TFtember: Triple Takeover

"Triple Takeover", the Transformers, Nov. 19 1985

Starscream, Blitzwing, and Astrotrain are hanging out, blasting their faces onto mountain sides. They do a Mount Rushmore bit with themselves next to Megatron. Natrually they decide one of those things in not like the other and thus doesn't belong. 

They trick Megatron easy enough but then 'wing and 'train figure why not kill two birds with one stone? So Starscream gets frozen too. 

Now, the question is, who gets to lead? The triple changers opt to challenge each other. Blitzwing sets up shop in a football stadium, with a beleaguered football coach as an assistant. He interprets 'zone defense' and 'long bomb' as rather literal, thus he starts bombing the nearby city and has the Constructicons build a massive maze. He ends up with several Autobots built into a throne. 

Astrotrain turns a bunch of trains into some drones, which all end up destroyed or underwater. 

When Megatron gets free, as naturally he would, well, he isn't in the best of moods. Can he restore order within the Decepticon ranks?

A bit silly but a nice showcase of the Triple Changers, even if Astrotrain is a bit inconsistent when compared to eariler episodes.  

TFtember: Transformers#50

    "Dark Star" the Transformers#50 (March 1989) with credits to Bob Budiansky (script), Jose Delbo (pencils), Dave Hunt (inks), Nel Yomtov (colors), Rick Parker (letters), and Don Daley (editor)

Our last comic for the year and the last apperance for quite a few characters. 

The Underbase is streaking through space, getting closer to Earth by the second. 

The Autobots and the Decepticons confront each other and a full fight breaks out. Buster manages to call a ceasefire when he points out what Starscream told him. This calms Ratbat down enough to suggest a truce between the two factions. 

Starscream manages to get to the base, however, and even a brief exposure is enough to supercharge him. The combined faction attack but 'scream easily blows their ship up. Despite having the power and the advantage, 'scream opts to go to Earth.

Optimus Prime decides to sit out the fighting. Autobots and Decepticons alike fall before the powerful Starscream. Ratbat and Scorpionok come to the conclusion that Prime isn't a coward, rather he's clearly trying to take the power of the Underbase for himself! The truce is called off. 

Scorpionok also decides to cut Ratbat down to size, literally. Starscream arrives but it's a trap and the arriving Underbase crashes into the air commander and both are destroyed. Prime and Scorpionok pass peacefully although the war will surely continue tomorrow. 

Yeah, most deck clearing since the Movie. We lose scores of characters we've known since the first issue, mostly to make room for the new toys. 

TFtember: Dirge

Dirge 

The last toy of the year. We looked at the three jets of series one, so why not have another series?

Dirge was pretty much a retooled Starscream, i.e. F-15 but there was a neat twist. The final transformation version of the toy looked pretty much exactly like Starscream, Skywarp, etc., but one could leave the nosecone up and make him look more cartoon accurate. 

The filecard paints him as a rather creepy dude, using the sound of his engines to instill fear. His only flaw is his need to be in total control of the situation, if he fails at that he falls to pieces. 

The comic was a rather poor portrayal. He showed up but it was more as a generic thug. He did get to generate some fear in #21against Silverbolt but that was pretty much the only time before he got blown up by Serpentor. 

The cartoon, where he was voiced by Bud Davis, wasn't much better. He was even more of a thug plus he tended to crash almost as much as Cosmos. He got blown up in the Movie yet somehow got better to show in season 3. 

TFtember: Sea Change

 "Sea Change", the Transformers, Nov. 20 1985

The one with the mermaids. 

Deceptitran, an older Decepticon, has been fulfilling his programing by draining the planet Tlalakan dry of energon. Naturally the people of the planet aren't thrilled by this and finally revolt. Deceptitran manages to send out a distress signal. 

Pity the Autobots hear it first. Cosmos, Seaspray and Perceptor head off to investigate. They make it to the planet where they rescue one of the natives, a comely young lass named Alana. 

Alana shows them what they call the Well of Transformation, capable of turning one being into something else. Mostly by dissolving the body, leaving the lifeforce behind and thus allowing it to be transformed. It only works on things with a lifeforce, as evidenced by a droid falling in and melting. 

