|Spotlight]]: [[Spotlight: Shockwave|Shockwave]]'', ''[[Spotlight: Nightbeat|Nightbeat]]'', ''[[Spotlight: Hot Rod|Hot Rod]]'', ''[[Spotlight: Sixshot|Sixshot]]'' & ''[[Spotlight: Ultra Magnus|Ultra Magnus]]''.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Two]]''''' ([[October 6]], [[2010]]) ISBN 978-1600107511
** Collects ''Stormbringer'' issues #1–4, ''Escalation'' issues #1–6, and ''Spotlight: Sixshot'', ''[[Spotlight: Ramjet|Ramjet]]'', ''Ultra Magnus'', ''[[Spotlight: Kup|Kup]]'', ''[[Spotlight: Mirage|Mirage]]'' & ''[[Spotlight: Optimus Prime|Optimus Prime]]''.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Compendium, Vol. 1]]''''' ([[July 6]], [[2016]]) ISBN 163140637X / ISBN 978-1631406379
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection|The IDW Collection]] [[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume One|One]]'' and ''Two''.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 36: Stormbringer''''' ([[January 11]], [[2017]])
** Collects ''Stormbringer'' issues #1–4, and ''Spotlight: Shockwave'', ''[[Spotlight: Soundwave|Soundwave]]'', ''Nightbeat'' & ''Hot Rod''.
** Bonus material includes an article on the beginning of IDW-verse production and several sketches by Figueroa.
** Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:Stormbringer tpb.jpg|'''''Stormbringer''''' – cover by [[Don Figueroa]]
File:Stormbringer manga.jpg|'''''Stormbringer Manga''''' – cover by Don Figueroa
File:Premier Collection 1.jpg|'''''The Premiere Collection Volume 1''''' – cover art by [[Klaus Scherwinski]]
File:IDWCollection2.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Volume Two''''' – cover art by [[E. J. Su]]
File:IDWCollectionCompendiumV1.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Compendium, Vol. 1''''' – cover art by [[Jeffrey Veregge]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection_v36.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 36: Stormbringer''''' – cover art by Don Figueroa and [[Guido Guidi]]
</gallery>

===International Printings===

====Spain====
''Transformers: Stormbringer'' was translated and released in Spain by [[NORMA Editorial]].
* ISBN 978-84-9847-899-0

====China====
''The Transformers: Stormbringer'' was translated and released in China by Children's Fun Publishing or [[DMAN]].
<gallery>
File:StormbringerChineseChildren'sFun.jpg|'''''Children's Fun Publishing version''''' ([[June]], 2014) ISBN 9787115355874
File:StormbringerChineseDMAN.jpg|'''''DMAN version''''' ([[September]], 2021) ISBN 9787531970095
</gallery>

====Sweden====
''The Transformers: Stormbringer'', along with the first six ''Spotlights'' were published in Swedish by [[Ades Media]].
<gallery>
File:Stormbringer SWE.jpg|'''''Transformers: Stormvarning''''' ([[April]], 2026)
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stormbringer}}
[[Category:IDW (2005) comic series]]

File:Stormbringer SWE.jpg

2026-05-05T20:46:28Z

Some Dweeb: {{IDWG1cover |description=Re-use of cover A to Spotlight: Soundwave. {{art|lineart=Nick Roche|colors=Josh Burcham}} |series=stormbringer |cover=The Swedish cover |TPB=Hardcover|type=hardcover|collecting=is...

{{IDWG1cover
|description=Re-use of [[:File:Spotlight Soundwave cvrA.jpg|cover A to Spotlight: Soundwave]].
{{art|lineart=[[Nick Roche]]|colors=[[Josh Burcham]]}}
|series=stormbringer
|cover=The Swedish cover
|TPB=Hardcover|type=hardcover|collecting=issues #1-4 and [[The Transformers: Spotlight|Spotlights]] [[Spotlight: Shockwave|Shockwave]] through [[Spotlight: Soundwave|Soundwave]].
|year=26}}
[[Category:Images by Nick Roche]]
[[Category:Images by Josh Burcham]]

Space Pirates!

2026-05-04T15:23:02Z

Some Dweeb:

{{disambig3|Space Pirates}}
{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #182–187
|prev=The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)
|next=Firebug!
|title="Space Pirates!"
|image=MarvelUK-187.jpg
|caption=Arise, Ghyrikius Prime!
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[September 10|10th September]]–[[October 15|15th October]] [[1988]]
|coverdate=10th September–15th October 1988
|script=[[Simon Furman]]
|art=[[Dan Reed]] (#182–183) [[Lee Sullivan]] (#186–187)
|pencils=[[Dougie Braithwaite]] (#184–185)
|inks=[[Dave Harwood]] (#184–185)
|colour=[[Euan Peters]] (#182–186) [[Steve White]] (#187)
|letters=[[Gary Gilbert|Glib]]
|edits by=Chris Francis
|chronology=[[Marvel Comics timeline#Original future|Original future (2008)]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]] ([[Primax 984.20 Gamma|Marvel UK]])
}}
'''Death and destruction reign supreme as the Quintessons embark on their master plan to eliminate the Transformers species.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Sevax.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5]]
The [[Quintesson]]s are not having a good year. Space-time itself has been seriously ruptured, and the feedback from the disruption has altered the orbit of the Quintessons' homeworld [[Quintessa (planet)|Quintesson]], such that it is in imminent danger of falling into its [[sun]].

The Quintessons' original plan of response to this crisis was to find an alternative homeworld to move to; to that end, Quintesson spies/explorers surveyed a number of machine worlds (including [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]) and recorded their findings in the [[Quintesson Journal]]. Unfortunately, the journal fell into the hands of [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]], who withstood all attempts to wring its location from him. As such, the Quintessons decide to move to Plan B — direct conquest of Cybertron and elimination of the [[Transformer]]s. Fear of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]] has made them hold off to this point, but without any other option, they proceed. This plan will start with an assault on [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] on [[Earth]].

Meanwhile, on the way to the holding cells, Wreck-Gar manages to escape his guards and get onto a nearby boat. Attacked from beneath, Wreck-Gar falls into the water and is surrounded by biting [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]].

===Plan of Attack!===
[[File:Beachcomber air raid space pirates.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5]]
[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] is bored with guard duty at Autobot City Earth and goes off for a ride, which the Quintesson General [[Ghyrik]] uses as an opportunity to mount a full-scale attack, killing many [[Autobot]]s, including [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] as he attempts to transform Autobot City into Battle Mode. Arcee is shocked when she returns to see the devastation, only to be gunned down herself.

Meanwhile, Wreck-Gar is saved from a sea of Sharkticons by [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] on his own spaceship.

===Pursuit!===
[[File:Space Pirates! Junkions refuse to answer Rodimus Prime.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2]]
On Cybertron, [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]] has a confused video call with some [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]], failing to find out the location of Wreck-Gar. He then discovers communications to Autobot City Earth are down.

The Quintessons move on to the second part of their plan B. They ask the Decepticon commander [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] for help against the Autobots that are (allegedly) attacking the Quintesson homeworld. Having no sympathy to the Quintesson plight, Soundwave instead decides to mount a full-scale attack on the empty [[Autobase]] on Cybertron.

Meanwhile, Wreck-Gar and Wheelie have meaningless conversations and escape the Quintessons in an asteroid field.

Finally, Rodimus and the Autobots arrive on Autobot City Earth to find their comrades hanging lifeless from the sides of the city.

===The Tender Trap!===
[[File:Astrotrain space pirates.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2]]
On Cybertron, the Decepticons launch their attack on Autobase. But it was a trap! They are ambushed by an army of Quintessons. At a loss, Soundwave sends an anonymous distress call to the remaining Autobots, which is picked up by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Eject (G1)|Eject]].

On Earth, Rodimus sends the others off whilst he takes care of Arcee by using the power of the Matrix. But it was also a trap! Rodimus is ambushed by General Ghyrik who runs off with the Matrix. Away from its power, Rodimus weakens and shrinks, reverting to Hot Rod.

Meanwhile, Wreck-Gar and Wheelie have more meaningless conversations and continue to escape the Quintessons.

===The Awakening!===
Hot Rod and Arcee manage to escape the Quintessons. Finding the strung-up body of Blaster, Hot Rod rummages through his chest for some cassettes.

[[File:Generalghyrik.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Um, Mr. Ghyrik, the capture of the hero comes before the "Villain's Exposition"...]]
Inside Autobot city, General Ghyrik realizes that whilst the attack on Autobot City Earth was just for the purposes of eliminating the Autobots, it would also serve as a base to enslave all of Earth's humans.

On Cybertron, just as the Decepticons are about to be defeated, Ultra Magnus and the Autobots turn up and join in the fight against the Quintessons.

Meanwhile, Wreck-Gar and Wheelie abandon ship for a small asteroid containing a few Junkions and a transmitter, just in time for the transmission of the contents of the message canister

[[File:Metroplex-UK.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|I'm here to kick ass and chew bubble gum. And I'm all out of bubble gum.]]
Finally, whilst Arcee and Blaster's Cassettes hold off the Quintessons, Hot Rod fights with General Ghyrik and manages to reactivate [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], the giant Autobot sleeping within Autobot City.

===The End of the World!===
On Earth, Metroplex unloads a can of whoopass on the occupying Quintessons. Hot Rod manages to recover the Matrix from Ghyrik by using a child's trick, and then throws Ghyrik off a rooftop, thus winning the battle there.

On Cybertron, the combined Autobot and Decepticon forces overwhelm the Quintessons on Cybertron, and Soundwave even briefly considers the notion of a truce—but the two factions have been through too much to ever resolve their differences.

Meanwhile, as the contents of the message canister is transmitted to the galaxy at large, a large number of robotic species discover their worlds had been slated for potential colonization. As a result, those Quintessons who managed to escape the death of their world will be galactic fugitives, hated and hunted by the machine races of the galaxy.

Epilogue 1: The Quintesson planet comes to an end.

Epilogue 2: Months from now, Autobot scientists discover the accelerated death of the Quintesson homeworld was because of a rapidly-expanding rift in time and space.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{collist|2|
*[[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (10)
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (11)
*[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (12)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (13)
*[[Hopper]] (14)
*[[Chase (G1)|Chase]] (15)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (16)
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (17)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] (18)
*[[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (19)
*[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (20)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime/Hot Rod]] (21)
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (26)
*[[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]] (35)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (36)
*[[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (37)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (38)
*[[Eject (G1)|Eject]] (47)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (48)
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (50)
*[[Wideload (G1)|Wideload]] (51)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] (52)
*[[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (53)
*[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (54)
*[[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]] (55)
*[[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]] (56)
*[[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] (57)
*[[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] (58)
*[[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] (59)
*[[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] (60)
*[[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] (61)
}}
|c2=
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] (27)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (28)
*[[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Grrr]] (29)
*[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (30)
*[[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (31)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (32)
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (33)
*[[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (34)
*[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (39)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (40)
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (41)
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (42)
*[[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (43)
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (44)
*[[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (45)
*[[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (46)
*[[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]] (49)
|c4=
*[[Ghyrik]] (1)
*[[Jolup]] (2)
*[[Kledji]] (3)
*[[Sevax]] (4)
*[[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (5)
*Various [[Quintesson]] guards (6)
*Quintesson judge (7)
*"Innocent" victim (8)
*[[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] (9)
*[[Junkyard (G1)|Junkyard]] (22)
*[[Second-in-command Junkion]] (23)
*[[Scrapheap (G1)|Scrapheap]] (24)
*[[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] (25)
}}

==Quotes==
"It's funny, once upon a time '''Hot Rod''' would probably have joined me! But now that he's been transformed by our sacred life force, '''the Creation Matrix''', into our leader, '''Rodimus Prime''', he's probably going to '''court-martial''' me."
:—'''Arcee''' laments Hot Rod's matrix-induced character development as she returns to her deserted guard post.

"But quit the '''macho''' bit, eh? It just '''doesn't suit you!'''" 
"Aww...I thought you might find it sort'a '''appealing!'''" 
"'''Matrix help us!'''"
:—'''Arcee''' and '''Hot Rod'''

"'''What have you done?''' A '''self-destruct''' device?" 
"Not exactly. You see, the reason why Autobot City is able to transform... is that its core is a '''living being''' — a '''Transformer!''' All I did was wake him up! General, may I introduce... '''<big>METROPLEX!</big>'''"
:— '''Ghyrik''' sets up '''Hot Rod''' to give Metroplex a cool intro/exposition.

==Notes==
===Artwork and technical errors===
[[File:Chase perceptor space pirates.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|[[Chase (G1)|Chase]] is on the left, pictured here with [[Searchlight (G1)|Searchlight]]'s head, and colored like [[Rollbar (G1)|Rollbar]]. He's like a combination of half the [[Throttlebot]]s at this point.]]
*In part 1, a [[Quintesson Prosecutor]] addresses a Judge with "Has the imperial majestrix reached a verdict?", almost certainly a mishearing of a line from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' referring to the imperial ''magistrate''.
*In part 2, [[Chase (G1)|Chase]] is coloured like [[Rollbar (G1)|Rollbar]].
*In the big reveal shot of all the Autobots strung up and inactive at the end of part 3, a narration text box resides over Trailbreaker, and it seems to have confused the colourist. His upper half above the text box is coloured correctly, but his legs below it are a strange red and white colour scheme.
**In the same shot, there's an Autobot halfway offscreen who appears to be coloured like Brawn... but from what's visible, the actual character model used doesn't look anything like him. Whether this was actually intended to be Brawn or is just a generic using his colour scheme is hard to say, as no other shot of these Autobots in the later parts ever has the character in frame.
*On page 2 panel 2 of part 4, as Soundwave speaks to the assembled Decepticons aboard Astrotrain, Wildrider is coloured like his fellow Stunticon Breakdown.
*In another shot of the strung up Autobots in part 4, there's a [[generic]] to the left of Slingshot who is coloured like Trailbreaker... probably because he was supposed to ''be'' Trailbreaker, who the art consistently depicts as being strung up to the left of Slingshot in parts 3 and 5.
*Page 5 Panel 4 of Part 5: Wheeljack is missing his characteristic cheek fins.

[[File:SpacePiratesSoundwaveLeader.JPG|thumb|upright=1.9|right|Colour swap thursdays is a proud tradition among the Stunticons (Wildrider is second from the right).]]

===Continuity errors===
*Considering the events of [[The Transformers: The Movie]] have been referenced in and are implied to be canon to the Marvel UK future timeline, it's a bit odd to see Wheeljack alive here since he's very prominently shown dead in The Movie. Same with Brawn, if indeed that is supposed to be him (see Artwork and technical errors above).

===Continuity notes===
*The future Autobots were last seen in "[[The Legacy of Unicron!]]". Their story continues in "[[Time Wars]]".
*We get a look at Soundwave's generals. They're mainly the leaders of sub-teams, such as [[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Gurrr]]. Oddly, [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] is representing the Constructicons these days. [[File:Soundwaveconsiders.jpg|right|upright=1.4|thumb|We don't ''have'' to kill each other. What do you say?]]

===Real-life references===
*When Soundwave sorrowfully notes that "too much has happened between our races" for an end to the war to occur, artist [[Lee Sullivan]] homages the artwork from the similar end to ''{{W|Batman: The Killing Joke}}'', published earlier that year.

===Other trivia===
*This story is noticeably influenced by Season 3 of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|cartoon series]]. Space Pirates was the most cartoon-influenced UK comic story since "[[Decepticon Dam-Busters!]]".
**As in the episode "[[The Burden Hardest to Bear]]", Rodimus Prime has the Matrix stolen from within him, and is 'de-powered' to his previous incarnation Hot Rod, whilst the Matrix thief has enhanced strength.
**[[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] resembles strongly its appearance in the 1986 animated movie and season 3 cartoon series, albeit coloured differently. As in the cartoon series, [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] is seen as the 'living core' of the city.
**Characters prominent in Season 3 of the cartoon series, but previously unknown to the Marvel UK comic series, such as the [[Quintesson]]s and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], also feature heavily.
**Established Transformers who weren’t in Season 3 of the cartoon barely appear, and none have speaking lines.
*The first three parts of this story are the basis for "[[Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 24|Fooled By Space Pirates]]", a German text story.
* The ship that Wreck-Gar and Wheelie are flying around in for most of the back half of this arc is very clearly just [[Ark (G1)|the Ark]]'s model from the cartoon. (Though it's not ''actually'' the Ark, as the Ark looked completely different in the Marvel comics).

===Back-up material===
'''Issue #182'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''[[Combat Colin]]'' - "Kung Fu Penguins"
**"Kung Fu Penguins" was a reprint of full page Combat Colin strips that originally appeared in [[Action Force (comic)|Action Force]] issues #34, #35, #36, #38, #39 and #40
*Issue #182 includes the last ever ''[[Letters page (Marvel UK)#Grim Grams|Grim Grams]]'', which had been a feature since [[In the National Interest|issue #75]]. In an introduction [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] claimed this was because it was too difficult for the dumb [[stubbie]]s to forward all the letters to the [[Moon (moon)|moon]] (where Grimlock currently resided).

'''Issue #183'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''[[Visionaries]]'' - "Quest of the Four Talismans" and ''Combat Colin''
*This issue saw a whole new look Transformation page (the introduction on page 2), which had last been changed in issue [[In the National Interest|#74]] (and before that in issue [[The New Order|#22]]). It no longer included a contents index (thus making life more difficult for future wiki page editors).
*The back-up strip changed from ''Action Force'' to ''Visionaries'', necessitating a change to the front cover subtitle.
*Instead of a letters page, issue #183 contained a special ''[[Robo-Capers]]'' strip entitled "[[The Wind of Change!]]" by [[Simon Furman]] and [[Lew Stringer]] that showed Grimlock being replaced by [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] as letters page answerer.

'''Issue #184'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Visionaries'' - "Quest of the Four Talismans" and ''Combat Colin''
*Issue #184 saw the first installment of ''Dread Tidings'', which then ran until [[Rhythms of Darkness!|issue #299]]

'''Issue #185'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Visionaries'' - "Quest of the Four Talismans" and ''Combat Colin''

'''Issue #186'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Visionaries'' - "Quest of the Four Talismans" and ''Combat Colin''

'''Issue #187'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Visionaries'' - "Wings" and ''Combat Colin''

===British Junkionisms===
*As in the cartoon, Wreck-Gar's dialogue is littered with references to TV shows. However, UK comics Wreck-Gar has watched an awful lot more UK TV. This obviously wasn't a problem when the story originally came out, but thanks to the increased availability of UK stories in the US along with the fact that lots of these references are decades old, lots of this stuff is now just plain confusing. So, here's a list of exactly what the hell Wreck-Gar is talking about in each issue:

====Part 1====
*"Great Balls of Fire!"—a 1957 {{w|Great Balls of Fire|song}} made famous by Jerry Lee Lewis.
*"''L.A. Law'' this ain't"—An American {{w|L.A. Law|legal drama}}.
*"No mealtime treat"—?.
*"Tense, nervous headache" and "nothing acts faster than Anadin"—references a British advert for [http://www.anadin.co.uk/ Anadin], a brand name for various headache tablets (yes, it's a real brand).
*"Bite it, crunch it, chew it!"—the jingle used for an advert for {{w|Boost (chocolate)|Cadbury's Boost}}, a chocolate bar.
*"Tonight on ''The Clothes Show''..."—A {{w|The Clothes Show|television show}} originally shown on [[BBC]] 1 that showed you how you too could look great on a budget. Often involved {{w|Sleeveless shirt|tank tops}}.
*"''Top of the Pops'' on the Quintessons' hit-list was Cybertron"—A popular British {{w|Top of the Pops|music show}}, featuring artists from the Top 40. Ruthlessly crushed by MTV and its ilk.
*"...and it's still not safe to go back in the water!"—Tag line from {{w|Jaws|some film}} about a [[Overbite (G1)|shark]] or something.

====Part 2====
*"For up to 20% fewer fillings, use Gibbs Sr!"—Gibbs Sr was a brand of toothpaste. It's also the answer to the question "What was the first advert ever shown on British TV?" Impress your friends with knowledge!
*"...the sweet you can eat between meals!"—Allegedly, a {{w|Milky Way (chocolate bar)|Milky Way bar}}. The version sold in the UK lacks the caramel you find in the US version, which is actually closer to a UK Mars bar (and which both used the "work, rest and play" advertising slogan). The UK version will float in water. More sexy knowledge!
*"Shot my bolt, Bernie"—Possibly a reference to a TV show called ''[http://www.ukgameshows.com/ukgs/The_Golden_Shot The Golden Shot]''. Furman is showing his age a bit here. Out of context, it sounds incredibly rude.
*"It'll take more than Five Alive to pep me up"—{{w|Five Alive|Juice drink}} still widely available in the UK. Contains 42% fruit juice, 22% sugar and several artificial sweeteners. Yum!
*"Talk about close shaves...I was so impressed, I bought the company!"—Advertising slogan used on Remington Electric Shavers.
*"The needs of the many must take precedence over the needs of the one, Captain"—A generic term, but in this case referencing the {{w|Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan|greatest sci-fi film of all time}}.
*"Autobots must be warned of Quintessons' university challenge"—British {{w|University Challenge|quiz show}}, pitting university students against each other. Oxbridge colleges (who compete individually) usually won.
*"It'll be winner takes all if we don't make our home run now!"—Another {{w|Winner Takes All (game show)|quiz show}}, notable for having a top prize of £1000 (oooh) and for helping to catch a rapist. Yes.

====Part 3====
*"I'm afraid it's time for closedown"—The name given to the period during the bad old days when TV stations would shut down for the night. Abandoned once they realised that people might want to watch TV after midnight, and that they had plenty of music/news/repeats to show them.
*"Only when Bob says ''Opportunity Knocks!''"—A sort of precursor to ''America/Britain's Got Talent'', {{w|Opportunity Knocks (UK TV series)|this show}} aired off and on from the 50s through to the 90s. Wreck-Gar is referencing the period when it was hosted by British National Treasure {{w|Bob Monkhouse}}.
*"Until then we follow the Green Cross Code"—The name given to the act of stopping at the side of the road and checking both ways before crossing. The original Green Cross Code man was David Prowse, who later went on to complain about being dubbed in [[Star Wars (film)|some film]].
*"Run silent. Run deep. You know it makes sense."—The former refers to the {{w|Run Silent, Run Deep|1958 film of the same name}}. The latter, meanwhile, was one of several catchphrases associated with British TV programme ''{{w|Only Fools and Horses}}''.
*"Yeah. Why slowmo...when you can Flymo!"—Tagline to an advert for a really nice [http://www.flymo.com/ lawn mower] that was much faster than contemporary designs.
*"Need extra strength Daz. Reaches the parts of engines other powers can't stir!"—[http://www.dazwhite.co.uk/ Washing detergent] that is so much more powerful than normal ones that it had adverts proclaiming this power to all. Currently uses old soap stars (you see the joke!) instead.
*"Points mean prizes!"—Catchphrase used by {{w|Bruce Forsyth}} - British National Treasure, when he presented ''{{w|Play Your Cards Right}}'', a quiz show based on the US show ''Card Sharks''.

====Part 4====
*"She flies through the air with the greatest of ease!"—Lyrics from the 19th century song, "{{w|The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze}}". Wreck-Gar was probably more familiar with one of the many cover versions.
*"I'm going to have to offer that to the other side!"—"The other side" was a typical way of referring to the opposing team on various television quiz shows, such as ''{{w|University Challenge}}''.
*"Today, the Wish You Were Here Team visits..."—''{{w|Wish You Were Here...?}}'' was a long-running British travel programme.

====Part 5====
*Wreck-Gar's extended exchange with another Junkion is done in the style of football (that's soccer to the colonials in the reading audience) commentation, after the British television show ''{{w|The Big Match}}''. Wreck-Gar and his companion refer to each other with the names of the show's presenters, {{w|Brian Moore (commentator)|Brian Moore}} and {{w|Jimmy Hill}}, respectively.

===Foreign Localization===

'''Swedish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Rymdpiraterna'''" ("The Space Pirates")
====Swedish Junkionisms====
*Many of Wreck-Gar and the Junkions' references were localized to Swedish equivalents.
=====Part 1=====
* "Det här är då '''inte''' ''Lagens änglar''!"—''L.A. Law<nowiki>'</nowiki>s'' Swedish title.
*"Inget fungerar bättre än Alvedon..."—Swedish brand name for [https://www.alvedon.se/ headache tablets].
*"Smaken som golvar dig!"—Reference to an ad for [https://www.serietidningsreklam.se/2022/08/12/smaken-som-golvar-dig Rocky], a type of candy bar referencing the {{w|Rocky|Stallone film}}.
*"Idag på ''Sköna söndag''..."—{{w|lang=sv|Sköna söndag|Life-style program}} that ran from 1986 to 1996, including showing off fashion.
*"Cybertron var överst på Quintessonernas ''Tracks'' topp 40."—{{w|lang=sv|Tracks|Radio program}} from 1984-2010 where listeners could vote on the five best songs of what was currently charting.
=====Part 2=====
*"Pepsodent tar bort den gula hinnan."—Reference to a 1975 ad campaign for {{w|Pepsodent}} toothpaste featuring tennis player {{w|Björn Borg}}.
*"Nu krävs det mer än Sun-Maid för att pigga upp mig"—{{w|Sun-Maid}} is a brand of raisins.
*"Dom där tänderna ser ut att vara i behov av lite Super Gel: läckert blå, häftigt god."—Referencing the [https://www.serietidningsreklam.se/2015/09/20/pepsodent-gel-tjejer-och-killar-kalle-anka-co-1991-16 tagline] for a now discontinued brand of children's toothpaste.
*"Nej, Jim - Flertalets behov väger tyngre än behovet hos den enskilde"—Still referencing ''Star Trek II'', but made clearer by the addition of the name [[James T. Kirk|Jim]] to the line.
=====Part 3=====
*"Det är bättre att göra som ''Das Boot''."—Referencing the 1981 {{w|Das Boot|film}}.
*"Scotty - vi behöver kraft till motorerna"—Another ''Star Trek'' reference, though this one is more associated with {{w|Star Trek: The Original Series|''The Original Series''}}.
*"Lagt kort ligger!"—Referencing the {{w|lang=sv|Lagt kort ligger (TV-program)|Swedish version}} of ''Card Sharks''.
=====Part 4=====
*"Noll till hundra på 2,6 sekunder. Andra modeller kommer inte i närheten av samma prestanda."—Generic reference to car advertisments.
*"Idag kommer ''Ett med naturen''..."—{{w|lang=sv|Ett med naturen|Nature program}} that ran from 1983 to 1996.
=====Part 5=====
*"Det är dags för den här veckans '''tiotusenkronorsfråga!'''"— Referencing the game show ''{{w|lang=sv|Kvitt eller dubbelt}}'', alternately known as ''Tiotusenkronorsfrågan'', which was based on the American ''{{w|The $64,000 Question}}''.
*The exchange between Wreck-Gar and the other Junkion is still done in the style of football commentary, albeit with no references made to specific individuals.
*Vi är redo att sända till alla planeter som har betalat sin licens, herr ordförande..."—Like the UK, Sweden also had a {{w|lang=sv|TV-avgift i Sverige|TV license fee}}, at least until 2019, when it was replaced by a tax.

{{stub|More references are likely there that could be easier spotted by someone who was there for them.}}

===Covers (6)===
*'''UK issue #182 cover:''' A pair of Quintessons hold Cybertron in their clutches, by [[Lee Sullivan]].
*'''UK issue #183 cover:''' Arcee is shot, by [[Andrew Wildman]].
*'''UK issue #184 cover:''' Rodimus Prime is confused, by [[Jerry Paris]].
*'''UK issue #185 cover:''' Soundwave is ambushed by the Quintessons, by Andrew Wildman.
*'''UK issue #186 cover:''' Metroplex's fist, by Andrew Wildman.
*'''UK issue #187 cover:''' Ghyrik takes the Matrix from Rodimus Prime, by Andrew Wildman.
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-182.jpg|'''UK issue #182'''
File:MarvelUK-183.jpg|'''UK issue #183'''
File:MarvelUK-184.jpg|'''UK issue #184'''
File:MarvelUK-185.jpg|'''UK issue #185'''
File:MarvelUK-186.jpg|'''UK issue #186'''
File:MarvelUK-187.jpg|'''UK issue #187'''
</gallery>

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

===Reprints===
*'''''[[Transformers Collected Comics]]'' #17 cover:''' Reuse of issue #182's cover.
*'''''[[Transformers: Space Pirates]]'' TPB:''' a Quintesson (probably Lord Kledji) oversees Hot Rod and Arcee injured, Wreck-Gar being attacked by Sharkticons and Metroplex awakening on Earth, by [[Geoff Senior]] and [[Oliver Harud]].
*'''''[[The Transformers: Best of UK: Space Pirates|Best of UK: Space Pirates]]'' #1 cover A:''' Wreck-Gar vs Sharkticons, art by [[Robby Musso]] and colours by [[Kieran Oats]].
*'''''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' #1 cover RI:''' Wreck-Gar is dragged under by Sharkticons, from issue #182, page 11, panel 1.
*'''''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' #2 cover A:''' Soundwave leads the Decepticons into battle, art by [[Dan Khanna]] and colours by [[Liam Shalloo]].
*'''''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' #2 cover RI:''' Soundwave and his generals aboard Astrotrain, from page 2 of issue #185.
<gallery>
File:Tfcolcom17.jpg|'''''Collected Comics'' #17'''
File:SpacePiratesTitanTPB.jpg|'''''Space Pirates'' TPB'''
File:IDWBofUKSP1A.jpg|'''''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' #1 cover A'''
File:IDWBofUKSP1RI.jpg|'''''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' #1 cover RI'''
File:IDWBofUKSP2A.jpg|'''''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' #2 cover A'''
File:IDWBofUKSP2RI.jpg|'''''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' #2 cover RI'''
</gallery>
*'''''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' #3 cover A:''' Metroplex vs Quintessons, art by [[Nick Roche]] and colours by [[Kris Carter]].
*'''''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' #3 cover RI:''' Metroplex vs Quintessons, from the final page of issue #186.
*'''''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' TPB cover:''' Reuse of the cover of ''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' issue #1.
*'''''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' TPB cover:''' Reuse of the cover of ''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' issue #2.
*'''''[[The Transformers: Best of UK]]'' Omnibus:''' [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] and [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] tear into the [[Wreckers]] and [[Mayhem Attack Squad|Mayhems]], crop of the cover to ''[[The Transformers: Best of UK: Time Wars|Best of UK: Time Wars]]'' issue #4.
*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 14: Space Pirates''''' [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] and a scene of Blaster and Wheeljack strung up
*'''''[[The Transformers Classics UK]]'' [[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 6|Volume 6]] cover:''' General [[Ghyrik]], a [[Quintesson]] Judge, [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], [[Galvatron II|Galvatron]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]], [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], [[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]] and [[Snarler]]. Art and colors by [[Andrew Wildman]].
<gallery>
File:IDWBofUKSP3A.jpg|'''''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' #3 cover A'''
File:IDWBofUKSP3RI.jpg|'''''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' #3 cover RI'''
File:IDWBofUKSP.jpg|'''''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' TPB'''
File:IDWBofUKSPTPB.jpg|'''''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' TPB'''
File:IDWBofUKOmnibus.jpg|'''''Best of UK'' Omnibus'''
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v14.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 14;''''' cover art by [[Don Figueroa]], [[Dougie Braithwaite]] and [[Dave Harwood]]
File:ClassicsUK6.jpg|'''''Classics UK'' Volume 6 TPB'''
</gallery>

[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

The Hunting Party (Marvel)

2026-05-03T21:54:18Z

Some Dweeb:

{{disambig2|the Marvel UK issue|the IDW issue|The Hunting Party (IDW)}}
{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #229
|prev=(Double) Deal of the Century!
|next=The Big Shutdown!
|title="The Hunting Party"
|image=MarvelUK-229.jpg
|caption=Oh [[Slag (slang)|slag]]!
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[July 30|30th July]] [[1989]]
|coverdate=[[August 5|5th August]] 1989
|writer=[[Simon Furman]]
|art=[[Simon Coleby]]
|letterer=[[Helen Stone]]
|cover=[[Geoff Senior]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''Needlenose may not be cut out for the big leagues.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:HuntingParty-Mayhem Attack Squad small.JPG|left|thumb|Even Decepticons fear walking through Camden, New Jersey.]]
Deep in enemy territory, the new [[Mayhem Attack Squad]] is being put through their paces by their field captain, [[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]]. One member, [[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]], is sweating [[oil]] bullets at the thought of combat. He sees his fellow Mayhem recruits as way out of his league, and can't even begin to imagine matching up to them in battle. Lost in his own fear, Needlenose panics when an [[Autobot]] jumps out at him, and only survives thanks to Spinister shooting down his opponent. As the enemy begins to pour out of the shadows, Needlenose is overwhelmed with fear and flees the scene of the battle. Spinister sees his cowardice, and knows that the official punishment for abandoning a fight is execution. Still, he thinks there's some promise to the young warrior, and darts after Needlenose, in the hopes of shaking him out of his state before anyone else notices what's happened. He gets the idea of faking distress against an opponent, hoping that Needlenose isn't so far gone that he'll just leave a fellow [[Decepticon]] to die rather than pick up his gun and fight back. Spinister's gamble pays off, and Needlenose comes back shooting to "rescue" him from his attacker.

The [[Solid light simulation|solid light simulated]] combat session ends, as [[Snarler]] arrives and demands a report on the Mayhems' status. Spinister covers for Needlenose and declares them all fit for duty, and ready to hunt down the deserters [[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]] and [[Catilla (G1)|Catilla]].
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c2=
*[[Octopunch (G1)|Octopunch]] (1)
*[[Needlenose (G1)|Needlenose]] (2)
*[[Stranglehold]] (3)
*[[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] (4)
*[[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] (5)
*[[Snarler]] (13)
|h3=[[Solid light simulation]]s
|c3=
*[[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]] (6)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (7)
*[[Getaway]] (8)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] (9)
*[[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] (10)
*[[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] (11)
*[[Slag (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Slag]] (12)
}}

==Quotes==
"No... '''No!''' This isn't right! The Autobots are supposed to be the good guys, and yet they're attacking mindlessly... '''Cold-bloodedly'''! It's only a matter of time before we're out-numbered and '''slaughtered'''! '''I'm outta here'''!" 
:—'''Needlenose''', seemingly forgetting that he's in a solid light simulated training session.

==Notes==
===Artwork and technical errors===

===Continuity errors===

===Continuity notes===
*In Decepticon training sessions, at least, the Autobots have their own region of the Decepticon-controlled Cybertron called [[Slaughter City]], where they ''hang their enemies' bodies on the walls'' in effigy. Whether this reflects a real-life place on Cybertron isn't 100% clear.
*The five new Mayhem Attack Squad members make their present-day debuts in this issue. Bludgeon and the two [[Pretender]]s had previously appeared in an alternate future during "[[Aspects of Evil!]]"

===Real-life references===

===Other trivia===

===Back-up material===
*'''Reprint ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Resurrection!]]"
*'''Other strips:''' ''[[Action Force (comic)|Action Force]]'' - "Cross Purposes" and ''[[Combat Colin]]''
*'''[[Classic Covers Calendar]]''': The eighth in a series of monthly calendars that showcased inks from covers of yesteryear with new colours. This August edition used [[Dan Reed]]'s inks from [[Child's Play (issue)|issue 142]].

===Foreign Localization===
'''Swedish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Jaktlaget'''" ("The Hunting Party")

===Covers (1)===
*'''Issue #229 cover:''' Spinister and Needlenose run away from Slag, by [[Geoff Senior]].
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-229.jpg|'''Issue #229''' - Out of the frying pan...
</gallery>

===Reprints===
*'''''[[Transformers Annual 1992]]:''''' The [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] on the rampage, by [[Jeff Anderson]].
*'''''[[Transformers: Way of the Warrior]]'':''' [[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]] and [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] stand victorious over a [[Limbo]] nightmare creature, by [[Simon Coleby]].
*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]], Volume 17: Matrix Quest:''''' Nightbeat and Prime's corpse by [[Makoto Ono]] and [[Geoff Senior]].
*'''''[[Transformers: Jakten på Matrixen]]:''''' Close-up on [[Bird of Prey!|US #62]]'s cover, by [[Rodney Ramos]] and [[Eliot Brown]].
<gallery>
File:Transformers annual 1992.jpg|'''Transformers Annual 1992''' - ...into the fire! (Marvel UK, 1992)
File:Titan B&W Compilation-Way of the Warrior.jpg|'''''Way of the Warrior''''' (Titan Books, 2005)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v17.jpg|'''''Definitive G1 Collection vol. 17: Matrix Quest''''' (Hachette Partworks, Ltd., 2018)
File:Matrix Quest SWEcover.jpg|'''''Jakten på Matrixen''''' (Ades Media, 2019)
</gallery>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hunting Party}}
[[Category:Marvel UK Annual stories]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Transformers: I siktet: 2006

2026-04-27T18:50:28Z

Some Dweeb:

{{comicstory|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|The Transformers]]'' hardcover
|prev=Transformers: Jakten på Matrixen
|next=Action Force/Transformers: Vedergällning
|title=
|seriesissue2=Chronological order
|next2=Action Force/Transformers: Vedergällning
|image=Target2006 SWECover.jpg
|caption=
|publisher=[[Ades Media]]
|date=[[November]] [[2021]]
|writer=[[Simon Furman]], [[James Hill]], [[Ian Rimmer]], translated by [[Johan Boström]]
|pencilers=[[Jeff Anderson]], [[Will Simpson]], [[Ron Smith]], [[Geoff Senior]]
|inkers=[[Tim Perkins]], [[Stephen Baskerville]]
|colorists=[[Tony Jozwiak]], [[John Burns]], [[Gina Hart]], [[Steve White]] & [[Euan Peters]]
|letterers=Johan Boström
|editors=[[Andreas Eriksson]], Johan Boström
|cover= Stephen Baskerville (pencils), [[John-Paul Bove]] (colours)
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
|ISBN=
}}

'''''Transformers: I Siktet: 2006''''' is a [[2021]] hardcover collection of various material from the British ''[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Transformers]]'' comic, translated into Swedish and published by [[Ades Media]]. It collects material from [[1986]] to [[1987]], along with one strip from [[1989]]. It also includes translations of [[James Roberts]]' articles from ''[[The Transformers Classics UK]]'' relating to these stories.

==Contents==
* Foreword by Johan Boström
* Recap of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''
* "[[Target: 2006]]"
* "[[Cybertron: The Middle Years!]]"
* "[[The Gift]]"
* "[[Prey!]]"
* "[[...The Harder They Die!]]"
* "[[Under Fire!]]"
* "[[Distant Thunder!]]"
* "[[Fallen Angel]]"
* "[[Resurrection!]]"
* "[[Stargazing]]"
* [[The Transformers Universe (Marvel)|Transformers Universe profiles]]
* Articles by [[James Roberts]]
* Cover gallery
* ''[[Robo-Capers]]'' strips
* Various ephemera

==Profiles==
{{collist|4|
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]]
*[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]]
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]
*[[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]]
*[[Outback (G1)|Outback]]
*[[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]]
*[[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]]
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]]
*[[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]]
*[[Twin Twist (G1)|Twin Twist]]
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]]
*[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]
*[[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]]
*[[Galvatron (G1)#Galvatron_I|Galvatron]]
*[[Headstrong (G1)|Headstrong]]
*[[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]
*[[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]]
*[[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]]
*[[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]]
*[[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]]
*[[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]]
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]
*[[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]]
*[[Tantrum (G1)|Tantrum]]
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]]
}}

==Notes==
*The ''Robo-Capers'' strips remain in English.

[[Category:Marvel Generation 1 comic compilations]]

Prisoner of War!

2026-04-27T17:20:23Z

Some Dweeb:

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #3
|prev=Power Play!
|next=The Last Stand
|title="Prisoner of War!"
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #5–6
|prev2=Power Play!
|next2=The Last Stand
|image=MarvelUS-03.jpg
|caption=Is he strong? Listen, [[bud]], he made Megatron go thud!
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|shippingdate=[[September 11]], [[1984]]
|onsaledate=[[October 2]], 1984
|coverdate=January [[1985]]
|writer=[[Jim Salicrup]]
|penciler=[[Frank Springer]]
|inker=[[Kim DeMulder]], [[Mike Esposito]]
|colorist=[[Nelson Yomtov]]
|letterers=[[Janice Chiang]] & Others
|editor=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''When Sparkplug is kidnapped, it's up to Gears and Spider-Man to save him.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:PrisonerofWar starscream and sparkplug.jpg|thumb|left]]
The [[Decepticon]]s bring Sparkplug Witwicky to their [[Fortress Sinister|base of operations]], with [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] proclaiming that his help will be the key to their very survival on [[Earth]]. [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] compliments Starscream on a job well done, but muses internally about the treacherous Decepticon jet's true intentions - taking over as leader! Megatron informs Sparkplug of [[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage's]] espionage, including learning of his plans to convert Earth fuel into energy for the [[Autobot]]s, and demands that he use this knowledge to help them instead. Equating his current situation with his wartime days in [[North Korea|Korea]], Sparkplug adamantly refuses to help, even after being threatened by an enraged Megatron.

Back at the Witwicky garage, the Autobots are in bad shape following their fight with the Decepticons. [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] attempts to take the blame for Sparkplug's kidnapping, but [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] declares that, as leader of the Autobots, the blame rests at his feet. [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster]] doesn't care who's to blame and simply wants them to help take his father back. The Autobots transform and head back to base as the entire neighborhood watches them depart, with [[Jesse (G1)|Jesse]] giving Buster a kiss for good luck. Along the way, a motorcycle cop attempts to pull over the speeding Autobots...but is quickly frightened away by an aggressive [[Gears (G1)|Gears]]. [[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] greets the Autobots as they return to the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], eager to inform Optimus about an anomaly the ship's computer detected, but the Autobot leader shrugs it off, insisting on him and his troops being refueled immediately.

Sparkplug's defiance is quickly worn down by a close-call from [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak's]] [[Optic weaponry|eyebeams]] and he agrees to help the Decepticons, requesting a fuel sample (provided by [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] at Megatron's request) and a workspace to begin creating the conversion formula. [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]], Rumble, and [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] stomp to the [[University of Oregon]] and steal components from the chemistry department and a tanker truck as raw materials for Sparkplug's creation. Their earlier attack on the power plant catches the attention of [[Moscow]], [[S.H.I.E.L.D.]] officers [[Dum Dum]] and [[Nicholas Fury]], and [[Daily Bugle]] editor [[Joe Robertson]], who has sent mild-mannered photographer [[Spider-Man|Peter Parker]] to the Decepticon base to grab some snapshots. At the site of the Decepticon fortress, numerous news crews and the [[United States military]] are stationed outside. Peter, unable to get a clear view, changes into his alter-ego Spider-Man in order to get closer to the action.

Inside the Decepticon fortress, Soundwave intercepts a transmission from the U.S. military, who urge the Decepticons to engage in peaceful talks...a request that Megatron balks at, sending Starscream, [[Skywarp (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Skywarp]], and [[Thundercracker (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Thundercracker]] to deal with the intruders. The battle ensues, with the Decepticon jets, along with [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]], making short work of the military forces. In the heat of the battle, Spider-Man spots Gears heading in on a scouting mission and mistakenly assumes him to be a Decepticon. Spider-Man attempts to wrangle Gears, but the two stop to save a group of journalists from being squashed by a tank thrown at them by Skywarp. Convinced that they're on the same side, Gears brings Spider-Man up to speed and contacts Optimus Prime to inform him of what's transpired so far.

With the military out-gunned and retreating, the Autobots and Spider-Man spring into action, sneaking through the military squadron in disguise. As they reach the front-line, the Autobots are attacked by unaware military troops...as well as the Decepticons swooping in for an all-out battle!

As their allies and comrades fight below, Sparkplug has finished the conversion formula for Megatron, just as Gears and Spider-Man successfully sneak into the Decepticon base. After tripping up an unaware Rumble and Frenzy, the two encounter and subsequently evade Ravage and Soundwave, breaking through the closing doors of the Decepticon base. Gears and Spider-Man manage to find Sparkplug and Megatron, quickly nabbing him from out of the Decepticon leader's clutches...until Megatron shoots out the floor from underneath Gears and Sparkplug! As the two fall from the Decepticon base, Spider-Man leaps after them and manages to save Sparkplug thanks to his webs. Gears, however, isn't as lucky and plummets to the ground, exploding to pieces.

With their battle with the Decepticons ceased, the other Autobots return to the site of Gears' demise and manage to secure all of his pieces. Spider-Man and Sparkplug comment on their seemingly cold-natured reaction to Gears' death, with Optimus Prime internally noting that humans don't understand the nuances of Cybertronian life. Back at the Ark, Buster and Sparkplug are happily reunited. Spider-Man grieves for Gears, but Optimus is confused at the hero's belief that Gears is permanently gone. Running short on time, Spider-Man bids the Autobots farewell as Optimus commends him for a job well done.

Later, Ratchet has successfully managed to revive Gears, albeit at a lower-than-normal operating level. The newly revived Autobot tries to speak, managing to utter up their worst fears: Sparkplug has given Megatron exactly what he wanted! Dad, say it ain't so!
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] (12)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (13)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (14)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (16)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ironhide]] (17)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] (18)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (19)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (22)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (23)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (24)
*[[Mirage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Mirage]] (25)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] (26)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (34)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Cliffjumper]] (35)
|c2=
*[[Skywarp (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Skywarp]] (1)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] (2)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Thundercracker]] (3)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] (5)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] (6)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (7)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (8)
*[[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]] (9)
*[[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] (10)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (11)
|c3=
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (4)
*[[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] (15)
*[[Jesse (G1)|Jesse]] (20)
*[["O"]] (21)
*[[Ronald Reagan|President of the United States]] (27, voice)
*[[Dum Dum]] (28)
*[[Nicholas Fury|Nicholas]] (29)
*[[Joe Robertson]] (30)
*[[Spider-Man|Peter Parker]] (31)
*[[McBregg]] (32, voice)
*[[Blue Leader]] (33)
}}

==Quotes==
"''Let me outta here, you stupid machine!''" 
"A foolish request! Our analysis of your species finds that if I were to release you at this height your frail form couldn't possibly survive! We need you, for our purposes, '''whole!'''"
: — '''Sparkplug''' fails to persuade '''Starscream'''

"Machines have been slaves on this backward world long enough! Today the roles are rightly reversed!" 
"You'll never get away with this! I'm an American citizen!"
: — '''Starscream''' and '''Sparkplug'''

"Sarge always said if you put in enough miles, you'll believe a car could talk!"
: — a '''highway patrolman''' encounters the speeding Autobots

''This human reminds me of Bluestreak -- they both seem to love the sound of their own voice!''
: — '''Gears''', on Spider-Man

"Do all humans have powers like yours?" 
"Not since I checked last! I'd feel real foolish if they did!"
: — '''Gears''' and '''Spider-Man'''

"...We've reached a dead end! The only way out is the way we came in!" 
"Not necessarily!" [''rips a wall open''] 
"Bet you're lots of fun at parties, too!"
: — '''Spider-Man''' and '''Gears'''

'''Gears:''' "No! It is too late!" 
'''Megatron:''' "'''''WHO DARES ATTEMPT TO ENSNARE MEGATRON?!'''''" 
'''Spider-Man:''' "Uh-oh."

"Mission accomplished --- friend!"
: — '''Gears''' tumbles to his doom

==Notes==
===Production notes===
*After scripting the previous issue based on a plot by [[Bill Mantlo]], Jim Salicrup takes over full writing duties with this issue. As the editor of the ''Spider-Man'' titles at Marvel at the time, it is perhaps no surprise that he chose to add Spider-Man to the story, but clearing the guest-appearance with Hasbro wasn't without complications. Hasbro initially objected to the inclusion of Spider-Man in the comic, because rival toy company [[Mattel]] had recently released a figure of the web-slinger in their ''Secret Wars'' toyline, and they felt that the character's inclusion in another licensed toy-based comic gave the figure free advertising. As a compromise, because the ''Secret Wars'' toy depicted Spider-Man in his classic red-and-blue outfit, it was decided to feature the hero in his [[Venom (Marvel)|black symbiote costume]], which he was no longer wearing in current comic continuity, having disposed of the suit two months prior.<ref>[https://moonbase2.libsyn.com/the-moonbase-2-podcast-interviews-bob-budiansky- Bob Budiansky discusses Spider-Man's appearance during an interview on the Moonbase 2 podcast]</ref>

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Spider-man.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"Can all humans stick to walls?" asked the [[flight|flying]] Autobot.]]
*Following on from a reference to [[Dazzler]] in the previous issue, this chapter of the original four-issue miniseries leans heavily on the fact that the comic was, at the time, being written as explicitly set in the mainstream Marvel universe, as was the standard for most of Marvel's licensed properties at the time (''[[Micronauts]]'', ''[[Rom]]'', ''[[Godzilla]]'', ''Shogun Warriors'', etc.). This conceit would be quietly dropped as the series expanded its length and scope, due to the impossibility of maintaining a coherent continuity with the vast and complicated Marvel universe; the [[letters page]] for [[Deadly Obsession|issue #64]] explicitly stated the world of the Transformers and the Marvel Universe to be separate, and politely asked readers to forget about this issue, which is loaded with Marvel references, including:
**A cover-grabbing guest appearance by Spider-Man in his symbiote costume, complete with a footnote that dates the story as occurring before ''Amazing Spider-Man'' #258 (in which he disposed of the suit). Spidey supporting character [[Joe Robertson]] also shows up for a panel.
**[[Nicholas Fury|Nick Fury]] and [[Dum Dum|Dum Dum Dugan]] of [[S.H.I.E.L.D.]] put in a one-panel appearance, making a reference to Godzilla, in whose own licensed Marvel title Dum Dum was a recurring character.
**The titular truck from ''[[U.S. 1]]'', another licensed comic promoting die cast toy trucks from Tyco, can be seen in the background as the Autobots drive down the highway on page 6.
**Spider-Man mentions the [[Fantastic Four]] and its leader [[Mister Fantastic|Reed Richards]] on the final page.
*Beginning with this issue, character models for the whole cast were made available to artist [[Frank Springer]], having been created at [[Marvel Productions]], then going through a period of revisions and approval by [[Sunbow Productions]] across March 1984. So characters who were drawn based on their toys for the first two issues of the series now suddenly look very different—a phenomenon most noticeable in the case of Bumblebee, Ratchet, and Ironhide. Color schemes, on the other hand, do not appear to have been fully perfected yet; Ratchet in particular appears in a very random color scheme. Though his colors will be corrected in future issues, the early color models used in this mini-series for other characters like Megatron (black helmet) and Soundwave (all-over purple) will continue to be employed even after their designs have been corrected, and will remain in use for the duration of the Marvel series, becoming hallmarks of their appearance in it.
*The events of the early UK stories "[[Man of Iron (issue)|Man of Iron]]" (which would later be reprinted as issues #33-34 of the US series) and "[[Decepticon Dam-Busters!]]" take place during this issue, essentially occurring somewhere in the midst of the montage/time-lapse that spans pages 9–11. It's not the smoothest of fits, but it's better than that offered for the other two early stories, "[[The Enemy Within!]]" and "[[Raiders of the Last Ark]]," which are clumsily suggested (by "Robot War" text features in UK issues [[The New Order|#22]], [[The Next Best Thing to Being There!|#36]] and [[Second Generation!|#63]]) to have taken place somewhere between panels at the ''end'' of this issue, after Spider-Man rescues Sparkplug but before Sparkplug is taken back to the Ark, which really doesn't work.

===Real world references===
*Amongst the military vehicles seen in this issue, the [[MOBAT]] and the [[Wolverine (G.I. Joe)|Wolverine]] from the ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'' series appear repeatedly.
*Locations raided by the Decepticons include the real-life [[University of Oregon]] campus, while government reactions are shown at the White House and in Moscow, and Sparkplug flashes back to his time in the Korean War, during which he served in the Marines.
*"O" calls the Autobots "rejects from a [[George Lucas]] [[Star Wars (film)|film]]".
*"O" compares the Autobot's [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] to Noah's ark.
*A police officer mentions the [[Indy 500]].
*Moscow speculates the Americans are testing their [[Star Wars (defense system)|Star Wars]] arsenal.
*Spider-Man references [[Joan Rivers]]' talk show (which was semi-popular at the time) by saying "Can we talk?".
*Spider-Man mentions the Super Bowl, takes a dig at Rumble and Frenzy as "{{w|Tweedledum and Tweedledee|Tweedledee and Tweedledum}}", and calls Megatron "{{w|Bazooka Joe}}".

===Artwork and technical errors===
*Throughout this issue, Megatron's Decepticon [[insignia]] is off-center—a result of slightly dodgy proportions and angles of his [[character model]]. This is not the last time this error will crop up in the series.
*In the "Story so far" section of the UK issue #6 printing, Sparkplug's name is mistakenly given as "Sparks".
*Page 2: Rumble's name is not called out by the narrator when listing who is transforming in the panel.
*Page 3: An odd printing/coloring error on this page makes Megatron's face and pelvis in panel 1, and Rumble's face and Skywarp's cockpit in panel 5 all a pale pink-purple color.
*Page 5:
**Panel 1: Ironhide is colored like... uh... uh... well, he's got blue arms, blue and gray legs, and a white windshield frame.
**Panel 3: The silhouettes behind Optimus don't match anyone from the Autobot ranks.
**Panel 4: Windcharger is colored white and blue instead of red and gray.
*Page 8: Ratchet is colored with a red crest, shoulders, and legs. They should all be white. For the rest of Ratchet's appearances in this issue, he's colored with a blue windshield frame and red shoulders; it happens consistently enough to suggest that it was an earlier color scheme rather than a flat-out error.
*Page 9: [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] is shown hanging out with the Decepticons. Next issue will reveal that he's still buried in rock at this point.
[[File:PrisonerofWar skywarp trueface.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
[[File:Ratchetgetstofixgears.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*Page 13: Skywarp's [[alternate mode|jet mode]] is colored as if his cockpit canopy extended all the way back to his tail fins. When he lands on the Air Force jet, his wings are missing.
*Page 16:
**Panel 2: Sunstreaker is colored red instead of yellow.
**Panel 3: Cliffjumper's head is colored yellow instead of red.
*Page 17: A blue-colored Gears is drawn behind Brawn, even though Gears is off somewhere else with Spider-Man. It should probably be Frenzy, who shows up in the next panel.
*Page 18: Gears's legs can't seem to decide what color they are.
*Page 19: In panel 1: Megatron is drawn instead of Soundwave. Amusingly, the thought bubbles ''almost'' work for Megatron.
*Page 20:
**Panel 3: Gears's face is the same orangey-yellow as the decal on his chest.
**Panel 8: Soundwave is drawn with a strange, enormous cannon attached to his arm, rather than his usual weapon.
*Page 22: In panel 4, Brawn and Cliffjumper are both white and blue instead of their normal color schemes. Sunstreaker is blue, white and red, and has the wrong head, AND is missing most of his left arm.
*Page 23:
**Panel 3: Optimus is drawn with strange huge conjoined goggles instead of his usual separate eyes.
**Panel 4: Cliffjumper is still white and blue (but with red legs), while Hound is colored red and white instead of green. Ratchet's [[onebox component|repair bay]] is colored [[Ironhide (G1)/toys#The Transformers|red]] instead of white.
**Panel 5: Optimus's head is ''tiny''!
**Panel 6: Ratchet's repair bay appears to speak, as a speech bubble saying "I've managed to revive him to minimum operating level." Ratchet himself speaks immediately afterwards, indicating that this was merely a misattributed speech balloon.

===UK printing===
'''Issue #5:'''
*'''Published:''' [[November 17|17th November]], 1984
*'''[[Back-up strips]]:''' ''Machine Man'' ({{TFUK|Where Walk the Gods!|"Where Walk the Gods!"}} part 2) and ''{{TFUK|The Transformers issue 5/Matt and the Cat|Matt and the Cat}}''; the latter debuts this issue, and will run until [[Showdown!|issue #73]]
*'''[[Fact File]]:''' [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]
*'''Other features:''' An article on "Sieve-Head," robot mascot of the British children's programme ''{{w|Saturday Superstore}}''; "Robot Round-Up"; poster made from an animation still from the first ''Transformers'' [[commercial/Generation 1|commercial]]; mail-in contest to win the game "Four-In-Line"
*Though advertised last issue for release on [[November 15|15th November]] (a Thursday, as had been normal up to this point), this issue marks the point at which the series changed to be released on a Saturday, which would remain its regular release day for the remainder of the comic's eight-year run.

'''Issue #6:'''
*'''Published:''' [[December 1|1st December]], 1984
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Machine Man'' ({{TFUK|Xanadu!|"Xanadu!"}} part 1) and ''{{TFUK|The Transformers issue 6/Matt and the Cat|Matt and the Cat}}''
*'''Fact File:''' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]
*'''Other features:''' "Robot Round-Up"; poster made from an animation still from the first ''Transformers'' [[commercial/Generation 1|commercial]]; "Robot Right Words" crossword; mail-in contest to win a Bontempi HT 313 keyboard

===Other trivia===
[[File:Prisonerofwar clusterbombs.jpg|thumb|upright=1|Well what do you expect ''me'' to do about it?]]
*Advertised as part 3 in a [[The Transformers Four-Issue Limited Series|four-issue limited series]].
*Although he doesn't appear in the cover art proper despite his prominent role in the story, Gears does get the cover corner box, the only time in the US series that a character not designated as Autobot or Decepticon leader at the time of the comic gets in the cover box.
*Rumble calls Sparkplug a [[scraplet]], a generic insult which years later would be repurposed as the name of a robotic disease.
*The Decepticons are dropping [[cluster bomb]]s on human soldiers, which are going off ''right next'' to soldiers. We can safely assume a whole bunch of them are now dead.
*Spider-Man completely ignores the Decepticon rampage and starts a fight with Gears instead, who is not near any humans at the time. Jameson's right, he's a menace!
*In 2007's [[Man and Machine, Part Four|''New Avengers/Transformers #4]], Spider-Man web-swings around Megatron in a visual homage to the cover of this issue.
*When IDW Publishing released their ''[[Classic Transformers]]'' series of reprints in 2008, they were unable to secure the license to reprint Spider-Man's appearance, so this issue had to be omitted from [[Classic Transformers Volume 1|volume 1]]. In 2011, when they reprinted the series again as ''[[The Transformers Classics]]'', they sorted the rights and ''were'' able to include the issue (see below)—but only in the physical version of the book, ''not'' in the digital version that was released in 2012.
*The issue's cover art was misattributed to artist {{w|Mike Zeck}} for many years, until [[Bob Budiansky]] corrected the mistake in 2021, clarifying that the actual artist was [[Mark Texeira]].<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Mark Texeira illustrated the covers for Transformers #3 and #4.|link=https://twitter.com/BobBudiansky/status/1416224679682101253|name=Bob Budiansky|site=Twitter|year=2021|month=07|day=17|(defunct=)}}</ref>

===Bot Roster===
*Autobots: 18 active.
*Decepticons: 6 active; 4 inactive as the Autobots take out Skywarp, Soundwave, Rumble and Frenzy; Shockwave missing in action.

===Courtesy of my...===
*Megatron's [[fusion cannon]] gets its first namecheck as he ponders Starscream's potential for treachery.
*Laserbeak is seen demonstrating the [[optic weaponry|eyebeams]] he mentioned in [[The Transformers (issue)|issue #1]].
*Once again Starscream deploys [[cluster bomb]]s, this time against the US military.
*Sunstreaker takes out Skywarp with one of his shoulder-mounted, laser-guided, ground-to-air [[missile]]s.

===Covers (3)===
*'''US issue #3:''' Spider-Man webbing Megatron, by [[Mark Texeira]].
*'''UK issue #5:''' Thundercracker and Sparkplug, by [[John Ridgway]].
*'''UK issue #6:''' reuse of US issue #3's cover by [[Mark Texeira]].

