Target: 2006

« The Transformers (UK) #78–88 »
They have better things to do tonight than die!
"Target: 2006"
Publisher	Marvel Comics
Script	Simon Furman
Art	Jeff Anderson (78-79, 81, 87), Ron Smith (82), Geoff Senior (83-84, 86)
Pencils	Will Simpson (80, 85, 88)
Inks	Tim Perkins (80, 85, 88)
Colours	Tony Jozwiak (78-81, 85, 87), John Burns (82), Gina Hart (84,86,88)
Letters	Richard Starkings (78,82-85,88), Annie Halfacree (79-81,86-87)
Editor	Ian Rimmer
Continuity	Marvel Comics continuity

Galvatron, Cyclonus and Scourge travel back in time with a plan to destroy Unicron.

Synopsis

Prologue

PRIME SMASH!

Optimus Prime is hunting the Dinobots and is growing frustrated. So frustrated, in fact, that he is indiscriminately knocking over trees and wrecking woodland habitats. Prowl manages to get through to Prime about the damage he is causing, and also questions whether the Dinobots are worth the trouble they cause. Optimus wonders if Prowl might be right, but doesn't want the Autobot forces on Earth to be any more depleted than they have to be.

Meanwhile, below the surface of Cybertron, Emirate Xaaron is running late for a briefing with Impactor about the forthcoming Operation: Volcano and whether Ultra Magnus will be a part of it.

Sic semper proditor

On the surface city of Polyhex, phase one of Operation Volcano is going into effect as Shrapnel tortures a treacherous Autobot into revealing Emirate Xaaron's whereabouts, before killing said traitor. Unknown to the Insecticon the information is false, having been deliberately leaked by Roadbuster.

Back on Earth, Optimus Prime is briefing the Autobots on the reasons they fight and the importance of protecting the human race from the Decepticon menace when he, Ratchet and Prowl are wracked by pain and suddenly disappear. The remaining Earthbound Autobots are distraught.

Fire (doo, doo do), I want you to burn

On Cybertron, Emirate Xaaron is in the chamber of the Matrix Flame, which, with its connection to Optimus Prime severed, gutters and dies. Xaaron does not take this well.

It took 1.21 jiggawatts to get this image

At a cereal farm in Oregon, the weather takes a turn for the worse as three shadowy figures arrive, trying to figure out where, and more importantly, when they are. Soon, the locals are investigating the noise made by the figures arrival. After one of the figures discovers that it's 1986, he is revealed as Galvatron!

Apocalypse Then...Now!

Catch that pigeon NOW

Scourge & Cyclonus (who has Galvatron on board) are flying over Wyoming and testing out the destructive capabilities of their new forms by destroying first a locomotive and then a gas station. The Decepticons discuss how easy it would be topn conquer the planet with their upgraded weaponry until Galvatron reminds them that their purpose in the past is to prepare for the future. Galvatron orders them to seek out Megatron.

File:Target 2006 Part 1 Smokescreen's smart.jpg

Smokescreen has an excellent idea

Down at ground level, Jazz is leading a team of Autobots in a reconnaissance mission, hoping to discover what happened to Optimus, Prowl & Ratchet by spying on Megatron, who is accompanied by the Constructicons. As the Autobots continue to watch, Galvatron, Scourge & Cyclonus arrive, transforming to robot mode and introducing themselves to Megatron as fellow Decepticons. Ever suspicious, Megatron has Soundwave scan the new arrivals and confirm that they are, indeed, Decepticons but something seems to be blocking any deeper scan.

I don't think so

A wary Megatron asks if Galvatron works for Straxus, and is surprised when Galvatron claims to be the Decepticon leader of 2006. Galvatron asks Megatron to put aside his considerable doubts, and surrender command of the Constructicons (temporarily) to him. Galvatron asks Megatron to trust in him, and megatron replies in traditional style by blasting Galvatron in the face with his fusion cannon. The future Decepticon shrugs off the shot and his lieutenants aim their weaponry at Megatron. Galvatron orders Scourge and Cyclonus not to fire as Megatron can not be allowed to die.

Instead, Scourge & Cyclonus bull-rush Megatron & Soundwave respectively rendering them unconscious before Galvatron uses his particle cannon to bury the prone decepticons under a rock pile. At that point, Galvatron's leadership is confirmed when Laserbeak perches on his shoulder. Galvatron orders the Constructicons to accompany him.

