I, Robot-Master!

« The Transformers (US) #15 » « The Transformers (UK) #55–56 »
"I'll control the Transformers when I feel like it! GOSH!"
"I, Robot-Master!"
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First published	December 1985
Cover date	April 1986
Writer	Bob Budiansky
Penciler	Don Perlin
Inker	Keith Williams
Colorist	Nel Yomtov
Letterer	Janice Chiang
Editor	Michael Carlin
Continuity	Marvel Comics continuity

Introducing the dorkiest terrorist the world has ever known.

Synopsis

Megatron hungers! The displaced Decepticon, wandering across the landscape in a desperate search for fuel, is rendered immobile in a coal mine when he finally runs out of energy.

The Intelligence and Information Institute scrambles for a way to explain the presence of giant robots to the public that will calm panic, despite the efforts of G.B. Blackrock to convince I.I.I. that the Autobots can be Earth's allies. The agency's staff is sent home to come up with a viable cover story and told not to return to work without a proposal.

I.I.I. agent Walter Barnett is inspired by his son's comic book, Robot-Master. I.I.I. prepares to spin their story. Robot Master's writer, Donny Finkleberg, has just lost his job with Marvel Comics. He readily accepts a lunch proposition from Barnett to discuss the idea... and even more readily accepts an offer to actually play the role.

The next day, broadcast television across the continent is interrupted by a ranting costumed supervillain, Robot-Master! He claims that all the Transformers are under his control. Reactions are varied; the Autobots are baffled, and turn to Blackrock for answers.

The next day, a second broadcast takes advantage of the inert Megatron, whose presence bolsters the government's claims. This broadcast gains the attention of both the Autobots and the Decepticon Soundwave, who undertakes a mission to free Megatron. The Autobots, knowing the presence of Megatron to be a threat, also roll out to collect him.

The Autobots drive to the coal mine, but are met with resistance from the human military, which does not recognize the Autobots as anything other than a threat. Soundwave, Laserbeak and Ravage arrive at the coal mine with fuel for Megatron, who becomes mobile again. The four Decepticons go on a rampage against the human military; the damaged Autobots are in no condition to help the humans, and are forced to retreat.

Ravage finds Finkleberg; although Megatron wishes to kill "Robot-Master" for claiming to control him, Finkleberg is able to convince the Decepticons that, by continuing to convince the humans that the Autobots are as much a threat to them as the Decepticons, the Autobots' efforts might continue to be thwarted. Finkleberg is spared, for now...

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots	Decepticons	Humans
Hoist (7) Bumblebee (13) Tracks (14) Skids (15) Optimus Prime (16) Wheeljack (17)	Megatron (1) Shockwave (4) Soundwave (5) Decepticon jet (8) Ravage (18) Laserbeak (19) Buzzsaw (20)	Walter Barnett (2) Forrest Forsythe (3) Brick Springhorn (6) G.B. Blackrock (9) Stevie Barnett (10) Charlene Barnett (11) Donny Finkleberg (12)

Quotes

"I bet the Communists are behind this!"
"I bet the P.L.O. is behind this!"
"I bet the GOVERNMENT is behind this!!"

—Two average Joes and G.B. Blackrock register their reactions to "Robot Master"

"Are his circuits disconnected? Who is this mad human?"

—Bumblebee reacts to "Robot Master"'s first broadcast

"...Mull this over—how long do you think the Decepticons are going to tolerate this clown claiming to be their leader? I mean, cigarette smoking isn't going to be the only hazard to this guy's health! I hope he's made out his will!"

—G.B. Blackrock tells Triple-I how it is.

"Do not judge humans too harshly, Autobots. They are only capable of acting upon what they understand... and apparently they do not yet understand us."

—Optimus Prime leads his battered troops away from the attacking humans.

"Human, you presume too much of me. At this moment your value to me outweighs my loathing for you -- but only by the most precariously slim margin! For the next cigarette you light could change that equation... and you would find that smoking can indeed be... hazardous to your health!"

—Megatron lays down the law to Finkleberg

Notes

Artwork and technical errors

• The cover features an orange block-colored Skids (while everyone else is colored normally), Bumblebee in orange where he should be yellow, Tracks in Hoist's colors, and a legless Laserbeak (or Buzzsaw). Since it's on the cover of a fictional book about them, maybe we can let it slide?
• On page 8, Wheeljack has Hoist's color scheme.
• Megatron has a bizarre mesh gate inside his mouth on page 18, never seen before or since.

Continuity errors

• Triple I's suddenly got its own headquarters in the Cascades; in issue #14, its director, Forsythe, was based in Washington, D.C.
• The reader is required to assume that the media never notices that Finkleberg's assumed persona is identical to a comic book, that the creator of that comic book is missing, and that he bears a strong resemblance to this "real" Robot-Master. Apparently, the comic is absurdly unpopular.
• As seen last issue, when Shockwave carried a massive device around in a big sling hanging from his gun mode, the Decepticons have a thing for awkward transportation. Here, Buzzsaw carries off cat-mode Ravage, who in turn is carrying tape player mode Soundwave. Why not just carry Soundwave directly with Ravage inside him? (They have switched to this more logical configuration by the time they arrive at the coal mine.)
• How can Megatron hear Barnett and Finkleberg's conversation while they're inside a flying helicopter?

