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[[Image:MarvelUS-53.jpg|right|thumb|200px|She also cut off his arm so as to unobstruct our view of her metal brazier. (Y'know, to light a small fire in.)]]
{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #53
{{Template:Comicnav | Generation 1 (Marvel Comics) | 53 | seriesname=Marvel U.S. | prev=Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner? | next=King Con! | series2=Generation 1 (Marvel Comics)#Marvel UK | seriesname2=Marvel UK | issuenumber2=Issue #217{{n-}}220 | prev2=Race with the Devil | next2=Survivors! }}
|prev=Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?
|next=King Con!
|title="Recipe for Disaster!"
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #217–220
|prev2=Race with the Devil
|next2=Survivors!
|image=MarvelUS-53.jpg
|caption=She also cut off his arm so as to unobstruct our view of her metal brazier. (Y'know, to light a small fire in.)
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|shippingdate=[[March 2]], [[1989]]
|onsaledate=[[March 21]], 1989
|coverdate=June 1989
|writer=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|penciler=[[José Delbo]]
|inker=[[Dave Hunt]]
|colorist=[[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]
|letterer=[[Jade Moede]]
|editor=[[Don Daley]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''The Pretenders must avoid becoming the Mecannibals' next meal... by providing them with proper seasoning?'''
'''The Pretenders must avoid becoming the Mecannibals' next meal... by providing them with proper seasoning?'''
==Synopsis==
[[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]] and [[Cloudburst]] are about to become the [[Mecannibal]]s' next meal. But although the Mecannibals forcibly yank the [[Autobot]]s from their shells via an electro-magnet, the Autobots are able to fight for their lives by radio-controlling their shells. All this does is buy the Autobots some time, so Cloudburst suggests that the Mecannibals not eat them just yet... because they'll taste so much better if they can get the proper seasonings! So they make a deal: the [[Pretender]]s will get the proper seasonings in exchange for their freedom. Naturally, the hungry Mecannibals let the Autobots go to fetch the seasonings, but they do hold [[Berko]] prisoner in order to ensure that the Autobots return to make good on their culinary skills once their mission is complete.
And so, the Autobots travel to [[Femax]], a world led by female warriors, and where men are treated as slaves. Because men on Femax are seen as feeble and weak, the Femaxian "[[First One]]" challenges Cloudburst to a series of trials designed to prove that he is an able fighter. Cloudburst passes these trials, proving not only his warrior skills, but also his viability to the "First One" as a potential mate. This makes matters awkward for Cloudburst, and he reveals to the First One that he isn't even a biological being. The First One promptly responds by lopping off Cloudburst's head. This leaves Landmine alone to reason with the First One, which he does despite his general inclinations, and the First One actually listens, agreeing to give the Autobots the crystals they need to season the Mecannibals' food and to restore Cloudburst's head atop his shoulders.
When the Autobots attempt to leave the planet, they are stopped by [[Darkwing (G1)|Darkwing]] and [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]], but this delay is short-lived, as [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] shows up out of nowhere to take out the two [[Decepticon]]s. Sky Lynx informs the Pretenders that the humans they have been dealing with are in fact [[binary bonding|binary bonded]] to these Decepticons, which gives them some interesting information to share with the Mecannibals upon their return to the [[Mecannibals' ship]].
Upon their return, the Autobots change the terms of their deal. Rather than fixing a meal for the Mecannibals using the special seasonings they've just retrieved, the Autobots insist on having all the robots eaten by them restored using the parts recycled through their digestive tracts. If the Mecannibals don't agree, Sky Lynx gets to go primal on [[Hi-Test (G1)|Hi-Test]] and [[Throttle (G1)|Throttle]], who the Mecannibals have apparently found indispensable in finding new sources of food for them. As they leave, the Autobots reveal that Hi-Test and Throttle are actually robots (they say), and to "have a nice day".
The Pretenders return to the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], their mission to get [[microchip]]s unfulfilled, and Hi-Test, Throttle, and their [[Powermaster]] partners are pursued by the Mecannibals.
==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Cloudburst]] (2)
*[[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]] (3)
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (7)
|c2=
*[[Dreadwing (G1)|Dreadwing]] (9)
*[[Darkwing (G1)|Darkwing]] (11)
*[[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] (12)
|c3=
*[[Berko]] (4)
|h4=[[Nebulan]]s|c4=
*[[Hi-Test (G1)|Hi-Test]] (5)
*[[Throttle (G1)|Throttle]] (6)
|h5=Others|c5=
*[[Master Mouth]] (1)
*[[Cruncher]] (8)
*[[Shandikar]] (10)
*[[First One]] (13)
}}
==Quotes==
"Wait! Before you take that first bit, Master Mouth, consider -- is this truly the '''best''' fare you can provide your faithful crew?"<br>
"What're you talkin' about, food?!"<br>
"As presently served, we are doomed to be just another forgettable '''snack'''. But marinate us in savory [[mercury sauce]], garnish us with succulent [[lead sulfide crystal]]s, sprinkle us with flavorful [[iron filings]]... and we become a '''dining experience!'''"
:— '''Cloudburst''' (who knows WAY too much about this) attempts to reach '''Master Mouth''' through his stomach