Deal with this.

Witnessing all this, the Autobots split up, with Jazz & Hound following Galvatron's party, Ironhide observing Megatron's group and Smokescreen reporting back to the Ark.

On Cybertron, Impactor is furious that Ultra Magnus is no longer part of Operation: Volcano, and pleads his case to Emirate Xaaron. Xaaron states that the extinguished Matrix flame has priority over Volcano, and informs Impactor to take it up with Ultra Magnus himself. Magnus declares that he must travel to Earth.

The Devil You Know...

Cybertron: The Middle Years!

Included in issue #83 was a short text history of Cybertron during the years Optimus Prime and Megatron's crews were lost on Earth. It chronicled the rise of Trannis, the fall of the Council of Autobot Elders, the establishment of the Autobot resistance under the leadership of Xaaron, the fall of Trannis at the hands of the Wreckers, and the rise of Trannis's successor Straxus.

Featured Characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots	Decepticons	Humans	Others	Facsimile Constructs
Optimus Prime (1) Prowl (2) Grimlock (3) Sludge (4) Slag (5) Snarl (6) Swoop (7) Emirate Xaaron (9) Skater (10) Impactor (11) Autobot traitor (13) Roadbuster (14) Ratchet (15) Jazz (16) Bumblebee (17) Wheeljack (18) Ironhide (19) Hound (20) Gears (23) Smokescreen (33) Whirl (35) Ultra Magnus (36) Grapple (37) Jetfire (38) Mirage (39) Hoist (40) Trailbreaker (41) Tracks (42) Brawn (43) Topspin (52) Rack'n'Ruin (53) Twin Twist (54) Broadside (59) Springer (60) Sandstorm (61) Kup (65) Hot Rod (66) Blurr (67)	Shrapnel (12) Megatron (21) Starscream (22) Galvatron (24) Scourge (25) Cyclonus (26) Bonecrusher (27) Hook (28) Scrapper (29) Mixmaster (30) Long Haul (31) Laserbeak (32) Soundwave (34) Fang (56) Frenzy (57) Thundercracker (58) Shockwave (63) Skywarp (69) Thrust (70) Blitzwing (71) Octane (72) Macabre (73) Ramjet (74) Bombshell (75) Dirge (76) Astrotrain (77)	Joy Meadows (8)	Piano Transformer guy (55) Unicron (62)	Dirge (44) Kickback (45) Octane (46) Thrust (47) Shrapnel (48) Bombshell (49) Blitzwing (50) Ramjet (51) Starscream (68)

Errors

• It is implied that Galvatron builds his weapon on the site of the future Autobot City so that when the weapon fires in 2006 it will destroy Autobot City and Unicron. He states it will be "hidden underground", but it's not mentioned how it'll get underground - we could be charitable and assume there is a way, but why would the Autobots build their city where they know a slag-off great cannon was buried?
• On page 5 of issue #81, Jetfire's backpack suddenly disappears for a single frame.
• On the first and last pages of issue #82, the Octane facsimile construct is mis-colored as Blitzwing.
• The Autobots do not use Omega Supreme. This would normally be an item of interest and not an error, except that we are reminded that Omega Supreme exists, that he is powerful enough to kill lots of Decepticons, and Smokescreen actually says "Now there's a thought! Why not sic Omega on them?" (referring to the Constructicons, Megatron, Soundwave and Laserbeak when it is assumed they are involved in the disapperance of Prime, Prowl and Ratchet) in Part 1. No reason is ever given why they don't use him against Galvatron and he is not shown in any scenes in the entire story.
• Part 4 has the Wreckers training against nine facsimile constructs that represent the "deadliest killers". Then, the final part establishes Operation: Volcano will kill the ten deadliest killers - while the art only shows nine of them (Astrotrain turns up but doesn't seem to have been expected by the others). Did the tenth just decide to have a lie-in?