<gallery>
File:MarvelUS-03.jpg|'''US issue #3''' - A moralistic tale for the ages.
File:MarvelUK-005.jpg|'''UK issue #5''' - I'm glad my pants are already brown!
File:MarvelUK-006.jpg|'''UK issue #6''' - The UK needs more RED.
</gallery>

===Reprints===
<gallery>
File:Tfcolcom02.jpg|'''''[[Transformers Collected Comics|Collected Comics]]'' (UK) #2''' (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:Dtf2.JPG|'''[[Die Transformer issue 2|''Die Transformer'' #2]]''' (Condor Verlag, 1986; reprints first half)
File:Dtf3.JPG|'''[[Die Transformer issue 3|''Die Transformer'' #3]]''' (Condor Verlag, 1986; reprints second half)
File:Transformers Digest 02-cover.jpg|'''[[The Transformers Comics Magazine issue 2|''The Transformers Comics Magazine'' #2]]''' (Marvel US, 1986)
File:Complete works 2 cover.jpg|'''[[The Transformers: The Complete Works Part 2|''The Complete Works'' Part 2]]''' (Marvel UK, 1987)
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:TFClassicsVol1.JPG|'''[[The Transformers Classics, Vol. 1|''The Transformers Classics'', Vol. 1]]''' (IDW Publishing, 2011)
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)
File:TF Compendium 1.jpg|'''''[[The Transformers Compendium Volume 1]]''''' (Image Comics & Skybound Entertainment, 2025)
</gallery>

====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 colored blue throughout this issue, erasing his standard purple Marvel color scheme.
*Page 2, panel 6: For this panel alone, Skywarp is partially recolored to add various purple details to his body in line with his finalized color scheme.
*Page 3: The miscolored portions of Megatron and Skywarp are corrected, but Rumble's face is not.
**Panel 1: For this panel alone, Starscream's colors are changed to match his finalized color scheme, with red chest vents and blue on his feet.
*Page 5: Ironhide and Windcharger's colors are corrected.
*Page 6, panel 2: For this panel alone, Hound's legs are changed from their standard Marvel solid-blue to green with white thighs.
*Page 8, panel 6: Ratchet's colors are changed to give him a white crest and thighs, but the incorrect red shoulders and boots remain.
*Page 15, panel 2: Ratchet's colors are changed again, this time making his legs, arms, and chest the correct all-over white, but failing to change his incorrect red crest.
*Page 16, panel 3: The color of Cliffjumper's head is corrected.
*Page 18: Gears's inconsistently colored legs are changed to their consistent, correct colors.
*Page 20, panel 3: The color of Gears's face is corrected, but the orange detail on his chest is incorrectly change to white along with it.
*Page 22, panel 4: Sunstreaker, Brawn and Cliffjumper's colors are corrected, but parts of Sunstreaker are colored a greyish-black, as opposed to the straight blue the comic's palette normally substitutes for this color.
*Page 23:
**Ratchet's colors are changed ''again'', this time to his finalized Marvel color scheme.
**Panel 4: Hound and Cliffjumper's colors are corrected; again, Hound uses the "incorrect" cartoon/toy colors with green boots and white thighs, instead of the comic's standard blue.

===Advertisements===
*Monogram plastic model kits (inside front cover)
*Fig Newtons and Apple Newtons - between pages 4 & 5
*Bonkers fruit candy - between pages 5 & 6
*Marvel Super Heroes ''Secret Wars'' action figures and accessories - between pages 7 & 8
*Block of various Sketchy Things - between pages 8 & 9
*Block of various Sketchy Things - between pages 16 & 17
*NFL SuperPro Club - between pages 17 & 18
*Win a job at Marvel Comics - between pages 19 & 20
*Bullpen Bulletins - between pages 20 & 21
*Marvel Comic subscriptions
*''Decathlon'' by Activision video game (rear inside cover)
*''Montezuma's Revenge'' by Parker Brothers video game (rear cover)

===Advertisements (Second Printing)===
*Monogram [[GoBots]] motorized model kits (inside front cover)
*Fig Newtons and Apple Newtons (pg 5)
*Star Comics (pg 7)
*Mile High Comics (pg 10)
*Mile High Comics (pg 12)
*Power Pack and The Amazing [[Spider-Man]] with tips on ways to prevent sexual abuse (pg 21)
*Calendar of upcoming events & Marvel Mart (pg 23)
*Block of various Sketchy Things (pg 26)
*Bullpen Bulletins (pg 28)
*Comic subscriptions (pg 32)
*Indiana Jones RPG by TSR (rear inside cover)
*Risk (rear cover)

==References==
{{reflist}}

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

User:Some Dweeb/sandbox/2005 IDW International reprints

2026-04-27T09:15:04Z

Some Dweeb:

==International Reprints==
With the wide-spread popularity of [[IDW Publishing|IDW Publishing's]] Transformers comics, it's no wonder that they have been translated for international audiences.

===Italian===
These were published by [[Panini]] and were cancelled due to low sales.

===Japanese===
[[File:Villagebooks MTMTE vol1 exclusive cover.jpg|upright=1|thumb|right]]
Published by [[Villagebooks]] beginning in 2017 with volume 1 of [[The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers]], titled ''For All Mankind'' and ending in 2022 with the company's closing down.

{{chapters|title=Published work:|align=left|content=
<div class="list-header">''For All Mankind''</div>
*[[...For All Mankind|#1]]
*[[Things Fall Apart, Part 1: "New Arrivals, Old Encounters"|#2]]
*[[Things Fall Apart, Part 2: "A Rude Awakening"|#3]]
*[[Things Fall Apart, Part 3: "Seasons in Flight"|#4]]
*[[Things Fall Apart, Part 4: "Enemies of the System"|#5]]
*[[Things Fall Apart, Part 5: "Earthworks"|#6]]
 <div class="list-header">''International Incident''</div>
*[[All His Engines|#7]]
*[[Scrapper (issue)|#8]]
*[[International Incident Part 1: "The Land Ironclads"|#9]]
*[[International Incident Part 2: "Ranks of Bronze"|#10]]
*[[International Incident Part 3: "Hawk Among the Sparrows"|#11]]
*[[International Incident Part 4: "All My Sins Remembered"|#12]]
 <div class="list-header">''Revenge of the Decepticons''</div>
*[[Heart Like a Wheel|#13]]
*[[Revenge of the Decepticons Part 1: The Demolished Man|#14]]
*[[Revenge of the Decepticons Part 2: Altered Carbon|#15]]
*[[Revenge of the Decepticons Part 3: Woken Furies|#16]]
*[[Revenge of the Decepticons Part 4: Burning Chrome|#17]]
*[[Revenge of the Decepticons Part 5: Enemy Mine|#18]]

 <div class="list-header">''Megatron: Origin'' </div>
*[[Megatron Origin issue 1|#1]]
*[[Megatron Origin issue 2|#2]]
*[[Megatron Origin issue 3|#3]]
*[[Megatron Origin issue 4|#4]]

 <div class="list-header">''Chaos Theory''</div>
*[[Space Opera Part 1: The Stars My Destination|#19]]
*[[Space Opera Act 2: Out of the Silent Planet|#20]]
*[[The Transformers issue 21|#21]]
*[[Chaos Theory Part 1|#22]]
*[[Chaos Theory Part 2|#23]]
*[[Police Action: Part 1|#25]]
*[[Police Action Part 2: Only Forward|#27]]
*[[Police Action Part 3: A Second Chance at Eden|#29]]

 <div class="list-header">''Chaos''</div>
*[[Chaos Part One: Lamentations|#24]]
*[[Chaos Part Two: Numbers|#26]]
*[[Chaos Part Three: Kings|#28]]
*[[Chaos Part Four: Genesis|#30]]
*[[Pax Cybertronia (issue)|#31]]

 <div class="list-header">''Last Stand of the Wreckers''</div>
*[[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 1|#1]]
*[[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 2|#2]]
*[[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 3|#3]]
*[[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 4|#4]]
*[[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|#5]]

 <div class="list-header">''More than Meets the Eye'' Volume 1</div>
*[[Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|"The Death of Optimus Prime"]]
*[[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|#1]]
*[[Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|#2]]
*[[Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|#3]]
*[[Life After the Big Bang|#4]]
*[[How Ratchet Got His Hands Back|#5]]
 <div class="list-header">''Robots in Disguise'' Volume 1</div>
*[[The Autonomy Lesson (issue)|#1]]
*[[The World & Everything in It|#2]]
*[[Stick Together|#3]]
*[[Devisive|#4]]
*[[A Better Tomorrow|#5]]
 <div class="list-header">''Drift''</div>
*[[Drift issue 1|#1]]
*[[Drift issue 2|#2]]
*[[Drift issue 3|#3]]
*[[Drift issue 4|#4]]
 <div class="list-header">''More than Meets the Eye'' Volume 2</div>
*[[Interiors|#6]]
*[[Rules of Disengagement (issue)|#7]]
*[[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|#8]]
*[[Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|#9]]
*[[Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism|#10]]
*[[Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|#11]]
*[[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|Annual 2012]]
 <div class="list-header">''Robots in Disguise'' Volume 2</div>
*[[Syndromica (1)|#6]]
*[[Interference Patterns|#7]]
*[[Dinobot Hunt (IDW)|#8]]
*[[Night and the City|#9]]
*[[Primus: All Good Things|Annual 2012]]
*[[Syndromica (2)|#10]]
 <div class="list-header">''More than Meets the Eye'' Volume 3</div>
*[[Before & After|#12]]
*[[More than Meets the Eye issue 13|#13]]
*[[Remembrance Day|#14]]
*[[Under Cold Blue Stars|#15]]
*[[The Gloaming|#16]]
 <div class="list-header">''Robots in Disguise'' Volume 3</div>
*[[The End of the Beginning of the World|#11]]
*[[City on Fire|#12]]
*[[The Verge|#13]]
*[[Before the Dawn|#14]]
*[[Plan for Everything|#15]]
*[[Heavy Is the Head|#16]]
 <div class="list-header">''More than Meets the Eye'' Volume 4</div>
*[[Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|#17]]
*[[Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|#18]]
*[[Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|#19]]
*[[Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|#20]]
*[[More than Meets the Eye issue 21|#21]]
*[[Little Victories|#22]]
 <div class="list-header">''Robots in Disguise'' Volume 4</div>
*[[Shockwaves|#17]]
*[[Second Exodus|#18]]
*[[Homecoming (IDW)|#19]]
*[[Three Monologues|#20]]
*[[Shockpoint|#21]]
*[[Soundwaves (issue)|#22]]
 <div class="list-header">''Dark Cybertron'' Volume 1</div>
*[[Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1|#1]]
*[[Black Metal: Dark Cybertron Chapter 2|#2]]
*[[Winners & Losers: Dark Cybertron Chapter 3|#3]]
*[[Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|#4]]
*[[Finest Hour: Dark Cybertron Chapter 5|#5]]
*[[No Exit: Dark Cybertron Chapter 6|#6]]
 <div class="list-header">''Dark Cybertron'' Volume 2</div>
*[[The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|#7]]
*[[Burning Bright: Dark Cybertron Chapter 8|#8]]
*[[Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|#9]]
*[[The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|#10]]
*[[Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|#11]]
*[[...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|#12]]
}}

===French===
Currently the main publisher of IDW and Hasbro related comics in France, [[Vestron]] since August of 2020 [https://vestron.wetta-sunnyside.fr/755/transformers-ca-commence-en-juin-2020-chez-vestron]

{{chapters|title=Published work:|align=left|content=
<div class="list-header">''Hearts of Steel''</div>
*[[Hearts of Steel]]
 <div class="list-header">''Last Stand of the WRECKERS''</div>
 <div class="list-header">''REVOLUTION''</div>
 <div class="list-header">''REVOLUTION Extension 1''</div>
 <div class="list-header">''REVOLUTION Extension 2''</div>
 <div class="list-header">''REVOLUTION Extension 3''</div>
 <div class="list-header">''REVOLUTIONARIES Tome 1''</div>
 <div class="list-header">''REVOLUTIONARIES Tome 2''</div>
 <div class="list-header">''Lovecraft INFESTATION''</div>
 <div class="list-header">''ROM vs. Transformers : Shining Armor''</div>
*[[Shining Armor issue 1|#1]]
*[[Shining Armor issue 2|#2]]
*[[Shining Armor issue 3|#3]]
*[[Shining Armor issue 4|#4]]
*[[Shining Armor issue 5|#5]]
 <div class="list-header">''FIRST STRIKE : Revolution II (First Strike)''</div>
 <div class="list-header">''''</div>
 <div class="list-header">''VISIONARIES – Revolution III (Transformers vs. Visionaries)''</div>
*[[Schismatic|#1]]
*[[Cybertron No More|#2]]
*[[Desperate Measures (Transformers vs. Visionaries)|#3]]
*[[Good Men|#4]]
*[[The Curtain|#5]]
 <div class="list-header">''UNICRON : Revolution Finale, tome 1''</div>
 <div class="list-header">''UNICRON : Revolution Finale, tome 2''</div>
}}

Another publisher by the name [[Kurokawa]] (mostly known in the manga community) publishes ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'' and their ''[[Spotlight]]'' related issues as volumes between July 2021 and April 2022. <ref>https://www.facebook.com/Kurokawaofficiel/photos/bientôtchezkuro-aussi-annoncé-durant-le-kurolive-daujourdhui-transformers-gloire/10165105734680241 - Announcement on Kurokawa's Facebook account.</ref> <ref>https://twitter.com/kurokawa/status/1379796558934380547 Announcement on Kurokawa's Twitter account.</ref> This choice was held by [[Grégoire Hellot]] in commemoration of the 35th anniversary of the brand, while they thought of importing mangas centered around the licence, the fact that there are very few of them and most (if not all) of the stories are made to promote a specific toy. For them it couldn't have been a proper homage so they turned to the westerns stories in comics form, shifting the releases in their non-manga label, '''KuroPOP'''. <ref>https://youtu.be/EPox6HAtaKA</ref> <ref>Letter at the end of ''Gloire à Megatron Tome 4''</ref>

{{chapters|title=Published work:|align=left|content=
<div class="list-header">''Gloire à Megatron Tome 1''</div>
*[[All Hail Megatron issue 1|#1]]
*[[All Hail Megatron issue 2|#2]]
*[[All Hail Megatron issue 3|#3]]
*[[All Hail Megatron issue 4|#4]]
*[[All Hail Megatron issue 5|#5]]
*[[All Hail Megatron issue 6|#6]]
 <div class="list-header">''Gloire à Megatron Tome 2''</div>
*[[All Hail Megatron issue 7|#7]]
*[[All Hail Megatron issue 8|#8]]
*[[All Hail Megatron issue 9|#9]]
*[[All Hail Megatron issue 10|#10]]
*[[All Hail Megatron issue 11|#11]]
*[[All Hail Megatron issue 12|#12]]
 <div class="list-header">''Gloire à Megatron Tome 3''</div>
*[[Spotlight: Blurr]]
*[[Spotlight: Jazz]]
*[[Spotlight: Cliffjumper]]
*[[Spotlight: Drift]]
*[[Spotlight: Metroplex]]
 <div class="list-header">''Gloire à Megatron Tome 4''</div>
*[[All Hail Megatron issue 13|#13]]
*[[All Hail Megatron issue 14|#14]]
*[[All Hail Megatron issue 15|#15]]
*[[All Hail Megatron issue 16|#16]]
}}

===Spanish===
Some parts of Phase 1 were printed by [[NORMA Editorial]].

===Swedish===
[[File:MTMTE_SWE_01.jpg|upright=1|thumb|right|Den på svenska.]]
Published by [[Ades Media]] beginning in 2018 with [[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]], these reprints take the form of oversized hardcover editions with ten to circa 12-13 issues worth of content. Ades first published these in collaboration with IDW itself, but after the license fell to [[Skybound Entertainment]], Ades began working with them.

{{chapters|title=Published work:|align=left|content=
<div class="list-header">''Wreckers sista strid''</div>
*[[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 1|#1]]
*[[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 2|#2]]
*[[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 3|#3]]
*[[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 4|#4]]
*[[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|#5]]
*[[Escape (G1)|Escape]]
*[[In Word and Deed]]
*[[Zero Point]]
*[[Dead Men's Boots]]
*[[Bullets]]
*[[Spotlight: Kup]]
*[[Everything in Its Right Place]]

 <div class="list-header">''Mer än ögat kan se'' </div>
*[[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|#1]]
*[[Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|#2]]
*[[Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|#3]]
*[[Life After the Big Bang|#4]]
*[[How Ratchet Got His Hands Back|#5]]
*[[The Reluctant Specialist|Spotlight: <s>Trailcutter</s> Trailbreaker]]
*[[The Waiting Game|Spotlight: Hoist]]
*[[Interiors|#6]]
*[[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|Annual 2012]]
*[[Rules of Disengagement (issue)|#7]]
*[[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|#8]]
*[[Bullets]] (Illustrated version)
 <div class="list-header">''Kaos och Skuggor'' </div>
*''The Transformers'' [[Chaos Theory Part 1|#22]]
*[[Chaos Theory Part 2|#23]]
*[[Chaos Part One: Lamentations|#24]]
*[[Chaos Part Two: Numbers|#26]]
*[[Chaos Part Three: Kings|#28]]
*[[Chaos Part Four: Genesis|#30]]
*[[Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|"The Death of Optimus Prime"]]
*More than Meets the Eye [[Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|#9]]
*[[Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism|#10]]
*[[Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|#11]]
*[[Before & After|#12]]
*[[More than Meets the Eye issue 13|#13]]
 <div class="list-header">''Krig och hågkomst'' </div>
*[[Remembrance Day|#14]]
*[[Under Cold Blue Stars|#15]]
*[[The Gloaming|#16]]
*[[Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|#17]]
*[[Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|#18]]
*[[Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|#19]]
*[[Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|#20]]
*[[More than Meets the Eye issue 21|#21]]
*[[Little Victories|#22]]
*[[Omega's Conundrum|Spotlight: Orion Pax]]
 <div class="list-header">''Du sköna nya värld'' </div>
*[[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|#28]]
*[[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|#29]]
*[[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|#30]]
*[[Twenty Plus One|#31]]
*[[slaughterhouse|#32]]
*[[slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|#33]]
*[[Births, Deaths, and Interventions|#34]]
*[[The Custom-Made Now - An Elegant Chaos Prologue|#35]]
*[[Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|#36]]
*[[Elegant Chaos Part 2: Stet|#37]]
*[[Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|#38]]
*[[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|#40]]
 <div class="list-header">''Tillbaka till jorden'' </div>
*[[Earthfall Part 1: Hello Cruel World|#28]]
*[[Earthfall Part 2: Detonation Boulevard|#29]]
*[[Earthfall Part 3: The Mind Bomb|#30]]
*[[Earthfall Part 4: Full Fathom Five|#31]]
*[[Earthfall Part 5: I Dream of Wires|#32]]
*[[The Crucible|#34]]
*[[Onyx Interface Part One: Signals, Calls, and Marches|#35]]
*[[Onyx Interface Part Two: Vs.|#36]]
*[[Onyx Interface Part Three: ONoffON|#37]]
*[[The Onyx Interface Conclusion: The Obliterati|#38]]
*[[The Transformers: Punishment|Punishment]]
 <div class="list-header">''Några av mina bästa vänner...'' </div>
* [[The Permanent Revolution|#39]]
* Empire of Stone [[Drift - Empire of Stone issue 1|#1]]
* [[Drift - Empire of Stone issue 2|#2]]
* [[Drift - Empire of Stone issue 3|#3]]
* [[Drift - Empire of Stone issue 4|#4]]
* More than Meets the Eye [[The Sensuous Frame|#41]]
* [[The Frail Gaze|#42]]
* [[The One Where They Go to Earth|#43]]
* [[The Not Knowing|#44]]
* [[Some Of My Best Friends Are Autobots|#45]]
* [[Animals|#46]]
* [[Nothing Will Ever Be the Same Again!|Revolution]]
 <div class="list-header">''Stormvarning'' </div>
* [[Spotlight: Shockwave]]
* [[Spotlight: Sixshot]]
* [[Spotlight: Hot Rod]]
* [[Spotlight: Soundwave]]
* [[Spotlight: Ultra Magnus]]
* [[Stormbringer issue 1|Stormbringer #1]]
* [[Stormbringer issue 2|#2]]
* [[Stormbringer issue 3|#3]]
* [[Stormbringer issue 4|#4]]
* [[Spotlight: Nightbeat]]
}}
{{-}}
===United Kingdom===
[[File:Tf mag 14 2008.JPG|upright=1|thumb|right|The one... that's still in English.]]

[[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|Titan's Transformers magazine]] briefly ran some of IDW's issues as back-up strips in parts. These were specifically [[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin]] in issues #14-25 and a truncated version of [[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]] in issues #1-8 of the magazine's second volume.

{{main|Transformers (Titan Magazine)}}
{{-}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:IDW (2005) comic series]]

The Transformers: Spotlight

2026-04-26T21:39:32Z

Some Dweeb:

[[File:TF Spotlight v1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Extremely logical that I was given the first ''Spotlight''!]]
'''''The Transformers: Spotlight''''' (later '''''The Transformers Spotlight'''''), published since [[2006]], is an semi-ongoing series of one-shot comics published by [[IDW Publishing]] and set in the [[2005 IDW continuity]]. Each issue focuses on a particular [[Transformer]].

Initially intended only to consist of five issues, the series evolved into an intermittent "ongoing" of sorts until the end of 2009, at which point it was shelved. One additional issue, ''[[Ride-Along|Spotlight: Prowl]]'', was published in April [[2010]]. The series returned for a final six issues starting in December 2012 as part of a tie-in with the ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' toyline.

{{chapters|align=left|style=3|title=''Transformers: Spotlight'' issues:|content=
* [[Spotlight: Shockwave|Shockwave]]
* [[Spotlight: Nightbeat|Nightbeat]]
* [[Spotlight: Hot Rod|Hot Rod]]
* [[Spotlight: Sixshot|Sixshot]]
* [[Spotlight: Ultra Magnus|Ultra Magnus]]
* [[Spotlight: Soundwave|Soundwave]]
* [[Spotlight: Kup|Kup]]
* [[Spotlight: Galvatron|Galvatron]]
* [[Spotlight: Optimus Prime|Optimus Prime]]
* [[Spotlight: Ramjet|Ramjet]]
* [[Spotlight: Blaster|Blaster]]
* [[Spotlight: Arcee|Arcee]]
* [[Spotlight: Mirage|Mirage]]
* [[Spotlight: Grimlock|Grimlock]]
* [[Spotlight: Wheelie|Wheelie]]
* [[Spotlight: Cyclonus|Cyclonus]]
* [[Spotlight: Hardhead|Hardhead]]
* [[Spotlight: Doubledealer|Doubledealer]]
* [[Spotlight: Sideswipe|Sideswipe]]
* [[Spotlight: Blurr|Blurr]]
* [[Spotlight: Jazz|Jazz]]
* [[Spotlight: Drift|Drift]]
* [[Spotlight: Cliffjumper|Cliffjumper]]
* [[Spotlight: Metroplex|Metroplex]]
* [[Ride-Along|Prowl]]
* [[Omega's Conundrum|Orion Pax]]
* [[The Hunting Party (IDW)|Thundercracker]]
* [[Spotlight: Megatron|Megatron]]
* [[The Question|Bumblebee]]
* [[The Reluctant Specialist|Trailcutter]]
* [[The Waiting Game|Hoist]]
}}

==Overview==
The ''Spotlight'' series is set within the [[2005 IDW continuity]]. The format allows more free-ranging story settings—many issues are set on alien worlds—and serve to give a wider view of the overall IDW Transformers universe. As such, the issues are not set in any kind of absolute chronological order, taking place at various points in the [[2005 IDW timeline]], sometimes expanding upon pre-existing plot points, sometimes setting up ideas to be explored later, and sometimes—''get this''—just telling a story.

For the vast majority of its first three years, during [[Simon Furman]]'s tenure as the chief Transformers writer at IDW, in addition to spotlighting singular characters, the series served to visibly set up plot points that would tie into the main ongoing story Furman was telling at the time. Roughly speaking, five issues were released per year across 2006, 2007 and 2008, collected into three trade paperbacks; Nightbeat, Hot Rod, Sixshot, Ultra Magnus, Soundwave and Kup were also reprinted in hardback library editions and sold through [[ABDO Publishing Group]] and its aptly named subsidiary, Spotlight. After this, when Furman's run on the Generation 1 universe was truncated, four additional ''Spotlight'' issues published at the end of 2008 played home to the finale of his story, "[[Revelation (IDW)|Revelation]]".

''Spotlight'' continued to run concurrently with the new "main" series, ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'', publishing another set of five issues in 2009 which were collected as ''All Hail Megatron Vol. 3'', despite having almost nothing to do with that series itself. Following this, the launch of the [[The Transformers (IDW)|ongoing series]], ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'', and ''[[The Transformers: Bumblebee]]'' miniseries led to ''Spotlight'' being put on hold. A planned spotlight for [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] was canceled, and only one further issue was published in 2010: "[[Ride-Along|Spotlight: Prowl]]", containing a story intended for the ongoing series itself which was only released in this format as a means of quickly addressing fandom concerns about the characterization of the title character.

The ''Spotlight'' series returned in late 2012 as part of a joint effort between IDW and Hasbro, developed first for release to comic book stores, and then as pack-in comics included with new ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' figures of the IDW characters' designs. These six issues again told stories that fleshed out moments of characters' lives at various points in the IDW timeline—broadly speaking, two of the six were set in the distant past, two during the ongoing series, and two in the "present" era of publishing—filling in key moments in their history with a connecting thread between issues that centered on a Decepticon search for [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] and the [[space bridge]] technology in his body. In addition to promoting the high-profile new ''Generations'' Metroplex toy, the six issues together served as something of a stealth prequel to the "[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]]" crossover event.

==Creative teams==

Of the first nineteen ''Spotlight''s, all but three were written by Simon Furman: the exceptions were ''Spotlight: Kup'' by [[Nick Roche]], ''Spotlight: Ramjet'' by [[Stuart Moore]] and ''Spotlight: Mirage'' by [[George Strayton]]. [[Klaus Scherwinski]] co-wrote "Spotlight: Wheelie" with Furman.

''All Hail Megatron'' writer [[Shane McCarthy]] penned three of the ''Spotlight''s that accompanied that series—''Spotlight: Blurr'', ''Spotlight: Drift'' and ''Spotlight: Cliffjumper''—while [[Josh van Reyk]] & [[Shaun Knowler]] wrote ''Spotlight: Jazz'' and editor [[Andy Schmidt]] handled ''Spotlight: Metroplex''. The writer of the ongoing series, [[Mike Costa]], wrote ''Spotlight: Prowl''.

When ''Spotlight'' returned in 2012, writing duties were predominantly shared between the two writers of the current series: ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[James Roberts]], who scripted ''Orion Pax'', ''Trailcutter'' and ''Hoist'', and ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[John Barber]], who penned ''Thundercracker'' and ''Bumblebee''. Nick Roche wrote and drew the sixth, ''Megatron''.

The list of artists throughout the series is diverse; please see each issue for credits.

==Collections==
* '''''The Transformers: Spotlight Volume 1''''' ([[May 30]], [[2007]]) ISBN 1600100686 / ISBN 978-1600100680
** Collects ''Spotlight: Shockwave'', ''Nightbeat'', ''Hot Rod'', ''Sixshot'' and ''Ultra Magnus''.
** Trade paperback format. The spine bears the number '''1'''.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The Premiere Collection]] Volume 1''''' ([[December 5]], 2007) ISBN 1600101186 / ISBN 978-1600101182
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Infiltration|Infiltration]]'' issues [[Infiltration issue 0|#0]]–[[Infiltration issue 6|6]], ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer|Stormbringer]]'' issues [[Stormbringer issue 1|#1]]–[[Stormbringer issue 4|4]], ''[[The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation]]'' issues [[Escalation issue 1|#1]]–[[Escalation issue 6|6]], and ''Spotlight: Shockwave'', ''Nightbeat'', ''Hot Rod'', ''Sixshot'' & ''Ultra Magnus''.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''The Transformers: Spotlight Volume 2''''' ([[February 20]], [[2008]]) ISBN 1600101542 / ISBN 978-1600101540
** Collects ''Spotlight: Soundwave'', ''Kup'', ''Galvatron'', ''Optimus Prime'' and ''Ramjet''.
** Includes covers art for each issue and bonus art for each issue.
** Trade paperback format. The spine bears the number '''2'''.

* '''''The Transformers: Spotlight Volume 3''''' ([[September 17]], 2008) ISBN 160010245X / ISBN 978-1600102455
** Collects ''Spotlight: Blaster'', ''Arcee'', ''Mirage'', ''Grimlock'' and ''Wheelie''.
** Includes covers art for each issue and bonus art for each issue. The cover is an unused incentive cover from ''Spotlight: Grimlock'', art by [[Marcelo Matere]].
** Trade paperback format. The spine bears the number '''3'''.

* '''''The Transformers: Spotlight Volume 4: Revelation''''' ([[February 4]], [[2009]]) ISBN 1600104215 / ISBN 978-1600104213
** Collects ''Spotlight: Cyclonus'', ''Hardhead'', ''Doubledealer'' and ''Sideswipe''.
** Bonus material includes each A and B cover, and sketches of the 4-part image, Cyclonus, Nightbeat, Doubledealer (including a dragon-like alternate mode), [[Grindcore (G1)|Grindcore]] and [[Straxus (G1)|Straxus]] (the last 2 in robot and alt mode).
** Trade paperback format. The spine bears the number '''4''', putting it clearly in the ''Spotlight'' series rather than in the "-ation" series.

* '''''The Transformers: The Premiere Collection Volume 2''''' ([[June 17]], 2009) ISBN 1600104371 / ISBN 978-1600104374
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Devastation|Devastation]]'' issues [[Devastation issue 1|#1]]–[[Devastation issue 6|6]], and ''Spotlight: Soundwave'', ''Kup'', ''Galvatron'', ''Optimus Prime'', ''Ramjet'', ''Blaster'', ''Arcee'', ''Mirage'', ''Grimlock'', ''Wheelie'', ''Cyclonus'', ''Hardhead'', ''Doubledealer'' & ''Sideswipe''.
** Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:TF Spotlight v1.jpg|'''''Spotlight Volume 1''''' – cover art by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Rob Ruffolo]]
File:Premier Collection 1.jpg|'''''The Premiere Collection Volume 1''''' – cover art by [[Klaus Scherwinski]]
File:TF Spotlight v2.jpg|'''''Spotlight Volume 2''''' – cover art by [[Gabriel Rodríguez]]
File:TF Spotlight v3.jpg|'''''Spotlight Volume 3''''' – cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:TF Spotlight v4.jpg|'''''Spotlight Volume 4: Revelation''''' – cover art by Nick Roche
File:Premier Collection 2.jpg|'''''The Premiere Collection Volume 2''''' – cover art by Nick Roche and [[Josh Burcham]]
</gallery>

* '''''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron]] Volume 3''''' ([[October 28]], [[2009]]) ISBN 1600105416 / ISBN 978-1600105418
** Collects ''Spotlight: Blurr'', ''Jazz'', ''Drift'', ''Cliffjumper'' and ''Metroplex''.
** Bonus material includes the alternate covers of each issue, as well as art of each [[Throttlebot]] by [[Marcelo Matere]] and new cover art by [[Trevor Hutchison]].
** Trade paperback format. Instead of being Volume 5 of the Spotlights, the TPB is labeled as part of the ''All Hail Megatron'' series. For some reason, the Drift and Cliffjumper issues were swapped from their original order.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume One]]''''' ([[May 26]], [[2010]]) ISBN 978-1600106675
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin]]'' issues [[Megatron Origin issue 1|#1]]–[[Megatron Origin issue 4|4]], ''Spotlight: Blurr'', ''Cliffjumper'', ''Shockwave'', ''Nightbeat'', ''Hot Rod'' & ''Soundwave'', and ''[[The Transformers: Infiltration|Infiltration]]'' issues [[Infiltration issue 0|#0]]–[[Infiltration issue 6|6]].
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: Best of Optimus Prime]]''''' ([[June 2]], 2010) ISBN 1600106668 / ISBN 978-1600106668
** Collects [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (1984)]] [[The Flames of Boltax!|#48: "The Flames of Boltax!"]], [[Transformers Annual|''Transformers'' Annual]] [[Transformers Annual 1985|1985]]: "[[And There Shall Come...a Leader!]]", ''[[Transformers: The Animated Movie]]'' [[The Gathering Storm|#1: "The Gathering Storm"]], ''[[Transformers: The War Within|The War Within]]'' [[The War Within issue 1|#1]], ''Spotlight: Optimus Prime'', and ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer|Stormbringer]]'' [[Stormbringer issue 4|#4]].
** Bonus material includes an art gallery.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Two]]''''' ([[October 6]], 2010) ISBN 978-1600107511
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer|Stormbringer]]'' issues [[Stormbringer issue 1|#1]]–[[Stormbringer issue 4|4]], ''[[The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation]]'' issues [[Escalation issue 1|#1]]–[[Escalation issue 6|6]], and ''Spotlight: Sixshot'', ''Ramjet'', ''Ultra Magnus'', ''Kup'', ''Mirage'' & ''Optimus Prime''.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: Best of Grimlock]]''''' ([[November 24]], 2010) ISBN 1600107869 / ISBN 978-1600107863
** Collects ''The Transformers'' (1984) issues [[The Wrath of Guardian!|#31: "The Wrath of Guardian!"]], [[The Wrath of Grimlock!|#32: "The Wrath of Grimlock!"]] & [[The 4,000,000 Year Itch!|#280: "The 4,000,000 Year Itch!"]], ''Transformers'' Annual [[Transformers Annual 1986|1986]]: "[[Victory!]]", ''The Transformers'' (1984) issues [[King of the Hill!|#27: "King of the Hill!"]] & [[Still Life!|#76: "Still Life!"]], ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|Generation 2]]'' [[Devices and Desires! (Marvel)|#4: "Devices and Desires!"]], and ''Spotlight: Grimlock''.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Three]]''''' ([[March 2]], [[2011]]) ISBN 978-1600108563
** Collects ''Spotlight: Galvatron'', ''Blaster'', ''Arcee'', ''Grimlock'' & ''Wheelie'', ''[[New Avengers/Transformers]]'' issues [[Man and Machine, Part One|#1]]–[[Man and Machine, Part Four|4]], and ''[[The Transformers: Devastation|Devastation]]'' issues [[Devastation issue 1|#1]]–[[Devastation issue 6|6]].
** Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:AHM v3.jpg|'''''All Hail Megatron Volume 3''''' – cover art by [[Trevor Hutchison]]
File:IDWCollection1.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Volume One''''' – cover art by [[E. J. Su]]
File:BestofOptimus.jpg|'''''The Best of Optimus Prime''''' – cover art by [[Livio Ramondelli]]
File:IDWCollection2.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Volume Two''''' – cover art by E. J. Su
File:BestofGrimlock.jpg|'''''The Best of Grimlock''''' – cover art by Klaus Scherwinski
File:IDWCollection3.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Volume Three''''' – cover art by E. J. Su
</gallery>

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Four]]''''' ([[May 25]], 2011) ISBN 978-1600109386
** Collects ''Spotlight: Cyclonus'', ''Hardhead'', ''Doubledealer'', ''Sideswipe'', ''Drift'', ''Metroplex'' & ''Jazz'', ''[[The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots|Maximum Dinobots]]'' issues [[Maximum Dinobots issue 1|#1]]–[[Maximum Dinobots issue 5|5]], and ''[[The Transformers: Drift|Drift]]'' issues [[Drift issue 1|#1]]–[[Drift issue 4|4]].
** Hardcover format.

* '''''The Transformers: The Complete All Hail Megatron''''' ([[July 27]], 2011) ISBN 1600109551 / ISBN 978-1600109553
** Collects ''All Hail Megatron'' issues [[All Hail Megatron issue 1|#1]]–[[All Hail Megatron issue 16|16]], and ''Spotlight: Blurr'', ''Jazz'', ''Drift'', ''Cliffjumper'' & ''Metroplex''.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''The Transformers Volume 6: Police Action''''' ([[February 15]], [[2012]]) ISBN 1613771649 / ISBN 978-1613771648
** Collects [[The Transformers (IDW)|''The Transformers'' (2009)]] issues [[Police Action: Part 1|#25]], [[Police Action Part 2: Only Forward|#27]] & [[Police Action Part 3: A Second Chance at Eden|#29]], and ''Spotlight: Prowl''.
** Bonus material includes art from most covers, and a B&W art page from [[Police Action: Part 1|#25: "Police Action: Part 1"]].
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Six]]''''' ([[May 9]], 2012) ISBN 1613771835 / ISBN 978-1613771839
** Collects ''The Transformers'' (2009) issues [[...For All Mankind|#1]]–[[Things Fall Apart, Part 5: "Earthworks"|6]], ''[[The Transformers: Bumblebee|Bumblebee]]'' issues [[The Hanging Sword|#1]]–[[Wings of Wax|4]], ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'' issues [[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 1|#1]]–[[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|5]], and ''Spotlight: Prowl''.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: Complete Drift]]''''' ([[January 30]], [[2013]]) ISBN 1613775393 / ISBN 978-1613775394
** Collects ''Spotlight: Drift'', and ''Drift'' issues #1–4.
** Bonus material includes all covers and bonus art.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''The Transformers: Dark Prelude''''' ([[August 14]], 2013) ISBN 1613777167 / ISBN 978-1613777169
** Collects ''Spotlight: Orion Pax'', ''Thundercracker'', ''Megatron'', ''Bumblebee'', ''Trailcutter'' and ''Hoist''.
** New cover art by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Perez]].
** Each of the characters receiving the Spotlight also had new Deluxe Class toys as part of the 2012–2013 ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' line, '[[Thrilling 30]]'.
** Cover gallery.
** Trade paperback format.

<gallery>
File:IDWCollection4.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Volume Four''''' – cover art by E. J. Su
File:Allhailmegatronhc.jpg|'''''The Complete All Hail Megatron''''' – cover art by Trevor Hutchison
File:IDW ongoing tpb6.jpg|'''''Volume 6: Police Action''''' – cover art by [[Brendan Cahill]] and [[Priscilla Tramontano]]
File:IDWCollection6.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Volume Six''''' – cover art by E. J. Su
File:TheTransformersCompleteDrift.jpg|'''''Complete Drift''''' – cover art by Trevor Hutchison
File:TFDarkPrelude tpb.jpg|'''''Dark Prelude''''' – cover art by Nick Roche and [[Josh Perez]]
</gallery>

* '''''The Transformers: Spotlight Omnibus Volume 1''''' ([[April 15]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631402463 / ISBN 978-1631402463
** Collects ''Spotlight: Shockwave'', ''Nightbeat'', ''Hot Rod'', ''Sixshot'', ''Ultra Magnus'', ''Soundwave'', ''Kup'', ''Galvatron'', ''Optimus Prime'', ''Ramjet'', ''Blaster'', ''Arcee'' and ''Grimlock''.
** Bonus material unknown at this time.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 2]]''''' ([[August 12]], 2015) ISBN 1631403648 / ISBN 978-1631403644
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Autocracy|Autocracy]]'' issues [[Law and Disorder|#1]]–[[Endgame|12]], ''Spotlight: Trailcutter'', ''Hoist'' & ''Orion Pax'', ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' issues [[Interference Patterns|#7]] & [[Dinobot Hunt (IDW)|#8]]–[[Night and the City|9]], and ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' issues [[Interiors|#6]]–[[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|8]].
** Bonus material includes alternate covers.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''The Transformers: Spotlight Omnibus Volume 2''''' ([[September 9]], 2015) ISBN 1613779429 / ISBN 978-1613779422
** Collects ''Spotlight: Mirage'', ''Wheelie'', ''Cyclonus'', ''Hardhead'', ''Doubledealer'', ''Sideswipe'', ''Blurr'', ''Jazz'', ''Drift'', ''Cliffjumper'', ''Metroplex'' and ''Prowl''.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 3]]''''' ([[February 24]], [[2016]]) ISBN 1631405403 / ISBN 978-1631405402
** Collects ''Spotlight: Thundercracker'', ''Bumblebee'' & ''Megatron'', ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|Annual 2012]], issues [[Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|#9]]–[[Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|11]], [[Before & After|#12]]–[[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|13]] & "[[Signal to Noise]]", and ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Primus: All Good Things|Annual 2012]] & issues [[Syndromica (2)|#10]]–[[The End of the Beginning of the World|11]].
** Bonus material includes alternate covers.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Compendium, Vol. 1]]''''' ([[July 6]], 2016) ISBN 163140637X / ISBN 978-1631406379
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection|The IDW Collection]] [[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume One|One]]'' and ''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Volume Two|Two]]''.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 36: Stormbringer''''' ([[January 11]], [[2017]])
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer|Stormbringer]]'' issues [[Stormbringer issue 1|#1]]–[[Stormbringer issue 4|4]], and ''Spotlight: Shockwave'', ''Soundwave'', ''Nightbeat'' & ''Hot Rod''.
** Bonus material includes an article on the beginning of IDW-verse production and several sketches by Figueroa.
** Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:TF Spotlight Omnibus v1.jpg|'''''Spotlight Omnibus Volume 1''''' – cover art by [[Jeffrey Veregge]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V2.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 2''''' – cover art by [[Saren Stone]]
File:TF Spotlight Omnibus v2.jpg|'''''Spotlight Omnibus Volume 2''''' – cover art by Jeffrey Veregge
File:IDWCollectionP2V3.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 3''''' – cover art by Marcelo Matere
File:IDWCollectionCompendiumV1.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Compendium, Vol. 1''''' – cover art by Jeffrey Veregge
File:DefinitiveG1Collection_v36.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 36: Stormbringer''''' – cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] and [[Guido Guidi]]
</gallery>

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 37: Escalation''''' ([[March 8]], 2017)
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation]]'' issues [[Escalation issue 1|#1]]–[[Escalation issue 6|6]], and ''Spotlight Sixshot'' & ''Ultra Magnus''.
** Bonus material includes Sketches by [[E. J. Su]], bios on IDW Ultra Magnus & IDW Sixshot, an article on creating the IDW ''Spotlights'', and an interview with Su.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 39: Hearts of Steel''''' ([[April 5]], 2017)
** Collects ''[[Hearts of Steel]]'' issues [[Hearts of Steel issue 1|#1]]–[[Hearts of Steel issue 4|4]], and ''Spotlight: Galvatron'', ''Optimus Prime'' & ''Mirage''.
** Bonus material includes concept art by [[Guido Guidi]] and an article about the creation of ''Hearts of Steel''.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 40: Maximum Dinobots''''' ([[September 6]], 2017)
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots|Maximum Dinobots]]'' issues [[Maximum Dinobots issue 1|#1]]–[[Maximum Dinobots issue 5|5]], and ''Spotlight: Grimlock'' & ''Wheelie''.
** Bonus material includes Dinobot sketches by Nick Roche and Klaus Scherwinski's ''Spotlight: Wheelie'' sketchbook.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 33: Megatron Origin''''' ([[November 1]], 2017)
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin|Megatron Origin]]'' issues [[Megatron Origin issue 1|#1]]–[[Megatron Origin issue 4|4]], and ''Spotlight: Blurr'' & ''Orion Pax''.
** Bonus material includes a discussion of the production stages on ''Megatron: Origin'' by [[Eric Holmes]].
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[Transformers Drift: Origins & Empires]]''''' ([[December 27]], 2017) ISBN 1684052238 / ISBN 978-1684052233
** Collects ''Spotlight: Drift'', ''Drift'' issues #1–4, and ''[[The Transformers: Drift - Empire of Stone|Drift - Empire of Stone]]'' issues [[Drift - Empire of Stone issue 1|#1]]–[[Drift - Empire of Stone issue 4|4]].
** Bonus material includes covers and bonus art.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 45: Last Stand of the Wreckers''''' ([[May 16]], [[2018]])
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'' issues [[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 1|#1]]–[[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|5]], ''Spotlight: Prowl'', and [[The Transformers (IDW)|''The Transformers'' (2009)]] [[...For All Mankind|#1]].
** Bonus material includes an interview with Nick Roche, pre-production sketches and story drafts for ''Last Stand''.
** Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:DefinitiveG1Collection_v37.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 37: Escalation''''' – cover art by Don Figueroa and E. J. Su
File:DefinitiveG1Collection_v39.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 39: Hearts of Steel''''' – cover art by Don Figueroa, Guido Guidi and [[Aaron Leach]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection_v40.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 40: Maximum Dinobots''''' – cover art by Don Figueroa and Nick Roche
File:DefinitiveG1Collection_v33.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 33: Megatron Origin''''' – cover art by Don Figueroa and [[Alex Milne]]
File:Drift-Origins-and-Empires.jpg|'''''Origins & Empires''''' – cover art by [[Livio Ramondelli]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection_v45.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 45: Last Stand of the Wreckers''''' – cover art by Don Figueroa and Nick Roche
</gallery>

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 42: Revelation''''' ([[October 17]], 2018)
** Collects ''Spotlight: Arcee'', ''Cyclonus'', ''Hardhead'', ''Doubledealer'', ''Sideswipe'', ''Jazz'' and ''Metroplex''.
** Bonus material includes an "-Ations" retrospective, sketchbook art from Alex Milne and E. J. Su reprinted from individual ''Spotlights''.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 53: Liars, A to D''''' ([[December 26]], 2018)
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' issues [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|#1]]–[[Interiors|6]], and ''Spotlight: Trailcutter'' & ''Hoist''.
** Bonus material includes an all-new interview with James Roberts, rare archive material from the dawn of ''More than Meets the Eye'', and Alex Milne's sketchbook.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 41: Drift''''' ([[February 6]], [[2019]])
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Drift|Drift]]'' issues [[Drift issue 1|#1]]–[[Drift issue 4|4]], and ''Spotlight: Drift'' & ''Blaster''.
** Bonus material includes an article on the creation of Drift, and [[Guido Guidi]]'s Drift sketchbook.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 48: Revenge of the Decepticons''''' ([[April 17]], 2019)
** Collects ''The Transformers'' (2009) issues [[Heart Like a Wheel|#13]]–[[Revenge of the Decepticons Part 5: Enemy Mine|18]], and ''Spotlight: Megatron''.
** Bonus material includes a ''Spotlight: Megatron'' sketchbook.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 38: Devastation''''' ([[August 7]], 2019)
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Devastation|Devastation]]'' issues [[Devastation issue 1|#1]]–[[Devastation issue 6|6]], and ''Spotlight: Kup'', ''Ramjet'' & ''Cliffjumper''.
** Bonus material includes a cover gallery and an introduction by Simon Furman.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 34: Autocracy''''' ([[October 16]], 2019)
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Autocracy|Autocracy]]'' issues [[Law and Disorder|#1]]–[[Endgame|12]], and ''Spotlight: Thundercracker''.
** Bonus material includes "Creating the IDW-Verse - Optimus Origin" — a one-page article on ''Autocracy'', including an interview with co-writer [[Chris Metzen]], a cover gallery and an introduction by Simon Furman.
** Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:DefinitiveG1Collection_v42.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 42: Revelation''''' – cover art by Don Figueroa and Nick Roche
File:DefinitiveG1Collection_v53.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 53: Liars, A to D''''' – cover art by Don Figueroa and Alex Milne
File:DefinitiveG1Collection_v41.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 41: Drift''''' – cover art by Alex Milne and Josh Burcham
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v48.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 48: Revenge of the Decepticons''''' – cover art by Don Figueroa, Nick Roche and [[Len O'Grady]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection_v38.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 38: Devastation''''' – cover art by Don Figueroa and [[Robby Musso]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection_v34.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 34: Autocracy''''' – cover art by [[Dreamwave Productions]] and [[Livio Ramondelli]]
</gallery>

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 51: Chaos Theory''''' ([[December 11]], 2019)
** Collects [[The Transformers (IDW)|''The Transformers'' (2009)]] issues [[Police Action: Prologue|#21: "Police Action: Prologue"]], [[Chaos Theory Part 1|#22]]–[[Chaos Theory Part 2|23]], [[Police Action: Part 1|#25]], [[Police Action Part 2: Only Forward|#27]] & [[Police Action Part 3: A Second Chance at Eden|#29]], and ''Spotlight: Bumblebee''.
** Bonus material includes a one-page article exploring the origins of the "[[Chaos (IDW)|Chaos]]" arc and beyond, a cover gallery and an intro by [[Simon Furman]].
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[Transformers: Best of Hot Rod]]''''' ([[May 4]], [[2022]])
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Autocracy|Autocracy]]'' [[Rise|#10: "Rise"]], ''Spotlight: Hot Rod'', [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (1984)]] [[White Fire|#254: "White Fire"]], ''[[The Transformers: Lost Light|Lost Light]]'' [[Crucible (Part 2): Lūstrāre|#20: "Crucible (Part 2): Lūstrāre"]], ''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One|Regeneration One]]'' [[The War to End All Wars, Part 5|#100: "The War to End All Wars, Part 5"]], and [[Transformers Annual|''Transformers'' Annual]] [[Transformers Annual 1989|1989]]: "[[Peace]]".
** Bonus material includes an art gallery.
** Comic format.

* '''''[[Transformers: Best of Shockwave]]''''' ([[November 9]], 2022)
** Collects ''Spotlight: Shockwave'', ''The Transformers'' (1984) issues [[The New Order|#5: "The New Order"]], [[Aspects of Evil!|#225: "Aspects of Evil!"]] & [[Internal Affairs!|#277: "Internal Affairs!"]], ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Shockwaves|#17: "Shockwaves"]], and ''[[Optimus Prime (comic)|Optimus Prime]]'' [[The Falling, Interlude: The First Who Was Named|#18: "The Falling, Interlude: The First Who Was Named"]].
** Bonus material includes an art gallery.
** Comic format.

<gallery>
File:DefinitiveG1Collection_v51.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 51: Chaos Theory''''' – cover art by Don Figueroa and Alex Milne
File:BestOfHotRod cvr.jpg|'''''Best of Hot Rod''''' – cover art by [[James Biggie]]
File:BestOfShockwave cvr.jpg|'''''Best of Shockwave''''' – cover art by James Biggie
</gallery>

===International Printings===

====Spain====
''Transformers: Spotlight'' was translated and released in Spain by [[NORMA Editorial]]

<gallery>
File:TF-Spotlight-v1-norma.jpg|'''''Spotlight Volume 1''''' ISBN 978-84-9847-862-4
File:TF-Spotlight-v2-norma.jpg|'''''Spotlight Volume 2''''' ISBN 978-84-9847-945-4
File:TF-Spotlight-v3-norma.jpg|'''''Spotlight Volume 3''''' ISBN 978-84-9847-810-5
File:TF-Spotlight-v4-norma.jpg|'''''Spotlight Volume 4: Revelación''''' ISBN 978-84-679-0039-2
</gallery>

====Japan====
* '''''The Transformers: The Complete All Hail Megatron''''' ([[March 23]], [[2015]]) ISBN 978-4796875141
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'' issues [[All Hail Megatron issue 1|#1]]–[[All Hail Megatron issue 16|16]], and ''Spotlight: Blurr'', ''Jazz'', ''Drift'', ''Cliffjumper'' & ''Metroplex''.
** Bonus material includes a cover gallery and the art sketches from previous collections.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: Megatron Origin]]''''' ([[June 29]], [[2018]]) ISBN 978-4864913836
** Collects ''Megatron Origin'' issues [[Megatron Origin issue 1|#1]]–[[Megatron Origin issue 4|4]], and ''Spotlight: Shockwave'' & ''Soundwave''.
** Bonus material includes art from all covers, appearance character commentary.
** Includes a booklet with a commentary written by [[Akihisa Koike]] and [[Eugene Ishikawa]].
** [[Cy-Kill (G1)|Cy-Kill]] has been modified to become another bot, possibly due to rights conflicts with ''{{w|Machine Robo}}''.
** Trade paperback format.

<gallery>
File:Shopro AHM Cover.jpg|'''''The Complete All Hail Megatron''''' – cover art by [[Trevor Hutchison]] 
File:Villagebooks Megatron Origin cover.jpg|'''''Megatron Origin''''' – cover art by [[Kei Zama]] and [[Josh Burcham]] 
</gallery>

====Sweden====
* '''''Transformers: Wreckers sista strid''''' ([[June 8]] [[2018]]) ISBN 978-91-88131-23-2
** Collects ''Last Stand of the Wreckers'' issues #1–5.
** Swedish reprint volume published from [[Ades Media]], translated by [[Johan Boström]].
** Includes all extras from the English hardcover, as well as ''Spotlight: Kup'' and "[[Everything in Its Right Place]]" plus ''Wreckers: Sweclassified'', a short article from Boström.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''Transformers: Mer än ögat kan se''''' ([[June 15]], [[2019]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #1–8 & Annual 2012, ''Spotlight: Trailcutter'' & ''Hoist'', and a special illustrated edition of "[[Bullets]]".
** Hardcover format.

* '''''Transformers: Krig och hågkomst''''' ([[July]], [[2021]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #14–22, a special illustrated version of "[[The Sound of Breaking Glass]]", and ''Spotlight: Orion Pax''.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''Transformers: Stormvarning''''' ([[April]], [[2026]])
** Collects ''Spotlights'' ''Shockwave'' through ''Soundwave'' and the ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer|Stormbringer]]'' miniseries.
** Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:LSOTW SWECover.jpg|'''''Wreckers sista strid''''' – cover art by Trevor Hutchison.
File:MTMTE_SWE_01.jpg|'''''Mer än ögat kan se''''' – cover art by Alex Milne and Joana Lafuente.
File:MTMTE SWE 03.jpg|'''''Krig och hågkomst''''' – cover art by Alex Milne and Josh Perez.
</gallery>

==Unreleased==
[[File:Spotlight_Octane_unused.jpg|upright=0.6|thumb]]
* In [[2007]], [[Nick Roche]] and [[James Roberts]] pitched an Octane-based issue of ''The Transformers: Spotlight'' to IDW.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=In 2007, @jroberts332 and I attempted to pitch Spotlight: Octane. Here's the cover and character design. https://t.co/5fS4W2grfz|link=https://twitter.com/NickRoche/status/737318150660886529|name=NickRoche|site=Twitter|year=2016|month=5|day=30|(defunct=)}}</ref> Some of the concepts from the pitch were later used in ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]''.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Not a script, but James wrote a very extensive outline which he then hacked down. Some of it has shown up in MTMTE. https://t.co/7sjztgmVv5|link=https://twitter.com/NickRoche/status/737321240428486656|name=NickRoche|site=Twitter|year=2016|month=5|day=30|(defunct=)}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spotlight}}
[[Category:IDW (2005) comic series]]

Ades Media

2026-04-25T20:05:27Z

Some Dweeb:

'''Ades Media''' is a Swedish publishing company, whose main services are Swedish translations of various comics, such as Italian horror series Dylan Dog. Relevant to this wiki, it is publishing various Transformers related material. Their main output has been hardcover collections of [[Simon Furman]]'s work at [[Marvel Comics]] and [[James Roberts]]' works for [[IDW Publishing]], as well as a quarterly series, translating [[Energon Universe]] material. In [[2021]], Ades Media started Retrobokklubben, an imprint dedicated to franchises from the 80s and 90s, including The Terminator, Marvel Super Heroes and further Transformers releases. Ades intitally worked with [[IDW Publishing]] until they lost the license and are currently collaborating with [[Skybound Entertainment]] on their Transfomers releases.

==Published works==
===IDW reprints===
:* ''Wreckers sista strid'' (June 2018) - collection of ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'', "[[Bullets]]", ''[[Spotlight: Kup]]'', and "[[All Hail Megatron issue 15|Everything in Its Right Place]]", along with all the bonus material originally featured in each publication's original TPB releases, as well as "[[Wreckers: Sweclassified]]" - a short article written by translator [[Johan Boström]].
:* ''Mer än ögat kan se'' (June 2019) - a collection of the first eight issues of ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye]]'', along with "[[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations]]", "[[The Reluctant Specialist]]", and "[[The Waiting Game]]" - as well as the bonus material and cover gallery from each of those publications, an interview with author [[James Roberts]], and a reprint of "[[Bullets]]," correcting spelling-errors and mistakes present in ''Wreckers sista strid'', featuring new and exclusive illustrations to go along with the story by famed ''Transformers'' artists [[Nick Roche]], [[Jeff Anderson]], and [[Stephen Baskerville]], and non-pros [[Winston Chan]] and [[Thomas Sjöström]].
:* ''Kaos och Skuggor'' (November 2020) - a collection of issues #22, #23, #24, #26, #28 and #30 of ''[[The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers]]'', "[[Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime|The Death of Optimus Prime]]" and issues #9-#13 of ''More than Meets the Eye'' including "[[Signal to Noise]]". Bonus material includes original pages, a cover gallery and an afterword from James Roberts.
:* ''Krig och hågkomst'' (July 2021) - a translation of #14-#22 of ''More Than Meets the Eye'' as well as [[Omega's Conundrum|Spotlight: Orion Pax]] and a special illustrated version of [[The Sound of Breaking Glass]], in the same vein as "Bullets". Bonus material is once again original pages, cover gallery and an afterword from James Roberts as well as some sketches from [[Alex Milne]].
:* ''Du sköna nya värld'' (November 2022) - a translation of issues #28-38 and #40 of ''More Than Meets the Eye''. Bonus material this time consists of a preliminary sketches and finished pencils from [[Atilio Rojo]] with commentary by Roberts.
:* ''Optimus Prime - Tillbaka till jorden'' (February 2023) - a translation of issues #28-32 and #34-38 of ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise]]'' and the ''[[The Transformers: Punishment|Punishment]]'' mini-series. Bonus material consists of an afterword by [[Andrew Griffith]].
:* ''Några av mina bästa vänner är Autoboter'' (November 2025) - a translation of issues #39 and #41-46 of ''More Than Meets the Eye'', the ''[[Drift: Empire of Stone]]'' miniseries and the MTMTE [[Nothing Will Ever Be the Same Again!|tie-in issue]] for ''[[Revolution]]''.
:* ''Stormvarning'' (April 2026) - a translation of the first six ''[[The Transformers: Spotlight|Spotlights]]'' and the ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer|Stormbringer]]'' miniseries.

===Marvel UK reprints===
:* ''[[Transformers: Jakten på Matrixen|Jakten på Matrixen]]'' (October 2019) - a translation of the "[[Matrix Quest]]" storyline from the Marvel comics run, based on the IDW reprints found in ''[[The Transformers Classics]]'', and about 100 pages of supplementary material taken from the Marvel UK comics, as well as an assortment of translated [[The Transformers Universe (Marvel)|The Transformers Universe]] profiles.
:* ''[[Transformers: I siktet: 2006|I siktet: 2006]]'' (November 2021) - a translation of various Marvel UK materials, mainly [[Target: 2006]] and other related storylines. Bonus material includes more translated Transformers: Universe profiles, four articles from James Roberts, all translated from the pages of [[The Transformers Classics UK]], an article on Atlantic's original Swedish reprints of the Marvel comic from the 1980s and various emphemera.
:* ''Transformers & Action Force: Vedergällning'' (May 2022) - Mainly the very first collection of Marvel UK's original weekly [[Action Force (comic)|Action Force]] strips since the 1980s, this hardcover also includes the [[Ancient Relics!|Ancient Relics]] crossover, as well as [[Ladies' Night (issue)|Ladies' Night]], [[What's in a Name?|What's in a Name]] and [[Grudge Match!|Grudge Match]].
:* ''Tidskriget'' (September 2024) - A translation of the [[Space Pirates!|Space Pirates]] and [[Time Wars]] storylines, along with other related Marvel UK strips and another article on Atlantic's 1980s reprints.

===Ongoing series===
:* ''Transformers'' (2024-present) - A quarterly publication, translating two to three issues of [[Energon Universe]] content per issue, with an occasional bonus from elsewhere in the franchise.

==External Links==
*[http://adesmedia.se/ Ades Media]
*[https://www.retrobokklubben.se/ Retrobokklubben]
*[https://www.facebook.com/svenskaretrobokklubben/ Retrobokklubben on Facebook]

[[Category:Companies]]

The Gloaming

2026-04-16T15:13:26Z

Some Dweeb:

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=16
|prev=Under Cold Blue Stars
|next=Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon
|caption=Not to be confused with "The Glomping".
|image=MTMTE16 cvrA.jpg
|title="The Gloaming"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[April 24]], [[2013]]
|coverdate=April 2013
|story by=[[James Roberts]]
|pencils by=[[Agustin Padilla]]
|inks by=[[José Avilés]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|assistant editor=[[Toni Korde]] and [[Mariel Romero-Ocaranza]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline#2012-2013|Current era (2013)]]
}}
'''Rodimus and Chromedome wrestle with their emotions in the wake of Overlord's rampage, as Ultra Magnus hovers at death's door and Drift makes a fateful decision.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Magnus shock ore powerdashers the gloaming.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.8|Badge is looking a little crooked there, Mags.]]
''Then:''

''At the [[Battle for Hell's Point]], amidst a raging firefight, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] tries to bluff the [[Warriors Elite]], only to be blasted point blank by [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] himself, sending him tumbling to the ground far below...''

''On the planet [[Clemency]], amidst the struggle over the [[Nightmare Engine]], Ultra Magnus issues orders to his troops - and then takes a direct hit from an explosive [[K-Class]] [[Torque (G1)|Decepticon]]...''

''During the battle known as the [[Simanzi Massacre]], Rotorstorm and Ultra Magnus pick their way through a swamp, trying to elude a troop of [[Cybernought]]s - but one Cybernought has found them, and unleashes its full firepower on Ultra Magnus...''

