maximum dinobots|transformers maximum dinobots|transformers: maximum dinobots|the transformers maximum dinobots|the transformers: maximum dinobots=The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots
premierecollection|premiere collection|the transformers: the premiere collection=The Transformers: The Premiere Collection
all hail megatron|transformers all hail megatron|transformers: all hail megatron|the transformers all hail megatron|the transformers: all hail megatron=The Transformers: All Hail Megatron
the idw collection|the transformers: the idw collection=The Transformers: The IDW Collection
the transformers|the transformers (ongoing)=The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers vol. 1
wreckers|last stand of the wreckers|transformers last stand of the wreckers|transformers: last stand of the wreckers|the transformers last stand of the wreckers|the transformers: last stand of the wreckers=The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers
the idw collection|g.i. joe: the idw collection=G.I. Joe: The IDW Collection
infestation=Infestation (IDW)|Infestation
infestation 2=Infestation 2
heart of darkness|transformers heart of darkness|transformers: heart of darkness|the transformers heart of darkness|the transformers: heart of darkness=The Transformers: Heart of Darkness
tdoop|death of optimus prime|the death of optimus prime|transformers: the death of optimus prime=Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime
more than meets the eye|transformers: more than meets the eye|the transformers: more than meets the eye=The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye
robots in disguise|transformers: robots in disguise=The Transformers: Robots in Disguise
dark cybertron=Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron
drift:eos|drift: empire of stone|transformers drift: empire of stone|transformers: drift: empire of stone|the transformers drift: empire of stone|drift: empire of stone=The Transformers: Drift - Empire of Stone
the transformers: windblade=The Transformers: Windblade
sins of the wreckers|transformers sins of the wreckers|transformers: sins of the wreckers|the transformers sins of the wreckers|the transformers: sins of the wreckers=The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers
gijoe5|gijoevol5|g.i. joe vol. 5|gi joe vol 5=G.I. Joe vol. 5
hasbro heroes sourcebook=Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook
micronauts=Micronauts (comic)|Micronauts
wrath of karza|micronauts wrath of karza|micronauts: wrath of karza=Micronauts: Wrath of Karza
first strike=First Strike
ROM
rom dire wraiths|rom: dire wraiths=Rom: Dire Wraiths
romamn|rom&mn|rom and the micronauts|rom & the micronauts=Rom & the Micronauts
rom vs transformers|shining armor|rom vs. transformers|rom vs transformers: shining armor|rom vs transformers: shining armor=Rom vs. Transformers: Shining Armor
m.a.s.k.|m. a. s. k.|mask mobile armored strike kommand|m.a.s.k. mobile armored strike kommand|mask: mobile armored strike kommand|m.a.s.k.: mobile armored strike command=M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand
scarletts strike force|scarlett's strike force=Scarlett's Strike Force
transformers vs visionaries|transformers vs. visionaries=Transformers vs. Visionaries
requiem of the wreckers|transformers requiem of the wreckers|transformers: requiem of the wreckers=Transformers: Requiem of the Wreckers
war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic)
fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (comic)
transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)=Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)
prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Transformers: Prime (comic series)
primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots
fulloffire|full of fire|full of fire!=Full of Fire!
rid2015|robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015 comic)=Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic)
{{{series}}}
[[{{#switch:{{{series}}}
war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic)
fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (comic)
transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)=Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)
prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Transformers: Prime (comic series)
primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots
fulloffire|full of fire|full of fire!=Full of Fire!
rid2015|robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015 comic)=Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic)
#| }}{{#if: |issues:}}{{#ifeq: | Category
[[Category:IDW {{#switch:{{#switch:{{{series}}}
war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic)
fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (comic)
transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)=Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)
prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Transformers: Prime (comic series)
primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots
fulloffire|full of fire|full of fire!=Full of Fire!
rid2015|robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015 comic)=Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic)
{{{series}}}}}
{{#switch:prime
war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic)
fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (comic)
transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)=Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)
prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Transformers: Prime (comic series)
primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots
fulloffire|full of fire|full of fire!=Full of Fire!
rid2015|robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015 comic)=Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic)
{{#switch:primeadaptation
war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic)
fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (comic)
transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)=Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)
prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Transformers: Prime (comic series)
primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots
fulloffire|full of fire|full of fire!=Full of Fire!