Items of note

• This is the epic Transformers story that everyone remembers from the UK comics. Events in this story cause ramifications over the next 150 issues.
• Ladybird Books would borrow the premise of this story for their 1986 books.
• The Movie was originally planned to take place in 2006 but was changed to 2005 very late in production by which time Target 2006 had already been given a title. As a result, all of the UK comics future stories were set twenty years in the future of the 'real' year.
• Galvatron time jumps just at the point in the Movie after he says "Decepticons, to Earth."
• According to Galvatron in issue #78, Earth has a weather control system as of 1995. Our Earth is clearly behind schedule.
• This story has it that Unicron's physical form can be destroyed by weapons technology (albeit really powerful weapons) and not just the Matrix - Unicron himself refers to the cannon being able to destroy him. The idea of Unicron being defeatable by Transformer weaponry has never turned up again.
• The character designs for Galvatron, Cyclonus and Scourge in issue #78 are based on the toys rather than the Movie look as the issue was designed before the artist got to see the Movie designs.
• For this story and all future appearances Galvatron would appear in his grey and purple toy colour scheme rather than the Movie's predominantly purple colour.
• Simon Furman reused issue #78's sequence with Emirate Xaaron and captions about the Autobot movement going literally underground almost verbatim when he took over the US strip some years later.
• The drawing of Galvatron on the cover of issue #84 is a slightly altered tracing of his character model.
• The fate of Optimus Prime and the other Transformers who disappear is revealed in #100's "Distant Thunder!"
• In terms of story chronology, this is the fourth UK "future" story centering on the movie cast. It's preceded by the Shockwave segment of "Aspects of Evil!". The next story, chronologically, is "Wanted:Galvatron — Dead or Alive!" and the subsequent titles.
• Chapter subtitles:
  • Issue #78—Prologue
  • Issue #79—Apocalypse Then...Now!
  • Issue #80—Construction Time Again!
  • Issue #81—Defeat!
  • Issue #82—Wreck and Rule!
  • Issue #83—The Devil You Know...
  • Issue #84—Trios!
  • Issue #85—Prisoners of War!
  • Issue #86—You Haveta Ask?!
  • Issue #87—Back to the Future!
  • Issue #88—Aftermath!

Back-Up Stories

Issue #78:

• Hercules — "Whom the Gods Would Destroy!" Part 1
• Robo-Capers

Issue #79:

• Hercules — "Whom the Gods Would Destroy!" Part 2
• Robo-Capers

Issue #80:

• Hercules — "Whom the Gods Would Destroy!" Part 3
• Robo-Capers

Issue #81:

• Hercules — "Whom the Gods Would Destroy!" Part 4
• Robo-Capers

Issue #82:

• Hercules — "...Not Just Another Galactus Story!" Part 1
• Robo-Capers

Issue #83:

• Cybertron: The Middle Years! (see above)
• Hercules — "...Not Just Another Galactus Story!" Part 2
• Robo-Capers

Issue #84:

• Hercules — "...Not Just Another Galactus Story!" Part 3
• Robo-Capers

Issue #85:

• Hercules — "...Not Just Another Galactus Story!" Part 4
• Robo-Capers

Issue #86:

• Spitfire and the Troubleshooters — "Beginnings" Part 1
• Robo-Capers

Issue #87:

• Spitfire and the Troubleshooters — "Beginnings" Part 2
• Robo-Capers

Issue #88:

• Spitfire and the Troubleshooters — "Beginnings" Part 3
• Robo-Capers

Reprints

• Reprinted as a Trade Paperback by Titan Books in August 2002. A hardback version with an exclusive cover was made available at the Transforce 2002 convention in the UK. However, the convention version was misprinted, with the final eight pages of the story appearing in reverse order. Titan offered a free replacement, but many fans kept the original — partially because of the novelty, but mostly because they had just got it signed by Simon Furman.
• Reprinted in 5 parts by IDW in 2007 as part of their Generations series, with nearly 100 variant covers.
• The IDW reprints were then inevitably collected in a TPB, released January 2008.
• Parts 5 and 6 were reprinted as a single comic book issue as a pack-in (erroneously) included with Universe Ratbat vs. Springer. (It was supposed to be packed in with the Roadbuster vs. Dirge set, which was "Target: 2006"-themed.) This printing altered two uses of the word "damn" to "darn," a word more friendly to American children.

