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[[Image:Autobotslightningstrike.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Disclaimer: Not affiliated with the Lightning Strike Coalition]]
{{nav-G1|logo=TheTransformers_Logo.jpg}}
'''Ladybird Books''' is a British publishing company which released several Transformers storybooks and audio cassettes under their "Tell-A-Tale" line from 1985 to 1988, all written by [[John Grant]].


Not based in any of the major existing Generation 1 [[Continuity|continuities]], the books draw from various sources to create their own [[Micro-continuity]]. Some thematic concepts in the early books are drawn specifically from the original cartoon pilot, "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1|More Than Meets The Eye]]", such as Spike keeping a journal and [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] acting as a hench-thug for [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], presumably borne out of their discussion on treachery in the first episode. Conversely, the 1986 books spin their storylines out of the [[Marvel UK]] serial "[[Target 2006]]", describing the events of that story as the reason for [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] replacing Prime and Megatron.
[[File:Autobotslightningstrike.jpg|right|upright=1.67|thumb|Disclaimer: Not affiliated with the [[Lightning Strike Coalition]].]]


The books were not, however, above doing their own thing. Of particular note is the characterisation of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and Starscream; the former is portrayed as a very aged, wily character, to contrast with the latter’s rendition as a user of clumsy, brute strength. The books also remain one of the few early Generation 1 continuities to employ the principle of "robots in disguise" consistently. One of the major points of the early books is the Autobots’ desire to carry out their war with a maximum of secrecy, preventing humans from even becoming aware of their existence. In 1987, Ladybird moved the war to Nebulos (while ignoring the Headmaster concept) and temporarily had [[Hot Rod]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] as the commanders. The books were further distinguished in 1988 when characters who received little attention in other fiction, such as [[Quickswitch]] and the [[Double Targetmasters]], were cast in starring roles.  
'''Ladybird Books''' is a [[United Kingdom|British]] publishing company which produced several ''[[The Transformers (franchise)|The Transformers]]'' storybooks and audio cassettes written by [[John Grant]] and released under their "Tell-A-Tale" line from 1985 to 1988. Much like the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|comic]] and [[The Transformers (cartoon)|cartoon]], this series takes place in its own continuity.


Artistically, the illustrations present on every page are strictly based on the toys of the characters, down to headless [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] and [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] and trigger-crotch Megatron.
The books' illustrations, provided by a variety of artists, are strictly based on the toys of the characters, down to the "headless" [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] and [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] and trigger-crotch Megatron. Although the art is at best inconsistent and at worst wildly off-model, the stories are well-written with exciting plots that delve quite thoroughly into the secrecy of the [[Transformer]]s' conflict on [[Earth]].


Although the art style was at best inconsistent, at worst wildly off with regard to the robot designs, the stories were well written with exciting plots that delved quite thoroughly into the secrecy of the Transformers' conflict on Earth. Brief character bios were also provided on the inside front and back covers in the 1985 run of books. The books were also notable for an opening blurb printed in each story and modified slightly for context. The blurb was also read out at the beginning of each audio adaptation by a Victor Caroli-esque narrator, set to a synthesizer theme that contains elements of the classic "Transformers! More than meets the eye" leitmotif.
Each book has an opening blurb that describes the state of the war at the time of the story. The blurbs are included in the audio readings, the first one narrated by [[Paul Maxwell]] and all subsequent ones by voice actor [[Peter Marinker]], set to a synthesizer [[theme song|theme]] that contains elements of the classic "Transformers! More than meets the eye" leitmotif.


==Books==
===1985===
*[[Autobots' Lightning Strike]]
*[[Megatron's Fight for Power]]
*[[Autobots Fight Back]]
*[[Laserbeak's Fury]]


''Once, long ago, a race of robot beings called Autobots were forced to wage war against another race of robots called Decepticons to bring peace back to their home planet of Cybertron. As the war went on, chance brought both sides to Earth. They crashed so violently on landing that all the robots lay in the Earth's crust, seemingly without life, for over four million years.''
{{quote|Once, long ago, a race of robot beings called Autobots were forced to wage war against another race of robots called Decepticons to bring peace back to their home planet of Cybertron. As the war went on, chance brought both sides to Earth. They crashed so violently on landing that all the robots lay in the Earth's crust, seemingly without life, for over four million years.