"We must '''reason''' with them -- show them we're not a threat!"<br>
"Reason's gonna be the death of me yet!"
:— '''Cloudburst''' and '''Landmine'''




==Synopsis==
"Look, your Firstness, Cloudburst and I don't want any trouble, but if you want to play rough, we--"<br>
Landmine and Cloudburst are about to become the [[Mecannibal]]s' next meal.  But although the Mecannibals forcibly yank the [[Autobot]]s from their shells via an electro-magnet, the Autobots are able to fight for their lives by radio-controlling their shells.  All this does is buy the Autobots some time, so Cloudburst suggests that the Mecannibals not eat them just yet... because they'll taste so much better if they can get the proper seasonings! So they make a deal: the [[Pretender]]s will get the proper seasonings in exchange for their freedom.  Naturally, the hungry Mecannibals let the Autobots go to fetch the seasonings, but they do hold Berko prisoner in order to ensure that the Autobots return to make good on their culinary skills once their mission is complete.
"--'''humbly apologize''' for our intrusion, your grace."<br>
"Apologize? To '''them?!'''"<br>
"You see, Landmine agrees."
:— '''Landmine''' and '''Cloudburst'''


And so, the Autobots travel to [[Femax]], a world led by female warriors, and where men are treated as slaves.  Because men on Femax are seen as feeble and weak, the Femaxian "First One" challenges Cloudburst to a series of trials designed to prove that he is an able fighter.  Cloudburst passes these trials, proving not only his warrior skills, but also his viability to the "First One" as a potential mate.  This makes matters awkward for Cloudburst, and he reveals to the "First One" that he isn't even a biological being.  The "First One" promptly responds by lopping off Cloudburst's head.  This leaves Landmine alone to reason with the "First One," which he does despite his general inclinations, and the "First One" actually listens, agreeing to give the Autobots the crystals they need to season the Mecannibals' food and to restore Cloudburst's head atop his shoulders.


When the Autobots attempt to leave the planet, they are stopped by Darkwing and Dreadwind, but this delay is short-lived, as Sky Lynx shows up out of nowhere to take out the two Decepticons. Sky Lynx informs the Pretenders that the humans they have been dealing with are in fact binary-bonded to these Decepticons, which gives them some interesting information to share with the Mecannibals upon their return to the Mecannibals' ship.
"But you... you are different. You are strong and clever. Handsome. Fearless. I've never met a man like you. You can be my people's '''Second One'''."<br>
"What's a Second One?"<br>
[''going in for the kiss''] "My mate."<br>
"Y-you don't understand! Where I come from, there are no women, no men... no mates!"
:— the '''First One''' and '''Cloudburst''' have a lil' heart-to-fuel pump chat.


