The Transformers (Sunday Times) issue 5

« The Transformers (Sunday Times) #5
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First published	1989 / August 3, 2022
Written by	Simon Furman
Art by	Robin Smith
Continuity	Marvel Comics continuity

Hot Rod fights alone. Sort of.

Synopsis

Having infiltrated his way deep into the Decepticon base on Earth, Hot Rod is discovered by none other than their leader, Thunderwing. Refusing to be intimidated, Hot Rod batters his enemy senseless, despite pleas for mercy...

Much to Kup's exasperation, since he's playing the part of Thunderwing in their little training mock-up, leading the elderly 'bot to lament he's getting too old for this sort of thing.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots
Hot Rod (1) Kup (2)

Notes

• As with the rest of the Sunday Times Transformers strips, this story was written by Simon Furman and drawn by Robin Smith in anticipation of a weekly newspaper strip deal that never materialised, though a copy remained in Smith's possession, and was discovered by James Roberts while he was interviewing Smith, who gave Roberts (and IDW Publishing) permission to rummage through his old Transformers works and see if there was anything they might wish to use. The strips were eventually printed in 2022's "Best of the Rarities" collection.

Continuity notes

• Not that these strips are exactly continuity tight to begin with, but Hot Rod tussling against Thunderwing on Earth might be a tip-off something's amiss, since Thunderwing was only briefly on Earth in the UK comics continuity, and that was before he was made Decepticon leader.

Reprints

• Transformers: Best of the Rarities: Soundwave and Ravage cassette by James Biggie