Brainstorm!

The name or term "Brainstorm" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Brainstorm (disambiguation).

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"Run! He wants revenge for the way we drew him so hideously off-model!"
"Brainstorm!"
Publisher	Marvel Comics
Shipping date	August 27, 1985
On-sale date	September 17, 1985
Cover date	December 1985
Writer	Bob Budiansky
Penciler	Herb Trimpe
Inker	Tom Palmer
Colorist	Nel Yomtov
Letterer	Diana Albers
Editor	Michael Carlin
Continuity	Marvel Comics continuity

Buster Witwicky is in danger because of his special "gift" from Optimus Prime.

Synopsis

Buster is still confused by his new power to control metal and innately understand the workings of machines, unaware that it is a result of the Creation Matrix being housed within his mind. Fearful of disappointing his father by revealing that his new mechanical aptitude has nothing to do with a newly developed interest in cars, he keeps his powers a secret, and is saved from an awkward conversation when Jessie comes around looking to patch things up. The two teens go for a bike ride to some nearby waterfalls, but on the way, Jessie tries dodging the issue of their previous argument. Buster uses his metal-controlling powers to break the chain on her bike, thereby forcing her to stop so they can talk and make up smoochy-style.

At Blackrock Aerospace Assembly Plant Number One, Optimus Prime has not yet given life to Shockwave's latest soldier, Jetfire. Shockwave suspects that Optimus Prime no longer possesses the Creation Matrix, and sets about discovering what has happened to it by probing the memories of Rumble. Discovering a recording of Buster sneaking into the Ark buried in the small Decepticon's memory banks, Shockwave deduces that Prime must have transferred the Matrix to him. Before following up on this discovery, however, Shockwave first has Laserbeak deliver a message to the human military forces surrounding the plant, ordering them to pull back or he will begin executing the plant workers.

Via the telephone listening device provided by G.B. Blackrock, the Autobots have listened in on Shockwave's discovery as to the fate of the Matrix, and Prowl sends Bumblebee and Bluestreak to protect Buster. The two Autobots first visit Sparkplug at his garage; Bumblebee approaches to explain the danger, but Sparkplug wants nothing more to do with the Autobots and refuses to help. After Bumblebee has left, however, Sparkplug departs to warn Buster himself, and the Autobots tail him right to Buster and Jessie's location.

Unfortunately, Laserbeak has also been watching the Witwicky home and follows Sparkplug and the Autobots. Bluestreak is easily able to defeat the spying Decepticon, but not before he transmits their location back to Shockwave, who programs the non-living Jetfire to retrieve the boy. Jetfire arrives and makes short work of the Autobots, but Bumblebee soon realizes that he is not alive, and that Buster can therefore control him with his Matrix powers. Buster is hesitant to reveal his secret in front of his father, but when Sparkplug tells his son that he knows he would do the right thing if it was within his power, Buster knows what he must do. In a mighty burst of Matrix-power, Buster disassembles Jetfire, ending his threat... then, at Bumblebee's direction, reassembling and reprogramming him to help in the rescue of Optimus Prime!

Back at the plant, having now confirmed that Optimus Prime no longer possesses the Matrix, Shockwave announces his intention to terminate the Autobot leader. An Autobot convoy is already on the way; they can only hope they are not too late...

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots	Decepticons	Humans
Optimus Prime (5) Prowl (7) Ratchet (8) Bumblebee (10) Bluestreak (11) Hound (16) Gears (17) Huffer (18) Brawn (19) Sideswipe (20) Ironhide (21) Jazz (22)	Shockwave (3) Laserbeak (4) Jetfire (6) Rumble (9)	Buster Witwicky (1) Sparkplug Witwicky (2) Ferdy and Gabe (12 & 13) Hawthorne (14) Jessie (15) Murray (23)

Quotes

Sparkplug: "I gave Bumblebee the slip... but this other one, Bluestreak, tailed me, pretty good!"
Bluestreak: "I sure did! Now, I don't mean to pry, Buster, but could you explain to me the action you and your human friend were engaged in?"
Buster: "Er... that was a kiss."
Bluestreak: "And what function does "kiss" serve? Is it some sort of energy-transferral process?"
Buster: "It's um... it's kinda hard to explain..."
Bluestreak: "Hmmm... perhaps it is similar to fifth-order tridimensional equations. They too are hard to ex--"
Bumblebee: "Switch your vocal circuitry to off, Bluestreak!"