With some Decepticons showing up, will Seaspray and Alana's relationship survive the upgrade?

Good, and Seaspray does get a good showing, even if his transforming into a merman raises a score of questions. 

TFtember: Transformers#49

   "Cold War!" the Transformers#49 (February 1989) with credits to Bob Budiansky (script), Jose Delbo (pencils), Danny Bulanadi (inks), Nel Yomtov (colors), Bill Oakley (letters), and Don Daley (editor)

Ratbat has moved the Decepticons from the sunny islands to the cold artic. When a ship flies near their base, the Seacons form Piranhacon and nearly destroy it. Pity the ship had Scorpinok and the other Decepticons. 

Starscream acts as peacemaker but he quietly starts playing Scorpinok and Ratbat against each other. He also swings by Buster's cell, rubbing in the young man's imminent demise. Buster lets slip what he knows about the Underbase, right in front of Scorpinok, so a stay of execution is ordered. 

Words grow heated and soon the Decepticons are in a free for all. Starscream, meanwhile, is taking Buster for a ride.

Yup, it's a short one though as the lad is quickly dumped onto an ice shelf fairly close to the battle. Starscream isn't totally heartless; even if he literally is, no, he gives Buster an emergency beacon guaranteed to summon the Autobots. 

Yeah, this wasn't given because the Air Commander was a nice guy and Buster figures this out. If he summons the Autobots, they will probably get there as the Decepticons finish up their fight thus they will get taken unaware. 

Of course, if he doesn't hit the button he'll freeze to death. Reluctantly he hits the button...

Good and Starscream finally act as the manipulative schemer we know him as in other media. 

TFtember: Devastator

Devastator

Now this one was a classic. Never had the full figure though, although I came close in Generation 2.

As the first combiner figure, the idea was you would get all six Constructicons, with each of them forming a part of the larger robot. So yeah, giant robot made of other robots; there was a file card but only with a gift set. Six distinct personalities, all at adds with each other so he's basically helpless at doing anything more complex than smashing stuff. 

As far as other toys, there was a recoloring for Europe plus an Action Master. Which raises questions, namely is he supposed to be in scale with the other action masters? Is Optimus suddenly really huge or is Devastator now made of a really small bulldozers?

The comic gave him a different origin, as he was built by Shockwave on Earth. He didn't show up that much but when he did it was treated as a serious thing. He was finally taken out by Superion in a GI Joe crossover. 

The cartoon was a bit better although pretty similar. Voiced by Arthur Burghardt with an appropriate guttural growl, he tended to show when the Constructicons did and again, was usually handled with some aplomb. He lived through the movie and did it in a pretty cool sequence to boot. 

Tftember: Kremzeek!

 "Kremzeek!", the Transformers, Dec. 27, 1985

Megatron ends up unleashing a destructive little imp calling itself Kremzeek. Naturally he considers it the perfect weapon against the Autobots. 

It unleashes hell on the good guys, wrecking their systems left and right before finally escaping to Japan. The Autobots give chase, but what are they going when they catch the little bugger?

Yeah, this isn't on many top ten lists outside bad animation. Wrtier David Wise would go on to reuse this same plot quite a few times too, so the whole thing feels like a rerun. 

TFtember: Transformers#48

  "The Flames of Boltax!" the Transformers#48 (January 1989) with credits to Bob Budiansky (script), Jose Delbo (pencils), Danny Bulanadi (inks), Nel Yomtov (colors), Bill Oakley (letters), and Don Daley (editor)

We open with Buster being stalked by weird aliens who eventually gun him down. He's fine though, as the whole thing was just Ratbat testing his latest toy, Realvision! Starscream announces they found the Autobot tapes that Blaster spat out last time.

They slap the tapes into the Realvision and find themselves viewing the past, back when Optimus was a mere lieutenant commander instead of the leader. Optimus tangles with Megatron and the Triggercons (new toy shilling at its finest). Optimus ends up badly wounded but he succeeds as he causes the Underbase (what he and Megatron were fighting for) to blast off into space. 