rid2015|robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015 comic)=Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic)
{{#switch:ragedinobots
war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic)
fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (comic)
transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)=Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)
prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Transformers: Prime (comic series)
primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots
fulloffire|full of fire|full of fire!=Full of Fire!
rid2015|robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015 comic)=Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic)
ragedinobots}}=Prime
{{#switch:rid2015
war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=Transformers: War for Cybertron (comic)
fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (comic)
transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)=Transformers: Prime (graphic novel)
prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Transformers: Prime (comic series)
primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Transformers Prime: Rage of the Dinobots
fulloffire|full of fire|full of fire!=Full of Fire!
rid2015|robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015)|transformers: robots in disguise (2015 comic)=Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic)
rid2015}}=Robots in Disguise (2015)
{{#switch:{{{series}}}
war for cybertron|warforcybertron|transformers: war for cybertron|transformers: war for cybertron (comic)=War for Cybertron
fall of cybertron|fallofcybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron|transformers: fall of cybertron (comic)=Fall of Cybertron
transformers: prime|transformers: prime (comic)|primeadaptation|prime adaptation|transformers: prime (comic series)=Prime
primerage|ragedinobots|rage of the dinobots|rageofthedinobots|primeragedinobots|transformers prime: rage of the dinobots=Prime – Rage of the Dinobots
maximum dinobots|transformers maximum dinobots|transformers: maximum dinobots|the transformers maximum dinobots|the transformers: maximum dinobots=The Transformers: Maximum Dinobots
premierecollection|premiere collection|the transformers: the premiere collection=The Transformers: The Premiere Collection
all hail megatron|transformers all hail megatron|transformers: all hail megatron|the transformers all hail megatron|the transformers: all hail megatron=The Transformers: All Hail Megatron
the idw collection|the transformers: the idw collection=The Transformers: The IDW Collection
the transformers|the transformers (ongoing)=The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers vol. 1
wreckers|last stand of the wreckers|transformers last stand of the wreckers|transformers: last stand of the wreckers|the transformers last stand of the wreckers|the transformers: last stand of the wreckers=The Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers
the idw collection|g.i. joe: the idw collection=G.I. Joe: The IDW Collection
infestation=Infestation (IDW)|Infestation
infestation 2=Infestation 2
heart of darkness|transformers heart of darkness|transformers: heart of darkness|the transformers heart of darkness|the transformers: heart of darkness=The Transformers: Heart of Darkness
tdoop|death of optimus prime|the death of optimus prime|transformers: the death of optimus prime=Transformers: The Death of Optimus Prime
more than meets the eye|transformers: more than meets the eye|the transformers: more than meets the eye=The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye
robots in disguise|transformers: robots in disguise=The Transformers: Robots in Disguise
dark cybertron=Dark Cybertron (IDW)|Dark Cybertron
drift:eos|drift: empire of stone|transformers drift: empire of stone|transformers: drift: empire of stone|the transformers drift: empire of stone|drift: empire of stone=The Transformers: Drift - Empire of Stone
the transformers: windblade=The Transformers: Windblade
sins of the wreckers|transformers sins of the wreckers|transformers: sins of the wreckers|the transformers sins of the wreckers|the transformers: sins of the wreckers=The Transformers: Sins of the Wreckers
gijoe5|gijoevol5|g.i. joe vol. 5|gi joe vol 5=G.I. Joe vol. 5
hasbro heroes sourcebook=Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook
micronauts=Micronauts (comic)|Micronauts
wrath of karza|micronauts wrath of karza|micronauts: wrath of karza=Micronauts: Wrath of Karza
first strike=First Strike
ROM
rom dire wraiths|rom: dire wraiths=Rom: Dire Wraiths
romamn|rom&mn|rom and the micronauts|rom & the micronauts=Rom & the Micronauts
rom vs transformers|shining armor|rom vs. transformers|rom vs transformers: shining armor|rom vs transformers: shining armor=Rom vs. Transformers: Shining Armor
m.a.s.k.|m. a. s. k.|mask mobile armored strike kommand|m.a.s.k. mobile armored strike kommand|mask: mobile armored strike kommand|m.a.s.k.: mobile armored strike command=M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand
scarletts strike force|scarlett's strike force=Scarlett's Strike Force