Now:

Fatally wounded by [[Overlord (G1)|Overlord]], Ultra Magnus lies on [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]]'s operating table aboard the ''[[Lost Light]]''. [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] sits by his bedside and plays his [[The Empyrean Suite|favorite song]] for him, and [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] cleans his body. Neither of the little bots' efforts are particularly appreciated by Ratchet, nor is [[Drift (G1)|Drift]]'s disgust at his use of what he calls a "[[death clock]]": a medical scanning field that monitors the rate of contraction of Magnus's shrinking [[spark]] to calculate a time of death. With the clock giving Magnus only ten more days, Tailgate grows increasingly distraught, partially at the clinical approach the others are taking to the situation. Punctuating this sentiment, Swerve shushes him so they can hear an announcement over the tannoy by [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]], who vows to discover who is responsible for Overlord's being on the ship.

Worried about [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]]'s emotional state following [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]]'s death, [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] goes looking for him, and finds him outside the ship, on the hull, watching the stars as he used to do with Rewind. Discovering him to be quite calm and collected—eerily so—Skids leaves. Someone who is ''not'' so calm and collected, however, is Rodimus, who has just finished trashing his office in a rage when [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] enters. The pair talk about Magnus and the source of Rodimus's fury; Rung opines that his anger is not over his failure to protect his crew, but rather, over the fact that ''he himself'' was not responsible for defeating Overlord. The psychiatrist's words evidently strike too close to home, and Rodimus menacingly invites Rung to vacate his office, which he does with all due haste.

[[File:Brainstorm brings briefcase to funeral.jpg|thumb]]
Presently, a group funeral is held for those who died during Overlord's rampage, and as everyone settles into place for the speeches, Swerve resolves to distract himself from Rewind's death by finding out what's inside [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]]'s briefcase. Proceedings soon get underway; Rodimus delivers a eulogy for popular crew member [[Tripodeca]], then invites Chromedome to say a few words for Rewind, noting—after a stern glare from Rung—the little archivist's central role in saving the ship. Chromedome delivers a brief, unemotional farewell for his partner and returns to his seat, piquing Brainstorm's attention. After the deceased's bodies are given a space burial, the scientist follows Chromedome back to his quarters, where he finds him sorting through Rewind's belongings and disposing of them. It turns out Brainstorm has seen Chromedome like this before: the surgeon has had several [[Conjunx Endura]]e in his life, and after the deaths of each one, the intensity of the emotional connections he forged with them repeatedly led him to use his [[mnemosurgery]] skills on himself, removing his memories of them in order to escape the hurt. Chromedome has been so disconnected because he has been planning to do this to himself; this, Brainstorm explains, is why he does not have any [[innermost energon]]—not because he was born without it, but because he has loved and lost so many that he has given it all up as deathbed offerings. Chromedome half-heartedly promises Brainstorm he won't go through with it, but Brainstorm knows better, having had this conversation with him before. The scientist sadly leaves the room after giving him one final gift: a [[data slug]] thrown through the doors of the [[slow cell]] by Rewind before they closed. [[File:TheGloaming-iloveyou.jpg|thumb|left|They're totally NOT gay, you guys. They're just bros. With vows.]] Left alone, Chromedome plays the slug to discover a farewell message from Rewind, edited together from his database of video and audio clips in the final moments of this life, which entreats Chromedome to be strong, to go on without Rewind, and to allow himself to be happy. Rewind signs off by telling Chromedome he loves him, and Chromedome, after a moment, retracts his mnemosurgery needles back into his fingers.

As Chromedome is playing the message, much of the rest of the crew gathers in the shuttle bay, where Rodimus addresses them. An investigation into the culprit behind Overlord's presence was not necessary, as Drift has admitted responsibility and explained everything. With barely restrained fury, Rodimus strips him of his Autobot symbol and exiles him from the ship. As he walks towards [[Drift's shuttle|the shuttle]] prepared for him, Drift is knocked down by a piece of debris hurled by an angry crew member; Ratchet helps him up, and Drift departs on his little ship.

Down in the medical bay, as Rodimus's announcement plays over the tannoy, Ultra Magnus's arm moves, and his hand clenches into a fist. A little later, Ratchet and Tailgate return to find that he has disappeared! Half-jokingly suggesting they look under the table, Tailgate leans forward, into the path of the scanning field... then looks up to see that the "death clock" is giving him just under three-and-a-half days to live!
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks and/or Rewind's video clips.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* ''[[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]]'' (1)
* ''[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]]'' (2)
* ''[[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]]'' (3)
* ''[[Grimlock (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Grimlock]]'' (4)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (5)
* ''[[Ore]]'' (12)
* ''[[Shock (G1)|Shock]]'' (13)
* ''[[Zetar (G1)|Zetar]]'' (14)
* ''[[Cromar]]'' (15)
* ''[[Rotorstorm (G1)|Rotorstorm]]'' (18)
* [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (19)
* [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (20)
* [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (22)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (23)
* [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (24)
* [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (25)
* [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (26)
* [[Xaaron (G1)|Xaaron]] (27)
* [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (29)
* [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] (30)
* [[Tripodeca]] (31)
* "[[Toxin]]" (32)
* [[Atomizer]] (33)
* ''[[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]]'' (34)
* ''[[Slamdance (G1)|Slamdance]]'' (35)
* ''[[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]]'' (36)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* ''[[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]]'' (37)
* ''[[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]]'' (38)
* ''[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]'' (39)
* ''[[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee]]'' (40)
* ''[[Kick-Off (G1)|Kick-Off]]'' (43)
* ''[[Skyfall (G1)|Skyfall]]'' (44)
* ''[[Ambulon]] (45)
* ''[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]]'' (46)
* ''[[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] (47)
* ''[[Springer (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Springer]]'' (48)
* ''[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (49)
* ''[[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]]'' (50)
{{!}}}
|c2=
* [[Overlord (G1)|Overlord]] (6)
* ''[[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]]'' (7)
* ''[[Heretech]]'' (8)
* ''[[Killmaster]]'' (9)
* ''[[Black Shadow (G1)|Black Shadow]]'' (10)
* ''[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]'' (11)
* ''Numerous [[K-Class]] 'bots'' (16)
* ''[[Torque (G1)|Torque]]'' (17)
* ''[[Snaptrap (G1)|Snaptrap]]'' (41)
|c4=
* [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (21)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (28)
* ''[[Nova Prime]]'' (42)
}}

==Quotes==

"At the risk of sparking an '''ontological argument''', certain machines—machines like that—are an '''affront to nature'''."
:—'''Drift''', on the "death clock"

"Look, I know you want me to tell you it's going to be okay, but—" 
<big>"'''Yes!'''</big> Yes, I '''do'''! Because it's '''not''' okay! I '''know''' 'okay'—I '''specialize''' in 'okay'—and I can tell you pretty emphatically that '''none''' of this—none of this business with '''Overlord''' and '''Magnus''' and '''Rewind'''—none of this even '''approaches''' my definition of 'okay'!" 
"Maybe you should see '''Rung'''. You could be suffering from some kind of '''stress-related disorder'''..." 
"I'm '''upset'''! Doesn't anyone '''do''' upset anymore? What's '''wrong''' with you people? Is this a '''war thing'''?"
:—'''Ratchet''' and '''Tailgate'''

"Rewind and I used to come out here a lot. Mapping the constellations... Heh—that makes it sound too grand. We used to make pictures with stars. Over there—look—we have the ''[[Vis Vitalis]]''. And there's '''Prowl''' being hit over the head by a [[fusion cannon]]. Whack!" 
"I'm struggling to see that one." 
"Yeah, I just made that one up for '''old time's sake'''. Prowl being battered was a Rewind special."
:—'''Chromedome''' and '''Skids'''

"Sir, I don't think you did this to your office because of Ultra Magnus. You're angry, but not about that." 
"I'm angry because I failed the crew." 
"Or maybe... maybe what's '''really''' making you angry is the fact that you didn't defeat Overlord yourself. Fortress Maximus and Chromedome and Rewind—dear Rewind—'''they''' got him off the ship. '''They''' saved everyone; not you. And you hate it, and you hate that you hate it." 
"I think you'd better leave now." 
"But my point is that you '''shouldn't''' hate yourself for feeling—" 
"'''Quickly.'''"
:—'''Rung''' gets a little too close to the truth with '''Rodimus'''

'''Skids:''' "I can't believe Brainstorm brought his '''briefcase''' to a funeral. Ever wonder what's in—" 
'''Swerve:''' "'''Absolutely all the time.'''" 
'''Whirl:''' "It'll be '''exquisite''', whatever it is. Brainstorm's a frikkin' '''artist'''." 
'''Swerve:''' "Okay, that's it, '''new mission:''' open the briefcase. It'll distract me from Rewind." 
'''Skids:''' "Great. I look forward to the crippling anticlimax." 

"It always ends the same way. I'll leave the room and you'll stick your fingers in your neck; and later, when I ask you how you're feeling, you'll give me that blank look. The '''worst''' look. Because then Rewind really '''will''' be dead."
:—'''Brainstorm''', to Chromedome

"Your attention for a moment. This is Rewind, showing you edited footage from my database. I've probably got about 0.8 seconds before game over, so hear me out. I've always been terrified that you'd die before I did, because you and me apart strikes me as intensely wrong. So promise me something. Be brave. And be strong. And keep going without me. And another thing: no more injecting. It '''will''' kill you. And remember: you deserve to be happy. The New Institute was the old you. You're a better person now—stubborn and frustrating, but wonderful. And to think, I will never see you again. One more thing—one last thing—because I don't say it enough: I love you."
:—'''Rewind'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s final message (edited together for readability)

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
[[File:Gloaming-warriors-elite.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.8|Ultra Magnus smiled once and regretted it ever since.]]
* Magnus's first flashback is to the [[Battle for Hell's Point]], a conflict previously mentioned in [[Chaos Theory Part 1|"Chaos Theory," Part 1]] and Impactor's [[Autopedia]] profile in [[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|''Last Stand of the Wreckers'' #5]] (and sure enough, Impactor does cameo on the first page).
* The [[Warriors Elite]] were the subgroup from which the later [[Phase Sixer]]s would be chosen; they were first mentioned by name back in [[Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|issue #2]] and had their origins properly explained in [[Remembrance Day|issue #14]]. This issue gives us our first look at Heretech, only previously mentioned in #14, and reveals that the wand-wielding [[Killmaster]] (intermittently mentioned through Roberts's works starting with [[How Ratchet Got His Hands Back|issue #5]]) is also a member of the group. He was not listed among them in #14, leaving it ambiguous whether he also underwent the Ununtrium process.
* It was noted in "Chaos Theory" that the Battle for Hell's Point was Megatron's first outing with his pistol [[alternate mode]], reflected in this issue when Magnus doesn't realize the gun Heretech is holding is Megatron until he speaks.
* Magnus's second flashback is to the battle on the planet [[Clemency]] which we saw the Decepticon side of in [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|issue #8]]. Clemency is revealed to be the location of the [[Nightmare Engine]], a mysterious Decepticon weapon mentioned in [[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 4|''Last Stand of the Wreckers'' #4]].
* Magnus's team is on Clemency to save [[Pious Maximus]], a religious figure who appeared in [[Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism|issue #10]].
* The K-Class Decepticon with Magnus's name written on his side is [[Torque (G1)|Torque]], who appeared in issue #8 with Magnus's name on display even then.
* The third flashback takes us to [[Simanzi]], home to the [[Crucible]] and site of a famous massacre first mentioned in [[Rotorstorm (G1)|Rotorstorm]]'s Autopedia profile from [[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 1|''Last Stand of the Wreckers'' #1]].
* Magnus's team falls foul of a [[Cybernought]] on Simanzi; one of these gigantic battle mechs previously appeared in issue #8.
[[File:MTMTE16 magnus on simanzi.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.8|Just a speck of dirt. - DIRT?!]]
* We ''thought'' Magnus's flashbacks were offering us some insight into a few of his foibles in the ''More than Meets the Eye'' series: he smiles at the Warriors Elite (the "one time" that he smiled "and regretted it" referred to in his short bio on the "Meet the Cast" page), his Autobot symbol is crooked at Clemency, he's waist-deep in filth and called "Mags" at Simanzi. Rotorstorm even refers to Magnus's wisecracks, something Skids mentioned in [[Interiors|issue #6]]. All these ran counter to the grim, dirt-hating, badge-obsessive protocol freak we'd seen for the past year, and every time something horribly violent happened to him. Actually, the real reason was [[Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|something else entirely]]. At the time, an evil James Roberts said the flashbacks were so we could [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|"remember him as he was"...]] <ref>http://tformers.com/transformers-more-than-meets-the/19940/news.html</ref>
* Swerve is playing "[[The Empyrean Suite]]" for Magnus, a piece of music that we learned was running through Skids's head back in issue #8. There, we learned the music has a sinister connotation that we are not yet aware of, but which, per Swerve's dialogue, is evidently common knowledge.
* Skids refers to Trailbreaker's change of name (to Trail''cutter'')—referred to previously in-dialogue in [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|the ''More than Meets the Eye'' Annual]]—which was explained the same month this issue was published in ''[[The Reluctant Specialist|Spotlight: Trailcutter]]''.
* We get our first glimpse of the decorative flames painted on Rodimus's doorframe, in imitation of those on his chest. They were previously described in the prose story "[[Signal to Noise]]".
* Unseen Autobots [[Spoke]] and [[Lockstock]] get another mention, having first been spoken of in [[Before & After|issue #12]]. The running gag is that they're clearly a big noise on the ship, but we never get to see or hear from them; here, they're established to be friends with the super-popular Tripodeca.
* Chromedome's lack of innermost energon was mentioned in issue #12.
* Brainstorm implies that he has loved and lost as well in his life, a point which will be revisited in [[Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|issue 38]] as an explanation for his actions in that arc.
* Five previously seen scenes from the past issues of ''More than Meets the Eye'' can be spotted among Rewind's collage of video clips:
** Rodimus addressing the crew after the accident with the quantum engines ([[Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|issue #2]])
** Prowl urging Rewind to change Chromedome's mind ([[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|issue #1]])
** Brainstorm placing a bet on when Rodimus would say "Till all are one" ([[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|Annual 2012]])
** Tailgate inquiring about the ending of Rewind's "epic story" ([[Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|issue #11]])
** Trailbreaker holding Shock's extracted [[brain module]] ([[Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|issue #3]])
* Rewind's clips also include a "deleted scene" of sorts, of Swerve saying "this is" with Tailgate behind him. This is from when he introduced Tailgate to Rewind (obviously saying "This is Tailgate") which took place in issue #2, but only Rewind's response is actually in the issue itself.
* Also among Rewind's clips is a shot of [[Snaptrap (G1)|Snap Trap]] behind bars. He's obviously in the brig of the ''Lost Light'' following his capture in issue #12, and is still sporting the stab-wound in his faceplate he sustained in that issue.

===Transformers references===
* Among Magnus's team on Clemency are the [[Powerdasher]]s, of whom the drill and jet types appear on-panel (but more are indicated to be present). Magnus issues orders to a character named "[[Cromar]]"—while this name is not explicitly attached to a character on-page, it was the name given to the jet Powerdasher when it was released by [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] in the United States (under ''[[Diakron]]'') and by both [[GiG]] and [[Joustra]] in Europe (under ''[[Diaclone]]'').
* Brainstorm names three of Chromedome's past lovers as [[Pivot]], [[Scattergun]], and [[Mach (G1)|Mach]]. The first two are new names, while Mach was the name of a member of the [[Multiforce]] from ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (franchise)#Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory|Victory]]''. Same dude? Why not!
* Tripodeca's design was strongly influenced by [[Mini-Con]] [[High Wire (Armada)|High Wire]] from ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Transformers: Armada]]''. In the script notes, James Roberts says "For some reason, in my head, he's reminiscent of Jolt from TF: Armada"; presumably, he'd just gotten mixed up, as the description given is much more fitting for High Wire.
* Artist Agustin Padilla accidentally drew Chromedome amongst the Autobots gathered in the shuttle bay on page 17. With a quick edit to the lineart and a new blue, green, and white paintjob, colorist Josh Burcham turned the figure into "Toxin", an unofficial redeco of Chromedome created for fan-run Canadian convention [[Unofficial conventions|TFCon 2011]].
* The last clip in Rewind's message features a [[scraplet]] in a Petri dish. While they've previously been mentioned, this is the species's first on-panel appearance in the IDW continuity. This specific scraplet is based directly on one of the critters that appeared in [[The Cure!|issue #30]] of the original Marvel ''Transformers'' series, the second part of the two-part story that introduced them into ''Transformers'' lore—page 8, panel 4, of the issue to be exact!

===Real-life references===
* "Gloaming" is an old Scottish word meaning "twilight". That it is also the name of a Radiohead song from their 2003 album ''{{w|Hail to the Thief}}'' is only coincidence [http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?t=13702], despite Roberts's [[Dissolution Part 6: This Machine Kills Fascists|predilection]] [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|for]] [[Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|dropping]] [[Momus|musical]] [[Under Cold Blue Stars|references]] into his work.
* The death clock may or may not be a reference to Professor Farnsworth's [http://theinfosphere.org/Death_clock invention of the same name and purpose] in the ''{{w|Futurama}}'' episode "{{w|A Big Piece of Garbage}}."
* The name Chromedome gives a constellation, the "Vis Vitalis", is the name of a classical alchemical principle of a "life force" possessed by living creatures. It was later revealed that famed Autobot [[Thunder Clash]] has a ship named the ''Vis Vitalis''.

===Errors===
* In both past and present sequences, Ultra Magnus is consistently drawn with his original Generation 1 body, a look he's never worn in 2005 IDW continuity.
* Other consistent drawing errors include Rodimus having two "claws" per arm instead of the usual three, and Brainstorm's main wings being attached to his backpack rather than his shoulders.
* The name of the Decepticons' giant battle mechs is spelled "Cybernaught" here, but was spelled "Cybern'''o'''ught" back in issue #8. The TPB retains the 'Cybernaught' spelling despite correcting all other typos.
* Swerve and Tailgate are both drawn at around the same height as Ratchet, when they should be much shorter.
* When Chromedome and Skids are standing on the Lost Light's outer hull, neither is wearing magna-clamps on his feet.
* The five coffins at the funeral are each marked by a colored flame. On page 11, they are red, green, white, and two are blue. On page 12, however, Tripodeca's flame is none of these colors, appearing yellow instead.
* As he contemplates playing Rewind's data disc, Chromedome's finger-needles are not shown. He extended them just before this scene, and he has them extended in the very next panel.
* The final image in Rewind's message is one of him and Chromedome, taken by himself in a reflective surface—but his head-cam is still on the left-hand side of his head, when it should be mirrored.

===Other trivia===
* James Roberts cites this issue as the one he's most proud of, particularly the scenes with Chromedome and Brainstorm and Rewind's final message. He'd wanted to end the Chromedome/Rewind story with ''those'' three words but only told IDW & Hasbro late in the day, vaguely worried that this would be controversial. As it turned out, both were supportive.<ref>[http://www.fullmetalhero.com/t14540/ Moonbase2's second interview with James Roberts - 01:40:04 to 01:40:30]</ref>
* When it was initially released through digital retailer Comixology, buyers of this issue found they received a copy of [[Heavy Is the Head|''Robots in Disguise'' #16]] instead. The comic was fortunately updated to the correct one within just over an hour.
* Rewind's shattered head-camera is among the drifting debris at the top of page 5.
* Chromedome is wearing a black Autobot [[insignia]] in mourning.
* Page 7 includes a shot of Overlord's smashed body drifting in space. He's pretty clearly making a fist, but a conspicuous piece of space debris floating past in the foreground obscures his hand, and what he may or not may not be holding, leaving open the possibility that Rewind has survived the events of last issue, and remains in the villain's clutches. This was entirely deliberate; it was indeed initially planned for Rewind to survive with the intent that he would return several years later, during the book's "[[The Transformers: Lost Light|third season]]," but in the end, these plans never came to fruition.
* Among Rewind's belongings seen on pages 14 and 15 is a black tablet with a blank label. This is a copy of Rewind's ''Lost Light'' documentary, "[[Little Victories]]", which wound up not getting labelled before the issue went to print.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-comics-discussion/959698-mtmte-22-now-ibooks-here-spoilers-13.html#post10161727 Josh Burcham posts on TFW2005]</ref>
* The "Meet the Crew" page is completely overhauled this issue, with new mini-bios for everyone. The red "x" implying his death last issue is removed from Ultra Magnus's entry, while the dispatched [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] and Rewind are replaced with Fortress Maximus and Perceptor. Chromedome's position is listed as "lamentatorem". ''Lamentator'' is [[Latin language|Latin]] for "lamenter" and "lamentatorem" is, inexplicably in context, its form in the accusative case.
* For the first time in the series, the last names of the inker and colorist of the issue were on the front cover.

===Crew manifest===
* Tripodeca is revealed to have been among those killed in Overlord's rampage. Four other caskets are jettisoned along with his; assuming one contains Pipes, and that Rewind didn't get one since he left no remains to jettison, that would mean three other unnamed crewmembers were victims of Overlord too.
* Ultra Magnus has ten days of life remaining.
* Tailgate's only got three! Wha-huh?
* 11 deaths, 1 fatal wounding, 5 new arrivals (plus 20 or so Faders), and 1 boxed since the launch.

===Soundtrack===
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn_uWqlbdOM "Your Funny Uncle"] by {{w|Pet Shop Boys}}
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_2c_E_c-U0 "Holes"] by {{w|Mercury Rev}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Please think of this song when reading MTMTE #16. http://t.co/NgEZDKAI2e|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/322681873677574145|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2013|month=04|day=12|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3uIwEY27DQ "Tracy"] by {{w|Mogwai}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-B4cXLagkk "Les Jour Tristes"] by {{w|Neil Hannon}} & {{w|Yann Tiersen}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zH29SOVADBE "The Sadness of Things"] by {{w|Momus (musician)|Momus}}
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpBnX27eF_w "Embers"] by Byrne
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOBs8dU4Pb8 "Run"] by {{w|Snow Patrol}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Continuing the soundtrack to MTMTE #16. http://t.co/LzS9dCdEe9 See? I'm not afraid to go mainstream. One more song to come before Wednesday.|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/325551925049323520|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2013|month=04|day=20|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIa1bWw7-7Q "Lullaby"] by {{w|Arco (band)|Arco}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=As promised, the last MTMTE#16 song teaser. Issue's out tomorrow, folks. http://t.co/xTwtLerA75|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/326788231821676545|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2013|month=04|day=23|(defunct=)}}</ref>

===Foreign localization===
'''Japanese'''
* ''Title:'' "'''Hakubo'''" (薄暮, "Dusk")

'''Swedish'''
* ''Title:'' "'''Skymning'''" ("Twilight")
* The clip of Perceptor from Rewind's farewell (used to create "min databas") does not match up with the full version shown in "[[Little Victories]]" (where he shouts "mitt lab") due to Swedish grammatical gender.

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A:''' Drift turns from a shattered Autobot [[insignia]], by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Joana Lafuente]].
* '''Cover B:''' Rodimus, post-tantrum, in his wrecked office, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Priscilla Tramontano]].
* '''Cover RI:''' Monochrome white (with a few red highlights) bust shot of Drift, by [[Marcelo Matere]], continuing the previous three months' "bust" theme for the RI covers, paralleling the RI cover to ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Heavy Is the Head|#16]].

<gallery>
File:MTMTE16 cvrA.jpg|Did Drift leave the Autobots, or did the Autobots leave Drift?
File:MTMTE16 cvrB.jpg|Rodimus is such a prat.
File:MTMTE16 cvrRI.jpg|Howdy, Drift!
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Heavy Is the Head|#16]]
* ''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One|Regeneration One]]'' [[Natural Selection, Part Five|#90]]
* [[Free Comic Book Day]]
* ''Regular Show''
* ''Danger Girl: Trinity'' (back cover)

===Reprints===
* '''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 4''''' ([[July 17]], [[2013]]) ISBN 1613776918 / ISBN 978-1613776919 
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #12–16.
** Bonus material includes art from most covers, and the prose story "[[Signal to Noise]]".
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Box Set''''' ([[December 2]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631404741 / ISBN 978-1631404740
** Collects ''More Than Meets the Eye'' volumes 1–5.
** Bonus material unknown at this time.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 4]]''''' ([[October 12]], [[2016]]) ISBN 1631407155 / ISBN 978-1631407154
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Monstrosity|Monstrosity]]'' issues [[Derelicts|#1]]–[[Belly of the Beast (issue)|12]], ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' issues [[City on Fire|#12]]–[[Heavy Is the Head|16]] & [[Shockwaves|#17]]–[[Second Exodus|18]], and ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #14–16.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 57: Remain in Light''''' ([[August 21]], [[2019]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #14–21, and "[[Signal to Noise]]" & "[[The Sound of Breaking Glass]]".
** Bonus material includes a cover gallery and a forward by [[Simon Furman]].
** Hardcover format.

* '''''Transformers: Krig och hågkomst''''' ([[July]], [[2021]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #14–22, a special illustrated version of "[[The Sound of Breaking Glass]]", and ''[[The Transformers: Spotlight|Spotlight]]: [[Omega's Conundrum|Orion Pax]]''.
** Swedish reprint. Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol4.jpg|'''''More than Meets the Eye Volume 4''''' – cover art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Joana Lafuente]]
File:MTMTE boxset.jpg|'''''More Than Meets the Eye Box Set''''' – cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V4.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 4''''' – cover art by Marcelo Matere and [[Tom B. Long]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v57.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 57: Remain in Light''''' – cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] (Skids) and Alex Milne (Overlord)
File:MTMTE SWE 03.jpg|'''''Krig och hågkomst''''' – cover art by Alex Milne and [[Josh Perez]].
</gallery>

==External links==
* [http://www.fullmetalhero.com/t12365/ Preview]
* [http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/creator-commentary-with-james-roberts-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-ongoing-16/27146/ Creator Commentary with James Roberts]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gloaming}}

Little Victories

2026-04-16T14:56:43Z

Some Dweeb:

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=22
|prev=More than Meets the Eye issue 21
|next=Black Metal: Dark Cybertron Chapter 2
|seriesissue2=''[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron Prelude]]''
|prev2=Soundwaves (issue)
|next2=Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1
|image=MTMTE22 cvrA.jpg
|title="Little Victories" A film by Rewind of Lower Petrohex
|caption=What a guy!
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[October 9]], [[2013]] (iBooks) [[October 16]], [[2013]] (print)
|coverdate=October 2013
|story by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[James Raiz]]
|colors by=[[Josh Burcham]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2013)]]
}}
'''Rewind's recordings become a movie that charts the crew's adventures, including an intrusion into another robotic civil war, the mystery of Rung's alternate mode, and a visit from one of the greatest Autobots around!'''

==Synopsis==
In a series of brief talking-head segments, the crew of the ''[[Lost Light]]'' introduce themselves to the audience as a set of title cards appear between soundbytes: "Little Victories: A film by [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] of [[Lower Petrohex]]". After everyone has given their names, Rewind turns his camera around to introduce his film, created at [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]]'s request, through a combination of his perpetual recordings of the goings-on on the ship and footage from the many security cameras installed on the vessel by [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]. To begin the movie proper, we see Rodimus requesting its filming, followed by a candid clip of [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] expressing some concern at potentially looking ridiculous as a result of questionable editing decisions. Rodimus gives him permission to censor the finished product if necessary, and blacked-out sections of the film prove he wasn't shy about it.

While lounging around in the ship's [[oil]] reservoir, Rewind, [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]], and [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] talk about the cool [[alternate mode]]s of their teammates, and the conversation turns to the mystery of what [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] turns into. Swerve wagers a hundred [[Shanix]] to the first person to figure it out, and starts trying by "accidentally" clonking him on the head in hopes of automatically triggering a transformation. Talking-head clips of Tailgate and Swerve reflecting on their wager turn to talk of hobbies, a topic that Rewind gets [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] to weigh in on; the theoretician lists "meeting new people", and recalls an encounter on [[Hedonia]]...

[[File:Littlevictories-happynow.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.6|One day, [[army-building]] went too far.]]
The film shifts to Hedonia, some time beforehand, and shows Skids and [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] meeting the [[Ammonite]]s, a race of mechanical beings engaged in a civil war with their enemies the [[Terradore]]s. Whirl disparages their conflict in comparison with the Transformers' own, but it soon becomes apparent that the Ammonites trump the Cybertronians at every turn: their war has lasted ''sixteen'' million years rather than four, they have ten-changing "Decabots" instead of just [[Six Changer]]s, and while the Transformers are still trying to master [[Combiner]] technology, the Ammonites are ''all'' interchangeable combiners, and prove it by separating into their diminutive component 'bots. The two 'bots are enjoying a drink with their new rivals when a patron alerts the barman to the arrival of a huge Terradorian cruiser. As the Ammonites panic, Whirl strides outside and, with Skids looking on, quickly and easily murders the Terradore leader [[Imperius Drax]], smugly informing his new "friends" that ''that'' is how it's done.

[[File:LittleVictories-Thunderclash.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|"I'm sorry Mellie, I don't fraternize with the staff."]]
Another talking-head segment follows, as Rewind asks each crew-member if they are "happy", to a variety of positive, confused, suspicious and veiled answers. A short scene of Tailgate trying and failing to trick Rung into transforming with an "alt-mode party" comes next, after which the movie shows Rodimus arriving in the ''Lost Light'' communication suite wearing a makeshift "[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]]" helmet made from a bucket for a theme night as [[Swerve's]]. [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] informs him that they have received a message from [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]], captain of the ''[[Vis Vitalis]]'', who is quickly proven by another series of soundbytes from the crew to be one of the most popular, awesome, super-cool and handsome Autobots in the whole entire universe. Rodimus, however, is not a fan, and an extremely passive-aggressive exchange of pleasantries follows as Thunderclash comes aboard with his first officer [[Paddox]]. Rodimus tries to show off his crew, but Thunderclash knows them all well: he actually gets a ''hug'' from Ultra Magnus when he compliments his writings on "the relationship between typograpy and military justice", he impresses [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] by respecting [[Spectralism|his religion]] with an appropriate greeting, and he turns out to be old friends from medical school with [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]]. Rodimus ''just about'' holds himself together through all of this, but explodes when Thunderclash reveals that ''he'' is on a quest for the [[Knights of Cybertron]] too! He angrily demands to know what Thunderclash wants, and the film cuts away to segments from Ratchet and [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] that explain that the ''Vis Vitalis'' is actually a huge, wireless life support machine that keeps the gravely-wounded Thunderclash alive, and that he has come to the ''Lost Light'' hoping for a ship-to-ship jumpstart to replenish his vessel's failing power supply.

[[File:Paddox little victories.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5|Stealing Cyclonus' lines? How fiendish!]]
A little later, Thunderclash walks [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] through how to use the [[quantum generator|quantum engines]] to accomplish the power-transfer, but just before the process is activated, Paddox suddenly pulls a gun on Thunderclash, revealing himself to be an Ammonite deep-cover agent! The Ammonites, it turns out, are actually the ''bad guys'' in their war, and following Whirl's assassination of the Terradores' leader, all Ammonites have been recalled for a big push back against the extreme tactics of his successor—tactics that potentially include allying with the mysterious "[[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Dark Cyclops]]". "Paddox" intends to take the Autobots' quantum engines for the Ammonite war effort, but is abruptly taken out in the most unusual way possible: Swerve sneaks up and clobbers him over the head with... Rung in alternate mode. The film cuts away briefly for Rung to explain that even ''he'' doesn't know what his odd, cylindrical alternate mode is—he was classified as an "ornament" by the [[Functionist Council]]—then cuts back to Thunderclash thanking Rodimus for his efforts, and Rodimus quietly whispering to Rewind that he has begun to regret the candid nature of the movie...

[[File:MTMTE22 Rung's alternate mode.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|In Search Of: What I Am.]]
''On [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]], the [[Circle of Light]] boo the movie, which Skids is playing as part of a recruitment drive, hoping to get some of the Circle to join the ''Lost Light''. The Circle mock the movie and the entire ship's crew, accusing them all of being crazies and shirkers who never make any progress in their quest, and all leave, with some thinking of signing up with Thunderclash. Behind Skids, on the screen, the movie continues to roll on...''

A final talking-head segment sees Rewind ask each of the crewmembers what they hope is next for them. Some see the end in sight and some think the journey itself and the friends they've made are what it's all about, but Tailgate sums it up best when he says: "Who knows?" For the final scene of the movie, Rewind calls all his friends together for a group shot in Swerve's, not caring who stands where as along as everyone is together.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (1)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (2)
* [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (3)
* [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (4)
* [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (6)
* [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (7)
* [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (9)
* [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] (10)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] (11)
* [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (12)
* [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (13)
* [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (14)
* [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (15)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailcutter]] (19)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (20)
* [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] (21)
{{!}}}
|c4=
* [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (5)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (8)
* Assorted [[Ammonite]]s (16)
* [[16444/9]] (17)
* [[Mondo]] (18)
* [[Paddox]] (22)
* Multiple [[Circle of Light]] members (23)
}}

==Quotes==
"It's '''Whirl''', spelled: ''ker-klick! '''Choom!'''" 
:—'''Whirl''', on his own name

"So you think you're better at war than us? How long were you fighting?" 
"Four million years. You?" 
"Sixteen." 
"Sixteen years." 
"Sixteen million." 
<big>"'''Sixteen million years?!'''</big> Six-'''teen'''? That's ridiculous. That's a ridiculous number."
:—'''16444/9''' and '''Skids'''

"I once went toe-to-toe with a '''six-changer'''. Jet! Beast! Tank! Gun! '''And something else I can't remember!'''"
:—'''Whirl'''

''(Rodimus enters the communications room with a bucket on his head.)'' 
"I thought you didn't like hats." 
"'''Theme Night''' at Swerve's: 'People You'd Like to Punch.' I was a lone '''Megatron''' in a sea of '''Whirls'''."
:—'''Blaster''' and '''Rodimus'''

"What's the '''problem?''' Everyone on board the ''Lost Light'' is '''cracked in the head!'''" 
"Yeah, '''dysfunctional''' isn't the word! There isn't a '''normal''' 'bot among you!" 
"And that wouldn't be so bad if you actually '''made progress'''—but as far as I can make out, all you do is '''argue''', crack jokes, and get '''sidetracked''' doing pointless, silly things that only you find amusing!"
:—Various members of the '''Circle of Light''' get a bit meta on the comic. Er, the movie.

"In the future, I'd like to see a world without guns. Ha! No. Joking."
:—'''Brainstorm'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* The fact that Rewind was making a documentary about life on the ''Lost Light'' was revealed in [[Under Cold Blue Stars|issue #15]], in which [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] noted he was about to attend a screening of the rough cut. Obviously, this comic ''is'' that rough cut, since Rewind wasn't around to make any changes after that story was over.
* The scenes in the documentary take place over a wide span of time. The earliest takes place during issue #1, while the latest—consisting predominantly of Thunderclash's visit to the ship and a substantial number of the talking-head interview scenes—must occur in-between issues [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|#13]] (in which the crew visited Hedonia) and [[Remembrance Day|#14]]. The one present day scene, taking place outside the documentary, occurs between scenes in the [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|previous issue]], after Tyrest's defeat but before the ''Lost Light'' departs Luna-1.
* Ultra Magnus notes that he has received the [[Novic Medal for Outstanding Valor|Novic Medal]], presumably named in reference to the legendary Nova Prime (Tailgate, still lying about his history, claims to have earned ''seven''). It was previously mentioned in [[Rotorstorm (G1)|Rotorstorm]]'s bio in ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]''.
* Rewind asks Magnus if he's received the [[Rodimus Star]], an accolade that hasn't appeared in the main ''More than Meets the Eye'' series itself, but which was introduced in ''[[The Reluctant Specialist|Spotlight: Trailcutter]]''.
* A number of moments from this issue were hinted at or even seen in previous issues, which took place later chronologically.
** Two of the panels in Rewind's farewell montage in issue [[The Gloaming|#16]] have their source in the events depicted this issue: Perceptor running out of his smoking lab (page 2, panel 5), from which dialogue was lifted directly, and Rung counting his model collection (page 5, panel 7). Back in #16, the scene of the former had camera read-out text when none of the others did. Now we know why.
** In issue [[Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|#19]], Tyrest brings up Ultra Magnus hugging someone.
** In issue #21, Magnus talks about Rodimus's immature reaction to a "Thunder--."
* Swerve claims to have been playing hand-grenade tag with [[Waverider]], a pastime for which the latter was put in the brig just prior to issue #13.
* The Raging Prism was mentioned back in #13, where some of the characters talked about visiting its "Temple" on Hedonia. It makes sense, then, that a Hedonian resident would make reference to it.
* One of the Ammonites exclaims, "By the Great Shattering." According to the [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|Annual]], something called the Shattering caused the formation of the Galactic Council. And since we learn this issue that the Council formed in response to the Ammonite-Terradore war... Ta-da, it all adds up!
* The six-changer Whirl is referring is clearly [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]]. He lists Sixshot's alternate modes, excluding the armored car mode that's never seen used in the IDW continuity.
* When asked if he's happy, Brainstorm rather ominously replies "''Soon. Not yet. Soon.''" This would be expanded on in [[Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|issue #38]].
* For the first time, we have in-story acknowledgment that Tailgate and Rung are from the same era, confirming that the former's reference to Rungian analysis in issue #1 was no error.
* Tailgate's altmode appears for the first time, indicating that his t-cog had not yet succumbed to [[cybercrosis]]. Interestingly, it is a Cybertronic version of his original toy (including T-tops!), rather than his upcoming ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' release.
* Upon seeing Rodimus's "Megatron" costume (a bucket on his head), Blaster remarks on his captain's dislike for hats, which was introduced in the [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|2012 annual]].
* Tailgate's statement that he wants to hate Thunderclash is a reference to his tendency to resent 'bots of greatness, previously seen in his attitudes toward Dominus Ambus and pre-insanity Tyrest.
* Back in issue #16, Chromedome pointed out a constellation he and Rewind had dubbed the "Vis Vitalis". Given that this term refers to something decidedly non-physical (see real-life references, below), we can probably assume that the stars made a picture of Thunderclash's ship.
* Continuing the running joke of people getting his name wrong, Rung's old ID card spells his name R-O-N-G.
* Chromedome finally learns to make the sound "pfft", having struggled to do so for ''four million years'' across issues [[Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|#9]] and [[Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|#11]].

===Transformers references===
* The Rung toy Swerve is trying to figure out on this issue's B cover comes with a set of [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]]-style [[instructions]]. It has articulated eyebrows and a "listening mode"!
* Swerve tries to make Rung reflexively transform by striking his [[neural cluster]], a weak spot on Transformers mentioned in the Marvel UK story "[[Fire on High!]]".
* The Ammonites and Terradores are designated "Evil" and "Heroic", just like the "Heroic Autobots" and "Evil Decepticons" in classic Transformers marketing.
* Rodimus wearing a bucket as Megatron is a reference to Megatron's in- and out of-universe nickname "Buckethead".

===Real-life references===
* The title of this issue appears in white Windsor typeface on a plain black background, in homage to the [http://fontsinuse.com/uses/2147/woody-allen-film-titles-1977-2012 title cards] of many {{w|Woody Allen}} films. It also uses Allen's trademark quotation marks.
* The panels "censored" by Ultra Magnus, meanwhile, use a font for their captions based on that used in the TV series ''{{w|Arrested Development (TV series)|Arrested Development}}'', of which James Roberts is an avowed fan.
* The "Vis Vitalis" is a classical alchemical principle that proposes the existence of "life force" possessed by living creatures.
* On page 8, an insectoid alien calls the bartender "Mondo", a reference to {{w|mondo film}}s. Roberts thought we wouldn't get it, but we did!
* Probably hardly worth mentioning by this point, but one of the cameras is numbered [[113 (disambiguation)|113]].

===Trivia===
* Because this issue was written to be packed in with the ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' Deluxe Class [[Skids (G1)#Generations|Autobot Skids]] toy, it had to be written ''well'' in advance, before even #16 was penned, hence its standalone, not-too-continuity-heavy nature.
* The digital version of this issue was inadvertently released a week early through iBooks. It wasn't taken down, but nobody really noticed until a few days before its print release.
* This issue is labelled as a "[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]]" prelude, and has a redesigned inside front cover to go along with this branding.
* This issue's visiting guest Autobot has his named spelled "Thunder Clash" on the cover, as it was on his original toy, but as "Thunderclash" in the story itself, as pretty much every [[Thunderclash (disambiguation)|other use of the name]] is.
* According to Roberts's annotated script, an earlier concept for this issue would have visited the ''Vis Vitalis'', where it would have been revealed that the entire crew was perfect and every ''Lost Light'' crew member would have had a direct and idealized counterpart.
* No "Meet the Crew" feature is included this issue, but then, the first two pages of the story cover that all pretty well themselves!
* A [http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1sjk4t3 deleted scene] from this issue featured Ratchet pulling a prank on Drift by claiming that [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]]'s hands were haunted, punching people of their own accord. The scene was later [http://dcjosh.tumblr.com/post/107665292031/its-done-the-mtmte-22-deleted-scene-in-all-its illustrated] by [[Josh Burcham]].

===Edits===
* The version of this comic available with the ''Generations'' Deluxe Class Autobot Skids toy is identified as "The Transformers: Skids" on the inside cover, rather than "''The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye'' #22".
* In addition, there are several differences between the original release of this issue (which remained unchanged for the trade paperback reprint except for one change noted under "errors") and the version packaged with Deluxe Skids:
** On page 1, several minor alterations to the dialogue, such as the removal of quotation marks around Skids's name, changing Rewind's line in panel 7 from "What is it, '''nerves'''?" (emphasis on "nerves") to "What is it? Nerves?" and merging Chromedome's lines "--calls me Chromedome." and "Even you." into a single speech bubble.
** On page 3, the first panel has the location and date "Cybertron, 18 months ago" added.
** On page 6, [[16444/9]]'s "accursed [[Terradore]]s" gets changed to "hated Terradores", and inexplicably, "take your pick" gets changed to "... what he said." Furthermore, Whirl's list of "vehicles, machinery, and weapons" loses the second comma.
** On page 18, Swerve's line "Wait. Look over there..." isn't immediately followed by Rung saying "We have to do something." Rather, Rung explicitly completes Swerve's ellipsis with "... is that Thunderclash with a gun to his head?"
** Brainstorm's dialogue on page 21 is completely altered, from "In the future, I'd like to see a world without guns. Ha! No. Joking." to "The future? No. No. No. You're looking in the wrong direction." [[The Custom-Made Now - An Elegant Chaos Prologue|Issue 35]] provides an explanation for this initially rather odd-seeming line.
** Also on page 21, Rewind's dialogue is changed from "Group shot, everyone! Group shot! Everyone over here! Come on, chop chop! You too, Cyclonus... I don't care where everyone stands..." to "Group shot, group shot! Come on, come on! Everyone over here! And you, Cyclonus... I don't care where people stand..."

===Errors===
* Rewind is consistently drawn without the little red light on the side of his head.
* First Aid is drawn with two separate, bug-like optics instead of his conventional visor.
* Skids' "Take your pick" in the conversation with the Ammonites is missing punctuation.
* What little can be seen of Trailcutter's vehicle mode is noticeably off-model on page 11, resembling his traditional Earth pickup truck mode far more than it ought to.
* On page 17, panel 5, "actually" is misspelled "actaually"; this remained uncorrected in the TPB and the version packaged with the ''Generations'' Deluxe Class Autobot Skids figure.
* Back in issue 13, as the Autobots were departing Hedonia, Whirl remarked that they hadn't killed anybody, which this issue proves to be incorrect. The error was caught well in advance of the publication of this issue (since it was written so far ahead of time), and the offending line was removed from the trade paperback reprinting of issue #13.
* Tailgate's alt mode has an Autobrand, despite his never having undergone a true initiation.
* In one of the little "censored" panels, Ultra Magnus is referred to as the Duly ''Elected'' Enforcer of the Tyrest Accord, instead of the usual Duly ''Appointed''.

===Crew manifest===
* No updates!

===Soundtrack===
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB2TEElBU64 "End Credits"] by {{w|Jesse Hartman|Laptop}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=MTMTE #22 (9th Oct) is a Dark Cybertron tie-in AND a coda to Season One. This happy-sad song fits the mood perfectly: http://t.co/eh35lxlMJV|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/384812407022833664|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2013|month=09|day=30|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3eM2R1aCKQ "I Knew Prufrock Before He Got Famous"] by {{w|Frank Turner}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=The other song for MTMTE #22, which in keeping with the issue aims to sum up the series (thus far) as a whole. http://t.co/9c1fNHoCbB|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/384816775415611392|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2013|month=09|day=30|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YMYC0pS4Ws "Goodnight Kiss"] by {{w|Black Box Recorder}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=End of an era? MTMTE #22 is the last issue with the full Season 1 cast. This is the song to see them on their way http://t.co/T3jcMMmoUE|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/389505792807677952|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2013|month=10|day=13|(defunct=)}}</ref>

===Foreign localization===
'''Japanese'''
* ''Title:'' "'''Sasayakana Shōri'''" (ささやかな勝利, "Little Victories")

'''Swedish'''
* ''Title:'' "'''De små sakerna'''" ("The Little Things")
* Rung's name on his ID card is spelled correctly, missing the original gag.
* The [[Pious Pools]] have been given their third and final Swedish name, "Gudsfruktiga dammarna," translating out to the same as the English name, although using the colloquialism "gudsfruktig" rather than the proper "gudfruktig".

===Covers (4)===
* '''Cover A:''' Rung holds a datapad bearing Thunder Clash's image, signed by the 'bot himself, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
* '''Cover B:''' Swerve tries to puzzle out the transformation of a Rung toy, by [[Nick Roche]] and Josh Burcham.
* '''Cover RI:''' Skids, by [[Phil Jimenez]] and [[Romulo Fajardo Jr.]]
* '''Hasbro exclusive cover:''' Cropped-in version of cover RI, exclusively available with ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' Deluxe Class [[Skids (G1)#Generations|Autobot Skids]].

<gallery>
File:MTMTE22 cvrA.jpg|The totally modest Thunderclash.
File:MTMTE22 cvrB.jpg|Swerve feels [[fandom|our]] pain.
File:MTMTE22 cvrRI.jpg|Guess which cover comes with the Skids toy?
File:MTMTE22 cvrHAS.jpg|And the winner is...
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* [[Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1|''The Transformers: Dark Cybertron'' #1]]
* ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' [[Black Metal: Dark Cybertron Chapter 2|#23]]
* ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Winners & Losers: Dark Cybertron Chapter 3|#23]]
* ''Robots in Disguise'' [[Soundwaves (issue)|#22]]
* ''[[The Transformers: Regeneration One|Regeneration One]]'' [[Destiny, Part Five|#95]]
* IDW ''Samurai Jack'' comic
* ''[[My Little Pony]]'' Annual 2013
* ''[[Star Trek]]: Khan'' (back cover)

===Reprints===
* '''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 5''''' ([[November 13]], [[2013]]) ISBN 1613778023 / ISBN 978-1613778029 
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #17–22.
** Bonus material includes art from most covers, and the prose story "[[The Sound of Breaking Glass]]".
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Box Set''''' ([[December 2]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631404741 / ISBN 978-1631404740
** Collects ''More Than Meets the Eye'' volumes 1–5.
** Bonus material unknown at this time.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 5]]''''' ([[February 22]], [[2017]]) ISBN 1631408445 / ISBN 978-1631408441
** Collects ''[[The Transformers: Primacy|Primacy]]'' issues [[Primacy issue 1|#1]]–[[Primacy issue 4|4]], ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' issues [[Homecoming (IDW)|#19]]–[[Three Monologues|20]] & [[Shockpoint|#21]]–[[Soundwaves (issue)|22]], and ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #17–21, #22 & "[[The Sound of Breaking Glass]]".
** Hardcover format.

* '''''Transformers: Krig och hågkomst''''' ([[July]], [[2021]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #14–22, a special illustrated version of "[[The Sound of Breaking Glass]]", and ''[[The Transformers: Spotlight|Spotlight]]: [[Omega's Conundrum|Orion Pax]]''.
** Swedish reprint. Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol5.jpg|'''''More Than Meets the Eye Volume 5''''' – cover art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
File:MTMTE boxset.jpg|'''''More Than Meets the Eye Box Set''''' – cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V5.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 5''''' – cover art by Marcelo Matere and [[Tom B. Long]]
File:MTMTE SWE 03.jpg|'''''Krig och hågkomst''''' – cover art by Alex Milne and [[Josh Perez]].
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/comics-16/transformers-more-than-meets-the-eyes-22-full-preview-178599/ Preview]
* [http://boards.idwpublishing.com/3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15275&p=353870#p353870 James Roberts reflects on the creative process of this issue on the IDW forums]
[[Category:Dark Cybertron issues]]

File:RID SWE 01.jpg

2026-03-29T23:25:14Z

Some Dweeb:

{{IDWG1cover
|description=Re-use of [[:File:RID28_cvrA.jpg|standard cover to Robots in Disguise #28]].
{{art|lineart=[[Casey Coller]]|colors=[[Joana Lafuente]]}}
|series=rid
|cover=Swedish cover
|TPB=Hardcover|type=Hardcover|collecting= #28-32 and #34-38 and [[The Transformers: Punishment]]
|year=23}}
[[Category:Images by Casey Coller]]
[[Category:Images by Joana Lafuente]]

Space Pirates!

2026-03-29T23:11:12Z

Some Dweeb:

{{disambig3|Space Pirates}}
{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #182–187
|prev=The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)
|next=Firebug!
|title="Space Pirates!"
|image=MarvelUK-187.jpg
|caption=Arise, Ghyrikius Prime!
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[September 10|10th September]]–[[October 15|15th October]] [[1988]]
|coverdate=10th September–15th October 1988
|script=[[Simon Furman]]
|art=[[Dan Reed]] (#182–183) [[Lee Sullivan]] (#186–187)
|pencils=[[Dougie Braithwaite]] (#184–185)
|inks=[[Dave Harwood]] (#184–185)
|colour=[[Euan Peters]] (#182–186) [[Steve White]] (#187)
|letters=[[Gary Gilbert|Glib]]
|edits by=Chris Francis
|chronology=[[Marvel Comics timeline#Original future|Original future (2008)]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]] ([[Primax 984.20 Gamma|Marvel UK]])
}}
'''Death and destruction reign supreme as the Quintessons embark on their master plan to eliminate the Transformers species.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Sevax.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5]]
The [[Quintesson]]s are not having a good year. Space-time itself has been seriously ruptured, and the feedback from the disruption has altered the orbit of the Quintessons' homeworld [[Quintessa (planet)|Quintesson]], such that it is in imminent danger of falling into its [[sun]].

The Quintessons' original plan of response to this crisis was to find an alternative homeworld to move to; to that end, Quintesson spies/explorers surveyed a number of machine worlds (including [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]) and recorded their findings in the [[Quintesson Journal]]. Unfortunately, the journal fell into the hands of [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]], who withstood all attempts to wring its location from him. As such, the Quintessons decide to move to Plan B — direct conquest of Cybertron and elimination of the [[Transformer]]s. Fear of the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]] has made them hold off to this point, but without any other option, they proceed. This plan will start with an assault on [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] on [[Earth]].

Meanwhile, on the way to the holding cells, Wreck-Gar manages to escape his guards and get onto a nearby boat. Attacked from beneath, Wreck-Gar falls into the water and is surrounded by biting [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]].

===Plan of Attack!===
[[File:Beachcomber air raid space pirates.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5]]
[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] is bored with guard duty at Autobot City Earth and goes off for a ride, which the Quintesson General [[Ghyrik]] uses as an opportunity to mount a full-scale attack, killing many [[Autobot]]s, including [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] as he attempts to transform Autobot City into Battle Mode. Arcee is shocked when she returns to see the devastation, only to be gunned down herself.

Meanwhile, Wreck-Gar is saved from a sea of Sharkticons by [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] on his own spaceship.

===Pursuit!===
[[File:Space Pirates! Junkions refuse to answer Rodimus Prime.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2]]
On Cybertron, [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]] has a confused video call with some [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]], failing to find out the location of Wreck-Gar. He then discovers communications to Autobot City Earth are down.

The Quintessons move on to the second part of their plan B. They ask the Decepticon commander [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] for help against the Autobots that are (allegedly) attacking the Quintesson homeworld. Having no sympathy to the Quintesson plight, Soundwave instead decides to mount a full-scale attack on the empty [[Autobase]] on Cybertron.

Meanwhile, Wreck-Gar and Wheelie have meaningless conversations and escape the Quintessons in an asteroid field.

Finally, Rodimus and the Autobots arrive on Autobot City Earth to find their comrades hanging lifeless from the sides of the city.

===The Tender Trap!===
[[File:Astrotrain space pirates.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2]]
On Cybertron, the Decepticons launch their attack on Autobase. But it was a trap! They are ambushed by an army of Quintessons. At a loss, Soundwave sends an anonymous distress call to the remaining Autobots, which is picked up by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Eject (G1)|Eject]].

On Earth, Rodimus sends the others off whilst he takes care of Arcee by using the power of the Matrix. But it was also a trap! Rodimus is ambushed by General Ghyrik who runs off with the Matrix. Away from its power, Rodimus weakens and shrinks, reverting to Hot Rod.

Meanwhile, Wreck-Gar and Wheelie have more meaningless conversations and continue to escape the Quintessons.

===The Awakening!===
Hot Rod and Arcee manage to escape the Quintessons. Finding the strung-up body of Blaster, Hot Rod rummages through his chest for some cassettes.

[[File:Generalghyrik.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Um, Mr. Ghyrik, the capture of the hero comes before the "Villain's Exposition"...]]
Inside Autobot city, General Ghyrik realizes that whilst the attack on Autobot City Earth was just for the purposes of eliminating the Autobots, it would also serve as a base to enslave all of Earth's humans.

On Cybertron, just as the Decepticons are about to be defeated, Ultra Magnus and the Autobots turn up and join in the fight against the Quintessons.

Meanwhile, Wreck-Gar and Wheelie abandon ship for a small asteroid containing a few Junkions and a transmitter, just in time for the transmission of the contents of the message canister

[[File:Metroplex-UK.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|I'm here to kick ass and chew bubble gum. And I'm all out of bubble gum.]]
Finally, whilst Arcee and Blaster's Cassettes hold off the Quintessons, Hot Rod fights with General Ghyrik and manages to reactivate [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], the giant Autobot sleeping within Autobot City.

===The End of the World!===
On Earth, Metroplex unloads a can of whoopass on the occupying Quintessons. Hot Rod manages to recover the Matrix from Ghyrik by using a child's trick, and then throws Ghyrik off a rooftop, thus winning the battle there.

On Cybertron, the combined Autobot and Decepticon forces overwhelm the Quintessons on Cybertron, and Soundwave even briefly considers the notion of a truce—but the two factions have been through too much to ever resolve their differences.

Meanwhile, as the contents of the message canister is transmitted to the galaxy at large, a large number of robotic species discover their worlds had been slated for potential colonization. As a result, those Quintessons who managed to escape the death of their world will be galactic fugitives, hated and hunted by the machine races of the galaxy.

Epilogue 1: The Quintesson planet comes to an end.

Epilogue 2: Months from now, Autobot scientists discover the accelerated death of the Quintesson homeworld was because of a rapidly-expanding rift in time and space.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{collist|2|
*[[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (10)
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (11)
*[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (12)
*[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (13)
*[[Hopper]] (14)
*[[Chase (G1)|Chase]] (15)
*[[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] (16)
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]] (17)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] (18)
*[[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (19)
*[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (20)
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime/Hot Rod]] (21)
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (26)
*[[Kup (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Kup]] (35)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (36)
*[[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (37)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (38)
*[[Eject (G1)|Eject]] (47)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (48)
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (50)
*[[Wideload (G1)|Wideload]] (51)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] (52)
*[[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (53)
*[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (54)
*[[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]] (55)
*[[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]] (56)
*[[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]] (57)
*[[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]] (58)
*[[Rewind (G1)|Rewind]] (59)
*[[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] (60)
*[[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] (61)
}}
|c2=
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] (27)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (28)
*[[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Grrr]] (29)
*[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (30)
*[[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (31)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (32)
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (33)
*[[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]] (34)
*[[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (39)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (40)
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (41)
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (42)
*[[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (43)
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (44)
*[[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (45)
*[[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] (46)
*[[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]] (49)
|c4=
*[[Ghyrik]] (1)
*[[Jolup]] (2)
*[[Kledji]] (3)
*[[Sevax]] (4)
*[[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (5)
*Various [[Quintesson]] guards (6)
*Quintesson judge (7)
*"Innocent" victim (8)
*[[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] (9)
*[[Junkyard (G1)|Junkyard]] (22)
*[[Second-in-command Junkion]] (23)
*[[Scrapheap (G1)|Scrapheap]] (24)
*[[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] (25)
}}

==Quotes==
"It's funny, once upon a time '''Hot Rod''' would probably have joined me! But now that he's been transformed by our sacred life force, '''the Creation Matrix''', into our leader, '''Rodimus Prime''', he's probably going to '''court-martial''' me."
:—'''Arcee''' laments Hot Rod's matrix-induced character development as she returns to her deserted guard post.

"But quit the '''macho''' bit, eh? It just '''doesn't suit you!'''" 
"Aww...I thought you might find it sort'a '''appealing!'''" 
"'''Matrix help us!'''"
:—'''Arcee''' and '''Hot Rod'''

"'''What have you done?''' A '''self-destruct''' device?" 
"Not exactly. You see, the reason why Autobot City is able to transform... is that its core is a '''living being''' — a '''Transformer!''' All I did was wake him up! General, may I introduce... '''<big>METROPLEX!</big>'''"
:— '''Ghyrik''' sets up '''Hot Rod''' to give Metroplex a cool intro/exposition.

==Notes==
===Artwork and technical errors===
[[File:Chase perceptor space pirates.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|[[Chase (G1)|Chase]] is on the left, pictured here with [[Searchlight (G1)|Searchlight]]'s head, and colored like [[Rollbar (G1)|Rollbar]]. He's like a combination of half the [[Throttlebot]]s at this point.]]
*In part 1, a [[Quintesson Prosecutor]] addresses a Judge with "Has the imperial majestrix reached a verdict?", almost certainly a mishearing of a line from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' referring to the imperial ''magistrate''.
*In part 2, [[Chase (G1)|Chase]] is coloured like [[Rollbar (G1)|Rollbar]].
*In the big reveal shot of all the Autobots strung up and inactive at the end of part 3, a narration text box resides over Trailbreaker, and it seems to have confused the colourist. His upper half above the text box is coloured correctly, but his legs below it are a strange red and white colour scheme.
**In the same shot, there's an Autobot halfway offscreen who appears to be coloured like Brawn... but from what's visible, the actual character model used doesn't look anything like him. Whether this was actually intended to be Brawn or is just a generic using his colour scheme is hard to say, as no other shot of these Autobots in the later parts ever has the character in frame.
*On page 2 panel 2 of part 4, as Soundwave speaks to the assembled Decepticons aboard Astrotrain, Wildrider is coloured like his fellow Stunticon Breakdown.
*In another shot of the strung up Autobots in part 4, there's a [[generic]] to the left of Slingshot who is coloured like Trailbreaker... probably because he was supposed to ''be'' Trailbreaker, who the art consistently depicts as being strung up to the left of Slingshot in parts 3 and 5.
*Page 5 Panel 4 of Part 5: Wheeljack is missing his characteristic cheek fins.

[[File:SpacePiratesSoundwaveLeader.JPG|thumb|upright=1.9|right|Colour swap thursdays is a proud tradition among the Stunticons (Wildrider is second from the right).]]

===Continuity errors===
*Considering the events of [[The Transformers: The Movie]] have been referenced in and are implied to be canon to the Marvel UK future timeline, it's a bit odd to see Wheeljack alive here since he's very prominently shown dead in The Movie. Same with Brawn, if indeed that is supposed to be him (see Artwork and technical errors above).

===Continuity notes===
*The future Autobots were last seen in "[[The Legacy of Unicron!]]". Their story continues in "[[Time Wars]]".
*We get a look at Soundwave's generals. They're mainly the leaders of sub-teams, such as [[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Gurrr]]. Oddly, [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] is representing the Constructicons these days. [[File:Soundwaveconsiders.jpg|right|upright=1.4|thumb|We don't ''have'' to kill each other. What do you say?]]

===Real-life references===
*When Soundwave sorrowfully notes that "too much has happened between our races" for an end to the war to occur, artist [[Lee Sullivan]] homages the artwork from the similar end to ''{{W|Batman: The Killing Joke}}'', published earlier that year.

