Heavy Traffic!

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« The Transformers (UK) #91–92 »

"Quit crowding around me, fleshlings!"
"Heavy Traffic!"
Publisher Marvel Comics
First published July 1986
Cover date November 1986
Writer Bob Budiansky
Penciler Don Perlin
Inkers Ian Akin and Brian Garvey
Colorist Nel Yomtov
Letterer Hans IV
Editor Don Daley
Continuity Marvel Comics continuity

While Skids and Donny Finkleberg attempt to locate the Cybertronian Autobots, Megatron sends the Stunticons to intercept.

Synopsis

Circuit Breaker and Walter Barnett reflect on how they captured the seven Autobots recently arrived from Cybertron. Barnett questions the need to use such force on them but Circuit Breaker rebuffs these concerns. Then, when Barnett attempts to give Circuit Breaker a bonus check for the "job well done", she is insulted, proclaiming that "no amount of money could make up for what those robots did to me!"

These guys were built from scratch and ready to go during the course of one eavesdropped conversation!

Back in the Ark, Ratchet continues working on a wound that Optimus Prime had received during a recent attack on the Decepticon base. Bombshell takes advantage of this opportunity to inject Prime with a cerebro-shell. However, Bombshell finds that he is unable to control Prime, just merely monitor his thoughts. This allows Bombshell to eavesdrop on a conversation whereby Optimus Prime sends Skids and Donny Finkleberg to find out what has become of the Autobots who have recently arrived on Earth from Cybertron. Skids secures Finkleberg's participation by taking from him a check for $25,000 that Finkleberg was paid for his services as Robot-Master. Prime then proceeds to reactivate the Aerialbots using the Creation Matrix. Thanks to Bombshell's cerebro-shell, the Decepticons are able to take advantage of this use, and via Soundwave's internal receiver, Megatron is able to simultaneously use the Creation Matrix to give life to the Stunticons.

As Skids and Finkleberg begin their search, they are delayed as they come upon a driver endangered in an accident near fallen power lines. Skids stops to save the driver (much to Finkleberg's chagrin), and the incident is reported by the local news, giving Barnett further reason to suspect that not all robots are bad. All Circuit Breaker sees is a robot on the loose that must be destroyed. She leaves to undertake this task.

Meanwhile, the Decepticons also see this news report, and send the Stunticons out to make sure that the public relations damage done (by letting humans know that some Transformers are not threats) is minimalized. The Stunticons and RAAT converge upon Skids's position, and a battle ensues in the middle of heavy traffic. The Aerialbots arrive to offer Skids assistance, but they quickly become the targets of Circuit Breaker's attentions. She blasts Superion while Superion is fighting Menasor, who is left victorious. Circuit Breaker, weakened from the attack on Superion, is rescued by Barnett before Menasor can kill her, and Skids and Finkleberg escape in the confusion.

That evening, Finkleberg despairs to himself of ever finishing the mission or getting his $25,000 back. Proclaiming himself tired, he has Skids stop at a motel for the night. Donny deactivates Skids for the night, checks in, and calls Barnett, asking how much a sleeping Transformer would be worth, no muss, no fuss. Barnett's answer: $50,000.

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots Decepticons Humans

Quotes

"In my observations of humans I've learned they will perform various functions for what they call "money". ...for instance, this cashier's check for 25,000 dollars -- a potent motivating factor."

—Skids really has figured out humanity


Motormaster: "Ho! What is this?!"
Breakdown: "It's an attack!"
Dead End: "Ignore 'em. Just a bunch of fleshlings."

— the Stunticons are so unimpressed with RAAT that they aren't even sure they're being attacked.


"It sure ain't the Plaza."
"Your show of appreciation is inspiring."
"Sarcasm ill-becomes you, Skids."

—Finkleberg and Skids have been going on like this for two days now.


Notes

Artwork and technical errors

  • On the cover, Menasor is missing the "vents" on the sides of his head. His "helmet" is also colored slate blue instead of black.
  • The checklist of Marvel comics released for this month has Stunticons misspelled in the description for this issue as "Stuntacons".
  • Skids is almost twice Wheeljack's height as the latter works to install the chemical tracker.
  • Skids' model sheet does not have upper arms, and instead depicts his forearms attaching somewhere at his lower ribcage. Don Perlin's attempts to render Skids with upper arms, while still remaining somewhat on-model, result in some bizarre imagery.
  • Page 7, panel 2: Soundwave is taller and more massive than Megatron.
  • Page 9: Donny's statement "We've been driving all day" ends with a question mark, which should probably be an exclamation point.

Continuity errors

  • Okay, so Circuit Breaker doesn't discriminate in her hatred for robots, but just why did she choose to attack Superion first? Menasor and his components had already squarely identified themselves as the bad guys, and Superion fought them. Wouldn't it make sense to at least go after Menasor first?
  • "And there's nothing I can do to stop them!" thinks Skids, as he's surrounded by Stunticons "defending" him. Why not.. y'know... transform and start shooting them? Just a few panels ago he was saying he'd have to try and stop them himself - yet now he does nothing.

