The Transformers Universe (Marvel)

2009-07-09T12:47:07Z

Xarian: /* Errors */

{{disambig3|Universe}}
{{disambig2|the Marvel profile books|the Dreamwave profile books|More Than Meets The Eye (G1)}}
[[Image:TFUMarvel1.jpg|right|180px|thumb|YELLOW POWER!]]
'''''Transformers Universe''''' is a four-issue limited series published by [[Marvel Comics]] in 1986 featuring expanded [[Bio|bios]] for the Transformers that had appeared thus far in the comic and toy lines. The entries were organized alphabetically, with the exception that characters who first appeared in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' were held until Issue 4. Each character had a lengthy write-up, divided into three sections: Profile, Abilities, and Weaknesses. A header section gave the character's name, allegiance, function, and the issue number of their first Marvel Comics appearance, for those who had appeared in the book (which included the bulk of the entries.)

Entries for characters from Transformers: The Movie differ greatly in style from the rest, sometimes omitting sections entirely. The writing style for these characters suggests that their profiles are actually pre-production notes from very early in the characters' development, before their character models had actually been designed; [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], for example, is described as a "multi-engine, and perhaps multi-wing" spacecraft, with weapons such as "an incendiary bomb rack" which are clearly not present on his character model.

==Issue #1==
[[Image:TFUMarvel1-full.JPG|right|180px|thumb|]]
* Cover: red background; Bumblebee on the front; Bruticus on the back. "1st Collector's Item Issue! Beginning a ''4''-issue guide to all the Autobots and Decepticons-- their powers and weaknesses -- and ''more!''"

{{collist|4|
* [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]]
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]
* [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]]
* [[Blades]]
* [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]
* [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]
* [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]
* [[Bluestreak]]
* [[Bombshell]]
* [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]]
* [[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]]
* [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]]
* [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]]
* [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]
* [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]]
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]
* [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]]
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]]
* [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]]
* [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]]
* [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]]
* [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]
* [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]]
* [[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]]
* [[Drag Strip]]
* [[Eject]]
* [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]]
* [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]]
* [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]]
* [[Gears]]
* [[Grapple]]
* [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]
}}

==Issue #2==
[[Image:TFUMarvel2-full.JPG|right|180px|thumb|Both leaders are terrible shots.]]
* Cover: yellow background; Optimus Prime on the front, firing at Megatron on the back cover, who returns fire. "''2nd'' sensational issue! Continuing a ''4''-issue guide to everything ''you'' ever wanted to know about the Autobots and Decepticons!"

{{collist|4|
* [[Groove (G1)|Groove]]
* [[Headstrong]]
* [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]]
* [[Hook (G1)|Hook]]
* [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]]
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]]
* [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]]
* [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]
* [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (includes art of his "Cybertron mode" from the cartoon)
* [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]
* [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]]
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]]
* [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]]
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]
* [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]]
* [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]
* [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]]
* [[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]]
* [[Motormaster]]
* [[Octane]]
* [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]
* [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]]
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]]
* [[Outback]]
* [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]]
* [[Pipes]]
* [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]]
* [[Predaking]]
* [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]
* [[Ramhorn]]
* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]]
}}

==Issue #3==
[[Image:TFUMarvel3-full.JPG|right|180px|thumb|]]
* Cover: blue background; dino-mode Sludge, Snarl and Slag on the front; Shockwave on the back (perhaps a nod to their clashes in [[Repeat Performance!|issue #8]].) "''3rd'' tantalizing issue! Continuing a ''4''-issue guide to the biggest stars of ''TV, MOVIES,'' and ''COMICS!''"

{{collist|4|
* [[Rampage (G1)|Rampage]]
* [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]
* [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]]
* [[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]]
* [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]
* [[Rewind]]
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]]
* [[Runabout]]
* [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]]
* [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]]
* [[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]]
* [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]]
* [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]]
* [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]
* [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]]
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]]
* [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]]
* [[Skids (G1)|Skids]]
* [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]]
* [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]]
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]
* [[Slag (G1)|Slag]]
* [[Slingshot]]
* [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]]
* [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]]
* [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]]
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]
* [[Streetwise (G1)|Streetwise]]
* [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]
* [[Superion (G1)|Superion]]
* [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]]
}}

==Issue #4==
[[Image:TFUMarvel4-full.JPG|right|180px|thumb|]]
* Cover: black background; Arcee and Ultra Magnus on the front; Unicron on the back. "''4th'' final issue! Concluding a ''4''-part guide to all the Autobots and Decepticons! ''BONUS!'' All the new Transformers from the hit movie included in this issue!"