===Other trivia===
*This story is noticeably influenced by Season 3 of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|cartoon series]]. Space Pirates was the most cartoon-influenced UK comic story since "[[Decepticon Dam-Busters!]]".
**As in the episode "[[The Burden Hardest to Bear]]", Rodimus Prime has the Matrix stolen from within him, and is 'de-powered' to his previous incarnation Hot Rod, whilst the Matrix thief has enhanced strength.
**[[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] resembles strongly its appearance in the 1986 animated movie and season 3 cartoon series, albeit coloured differently. As in the cartoon series, [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] is seen as the 'living core' of the city.
**Characters prominent in Season 3 of the cartoon series, but previously unknown to the Marvel UK comic series, such as the [[Quintesson]]s and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], also feature heavily.
**Established Transformers who weren’t in Season 3 of the cartoon barely appear, and none have speaking lines.
*The first three parts of this story are the basis for "[[Transformers Comic-Magazin issue 24|Fooled By Space Pirates]]", a German text story.
* The ship that Wreck-Gar and Wheelie are flying around in for most of the back half of this arc is very clearly just [[Ark (G1)|the Ark]]'s model from the cartoon. (Though it's not ''actually'' the Ark, as the Ark looked completely different in the Marvel comics).

===Back-up material===
'''Issue #182'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''[[Combat Colin]]'' - "Kung Fu Penguins"
**"Kung Fu Penguins" was a reprint of full page Combat Colin strips that originally appeared in [[Action Force (comic)|Action Force]] issues #34, #35, #36, #38, #39 and #40
*Issue #182 includes the last ever ''[[Letters page (Marvel UK)#Grim Grams|Grim Grams]]'', which had been a feature since [[In the National Interest|issue #75]]. In an introduction [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] claimed this was because it was too difficult for the dumb [[stubbie]]s to forward all the letters to the [[Moon (moon)|moon]] (where Grimlock currently resided).

'''Issue #183'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''[[Visionaries]]'' - "Quest of the Four Talismans" and ''Combat Colin''
*This issue saw a whole new look Transformation page (the introduction on page 2), which had last been changed in issue [[In the National Interest|#74]] (and before that in issue [[The New Order|#22]]). It no longer included a contents index (thus making life more difficult for future wiki page editors).
*The back-up strip changed from ''Action Force'' to ''Visionaries'', necessitating a change to the front cover subtitle.
*Instead of a letters page, issue #183 contained a special ''[[Robo-Capers]]'' strip entitled "[[The Wind of Change!]]" by [[Simon Furman]] and [[Lew Stringer]] that showed Grimlock being replaced by [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] as letters page answerer.

'''Issue #184'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Visionaries'' - "Quest of the Four Talismans" and ''Combat Colin''
*Issue #184 saw the first installment of ''Dread Tidings'', which then ran until [[Rhythms of Darkness!|issue #299]]

'''Issue #185'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Visionaries'' - "Quest of the Four Talismans" and ''Combat Colin''

'''Issue #186'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Visionaries'' - "Quest of the Four Talismans" and ''Combat Colin''

'''Issue #187'''
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Visionaries'' - "Wings" and ''Combat Colin''

===British Junkionisms===
*As in the cartoon, Wreck-Gar's dialogue is littered with references to TV shows. However, UK comics Wreck-Gar has watched an awful lot more UK TV. This obviously wasn't a problem when the story originally came out, but thanks to the increased availability of UK stories in the US along with the fact that lots of these references are decades old, lots of this stuff is now just plain confusing. So, here's a list of exactly what the hell Wreck-Gar is talking about in each issue:

====Part 1====
*"Great Balls of Fire!"—a 1957 {{w|Great Balls of Fire|song}} made famous by Jerry Lee Lewis.
*"''L.A. Law'' this ain't"—An American {{w|L.A. Law|legal drama}}.
*"No mealtime treat"—?.
*"Tense, nervous headache" and "nothing acts faster than Anadin"—references a British advert for [http://www.anadin.co.uk/ Anadin], a brand name for various headache tablets (yes, it's a real brand).
*"Bite it, crunch it, chew it!"—the jingle used for an advert for {{w|Boost (chocolate)|Cadbury's Boost}}, a chocolate bar.
*"Tonight on ''The Clothes Show''..."—A {{w|The Clothes Show|television show}} originally shown on [[BBC]] 1 that showed you how you too could look great on a budget. Often involved {{w|Sleeveless shirt|tank tops}}.
*"''Top of the Pops'' on the Quintessons' hit-list was Cybertron"—A popular British {{w|Top of the Pops|music show}}, featuring artists from the Top 40. Ruthlessly crushed by MTV and its ilk.
*"...and it's still not safe to go back in the water!"—Tag line from {{w|Jaws|some film}} about a [[Overbite (G1)|shark]] or something.

====Part 2====
*"For up to 20% fewer fillings, use Gibbs Sr!"—Gibbs Sr was a brand of toothpaste. It's also the answer to the question "What was the first advert ever shown on British TV?" Impress your friends with knowledge!
*"...the sweet you can eat between meals!"—Allegedly, a {{w|Milky Way (chocolate bar)|Milky Way bar}}. The version sold in the UK lacks the caramel you find in the US version, which is actually closer to a UK Mars bar (and which both used the "work, rest and play" advertising slogan). The UK version will float in water. More sexy knowledge!
*"Shot my bolt, Bernie"—Possibly a reference to a TV show called ''[http://www.ukgameshows.com/ukgs/The_Golden_Shot The Golden Shot]''. Furman is showing his age a bit here. Out of context, it sounds incredibly rude.
*"It'll take more than Five Alive to pep me up"—{{w|Five Alive|Juice drink}} still widely available in the UK. Contains 42% fruit juice, 22% sugar and several artificial sweeteners. Yum!
*"Talk about close shaves...I was so impressed, I bought the company!"—Advertising slogan used on Remington Electric Shavers.
*"The needs of the many must take precedence over the needs of the one, Captain"—A generic term, but in this case referencing the {{w|Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan|greatest sci-fi film of all time}}.
*"Autobots must be warned of Quintessons' university challenge"—British {{w|University Challenge|quiz show}}, pitting university students against each other. Oxbridge colleges (who compete individually) usually won.
*"It'll be winner takes all if we don't make our home run now!"—Another {{w|Winner Takes All (game show)|quiz show}}, notable for having a top prize of £1000 (oooh) and for helping to catch a rapist. Yes.

====Part 3====
*"I'm afraid it's time for closedown"—The name given to the period during the bad old days when TV stations would shut down for the night. Abandoned once they realised that people might want to watch TV after midnight, and that they had plenty of music/news/repeats to show them.
*"Only when Bob says ''Opportunity Knocks!''"—A sort of precursor to ''America/Britain's Got Talent'', {{w|Opportunity Knocks (UK TV series)|this show}} aired off and on from the 50s through to the 90s. Wreck-Gar is referencing the period when it was hosted by British National Treasure {{w|Bob Monkhouse}}.
*"Until then we follow the Green Cross Code"—The name given to the act of stopping at the side of the road and checking both ways before crossing. The original Green Cross Code man was David Prowse, who later went on to complain about being dubbed in [[Star Wars (film)|some film]].
*"Run silent. Run deep. You know it makes sense."—The former refers to the {{w|Run Silent, Run Deep|1958 film of the same name}}. The latter, meanwhile, was one of several catchphrases associated with British TV programme ''{{w|Only Fools and Horses}}''.
*"Yeah. Why slowmo...when you can Flymo!"—Tagline to an advert for a really nice [http://www.flymo.com/ lawn mower] that was much faster than contemporary designs.
*"Need extra strength Daz. Reaches the parts of engines other powers can't stir!"—[http://www.dazwhite.co.uk/ Washing detergent] that is so much more powerful than normal ones that it had adverts proclaiming this power to all. Currently uses old soap stars (you see the joke!) instead.
*"Points mean prizes!"—Catchphrase used by {{w|Bruce Forsyth}} - British National Treasure, when he presented ''{{w|Play Your Cards Right}}'', a quiz show based on the US show ''Card Sharks''.

====Part 4====
*"She flies through the air with the greatest of ease!"—Lyrics from the 19th century song, "{{w|The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze}}". Wreck-Gar was probably more familiar with one of the many cover versions.
*"I'm going to have to offer that to the other side!"—"The other side" was a typical way of referring to the opposing team on various television quiz shows, such as ''{{w|University Challenge}}''.
*"Today, the Wish You Were Here Team visits..."—''{{w|Wish You Were Here...?}}'' was a long-running British travel programme.

====Part 5====
*Wreck-Gar's extended exchange with another Junkion is done in the style of football (that's soccer to the colonials in the reading audience) commentation, after the British television show ''{{w|The Big Match}}''. Wreck-Gar and his companion refer to each other with the names of the show's presenters, {{w|Brian Moore (commentator)|Brian Moore}} and {{w|Jimmy Hill}}, respectively.

===Foreign Localization===

'''Swedish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Rymdpiraterna'''" ("The Space Pirates")
====Swedish Junkionisms====
*Many of Wreck-Gar and the Junkions' references were localized to Swedish equivalents.
=====Part 1=====
* "Det här är då '''inte''' ''Lagens änglar''!"—''L.A. Law<nowiki>'</nowiki>s'' Swedish title.
*"Inget fungerar bättre än Alvedon..."—Swedish brand name for [https://www.alvedon.se/ headache tablets].
*"Smaken som golvar dig!"—Reference to an ad for [https://www.serietidningsreklam.se/2022/08/12/smaken-som-golvar-dig Rocky], a type of candy bar referencing the {{w|Rocky|Stallone film}}.
*"Idag på ''sköna söndag''..."—{{w|lang=sv|Sköna söndag|Life-style program}} that ran from 1986 to 1996, including showing off fashion.
*"Cybertron var överst på Quintessonernas ''Tracks'' topp 40."—{{w|lang=sv|Tracks|Radio program}} from 1984-2010 where listeners could vote on the five best songs of what was currently charting.
=====Part 2=====
*"Pepsodent tar bort den gula hinnan."—Reference to a 1975 ad campaign for {{w|Pepsodent}} toothpaste featuring tennis player {{w|Björn Borg}}.
*"Nu krävs det mer än Sun-Maid för att pigga upp mig"—{{w|Sun-Maid}} is a brand of raisins.
*"Dom där tänderna ser ut att vara i behov av lite Super Gel: läckert blå, häftigt god."—Referencing the [https://www.serietidningsreklam.se/2015/09/20/pepsodent-gel-tjejer-och-killar-kalle-anka-co-1991-16 tagline] for a now discontinued brand of children's toothpaste.
*"Nej, Jim - Flertalets behov väger tyngre än behovet hos den enskilde"—Still referencing ''Star Trek II'', but made clearer by the addition of the name [[James T. Kirk|Jim]] to the line.
=====Part 3=====
*"Det är bättre att göra som ''Das Boot''."—Referencing the 1981 {{w|Das Boot|film}}.
*"Scotty - vi behöver kraft till motorerna"—Another ''Star Trek'' reference, though this one is more associated with {{w|Star Trek: The Original Series|''The Original Series''}}.
*"Lagt kort ligger!"—Referencing the {{w|lang=sv|Lagt kort ligger (TV-program)|Swedish version}} of ''Card Sharks''.
=====Part 4=====
*"Noll till hundra på 2,6 sekunder. Andra modeller kommer inte i närheten av samma prestanda."—Generic reference to car advertisments.
*"Idag kommer ''Ett med naturen''..."—{{w|lang=sv|Ett med naturen|Nature program}} that ran from 1983 to 1996.
=====Part 5=====
*"Det är dags för den här veckans '''tiotusenkronorsfråga!'''"— Referencing the game show ''{{w|lang=sv|Kvitt eller dubbelt}}'', alternately known as ''Tiotusenkronorsfrågan'', which was based on the American ''{{w|The $64,000 Question}}''.
*Vi är redo att sända till alla planeter som har betalat sin licens, herr ordförande..."—Like the UK, Sweden also had a {{w|lang=sv|TV-avgift i Sverige|TV license fee}}, at least until 2019, when it was replaced by a tax.

{{stub|More references are likely there that could be easier spotted by someone who was there for them.}}

===Covers (6)===
*'''UK issue #182 cover:''' A pair of Quintessons hold Cybertron in their clutches, by [[Lee Sullivan]].
*'''UK issue #183 cover:''' Arcee is shot, by [[Andrew Wildman]].
*'''UK issue #184 cover:''' Rodimus Prime is confused, by [[Jerry Paris]].
*'''UK issue #185 cover:''' Soundwave is ambushed by the Quintessons, by Andrew Wildman.
*'''UK issue #186 cover:''' Metroplex's fist, by Andrew Wildman.
*'''UK issue #187 cover:''' Ghyrik takes the Matrix from Rodimus Prime, by Andrew Wildman.
<gallery>
File:MarvelUK-182.jpg|'''UK issue #182'''
File:MarvelUK-183.jpg|'''UK issue #183'''
File:MarvelUK-184.jpg|'''UK issue #184'''
File:MarvelUK-185.jpg|'''UK issue #185'''
File:MarvelUK-186.jpg|'''UK issue #186'''
File:MarvelUK-187.jpg|'''UK issue #187'''
</gallery>

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

===Reprints===
*'''''[[Transformers Collected Comics]]'' #17 cover:''' Reuse of issue #182's cover.
*'''''[[Transformers: Space Pirates]]'' TPB:''' a Quintesson (probably Lord Kledji) oversees Hot Rod and Arcee injured, Wreck-Gar being attacked by Sharkticons and Metroplex awakening on Earth, by [[Geoff Senior]] and [[Oliver Harud]].
*'''''[[The Transformers: Best of UK: Space Pirates|Best of UK: Space Pirates]]'' #1 cover A:''' Wreck-Gar vs Sharkticons, art by [[Robby Musso]] and colours by [[Kieran Oats]].
*'''''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' #1 cover RI:''' Wreck-Gar is dragged under by Sharkticons, from issue #182, page 11, panel 1.
*'''''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' #2 cover A:''' Soundwave leads the Decepticons into battle, art by [[Dan Khanna]] and colours by [[Liam Shalloo]].
*'''''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' #2 cover RI:''' Soundwave and his generals aboard Astrotrain, from page 2 of issue #185.
<gallery>
File:Tfcolcom17.jpg|'''''Collected Comics'' #17'''
File:SpacePiratesTitanTPB.jpg|'''''Space Pirates'' TPB'''
File:IDWBofUKSP1A.jpg|'''''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' #1 cover A'''
File:IDWBofUKSP1RI.jpg|'''''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' #1 cover RI'''
File:IDWBofUKSP2A.jpg|'''''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' #2 cover A'''
File:IDWBofUKSP2RI.jpg|'''''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' #2 cover RI'''
</gallery>
*'''''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' #3 cover A:''' Metroplex vs Quintessons, art by [[Nick Roche]] and colours by [[Chris Carter]].
*'''''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' #3 cover RI:''' Metroplex vs Quintessons, from the final page of issue #186.
*'''''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' TPB cover:''' Reuse of the cover of ''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' issue #1.
*'''''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' TPB cover:''' Reuse of the cover of ''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' issue #2.
*'''''[[The Transformers: Best of UK]]'' Omnibus:''' [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] and [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] tear into the [[Wreckers]] and [[Mayhem Attack Squad|Mayhems]], crop of the cover to ''[[The Transformers: Best of UK: Time Wars|Best of UK: Time Wars]]'' issue #4.
*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 14: Space Pirates''''' [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] and a scene of Blaster and Wheeljack strung up
*'''''[[The Transformers Classics UK]]'' [[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 6|Volume 6]] cover:''' General [[Ghyrik]], a [[Quintesson]] Judge, [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], [[Galvatron II|Galvatron]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]], [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], [[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]] and [[Snarler]]. Art and colors by [[Andrew Wildman]].
<gallery>
File:IDWBofUKSP3A.jpg|'''''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' #3 cover A'''
File:IDWBofUKSP3RI.jpg|'''''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' #3 cover RI'''
File:IDWBofUKSP.jpg|'''''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' TPB'''
File:IDWBofUKSPTPB.jpg|'''''Best of UK: Space Pirates'' TPB'''
File:IDWBofUKOmnibus.jpg|'''''Best of UK'' Omnibus'''
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v14.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 14;''''' cover art by [[Don Figueroa]], [[Dougie Braithwaite]] and [[Dave Harwood]]
File:ClassicsUK6.jpg|'''''Classics UK'' Volume 6 TPB'''
</gallery>

[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

User:Some Dweeb/sandbox/Atlantic

2026-03-19T22:45:16Z

Some Dweeb:

This is a table for Atlantic Publishing's Swedish printing of [[Marvel Comics]]' ''The Transformers''.

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%" align="center"
! scope="col" style="width: 5px;" | Cover date
! scope="col" | Cover
! scope="col" | Contents
! scope="col" | Profiles
! scope="col" style="width: 200px;" | Release date
|-
|1/1987
|[[File:MarvelUS-01.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #1 "[[The Transformers (issue)|The Transformers]]" #2 "[[Power Play!]]" 
|Profiles: N/A
|[[January|??/01]]/[[1987]]
|-
|2/1987
|[[File:MarvelUS-03.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #3 "[[Prisoner of War!]]" #4 "[[The Last Stand]]" 
|Profiles: N/A
|[[March 12|12/03]]/1987
|-
|3/1987
|[[File:MarvelUS-06.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #5 "[[The New Order]]" #6 "[[The Worse of Two Evils!]]"
|Profiles: [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] [[Blades (G1)|Blades]]
|[[May 7|7/05]]/1987
|-
|4/1987
|[[File:MarvelUS-07.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #7 "[[Warrior School!]]" #8 "[[Repeat Performance!]]"
|Profiles:[[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]<ref>Blitzwing and Bluestreak's bio texts were accidentally switched around.</ref>
|[[June 18|18/06]]/1987
|-
|5/1987
|[[File:MarvelUS-10.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #9 "[[DIS-Integrated Circuits!]]" #10 "[[The Next Best Thing to Being There!]]"
|Profiles: [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]
|[[August 6|06/08]]/1987
|-
|6/1987
|[[File:MarvelUS-12.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #11 "[[Brainstorm!]]" #12 "[[Prime Time!]]" 
|Profiles: [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]
|[[September 24|24/09]]/1987
|-
|7/1987
|[[File:TFUMarvel2-full.JPG|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #13 "[[Shooting Star!]]" #14 "[[Rock and Roll-Out!]]"
|Profiles:[[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]]
|[[November 26|26/11]]/1987
|-
|1/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-18.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #17 "[[The Smelting Pool!]]" #18 "[[The Bridge to Nowhere!]]" 
|Profiles: [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]]
|[[January 21|21/01]]/1988
|-
|2/1988
|[[File:TFTM1.jpg|100px]]
|''[[Transformers: The Movie (Marvel comic)|The Transformers: The Movie]]'' issues: #1 "[[The Planet-Eater!]]" #2 "[[Judgment Day!]]" #3 "[[The Final Battle!]]"
|Profiles: N/A
|[[February 19|19/02]]/1988
|-
|3/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-19.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #19 "[[Command Performances!]]" #20 "[[Showdown!]]"
|Profiles: [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] [[Superion (G1)|Superion]]
|[[March 17|17/03]]/1988
|-
|4/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-21.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #21 "[[Aerialbots over America!]] #22 "[[Heavy Traffic!]]"
|Profiles: [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]]
|[[April 14|14/04]]/1988
|-
|5/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-24.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #23 "[[Decepticon Graffiti!]]" #24 "[[Afterdeath!]]"
|Profiles: [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]]
|[[May 11|11/05]]/1988
|-
|6/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-27.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #25 "[[Gone but Not Forgotten!]]" #26 "[[Funeral for a Friend]]" #27 "[[King of the Hill!]]"
|Profiles: N/A
|[[June 9|09/06]]/1988
|-
|7/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-29.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #28 "[[Mechanical Difficulties!]]" #29 "[[Crater Critters]]"
|Profiles:[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] [[Gears (G1)|Gears]]
|[[July 7|07/06]]/1988
|-
|7 1/2 /1988
|[[File:MarvelHeadmasters-1.jpg|100px]]
|''[[The Transformers: Headmasters]]'' issues: #1 "[[Ring of Hate!]]" #2 "[[Broken Glass!]]" #3 "[[Love and Steel!]]" #4 "[[Brothers in Armor!!]]"
|Profiles: [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] [[Kranix (G1)|Kranix]] [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] Rodimus Prime
|[[July|08]]/1988
|-
|8/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-30.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #30 "[[The Cure!]]" #31 "[[Buster Witwicky and the Car Wash of Doom]]"
|Profiles:[[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] [[Groove (G1)|Groove]]
|[[August 11|11/08]]/1988
|-
|9/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-32.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #32 "[[Used Autobots]]" #35 "[[Child's Play (issue)|Child's Play]]"
|Profiles:[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]]
|[[September 8|08/09]]/1988
|-
|9 1/2 /1988
|[[File:JoeTF4.jpg|100px]]
|''[[G.I. Joe and the Transformers]]'' issues: #1 "[[Blood on the Tracks]]" #2 "[[Power Struggle]]" #3 [[Ashes, Ashes...]]" #4 "[[...All Fall Down!]]"
|Profiles: N/A
|09/1988
|-
|10/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-16.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #36 "[[Spacehikers]]" #37 "[[Toy Soldiers!]]"
|Profiles: [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]
|[[October 6|06/10]]/1988
|-
|11/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-38.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #38 "[[Trial by Fire!]]" #39 "[[The Desert Island of Space!]]"
|Profiles: [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]]
|[[November 3|03/11]]/1988
|-
|12/1988
|[[File:MarvelUS-41.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #40 "[[Pretender to the Throne!]]" #41 "[[Totaled!]]"
|Profiles: [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]
|[[December 1|01/12]]/1988
|-
|1/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-42.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #42 "[[People Power!]]" #43 "[[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|The Big Broadcast of 2006]]"
|Profiles: [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] [[Octane]]
|[[January 12|12/01]]/[[1989]]
|-
|2/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-44.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #44 "[[The Cosmic Carnival]]" #45 "[[Monstercon from Mars!]]"
|Profiles: [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] [[Outback (G1)|Outback]] [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]
|[[February 9|9/02]]/1989
|-
|3/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-15.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #15 "[[I, Robot-Master!]]" #16 "[[Plight of the Bumblebee!]]"
|Profiles: [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] [[Eject (G1)|Eject]] [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]]<ref>The mention of Bumblebee in Huffer's profile was changed to Goldbug.</ref> [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]
|[[March 16|16/03]]/1989
|-
|4/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-47.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #46 "[[Ca$h and Car-nage!]]" #47 "[[Club Con!]]"
|Profiles: [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]] [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]
|[[April 13|13/04]]/1989
|-
|5/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-49.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #48 "[[The Flames of Boltax!]]" #49 "[[Cold War!]]" UK #145 "[[Kup's Story!]]"
|Profiles: [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]]
|[[May 11|11/05]]/1989
|-
|6/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-50.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #50 "[[Dark Star]]" UK #188 "[[Firebug!]]"
|Profiles: N/A
|[[June 8|08/06]]/1989
|-
|7/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-52.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: UK #96-97 "[[Prey!]]" UK #98 "[[...The Harder They Die!]]" UK #99 "[[Under Fire!]] UK #125 & [[Action Force (comic)|Action Force]] #24-27 "[[Ancient Relics!]]
|Profiles: N/A
|[[July 6|06/07]]/1989
|-
|8/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-51.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #51 "[[The Man in the Machine!]]" #52 "[[Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?]]"
|Profiles: [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] [[Ramhorn (G1)|Ramhorn]] [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]
|[[August 17|17/08]]/1989
|-
|9/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-53.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #53 "[[Recipe for Disaster!]]" #54 "[[King Con!]]"
|Profiles: [[Apeface|Apeface]] [[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]] [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] [[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]]
|[[September 14|14/09]]/1989
|-
|10/1989
|[[File:MarvelUS-55.jpg|100px]]
|''The Transformers'' issues: #56 "[[The Interplanetary Wrestling Championship!]]" #57 "[[Back from the Dead]]"
|Profiles: [[Headstrong (G1)|Headstrong]] [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hotspot]] [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]] [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]] [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]]
|[[October 12|12/10]]/1989
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

Egmont

2026-03-14T21:31:26Z

Some Dweeb:

The '''Egmont Group''' (Known as '''Gutenbergshus Group''' until [[1992]]) is a Danish media company that publishes books and magazines, most notably Disney comics and {{w|the Phantom}}. Egmont published a [[Transformers (Egmont)|Transformers]] magazine in [[Russia]]n; its [[Finland|Finnish]] division published a translation of Dreamwave's ''Transformers: Armada'' series in 2003 <ref>https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformers#Egmont</ref> and in Swedish; [[IDW Publishing|IDW's]] ''[[Transformers: Movie Prequel|Movie Prequel]]'' series was published in 2008 as part of the comics magazine ''Banzai!''<ref>https://seriewikin.serieframjandet.se/index.php/Banzai!</ref> and [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 franchise)|''Robots in Disguise'']] comics were published in the April 2017 and June 2018 issues of the series ''Comic Pack''. <ref>https://seriewikin.serieframjandet.se/index.php/Comic_Pack</ref>

Egmont has also bought out various other publishers that also happened to print ''Transformers'' comics, such as [[Fleetway]], [[Atlantic förlags AB|Atlantic]] and [[Full Stop|Schibsted]].

==External links==
* [http://www.egmont.ru/search/?q=Трансформеры Transformers products] (Russian)

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Comics]]
[[Category:Companies]]

Egmont

2026-03-13T11:39:21Z

Some Dweeb:

The '''Egmont Group''' (Known as '''Gutenbergshus Group''' until [[1992]]) is a Danish media company that publishes books and magazines, most notably Disney comics and {{w|the Phantom}}. Egmontpublished a [[Transformers (Egmont)|Transformers]] magazine in [[Russia]]n; its Finnish division published a translation of Dreamwave's ''Transformers: Armada'' series in 2003 <ref>https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformers#Egmont</ref> and in Swedish; [[IDW Publishing|IDW's]] ''[[Transformers: Movie Prequel|Movie Prequel]]'' series was published in 2008 as part of the comics magazine ''Banzai!''<ref>https://seriewikin.serieframjandet.se/index.php/Banzai!</ref> and [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 franchise)|''Robots in Disguise'']] in the April 2017 and June 2018 issues of the series ''Comic Pack''. <ref>https://seriewikin.serieframjandet.se/index.php/Comic_Pack</ref>

Egmont has also bought out various other publishers that also happened to print ''Transformers'' comics, such as [[Fleetway]], [[Atlantic förlags AB|Atlantic]] and [[Full Stop|Schibsted]].

==External links==
* [http://www.egmont.ru/search/?q=Трансформеры Transformers products] (Russian)

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Comics]]
[[Category:Companies]]

Fleetway

2026-03-13T11:29:18Z

Some Dweeb:

{{picsneeded|Logo}}

'''Fleetway''' was a [[United Kingdom|British]] comic book publisher, home to such iconic British comics characters as {{w|Dan Dare}} and {{w|Judge Dredd}}.

In the mid-1990s, Fleetway secured the license to publish an ultimately short-lived [[Transformers: Generation 2 (Fleetway)|''Generation 2'' comic]] in the UK.

In 1991, Fleetway was acquired by the Danish media conglomerate [[Egmont]]; in 2002, Egmont phased out the Fleetway name.

{{stub}}

==External links==
* {{w|Fleetway Publications}} at Wikipedia

[[Category:Companies]]

Susan Hoffman

2026-03-10T12:30:52Z

Some Dweeb:

{{disambig3|Susan}}
:''Susan Hoffman is a [[human]] from the [[Marvel Comics continuity|Marvel portion]] of the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:SusanHoffman1.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|This never would've happened if Winston had been there.]]
Doctor '''Susan Hoffman''' is an archaeologist and explorer. She doesn't like to dilly-dally and prefers to get directly to the point on all matters.

Strictly by happenstance, many of her expeditions have thrown her into contact with the Transformers, much to her dismay. While she does get along with the [[Autobot]]s, the fact that their intergalactic war with the [[Decepticon]]s continually interrupts her next big discoveries drives her up the wall.

==Fiction==
===Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics===
{{noteukexclusive|Susan}}
[[File:Susan scarlett.jpg|thumb|left|Susan is comforted during her post-traumatic stress.]]
While exploring ancient Roman tunnels beneath the streets of [[London]], Dr. Susan Hoffman encountered an ancient relic of a decidedly different kind than she was expecting—a deranged [[Straxus (G1)|clone of Megatron]], who lashed out, collapsing a portion of the tunnels and killing the rest of her exploration team.

Fleeing to the surface, Hoffman called upon the anti-terrorist squad [[Action Force (team)|Action Force]] and ventured back into the tunnels with them, attacking what they believe to be the clone, but which was in actuality the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobot]] [[Blades (G1)|Blades]], investigating matters himself. When "Megatron" then attacked and a larger battle erupted between him, Action Force, the Autobots, and the mechanoid [[Centurion (Marvel)|Centurion]], Hoffman fled. {{storylink|Ancient Relics!}}

[[File:Susanjoycindy.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|Short skirts and big guns are a winning combination.]]
Some time later, investigating the unnatural eruption of [[Mount Verona]], Susan discovered the author of the event, [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], entombed in lava within the volcano alongside his constant foe, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]]. Susan showcased her find on Ladies' Night, a TV vehicle of reporter [[Joy Meadows]], which caught the attention of viewer [[Cindy Newell]]—both Joy and Cindy had also encountered the Transformers before, and Cindy recognised Galvatron from the previous battle that ended with the volcano's eruption.

Cindy headed for the volcano, arriving at the same time as two other groups who had witnessed the broadcast—the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]], charged with destroying Galvatron, and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] and the [[Throttlebot]]s, who ultimately chose not to act on the possibility of rescuing Ultra Magnus for fear Galvatron would be saved as well. Susan, Cindy and Joy instead took matters into their own hands, commandeering some military vehicles from the army cordon surrounding the volcano and attacking the Combaticons with them.

Susan, in particular, sought to save the greatest archaeological find of her career, and sent jeeps loaded with explosives careening down the mountain into [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] and [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]], but a misjudged tank blast from the other two women saw Susan caught in one of the explosions and captured by Onslaught. Impressed by her fortitude, Onslaught considered it a pity to have to kill her, but was prevented from making good on his threat by the return of the Throttlebots, who saw off the Decepticons. {{storylink|Ladies' Night (issue)|Ladies' Night}}

Dr. Hoffman's last recorded encounter with the Transformers happened while she and her assistants were in search of the [[Juluth]] tribe. The mountains they were searching also happened to be where the corpse of the Decepticon [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] had crashed after he had attempted to absorb the energies of the legendary [[Underbase]], only to overload and self-destruct. The Juluth tribe thought the giant walking robot corpse shooting everything was a sign from the heavens and attempted to sacrifice Hoffman and her assistants to appease it. Hoffman herself was feistier than her captors had anticipated however, and with a swift kick to the shin of her detainer managed to escape. She didn't get far before she crossed paths with the [[Triggerbot]] [[Override (G1)|Override]], and hopped onto his motorcycle mode. Hoffman then doubled back, and with Override's help drove away the Juluth before they had a chance to kill the rest of her group. Though the Triggerbots were left forlorn afterwards, as they had failed in the mission they had actually come to Earth for, Hoffman insisted they had done good in helping her team. {{storylink|Race with the Devil}}
{{--}}

==Related characters==
===Assistants===
[[File:TransformersGhostbusters1.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Who ya gonna call?]]
Dr. Hoffman's assistants include three scientists with a tendency to be involved with paranormal activity and some random chick.

The four assistants accompanied archaeologist Dr. Susan Hoffman on an expedition for the Juluth tribe. They were soon greeted by the reanimated corpse of [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]]. The Juluth tribe considered the giant walking robot zombie that was screaming and destroying everything to be a sign from the heavens, so they figured sacrifices were in order. All four of Dr. Hoffman's assistants were taken hostage by the tribesmen and tied to the ground, prepared to be stabbed through the heart.

Luckily, while this was happening, the Triggerbots arrived and sorted things out with the undead robot. Override split off from his group to ensure that the nearby humans were safe, and drove away the Juluth just as they were about to begin their ritual. Susan thanked the Autobots for their help, though actually untying the assistants slipped the group's mind until one of them called out for additional help. {{storylink|Race with the Devil}}

When asked about the identity of these mysterious assistants, [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] responded by playing a garbled clip of a ''very'' familiar theme song. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime|Bee's Backtalk}}

==Notes==
*[[Simon Furman]] originally based Susan Hoffman on {{w|Susanna Hoffs}} from [[the Bangles]]. For the [[Ladies' Night (issue)|cover of "Ladies' Night"]] she was drawn to more resemble Susanna.<ref>[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 4]]:
"Susan Hoffman is Susanna Hoffs from [American pop/rock group] the Bangles" reveals Furman. "That's how I always visualised her. Later on, Lee Sullivan really got that and drew her very much like Susanna Hoffs for a cover [issue #137]"</ref>
*Three of the four assistants are obviously meant to be the [[Ghostbusters]]: they resemble the ''Real Ghostbusters'' animation models for [[Egon Spengler]], [[Peter Venkman]] and [[Ray Stantz]]. The female assistant isn't drawn to resemble [[Janine Melnitz]], their secretary, and obviously isn't [[Winston Zeddemore]], so it's uncertain who she's meant to be. ''The Real Ghostbusters'' had a comic being published by Marvel UK at the time "[[Race with the Devil]]" was printed in ''Transformers'', so the appearances of Hoffman's assistants may have been an in-joke by artist [[Andrew Wildman]], who worked on both books.
*When [[John-Paul Bove]] coloured "Race with the Devil" for ''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]'', he gave 'Egon' blond hair in line with the ''Real Ghostbusters'' look and the unnamed woman the same hair colour as Janine.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hoffman, Susan}}
[[Category:Archaeologists]]
[[Category:Comic-only humans]]
[[Category:European-original characters]]
[[Category:Marvel Generation 1 humans]]

The Bangles

2026-03-10T12:29:31Z

Some Dweeb:

:''The Bangles are musicians from the [[Marvel Comics continuity|Marvel portion]] of the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] [[continuity family]].''

[[File:The Bangles.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]

'''The Bangles''' are a band.

==Fiction==
===Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics===
The Bangles were planned to play at the [[Municipal Stadium]] a week after [[Brick Springhorn]] and the Tenth Avenue Band. {{storylink|Rock and Roll-Out!}}

==Notes==
*[[Susan Hoffman]] was originally based on {{w|Susanna Hoffs}}, a member of this band.

==External links==
*{{w|The Bangles}} at Wikipedia
*[http://www.thebangles.com The Bangles' website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bangles}}
[[Category:Bands]]
[[Category:Generation 1 subgroups]]
[[Category:Marvel Generation 1]]
[[Category:Real-world cultural references]]

User:Some Dweeb/sandbox/European Marvel G1 Publishers

2026-03-09T10:52:01Z

Some Dweeb:

====Atlantic (1987-1991, 1993)====
Atlantic Förlags AB was a major comics publisher in Sweden, holding the license for [[Marvel Comics]] titles from 1978 to 1984.<ref>https://seriewikin.serieframjandet.se/index.php/Atlantic_F%C3%B6rlags_AB</ref>

Their Transformers output consisted of the equivalent of two American issues and a few [[The Transformers Universe (Marvel)|The Transformers Universe]] profiles per issue. Notably, this was the only Nordic publisher to reprint the US Marvel run in its entirety, along with reprinting some UK material due to catching up with the American edition. They printed a special issue, presumably to tie in with [[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|''Generation 2'']] in 1993 that reprinted four random issues of the original Marvel series. <ref>https://seriewikin.serieframjandet.se/index.php/Transformers</ref>

They were bought out by Egmont in 2000.
====Semic (1987-1991)====
Semic was a major Swedish comic publisher, notable for publishing the Phantom, along with translations of both Marvel and [[DC Comics|DC]] before its Scandinavian comics publishing arm was sold to Egmont in 1997. Its Polish arm, TM-Semic, published isues #26-75 of Marvel's series in Finland and Poland.<ref>https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformers#Semic</ref><ref>https://seriewikin.serieframjandet.se/index.php/TM-Semic</ref>

Its imprint for American Superhero comics, Satellitförlaget, also published a translated version of [[Action Force (comic)|Action Force]].<ref>https://seriewikin.serieframjandet.se/index.php/Semic</ref>

====Full Stop (2003)====
Full Stop Media, usually a publisher of manga, put out a Swedish translation of [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave's]] ''[[Transformers: Armada (Dreamwave)|Transformers: Armada]]'' series, also featuring their [[Prime Directive]] and half of the [[Transformers: The War Within|War Within]] miniseries.<ref>https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformers#Egmont</ref>

Its parent company Schibsted, also publisher of Marvel titles (Read: [[Spider-Man]] and [[X-Men]]) at one point left the Swedish market in 2010 and its remaining titles were continued or cancelled by Egmont.<ref>https://seriewikin.serieframjandet.se/index.php/Schibsted_F%C3%B6rlagen</ref>

====Egmont (2003-?)====
Egmont is a Danish media corporation, notable for currently publishing Disney comics and the Phantom; its Finnish division published a translation of Dreamwave's ''Transformers: Armada'' series in 2003. <ref>https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformers#Egmont</ref>

[[IDW Publishing|IDW's]] ''[[Transformers: Movie Prequel|Movie Prequel]]'' series was published in 2008 as part of the comics magazine ''Banzai!''<ref>https://seriewikin.serieframjandet.se/index.php/Banzai!</ref>

The April 2017 and June 2018 of series ''Comic Pack'' focused on [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 franchise)|the 2015 ''Robots in Disguise'' series]]. <ref>https://seriewikin.serieframjandet.se/index.php/Comic_Pack</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 3

2026-02-23T22:40:51Z

Some Dweeb:

{{Comicstory
|series=joevstf1|issueno=3
|prev=G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 2
|next=G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 4
|title=
|image=GI Joe vs Transformers 3a.jpg
|caption=A pissed-off Prime.
|publisher=[[Image Comics]] [[Devil's Due Press]]
|date=[[September 10]], 2003
|coverdate=August 2003
|writer=[[Josh Blaylock]]
|penciler=[[Mike S. Miller]]
|inker=[[Cory Hamscher]]
|colorist=[[Lynx Studio]]
|letterer=[[Dreamer Design]]
|editor=
|graphic design=[[Mike Norton]]
|continuity=[[G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers continuity]]
}}
'''G.I. Joe's first battle.'''

==Synopsis==
International arms dealer [[Destro]] is satisfied with the [[S.N.A.K.E.]]s developed by [[Cobra]] from [[Transformer]] technology, along with [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], modified to host a human pilot. As a test of the hardware, Destro announced he will personally pilot Soundwave in the planned assault on the [[SPS Research Facility|SPS Center]]. [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], trapped at [[Cobra Commander]]'s side, whispers a degree of approval over Destro's assertiveness.

At the G.I. Joe base, [[Stalker (G.I. Joe)|Stalker]] briefs the team on the [[SPS Satellite|USSPS]], an energy collection satellite that, according to [[Mercer]], Cobra plans on stealing by attacking its ground control at the [[SPS Research Facility]].

Within Soundwave, Destro leads the attack. [[Firefly]] and [[Zartan]] also come along, but are hidden from sight using stealth technology. The [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|cassettes]] are ejected from Soundwave to begin the takeover, but [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] and [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] are taken down by fire from [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joes]] who arrived earlier to fortify the facility. [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] passes through the gunfire, but inside, [[Snake-Eyes]] decapitates the bird.

On the ground, Cobra-controlled [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] and [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] attack the facility on the ground, but [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] intercepts the two. [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] transforms to protect [[Flash (G.I. Joe)|Flash]] from [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]. A U.S. military tank mistakes Bumblebee for one of the hostiles, and fires a rocket at the Transformer. Luckily, Bumblebee '''''catches the rocket''' (damn)'' and throws it at Rumble. Watching Wheeljack fight Soundwave, the humans question which robots are on which side.

Inside, Zartan's invisibility allows him to easily disable [[Mutt (G.I. Joe)|Mutt]], [[Junkyard (G.I. Joe)|Junkyard]], and [[Quick Kick]]. Elsewhere, Firefly plants several explosives. When the Joes wake up, they figure out Zartan's trick and give chase, but find themselves fighting Ravage.

Once Zartan and Firefly get clear with the materials they were able to steal, [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] is remotely instructed to withdraw—luckily saving the lives of Quick Kick and Mutt. But the two have more trouble as the building they're in explodes.

Later, Mutt and Quick Kick are reported to be alive, but just barely. Wheeljack and Bumblebee make peace with G.I. Joe. Under heavy guard, Wheeljack looks at the image of Soundwave's broadcast to the world when [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] reverse-hacked Cobra's computer systems. Wheeljack decodes the text accompanying the image to find Cobra's whereabouts. Wheeljack interfaces with the Joes' computer and sends a computer message back to Cobra.

At [[Cobra Island]], the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]], under Cobra control, are assembling machinery, when they suddenly change their focus: Cobra's reprogramming has been undone, freeing the captive Transformers. Worse for Cobra, Optimus Prime has also been freed of his mental restraints.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (33)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (34)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (47)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (48)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (60)
|c2=
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (4)
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (6)
* [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]](36)
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (37)
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] (38)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (39)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (40)
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (56)
* [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (57)
* [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (58)
* [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (59)

|h3=[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]|c3=
{{collist|2|
* [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]] (8)
* [[Lady Jaye]] (9)
* ? (10) (screen display only)
* [[Snake-Eyes]] (11)
* ? (12) (screen display only)
* ? (13) (screen display only)
* ? (14) (screen display only)
* [[Gung-Ho (G.I. Joe)|Gung-Ho]] (15)
* [[Roadblock (G.I. Joe)|Roadblock]] (16)
* [[Rock 'n Roll]] (17)
* [[Quick Kick]] (18)
* ? (19) (screen display only)
* ? (20) (screen display only)
* ? (21) (screen display only)
* ? (22) (screen display only)
* [[Shipwreck]] (23) (screen display only)
* [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]] (24)
* ? (25)
* [[Dial-Tone]] (26)
* [[Stalker (G.I. Joe)|Stalker]] (27)
* [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] (28)
* [[Recondo]] (29) (screen display only)
* [[Falcon (G.I. Joe)|Falcon]] (30) (screen display only)
* ? (31) (screen display only)
* [[Flash (G.I. Joe)|Flash]] (41)
* [[Sci-Fi]] (42)
* [[Bazooka (G.I. Joe)|Bazooka]] (43)
* [[Mercer]] (44)
* [[Scarlett]] (45)
* [[Clutch (G.I. Joe)|Clutch]] (46)
* [[Mutt (G.I. Joe)|Mutt]] (49)
* [[Junkyard (G.I. Joe)|Junkyard]] (50)
* [[Cover Girl]] (51)
* [[Breaker (G.I. Joe)|Breaker]] (52)
* [[Blowtorch]] (53)
* [[Doc (G.I. Joe)|Doc]] (54)
* [[Mainframe (G.I. Joe)|Mainframe]] (55)}}

|h4=[[Cobra]]|c4=
* [[Iron Grenadier]]s (1)
* [[Destro]] (2)
* [[Doctor Mindbender]] (3)
* [[Cobra Commander]] (5)
* [[Techno-Viper]]s (7)
* [[Firefly]] (32)
* [[Zartan]] (35)
}}

==Quotes==
''*sigh*'' 
"I ''like'' him." 
"Shut up, Megatron." 
:—'''Cobra Commander''' and '''Megatron''', on Destro.

==Notes==
* At the 2006 UK Toy Fair, First4Figures revealed a statue of The Baroness and Ravage based on the art from the Convention Edition. This statue was ultimately never released [http://www.theterrordrome.com/2009/03/first-4-figures-baroness-ravage-statue-canceled/], which is sad since ''it's awesome''.
* Quick Kick and Mutt being, in all probability, killed in the explosion, but then reported to have survived off-screen later is vaguely reminiscent of Duke's survival in the ''G.I. Joe'' movie.
* The USSPS sends Microwave energy from space, which is sort-of the opposite of the Broadcast Energy Transmitter from the ''G.I. Joe'' movie.
* Mutt's dog, Junkyard, presumably died in the explosion.

===Covers (3)===
<gallery>
GI Joe vs Transformers 3a.jpg|
Image:GI Joe vs Transformers 3b.jpg|This looks [[Blood on the Tracks|kinda familiar]]
Image:GI Joe vs Transformers 3c.jpg|Someone should make a statue of this...
</gallery>
* '''Cover A:''' Prime kicking Cobra ass by [[Mike S. Miller]] / [[Lynx Studio]].
* '''Cover B:''' The Joes threaten Bumblebee by [[Mark Brooks]] / [[UDON Entertainment|UDON]].
* '''[[The Official Transformers Collectors Convention]] edition:''' Baroness with Ravage by [[Mike Norton]], limited to 1000 copies.

===Advertisements===
* Dreamer Design''
* Palisades Crimson Guard Mini Statue
* Palisades [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]] Mini Statue
* Palisades [[Zartan]] Mini Statue
* ''[[Genesis: The Art of Transformers]]''
* ''Micronauts'' #11
* ''Voltron'' #5
* ''G.I. Joe: Front Line'' #15
* ''G.I. Joe: Real American Hero'' #22
* [[G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers issue 4|''G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers'' #4]] (back cover)

===Reprints===
Other than [[G.I. Joe vs. the Transformers#Collections|collections of the full series]]
* N/A

[[Category:Devil's Due issues]]

File:100-Page-Legends-Rumors.jpg

2026-02-06T00:20:50Z

Cover to ''[[Transformers '84: Legends & Rumors 100-Page Giant]]''.
{{art|art=[[Guido Guidi]]}}
© 2021 [[IDW Publishing]] and [[Hasbro]].
[[Category:Images by Guido Guidi]]

User:Some Dweeb/sandbox/Atlantic

2026-02-05T20:37:47Z

Some Dweeb:

Crucible (Part 6): A Spark Among Embers

2026-02-02T20:38:48Z

Some Dweeb:

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: Lost Light|The Transformers: Lost Light]]'' #24
|prev=Crucible (Part 5): The Unremembering
|next=How To Say Goodbye And Mean It: Part 2
|image=LL24 cvrA.jpg
|title="Crucible (Part 6): A Spark Among Embers"
|caption=And so on to infinity.
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[September 26]], 2018
|coverdate=September 2018
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Brendan Cahill]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[David Mariotte]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era]]
}}
'''With twelve Matrices in hand, our heroes must embrace the best parts of themselves if they want to use them to stop the Functionist Council once and for all in the penultimate chapter of their adventure.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:LL24 Moon VS Cybertron.jpg|thumb|left|150px|'''CONK''']]
As the ''[[Lost Light]]'' makes straight for the Functionists' effigy of [[Primus]], darting between the giant robot's fingers, [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] hesitantly raises a question: they're planning to attack [[Vector Sigma]] by simultaneously unleashing the energies of twelve [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrices]] through the planet's twelve [[hot spot (phenomenon)|hot spot]]s... but aren't the connections between the hot spots and Vector Sigma severed thanks to the [[Functionist Council]] changing [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] into a robot mode? [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] realizes too late that they have made a huge mistake—but fortunately, a solution to their problem arrives a moment later when the [[Warren]] opens, and [[Moonbase One#2005 IDW continuity|Luna 1]] comes flying out. At [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]]'s instruction, [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] flies the moon straight into the back of "Primus's" neck, triggering an involuntary transformation back to planet mode.

[[File:LL24 Rung's Last Transformation.jpg|thumb|right|200px|So all shall stand, one shall fall.]]
Concurrently, elsewhere on the ''Lost Light,'' [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] and [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] accompany [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] to his quarters. Rung bids them to wait outside—wistfully remarking that the couple are lucky to have each other, and that they must learn to forgive themselves—then enters his room and shuts the door. Aware of the consequences of what he is about to do, Rung deletes all his patient files, and take a moment to think back on his first meeting with the departed [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] one last time. Finally, he transforms into his alternate mode, the true function of which is finally revealed as it flares to life: it is a Matrix maker. A little later, Rodimus opens the door to Rung's quarters to discover twelve Matrices... lying amidst the dust that is the remains of Rung's body, dissolved into inert [[living metal|sentio metallico]], the exertion having killed him.

Rodimus presents the Matrices to the rest of the crew, with some bad news: like the original, they are all sealed by the "[[morality lock]]" that means only those who are "pure of spirit" can open them. Even the spiritual [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] is at a bit of loss to explain exactly what that ''means,'' and the crew all start chiming in with their views on the relativity of "goodness." But there's no time for a debate; Rodimus distributes the Matrices, and each carrier is quickly flown to a hot spot on the surface of Functionist Cybertron by the [[Infinite]]s, along with some muscle to cover them. Tailgate goes to [[Rivets Field]] with [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]]; [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] to [[Vespertine Blue]] with Drift, where they confess they both feel the same way about each other; [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] to [[Automica]] with [[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]]; [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] to the [[Pious Pools]] with [[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]]; [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] to [[Vauvaire]] with [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]], who joins hands with her; [[Lug (IDW)|Lug]] to [[Sansaw Sanserre]] with [[Anode]] (with whom she shares a kiss and a declaration of love) and [[Wipe-Out]]; [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] to [[Warrior's Gate]] with [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] and [[Grimlock (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Grimlock]]; [[Roller (IDW)|Roller]] to [[Port Residua]] with Chromedome and Rewind; [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] to [[Eugenesis]] with [[Krok (G1)|Krok]]; [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] to [[Alyon]] with [[Nickel]] and [[Fulcrum]]; [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] to [[Mesmerica]] with [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]]; and lastly, Rodimus to [[Nova Point]] with [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]].

[[File:LL24 Rodimus Opens Matrix.jpg|thumb|left|250px|He's got The Tooth.]]
Unfortunately, as the [[Functionary]] armies of the Functionist Council descend and chaos erupts, none of the Matrix-carriers are able to open their Matrix. Rodimus is at a loss; he ''knows'' his crew are good people, but Megatron explains that the ''crew themselves'' don't truly believe that, and urges Rodimus to tell them so over their shared comm-line. Rodimus begins a final speech, extolling the virtues of the wonderful, screwed-up family that the crew have become, and assuring them that they are ''good enough'', but it seems it may be too late. All across Functionist Cybertron, our heroes are worn down; [[Minimus Ambus]] is blasted out of the [[Magnus Armor]]... Swerve loses an arm, requiring Misfire to hold his Matrix with him... Whirl's legs are blown off... but little by little, as Rodimus's words hit home, the Matrices begin to glow in their hands and slowly start to open. Just then, however, Rodimus is hit with a blast that takes off his left hand, requiring Megatron to take over opening his Matrix—but for all the great changes Megatron has made in his life, still the Matrix will not open for him. Out of time and options, Rodimus uses his remaining hand and his ''teeth'' to pull the Matrix open, and its energies join those of the other eleven, flooding through Cybertron, straight into Vector Sigma, obliterating the Functionist Council for good. The blast of life-energy radiates back outward from Vector Sigma, striking Luna 1 and igniting the long-dormant hot spot on its surface. Rodimus looks up at the moon, and sees, written among the light of the newborn sparks, a final message from the departed Rung: "DON'T FORGET ME."

In the aftermath of the victory, our heroes regroup, and Rodimus asks Fortress Maximus how his team even knew to come to the [[Benzene Cluster]] to aid them. Max explains that they were following instructions from ''Rodimus himself''; they have actually come from the near-future, following instructions that Rodimus is going to send to them shortly that directed them to use the Warren to travel back in time using the [[Mortilus|Necrobot]]'s cloak as a map, and crash Luna 1 into Primus's neck. Rodimus is a little confused, but happy it all worked out—whereupon Tailgate asks another question. Now that it ''has'' all worked out... now that they've finished their quest, recovered the ''Lost Light'', defeated the baddies, and ''saved the universe''... is this the end?

"Nah," Swerve pipes up. "Not quite."

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks. 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (1)
* [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] (2)
* [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (4)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus/Minimus Ambus]] (5)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (6)
* [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (7)
* [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] (8)
* [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] (9)
* [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (10)
* [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (11)
* [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (12)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Rung (G1)|Rung]]/[[Primus]] (13)
* [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (14)
* [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] (19)
* [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (20)
* [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]] (21)
* [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] (22)
* [[Grimlock (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Grimlock]] (23)
* ''[[Skids (G1)|Skids]]'' (31)
* [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (33)
* [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] (36)
* [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (39)
{{!}}}

|c2=
* [[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] (15)
* [[Krok (G1)|Krok]] (34)
* [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] (35)
* [[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] (38)
* [[Nickel]] (42)
* [[Fulcrum]] (43)

|h3=[[Functionist Council|Functionists]]|c3=
* [[Five-of-Twelve]] (27)
* [[Twelve-of-Twelve]] (28)
* [[Three-of-Twelve]] (29)
* [[One-of-Twelve]] (30)
* Multiple [[Functionary|Functionaries]] (40)
* [[Six-of-Twelve]] (44)
* [[Eleven-of-Twelve]] (45)
* [[Two-of-Twelve]] (46)

|c4=
* [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (3)
* [[Beak]] (17)
* [[Outrigger]] (18)
* [[Anode]] (24)
* [[Lug (IDW)|Lug]] (25)
* [[Wipe-Out]] (26)
* [[Flame (Marvel)|Flame]] (32)
* Multiple [[Infinite]]s (37)
* [[Roller (IDW)|Roller]] (41)

'''[[Anti-Vocationist League]]'''
* [[Clicker]] (16)
}}

==Quotes==
"Faster, '''Crankcase!''' Get us '''clear!'''" 
"If 'get us clear' is a heroic way of saying 'let's run away,' can I just say I am '''all for that?'''"
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Brainstorm'''

"I've done good things." 
"You done bad things, too." 
"Oh, God, loads."
:—'''Misfire''' and '''Krok''' discuss the former's potential for opening the Matrix

"We're '''Autobots.''' Being good's '''what we do.''' It's what '''sets us apart.'''" 
"I don't know if it's as simple as that any more—I don't know if it ever '''was.'''"
:—'''Thunderclash''' and '''Rodimus'''

"This is your co-captain speaking—and I've got a '''question.''' Have you ever wondered how we made it this far? I mean—we're not the '''smartest''' or the '''strongest''' or the '''bravest''' or the '''best.''' We don't have the '''most firepower''' or the '''largest army''' or the '''fastest ships.''' And God knows we're not '''natural bedfellows.''' I mean '''think about it'''—an archivist, a retired mnemosurgeon, a gunsmith, an archaeologist, a waste disposal expert, a quantum mechanic, a poet, a watchmaker, a barkeep... it shouldn't work—but it does. And it works because we've got '''one thing''' in common. '''Each other.''' Think of who's listening to this message and I bet you'll think of someone you '''respect.''' Someone whose judgement you '''trust.''' Someone who makes you '''laugh.''' Someone who makes you '''happy.''' Someone who makes you feel its okay to be exactly who you are. And I '''promise'''—in fact, I '''guarantee'''—that someone listening to this is thinking about '''you''' in exactly the same way. Okay, so you've made some '''bad decisions'''. You've '''hurt''' people. You've hurt '''yourself.''' You've stumbled through life from one '''self-inflicted disaster''' to the next without anything even '''approaching''' a plan. To which I say—'''welcome aboard.''' Maybe you're not good... but you're sure as hell '''good enough.'''"
:—'''Rodimus'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s final speech to the crew

"Even… Team… Whirl."
:—'''Whirl'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
[[File:MTMTE 40 LL 24 Tailgate Matrix.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|right|Fore…glowing?]]
* The idea that a blow to the back of the neck can trigger an involuntary transformation was introduced in [[Little Victories|''More than Meets the Eye'' #22]], when Swerve tried to do it to Rung (the ''real'' Primus, rather than the fake Primus it's used on here!).
* Rung remembers his first meeting with Skids, when the theoretician hauled him into the ceiling vents to escape the [[sparkeater (creature)|sparkeater]] back in [[Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|''More than Meets the Eye'' #3]].
* Rung's alternate mode, which has been a long-running mystery since [[Little Victories|''More than Meets the Eye'' #22]], is at last revealed: a Matrix maker. This was subtly hinted at in [[The Everlasting Voices (2): The God War|''Lost Light'' #17]] when [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] was trying to solve the mystery for himself; notice how he's gazing up at the giant Matrix in the [[Transformer afterlife|Afterspark]] right when he finally deduces it.
* Whirl calls Ultra Magnus "Chunky" again, a nickname he coined for him in [[The Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here|issue #18]].
* In addition to previously established hot spots [[Rivets Field]] (first seen in [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|''More than Meets the Eye'' #1]], first named in [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|''More than Meets the Eye'' #21]]), [[Vespertine Blue]], [[Port Residua]] (both first named in [[Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|''Robots in Disguise'' #27]]) and [[Alyon]] (visited in [[Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|''More than Meets the Eye'' #36]]), Cybertron's other eight hot spots are established to be: the [[Pious Pools]], [[Warrior's Gate]], [[Mesmerica]] (three ancient features of Cybertron first mentioned in ''More than Meets the Eye'' #1), [[Nova Point]] (in the mines of which Megatron once worked, mentioned many times), and the never-previously heard-of [[Automica]], [[Vauvaire]], [[Sansaw Sanserre]], and [[Eugenesis]] (see "Transformers references," below).
* In [[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|''More than Meets the Eye'' #40]], [[Ten]] decorates Tailgate's hoverboard with an image of Tailgate opening the Matrix. When he opens his Matrix here, he's standing in the same position.
* Whirl's use of "Team Whirl" comes from Rodimus's other big speech in [[Crucible (Part 3): Farsickness|''Lost Light'' #21]].
* Luna 1's hot spot has been dormant since briefly flaring to life back in [[Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|''More than Meets the Eye'' #17]]. At the time, the characters presumed that the flare-up was due to Rodimus (carrying half the Matrix within him) touching the moon's surface, but many eagle-eyed readers spotted that Rung touched down at the same moment Rodimus did, and though it is not directly addressed, it seems safe to conclude it was Rung's presence, rather than Rodimus's, that caused the hot spot to light up.
* Fortress Maximus and Red Alert recovered the Necrobot's cloak and discovered that its starmap-surface showed the Benzene Cluster back in [[Sardines|issue #13]].
* Luna 1 emerging and hitting Primus is a {{w|causal loop}}; it only happened because Rodimus saw it happen, and then caused it to happen via time travel shenanigans. This isn't the first time this has happened in the series. Back in [[Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|''More than Meets the Eye'' #38]], the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s quantum engines were upgraded in the past based on their specifications in the future.
* James Roberts confirmed that thanks to being exposed to Brainstorm's [[Metafictional bomb|meta-bomb]] back in [[Under Cold Blue Stars|''More than Meets the Eye'' #15]], Swerve could 'see' the words "To Be Concluded" in the final panel.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Congratulations to those of you who twigged that, as a result of his exposure to the metabomb in MTMTE #15, Swerve's response to Tailgate's question is informed by him being able to 'see' the words 'To Be Concluded'. https://t.co/jusLCL9hRl|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/1054298399279706112|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2018|month=10|day=22|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* In [[Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|the ''More than Meets the Eye'' 2012 Annual]], Drift says to Rodimus: "You're important, Rodimus. More important than even you realize. One day, ''everything'' will depend on you." This comes true here, when Rodimus opens the final Matrix to shut down the false Primus.

===Transformers references===
* The hot spot "Eugenesis" shares its name with James Roberts's unofficial 2001 ''Transformers'' novel.
* Either just a coincidence or an actual reference, Ultra Magnus was also surrounded by enemies when he tried to open the Matrix in [[The Transformers: The Movie|the movie]]. His attempts to open it are about as successful.
* When naming qualities that his crew does not embody, Rodimus uses terms referencing, respectively, [[Tech Spec|intelligence, strength, courage, skill, firepower, rank, speed, and teamwork & cooperation]].

===Real-world references===
* "We've made a planet-sized mistake," murmurs Rodimus, which might be a reference to G.O.B.'s catchphrase from ''{{w|Arrested Development}}''.
* An [[wikia:starwars:All Terrain Scout Transport|AT-ST]] walker from ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' appears amongst the models in Rung's office.