Gabe: "I hate cold pizza! Yecch!"
Laserbeak zaps the pizza with a mighty BZZRAPP
Shockwave: "I can have Laserbeak make it even hotter, fleshling."
Gabe: "Uh...n-no th-thanks, I w-wouldn't want to b-burn my tongue..."

—Gabe really should keep his mouth shut, lest it burn off

"What do you think, Dad?"
"You know me, son -- I've never been the interferin'-father type -- at least not for the last minute or two!"

—Buster and Sparkplug

Notes

Continuity notes

• A footnote reminds us that Optimus Prime transferred the Creation Matrix to Buster in issue #6.
• Though he could speak in the original mini-series, it seems evident that under Bob Budiansky's pen, Laserbeak is being written without that ability, as all he does is squawk to express himself in this issue, with Shockwave interpreting meaning from his noises. Whether this was a change made to consciously match the depiction of Laserbeak in the animated series or a preference Budiansky reached on his own is unknown, but it will be contradicted in a few future stories by other writers.
• Jetfire's construction has been completed after his introduction last issue, as another footnote tells us.
• Rumble's memory recording of Buster sneaking past him to enter the Ark was originally seen in real-time in issue #5.
• Jessie reappears after a distraught Buster yelled at her in issue #7 (but see "Continuity and plotting errors", below).
• In accordance with the Constructicons' brain modules, seen last issue, Jetfire's brain appears as a tiny box. Though this size will remain consistent in future stories featuring brain modules, the shape will not.

Transformers references

Blackrock Industries loves making fake jets.

• On page 4, panel 1, the three jets in the foreground (pictured at right) are based on the designs of Ramjet, Thrust and Dirge. As characters from the 1985 toyline, it's not quite time for these 'bots to make their appearance in the series yet; perhaps this might have been Budiansky laying some groundwork for their introduction (intending for them to be Earth-built like Jetfire and the Constructicons) that would ultimately be overwritten (when issue #17 revealed they were already active on Cybertron), or it might just be an Easter egg or uninformed artistic choice by penciller Herb Trimpe.

Continuity and plotting errors

• If the Creation Matrix grants Buster control over all kinds of unliving metal... why does Optimus Prime never display any such abilities when the Matrix is in his possession?
• It seems impossible to believe that Rumble's sight is of such low resolution as to be incapable of discerning a human; likewise, the notion of resolving a recorded image as Shockwave does runs counter to basic notions of digital imagery.
• A footnote states that Buster yelled at Jessie in issue #8, but as noted above, it was actually issue #7.

Artwork and technical errors

• The cover seems to have Bluestreak and Bumblebee miscolored as Hound and Cliffjumper, respectively.
• Shockwave's got his weird blue shoulders from issue #9 again.
• Throughout the issue, Jetfire is colored to the specifications of an early, erroneous color model, with red wings in robot mode, and a vehicle mode with a much larger amount of red on its top and sides.
• Page 3, panel 1: Buster's hair is colored white instead of blonde-yellow. It looks like this might be intended to punctuate his use of Matrix-power (the same white coloring is used on page 2, panel 2, in the flashback to Optimus zapping him with it), but his hair remains yellow every time he uses the power elsewhere in this issue.
• Page 6, panel 9: Prowl's forehead crest is left uncolored white instead of red.
• Page 7:
  • Panel 1: Bluestreak has only one door. Bumblebee has a white face, which looks right, but it should actually be yellow in comic continuity. In the foreground, Ratchet is draw issuing orders in place of Prowl.
  • Panel 2: Bluestreak has no doors.
  • Panel 6: Laserbeak's head is miscolored red instead of blue.
• Page 11, panel 5: Bumblebee's chest is blue instead of yellow as he transforms.
• Page 14:
  • Panel 1: Bluestreak's red parts are pink as he transforms. This might be intended as a "color fading" effect to signify a blur of motion, but none of his other colors, or Bumblebee's are handled this way.
  • Panel 3: Bluestreak's crest, hands, and chest are left uncolored white.
  • Panel 8: Jetfire's Decepticon symbol is uncolored.
• Page 15:
  • Panel 7: Laserbeak's "shoulders" are colored magenta instead of red.
  • Panel 8: Parts of Bluestreak's shoulder-cannons are colored magenta.
• Page 16
  • Panel 1: The narration describes the blast from Bluestreak's gun as "silvery-blue", but the artwork colors it purple.
  • Panel 3: Sparkplug's got reddish-brown hair (the same color as his cap) instead of his usual pale brown.
  • Panel 5: Bluestreak's crest is white instead of red again. Also, Bumblebee's "back tire" is missing.
• Page 17, panel 4: Bluestreak's crest is white again.
• Page 18, panel 7: Sparkplug's hair is uncolored, left in fleshtones like the rest of his head.
• Page 20, panel 2: Bluestreak's crest is white again...
• Page 21: And again!