Upon their return, the Autobots change the terms of their deal.  Rather than fixing a meal for the Mecannibals using the special seasonings they've just retrieved, the Autobots insist on having all the robots eaten by them restored using the parts recycled through their digestive tracts.  If the Mecannibals don't agree, Sky Lynx gets to go primal on Hi-Test and Throttle, who the Mecannibals have apparently found indispensable in finding new sources of food for them.  Oh, and by the way, Hi-Test and Throttle are actually robots (they say), so "have a nice day."


As the story concludes, the Pretenders return to the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'', their mission to get microchips unfulfilled; Sky Lynx disappears, never to be heard from again; and Hi-Test, Throttle, and their [[Powermaster]] partners are being pursued by the Mecannibals.
"Y'know, for a human she's not bad."<br>
"Yes, she is a very compassionate, caring woman."<br>
"No, I mean anyone who can lop your head off with '''one''' blow is okay by me!"
:— '''Landmine''' and '''Cloudburst''': comic and straight man


==Credits==
==Notes==
'''Writer:''' [[Bob Budiansky]] <br>
===Sex===
'''Pencil Art:''' [[Jose Delbo]]<br>
Cloudburst says that his people have no males or females, and certainly no mating. ([[Aunty]]? Who's that?) So what's up with [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], who shows up in the movie adaptation and Marvel UK's future strips? [[Simon Furman]] would later get around this by having [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] being [[Prime's Rib!|built by the Autobots to appease human feminists]]. [[Fun Publications]] would get around this with [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] by [[Games of Deception|not caring]].
'''Ink Art:''' [[Dave Hunt]]<br>
'''Colorist:''' [[Nelson Yomtov]]<br>
'''Letterer:''' [[Jade Moede]]<br>
'''Editor:''' [[Don Daley]]<br>
*''Originally published:'' June, 1989


===Major characters===
However, the letters page for this very issue already had an answer! It said that Transformers have "no need" for gender as they don't reproduce sexually, and that describing themselves in gender terms "is a convention the Transformers probably picked up from hanging around Earthlings too long." "Most have characteristics that are commonly associated with males, so they are referred to as “he’s”. On a rare occasion, one might come across as female and is referred to as a “she”. Arcee fits into this latter category." (We can be nice and assume when Transformers that haven't met humans are saying "he" or "him", it's a translation of the local lingo)
(''Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
{|border=5 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=5 align=center style="border:#800000"
! style="background:#FFEEEE" | [[Autobot]]s
! style="background:#EEEEFE" | [[Decepticon]]s
! style="background:antiquewhite" | Others
|-
| style="background:#FFEEEE" valign="top" |
* [[Cloudburst]] (2)
* [[Landmine (G1)|Landmine]] (3)
* [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] (8)


| style="background:#EEEEFE" valign="top" |
===Continuity errors===
* [[Dreadwing (G1)|Dreadwing]] (7)
*So robots who have been messily bitten apart, chewed up, and "digested" into their basic components, not counting their cast-off "robot skeletons", can somehow be reassembled and magically brought back to life. ''Riiiiiight''. This ''surely'' has nothing to do with backpedaling on the kid-unfriendly horror of robo-cannibalism.
* [[Darkwing]] (9)
*The Mecannibals give up on their wares and large parts of their ship to get their robot-spotters back unharmed. Yet upon finding out they themselves are robots, they decide to eat them rather than utilize them as before to replace everything they have lost to get them back.
* [[Dreadwind (G1)|Dreadwind]] (10)


| style="background:antiquewhite" valign="top" |
===Continuity notes===
* [[Master Mouth]] (1)
[[File:Nomates.jpg|upright=1.2|thumb|Or maybe Cloudburst is just very scared of commitment.]]
* [[Berko]] (4)
*Apparently, the Autobots possess the ability to translate alien languages, but it doesn't kick in with new languages instantly, requiring some time to decipher.
* [[Hi-Test]] (5)
*Landmine claims to have fought 50 [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]]s at once.
* [[Throttle (G1)|Throttle]] (6)
*As Cloudburst heads back to Earth at the issue's end, Sky Lynx is alongside him, but apparently heads elsewhere as he never appears in the series again.
* [[Shandikar]] (9)
* [[First One]] (11)
|}


==Errors==
===Real-life references===
* None yet identified.