===Soundtrack===
Unlike past issue soundtracks, Roberts sent this track to the rest of the creative team during production to help give them a sense of the mood he was trying to convey.
* "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDfAWuZP5go The Shepherd's Boy]" from the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' {{w|Doctor Who: Series 9 (soundtrack)|series 9 OST}}.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Hey. I've not posted many songs for Crucible, but now LL23 is out and we're heading into the final showdown I can finally share with you LL24's song — and the unofficial theme for the story/series finale.|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/1037469271528493056|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2018|month=09|day=05|(defunct=)}} {{citesocial|quote=When the first scripts for Crucible had been sent out I shared this piece with @JLawrence_Art @JoanaLafuente @bpcahill and @IDW_David_M, to sell the mood for the story. I'd never done that before.|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/1037469274984640512|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2018|month=09|day=05|(defunct=)}} {{citesocial|quote=So here it is. Listen after you've read the end of LL23 and think of the Crusadercons heading into battle one last time: The Shepherd's Boy (Breaking The Wall) https://t.co/0oXhoBrBMq via @YouTube|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/1037469277283135488|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2018|month=09|day=05|(defunct=)}}</ref>

===Covers (3)===
* '''Cover A:''' Minimus Ambus bursts out of the Magnus armor, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
* '''Cover B:''' Rung is going to give someone ''such'' a finger-wagging, by [[Geoff Senior]] and [[Josh Burcham]]; an homage to Senior's cover for [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel UK]] [[Wanted: Galvatron — Dead or Alive!|issue #113]], which was famously the issue that got James Roberts hooked on the series, and to which he has made [[113 (disambiguation)|many references]] over the last seven years.
* '''Retailer incentive cover:''' Roche's black and white lineart from Cover A

<gallery>
File:LL24 cvrA.jpg|
File:LL24 cvrB.jpg|
File:LL24 cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''Lost Light'' #25
* [[Assembly (Unicron)|''Unicron'' #5]]
* ''[[Transformers vs. Visionaries]]'' TPB
* ''[[Transformers: Bumblebee Movie Prequel|Bumblebee: From Cybertron with Love]]'' TPB
* ''[[Transformers: Bumblebee - Win If You Dare]]'' graphic novel
* ''[[G.I. Joe (comic)|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero]] vs. the Six Million Dollar Man'' TPB
* ''G.I. Joe: Silent Option'' #1
* ''Femme Manifique''
* ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (character)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' Vol. 1 TPB
* IDW ''Dick Tracy'' series

===Reprints===
* '''''Transformers: Lost Light Volume 4''''' ([[January 30]], [[2019]]) ISBN 1684054109 / ISBN 978-1684054107
** Collects ''Lost Light'' issues #19–25.
** Bonus material includes a cover gallery.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]] Volume 87: Crucible''''' ([[July 29]], [[2020]])
** Collects ''Lost Light'' issues #19–24.
** Bonus material includes the second half of ''[[Transformers: Historia]]'', including the [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] profile, a cover gallery and an intro by [[Simon Furman]].
** Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:LLvol4 TPBcvr.jpg|'''''Lost Light Volume 4''''' – cover art by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v87.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection Volume 87: Crucible''''' – cover art by [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]], [[Casey Coller]] and [[Tom B. Long]]
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.previewsworld.com/Catalog/JUL180823 Preview]

[[Category:Lost Light issues]]

The Transformers Compendium Volume 1

2026-02-01T17:44:44Z

Some Dweeb: Specifically how the issues are printed in the book.

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers Compendium]]''
|next=The Transformers Compendium Volume 2
|image=TF Compendium 1.jpg
|title=''The Transformers Compendium Volume 1''
|publisher=[[Image Comics]] [[Skybound Entertainment]]
|date=[[May 28]], [[2025]]
|writer=[[Bill Mantlo]], [[Ralph Macchio]], [[Jim Salicrup]], [[Bob Budiansky]], [[Len Kaminski]], [[Steve Parkhouse]]
|pencils=[[Frank Springer]], [[Alan Kupperberg]], [[William Johnson]], [[Mike Manley]], [[Ricardo Villamonte]], [[Herb Trimpe]], [[Don Perlin]], [[Graham Nolan]], [[Eliot Brown|Eliot R. Brown]], [[John Ridgway]], [[Mike Collins]], [[José Delbo]]
|inks=[[Kim DeMulder]], [[Mike Esposito]], [[Ian Akin]], [[Brian Garvey]], Alan Kupperberg, [[Kyle Baker]], [[Brad Joyce]], [[Tom Palmer]], [[Al Gordon]], [[Keith Williams]], [[Tom Morgan]], Eliot R. Brown, [[Vince Colletta]], [[Brett Breeding]], [[Jim Fern]], John Ridgway, Mike Collins, [[Dave Hunt]], [[Danny Bulanadi]], [[Don Hudson]], [[Dave Elliott]]
|colors=[[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]], [[Gina Hart]]
|letters=[[Michael Higgins]], [[Rick Parker]], [[Janice Chiang]], [[John Workman]], [[Diana Albers]], [[Bill Oakley]], [[Jack Morelli]], [[Pat Brosseau]], [[Kurt Hathaway]]
|editor=[[Bob Budiansky]], [[Christopher J. Priest|Christopher Priest]], [[Michael Carlin|Mike Carlin]], [[Don Daley]], [[Sheila Cranna]]
|collection editor=[[Sean Mackiewicz]]
|collection designer=[[Andres Juarez]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
|pagecount=1208
|price=$64.99 USD
|ISBN=ISBN 1534373675 / ISBN 978-1534373679
}}

'''''The Transformers Compendium Volume 1''''', published by [[Skybound Entertainment]] in May [[2025]], is the first in a two-volume series intended to reprint the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|original ''Transformers'' series]] from [[Marvel Comics]].

A hardcover version of the book, under the alternate title '''''The Transformers Complete US Edition Compendium 1''''', was produced as part of Skybound's crowdfunded hardcover compendium line and released in December 2025.

==Contents==
* ''[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|The Transformers]]'' [[The Transformers (issue)|#1]]–[[Toy Soldiers!|37]]
* ''[[The Transformers: Headmasters]]'' [[Ring of Hate!|#1]]–[[Brothers in Armor!!|4]]
* ''The Tansformers'' [[Trial by Fire!|#38]]–[[Ca$h and Car-nage!|46]]

==Covers==
* '''Trade paperback (standard cover):''' Autobots with Seekers overhead, by [[Daniel Warren Johnson]] & [[Mike Spicer]].
* '''Trade paperback (direct market exclusive):''' ''The Transformers'' #1 cover art, by [[Bill Sienkiewicz]].
* '''Trade paperback (DCBS exclusive):''' Decepticon version of ''The Transformers'' #1 cover art, by [[Christian Ward]].
* '''Trade paperback (GameStop exclusive):''' ''The Transformers'' [[The New Order|#5]] cover art, by [[Mark Bright]].
* '''Hardcover:''' Megatron, from ''[[The Transformers Universe (Marvel)|The Transformers Universe]]'' #2 cover art by [[Herb Trimpe]], [[Ian Akin]] & [[Brian Garvey]].
<gallery>
File:TF Compendium 1.jpg
File:TF Compendium 1 DM Cover.jpg
File:TF Compendium 1 DCBS Cover.jpg
File:TF Compendium 1 GameStop Cover.jpg
File:TF Complete US Compendium 1.jpg
</gallery>

[[Category:Marvel Generation 1 comic compilations]]

Power Play!

2026-02-01T17:25:30Z

Some Dweeb:

{{disambig2|The issue of the Generation 1 Marvel comic|the campaign of the ''[[Transformers: Earth Wars|Earth Wars]]'' mobile game|Power Play (Earth Wars)}}

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #2
|prev=The Transformers (issue)
|next=Prisoner of War!
|title="Power Play!"
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #3–4
|prev2=The Transformers (issue)
|next2=Prisoner of War!
|image=MarvelUS-02.jpg
|caption=Nuclear weapons are the right of all sentient beings, Prime!
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|shippingdate=[[July 10]], [[1984]]
|onsaledate=[[July 31]], 1984
|coverdate=November 1984
|plot=[[Bill Mantlo]]
|script=[[Jim Salicrup]]
|pencils=[[Frank Springer]]
|inks=[[Kim DeMulder]]
|colors=[[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]
|lettering=[[Janice Chiang]]
|editor=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''The Decepticons attack a nuclear power plant in an attempt to secure fuel. Meanwhile, Bumblebee makes contact with some humans.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:PowerPlay skywarp actionatlast.jpg|thumb|left]]
Seeking new sources of energy, the [[Decepticon]]s discover a half-completed [[Harrison Nuclear Power Plant|nuclear power plant]]. [[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]] is sent in to scout and stumbles upon [[Jason Boyd|an engineer]] making a progress report on the station's construction. The spy transforms into a [[Mini-Cassette|mini-cassette]] and sneaks his way into the engineer's tape recorder, gathering information on the power plant's energy potential. Hours later, Ravage returns to his comrades and reports on the power plant and its [[human]] inhabitants. [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] deduces that mankind's technology has the power to supply the Decepticons with limitless energy and orders his troops to attack the plant. After the Decepticons ransack the power plant with their unique abilities and weaponry, Megatron orders them to strip the plant of its technological components, stealing them for their own purposes.

Meanwhile at [[S. Witwicky Auto Repairs & Tow Service|the Witwicky garage]], [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster]] pleads with [[Sparkplug Witwicky|his dad]] to fix [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|the "wounded" VW Beetle]] he's brought home. Sparkplug believes it to be a practical joke, but his son insists to his father that its all true, telling the story of how he and his friends escaped an attack by giant robots and jet fighters. Sparkplug eventually concedes, if only to get a good night's sleep afterwards. Hours later, Sparkplug's repairs have seemingly worked as the car suddenly changes shape into a robot, which introduces itself as Bumblebee. Bumblebee thanks Sparkplug for his help and tells him of the other [[Autobot|Autobots]] and their plight to find resources. Sparkplug offers his help and Bumblebee obliges, transforming to return to the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] and inform his comrades about Sparkplug's offer and brings Buster along for the ride. On the way, Bumblebee tells Buster about the [[Great War (G1)|war]] and their initial mission that brought them to Earth before they eventually run into [["O"]] and [[Jesse (G1)|Jesse]], Buster's friends. Watching from afar, Ravage recognizes the humans from the battle at the drive-in and transforms, planting himself in "O"'s boom-box and listening in as "O" and Jesse tell Buster and Bumblebee about the Decepticons' attack on the power plant. Realizing the dangerous potential of the Decepticons harnessing nuclear energy, Buster and Bumblebee high-tail it back to the garage to refuel.

Aboard the Ark at [[Mount St. Hilary]], the Autobots' computer reveals that fuel supplies have reached dangerous levels, mostly due to repairs done to the computer itself. The Autobots quarrel over what to do, with [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] and [[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] suggesting they simply take the resources they need while [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] argues the humans have a right to their own resources. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] interrupts and declares they will seek to ally with the humans and barter for the fuel they need, using technology from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] as bargaining chips. Suddenly, [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] receives an emergency radio broadcast from Bumblebee, who has constructed a crude communicator out of spare parts at Sparkplug's garage. Bumblebee informs Optimus of both the Decepticons' plans to harness nuclear energy and of Sparkplug's offer to help their situation and the Autobot leader orders a squadron of troops to [[roll out]] to the garage.

At the half-constructed Decepticon base, Ravage informs Megatron of the Autobots' alliance with Sparkplug, with the latter demanding that they capture Sparkplug and have him convert fuel to energy for them alone. As the Autobots arrive at the garage and meet the Witwickys, the Decepticons suddenly ambush them, turning Sparkplug's scrapyard into an all-out war zone. The battle sprawls out into the neighboring streets, with bystanders calling police who begin firing at both Decepticon and Autobot. Meanwhile, in a safe area in the junkyard, Bumblebee guards Sparkplug and Buster...unaware that Megatron has snuck upon him from behind! With one swift chop, he takes out Bumblebee and grabs Sparkplug. Hearing Buster's cries for help, Optimus leaps over to battle Megatron, who drops Sparkplug in the ensuing fight. Buster tries in vain to help his father, who is suddenly nabbed by [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]], taking the human hostage inside his jet mode and rocketing away with his Decepticon teammates following suit.

With the battle over and Sparkplug captured, Buster begs the Autobots to do anything they can to help his father. Optimus agrees...but without sufficient energy, the Autobots have no hope of succeeding and they fall to their knees.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*''[[Cliffjumper (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Cliffjumper]]'' (11)
*[[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] (12)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] (15)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] (19)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (20)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (21)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] (22)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] (23)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (24)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ironhide]] (25)
*[[Mirage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Mirage]] (26)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (27)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (28)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (31)
|c2=
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] (1)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] (2)
*[[Ravage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ravage]] (3)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (4)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] (5)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Thundercracker]] (6)
*[[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] (7)
*[[Skywarp (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Skywarp]] (8)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (9)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (13)
|c3=
*[[Jason Boyd]] (10)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (14)
*[[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] (16)
*[[Jesse (G1)|Jessie]] (17)
*[["O"]] (18)
*[[Doris Roland]] (29)
*[[Mitchell Roland]] (30)
}}

==Quotes==
''The humans employ far better design standards on their machines than on themselves! What a backward world!''
: — '''Skywarp'''

"Is he healed?" 
"Blast it, son! I'm a mechanic, not a doctor! All I did was fix a broken fuel line and tune up some parts! It wasn't easy! I've never seen a car quite like it, and I've—" 
''KLIK'' 
"Huh?" 
''KLIK'' 
"What the—? ...Oh, no! It's falling apart!"
:'''Buster''' and '''Sparkplug''' meet Bumblebee
{{-}}

"Who are you? Where do you come from? What do you want? And how'd you wind up in my garage?" 
"I am code-named '''Bumblebee''', I'm from the planet '''Cybertron''', I'm in desperate need of fuel, and your son drove me here! Do all small, pink things ask so many questions?"
: — '''Sparkplug''' and '''Bumblebee'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*While introducing himself to the Witwickys, "Bumblebee" says that his name is a "[[Transformer naming|code-name]]." The idea that the names we know the Transformers by are not their "real" names is something that would very occasionally be revisited in future Transformers media, but in Marvel continuity specifically, it will be reiterated just a few issues from now in the UK story "[[Man of Iron (issue)|Man of Iron]]."
*"O" and Jessie catch a song by Marvel superhero-slash-singing-sensation [[Dazzler]] on the radio. This is the first in a series of references to mainstream Marvel continuity that the mini-series would make, which were quietly ignored once the series became an ongoing as the Transformers universe was retconned into being its own thing, separate from the Marvel universe.

===Real-life references===
*Sparkplug states that he's "a mechanic, not a doctor", an homage to ''[[Star Trek]]'''s [[Leonard McCoy|Doctor McCoy]].
*"O" notes that the television show ''[[That's Incredible!]]'' has been cancelled. The show had indeed ended its original run in 1984.

===Continuity and plotting errors===
*Jesse is spelled "Jessie" in this issue.
*Megatron orders all five of his fliers into the air, while standing around and watching them go. So how does he get to the subsequent battle himself?

===Artwork and technical errors===
[[File:LamboTwinsSwitch.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Sideswipe and Sunstreaker began sharing their body molds sooner than most believe.]]
Continuing on from the precedent established last issue, [[Marvel Productions]]' [[character model]]s for a lot of the cast still had not been created, approved and made available to Marvel Comics for the majority of this issue's production. Many characters are drawn using designs based directly on their toys, that tried to match the general aesthetic of the few character models that did exist. The toy interpretations get even looser this issue, as characters like Bumblebee and Windcharger have very rough, inconsistent head designs. At the other extreme, throughout the issue, Sunstreaker is drawn using Sideswipe's character model, with his own head and color scheme. The remaining models only became available in time for use on the cover, the removal of wheels from the back of Optimus Prime's legs (in line with his final model) and the one small panel of Rumble's robot mode on Page 6.
*Page 1: Starscream's right wing has a yellow decal while his left has a red one.
*Page 3: The flashback to last issue preserves a coloring error from that story, as Soundwave is colored like Megatron.
*Page 5: The portion of Harrison Nuclear Plant which Laserbeak attacks looks a lot like a steel mill, but not at all like a nuke plant.
*Page 6:
**Panel 5: Starscream and Thundercracker are missing their wings as they transform in panel 5. This art is loosely copied later in the issue on page 18, and the error repeats there.
**Panel 6: Starscream is still missing his wings as he starts tearing the plant to pieces, and instead of his null rays, his jet mode missile-tanks are mounted on his arms.
*Page 13:
**Panel 1: Optimus Prime appears to have goggles instead of standard optics.
**Panel 2: Jazz is colored like Hound.
*Page 14: As the Autobots transform in a three-panel sequence, Prowl and Sunstreaker switch places in the middle panel.
*Page 15: Ratchet is shown pulling up to Sparkplug's garage despite being left behind at the Ark.
*Page 16: In panel 7, Thundercracker and Skywarp's cockpit cowlings are colored entirely orange.
*Page 17, panels 5 and 7: Sideswipe and Sunstreaker's alternate modes are switched, thus representing Bob Budiansky's original plans for the two before Hasbro decided to switch the sculpts very late in the game. As you can see in the image at right, Sunstreaker's dialogue emanates from Sideswipe's vehicle mode, ''colored'' like Sunstreaker. Once transformed, the brothers are the correct colors, but are both drawn with Sideswipe's body. As a result, the Sunstreaker toy's exposed supercharger becomes the "[[jet pack|rocket backpack]]" mentioned in Sideswipe's [[bio]], as per Budiansky's original intent (more on this [[Sideswipe (G1)#Notes|here]]). And they're not even switched ''right''; yellow-Sideswipe's roof is blue, while is hood is red. For the reprint published in [[Titan Books|Titan]]'s ''[[Transformers: Beginnings (G1)|Transformers: Beginnings]]'' trade paperback collection, both of them had many of the uncolored white sections on their vehicle modes highlighted in yellow, including the headlights and the side windows. For "Sideswipe", this was carried over to the reprint published in [[IDW Publishing|IDW]]'s ''[[The Transformers Classics, Vol. 1|Transformers Classics Vol. 1]]'' trade paperback collection.
*Page 21: The lower half of Prime's right leg is missing as he throws the engine block at Megatron.
*Page 22: In panel 8, Jazz is colored like Hound again.
{{-}}

===UK printing===
'''Issue #3:'''
*'''Published:''' [[October 18|18th October]], 1984
*'''[[Back-up strips]]:''' ''Machine Man'' ({{TFUK|Byte of the Binary Bug!|"Byte of the Binary Bug!"}} part 3)
*'''[[Fact File]]:''' [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]
*'''Free gift:''' Transformers Iron-On transfer
*'''Other features:''' Mail-in contest to win a [[Mini Vehicle]] toy; two single-page posters of animation stills from early [[commercial/Generation 1|commercials]]; "Robot Round-Up"
'''Issue #4:'''
*'''Published:''' [[November 1|1st November]], 1984
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Machine Man'' ({{TFUK|Where Walk the Gods!|"Where Walk the Gods!"}} part 1)
*'''Fact File:''' [[Gears (G1)|Gears]]
*'''Other features:''' "Make Mandala Yours," a contest to win the "Mandala" board game; "Robot Round-Up"; two single-page posters of animation stills from early [[commercial/Generation 1|commercials]]; mail-in contest to win the ''A-Team'' soundtrack album

===Other trivia===
*Advertised as part 2 in a [[The Transformers Four-Issue Limited Series|four-issue limited series]].
*Both the "next issue" box of the previous issue, and the September 1984 issue of ''The Comic Reader'' (#219) solicited this issue's story title as being "Hey Buddy, Can Ya Spare Some Fuel?"—something that evidently changed when Jim Salicrup took over as scripter from Ralph Macchio.
*Megatron appears in the cover corner box for both this issue and issue [[The Last Stand|#4]], the only times in the U.S. run that a Decepticon was featured (although issue [[End of the Road! (US)|#80]] featured a Decepticon [[Insignia|sigil]]). 'Cons would get a little more love from the UK corner boxes.
*During the entire battle at the Witwicky's house, Optimus Prime's trailer sits parked, frequently in view. This is in stark contrast to the more fantastical cartoon, where it would just roll off-screen and vanish.

===Courtesy of my...===
*Starscream launches [[cluster bomb]]s.
*Skywarp rakes the buildings with [[machine gun]] fire.
*Laserbeak fires his [[laser cannon]]s.
*Sunstreaker readies his [[electron pulse gun]].
*Sideswipe blinds Thundercracker with a [[flare gun]].
*Optimus shoots Laserbeak with a [[laser rifle]].
*Ravage surprises Mirage before he can use his [[Electro-disrupter|electro-disruptor]].

===Covers (3)===
*'''US issue #2:''' Megatron blasts Prime, by [[Michael Golden]].
*'''UK issue #3:''' Bumblebee with the Witwickys, by [[Jerry Paris]].
*'''UK issue #4:''' reuse of art from US issue #2's cover by [[Michael Golden]].
<gallery>
File:MarvelUS-02.jpg|'''US issue #2''' - Megatron is angry that Prime stole his nose.
File:MarvelUK-003.jpg|'''UK issue #3''' - [[Furmanism]] inspiration?
File:MarvelUK-004.jpg|'''UK issue #4''' - Megatron is still angry!
</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 Complete Works'' Part 1]]''' (Marvel UK, 1986)
File:Die tf 01.jpg|'''[[Die Transformer issue 1|''Die Transformer'' #1]]''' (Condor Verlag, 1986; reprints pages 1–7)
File:Dtf2.JPG|'''[[Die Transformer issue 2|''Die Transformer'' #2]]''' (Condor Verlag, 1986; reprints pages 8–23)
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: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: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)
File:TF Compendium 1.jpg|'''''The Transformers Compendium Volume 1''''' (Image Comics & Skybound Entertainment, 2025)
</gallery>

====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 colored blue throughout this issue, erasing his standard purple Marvel color scheme. Unlike in the previous issue, this does ''not'' extend to correcting the error that colors him like Megatron on page 3.
*Page 1: Starscream's yellow right wing is recolored red to match his left one
*Page 6:
**Panel 5: Skywarp's weapons and portions of his legs are colored red for some reason.
**Panel 6: Seemingly operating under the misconception that he is Soundwave, Starscream's boots have been recolored blue.
*Page 13:
**Panel 1: The yellow decals on Optimus's pelvis, uncolored in the original art (as they so often are) are filled in yellow. This is also done on page 19, panel 1, but not in other instances of their absence.
**Panel 2: Jazz's colors are corrected.
*Page 14, panel 1: For this panel alone, Hound's legs are recolored from their standard Marvel solid blue to green with white thighs.
*Page 17, panel 5: Yellow-Sideswipe's roof and hood color are corrected to match the rest of his body, but the vehicles remain the incorrect colors overall.
*Page 18, panel 3 and page 22, panel 4: For these two panels alone, Starscream's jet mode is recolored into its finalized mostly-white color scheme.
*Page 23:
**Panel 4: Careless text recreation turns the sentence "--they are gone!" into the nonsense "--they are go'''m'''e!"
**Panel 6: Jazz's colors are "corrected," but to blue-black, rather than the straight blue the comic normally uses for him.

===Advertisements===
*Inside cover: ''Mario Bros.'' for Atari
*Goofy Fig Newton maze - between pages 4 & 5
*''Dazzler the Movie'' (Marvel Graphic Novel #12) - between pages 5 & 6
*New York Comic Book Convention/Various comic shops - between pages 7 & 8
*Block of questionable mail-ins (Camouflage clothing, karate, "build huge muscles," etc.) - between pages 8 & 9
*Military Diamond Sales - between pages 16 & 17
*Stuntmen's Association T-shirt/Comic World - between pages 17 & 18
*Marvel Super Mart - between pages 19 & 20
*Bullpen Bulletins - between pages 20 & 21
*Subscriber's Club
*Inside rear cover: TSR Endless Quest books (inner back cover)
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' arcade game for home consoles (back cover)

====Second printing====
*Monogram ''[[GoBots]]'' motorized model kits (inside front cover)
*Fig Newtons and Apple Newtons (pg 5)
*Star Comics (pg 7)
*Mile High Comics (pg 10)
*Mile High Comics (pg 12)
*''Power Pack'' and ''The Amazing [[Spider-Man]]'' with tips on ways to prevent sexual abuse (pg 21)
*Calendar of upcoming events & Marvel Mart (pg 23)
*Block of various Sketchy Things (pg 26)
*Bullpen Bulletins (pg 28)
*Comic subscriptions (pg 32)
*''Indiana Jones'' RPG by TSR (rear inside cover)
*''Risk'' board game (rear cover)

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

Action Force (comic)

2026-01-27T22:35:33Z

Some Dweeb:

{{disambig2|the comic series|its title characters|Action Force (team)}}
{{nav-gijoe|logo=ActionForce Logo.png|size=500px}}
[[Image:Acfrwk024.jpg|thumb|right|250px|SOMEBODY PLEASE TURN OFF THE SCREAMING HEADS THANK YOU]]

'''''Action Force''''' was a [[1987]]-[[1988]] comic series produced by [[Marvel Comics]] [[United Kingdom|UK]], based on the ''Action Force'' toyline (at this point the brand name for [[G.I. Joe (franchise)|''G.I. Joe'']] in [[Europe]] and [[Israel]]). Like [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|Marvel UK's ''Transformers'']], it reprinted [[United States of America|American]] ''[[G.I. Joe (comic)|G.I. Joe]]'' issues and also its own new stories. The two UK titles would crossover, and ''Action Force'' became ''Transformers''' back-up strip from #153.

Its relation to the ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'' and ''[[Transformers brand|Transformers]]'' comics is a strange one. Unlike the [[The Transformers (franchise)|Generation 1]] UK comic, which also reprinted US material, very little effort was put into making the UK stories jibe with their US counterparts. Many of the characters had their histories and sometimes names changed to be make them more international (usually European). While the original ''Transformers'' strips tied into and reflected the US reprints, the unique ''Action Force'' plots were fairly independent and focused on the West Europe branch of Action Force (i.e. [[To sell toys|the ones in the shops]]). Some token revisions were made to the US scripts, such as replacing all instances of "G.I. Joe" with "Action Force" and rewriting [[Flint (G.I. Joe)|Flint]]'s first US appearance to make him a visiting foreign agent.

As for ''Transformers'', the [[G.I. Joe and the Transformers|US ''G.I. Joe'' crossover]] was not reprinted in the UK until long after its original publication, and its principle effect on ''Transformers'' (the transformation of [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] into Goldbug) occurred in a [[Hunters|completely different manner]] in the UK continuity. So when ''Action Force'' later crossed over with the UK Generation 1 comic, it was for the first time in that market, and US readers never heard a thing about it.

The upshot of all of that is that this wiki considers the ''Action Force'' comic's unique storylines to be a separate [[continuity]] from ''G.I. Joe'' and the Marvel US Generation 1 comics. It is only in continuity with the Marvel UK Generation 1 comics, and even then probably to a limited degree.

{|style="margin:0 auto;padding:0 auto" align="center" id="toc"
|-
!align="center" bgcolor="#6699CC"|''Action Force'' issues with ''Transformers'' content:
|-
!align="center"|[[Ancient Relics!|#24-27]]
|}

==Overview==
The ''Action Force'' / ''Transformers'' crossover was set up in the Generation 1 comic, which began the storyline with a clone of [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] being spotted by an archaeological team in ancient sewers beneath London. The second issue of the story, which was the first part under the ''Action Force'' title, featured Flint leading a team of [[Action Force (team)|Action Force]] soldiers into the sewers in search of the "monster". But what they found first was the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobot]] [[Blades (G1)|Blades]], whom they mistook for the hostile robot they were searching for. Explosions and misunderstandings ensued, but when Megatron actually appeared, allegiances were quickly sorted out. Through three more ''Action Force'' issues, the battle escalated above ground, where [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]], [[Centurion (Marvel)|Centurion]], and more Action Force operatives joined the fray. It ended with an airstrike on a natural-gas storage facility that sent the flame-engulfed Megatron and Centurion into the [[Thames|River Thames]]. This plotline was very much in continuity with the UK Generation 1 comic, and its conclusion would have consequences [[Salvage!|later in that series]]. However, the other ''Action Force'' stories never made reference to it, and in fact one earlier issue featured an ad for the ''Transformers'' comic... in the background of one of its panels!<ref>[http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/comics/maf/001/images/020.jpg Scan of an ''Action Force'' comic page] showing ''Transformers'' as a fictional entity within that universe.</ref>

Starting with Generation 1 UK issue #[[Enemy Action!|153]], ''Action Force'' (actually ''G.I. Joe'' reprints) became the book's backup strip. Furman didn't actually want that to happen as he didn't think much of ''Action Force'' as a concept or thought it made a good stablemate for the comic, and admitted in ''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 5]]'' that he tried to "suppress" it as soon as he could; the [[Combat Colin]] backup strip, on the other hand, was something the ''Transformers'' team were very happy to inherit.<ref>''[[The Transformers Classics UK Volume 5]]'', "The Legacy of Furman" feature</ref> Not long after, another comic called ''[[Action Force Monthly]]'' started up, featuring new stories, reprints of old UK-originated ''Action Force'' stories, and even reprints of the Generation 1 UK crossover (in issues #1-6). This book was published in the US as ''G.I. Joe: European Missions'', though within the stories the term "Action Force" was always used.

[[Image:Trans-Atlantic Treaty.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]

Some time after ''Action Force Monthly'' ended, Hasbro decided to gradually rebrand everything as ''G.I. Joe''. A promotional comic, reprinted in [[Underworld|#245]] of the UK Generation 1 comic, had representatives from the American G.I. Joe team and the specifically British (sorry rest o' Europe) Action Force joined together to form "G.I. Joe the Action Force" to better fight the global Cobras.<ref>[http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/comics/maf/043/index.html "Divided We Fall!"]</ref> This came complete with a treaty on the merger that required [[you]] as a signatory. Unfortunately this strip made no sense with any established continuity, but the comic quickly returned to ''G.I. Joe'' reprints, and the only real change from then on was that the stories were branded "G.I. Joe the Action Force".

Eventually "the Action Force" would be dropped altogether and the comic ended as "G.I. Joe" with #332 of ''Transformers''.

==Marvel UK reprints==
The Marvel UK Transformers comic ran a number of Action Force stories as [[back-up strips]].

{|
|''Issues''|| ''Story'' || ''G.I. Joe at Marvel Database''
|-
|[[Under Fire!|#99]] - [[Fallen Angel|#102]] || "Improvisation on a Theme" || [[wikia:Marveldatabase:G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 44|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 44]]
|-
|[[Mechanical Difficulties!|#122]] || "Dummy Run!" || ''Action Force #18''
|-
|[[Enemy Action!|#153]] - [[Trial by Fire!|#156]] || "Slaughter" || [[wikia:Marveldatabase:G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 48|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 48]]
|-
|#157 - [[Salvage!|#160]] || "Serpentor" || [[wikia:Marveldatabase:G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 49|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 49]]
|-
|#161 || "Road Safety - From the Air!" || ''in-house story''
|-
|#161 || "Battle Island!" || ''in-house story''
|-
|[[Pretender to the Throne!|#162]] - [[City of Fear!|#165]] || "The Battle of Springfield" || [[wikia:Marveldatabase:G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 50|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 50]]
|-
|[[Legion of the Lost!|#166]] - [[Meltdown!|#169]] || "Thunder Machine" || [[wikia:Marveldatabase:G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 51|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 51]]
|-
|[[Deadly Games!|#170]] - [[Wrecking Havoc|#173]] || "Snap Decisions" || [[wikia:Marveldatabase:G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 52|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 52]]
|-
|[[Totaled!|#174]] - [[People Power!|#177]] || "Pit-Fall" || [[wikia:Marveldatabase:G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 53|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 53]]
|-
|[[The Cosmic Carnival|#178]] - [[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)|#181]] || "Launch Base" || [[wikia:Marveldatabase:G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 54|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 54]]
|-
|[[Monstercon from Mars!|#191]] -[[Club Con!|#194]]|| "Unmaskings" || [[wikia:Marveldatabase:G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 55|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 55]]
|-
|#195 - [[Cold Comfort and Joy!|#198]] || "Jungle Moves" || [[wikia:Marveldatabase:G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 56|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 56]]
|-
|#199 & 201-203 || "Hush Job" || [[wikia:Marveldatabase:G.I. Joe: Yearbook Vol 1 3|G.I. Joe: Yearbook Vol 1 3]]
|-
|[[Time Wars|#204]] - [[Cold War!|#207]] || "Strange Bedfellows" || [[wikia:Marveldatabase:G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 57|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 57]]
|-
|[[Dark Star|#208]] - [[The Man in the Machine!|#212]] || "Desperate Moves" || [[wikia:Marveldatabase:G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 58|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 58]]
|-
|[[Recipe for Disaster!|#220]]-224 || "Divergent Paths" || [[wikia:Marveldatabase:G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 59|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 59]]
|-
|[[Aspects of Evil!|#225]] - [[The Hunting Party (Marvel)|#229]] || "Cross Purposes" || [[wikia:Marveldatabase:G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 60|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 60]]
|-
|#230-231 & 233-235 || "Airshow" || [[wikia:Marveldatabase:G.I. Joe Special Missions Vol 1 12|G.I. Joe Special Missions Vol 1 12]]
|-
|[[The Interplanetary Wrestling Championship!|#236]] - [[Back from the Dead|#240]] || "Beginnings and Endings" || [[wikia:Marveldatabase:G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 61|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 61]]
|-
|#241 - [[The Resurrection Gambit!|#245]] || "Evasion" || [[wikia:Marveldatabase:G.I. Joe Special Missions Vol 1 6|G.I. Joe Special Missions Vol 1 6]]
|-
|[[All the Familiar Faces!|#246]] - #247 || "Law of the Jungle" || ''Action Force #40 - #41''
|-
|#248 - [[Skin Deep|#249]] & #251 - [[Yesterday's Heroes!|#253]] || "The Lower Depths" || [[wikia:Marveldatabase:G.I. Joe Special Missions Vol 1 21|G.I. Joe Special Missions Vol 1 21]]
|-
|#254 - [[...Perchance to Dream|#257]] || "Transit" || [[wikia:Marveldatabase:G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 62|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 62]]
|-
|#258 - [[The Primal Scream|#261]] || "Going Under" || [[wikia:Marveldatabase:G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 63|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 63]]
|-
|[[Bird of Prey!|#262]] - [[Once upon a Time...|#265]] || "Maneuvering for Position" || [[wikia:Marveldatabase:G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 64|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 64]]
|-
|[[Life in the Slow Lane|#266]] - [[Mystery!|#269]] || "Shuttle Complex" || [[wikia:Marveldatabase:G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 65|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 65]]
|-
|[[The Bad Guy's Ball!|#270]] - [[Wolf in the Fold!|#273]] || "The Tenth Letter" || [[wikia:Marveldatabase:G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 66|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 66]]
|-
|[[Where Wolf?|#274]] - [[Internal Affairs!|#277]] || "Cold Snap" || [[wikia:Marveldatabase:G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 67|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 #67]]
|-
|[[The House that Wheeljack Built!|#278]] - [[Makin' Tracks!|#281]] || "Cut and Freeze Dried" || [[wikia:Marveldatabase:G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 68|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 68]]
|-
|[[Kings of the Wild Frontier.|#282]] - #285 || "Into the Breach" || [[wikia:Marveldatabase:G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 69|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 69]]
|-
|[[Deadly Obsession|#286]] - #289 || "Fair Trade" || [[wikia:Marveldatabase:G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 70|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 70]]
|-
|[[Dark Creation|#290]] - #293 || "Bailout" || [[wikia:Marveldatabase:G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 71|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 71]]
|-
|[[All Fall Down|#294]] - #297 || "Stiletto" || [[wikia:Marveldatabase:G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 72|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 72]]
|-
|[[Rhythms of Darkness!|#298]] - #301 || "Divided We Fall" || [[wikia:Marveldatabase:G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 73|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 73]]
|-
|[[The Human Factor!|#302]] - #305 || "Alliance of Convenience" || [[wikia:Marveldatabase:G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 74|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Vol 1 74]]
|-
|}

==Items of note==
*Some specific character-related discrepancies between Action Force and G.I. Joe include:
**Flint's real name is David R. Faireborn, and he was born in Lincoln, England.<ref name="profiles">[http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/comics/maf/047/index.html Character profiles from several ''Action Force'' issues]</ref> Also he spends pretty much all of his time in Europe.
**[[Lady Jaye]], [[Wild Bill]], [[Quick Kick]], [[Airtight]], and several others didn't have their names changed, but their birthplaces and personal histories were altered to be more international in scope.<ref name="profiles" /> Perhaps most extreme is Outback, who became a revenge-obsessed, borderline-psychotic<ref>[http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/comics/maf/037/index.html "Wild, Wild-Life"] from ''Action Force Monthly'' #11</ref> Scotsman raised in Australia.<ref name="profiles" />
**Destro appears to be disfigured under his mask.<ref>[http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/comics/maf/039/images/015.jpg "The Prisoner"] from ''Action Force Monthly'' #13</ref>
*The issues of the UK Generation 1 comic containing ''Action Force'' as a backup strip are #99–102, #153–181, #191–212, and #220–248. Then the name changed to "G.I. Joe: The Action Force" from #249–305.
*A mini-strip in #245 (also given away in comic shops) detailed that Europe's Action Force and its American counterpart G.I. Joe were unifying to better beat up Cobra. Which doesn't fit the previous Action Force strips and reprints, where they already have a US branch!

==Creative team==
[[Simon Furman]] wrote and [[Geoff Senior]] drew the entire ''Action Force'' / ''Transformers'' crossover, both being regular contributors to the comic.

==References==
<references />

==External links==
*[http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/comics/maf/index.html Full collection of Marvel ''Action Force'' comic scans] at [http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/ www.BloodForTheBaron.com.]
*[http://www.yojoe.com/archive/actfig/actionforce.shtml Brief history and explanation of the ''Action Force'' toyline]
*[http://www.yojoe.com/comics/international/actionforce/ List of Marvel's ''Action Force'' comics]

[[Category:Action Force| ]]
[[Category:Back-up strips]]
[[Category:Generation 1 comic series]]

The Big Broadcast of 2006 (issue)

2025-12-04T19:35:13Z

Some Dweeb:

{{disambig2|the comic story|the Generation 1 cartoon episode it was adapted from|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)}}
{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #43
|prev=People Power!
|next=The Cosmic Carnival
|title="The Big Broadcast of 2006"
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #180–181
|prev2=The Cosmic Carnival
|next2=Space Pirates!
|image=MarvelUS-43.jpg
|caption=I don't care if this isn't really happening! It's ''still'' gonna feel good to knock that goofy look off your face!
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|shippingdate=[[April 26]], [[1988]]
|onsaledate=[[May 17]], 1988
|coverdate=August 1988
|adaptation= [[Ralph Macchio]]
|script=[[Simon Furman]] (UK framing sequence)
|pencils=[[Alan Kupperberg]], [[Lee Sullivan]] (UK framing sequence)
|inks=[[Dave Elliott]]
|colors=[[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]], [[Steve White]] (UK framing sequence)
|letters=[[Kurt Hathaway]], [[Gary Gilbert|GLIB]] (UK framing sequence) 
|editor=[[Don Daley]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]] (UK version) Alternate future (US version)
}}

'''Tales from a hopefully-forgotten future, ''or Wreck-Gar's story-time torture theatre!'''''

==Synopsis==
{{noteukonly}}
''On a distant planet, [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] is being tortured for information about a mysterious but valuable canister. He finally gives in to the pain, and begins to "squeal"...''

[[File:BigBroadcastUS-WreckGar.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.8]]
The [[Quintesson]]s disgorge the [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] on the [[Junkion (planet)|planet of Junk]] to recover a lost artifact. When Wreck-Gar learns of their presence, he leads his fellow [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]] in driving off the Sharkticons. Realizing that the Junkions' power and defensive nature will make recovering their canister by force too difficult, the Quintessons arrange for a more passive approach.

The next day, Wreck-Gar and his people awaken to find a massive new projection [[Television|TV]] and satellite dish waiting for them, transmitting the Universal Broadcasting Network. Instilling the programming with hypnotic harmonics, the Quintessons begin broadcasting subliminal xenophobic messages to the Junkions, convincing them that "all other lifeforms are their enemies!"

As word of the Junkions' transfixation spreads, space scouts [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] and [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] bring word of it to their respective Autobot and Decepticon camps. [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]] instructs the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] to commit further surveillance, but [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] couldn't be any less interested.

On Junk, the second hypnotic signal begins transmitting, influencing the Junkions to adopt the principles of neatness and organization. In effect, the Quintessons are making the Junkions search for their canister, and leave it neatly labeled and categorized somewhere for them to retrieve.

As the Aerialbots begin their reconnaissance run, though, they get caught in a crossfire between the now-xenophobic Junkions and the hiding Quintessons. [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] uses his photon displacer gun to disrupt the Quintesson ship so that they can't track the Aerialbots anymore. The Autobots manage to regroup and form [[Superion (G1)|Superion]], attacking the Quintesson ship head-on. His attack on the ship's [[force field]] overloads their systems, causing a feedback explosion which knocks Superion for a loop, but also destroys the Quintessons' weapons. They beat a hasty retreat while Superion is rescued by Sky Lynx.

Back on Junk, though, another aspect of the Quintessons' system damage becomes evident, as the Junkions are now being fed the message of "caring and sharing". In following that directive, Wreck-Gar realigns the satellite dish to broadcast the Quintessons' subliminal message out into the universe. This puts the entire universe on the edge of interstellar war, and the center of the conflict is the planet Junk, where the majority of hypnotized warmongers felt compelled to travel to.

As the Autobots and Decepticons arrive, [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] deals with the space armada while Rodimus Prime heads down to Junk and battles a hypnotized Galvatron, who was also drawn into the conflict. By freak coincidence, he happens to redirect one of Galvatron's blasts perfectly to catch a passing Quintesson ship, sending the canister it had come to retrieve hurling out through the vacuum of space.

In the meantime, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] have come up with a plan to stop the hypnotic broadcasting. Omega Supreme carries Blaster high into the air, where he broadcasts a high volume musical jamming signal. His mind momentarily cleared, Galvatron wails about how TeeVee bewitched him, and destroys the projection screen and antenna.

Freed of their mind control, the Junkions join the Autobots in driving the Decepticons off of Junk. It's all over, but the Autobots still have no idea what this all was about. In the meantime, the Quintessons lament the loss of their canister.

''With Wreck-Gar's story concluded, [[Mister Regan|the torturer]] turns to his shadowy employers with pride at a job well done. Unfortunately for him, his employers are the Quintessons and they know full well that Wreck-Gar's story is full of [[Slag (slang)|slag]]. They sentence the torturer to death for his incompetence. The Junkion concludes the story with a touching "Good night children... everywhere!"''

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Rodimus Prime]] (7)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (8)
* [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (9)
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (14)
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (15)
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (16)
* [[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (17)
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (18)
* [[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (19)
* [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (21)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (22)

|c2=
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (10)
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (11)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] (12)
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] (20)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]] (23)
* [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]] (24)

|h3=[[Junkion (species)|Junkions]]|c3=
* [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] (1)
* [[Nancy|Junkion lady]] (4)
* [[Junkyard (G1)|Junkyard]] (5)
* [[Short Junkion]] (13)

|h4=Others|c4=
* [[Mister Regan]] (2)
* [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]] (3)
* [[Quintesson]]s (6)
}}

==Quotes==
"The '''fools!''' They made such a racket, the whole planet's been alerted! The canister is '''lost''' to us!" 
"And we came so close! So close!" 
"Shut up!"
:—The '''Quintessons''' are jerks even to each other.

"I'll take American history for five hundred, please." 
"With ketchup."
:—'''Wreck-Gar''' and '''Junkion lady'''

"And this combination granny and attack-dog bot can be yours if you name that price!"
:—'''Gameshow host''' offering the product of the century.

"The television! It '''bewitched''' me!"
:—'''Galvatron''' says one of his best lines ever.

"Imbecile! Wreck-Gar's whole account is full of absurdities and contradictions, not to mention '''lies!''' ...You have fallen for the equivalent of a '''children's story!''' I accuse you of feeble-minded '''stupidity!'''"
:—The '''Quintessons''' are not impressed with this issue.

==Production notes==
* This story is a "fill-in" issue, adapting the [[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|1986 cartoon episode of the same name]] into comic form. It was produced as an "inventory story," written and drawn and kept in reserve so that it could be slotted between issues of the ongoing comic to give the regular creative team a break, or buy them some time if they were running behind; at least one other cartoon episode, "[[The Dweller in the Depths]]", got the same treatment, but that story was never actually published. Issue #43 was originally solicited as containing the "[[The Cosmic Carnival]]," while issue #44 was meant to contain "[[Monstercon from Mars!]]"; with the insertion of this fill-in, "Carnival" was bumped to #44, and "Monstercon" to #45.

===Continuity notes===
*As an adaptation of a cartoon episode, the events of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' are part of the story's intended backstory, and it even makes reference to cartoon-exclusive backstory elements like the Quintessons having once ruled [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. When it was published, there was still a chance the comic would take a path similar enough to the movie that the issue would blend right into the continuity. This didn't happen so the issue doesn't work at all with the backstory intended by the writers and its place in the Marvel Comics continuity is left ambiguous. In 2015, [[Vector Prime]] declared that the issue existed in a fragmented [[universal stream]], [[Primax 488.0 Gamma]], while existing as a fictional work in [[Primax 986.13 Gamma]]. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime}}
* This issue marks the only appearance of several characters in the US comic: Ultra Magnus, the Junkions, the Quintessons, and the Sharkticons.
* The UK-only framing sequence picks up the tale of the future Autobots, last seen in "[[The Legacy of Unicron!]]".
* The story's spelling of "[[Chaar]]" (two As, one R) matches the spelling that would be found years later in internal [[Sunbow Productions]] documents, such as the [[dialogue script]]s. This means that the planet's official spelling has been known since 1988... yet "Charr" still persists in the [[fandom]] to this day. Oh well.
* The Sharkticons rather hilariously communicate with verbalizations such as "WRONK! WRONK!" and "SNART! SNART!" and "BNORT!"
* The narrative box refers to Omega Supreme as an "it".
* The text mentions the [[Atechnogenesis|evolution]] of mechanical life alongside organic life. This is given as the origin of the Quintessons, and possibly the Sharkticons and Junkions.

===Errors===
* On page 13, panel 4, Wreck-Gar is misnamed as Junk-Gar.
* Superion is depicted as barely taller than Rodimus and Ultra Magnus on one page.
* The two Transformers riding inside Omega Supreme look like unrecognizable generics, but they are apparently Ultra Magnus and Rodimus Prime.
* In one panel, Omega Supreme is depicted as large enough for Ultra Magnus and Rodimus Prime to be comfortably riding inside. On the next page, he's barely taller than Galvatron.
* Galvatron's first line on page 17 is directed toward Omega Supreme.
* Three panels later, Cyclonus is drawn in place of Galvatron.
* Scourge is referred to as "[[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]]".
* On page 18, Galvatron buries Rodimus in a rock slide. On 19, their battle continues. On 20, Rodimus finally breaks free of the rocks holding him down. Uh...?

===Real world references===
The US adaptation cuts some of the original cartoon episode's Junkion-spouted pop culture references and retains others. See "[[The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|The Big Broadcast of 2006]]" for a complete list. Additional references include:
* "I'll take American History for five hundred, please"—Wreck-Gar spouts a random line in the style of the game show ''{{w|Jeopardy!}}''
* The narrative box tells us that the giant TV announces its presence by playing ''[[Thus Spake Zarathustra]]'', famous among other things as the main [[theme song|theme]] of ''{{w|2001: A Space Odyssey}}''.
* As they approach the box, Wreck-Gar says "Trust me... I know what I'm doing"—the catchphrase of the cop parody show ''{{w|Sledge Hammer!}}''
* The starship ''[[USS Enterprise|Enterprise]]'' can be seen among the ships departing Junkion on the Quintessons' monitor screen.

The UK framing story adds more:
* When Wreck-Gar first acquiesces to the [[Mister Regan|torturer]], he exclaims, "I'll squeal, Mister Regan," a reference to the lead character in the classic British police drama, ''{{w|The Sweeney}}''.
* Wreck-Gar then opens his story by asking, "Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin...", the famous opening quote from the British radio programme, ''{{w|Listen with Mother}}''.
* After dropping a direct reference to ''{{w|Lost in Space}}'', Wreck-Gar also says "Same time, same channel," a phrase made most famous by the 1960s ''[[Batman]]'' television series.
* Wreck-Gar's closing line, "Good night children... everywhere!", was the catchphrase sign-off line spoken by the much-loved {{w|Derek McCulloch}} at the end of every episode of the kids' radio show ''{{w|Children's Hour}}'', broadcast in the UK from 1922 to 1964. The phrase became so ingrained on the British national consciousness that in 1940 it was used as a song title by singer {{w|Vera Lynn|Dame Vera Lynn}}, and also as the title of an award-winning 1997 {{w|Goodnight Children Everywhere|play}}. The phrase was also memorably quoted in the surreal 1960s British TV series ''{{w|The Prisoner}}'' (specifically, the episode "{{w|The Girl Who Was Death}}") - as with the aforementioned ''Children's Hour'' radio show (and also Wreck-Gar in this story), it was used to signify that a reader had finished recounting an imaginary tale.
* Also from ''The Prisoner'', one of that's show's trademark icons, the image of a Penny Farthing bicycle, is silhouetted across Wreck-Gar's face in the final panel.

===Changes from the episode===
Quite a few changes were made to the episode for its adaptation. Some were clearly to compress the story into 22 pages; others make less sense.
* The comic begins with the Sharkticon landing and subsequent battle. In the cartoon, this doesn't happen till after the Quintessons have analyzed the Junkions' culture and concluded that they "must attack by more subtle means". Considering that the very next scene shows a pack of freakin' SHARKTICONS landing on Junkion (about as unsubtle as you can get), it seems that the comic might feature the original, intended order of these scenes.
* In comic and cartoon, Wreck-Gar opens his attack on the Sharkticons with a hearty "Live from New York, it's..." In the cartoon, his fellow Junkions respond with "Your Hit Parade!" In the comic, this is changed to "No problem!", which was a catchphrase of the title character of the TV series ''[[ALF]]''. ALF also had a Marvel comic book series at the time, originally published under the Star Comics imprint.
* During the following battle, one of the Junkions rather randomly says "Where's my lunchbox?!"
* Instead of announcing that they "will return to the air at 6 A.M.", "Nancy" randomly says "It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness," a reference to {{w|The Christophers}}, a religious order which has a long-running television series.
* The Quintessons have various added lines during this whole segment.
* Subsequently, an entire scene not present in the cartoon shows the Quintessons setting up their hypnotic subliminal feed, and the Junkions discovering a giant projection TV that has appeared on their planet. The Junkions are hypnotized while watching the action movie ''[[Crambo]]''.
* Sky Lynx's run-in with Astrotrain over Junkion is omitted entirely; he just reports back to Rodimus.
* Rodimus and Magnus's conversation about leadership is omitted, leaving only Magnus's perfunctory line about "the new [[hyper generator]]".
* Some minor dialog changes during Sky Lynx and Astrotrain's reports to their respective leaders.
* The Junkions' initial reaction the Aerialbots' arrival ("Warning, Will Robinson!") is omitted from the comic.
* Unlike the cartoon, Silverbolt actually manages to command the team to combine before doing so. The comic, however, hilariously misparses a script instruction to have only Air Raid and Silverbolt combined. In the cartoon, they're both in Superion mode, so it's just Superion with only one leg. In the comic, however, they're just kind of stuck together in jet mode (referred to as "semi-Superion mode".)
* The comic includes a subsequent scene with Fireflight using his [[photon displacer gun]] to disrupt local light rays, buying the Aerialbots time to combine. This causes them to disappear from the Junkions' sight as well—explaining Wreck-Gar's otherwise-random line of "Jeepers, Mr. Kent! Where'd they go?"
* The entire battle sequence of Cyclonus and the Sweeps attacking Junkion is omitted from the comic.
* The "[[combination granny and attack-dog-bot]]" line is still present—but it's drawn coming from an aerobics class instead of a [[If You Can Name That Price|game show]].
* Superion's return to Cybertron is compressed down to a single panel and two lines of dialog.
* The Quintessons' lines about selling arms to the warring factions is omitted from the comic.
* Cyclonus's second encounter with Galvatron is completely omitted; instead he and Scourge are surprised to see Galvatron leaving Chaar, and follow him.
* The cat-like inhabitants of [[Delta Pavonis IV]] get hypnotized by watching the show "Space Ace Jack" instead of "[[Space-Age Jack]]".
* Galvatron receives the subliminal message while he "watches the broadcast in his bubbling pool" (which, by the by, doesn't actually show the broadcast.)
* The Autobots' run-in with Cyclonus and the Sweeps while en route to Junkion is omitted.
* The Quintesson's last strategy discussion ("War rages everywhere!") is omitted.
* Naturally, the meeting of Cyclonus and Galvatron in space is omitted.
* "Laser wars..." gets changed back into the original "Star Wars... nothing but Star Wars!"
* Omega finally shows up at this point; he flies around in robot mode the entire issue.
* The scene of Omega taking the shot for Rodimus is omitted.
* Rodimus is given Galvatron's line of "A scrapyard! What an appropriate place for you to meet your end." Rodimus's response of "You're the one that'll be junk" is given to... Cyclonus. Oops!
* Wreck-Gar's line of "substantial penalty for early withdrawal", originally said as the Decepticons retreat, is randomly placed in the early stages of the battle instead.
* The comic inserts a whole page of battle and comic-style banter between Galvatron and Rodimus, including Rodimus getting buried under some rubble.
* Again, as Blaster counters the hypnotics, Omega flies in robot mode, rather than rocket mode. He's carrying a giant radio-mode Blaster, rather than Magnus carrying him.

===UK printing===
[[File:WreckGar Quintessons Story MarvelUK181.jpg|thumb|"HOW DID YOU NOT KNOW HE WAS QUOTING A TV SHOW?! THAT'S ALL HE DOES!"]]
* While the UK offices were in no position to pass up on any US material being produced, issue #180 also completely conflicted with the Movie-Future they had established. To sidestep continuity problems, Simon Furman wrote a framing sequence establishing US issue #43 as an imaginary story dreamed up by Wreck-Gar, as part of a lead in to his "[[Space Pirates!]]" arc.

'''Issue #180'''
*'''Published:''' [[August 20|20th August]], 1988
*'''Cover date:''' [[August 27|27th August]], 1988
* '''Back-up strips:''' ''[[Action Force (comic)|Action Force]]'' ("Launch Base," Part 3) and ''[[Combat Colin]]''

'''Issue #181'''
*'''Published:''' [[August 27|27th August]] 1988
*'''Cover date:''' [[September 3|3rd September]] 1988
* '''Back-up strips:''' ''Action Force'' ("Launch Base," Part 4) and ''Combat Colin''; the ''Action Force'' story is given the ending tag "To be continued in the near future," as the comic will be taking a break from ''Action Force'' to reprint ''[[Visionaries]]'' for a few months.
* In issue #181, UK writer Furman takes a not-so-subtle dig at the quality of the story via his Quintesson interrogator.

===Courtesy of my...===
* Fireflight transforms and fires his [[photon displacer gun]].
* The Quintesson ship fires charged [[Particle beam cannon|particle beams]].

===Covers (3)===
* '''US issue #43 cover:''' Rodimus vs Galvatron by [[Herb Trimpe]].
* '''UK issue #180 cover:''' Wreck-Gar reading the story itself by [[Lee Sullivan]].
* '''UK issue #181 cover:''' Wreck-Gar dreaming of Rodimus and Galvatron fighting by Lee Sullivan.

<gallery>
File:MarvelUS-43.jpg|'''US issue #43''' – That's it Galvatron, hit his fist with your chin...
File:MarvelUK-180.jpg|'''UK Issue #180''' – If the Big Bad Wolf turns out to be a Sharkticon, we quit.
File:MarvelUK-181.jpg|'''UK Issue #181''' – Wreck-Gar always kicked off the bondage sessions by fantasizing first.
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
====US====
* Capcom's ''Gun Smoke'' game - inside front cover
* Nintendo's ''Double Dragon'' - between pages 4 & 5
* Candilicious candy - between pages 5 & 6
* East Coast Comics - between pages 9 & 10
* Konami NES video games - between pages 12 & 13 (2 pages)
* Mark Jewelers rings (glossy insert)
* ''Rambo'' for Nintendo (sadly not adjacent to the comic appearance of [[Crambo]]) / Great Eastern comic book conventions - between pages 15 & 16
* Bullpen Bulletins and checklist - between pages 19 & 20
* Marvel's Super Mart - between pages 20 & 21
* [[Letters page|Transmissions]]
* Marvel subscription service
* TSR ''Hunt for Red October'' board game - inside back cover
* Chips Ahoy! (back cover)

====UK====
????

===Reprints===
* '''''[[Classic Transformers]] [[Classic Transformers Volume 3|Volume 3]]''''' – Panels from US issues [[Child's Play (issue)|#35]], [[Spacehikers!|#36]], [[People Power!|#42]] and [[The Cosmic Carnival|#44]], by [[José Delbo]], [[Don Perlin]], [[Dave Hunt]], [[Don Hudson]], [[Ian Akin]], [[Brian Garvey]], and [[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]].
* '''''[[The Transformers Classics]], [[The Transformers Classics, Vol. 4|Vol. 4]]''''' – [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]], by [[Guido Guidi]].
* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]] Volume 14: Space Pirates''''' – [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]] and a scene of [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] strung up, by [[Don Figueroa]], [[Dougie Braithwaite]] and [[Dave Harwood]].

<gallery>
File:Classic Transformers Vol3.jpg|'''''Classic Transformers Volume 3''''' (IDW Publishing, 2009)
File:TFClassicsVol4.jpg|'''''The Transformers Classics, Vol. 4''''' (IDW Publishing, 2012)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v14.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection Volume 14: Space Pirates''''' (Hachette Partworks, 2017)
</gallery>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Big Broadcast of 2006}}
[[Category:Generation 1 episode adaptations]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]
[[Category:Marvel US issues]]

Nothing Will Ever Be the Same Again!

2025-11-02T21:49:02Z

Some Dweeb:

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye]]: [[Revolution]]'' one-shot
|prev=Last Light (issue)
|next=Dissolution Part 1: Some Other Cybertron
|image=MTMTERev regcvr.jpg
|caption=Worlds will live. Worlds will die.
|title=The Scavengers in: "Nothing Will Ever Be the Same Again!"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[December 7]], [[2016]]
|coverdate=November 2016
|written by=[[Nick Roche]] and [[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Chris Mowry]]
|editor=[[Carlos Guzman]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era]]
}}
'''The Scavengers visit Earth so Crankcase can meet his online crush, who turns out to look quite different from his profile pic.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:NothingWillEverBeTheSameAgain-MP3.jpg|thumb|left|Seems like a Joe named "MP3" should be pirate-themed.]]
The [[Scavengers (G1)|Scavengers]] have come to [[Earth]] so that [[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] can meet "[[CONS4EVA]]", a fellow poster on [[The Big Conversation]] messageboard with whom he has grown close. The group sets [[Weak Anthropic Principle|their ship]] down in the [[New Mexico]] desert, but while [[Fulcrum]] and [[Krok (G1)|Krok]] are busy helping Crankcase get ready for his date, [[Grimlock (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Grimlock]] breaks out and starts charging across the country into [[Texas]]. Keen to hide another of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]]'s episodes from their shipmates, [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] and [[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] secretly take off after him, following the trail of destruction to the town of [[Amarillo]]. There, using [[holomatter]] avatars to disguise themselves as "Alex Higgins" and "Dennis Taylor", agents of [[M.A.S.K.]], they cross paths with over-keen local [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] representative and complete no-hoper [[MP3]], right after he fails to impress a [[Brandon|disaffected young bystander]] with an official G.I. Joe-branded souvenir ink pen. MP3 joins the pair in tracking Grimlock, but as they follow the Dinobot's trail to [[Arlington]], the Joe's "[[Action Van]]" breaks down. Considering himself no longer able to help on the mission, MP3 takes his helmet off, prompting the Decepticons to have their avatars do the same... whereupon the sight of the misshapen, poorly-composited, one-eyed face Misfire has made for his avatar causes MP3 to faint! Not realizing the human has merely passed out, the two think he is dead and bury him, then head on to Arlington, where they survey the damage Grimlock has caused. Watching as an EMT resuscitates an injured woman, the pair realize their mistake with MP3, and Spinister heads back to dig him up while Misfire continues after Grimlock.

Meanwhile, back at the ''Weak Anthropic Principle,'' Crankcase, Krok, and Fulcrum step outside to look for "CONS4EVA", but no sooner have they done so than the mystery of Crankcase's penpal's identity is seemingly solved, as the massive form of [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] looms over them! Having encountered the apocalyptic [[Decepticon]] before, Crankcase is paralyzed with fear, forcing Krok to hit him a smack in order to activate his weapons, blasting Thunderwing and buying them all a moment to get back inside the ship. Thunderwing pursues... then holds his hands up, revealing that he is ''not'' Thunderwing, but, in fact, one of the shape-shifting [[Dire Wraith]]s! Familiar with the alien race's evil ways, Krok is immediately untrusting, but the Wraith—who is indeed "CONS4EVA", and who unknowingly took Thunderwing's form because Crankcase talks about him a lot—explains that he does not share his species' taste for conquest and consumption, and hopes that Crankcase can help him perform "The Crossover"—a ceremony from [[Temptoria]]n religion expressing ultimate loyalty to the Temptorian deity known as "The Brand", which opens a portal that leads the way to a new life. Crankcase laments his poor romantic luck, but otherwise has no desire to leave his life behind; still, he agrees to help his new friend perform the ceremony. The Wraith goes on to detail how The Crossover requires the involvement of a third species, at which point Spinister arrives with the unconscious MP3.