Ratbat crunches the numbers and he discovers that, according to the trajectory plus time, then the Underbase should be entering Earth's system sometime by next week! Buster, having watched all this via a rather large air vent in his cell, vows to warn the Autobots but he's quickly discovered by the rest of the Decepticons. 

Well, the continuity is all over the place and yeah, awfully convenient that they happened to listen to those tapes and they just happen to let them know about the Underbase. 

TFtember: Cosmos

Cosmos 

This one was always a favorite. The toy was a perfect little thing, going from a UFO to robot. The transformation was simple, true, but it worked. The file card was cute too. Cosmos's job was recon and communications so as such he was often bored. To fight this, he'll sometimes race between meteors, or spook farmers by hovering over their fields. 

Not sure why, this just struck me as funny. 

For the comic, he was first introduced as a member of Perceptor's rebel group. That's about it, as he seemed stuck as a background character, mostly just watching as battles unfolded. He made it to #50 before just vanishing off into space. 

The cartoon had him faring a bit better. Voiced by Michael McConnohie, his role here was similar to his file card, although they gave him the added quirk of crashing. Seriously, he crash-landed in nearly episode that featured him, like a little round Launchpad McQuack. 

Cute overall but a pity he wasn't used more. 

TFtember: The Gambler

 "The Gambler", the Transformers, Nov. 11 1985

Shockingly nothing to do with Kenny Rogers. 

Picking up right after "Child's Play", the ship containing the Autobots is hijacked by traveling rogue Bosch. He puts the crew in stasis, with the intent to sell them into slavery. Our heroes are all knocked out, save for Smokescreen. 

Yeah, he's still awake but what can he do? Turns out Bosch is quite the gambling fiend and Smokescreen can manipulate slot machines. Thus, our duo heads to a casino planet. Things go great, at least until they end up losing the rest of the crew to a gambler even more corrupt than Bosch. 

Dirge, Ramjet, and Astrotrain then arrive on the planet, followed by a mysterious new Autobot. 

Said new Autobot makes his way to a pub, where Smokescreen is drowning his sorrows. He introduces himself as Devcon-bounty hunter at large. He's hunting Decepticons and what do you know, the three that just arrived go to meet with the same gambler that has the rest of the Autobots. Can Devcon and Smokescreen save them?

Prety good, although WHY this wasn't made after "Child's Play" is a mystery. It did air but the production order is jumbled. Devcon is a pretty neat character so I'm equally baffled why they never made a figure of him. They made a few toys but they were con exclusives, although I'm told they are making a proper one for the Legacy line sometime this year.  

TFtember: Transformers#47

 "Club Con!" the Transformers#47 (December 1988) with credits to Bob Budiansky (script), Jose Delbo (pencils), Dave Hunt (inks), Nel Yomtov (colors), Bill Oakley (letters), and Don Daley (editor)

The Autobots are puzzled. They know what the Decepticons are doing, they're just puzzled as to WHY they are doing it. Namely, running a resort called Club Con. It is decided that Blaster shall go in undercover. 

But who will be the humans? Rember the Witwickys? Sparkplug is still worried about the missing Buster, and Buster's gal Jesse is equally worried. Blaster shows up and tells them of the plan. Jesse, saying Sparkplug is too darn ugly to be seen at the beach, opts to go. 

They are greeted by Starscream, who acts as the Mister Rourke for the island. Jesse goes for a swim and spots some Sharkicons patrolling the water. Going back with Blaster, they end up finding Buster and the reason for the club. 

Seems some time ago, the Autobots sent some micro cassettes to Earth, where they were promptly found by some pirates, who then got sunk. Yup, the club is a front for a slave mining camp so the 'cons can find the cassettes. Jesse manages to swipe them but gets discovered. Blaster spits them out in the ocean and slips away with Jesse, with both of them vowing to return. 

We get to see what Buster's been doing since we last saw him. Issues get raised here, namely why a club? Wouldn't the Sharkicons be more useful? How are kidnapping people and making them work underwater the most effective means of searching? And Jesse might have some darn deep lungs giving how deep she's diving. 