==Items of note==
===Courtesy of my...===
[[Image:Nomates.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Or maybe Cloudburst is just very scared of commitment.]]
*Landmine once again busts out his [[astro blaster]], this time to shoot through a door.
** Apparently the Autobots possess the ability to translate alien languages, but it doesn't kick in with new languages instantly, requiring some time to decipher.
** Cloudburst says that his people have no males or females, creating a continuity issue for future writers trying to insert females such as Arcee or Elita-1 into the comic continuity.


{{-}}
===UK Printing===
===Covers===
'''Issue #217'''
{{picsneeded|UK covers}}
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Race with the Devil]]"
* '''U.S. cover:''' First One beheading Cloudburst by [[Jim Lee]]
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''[[Visionaries]]'' - "The Balance of Power" and ''[[Combat Colin]]''
* '''UK issue 217 cover:''' Dreadwind over a defeated Darkwing  by [[Jez Hall]]
'''Issue #218'''
* '''UK issue 218 cover:''' Sky Lynx and Dogfight by [[Lee Sullivan]]
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "Race with the Devil"
* '''UK issue 219 cover:''' Skids and monsters by [[John Stokes]]
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Visionaries'' - "The Balance of Power" and ''Combat Colin''
* '''UK issue 220 cover:''' First One holding Cloudburst's severed head by John Stokes
'''Issue #219'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "[[Survivors!]]"
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Visionaries'' - "The Balance of Power" and ''Combat Colin''
'''Issue #220'''
*'''Additional ''Transformers'' story:''' "Survivors!"
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Visionaries'' - "The Balance of Power" and ''Combat Colin''
*'''[[Transformers AtoZ|AtoZ]]:''' [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]
*'''[[Classic Covers Calendar]]''': The sixth(?) in a series of monthly calendars that showcased inks from covers of yesteryear with new colours. This May edition used [[Robin Smith]]'s inks from [[Grudge Match!|issue 136]], and was published far foo late to actually be ''useful'' for May, with the June edition accidentally taking its slot back in [[Guess Who the Mecannibals Are Having for Dinner?|issue 216]]. The ''Combat Colin'' strip this issue lays the blame for this gaffe on evil genius Professor Madprof.


{{Columnlist|2|
===Covers (5)===
[[Image:MarvelUK-217.jpg|thumb|200px|center|217 cover]]
*'''US issue #53 cover:''' First One beheading Cloudburst, by [[Jim Lee]].
[[Image:MarvelUK-218.jpg|thumb|200px|center|218 cover]]
*'''UK issue #217 cover:''' Dreadwind over a defeated Darkwing, by [[Jez Hall]].
}}
*'''UK issue #218 cover:''' Sky Lynx and [[Dogfight (G1)|Dogfight]], by [[Lee Sullivan]].
{{Columnlist|2|
*'''UK issue #219 cover:''' [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] and monsters, by [[John Stokes]].
[[Image:MarvelUK-219.jpg|thumb|200px|center|219 cover]]
*'''UK issue #220 cover:''' First One holding Cloudburst's severed head, by John Stokes.
[[Image:MarvelUK-220.jpg|thumb|200px|center|220 cover]]
<gallery>
}}
File:MarvelUS-53.jpg|'''US issue #53''' - A wonderful work of artistic merit. That lives under my mattress.
File:MarvelUK-217.jpg|'''UK issue #217''' - Yes, and I'd do it again if I could!
File:MarvelUK-218.jpg|'''UK issue #218''' - Thanks Sky Lynx. We'll let you know.
File:MarvelUK-219.jpg|'''UK issue #219''' - Skids, you ''suck''.
File:MarvelUK-220.jpg|'''UK issue #220''' - ...of course the BRITISH are allowed to show beheadings on covers.
</gallery>