Covers (34)

• UK issue #78
  UK issue #78
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  UK issue #79
• UK issue #80
  UK issue #80
• UK issue #81
  UK issue #81
• UK issue #82
  UK issue #82
• UK issue #83
  UK issue #83
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  UK issue #84
• 
  UK issue #85
• 
  UK issue #86
• 
  UK issue #87
• 
  UK issue #88
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  Titan Target: 2006 TPB
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  Titan Target: 2006 HC
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  IDW Target: 2006 #1 A
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  IDW Target: 2006 #1 B
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  IDW Target: 2006 #1 RI-A
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  IDW Target: 2006 #1 RI-B
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  IDW Target: 2006 #2 A
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  IDW Target: 2006 #2 B
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  IDW Target: 2006 #2 RI-A
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  IDW Target: 2006 #2 RI-B
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  IDW Target: 2006 #3 A
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  IDW Target: 2006 #3 B
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  IDW Target: 2006 #3 RI-A
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  IDW Target: 2006 #3 RI-B
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  IDW Target: 2006 #4 A
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  IDW Target: 2006 #4 B
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  IDW Target: 2006 #4 RI-A
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  'IDW Target: 2006 #4 RI-B
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  IDW Target: 2006 #5 A
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  IDW Target: 2006 #5 B
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  IDW Target: 2006 #5 RI-A
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  IDW Target: 2006 #5 RI-B
• 
  IDW Target: 2006 TPB

• UK issue #78 cover: Prowl, Ratchet & Optimus Prime disappearing into limbo, by Alister Pearson.
• UK issue #79 cover: Galvatron and Ultra Magnus, by John Higgins.
• UK issue #80 cover: Ultra Magnus arrives, by John Stokes.
• UK issue #81 cover: Galvatron stands over vanquished Autobots, by Will Simpson.
• UK issue #82 cover: the Wreckers, by Phil Gascoine.
• UK issue #83 cover: Scourge being blasted, by Robin Smith.
• UK issue #84 cover: Galvatron & Unicron by Phil Gascoine.
• UK issue #85 cover: Jazz is possessed by Galvatron, by Robin Smith.
• UK issue #86 cover: Ultra Magnus fighting Galvatron, by Robin Smith.
• UK issue #87 cover: Galvatron poses by his weapon, by Phil Gascoine.
• UK issue #88 cover: the Wreckers, by Geoff Senior.
• Titan TPB cover: Galvatron in shadow, by Geoff Senior.
• Transforce Titan hardcover: Galvatron shoots at Ultra Magnus by Lee Sullivan.
• IDW issue #1 cover A: Galvatron, Scourge & Cyclonus arrive in 1986, art by Nick Roche, colors by Rob Ruffolo.
• IDW issue #1 cover B: Galvatron, Scourge & Cyclonus arrive in 1986, by Jeff Anderson.
• IDW issue #1 Retail Incentive cover A: sketch of cover A, by Nick Roche.
• IDW issue #1 Retail Incentive cover B: panels of UK issue #78, by Jeff Anderson.
• IDW issue #2 cover A: Cyclonus & Ultra Magnus fight by Hound's prone body, by Nick Roche, colors by Rob Ruffolo.
• IDW issue #2 cover B: Galvatron's ultimate weapon, by Will Simpson colors by Tony Jozwiak.
• IDW issue #2 Retail Incentive cover A: sketch of cover A, by Nick Roche.
• IDW issue #2 Retail Incentive cover B: panels from UK issue #81, by Jeff Anderson.
• IDW issue #3 cover A: the Wreckers, art by Nick Roche, colors by Rob Ruffolo.
• IDW issue #3 cover B: Wreck & Rule!, by Ron Smith.
• IDW issue #3 Retail Incentive cover A: sketch of cover A, by Nick Roche.
• IDW issue #3 Retail Incentive cover B: panels from UK issue #82, by Ron Smith.
• IDW issue #4 cover A: Brawn choked by a zombie-controlled Jazz, by Nick Roche, colors by Rob Ruffolo.
• IDW issue #4 cover B: Galvatron riding Ultra Magnus, by Geoff Senior.
• IDW issue #4 Retail Incentive cover A: sketch of cover A, by Nick Roche.
• IDW issue #4 Retail Incentive cover B: panels from UK issue #86, by Will Simpson.
• IDW issue #5 cover A: Ultra Magnus versus Galvatron, art by Nick Roche, colors by Rob Ruffolo.
• IDW issue #5 cover B: Starscream is obliterated, by Jeff Anderson, colors by Tony Jozwiak.
• IDW issue #5 Retail Incentive cover A: sketch of cover A, by Nick Roche.
• IDW issue #5 Retail Incentive cover B: panels from UK issue #88 by Will Simpson.
• IDW TPB cover: reuse of IDW issue #5 cover A.