TFtember: Chop Shop

Chop Shop     

We take a look at another Deluxe Insecticon, so not much to work with here. The toy goes from robot to stag beetle, with some neat weapons and even some possibility with his big legs, which is neat. 

Chop Shop is a thief. He's a darn good one, but his appetites might extend his talent. He rips off Autobots, Decepticons, even himself.  

As far as the comics go, Chop Shop only showed up in the UK series. The only background we get on him is him being part of the Mayhem Attack Squad, then he got blown up real good by the combined forces of Megatron and Galvatron. More details on the UK series later. 

He never showed up in the cartoon, so I'll call it quits here.

TFtember: The Secret of Omega Supreme

"The Secret of Omega Supreme", the Transformers, Nov. 6, 1985

An episode focusing on Omega Supreme.

We learn more of the giant robot's background. To wit, he used to be a guardian robot, tasked with guarding the Crystal City. It was a magnificent creation of construction, built by his friends the Constructicons. 

Yeah, here we're told they were on Cybertron and they used to be good guys, at least until Megatron kidnapped them and brainwashed them into evil. They end up luring Omega away from his post and his beloved Crystal City was reduced to rubble. Ever since then he swore an undying vengeance on his former comrades. 

Now that the 'cons are on their way to earth with an asteroid (which also has alien life inside, unknown to them), will Omega's desire for revenge cloud his judgement?

Darn good, even if it does mess with continuity of eariler episodes. 

TFtember: Transformers#46

"Ca$h and Car-nage!" the Transformers#46 (November 1988) with credits to Bob Budiansky (script), Jose Delbo (pencils), Danny Bulanadi (inks), Nelson Yomtov (colors), Bill Oakley (letters), and Don Daley (editor)

We get introduced to four interesting fellows. 

Burn-Out: A bounty hunter with a tendency to blast first and last.

Roadhog Horton: A demolition driver with an uncanny knack for turning cars into scrap metal

Skunge and Felix: A duo of bounty hunters. They use their small size and high tech to take down larger targets. 

All four are approached by someone who works for a Mr. Z, of the Z Foundation. His mission-to protect Earth from giant scumbags, like robots for example. He offers them fifty grand for each robot they bring in, and this the Roadjammers are born! So named as each hunter is equipped a Z Foundation made 'jammer' which should block a Transformer's ability to transform. 

A group of Autobots get teleported into the middle of New York, something that the group thinks is a bit odd. How did the foundation know the 'bots would in that exact location?

Yeah, turns out Mr. Z is really Zarak and his plans are to destroy the Autobots using human dupes. Can the 'jammers figure it out in time?

Those would be the only appearance of the Roadjammers, which is a pity. Some scuzzy bikers taking on giant robots? Come on, that would have been an interesting choice. 

TFtember: Bonecrusher

Bonecrusher      

Now this one was a particular favorite of mine. Also the first of what would become a staple of the series, the combiner series. 

Bonecrusher went from robot to bulldozer but he also became the left arm of Devastator (more on him later). Bonecrusher, like many of his fellow toys, started out as a Diaclone figure, with the moniker Contruction Vehicle Robot Number 1 Bulldozer instead of Bonecrusher. 

The figure was a nice little thing, decent articulation for the time but the idea of taking a whole bunch of robots and making a bigger robot was pretty innovative for the time. That was pretty much it for Generation 1, although I'm told there was a European release that had him cast in yellow rather than green. There was also a decoy figure included with some carded figures. 

Decoys were just tiny rubber versions of Autobots and Decepticons. Nice but never a huge fan of those. 

His file card paints someone so obsessed with perfection he'd leave everything destroyed as he can't stand anything that doesn't meet his insanely high standards. 

As for the comics, Bonecrusher and his fellow Constructicons were created by Shockwave on Earth. He showed up pretty regularly in the series but his last official time was an adaptation of the movie. 