===Advertisements===
===Advertisements===
* None yet identified.
====US====
*Campbell's soup - inside front cover
*''F.I.S.T.'' fantasy telephone game - between pages 4 & 5
*Quickshot joystick / Tak-a-toys - between pages 5 & 6
*American Comics - between pages 7 & 8 and between pages 8 & 9
*''How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way'' and ''X-Men'' videos - between pages 8 & 9
*Mile High Comics - between pages 16 & 17 and between pages 17 & 18
*Bullpen Bulletins and checklist - between pages 19 & 20
*''How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way'' and ''X-Men'' videos - between pages 20 & 21
*[[Letters page|Transmissions]]
*Marvel subscription service
*Morning Funnies cereal - inside back cover
*Clearasil acne medicine (back cover)
 
====UK====
????
 
===Reprints===
*'''''[[Transformers: Last Stand]]'' TPB cover:''' [[Swindler]], [[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]], [[Snarler]], [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] and half a Mecannibal, by [[Andrew Wildman]].
*'''''Transformers: Last Stand'' Hardback cover:''' A damaged [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] battling Snarler and [[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]], by [[Frank Quitely]].
*'''[[Classic Transformers Volume 4|''Classic Transformers'' Volume 4]] cover:''' Panels from US issues [[Skin Deep|#59]] and [[Yesterday's Heroes!|#60]], pencils by José Delbo, inks by Dave Hunt and colours by Nel Yomtov.
*'''[[The Transformers Classics, Vol. 5|''The Transformers Classics,'' Vol. 5]] cover:''' [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] by [[Guido Guidi]].
*'''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection|''Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection:Volume 15: Time Wars'']]''': [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] profile pic over [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] blasting the [[Wreckers]] from issue #204; art by [[Lee Sullivan]] (pencils #204), [[Stephen Baskerville]] (inks, #204) and [[Don Figueroa]]? (Highbrow).
 
<gallery>
File:Titan-LastStandSC.jpg|'''''Transformers: Last Stand'' TPB''' (Titan Books, 2005)
File:Titan-LastStandHC.jpg|'''''Transformers: Last Stand'' HC''' (Titan Books, 2005)
File:Classic Transformers Vol4.jpg|'''''Classic Transformers'' Volume 4''' (IDW Publishing, 2009)
File:TFClassicsVol5.jpg|'''''The Transformers Classics,'' Vol. 5'''<br>(IDW Publishing, 2012)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v15.jpg|'''''The Definitive G1 Collection: Volume 15: Time Wars'''''<br>(Hachette Partworks, 2019)
</gallery>


[[Category:Marvel US issues]]
[[Category:Marvel US issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]<div id="wikia-credits"><br /><br /><small>From [http://transformers.wikia.com Teletraan I: The Transformers Wiki], a [http://www.wikia.com Wikia] wiki.</small></div>
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

Latest revision as of 14:02, 13 March 2026

The Transformers (US) #53
The Transformers (UK) #217–220

She also cut off his arm so as to unobstruct our view of her metal brazier. (Y'know, to light a small fire in.)
"Recipe for Disaster!"
Publisher Marvel Comics
Shipping date March 2, 1989
On-sale date March 21, 1989
Cover date June 1989
Writer Bob Budiansky
Penciler José Delbo
Inker Dave Hunt
Colorist Nel Yomtov
Letterer Jade Moede
Editor Don Daley
Continuity Marvel Comics continuity

The Pretenders must avoid becoming the Mecannibals' next meal... by providing them with proper seasoning?