transformers vs visionaries|transformers vs. visionaries=Transformers vs. Visionaries
requiem of the wreckers|transformers requiem of the wreckers|transformers: requiem of the wreckers=Transformers: Requiem of the Wreckers
maximum dinobots|transformers maximum dinobots|transformers: maximum dinobots|the transformers maximum dinobots|maximum dinobots=Maximum Dinobots
all hail megatron|transformers all hail megatron|transformers: all hail megatron|the transformers all hail megatron|all hail megatron=All Hail Megatron
the transformers|the transformers (ongoing)|the transformers (idw)=IDW The Transformers
wreckers|last stand of the wreckers|transformers last stand of the wreckers|transformers: last stand of the wreckers|the transformers last stand of the wreckers|last stand of the wreckers=Last Stand of the Wreckers
transformers drift|transformers: drift|the transformers drift|drifteos|drift:eos|drift: empire of stone|transformers drift: empire of stone|transformers: drift: empire of stone|the transformers drift: empire of stone|drift: empire of stone|transformers drift: origins and empires|transformers drift: origins & empires|origins and empires|origins & empires=Drift
heart of darkness|transformers heart of darkness|transformers: heart of darkness|the transformers heart of darkness|heart of darkness=Heart of Darkness
tdoop|death of optimus prime|the death of optimus prime|transformers: the death of optimus prime=The Death of Optimus Prime
more than meets the eye|transformers: more than meets the eye=IDW More than Meets the Eye
robots in disguise|transformers: robots in disguise|ongoing2|exrid|the transformers (idw) vol. 2=IDW Robots in Disguise (2012)
dark cybertron=Dark Cybertron
the transformers: windblade|windblade2|windblade2015|the transformers: windblade vol. 2|the transformers: windblade (2015)=Windblade
transformers vs gi joe|transformers vs. g.i. joe=Transformers vs. G.I. Joe
sotw|wreckers2|sins of the wreckers|transformers sins of the wreckers|transformers: sins of the wreckers|the transformers sins of the wreckers|the transformers: sins of the wreckers=Sins of the Wreckers
lost light|transformers lost light|the transformers lost light|transformers: lost light|the transformers: lost light=Lost Light
till all are one|Till All Are One|transformers till all are one|transformers: till all are one|the transformers till all are one|the transformers: till all are one=Till All Are One
revolution=Revolution
revolutionaries=Revolutionaries
action man=Action Man
gijoe5|g.i. joe vol 5|g.i. joe vol. 5|g.i. joe volume 5|g.i. joe (vol. 5)|g.i. joe (volume 5)=G.I. Joe vol. 5
g.i. joe idw collection=G.I. Joe: The IDW Collection
first strike=First Strike
hasbro heroes sourcebook=Hasbro Heroes Sourcebook
micronauts=Micronauts
wrath of karza|micronauts wrath of karza|micronauts: wrath of karza=Micronauts: Wrath of Karza
rom=ROM
rom dire wraiths|rom: dire wraiths=Rom: Dire Wraiths
romamn|rom&mn|rom and the micronauts|rom & the micronauts=Rom & the Micronauts
rom vs transformers|shining armor|rom vs. transformers|rom vs transformers: shining armor|rom vs. transformers: shining armor=Rom vs. Transformers: Shining Armor
m.a.s.k.|m. a. s. k.|mask mobile armored strike kommand|m.a.s.k. mobile armored strike kommand|mask: mobile armored strike kommand|m.a.s.k.: mobile armored strike command=M.A.S.K.: Mobile Armored Strike Kommand
scarletts strike force|scarlett's strike force=Scarlett's Strike Force
transformers vs visionaries|transformers vs. visionaries=Transformers vs. Visionaries
requiem of the wreckers|transformers requiem of the wreckers|transformers: requiem of the wreckers=Requiem of the Wreckers
Uhhh, that Washing Mon... you... ment thing looks like a giant dong, huh huh.
Thanks to Donny Finkleberg selling him out, Skids is taken captive by RAAT. Taken to their headquarters, the Autobot is dissected by Circuit Breaker in an attempt to learn more about the Transformers, which gives Donny some serious second thoughts.
At the Decepticon base in Wyoming, Megatron summons the BattlechargersRunabout and Runamuck from Cybertron. He charges them with delivering a message to Optimus Prime, challenging the Autobot leader to a duel to the death. Soundwave points out that he could just radio the Autobots, but Megatron smashes him in the face with a muffler for not appreciating the need for drama. Not wanting the same treatment, the Battlechargers quickly depart, but they remain irritated that Megatron still acts like he's in charge after a four-million-year absence. Deciding that they'd rather run rampant on the unsuspecting planet Earth, they pull in at a service station to ponder their next move, where they observe a family, the Actons, on summer vacation. Bored of the vacation, the Actons' young son Noah amuses himself by graffiti tagging the store wall with the message "VACATIONS ARE THE PITS"—an act of defiance that inspires the Battlechargers to follow the Actons on their tour of America, spray-painting Cybertronian graffiti of their own on national monuments like Mount Rushmore and the Gateway Arch as they go.