Continuity notes

• I.I.I. has been looking for a way to deal with the issue of the Transformers since last issue.
• The Autobots get a checkup from Hoist every 1200 miles or four weeks.
• Wheeljack and Prowl have given the order to "roll out" in issues #9 and #12 respectively, but this is the first time we get Prime giving the more iconic "Transform... and roll out!" version.
• Stores in downtown Portland include "Becky's Coffee Shop".

Real-life references

• The title is presumably an homage to the classic science fiction collection I, Robot by Isaac Asimov. This is not the only Transformers title it has inspired.
• The title of Finkleberg's proposed Potato Salad Man graphic novel, "This Man, This Mayonnaise", is a reference to the famous Fantastic Four story, "This Man, This Monster".
• Finkleberg works at "a famous comic book publishing company" with offices at 387 Park Avenue South, New York City. Their reception desk has images of Captain America and the Hulk on the wall behind it. WHAT COMPANY COULD IT BE?!
• We visit the Ark, in the Cascades range, of course; and continuing the verrrrry slow expansion out of Oregon, this issue's centerpiece strip mine is set in the coal-rich Powder River Basin of eastern Wyoming (meaning Megatron's walked about 1000 miles in the weeks since he left Jake Lomax's Portland estate in issue #13!)

UK printing

Issue #55:

• Backup strips: Rocket Raccoon "Animal Crackers" Part 1, Robo-Capers and Matt and the Cat
• Fact File Interface: Kickback and Slag
• This was the first appearance of the Rocket Raccoon strip.

Issue #56:

• Backup strips: Rocket Raccoon "Animal Crackers" Part 2, Robo-Capers and Matt and the Cat

Other trivia

• This issue was reprinted in the Titan Books collection Transformers: Cybertron Redux.

Changes in the IDW Transformers Classics reprint

He answers the door for the Avon lady. Every time.

• The reprint of the cover now features luscious pink lips for Robot Master, despite no other 'fixing' of the many coloring errors on the cover. His luscious pink lips appear fairly consistently throughout the issue -- on pages 7, 10, 15 and 21.
• On page 7 when Donny Finkleberg visits the "New York City offices of a famous comic book publishing company" the reprint removes pictures of Hulk and Captain America from the wall, leaving the walls blank.
• On page 8, panel 6, Wheeljack is corrected from Hoist's colors into his cartoon colors. His wing and hand are still left in the wrong colors, though.
• While Soundwave is mostly "corrected" into his blue colors throughout this issue, on page 12, panels 6 and 7 he appears in his original purple colors.
• On page 14, panel 2 Megatron's Decepticon insignia is correct to pink, and his eyes are now orange instead of yellow.
• On page 22, panel 2 the Ben Day dots used to shade Megatron's forehead are removed.

Covers (9)

• 
  US issue #15 - Donny: International Hero.
• 
  UK issue #55 - They changed the corner box, how sweet.
• 
  UK issue #56 - Make sure you don't let YOUR Megatron swallow netting.
• 
  The Transformers Comics Magazine #8

• US cover: Robot-Master comic, by Herb Trimpe.
• UK issue #55 cover: reuse of art from US cover, with the top left hand corner box for Robot Master changed to fit the Marvel UK style and price.
• UK issue #56 cover: Megatron blasting coal mine equipment, by Robin Smith.
• The Transformers Comics Magazine #8 cover: reuse of art from US cover.

• 
  Transformers Comic-Magazin issue #3: C'mon, how much more awesome would THIS have been!
• 
  Cybertron Redux TPB
• 
  Cybertron Redux HC
• 
  Classic Transformers Volume 1

• Transformers Comic-Magazin issue #3 cover: a strange picture of Optimus Prime crushing things.
• Cybertron Redux TPB cover: Blaster, Ramhorn, Bombshell, Shrapnel, Kickback and half of the space bridge, by Andrew Wildman.
• Cybertron Redux hardback cover: Blaster in the smelting pool, by Don Figueroa, Gary Erskine & Chris Blythe.
• Classic Transformers Volume 1 cover: panels from "Power Play!", "The Transformers", "The New Order", "Brainstorm!" and "Prime Time!".

• 
  The Transformers Classics, Vol. 2

• The Transformers Classics, Vol. 2 cover: Megatron, by Guido Guidi.

Advertisements

• Sales Leadership Club offering prizes such as the Autoceptor Robot Watch, Diatarn-3 Changeable Robot (Sell Only 12 items for each) and Transformers Race Set (Sell Only 33 items) - between pages 4 & 5
• G.I. Joe Yearbook #2 - between pages 17 & 18
• MASK toys - back cover

Reprints

• 1988 — The Transformers Comics Magazine #8
• 1989 — Transformers Comic-Magazin #3
• 2003 — Transformers: Cybertron Redux
• 2008 — Classic Transformers Volume 1
• 2012 — The Transformers Classics, Vol. 2