Synopsis

[edit]

Landmine and Cloudburst are about to become the Mecannibals' next meal. But although the Mecannibals forcibly yank the Autobots from their shells via an electro-magnet, the Autobots are able to fight for their lives by radio-controlling their shells. All this does is buy the Autobots some time, so Cloudburst suggests that the Mecannibals not eat them just yet... because they'll taste so much better if they can get the proper seasonings! So they make a deal: the Pretenders will get the proper seasonings in exchange for their freedom. Naturally, the hungry Mecannibals let the Autobots go to fetch the seasonings, but they do hold Berko prisoner in order to ensure that the Autobots return to make good on their culinary skills once their mission is complete.

And so, the Autobots travel to Femax, a world led by female warriors, and where men are treated as slaves. Because men on Femax are seen as feeble and weak, the Femaxian "First One" challenges Cloudburst to a series of trials designed to prove that he is an able fighter. Cloudburst passes these trials, proving not only his warrior skills, but also his viability to the "First One" as a potential mate. This makes matters awkward for Cloudburst, and he reveals to the First One that he isn't even a biological being. The First One promptly responds by lopping off Cloudburst's head. This leaves Landmine alone to reason with the First One, which he does despite his general inclinations, and the First One actually listens, agreeing to give the Autobots the crystals they need to season the Mecannibals' food and to restore Cloudburst's head atop his shoulders.

When the Autobots attempt to leave the planet, they are stopped by Darkwing and Dreadwind, but this delay is short-lived, as Sky Lynx shows up out of nowhere to take out the two Decepticons. Sky Lynx informs the Pretenders that the humans they have been dealing with are in fact binary bonded to these Decepticons, which gives them some interesting information to share with the Mecannibals upon their return to the Mecannibals' ship.

Upon their return, the Autobots change the terms of their deal. Rather than fixing a meal for the Mecannibals using the special seasonings they've just retrieved, the Autobots insist on having all the robots eaten by them restored using the parts recycled through their digestive tracts. If the Mecannibals don't agree, Sky Lynx gets to go primal on Hi-Test and Throttle, who the Mecannibals have apparently found indispensable in finding new sources of food for them. As they leave, the Autobots reveal that Hi-Test and Throttle are actually robots (they say), and to "have a nice day".

The Pretenders return to the Ark, their mission to get microchips unfulfilled, and Hi-Test, Throttle, and their Powermaster partners are pursued by the Mecannibals.

[edit]

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Quotes

[edit]

"Wait! Before you take that first bit, Master Mouth, consider -- is this truly the best fare you can provide your faithful crew?"
"What're you talkin' about, food?!"
"As presently served, we are doomed to be just another forgettable snack. But marinate us in savory mercury sauce, garnish us with succulent lead sulfide crystals, sprinkle us with flavorful iron filings... and we become a dining experience!"

Cloudburst (who knows WAY too much about this) attempts to reach Master Mouth through his stomach


"We must reason with them -- show them we're not a threat!"
"Reason's gonna be the death of me yet!"

Cloudburst and Landmine


"Look, your Firstness, Cloudburst and I don't want any trouble, but if you want to play rough, we--"
"--humbly apologize for our intrusion, your grace."
"Apologize? To them?!"
"You see, Landmine agrees."

Landmine and Cloudburst


"But you... you are different. You are strong and clever. Handsome. Fearless. I've never met a man like you. You can be my people's Second One."
"What's a Second One?"
[going in for the kiss] "My mate."
"Y-you don't understand! Where I come from, there are no women, no men... no mates!"

— the First One and Cloudburst have a lil' heart-to-fuel pump chat.


"Y'know, for a human she's not bad."
"Yes, she is a very compassionate, caring woman."
"No, I mean anyone who can lop your head off with one blow is okay by me!"