[[File:GrimlockPresent.jpg|thumb|upright=1.8|Me Grimlock can has sord-burger?]]
Misfire finally catches up to Grimlock in [[Dallas]], where he is digging through a construction site. Grimlock hurls a boulder at Misfire's avatar, prompting the Decepticon to transform and sternly tell him that he can't continue to act so carelessly, especially where there's no obvious objective to his actions. From the dirt, Grimlock suddenly pulls a huge sword, and charges at Misfire... only, rather than attack, he sadly presents him with the weapon, which bears the names of Grimlock's Dinobot comrades, all carved in the hilt. Realizing that the sword is Grimlock's, left on Earth before the Dinobot leader was taken to [[Garrus-9]], Misfire is thrilled that Grimlock has displayed a real memory, having feared that he was lost for good when he ran off. "Never so happy to lose a bet with myself", Misfire grins... to which Grimlock smirks and replies, "Loser..".

Back at the Scavengers' ship, Spinister apologizes to MP3 for burying him alive. Fortunately, the G.I. Joe has survived the experience by using the casing of his souvenir pen as a breathing tube! The glum MP3 explains that he is the last member of the G.I. Joe "[[Admin Force]]", the paper-pushers of the group who have all gone their own way. Tired of the job himself, he has even written a letter of resignation that he always keeps on his person, but has never had the courage to post. Intrigued by the prospect of getting to live a new life, MP3 agrees to take part in The Crossover... but when the Wraith, Crankcase, and he enact the "Brand loyalty" ceremony, the portal that it opens is so tiny, none of them are able to fit through it!

A little later, after Misfire and Grimlock have returned, Crankcase asks the Wraith and MP3 if they want to join the Scavengers. The Wraith politely declines, interested in finding his own way in life, having decided after meeting the Scavengers that maybe being "different" isn't so bad. MP3, on the other hand, is raring to go, and runs off to send his resignation letter to Joe command through the little portal. Fulcrum has other ideas; the big-chinned 'Con ''hates'' humans, and quickly blasts off, leaving MP3 desperately trying to reach through the portal to get his letter back!

==Featured characters==
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Grimlock (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Grimlock]] (1)
|c2=
*[[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] (4)
*[[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] (5)
*[[Fulcrum]] (6)
*[[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] (7)
*[[Krok (G1)|Krok]] (8)
|c4=
*[[MP3]] (2)
*[[Brandon]] (3)
*"[[CONS4EVA]]" (9)
}}

==Quotes==
"When I '''want''' your opinion, '''Fulcrum,''' I'll '''kill''' myself."
:—'''Krok'''

"It's '''humans''' I hate. I mean have you '''seen''' them? Absolutely '''covered''' in pores. And when they '''exert themselves''' they secrete this— this—" ''(gags)'' "I can't even describe it."
:—'''Fulcrum'''

"Be who you are. Within reason, obviously. Be a '''less abrasive''' version of who you are."
:—'''Krok''' gives Crankcase dating advice

"Typical! It's typical of my '''luck'''! Every time I take the '''tiniest''' step towards some '''loose approximation''' of happiness, '''fate''' comes along to '''shoot me in the face!'''"
:—'''Crankcase'''

"'''The Brand''' is a '''deity'''—one that's normally worshipped by the '''Temptorians'''. Dire Wraiths steal everything—including gods."
:—'''Krok'''

"At least '''three''' distinct species are required to make it a proper crossover. With just two, it's... we have a word for it: '''t'mup.'''"
:—'''CONS4EVA'''

"Again, about the '''premature burial'''... I'm sorry you weren't dead. Also: I'm glad you weren't dead." 
"I was '''conscious''' when you did it, '''Spinister'''! I '''resisted'''...!" 
"I thought it was '''human post-death reflex syndrome'''...!"
:—'''Spinister''' and '''MP3'''

"I hope you're proud of yourselves, 'cos that wasn't bad for your first crossover. Sure, we didn't get what we asked, but I think it might be The Brand's way of telling us to make the most of '''this''' life. Or, as they call it, the 'one shot'."
:—'''CONS4EVA'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
*We first heard about The Big Conversation website back in [[Some Of My Best Friends Are Autobots|issue #45]].
*Misfire explains to Spinister that G.I. Joe is led by [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]]; however, Misfire's data is outdated, Duke having departed G.I. Joe in between {{i|G.I. Joe vol. 3|''G.I. Joe'' vol. 3}} and {{i|G.I. Joe vol. 4|''G.I. Joe'' vol. 4}} (over two years prior in-universe).
*Crankcase does not wish to disclose his alt-mode beforehand due to the risk of trolling by neo-[[Functionism|Functionists]]; the Decepticon movement and the Great War broke out largely as a result of Functionist oppression.
*Been a good few years since we saw Thunderwing; he last appeared under the control of [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] in ''[[Spotlight: Sideswipe]]'', just over eight years before the publication of this issue. As explained in footnotes, he attacked [[Nebulos]] in [[Stormbringer issue 3|''Stormbringer'' #3]], in which Crankcase—making his first IDW continuity appearance—was indeed shown to be part of the infiltration unit on the planet.
*The planet Temptoria previously appeared in [[Before & After|issue #12]].
*Though not mentioned by name, the third and final city Grimlock ends up in must be Dallas, as that was—per the footnote in this issue—where he fought [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]] in the [[Maximum Dinobots issue 5|final issue of ''Maximum Dinobots'']]. Grimlock's sword was last seen in that issue when he stabbed it into the ground so he could free his hands to attend to a wounded [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]], and it has evidently remained there ever since. We'd be remiss if we didn't point out that the sword designs don't match between issues, but we'll chalk that up to artist variance.
**The sword is scored with the names of the other Dinobots, and uses Slug's original name, having been left behind before he was informed of the "offensiveness" of his name.
*Grimlock displayed the ability to suddenly and inexplicably speak despite appearing incapable of the feat in [[Animals|issue #46]].

===Transformers references===
*Other posters on The Big Conversation include "Starscream's Ghost", referring to the [[Starscream's Ghost|Generation 1 cartoon episode]] of the same name and the legacy of supernatural shenanigans surrounding Starscream it birthed, and "Cassette Man", named after the original ''[[Microman|Micro Change]]'' toy that became [[Soundwave (G1)/toys|Generation 1 Soundwave]].
*[[Aquaria]], the planet which CONS4EVA claims to have been stationed on originates from [[James Roberts]]'s 2001 fan novel ''Eugenesis''.

===Other franchise references===
*[[John Barber]] asked Roche and Roberts to "do an Ennis" and emulate DC's ''Hitman'', a [[DC Comics]] series by Garth Ennis that did very barbed and sneaky contributions to crossovers. Roberts cited the ''Hitman'' stories for ''DC One Million'' (which gleefully skewers the very concept) and ''Final Night'' (a bar conversation as people wait for the apocalypse to end) as examples.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=True story: @NickRoche and I were specifically asked by outgoing TF editor @TheJohnBarber to "do an Ennis" à la Final Night and DC 1,000,000 https://t.co/NCQSw5RTF2|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/808430903303274496|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2016|month=12|day=12|(defunct=)}}</ref> ''Unlike'' some of the Ennis stories, they didn't mean to diss ''Revolution''.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Not mocking Revolution, you understand - just having fun with the idea of crossovers and getting to be the playful standalone title.|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/808431311413243904|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2016|month=12|day=12|(defunct=)}}</ref>
*Brandon compares Grimlock to the robotic animals of the ''[[Zoids]]'' franchise, an 80s toyline produced by [[TakaraTomy|Tomy]]. Though today better known for its 1999 relaunch in Japan and the various anime series that were produced as a result over the following years (that's how Brandon knows about it, we imagine!), Roberts and Roche are assuredly more familiar with the brand from the European version of the 80s toyline and the highly memorable {{w|Spider-Man and Zoids|''Zoids'' comic}} published by [[Marvel Comics|Marvel UK]] to go along with it.
*MP3 gets cut off trying to deliver the famous ''G.I. Joe'' [[Public service announcement|PSA]] catchphrase, "Knowing is half the battle." PSAs were recorded and animated for the Generation 1 cartoon that saw the Autobots use this catchphrase too, but they never aired.
*Misfire and Spinister quote the ''M.A.S.K.'' theme song in a substantially more on-the-nose way than the main ''Revolution'' series did.
*Action Van... [[Action Man]]. Admin Force... [[Action Force (team)|Action Force]]. Get it? 'Course you get it. Now go do something with your life.
*The portal opened by The Crossover ceremony, which grants anyone who passes through it a new life, depositing them somewhere else, seems to owe something to the [[wikia:marvel:Siege Perilous|Siege Perilous]] from Marvel's ''[[X-Men]]'' comics, which accomplishes the same effect.
*Crankcase refers to the Dire Wraiths as "the reason Megatron steered clear of the [[Dark Nebula]]", home of the Dire Wraiths in the Marvel ''{{w|Rom: Spaceknight}}'' comics.
**Both the ''Rom'' and ''Transformers'' franchises independently utilized a "Dark Nebula" back in the 80s, and appropriately enough they have been worked together for the newly unveiled Hasbro Universe.

===Real-life references===
*With its talk of "brand loyalty" and "t'mup"s, this whole issue is about poking fun at big comic crossovers in general, and its title is a reference to the hyperbolic promotion such events often receive. The phrase was genuinely used to promote Marvel's "{{w|House of M}}" event in 2005 (the first major modern crossover event after a dry period of many years which reintroduced the concept and made it a regular, recurring fixture of the comic book industry landscape again) and has become a bit of a parodic buzz-phrase in the years since.
*Real-world landmarks visible in Grimlock's rampage through {{w|Amarillo, Texas}} include the Amarillo National Bank, the Courtyard hotel, and the Petroleum Building. Later, in {{w|Arlington, Texas|Arlington}}, the damaged {{w|AT&T Stadium}} can be seen, before MP3's radio reports that he has also hit {{w|Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth}}, no big loss (sorry, Fort Worth!)
*Misfire and Spinister's human aliases are taken from rival snooker players {{w|Alex Higgins}} and {{w|Dennis Taylor}} (hence the subtle gag in MP3's line about them "bringing tricks to the table"). Clearly not grasping stereotypical norms regarding human sexual dimorphism, Spinister's female holoform is "Dennis" (and ''towers'' over Misfire's "Alex")!
*One of the other members of G.I. Joe's "Admin Force" is named "[[Blue Tick]]", after the famous [[Twitter]] verification icon.

===Errors===
*Maybe we're overthinking the comedy here, but Misfire's got two eyes, a nose, and a mouth in proper human proportion on his ''own'' face, so why wouldn't he know to replicate that on his holo-avatar's face...?
*CONS4EVA's ability to shapeshift into a form of his choosing, whilst something [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]]'s [[Dire Wraith]] were capable of, is not consistent with how they have been depicted in this continuity; in the [[ROM (comic)|''ROM'' comic]], it has been established that IDW's Wraiths essentially function like parasites, having to merge themselves with a victim's body in order to take on their appearance.

===Other trivia===
*This issue was originally intended to be released in November, prior to the [[Valley Forge|final issue]] of ''Revolution''. Delays pushed it into December, after the crossover had concluded, but that's not a problem since it's a humorous issue not directly connected to anything going on in the event.

===Foreign Localization===
'''Swedish:'''
* ''Title:'' "'''Inget kommer nånsin bli sig likt igen!'''" ("Nothing Will Ever Be the Same Again!")

===Covers (4)===
*'''Regular cover:''' Misfire and Crankcase grab some takeout with [[Rom]], [[Matt Trakker]], [[Brad Turner]], [[Gloria Baker]], [[Scarlett]], [[Snake-Eyes]], [[Roadblock (G.I. Joe)|Roadblock]], and [[Lady Jaye]], by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]. M.A.S.K. vehicle "[http://www.albertpenello.com/mask/hurricane.html Hurricane]" is sitting off to the side by Trakker's [[Thunderhawk]]; neither this vehicle nor its classic driver Hondo MacLean have appeared in IDW continuity yet.
*'''Subscription cover A:''' Grimlock versus Rom and lesser-known M.A.S.K. operative Ace Riker, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]. Riker is based on his 1987 action figure, wearing a black, silver, and gold flight-suit and his "Cruise Control" mask, but the mask has been colored red like the "Ricochet" mask worn by his 1986 action figure.
*'''Subscription cover B:''' Blank cover for sketches
*'''Retailer incentive cover:''' Grimlock, Misfire, and Spinister, by [[Ken Christiansen]]

<gallery>
File:MTMTERev regcvr.jpg|The food sucks here. Let's go to [[Burger Bot]].
File:MTMTERev subcvrA.jpg|Where's Riker's trombone?
File:MTMTERev subcvrB.jpg|Blank cover for sketches.
File:MTMTERev cvrRI.jpg|Didn't these guys see ''Jurassic World''?
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
*''[[The Transformers: Lost Light|Lost Light]]'' [[Dissolution Part 1: Some Other Cybertron|#1]]
*''Revolution'' tie-in one-shots
*End of ''Revolution'' and the start of ''[[Reconstruction]]'', including [[New Cybertron Part 1: To Walk Among the Chosen|''Optimus Prime'' #1]] and [[M.A.S.K. issue 1|''M.A.S.K.'' #1]].

===Reprints===
*'''''Revolution: Transformers''''' ([[March 8]], [[2017]]) ISBN 1631408429 / ISBN 978-1631408427 
**Collects ''[[The Transformers: Till All Are One|Till All Are One]]'': [[Informed|''Revolution'' #1]], [[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|''The Transformers'' (2012)]]: [[Thundercracker & Buster Save the World|''Revolution'' #1]], ''More than Meets the Eye'': ''Revolution'' #1, and ''[[The Transformers Holiday Special]]''.
**Trade paperback format.

*'''''Revolution''''' ([[March 29]], 2017) ISBN 978-1631409370
**Collects ''Revolution'' issues [[Secret Raiders: A Revolution Prelude|#0]]–[[Valley Forge|5]] and all the tie-in one-shots.
**Bonus material includes a cover gallery.
**Hardcover format, exclusively sold through the comic book direct market.

*'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 81: Revolution''''' ([[February 19]], [[2020]])
**Collects ''Revolution'' issues #0–5, ''Till All Are One'': ''Revolution'' #1, ''The Transformers'' (2012): ''Revolution'' #1, and ''More than Meets the Eye'': ''Revolution'' #1.
**Bonus material includes an intro from [[Simon Furman]].
**Hardcover format.

*'''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Three: Volume 1]]''''' ([[November 17]], [[2021]]) ISBN 1684058422 / ISBN 978-1684058426
**Collects ''Revolution'' issues #0–5, ''Till All Are One'': ''Revolution'' #1 & issues [[Ping|#5]]–[[Rubicon|8]], ''The Transformers'' (2012): ''Revolution'' #1, ''Action Man'': ''Revolution'' #1, ''More than Meets the Eye'': ''Revolution'' #1, and ''[[Revolutionaries]]'' issues [[Crisis Intervention|#1]]–[[The Iron Klaw|4]].
**Hardcover format.

* '''''Transformers: Några av mina bästa vänner är Autoboter''''' ([[November]], [[2025]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #39 & #41-46, ''Drift: Empire of Stone'' issues #1-4 and the ''Revolution'' one-shot.
** Swedish reprint. Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:Revolution-Transformers-TPB.jpg|'''''Revolution: Transformers''''' – cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:Revolution-HC.jpg|'''''Revolution''''' – cover art by [[James Biggie]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v81.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 81: Revolution''''' – cover art by [[Dreamwave Productions]] (Blitzwing) and [[Fico Ossio]] (retro)
File:IDWCollectionP3V1.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Three: Volume 1''''' – cover art by [[Sara Pitre-Durocher]]
File:MTMTE SWE 05.jpg|'''''Några av mina bästa vänner är Autoboter''''' – cover art by Alex Milne and Josh Perez
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.newsarama.com/32218-the-worst-of-the-worst-decepticons-invade-in-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-revolution-1.html Preview]

[[Category:IDW More than Meets the Eye issues]]
[[Category:Revolution issues]]

The Sensuous Frame

2025-11-02T21:44:39Z

Some Dweeb:

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=41
|prev=Our Steps Will Always Rhyme
|next=The Frail Gaze
|image=MTMTE41_subcvr.jpg
|title="The Sensuous Frame"
|caption=The idea of a "Thunder Clash [[Skyquake (Prime)|Pre-Memorial Hospital]]" is not out of the question either.
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[May 27]], [[2015]]
|coverdate=May 2015
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]] and [[Chris Mowry]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2015)]]
}}
'''The crew of the ''Lost Light'' is invited to the "pre-wake" of the soon-to-be-deceased Thunderclash, but Nightbeat and Getaway soon learn there is quite ''literally'' more than meets the eye going on aboard the ''Vis Vitalis''.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:SensuousFrame-ThunderClash.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.7]]
Decorated space-faring hero [[Countdown (G1)|Countdown]] arrives on the ''[[Vis Vitalis]]'' to see his ailing mentor [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]]—at last, the famous Autobot's old war wound has apparently gotten the better of him, and he now lies at death's door. Escorted by the ship's first officer [[Firestar (G1)|Firestar]] to the side of the mute, unmoving Thunderclash—trapped in alternate mode by [[rigor morphis]]—Countdown is left alone with his former teacher... at which point, he hears a knocking coming from within Thunderclash's trailer. Peering inside, Countdown only has time to scream...

On the ''[[Lost Light]]'', [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]], [[Getaway]], and [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] are all hanging out in [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]]'s room, but the [[Caminus (planet)|Camien]] bibliophile would rather read about the [[Froidian Classification System]] than indulge their silly antics. Mention of the psychologist's name leads Skids and Getaway to talk about [[Rung (G1)|Rung]], while Brainstorm manages to convince Nautica to try out his upside-down harness, which she ends up enjoying. Brainstorm has also completed an upgrade to [[Nautica's wrench]] at Getaway's request: the addition of a torch that counters [[attention deflector]]s, which Getaway plans to use to keep an eye out for the stealthy [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]]. Just then, an unfamiliar ringing is heard throughout the ship...

Simultaneously, in "[[Swerve's]]", Ravage and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] observe as [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]]—introverted following [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]]'s recent departure—finishes up his four-week viewing of every piece of human art and entertainment ever created. Just as he is describing the lessons he has learned, Swerve is interrupted by the ringing noise, which turns out to be a giant gong that [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] is ringing in order to summon the crew together. The gong signifies that the crew have "accomplished something": they have caught up to the ''Vis Vitalis'', and Rodimus can barely suppress his glee when he announces the news that his long-hated rival Thunderclash is on his deathbed, and that the crew are invited to a "pre-wake" in his honor. After giving the crew the news, Rodimus and [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] privately reveal to one another that they will not be attending the party, and their attempts to make excuses for not doing so lead to them scheduling a meeting for themselves during which they will "plan".

[[File:TheSensuousFrame-Firestar.jpg|thumb|Nautica reunited with her old [[Amica Endura|flame]].]]
Later, the pre-wake party is in full swing aboard the ''Vis Vitalis'', and the ''Lost Light''ers are all enjoying themselves... except for wallflowers Rung, Nautica, [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]], and [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]]. While Nightbeat takes Nautica's wrench and goes off to snoop around the ship, Nautica is approached by Firestar, who it turns out is her old room-mate and [[Amica Endura]] from Caminus, and who joined the ''Vis Vitalis'' crew when she and some other Camiens picked up a distress call and helped fix some damage the ship had taken. As she and Nautica swap stories, however, it soon becomes clear that Firestar is more "frenemy" than "friend", her catty remarks about Nautica's abilities and insistence on using the hated nickname "Naughty Nautica" soon mounting up, culminating in an awkward silence and an uncomfortable parting of the ways.

In Thunderclash's quarters, Camien crewmember [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] shows [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Minimus Ambus]] the supposed map to [[Cyberutopia]] that Thunderclash has carved into the room's wall, drawn from his dreams. [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] completes his examination of Thunderclash, which yields surprising results: whatever is killing Thunderclash, it is ''not'' his old [[spark]] injury, which has been miraculously healed around six months prior. Velocity explains that a passing medic was responsible, but cannot remember anything about her. Unable to deduce what has left Thunderclash in his current sorry state, First Aid opens his trailer to carry out an internal examination... but finds nothing.

[[File:Getaway photon the sensuous frame.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2]]
A little later, after the party has wound down and most of the crew have returned to the ''Lost Light'', Nautica hems and haws about staying for the funeral. A tired, out-of-sorts Skids tells her a few others are staying too, and will be picked up by Rodimus on his way back from a supply run; others such as Nightbeat, who has just found a strangely exhausted Getaway napping in the middle of a corridor. Just as Nightbeat rouses him, Ravage runs screaming down the hallway, his attention deflectors sparking, claiming that something is "everywhere" and "won't stop looking at him". Immensely intrigued, the pair set off after the frightened feline.

In Thunderclash's quarters, First Aid gets as surprise when he hooks the dying 'bot up to a monitor desk, and Thunderclash begins voluntarily, selectively shutting his systems down in order to make his life-signs on the monitor resemble words. First Aid, Velocity, and Minimus read his message: "You're all blind, you're all dead" ...and then turn when they hear the sound of knocking coming from within his trailer...

Nightbeat and Getaway follow Ravage into the ship's morgue, where they find the body of ex-racer-turned-public-speaker [[Photon (G1)|Photon]], and the ''still-warm'' corpse of Countdown. Shining the light of Nautica's torch onto Countdown exposes a horrible sight: a mass of [[technorganic]] eggs, clinging to his frame, invisible to the naked optic. Under the light, Getaway realizes they are on his body too... at which point, the pair suddenly find themselves surrounded by clawing alien creatures whose bodies are covered with the mysterious growths!
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Firestar (G1)|Firestar]] (1)
* [[Countdown (G1)|Countdown]] (2)
* [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] (3)
* [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] (4)
* [[Getaway]] (5)
* [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (6)
* [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (7)
* [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (8)
* [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (10)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (11)
* [[Rollout (G1)|Rollout]] (12)
* [[Boss (G1)|Boss]] (13)
* [[Siren (G1)|Siren]] (14)
* [[Aquafend]] (15)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Borer]] (16)
* ?  (17)
* ?  (18)
* [[Joyride (G1)|Joyride]] (19)
* [[Atomizer]] (20)
* [[Hosehead (G1)|Hosehead]] (21)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (22)
* [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] (23)
* [[Sky High (Pretender)|Sky High]] (24)
* [[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (25)
* [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (26)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (27)
* [[Xaaron]] (28)
* [[Dipstick]] (29)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Pointblank]] (30)
* [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (31)
* ?  (32)
* [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (33)
* [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (34)
* [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (35)
* [[Skater]] (36)
* [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (37)
* [[Repugnus (G1)|Repugnus]] (38)
* [[Doublecross]] (39)
* [[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]] (40)
* [[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] (41)
* [[Rad (G1)|Rad]] (42)
* [[Crosscut (G1)|Crosscut]] (43)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (44)
* [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] (45)
* [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (46)
* [[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]] (47, see errors)
* [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (48)
* [[Javelin]] (49)
* [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (50)
* [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] (52)
* [[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (53)
* [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (54)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Minimus Ambus]] (55)
* [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (56)
* [[Photon (G1)|Photon]]'s corpse (57)
{{!}}}
|c2=
* [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] (9)
|c4=
* [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (51)
}}

==Quotes==
"This is wonderful! And look! '''Reading!''' I can read upside down! I've always wondered if I could!" 
"You never thought to, I dunno, turn a book upside down?" 
... 
"I'm not here and you can't see me. I'm hiding behind my '''wall of shame.'''"
:—'''Nautica''' tries out Brainstorm's upside-down harness with some help from '''Skids'''

"Finished! One '''upgraded''' wrench! Where's that '''one Shanix''' you promised me?" 
"I fear I may have exploited your ignorance of monetary value. Tell you what: if that thing works, I'll pay you '''two''' Shanix! Whaddya say?"
:—'''Brainstorm''' strikes a hot deal with '''Getaway'''.

"Having devoured 30,000 years' worth of stories and songs—and having read and watched and listened to everything from ''The Maxims of Ptahhotep'' to ''Infinite Jest''—it's only '''now''' that I've come to realize three things—'''three bold and shining truths''' that I'll carry with me '''forever.''' 
:'''One:''' Life is inherently tragic—and over far too quickly.
:'''Two:''' All art thrives on conflict. We valorize fiction because it helps us make sense of ourselves.
:'''Three:''' Season 4 of ''Community'' was a serious misstep."
:—'''Swerve'''

"Have you met him?" 
"Not as such. I've tried to '''kill''' him several times..."
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Megatron''' on Thunderclash

"You've been sulking in your quarters ever since we went back in time and created you and '''yes''' I'm aware how that sounds."
:—'''Rodimus''' to '''Megatron'''

"I'm gonna plan you '''into next week.'''" 
"Maybe. Or maybe after five minutes you'll get bored and start carving pictures onto your desk." 
"'''Wrong,''' actually! Utterly, demonstrably, '''villainously''' wrong. I ran out of space '''ages''' ago."
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Megatron''' on their joint planning session

"What. Is. The. Matter. With. You." 
"I'm '''resting''', I'm not—why are you talking to me like I'm a '''broken vending machine?'''" 
"I'm trying to show concern. I've seen other people do it."
:—'''Nightbeat''' and '''Getaway'''

'''Velocity:''' "He's killing himself to send us a message...?" 
'''Minimus:''' "A '''grammatically correct''' message. Look at that apostrophe..." 
'''First Aid:''' "He had to reduce his lifespan by six hours to generate that 'apostrophe'." 
'''Minimus:''' "I know that's not supposed to '''impress''' me, but..."

"Aren't you going to look? Dead bodies. They're your favorite." 
"'''Murders''' are my favourite. A dead body's just a statement. A murder is a '''question:''' whodunit?"
:—'''Getaway''' and '''Nightbeat''' in the morgue

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* The presence of Mirage and the Protectobots on the ''Lost Light'' places this story before the ''[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]'' storyline, already well underway in the book's [[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|sibling]] [[The Transformers: Windblade|titles]] by the time this issue was released.
* Copious amounts of [[innermost energon]] have been donated for Thunderclash; we were introduced to this practice back in [[Before & After|issue #12]].
* [[Rigor morphis]] debuted ''waaaay'' back in [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|the very first issue]].
* Brainstorm's ability to work while hanging upside was previously seen in [[Rules of Disengagement (issue)|issue #7]].
* Nautica notes that Rung lent her the book she is reading; it was implied in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|issue #28]] that the pair had been exchanging books.
* Skids defends Rung, which indicates he's taking to heart [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]]'s request from [[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|last issue]] to be a friend to the psychiatrist.
* During Rodimus's announcement, Xaaron and Dipstick stand together in the audience, marking the third time the two have been spotted hanging out with one another in the series. It's perhaps safe to say at this point that the two are pals.
* Megatron and Rodimus's argument about "sulking" and "taking stock" echoes the one they had in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|issue #30]], with the roles reversed.
* Rodimus's habit of carving pictures into his desk was introduced in "[[Signal to Noise]]", back in [[More than Meets the Eye issue 13|issue #13]].
* Nautica mentioned having an Amica Endura back in [[slaughterhouse|issue #32]].
* Firestar is the new first officer of the ''Vis Vitalis'', which the ship was in need of since the [[Paddox|last one]] turned out to be an [[Ammonite]] in [[Little Victories|issue #22]].
* Thunderclash's map includes multiple uses of a familiar symbol: a gear-like hieroglyph seen engraved on the surface of [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]] and in the speech bubble of a mysterious ball of energy, both from [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|issue #21]].
* Minimus Ambus mentions that the ''Lost Light''{{'}}s version of the map was "memory-resistant", which was discovered in [[Under Cold Blue Stars|issue #15]].
* The fatal injury that Thunderclash has lived with is revealed to have been received after the fall of [[Grindcore (prison)|Grindcore prison]], an infamous location previously mentioned in [[Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|issue #39]] and "[[Bullets]]".
* Nightbeat makes a disparaging remark about Alpha Trion's supposed wisdom. We previously witnessed his distinct ''lack'' of awe towards the elder Autobot in [[Omega's Conundrum|Spotlight: Orion Pax]].
* Countdown is famous for his heroism in the [[Simanzi Massacre]].

===Transformers references===
* Firestar was one of the original [[Female Autobots]], who first appeared in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] episode "[[The Search for Alpha Trion]]". This is her first major role in G1-based fiction since then; she's mostly shown up in cameos since her original debut, partially due to [[Hasbro]]'s inability to [[trademark]] her name, requiring she be replaced in most stories with her lookalike, [[Flareup (disambiguation)|Flareup]]. Only the [[Aligned continuity family|Aligned]] [[Firestar (Prime)|version]] has had any significant role in her continuity's fiction.
* Generation 1 [[Micromaster]] Countdown is a similarly little-seen character, having received his biggest fictional role in [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s [[Transformers: Micromasters|''Micromasters'' mini-series]]. His being a legendary, highly decorated space hero comes directly from his original [[bio]]. [[Alex Milne]] gave him a redesign based on said toy.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Here is the design I did for countdown. Kept a lot of the G1 toy elements in the design :)|link=https://twitter.com/markerguru/status/598640312219738112|name=Alex Milne|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=05|day=13|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* Rodimus's quarters are numbered "077"; the original Rodimus Prime toy's [[List of Japanese ID numbers|Japanese ID number]] was C-77.
* Swerve notes that Ratchet would have loved the party on the ''Vis Vitalis''; it almost never factors into his characterisation in ''any'' fiction, and certainly the current old-and-grumpy IDW incarnation of the character seems ''well'' past enjoying this sort of thing, but Ratchet's original Generation 1 bio does mention that he loves to party.

===Real-life references===
* We don't really need to point out that this issue takes its title from a line in the [[Tennyson|Alfred, Lord Tennyson]] poem ''{{w|In Memoriam A.H.H.}}'', since the poem opens this issue (or more accurately, the 50th of the poem's 133 sub-sections). We previously saw [[Verity Carlo]] with a book of Tennyson's poems in ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'' [[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|issue #5]].
* As Swerve watches television, the narration from the opening sequence of ''[[Quantum Leap]]'' plays.
* Specific works Swerve mentions having experienced include {{w|The Maxims of Ptahhotep}} and ''{{w|Infinite Jest}}''.
** The publisher's summary of the latter describes it as "Equal parts philosophical quest and screwball comedy". Sound familiar to anyone?
* As quoted above, Swerve references TV show ''[[Community]]'', but gets cut off before he can finish complaining about the firing of series creator {{w|Dan Harmon}}.
* The "next issue" box promises "murder on the dancefloor", a reference to the {{w|Murder on the Dancefloor|Sophie Ellis-Bextor song of the same name}}.

===Errors===
* Nautica says that Rung "leant" (past tense of "lean", chiefly British) her a book, but it should say "lent" (past tense of "lend").
[[File:TheSensuousFrame Sureshot.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.7|NotSureIfShot]]
* The script, through Nautica's dialogue, makes the common mistake of mixing up "to infer" with "to imply." She says Rung "inferred" something to her, but the context makes it clear she means "implied."
* The 'bot at the centre of the dancefloor in our first look at the pre-wake is [[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]], but he's been coloured in pale blue, lavender and white instead of his normal yellow, red and orange. Given the coloured disco lightball and that Whirl is coloured red behind him, this could just be a stylistic choice.
* While listing Camiens on board, Firestar mentions a "[[Skystalker (G1)|Skystalker]]", but a few pages later, Nautica talks about a "Sky''striker''". It's hard to say how this came about; Roberts had made a habit of throwing in obscure characters who had yet to appear in IDW continuity, and Skystalker's opposite number [[Countdown (G1)|Countdown]] appears this same issue. Fellow Camien Firestar is another existing character, but the rest are brand new. In the next issue, artist Alex Milne gives the character a totally original design, but colorist Joana Lafuente gives him Skystalker's classic colours. "Skystriker" might be a reference to the [[Skystriker (vehicle)|''G.I. Joe'' vehicle]] of the same name. In the trade paperback, "Skystriker" is chosen as the correct name.
* On Thunderclash's wall map, a black line to the right of the re-charge socket is miscolored as part of his drawings.
* As Getaway and Nightbeat watch Ravage flail around, one of Ravage's speech bubbles ("They won't stop looking at me!") is misaligned—it's supposed to be touching the edge of the panel, but has been placed a little higher, leaving visible the flat edge of the bubble without an outline. This is corrected in the trade paperback.
* In the same sequence, some of the sparks flying off of Ravage are miscolored as part of his body, making him appear somewhat tattered.

===Other trivia===
* In addition to Javelin, Velocity, and the above-mentioned Skystriker, new Camiens named but not seen in this issue include [[Proxima (G1)|Proxima]] (who appears on the cover), [[Acceleron]], [[Exocet]], and [[Skimmer (G1)|Skimmer]]. Acceleron and Proxima are both female, while Skystriker is male; Skimmer and Exocet's genders are not mentioned.
* And speaking of which, Acceleron and Proxima are a ''couple'', making them the first-ever official female same-gender couple in Transformers history!
* An additional female Camien, [[Roadmaster]], appears on the cover but is not seen or mentioned in the story. She would, however, appear in the [[The Frail Gaze|next issue]].

===Soundtrack===
* "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kMT7r5lABc Last Night I Nearly Died (But I Woke Up Just In Time)]" by {{w|Duke Special}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Song 1 from MTMTE #41 is The Duke Special's rousing orchpop masterpiece, 'Last Night I Nearly Died' http://t.co/PakBETFL6M|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/600415058271838208|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=05|day=18|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjF6akZ2WqI Sweetest Decline]" by {{w|Beth Orton}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Song 2 from MTMTE #41 is 'Sweetest Decline' by Beth Orton: http://t.co/1UCVc0HZi5|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/600417547855523840|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=05|day=18|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxvkI9MTQw4 Cannonball]" by {{w|The Breeders}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Song 3 from MTMTE #41 is 'Cannonball' by the Breeders http://t.co/zaH9z6t3LA|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/600419681250443264|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=05|day=18|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9KVfZQgCYg Call Me Ishmael]" by {{w|Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Song 4 from MTMTE #41 is 'Call Me Ishmael' by Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly http://t.co/8qGe2aawnd|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/600422489211174912|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=05|day=18|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIHaNh3jRXg Flightless Bird, American Mouth]" by {{w|Iron & Wine}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Last one: Song 5 from MTMTE #41 is a poised, delicate version of Iron & Wine's 'Flightless Bird, American Mouth' https://t.co/XeaUAhfoRK|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/600425925717667841|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=05|day=18|(defunct=)}}</ref>

===Foreign Localization===
'''Swedish:'''
* ''Title:'' "'''Den sinnliga inramningen'''" ("The Sensous Framing")
** The narration from ''Quantum Leap'' remains in English since it, like most live-action media, was not dubbed when released in Sweden. (Also, its only Swedish release was a VHS of the pilot episode, but that's beside the larger point.)

===Covers (3)===
* '''Regular cover:''' Nautica reunites with Firestar and her other old Camien friends, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
* '''Subscription cover:''' Thunderclash's huge pre-memorial statue, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
* '''Retailer incentive cover:''' Drift and Ratchet, by [[Kotteri]]

<gallery>
File:MTMTE41 regcvr.jpg|Nautica resolved to never have another girls' night out with Firestar after she caused a major wildfire by simply walking past a couple of trees.
File:MTMTE41 subcvr.jpg|They apparently built the damn thing in front of the Ruby Crystal Mines of Burma.
File:MTMTE41 cvrRI.jpg|Y'all come back now, ya hear?
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''More than Meets the Eye'' #42
* "[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]"
* ''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' [[Expelled from the Garden|#6]]
* IDW ''{{i|Jem and the Holograms (comic)|Jem and the Holograms}}'' comic
* ''[[Godzilla]]: Rulers of Earth'' trade paperbacks
* ''Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland'' (back cover)

===Reprints===
* '''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 8''''' ([[October 21]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631404520 / ISBN 978-1631404528
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #39–44.
** Bonus material includes covers of each issue.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 63: Elegant Chaos''''' ([[June 12]], [[2019]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #35–42.
** Bonus material includes a cover gallery and a forward by [[Simon Furman]].
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 9]]''''' ([[June 19]], 2019) ISBN 1684054842 / ISBN 978-1684054848
** Collects [[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|''The Transformers'' (2012)]] issues [[First Contact (IDW)|#39]]–[[You, Me, and the Universe|41]], [[Now and On Earth|#42]] & [[South of Heaven|#43]], [[The Transformers: Windblade|''Windblade'' (2015)]] issues [[The Sum and Its Parts|#1]]–[[All That Remains|3]] & [[Windblade vol. 2 issue 4|#4]]–[[Race Against the Light|5]], and ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #41–44.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''Transformers: Några av mina bästa vänner är Autoboter''''' ([[November]], [[2025]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #39 & #41-46, ''Drift: Empire of Stone'' issues #1-4 and the ''Revolution'' one-shot.
** Swedish reprint. Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol8.jpg|'''''More Than Meets the Eye Volume 8''''' – cover art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v63.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 63: Elegant Chaos''''' – cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] (Trailbreaker) and Alex Milne (retro)
File:IDWCollectionP2V9.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 9''''' – cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:MTMTE SWE 05.jpg|'''''Några av mina bästa vänner är Autoboter''''' – cover art by Alex Milne and Josh Perez
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.newsarama.com/24609-funeral-for-a-fallen-autobot-in-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-41-exclusive-preview.html Preview]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sensuous Frame}}

Animals

2025-11-02T21:40:35Z

Some Dweeb:

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=46
|prev=Some Of My Best Friends Are Autobots
|next=The Lopsided Triangle
|image=MTMTE46_regcvr.jpg
|title="Animals"
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[November 4]], [[2015]]
|coverdate=October 2015
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|pencils by=[[Alex Milne]]
|inks by=[[Brian Shearer]], [[John Livesay]], [[John Wycough]], and Alex Milne
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]] and [[Chris Mowry]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2015)]]
}}
'''The Scavengers face down Fortress Maximus to save Grimlock, and learn a little something about helping others in the process.'''

==Synopsis==
Aboard his ship the ''[[Concordat]]'', on approach to [[Tebris VII]], [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] is listening to the paranoid [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] ramble on over the comm about a hidden message he thinks he's found in ''[[Wreckers: Declassified]]'' when he spots the crashed ''[[Weak Anthropic Principle]]'' on the planet's surface. Red identifies the craft and looks up its owners, unaware that he's reading the [[Autopedia]] articles the [[Scavengers (G1)|Scavengers]] themselves have vandalized with hyperbolic backstories for themselves, and Max heads down to the planet's surface to confront his original target, [[Demus]].

A short time later, Demus lies dead on the floor of his office, and Maximus places the Scavengers under arrest. [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] succeeds in distracting the Autobot long enough for [[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] to blast him, and the Scavengers scatter into the scrapyard outside, hiding amongst the junk. When [[Krok (G1)|Krok]] starts anxiously clicking his "clicker" once again, Misfire finally loses his temper and snatches the device from Krok's hand, revealing it to be not a communicator, but a severed finger. Krok explains that the finger belonged to a member of his old squad named [[Radar]], who was killed alongside the rest of his teammates by the [[Wreckers]]. Radar turned into a telecommunications array, and while Krok admits that he ''does'' click his finger when nervous, he also does it to use the finger's still-functioning mechanism to scan for Decepticons in the area. He almost always detects none... but today, as he snatches the finger back from Misfire, Krok can see it has detected hundreds of Decepticons all around them. Stalking the Scavengers through the yard, Fortress Maximus calls out to them with an explanation: Demus is actually a slave trader, and his "[[Roboid]]" toys are not toys at all, but lobotomized Cybertronians trapped in a beast-mode and sold as "torture dolls" to organic races to take their frustrations out on.

To get Maximus off their backs, Crankcase radios Misfire to express concern for [[Grimlock (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Grimlock]], deliberately allowing Max to hear him in hopes that Grimlock will be considered a more important target. Red Alert confirms Grimlock's presence, and Max heads off to investigate, leaving the Scavengers to pull themselves together. [[Fulcrum]] is annoyed that Krok has never told them about the fate of his old squad before, but Krok retorts that they took neither his depression, nor the self-delusion that his squad was still alive that he once labored under, seriously. ''That'', Krok tells them, is why he wanted Demus's money: he planned to use it to build a treatment center for those Cybertronians like himself, who are suffering from various mental disorders as a result of the war. Fulcrum calls him out on his hypocrisy—the fact that he was willing to ''sell'' the mentally-disabled Grimlock—and the suitably shamed Krok admits he was letting the ends justify the means. Knowing that Grimlock, as a former [[Garrus-9]] inmate, will be re-arrested by Maximus, Misfire insists they go to his aid, and a repentant Krok agrees. Unable to fly thanks to Demus's inhibitor chips, the Scavengers saddle up some [[Equinoid]] Roboids, and ride out to their ship.

[[File:Equinoids.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.5|Somewhere there's a MLP joke waiting to happen.]]
The Scavengers arrive to witness Grimlock and Maximus grappling with one another, and manage to talk Max down by explaining that they ''found'' Grimlock in his current condition. Maximus proposes taking him to Luna 1 for help, and Misfire reluctantly agrees, knowing that it is what's best for Grimlock—but [[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] objects, suggesting they ask Grimlock himself what he wants. To everyone's surprise, Grimlock is able to stammer out Misfire's name—not that it matters to Maximus, since he's intending to take them ''all'' in anyway. Krok has other ideas: he tells Maximus that he has planted a bomb in Demus's office that will destroy all the Roboids, and, pretending that Radar's finger is a control device, "primes" the non-existent explosive with a single click. The bomb's existence is "verified" by Red Alert, who reads off Fulcrum's falsified Autopedia entry claiming him to be an explosives expert. Krok then tosses the finger to Crankcase, who threatens to click it again and detonate the bomb... and thanks to a sudden bout of facial paralysis brought on by his head injuries, he is able to stare Max down without blinking! Unable to take the risk, Max heads back to Demus's office, while the Scavengers quickly depart the planet. Krok, realizing that he is much better off now than he was years ago thanks to the stability and support offered by his friends, has a new plan and purpose for the group: to help other Decepticons the way they have helped each other. Krok plugs Radar's finger into the ship's computer, allowing it to detect nearby Decepticons, and the Scavengers are about to head off until Misfire pulls a gun on Krok...

...and one lost game of [[Cybertronian games#Shoot Shoot Bang Bang|Shoot Shoot Bang Bang]] later, Misfire escorts Grimlock back to his wrecked quarters, promising there won't be locks on the door when they rebuild it. Misfire is agog when Grimlock eloquently replies "Thanks. I appreciate it", but when the Dinobot says nothing more, the Decepticon is left with another reminder that there ''is'' something going on inside Grimlock that he can't see. What he also fails to see is what Grimlock has drawn on the wall of his room: a familiar gear-shaped symbol and the message "PREPARE - CONFRONT - REPEL"...

[[File:FortMaxCuddles.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|Aww, the widdle maniac enforcer just wanted cuddles.]]
Aboard the ''Concordant'', Maximus contacts [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] to tell him about the day's events. Rung advises him to rethink his approach to peace-keeping: times have changed, and the Scavengers are now the rule, rather than the exception, when it comes to Decepticons. Maximus cannot deny it, especially since Spinister left him instructions on how to surgically reverse the brain-damage to the Roboids, who now surround him on his ship.

Two hours later, at Demus's now-abandoned junkyard, a Decepticon [[Worldsweeper]] arrives, piloted by Demus's mystery co-conspirators. The two robots open a hatchway to a hidden chamber beneath Demus's office, containing rows of strange pods inside which ''something'' is growing. One suggests moving the operation, but the other refuses, warning that to do so threatens their ability to meet their deadline, and will incur the wrath of the "[[Adaptus|Grand Architect]]". As the robot advocates aborting and starting again, they both turn, revealing the gear-like hieroglyph on their chests...

==Featured characters==
(Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks.) 
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] (1)
* [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (2)
* ''[[Roadbuster (G1)|Roadbuster]]'' (9)
* ''[[Springer (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Springer]]'' (11)
* ''[[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]]'' (12)
* [[Grimlock (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Grimlock]] (14)
* [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (15)
|c2=
* [[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] (3)
* [[Fulcrum]] (4)
* [[Demus]]'s corpse (5)
* [[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] (6)
* [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] (7)
* [[Krok (G1)|Krok]] (8)
* ''[[Radar]]'' (10)
* ''[[Gatoraider]]'' (13)
|c4=
* Mystery 'bots (16-17)
}}

==Quotes==

"'''Misfire of Pretendia''' is a debonair sharp shooter who once fired a bullet through a bullet-shaped hole in a slightly larger bullet. Whilst riding a bullet train. Feared and respected by his colleagues, he is credited with introducing Megatron to the world of '''interpretive dance.'''"
:—'''Red Alert''' reads from Misfire's vandalized Autopedia page

"This shouldn't take long." 
"For something that shouldn't take long, you're carrying an awful lot of firepower." 
"The two are connected."
:—'''Fortress Maximus''' and '''Red Alert'''

"Hate to do you out of a '''job''', but our '''"high tech"''' isn't that '''high''' anymore. It's just... tech. About four million years go we stopped '''reaching for the stars''' 'cos we needed both hands to '''beat the crap out of each other.'''"
:—'''Misfire'''

'''Fulcrum:''' "Hey, Krok, what you said just now—about Radar, about your squad. You should've told me earlier." 
'''Krok:''' "For a while I couldn't talk about it at all. In fact for a while I convinced myself that the rest of my squad were still '''out there'''—that they were '''safe.'''" 
'''Misfire:''' "Yeah, Crankcase used to say you were '''nuts.'''" 
'''Krok:''' "See? And people wonder why it's so hard to talk about mental health." 
'''Misfire:''' "Hey, I'm a paragon of sensitivity." 
'''Krok:''' "It's not just the '''labeling'''—it's the '''distancing'''. It's this idea that experiencing mental illness marks you out as '''bad''' different. Show me someone who '''hasn't''' been affected by all the fighting. Show me someone who's "normal" and I'll show you someone who knows how to hide things. We are our brains. Subject this ball of circuitry to four million years of '''war''' and '''hate''' and '''pain''' and '''death''' and '''loss''' and '''grief''' and don't be surprised if it has to find new ways to cope with the stress. People should be more understanding. That's what I was going to do with my half a billion—build a '''treatment center''' for '''vulnerable Decepticons.''' Because there are a lot of people out there who are only just about holding it together."

"I've spent years comparing myself with Decepticons who've done well for themselves—people like '''Agonizer''' and '''Skullcruncher'''. Today I realized that y'know what? '''I've''' done well. For a while I was a '''mess'''. My squad had died. I was directionless, I was '''delusional'''... I got better thanks to you guys. Even when I've made bad decisions, you've given me '''stability''' and '''support''' and—and '''companionship'''... and maybe it's time we gave those things to other Decepticons." 
"What you're describing sounds suspiciously like '''helping people.'''" 
"I know. Because guess what? I think we'd be pretty good at it."
:—'''Krok''' and '''Crankcase'''

"Y'know, Grimsy, sometimes you remind me of Spinister. Every now and then you'll say something that makes me think there's a lot more going on in there than we realize. More than '''you''' realize, too. Guess all I can do is be patient, pay attention... and see what you do next."
:—'''Misfire'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Like Fortress Maximus, Red Alert was last seen in [[The Sound of Breaking Glass|issue #21]], in which he elected to stay on [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]] with Maximus.
* Red Alert mentions that the Scavengers supplied [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] with spare parts, indicating he is the Autobot "contact" that Misfire mentioned last issue. This is likely also intended to indicate that Misfire was Brainstorm's Decepticon "handler," spoken of in [[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|issue #40]], whom he supplied with information in exchange for parts for his time machine.
* The Scavengers were previously established to get their kicks by vandalizing Autopedia last issue. Clearly the admins of Autopedia aren't particularly speedy when it comes to reverting edits...
* Crankcase makes reference to [[Killmaster]], a super-powerful Decepticon mentioned occasionally throughout ''More than Meets the Eye''.
* Fortress Maximus's pose and placement on page 3 hearken back to page 3 of [[How Ratchet Got His Hands Back|issue #5]], where he had similarly brutalized a 'con (or two) following a long absence and a dramatic return in the [[Some Of My Best Friends Are Autobots|preceding]] [[Life After the Big Bang|issue.]]
* Fortress Maximus's involvement in the [[Simanzi Massacre]] is mentioned, something we heard about before in [[Interiors|issue #6]].
* Krok describes Radar's death at the hands of the Wreckers—specifically, Roadbuster, who tore out his spine and "made him eat it"—as "a terrible affair." The use of the term "affair" isn't random; Roberts noted on Twitter before this issue's release that it would feature "a specific link [to] [[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 1|''Last Stand of the Wreckers'' #1]]—a *tiny* loose end that's taken nearly six years to tie up."<ref>{{citesocial|quote=There's a specific link between MTMTE #46 and LSOTW #1 - a *tiny* loose end that's taken nearly six years to tie up. Who'll spot it first?|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/656957570490474497|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=10|day=21|(defunct=)}}</ref> This indicates that the incident was the mysterious "[[Roadbuster affair]]" mentioned in that issue.
** This is also our first look at Roadbuster's extreme brutality, which we soon see more of in ''[[The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers|Sins of the Wreckers]]''. This is possibly a subtle setup!
* In the same flashback sequence, Krok is seen wielding [[Gatoraider]], who was alluded to by [[Skullcruncher (G1)|Skullcruncher]] as Krok's "dead pet" in the previous issue.
* Fortress Maximus says that Grimlock is "a 'Con again". We don't know the full story behind this, but way back in [[Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|issue #3]], a flashback montage featured an image of Grimlock staring down at his hands, an Autobot insignia in one, a Decepticon insignia in the other, indicating that there had been a moment in his past when he had been forced to choose between the two factions. In [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|issue #8]] Tarn confirmed Grimlock has a spot on [[The List]], presumably for changing sides.
* Also in issue #8, Spinister was revealed to be an exceptional surgeon despite his eccentricities. It seems his talents also extend to ''neuro''surgery, having figured out how to reverse the Roboids' lobotomies with just a quick look.
* That worryingly familiar gear-hieroglyph that appears on both the wall of Grimlock's room and the chests of the mystery robots is the icon seen on the surface of [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]] in [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|issue #21]] and on [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]]'s map to [[Cyberutopia]] in [[The Sensuous Frame|issue #41]].
* The mystery 'bots, meanwhile, are obviously the owners of the Worldsweeper on which the Scavengers found Grimlock back in [[Rules of Disengagement (issue)|issue #7]]. The horrific bio-mechanical sights the Scavengers saw on that ship seem connected to... ''whatever'' is brewing in the pods beneath Demus's office; what little we see shows us an arm that ''looks'' human, but which has some kind of circular, mechanical component embedded in its palm. Their fear that moving the pods will risk "contamination" feels like a reference to the Worldsweeper we saw in that earlier issue, which crashed when organic blood contaminated its fuel supply.
* One of the enigmatic pair notes they have another facility like the one beneath Demus's office in [[Fortuna]]. The ''Lost Light'' visited Fortuna, capital city of [[Scarvix]], in [[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|issue #40]].

===Transformers references===
* The ''Weak Anthropic Principle'' is described as an exploration vessel that formerly belonged to the Autobots, a reference to the fact it's based on the animation model of the [[Ark (G1)|original Ark]], which certainly fits that description. It's a "model 84", referring, of course, to [[1984]].
* Roadbuster killed Radar while in the throes of the drug [[Syk]], which originally appeared in the Marvel UK story, "[[Secrets (G1)|Secrets]]". James Roberts featured the narcotic in his own works previously in "[[Chaos Theory Part 2]]".
* The idea that Grimlock was formerly a Decepticon seems to owe something to [[Dreamwave Productions]]' various ''[[War Within (franchise)|War Within]]'' comics, which indicated (but did not explore the story behind the fact) that Grimlock had once been on the 'Con side.
* Red Alert mentions [[Cerebros (G1)|Cerebros]], the 'bot who is typically Fortress Maximus's [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] partner in most Generation 1 stories. His role on Luna 1 would be explained in [[Ten to Midnight|issue #56]].
* Among the Roboids is a Generation 1 version of [[Nook]] from ''Transformers Animated'', and a [http://adelightfultedium.tumblr.com/post/130214882372/cavisetticon-djw-transformersanimated-cassette Cavisetticon] (i.e. guinea pig) created by [[Derrick J. Wyatt]].
* Red Alert says he has read all 332 editions, plus specials, of ''Wreckers Declassified''. [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|The Marvel UK ''Transformers'']] comic also ran for 332 issues, plus specials.

===Real-life references===
* The "Next:" box at the bottom of the last page reads "stop all the clocks"; these are the first words of the {{w|W. H. Auden}} poem "{{w|Funeral Blues}}", which prominently featured in the [[1994]] film ''{{w|Four Weddings and a Funeral}}''.

===Other trivia===
* This issue arrives just a teeny bit late, shipping in the first week of November, rather than the last week of October.

===Errors===
* Misfire mutters about taking back his remark about Spinister having trouble with double negatives... but it's actually Crankcase who makes the remark earlier.

===Soundtrack===
* "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ghgl-Zy7PCg It's Not Funny Anymore]" by {{w|Babybird}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=The first song from MTMTE #46 is 'It's Not Funny Anymore' by Babybird: https://t.co/neZqyj4C6a|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/660241664028639232|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=10|day=30|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSuqV9-atWc Living With the Human Machines]" by {{w|Strangelove (band)|Strangelove}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=The second song from MTMTE #46 is 'Living With The Human Machines' by Strangelove: https://t.co/kKrfrlkFT2|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/660242332625825792|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=10|day=30|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmiRWwAXexY Bowl of Oranges]" by {{w|Bright Eyes (band)|Bright Eyes}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=The third and final song from MTMTE #46 is the most important. It's 'Bowl of Oranges' by Bright Eyes: https://t.co/zwgGTIQvXb|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/660249561634574336|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=10|day=31|(defunct=)}}</ref>

===Foreign Localization===
'''Swedish:'''
* ''Title:'' "'''Djur'''" ("Animals")

===Covers (3)===
* '''Regular cover:''' Grimlock tears it up, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
* '''Subscription cover:''' Blank cover for sketches, including blue-line art board borders and a small thumbnail sketch of Grimlock by Milne, from inside the issue, in the corner
* '''Retailer incentive cover:''' Fortress Maximus by [[Nick Roche]]; part of October's series of black-and-white "Artist's Edition" incentive covers.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE46 regcvr.jpg|Whoever put the itching powder in Grimlock's underwear is a dead man!
File:MTMTE46 subcvr.jpg|Grimlock ate the art.
File:MTMTE46 cvrRI.jpg|Fort Max for the win!
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''More than Meets the Eye'' #47
* ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]'' [[Conquerors Part 1: Aphelion|#46]]
* ''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' [[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe issue 10|#10]]
* ''[[The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers|Sins of the Wreckers]]'' [[Sins of the Wreckers issue 1|#1]]
* ''[[The Transformers: Punishment|Punishment]]'' motion comic
* IDW ''Samurai Jack'' graphic novels
* ''Atomic Robo: The Ring of Fire''
* IDW ''Skylanders: SuperChargers'' comic
* ''Walt Disney's Comics and Stores'' 75th Anniversary
* [[Mickey Mouse]] is back in action at IDW!
* IDW ''Transformers'' graphic novel library
* "More than Meets the iPad" - IDW Transformers Comics app
* ''Uncle Scrooge: The Grand Canyon Quest" (back cover)

===Reprints===
* '''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 9''''' ([[May 4]], [[2016]]) ISBN 1631406159 / ISBN 978-1631406157
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #45–49.
** Bonus material includes covers of each issue.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 66: Speak, Memory''''' ([[December 25]], [[2019]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #43–49.
** Bonus material includes a one-page article about the [[Scavengers (G1)|Scavengers]], a cover gallery and a forward by [[Simon Furman]].
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 10]]''''' ([[January 1]], [[2020]]) ISBN 1684055849 / ISBN 978-1684055845
** Collects [[The Transformers: Windblade|''Windblade'' (2015)]] issues [[Windblade vol. 2 issue 6|#6]]–[[The Will of the Few|7]], [[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|''The Transformers'' (2012)]] issues [[The Transgressors|#44]]–[[The Nothing Man|45]], ''[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Hunters]]'' [[An Uneventful Night|#1]], ''[[The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers|Sins of the Wreckers]]'' issues [[Sins of the Wreckers issue 1|#1]]–[[Sins of the Wreckers issue 5|5]], ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #45–47 & #48–49, and ''[[The Transformers Holiday Special]]: [[Choose Me]]'' & ''[[The Thirteenth Day of Christmas]]''.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''Transformers: Några av mina bästa vänner är Autoboter''''' ([[November]], [[2025]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #39 & #41-46, ''Drift: Empire of Stone'' issues #1-4 and the ''Revolution'' one-shot.
** Swedish reprint. Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol9.jpg|'''''More Than Meets the Eye Volume 9''''' – cover art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v66.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 66: Speak, Memory''''' – cover art by [[Dan Khanna]] (Getaway) and [[Hayato Sakamoto]] (retro)
File:IDWCollectionP2V10.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 10''''' – cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:MTMTE SWE 05.jpg|'''''Några av mina bästa vänner är Autoboter''''' – cover art by Alex Milne and Josh Perez
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.newsarama.com/26576-fortress-maximus-is-a-killer-cop-in-transformers-mtmte-46-preview.html Preview]

Some Of My Best Friends Are Autobots

2025-11-02T21:37:45Z

Some Dweeb:

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=45
|prev=The Not Knowing
|next=Animals
|image=MTMTE45_regcvr.jpg
|title="Some Of My Best Friends Are Autobots"
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[September 30]], [[2015]]
|coverdate=September 2015
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|pencils by=[[Alex Milne]]
|inks by=[[Brian Shearer]] and Alex Milne
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2015)]]
}}
'''They're ba-aack!'''

==Synopsis==
It's been a funny old time for the [[Scavengers (G1)|Scavengers]]. Ever since learning that [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] has defected to the [[Autobot]]s and that [[Starscream (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Starscream]] now rules [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], their plans to return home have been abandoned, and they have been pottering around the galaxy having wacky adventures: being cursed to speak only in song, accidentally raising eldritch horrors, dealing with the image of [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]] coming alive from a datapad, holomatter escapades on [[Magisteria VI]], playing [[Jenga]] against a giant space jellyfish for the fate of the universe, falling into a [[perspective trap]], and even, somehow, getting turned into [[toy]]s! Today, though, the crew are just enjoying a simple game of "[[Cybertronian games#Shoot Shoot Bang Bang|Shoot Shoot Bang Bang]]", hunting each other around their ship, the ''[[Weak Anthropic Principle]]'', with dart guns. [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] lets his internal monologue run away with him, allowing [[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] to get the drop on him, but [[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] jumps in at the last second to score the winning shot. Unfortunately, in order to do so, Crankcase has left the bridge unmanned, and the ship promptly crashes into [[Tebris VII]].

[[File:Krok crankcase fulcrum some of my best friends are autobots.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.6]]
Four hours later, the battered [[Krok (G1)|Krok]] wakes up to find Crankcase and [[Fulcrum]] lounging around watching television—specifically, the stand-up routine of Krok's old shipmate [[Skullcruncher (G1)|Skullcruncher]], who has made a mint in the post-war era by rebranding himself as a "self-hating Decepticon" comedian. Heartily cheesed off to see Skullcruncher and so many other Decepticons finding new jobs and new successes while he and the rest of the Scavengers are just bumming around the galaxy living hand-to-mouth, Krok chucks a Skullcruncher souvenir through the television, and starts lecturing his crewmates about taking control of their lives... only to be almost immediately interrupted when a rampaging [[Grimlock (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Grimlock]] comes tearing into the room, with Misfire holding onto his back for dear life. Misfire has been attempting to "house-train" the mentally-damaged [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobot]], but after his biggest success to date—managing to write the first letter of his own name—Grimlock has had another in an escalating series of "fits" that forces the Scavengers to blast him into submission. Tiring of Krok's bossy tone, Misfire is about to rip into him about the "clicker" in his hand, but before anyone says anything they can't take back, Spinister enters to inform the team a communication is coming through.