The Battlechargers' acts of graffiti are broadcast via news reports, and RAAT is sent to investigate and engage the robot(s) perpetrating these crimes. After the Battlechargers strike the Washington Monument, the Actons approach Circuit Breaker, informing her that the graffiti has appeared at every place they've visited on their trip. Suspecting a link, Circuit Breaker's team follow the Actons to their next stop—Independence Hall in Philadelphia—and when the Battlechargers appear, RAAT are ready to engage them. While RAAT is able to prevent Independence Hall from being vandalized, in the course of the battle, Circuit Breaker is injured while saving Noah Acton from being killed in the crossfire. She is instructed to remain at RAAT headquarters to recuperate while RAAT embarks on their next effort to intercept the Battlechargers, and though she is frustrated by her inability to join the fight, she knows she is too weak to go against the robots alone. Finkleberg proposes that she reactivate the captive Autobots and ask them for help...
"Huh huh...fire...huh...Runabout, she said fire, huh huh."
In New York City, RAAT prepares for the Battlechargers at the Actons' next stop: the Statue of Liberty, this time having taken the appropriate precautions to avoid civilian interference. The Battlechargers hijack the Staten Island Ferry to get to the statue, and unfortunately, all RAAT's firepower is unable to stop them using short-range rocket jumpers to fly up and deface it. Disappointed that the humans haven't been getting the jokes they've been writing in Cybertronian, the pair graffiti the statue in English with the message "HUMAИƧ ARƎ WIMPƧ." Presently, Circuit Breaker and Donny arrive with some unconventional Autobot assistance: as it would have taken too long to reconstruct all the dissected Autobots, Circuit Breaker has jury-rigged their parts together into a giant piecemeal construct that she controls with her electric powers from a position on its chest. During the fight, when the suit moves on its own to shield her from the Battlechargers' fire, Circuit Breaker is once again given cause to wonder whether her hatred of all robots is justified... but the thought doesn't last long, as Runabout blasts the torch off the statue and sends it plummeting towards the ferry below. Circuit Breaker uses her Autobot suit to grab the torch, then blasts the Battlechargers to smoking wrecks, letting their remains fall into the waters of the bay.
Hours later, Walter Barnett returns to RAAT headquarters to discover that Circuit Breaker has released the captive Autobots, their freedom having been the price for their agreeing to help her fight the Battlechargers. Both she and Finkleberg are fired from RAAT for this act of insubordination, and Finkleberg returns to his New York apartment. While pondering what to do with his $50,000 paycheck, Finkleberg switches on the TV and is greeted with a report on the defacing of the Statue of Liberty. Still feeling guilty over his betrayal of Skids, Donny writes a $50,000 check in order to fund repairs on the monument.
HE'S PULLED OUT AN EXHAUST MANIFOLD!! This match is OUT OF CONTROL!!!
"When I want your opinion, I'll tell you what to say, Soundwave!"
—Megatron
"Maybe we should forget about that tin-headed tyrant, Runamuck!"
"Yeah - we could have a lot of fun on a world like this, Runabout. Heh heh."
"Yes, a lot of fun!...Like what?"
"Heh heh...I don't know."
—Runabout and Runamuck, geniuses at work.
"Heh heh heh! Let's tell the fleshlings what we think of them! Heh heh heh!"
"Oh, Runamuck, what a wonderfully wicked thing to write! You really do have a talent for the one-liner!"
"Yours is funny too, Runabout. It makes me laugh. [pause] Heh heh."
—The Battlechargers take on the Washington Monument
"Heh heh! That was the most fun we've had yet, Runabout!"
"A marvelous experience, Runamuck! We simply must stop by again some day! But these fleshlings -- they never get as angry about what we write as that other fleshling did a few days ago in the parking lot, Runamuck."
"Yeah. They just seem... confused."
"No doubt our wit is too slyly subtle for them to appreciate."
"Yeah, that's it! Heh heh."
—The Battlechargers reflect on their graffiti skills.
"My friction ray will hit her first, Runabout! Heat up her molecules, make her explode! Heh heh! Big mess! ...I love a big mess!"
—Runamuck (miscolored as Runabout)
"Such a perfectly awful looking monstrosity, Runamuck! Whatever could it possibly be?"