Landmine and Cloudburst: comic and straight man

Notes

[edit]

Sex

[edit]

Cloudburst says that his people have no males or females, and certainly no mating. (Aunty? Who's that?) So what's up with Arcee, who shows up in the movie adaptation and Marvel UK's future strips? Simon Furman would later get around this by having Arcee being built by the Autobots to appease human feminists. Fun Publications would get around this with Elita One by not caring.

However, the letters page for this very issue already had an answer! It said that Transformers have "no need" for gender as they don't reproduce sexually, and that describing themselves in gender terms "is a convention the Transformers probably picked up from hanging around Earthlings too long." "Most have characteristics that are commonly associated with males, so they are referred to as “he’s”. On a rare occasion, one might come across as female and is referred to as a “she”. Arcee fits into this latter category." (We can be nice and assume when Transformers that haven't met humans are saying "he" or "him", it's a translation of the local lingo)

Continuity errors

[edit]
  • So robots who have been messily bitten apart, chewed up, and "digested" into their basic components, not counting their cast-off "robot skeletons", can somehow be reassembled and magically brought back to life. Riiiiiight. This surely has nothing to do with backpedaling on the kid-unfriendly horror of robo-cannibalism.
  • The Mecannibals give up on their wares and large parts of their ship to get their robot-spotters back unharmed. Yet upon finding out they themselves are robots, they decide to eat them rather than utilize them as before to replace everything they have lost to get them back.

Continuity notes

[edit]
Or maybe Cloudburst is just very scared of commitment.
  • Apparently, the Autobots possess the ability to translate alien languages, but it doesn't kick in with new languages instantly, requiring some time to decipher.
  • Landmine claims to have fought 50 Sharkticons at once.
  • As Cloudburst heads back to Earth at the issue's end, Sky Lynx is alongside him, but apparently heads elsewhere as he never appears in the series again.

Real-life references

[edit]

Courtesy of my...

[edit]
  • Landmine once again busts out his astro blaster, this time to shoot through a door.

UK Printing

[edit]

Issue #217

Issue #218

  • Additional Transformers story: "Race with the Devil"
  • Back-up strips: Visionaries - "The Balance of Power" and Combat Colin

Issue #219

  • Additional Transformers story: "Survivors!"
  • Back-up strips: Visionaries - "The Balance of Power" and Combat Colin

Issue #220

  • Additional Transformers story: "Survivors!"
  • Back-up strips: Visionaries - "The Balance of Power" and Combat Colin
  • AtoZ: Omega Supreme
  • Classic Covers Calendar: The sixth(?) in a series of monthly calendars that showcased inks from covers of yesteryear with new colours. This May edition used Robin Smith's inks from issue 136, and was published far foo late to actually be useful for May, with the June edition accidentally taking its slot back in issue 216. The Combat Colin strip this issue lays the blame for this gaffe on evil genius Professor Madprof.

Covers (5)

[edit]
  • US issue #53 cover: First One beheading Cloudburst, by Jim Lee.
  • UK issue #217 cover: Dreadwind over a defeated Darkwing, by Jez Hall.
  • UK issue #218 cover: Sky Lynx and Dogfight, by Lee Sullivan.
  • UK issue #219 cover: Skids and monsters, by John Stokes.
  • UK issue #220 cover: First One holding Cloudburst's severed head, by John Stokes.

Advertisements

[edit]

US

[edit]
  • Campbell's soup - inside front cover
  • F.I.S.T. fantasy telephone game - between pages 4 & 5
  • Quickshot joystick / Tak-a-toys - between pages 5 & 6
  • American Comics - between pages 7 & 8 and between pages 8 & 9
  • How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way and X-Men videos - between pages 8 & 9
  • Mile High Comics - between pages 16 & 17 and between pages 17 & 18
  • Bullpen Bulletins and checklist - between pages 19 & 20
  • How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way and X-Men videos - between pages 20 & 21
  • Transmissions
  • Marvel subscription service
  • Morning Funnies cereal - inside back cover
  • Clearasil acne medicine (back cover)

UK

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Reprints

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