UK printing

Issue #37:

• Published: 23rd November, 1985
• Cover date: 30th November, 1985
• Back-up strips: Robo-Capers , Machine Man ("Rime of the Ancient Wrecker!" part 3 ), and Matt and the Cat 
• In the letters page, Soundwave reveals that Transformers use various types of droids, including Mechodrones for menial tasks and Combat droids for guard duty. Guardian was one such combat droid. He also suggested that makers of knockoff Shockwave toys might be in for an unpleasant visit by the Decepticons' then-leader. (But was it simple jealousy, or retool-induced trigger envy?)

Issue #38:

• Published: 30th November, 1985
• Cover date: 7th December, 1985
• Back-up strips: Robo-Capers  and Machine Man ("Rime of the Ancient Wrecker!" part 4)
• December calendar: Soundwave

Other trivia

• Shockwave uses beams from his single eye for all kinds of things in this issue, from activating control panels to projecting imagery and relaying messages to his underlings.

Courtesy of my...

• Bluestreak calls out his ion-dispenser rifle as it fires a "metal-seeking silvery-blue burst of electricity" that homes in on Laserbeak. He also launches a shell at Jetfire that contains four independently targeted missiles.
• Jetfire hits Bumblebee with a particle beam cannon.

Covers (3)

• US issue #11: Jetfire attacking the miscolored Autobots, by Herb Trimpe.
• UK issue #37: Buster and various story events, by John Ridgway.
• UK issue #38: reuse of art from US cover.

• 
  US issue #11 - Who what where?
• 
  UK issue #37 - Excitement! Danger! Personal stereos!
• 
  UK issue #38 - Nope, still no better...

Reprints

• 
  The Transformers Comics Magazine #6 (Marvel US, 1987)
• 
  Transformers: New Order paperback (Titan Books, 2003)
• 
  Transformers: New Order hardback (Titan Books, 2003)
• 
  Classic Transformers Volume 1 (IDW Publishing, 2008)
• 
  The Transformers Classics, Vol. 1 (IDW Publishing, 2011)
• 
  Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection, Vol. 3: Dinobot Hunt (Hachette Partworks Ltd, 2018)
• 
  The Transformers Classics, Vol. 3 (Mediaboy Mook, 2019)

IDW Transformers Classics edits

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.

• Pages 2 & 3: The two panels with Buster's white hair are "corrected" to yellow.
• Page 10, panel 6: What were previously white highlights on Bumblebee's horns are misinterpreted, and his horns are recolored entirely white.
• Page 12, panel 6: In the original issue, a slight misprint partially discolored the second syllable in the "SPR-OING" sound effect. Evidently thinking it deliberate, the "remastered" version recolors it so now the first syllable is red, and the second is magenta.
• Page 16, panel 4: Sparkplug's hair color is corrected.
• Page 18, panel 7: Sparkplug's hair color is corrected.

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• MASK toys (inside front cover)
• [Fig] Newtons Fruit Chewy Mix-Up! - between pages 4 & 5
• Oreo "The A-Maze-ing Oreo! Chocolate Sandwich Cookie" - between pages 5 & 6
• Pineapple Kids Club glow-in-the-dark posters - between pages 9 & 10
• NBC 1985–1986 Saturday morning line-up (2-page spread - between pages 12 & 13)
• CBS new Saturday morning line-up - between pages 15 & 16
• Model Expo Inc. - between pages 16 & 17
• Bullpen Bulletins, including notice on death of Danny Crespi - between pages 18 & 19
• Heroes for Hope Starring the X-Men benefit book
• Marvel subscriptions order form
• Secret Wars II #6 (inside back cover)
• Morphodroids toys (transforming toys with wired remote control) (back cover)