"Shoot first, ask questions later, Runabout! Heh heh heh!"
—Runabout and Runamuck
"Heh heh. Fleshling likes to give orders to Transformers! What will you say after I've burnt you to carbon ash, fleshling, eh? Heh heh!"
The Aerialbots were captured by RAAT last issue; Skids has been captured between issues, after Donny sold him out at the conclusion of last issue. The Aerialbots' faces are shown to have been added to Circuit Breaker's wall of trophies along with the "Cybertron Seven," as introduced in issue #21, which has been rearranged to accommodate them. Skids' isn't visible.
We've previously seen Transformer brain modules in issue #9 and issue #10; this issue renders them as small spheres, as they were in #9, rather than the cuboids from #10.
Flashbacks again recap Circuit Breaker's origin from issue #6.
Donny returns to his apartment, as seen in issue #15.
The Battlechargers are described as transforming "faster than the human eye can follow," a reference to the rapid, spring-loaded transformations of their toys. Like the commercial jingle said, "nobody jumps into action faster than Battlechargers!" In-universe, according to their profiles in The Transformers Universe, their transformations take only half a second.
It is noted that the Statue of Liberty has recently undergone renovations, referring to the real-life renovations that saw it closed from 1984 to 1986. The Generation 1 cartoon also touched on this theme in the episode "Cosmic Rust."
Circuit Breaker is forced to jury-rig the Autobots together because, according to her, "it would take days" to get the Autobots operational, but after the battle (which itself was the next day), only "several hours later," the Autobots are gone, apparently restored to their autonomous forms.
Where do the Battlechargers get the rocket jumpers they use to fly in robot mode? They don't have them at the start of the story, when Megatron gives them their assignment; they only appear later on.
The check Donny writes at the end of the story is dated October 4th, 1986, which would mean that three months have passed between issue #21—set on July 4th—and this one. That doesn't seem right; plus it's not even done to stay in-sync with the real-world publication date of this issue, which was in August!
Throughout this issue, neither of the two Battlechargers have their details colored particularly consistently. In particular, Runamuck is nowhere near his finalised Marvel color model; his arms are entirely white instead of having yellow fronts, and the hinge assembly around his head is red instead of orange.
Page 2, panel 1: As in last issue, the entire front of Skids' chest is light blue, when only his grill and headlights should be this color. Additionally, his Autobot symbol is missing its "chin."
Page 3, panel 4: Taking into account the fact that this page deliberately alters the colors of the Autobot faces mounted on RAAT's wall to make them appear further away as part of the background, chiefly by replacing white with blue: Air Raid, Skydive, and Fireflight all have red helmets, when Skydive's should be blue-black, and Fireflight's and Air Raid's should be blue; and Slingshot's head is entirely blue save for his red eyes, when his whole face and head should be red, with only the sides of his helmet as blue. These errors repeat on page 6. In the same panel, Blaster's feet are blue-black, when they should be the same grey as the rest of his legs.
Page 4:
Panel 2: Laserbeak is a wildly off-model collection of shapes. Part of his left wing has been colored orange, as if it were part of the car-throne Megatron is sitting on. For the first, but not the last time, Runabout and Runamuck's colors are switched. The pair's speech bubbles are matched to their colours, so the panel shows Runamuck-coloured-like-Runabout speaking Runabout's dialogue, and vice versa.
Panel 4: The entire lower half of Megatron's body is shaded in a single dark colour; his thighs should be lighter than his pelvis and boots.
Panel 5: The portion of Runamuck's face visible above his mouthplate is red instead of white. The tips of Runabout's fingers are uncoloured white.
Page 5, panel 7: The yellow strip on the side of Runamuck's vehicle mode is running across the top of his side, instead of the bottom. Some misaligned color elements result in Runabout having a purple strip across his hood, while his windscreen is orange instead of red.
Page 7, panel 1: Runamuck has yellow hands and feet. Runabout's Decepticon symbol (or rather, the featureless splotch where it should be) is red.
Page 8, panel 5: Runamuck's face is red instead of white again. He's missing the yellow strip across the front of his hood.
Pages 10–11: Donny's shirt has changed from green to purple on these two pages. He could just be wearing a different shirt, but there's no real cause for him to have changed.
Pages 12–15: Noah's shirt has three white stripes on pages 12 and 15, but only two on pages 13 and 14.
Page 12:
Panel 4: Runamuck is missing the yellow stripe on his side.
