The Planet-Eater!
While the Autobots and Decepticons fight a crucial battle on Earth, something threatens the very existence of Cybertron.
Transformers: The Movie issue #1
Adaptation: Ralph Macchio
Breakdowns: Don Perlin
Finishes: Ian Akin and Brian Garvey
Lettering: Janice Chiang
Colors: Nelson Yomtov
Editor: Bob Budiansky
- Major characters (in order of appearance): Unicron, Ironhide, Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Spike Witwicky, Laserbeak, Megatron, Soundwave, Starscream, Prowl, Hot Rod, Daniel Witwicky, Perceptor, Ultra Magnus, Springer, Arcee, Devastator, Grimlock, Astrotrain, Scourge, Cyclonus, Galvatron
- Originally published: December, 1986
Synopsis
In deep space, the planet Lithone is under attack from the planet-eater, Unicron. As the world is devoured, only one Lithonian, Kranix, manages to escape. Unicron now turns his sights on Cybertron....
The year is 2005, and although the Decepticons still rule Cybertron, the Autobots are preparing to retake the planet. But all is not yet ready. Optimus Prime sends a group of Autobots on a mission to Autobot City on Earth. Unfortunately, plans for this mission are overheard by Laserbeak, who reports the findings to Megatron. Megatron leads a group of Decepticons to intercept the Earth-bound shuttle, murder its crew, and attempt to invade Autobot City using the Autobot's own ship.
The Autobots are given the most minimal of advance warnings when Hot Rod, playing with Spike Witwicky's son Daniel outside Autobot City, notices something wrong with the ship. The Autobots scramble to prepare their base for battle, but being unprepared for this head-on assault, they are soon overwhelmed.
Optimus Prime arrives to join the battle, and knows that the only way the battle can be won is to face Megatron directly in mortal combat. Both leaders battle, and sustain heavy injuries. Although Optimus Prime is fatally wounded, he has turned the tide of the battle, and the Decepticons retreat using Astrotrain as transport. Before Prime dies, he passes the Autobot Matrix of Leadership to his choice for Autobot leader, Ultra Magnus.
As the embattled Decepticons journey through space, Astrotrain informs them that they must jettison dead weight or they'll never make it back to Cybertron. Starscream sees an opportunity. All of the most wounded Decepticons are tossed out into deep space, including Megatron.
The wounded Decepticons float through space, and are gathered toward Unicron. Unicron offers Megatron a deal: destroy the Autobot Matrix of Leadership in exchange for a new body and troops. Megatron resists at first, but ultimately agrees. Unicron reshapes some of fallen Decepticon warriors into Cyclonus, Scourge, and the Sweeps. Megatron himself is reformed into the powerful Galvatron!
Errors
TBA
Differences Between the Film and Comic
Although it follows the basic plot of the movie, the comic adaptation makes many changes to the story. There is very little that isn’t different in some way. Though the first issue was released at the same time as the movie with issues #2 and #3 being released after the film disappeared from theaters, it is uncertain just how much time and access the comic creators had to view the finished film when writing the adaptation. There are many places where the comic incorporates elements from the original script that didn’t make it to the finished film. Characters’ dialogue is much more exposition heavy do to the transition of mediums and a good deal of material has been removed simply due to the space restraints of fitting the movie into three issues. Finally some things seem clearly added due to the comic creators’ own initiative.
Major changes include:
- As per the script: Unicron devours things with the aid of a strange corrosive mist. The Lithonians also have the ability to transform.
- Also from the script, Laserbeak is first seen popping out of a cassette deck in Autobot headquarters after the shuttle launch rather than sneaking in, and perching onto the window.
- When the Decepticons attack the Autobot shuttle, Brawn is blasted in two, another detail from an early draft of the movie script that did not make it to the screen. Ironhide and Ratchet are not melted together though.
- The shuttle actually lands at Autobot City before Daniel sees the hole in the side.
- Kup and Blurr are pretty much ommited from this issue. So are Blaster, Jazz and Cliffjumper, and most of the Transformers that had small appearances. Many more generic transformers abound.
- Autobot City is called Fortress Maximus.
- Blitzwing’s attack on Hot Rod, Starscream’s chase down the corridor, The Insecticons eating the door, The cassette fight, and Springer’s attack with the launcher have all been cut.
- Megatron orders the Constructicons to merge almost immediately, and Prime arrives not too long after.
- Hot Rod doesn’t interfere with the Prime/Megatron fight.
- The Matrix looks much different, basically like a green gem.
- No one fights inside Astrotrain.
- There is no mention of Cyclonus’ armada. He is described as “The warrior that will become Megatron’s ship”. The larger ship has been omitted, though there was no ship in the screenplay either.