''Then, the energy set in motion by a powerful volcanic eruption gives them life once more, and the war starts all over again here on Earth. Among the robots' many strange powers is the ability to transform into other shapes, and they use this to disguise themselves to fit in among the civilisation they find on Earth.''
Then, the energy set in motion by a powerful volcanic eruption gives them life once more, and the war starts all over again here on Earth. Among the robots' many strange powers is the ability to transform into other shapes, and they use this to disguise themselves to fit in among the civilisation they find on Earth.


''The Autobots have to defend themselves. They must protect this planet, with all its valuable resources and the people who live here, and they must also build a new spaceship if they are ever to get back to Cyberton—THE TRANSFORMERS!''
The Autobots have to defend themselves. They must protect this planet, with all its valuable resources and the people who live here, and they must also build a new spaceship if they are ever to get back to Cyberton—THE TRANSFORMERS!}}


The 1986 books added:
The 1985 books specifically draw some themes and concepts from the original cartoon pilot, "[[More than Meets the Eye (mini-series)|More than Meets the Eye]]", such as the continuing repair work being done by the [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s on their ships, Spike keeping a [[Spike's diary|journal]], Decepticon catchphrases like "Scramble!" and "Prepare the [[energon cube]]s!", and in a slightly odder turn, [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] acting as a hench-thug for [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], presumably borne out of their discussion on treachery in the first episode.


''Leaders come and go. Galvatron travels back from the 21st Century to take over from Megatron, commander of the Decepticons. Then the strange disappearance of Optimus Prime leaves the Autobots without a leader, and Ultra Magnus arrives from Cybertron to take his place as the Autobots' new commander.''
The books were not, however, above doing their own thing. Of particular note is the characterisation of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and Starscream; the former is portrayed as a very aged, wily character, to contrast with the latter’s rendition as a user of clumsy, brute strength. The books also remain one of the few early ''Generation 1'' continuities to consistently employ the principle of "robots in disguise" above most other things; one of the major points of these early books is the Autobots’ desire to carry out their war with a maximum of secrecy, preventing humans from even becoming aware of their existence.


''And so the fight goes on, both now and far into the future, on different time levels.''
Brief character bios were also provided on the inside front and back covers of the 1985 books, profiling [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]], [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], [[Gears (G1)|Gears]], [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]], [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]].


In the final four books, the scrawl was altered entirely to:
===1986===
*[[Galvatron's Air Attack]]
*[[Decepticon Hideout]]


''Once, long ago, a race of robot beings called Autobots were forced to wage war against another race of robots called Decepticons to bring peace back to their home planet of Cybertron. When chance brought both sides to Earth, the war went on.''
To the 1985 opening blurb, the 1986 appended the following:


''Over many centuries, leaders have come and gone. Now the fight continues in a far-flung corner of the galaxy, on the planet Nebulos. Both Autobots and Decepticons have formed new alliances, each with a rival group of Nebulans.''
{{quote|Leaders come and go. Galvatron travels back from the 21st Century to take over from Megatron, commander of the Decepticons. Then the strange disappearance of Optimus Prime leaves the Autobots without a leader, and Ultra Magnus arrives from Cybertron to take his place as the Autobots' new commander.


''The Decepticons are determined to destroy the Autobots and reign supreme. Will they succeed?''
And so the fight goes on, both now and far into the future, on different time levels.}}


(PS They didn't)
This, the initiated will realize, is the plot of the [[Marvel UK]] serial "[[Target: 2006]]", used as an explanation for [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] and [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] replacing [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Prime]] and Megatron. Additionally, the character profiles were dropped from the inside covers and replaced with a battlefield illustration featuring Galvatron, [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]], [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]], Jazz, [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] and Ultra Magnus.


*[[Transformers the Movie (Ladybird adaptation)|Transformers: the Movie]]


This adaptation (also written by Grant) of the movie storyline was released in 1986, but is not part of the larger continuity.