Continuity notes

  • The RAAT attack on the Autobots occurred shortly after the events of issue #19.
  • We flash back to Josie Beller's electrocution in issue #6.
  • We learn that Circuit Breaker's suit gets its energy from "atomic-powered micro-batteries".
  • Ratchet has applied a "circuitry graft" to Optimus's wound; he applies dressing "soaked in insulating polymers". Both faintly hint at the more bio-mechanical approach to Transformers physiology that would very gradually emerge over the years.
  • Bombshell's cerebro-shell fails to allow Bombshell to control Optimus Prime. Instead, Bombshell can only monitor Prime's thoughts. This fits in with the description of Bombshell's abilities given in the four-issue limited series The Transformers Universe which suggests that an individual of very strong will is able to resist the mind-controlling aspects of the cerebro-shell — as Ricky Vasquez did in the previous Marvel US issue.
  • To handle Donny's wallet, Skids deploys a set of tiny waldos from his fingertips.
  • Apparently, the Autobots killed the Aerialbots (including Silverbolt!) after last issue, in order to complete their personality programming! (Silverbolt's programming was already completed, though.)
  • The Stunticon bodies are already built. One must assume that part of Bombshell's purpose in controlling Optimus Prime was for the purpose of gaining control of the Creation Matrix.
  • The wound Bombshell uses to invade Prime with a cerebro-shell was the one he received in issue #19 and the one being worked on in #21.

Real-life references

UK printing

Issue 91:

  • Backup strips: Spitfire and the Troubleshooters - "Behemoth" and Robo-Capers
  • Page 12 of this story was edited to provide a better cliffhanger for issue #91. The order of the last couple of panels was changed, so that the issue ends with Motormaster slashing a semi's cargo trailer. There's also a slight text edit, so Motormaster doesn't repeat the line "I see him".
  • Issue #91 features a review of The Transformers: The Movie by Grimlock. As one would expect, it's very even-handed and unbiased. He was very careful to point out all the movie's good points, though. Like... uhmmm... the Dinobots are in it.
  • The Robo-Capers comic strip in issue #91 also features Grimlock strutting his stuff (as seen to the right) since he's become a movie star. Pillock.

Issue #92:

  • Backup strips: Spitfire and the Troubleshooters - "Behemoth" and Robo-Capers
  • Issue #92 contains a competition to win a copy of the movie soundtrack. The (laughably simple) questions were:
    • Megatron undergoes a drastic change in the movie. Into who?
    • What is the name of the planet-sized Transforming creature that threatens to destroy Cybertron?
    • One of the character voices in the film is supplied by an actor famous for his role as Spock in Star Trek. Who is that actor?

Other trivia

  • The cover to this issue celebrates the 25th Anniversary of Marvel Comics. All Marvel Comics issues put out this month had this border and featured portrait shots of the main character in the comic. Rather than Optimus Prime or Megatron, Menasor was chosen as the character to represent Transformers.
  • The US issue does not have a letters page.

Changes in the IDW Transformers Classics reprint

  • The border of Marvel characters surrounding Menasor's head on this cover is blanked out for this reprint -- however the stars on the letter "S" in the Transformers logo remain. Sparkly.
  • Soundwave is generally redeco'd in blue throughout the issue, except on page 7, panel 6 where he retains his original purple colours.
  • On page 20 panels 2 and 3, and page 22 panel 5, Ben-Day dot toning is completely removed, and replaced with some strange ink-blotching artifacts that are probably trying to replicate the smudging present on the original printing. What have you got against zip-tones, guys?


Covers (6)

  • US issue #22 - When I drink, I see little people too.
    US issue #22 - When I drink, I see little people too.
  • UK issue #91 - Grammar is not anyone's strong point.
    UK issue #91 - Grammar is not anyone's strong point.
  • UK issue #92 - The guns are just for show.
    UK issue #92 - The guns are just for show.
  • Transformers: Showdown TPB
    Transformers: Showdown TPB
  • Transformers: Showdown hardback
    Transformers: Showdown hardback
  • The Transformers Classics Vol. 2
    The Transformers Classics Vol. 2

Advertisements

US

  • M&M's—inside front cover
  • Bonkers! (candy)
  • Brach's (candy)
  • Dungeons & Dragons Set #1: Basic Rules
  • Marvel Super Mart
  • Comic Book Conventions 1986: Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Manhattan, San Francisco, Washington DC, New Brunswick (New Jersey)
  • Mile High Comics
  • Marvel subscriptions
  • Yamaha DX100 synthesizer—inside front cover
  • Starburst and Skittles—back cover

UK issue #91

UK issue #92

  • The New Leaders, Ultra Magnus and Galvatron
  • The Transformers: The Movie soundtrack album
  • The Transformers: The Movie giant poster magazine
  • Weetabix

Reprints

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