For the cartoon, he was mostly voiced by Neil Ross, except when he was voiced by Michael Bell. This is also the most confusing version, as according to the show he and the Constructicons built Megatron for the Decepticons, except when he kidnapped them and turned them into Decepticons. 

He also worked with the Autobots for one episode, thanks to an animation snafu. 

TFtember: Quest for Survival

"Quest for Survival", the Transformers, Nov. 5, 1985

First appearance of Skids, for whatever that is worth. 

Yes, this is the 'robotic insect repellent' episode. 

The Insecticons have been shown to clone themselves in previous episodes, so that isn't the new thing here. Here they clone themselves into an all devouring horde, with the idea to eat all of Earth's materials and convert it all to Energon. Thankfully Bumblebee, Spike, and Cosmos find the aforementioned bug repellent. 

There's another problem too, as it seems some kind of robotic spore attached itself to Cosmos and is now growing at a crazy speed on Earth. Can they solve both problems before the Earth is either stripped bare or totoally overrun?

Not bad; the stakes are set pretty early and set high. There's scheming aplenty, even if Megatron does make some questionable choices. 

Tftember: Transformers#45

   "Monstercon from Mars!" the Transformers#45 (October 1988) with credits to Bob Budiansky (script), Jose Delbo (breakdowns), Dave Hunt (finished pencils), Nelson Yomtov (colors), Bill Oakley (letters), and Don Daley (editor)

On a B movie set, things are going poorly. The major prop has gone bust, and things are weeks behind schedule. PR man Keno notices how hostile a group of people reacted to the Autobot Sky Lynx, so not try to make some money on this? He sends director and his two stars into the woods on North Carolina to investigate rumors of a Bigfoot siting. 

It ain't Bigfoot they find, rather the Decepticon Skullgrin. 

Skully actually take a moment to consider the humans. True, they are helpless but they are offering to pay him in fuel, which was the point of his mission. Thus he agrees and soon becomes the number 1 guy in Hollywood. 

Clarissa, one of the aforementioned actors, really seems to hit it off with the giant robot. She also notices a depressed woman in a wheelchair, who moans that she'll never see her favorite giant monster in person. To cheer her up, Clarissa let it slips that Skullgrin is going to be at the Grand Canyon.

Which is exactly what she wants to know, as the wheelchair bound woman is in fact Circuit Breaker! For once attacking a Decepticon! Will she succeed?

Honestly pretty good. Skullgrin really shines here. He's a Decepticon, true, but he's rational enough to realize just having humans give you what you want is a bit easier than the whole war thing. Even the ending is rather neat, with the usual 'deception reveled and the status quo is restored' played with in a clever way. 

TFtember: Bombshell

Bombshell    

Looking at a proper Insecticon this time. 

Starting out as Kabutron, being part of the Diaclone Waruder Insecter Robo line, he went from robot to a rhinoceros beetle. Cockpit aside, a simple but decent figure.  

He did have another toy, an Action Master figure in 1991 but that was only released in Europe. 

The file card has him being a master of mind control, using his little bombshells to take over his victim's minds. A nasty little bit of work.  

 In the comics, Bombshell was introduced as a loyal member of Lord Straxus's camp. He later switched sides to Megatron and even worked with Cobra for a bit, where his mind control potential was used to its fullest. After that he drifted into the background before Fortress Maximus blasted him into scrap. 

The cartoon, where he was voiced by Michael Bell, followed many previous characters. He shows up powerfully early on before drifting into the background. He died in the movie yet somehow got better for later episodes. 

TFtember: Child's Play

 "Child's Play" the Transformers, Nov. 7, 1985

We start out with a pretty basic opening. The Decepticons are trying to build another space bridge, this time in a baseball stadium. The Autobots attack, but this time a group of each team gets blasted by the bridge and they end up on another world.

They end up in the hands of a small child, who is a giant to them. From there we get a pretty standard 'small alien trying to survive on a giant world' bit, including almost being cut apart. 

Decent, even if it is riddled with animated errors. 