==Books==
===1987===
===1985===
*[[Decepticons at the Pole]]
*[[Autobots' Lightning Strike]]
*[[Autobots Strike Oil]]
*[[Megatron's Fight for Power]]
*[[Autobots Fight Back]]
*[[Laserbeak's Fury]]


===1986===
{{quote|Once, long ago, a race of robot beings called Autobots were forced to wage war against another race of robots called Decepticons to bring peace back to their home planet of Cybertron. When chance brought both sides to Earth, the war went on.
*[[Galvatron's Air Attack]]
*[[Decepticon Hideout]]
*[[The Transformers: The Movie (Ladybird adaptation)]]


The Ladybird adaptation of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', also by Grant, is not part of the larger continuity.
Over many centuries, leaders have come and gone. Now the fight continues in a far-flung corner of the galaxy, on the planet Nebulos. Both Autobots and Decepticons have formed new alliances, each with a rival group of Nebulans.


The Decepticons are determined to destroy the Autobots and reign supreme. Will they succeed?}}


===1987===
In 1987, Ladybird moved the war to [[Nebulos]], defying convention by mostly ignoring the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]] concept and establishing that in their continuity, [[Nebulan]]s were a race of small robots. Furthering the atypical nature of the setup, [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] led the Autobots and Decepticons, and were featured prominently in the new inside-cover illustration.
*[[Decepticons at the Pole]]
*[[Autobots Strike Oil]]


===1988===
===1988===
Line 58: Line 61:
*[[Decepticons Underground]]
*[[Decepticons Underground]]


==Trivia==
The 1988 books re-used the opening blurb from 1987 and introduced more appropriate leader-figures in [[Powermaster]] Optimus Prime and [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]. Truly the most distinguishing feature of these two books, however, was their use of characters who received very little attention in other fiction, such as [[Quickswitch]] and the [[Targetmaster (technology)|Double Targetmasters]], in starring roles; these characters shared the new inside-cover illustration with Prime and [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]].
*In all of the books featuring Transformers with [[Nebulan]] companions, no mention is ever made of their binary bonding in the text. (In ''[[Autobots Strike Oil]]'', [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] is even said to transform into robot mode and look around while [[Duros]] is absent, so the illustrator tries to cope by just showing Hardhead without a head in this scene.)
 
*Speaking of whom, the Nebulans are definitely robots in this continuity.
==Notes==
*Ladybirds are known as "ladybugs" in North America.
*In all of the books featuring Transformers with [[Nebulan]] companions, no mention is ever made of their [[binary bonding]] in the text. In ''[[Autobots Strike Oil]]'', [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] is even said to transform into robot mode and look around while [[Duros]] is absent, so the illustrator tries to cope by just showing Hardhead without a head.
* This book series gave fans perhaps the most misused line in Transformer's history, when a deranged Megatron decided to tell Starscream that he was OLD because he was HARD. And so a thousand snickering fans had something to put on their internet signatures.
*The Ladybird Books logo, visible on the lower right corner of the cover shown above, is a drawing of a {{w|ladybird}}. What did you think they were called?


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladybird_Books Ladybird Books at Wikipedia]
*{{w|Ladybird Books|Ladybird Books at Wikipedia}}
* [http://www.green-ranger.com/stuff/ladybird/ Scans online @ green-ranger.com]
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20050906032053/http://www.green-ranger.com/stuff/ladybird/ Scans online at green-ranger.com]
 
*[https://www.camphortree.net/tf/books/#ladybird Scans and recordings online at Steve-O's Transformers Site]


[[Category:Companies]]
[[Category:Ladybird Books| *]]
[[Category:Books]]
[[Category:Audiobooks]]
[[Category:Generation 1 storybooks| Ladybird Books]]

Latest revision as of 07:52, 5 September 2025
Generation 1 continuity family
The Transformers »
Disclaimer: Not affiliated with the Lightning Strike Coalition.

Ladybird Books is a British publishing company which produced several The Transformers storybooks and audio cassettes written by John Grant and released under their "Tell-A-Tale" line from 1985 to 1988. Much like the comic and cartoon, this series takes place in its own continuity.

The books' illustrations, provided by a variety of artists, are strictly based on the toys of the characters, down to the "headless" Ratchet and Ironhide and trigger-crotch Megatron. Although the art is at best inconsistent and at worst wildly off-model, the stories are well-written with exciting plots that delve quite thoroughly into the secrecy of the Transformers' conflict on Earth.

Each book has an opening blurb that describes the state of the war at the time of the story. The blurbs are included in the audio readings, the first one narrated by Paul Maxwell and all subsequent ones by voice actor Peter Marinker, set to a synthesizer theme that contains elements of the classic "Transformers! More than meets the eye" leitmotif.