{{collist|4|
* [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]]
* [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]]
* [[Tailgate]]
* [[Tantrum]]
* [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]
* [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]]
* [[Topspin (G1)|Topspin]]
* [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]]
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]
* [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]
* [[Twin Twist]]
* [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]]
* [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]]
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]
* [[Wildrider]]
* [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]]
* [[Arblus]]
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]]
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]]
* [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]]
* [[Rodimus Prime (G1)|Rodimus Prime]]
* [[Kranix]]
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]]
* [[Quintesson|Quintessons]], with artwork of a Judge, a "Gatekeeper", and a guard.
* [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]]
* [[Sharkticon (G1)|Sharkticon]]
* [[Springer (G1)|Springer]]
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]
* [[Unicron]]
* [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]]
* [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]], including robot-mode art for "Junkion 1" and "Junkion 2"
}}

==Omissions==
* Divebomb's eagle mode is not shown at all.
* Metroplex's entry includes no individual art for Scamper, Six Gun and Slammer.
* Perceptor's third "artillery piece" mode is mentioned but not shown.
* Sky Lynx's combined bird-lynx mode is omitted.
* Tracks' flying car mode is omitted.
* Like Metroplex, Trypticon's entry contains no artwork for Brunt and Full-Tilt (or even Wipe-Out).
* The "base" modes for the four Scramble City combiner team leaders are neither mentioned nor portrayed.
* Characters entirely missing include the [[Omnibot|Omnibots]], the two Deluxe Autobots ([[Roadbuster]] and [[Whirl (G1)|Whirl]]), the four Deluxe [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] ([[Barrage (Insecticon)|Barrage]], [[Chop Shop]], [[Ransack (G1)|Ransack]] and [[Venom (G1)|Venom]]), and... [[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]] and [[Swerve (G1)|Swerve]]. Yeah, we don't get it either.

==Errors==
* Bluestreak's name is parsed as two words: Blue Streak.
* Cassette-mode Buzzsaw is colored almost entirely red.
* Hot Spot's name is parsed as "Hotspot".
* Huffer's art features a rounded hood behind his head, out of keeping with his toy, alternate mode, and usual [[character model]].
* The lower half of Kickback's face is colored the same blue-black as his body, as if he had a faceplate instead of a standard mouth.
* Megatron's art is based on his pre-animation model, including the differently-shaped head and a trigger on his fusion cannon. His pistol mode is mostly colored blue-black.
* Marvel had misplaced the model sheet for the front of Optimus Prime's vehicle mode, explaining why it is shown from behind.
* Ramhorn has a Decepticon symbol on both his rhino mode and his casette mode.
* Roller and the Combat Deck are likewise not shown in Optimus Prime's entry.
* Perceptor's face gets the same colored-lower-half treatment as Kickback.
* The faces of Shrapnel, Sideswipe, Skywarp, Snarl and Slag are colored the same blue-black as their heads. Most should be white or light gray.
* Sideswipe is missing his shoulder missile launcher.
* Soundwave is drawn as though he has a mouth. He's colored purple instead of blue, but this is consistent with his appearance in the Marvel comics.
* Sunstreaker's entry notes his disdain for his brother Sideswipe's rear-mounted engine... even though ''Sunstreaker'' is the one with said engine.
* Trailbreaker's forcefield projector is missing.
* Scourge's alternate mode is shown in the earlier (less toy-like) version which features his head poking out of the top, though his eyes have been replaced with some kind of scanner reading panel.
* The Movie characters' write-ups are incomplete. Arblus, Arcee, the Quintessons, and the Sharkticon are missing the "Abilities" section; Blurr, Cyclonus, Galvatron, Kup, Springer, Ultra Magnus, Wheelie and Wreck-Gar have no "Weaknesses" section.
* Likewise, characters such as Cyclonus who had two different character models generally use the earlier, "less correct" version.

==Notes==
* The series was later republished in a single volume although a handful of character profiles, such as [[Eject]], [[Rewind]], [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]], [[Steeljaw (G1)|Steeljaw]], [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]], [[Tailgate]], [[Topspin (G1)|Top Spin]], [[Twin Twist]] and [[Pipes]] were left out (though their pictures appeared on the cover).
* Although cleaned up by artists [[Ian Akin]] and [[Brian Garvey]], all the character artwork was based upon [[Character model|character models]] for the animated series.
* Issue 4 includes the Transformers: The Movie characters, including several non-toy characters.
* With issue [[Club Con!|#47]] of the Marvel Comic, new post-1986 character entries under the ''Transformers Universe'' heading began appearing on a semi-regular basis, ending in issue [[The Last Autobot?|#79]]. In these cases, the artwork was based upon the character models used in the US toy commercials. Many 1987 and 1988 characters never received such profiles, however.
* The profiles were also used as part of the UK comic’s "Transformers A-Z" feature.
* Scans of the series frequently appear on the Internet.
* Though the title on the cover is ''Transformers Universe,'' the title in the indicia is ''The Transformers Universe.''
* ''Transformers Universe'' has essentially been supplanted by the ''[[More Than Meets The Eye (G1)|More Than Meets The Eye]]'' guide books, which include profiles for every G1 Transformer, including the Micromasters.

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[[Category:Generation 1]]
[[Category:Profile books]]

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The Transformers Universe (Marvel)