Panel 5: Runamuck has a yellow stripe across the tips of his feet. He technically should have this, as his feet form his hood and he has a stripe there in vehicle mode, but it's not meant to be part of his robot mode color model.
Page 13, panel 1: Runamuck's mouthplate is red instead of white.
Page 14, panel 1: Runamuck and Runabout's colours are switched again (above right). This time, the speech bubbles are not matched to their colours, so we have Runamuck-coloured-like-Runabout speaking Runamuck's dialogue, and vice versa. Also, Runamuck's head is entirely white, when per Runabout's colours, it should be black.
Page 16:
Panel 6: Runamuck is missing all his yellow stripes.
Panel 7: Runamuck and Runabout's colours are switched again. The three speech bubbles in the panel are consequently thoroughly mismatched; first Runamuck-coloured-like-Runabout instructs Runamuck to transform; then Runabout-coloured-like-Runamuck speaks Runabout's dialogue about how "splendid" the statue is; then finally Runabout-coloured-like-Runamuck replies to himself with Runamuck's dialogue about wanting to trash the statue.
Page 18:
Panel 1: Runabout's trunk-cowl is red instead of white.
Panel 2: Runabout and Runmuck's colours are switched once again.
Page 19-21: Circuit Breaker's jury-rigged Autobot "suit" doesn't look at all like any of the Autobots that supposedly make it up, containing no parts belonging to any of them.
Page 20:
Panels 2-3: Runamuck's helmet is red instead of white.
This issue was a favourite among fans back in the '90s, due almost entirely to the miscreant characterization of the Battlechargers. Runamuck's constant "heh heh" snickering to himself put many fans in mind of Beavis and Butt-Head, who had risen to fame in the intervening years, and comparisons between the two duos were common—though in reality, Runabout doesn't act that way at all, instead speaking in an eloquent way that suggests delusions of sophistication.
This issue was one of writer Bob Budiansky's favourites.<ref>Bob Budiansky interview at Moonbase 2</ref>
Stan friggin' Lee enjoyed this issue so much he wrote a letter to the creative team congratulating them on it!<ref>An interview with Bob Budiansky at OneShallStand.com (Archived copy)</ref>
Both the upcoming Transformers/G.I. Joe crossover and The Transformers Universe profile series are teased in this issue's letters page. The editor notes that, following the invitation extended in issue #18 for young reader "Shingo" to write in, several letters from "imitators" have been received, but they're still waiting for the genuine article to get in touch.
Due to the presence of Marvel-owned character Circuit Breaker, IDW Publishing were unable to reprint this issue in their 2008 Classic Transformers Volume 2 collection, as they had not yet negotiated a license to do so with Marvel. The issue was replaced in the collection with a text summary.
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 Definitive G1 Collection, with exceptions noted below.
Page 1: The green of Circuit Breaker's irises is erased.
Page 2: Here and throughout the issue, Circuit Breaker has a much more tanned skin tone than all the other humans, despite them all having the same colour skin in the original printing.
Page 4: Unusual for IDW, Soundwave was not recolored blue for this issue, and appears only with his original purple color.
Pages 5–11: Spider-Man's face is erased from Noah's shirt. However, it was restored for Hachette's Definitive Collection.
Page 5, panel 7: The erroneous purple stripe is removed from Runabout's hood.
Pages 12–13: Inconsistent remastering results in both Runabout's blue-black tone, and Runamuck's light-blue tone both being too dark, making the pair appear solid black and solid blue, respectively.
Page 16, panel 6: Runamuck and Runabout's colours are switched so that this panel matches with panel 7. Of course, as described above, panel 7 is the one in error, so this creates a double-goof.
Page 22, panel 4: The news anchor on Donny's TV is recolored to have an African-American skin tone. He remains Caucasian in the very next panel.
Westfield Comics Subscription Service - between pages 9 & 10
NBC Saturday morning cartoons: Kissyfur, Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears, Smurfs, Punky Brewster, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Foofur, Kidd Video, plus: One to Grow On. - between pages 12 & 13
{{#if: Runabout and Runamuck do America. |
US issue #23 - Lady Liberty sheds a tear.
UK issue #94 - Blurr wants a word with these guys.
UK issue #95 - Ha. Ah ha. Got it.
Transformers: Showdown TPB (Titan Books, 2003)
Transformers: Showdown HC (Titan Books, 2003)
The Transformers Classics, Vol. 2 (IDW Publishing, 2012)
The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 6: Target: 2006 (Hachette Partworks, 2016)