TFtember: Transformers#44

   "The Cosmic Carnival" the Transformers#44 (September 1988) with credits to Bob Budiansky (script), Frank Springer (pencils), Danny Bulanadi (inks), Nelson Yomtov (colors), Bill Oakley (letters), and Don Daley (editor)

As the Steelhaven makes its way back to Earth, they find a carnival! Now, ordinarily seeing an advert for something that could have clowns in deep space would result in most people saying no. Optimus Prime agrees, except that the advert has Sky Lynx featured, so they're going to the carnival. 

Optimus and Goldbug pop over and yup, Sky Lynx is there plus all those Earth kids he took all those issues ago. Seems they were fleeing from Grimlock and stumbled across the carnival. Not having any cash, Sky Lynx agreed to work in the show but the creepy ringmaster opted to make the kids slaves too!

Wait, since Sky Lynx didn't have any cash how did they get into the show in the first place? Not terrible but Prime and Goldbug save it. 

TFtember: Blitzwing

Blitzwing   

The other Triple Changer. Still a pretty neat idea, in that he goes from robot to a MiG-25 jet to a Type-74 Assault Tank. Lousy articulation but with a sword and rifle he look pretty at least. 

The file card paints a fearsome figure. A tank that can arrive at Mach 2? The only downside is he doesn't seem to care what he blows up. Even among the other Decepticons, he's a jerk. Sort of a Buzz Sawyer of robots, in other words. 

For the comic, a different yet similar story I'm afraid. Showed up #29, died in #50 and did darn little. He showed up enough to showcase the new toy and back to the background for him. What few fights he got into tended to end with him being cut down, rather literally in a few cases. Got the impression the writers didn't care for him.  

Voiced by Ed Gilbert in the cartoon, he managed to do a bit more. Still a thug, he got at least episode to focus on him, plus he survived the movie. His storyline ends on an odd note too. Season three saw him draw down on Galvatron, making clear the fight was over. Galvatron then banishes him and somehow that takes as we never see him again. Odd that somehow Blitzwing would suddenly decide that walking away would be the better option or maybe to show how bad the fight was?  

TFtember: Make Tracks

 "Make Tracks" the Transformers, Oct. 30 1985

An episode focusing on Tracks. We'll get to him in a bit, so let's focus on the show first. 

The Autobots are helping the NYPD with a stolen car ring. Having busted up one chop shop, Tracks goes off to make a night of it. It's there he runs into Raoul, a punk kid with a knack for car jacking. He ends up stealing Tracks and even disables the single wire that lets him transform. 

Raoul fixes him up and when Tracks saves him from the Geddi Brothers, well Tracks just make a friend for life that's what. But who are the Geddi's really working for and why do they need so many stolen cars?

Not bad. Tracks was a fun character and this episode really lets him shine. He's equal parts snooty and sarcastic and like most 80's adventures he finds himself in over his head. 

The New York shown here is a bit like most of the portrayals around the same time period, with 500 + cars getting stolen in one night. 

TFtember: Transformers#43

  "The Big Broadcast of 2006" the Transformers#43 (August 1988) with credits to Ralph Maccho (adaptation), Allen Kupperburg (pencils), Dave Elliot (inks), Nel Yomtov (colors), Kurt Hathaway (letters), and Don Daley (editor)

And we see the return of the glorious tradition-the fill-in issue. Adapting both a UK story and an episode of the cartoon, we open with the Quintessons sending a detachment of Sharkticons to the planet of Junk. Why? For a canister, why else?

When Wreck-Gar and the other Junkicons drive the robotic sharks off, the Quintessons figure they need to use more carrot and less stick. So the next day when the pop-culture quoting robots all wake up, they find the universe's largest big screen TV-with CABLE!

Of course the TV is also blasting out a signal to hypnotize the viewers into hating all outsider, also to love cleanliness and order. Sky Lynx and Astrotrain see this and report back to their respective sides. Rodimus Prime sends the Aerialbots to investigate, whereas Galvatron doesn't care. 

The Autobot jets get caught in the crossfire between the now paranoid Junkicons and the Quintessons, as those hypno orders? Yeah, they forget outsiders includes them. They hurridly add a 'sharing is caring' message but is too late?