[[File:Demus some of my best friends are autobots.jpg|thumb]]
The communication is from [[Demus]], a Decepticon scrap merchant on Tebris VII, who Krok knows from the [[Militant Monoform Movement|Triple M]] sub-group on the Decepticon social networking site, [[The Big Conversation]]. Demus invites the Scavengers to his scrapyard, and, thinking they are going to be offered jobs, they even agree to inject themselves with temporary [[Inhibitor/deterrence chip|inhibitor chip]]s upon arrival due to Demus's condition—he is so militantly monoform that the very ''sight'' of transformation makes him sick. The group are led by the noticeably skittish Demus through his stockyard, full of merchandise from his profitable side-business making "[[Roboid]]" toys, before arriving at his office, where it turns out he does not want to ''employ'' them: he wants to buy Grimlock from them. He steps out to take a call while the Scavengers talk the proposal over amongst themselves; the obscene amount of money on offer all it takes to sway Krok, Crankcase, and Spinister into selling, outvoting the more compassionate Misfire and Fulcrum, the latter also healthily suspicious of Demus's motives. And it seems Fulcrum is right to be suspicious—out in the stockyard, Demus talks on his communicator in a panicked whisper about being on a list, and needing help from the caller... but he realizes that such concerns have become moot when a huge shadowy figure appears in front of him. Demus is hurled back through his office window and then has his brains blown out right in front of the Scavengers... as the Duly Appointed Enforcer of the [[Tyrest Accord]], [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]], steps through the door and inquires which of them will be next!
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Grimlock (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Grimlock]] (7)
* [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] (10)
|c2=
* [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] (1)
* [[Crankcase (G1)|Crankcase]] (2)
* [[Spinister (G1)|Spinister]] (3)
* [[Fulcrum]] (4)
* [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]] (image of hand, 5)
* [[Krok (G1)|Krok]] (6)
* [[Skullcruncher (G1)|Skullcruncher]] (8)
* [[Demus]] (9)
}}

==Quotes==
"Crankcase! That was '''my''' shot! You're not even playing!" 
"True. But I can't listen to someone else's party without wanting to '''pop their balloons'''."
:—'''Spinister''' isn't happy that '''Crankcase''' has stolen his win

"—and we used to say to him, 'Megatron, mate, why not get all the Phase Sixers and throw 'em at the Autobots?' Like, 'Forget the planets! You can cyberform as many planets as you like once you've killed all your enemies! '''You're not making the best use of your assets.'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>"
:—'''Skullcruncher''' likes to claim he spoke truth to power, but somehow, we doubt it

"Are you sure you won't let Spinister fix your head? He's a brilliant surgeon." 
"He's a brilliant surgeon who classifies random objects as 'goodies' or 'baddies' based on the sound they make when he punches them. I don't want him anywhere near my brain."
:—'''Krok''' and '''Crankcase'''

"When we found you on '''Clemency''', we didn't know '''what''' was going on. Now we '''do''', and it's worse than we thought. The Autobots have won, Megatron's '''flipped''', and Starscream's in charge of Cybertron! '''Starscream!''' At least the Autobots were '''upfront''' about wanting to kill us! I wouldn't trust Starscream to tell me my own name!"
:—'''Krok'''

"You must be the Scavengers." 
"It's pronounced '''<big>SCAVENGERS.</big>'''"
:—'''Demus''' and '''Misfire'''

"Are we gonna kill him and steal his money? <big>'''HA!'''</big> Joking. But seriously, are we gonna kill him and steal his money?"
:—'''Crankcase''', on dealing with '''Demus'''

'''Demus:''' "I'd like to buy [Grimlock] off you." 
'''Misfire:''' "You '''what'''?" 
'''Crankcase:''' "'''Buy''' him?" 
'''Fulcrum:''' "Bizarre." 
'''Spinister:''' "'''WHAT AM I REACTING TO AND IS ANGER APPROPRIATE?!'''"

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
[[File:Magisteria vi some of my best friends are autobots.jpg|thumb]]
* The single panel that shows the Scavengers' holomatter adventure on Magisteria VI has one of them remark that the holomatter program is struggling with the native species's gender; [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] had the same problem back in [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|issue #13]].
* The Scavengers were seen playing Jenga when they last popped up in [[Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|issue #20]].
* Misfire highlights the mystery of Grimlock's current condition; found by the Scavengers on [[Temptoria]] in [[Rules of Disengagement (issue)|issue #7]], the last time he had appeared before that was when he was being taken to [[Garrus-9]] at the climax of the ''[[The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots|Maximum Dinobots]]'' miniseries.
* Misfire also mentions that he has a 'contact' within the Autobots who told him what happened on Garrus-9, informing us that Grimlock "went missing". It's likely that he's talking about [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]], who worked as an insider for the Decepticons, but never divulged any information that was actually ''useful''.
* Krok mentions that the Scavengers sometimes vandalize [[Autopedia]], the Autobots' free-to-edit database.
* During his stand-up routine, Skullcruncher talks about his having been part of infiltration squads during the war. We know he's speaking from experience, as he was last seen way back in ''[[The Transformers: Stormbringer|Stormbringer]]'' as a member of one such squad—alongside Crankcase, no less—on the planet [[Nebulos]] where they were both apparently killed by [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]], though obviously not.
* The "clicker" in Krok's hand was last seen in issue #7, or rather, it was ''heard''. He claimed it was a device that he clicked to keep rebooting the ship's continually failing communications systems, but in [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|issue #8]], Misfire strongly implied that whatever the device was, it wasn't that. The way Fulcrum takes Krok's hand to stop him clicking it as he rants this issue certainly indicates it's an uncontrolled expression of anxiety like a nervous tic, and Misfire is just about to broach the clearly-taboo subject of what the thing is, but they get interrupted by Demus's communication.
* Krok makes reference to the planet [[Troja Major]], first (and last) heard of in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|issue #28]]. This was the world on which [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] picked up the original, unedited version of "[[Towards Peace]]"; perhaps the Decepticon antiquarian, [[Agonizer]], who Krok notes set up shop on the planet, had something to do with that.
* Demus previously served under [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]], who gave him an honorable discharge after the war. Surprising to hear about a Decepticon, perhaps, but we saw in [[The Permanent Revolution|issue #39]] that Deathsaurus is the sort to treat his men right.
* Crankcase is swayed into selling Grimlock by the possibility of using the money to buy his own spaceship, something we know from issue #8 that he always wanted to have.
* We last saw Fortress Maximus in [[The Sound of Breaking Glass|issue #21]], in which he took on the position of enforcer of the Tyrest Accord following the defeat of then-current holder of the title, [[Star Saber (G1)|Star Saber]].

===Transformers references===
* We see the ''Weak Anthropic Principle'' for the first time, and it turns out to be a Decepticon-purple version of the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'s [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] [[character model|animation model]]. The sequence of it crashing, complete with "Four Hours Later" caption, is styled directly after the scene of the Ark crashing from "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]"; the shot of the post-crash bridge, with rocks bulging in through the windows, is likewise styled after the interior of the cartoon's Autobot Headquarters.
* When Spinister places his gun against Misfire's head to end their game of "Shoot Shoot Bang Bang", he paraphrases [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'': "I would've waited an eternity for this. It's over, Misfire."
* Krok is revealed to be a [[Monoformer]]—the IDW continuity term for a Transformer that does not transform—referencing the fact that his original Generation 1 toy was a non-transforming [[Action Master]].
* According to Skullcruncher's routine, Krok named himself after "his dead pet", an allusion to Krok's Action Master parter [[Gatoraider]]—who was, of course, a crocodile.

===Real-life references===
* As mentioned in the plot synopsis, one of the situations featured in the fake "recap" section at the beginning of the issue depicts Fulcrum playing [[Jenga]] against a giant space jellyfish for the fate of the universe. Jenga is, of course, a popular game of skill, the rights of which currently belong to Hasbro. Grimlock was previously seen playing Jenga back in [[Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|issue 20]].
* The Decepticon website "The Big Conversation" (established by an [[M.T.O.]] named [[Biteback]], Krok says) is likely named for the (now defunct) real-life website of the same name, launched in 2003 by the Labour government of the [[United Kingdom]].
* The comment about killing off the name Scavengers because it is too close to the word "scroungers" is a reference to the 2015 Tory government of the United Kingdom's policy on the use of the word in their political rhetoric.

===Errors===
* On page 2's final panel, Misfire thinks that "all hell broke lose". This should be "all hell broke '''loose'''". This was not corrected for the trade.
* On page 11, panel 4, Krok's second speech bubble ("We should be taking control of our lives!"...) is coming from Crankcase. This is corrected in the trade.
* On page 19, panel 1, Misfire says, "Bear my frikkin' soul?" This should be "'''Bare'''". Not corrected in the trade.

===Other trivia===
[[File:Scavengers_IRL.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|"Poor Fulcrum. Missing out on such an awesome scene."]]
* The final panel on the "recap" page, showing the Scavengers turned into toys, was taken by [[Maziar Shahsafdari]] using the original Generation 1 Spinister, Crankcase, Krok, and Misfire toys.[http://tfsquareone.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/idw-mtmte-45-that-scavengers-photo.html Read about the photo shoot here!]
* Skullcruncher's routine involves pointing out that nobody actually knows what phases 3 through 5 of [[infiltration protocol]] are, a joke based on the fact that they were never detailed back during [[Simon Furman]]'s "-ations" era on the IDW books, and that it's a little tricky to imagine what three distinct stages between "Instigating conflict" and "killing everything" would actually be.
* Crankcase mixes up the concepts of [[copyright]] and [[trademark]] and is promptly made fun of for it by Fulcrum, a common occurrence in online discussions among the ''Transformers'' [[fandom]].

===Soundtrack===
* "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wf73xqZvk6k Loaded]" by {{w|Primal Scream}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=The first song from MTMTE #45... well. You may have heard it before. https://t.co/DElhp2JBX1|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/646458995377573888|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=09|day=22|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBsazIACpYM Fool's Gold]" by {{w|The Stone Roses}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=The second song from #MTMTE45 is... also pretty well known. But there's a theme developing. https://t.co/MrZLcB9IMz|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/646459879834677248|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=09|day=22|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6Jt-o8OGBc Shake Your Money]" by {{w|Black Grape}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Song three from #MTMTE45 is Shake Your Money, by Black Grape. "Explicit lyrics", as they say. https://t.co/MHPWq3kOs5|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/646460867064823809|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=09|day=22|(defunct=)}}</ref>

===Foreign Localization===
'''Swedish:'''
* ''Title:'' "'''Några av mina bästa vänner är Autoboter'''" ("Some Of My Best Friends Are Autobots")

===Covers (4)===
* '''Regular cover:''' Scavengers group shot, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
* '''Subscription cover:''' The other Scavengers don't appreciate whatever Misfire is laughing about, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]].
* '''Retailer incentive cover:''' [[Solomus|Tyrest]], [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]], and [[Star Saber (G1)|Star Saber]], by [[Kei Zama]] and Josh Perez; one of September's series of retailer incentive covers by Zama.
* '''Giant Robot Comics exclusive cover:''' Wraparound cover of Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Cliffjumper, Wheeljack, Arcee, and Omega Supreme battle Megatron, Soundwave, Rumble, Swindle, Onslaught, and Devastator at [http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g780595-d209840-Reviews-Peggy_s_Cove_Lighthouse-Peggy_s_Cove_Halifax_Region_Nova_Scotia.html Peggy's Cove Lighthouse] in Halifax, Nova Scotia, by [[Casey Coller]] and [[John-Paul Bove]]. Available exclusively from [http://www.giantrobotcomics.com/ Giant Robot Comics], who are based in Halifax; third in [[Less Than Zero|a]] [[The World of Tomorrow|series]] of exclusive covers for the retailer by Coller and Bove, which all feature Halifax landmarks.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE45 regcvr.jpg|"Who loves ya, baby?"
File:MTMTE45 subcvr.jpg|Misfire is the Jerry Lewis of the Scavengers.
File:MTMTE45 cvrRI.jpg|What have these guys been up to?
File:MTMTE45 cvrRE.jpg|For Primus's sake, save the lighthouse!
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''More than Meets the Eye'' #46
* ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]'' [[The Nothing Man|#45]]
* ''[[The Transformers: Windblade|Windblade]]'' [[The Will of the Few|#7]]
* ''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' [[Stick To Your Guns|#9]]
* IDW ''Skylanders SuperChargers'' comic
* [[Mickey Mouse]] is back in action at IDW!
* ''{{i|Jem and the Holograms (comic)|Jem and the Holograms}}'' Vol. 1 TPB
* "More than Meets the iPad" - IDW Transformers Comics app
* IDW ''[[Back to the Future]]'' comic (back cover)

===Reprints===
* '''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 9''''' ([[May 4]], [[2016]]) ISBN 1631406159 / ISBN 978-1631406157
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #45–49.
** Bonus material includes covers of each issue.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 66: Speak, Memory''''' ([[December 25]], [[2019]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #43–49.
** Bonus material includes a one-page article about the [[Scavengers (G1)|Scavengers]], a cover gallery and a forward by [[Simon Furman]].
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 10]]''''' ([[January 1]], [[2020]]) ISBN 1684055849 / ISBN 978-1684055845
** Collects [[The Transformers: Windblade|''Windblade'' (2015)]] issues [[Windblade vol. 2 issue 6|#6]]–[[The Will of the Few|7]], [[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|''The Transformers'' (2012)]] issues [[The Transgressors|#44]]–[[The Nothing Man|45]], ''[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Hunters]]'' [[An Uneventful Night|#1]], ''[[The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers|Sins of the Wreckers]]'' issues [[Sins of the Wreckers issue 1|#1]]–[[Sins of the Wreckers issue 5|5]], ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #45–47 & #48–49, and ''[[The Transformers Holiday Special]]: [[Choose Me]]'' & ''[[The Thirteenth Day of Christmas]]''.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''Transformers: Några av mina bästa vänner är Autoboter''''' ([[November]], [[2025]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #39 & #41-46, ''Drift: Empire of Stone'' issues #1-4 and the ''Revolution'' one-shot.
** Swedish reprint. Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol9.jpg|'''''More Than Meets the Eye Volume 9''''' – cover art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v66.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 66: Speak, Memory''''' – cover art by [[Dan Khanna]] (Getaway) and [[Hayato Sakamoto]] (retro)
File:IDWCollectionP2V10.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 10''''' – cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:MTMTE SWE 05.jpg|'''''Några av mina bästa vänner är Autoboter''''' – cover art by Alex Milne and Josh Perez
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.newsarama.com/26050-decepticons-do-battle-in-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-45-preview.html Preview]

The Not Knowing

2025-11-02T21:33:02Z

Some Dweeb:

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=44
|prev=The One Where They Go to Earth
|next=Some Of My Best Friends Are Autobots
|image=MTMTE44_regcvr.jpg
|title="The Not Knowing"
|caption="Forty-two! Is that all you've got to show for seven and a half million years' work?"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[September 2]], [[2015]]
|coverdate=August 2015
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|pencils by=[[Hayato Sakamoto]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2015)]]
}}
'''Following the trail of Agent 113's bullet, the ''Lost Light''ers make their way to the Necrobot's base of operations, where both Rewind and Chromedome's relationship, and Nightbeat's hope in the existence of a greater power, are tested.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:MTMTE44 a lot of banter.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.7|Take the second panel out of context, things don't look quite right...]]
The message bullet extracted from [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]]'s shoulder proves largely corrupted by rust, but of the data sent by [[Dominus Ambus|Agent 113]]—now revealed to have been the previous holder of the "[[Vos (G1)|Vos]]" codename—one intact piece of information gives the crew of the ''[[Lost Light]]'' a startling new objective to explore: the location of the supposedly-mythical [[Mortilus|Necrobot]]'s [[Necroworld|base of operations]]. [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] has a revelation of his own, however—it turns out that the doodles he has been carving into his desk since the ship's launch are, in fact, a map to [[Cyberutopia]] just like the one [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] drew, and he is much more interested in following it than looking for the Necrobot. When [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] and [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] explain that they want to visit the Necrobot's world in hopes of learning the fate of Rewind's old partner [[Dominus Ambus]], [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] agrees to their request, and the ''Lost Light'' sets off. [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] takes Rewind aside to talk about his departed spark brother in order to caution him to not get his hopes up for Dominus's survival, but it turns out that Rewind has already had this discussion with ''his'' Magnus, on the quantum duplicate ''Lost Light'', and refuses to believe his claim that he can sense his brother's absence.

Presently, the ''Lost Light'' arrives at the Necrobot's rather unassuming planet, and a small group heads down to the surface in the [[Rodpod]]. They are greeted by the sight of a beautiful garden, full of holographic statues surrounded by [[Cybertronian remembrance flower|sparkling blue flowers]], and soon deduce that the statues represent those Transformers who are still living, while the empty plinths are for the dead. Homing in on the solitary life sign on the planet, the Rod Pod sets down outside a huge complex, where a noticeably jumpy [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] immediately spots some movement in the building's doorway, only for the door to be slammed shut before he can reach it. While the others split up to wander about the garden and investigate, Nightbeat stands outside the door and calls to whoever or whatever may be inside... at which point, the door opens a crack, and the imposing form of the Necrobot appears to invite Nightbeat inside!

[[File:Censere nightbeat the not knowing.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2]]
[[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] dismisses the exercise as a waste of time, but Megatron confides that that was precisely his rationale for allowing the trip: although he will accept his fate when the time comes, he is in no hurry to rush toward that final judgement. Regardless of Megatron's intent, Chromedome and Rewind are here for a purpose: soon, they have hacked into the central database that powers the holographic statues, so that they can search for Dominus's name to learn what has become of him. But before Chromedome presses "search", Rewind hesitates, unsure if, after all this time, he ''really'' wants to know the truth. Chromedome assures him that whatever choice he makes, he will stand by him, and help him continue his search in other ways—a show of dedication that convinces Rewind that the past must be put behind him. The search begins, and the result appears... Dominus Ambus of Ambustus Minor is, indeed, deceased.

Within the Necrobot's complex, the mysterious robot explains to Nightbeat that he is, actually, a totally ordinary—if very long-lived—Cybertronian named [[Mortilus|Censere]]. A forensic pathologist, Censere was moved to begin chronicling deaths when the death of his friend [[Tusk]] went unreported, and simply uses the machines in his complex to keep track of spark signatures and to teleport him around the universe to carry out his tasks. Nightbeat is dismayed and furious; in spite of his rationalist nature, he had truly hoped to learn that the Necrobot was proof of a higher power, a reaffirmation of the notion of life after death that Nightbeat had come to doubt since his own death years beforehand. Censere reassures him that just because ''he'' is not "magic" does not mean that the [[Transformer afterlife|Afterspark]] does not exist, and explains that his understanding of life and death is not absolute: he was, for instance, alarmed to see Nightbeat and many of the other ''Lost Light''ers, as he believed they were already dead. Censere takes him to a monolith labelled "In Honor of the [[Disappeared]]", upon which he has carved the names of those whose deaths he cannot verify; Nightbeat sees his own name on the slab (his body having been stolen away into the [[Dead Universe]] before Censere reached him), but then spots another one of great interest. He calls the crew together, and while everyone is marvelling over the once-legendary Necrobot, Nightbeat takes Chromedome and Rewind to the monolith, where it is revealed that Dominus Ambus's name is also engraved on its surface!

A little later, as everyone prepares to depart, Nightbeat says farewell to Censere, but not without grimly informing him that he should use his skills to save the living, rather than record the dead. Rodimus realizes that Megatron has disappeared, and is informed by [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] that he slipped away with Ravage a little while ago, after the Necrobot explained the significance of his garden's flowers: they contain the residual [[spark]] energy of the deceased, and he plants them around the statue of the Transformer who was responsible for ending that life. Thus it is that Megatron receives a grim reminder that he cannot put off his day of reckoning forever, as he visits his own statue and sees a beautiful blue field of sparkling flowers, stretching in every direction, far and away into the horizon...
[[File:MTMTE44-MegatronLookAtTheFlowers.jpg|450px|center|thumb|[[Our Finest|"Maybe he needed to do a genocide to figure out it's bad?"]]]]

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (2)
* [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (3)
* [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (4)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]]/[[Minimus Ambus]] (5)
* [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] (6)
* [[Dominus Ambus|Agent 113]] (video message, 7)
* [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (8)
* [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (9)
* [[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] (10)
* [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (11)
* [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (12)
* [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (13)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Getaway]] (14)
* [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (16)
* [[Ube-in]] (statue, 17)
* [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] (statue, 18)
* [[Cyber]] (statue, 19)
* [[O-G]] (statue, 20)
* [[Yamada-3]] (statue, 21)
* [[Action]] (statue, 22)
* [[Indead]] (statue, 23)
* [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] (statue, 26)
* [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] (27)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (28)
* [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] (29)
{{!}}}
|c2=
* [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] (15)
* [[Wheezing Arrow]] (statue, 24)
|c4=
* [[Mortilus|Censere]] (1)
* [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] (statue, 25)
}}

==Quotes==
"You know, I can just about accept that the '''D.J.D.''' was infiltrated by an Autobot, but what I find '''bizarre''' is that this '''"Agent 113"''' thinks it practical to deliver his field reports by firing bullet-shaped data-slugs into '''three-fingered metallurgists'''." 
"It's not '''exclusively''' metallurgists. When I said that, I didn't... I was attempting to make a joke." 
"Yes—I know—I was '''running with it'''. There's a lot of banter on this ship; I thought I was ready to take the plunge." 
"I think we've both learned something from this."
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Ultra Magnus'''

"If you caught '''me''' spilling that many beans, you'd give me a '''dressing down''' so epic, so protracted—so narratively dense—it would have subplots, callbacks, and a finale that would provide closure whilst leaving the door open for future '''tellings off'''."
:—'''Rodimus''', to Magnus, when Magnus tells Megatron about Agent 113

"Is it too soon to have '''"Chosen One"''' engraved on my forehead?" 
"I can think of more appropriate words."
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Megatron'''

"Don't take offense, but it's quite difficult—sitting here, looking at you... you look so '''similar'''." 
"I know. Why do you think I've spent most of my life trying to look like someone else?"
:—'''Rewind''' and '''Minimus Ambus'''

"I don't know what you were expecting. I don't know what a '''non-boring''' planet looks like to you." 
"What." 
"Describe it. I'm genuinely interested. Describe your perfect planet." 
"Let's see... stripped of organic life, relieved of energy, coated in metal... oh—wait—that's '''your''' perfect planet."
:—'''Megatron''' might want some cold water for that burn, courtesy of '''Rodimus'''

"Don't '''touch''' anything, don't '''steal''' anything, and definitely don't '''desecrate''' anything."
:—'''Rodimus''' warns the crew to behave

"Once you press "search", that's it—I'll know. And I don't know if I'm '''ready''' to know. ...I'm sorry. This is stupid. I'm being stupid." 
"It's not. And you're not." 
"Tell me what to do." 
"Rewind—my love—it's not for me to say." 
"But this affects '''both''' of us. If I don't do this... if we leave here not knowing, we could spend the next four million years searching for someone who's..." 
"I know. But at least we'd be doing it together."
:—'''Rewind''' and '''Chrome—''' * sniff* ...and '''Chromedome'''... look, I just have something in my eye, okay?!

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* The Necrobot was introduced in the "Scavengers" two-parter in [[Rules of Disengagement (issue)|issue #7]] and [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|#8]]. It was in the second of those issues that he actually physically appeared, and in which we saw his datapad containing a list of deceased ''Lost Light'' crewmembers; this issue confirms the earlier implication that these were the quantum duplicate crewmembers from the second ''Lost Light'', seen in the "Slaughterhouse" two-parter in [[slaughterhouse|issue #32]] and [[slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|#33]].
* Agent 113, first mentioned in the "[[Bullets]]" prose story in 2010, is finally revealed to not be a current member of the DJD, but rather, the previous holder of the "Vos" codename—the one with hooks for hands and feet, whose existence was established in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|issue #29]]. He was replaced so recently that nobody on the ''Light'', not even Megatron, knew he'd been replaced until they found the 'other' ''Light''.
* Magnus mentions that the crew learned how to juggle during a three-week stay at the Cosmic Carnival, and Skids was seen demonstrating his juggling skills back in issue [[The Sensuous Frame|#41]].
* We first learned Rodimus has been carving doodles into his desk in [[Signal to Noise|issue #13]], and were reminded of that fact recently in issue #41. Turns out he's been drawing a map to Cyberuptopia like the one we saw [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] had drawn in that same issue, complete with the gear-like hieroglyphs from [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|issue #21]].
* Ultra Magnus has a figure of [[Ten]] under his desk, recalling how their friendship began in [[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|issue #40]] when Ten gave him a Minimus Ambus figure.
* When Skids remarks that he is a "recovering believer", he strokes his cheek, where we know from issues [[Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|#11]] and [[Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|#36]] that he used to have a tattoo of the [[Matrix of Leadership]] as a symbol of his faith.
* Nightbeat refers to his death from all the way back in ''[[Spotlight: Hardhead]]'' (see "Errors", below).
* Swerve takes a selfie with the Necrobot; we've seen Swerve using his "cell phone", before, back in "[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]]", when he went on about his ringtone.
* Skids says "who doesn't want to survive the dying of the light?" to Nightbeat, both people who will be part of a little story in #50 called... [[The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|"The Dying of the Light"]]!
* Nightbeat is haunted by the idea that there is no afterlife for his kind. His use of the phrase "nothing to ascend to" forshadows his [[The Everlasting Voices (2): The God War|final fate]].
* Swerve's opening recap monologue contains the first hints of his relationship with Velocity.

===Transformers references===
* Ultra Magnus mentions that the ''Lost Light''ers once spent three weeks at the [[Cosmic Carnival]], the greatest show in the galaxy that appeared in [[The Cosmic Carnival|issue #44]] of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|original Marvel Transformers comic]].
* Rodimus jokes about having "Chosen One" engraved on his forehead, the title that Rodimus was referred to with in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]].

===Real-life references===
* Rodimus describes Rewind's way of telling him about the Necrobot as they walk through the ship's corridors as "''West Wing''-ing", a reference to the TV show ''{{w|The West Wing}}'' and its famous tracking shots of characters talking with one another as they walk down long hallways.
* The Necrobot's real name, "Censere" (see "Errors", below), is a Latin word meaning to appraise or assess.
* The endless blue sparkflowers that symbolise the sparks of dead Cybertronians bear close resemblance to the poppy fields of Flanders, where hundreds of thousands of soldiers died during World War I, and to the legend that there are as many flowers as soldiers who died there. Poppies are also used to remember fallen, and veteran, soldiers in Britain and several Commonwealth nations, though this comic puts a darker spin on it here. This will take on an extra significance with "The Dying Of The Light" and especially [[The Dying of the Light Part 4: At Close of Day|#53]], which will give an explicit nod at the end to the First World War and the memorial poem "In Flanders Fields". In an extra nod, the gravestones on the special cover resemble the rows of hundreds of thousands of gravestones of Unknown soldiers lying in World War I and II cemeteries.

===Errors===
* Rewind worries about Rodimus poking someone's eye out with a table leg, but the table he's carrying doesn't really ''have'' legs — it's just a huge metal block with little stubs at each corner.
* As the crew disembark the Rodpod it appears that Skids has been coloured as Hound.
* The Necrobot introduces himself as "Censere", but when Nightbeat speaks his name during their farewell, it's incorrectly spelled "Censerre", with an extra "r". This is corrected for the trade paperback.
* When Nightbeat talks about his death, the footnote states he died in ''[[Spotlight: Nightbeat]]'', rather than ''Spotlight: Hardhead''. This is corrected for the trade paperback.
* Dominus Ambus's name is described as being "three from the bottom" on the monolith, but the art shows it being on the bottom line. The trade paperback changes this to "Right column, on the bottom".
* Rewind's second "Oh my god!" is attributed to Nightbeat erroneously.
* In "After the Necrobot explained about the flowers," Necrobot's word balloon is pointing at Riptide.

===Other trivia===
* This issue arrived a teensy bit late, landing in the first week of September rather than the last week of August.
* Megatron correctly deduces that the former holder of the Vos codename (who we now know was also Dominus Ambus) was the Autobot mole within the Decepticon Justice Division. While this does imply he was the appointed Vos as of Megatron's last meeting with the DJD, he was previously seen using the current Vos, originally known as Forestock, in his sniper rifle mode in a flashback panel of ''[[Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things]]''. Additionally, he seems aware of Forestock's new identity in ''[[The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle]]''. This may not necessarily be an error, as Megatron may have plausibly been familiar with Forestock as a soldier and a weapon prior to his induction into the DJD.
* Several statues in the Necrobot's garden are not immediately recognizable; though Rodimus mentions two Transformers named [[Raptor (G1)|Raptor]] and [[Scissorkick]], their statues are said to be near [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] and [[Xaaron]], who are not pictured.
* While Xaaron has always been best known by the rank he carried in the Marvel comics, "Emirate", he's never had that rank in the IDW universe. As Rodimus spots a statue of him in the Necrobot's garden, he notes that his full title in this universe is "Advocate Xaaron".
* Ironhide died way back in [[...For All Mankind|''The Transformers'' #1]]; presumably the Necrobot turned his statue back on after learning that he was up and about again thanks to his [[Ironing Out the Details|resurrection]] at the hands of [[Alpha Trion]].
* During Nightbeat's conversation with Censere, he reveals that he tracks the lives and deaths of ''Cybertronians'', yet there is a statue for Windblade, who is a [[Caminus (planet)|Camien]]. Roberts later clarified that the Necrobot does not record the lives and deaths of those living on the colony worlds, only those on Cybertron, so since Windblade had made Cybertron her new home, she fell under that purview.<ref>
{{citesocial|quote=In response to lots of questions: there aren't statues of TFs living on colonies, only those now on Cybertron and therefore 'recorded'.|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/639375882449195008|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=09|day=03|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* Full names learned for Transformers in this issue include: [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee of Iacon]], [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] of [[Pescus Hex]], Dominus Ambus of [[Ambustus Minor]] (and thus by extension, Minimus Ambus of Ambustus Minor), Chromedome of Iacon, Hound of [[Lower Monoplex]], and Nightbeat of [[Yuss]]. Additionally, [[Ambulon]] is revealed to have been an [[M.T.O.]]; a speech-bubble obscures his full name, but we see that it partially reads "Ambulon of Operation Split Infin--" something (a crack about "{{w|split infinitive}}s" and Ambulon's status as part of a [[combiner]], if not a reference to his grisly demise). This makes Ambulon the first confirmed example of a Decepticon M.T.O.
* Bumblebee's plinth puts in an appearance, but note that the scene is drawn in such a way that we can't tell if his statue is on or off...

===Soundtrack===
* "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaoCEdZnyFk Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want]" by {{w|The Smiths}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=The first song for MTMTE #44 is a classic and a personal favourite, but it absolutely sums up the issue: https://t.co/ItfddtusQs|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/635846980078583810|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=08|day=24|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjeCgsNrvCw Song for the Leftovers]" by {{w|A Camp}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Certain songs REALLY fit an issue. This is one of them https://t.co/BSiI1piEmj (It's also kind of the theme to the end of Season 2) #MTMTE44|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/635847872236396544|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=08|day=24|(defunct=)}}</ref>

'''Swedish:'''
* ''Title:'' "'''Att inte veta'''" ("To Not Know")

===Covers (3)===
* '''Regular cover:''' Chromedome and Rewind stare up at an imposing monolith, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
* '''Subscription cover:''' Megatron amid a field of gravestones, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]].
* '''Retailer incentive cover:''' Megatron wails after Nautica steals his Rodimus action figure, while Swerve looks on; one of a series of super-deformed covers by [[Agnes Garbowska]] that make up the Retailer Incentive covers on IDW's August ''Transformers'' titles.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE44 regcvr.jpg|
File:MTMTE44 subcvr.jpg|
File:MTMTE44 cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''More than Meets the Eye'' #45
* ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]'' [[The Transgressors|#44]]
* ''[[The Transformers: Windblade|Windblade]]'' [[Race Against the Light|#5]]
* ''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' [[Stick To Your Guns|#9]]
* ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]: Amazing Adventures''
* "You Must Shop at These Fine Stores!" - classic-style advert promoting multiple comic shops
* IDW ''Transformers'' comic app
* ''Uncle Scrooge'' Vol. 1 TPB (back cover)

===Reprints===
* '''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 8''''' ([[October 21]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631404520 / ISBN 978-1631404528
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #39–44.
** Bonus material includes covers of each issue.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 9]]''''' ([[June 19]], [[2019]]) ISBN 1684054842 / ISBN 978-1684054848
** Collects [[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|''The Transformers'' (2012)]] issues [[First Contact (IDW)|#39]]–[[You, Me, and the Universe|41]], [[Now and On Earth|#42]] & [[South of Heaven|#43]], [[The Transformers: Windblade|''Windblade'' (2015)]] issues [[The Sum and Its Parts|#1]]–[[All That Remains|3]] & [[Windblade vol. 2 issue 4|#4]]–[[Race Against the Light|5]], and ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #41–44.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 66: Speak, Memory''''' ([[December 25]], 2019)
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #43–49.
** Bonus material includes a one-page article about the [[Scavengers (G1)|Scavengers]], a cover gallery and a forward by [[Simon Furman]].
** Hardcover format.

* '''''Transformers: Några av mina bästa vänner är Autoboter''''' ([[November]], [[2025]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #39 & #41-46, ''Drift: Empire of Stone'' issues #1-4 and the ''Revolution'' one-shot.
** Swedish reprint. Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol8.jpg|'''''More Than Meets the Eye Volume 8''''' – cover art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V9.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 9''''' – cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v66.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 66: Speak, Memory''''' – cover art by [[Dan Khanna]] (Getaway) and [[Hayato Sakamoto]] (retro)
File:MTMTE SWE 05.jpg|'''''Några av mina bästa vänner är Autoboter''''' – cover art by Alex Milne and Josh Perez
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.newsarama.com/25708-preview-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-44.html Preview]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Not Knowing}}

The Not Knowing

2025-11-02T21:28:14Z

Some Dweeb:

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=44
|prev=The One Where They Go to Earth
|next=Some Of My Best Friends Are Autobots
|image=MTMTE44_regcvr.jpg
|title="The Not Knowing"
|caption="Forty-two! Is that all you've got to show for seven and a half million years' work?"
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[September 2]], [[2015]]
|coverdate=August 2015
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|pencils by=[[Hayato Sakamoto]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2015)]]
}}
'''Following the trail of Agent 113's bullet, the ''Lost Light''ers make their way to the Necrobot's base of operations, where both Rewind and Chromedome's relationship, and Nightbeat's hope in the existence of a greater power, are tested.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:MTMTE44 a lot of banter.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.7|Take the second panel out of context, things don't look quite right...]]
The message bullet extracted from [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]]'s shoulder proves largely corrupted by rust, but of the data sent by [[Dominus Ambus|Agent 113]]—now revealed to have been the previous holder of the "[[Vos (G1)|Vos]]" codename—one intact piece of information gives the crew of the ''[[Lost Light]]'' a startling new objective to explore: the location of the supposedly-mythical [[Mortilus|Necrobot]]'s [[Necroworld|base of operations]]. [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] has a revelation of his own, however—it turns out that the doodles he has been carving into his desk since the ship's launch are, in fact, a map to [[Cyberutopia]] just like the one [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] drew, and he is much more interested in following it than looking for the Necrobot. When [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] and [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] explain that they want to visit the Necrobot's world in hopes of learning the fate of Rewind's old partner [[Dominus Ambus]], [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] agrees to their request, and the ''Lost Light'' sets off. [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] takes Rewind aside to talk about his departed spark brother in order to caution him to not get his hopes up for Dominus's survival, but it turns out that Rewind has already had this discussion with ''his'' Magnus, on the quantum duplicate ''Lost Light'', and refuses to believe his claim that he can sense his brother's absence.

Presently, the ''Lost Light'' arrives at the Necrobot's rather unassuming planet, and a small group heads down to the surface in the [[Rodpod]]. They are greeted by the sight of a beautiful garden, full of holographic statues surrounded by [[Cybertronian remembrance flower|sparkling blue flowers]], and soon deduce that the statues represent those Transformers who are still living, while the empty plinths are for the dead. Homing in on the solitary life sign on the planet, the Rod Pod sets down outside a huge complex, where a noticeably jumpy [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] immediately spots some movement in the building's doorway, only for the door to be slammed shut before he can reach it. While the others split up to wander about the garden and investigate, Nightbeat stands outside the door and calls to whoever or whatever may be inside... at which point, the door opens a crack, and the imposing form of the Necrobot appears to invite Nightbeat inside!

[[File:Censere nightbeat the not knowing.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2]]
[[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] dismisses the exercise as a waste of time, but Megatron confides that that was precisely his rationale for allowing the trip: although he will accept his fate when the time comes, he is in no hurry to rush toward that final judgement. Regardless of Megatron's intent, Chromedome and Rewind are here for a purpose: soon, they have hacked into the central database that powers the holographic statues, so that they can search for Dominus's name to learn what has become of him. But before Chromedome presses "search", Rewind hesitates, unsure if, after all this time, he ''really'' wants to know the truth. Chromedome assures him that whatever choice he makes, he will stand by him, and help him continue his search in other ways—a show of dedication that convinces Rewind that the past must be put behind him. The search begins, and the result appears... Dominus Ambus of Ambustus Minor is, indeed, deceased.

Within the Necrobot's complex, the mysterious robot explains to Nightbeat that he is, actually, a totally ordinary—if very long-lived—Cybertronian named [[Mortilus|Censere]]. A forensic pathologist, Censere was moved to begin chronicling deaths when the death of his friend [[Tusk]] went unreported, and simply uses the machines in his complex to keep track of spark signatures and to teleport him around the universe to carry out his tasks. Nightbeat is dismayed and furious; in spite of his rationalist nature, he had truly hoped to learn that the Necrobot was proof of a higher power, a reaffirmation of the notion of life after death that Nightbeat had come to doubt since his own death years beforehand. Censere reassures him that just because ''he'' is not "magic" does not mean that the [[Transformer afterlife|Afterspark]] does not exist, and explains that his understanding of life and death is not absolute: he was, for instance, alarmed to see Nightbeat and many of the other ''Lost Light''ers, as he believed they were already dead. Censere takes him to a monolith labelled "In Honor of the [[Disappeared]]", upon which he has carved the names of those whose deaths he cannot verify; Nightbeat sees his own name on the slab (his body having been stolen away into the [[Dead Universe]] before Censere reached him), but then spots another one of great interest. He calls the crew together, and while everyone is marvelling over the once-legendary Necrobot, Nightbeat takes Chromedome and Rewind to the monolith, where it is revealed that Dominus Ambus's name is also engraved on its surface!

A little later, as everyone prepares to depart, Nightbeat says farewell to Censere, but not without grimly informing him that he should use his skills to save the living, rather than record the dead. Rodimus realizes that Megatron has disappeared, and is informed by [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] that he slipped away with Ravage a little while ago, after the Necrobot explained the significance of his garden's flowers: they contain the residual [[spark]] energy of the deceased, and he plants them around the statue of the Transformer who was responsible for ending that life. Thus it is that Megatron receives a grim reminder that he cannot put off his day of reckoning forever, as he visits his own statue and sees a beautiful blue field of sparkling flowers, stretching in every direction, far and away into the horizon...
[[File:MTMTE44-MegatronLookAtTheFlowers.jpg|450px|center|thumb|Just look at the flowers.]]

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (2)
* [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (3)
* [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (4)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]]/[[Minimus Ambus]] (5)
* [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] (6)
* [[Dominus Ambus|Agent 113]] (video message, 7)
* [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (8)
* [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (9)
* [[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] (10)
* [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (11)
* [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (12)
* [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (13)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Getaway]] (14)
* [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (16)
* [[Ube-in]] (statue, 17)
* [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]] (statue, 18)
* [[Cyber]] (statue, 19)
* [[O-G]] (statue, 20)
* [[Yamada-3]] (statue, 21)
* [[Action]] (statue, 22)
* [[Indead]] (statue, 23)
* [[Impactor (G1)|Impactor]] (statue, 26)
* [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] (27)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (28)
* [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] (29)
{{!}}}
|c2=
* [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] (15)
* [[Wheezing Arrow]] (statue, 24)
|c4=
* [[Mortilus|Censere]] (1)
* [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] (statue, 25)
}}

==Quotes==
"You know, I can just about accept that the '''D.J.D.''' was infiltrated by an Autobot, but what I find '''bizarre''' is that this '''"Agent 113"''' thinks it practical to deliver his field reports by firing bullet-shaped data-slugs into '''three-fingered metallurgists'''." 
"It's not '''exclusively''' metallurgists. When I said that, I didn't... I was attempting to make a joke." 
"Yes—I know—I was '''running with it'''. There's a lot of banter on this ship; I thought I was ready to take the plunge." 
"I think we've both learned something from this."
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Ultra Magnus'''

"If you caught '''me''' spilling that many beans, you'd give me a '''dressing down''' so epic, so protracted—so narratively dense—it would have subplots, callbacks, and a finale that would provide closure whilst leaving the door open for future '''tellings off'''."
:—'''Rodimus''', to Magnus, when Magnus tells Megatron about Agent 113

"Is it too soon to have '''"Chosen One"''' engraved on my forehead?" 
"I can think of more appropriate words."
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Megatron'''

"Don't take offense, but it's quite difficult—sitting here, looking at you... you look so '''similar'''." 
"I know. Why do you think I've spent most of my life trying to look like someone else?"
:—'''Rewind''' and '''Minimus Ambus'''

"I don't know what you were expecting. I don't know what a '''non-boring''' planet looks like to you." 
"What." 
"Describe it. I'm genuinely interested. Describe your perfect planet." 
"Let's see... stripped of organic life, relieved of energy, coated in metal... oh—wait—that's '''your''' perfect planet."
:—'''Megatron''' might want some cold water for that burn, courtesy of '''Rodimus'''

"Don't '''touch''' anything, don't '''steal''' anything, and definitely don't '''desecrate''' anything."
:—'''Rodimus''' warns the crew to behave

"Once you press "search", that's it—I'll know. And I don't know if I'm '''ready''' to know. ...I'm sorry. This is stupid. I'm being stupid." 
"It's not. And you're not." 
"Tell me what to do." 
"Rewind—my love—it's not for me to say." 
"But this affects '''both''' of us. If I don't do this... if we leave here not knowing, we could spend the next four million years searching for someone who's..." 
"I know. But at least we'd be doing it together."
:—'''Rewind''' and '''Chrome—''' * sniff* ...and '''Chromedome'''... look, I just have something in my eye, okay?!

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* The Necrobot was introduced in the "Scavengers" two-parter in [[Rules of Disengagement (issue)|issue #7]] and [[Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|#8]]. It was in the second of those issues that he actually physically appeared, and in which we saw his datapad containing a list of deceased ''Lost Light'' crewmembers; this issue confirms the earlier implication that these were the quantum duplicate crewmembers from the second ''Lost Light'', seen in the "Slaughterhouse" two-parter in [[slaughterhouse|issue #32]] and [[slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|#33]].
* Agent 113, first mentioned in the "[[Bullets]]" prose story in 2010, is finally revealed to not be a current member of the DJD, but rather, the previous holder of the "Vos" codename—the one with hooks for hands and feet, whose existence was established in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|issue #29]]. He was replaced so recently that nobody on the ''Light'', not even Megatron, knew he'd been replaced until they found the 'other' ''Light''.
* Magnus mentions that the crew learned how to juggle during a three-week stay at the Cosmic Carnival, and Skids was seen demonstrating his juggling skills back in issue [[The Sensuous Frame|#41]].
* We first learned Rodimus has been carving doodles into his desk in [[Signal to Noise|issue #13]], and were reminded of that fact recently in issue #41. Turns out he's been drawing a map to Cyberuptopia like the one we saw [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] had drawn in that same issue, complete with the gear-like hieroglyphs from [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|issue #21]].
* Ultra Magnus has a figure of [[Ten]] under his desk, recalling how their friendship began in [[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|issue #40]] when Ten gave him a Minimus Ambus figure.
* When Skids remarks that he is a "recovering believer", he strokes his cheek, where we know from issues [[Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|#11]] and [[Elegant Chaos Part 1: All Our Parlous Yesterdays|#36]] that he used to have a tattoo of the [[Matrix of Leadership]] as a symbol of his faith.
* Nightbeat refers to his death from all the way back in ''[[Spotlight: Hardhead]]'' (see "Errors", below).
* Swerve takes a selfie with the Necrobot; we've seen Swerve using his "cell phone", before, back in "[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]]", when he went on about his ringtone.
* Skids says "who doesn't want to survive the dying of the light?" to Nightbeat, both people who will be part of a little story in #50 called... [[The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|"The Dying of the Light"]]!
* Nightbeat is haunted by the idea that there is no afterlife for his kind. His use of the phrase "nothing to ascend to" forshadows his [[The Everlasting Voices (2): The God War|final fate]].
* Swerve's opening recap monologue contains the first hints of his relationship with Velocity.

===Transformers references===
* Ultra Magnus mentions that the ''Lost Light''ers once spent three weeks at the [[Cosmic Carnival]], the greatest show in the galaxy that appeared in [[The Cosmic Carnival|issue #44]] of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|original Marvel Transformers comic]].
* Rodimus jokes about having "Chosen One" engraved on his forehead, the title that Rodimus was referred to with in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]].

===Real-life references===
* Rodimus describes Rewind's way of telling him about the Necrobot as they walk through the ship's corridors as "''West Wing''-ing", a reference to the TV show ''{{w|The West Wing}}'' and its famous tracking shots of characters talking with one another as they walk down long hallways.
* The Necrobot's real name, "Censere" (see "Errors", below), is a Latin word meaning to appraise or assess.
* The endless blue sparkflowers that symbolise the sparks of dead Cybertronians bear close resemblance to the poppy fields of Flanders, where hundreds of thousands of soldiers died during World War I, and to the legend that there are as many flowers as soldiers who died there. Poppies are also used to remember fallen, and veteran, soldiers in Britain and several Commonwealth nations, though this comic puts a darker spin on it here. This will take on an extra significance with "The Dying Of The Light" and especially [[The Dying of the Light Part 4: At Close of Day|#53]], which will give an explicit nod at the end to the First World War and the memorial poem "In Flanders Fields". In an extra nod, the gravestones on the special cover resemble the rows of hundreds of thousands of gravestones of Unknown soldiers lying in World War I and II cemeteries.

===Errors===
* Rewind worries about Rodimus poking someone's eye out with a table leg, but the table he's carrying doesn't really ''have'' legs — it's just a huge metal block with little stubs at each corner.
* As the crew disembark the Rodpod it appears that Skids has been coloured as Hound.
* The Necrobot introduces himself as "Censere", but when Nightbeat speaks his name during their farewell, it's incorrectly spelled "Censerre", with an extra "r". This is corrected for the trade paperback.
* When Nightbeat talks about his death, the footnote states he died in ''[[Spotlight: Nightbeat]]'', rather than ''Spotlight: Hardhead''. This is corrected for the trade paperback.
* Dominus Ambus's name is described as being "three from the bottom" on the monolith, but the art shows it being on the bottom line. The trade paperback changes this to "Right column, on the bottom".
* Rewind's second "Oh my god!" is attributed to Nightbeat erroneously.
* In "After the Necrobot explained about the flowers," Necrobot's word balloon is pointing at Riptide.

===Other trivia===
* This issue arrived a teensy bit late, landing in the first week of September rather than the last week of August.
* Megatron correctly deduces that the former holder of the Vos codename (who we now know was also Dominus Ambus) was the Autobot mole within the Decepticon Justice Division. While this does imply he was the appointed Vos as of Megatron's last meeting with the DJD, he was previously seen using the current Vos, originally known as Forestock, in his sniper rifle mode in a flashback panel of ''[[Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things]]''. Additionally, he seems aware of Forestock's new identity in ''[[The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle]]''. This may not necessarily be an error, as Megatron may have plausibly been familiar with Forestock as a soldier and a weapon prior to his induction into the DJD.
* Several statues in the Necrobot's garden are not immediately recognizable; though Rodimus mentions two Transformers named [[Raptor (G1)|Raptor]] and [[Scissorkick]], their statues are said to be near [[Ironhide (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ironhide]] and [[Xaaron]], who are not pictured.
* While Xaaron has always been best known by the rank he carried in the Marvel comics, "Emirate", he's never had that rank in the IDW universe. As Rodimus spots a statue of him in the Necrobot's garden, he notes that his full title in this universe is "Advocate Xaaron".
* Ironhide died way back in [[...For All Mankind|''The Transformers'' #1]]; presumably the Necrobot turned his statue back on after learning that he was up and about again thanks to his [[Ironing Out the Details|resurrection]] at the hands of [[Alpha Trion]].
* During Nightbeat's conversation with Censere, he reveals that he tracks the lives and deaths of ''Cybertronians'', yet there is a statue for Windblade, who is a [[Caminus (planet)|Camien]]. Roberts later clarified that the Necrobot does not record the lives and deaths of those living on the colony worlds, only those on Cybertron, so since Windblade had made Cybertron her new home, she fell under that purview.<ref>
{{citesocial|quote=In response to lots of questions: there aren't statues of TFs living on colonies, only those now on Cybertron and therefore 'recorded'.|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/639375882449195008|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=09|day=03|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* Full names learned for Transformers in this issue include: [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Bumblebee of Iacon]], [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] of [[Pescus Hex]], Dominus Ambus of [[Ambustus Minor]] (and thus by extension, Minimus Ambus of Ambustus Minor), Chromedome of Iacon, Hound of [[Lower Monoplex]], and Nightbeat of [[Yuss]]. Additionally, [[Ambulon]] is revealed to have been an [[M.T.O.]]; a speech-bubble obscures his full name, but we see that it partially reads "Ambulon of Operation Split Infin--" something (a crack about "{{w|split infinitive}}s" and Ambulon's status as part of a [[combiner]], if not a reference to his grisly demise). This makes Ambulon the first confirmed example of a Decepticon M.T.O.
* Bumblebee's plinth puts in an appearance, but note that the scene is drawn in such a way that we can't tell if his statue is on or off...

===Soundtrack===
* "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaoCEdZnyFk Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want]" by {{w|The Smiths}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=The first song for MTMTE #44 is a classic and a personal favourite, but it absolutely sums up the issue: https://t.co/ItfddtusQs|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/635846980078583810|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=08|day=24|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjeCgsNrvCw Song for the Leftovers]" by {{w|A Camp}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Certain songs REALLY fit an issue. This is one of them https://t.co/BSiI1piEmj (It's also kind of the theme to the end of Season 2) #MTMTE44|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/635847872236396544|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=08|day=24|(defunct=)}}</ref>

'''Swedish:'''
* ''Title:'' "'''Att inte veta'''" ("To Not Know")

===Covers (3)===
* '''Regular cover:''' Chromedome and Rewind stare up at an imposing monolith, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
* '''Subscription cover:''' Megatron amid a field of gravestones, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]].
* '''Retailer incentive cover:''' Megatron wails after Nautica steals his Rodimus action figure, while Swerve looks on; one of a series of super-deformed covers by [[Agnes Garbowska]] that make up the Retailer Incentive covers on IDW's August ''Transformers'' titles.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE44 regcvr.jpg|
File:MTMTE44 subcvr.jpg|
File:MTMTE44 cvrRI.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''More than Meets the Eye'' #45
* ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]'' [[The Transgressors|#44]]
* ''[[The Transformers: Windblade|Windblade]]'' [[Race Against the Light|#5]]
* ''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' [[Stick To Your Guns|#9]]
* ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]: Amazing Adventures''
* "You Must Shop at These Fine Stores!" - classic-style advert promoting multiple comic shops
* IDW ''Transformers'' comic app
* ''Uncle Scrooge'' Vol. 1 TPB (back cover)

===Reprints===
* '''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 8''''' ([[October 21]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631404520 / ISBN 978-1631404528
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #39–44.
** Bonus material includes covers of each issue.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 9]]''''' ([[June 19]], [[2019]]) ISBN 1684054842 / ISBN 978-1684054848
** Collects [[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|''The Transformers'' (2012)]] issues [[First Contact (IDW)|#39]]–[[You, Me, and the Universe|41]], [[Now and On Earth|#42]] & [[South of Heaven|#43]], [[The Transformers: Windblade|''Windblade'' (2015)]] issues [[The Sum and Its Parts|#1]]–[[All That Remains|3]] & [[Windblade vol. 2 issue 4|#4]]–[[Race Against the Light|5]], and ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #41–44.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 66: Speak, Memory''''' ([[December 25]], 2019)
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #43–49.
** Bonus material includes a one-page article about the [[Scavengers (G1)|Scavengers]], a cover gallery and a forward by [[Simon Furman]].
** Hardcover format.

* '''''Transformers: Några av mina bästa vänner är Autoboter''''' ([[November]], [[2025]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #39 & #41-46, ''Drift: Empire of Stone'' issues #1-4 and the ''Revolution'' one-shot.
** Swedish reprint. Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol8.jpg|'''''More Than Meets the Eye Volume 8''''' – cover art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V9.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 9''''' – cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v66.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 66: Speak, Memory''''' – cover art by [[Dan Khanna]] (Getaway) and [[Hayato Sakamoto]] (retro)
File:MTMTE SWE 05.jpg|'''''Några av mina bästa vänner är Autoboter''''' – cover art by Alex Milne and Josh Perez
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.newsarama.com/25708-preview-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-44.html Preview]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Not Knowing}}

The One Where They Go to Earth

2025-11-02T21:13:22Z

Some Dweeb:

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=43
|prev=The Frail Gaze
|next=The Not Knowing
|image=MTMTE43_subcvr.jpg
|title="The One Where They Go to Earth"
|caption=Red Alert took one look at these guys and ''ran like hell''.
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[July 29]], [[2015]]
|coverdate=July 2015
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|pencils by=[[Alex Milne]]
|inks by=Alex Milne and [[Brian Shearer]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2015)]]
}}

'''A dying Swerve's mind retreats to a holomatter replica of Earth constructed out of sitcom tropes, and his friends must transmit their own avatars down to the planet in order to find him and save his life. Can the ''Lost Light''ers survive... Swearth?'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Swearth the one where they go to earth.jpg|thumb|left|upright=2]]
Today is an even weirder day than usual for the ''[[Lost Light]]'', as the ship has suddenly found itself being chased by the planet [[Earth]]. Attempting to make contact, the only response the ship receives is a catchy song about "[[Swerve's]]", so [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] tries to call the bartender to the bridge, with no success. The reason why is soon made horrifyingly apparent: just as [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] is giving [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] a going-away present for his trip back to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] bursts into the medibay with the comatose Swerve in his arms. A quick examination by First Aid and [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] can detect no surface wounds, but Swerve is so weak that exploratory surgery to find the cause of his condition will kill him. Everyone recalls that Swerve was fine just the previous day at his bar, but [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] deduces that the Swerve they all saw there, who disappeared, was actually a [[holomatter]] projection—and morever, so is the ''entire Earth'', all somehow being impossibly generated by Swerve, where his mind has taken refuge. Tailgate, Skids, [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]], [[Rung (G1)|Rung]], and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] project their own avatars down to "[[Swearth]]" (as [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] dubs it) to set up a base of operations and begin searching for Swerve so he can tell them where he is injured, and his life can be saved.

The team finds that the facsimile Earth is constructed out of tropes from Earth sitcoms, a product of Swerve's recent consumption of the entirety of Earth's arts and literature. Setting up base in a [[New York City|New York]] apartment, Rung, Bluestreak, and Skids go out searching, but get waylaid dealing with the escapades of their wacky neighbours. Tailgate, meanwhile, busies himself reading the only piece of literature on the planet, ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'', a comic book version of the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s adventures. Just as he reaches a part of the story unfamiliar to the others—the fact that Swerve opened [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]]'s [[Time case|briefcase]] in [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|issue #21]]—neighbours Ted the priest, Sheldon the dermatologist, and Jerry the stand-up comedian pay a visit to meet Cyclonus and Tailgate. They soon start bickering about past episodes, and Skids is grateful of the chance to shut them up when Rodimus calls in to check up. He, Megatron, Nightbeat, and [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] have also projected their avatars into the city to help with the search, and after getting up to speed with the farcical ways the planet functions—including its own laugh track—they begin searching nearby bars for any leads to Swerve's location.

[[File:TheOneWhereTheyGoToEarth-table.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
Ted, Sheldon, and Jerry, it turns out, have locked themselves out of their apartment, and as Bluestreak works on opening their door for them, Skids confides to Rung that he did not even know what room Swerve lived in on board the ship; he had only found him by remembering which hab-suite Swerve's old roommate [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] had lived in. Swerve had, he reveals, actually been locked in his room for ''months'', his body slowly degrading, interacting with others only through avatars, and nobody ever came to visit him. Hoping for a clue, Tailgate jumps to the newest issue of ''More than Meets the Eye'', where the recap page narrated by Swerve explains what happened: exposure to the energies of Brainstorm's time-machine briefcase have created a time-loop in Swerve's holomatter systems, giving him the notionally impossible ability to project something as complex as the planet, which has been shaped into a world of fiction-made-real due to the metafictional awareness Swerve has been increasingly suffering from since he was hit with Brainstorm's [[metafictional bomb|meta-bomb]]. Realizing that the comic is a case of Swerve's subconscious trying to reach out to them, Rung looks for more such subtle clues... and finds one staring him right in the face, as Ted, Sheldon, and Jerry's apartment turns out to have the same number as Swerve's hab-suite. Rung speaks Swerve's name aloud, and the three men ''all'' turn around, then suddenly blur together, condensing into Swerve's familiar—if very surprised-looking—avatar.

Rodimus's team is in a nearby bar, talking about Earth and humans; Megatron is struggling to get to grips with the human condition, never having used an avatar before, and is struck by the fragility of the body when he cuts his hand on a broken glass after Nautica tries to tickle him. Rodimus gets an update from Cyclonus's team, but it's not good news: Swerve is unable to tell them ''where'' his real body is injured, so that the life-saving surgery can be performed. Rung theorizes that the three avatars were a program glitch that split the different facets of his personality into separate individuals while Tailgate realizes that Swerve is suppressing his pain because he's found his "happy place" and doesn't want to leave. Swerve glumly explains that he has been thinking a lot about sitcoms lately, and how the "sitcom" of his life has changed since the beginning of "season 2", with him no longer playing the role of a "main character", causing him to retreat into isolation. Cyclonus saves the day by revealing that the ''entire crew'' of the ''Lost Light'' is actually helping to search "Swearth" for him—that while Swerve may not feel like a "main character", he is important to ''everyone''. Elated with this news, Swerve finds that his shoulder is suddenly beginning to bleed in the shape of an Autobot symbol, denoting the location of his real-life wound.

A little later, "Swearth" fades away after everyone has returned to the ''Lost Light'' and Swerve's injury—an infection in his [[energon]] stream from a years-old shoulder wound—is treated. Velocity reports on the successful surgery to First Aid over a radio, as the medical officer has already departed for Cybertron aboard [[O Fortuna|a shuttle]]. As they talk, First Aid looks through his present, a datapad of photos and other media put together by [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]], but stops when he finds a picture of Swerve in an older body design, standing with [[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]]. Suddenly putting two and two together, First Aid realizes that Swerve's infection was caused by a foreign object that still remains inside his body, which he has Velocity remove with all due haste: a message bullet from [[Dominus Ambus|Agent 113]], the Autobot mole within the [[Decepticon Justice Division]], fired years ago into the Autobot symbol that ''used'' to be on Swerve's shoulder!

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (1)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (3)
* [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (4)
* [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (5)
* [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (6)
* [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] (7)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (8)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (9)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (10)
* [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (11)
* [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (12)
* [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (13)
* [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] (14)
* [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (18)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (19)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (20)
* [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (21)
* [[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (22)
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (23)
* [[Ambulon]] (photograph, 24)
* [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] (photograph, 25)
* [[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]] (photograph, 27)
{{!}}}
|c4=
* [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (2)
* Ted (15)
* Sheldon (16)
* Jerry (17)
* [[Diagnostic Drone]] (photograph, 26)
}}

==Quotes==
"I suppose there's always the '''Wiki'''. Or Tumblr..." 
"I told you to stay off Tumblr." 
"You're right: spoilers."
:—'''Tailgate''' and '''Cyclonus''' grapple with resources to understand the continuity of ''More than Meets the Eye''

"TALK 2 ME. WHAT R U DOING? TIME IS RUNNING OUT. THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE OBV. HASHTAG PISSED." 
"Even '''I''' know you don't '''write''' hashtag."
:—'''Rodimus''' sends a text, but '''Tailgate''' critiques his form

"'sup?" 
"We're being chased by a planet." 
"Cool." 
... 
"Sorry, what?"
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Megatron'''

"Makin' your way on a quest today takes everythin' you got 
Takin' a break from all that '''war stuff''' sure has helped a lot 
Maybe one day we'll find the knights 
But 'til then you wanna go 
Down to '''D Deck''' and to '''Swerve's''' 
You'll have more fun than you deserve 
You wanna go where Megs won't go 
Where the drinks all taste the same 
You wanna go where Ten can't even say your name."
:—The Swearth theme song

'''Brainstorm:''' "Please bear in mind that "Earth" is 400 miles away. Projecting over that sort of distance is likely to result in a rather '''disagreeable''' sensory experience." 
'''Rung:''' "Might this type of sensory experience be better described as 'pain'?" 
'''Brainstorm:''' "Pain, agony, torment, take your pick. Plus there's a slight risk of ''(cough cough)''" 
'''Skids:''' "A slight risk of...?" 
'''Brainstorm:''' "Excuse me?" 
'''Skids:''' "Just then, you said there was a slight risk of..." 
'''Brainstorm:''' "Of feedback-induced spark burnout." 
'''Skids:''' "'''Death''', in other words. A slight risk of death."