Books

[edit]

1985

[edit]
Once, long ago, a race of robot beings called Autobots were forced to wage war against another race of robots called Decepticons to bring peace back to their home planet of Cybertron. As the war went on, chance brought both sides to Earth. They crashed so violently on landing that all the robots lay in the Earth's crust, seemingly without life, for over four million years.

Then, the energy set in motion by a powerful volcanic eruption gives them life once more, and the war starts all over again here on Earth. Among the robots' many strange powers is the ability to transform into other shapes, and they use this to disguise themselves to fit in among the civilisation they find on Earth.

The Autobots have to defend themselves. They must protect this planet, with all its valuable resources and the people who live here, and they must also build a new spaceship if they are ever to get back to Cyberton—THE TRANSFORMERS!

The 1985 books specifically draw some themes and concepts from the original cartoon pilot, "More than Meets the Eye", such as the continuing repair work being done by the Autobots and Decepticons on their ships, Spike keeping a journal, Decepticon catchphrases like "Scramble!" and "Prepare the energon cubes!", and in a slightly odder turn, Rumble acting as a hench-thug for Starscream, presumably borne out of their discussion on treachery in the first episode.

The books were not, however, above doing their own thing. Of particular note is the characterisation of Megatron and Starscream; the former is portrayed as a very aged, wily character, to contrast with the latter’s rendition as a user of clumsy, brute strength. The books also remain one of the few early Generation 1 continuities to consistently employ the principle of "robots in disguise" above most other things; one of the major points of these early books is the Autobots’ desire to carry out their war with a maximum of secrecy, preventing humans from even becoming aware of their existence.

Brief character bios were also provided on the inside front and back covers of the 1985 books, profiling Optimus Prime, Hound, Sideswipe, Huffer, Jazz, Gears, Megatron, Soundwave, Laserbeak, Starscream, Rumble and Ravage.

1986

[edit]

To the 1985 opening blurb, the 1986 appended the following:

Leaders come and go. Galvatron travels back from the 21st Century to take over from Megatron, commander of the Decepticons. Then the strange disappearance of Optimus Prime leaves the Autobots without a leader, and Ultra Magnus arrives from Cybertron to take his place as the Autobots' new commander. And so the fight goes on, both now and far into the future, on different time levels.

This, the initiated will realize, is the plot of the Marvel UK serial "Target: 2006", used as an explanation for Ultra Magnus and Galvatron replacing Prime and Megatron. Additionally, the character profiles were dropped from the inside covers and replaced with a battlefield illustration featuring Galvatron, Astrotrain, Ramjet, Scourge, Jazz, Jetfire and Ultra Magnus.

This adaptation (also written by Grant) of the movie storyline was released in 1986, but is not part of the larger continuity.

1987

[edit]
Once, long ago, a race of robot beings called Autobots were forced to wage war against another race of robots called Decepticons to bring peace back to their home planet of Cybertron. When chance brought both sides to Earth, the war went on.

Over many centuries, leaders have come and gone. Now the fight continues in a far-flung corner of the galaxy, on the planet Nebulos. Both Autobots and Decepticons have formed new alliances, each with a rival group of Nebulans.

The Decepticons are determined to destroy the Autobots and reign supreme. Will they succeed?

In 1987, Ladybird moved the war to Nebulos, defying convention by mostly ignoring the Headmaster concept and establishing that in their continuity, Nebulans were a race of small robots. Furthering the atypical nature of the setup, Hot Rod and Cyclonus led the Autobots and Decepticons, and were featured prominently in the new inside-cover illustration.

1988

[edit]

The 1988 books re-used the opening blurb from 1987 and introduced more appropriate leader-figures in Powermaster Optimus Prime and Scorponok. Truly the most distinguishing feature of these two books, however, was their use of characters who received very little attention in other fiction, such as Quickswitch and the Double Targetmasters, in starring roles; these characters shared the new inside-cover illustration with Prime and Highbrow.

Notes

[edit]
  • In all of the books featuring Transformers with Nebulan companions, no mention is ever made of their binary bonding in the text. In Autobots Strike Oil, Hardhead is even said to transform into robot mode and look around while Duros is absent, so the illustrator tries to cope by just showing Hardhead without a head.
  • The Ladybird Books logo, visible on the lower right corner of the cover shown above, is a drawing of a ladybird. What did you think they were called?
[edit]
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