A bit rushed and the canister is such a McGuffin I'm shocked it wasn't labeled that. No one learns anything and even the Autobots are a bit puzzled why they're there. 

TFtember: Blaster

Blaster

Since Soundwave was so popular, why not an Autobot version?

Beginning life as a Micro Change Radi-Cassee Robo, the Japanese version of the toy was a functional radio but that feature was sadly removed by the time it hit the states. Much like Soundwave, he had very limted articulation. 

In 1987, Blaster got reissued in Japan as Twincast. Basically the same toy only in blue rather than red. He also made to 1990's Action Master series, being equipped with a rather neat jetpack. 

The file card paints him very similar to Jazz, in that he's obsessed with Earth music. Rock N Roll, to be specific. He's also the communications guy, which makes sense. 

The comic, however, is wildly different. First, he makes it to the last issue so kudos on that. He is introduced as a grim and brooding rebel, a mark that increases as he is relentlessly hunted by Grimlock (of all robots). Blaster has a dim view of humans as well, often wondering if any Earthlings could be trusted. He role grew smaller as the series continued, eventually becoming little more than a background guy by the end. Disappointing after all that, I must say. 

Voiced by Buster Jones, his cartoon version is more in line with the file card. He does have a rivalry with Soundwave, which makes sense. He does take over Jazz's role as the 'Autobot in love with Earth culture'. Aside from that he plays it more or less the same. He also survives the Movie; even if he doesn't do that much in it aside from kicking Ravage. 

TFtember: The God Gambit

"The God Gambit ", the Transformers, October 28, 1985

On Saturn's moon, Titan to be precise, there is a revolt going on. Head priest Jero, claiming to be speaking for the people's gods, demands high taxes and harsh laws. The people, right sick of him by this point, overthrow him.

Which is fine, except that the Autobot Cosmos is being chased right near Titan by Astrotrain (with Starscream and Thrust inside). Ha manages to radio to the rest of the 'bots but he gets shot down over the moon. 

While rebel Talaria argues that the sky gods aren't real, Cosmos crashes directly in front of them. Jero uses this to get his old job back just as the Decepticons arrive. Astrotrain sees the potential for a good thing going on and declares himself the new sky god. 

Can the Autobots arrive in time?

Buzz Dixon really puts in some effort on this one. A heady subject for an 80's cartoon too, although Astrotrain acts more like Megatron than his usual character. 

TFtember: Transformers#42

 "People Power!" the Transformers#42 (July 1988) with credits to Bob Budiansky (script), Jose Delbo (breakdowns), Dave Hunt & Don Hudson (finishes), Nel Yomtov (colors), Bill Oakley (letters), and Don Daley (editor)

1988 would see the debut of the Powermaster series and so naturally the comic was called upon to expand the characters and concepts (i.e. sell the new toys to the readers). 

On the planet Nebulos, a massive jet attacks a restaurant before splitting into two Decepticons. Also with them are two power suited folks, Hi-Test and Throttle. 

Steelhaven soons arrives at Nebulos and the Autobots met with Hi-Q, a scientist. He has bad news for the fuel starved robots. After the Autobots and Decepticons had a rumble on the planet, Hi-Q and Hi-Test were tasked to devise a defense against the giant robots. Their plan: Poison all the fuel!

It worked, but Hi-Test grew jealous and threw his lot with the two Decepticons. He remade himself into a Powermaster. Without him, they can't process the planet's fuel. Hi-Q even manages to fix Optimus Prime. Seeing the robot's nobility convinces him to turn himself into Prime's Powermaster so he can be purged of the poisoned fuel. 

With Prime returned, the tide swiftly changes but now the robots and their Powermaster partners must leave as they have once again ravaged Nebulos with war. 

Not bad and while it largely toy shilling they at least make the Powermasters different characters and give them a good motivation. 

TFtember: Beachcomber

Beachcomber 

Beachcomber was one of the new mini vehicles. I always thought he was a dune buggy, but nope. Turns out he transforms into a 1982 M1040 Chenowth "Hellfire" Fast Attack Vehicle. Who knew?