"I heard people laughing. Lots of people. Are you having a party?" 
"Oh wait—that'll be the '''canned laughter'''." 
"The what?" 
"'Swearth' isn't like normal planets. It's... how can I put this? It's got its own '''laughter''' track." 
"There it is again! I didn't even say anything funny!" 
"You probably made a face. '''Reactions''' get big laughs too. And don't be freaked out if you walk into a room and there's a round of applause and cheering." 
"Eh. That's what happens '''normally.'''"
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Bluestreak'''

"They're all out there, spread out across the city, across the world, desperate to find you." 
"Really?" 
"Yes. They need to know where you keep the keys to the bar." 
... 
"Tetrahexian humor. Very dry."
:—'''Cyclonus''' and '''Swerve'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Rung is using the holomatter avatar design from the cover of [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|issue #13]], rather than the less-glamorous version from inside the issue itself. The earlier design appears in the "title sequence". On the other hand, Ultra Magnus uses the avatar based on [[Verity Carlo]]'s [[The Transformers: Infiltration|Infiltration]]-era design he used in issue #13 and [[Twenty Plus One|issue #31]], instead of the ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'' Verity design used on the issue #13 cover. Swerve's avatar is now wearing a white shirt instead of a red one, but that's for plot purposes so the bloodstain can show up properly on it.
* And speaking of Rung, poor ol' fella... even the title sequence spells his name "Rong"! This particular misspelling is a callback to [[Little Victories|issue #22]] and Rung's old I.D. card, where we first learned his full name...which is spelled wrong.
* Tailgate's avatar is a ''bigger'' baby than last time (bordering on toddler), reflecting that he's aged up a few years.
* Rodimus and Bluestreak discuss that the former sounds different "in human mode", indicating that Transformers will alter their voices to fit their avatars. This hadn't been stated either way before, raising questions; for example, if IDW Bumblebee [[Bumblebee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity#Notes|sounded like Lindsey Lohan]] or if [[Dan Gilvezan]]'s voice came out of her holo-mouth.
* First Aid is departing to go and be in the "[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]" crossover over in ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]'' and ''[[The Transformers: Windblade|Windblade]]'', which took place a couple of months before this issue was published. Though not mentioned in dialogue, we also see the sick Mirage go with him, and Groove is sitting on the shuttle too; the other [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]]-to-be are off-panel.
* Tailgate references the departures of [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] and [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] (both in [[The Sound of Breaking Glass|issue #21]]), [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] ([[The Gloaming|issue #16]]), [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] ([[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|issue #41]]), and even [[Bob (IDW)|Bob]], who left in the big reshuffle after "[[Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron]]".
* Swerve opening Brainstorm's briefcase never happened on panel, but in issue #21's prose story "The Sound of Breaking Glass", Brainstorm did express concern (towards Swerve himself, of all people) that someone had opened the case after it had been blasted off his wrist the [[Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|previous issue]] (the spring-loaded clasps had previously been removed by [[Getaway]] to create makeshift tools for escaping the cell they had been trapped in). Swerve had previously vowed to see what was inside the case in issue #16.
* Ted, Sheldon, and Jerry (see "Pop-culture references", below) each reflect a fact of Swerve's personality: Ted the priest is an embodiment of his intermittently-mentioned religiosity (most prominently featured in [[Twenty Plus One|issue #31]]), Sheldon the dermatologist refers to his function as a metallurgist, the equivalent of "skin" for a Transformer (Tailgate knew the job by the title "skin specialist" all the way back in [[Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|issue #2]]), and Jerry the stand-up comedian is his joking slacker side. Jerry really lays into Ted and Sheldon, accusing the former's faith of not being strong enough and the latter of not doing anything important with his skills, encapsulating Swerve's self-worth issues.
[[File:Swerve DJD injury continuity.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|right|Foreshadowing galore.]]
* Swerve activated Brainstorm's meta-bomb back in [[Under Cold Blue Stars|issue #15]].
* Nightbeat mentions having been to Earth's orbit, back in ''[[The Transformers: Escalation|Escalation]]''. However, see "Errors", below.
* Swerve has been used for the "Previously" recaps since [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|issue #29]]. We now learn these pages are not just a joke but that Swerve has actually been delivering these in the world of the comic, a side effect of the meta-bomb. This would also explain the two pages of recap last issue: not just reminding us about them, but subtly telling us Swerve is getting worse. As an aside, these recap pages have usually been left out of the trade paperback collections, but the second story in volume 8 (which is issue #40) keeps its recap page, so that people who are only reading the trades still get the joke.
* Tailgate realizes that Swerve has used "Rungian Re-Experience Therapy" (aka "finding your happy place"), first mentioned in a discussion between the pair in [[Before & After|issue #12]].
* First Aid learned about Agent 113 and his method of delivering messages in "[[Bullets]]".
* Okay, step back a second. ALL THE WAY BACK in frigging "[[Chaos (IDW)|Chaos]]", the ''first time'' Roberts wrote Swerve in a comic scene (he'd written him earlier in the prose-only "Bullets"), Swerve's left shoulder had a piece of metal riveted over it. Nothing was made of it at the time, but later references were made to him having an "old injury" in [[The Sound of Breaking Glass|issue #21]] and issue #29—the issues, you'll note, in which we now know he opened Brainstorm's briefcase, and in which the "Swerve recap page" first appeared, respectively. We now know that metal patch was his own quick-and-dirty fix job for this wound. In addition to ''that'', back in [[Cybertronian Homesick Blues|issue #13]], Swerve mentioned (in response to Ultra Magnus asking where his badge was) that his insignia "got damaged". And on top of ''all that'', we were made aware that Swerve had encountered the D.J.D. in [[Life After the Big Bang|issue #4]] when [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] mentioned it to Ratchet offhandedly. Phew. ''Pheeeeeeeeeeeew.''
* What's more, in issue #4, Pipes claimed that Swerve hadn't been able to ''speak'' for a whole six months following his encounter with the D.J.D. (a fact which Swerve had described to Pipes as "the worst thing that had ever happened to him"), yet in [[Chaos Part Four: Genesis|issue #30]] of the 2009-2011 ongoing, Swerve was pretty chatty with everyone, despite still sporting a patched-up shoulder. No wonder he contracted a rust infection if he didn't have his wound properly treated for that long!
* As a side note, Swerve's design throughout ''More than Meets the Eye'' has precluded him from having a symbol on his shoulder, since his shoulders are wheels. Milne makes sure to draw his old body with a distinct design of its own in the picture we see of it this issue, which tips First Aid off to the exact nature of his injury; when [[Guido Guidi]] drew a much younger Swerve in flashback in issue #13, it appears that the script for that issue specifically asked for the scene to be laid out so Swerve's shoulders would be subtly obscured when seen from the front, so the symbol's presence (and hence, present-day absence) wouldn't be obvious at the time. However, it further appears Guido was not fully aware of the exact significance of Swerve's shoulders, since he drew him in the same design as his present-day self (a view from the back even shows wheels on his shoulders!), rather than a design that would allow for an Autobot badge to be present on the left shoulder like the one Milne drew for this issue (or, for that matter, the design we saw back in issues [[Chaos Part Three: Kings|#28]] and #30 of the old ongoing, the one that depicted Swerve with the patched-up shoulder as mentioned above).
* When she first arrives on Swearth, Nautica waves directly at the reader; this is because she's a terrible actor as established in the previous two issues and doesn't know that TV actors aren't supposed to look at the camera.

{{-}}

===Pop-culture references===
''(cracks knuckles)''
* The title of this issue uses the same naming scheme as the TV show ''{{w|Friends}}'', where nearly every episode was "The One..." in which something happened. The apartment Cyclonus's team use as a home base is also the main ''Friends'' set, recreated with some stunning accuracy by Milne. While the street name and number ("495 Grove Street") is taken from the show, the ''apartment'' number is not.
* Swerve's apartment number and room number on the ship, 43, is the same as the number of this issue.
* The apartment used by Cyclonus's team is numbered 42, necessary for it to be opposite Swerve's apartment. It's also the number used for {{W|Phrases from The Hitchhiker%27s Guide to the Galaxy#Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life.2C the Universe.2C and Everything .2842.29|The Answer}} in ''{{w|The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy}}''.
* One of the neighbors' outrageous activities sees settling an argument with a game of paintball, a reference to ''[[Community]]'', in which huge paintball games that got out of control were a running gag. Jerry wears a shirt emblazoned with the logo of the college from the series, Greendale.
* When last we saw it, Skids's avatar resembled the {{w|Eleventh Doctor|Eleventh incarnation}} of the [[Doctor (Doctor Who)|Doctor]] from ''[[Doctor Who]]''. In this issue, it's based on the {{w|Ninth Doctor|Ninth}}.
* The font used on the "title sequence" is based on that used from the opening sequence of ''[[Cheers]]'', while the "theme song" transmission is based on the ''Cheers'' theme tune. ''Cheers'' was about a bar, so it's especially fitting.
* While listing off his knowledge of Earth, Bluestreak mentions the movie ''{{w|Inception}}'', the internet meme {{w|Double Rainbow (viral video)|Double Rainbow}}, {{w|Justin Bieber|beliebers}}, and {{w|mansplaining}}.
* Confused over the expression "Humanity 101" (the number being used in the manner of a university course, meaning "introductory") in reference to the "bluffer's guide" that Rewind puts together for them, Rung believes it refers to "Room 101" from the novel ''{{w|Nineteen Eighty-Four}}'', while Cyclonus thinks it's about the British TV series ''{{w|Room 101 (TV series)|Room 101}}'', which took its name from the novel. Bluestreak insists it comes from ''{{w|101 Dalmatians}}'' (which he calls "101 Damnations", perhaps getting it confused with the {{w|101 Damnations (album)|album}} by {{w|Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine}}); Tailgate isn't quite sure what a dog is.
* Each of Swerve's three personalities is a reference to a famous sitcom character in name and occupation, though not physical appearance. Ted the priest is {{w|Father Ted Crilly}} from ''{{w|Father Ted}}''; Sheldon the scientist (a bit of a push, but the comic lampshades it, as Sheldon corrects Bluestreak's claim that he is a scientist with a "Kind of.") is {{w|Sheldon Cooper}} from ''{{w|The Big Bang Theory}}''; and Jerry the stand-up comedian is {{w|Jerry Seinfeld (character)|Jerry Seinfeld}} from ''{{w|Seinfeld}}''.
* The clients that Sheldon and Ted refer to while arguing with Jerry are also references to sitcom characters; Sheldon mentions a "Mrs. Simpson", alluding to ''{{w|The Simpsons}}'' while Ted brings up "The Bluths", the family from ''{{w|Arrested Development (TV series)|Arrested Development}}''.
* Rodimus's avatar is ''ungodly'' 1980s, a kind of mash-up of John Bender from ''{{w|The Breakfast Club}}'' (played by [[Judd Nelson]], who voiced Rodimus in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'') and [[Marty McFly]] from the ''[[Back to the Future]]'' series (specifically, Marty's orange-red down vest).
* Rather than the Benedict Cumberbatch you may have expected, Nightbeat's avatar is based on Idris Elba's eponymous detective in ''{{w|Luther (TV series)|Luther}}''.
* The bar Rodimus's team visits is named "The Jumping Shark", after the phenomenon of {{w|jumping the shark}}, the point at which a piece of entertainment begins a decline in quality, appropriately derived from TV show ''{{w|Happy Days}}''. Perhaps something of a meta-commentary joke on the outlandish nature of this issue?
* The table (well, two tables pushed together) that Ultra Magnus, Chromedome, and Rewind's avatars are shown standing around when Cyclonus tells Swerve that everyone is looking for him is the table used by the study group from ''Community''. Magnus and Rewind are pretty deliberate choices for this scene, being a straight-laced rule-follower like {{w|Annie Edison}}, and a media-buff film-maker like {{w|Abed Nadir}}, respectively.

===Other real-life references===
* On page 2, the mugs hanging on the shelves are decorated with a caricature of colorist [[Josh Perez]]!
* Just above the mugs are boxes of "Jii Puffs" and "Andy-Os", references to Transformers podcasters [https://twitter.com/JiiDee Jii Dee] and [https://twitter.com/CCTFW Andy Millman] of the [http://moonbase2.libsyn.com/ Moonbase 2 Podcast].

===Errors===
[[File:MTMTE 43 First Aid Tailgate single vs trade.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6|right|Fixing one error, adding a new one. Net result: Breakeven.]]
* First Aid claims he's going to "Earth and back"; he's actually going to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. This is corrected for the trade paperback.
* In the very same panel, the trade ''adds'' an error, as Tailgate's "photos" inexplicably becomes "photo'''t'''s".
* In panel 5 on page 8, the caption box reads: "The Earth is a made of holomatter too?!" This is also corrected for the TPB.
* Nightbeat says that he's only been to Earth's orbit, but he actually spent some time on the planet's surface in ''[[The Transformers: Devastation|Devastation]]''.
* Ambulon's photograph in First Aid's "leaving present" shows him with blue eyes, not their proper yellow.
{{-}}

===Crew Manifest===
* First Aid, Groove, [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]], [[Blades (G1)|Blades]], [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]], and Mirage leave the ''Lost Light'' to go star in a [[Combiner Wars (comic)|crossover]].
* According to First Aid in [[The Plotters' Club (Part 1): Full Circle|''Lost Light'' #11]], there were 214 crew members on board when he left.

===Other trivia===
* The first page of the issue (Cover E from [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|issue #1]], with a speech balloon from Tailgate remarking that he is "lost already") was missing from at least some regional copies of the digital version. Comixology updated the issue later on the day of release to include the missing page.
* Being made up entirely of re-used art, the first page of the issue, the two-page "title sequence", and the mid-story Swerve recap page all come in addition to the comic's 20 standard story pages.
* This issue's story is, fittingly, structured like a standard sitcom teleplay: a brief cold open, a title sequence, three basic 4-8 page acts (act one being the flashback to the ''Lost Light'', and act 2 culminating with the "ad-break cliffhanger" of Swerve's avatar consolidating), and a short "credits scene".

===Soundtrack===
* "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sb2_o7cxb6U I Love Pop Music]" by {{w|Ben Lee}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Okay! First song for/from MTMTE #43 is Ben Lee's 'I Love Pop Music': https://t.co/J1360kjxNO|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/623651828148924416|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=07|day=22|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMNVNRybluQ ''Cheers'' theme tune]<ref>{{citesocial|quote=This is a more appropriate video for the second song to accompany MTMTE #43: https://t.co/f3w3wgE5Jo|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/623652910640066560|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=07|day=22|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0303UwKLVbU There Will Always Be]" by {{w|Adem Ilhan}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Final song for MTMTE #43: 'There Will Always Be' by Adem. Lump-in-throat, this one. https://t.co/D9x4onxM71|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/623653356033191936|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=07|day=22|(defunct=)}}</ref>

===Foreign Localization===
'''Swedish:'''
* ''Title:'' "'''Den där de besöker Jorden'''" ("The One Where They Visit Earth")
**The lyrics for the "theme song" remain in English, since ''Cheers'', like most live-action media, was not dubbed on its Swedish broadcast.
**The mention of mansplaining was replaced by "[https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/killgissa killgissa]", meaning to wildly guess while sounding like you know what you're talking about.
**The Swedish hardcovers integrated Swerve's fourth-wall breaking in two ways, first by having him sign the audience off in ''Krig och hågkomst'' and ''Du sköna nya värld'', as well as introductions in ''Du sköna nya värld'' and ''Några av mina bästa vänner är Autoboter''. This is noted here due to these segments' relevance to the story.

===Covers (4)===
* '''Regular cover:''' Cyclonus and his avatar, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
* '''Subscription cover:''' Multiple Swerves act out another homage to ''Justice League'' #1 (last seen in [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|issue #1]]), by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]. Charting the homage's history, the cover is signed "Roche after Milne after Roche after Maguire".
* '''Retailer incentive cover:''' One of a series of "[[Pan Cybertronian Spaceways]]" travel posters by [[James Biggie]] that make up the Retailer Incentive covers on IDW's July Transformers titles; this one promotes the [[Unicron]]'s head, which orbited Cybertron after ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
* '''Convention cover:''' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] versus [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]], by [[Casey Coller]] and [[John-Paul Bove]], available exclusively at Texas Comicon.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE43 regcvr.jpg|You weren't expecting this, were you?
File:MTMTE43 subcvr.jpg|Guess what? Now you get to hunt down countless Swerve toys on eBay and Amazon to recreate this scene! Yay!
File:MTMTE43 cvrRI.jpg|Now, if you look ''overhead'', folks... * gets booed*
File:MTMTE43 concvr.jpg|"Digital!" "Paper!"
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''More than Meets the Eye'' #44
* ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]'' [[South of Heaven|#43]]
* ''[[The Transformers: Windblade|Windblade]]'' [[Windblade vol. 2 issue 4|#4]]
* [[An Uneventful Night|''Combiner Hunters'' #1]]
* IDW's Transformers comics app for iOS
* ''Walt Disney's Comics and Stories'' #721 (back cover)

===Reprints===
* '''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 8''''' ([[October 21]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631404520 / ISBN 978-1631404528
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #39–44.
** Bonus material includes covers of each issue.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 9]]''''' ([[June 19]], [[2019]]) ISBN 1684054842 / ISBN 978-1684054848
** Collects [[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|''The Transformers'' (2012)]] issues [[First Contact (IDW)|#39]]–[[You, Me, and the Universe|41]], [[Now and On Earth|#42]] & [[South of Heaven|#43]], [[The Transformers: Windblade|''Windblade'' (2015)]] issues [[The Sum and Its Parts|#1]]–[[All That Remains|3]] & [[Windblade vol. 2 issue 4|#4]]–[[Race Against the Light|5]], and ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #41–44.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 66: Speak, Memory''''' ([[December 25]], 2019)
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #43–49.
** Bonus material includes a one-page article about the [[Scavengers (G1)|Scavengers]], a cover gallery and a forward by [[Simon Furman]].
** Hardcover format.

* '''''Transformers: Några av mina bästa vänner är Autoboter''''' ([[November]], [[2025]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #39 & #41-46, ''Drift: Empire of Stone'' issues #1-4 and the ''Revolution'' one-shot.
** Swedish reprint. Hardcover format

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol8.jpg|'''''More Than Meets the Eye Volume 8''''' – cover art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
File:IDWCollectionP2V9.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 9''''' – cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v66.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 66: Speak, Memory''''' – cover art by [[Dan Khanna]] (Getaway) and [[Hayato Sakamoto]] (retro)
File:MTMTE SWE 05.jpg|'''''Några av mina bästa vänner är Autoboter''''' – cover art by Alex Milne and Josh Perez
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.newsarama.com/25337-transformers-exclusive-previews-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-43-transformers-combiner-hunters-special-one-shot-transformers-windblade-5.html Preview]

{{DEFAULTSORT:One Where They Go to Earth}}

The Frail Gaze

2025-11-02T20:44:13Z

Some Dweeb:

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=42
|prev=The Sensuous Frame
|next=The One Where They Go to Earth
|image=MTMTE42_regcvr.jpg
|title="The Frail Gaze"
|caption=
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[June 24]], [[2015]]
|coverdate=June 2015
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2015)]]
}}
'''Boxed in by mysterious parasitic creatures, the least-charismatic members of the ''Lost Light'' and ''Vis Vitalis'' crews fight for survival against a very unusual enemy.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Personality ticks the frail gaze.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]
[[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] lets off some steam by convincing [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] to dance with her, surprising the super-learner with her skill and grace. As they twirl, Nautica explains her complicated relationship with [[Firestar (G1)|Firestar]]; already looked down upon and labelled "Naughty" for her lack of interest in the performing arts, Nautica essentially befriended the egotistical Firestar out of necessity, as the stricter tenets of [[Caminus (planet)|Camien]] religion would have resulted in her total ostracization if she did not have an [[Amica Endura]] before she was ten megacycles old. Worse yet, she can't "split up" with Firestar, because to do so is the ultimate affront one can commit in Camien culture. The exhausted Skids sits down to rest, but suddenly finds himself on the verge of passing out—as hideous, barnacled creates abruptly appear out of nowhere! With Skids too weak to fight and Nautica lacking the skill, the pair are soon buried under a pile of alien bodies...

In the morgue, [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] and [[Getaway]] are also trying to fight off the creatures, which Nightbeat deduces are using a perception-based form of cloaking that ceased functioning when the pair discovered their spores incubating on [[Countdown (G1)|Countdown]]. They are saved by a missile volley courtesy of [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]]—his [[attention deflector]]s now functioning properly again after the creatures revealed themselves—and the trio beat a quick retreat.

In the medibay, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Minimus Ambus]], [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]], and [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] come under attack from the horrors, one of which emerged from within [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]]'s trailer. [[Firestar (G1)|Firestar]] and [[Skystriker (G1)|Skystriker]] arrive in response to the noise, but Skystriker is immediately torn to shreds by the creatures. In an act of supreme heroism, Thunderclash transforms to hold their attackers off, giving everyone the chance to escape the room—though Velocity observes the monsters shudder at the sight of Thunderclash even as they flee...
[[File:Thunderclash TheFrailGaze.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.3]]
Back on the dancefloor, Nautica claws her way free long enough to shove her fist into a nearby recharge socket, electrocuting the creatures piled on top of them with the current. They are soon joined by the groups from the morgue and medibay and barricade themselves in; Nautica has time for a happy reunion with Velocity, which results in the truth coming out about Firestar—she was lying about being Thunderclash's first officer in order to show off, and furthermore, it was the ''[[Vis Vitalis]]'' which rescued ''her'' ship, rather than the other way around, after its pilot [[Vertex]] suddenly died. Scanning the crew for spores, Nightbeat finds them on only Skids and Getaway, prompting him to realize that the beasts are "[[personality tick]]s", parasites that feed on charisma, inadvertently picked up by Firestar's crew during a stopover on [[Marasma]]. The ticks latched onto Vertex (a celebrated actor) and drained her dry, then moved onto Thunderclash, with one of their number even revealing itself long enough to heal his old war wound so they could continue feeding on him. Just as Velocity is recounting the momentary aversion to Thunderclash she saw the ticks display, and Nightbeat is using the information to formulate a solution, the door gives way and the creatures come pouring into the room. Nautica tries to force them back by hurling the vials of donated [[innermost energon]] at them, to no effect... but then, suddenly, the ticks all keel over, as a bemused [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] and [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] enter the room!

[[File:Borer skater flex the frail gaze.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.8]]
A little later, back on the ''Lost Light'', Nightbeat explains to Magnus that the deceased ticks had literally ''overdosed'' on Rodimus and Megatron's combined charisma, an extreme extension of their aversion to Thunderclash's moment of heroism Velocity had witnessed. Nightbeat is puzzled about one thing, though: he hadn't had time to call in Rodimus and Megatron after making his deduction, so how had they known to come? Ultra Magnus explains that, actually, three other crewmembers named [[Skater]], [[Flex]], and [[Borer]] had called them—they had figured everything out first, and just weren't so gosh-darned showy about it. Thunderclash, meanwhile, is receiving treatment and well on his way to full health, and although the map to [[Cyberutopia]] was destroyed in the chaos, Thunderclash will now no longer have to rely upon the ''Vis Vitalis'' for life-support and can join the ''Lost Light'' on their quest. Firestar's group are going to take the ''Vis Vitalis'' for themselves and return to Caminus; Nautica tries to persuade her to stay, but the experience has rattled Firestar, and moreover, has made her realize that Nautica surpassed her a long time ago. Firestar proposes that they sever their platonic lifebond, but Nautica refuses, telling her they are "different, but good."

Later still, the crew celebrate the successes of the day with an "indie disco" thrown at [[Swerve's]]. During the party, [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] cues up "[[The Power of Love]]" in an attempt to get [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] to dance with him, but Cyclonus hesitates too long, and when he finally moves towards the dancefloor, Tailgate is already dancing with Getaway. Elsewhere amid the dancers, Nautica gets a nice surprise when Velocity appears, having been encouraged to stay by Firestar. Yep, all seems well to [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]]'s eyes, and he wryly remarks that "his work here is done"... after which, he suddenly vanishes!
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (1)
* [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (2)
* [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (4)
* [[Getaway]] (5)
* [[Photon (G1)|Photon]]'s corpse (7)
* [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (8)
* [[Minimus Ambus]]/[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (9)
* [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (10)
* [[Firestar (G1)|Firestar]] (11)
* [[Skystriker (G1)|Skystriker]] (12)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] (13)
* [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] (14)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (15)
* [[Borer]] (16)
* [[Skater]] (17)
* [[Flex]] (18)
* [[Proxima (G1)|Proxima]] (19)
* [[Roadmaster]] (20)
* [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (21)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (23)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] (24)
* [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]] (25)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (26)
* [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (27)
* [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] (29)
* [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (30)
* [[Atomizer]] (31)
* [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] (32)
* [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (33)
{{!}}}
|c2=
* [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] (6)
|c4=
* [[Personality tick]]s (3)
* [[Ten]] (22)
* [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (28)
}}

==Quotes==
"I thought you said you couldn't dance!" 
"Did I say that?" 
"You did. You used false modesty to lure me into a '''sympathy trap.'''"
:—'''Skids''' and '''Nautica'''

"I have an Amica Endura—'''Firestar'''." 
"With the flame—oh yeah, saw you talking to him." 
"Her." 
"Sorry. Force of habit."
:—'''Nautica''' and '''Skids'''

"Any chance to teaching me to '''fight''' in the next five seconds? Otherwise, all I've got to throw at them is a selection of '''scathing literary quotations'''..."
:—'''Nautica''', to Skids

"I've rattled around long enough to have learned one thing: the universe is '''cold''', and '''cruel''', and '''violent'''—but only if you choose to look at it that way. For every act of aggression there are a '''thousand''' acts of kindness. For every hateful word, a million declarations of love. '''The good''' always outweighs the '''bad'''."
:—'''Thunderclash'''

"Wonderful! They're '''still''' attacking us, but now they're '''on fire'''!"
:—'''Velocity'''

"I've been thinking, and... maybe we should end it." 
"'''End''' it? Platonic Severance? Why?" 
"Fire and water—we're a '''bad mix.''' I used to think it was a case of waiting for '''you''' to catch up with '''me''', but your life now... all the things you do... fighting monsters..." 
"But if you reject me you'll be '''pilloried!" 
"?" 
"Stigmatized. Lambasted. '''Looked down on!'''" 
"I know. Why is which '''I''' should do it and not you. I haven't been the best of friends..." 
"No. I won't let you. I'm not having it. We're good. We're different, but—but that's good. I say we keep going." 
''(hug)'' 
"Okay, but just so you know... you were '''on fire''' today."
:—'''Firestar''' and '''Nautica'''

"—and then '''whomp!''' I made them all '''collapse''' just by turning up! Just. By turning. Up." 
"Yes. Yes, I was there."
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Ultra Magnus'''

"So, Megatron or Soundwave?" 
"'''What?''' What kind of a question—" 
"If you had to choose. '''If.'''" 
"What is this, a suicide attempt?" 
"I'm sensing Megatron." 
"I didn't say that."
:—'''Riptide''' and '''Ravage'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Nautica made a passing reference to the fact she had never been one for the performing arts back in [[slaughterhouse|issue #32]].
* Nautica's inability to deal with compliments was seen before in [[Twenty Plus One|issue #31]].
* Firestar and Nautica talked last issue about the fact Firestar's flame had changed color since Nautica had last seen her; this issue, we learn that that is because she is fuelling it with "[[Black Diamond]]", a rare combustible found only on Marasma, which is what helps Nightbeat deduce the personality ticks' origins.
* Foreshadowing their eleventh-hour save in this issue, Borer and Skater were hidden in the crowd last month. Did you spot 'em? A generic green robot also popped up during the disco who ''might'' have been supposed to be Flex, but none of the visible details match.
* Tailgate mutters under his breath that he always embarrasses Cyclonus, referencing Getaway's lies that Cyclonus has been talking behind his back during [[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|issue #40]].

===Transformers references===
* On his recap page, Swerve refers to the personality ticks as "[[space barnacle]] things".
* [[Skater]] was a generic Autobot who popped up in "[[Target: 2006]]" back in the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|UK Marvel comic]]. He was green there, but he's the red guy here. Magnus notes that he turns into a hydrofoil.
* One of the real-world bands whose music is featured in the ending is called [[The Primal Scream|Primal Scream]].

===Real-life references===
* The title of the story is a pun on the concept of the "{{w|Gaze#The "male gaze" in feminist theory|male gaze}}."
* As they dance, Skids remarks that Nautica is "teaching him a thing or two, whether he likes it or not," and she replies "That's an involuntary learner joke, and I claim my five [[shanix]]". This refers to an old promotion carried out by newspapers and other British media which dates back to the 1920s, in which a representative would be sent to a particular spot somewhere in the country, giving audience members the opportunity to win five pounds if they successfully located and identified them, approaching them with the phrase "You are [blank] and I claim my five pounds".
* The planet Marasma is likely named for the medical condition [http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/984496-overview Marasmus], a form of severe malnutrition characterized by lack of energy.
* The concept of an alien creature that feeds on personality traits was explored in the {{w|Red Dwarf}} episodes Polymorph and Emohawk. Many ideas and quotations from that show appear in More Than Meets The Eye but this one seems a particularly notable correlation.
* In addition to the tunes on this issue's soundtrack and "The Power of Love", songs which play at Swerve's disco include "What Presence?!" by {{w|Orange Juice (band)|Orange Juice}}, "The Party Line" by {{w|Belle and Sebastian}}, "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" by {{w|Saint Etienne (band)|Saint Etienne}}, and "Let's Make This Precious" by {{w|Dexys Midnight Runners}}.
* Swerve's vanishing act at the end of the issue is an homage to ''[[Quantum Leap]]'', in which protagonist Sam Beckett would "leap" throughout time, moving on when he completed a task. The bartender even rattles off Beckett's "oh boy" catchphrase (although this was traditionally a reaction to ''arriving'' in a new time). Foreshadowing this, Swerve was seen watching ''Quantum Leap'' last issue.

===Errors===
* The Camien religion is called the "Way of ''the'' Flame" this issue, but was just the "Way of Flame" (no "the") when it was first mentioned in [[The Sum and Its Parts|''Windblade'' #1]].
* Skids talks about a 'bot named [[Chopper (G1)|Chopper]] (see "Other trivia," below). Chopper is called a "Helibut", which is a typo for a Heli''bot'' [[subgroup]].<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Typo. The u should be an o. But I love that there was doubt in your mind|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/1244972493577900033|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2020|month=03|day=31|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* When the personality ticks appear in front of them, First Aid thinks they have all emerged from Thunderclash's trailer. Minimus corrects him by pointing out that only "the blue one" was inside the trailer... except ''all'' the ticks are blue.
* Like last issue, a reference to a Camien called (and colored as) "[[Skystalker (G1)|Skystalker]]" gets changed to "[[Skystriker (G1)|Sky''striker'']]" for the trade paperback. Which was the correct name? Who cares! SLETCH!
** On that same panel, Skystriker's face is miscolored the same gray as his chest. It should be a warm yellow.
* Excessively pedantic, but Skids' "honky dory" should be "hunky dory".

===Crew Manifest===
* Thunderclash and Velocity join the crew of the ''Lost Light''.

===Other trivia===
* This issue was accidentally released a day early on IDW's digital comics app.
* Swerve's recap, absent since [[slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|issue #33]], is ''two'' pages in length this issue! This will turn out to be important for [[The One Where They Go to Earth|the very next issue]].
* Skids mentions that he once had an Amica Endura named [[Chopper (G1)|Chopper]], but split up with him because he was "an absolute arse."
* We learn more about Caminus and its religion, the [[Way of Flame]] in this issue. Socially, the performing arts carry great cachet on the planet, and those who do not at least try their hand at them are "frowned upon". Further, the Way of Flame stipulates that one must have an Amica Endura within ten megacycles of their creation, or they will be utterly shunned. Two people become Amica Endura through recitation of the [[Act of Constancy]], and to split up such a bond is known as the [[Platonic Severance]], but it is considered the worst thing one 'bot can do to another, and represents a failure on the part of the instigator to try harder at the friendship.
* [[Proxima (G1)|Proxima]], who was mentioned last issue, and [[Roadmaster]], who only showed up on last issue's cover, both appear in-story this issue.
* A "deleted scene" for this issue would have had [[Minimus Ambus]] perform what could only be described as a striptease using the [[Magnus Armor]] to the Bee Gee's "{{w|Stayin' Alive}}". Tragically, the scene was cut because it would be completely out of character for Minimus Ambus.<ref>James Roberts Q&A panel at TFCon 2015</ref>
* A number of fans liked 'Season 2' of ''More than Meets the Eye'' less than the first; this two-parter in general and this issue in particular have been particularly criticised for being meandering and indulging in Roberts' tropes too much. The dance, with its references to indie music, got a dinging for this. In a discussion of issue 50, Roberts acknowledged some people felt the comic had been meandering throughout the 40s.<ref>[http://www.orbitalcomics.com/orbital-directors-commentary-james-roberts-on-transformers-mtmte-50-audio/ Orbital Director’s Commentary – James Roberts on Transformers: MTMTE #50! - Track #1 15:59 to 17:40]</ref>

===Soundtrack===
* "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ri7MiiHiLjM She's Hearing Voices]" by {{w|Bloc Party}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=MTMTE #42 is out Wednesday. Here's the first song: Bloc Party, 'She's Hearing Voices' https://t.co/tDkkRmmA7S via @YouTube|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/612388239928885248|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=06|day=20|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nImOq_eWHEM Light Pours Out Of Me]" by {{w|Magazine (band)|Magazine}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Song 2 from MTMTE #42 (out Wednesday) is 'The Light Pours Out Of Me' by Magazine: https://t.co/Lj0a4CSszy via @YouTube|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/612389346591834112|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=06|day=20|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8KynrRA1u8 Velocity Girl]" by {{w|Primal Scream}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=The third song to accompany MTMTE #42 is by Primal Scream: 'Velocity Girl' https://t.co/R3MdsmeBYy via @YouTube|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/612390017701408768|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=06|day=20|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnpILIIo9ek How Soon Is Now]" by {{w|The Smiths}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Finally (for now; more songs after Weds), MTMTE #42 = an edited 'How Soon Is Now?' by the Smiths: https://t.co/nR1Og8P2rt via @YouTube|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/612390752103043072|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=06|day=20|(defunct=)}}</ref>

===Foreign Localization===
'''Swedish:'''
* ''Title:'' "'''Den bräckliga blicken'''" ("The Fragile Gaze")

===Covers (4)===
* '''Regular cover:''' Ravage raises his hackles at an unseen enemy, in front of the fallen Nightbeat, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
* '''Subscription cover:''' Nautica boogies at the centre of a ''Lost Light'' dance party, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
* '''Retailer incentive cover:''' The ''Lost Light'' crew gather for a celebration with drinks and fireworks, by [[Naoto Tsushima]] and [[Yamaishi]]
* '''Convention cover:''' ''Combiner Hunters'' [[Chromia (G1)|Chromia]] (with the ''Lost Light'' in the background for relevance), by [[Sara Pitre-Durocher]], available exclusively from IDW at San Diego Comic-Con 2015.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE42 regcvr.jpg|Ravage, if you don't give him back his wallet, you're going to be a sorry little kitty!
File:MTMTE42 subcvr.jpg|''This is my melody and it's just a ravers' fantasy...''
File:MTMTE42 cvrRI.jpg|Please tell me we didn't give all the fireworks to Whirl.
File:MTMTE42 concvr.jpg|Chromia's here to chop down Swerve's recap page and kick ass, and she's... Well, she's gonna do both, probably.
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''More than Meets the Eye'' #43
* ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|The Transformers]]'' [[Now and On Earth|#42]]
* ''[[The Transformers: Windblade|Windblade]]'' [[Windblade vol. 2 issue 4|#4]]
* ''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' [[Headmasters (issue)|#7]]
* IDW ''{{i|Jem and the Holograms}}'' comic
* IDW ''[[Donald Duck]]'' comic
* ''Monster Motors'' trade paperback (back cover)

===Reprints===
* '''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 8''''' ([[October 21]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631404520 / ISBN 978-1631404528
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #39–44.
** Bonus material includes covers of each issue.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 63: Elegant Chaos''''' ([[June 12]], [[2019]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #35–42.
** Bonus material includes a cover gallery and a forward by [[Simon Furman]].
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 9]]''''' ([[June 19]], 2019) ISBN 1684054842 / ISBN 978-1684054848
** Collects [[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|''The Transformers'' (2012)]] issues [[First Contact (IDW)|#39]]–[[You, Me, and the Universe|41]], [[Now and On Earth|#42]] & [[South of Heaven|#43]], [[The Transformers: Windblade|''Windblade'' (2015)]] issues [[The Sum and Its Parts|#1]]–[[All That Remains|3]] & [[Windblade vol. 2 issue 4|#4]]–[[Race Against the Light|5]], and ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #41–44.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''Transformers: Några av mina bästa vänner är Autoboter''''' ([[November]], [[2025]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #39 & #41-46, ''Drift: Empire of Stone'' issues #1-4 and the ''Revolution'' one-shot.
** Swedish reprint. Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol8.jpg|'''''More Than Meets the Eye Volume 8''''' – cover art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v63.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 63: Elegant Chaos''''' – cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] (Trailbreaker) and Alex Milne (retro)
File:IDWCollectionP2V9.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 9''''' – cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:MTMTE SWE 05.jpg|'''''Några av mina bästa vänner är Autoboter''''' – cover art by Alex Milne and Josh Perez
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.comicbookresources.com/comic-previews/transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-42-idw-2015 Preview]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Frail Gaze}}

The Sensuous Frame

2025-11-02T20:36:54Z

Some Dweeb:

{{Comicstory
|series=mtmte|issueno=41
|prev=Our Steps Will Always Rhyme
|next=The Frail Gaze
|image=MTMTE41_subcvr.jpg
|title="The Sensuous Frame"
|caption=The idea of a "Thunder Clash [[Skyquake (Prime)|Pre-Memorial Hospital]]" is not out of the question either.
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|date=[[May 27]], [[2015]]
|coverdate=May 2015
|written by=[[James Roberts]]
|art by=[[Alex Milne]]
|colors by=[[Joana Lafuente]]
|letters by=[[Tom B. Long]] and [[Chris Mowry]]
|editor=[[John Barber]]
|continuity=[[2005 IDW continuity]]
|chronology=[[2005 IDW timeline|Current era (2015)]]
}}
'''The crew of the ''Lost Light'' is invited to the "pre-wake" of the soon-to-be-deceased Thunderclash, but Nightbeat and Getaway soon learn there is quite ''literally'' more than meets the eye going on aboard the ''Vis Vitalis''.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:SensuousFrame-ThunderClash.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.7]]
Decorated space-faring hero [[Countdown (G1)|Countdown]] arrives on the ''[[Vis Vitalis]]'' to see his ailing mentor [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]]—at last, the famous Autobot's old war wound has apparently gotten the better of him, and he now lies at death's door. Escorted by the ship's first officer [[Firestar (G1)|Firestar]] to the side of the mute, unmoving Thunderclash—trapped in alternate mode by [[rigor morphis]]—Countdown is left alone with his former teacher... at which point, he hears a knocking coming from within Thunderclash's trailer. Peering inside, Countdown only has time to scream...

On the ''[[Lost Light]]'', [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]], [[Getaway]], and [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] are all hanging out in [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]]'s room, but the [[Caminus (planet)|Camien]] bibliophile would rather read about the [[Froidian Classification System]] than indulge their silly antics. Mention of the psychologist's name leads Skids and Getaway to talk about [[Rung (G1)|Rung]], while Brainstorm manages to convince Nautica to try out his upside-down harness, which she ends up enjoying. Brainstorm has also completed an upgrade to [[Nautica's wrench]] at Getaway's request: the addition of a torch that counters [[attention deflector]]s, which Getaway plans to use to keep an eye out for the stealthy [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]]. Just then, an unfamiliar ringing is heard throughout the ship...

Simultaneously, in "[[Swerve's]]", Ravage and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] observe as [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]]—introverted following [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]]'s recent departure—finishes up his four-week viewing of every piece of human art and entertainment ever created. Just as he is describing the lessons he has learned, Swerve is interrupted by the ringing noise, which turns out to be a giant gong that [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] is ringing in order to summon the crew together. The gong signifies that the crew have "accomplished something": they have caught up to the ''Vis Vitalis'', and Rodimus can barely suppress his glee when he announces the news that his long-hated rival Thunderclash is on his deathbed, and that the crew are invited to a "pre-wake" in his honor. After giving the crew the news, Rodimus and [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] privately reveal to one another that they will not be attending the party, and their attempts to make excuses for not doing so lead to them scheduling a meeting for themselves during which they will "plan".

[[File:TheSensuousFrame-Firestar.jpg|thumb|Nautica reunited with her old [[Amica Endura|flame]].]]
Later, the pre-wake party is in full swing aboard the ''Vis Vitalis'', and the ''Lost Light''ers are all enjoying themselves... except for wallflowers Rung, Nautica, [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]], and [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]]. While Nightbeat takes Nautica's wrench and goes off to snoop around the ship, Nautica is approached by Firestar, who it turns out is her old room-mate and [[Amica Endura]] from Caminus, and who joined the ''Vis Vitalis'' crew when she and some other Camiens picked up a distress call and helped fix some damage the ship had taken. As she and Nautica swap stories, however, it soon becomes clear that Firestar is more "frenemy" than "friend", her catty remarks about Nautica's abilities and insistence on using the hated nickname "Naughty Nautica" soon mounting up, culminating in an awkward silence and an uncomfortable parting of the ways.

In Thunderclash's quarters, Camien crewmember [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] shows [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Minimus Ambus]] the supposed map to [[Cyberutopia]] that Thunderclash has carved into the room's wall, drawn from his dreams. [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] completes his examination of Thunderclash, which yields surprising results: whatever is killing Thunderclash, it is ''not'' his old [[spark]] injury, which has been miraculously healed around six months prior. Velocity explains that a passing medic was responsible, but cannot remember anything about her. Unable to deduce what has left Thunderclash in his current sorry state, First Aid opens his trailer to carry out an internal examination... but finds nothing.

[[File:Getaway photon the sensuous frame.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2]]
A little later, after the party has wound down and most of the crew have returned to the ''Lost Light'', Nautica hems and haws about staying for the funeral. A tired, out-of-sorts Skids tells her a few others are staying too, and will be picked up by Rodimus on his way back from a supply run; others such as Nightbeat, who has just found a strangely exhausted Getaway napping in the middle of a corridor. Just as Nightbeat rouses him, Ravage runs screaming down the hallway, his attention deflectors sparking, claiming that something is "everywhere" and "won't stop looking at him". Immensely intrigued, the pair set off after the frightened feline.

In Thunderclash's quarters, First Aid gets as surprise when he hooks the dying 'bot up to a monitor desk, and Thunderclash begins voluntarily, selectively shutting his systems down in order to make his life-signs on the monitor resemble words. First Aid, Velocity, and Minimus read his message: "You're all blind, you're all dead" ...and then turn when they hear the sound of knocking coming from within his trailer...

Nightbeat and Getaway follow Ravage into the ship's morgue, where they find the body of ex-racer-turned-public-speaker [[Photon (G1)|Photon]], and the ''still-warm'' corpse of Countdown. Shining the light of Nautica's torch onto Countdown exposes a horrible sight: a mass of [[technorganic]] eggs, clinging to his frame, invisible to the naked optic. Under the light, Getaway realizes they are on his body too... at which point, the pair suddenly find themselves surrounded by clawing alien creatures whose bodies are covered with the mysterious growths!
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Firestar (G1)|Firestar]] (1)
* [[Countdown (G1)|Countdown]] (2)
* [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]] (3)
* [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]] (4)
* [[Getaway]] (5)
* [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] (6)
* [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] (7)
* [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]] (8)
* [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (10)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] (11)
* [[Rollout (G1)|Rollout]] (12)
* [[Boss (G1)|Boss]] (13)
* [[Siren (G1)|Siren]] (14)
* [[Aquafend]] (15)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Borer]] (16)
* ?  (17)
* ?  (18)
* [[Joyride (G1)|Joyride]] (19)
* [[Atomizer]] (20)
* [[Hosehead (G1)|Hosehead]] (21)
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] (22)
* [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]] (23)
* [[Sky High (Pretender)|Sky High]] (24)
* [[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (25)
* [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (26)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (27)
* [[Xaaron]] (28)
* [[Dipstick]] (29)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Pointblank]] (30)
* [[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (31)
* ?  (32)
* [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]] (33)
* [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (34)
* [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (35)
* [[Skater]] (36)
* [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (37)
* [[Repugnus (G1)|Repugnus]] (38)
* [[Doublecross]] (39)
* [[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]] (40)
* [[Mainframe (G1)|Mainframe]] (41)
* [[Rad (G1)|Rad]] (42)
* [[Crosscut (G1)|Crosscut]] (43)
{{!}}style="background:transparent;border:0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (44)
* [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] (45)
* [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] (46)
* [[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]] (47, see errors)
* [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] (48)
* [[Javelin]] (49)
* [[Rung (G1)|Rung]] (50)
* [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] (52)
* [[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (53)
* [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] (54)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Minimus Ambus]] (55)
* [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (56)
* [[Photon (G1)|Photon]]'s corpse (57)
{{!}}}
|c2=
* [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]] (9)
|c4=
* [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] (51)
}}

==Quotes==
"This is wonderful! And look! '''Reading!''' I can read upside down! I've always wondered if I could!" 
"You never thought to, I dunno, turn a book upside down?" 
... 
"I'm not here and you can't see me. I'm hiding behind my '''wall of shame.'''"
:—'''Nautica''' tries out Brainstorm's upside-down harness with some help from '''Skids'''

"Finished! One '''upgraded''' wrench! Where's that '''one Shanix''' you promised me?" 
"I fear I may have exploited your ignorance of monetary value. Tell you what: if that thing works, I'll pay you '''two''' Shanix! Whaddya say?"
:—'''Brainstorm''' strikes a hot deal with '''Getaway'''.

"Having devoured 30,000 years' worth of stories and songs—and having read and watched and listened to everything from ''The Maxims of Ptahhotep'' to ''Infinite Jest''—it's only '''now''' that I've come to realize three things—'''three bold and shining truths''' that I'll carry with me '''forever.''' 
:'''One:''' Life is inherently tragic—and over far too quickly.
:'''Two:''' All art thrives on conflict. We valorize fiction because it helps us make sense of ourselves.
:'''Three:''' Season 4 of ''Community'' was a serious misstep."
:—'''Swerve'''

"Have you met him?" 
"Not as such. I've tried to '''kill''' him several times..."
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Megatron''' on Thunderclash

"You've been sulking in your quarters ever since we went back in time and created you and '''yes''' I'm aware how that sounds."
:—'''Rodimus''' to '''Megatron'''

"I'm gonna plan you '''into next week.'''" 
"Maybe. Or maybe after five minutes you'll get bored and start carving pictures onto your desk." 
"'''Wrong,''' actually! Utterly, demonstrably, '''villainously''' wrong. I ran out of space '''ages''' ago."
:—'''Rodimus''' and '''Megatron''' on their joint planning session

"What. Is. The. Matter. With. You." 
"I'm '''resting''', I'm not—why are you talking to me like I'm a '''broken vending machine?'''" 
"I'm trying to show concern. I've seen other people do it."
:—'''Nightbeat''' and '''Getaway'''

'''Velocity:''' "He's killing himself to send us a message...?" 
'''Minimus:''' "A '''grammatically correct''' message. Look at that apostrophe..." 
'''First Aid:''' "He had to reduce his lifespan by six hours to generate that 'apostrophe'." 
'''Minimus:''' "I know that's not supposed to '''impress''' me, but..."

"Aren't you going to look? Dead bodies. They're your favorite." 
"'''Murders''' are my favourite. A dead body's just a statement. A murder is a '''question:''' whodunit?"
:—'''Getaway''' and '''Nightbeat''' in the morgue

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* The presence of Mirage and the Protectobots on the ''Lost Light'' places this story before the ''[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]'' storyline, already well underway in the book's [[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|sibling]] [[The Transformers: Windblade|titles]] by the time this issue was released.
* Copious amounts of [[innermost energon]] have been donated for Thunderclash; we were introduced to this practice back in [[Before & After|issue #12]].
* [[Rigor morphis]] debuted ''waaaay'' back in [[Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|the very first issue]].
* Brainstorm's ability to work while hanging upside was previously seen in [[Rules of Disengagement (issue)|issue #7]].
* Nautica notes that Rung lent her the book she is reading; it was implied in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|issue #28]] that the pair had been exchanging books.
* Skids defends Rung, which indicates he's taking to heart [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]]'s request from [[Our Steps Will Always Rhyme|last issue]] to be a friend to the psychiatrist.
* During Rodimus's announcement, Xaaron and Dipstick stand together in the audience, marking the third time the two have been spotted hanging out with one another in the series. It's perhaps safe to say at this point that the two are pals.
* Megatron and Rodimus's argument about "sulking" and "taking stock" echoes the one they had in [[World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|issue #30]], with the roles reversed.
* Rodimus's habit of carving pictures into his desk was introduced in "[[Signal to Noise]]", back in [[More than Meets the Eye issue 13|issue #13]].
* Nautica mentioned having an Amica Endura back in [[slaughterhouse|issue #32]].
* Firestar is the new first officer of the ''Vis Vitalis'', which the ship was in need of since the [[Paddox|last one]] turned out to be an [[Ammonite]] in [[Little Victories|issue #22]].
* Thunderclash's map includes multiple uses of a familiar symbol: a gear-like hieroglyph seen engraved on the surface of [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]] and in the speech bubble of a mysterious ball of energy, both from [[Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|issue #21]].
* Minimus Ambus mentions that the ''Lost Light''{{'}}s version of the map was "memory-resistant", which was discovered in [[Under Cold Blue Stars|issue #15]].
* The fatal injury that Thunderclash has lived with is revealed to have been received after the fall of [[Grindcore (prison)|Grindcore prison]], an infamous location previously mentioned in [[Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|issue #39]] and "[[Bullets]]".
* Nightbeat makes a disparaging remark about Alpha Trion's supposed wisdom. We previously witnessed his distinct ''lack'' of awe towards the elder Autobot in [[Omega's Conundrum|Spotlight: Orion Pax]].
* Countdown is famous for his heroism in the [[Simanzi Massacre]].

===Transformers references===
* Firestar was one of the original [[Female Autobots]], who first appeared in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] episode "[[The Search for Alpha Trion]]". This is her first major role in G1-based fiction since then; she's mostly shown up in cameos since her original debut, partially due to [[Hasbro]]'s inability to [[trademark]] her name, requiring she be replaced in most stories with her lookalike, [[Flareup (disambiguation)|Flareup]]. Only the [[Aligned continuity family|Aligned]] [[Firestar (Prime)|version]] has had any significant role in her continuity's fiction.
* Generation 1 [[Micromaster]] Countdown is a similarly little-seen character, having received his biggest fictional role in [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]]'s [[Transformers: Micromasters|''Micromasters'' mini-series]]. His being a legendary, highly decorated space hero comes directly from his original [[bio]]. [[Alex Milne]] gave him a redesign based on said toy.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Here is the design I did for countdown. Kept a lot of the G1 toy elements in the design :)|link=https://twitter.com/markerguru/status/598640312219738112|name=Alex Milne|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=05|day=13|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* Rodimus's quarters are numbered "077"; the original Rodimus Prime toy's [[List of Japanese ID numbers|Japanese ID number]] was C-77.
* Swerve notes that Ratchet would have loved the party on the ''Vis Vitalis''; it almost never factors into his characterisation in ''any'' fiction, and certainly the current old-and-grumpy IDW incarnation of the character seems ''well'' past enjoying this sort of thing, but Ratchet's original Generation 1 bio does mention that he loves to party.

===Real-life references===
* We don't really need to point out that this issue takes its title from a line in the [[Tennyson|Alfred, Lord Tennyson]] poem ''{{w|In Memoriam A.H.H.}}'', since the poem opens this issue (or more accurately, the 50th of the poem's 133 sub-sections). We previously saw [[Verity Carlo]] with a book of Tennyson's poems in ''[[The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers|Last Stand of the Wreckers]]'' [[Last Stand of the Wreckers issue 5|issue #5]].
* As Swerve watches television, the narration from the opening sequence of ''[[Quantum Leap]]'' plays.
* Specific works Swerve mentions having experienced include {{w|The Maxims of Ptahhotep}} and ''{{w|Infinite Jest}}''.
** The publisher's summary of the latter describes it as "Equal parts philosophical quest and screwball comedy". Sound familiar to anyone?
* As quoted above, Swerve references TV show ''[[Community]]'', but gets cut off before he can finish complaining about the firing of series creator {{w|Dan Harmon}}.
* The "next issue" box promises "murder on the dancefloor", a reference to the {{w|Murder on the Dancefloor|Sophie Ellis-Bextor song of the same name}}.

===Errors===
* Nautica says that Rung "leant" (past tense of "lean", chiefly British) her a book, but it should say "lent" (past tense of "lend").
[[File:TheSensuousFrame Sureshot.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.7|NotSureIfShot]]
* The script, through Nautica's dialogue, makes the common mistake of mixing up "to infer" with "to imply." She says Rung "inferred" something to her, but the context makes it clear she means "implied."
* The 'bot at the centre of the dancefloor in our first look at the pre-wake is [[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]], but he's been coloured in pale blue, lavender and white instead of his normal yellow, red and orange. Given the coloured disco lightball and that Whirl is coloured red behind him, this could just be a stylistic choice.
* While listing Camiens on board, Firestar mentions a "[[Skystalker (G1)|Skystalker]]", but a few pages later, Nautica talks about a "Sky''striker''". It's hard to say how this came about; Roberts had made a habit of throwing in obscure characters who had yet to appear in IDW continuity, and Skystalker's opposite number [[Countdown (G1)|Countdown]] appears this same issue. Fellow Camien Firestar is another existing character, but the rest are brand new. In the next issue, artist Alex Milne gives the character a totally original design, but colorist Joana Lafuente gives him Skystalker's classic colours. "Skystriker" might be a reference to the [[Skystriker (vehicle)|''G.I. Joe'' vehicle]] of the same name. In the trade paperback, "Skystriker" is chosen as the correct name.
* On Thunderclash's wall map, a black line to the right of the re-charge socket is miscolored as part of his drawings.
* As Getaway and Nightbeat watch Ravage flail around, one of Ravage's speech bubbles ("They won't stop looking at me!") is misaligned—it's supposed to be touching the edge of the panel, but has been placed a little higher, leaving visible the flat edge of the bubble without an outline. This is corrected in the trade paperback.
* In the same sequence, some of the sparks flying off of Ravage are miscolored as part of his body, making him appear somewhat tattered.

===Other trivia===
* In addition to Javelin, Velocity, and the above-mentioned Skystriker, new Camiens named but not seen in this issue include [[Proxima (G1)|Proxima]] (who appears on the cover), [[Acceleron]], [[Exocet]], and [[Skimmer (G1)|Skimmer]]. Acceleron and Proxima are both female, while Skystriker is male; Skimmer and Exocet's genders are not mentioned.
* And speaking of which, Acceleron and Proxima are a ''couple'', making them the first-ever official female same-gender couple in Transformers history!
* An additional female Camien, [[Roadmaster]], appears on the cover but is not seen or mentioned in the story. She would, however, appear in the [[The Frail Gaze|next issue]].

===Soundtrack===
* "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kMT7r5lABc Last Night I Nearly Died (But I Woke Up Just In Time)]" by {{w|Duke Special}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Song 1 from MTMTE #41 is The Duke Special's rousing orchpop masterpiece, 'Last Night I Nearly Died' http://t.co/PakBETFL6M|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/600415058271838208|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=05|day=18|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjF6akZ2WqI Sweetest Decline]" by {{w|Beth Orton}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Song 2 from MTMTE #41 is 'Sweetest Decline' by Beth Orton: http://t.co/1UCVc0HZi5|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/600417547855523840|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=05|day=18|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxvkI9MTQw4 Cannonball]" by {{w|The Breeders}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Song 3 from MTMTE #41 is 'Cannonball' by the Breeders http://t.co/zaH9z6t3LA|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/600419681250443264|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=05|day=18|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9KVfZQgCYg Call Me Ishmael]" by {{w|Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Song 4 from MTMTE #41 is 'Call Me Ishmael' by Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly http://t.co/8qGe2aawnd|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/600422489211174912|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=05|day=18|(defunct=)}}</ref>
* "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIHaNh3jRXg Flightless Bird, American Mouth]" by {{w|Iron & Wine}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Last one: Song 5 from MTMTE #41 is a poised, delicate version of Iron & Wine's 'Flightless Bird, American Mouth' https://t.co/XeaUAhfoRK|link=https://twitter.com/jroberts332/status/600425925717667841|name=James Roberts|site=Twitter|year=2015|month=05|day=18|(defunct=)}}</ref>

===Foreign Localization===
'''Swedish:'''
* ''Title:'' "'''Den sinnliga inramningen'''" ("The Sensous Framing")
** The narration from ''Quantum Leap'' remains in English since it, like most live-action media, was not dubbed when released in Sweden. (Also, its only Swedish release was a VHS of the pilot episode, but that's beside the larger point.)

===Covers (3)===
* '''Regular cover:''' Nautica reunites with Firestar and her other old Camien friends, by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
* '''Subscription cover:''' Thunderclash's huge pre-memorial statue, by [[Nick Roche]] and [[Josh Burcham]]
* '''Retailer incentive cover:''' Drift and Ratchet, by [[Kotteri]]

<gallery>
File:MTMTE41 regcvr.jpg|Nautica resolved to never have another girls' night out with Firestar after she caused a major wildfire by simply walking past a couple of trees.
File:MTMTE41 subcvr.jpg|They apparently built the damn thing in front of the Ruby Crystal Mines of Burma.
File:MTMTE41 cvrRI.jpg|Y'all come back now, ya hear?
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* ''More than Meets the Eye'' #42
* "[[Combiner Wars (comic)|Combiner Wars]]"
* ''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' [[Expelled from the Garden|#6]]
* IDW ''{{i|Jem and the Holograms (comic)|Jem and the Holograms}}'' comic
* ''[[Godzilla]]: Rulers of Earth'' trade paperbacks
* ''Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland'' (back cover)

===Reprints===
* '''''The Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye Volume 8''''' ([[October 21]], [[2015]]) ISBN 1631404520 / ISBN 978-1631404528
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #39–44.
** Bonus material includes covers of each issue.
** Trade paperback format.

* '''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]]: Volume 63: Elegant Chaos''''' ([[June 12]], [[2019]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #35–42.
** Bonus material includes a cover gallery and a forward by [[Simon Furman]].
** Hardcover format.

* '''''[[The Transformers: The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 9]]''''' ([[June 19]], 2019) ISBN 1684054842 / ISBN 978-1684054848
** Collects [[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|''The Transformers'' (2012)]] issues [[First Contact (IDW)|#39]]–[[You, Me, and the Universe|41]], [[Now and On Earth|#42]] & [[South of Heaven|#43]], [[The Transformers: Windblade|''Windblade'' (2015)]] issues [[The Sum and Its Parts|#1]]–[[All That Remains|3]] & [[Windblade vol. 2 issue 4|#4]]–[[Race Against the Light|5]], and ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #41–44.
** Hardcover format.

* '''''Transformers: Några av mina bästa vänner är Autoboter''''' ([[November]], [[2025]])
** Collects ''More than Meets the Eye'' issues #39 & #41-46, ''Drift: Empire of Stone'' issues #1-4 and the ''Revolution'' one-shot.
** Swedish reprint. Hardcover format.

<gallery>
File:MTMTE vol8.jpg|'''''More Than Meets the Eye Volume 8''''' – cover art by [[Alex Milne]] and [[Josh Perez]]
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v63.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 63: Elegant Chaos''''' – cover art by [[Don Figueroa]] (Trailbreaker) and Alex Milne (retro)
File:IDWCollectionP2V9.jpg|'''''The IDW Collection Phase Two: Volume 9''''' – cover art by [[Marcelo Matere]]
File:MTMTE SWE 05.jpg|'''''Några av mina bästa vänner är Autoboter''''' – cover art by Alex Milne and Josh Perez.
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.newsarama.com/24609-funeral-for-a-fallen-autobot-in-transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-41-exclusive-preview.html Preview]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sensuous Frame}}