The Transformers Comics Magazine issue 2

« The Transformers Comics Magazine #2 »
"Megatron, Megatron, Does whatever a Megatron can..."
Publisher	Marvel
First published	November 1986
Cover date	March 1987
Editor	??
Continuity	Marvel Comics continuity
ISBN	ISBN 0-71486-02672-3-03
Page count	64

The Transformers Comics Magazine #2 collects #3 and #4 of the Transformers comic published by Marvel Comics, along with seven character profiles taken from the Transformers Universe limited series.

Contents

• Transformers #3: "Prisoner of War!" (1-23)
• Character Profile: Mirage (24-25)
• Character Profile: Ravage (26-27)
• Character Profile: Hound (28-29)
• Character Profile: Starscream (30-31)
• Transformers #4: "The Last Stand" (32-53)
• Character Profile: Swoop (54-55)
• Character Profile: Ratchet (56-57)
• Character Profile: Shockwave (58-59)
• Character Profile: Sunstreaker (60-61)
• Character Profile: Soundwave (62-63)
• Subscription Advertisement: Star Comics (featuring pictures of R2-D2, Lion-O and He-Man, among others) (64)

Notes

Villains by Texeira.

• Issue #3 proves it. Gears. Spider-Man's best friend.
• Among the military equipment attacking the Decepticon headquarters in issues #3 and #4 are a Wolverine and a M.O.B.A.T.
• Issue #4 features the discovery by Huffer of first contact between Shockwave and the Ark-adapted Dinobots. Unfortunately for the Autobots, Shockwave makes his return at the end of the issue and kicks their collective butts.
• The back cover reuses the cover art for issue #4, but it seems that a clean (logo-free) copy of the original artwork wasn't available. The line art for Laserbeak (or was it Buzzsaw?), which was visible beneath the logo on the original issue, was almost completely obliterated here, with his beak now forming the tip of an oddly-shaped wing protruding from Soundwave. In addition, Megatron (who was partially obscured by the placement of the UPC symbol on the original) is drawn with two gun barrels on his back.
• Like the profiles of the Transformers Comic Magazine #1, the Transformers profiles included in this issue differ somewhat from their Transformer Universe counterparts. In terms of artwork, the Ravage profile includes a bonus picture of him attacking human soldiers. The Ratchet profile includes recoloured artwork depicting his transformation to an ambulance to take Buster's dad to the hospital. Unlike the actual artwork found on page 5 of the original comic, the Autobots are all colored purple and Ratchet is strangely colored correctly.
• Like his Transformers Universe profile, Swoop's entry notes his first appearance as Transformers #8. Clearly flashbacks don't count.
• Unlike his Transformers Universe profile, Soundwave's profile misnotes his first appearance as Transformer #4. He was clearly identified in the Decepticon collective shout out of Issue #1.
• While Mirage, Shockwave, Sunstreaker and Soundwave's nicknames are listed as "not applicable", the profiles provide nicknames for Ravage ("Cat"), Hound ("Sarge", "Nose", "Sniffer"), Starscream ("The Silver Snake"), Ratchet ("Cool Hand Lube", "Greasefinger"). There is no space for Swoop to even contemplate a nickname, which surely would be Divebomb. This information is absent from the Transformers Universe limited series entries.
• While heavy hitters like Starscream, Soundwave and Shockwave all have their profiles listed in this issue, Megatron's profile remains strangely absent.