There was only the one toy during Generation 1, although there were a few variants here and there. A pretty neat little thing, these new mini vehicles were overall a step up from the first series I think, as the molds were more accurate. 

His file card was neat and pretty close to his characterization on the show. Beachcomber is a geologist by trade. He has zero interest is warfare and tries to avoid conflict. We've seen some transformers who weren't totally onboard with the whole war thing, so that's interesting to see it continue. 

He first showed up in issue 17, although from a continuity standpoint he first showed up in issue 47 (despite this causing some issues with the history). Sadly his role here is a bit different than the cartoon. He's seen in Grimlock's camp and even help builds the torture harness for Blaster. He mostly stays in the sidelines when he isn't whining about violence. He made it to issue 50 before he got mauled and was last seen on a slab, so disappointing. 

The cartoon was better for him at least. Voiced by Alan Oppenheimer, he started out pretty much as a background guy but he did at least one episode to himself. Pity that was pretty much it and he went back to background guy for the rest of the series. 

TFtember: The Golden Lagoon

 "The Golden Lagoon", the Transformers, November 4, 1985

One of the better known episodes from the orignal series. We open with a group of Autobots on patrol. Getting attacked by some Decepticons, Autobot Beachcomber seeks shelter in a nearby cave. Quickly forgetting the fight, he does some exploring and stumbles up a golden lagoon.

Discovering that the lagoon is made of pure electrum, he gets driven away when Thrust flies overhead and makes the same discovery. The difference is Thrust quickly dives into the substance and emerges a gleaming gold. He's also now impervious to laser fire. 

He quickly heads to Megatron. The 'cons make quick use of the lagoon while Beachcomber agonizes over telling Prime of what he found. When more Autobots are attacked, Beachcomber finally tells what he knows. Can the Autobots make use of this in time?

Pretty darn good. Dennis Marks really focuses on Beachcomber and the episode is all the better for it. We really do see his agony as his beliefs are put on the line. Does he stay true to who he is or does he toss it away for the greater good?

Surprisingly poignant ending for an 80's cartoon.  

TFtember: Transformers#41

"Totaled!" the Transformers#41 (June 1988) with credits to Bob Budiansky (script), Jose Delbo (pencils), Danny Bulandi (inks), Nel Yomtov (colors), Bill Oakley (letters), and Don Daley (editor)

Optimus Prime is reborn! For about five seconds then he explodes. The splintered group of Autobots now live on the colony ship Steelhaven and have been trying to bring Prime back to life for good. They're having setbacks, since most of their resources have been used to make Fortress Maximus, Goldbug, and the Pretenders. Maximus, seeing the need, goes to Grimlock and ask for help. 

Grimlock isn't interested but he does want Goldbug for his high crimes of treason. Maximus initially refuses but Goldbug turns himself in to avoid a fight. Pity that Grimlock wants a fight and he wants one NOW. Maximus is in no shape, but Goldbu manages to break Blaster out of the brig and convince him to fight in Maximus' steed. 

The Decepticons, meanwhile, manage to find both the Ark and Steelhaven. While Grimlock and Blaster fight, the Decepticons launch an attack. The fight goes poorly for the Autobots but when Grimlock and Blaster manage to put their feud aside they manage to drive the 'cons off. 

TFtember: Barrage

Barrage

Bringing this one back. Everyday this month a look at the Transformers, and we're kicking it off with a Deluxe Insecticon. 

As far as the toy(s) go, there isn't much. The first figure was a repurposed Armored Insect Battalion Beetras figure Beet-Gadol, made by Takatoku Toys. Thanks to some legal issues, Bandai based figures weren't allowed to be promoted in Japan so yeah, Barrage was kind out of luck. The toy was pretty decent though, very possible and his transformed state of a rhinoceros beetle was well done too. 

His file card paints him as a bit, well, the internet has the term 'more DAKKA' which sums him up pretty well. He isn't satisfied until the battlefield is one big hole and he doesn't care who gets in the way of his guns.  

The comic was a nonstarter, at least until the Dreamwave comics but we'll get to them later and the same with the cartoon.